‘Cloverfield’ Warning: Take Your Motion Sickness Pills
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Paramount, Action, Drama, Horror, Thrillers, Filmmaking,
Tonight, I was really looking forward for my chance to see Cloverfield. Not only was I intrigued by the trailers, I was relieved to watch a movie that was only 1.5 hours long. A short run time basically guaranteed the action would start quickly. Unfortunately, the J.J. Abrams production ended up feeling like the longest 85 minutes of my life. (And that wasn’t because it was necessarily a bad film.) It was also the most nauseating experience I had had in quite some time. (And that wasn’t because it was a particularly gory film. In fact, it was fairly tame.) Cloverfield just happened to be the shakiest piece of film I can recall having to endure. Period.
Had this been any other movie, I might have walked out on it. The problem was that I wanted to sit through the whole thing. (I needed to see that bad-ass monster for myself.) If that meant averting my gaze through a third of the film, I figured that would still be better than completely leaving halfway through it. I refused to wimp out.
But if any of you out there have a problem with motion sickness, heed my advice: Take Your Dramamine! Envision the shaky home video your friend took at your wedding. Then imagine them running with the camera. Then extend that same piece of film (with no pauses) to movie-length. I like to think that I can stomach a lot, but this was The Blair Witch Project x 10. (Though when compared to the sickening feeling I felt on a casino boat once, this was about half as bad.)
Click to continue reading ‘Cloverfield’ Warning: Take Your Motion Sickness Pills
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Honoring ‘Bobby Fischer’
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Paramount, Adaptation, Drama, Family, Home Entertainment,
Bobby Fischer, the world-renowned chess player, passed away Thursday at the age of 64. Fischer, best known for his win over Boris Spassky during the Cold War, died in Iceland due to kidney failure.
In honor of America’s champion, I would the love the opportunity to suggest a simply fantastic movie: Searching for Bobby Fischer. Although the 1993 film is not really about the chess master per se, it does provide great insight into one of the world’s most respected and dissected games.
Fischer, the directorial debut from screenwriter Steven Zaillian (Schindler’s List), is a beautiful film about young boy who discovers he has a natural talent for the game. Wonderful performances include a then barely-known Joan Allen as a mother who wants her child to live a normal life, Joe Mantegna as a father who lives vicariously through his successful son, and Max Pomeranc as the overwhelmed prodigy who just wants to have fun playing chess.
Click to continue reading Honoring ‘Bobby Fischer’
Jack Nicholson: Movie Star and Bachelor Bad Boy
Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Celebrity Gossip,
He may eligible for Social Security, but A-lister Jack Nicholson is still an attractive single guy. And he still has an eye for the ladies.
A self-proclaimed “fool for love,” Nicholson said in AARP The Magazine that he’s changed his pick-up methods as he ages. He no longer tries to woo women in public, for example. And though he is now seventy years old, he’s still quite open to dating and the possibility of romance. Age is no obstacle for Nicholson - he’s willing to date younger women and even those closer to his own advanced years.
The issue featuring Jack Nicholson will be in stores January 24.
Yahoo! News
This Week on HD DVD and Blu-ray: January 15, 2008
Posted by Johnny Mercedes Categories: Lionsgate, New Line, Adaptation, Documentary, Drama, Independent, Religious, Satire, Comedy, Home Entertainment, New Releases,
Alright, yes—this article should have been written yesterday. But despite my lack of punctuality, I’ve decided to go ahead and post it anyway as part of a New Year’s resolution to write more. And this is a slow time for film in general, so I think I deserve a reprieve.
To be perfectly honest, little jumps out at me this week. We have the hilarious, slightly esoteric The Ten, helmed by some The State alumni and starring, well, just about everyone. Is there anything else worth mentioning? Could Girls Gone Wild: Baby Bash—Live and Uncensored be the best Blu-ray title this week? That seems a bit sad, doesn’t it? Don’t worry, HD DVD patrons—if you were looking for some girl-on-girl action, hold out until February 12th when it releases in your format.
I can’t wait for these sluggish few weeks to pass.
Check out the full list of high-def releases after the jump.
Click to continue reading This Week on HD DVD and Blu-ray: January 15, 2008
Recently Married Eddie Murphy Suddenly Not
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Celeb News, Celebrity Gossip,
I have to admit, I think I might have had something to do with this.
Although they exchanged vows in Bora Bora just two weeks ago, Eddie Murphy and producer Tracey Edmonds have already parted ways. The two, who had been together since the fall of 2006, became engaged July 2007. People magazine is reporting that the relationship’s shocking demise may have been linked to the actor’s treatment of Edmonds following the ceremony. According to an attendee, he at several times was openly rude to his new bride.
Other than the fact that she was once married to Kenneth ‘Babyface’ Edmonds, I really know nothing about Tracey. But she has always appeared to be a very strong, intelligent woman. So why wasn’t she able to see the slimy writing on the wall? I could have told her this wasn’t going to work out.
Let’s look at the glaring signs. In August ‘05, Eddie and his gorgeous wife of 12 years announced they were divorcing. The couple had been together for a total of 17 years and had five children together. Did I mention the former model is absolutely gorgeous? Around the time his divorce was finalized in April 2006, he had moved on and was dating Melanie Brown. By December of that same year, he was already seeing Tracey and denying that he was the father of any ‘Scary’ child. (And we all know how that one ended.)
Click to continue reading Recently Married Eddie Murphy Suddenly Not
In Theaters This Weekend (1/18)
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, Paramount, Weinstein Company, Documentary, Drama, Foreign, Foreign Language, Horror, Independent, Period, Political, Romance, Comedy, Thrillers, Lists, New Releases,
Here are some possible suggestions for your upcoming weekend:
- 27 Dresses (PG-13): starring Katherine Heigl, James Marsden, Malin Akerman (directed by Anne Fletcher)
- Cloverfield (PG-13): starring Michael Stahl-David, Mike Vogel, Odette Yustman (directed by Matt Reeves)
- Mad Money (PG-13): starring Diane Keaton, Queen Latifah, Katie Holmes (directed by Callie Khouri)
Click to continue reading In Theaters This Weekend (1/18)
Actor Brad Renfro, star of 1994’s The Client, was found dead today inside a Los Angeles apartment. Although a cause of death was not immediately known, drugs are being considered a possibility.
Renfro, who was discovered by director Joel Schumacher, went on to make other films after his legal thriller debut. Later roles included parts in Sleepers, Ghost World and 2005’s The Jacket. Unfortunately, the young star’s career was dotted with more notable lows than highs. Renfro’s troubled past included theft, DUIs and heroin possession.
Brad, 25, was working on a new project shortly before he died. He had just completed filming The Informers, co-starring Winona Ryder and Mickey Rourke.
People
Baby News for Matthew McConaughey
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Warner Bros, Comedy, Celeb News, Celebrity Gossip, Upcoming Releases,
Matthew McConaughey - probably best known for partying with Lance Armstrong and living out of an Airstream trailer - has just revealed that he will soon be seen with a new babe in his arms. On his personal website, the actor announced that he and his girlfriend are expecting their first child.
Prior to his relationship with model Camila Alves, 24, People’s Most Eligible Bachelor had been linked to former co-stars Sandra Bullock and Penelope Cruz. Although this “gift from God” does not necessarily mean marriage will soon follow, the couple have already been together for over a year now. So who knows? If Scott Baio can finally get married and have a baby, there’s hope for everyone.
McConaughey can next be seen on February 8th in Fool’s Gold.
The Unauthorized Tom Cruise Biography
Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Celeb News, Celebrity Gossip, Rumors,
When you put yourself in the public eye in a very bold way, you have to expect at least a little backlash. Could that be what’s happening to couch-jumping and overzealous Tom Cruise right this moment? Andrew Morton’s Tom Cruise: An Unauthorized Biography (which you can buy right now for less than twenty bucks online) talks at great length about Cruise and his various women, rumors concerning this love life and of course, Scientology. The media has already reported that Morton may be getting sued by Cruise and the Scientology Church for the mind-boggling sum of $100 million. Doesn’t matter. The book hit the shelves January 15, no matter what Cruise or anyone else has to say about it.
Before the book’s release, an excerpt of the prose was released which detailed the inner circle of Scientology followers, showing just how important Cruise’s role is therein. Followers of the religion, which is based on a series of books by author L. Ron Hubbard, have taken a lot of flak from the press (and the spoofers). But in this country, we’re all allowed to believe whatever we please - even our biggest stars. Read all about it in the unauthorized (and possibly very costly) Tom Cruise biography.
MSNBC
Will Christian Bale and Johnny Depp Face Off?
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Universal, Adaptation, Drama, Period, Thrillers, Casting, Upcoming Releases,
Michael Mann, the director credited with bringing one of the most buzzed about matchups to the big screen, may be set to do it again. Thirteen years after Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro squared off (briefly) in 1995’s Heat, another electrifying pair is in talks to do the same. With any luck, you may soon be seeing Christian Bale with Johnny Depp at a theater near you.
Bale, 33, and Depp, 44 - arguably two of the most respected and exciting actors working today - have been named as possibles for Public Enemies, the adaptation of a Brian Burrough’s book. The film would pit Depp, as notorious bank robber John Dillinger, against Melvin Purvis (Bale). Purvis was the FBI agent who eventually brought the notorious bank robber down in 1934.
If all goes as planned, the two actors will begin production with Mann later this winter.
Hollywood Reporter
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