Dolls, Toys and Links

The House Next Door Did you read any of these "Pixar Week" articles arriving to coincide with the Toy Story 3-D release? Interesting stuff therein and not all of it is the typical media fawning over all things Pixar. Though I'm kinda miffed that there's a defense of Cars and takedown of WALL•E. Sometimes there's no need to be contrarian. Every once in a while the general consensus is correct
Rotten Tomatoes Martial arts star Tony Jaa (Ong Bak 2) picks his five favorite flicks. Very mainstream tastes (The Dark Knight. Yep. Forrest Gump?! Ewww)
TV Munchies "15 TV characters who never came out of the closet (but should have)"
MTV Spider-Man 4 is nearing a start date (March, 2010) and a release date (May, 2011). Watch out here comes the Spider-Man (and Mary Jane) Not sure if this is a good idea but #2 was so wonderful that I'll just pretend #4 is #3. Good plan or...?


My New Plaid Pants fine piece on The White Ribbon "The Answer is the Question is the Answer"
The Auteurs Daily chooses the best film sites. I'm truly honored to be among the 57 cinephiles listed
Empire Kristen Bell has joined the cast of the already intriguingly cast Burlesque: Cher, Christina Aguilera, Stanley Tucci. So many possibilities
Erik Lundegaard pens a lovely review of the evocative Bright Star
Coming Soon Mia Wasikowska is going from leading Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland to leading Gus Van Sant's Restless. Can you think of a bigger aesthetic leap? Burton to Van Sant, oh my. Please pray that the largely audience-untested actress is as versatile as she sounds.

Finally... the AV Club has nice things to say about the low-rated second season of Dollhouse. I'm not as sad that the show will probably be cancelled as I once was but I'm definitely disheartened. A Dollhouse failure will only serve to teach the broadcast networks not to take chances on shows with cult followings and that's a sorry lesson to learn. They need to be moving towards the cable model which is, generally speaking, more nurturing to small audience shows with ambition.

I haven't covered Dollhouse this year because I'm trying to find a way to cover tv that's more in line with the goals of the site (movie love!) hence the switch to movie referencing tv coverage of Mad Men or stray episodes of other things. And, let's be frank, I've also been disappointed that this fascinating Joss Whedon series is still awkward and has stumbled back to early Season 1 stand-alone business. The strengths of the first season were all in the long-form storytelling and I thought that they'd realized this as well as found surer footing as they went along.

Weirdly in the comment discussion following this AV post some fans seem to only now be realizing that Enver Gjokaj (who plays Victor) is the best actor on the show. It took a gay dancing scene to convince them? We've known he was the MVP for a long time. He's virtually the only "doll" that doesn't seem like he's acting a role once imprinted... he merely is the new person he thinks he is. He does spot on impressions of people you wouldn't think you could mimic -- like fellow actor Reed Diamond -- and he's engaging in blank state, too. None of this can possibly be easy, as the uneven performances elsewhere indicate. If you ask me he should have been in the running for a Supporting Actor Emmy nomination last year. I'd like to predict a huge career for Gjokaj post-Dollhouse but Hollywood has a weird self-defeating way of putting blinders on when it comes to newish actors doing great work within the sci-fi world. For instance, in anything resembling a sane world Katee Sackhoff (Starbuck on Battlestar Galactica) would be a huge star by now, inundated with film and tv offers. Instead she just has to work the ensemble on aging TV shows like 24 or Nip/Tuck? Boo. If I were a casting director, I'd have Gjokaj and Sackhoff on speed dial.
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Now Playing: Kristen Bell in Bikini, Chris Evans Fully Clothed

The Oscar films expanded last week (and in some cases -- *cough* Milk ??? -- they're already constricting again. Hope you caught them during those seven days you were allowed to see them!) so it's strictly new releases for February. Links go to trailers...

L I M I T E D
Fanboys Odd that this comedy, about a group of Star Wars fanboys (and fangirl Veronica Mars Kristen Bell, left) storming George Lucas's Skywalker Ranch would come out the day it's target audience is hitting the Comic Con. (Methinks the target audience will be too busy wearing their own Princess Leia costumes or gawking at real live ones to go see Kristen don hers!) Like many a film before it Harvey Weinstein bought this and locked it up tight never to see the light of day until, suddenly, on a whim he decided to dump it in a theater or three.

The Objective One of the directors of The Blair Witch Project tries the 'filming our demise' thing again only with military men in Afghanistan this time.

Chocolate The director of Ong Bak: Thai Warrior returns with another one of his "no wires. no stunt doubles" action films. This one is about a special needs girl who loves chocolate. She has some magical gift for muy thai fighting. I think it's kind of like that superpower on Heroes where if you see an action performed you can duplicate it. I also love chocolate and have special needs. Where's my movie? Alas, I lack that nifty fighting gift and my special needs primarily revolve around Tony Jaa. Where is he?

Chocolate and Coraline. Curious young girls are trouble!

W I D E
Coraline If you suffer from koumpounophobia you should skip this one. If you don't, you should run to the theater because the buzz for this 3D stop motion adventure makes it sound delicious and the source material is superb. If you haven't been reading Neil Gaiman's books, when are you going to start? Try American Gods.

He's Just Not That Into You Looks like the kind of movie you'll l-o-v-e if Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus strikes you as a landmark academic tome. Initially I wanted to see it (Ginnifer Goodwin plus the parade of stars) but early reports from critic friends are grim and the episode of Sex & the City about that catchphrase is unbeatable anyway. Plus, you know how they often put the best jokes from movies in trailers?

_______...those are the best jokes?

Push In which Chris Evans keeps his clothes on (just a hunch -- it's that damn new manager's fault) to play a rogue psychic leading a battle against a secret government agency. Or something. Dakota Fanning (the voice of Coraline. Dakota is a workaholic) and Djimon Hounsou also have clairvoyant powers. My own telepathic abilities tell me you're confused. "Isn't Push the movie about the obese black teenager? Didn't it win the top prize at Sundance last month?" Yes, yes, that's the one. Only it's not this one. The Sundance Push is the one that's winning Mo'Nique raves and Oscar style buzz. But this is the other Push, now playing in thousands of theaters starring Chris Evans and it's not going to get any Oscar nominations.

It would be better if Mo'Nique was in it.



Much better.

Oooh, baby, baby Baby
Yo, yo, yo, yo, Evans, Chris / Yeah, you come here, gimme a kiss /
Better make it fast or else I'm gonna get pissed

P.S. I don't know why everyone is surprised that Mo'Nique can act. Duh.

The Pink Panther 2 A non-rhetorical question for the comments: What the hell is Steve Martin doing with his career?

You're So Vain. You Probably Think These Links Are About You

Jim Hill remembers effects man Stan Winston (RIP)
<--- MSN asks both Michelle Pfeiffer & Julianne Moore to eat donuts. It always freaks me out when I see my two ruling movie goddesses pictured together, in articles not written by... myself.
MNPP Guillermo Del Toro woos his already drooling fanboy legions with this "quote of the day"
Zombie Daily Rob Sacchetto draws a new zombie every day!
Accidental Sexiness Pedro, Penelope, and Blanca Portillo hit Madrid to promote Broken Embraces
Topless Robot Barbie as Tippi Hedren in The Birds? I LOVE IT.
Cinephilia the quotable Arden has unkind words for DDL in There Will Be Blood
Twitch Tony Jaa is finally on his way back to cinemas (what has he been doing?)
Bright Lights After Dark raves out on the career of Vera Farmiga. Maybe I should stick in this Never Forever DVD I have sitting here
Evening Class on TCM's "Asian Images in Film" series
The Guardian There's always someone. A defense of The Happening. Although when a defense starts with "it's not that bad" hasn't the debate already been lost?
Star East Hugh Grant and Zhang Ziyi to co-star in a romantic comedy?

And just in case you think I forgot about my love for them, I haven't. Here's a photo of The Bening, her sister in law Shirley Maclaine, her hubbie (and Shirley's kid brother) Warren Beatty who were all at the AFI tribute to [drum roll please].... WARREN BEATTY Congratulations your awesomeness! I love you.


If you haven't seen and worshipped his contributions to the cinema such as Reds, Shampoo, Bugsy, Bulworth, Bonnie & Clyde and Splendor in the Grass among others, than frankly, your loss. Get on that, will you?
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These Films Are Not Yet Reviewed (Pt 2)

You know how it goes. I barely ever write a lengthy review. Than I feel guilty and do a million capsules at once. And remember how I said that when someone donates I gotta do some reviewing? Well someone did. Thank you my precioussss. So here we go. Five movies I haven’t said much about.

Protector. I am rooting for Tony Jaa. He can do the splits while sliding under moving cars. Chances are he can do other amazing things with his body that no one has even dreamed of yet. (I probably have but th--TMI! sorry) Still, I practically hated this sophomore Jaa effort which is about a young man out to avenge his murdered father and retrieve two stolen elephants. I thought it was sadistic and sloppy. I don’t know the production history but everything about this film seemed to scream “we’re here for a quick buck!” This has to have been a rush job after Ong Bak: Thai Warrior caused a mini stir in the international market. Both were low budget affairs but everything is cheaper this time: The fights aren’t as exhilarating, the choreography takes a creative nosedive and the editing is chainsaw-like throughout. I’m still rooting for Tony Jaa but he’s really got to work with a stronger filmmaking team if he wants to be the next Jet Li / Jackie Chan / whomever. D

previous related post: Thai Me Up

The Queen. I am not one of those critics who pretends infallibility. If I’m in a bad mood, that affects my reaction. If I’ve just seen 10 bad movies, I may overestimate a decent one. Etc… The moral of this story is that I should probably see The Queen again before really discussing it. What I saw was a modest, simple story, well told and acted… but no great shakes in any particular way. BUT I was also sitting close enough to touch a fairly good sized screen. I arrived late (which I never do) and Helen Mirren’s face-of-awesome-acting was entirely distorted for 97 minutes. So skewed was the image that I really couldn’t tell you anything about the cinematography or any of the performances other than that I got the feeling that only Mirren's character was well drawn. I can't be sure since everyone looked deformed from where I sat. B

related posts: "...as long as i get to wear the crown" , Best Actress Predictions and From Emmy to Oscar

Science of Sleep. In retrospect, based on its ridiculous greatness, it seems foolish to have ever doubted Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind but doubt it I did before seeing it. It was one of those movies –the ones that get pushed into a February release, usually a bad sign. It was by the guy (Michel Gondry) who made the bizarre Charlie Kauffman misfire Human Nature. Three films into Gondry’s career now I think the picture is in focus. There’s no doubting that he’s got a great eye. What’s lacking is focus and restraint. It sounds like blasphemy but there’s too much visual invention. Consider the action film template for counterpoint: you get beats in between the big setpieces so you can breathe. Gondry never stops pushing his visuals. He needs a strong blueprint (screenplay) to keep him on track as he builds his cinematic art. Despite the meandering and the clutter (lots and lots visual and narrative clutter), there is something sweet and engaging about this goofy movie.

So, while there’s too much invention, I’m glad someone’s still inventing. Follow? There’s as many misses as hits but it’s a fun ride and Gael Garcia Bernal is in it (always a plus --what an actor). B

previous Gael drooling: Hump Day Hottie and Top 100 Actors

World Trade Center. I've placed a picture of Oliver Stone in directing mode to sit alongside this paragraph because I need the reminder: Yes, someone did direct this, no matter how generic and personality free it may feel. It used to be that the biggest gripe people had with Oliver Stone was that he directed with a sledgehammer. That complaint suggests a lack of nuance which one could certainly point at in this movie. But it also feels silly to use the word "sledgehammer" in conjunction with this film. There's a lot of wreckage on display but a film it's pretty soft. It errs heavily on the side of fuzzy sentimentality. A little of that goes a long way. Once your movie starts looking like a coffee commercial, you're drowning in it. The most vivid feeling I had watching World Trade Center was that I had underestimated the earlier 9/11 film United 93 and Paul Greengrass' determined you-are-there visceral gutpunch. That didn't feel like a point of view per se but at least it was a filmmaking stance.

The only break in sentimentality comes in a most unexpected place. Usually the subplot of the grieving wife would be a breeding ground for more squishiness but World Trade Center has two such subplots one of which is free of the stuff. Maggie Gyllenhaal brings a jarringly specific combination of catatonic grief and busybody distraction to her scenes. Only in her subplot did I feel sharp stings of memory from that terrible day here in New York. The rest of the movie felt like any other rescue drama, albeit one with a strangely reverent tone. C-

related post: United 93 review

These Films Are Not Yet Reviewed (Pt 2)

You know how it goes. I barely ever write a lengthy review. Than I feel guilty and do a million capsules at once. And remember how I said that when someone donates I gotta do some reviewing? Well someone did. Thank you my precioussss. So here we go. Five movies I haven’t said much about.

Protector. I am rooting for Tony Jaa. He can do the splits while sliding under moving cars. Chances are he can do other amazing things with his body that no one has even dreamed of yet. (I probably have but th--TMI! sorry) Still, I practically hated this sophomore Jaa effort which is about a young man out to avenge his murdered father and retrieve two stolen elephants. I thought it was sadistic and sloppy. I don’t know the production history but everything about this film seemed to scream “we’re here for a quick buck!” This has to have been a rush job after Ong Bak: Thai Warrior caused a mini stir in the international market. Both were low budget affairs but everything is cheaper this time: The fights aren’t as exhilarating, the choreography takes a creative nosedive and the editing is chainsaw-like throughout. I’m still rooting for Tony Jaa but he’s really got to work with a stronger filmmaking team if he wants to be the next Jet Li / Jackie Chan / whomever. D

previous related post: Thai Me Up

The Queen. I am not one of those critics who pretends infallibility. If I’m in a bad mood, that affects my reaction. If I’ve just seen 10 bad movies, I may overestimate a decent one. Etc… The moral of this story is that I should probably see The Queen again before really discussing it. What I saw was a modest, simple story, well told and acted… but no great shakes in any particular way. BUT I was also sitting close enough to touch a fairly good sized screen. I arrived late (which I never do) and Helen Mirren’s face-of-awesome-acting was entirely distorted for 97 minutes. So skewed was the image that I really couldn’t tell you anything about the cinematography or any of the performances other than that I got the feeling that only Mirren's character was well drawn. I can't be sure since everyone looked deformed from where I sat. B

related posts: "...as long as i get to wear the crown" , Best Actress Predictions and From Emmy to Oscar

Science of Sleep. In retrospect, based on its ridiculous greatness, it seems foolish to have ever doubted Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind but doubt it I did before seeing it. It was one of those movies –the ones that get pushed into a February release, usually a bad sign. It was by the guy (Michel Gondry) who made the bizarre Charlie Kauffman misfire Human Nature. Three films into Gondry’s career now I think the picture is in focus. There’s no doubting that he’s got a great eye. What’s lacking is focus and restraint. It sounds like blasphemy but there’s too much visual invention. Consider the action film template for counterpoint: you get beats in between the big setpieces so you can breathe. Gondry never stops pushing his visuals. He needs a strong blueprint (screenplay) to keep him on track as he builds his cinematic art. Despite the meandering and the clutter (lots and lots visual and narrative clutter), there is something sweet and engaging about this goofy movie.

So, while there’s too much invention, I’m glad someone’s still inventing. Follow? There’s as many misses as hits but it’s a fun ride and Gael Garcia Bernal is in it (always a plus --what an actor). B

previous Gael drooling: Hump Day Hottie and Top 100 Actors

World Trade Center. I've placed a picture of Oliver Stone in directing mode to sit alongside this paragraph because I need the reminder: Yes, someone did direct this, no matter how generic and personality free it may feel. It used to be that the biggest gripe people had with Oliver Stone was that he directed with a sledgehammer. That complaint suggests a lack of nuance which one could certainly point at in this movie. But it also feels silly to use the word "sledgehammer" in conjunction with this film. There's a lot of wreckage on display but a film it's pretty soft. It errs heavily on the side of fuzzy sentimentality. A little of that goes a long way. Once your movie starts looking like a coffee commercial, you're drowning in it. The most vivid feeling I had watching World Trade Center was that I had underestimated the earlier 9/11 film United 93 and Paul Greengrass' determined you-are-there visceral gutpunch. That didn't feel like a point of view per se but at least it was a filmmaking stance.

The only break in sentimentality comes in a most unexpected place. Usually the subplot of the grieving wife would be a breeding ground for more squishiness but World Trade Center has two such subplots one of which is free of the stuff. Maggie Gyllenhaal brings a jarringly specific combination of catatonic grief and busybody distraction to her scenes. Only in her subplot did I feel sharp stings of memory from that terrible day here in New York. The rest of the movie felt like any other rescue drama, albeit one with a strangely reverent tone. C-

related post: United 93 review

Say What? The Protector

I asked you to add dialogue or a caption to this still from The Protector starring Ong Bak's flexible warrior Tony Jaa. The winners are witchiepooh...


and Rob --very punny.



The Protector will be opening Stateside on August 25th, 2006. If you haven't seen Jaa in action, you're in for a treat. Rent Ong Bak. Your jaw will drop at what that body can do.

previous Tony Jaa love
Film Bitch Awards 2005 two nominations
Thai Me Up March 2005

Say What? The Protector

I asked you to add dialogue or a caption to this still from The Protector starring Ong Bak's flexible warrior Tony Jaa. The winners are witchiepooh...


and Rob --very punny.



The Protector will be opening Stateside on August 25th, 2006. If you haven't seen Jaa in action, you're in for a treat. Rent Ong Bak. Your jaw will drop at what that body can do.

previous Tony Jaa love
Film Bitch Awards 2005 two nominations
Thai Me Up March 2005

Kung Fu Hustle

So I finally broke my no-movie spell and saw this looney-tuned cgi/martial arts extravaganza Kung Fu Hustle. There's probably one (OK, two) too many setpieces and the whole crazy thing is entirely disposable. But, that said, it was good specific fun while it lasted. Stephen Chow who wrote, directed, and starred in this is quite the multi-tasker isn't he? Chow looks really good without his shirt off too. Not that that has anything to do with the quality of any movie (he hastens to add, blushing!)

KFH is better, funnier, and glossier than Ong Bak:Thai Warrior which is the last martial arts picture I wrote about herein. They'll make an interesting double feature on DVD later this year. But quality aside...when it comes to these two productions, I think I prefer the no-wire low-fi approach to action. And rippling Tony Jaa tips the scales even further toward OB:TWeven though it isn't much of a film overall. Still, imagine you're a filmmaker and you're CGI crazy. If you're smart like Stephen Chow, you'll put it to good use. It's a fine tool for surreal mayhem.

Thai me up...

Late to the party here I know but I finally saw Ong Bak: The Thai Warrior in the theater. It must be on its last legs because it is only showing once or twice a day. The movie has made about 4 mil. after a month in the American market... not bad for a foreign action flick but not great either... I expect it will be a bigger hit on DVD) But I'm glad I trekked in for a 9:40 PM show risking tricky subway shutdowns after the showing (the trains these days -argh!) because "wow". I'm not speaking of the movie of course, which is pretty much a rough by-the-numbers action vehicle. The "wow" is for the star (Tony Jaa) showcased therein. The ads for this movie promise:

"No Stunt Doubles"
"No Computer Graphics"
"No Strings Attached"

which is a pretty simple advertising hook...but the truth of it packs more of a punch than you might think. Instead of the no-longer magical (because of ubiquity) "how'd they do that?" special effects reaction to movie sequences... you now get a "How'd HE do that?" genuine engagement and curiousity. Jaa's physicality is pretty showstopping.
Ong Bak? C+/B- Tony Jaa? More please! And quickly...