Heeeeeeeere's The Gajonka!

It's good to be back.

Lots of things going on now that the regulatory body has left.  Looks like a victory.  The thing about these things are - when they arrive, everyone in the office looks at me with the sort of look like" Wow, it sucks being him. He is going to get beat bad."

Well, you look bad at that moment.

But when you issue a beat-down - you look real, real good.

So, let the games begin!

2010 - BOOK OF THE YEAR! Winner Announced.

It was a quiet year for the written word.  In many ways, that is.

The book of the year competition is always a favorite of mine.  The year 2010 is a big one, but it really became a symbol of slow reading for me.  The avg book read per month figure went from 1.23 to 0.504. This is a terrible downward spiral.

But, let's get to the award:

This is an incredible book:  Genghis Khan and the making of the Modern World.
Please pick it up when you have the chance.  This book just narrowly edges out Bret Eadton Ellis' sequel to "Less Than Zero," "Imperial Bedrooms."  It was a tight race, but I found the story of Khan to be gripping.

Runners up:  Two bio-books on the life of Heath Ledger, the book they made into the film, Secretariat, by Bill Nack, and a book on the histroy of the WWF.

OK, enjoy!

Film Review: Wall Street II : 8.199

Gordon Gekko is back! 
What a wonderful event, this is the first time ever an Acadamy Award winning best actor winner has been able to return for a sequel.  Michael Douglas, who already has earned himself a Best Supporting Actor nomination for playing the infamous villian, delivers everything you've yearned for over the past twenty-three years since the "R" rated original.  At the openiing, the film hots an 8 simply for bringing back Gekko, for being 'THE' Wall Street Sequel, and for it being about Manahattan.  As you can tell from the final score- the film lacks the content, the casting, the storylines, the greatlines needed for any kind of advancement from that extremely generous starting point.

Shi LaBeefheaf, who we will call "J" in the review, was a terrible casting decision.  You can easily tell he has zero understanding of the financial markets.  In his comments concerning preparation for the film, J, admits he is a fool.  There is one line - that had to be inserted simply becasue ut had been so long in the film since J said something intelligent about the financial markets, so , at The Met, a great scene, expcept for the terrible acting by real life NY socialites wearing bling, J coughs up a painful line:

"The CDO is a great idea, it's the execution that's the problem."
Oh... REALLY??  This line is meant to give the audience the impression J knows what he is tallking about since, he seems to claim that the intrument is being marketed, and priced wrong... this is an awful part of the film.

As much as I hate drawing away from ripping into how terrible J is in this film, I must comment on the BuD Fox scene where Charlie re-unites with Gordon.  Apparently, Sheen has done so many drugs that his skull has morphed into a really awkward looking orb.  Charlie confided to Ollie that he has been away from film for so long, thet he is not used to camera's being so close to his FACE.  Charlie, of course, has been slumming it over at "two and .5 men." for GOD KNOWs how many years.
But returning to the point - it really was a painful moment... Bud had two of the best looking woman in the film on each arm, and it came across as ebing terribly scripted... and too chippy, and cheerful.  Also, the fact that Gekko could barely remember the name of the fledgling, regional airline (bluestar) that gave him eight years in prison, is POOR directing by Oliver Stone, since he must clean up some obvious mistakes made by the three dim-witted writers who pened the screenplay.  I have to tip my hat the them, though, as without them the film wold not be made.

What's Missing?
Like Halloween from Rob Zombie's Halloween, there are always elements missing from films that destroy any chance of them becoming great, exceptional film.  In the case of Wall Street II, the missing are obvious:
1. No East end.  No scenes in the Hamptons, where the Wall Street crowd spend 50% of their time.  This is a terrible mistake, a terrible miss.
2. Not enough Wall Street.  Sure, the scenes from isnide The Fed were rosy, with the cherry wood chairs and the mahogany walls... but how about an entrance into The Fed, the camera concoursing from one of the entrances,m all the way to this room.  There also was only shot of Gekko and J walking east on Wall, with Trinity behind them... this scene lasted six seconds.  There wasn;t even a screen shot of the New York Stock Exchange.
3.  The Calamity of the morning commute:  A legendary opening scenes of the subway, the elevators, the hell of the overpopulation that exists in NYC, which also makes the city and the industryt so great.
4. The trading floor:  I think they used the Bank of America floor in midtown.  Not bad, but why is MD Frank Langella (more on his excellent performance later) sitting in the middle of the floor, with only the standard screen count?  Shouldn'the at least have six screens?  And the meeting rooms, these come standard on each floor, but did you see how small that room was?  Give me a break- try to minimize the street in another way, not with a cubicle as an internal morning meeting conferecne room.  The Bald-headed guy running that Hydra Offshore meeting did a great job, however.

More Disappointment:

Carey Mulligan should not have accepted this role, it is probabaly one of the worst written roles for a female in years.  All she does is say no, run, and cry.  She looks OK.  Her new york accent is almost as bad as Brolin's - and together they are really bad.  But don;t get me started on New York Accents.
Mailer's Kid:  Norman Mailer had a son - and now we must suffer because he has chosen film as his pursuit.  This kid tries to put on a NY, or Long Island accent, I'm not sure what the hell he was doing, but he sounded like he was from Eastern Europe.  Slovakia?  Russian?  Yes, he had a russian accent, and it was terrible.  We go from the hilarious Jon McGinley (I'm offering you the Knicks, and chicks), to a russian speaking broker.  Very painful.

Hope

Frank Langella, a legendary actor who has rattled off roles ranging from Skeletor, Nixon, to the creep in "The Box" does a great job playing the fiesty Lou Zabel.  He dies early here, but he does a fine job of representing NY, Wall Street.  Stone meant for his fine performance to keep the film at a high level.  But this falls to pieces when the russian broker enters the fray.
Jmae Brolin does a good job as the CEO of CS - but it does not come across very easily that he is the CEO.  For starters, he is WAY TOO YOUNG to be the CEO fo a big Wall Street firm.  Here's a tip:  Use age enhancement make-up.  Apparenlty, Javire Bardem turned down the role for a romantic comedy with Julia Robert (Eat-Pray-Love)... oh Javier, such a leadies man.  Brolin does OK.  He could have really ramped up this film if they had written in a revenge piece for him - for example, let's assume that J knows more than ONE industry (alt+e), given that there is no way he would be getting a 1 mm dollar bonus if he had an understanding of simply one industry, in addition ot the fact that he talks about a market cap of 1 billion with zero revenues. (market cap is #shares outstandingf multiplied by the market price), so here, Brolin could have initiated a revenge tactic, thwarting one of J's names, (stocks he covers), and the relationship could have gotten ripe on screen.  Instead, they race on  bikes, and the whole opportunity craps out, just like the film.

The Best

Michale Douglas deserved to win the Oscar for best supporting Actor.  There is one scene, in the kitchen of his apartment high up on the 40th floor in a building on the East Side.  He is talking to J, and J asks him "But you still have money, though, right?" after assessing the opulence of his aprtment, fresh from the clinky-clink.
"This...is.... a rental."

The best line in the film.


Overall, Wall Street II was an incredible journey for me, someon has used to watch the original Wall Street before I'd go on interviews down town after graduating from college.  The film is certainly difficult to follow... but with Gekko Back,,, oh, and he IS back, you should be able to string something together.

There is more to tell, but I will leave it at this:

WHen Douglas gels his hair back and starts shoping for clothes... you hope that there'd be a Wall Street III coming.  We need more Gekko... less crap, more Gekko.

FINAL SCORE:  8.199

Finally - a great casting call - from these idiots who actually think they are talented... and special- when in reality- they are just puppets (from hell!)

OK Check this out- finally, we have what only comes around once every five years or so...

An admirable, perfect casting call and execution.  Hmmm... let's think about a few of the great ones from the recent past.  Can't say enough about Captain Vidal, the villian in Pan's Labyrynth, played by Sergi L. Ayatz.  Sergi was a no name, unproven prospect, but he is now one of the greatest bloodthirsty villains in cinema history.  He was cast - and it was a perfect cast.  Others include the obvious, Ledger as the Joker, Bridges as Crazy Heart, and Rourke as The Wrestler.  Also, going back to Dennis Lehane's "Mystic River," Sean Penn was a great cast as Jimmy Markum.
So here we are, now, just imagine if your job is to be a Casting Director.  Now, wake up.  This is such a BS job, because all it is, is a position given to someone who has no talent, just a good contact.  If you can pick up the phone... speak english, write an e-mail, you are over-qualified.  They are hand selected by the studios.  Now, you will find that they have an acronym after their name... this is done to yield a smoke-screen, to pretend that the job is difficult , and requires skills.  This of course, is a really pathetic fucking joke.

SO, C.S.A. is the ticker, standing for Cock Sucking Assface.  or Casting Society of America.
Another piece of news I think you will appreciate is - and when I say actors I mean actresses , too.  When roles are available, the script is distrubuted and all actors WITHIN THAT AGE RANGE of the character, protaganist, or villain, recieves a copy of the script (if they are lucky).  So, on any given day, and this happens often, five actors want the same role.  For example, Ledger turned down Stone's Alexander, so Colin farrel was pciedk since he was the second choice.  Ledger was alos picked #1 for the cop in "Crash" (where Matt Dillon was robbed of a best supporting actor nod), but he passed, so #2 was Ryan Phillippe.  For the age range I discuss here, these guys are all going at it in competition for any available role.  Phillipe, Gylenhaal, Gosling, etc. are all in competition and want "the part."  Guys like Wahlberg, who is producing now ( meaning he has enough cash flow to finance what he want to do) are not incloved in the race, because they control thier destiny.  This occurs with the middle aged actors as well.  Nick cage wanted to be Rand The Ram Robinson, but Arranofsky ( who could shock the world- and take the Globe for best director (black swan), although he is well connected, and should win easily... at the Oscars, not the globes.  So it is sort of a very competitive atmosphere in hollywood.

Anyways, let's get on to the good news.

Here, we have an outstanding selection.  With Depp ( who, by the way, picked up a pair of Golden Globe nominations for best actor in "Alice in Wonderland"(supporting) and in "The Tourist." deciding to come back to oneo fht emost profitable film franchises ever, there was a need to bring in some heavy hitters ... some pirates.  Enter Black Beard.. who will take over for Davey jones, and be the lead villain in the new Pirate flick ( note: this one is filmed off of Hawaii's shores, not in the Carribean like the prior three).  So, who do you call... who CAN play black beard?  Dozens of actors received the script, and they wanted the part.  But none of them came in for a screen test, or a audition... there was only one man in Hollywood, or , on the outskirts of hollywood , who could play Black Beard.  The call was made, and Ian McShane poicked up the phone.

This is such greta news, McShane is an incredible presence as an actor.  He, like aranofsky, who copies Kubrick, brings realism to film.  Without realism,,,  film is not ... real. Joim morrison said "the misperceptions of realuity are most eleoquently expressed in film," and I know I have shoveled this crap around before, but, it is nioce, every now and then to get some really , real stuff,

I lookk forward to this film.

Batman III - Hard Rumor

It appears that CatWoman will be cast as the next villian sensation for Batman Part Tres.
The thinking here is that casting a female will distract fans and audiences from the Heath Ledger Joker Saga... unfortunately it will be for the benefit of the film.  Bale wants it - it places the bulk of the spotlight on him.  Knowing Nolan, he will toss in a third tier villain to give Batman his full.
Regardless, they will insert a female into the lead villain rolse as "CatWoman" and then there will be a full TWO year gap until the hype can re-build in anticipation of a new male villain to take hold... in the form of either The Penguin... or The Riddler.
I am hoping J.Gordon Levitt does not get cast - as he is a wanna be looking to benefit from Heath Ledger's demise.
The best choice for The Riddler would be:

Eastwood's "Hereafter" - yet again... ANOTHER RIP-OFF OF... YEP, YOU GUESSED IT...

Well, you guessed it folks.  The Gajonka is back ...  Eastwood is back ... the yawn is back... AND SO IS ANOTHER HOLLYWOOD TITLE THAT'S UNDERLYING PREMISE IS A RIP-OFF OF WALKEN;S CHARACTER IN "THE DEAD ZONE" A GREAT BOOK BY STEPHEN KING.

The ability to predict the future simply by coming into contact with a person.  The list is endless.  There's even a bloody TV show on it (medium) meaning... it's bad... real bad.

Final Destination- ripped off from The Dead Zone
On and on and on.

So here we go - when will it end?
Eastwood ( who directed Mr. Safe - Matt Damon
A'hem, anyway, so Easty and Damy are back together again, why?  Who the hell knows.  But this is certain, they have spent the last year working on a film project that is a rip-off of The Dead Zone. 

So fucking pathetic.

THE WOLFMAN: 8.99

Background:  Universal Pictures has and owns the exclusive RIGHTS to the old monster movie main characters.  So, what results is that Dracula, Frankenstein, The Wolfman, The Mummy - these monsters and the exact appearance of them - are the EXCLUSIVE PROPRTY of Universal Pictures.  No other studio: indy, foreign or hwood, can make a film about these monsters, or even have them in their films.  Proof of Point:  Remember Mary Shelly's Frankenstein?  With Robert DeNiro, look it up on wiki-film, and you will find that Universla Pictures was the studio.  "Frankenstein Unbound" one of the best unknown films of the 90;s, a cult classic of GFU, is also Universal.

Important exceptions to the rule include Andy Warhol's JR-X rated films which have the monsyers and the name but the key is "the APPEARANCE" of the se monsters.  Another great example, is Fred Dekker, (HOUSE) whose greatest ( and only) worthy film is another fave of GFU:  "The Monster Squad."  Dekker contacted Universal Pictures - they said no - "you cannot use our monsters in your film."  So Dekker, with the utmost respect created the monsters - but with an important kicker - as long as they do not LOOK LIKE the original monsters.  As long as Frankenstein is not GREEN, as Long as The WOLFMAN does not look like THE WOLFMAN.

So, finally, we have a UNIVERSAL PICTURES release -0 long fucking overdue - of THE WOLFMAN.  However, it is worth the wait and they fucking didi a  great job on delivery---- and thew only reason why it was delivered right is because of the cast.

Benny De Toro- #3 ranked Actor of 2008 (behind Rourke, Penn) for his role in Che.

A beautiful female - I do not know her name, and will not look it up because I will get jealous if it says who she is dating.

Anthony Hopkins:  One of the greatest actors to have ever lived - top 5.

Hugo Weaving:  i hate for him in stealing Frank Welker role as Megatron, but whatevers.

RIP is BACK!!!!!

Well, "Imperial Bedrooms." AKA "Less Than Zero II" is proving to be better than the hype.  At a mere 200 pages, there isn't much... but we'll just say less is more.

The star of the show is RIP.  RIP is back, shown here played by James Spader.

Read this book.

Less Than Zero_ Book Sequel - June 2010

25 years later - same characters.  Should be great.

Less Than Zero won my Book of the Year Award in 2008.  Clear victory- one of the best.  Although there is some sick stuff.  James Spader as Rip is unstoppable.  So will be the sequel, I predict.

Enter John Grizzly.

Here, we take a look at a few quotes from the #1 ranked film of all time (see list....first posting).  yes, it is "Over the Top" (1986)

"My body is an engine.  And this is the fireplug.  And I'm gonna light him up!" - Harry Boscoe

"I should be able to blow them real easy.  But there;s alot more techique involved... and you just can't beat experience.  -Carl Adams -- the Canadien Champion.

"When their at my table, I own them." - John Grizzly

"I don't like people pattin me on the back, tellin me I'm the best.  If I am the best, its becuase I wanted to be... one time in my life."  -Mad Dog Madison

"I'm through talkin'" - Lincoln Hawk  (FROM THE TRUCKERS DIVISION)

Mid-Year Progress Report: 2010.

Alot of things happening people... and yes, since you asked, The Stepfather is still the film to beat this year.  If you haven't see it yet, please do - if you need a good laugh.

Please see my review on The Hurt Locker = posted in January before the Oscars.  In it, I predicted Renner's Oscar nomination.  Few people did.

(Ups for The Gajonka... for gFU!)

OK here we go:

The BIG ONE:

The Ball Game screenplay is 51%  complete.  I used an AC/DC soundtrack - Iron Man II will steal some of my fire... but The Ball Game is my best anticipated work.  MC is just an opening act.

Medusa Coelenterate (MC) is still at Gauthier Publications.  It is the center-piece of a thriller/science fiction book that will be composed of a handful of pieces written by other writers.  Only problem is they can't find any good stories to put around it.  So I just was informed by Elizabeth Gauthier( who's husband e-mailed me directly after he thought the e-mails her and I were exchanging were "too" comfy (vhill, Mr. Gauthier) and she said that it will be a wait and see approach.
I will look to self publish in December if this delay remains.  MC, a horror-science fiction piece, is set in the future (details what happens on earth between 2011-2031, among other things), and many aspects found in the book are playing out as we speak.

(Ups for the author- oh!)

In the pipeline:  My story about Gar Dornogavi, the first three-armed Mighty Fighting Heavyweight Champion has been slow-tracked  (Three-Man).  I stopped writing after six chapters.  Would need some boomers to keep going.

New and Exciting:

I am working(after I finish, or perhaps at the same time- Ball Game), on my new horror novella:

"Rise, Demon-Man"

It is set in 1999, and is the story of one of the last living demons.  He drives a car, and is in his sophomore year in college.

OK- if the above bored you... here's a look at the remaining films coming in 2010.  Rock N Roll.
The Gajonka.

2010 Films... COMING SOON! Waha..WAHAHAHAHAHAA HA HA HA!!!!!!!!!!!

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Get Him to the Greek Universal Pictures Nicholas Stoller (director & screenwriter); Russell Brand, Jonah Hill, Rose Byrne, Elisabeth Moss, Sean Combs [77]

Killers Lionsgate Robert Luketic (director); Ashton Kutcher, Katherine Heigl, Tom Selleck, Catherine O'Hara, Martin Mull, Katheryn Winnick [78]

Marmaduke 20th Century Fox Tom Dey (director); Emma Stone, Kiefer Sutherland, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Sam Elliot, Judy Greer, Anjelah Johnson, Lee Pace, Steve Coogan, William H. Macy, George Lopez, Damon Wayans Jr., David Walliams [79]

Splice Warner Bros. Pictures Vincenzo Natali (director); Vincenzo Natali, Antoinette Terry Bryan, Doug Taylor (screenplay); Adrien Brody, Sarah Polley, Delphine Chaneac [80]

L Ondine Magnolia Pictures Neil Jordan (director & screenwriter); Colin Farrell, Stephen Rea, Alicja Bachleda, Tony Curran, Dervla Kirwan, Tom Archdeacon, Don Wycherley, Emil Hostina, Norma Sheahan [81]

11 W The A-Team 20th Century Fox Joe Carnahan (director); Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, Sharlto Copley [82]

The Karate Kid Columbia Pictures Harald Zwart (director); Jackie Chan, Jaden Smith [83]

18 W Jonah Hex Warner Bros. Pictures Jimmy Hayward (director); Cast, Josh Brolin, Megan Fox, Will Arnett, John Malkovich, Michael Fassbender, Michael Shannon [84]

Toy Story 3 Walt Disney Pictures / Pixar Lee Unkrich (director); Michael Arndt (screenplay); Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenberger, Blake Clark, Don Rickles, Estelle Harris, Jeff Pidgeon, Jodi Benson, Michael Keaton, R. Lee Ermey, Ned Beatty, Timothy Dalton, John Morris, Laurie Metcalf, Jeff Garlin, Bonnie Hunt, Whoopi Goldberg, Kristen Schaal [85]

L Cyrus Fox Searchlight Pictures Jay Duplass, Mark Duplass (directors); John C. Reilly, Jonah Hill, Marisa Tomei, Catherine Keener, Matt Walsh, Katie Aselton [86]

I Am Love Magnolia Pictures Luca Guadagnino (director & screenwriter); Tilda Swinton, Flavio Parenti, Gabriele Ferzetti, Pippo Delbono, Edoardo Gabbriellini [87]

25 W Grown Ups Columbia Pictures Dennis Dugan (director); Adam Sandler (screenplay); Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, Rob Schneider, David Spade, Salma Hayek, Maria Bello, Maya Rudolph [88]

Knight & Day 20th Century Fox James Mangold (director); Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz [89]

30 W The Twilight Saga: Eclipse Summit Entertainment David Slade (director); Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner [90]

L Love Ranch E1 Entertainment Taylor Hackford (director); Helen Mirren, Joe Pesci [91]



[edit] July–September

‡ Films that achieved wide-release status after initial release Opening Title Studio Cast & Crew Ref.

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Y 2 W The Last Airbender Paramount Pictures M. Night Shyamalan (director); Noah Ringer, Nicola Peltz, Jackson Rathbone, Dev Patel, Aasif Mandvi, Shaun Toub, Cliff Curtis, Jessica Andres, Seychelle Gabriel, Katherine Houghton, Ben Cooke, Keong Sim, J.W. Cortes [92]

L Twelve Hannover House Dir.: Joel Schumacher; Cast: Chace Crawford, Emma Roberts, Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, Rory Culkin, Ellen Barkin, Kiefer Sutherland [93]

7 L The Kids Are All Right Focus Features Lisa Cholodenko (director); Annette Bening, Julianne Moore, Mia Wasikowska, Josh Hutcherson, Mark Ruffalo [94]

9 W Despicable Me Universal Pictures Chris Renaud, Pierre Coffin (directors); Steve Carell, Jason Segel, Kristen Wiig, Will Arnett, Dave Foley, Miranda Cosgrove, Russell Brand, Jemaine Clement, Ken Jeong, Jack McBrayer, Julie Andrews, Danny McBride, Mindy Kaling, Dana Gaier, Elsie Fisher [95]

Predators 20th Century Fox Nimrod Antal (director); Adrien Brody, Alice Braga, Danny Trejo, Walt Goggins, Oleg Taktarov, Topher Grace, Derek Mears, Mahershalalhashbaz Ali, Louiz Ozawa [96]

L Legends of Flight Magnolia Pictures Lucy Walker (director); Jimmy Carter, Mikhail Gorbachev, Pervez Musharraf, Tony Blair [97]

Winnebago Man Kino International (company) Ben Steinbauer (director); Jack Rebney, Joe Pickett, Nick Preuher, Douglas Rushkoff, Mike Mitchell [98]

16 W Inception Warner Bros. Pictures Christopher Nolan (director); Leonardo DiCaprio, Marion Cotillard, Cillian Murphy, Ellen Page, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ken Watanabe, Tom Hardy, Michael Caine [99]

The Sorcerer's Apprentice Walt Disney Pictures Jon Turteltaub (director); Nicolas Cage, Jay Baruchel, Alfred Molina, Teresa Palmer, Toby Kebbell, Monica Bellucci [100]

23 W Dinner For Schmucks Dreamworks Pictures Jay Roach (director); Steve Carell, Paul Rudd, Zach Galifianakis [101]

Ramona and Beezus 20th Century Fox Elizabeth Allen (director); Laurie Craig (screenplay); Ginnifer Goodwin, Selena Gomez, Joey King, Bridget Moynahan, John Corbett [102]

Salt Columbia Pictures Phillip Noyce (director); Angelina Jolie, Liev Schreiber, Chiwetel Ejiofor [103]

30 W Beastly CBS Films Daniel Barnz (director); Vanessa Hudgens, Alex Pettyfer, Mary Kate Olsen, Neil Patrick Harris [104]

Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore Warner Bros. Pictures Brad Peyton (director); Chris O'Donnell, Jack McBrayer [105]

Charlie St. Cloud Universal Pictures Burr Steers (director); Burr Steers, Craig Pearce, James Schamus, Lewis Colick(screenwriters); Zac Efron, Kim Basinger, Amanda Crew [106]

L Get Low Sony Pictures Classics Aaron Schneider (director); Robert Duvall, Bill Murray, Sissy Spacek, Lucas Black [107]

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T 6 Flipped Warner Bros. Pictures Dir: Rob Reiner; Aidan Quinn, Penelope Ann Miller, Rebecca De Mornay, Anthony Edwards, John Mahoney [108]

Middle Men Paramount Pictures Dir: George Gallo; Scr: George Gallo and Andy Weiss; Luke Wilson, Giovanni Ribisi, Gabriel Macht, James Caan [109]

The Other Guys Columbia Pictures Adam McKay (director); Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg [110]

Step Up 3-D Touchstone Pictures Jon Chu (director); Sharni Vinson [111]

13 Eat, Pray, Love Columbia Pictures Dir/Scr Ryan Murphy; Julia Roberts, Richard Jenkins, Javier Bardem, Viola Davis, Billy Crudup [112]

The Expendables Lionsgate Sylvester Stallone (director); Sylvester Stallone, Mickey Rourke, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Steve Austin, Terry Crews, Dolph Lundgren [113]

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World Universal Pictures Dir.: Edgar Wright; Scr.: Michael Bacall & Edgar Wright; Cast: Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Kieran Culkin, Alison Pill, Mark Webber, Johnny Simmons, Anna Kendrick, Chris Evans, Brandon Routh, Mae Whitman, Brie Larson, Aubrey Plaza, Jason Schwartzman, Jean Yoon [114]

Tales from Earthsea Walt Disney Pictures [115]

18 Untitled Vampire Spoof 20th Century Fox Jason Friedberg, Aaron Seltzer (directors/screenplay); Ken Jeong [116]

20 Lottery Ticket Warner Bros. Pictures Erik White (director); Abdul Williams (screenplay); Bow Wow, Ice Cube [117]

Nanny McPhee Returns Universal Pictures Susanna White (director); Emma Thompson (screenplay); Emma Thompson, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Rhys Ifans, Maggie Smith, Ralph Fiennes, Bill Bailey, Katy Brand [118]

The Switch Miramax Films Josh Gordon and Will Speck (directors); Jennifer Aniston, Jason Bateman, Patrick Wilson, Juliette Lewis, Jeff Goldblum [119]

Takers Screen Gems John Luessenhop (director); Paul Walker, Matt Dillon, Hayden Christensen, Chris Brown, T.I., Idris Elba, Zoe Saldana [120]

27 Going the Distance New Line Cinema Nanette Burstein (director); Drew Barrymore, Justin Long, Charlie Day, Christina Applegate, Ron Livingston, Jim Gaffigan, Rob Riggle, Jason Sudeikis [121]

The Last Exorcism Lionsgate Daniel Stamm (director); Huck Botko, Andrew Gurland (screenplay); Patrick Fabian, Iris Bahr, Louis Herthum [122]

Piranha 3-D Dimension Films Alexandre Aja (director & writer); Jerry O'Connell, Jessica Szohr, Elisabeth Shue, Christopher Lloyd, Adam Scott, Dina Meyer, Richard Dreyfuss, Kelly Brook [123]

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R 1 The American Focus Features Dir. Anton Corbijn; Scr. Rowan Joffe; George Clooney [124]

3 Machete 20th Century Fox Ethan Maniquis, Robert Rodriguez (directors); Robert Rodriguez (screenplay); Danny Trejo, Jessica Alba, Robert De Niro, Lindsay Lohan, Michelle Rodriguez [125]

10 Resident Evil: Afterlife Screen Gems Paul W. S. Anderson (director); Milla Jovovich, Ali Larter, Spencer Locke, Wentworth Miller, Shawn Roberts [126]

17 The Adjustment Bureau Universal Pictures George Nolfi (director/screenwriter); Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Anthony Mackie, Terence Stamp, Shohreh Aghdashloo [127]

Alpha and Omega Lionsgate Ben Gluck (director); Justin Long, Hayden Panettiere, Christina Ricci, Danny Glover, Dennis Hopper [128]

Easy A Screen Gems Will Gluck (director); Bert V. Royal (screenplay); Emma Stone, Amanda Bynes, Lisa Kudrow [129]

Jack Goes Boating Overture Films Philip Seymour Hoffman (director); Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Ryan [130]

The Town Warner Bros. Pictures Ben Affleck (director); Ben Affleck, Jon Hamm, Rebecca Hall, Jeremy Renner [131]

24 The Eagle of the Ninth Focus Features Kevin MacDonald (director); Jeremy Brock (screenplay); Channing Tatum, Jamie Bell, Donald Sutherland [132]

Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole Warner Bros. Pictures Zack Snyder (director); Hugo Weaving, Ryan Kwanten, Jim Sturgess, Geoffrey Rush, Rachael Taylor, David Wenham [133]

Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps 20th Century Fox Oliver Stone (director); Michael Douglas, Shia LaBeouf, Carey Mulligan, Frank Langella, Susan Sarandon, Josh Brolin, Charlie Sheen [134]

You Again Touchstone Pictures Andy Fickman (director); Kristen Bell, Sigourney Weaver, Jamie Lee Curtis, Kristin Chenoweth, Odette Yustman, Victor Garber, Betty White, Patrick Duffy [135]



[edit] October–December

‡ Films that achieved wide-release status after initial release Opening Title Studio Cast & Crew Ref.

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R 1 Casino Jack Rollercoaster Entertainment George Hickenlooper (director), Kevin Spacey, Kelly Preston, Rachelle Lefevre, Barry Pepper, Jon Lovitz, Yannick Bisson, Eric Schweig, Maury Chaykin, Christian Campbell, Spencer Garrett [136]

Let Me In Overture Films Matt Reeves (director/screenwriter); Kodi Smit-McPhee, Chloe Moretz [137]

The Social Network Columbia Pictures David Fincher (director); Aaron Sorkin (screenplay); Jesse Eisenberg, Justin Timberlake [138]

8 Life as We Know It Warner Bros. Pictures Greg Berlanti (director); Katherine Heigl, Josh Duhamel, Christina Hendricks, Josh Lucas [139]

Secretariat Walt Disney Pictures Randall Wallace (director); Diane Lane, Dylan Walsh, John Malkovich, Scott Glenn, Kevin Connolly, Dylan Baker, James Cromwell, Nestor Serrano, Nelsan Ellis [140]

15 Jackass 3D Paramount Pictures Dir. Jeff Tremaine; Wr. Preston Lacy; Johnny Knoxville, Bam Margera, Steve-O, Wee Man, Ryan Dunn, Preston Lacy, Dave England [141]

Red Summit Entertainment Dir. Robert Schwentke; Scrs. Erich Hoeber, Jon Hoeber; Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, Helen Mirren [142]

22 Hereafter Warner Bros. Pictures Clint Eastwood (director); Peter Morgan (screenplay); Matt Damon, Bryce Dallas Howard, Jay Mohr [143]

Paranormal Activity 2 Paramount Pictures [144]

Saw VII Lionsgate Kevin Greutert (director); Patrick Melton, Marcus Dunstan (screenplay/writer); Tobin Bell, Costas Mandylor, Betsy Russell [145]

29 My Soul to Take Universal Pictures Wes Craven (director/screenplay); Nick Lashaway, Max Theriot, Denzel Whitaker [146]

N

O

V

E

M

B

E

R 5 Due Date Warner Bros. Pictures Dir., Todd Phillips, Cast, Robert Downey, Jr., Zach Galifianakis [147]

MegaMind Paramount Pictures / Dreamworks Animation Tom McGrath (director); Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill [148]

12 Morning Glory Paramount Pictures Roger Michell (director); Harrison Ford, Rachel McAdams, Diane Keaton, Jeff Goldblum, Patrick Wilson [149]

Tangled Walt Disney Pictures Dir., Nathan Greno, Byron Howard; W: Brothers Grimm; Screenplay: Mark Kennedy, Dean Wellins; Voice cast: Mandy Moore, Zachary Levi, Donna Murphy [150]

Unstoppable 20th Century Fox Dir., Tony Scott; Cast, Denzel Washington, Chris Pine, Jessy Schram, Rosario Dawson [151]

19 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I Warner Bros. Pictures David Yates (director); Steve Kloves (screen-play); Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Ralph Fiennes, Bill Nighy, Alan Rickman, Helena Bonham Carter, Jim Broadbent, Robbie Coltrane, Warwick Davis, Michael Gambon, Brendan Gleeson, Jason Isaacs, Gary Oldman, Dame Maggie Smith, Timothy Spall, Imelda Staunton, David Thewlis, Julie Walters [152]

The Next Three Days Lionsgate Paul Haggis (director/screenplay); Russell Crowe, Elizabeth Banks, Liam Neeson [153]

24 Burlesque Screen Gems Dir., Steven Antin, Cast, Christina Aguilera, Cher, Cam Gigandet, Stanley Tucci, Kristen Bell, Eric Dane [154]

Faster CBS Films George Tillman, Jr. (director); Dwayne Johnson, Moon Bloodgood, Billy Bob Thornton, Carla Gugino [155]

Love and Other Drugs 20th Century Fox D: Edward Zwick; W: Charles Randolph; S: Jake Gyllenhaal, Anne Hathaway, Judy Greer, Gabriel Macht, Oliver Platt, Hank Azaria, Jill Clayburgh, George Segal, Katheryn Winnick, Josh Gad, Jaimie Alexander, Nikki DeLoach [156]

Red Dawn MGM Dan Bradley (director); Chris Hemsworth, Josh Peck, Adrianne Palicki, Connor Cruise [157]

D

E

C

E

M

B

E

R 10 The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader 20th Century Fox Michael Apted (director); Ben Barnes, Skandar Keynes, Georgie Henley, Will Poulter [158]

17 Tron: Legacy Walt Disney Pictures Dir.: Joseph Kosinski; Cast: Garrett Hedlund, Jeff Bridges, Olivia Wilde, Bruce Boxleitner, James Frain, Beau Garrett, Michael Sheen, John Hurt [159]

How Do You Know Columbia Pictures Dir/Scr James L. Brooks; Reese Witherspoon, Paul Rudd, Owen Wilson, Jack Nicholson [160]

Yogi Bear Warner Bros. Pictures Eric Brevig (director); Justin Timberlake, Dan Aykroyd, Anna Faris, Christine Taylor [161]

22 Gulliver's Travels 20th Century Fox Rob Letterman (director); Jack Black, Emily Blunt, Jason Segel, Amanda Peet [162]

Little Fockers Universal Pictures / DreamWorks Pictures Paul Weitz (director); Ben Stiller, Robert De Niro, Teri Polo, Owen Wilson, Raven-Symone, Barbra Streisand [163]

Somewhere Focus Features Sofia Coppola (writer and director); Stephen Dorff, Elle Fanning, Benicio Del Toro, Michelle Monaghan, Chris Pontius [164]

25 True Grit Paramount Pictures Joel Coen, Ethan Coen (directors/screenplay); Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, Josh Brolin [165]



[edit] Announced/Unscheduled releases

The following films are either in production, in post-production, or complete; may or may not have a distributor; but do not have a specific release date set in 2010.



Film Studio/Distributor Cast & Crew Ref.

Against the Current IFC Films Dir.: Peter Callahan; Cast: Joseph Fiennes, Justin Kirk, Mary Tyler Moore, Michelle Trachtenberg [166]

All Good Things The Weinstein Company Dir.: Andrew Jarecki; Cast: Ryan Gosling, Kirsten Dunst [167]

The Beaver Summit Entertainment Dir., Jodie Foster; Cast, Mel Gibson, Jodie Foster, Anton Yelchin, Jennifer Lawrence [168]

Betty Anne Waters Fox Searchlight Pictures Dir., Tony Goldwyn; Cast, Hilary Swank, Sam Rockwell, Minnie Driver, Melissa Leo, Clea DuVall, Juliette Lewis, Loren Dean [169]

Black Swan Fox Searchlight Dir., Darren Aronofsky; Cast, Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis [170]

Boogie Town Vivendi Entertainment Dir.: Chris Stokes; Cast: Marques Houston, Brenda Song [171]

Clock Tower (series) The Weinstein Company Dir.: Martin Weisz; Cast: Brittany Snow, Alyssa Jayne Hale [172]

Conan Lionsgate [173]

Countdown to Zero Magnolia Pictures Dir.: Lucy Walker [174]

Debt Miramax Films Dir.: John Madden; Cast: Sam Worthington, Helen Mirren, Jessica Chastain, Ciaran Hinds, Tom Wilkinson, Marton Csokas, Jesper Christensen, Romi Aboulafia [175]

Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame Huayi Brothers [176]

The Dry Land Maya Entertainment Dir.: Ryan Piers Williams; Cast: America Ferrera, Melissa Leo, Ryan O'Nan, Wilmer Valderrama, Jason Ritter [177]

Earthbound The Film Department Dir.: Nicole Kassell; Cast: Kate Hudson, Gael Garcia Bernal, Kathy Bates, Whoopi Goldberg, Rosemarie DeWitt, Lucy Punch, Romany Malco, Steven Weber, Treat Williams [178]

Eichmann Regent Releasing, here! Films Dir.: Robert Young; Cast: Thomas Kretchmann, Troy Garity, Franka Potente, Stephen Fry, Béla Fesztbaum, Péter Laczó [179]

The Fighter Paramount Pictures Dir.: David O. Russell; Scr.: Paul Attanasio & Lewis Colick; Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Melissa Leo, Jack McGee, Anders Meader, Eminem [180]

Fish Tank IFC Films Dir./Scr.: Andrea Arnold; Cast: Katie Jarvis, Michael Fassbender, Kierston Wareing, Harry Treadaway, Jason Maza, Rebecca Griffiths [181]

Happy Tears Roadside Attractions [182]

The Hero of Color City Magnolia Pictures/Exodus Film Group [183]

Husk Lionsgate Dir.: Brett Simmons; Cast: Devon Graye, CJ Thomason, Wes Chatham, Tammin Sursok [184]

Last Night Miramax Films Dir. & Scr., Massy Tadjedin Cast Keira Knightley, Sam Worthington, Eva Mendes, Guillaume Canet, Griffin Dunne, Scott Adsit, Daniel Eric Gold [185]

Life of Lemon Tigerstorm Dir.: Randy Kent; Cast: Beth Grant, Dan Lauria, Barry Kneller, Rachel Miner, Willie C. Carpenter, Steve Tom, Mimi Kennedy, John Farley, Sara Van Horn, Todd Sherry, Vernee Watson, Albert M. Chan [186]

The Lost Patrol Legendary Pictures Dir.:Stephen Norrington [187]

Mardi Gras Screen Gems [188]

My Own Love Song 20th Century Fox Dir./Scr.: Olivier Dahan; Cast: Madeline Zima, Renée Zellweger, Forest Whitaker [189]

Never Let Me Go Fox Searchlight Dir.: Mark Romanek; Scr.: Alex Garland; Cast: Keira Knightley, Carey Mulligan, Andrew Garfield, Sally Hawkins, Charlotte Rampling, Andrea Riseborough [190]

Rabbit Hole Fox Searchlight Dir.: John Cameron Mitchell; Scr.: David Lindsay-Abaire; Cast: Nicole Kidman, Aaron Eckhart, Tammy Blanchard, Dianne Wiest, Miles Teller, Sandra Oh, Patricia Kalember, Mike Doyle, Jon Tenney, Giancarlo Esposito [191]

Riot Nu Image Dir.: John Carpenter; Cast: Nicolas Cage [192]

The Rum Diary GK Films Dir./Scr.: Bruce Robinson; Cast: Johnny Depp, Amber Heard, Aaron Eckhart, Giovanni Ribisi, Richard Jenkins, Bill Smitrovich, Michael Rispoli, Julian Holloway, Amaury Nolasco, Marshall Bell [193]

Season of the Witch Lionsgate [194]

Shanghai The Weinstein Company [195]

Silence Warner Bros. [196]

Snowmen Touchstone Pictures Dir./Scr.: Robert Kirbyson; Cast: Bobby Coleman, Bobb'e J. Thompson, Christian Martyn, Ray Liotta, Josh Flitter, Demi Peterson, Doug E. Doug, Carolina Andrus, Beverley Mitchell, Christopher Lloyd [197]

The Stranger Nasser Group [198]

The Strangers 2 Rogue Pictures [199]

Stake Land Dark Sky Films Dir.: Jim Mickle; Cast: Kelly McGillis, Nick Damici, Danielle Harris, Conor Paolo [200]

Tekken Weinstein Company Dir.: Dwight H. Little; Cast: John Foo, Lateef Crowder, Ian Anthony Dale [201]

The Three Stooges MGM [202]

Tomorrow, When the War Began Paramount Pictures [203]

The Tree of Life Apparition Dir. & Scr.: Terrence Malick; Cast: Sean Penn, Brad Pitt, Jessica Chastain, Fiona Shaw [204]

Turkey in the Straw Plum Pictures Dir.: Craig Zobel; Cast: Paul Rudd, John Goodman, Justin Theroux, Amy Sedaris [205]

Unthinkable Senator Entertainment [206]

You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger Mediapro Dir./Scr.: Woody Allen Cast: Anthony Hopkins, Antonio Banderas, Freida Pinto, Naomi Watts, Josh Brolin, Lucy Punch, Ewen Bremner [207]

A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas Warner Bros. Kal Penn, John Cho, Neil Patrick Harris [208]

Walter the Farting Dog 20th Century Fox Cast: Kevin Jonas, Joe Jonas, Nick Jonas, Frankie Jonas [209]

Warrior Lionsgate [210]

The Way Back National Geographic Films Dir./Scr.: Peter Weir; Cast: Colin Farrell, Jim Sturgess, Saoirse Ronan, Ed Harris, Mark Strong [211]

Four Lions Optimum Releasing Riz Ahmed, Nigel Lindsay, Kayvan Novak aka the Fonejacker/Facejacker

StreetDance Vertigo Films George Sampson, Ashley Banjo, Charlie Bruce, Diversity (dance troupe), various dance acts from Britain's Got Talent [212]

The Gajonke Emerges... from the depths...waha,,,wahahaha -ha-ha -ha!!!!!

I AM sorry, ladies, been way off-line.

But... I'm BACK.

Kicking in here with an homage to the obvious.

AC/DC wrecking hell in Iron Man II.

Track listing


No. Title Music Original release Length

1. "Shoot to Thrill" Angus Young, Malcolm Young, Brian Johnson Back in Black (1980) 5:17

2. "Rock 'n' Roll Damnation" Young, Young, Bon Scott Powerage (1978) 3:37

3. "Guns for Hire" Young, Young, Johnson Flick of the Switch (1983) 3:26

4. "Cold Hearted Man" Young, Young, Scott Powerage (European release) (1978) 3:34

5. "Back in Black" Young, Young, Johnson Back in Black (1980) 4:14

6. "Thunderstruck" Young, Young The Razors Edge (1990) 4:53

7. "If You Want Blood (You've Got It)" Young, Young, Scott Highway to Hell (1979) 4:37

8. "Evil Walks" Young, Young, Johnson For Those About to Rock We Salute You (1981) 4:23

9. "T.N.T." Young, Young, Scott T.N.T. (1975) 3:34

10. "Hell Ain't a Bad Place to Be" Young, Young, Scott Let There Be Rock (1977) 4:15

11. "Have a Drink on Me" Young, Young, Johnson Back in Black (1980) 3:57

12. "The Razors Edge" Young, Young The Razors Edge (1990) 4:23

13. "Let There Be Rock" Young, Young, Scott Let There Be Rock (1977) 6:07

14. "War Machine" Young, Young Black Ice (2008) 3:10

15. "Highway to Hell" Young, Young, Scott Highway to Hell (1979) 3:28



[edit] DVD with deluxe edition

Todays Excerpt: The Rules of Attraction

This is one of the best:

"When two snake rattlers fight, it is according to strict rules.   Neither uses poison fangs.  the object is only to force the opponent's head to the ground and hold it there for a few seconds, thus establishing superiority" -Bret Easton Ellis (1987)

Todays Quote.

"Look at this hand.  This ain't a hand.  This is the fuckin creature from the black fuckin lagoon's claw I got here."

Bruno Kirby(RIP) - "Donnie Brascoe" (1996)

Hey, Heath! What do you think of GFU, Gajonka Film Universe?

We go to Ledger, who is the only man living (at the time) who was able to de-throne Best Living Actor Ever Champ, Christopher Walken, albeit for a brief time at least.  He was able to do it with lines like this one, one of many in BB, but this one is the most powerful... and one of the greatest of all time.

Jack Twist:  "Friend, that's the most words you've said in two weeks!"

Ennis DelMar (HL):  "Hm, that's the most I've said in a year."

BREAKER *** BREAKER *** The Color Of Money Cracks Top 15!

Yes, well it happens folks.  Rare, indeed, but it DOES happen.  Like I said, the top 15 is constantly floating, adjusting, suspended in space yet mobile.  I've just received word that The Color of Money, which features one of the greatest performances ever by an actor, Paul Newman, yes, The Color Of Money has cracked the TOP 15.  This is news baby!

The Color Of Money rolls and advances into the #15 slot.  Bloodsport slides back to #16, and Last Of The Mohicans edges up to #14.  If you haven't seen the film, Newman is lights out - the man is a fucking GOD.  Cruise is annoying, yes, but shit doesn't stick to gold my loyal readers.

Rock N Roll.

Review: Inglorious Basterds: 7.14 Great job by Chris Waltz

Without Chris Waltz this film has only one good scene.  The basement scene with the SS Major sitting in the back room is one of the greatest in a long time.  Outside of Waltz's scenes, and this one, the film is pretty pathetic.

The soundtrack is nice.  The film work and camera angles by Tarantino are very good.  In this film they kill Hitler... great, oh yeah, that's right, it's fake.

Pathetic voices of Keitel and Jackson as voice cameo's is such a BS homage to nothing.  Pitt's character was just stupid - ugh, I mean, I thought he was getitng better, now he seems to have peaked, or maybe crapped out is a better way of placing it.

Mike Myers cameo was too short.  He is great as a serious actor (see Sudio 54 (1998) - he played Steve Rubell and should have been nominated for best supporting actor).

Aways nice to see a film that includes a very popular Barry Lyndon line: "MAY I SEE YOUR PAPERS?"

All in all, this film is overhyped, and Waltz was great, but I'm not sure who he's up against in the supporting actor category - but it is not a guaranteed win for him.  Only Ledger was able to secure that type of situation - with his ability.

And don't fret about Pitt, he will get his Oscar at the end of his life.  Just like they did for Paul Newman.  But, in Pitt's case, they didn't fuck up.

Film gets above the seven level for that basement scene, Waltz, the opening scene, and some refreshing filmwork by Tarantino (see camera movement during milk and pipe cabin scene.)

Could win best picture, but if it does, we will know there is a problem.

Click here to see Barry Lyndon video of the scene I detail above.  Watch til the end - 9 minute running time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30PGeCGLlC4supporting

Today's Quote... Better Off Dead (1985).

Roy Stalin: You'd make a fine little helper. What's your name?


Charles De Mar: Charles De Mar.

Roy Stalin: Shut up, geek.

Super Bowl Sunday - Book of the Year 2009 announced.

Well, it was a light year - no blockbuster reading I'll admit.  This became a race of B class books.  A Separate Peace, yes that book from high school came out strong in the final tally, but fell short.  Stephen King's The Long Walk also impressed, but couldn't seal the deal.

Here are the results of the 2009 Book Of The Year Award.

Runner Up:  The Ice Man - Hitman for hire, the Polock, incredible tales, even if him videotaping people getting eaten by rats is not your thing.  A great read, a good book.

Champion:  The Hitman - Bret Hart - For all the faults this book has, it still is valuable in that Hart has incredible stories to tell about what happened behind the scenes, the rise of wrestling, Hulk Hogan, Andre The Giant, and much more.  I still refer back to it to see some of his thoughts.  Good enough to take the title, and I recommend it.  But please, throw away the dust jacket because it is such a gay picture.

Incredible irony as you can tell this year.

So far Genghis Khan is setting a torride pace for 2010, which promises to be a killer year for lit, expecially if Medusa Coelenterate gets published.

Enjoy,

Today's Quote: HEAT

"I'm talking to an empty phone because there is a dead man at the end of this FUCKIN line." (click).

Neil McCully (DeNiro) Heat (1991)