The Hot Blog

I know that everything on the right-hand gossip side of IMDB is weird and British and to be taken with a grain of salt, but where are they getting that GRAN TORINO could do *25 MILLION* this weekend?

LexG, it looks like, sadly the OWNAGE of "The Unborn" just wasn't meant to be, but it did provide the best review quote in months, from box office mag:

"If the films released during the traditional January dumping ground are going to be this bad, we should employ the nation’s best scientists to rearrange Earth’s orbit so the year begins in February."

Also, saw Rev Road, and gotta disagree with David. While Mendes remains too clinical a director for such weighty material, the film lingered too long, and the score was at times maddening, the acting in the film hit me like a fucking tornado. Leo was great, but I gotta agree with New York Magazine that Winslet may have proven herself THE BEST ACTRESS OF OUR DAY. I think she blows Hathaway, Streep, Hawkins and the like to smithereens with this role (haven't seen KST) and Michael Shannon is far better in his 15 minutes of screentime than Viola Davis or Debra Winger are this year.

THE YUST is the new K-STEW. Bow. Unborn is the only game in town.

(To answer a question from another BYOB, yes, I liked Goyer's "The Invisible," at least somewhat, despite its starring that Billy Joe-from-Green Day looking dork who was in everything for about five minutes a couple years ago.)

I like the idea that that HOTNESS-AWAY/HUDSON movie is just an escalating series of vignettes in which they dye each other's skin or hair a different color. Like by reel three Hudson's all, "My BMW is YELLOW! It's YELLOW!"

So, I'm guessing that means Shannon will ace the Supporting Actress noms?

I guess I should watch GRAN TORINO this weekend. I've had it on screener for a month now, also RR, which I guess I'll get around to soon, too.

Yustman is no K-Stew, even though that's not saying much. Her only upcoming movie, Rogue's Gallery, sounds like a freaking hoot though. Yustman plays a character called "Temperence," while Ellen Barkin is "The Empress," Maggie Q is the "High Priestess," Ving Rhames plays "Judgement," and Jeffrey Tambour is the Devil. You can't make this stuff up. This actually sounds kind of awesome in a "Lesbian Vampire Killers" kind of way.

And yes, Shannon should win best actress haha. But seriously, for such a small part, he makes much more of an impression. With Davis I just stared in horrified fascination at the snot dribbling down her lip for 3 minutes.

Is there any material difference between the roadshow version of "Che" and the two-part version? The roadshow will be heading my way as part of its expansion, and I want to know if there's anything more to it than being in one part.

Haven't seen DOUBT yet, but Davis has lonst some weight, hasn't she? Loved her in SOLARIS. Woman lookin' lean these days.

Anyone still watching 24? It seems like forever since I watched and ep and I only watched the first 4 of season six. Never finished and probably never will. I am not sure i can even bring myself to bother with this season. Such a shame. For a time, it was must see TV.

I'm surprised how much The Unborn is getting OWNED by critics. I mean, David Goyer is no P.T. Anderson, but he's no P.W.S. Anderson either.

Actually, the only Goyer directed film I've seen is Blade 3, which sucked hard (and not in a good way), but isn't he supposed to be a good writer?

And on Revolutionary Road. I really appreciated it, although some of the themes seemed to be muddled in the script (although I've never read the book) and the ending was less than satisfactory, but I'm reminded of DP's (non?)review when he said something along the lines of "what we need is Don Draper, what we get is Pete Campbell", but I disagree. No one ever questions Don Draper's manhood, but Frank Wheeler's manhood is questioned a number of times. The way I see it, Frank Wheeler is much more similar to Pete Campbell than he is to Don Draper.

Blackcloud, the difference is that you'll probably wind up paying more to see the films separately. Also, the roadshow version, because it has no onscreen credits, gives you a nice collectible program to take home that is far from the cheap folded white sheet that the Apocalypse Now credits were on when I saw it years ago. It's heavy and is designed to open from either end, each cover looking like a LIFE Magazine cover and bearing its respective-era Che. There's a host of cool photos inside as well.

Cool little connecting tidbit, as I just mentioned Coppola's film: the recently deceased Sam Bottoms (Lance the surfer) has two daughters that worked on the film, and you can find their names in the credits (one is Del Toro's personal assistant; apparently he was a family friend). Sad that the excitement of this film's release was clouded by their father's death.

Sam's wife produced Che.

If you're looking to freak out about economics and the United States, don't miss IOUSA on CNN this weekend.

Che Bottoms?

I think I'm confused by Blackcloud's question: The "roadshow" IS in two parts, with the intermission, no? Isn't that's what's been playing in L.A. for a few weeks, and what played in November at AFI? Does Blackcloud mean that vs. the alleged two separate films with different titles? Has it been shown ANYWHERE in that form?

Also, I've never understood how this could ever play seemlessly as one nonstop movie, given that the aspect ratio changes from one half to the next. If it ran interrupted, would the screen fold inward to 1.85 as the movie fades from one scene to the next? (No doubt elicited bewildered groans and murmuring from the aspect-ratio-clueless audience, same as happens every time I get to a movie early and the screen reshapes at the start of the trailers to suit the movie about to start- "Uh, what the FUCK?"

"...and Michael Shannon is far better in his 15 minutes of screentime than Viola Davis or Debra Winger are this year."

I really thought he would have a lot more rallying around his performance than he does at this point. Whenever I see people talking about Revolutionary Road, sure, he's right up there after the all-hails to Winslet. But I don't see much about him outside of RR talk. And Christ - The BAFTAs crammed 15 fucking performances in the supporting actor long list category (Malkovich twice - Ralph Fiennes THRICE?!?) but couldn't make room for him. What gives? The movie got nominated in every other conceivable category they had! It almost came THAT close to getting a Best Animated nod!

At least he got a Golden Satellite Award (volleyball trophy as burn victim)...

Sadly, it's gotten to the stage where now I not only scroll right past whatever LexG is saying but anything anybody types that uses OWN in capital letters. Maybe a_loco was saying something worthwhile up there..?

Saw Frozen River on Thursday and I think it overtakes Paranoid Park as my favourite film of 2008, although I still have plenty of titles that are currently not released here yet (Milk, Doubt, Rev Road, Synecdoche New York - which doesn't even have a distributor yet - The Wrestler, Rachel Getting Married and The Reader all of which look very promising to me).

whatever LexG is saying if it involves capitalisations, I should have said. My apologies. :/

EOTW: Grow a fucking pair, watch Redemption, then prepare for a NEW SEASON OF 24! Season six is not the best, most likely the worst of all 24 seasons, but seven seems to be about RECTIFYING SHIT! So get back in the groove, brah. If not; you will miss the redemption of the JACK SACK, and that would be sad.

IO and EO: A cast member of Season 7 who appears in all 24 episodes told me that the first two hours are great. Beyond that, she would not vouch for it.

I'll still be watching them all, like a sucker.

"Does Blackcloud mean that vs. the alleged two separate films with different titles?"

Right, that's what I meant. I should have asked, is part I the half before the intermission and part II the half after the intermission? There aren't extra scenes, it's not edited differently? In other words, the roadshow is the two parts shown together (w/ intermission) and the separate version is shown as two standalone films.

I'm right on board with 24 even though the sixth season of 24 was a disappointment (All that talent and they somehow found a way to waste all of it) and Redemption was something of a waste (Someone needs to shoot the writer who not only thought of the cowardly UN guy, but made him French to boot. No, that's not an overdone cliche at all). I hope the new season of 24 isn't entirely the storyline they were teasing before the writer's strike, which was essentially Die Hard 4 sifted into the 24 mold (kinda' like how season 2 was similar to The Sum of All Fears). You think there's any chance they sue themselves if that happens?

Wow! She vouches for the two hours that have screened to critics! BRILLIANT!

I've watched every season of 24, but skipped Redemption and am going to wait for the DVD on season 7. Just lost some interest in that show since season 6 sucked so bad. And the comment about how the first 2 hours are great, but not sure about the rest? Yeah, that sounds like every other season of 24. They get the first couple and the last couple right, and the rest are an extremely mixed bag.

As far as Lex comments, I also skip past them. Always the same over the top bullshit, no interest in reading that.

Kamikaze, let me repeat without the Lexified language:

I'm surprised how much The Unborn is getting _____ by critics. I mean, David Goyer is no P.T. Anderson, but he's no P.W.S. Anderson either.

Actually, the only Goyer directed film I've seen is Blade 3, which sucked hard (and not in a good way), but isn't he supposed to be a good writer?

And on Revolutionary Road. I really appreciated it, although some of the themes seemed to be muddled in the script (although I've never read the book) and the ending was less than satisfactory, but I'm reminded of DP's (non?)review when he said something along the lines of "what we need is Don Draper, what we get is Pete Campbell", but I disagree. No one ever questions Don Draper's manhood, but Frank Wheeler's manhood is questioned a number of times. The way I see it, Frank Wheeler is much more similar to Pete Campbell than he is to Don Draper.

"I've never understood how this could ever play seemlessly as one nonstop movie, given that the aspect ratio changes from one half to the next. If it ran interrupted, would the screen fold inward to 1.85 as the movie fades from one scene to the next?"

Caught the Roadshow version in NYC a couple of weeks back. The films play with a 20-30 minute intermission, and the IFC Theater just closed the curtain during intermission and reopened when the second half started, in its noticeably smaller and more claustrophobic aspect ratio.

What I wanna know is, when the films are released separately and nationally, will they remove the two to four minute overtures that play before each half? I thought those were awesome, and coupled with the intermission, gave off a real old school movie experience.

Actually, Goyer's first directorial effort, "ZigZag," is very much worth checking out. Strong performances by John Luguizamo and Oliver Platt, and a genuinely scary one by Wesley Snipes. And LexG would apreciate the hotness that is Natasha Lyonne here.

Goyer is worse than Paul Anderson. Usually I just find Anderson's movies dull, but Goyer took an awesome series and completely fucked it up.

To be fair to Lex, I didn't think Gran Torino was going to destroy at the box office... but I didn't put it in writing.

555, in response to your question, I'm pretty sure Soderbergh said the separate films are not going to have the music/maps intros, which I thought were cool as well.

Not sure if there will be any other changes.

I still wish the titles had remained The Argentine and Guerilla, but of course, the audience is apparently too stupid to determine which one comes first. I don't know why Che, Part One: The Argentine and Che, Part Two: Guerilla couldn't have worked.

Mutiny, I think I remember reading about Sam Bottoms and Laura Bickford being married, totally slipped my mind. I guess it's not a surprise his daughters had such nice jobs on the film when their stepmom was running the whole show.

Just saw (what I'm pretty sure is) the first Watchmen tv spot, during the football game on Fox. !5 seconds of the same already released scenes, Rorschach VO, slowmo jail fight, Manhattan's giant hand, NYC explosion.

I'd love to have seen the average football fan's reaction to that.

Also, I know airtime is bought in advance, but does this perhaps imply that the "discussions" between Fox and WB this weekend are working out?

If Lex is going to ask in all earnestness, I'll answer:

NO. YOU FUCKING LOSER ASSHOLE.

You are a fucking sex addict (in addition to whatever else you are addicted to) and therefore need to be in treatment. Go away until you are not bothering the rest of us with your addictions.

I was gonna blather on with some words of encouragement, but sober Lex knows the answers to all of his questions, and possesses the tools to have a fighting chance at achieving success in this ridiculous business.

And FWIW, I still don't think he should be banned for these occasional outbursts. Most of the haters seem capable of ignoring him altogether, or just scrolling past his particularly caps-heavy posts. If not, you must be getting something out of his stuff, if only that nice little jolt of self-righteous indignation.

David Poland, I ask you again:

Please ban this worthless piece of shit.

How many times does Lex have to insult you and act like he owns this place before you put your foot down? You gave him a warning and he basically spit it right back in your face.

As entertaining as people seem to find him in a train wreck/Britney Spears meltdown kind of way, and as many mindless 80's film references he can make, he is diluting the quality of discussion on your blog. This can not be what you intended, for 75% of every topic to somehow steer their way to becoming ALL ABOUT LEX.

I beg you. Don't listen to the pacifists and casualty vampires who come here to witness the thrill of self-delusion and the agony of self-pity that Lex parades around here every day.

END HIM.

Oh well, I see the Lex rants are gone now. I hope that's the extent of the reprimand.

This troll has put his annoying graffiti on 5 or 6 of these blogs and it makes it a real headache to read. I'm done posting here until this place has some sort of moderation, and that doesn't mean a vague warning with the same bullshit posts starting up again 2 days later.

Hold on a sec! What happened with Lex? Fill me in, please!

DP: I love the site, love your work and everyhting, but seriously, don't ban Lex, he really is a bright spot on here and one of the best posters on this board. Seriously. Please don't ban him.

Hey, did everyone else here that Anne hathaway has already won the GG for Best Actress? Check it out here:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,479171,00.html

Looks like Kate Winslet finally won her first Golden Globe. Many congratulations to her!! I, no surprisingly, haven't seen The Reader, being in Thailand and all. But she's good in almost anything she's in.

Huzzah for the Joker getting his due. Now let's see if those Academy nutbags can do what's right.

2 awards for Winslet!!! For those who know, is this a first time for an actor/actress to win two?

Thanks for signing in, . Now you can comment. (sign out)

(If you haven't left a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.)

URL:
Remember me? YesNo

Comments: