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My Golden Globes Rant or No Wonder They Keep Them Hidden in Their Pants by Ray Schillaci
The award season is rolling in and once again, I am deeply disappointed. Golden Globe nominations have hit their biggest low since nominating and awarding Pia Zadora, Best Newcomer (I wonder if that was a bizarre porn reference) for the forgettable film and performance in “Butterfly.” Throwing in the craptasticals; “Burlesque” and “Alice in Wonderland,” as the best Picture for a Musical or Comedy is like swallowing something that should never go down one’s throat. But to include the ho-hum “The Tourist” and “RED” in that category displays an extreme lack of imagination or proper thought process.
Goddamn, if they needed nominees so badly they didn’t have to look any further than ‘Kick-Ass” “Cyrus” or “Toy Story 3”. These films were far more entertaining and had so much more to say. In defense of 2 out of the 3 mentioned (Kick-Ass and Cyrus) they had nowhere near the studio backing or publicity machine that cranked out false kudos for their misconceived products that offered nothing but false hopes for our entertainment. Unfortunately, for “Toy Story 3″ it was dumped into the limited nomination of Best Animation with total disregard of all its other star attributes.
My God, the HFP’s heads are so far up their asses, I think they are choking on their Adam’s apple. Perhaps that explains their biggest crime; to nominate Fincher’s soulless “the social network” over such better story driven, far more passionate pieces and expertly crafted fare as “The Town,” “True Grit” and, once again, “Toy Story 3.” Having HFP dismissing the much better films and going the popularity route is like wiping a canvas with a handful of shit.
Then to add something special from their sphincter’s, they have the balls (take it back – they have no balls) to give a nomination nod to Jessie Eisenberg for what could be called a sedate version of what he’s been doing all along in every other movie. Have the Hollywood Foreign Press not seen any of his films? The guy was a hundred times more engaging in “Zombieland” and “Adventureland.” It’s like nominating Stallone for a limit to his acting range.
What about that nomination in Musical/Comedy for Johnny Depp for “Alice in Wonderland”? Perhaps a special nomination should have been concocted for “Best Fagela – Who Cannot Help but Tell, Even If You Ask!” I like Depp, but his Mad Hatter performance was a new low, right up there with Willy Wonka. Please, let’s not encourage this fine actor into anymore lowbrow John Water-type character roles. They are better suited for the gay cabaret club circuit.
Also, how could anyone exclude Blake Lively with her intense raw performance in “The Town”? She is a standout in this year’s acting category. This is one case where ignorance is far from bliss. Shame on the Hollywood Foreign Press for their omissions and inclusions, they have single-handedly dismissed the entire art of cinema with a ballot made from Charmin.
As for the TV nominations, I will not waste anyone’s time, since it really doesn’t matter. The Golden Globes are a pale version of the Oscar telecast and an even a worse boring mess compared to the Emmy’s. Will I watch it? Perhaps by accident if I am not stuck in the john with a bad book or magazine.
At this time I wish you all Happy Holidays with some wonderful suggestions for your viewing pleasure:
Kick-Ass ““ How many adjectives can I use to describe the geek-love I have for this film? It’s a thrill ride-in-a-half that appeals to the bad boy in all of us. Nicholas Cage is perfection and the young wunderkind, Chloe Moretz playing his daughter is a true find. Together, they are the greatest duo since Ryan and Tatum O’Neal from “Paper Moon.” Aaron Johnson is warm, compelling and sincere as the kid who tries so hard to be a real superhero. By the way, language and violence is rough on this one. So prudes, stay clear.
Inception ““ Let’s take an extreme action film and give it a mind! What a concept that is beautifully executed by writer/director Christopher Nolan. Multiple viewings will probably be required to catch up with the intricate plot. This is a Blu-ray must!
The Town ““ I have never been a big fan of Ben Affleck. I actually thought “Goodwill Hunting” was either a one-of-a-kind fluke or secretly ghost written by somebody else. Yes, I know Damon was his partner, but we have not seen anything else from that man either. Back to Affleck (Ben), he then blows us all away with “Gone, Baby, Gone” and now presents his very best work yet with “The Town”. In fact, I will go out on a limb and declare that “The Town” is the best picture of the year with the very best acting ensemble to go with it. It could also fall under the category as one of the greatest heist films ever made. It’s not fun or cagey, but filled with real people and their gut-wrenching stories. Once again, Blake Lively as Krista Coughlin, Ben Affleck’s old flame, scorches the screen and surprisingly Affleck shows he can hold his own with her and co-star Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker).
Toy Story 3 ““ Not that it’s anywhere in the same category, but TS3 is right up there with my best picture choice (The Town) in 2010. Who would ever think that there was another tale to be told by the Toy Story people? Not only did they capture the charm of the original, they improved upon it and had us crying and cheering along with our children.
The Book of Eli ““ A snazzy, off-beat post-apocalyptic tale that never ceases to surprise. Denzel Washington is mesmerizing as Eli, the quiet, simple man with a mission to deliver a book while thwarting cannibals and demigods. This is a survival story with heart that never gets morose or boring.
Cyrus ““ As I had mentioned before in my June review, the film is creepy, quirky, and highly original and loads of fun. It’s right up there with such underground classics as “Harold & Maude” and “Where’s Poppa?” John C. Reilly reaffirms his comic prowess and plays it beautifully off both Marisa Tomei and Jonah Hill who only add to the hilarity and sincerity of dysfunctional people trying to survive love.
Monsters ““ This movie actually has the biggest WOW factor of any of the films mentioned. But warning, it’s definitely not for the simple minded. Therefore, all you couch potatoes waiting for an onslaught of special effects to continue to wipe out another major city for your viewing pleasure will be disappointed. This wonderful film (see Christopher Stipp’s review) concentrates on the aftermath and an incredible journey of two people discovering a passion for living and loving in the midst of disaster. It is intense and awe-inspiring. Yes, there are monsters involved, but they are almost an engrossing subplot to the whole story. The ending gave me the same chills I received when I first viewed Steven Spielberg’s original cut of “Close Encounters of the Third Kind.” But there is one very big exception, this film looks like a multi-million dollar movie, yet it was made for reported $15,000. Unfortunately, we have to wait till February 1, 2011 before it is released to Blu-ray or possibly catch it as a viewing rental from Amazon, unless there is enough of a public outcry to get the film a decent theatrical release as did “Blair Witch” or “Paranormal Activity.” But please do not confuse it with those movies. It is not a first-person camera story (found footage, etc.). It is far better than any of those types of films in every way, shape and form. It has to be seen to be believed.
Enjoy the holidays, the recommendations and the few good films that are available to us via theatrical release (Black Swan, The Fighter, True Grit, Tangled) and home video release. Remember, it’s the season to relish the time you can spend with those family members you love and stomach the time with those you have no tolerance for. One last thought for the year; life is too short not to be entertained.
TRUE GRIT – Review
This movie belongs to Hailee Steinfeld and Jeff Bridges.
Forget about Matt Damon, who is nonetheless excellently poised at every moment to add flavor and humor to a tightly shot script, and certainly pay no attention to Josh Brolin who might as well have been given a Guest Starring credit as Barry Pepper is the true force majeur in the moments we spend with him. The real pleasure is watching Hailee and Jeff spin in each other’s orbit, the harmony that exists as the two of them shuck and jive is something to behold.
Whereas Henry Hathaway’s 1969 version was something of a departure from Charles Portis’ novel upon which these films were based the Coens’ version hews closely to the book and it shows. The newest incarnation feels sinewy, not an ounce of fat to be cut from what is a pretty simple tale of a little girl coming into a strange town to hire someone to get the man who killed her father. Really, this should be a movie that is about revenge and the ineptitude of a girl who fancies herself a woman. However, what Joel and Ethan Coen do is wrap this western in a true coming of age tale, the real masterstroke that makes this one of the most exciting westerns to come out in the last ten years.
The male bravado that is on display in so many westerns is the very thing that has held it back as a genre. The modern testosterone fueled picture is but a simulacrum for these things where men are men, women are women, and the Indians are always the bad guys.
The Coens flip this and what you end up with is a movie that wants to be more than just the tale of drunkard Rooster Cogburn’s redemption as a man of law and as man in general. For it’s Mattie Ross (Steinfeld) who provides the role reversal in being the fast talking, and quickest witted, girl who can carry herself just fine. It’s a postmodern feminist tale set in the old west where there was no such thing as the kind of defiance she exerts to those around her who she feels has wronged her, belittled her, or seek her subjugation to their will. In countless scenes she is seen as neither sassy, nor cute, in her attempts to exact the Shakespearean level revenge, her pound of flesh, from the hide of Tom Chaney (Brolin).
With Ross’ story, the ultimate face-off between Chaney and herself seems perfunctory. It’s irrelevant, even, to the larger themes being discussed which really is that the journey means more than the destination. The revenge is sweet, no question, but the lack of any character development whatsoever with regard to Chaney and the events that lead to his exiting the picture happen so fast that there isn’t any other conclusion to be reached other than this is a story of Ross and Cogburn. And Cogburn, for all he’s worth, really helps to anchor this film and establish it as a movie worthy of being this year’s best.
Bridges commands both sides of being both amusing and lethal. The gray areas in between are where we see glimpses of a man who used to be something more than a lawman who fudges the letter of the law, of showing a determination and honesty to his word when he realizes he has nothing else left to him but these virtues. Loyalty is something that’s developed slowly and gradually but Bridges brims with the character of a man who is beaten but who has not given up. There is some honor left in this samurai of the west and the Coens do what they do the best: allow their actors to stretch the skins of their character.
Yes, the words are on the page and are intended to be delivered word for word but they realize that it’s in nuance, in small moments when their players are talking to simply step back and let the material, and not their style, be the guide. Matt Damon as LaBoeuf does well as a man who would like to think himself as the superior enforcer with regards to the law of the land but in a place where there are no rules Damon comes off well as the in-over-his-head fop who constantly finds himself in many inopportune situations.
The real pleasure of this version of True Grit comes across not only in the performances which are uniformly great but in the honesty with which everyone plays their part. This is a western, yes, but with the infusion of innocence that is slowly rubbed away like oxidation on a copper penny you have a film that means so much more than a stamp that will place it in the Western genre. It’s a story of redemption and loss and what it means to keep pushing forward even when it seems the night is at its darkest hour.
If The Departed was Scorsese’s attempt to get a hold on Boston, Ben Affleck’s 
Write all of those holiday gift thank you letters in the most beautiful and pretentious way possible with the 
I greatly enjoyed the first Nanny McPhee movie, and hoped against hope that Emma Thompson would be able to maintain the same level of Poppins-esque whimsy, heart, and humor she captured so well. Thankfully, 
Going in, I didn’t know quite what to expect from 
It’s always nice to see a new collection of Groucho material, even if it’s all culled from the public domain – that doesn’t mean it’s something I’ve seen. 
If you want a prime example of exactly how NOT to capitalize on public knowledge of a pop culture fixture for a big screen relaunch, look no further than the lifeless, drab take on 
Fans who seemingly didn’t watch the poor-rated show when it was on can now partake of the final clutch of episodes via 
If your kids liked Happy Feet and really want to see a movie about owls, then 
It’s with a bit of a whimper that the once-riveting 
I must admit, I do so love an old school, cat & mouse thriller of the kind that Hitchcock and Carol Reed would make, and that’s exactly the type of methodically taut pace found in 
It’s been over 10 years since cultural icon Stephen Fry released his first memoir, Moab Is My Washpot, which left leaders with only a portion of the story, ending as it did in his teenage years, just released from a prison sentence for credit card fraud, with college – the legendary Cambridge – and fame still before him. Well, he picks it all right back up in the same warm, witty, candid style with 
Another year has gone by, which means that we’re all being gifted with a lovely clutch of brand new QI books, first and foremost being 
Before television turned Charlie Brooker into a superstar (hush, you), he ran a website called TVGoHome, which put more than one skewer through television, from fake listings to articles and ads. These were all collected into the book 
It was with some trepidation that fans entered the 5th season of 
What would the holiday season be without cookies? And, naturally, a geek needs somewhere to put those cookies – so why not a light-up (with sound effects!) 
Evocative of Addams, Dahl, Gorey & Seuss but gloriously the unique genius that is the combination of my friends Trace Beaulieu and Len Peralta comes 
Another could-have-been-a-disaster moment turned out to be gold with Steven Moffat & Mark Gatiss’s modern take on Sherlock Holmes, 
It’s a been a few months, and you know what that means – a new Mystery Science Theater 3000 set! Continuing their yearly tradition, this holiday period box set comes packed with another bot action figure, and this times it’s the absolutely massive (and wonderfully accurate) Gypsy. If that weren’t enough, the movies contained in the 
Over the past year, there have been a trio of documentaries that any self-respecting Disney fan will find essential viewing, and all three are being released on DVD the same day (making purchase that much easier, natch). First up is 
While both films have their highs and lows – Fantasia has the “Sorcerer’s Apprentice”, “Dance of the Hours”, Night On Bald Mountain”, and “Nutcracker Suite” as highs, while Fantasia 2000 manages only the Hirschfeld inspired Gershwin sequence and the Flamingo with a yo-yo – it’s still lovely to have them both fully remastered in high definition as a 
For the true Disney fan, their incredible Walt Disney Animation Studios: Archive Series continues with the 3rd volume, 
But the Disney fun doesn’t end there, as the Disney legacy is also explored in a far different way via the grand Mouse’s videogame comeback – 
If you’ve yet to see Graham Linehan’s brilliant UK sitcom 
Because they’re so attuned to exactly what geeks want – pop culture geeks, the lot of us – Thinkgeek has become a prime destination for picking up LEGO sets that both geek adults and geek kids will want. Need proof? Well, considering you Star Wars geeks can pick up Boba Fett’s 
But what if your child likes LEGOs but you don’t want to buy them a construction set? Thinkgeek also stocks the 
Ach, but that’s not all! They’re also stocking all of the new LEGO board games, from the 
There’ve been a few quite nice highlight and retrospective sets released in the past, but if you want a truer picture of just why Johnny Carson was considered the King of Late Night, you should pick up 
Chemistry sets are so passe – Today’s kids want to investigate crimes… Particularly if their investigative materials are branded with a hit TV show. In other words, you can give the gist of a trio of kiddie-crime-solving kits – the 
I’m always leery when a new CG animated film comes down the pike and it’s not from Pixar, just because there have been so many duds trying to emulate their winning formula. This year, however, ahs been a banner one for non-Pixar flicks, starting with How To Train Your Dragon and including 
Yeah, I’m a sucker for the Guinness Book of World Records. There’s just something so compellingly exciting yet sad about the various and sundry attempts at dubious immortality “achieved” by the people, events, and tragedies included in the 
Covering the wild personal upheaval between 1964-1971, 
While it never achieves the transcendent by-golly-wow reaction it desperately wants for assembling such a massive all-star action pic hall of fame cast, 
After they released the brilliant – and much-requested – It’s Garry Shandling’s Show, fans were ready to throw a parade for the fine folks at Shout Factory after they announced they would be giving a complete series release to the even more brilliant 
There’ve been a few different versions released over the years, but the definitive edition – in high def, no less – is the 
For the past few years, Insight Editions has been putting out some truly spectacular books, from their series on the modelmaking and costuming of Star Wars to spotlights on John Lennon. While Chronicle Books has the lock on Pixar and Disney, Insight has been publishing massive, beautiful “Art Of” collections from Dreamworks and Sony. Currently available – and worth picking up – are 
Also worth mentioning from Insight, even though they’re not “Art Of” books, are Jerry Beck’s 
I have been counting the days until the high definition 25th Anniversary edition of the 
By the time we reach the third volume of 
About 5 years ago, I became aware that a documentary had been made about an artist I held dear to my heart – the underrated, underappreciated Harry Nilsson. I received a promo copy at the time, and found the documentary to be a comprehensive, enlightening overview of a brilliant artist beloved by friends and fans (including the likes of The Beatles) who happened to be a very flawed human being whose excess led to a far too early death. The doc floated around the festival circuit for the past few years, but 
It’s no Ben 10, but Cartoon Network’s 
Where the US version of the UK’s middle-age male crisis dramedy Manchild never got past pilot, the similarly themed 
I know a lot of you are probably waiting for next year’s Blu-Ray release of the entirety of season 4, but for those who can’t wait, 
It’s been almost a year since the Blu-Ray Ultimate Editions of the first two films were released, but the rather long wait has brought us the just-in-time for Deathly Hallows: Part 1 release of 
You know who else has comedy locked up for you this holiday season? The fine folks at Channel 4, who have a lovely clutch of comedy coming to DVD, including new stand-up specials – 
If you’d like to spend your holidays with a big green ogre, then you can fulfill that very odd wish with the 
The one factor that made Christopher Nolan’s 
You may know Haynes as the folks who put together all of those car manuals you see sitting on your mechanic’s (or father’s) shelf. Well, they’ve decided to venture into geek territory with the 
You can always bet that if there’s a new version of anything in the offing, the original version will get a release to coincide with it – and such is the case with the classic 1969 version of 
For the longest time, I’ve been able to suppress whatever last vestige of giddy Star Wars fanboy remained within me after being so mercilessly stamped out by the overwhelming mediocrity of the Prequels. That was, until I laid eyes on Hasbro’s incredible – in both execution and freaking size – new 
The folks at Fox want to load down your holiday viewing schedule as well, and have moved to do so with a pair of holiday box sets. 
I’m Ken Plume, and soon you’ll be listening to “A Bit Of A Chat” with me, Ken Plume.
They rebuilt him… Better… Stronger… Faster… And now, after an interminably long wait, 
As a child in the early 80’s I remember the magical joy of coloring pieces of thin plastic that, when cut out and put in the oven, would shrink and thicken into tiny little 2-D plastic figurines. Yes, I’m speaking of 
In the mid-60’s, a trio of producers named Bob Rafelson, Bert Schneider, and Steve Blauner stepped from the surging counterculture and into the mainstream conservative milieu of Hollywood and crafted a definitive TV property with the manufactured pop band/TV show The Monkees. Seeking to move into films, they developed a decidedly unorthodox film for The Monkees written by good friend and Corman regular Jack Nicholson. After it bombed miserably, they hit paydirt with an era-defining film – Easy Rider. High definition version of both those films – plus the rest of their output (Five Easy Pieces, Drive, He Said, A Safe Place, The Last Picture Show, & The King Of Marvin Gardens) – in the box set 
For decades, Fritz Lang’s silent masterpiece – a visual and conceptual feast that his inspired scores of filmmakers – has been a fractured film, with whole chunks of footage and sequences that were in the debut cut deemed lost forever. Well, never say never, as recent discoveries have allowed the fine folks at Kino to assemble the complete 
Earlier this year, Kino also began releasing its extensive Buster Keaton collection in high definition, with the result being a trio of must-have releases for any aficionado of cinematic comedy – 
When HBO’s brilliantly dark western Deadwood began its first season, the time period within the series was only a few weeks following the massacre of Custer’s troops in 1876. Into the lawless South Dakotan town rode two men – one a bitter ex-lawman, and the other a man looking to start a new life – and both ran afoul of the local heavy who owns half the town. What followed was an epic drama of operatic heights, and one you can watch in its entirety in high definition with 
Your perennial holiday viewing just got a high definition upgrade with the Blu-Ray release of 
Killing time between now and when the globe-trotting Cars 2 comes out next summer? Well, you can dip into brand new adventures featuring everyone’s favorite hillbilly tow truck in 
The complete runs of both the classic Batman and Superman animated series have already made their debut as box sets, as well as Justice League, so the last to get the treatment arrives with 
It’s not really a brilliant series, but Gerry Anderson’s 
It’s certainly not as well-known or well-loved as shows like Space: 1999 or Thunderbirds, but completionists are sure to rejoice at the arrival of Gerry Anderson’s 
As the little Fockers will be making their way to the big screen shortly, it makes sense that Blu-Rays of 
We’re now into the second season, and I’ve pretty much written off 
Most people think of Romeo + Juliet or Moulin Rouge when they think of Baz Luhrmann and over look the dance-happy 
It’s been a long string of single-disc releases leading up to the release of 
Beginning after his emigration to the Big Apple in 1971, 
The Warner Archive has decided to celebrate the holidays be bringing together the holiday episodes of everything from The Courtship Of Eddie’s Father and Alice to Mama’s Family and Dr. Kildare in the 
The Warner Archive Collection continues to release titles no sane fan would ever think they’d eventually get their hands on, and I’d say the complete animated spin-off of The Dukes Of Hazzard – 
In an attempt to further turn themselves into Spike, the History Channel’s 
I’ve become less and less interested in seeing Tom Cruise on screen in recent years, and was hoping that the True Lies-esque bit of a blast thrill ride 
After Santa and his canine BFF travel to New York and the big man loses his memory, it’s up to the doggie to make sure Christmas is achieved in the saccharine sweet 
You know how long it’s been since 
For every surprisingly enjoyable bad idea like Pirates of the Caribbean comes a misfire dud like 
Real-life lovers Drew Barrymore and Justin Long have gone down the path of many actor couples by immortalizing their relationship as an onscreen duo, with their particular vehicle being 
Rob Reiner shoots straight down the middle with his amiable adaptation of young love novel 
Part of me cringes to say this, but I’ve begun to think that YouTube sensation Fred Figglehorn is this young generation’s Pee Wee Herman, particularly after seeing the feature-length 
As always, it’s rather pointless to criticize the Twilight movies, as the rabid, massive audience care’s not what anyone has to say about their beloved pap-fest, and the same rule applies to 
CHRISTOPHER STIPP: Greg?
FITZSIMMONS: Well, for me, a lot of it is money at this point only because I worked as a kid ““ from the age of 12 on I was shoveling driveways, raking leaves, I was caddying by the time I was 14. I was just always working and then through the time I was in college I’ve been doing stand-up but really found myself at whether it was stand-up or writing just giving it everything. And, after 20 years of that you start to feel like ““ life starts to say f.u.. And you always have to work and I’ve always been pretty smart about buying real estate and for a long time I’ve benefited from not having to take just one job and it’s allowed me to make choices and in the long run even more beneficial to my career because I truly do what I want, what excites me. I think, and it’s the biggest cliché, but it really is true, that if you are doing what you love you don’t have to worry about the money. It just always seems to work out.
CS: And I’m reminded about the riff from last night just going off, you were knocking the Commandments down, one after another. It was almost felt like, as we listen to you, you were thinking, “While I’m at it let’s just go through the rest of this and see what I can make out of it.”
FITZSIMMONS: When I was coming up in New York and then LA, I always did a lot of alternative comedy because there’s always one room that I would try to work every week or every other week because it would force me to do 10 new minutes. You are standing in front of a crowd that was there every week so you couldn’t do something you’ve done before and it forced me to come up with new material every week. And, the podcast is the same way. I try not to look in the paper for what my monologue is going to be. I try to really look at either my life, which is pretty limited ““ two kids and on the road a lot there’s just so many airplane jokes and my kid threw up jokes ““ for me where my head is at is the existential midlife crisis type things.
Live in Phoenix or the nearby environs? Interested in seeing Little Fockers on December 16? Then, pal, I have just the ticket for you. In fact, I have a lot of tickets so by all means shoot me a line at Christopher_Stipp@yahoo.com and I’ll see about hooking you up with passes to see it.
What a pleasure this film was to watch.
This one is a no brainier.
Both of these films are true classics and classics that make excellent gifts to those men, or ladies, in your life who can appreciate the larger themes that both of these movies explore.
It’s simple why you should get this for any fan of film after watching this documentary.
If you’re looking to get something that is hard boiled, smart, taut, and pretty damn satisfying this is the movie to get this season.
How many of you, like myself, are obsessed with the History Channel and cannot stop watching footage from Word War II?
I ought to only have to mention the Pusher Trilogy and Bronson. This thing should sell itself without me getting in the way.
I didn’t know the first thing about this series before putting it into my player but man did I rush out and get season one as soon as I was halfway through this.
This movie is a riot so go forth and buy a copy of this. Literally, the answer to any anglophile in your life who thinks they know it all when it comes to the most brilliant comedy to come out this year.
You simply could not do better when it comes to finding a movie about two kids who find each other.
James Cameron is, if nothing else, thorough.
I’m not a big Beatles fan but I appreciated this film.
This was one amazing television series.
I won’t explain myself any further than to say I dig this show when it’s on my DVR and managed to get me through many a sleepless night with my newborn. Sometimes a reality show doesn’t have to be angry or controversial, sometimes all it needs to do is be entertaining and Billy The Exterminator certainly is.
BILLY THE EXTERMINATOR: SEASON ONE contains all 13 episodes from the debut season on 2 DVDs.
Have a friend who won’t shut up about the superiority of Asian cinema or that special someone in your life who just doesn’t get what is up with those wacky kids in the Far East? This film will please both of these people while making them wonder what in the world is wrong with you for buying such a thing.