Tuesday 7 April 2009

Avatar Tid-Bits


An interview with a cast member of...Avatar!

Christina Radish: What can you say about the film and who you play in it?

Laz Alonso: Unfortunately, I can’t say anything because that was part of what we signed. None of us are allowed to talk at all about the script or what the story is about. All I can say is that the technology is something that no one has ever seen or used before. We were being filmed by 197 cameras, simultaneously, in real time. It was something that took two and a half years to do, and when you see it this December, you’re going to know why it took that long. It is just unrivaled by anything that my eyes have ever seen in cinema. It blew me away, when I saw some of the finished scenes.

Christina: How does it affect your performance when you’re dealing with all of that technical stuff?

Laz: It affects the beginning and the end of the day because there’s a huge process. It literally takes over an hour to prepare and get synced in with the technology that they’re using, in addition to make-up and all the other stuff you have to do. So, there’s a whole ritual that takes place, at the beginning of the day, but once you get on set with Jim, you literally get transported into a different place. Once you’re there, you’re there, and you don’t leave for the next 15 hours, until you wrap. Working with him, you work long hours, but then you get to set the next morning and he’s cut the scene that you did the day before, and you realize that he never got any sleep. You’re a foot soldier and this guy is at war, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, when he finds something that he’s passionate about, and he’s passionate about this movie. That’s why I know the movie is going to do well.

So at least we know umm nothing still...except 197 cameras were used at one time and the film will change the way we feel about cinema forever (tm). Apart from those little nuggets of non-information, even by saying diddly squat, I still feel excited deep down. And so should you reader, so should you.

A Musical Lesson (1921-1930)

Since its cinematic breakthrough in the early 20's, the musical genre has had a tumultuous reputation with film goers and critics alike. Having been a staple diet in theatres for many years before any sort of palpable film success, the musical has a history deserving of a commentary beyond The Sound Of Music, Grease, Wizard of Oz...

In this series I'll make several attempts to document the rise and fall of the genre and hopefully open a box of revelations which will just make you watch (or at least record) that old musical when it hits the box at some god-darned-hideous hour.

It'll be more exciting than Marley & Me and Lesbian Vampire Killers combined and that is a heartening thought!


The first real hit for the film musical genre was The Jazz Singer (released in 1927). The film went on to attain success from all quarters including special commendations at the annual Oscar ceremony. Technically speaking the first Hollywood musical was The Broadway Melody (1929), however The Jazz Singer is generally credited for being the first film to pull of songs within a narrative and for those songs to enhance the film rather than interfere with the pacing.

It's success is stunning bearing in mind the sound revolution was still over a decade away (although most of the film plays in silence).


The Broadway Musical (produced by MGM), as previously mentioned, is accredited to be the first musical and its easy to see why. It's the first musical to win the Best Picture Oscar and first musical to gain wide distribution across America.

The next in the series will look at 1930-1945, a time where change meant a whole deal to the tale of world history and as a consequence, film.

Sunday 5 April 2009

How To Defend Against Two Dildos...

Friday 3 April 2009

What To Watch (3rd April)

It's a been another week of haphazard, on-the-spur reactions. But enough of the protests outside the G20 conference (sic).

In all seriousness however I have been all over the place this week and for that reason this is only the third post of the week.

Moving past the blubbering and onto the weeks releases...


The Boat That Rocked (dir. Curtis)

It could be argued that Richard Curtis hasn't written, directed or produced anything decent since 1999's Notting Hill. Even the aforementioned film has a pack of wolves ready to tear it apart. Just bring it up in conversation at a party, it'll run and run...

So 'The Boat That Rocked' comes along without a huge marketing push and looking to put the terrible wrongs of Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, right.

Starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Nighy, Rhys Ifans, Nick Frost & Kenneth Branagh. Quite the 'pick and mix' of a cast. The story revolves around this group of rag-rats who set up an illegal radio station out in the North Sea in the 60's.

Opening reviews are middling for this one, though I can see why many people would go and watch this without much hesitancy. Richard Curtis + British Cast = Box Office. I can honestly promise you this won't be as bad as Mr Bean's Holiday...or anything Mr Bean!


Monsters Vs Aliens (dir. Letterman/Vernon)

Monsters Vs Aliens is the almost quarterly animated release to reach out to audiences and soak up their cash. Shot by the directors of Shark Tale & Shrek 2 (hardly an endorsement) im guessing the film does exactly what it says on the poster. Maybe a sub-Monsters Inc?

The voice cast is strong not unlike other Dreamworks animations. Hugh Laurie, Seth Rogan, Reese Witherspoon, Paul Rudd, Kiefer Sutherland...the list goes on.

The reviews have been gently positive for this one, with Rotten Tomatoes scoring it a 72% average sought from critics on both sides of the Atlantic.

Not too bad a weekend then. Solid if not spectacular. Next week brings us the much anticipated Fast & Furious (likely to be hideous if early notices are any valid indication...)