Happy Birthday to
Anjelica Huston
59 today
Anjelica had one of the greatest starts in show business that you could imagine, the daughter of the legendary director John Huston and granddaughter of Walter Huston. Yet she chose very much to go it alone, minor roles and walk-ons filled her early years slowly building her own reputation, eventually picking up an oscar for Prizzi's Honor. I'm still pretty unsure about the twitcher movie The Big Year coming next year, but I am a little more interested knowing she's in it.
Thursday, 8 July 2010
Anjelica Huston
Wednesday, 7 July 2010
Whatever Works
2009. Dir: Woody Allen. Starring: Larry David, Evan Rachel Wood, Ed Begley Jr, Patricia Clarkson and Conleth Hill. ●○○○○
The philosophy of this film, which Larry David's Boris is keen to point out on numerous occasions, is that life is hard and transient enough that we should all strive for our own temporary measures of happiness, for Whatever Works. At heart it's a message of tolerance and forgiveness, that happiness is so fleeting we should hold on to it however it's obtained and not to begrudge other people's methods. Beautiful. Unfortunately the movie had the opposite effect on me, I left the cinema less happy then when I went in and I'm willing to forgo other people's happiness if this sort of tangled mess is the result.
I'll start in a positive way by listing the elements of the film I liked: the concept of Boris breaking the fourth wall and alienating the other characters was interesting (although it wasn't done well or with any consistency), Evan Rachel Wood gave a passable ditzy blond of the Mira Sorvino school of Allen heroines, the score was the usual easy jazz we've come to expect from Allen's movies and... No, don't expect any more, that's all I liked.
The flimsy plot follows bitter, nihilistic, semi-suicidal Boris, and the path of his relationship with Wood's Southern runaway Melody. Boris is clearly the Allen proxy but David shouts his way through the performance with none of the nebbishnish and self-deprecation that would have made the character work, he's not even rude and funny which would bring the audience some way around liking him. You have to wonder what naive Melody sees in him, and no the Pygmalian references in the film won't wash because Boris takes no pleasure in either the transformation (if there even is one) or the process of enabling this transformation.
Time, according to one of the direct to camera monologues (that's one where no-one notices him as opposed to the ones where people stare and question), passes and out of the blue Melody's parents played with gusto but no feeling by Patricia Clarkson and Ed Begley Jnr arrive separately as gargantuan stereotypes of deep south prejudices. Allen clearly doesn't know what to do with people outside of his usual social groupings has them immediately and without much warning lose their previous fears and anxieties and become a nymphomaniac and proud homosexual respectively.
I would say it was the influence of Allen's own Manhattan that sets these people free of their bonds, but you'd hardly know it was set in New York. The heady atmosphere of the city ever-present in Allen's greatest movies is barely noticeable with the location feeling the same as any other major metropolis.
All this, and much more, is squeezed into the 92 minute film making it feel like an eternity had passed before the end credits.
I want to end with more positivity, to praise Clarkson's costumes or the set decoration of David's duplex, but I can't. Sure these elements work, but they're uninventive and bordering on the cliched. Perhaps if I end with the one line that made me laugh out loud (and bear in mind it was an empty theatre so I didn't have an excuse for not guffawing often). Boris has just awoken from a nightmare panicking about is imminent demise - I did say the character was like a neuroses greatest hits for Allen didn't I? - and Melody suggests watching a film to calm down:
Boris I have stared into the abyss.
Melody We'll watch something else then.
Even that wasn't as good as I remember.
Tuesday, 6 July 2010
Tuesday Trailers - Knight and Day
I bet you thought Tuesday Trailers was gone for good. Luckily what August lacks in depth of movies it makes up in breadth so there's a fair smattering of trailers to keep us going through July. First up is James Mangold's latest action adventure starring Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz. You'll note I started pluging this on Tom's birthday, although it made it into the top 20 most anticipated films so it's hardly new to the radar. From the trailer I'm getting a Romancing the Stone vibe, with plenty of cheese, should be fun whilst it lasts. What do you think?
Knight and Day opens on 06 August 2010.
Sylvester Stallone
Happy Birthday to
Sylvester Stallone
64 today
Let's be honest, if you were looking for a bunch of badass mercenaries to keep you safe this summer it wouldn't be the smug A-Team, the weird Predators or the highly prophetic Losers. Hands down it would be The Expendables with Stallone directing, writing and starring you know any loose drug cartels are going to toast by the end.
Sunday, 4 July 2010
Personal News (04/07/10)
Another week with little to expand on my personal musings, I've not been applying for anything on the basis I only have one month before I start my corporate contract so I can't audition for anything too long term - I also have a ridiculous beard for Baby Jesus Freak, which limits my casting opportunities. I suppose I could talk about how I completed my tax return today, 7 months ahead of the deadline I'll have you know... But it's really not that interesting. All I need now is a rich sugar daddy to pay it.
We're getting very close to Baby Jesus Freak, now. It's on in just under 2 weeks, tickets are available for the performances at The Continental, Preston - where we're performing as part of the Presto Tringe (Fringe) festival. They can be purchased here. Tickets for the Lass O'Gowrie, Manchester on 16-18, 26 and 28 July will be available soon, or on the door.
Oh, and if I haven't explained it the plot goes a little something like this:
Drunk at his mother’s funeral, Born Again Christian Daniel falls into bed with non-believer Lauren. Putting his mistake behind him, Daniel promptly falls in love with Beth. But, proving that God definitely has a sense of humour, Lauren phones with some news: she’s pregnant...
Eva Marie Saint
Happy Birthday to
Eva Marie Saint
86 today
During her heyday Eva Marie starred against most of the greatest lead actors of the time, including Marlon Brando, Cary Grant and Paul Newman, and used those moments to allow her own personality and talent to shine through. Looking back at her performances I am mostly impressed by her poise and decorum, an inner dignity that always shone through in the roles.
Saturday, 3 July 2010
Lies, damned lies (and Film News - 03/07/10)
OK, I'll admit it. There are two big fat elephants in the room. I want them to go away, you want them to go away, they're making it difficult to concentrate on the mushroom vol-au-vents of this weeks news and they don't go with furnishings at all. So if talking about the elephants can remove the elephants here goes. I am not interested in seeing Meryl Streep playing Margaret Thatcher, espeically not if it wil be directed by Phyllida Mamma Mia Lloyd. Mark Ruffalo has said he's working on a film adaptation of The Normal Heart - I've pretty much given up on my chances to appear in a local staged version of it (not that I've had a no yet) and it's still a little raw. Have they gone now? OK, lets move onto the rest of the news.
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
If you have any knowledge of the British involvement in Iraq you will know a Walter Mitty is a pejorative term for middle ranking intelligence officers who admit we went to war on a lie. That said the original 1947 film (below) starring Danny Kaye and directed by Norman Z. McLeod was a curious romp about a serial fantasist, continuously creating wild alternative lives to remove him from his dull day-job and overbearing mother until a real life adventure (involving crown jewels and shady European criminals) drags him out of his depth. There have been several attempts over the years to resurrect the character, with actors like Jim Carrey, Luke Wilson and Mike Myers all circling the role at one point. The latest star to have an interest is Sacha Baron Cohen, and he might just be able to make the remake a reality. Personally whilst I was underwhelmed by Borat I think he might just be perfect for the role, and will be able to bring both the cocksure attitude and the parcical action together.
Read on for spooky families, magical automatons, sequelitis, international terrorists and the production that's hacking itself to death, as well as the latest production updates from IMDb.
The Addams Family
Fans of the original Charles Addams cartoons (Right) depicting a gothic ghoulish family in an unspecified US location can rejoice as the stop-motion adaptation might not be a complete fabrication. Producer Christopher Meledandri has confirmed he is working on the project, with the aim of asking Tim Burton, or one of his close pals, to direct.
Hugo Cabret
Scorsese's Shutter Island follow-up started filming this week with an extensive list of thespian talent annouced to support Chloe Moretz, Ben Kingsley and Sacha Baron Chen (him again). Including the venerable Christopher Lee, Ray Winston and Jude Law. I'm not sure how they'll all fit into the Children's novel or who will play Melies, but as soon as I know more you'll be the first I share it with.
Mad Max: Furiosa
File this under rumours that make me mad. News from down under indicates that George Miller is prepping a second return to the Mad Max (original on the left, there will be no Mel this time round) universe to be filmed at the same time as Fury Road and to be released soon after. My advice: don't do it. Make one story, concentrate on that. If it does well then you can make a sequel. Thank you.
Nagasaki Deadline
As we anxiously await Spike Lee's feature follow-up to the disappointing Miracle at St. Anna (not that I'd know, it was never released here) we have been given a steady drip drip of potential projects. The latest is a terrorist themed thriller, in the vein of 24 with a FBI agent attempting to prevent two independent attacks on US soil. Lee has shown a shrewd hand in regards to action, with The Inside Man so this could be one to watch.
Scream 4
If you have been waiting 11 years for the fourth installment of the Scream franchise then please be wary that it might be dreadful. The production seems to be going hostface on itself with cast being replaced on a daily basis and even scriptwrite Kevin Williamson now shunned. On the plus side Mary McDonnell (Donnie Darko, Dances with Wolves, Battlestar Galactica) has joined the cast list. P.S. the killer is revealed if you star at the picture on the right until your brain fries.
By the way if you have been waiting for 11 years you should pop over to read Glenn Dunks at Stale Popcorn. He's reviewing the first three movies scene by scene. It's an utterly barmy endeavour, but great fun and worth dropping by for his witty and insightful work.
Production News
Once a month I scour IMDb, looking to see which films mentioned here have gone into production (only about 40% do, you know) and seeing if any other projects catch my eye. The ones covered include Steven Spielberg's War Horse, musical prodigy drama Song of Names, Cage and Kidman together at last in Trespass, the Tupac Shakur biopic, the second part of The Twilight Saga: Breaking (records) Dawn and The Chaperone, from the makers of WWF. As ever some other films came up which I had no idea about:
La Ligne Droite
French director Regis Wergnier, bst known for the Catherine Deneuve starring Indochine, has conceived, written and is now directing this under the radar number. My French is a little rusty, but I tink it means the straight line, which is suitably crytic.
Forrest of Mirrors
CIA conspiracy thriller about the cold war and US involvement in Latin America. Could be diverting, could be trash.
Janis Joplin
The most intriguing is this biopic about Rock and Blues singer Janis Joplin which has appeared under Fernando Meirelles (I was looking to see if 360 was in development). Janis tragically short life and astounding musical influence has been touted for a film for some time, but I can't remember seeing a story that attached it to Meirelles, in fact I've not seen anthing sine there were three projects all in development with Zooey Deschanel, Renee Zelleweger and Pink as propective Joplins back in 2006. I don't know if this is the real thing, but let's hope it is, Joplin's story is immensely cinematic.
Oh, and I must tell you this month we've reached the point when I can safely say I can do a 20 for 2011 (my annual countdown on my most anticipated films) as there are 20 films filming or in post set for next year that I want to see now. Admittedly for the time being they include Scream 4 but we're still six months away so plenty more can kick off. There is one film I mentioned today that's a shoe-in though. Like to hazard a guess which one?
Tom Cruise
Happy Birthday to
Tom Cruise
48 today
Born of the third of July doesn't have quite the same ring to it. Is Cruise bashing still in vogue, I thought his self-mocking performances in Knight and Day (which I am looking forward to) and as Les Grossman would've begun to dilute that although looking at the posts on various websites you'd think he regularly ate babies. I suppose you have the same arguement with Cruise as we had with Sean Hayes a few weeks, ago when the performance is good enough you can forget Hayes is gay and that Cruise is a bit weird, and with Cruise the vast majority of his performances make me forget so I guess I'm a fan.
Friday, 2 July 2010
Touch of the greenstuff (Out this week - 02 July 2010)
In the murky race for cinema receipts studios use marketing, the festival circuit and celebrity interviews all to maximise sales, but nothing is as good as the art of timing. Dreamworks' green skinned ogre is managing that feat by releasing in the UK the weekend after England were unceremoniously (and quite justly) dumped out of the Football World Cup. What's more as no other studio has anything near it's scope the film of week is Shrek Forever After.
The Ballroom
Perhaps the best way to celebrate the World Cup this week is this Brazilian drama, following a number of couple during one balmy night of ballroom dancing. There's some nice music and delicate tangoing in the trailer.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Crimefighters
Shoestring budget British comedy with vigilante justice York-style taking on the vicious wave of increasing crime. Looks silly, but fun, with some chucklesome sound mixing in the trailer.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Heartbreaker
Romain Duris stars as a professional relationship destroyer, yes you can pay him to romance one half of a couple in order to force them to break from their unsuitable partner. The Frenchman is unfeasibly attractive. Can someone please tell him I need to be rescued.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
I Hate Luv Storys
Imran Khan and Sonam Kapoor make a very attractive couple in this Bollywood-set Bollywood drama, shame the plot looks horribly contrived.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Lymelife
There are a couple of Culkin brothers, together on screen at last, heading up this semi-autobiographical look at disintegrating families from the inside from writer-directer Derick Martini. Maybe a bit too familiar to The Squid and the Whale to really shine, Timothy Hutton and Alec Baldwin are among the adults.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Nandalala
Don't hold your breath, this Sri Lankan film about an incredible journey undertaken by a seven year old and the child-like adult he's befriended has already been delayed twice. Look out for this again in about 5 months.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Shrek Forever After
If it ain't broke, don't fix it is the Dreamworks maxim for their green cash cow, and the constant OKayness of this franchise will continue. Expect the same fair to middling jokes to be trotted out along with the stars Mike Myers and Cameron Diaz. Eddie Murphy will still steal the show as donkey, and Julie Andrews is still selling out.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●○○○○○
Skeletons
Direct from the Edinburgh film festival it's a buddy comedy about travelling exorcists, a curious deadpan mix of gothic horror and double-glazing sales techniques. And Jason Isaacs' moustache.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
White Material
Isabelle Huppert makes it to UK cinemas two weeks in a row with Claire Denis' study of post-colonialism racial tensions in modern Africa. Her steely eyed plantation owner immediately brings to mind Deneuve in Indochine.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Thursday, 1 July 2010
Karen Black
Happy Birthday to
Karen Black
71 today
I agree wholeheartedly with Karen's sentiment in the photo, but you think she could have posed with a real gravestone, the whole pic looks a little fake. Few people work as much as Karen, 5 films currently in production according to imdb, tragically all of them look awful. You've got to slow down love and just take some passion pieces, please.
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