"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

[DollyCali]

OPENING STATEMENT – this is a thread for people who like cinema & wish to discuss it. NOT FOR PEOPLE TO COME & TRASH US OR OUR AVOCATION. GOT IT? . We will NOT fight with you. We will instead use our technical skills to destroy your computer’s hard drive. *wink*

Now, back to being “nicer”

Welcome to the Inaugural Issue of the Monthly Cinema Thread. Although I have overall plans/ideas it will be a work that will evolve. I have several people who have agreed to help. Could use a LOT more. Check us out & see if you would be interested in helping with any of the features in the list before. I would WANT to have ONE person for each of the following categories. Biography, Fashion, Gossip & Trivia. Also more people to review movies in the three categories each month. I will do ALL of the layout/HTML. You just get the writing to me. I would like to have a regular CORE group of contributors & others that may wish to have something in on occasion.

.. Right now I envision a monthly ping. Could have a weekly ping to same thread with one additional movie review on the other 3 weeks.

Which do you prefer?

I also want to add to the listing of HOT LINKS … if you have a favorite site please post it here & next month I will include it in the master list.

Also this thread will hopefully be for platform for MOST cinema news to be posted. Most do not need a separate thread. Major news of someone dying, major felony etc of course deserves it’s own thread & we can all feel free to hot link it & any other news to this thread.

Although I guess Jim Rob isn’t exactly thrilled with these types of threads, he does acknowledge the varied interests of the FR family participants. Having one major thread a month rather than 50 stray ones on “Tom Cruise jumps on the Couch” type will overall be better IMHO. We know we are in the minority here at FR as movie enthusiasts, but we also know there are a lot of people who enjoy cinema but are afraid to say anything suggesting movie interest for fear of being attacked by the Critical members of our forum.

Areas Ito be Included Each month

2 Box Office Reviews (movies currently playing)

2 Classic Reviews (flicks 25 years or older)

2 Kidz Reviews ( Under 12 flicks)

1 Biography

Movie – Toons (Pookie?)

1 Technical/Insider Offering

GOSSIP!

Fashion

1 Test/Quiz (amazing prizes???)

Trivia

Coming soon to Box Office

Coming soon for DVD/Video Release

Oh, By the way… participants will be called REELERS or REEL Freepers!

Enjoy the chatting & give me your feedback. The Initial ping list is composed of people who constructively participated in the Academy Award LIVE (not heckle) thread last week plus a few other selected friends. . You can be added or removed, of course.

DollyCali,
movie addict, and not ashamed of it.

Reel Graphic of the Month

[alwaysconservative]

Well, you hooked me in with the photo of one of my current favorites: Gerard Butler.

And "300" is due out THIS MONTH!!!!! (I can hardly wait!)

Thanks for starting this thread, and stay warm, Dolly!

[DollyCali]

Join us for the FIRST edition
of a new monthly Cinema thread

[DollyCali]

Well you are the very first poster on a new monthly thread. You should win something..

:-)

300 right now has a 100% rotten tomato review. The previews look good

[Borges]

Awaiting the "I haven't seen a movie in 15 years because all the movies stink now!" contingent.

[DollyCali]

Are we ready for them? No fighting. Nice passive aggressive tactics...lol

[wtc911]

May I suggest....

A monthly film to be watched then discussed/dissected from every angle.

My first choice would be HOMBRE (@1967 w/Newman - based on an Elmore Leonard novella from when he wrote westerns). The film is flawed but perfect in many ways. It is one of the three best films ever from the perspective of memorable dialogue. It is beautifully shot and paced, morally ambiguous, honest, adult and frankly sexual without being crude...just a thought.

[cuz_it_aint_their_money]

Please add me to your ping list!
And might I make one little suggestion?
During your (others) reviews add a line at the end of the review indicating whether or not we should see it in the theater or wait for the movie to hit Netflix.

Thanks again...

[DollyCali]

Excellent idea!

We will need to think this through & those of us who put the thread together each month work on the list of movies.

Thanks for your input with the technical/insider information that was used in the body of thread.

[Rummyfan]

HOMBRE is one of my favorite Newman flicks and features a fantastic Richard Boone too.

[DollyCali]

That is a good idea also. I personally watch all movies at theater & many of them multiple times.

I do have a quality sound system & big screen TVs but there are too many distractions in my household for this to be an enjoyable experience.

In general I feel the special effects & epic type movies are best on Big screen.

Star Wars on TV sucks!

Some with just a story line, normally are fine on the smaller screen/rental.

I am pleased to add you to the list.

Welcome!

[swmobuffalo]

"Star Wars on TV sucks!"

So does Gone With the Wind! I'd give anything to see it on the big screen again!

[DollyCali]

Me too.

When the Star Wars 1 came out, our local Cinemark had a one time showing of the First three episodes(4-6) & then the new 1. I was about 3 hours late to get a ticket. They apparently sold out within 1 hour of going on sale.

I am trying to recall the cost, but I think it was 50 dollars with unlimited soft drink/popcorn. There was an hour break between each movie.

I wish they had done this in multiple days. I am sure it would have been sold out each time.

[wtc911]

Hombre to Cicero Grimes...

Hey, I got a question...how you gonna get back down the hill?

Also my current tag line is from the film.

[Borges]

GWTW has to be seen on a movie screen that matches the porportions of the TV screen though. Or at least in a 'window boxed' format (matted on the left and right sides).

[pcottraux]

Oooh!!

Sign me up, please!

[discostu]

Requesting to be on this ping list.

Can't wait for 300.

[swmobuffalo]

I hate window boxed movies! Never saw the point to it.

[DollyCali]

Hi there!

will put you on the list!

How is ms C?

[swmobuffalo]

I could never get into the last 3 Star Wars movies. They were fine cinematically but the tone just wasn't the same as the originals. That probably doesn't make sense but I don't know how else to explain it.