Cinematicalhttp://www.cinematical.comCinematicalhttp://www.cinematical.com/media/feedlogo.gifCinematicalhttp://www.cinematical.comen-usCopyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only.Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Stars in Rewind: Max Payne Takes on Dwayne Waynehttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/10/14/stars-in-rewind-max-payne-takes-on-dwayne-wayne/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/10/14/stars-in-rewind-max-payne-takes-on-dwayne-wayne/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/10/14/stars-in-rewind-max-payne-takes-on-dwayne-wayne/#commentsFiled under: , ,



The alliteration and the memory was just too much to pass up this week!

Friday will bring the release of Max Payne, starring none other than Mark Wahlberg (with a little help from Mila Kunis, Beau Bridges, Ludacris...). Now it would be easy and sort of obvious to just revel in some "Good Vibrations" or Wahlberg's tight-whitey clad arse, both of which were extremely prevalent at the start of Marky Mark's career. Instead, here's his first film role from 1994 -- Wahlberg playing Pvt. Tommy Lee Haywood in Renaissance Man.

In the clips above, Haywood gets into a fight with Pvt. Jamaal Montgomery -- otherwise known as Kadeem Hardison, or Dwayne Wayne. Then they get to delight in the Shakespearean world of Hamlet under the tutelage of Danny DeVito, and then, oh yes, Mr. Wahlberg sings a little bit of "Achey Breaky Heart."

It never ceases to amaze me how far that man has come. It didn't take him long either -- after this film came Basketball Diaries, then there was only Fear and Traveller before he became Dirk Diggler.

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]]>CinematicalKadeem HardisonKadeemHardisonMark WahlbergMarkWahlbergRenaissance ManRenaissanceManMonika BartyzelTue, 14 Oct 2008 19:02:00 ESTA New Clip From 'Punisher: War Zone'http://www.cinematical.com/2008/10/13/a-new-clip-from-punisher-war-zone/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/10/13/a-new-clip-from-punisher-war-zone/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/10/13/a-new-clip-from-punisher-war-zone/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,



With its R rating safely in hand, Punisher: War Zone is kicking off its advertising campaign. (Although, to hear my dad tell it, "All I ever see when I got to the movies is that Punisher: War Zone trailer. Isn't anything else coming out?" So I guess they are aggressively marketing this to him, and him alone.) A new clip has surfaced on the film's official website, complete with an introduction from the long lost Lexi Alexander. Make of that what you will. Is it damage control? Or the conclusion of a mean-spirited publicity stunt? Who knows. Feel free to ponder it, but not too much.

It's not the greatest clip in the world. It's only about a minute long, and there's no dialogue, just shooting and explosions. (No Ray Stevenson close-up? I cry foul!) But given that it's a Monday, that might just be what you're in the mood for. (The clip, and the official website are both quite loud. If you're at work, turn down your speakers first. I don't want your boss catching you.)

Punisher: War Zone opens December 5th, 2008.

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]]>Lexi AlexanderLexiAlexanderLionsgatePunisher War ZonePunisherWarZoneRay StevensonRayStevensonElisabeth RappeMon, 13 Oct 2008 11:15:00 ESTWatch This: Spielberg and Lucas Raping Indiana Jones (Literally)http://www.cinematical.com/2008/10/09/watch-this-spielberg-and-lucas-raping-indiana-jones-literally/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/10/09/watch-this-spielberg-and-lucas-raping-indiana-jones-literally/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/10/09/watch-this-spielberg-and-lucas-raping-indiana-jones-literally/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,



So who watched the season premiere of South Park last night? I tell you, just when you think those boys are starting to get a bit weak in their old age, you're shown a scene featuring Steven Spielberg and George Lucas physically raping Indiana Jones as the poor man cries out for help. Oh yeah ... and did we mention Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull comes out on DVD this Tuesday? Yup ... and it's, er, loaded with extras!

Obviously this was their way of saying the latest Indiana Jones film sorta raped their childhood, but count me among those who kinda enjoyed watching the flick. (And I'm not alone -- here's Jeffrey's passionate post in defense of the sequel.) Sure, I could do without a few scenes here and there, but overall it wasn't terrible. What do you think? Did South Park cross a line last night?

Note: The following scene might be a little sensitive for some, so be warned -- TV-MA and all that ...

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]]>george lucasGeorgeLucasindiana jones and the kingdom of the crystal skullIndianaJonesAndTheKingdomOfTheCrystalSkullsouth parkSouthParksteven spielbergStevenSpielbergErik DavisThu, 09 Oct 2008 10:02:00 ESTFirst Reviews of 'W.' Trickle Inhttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/10/09/first-reviews-of-w-trickle-in/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/10/09/first-reviews-of-w-trickle-in/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/10/09/first-reviews-of-w-trickle-in/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Oliver Stone's W. has screened for the more important among us, and I am pleasantly surprised to report that people are not openly laughing at it. Some seem downright impressed. Here, for example is David Poland on The Hot Blog:

"[Josh] Brolin should be nominated for the Oscar. We'll see whether the crowd around Best Actor is too big for him to crack, but it is a letter perfect performance that looks much, much easier than most critics and audiences, I think, will understand . . . . The only downside is that the movie doesn't offer the massive supporting cast a lot of big awards-style moments. They are just really, really good. And that really should be enough."

Variety's Todd McCarthy is a bit more mixed than Poland, but concedes that W. "offers a clear and plausible take on the current chief executive's psychological makeup and, considering Stone's reputation and Bush's vast unpopularity, a relatively even-handed, restrained treatment of recent politics." And Kirk Honeycutt over at The Hollywood Reporter says that though the film is more bold than it is good, "Stone goes out of his way to give Bush a fair hearing."

Over the summer, I guffawed at the notion that Stone was going to be fair and sympathetic to Bush in W., but it looks like I may be eating those words before too long. Apparently the problem people are having with the film isn't its politics but its lack of formal audacity, which is the opposite what I expected to hear. But it's certainly good to learn that Stone at least attempts a serious treatment of the subject -- those script pages that Slate "leaked" a while back could have fooled me.

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]]>Josh BrolinJoshBrolinoliver stoneOliverStoneW.Eugene NovikovThu, 09 Oct 2008 09:03:00 ESTNews Bites: Tom Thumb, Matarese, and Duchovnyhttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/10/08/news-bites-tom-thumb-matarese-and-duchovny/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/10/08/news-bites-tom-thumb-matarese-and-duchovny/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/10/08/news-bites-tom-thumb-matarese-and-duchovny/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Have you ever wondered where Tom Thumb came from? If so, you'll be happy with a recent post from The Hollywood Reporter. It seems the tiny character is heading for the big screen with Warner Bros. and director Kevin Lima (Enchanted), and the project will be go the live action route, although Thumb might be CG. Robert Rodat, of Saving Private Ryan fame, wrote the script, which is said to "look at the heroism that a knight must summon after he is reduced to a pint size." Okay ... CG is cool and all, but I hope they stick to miniaturizing a real person. CG doesn't have to be used for everything, and Tom Thumb wasn't made into a cartoon character when he shrunk, after all.

Next up, THR also reports that David Cronenberg is circling the Robert Ludlum project The Matarese Circle, which we previously told you about when Denzel Washington signed on earlier this year. Before it was simply the latest political thriller to hit the screen, one that focuses on two rival agents, US and Soviet, who work together to find Matarese criminals lurking in the American government. But with Cronenberg? The man behind The Fly, Crash, Spider, and A History of Violence? This sounds so bloody good.

Finally, there's good ol' David Duchovny. In August, he went away to rehab for sex addiction. Now, according to Ace Showbiz, he's out and heading back to work. A statement issued by his lawyer says: "He is out of rehab and will be starting a movie soon." This will, most likely, be The Joneses. I'm just glad it's about a fake family and not about sex. After all this, I just can't watch Californication without getting weirded out.

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]]>CinematicalDavid CronenbergDavid DuchovnyDavidCronenbergDavidDuchovnyKevin LimaKevinLimaRobert RodatRobertRodatThe JonesesThe matarese CircleTheJonesesTheMatareseCircleTom THumbTomThumbMonika BartyzelWed, 08 Oct 2008 13:02:00 ESTDiscuss: Should DirecTV Use 'Poltergeist' Kid to Make Money?http://www.cinematical.com/2008/10/08/discuss-should-directv-use-poltergeist-kid-to-make-money/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/10/08/discuss-should-directv-use-poltergeist-kid-to-make-money/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/10/08/discuss-should-directv-use-poltergeist-kid-to-make-money/#commentsFiled under: ,



As we all know by now, the Poltergeist series brought eeriness both on and off the screen with the Poltergeist Curse. Real human skeletons were used, exorcisms were performed, props malfunctioned, fire blazed, and of course, people died -- the most infamous being the passing of the cute, tow-headed Heather O'Rourke.

And now she's being used to sell DirecTV units. Classy. Craig T. Nelson is back to give the spiel, but the above commercial also uses her famous "They're here!" line and a little girl to pose as O'Rourke to walk to the foot of the bed (O'Rourke's voice is apparently dubbed in).

In a world where even impassioned musical critiques can be turned into patriotic anthems, it's not completely surprising that this is happening. But still -- using a little girl who died way too young to make money -- it's not the best decision, and it certainly isn't a twist that inspires me to want to buy this. But what do you think?

Is this perfectly acceptable, or did DirecTV cross some sort of marketing line?

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]]>CinematicalDirecTVHeather ORourkeHeatherOrourkePoltergeistMonika BartyzelWed, 08 Oct 2008 12:02:00 ESTShyamalan Hints at 'Unbreakable' Sequel in Weird Interviewhttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/10/08/shyamalan-hints-at-unbreakable-sequel-in-weird-interview/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/10/08/shyamalan-hints-at-unbreakable-sequel-in-weird-interview/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/10/08/shyamalan-hints-at-unbreakable-sequel-in-weird-interview/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Man is M. Night Shyamalan ever a strange dude -- and this is coming from probably one of the biggest fans he has left.

In this interview with Sci-Fi Wire, the filmmaker announces that he is still contemplating making a sequel to Unbreakable, his 2000 comic book genre-bender. He doesn't quite have the story, but says that "I know me: As soon as I give up on it is when the idea will come to me." Fantastic! Seeing as Unbreakable is one of my favorite movies of the decade, I'm obviously excited about any prospect of Shyamalan returning to that universe. And maybe it's just the ticket to restore his suddenly-struggling career.

But then I read the rest of the article, and... uh... he needs to hire a (better) publicist. Discussing how he felt after Unbreakable's mixed reception, he says that he was heartbroken, lamenting: "God, I took so many incredible risks." And then, as he describes his (quite correct) realization that the film actually has a good number of admirers, he relates this anecdote: "I'll be on the street, and some kid will run across traffic with it in his backpack--he just is carrying it in his backpack--and he'll be running [saying], 'I can't believe it's you!' Will you sign my Unbreakable DVD?' And quoting the thing and all that stuff."

Continue reading Shyamalan Hints at 'Unbreakable' Sequel in Weird Interview

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]]>m. night shyamalanM.NightShyamalanunbreakableEugene NovikovWed, 08 Oct 2008 10:02:00 ESTNews Bites: Interviewing Faye Dunaway, Sports Heroes, and 'The Shield'http://www.cinematical.com/2008/10/07/news-bites-interviewing-faye-dunaway-sports-heroes-and-the-s/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/10/07/news-bites-interviewing-faye-dunaway-sports-heroes-and-the-s/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/10/07/news-bites-interviewing-faye-dunaway-sports-heroes-and-the-s/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Celebrity interviews can be pretty nerve-wracking. The ante is upped even more when the interviewee doesn't give many interviews. You hope for the best, but sometimes that's not what you get. Xan Brooks got a chance to interview Faye Dunaway for The Guardian, and things didn't go so well. It started with a list of ixnayed topics, but one was left off the list -- Roman Polanski and rumors about Chinatown. He asked if it was true that she once threw a cup of urine at the famed director and well, she didn't take too kindly to that line of questioning. Follow the link to see what happened and then comment below: Was it okay for Brooks to ask her about that? Did she overreact?

And then there's a little bit of tennis. Variety reports that Frank Deford's adaptation of his novel Big Bill: The Triumphs and the Tragedy, which focuses on tennis legend Bill Tilden, has been optioned by Baldwin Entertainment. This is a pretty old-school story -- Tilden won six straight U.S. Open singles titles in the 1920s, and was the first American to win Wimbledon. The plus about this feature: there's a lot more to the man than just rackets and balls. "He was also a contract bridge champ, musicologist, novelist, playwright and actor. On the other side of the ledger, Tilden was famously self-destructive, going to jail twice for sexual misbehavior with teenage boys and dying penniless." That should prove interesting.

Finally, Michael Pena told MTV that he'd definitely be in if a feature version of The Shield, if one was schemed up. In fact, he thinks there could be a prequel and that it would be "awesome." Me, I caught some old-school Felicity eps recently, and now I can't see him as anything other than the wanna-be ladies man who lived in the dorm. He's come a long way in 8 years.

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]]>Big Bill The Triumps and the TragedyBigBillTheTriumpsAndTheTragedyBill Tilden biopicBillTildenBiopicCinematicalFaye DunawayFayeDunawayFrank DefordFrankDefordMichael PenaMichaelPenaRoman PolanskiRomanPolanskiThe ShieldTheShieldMonika BartyzelTue, 07 Oct 2008 21:03:00 ESTRoger Ebert Talks to the Wachowskishttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/10/04/roger-ebert-talks-to-the-wachowskis/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/10/04/roger-ebert-talks-to-the-wachowskis/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/10/04/roger-ebert-talks-to-the-wachowskis/#commentsFiled under: ,

Somehow I missed this on Thursday, but apparently so did everyone else, since I didn't see it linked anywhere. Roger Ebert was hanging out at a post-production studio in Chicago, watching the restored new print of The Godfather, when he was unexpectedly joined by Larry and Andy Wachowski, the famously inaccessible duo behind The Matrix, Speed Racer, and (people forget) Bound. Afterward, he got a chance to chat with them -- not in a conventional interview setting, complete with a hovering publicist (the brothers don't do that, remember?), but over a beer.

Ebert was impressed with the "zillionaires": "Nice people. Friendly. No Hollywood attitude." He writes that "[t]he blogosphere paints them as mysterious recluses, which may add to the legend but doesn't match the reality." But their being nice and friendly doesn't make them any less mysterious and reclusive: I'd wager that Ebert only ran the piece because of their reputation for not giving interviews or talking to anyone in the press.

Anyway, it's really interesting to "hear" them speak, though they mostly talk about the difficulties of keeping a moving 35 mm shot in focus and the brilliance of Coppola's Godfather shot selection. It's funny how keeping silent for a while will make such brief, mundane snippets into objects of arcane fascination. (Though since I think the Wachowskis are pretty formidable visual artists themselves, I find their perspective on that sort of thing interesting in its own right.)

No photo, of course; all you get is that old shot of the two admiring a Matrix comic book.

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]]>andy wachowskiAndyWachowskiboundlarry wachowskiLarryWachowskiroger ebertRogerEbertspeed racerSpeedRacerthe godfatherthe matrixTheGodfatherTheMatrixwachowski brothersWachowskiBrothersEugene NovikovSat, 04 Oct 2008 10:32:00 ESTFrey's 'A Million Little Pieces' Finally Gets the Movie Treatmenthttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/10/03/freys-a-million-little-pieces-finally-gets-the-movie-treatmen/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/10/03/freys-a-million-little-pieces-finally-gets-the-movie-treatmen/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/10/03/freys-a-million-little-pieces-finally-gets-the-movie-treatmen/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Okay, for this story I need you to try to remember something that happened, like, two years ago. Can you do that for me? Can you take your brain back that far, or do we need to call in McFly and the Doc? Anyway, remember all the hoopla surrounding James Frey's very popular book A Million Little Pieces? How Oprah used the so-called "memoir" to re-launch her book club, and how it turned into this huge success -- so much so that Warner Bros. desperately wanted to make a film out of it -- and how it later came out that Frey made up a good portion of the book ... and then Oprah smacked him around on TV ... and then the film went bye bye. Remember?

Well, that's what happened -- and now, two years after the fact, comes a film called A Million Little Pieces, based on the book by James Frey and directed by Nigel Tomm. And no, it's not being developed -- it's actually done ... in the can ... and available on DVD. Who's in it, you ask? Well, unlike the previous in-development adaptation, you're not going to see stars like Jake Gyllenhaal, Orlando Bloom, Josh Hartnett or Ryan Gosling (all of whom were interested in starring in the other flick). Nope, this one, according to its tagline, is -- wait for it -- "70 minutes and 41 seconds of pure turquoise screen. Nothing more, nothing less." On a budget of $345. Ahem. Confused?

Keep reading ...

Continue reading Frey's 'A Million Little Pieces' Finally Gets the Movie Treatment

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]]>a million little piecesa million little pieces movieAMillionLittlePiecesAMillionLittlePiecesMoviecinematicaljames freyJamesFreynigel tommNigelTommoprahErik DavisFri, 03 Oct 2008 14:32:00 ESTEXCLUSIVE: Internal Memo from Disney RE: Beverly Hills Chihuahuahttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/10/01/exclusive-internal-memo-from-disney-re-beverly-hills-chihuahua/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/10/01/exclusive-internal-memo-from-disney-re-beverly-hills-chihuahua/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/10/01/exclusive-internal-memo-from-disney-re-beverly-hills-chihuahua/#commentsFiled under: , ,

***Note: The above "memo" is not real, it is a work of fiction and it is not to be taken seriously.***

Not ten minutes after this scintillating story hit the wire, I came across this similar item on my very own desktop. Read on to see how the movie marketing machine really works:
---------------------------------
From: Enrico Palazzo, Digital Marketing, Disney
To: Equally Deluded Colleagues

Attached is an updated report on online buzz around the new Beverly Hills Chihuahua assets:

Favorable Tone Dominates Trailer Buzz - Currently, reactions to the Beverly Hills Chihuahua trailer are significantly favorable (approximately 80%) within Entertainment, Fan-Boy, Video Sharing, Social Networks, Social Bookmarks, and Dog Show communities. Latin-American groups seem particularly pleased with the ways in which their culture is depicted in the trailer. Fans deem the trailer "full of small dogs," often praising the "disturbingly non-human" way that the dogs were presented and asserting that it is "slightly less migraine-inducing" than the initial teaser. Enthusiasts also note that the "furry" trailer has furthered their anticipation for the film's release and anticipate that it will feature many great ADR-to-dog-lip performances from the ensemble dog cast. Additionally, many viewers share panting excitement to see Raja Gosnell's "distinctive work" in the film and, while others admitted that they "aren't fans" of the voice of George Lopez, they stated that the trailer has "sold" them on seeing Beverly Hills Chihuahua during their next flight to Denver. Neutral reactions (15%) arise from viewers sharing sickened reactions to the trailer, often asserting that while the film has the potential to be "doggy-riffic" they still have their doubts based on the initial reviews in the predictably dismissive Cat Fancy magazine.

Lack of Taco Bell References Still an Issue - The limited amount of unfavorable discussion (5%) stems from critics expressing general disinterest in the film, contending that the trailer makes Beverly Hills Chihuahua look like "another talking dog movie that will briefly spark interest in chihuahuas, but only till the kids get bored and they abandon the yappy little dogs in an unsanctioned dog shelter along with all those dalmatians they swore to love forever." Additional focus group testing indicates that American viewers are "confused" by the lack of Taco Bell references in the trailer, while other viewers confused a boom mike for a cattle prod and promptly sent a complaint to PETA.

In related news, Americans barely have money to buy milk, but early tracking indicates that they'll gladly drop $25 on Beverly Hills Chihuahua if it makes their children stop whining for 91 consecutive minutes.

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]]>Scott WeinbergWed, 01 Oct 2008 20:15:00 ESTThis Week in Protests: Blind People Dislike 'Blindness'http://www.cinematical.com/2008/10/01/this-week-in-protests-blind-people-dislike-blindness/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/10/01/this-week-in-protests-blind-people-dislike-blindness/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/10/01/this-week-in-protests-blind-people-dislike-blindness/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Those folks with plans to see Fernando Meirelles' Blindness this weekend may find themselves blinded by ... protesters? That's because activists from the National Federation of the Blind were pretty ticked off after learning the premise behind the flick: that, essentially, a blindness epidemic strikes leading most folks to go absolutely apesh*t on one another. It would probably be in poor taste to criticize the group for not seeing the film before they protested against it, however I should point out that this all came about after seven NFB staffers watched the movie (three of which were sighted) at a screening.

The NFB claim the movie is offensive, and that it "portrays blind people as monsters ..." A spokesman for the organization added, "We face a 70 percent unemployment rate and other social problems because people don't think we can do anything, and this movie is not going to help ... at all." See, I tend to disagree. First of all, people who aren't smart enough to realize that it's a movie deserve to be repeatedly kicked in the head by a one-armed monkey on steroids. Second of all, if an entire city full of citizens suddenly became blind and couldn't see a thing, you bet your ass people would freak out -- after all, how could they keep up with this season of Dancing with the Stars if they're blind!?

The NFB plan to protest at 75 theaters across the country this Friday, carrying signs that read: "I'm not an actor. But I play a blind person in real life." Where do you stand on all this?

View Poll

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]]>blindnessblindness protestsBlindnessProtestscinematicalfeaturedfernando meirellesFernandoMeirellesErik DavisWed, 01 Oct 2008 17:02:00 ESTReview: Religuloushttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/09/30/review-religulous/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/09/30/review-religulous/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/09/30/review-religulous/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



(We're re-posting our review of Religulous from the Toronto Film Festival to coincide with the film's theatrical release this week)

By: James Rocchi

I contend we are both atheists; I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours. -- Stephen F. Roberts

In Religulous, stand-up social commentator Bill Maher doesn't just assert how he believes in one less god than many of us, and he doesn't just craft bold, bizarre and hilarious moments of comedy and discussion with the help of director Larry Charles (Borat). More importantly, and more intriguingly, Maher states the film's thesis in an introduction filmed at Megiddo, the prophesied location of the final battle of Armageddon as written in Revelation; Maher, much like author Sam Harris does in his excellent (if dry) book The End of Faith, proposes that religious belief, in an age of chemical, biological and nuclear weapons, actively endangers humanity through encouraging conflict, promising rewards for irrational behavior, justifying artificial divisions and enabling other unfounded and unkind forms of thinking. Or, as Maher succinctly puts it early on, "When Revelations was written, only God had the power to destroy the world. ..."

And then the opening titles kick in, a montage of Maher globe-trotting in search of people to talk to, and as the guitar riffs of The Who's "The Seeker" ring out, we recognize that we're going to get plenty of sizzle along with the steak in Religulous, lots of showbusiness to liven up the soul-searching. Like most documentaries dealing with weighty matters, though, the concern in Religulous isn't that there'll be no sizzle with the steak but rather if there'll be steak to go with the sizzle; does Religulous have the right ratio of factual points to funny punch lines, a balanced mix of context and comedy?

Continue reading Review: Religulous

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]]>bill maherBillMaherboratcinematicallarry charlesLarryCharlesreligulousreligulous reviewReligulousReviewCinematical staffTue, 30 Sep 2008 12:02:00 ESTInterview: Bill Maher of 'Religulous'http://www.cinematical.com/2008/09/29/interview-bill-maher-of-religulous/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/09/29/interview-bill-maher-of-religulous/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/09/29/interview-bill-maher-of-religulous/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



(Note: The following interview ran earlier this month during the Toronto International Film Festival. We're re-running it now in anticipation of the film's theatrical release this week.)

By: James Rocchi

Even after debuting Religulous, his new docu-comedy about faith in the modern world directed by Larry Charles (Borat), Bill Maher still has plenty of questions of his own: "I was saying to Larry in the car on the way over here: I suddenly realized that I don't know the relationship between the Devil and the Antichrist. Do you? I mean, we both know those terms, but they're not the same guy, I don't think. I'm not sure if the Devil works for the Antichrist? Or the Antichrist for the Devil? Or is it like the Joker and the Riddler -- neither of them work for each other, but they gang up on Batman ...?" Maher spoke with Cinematical in Toronto about the difference between 'changing your mind' and 'flip-flopping,' what wound up on the cutting-room floor, getting in harm's way for the sake of a great scene, why it's doubtful he'll follow Religulous with another feature film and much more.

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]]>bill maher interviewBillMaherInterviewcinematicalreligulousCinematical staffMon, 29 Sep 2008 21:02:00 ESTHi-larious Fashion: Video of Sacha Baron Cohen on the Runwayhttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/09/29/hi-larious-fashion-video-of-sacha-baron-cohen-on-the-runway/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/09/29/hi-larious-fashion-video-of-sacha-baron-cohen-on-the-runway/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/09/29/hi-larious-fashion-video-of-sacha-baron-cohen-on-the-runway/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Last week, Sacha Baron Cohen crashed a Milan fashion show. Now video has emerged as well, and it really whets our appetite for his upcoming Brüno flick.

Out of his three stock characters, Brüno's the least known, and yet the fabulous fashionista engaged in some of the funniest bits on Da Ali G Show. Not only did he send-up the laughable self-importance of the fashion world, he also challenged folks' sexuality. A memorable bit had him asking a gay deprogrammer if he would get turned on if Brüno gave him a lap dance. (We know we would!)

Although some critics wonder if Cohen can repeat the success of Borat with Brüno, we're betting he'll get the last laugh, as long as he's willing to suffer for his art. And oh how he loves to do that. Just watch the video. After his moment of glory strutting down the runway in his Farrah 'do and Shadow cape (looking strangely hot), Cohen was detained by authorities. If only all comedians were willing to go so far for a chuckle.

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]]>brunocinematicalmilansacha baron cohenSachaBaronCohenRaven SnookMon, 29 Sep 2008 18:02:00 ESTInterview: 'Miracle at St. Anna' Director Spike Leehttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/09/26/interview-miracle-at-st-anna-director-spike-lee/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/09/26/interview-miracle-at-st-anna-director-spike-lee/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/09/26/interview-miracle-at-st-anna-director-spike-lee/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,



In Miracle at St. Anna, four African-American soldiers are trapped behind enemy lines in Italy near the end of World War II; caught between indifferent leadership and hostile troops, the four fight to survive -- and protect the Italian villagers they've come to know during their exile. Director Spike Lee spoke with Cinematical from New York about the challenges of film financing in modern Hollywood ("it's hard to get stuff made today that's not superhero, comic-book, TV show, sequel stuff. ..."), shooting in an 800-year-old Italian town (" ... all we had to do was take down the satellite dishes ...") and the challenges his new film faces (" ... historically, women do not run to see, or even walk to see, or even crawl to see World War II films ..."), The Wire ("'Omar's Coming!'"), sequel possibilities for Inside Man and more.

Lee even touched on politics and race in the here-and-now: "I'm optimistic. We're going to have a Black president. The 44th President of the United States is going to be a Black man ... I think this is a definite indication of how far America has moved in how it views race. ..."

Cinematical: I was very curious if you could talk a little bit about the genesis of what brought you specifically to Miracle at St. Anna as a film?

Spike Lee: I needed something to read; I went into my wife's office; looked up on her shelf upon shelf of books (laughs) and the spirit told me to go to this one book -- all the time my head is twisted to the side, trying to read the titles -- read this title, Miracle at St. Anna; that sounds interesting; take the book off the shelf, see the cover of a Black soldier with a young Italian kid, World War II, said "Let me read this. ..." After the first chapter, I said "I want to make this into a film, called up James McBride, we met ... and here we are. That's the abbreviated version. ...

Continue reading Interview: 'Miracle at St. Anna' Director Spike Lee

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]]>Derek LukeDerekLukeJames McBrideJamesMcbrideMichael EalyMichaelEalyMiracle at St. AnnaMiracleAtSt.AnnaSpike LeeSpikeLeeJames RocchiFri, 26 Sep 2008 21:33:00 ESTReview: Miracle at St. Annahttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/09/26/review-miracle-at-st-anna/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/09/26/review-miracle-at-st-anna/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/09/26/review-miracle-at-st-anna/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,




(With Miracle at St. Anna opening this week, we at Cinematical are re-running our review from the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival.)

By James Rocchi

Spike Lee's films have always been fraught with the potential for greatness and disaster, shuddering with a nervy wire-walking energy that makes them superb when they stay on the narrow space between ambition and execution and gives you a long time to watch the fall when they don't. But that, of course, is what makes them worth watching; for but one example, the only thing more shocking than the realization that there was a musical number in Malcolm X was the realization of how superbly it worked; Lee's films are rarely undeniably perfect, but they are always undeniably his.

So it is with Miracle at St. Anna, a bold, sprawling, messy epic of war and faith set behind enemy lines in 1944, as a group of four African-American soldiers are trapped far from their fellow troops in German-occupied Italy. There are moments here where the film does not work, where you can feel the sharp needle of disbelief or dislocation puncture the film mercilessly, and there are other moments that are not only willing but indeed eager to look at big, challenging, relevant issues of race and power, war and justice, faith and failure. These moments -- and there are many of them -- not only speak to Lee's unwavering skill and commitment as a filmmaker, but also to the singular nature of his talent and will. When Miracle at St. Anna falters, it's in the moments that seem like they could have been crafted by any other film maker; when Miracle at St. Anna succeeds, it's in the moments that could only have been crafted by Lee.

Continue reading Review: Miracle at St. Anna

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]]>Derek LukeDerekLukeJames McBrideJamesMcbrideLaz AlonzoLazAlonzoMichael ealyMichaelEalyMiracle at St. AnnaMiracleAtSt.Annaomar benson millerOmarBensonMillerSpike LeeSpikeLeeCinematical staffFri, 26 Sep 2008 15:02:00 ESTSteven Spielberg Options 'Chocky' -- Kind Of. http://www.cinematical.com/2008/09/25/steven-spielberg-options-chocky-kind-of/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/09/25/steven-spielberg-options-chocky-kind-of/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/09/25/steven-spielberg-options-chocky-kind-of/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Steven Spielberg has yet another project that he's keen to make his next directorial gig -- according to The Hollywood Reporter, he's just snagged the rights to Chocky, John Wyndham's famous sci-fi novel.

Chocky is more famous in the United Kingdom than here in the States, as it was the basis for a television show in 1984. It centers on a young boy who has a rather tumultuous relationship with his imaginary friend. His father grows concerned that his son has not yet abandoned his imaginary friend for real ones -- and slowly, he begins to realize that the invisible friend is actually an alien consciousness that is residing in the boy's mind. It's old territory for Spielberg, right down to the government forces who are far too interested in the boy and his alien. Surely, Chocky is some reader's favorite book or childhood television memory, and I'm keen to hear your opinion of its big screen potential.

Nevertheless, don't get too excited, Chocky fans. Given Spielberg's break with Paramount, it's uncertain where the project will end up -- DreamWorks has optioned it, but all of its properties automatically end up with Paramount, which would require Spielberg to actually buy it back for his own development. And this is just one of a slew of projects Spielberg has acquired lately. He still has Tintin, The Trial of the Chicago 7, that long-delayed Lincoln biopic, Cowboys and Aliens, and The 39 Clues. All are technically owned by Paramount, all are "the next picture Spielberg wants to direct," and all need to be re-purchased if he wants to develop them at DreamWorks. So by 2009 or 2010, you might see Tintin, you might see Chocky, or you might see another project altogether. Spielberg is covering all his bases.

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]]>ChockyDreamWorksJohn WyndhamJohnWyndhamParamountSteven SpielbergStevenSpielbergElisabeth RappeThu, 25 Sep 2008 17:32:00 ESTFan Rant: Can We Focus on Keira Knightley's Performances, Not Her Ribs?http://www.cinematical.com/2008/09/24/fan-rant-can-we-focus-on-keira-knightleys-performances-not-he/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/09/24/fan-rant-can-we-focus-on-keira-knightleys-performances-not-he/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/09/24/fan-rant-can-we-focus-on-keira-knightleys-performances-not-he/#commentsFiled under: , ,



While Googling pictures of Keira Knightley for a Cinematical project, I couldn't help but be bombarded with reviews and photos from The Duchess, as well as Knightley's latest role in The Beautiful and the Damned. Every article comes with a remark about her slim figure -- and even more frightful, every review of The Duchess complained more about her prominent cheekbones than about her performance. Salon's Stephanie Zacharek found her "unbearable to watch" -- not, it seems, because her acting was poor, but because "I just couldn't get past the skeletal planes of her face." The New York Times' Manohla Dargis called her "a big boned beauty who leads with her jaw" which, I hope, doesn't mean that Dargis thinks her to actually be a sort of giant, and not a lass with a 23-inch waist. The New Yorker called her "a starved supermodel," leaving Entertainment Weekly to be the kindest of the lot, labeling her build as "athletic."

Now, as a girl who boasts a very visible clavicle and zero cleavage, I often find myself jumping to Knightley's defense. I'm not as lithe of leg, as anyone who saw me in Lara Croft shorts can attest, and no one would call me anorexic, even if my ribs and hip bones like being seen. I shudder to think what Zacharek would think of my cheekbones onscreen. I'm inclined to believe Knightley isn't anorexic, as her hair and skin look awfully good for someone allegedly starving herself. I've also seen her Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End Chinese costume in person and it was pretty normal sized -- I think Johnny Depp's Sparrow outfit was tinier!





Continue reading Fan Rant: Can We Focus on Keira Knightley's Performances, Not Her Ribs?

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]]>keira knightleyKeiraKnightleyThe DuchessTheDuchessElisabeth RappeWed, 24 Sep 2008 12:02:00 ESTGeek Daily: Brett Ratner's Feeling Chatty, Rorschach's Watching Fox, and Transformers Risehttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/09/24/geek-daily-brett-ratners-feeling-chatty-rorschachs-watching/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/09/24/geek-daily-brett-ratners-feeling-chatty-rorschachs-watching/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/09/24/geek-daily-brett-ratners-feeling-chatty-rorschachs-watching/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

I know this is traditionally a slow news time but wow, it's a desert out there! Is everyone in Hollywood sleeping? Are they becoming addicted to CNN election coverage like I am? Well, I managed to tear myself away from Anderson Cooper to do a little Cinematical work (and it's hard, 360 runs on such an endless loop that it's kind of like spending a delightful eternity with him), you'd think someone in Tinseltown could option some graphic novels or cast Captain America. Sheesh. Anyway, here's what we've got today:

  • The Hasbro Licensing Summit of 2008 revealed the Transformers appearing in Transformers 2 are: Sideswipe (Chevy Corvette), Ravage, and Devastator. Also from Transformer World 2005, Robert Orci has answered a slew of new sequel questions. Beware of spoilers. Additionally, The Insider visited the set of Transformers 2, and you check out some video after the jump.

  • Oh, Brett Ratner. I snark on him, but immediately feel guilty because everyone does, and it can't be easy for one man to endure. And then he goes and tells MTV about his superhero spin-off ideas and I just want to shake him by the shoulders, and tell him to leave this genre alone. Disappointed that he didn't get to direct Batman, he nevertheless thinks there should be a Joker spin-off -- and not even Heath Ledger's death dampens his enthusiasm. "Heath was great," Ratner said. "But the Joker is a great villain. That's why Jack Nicholson and Heath Ledger had so much to work with. And I think there will be another actor who can interpret that. It would be great to see [Robert] Downey [Jr.] as the Joker, for instance." Now, while I don't think the character of the Joker should die with Ledger, I certainly think he's off-limits for awhile -- and a spin-off? Come on. This isn't Magneto, this is a character we never really want to know more about, he needs to exist solely where you can't see him. But then again, Ratner also thinks a Storm spin-off with Halle Berry is a good idea.

Continue reading Geek Daily: Brett Ratner's Feeling Chatty, Rorschach's Watching Fox, and Transformers Rise

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]]>Astro BoyAstroBoyBrett RatnerBrettRatnerMichael PenaMichaelPenaThe Green HornetTheGreenHornettransformers 2transformers revenge of the fallenTransformers2TransformersRevengeOfTheFallenWatchmenElisabeth RappeWed, 24 Sep 2008 09:02:00 EST