I'm so struck by Paul Newman's death that I can't even bring myself create a clever title for the entry. It just doesn't seem fitting. I read about his death yesterday and a wave of shock washed over me. Newman's career has been such a long, sustained venture, and one with nary a misstep, that it sort of felt like it could go on forever, which is foolish, but still...I was a huge fan of so many of his films over the past four decades of my life that it's like losing a life-long friend. If that's cliche, sue me.

I had just last week read about the new remastered DVD of Cool Hand Luke, a film I've never owned and was looking forward to purchasing. There's that one, the incomparable The Verdict (one of my all-time favorite films), Absence Of Malice, The Sting, Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid, Nobody's Fool...

I don't know what else to say; he will be missed.

Reuters: "American Psycho" aims for Broadway show

LOS ANGELES - Controversial social satire "American Psycho" is headed for Broadway, eight years after the novel became a movie starring Christian Bale, the companies adapting the book to the stage said on Tuesday.

The 1991 book from author Bret Easton Ellis centers on young Wall Street investment banker Patrick Bateman, an obsessively materialistic yuppie who by night commits murders while losing himself in drugs and prostitution.

The Johnson-Roessler Company, The Collective and XYZ Films partnered to acquire, develop and produce the live stage version of the novel, the companies said.

"American Psycho" has sold more than 1.6 million copies worldwide, but when it came out it shocked readers with graphic content that included Bateman's torturing a woman with a rat.

The film received a great deal of attention in the media, but was released mostly in art house cinemas and earned only $15 million at U.S. and Canadian movie theaters.

No date was given for when the stage show would open.

(Reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis: Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)

I'm not a huge Obama fan, and overall still undecided, but here is a great piece of common sense from actor Matt Damon regarding McCain's VP choice.

Ouch.

As if the day hadn't been crazy enough, culminating in a 90 minute marathon run to clean up an alleged banking error that could have gotten ugly, I get a call five minutes ago from our power company, offering me a fixed rate on my electricity usage over the next twelve months. Being curious purveyor that I am, I asked the following simple question, and got the accompanying answer:

"What happens if the rate drops below the fixed rate during the twelve-month period?"

"I don't think I understand what you're asking...?"

And with that, I knew I was being maneuvered by guy on commission. I explained my question, in even simpler terms than I used above, trying to stick to single-syllable words. His reply:

"Oh, you're rate is fixed for the full twelve months, no matter how high the rates go."

I politely deferred to common sense research and told him we would call back if we decided to take the offer.

Oy...

I'm a huge fan of The Shield, which began its final season this past week. Also new to FX is Sons Of Anarchy, which looks to be a cross between the The Shield's anti-hero formula and The Riches' family-under-pressure dynamic. But there is something jarring about the new show that doesn't work for me. I can't quite put my finger on it; perhaps it's the lack of sympathy for anyone involved. The Shield's Vic Mackey is a guy who, while neck-deep in bad behavior, still cares about his family and wants to make sure the worst elements on the streets are removed - even if his tactics are not always by the book. And Tony Soprano was conflicted from the word go, and we cared about the guy despite all the mob dealings. I just don't get that heft from any of the characters introduced in SOA.

Similarly, HBO's new Alan Ball series True Blood has an unpleasant southern gothic/redneck feel to it, and is further impacted by the lead role played by Anna Paquin. I've liked the actress in some roles, but she does occasionally come across as a deer caught in headlights. Not terribly engaging, and when the highlight of the first half of a pilot is the inclusion of a mock episode of Bill Maher's show, I fear they may have another John From Cincinnati on their hands. Not that it seems muddled or overly complex, just that it will be a failure. (I will add it seems a bit cheap to have more than one HBO reference in your HBO pilot.)

So for me, two early disappointments for the impending new season. J.J. Abrams' Fringe begins this week, so we'll see how that goes.

***

Oh, the movies you'll see, when The Wife sees the sea...

Today I managed Payback (the Helgeland cut), The Wizard Of Gore remake with Crispin Glover, Royal Flash, Starting Out In The Evening, Hitman, Live Free Or Die Hard and portions of Prick Up Your Ears. To say I feel a bit scattered would be an understatement.

Tomorrow, my aim is to catch Transsiberian and a couple slices at Sal's.

Good stuff.

I can sum up Starting Out In The Evening very easily. It begins with Frank Langella's aging author telling a young student that he cannot have any distractions in his life because he is trying to finish his novel. For the next hour and a half, she does nothing but distract the guy. As a writer, I find this not only rude but downright frustrating.

The film is a very good, small film that has a lovely understated performance by Langella. It is also good to see Lili Taylor, here as the author's daughter.

***

The Wife is traveling this week. So the DVD/DVR mini-festival has begun. Viva la cinema de la solitude!

Babylon A.D. isn't the dreadful film that most folks are making it out to be. It's loud and fast and silly, with a chopped up ending that makes no sense. But it isn't The Onion Movie. Nor is it Postal, which had its share of clever moments.

And actually, B.A.D. had quite a few very nice shots in the first half, clever uses of images and scenic stuff that worked, but by no means a good film. Just okay, just messy and noisy and passable.

And with that, the Summer Fun Blockbuster Board is finished. I regret ever starting this thing. Here's the final tally:

The Board:

Iron Man - Very good
Speed Racer - Disappointing
Indiana Jones 4 - Okay
The Fall - Very good
Kung Fu Panda - Good
The Incredible Hulk - Good
The Happening - Very disappointing
Get Smart - Good
Mongol - Very good
Wanted - Good
Hancock - Disappointing
Wall-E - Very good
Hellboy 2: The Golden Army - Very good
The Dark Knight - Very good
The Mummy 3 - Okay
Pineapple Express - Good
Tropic Thunder - Good
The Love Guru - Very disappointing
Vicki Cristina Barcelona - Very good
Hell Ride - Disappointing
Death Race - Okay
Traitor - Good
Clone Wars - Very disappointing
Babylon A.D. - Okay

Clearly Iron Man, The Fall, Mongol, Wall-E, Hellboy 2, The Dark Knight and Vicki Cristina Barcelona (I know, I know) are the films to check out.

Now I'm heading into a couch-marathon of Chicago 10, CJ7, Son Of Rambow, Event Horizon and August. One of these things is NOT like the other...

I just saw Traitor and Clone Wars, and last night started Postal (so maligned is Uwe Boll that most outlets I checked out don't even mention his film in their DVD release listings, but there it was in our local store). First the good news: Traitor is a very solid thriller that delivers the goods despite an "easy" ending. NIce work all around.

Now the bad (but expected) news: Clone Wars was just awful, in every way, but I have to say that when they trotted out Jabba The Hutt's gay uncle, I was feeling not only cheated but somewhat insulted. Postal, on the other hand, is indeed awful, but actually far funnier than The Onion Movie, a piece of direct-to-DVD trash put out by one of my favorite websites. It's almost funnier than The Love Guru, but let's not get ahead of ourselves.

I hear bad things about Babylon A.D., releasing Friday. And that's from the mouth of Mathieu Kassovitz, the director...

The Board:

Iron Man - Very good
Speed Racer - Disappointing
Indiana Jones 4 - Okay
The Fall - Very good
Kung Fu Panda - Good
The Incredible Hulk - Good
The Happening - Very disappointing
Get Smart - Good
Mongol - Very good
Wanted - Good
Hancock - Disappointing
Wall-E - Very good
Hellboy 2: The Golden Army - Very good
The Dark Knight - Very good
The Mummy 3 - Okay
Pineapple Express - Good
Tropic Thunder - Good
The Love Guru - Very disappointing
Vicki Cristina Barcelona - Very good
Hell Ride - Disappointing
Death Race - Okay
Traitor - Good
Clone Wars - Very disappointing

Let's see...many months ago I gave up TheirSpace for a simpler blog life here on Live Journal. Since then, I have discovered LinkedIn (networking from a corporate POV), Twitter (blog one line at a time, or just tell people what you are doing when it strikes you) and The Filter (Peter Gabriel's entertainment website). All of these require an interface, time and interest. Which makes me feel like I am planning on over-extending again. Add in personal e-mail, work e-mail, a couple dozen favorite websites and then a couple more tied to creative endeavors, and that's a lot of time spent not reading books, watching DVDs or going to the movies, not to mention being a good husband, father, son, employee and artist.

And when you look at it that way, you begin to wonder about what is really "important", and should you be cutting out other things.

Thus the dropping of TheirSpace.

Did I mention the Xbox 360 network? Yes, also a user there as well.

We are drawn in so many impulsive directions now, electronically, whereas I can only imagine that had the technology not presented itself, we might be drawn to travel, see other lands, get to know other cultures and peoples face to face, not just as pixels in a screen. I got as far as Hawaii, once. I was mesmerized. So lush, so green. It was like visiting Earth without cities. I don't remember where I stayed, nor how I got around, what I ate. But I have distinct and vivid memories of the landscape. I miss it very much.

What does this have to do with spending too much time online? I don't know; everything?

Actually, I realize now I started writing this with no ending in mind. But that's why it's my journal, and not a professional site with readers to satisfy. Sometimes I get to trail off when there's nothing more to say. And no one gets to complain.

Death Race is such a loud film that during many scenes the air around my head vibrated. That said, if violent, fast-paced and noisy is your cup of tea (and really, it has its place), this will fill 90 minutes handily. Jason Statham doesn't star in boring films, give him that much. But this is definitely not the subtle drama that The Bank Job turned out to be. It is jarring to see Joan Allen in this kind of flick, but Ian McShane, even when in slow-burn/one-liner mode, is always welcome.

The Board:

Iron Man - Very good
Speed Racer - Disappointing
Indiana Jones 4 - Okay
The Fall - Very good
Kung Fu Panda - Good
The Incredible Hulk - Good
The Happening - Very disappointing
Get Smart - Good
Mongol - Very good
Wanted - Good
Hancock - Disappointing
Wall-E - Very good
Hellboy 2: The Golden Army - Very good
The Dark Knight - Very good
The Mummy 3 - Okay
Pineapple Express - Good
Tropic Thunder - Good
The Love Guru - Disappointing
Vicki Cristina Barcelona - Very good
Hell Ride - Disappointing
Death Race - Okay

Home stretch, kiddoes.

So The Wife just introduced me to Twitter, and apparently she's been on it for months...but I can't tell exactly what she's getting out of it. It is, almost, like blogging one sentence at a time. I suppose this serves some kind of purpose, perhaps something in the brain that desires immediacy and attention, but in very small doses, and with the capacity for anonymity, if one wishes. Strange.

I joined, of course.

Hell Ride wasn't good, but my expectations weren't high to begin with. It was not a complete waste. Several clever moments, a nice grainy feel that suited its forebears, and overall a fun cast, even if their dialogue was frequently misbegotten. Still, not much to regale here.

The Board:

Iron Man - Very good
Speed Racer - Disappointing
Indiana Jones 4 - Okay
The Fall - Very good
Kung Fu Panda - Good
The Incredible Hulk - Good
The Happening - Very disappointing
Get Smart - Good
Mongol - Very good
Wanted - Good
Hancock - Disappointing
Wall-E - Very good
Hellboy 2: The Golden Army - Very good
The Dark Knight - Very good
The Mummy 3 - Okay
Pineapple Express - Good
Tropic Thunder - Good
The Love Guru - Disappointing
Vicki Cristina Barcelona - Very good
Hell Ride - Disappointing

I'm so tired. Short version:

Vicki Cristina Barcelona is a great film. Very strong cast, great film. No explosions, except for the emotional kind, but I'm still throwing it on the board. There. Done.

The (adjusted) Board:

Iron Man - Very good
Speed Racer - Disappointing
Indiana Jones 4 - Okay
The Fall - Very good
Kung Fu Panda - Good
The Incredible Hulk - Good
The Happening - Very disappointing
Get Smart - Good
Mongol - Very good
Wanted - Good
Hancock - Disappointing
Wall-E - Very good
Hellboy 2: The Golden Army - Very good
The Dark Knight - Very good
The Mummy 3 - Okay
Pineapple Express - Good
Tropic Thunder - Good
The Love Guru - Disappointing
Vicki Cristina Barcelona - Very good

The Love Guru finally came to the dollar theater and I decided that was acceptable. The film was not good, though I did laugh a couple of times, and I liked the old school Bollywood design in one scene. After having read so much negative press, I have to say I didn't hate the film, but it was definitely nothing to be proud of.

Also saw The Dark Knight a second time...and boy, do the flaws stand out when the thrill of an opening night crowd isn't engulfing you. It's still a great film, but I can't say it is excellent. Iron Man provided the same positive response twice in a row. TDK suffered somewhat in repeat viewings. Perhaps we should have to see all movies twice when we think they're really good, get a second opinion.

The (adjusted) Board:

Iron Man - Very good
Speed Racer - Disappointing
Indiana Jones 4 - Okay
The Fall - Very good
Kung Fu Panda - Good
The Incredible Hulk - Good
The Happening - Very disappointing
Get Smart - Good
Mongol - Very good
Wanted - Good
Hancock - Disappointing
Wall-E - Very good
Hellboy 2: The Golden Army - Very good
The Dark Knight - Very good
The Mummy 3 - Okay
Pineapple Express - Good
Tropic Thunder - Good
The Love Guru - Disappointing

We're in the final weeks of this experiment. I'm not sure this is something I would do again, as it can't have been entertaining to read. But I have been surprised at the number of solid films I've seen; not great, not bad, but solid. Especially with the glut of action/superhero movies.

Tropic Thunder can be wildly funny, but also has an uneven strain running through it. The satiric barbs don't ever seem to dig very deeply, but the best of it works as a howlingly funny comedy in a summer of much-needed laughs.

And really, Ben Stiller and Jack Black don't get much to do. The supporting players, all, and third lead Robert Downey, Jr. all succeed very handily. Downey is particularly good here, and after the success of Iron Man, it's really been a good year for the actor.

Still, like Pineapple Express, the film doesn't reach classic status. But it far exceeds my expectations; I haven't laughed that hard in a long time.

The Board:

Iron Man - Excellent!
Speed Racer - Disappointing
Indiana Jones 4 - Fun but forgettable
The Fall - Excellent!
Kung Fu Panda - Funny and enjoyable
The Incredible Hulk - Solid
The Happening - Really disappointing
Get Smart - Surprisingly good
Mongol - Excellent!
Wanted - Surprisingly good
Hancock - Disappointing
Wall-E - Excellent!
Hellboy 2: The Golden Army - Excellent!
The Dark Knight - Excellent+!
The Mummy 3 - Fun
Pineapple Express - Funny
Tropic Thunder - Very funny

I totally buy into the concept that celebrities/artists die in threes. In the last few days we lost Bernie Mac, Isaac Hayes and Bernie Brillstein. That is a strange combination, I'll admit. After hearing about Mac, which was really shocking, someone used the hack line "heaven just got funnier", and it occurred to me that we can't not use hack lines. They fit our need for cheesy coverage of the lifestyles of the rich and famous too perfectly.

Isaac Hayes looked old and rough around the edges back when Escape From New York came out, and that was almost 30 years ago. Maybe for him the line should be "God's pointing at Hayes saying, 'You're the Duke of New Yoooork! A-number-1!'"

Folks are acting like Pineapple Express is a GREAT comedy, and I will admit that it was funny, and I laughed a lot. But it also wasn't very memorable, and it wasn't THAT funny. It may just be that we've had a superhero glut, and a couple of stoners being chased by drug dealers and corrupt cops does the body good when the doldrums begin to set in.

But really, it wasn't a classic.

The Board:

Iron Man - Excellent!
Speed Racer - Disappointing
Indiana Jones 4 - Fun but forgettable
The Fall - Excellent!
Kung Fu Panda - Funny and enjoyable
The Incredible Hulk - Solid
The Happening - Really disappointing
Get Smart - Surprisingly good
Mongol - Excellent!
Wanted - Surprisingly good
Hancock - Disappointing
Wall-E - Excellent!
Hellboy 2: The Golden Army - Excellent!
The Dark Knight - Excellent+!
The Mummy 3 - Fun
Pineapple Express - Funny

So The Mummy: The Third Film In a Franchise That Shouldn't Have Gone Past The First One Unless You Count That Scorpion King Flick Because It Was Kind Of Fun was mostly loud and silly and not a great film, but I did find it thoroughly enjoyable. John Hannah is not aging well, and Rachel Weisz has been replaced by Maria Bello (with a hearty accent, attempting to match Weisz', and makeup laid on with a trowel, apparently). Brendan Frasier looks as though there might be a painting in his attic that no one will ever see. And Jet "Really, Jackie & I Are Retiring" Li has little to do except look serious and walk past green screens. Still, fun to be had.

The Board:

Iron Man - Excellent!
Speed Racer - Disappointing
Indiana Jones 4 - Fun but forgettable
The Fall - Excellent!
Kung Fu Panda - Funny and enjoyable
The Incredible Hulk - Solid
The Happening - Really disappointing
Get Smart - Surprisingly good
Mongol - Excellent!
Wanted - Surprisingly good
Hancock - Disappointing
Wall-E - Excellent!
Hellboy 2: The Golden Army - Excellent!
The Dark Knight - Excellent+!
The Mummy 3 - Fun

It seems that since Dark Knight not much has come out, but now we move into the final leg of summer and I hope that some of the late entries will perk up the board. This weekend: Pineapple Express and...Bottle Shock? Hell Ride?

Okay, Pineapple Express.

Take a best-sellling horror novelist who has had his work adapted into well-received cult classics and even directed a couple of his own stories. Now take an Asian director with a strong cult following. Mix together, and you have success written in bold dollar green, right?

Apparently the folks at Lionsgate thought otherwise. Clive Barker (of Hellraiser fame) and Ryuhei Kitamura (Versus) have teamed up and damn if they didn't create a terrific little horror film, The Midnight Meat Train.

Admittedly The 2:05 Meat Train, this film is gory (without being disgusting), thrilling, cast with recognizable and engaging actors, and overall a very solid, very entertaining venture. So that being the case, the question then becomes: why has Lionsgate decided to release the film in an almost-direct-to-DVD, limited way that included only second-run theaters (we paid $1 a ticket to get in)? It's been reported that Lionsgate got a massive line of credit and new management that want to go more mainstream, and previously greenlit horror projects - formerly the company's bread and butter - are being done away with.

This is sad, because sturdy, non-watered-down horror films are hard to come by, and TMMT is quite good. Strangely, it's a scenario of a business not wanting to make money. With a 100-theater limited release, you do a little math and you quickly know that whatever box office TMMT pulled in could have been multiplied nearly ten-fold just by making those hundred theaters the first-run variety, that charge upwards of nine dollars a head to get in. It's simple math, and shocking that an entertainment company decided to forego a return on investment.


Just waiting on Joe Drake, thank you.

The film will likely have an October (Halloween-timed) release on DVD. The best punchline to the joke would be if dollar theaters showed record turnout and the DVD was a bestseller.