2 years ago
LINK: Seyfried and Hardwicke take on "Little Red Riding Hood" «
I never really considered the idea of an adult/edgy/sexy version of “Little Red Riding Hood,” but I actually feel super great about it! Adding to that feeling of greatest is the killer casting of Amanda Seyfried! It’s like proper/awesome/beautiful/innocent “Mamma Mia” Seyfried meets sexy/seductive “Chloe” Seyfried! AND it’s being directed by Catherine Hardwicke of “Twilight” fame. Taylor Lautner as wolf, anyone?
2 years ago
LINK: "Valentine's Day": Does Big Box Office Equal Love? «
Entertainment Weekly wonders if rom-coms are truly critic-proof and the future of the “celebrity ensemble” formula.
2 years ago
LINK: Fox finally developing film version of "24" «
On the surface of it, this makes a ton of sense. And as a “24” fan, I’m happy about it. But, some issues:
1) Will the movie just cover two hours in real time? Or will it have the clock but then skip throughout a day? Either way is kind of weird—two hours is too narrow a time period to really create the kind of narrative necessary for a movie. But if it’s not real time, it’s not really “24.”
2) “24” has now done two big-budget, made-for-TV movies that were fairly remarkable. How can they make one for the cineplex that feels “big” enough?
3) Don’t you feel like Jack Bauer is kind of played out at this point? Is there really another side to him we haven’t seen yet that a movie could explore?
2 years ago
LINK: Sundance Review of "HappyThankYouMorePlease" «
On the look out for this year’s (500) Days of Summer? Look no further than HappyThankYouMorePlease, a quirky romantic comedy starring Josh Radnor which won the Audience Award at Sundance this week. Start talking about it now to earn your hipster cred come summer!
2 years ago
2 years ago
LINK: Blake Lively nabs the female lead in "The Green Lantern" «
Blake Lively beat out Jennifer Garner, Diane Kruger, Eva Green, and Keri Russell to star opposite Ryan Reynolds in the new “Green Lantern” franchise. Huge career boost for Blake, and I want to be really happy for her because I love Serena VW forev and always…but this is going to be a disaster. Superhero girlfriend is really, really not her genre. This is going to more painful than Liv Tyler and Gwenyth Paltrow combined.
2 years ago
burn!
2 years ago
LINK: Sandra Bullock's 2009--the smart game plan for future Oscar-hungry comic actors «
Vulture uses Sandra Bullock’s performance in “The Blind Side” as a framework for crafting plausible Serious Roles for comedic actors. After seeing “The Blind Side” last night, I have to agree. It’s not that challenging a part—it’s right in Sandra’s wheelhouse, just crafted to have a bit more gravitas.
2 years ago
Jeni Sue’s End o’ Year Questionaire!
1) What was your favorite movie of ‘09… that you want everyone in the world to know you loved?
WHAT WASN’T? I’m probably going to have to go with INGLORIOUS BASTERDS. The first scene defines amazing film making. (Runners up: IN THE LOOP, ADVENTURELAND, UP IN THE AIR, FANTASTIC MR. FOX, AVATAR, WHIP IT, ANVIL! THE STORY OF ANVIL, STAR TREK)
2) What was your favorite movie of ‘09… that you’re kinda embarrassed to admit you loved?
THE GOODS: LIVE HARD, SELL HARD. The thing I can appreciate about this movie is how self-referential and self-effacing it is when it comes to its quality. It’s like everyone in the movie is in on the joke. Craig Robinson as the DJ is reason enough to on-demand it.
3) What ‘09 TV show could you not live without?
“Mad Men” — I’m a die hard comedy fan and will choose that over drama any day, but Matthew Weiner has made me a convert. That season finale was one of the best episodes of TV I’ve ever seen. And I’m currently typing this with 3 cigarettes in my mouth as I drink out of a martini shaker. Yes, the shaker.
4) What was your most played jam on iTunes in ‘09?
“Don’t Stop Believing” as sung by the cast of “Glee.” BECAUSE I’M CLICHE.
5) What was your single-most fave pop cultural moment of the year?
Kanye interrupting Taylor, because it produced this: http://kanyegate.tumblr.com/
(Runners-up: DC becoming cool again with Obama & “Real World,” Phelps hitting the bong - because I’ve always said pot is the gateway drug to success, real life pirates in Somalia, Adam Lambert - just Adam Lambert, “You Lie!”, and David after Dentist)
6) What pop culture trend/phenomenon for ‘09 are you hoping stays in ‘09?
Vampires (it won’t). I mean, I love “True Blood” but the show’s not just coasting on the fact that everyone’s obsessed with vampires. If anything — it helped the trend. (Runner-up: people getting their news from the “Trending Topic” on Twitter — this includes me. Resolution time!)
7) F*ck, Kill, Marry: Rachel Berry, Snooki, Lady Gaga?
F Snooki, M RB (she’s gonna be famous - get that money, honey), K Gaga (I’m sorry, she really scares me.)
2 years ago
The Top 10 Movies of 2009
2009 was more significant for breakthroughs in technology rather than in artistic merit, but, nevertheless, many excellent films were released this year.
1. “An Education”: The only film this year that had me from beginning to end. Remarkable for its brilliant screenplay and even brilliant-er performance from Carey Mulligan. Peter Sarsgaard and Rosamund Pike lead the stellar supporting cast. The film made me question the value of my entire life to date.
2. “Up”: Equal parts poignant and whimsical. A great example of how to use 3-D to add an emotional layer to a film without distracting from character or plot.
2 years ago
2 years ago
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2 years ago
LINK: Top ten nagging questions after "Avatar" «
The best one is #1—why hasn’t there been improvement in wheelchair technology in the last 100 years? Was wondering that the entire movie.
LINK: Taylor Swift in talks to star in "Supergirl" remake «
In theory, I believe Taylor Swift is capable of anything…but playing a superhero? I’d love to see it.
