Happy Birthday to
Jill Clayburgh
65 today
Jill's another star from the 70's who'd I'd like to see a lot more of in new films, but alas she's restricting herself to television in the curious "Dirty Sexy Money".
Thursday, 30 April 2009
Jill Clayburgh
Wednesday, 29 April 2009
Daniel Day-Lewis
Happy Birthday to
Daniel Day-Lewis
52 today
It's truly an honour to say happy birthday to this titan of the art. Absolutely breathtaking in everything he does, coming up is the 8 1/2 musical, Nine and working with Scorcese again on the Francisan monks in Japan drama Silence. If nothing else I bet both will have fantastic soundtracks.
Tuesday, 28 April 2009
Trailers - Everlasting Moments
I'm going to be optimistic and put out the Everlasting Moments trailer agian. Last time I did this it took only a couple of days before it was delayed at the cinema, so fingers crossed that they won't mess with the schedules this time.
The film comes out on 22 May (hopefully).
Ann-Margret
Happy Birthday to
Ann-Margret
68 today
I think I'm safe in saying Ann-Margret is the only person to ever get an Oscar nomination for swimming in baked beans. It is totally deserved, mind.
Monday, 27 April 2009
Anouk Aimee
Happy Birthday to
Anouk Aimee
77 today
How many actresses can claim to have inspired Fellini, Bertolucci and Lelouch. Just one, so far as I know, the beautifully serene Anouk.
Saturday, 25 April 2009
Al Pacino
Happy Birthday to
Al Pacino
69 today
That's right, The Godfather is 69. The whole aging process begins to sink in when you realise the greatest actor of his generation is close to his seventh decade. It may be that his best is behind him, we're definitely in the shouty Al period, but I'm sure his King Lear will be something worth waiting for.
Friday, 24 April 2009
Out this week (24/04/09)
By now you probably know I'm not really here, I hope to be watching Button and Hamilton practising on the track instead, however if the mood took me I wouldn't mind the opportunity to see this weeks big release State of Play, easily the recommendation. I'd also like to apologise if there's a Bollywood picture opening that I've missed, sometimes the releases are announced until a couple of days before so I may not have known about it - I promise to do a clear up exercise next weekend.
FAQ about Time Travel
Putting together Anna Faris and that bloke off the "IT crowd" sounds like an odd move for a film, but this lo-fi brit comedy about a group of losers discovering a worm-hole in their local may raise some chuckles.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Shirley Maclaine
Happy Birthday to
Shirley Maclaine
75 today
Who can possible argue that Shirley wasn't beautiful, even if it's in an unusual elfin kind of way. She's still working too, although mainly it's utter crud. Can no-one find her a part that deserves her talent?
Thursday, 23 April 2009
Judy Davis
Happy Birthday to
Judy Davis
54 today
Judy doesn't do as much as she could (why do I only like women who won't work). Her last film was in 2006 - although I suppose she makes more money in TV so who can blame her.
Wednesday, 22 April 2009
Sahara
1943. Dir: Zoltan Korda. Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Bruce Bennett, J. Carroll Naish, Llyod Bridges and Rex Ingram. ●●○○○
Good news! I'm not talking about the godawful 2005 film with Matthew McConaughey and Penelope Cruz, but the mediocre 1943 film with Humphrey Bogart.
I suppose it's not this films fault that it's just a slice or propaganda with cardboard characters and unrealistic plotting, it certainly isn't the first piece of propaganda to exploit the 20th century's most inclusive artform: cinema. However as much as I prefer his politics Zoltan Korda is neither Eisenstein or Riefenstahl. Instead he pits a ragtag group of Allied soldiers with one US tank escaping from Tobruk against a battalian of thirsty Nazis.
Tuesday, 21 April 2009
Trailers - Angels and Demons
The cinema's are beginning to warm up for the blockbuster season, Wolverine is tracking well, Star Trek is getting previews, but the big one in May I'm looking forward to is Angels & Demons the better written prequel of The Da Vinci Code. I doubt it needs any introduction, but in case it involves Tom Hanks running around the Vatican and CERN trying to stop a plot to blow up all the Cardinals. Here's the second trailer. Enjoy.
The film is released on 15 May.
Monday, 20 April 2009
Jessica Lange
Happy Birthday to
Jessica Lange
60 today
I do worry about Miss Lange. She's a fantastic actress who is still getting rave reviews (see the web buzz about Grey Gardens) however whenever you see her she seems a bit nervy. Maybe it's all the doomed women she played earlier in her career (Patsy Cline, Frances Farmer).
Sunday, 19 April 2009
Personal News (19/04/09)
I've been quiet on the personal news front for the last couple of weeks, but then things have been quite quiet for me, until now.
Deep Self is filming tomorrow and Tuesday. Cross fingers for good weather. And that I don't look too bad naked in digital...
The rehearsals for Lifelong Yearning have now started. Will finally get the whole cast together today, as we complete the blocking. Tickets are on sale at the various venues if you're interested. Kiddrminster Rose, Oldbury Rep, Highbury and Baron's Court London.
IN non-acting news I am off on holiday this week, after filming of Deep Self finishes I'm off to London and then flying out to Bahrain for the Grand Prix (and to visit my sister who lives out there). I've schedules the birthday, trailers, new release and review posts to go out without me (hang on, why do I do any of this I don't appear to be needed at all). Film News will have to have a week off, and as you know the running's been a little off the past couple of weeks. I will get back into that on my return (with a trainig schedule and everything).
I hope you all have a great time in my absense - I know I will.
Catalina Sandino Moreno
Happy Birthday to
Catalina Sandino Moreno
28 today
Catalina became a virtual overnight success following her breakthrough performance in Maria, Full of Grace (pictured) as a Columbian girl forced to be a drugs mule to escape her poverty stricken life. Since then there has been a number of quiet roles in high profiles films, including the Che biopics.
Saturday, 18 April 2009
Film News (18/04/09)
For a couple of days it was pretty touch and go whether I would have an article this week, the news from Hollywood has been so slow. Eventually we had one fantastic piece of news so I've coupled that with a couple of non stories and here we go:
Somewhere
The best piece of news is that Sofia Coppola will be directing another film about alienation and disconnection from society. This time starring Stephen Dorff (was it only last weekend I was drooling over him in Cold Creek Manor - is it a coincidence or is Sofia reading my mind) as a self centred actor (huh?) with Elle Fanning turning up for some love and life lessons from her father. Like the beautiful Lost in Translation, Somewhere will be predominantly set in a hotel: LA's Chateau Marmont.
I have been a fan of Coppola Jnr. since The Virgin Diaries, and this project should be right up her alley so count me in.
James Woods
Happy Birthday to
James Woods
62 today
We're wishing a happy day to one of cinema's most accomplished sleazeballs. And a hero to all of us.
Friday, 17 April 2009
Out this week (17/04/09)
I'm unlikely to make it to a cinema this weekend, I promise to update you about it on Sunday's Personal News post (and yes, I'll actually do one this weekend), but if I were I'd definitely be recommending In the Loop, the sort of big screen adaptation of the influential BBC comedy series.
Before I Forget
Fancy a night with depressed old men, not taking their HIV medication and picking up hustlers? No, it's not Broad Street but this new French pic. Jacques Nolot writes, directs and stars.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Joan Lorring
Happy Birthday to
Joan Lorring
83 today
Joan's career trajectory is somewhat strange. After a couple of minor roles she won the coveted "Bessie" in The Corn is Green getting herself in the family way to ruin her betters (so it seems). And then pretty quickly she faded from sight. Retired now, of course, but I'd still like to wish her a glorious birthday.
Wednesday, 15 April 2009
Monster
2003. Dir: Patty Jenkins. Starring: Charlize Theron, Christina Ricci, Bruce Dern, Lee Tergesen and Annie Corley. ●●●○○
I think we can all agree that Charlize Theron is one of the most beautiful women on the planet, and that Aileen Wuornos the Daytone Beach prostitute - whose life story forms the basis for Monster - is not. Yet somewhere along the line it was felt best that Cahrlize take the role and gain 30lbs in order to play it correctly.
That sort of dedication to a role, or to unlikely casting, is commendable. However I am forced to ask why they did it? Sure Charlize is a good actress, and having her deglamming probably sold extra tickets and maybe without that the oscar wouldn't have been won, but surely there are some chunky blond actresses that could have equally taken the role.
Tuesday, 14 April 2009
Trailers - Drag me to Hell
Today the internet is awash, and everyone I trust is swooning, over the trialer for Antichrist, the new horror from Lars von Trier. However here at Runs Like a Gay I take a slower pace on trailers, and try to advertise for films that have release dates. So here's the trailer for Drag me to Hell, Sam Raimi's return to the genre.
Whilst it doesn't look as creepy as Antichrist, or as funny as Raimi's Evil Dead trilogy early word of mouth is fine and I will admit I'm looking forward to being scared agian.
Drag me to Hell opens on 29 May.
Julie Christie
Happy Birthday to
Julie Christie
68 today
Julie is one of the greatest actresses and most beautiful women of her generation, who doesn't work as often as she used but can still pull out an incredible performance when needed, see Away From Her for example. I'm most looking forward to seeing her next in the collection of shorts: New York, I Love You.
Sunday, 12 April 2009
Film News (11/04/09)
Easter has effectively made it a four day week so you would have thought news would slow down - wrong I'm afraid. In fact there's been some great stuff about and all for films which are completely new to me.
Dream House and Scarpa
Morgan Creek, the production company behind such hits as True Romance and Ace Ventura have had a poor couple of years, but this week their new figurehead Rick Nicita annouced 3 films which are being worked on. Two of which may be worth seeing. Scarpa is about Greg Scarpa Sr, the FBI highest level informant. I'm also fascinated by Dream House, set to be directed by Jim Sheridan. I love iot when serious directors slum it for the money and this is about a family who move into a house where the previous father went a bit crazy and killed the family, and now he wants his house back... Sounds like some serious slumming, and eerily similar to Cold Creek Manor which gave us Stephen Dorff putting his snakes around his old home. If Dream House is anything close to that I'm there.
Stephen Dorff - snake not pictured.
Andy Garcia
Happy Birthday to
Andy Garcia
53 today
Garcia began acting in films in the early 80s but it wasn't until The Untouchables in 1987 that people began to take notice of his talent. Three years later, in the ill judged third installment of the Godfather films, Garcia stole the films from the likes of Al Pacino and Diane Keaton. Since then he's not managed to get the roles his talent deserves, although I am looking forward to seeing him in New York, I Love You.
Saturday, 11 April 2009
Out this week (10/04/09)
First of all let me tell you how sorry I was for not posting this yesterday, or even until extremely late today. I went out, unexpectedly, on Thursday night and didn't get home until 8. Then the internet connection was up and down for most of yesterday. And today I've been off doing family stuff. Anyway it's not difficult to choose which film to see this week - it's foreign language and it's a horror, but against all of my usual prejudices I'm recommending Let the Right one in.
Dragonball Evolution
On the Runs Like a Gay excitometer I tend to avoid the extreme scores. A film that bad or good looking must be rare and treated such. However for this westernised adapatation of a kids manga series, which has even flopped in Japan I'm willing to make an exception.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●○○○○○○○○○
Joel Grey
Happy Birthday to
Joel Grey
77 today
Today's birthday is for another iconic star, but unfortunately one who couldn't reach out past one iconic role. Joel Grey simply is the emcee in Cabaret. To celebrate here he is:
Friday, 10 April 2009
Max von Sydow
Happy Birthday to
Max von Sydow
80 today
To have one iconic cinematic image is something to be treasured but to have 2 (playing death at chess and arriving to exorcism the demons) is surely incredible - so much so I can't think of anyone else with two - feel free to disagree. Next up for Max is Scorcese's Shutter Island, as I remember the role requires sitting in a big armchair and sounding sinister - that sounds like von Sydow to a tee.
Wednesday, 8 April 2009
Into the Wild
2007. Dir: Sean Penn. Starring: Emile Hirsch, Marcia Gay Harden, William Hurt, Catherine Keener and Vince Vaughn. ●●●●●
I won't be going to the cinema again until after my holiday so it's a number of random film reviews until then. First up was this smart and inventive biopic about the 21 year old Christopher McCandless (Hirsch) who gave away his college fund and led a life on the road, eventually escaping to the wilds in Alaska.
The film intercuts between 2 or 3 different time periods. The first, or last chronologically, is based around Chris' life in the wild, living in the Magic Bus (an abandoned vehicle in the Alaskan wilderness) and being completely self-sufficent. The second strand, which forms the largest proportion of the film, follows the previous 2 years as Chris leaves his parents and travels America, the third is the narration and flashbacks as witnessed by his sister Carine (Jena Malone). During those 2 years of wandering the earth, Chris encounters a number of other people who he alternatively learns from, and helps.
Tuesday, 7 April 2009
Trailers - Cheri
I can't think of a better time to show this trailer than the week Nathaniel R over at the Film Experience has announced his predictions for the best actress oscar nominations next year. Of course it also comes out in 4 and a half weeks.
He's a big fan of La Pfeiffer and naturally has chosen her for one of his slots. I'm more wary, but only because I think there can only be one woman over 40 in the group - and this year it will be Helen Mirren. Nevertheless I am sure the picture and performance will be great. Here's the trailer.
I don't think I've seen a trailer which emphasises the laughing of the characters (and the costumes) in a long time, and now I'm wondering whether it's because the tone of the film is decidedly comic or because Frears is showing us the courtesans use laughter and gaiety to hide thier true feelings (which certainly would be in keeping wit the book).
Russell Crowe
Happy Birthday to
Russell Crowe
45 today
I don't care what anyone says, there is no way on earth I'd throw him out of bed. Yum yum. Plenty of chance to see Crowe in the next couple of years, too. First up is State of Play at the end of this month. Early reviews are good, even if it doesn't reach the heights of the BBC mini-series it's adapted from. Next year we have him in Lincoln Green for Robin Hood, and he's rumoured to be starring in the Aussie drama Dirt Music.
Running - Fartlek
Another example of fartlek training. 6 minutes normal, followed by 4 sets of 1 minute fast with 2 minute cool, then 4 of 30 seconds with a minute slow, then jog home.
Overall 5.6 km in 31 minutes or 10.9 kmph.
Sunday, 5 April 2009
Film News (04/04/09)
Quite a slow news week - the biggest story throughout was the Wolverive leak, but I'm not covering that - as it's hardly an interesting story of film development. We also had Aprils fools which led to a number of false rumours starting on the web. Hopefully none of what I report here is one of those. If it is then I apologise - it seems I'm the April fool.
Eastern Promises 2
David Cronenberg has exclusively revealed to MTV that he and Viggo Mortensen are considered a sequel to 2007s Eastern Promises. This will mark the first time Cronenberg has considered a sequel to any of his films, even though many have had the story continued by other directors. I think this may work, at the end of the film we understood what Viggo was doing, but not how he was planning to proceed and a sequel would be able to carry on the story of Nikolai. I don't know which other characters will continue - I suspect Vincent Cassel will retrun as the unstable and untrustworthy Kirill however I can't see a continuation of the Naomi Watts storyline - it was the least satisfying part of the first film and it wouldn't make sense to bring her back into the criminal world she really has nothing to do with.
Running
Staying over at my parents this weekend, so just a quick run about town - although managed faster than I have done in a while.
6.5 km in 35 minutes or 11.1 kmph.
Saturday, 4 April 2009
Running
I should have been sleeping in - it's a Saturday people - however instead I went out for a bit of a jog.
18.3 km in 1 hour 49 minutes. That's 10.1 kmph, but I don't mind because it was a long one.
I actually had intended it to be about 1 km longer, however I reached Dudley tunnel which has no tow path. Next time, I'll know to take a different route!
Robert Downey Jr
Happy Birthday to
Robert Downey Jr.
44 today
Robert currently riding high on his success in 2008 (Iron Man and Tropic Thunder), both commercially sound and picking up an oscar nod for the second. Over the next year he's got The Soloist (meh comments from Showest) and Sherlock Holmes coming up. That should keep him in the spotlight for at least next couple of years.
Friday, 3 April 2009
Out this week (03/04/09)
There's a big bun fight at the cinema this weekend between two films both with the potnetial to be massive hits. And there's little else in the way of counter-programming. Like all cinephiles I will have to decide on which side of the fence I belong, and fight for one of these films to be victorious. With that in mind I'm selcting Monsters vs. Aliens as the film of the week.
The Boat that Rocked
Richard Curtis (Four Weddings and a Funeral) writes and directs this light hearted romp set on a 1960's pirate radio ship. With every film Curtis makes he seems to slip further away from his best work. Shame because it's a nice looking cast.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●○○○○○
Marsha Mason
Happy Birthday to
Marsha Mason
67 today
There was a time in the late70s when you could barely go to the cinema to watch a comedy wihout Marsha Mason popping up in it. But then Neil Simon's popularity waned and as she was tied to his style so did Marsha. She still pops up in the odd film, and works on TV and the stage, however I'd like some to see her in another top rated comedy. Come on Apatow, give her a call, there's bound to be a part for her somewhere.
Thursday, 2 April 2009
Linda Hunt
Happy Birthday to
Linda Hunt
64 today
This diminutive actress is still the only person to win an oscar for playing someone of the opposite gender. That's quite a feat, really. She's also the narrator for the tremendously popular God Of War computer game series! Amazing.
Running
So much for that Farlek yesterday making me any better - instead I recorded my slowest run in a long time this morning:
4.3 km in 25 minutes. A dreadful 10.1 kmph.
Wednesday, 1 April 2009
The Life Before Her Eyes
2007. Dir: Vadim Perelman. Starring: Uma Thurman, Evan Rachel Wood, Eva Amurri, Gabrielle Brennan and Brett Cullen. ●●●○○
I had been warned, but people whose opinion I trust, to avoid this film. I had been told it was not worth the ticket price. However I am a hardy soul so armed with my £7 I trudged across Birmingham to see The Life Before Her Eyes. It is a deeply flawed film, that goes without question, however it is not as bad as it's reputation may suggest. I would also like to apologise if I leave any spoilers (minor or huge) in this review. As you will see if you ever watch the film it is difficult to discuss without the plot twists front and centre.
Talking of the plot the action flips between Uma Thurman in her perfect marriage with her gawpy eyed child and Evan Rachel Wood as her younger self in the turbulent days leading to a Columbine style tragedy. Uma adult Diana is, during the week of the 15th aniversary facing up to the horror of the incident and especially over the memory of her and her best friend Maureen (Amurri) deciding which one of them will live.
Debbie Reynolds
Happy Birthday to
Debbie Reynolds
77 today
Don't cry, dear. Don Lockwood is in love with you - you're his lucky star. Debbie is one of the greatest "stars" of the fifties, even if she is limited as an actress or singer she knows how to sell her persona. Plus she created Carrie Fisher so it's all good.
Running - Fartlek training
Yes, you read that right. This morning whilst out on the road I did some fartlek training. That's fast for a bit then slow then back up to fast and slow again etc.
Overall 5.5 km in 30 minutes or when rounded 10.8 kmph. When 6 fast slow cycles.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
