FilmCatcher

The Woman with the Mind of a Man

  Differences between the sexes is not a new topic by any stretch of the imagination; but ever since Kathryn Bigelow's The Hurt Locker and Lynn Shelton's Humpday hit the scene, there has been more talk than usual about what kind of movies chicks make versus what kind of movies dudes make.

On Shelton, The New York Times’s Michelle Orange came out with an article entitled “She’s a Director Who’s Just Another Dude,” and on Bigelow, Salon’s Andrew O’Hehir wrote:

“Bigelow has directed some of the most visually inventive and exciting films in recent action-cinema history. (Yes, I am willing and even eager to defend ‘Strange Days’ and ‘K-19: The Widowmaker.’ Let's leave that for another time.) She has virtually no interest in the kinds of talky, intimate dramas the world expects female filmmakers to crank out (and her one, only partially successful attempt to move in that direction, ‘The Weight of Water’ in 2000, suggests she shouldn't bother).”

Facebook: The Movie

I am 26 and just barely made it out of college before the Facebook Boom.

My friends and I were on the Facebook train early in its existence but not like the 22 year old girls are these days. They post everything from last night’s party, and I mean everything. I know the day is coming but I have yet to regret a picture on Facebook and nearly all of the pictures on my profile are horrible but that goes for most people. 

Now old people are starting to infiltrate Facebook, which has caused me to lose interest in the social networking site.

I do not think poking people is fun anymore, I rarely update my status (I leave that for Twitter, which has taken over my interest and is a much better site due to the privacy), and I used to get excited about a Facebook alert but now there is Facebook Spam! How annoying!

The only reason I use Facebook is to creep on hot girls beach pics. Sorry, but that is the only reason guys are on Facebook.

The Social Network is the title of the Facebook movie and now there is a script to help hype the movie.

Not Just a Walking Potato: The Beaches of Agnès Review

 

I just can’t see Jean-Luc Godard walking around dressed as a potato as Agnès Varda does in her new documentary, The Beaches of Agnès (Les Plages d’Agnès); I mean, he won’t even take off those dark glasses most of the time.  

The beaches in the title refer to the primary location where Varda creates her unique work in this biography through art.  In the process of exploring the invention of her photographs, films, and art installations over the years, her own life takes shape.  Varda achieves her goal of assembling the puzzle of her mind on film. By the end, she has proven her opening hypothesis that if you opened people up, you would find landscapes.  In fact, this is just what she has done—used film to stretch her life onto the wings of a movie screen.  If this metaphor strikes you as outlandish, then you probably won’t enjoy the film.

Baywatch Gets A New Director

For some reason everyone loved Baywatch, and I mean everyone.

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Baywatch is the most watched TV show in the world of all time, with over 1.1 billion viewers. Along with its strong American presence and thanks to David Hasselhoff, it was a huge international success.

If you did not know, the Hoff rules in Germany. 

I Want a Vampire Lover, Dammit

Ruth La Ferla recently wrote an article on the rampant vampire trend in books, movies, and television.  She references the True Blood and Twilight craze and adds that even fashion has been influenced by vampiromania.  No, she's not talking about supermodels with long teeth, she's citing the sudden influx of leather and lace on the catwalk and pale, gothic goddesses on magazine covers.

A French Trailer of a Thai Action Film on an American Website

Here's the trailer for Ong Bak 2, the sequel to Ong Bak: The Thai Warrior, starring martial arts expert Tony Jaa.

Let The Man Rest In Peace

The late great entertainer Michael Jackson has already had sites dedicated to finding 'sights" of him around Neverland Ranch. During a Larry King Live tour of Neverland ranch, there's a figure that walks by on screen or either it's a shadow. I must admit it get gave me chills while I watched the footage as I have a tendency to believe there is an afterlife. It could possibly be MJ walking throughout his Neverland Ranch but what really gets me is apparently their are "conspiracy theorists" who are convinced MJ is not really dead. A la Elvis? Tupac? I know many Michael Jackson fans (including myself) wish they were going through a really awful nightmare of him being gone but please let the man rest in peace. One thing everyone must remember of the great entertainers who've left us that physically their gone but their spirit remains forever.

The King of Pop? http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b132728_rise_shine_michael_jacksons_ghost_debuts.html?utm_source=eonline&utm_medium=rssfeeds&utm_campaign=imdb_topstories

- Amber

Bill Shatner Still Not Allowed to Play with Guns

Another 80s TV show, another movie re-make.  Ho hum.  This time around it's TJ Hooker that's getting the makeover treatment.  

Indy 5: Inching Closer to Reality...or so it seems.

CBS's The Insider, a very reliable source as we all know, claims that Harrison Ford is in shape and ready for the 2010 production which will not hit theaters until 2011. This rumor along with a quote from Shia LaBeouf last month saying that director Steven Spielberg "cracked" the story for a fifth movie all seems to swirl together nicely and provide for plenty of geek speculation as to the future our favorite American hero. Hopefully this future will not involve one where Mutt (LaBeouf) takes over for Dr. Jones but plays side kick to a new archeologist trained by Indy. That could be fun and make more sense character-wise. Well that's my two-cents, now go geeks, debate!

- Michael- the fischman-  

Star Wars Universe Continues to Expand, Shows No Signs of Ever Stopping

According to Cinema Blend, the rumored production of a live action Star Wars television show has been confirmed. Die hard Star Wars fans will be excited to know they plan on getting the best writers from all corners, not just traditional science fiction writers.

Public Enemies: Another set of impressions

After seeing Johnny Depp play roles like Edward Scissorhands, Jack Sparrow and Sweeney Todd it’s weird watching him as merely a gangster. In Michael Mann’s “Public Enemies” he tells the story of John Dillinger, a criminal during the Great Depression.

The movie starts out with Dillinger (Depp) and his prison cronies breaking out of jail. When one of his friends is responsible for the death of another one of his accomplices, he immediately gets rid of him. Early on we see how deeply Dillinger cares for the people truly close to him. Another person who quickly enters this circle of people is Billie Frechette (Marion Cotillard). I found Depp’s methods of wooing Cotillard interesting in that it was less persuading and more commanding. Though I guess expecting any less from a gangster would be silly. Adding to the main characters is Melvin Purvis (Christian Bale). Bale does all his crime fighting in this movie without the bat suit as he’s appointed to lead the section of the police force dedicated to catching Dillinger.

There are a few moments in the movie that are really intriguing. My personal favorite scene is when Dillinger walks into the bureau of the precinct dedicated to capturing him in the mere disguise of sunglasses and a mustache. He walks through the office as he looks at pictures of himself and everyone he’s ever associated with and even goes as far as to ask a group officers the score of the baseball game they’re listening to on the radio. Another part of the movie that was interesting was the first bank robbery. When a worried civilian looks at his money sitting on the counter ripe for the taking and then looks at an armed Johnny Depp terrified, Depp reassures him they’re after the bank’s money, not his. This was part of what made Dillinger popular with ordinary civilians.

The movie did drag on at parts, but it would pick up soon and I’d be drawn right back in again. Everything from the cars to the fedoras made the time period believable. As far as gangster movies go, I wouldn’t call Mann’s work an instant classic, but "Public Enemies" definitely not a bad addition to the genre.

– Xavier Harding

The Pirate Bay Will Pay You for Paying Them

/Film reports that the Pirate Bay has plans to turn a new leaf. After their court ruling a couple of weeks ago, forcing them to pay about $3.6 million to record companies and various other landlubbers, Global Gaming Factory has other plans in store for the site. In a very Napster-esque move, the Swedish Internet café operator plans on distributing content legally and are willing to pay their users to do so.

New Alvin and the Chipmunks Sequel Teaser Trailer

Does anyone else feel like watching chipmunk love would be a little bit awkward? The first “Alvin and the Chipmunks” movie is getting a sequel and apparently Alvin, Simon and Theodore are in high school. Chipmunk public school systems aside, it seems fans cant get enough of their unnaturally super falsetto singing. Watch the trailer after the jump.

Bill Nighy to Add to Movie Magic, Catch Up on Some Light Reading

Actor Bill Nighy (not to be confused with the Science Guy) is reported to be in the final Harry Potter film, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.” It seems Harry Potter movies are all the rage amongst well-known English actors. More details after the jump.

Michael Jackson: 1958-2009

It was reported yesterday that the Michael Jackson, the king of popular music is dead. This is no doubt a shocking realization. Not only did Mike give us great music, he always put on a great show. I personally have spent countless hours in front of the mirror trying to mimic the moonwalk he mastered, and I know I’m not alone. I know this isn’t film related but he defined a generation with his music and dancing. Honestly, when’s the last time you had a Halloween without hearing Thriller play? There’s not much I can say that hasn’t already been said, but I want to at least pay my respects. I’m sure he’s up there with the other late-greats explaining his choreography secrets. We’ll miss you Michael.

– Xavier Harding

Transformers: Plot-lines in Disguise

Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) is once again charged with the task of saving the world from alien robots in "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen." It’s hard to juggle starting out college and trying to keep a long distance relationship with Mikaela (Megan Fox). All it takes is one touch of a foreign metal shard and LaBeouf puts the world in danger again. Similarly, all it takes is a few mistakes on Michael Bay’s part that make this a love/hate movie.

Nimrod to Direct "Predators"?

Nimrod Antal. It’s a good thing he’s a credible director, else the ridicule towards him would be endless. The jokes would literally find a pen, get together some paper and write themselves. In any case, Antal is rumored to be directing the new “Predators” movie, produced by Robert Rodriguez.

James Bond Star Finds Next Project in House, Dream House

Our latest Bond, Daniel Craig, plans on starring the thriller “Dream House.” The plans are still in its early stages though; apparently the director, Jim Sheridan and Craig have not yet reached a deal.

Latest Star Trek Bigger and Better Than Ever

According to an article by Ain’t It Cool News, the J.J. Abrams’ summer blockbuster Star Trek is the best selling Star Trek movie of them all. After adjusted for inflation the 2009 Star Trek surpassed the 1979 film, Star Trek: The Motion Picture, in ticket sales. The ’79 movie was in theaters for more than a year but the current movie was able to overcome it in a mere 46 days.

The Taking of Pelham 123: A Review

What do Denzel Washington, John Travolta and subway hostage situations have in common? This summer it’s "The Taking of Pelham 123". Based on John Godey’s 1973 novel "The Taking of Pelham One Two Three", the story follows Walter Garber (Denzel Washington), a train dispatcher for the New York City subway system. Washington’s job is to make sure everything along the 6 line moves swimmingly. In the other corner of the ring we find “Ryder” (John Travolta) or as he’s known when not behind the trigger of a gun, Dennis Ford. Travolta is a stock market savvy former investor who makes for a verbose criminal. Never have a hijacker and dispatcher have such an open and honest relationship.