Now Playing: Gay Zombies, Role Models and Zoo Animals

Just opened, from least to most screens... roughly. Links go to trailers

JCVD in which the Muscles From Brussels plays himself all washed up in some sort of pseudo-doc like comedy biopic? Very strange... but it might make an interesting warm up to The Wrestler, in a way, might it not? But the real question is 'can Van Damme still do the splits while fighting in his undies?' If so: sold.
Otto; or Up with Dead People in which Bruce LaBruce (of must see fringe cinema like The Raspberry Reich) tries to scare up the horror crowd and then torture them with undead gay sex
Pray the Devil Back to Hell a in which women struggle to bring peace to civil war plagued Liberia (documentary)
The World Unseen in which two women fall in love in South Africa during the early days of Apartheid

Repo: The Genetic Opera in which stunt-casted names (Giles from Buffy, a certain hotel heiress, Andrew Lloyd Webber's ex, rock stars, etc...) rock their way towards intended cult movie glory in this busy bloody story of organ theft terror. Unfortunately clips suggest a major ear sore. At least our Giles can sing...
The Boy in Striped Pajamas in which two young boys separated by the barbed wire of a concentration camp fence, forge a friendship. With Vera Farmiga and David Thewlis
House in which two stranded couples are terrorized in a satanic motel
Soul Men in which Samuel L Jackson and Bernie Mac (RIP) do road trip comedy on their way to the Apollo Theater for a reunion concert

Role Models in which adorably dim Seann William Scott and just plain adorable Paul Rudd are forced into Big Brother type community service. Directed by David Wain (Wet Hot American Summer) so it might actually be hilarious
Madagascar 2: Escape 2 Africa in which the giraffe, hippo, zebra and lion are reunited for another madcap adventure that one marvels is not a DVD knockoff sequel but an actual movie playing on (gulp) 4,056 screens

Expanding: Jonathan Demme's vibrant Rachel Getting Married added over 200 screens so it should be easier for some of you to catch my latest cinematic obsession. Happy-Go-Lucky and Synechdoche New York both moved into extra markets as well. Warning on the latter two: If intensely cheerful souls OR pathetic miserabilists enrage/annoy you these aren't the movies for you as both films definitely follow the lead of their main character's worldview. But both have ardent fans, too. More on both later I hope.

Mein Brühl

Hey, it's Daniel Brühl on the set of Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds.

img src

Er ist liebenswert.
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Teardrop Pie?

I can't find any official notice online but a little birdie who knows behind the scenes crew on Pushing Daisies told me it was cancelled last night. It's only hearsay but I might be needing a delivery of one of Chuck's famous anti-depressive enhanced pies later today. Update: Neither cancelled nor picked up yet for more episodes to complete that season 2. My birdie was sharing set jitters apparently. That's what people think is happening.

I'm dying here. Please ABC... don't throw this away for a new show that won't have half of Daisies awards pull or audience loyalty.

Seven For Nine

Hot damn!

[img src ~ better quality but smaller image here]

It's Dame Judi Dench, Penélope Cruz, Marion "Piaf" Cotillard, Sophia Loren, Fergie, the Goddess Kidman and Goldie Hawn's daughter for Rob Marshall's film version of Nine.

If I weren't so excited for another big studio/big budget film musical I'd nitpick that this looks like a lost still from Chicago. But who can express reservation whilst trembling with actressexual fervor*? The best thing about Nine the stage musical (adapted from Federico Fellini's autobiofantastical 8½) is the circus of women surrounding film director Guido and even with Daniel Day-Lewis as Guido Contini, the best thing about the movie will surely be this circle of divas.

Awards history:
Oscar speculation fanatics who aren't familiar with this musical should know that the show-stopping parts from the stage show belong to Cruz as Guido's horny mistress Carla (this was a TONY award winning role in the Broadway revival for the delicious Jane Krakowski) and Dench as legendary showgirl Liliane la Fleur (a TONY award winning role in the original production and a nominated role in the revival). Another reason why Cruz may be the one to watch: Carla gets not one but two of the show's best songs "A Call from the Vatican" and "Simple". Nicole Kidman plays Guido's actress muse Claudia. In a potential pop culture explosion she'll duet with the other Tom Cruise ex on "Simple". Kidman also gets the show's most haunting ballad "A Very Unusual Way". One final note: Oscar's obsession with long-suffering wives in the Supporting Actress category could put Marion Cotillard (Luisa Contini) into play as well. Fellini's 8½ was nominated for 6 Oscars but none for its cast.

Here's Antonio Banderas as Guido @ the Tony Awards and Chita Rivera as Liliane on Broadway. Just reimagine these numbers with Daniel Day-Lewis and Judi Dench


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*Among those who can nitpick are commenters at DListed. One of whom quips

This movie looks like its about a bunch of vampire hookers.

It's not... but let's get that movie made too, mmmkay?
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Yes We Link

Time Out New York Paul Rudd in the Hot Seat. His penis is a rhombus!
IFC checks for zombies. Yep, they're still shuffling around
Bauer Griffin marvels at Julianne Moore sans makeup
Sunset Gun on It Happened One Night
My New Plaid Pants is looking forward to more of Sam Worthington & Henry Cavill. In togas no less
Coming Soon Spielberg and Will Smith might remake the gory Asian crime drama loved by everyone (but moi) Old Boy
Thompson on Hollywood Doubt reviews + Oscar
Bright Lights investigates Norma Shearer
Acidemic when bad scores happen to good movies

Small Screen
Defamer gives Joss Whedon fans yet more to worry about ... and Dollhouse hasn't even premiered yet
Defamer More gay drama from Grey's Anatomy. I don't even like or watch that show (if I can help it) but I find all the behind the scenes vitriol and confusing conflicts over the past couple of years eyebrow raising. Someday someone will write a terrific showbiz tell-all. What a nightmare that set must be.

Politics
As Little As Possible whips up a terrific personal "Election Reflection"
Sign this Petition This site has a rundown of California's Prop 8 battle but the best part is the brief history lesson on the Mormon church and their reversal from oppressed to oppressor. I love this ol' chestnut from the Mormon prophet Brigham Young (pictured right, img src , with 21 of his wives):

Marriage is a civil contract. You might as well make a law to say how many children a man shall have, as to make a law to say how many wives he shall have.

Marriage is apparently no longer a civil contract for Mormons but a sacred one man / one woman institution... except in heaven where it's still a one man / sisterwives type deal. Ah, the pungent stench of hypocrisy.
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The Abandoned Duchess

I still haven't made it to The Duchess. Have you?

Keira Knightley holds a candlelight vigil, praying for you to see her movie

Share your experience in the comments. This one slipped by me.
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Joan Allen Set To Paint Large-Scale Pastel Vaginas

JA from MNPP here. Via The Hollywood Reporter this morning comes some interesting news on one of my very favorite actresses:

"Joan Allen and Jeremy Irons are set to star in a Lifetime biopic about the late American artist Georgia O'Keeffe, with Bob Balaban on board to direct....

"Georgia O'Keeffe," from Sony Pictures TV, is something of a passion project for the three exec producers, who conceived and have been developing the movie as a team for four years; at one point, it was in development at HBO.

"Georgia" will follow the turbulent 20-year love affair between the celebrated artist (Allen) and photographer Alfred Steiglitz (Irons). The movie, set to premiere in third-quarter 2009, was written by Pulitzer Prize winner Michael Cristofer ("Gia"). Tony Mark ("And Starring Poncho Villa as Himself") is producing."

What's that? HUH? I can't hear you over sound of the sirens in my head set to detect whenever fatal levels of estrogen are present. Must be something about the co-mingling of Joan Allen, notorious flower-to-labia equater Georgia O'Keeffe, the Lifetime Network Television For Women and/or Homosexuals and/or Golden Girls aficionados, and the writer of the movie that introduced us to Angelina Jolie's 22-year old breasts having torrid lesbian sex... something about that brew seems to be signaling a raise in lady-fumes in the air... hmm...

But in all seriousness, can we cross Emmy off of Joan's checklist now? If only that Oscar weren't so damned elusive...
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Is This Some Sort of Sign?

These two items, notebook and old ticket stub, fell out of my bag today as I sat down at my desk ! What could it possibly mean ?

Mobile post sent by nathanielr using Utterli.  Replies.

Fashionably Late

Today is the 10th anniversary of the release of Todd Haynes Velvet Goldmine. But, taking a cue from the ginormity of Sandy Powell's costuming contribution, I'm all about deciding what to wear. I'll be arriving fashionably late. So late in fact that it's more diva-late than fashionable.

We'll hold this Goldmine "Musical of the Month" party next Tuesday, November 11th @ 12:00 Noon, You have almost a whole extra week to prepare your thoughts however lengthy or brief. If you've been preparing a novel on Toni Collette's eyeshadow, a post on fluid identities, a visual tribute to gender bending, an ode to Ewan McGregor's rock god, a haiku for Christian Bale's sweaty awkward voyeurism or anything else under the glittered glam umbrella of this movie, you have a few extra days now.

My apologies to those who arrived early expecting a general admission stampede, but I'm swamped. Must postpone.

Messianic Politicians, Past and Future

This is the last political post for awhile...just gotta get this one last out before I can concentrate on watching and talking about movies. My apologies to non political junkies


Have you rented The Times of Harvey Milk yet? It's beyond. I've told you before. Bone up on the history before the feature version of Harvey's life story, Milk, comes out. I'm so sad today that Focus Features did not release this movie before that despicable Proposition 8 met with California voters in the booth. I'm not the only one. It really needed to be part of the conversation. Maybe the movie wasn't ready yet but I blame studio obsession with holiday Oscar strategizing because that's an easy thing to blame it on. I'm frustrated so... pass the scapegoat!

Harvey Milk was an American icon and hero and it's heartening to see him being ressurrected in popular culture by way of the film. I'm crossing my fingers that the new film is a worthy companion piece to the documentary.

Yesterday Americans elected another inspiring leader who broke barriers and made the kind of "I can't believe this is happening" history that puts tears in the eyes of open hearted people of all stripes. I am very hopeful that his moment will last much longer than Milk's and won't end as tragically. I don't think it will. For today, all across the country --even in the "red" states -- people are feeling good that we've embraced a political figure worth following in a passionate way. ["Red" Tangent: Aren't we glad to have a man going to Washington who followed Howard Dean's lead (he never gets enough credit) for rejecting the whole notion of "red" & "blue" and realizing you have to win hearts and preside over citizens in all 50 states, United States as it were.]

The forward-projecting mass jubilation over Barack Obama suggests to us two things.

1. Obama set the bar very high for himself --people will be expecting miracles. And...
2. They might actually get them if they, as voters and citizens, continue to choose hope over fear and show a willingness to part with old ways that don't work. But as California voters sadly reminded us yesterday, even in a moment when many voters were feeling hope, generosity and inclusiveness while letting go of past divisions -- they couldn't quite let go of other fears and prejudices. That's truly depressing but let's all HOPE anyway. It's audacious!
   

Nations often end up reflecting the character of their leader and even if Obama isn't yet pro gay marriage he inarguably has an inclusive spirit as a leader. Obama even mentioned gay people twice in his acceptance speech which is, I believe --though correct me if I'm wrong, unprecendented for a President Elect. Reflecting their new president's inclusive spirit should serve Americans very well as they move forward into this new millenium. After all, diversity of opinion, religion, sexual orientation, color and basic worldview aren't going anywhere. We're going to need a bigger tent.

And now we really are returning to the movies! Promise -->

Next: Velvet Goldmine's 10th anniversary for our 'Musical of the Month' club (delayed until nov. 11th), a conversation with Sally Hawkins from Happy-Go-Lucky, some thoughts on Slumdog Millionaire, a Rachel Getting Married interview (it goes wide this Friday). Plus: Gone With the Wind vs. The English Patient as 'Best Pictures from the Outside In' resumes.