Probably not, but don't tell 20th Century Fox
By Corwin Neuse Aug 1, 2011 11:52AM
After Deadline reported that 20th Century Fox had acquired the screen rights to "Those Guys Have All the Fun: Inside the World of ESPN" by James Andrew Miller and Tom Shales, speculation ran rampant as to which Hollywood A-listers would play such prominent personalities as Dan Patrick and Keith Olbermann. Speculation that Dan Patrick and Keith Olbermann were apparently not above joining themselves, as they recently discussed their casting suggestions for the upcoming movie on Countdown. However, the important question here isn't who will play the pioneering SportsCenter anchors—although a mustachioed Andy Samberg and John Michael Higgins would be excellent as Olbermann and Patrick, respectively—but whether the film is heralding in a new age of expository, non-fiction cinema. First came "The Blind Side" and "The Social Network," and now we have the upcoming "Moneyball" and this? What's next? "Outliers," based on the Malcolm Gladwell book of the same name, detailing the various social and environmental conditions that allowed a young Steve Jobs and Bill Gates to simultaneously become titans of a fledgling computer industry? Hey, that's not a half bad idea...
What other non-fiction stories out there are begging for film adaptation, Hitlisters? Could we see a movie about the founding of Twitter, titled "140 Characters?" A cautionary parable about technology and hubris called "MySpace" starring Justin Timberlake? "The Internet," about how Al Gore invented the internet? "The Biebs," about how Justin Bieber was secretly bio-engineered by megalomaniacal Canadian geneticists bent on world domination? We anxiously await your suggestions in the comments...
30-year-old MTV is now a major player in the film industry
By DannyMiller Aug 1, 2011 11:14AM
Don’t panic—Snooki and the Situation are not heading to the Big Screen…yet! But their network has.
Thirty years ago today, on August 1, 1981, the brand new cable TV network, MTV, began broadcasting at 12:01 am. The very first music video it aired was “Video Killed the Radio Star” by the British New Wave band, The Buggles. Then came Pat Benatar’s “You Better Run.” Music videos were a new concept back then and the idea of a TV station that would play them seven days a week, 24 hours a day, was revolutionary. In those early days it’s all that MTV did. The videos were introduced by “VJs” such as Nina Blackwood, Mark Goodman, and Martha Quinn.
No one could have imagined in 1981 that the new network would eventually ditch its primary format and become a major force in television programming (from “The Ben Stiller Show” and “The Real World” to “The Osbournes” and “Jersey Shore”) and the movies. MTV Films has made over three dozen theatrical films during the past 15 years, including hits such as “Zoolander,” “Jackass: The Movie,” “Napoleon Dynamite,” and “Justin Bieber: Never Say Never.”
Director blithely mentions the obscure possibility, fans rejoice
By Corwin Neuse Aug 1, 2011 10:09AM
Universe utterly unmoved, unaffected
By Corwin Neuse Aug 1, 2011 8:46AM
After being lambasted as one of "the darnedest things," a "bizarre concoction," and "kind of Nixonian"—and that's just by our fellow MSN Movies critic Glenn Kenny—Sony's "The Smurfs" has nonetheless beaten all odds and expectations to debut to an estimated $36.2 million at the box office. And there we have it: incontrovertible proof of the complete uselessness and wholesale impotency of the modern movie critic. Like a colonoscopy, while the experience may be excruciatingly painful, undignified, and humiliating, certain mediocre films will always be endured. Why? Whether it offers two hours respite from the responsibilities of parenthood or merely an escape from the oppressive heat of summer, the cinema will always be there for us. And for that we should be thankful.
Perhaps less surprising than "The Smurfs" actually being successful is the apparent failure of "Cowboys & Aliens." The $160 million genre mash-up faces a long road to profitability considering its underwhelming $32.6 million opening haul. While "The Smurfs" can reasonably expect to continue drawing families, the inebriated, and the confused, "Cowboys" faces a tough challenge in weeks to come as other films, like this week's "Rise of the Planet of the Apes," arrive to steal its meager glory.
Did you see "The Smurfs" this weekend? Was it better or worse than the critical consensus? Are reviewers truly irrelevant? Does the abject failure of "Zookeeper" obviate my thesis on bad family films? And which would you rather see, "Cowboys & Aliens" or "Rise of the Planet of the Apes?" As always, leave your cogent analysis in the comments...
French-language film focuses on the true story of Wolfgang's musical sister
By Kate Erbland Aug 1, 2011 12:27AM
Focusing on a little-known element of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's life, René Féret's French-language film "Mozart's Sister" introduces us to Maria Anna "Nannerl" Mozart, herself a very talented and ambitious musician. 
In the early days of the traveling Mozart family, Nannerl was the one with top billing, as a skilled harpsichord player and forte-pianist. Older sister Nannerl is considered one of the biggest inspirations to a young Wolfgang, who was enraptured by their father's instruction of Nannerl even when Wolfgang was as young as three. But as Nannerl aged and Wolfgang's skills improved, he was put forth as the featured name. Nannerl was limited by both her family and society because of her gender, and focus was put on marrying her off, even as she sought to channel her talents into composing her own music.
The trailer for "Mozart's Sister" lays out of all this and more - including a bold Nannerl's clever idea to cheat the very system and family that constrained her in order to showcase her talents and grow as a musician. The film was shot on location in Versailles, and it appears appropriately lush and beautifully shot. "Mozart's Sister" will be released in select theaters on August 19.
Check out the trailer, thanks to Apple, after the break.
Actor reportedly interested in role in 'The Creed of Violence'
By Kate Erbland Jul 31, 2011 12:09PM
In the wake of my touting the Western angle of "Cowboys & Aliens" as the film's strength, it looks like we may be in for another big budget "Western-flavored" film for a big star. The LA Times is reporting that Leonardo DiCaprio is "eager to play one of the lead roles" in "The Creed of Violence," a film adaptation of Boston Teran's novel of the same name. The film has been linked to director Todd Field for some time now, but there's no official word on whether or not Field is still on board. The film, however, is still set up at Universal Pictures.
DiCaprio's name has long been attached to the villian part in Quentin Tarantino's "Django Unchained," and the idea of the actor playing two baddies in period films in a short period of time is a fine one. Tarantino's next film will see DiCaprio as Calvin Candie, a sadistic plantation owner who serves as the principal villain in relation to the titular Django, to be played by Jamie Foxx. DiCaprio, though often seen in the light of a "leading man," is also scarily adept at playing characters with darker motivations, such as in his work in "Blood Diamond" or "The Departed."
Would you like to see DiCaprio as the criminal or the government agent in "The Creed of Violence"?
Or is the film just an excuse for a gimmicky title?
By Kate Erbland Jul 31, 2011 11:42AM
This weekend's box office was lined with a number of very different offerings - little blue men coming to Earth (for the kids!), a multi-storyline romantic dramedy, an impressive number of indie picks, and Jon Favreau's latest comic book outing - "Cowboys & Aliens." With a relatively simple title hinting at the genre-splicing within, slick production values, and an overwhelmingly talented cast, the "Iron Man" director should have had a slamdunk film here. But why then did "The Smurfs" beat it on opening night? And why do I remain unconvinced of the value of the film, entertainment or otherwise?
Whereas Kenny doesn't quite dig the Western elements of the film (he notices "no Leone-style mounting suspense montage here, nor any Ford-like real-time action kineticism" within the film), the classic plotting and archetypes at play within the film were absolutely my favorite part of the whole endeavor. Daniel Craig plays a "Man With No Name" style drifter, Harrison Ford is the rich cattle baron who runs the town, veteran Western-er Keith Carradine is trotted out as the Sheriff, and Sam Rockwell plays a riff on the man-who-must-become-a-man during the course of the film. When "Cowboys & Aliens" focuses on its cowboys, it's good stuff, interesting stuff that sticks to the classics and may inspire moviegoers to actually beef up on their Ford or their Leone. But, for me, the good stuff of the film ends with the cowboys. I don't even quite like that ampersand.
The film critic for MSN Movies is NOT a fan of the new Steve Carell film
By DannyMiller Jul 30, 2011 11:02PM
I have great respect for the critics on this site, James Rocchi (who also contributes to this blog) as well as Glenn Kenny. Their expertise about the movies is awe-inspiring and I enjoy reading their incisive reviews.
Not that I always agree with their opinions. Among the big films that opened this week, Rocchi was particularly hard on the ensemble comedy, “Crazy, Stupid, Love.” He gave it only one star. Glenn Kenny, on the other hand, gave “The Smurfs” two stars. Kenny’s review was hardly positive, but in a weird way, you could say that according to MSN Movies, “The Smurfs” is TWICE AS GOOD as “Crazy, Stupid, Love.” In related news, Speaker of the House John Boehner admitted today that President Obama is right about everything and he called for the immediate dismantling of the Republican Party. What? You mean we’re not living in a topsy-turvy parallel universe?
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- Martin Scorsese to present Mel Brooks with AFI Award
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