Cinephiles romanticize the New Hollywood era of the late 1960s and most of the 1970s as a time of artistic rebellion during which a batch of young directors and experienced helmers saved Hollywood by connecting with Baby Boomer moviegoers bored with formula Westerns, backlot musicals, and all the other fusty stuff their parents dragged them to throughout their childhood. These artists toyed with genre conventions and film technique to reignite a jaded generation's excitement for the medium at a time when television was becoming an increasingly appealing entertainment option.
It was an incredibly exciting time for movies, but audiences of all ages still had an appetite for good ol' cinematic spectacle. They might've tired of sword-and-sandal epics and widescreen adaptations of Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals, but there was nothing wrong with studios spending loads of money to fill the big screen with eye-popping imagery.
And for most of the 1970s,...
It was an incredibly exciting time for movies, but audiences of all ages still had an appetite for good ol' cinematic spectacle. They might've tired of sword-and-sandal epics and widescreen adaptations of Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals, but there was nothing wrong with studios spending loads of money to fill the big screen with eye-popping imagery.
And for most of the 1970s,...
- 5/26/2024
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
1984: General Hospital's Frisco met Felicia.
1987: Another World's Dawn learned her mother had died.
1988: Santa Barbara's Julia was reunited with Mason.
2007: Passions' Ethan learned he had a son."The best prophet of the future is the past."
― Lord Byron
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1966: On Peyton Place, Steven Cord (James Douglas) arrived at his mother's (Ruth Warrick) home with a trunk of Ann's (Susan Oliver) childhood belongings and confronted her and Mr. Peyton about their treatment of Ann and the lies regarding her true parentage. They protested that they did what they thought was best, but he argued that they could have helped her after...
1987: Another World's Dawn learned her mother had died.
1988: Santa Barbara's Julia was reunited with Mason.
2007: Passions' Ethan learned he had a son."The best prophet of the future is the past."
― Lord Byron
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1966: On Peyton Place, Steven Cord (James Douglas) arrived at his mother's (Ruth Warrick) home with a trunk of Ann's (Susan Oliver) childhood belongings and confronted her and Mr. Peyton about their treatment of Ann and the lies regarding her true parentage. They protested that they did what they thought was best, but he argued that they could have helped her after...
- 9/8/2018
- by Roger Newcomb
- We Love Soaps
By Lee Pfeiffer
The early-to-mid 1970s was the heyday of grungy cop thrillers. Films exploring the seamier side of police work arguably got its biggest boost from the 1968 release of "Bullitt", which dared to show cops intertwined with ethically-challenged politicians in their common quest for career advancement. With the release of "The French Connection" and "Dirty Harry" in 1971, the genre kicked into high gear. In these films, the anti-hero disregards constitutional protections to take the law into his own hands. With America reeling from soaring crime rates, audiences cheered on these dubious symbols of our justice system. It's safe to say that watching these films from today's standpoint, one might have a different reaction to the tactics used by Popeye Doyle and Harry Callahan. However, there were more nuanced looks at modern urban police departments in films that explored corruption without the benefit of an superhuman anti-hero. Sidney Lumet's...
The early-to-mid 1970s was the heyday of grungy cop thrillers. Films exploring the seamier side of police work arguably got its biggest boost from the 1968 release of "Bullitt", which dared to show cops intertwined with ethically-challenged politicians in their common quest for career advancement. With the release of "The French Connection" and "Dirty Harry" in 1971, the genre kicked into high gear. In these films, the anti-hero disregards constitutional protections to take the law into his own hands. With America reeling from soaring crime rates, audiences cheered on these dubious symbols of our justice system. It's safe to say that watching these films from today's standpoint, one might have a different reaction to the tactics used by Popeye Doyle and Harry Callahan. However, there were more nuanced looks at modern urban police departments in films that explored corruption without the benefit of an superhuman anti-hero. Sidney Lumet's...
- 7/29/2018
- by nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro)
- Cinemaretro.com
Hey, NCIS fans. We got some interesting new information from CBS for the upcoming "NCIS" episode 3 of the current season 15. It turns out that someone from the NCIS team is just going to vanish right in the middle of case, and it's going to cause the NCIS team to have to look into a decade old murder! This new episode 3 is labeled,"Exit Strategy." CBS' recent press release for this recent episode reveals that Agent Torres and his partner will be on a stakeout with the Metro P.D. Then all of a sudden, Torres' partner is going to come up missing! The whole thing will be a total mystery prompting the NCIS to team to launch an investigation into it. This new investigation will eventually lead to them uncovering new evidence from a murder that took place a whole freaking decade ago! What will this new evidence entail? That's...
- 10/5/2017
- by Andre Braddox
- OnTheFlix
Al Capone is America’s best known gangster and the single greatest symbol of the collapse of law and order in the United States during the 1920s Prohibition era. Capone had a leading role in the illegal activities that lent Chicago its reputation as a lawless city and an interesting variety of Hollywood stars have had the leading role as Al Capone in the many films that have been made that featured him as a character.
The first film about Capone was produced when he was still making headlines. The main character may be named Antonio Camonte, but there’s little doubt as to who producer Howard Hughes had in mind when he and director Howard Hawks filmed Scarface during the Great Depression. Camonte shares more than the same initials with one Al Capone, who was about to begin his eleven-year sentence for tax evasion when the movie was released...
The first film about Capone was produced when he was still making headlines. The main character may be named Antonio Camonte, but there’s little doubt as to who producer Howard Hughes had in mind when he and director Howard Hawks filmed Scarface during the Great Depression. Camonte shares more than the same initials with one Al Capone, who was about to begin his eleven-year sentence for tax evasion when the movie was released...
- 6/20/2017
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
If you like your time travel thrillers with a side of memory loss and taser fights, Kenneth Mader’s “Displacement” is the film for you.
The feature follows a young physics student who sets out to reverse a fatal quantum time anomaly that causes short-term lapses in memory and time slips. Oh, and on top of that, she’s also trying to solve the murder of her boyfriend. Just a totally normal day, right?
Read More: ‘American Assassin’ First Trailer: Michael Keaton and Dylan O’Brien Take on Terrorism in CIA Black Ops Thriller
Courtney Hope stars in the lead role, with Bruce Davison, Susan Blakely, Sarah Douglas, Lou Richards, and Christopher Backus filling out the rest of the cast.
“Displacement” opens in Los Angeles on April 28, with other cities to follow. Check out our taser-filled exclusive clip below.
Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news!
The feature follows a young physics student who sets out to reverse a fatal quantum time anomaly that causes short-term lapses in memory and time slips. Oh, and on top of that, she’s also trying to solve the murder of her boyfriend. Just a totally normal day, right?
Read More: ‘American Assassin’ First Trailer: Michael Keaton and Dylan O’Brien Take on Terrorism in CIA Black Ops Thriller
Courtney Hope stars in the lead role, with Bruce Davison, Susan Blakely, Sarah Douglas, Lou Richards, and Christopher Backus filling out the rest of the cast.
“Displacement” opens in Los Angeles on April 28, with other cities to follow. Check out our taser-filled exclusive clip below.
Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news!
- 4/18/2017
- by Allison Picurro
- Indiewire
April is shaping up to be a great month for horror and sci-fi VOD releases, as we have over a dozen great titles making their way home this month. Things kick off with Universal’s release of M. Night Shyamalan’s Split and the Sasquatch-themed The Bigfoot Project on April 4th. Then, on April 7th, we have a pair of stellar indie horrors coming our way—The Void and Bethany—with The Bye Bye Man making its VOD bow just a few days later.
April’s digital genre offerings continue throughout the month, with the releases of The Dark Tapes on April 18th, Detour on April 25th, and both Rupture and A Dark Song rounding out the month’s VOD titles with their April 28th releases. Read on for our full breakdown of all the genre VOD releases for April 2017.
The Bigfoot Project (Gravitas Ventures) – April 4th
A bush-league group...
April’s digital genre offerings continue throughout the month, with the releases of The Dark Tapes on April 18th, Detour on April 25th, and both Rupture and A Dark Song rounding out the month’s VOD titles with their April 28th releases. Read on for our full breakdown of all the genre VOD releases for April 2017.
The Bigfoot Project (Gravitas Ventures) – April 4th
A bush-league group...
- 4/3/2017
- by Heather Wixson
- DailyDead
Keep up with the wild and wooly world of indie film acquisitions with our weekly Rundown of everything that’s been picked up around the globe. Check out last week’s Rundown here.
– Fox Searchlight will acquire the U.S., Canada and U.K. rights to to “The Old Man And The Gun,” Deadline reports. Director David Lowery’s drama stars Robert Redford, Casey Affleck, Sissy Spacek and Danny Glover and begins shooting on April 3.
Based on a true story, the film centers on bank robber and 17-time prison escapee Forrest Tucker (Redford). Affleck plays a detective obsessed with bringing Tucker to justice while Spacek plays Tucker’s love interest. The film is produced by Conde Nast Entertainment Wildwood Enterprises and Identity Films.
Read More: Film Acquisition Rundown: Neon Picks Up Errol Morris’ ‘The B-Side,’ FilmRise Gets Two Sundance Premieres and More
– Grasshopper Film has acquired the U.S. rights...
– Fox Searchlight will acquire the U.S., Canada and U.K. rights to to “The Old Man And The Gun,” Deadline reports. Director David Lowery’s drama stars Robert Redford, Casey Affleck, Sissy Spacek and Danny Glover and begins shooting on April 3.
Based on a true story, the film centers on bank robber and 17-time prison escapee Forrest Tucker (Redford). Affleck plays a detective obsessed with bringing Tucker to justice while Spacek plays Tucker’s love interest. The film is produced by Conde Nast Entertainment Wildwood Enterprises and Identity Films.
Read More: Film Acquisition Rundown: Neon Picks Up Errol Morris’ ‘The B-Side,’ FilmRise Gets Two Sundance Premieres and More
– Grasshopper Film has acquired the U.S. rights...
- 3/24/2017
- by Graham Winfrey
- Indiewire
Join us for some old-school 16mm Movie Madness! – It’s our monthly 16Mm Double Feature Night at The Way Out Club (2525 Jefferson Avenue in St. Louis) ! Join We Are Movie Geeks‘ Tom Stockman and Roger from “Roger’s Reels’ for a double feature of two complete films projected on 16mm film. The show is Tuesday June 7th and starts at 8pm. Admission is Free though we will be setting out a jar to take donations for theNational Children’s Cancer Society.
First up is Young Frankenstein
Mel Brooks hit all nails right on the head in his black & white classic from 1974. Taking its themes from the Mary Shelley novel and providing some spot-on homage/parody to the James Whale classic Bride Of Frankenstein (and plenty of references to Son Of Frankenstein as well), Young Frankenstein is a breathless laugh and a half. In a weak comedy, you have the entire...
First up is Young Frankenstein
Mel Brooks hit all nails right on the head in his black & white classic from 1974. Taking its themes from the Mary Shelley novel and providing some spot-on homage/parody to the James Whale classic Bride Of Frankenstein (and plenty of references to Son Of Frankenstein as well), Young Frankenstein is a breathless laugh and a half. In a weak comedy, you have the entire...
- 5/30/2016
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Another forgotten gem from the mid-1970s receiving a new Blu-ray treatment is 1975’s Report to the Commissioner, a textured police procedural examining changing social mores and the generalized internal corruptions we’re used to in these scenarios, resulting in tragic circumstances thanks to the sincere ignorance of its protagonist. Yaphet Kotto, a regular supporting player in a number of Blaxploitation features from the decade, is a standout as a weary, sympathetic detective numbed by the machinations of law enforcement. It’s a greatly overlooked title of the era, featuring a variety of recognizable names in early roles as street hoods, and based on a novel by James Mills (The Panic in Needle Park, 1971), adapted for the screen by Abby Mann (Judgment at Nuremberg, 1961) and Ernest Tidyman (Shaft; The French Connection, both 1971). Though its narrative is, at times, a bit rough around the edges, this deliberately paced thriller features rich characterizations and excellent chase sequences.
- 7/14/2015
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
The '80s was a great decade for werewolf movies. 1981 alone gave us two stone-cold classics of the genre: Joe Dante's "The Howling" and John Landis's "An American Werewolf in London." But what of Michael Wadleigh's "Wolfen"? The 1981 adaptation of Whitley Strieber's novel may be less fondly remembered than its contemporaries, but it enjoys something of a cult status today, hailed by admirers for its mixture of social commentary, police procedural and straightforward horror elements. (Some would even argue that it's not really a werewolf movie at all.) Now, more than 30 years on from its theatrical debut, "Wolfen" is hitting Blu-ray for the first time -- and to mark the occasion we're posing the question: what is the best werewolf movie of the 1980s? Are you a "Company of Wolves" adherent? A "Teen Wolf" aficionado? Or do you prefer the low-budget charm of Larry Cohen's...
- 6/2/2015
- by Chris Eggertsen
- Hitfix
Here is last week’s caption pic winner. This week’s caption pic is at the bottom of the page.
Thanks to everyone for participating! The winner is …
” Alas, hung like a man.”
Thanks to Bucky for this week’s winning caption!
Weekend Birthdays! Steven Strait (above) is 28, Gary Oldman is 56, Matthew Broderick is 52, William Shatner is 83, Reese Witherspoon is 38, Rosie O’Donnell is 52, and Stephanie Mills is 57. And a very special belated Happy Birthday to Tbl reader … Miz Liz!
Johnny Weir‘s divorce is getting ugly quickly.
Kylie Minogue And Jake Shears Recorded A Duet For Nervo’s Debut Album
Tom Daley: Men Have Been Offering It To Me ‘Right There And Then’ Since I Came Out
Jason Collins Reportedly Received Gay Taunts From An NBA Player
Those Gop Hipster ads are perfectly parodied by John Oliver‘s upcoming Last Week Tonight.
I’m willing to keep an open mind.
Thanks to everyone for participating! The winner is …
” Alas, hung like a man.”
Thanks to Bucky for this week’s winning caption!
Weekend Birthdays! Steven Strait (above) is 28, Gary Oldman is 56, Matthew Broderick is 52, William Shatner is 83, Reese Witherspoon is 38, Rosie O’Donnell is 52, and Stephanie Mills is 57. And a very special belated Happy Birthday to Tbl reader … Miz Liz!
Johnny Weir‘s divorce is getting ugly quickly.
Kylie Minogue And Jake Shears Recorded A Duet For Nervo’s Debut Album
Tom Daley: Men Have Been Offering It To Me ‘Right There And Then’ Since I Came Out
Jason Collins Reportedly Received Gay Taunts From An NBA Player
Those Gop Hipster ads are perfectly parodied by John Oliver‘s upcoming Last Week Tonight.
I’m willing to keep an open mind.
- 3/21/2014
- by snicks
- The Backlot
’Iron Man’ 2008: The Air Force as ’rock stars’ (See previous post: "The American Military at the Movies: The Pentagon-Hollywood Complex.") Gwyneth Paltrow and Robert Downey Jr. are connected to the Pentagon by way of the Air Force-aided Iron Man (2008), and so is Dakota Fanning "at the side of top-gunner Tom Cruise" in Steven Spielberg’s Army-aided 2005 remake of War of the Worlds. (Image: Iron Man 2008.) Oscar winners and/or nominees Jennifer Jones, Paul Newman, Fred Astaire, Faye Dunaway, Steve McQueen, Robert Vaughn, and once again William Holden (not to mention O.J. Simpson, Susan Blakely, Richard Chamberlain, and Robert Wagner) are all in thanks to John Guillermin’s 1974 blockbuster and Best Picture Academy Award nominee The Towering Inferno. "The Navy lent helicopters," Nick Turse explains, "and the studio [20th Century Fox and Warner Bros.] said thanks in the form of an acknowledgment in the credits." Regarding Paramount’s Jon Favreau-directed Iron Man, Air Force master...
- 10/19/2013
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
Could "Ways To Be Wicked" be one of the finest Cougar Town episodes of all-time?
Without a doubt, yes.
As I’ve said (many times) before, the show is at its best when it combines humor with character growth because that offers the best of both worlds. No one wants to watch a series years down the line where the characters are exactly the same and have made no personal advancement; it gets old. A lot of cards were in play this week, but most of that growth centered on Ellie and Laurie.
Ellie’s mom, played by Susan Blakely, lived up to all expectations. The apple doesn’t fall very far from the mean tree, and watching her tear people down like her daughter made me much happier than I should have been. But who doesn’t like watching people be cruel? Even Jules, the nicest person ever, became...
Without a doubt, yes.
As I’ve said (many times) before, the show is at its best when it combines humor with character growth because that offers the best of both worlds. No one wants to watch a series years down the line where the characters are exactly the same and have made no personal advancement; it gets old. A lot of cards were in play this week, but most of that growth centered on Ellie and Laurie.
Ellie’s mom, played by Susan Blakely, lived up to all expectations. The apple doesn’t fall very far from the mean tree, and watching her tear people down like her daughter made me much happier than I should have been. But who doesn’t like watching people be cruel? Even Jules, the nicest person ever, became...
- 4/18/2012
- by snickrz@gmail.com (Nick McHatton)
- TVfanatic
Thanks to Travis and his desire to make a name for himself on campus, last night’s Cougar Town featured an actual cougar! Okay, so it was a cougar statue that Travis intended to steal. But still. I think it counts. Trav enlisted the help of Bobby and Chick — the real masterminds — to commit the crime, but Sig and Kevin were also accomplices. And although I’m pretty sure the felony won’t actually skyrocket Travis to big man on campus status, I am rather pleased with the cougar crossover. ”Why does this school even have a cougar? Nothing here...
- 4/18/2012
- by Breia Brissey
- EW.com - PopWatch
On TV this Tuesday: Cougar Town unleashes one tough mother, Ringer and Raising Hope wrap their seasons, Private Practice keeps its first Tuesday appointment and more. In addition to TVLine’s original features (linked within), here are seven programs to keep on your radar.
8 pm Glee (Fox) | The New Directions pay homage to the movie Saturday Night Fever by grooving to disco-infused dance numbers. (Watch a video sneak peek!)
8:30 pm Cougar Town (ABC) | No one believes Ellie when she tries to convince them that her seemingly lovely mom (guest star Susan Blakely) is actually a sociopath; Grayson decides to...
8 pm Glee (Fox) | The New Directions pay homage to the movie Saturday Night Fever by grooving to disco-infused dance numbers. (Watch a video sneak peek!)
8:30 pm Cougar Town (ABC) | No one believes Ellie when she tries to convince them that her seemingly lovely mom (guest star Susan Blakely) is actually a sociopath; Grayson decides to...
- 4/17/2012
- by Matt Webb Mitovich
- TVLine.com
As happened for so many other genres, the 1960s/1970s saw a tremendous creative expansion in crime and cop thrillers. The old Hollywood moguls had died off or retired, most of the major studios were bleeding red ink, attendance had gone off a cliff since the end of Ww II, and a new breed of young, creatively adventurous production executives had been tasked with trying to save their business by coming up with movies which could hook a new, young, cinema-literate audience.
It also happened to be one of the most socially turbulent times in American history. Even before the American public grew restive over the growing disaster in Vietnam, the social fabric was unraveling with self-examination and doubt. The Cold War; a certain inner emptiness that went with a period of great material prosperity; once invisible fault lines on matters of race and gender discrimination beginning to crack – all...
It also happened to be one of the most socially turbulent times in American history. Even before the American public grew restive over the growing disaster in Vietnam, the social fabric was unraveling with self-examination and doubt. The Cold War; a certain inner emptiness that went with a period of great material prosperity; once invisible fault lines on matters of race and gender discrimination beginning to crack – all...
- 3/22/2012
- by Bill Mesce
- SoundOnSight
The only people more flummoxed than fans over Cougar Town's inability to gain traction -- or respect -- with the bulk of America are the stars.
Everyone from Courteney Cox to Ian Gomez have expressed disbelief that simply having a shoddy title would keep people away from (what is in this writer's opinion) one of TV's most intelligent, heartfelt and uproarious shows. To hopefully lure a couple (million) more of you into watching tonight's episode, I chatted with Ian about Mel Gibson's "cameo," what you can expect from the season finale and how the cast is feeling about their season four prospects.
Insider.com: When I chatted with you on set a month ago, the general vibe was one of excitement -- and while the episodes have been incredible, the ratings have not been. How are you feeling about the show today?
Ian Gomez: Obviously we wish more people were watching the show. It...
Everyone from Courteney Cox to Ian Gomez have expressed disbelief that simply having a shoddy title would keep people away from (what is in this writer's opinion) one of TV's most intelligent, heartfelt and uproarious shows. To hopefully lure a couple (million) more of you into watching tonight's episode, I chatted with Ian about Mel Gibson's "cameo," what you can expect from the season finale and how the cast is feeling about their season four prospects.
Insider.com: When I chatted with you on set a month ago, the general vibe was one of excitement -- and while the episodes have been incredible, the ratings have not been. How are you feeling about the show today?
Ian Gomez: Obviously we wish more people were watching the show. It...
- 3/6/2012
- TheInsider.com
The St. Louis Globe-Democrat is a monthly newspaper run by Steve DeBellis, a well know St. Louis historian, and it.s the largest one-man newspaper in the world. The concept of The Globe is that there is an old historic headline, then all the articles in that issue are written as though it.s the year that the headline is from. It.s an unusual concept but the paper is now in its 25th successful year! Steve and I collaborated last Spring on an all-Vincent Price issue of The Globe and I.ve been writing a regular monthly movie-related column since. Since there is no on-line version of The Globe, I post all of my articles here at We Are Movie Geeks. This month’s edition of The Globe takes place in 1947. The headline on the cover will scream “Al Capone Dead!” and there will be several articles about the famous gangster.
- 1/10/2012
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Susan Blakely has been cast in a horribly exciting new role.
The veteran actress (Men of a Certain Age, Southland) will appear this season on Cougar Town, TV Line confirms, portraying Ellie's mother and initially making a positive impression on Ellie's friends. But that won't last very long.
An ABC source says those around Ellie will quickly understand why she refers to her mom as a "horrible person."
No premiere date has been set for Cougar Town yet. Insiders hint that it may air prior to 2012, however.
The veteran actress (Men of a Certain Age, Southland) will appear this season on Cougar Town, TV Line confirms, portraying Ellie's mother and initially making a positive impression on Ellie's friends. But that won't last very long.
An ABC source says those around Ellie will quickly understand why she refers to her mom as a "horrible person."
No premiere date has been set for Cougar Town yet. Insiders hint that it may air prior to 2012, however.
- 9/21/2011
- by matt@tvfanatic.com (TV Fanatic Staff)
- TVfanatic
Susan Blakely has signed up for a role in Cougar Town. The actress will star in the ABC comedy as the mother of Ellie (Christa Miller), TV Line reports. A source has revealed that Blakely's character Claire is an "upscale, attractive patrician". Ellie warns that her mother is a "horrible person" but her friends don't initially understand what she (more)...
- 9/21/2011
- by By Catriona Wightman
- Digital Spy
Expect some finger guns shooting harsh truths during Season 3 of Cougar Town. TVLine has learned that The Towering Inferno‘s Susan Blakely (who most recently played Ben McKenzie’s mom on Southland) has been cast as Claire, the mother of Christa Miller’s cantankerous Ellie — and first impressions will apparently be deceiving.
According to a Cougar Town insider, “upscale, attractive, patrician” Claire will initially charm the cul-de-sac crew — despite Ellie’s warnings that little Stan’s grandma is a “horrible person.” But it won’t take long for Ellie’s friends to realize she’s in fact not exaggerating.
ABC...
According to a Cougar Town insider, “upscale, attractive, patrician” Claire will initially charm the cul-de-sac crew — despite Ellie’s warnings that little Stan’s grandma is a “horrible person.” But it won’t take long for Ellie’s friends to realize she’s in fact not exaggerating.
ABC...
- 9/21/2011
- by Michael Slezak
- TVLine.com
DVD Playhouse June 2011
By
Allen Gardner
Kiss Me Deadly (Criterion) Robert Aldrich’s 1955 reinvention of the film noir detective story is one of cinema’s great genre mash-ups: part hardboiled noir; part cold war paranoid thriller; and part science- fiction. Ralph Meeker plays Mickey Spillane’s fascist detective Mike Hammer as a narcissistic simian thug, a sadist who would rather smash a suspect’s fingers than make love to the bevvy of beautiful dames that cross his path. In fact, the only time you see a smile cross Meeker’s sneering mug is when he’s doling out pain, with a vengeance. When a terrified young woman (Cloris Leachman, film debut) literally crossed Hammer’s path one night, and later turns up dead, he vows to get to the bottom of her brutal demise. One of the most influential films ever made, and perhaps the most-cited film by the architects...
By
Allen Gardner
Kiss Me Deadly (Criterion) Robert Aldrich’s 1955 reinvention of the film noir detective story is one of cinema’s great genre mash-ups: part hardboiled noir; part cold war paranoid thriller; and part science- fiction. Ralph Meeker plays Mickey Spillane’s fascist detective Mike Hammer as a narcissistic simian thug, a sadist who would rather smash a suspect’s fingers than make love to the bevvy of beautiful dames that cross his path. In fact, the only time you see a smile cross Meeker’s sneering mug is when he’s doling out pain, with a vengeance. When a terrified young woman (Cloris Leachman, film debut) literally crossed Hammer’s path one night, and later turns up dead, he vows to get to the bottom of her brutal demise. One of the most influential films ever made, and perhaps the most-cited film by the architects...
- 6/11/2011
- by The Hollywood Interview.com
- The Hollywood Interview
“You spend all your time hitting people?”
“I take Sundays off.”
Al Capone is a man who has been depicted or based on the man in films multiple times over the years. Roger Corman definitely saw the potential in making a period piece film and funded a Capone biographical picture. But only the way Corman knows best, which is to add some nudity, have some foul language and throw in a heaping pile of the red stuff throughout, giving this crime film an exploitation era feel that gives it a certain charm.
Al Capone is a two-bit hoodlum in New York City in 1901 when he makes a name for himself by beating up some cops, while trying to help some other criminals who were working for Frankie Yale (John Cassavettes). He doesn’t mention any names while in police custody, which gives him a one way ticket to Yale and...
“I take Sundays off.”
Al Capone is a man who has been depicted or based on the man in films multiple times over the years. Roger Corman definitely saw the potential in making a period piece film and funded a Capone biographical picture. But only the way Corman knows best, which is to add some nudity, have some foul language and throw in a heaping pile of the red stuff throughout, giving this crime film an exploitation era feel that gives it a certain charm.
Al Capone is a two-bit hoodlum in New York City in 1901 when he makes a name for himself by beating up some cops, while trying to help some other criminals who were working for Frankie Yale (John Cassavettes). He doesn’t mention any names while in police custody, which gives him a one way ticket to Yale and...
- 4/19/2011
- by James McCormick
- CriterionCast
Hitting movie theaters this weekend:
Hop – Russell Brand, James Marsden, Elizabeth Perkins
Insidious – Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne, Ty Simpkins
Source Code – Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Monaghan, Vera Farmiga
Movie of the Week
Source Code
The Stars: Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Monaghan, Vera Farmiga
The Plot: A soldier (Gyllenhaal) wakes up in the body of an unknown commuter and is forced to live and relive a harrowing train bombing until he can determine who is responsible for it.
The Buzz: Source Code looks to be a Quantum Leap meets Groundhog Day sci-fi action romp. 35 seconds into the film’s trailer, I half expected Jake Gyllenhaal to utter, “oh boy.” He instead exclaims, “no, no, no, no,” as if to echo my thoughts exactly — I don’t want to see Gyllenhaal act the same “stop the terrorist on the train” scene, over and over and over again.
I have a strong feeling that this...
Hop – Russell Brand, James Marsden, Elizabeth Perkins
Insidious – Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne, Ty Simpkins
Source Code – Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Monaghan, Vera Farmiga
Movie of the Week
Source Code
The Stars: Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Monaghan, Vera Farmiga
The Plot: A soldier (Gyllenhaal) wakes up in the body of an unknown commuter and is forced to live and relive a harrowing train bombing until he can determine who is responsible for it.
The Buzz: Source Code looks to be a Quantum Leap meets Groundhog Day sci-fi action romp. 35 seconds into the film’s trailer, I half expected Jake Gyllenhaal to utter, “oh boy.” He instead exclaims, “no, no, no, no,” as if to echo my thoughts exactly — I don’t want to see Gyllenhaal act the same “stop the terrorist on the train” scene, over and over and over again.
I have a strong feeling that this...
- 3/30/2011
- by Aaron Ruffcorn
- The Scorecard Review
Beverly Hills, Calif. -- Investigators seized computers Tuesday from the business of a prominent Hollywood publicist who was shot to death in her car in Beverly Hills hours after attending a movie premiere.Ronni Chasen, 64, of Los Angeles, who promoted the Academy Award-winning movie "Driving Miss Daisy" and other major films, was shot several times in the chest shortly before 12:30 a.m., a police statement said. Her Mercedes-Benz E350 sedan crashed into a light pole along Sunset Boulevard.Police hauled the computers from her firm, Chasen and Co., about 12 hours after the attack. The reason for the seizure was unclear.Police said they had not yet determined a motive or identified a suspect. No reports of threats against Chasen or her firm had been received, police Sgt. Lincoln Hoshino said.Calls and e-mails to company representatives were not immediately returned.Fellow publicist Howard Bragman called Chasen's shooting death bizarre.
- 11/16/2010
- backstage.com
In 1970, one movie invented the modern disaster film. After grossing more than $100 million at the domestic box office (adjusted for inflation, it made more than any of the "Lord of the Rings"), it spawned three sequels that stretched through the entire decade. But this landmark series is now almost totally forgotten, long eclipsed by the film that so brilliantly spoofed the genre tropes it helped define. In honor of its 40th anniversary, we're looking back at the "Airport" franchise this week, one film at a time. Today, "The Concorde... Airport '79," the rare movie with an ellipsis in the title.
The Concorde... Airport '79
Directed by David Lowell Rich
Nature of Air Emergency: A journalist (Susan Blakely) boards Federation World Airlines' new Concorde plane with documents implicating weapons manufacturer Kevin Harrison (Robert Wagner) in illegal arms deals with America's enemies. He tries to shoot down the Concorde and fails.
The Concorde... Airport '79
Directed by David Lowell Rich
Nature of Air Emergency: A journalist (Susan Blakely) boards Federation World Airlines' new Concorde plane with documents implicating weapons manufacturer Kevin Harrison (Robert Wagner) in illegal arms deals with America's enemies. He tries to shoot down the Concorde and fails.
- 11/11/2010
- by Matt Singer
- ifc.com
It's a Walker Birthday, so odds are it's a rum cake.
Sarah celebrates her 40th birthday ... again, and someone meets one of those hot TV plumbers. And there's a rumor that we may actually have a ... Saul sighting!
Join us for the fun and refresh for updates!
10:05Pm Est:Sara is frantic. It's her birthday, and she told Luc that she's turning 40. Which she's not. Okay, so how old is she turning? Rachel Griffiths is 42, but doesn't look it, so even if Sarah is a couple of years past 40, what's the big deal? She should just tell Luc the truth and blame it on his English comprehension.
Meanwhile, Kevin is trying to remove his eyeball with a staple remover. He must be watching The A List: New York.
And Kitty is having her lines fed to her through an earpiece. Oh, my bad, It just seems that way.
Nora...
Sarah celebrates her 40th birthday ... again, and someone meets one of those hot TV plumbers. And there's a rumor that we may actually have a ... Saul sighting!
Join us for the fun and refresh for updates!
10:05Pm Est:Sara is frantic. It's her birthday, and she told Luc that she's turning 40. Which she's not. Okay, so how old is she turning? Rachel Griffiths is 42, but doesn't look it, so even if Sarah is a couple of years past 40, what's the big deal? She should just tell Luc the truth and blame it on his English comprehension.
Meanwhile, Kevin is trying to remove his eyeball with a staple remover. He must be watching The A List: New York.
And Kitty is having her lines fed to her through an earpiece. Oh, my bad, It just seems that way.
Nora...
- 10/11/2010
- by snicks
- The Backlot
On September 28th, American television's first-ever dramatic miniseries, Rich Man, Poor Man made it's DVD debut in a stunning 9-disc collector's set. To commemorate the release, JustPressPlay is giving one lucky reader the chance to win a copy of the set. If you want to see some great television starring Peter Strauss, Nick Nolte, Susan Blakely and Edward Asner - then read on and learn how to win!
One of the most honored productions in television history, including four Emmy® Awards, this “holy grail” of classic TV features an all-star cast including Nick Nolte (The Prince of Tides), Ed Asner (Up), Bill Bixby (The Incredible Hulk), Susan Blakely (“Nip/Tuck”), and Robert Reed (“The Brady Bunch”), to explore the timeless themes of the disillusionment of the American dream and the difficulties of human relationships.
Encompassing a period of tremendous social and political upheaval, the series focuses in particular on Rudy...
One of the most honored productions in television history, including four Emmy® Awards, this “holy grail” of classic TV features an all-star cast including Nick Nolte (The Prince of Tides), Ed Asner (Up), Bill Bixby (The Incredible Hulk), Susan Blakely (“Nip/Tuck”), and Robert Reed (“The Brady Bunch”), to explore the timeless themes of the disillusionment of the American dream and the difficulties of human relationships.
Encompassing a period of tremendous social and political upheaval, the series focuses in particular on Rudy...
- 10/3/2010
- by Lex Walker
- JustPressPlay.net
In the 1970s, Peter Strauss became famous starring in television miniseries like " Rich Man, Poor Man " (with Nick Nolte and Susan Blakely ), "Rich Man, Poor Man II," "Masada" and the TV movie "The Jericho Mile." Guess what he looks like now ! Read more...
- 9/30/2010
- by TMZ Staff
- TMZ
DVD Playhouse September 2010
By
Allen Gardner
The Girl Who Played With Fire (Music Box Films) Follow up to the hit The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo finds Lisabeth Salander (Noomi Rapace) and Mikael Blomkvist (Michael Nyqvist) joining forces once again as Blomkvist is about to break a story on Sweden’s sex trade, which leads unexpectedly to a dark secret from Elizabeth’s past. Starts off well, then quickly nose-dives into sensationalism and downright silliness, with a pair of villains who are straight out of a Roger Moore-era James Bond film. A real letdown for those of us who felt Dragon Tattoo had finally breathed life into the cinema’s long-stagnant genre of the thriller. Bonuses: English language track; Trailer. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
The Killer Inside Me (IFC Films) Michael Winterbottom’s adaptation of Jim Thompson’s classic, and notorious, novel about the psychotic mind of a small town sheriff (Casey Affleck,...
By
Allen Gardner
The Girl Who Played With Fire (Music Box Films) Follow up to the hit The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo finds Lisabeth Salander (Noomi Rapace) and Mikael Blomkvist (Michael Nyqvist) joining forces once again as Blomkvist is about to break a story on Sweden’s sex trade, which leads unexpectedly to a dark secret from Elizabeth’s past. Starts off well, then quickly nose-dives into sensationalism and downright silliness, with a pair of villains who are straight out of a Roger Moore-era James Bond film. A real letdown for those of us who felt Dragon Tattoo had finally breathed life into the cinema’s long-stagnant genre of the thriller. Bonuses: English language track; Trailer. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
The Killer Inside Me (IFC Films) Michael Winterbottom’s adaptation of Jim Thompson’s classic, and notorious, novel about the psychotic mind of a small town sheriff (Casey Affleck,...
- 9/25/2010
- by The Hollywood Interview.com
- The Hollywood Interview
Sam Worthington, Joel David Moore, Dileep Rao in James Cameron’s Avatar (top); John Guillermin’s The Towering Inferno starred Paul Newman, Steve McQueen, William Holden, Faye Dunaway, Fred Astaire, Susan Blakely, Richard Chamberlain, Jennifer Jones, O.J. Simpson, Robert Vaughn, and Robert Wagner (bottom) Avatar vs. Titanic: International Box Office If 3D/IMAX surcharges are factored in, Avatar would fall behind many more movies on Box Office Mojo’s inflation-adjusted chart, which is supposed to better reflect the number of tickets a movie has sold. As I’ve explained in the comments section of a previous Avatar post, the 3D/IMAX premiums can add somewhere between 25-30 and 40 percent to Avatar’s grosses. The vast majority of movies, including most recent [...]...
- 2/26/2010
- by Michelle Hutton
- Alt Film Guide
DVD Playhouse—August 2009
By
Allen Gardner
Watchmen—Director’S Cut (Warner Bros.) Director Zack Snyder’s film of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ landmark graphic novel is as worthy an adaptation of a great book that has ever been filmed. In an alternative version of the year 1985, Richard Nixon is serving his third term as President and super heroes have been outlawed by a congressional act, in spite of the fact that two of the most high-profile “masks,” Dr. Manhattan (Billy Cruddup) and The Comedian (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) helped the U.S. win the Vietnam War. When The Comedian is found murdered, many former heroes become concerned that a conspiracy is afoot to assassinate retired costumed crime fighters. Former masks Nite Owl (Patrick Wilson), Silk Spectre (Malin Akerman) and still-operating Rorschach (Jackie Earle Haley, in an Oscar-worthy turn) launch an investigation of their own, all while the Pentagon’s “Doomsday...
By
Allen Gardner
Watchmen—Director’S Cut (Warner Bros.) Director Zack Snyder’s film of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ landmark graphic novel is as worthy an adaptation of a great book that has ever been filmed. In an alternative version of the year 1985, Richard Nixon is serving his third term as President and super heroes have been outlawed by a congressional act, in spite of the fact that two of the most high-profile “masks,” Dr. Manhattan (Billy Cruddup) and The Comedian (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) helped the U.S. win the Vietnam War. When The Comedian is found murdered, many former heroes become concerned that a conspiracy is afoot to assassinate retired costumed crime fighters. Former masks Nite Owl (Patrick Wilson), Silk Spectre (Malin Akerman) and still-operating Rorschach (Jackie Earle Haley, in an Oscar-worthy turn) launch an investigation of their own, all while the Pentagon’s “Doomsday...
- 8/10/2009
- by The Hollywood Interview.com
- The Hollywood Interview
Hollywood Film Festival
Hungry Productions Inc.
In this turgid tease of a comedy, three jaded showbiz femmes and a heavily medicated ingenue turn a Beverly Hills party into the gig from hell for a gourmet cook/former male hooker. With good looks and presence, S. Greg Gardner as the lone male in a house of horny but suicidal women goes begging for decent dialogue, while the film unwisely tries to microwave cultural leftovers and scraps of humor into a black farce.
Directed by Rolf Schrader and written by Glenn Benest and Timothy Wurtz, the mercifully short 83-minute movie is a clunky showcase for the quartet of actresses led by Susan Blakely as a company-town widow throwing what appears to be the last party for herself and three friends.
If only the movie didn't hit all the low notes it does and indulged in more sex given its constant attention to the subject, the project might have had a chance. As it is, there's lots of raw female banter and lecherous attitude to spare, but Gardner's gullible lug beds only one (Kristen Shaw) of the gals. Pauley Perrette and Marjory Graue play the other tragic divas. When the filmmakers resort to a predictable trick ending, one lets out the big yawn that has been building up the entire movie.
Hungry Productions Inc.
In this turgid tease of a comedy, three jaded showbiz femmes and a heavily medicated ingenue turn a Beverly Hills party into the gig from hell for a gourmet cook/former male hooker. With good looks and presence, S. Greg Gardner as the lone male in a house of horny but suicidal women goes begging for decent dialogue, while the film unwisely tries to microwave cultural leftovers and scraps of humor into a black farce.
Directed by Rolf Schrader and written by Glenn Benest and Timothy Wurtz, the mercifully short 83-minute movie is a clunky showcase for the quartet of actresses led by Susan Blakely as a company-town widow throwing what appears to be the last party for herself and three friends.
If only the movie didn't hit all the low notes it does and indulged in more sex given its constant attention to the subject, the project might have had a chance. As it is, there's lots of raw female banter and lecherous attitude to spare, but Gardner's gullible lug beds only one (Kristen Shaw) of the gals. Pauley Perrette and Marjory Graue play the other tragic divas. When the filmmakers resort to a predictable trick ending, one lets out the big yawn that has been building up the entire movie.
- 10/8/2002
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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