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Tuesday, March 30, 2010
DVDs: Tea Parties, Sex Education, and Magick Lanterns
What's out on DVD today and which will you be watching?
Sherlock, Dr. Watson and tag-along Jenny. She likes older men, y'see.
and a couple of classics...
Boss him around with your vote! (Last week you made him watch Fantastic Mr Fox)
You chose AN EDUCATION. Here's the Write Up.
Sherlock, Dr. Watson and tag-along Jenny. She likes older men, y'see.- Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel
I pray that Jason Lee is doing charitable things with the money. Did this make money or were the gods merciful and there'll be no Threequel which is a less offensive word than Squeakquel you must admit - An Education
Time to find out what all the 2009's Mulliganza! was all about if you didn't catch this coming of age breakout the first time around. If you did, enjoy the detailed supporting work the second time around. How the hell does Emma Thompson pack so much punch into her every line? - The Baader Meinhof Complex
- Sherlock Holmes
The performances are enjoyable but to tell you the truth the central mystery bored me (since you couldn't play along at all). What I found most mysterious was this: what is Rachel McAdams doing with her career? And why could you barely see her through the immense costumes?
and a couple of classics...- Alice in Wonderland "Special UnAnniversary Edition"
I haven't seen Disney's version in years and years but when I was a wee tyke I lived for the Cheshire Cat. You are not surprised. You know about my cat fixation, surely. - Kenneth Anger's Complete Magick Lantern Cycle
I haven't seen 2/3rds of this avant-garde landmark collection. Yes, I am ashamed.
Boss him around with your vote! (Last week you made him watch Fantastic Mr Fox)
You chose AN EDUCATION. Here's the Write Up.
Which movie...
...do you most want to see a sequel of? Even if you don't normally care about sequels.
(You may have noticed we're not franchise obsessed around here but sometimes more is definitely more.)
(You may have noticed we're not franchise obsessed around here but sometimes more is definitely more.)
Curio: Franky Panky
Alexa here. Nothing screams Easter week like a creepy doomsday rabbit! Yes, that's Frank from Donnie Darko, a movie I still love for all kinds of reasons. (Jake and Maggie playing sibs! Lost-esque tangential timelines! Swayze!) And while there's loads of Darko geekery out there, Missy over at Boopsie Daisy had the inspired idea to sprinkle Richard Kelly's dark universe with all kinds of sugar. The results are yummier than a Cadbury Creme Egg.
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Frank is just one of the bunnies...
so why can't he find love, too?
See more of Missy's world of twisted whimsy here.*
An Education Giveaway
I have one DVD copy of Best Picture nominee An Education (2009) to hand out to a reader. The film, set in 60s London, is about a teenage student Jenny (Oscar nominated Carey Mulligan) and the older man (Peter Sarsgaard) who seduces her away from her college preparations. His glamourous friends aid in the seduction (Dominic Cooper and Rosamund Pike are the movie's secret weapons), her parents (Cara Seymour, Alfred Molina) get confused and her educators (Olivia Williams, Emma Thompson) worry and fume.
Pretty soon all the Best Actress nominees will be out on DVD (Helen Mirren in The Last Station is the lone holdout) and the debate about who was really deserving in that Meryl vs. Sandra vs. Gabby vs. Carey vs. Helen cluster can start up all over again. Joy!
This giveaway is open to all readers -- just bear in mind that the DVD will be in the American format so you'll need an all region player if you're watching it elsewhere. To enter, send an email by Friday April 2nd with "EDUCATION" in the subject line. Include:
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Pretty soon all the Best Actress nominees will be out on DVD (Helen Mirren in The Last Station is the lone holdout) and the debate about who was really deserving in that Meryl vs. Sandra vs. Gabby vs. Carey vs. Helen cluster can start up all over again. Joy!
This giveaway is open to all readers -- just bear in mind that the DVD will be in the American format so you'll need an all region player if you're watching it elsewhere. To enter, send an email by Friday April 2nd with "EDUCATION" in the subject line. Include:- Your name
- Your shipping address
- And the answer to this question: Which movie actor or actress could easily derail your education should they turn their bedroom eyes your way?
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Pedro & Pe... Giving It Away
Readers were invited to submit their favorite thing about either Pedro Almodóvar or Penélope Cruz for a chance to win a copy of the new Broken Embraces DVD. This contest got a great response. I guess the film experience's well known love for P&P has attracted other like-minded movie freaks. THE WINNER, drawn randomly, is... Adelutza in Indiana who writes
This shot above, is from my favorite scene in Broken Embraces... the amount of emotions that cross Cruz's post-coital face here, are just wondrous to behold. But this post isn't about my Almodóvar/Cruz fixation, but yours. Thank you to everyone who entered the contest. Here are some excerpts from the many contest entries that I wanted to share.
On Pedro...
I wish I had 10 copies to give away but if you didn't win, you can still rent the movie or buy it. I'd love to hear what you think of it. One day I'll have to rank all of the Pedro oeuvre. One day...
I could have kept sharing contest entries. Y'all have such good taste but I must be getting on. Are these things you also love about Pedro or Pe?
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I don't think I can express how much I love Pedro and his films. I love him so much that, when I have a bad day, all I have to do is bring up the memory of Tacones Lejanos (High Heels) , the scene where Letal sings "Piensa en mi" - and the voice of Luz Casal combined with the face of Miguel Bose are enough to bring me back to the real world where movies rule. Wouldn't that be nice? :-)Adelutza... are you implying that movies don't rule the world? What a cruel cruel world we live in. Your DVD ships this week. (Anybody waiting on recent past contests... I have confirmation that your wait is also over this week. I did hear from a few people who just received theirs.)
This shot above, is from my favorite scene in Broken Embraces... the amount of emotions that cross Cruz's post-coital face here, are just wondrous to behold. But this post isn't about my Almodóvar/Cruz fixation, but yours. Thank you to everyone who entered the contest. Here are some excerpts from the many contest entries that I wanted to share.
On Pedro...
Fabrice in Montreal: One of the many reasons i love Almodovar, is that he certainly has a special talent to film the hottest sex scenes ever. Or, As we say in french: Almodovar tourne les scènes de baise les plus torrides!On Penélope...
Candice in New York: the man knows how to write complicated sass queens who unabashedly admit faults without making them look wishy-washy and one-dimensional.
Janice in Connecticut: What I loved after seeing All About My Mother, Women on the Verge...., Volver, and even Pepi, Luci, Bon is the depth of his love and compassion for all of his characters, which few other filmmakers match; there are no "bad guys", no monsters in his films (not even the tranny ex-husband of whom the protagonist screams "You are an epidemic!"), only foolish and fucked-up human beings reaching for love in their own unique, foolish and fucked-up ways.
Eric in Pennsylvania: As a Douglas Sirk-a-holic, it is a joy knowing that there are filmmakers like Almodovar still carrying his style and spirit.
Brad in Toronto: I am a man on the verge of a nervous breakdown but Pedro's films always manage to keep me sane.
Bernardo in Mexico: I am the grandson of Spanish refugees and whenever I watch an Almodovar film, I can't help but feel the sense of passion that I feel every time I taste my great aunt's paella: Spicy and colourful, just like the enthralling images of Almodovar's films.
Derek in New York: I, along with everyone else in the world, am absolutely amazed at Penélope's complete transformation into a great actress, having not given a single performance I would consider less than remarkable since Volver.On the Almodóvar/Cruz Combo...
Bryan in Washington:The two together work with such passion and beauty, yet seem to be doing so effortlessly, with grace and without a trace of falseness. I know there is a great deal of effort involved in their collaborations, but whenever I see a film they've done together, hell an interview with them, it reminds me of old friends from my life who I love dearly. Their connection is so vital and wonderful that it just makes me smile.Amen, Andrew... amen.
Serghio in Guatemala: One thing I love about Pé and Pe: The diva-legend vibe surrounding them, equally!
Hayden in Boston: Cinematography that lusts after a lead actress is a beautiful thing, whether it's classy like Nicole Kidman in Birth or trashy like Megan Fox in Transformers. Pedro knows exactly how to straddle that line with Pene, daring to push the limits of taste (that ceiling-boob shot in Volver!) while clearly adoring her as the Sophia Loren of our generation. From Pedro, you get the idea that filming Penélope is a true privilege.
Andrew in Ontario: My favourite thing about Pedro and Penélope is that they found each other, and continue to work together.
I wish I had 10 copies to give away but if you didn't win, you can still rent the movie or buy it. I'd love to hear what you think of it. One day I'll have to rank all of the Pedro oeuvre. One day...I could have kept sharing contest entries. Y'all have such good taste but I must be getting on. Are these things you also love about Pedro or Pe?
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First and Last, 3.7
the first image after the opening credits
and the last line
for all first and last puzzles, click the label below
and the last line
I didn't mean it!Highlight for the answer if you're stumped: It's the original LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS. The one starring Jack Nicholson that's not a musical
for all first and last puzzles, click the label below
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