"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

[Dr. Scarpetta]

Ping!

[Jack Deth]

#1 That is Sir Alec Guinness (star of Bridge Over the River Kwai) standing in front of the streaker!


That's David Niven, SomeCallMeTim. I remember seeing the event as it happened. Niven was unflappably cool about the whole thing.


Jack.

[Jack Deth]

I still think Alan Arkin;s best performance was as the incredibly slimy bad guy, Harry Roat Jr. from Scarsdale opposite Audrey Hepburn in "Wait Until Dark".

Nothing's he's done since even comes close!

Jack.

[Maven]

Gerard Butler in "300."

(Wipes away drool.)

Maven

[alwaysconservative]

I got it, under the name "The Miracle Match", and it is WONDERFUL! My hubby couldn't figure out why I was watching a soccer movie, of all things, until he saw who was in it, LOL!

But I think MY favorite Gerry Butler movie is "Dear Frankie". Run, not walk, to get your DVD and enjoy one of the best films ever made! (Even though GB doesn't show up until about halfway through, he is worth the wait. . .)

[pookie18]

http://www.spectator.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=11084

[alwaysconservative]

Oh, oh, oh MY!

I think those are the best GB photos since he was in "Attila", the highest rated mini-series ever. What that man did for a loincloth made you forget what a great actor he is. And it is HIM in these photos, in top-notch physical condition. I hear the training for this part was brutal.

If you're a GB fan, you have to, have to see "Dear Frankie". One of the most underrated movies ever.

[DollyCali]

re: Gerald Butler

Thanks for the yummy pix maven. He is a handsome dude for sure! (Yes, I saw that drool!)

(one of you want to do a bio on him for April's issue? That would be an ideal character with the movie 300 fresh) Just the write up. Post here if interested. First come, first gets him!

the first number is the rotten tomatoes rating. Phantom got a low review rating but I LOVED the movie. The critics were busy comparing it to the play rather than taking it on it's own merit. I for the FIRST time in seeing the films heard/got all the words(after seeing the play in 3 different cities on 3 occasions) & thought the sets were gorgeous. I saw it 3 times on big screen.

here is Gerald's flicks

- N/A P.S., I Love You 2008

100% 300 2007

80% Dear Frankie 2005

26% The Game of Their Lives 2005
-
N/A The Miracle Match 2005

48% Beowulf & Grendel 2005

33% Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera 2004 -

N/A Shooters 2003

23% Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life 2003

11% Timeline 2003

52% The Cherry Orchard 2002

51% Harrison's Flowers 2002

41% Reign of Fire 2002 -

N/A The Jury 2002 -

N/A Tomb Raider 2-Pack Gift Set 2001-2003 -

N/A Attila 2001

15% Dracula 2000 2000 -

N/A One More Kiss 1999 -

N/A Fast Food 1998

94% Mrs. Brown 1997

52% Tomorrow Never Dies 1997

[DollyCali]

abs of steel?

[DollyCali]

Thanks Tim.. the thread will be here a month. There "might" be weekly pings deciding on what the crew wants.

[DollyCali]

WooHoo!!!!! Pookie's back "in town"!!!1

Smooch!

Thanks for article link.

You do know I am hoping you will do the toons each month..???

just send me the links.. it would be your monthly feature...you get the b-line & I put them in "table" for you.

Can send them here & there throughout the month as you come across them.

[DollyCali]

Dear Frankie page

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dear_frankie/

the various "other" links on left side of page.

I haven't seen that. After the chiropractor I will RUN to the video store? or library?

[DollyCali]

It would also be helpful to have links to conservative and libertarian movie critics and links to conservative and libertarian groups and blogs that support conservative and libertarian actors/actresses,

if you find any, please send them to me or ping me here, better yet, and of course I will include them in the listing I have, This listing will be repeated every month

[pookie18]

Would love to provide you the toons. Related to Hollywood, movies, actors & actresses? Please expound.

[alwaysconservative]

I also loved Phantom of the Opera movie, despite the abysmal reviews. The acting (esp. GB) was incredible, and the sets and costumes were beyond brilliant.

The idea of trashing GB just because he's not Michael Crawford is just wrong. GB was WAY better suited to the movie role, and having Michael Crawford doing the part with Emmy Rossum would have been really, really creepy. I preferred GB's "rock 'n' roll" sound to pure opera vibrato for the piece, and THAT's the way Andrew Lloyd Webber wrote it in the first place. The movie was magical, and still the only one I've ever gone to in the theaters nine times! Everyone I know who is NOT an opera snob LOVED the movie. It had a couple of technical flaws, as does any movie, but it was a marvelous movie spectacle unequalled in current times.

[DollyCali]

Thanks for kind comments. It is good you do so much reading. Now the reading I do is mostly non-fiction.

I also am going to check out Hombre. I don't believe I saw that

[alwaysconservative]

I'm off to yoga, then I'll come back and "discuss" the movie "Dear Frankie" with you. The.best.acting.ever.

[DollyCali]

Have a good yoga class. I would love to take some classes & also tai chi...

I will be leaving for chiorpractor & errands shortly.. be back after noon unless I meet friend for dog walk hen it will be later

[DollyCali]

Wonderful..

You are the new Holly-Toons Editor.

thank you. Yes, just anyting with movie, hollywood, star connections..

The other editor we have so far is wtc911 who is the Insider Editor. He is involved in this work, I understand.

Need to get rubbish out & get to the doc for my aching back to get worked on..

Later

[Dr. Scarpetta]

I think MY favorite Gerry Butler movie is "Dear Frankie". Run, not walk, to get your DVD and enjoy one of the best films ever made!

Thanks, will do...I LOVED him in Phantom of the Opera. Last year I saw Phantom on Broadway, and it was nowhere as good as the movie, IMO.