"Reel" FReepers - Celebrating Cinema - March 2007

March 1, 2007 | DollyCali; wtc911

[DollyCali]

March 2007
Edition








Reel Test of the Month

Reel Celebrity of the Month

Alan Arkin was probably the biggest surprise on Oscar Night winning the Best Supporting Oscar for his portrayal of a cocaine using grandfather of the “Little Miss Sunshine” . He inconveniently dies as the very dysfunctional family is on the way to the big contest. The family is “running late” so just put him in the back … reminiscent of National Lampoons Vacation.. and they presses on to make the deadline in their clunker van.

He at 73 has had a long & varied career with movies that over the years have made us cry, chuckle & just roar out loud (well I did during the In-Laws(79). Here is some data on his life/career.

Professions:Actor, director, singer, composer, novelist, producer, vacuum cleaner repairman, clerical worker

Born: Brooklyn, New York on 3/26/1934

Sometimes Credited As:

Alan Wolf Arkin
Robert Short

FULL BIOGRAPHY

Cinematography

Bee Movie - ( / 2007 / In-Production / )
Magicians - ( / / In-Production / Kinowelt International )
Rendition - ( / / In-Production / )
Sunshine Cleaning - ( / / In-Production / )
Raising Flagg - ( Flagg Purdy / 2006 / Awaiting Release / Cinema Libre Distribution )
Firewall - ( Arlin Forester / 2006 / Released / Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group )
Little Miss Sunshine - ( Grandpa / 2006 / Released / 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment )
The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause - ( Bud Newman / 2006 / Released / Buena Vista Distribution Company )
Eros - ( Dr. Pearl ("Equilibrium") / 2005 / Released / Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group )
Noel Artie / 2004 / Released / Convex Group )
Thirteen Conversations About One Thing - ( Gene / 2002 / Released / Mongrel Media )
America's Sweethearts

( Wellness Guide / 2001 / Released / Sony Pictures Releasing )
Varian's War - ( Freier (Marseilles) / 2001 / Released / )
Jakob the Liar - ( Frankfurter / 1999 / Released / Sony Pictures Releasing )
Four Days in September - ( Charles Burke Elbrick / 1998 / Released / Miramax Home Video )
The Slums of Beverly Hills - ( Murray Abramowitz / 1998 / Released / Fox Searchlight Pictures )
Gattaca - ( Detective Hugo / 1997 / Released / Sony Pictures Releasing )
Grosse Pointe Blank - ( Dr Oatman / 1997 / Released / Hollywood Pictures Home Video )
Mother Night - ( George Kraft / 1996 / Released / New Line Home Entertainment )
Steal Big, Steal Little - ( Lou Perilli / 1995 / Released / Savoy Pictures )
The Jerky Boys - ( Lazarro / 1995 / Released / Touchstone Pictures Home Video )
North - ( Judge Buckle / 1994 / Released / Sony Pictures Releasing )
Samuel Beckett Is Coming Soon. .. - ( Director / 1994 / Released / )
Indian Summer - ( Uncle Lou / 1993 / Released / Touchstone Pictures Home Video )
So I Married An Axe Murderer - ( (cameo appearance) / 1993 / Released / TriStar Pictures )
Glengarry Glen Ross - ( George Aaronow / 1992 / Released / LIVE Home Video )
The Rocketeer - ( Peevy / 1991 / Released / Walt Disney Home Video )
Coupe de Ville - ( Fred Libner / 1990 / Released / Universal Pictures )
Edward Scissorhands - ( Bill / 1990 / Released / 20th Century Fox International )
Havana - ( Joe Volpi / 1990 / Released / Universal Pictures )
Bad Medicine - ( Dr Ramon Madera / 1985 / Released / 20th Century Fox Distribution )
Big Trouble - ( Leonard Hoffman / 1985 / Released / Sony Pictures Releasing )
Joshua Then and Now - ( Reuben Shapiro / 1985 / Released / 20th Century Fox )
The Return of Captain Invincible - ( Captain Invincible / 1983 / Released / Magnum Entertainment )
Deadhead Miles - ( Cooper / 1982 / Released / )
The Last Unicorn - ( Voice of of Schmendrick--Magician / 1982 / Released / Family Home Entertainment )
Chu Chu and the Philly Flash - ( Flash / 1981 / Released / 20th Century Fox Distribution )
Full Moon High - ( Dr Jacob Brand / 1981 / Released / HBO Home Video )
Simon - ( Simon / 1980 / Released / Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group )
Improper Channels - ( Jeffrey Martley / 1979 / Released / Crown International Pictures )
The In-Laws - ( Sheldon Kornpett / 1979 / Released / Warner Home Video )
The In-Laws - ( Executive Producer / 1979 / Released / Warner Home Video )
The Magician of Lublin - ( Yasha Mazur / 1979 / Released / Warner Home Video )
Fire Sale - ( Director / 1977 / Released / 20th Century Fox )
Fire Sale - ( Ezra Fikus / 1977 / Released / 20th Century Fox )
The Seven Per-Cent Solution - ( Sigmund Freud / 1976 / Released / Universal Pictures )
Hearts of the West ( Kessler / 1975 / Released / United Artists Films )
Freebie and the Bean - ( Bean / 1974 / Released / Warner Bros. Pictures Distribution )
Rafferty and the Gold Dust Twins - ( Rafferty / 1974 / Released / Warner Bros. Pictures Distribution )
Last of the Red Hot Lovers - ( Barney Cashman / 1972 / Released / Paramount Pictures )
Little Murders - ( Director / 1971 / Released / 20th Century Fox )
Little Murders - ( Detective / 1971 / Released / 20th Century Fox )
Catch-22 - ( Captain Yossarian / 1970 / Released / Paramount Pictures )
Popi - ( Popi / 1969 / Released / United Artists Films )
Inspector Clouseau - ( Inspector Jacques Clouseau / 1968 / Released / United Artists Films )
The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter - ( John Singer / 1968 / Released / Warner Bros. Pictures Distribution )
Wait Until Dark - ( Roat / 1967 / Released / Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group )
Woman Times Seven - ( Fred ("The Suicides") / 1967 / Released / Embassy Pictures )
The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming - ( Rozanov / 1966 / Released / MGM/UA Home Video )

Reel Box Office Reviews

Little Miss Sunshine
Reviewed by DollyCali

A three day road trip of a amusingly awkward & exceptionally dysfunctional family who nonetheless band together to support little Olive who has been chosen one of the finalists in the Little Miss Sunshine contest.. Olive is the youngest & the oldest is patriarch played by Alan Arkin who won an award for the role. The reason he is along on the trip is that he was just kicked out of his retirement home for snorting heroin..

This is a movie you will either love or hate. The rating should alert any who are sensitive that, even though a young girl is one of the stars and the Title sounds soooo innocent, an R rating is an R rating. !

The script is funny and it is well executed by the great cast. It was nominated for the Best Picture at this years Oscars and was a tremendous hit at the Sundance the year it was introduced.

Stars: Steve Carell, Greg Kinnear, Alan Arkin, Abigail Breslin, Paul Dano. Director: Johathan Dayton

Box Office (Feb28) -: $ 59,831,476
Video/DVD Rentals - $37,210,000

Rotten Tomatoes Review

Official Site

Trailers

Breach

Reviewed by DollyCali

Universal Pictures released a critically acclaimed drama February 16. A dark visual tone pervades this film with a dark subject matter. All is not as it appears/seems is the bottom line. Not giving anything away as this is TRUE HISTORY - revealed in cinema that takes a bit of artistic license in presentation but not in bottom line.

A revered top flight FBI agent with decades of loyal service is KNOWN to be a traitor & agent for Russia. The theme of the movie is setting him up with a bright/fresh would-be agent (now clerk/go-fer assistant) & inform the FEDS on activities, in the hopes of getting his “agent” status solidified..

The clueless & not overly dedicated to this mission assistant is confused. This man., Robert Hannsen has a family, grandkids, is a super religious Catholic, going to mass daily, But he is told he is a traitor and to boot a sexual pervert along the way!

If one enjoys following the saga of interpersonal struggles & the confusion of life, you will relate well to this movie. It is tense & engaging & makes your heart sad as you see it unfold. The turncoat found out, stalked, apprehended, sentenced… makes you cheer & cry at the same time. What could have been had he NOT done these dastardly deeds.

The young not yet agent leaves the FBI after this case, the biggest espionage “catch” ever. He goes into private law practice in DC. Wonder if he is a FReeper/lurker? Come out, come out wherever you are!

This is rated PG13 for language, sexual situations & violence that might be offensive to some. It is 1 hour an 50 minutes in length.

Stars: Chris Cooper, Ryan Phillippe., Kathleen Quinlann; Laura Linney, Director and one of the three screenwriters: Billy Ray

Box Office (Feb28) -: $20,304,675

Rotten Tomatoes Review

Official Site

Trailers

Reel Classic Reviews

Catch 22 (1970)
Reviewed by DollyCali

For this month’s classic review, I chose another Arkin movie. A screen adaptation of a book of the same name by Joseph Heller takes us to the Mediterranean during WW2. This military satire is brought to the screne by Mike Nicholas. In the film we find Yossarian (Alan Arkin) who was a bombardier and now desperately wants to get out of the military & so fakes insanity..

BUT, the catch 22 is that if he can understand his own mortality, then he is automatically considered sane. This does not sound funny but in the movie the characterization & playing out of the situation is enjoyable. Arkin is surrounded by a first class group of actors. In today’s economics, I don’t think such a production could come off unless the did an Ocean 11/12/13 arrangement.

Other Notes on the movie

The film is rated R and is just over 2 hours in length.

Theatrical release: June 24, 1970
DVD release: May 22, 2001

CATCH-22 was filmed on location in Italy and Mexico.

Martin Balsam replaced Stacy Keach in the role of Col. Cathcart over age concerns that Nichols had.

Second Unit Director John Jordan plummeted to his death during the film's production.

Stars: Alan Arkin; Orson Welles, Jon Voight, Martin Sheen, Bob Newhart, Richard Benjamil; Art Garfunkel; and Anthony Perkins

Box Office: Total US Gross $24,911,670 Rentals $12,250,000

Rotten Tomatoes Review

IMDb

Good Analysis Link

Reel Insider/Techie Stuff

Producers: what do they do anyway?

Provided by Insider/Techie Editor Wtc911 -From the producers guild site.....

JOB FUNCTIONS FOR "PRODUCED BY" (Theatrical Motion Pictures) Subject to the control of the Owner, the "Produced by" in Theatrical Motion Pictures is expected to exercise decision-making authority over a majority of the following specific job functions:

DEVELOPMENT

* Conceived of the underlying concept upon which the production is based or involved at its inception. * Selected the material upon which the production is based and secured necessary rights for development and production of the material. * Selected the writer(s). * Supervised and oversaw the development process. * Secured the initial financing. * Served as the primary point of contact for the studio and/or financing entity.

PRE-PRODUCTION

* Selected the director, co-producer and unit production manager. * Selected the principal cast in consultation with the director. * In consultation with the director, selected the production designer, cinematographer, editor and visual effects co. * Participated in location scouting in consultation with the director. * Supervised the preparation of the preliminary budget and approved and signed the final budget in consultation with the Co-Producer and UPM. * Creatively involved in the final shooting script in consultation with the director and the writer(s) and approved and signed the final shooting script. * Approved the final shooting schedule in consultation with the director.

PRODUCTION

* Exercised final approval of the deals for the principal components of the production. * Provided continuous in-person consultation with the director and principal cast * In collaboration with the director, provided in-person consultation with the production designer, art department, wardrobe, make-up and hair. * In collaboration with the director, provided in-person consultation with the stunt coordinator and on mechanical effects (if applicable). * Supervised "on-set" and on a continuous basis the day-to-day operation of the producing team and the entire shooting company. * Approved the weekly cost report. * Viewed the "dailies" and provided in-person consultation with the director, the editor, the studio and/or financial entity.

POST-PRODUCTION/MARKETING

* Provided in-person participation on visual effects in consultation with the director, the studio or financial entity. * Selected the composer in consultation with the director, and participated in-person with the composer and the director in the scoring process * Provided in-person consultation with the editor along with the director, the studio or financial entity, and participated on the final cut of the motion picture. * Consulted with the director and the editor during the preparation of the first cut that is shown to the studio/financial entity. * Selected the music supervisor in consultation with the director, and participated in-person during the music recording sessions. * Provided in-person consultation with the director on the re-recording stage. * Provided in-person consultation with the director on the titles and opticals. * Provided in-person consultation with the cinematographer, the director, the studio and/or financing entity on the answer print or edited master. * Consulted on the media plan and materials, and the marketing and distribution plans for the motion picture. * Consulted on the plans for exploitation of the motion picture in ancillary and foreign markets.

Reel Cinema Links

Rotten Tomatoes HomepageAre they Rotten or Ripe?

IMDbInternational Movie Database

BoxOffice.com

Alfred Hitchcock scholars

American Animated Short Cartoons

British Film Commission

Box Office Mojo

Cinema Spot

Classic Film Guide

Golden Age Classics

Comic Book Movies

Do You Remember

Documentry Films

Entertainment Weekly

Film.Com

The Film Connection

Film Funding Blog

Film Festivals Worldwide

Film Scouts

Flicks

Great Character Actors

GREAT MGM Musicals Page

The Greatest Films

Hollywood Reporter first daily trade paper for the entertainment industry

Images

Independent Filmmakers

Reel Women

ScreenwriterTools

Coming soon to
Theaters & /video

Box Office

OPENING:

92% Zodiac
62% Black Snake Moan
33% Wild Hogs
80% Wild Tigers I Have Known

CLICK HERE FOR MORE & for details

COMING SOON:

100% 300
3/9 Premonition
3/16 Dead Silence
3/16 Shooter
3/16 I Think I Love My Wife

CLICK HERE FOR MORE & for details

Video & DVD

New Releases

86% The Heart of the Game
74% Stranger Than Fiction
51% Tenacious D in: The Pick of D...
26% A Good Year
26% Tideland

CLICK HERE FOR MORE & for details

Coming soon

94% Casino Royale
3/13 91% Borat: Cultural Learni...
3/6 58% Confetti
3/6 48% Fast Food Nation
3/6 47% The Holiday

CLICK HERE FOR MORE & for details

Holly-Toons March 2007

[SomeCallMeTim]

Dang it... you're right. David Niven. I was watching that also, but... was pretty young at the time.

I have always confused Niven and Guinness. Those British types all look alike. ;-)

[Maven]

I own every one of those movies, except for Fast Food and Tomorrow Never Dies.

Maven

[Maven]

abs of steel?

Beyond the six-pack and into an eight-pack. Although I understand there was a little make-up used to give more definition. Maven

[potlatch]

Thank you for the ping Dolly.

[DollyCali]

I own every one of those movies, except for Fast Food and Tomorrow Never Dies.

WOw, you are a dedicated fan!

[Maven]

Re Gerard Butler:

WOw, you are a dedicated fan!

He's the reason and cause of my Movie Night get togethers. Thank goodness I have a very indulgent boyfriend (who is a huge Frank Miller fan, so we're both looking forward to "300").

Movie Night was born when "Phantom of the Opera" came out on DVD, and I threw a Phantom-themed party, and, while we do see other movies, we make a special effort to see Gerry Butler's films, even going for Movie Night Field Trips, such as when "Beowulf" came out.

Uh,I do like other actors, too....

Maven

[CaptainK]

Thanks for the Alan Arkin tribute. He should have won best actor for "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter".

Better late than never.

[CaptainK]

WOW!

I may have to rethink having no interest in see that.

[CaptainK]

WOW!

I may have to rethink having no interest in seeing that.

Spelling counts.

[alwaysconservative]

My two favorite GB movies are "Phantom" and "Dear Frankie", for obviously very different reasons. He was marvelous in "The Jury" and "The Miracle Match", and just plain eye candy in "Timeline" (okay, okay, Gerry Butler was the ONLY reason for watching THAT stinker) and very sexy in the second Lara Croft movie "Lara Croft: The Cradle of Life", as well as "Attila" and "Dracula 2000".

I wasn't at all impressed with "Beowulf and Grendel". I really wanted to like it, but the problem wasn't his fault: the story was choppy and sloppily told, IMO.

[johnthebaptistmoore]

Here's what I have for conservative/libertarian viewpoints on the entertainment world. These are all decent sites with plenty of information as well as additional links to other sites of interest. There's probably plenty more out there that I didn't mention, but I hope that others will mention those in time. David Horowitz, among others, is involved with the first two that I mention: Liberty Film Festival- http://www.libertyfilmfestival.com/ Libertas-A forum for conservative thought on film http://www.libertyfilmfestival.com/libertas/ Michael Medved- http://www.michaelmedved.com/ Click on "Resources" on the top of his page, and "Movie Reviews" is at the top. Also, his movie minute archives are readily available at the bottom of his "Movie Minute" page. Townhall.com also has a "Books and Movies" section that includes Michael Medved movie reviews as well as movie reviews by a variety of other conservatives: http://www.townhall.com Christian Spotlight on Entertainment has plenty of film, T.V. shows, and T.V. movie reviews from a Christian conservative point of view. http://www.christiananswers.net/spotlight/home.html Rightwing Film Geek is a blog site from a Catholic conservative with an interest in films. http://cinecon.blogspot.com/ and, finally, Movieguide also has plenty of movie reviews from a Christian conservative point of view. http://www.movieguide.org/ I'm sure that the Washington Times and the New York Post also have movie reviews every now and then. http://www.washingtontimes.com http://www.nypost.com/ This is all that I presently have for links. DollyCali, you may also want to contact each of them so that they can possibly also link to your site to theirs as well as help you in a variety of different ways. For example, Michael Medved as well as others may be able to help you in arranging future live chats on Free Republic with conservative actors, actresses, and/or directors every now and then as well as provide additional resources for you in the entertainment world that would interest conservatives. I certainly hope that all of this is helpful.

[jaycee]

I want to congratulate you for the work you have put in on this subject. You did a great and most interesting job and some "reel" work was done!!

[VOA]

Catch 22 (1970)

Any mention of this film should include kudos for Bob Newhart.

But then, that film is full of great small parts IMHO.

[daisyscarlett]

Happy Birthday, Elizabeth Taylor. She celebrated her 75th birthday last week in Las Vegas with hundreds of her friends and relatives, lol. And evidently all is forgiven by Debbie Reynolds as she and her daughter, Carrie Fisher, both attended. No sign of Eddie Fisher, however. Whatever happened to him anyway, is he still alive...

LA LIZ AT 75

...for those who know her mainly for stories on her fluctuating weight, her friendship with Michael Jackson or her fabled eight marriages (she wed Richard Burton twice), we revisit her film legacy to celebrate her stature as a highly skilled actress - and consummate star." from below article:
Elizabeth Taylor The Epitome of Movie Glamour

[DollyCali]

I "reely" appreciate you comments! thanks

It was a labor of love!

I love the movies but you all know so much more than I do..

I have learned a lot just from this first thread

[DollyCali]

She is such a glamorous gal. .(yes, I know she has had some "help" along the way.. For christmas a friend gave me a table top book called the jewelry of Elizabeth Tayor..Large & wonderful amount of bling for this actress from many sources.

Interesting re: Debbie & Eliz..

[DollyCali]

After I did the review I was motivated to see it again, which I hope to this month to report back my observations decades later..

[daisyscarlett]

I have learned a lot just from this first thread

Isn't that the truth...me too...I have a whole new list for NetFlex...might have to upgrade my plan, lol...

[DollyCali]

Thanks John. It looks like you have a lot of good material there. I will lookethem over tomorrow. Pretty brain dead now.

Appreciate your work & sharing it here

[DollyCali]

That is another term that is used regionally

show

no doubt a short cut from picture show

Here & a few other places I have lived folks would talk about the show & would you like to go to the show later.

the understanding was it was to the movies..