Something New to Crowe About

While I know Rusty's not everybody's bottle of beer, he sure suits me. His name on the marquee assures I'll be there. I have seen his entire filmography and even though some of the films were weak, his performance never let me down.

So, here's the news: Russell Crowe is signed to play the "noble" Sheriff of Nottingham in a remake of Robin Hood.
He will take the lead role in Nottingham, a twist on the usual tale featuring the lawman as the hero working for a corrupt king. Crowe's "noble and brave" character will investigate a murder in which outlaw Robin Hood is the main suspect. The film will also feature a love triangle between the Sheriff, Robin Hood and Maid Marion. It's scheduled for release in 2009.

For now, Russell has finished 3 films. Two of the films, American Gangster and 3:10 to Yuma, have fall 2007 release dates. The third film Tenderness is finished but no release date has been announced.

Filmspotting Does Noir!

Even though I've talked about my favorite podcast in this blog in another post, I'm making another pitch here in light of filmspotting starting a film noir marathon on May 18. Adam and Sam will discuss the following films:

• Double Indemnity (1944)
• The Killers (1946)
• Out of the Past (1947)
• Gun Crazy (1949)
• The Asphalt Jungle (1950)
• Kiss Me Deadly (1955)

There is a lot interest on the filmspotting boards for this marathon. If you have any interest in gaining some background in this excellent film genre, join us all at http://filmspotting.net/

Coming to the Party Late

Aussie and I are finally going to know what all the talk is about! We're renting Season 1 and working our way through all the seasons of HBO's The Sopranos. Living in and out of the US, we can't keep up with series as they occur. This is our chance to get current. We also plan to catch up with 24 in the same way. It's next!

They Shoot Pictures, Don't They

Here's a great website for film buffs like me! A description of the site taken from their About page:

As you can tell, by glancing through our website, we take film lists very seriously. It is our bread and butter. We love to compile them, we love to refer to them, and we love bringing them to you. We have databases and spreadsheets coming out of our a---s, and we are constantly on the look out for more interesting lists to add to our insanely prosperous collection. We are, I am afraid, guilty as charged. Make no mistake, referring to and utilising film lists is an extremely useful tool (otherwise, we probably wouldn't be here) that can assist in the discovery of many wonderful films and filmmakers that you may have previously not encountered. They Shoot Pictures is indeed primarily a film list resource, and, as we mention above, we make no bones about that.

Here's the Top 25 Films from their Top 100 List:

1 Citizen Kane
2 Rules of the Game, The
3 Vertigo
4 2001: A Space Odyssey
5 8½
6 Seven Samurai, The
7 Godfather, The
8 Tokyo Story
9 Searchers, The
10 Singin' in the Rain
11 Sunrise
12 Battleship Potemkin
13 Lawrence of Arabia
14 Passion of Joan of Arc, The
15 Rashomon
16 L'Atalante
17 Bicycle Thief, The
18 Godfather Part II, The
19 Raging Bull
20 Third Man, The
21 City Lights
22 Touch of Evil
23 La Dolce Vita
24 Les Enfants du Paradis
25 Casablanca

How many have you seen? I've seen only 11 out of 25. Better get some more queued up!

Dirt Music, the Film, is Coming

West Australian novelist Tim Winton's book Dirt Music is set to be screen-adapted and the next project of director Phillip Noyce. Irish actor Colin Farrell is the latest name to be linked to the film. At the Berlin Film Festival this week, it was announced Farrell would take the role of Lu Fox, earlier offered to Heath Ledger. Dirt Music is an intense love story between outcast Lu and Georgie, the unhappy partner of a prosperous fisherman. Britain's Rachel Weisz is to play Georgie.

I've read the book twice. It's full of West Australian references, of both personalities and places. While Farrell is imaginable as Lu Fox, Weisz is not the Georgie of the novel. Still, I will be first in line to see the novel on screen. It was a great read!

"Miss Potter" Comes to the Screen

"Miss Potter", a film which relates the life story of Beatrix Potter who wrote "The Tales of Peter Rabbit" and 22 other children's books, will be released in the US in January. The movie stars Renee Zellweger as Miss Potter and Ewan McGregor as Norman Warne, the man who took her art and writing seriously and published her in 1902. Potter was an amazing watercolorist, observing the animals she owned and writing the fanciful stories based on their behaviors. Along with Peter Rabbit, she also created Squirrel Nutkin, Benjamin Bunny, Jemima Puddle-Duck, and Mrs. Tiggywinkle. She was a woman in a man's world, but she broke through the barriers set for her with her talent and her tenacity.

"Prada": What Was Missing?

Days after seeing "The Devil Wears Prada", I have finally hit on what was missing from that film. It had great acting, beautiful clothes, NYC locations, a wonderful supporting cast, but it didn't have a PLOT! I will say that Streep, a fav of mine, has never looked better and her performance was worth the price of the ticket.

Jackman Joins Kidman and Luhrmann

Hugh Jackman is confirmed to star opposite Nicole Kidman in Baz Luhrmann's upcoming period epic, the yet-to-be titled pre-World War II film, co-written with Collateral's Stuart Beattie and The Pianist's Ronald Harwood, which is now scheduled to begin filming in February.

Jackman replaces Russell Crowe, who was pushed from the project last week after dallying on script consultation. Jackman will play a cattle driver hooking up with an English aristocrat (Kidman) whose northern Australian ranch, which she inherits unexpectedly, is threatened by British cattle barons. They undertake a cattle drive across the Top End.

The Graduate Sequel as a Novel

Charles Webb has written a follow-up novel to his original novel which was made into the film The Graduate. The book will revisit Ben Braddock and his now-wife Elaine ten years later, as they home school their two children in upstate New York. Also Mrs. Robinson is somehow featured in its story. At the present time, there is no plan to follow up the new book with a film. However, it's not impossible. Webb's last novel, New Cardiff, was adapted into the film Hope Springs.

Wikipedia has this article about Webb whose personal life is interesting, if a little bizarre.

Podcast: Filmspotting

Filmspotting is an excellent site for podcasts of movie reviews, criticisms, top 5 lists, marathons and everything else that is film experience. Chicagoans Adam Kempenaar and Sam Hallgren host the podcasts, recently presenting #102. I have downloaded all the past 100 and am having a great time "at the movies" while I walk, work and ride.

Until recently Filmspotting has been known as Cinecast.

Dirty Harry Box Set Release Announcement

Warner Brothers announced yesterday that the studio will reissue all five Harry Callahan films in 2007. The movies will be released together in an epic box set and are expected to feature commentary from the star Clint Eastwood as well as "footage from the vaults". Can you name all five Harry Callahan films? Here are some clues:

• In the final scene Harry throws his badge in the river.
• Harry suspects that he has a vigilante on his hands, quite possibly a cop.
  
• Harry gets a female partner.
• "Go ahead. Make my day."
• A chase involving a radio-controlled model car featured a modified 1/10 scale 2wd Associated RC10 off road racer with an off-the-shelf Parma International 1963 Chevrolet Corvette body.

So, do ya feel lucky, punk?

Ebert's Must-See Film List

Even though he's not always "right", I do enjoy Roger Ebert's film critiques. He writes a very thoughtful review and has a consistent point of view. Here is his list of 102 Films You Must See Before... It confounds me how West Side Story keeps appearing on these "best" lists. Any on the list you hated?

Tom Hanks Rules the Box Office

You may not love him, but lots of others do! Tom Hanks IS the $100 million man. The two-time Oscar winner's way with moviegoers has earned him the title of Actor with Most Consecutive $100 Million-Grossing Movies, with seven consecutive big box-office films. What's more, The Da Vinci Code opens May 19 in wide release (after its May 17 premiere at the Cannes Film Festival) and the megabuzz surrounding the Ron Howard-directed project practically guarantees it will be one of the biggest films of the year. Currently, according to online sports book BetCRIS, the odds of The Da Vinci Code having a $105.1 million or better opening weekend (Friday to Sunday) are 2 to 1.

Nicole Kidman Doings

Even though it's being widely reported, the marriage of Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban on June 25 in Sydney has not been confirmed by her Australian publicist Wendy Day who says this:
"Clearly they (Kidman and Urban) are enjoying a nice friendship together, but Nicole's personal life is her personal life and I have no further knowledge of their friendship."

Wherever the truth lies in regard to her personal life, there is no doubt Nicole has been busy with her career. Here's a rundown:

• Fur, biopic, complete,will be shown at Cannes in May, and is scheduled for US release in Nov 2006
• The Visiting, horror sci-fi, complete
• Happy Feet, animated, complete, scheduled for US release Nov 2006
• Untitled Noah Baumbach project, filming
• The Lady from Shanghai, pre-production 2006
• Headhunters, announced, 2007
• Untitled Baz Luhrmann project, pre-production, 2008

Urban Cowboy

Spending the long weekend with son, daughter-in-law, daughter and Aussie, we did a lot of talking about lots of stuff. Being family we agree and disagree, but one thing we all gave a big nod to was that Urban Cowboy was one of the best movies ever. John Travolta was the perfect Bud; Debra Winger was the perfect Sissy; and we all know someone like Scott Glenn's Wes Hightower. Also Looking for Love is the perfect country/western song. If you're too young or too old to remember this movie, rent it on DVD and enjoy a real Texas story with a universal theme.

Think about this: The role of Bud was written for Dennis Quaid and Michelle Pfeiffer was originally cast as Sissy.

Kidman in FUR

Nicole Kidman has completed work on her new film, Fur, the life of photographer Diane Arbus (far lt) whose images of transvestites, dwarfs, twins, and other unusual persons - she called them freaks - were popular in the 1960s. After her suicide in 1971, Arbus was the first American photographer to be exhibited at the Venice Biennale. It was announced in Feb 2006 that Fur would be a contender at the Cannes Film Festival. The film is due for release in October 2006.

Overlooked Film: "Millions"

Millions is a delightful film which tells the story of two brothers who are thrilled to find a stash of bank robbery money but are faced with the daunting task of spending it in a week before the UK pound is converted to the euro. Damien, the seven year old, is determined to give all the money to the poor; Anthony, the nine year old, is thinking more about property investment. The one thing they agree on is that they can't just walk into a bank with a note from dad and deposit it! While the disposal of the windfall is the device, what the film actually explores is how the two children and their father deal with the recent loss of the children's mother. Damien knows all the saints and their stories and he sees them, recognizes them, and gets their advice. The story is whimsical, imaginative, and full of joy. Set around the Christmas season, but not really a Christmas story, it would be great for family viewing during the holidays.

My Favorite Oscar Moment(s)

Looking back over the Academy Awards tv show, this was my favorite Oscar moment. Nick Park and his co-director Steve Box stole the show when they came on stage for winning Best Animated Feature for Wallace and Gromit, Curse of the WereRabbit and fastened tiny, striped bowties on their Oscars which matched their own huge, striped bowties. Appropriate and harmless fun! (OK, I liked the penguins too.)

Oscar Blog

For those of us who will not get the Academy Award ceremony live, there's a live blog available online from Pink Armadillo here.

Remember that you must reload or refresh your browser to receive new posts to a live blog.

Overlooked Film: "A Perfect World"

Double Academy Award winners Kevin Costner and Clint Eastwood confront each other from opposite sides of the law in A Perfect World, an acclaimed, multi-layered manhunt saga (directed by Eastwood) that rumbles down Texas backroads toward a harrowing collision with fate.

Costner plays Butch Haynes, a hardened prison escapee on the lam with a young hostage (T J Lowther in a remarkable film debut) who sees in Butch the father figure he never had. Eastwood is wily Texas Ranger Red Garnett, leading deputies and a criminologist (Laura Dern) in a statewide pursuit. Red knows every road and pothole in the Panhandle. What's more, he knows the elusive Haynes — because their paths have crossed before.