Without further comment, the story first linked to by Andy McCarthy:
George Clooney, already one of Hollywood's leading liberal voices, has embarked on what may be one of his most controversial projects: the story of Osama bin Laden's driver.
Clooney's production company, Smokehouse, has bought the rights to a book about Salim Hamdan, an inmate at Guantánamo Bay who last week was sentenced to jail for his role in helping the al-Qaeda leader. The book, The Challenge, is by journalist Jonathan Mahler and tells the story of Hamdan's capture and trial, defended by a US navy lawyer, Lieutenant Commander Charles Swift. It has had a big critical success.
Last week Yemen-born Hamdan, who has already spent seven years in US custody, received a surprisingly light sentence of just five and a half years for being bin Laden's driver in Afghanistan. Prosecutors had billed the case as a key plank in the 'War on Terror', designed to show that terrorists could be dealt with by Guantánamo. They had described Hamdan as a member of bin Laden's inner circle who had knowledge of his terrorist plans...
Clooney is believed to be interested in playing the role of lawyer Swift and the case certainly has all the drama and tension of any fictional legal thriller. Aside from the terrorism and exotic locations, The Challenge describes Swift's battle as a classic case of a crusading 'little guy' winning against the odds.
Showing posts with label movies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label movies. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Today's Megan Fox News
She has a new movie coming out, and rumor was that she had a topless scene. Now it's looking like it's not in the movie:
I'll take the reigns of this post while my boss, Cinematical editor-in-chief Erik Davis, presumably weeps on the floor of his office. According to a reviewer over at JoBlo.com, the movie all Megan Fox fanboys have been anxiously waiting for (Davis may have already been paying someone to prematurely wait in line for tickets), is reportedly without its most anticipated scene. That's right, the horror comedy Jennifer's Body no longer has footage of the Transformers hottie sans top. Of course, as we saw from some very popularly leaked shots (still available at CelebNewsWire.com), Fox wasn't actually topless anyway -- she had on flesh-colored pasties.
I'll take the reigns of this post while my boss, Cinematical editor-in-chief Erik Davis, presumably weeps on the floor of his office. According to a reviewer over at JoBlo.com, the movie all Megan Fox fanboys have been anxiously waiting for (Davis may have already been paying someone to prematurely wait in line for tickets), is reportedly without its most anticipated scene. That's right, the horror comedy Jennifer's Body no longer has footage of the Transformers hottie sans top. Of course, as we saw from some very popularly leaked shots (still available at CelebNewsWire.com), Fox wasn't actually topless anyway -- she had on flesh-colored pasties.
Retards don't like Tropic Thunder
Some retarded folks are complaining about the new movie Tropic Thunder. I guess they don't like the use of the word "RETARD":
"When I heard about it, I felt really hurt inside,'' said Special Olympics global messenger Dustin Plunkett. ''I cannot believe a writer could write something like that. It's not the way that we want to be portrayed. We have feelings. We don't like the word 'retard.' ''
Tony Paulauski, executive director of Arc of Illinois, a public policy and advocacy organization for those with developmental disabilities and their families, is calling for a boycott of the film, which opens today.
"The use of the 'R' word in the media, in movies, in comedy sketches is no different than the use of the 'N' word. It needs to end," he said.
Dustin Plunkett is a baby, OK? You "cannot believe a writer could write something like that"? When was the last time you were on an elementary school playground?
Tony Paulauski (you know what they say about Pollocks, right?) says retard = a very bad word for black people (even though they use it ALL THE TIME, but that's another topic). And here I thought it was dumb when feminists compared their "fight for equality" or whatever to what blacks went through here. Even worse was when gays did it. Then fat people started to do it. Now retarded people? Where does it end?
"When I heard about it, I felt really hurt inside,'' said Special Olympics global messenger Dustin Plunkett. ''I cannot believe a writer could write something like that. It's not the way that we want to be portrayed. We have feelings. We don't like the word 'retard.' ''
Tony Paulauski, executive director of Arc of Illinois, a public policy and advocacy organization for those with developmental disabilities and their families, is calling for a boycott of the film, which opens today.
"The use of the 'R' word in the media, in movies, in comedy sketches is no different than the use of the 'N' word. It needs to end," he said.
Dustin Plunkett is a baby, OK? You "cannot believe a writer could write something like that"? When was the last time you were on an elementary school playground?
Tony Paulauski (you know what they say about Pollocks, right?) says retard = a very bad word for black people (even though they use it ALL THE TIME, but that's another topic). And here I thought it was dumb when feminists compared their "fight for equality" or whatever to what blacks went through here. Even worse was when gays did it. Then fat people started to do it. Now retarded people? Where does it end?
Monday, August 4, 2008
Review of Swing Vote
So there is this new movie out called Swing Vote, starring Kevin Costner. Since whenever Hollywood steps up with a political movie it makes conservatives look like crooks or buffoons and liberals look the opposite, I was quite skeptical of it. (Ever seen Dave? What dreck.)
The good news is that Swing Vote works really hard to be balanced and is a pretty good movie, or so says Mark Hemingway. It sounds like the key was that the writers didn't deal with a lot of ideology in the movie. Given that it's about a presidential race, that's not easy to do but it sounds like they pulled it off. With one of my favorite actors ever cast as the incumbent Republican president, Kelsey Grammar (aka, Sideshow Bob!), it could be pretty good. Dennis Hopper (aka, Shooter the alcoholic!) is the Democratic candidate, too.
Of course, I still won't see it in the theater, but I'll be sure to check it out when it comes out on DVD.
The good news is that Swing Vote works really hard to be balanced and is a pretty good movie, or so says Mark Hemingway. It sounds like the key was that the writers didn't deal with a lot of ideology in the movie. Given that it's about a presidential race, that's not easy to do but it sounds like they pulled it off. With one of my favorite actors ever cast as the incumbent Republican president, Kelsey Grammar (aka, Sideshow Bob!), it could be pretty good. Dennis Hopper (aka, Shooter the alcoholic!) is the Democratic candidate, too.
Of course, I still won't see it in the theater, but I'll be sure to check it out when it comes out on DVD.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Greg Norman is still doing it
Norman is leading the British Open near the end of round 3. He's 53 years old, and the previous oldest man to win a major was 48 (some dude in the 1960's). The final round should be fun to watch tomorrow morning.
He's inspired me to bring out this chesnut from Dumb and Dumber:
Hey, I guess they're right. Senior citizens, although slow and dangerous behind the wheel, can still serve a purpose. I'll be right back. Don't you go dying on me!
He's inspired me to bring out this chesnut from Dumb and Dumber:
Hey, I guess they're right. Senior citizens, although slow and dangerous behind the wheel, can still serve a purpose. I'll be right back. Don't you go dying on me!
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Eddie Murphy's career as a leading man may be over
I guess the Eddie Murphy movie that opened last weekend called Meet Dave didn't do so hot at the box office. Here's a list of 50 movies that did better. I kind of like #18 and #19.
Just to be clear, I'm not trying to pee on the grave of Murphy's career. I always loved his stand-up routines and his movies up to a point. I just thought the list was funny.
Just to be clear, I'm not trying to pee on the grave of Murphy's career. I always loved his stand-up routines and his movies up to a point. I just thought the list was funny.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Drunk post
Um, so here I am still up all night from Saturday. After eating a burrito (don't ask), I am at home watching 300, which is my new hangover movie on my DVR.
So, rumor has it (don't ask me who told me so), King Leonidis is in some other horrible chick flick. I don't ever wan't to believe it, but apparently it's true.
Xerxes! I love this movie!
So, rumor has it (don't ask me who told me so), King Leonidis is in some other horrible chick flick. I don't ever wan't to believe it, but apparently it's true.
Xerxes! I love this movie!
Friday, May 30, 2008
The Strangers review
No, I didn't see it (those who know me know that I'd rather eat a bowl of broken glass than go to a movie theater), but here's one by Sonny Bunch over at The Weekly Standard:
As a thriller, The Strangers is effective insofar as it has a number of chest-tightening sequences created by little more than mood, shadows, and figures in the background. It doesn't rely on sharp crescendos in the music or moments of shocking violence to provoke a start in the audience (though a Carrieesque ending feels forced). The little violence there is in The Strangers is methodical and unsurprising--in a way, inevitable. Not to mention gruesome.
I post this because the commercials for it look amazing. I am fired up for it come out on DVD so I can get it from Netflix.
As a thriller, The Strangers is effective insofar as it has a number of chest-tightening sequences created by little more than mood, shadows, and figures in the background. It doesn't rely on sharp crescendos in the music or moments of shocking violence to provoke a start in the audience (though a Carrieesque ending feels forced). The little violence there is in The Strangers is methodical and unsurprising--in a way, inevitable. Not to mention gruesome.
I post this because the commercials for it look amazing. I am fired up for it come out on DVD so I can get it from Netflix.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Roger Ebert's not a huge fan of Sex and the City
He starts his review with this:
I am not the person to review this movie. Perhaps you will enjoy a review from someone who disqualifies himself at the outset, doesn’t much like most of the characters and is bored by their bubble-brained conversations.
I don't blame him for disliking it, I just can't believe he gave it 2 stars. From the commercials, it looks like a sure-fire -34 stars from me. God willing, I will never see it and have to find out.
What I find interesting is that Roger Ebert is a hypocritical windbag. Let's see some movies that he gave zero stars to and didn't disqualify himself as not in the intended target audience as an adult movie reviewer:
Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo
Freddy Got Fingered
Police Academy
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Tomcats
I am not defending these movies, just pointing out that I guess when it comes to chick flicks, he's too much of a pansy to rip them honestly.
I am not the person to review this movie. Perhaps you will enjoy a review from someone who disqualifies himself at the outset, doesn’t much like most of the characters and is bored by their bubble-brained conversations.
I don't blame him for disliking it, I just can't believe he gave it 2 stars. From the commercials, it looks like a sure-fire -34 stars from me. God willing, I will never see it and have to find out.
What I find interesting is that Roger Ebert is a hypocritical windbag. Let's see some movies that he gave zero stars to and didn't disqualify himself as not in the intended target audience as an adult movie reviewer:
Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo
Freddy Got Fingered
Police Academy
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Tomcats
I am not defending these movies, just pointing out that I guess when it comes to chick flicks, he's too much of a pansy to rip them honestly.
Friday, May 2, 2008
Does Hollywood have amnesia?
The Incredible Hulk is coming out June 13. That would be fine, except that I could swear we just had a different, crappy Hulk movie just a few years ago.
Lo and behold! In fairness, it was all the way back in 2003. Life was simpler then. After all, the White Sox and Red Sox had the second and third longest streaks of championship futility in baseball, respectively.
This one isn't a sequel:
The film was originally meant to continue from Hulk (2003) but Edward Norton rewrote the script to make it similar to "The Incredible Hulk" (1978) and Bruce Jones's (run in the the comic books, thus severing all ties to its predecessor and retelling Bruce's origin through flashbacks. Therefore the two films are not within the same continuity.
So Edward Norton, who has done nothing good since Rounders and Fight Club (and I didn't like Fight Club), has enough stroke to pull off a re-write?
We will find out once and for all how stupid the American public is.
Lo and behold! In fairness, it was all the way back in 2003. Life was simpler then. After all, the White Sox and Red Sox had the second and third longest streaks of championship futility in baseball, respectively.
This one isn't a sequel:
The film was originally meant to continue from Hulk (2003) but Edward Norton rewrote the script to make it similar to "The Incredible Hulk" (1978) and Bruce Jones's (run in the the comic books, thus severing all ties to its predecessor and retelling Bruce's origin through flashbacks. Therefore the two films are not within the same continuity.
So Edward Norton, who has done nothing good since Rounders and Fight Club (and I didn't like Fight Club), has enough stroke to pull off a re-write?
We will find out once and for all how stupid the American public is.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
IMDB quote of the day
IMDB puts some movie quote on their website every day. Usually it's quite obscure and from some old movie I've never seen.
Well, for the first time ever, I immediately knew this one:
STAN ABBOT
Those nerds are a threat to our way of life.
Well, for the first time ever, I immediately knew this one:
STAN ABBOT
Those nerds are a threat to our way of life.
Real-life Sarah Marshalls
They are having a tough time right now, what with the billboards saying they look fat their jeans and such.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Sunday, March 2, 2008
$608
Not a full review of The Legend of Billie Jean because I have to bowl shortly, so this is more of a reminder to me to write one up. Suffice to say that it's fantastic on many levels. Fubar really nailed it.
Anyway, don't go looking for it on DVD because it's not out yet (it's on DirecTV channel 524, EXTR or something). Maybe in time for Fubar's 30th birthday...
Anyway, don't go looking for it on DVD because it's not out yet (it's on DirecTV channel 524, EXTR or something). Maybe in time for Fubar's 30th birthday...
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Big weekend
This weekend will be bigger than most for me for a few reasons.
- Unlike the rest of you people who hate our country's greatest presidents, my employer has decided to give me Monday off to celebrate them. (I always think of Calvin Coolidge, who was perhaps our most underrated president.)
- Friday, I have a pub crawl in my neighborhood. This is extremely rare for me, but I'm very excited. It starts at The Mutiny at 7 PM if anyone wants to show up.
- Saturday night the Hoosiers try to come back and post a win against the Spartans in Bloomington.
- Sunday, bowling has been put off for a week, so those of us that don't have to work on Monday are going to drink all night at my Regal Beagle.
- I finally (no thanks to Netflix) have finished season 4 of The Wire on DVD, so I can get to the six episodes of the penultimate season 5 I have recorded at home (with an additional new episode on Monday making it seven total).
- Huge Netflix movie weekend: Transformers, Hostel II, and Superbad. My head is about to explode thinking about it.
- Unlike the rest of you people who hate our country's greatest presidents, my employer has decided to give me Monday off to celebrate them. (I always think of Calvin Coolidge, who was perhaps our most underrated president.)
- Friday, I have a pub crawl in my neighborhood. This is extremely rare for me, but I'm very excited. It starts at The Mutiny at 7 PM if anyone wants to show up.
- Saturday night the Hoosiers try to come back and post a win against the Spartans in Bloomington.
- Sunday, bowling has been put off for a week, so those of us that don't have to work on Monday are going to drink all night at my Regal Beagle.
- I finally (no thanks to Netflix) have finished season 4 of The Wire on DVD, so I can get to the six episodes of the penultimate season 5 I have recorded at home (with an additional new episode on Monday making it seven total).
- Huge Netflix movie weekend: Transformers, Hostel II, and Superbad. My head is about to explode thinking about it.
Monday, February 4, 2008
After tomorrow
I presume that John McCain will have almost wrapped up the Republican nomination after tomorrow (not that I won't still be pushing for Mitt Romney while he's viable). Clearly, efforts by me and other like-minded folks to stop that will not have been effective.
With that in mind, this space's seemingly single-minded focus against McCain will wane. I'll still follow him closely, but there will be no point in hammering on him daily. I've probably turned off enough people that schtick.
What will strike my fancy? Well, college basketball is going strong, so I will write more about it. In addition, baseball is starting soon. Let's not forget the never-ending supply of Netflix DVD's.
The point is that if you get some enjoyment from reading the political stuff here, there will still be some of it. It just won't be so focused on the national presidential race (overall, though, posting will be lighter since we'll likely be out of the Republican presidential primary silly season). For those of you who don't care, on the other hand, you should enjoy this space more (there will be LOTS more movie reviews). Unless you also don't care about my lame opinions on movies and sports, that is.
Meanwhile, enjoy this picture of Rose McGowan from Planet Terror, which I watched this weekend. It was a pretty solid movie with lots of cartoonish violence of zombies dying. Yes, she actually had a chunk of her leg eaten off (I'm not giving away much plot here) and replaced by an automatic weapon:
With that in mind, this space's seemingly single-minded focus against McCain will wane. I'll still follow him closely, but there will be no point in hammering on him daily. I've probably turned off enough people that schtick.
What will strike my fancy? Well, college basketball is going strong, so I will write more about it. In addition, baseball is starting soon. Let's not forget the never-ending supply of Netflix DVD's.
The point is that if you get some enjoyment from reading the political stuff here, there will still be some of it. It just won't be so focused on the national presidential race (overall, though, posting will be lighter since we'll likely be out of the Republican presidential primary silly season). For those of you who don't care, on the other hand, you should enjoy this space more (there will be LOTS more movie reviews). Unless you also don't care about my lame opinions on movies and sports, that is.
Meanwhile, enjoy this picture of Rose McGowan from Planet Terror, which I watched this weekend. It was a pretty solid movie with lots of cartoonish violence of zombies dying. Yes, she actually had a chunk of her leg eaten off (I'm not giving away much plot here) and replaced by an automatic weapon:
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Einhorn and Finkel
Finkel and Einhorn:
Sean Young has entered rehabilitation for alcohol abuse following a weekend outburst in which she was heckling from the audience at the Directors Guild of America awards.
Sean Young has entered rehabilitation for alcohol abuse following a weekend outburst in which she was heckling from the audience at the Directors Guild of America awards.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Heath Ledger's legacy?
I could have told him it would be a bad career move...
Watching The Biggest Loser, the commercial break had a teaser for the 10 PM news. What did the announcer say? "Brokeback Mountain star found dead. Details at 10."
So is that what people are going to remember him for?
Watching The Biggest Loser, the commercial break had a teaser for the 10 PM news. What did the announcer say? "Brokeback Mountain star found dead. Details at 10."
So is that what people are going to remember him for?
Friday, January 18, 2008
Can't Buy Me Love trivia
I was poking around IMBD and I found out that the little brother in Can't Buy Me Love was played by Seth Green! I never knew that, but maybe it's common knowledge. Anyway, there you go.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
I'm not the only one that likes Anna Faris
So does some guy at the Boston Globe:
Maybe you know who Anna Faris is. Maybe you don't. It probably depends on how old you are. The actress's recognizability - her pop-culture Q score, if you will - splits neatly along age lines because, frankly, she appears in movies that people who like to think of themselves as grown-ups tend to avoid. Youth comedies, splattery horror farces, things like that.
And she steals them.
Maybe you know who Anna Faris is. Maybe you don't. It probably depends on how old you are. The actress's recognizability - her pop-culture Q score, if you will - splits neatly along age lines because, frankly, she appears in movies that people who like to think of themselves as grown-ups tend to avoid. Youth comedies, splattery horror farces, things like that.
And she steals them.
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