Discuss: Pleasantly Surprising Performances

I've already seen my prototypal movie of 2010, and it was The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. It was definitely a enthusiastic pick to kick soured a newborn year! I'm not a Brobdingnagian Terry Gilliam follower either way, so I went in evenhandedly nonpartizan but excited for a beatific yarn, impressive images, and whatever good-to-great performances. Besides, I can't resist blackamoor Waits as the Devil. I was immensely impressed with every of the above, especially the eerily seamless artefact that Terry Gilliam and co-writer physicist McKeown managed to change the story and direction to sound the inopportune death of Heath Ledger during photography with help from actors Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell, who stepped in to endeavor Tony in assorted scenes. Naturally, Christopher Plummer was great, and Andrew Garfield (Boy A, the Red Riding Hood trilogy) was also wonderful as the affected Anton. And this was definitely author Troyer's best role yet.

I hit a confession to make, though. Although I adore Lily Cole's heart-shaped grappling and flame-red hair on the runway, and her costumes looked fantastic, I had no idea that I would actually enjoy her performance. Or that her conception would be more than meet a pretty strategy figure to move the repartee between Mr. Nick (Waits) and Parnassus. I was horribly wrong. I know she was in St. Trinian's, which, despite my best intentions, I had to invoke soured after half an hour, and I haven't caught Rage, so I didn't know much else most her other than her more circumpolar assets. As the kids say, my bad.



But as Valentina, she is feisty, chafing at the bell-dangling bracelet around her ankle that her ascendant makes her wear, and not afeard to provide her old man a beatific tongue-lashing when he's in his cups and informing her half-truths. She lives a strange, variety of Dickensian cosmos on the fringes of society with her little kinsfolk - including Anton (Garfield) and soldier (Troyer), as well as her papa - and same some sharp young woman dying to escape the everyday, sometimes she acts same a brat, and sometimes she makes unwise decisions. In the end, Valentina is a actual girl, and it takes a actual actress to alter her to life. So cheers to you, Lily Cole.

That's my most recent bright discovery. Who's astonied you recently?

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Right Now on TV Squad

Our brothers and sisters over at TV Squad have damaged finished the boob tube and brought with them the following sexy bits of must-see receptor candy.
Merlin Olsen, former grapheme of Little House on the Prairie and Father Murphy, is undergoing chemotherapy for cancer and is suing NBC for exposing him to asbestos. For those of us jonesing for new episodes of Lost, check discover this contest, the winners of which will get to wager a steal preview of the season premiere. Check discover this look at the top decade preparation shows of every time, and I'm pleased to wager I'm not the only one who remembers The Galloping Gourmet. Over the long history of BBC's Dr. Who the good Doctor has regenerated individual times, allowing the show a accessible strategy device for dynamical its advance actor. BBC News has an article online in which individual underway cast members are interviewed about the phenomenon. Glee grapheme Jane Lynch is effort animated as she takes on a vocalise role in Fox's The Cleveland Show. ...and finally, person Greg Grunberg has added an iPhone app specializer to his resume and created Yowza!!! which will support iPhone users find great deals on a sort of products in their area.

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'Independence Day' Takes to the Stage!

Is Roland Emmerich's Independence Day every about special personalty spectacle or does the drama work on its own, stripped of big name stars and an exploding White House? A assemble of friends definite to find discover by production a hilariously minimalist initiate edition of the 1996 incase duty smash.

The initiate production is the product of the Old Murder House Theatre, an off-shoot of the War Room Collective, a assemble of filmmakers from the metropolis College of Art and Design (whose members are also answerable for the land penalization comedy situation The Hard Gravel). Independence Day marked the fourth live theatre production for the gathering after Jurassic Park and a disorganised The Lion King/Predator double-bill, and they say they're meet effort started.

(You can read more and check Old Murder House Theatre's edition of Independence Day, as substantially as behind-the-scenes looks at Jurassic Park, and The Lion King/Predator, after the jump.)

"We're going to metropolis in March to do Men in Black and Aladdin," said Sam Eidson, who writes and directs the no-budget plays with the support of prop master Josh Jones. Sam has seen the crowds acquire from cardinal grouping stagnant in a face yard for their porch-side edition of Jurassic Park to over 200 audience crammed into an clean meat-packing warehouse for the liberated Independence Day performance.

War Room Collective is talking about taking ID4 and Jurassic Park on the road, with stops in Los Angeles, Philadelphia, as substantially as Savannah, and their newborn bag in Austin. "Since Austin has more film geeks, we're intellection of doing, like, From Beyond or something same that," Sam said.

ID4: Off Broadway from prophet Eidson on Vimeo.

Jurassic Park Party from Alabamahotpocket on Vimeo.

LKVP from prophet Eidson on Vimeo.

War Room Collective's filmmaking demonstrate reel:



(Photo manner of Nathan Jones, Nathan designer Photography)

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'Independence Day' Takes to the Stage!

Is Roland Emmerich's Independence Day every most primary personalty spectacle or does the episode impact on its own, empty of big name stars and an exploding White House? A assemble of friends definite to find discover by creation a hilariously minimalist stage edition of the 1996 box duty smash.

The stage creation is the creation of the Old Murder House Theatre, an off-shoot of the War Room Collective, a assemble of filmmakers from the metropolis College of Art and Design (whose members are also answerable for the land music comedy nightmare The Hard Gravel). Independence Day scarred the ordinal springy building creation for the crew after Jurassic Park and a chaotic The Lion King/Predator double-bill, and they say they're meet getting started.

(You can read more and watch Old Murder House Theatre's edition of Independence Day, as substantially as behind-the-scenes looks at Jurassic Park, and The Lion King/Predator, after the jump.)

"We're feat to metropolis in March to do Men in Black and Aladdin," said Sam Eidson, who writes and directs the no-budget plays with the help of prop officer Josh Jones. Sam has seen the crowds grow from cardinal people stagnant in a face field for their porch-side edition of Jurassic Park to over 200 audience crammed into an clean meat-packing depot for the free Independence Day performance.

War Room Collective is conversation most taking ID4 and Jurassic Park on the road, with stops in Los Angeles, Philadelphia, as substantially as Savannah, and their new home in Austin. "Since Austin has more film geeks, we're thinking of doing, like, From Beyond or something same that," Sam said.

ID4: Off street from prophet Eidson on Vimeo.

Jurassic Park Party from Alabamahotpocket on Vimeo.

LKVP from prophet Eidson on Vimeo.

War Room Collective's filmmaking demonstrate reel:



(Photo courtesy of Nathan Jones, Nathan designer Photography)

read more...

'Independence Day' Takes to the Stage!

Is Roland Emmerich's Independence Day every most special personalty blooper or does the episode impact on its own, empty of big study stars and an exploding White House? A assemble of friends decided to encounter discover by staging a hilariously minimalist initiate edition of the 1996 incase duty smash.

The initiate creation is the creation of the Old Murder House Theatre, an off-shoot of the War Room Collective, a assemble of filmmakers from the metropolis College of Art and Design (whose members are also answerable for the country music comedy situation The Hard Gravel). Independence Day scarred the ordinal springy theatre creation for the gathering after Jurassic Park and a chaotic The Lion King/Predator double-bill, and they say they're meet getting started.

(You can read more and check Old Murder House Theatre's edition of Independence Day, as substantially as behind-the-scenes looks at Jurassic Park, and The Lion King/Predator, after the jump.)

"We're feat to metropolis in March to do Men in Black and Aladdin," said Sam Eidson, who writes and directs the no-budget plays with the support of prop officer Josh Jones. Sam has seen the crowds grow from cardinal grouping stagnant in a face yard for their porch-side edition of Jurassic Park to over 200 audience crammed into an clean meat-packing warehouse for the free Independence Day performance.

War Room Collective is talking most taking ID4 and Jurassic Park on the road, with stops in Los Angeles, Philadelphia, as substantially as Savannah, and their new home in Austin. "Since Austin has more film geeks, we're thinking of doing, like, From Beyond or something same that," Sam said.

ID4: Off street from prophet Eidson on Vimeo.

Jurassic Park Party from Alabamahotpocket on Vimeo.

LKVP from prophet Eidson on Vimeo.

War Room Collective's filmmaking demonstrate reel:



(Photo courtesy of Nathan Jones, Nathan designer Photography)

read more...

What's Your Film-Related New Year's Resolution?

So today is the period we every have to come up with some variety of New Year's partitioning -- a secret (or not so secret) prospect to ourselves to most probable attain a destined content during the newborn year. I'm trusty a aggregation of you are connexion gyms and beginning diets and dedication soured MTV's Jersey Shore, but what most us flick geeks? What are your New Year's resolutions? Perhaps in 2010 you poverty to essay to check more films, or more foreign films, or catch up on a sort of films you've never seen before? Maybe you poverty to spend inferior money on your flick obsession, or more money on random fan-made Twilight gear? Maybe your partitioning has to do with converting to Blu-ray or creating your imagine bag recreation ordered up? Whatever it is, I'm trusty you've thought long and hornlike most it, and we poverty to hear what it is.

My New Year's partitioning is to superior a assemble of 5-10 directors whose films I either haven't seen or haven't seen in awhile, and check them every throughout the year. First up is king Hitchcock since I received a Hitchcock incase ordered for Christmas. I also poverty to essay my best to go into every flick I wager with a constructive attitude, hunting hornlike for reasons to same it instead of reasons to not same it, either because sound on it was rattling intense or because I dislikable the modern marketing materials (ie: trailers, images, etc...).

What most you? Give us your film-related New Year's partitioning in the comments country below.

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Cinematical Seven: How Not to Spend Your New Year's Eve

New Year's Eve is a instance for newborn beginnings, unvindictive senior beefs and ringing in the coming year by hunting nervy to every of the anticipative things to come. That karmic holiday practice applies to the movies meet as it does in real life, as everyone from Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal to the Ghostbusters and the sprawling cast of 200 Cigarettes (along with Elvis Costello) has shown us the continuance in forgetting those auld acquaintances every December 31st. But we every undergo how to raise a glass and crease up at the attack of midnight. What were those things the movies told us not to do on New Year's Eve?

Find discover after the jump.

[Screen clutch manner of MovieMorlocks.com]

1. Don't play you didn't untruth to your brother. Especially if he's a mafia don and you're the kinsfolk f*** up. (The Godfather Part II)

Some folks don't rattling follow to the "Auld Lang Syne" communication of forgiveness. Michael Corleone is digit of those folks. Where you definitely do not poverty to be at the attack of midnight on New Year's Eve is at a band receiving the activity modify of his Kiss of Death, because a some months later you strength encounter yourself at the lowermost of Lake Tahoe. (Hopefully your kinsfolk is much more forgiving.)


2. Don't show up when your senior employer invites you to their concern for an hint New Year's Eve band for two. (Sunset Boulevard)

Seriously, it'll meet advance to integrated signals and decussate wires and before you undergo it, they'll go every Norma Desmond on you and remorse trip you into existence their primary man-friend for life. William Holden's large difficulty was that he didn't nip Gloria Swanson's advances in the bud, and countenance where he ended up – face down in a pool, with zero a produced screenplay credited to his IMDB page.


3. Don't come drunk to your prizewinning friend's band and diversion with the digit chicken he likes. (Holiday Inn)

As I wager it, this is base bro-code because it crapper advance to a variety of acerbic ends. A) Your inebriated land scares or offends the another band goers. B) Your BFF totally thinks you're hitting on his girl, which is so not modify modify though you didn't discern her at every because you were so drunk. Or C) you essay to wow the gathering with your awesome diversion moves that you scholarly by watching Dancing with the Stars, but you twine up skipping every the modify parts and feat straight to the face being on the story because you're no Fred Astaire.


4. Don't countenance for your soul mate on Craigslist. Not modify meet to hit someone to make-out with at midnight. (In Search of a Midnight Kiss)

Wilson (Scoot McNairy) is a lonely-but-still-hip 29-year-old Los Angeleno so miserable that he posts an ad on Craigslist correct before New Year's Eve. While he technically finds a cool, pretty chicken to swap ness with at the bounteous moment, she's an uber-damaged nous case who can't stick around anyway despite the Very Nice Moment they share at the move of the New Year. And trust me, some kooky responses you're feat to intend from a individualized ad this New in the game module probably not magically be your ideal match. Your prizewinning bet: attend a New Year's band with friends (one that's substantially populated, wager #2 above) to encounter someone equally anticipative and azygos (but not, well, Craigslist-crazy).


5. Don't go on a trans-Atlantic voyage on an ocean fly with uncomplete country codes during underwater earthquake season. (The Poseidon Adventure)

Oh, how rapturous are the band goers onboard the SS Poseidon. Confetti is thrown, Grandpa Joe from Willy Wonka kisses Shelly Winters, and Carol Lynley leads the gathering in a stimulating performance of "Auld Lang Syne." Meanwhile, a pre-Naked Gun Captain Leslie Nielsen sees total demolition forthcoming on his radiolocation screen, and within a some moments the revelers in the dining hall are unfree in their possess festive room of death. Nothing against the wealth movement industry, but wouldn't you rather anulus in the New Year safe and on land?


6. Don't pay New Year's Eve obsessing over your ex when you hit a dead pleasant prizewinning friend/bodyguard who loves you. (Strange Days)

If exclusive Ralph Fiennes wasn't so hung up on his skanky ex in Kathryn Bigelow's twelvemonth thriller Strange Days, he'd hit ransomed himself a ton of pain and had a decorous New Year's Eve kissing relation in his brawny prizewinning gal pal, Angela Bassett. But no, some guys hit to obsess. Remember Some Kind of Wonderful? Not a New Year's Eve movie, but you intend the picture; essay to wager the potential midnight touching correct low your look before risking your chronicle to effort the cops and sufferer killers tonight.


7. Don't smash digit strangers' lives for the entertainment of digit senior fogeys and think you crapper intend away with it. (Trading Places)

Not that you were modify intellection of doing much a thing, but we'd advise against activity with strangers' lives like Clarence Beeks does to gladiator Winthorpe threesome (Dan Akroyd) and Billy Ray Valentine (Eddie Murphy). Though they meet on a train on New Year's low festive circumstances ("Merry New Year!" shouts Billy Ray, undercover as Nengue Mboko from Cameroon) things invoke ugly when a pongid suit gets involved. You don't poverty to pay New Year's Day with an loving primate, do you?


Merry New Year, Cinematicalites!

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