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Celluloid Notes - what are you watching?

Celluloid Notes - August 2007

Trailer of the Day:Zebraman and Audition

Trailer of the Day

Zebraman
A 2004 film by Takashi Miike (Audition, Ichi the Killer, MPD) that is a play on the superhero genre. This film is just finally hitting theaters in America (though in a very limited way). Right now I think it's only playing the Two Boots Pioneer Theater in NYC. The trailer doesn't have subtitles, but it's so absurd that you have to watch it. I haven't seen it yet, but am going to at the first opportunity I have. Anyone seen it yet?




Retro-Trailer of the Day

Audition
Miike's classic horror picture, that's really a drama for about an hour and twenty minutes (a fairly mediocre one) and then it pulls a 180 and it's one of the scariest films ever made. This is cerainly a film that everyone must see, a horror film like nothing else...




A short interview with Takashi Miike about filming the Audition, directing it, and what seperated it from it's contemporaries in Ju-On and Ringu.

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August 31st 2007 @ 15:53

Posted By: Dustin - Category: No Category
   


Fall Preview (or what will I watch this fall?): part 1

What are you watching King?

This is a just a skimming of what is coming out this fall/winter. But here are some of the films that people seem to be excited about, films that are recieving a lot of buzz (though online that seems to require nothing more than a barf bag), and a few films that I'm kind of excited to see. I cut off the list at the end of the year, which excludes a few films I'm really excited to see, like Michel Gondry's 'Be Kind, Rewind,' which has been pushed back to late January.

This Week:

Halloween

Mike Myers...again

Rob Zombie's "re-imagining" of Carpenter's horror masterpiece has gotten a lot of buzz online, and the footage and pictures released have looked edgy and intriguing. It's been the year of remakes (with no end in sight) but this is one that make break the trend of the new films being inferior to the originals.

< embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/dtR9Fxz2lng" type="application/x-shockwave -flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350">

Deep Water

A documentary that is causing a lot of buzz. Follows a 1968 one man yacht race around the world. A once wealthy British man, who is essentially a "weekend sailor," joins the race at the risk of financial ruin. This film looks like it's going to be a big winner. Intense and rare footage, and the distance of time to make the witness interviews slightly more intriguing, with the benefit of reflection.

< embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Kky-4bIByaY" type="application/x-shockwave -flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350">

Exiled

This Johnnie To film sounds like it may be in a similiar vein to many of his other gangster films (Election, Triad Election). But he is increasingly receiving praise for his films in America and is becoming more and more intriguing of a director. In a review of this film J. Hoberman points out that he is one of the few directors of Hong Kong films that has remained edgy and fought for his ability to continue to create the films he wants, they've changed for sure, but they retain that edge more than almost anyone else. (Kar-Wai has gone to American financed films, and the same for Ang Lee) the trailer makes it looks great.




Sept. 7

3:10 to Yuma

Everyone is always ready for the next great western. And it's been a while since American screens have seen anything close (maybe since Eastwood's 'Unforgiven,' but even that was a pretty atypical western). I don't know if this film will be the one, but the combination of Russell Crowe and Christian Bale interests me. Crowe hasn't really been anything but his stock character in a while, so maybe he can come up with something fresh. James Mangold is certainly a competent director but lacks any sort of stylization in his films, which a western can't survive without (see Tombstone). But it looks like there may be hope for this one.




Sept. 14

The Brave One

Neil Jordan's films are patchy at best. The successes of his career are marred by films like 'Interview with the Vampire.' This looks like one his most blatent ventures into Hollywood since the aforementioned film. But he is good, and this could be a suprise thriller success. Jodie Foster looks ok in the trailer, but Terrence Howard looks better...



Eastern Promises

eastern Promises


Cronenberg has been only making gold lately, and this looks like no exception. already getting lots of oscar buzz. Viggo Mortensen is at his best under the direction of Cronenberg. There isn't much to say about this film, it's been doing well, playing in many of the major festivals, Toronto next... looks good.



In the Valley of Elah

Paul Haggis second attempt at direction. His first film 'Crash' earned him an Oscar for Best Picture (which may be one of the worst Best Picture's ever). This film looks interesting, but maybe not that exciting. But the Academy seems to love everything Haggis touches and Tommy Lee Jones is always a good addition to a cast. It's part of a new trend of filmmakers becoming willing to talk openly about Iraq in a narrative format, hopefully it's not as trite and 'black and white' as many of his other scripts...



Ira and Abby

Jennifer Westfeldt's second feature length screenplay seems to excite a lot of people who were fans of 'Kissing Jessica Stein' but either way this looks like it could be one of the falls 'indie' success stories. She's been called the female Woody Allen, which is oddly appropriate. The film looks good, especially for the crap that romantic comedies have turned into. John Cusak look out...




Sept. 21

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

Another potentially great western this fall. Looks slightly more paced but has recieved a lot of praise from the festival circuit. Brad Pitt doing independent films is always a good prospect. A good topic as well, interesting to historical buffs and film geeks (Fuller).



Into the Wild

Sean Penn directs this biopic(ish) film of Christopher McCandless adventures from high school through his decision to leave for the Alaskan wilderness. Audiences had widely differing reactions to Werner Herzog's 'Grizzly Man,' the reaction to McCandless as any sort of hero was anything but agreeable. Penn's decision to do make a very Hollywood pic out of this topic seemed distasteful, but spent a lot of bidget on filming on location, actually following McCandless' road trip from SoCal to the Pacific Northwest.




Sept. 28

Lust, Caution

Much praise to Ang Lee and co. for accepting the NC-17 rating without bating an eye. They didn't appeal the rating and refuse to change anything in their pciture to recieve a more viewer friendly rating. Ang Lee's return to chinese films is exciting in that it looks like he really refused to make any comprimises. Should be another Oscar contending film for Lee.



The Darjeeling Limited

Wes Anderson has such a large core of dire-hard fans that this film can't help but be successful. A great cast with Adrien Brody, Jasoon Schwartzman, and Owen Wilson. film has been playing at myriad film festivals. Doing the Tornoto soon and is the opening night selection for the upcoming New York Film Fest. Comes out this week, in a very limited release, then widens the release in the coming weeks.




Oct. 5

My Kid Could Paint That

A documentary about the strange success of Marla Olmstead, a 4 year old painter who is compared readily to Picasso and whose paintings sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars. It's at least an interesting topic and should create an interesting discussion of art for the film.



Michael Clayton

I've seen very little buzz about this movie, adn the studios haven't released much in the ways of the story here, but the trailer and meager plot description available are intriguing. And when hasn't Clooney been good lately? (reply: 'Intolerable Cruelty')



Sleuth

Another remake of an old film. Directed by Kenneth Branagh starring Michael Caine and Jude Law (Caine was in the original). The film doesn't look like it's going to exacly follow the original plot, which is good, may be a bit more of another "re-imagining." Could be another decent remake for the fall.

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August 29th 2007 @ 20:29

Posted By: Dustin - Category: No Category
   


Trailer of the Day: Deep Water and Rat Race

Trailer of the Day

Deep Water movie poster


Deep Water
A new documentary, coming out shortly, about a 1968 solo yacht race around the world. The race consisted of 8 veteran sailors and one British man no one had ever heard of...



Retro-Trailer of the Day

Having 'Deep Water' as the trailer of the day reminded me of another, classic (though not that retro) race movie, 'Rat Race.' You know the kind of funny, kind of over cast, kind of ridiculous comedy of the mid 90s with Seth Green. Jon Lovitz, Cuba Gooding Jr. Rowan Atkinson, John Cleese, Whoopi Goldberg... hang on having a painful flashback to the 90s...

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August 28th 2007 @ 15:04

Posted By: Dustin - Category: No Category
   


Trailer of the Day: American Gangster and Mafioso

Trailer of the Day

American Gangster


American Gangster
dir. Ridley Scott
starring: Russell Crowe and Denzel Washington
Kind of looks like it's got a bit of an Untouchables spin, but more focused on the mob. Poor casting for a mob pic, but maybe they'll surprise me..

< embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/QOSOYSLDuQE" type="application/x-shockwave -flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350">

Retro-Trailer of the day
Mafioso
The rediscovered Italian mob comedy that has been doing American theaters since the 06 New York Film Festival

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August 27th 2007 @ 21:02

Posted By: Dustin - Category: No Category
   


Tim Burton letting the studio make the decisions for him on Sweeney Todd...

According to The Sunday Mail the studio heads at Warner Bros. would like their upcoming adaptation on murderous barber to caontain less blood. Tim Burton's upcoming adaptation of 'Sweeney Todd,' starring Johnny Depp as the Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Didn't meet the spproval of the Warner Bros heads and they've handed down lengthy cuts they'd like to see for the final version of 'Sweeney Todd,' which comes out in December (American theaters).

Sweeney Todd, a documentary about Johnny Depp's life


Apparently some of the scenes were so greusome that crew members were getting nauseous and leaving set. the studio heads want less blood spraying from the necks of the Demon Barber's victims, fewer dead corpses hanging around the sets and want a scene chopped were Helena Bonham Carter (who lives below the Demon Barber and uses his dead bodies for her pies) and a ten yera old boy are carving up a victim. According to Sunday Mail's sources, "
"The thing is, the studio really likes the film and they want to make it accessible to as big an audience as possible - which means stemming the blood flow. But that's a bit difficult for a story involving a guy who gets high slitting throats."

The studio is hoping that the musical, coming out around Christmas, will have a wider appeal. They want a PG-13 rating in the US, and a 15 in the U.K. Sounds to me, though Burton is reportedly upset about the changes, that the studio ehads should mind their own damn buisness and wreck a potentially good flilm so that 13 year-olds can go and see it. It's about a homicidal barber, and you're going to cut the blood? Ridiculous.
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August 27th 2007 @ 20:32

Posted By: Dustin - Category: No Category
   


Jeremy Blake 1972-2007

Behold the Bubbles:
The Man Who Made Paintings Move

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August 25th 2007 @ 22:19

Posted By: Dustin - Category: No Category
   


Trailer of the Day: The Assassination of Jesse James... and Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid

Trailer of the day

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (Andrew Dominik, 2007


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August 24th 2007 @ 22:05

Posted By: Dustin - Category: No Category
   


The Top 100 Directors of All Time

So if you haven't seen the links circulating the web to the latest (mostly meaningless) top 100 list, Total Film magazine has released a list of the top 100 directors of all time. Now, of course, a list so huge cannot possibly please everyone, but this list was assembled by people who do not like movies... Just, briefly, to skim a few of the blatant problems with this list:

1. Michelangelo Antonioni was not included. Of course he seems a little more in the media at the moment because of his recent death, but this is one of the great directors. You can't go including Sofia Coppola, Curtis Hansen and James Whale and then deny Antonioni. Poor decision


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August 23rd 2007 @ 23:08

Posted By: Dustin - Category: No Category
   


Trailer of the Day: Eastern Promises and The Brood

Trailer of the Day

'Eastern Promises' is the newest film from David Cronenberg (Videodrome, Naked Lunch) starring Naomi Watts and his new favorite Viggo. The film is currently making the rounds on teh festival circuit, up next is Toronto, then a US theatrical releasse will follow. It looks good, Cronenberg has shifted from drug induced hypno-horror gore-porn, to a more refined thirller style, which inevitably has it's "Cronenberg" moment where the gore mounts to extreme proportions (Ed Harris' head being, more or less, exploded in A history of Violence). The Trailer


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August 23rd 2007 @ 14:23

Posted By: Dustin - Category: No Category
   


No Bale or Routh for Justice League Picture

The upcoming 'Justice League of America' picture from Warner Bros has been the hot film of the week, with rumors circulating everywhere about who will be playing Batman and who will playing Superman. WEll yesterday moviehole and IESB have confirmed that Christian Bale and Brandon Routh will not be playing the roles of Batman and Superman in the film. this makes sense, and doesn't. But in an interview with IESB Christian Bale outlined the simplicity of the situation:

IESB: Are you doing Justice League after TDK?

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August 23rd 2007 @ 14:01

Posted By: Dustin - Category: No Category
   


Another Family Guy movie?

Rotten Tomatoes is reporting, in talks with Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane, that he is planning on making a Family Guy feature film. But that's not all, "I would like to do a Family Guy movie at some point, I'd like it to be a musical." The major challenge to creating a Family Guy movie at the moment? Finding time to constantly comeup with new material for the show while writing a feature length film. "It'd be great if we could do it within the next few years. The challenge is finding the time to do it while we're doing a TV series because you don't want the TV series to suffer."

iAgree

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August 22nd 2007 @ 16:10

Posted By: Dustin - Category: No Category
   


A remake of The Wizard of Oz?

According to Variety Todd McFarlane (creator of Spawn) is looking to get the ball rolling on a new 'Wizard of Oz.' He is teaming up with screen-writer Josh Olson (A History of Violence) to bring a dark new vision of the classic to the screen. With the perpetual onslaught of films that were good the first time round being remade it's mildly nausiating, but this project seems to have a little something different than a remake of, say, 'Enter the Dragon.'

A few years back McFarlane designed a series of figures/toys based on The Wizard of Oz (which are kind of shocking and disturbing, also kind of interesting):
Bad bad bondage Dorothy

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August 22nd 2007 @ 15:55

Posted By: Dustin - Category: No Category
   


'I'm Not There' official trailer released

The much anticipated Bob Dylan biopic 'I'm Not There' has an official trailer (finally). the film is currently making the rounds at the major festivals and will see a US theatrical release later this year. The Weinstein produced film has prompted Harvey Winstein to tell the NY Times "if Cate Blanchett doesn't get nominated I'll shoot myself." Hmm...a loaded statement... Pictures of all six actors who will be playing Dylan have been posted online, none look quite as authentic as Blanchett, yet there is a waft of dylan in everyone's look, except for Heath Ledger, who looks like Heath Ledger with poor hygiene and a scruffy beard. Anyhow here is the trailer for the film. The buzz is getting so loud it's becoming hard to concentrate on writing any longer...


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August 21st 2007 @ 21:23

Posted By: Dustin - Category: No Category
   


Trailer of the Day: Cassandra's Dream and Bananas

Trailer of the Day

Woody Allen and his men on the set of Cassandra's Dream

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August 21st 2007 @ 17:55

Posted By: Dustin - Category: No Category
   


Trailer of the day: Shine a Light and Gimme Shelter

The Trailer for Martin Scorsese's Rolling Stones documentary 'Shine a Light,' originally slated to be released soon, now delayed until April 08:

< embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/hMMa94p85sY" type="application/x-shockwave -flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350">
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August 20th 2007 @ 21:27

Posted By: Dustin - Category: No Category
   


Jet Li asks Chinese government to ease up on censorship

As I had previously reported, the Chinese government has a tight grip on the film industry in China. He spoke out on his blog calling the government's demands for realism in film unreasonable, leaving "only the ancient Chinese stories to be produced." In his entry he mentions many of his films which were banned because of depictions of gangsters or policemen that were deemed insensitive to the Chinese population.

Every year they only allow 20 foriegn films to enter Chinese theaters. Even in those twenty films there is often some censorship (As with the new Pirates of the Carribean this year), most recently they decided to ban Rush Hour 3 starring Jackie Chan (one of the biggest stars in China). Jet Li and Jackie Chan are currently at work on 'The Forbidden Kingdom,' their first film together, a hollywood produced film being shot in a Chinese studio


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August 20th 2007 @ 21:02

Posted By: Dustin - Category: No Category
   


Review: The Battle of Algiers: *****

Gillo Pontecorvo's 'The Battle of Algiers'

Dir. Gillo Ponteocorvo
Screenplay by: Gillo Pontecorvo and Franco Solinas
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August 18th 2007 @ 22:18

Posted By: Dustin - Category: No Category
   


Trailer of the day: The Invasion and Invasion of the Body Snatchers

Trailer of the Day

Nicole Kidman in 'The Invasion'

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August 17th 2007 @ 14:55

Posted By: Dustin - Category: No Category
   


Articles and Essays: Scorsese, Polanski, Korine, Antonioni, Bergman, Allen, Rosenbaum

Time Out article on directors who cameo in other directors films.
Werner Herzog cameo's in Harmony Korine's 'Julien Donkey Boy'
Werner Herzog's cameo in Harmony Korine's 'Julien Donkey Boy'


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August 17th 2007 @ 14:20

Posted By: Dustin - Category: No Category
   


Trailer of the Day: Walk Hard and Bande a Part

Trailer of the Day

'Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story' is the Judd Apatow's newest production, starring John C. Reily. It's roughly a parody of the life of Johnny Cash and in particular 'Walk the Line.' I think it looks pretty solid, I'm not a huge fan of parody films, but Judd Apatow is hot right now, everything he touches is gold


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August 16th 2007 @ 22:32

Posted By: Dustin - Category: No Category
   


Turturro releases 'Romance and Cigarettes' with his own money

turturro's Romance and Cigarettes
I've been trying to follow the path of John Turtutto's 'Romance and Cigarettes' (produced by Joel and Ethan Coen) in it's long path to finally being released in theaters. Finished in 2004 (with a price tag of $11 million) it originally debuted at the Toronto and Venice Film Festival's. (In Venice it was nominated for the Golden Lion) After that it was slated to have a limited, nation-wide theater release. But then, during the Sony/MGM merger, it seems to have been placed on the backburner for the studio. The release date was continually puched back and back and then never saw the theatrical release that was anticipated. But now the film, starring James Gandolfini, Susan Sarandon, Christopher Walken, Kate Winslet, Steve Buscemi, Aida Turturro, Mandy Moore, Mary-Louise Parker, Eddie Izzard, and Amy Sedaris, is being released in New York theaters, by Sony, wait no, by Tuturro Studios? Turturro is releasing it by himself, he is paying, out of pocket, to get it played in theaters across New York. The film has had reviews praising it as an original musical that you couldn't help but be drawn to, and others have called nearly unwatchable. Either way, it's coming to theaters in New York, and (so says Rotten Tomatoes) it will see a DVD release sometime in 2008. The film sounds interesting, here's the synopsis, lifted from the Rotten Tomatoes article:

Romance and Cigarettes is a down-and-dirty musical love story set in the world of the working class. Nick (Gandolfini) is an ironworker who builds and repairs bridges. He's married to Kitty (Sarandon), a dressmaker, a strong and gentle woman with whom he has three daughters. He is carrying on a torrid affair with a redheaded woman named Tula (Winslet). Nick is basically a good, hardworking man driven forward by will and blinded by his urges. Like Oedipus at Colonus, he is sent into exile and searches to find his way back through the damage he has done.

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August 16th 2007 @ 22:01

Posted By: Dustin - Category: No Category