Separated At Birth?
Is it just us, or are Flight of the Conchords actor Rhys Darby and NBC News Political Director Chuck Todd actually the same person?
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July 30, 2007
"Tomorrow Show" with Tom Snyder Greatest Hits
It's a sad week already. First Tom Snyder passed away. Now, Ingmar Bergman has died. Rest in peace Ingmar and Tom. A big hat tip to Gawker for posting this video that features Tom interviewing Elton John, Ali, Charles Manson and many more:
Monday Stupidity: Boytaurs
We've been enjoying Cracked.com's newish website. Today they pointed us in the direction of some of the web's strangest online communities. Here's our *favorite,* from boytaur.net (NSFW)
There's something wildly, almost primally, attractive about a guy with four legs: the crowding of long, sculpted thigh muscle, the four calf muscles bobbing and working in rhythm with his four-legged walk, the four strong male feet supporting his powerful boytaur body. Boytaurs know this attraction well, and it is our constant joy, both to have and to share.
July 27, 2007
To Do: TV On The Radio At McCarren Park
TV On The Radio are set to play a free show at McCarren Park Pool this Sunday. More information at mccarrenpark.com.
Going.com is giving away VIP passes here.
In other McCarren Park Pool news: Grizzly Bear are now slotted to play with Feist, Wed, Aug 29, 2007 06:00 PM. More info here.
Rapture Ready: The Unauthorized Christians United for Israel Tour
Our sister site EvangelicalRight.com has been following the Rapture Ready pastor John Hagee (leader of Christians United for Israel) for some time now. Be sure and check out this MUST SEE VIDEO from Hagee's annual Christians United for Israel summit. It's illuminating, but very disturbing.
July 26, 2007
"A new kind of martial arts superhero is born"
GYMKATA
Thank Greg G.
July 25, 2007
Kanye, Will Oldham, & Zach Galifianakis Make Best Hip Hop Video Ever
From the Vulture
For his new clip for the single "Can't Tell Me Nothing," Kanye West tapped the talents of famed lip-syncher Zach Galifianakis, along with those of noted choreographer Will Oldham (a.k.a. Bonnie "Prince" Billy), to create what will surely go down in history as the greatest rap video ever to be filmed on a farm in rural North Carolina.
Uh, just go Watch the video. it rules
Last Night's Ottoman Humping
In case you missed it: [hat tip Lindsayism]
We're Feeling Like Hippies...
That's why we're pointing you in the direction of two patchouli-friendly concert downloads on Aquarium Drunkard. Both of these shows are amazing:
Bob Marley & The Wailers :: Los Angeles, CA - 1976
Ryan Adams :: La Maroquinerie, Paris, France, 2007
July 24, 2007
Classified Docs: No Iraq Withdrawal Until At Least 2009
illustration: Tim Jessell
Apparently, Dubya and his neocon lunatics are the ONLY people who still think we can win this insane war. From NYTimes
While Washington is mired in political debate over the future of Iraq, the American command here has prepared a detailed plan that foresees a significant American role for the next two years.The classified plan, which represents the coordinated strategy of the top American commander and the American ambassador, calls for restoring security in local areas, including Baghdad, by the summer of 2008. “Sustainable security” is to be established on a nationwide basis by the summer of 2009, according to American officials familiar with the document.
The detailed document, known as the Joint Campaign Plan, is an elaboration of the new strategy President Bush signaled in January when he decided to send five additional American combat brigades and other units to Iraq. That signaled a shift from the previous strategy, which emphasized transferring to Iraqis the responsibility for safeguarding their security.
That new approach put a premium on protecting the Iraqi population in Baghdad, on the theory that improved security would provide Iraqi political leaders with the breathing space they needed to try political reconciliation.
The latest plan, which covers a two-year period, does not explicitly address troop levels or withdrawal schedules. It anticipates a decline in American forces as the “surge” in troops runs its course later this year or in early 2008. But it nonetheless assumes continued American involvement to train soldiers, act as partners with Iraqi forces and fight terrorist groups in Iraq, American officials said.
The goals in the document appear ambitious, given the immensity of the challenge of dealing with die-hard Sunni insurgents, renegade Shiite militias, Iraqi leaders who have made only fitful progress toward political reconciliation, as well as Iranian and Syrian neighbors who have not hesitated to interfere in Iraq’s affairs. And the White House’s interim assessment of progress, issued n July 12, is mixed.
But at a time when critics at home are defining patience in terms of weeks, the strategy may run into the expectations of many lawmakers for an early end to the American mission here.
The plan, developed by Gen. David H. Petraeus, the senior American commander, and Ryan C. Crocker, the American ambassador, has been briefed to Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Adm. William J. Fallon, the head of the Central Command. It is expected to be formally issued to officials here this week. [Keep Reading]
July 23, 2007
Flight of the Conchords Strangely Under The Radar
Are we the only people currently loving this show, much of which is filmed in Williamsburg? People don't seem to be talking about it very much. If you haven't seen it yet, here's a taste:
July 20, 2007
Band Of Horses Playing McCarren Park On Sunday
We're excited since we're huge fans of the band. More info on the McCarren Park show here.
Turns out, the band is a little touchy about being filmed/photographed. Here's a video of Ben Bridwell acting all douchey and flicking off a fan for filming them at a recent performance in California. [Via BrooklynVegan]
Bridwell explains how he's a prima donna to Pitchfork:
It seems to keep happening. You see it getting progressively worse. It's almost like the skateboarding community, where everyone's a fucking photographer now. You look at shots, and it's hard to keep the photographers out of the shot, you know? It kind of seems like the same thing with indie rock; everyone's got a fucking camera in their hand and, I don't know, is there no sanctity left for live performance with going to a show and seeing it with your own eyes and remembering it? Do you have to tape every second, or even just your favorite song? I understand it, but it's becoming annoying.
Get over yourself, fuckhead.
July 19, 2007
Young Republican Patriot Pussies
Watch Bush's college-aged base explain how a.) The war in Iraq is totally necessary and b.) how they won't be enlisting. C/O Max Blumenthal of Huff Po and Media Matters.
July 18, 2007
Details on the Jon Lovitz/Andy Dick Smackdown
Is it wrong that we find this funny? From Defamer
LOVITZ: "I realized, ooh, 'here's my chance,' so I pulled him back by the shirt and I then I just pushed him almost as hard as I could, really hard, and, you know, I smashed his back and his head into the bar and I just lost it. And then I kept doing it...I would've kept going...and when I did it the second time it was really hard and he went [untranscribable sound of unmanly anguish]."
Here's the audio on dennismillerradio.com and here's the back story.
July 17, 2007
Lily Allen Has A Third Nipple
We're speechless. via Gawker
July 16, 2007
Celebrity donors
We knew there was a reason we loved Mark Ruffalo.
July 13, 2007
Vintage McCarren Park Pool
Via DailyMotion [Thanks Nick]
A pretty hilarious chase through a Brooklyn concert venue that was once abandoned. From the '83 film Vigilante.
This weekend, The Ponderosa Stomp; a McCarren Park Pool Party.
To Do: Citysol Featuring Les Savy Fav, The Besnard Lakes, O'Death
Les Savy Fav
FREE, this Saturday from 1pm-10pm, at Stuyvesant Cove Park (located along the East River between 18th and 23rd Streets. Solar One sites in the north end of the park, near the 23rd Street entrance. Map here)
Les Savy Fav 8:30
Land of Talk 7:30
The Besnard Lakes 6:30
O'Death 5:30
OCDJ 4:30
These Are Powers 3:30
The Budos Band 2:30
Frankpollis 1:30
and DJs from WNYU 89.1 FM
1pm-8pm
Green product marketplace
co-presented by 3R Living and O2NYC
From Citysol's website
Solar One presents Citysol 2007, a clean-energy-powered festival that aims to inspire interest and support for local sustainability intiatives through, music, interactive art installations, games and workshops, and numerous other elements meant to both entertain and educate.Sustainability is at bottom a cultural project before it is a technical or political one, and cities -- particularly New York City -- are centers of constant transformation that reflect, invent and export civilization's most progressive dreams. We're beginning to learn that if the American way of life is to ultimately reconcile with Mother Earth, the journey is more likely to begin on a city street.
Citysol is at once a celebration of our potential as New Yorkers to redefine our expectations of quality of life, and a tribute to the creative community's central role in revealing that potential. It is also, of course, an opportunity to have an enormous amount of fun.
Bring your electric bill and switch to a green energy package with ConEdison Solutions and receive free Brooklyn Brewery beer! ++ Bring your own reusable mug/glass and receive $1 off Brooklyn Brewery beer!
House Votes for Withdrawal From Iraq
Of course, this should have been done about 2 years ago...
White House shill, Tony Snow, is relying on good old fashioned fear to silence the dissent: from ThinkProgress
To walk out of Iraq right now would plant a seed that ultimately would lead to destabilization there, hundreds of thousands of deaths, loss of our influence in the region, would create instability throughout the Middle East throughout East Asia, throughout Europe. And sooner or later it would come to our shores, to a shopping mall near you.
Think Progress has the video here.
July 12, 2007
New M.Ward, Bright Eyes, and Feist Tracks on Jesse Harris Soundtrack
From I Am Fuel
Jesse Harris is from New York City, and is probably most famous these days for being the guy who wrote much of the ubiquitous, breathy Norah Jones album Come Away With Me, and won a whole boatload of Grammy Awards (the year I was there, actually). Feel is his newest album in a string of seven, coming out July 10th on Velour Recordings.Jesse Harris is also the man behind the entire soundtrack for Ethan Hawke's new film The Hottest State. Jesse wrote all the songs in a continuous suite, which are then sung both by him and also artists such as The Black Keys, Bright Eyes, Willie Nelson, Cat Power, M. Ward, Emmylou Harris, and Feist.
You can download the new Feist and M. Ward tracks at I Am Fuel. She also has some tracks for the new Jesse Harris record.
Songs Illinois has the Bright Eyes track
July 10, 2007
Michael Moore Bitchslaps Wolf Blitztool
He normally gets on our nerves, but we must admit Michael Moore kinda gave Blitzer a long overdue ass kicking here: [via Gawker]
Music Hall of Williamsburg Announces Line-Up
You can see the list thus far here.
Band of Horses Live At Hiro Ballroom Tuesday 7-10
We're huge fans of Band of Horses, so this show should be amazing. Buy some art for charity, hear some comedy, see Band of Horses and get a free subscription to New York Magazine. You can pick up tickets here.
New York magazine presents the third event in its six part New York by New York event series, a Bad Art Auction (http://www.nymag.com/nyxny) featuring comedian Zach Galifianakis and the music of Band of Horses. The event will be held at 8pm on July 10 at the Hiro Ballroom and proceeds from each piece of art sold will go to New York Cares, a leading volunteer organization that helps the city’s most disadvantaged residents.
The hilarious Zach Galifianakis will curate the Bad Art show and auction. The comedian, who hails from North Carolina, has appeared on shows including “The Late Show with David Letterman,” “Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” and “Wondershowzen,” as well as on the big screen in “Corky Romano,” “Bubble Boy,” “Out Cold,” and more.Band of Horses, which formed in 2004, will provide the musical entertainment. Formed in 2004, the band toured with Iron and Wine and Okkervil River in 2005 before recording their debut full-length album, Everything All the Time, with producer Phil Ek at Seattle’s Avast studios.
July 09, 2007
We Suddenly Love Mike Gravel
If you missed him Sunday on 'This Week' do yourself a favor and watch the video here.
Jack and Meg on "Pancake Mountain"
This brightened our Monday morning blues....
July 06, 2007
Wall Street Journal Loses All Credibility
Congrats William Randolph Hearst Murdoch.
New Williamsburg Park Doesn't Allow Dogs
East River State Park via Flickr
From The Vulture
Williamsburg's new waterfront oasis -- East River State Park, it's officially called -- opened for business Wednesday, liberating the grass-starved locals to get down to the riverfront. But their dogs remained oppressed. City-run parks welcome dogs, but this state park doesn't. "Look, I understand that when you have dogs here, you're looking to give them exercise and let them play," said Rachel Gordon, city director for the state parks office. "But we don't allow dogs in any of the state parks in the city." One fear, she explained, is that the dogs would damage the new vegetation.Locals aren't quite buying that argument, and petitions are in the works. "It's a really big issue in the community," said Cathleen Breen of Friends of Williamsburg Park. And Justine Buchanan, who recently moved into the North 8 condos across the street, said her two Chihuahuas are longing. "It's such an industrial neighborhood, and finally we have this beautiful expanse of grass," she said. "Those of us who would enjoy the park most have to stay on the sofa at home." Gordon, the state-parks official -- and a dog owner -- is standing firm. "It does not seem to be the right place for dogs at this time," she said. "That doesn't mean never."
You can check out some East River State Park pics here.
July 05, 2007
July 2007 Movie Preview
Warner Herzog's "Rescue Dawn"
This month, Transformers and Harry Potter show Shrek, Spidey and Pirates how it's done. Or, they fail miserably and Hollywood goes into free fall. Either way, there will be a Simpsons movie this month and that's all that really matters.
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July 6
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TRANSFORMERS
WHAT'S THE PITCH?
The iPhone of summer movies.
WILL IT SUCK?
Picture Pearl Harbor with Autobots. On the other hand, the writers did a lot of Jack of All Trades and Alias and contributed to the Mission Impossible III screenplay so, much as it pains me to say it, there is hope (although the story credit goes to a guy who did Catwoman and The Core). On the other hand, they turned Bumblebee into a fucking Camaro. As difficult as it is for me to write these four words for a Michael Bay film, I have to admit: Early buzz is good.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Being squeezed in between Ratatouille and Harry Potter isn't the best position in the world, but I think Optimus Prime can hack it. $356mil.
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LICENSE TO WED
WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Meet the Reverend
WILL IT SUCK?
Well, you've got a director who's helmed his share of Offices along with one of that show's stars (John Krasinski). The writers are more or less unkowns and Mandy Moore's comic timing was pretty much confirmed by her stint on Scrubs. Robin Williams may have jumped the shark a long time ago, but he's perfectly capable of pulling out the funny if he so chooses (he just hasn't in a while). All of this doesn't change the fact that the trailer has about one laugh in it (it involves M.C. Hammer).
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
I'm sorry, I couldn't hear your little romcom over the sound of giant robots blowing shit up. $38mil.
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JOSHUA
WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Wargames prequel. Too obscure? Actually, kid goes all Omen-y without actually being hellspawn.
WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is mixed, but you gotta love Sam Rockwell. Trailer and clips are genuinely creepy, and it won the cinematography award at Sundance so, it's got that going for it.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Hard to say. Indie thrillers only break out every once in a while, but Rockwell could be a good draw. $1mil.
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INTRODUCING THE DWIGHTS
WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Son of entertainers tries to start a relationship.
WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is good. Brenda Blethyn does her Little Voice thing, apparently, much to critics' delight.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Few enough people have heard of Little Voice. Almost nobody has heard of this. $500,000.
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RESCUE DAWN
WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Christian Bale gets captured by the Viet Cong.
WILL IT SUCK?
Considered, on IMDB anyway, to be writer/director Werner Herzog's greatest achievement. Even better than Little Dieter Needs to Fly, the doc on which this is based. Also starring Steve Zahn and Jeremy Davies.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Could also be Herzog's greatest b.o. to date, but that wouldn't be difficult. $4mil.
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July 13
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CAPTIVITY
(Delayed from May, and then June)
WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Model and her chauffeur fall in love while being terrorized by a serial killer. Awww.
WILL IT SUCK?
Did you know that the guy who directed The Killing Fields also directed (uncredited) Super Mario Bros? Well, he directed this, too with a script co-written by Maniac Cop schlockmeister Larry Cohen. Early buzz has this as a lame Saw rip-off.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Note how the trailer tries to spin that whole ad fiasco into some sort of hardcore cred. Might work until people actually see the film and realize it's much ado about crap. Constant delays make me wonder if they're ever going to release this. $8mil.
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HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX
WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Voldemort in the hizzy.
WILL IT SUCK?
A lot of changes here. David Yates directs off a screenplay from Michael Goldenberg. Yates did Girl in the Cafe, which was nice enough, but wasn't a Potter film. On the other hand, Mike Newell had non-Potter-y Four Weddings and a Funeral and Donnie Brasco on his jacket and turned in one of the best in the series. Also, Yates did a bunch of eps of a show called State of Play which is supposed to be off the hook, so...
Then you have Goldenberg, the first time they've switched screenwriters after Daniell Kloves turned in some sick adaptations. Will the guy who wrote Contact and Peter Pan and, um, Bed of Roses be able to bring it? Good casting as usual. The only surprising thing about Helena Bonham Carter is that she made it this far without being in a Harry Potter film. Imelda Staunton is, from what I hear, an excellent choice for Umbridge and it looks like David Thewlis is back to play gay werewolf Remus Lupin.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Nobody wants to open into Transformers' second frame, but I think they'll be fine. $304mil.
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TALK TO ME
WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Good Morning, D.C.
WILL IT SUCK?
It's hard to go wrong casting Don Cheadle and Chiwetel Ejiofor in the same film. Unless the script sucks. The co-writers have The Wood, She Hate Me and Brown Sugar between them, so it's a decidedly mixed bag. Also, Kasi Lemmons is directing, and she's gotten props for The Caveman's Valentine and Eve's Bayou. Early buzz is good.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
With the right marketing, this could do well. $9mil.
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INTERVIEW
WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Steve Buscemi interviews Sienna Miller.
WILL IT SUCK?
People forget how good a writer/director Buscemi is. Here he adapts a film by slain director Theo Van Gogh. Early buzz is good.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
People also forget how poorly his films often do. $1mil.
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DRAMA/MEX
WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Crazy stories in Acapulco.
WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is mixed, but people seem to like the Inarritu-ish mixing of stories.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Needs more exposure. $250,000.
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MY BEST FRIEND
WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Guy tries to prove that he has friends.
WILL IT SUCK?
Daniel Auteuil is one busy motherfucker. He was just in The Valet and now he teams with Patrice Leconte for the third time to do this. While this isn't considered one of Leconte's best (like The Girl on the Bridge, also with Auteuil), it's got good buzz.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
It's actually more crowded now for indies than for mainstream films. $1mil.
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SHORTCUT TO HAPPINESS
WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Too bad they couldn't come up with a better title. Based on The Devil and Daniel Webster. Yup. Titles are tough.
WILL IT SUCK?
The fact that this has been around since 2001 might be the only indication that this might suck. It's directed by Alec Baldwin, but for all we know he's Tartovsky. It's got a good cast (Baldwin as Jabez Stone, Anthony Hopkins as Daniel Webster, Jennifer Love Hewitt as Scratch as well as Dan Akroyd, Kim Catrall, Bobby Cannavale, Jon Savage and Jason Patric) - okay, an interesting cast. And a screenplay that mixes the talents of Bill Condon (Dreamgirls, Chicago, Gods and Monsters, Kinsey) and Peter Dexter (Mullholland Falls, Michael). Okay, maybe there are a few indications.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
If the Yari Film Group had any confidence in this film, you would have heard of it by now. $500,000.
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July 20
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HAIRSPRAY
WHAT'S THE PITCH?
From movie to musical to movie - just like The Producers.
WILL IT SUCK?
This is John Waters as reimagined by the director of Bringin' Down the House and The Pacifier and the writer of Pay It Forward and Look Who's Talking Now (to be fair, she also wrote a kick-ass remake of Freaky Friday). It's hard to imagine this going well.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Other than the second frame of Harry Potter (and the first frame of Chuck and Larry - not exactly the same demo, strangely), there's really not much competition. $49mil.
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I NOW PRONOUNCE YOU CHUCK AND LARRY
WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Adam Sandler and Kevin James have to pretend to be gay in order to keep living with Janet and Chrissy. Or something like that.
WILL IT SUCK?
Dennis Dugan has directed such classics as The Benchwarmers, National Security and Saving Silverman. On the other hand, Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor have written all those, well, Alexander Payne movies. Who will win?
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
When he sticks to his wheelhouse, Sandler's damn near unstoppable. $124mil.
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SUNSHINE
WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Someone turned out the pilot light on the sun. A group of astronauts go to relight it.
WILL IT SUCK?
Normally I'd dismiss this as so much The Core bunk, but Danny Boyle is directing with his 28 Days Later compatriots Alex Garland writing and Cillian Murphy starring. That and with it's staggered worldwide release it's garnered plenty of praise.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Could be a sleeper hit. $44mil.
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GOYA'S GHOSTS
WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Story of Goya and his muse.
WILL IT SUCK?
The main criticism here seems to be that it doesn't achieve its lofty goals, even with Milos Forman directing and Natalie Portman, Stellan Skarsgard and Javier Bardem (guess which one plays Goya - nope, Skarsgard) on board. Interestingly, the film was nominated for three Goyas (Spanish Oscars) but won zero. Also, this is probably the only film about which you can say, "...and starring Randy Quaid as King Carlos IV."
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Another old-timey creative type gets a movie next week, but that one doesn't have any stars. $1mil.
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CASHBACK
WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Art student works in a supermarket.
WILL IT SUCK?
I've seen the short on which this is based and it's...okay. I don't know if I'd watch it for two hours though. Early buzz is mixed.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Needs more buzz. $750,000.
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July 27
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SKINWALKERS
(Delayed from March.)
WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Kind of like Underworld without the vampires. Or 1/12 the budget.
WILL IT SUCK?
From the director of Jason X. Wait. Where are you going?
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
About as well as Blood and Chocolate. $4mil.
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THE SIMPSONS MOVIE
WHAT'S THE PITCH?
How could that possibly matter?
WILL IT SUCK?
Probably not. Simpsons is like pizza. It's always good. And they've pulled out all the stops. The director has been with them from the very beginning (literally, he directed Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire) and the massive screenwriting team reads like a who's who of classic Simpsons writers. And the trailers have been increasingly hilarious.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Good, but not great. $129mil.
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I KNOW WHO KILLED ME
WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Lindsay Lohan survives an attack with no memory of her ordeal. But is it really her? Or her twin!? Dun-dun-dun!!!
WILL IT SUCK?
Let's go over the things I know...
...what you did last summer.
...why the caged bird sings.
...that my first name is Steven.
...and, now, who killed me. Boy, I'm smart. As far as this goes, however, the only exciting thing is that Lonelygirl15 is making her big screen debut.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Just My Luck couldn't pack 'em in. And that was before rehab. $18mil.
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NO RESERVATIONS
WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Catherine Zeta-Jones gets all humanized when gets guardianship of Little Miss Sunshine. And she cooks some stuff. Probably gets it on with Aaron Eckhart, too. It's a rich tapestry.
WILL IT SUCK?
A remake of Mostly Martha which, by most accounts, will be hard to top. Directed by Scott Hicks, from whom we haven't really heard since Shine. Early buzz isn't great.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
I think audiences may have cooled on Zeta-Jones. $35mil.
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WHO'S YOUR CADDY?
WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Black Men Can't Golf
WILL IT SUCK?
I think this sums it up nicely.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Remember Soul Plane? $14mil.
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ARCTIC TALE
WHAT'S THE PITCH?
An Inconvenient March of the Polar Bears...and Walruses
WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is good but warns of "treacly" narration which is not surprising since this is the first doc trailer I've ever seen with fart jokes.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
It's not gonna do Penguins or even Truth numbers, but it'll play. $2mil.
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THIS IS ENGLAND
WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Coming of age story about a boy who becomes a skinhead in Thatcher's England.
WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz has this as writer/director Shane Meadows (Dead Man's Shoes, Once Upon a Time in the Midlands) best film yet. Won the Best Independent British Film at the British Independent Film Awards.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Even with a name (Paddy Considine), Meadows' last film (Dead Man's Shoes) had trouble getting traction. $500,000.
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MOLIERE
WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Famous French playwright plays Cyrano for rich benefactor trying to woo a young lady.
WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is good. Trailer has "wacky guy" narration, but I'm hoping the film is better than that. In case you were wondering, none of this ever happened, but the film takes place in the period of the playwright's life that no one knows about so, maybe it did.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
The Ten has indie comedy with recognizable stars the following week. $500,000.
Next Month: Everyone knows Jackie Chan is back, but I'm far more psyched about Jet Li playing a villain again.
July 03, 2007
To do: July 4th
July 4th at Rooftop Films in Williamsburg ($30)
Via rooftopfilms.com:
Political Shorts: Un-American Films
Amusing Americana, explosive music, fantastic fireworks view and a two-hour open bar.
5:00 - Doors Open
5:00 - 7:00 - Open bar with FREE Martin Miller’s Gin and Beaujolais chilled red wine.
6:00 PM - Live music by The New Dress
7:00 PM - Live Music by The Subjects
8:00PM - Live music by Vic Thrill and the Saturn Missile
9:00PM - The best fireworks view in the city
9:30PM - Films
On the East River at Solar One (@ 23rd St), just north of Stuyvesant Cove
MORE INFO
The New Pornographers at Battery Park, 3:30pm
Via TimeOut
Tickets to this indie-yuppie blowout are free, but if you haven't already reserved your seat, you're too late. Those who do have their shit together will spend the Fourth with beloved Canadian guitar-pop band the New Pornographers, whose snazzy songs are so tight that they have nowhere to go in concert. The Texas quintet Midlake's The Trials of Van Occupanther is indebted to the folk-inflected California sound that was perfected by Fleetwood Mac in the mid-'70s. Obviously, Midlake is not at the Mac's level, but frontman Tim Smith writes intriguing songs, delivering them in a voice redolent of jet lag and caffeine withdrawal.
July 4th party in Williamsburg at 3rd Ward:
Via Uncool Kids
TIME: Sunset to Midnight
PLACE: 3rd Ward, 195 Morgan Ave between Stagg and Meadow, East Williamsburg
COST: FREE
SUMMARY: "Celebrate Independence on the massive roof of 3rd Ward. We have an amazing view of both fireworks shows. Drink cheap booze, eat good food and groove to the eclectic mix of dj Zemi17."
