The X Files: I Want to Heave
Chris Carter, apparently taking a page out of George Lucas’ handbook “How to Piss Off You Fan Base: Episode I – The Revenge of the Phantom Subtitle,” revealed that “The X Files” sequel is going to be titled “The X Files: I Want to Believe.” You know that feeling you get when you’re about to make out with someone really hot only to find out they’re your second cousin. That’s what this feels like. Thanks Chris. I was really looking forward to seeing something like “The X Files: Mulder and Scully Vs. The Werewolf.” Apparently the camp factor that helped the show in the early seasons, and disappeared with the conspiracy plot in the later seasons, is totally gone. So much for high...
Read MoreMusicians in Film – Starring The Beatles in ‘Help!’
Most fun in the world: watching a Beatles movie. No, I’m not referring to Across the Universe. I’m talking about the zany Richard Lester film Help!. Sure the comedic timing isn’t perfect and it’s absolutely, off-the-wall silly, but Help! can’t help but indulge the Fab Four’s tendency toward spirited farce. I wasn’t alive when the Beatles were around, but the high-profile DVD releases (also for A Hard Day’s Night) certainly indicate a phenomenon the hasn’t died yet. The Beatles and Elvis and good knows who else I’m missing have impressive filmographies when compared to the pop stars of our day. What do we get? From Justin to Kelly. There are also the direct-to-DVD movies starring Justin Timberlake and Jessica Simpson, but one has to wonder what has changed, culturally-speaking, to result in such blunders from our current chart toppers...
Read MoreMaking Oscar Night Interesting (Again)
Well, No Country for Old Men continues to steamroll the competition in the race for Oscar. This weekend’s Producer’s Guild of America win means it has officially won top prize from every guild. Even The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King didn’t do that. (The Peter Jackson fantasy epic lost the WGA Adapted Screenplay prize to American Splendor). While No Country for Old Men deserves every award it gets, the season is quickly becoming very boring. Is anyone even hearing a hint of dissension in the Oscar race? Well, I recently wrote an article for BlogCritics.org on how Oscar night can be interesting again. You can check it out here. It’s a quiet acknowledgment that the Oscars aren’t supposed to award the best in film. The Oscars are all about show business. When Crash won Best...
Read MoreOscar 2007 – 2008: Final Academy Award Nomination Predictions
I’m taking a few risks with these predictions, namely being a complete Atonement shut out. Ten years ago, I don’t think I would have said the same thing, but the Academy landscape has changed since then. Best Picture Michael Clayton Juno Into the Wild The Diving Bell and the Butterfly No Country For Old Men Alt: There Will Be Blood Conventional wisdom would have There Will Be Blood in the final 5, but with so many Paramount Vantage films in the running, it seems like there is bound to be one that doesn’t make the cut. With comparisons to Citizen Kane and other grandiose reviews, is it the final that the Academy doesn’t like because they have to like it? Juno still seems like the most vulnerable, but damn it, money talks and it’s made more than any other...
Read MoreTop 10 Films of 2007
I started watching movies, really watching movies, in 1999, the year considered by most to be the best in recent film history. Judging from the trouble I had compiling my 2007 list, I’d say last year was an even greater achievement than 1999 for filmmaking as a whole. I’ve never seen so many movies in one year, and I’ve never loved so many of them. I’m even skipping the bottom five list I usually put together. (Lucky for you, Next.) What’s the point when there is so much to celebrate? Without further ado, here is TheFilmChair.com’s Top 10 for 2007. 1. No Country for Old Men – Perfect isn’t a word you can ever use in describing a human creation. I’m sure the Coen’s film isn’t technically perfect. But it feels perfect. Every move it makes is calculated, leaving...
Read MoreCritics Choice Awards will have stars (plus, predictions)
Nikki Finke is reporting that tomorrow night’s Critics Choice Awards will have stars. Apparently it’s a non-union show, which means no picket line. It also means that this year the BFCA awards show will finally, FINALLY, get the place it deserves ahead of the HFPA’s Golden Globes. It’s been a more accurate predictor of the Oscars for years and doesn’t do things like nominating Oprah’s movie (The Great Debaters) just to have Oprah show up on Globe night. Anyway, here’s how I see the night going down. Best Picture: Into the Wild (There’s too much love for Into the Wild for me to comfortably predict anything else.) Best Actor: Daniel Day-Lewis, There Will Be Blood (Though, they did give him the acting award for his last role.) Best Actress: Julie Christie, Away From Her (But this is the most...
Read MoreGet Email Updates
