Jeremy Smith

WHITAKER JOINS DEBATE TEAM

As you might’ve heard, it’s been a rough week for The Weinstein Company (some little exploitation of theirs bombed), so here’s some much needed good news for Harvey and Bob: they’re alive. Should that fail to perk them up, there’s also this: it’s just been announced that Forest Whitaker is in negotiations to co-star in … Continue reading

HAS BLAZING SADDLES TAUGHT US NOTHING?

"As chairman of the welcoming committee, it’s a pleasure to present a laurel and hardy handshake to our new… nigger."I’ve watched Blazing Saddles several times with an audience and many times with friends, and the above line – uttered by white townsperson Howard Johnson (John Hillerman) in shocked response to the arrival of Rock Ridge’s … Continue reading

HARLOT IN THE WIND

Let me get this straight: Anna Nicole Smith died so that Elie Samaha could honor her with a quickie biopic starring the soon-to-be bride of future NHL Hall of Famer Mike Modano? Yep. Makes perfect sense to me. The former dry cleaner, whose erstwhile Franchise Pictures terrorized moviegoers for years with such trauma-inducing vanity projects … Continue reading

OZ INMATE RAPES ALAN ALDA

You might know character actor Terry Kinney if were to see him in a random film, but you might not know why you should respect him. Though he’s cashed plenty of paychecks appearing in crap like The Firm and Save the Last Dance, Kinney is eminently worthy of praise as one of the co-founders of … Continue reading

APATOW LOVES HUGH

Look, I think Judd Apatow is doing to comedy what James Caan did to Playboy Playmates in the 1970s, but I have no freakin’ idea who Ed Helms is. Apparently, he plays Andy Bernard on The Office. Cool. How much of a philistine am I for not watching The Office? That much? Really? Is all … Continue reading

IF YOU CAN’T FIND ‘EM, RE-GRIND ‘EM

Because no one’s tired of this story yet… I hate that the post-release Grindhouse discussion is focused almost exclusively on the picture’s disappointing box office performance, but a) it is a story, and b) this is how mainstream film discourse goes nowadays. And here I am furthering something I despise. Today’s big Grindhouse development: Harvey … Continue reading

JANE CAMPION HAS AN AMAZING FANNY

Oh, look what I done did! It’s the ol’ bait ’em with the promise of fifty-three-year-old director butt and give ’em Abbie Cornish trick! Ah, but who wouldn’t want to be pillow’d upon the Somersault star’s ripening breast? Campion, the visually gifted but oft narratively challenged director, is hoping everyone shares this enthusiasm, as she’s … Continue reading

FORD GROWS A PAIR

Something remarkable happened over the weekend, but it got lost in the hand-wringing over Grindhouse‘s poor box office showing: after years of turning down role after role that might’ve asked him to play a morally ambiguous figure, Harrison Ford quietly agreed to star as a corrupt immigration enforcement agent in Wayne Kramer’s Crossing Over. This … Continue reading

LEO VS. AL QAEDA

Leonardo DiCaprio, the interesting actor turned teen heartthrob turned interesting actor again, has lined up his next post-Revolutionary Road project, but this time I can goddamn guarantee you that it’s a go picture. The movie is Body of Lies, which used to be known as Penetration, but which is still based on Washington Post columnist … Continue reading