Posted on March 12, 2010 by Darren
I think it’s fair to say that Hollywood tends lose interest in actors and characters when they pass a certain threshold, age-wise. Perhaps it’s representative of a general societal lack of interest in the elderly, or maybe it’s because old people don’t pay to see movies, but it’s very rare to see an actor hang around past their use by date. So rare, in fact, that people balked when Pixar announced that Up would follow a pensioner. In many ways we’re lucky that Clint Eastwood has held on to his influence in Hollywood, as I imagine any other director or star would have had great difficulty getting a film like Gran Torino made. Yes, the film has a few shortcomings, but it’s a stunning condemnation of the way that America tends to treat the outsiders, be they elderly or immigrants, but also a very effective character piece.
A very grumpy old man...
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Filed under: Non-Review Reviews | Tagged: Clint Eastwood, films, Gran Torino, Movies, non-review review, review | 6 Comments »
Posted on March 11, 2010 by Darren
Disney: It’s not for boys.
It emerged earlier in the week that Disney changed the name of their next almost-conventionally-animated movie from Rapunzel, which makes sense, to Tangled, which doesn’t. People were a little confused, since Disney has traditionally been fairly straightforward in making its adaptations – Sleeping Beauty, Beauty and the Beast, The Princess and the Frog, Snow White, The Little Mermaid and so on are all named for the myths and stories which form their basis. Why the sudden name change? Apparently because boys won’t go to see Disney movies. Apparently they are more likely to go and see a movie called Tangled.
All tangled up...
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Filed under: Movies | Tagged: animation, cartoons, disney, male audience, Movies, rapunzel, sexism, tangled, the princess and the frog | 19 Comments »
Posted on March 11, 2010 by Darren
The whole Iron Cross fiasco we covered last week is getting a whole lot worse. Basically, after getting flack for deleting an offending review of a major investor, Variety republished it. And the investor was not happy. Not one bit. So, in the time honoured manner of resolving matters of honour, they are going to sue the pants off the film magazine.
Is there a refund on that?
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Filed under: Movies | Tagged: advertisers, editorial control, film, iron cross, Movies, publications, variety oscars | Leave a comment »
Posted on March 10, 2010 by Darren
We’re a bit late to the party, but this week we’ll be celebrating the 75th anniversary of DC Comics, with a look at the medium, the company and the characters in a selection of bonus features running Monday through Friday. This is one of those articles. Be sure to join us for the rest.
Earlier in the week, I wondered if the dominance of the comic book medium by superheroes was affecting the general perception of the relatively young medium. Is the time of the superhero long gone?
Some characters take this "superheroes as pagan gods" schtick a bit too seriously...
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Filed under: Movies | Tagged: alan moore, archectypes, comic books, deconstruction, graphic novels, heroes, reconstruction, superheroes, the dark knight returns, the twilight of the superheroes, villains, watchmen | 1 Comment »
Posted on March 10, 2010 by Darren
the m0vie blog has somehow made it through the first round of judging for the Irish Blog Award 2010 to the (not-too-)shortlist. Don’t worry, we have no idea how either.
Sean-Penn-ness may have been exaggerated... But barely...
Anyway, we have to pick a category by Friday at 3pm. We’re nominated in:
- best newcomer
- best pop culture blog
- best entertainment blog
Filed under: Movies | Tagged: blog, blogging, irish blog awards | 6 Comments »
Posted on March 10, 2010 by Darren
I’m getting old.
That’s the only way to really explain it. The more I think about, the more irritated I get. There really isn’t too much commentary to be made on the awards handed out at the ceremony, it was the bland and safe option for just about every major category. I was more interested to see what elements of last year’s radical overhaul they kept and which ones they disposed of. Basically, my problem with the Oscars can be summed up with two questions: Who invited Taylor Lautner? And why is Kristen Stewart giving out an award?
Neil Patrick Harris gets a pass... because he's awesome!
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Filed under: Movies | Tagged: 82nd academy awards, academy, AMPAS, cermony, hosts, hugh jackman, kristen stewart, Movies, Oscars, populist, taylor lautner | 6 Comments »
Posted on March 8, 2010 by Darren
I’ll probably have a more well thought out reaction tomorrow, but woot! My brother owes me €10!
He looks kinda like an Oscar statuette!
Other than that though, didn’t this seem like the most predictable Oscars ever, with the acting categories all sewn up even before nominations were announced? Still, great to see Mo’Nique and Christoph Waltz win. I particularly liked Mo’Nique’s confirmation it could be “about the performance and not the politics” – though I’m cynical enough to see her season-long disengagement as a calculated political move, it still made me smile.
Filed under: Movies | Tagged: 82nd academy awards, best picture, film, Movies, news, Oscars, the hurt locker | 7 Comments »
Posted on March 8, 2010 by Darren
You’re reading this asthe 82nd Academy Awards kick off, but perhaps the most interesting awards-related snippet occurred at the Razzies, the anti-Oscars which held their ceremony before the Oscars (in a calculated attempt to steal some thunder). Basically the Razzies pick out the worst-of-the-worst from the past year and give them the recognition they so sorely deserved. I am more than a little skeptical about the awards, given how they exist mainly as an in-joke, nominating the biggest flops as opposed to the real worst films of the year. In the tradition of Halle Berry, Sandra Bullock showed up in person to collect her award. As is the norm for such celebrity appearances, the crowd loved her. But what did Sandra really say?
Thanks a crateload... of All About Steve DVD's...
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Filed under: Movies | Tagged: all about steve, awards, films, Movies, razzies, sandra bullock, worst actress | 4 Comments »
Posted on March 7, 2010 by Darren
Here’s a little treat to get you in the mood for this evening’s festivities. BAFTA hired artist Tavis Coburn to basically design retro-style posters for their own awards – you know, like Turner Classic Movies did last summer. Since there’s significant overlap between the Oscars shortlist and the BAFTA shortlist, it’s a nice way to get yourself geared up for an interesting night. It’s a shame there isn’t an Inglourious Basterds poster, as that movie is arguably the best suited to a retro reimagining, but I guess the recent charity redesigns will have to do.
The posters are below. Click for bigger versions.
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Filed under: Movies | Tagged: an education, avatar, awards, baftas, best picture, best picture nominees, best picture oscar, chic, design, movie posters, posters, precious, Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire, retro, the hurt locker, up in the air | Leave a comment »
Posted on March 7, 2010 by Darren
Watching Bad Boys is a strange experience. On one hand, it’s a smooth reminder of the odd-couple cop comedies that were the style of the eighties, right down to an angry and exasperated (but ultimately trusting) chief. On the other, it has adopted all the stylistic mannerisms of the big, bold and empty action movies of the nineties. Advertised as an action comedy, it really doesn’t contain enough of either to justify a watch, and many of its stylistic ticks – driven by an inexperienced Michael Bay – have either been surpassed or become so common that they seem trite. Still, there’s a small charm to the film, most of which stems from the chemistry between the two leads and the way the movie seems to consciously revel in bromantic undertones of the genre. In that regard, it’s ahead of its time. And unlike all of its original ahead-of-it-time selling points, the bromantic angle still works. I’m just not sure that enough of the rest of the movie works to justify it.
I wish I could say the action was explosive...
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Filed under: Non-Review Reviews | Tagged: action movies, bad boys, martin lawrence, miami, michael bay, movies films, nineties, non-review review, review, will smith | Leave a comment »
