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"Reel" FReepers - Celebrating Cinema - March 2007
March 1, 2007
| DollyCali; wtc911
Posted on 03/01/2007 12:35:54 PM PST by 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 months 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 todays economics, I dont 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.
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TOPICS: Music/Entertainment
KEYWORDS: academyawards; alanarkin; catch22; cinema; hollywood; littlemisssunshine; movies; oscars
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To: Armedanddangerous
Okay.. you want to do the Casino Review? that would be great. I will send you my email addy.
Do you have a second one in mind yet?
what I suggested to Phil is that the review (of 500 less) goes in the body of email & attach as word document the longer review (if you are a writer like Phil is)
I am including this sort of "business" on main thread so all will get idea of what is involved, if they want to jump in & participate as reviewers/critics.
221
posted on
03/08/2007 11:06:54 AM PST
by
DollyCali
(Don't tell GOD how big your storm is -- Tell the storm how B-I-G your God is!)
To: DollyCali
yeah..casino royale
Second...I'll revisit Diamonds Are Forever..havent watched it in a few years.
To: Armedanddangerous
you are down for both..
casino Royale & Diamonds are Forever.
223
posted on
03/08/2007 11:13:40 AM PST
by
DollyCali
(Don't tell GOD how big your storm is -- Tell the storm how B-I-G your God is!)
To: colorado tanker
Which reminds me... apropos of nothing, but it's a show-biz story that fits the thread.
The Warner Brothers Burbank lot has gone through massive changes in the last two decades, much of it involving the construction of additional executive offices. In fact, one of the things often cited as an example of what's happening to the business is that they keep building offices for executives, but no new stages.
At any rate, despite all the new offices, the cool place to be located is on the north west corner of the lot where there's an old two-story office wing built around a central courtyard. That's where Jack Warner used to have his offices. There's a classic Warner story involving that location.
From his office, Jack could see the writers coming to work every morning. The actual writers building was right in the vicinity too, and he'd occasionally take a walk through it. What he noticed is that writers are incredibly undisciplined when it comes to the clock.
After several months of growing increasingly irritated at this behavior, he finally wrote a memo that read something to the effect of.... "To the writers: The executives of this studio get to work on time, Doctors get to work on time, even a *%# Banker gets to work on time, my writers can d**n well get to work on time".
Late that afternoon he received a re-write on a script that was roughly half the length of a normal 120 page screenplay. With it was a note from the writers that read, "Dear Jack, here's the first act, have the *%# Bankers do the rest."
If I recall correctly, though I'd heard it before, that story along with a multitude of others and a lot of great insights into the business appears in Bill Goldman's "Adventures in the Screen Trade", which I highly recommend to anybody who's a dyed in the wool movie fan.
To: ArmstedFragg
LOL!
Is that office of Warner's the one they used for the producer in Roger Rabbit? Sounds similar.
IMHO, the quality of Hollywood's product has been inversely proportional to the number of "suits" working on it.
Speaking of moguls, I just watched The Wings Of Eagles again, the story of Spig Wead. I'd forgotten John Ford had Ward Bond do a spoof of himself - it was pretty funny.
To: DollyCali
I am recalling how scary it was to me as an adult...the music was so contagious... AND a PG rating.. interestingI was going to address the PG rating in my review, but as you can see, there was already enough stuff in there.
It got a PG rating because there's no murders in it. It was decided that as violent and gory as the movie is, the deaths aren't mimic-able; no one's going to go out and start eating people because they saw the shark doing it.
226
posted on
03/08/2007 12:37:09 PM PST
by
pcottraux
(It's pronounced "P. Coe-troe.")
To: DollyCali
Aw, thanks, Dolly. Hope people like what I wrote.
227
posted on
03/08/2007 12:41:32 PM PST
by
pcottraux
(It's pronounced "P. Coe-troe.")
To: pcottraux
Hope people like what I wrote.I certainly enjoyed what you wrote, especially what was linked. Lots of goodies in your account and I appreciate it.
I took my son to Universal Studios and they had a great adaptation of JAWS there, when you walked across the bridge, the shark jumped out of the water. It was not nearly as scary as the movie, lol, especially since word of mouth had spoiled the surprise and of course there was no haunting theme music.
To: colorado tanker
Not sure about Rodg.... they did use the lot for locations frequently. There's a pretty good introduction to the lot here: http://wbsf.warnerbros.com/indexvipredir.html
(check the links on the left) That VIP tour of theirs is one of the town's undiscovered gems. It doesn't have the entertainment value of the Universal tour, but for folks who really want to see a studio lot close up, it's a good opportunity.
I sure agree with your comments about the suits. At the end of my career, we'd tripled the number of people 'supervising' us with no net increase in the number of people actually doing the work. My work load had increased, though, because I had to spend a lot of time undoing the problems the 'suits' were creating.
One particular gal kept trying to ship the stock shots I was using for the whole season back to the supplier. It made no sense at all, since it cost us nothing to keep them. I finally issued an edict to the vault to run any order she gave by me first. For the rest of the season, at two week intervals, she'd order them shipped and I'd cancel the order. Strangely, it never seemed to occur to her to ask why her order hadn't been carried out.
Then there was the 'post production supervisor' who kept ordering copies of the finished show before we'd finished it.....
Did I mention I'm glad I retired?
To: ArmstedFragg
What show were you working on, if you can say?
To: daisyscarlett
Heh heh.
Was that the Universal Studios in California? I've been to the one in Orlando but that's it. The first time I went the Jaws ride was closed for repairs, but we got to ride it the second time I went. No bridges or surprised...just a big shark jumping at the boat your in! I still loved it, though.
231
posted on
03/08/2007 1:07:41 PM PST
by
pcottraux
(It's pronounced "P. Coe-troe.")
To: pcottraux
Yes it was in CA, the original Universal lot, a zillion years ago, and things have changed there a lot since then. When we went, it was not billed as an amusement park, it was simply a tour of the lot and you really did see a lot of stars walking around, movies filming etc.
I think the Jaws set and the King Kong set were the only additions for the tourist trade. King Kong was very weak, not at all as popular as Jaws.
To: daisyscarlett
I've always wanted to go to the California Universal. Of course, there's a million things I've wanted to do like that.
King Kong was my favorite ride at the Orlando park. Unfortunately, they got rid of it a few years ago and replaced it with a stupid Mummy roller coaster...*yawn*.
233
posted on
03/08/2007 1:27:02 PM PST
by
pcottraux
(It's pronounced "P. Coe-troe.")
To: colorado tanker
I can't..... still got that survival instinct.
To: ArmstedFragg
To: daisyscarlett
I would love a vacation (s) several .. of movie sets in NC, Calif, New NewZealand, London, ...
Half trip that & half the great outdoors..
236
posted on
03/08/2007 4:08:46 PM PST
by
DollyCali
(Don't tell GOD how big your storm is -- Tell the storm how B-I-G your God is!)
To: DollyCali; pcottraux
I've never seen all of
Jaws in one sitting. I've seen bits and pieces when it's been on TV, but it's never held my attention long enough to see it all at once. Because I haven't seen it, I can't absolutely say that all of Phil's comments were right, but I agree absolutely that he's written a great review. I feel as if I've seen the whole thing and have a decent understanding of things that didn't make sense when I saw bits and pieces of the movie. I'm impressed that he knows the background stuff as well as the obvious things. He puts it all together in a way that's interesting. Well done!!
Bill
237
posted on
03/08/2007 10:41:01 PM PST
by
WFTR
(Liberty isn't for cowards)
To: DollyCali
Add me to ping list, please.
Thanks - great thread!
To: ArmstedFragg
that is a funny story. Writing being inspiration and not just punch it out "whenever" is something that a lot of people just do NOT comprehend.
239
posted on
03/09/2007 5:14:45 AM PST
by
DollyCali
(Don't tell GOD how big your storm is -- Tell the storm how B-I-G your God is!)
To: beaureguard
I have added you . Welcome, feel free to bring ANY/all cinema news to the thread.
240
posted on
03/09/2007 5:19:23 AM PST
by
DollyCali
(Don't tell GOD how big your storm is -- Tell the storm how B-I-G your God is!)
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