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Movies editor Dawn Burkes and critic Chris Vognar offer views, news and nuggets on all things movies. November 2009
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My 'Twilight' primer with Charlier Bewley and fans Live chat: The Twilight Saga: New Moon at 1p.m. Monday 'This Is It' tickets still widely available Out in the cold: 'Tyler Perry's I Can Do Bad By Myself' Categories
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November 20, 2009
In preparation for my New Moon coverage I saw the first Twilight movie on Sunday and was not that impressed. Still, I dove head first into the Twilight pandemonium Thursday night thanks to a fan meet-and-greet with actor Charlie Bewley at the AT&T store off of Park Lane and Central Expressway. Of course I've heard about and covered the Twilight madness for nearly a year now, but with the new movie I figured it was time to investigate more into what's surely a moment in pop culture history. Thankfully, Bewley's sort of new to it all as well, and the fans weren't hesitant to let me know what they loved about it. The entry "My 'Twilight' primer with Charlier Bewley and fans" is tagged: Charlie Bewley , New Moon , screenings , Team Jacob , Twilight November 19, 2009
Join our conversation at 1 p.m. Monday as we discuss the new Twilight film. We'll be discussing parental concerns, casting changes, book vs. film, and we'll take a look at the film from a guy's perspective. To give you some background on our Twilight expertise, click the "Continue reading" link down below to see who we have on the panel.
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The entry "Live chat: The Twilight Saga: New Moon at 1p.m. Monday" has no entry tags. November 2, 2009
So, now there's a TV show, a lounge, several homes on the Web and so on and so forth. Turns out the folks in charge of opening this restaurant didn't check with another place called Volterra in Seattle. But owners Annette and Tim Root say that "Volterra" is just a working name. Stay tuned. (Photo of Robert Pattinson as Edward Cullen and Kristen Stewart as Bella Swan by Kimberley French for Summit Entertainment) The entry "'Twilight' empire expands" is tagged: alternative , chicks on flicks , movie news , Twilight October 26, 2009
The movie's running time is 1 hour and 51 minutes, for those of you wondering just how much of the reported 120 hours of footage made it onto the screen. I'm sure the DVD will be ready for purchase during the holiday season. Aren't you?
The entry "'This Is It' tickets still widely available" is tagged: alternative , chicks on flicks , Michael Jackson , movie news , This Is It September 11, 2009
Bacall, Corman, Willis to get honorary Oscars The entry "Honorary Oscars awarded" is tagged: Gordon Willis , Lauren Bacall , Oscars , Roger Corman
I Can Do Bad All By Myself, without any help from critics TYLER PERRY'S I CAN DO BAD ALL BY MYSELF (Photo of Taraji P. Henson from Lionsgate) The entry "Out in the cold: 'Tyler Perry's I Can Do Bad By Myself'" is tagged: Tyler Perry's I Can Do Bad By Myself
Sorority Row doesn't allow critics (Photo by Michael Desmond/Summit Entertainment) The entry "Out in the cold: 'Sorority Row'" is tagged: chicks on flicks , movie news , Sorority Row September 10, 2009
If that's too much information too late, then you can wake up early tomorrow morning and head downtown to WFAA studios in Victory Park (3030 Olive St.). The wax figure will be there at 8:15 a.m. Sharp. (LOL ... I crack myself up!) Tussauds spokesman Neil Linssen, who is also a sculptor and artist, is riding shotgun withthe statue. He'll talk about the sculpting process. The head of this particular figure took more than six weeks so that they could get an accurate likeness of Jackman. I'll race you there! (And, um, yeah. That's the wax figure to your right ...) The entry "'Wolverine' comes to Dallas" is tagged: chicks on flicks , Madame Tussauds , Wolverine September 2, 2009
You can always come back home for the review, though, just not on Friday ... Sigh. This week's hold-out? Gamer, starring Gerard Butler, Michael C. Hall and Ludacris, ahem, Chris Bridges. By Robert W. Butler (Photo of Gerard Butler by Saeed Adyani/Lionsgate) The entry "Out in the cold: 'Gamer'" is tagged: Gamer , movie news August 31, 2009
Will the Punisher adopt a Mickey Mouse shirt instead of his death skull. Will Wolverine suddenly start playing nice? Will Minnie and Magneto run off together? Stay tuned. This should be fun. I will say this: Marvel is late to the game as DC has been under Warner Bros. for years. Perhaps that's why the movies made from DC comics seem to have more of a soul and less popcorn. What say you? (Photo by DAMIAN DOVARGANES/The Associated Press of Stan Lee with one of his creations at Marvel) The entry "The Mouse House makes theirs Marvel" is tagged: alternative , chicks on flicks , Disney , Marvel , movie news August 22, 2009
Photo: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs will make its Dolby 3D debut on Sept. 18 The entry "Dolby 3D debuts at Studio Movie Grill in Dallas" is tagged: A Christmas Carol , Brian Schultz , Dolby 3D , Jim Carrey , Studio Movie Grill August 6, 2009
The entry "Poll: Choose your favorite John Hughes Film" is tagged: John Hughes , poll
Multiple sources including CNN.com are reporting that director John Hughes has died of a heart attack in New York. Hughes directing credits include Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, Weird Science and Ferris Bueller's Day Off. The entry "'Breakfast Club' Director John Hughes dies" has no entry tags. August 5, 2009
So the man who brought us Showgirls and Sharon Stone's, er, interrogation scene in Basic Instinct now wants to turn his attentions to the Virgin of Guadalupe. Yeah, you read that right. LOS ANGELES (AP) -- "Basic Instinct" screenwriter Joe Eszterhas is moving from racy to religious for his next Hollywood project. The entry "'Basic Instinct' screenwriter plans Virgin saga" has no entry tags. July 23, 2009
So, I noticed that my friend Sandi Jo found another trailer embedded in another place. But here's the rub. If Disney is stalking the Web, trying to keep people from seeing this trailer, I'm not setting us up like that. It's all over the Web, though, in Disney-approved places which doesn't include some of my usual haunts. And it's a sight to behold. There's Facebook groups devoted to the Red Queen, the White Queen and the Mad Hatter. The group who has the most members at 4 p.m. Pacific will get the first look at the trailer that Tim Burton was supposed to present at Comic-Con tomorrow. Run, children, and press play. (Photo of Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter courtesy of Disney via the Associated Press) The entry "'Alice in Wonderland' trailer proves elusive" is tagged: Alice in Wonderland , Disney , movie news , trailer , YouTube July 14, 2009
Photo: Sacha Baron Cohen as Brüno The entry "Will Twitter end up killing Brüno? " is tagged: Bruno , Sacha Baron Cohen , TIME July 10, 2009
Anyway, the three finalists are: Justin Timberlake (Alpha Dog, numerous Saturday Night Live appearances); Bradley Cooper (The Hangover, Wedding Crashers); and Ryan Reynolds (X-Men Origins: Wolverine, The Proposal). Either way, I don't know if I like any of them for Hal Jordan and it seems that the producers, writers and director all have a different favorite. Just squash it, I say, and go with the John Stewart Green Lantern. And for that? Well, I'm all about some Henry Simmons. Until then, "In brightest day, in blackest night, no evil shall escape my sight." (Photo from atomicpopcorn.net) The entry "Green Lantern movie: Justin, Bradley or Ryan?" is tagged: Bradley Cooper , Deadpool , Green Lantern , Hannibal King , Justin Timberlake , news , Ryan Reynolds
Photo: Sacha Baron Cohen as a gay Austrian fashionista in the new movie Brüno. The entry "Brüno opens with plenty of talk, controversy" is tagged: Bruno , Newsweek , Sacha Baron Cohen , Salon July 2, 2009
Photo: The one and only Sacha Baron Cohen The entry "Brace yourself, Texas: Bruno arrives July 10" is tagged: Bruno , Sacha Baron Cohen June 17, 2009
Jon Favreau is back as director, and Robert Downey Jr. (perfect casting, right?) is back as Tony Stark. This time, though, we get Mickey Rourke joining in on the fun. What'll he look like as Whiplash? Well, I got you. Always. Look up. (Photo from Marvel.com) The entry "Check out Mickey Rourke in 'Iron Man 2'" is tagged: alternative , chicks on flicks , Iron Man 2 , Jon Favreau , Mickey Rourke , news , Robert Downey Jr. , Tony Stark , Whiplash June 8, 2009
Florio's Web site, wonderfully titled Runpee.com, tells you when it's OK to leave during a film because you have to, well, you know ... He came up with it while watching Peter Jackson's King Kong (at least it was an inspiration for something besides my S.O. yelling at the screen, "Leave the monkey alone!"). I sure could have used it when I saw every film in the Lord of the Rings trilogy in one sitting. No matter; it's here now, with the tagline of "Helping your bladder enjoy going to the movies as much as you do." With even comedies heading into the three-hour ring, now every moviegoer's bladder (bless your heart, pregnant women; the Web site even has a maternity T-shirt) can breathe a sigh of relief. The entry "Web site has a potty mouth" is tagged: chicks on flicks , Dan Florio , movie news , Runpee.com May 22, 2009
Photo: Faye Dunaway in Bonnie and Clyde The entry "Bonnie and Clyde at the Texas Theatre " is tagged: Bonnie and Clyde , Faye Dunaway , Morgan Fairchild , Robert Benton , Warren Beatty
Director Terry Gilliam, if you remember, thought of canceling the production when his star was found dead from an accidental prescription pill overdose. But three other A-list stars stepped in to play Ledger's character in three different incarnations during the fantastical sequences in the film: Jude Law, Johnny Depp and Colin Farrell. The actors played for peanuts, as the money they would have been making was set aside for Ledger's daughter with actress Michelle Williams (Wendy and Lucy), Matilda. Awwww. Right? Well, reviews have been circulating and they're killing the movie softly. One would have hoped for better as an epitaph for Heath Ledger, one of Hollywood's rising stars but it's early yet. We'll see. (Photo of Terry Gilliam by ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP/Getty Images) The entry "Cannes: Ledger's final film takes bow" is tagged: Cannes , Colin Farrell , Heath Ledger , Johnny Depp , Jude Law , Michelle Williams , Terry Gilliam , The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus May 11, 2009
For more than 2 1/2 years, Farrah Fawcett's battle with cancer has sparked a flurry of headlines for celebrity tabloids. But it has also stripped the actress of her ability to seek treatment while maintaining her privacy, she said in an interview. (Read the rest of the story, and see video of Fawcett's interview.) A two-hour documentary, Farrah's Story, about the actress's struggle with cancer, will air Friday on NBC. Photo: Farrah Fawcett arrives for the MTV Video Music Awards in this August 2004 file photo. (AP file) The entry "Farrah Fawcett: 'Under a microscope' and holding onto hope" has no entry tags. May 4, 2009
NEW YORK (AP) -- Peter Sarsgaard and Maggie Gyllenhaal have made it official. The entry "Peter Sarsgaard and Maggie Gyllenhaal get married" has no entry tags. April 22, 2009
Alex Meraz (Paul), Chaske Spencer (Sam Uley), Bronson Pelletier (Jared), and Kiowa Gordon (Embry) star in The Twilight Saga: New Moon, in theaters Nov. 20. (Photo courtesy of Timothy White) The entry "Hungry for 'Twilight'?" is tagged: movie news , New Moon , Twilight , upcoming releases , wolf pack April 20, 2009
Photo: Sacha Baron Cohen invades the catwalk in Milan, Italy, to film a scene for his forthcoming Bruno movie The entry "North Texans beware: Bruno is on the loose!" is tagged: Bruno , Da Ali G Show , Sacha Baron Cohen
Photo: Russell Crowe in State of Play. The entry "Two new movies address print journalism " is tagged: Jamie Foxx , Russell Crowe , State of Play , The Soloist April 14, 2009
Twilight junkies, here's the latest. Michael Sheen, who wowed as Tony Blair in The Queen and Frost in Frost/Nixon, is going (bad) vampire on us for New Moon according to eonline.com. So, does this bring a class to the project? Or does it bring Sheen down to earth? Do you like the choice? The entry "From Frost to fangs: Michael Sheen howls aboard New Moon" is tagged: Frost/Nixon , Michael Sheen , New Moon , The Queen , Twilight April 3, 2009
Already attached to the film are Mary J. Blige, Oscar nominee Taraji P. Henson (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) and Adam Rodriguez (CSI: Miami). There's obviously going to be a lot of singing going on, with Knight playing a choir-singing matriarch in the film about teens sent to live with their hard-living, nightclub-singing aunt (Henson). Knight, Blige and Winans will sing in the film. And, yes, Madea will be in attendance. The entry "Gladys Knight joins Tyler Perry's latest" is tagged: Adam Rodriguez , Gladys Knight , I Can Do Bad By Myself , Jesse James , Marvin Winans , Mary J. Blige , movie news , Taraji P. Henson , Tyler Perry , upcoming releases
Rourke received several awards nominations for his role as Randy "The Ram" Robinson in The Wrestler, putting the actor back in the limelight decades after he first came onto the scene in Hollywood. Never one these days to turn up his nose at a good thing, Rourke will continue his feud with WWE Superstar Chris Jericho during the event celebrating Wrestlemania's 25th anniversary. Rourke called Jericho out from the red carpet at the Screen Actors Guild Awards in January, challenging him to a fight. Jericho rose to the challenge, confronting Rourke on Larry King Live. Who knows? Maybe Rourke will channel "Randy" and climb into the ring. For now, though, he'll be ringside in support of some of my favorites, including Ric "Nature Boy" Flair, Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka, "Rowdy" Roddy Piper (remember the cartoon Hulk Hogan's Rock 'n' Wrestling with Roddy, Junkyard Dog, Iron Sheik, etc.?) and Ricky "the Dragon" Steamboat, all Hall of Famers. The legends will all fight Jericho, and according to a press release, "Jericho will not only be looking to defeat the Legends, but also to show Rourke the difference between being a movie actor and a real WWE Superstar." You can watch the whole thing live on pay-per-view. Or you can wait for the inevitable blog report. (Photo by VALERIE MACON/AFP) The entry "Rourke's in a corner at 'Wrestlemania'" is tagged: Chris Jericho , Jimmy Snuka , Mickey Rourke , news , Reliant Stadium , Ric Flair , Ricky Steamboat , Rowdy Roddy Piper , The Wrestler , Wrestlemania , WWE April 2, 2009
From CNN.com: LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Someone stole an "incomplete and early version" of the next installment in the blockbuster X-Men movie series and posted it on the Internet this week, according to the studio that owns the billion-dollar film franchise. Photo: Hugh Jackman stars in X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Courtesy: 20th Century Fox The entry "'X-Men Origins: Wolverine' leaked to Web" is tagged: Hugh Jackman , piracy , Wolverine , X-Men , X-Men Origins March 23, 2009
I get it. You've done the research, or you've watched the special on the Discovery Channel. You figure, "What harm can it do if I just drive by the house? Maybe I'll see a curtain move and get a chilly thrill?" Um, no. Real people trying to carry on real lives now live in the house. So, if you must, ride by. But don't knock on the door and frighten the children that now live there. (Photo by Jessica Hill/The Associated Press) The entry "'The Haunting in Connecticut' sends curious to actual house" is tagged: Discovery Channel , The Haunting in Connecticut March 16, 2009
Richard Dean Anderson, lately of Stargate SG-1, starred as a jack-of-all-trades secret agent that you wouldn't want to leave tied up next to some peanut butter, a paper clip and a headache powder - you'd be in for one big bomb. (1994 Photo by Peter Kernot) The entry "MacGyver feature film in development" is tagged: MacGyver , New Line Productions , Richard Dean Anderson , Stargate SG-1 March 9, 2009
The Hollywood Reporter, People.com, MTV.com and various other sources says it's now official that she'll play the vampire Jane, who is "sweet but sneaky" and "sinister." Really, are there any other kind of vampires? Back in January, when the scuttlebutt was at full scuttle, Fanning told MTV News that "I'm glad that people are excited about me possibly being in it. That's so nice! We're both pale. ... I don't think they'd have to put a lot of makeup on me if it works out. I'm pretty pale as it is." It'll be interesting to see Dakota take on a character such as this one. Her acting chops are undeniable. But are her fans ready to see her vamp out? (Photo by MARIO ANZUONI/Reuters) The entry "Dakota Fanning joins cast of 'Twilight' sequel" is tagged: Dakota Fanning , New Moon , Twilight , vampire March 2, 2009
There's no rest for those Jonas Brothers. It seems that after they visited with local fans outside the Main Event in Grapevine in the wee hours of Sunday morning (watch our video and read about it here), they went on to the home of Jayla Cooper, a nine-year-old from Grapevine who is battling leukemia. Jayla came to national attention as a "child bride" when she married 7-year-old Jose Griggs, who is also battling cancer. Watch the "Early Show" video of the Jonas Brothers visiting Jayla. The entry "The Jonas Brothers sing to a 9-year-old Grapevine girl with cancer Sunday" is tagged: child bride , Jayla Cooper , Jonas Brothers , The Early Show March 1, 2009
Photo: Fans in Atlanta scream for the Jonas Brothers, who then flew to Dallas, where they would not arrive until after 1 a.m. Sunday The entry "The Jonas Brothers show up. Fans scream." is tagged: Cinemark Grapevine , Jonas Brothers February 27, 2009
The final pieces are falling into place for the Harry Potter saga. Fans know that Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is coming out July 17 and that part one of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is due out Nov. 19, 2010. Now People reports that the date for part two is fixed: July 15, 2011. Which is not to say that dates can't change. But it does bring an air of finality to the end of the Potter era. An era I will sorely miss. The entry "Harry Potter final film set for 2011" is tagged: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows , Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
Now we know the Jonas Brothers are getting a lot of love lately, but this item from Common Sense Media really caught our attention. Not only have they given the Jonas Brothers a 2008 Common Sense Media "Onnie" Award for serving as "strong positive role models for kids and teens," they're working on a 25 Things We love About the Jonas Brothers list. (They've got five reasons posted, they're looking for 20 more). So, what say you Jonas fans, big and small? Can you tell us 25 things you love about the Jonas Brothers before the Common Sense list is complete? The entry "Why Parents Love the Jonas Brothers" is tagged: Common Sense Media , Jonas Brothers February 25, 2009
Oh, no, say it ain't so. It's bad enough when you mess with supposed classics like The Stepford Wives or Friday the 13th. But Clue? CLUE!? That 1980s greatness of Leslie Ann Warren, Madeline Kahn, Christopher Lloyd, Eileen Brennan, Tim Curry, etc etc etc? You, Mr. Gore Verbinski, want to mess with the comic brilliance that is CLUE? You, sir, are dead to me. But since this is apparently a foregone conclusion, I leave it to you, gentle readers: Who would be your dream re-make cast? What's your favorite scene/quote from the original? Here's mine: (Props to EW's Popwatch for bringing this to our attention.) The entry "Flames! On the sides of my face! 'Clue' remake in the works" has no entry tags. February 24, 2009
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Howard Zieff, a film and television commercial director whose works included "Private Benjamin" and "My Girl," has died. He was 81. Zieff died Sunday of Parkinson's disease in Los Angeles, said his wife Ronda Gomez-Quinones. The entry "Howard Zieff, movie and commercial director, dies " has no entry tags. February 18, 2009
NEW YORK (AP) -- Mickey Rourke is headed to the Academy Awards both as a nominee and a grieving pet owner after the death of his 17-year-old Chihuahua, Loki. A representative for Rourke, Judy Woloshen, said the actor's beloved dog died Monday night. Says Rourke: "Loki is deeply missed but with me in spirit. I feel very blessed that she fell asleep peacefully in my arms." Rourke, who's having a career comeback with his acclaimed performance in The Wrestler, was especially close to Loki and is a longtime owner of chihuahuas. He thanked all his dogs -- living and dead -- after winning the Golden Globe for best actor last month, saying "sometimes when a man's alone, all you got is your dog."
The entry "Sad news for Mickey Rourke" is tagged: Academy Awards , Mickey Rourke February 16, 2009
Among the Hollywood bold-face names of this year's Academy Award nominations is one that deserves special mention: Megan Mylan. The entry "Oscar lightning strikes close to home" is tagged: Best Documentary Short , Megan Mylan , Smile Pinki February 12, 2009
The entry "DISD cheerleaders compete in film promo" is tagged: cheerleaders , contest , Fired Up , South Oak Cliff High School February 9, 2009
Heath Ledger won the award for best supporting actor for his role as the Joker in The Dark Knight. (Photo by Toby Melville/Reuters) The entry "British Academy gives out film awards" is tagged: BAFTAs , British Academy Film Awards , Heath Ledger , Kate Winslet , Mickey Rourke , Slumdog Millionaire , The Dark Knight , the Joker , The Reader , The Wrestler February 6, 2009
Photo: Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau The entry "On Demand is a cool feature in the modern age " is tagged: DirecTV , Jack Lemmon , Walter Matthau February 5, 2009
Really!? I'm a fan of the women and the shoes and the whatnot, but c'mon! As much as I enjoyed this summer's flick, it felt very much like a much delayed (and much needed) swan song. This just strikes me as last desperate guests who just won't leave the party. From the Associated Press: LOS ANGELES (AP) -- There's still sex to be had in the city, even though Carrie Bradshaw has settled down with one man. The entry "Parker and gal pals plan more 'Sex and the City'" is tagged: Sex and the City
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The film isn't even in theaters yet, but "Push: Based on a Novel by Sapphire" has already spawned dueling lawsuits. Lionsgate Films and The Weinstein Co. on Wednesday filed lawsuits in Los Angeles and New York, both claiming they had an agreement with producers to distribute the film. "Push," based on the 1996 novel by the poet Sapphire and directed by Lee Daniels, was a darling at the recent Sundance Film Festival, picking up grand jury and audience awards. The entry "Court battle looms for Sundance winner 'Push' " is tagged: Push , Sundance January 23, 2009
Entertainment Weekly reports that Dakota Fanning will star as Jane in the Twilight sequel, New Moon. Dakota Fanning's reps confirmed [Thursday] that the child actress has in fact been offered the role of Jane, a member of Italy's evil Volturi, for the Twilight sequel New Moon. The news was first reported by E! Online. No deal has yet been made. In fact, Fanning and her reps have not met New Moon director Chris Weitz nor Summit Entertainment, the studio behind the franchise. Rumors of the offer were swirling before Fanning's camp even received the official one. They will now meet with Weitz and company next week. New Moon is scheduled to begin shooting in March in Toronto and Italy. So what do you think, Twilight fans? Personally, I find Dakota Fanning just creepy enough to pull it off. Not as creepy as young-Christina-Ricci, but definitely more creepy than young-Kirsten-Dunst and in the same sort of "Oh, isn't she pretty? OH MY GOD!" as she rips out your throat sort of way. The entry "Dakota Fanning to join cast of 'Twilight' sequel" is tagged: Dakota Fanning , New Moon , Stephenie Meyer , Twilight , upcoming releases January 15, 2009
If you ever wonder how Mickey Rourke went from sexy leading man in weird '80s films to weird leading man in '00 films, blame none other than the man himself: LONDON, England (CNN) -- Mickey Rourke says there is only one person he blames for the spectacular implosion of his career the first time round -- himself. Everybody loves a successful comeback, so I for one am cheering Rourke along. I mean, if Britney gets a second chance... Of course, here's hoping there's no Angel Heart sequel in the making. The entry "How Mickey Rourke fought back from the edge" is tagged: Mickey Rourke , The Wrestler
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Indiana Jones and "The Mummy" slayer are teaming up on the big screen - to battle not ancient, otherworldly baddies, but a big medical dilemma. Brendan Fraser will join Harrison Ford for a medical drama set to begin filming in April, CBS Films announced Wednesday. The untitled movie will be the first production for CBS Films, a feature film division established in 2007. Fraser will play a father who recruits the help of a medical researcher portrayed by Ford. CBS Films said the film's screenplay is inspired by "The Cure," a book by Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Geeta Anand about John F. Crowley, a former Bristol Myers Squibb executive who started his own biotech company to save his two children from a rare muscular disorder The entry "Harrison Ford, Brendan Fraser teaming up for film " is tagged: Brendan Fraser , Bristol Myers Squibb , Geeta Anand , Harrison Ford , ohn F. Crowley , The Cure January 14, 2009
AFI Dallas announced that its third film festival will go from March 26-April 2 and announced a new presenting sponsor, NorthPark Center. NorthPark Center has hosted several central films in the first two years of the festival. Now, as a presenting sponsor, they will hold more screenings and it's also where you will find the the AFI DALLAS box office, a film festival lounge, galas. NorthPark will also host some red-carpet and other events. Victory Park will again serve as the "epicenter" of the festival, with some screenings shown on its big screens. The entry "AFI announces fest, new sponsor" is tagged: AFI Dallas , NorthPark Center , Victory Park
NEW YORK (AP) -- Days after checking himself into a Los Angeles hospital for pneumonia, Patrick Swayze says his condition is improving. The 56-year-old actor, who is battling pancreatic cancer, tells People magazine: "I am alive and plan on continuing to stay that way. ... I am almost in the clear." Swayze says he checked into the hospital Jan. 9 because of a cough that he suspected was the result of an infection. Swayze says: "I wanted to jump on it before it turned into a problem. As soon as I got home, I called my doctor and then went straight to the hospital and was immediately put on antibiotics." Swayze's representatives did not respond to messages seeking comment on his health. Last week, Swayze told ABC's Barbara Walters that his yearlong battle with pancreatic cancer put him "through hell" while he pushed ahead on his new TV series on A&E, "The Beast," which premieres Thursday. The entry "Report: Patrick Swayze says he's almost over pneumonia " is tagged: Patrick Swayze
From The Hollywood Reporter: Jackie Chan soon could be mentoring a karate kid. The entry "Jackie Chan circles 'Karate Kid' remake" is tagged: Jackie Chan , The Karate Kid January 8, 2009
Twilight fans, rejoice! Your favorite werewolf is definitely back for the sequel: LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Taylor Lautner will be back to morph into the monstrous Jacob Black in the Twilight sequel New Moon. The entry "Taylor Lautner returns as Jacob Black in 'Twilight' sequel" is tagged: Twilight January 7, 2009
The film was snubbed by the Golden Globes for any type of non-actor nomination, though Heath Ledger received a well-deserved supporting nod. And the movie did receive a nod for the stunts from the Screen Actors Guild. A note to the Academy: Just because a film has ears, a cape and a Joker doesn't mean it's not worthy of flying high. (Photo by Stephen Vaughan/Warner Bros. Pictures) The entry "Nominations roll in for 'Dark Knight'" is tagged: Academy Awards , awards , Heath Ledger , The Dark Knight , Writers Guild January 6, 2009
From The Associated Press: LOS ANGELES (AP) -- One of the digital wizards behind such cartoon smashes as WALL-E, Ratatouille" and Finding Nemo is getting an Academy Award. The entry "Pixar animation pioneer Ed Catmull earns honorary Oscar " is tagged: Academy Awards , Oscars December 23, 2008
Photo: Dustin Hoffman The entry "Gotta love that local connection (part 2)" is tagged: Dustin Hoffman , Jose Ferrer , Tootsie
In m Photo: Mickey Rourke in The Wrestler The entry "Gotta love that local connection!" is tagged: Dallas Cowboys , Mickey Rourke , The Wrestler December 17, 2008
Planning is already under way for the next Batman film -- with Eddie Murphy as the Riddler. Which leaves the question of whether Murphy, who has been more miss than hit for quite some time, can reinvent himself with this role. Certainly Heath Ledger proved that a remarkable actor can plumb unexpected depths in what had been traditionally been the cartoon villain. Meantime, here's hoping that Ledger gets his much deserved Oscar for his Batman turn. Still can't get over the loss of so much talent when he just kept getting better and better. The entry "Eddie Murphy IS the Riddler!" is tagged: Batman , Eddie Murphy , Heath Ledger , Joker , Riddler December 16, 2008
First a new director, now a new release date. Will the same weekend in November be the charm again for the Twilight sequel, New Moon? The movie, which has not yet started filming, is already set to premiere Nov. 20. Let's just hope director Chris Weitz is up to speed -- and yes, we mean that literally. Maybe a little vampire bite would help him the way it did the vampires in their Twilight baseball game -- still one of my fave scenes from the first flick. The entry "New date for New Moon, the Twilight sequel" is tagged: Chris Weitz , New Moon , sequel , Twilight December 15, 2008
Well, the die has been cast, undead fans. Variety reports that Chris Weitz, the director of About a Boy and The Golden Compass, has been tapped to direct the Twilight sequels in lieu of the the ignominiously dumped Catherine Hardwicke. Word has it that he has the support of author Stephenie Meyer, too. So what say you, Twilight fans? Does he have your confidence? (Click below to read the story from Hollywood Reporter.) The entry "About a vampire: New director named in 'Twilight' series" is tagged: About A Boy , Catherine Hardwicke , Chris Weitz , Stephenie Meyer , The Golden Compass , Twilight
Rotten Tomatoes has the trailer for X-Men Origins: Wolverine. All I can say is: Is it May 1 yet? The entry "'X-Men Origins: Wolverine' trailer available" is tagged: Hugh Jackman , summer movies , trailer , Wolverine , X-Men , X-Men Origins
From The Associated Press:
The entry "Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber welcome second son" is tagged: Liev Schreiber , Naomi Watts
From the Associated Press: LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The Batman epic "The Dark Knight," the political biopic "Milk" and the gritty drama "The Wrestler" were among critical favorites that landed on the American Film Institute's list of the year's 10 best movies. The entry "'The Dark Knight,' 'Milk' make AFI film list " is tagged: AFI , American Film Institute , Frost/Nixon , Iron Man , Milk , The Curious Case of Benjamin Button , The Dark Knight , The Wrestler , Wall-E December 11, 2008
Once a year, Americans pay close attention to what a small group of foreigners have to say. That time is upon us again with the announcement of the Golden Globe nominations. Treated as the Thanksgiving before the Oscars Christmas, the Golden Globe nominations are treated as the opening bell of the Awards season and have acquired a reputation for being a harbinger of what the Academy Awards may bring. Let's take a look and see what their sooth-saying says about the coming trophy season. The entry "Golden Globe Noms" is tagged: Golden Globe nominations
They'll never do it, but the Golden Globe skit I'd most like to see is Meryl Streep in her nun habit from Doubt forgetting in the midst of a quietly intense tirade with Philip Seymour Hoffman what movie she's in and breaking into a song from Mamma Mia!, preferably "Mamma Mia, here I go again..." I mean, if you're trying to save time in the telecast, wouldn't that be a fun way to combine mention of her nominations for Doubt and Mamma Mia!? The entry "Golden Globe skit I'd most like to see" is tagged: Doubt , Golden Globe , Mamma Mia! , Meryl Streep , Philip Seymour Hoffman December 10, 2008
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The Screen Actors Guild says it will send strike authorization ballots to its 120,000 members on Jan. 2. The votes will be counted on Jan. 23, which will not be in time to potentially disrupt the Golden Globe Awards like the writers' strike did last year. Approval by 75 percent of members is required to pass the measure. If approved, the SAG national board can call a strike. The entry "Screen Actors Guild sets strike vote on Jan. 2 " is tagged: Screen Actors Guild December 9, 2008
From the Associated Press:
The entry "Mark Ruffalo's brother dies a week after shooting" is tagged: Mark Ruffalo December 7, 2008
You would think the Twilight folks would all be glad-handing and high-fiving each other after the movie's big debut. But no...according to Nikki Finke's Deadline Hollywood Daily blog, director Catherine Hardwicke has already been canned from the sequels. The next one is New Moon and evidently the studio is considering making it back to back with Eclipse to cut costs. Nikki speculates that this could be bad for Summit (by upsetting the show's female fans?) if they choose a male director instead -- what do you think? I was not enamored with the direction, but you would think that a $160 million on a low budget flick would generate a little more love or, at least, a gentler letdown. The entry "Twilight watch: Catherine canned" is tagged: Catherine Hardwicke , Nikki Finke , Twilight December 4, 2008
The National Board of Review has picked Slumdog Millionaire as the year's best film. So what do you think: Have you seen Slumdog Millionaire? Does it earn the designation? What you you have picked? The entry "National Board names 'Slumdog Millionaire' as 2008's best film" is tagged: National Board of Review , Slumdog Millionaire December 3, 2008
Steven Soderbergh calls it 'Viva Las Vegas Meets Tommy.' The entry "MTV.com: Ray Winstone cast as Caesar in Cleopatra musical " has no entry tags. December 1, 2008
CLEVELAND (AP) -- Fans of the holiday classic "A Christmas Story" are celebrating the film's 25th anniversary with a convention and trips to the house where the movie was made. The 1983 film, an adaptation of Jean Shepard's memoir of a boy in the 1940s, was set in Indiana but largely filmed in Ohio. The movie starred Peter Billingsley as Ralphie Parker, a young boy determined to get a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas. The film was a modest theatrical success, but critics loved it. It eventually joined "It's a Wonderful Life" and "Miracle on 34th Street" as a Christmas cult classic. The entry "'A Christmas Story' fans celebrate film's 25th year " has no entry tags. November 14, 2008
According to Yahoo! News: Los Angeles (E! Online) - What fanggirls want, fanggirls get. The entry "'Twilight' producer working on second, third installments" is tagged: Twilight November 12, 2008
Photo: The late Andrew Bagby, left, with filmmaker Kurt Kuenne To watch a trailer of Dear Zachary, click the play button below: The entry "Dear Zachary to be shown on MSNBC" is tagged: Dear Zachary , Kurt Kuenne , MSNBC October 30, 2008
File this under: Skeptical: From Yahoo! movie news: Joaquin Phoenix, who turned 34 years old just yesterday, stunned E! Online reporter Jason Kennedy with the announcement that he would be retiring from acting. The two-time Oscar nominee stated this on the red carpet at a Monday benefit for the Association of Hole in the Wall Camps, a charity founded by Paul Newman. Phoenix said that Two Lovers, his upcoming romantic drama with Gwyneth Paltrow and Vinessa Shaw, will be his final on-screen role. "This will be my last performance as an actor. I'm not doing films anymore... I've been through that. I've done it... I'm dead serious." The entry "Joaquin Phoenix announces retirement from acting" is tagged: Joaquin Phoenix October 23, 2008
Keep an eye on the high school "juniors" introduced in the film, Matt Prokop, 18, and Justin Martin and Jemma McKenzie-Brown, both 14, especially as the Wall Street Journal reports that the Disney Channel has ordered a fourth movie ( the decision has not been made whether it will be released on T.V. or in theaters). So, what do you think? Tell us if you would see a High School Musical 4 with these teens as the new leads? I'm also wondering if they're holding out the possibility of Ashley Tisdale's Sharpay returning. The drama teacher does say that Sharpay may be coming back to help her in the drama department...Good idea -- or not? Check our our review and more HSM 3 coverage here. And don't forget to stick around for some funny outtakes during the credits. The entry "High School Musical: the next generation?" is tagged: Ashley Tisdale , Corbin Bleu , High School Musical 3 , Vanessa Hudgens , Wall Street Journal , Zac Efron October 16, 2008
I'm conflicted. The new Star Trek movie is basically the Trekkie version of Batman Begins, where we get to watch Kirk and Spock and the rest in their youth. Paramount recently released some new images from the film, and this ensemble shot of the fashionable, hunky crew leaves me with a sinking feeling. Dammit, Jim, I'm a doctor, not an underwear model for The Gap!
On the other hand, there are some actors I very much like in that shot. You've got Simon Pegg from Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz scowling in the background as Scotty, while Karl Urban (Eomer from The Lord of the Rings) is almost unrecognizable in his blue shirt and puffy hair as Bones. And Leonard Nimoy will apparently have a cameo as "Old Spock." I'm still expecting this to stink, but there's a glimmer of hope. See all the new shots at TrekMovie.com The entry "New images from the new Star Trek movie make me both nervous and hopeful" is tagged: Star Trek October 14, 2008
From ETonline.com: The Iron Man will soon have a new best friend! Don Cheadle will replace Terrence Howard as the superhero's best friend, Jim Rhodes, in 'Iron Man 2,' says The Hollywood Reporter. The entry "Don Cheadle to replace Terrence Howard in 'Iron Man' sequel" is tagged: Don Cheadle , Iron Man , Terrence Howard October 13, 2008
Hospital officials say 37-year-old French actor Guillaume Depardieu has died from complications linked to a sudden case of pneumonia. Depardieu acted in more than 40 films, including The Duchess of Langeais, which opened in Dallas in June. The entry "Actor Guillaume Depardieu dead of pnuemonia" is tagged: Guillaume Depardieu October 9, 2008
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) -- A cable channel is working on a television movie about a teenager from Alabama who went missing in Aruba in 2005 when she was on a graduation trip. The entry "Story of teen who went missing in Aruba to be film" has no entry tags. October 6, 2008
On the surface, Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist is about young love, about Michael Cera's Nick and Kat Dennings' Norah realizing, over the course of a crazy night, that they belong together. The entry "Michael and Kat's Infinite Playlist" is tagged: Kat Dennings , Michael Cera , Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist October 3, 2008
Our good friends Victor Godinez and Andrew Smith have some movies-related news over on the tech blog: Iron Man director says Blu-ray version has already outsold all previous Blu-ray movies The entry "When movies and technology collide: Blu-Ray and Netflix news" is tagged: Blu-ray , Iron Man , Netflix October 2, 2008
Reuters reports: Film director Spike Lee has set off a storm in Italy with a movie about black American soldiers fighting alongside Italian partisans in World War Two. Miracle at St. Anna opened in Dallas on Sept. 26. The entry "Spike Lee's 'Miracle at St. Anna' angers Italy's surviving partisans" is tagged: Miracle at St. Anna , Spike Lee September 29, 2008
From the Associated Press: Heath Ledger's 2-year-old daughter Matilda Rose will inherit all of her father's estate, Ledger's father says. The entry "Heath Ledger's daughter will inherit all of his estate" is tagged: Heath Ledger September 27, 2008
I was stunned when I heard about Paul Newman's death today. I know he was dying of lung cancer, but still...He lived his life with so much dignity and loyalty and generosity. He was the antithesis of all those moths circling around the light desperately seeking their 15 minutes of fame. I am thinking of his Newman's Own food line. My son, David, is crazy about his tomato sauce. It goes down real easy, too, when you know it's made with healthy ingredients and all the profits go to a good cause -- more than $200 million to charity and still going under his daughter's supervision. And I am thinking of my favorite Paul Newman movies. Yes, I know, there were so many good ones! Exodus is one of my sentimental faves. But I can watch The Verdict and Nobody's Fool over and over. And I love the way he voiced the old race car in Cars. What are your favorite Paul Newman movies and memories? The entry "Remembering Paul Newman" is tagged: Cars , Exodus , Newman's Own , Nobody's Fool , Paul Newman September 25, 2008
Can't imagine what Oprah Winfrey could have left on her bucket list. Become a world-famous talk show host? Check. Become one of the richest women in the world? Check. See your face on the cover of your very own magazine every month? Check. Well, now she can check off one more thing. She's going to voice a role in an upcoming Disney/Pixar animated film. She's playing Endora, the mother of the princess in The Princess and the Frog. It's scheduled to release in late 2009. The entry "Oprah Does Disney" is tagged: Disney , Oprah Winfrey , Pixar , Princess and the Frog September 17, 2008
From Associated Press:
The entry "Movie buffs can win bleacher seats for 2009 Oscars" is tagged: 2009 Oscars September 16, 2008
From CNN.com:
Read more. The entry "The 'Porno' actress playing Laura Bush" is tagged: Kevin Smith , Oliver Stone , W , Zack and Miri Make a Porno September 2, 2008
Don LaFontaine, the voiceover king whose "In a world ..." phrase on movie trailers was much copied -- and much parodied -- has died, according to media reports. He was 68. LaFontaine died Monday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California, according to ETOnline, "Entertainment Tonight's" Web site. He died from complications from pneumothorax, a collapsed lung that causes air to build in the pleural cavity, his agent, Vanessa Gilbert, told "ET." LaFontaine, who was born in Duluth, Minnesota, began as a voice actor in the mid-1960s while working as a recording engineer, according to his Web site. His strong, slightly gravelly voice was featured on trailers for thousands of films, including "The Godfather," "Fatal Attraction" and "Terminator 2: Judgment Day." For a time in the late '70s, LaFontaine was the official voice of Paramount Pictures. Surely this guy should get some kind of posthumous award at the Oscars this year. UPDATE: You might know Don from this recent Geico ad: The entry "Don LaFontaine - the "In a world..." movie preview narrator - dead at 68" is tagged: dead , Don LaFontaine , in a world August 26, 2008
If you were planning on seeing Vin Diesel's big summer movie this week, you might want to rethink your movie choice. At least, that's what the director thinks: French director Mathieu Kassovitz, who cradled and loved his Babylon AD project for 5 years, is mad as hell at Fox. Citing terrible management, budget shenanigans, bad producers and partners, Kassovitz says making the futuristic tale starring Vin Diesel was a hideous ordeal. What went so wrong with Babylon AD that its own director and star call it "terrible"? Read the rest of the post here. So: Another case of an evil studio sucking the life and creativity out of a project to make it more marketable? Or a director with auteur visions for his Hollywood popcorn flick? Does this whole thing make you more or less likely to see the movie? It doesn't sway me from my "maybe I'll catch it someday on Showtime" plan. If anything, it provides a little vindication for my belief that if the studio thought it was a great blockbuster, it would have come out earlier in the summer. And if it was a big think piece, it would find a home this fall. But the end-of-summer dead zone? Not a good sign. Via io9 The entry "Babylon A.D. director calls movie experience "terrible"" is tagged: Babylon A.D. August 25, 2008
Oh, Christopher Nolan, say it ain't so! Admittedly, movie rumors (particularly casting rumors) are a dime a dozen on the Internet, where tales spread like wildfire -- or like a high school grapevine: The 62-year-old singer and actress is reported to be in talks to play Catwoman opposite Christian Bale in the third Batman film from British director Christopher Nolan. Continue reading at Telegraph.co.uk. Time will tell whether to believe this or not. Personally, I think anyone -- or anything -- is a step up from Halle Berry's turn as the iconic figure. But I'm having a hard time seeing how this choice fits in with Christopher Nolan's Batman-verse. The entry "Cher as Catwoman?" is tagged: Batman , Catwoman , Cher , Christopher Nolan August 21, 2008
Finding it hard to resist belting out "The Winner Takes It All" or dancing to "Dancing Queen" with Meryl Streep at Mamma Mia!? Resistance is futile and actually detrimental at a new sing-along version of the hit movie opening Aug. 29 at AMC NorthPark and Cinemark Legacy in Plano. It's part of a limited national release for this cleverly plotted cornucopia of ABBA songs, boisterously performed on a lush Greek island and which despite the scoffing remarks of some (mostly males, ahem!), has already scored more than $320 million worldwide. Cool thing is, with the words on the screen, you don't have even brush up on the lyrics (as if you didn't know them all). Well, that takes care of our plans for Labor Day weekend... And if you will be away for Labor Day weekend, look here to find out your closest sing-along location. The entry "ABBA-dabba-do: Mamma Mia! Sing-along Takes It All" is tagged: ABBA , AMC NorthPark , Cinemark Legacy , Dancing Queen , Mamma Mia! Meryls Streep , Plano , singalong August 20, 2008
I.O.U.S.A., a documentary that inspects the financial troubles facing the country, officially opens on Friday, but a special presentation of the film will be shown Thursday. After the screening, a panel discussion featuring Warren Buffett and other financial leaders will be shown via satellite. All screenings will be held at 7 p.m.; for a list of participating theaters, go to www.fathomevents.com. The entry "It's the economy, stupid" has no entry tags. August 18, 2008
The entry "What we have here is a failure to communicate" is tagged: Harry Potter |