Movie Clerks

Filed under: Documentary, Theatrical Reviews, Cinematical Indie

Oswald’s Ghost is the rare film whose power increases with distance. As I sat in the historic Texas Theatre last week, where Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested on the day President Kennedy was assassinated, and watched a special screening of the documentary, the suggestive rhythm of the editing and the understated urgency of the musical accompaniment lulled me into a false sense of security. I was deceived into thinking that I knew what kind of film it was and so, based on that assumption, I allowed the shaped narrative to lead me down a certain path, only to discover at the end that I had arrived at a very different destination than I expected.
Filmmaker Robert Stone says that he was initially inspired by the furor that erupted after the release of Oliver Stone’s JFK in 1991. Why were people so wrapped up emotionally in […]

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Filed under: Drama, Fandom, Home Entertainment, Retro Cinema

Yes, this is Gary Oldman week for me and retro cinema, but you won’t see me complaining. Usually, the chameleon Oldman morphs and slides onto the screen for one of his many diverse supporting roles. Most recently, he’s taken on heroes like Sirius Black and Lt. James Gordon, but he’s got a past that includes the little person Rolfe, the creepy Mason Verger, Pontius Pilate, Zorg, a Russian hijacker, and as I shared earlier this week, Ludwig van Beethoven. 1993’s Romeo is Bleeding, however, marks one of the few times like Immortal Beloved where we can see him shine in the lead.
Oldman plays Jack Grimaldi, a cop who has been lured by the dark side in a noir ’90s landscape. (Think Twin Peaks’ timeless quality and haunting music, but set within a violent urban environment.) To supplement his low-pay job as a sergeant, […]

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Filed under: Comedy, Drama, Horror, Trailer Trash, Trailers and Clips

Call them what you will — progeny, small fry, rug rats — this week it’s all about the kids. Welcome to Trailer Park: The Ankle Biter edition.
The OrphanageThis latest trailer has me stoked to see this Spanish language creep-fest. Directed by Juan Antonio Bayona, produced by Guillermo del Toro, and positively reviewed by Cinematical’s own Scott Weinberg, this looks like one worth seeing when it goes into limited U.S. release on December 28. The preview is light on plot details, but creepy as hell with enough atmosphere to get not just the horror fans excited but a more mainstream audience as well. A woman reopens the orphanage where she was raised, and her son develops relationships with some new “imaginary” friends. The boy soon goes missing and the plot is off and running. The kid with the bag over his […]

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Filed under: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Deals, New Line, RumorMonger, Fandom, DIY/Filmmaking, Peter Jackson, Remakes and Sequels
First off, who the hell are Marketsaw and what are they smoking? Additionally, can I have some? Okay, so this site called Marketsaw claims to have received word that Peter Jackson will indeed direct The Hobbit — split up into two different parts — and that both films will be shot in 3D. Yup. Marketsaw. And the reason why we believe them is because most of their text shows up in these annoying red and green colors. They say they’re “100% SURE that this is happening.” We don’t know who they talked to or how they acquired this information, but the site says an official announcement should be coming soon.
Apart from the two Hobbit films in 3D, Marketsaw also says Jackson will revisit his Lord of the Rings trilogy and convert all three over to […]

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Filed under: Casting, RumorMonger, DIY/Filmmaking
On the surface, this is just a regular old casting story. But if you dig deeper, we spot an actor who’s obviously desperate to pay off some credit card debt. But first, the news: Moviehole reports that Gary Oldman has joined the new 3D, mo-cap, blah blah version of A Christmas Carol, to be directed by Mo-Cap Man himself, Robert Zemeckis. Oldman, like the film’s star Jim Carrey, will play an assortment of different roles. Carrey, of course, will be playing Ebenezer Scrooge, as well as the three ghosts who come along for the guilt trip. As Moviehole points out, “A Christmas Carol will feature a touch of live action and computer graphics, the latter of which ImageMovers employed in the Gil Kenan-directed Monster House.”
Oh, but here’s where it gets good (or depressing, depending on whether or not you’re related to Cary Elwes): The actor hasn’t […]

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Filed under: Action, Casting, RumorMonger, Newsstand, Comic/Superhero/Geek, Remakes and Sequels
Justice League, Justice League, Justice League… The casting choices are finally coming out, there’s no big stars attached thus far, and that’s not even the reason everyone’s apprehensive. It’s just got the mad stink of possible crap. But Kevin Smith has a great idea that he shared with MTV. While he thinks it may be wise to cast the action flick with unknowns, “It’s not like you can put Brad Pitt in it and he’s gonna be more important than f***ing Batman. Or Superman,” he does think that one old pro should return to the fold and take on Batman once again.
Not George Clooney. “For me, it’s like, I would definitely cast Michael Keaton as Batman. I thought Michael Keaton was an awesome Batman. And in a world where they don’t want to crossover with what Chris Nolan is doing in […]

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Filed under: Trailers and Clips, Stars in Rewind

Considering the fact that Jodie Foster has been acting since the ’60s, it’s pretty damned impressive that she just made this year’s top ten highest-paid actresses list. But me, I’m a fan of the Foster before the big success, when she popped up on all the old-school television shows and even better — when she had one hell of a freaky Friday. Since it just happens to be that same day, in honor of that great little film from 30+ years ago, not the La Lohan remake, I offer you Walt Disney’s Freaky Friday.
Annabel and her mom aren’t getting along, and both naively assume that the other has it easier. They wish that they could switch places, and poof! — they do. This trailer just brings back memories — I had completely forgotten about Foster’s spastic faux waterskiing. But the kicker here — […]

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Filed under: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Casting, Paramount, Fandom, Comic/Superhero/Geek, Remakes and Sequels
I’m still holding out for the surprise announcement that William Shatner will indeed appear in J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek. In the meantime, though, I expect to hear another complaint from the original Captain Kirk after reading this juicy bit of goodness: George Takei has a cameo in the upcoming movie, which will be a prequel-ish reboot of the TV and movie franchise. According to a Starburst magazine interview with the actor, Takei will feature in a flash-forward scene that will also showcase original Spock, Leonard Nimoy. From the sound of it, he will be returning to his iconic role as an older version of Sulu. Best guess is that Takei and Nimoy will be sitting in futuristic rocking chairs reminiscing about their beginnings at the Starfleet Academy, and this scene will be the prologue to the rest of the […]

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Filed under: MGM, Contests, Insert Caption, James Bond, Hold the ‘Fone, Images
It’s Insert Caption craziness this week on Cinematical. On Monday, we posted not one but two photos, doubling your pleasure with hotties Halle Berry and Frances McDormand (yeah I said it) modeling MGM’s summer and winter lines. At stake: Four boxed sets for four lucky winners. Congrats to our victors below, and special shout out to William G. for entering a single caption that applied to both photos, you’re our Mickey Rourke Rebel of the Week.

1. “No I can’t stir them; I can only shake them.” – Kurt M.
See full images and all captions

1. “I got his keys! His wife and kids are about to get Punk’d!” – Max R.
2. “Duck…Duck….Duck…GOOSE! – Adi B.
3. “Hurry up with that coffee. And bring some of those donuts! I think somebody slipped Ed here some decaf, but yah, we’re not too […]

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Filed under: Classics, Best/Worst, Hold the ‘Fone
The Christmas season is a time for celebration, family and, of course, watching copious amounts of Christmas movies. Like any true movie buffs would, the editors at Moviefone honored the holiday by watching Christmas movies for days and days — everything from lumps of coal/rancid turds such as Surviving Christmas and Reindeer Games (thanks for nothing, Ben Affleck!) to glorious cinematic gifts such as It’s a Wonderful Life and Elf – to bring you the definitive list of the 25 Best Christmas Movies ever to grace the silver screen. (Sorry, Grinch and Rudolph aficionados, no TV specials or made-for-TV movies here.)
Rather than ruin the surprise and unwrap the full list right now, however, Moviefone is providing trivia clues to the identity of each film and revealing just one movie every day until we unveil No. 1 on Christmas Eve. It’s kind of like an […]

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