plus 4, Marilyn Monroe's Marijuana Night - ABC News |
- Marilyn Monroe's Marijuana Night - ABC News
- Review: De Niro shines in 'Everybody's Fine' - New Orleans Times-Picayune
- 'Transylmania' is a dated, graphic vampire spoof - Detroit Free Press
- DIRECT-TO-DVD MOVIE SCAMPERS UP THE CHARTS - Contactmusic.com
- Kate Hudson and Penelope Cruz steal the show at Nine premiere... but ... - Daily Mail
| Marilyn Monroe's Marijuana Night - ABC News Posted: 04 Dec 2009 01:48 AM PST |
| Review: De Niro shines in 'Everybody's Fine' - New Orleans Times-Picayune Posted: 04 Dec 2009 01:48 AM PST (AP) — For those weary of the cuddly Robert De Niro, the gentle uplift of his latest film, "Everybody's Fine," probably is not going to be tonic for the soul. Midway through the movie, however, there is a flash of the old, unpredictable and delightfully unmanageable De Niro when his character, feeling unappreciated by his grown children, goes off on a subway panhandler for a perceived breach of etiquette. De Niro offers a master class of mannered, minimalist acting in "Everybody's Fine." If writer-director Kirk Jones ("Waking Ned Devine") had allowed his lead actor a bit more room to roam into the dark corners of his character, the movie's fast path toward late-life insight would have felt more earned. Still, De Niro's work possesses such a quiet power that Jones' well-crafted film disappoints only in the sense that it could have delivered more. We first see De Niro's character, retiree Frank Goode, preparing for the homecoming of his four adult children. With the cardigan-dad strains of Perry Como playing in the background, Frank meticulously puts his home and garden in order. When the music stops playing, the phone starts ringing. Each "kid" begs off the reunion, using last-minute excuses that sound like just that: excuses.
So Frank, recently widowed and on heart medication, decides to ignore his doctor's advice and head out on a cross-country road trip to visit his offspring. He travels first to New York where there is no sign of his troubled artist son, David (Austin Lysy). He surprises career-minded Amy (Kate Beckinsale) in Chicago, slacker musician Robert (Sam Rockwell) in Colorado and free-spirit Rosie (Drew Barrymore) in Las Vegas. Frank's presence at each stop is not exactly welcomed, and we gradually come to understand why. Frank spent his entire adult life working double shifts so his children could succeed. And, for Frank, failure was not an option. If they did not achieve, the kids would hear about it from him. To some degree, that dynamic remains in effect. Jones should have made Frank a little less huggable, though both the character and the movie itself are not nearly as manipulative as Giuseppe Tornatore's 1990 original, which Jones adapted. If Frank's interactions with his grown children had more of an edge, though, the contrast between the reality of the relationships and his perception of them would have been truly heartbreaking. Instead, Jones achieves a certain wistfulness. Rockwell, Barrymore and Beckinsale all shine in their brief screen time, with De Niro's scenes with Rockwell packing the kind of tension the movie could have used to better advantage. "Mom used to say, 'Make your dad proud. He works hard for us,'" Rockwell's Robert tells Frank. "Well, I know you're not proud." Frank dismisses the candor, unequipped to deal with it since his wife always handled the family's emotional issues. The strength of "Everybody's Fine" is watching De Niro slowly transform Frank into a father willing to listen and accept his children for who they are and not who he wanted them to be. De Niro gives the familiar-feeling movie the chance to be a Father's Day perennial. "Everybody's Fine," a Miramax Films release, is rated PG-13 for thematic elements and brief strong language. Running time: 100 minutes. Three stars out of four. ___ Motion Picture Association of America rating definitions: G-General audiences. All ages admitted. PG-Parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children. PG-13-Special parental guidance strongly suggested for children under 13. Some material may be inappropriate for young children. R-Restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian. NC-17-No one under 17 admitted. This content has passed through fivefilters.org. |
| 'Transylmania' is a dated, graphic vampire spoof - Detroit Free Press Posted: 04 Dec 2009 12:30 AM PST "Transylmania" is a bad movie with a cast of no-names who hurl themselves at it as if it were auditions week at Juilliard. The graphic spoof of vampire thrillers and college-kids-in-Europe-in-jeopardy horror feels dated, almost quaint, in the post-"Hangover" and "I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell" cineplex. Ten college kids set off for a semester of study at Romania's Razvan University, which is actually a castle where coeds occasionally disappear. Might the vampires who once ruled the roost be to blame? RU is run by a dwarf dean (David Steinberg) who has a humpbacked daughter (Irena A. Hoffman). She's been sexting the virginal Rusty (Oren Skoog) after meeting him on the Internet. He resembles a long-dead (supposedly) vampire, which his classmates -- including the brainy one, the stoners, Mr. Bad-in-Bed and the sexpot -- think is hilarious until the real vamp wakes up and confusion ensues. Musetta Vander rolls her Rs as the resident vampire hunter on campus. The Ava Gardner look-alike wields swords and wears her spandex with verve. C-movie vet Jennifer Lyons flings herself at her character -- the daffy, sometimes-possessed-by-a-vampire bombshell Lynne -- with the abandon of someone with a lot of direct-to-DVD credits and one shot at showing she deserves better. Other than them, only the pothead Wang (Paul H. Kim) makes an impression, and there's just one laugh. It comes when vampires, stuffed in their coffins on a horse-drawn wagon, whine to the driver, "Are ve DERE yet?" This content has passed through fivefilters.org. |
| DIRECT-TO-DVD MOVIE SCAMPERS UP THE CHARTS - Contactmusic.com Posted: 03 Dec 2009 11:37 AM PST DIRECT-TO-DVD MOVIE SCAMPERS UP THE CHARTSDemonstrating that direct-to-DVD releases can enjoy considerable success in their own right, given the proper kind of marketing, Disney's Santa Buddies The Legend of Santa Paws debuted in fourth place on the Nielsen VideoScan First Alert sales chart last week. With many top retailers discounting DVD titles by half -- or more -- home video releases flew off the shelves, with many of them likely to end up under the Christmas tree in gift wrapping later this month. Warner Bros.' The Dark Knight , released over a year ago but priced below $10 in many retail outlets, returned to the chart in second place. So, too, did Paramount's Madagascar Escape 2 Africa, which was released on DVD last February and which could also be found in stores deeply discounted to $10 or less. Home Media magazine estimated that about 25 million DVDs were sold over the Thanksgiving week. 03/12/2009
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| Kate Hudson and Penelope Cruz steal the show at Nine premiere... but ... - Daily Mail Posted: 04 Dec 2009 01:48 AM PST By Simon Cable With seven leading ladies, the premiere of new musical Nine was always going to be a fashion parade. And the A-list stars didn't disappoint. Kate Hudson and Penelope Cruz dressed to the Nines in stunning ballgowns, more worthy of the Oscars than a wintry London night. Spanish actress Cruz wrapped up in a vintage fur coat on top of her floor-length Ralph Lauren lace dress, while Hudson opted for a sparkling corset style gown. But Nicole Kidman took a low-key approach, in a mini skirt and white blazer, which high-lighted her tiny waist. Scroll down to see video report
Show stopper to frumpy: From left, Kate Hudson and Penelope Cruz dressed up in ballgowns while Nicole Kidman stuck to a mini skirt and blazer
Dressed to the Nines (apart from Nicole): Hudson wore an Atelier Versace dress, Cruz wore a blue Ralph Lauren, while Kidman let the side down in a unusual white skirt suit Dame Judi Dench chose an understated £700 lime green Betty Jackson full-length dress. The film follows the life of Italian film director Guido Contini played by Day-Lewis, who struggles to balance the relationships of the various women in his life including his wife, his mistress, his film star muse, his confidant, an American fashion journalist, his glamorous courtesan and his mother. The screenplay - an adaptation of a 1982 Broadway stage hit - was written by the late Anthony Minghella.
The film also stars veteran actress Sophia Loren, who was forced to drop out of the premiere at the last minute because of filming commitments in her native Italy. It is the first time that Day-Lewis and Dench have worked together in 20 years, following their turn in Hamlet at the National Theatre. It turned out to be his last stage appearance because he had a breakdown midway through a performance and left, never to return.  Stars of the show: Daniel Day-Lewis, Judi Dench, Nicole Kidman, director Rob Marshall, Penelope Cruz and Kate Hudson
On their reunion, the 52-year-old said: 'I have loved and admired Judi for as long as I can remember. I sent her a note saying, 'I promise not to run out on you this time'.' Dame Judi, 74, who last sang on stage 13 years ago in A Little Night Music, said: "It was lovely to get another opportunity to work with him.' She added last night: 'We had a wonderful time making the film. All the girls got on so well. There was never a split in the group and we all had lunch together when we were filming. It was so much fun working with them all and of course I've known Dan for years so it was a fantastic group.'  Mind my skirt: The stars nearly had an accident when Kate stood on Penelope's dress Cruz, 35, has revealed that she was desperate for a role in the film, despite being 'shy' about her singing. 'I really love dance and I really love music, but I have never been able to sing professionally in any way before this movie - only doing karaoke at home,' she joked. 'I am very shy about singing.' Kidman, 42, whose previous singing experience on screen in Moulin Rouge earned her an Oscar nomination, added: 'We just felt really comfortable with each other.'  Reunited: Actor Daniel Day-Lewis (C) with wife Rebecca Miller (R), wearing Alexander McQueen, and actress Dame Judi Dench, in Betty Jackson, with whom he appeared on stage 20 years ago
The actress, who started rehearsals just four weeks after giving birth to her daughter, Sunday Rose, added: 'We all became good friends because we hung out together and swapped stories and asked each other's advice.' Hudson, 30, daughter of US actress Goldie Hawn, arrived in London earlier this week with her boyfriend, baseball player Alex Rodriguez, who was linked to Madonna shortly after announcing her divorce to Guy Ritchie. She said last night: 'I loved the singing and dancing, it was exhilarating and amazing to work with so many great actresses. I'd love to do it again.' The film's other stars Marion Cotillard and Stacy Ferguson were unable to make the premiere. Razzle dazzle: Jasmine Guinness and Nancy Dell'Olio brought plenty of glamour Special guests: Camilla Dallerup and boyfriend Kevin Sacre; Tamara Beckwith
Red alert: Sally Farmiloe and Noisettes singer Shingai Shoniwa wore a David Koma dress, similar to Cheryl Cole's creation by the same designer that she wore on X Factor last month
Explore more:Share this article:Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below, or debate this issue live on our message boards. The comments below have been moderated in advance. Pick of the bunch - Judi Dench. Rebecca is wearing what the bride's/grom's mother/grandmother usually wears at a Spanish wedding, i.e. something elegant, old-fashioned and anti-sexy. Penelope Cruz is absolutely lush, she is so sexy. And I think Daniel always looks very dashing. I love that he and Johnny Depp always wear quirky suits on the red carpet, nothing wrong with a bit of individuality. Nicole looks classy and gorgeous and I'm not even a fan. I don't like the brash, over the top gowns of Kate and Penelope. They look like over dressed fools. Hate these platform heels that they are wearing. Those type heels are clumpy and ugly. Nicoles and Kate's shoes both look stupid. Nicole looks like a man in drag compared to the others in the "group pic". The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. This content has passed through fivefilters.org. |
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Kate Hudson and Penelope Cruz look stunning - thats how Hollywood stars should look!
- jennie, Glasgow, 04/12/2009 09:52
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