Just when you thought every type of film had been done before, filmmaker Sondra Lowell has pioneered an entirely new genre called "Film Sleepy." As the name suggests, her films are slow and boring by design, and meant to induce audiences to sleep. To Lowell's credit, she started creating these films in order to play to her strengths after receiving unrelenting criticism from her professors and peers while taking film classes at UCLA. If only more film students would take criticism so constructively. That said, aren't there enough movies that already unintentionally fall into this genre?
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Liam Neeson, who voices Aslan, the Christ-like lion throughout the Chronicles of Narnia film series, has just caused a bit of controversy among Christian fans of the series during Voyage of the Dawn Treader press tour. Neeson said that to him, the lion symbolizes all great prophets including Buddha and Mohammed. I'm guessing this would have gone unnoticed if not for that Mohammed part, but let's take a closer look at these supposedly misguided, controversial statements and the ensuing criticism.
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If there's one thing Europe loves even more than a charismatic dictator, it's a convicted sex offender on the lam. Yes, Roman Polanski's Ghost Writer was the big winner at the European Film Awards last night, nabbing the statue for Best Director, Best Actor (for Ewan McGregor), Best Screenplay and Best Picture, among other accolades. But even though I mock, truth be told, The Ghost Writer is an excellent movie and it's a bit of shame that it didn't make a bigger impact over here. A full list of the winners after the break.[Deadline]
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If you're like me and Shakespeare, you think that there's nothing funnier than a good pun (this would be the only overlap in the Venn diagram of me and Shakespeare, btw). And the boozy funsters over at Rejecting Sobriety have decided to celebrate the 25 days of Christmas by posting a new punny movie poster parody each day until Christmas day itself. Check out my two favorites after the jump and hit Rejecting Sobriety up to see what pops up next. Personally, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for A Fish Called Kwanzaa. [RS]
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The Hogwarts dropouts from Harry Potter 7 had to settle for the silver this weekend as Rapunzel and friends climbed to the top of the box office heap. Elsewhere, the ninjas 'n cowboys of The Warriors Way committed seppuku at number nine, while the prima ballerinas of Black Swan opened strong at number 13 in limited release. Your weekend receipts are here.
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James Franco is truly Hollywood's greatest multi-hyphenated entity since Barbra Streisand became a certified public notary. Actor, writer, director, Ph. D. student and even Oscar Host are just some of the entries in Franco's C.V. And to that storied list we can now add underwear magnate. Click through for the photograph evidence.
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And over here in the world of Marvel comic book movie adaptations, we've been hit with a one-two punch from the folks behind the new Ghost Rider movie and the new Spider-Man flick, with a casting notice from the latter and from the former, a reassurance that the sequel won't suck like the first one.
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Despite my most fervent wishes and prayers to Santeria, Katy Perry is still a thing. Still so much of a thing, in fact, that she's come to rub her kewpie doll face in beloved American institution, The Simpsons. Perry guest stars this week in a live-action puppet segment that is described as Maggie's fever dream. Or something. EW is disallowing embedding, so go here to enjoy these very herky-jerky clips that come and go with little rhyme or reason![EW]
After coming in as a bridesmaid to Harry Potter's bride last week, Tangled was number one for Friday night, narrowly edging out the boy wizard, who settled for number two. And number two was certainly the watchword for the only wide release of the weekend, The Warrior's Way, which sank into ninth place and will now return to the obscurity from whence it came. Your Friday box office is here.
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It's probably one of Mercury-in-retrograde things, or a full-moon thing, or who even knows, but something got into us this week at Movieline. The news just felt... I can't even say it. [Blushes] Anyway, saucy weekend captain Dixon Gaines will take it from here, and the rest of us will catch you bright and early Monday. Have a great one!
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· Glee's nicely blazered gay kids are at it again with a rendition of the holiday favorite "Baby, It's Cold Outside." Kurt swoons! Blaine croons! Christmas is ultimately saved. [TV Guide]
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Girl With the Dragon Tattoo star Rooney Mara broke her silence from the Stockholm set with what will no doubt go down as the Great Nipple Ring Communiqué of 2010: "It's -9 degrees Celsius. 37 takes down, only about 42 more to go. Every time [David Fincher] says, 'Okay, last one,' I fall for it. Every. Single. Time. If only I could get this damn shrug right, then maybe I could go inside and my nipple ring would have time to thaw out..." Hmm. Well, lob her into the front of the Oscar '11 pack, what's the harm? [EW]
· Thank you, Norwegian television show Golden Times for assembling the biggest stars of 1994 (among them Jason Alexander, Judd Nelson, David Faustino, George Wendt, Larry Drake, Kathleen Turner, Rikki Lake, Sherilyn Finn, Malcolm Jamal Warner, and so on) and having them sing (lip-synch?) The Beatles hit song "Let It Be." Don't try to make sense of this, just click ahead and watch it 50 times, then stick around for more Buzz Break.
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Lionsgate is officially on the awards-season warpath for Rabbit Hole, John Cameron Mitchell's drama featuring Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart as a couple struggling through the aftermath of their young son's death. You've seen the new trailer, the new poster, and now we've got a few new images to help round out the push toward the limited release Dec. 17. Get out your caption hats!
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Josh Duhamel's Google News Alert is blowing up today. The Life as We Know It star was booted off a plane in New York on Thursday because he wouldn't stop texting after the cabin doors were closed. A fellow passenger told TMZ that Duhamel "very rude" and "taunting the attendant," even going so far as to laugh in her face. Needless to say, authorities were called and Duhamel was escorted off. Reps for the actor say he's "sorry." Aren't we all, Josh. Aren't we all. [TMZ via Badass Digest]
