September
10
Today's Linkage: 9/10/08
[Posted by Jeff Sneider]
I've known CHUD's Devin Faraci for some time. Back when I lived in New York and wrote for AICN and the NYU student paper, I covered a lot of press junkets where I had the chance to watch him work and pick up the tools of the journalistic trade. Flash forward a few years to present day where we are both now Los Angeles transplants and, by sheer coincidence, co-stars in Michael Addis' documentary "Heckler," which was finally released on DVD this week. Devin has already written an excellent piece about his experience which you can find here. As for my own thoughts, I found the film and its star Jamie Kennedy absolutely hilarious despite taking issue with its general thesis regarding film criticism, which it misguidingly compares to heckling. My brief appearance is edited down to an out-of-context soundbite and a glimpse of the beating I took at the hands of Uwe Boll, which is made out to be a punchline that implies I got what I deserved. Since I'm a good sport and have no problem laughing at myself, I encourage you to buy a copy and enjoy watching me vomit. If you're looking for a good laugh while you're waiting for the DVD to arrive (I'm happy to sign copies) you should check out Addis' web series "McCaingels" over at Atom, where it has amassed over 100,000 hits. It's like Charlie's Angels, if Charlie was John McCain.
Jeff Wells calls "The Hurt Locker" the best film he's seen at Toronto and goes on to boldly compare Kathryn Bigelow's film to James Cameron's "Aliens." I'm a longtime fan of Bigelow's ("Strange Days" is incredible) and can't wait to see her latest. Unfortunately it looks like Summit won't be releasing the film until next year, possibly as a summer title according to this story.
AICN's Mr. Beaks' recent visit to Stan Winston Studios has yielded this little nugget of news regarding James Cameron's "Avatar." Beaks has also posted a great interview with "Towelhead" writer-director and "True Blood" creator Alan Ball.
Latino Review reports that Arnold Schwarzenegger's lovable mug will appear on someone else's body via movie magic in McG's "Terminator Salvation." Apparently a similar technique has been used before in "The Crow," "Jurassic Park" and the "Star Wars" prequels. He told you he'd be back...
According to Reuters, WB is planning a major Oscar push for "The Dark Knight" by re-releasing it into IMAX theaters in January. It's anyone's guess whether that'll help the Batman sequel pass the $1 billion mark at the box office since it's being released on DVD in December.
And finally, Anchor Bay's "Surfer, Dude," opened in Austin last week with little fanfare. The film stars Matthew McConaughey as Steve Addington, a surfing stud who can't catch a wave to hang ten on. THR has posted a review and since the fine critics here at Variety have been working overtime at the Venice and Toronto film festivals, allow me to unofficially weigh in. An unfortunate wipeout for McConaughey, "Surfer, Dude" is more like "Surfer, Dud." It's a laugh-free vanity project that disregards a potentially funny set-up (McConaughey as a stoned surfer with principles) in favor of an existential crisis and a stale romantic subplot. The film stumbles from one scene to the next, wasting glorified cameos from the likes of Willie Nelson and Scott Glenn. Alexie Gilmore is surprisingly likable as McConaughey's love interest and Woody Harrelson fares the best as Addington's dazed and confused manager who wants to protect his friend/client but doesn't want the gravy train to stop. McConaughey is usually effortlessly charming onscreen, infecting his characters with his natural charisma, but his performance here is lifeless and perfunctory, strange considering this is a personal project for him that he did for well below his normal fee. It pains me to say it because I'm a big fan of McConaughey's but "Surfer, Dude" is one wave that's not worth riding.
I've known CHUD's Devin Faraci for some time. Back when I lived in New York and wrote for AICN and the NYU student paper, I covered a lot of press junkets where I had the chance to watch him work and pick up the tools of the journalistic trade. Flash forward a few years to present day where we are both now Los Angeles transplants and, by sheer coincidence, co-stars in Michael Addis' documentary "Heckler," which was finally released on DVD this week. Devin has already written an excellent piece about his experience which you can find here. As for my own thoughts, I found the film and its star Jamie Kennedy absolutely hilarious despite taking issue with its general thesis regarding film criticism, which it misguidingly compares to heckling. My brief appearance is edited down to an out-of-context soundbite and a glimpse of the beating I took at the hands of Uwe Boll, which is made out to be a punchline that implies I got what I deserved. Since I'm a good sport and have no problem laughing at myself, I encourage you to buy a copy and enjoy watching me vomit. If you're looking for a good laugh while you're waiting for the DVD to arrive (I'm happy to sign copies) you should check out Addis' web series "McCaingels" over at Atom, where it has amassed over 100,000 hits. It's like Charlie's Angels, if Charlie was John McCain.
Jeff Wells calls "The Hurt Locker" the best film he's seen at Toronto and goes on to boldly compare Kathryn Bigelow's film to James Cameron's "Aliens." I'm a longtime fan of Bigelow's ("Strange Days" is incredible) and can't wait to see her latest. Unfortunately it looks like Summit won't be releasing the film until next year, possibly as a summer title according to this story.
AICN's Mr. Beaks' recent visit to Stan Winston Studios has yielded this little nugget of news regarding James Cameron's "Avatar." Beaks has also posted a great interview with "Towelhead" writer-director and "True Blood" creator Alan Ball.
Latino Review reports that Arnold Schwarzenegger's lovable mug will appear on someone else's body via movie magic in McG's "Terminator Salvation." Apparently a similar technique has been used before in "The Crow," "Jurassic Park" and the "Star Wars" prequels. He told you he'd be back...
According to Reuters, WB is planning a major Oscar push for "The Dark Knight" by re-releasing it into IMAX theaters in January. It's anyone's guess whether that'll help the Batman sequel pass the $1 billion mark at the box office since it's being released on DVD in December.
And finally, Anchor Bay's "Surfer, Dude," opened in Austin last week with little fanfare. The film stars Matthew McConaughey as Steve Addington, a surfing stud who can't catch a wave to hang ten on. THR has posted a review and since the fine critics here at Variety have been working overtime at the Venice and Toronto film festivals, allow me to unofficially weigh in. An unfortunate wipeout for McConaughey, "Surfer, Dude" is more like "Surfer, Dud." It's a laugh-free vanity project that disregards a potentially funny set-up (McConaughey as a stoned surfer with principles) in favor of an existential crisis and a stale romantic subplot. The film stumbles from one scene to the next, wasting glorified cameos from the likes of Willie Nelson and Scott Glenn. Alexie Gilmore is surprisingly likable as McConaughey's love interest and Woody Harrelson fares the best as Addington's dazed and confused manager who wants to protect his friend/client but doesn't want the gravy train to stop. McConaughey is usually effortlessly charming onscreen, infecting his characters with his natural charisma, but his performance here is lifeless and perfunctory, strange considering this is a personal project for him that he did for well below his normal fee. It pains me to say it because I'm a big fan of McConaughey's but "Surfer, Dude" is one wave that's not worth riding.
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You had me going. There is nothing at all new in that AICN link - DAMN! However, if you want new and AVATAR - then check out my exclusive HI RES photo of the mo-cap set for the James Cameron $300 million epic. Horses, full mo-cap gear on and a monitor image of... SOMETHING... Check it out here: http://marketsaw.blogspot.com/2008/09/updated-avatar-set-photo-in-exclusive.html
Posted by: Jim Dorey | September 11, 2008 at 05:27 AM