Movies

407 posts

Whatever Happened To Samantha Mumba?

WithSMcropped She had a string of minor hits in the early aughts and even had a major role in a big budget motion picture but what became of the woman behind it all, Samantha Mumba?

I have a theory that she was the first iteration of Rihanna and somehow evolved into her. I’m only vaguely familiar with Pokemon but that’s what happens to them, right? They do their job well enough and get a second shot at life as something better than they once were.  If that is the case, I hope that Samantha Mumba/Rihanna is having fun singing number one hits and dancing around in strips of fabric.

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What Can You Do With An Oscar Anyway?

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We’re rapidly approaching Hollywood’s biggest night. The one that’s supposed to mark one’s career as really, really important in the movie industry, and with the pomp and circumstance leading up to Oscar night already beginning to churn and bets in full swing as the nominees begin the “For Your Consideration” parade — what’s an Oscar really worth in Hollywood capital these days?

At the big Oscar nominee luncheon a few days ago we got a little glimpse into what the nominees are thinking thus far. We gather now that Pre-Oscar-watching is a thing that we do in preparation for the live event, like any good award-rubbernecker, we’ve got to hear about what the nominees are thinking while they walk the red carpet to go eat goose liver salad or whatever they serve at an Oscar nominee luncheon. Ergo we have already placed value on the words of “to-be” Oscar winners. Things like: Continue reading →

J.J. Abrams Will Be Your New “George Lucas” for Star Wars: Episode VII

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Well, anyone other than George Lucas directing the new Star Wars: Episode VII is a better choice than George Lucas shooting Jar Jar Binks into space again, but how do we feel about J.J. Abrams? More importantly how do we feel that Ben Affleck was in contention and Joss Whedon was never, ever going to do it, ever, it seems? NOOOOOOOOO! Continue reading →

How The Movie Unzipped Changed My Eye

unzipped_isaac_mizrahiA few weeks back, I was in a Twitter conversation with Wendy Brandes (@WendyBrandes) about how she had missed seeing Polly Mellon at the 92 Street Y as part of their lecture series on Fashion. During the course of the very short conversation, one of my favorite documentaries of all time came up: Unzipped.

It was the 90s. It was fashion. It was everything.

I had always been a devotee of fashion and the fashion industry. How many young men get up at the crack of dawn on Saturdays to watch Style with Elsa Klench before heading off to tennis practice? Or Fashion TV with Jeane Becker? Or Tim Blanks’ tour de force Fashion File? And I would be remiss in not mentioning House of Style, BTW the show is coming back and TODD FREAKING OLDHAM IS DOING CAMEOS, which has left a long lasting impression on this man. So needless to say when I hear about a new documentary about the creation of Isaac Mizrahi’s 1994 Fall collection, I’m in. More than in actually. Since I don’t drive at this point, I actually figure out how to get to the one movie theater in the city that was showing this movie via the city bus, that’s how determined I am to see this. Continue reading →

Soon All Movies Will Be Bad Remakes with James Franco

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Top Hollywood scientists predict that by 2015, 100% of all movies will be remakes. Some filmologists disagree, arguing that we will not achieve the Remake Singularity until after we have passed the Prequel Event Horizon, where all movies are prequels. Regardless of which theoretical camp they subscribe to, film specialists agree that Renaissance Man/thespian James Franco is a pivotal figure in film history. Some argue that his appearance in Oz, The Great and Powerful, may be the culmination of The Prequel Event Horizon and usher in the Total Remake Era. Let us explore what a Franco-dominated future might look like. Continue reading →

2013 Golden Globes Liveblog!

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Welcome to the first (and best) awards show of the season – the Golden Globes! This year, the performers and industry people will be made fun of by the power team of Tina Fey and Amy Poehler – HURRAY! Grab your favorite drinky, break out the fancy snacks, and let’s hunker down for a fun night. Continue reading →

The Second Coming of Lindsay Lohan

liloThe following is a rundown of the methods employed by an experienced director coaxing an unwilling performer sulking in a walk-in closet to film a four-way adult scene.

Filmed incorrectly, the scene might win a Razzie. Get it right, and the rest of the film would click into place.

Pope [the film’s producer] found two porn actors to play the other participants. The woman walked through rehearsal completely naked, bragging that she refused to conform to porn’s norms and shave her pubic hair. Lohan freaked out. Continue reading →

Where is Stephnie Weir Now?

stephnieAs a followup to our concise paean to the delightful Stephnie Weir back in 2011. You might wonder, what’s she up to in 2013?

Stephnie Carmel Weir (“Steph” to her friends and there is no “a”) is married to Robert Dassie, and has been since 2001. You recently saw Robert Dassie on “Community” as one of the AC Dudes. You do watch “Community,” don’t you? Of course you do.

Back to the subject at hand, she’s been a busy bee. For the past year, she has been a consulting producer on episodes of the Fox comedy “Raising Hope,” but that’s not all.

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Today is Another Holiday: Public Domain Day

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Public Domain Day is the first day of the year, every year. In Europe, Jan 1, 2013 is the day when hundreds of works are entering the public domain. Works including Grant Wood’s European Gothic, works by Edith Stein, Bruno Schulz and Franz Boas. Now, in the EU citizens can copy, share, or incorporate these works into digital archives at libraries, public or private. Artists can make versions of “European Gothic,” without asking permission or violating the law.  Continue reading →