March 28, 2007

Showtime for "Wendell"

"Bottle Rocket" fanatics, start your engines: After sitting on the shelf for an interminable two years, "The Wendell Baker Story" is finally coming out in the U.S., in limited release on May 18th. It's an all-Wilson-brothers affair, helmed by Luke and Andrew (both making their directorial debuts), written by Luke, and starring Luke and Owen. Variety's called the con-artist comedy "beguilingly loony," and it features a triple-threat of older actors with whom you really can't go wrong: Kris Kristofferson, Harry Dean Stanton and Wes Anderson cast staple Seymour Cassel. Seems the film really belongs to Luke, who's got to be feeling a little vindicated right about now. After Mike Judge's "Idiocracy" was unfairly given the lowest-profile theatrical release ever last year while "Wendell" gathered dust, he had to have been wondering if he'd lost his mojo. Let's just hope his upcoming horror flick, "Vacancy," turns out OK too. It's directed by Nimrod Antal, whose 2003 Hungarian thriller "Kontroll" was one of our favorites of that year... but then, you never know what'll happen when a director makes the move from Budapest to Hollywood and casts Kate Beckinsale.

Posted by Sara Stewart on 02:17 PM | Comments (0)

My Fair Grindhouse

About a year and a half ago, I was driving along Astoria Boulevard in East Elmhurst, Queens, on the way to my mom's nursing home when I suddenly spotted a striking art deco movie marquee. I pulled over and was thrilled to discover the vintage theater was actually still in operation, though exactly what was being shown inside was little vague. A little research on one of my favorite websites devoted to old and new theaters, Cinema Treasures, revealed the fascinating history of the 70-year-old Fair Theatre (there are links to several vintage ads and even a newspaper clipping about the 1937 opening) and exactly what's going on there now. In honor of next week's opening of "Grindhouse,'' I paid a memorable visit to New York's last grindhouse and today you can read a tribute to this scruffy survivor of a bygone era, which is bound to disappear all too soon. And for those of you too timid to pay a visit, the enterprising Reed Tucker offers a list of grindhouse classics on DVD.

Posted by Lou Lumenick on 09:48 AM | Comments (0)

What would HRH Say?

So what does Helen Mirren do now that she's finally won the Best Actress Oscar for playing Elizabeth II in "The Queen''? According to Jo Blo, she's going for a big paycheck by playing Nicolas Cage's mother in "National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets,'' which just began shooting in D.C. for a fall release. The genre site reports: "She's there to help link Cage's Ben Gates to his family's connection to John Wilkes Booth and the mysterious Knights of the Gold Circle.'' Jo Blo also says Ed Harris has been cast as a villain "who has some information about Gates' father and aligns himself as an ally...'' Mirren's long resume is littered with stinkers like "Caligula'' and my pick for the worst movie released so far this century, "Shadowboxer.'' Not that we're suggesting this Jerry Bruckheimer's pricey sequel to his "Da Vinci Code'' knockoff won't be far better than its silly predecessor.

Posted by Lou Lumenick on 09:43 AM | Comments (0)

Rock of Ages

Daniel Lehman of NYU's student newspaper, Washington Square News asked Chris Rock what he thought of my savage pan of Rock's "I Think I Love My Wife.'' You might think he would have quipped, "If you want a real film critic, get A.O. Scott,'' (who loved it), but Rock is surprisingly philosophical about the bad reviews and the film's lack of box office success. "It's like my stand-up," Rock said. "Some jokes you love, some jokes you're like, 'F--- him.' I wanted that type of movie experience. I want people arguing when it's over. There's things in it that didn't test well, that I just kept in because I thought it was a better movie.'' Meanwhile, the dapper Lewis Beale at the Reeler argues reviewers shouldn't even bother with "critic-proof'' movies like "300,'' "Norbit,'' and "Night at the Museum.'' I don't necessarily agree with him -- I consider warning people about these flicks a public service, even if some readers don't heed it -- but he makes some interesting points.

Posted by Lou Lumenick on 06:55 AM | Comments (0)

March 27, 2007

Harvey and Bob's Grindhouse Nights

Harvey Weinstein, who co-sponsored "Grindhouse'' with his brother Bob, has some first-hand experience with grindhouses. Back in 1986, it was common practice in the 42nd Street grindhouses to sometimes offer triple bills of films that were playing in more legitimate venues. That's what happened when Bob and Harvey's only outing as directors, the Catskills-set rock 'n' roll musical Playing for Keeps with Marisa Tomei, opened at the three now-defunct Manhattan theaters: the old Loews State Twin, the old Orpheum and the Art Greenwich. The ads and the reviews didn't mention that what was billed as "rock and roll at its best'' was also proudly topping a triple bill at the icky old Liberty on 42nd Street, with the fondly recalled "Krush Groove'' and Arnold Schwarzenegger's "Raw Deal.'' But we've got the picture to prove it.

Posted by Lou Lumenick on 09:02 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Watch Kat

I got a preview of my first Tribeca Film Festival title today, and I was awfully impressed with the film's ingenue, one Kat Dennings. The camera simply adores Ms. Dennings, who turns 21 on June 6, and she's an impressive young actress to boot. (This photo doesn't really do her justice). In "Charlie Bartlett,'' a sort of cross between "Rushmore'' and "Risky Business'' set to hit theaters in August, Kat plays the rebellious daughter of an alcoholic Connecticut high-school principal (would you believe Robert Downey Jr.) who becomes involved with the school's newest student (Anton Yelchin) and unofficial psychiatrist. Though Ms. Dennings' entry on IMDB claims she's a specialist in playing "rebellious daughters,'' she turns what could have been a stock role into what could be a breakthrough. I don't remember seeing her before; she's had small roles in "The 40-Year-Old Virgin,'' "Down in the Valley,'' "Big Momma's House 2'' and several TV shows. Trust me, she's one to watch.

Posted by Lou Lumenick on 07:48 PM | Comments (0)

March 26, 2007

Meet Disney's Latest Classic

The trailer for Disney's latest CGI cartoon Meet the Robinsons gave me no reason to hope for anything special, but when something really fresh comes along, it's tough to summarize it in two minutes. (The trailer for the disturbing musical drama Happy Feet was so bad--it looked like a slapstick comedy for four-year-olds--that I didn't bother to see the movie until after it came out. It turned out to be by far the year's best animated film.)

Today isn't the first time, then, that I've wondered whether bad trailer equals good movie. Lou will write The Post's official review later this week, but to me Meet the Robinsons is Disney's best since The Incredibles, a spectacular feat of imagineering that is to other animated movies what Disney World is to Coney Island. Robinsons is such a dizzying delight that after 30 minutes I wanted to see it again so I could process all of its time machines, Big Band-loving frogs, prankster twins hiding in planters, evil bowler hats, and meatball cannons. Even if the story didn't work--and it does, brilliantly, beginning as a routine Disney lost-parent tale but then busting loose in every direction--the film would be worth seeing for its awesome look, which is full of both throwback styles (Doris the evil bowler hat has an eye like Hal's from 2001) and inventive little touches like people traveling in bubbles. Not since Back to the Future has a time-travel movie been so much fun, and the movie's loopy surrealism meets kids at their own high level of imagination instead of talking down to them. See it in 3-D if you can.

Posted by Kyle Smith on 04:59 PM | Comments (1)

Uncle Remus and Cousin Quentin

If you take a few days off in this job, there's a lot of catching up to do. Disney seems to be testing the waters for a possible DVD release of its most controversial vintage title, the long-unavailable (in the U.S.) "The Song of the South." It took Leonardo to dethrone Leonidas at the weekend boxoffice, while "Shooter" became the latest Paramount release to open below expecations. Emma Watson is on board for the last two "Harry Potters," despite an earlier report she was bailing, a possible feint by her agents. Fifteen suicide-prevention groups are disturbed by the jokey campaign aimed at teenagers for "Wristcutters: A Love Story." And Hollywood Elsewhere's dyspeptic Jeffrey Wells defies an embargo and renders a split decision on "Grindhouse." He gives a thumbs up to "Death Proof," Quentin Tarantino's half of this three-hour faux double features and a thumbs down to Robert Rodriguez' "Planet Terror." Will this mixed early review spook the House of Pain sufficiently for the Weinsteins (who have a lot riding on this one) to put off plans to show the flick to the New York press later this week? Stay tuned.

Posted by Lou Lumenick on 02:21 PM | Comments (0)

March 23, 2007

'The Host' With the Most

The South Korean horror-comedy blockbuster "The Host'' took four prizes when the first Asian Film Awards were handed out the other day in Hong Kong. It won for best film, best cinematographer and best visual effects, while its star, Song Kang-ho, was named best actor.

Jia Zhangke of China was given the best-director award for "Still Life'' (I've seen it, and it's long but wonderful) and Japanese star Nakatani Miki was crowned best actress for "Memories of Matsuko.''

Posted by V.A. Musetto on 05:35 PM | Comments (0)

We Told You So

The 36th edition of the New Directors/New Films festival -- a leading showcase for emerging filmmakers -- is under way at the Museum of Modern Art and Lincoln Center's Walter Reade Theater. I don't like to brag, but three of the entries were first introduced to New Yorkers in my Cine File column. Full details to come in the very same column on Sunday.

Posted by V.A. Musetto on 01:45 PM | Comments (0)

An Appreciation

The news this week that Vilma Ebsen had died on March 12 at age 96, brought back memories of the only movie she made with her more famous brother, Buddy Ebsen. The two appeared together numerous times on Broadway but only once on the silver screen, in "Broadway Melody of 1936,'' which actually was released in 1935. One high point of the musical has the two Ebsens dancing and singing on a rooftop to the bright tune "Sing Before Breakfast.'' Jack Benny, Eleanor Powell and Robert Taylor lead the cast.

Tall and lanky Buddy, best known as Jed Clampett on TV's "Beverly Hillbillies,'' died in 2003.

Posted by V.A. Musetto on 12:33 PM | Comments (0)

Magic Negroes, Netflix, Grade Inflation

I'm heading out to North Carolina, where the temperatures will hit the mid-80s for the weekend, so this will have to be quick. Adam Sandler's "Reign Over Me,'' one of Hollywood's rare 9/11-themed efforts, rated an OK-but-hardly-a-rave 61 out of 100 points at Metacritic. I gave it two stars, or 50 points,complaining among other things, about Don Cheadle's role as what Spike Lee and others, have called a "magic negro,'' a black character who exists primarily to help a white one. (Think Will Smith in "The Legend of Bagger Vance'' or Cheadle in "The Family Man''; click the link for an explanatory essay) I would advise you instead check out "The Last Mimzy'', a surprisingly disarming "E.T.'' variation directed by the irascible New Line Cinema co-founder Bob Shaye, who's currently at war with Peter Jackson. I also highly recommend my old college buddy David Seifman's great scoop about the Brooklyn Public Library planning to offer NetFlix to its members. And wazzup with the new FIVE-star movie rating system at the Daily Snooze, which invented the four-star system back in the '30s (when their then-chief critic's reputation for accepting cases of scotch from publicists inspired the slogan "Four Roses=Four Stars'')? Talk about your grade inflation...

Posted by Lou Lumenick on 04:32 AM | Comments (0)

March 22, 2007

Grinding It Out

Oh joy. I hear the Weinstein Co. has just secured an R rating for "Grindhouse.'' Page Six recently raised concerns that the film would be slapped with the dread NC-17 rating because of its heavy helpings of gore and sex. That would have meant a lot of teenage geeks wouldn't have been able to see Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodgriguez' $150 million homage to '70s exploitation movies, even with (shudder) their parents in tow. Now they can just buy a ticket to the PG-rated "Are We Done Yet'' (which I incidentally hear is tracking better than "Grindhouse''), sneak into the other auditorium, and wait for the nastier bits on the DVD. In other "Grindhouse'' news, Page Six has other members of the Dead Kennedys weighing in on the controversy surrounding the use of one of their songs for a rape scene in the flick. And the inimitable Roger Friedman reports that Tarantino will likely be there with his half of the double feature (Rodriguez' is being released separately in Europe) at the Cannes Film Festival, along with with Martin Scorsese, Angelina Jolie, Woody Allen, Michael Moore, and that scourge of documentary filmmakers and theater owners everywhere, Jerry Seinfeld.

Update: Now CanMag reports that it has "received confirmation'' that the total running time of "Grindhouse,'' which will include four faux trailers in addition to the Rodgriuez and Tarantino features, will come in at a whopping.. three hours and five minutes. Word from the House of Pain is that they don't have a final running time yet.

Posted by Lou Lumenick on 02:24 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

Sleeping with the Enemy

Latest developments in this only in only-in-La-La-Land saga, courtesy of the L.A. Times: "Los Angeles Times Editorial Page Editor Andres Martinez resigned this morning over the paper's decision to cancel a special edition of its Sunday Current section. Martinez made the decision after Publisher David D. Hiller announced this morning that The Times would not publish this Sunday's Current section in order to avoid the appearance that a conflict of interest led to the selection of Hollywood producer Brian Grazer as a guest editor...'' And it gets better from there.

Posted by Lou Lumenick on 12:07 PM | Comments (0)

Sundancing at BAM

"The Savages,'' Tamara Jenkins' critically acclaimed dark comedy starring Philip Seymour Hoffman and Laura Linney as siblings dealing with their father's final months, will open the second Sundance Institute at BAM series. The series will run May 31-June 10, starting two weeks later than last year to give festival-weary audiences a chance to recover from Tribeca. Among the other New York premieres are Tom DiCillo's "Delirious'' (with Steve Buscemi as a papparazzo), Jeffrey Blitz' crowd-pleasing "Rocket Science'' and David Gordon Green's "Snow Angels.'' Also showing will be the Sundance Festival grand jury winner, "Padre Nuestro,'' which is unspooling at New Directors/New Films, and "The Great World of Sound,'' which will make its Gotham bow in Tribeca. Conspicuously absent are two of Sundance's most controversial films this year: "Teeth,'' a comedy about a teenage girl whose vagina develops shark-like teeth, and of course "Hounddog,'' the "Dakota Fanning rape movie'' directed by New York based Deborah Kampmeier, who is busy in the editing room. The full release is on the jump.

Continue reading "Sundancing at BAM"

Posted by Lou Lumenick on 11:46 AM | Comments (0)

Kill Lucky (and Flo)

The Malaysian Mafia has put a 10 grand bounty apiece on the heads of the MPAA's DVD-sniffing dogs, our sister paper the New Straits Times reports today. The Labrador retrievers known as Lucky and Flo, who have been specially trained to sniff out polycarbonate, led a raid in Kuala Lampur this week that netted more than one million DVDs headed for Singapore, Britain, Hong Kong and Japan. "The dogs are a genuine threat to pirated disc syndicates,'' a government minister said. "Thus the instruction to eliminate them.'' So will they be enrolled in a dog protection program?

Posted by Lou Lumenick on 10:23 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

The Great Man

Universal's second volume of W.C. Fields titles finally hits the shelves, and today I focus on two of them, "The Man on the Flying Trapeze'' (not a circus picture, title notwithstanding) and "Never Give a Sucker An Even Break'' (one of the most meta pictures of the era; Fields plays an entire scene with Butch and Buddy in front of a gigantic billboard for "The Bank Dick.'') What both pictures have in common are fleeting appearances by Fields' longtime mistress Carlotta Monti. She plays Fields' secretary in "Flying Trapeze'' and studio chief Franklin Pangborn's receptionist in "Sucker.'' Long after Field's death in 1946, Monti's autobiography was published as "W.C. Fields and Me.'' It was turned into a surprisingly good movie in 1976 starring Rod Steiger and Valerie Perrine. To see the genuine vintage Fields, besides the first box set Universal has put out "The Big Broadcast of 1938'' (Fields and Bob Hope appear together in a single shot of this bizarre 90-minute musical) and included the ensemble comedy "Six of a Kind'' on something called "The George Burns Collection,'' which consists of a single disc containing three Burns and Allen movies. The best DVD version of Fields' public-domain shorts is put out by the Criterion Collection; and Kino has a nice edition of D.W. Griffith's silent "Sally of the Sawdust'' with Fields, which the Great Man remade as the least notable offering in the new box set, "Poppy.''

Posted by Lou Lumenick on 06:15 AM | Comments (0)