Three chimps are set to become astronauts; following the archetypes of the spastic underdog, duh-headed leader (most likely voiced by the same guy who played Kronk in The Emperor's New Groove), and level-headed, but forgettable female who all get involved in a love triangle... in space. One can only hope references are made toward the diaper-sporting Lisa Nowak (better known as the Crazy Astronaut). C'mon, monkeys fling poo, it's just so obvious!

I am one to normally hate on how played out 3d-animated breakdancing is and dock points accordingly, but pop-locking to the Beverly Hills Cop theme song wins.
- Niko

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Other Products of Interest

• Tommy Boy (Holy Schnike Edition)
• Liar Liar (Collector's Edition)
• Ace Ventura Deluxe Double Feature (Pet Detective / When Nature Calls)
• Ace Ventura: Pet Detective
• The Mask (New Line Platinum Series)

Space Chimps blasts off in theaters on July 18th.

From the visionary filmmaker who brought you such insta-classics as the thoroughbred zebra masterpiece Racing Stripes, Kirk DeMicco, in association with Vanguard Animation, the company responsible for the worldwide smash sensation carrier pigeon comedy Valiant, and the even more successful (if such a thing is calculable in sheer adoration) Happily N’Ever After comes this epic tale of monkeys and NASA that is poised to become the biggest blockbuster the world has ever seen.

“I don’t know that I’d go that far,” director DeMicco said with fawning humility, “but it will definitely change the way movies are made and marketed in years to come.  It’s a touchstone event, like the launch of Sputnik, the Apollo moon landing, or the Challenger disaster, not to bombard you with space metaphors!  Hahaha, but seriously…”

Starring the top flight voice talents of SNL-er Andy Samberg (Hot Rod), Patrick Warburton (Joe Somebody), and Cheryl Hines (RV), Space Chimps has already garnered the type of early buzz usually reserved for summer action pics and winter prestige films.  But actor Jeff Daniels, doing the voice of Zartog in the film, feels that Space Chimps is that rare film that combines elements of both.

“It’s probably the best film I’ve worked on since Dumb and Dumber,” Daniels confessed, then quickly added, “What am I saying probably? It’s the best film, period.  No doubt in my mind.”

Public interest is so high that online ticket retailed MovieTickets.com has refused to list the film, after its offering crashed the site repeatedly over the course of a weekend in February.  Fandango.com has followed suit, and now eager fans have begun camping out at their local multiplexes in hopes of securing midnight showing entry.

“It’s like I’ve been waiting for Space Chimps my whole life,” Jim Gordon of Gotham said from beneath his pup tent in front of a Cinemark in Cleveland Heights, Ohio.  “I think it will define me as a person.”

Early speculation is that the film’s opening weekend will far surpass the record currently held by Spider-Man 3 of $151 million, and may ultimately challenge for the all-time domestic and international tallies posted by Titanic eleven years ago.  But for the filmmakers, it wasn’t just about making money.

“It’s a labor of love,” DeMicco explained.  “I’ve wanted to bring an animated space exploration simian film to the big screen since I could first form full sentences or wipe my own behind.  It’s been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember.  And I’ve grown to feel very deeply about the project, even more so than I could’ve imagined.  I love the characters in this picture more than anything on this Earth, including my late parents, my wife, and even my pet monkey Bert, who’s pretty jealous, as you can imagine.”

After a pause, DeMicco added, “I’m also looking forward to making a shitload of money.  July 18^th is wide-goddamn-open and we’re going to dominate the frame like no one’s ever seen.  Spielberg can hop in the backseat this summer.  DeMicco’s driving the caravan!”

Space Chimps opens nationwide July 18^th, with its only paltry competition being the fourth weekend of Wall-E, the second weekend of Eddie Murphy’s Meet Dave, and the only other major new release, Mamma Mia. Good luck, Meryl!

Though the arts are often caricatured as the antithesis of sports, ironically, recruitment of artistic talent can be just as important to successful theatre seasons as they are in sports..

For their upcoming season, the Goodman Theatre has snatched up (i.e. recruited) a number of creative stars:

• Anna Shapiro - fresh from her Tony Award for August: Osage County, will direct the world premiere of Regina Taylor's new play, Magnolia, a contemporary take on Anton Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard. (production dates: March 14-April 19, 2009)
• Jeff Daniels, known for his roles in Terms of Endearment" and "The Purple Rose of Cairo", has been signed on to star in the world premiere musical-fantasy Turn of the Century, by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice.  (Production dates: September 19-October 26, 2008 )
• Broadway legend Tommy Tune (9-time Tony Award winner) has been recruited to direct Turn of the Century.  Broadway veteran Rachel York has been cast as the play's female lead.

I have great confidence that Goodman's top-notch recruiting will secure a very successful season, both artistically and financially.

h/t Hedy Weiss

Footnotes:

^[1]: Gene & Ole Anderson were announced on television as having won a tournament in California to become the NWA World tag team champions.

^[2]: Ric Flair & Greg Valentine were stripped of the belts for continually ending their matches via disqualification.

^[3]: This was a tournament final.

^[4]: In December 1981, Gene Anderson was legitimately injured. Therefore, the titles were vacated.

^[5]: This was a tournament final. Ole Anderson & Stan Hansen would be stripped of the belts in September 1982.

^[6]: This was a tournament final.

^[7]: The titles were vacated once Ricky Steamboat announced his retirement from wrestling. Therefore, a tournament was started.

^[8]: This was a tournament final.

^[9]: The "Freebird" rule was put into effect where fellow Russian comrade Krusher Khrushchev could also defend the titles along with either Ivan or Nikita.

^[10]: After attacking NWA referee Nikita Koloff at Wrestle War in May, Rotunda and Williams were stripped of the belts and a tournament was started.

^[11]: This was a tournament final.

^[12]: The NWA world tag titles were reinstated. Therefore, a tournament was started and this match was the finals. At the time, Williams and Gordy were also the WCW world tag team champions, which merged the two together.

^[13]: Lord Steven Regal was allowed to substitute for the injured Brian Pillman.

^[14]: This was a tournament final.

^[15]: The titles were held up in a RNR Express vs. PG-13 match on June 26, 1995. This was the rematch to settle the dispute. Later on between September and October, the titles were once again vacated.

^[16]: This was a tournament final.

^[17]: This was a match held to crown new champions after Gannosuke & Goto vacated the title a month earlier. The title was vacated again in August 1997.

^[18]: The Rock N Roll Express were awarded the titles on WWF Raw is War.

^[19]: This was the first time a rival NWA title changed hands on a WWF program.

^[20]: This was a four-way match which also included Kit Carson & Khris Germany and Tully Blanchard & Tom Pritchard.The titles were held up on March 3, 1999 when they no-showed a title defense due to inclement weather.

^[21]: This was a match to decide new NWA world tag team champions.

^[22]: Jackie Fulton substituted for an injured Reno Riggins.

^[23]: Jeff Justice was substituting for Drake Dawson.

^[24]: When the NWA and TNA joined together, the titles were vacated on June 28, 2002.

^[25]: This was a tournament final. The belts were vacated on August 14, 2002 after double-pin situation in a match against Jeff Jarrett & Ron Killings.

^[26]: Chris Harris and Brian Lee were the last two men in the ring at the end of a 20-man 'Gauntlet for the Gold' match, which meant their respective teams would square off for the vacant tag titles later that same night.

^[27]: Triple X took advantage of the "Freebird" rule where Christopher Daniels, Elix Skipper or Low-Ki could defend the titles along with another member of their team.

^[28]: 3 Live Kru also took advantage of the "Freebird" rule where BG James, Konnan or Ron Killings could defend the titles along with another member of their team.

^[29]: Vince Russo stripped AJ Styles and Abyss of the titles on March 3, 2004 for failure to defend the titles.

^[30]: This was a tournament final.

^[31]: Match aired on TV June 4, 2004.

^[32]: Match aired on TV September 24, 2004.

^[33]: Match aired on TV October 15, 2004.

^[34]: With the 3 Live Kru's title victory, the "Freebird" Rule for the team goes back into effect for them.

^[35]: Match aired on TV April 29, 2005. The title was held up on October 5, 2005 after a match against Eric Young and Cassidy Riley at the NWA 57th Anniversary show in Springfield, TN.

^[36]: This was the rematch to settle the dispute.

^[37]: Match aired on TV October 22, 2005.

^[38]: Match aired on TV August 24, 2006.

^[39]: This match also included Incognito and Sicodelico Jr. to determine who would capture the vacated NWA world tag team titles.

Credit goes to: PWI Almanac, wrestling-titles.com, and ProWrestlingHistory.com

Traitor, protagonizada por Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce, Saïd Taghmaoui, Jeff Daniels, Neal McDonough, Archie Panjabi y la chilena Alexandra Castillo (quien estuvo de cumple ayer), es una cinta de espionaje, sospechas, acción y por cierto, traición, que tiene muy buena pinta, por lo que se puede ver del trailer. La historia cuenta como un agente de la CIA (Cheadle) se infiltra en un grupo terrorista y como es perseguido por un agente del FBI (Pearce), debido a lo cual y con tal de proteger su identidad encubierta el agente de la CIA se irá involucrando cada vez más con el grupo terrorista. Traitor tiene a Jeffrey Nachmanoff en el guión y en la dirección, mientras que el crédito por la idea original se lo lleva... ¡Steve Martin! Esto hay que verlo. Trailer y poster a continuación.

TRAILER: TRAITOR

[dailymotion id=x5icyc]

Runtime: 93 Minutes - Country: USA - Produced for TV by Hallmark

This quiet drama-flick is focusing on the eventful life of the Miller-family, who is almost likewise consisting of hearing and deaf people. Daniel Miller (Jeff Daniels) and his wife Laura (Marlee Matlin), who is deafened; have an 8-year-old son named Adam (Noah Valencia). At first it seemed like there were no real complications, but when Adam got older there were the first problems to appear. There is an audiotape with one of the last recordings of a speaking Adam - but this is already over 5 years old.

So they find themselves in a serious familiar struggle: after Adam had slightly injured himself while playing in the garden, his father Daniel first heard about the so called Cochlear Implant by a local doctor. He is sceptical; his wife even totally denies to face this option - but soon he is getting more and more comfortable with the idea, this way of a possible improvement of his life... he is starting to do some basic researches in the internet, arranging the first continuative appointments - much to the disapproval of his deaf wife.

Adam can not listen to the tunes that his father is playing, but he can feel the music...

First of all: certainly, this is a topic that you might have stumbled upon, it is often treated in TV-series. But I have to state it: personally I have not seen many films on this important topic ! The overall keyword and main subject-matter would be deafness - a story of a young boy and his family; with all members having very different opinions and standpoints on how to deal with the hearing loss of Adam. So, one could certainly expect a great family drama; with two of the main family members being deaf; and a hearing father who is living with them; who can only use sign language to communicate - this mixed with some detailed pro's and con's or advantages and disadvantages on the Cochlear Implatant and the culture of the deaf in general...

At least that is what I expected. But focusing on it this way, I am rather disappointed. Just because the storyline is so promising, leaving so much possible room for discussion, unique messages, conversations et cetera - but in the film itself there is this certain "forced mood";  which makes it feel rather unrealistic and cold. Too bad - since a film like this would only work with heartwarming and believeable characters and a bigger attention to the smaller details also. The overall athmosphere just did not make me feel very comfortable - maybe also because, and that is my main negative aspect that I would like to mention here: the film is annoyingly reduced - including both characters and storyline.

Adam, who faces a neighbourhood child who bullied on him becasuse of his disability

Adam, certainly one of the main characters (he should be!) - is an 8-year-old boy who got deaf. Just tell me, why would the audience not get to hear anything about himself ? The whole film turns out to be portraying a serious conflict among the parents, involving their parents also - caused by a neverending discussion on the pro's and con's of a Cochlear Implant. Of course, the son is 8 years old and could not really decide anything - but why is he not even informed about what is going on between the parents ? They do not seem to really interact nor even talk with their son; from who we do not get to know anything - this certainly is a bad mixture for a family drama with children involved. Since it feels like they are steady talking about one big topic; which is affecting one of the closest family members. And altough this family member is standing right beside them, you can not get a felling for the connection. At least that is how I feel - I would ascribe this to the average cinematography, the cold acting; and most certainly: the uninspiring script... I can only remember one single scene in which Adam has been bullied by a neighbourhood kid - I guess this was the first and only time the focus has actually been laid on him (and his deafness) alone...

Daniel and Laura are arguing a lot about her son and his possible future

Since the overall battle and argumentation between the "deaf culture" and their "opponents" (at least that is what is at times portrayed here) is starting to become hilarious at some points - take the overall court scene for my example on this. And of course: why would they have even gone there ? Maybe I would have taken this for serious, if there had not been this artificial ending that makes everything even worse... do not get me wrong, I like open endings - but certainly not in this case. I also like the message that love is the most important thing and source of power that can carry you thorough hard times, this is what the end actually consists of - but it fails here. And this is also referable to the characters development - the parents are arguing very often, having so much conflicts that it seems that they could become divorced; all because of the Choclear Implant and the possible positive and/or negative effects. Just to become totally enlightened in the end ? But it seems that this form of "enlightenment" is relativizing all of the past events and discussions they had - they have each other, and that is what counts... good, but let me ask one question: what about the son; and the result of the main discussion we fortunately came to watch in the past 90 minutes ?

Finally... will all things come to a good end ?

But I guess this is up to the viewers, such as the answer to many questions that are occurring while watching this one - volitional or not. For example, why did the producers choose to go for rather annoying voice-overs here ? It does not really seem to fit; I would definitely have recommended subtitles. Reconsidering this film again - it is only an average, but still a worth watching flick. Since it can initiate many further discusions on the general topic of deafness; by offering a (slight) inside view on their culture, and their way of interacting with hearing people. Also, it is offering some pro's and con's on the Choclear Implant - I certainly like that the film stays rather neutral, in conclusion. Nothing exciting to say about the technical part; the actors however are doing an average job at least. Finally: certainly none of my favourite films. Mainly because I expected an interesting family drama with lots of backgrounds, a main focus on the person the whole story actually is about - but rather got to see a familiar couple crisis. Not a simple or very usual one, though - but all of the characters are just badly reduced; such as the whole main topic: 5.1/10.

This DVD at Amazon.com - The Trailer

Farlanders is a new Sam Mendes movie about a couple who is expecting their first child who travel around the U.S. in order to find a perfect place to start their family. Also in this movie are Maggie Gyllenhaal, Maya Rudolph, Jeff Daniels, Jim Gaffigan, Catherine O'Hara, Allison Janney, and Cheryl Hines.

It's Sly Stallone puns this week.

The MTV Movie Awards were big and loud and shiny again. Just ask Popsugar UK.

The Graduate: Book or film better?

Kurt Cobain's ashes have apparently gone missing...

Ol' grumpy Moz is returning in September.

Nancy Franklin writes about CBS's Swingtime.

Ouch!! New Weezer record not loved.

More Original Silence on its way from Thurston Moore and Jim O'Rourke.

AfterElton has published its Hot 100. Check out the quote on the front page by John Barrowman.

Friedberg and Seltzer are back... this one's called Disaster Movie. Excuse my French but honestly, le fuck them.

Death Cab are interviewed here an also on this week's APM Sound Opinions for you podcast listeners.

Evil Dead: The Musical. Awesome.

Jeff Daniels dropped by to record a really decent set for Daytrotter.

DESCARGA DIRECTA ALTA DEFINICIÓN 480
DESCARGA DIRECTA ALTA DEFINICIÓN 720
DESCARGA DIRECTA ALTA DEFINICIÓN 1080

Con un gran reparto con actores como Don Cheadle, Jeff Daniels y Guy Pearce el director Jeffrey Nachmanoff presenta 'Tritor', un film de suspense, una película de espías donde Guy Pearce interpreta a un agente del FBI especializado en grupos terroristas, mientras que Don Cheadle es un agente de la CIA que se infiltra en un grupo terrorista, quien acaba siendo sospechoso de haberse pasado al bando enemigo. Jeff Daniels, Archie Panjabi, y Saïd Taghmaoui completan el reparto de esta película cuyo estreno se producirá el 29 de Agosto de 2009.

Un buen trailer que nos deja a un gran Don Cheadle y la posibilidad de encontrarnos de nuevo con una destacada película de espías.

Fdo: Kitano
 

--

Entertainingly dysfunctional would be the best way to describe the Berkman family from the movie The Squid and the Whale. This dark comedy is one of my favorite films because I can see my family in the movie’s characters. While having a broken family can be painful at times, this movie also presents the humor of things, such as parents trying to keep up appearances and the odd ways children cope with the situation. Though this is only an eighty minute film, the strong use of mise en scene, cinematography, editing, and sound make this a very dense and powerful picture.

The first element of film that the viewer notices is the sound. As the movie begins, the viewer can only see the title of the movie on the screen, but they can hear the sound of people playing tennis and a young boy, Frank, saying, “Mom and me versus you and dad.” These opening sounds essentially set up the main conflicts of the film. Tennis is an important factor because it is often seen as a snobby sport played mostly by upper class, well respected people. This is exactly what Bernard wants his two sons to be, even though it’s not what they want. Frank’s statement sets up the second conflict of the film, which is that Walt, Frank’s brother, always sides with Bernard in arguments while Frank takes his mother’s side. The problem with this is that Bernard has brainwashed Walt into believing everything he believes.

As the movie continues, the soundtrack remains pertinent to the film‘s conflicts. There are many scenes where the characters are arguing, screaming, and cussing at each other. The best example of this would be about ten minutes into the film when Joan and Bernard start fighting. Their screams can be heard in the background as the film cuts back and forth between Walt laying at the edge of the stairs, trying to listen, and Frank in bed, covering his head with a pillow. Even though the kids cannot actually see their parents fighting, just the sound of it is enough to affect them.

Another important thing I noticed about the film’s soundtrack is the fact that music does not play a very important role, as it does in most movies. For the first twenty minutes of the film, only instrumental music is used that can usually only be faintly heard. Through out the rest of the movie, music is used sparingly and usually only has humming, not actual lyrics. In my opinion, I think the film would be just as strong without music because the actors do a great job in letting the viewer know how they should feel about certain situations, and the music is not needed to influence the viewer’s emotions. The only scene that is an exception to this is the final scene when Walt is at the Museum of Natural History, looking at the squid and the whale exhibit. The music has a triumphant feel to it and makes the viewer feel cheerful because Walt has finally escaped his father’s grip. Without the music, I think the ending would feel a bit unfinished and unresolved. Instead of leaving the viewer feeling pleased, it would probably leave them feeling angry and perhaps confused as to why Walt left his father at the hospital.

The second element of film noticed during the movie is the editing. While the film maintains continuity and does not use jump cuts, the editing is still noticeable because the movie contains many cuts. In the first scene alone, which is only a minute long, there are twenty four cuts. This fast-paced cutting continues thorough out the entire movie, and is probably one of the reasons why the film is so short.
The majority of the cuts that make up the film are shot/reaction shot cuts. The most powerful of these cuts, in my opinion, occurs about eleven minutes into the movie. Bernard and Joan have gathered Walt and Frank together for a family meeting. As Bernard is trying to tell his kids that he and his wife are separating, the film cuts to a close up of Franks face. In this shot, the viewer can see Frank’s face begin to quiver and eyes begin to well up with tears. This is an extremely important cut in the movie because the viewer begins to empathize with the kids and dislike the parents.

There was only one cut in the entire movie that I thought to be a little out of the ordinary. It occurs three and a half minutes into the movie as Bernard is folding up the couch. The camera zooms into the couch and the shot becomes blurry, then there is a match cut which is a blurry close up of the sidewalk that zooms out and becomes clear. This is the only moment of editing in the entire film in which a normal viewer would notice it because of the blurring.

The next element of film that I noticed was the mise en scene. About two minutes into the film the action moves to inside the Berkman house where the viewer notices the very dull and muted colors of the décor. This may suggest the parents’ fading relationship that they have given up on. Another noticeable thing about the house is the cluttered and full bookshelves. Through out the movie, Joan and Bernard fight over who gets the books when they separate. Naturally, Bernard thinks he should have them, but Joan hides them one night while Bernard is sleeping. In my opinion, I believe the books represent success, and Joan stealing the books could be a metaphor for Joan stealing Bernard’s literary success and taking the spotlight.

Later, when Bernard moves across town into his own house, the mise en scene reflects the current state of his life. The viewer notices the paint and wall paper peeling off the walls. It almost looks as if the house is falling apart, as his marriage and relationship with his children are also falling apart. Bernard also has very little furniture in his house, suggesting that this divorce has stripped his life of many things he used to have, such as success.

Another symbolic thing I noticed about the mise en scene was the colors red and pink being associated with Sophie, Walt’s girlfriend. About twenty minutes into the film both the viewer and Walt are introduced to Sophie, who is wearing a red sweater. It is obvious that Walt is sexually attracted to her. The next time the viewer sees Sophie, she is wearing a pink sweater, and she and Walt are in her pink room. In this scene, Walt is not interested in having sex with Sophie, only innocent kissing. But as the movie progresses, Walt’s feelings change. He begins to only want to have sex with Sophie, not a relationship. This is reflected in Sophie’s wardrobe. In every scene Sophie is carrying a red purse, which is symbolic of passion and sex, but not necessarily love.

The final element of film I noticed was the cinematography. The entire movie is filmed at an eye level angle with a medium shot camera distance, which makes for a more realistic feel for the viewer. The film also appears to be shot with a handled camera during some points because it gets a bit shaky. An example of this would be the opening scene where the family is playing tennis. The camera follows the characters and the tennis ball as they both move across the court. This creates a sense of action, but it is also a bit bouncy and shaky. The reason for this may not be intentional, but perhaps because of the fact that this is an “indie” film, and the director probably did not have enough money to buy an expensive steadicam.

The most notable component of the cinematography in this film was the lighting. There are two significant scenes that come to mind when thinking about the lighting. The first scene occurs about forty five minutes into the movie, when Bernard and Lili, his student, are having dinner in Bernard’s dinning room. In this scene, the entire room seems to have a red tint to it, and the lamp shade over Lili’s head seems to cast an even deeper red aura around her. Obviously the fact the Lili appears to be radiating red is a metaphor of her radiating sex. It is very apparent that Bernard is only interested in sleeping with her.

The second scene in which the lighting is very prominent is the very last scene of the movie where Walt is in the museum looking at the squid and the whale exhibit. The entire frame is filled with a soft, blue tint that makes it appear as if the exhibit itself is shining a blue light on to Walt’s face. Like the color red, the color blue is also very symbolic. In this scene, the blue suggests a calm and relaxing state, which Walt feels after escaping the control of his father.

While all four of the elements of film are significant in making The Squid and the Whale a great movie, there is one element that I believe stands out above the rest: sound. The dialogue in this film is very well written, and the actors show a lot of emotion in their voices. The viewer grows to despise Bernard’s character not because of his actions, but because of his words. The soundtrack also lends a hand in creating a humorous effect in an otherwise sad situation. For example, hearing a twelve year old call his father “ass man” and other derogatory terms is funny and makes light of a difficult situation.

Overall, I think The Squid and the Whale is an excellent film. Although there are many films that explore families being torn apart, this film approaches the issue from a different angle. The Squid and the Whale takes a comedic approach in dealing with a broken family and avoids being overly dramatic and too sentimental about the situation, making for a realistic and enjoyable film.

Directed by Scott Frank

Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Jeff Daniels

It's not an Austrailian film, but I'll get back to that theme tomorrow.  Had to post about this beautiful little film noir I just watched called The Lookout, Scott Frank's directorial debut, graduating from accomplished script doctor.  Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, fresh off another little indie film noir called Brick, that though important, never really broke through. 

The story follows brain damaged Chris Pratt, injured by his own hand and reduced from hockey superstar to bank janitor.  Emotionally devastated and unconfident, he's an easy target for a group of bank robbers who recruit him to be their lookout for the heist they're planning at the bank he works at.  Things start to go wrong though when Chris recalls how his actions destroyed the lives of others before his injury and he has a change of heart about his involvement in the robbery.  The consequences are deadly.

There's a couple scenes in here I would have shot differently, mainly the one where Pratt is called up to crawl into the vault, all shot in a wide, maybe would have worked better with some mids and close-ups to really hammer home the moment, amp up the tension.  Still, Frank showed technical prowess and great actorial direction, especially this being his first film.  Great writing as well, putting the script into the territory of an orginal Memento-ish crime drama.  The score is also subtle, yet spot-on, another great accomplishment to James Newton Howard, Shamalyan's go to man.

As long as Gordon-Levitt keeps making these great little film noirs, I'll keep seeing them.  Though I have to admit, he needs a few more years until he really hits his prime as an actor, but once he does, I think he has leading man potential.

Other Notable Films by this Director: Script-Doctoring-- Dawn of the Dead (2004), Minority Report (2002), Out of Sight (1998 )

"A fantasia, em todas as suas formas, só tem utilidade se servir como uma reflexão do que pode ser construído para o futuro." (Kurt Vonnegut)

Muito embora o filme traga três personagens femininas, é do lado feminino de ser que cada um de nós temos, homens e mulheres, que ele mostra. E esse olhar feminino vem pelo poeta, justamente por um personagem masculino. Um jeito romântico de ser e de olhar o mundo. Lindo!

Aí ficam perguntas... Tudo tem que ser tão certinho? Tudo tem que sempre ser encarado dentro da normalidade, daquilo que já está pré-estabelecido? A mola do mundo também é movimenta por algo fora dos padrões, fora do convencional. Sempre teremos tempo de subverter a engrenagem. Ou não, pois o tempo não para. As horas voam... Onde estaria, melhor, onde ficaria o sonho, o desejo, a vontade em traçar seu próprio destino? Pois, levar uma vida dupla, onde a real é por pura obrigação, onde a de sonhos é escapismos, há de chegar uma hora que não aguentará mais. E ai...

Não li o livro do qual o filme foi baseado. Como também ainda não li o livro de Virgínia Woolf, "Mrs. Dalloway" que faz parte do filme. Esse me motivou a mais em ler. Então, focarei o filme. E sem entrar muito na patologia da escritora, por não ser a minha praia. O filme mostra um dia ímpar na vida de algumas pessoas. Com ela, escrevendo os esboços de mais um livro. Que viria a ser seu último trabalho. Como também, anos depois (Em 1951 e em 2001; nos EUA.), vidas alteradas em alguns dos leitores desse mesmo livro. Um dia que ficará marcado para sempre.

O que me cativou de pronto foi o lance dela ficar buscando uma frase para então iniciar o texto. Sem nenhuma pretensão nessa comparação, lhes digo que eu era assim. Para qualquer texto que escrevia, mesmo para uma redação na escola, buscava por uma frase para iniciar. Após encontrá-la, o texto fluía naturalmente.

Nicole Kidman faz a Virgínia Woolf. Confesso a vocês que não a reconheci de imediato. Só fui mesmo notar quando outra pessoa comentou. Parabéns pela performance e pelo visual!

Virgínia, após encontrar a frase... Ótima por sinal! Eu adoro flores! ...pensa no rumo que dará aos personagens. Sua intenção inicial era matar a protagonista. Sua inquietude também por conta de sua doença a faz parar por algumas horas e olhar o mundinho que a cerca. De onde se deprime por saber que está presa ao seu problema. Gostaria que mais do que drogarem-na, que os médicos encontrassem uma solução. Durante esse correr do dia... Constata que sua casa funciona sem ela, pois as criadas tomam as decisões que deveriam vir dela. Talvez, numa de punir, faz a empregada ir comprar gengibre em Londres.

Depois, com a visita da irmã com os filhos, capta mais coisas. Visita essa que por terem chegado antes da hora, irrita o marido (Stephen Dillane). A irmã (Miranda Richardson) lhe diz que é uma privilegiada, por poder viver duas vidas: a real e a dos livros. Mas Virgínia queria mesmo viver outra vida. Até da irmã, já seria bem-vinda. E por conta de um cerimonial junto com a sobrinha para um pássaro à beira da morte... reflete mais agora também sobre a sua vida real.

Uma das passagens mais tocante é dela com o marido na estação de trem. (Algo sadio em qualquer relacionamento: o de discutir a relação.) O que cada um falou para o outro. Mas que deixou uma pergunta: Será que ambos ouviram o que o outro dizia de fato? Claro, que eles tentaram. (Atualmente, eu diria que num caso semelhante, precisariam da ajuda de um profissional.). Mas diante do quadro clínico dela e por Leonard ser meio avesso às mudanças repentinas, não houve o acesso até ela. Mesmo havendo amor entre eles, um não conseguia satisfazer o outro. Numa parte, quando ela diz estar entediada ali naquele lugar, ele lhe diz que ela sentia o mesmo na agitação da capital. Ele bem que tentou dentro do limite dele, do jeito dele, fez o que julgava estar certo e por amor a ela. Mais uma vez estava disposto a mudar a si próprio por ela. Mas não era isso que ela queria. Virgínia queria não apenas libertar-se, como também não manter ninguém preso a si. E eles não se entenderam.

As outras duas histórias, mesmo passadas em anos diferentes, irão se unir de fato nesse único dia. Não, não se trata de nenhuma viagem do tempo, vendo o filme irão entender melhor. Por hora, vou tentar contar sem estragar a surpresa de quem ainda não viu esse filme.

Laura Brown (Julianne Moore) leva a vida de uma dona de casa padrão. Casada. Mãe de um menino e encontra-se grávida de outro. No dia do aniversário do seu marido, Dan (John C. Reilly), algo acontece que a faz mudar radicalmente a sua vida. Pontua essa decisão não apenas a história do livro, mas a conversa com a amiga Kitty (Toni Collette). Essa, por estar na iminência de não mais poder gerar um filho considera a amiga uma privilegiada. Mas essa não é a vida que ela queria levar. Laura queria libertar-se. Mas como sair daquela engrenagem? O que seria do seu garotinho? Certo ou errado, Laura segiu com a sua decisão.

Passados mais alguns anos... Conhecemos Clarissa Vaughan (Meryl Streep) que como na manhã da história do livro, sai para comprar flores. Também irá dar uma festa. Seu grande e inestimável amigo Richard (Ed Harris) ganharam um prêmio. Prêmio esse que o colocava na lista dos grandes poetas. Mas que para ele, viera mesmo por ele se declarar aidético. Ela já incorporou em seu dia-a-dia ir cuidar dele. O que o deprime. Tal qual Virgínia com o marido, ele também se desgosta em precisar desses cuidados. A ama demais para mantê-la presa a ele. Ela tem uma filha (Claire Daines), ela tem Sally (Allison Janney). Tem a sua própria vida.

Assim, ao final de um único dia... após fazerem um mergulho profundo dentro de si mesmo... após reverem seus fantasmas, ou seriam seus piores pesadelos? Dormem o sono dos justos. Para alguns, um novo amanhecer surgirar. E por conta disso, mesmo sendo um clichezão, repito: Enquanto há vida, há esperança. Eu fico triste quando vejo um final com o fim de certos personagens. Triste, mas respeitando a decisão.

Esse entrou para a minha lista de que vale a pena rever, sempre! Filmaço! Nota máxima!

Por: Valéria Miguez.

As Horas (The Hours). 2002. EUA. Direção: Stephen Daldry. Elenco: Nicole Kdman, Meryl Streep, Julianne Moore, Ed Harris, John C. Relly, Claire Danes, Toni Collette, Miranda Richardson, Jeff Daniels, Stephen Dillane. Gênero: Drama. Duração: 114 minutos. Baseado no livro de Michael Cunningham.

Well, get ready to have an old fashioned good time at the movies again!

I was fortunate to have been involved with the production of a WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL movie opening in a limited release tomorrow night (Friday, April 25).

If you live in Southern California, Montana, or Alabama make your plans now to go see A Plumm Summer showing in a theater near you!

Click here to watch the stars being interviewed at the premiere.

Click here to watch the official trailer.

Based upon a true Montana story, this charming, heartwarming, fun-filled movie starring Henry Winkler, William Baldwin, Brenda Strong (Desperate Housewives), Peter Scolari, Rick Overton, Clint Howard, and narrated by Jeff Daniels tells the tale of the 1960's kidnapping of Froggy Doo, a famous, local TV show puppet.

Hilarity and adventure begin when J. Edgar Hoover sends two FBI agents to Montana to investigate and three imaginative kids, each with an individual purpose, team up to begin their own super sleuthing.

Who will find Froggy Doo first?!

If you've ever visited Livingston, Montana or have traveled through Bozeman, Montana, then you know the beauty which is Montana's alone.

Filmed in both communities, director Caroline Zelder and cinematographer Mark Vargo captured more than the scenery of these two magical communities, they captured the very essence of what separates Montana from every other place in the world -- the [yet] unspoiled West.

Pack up your kids, grab a friend, take your spouse, or go by yourself, but GO see A Plumm Summer this weekend!

Buy some popcorn and a soda and let the summer fun begin!

Embed Code Available here
Video From the Hallmark Website

30 Days of Night
(2007)

Starring: Josh Hartnett, Melissa George, Danny Huston

I'm so very disappointed with this one... I was really looking forward to a neat little horror movie, but alas, 'twas just a pile of shite.

The biggest problem was that there was absolutely NO character development, so I found that I just didn't care if any of them were killed by vampires!  (Vampires that did not utter a single word of English the whole time, mind you, nor any other language...)

My rating:

Saw IV
2007

Starring: Tobin Bell, Donnie Wahlberg, Justin Louis, Scott Patterson, Costas Mandylor

When a good movie is made, I'm generally quite happy.  When a sequel is made of that good movie, I'm a little perturbed, but i will watch it, and unfortunately Saw II was horseshit.  Saw then turned into a trilogy, and Saw III almost made me ill, not due to the gore, but because I was sickened by the piss weak story and obvious attempt to continue capitalising on the original movie's success.

It is rare that I will watch a FOURTH movie in series, especially if I think the prior two were terrible, but then - why not?  The whole story behind Saw, with the Australian students, overnight success, blah, blah - it touches a soft spot, I guess, and so I went for it.

I thought I'd be let down, and yes, I was.

Nothing really made sense at the end... Jigsaw died in Saw III and then was on an Autopsy table in Saw IV, but then was dead and still in his warehouse at the end of Saw IV and maybe I'm missing a major component of the movie (I'm pretty sure I am), but come on... it was crap.

The only thing that impressed me was the gore.  The rat in the woman's abdomen, the hair being pulled off another victim's scalp and the blocks of ice smashing another victim's head towards the end.  Now, those little gems of gore made it seem somewhat worthwhile, but still - I do feel like I'm missing almost two hours of my life that could have been put to good use doing other things.  But then, you get that, don't you?!

My rating:

The Lookout
2007

Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Jeff Daniels, Isla Fisher

Crap.  Boring, slow, waste of time.

My rating:

So I guess, I enjoyed my weekend viewing!  Maybe next time I'll read a book.

It is classic Woody Allen without Woody Allen.  As good as, if not better than, Annie Hall, The Purple Rose of Cairo is about a Depression Era housewife, Cecilia (Mia Farrow) in a bad marriage who falls in love with a character in the movie The Purple Rose of Cairo.  After watching the movie for a whole day the character Tom Baxter (Jeff Daniels) from the film notice Cecilia has been watching him all day and steps out of the movie to talk to her.  They are talk and fall in love.  Things get even more complicated when she meets the actor who plays Tom Baxter and she/he falls for each other.

It's a social commentary about film and the people who watch them.  Not only that it addresses how people choose to live their lives and the importance of knowing what is real or not no matter how great or perfect it is.

Each actor/actress nails his/her part perfectly and  the result is
"pure enchantment."

As rare as the purple rose itself.  This film is not to be miss and is ranked as one of the best Woody Allen films, and is deservedly  places as one of Time's best 100 films of all time.

The most captivating image from the Mercury Messenger Spacecraft is the one seen here, called the Spider. It is believed to be formed from an asteroid impact and is referred to as the Caloris basin, some 950 miles wide. Also discovered was that Mercury, unlike our moon, has huge mountain ranges and is littered with dormant volcanoes.

Yippee. Now we can just wait till the Messenger settles into orbit (sometime in 2011) and then the data and images will get really out of control. Rumors are already abuzz at the Carnegie Institution of Washington that Dr. Ross Jennings is planning to lead the assault against the Mercurial spider colony, be them friend or foe, cause he just doesn't care.

"Respect is fine, but actually I've always wanted to be feared."

You damn right.

I was told about the movie while discussing how Joseph Gordon-Levitt looked similar to Heath Ledger (RIP!), and after enjoying Brick, I decided what better way to 'waste' a Wednesday snow day?

Usually before I watch a movie I'll hop onto RottenTomatoes and see how badly the critics flayed the film, and was surprised to find that The Lookout had received an... 88%!? I was definitely pumped. I won't write up a long synopsis, suffice to say that Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays Chris who is in an accident, injures his frontal lobe, and has trouble remembering things. Jeff Daniels is a blind man who lives with Joseph's character Chris. Matthew Goode plays Gary, a criminal who masterminds a plan to rob a bank and decides to rob the bank that where the mentally-handicapped Chris works. Parts of this reminded me of Memento, another great film 'based' around memory, and you know, that's not a bad thing.

In the end, I was pleasantly surprised at some of the decisions that the film took, and I really enjoyed it. I am truly not a good critic because I tend to find something in everything I watch/listen/read that I enjoy, so the only safe thing I can say about this movie is that it was great and you should rent it/buy it... along with Brick... and Memento... and... damn, I forget.

Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm and a Hollywood director are using her website to promote an official state song for Michigan - and the song’s ONLY comment about the beautiful and pristine Upper Peninsula glorifies mining.

More on that in a moment.

As expected, the state of Michigan continues to betray the sacred trust it has to protect the Upper Peninsula environment.

According to media reports, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources is expected to approve permits for the first of dozens of sulfide mines that will soon pepper the northern Michigan landscape.

However, the MDNR decision on those permits has been delayed until at least the February meetings of the Natural Resources Commission.

Let's hope the media reports are not true and the MDNR will have the guts to say "no" to Kennecott Minerals at its Eagle Mine Project near lake Superior that is guaranteed to produce sulfuric acid as part of its unproven technology.

These "acid mines" are expected to be followed by uranium mining - effectively ruining the tourism industry here in Michigan’s northwoods.

In December 2007, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality approved permits for the experimental technology for the Eagle Mine near Lake Superior.

If the MDNR follows suits, about the only hope left for stopping this mine is the EPA and a judge because several groups including the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community are suing in an effort to block this first "acid mine."

Here are great background stories on the acid mining future facing the U.P.

"In These Times" story on acid mine

Read about effects of Acid Mine Drainage

Save the Wild UP

By the way, Indigenous groups are also fighting a nuclear nightmare out west at Yucca Mountain:

The Michigan Earth keepers believe everyone can make a difference and here’s a list of ten easy ways to do your part to protect environment from Stop Global Warming group:

The Great State Song-gate in the Great Lakes?:

Are Michigan’s governor - and a Hollywood director - engaged in subliminal advertising using a version of the state song for controversial acid mine that threatens the pristine northwoods?

I ask this question - tongue-in-cheek.

I doubt it’s a super conspiracy but it definitely is dirty pool at a time when so many northern Michigan residents are preparing to take an acid bath and mourning the loss of our environmental innocence.

But it seems strange to me that these two - Governor Granholm and Hollywood director Jeff Daniels - are backing a song that only hails one thing about the Upper Peninsula - and that is mining.

Both have remained quiet about the deadly serious issue that will have lifelong impact on the pristine northwoods as these mines pop up everywhere followed by uranium mining.

I have long criticized Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm and actor/director Jeff Daniels for not joining the thousands who oppose the proliferation of sulfide "acid" mines in the Upper Peninsula.

Info on subliminal messages from Wikipedia:

At issue is a controversial sulfide mine near Lake Superior that will lead to dozens of similar nickel (and dime) projects and likely will ultimately open the ground to uranium mining in the pristine Michigan northwoods.

An unsubtle message in the Michigan state song or a minor mining coincidence?:

Is an old Hollywood trick the latest act being used by pro-mine supporters and directed by Michigan’s Governor under the tutelage of famous director/actor Jeff Daniels?

 Now I ask - is Governor Granholm - Michigan’s top democrat - engaged in subliminal advertizing for this mine - or is one of her last official acts for 2007 - just a coincidence? And why does the only line the in the "state song" that refers to the Upper Peninsula (U.P.) seem to glamorize mining?

Surely Michigan’s Governor would not choose this time to sing praises of mining while ignoring the other attributes of the glorious U.P.

Well, I would agree if not for the fact that the governor’s own website admits there is a "more suitable" version of the song for peacetime.

Maybe she’s promoting the war version because of Iraq.

By deduction, that means the Governor is promoting a less "suitable" version - on her official state website - that is being sung by actor/director Jeff Daniels.

I wonder why this song - that Governor Granholm loves so much - only mentions the Upper Peninsula in passing - and why the only great thing about the U.P. that is mentioned is mining.

Surely there are prettier things in the Upper Peninsula to sing about than our mines - especially if it’s the "unofficial state song."

So enamored with the U.P. mining song and with Jeff Daniel’s version - Governor Granholm has posted a link to his version on the official state website:

Wikipedia on Michigan, My Michigan

Governor Granholm - in a crescendo of praise - says of Mr. Daniels:

"As the temperature continues to drop and we prepare for another Michigan winter, there will be days when we look out of our windows and marvel at the beauty of this place we call home," says Governor Granholm apparently searching for her autograph book.

Swooning in Da Moonlight : Da Gov Goes GaGa over Dandy Daniel’s Ballad:

"There will also be days when we look out of the same window and see a cold and gray place. To help you through those days, take a moment to listen to Jeff Daniels sing Michigan, My Michigan," proclaims Governor Granholm.

On the Governor’s website - apparently posted just before Christmas - are the lyrics for three versions of "Michigan, My Michigan." The versions are from 1862, 1886 , 1902.

From Saginaw’s tall whispering pines

To Lake Superior’s farthest mines,

Fair in the light of memory shines

Michigan, my Michigan.

An 1886 version of the same war song - again the second line - states:

"jewels glitter in thy mines" but without the Lake Superior U.P. reference.

Dat’s the name of that tune:

Still swooning over Jeff Daniel’s version - Governor Granholm tells the state’s residents about his version of "Michigan, My Michigan."

"I find this song a helpful reminder of all of the many reasons we are so fortunate to live here," says the star struck governor.

Michigan State Song Debacle: Dissing a song - once voted upon

Governor Granholm weighs in on old debate - endorsing song she wants to represent the state.

Wikipedia on "diss" songs

If those three versions of the song don't leave your toes tapping - the Governor's website describes yet another - different but similar - song that at one point at least captured the imagination of the then-Governor Frank D. Fitzgerald and the 1930s legislature.

The1933 song - entitled "My Michigan" - was officially described by state lawmakers "as an official song of the State of Michigan" but not "the" official state song.

"Note the care that the Senate took not to name it as "the" official song of Michigan," states Governor Granholm's state website - going the extra mile several times to proclaim it's not Michigan’s official state song.

While Fitzgerald may have liked that version - Governor Granholm apparently prefers the version she promotes: "Michigan, My Michigan."

Granholm’s website states:

QUOTE - "Michigan, My Michigan" has long been considered Michigan's unofficial state song. Another song, "My Michigan," has been all but forgotten except in the records of the Michigan Legislature. - END QUOTE.

By the way, Governor Frank D. Fitzgerald, not related to namesake of infamous Lake Superior iron ore boat that sank - was the first and only Michigan governor to die in office and one of only two Michigan governors to serve non-consecutive terms.

Wikipedia on Gov. Fitzgerald

Dire Straights above the Straits of Mackinac

Both Governor Granholm and actor Daniels have proclaimed their undying love for their homestate, yet have not lifted a finger to rescue the U.P. at its more dire straits.

It seems we can’t get them to join the fight against the mine - and that shall be their legacy here in the U.P.

But maybe - the pair could spend some quality time along Lake Superior and think up some lyrics for our state song that truly describe the beauty and attributes of the now-pristine Upper Peninsula.

I recommend they do this before the acid mining boom forever changes our landscape. By the way - "Tuebor" is the biggest boldest word on the undisputed official Great Seal of Michigan - unchanged since 1911.

Michigan SOS on "Tuebor"

"Tuebor," means, "I will defend" in Latin.

Please - Governor Granholm - there are thousands of us in the Upper Peninsula who could use some of that protection right about now as we fight for our way of life against a behemoth mining company.

Or do you have better things to do than oppose this acid mine?

Finally - the more research I did on the state of Michigan song and seal - the more insignificant the U.P. appears.

Quite a land deal for Michigan and future Secretary of State (SOS):SOS outlines why we in da U.P. need help - and don’t often find it below the bridge:

Here is what the Michigan Secretary of State (SOS) Terri Lynn Land has to say about us Yoopers (slang for an Upper Peninsula resident) - rather bluntly - on her website about the other words on the state’s Great Seal:

QUOTE - "Si Quaeris Peninsulam Amoenam Circumspice" means, "If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you." It is believed this refers to the Lower Peninsula.

It seems to me the Lower Peninsula for quite a deal for that "stip of land" - the entire Upper Peninsula that most anyone will tell you is by far the best part of Michigan.

Now I understand why some Yoopers have joked about seceding from the state of Michigan - and why those who live below the Mackinac Bridge are sometimes called "trolls."

How the Upper Peninsula became the ultimate spoils of a verbal war:

Wikipedia info on Toledo War on Upper Peninsula spoils of that war

The Great Seal Act threatens jail for use of state symbols

Would if I could - but I can’t - so I won’t:

For the record, in describing our state seal - and coat of arms - I wanted to include a a copy of the seal.

But I can’t - under threat of arrest - from the SOS - who warns: "No facsimile or reproduction of the Great Seal can be used in a manner unconnected with official functions of the state. (MCL 2.45)

All this anti-Upper Peninsula stuff is way too "dark and dreary" for me, besides I’m too busy fighting this acid mine to worry about Michigan State Police "a rap tap tapping (or kicking in) at my chamber door."

"Whatcha gonna do?" - To quote the Bad Boys "official song" of the Cops TV show.

As the choir prepares the swan song to northern Michigan’s beauty, tourism and innocence, we who love a natural northern Michigan will continue fighting the good fight.

Tho the last rites to northern Michigan tourism are not far away and funeral services are being planned.

I leave you with the appropriate lyrics and from original meanings of "Swan Song." Wikipedia on "Swan Song" background

"Farewell, all joys! O Death, come close mine eyes!"

"More Geese than Swans now live, more Fools than Wise."

"The wild swan's death-hymn took the soul

Of that waste place with joy

Hidden in sorrow: at first to the ear

The warble was low."

The Lookout, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Jeff Daniels, is a movie from early 2007 which I feel like a lot of people missed. I think a major reason for this was the marketing behind the film: it was pegged as an action thriller, with a gunfight and a bank heist thrown in to complete the package. Granted, these were certainly elements that existed within the plot, but at its core, The Lookout is a character driven modern noir, about a broken young man piecing his life back together, with the key phrase,"Whoever has the money has the power," becoming his mantra, and ultimately the tipping point of the movie as he reclaims what is his.

Approach this film with an open mind. Much like Michael Clayton from last summer (another phenomenal film that died at the box office -- I guess character pieces can't make money these days?), The Lookout has an knack for defying both convention and categorization, evidenced by the aforementioned advertisements, which were about as accurate as birdshot. I give this movie my whole hearted recommendation -- it's fun, exciting, incredibly tight, and features some great performances. Give it a shot, you won't be disappointed (unless of course you are, in which case I take no responsibility).