• NBC faces $55 million lawsuit over “American Gangster” – Former DEA agents Louis Diaz, Gregory Korniloff, and Jack Toal said that the story of Lucas (Denzel Washington) and Richard Roberts (Russell Crowe) was a true story but was misrepresented in the film when it stated that the “collaboration between Lucas and Roberts ‘led to the convictions of three-quarters of New York City’s Drug Enforcement Agency’ agents between 1973 and 1985.” They want $55 million to say – “you lied!”
• 50 Cent wants to produce indie flicks! – That’s right the hip-hop superstar announced that he is forming a production company with his manager Chris Lighty. “I made some comments to create some excitement and energy in music,” 50 said. “I still have a passion for music. Technically, worldwide, I sold more albums. So I win.” Just what Hollywood needs.
• The show must go on for the Oscars! – Has the DGA agreement helped? No one knows. But Gilbert Cates, producer of the award telecast said they will be broadcasting with or without the actors. He says that there are enough clips to make the show happen, “We’d have a lot of people on stage…I just hope that the actors are there. I pray that the actors are there. I’m planning that the actors are there.” Yet 30 award-winning writers, actors, producers, directors and authors have stated that “Awards are nice, but we’d rather the writers get a fair contract.” So who will win!?

While Americans flock to the Turd Shops this weekend to see Cloverfield, there are plenty alternatives to the mainstream. Here’s a look at the indie theater circuit in Hollywood:

Gore galore commences at The New Beverly Theater this Tuesday. The Grindhouse Film Festival will offer a double dose of H.G. Lewis pics with “The Wizard of Gore” (recently featured in the film Juno) and “She-Devils on Wheels.” The show starts at 7:30 PM. Don’t be late because it’s usually packed, plus you won’t want to the slew of badass retro trailers that always kicks off the show. Also at the New Beverly this week: an Orson Welles double feature of “Citizen Kane” and “The Magnificent Ambersons.”

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Contrary to Jon’s review earlier in the week of Cloverfield, I did not enjoy this film.

I had to go. I was not interested in the movie. Not the previews I’ve seen, nothing I’ve heard, and certainly not the name J.J Abrams. But I knew it would be a big hit, and would do so with the least amount of effort. I had to see it in order to talk shit. They already cheated you into the theatre with a trailer that leaves you asking questions. Sound familiar? From the creators of Lost comes Cloverfield.

I went to the midnight showing, thinking, I hope it’s not crowded. Could there be that many suckers going to a movie they know nothing about. Not one theatre, but 3 sold out theatres at midnight, filled with idiots eager to see this grainy, hand held, camcorder hunk of shit. It was the damn Blair Witch Project with special effects. It was just under 90 minutes and way too long. These two bit television people have created a truly pointless movie, unless you love popcorn.

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“Some Thing Has Found Us.”
“Get Carried Away.”
“Why So Serious?”

These three taglines can be found at multiplexes across the country. While the first hints at suspense (Cloverfield), the second states giddiness (Sex and the City), and the third is both inquisitive and foreboding (The Dark Knight), they all do their part in building the buzz or hype for a particular movie. But, interestingly enough, this buzz is never consistent, with surprises ranging from box office openings to affecting awards season. So what can buzz do for a film or an actor before that film is released?

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Saudações, caros leitores.

That’s Portuguese for “Greetings, dear readers” (well, or so Google tells me). That’s probably what I would say to you if I were writing for saopaolo.cityzine.com. And were I writing for saopaolo.cityzine.com, I’d probably know firsthand of the hardships of people like Alice Jacira (played marvelously by Carla Ribas). As it stands, I write from the comfort of my apartment in Hollywood, so the closest I can get to that is the new film “Alice’s House.”

I’ll be perfectly frank: after reading the synopsis, I was far from convinced I’d end up going to see this. Truth be told, were it not for my girlfriend, I certainly would not have. In fact, I walked in exhausted and annoyed, expecting to fall asleep within the first 15 minutes. And that would have been a real shame, because I would have missed out on a poignant, complex and powerful slice-of-life film.

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As you may know, there is a ton of filming going on downtown. Even during the writers’ strike, we see the men in yellow work boots, large rolls of cord, and cargo shorts down here on a weekly basis. They look at us apologetically, like they are about to kill our family dog, and say, “I need you to wait here for just a minute because they are about to roll.” My husband turns red and spits as he expresses indignation. I take it in stride since we can just walk around the block and be on our way. Maybe we should get his blood pressure checked.

Anyhooo, I decided to put a piece about this in the “Oot and Aboot” section because it’s a fun thing to come check out. On any given weekend, you are going to see a film crew doing something or other. Plus, they are surprisingly friendly.

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Ah yes. The big question. Do you read this and potentially spoil the movie or do you wait until Friday? I have good news for you. I’m not going to spoil the movie… much. I really don’t think that much can be spoiled. Everyone has been going crazy about this monster and what it looks like. What is Cloverfield? What is this all about? The marketing of the movie has been brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. Everyone wants to know: What is it?

And that’s why you will go see it and why so many millions of others will see it. It will destroy the competition. I know this because I just saw it. Yes. I know. I am a bastard. I sat with a couple hundred geeks/journalists/grown up theater kids in the Paramount Theater and watched what everyone is dying to see. If you want to so their reviews, they’re at the bottom.

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The film is causing quite a stir among the female population in LA. The audience is glued to the screen sobbing, some loudly, some quietly not for the neighbor to see how vulnerable and romantic you actually are. I saw it on a Friday night, not the night you want to watch anything that even remotely reminds you that you don’t have that special one by your side.

Throughout the movie, I kept asking myself a question (actually I wanted to ask my neighbors in the audience as well, but they were too involved in their tears) – does this love exist or is it a fiction and the screenwriters just want us to see what we are missing? If this is the case, then it is plainly mean of them to plant a hopeful and romantic seed and then take us on a road of relationship disappointments.

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Finally, we get a really good week of DVD releases. As of late its been pretty slow, but this week will definitely make up for it. There are a couple of sweet comedies, a few great American classics, and a whole slue of badass Indie flicks. It’s weeks like this that keep me believing in the long-term possibilities of DVD’s. Why don’t we have a peek?

As usual I’ll begin with the New Releases-

Good Luck Chuck (Unrated Widescreen Edition) – Staring Dane Cook & Jessica Alba

Now this movie is an awful piece of shit, but it does have Jessica Alba in it, so for me, it’s a watcher, no matter what. Unfortunately, Dane Cook is a genuine ass cow in this flick. He is typically unwatchable, but on this occasion Dr. Fuckenstien really out does himself.

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