First off I need to apologize for the tardiness of this entry. I was infected with the swine pandemic and was unable to do anything but utter “Bbbbraaaiiinsssss…” feebly from my bed. Now I’m up and about again, so here we go.
One of the first things to do when making your movie is figure out [...]
It’s a difficult tightrope to walk, making a film adaptation of a book, especially if the book is well-loved. On one hand, if you change the book’s content too much, you run the risk of angering the fans who will turn on you for all the differences between the story in their heads and the [...]
In 2003’s The Yes Men, Mike Bonanno and Andy Bichlbaum set up a website mimicking and lampooning the World Trade Organization, a corporation they oppose. Their website, however, was mistaken for the real thing and they were invited to speak at important meetings and functions as representatives for the WTO. They decided to use the [...]
What is art? Can a thumbtack on an otherwise blank wall be a picture? Can someone kicking a bucket filled with chains be music? Most of us, with good reason, would say no. It takes more inherent talent to make art; more then just sticking a tack up on a wall or just making seemingly [...]
We’ve all gone to the movies and said “I can make a better film then that.” Personally, I’ve said that more than most, being a part-time film critic and part-time filmmaker. But how easy is it really to make the Next Great American Film? Truth is, not all that simple. To say that the stars [...]
You can’t crush a man’s dreams, even if they are only to be the best air drummer in the world. That’s the premise in this Rocky-meets-Napoleon-Dynamite picture written and directed by and starring Ari Gold as the titular Power. He looks like a dorky Spike Jonze with a Members Only jacket and a perpetual sweatband. [...]
First of all, it’s all-cards-on-the-table time. Zombieland is only the third zombie flick I’ve ever seen. I know, I know. I’m sorry. 28 days later and Shaun of the Dead are the other two. Not even one of the real “Dead” series. They’re on my Netflix queue and have been for quite some time. I [...]
Paris is a magical city. Being introduced to the ancient architecture and the thick, rich culture, especially for an American not used to it, can be overwhelming. I was fortunate enough to visit twice. The first time was with a group of three other Americans. We were stationed in England and had to leave base [...]
There are two things present in every Coen Bros film – crime and fools. Usually the fools are the ones committing the crimes and trying (failing) to get away with them. However, it never feels like the brothers have any sympathy towards the “heroes.” On the contrary, it often feels like they enjoy making up [...]
I have not lost anyone significant in my life, not lately anyways. The last close relative of mine who died was my grandfather in ’91 so I have not had to go through the healing process of grief in a very long time (knock on wood). My wife, however, has not been so fortunate. Her [...]
The Fix Is In. That is the title of episode 168 of “This American Life” where the story of Mark Whitacre was first heard by screenwriter Scott Burns and eventually made into a movie. Such is Hollywood. After seeing the film yesterday, I looked up the Chicago Public Radio program and listened to it this [...]
One of the biggest problems facing moviemakers, or really, any working artist seeing a project through, is being too close to your project. Often times it takes an objective eye and a kind word to show you that you’ve gone off the rails and need to correct your trajectory. Once you’re in production, things really [...]
