Monday, September 8, 2008 4:00PM - By Guest Writer
I personally think it’s way too early for Oscar talk and don’t care too much about the International FIlm Festivals (and won’t until someone decides to send me to Venice to cover one), but that’s what going on this week. There’s nothing worth seeing at the movies (Bangkok Dangerous??) and fall TV hasn’t even started yet. Time to go back to bed.
- In this week’s Gold Derby blog at latimes.com, Tom O’Neill confronts the question: could Peter O’Toole beat out Heath Ledger for the Best Supporting Actor Oscar? Then he goes on to describe O’Toole’s latest vehicle, Dean Spanley that premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival this week, as “lollipop sweet” and “a nice Disney or Hallmark pic.” The whole (imagined) conflict is at the core of how basically unimportant and random the Oscars are. How could Ledger’s Joker even be in the same category as a curmudgeonly but sweet grandpa? The question I want to confront is: How do I get a cushy and completely unnecessary job like Tom O’Neill?
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Sunday, September 7, 2008 9:00AM - By Guest Writer
“Choose Life. Choose a job. Choose a career. Choose a family. Choose a f***ing big television, choose washing machines, cars, compact disc players and electrical tin openers. Choose good health, low cholesterol, and dental insurance. Choose fixed interest mortgage repayments. Choose a starter home. Choose your friends. Choose leisurewear and matching luggage. Choose a three-piece suite on hire purchase in a range of f***ing fabrics. Choose DIY and wondering who the f**k you are on Sunday morning. Choose sitting on that couch watching mind-numbing, spirit-crushing game shows, stuffing f***ing junk food into your mouth. Choose rotting away at the end of it all, pissing your last in a miserable home, nothing more than an embarrassment to the selfish, f***ed up brats you spawned to replace yourselves. Choose your future. Choose life… But why would I want to do a thing like that? I chose not to choose life. I chose somethin’ else. And the reasons? There are no reasons. Who needs reasons when you’ve got heroin?”
With a quote from a leading man like that, need I say more?
Well, just in case you’re not as easily impressed as my pretentious ass assumes, here are a few more reasons to check out Danny Boyle’s gritty cult-classic Trainspotting:
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Tuesday, September 2, 2008 12:00PM - By Guest Writer
One of the greatest romance comedies of our time, 50 First Dates, is my pick for DVD Rental of the Week! Set on the gorgeous Hawaiian Islands, this film features Drew Barrymore as Lucy Whitmore, a sweet girl suffering from a gnarly case of short-term memory loss. Meanwhile Adam Sandler plays womanizer Henry Roth, a man who falls head over heels for Lucy and goes to the greatest of lengths to find a place in her life. Because Lucy is unable to remember Henry’s romantic efforts, he is forced to step up his game a bazillion notches to get the girl. Seriously, homebody really does the cutest, most non-corny romantic shit of all time. Also, the Barrymore-Sandler duo is a hit reminiscent of their dope work together on The Wedding Singer. As usual, this Sandler film is full of laughs, life lessons, and memorable cameos, check it out!
Photo via: Amazon
Tuesday, August 19, 2008 12:00PM - By Guest Writer
Trust. Seduction. Betrayal.
Yes ladies and gentleman, I finally have an anti-love film for you. All members of the lonely heart’s club, listen up!
Inspired by William Shakespeare’s timeless masterpiece Othello, O conveys a contemporary twist on a captivating, old-school story. The young talents of the handsome Mekhi Phifer, Josh Hartnett, and Julia Stiles grace the screen for the duration of the 94 minute film. The film is set in an all-white boarding high school where Phifer’s character, Odin, plays the basketball star who is deeply in love with Desi (played by none other than our favorite Save the Last Dance star, Stiles).
Not only is Desi the apple of Odin’s eye, but she is the desire of a few others at school. To complete the love triangle, the conniving Hugo (played by Hartnett) creates a series of situations that lead Odin into a jealous rage. The intensity only escalates as the story unfolds, leading to a powerful ending. O will bring you on a wild ride from young love to grown-up envy, from some baller basketball scenes to disturbing sex scenes, from shirtless hot young actors to gunshots. Plus, it’s got a pretty nostalgic soundtrack. 90’s rap, haaaaaay!
Photo of Phifer via: Entertainment Weekly
Tuesday, August 12, 2008 12:00PM - By Guest Writer
“These are great days we’re living, bros. We are jolly green giants, walking the Earth with guns. These people we wasted here today are the finest human beings we will ever know. After we rotate back to the world, we’re gonna miss not having anyone around that’s worth shooting.”
Stanley Kubrick’s 1987 “Full Metal Jacket” is definitely worth checking out this summer because this masterpiece has got it all. You want violence, racism, wit, sexism, politics, suspense, hope, and more? As always, Kubrick never fails to deliver.
The story follows a young man in the United States Marines during the tumultuous Vietnam War as he completes the one of the most emotionally disturbing boot camps depicted in film. The Gunnery Sergeant Hartman employs some absolutely crude and hilarious verbal abuse that will leave a funny taste in your mouth.
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Monday, August 11, 2008 5:00PM - By Guest Writer
Set for release next week, Tropic Thunder, is already creating a buzz from coalitions who are protesting the movie for its insensitivity toward the mentally disabled. Â Claiming that Ben Stiller’s character perpetuates negative stereotypes, some disability advocacy groups are now picketing the Hollywood premiere and suggesting the movie be boycotted; all of this before any of them have actually seen the entire movie.
And we wonder why the the rest of the world laughs at our hypocrisy. Using taboo words and sensitive subjects in comedic satire has been a common practice since long before the invention of cinema. Â The key component (and what these special interest groups fail to grasp) is context. Â In this case, fully understanding the context is virtually impossible to them as the movie has not been released yet. So instead of writing about the actual film I will base my comments off of the trailers and reviews, as the protesters have done.
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Monday, August 11, 2008 3:00PM - By Guest Writer
Some sad happenings, big openings and minor announcements. Like most weekends at my apartment.
- Isaac Hayes and Bernie Mac both passed away over the weekend at the respective ages of 65 and 50. I don’t have anything cheeky to say about it. Well, I do, but I won’t
- Pineapple Express had a big opening this weekend, making around $22 million since Wednesday. This wasn’t enough to smoke The Dark Knight, though which took number one for the 4th weekend in a row and has made a staggering $441 million since it opened. Holy grosses, Batman!
- It was announced that Brad Pitt will have a major role in Quentin Tarantino’s upcoming WWII movie, Inglorious Bastards. Also in talks are Simon Pegg and B.J. Novak from The Office. Hostel director Eli Roth has already been cast. I can only hope something horrific happens to his character as punishment for making Hostel.
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Wednesday, August 6, 2008 4:16PM - By Guest Writer
Jonathan Shaw. There are many words different people may use to describe him. What some may see as only a shallow, brash and impetuous incendiary; actually is a true philosophical, transcendent soul. With layers of insight waiting to be peeled away.
When I decided to approach Mr. Shaw for an interview, I was filled with apprehension. Once he agreed to the initial questions, I then developed a great anxiety over what to ask him just imagining the responses I would receive. Stepping out in faith, I sent him a basic group of inquiries with instructions to answer all, or only the ones that moved him to respond. What I expected to learn about this man from his answers was not at all what I brought away from the interview. I can truly say what had begun as intimidation, turned to pure wonder and enlightenment with this man who calls Johnny Depp his soul brother.
One thing, Jonathan shared with me is the fact that when he did tattoo art, he was heavily influenced by the interaction he would share with the subject. Everyone knows that Shaw has inked some of the biggest names in Hollywood so I asked him about one of Hollywoods biggest actors, Johnny Depp’s ink. So how many of Johnny’s tattoos has Jonathan done and were Johnny’s tattoos a collaboration of their great genius together? He shared with me that he has done most of Johnny’s work and that they were always Johnny’s idea.
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Finally, Heath Ledger’s final film, Terry Gilliam’s The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (try saying that after a whiskey sour) 