Cannes update

So 'A Christmas Tale' was screened to ok reaction, but the wonderful Catherine Deneuve was singled out as being.....well.....wonderful. Some reviewers felt it too talky and it would not translate well across the pond.

Korean crimer pic "The Chaser" got great reactions, especially for the lead Kim Yoon-suk 'star making' performance. Already it is being remade in English for all those illiterate people in the world (are there so many???). Just read subtitles you lazy gits!! And Hollywood...STOP PANDERING TO THEM!!

"Moscow, Belgium" got a great reaction too, especially for lead Barbara Sarafian in what Variety calls a "Knockout Performance". Yay! I so love a good female performance. the film actually looks like a lot of fun too!


Probably most interesting is the fact that Woody Allens "Vicky Christina Barcelona" got a good reaction, singling out Penelope Cruz. Variety says:

"Cruz, who officially graduated from sex kitten to powerhouse melodramatic actress in "Volver," is in full Anna Magnani mode here, storming up and down mountain peaks of emotion and captivating everyone in the process.

Allen even generates affectionate comic mileage from the common rap on Cruz's acting--that she's great in Spanish but blah in English--by having her deliver Maria Elena's colorful tirades in her native language, only to be told again and again by Juan Antonio to speak English so Cristina can understand her. She's dynamite here in either language."

Emanuel Levy says:

"Penelope Cruz, who give the film's outstanding performance and should be considered seriously for the Supporting Actress Oscar (and other kudos) at year's end"

Again I say "Yay!" But we all know Allen has an amazing track record with supporting Actresses. He has directed how many to Oscar nominations? Seven?

I will be very happy to welcome her back! Hopefully for the win!

50th Madonna!

I have just had a tiny conniption fit. I just read this"

"In a press conference held on October 19, 2007 reps. at Warner stated that the Reinvention Tour would be released as part of her 50th birthday celebration, among the releases will also be the remastered versions of her past tours."

Oh goody goody gum drops. Does this mean I will finally have "Blonde Ambition", "Who's That Girl", and "Like a Virgin" as well as "The Reinvention Tour". I think I may burst a blood vessel and die with happiness (honey, I want to be cremated or put on a raft and sent out to sea to be pecked by seagulls).

It got me thinking about what I would like to see come out of a 50th birthday celebration pack. Well obviously the tours.


(clockwise from top left: "The Virgin Tour", Who's That Girl Tour", "Blonde Ambition Tour", Reinvention Tour")

But I would also love to see some of the fun backstage footage you know were filmed (I am sure there are like 1,000,000 "Truth or Dare" outtakes) and even some of those spectacular video screen images used, but without the live performance. Some of those video's were art in themselves.


(clockwise from top left: "Forbidden Love" from "Confessions Tour", "Paradise (Not for Me)" from "Drowned World Tour", "Vogue" from "Reinvention Tour", "Future Lovers" from "Confessions Tour")

I am also hoping for a whole slew of new remixed versions of some of her older hits, as well as new mixes of her later hits. Sometimes a remixer can turn an ok Madonna track into something so special.
I would also love to hear some of the recorded, but unreleased tracks. We have heard some of these appear on b-sides, such as "Superpop", "History", Fighting Spirit" and "Your Honesty" but how about some of the others that were never released. Warner should clean these up and release them as a CD, just for the curious like me.


From left to right and colour coded:
Blue: "Shame" - 'Erotica' outtake.
Yellow: "Keep the Trance" - 'Confessions on a Dance Floor' outtake
Green: "Like a Flower" - 'Ray of Light' outtake
Pink: "Revenge" - 'Ray of Light' outtake
Purple: "Gone Gone Gone" - 'Ray of Light' outtake
Green: "Like a Flower" - 'Ray of Light' outtake

What would you all like to see as a celebratory release??

"City of Ember" trailer

Well here it is. I am greatly anticipating this film from director Gil Kenan (of "Monster House" fame). The trailer makes it look a little too 'action' based, as though this is trying to be "Indiana Jones", however trailers are done to get people into the cinema, so I am sure they have upped the action and tension.

I will be seeing this, as long as the review are good!

Daniel Plainview sings!

This is exciting!

Daniel Day-Lewis may soon decide on his next project. He is currently in negotiations to star in Nine for director Rob Marshall who's original lead, Javier Bardem, dropped out of the production (he was apparently too exhausted)
Imagine Daniel acting with the likes of Penelope Cruz, Marion Cotillard, Sophia Loren, Nicole Kidman, and Judi Dench!

This is like an great actor orgasm.

Production starts in the fall. Ohhh I am goose bumpy!

A blind chance

Well it seems as though the first proper review of "Blindness" is out from Cannes.


Justin Chang was not impressed with Fernando Meirelles film of the beloved novel by Jose Saramago.

It seems are first major contender has wobbled a little out of the gate. Over at Awards Daily there is another review saying the same thing. The film does not have impact.

"Despite a characteristically strong performance by Julianne Moore as a lone figure who retains her eyesight, bearing sad but heroic witness to the horrors around her, Fernando Meirelles' slickly crafted drama rarely achieves the visceral force, tragic scope and human resonance of Saramago's prose."

Bad news for the film, but good news for Julianne Moore who turns in another strong performance in "Savage Grace" (see trailer below) who may have a shot at the Oscar shortlist come January. Still it is disappointing to be able to visualize a film in your head as you read the book, and then read a review like this. Indifferent reviews are really the worst for a film, especially when so many of us have such passion about movies, and especially from a publication such as Variety.

That all being said, there are a few good reviews to be found, so perhaps this space should be watched still.

"Faith"

Ok, I know I am going to sound like such a geek, but the latest episode of "Battlestar Galactica" shook me to my core. I have great faith in things like karma, but, as with us all, my faith gets questioned from time to time.
This is one of the first times I have seen it done so on television so eloquently. This spectacular show questions everything from morality, identity, religion, loyalty and now faith.
If you don't watch this show, sorry for the pics and dialog spoilers....click away now!



Sharon Agathon: You guys make me sick.
Eight: Why?
Agathon: Because you pick your side and you stick. You don't cut and run when things get ugly. Otherwise you'll never have anything. No love. No family. No life to call your own.




Natalie: Why sister?
Six: I just couldn't let it go. On New Caprica.
Natalie: She was the one?
Six: I never did anything to her. We were working at the water treatment plant and she just.
Natalie: I know, I remember. After you downloaded we tried to work through this.
Six: How do you work through something like that? I'll never forget her expression as she tried to scream. She just slapped tape over my mouth and through me in the septic tank. I still see her face when I try to sleep. We tried to help these people.
Natalie: I know, I wish there was something I could do.
Six: I'm glad it's you.


Hybrid: The children of the one reborn shall find their own country.


Laura Roslin: You're like my mother. She wasn't satisfied with metaphors either. She was convinced that Aphrodite herself was gonna swoop her away when she died. And she believed it even when the diloxin and the radiation failed to stop her cancer. She was a teacher! She was... oh, she was something to behold. And the head of a classroom. And her students— Her students loved her. They'd walk through fire for her and then they see this woman who seemed so eternal. She withered away and I find myself having to change her diaper because she couldn't even— At the moment she died there was no gleaming fields of Elysium stretched out before her. There was this dark, black abyss. And she was terrified. She was so scared.



Hybrid: Thus will it come to pass, a dying leader will know the truth of the Opera House, the missing Three will give you the five who have come from the home of the thirteenth. You are the harbinger of death, Kara Thrace. You will lead them all to their end. End of line.


Laura Roslin: Bill, look at me. I'm right here. Right here. We're going to find it.
Bill Adama: Earth?
Laura Roslin: Together.
Bill Adama: I used to think it was such a pipe dream. I used to use it as a carrot for the fleet.
Laura Roslin: What made you change?
Bill Adama: You. You made me believe.


I know the Emmy's will never reward this show as they should so I will not bother with a pathetic FYC ad for them. However I am going to put loads of faith the HFPA (Golden Globes) to award the series in January. Please award The show, Mary McDonnell, Edward James Olmos, Grace Park, Tricia Helfer, Katee Sackhoff and Aaron Douglas.

Thank you.

"City of Ember" poster

I have been looking forward to this film ever since I found out Saoirse Ronan was cast. Then I read the book and thought it to be a wonderful intelligent adventure story, that played very well to my 30+ ideals, even though it is aimed at young adults.

The book (cover pictured) is about a city that has no natural light. All light comes from street lamps that flood the town in a yellow glow. Things begin to look bad when short blackouts start. No one can leave the city because all ideas of movable light and fire have been forgotten. When the food stores begin to empty two teenagers begin to worry and start thinking about a way out.

If you haven't read it, do so. It is a wonderful book, and the movie looks to be in safe hands, although the casting of Bill Murray as the sinister mayor puts me off. Firstly he is hardly a lead, and secondly I fear he will do his manic crazed performance style of earlier years.

Now that the poster has been unveiled I am even more worried.
It looks like it is trying to be a super hero movie with its modified internet explorer logo by was of the energizer bunny. It feels me with an uneasiness. I thought the book design was wonderful and perfectly captured the tone.

This looks...well...branded.

Dance your cares away...

...worries for another day.

The Fraggles will encounter ALIENS!!!! (which are actually human being.....get it!)

The Weinsteins are going to make the "Fraggle Rock" movie according to Variety.
First the Muppets, now the Fraggles. Am I the only one wishing for a "Lamb Chop" movie?