I love Blade Runner.

I *love* Blade Runner. I’ve even read the book, which has virtually nothing in common with the movie. I love Harrison Ford. I love Vangelis. I love the style, the story, the mood, it’s a great film. I even loved the “Director’s Cut” that came out in the early 90s. I saw it opening night on “the largest screen in Europe” (I was living in Paris at the time).

But give us a break, Ridley Scott. I mean seriously. You got a US theatrical version. Then a European cut. Then a TV version. Then the Director’s Cut. There have also been parallel versions of the original and the director’s cut used for festival and screening purposes. Keeping track? That’s 6 versions (there may be a 7th I’m omitting).

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Otis College of Art and Design will be presenting an evening live with John Waters next friday, October 12th in “This Filthy World”; the “one man show that has titillated audiences across America”. There will be a book signing after the event for: John Waters: Unwatchable, along with earlier publications, courtesy of Hennesy and Ingalls.

Regent Showcase Theater
614 N. La Brea, Los Angeles 90036
$30 General seating www.ticketweb.com or 866.468.3399

Then, Thursdy October 25 at 7:30 pm, Bobb Cotter presents a double feature of Santo vs. the Vampire Women and Wrestling Woman vs. the Aztec Mummy, starring Lorena Velasquez – also known as Va Va Va Voom Velasquez.

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Nick Park, creator of Wallace & Gromit, today announced that Aardman is working on a brand new Wallace & Gromit film.

The award winning creator of the cheese loving duo posted the information via video blog at www.wallaceandgromit.com. Unlike their successful feature outing, Curse of the Were Rabbit, the new film will be a half-hour. The new film, Trouble At’ Mill, joins A Close Shave and The Wrong Trousers in the half-hour category. Nick says on the blog, “I love making films for the cinema but the production of Chicken Run and Curse of the Were-Rabbit were virtually back to back and each film took 5 years to complete, Trouble At’ Mill will be so much quicker to make and I can’t wait to get back into production.”

The site describes the new film as follows: “Wallace and Gromit have a brand new business. The conversion of 62 West Wallaby Street is complete and impressive, the whole house is now a granary with ovens and robotic kneading arms. Huge mixing bowls are all over the place and everything is covered with a layer of flour. On the roof is a ‘Wallace patent-pending’ old-fashioned windmill. The transformation is perfect.

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Wes Anderson Movie week at the Aero in Santa Monica on Montana this Wednesday to Friday!

Wednesday, October 3rd, the much talked about film “The Darjeeling Limited” with Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody, and Jason Schwartzman will be screened and followed by a discussion with Wes Anderson and cast!!!! (Cast-as permitted-wonder what that could mean?)

Thursday, October 4th DOUBLE FEATURE!!!!
The “Royal Tenenbaums” with Gene Hackman, Ben Stiller Luke and Owen Wilson, and Gwyneth Paltrow, followed by, “Rushmore” with Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray and Olivia Williams.

And on Friday, October 5th, ANOTHER DOUBLE FEATURE!!!

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“Eastern Promises,” left me feeling questionably satisfied. There are many great aspects to it and yet it lacked a specific something. There is no doubt that Director Cronenberg’s depiction of the back streets of London is nothing but brilliant. Cinematographer, Peter Suschitzky does an amazing job of capturing the dark, luring tone that the film simmers in. Viggo Mortensen, who plays the role of Nikolai, is fascinating to watch, rarely is an actor ever simultaneously as still and complex. Altogether, the film has a fantastically eerie vibe that gets under your skin.

So I was very confused when I walked out of this almost stunning movie unsatisfied. To clarify, this film was very hard to review because there is something I want to love about it, but I just can’t quite let myself. It is far better than the majority of B.S. that I have seen lately, but it is not quite great. To me, this film is an example of a piece of work with a good director, good actors, and absolutely no point. (And don’t even try asking… Does any movie?)

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