For Cinephiles by a Cinefille

Moving On

2009-09-25T13:13:00.000-04:00

After four years and much consideration I have finally decided to transtion this blog from Blogger to WordPress. The new For Cinephiles by a Cinefille is http://www.cine-fille.com/.

By moving to WordPress I will be able to do so much more with my blog. I've already imported this blog and my blog from Cannes onto the new site. I am slowly working out the kinks and will be blogging regularly soon enought.

So please follow me there!

Live Blogging the Emmys

2009-09-20T13:52:00.003-04:00

Tonight I will be live-blogging the Emmy Awards. Are you as excited to see Neil Patrick Harris as I am? Come back at 8 for all my Emmy coverage!

2009 Primetime Emmy Awards

Celebrating Betty White

2009-09-16T22:16:00.003-04:00

I'm already preparing to laugh out loud during this acceptance speech.

Betty White will be given the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award at the
16th Annual SAG Awards.

White, 87, is best known for her work as Rose Nylund on The Golden Girls and Sue Ann Nivens on The Mary Tyler Moore Show. She's performed on radio and the big and small screen since the 1940s and is also a passionate animal activist.

Betty White is one of my favorite actresses; her frequent appearances on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson are always some of the best interviews on late night.

Patrick Swayze (1952 - 2009)

2009-09-14T20:26:00.004-04:00

Really sad news...

After nearly a two year battle with pancreatic cancer, Patrick Swayze, the star of Dirty Dancing and Ghost has died. The NY Times reported the news about 20 minutes ago.

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Patrick Swayze has died after a nearly two-year battle with
pancreatic cancer.

Swayze's publicist Annett Wolf says the 57-year-old "Dirty Dancing" actor died Monday with family at his side. He came forward about his illness last spring, but continued working as he underwent treatments.

It was 1987 when Swayze became a star with his performance in "Dirty Dancing," a coming-of-age story set in a Catskills resort. The 1990 film "Ghost" cemented his status as a screen favorite.

Swayze played a murdered man trying to communicate with his fiancee through a spirit played by Whoopi Goldberg.

He kept on working even after it was disclosed in March 2008 that he had a particularly deadly form of cancer. He starred in "The Beast," an A&E drama series, and said he and his wife were working on a memoir.

Because of his role as Johnny in Dirty Dancing, Patrick Swayze has always been a favorite actor of mine. You see, Baby is attending Mount Holyoke in the fall and as a current Mount Holyoke student, you always encounter someone who have heard of my college because of this movie; on perspective student weekend Dirty Dancing is screened in the amphitheatre. So Patrick Swayze is apart of the MoHo lexicon along with Emily Dickinson, Wendy Wasserstein and Animal House.

He will be missed.

Latest New Moon Trailer

2009-09-13T14:00:00.005-04:00

It seems all I do these days (besides figuring out when I became a senior in college) is post about New Moon. I don't even like the Twilight franchise and I'm posting about it.

Anyway, here is the latest and final trailer for Twilight: New Moon.

Movie Trailers - Movies Blog

"At the Movies" Returns

2009-09-07T09:38:00.005-04:00

At the Movies returned this weekend with its new hosts, Michael Phillips of the Chicago Tribune and A.O. Scott of the New York Times. And thank god for that.

I only caught "The Two Bens Experiment" occasionally but it was bad enough to make me roll over in my grave. I like Ben Mankiewicz just fine but he should just stick to spewing out IMDb facts on TCM. And don't even get me started on the catastrophe that is Ben Lyons.

ABC's selection of Phillips and Scott to helm the iconic show brings serious film criticism back and makes it better than ever. The only complaint I can see anyone having is that Phillips and Scott don't bicker nearly enough, which is what made Siskel and Ebert great together.

For now, I'm completely on board with this revamped At the Movies and you should be too.

Oscars 2010: Even More Changes

2009-08-31T18:15:00.005-04:00

When the Academy announced in June that the number of Best Picture nominees from increase from five to ten, I was skeptical. Although I still am skeptical, a recent announcement that the voting procedure for Best Picture has made me less worried.

The voting procedure (which is similar to how MLB selects the MVP, Cy Young Award - yes, I'm a nerd, I know) goes something like this:

In the past, once the nominees were announced, Academy members voted only for the one film they thought should win the award, and the film with the most votes won. But with so many nominees next year, it’s feasible that a movie could have won Best Picture with only 11 percent of the vote, which seems crazy. So now, once the 10 nominees are named, voters will rank the films from 1 to 10. All the No. 1 votes will be counted, and if no film has more than 50 percent of the vote (which seems highly unlikely), the last-place film will be eliminated and the voters who voted for that film will have their No. 2 votes counted instead. That process will continue until one film has a majority of the votes. [...] there is a chance that the film that ends up winning won’t actually have the most No. 1 votes, but will instead emerge the victor in the second, third, or fourth rounds. [...]

Make any sense? I had to read that a few times to understand it myself. Changing the voting procedure is the best way to ensure that the best film does indeed win. But until the actual awards ceremony in February and I see what happens, I'm still going to be apprehensive. How do you feel about this? Will it make any difference at all?

Soundtrack Fix: Glee

2009-08-31T16:54:00.004-04:00

Fox and Columbia Records announced plans today to release a soundtrack for Glee, a show about a high school Glee club and my new favorite television obsession.

The soundtrack list includes:

“Don’t Stop Believin’”

“Can’t Fight This Feeling”

“Gold Digger”

“Take a Bow”

“Bust Your Windows”

“Taking Chances”

“Alone”

“Maybe This Time”

“Somebody to Love”

“Hate On Me”

“No Air”

“You Keep Me Hangin’ On”

“Keep Holding On”

“Bust a Move”

“Sweet Caroline”

“Dancing with Myself”

“Defying Gravity”
If you haven't watched the premiere episode of Glee yet (it is currently available on Hulu), I highly suggest you do. This show is so addictiing and fun; it will make these last days of summer all the more enjoyable.

I cannot wait for the September 9 season premiere.

Jim Parsons on The Late Show

2009-08-27T16:28:00.004-04:00

My love affair with Jim Parsons continues.

Oh TBBT, I have missed you. September 21 can't come soon enough.

MTV to remake Skins

2009-08-25T10:53:00.007-04:00

Just read this news on EW:

MTV is planning to remake the cult TV show Skins, according to the Hollywood Reporter. The original British version of the show, which concerns the lives of a group of teenagers, is notable for its foul-mouthed scripts and depictions of drug use.

Skins is one of my all-time favorite shows. I have written countless articles on the show for both the Mount Holyoke News and on this blog. I have even been known to recap an episode or two of the third season.

I suppose it was only a matter of time before Skins was remade for American audiences, even more so after Dev Patel (Anwar on Skins) became a well-known actor for Slumdog Millionaire.

But MTV's remake troubles me. I consider Skins to be one of the best, if not the best, teen drama on television. What shows like The OC, 90210 and Gossip Girl lack (ahem, reality), Skins achieves by creating characters that are relatable and intriguing. MTV better not screw this up, or I will be very disappointed.

Thoughts?

Jim Parsons in Garden State

2009-08-22T20:03:00.006-04:00

Hello there readers. I have returned from my week long adventure to Michigan and it was quite lovely.

In honor of my return to NJ, I sat down with my sister to watch Garden State. I first saw this movie when it was released in 2004 and since then it has become a favorite for my friends and me. What I was not expecting to see when I settled down to watch this movie however was Jim Parsons, who currently stars on The Big Bang Theory.

Parsons makes one brief appearance at the beginning of the film as a Medieval Times knight. And guess what TBBT fans; he speaks klingon. Enjoy this gem.

Parsons is nominated for an Emmy for his role as Sheldon on The Big Bang Theory, a show which I highly recommend. Below is one of my favorite scenes from the show. Enjoy :)

Kate Winslet in Mildred Pierce?

2009-08-14T11:45:00.003-04:00

This is an awesome bit of casting news. Kate Winslet is reportedly attached to headline a five-part miniseries adaptation of James M Cain's Mildred Pierce. Killer Films is developing the miniseries and shopping it to several cable networks including HBO.

Mildred Pierce was first adapted into a movie in 1945, starring Joan Crawford. Crawford won her first Academy Award for her performance in this noir film about a sacrificial mother struggling for independence during the Depression.

I hope this miniseries indeed happens because Kate Winslet + Mildred Pierce + HBO miniseries = epic win.

Thoughts?

Hello Don Draper

2009-08-13T10:24:00.005-04:00

Jon Hamm has been busy making the talk show rounds to promote the third season of Mad Men (premieres Sunday at 10 pm on AMC!). I am super excited for this season to begin. Fred are you ready for my Mad Men mania?

Here are Jon Hamm's appearances on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien and on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.

Meet Officer White of San Quentin Prison

2009-08-12T21:46:00.005-04:00

Betty White is a Golden Girl, a national icon, an absolute pistol and ... a prison guard?. Watch the video below and prepare to laugh, a lot. Apparently Betty has a thing for bad men locked in cages. I wonder if Rue McClanahan knows about this?

I could watch Betty White perform in Craig Ferguson skits all day.

14 Seconds in Heaven

2009-08-11T17:31:00.004-04:00

I'm convinced that the minds behind Twilight: New Moon are PR geniuses. They never release too much new material but just enough to get the tweens all hot and bothered.

Here is the latest 14 seconds (seconds!) of promo footage released unto the world.

I can only hope my favorite Twilight wackadoodles post a video reaction.

Trailer Fix: The Lovely Bones

2009-08-10T22:44:00.003-04:00

This post is for my friend Chrissy, who scoffed at the news that her favorite book, The Lovely Bones, has been adapted into a movie. After seeing the recently released trailer this afternoon, I disagree.

For starters the cast is pretty phenomenal. Saoirse Ronan (Atonement) plays Susie Salmon, a young girl who has been murdered and watches over her family. Mark Wahlberg and Rachel Weisz play her parents while Susan Sarandon portrays her grandmother. And Stanley Tucci gets his creepy neighbor on, playing George Harvey.

The Lovely Bones is no doubt a difficult film to adapt but I have faith that director Peter Jackson will do the book justice. I mean he can't mess it up worse than the schmuck who decided to change the end of My Sister's Keeper.

Thoughts? The Lovely Bones will be released on December 11.

So Chrissy, do you approve?

Seriously, Gossip GIrl, WTF.

2009-08-10T15:07:00.002-04:00

Those promo wizzes at the CW are at it again. Last year Gossip Girl turned some heads with its OMFG campaign to kick off its second season. This year the ad campaign is WTF, or Watch This Fall.

Gotta say, this preview is not as juicy as last year. But I cannot wait to see what promotional material is released next.

Meryl Streep on The Colbert Report

2009-08-07T21:02:00.003-04:00

Last night, Meryl Streep appeared on The Colbert Report to promote her latest film, Julie and Julia, which opens in theaters today.

The Colbert Report

Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

Meryl Streep

http://www.colbertnation.com/

Colbert Report Full Episodes

Political Humor

Meryl Streep

I just love Meryl in this interview. She is so giggly and as lovely as ever.

John Hughes (1950 - 2009)

2009-08-06T17:49:00.005-04:00

John Hughes, the director of Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club and Pretty in Pink, has died at 59. Hughes was the voice of a generation with his 80s films. The last film he directed was 1991's Curly Sue and he had been somewhat prolific and essentially retired except for occasionally producing a film.

Everyone is talking about his work is the voice of the 80s, but I'm a child of the 90s. Among my friends, his films are some of our favorites. Hughes' film might be a product of the 80s, but his work continue to be the most loved and definitive teens films of any generation.

Enjoy this tribute to the eight films John Hughes directed.

Four Years

2009-08-04T00:09:00.003-04:00

As of 9 minutes ago, For Cinephiles by a Cinefille turned four years old.

In 17 years, this blog will be old enough to drink. Publicly.

So here is to 17 more years of my random babbling about movies, to my obsession with Katharine Hepburn, the Oscars and bad reality television, to finishing my senior thesis (hey remember that, because I certainly do not), and to my endless attempts to prove that I am sane.

xoxo

Cinefille

'Harvey' to be Spielberged

2009-08-02T17:23:00.003-04:00

Steven Spielberg has committed to his next project; an adaptation of Mary Chase's Pulitzer Prize-winning play Harvey. Written in 1944, Harvey was first adapted into a 1950 starring Jimmy Stewart as Elwood P. Dowd whose friendship with a six and one-half foot tall invisible rabbit becomes the talk of the town.

This is some unexpected news; I just never thought that Harvey would be remade. Nevertheless, this should be an interesting adaptation. Thoughts on this news? Do you think Harvey need to be remade? Do you want Harvey to be remade?

Dirty Dancing Redux

2009-07-28T10:23:00.008-04:00

Dirty Dancing is one of my favorite movies and there is nothing I love more than a Dirty Dancing spoof.

Channing Tatum (G.I. Joe) and Charlyne Yi (Paper Heart) star as Johnny and Baby in this parody, made complete by 80s hair and cheesy dialogue. By far the best line is: I'm scared of being put in the corner, Johnny."

Enjoy!

<a href="http://video.msn.com/?mkt=en-US&from=sp&vid=304364f2-e037-48b6-9ffe-8f67ad6539b1" target="_new" title="Channing Tatum and Charlyne Yi Cinemash "Dirty Dancing"">Video: Channing Tatum and Charlyne Yi Cinemash "Dirty Dancing"</a>

Is it October yet?

2009-07-27T17:50:00.002-04:00

Here is a featurette about the upcoming adaptation of Where the Wild Things Are. This video features author Maurice Sendak's opinions on the adaptation.

Sendak says: "There will be controversy about this. But the film has an entire emotional, spiritual, visual life which is as valid as the book."

It is a great little feature that also has some unseen scenes from the film.

Where the Wild Things Are will be released October 16.

True Blood: It's Getting Good

2009-07-27T11:39:00.005-04:00

The preview for the remainder of True Blood's second season premiered at Comic-Con. It looks pretty fangtastic.

Holy crap. Holy Maryanne! Holy bonfire!

One of the big events that will happen this season is the Sookie-Bill-Eric love triangle heating up. You can watch a video about the much-anticipated love triangle here.

Only six more episodes to go. I can't wait!

First Look: The Cleveland Show

2009-07-26T11:33:00.004-04:00

Here is the first preview I have seen of The Cleveland Show, the Family Guy spin-off.

What do you think? Will you be tuning in Sept. 27?

There's Still Hope

2009-07-25T23:21:00.005-04:00

Forget Twilight, Lost, Peter Jackson and Hayao Miyazaki. The most important news coming out of Comic-Con has to do with the long-discussed and much-desired Arrested Development movie.

When asked about the movie, Jason Bateman said, ""It's not dead. It's still going forward.... I wouldn't be surprised if [AD creator] Mitch Hurwitz called me tomorrow and had 50 or 100 pages done. He's very fast. It could be anywhere between 6 months from now and 18 months from now. I hope it's sooner."

Well that update is certainly better than no update at all, Now if only they could start filming.,,

Oh yeah, if you haven't seen Arrested Development yet (but it has been on your to do list for ages hint hint) you can watch the complete series on Hulu. It is a must-see show. In fact, I might rewatch an episode or two before I go to bed.

Octomom: Coming to a TV Near You

2009-07-25T11:42:00.003-04:00

In the wake of Jon and Kate's impending divorce, I guess TV execs have decided we need a new family to exploit.

Nadya Suleman "Octomom" has reportedly signed an agreement which would allow her 14 children to star in a reality show. Each of her children will earn $250 a day and the show is to begin filming on Sept. 1.

So would you tune in?

Also, if you haven't seen this clip from CBS News about Octomom: The Musical, you can check it out below.

Watch CBS Videos Online

Katherine Heigl: A Cautionary Tale

2009-07-24T16:16:00.008-04:00

Katherine Heigl is busy promoting The Ugly Truth, which is already being deemed as one pretty bad romantic comedy. She appeared on The Late Show earlier in the week and discussed this movie as well as Grey's Anatomy and her Mexican dog.

What an irritating interview.

I'm so sorry Katherine Heigl that you have to lay in a pretend coma for 17 hours a day. Imagine how rough it would be if you weren't working at all? By the way, if she keeps up her diva antics, she probably won't be working on Grey's much longer.

I'm not the only person who is over Heigl and her seemingly bad attitude. This article in Newsweek, called Why is Katherine Heigl So Annoying?, tries to determine why the television star's star has dimmed so quickly.

Twilight Fans are Crazy

2009-07-24T10:05:00.006-04:00

New footage of Twilight: New Moon debuted at Comic-Con yesterday. My only comment is that are a lot of screaming girls in the background.

These clips are nothing special; they just cater to the screaming audiences fantasies, which is part of the genius behind Twilight's marketing. I just don't understand the need to scream every time Taylor Luatner or RPattz shows up shirtless on screen. Then again there was nothing quite like Twilight when I was an angsty pre-teen.

And nothing could top these two Twilight nuts.

Leslie Mann on The Late Show

2009-07-23T11:03:00.004-04:00

Leslie Mann, wife of Judd Apatow, appeared on The Late Show to promote Funny People, which opens in theaters next Friday.

Trailer Fix: Alice in Wonderland

2009-07-22T15:36:00.005-04:00

Here is the FIRST teaser trailer for Alice in Wonderland.

It looks super awesome. Thoughts?

Kevin Spacey Twitters

2009-07-22T10:29:00.002-04:00

While promoting his latest film Shrink on The Late Show, Kevin Spacey sent a message to all followers on twitter and tried to explain twitterverse to Letterman.

To which Dave responded: "You know what it reminds me of? Oh yeah, a waste fo time."

Cannes Pictures are finally online!

2009-07-17T21:34:00.003-04:00

Head over to Cinefille at Cannes to see some of my pictures from the Cannes Film Festival.

Enjoy!

Latest Harry Potter Rules the Box Office

2009-07-17T15:50:00.003-04:00

The box office magic of the Harry Potter franchise continues.

Not only did the film gross $22.2 million for its midnight runs on Wednesday (breaking US records) but the sixth HP movie also grossed $100 million in its first 24 hours worldwide. The movie raked in $58.2 million domestically and $45.9 million internationally, for the best start in franchise history.

Take that Lord Voldemort.

Trailer Fix: Whip It!

2009-07-17T11:28:00.005-04:00

Whip It is the directorial debut of Drew Barrymore. It stars Juno's Ellen Page as Bliss, a teen who is constantly pressured to participate in beauty pageants by her mother (played by Marcia Gay Harden) so she joins the roller derby instead. Alia Shawkat (Arrested Development) co-stars as her best friend. Saturday Night Live's Kristen Wiig and R&B singer Eve star as her teammates.

Whip It seems like an enjoyable girl power kind of movie. It will be released in theaters October 9.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)

2009-07-17T00:31:00.005-04:00

What happens when the sanctuary we have come to know becomes infiltrated by both budding romances and impending disaster?

Click to read the review of the latest Harry Potter installment

Trailer Fix: Sherlock Holmes

2009-07-16T18:21:00.003-04:00

Well it's here; the trailer for Sherlock Holmes, starring Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law.

Are you excited this Guy Ritchie directed flick in December?

2009 Emmy Awards Nominees

2009-07-16T09:47:00.006-04:00

Who will be competing at the 2009 Emmy Awards on Sept. 20?

30 Rock leads the pack with 22 nominations, while Mad Men received 16. Family Guy makes Emmy history by being the first prime time animated series nominated for Best Comedy Series (but how it got nominated before The Simpsons is a mystery). I'm pleased that many of my favorites - Jim Parsons, Jemaine Clement, How I Met Your Mother, Elisabeth Moss - were nominated. But I can't believe that neither Friday Night Lights or January Jones (for her brilliant work on Mad Men) were nominated. I guess I have to look on the bright side - although Entourage was over-nominated, Jeremy Piven wasn't.

What are your thoughts on the nominees?

Best Comedy Series

Entourage
Family Guy

Flight of the Conchords
How I Met Your Mother
The Office
30 Rock
Weeds

Best Actor in a Comedy Series
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Steve Carell, The Office
Jemaine Clement, Flight of the Conchords
Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory
Tony Shalhoub, Monk
Charlie Sheen, Two and a Half Men

Best Actress in a Comedy Series
Christina Applegate, Samantha Who?
Toni Collette, United States of Tara
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, The New Adventures of Old Christine
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Mary-Louise Parker, Weeds
Sarah Silverman, The Sarah Silverman Program

Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Jon Cryer, Two and a Half Men
Kevin Dillon, Entourage
Neil Patrick Harris, How I Met Your Mother
Jack McBrayer, 30 Rock
Tracy Morgan, 30 Rock
Rainn Wilson, The Office

Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Kristin Chenoweth, Pushing Daisies
Jane Krakowski, 30 Rock
Elizabeth Perkins, Weeds
Amy Poehler, Saturday Night Live
Kristin Wiig, Saturday Night Live
Vanessa Williams, Ugly Betty

Best Drama Series

Big Love

Breaking Bad
Damages
Dexter
House
Lost
Mad Men

Best Actor in a Drama Series
Simon Baker, The Mentalist
Gabriel Byrne, In Treatment
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Michael C. Hall, Dexter
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Hugh Laurie, House

Best Actress in a Drama Series

Glenn Close, Damages
Sally Field, Brothers & Sisters
Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: SVU
Holly Hunter, Saving Grace
Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men
Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer

Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Christian Clemenson, Boston Legal
Michael Emerson, Lost
William Hurt, Damages
Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad
William Shatner, Boston Legal
John Slattery, Mad Men

Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Rose Byrne, Damages
Hope Davis, In Treatment
Cherry Jones, In Treatment
Sandra Oh, Grey's Anatomy
Dianne Wiest, In Treatment
Chandra Wilson, Grey's Anatomy

Bridget Jones, Part III?

2009-07-15T08:27:00.006-04:00

Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings, The Bourne Identity... Bridget Jones?

That's right. Everyone's favorite British publishing exec-turned TV journalist Bridget Jones (played by Renee Zellweger) is returning to the big screen.

According to Variety, the Working Title project is currently untitled, not planning to go into production until late next year, and the movie will most likely focus on Bridget's attempt to have a baby in her 40s. This Bridget Jones installment is being adapted from a series of weekly columns Helen Fielding wrote in 2005 for the British newspaper, The Independent.

I'm actually not too opposed to a third installment of Bridget Jones. I like the character, I generally like Renee Zellweger, and it is almost too early to judge the film, especially since it does not have a writer or director yet.

Trailer Fix: Fame

2009-07-14T18:30:00.006-04:00

It's official.

I am super excited for the remake of Fame, which hits theaters September 25.

The trailer (below) is totally awesome. Not only is it Harry Potter themed ("Somewhere far away there is another school that can teach you how to fly. High!") but since my recent guilty pleasure Taking the Stage went off the air, I have been itching to fill that musically-talented-teens void in my life.

Poster Fix: Mad Men - Season 3

2009-07-14T16:27:00.004-04:00

My absolute favorite television show, Mad Men, returns August 16 for its third season. I cannot wait to see what happens next. The poster for the upcoming season, which just speaks to the wonderful, creative awesomeness that is Mad Men.

Here our anti-hero Don Draper (played by Jon Hamm) is just sitting, casually smoking a cigarette as the world around him floods. In the larger version of the poster you can see how much more complex the poster is, with Draper's scowl becoming more apparent.

I cannot wait for the third season premiere. I have so many ideas of what could happen but I know none of them will happen, which makes Sterling Cooper's return all the more exciting.

Are you ready?

James Franco Speaks

2009-07-11T21:34:00.004-04:00

Remember in June when James Franco bailed on delivering the commencement address at UCLA? Well he has finally revealed why in this exclusive video. Enjoy.

James Franco's Rejected UCLA Commencement Speech from James Franco

TCM Fest: Mission Accomplished

2009-07-11T06:45:00.002-04:00

24 hours and 17 movies later, I have met my goal of watching an entire day TCM programming. It was great fun; I saw several movies I had never seen until today. But all I can say about this accomplishment is...

I'm going to bed.

TCM Fest: Karl Malden in On the Waterfront

2009-07-10T20:55:00.005-04:00

A great film moment:

TCM is honoring Karl Malden tonight by screening three films: On the Waterfront, A Streetcar Named Desire and Birdman of Alcatraz.

TCM Fest: Miss Annie Rooney Trailer

2009-07-10T17:40:00.004-04:00

After much searching I found the trailer for Miss Annie Rooney, starring Shirley Temple. It's a cute movie.

TCM Fest: Three Wise Girls

2009-07-10T14:56:00.005-04:00

Three Wise Girls is a 1932 pre-code film starring Jean Harlow in one of her first starring roles. She plays Cassie Barnes, a small town who moves to New York, becomes a fashion model, and begins an affair with a very married man. Harlow, who is as blonde as ever, sometime feels miscast as a small town girl but she plays the part with plenty of sincerity, charm and humor that makes her role believable.

Mae Clarke plays her friend Gladys who is madly in love with her society boyfriend. She delivers an excellent performance.

TCM's Karl Malden Tribute

2009-07-10T11:56:00.005-04:00

This is the video tribute TCM has been airing in memory of Karl Malden.

Beginning at 8 pm tonight, TCM is airing three of Malden's best films: On The Waterfront, A Streetcar Named Desire and The Birdman of Alcatraz.

Introducing Featured Player: Mae Clarke

2009-07-10T10:44:00.006-04:00

I'm currently watching The Good Bad Girl, starring Mae Clarke. I've realized that she is listed as a star in two other films I will be watching today: Final Edition and Three Wise Girls. I also realized that I had no idea who she was.

Born Violet Mary Klotz in 1910, Mae Clarke starred in several films for Universal Studios in the 1930s. She appeared as Dr. Frankenstein's fiancee in Frankenstein (1931) as Myra Deauville in Waterloo Bridge (1931).

However Mae Clarke is best known as the girl on the receiving end of James Cagney's grapefruit in the face, an iconic and much parodied scene from The Public Enemy (1931). It is reported that her ex-husband enjoyed this scene so much that he had the movie timed, just so he could see the scene over and over again.

By the mid-1930s her career her star began to dim and her last leading role was in 1949's King of the Rocket Men. She then acted in small roles, sometimes uncredited roles until the 1960s. Clarke died in 1992 at the age of 81.

The Roaring Twenties (1939)

2009-07-10T08:36:00.005-04:00

The Roaring Twenties, directed by Raoul Walsh, is widely considered one of the greatest gangster films and is an homage to early gangster films of the 1930s. It stars James Cagney and Humphrey Bogart in their third and final film together. This is also Cagney's last gangster film until he appeared in White Heat in 1949.

The film begins at the end of World War One, when three friends Lloyd (Jeffrey Lynn), George (Bogart) and Eddie (Cagney) attempt to return to normal life. Lloyd becomes a lawyer, George becomes a bootlegger and Eddie becomes a cab driver. Since it is the era of prohibition, Eddie builds a business that delivers bootleg alcohol. When George becomes his second in command, tensions build and a power struggle results. over power and romance.

The Roaring Twenties is part-gangster film, part-documentary. It utilizes newsreels, which provide historical context and pleasantly recreate the Jazz Age. Like other classic gangster films, The Roaring Twenties shows the fatalistic rise and fall of a manwho is bound to die in a final act of heroism.

The marathon begins

2009-07-10T06:45:00.000-04:00

It is 6:45 AM and I am armed with a cup of coffee, ready for the TCM marathon to begin.

First up is The Roaring Twenties, a 1939 crime thriller starring James Cagney, Priscilla Lane and Humphrey Bogart. This film is a part of TCM's 39 from 1939 spotlight event. It is widely considered a classic gangster film.

Although I have seen The Roaring Twenties advertised several times, I have never seen it before today.

James Earl Jones Talks Darth Vader

2009-07-09T22:27:00.004-04:00

In this one minute clip, James Earl Jones discusses his role as the voice of Darth Vader for Star Wars.

TCM Fest: The Rundown

2009-07-09T21:31:00.005-04:00

There are less than 12 hours to go before the 24 hour TCM marathon begins.

The day starts at 6:45 AM with The Roaring Twenties (1939). This is followed by 1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year at 8:45, which is a 2009 documentary about 1939.

Here is the rest of the morning and afternoon's schedule:

The Good Bad Girl (1931)

Attorney for the Defense (1932)

Final Edition (1932)

Three Wise Girls (1932)

Virtue (1932)

Miss Annie Rooney (1942)

Little Miss Pinkerton (1943)

The Young in Heart (1938)

Knight is Young (1938)

Beginning at 8, TCM is airing a memorial tribute to Karl Malden. Three films, On the Waterfront (1954), A Streetcar Named Desire (1951) and The Birdman of Alcatraz (1962) will be broadcast.

The day wraps up with Beyond the Fog (1972) at 2:45 AM. This is followed by two shorts Booked for Safekeeping (1960) and The Bottle and the Throttle (1962).

This all day marathon is easily the craziest thing I have ever done. Wish me luck!

Emma Watson on The Late Show

2009-07-09T17:07:00.005-04:00

Emma Watson appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman last night to promote Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. She talked about preparing for college in the US, driving and the Harry Potter UK premiere.

One of the highlights about the Harry Potter films, at least for me, is how the three stars have grown up and turn out quite entertaining interviews, especially Watson.

Moore's Latest Doc Gets a Title

2009-07-09T11:37:00.005-04:00

Michael Moore has named his latest documentary Capitalism: A Love Story.

Moore said in a statement:

It will be the perfect date movie. It's got it all -- lust, passion, romance, and 14,000 jobs being eliminated every day. It's a forbidden love, one that dare not speak its name. Heck, let's just say it: it's capitalism.

Capitalism: A Love Story will be released October 2.

Sacha Baron Cohen on The Late Show

2009-07-08T11:25:00.004-04:00

Sacha Baron Cohen appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman last night to promote Bruno. It's a hilarious interview; highlights include tips on how to catch a terrorist. Enjoy!

Katharine Hepburn on Dick Cavett

2009-07-06T19:52:00.004-04:00

There are many reasons why I absolutely adore YouTube, the main reason being you never know what you will find.

While watching some clips from The Dick Cavett Show, I stumbled upon Cavett's September 1973 interview with Katharine Hepburn. I've seen the interview before but I didn't realize it was on YouTube until today.

Here it is. Enjoy!

Parts 4 through 15 after the jump

Trailer Fix: Jennifer's Body

2009-07-06T17:03:00.006-04:00

The trailer for Jennifer's Body, which stars Transformers' Megan Fox and Mamma Mia's Amanda Seyfried, has been released. While I was initially skeptical of a movie starring Megan Fox (I mean, can you blame me?), the trailer has convinced me that I will absolutely love Jennifer's Body.

For starters, Jennifer's Body was written by Juno scribe Diablo Cody. Say what you want about Juno, Cody knows how to write a smart, edgy and funny script that audiences will love. Also, not only is Adam Brody an agent of Satan with a really awesome haircut one of the stars, but Amy Sedaris is listed in the credits - win.

Here is the trailer:

The film's plot line about a possessed high school cheerleader on a male killing spree reminds me of one of my favorite guilty pleasures, Ginger Snaps.

The comparison to Ginger Snaps, which is about a female teenager turned werewolf on a male killing sprees - it's a metaphor for puberty! - gives me one more reason to see and love this movie. I am even willing to ignore the fact that many people will be tuning in to see Fox strip, that is how awesome Jennifer's Body will be.

Thoughts?

Happy 4th!

2009-07-04T12:38:00.008-04:00

There are tons of great movies to enjoy today. My personal favorite is Yankee Doodle Dandy. But if you are in the mood for something different check out the "Birthplace of America" on TCM. The four movies being broadcast are Rocky, 1776, The Philadelphia Story and Kitty Foyle. This is probably the only time you will see these four movies broadcast in one evening so be sure to check them out.

Have a great day!

Trailer Fix: Broken Embraces

2009-07-03T21:20:00.005-04:00

The Guardian has the first exclusive English language trailer of Pedro Almodovar's latest film Broken Embraces. You can watch the trailer here.

I saw Broken Embraces in May when I was at the Cannes Film Festival and absolutely loved it. Any Almodovar fan will absolutely love Broken Embraces. However, if you have only seen his more recent and best known works (Volver, Talk to Her, All About My Mother), then this probably is not the ideal Almodovar film for you.

Check out the trailer and tell me what you think.

Emmys, Meet Your Host

2009-07-02T19:59:00.004-04:00

Entertainment Weekly is now reporting that Neil Patrick Harris, star of How I Met Your Mother and the faboo host of the Tony Awards, is indeed hosting the Emmys on Sept. 20. With NPH on board the night will be legen, wait for it, dary.

The official announcement should come some time next week.

A TCM Marathon

2009-07-01T21:03:00.004-04:00

This summer I have absolutely nothing to do. Not that I'm really complaining. This is probably the last time I'll ever get to sit around for three months and do nothing (except when the recession prevents me from getting a job post-college, but I'm thinking positively here). Although I am enjoying my unemployment/lack of internship/laziness, I am quite bored. So I'm giving myself something to; something very important to do.

I've decided that on July 10, I will attempt to watch 24 hours straight of TCM programming for no other reason than because I can.

Back in my youth (aka four years ago when I was in high school) I used to watch hours upon hours of TCM. I would spend so much crafting my Robert Osbourne impression that my parents didn't believe me when I said I had friends. But once I got to college I mastered the art of the all-nighter and kind of forgot about by unnatural ability to watch eight movies a day.

So now the time has come for me to combine what I do best: watching TCM and pulling all-nighters. And you are are welcome to join in on this somewhat crazy idea. if you tune into TCM at any point during the day and want to write about what's on, go for it and I'll post a link on my blog. Oh yeah, I'll be blogging/tweeting the entire time. Honestly, why else would I watch TCM for 24 hours straight?

So here's hoping this works out!

Karl Malden (1912-2009)

2009-07-01T15:57:00.003-04:00

Academy Award winning actor Karl Malden has died at the age of 97.

Malden received an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in 1952 for his portrayal of Mitch in A Streetcar Named Desire. He also starred in On The Waterfront (1954), The Gunfighter (1950), Birdman of Alcatraz (1962), Gypsy (1962), How the West Was Won (1962), The Cincinnati Kid(1965), and Patton (1970).

He is perhaps best known for his role as Lt. Mike Stone on The Streets of San Francisco, a 1970s television series which co-starred Michael Douglas.

Here is a clip of Malden with Vivien Leigh in Streetcar.

And here is great video of Karl Malden honoring Kirk Douglas at the AFI Life Achievement Awards in 1991. Malden was one of the most gracious and humble actors working in Hollywood, which this video captures perfectly.

Happy Birthday, Olivia de Havilland

2009-07-01T14:52:00.000-04:00

Olivia de Havilland, one of the few surviving Hollywood actresses from the 1930s, turns 93 today. De Havilland began her career in 1935, co-starring in Alibi Ike. Soon after, de Havilland co-starred with Errol Flynn in Captain Blood, The Charge of the Light Brigade and The Adventures of Robin Hood. They would star in eights films together overall.

Today, de Havilland is perhaps best remembered for her role as Melanie in the classic epic, Gone With the Wind. She received her first of five Academy Award nominations.

By the 1940s, de Havilland had become frustrated with the roles assigned to her by Warner Bros and began to reject several parts. When her contract with the studio expired, Warner Bros. informed her that it was extended for six months because of her uncooperative nature. Therefore in 1943, she mounted a successful lawsuit (similar to Bette Davis' lawsuit in the 1930s) against Warner Bros and the result granted more creative freedom to actors. The lawsuit is now known as the "de Havilland law" and has had a lasting impact in Hollywood.

Her struggle against the studio ultimately paid off. De Havilland began to play more complicated roles, ones where she didn't have to solely be pretty or the damsel in distress. She received her first Academy Award in 1946 for To Each His Own.

When I think of Havilland, I don't think of her career-defining role in Gone With the Wind. I think of the final scene in The Heiress. Here Morris Townsend (played by Montgomery Clift) confesses his "love" to Catherine (de Havilland), who he previously abandoned after her father had threatened to disinherit her years before. Catherine, now wealthy following her father's death, pretends to forgive him and agrees to marry him. Only she does not pack her bags. Instead she orders the maid to bolt the door and is last seen silently ascending the staircase as Morris pounds furiously at the door.

De Havilland received her second Academy Award for this performance and it is one of my absolute favorite performances in all of cinema. I have read that de Havilland is currently penning her memoirs and that is something I look forward to reading.

The Latest Britney Video

2009-07-01T13:17:00.005-04:00

I might have hated Britney Spears' Circus tour, but I can still appreciate her latest music video for "Radar". Who knew that Britney was a polo fan? Here it is:

Britney Spears : Radar (Official Video) HQ
by wonderful-life1989

Thoughts?

Harry Potter: Finally Oscar Worthy?

2009-06-30T15:14:00.003-04:00

The result of the AMPAS announcement that there will be 10 Best Picture nominees at next years Academy Awards is speculation regarding which films that in previous years just missed the cut will be nominated. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince might just be one of them.

Following a special screening last Friday morning, the buzz surrounding the latest Potter installment is quite good.

Here is one report:

Daniel Radcliffe, Harry Potter himself, has evolved into a really fine young actor who gives the film its emotional core. However, if Radcliffe is the heart, Michael Gambon is the film’s soul as Albus Dumbledore; Gambon gives a powerfully subtle performance as the de-facto father figure to young Mr. Potter. Of course, the always great Alan Rickman gives another menacingly creepy and memorable turn as the evil and duplicitous Severus Snape. The cinematography, music, set design and costumes are all amazing, and the film has a truly rich look to it reminiscent of the best of the old-school Hollywood epics.

I would not be surprised if Michael Gambon received a nomination down the line; the sixth installment is after all predominantly an Albus Dumbledore production. The film however, still might be a long shot. But then again, it is only June. The film isn't released for two more weeks and Oscar season doesn't technically begin until September/October. We'll just have to see the film for ourselves in order to determine if it a worthy of an Oscar nod.

Trailer Fix: The Pacific

2009-06-30T14:08:00.008-04:00

The trailer for The Pacific, the sequel to Band of Brothers has been released. The budget for the HBO miniseries is reportedly $200 million, making it the most expensive television project ever. I have a good feeling though that the high budget will be completely worth it.

Holy Leighton

2009-06-30T13:23:00.005-04:00

Leighton Meester aka Blair Waldorf on Gossip Girl is attempting to start a music career. The actress appears and sings in Cobra Starship's new music video "Good Girls Go Bad". And I have to say, except for that lead singer's white hipster sunglasses, I don't hate it.

Cobra Starship - New Music - More Music Videos

What did you think? Meester does have plans to release an album next spring. Is it something you would be willing to check out?

Rediscovering Hal Ashby

2009-06-29T16:32:00.008-04:00

A directors cut version of Hal Ashby's Lookin' to Get Out will be released tomorrow. When the film was originally released in 1982, Ashby had bouts with Paramount. The director recut the film for himself before it was recut by the studio. Jon Voight, a writer, producer and star of the film, recently discovered Ashby's version of the film.

Voight explains: "Hal was working on two other films at the time (of the movie's release), and there was a lot of drama. Our film was handed over to other editors, and the result was a crippled movie. We were very hurt by the reception...Finally, this is the film he intended. It's like a message in a bottle."

Lookin' to Get Out also features Angelina Jolie in her first role at five years old. She plays (unsurprsingly) Voight's daughter. While some will focus on this film because it features Jolie, the rerelease of Lookin' to Get Out will no doubt renew interest in Ashby's work.

Ashby also directed Harold and Maude, Shampoo, The Last Detail, Coming Home and Being There. These films, especially Harold and Maude, have a major cult following but surprisingly few people discuss Ashby, the director. I for example have seen these five movies but never noted the director until I read this article in The Star Ledger.

Stephen Whitty also discusses a new biography about Ashby in this article. Being Hal Ashby by Nick Dawson profiles the director who had a contentious relationship with the studios and died at age 59 in 1988.

While it might not be the loudest movement in Hollywood, the rediscovery of Hal Ashby's work is something to be admired. I am currently reading Dawson's biography and am looking forward to rewatching Ashby's films with this fresh perspective.

Oscars 2010: Say What?

2009-06-27T22:37:00.003-04:00

Now the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has really rubbed me the wrong way. Big time.

The AMPAS has announced plans to move all non-competitive awards including honorary awards including the Irving G. Thalberg and Jean Hersholt humanitarian awards — out of the telecast. These awards will be presented at a separate event in November, at least three months prior to the March awards ceremony.

So basically, the AMPAS is adding to the number of films nominated on Oscar night and practically eliminating its celebration of Hollywood greats. How can the AMPAS even claim to be celebrating the best in movies if it does not honor cinema's icons on Oscar night? Can you imagine this moment, of Stanley Donen accepting his honorary Oscar, in any other setting?

I certainly cannot. This change further indicates that the AMPAS cares only about ratings and money, which makes me irritated. At next years Oscars I don't just want to see some blockbuster that won't matter to me in several years be nominated. I want to see the likes of Elizabeth Taylor, Karl Malden, and Ernest Borgnine at the awards ceremony and be appreciated for their work, which has lasted and still resonates with audiences.

Johnny Depp on The Late Show

2009-06-25T12:19:00.004-04:00

Johnny Depp appeared on The Late Show last night to discuss his latest film Public Enemies. Check it out:

2010 Oscars: It Just Got Interesting

2009-06-24T14:28:00.004-04:00

Today the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced that it will name 10 Best Picture nominees instead of five. Sid Ganis, the president of of the AMPAS said:

"After more than six decades, the Academy is returning to some of its earlier roots, when a wider field competed for the top award of the year. The final outcome, of course, will be the same—one Best Picture winner—but the race to the finish line will feature 10, not just five, great movies from 2009."

Sure this is a return to its roots; the Academy routinely had 8 to 12 nominees in the 1930s and 1940s. How else would Cavalcade have won Best Picture in 1933?

Some people think this is great because more popular movies that just miss being nominated (such as The Dark Knight, for example) will be nominated. But there are hardly ever 10 movies worth nominating, just look at some of the National Board of Reviews past picks for the 10 Best Films.

This change officially makes the Academy Awards just about the ratings and completely discredits any significance the awards had left.

Harry Potter the Musical

2009-06-23T14:45:00.003-04:00

I suppose it was only a matter of time before Harry Potter became a musical.

This is the probably the best and most enjoyable thing I have watched in quite a while. You can watch the entire musical on YouTube. Enjoy!

Remembering Ed McMahon

2009-06-23T12:19:00.002-04:00

Here are two fantastic clips from The Tonight Show. The first video is just of Johnny Carson and Ed McMahon; Don Rickles is in the second.

First Look: Alice in Wonderland

2009-06-22T13:49:00.006-04:00

Tim Burton and Johnny Depp are teaming up for the seventh time. This time it is for a remake of Alice in Wonderland and the first pictures of the film look absolutely fantastic.

According to producer Richard Zanuck, "The book itself is pretty dark. This is for little people and people who read it when they were little 50 years ago."

Follow this link to see pictures of Anne Hathaway as the White Queenm Matt Lucas as Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum and Helena Bonham Carter as the Red Queen.

Alice in Wonderland will be released March 5, 2010.

Poster Fix: Sherlock Holmes

2009-06-20T09:44:00.004-04:00

Here are the two latest character posters from Sherlock Holmes. There are also a ton of production stills you can check out here.

Thoughts?

When Harry Potter Becomes Twilight (sort of)

2009-06-19T00:07:00.006-04:00

The release of the next Harry Potter installment is less than a month away. Can you feel it or ahave you been too busy almost killing R Pattz?

Judging by the latest batch of promotional pictures, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is taking a cue from Twilight and getting a little romantic. It seems that the Hermione-Ron-Lavender Brown love triangle will take center stage in the film. All I have to say is thank god for Lord Voldemort always wanting to destroy the world. I can only focus on one overly sappy love triangle in my life.

Michael Moore's Latest Doc

2009-06-14T18:02:00.005-04:00

It was only a matter of time before Michael Moore began work on his next documentary. Although it is still untitled, Moore's latest project focuses on everyone's favorite topic at the moment...the economy.

Sure, Moore's documentaries are pretty one-sided but no one in Hollywood (just don't tell Michael Moore that he is a member of anything Hollywood) has really addressed the economic crisis - sorry, downsized Oscar parties don't count. Moore's take is bound to be an interesting one and one that will spark a lot of debate.

Here is his teaser trailer for the documentary:

Brad Pitt stops traffic

2009-06-13T09:44:00.004-04:00

If you haven't read this article from The Associated Press, please do so right now. You can't say that the Russians aren't clever.

Betty White Plays Beer Pong!

2009-06-12T19:02:00.000-04:00

Last night on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Fallon challenged Betty White to a game of beer pong.

I love this woman!

Hello, Whiplash

2009-06-10T18:29:00.004-04:00

USA Today has the first photos of Mickey Rourke as Whiplash in Iron Man 2.

You can read the story behind Whiplash, who Rourke says is "going to light them up", here.

Trailer Fix: True Blood - Season 2

2009-06-10T09:33:00.003-04:00

The second season of True Blood premieres on HBO in exactly five days. This very sexy show about vampires, starring Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer, makes the Twilight franchise look like kindergarten.

I cannot wait for the second season to premiere on June 14, 9 PM on HBO.

"I am Zach Morris"

2009-06-09T17:35:00.003-04:00

Like many people my age I spent my morning before school watching Saved by the Bell. Mark-Paul Gosselaar played Zack Morris, who has become something of an iconic television character in the land of teen sitcoms.

Jimmy Fallon has been attempting for several weeks to put together a Saved by the Bell reunion. So far Mario Lopez (AC Slater), Lark Voorhies (Lisa Turtle), Dennis Haskins (Mr. Belding), Elizabeth Berkley (Jesse Spano) and Gosselaar have all agreed to the reunion. Only Tiffani Thiessen (Kelly Kupowski) and Dustin Diamond (Screech) are left before the reuion is a go.

Gosselaar appeared on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon as Zack Morris to promote the second season of Raising the Bar and the Saved by the Bell Reunion. It was a beautiful moment indeed.

It's official. This SBTB reunion will be glorious.

Live Blogging the Tony Awards

2009-06-07T20:00:00.023-04:00

8:00 - Welcome to the live-blog of the 63rd Annual Tony Awards. First time I'm live-blogging the Tonys so here goes nothing!

8:01 - Of course Elton John opens the Tonys. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing Billy Elliot some day soon.

8:03 - I love the West Side Story/Guys and Dolls mash-up.

8:04 - Ah! Bret Michaels! Yes. I wonder if he rode the Rock of Love bus to get to Radio City tonight.

8:07 - I'm more convinced than ever that Shrek does not need to be a musical.

8:07 - Dolly Parton! Totally makes up for Bret Michaels.

8:11 - Let the Sunshine In! Perfect way to kick things off... with LIZA. I'm in heaven right now.

8:12 - Can Neil Patrick Harris top that opening?

8:16 - Eh.. not really but the Tonys opening isn't about the host really; it is about Bret Michaels.

8:17 - Roger Robinson wins the first award of the telecast for Joe Turner's Come and Gone. 46 years he's been waiting to win this. Awesome. Nice shout out to the Obamas, who saw the play last week.

8:24 - Time for me to judge Shrek: The Musical. The costumes are pretty incredible - so not surprised it picked up that award already.

8:26 - I'm still eh about Shrek though.

8:30 - "For the record, Shrek and I are of no relation." Hah, James Gandolfini made a joke. Who knew that was possible.

8:31 - Angela Lansbury wins her fifth (FIFTH) Tony Award for Blithe Spirit. She is only the second actress in history to achieve that (Julie Harris was the first).

8:35 - Performance from Mamma Mia! Love this musical but the fact that the sound is really off on the television broadcast makes this almost unbearable.

8:39 - West Side Story performance is coming up after the break. I'm already excited.

8:42 - Smell-o-vision Broadway. "I'm not going to scratch Billy Elliot." Hah! Haha. Okay, now NPH has won me over as the host now.

8:43 - Colin Hanks! Confession time: I really want the priest he plays on Mad Men to hook up with Peggy Olson.

8:44 - Will Ferrell has arrived. The mispronunciation of GOD-ot joke is a nice touch.

8:45 - John Stamos is in the audience. YES. Please oh please let there be a Full House musical in the works.

8:47 - Award for Best Musical Score goes to... Next to Normal. Upsetting Elton John (Billy Elliot) and Dolly Parton (9 to 5).

8:48 - Lin Manuel Miranda! Woohoo!. Love In the Heights. Miranda wrote the Spanish dialogue and worked with Stephen Sondheim to translate the lyrics into Spanish for the remake of West Side Story. Thus making West Side Story more awesome than it already was.

8:51 - Kind of disappointed by the presentation of West Side Story. Too much dancing - it doesn't translate well with the camera cuts.

8:57 - I hope one day to look like Susan Sarandon.

8:58 - Matthew Warchus wins for directing God of Carnage - he beat himself.

9:00 - Stephen Daldry wins for directing Billy Elliot.

9:02 - Rock of Ages performance. Oh Constantine Maroulis. I never dreamed you would be nominated for a Tony but alas that day has come... And I kind of like it.

9:03 - Liza Minelli is a Tony nominated freak machine. True Story.

9:08 - It took Journey to liven up the normally stoic Tony audience.

9:10 - I certainly hope NPH and Bret Michaels are doing shots backstage.

9:13 - Liza wins for Liza at the Palace. I wasn't expecting that at all.

9:15 - They're playing Liza Minelli off the stage? Just as she is thanking her PARENTS? Really?... Really?

9:18 - "Sit Down You're Roclin the Boat". I love Guys and Dolls. So much. Also, best performance from a musical so far.

9:29 - Hellooooo Stamos

9:32 - Featured Actor in a Musical: Gregory Jbara

9:32 - Featured Actor in a Musical: Karen Olivo

9:34 - Woah Carrie Fisher. That is all I have to say. And she is the one introduces the bi-polar musical. Classic.

9:36 - But not the best song to promote Next to Normal.

9:39 - Sidebar: Carrie Fisher's memoir Wishful Drinking is on my summer to read list.

9:40 - Do we really have to be subjected to another performance from Legally Blonde?

9:44 - The Jeremy Piven versus Sushi jokes will never get old.

9:45 - Geoffrey Rush wins his first Tony Awards for Exit the King.

9:48 - The tribute to the theater greats who've died this year.

And they had to do the same thing as the Oscars - sweeping shots so you can't read the names. It was disrespectful in February; it is disrespectful now.

10:00 - I love Frank Langella. He rightfully pointed out that fall productions typically get ignored. And pulls out his Oscar acceptance speech. Side note: I FINALLY saw Frost/Nixon the other night, which solidified love for Frank Langella.

10:01 - Marcia Gay Harden wins for Best Leading Actress in a Play.

10:05 - Elton John introduces the performance of Billy Elliot .

10:10 - They only used one Billy (Trent Kowalik) in the performance. But I can't really see how they would have rotated him with the other two actors.

10:14 - Legally Blonde performance = unnecessary. MTV killed that musical for me.

10:17 - Best Revival of a Play - Norman Conquests

10:19 - Best Play - God of Carnage

10:24 - There is still a performance of Hair left.

10:30 - Lifetime Achievement for Jerry Herman. And they're playing him off? Wow. That is pretty douchey.

10:33 - Anne Hathaway is clearly starting to think that she is more important than she really is. I saw Bride Wars Hathaway. I know the truth.

10:35 - Performance from Hair. They're going into the audience. And did the actor mount Geoffrey Rush?

10:38 - Chenoweth!

10:38 - Best Revival of a Musical goes to... Hair.

10:46 - David Hyde Pierce presenting Best Actress in a Musical to...

Alice Ripley for Next to Normal. And she is shouting. What an annoying speech. I guess she is just a little over emotional since she just won a Tony.

10:50 - The three boys - the three Billys - from Billy Elliot- win for Best Actor. They are pretty much super adorable.

10:53 - Well the show would finish on time if they hadn't done the touring company performances. Various companies of Jersey Boys are performing now. I'm just glad I wasn't subjected to The Lion King again.

10:59 - And here is Liza to announce the winner of Best Musical.

11:00 - Best Musical goes to... Billy Elliot. All the kids from show are
adorable.

11:03 - NPH is finally performing... as the credits are rolling. That was worth staying up for!

Well that's the show. Good night!

Top Ten

2009-06-07T14:39:00.002-04:00

Signs You've Hired a Bad Tony Awards Host

Neil Patrick Harris is hosting the 63rd Annual Tony Awards tonight at 8 pm on CBS. He presented the Top Ten on The Late Show the other night. Here it is.

I will be live-blogging the Tony Awards later tonight, so be sure to check it out.

Sleeper Hit

2009-06-07T10:28:00.004-04:00

According to Box Office Mojo, The Hangover earned $16.5 million on Friday and it is expected to gross as much as $60 million this weekend.

Behind the Scenes with Harry Potter

2009-06-06T14:43:00.005-04:00

Found this part-trailer, part behind the scenes look at Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince on Hollywood.com. Enjoy.

It's Thesis Time

2009-06-04T19:48:00.004-04:00

Now that I'm back from Cannes, I am going to let you in on my grand plan for the remainder of the summer. I am officially a senior at Mount Holyoke, I can start work on my senior thesis. So this summer I will be doing nothing but academic research...and maybe I'll find a job.

My tentative plan is write about post 9/11 American film. I will be using my free time this summer to narrow down that broad category into something worth writing about. I plan on blogging about the films I see and articles I read, so be prepared for that. For Cinephiles by a Cinefille is about to become the most non-academic academic blog on the web.

Maybe.

Total Eclipse of the Heart Redux

2009-06-04T11:43:00.001-04:00

This made me laugh a lot so enjoy :)

Total Eclipse spoof
by chinesedaughter

Guillermo Del Toro Takes on Vampires

2009-06-03T12:49:00.005-04:00

Academy Award winning director Guillermo Del Toro (Pan's Labyrinth, Hellboy series) has co-authored The Strain, a trilogy of vampire novels. It is safe to say that these books are not meant for Twilight fans. He recently discussed the books, his upcoming adaptation of The Hobbit, and other topics in an interview with Time Magazine. Here is my favorite question from the interview.

Your book literally starts off with the words "Once upon a time." I've read that you have a large collection of fairy tales and there are fairy tale elements in many of your movies. Why does that type of story appeal to you?

The novel is actually a very young concern in the narrative history of mankind. Fable and fairy tales are much older forms of narrative. Fables and fairy tales have a very primal raw power. Realism has become an overwhelming force in human narrative. The fable should have as important a place.

Preview: The Princess and the Frog

2009-06-02T14:53:00.007-04:00

Last night when I went to see Up (review coming shortly) I saw the trailer for The Princess and the Frog.

Just by judging the trailer, The Princess and the Frog looks like an amazing throwback to earlier hand-drawn Disney movies. What is more interesting to me however is the hype surrounding the film months before its December release. Princess Tiana (voiced by Anika Noni Rose) is the first black Disney princess. Some see her as a character young girls can embrace, while others do not.

Disney asserts that Prince Naveen, who hails from the fictional land of Maldonia and is voiced by a Brazilian actor, is not white. But critics see him as non-black. As Angela Bronner Helm, a blogger, writes: “Disney obviously doesn’t think a black man is worthy of the title of prince,” “His hair and features are decidedly non-black. This has left many in the community shaking their head in befuddlement and even rage.”

The debate surround Princess Tiana and Prince Naveen brings up an important question: Does The Princess and the Frog eliminate or promote racial stereotypes?

The New York Times ran an excellent article on Saturday that addresses this question and looks at the representation of race in past Disney films.

Daniel Craig on a Stick

2009-06-01T16:21:00.003-04:00

Yum. Just what I've always wanted.

In honor of National Ice Cream Week in the UK, Del Monte Superfruit Smoothies has created a limited edition popsicle in the shape of Daniel Craig's nude torso.

Tasty! So, how comfortable would you be eating this in public?

Trailer Fix: Toy Story 3

2009-06-01T14:53:00.002-04:00

Here is the first trailer I have seen for Toy Story 3.

Any thoughts (other than unnecessary)?

First New Moon Trailer!

2009-05-31T22:41:00.002-04:00

Here is the first trailer for New Moon, the second installment in the Twilight saga. Enjoy it.

The Susan Boyle Paradigm, part 2

2009-05-30T17:58:00.003-04:00

Surprisingly (or maybe not) Susan Boyle didn't win Britain's Got Talent. She placed second to a dance troupe called Diversity. But does it matter? By becoming the biggest media-internet sensation of the year, she has already essentially won. People will remember her from this show, not the winners.

Exclusive "New Moon" Pics

2009-05-29T08:03:00.004-04:00

Somehow in the last two weeks I have become completely obsessed with the Twilight saga. Like so obsessed that I stood outside a door waiting for Robert Pattinson to appear. Here are pictures from the Twilight sequel, New Moon, which will be released on Nov. 20.

In other news, the New Moon trailer will be premiered Sunday at the MTV Movie Awards.

Jon & Kate Plus 8 Premiere

2009-05-26T08:25:00.003-04:00

Last night the fifth season of Jon & Kate Plus 8 premiered on TLC. Lately the Gosselins and their clearly disintegrating relationship has become a tabloid sensation. The premiere episode was intense. Here is a clip.

I'm a fan of the early seasons of Jon & Kate Plus 8. But if this is how the rest of series goes, I'm not sure how much I'll be able to watch. I'm not comfortable watching this troubled marriage completely fall apart.

Thoughts?

BACK

2009-05-26T08:22:00.003-04:00

I have returned from the Cannes Film Festival. It was an amazing experience and I wish I was still there. Who knows maybe I'll get to go again one day.

But now I'll start updating this blog again.

Cannes!

2009-05-09T15:01:00.004-04:00

Hey everyone,

Just a reminder that I'm at the Cannes Film Festival for the next two weeks.

Head over to Cinefille at Cannes if you want to read about my many adventures.

Cinefille

Happy Cinco De Mayo

2009-05-05T15:21:00.005-04:00

If you are interested in a good Mexican film to watch in honor of Cinco de Mayo then look furhter than Los Olvidados (The Forgotten Ones). Directed by Luis Buñuel, this 1950 film follows a group of children who live in the slums of Mexico City. The film combines neo-realist and surrealist elements to tell the story of this street gang.

Los Olvidados is the film that earned Buñuel international recognition; he won the Best Director prize at the 1951 Cannes Film Festival. It is considered to be one of the greatest Mexican films of all time.

Buñuel would direct films in Mexico until 1955 and they are definitely worth checking out. I, for one, will be revisiting Los Olvidados as research for my thesis.

Trailer Fix: Julie & Julia

2009-05-02T16:33:00.002-04:00

Here is the trailer for Meryl Streep's next film, Julie & Julia. It looks promising!