Trailers: The Uninvited

I had heard rumors for a while that a remake of 2003's Korean film A Tale Of Two Sisters was happening. And now we've got the trailer.



I'm not generally a fan of these remakes as most of them have been terrible (The Ring is a rare exception). I think there's also been a huge failure in adapting the mostly Asian stories to American cinema (there are occasionally films from other places like the upcoming Quarantine which is a remake of the Spanish language film [Rec]). Something about cultural and historical differences. Imagine that.

Anyway, my point is that I'm very not excited about The Uninvited. If nothing else that trailer looks silly and the title is horrible. The Uninvited? That's really the best they could come up with? They couldn't have called it something more generic? Do you have any idea how many other horror movies there are out there called The Uninvited? I can promise you there are a few.

I do however highly recommend the original Tale of Two Sisters. It's an atmospheric, creepy movie that builds the tension well and pays off in the end. I enjoy it quite a bit.

Thoughts: Goodbye Luke

From Anne Thompson at Variety:

I met Paul Newman once, At Cannes. He was there for Mr. and Mrs. Bridge. He was my height, and looked straight at me with his brilliant blue eyes. They were piercing, intensely blue. Almost azure.

After a long battle with cancer, Newman died Friday, at his farm near Westport, Conn. Here's the A.P. obit.

Sure he was gorgeous. Always. But that was by no means the sum of his gifts. Newman was insecure, people who worked with him have said. He wasn't one of those actors who took his gift for granted. He fussed and worried and needed his directors to reassure him and hold his hand. They were always rewarded.

Here's William Goldman from Adventures in the Screen Trade:

Paul Newman is the least starlike superstar I've ever worked with. He's an educated man and a trained actor and he never wants more close-ups. What he wants is the best possible script and character he can have. And he loves to be surrounded by the finest actors available, because he believes the better they are, the better the picture's apt to be, the better he'll come out. Many stars, maybe even most, don't want that competition.

They don't make them like him anymore.

Thoughts: My Problem With Sarah

So look, I write reviews about movies. I have a blog but I keep politics out of it. I'm normally very careful when it comes to staying on topic. Sure, I'm pretty socially liberal. I also believe that the Constitution is a great thing and I don't like Bush. However political ramblings aren't normally my thing.

Sometimes you need to break even your own rules.

I also could have written this weeks ago but honestly I really wanted to give Palin the benefit of the doubt. I learned quickly that she wasn't someone I'd agree with politically but that doesn't necessarily disqualify her from being a decent Vice Presidential candidate. However, after more research on my part and more interviews on hers, my mind has been made up.

I'm not really talking about Sarah Palin and why I don't like her though. I'm talking about why I don't like her as the selection for the Republican Vice Presidential nominee. There's a difference there.

Beyond all of the nonsense, all of the rhetoric, beyond the fact that I disagree with many of Palin's policies and political stances, I have one huge problem with her selection.

It's her gender.

Yeah, that's right, I don't like the fact that she's a chick.

The thing is, I feel like her selection was based almost solely on that fact. I don't think it had anything to do with credentials, competence, political savvy, or capability. It was an insulting move by the GOP to win over the female voters who supported Hillary. The logic behind the Palin choice seems to be "Hey, she's a woman so other women will vote for her!"

Come on? Really?

(Granted I also think it has to do with the fact that she's crazy conservative. But mostly I think it's the gender card.)

Of course I would love to see a woman VP. And woman President would be amazing. But. I would never base my decision of who to vote for solely on a person's gender. Gender does not trump all.

Have I mentioned that I find this insulting?

Personally, I want to be taken seriously. I want to get jobs. I want to succeed in my particular choice of career. But I want that success to be based on merit and talent. Not on my cleavage.

A woman being selected for something just because she's female is just as bad as a woman NOT being selected for something just because she's female. That's not what I'm working for. I'm working for equality. I'm working for respect. I'm working to be seen as an intelligent, qualified human being. I want gender to be taken out of the equation.

Realistic or not it's a goal to work towards.

This Palin nonsense goes right along with what I'm fighting against.

And I have to admit I feel bad for her! I can't help it. She is so clearly out of her league. Watching those Couric interview clips was just down right painful. Yes I was annoyed by Palin's answer to the passport question, which I found insulting for a whole different set of reasons. But that whole bit about Russia? The whole floundering for an example of why John McCain is such a "maverick"? (If I have to hear that word one more time in regards to this election so help me...). That all just hurt.

I don't agree with her ideology but that's nothing new when it comes to half of the politicians out there, regardless of whether or not they happen to like to wear a dress. I'd be creeped out by her but not horribly surprised or particularly bothered by her selection if that's all it was. I all ready know that I don't agree with McCain on a number of things so why would I expect to agree with his VP choice? It would have been nice but it wasn't expected.

It's beyond her stance on abortion or her opinions on proper sex education. It's beyond her gross misuse of government funds. It's beyond all of the normal ridiculous politics.

It's about how McCain, his advisors, and the Republican Party view women, our intelligence, our emotions, and our abilities. It proves that they are still completely set in a chauvinistic and condescending mindset. This is still the old Boys Club. They're not opening up the door for women; they're not letting us play the game. They're keeping us on their arms as another pretty accessory. To them all we're good for is filling the role of trophy wife. And lord save the ugly ones. Or the smart ones. Or the independent ones. Or any girl that refuses to play by their rules. Because in their world there's still no room for us. They're just trying to dupe us into believing that there might be.

Palin should stay in Alaska and deal with her Russian fly-byes. If the Republican Party wants this little girl to take them seriously they're going to have to do better than that. Their lack of respect for me has completely killed any chance of their gaining MY respect. Don't talk down to me, don't preach to me, don't insult me. Treat me like the thinking, decision making adult that I can occasionally be and trust that I am actually capable of sound judgment.

Yes, I want a woman to be President. But I want someone like Germany's Angela Merkel or even Pakistan's late Benazir Bhutto. I don't want some hockey mom who is about as good at looking smart as Jessica Alba in The Fantastic Four.

Man, if you're going to vote for McCain and Palin, then whatever. Your choice. But make that choice for the right reasons. Like her not because she looks good but because you think she's capable of being a world player. Personally the idea of her having an active role on the world political stage frightens me.

And I don't even want to think about what the world must be thinking when they look at us right now. Normally this would be one of those times when I say you've got to laugh because what else are you going to do? I can't laugh at this. I can stare dumbfounded. I can be baffled. But I can't laugh. There's nothing even remotely funny here anymore.

It's just sad.

Thoughts: The Answer Man

I love you.

Q. Yo dude, u missed out on "Disaster Movie," a hardcore laugh-ur-@zz-off movie! Y U not review this movie!? It was funny as #ell! Prolly the funniest movie of the summer! U never review these, wat up wit dat?
S.J. Stanczak, Chicago

A. Hey, bro, I wuz buzier than $#i+, @d they never shoed it b4 hand. I peeped in the IMDb and saw it zoomed to #1 as the low$ie$t flic of all time, wit @ lame-@zz UZer Rating of 1.3. U liked it? Wat up wit dat?

The full article Here.

Thoughts: Labor Issues

An interesting post about the current state of things in this lovely entertainment industry I work in.

Hollywood Labor News

I honestly haven't really been following what's been going on the last few weeks. I went on vacation and basically turned my brain off. All I know is that things are still really slow out here. So many people I know are unemployed with no real leads on anything. I do keep hearing "I might have something in a few weeks" which is encouraging but not. There's optimism I guess but also a lot of frustration.

I at least have an offer to go back to my old job at ANTM. I was hoping to be able to move on to something new but hey, it's not a bad gig and it's a job. It's nice to have something.

The Wait and See game is continuing. I hope this nonsense get figured out soon. I just want to work.

Thoughts: TCM's Summer Under The Stars

I know I've been very quiet this last month but I had to break the radio silence for this. One of my favorite parts of television in the summer is TCM's Summer Under the Stars. Every day in August they will devote their programming to one star. There have been so many classic movies that I've been introduced to through TCM's summer over the past years, Robert Mitchum in Night of The Hunter, Bette Davis in The Letter, Anthony Perkins in Friendly Persuasion.

This year's summer began last night with Michael Caine and continues today with Charlie Chaplin. Gregory Peck is tomorrow and I may have to not leave my house.

Check out TCM's website for more info: Summer Under The Stars

Here's the full schedule:

Michael Caine Friday, August 1
Charlie Chaplin Saturday, August 2
Gregory Peck Sunday, August 3
Marie Dressler Monday, August 4
Claude Rains Tuesday, August 5
Anne Bancroft Wednesday, August 6
Greta Garbo Thursday, August 7
James Garner Friday, August 8
Fred MacMurray Saturday, August 9
Doris Day Sunday, August 10
Richard Widmark Monday, August 11
Kim Novak Tuesday, August 12
Peter Lorre Wednesday, August 13
Greer Garson Thursday, August 14
Rita Hayworth Friday, August 15
Fred Astaire Saturday, August 16
Gene Kelly Sunday, August 17
Jack Palance Monday, August 18
Barbara Stanwyck Tuesday, August 19
Edward G. Robinson Wednesday, August 20
Ava Gardner Thursday, August 21
Trevor Howard Friday, August 22
Laurel & Hardy Saturday, August 23
Henry Fonda Sunday, August 24
Ingrid Bergman Monday, August 25
Janet Leigh Tuesday, August 26
Tony Curtis Wednesday, August 27
Charlton Heston Thursday, August 28
Marlon Brando Friday, August 29
Katharine Hepburn Saturday, August 30
Spencer Tracy Sunday, August 31

***

As for myself, I've just had a lot of life stuff going on. I'll return to regular posting eventually. Until then, go see The Dark Knight. It's amazing.

Review: Hancock

I have to be honest. I was very not sure about Hancock. I was never able to get fully excited about this summer’s Will Smith action vehicle. On the one hand, I like Will Smith. On the other, the trailers were lackluster at best. On the one hand, the story concept was intriguing. On the other, the original premier was canceled only a month before for reshoots (never a good sign).

In the end my deciding factor was that a friend of mine worked on it last summer and if nothing else, it’s cool to see your friend’s names in the credits. And he did get a pretty good credit so I at least wasn’t disappointed in that.

After everything my expectations for Hancock were fairly low. I like a lot of the talent that was involved, on both sides of the camera, but the scattered marketing campaign and rumors of numerous changes to the original script and story kept the excitement level from building too high. I think that was probably for the best as Hancock turned out to be an entertaining but not great summer flick.

Will Smith plays John Hancock, an alcoholic super hero the world would rather see go away. His antics often cost more than the good they necessarily serve. For example, Hancock saves the life of a man stuck in front of a chain but manages to cause a massive train wreck in the process. The man he saves is Ray Embry (Jason Bateman), a down on his luck PR agent with dreams of saving the world through marketing. Ray brings Hancock home to meet the family, son Aaron (Jae Head) and wife Mary (Charlize Theron). It’s obvious from the start the Hancock makes Mary uncomfortable and it’s this dynamic that plays a major part of the film’s second half.

The buzz for the film is right in that Hancock gives us something nice and original, especially for the first half. It’s also right in that the transition to the second half is awkward a good bit of the film’s originality degenerates into the standard super hero fighting with an unexceptional twist.

Not to say that Hancock isn’t enjoyable. If nothing else Will Smith is his usual charming self and if you’re a fan of his you’ll more than likely be very happy with what you get. Will Smith is one of those actors I will watch in almost anything (except for Hitch apparently…) and I like his treatment of Hancock’s many ups and downs. I think he brings the character respectably to life and I have no complaints there. Jason Bateman is also great as Ray. He makes Ray into an incredibly likable and sympathetic guy. Ray’s character could have easily turned into a sap you pity but instead Bateman makes him someone who believably holds his own in extreme circumstances. The dynamic between the two men, how they come together and how they ultimately need each other is one of my favorite parts of the film. It adds a nice human element to all of the action and highway destruction.

Charlize Theron is also fine as Mary. I don’t even mind all that much what they end up doing with her character. She too has good chemistry with Will Smith and while I agree that the second half of the film is lacking I don’t think she’s to blame.

For me, the problem is in how the film is ultimately indecisive. Someone somewhere couldn’t decide what to do with this movie. Do we keep it a dark, adult super hero story and risk the R rating? Or do make it nicer, advertise it in front of family flicks like Prince Caspian, and risk less at the box office. The people at the top went so far and then got cold feet. And the film suffers for it. In just the narrative structure alone, the momentum of the story if killed before it ever really gets going. I think one of the reasons there is so much talk about the first half and the second if is because the halves are so noticeable. There is no smooth arc easing one into the second, there is just the build up and then the twist. After the twist the only thing left is the standard super hero movie action. The action’s not bad, it’s just nothing amazing either.

Hancock goes both ways. There’s the good: the actors are likable and the dialogue is solid. And the bad: the story is uneven and Peter Berg is occasionally self indulgent with his editing.

Where does that leave us, the audience? Hancock is a fun movie that some will love, some will hate, and most will probably forget. Either way, it’s going to make a killing at the box office.

Back

And she's back! After quite a bit of busy and stress I'm back to blogging. I've seen quite a few movies since I've last posted but I'm just going to ease into things. So for now, check out a review for Hancock. We'll see what else I can get to throughout the week.

Away For A Bit

I've had some family stuff come up so unfortunately I'll be away from blogging for a little while. I've got a few good things from the weekend I'd like to talk about but it's going to have to wait.

In the mean time, if you're in LA you still have one more chance to see Medicine For Melancholy at the LA Film Fest! Tomorrow at 2 PM at The Regent in Westwood. I was able to see it Friday night (it's one of the things I want to talk about) and it's great. I highly recommend it.

I may post in the next few days but I probably won't. If nothing else, I will be back next week.

Thoughts: News Worth Sharing

Two little bits I found whilst perusing Hollywood Reporter's website.

The first is that L.A. Confidential will be getting a special edition DVD come September. While I normally am less than excited by so-called "Special Editions" this one actually sounds like it could be pretty cool.

Hollywood Reporter Article.

The features sound interesting and I'm tickled by the idea of a commentary by critic Andrew Sarris. I have a feeling I'll probably end up purchasing this one.

The other news is bigger and even more exciting.

I get to mention once again Medicine For Melancholy. I heard the news last night thanks to a Myspace bulletin but it's still really cool to see it making actual Hollywood Reporter news.

M4M has been picked up by IFC!

I'm completely psyched for Justin and Cherie and everyone else. I have a damn good idea of how much work they all put into this film. It's just great to see their commitment and dedication rewarded.

If you're in LA you should definitely venture out to the LA Film Fest this weekend and check it out! I can't wait to see it tomorrow.

IFC Films picks up 'Melancholy'

The LA Film Festival

And that's what I've got for now. Back to work!