Prince and Kevin Smith

OK, This is a 4-parter that is ABSOLUTELY worth watching. 

Prince apparently contacted Kevin Smith to direct a confusingly intentioned documentary. The completed project never saw the light of day and below is KS discussing it at a panel. Rife with Prince's odd behavior and KS's typically engaging delivery, the whole thing is absolutely priceless. Check it out.

"Chaka Mad!"

Ahhhhhhhh!

What's one song that makes me want to run away screaming and crying? Why it's right here, dear readers.
Requiem for a Dream was one of the most shattering filmgoing experiences I've ever had. I went to the premiere in NYC. Was seperated from my friend. Wept for probably the last 10 minutes of the movie. And felt completely altered after seeing it.
After Sarah and I found each other. We walked directly into each other's arms. Hugged. And then she said, "I need to go see my husband." Not having a husband, I wandered to the subway in a daze. With those damn strings playing in my head.

  I remember sitting on the train, this song still rushing through my head, and everyone looked totaly different: desperate, alone, decaying. I kept waiting for someone to shape shift into Ellen Burstyn. Thankfully no one did. I do remember calling my Grandma after I got home (who may have already been a couple of pain pills into her night). A little too 'on the nose' but still comforting nonetheless.

  Kronos Quartet - "Lux Aterna"

  So it turns out that this track, composed by Clint Mansell is now a synch-licensing powerhouse. It's been used in countless movie trailers, TV shows, and even a Lil Jon song. I go running across the room whenever I hear it. But if you're into that sort of thing.

  Check out the Billboard article below - "Notes from the Underground".

  (I tried to post it directly from the site so not sure if it worked or if they are only restricting it to subscribers....hope it works.)

New Cronenberg

Cotillard_marion_03

Very exciting! Thanks for the tip-off Sage.
 
From Variety:
Farrell, Cotillard to star in Cronenberg pic

Duo attached to director's adaptation of DeLillo novel

Colin Farrell and Marion Cotillard are attached to topline David Cronenberg's "Cosmopolis," an adaptation of Don DeLillo's novel.

 

Gregoire Melin's Paris-based Kinology has picked up international sales rights and is presenting the project to buyers for the first time at the Cannes market.

 

The $20.5 million film is penned by Cronenberg and produced by Portuguese producer Paulo Branco's Alfama Films and Cronenberg's Toronto-based Antenna, in association with Kinology.

The thriller follows a multimillionaire on a 24-hour odyssey across Manhattan. Farrell will play the asset manager who loses all his wealth over the course of one day. Cotillard will play his wife.

 

Lensing will take place from March to May in Toronto and New York.

 

"Cosmopolis" will be Cronenberg's follow-up to "A Dangerous Method," which starts shooting this month in Germany with Keira Knightley and Viggo Mortensen.

 

DeLillo's acclaimed works include "White Noise" and "Underworld."

 

Branco last produced "Ashes and Blood," directed by Gallic thesp Fanny Ardant.

At Cannes, Kinology is also launching sales on Finnish fantasy "Rare Exports,"directed by first-timer Jalmari Helander. Melin's sales slate includes Kirsten Dunst-starrer "Upside Down," a $50-million sci-fi romance that is currently shooting in Montreal.

Little Ashes

Little_ashes_robert_pattinson-

Everyone seems to hate this new movie which speculates on the fliratious relationship between Salvador Dali (Robert Pattinson of Twilight) and Gabriel Garcia Lorca.
 
I have no interest in seeing it ----tho this quote from the NYPost has me intrigued, describing Pattison's performance like 'Prince playing the lead in Amadeus.' Sounds like a hoot!
 

Cronenberg Re-do

Videodrome

So there are a few Cronenberg remakes in the pipeline. A risky proposition if you ask me. Especially if the main man isn't involved. But if ever there was a Cronenberg flick that asked for a revisit -- it's this one. No telling how it could be updated for our over-mediated, reality TV-fueled times. There was some televised torture thrown in for good measure in the original if I remember correctly. So obviously there's opportunity for a social commentary bonanza.
 
Bring on that classic Cronenberg body horror!
 

Universal to remake 'Videodrome'

David Cronenberg-directed thriller gets redo

Universal Pictures will remake the 1983 David Cronenberg-directed thriller "Videodrome," with Ehren Kruger set to write the script and produce with partner Daniel Bobker.
The producers tracked down the rights to Canadian distribution vet Rene Malo, who will be exec producer. Universal distributed the original and had first refusal on a remake, and the studio snapped up the opportunity.

The original "Videodrome" starred James Woods as the head of Civic TV Channel 83, who makes his station relevant by programming "Videodrome," a series that depicts torture and murder that transfixes viewers.

The new picture will modernize the concept, infuse it with the possibilities of nano-technology and blow it up into a large-scale sci-fi action thriller.

Cronenberg has no role in the film as yet. He is prepping for MGM "The Matarese Circle" as a starring vehicle for Tom Cruise and Denzel Washington. Since Cruise appears likely to next star in the DreamWorks drama "Motorcade" and Washington has committed to the Fox drama "Unstoppable," "Circle" doesn't appear likely to get under way until later this year or 2010.

Bobker/Kruger Films recently set the thriller "Dream House" at Morgan Creek and is producing, with Matthew Stillman, "The Keep" for Rogue. Kruger co-wrote the June 24 Paramount/DreamWorks release "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" with Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman.

 

Read the full article at:
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118002863.html

Haunting in Connecticut

Hic

Has anyone else seen the one-sheet for the upcoming, 'based on a true story' horror flick, "The Haunting in Connecticut"? I saw it plastered on a building as I was walking around the city and literally stopped in my tracks. Best (wildest, most surprising/artistic) movie poster I've seen in a while... No advance on word on whether the movie's any good tho. Checkitout:

Sick Movies

This refers to movies I've watched while sick, not (necessarily) movies which are sick.
 
Encounters at the End of the World (Herzog doc, more of a slog that I expected); Eddie & The Cruisers; Funny Games (This one actually was sick..but I couldn't turn away. Required a Wife Swap/Friday Night Lights chaser); Bugcrush; Kiss of the Spider Woman (To see how gay representation in Academy annointed films has changed in the last 20 years, contrast William Hurts Oscar-winning performance here with Sean Penn's current turn in Milk).
 
Currently watching strangely compelling documentary about the making of MeatLoaf's Bat out of Hell. Guess you learn all sorts of new things on the couch. Tired of being sick. But feel I'm on the mend.