Archive for luglio, 2009
Just popping in to do the monthly wrap-up. Thanks again to my guest bloggers for filling in this week. I'll be back on Sunday night / Monday morning. But here were 10 highlights of July if you want to relive or peruse for anything you may have missed.  August Osage County the tour (have you bought your tickets?) and the movie. This casting thread is one of the most commented upon ever here at the Experience Schindler's List & Mrs. Miniver Two hit WW II dramas compared and discussed Signatures: Lisa Kudrow Adam's sharp take on her bitter comedy Best of the Year (Thus Far) like it says Best Actress 1987 & 1988 two extraordinary years for actressing  Broken Sword / Arm an ode to Tony Leung (500) Days of Summer vodcast Katey thinks Summer isn't fleshed out enough. Nathaniel thinks her blank slate is appropriate for the film. Reader response varies... Beauty Break: Catsuit rooowwr Moore and The Bening Are All Right the most exciting movie news I'd heard in a long time. Now I'm hearing it might be a TV project (?) Nerdy Potter Nathaniel makes the news. Not in the way he had hoped to. Coming in August: The final few "Streep at 60" pieces, Adventureland, Inglourious Basterds, District 9, Julie & Julia, Silence of the Lambs, Unforgiven, Casablanca and Going My Way and hopefully some sort of relaunch of the proper "seasons" of TFE's most popular series just in time for Fall.
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The Villagio Mall’s IMAX 3D Theater in Doha, Qatar will be opening in August. The Peninsula reports:
The Villaggio mall will open its 13 cinemas, one an IMAX 3D theatre, during the latter part of this month.
Mohammad Al Ali, general manager of the Qatar Bahrain Cinema Company, the company that will manage the Villaggio Mall cinemas, said they would probably open the cinemas in the third or last week of August.
Al Ali said the company was finishing the décor and the carpeting and looking into some other details. “Once we’ve finished, we will announce the grand opening.”
According to him, the cinemas at Villaggio will differ from those at the City Center mall in concept. “The bigger ones will have around 150 seats, the small ones 125 and the IMAX 3D theatre will have around 380. The IMAX will have an entirely different concept and seating,” said Al Ali.
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 Of all the directors in all of Hollywood, could anyone have predicted that the person who’d end up replacing Gore Verbinski at the wheel of the multi-billion dollar "Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise would be the guy who scored an Oscar nod for “Chicago”? You remember, the 2002 musical about those lovely, murderous ladies? The one staring Richard freaking Gere?
Well, according to a report in Variety, that’s what is gonna happen: Rob Marshall is set to assume directing duties for the fourth "Pirates." Hey, it could be an inspired choice or a demented one—who’s to say at this point? So let’s take a look at some reasons why Marshall’s “Pirates” might rock or why it instead might stink, er, sink.
The Geisha Factor: No one knows in which direction the fourth film will go. But star Johnny Depp has got a nifty idea for his Jack Sparrow character, and it might be a perfect fit for Marshall, whose second film was “Memoirs of a Geisha.”
“It could be anything at this point," Depp said during a recent press roundtable. “Jack Sparrow could be in some kind of geisha clothing.”
Rob, are ya listening?
Sing Us A Song: Every once in a while, Jack or another character, adrift on land or sea, likes to break into song: “Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum” or something a little less of an arrrr-ye-mateys cliché. And—come on—that theme song is all sorts of awesome. So does Marshall's talent for seamlessly integrating music into a film qualify him to handle the franchise? Nope. But it sure doesn’t hurt.
We’ve Been There Before: “Chicago” is based on a musical from the ‘70s. “Geisha” is based on a best-selling 1997 novel by Arthur Golden. Marshall seems to have no problem picking up someone else’s work and, at the very least, not screwing it up. Has he ever stepped into a franchise that has grossed $2.6 billion over three movies? No, but how many folks out there have?
Action? What Action?: This is where we get worried. Can Marshall guide the sword fights, the ship-vs.-ship battles, the explosions—all that freaking action that made the three “Pirate” films so much fun? This will be the big question for franchise fans. The answer won't arrive until the movie does.
Character, Character, Character: Marshall may not have already displayed his Verbinski-esque facility with action, but any director worth his folding chair will tell you that story and action don’t mean a thing if the audience doesn't care about the characters swinging from ropes, dodging fiery cannon balls and otherwise risking life and limb on the high seas. In “Chicago,” Marshall made clear that he can make us worry about and root for murders and an amoral lawyer. A dreadlocked pirate and his adversaries shouldn’t prove too much of a challenge.
What do you think about the directing choice? Is there another director you would like to see take over for Verbinski?
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 Hello, Jose from "Movies Kick Ass" here. On July 31st, 1919 the Weimar Constitution was approved in the German Empire giving path to one of the most complicated eras in European history. Weimar was a limbo of sorts between both World Wars, time during which Germany sunk in political and economical problems, but flourished culturally; Brecht, UFA, Expressionism and Bauhaus were a few of the things that came out from this period. But thinking of a perfect way to sum up the entire history of Weimar only two people come to mind: Sally Bowles and Lola Lola.  They are the "heroines" from their respective films. Sally in "Cabaret" and Lola Lola in "The Blue Angel". They are linked by their profession (cabaret performers/aspiring actresses), their exuberant sex appeal and their love of divine decadence. But beyond the obvious comparisons (it's obvious that Lola and UFA films inspired Christopher Isherwood who wrote the book "Cabaret" is based upon...) there is something fascinating about how both these women embody Weimar history. Sally and Lola take special pleasure in luxurious goods. One fur coat in "Cabaret" goes through all the phases of hyperinflation; first it becomes an almost guilt-inducing device of desire and consequentially turns into a life saving object covering her medical expenses. Then there's the whole issue of how cabarets blossomed amidst the upcoming political chaos brewing with the Nazi party. Isherwood, who wrote about homosexual experiences from autobiographical facts, came to Berlin because being gay was still illegal in his home country. Sally in "Cabaret" is involved in a love triangle with two other men who also have feelings for each others.  Sex got so out of control in Weimar that a law was passed forbidding pornography. This whole issue in fact triggers the plot in "The Blue Angel" as a bitter professor (Emil Jannings) visits a cabaret to prevent his students from visiting it. Sally and Lola became iconic characters for the actresses who portrayed them, but more than that they should be seen as fascinating representations of history through different eyes. Lola was a portrait of her times, Sally is a postmodernist vision.  Interestingly enough the very nature of their professions announces their eventual cinematic relevance; the word "cabaret" comes from the Latin "camera" (which means "small room") which later gave name to the photographic device. If their whole history is contained in something as elemental as a word, then a line from "The Blue Angel" sums up the way in which the characters' incite public reaction. "You've got a false conception of your profession" says someone to Lola. He might as well have been talking about the way the modern world has come to perceive Weimar.
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Posted by John Constantine
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 I asked, and you all answered with your clicks. To recap briefly for those who have just returned from Mars: Rachelle Lefevre, who played Victoria in "Twilight" and the upcoming "New Moon," has been replaced by Bryce Dallas Howard for the third (and presumably fourth) film adaptation of Stephenie Meyer's four-part vampire romance series. Lefevre was not amused. "Twilight" studio Summit Entertainment was even less amused. Words were exchanged and things got ugly.
That all went down in the space of a day. Not even a full day. Since "Twilight" is all the rage right now, I figured I'd poll you readers to get an idea of how the casting switch changes your interest in the series, if it does at all. The numbers are in now and... well... they surprise me a little bit. Only a little though.
The majority of you (58%) are disappointed with how things have gone down, but remain undeterred in your love for the franchise. You'll continue seeing the movies, through "New Moon" and "Eclipse" to the "Breaking Dawn" finale, and thumbing through the books. Also, shrieking at anyone who will listen how dreamy that RPattz is. 'Natch.
The big surprise is that 20% of you are over it. You'll see "New Moon," but the loss of Lefevre is enough that you have no interest in continuing to support the movie franchise after that. This is doubly surprising since only 14% of you are actually happy with Howard and interested in seeing how she delivers the character.
A mere 5% -- more than I expected, but a small number nonetheless -- are finished here and now, with no plans for even a "New Moon" ticket purchase. And 3% want to know "what a 'Twilight' is," though I think we can chalk that up to there being a couple of jokers out there in the peanut gallery.
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It's Nathaniel (not quite back yet) just popping in to point you to this week's Towleroad column in which I swoon for Hugh Dancy despite having insufficient interest in his new picture, Adam.  Have you seen the shameless TV spot for the movie? It opens by declaring him an Oscar contender for Best Actor and then cuts immediately to Adam explaining that he has Asperger's Syndrome. Way to sell stereotypes, marketing team. "Watch this movie! Mental disorders = Oscar Gold!" In real life Hugh Dancy is still hooked up with Claire Danes. In the movie he's fallen for Rose Byrne (sans Glenn Close). But in my dreamworld he's still macking on Patrick Wilson -- the most exciting moment in Evening (2007) by an incalculably large margin -- or having threesomes with Julianne Moore or... What? Shut up. *
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Posted by Melanie McFarland
The longest running science fiction series in television history, “Doctor Who,” is a beloved pop culture icon in its native U.K. Among U.S. viewers, however, coming out as a Whovian used to be a bit risky. Self-identified geeks once considered the classic series to be a little too geeky even for them.
BBC America, Russell T. Davies and David Tennant changed all that over the past few years — Tennant, especially. For three seasons the gregarious actor portrayed The Doctor with a combination of goofiness and gravitas, making him charismatic, sexy and at times even sinister. We believed it when centuries-old Doctor’s companions fell for him because, after all, we had too. Tennant and Davies’ recent Comic-Con appearance drove the fans into a frenzy.
That’s why the news that Tennant’s run on “Doctor Who” would be coming to an end made our hearts ache a little. The journey for his incarnation of The Doctor is already in the process of ending. “Doctor Who: Planet of the Dead” had its BBC America premiere last Sunday. The next special, “The Waters of Mars,” arrives in the fall and enlists a new companion named Adelaide (Lindsay Duncan, familiar to “Rome” fans as Servilia of the Junii). Tennant’s final special arrives at what would otherwise be the most wonderful time of the year, Christmas. Davies confirmed that it’s called “The End of Time,” and it will be at least an hour and a half, maybe more, with commercials.
The decision to leave wasn’t easy for Tennant but, as he explained to critics on Wednesday, “I like the fact that I stand a chance of leaving an audience and myself wanting more rather than people asking when I’ve leaving.”
For the record, Davies announced he’d be handing the reins off to Steven Moffat in May 2008, before Tennant decided it was time for him to go — he hit us with that news last October.
The actor described the feeling of abandoning the role that brought him such love and acclaim in both the U.K. and the states as both very exciting, and very sad. “It’s thrilling to be handing over the show in such good health, actually…we’ve all come on this journey together, and it feels like we’re coming to the end of something very special.”
As do we.
***Warning: Slight spoilers lie ahead.***
Davies explains the arc for Tennant’s final four specials in a note on BBC America’s site: “The mysterious Ood have told him that his song is ending soon; something deadly is waiting on Mars; Donna’s grandfather, Wilf, is experiencing strange visions; and a powerful psychic warns the Doctor that “He will knock four times…” The end is coming. But will the Doctor, and the human race, survive?”
Understandably, this Doctor isn’t ready for his number to be up. “I think this Doctor likes being this Doctor,” Tennant explained. “And I think he’s raging against the dying of the light…He knows the sands of time are running out. He’s been told. And the bell is tolling for him, and he doesn’t want to go quietly.”
Up next for Tennant is a television version of “Hamlet.” He’s also in the midst of shooting a film called “St. Trinians 2.”
The next Doctor, 26-year-old Matt Smith, is a relative newcomer and the youngest of all the actors to play the last Time Lord. Karen Gillan was recently unveiled as his new companion. The first of their adventures will premiere in spring 2010.
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Among surfer Kelly Slater’s upcoming projects is Giant Screen film, Ultimate Wave Tahiti, and perhaps a rumored surfing tour. The Los Angeles Times Outposts blog investigates:
Is Kelly Slater’s rumored surfing tour finally taking shape?
An appearance by the nine-time world champion at the X Games on Thursday night might be perceived as an indication that dealings are being finalized, since ESPN, which runs the X Games, is the rumored partner in the deal.
But it might also be true, as Slater’s agent claims, that Slater was merely attending the X Games as part of a birthday celebration with family and friends, before leaving for Tahiti to continue filming for his upcoming Imax film.
Neither side is talking openly about a possible start to a tour as early as next year. However, a source reasonably close to the situation said there has been some backlash from some of the surfers on the Assn. of Surfing Professionals’ World Tour, and from execs within the surfing industry.
According to reports circulating on surfing websites earlier this month–none of them confirmed–Slater’s tour would consist of eight events and offer a total purse of more than $1 million. Even last-place finishers would earn $40,000 per event. Several top pros were rumored to have joined Slater in the new endeavor.
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Broken Sword / Arm an ode to Tony Leung
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