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Archive for December, 2008

It’s A Wonderful LAMB: The Dark of the Matinee

Let's go back in time yet again. A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, sometime contributor Nick started up this feature where he took another look at an "old" LAMB that he enjoyed. It was a fine idea, and one that I always wanted to pick up should he ever be unable to. Well, it's been six months or so, and it's high time another site gets some love. I know my position as editor/shepherd of the LAMB puts me in an odd spot in terms of calling someone out (for what would the other 200 LAMBs think?), but my answer to that is this: join me! If you think there's a LAMB out there that deserves special mention, one that you read regularly but you don't understand why more people don't, become a contributor and put up one of these yourself! Now, it's my turn.

Blog Name: The Dark of the Matinee
Posting Name: The Mad Hatter
Country of Origin: Canada
LAMB Number: 120

Other: As I started to think about who I wanted to feature here, I perused my Google Reader for the sites that I read often. As I perused those, I started to think about why it is that I read them. What is it that I like about them? Is it something they do that's wildly inventive and/or unique? Are they writers with distinctive voices? Do they just post a lot of pictures of scantily-clad women? I'm diverse - I like sites that do all of these things!

Well, when it came to The Dark of the Matinee, what I saw and liked was, vainly, a bit of myself. Don't deny it - it's human nature for us to identify and align ourselves with those whom we feel kindred towards. Not only does the Hatter write a similarly structured blog to my own, with a balanced mix of reviews, lists, and editorials, but his profile shows (outside of the classic films that I'm averse to) a number of shared favorite films, but on top of that, an eclectic musical taste similar to my own and a love for sports. He could be my Canadian brother from another mother (and father, too!).

If all that weren't enough, he even named his blog after a Franz Ferdinand song (great band) and continues to title most non-review posts using song titles from artists of all spectrums (recent examples include "Hungry Like The Wolf" and "Machinehead"). An excellent personal touch that could keep you busy (guessing the artist and/or listening to the music) for hours all by itself.

The Hatter's just posted his best of for 2008. No surprise...he's got great taste. ;)

12.31.08: Hoffman as Penguin, Terminator saved by Congress, and more

10548236_525 PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN IS NOT (YET) THE PENGUIN

Batman Hunted* hasn't even been written much less cast, but some rumors refuse to die – like the one about Philip Seymour Hoffman being cast as the Penguin, a rumor based entirely on the stunning fanboy observation that Hoffman a great actor who happens to be chubby. But that hasn't stopped enterprising geeks from claiming to have their hands on "official makeup tests" of Hoffman in character as the flightless fowl, which you can view over at Cinemablend. (via io9)


2008 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS FILM REGISTRY

Each year the Library of Congress selects 25 movies of cultural, historical, or aesthetic significance to preserve "for all time" in its National Film Registry. This year's selections were announced yesterday:

The Asphalt Jungle, Deliverance, Disneyland Dream, A Face in the Crowd, Flower Drum Song, Foolish Wives, Free Radicals, Hallelujah, In Cold Blood, The Invisible Man, Johnny Guitar, The Killers, The March, No Lies, On The Bowery, One Week, The Pawnbroker, The Perils of Pauline, Sergeant York, The 7th Voyage of Sinbad, So's Your Old Man, George Stevens World War II Footage, The Terminator, Water and Power, White Fawn's Devotion

Variety has detailed information on each seletion.

ODDS AND ENDS

• What do Cary Grant, Fred Astaire, Marilyn Monroe, The Marx Brothers, Peter O'Toole, Orson Welles, Jerry Lewis, and dozens more cinematic luminaries have in common? None of them ever won a "conventional" – i.e. non-"Lifetime Achievement" or some such – Academy Award.  Read on about the most egregious snubs right here.

• If you haven't seen Iron Man yet, skip the rest of this entry, 'cause, you know, spoilers and all that.  Ok?  Ok... When Tony Stark came out of the superhero closet at the end of Iron Man, he became the first of the modern costumed cinematic heroes to discard his secret identity. In an interview with MTV, Iron Man II screenwriter Justin Theroux says the now-prominent subject of identity is "something that we’ve made a real decision to run towards rather than away from” in the sequel.

--JB

*Not actually the name of the next Batman film. Unless it is.

New Year’s Eve Trailerama

• As beautiful as the Watchmen trailers have been, the non-fans I know have consistently been confused as to what the frack is going on. Well confusion be gone, as this new promo piece spells out all of the basics while introducing a host of new footage. It's a must-view for anyone even remotely curious about the film.

• Some trailers are casually NSFW, while others make being NSFW their raison d'être. This promo for Crank 2 is all about the latter, what with the f-word montage, crude anatomical drawings, shotgun-up-the-keister, and more low-grade fun. Subtitled High Voltage, I think the producers missed a unique opportunity to make sensible use of the "er" sequel naming scheme (as established by Die Hard 2: Die Harder) – Crank 2: Crankier.  I mean, come on people!

• "They're dead! They're all dead!" Watch a clip from My Bloody Valentine 3D in glorious non-3D Flash over at MTV. Or better yet, don't; just picture the most cliche'd modern horror film scene you can, and make the bad guy a coal miner. You'll save a few minutes of valuable New Year's Eve time.

• ABC News (+) Angels and Demons (=) The Least Interesting Promo Piece In Recorded History.  Focused on the Illuminati, it's Conspiracy Theory 101 for Dummies and features a affectless Catholic priest who (of course) dislikes Dan Brown's books despite having never actually read them.

• Rodent FBI agents aim to rescue your cash from your wallet in this summer's G-Force. Will Arnett and Bill Nighy are on hand to keep the parents interested.

--JB

Cruise’s Role As Nazi Assassin Wins Over German Critics

Aniston To Spend New Year With Cox

Schwarzenegger’s Catchphrase Added To U.S. Film Archive

Cook’s Half-brother Held On Theft Charge

Sheen Named In New Year Honours List

Pattinson’s Fury Over Ledger ‘Joke’

Underwood: ‘Dirty Sexy Money Is Cancelled’

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