Today another loss of an entertainment venue is to be reported. However this is one of a larger scale. Miramax studios, the movie studio that brought us such films as Reservoir Dogs, The Crying Game, Clerks, Pulp Fiction, The English Patient, Chasing Amy, Good Will Hunting, Shakespeare in Love, Chicago, and No Country For Old Men, has been shut down. It was announced today by Disney, which bought the studio in 1993, that the studio is now no more. In one day eighty people have lost their jobs and the fate of six Miramax movies that are waiting distribution, such as The Debt and The Tempest, are as of now unknown.
Founded in 1979 by producers Harvey and Bob Weinstein, the studio was a haven for releasing artistic films and films that were experimentally creative. While the Weinsteins often drew criticism for rumors of bullying tactics and for re-cutting foreign films distributed in the US, it can’t be denied that the duo had a eye for finding new and creative talent, both in the people they worked with and the films they released. Filmmaker Kevin Smith has said that he owes his career to the studio, saying “I’m crushed to see it pass into history, because I owe everything I have to Miramax. Without them, I’d still be a New Jersey convenience store register jockey. In practice, not just in my head.” (The Wrap, Jan 2010)
In 1993 the studio was bought by Disney, who at first left the Weinsteins with an exceptional level of control over the studio. The Weinsteins left Miramax in 2005 over creative differences with Disney to form The Weinstein Company.
The future of Miramax has been uncertain for a while now. In October 2009 Disney announced that the number of movies released by Miramax would go from 6 to 8 films a year to 3 films per year. Then at the end of October 2009 Daniel Battsek, who took over as president of the studio after Bob and Harvey Weinstein left, resigned as head of the studio. Now the certainty of the studio is clear; it is to sadly die and go by the wayside.
While it may be no more, it will live on forever due to the amazing films it has been able to bring to the public. RIP.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
One Time Betty's Optimism wasn't Enough
Even when one is expecting bad news it’s still hard when you finally hear it.
Yesterday it was announced that the fourth season of Ugly Betty will be its last. ABC had decided to cancel the rating struggling show and will air its last episode sometime in April. In addition the network had decided to trim the episode order from 22 down to 20, making it even harder to wrap up the story lines for these characters we’ve grown to love and hate.
While it is not surprising that this decision has been made it is still upsetting news. Ugly Betty is a fun little show with a diverse cast. Furthermore it’s a pleasing visual show that’s exceptionally quirky, something I feel people need in the wake of such difficult times. America Ferrere plays Betty with such optimism and gusto, making you love her even more when she embarrasses herself and quickly shakes it off. The rest of the cast is terrific, especially Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater, a character that one on-line poster described as someone “you don’t want to see win and yet hate to see lose.”
Ugly Betty started off strong as a ratings darling for ABC, but lost it’s footing in the second season, partially brought on from a depletion of episodes as a result of the writers strike. Things seemed grim indeed this season when the show was moved to the Friday Night Death Slot, a move that has led to many once popular shows dying off. As a last ditch effort to save the show it was moved to Wednesday nights after the cancelation of The Witches of Eastwick. While ratings did pick up it seems it wasn’t fast enough to save the show.
Yesterday it was announced that the fourth season of Ugly Betty will be its last. ABC had decided to cancel the rating struggling show and will air its last episode sometime in April. In addition the network had decided to trim the episode order from 22 down to 20, making it even harder to wrap up the story lines for these characters we’ve grown to love and hate.
While it is not surprising that this decision has been made it is still upsetting news. Ugly Betty is a fun little show with a diverse cast. Furthermore it’s a pleasing visual show that’s exceptionally quirky, something I feel people need in the wake of such difficult times. America Ferrere plays Betty with such optimism and gusto, making you love her even more when she embarrasses herself and quickly shakes it off. The rest of the cast is terrific, especially Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater, a character that one on-line poster described as someone “you don’t want to see win and yet hate to see lose.”
Ugly Betty started off strong as a ratings darling for ABC, but lost it’s footing in the second season, partially brought on from a depletion of episodes as a result of the writers strike. Things seemed grim indeed this season when the show was moved to the Friday Night Death Slot, a move that has led to many once popular shows dying off. As a last ditch effort to save the show it was moved to Wednesday nights after the cancelation of The Witches of Eastwick. While ratings did pick up it seems it wasn’t fast enough to save the show.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus: A Labor of Love Through the World of Imagination
While his role as The Joker in The Dark Knight will always be thought of as Heath Ledger’s crowing achievement, it would seem that he has even deeper ties to his last film The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. His involvement was instrumental in getting the Terry Gilliam movie financed in the first place. Furthermore it was his enthusiastic performance that drove the movie to be finished after his untimely death, so that his final performance would not become lost and unseen. It’s good that audiences were able to see this film, because it is a wonderful if not confusing ride.
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus tells the story of an old fashioned traveling theatre troop, led by the wizened storyteller Doctor Parnassus (Christopher Plummer). Thousands of years ago he made a “devils deal” with the cunning Mr. Nick (Tom Waits). The deal was which of them could win over twelve souls first, Parnassus by using stories and imagination and Mr. Nick by using feeble desires and addictions. Doctor Parnassus wins and is granted immortality, but continues to age despite not being able to die. Now he and his theatre troop entertain people by having them pass through a magical mirror which leads them to a mystical realm powered by one’s own imagination, which is referred to as the Imaginarium. But in spite of winning his original wager with Mr. Nick, Doctor Parnassus still has reason to fear him. For in three days time Mr. Nick will come to collect Doctor Parnassus’s teenaged daughter Valentina (Lily Cole).
As they are traveling on the first of these three nights they save the life of Tony (Heath Ledger), a philanthropist who seems to be suffering from amnesia. The next day Mr. Nick pays Doctor Parnassus a visit and offers him a new wager; if he can win over five souls in two nights he can keep Valentina. Seeing that Doctor Parnassus is in a bad way Tony proclaims he can increase profits by modernizing the act and making it sleeker. At a show held in a mall he manages to charm several women into going into the mirror, where they are so overwhelmed by the extraordinary sights they see inside that they empty their purses and proclaim heartfelt thanks upon exiting. But just when the troop are one soul away from winning the bet a group of mobsters arrive demanding money from Troy. It soon becomes apparent that Troy is really a lying con artist who’s more devious then Mr. Nick, and Doctor Parnassus is the only one who can stop him.
Easily the most amazing visuals of the movie are the scenes in the Imaginarium world, where anything can happen if one can just imagine it. The viewer is taken into multiple worlds, featuring such sights as a riverboat surrounded by shoes and fashion to soaring in space on a sea of giant jellyfishes. It is in the Imaginarium that Troy’s appearance changes with each visit, where he is respectively portrayed by Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farell. Since Heath Ledger had filmed all of his scenes outside of the Imaginarium his appearance only changes inside of this magical world. This makes the fact that multiple actors are playing the same character simple to except. The other unexpected quality to this is it makes the change in Troy easier to realize, for each time he physically changes he grows closer to who his true self is.
It is a grand treat that this visually stunning film was able to be seen by the public. Hopefully others go out and see this eye-catching ecstatic ride. It’s an experience one should not miss.
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus tells the story of an old fashioned traveling theatre troop, led by the wizened storyteller Doctor Parnassus (Christopher Plummer). Thousands of years ago he made a “devils deal” with the cunning Mr. Nick (Tom Waits). The deal was which of them could win over twelve souls first, Parnassus by using stories and imagination and Mr. Nick by using feeble desires and addictions. Doctor Parnassus wins and is granted immortality, but continues to age despite not being able to die. Now he and his theatre troop entertain people by having them pass through a magical mirror which leads them to a mystical realm powered by one’s own imagination, which is referred to as the Imaginarium. But in spite of winning his original wager with Mr. Nick, Doctor Parnassus still has reason to fear him. For in three days time Mr. Nick will come to collect Doctor Parnassus’s teenaged daughter Valentina (Lily Cole).
As they are traveling on the first of these three nights they save the life of Tony (Heath Ledger), a philanthropist who seems to be suffering from amnesia. The next day Mr. Nick pays Doctor Parnassus a visit and offers him a new wager; if he can win over five souls in two nights he can keep Valentina. Seeing that Doctor Parnassus is in a bad way Tony proclaims he can increase profits by modernizing the act and making it sleeker. At a show held in a mall he manages to charm several women into going into the mirror, where they are so overwhelmed by the extraordinary sights they see inside that they empty their purses and proclaim heartfelt thanks upon exiting. But just when the troop are one soul away from winning the bet a group of mobsters arrive demanding money from Troy. It soon becomes apparent that Troy is really a lying con artist who’s more devious then Mr. Nick, and Doctor Parnassus is the only one who can stop him.
Easily the most amazing visuals of the movie are the scenes in the Imaginarium world, where anything can happen if one can just imagine it. The viewer is taken into multiple worlds, featuring such sights as a riverboat surrounded by shoes and fashion to soaring in space on a sea of giant jellyfishes. It is in the Imaginarium that Troy’s appearance changes with each visit, where he is respectively portrayed by Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farell. Since Heath Ledger had filmed all of his scenes outside of the Imaginarium his appearance only changes inside of this magical world. This makes the fact that multiple actors are playing the same character simple to except. The other unexpected quality to this is it makes the change in Troy easier to realize, for each time he physically changes he grows closer to who his true self is.
It is a grand treat that this visually stunning film was able to be seen by the public. Hopefully others go out and see this eye-catching ecstatic ride. It’s an experience one should not miss.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Conan O'Brian Further Screwed Over By NBC
It seems that NBC really is doing everything to keep things the way it was, even if it means completely reinventing itself and screwing others over in the process. By this I mean that they are doing everything they can to keep Jay Leno on their network.
This all started in 2004 when Jay Leno announced that he would be leaving The Tonight Show in 2009. At first things went as they were expected to. A successor (Conan O’ Brian) was chosen and other networks started trying to lure the popular comic over to them. But in December 2008 it was announced that Jay Leno would remain on NBC with his own talk show. Furthermore it would air at 10pm five nights a week, significantly reducing the number of hour long scripted programs the network usually aired.
Let’s get one thing straight, this decision was mainly based on money. True NBC didn’t want to lost Leno, who was a ratings darling for the network. But a bigger realization in this decision was that it was much cheaper to produce one five days a week talk show then five hour long dramas. And the fact that this decision came during the beginnings of the recession only added more incentive for the network to try and save money.
It has been four months since The Jay Leno Show began airing and the results haven’t been great. Viewership for the show has been less then expected. Today it was announced that The Jay Leno Show will no longer air at 10pm after February 11th. Instead it will be trimmed to a ½ hour format and air at 11:30pm, with The Tonight Show airing at 12:05AM instead.
This is a slap in the face to Conan O’Brian, who already has had to put up with a ton of crap from NBC and Jay Leno. First instead of simply handing over the late night torch, as Johnny Carson did when he named Jay Leno his successor, Leno stole a lot of O’Brian’s thunder with his decision to remain on television. With Leno doing topical humor at an earlier time Conan’s material would unfortunately seem like it was already heard. Not that it was his fault; just that it was the nature of the situation.
But this is an even greater insult. Because Leno isn’t doing well in a 10pm time slot he’s rewarded by getting his old slot back and having Conan give up time for his show. That is not right. Leno had his tenure during the late night hours and now its Conan’s time.
While I would like to see Conan remain The Tonight Show host, it might be for the better if he moves to another network. One where he is appreciated and treated with the dignity he should have gotten all along.
This all started in 2004 when Jay Leno announced that he would be leaving The Tonight Show in 2009. At first things went as they were expected to. A successor (Conan O’ Brian) was chosen and other networks started trying to lure the popular comic over to them. But in December 2008 it was announced that Jay Leno would remain on NBC with his own talk show. Furthermore it would air at 10pm five nights a week, significantly reducing the number of hour long scripted programs the network usually aired.
Let’s get one thing straight, this decision was mainly based on money. True NBC didn’t want to lost Leno, who was a ratings darling for the network. But a bigger realization in this decision was that it was much cheaper to produce one five days a week talk show then five hour long dramas. And the fact that this decision came during the beginnings of the recession only added more incentive for the network to try and save money.
It has been four months since The Jay Leno Show began airing and the results haven’t been great. Viewership for the show has been less then expected. Today it was announced that The Jay Leno Show will no longer air at 10pm after February 11th. Instead it will be trimmed to a ½ hour format and air at 11:30pm, with The Tonight Show airing at 12:05AM instead.
This is a slap in the face to Conan O’Brian, who already has had to put up with a ton of crap from NBC and Jay Leno. First instead of simply handing over the late night torch, as Johnny Carson did when he named Jay Leno his successor, Leno stole a lot of O’Brian’s thunder with his decision to remain on television. With Leno doing topical humor at an earlier time Conan’s material would unfortunately seem like it was already heard. Not that it was his fault; just that it was the nature of the situation.
But this is an even greater insult. Because Leno isn’t doing well in a 10pm time slot he’s rewarded by getting his old slot back and having Conan give up time for his show. That is not right. Leno had his tenure during the late night hours and now its Conan’s time.
While I would like to see Conan remain The Tonight Show host, it might be for the better if he moves to another network. One where he is appreciated and treated with the dignity he should have gotten all along.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Avatar: A Movie That Lives Up to the Hype
After months of speculation, James Cameron’s Avatar opened in theaters last Friday. To call this movie an event is an understatement, as there is talk that this movie will change filmmaking forever. While I am not sure that is the case, I have no problem in proclaiming that it is a epic adventure that raises the standards for CGI effects several notches.
With such advantages in effects, the plot has a surprisingly simplistic feeling to it. It seemed a bit like watching a futuristic cowboys and Indians adventure, but with a hefty dose of cultural acceptance and spirituality woven in. The movie takes place on a futuristic moon called Polyphemus in 2154 AD. The moon is rich in natural minerals that humans want to mine to save their own dying planet, but are unable to persuade a group indigenous Na'vi to leave their home tree, where a vast supply of the material resides. To prevent an all out war from occurring a program has been set up to create a diplomatic solution, overseen by the idealistic Dr. Grace Augustine (Sigourney Weaver). They have created a Human-Na'vi hybrid, referred to as an Avatar, which a person can remotely link up with and use to naturally interact with the Na’vi and possibly gain their trust. New to the program is Jake (Sam Worthington), a paralyzed formed marine who was brought on because his deceased twin brother had an Avatar created and Jake’s genetics make him compatible to inhabit it. On their first trip out into the planet Jake is separated from the group and has to fend for himself for the night. While driving off attacking animals he is rescued by Neytiri (Zoë Saldaña), a princess to the Na'vi tribe that inhabits the desired mineral site. Though wary of Jake’s recklessness she brings him to her tribe and persuades the Na’vi to have Jake learn their ways. As Jake spends more time with the deeply harmonistic Na’vi and inside his Avatar body he begins to have his doubts of the plan to strip and ravage their home world.
While the storyline is intriguing it is the visual effects that dominate this movie and make it so worthwhile to see on the big screen. Viewers are taken into a completely alien world and feel as if they are actually there. The camera swoops and soars over a lush landscape that engrosses the viewing experience. While it should be seen regardless, it’s best to see it in 3D. Rather then seeing the images simply come at you the viewer feels like they are surrounded and actually in the world they are seeing.
Even more impressive are the Na’vi and the Avatars. While we have seen computerized creatures in past film like Lord of the Rings and the new Star Wars trilogy, here they are detailed to a previously unheard of way. When we see Grace and Jake’s Avatar we can actually see a bit of the actor’s face in the computerized alien creature. This level of detail is both fascinating and even a little eerie at first.
While more hype is just that, this is one film that deserves all the praise it is getting. Treat yourself to a fine movie experience and see Avatar. It is a move you will not regret.
With such advantages in effects, the plot has a surprisingly simplistic feeling to it. It seemed a bit like watching a futuristic cowboys and Indians adventure, but with a hefty dose of cultural acceptance and spirituality woven in. The movie takes place on a futuristic moon called Polyphemus in 2154 AD. The moon is rich in natural minerals that humans want to mine to save their own dying planet, but are unable to persuade a group indigenous Na'vi to leave their home tree, where a vast supply of the material resides. To prevent an all out war from occurring a program has been set up to create a diplomatic solution, overseen by the idealistic Dr. Grace Augustine (Sigourney Weaver). They have created a Human-Na'vi hybrid, referred to as an Avatar, which a person can remotely link up with and use to naturally interact with the Na’vi and possibly gain their trust. New to the program is Jake (Sam Worthington), a paralyzed formed marine who was brought on because his deceased twin brother had an Avatar created and Jake’s genetics make him compatible to inhabit it. On their first trip out into the planet Jake is separated from the group and has to fend for himself for the night. While driving off attacking animals he is rescued by Neytiri (Zoë Saldaña), a princess to the Na'vi tribe that inhabits the desired mineral site. Though wary of Jake’s recklessness she brings him to her tribe and persuades the Na’vi to have Jake learn their ways. As Jake spends more time with the deeply harmonistic Na’vi and inside his Avatar body he begins to have his doubts of the plan to strip and ravage their home world.
While the storyline is intriguing it is the visual effects that dominate this movie and make it so worthwhile to see on the big screen. Viewers are taken into a completely alien world and feel as if they are actually there. The camera swoops and soars over a lush landscape that engrosses the viewing experience. While it should be seen regardless, it’s best to see it in 3D. Rather then seeing the images simply come at you the viewer feels like they are surrounded and actually in the world they are seeing.
Even more impressive are the Na’vi and the Avatars. While we have seen computerized creatures in past film like Lord of the Rings and the new Star Wars trilogy, here they are detailed to a previously unheard of way. When we see Grace and Jake’s Avatar we can actually see a bit of the actor’s face in the computerized alien creature. This level of detail is both fascinating and even a little eerie at first.
While more hype is just that, this is one film that deserves all the praise it is getting. Treat yourself to a fine movie experience and see Avatar. It is a move you will not regret.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Britney Murphy dead
Actress Britney Murphy, best known for her roles in King of the Hill and Clueless, was found dead at her home on Sunday. The 32 year old was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles after going into cardiac arrest, but was pronounced dead upon arrival. No cause of death is known as of yet and an investigation will be underway.
Brittany Murphy first came of notice to Hollywood after playing the role of Tai in 1995's hit movie Clueless. She went on to play other prominent roles in several films such as Don't Say A Word, Girl Interrupted, 8 Mile, Just Married, and Sin City. However, her best remembered role was voicing the character Luanne in the animated show King of the Hill, voicing the ditzy character through the show's entire 13 season run.
Brittany Murphy's publicist, Nicole Perna, has released the following statement: "In this time of sadness, the family thanks you for your love and support. It is their wish that you respect their privacy."
Brittany Murphy first came of notice to Hollywood after playing the role of Tai in 1995's hit movie Clueless. She went on to play other prominent roles in several films such as Don't Say A Word, Girl Interrupted, 8 Mile, Just Married, and Sin City. However, her best remembered role was voicing the character Luanne in the animated show King of the Hill, voicing the ditzy character through the show's entire 13 season run.
Brittany Murphy's publicist, Nicole Perna, has released the following statement: "In this time of sadness, the family thanks you for your love and support. It is their wish that you respect their privacy."
Friday, December 4, 2009
Scott’s Tots: An Office episode That Lacks Humor
The Office has always attempted to show the humor in extremely awkward situations. Whether it is Stanley suffering a heart attack during a fire drill gone horribly wrong or Dwight killing Angela’s sick cat without her permission, the show has excelled in taking a horrific occurrence and making it funny. Occasionally there will be an incident which is just painful to watch and not funny at all, such as when Pam’s former boyfriend Roy starts violently destroying a bar after he finds out that she and Jim kissed. But these simply uncomfortable moments, besides being few and far between, are always surrounded by very funny moments. We have never had an episode that was just simply painful to watch.
Until last night’s episode aired that is.
Last night’s episode of The Office, entitled “Scott’s Tots”, was one of the most difficult shows to sit through. Instead of being awkwardly funny it was alienating and uncomfortable. The premise of the episode was this: ten years ago Michael had promised a class of underprivileged third graders that if they graduated from high school he would pay for each of them to go to college. Now they are set to graduate and he doesn’t have the money to make good on his promise. He goes down to the school where he is greeted be applause from the students and numerous members of the committee. After hearing several students give speeches on how Michael’s promise kept them on track Michael finally tells them that he can’t pay for them to go to college. The students are shocked and angry at not getting to further their education after they worked so hard to get to this point and Michael leaves the school in disgrace.
The entire episode was simply painful to watch. While Michael has made some impulsive promises before it’s never been at this horrid of a level before. Even when Michael’s receptionist Erin points out that the silver lining is that his empty promise enabled those kids to graduate from high school it still doesn’t make up for crushing those kid’s dreams and trust. Possibly the worst image is seeing a newspaper article that came out when Michael first made the promise, praising him for his generosity and for giving those kids something to aspire to. While I normally find dark humor hilarious, watching this episode was about as uncomfortable as watching a sex scene with one’s parents. Hopefully the next episode goes back to being awkwardly funny instead of just awkward.
Until last night’s episode aired that is.
Last night’s episode of The Office, entitled “Scott’s Tots”, was one of the most difficult shows to sit through. Instead of being awkwardly funny it was alienating and uncomfortable. The premise of the episode was this: ten years ago Michael had promised a class of underprivileged third graders that if they graduated from high school he would pay for each of them to go to college. Now they are set to graduate and he doesn’t have the money to make good on his promise. He goes down to the school where he is greeted be applause from the students and numerous members of the committee. After hearing several students give speeches on how Michael’s promise kept them on track Michael finally tells them that he can’t pay for them to go to college. The students are shocked and angry at not getting to further their education after they worked so hard to get to this point and Michael leaves the school in disgrace.
The entire episode was simply painful to watch. While Michael has made some impulsive promises before it’s never been at this horrid of a level before. Even when Michael’s receptionist Erin points out that the silver lining is that his empty promise enabled those kids to graduate from high school it still doesn’t make up for crushing those kid’s dreams and trust. Possibly the worst image is seeing a newspaper article that came out when Michael first made the promise, praising him for his generosity and for giving those kids something to aspire to. While I normally find dark humor hilarious, watching this episode was about as uncomfortable as watching a sex scene with one’s parents. Hopefully the next episode goes back to being awkwardly funny instead of just awkward.
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