Actress Fay Wray of 'King Kong' Fame Dies (AP)
August 09, 2004 05:42
AP - Fay Wray, who won everlasting fame as the damsel held atop the Empire State Building by the giant ape in the 1933 film classic "King Kong," has died, a close friend said Monday. She was 96.
Author Contemplating Lawsuit Over 'The Village' (Reuters)
August 09, 2004 05:40
Reuters - Simon & Schuster Inc. is reviewing
its legal options against The Walt Disney Co. and
writer-director M. Night Shyamalan over what the author of a
children's book says are similarities between its plot and the
film "The Village," a spokeswoman for the publisher said on
Monday.
Hal Wallis, Colorless Producer with Glittering Output (Reuters)
August 09, 2004 04:03
Reuters - Of all the name producers
who dotted the landscape during Hollywood's factory days --
including the colorful Sam Goldwyn, flamboyant David Selznick
and masterful Walter Wanger, none was more productive or less
known to the public than Hal B. Wallis.
'Collateral' Tops Box Office at $24.7M (AP)
August 09, 2004 03:09
AP - The Tom Cruise-Jamie Foxx thriller "Collateral" topped the weekend box office with $24.7 million, while bad word-of-mouth may be responsible for the catastrophic drop of "The Village"
Auds say aye 'Robot' (Variety)
August 09, 2004 02:19
Variety - Will Smith and the robots continued to rule foreign markets this past weekend as "I, Robot" came in nearly $20 million ahead of its closest competitor.
Imax posts gain, preps new screen sites (Variety)
August 09, 2004 01:15
Variety - Toronto-based Imax Corp. said Monday that net profit surged 60% to $1.5 million last quarter, largely on a gain from discontinued operations, even as revenue slipped 8% to $32 million.
Stooges Digitally Painted on DVD (AP)
August 09, 2004 12:55
AP - The DVD era is resurrecting the great colorization debate of the 1980s, and at the heart of the matter are Curly, Larry and Moe.
INESCAPABLE (Variety)
August 09, 2004 09:47
Variety - An "Unfaithful" without murder --- or men --- writer-director Helen Lesnick's "Inescapable" centers simply on the passion and guilt that ensue when two women commence a torrid affair under the noses of their best-friend female spouses. Modest production values, routine dialogue and limited psychological depth don't get in the way of pic's clear raison d'etre, which is its numerous, fairly explicit sex scenes. They should provide impetus for good niche home-format biz after further gay fest rounds.
"Collateral" Cruises (E! Online)
August 08, 2004 12:20
E! Online - The
superstar's hit-man thriller Collateral debuted in the top slot
on the movie charts this weekend, with an estimated three-day haul of
$24.4 million.
"Fahrenheit" Cleared by FEC (E! Online)
August 07, 2004 03:40
E! Online - The
Federal Election Commission dismissed a complaint Thursday by
conservative group Citizens United that alleged Moore's ads for his
controversial documentary Fahrenheit 9/11 violated federal
election laws.
"Bunny" Billboard Blown Away (E! Online)
August 06, 2004 05:40
E! Online - Chlo Sevingy, indie film star Vincent Gallo told the New York
Daily News this week, deserves to "be on 10 billboards on Sunset
Boulevard."
Dax Shepard Rolls Dice for 'Zathura' (Reuters)
August 08, 2004 10:25
Reuters - Dax Shepard, best known
for his funnyman work in MTV's "Punk'd," is set to appear
opposite Tim Robbins in "Zathura," a companion movie to the
family adventure film "Jumanji."
Clash of the 'Toon Titans (E! Online)
August 05, 2004 03:30
E! Online - After moving
up the release of its latest CGI creation, A Shark's Tale, by a
month to avoid a potential showdown with rivals Disney and Pixar's
latest 'toon, The Incredibles, the studio is looking to a not so
jolly green giant for a little payback.
CHAN'S NEXT BIG STUNT: REINVENTION (Variety)
August 09, 2004 09:47
Variety - (Variety) Jackie Chan is renowned for making each stunt better than his last, but he now must face the most death-defying act of his career: reinvention.
Fearing the Return of "Jaws" (E! Online)
August 05, 2004 01:25
E! Online - When Open Water screened at Sundance in January, USA
Today said audiences might think twice about scuba diving after
braving the indie thriller.
'Nemo' fans swimming to fishy doc (Variety)
August 09, 2004 09:47
Variety - (Variety) TOKYO The upcoming release of "Fahrenheit 9/11" could change all this, but for now the record opening for a documentary in Japan goes to the British-German feature-length documentary "Deep Blue."
Sharon Lawrence Travels Short Route (Reuters)
August 08, 2004 06:43
Reuters - Since turning in her
badge as a star of the long-running hit TV series "NYPD Blue,"
Sharon Lawrence has taken on new assignments in an array of
upcoming features.
DVD biz boosts cinema tix sales (Variety)
August 09, 2004 09:47
Variety - (Variety) SYDNEY Aussies collectively are the most voracious moviegoers and consumers of DVDs than any nation outside the U.S., according to a survey that will be released Aug. 11 at the Australian Movie Intl. Convention.
Lindsay Lohan Wins 4 Teen Choice Awards (AP)
August 09, 2004 05:29
AP - Lindsay Lohan, who turned 18 last month, collected a leading four awards Sunday night at the 2004 Teen Choice Awards held at the Universal Amphitheater.
Toronto '04 Gets New Blood (E! Online)
August 04, 2004 10:45
E! Online - We already knew Canadians have a lot to be proud of: ice ice
hockey, socialized medicine, Molson beer, Michael J. Fox and the
McKenzie brothers. But who knew about the slew of young Canuck
filmmakers?
RESISTING PARADISE (Variety)
August 09, 2004 09:47
Variety - Given an artist residency grant in 1999, noted U.S. experimental filmmaker Barbara Hammer intended to make a film about the famous Southern France-on-the-Mediterranean light that inspired so many great painters. But war's breakout in Kosovo instead turned her attention to political matters, resulting in a docu more concerned with refugees and Resistance fighters in this area of Southern France during WWII, as well as the role of art and artists under enemy occupation. Somewhat peculiar mix of personal and historical inquiry makes for an intriguing, absorbing hybrid that's especially apt for Jewish fests and intellectually adventuresome educational tube slots.
Rhode Island Film Festival Starts Tuesday (AP)
August 09, 2004 05:22
AP - Rhode Island may be the nation's smallest state, but it's gearing up to host New England's largest film festival, with entries by actors Andrew McCarthy and Zach Braff.
BRIT CHILLER MIXES ART WITH RELIGION (Variety)
August 09, 2004 09:47
Variety - Genuinely creepy despite being a bit too plodding and methodical, "The Gathering" is, for much of its running time, a thinking man's horror movie. Christina Ricci-starrer about an amnesiac American in England who ends up living with the family of an art scholar at work on a mysterious altarpiece blends curses from the recent past and ancient times with sometimes stiff but consistently eerie strokes. Still in a holding pattern for U.S. and U.K. release, British production had a modest release mid-July in France, where it drew some good notices.
'Open Water' Duo Staying Afloat in Hollywood (Reuters)
August 08, 2004 06:44
Reuters - Husband-and-wife
filmmakers Chris Kentis and Laura Lau, the team behind the
shark shocker "Open Water," certainly haven't let overnight
success go to their heads since their movie debuted at the
Sundance Film Festival in January.
Hathaway Surprised by 'Diaries' Fans (AP)
August 09, 2004 05:18
AP - Anne Hathaway has been surprised by the range of fans won over by her 2001 hit "The Princess Diaries." While the story of an awkward teen transformed into royalty appealed heavily to young girls and their moms, male crowds also liked it, Hathaway said. Even businessmen.
Visitors Flock to "The Village" (E! Online)
August 02, 2004 02:15
E! Online - Director M. Night Shyamalan's latest spooky thriller
debuted with $50.7 million as the nation's new number one movie,
according to final studio figures released Monday.
THE NINTH DAY (DER NEUNTE TAG) (Variety)
August 09, 2004 09:47
Variety - A young Gestapo officer and a Catholic priest go head to head in a battle of wills in "The Ninth Day," a thoughtfully written drama of ideas with vivid performances by August Diehl and Ulrich Matthes. First feature by German vet Volker Schloendorff since his belated return to form with "The Legends of Rita" (2000) is quality fare that won't make much of a theatrical mark beyond upscale venues but should attract festival kudos (and discussion) and linger long on ancillary. It signals that Schloendorff, now in his mid-60s, is still a helmer to be reckoned with.
Greek Actor Dimitris Papamichail Dies (AP)
August 08, 2004 01:53
AP - Actor Dimitris Papamichail, who began his career in Greek drama and gained fame portraying working class characters in dozens of movies, died of a heart attack Sunday. He was 70.
Bana the Next Bond? (E! Online)
August 02, 2004 11:00
E! Online - If you
believe Britain's News of the World newspaper, the Aussie actor
is the top pick of producers to succeed Pierce Brosnan as the
martini-swilling superspy.
CINEVARDAPHOTO (Variety)
August 09, 2004 09:47
Variety - A Cine-Tamaris production with the participation of France 5 and France 2 and support from the Jeu de Paume museum and CNC. Produced, directed, written, edited by Agnes Varda. Camera, (color, B&W, DV-to-35mm) Markus Seitz, John Holosko, Claire Duguet, Rick Kearney; music, Isabelle Olivier; sound, Jens-C. Borner, Rob Fletcher, Jason Milligan.
Banned Indian Film Chronicles Violent Era (AP)
August 08, 2004 11:20
AP - An award-winning documentary by Rakesh Sharma that chronicles one of India's most painful episodes of Hindu-Muslim violence has been banned by state censors who said it could trigger more unrest.
THE NOMINEE (EL NOMINADO) (Variety)
August 09, 2004 09:47
Variety - Reality TV brings out the cynic in everyone, but none more cynical than "The Nominee." The wide international impact of this punchy, nasty take on the tube trend is all the more remarkable because pic's an entirely Chilean production. The twisted child of co-helmers and writers Nacho Argiro and Gabriel Lopez --- themselves South American reality show creators --- is caught in a trap of wanting to lampoon TV's worst tendencies while at the same time exploiting them. Bang-up B.O. in Chile has led to a solid fest run and unusual crossover to other South American territories. Cult status awaits.
DANCE CUBA: DREAMS OF FLIGHT (Variety)
August 09, 2004 09:47
Variety - While nimbly avoiding stepping on any political toes, "Dance Cuba: Dreams of Flight" elegantly documents the emotional and artistic ties between Cuban and American dancers and dance companies, even as it records the seemingly unbridgeable gap between the two nations. Pic illustrates this paradox as well as any non-fiction work to date, while also serving as an ideal docu to break down the resistance some may feel toward watching ballet. This brilliantly lensed terpsichorean adventure deserves plenty of fest invites and significant distrib interest, finishing with a graceful pirouette into vid.
Oscar-Nominated Film Editor Peroni Dies (AP)
August 08, 2004 06:44
AP - Geraldine Peroni, a film editor who frequently worked with director Robert Altman and who was nominated for an Academy Award for his 1992 film "The Player," has died. She was 51.
LATE NEWS (Variety)
August 09, 2004 09:47
Variety - (Variety) "American Idol" reject William Hung has returned to his Hong Kong homeland to add movie star to his fast-expanding entertainment resume.
'Blues Brothers' Called Best Soundtrack (AP)
August 07, 2004 01:46
AP - "The Blues Brothers" was rated the best movie soundtrack in a British straw vote. It nipped the soundtracks of "Pulp Fiction" and "Trainspotting" in a vote conducted for British Broadcasting Corp. digital radio.
Olivier Resurrected in "Sky Captain" (E! Online)
July 26, 2004 02:00
E! Online - Laurence Olivier, the
legendary British thespian who died more than 15 years ago, is being
resurrected to play a featured role in the upcoming sci-fi flick, Sky
Captain and the World of Tomorrow, according to the film's star,
Jude Law.
EBay to Host Fox Ad Campaigns (Reuters)
August 06, 2004 02:07
Reuters - Online shoppers, logging
on to eBay's home page to search for antique teapots or the
latest electronics gear, might be surprised to find themselves
first confronting the two fearsome monsters from 20th Century
Fox's upcoming "Alien vs. Predator" next week.
LONDON EYE (Variety)
August 09, 2004 09:47
Variety - (Variety) It's hard to think of ContentFilm, the archetypal Gotham indie, as a British company. But that's exactly what it has been since March, when Ed Pressman and John Schmidt merged their 3-year-old production shingle with Winchester Entertainment, listed on London's Alternative Investment Market.
Sheridans to Make Restaurant Drama for NBC (Reuters)
August 06, 2004 02:06
Reuters - After earning Oscar
nominations earlier this year for their collaboration on "In
America," filmmaker Jim Sheridan and his daughter Naomi
Sheridan have set their sights on the small screen.
Film to Tell Story of Japanese Camps (AP)
August 06, 2004 11:16
AP - A documentary film that tells the story of World War II Japanese-American internment camps in Arkansas will air on public television next year.
"Star Trek" Composer Goldsmith Dead (E! Online)
July 22, 2004 03:35
E! Online - Prolific composer Jerry Goldsmith, who created the memorable scores
to films such as Star Trek and Alien and TV shows The
Man from U.N.C.L.E., The Waltons and Perry Mason, died
in his sleep at his Beverly Hills home Wednesday following a long battle
with cancer. He was 75.
Biz wades through shaky time (Variety)
August 09, 2004 09:47
Variety - (Variety) BERLIN After a four-year funk, many of Germany's once mighty publicly listed film companies are still digging themselves out of the rubble left by the collapse of the Neuer Markt and trying to find their groove in the country's new order.
"I, Robot" Takes Over (E! Online)
July 19, 2004 01:25
E! Online - That's the
tune Fox's singing after the studio's Will Smith-powered sci-fi flick
about a smart-assed detective kicking some automaton butt hit the
megaplexes with a higher than expected $52.2 million, according to final
studio figures Monday.
'LITTLE' WOMEN IN LOVE (Variety)
August 09, 2004 09:47
Variety - Even its Carly Simon-obsessed protag wouldn't be so vain as to think that "Little Black Book" will be a hit. A cut-rate hybrid of "Broadcast News" and "Working Girl," pic registers as the least of Hollywood's recent spate of empowerment-themed chick flicks. This schizophrenic relationship pic-cum-showbiz satire has neither fresh ideas nor an entertaining way of presenting the recycled ones.
Review: 'Open Water' Bare-Bones Creepy (AP)
August 06, 2004 12:23
AP - Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water comes "Open Water," the bare-bones story of a young married couple left stranded in the middle of the ocean while scuba diving on vacation.
GHOST (Variety)
August 09, 2004 09:47
Variety - Though there's almost nothing original about "Ghost," from its college setting to the cold, wintry lensing, this South Korean chiller about a bunch of school girls terrorized by bad dreams and even worse deaths is trim and punchy genre fare, with some effective shocks. Some Western exploitation looks in the cards, largely as a specialist-label ancillary title or late-night fest fodder. Locally, pic scared up a nifty 1 million admissions (over $5 million) on summer release.
Review: 'Black Book' Has Flawed Premise (AP)
August 06, 2004 12:20
AP - Is it possible to make a romantic comedy in which every single character is despicable — we're talking bereft of even a shred of redeeming value — and still charm audiences?
VENUS OF MARS (Variety)
August 09, 2004 09:47
Variety - The sort of inherently colorful wedlock that might tempt "Jerry Springer"-type tabloid exploitation is granted respectful, insightful treatment in Emily Goldberg's "Venus of Mars." Likeable if lengthy docu about a punk couple approaching their 20th anniversary --- she an English professor, he now a rock-band-fronting transgender person --- sees love and mutual compromise triumph over dramatic conflict. Content is perhaps too outre (the musicians play semi-nude) to snare pubcaster dates, but pic should travel far on gay fest circuit.
THE LANDLESS: ON THE PATHS OF AMERICA (LOS SIN TIERRA: POR LOS CAMINOS DE AMERICA) (Variety)
August 09, 2004 09:47
Variety - Part 20th-anniversary homage to what it calls "the world's most successful people's movement" and part condemnation of the social conditions that gave rise to it, Miguel Barros' engrossing "The Landless" traces the rise of Brazil's Landless Movement (MST) from its founding in 1984 to the election of Lula da Silva as Brazilian president in 2002. A worthy addition to the recent Spanish revival in hard-hitting, socially committed docus, pic --- part-produced by Pedro Almodovar's El Deseo --- has a one-sided but ultimately feel-good message that could earn it fest exposure and limited arthouse play.
Actress Eartha Kitt Injured in Car Crash (AP)
August 06, 2004 11:33
AP - Actress and singer Eartha Kitt, the original Catwoman on the "Batman" television show, suffered minor injuries when the vehicle she was driving collided with another car and flipped over, police said.
Affleck's Hoop Dream Dashed (E! Online)
July 14, 2004 01:30
E! Online - The Daredevil
star has dropped out of Disney's Jerry Bruckheimer-produced hoops flick
Glory Road over an apparent salary squabble.
'Spidey' decline makes way for 'I, Robot' (Variety)
August 09, 2004 09:47
Variety - (Variety) For a blockbuster that has amassed $309.5 million overseas, and counting, you'd think exhibs around the world would have nothing but praise --- and gratitude --- for "Spider-Man 2." Not so in hard-to-please Blighty, where one booker was dismayed by the webslinger's steep third-week decline.
Brits Say 'Blues Brothers' Best Soundtrack (AP)
August 06, 2004 07:34
AP - "The Blues Brothers" was rated the best movie sound track in a British straw vote. It nipped the sound tracks of "Pulp Fiction" and "Trainspotting" in a vote conducted for British Broadcasting Corp. digital radio.
Baz Not Bagging "Alexander" (E! Online)
July 13, 2004 09:30
E! Online - Contrary to published reports, Baz Luhrmann has not--repeat
not--pulled the plug on his big-budget historical biopic on the
Macedonian conquerer--at least not yet.
MAKE A WISH (Variety)
August 09, 2004 09:47
Variety - Sharon Ferranti's "Make a Wish" wades into straight-up slasher terrain --- but this time, the doomed, screaming, hardbodied female victims (and suspects) are all lesbians. That novelty as well as a somewhat tongue-in-cheek treatment and smooth low-budget production are enough to keep pic entertaining, though not enough to ultimately make it more than a routine genre effort. After a brief theatrical spin, primary impact is likely to be as a rental item.
Censor Board Bans Film India Riot (AP)
August 06, 2004 07:25
AP - An award-winning documentary that chronicles one of India's most painful and deadly episodes of Hindu-Muslim violence has been banned by the country's film censor board, provoking its director to turn to the courts.
SOMEONE SPECIAL (Variety)
August 09, 2004 09:47
Variety - Astute casting and a script full of small, off-center felicities don't quite come together in Jang Jin's two-hander comedy-romance "Someone Special." As in his offbeat crimer "Guns & Talks" and character drama "The Spy," Jang the director isn't the equal of Jang the writer, with a neat idea always just out of focus. Pic took a solid 800,000 admissions (some $4 million) on release in June, but wider dissemination looks unlikely.
Berry Hopes for Another 'Catwoman' (AP)
August 06, 2004 05:12
AP - "Catwoman" star Halle Berry said she'd gladly slip into the skintight catsuit again, undaunted by a weak start for the movie in the United States.
CLARA'S SUMMER (CLARA, CET ETE-LA) (Variety)
August 09, 2004 09:47
Variety - A worthy addition to France's long line of uncomfortable-sexual-awakening adolescent dramas, "Clara's Summer" travels less horrifically (and less exploitatively) into Catherine Breillat terrain as the titular figure endures both humiliation and self-discovery during a summer camp stay. Pic's major liability is its drab look, which lessens chances for offshore theatrical distribution. Still, it should find a berth among those looking for quality gay/lesbian titles.
Pixar Profits Up on 'Finding Nemo' Sales (AP)
August 05, 2004 03:21
AP - Pixar Animation Studios reported stronger-than-expected second-quarter earnings Thursday, fueled by worldwide home video sales of last year's animated fish tale, "Finding Nemo."
UNDER THE RADAR (Variety)
August 09, 2004 09:47
Variety - After hitting the mark with his debut, the 2002 teen comedy "Blurred," Aussie director Evan Clarry meets with mixed success in "Under the Radar." Comic thriller about four young misfits tangling with assorted heavies during a road trip delivers a respectable laff quotient but the non-linear narrative doesn't generate much-needed suspense until too late. Engaging performances by an appealing cast will help "Radar" to modest theatrical biz at home, but pic will face a tougher task offshore. Pic opened locally July 29.
Filmmaker Kevin Smith Renews Wedding Vows (AP)
August 05, 2004 02:56
AP - Silent Bob has said "I do" — for the second time. Filmmaker Kevin Smith, who often casts himself as the verbally-challenged stoner in his raunchy comedies, renewed his wedding vows on Monday in a suprise ceremony arranged by his wife as a birthday present.
POSSIBLE CHANGES (GANEUNGHAN BYEONHWADEUL) (Variety)
August 09, 2004 09:47
Variety - Alienated Seoul-based metrosexuals conduct desultory affairs and contemplate "Possible Changes" of country, life partner and career in this languid, sensual feature debut by writer-helmer Min Byeong-guk. A former a.d. for festival-darling Hong Sang-soo ("Woman Is the Future of Man"), Min shares with his ex-boss a jaded view of modern relationships, a strictly need-to-know approach to storytelling and a penchant for long, static takes. End result is slightly derivative and more than a little chilly, but still sexy and eye-catching enough to make it a possible niche attraction where fresh Asian product is appreciated.
Charlie Daniels Angers Arab Community (AP)
August 05, 2004 12:52
AP - Charlie Daniels, the man who wrote and sang "This Ain't No Rag, It's a Flag," is drawing heat from Arab-Americans who say it refers to a derogatory term used against them.
HI, DHARMA 2: SHOWDOWN IN SEOUL (Variety)
August 09, 2004 09:47
Variety - Buddha's boys in blue are back for another tussle with the underworld in "Hi, Dharma 2," a surprisingly inventive sequel to the 2001 hit comedy (currently being remade Stateside). Film compensates for the deja vu factor with more of a plot and greater focus on fewer characters, making it overall a more substantial, involving entertainment. Comedy and Asiaphile fests should bite.
JESUS' HEART (EL CORAZON DE JESUS) (Variety)
August 09, 2004 09:47
Variety - Bolivian writer-director Marcos Loayza uses a simple set-up to make a drolly observant film in "Jesus' Heart." The absurdly desperate measures to which an aging worker will go to gain payback from an unfair world --- in this case, to avoid paying exorbitant health care bills --- becomes a way for Loayza to extend the wry, humanist vein he established eight years ago with his admired debut, "A Matter of Faith." A definitive festival film with plenty of commercial appeal in the Spanish-lingo market and perhaps even Euro sectors, "Jesus' Heart" opened locally in May.
Berry Hopes to Make Another 'Catwoman' (AP)
August 05, 2004 09:20
AP - "Catwoman" star Halle Berry said Thursday she would gladly slip into the skintight catsuit again, undaunted by a weak start for the movie in the United States.
THE EXPERIMENT: GAY AND STRAIGHT (Variety)
August 09, 2004 09:47
Variety - Feature version of a reality-TV miniseries that's deservedly gathered dust for a couple years, "The Experiment: Gay and Straight" offers the thoughtful consideration of weighty social issues one might expect from Fox News. In other words, it's an overpackaged, rather hysterical entertainment/exploitation/quasi-documentary that ought to be put into a time capsule, thus preserving some of the era's worst mass-media characteristics. Allegedly altruistic experiment forcing five hand-picked actual gay people to cohabit for an entire week with five straight brethren probably does have shelf value as a future camp artifact.
DRAG KINGS ON TOUR (Variety)
August 09, 2004 09:47
Variety - Agreeable road diary, "Drag Kings on Tour" follows a half-dozen women who dress --- and perform --- as men on the first-ever such tour across the U.S. and Canada. Watching responses of auds and surprised passers-by is at least as much fun as the stage shows themselves here. Sara Slutsky's pic won audience award for Best Docu Feature at San Francisco Lesbian & Gay fest; further fest travel should lead toward small-screen destinations.
SHINER (Variety)
August 09, 2004 09:47
Variety - The homoerotic subtext many found in "Fight Club" is spelled out in "Shiner," about some ostensibly straight, even homophobic, guys whose sparring edges across the line between macho horseplay and sexual masochism. It takes a while to realize the laughs in writer/helmer Christian Colson's first feature are intentional --- no-budget production values, deliberately awkward scene rhythms and minimalist character development make pic look at first very much like a solemnly silly fetish video. By the end, a sort of deliberate absurdity is clear, though this vid-shot exercise in behavioral extremity may be too rough-hewn and unratable for arthouse play.
'Collateral' Opens Urbanworld Film Fest (AP)
August 04, 2004 09:33
AP - On your average night, Tom Cruise is not seen strolling down 124th St. and Frederick Douglass Boulevard in Harlem. But that was the scene Wednesday as the new thriller "Collateral" made its New York debut at the Magic Johnson Theater to open the Urbanworld Film Festival.
THE LOCALS (Variety)
August 09, 2004 09:47
Variety - Lack of scare power and insufficient meat on its skeletal story will impede auds from getting better acquainted with "The Locals," a low-key horror item from New Zealand. Decision to divulge the nature of the mystery early on drains suspense, leaving the viewer a mere observer to a series of over-frantic chase sequences. Given the extra problem of budget constraints, pic is likely to do best in ancillary, with little more than a ghost of a chance elsewhere.
Fiennes to Play Voldemort in Next 'Potter' (AP)
August 04, 2004 07:07
AP - He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named has been named. Ralph Fiennes, who played memorable evil guys in "Red Dragon" and "Schindler's List," has signed on to portray the wicked warlock Voldemort in the next "Harry Potter" movie, Warner Bros. announced Wednesday.
THE TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES OF DELMAS HOWE (Variety)
August 09, 2004 09:47
Variety - A good portrait of an artist that touches on censorship issues, small town life and the last few decades' gay history, "The Truth or Consequences of Delmas Howe" cuts a fairly wide thematic swath with grace. First feature-length docu from Albequerque-based Matt Sneddon is a thoughtful, well-crafted item that would be a natural for educational broadcasters --- if not for the erotic, envelope-pushing nature of Howe's paintings. Tube placement may be easier overseas; gay and other fests should cotton to the art-as-free-speech gist.
THE VELVET HAMMER BURLESQUE (Variety)
August 09, 2004 09:47
Variety - Proudly maintaining an entertainment tradition that their grandmothers likely shrank from even acknowledging, the hip chicks of L.A.-based revue the Velvet Hammer Burlesque twirl their tassels and shake their martinis for no one but themselves. Mono-monicker'd Augusta's docu mixes performance footage, staged skits, behind-the-scenes interviews and colorful miscellany into a fun package that should amuse Cocktail Nation types and other ironic nostalgists. Direct DVD sales rep likeliest commercial destination.
FRAULEIN PHYLLIS (Variety)
August 09, 2004 09:47
Variety - Centered around a deliciously nasty title character who leads a cast of failures, fools and frauds on a merry dance, "Fraulein Phyllis" won't be the cup of tea for auds who demand sympathetic characters with their comedy. Austrian helmer Clemens Schoenborn's feature debut demonstrates audacity and features a sharp-clawed perf from lead Sophie Rois (last seen in Hendrik Handloegten's "Learning to Lie"); but pic's droopy ending docks points from its final scorecard. Distribs brave enough to pick up this spiky spinster may find it hard getting her theatrical acceptance.
PATERNAL INSTINCT (Variety)
August 09, 2004 09:47
Variety - Best among a slew of gay-parenting pix currently making gay-fest rounds (alongside ones about gay marriage), Murray Nossel's "Parental Instinct" is a genuinely sweet and poignant chronicle of a gay male couple's anxious first pregnancy --- in conjunction with a surrogate mother. Endearing nature of the personalities involved makes a fine argument for weighing parental suitability on terms more profound than the prospective parents sexual orientation. By docu's end, it's clear this baby is going to have a very, very good home. Broadcast slots beckon.
NATIONAL BOMB (Variety)
August 09, 2004 09:47
Variety - Nutty Azerbaijani laffer "National Bomb" takes a good-humored, satirical swipe at local economic straits through a story about struggling filmmakers going to ridiculous lengths to finance their pic. Written and helmed by Vagif Mustafayev ("The Scoundrel"), arguably the country's pre-eminent filmer, this scrappy but amusing pic could set off, if not bangs, at least more than whimpers on the fest and repertory circuit, given its moviemaking theme.
WALKING WITH THE DOG (Variety)
August 09, 2004 09:47
Variety - Japanese helmer Makoto Shinozaki blends his experience with both features ("Okaeri," 1996) and docus ("Jam Session," 1999) into this genial meller about a man whose life is redeemed by the pooch. Filmed prior to this year's local mega-hit, "Quill" --- about a guide dog for the blind --- "Walking With the Dog" failed to duplicate that film's success. Still, pic would sit comfortably in kidfests or Asian-friendly events.
MY SUICIDE (Variety)
August 09, 2004 09:47
Variety - Botched suicide attempts lead to a double-indemnity marriage of convenience but fail to provide laffs in Thai black comedy "My Suicide." Though it has a positive, Buddhist message at its heart and co-helmers Thosapol Siriwiwat and Peerapan Laoyan frequently add flourishes which provide moments of visual distinction, pic never really comes to life. Asia-friendly events may see this as an adequate filler.
JIM IN BOLD (Variety)
August 09, 2004 09:47
Variety - Affecting docu "Jim in Bold" is a portrait of gay youth across America while commemorating one whose sense of being too "different" ended in suicide. Road-trip aspects seem frivolous at times, reminiscent of certain MTV shows (pic's co-producer). But for the most part, this is a lively and heartfelt effort that merits widespread broadcast/classroom usage as a sensitizing and affirming educational tool.
BRAT ROCK (Variety)
August 09, 2004 09:47
Variety - Sweet atmosphere and good-natured humor fail to go the distance in "Brat Rock," an upbeat yarn about four wannabe rock stars and their financially compromised muse. Knockabout comedy is imbued with characteristic Japanese sentimentality, signaling a predominantly Asian B.O. life. Local business was small, though film is set to continue its tour of Asian-themed fests. Helmer Tetsu Maeda cut his teeth as assistant director on "Shall We Dance?"
ISI-DISI, ROUGH LOVE (Variety)
August 09, 2004 09:47
Variety - A shameless summer showcase for high-profile Spanish comics Santiago Segura and Florentino Fernandez, "Isi-Disi, Rough Love" happily blends every low-comedy cliche into a high-decibel yarn about a heavy metal fan's first brush with lurrrv. Desperately unimaginative script is compensated for by cast's obvious determination to have a good time and thesps' marquee power, which should guarantee the July release some teen-based business in Hispanic territories.
Party of 5 projects (Variety)
August 08, 2004 02:19
Variety - GOLD COAST, Queensland--Prolific producer Mary Jane Skalski is developing a feature and a TV series with helmer Gregg Araki, as well as pics with directors Bob Odenkirk and Steven Shainberg.
Newman, Logan draw fest honors (Variety)
August 08, 2004 02:19
Variety - The Hollywood Film Festival has tapped composer Thomas Newman and screenwriter John Logan to receive kudos at its Oct. 18 awards ceremonies.
Ice Rain (Variety)
August 08, 2004 09:15
Variety - A KM Culture presentation of a Koo & Film production. Produced by Koo Bon-han. Executive producer, Park Moo-seung. Directed by Kim Eun-sook. Screenplay, Kim, Park Mi-young, Seo Ji-young.
Content saddles up 'King' in Texas (Variety)
August 08, 2004 02:19
Variety - It's hard to think of ContentFilm, the archetypal Gotham indie, as a British company. But that's exactly what it has been since March, when
Ed Pressman and
John Schmidt merged their 3-year-old production shingle with Winchester Entertainment, listed on London's Alternative Investment Market.
"The second spiritual law of success is the Law of Giving. This law could also be called the Law of Giving and Receiving, because the universe operates through dynamic exchange. Nothing is static. Your body is in dynamic and constant exchange with the body of the universe; your mind is dynamically interacting with the mind of the cosmos: your energy is an expression of cosmic energy."
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