1. EMPIRE – MAY 2007 The biggest and best movie magazine in the world. Made in the UK. Huge. That’s all you need to know. This issue’s strong points: Another issue, another goodie basket chock full of greatness. My only complaint is that too much of it is hidden away from the cover, but if you … Continue reading
Anika Noni Rose had what I would call a bittersweet time last year. She graduates from miniscule film roles and stage work to grab a good supporting role in the feature film adaptation of Dreamgirls. But despite her turning in pretty damn good singing and acting, she’s completely ignored onscreen and offscreen for Jennifer Hudson’s … Continue reading
What is it about historical English novels and films that instantly cause American eyes to glaze over? Is it the surface stuffiness of cultures like the Victoria Era? Is it the stories of social climbing and forbidden love that cause kneejerk reactions of revulsion? Is this material simply too “British”? All of the above? I … Continue reading
There’s something so 1998 about a courtroom movie that hosts a supposed battle of wits between a crafty psychopath and an out-of-his-league-yet-still-somehow-capable young hotshot attorney. And the people bringing you Fracture have no problem with that. They’re banking on people wanting to relive the days when theaters were filled to the brim with simple, undemanding … Continue reading
The Bourne franchise has surprised me like few others in recent history. While Doug Liman’s original started the proceedings off on a well-made foot, Paul Greengrass’ The Bourne Supremacy really raised the bar and changed the rules of the game for spy flicks (even the Bond movies) and put out a tightly-wound, entertaining, and yet … Continue reading
If I was the IMDB guy involved in updating the casting page for John Woo’s upcoming epic Chinese film The Battle of Red Cliff, I’d probably just wipe the page out and replace it with a giant neon question mark right out of Batman Forever. The tumult on this project continues to build and build … Continue reading
Ok, so today is Noir Day at CHUD, I guess. It’s a genre that I’m not too into, but I suppose it’s because so many of its conventions have become pop culture canon, it’s hard to see any individual film for what it actually is. It’s ass backwards, but what can you do? I watched … Continue reading
Bruce Willis is at a pretty interesting career point right now. Aside from money-in-the-bank Die Hard films, he’s way past his salad days as a box office draw supreme, and yet every time he threatens to descend full-on into hackdom, he pulls out a Hostage or Sin City to let you know he still cares…somewhat. … Continue reading
Genre entertainment – and by that, I mean the preponderance of sci-fi/comic/fantasy properties we currently enjoy in theaters and TV – is not just a blessing for geeks who enjoy it, but also for previously pigeonholed actors who can transforms themselves and their careers within its loving embrace. Take Rodrigo Santoro. When this guy first … Continue reading
There’s many things that I can tell you about the upcoming ping-pong comedy Balls of Fury. I can emphasize that Christopher Walken will be hamming it up in a kimono and ridiculous hair. I can remind you that it is yet another The State-affiliated film as it’s directed by Robert Ben-Garant and has Thomas Lennon … Continue reading