Happy New Year's from the S.S. Poseidon

Western Union telegram dated December 31, 1972:

"Having a wonderful time on the cruise [stop] Tonight there is supposed to be a big party in the grand ballroom [stop] Looking forward to it, but seas are a bit choppy [stop] Did meet a nice lady who promised to teach me how to swim tomorrow [stop] Says she won a medal or something [stop] Boy, the final voyage of the Poseidon has been a real adventure [stop]"

For more dolls inspired by the classic disaster movie, click here.

Memo from Movie Dearest: Resolutions

Well, Movie Dearest is all dolled-up for New Year's Eve (you better back up though, I feel a belch coming on -- this Pepsi has a kick to it, if you know what I mean), so it's time for some New Year's resolutions.

To wit, MD hereby resolves to:
- Not succumb to the recent blogging trend of obsessively recapping reality shows or soap operas. (Hello, we do not need to know all the minute details of the latest bisexual shenanigans on Big Brother or how long down to the second Nuke kissed on As the World Turns, thank you very much.)
- Not ever mention the words "Britney Spears" and "shaved head" in the same sentence. Or even the words "Britney Spears", for that matter. (And don't get me started on her sister.)
- Not declare the latest starlet who has been around for ten minutes a "gay icon" or to say that the current hunk du jour has a "huge gay following", both terms that have been tossed about way too cavalierly of late.
- Not take the Writers Guild name in vain just because their little strike is ruining everything we hold dear, from the current TV season to the awards shows to the delay of the movie version of Nine. (Really, I support the writers, but let's get this mess over with quick, OK guys?)
- Not post anything copied verbatim from Towleroad. com. (Now who does that?)
- Not go anywhere near American Idol if I can help it at all costs so help me god I swear.
- Not carp on and on (and on) about the dearth of gay-themed films in theaters these days like some people do. (Sure, there should be more, but really -- what else is new?)
- Not ever think "How bad could it be?" again before watching an internet video. (Two Girls, One Cup, I'm talking to you.)
- Not post any more pictures of hot, bare-chested men. (Yeah right, like that would happen.)

And finally, to continue to respect my MD readers by giving them well-written, informative and entertaining articles about the past, present and future of film, television and the theater. (Come on, I had to throw in one serious one.)

Potent Quotables: New Year's Eve Edition

Harry (Billy Crystal) to Sally (Meg Ryan): "I love that you get cold when it's 71 degrees out. I love that it takes you an hour and a half to order a sandwich. I love that you get a little crinkle above your nose when you're looking at me like I'm nuts. I love that after I spend the day with you, I can still smell your perfume on my clothes. And I love that you are the last person I want to talk to before I go to sleep at night. And it's not because I'm lonely, and it's not because it's New Year's Eve. I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible."

When Harry Met Sally ... will be re-released on DVD as a new Collector's Edition January 15. Click here to pre-orderit from Amazon.com.

Cinematic Crush: Bobby Cannavale

Crush object: Bobby Cannavale, actor/paisano.
- Why we like him: For his affable adorableness and his goofily endearing persona, not to mention his willingness to play gay so often.
- When did we first notice him: As the "funky spunk" guy on Sex and the City.
- Awards on his mantel: Emmy Award for his role as Vince D'Angelo, Will's first real boyfriend, on Will and Grace (click here for a video tribute).
- More gay for pay: Larry Kramer's The Normal Heart and Paul Rudnick’s The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told onstage; a drug dealer on Oz; closeted characters in both The Guru and Shall We Dance?; Robin Williams' estranged boyfriend in The Night Listener.
- Other choice roles: Paramedic Bobby Caffey on Third Watch; Joe the snack truck guy in The Station Agent; his acclaimed Broadway debut in the recent play Mauritius.
- Bet you didn't know: Has had no formal acting training, although he knew he wanted to be an actor at age 8; has appeared on all three Law & Order series -- as different characters;
- Yes, it's true: He was in Snakes on a Plane.
- Can we quote you on that: (Regarding his Sex and the City stint) "I probably get razzed more for that till this day than for anything I’ve ever done -- especially by women."
- You go boy: "If you’re raising kids today and you don’t explain to them from the very beginning that there’s nothing unnatural about being gay and that we’re all God’s children, then there’s something wrong with you."
- Where we can see him next: In the horror film 100 Feet, the comedy Diminished Capacity and Brief Interviews With Hideous Men (we assume he's not one of the title characters), all due next year.
- Family ties: His ex-wife is Sidney Lumet's daughter and Lena Horne's granddaughter.
- Where you can see more of him right now: Shaking his moneymaker in this outtake from Romance & Cigarettes.

Links via Imdb.com and YouTube.com.

The Latest on TV: Jerry's Girls

Although not as prolific as some of his contemporaries, Jerry Herman is widely regarded as one of the best composers of American musical theater. Winner of ten Tony Awards, his Hello, Dolly! is easily one of the greatest musicals ever written, and his Mame and La Cage aux Folles are pretty darn good too.

Herman is the subject of a new documentary, fittingly titled Words and Music by Jerry Herman, that will air on PBS tomorrow night. Chronicling his rise to Broadway fame, the program also features interviews with original Dolly stars Carol Channing and Charles Nelson Reilly, original Mame Angela Lansbury and original Albin/Zaza George Hearn, among others.

And don't worry if the PBS station in your area isn't showing it or you miss it tomorrow, because it will be released on DVD ... the same day. And with such bonus features as Channing and the original Broadway cast performing "Hello, Dolly!" and Ethel Merman singing "Before the Parade Passes By", that may be your best bet after all.

Click here to buy Words and Music by Jerry Hermanon DVD from Amazon.com.
Links via BroadwayWorld.com and Playbill.com.

MD Awards: Television Show of the Year

With a cast of characters that include an über diva, her flamboyant assistant, his fabulously bitchy "hag", a transgender hottie and a precocious QIT ("Queen in Training"), it is no wonder that Ugly Betty is often called the gayest show in primetime. Sure, it is; but it also one of the best hours of network programming to come along in a long time, which made it easy to name it the Movie Dearest Television Show of the Year.

With its rich scripts that deftly combine satire with the art of the telenovela, an insanely talented cast and consistently clever direction, Ugly Betty would be nothing without its leading lady, a perky underdog we all (male or female, gay or straight, young or old) can relate to; it is no wonder America Ferrera, in the guise of the spectacled, brace-faced Betty Suarez, has won every award on the map.

Alas, it seems the dreaded writers strike has derailed most if not all of the remaining second season, which has avoided the sophomore slump so many other popular shows have suffered from. Here's to a quick resolution to the ongoing conflict so we can all get back in Mode as soon as possible.

For all the Movie Dearest coverage of Ugly Betty, including more pictures and videos, click here.

Click here to buy the first season of Ugly Bettyon DVD from Amazon.com.
Link via ABC.go.com.

MD Awards: Stage Show of the Year

When even a character in it describes Xanadu as "children's theater for 40 year-old gay men", what other choice do we have then to name it the Movie Dearest Stage Show of the Year?

Based on the notoriously-awful-but-we-love-it-anyway movie musical starring Olivia Newton John, the unexpected hit has been packing in the "Fanadus" since it opened on Broadway this past summer. Directed by Christopher Ashley from a book by Douglas Carter Beane, an Aussie-fied Kerry Butler channels ONJ, while the hunkalicious Cheyenne Jackson skates his way to stardom. Tony Roberts takes over for Gene Kelly, and the fab scene-stealers Jackie Hoffman and Mary Testa appear as the evil muses.

Yup, turning one of the biggest bombs in movie history into a critically acclaimed stage musical sure takes a lot of balls ... disco balls, that is.

For all the Movie Dearest coverage of Xanadu, including pictures and videos, click here.

Click here to pre-order the Xanaducast album from Amazon.com.
Link via XanaduOnBroadway.com.

Introducing: The MD Awards

Here we are at the end of 2007, and Movie Dearest celebrates its first calendar year with the first of what will be an annual tradition here: the Movie Dearest Awards!

Honoring the best in film, television and the stage as covered here on MD, the awards are like the Oscars, the Emmys and the Tonys all rolled into one. Now all the MD Awards need is a nifty nickname like them; how about ... the "Emdies"? The "Dearies"? Or (dare I suggest it) the "Kirbys"???

Cast your vote on this all-important decision in the special MD Poll below, and enjoy this year's winners in six categories in the posts that follow.

Opinion Polls & Market Research

MD Awards: Movie of the Year

Debuting right after Movie Dearest did was a film that perfectly encapsulated the spirit and fun of the movies that inspired this blog in the first place. It was a movie firmly entrenched in the history of its genre, and one that is also connected to the related art forms of television and the theater ... it is, after all, a movie based on a stage musical about a TV show. When it came time to select the Movie Dearest Movie of the Year, there was no question as to what it would be: Hairspray.

With nearly 70 posts related to it, you could say that we were a bit obsessed with the 'Spray this year, but we weren't the only ones. Following a record-breaking opening weekend and rave reviews, the endearingly embraceable Hairspray has gone on to become one of the most successful movie musicals in history, and has gone on to win awards and nominations from the Golden Globes, the Screen Actors Guild and the Grammy Awards, among many others (next up: the Oscars). Not too shabby for a third generation version of a little John Waters movie.

With direction and choreography from Adam Shankman, words and music from Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, and starring a now all-star cast lead by our New Star of the Year Nikki Blonsky, Hairspray gave us all a heaping helping of joy this year, and I am sure we all look forward to catching "the beat" for years to come.

For all the Movie Dearest coverage of Hairspray, including more pictures and videos, click here.

Click here to buy the Hairspray DVDand soundtrackfrom Amazon.com.
Link via HairsprayMovie.com.

MD Awards: Woman of the Year

One would never expect to hear Oscar talk concerning a Disney Princess, but then, one has never been as effortlessly and joyfully portrayed as Enchanted's Giselle. Credit goes to our Movie Dearest Woman of the Year, Amy Adams, for bringing a fairy tale ideal into the real world (literally), and making us believe every minute of it.

Mixing wide-eyed wonderment with subtle degrees of melancholy, Amy creates a character that progresses from a pen and ink girl to a flesh and blood woman, with real emotions and desires. Of course, the latter isn't too hard when you have both James Marsden and Patrick Dempsey to play off of (talk about your Sophie's choice). And, let's not forget, she sings and dances ... and makes her own dresses to boot.

In addition to the recent Charlie Wilson's War, Amy has a slew of high-profile projects on the horizon, including the black comedy Sunshine Cleaning and not one, but two projects with Meryl Streep: the film adaptations of the Tony Award-winning play Doubt and the best-selling memoir Julie & Julia. No doubt, we'll be enchanted with her all over again.

For all the Movie Dearest coverage of Enchanted, including Amy's Women We Love profile, click here.

Click here to buy the Enchanted soundtrackfrom Amazon.com.
Links via Imdb.com.

MD Awards: New Star of the Year

It has been awhile since we have seen a debut performance as winning, charming and confident as that of the 19 year-old Nikki Blonsky, the Movie Dearest New Star of the Year.

As the plucky and determined Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray, Nikki had big dancing shoes to fill, following in the beloved footsteps of Ricki Lake (the original movie Tracy) and Marissa Jaret Winokur (the Tony Award-winning Broadway Tracy). But she took the challenge head on, making the character all her own and, in the process, ensuring her stardom for years to come, not to mention a Golden Globe nomination as Best Actress.

Next year she'll star in the Lifetime original movie Queen Sized and co-star in the big screen comedy Harold, and may even make her Broadway debut in (what else) Hairspray. And we'll be with her every step of the way, cheering her on.

For all the Movie Dearest coverage of Hairspray, including more pictures and videos of Nikki, click here.

Links via Imbd.com.

MD Awards: Man of the Year

In year's past, he played Elvis onstage and 9/11 hero Mark Bingham on film, but 2007 was the breakout year for Cheyenne Jackson. So naturally, he has to be the Movie Dearest Man of the Year.

Stepping into the roller skates of his injured predecessor, Cheyenne took over the central role of Sonny Malone during previews of our Stage Show of the Year, Xanadu, and rolled away with the hearts of everyone who has had the pleasure of seeing him. He'll next be heard on the show's eagerly awaited cast album and, fingers crossed, could net his first Tony Award nomination. He will also star in the horror film Hysteria and the Lifetime TV drama Family Practice next year.

By all accounts, the man who has been dubbed "Broadway's sexiest man" (amen to that) is as refreshingly approachable and swoon inducing in person as one could hope. Now, if only Hollywood would come a callin' with a big screen movie musical for him to star in; after all, I think we can all agree that we can never get to much Cheyenne.

See more pictures of Cheyenne Jackson in The Back Room (NSFW).

Tune in to TCM: That Dirty Rat

Classic tough guy James Cagney is the Star of the Month on Turner Classic Movies for January, with 37 films airing each Wednesday. In addition to such classic crime dramas as The Public Enemy (with Jean Harlow), White Heat (both on the 2nd) and Angels With Dirty Faces (9), the salute will also include his forays into musicals (Footlight Parade, Yankee Doodle Dandy; 16) and comedies (One, Two, Three; A Midsummer Night's Dream; 30), plus his first color picture (Captains of the Clouds; 23) and the film wherein he came closest to uttering his famous catchphrase "You dirty rat" (he actually says "Come out and take it, you dirty yellow-bellied rat" in Taxi!; 16).

In addition to James Cagney: Top of the World (2), several other movie-themed documentaries will air next month, including Captured on Film: The True Story of Marion Davies (3), Henri Langlois: The Phantom of the Cinémathèque (6), Impressions of Garland (29) and the premiere of Martin Scorsese Presents: Val Lewton - The Man in the Shadows, which heads off a fright-filled night of his films on the 14th in preparation for the January 29 DVD release of The Val Lewton Horror Collection (click hereto pre-order from Amazon.com).

The channel will celebrate Martin Luther King Day (21) with a marathon of films by such renowned African-American filmmakers as Sidney Poitier and legendary director Charles Burnett, including the TCM premieres of his classic Killer of Sheep and four others of his works. And on the 26th, Michael Redgrave will be spotlighted with five films, including the TCM premieres of Thunder Rock and The Way of the Stars.

And finally, for fans of obscure cult fare, TCM Underground will present Skidoo on the 4th. This is the infamous Otto Preminger oddity featuring Jackie Gleason tripping out on acid (seriously, check it out) and Carol Channing (!) seducing Frankie Avalon (!!!). Never released on home video or DVD, the comedy also stars Groucho Marx, Mickey Rooney, John Phillip Law, Peter Lawford, Burgess Meredith, George Raft, Slim Pickens, Richard "Jaws" Kiel and two Bat-villains, Cesar Romero and Frank Gorshin. For more notable films not yet on DVD on TCM in January, see the comments section below.

Numbers in parenthesis are the airdates; for more information and showtimes in your area, see TCM's online schedule.

Links via TCM.com and YouTube.com.

Film Art: Academy Award-Winning Edition

This year's Honorary Academy Award will be given to Robert Boyle, the first time the honor has been bestowed upon a production designer. He will be presented the award during the Oscar telecast on February 24.

Boyle, who was previously honored with the lifetime achievement award from the Art Directors Guild, is best known for his many collaborations with director Alfred Hitchcock, including Saboteur, Shadow of a Doubt, The Birds and his most renowned work, North by Northwest. That film not only netted him his first of four Oscar nominations (he was also nominated for Gaily, Gaily; Fiddler on the Roof and The Shootist), it also inspired the title of the Oscar nominated documentary short about him, The Man on Lincoln’s Nose.

The above concept art for the film Foreign Correspondent is from Boyle's early days as a sketch artist.

Click here to buy Foreign Correspondenton DVD from Amazon.com.
Links via Oscars.org and Imdb.com.

Monthly Wallpaper - January 2008: 2007: The Year in Film

As 2007 comes to a close, it is time to look back on the year in film, and what better way then with the Movie Dearest calendar wallpaper for next month!

29 of 2007's most popular movies make up the collage, so you can spend all of January gazing at the likes of Anton, Bob, Edith, Giselle, Harry, Jason, Jesse, Juno, Lars, Leonidas, Marji, Michael, Nikolai, Remy, Sweeney, Tracy and all the rest. What a way to start off a new year -- which reminds me, don't forget to vote in this week's poll of the most eagerly awaited films of 2008!

Just click on the picture above to enlarge it to its 1024 x 768 size, then right click your mouse and select "Set as Background", and you're all set. If you want, you can also save it to your computer and set it up from there, or modify the size in your own photo-editing program if needed.

And a virtual Academy Award to the first MD reader who can correctly name in the comments section below all 29 movies pictured in the collage.

Hello, Hollywood

Well, I always said I wouldn't believe it until I saw it, and now here it is: Disney's Hollywood Studios.

By this time next week, the Disney-MGM Studios at Walt Disney World in Florida will be no more -- in name only, of course; in fact, the "MGMs" have been slowly disappearing from around the park for the past couple of weeks now.

And would you believe the rumors of name changes for the park still haven't stopped? Internet scuttlebutt has it that it will eventually drop the "Studios" (since it hasn't really been one for years now) sometime in the future to be simply "Disney's Hollywood". Yeah, I'll believe it when I see it.

Links via LaughingPlace.com and JimHillMedia.com.

Out in Film: Candis Cayne

Idol worship: Candis Cayne, actress/cabaret cutie.
- What she's known for: In her groundbreaking role as William Baldwin's sultry mistress Carmelita on the ABC hit Dirty Sexy Money, she is the first transgender actress to play a regular transgender role on a primetime network series.
- Film debut: In the documentary Wigstock: The Movie.
- Other choice roles: Appeared in To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar; Stonewall and Starrbooty.
- What else has she done: Made her name in the New York gay club scene as a popular cabaret performer.
- Awards on her mantel: The 2001 winner of the Miss Gay Continental USA Pageant.
- Bet you didn't know: Is a twin and a classically trained dancer.
- Yes, it's true: Her fiancé, Marco McDermott, is also the DJ for her club acts.
- Can we quote you on that: "When I told my parents that I was starting my transition, my Dad said, "Well that makes so much more sense, 'cause I never saw you any other way and now it totally works". It was unbelievable. The second I told them, they flew to New York and wanted to make sure I was OK. And they found out I was happier."
- Where we can see her next: More Dirty Sexy scenes like this with a total Baldwin (literally).
- Where you can learn more: At her official website.

Links via Imdb.com, ABC.go.com, YouTube.com and CandisCayne.com.

MD Poll: What Will Be Great in '08?

2008 is shaping up to be a great year for movie fans, with many new movies already garnering loads of buzz even before 2007 is over. But the question is, which one are you looking forward to the most?

Can't wait for the next adventures of Batman, James Bond or Indiana Jones? Excited to return to Hogwarts or Narnia or to "where no man has gone before"? Does Speed Racer get your motor racing, or does WALL·E turn your crank? Or can you just not wait another minute to see Carrie Bradshaw on the big screen or to watch Meryl Streep belt an ABBA tune?

Well, you can let your voices be heard in this week's special "super-sized" MD Poll (located in the sidebar to your right, underneath my profile): not only will the poll run for a whole two weeks, but, considering all the exciting movies coming out next year, you can vote for up to three different movies. So get a clickin', and be sure to come back on January 11 to see the results.

UPDATE: This poll is now closed. Click here for the results, and click here to vote in the latest MD Poll.

Links via SlashFilm.com and Imdb.com.

MD Poll: Atone the Tale ...

"Gee, and I thought Jack Sparrow looked weird ... "

Ouch ... I think I sprained my "punny" bone with that post title ...

In the double feature polls last week that asked you to predict what Golden Globe nominated Best Pictures will triumph come January 13, Movie Dearest readers selected Sweeney Todd as the clear victor of the Comedy or Musical category, with over 40% of the total 140 votes. Things were a bit closer for the Dramatic contenders though, with Atonement narrowly edging past No Country for Old Men; even with seven nominees, these two films combined netted 80% of the total 155 votes.

And I agree. With the most nominations, Atonement will likely end up with the top prize, while the Coen brothers will get the Best Director trophy. And being the only nominee with a corresponding director nod, Sweeney should slay the competition in his category.

For the full rundown of this week's results, see the comments section below. And be sure to vote in this week's MD Poll, a look ahead at 2008.

Click here to vote in the latest MD Poll.
Link via GoldenGlobes.org.

Favourite Films of 2007

I love reading all the end of year lists, and sometimes I want to make mine before I've read any of them but this year that so didn't happy. Which is just fine and dandy as many of the films that are topping the top tens and such are ones I've not seen and I dare say a few I do not intend to see. But, considering there were 314 releases this year there are many films and lists and opinions to go around.

To have an idea of where I'm coming from, at the time of this post I've seen 46 of the 314 releases this year (14.6%), including 12 of the 36 Canadian films (30%). Both of these percentages are up from last year, woohoo! I think getting out to the theatre every week, as well as attending festival really played a part there.

The Films

The Good: Very fine Entertainment choices
3:10 to Yuma
Fido (New genre! The Zombie Drama)
Hairspray
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Namesake, The
Stomp the Yard

The Great: New Favourites to add to collection
300
Away From Her
Bourne Ultimatum, The
Golden Compass, The
Host, The / Gwoemul
Hot Fuzz
Let's All Hate Toronto
Sharkwater
Sunshine
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Above and Beyond: These Ones Go To 11! Breakthrough films that I will always remember
After the Wedding / Efter brylluppet
Brand Upon the Brain!
King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters
Once

The Experiences

Best Experience: There are so many good ones, this year it's a tie between seeing Brand Upon the Brain! at the Elgin with live accompaniment and seeing Uwe Boll at the Toronto After Dark Film Festival.

Oddest Experience: Being the only person in the theatre for a film

Worst Experience: Getting yelled at by a patron whom thought my friend & I shouldn't be laughing during The Queen. Mean man!

Disappointments: Transformers, Margot at the Wedding, The Darjeeling Limited

Almost wish I'd Never Seen: Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead

Surprized I Didn't See: This is England, The Wind that Shakes the Barely, La Vie En Rose

Festivals
2007 was also a year of festivals, likely to be the first of many to come headed out to TIFF, Toronto After Dark, Reel Asian and One Minute. I'd have to say that Toronto After Dark was the *most* fun and had great audiences, and Reel Asian had the best overall quality of films. Kudo's all around!

The Rest

Considering I made it through a whopping 278 film in 2007 (as of Dec 27/07), if only feels fair to mention some of the great films that that I enjoyed during this year, even if they were not released this year. So, here are the odds and sods:

Great films seen in 2007 that is a previous year release: Eyes Without A Face, Night of the Hunter, Rashômon, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, The Good, The Bad and the Ugly, Barbarella, The Seventh Seal

Great films seen in 2007 that is yet to be released: Boy A, Flash Point, Finishing the Game, Le Cèdre penché, My Winnipeg

That was my year. How was yours?

Once

Writer/Dir: John Carney (On the Edge)
Cast: Glen Hansard, Markéta Irglová
Ireland, 2007

Seen: September 20/07 at the Carlton

Reason to see: Across-the-board positive reviews, so I headed out to See 1 film a week in the theatre for a year, this is week 39/52.

This was on my list to see for so long, and I am thrilled that it had a really long run in the theatre (thank you Carlton theatre!), it's unusual these days that a May release would still be kickin' around in September.

There is a beautiful understated-ness to this film that upon initially feels simple but I believe it is really truth. You feel the truth. Rarely does music I've heard for the first time bring tears to my eyes, but in this film it did. You could feel it the music, to the core of your being. I haven't even mentioned the story! I'm not sure you would really need to know much about it, other than it's about finding your way. Two people finding their way. Yep, that's enough.

Shannon's Overall View:
It is one of the most amazing films I've seen
I'll buy it, and the soundtrack too
I'd recommend it to everyone

5 minutes of preshow including 1 commercial and 2 previews: Elizabeth: The Golden Age, El Cantante

Return to Film Reviews

© Shannon Ridler, 2007

The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters

Dir: Seth Gordon - directorial feature film debut
Documentary on arcade video gamers
USA, 2007

Seen: December 9/07 at the Bloor

Reason to see: Did you see the description? Arcade video gamers documentary. Oh my. Also, this film has received critical acclaim amongst many in the online film community. It is week 51/52 for See 1 film a week in the theatre for a year.

Who knew there was a community dedicated to the classic arcade games? Who knew people still played classic arcade games, and had tournaments, tracked scores. I didn't. That was before watching The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters. The film focuses on the journey of underdog Steve Wiebe, who decides to take a crack at breaking the world record score for Donkey Kong, set in 1982 by Billy Mitchell. But it goes so much further than just the game and delves into the world of the gamers, scorekeepers and how it affects so many parts of their lives. It has some of the best lines I've heard in ages, and that is saying something coming from a documentary. It's an unbelievable journey into lands unknown full of barrels and bytes and it is one wild ride that I would be happy to take again.

It was great to see this in the theatre, as their was tons of energy in the room was we all giggled and cheered together.

Shannon's Overall View:
I loved it
I'll buy it
I highly recommend it, to gamers and non gamers alike

Return to Film Reviews

© Shannon Ridler, 2007

Brand Upon the Brain!

Dir: Guy Maddin (The Saddest Music in the World, Dracula: Pages from a Virgin's Diary, My Winnipeg)
Cast: Sullivan Brown, Maya Lawson, Gretchen Krich, Katherine E. Scharhon
Canada/USA, 2007

Seen: June 5/07 at the Elgin Theatre

Reason to see: Guy Maddin silent film shown for 1 night at the gorgeous Elgin theatre with live narration, musicians and foley artists. Um, yes - I will be going! This also counts as week 24/52 for See 1 film a week in the theatre for a year.

This was amazing. Spectacular. Wonderous. No one can create worlds like Guy Maddin can. The atmosphere of nostalgia, the powerful emotions, the unlikely yet captivating plot. Every moment is brilliant. It's all in a flurry and with a bizarre set of characters you find yourself possibly trying to catch every moment, when you really just need to settle back and let it all unfold, and unfold it does. One of the most remarkable films I have ever seen.

Shannon's Overall View:
It was one of the most amazing film experiences - ever!
I'll buy it
I highly recommend it

Return to Film Reviews

© Shannon Ridler, 2007

Calendar Boy

If you didn't get a 2008 calendar for the holidays, here's a great deal for you fans of cool caricature art and pop culture icons.

"G-Man" artist Glen Hanson has collected twelve (duh) of his best pieces together in a new calendar, not to mention cover boy Cheyenne Jackson in his Xanadu duds. Inside, you'll find faves from stage (Altar Boyz) and screen, both little (Golden Girls, Designing Women) and big (Mommie Dearest, thank you very much). Plus, Lucy, Roseanne, the Sex and the City gals and more.

And best of all, it's free. Click here to find out how you can get your own autographed copy of the G-Man 2008 Caricature Calendar.

See more pictures of Cheyenne Jackson in The Back Room (NSFW).

Awards Watch: National Film Registry 2007

Annually since 1989, the National Film Preservation Board and the Librarian of Congress name 25 classic American films to be inducted into the National Film Registry. Prints of each movie, chosen for their cultural and historical significance, will now be "preserved for all time". With this year's selections, announced today, the number of films in the registry now totals 475.

The 2007 inductees run the gamut of film history, from the 1921 silent drama Tol'able David to 1990's Dances With Wolves, and range from blockbusters like Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Back to the Future to little-known avant-garde, experimental, and even student films, such as Randal Kleiser's Peege.

Also included among this year's honorees are Steve McQueen's Bullitt; Terrence Malick's Days of Heaven; the all-star Grand Hotel; Nicholas Ray's In a Lonely Place; John Ford's The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance; the seminal crime drama The Naked City; Bette Davis' Now, Voyager; Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma!; Robert Benchley’s The Sex Life of the Polyp; Harry Langdon's The Strong Man; Walt Disney's Three Little Pigs; Sidney Lumet's 12 Angry Men; George Cukor's The Women and William Wyler's Wuthering Heights.

For a quick look at this year's NFR selections, see the comments section below.

Links via Loc.gov/film.

Put On Your Ritzy Best

Fans of GLBT films should be looking forward to January 8, when two very different classic movies finally make their debuts on DVD.

The Ritz is a retro throwback to the swinging gay New York of the 70's. Based on Terrence McNally's stage farce (which recently enjoyed a hit Broadway revival), the Golden Globe nominated comedy reunited most of the original production's cast, including Jack Weston, Jerry Stiller, F. Murray Abraham and Rita Moreno (reprising her Tony Award-winning role of bathhouse chanteuse Googie Gomez), plus hunky Treat Williams in his film debut.

On the other end of the spectrum, Personal Best was one of the first mainstream films to deal openly with lesbianism. Written and directed by Robert Towne, the sports drama stars Mariel Hemingway as a runner playing both sides of the track, bedding both her male coach (Scott Glenn!) and a female competitor (Patrice Donnelly).

Click here to pre-order The Ritzand Personal Beston DVD from Amazon.com.

Links via Imdb.com.

2007 Releases

Complete listing of films released in theatres in Toronto during 2007.

Total films releases: 314
Canadian: 36 (notated with *, includes co-productions)
Re-releases: 1 of previously released films

2 Days in Paris
2:37
4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days / 4 luni, 3 saptamani si 2 zile
10 Canoes
10 Questions for the Dalai Lama
11th Hour, The
13 Tzameti
28 Weeks Later...
3:10 to Yuma
30 Days of Night
300
1408
After the Wedding / Efter brylluppet
Air Guitar Nation
Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem
Alpha Dog
Alvin and the Chipmunks
Amazing Grace
American Gangster
American Venus *
Amu
Angel-A
Arctic Tale
Are We Done Yet?
Arthur and the Invisibles / Arthur et les Minimoys
Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, The
Astronaut Farmer, The
Atonement
August Rush
Aura, The / El Aura
Avenue Montaigne / Orchestra Seats
Awake
Away From Her *
Balls of Fury
Because I Said So
Becoming Jane
Before the Devil Knows You're Dead
Beowulf
Black Book / Zwartboek
Black Snake Moan
Blade Runner: The Final Cut **originally released 1982
Blades of Glory
Blood and Chocolate
Bodybuilder and I, The *
Bolly Double / The Lookalike
Boss of it All, The / Direktøren for det hele
Bourne Ultimatum, The
Boy Culture
Brand Upon the Brain!*
Bratz
Breach
Breakfast with Scot *
Breaking and Entering
Bride of Silence / Hat mua roi bao lau
Bridge to Terabithia
Brothers Solomon, The
Bubble, The
Bucket List, The
Bug
Caimano, Il / The Caiman
Cantante, El
Captivity
Catch and Release
Cemetery Club, The / Moadon beit hakvarot
Charlie Wilson's War
Citizen Duane *
Civic Duty *
Close to Home / Karov La Bayit
Comebacks, The
Condemned, The
Congorama *
Control
Crossing *
Crude Awakening: The Oil Crash, A
Daddy Day Camp
Daddy's Little Girls
Dan in Real Life
Darfur Now
Darjeeling Limited, The
Day Watch / Dnevnoy Dozor
Days of Glory / Indigènes
Dead Silence
Death at a Funeral
Death Sentence
Delta Farce
Disturbia
Diving Bell and the Butterfly, The / Le Scaphandre et le papillon
Eagle vs. Shark
Elizabeth: The Golden Age
Enchanted
Epic Movie
Evan Almightly
Evening
Everything's Gone Green *
Ex, The
Factory Girl
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer
Fay Grim
Feast of Love
Feel the Noise
Fido *
Firehouse Dog
First Snow
Flying Scotsman, The
Fracture
Fred Claus
Freedom Writers
French Guy, The *
Game Plan, The
Georgia Rule
Ghost Rider
God Grew Tired of Us
Golden Door / Nuovomodo
Golden Compass, The
Gone Baby Gone
Good Luck Chuck
Gracie
Great Debaters, The
Greg & Gentillon *
Grindhouse
Gypsy Caravan
Hairspray
Halloween
Hannibal Rising
Happily N'Ever After
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Hatchet
Heartbreak Kid, The
Hills Have Eyes 2 , The
Hitcher, The
Hitman
Hoax , The
Host, The / Gwoemul
Hostel Part II, Eli Roths'
Hot Fuzz
Hot Rod
How to Cook Your Life
I Am Legend
I Know Who Killed Me
I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry
I Think I Love My Wife
I'm Not There
In the Land of Women
In the Shadow of the Moon
In the Valley of Elah
Inland Empire
Interview
Into the Wild
Introducing the Dwights / Clubland
Invasion, The
Invisible, The
Italian, The / Italianetz
Jane Austen Book Club, The
Jimmy Carter Man From Plains
Jindabyne
Joshua
Journey to Armenia / Le Voyage en Arménie
Juno
Kickin' it Old Skool
King of California
King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters, The
Kingdom, The
Kite Runner, The
Klimt
Knocked Up
La Vie en Rose / Ma Mome
Lady Chatterley
Lars and the Real Girl
Last Legion, The
Last Mimzy, The
Last Sin Eater , The
Let's All Hate Toronto *
Letters from Iwo Jima
Licence to Wed
Lions for Lambs
Live Free or Die Hard
Lives of Others, The / Das Leben der Anderen
Lookout, The
Love in the Time of Cholera
Love is Work *
Lucky You
Lust, Caution / Se, jie
Mama's Boy
Manufacturing Dissent *
Margot at the Wedding
Marsh, The *
Martian Child
Meet the Robinsons
Messengers, The
Michael Clayton
Mighty Heart, A
Miss Potter
Missing Victor Pellerin *
Mist, The
Moliere
Mount Pleasant *
Mr. Bean's Holiday
Mr. Brooks
Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium
Music and Lyrics
Music Within
My Best Friend / Mon Meilleur Ami
My Kid Could Paint That
Namesake, The
Nancy Drew
Nanny Diaries, The
National Treasure: Book of Secrets
Next
No Country for Old Men
No Reservations
Norbit
Number 23, The
Ocean's Thirteen
Offside
Once
Orphanage, The / El Orfanato
P2
P.S. I Love You
Page Turner, The / La Tourneuse de Pages
Paprika / Papurika
Paris, Je T'aime
Partition *
Pathfinder
Perfect Stranger
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer
Pierrepoint: The Last Hangman
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
Poor Boy's Game*
Premonition
Pride
Primeval
Provoked
Puffball
Radiant City *
Rails & Ties
Ratatouille
Reaping, The
Red Road
Redacted *
Reign Over Me
Rendition
Reno 911!: Miami
Rescue Dawn
Reservation Road
Resident Evil: Extinction
Resurrecting the Champ
Rise: Blood Hunter
Rocket Science
Romanzo Criminale
Rush Hour 3
Saawariya
Savages, The
Saw IV
Scenes of a Sexual Nature
Seeker: The Dark is Rising, The
Seven Swords / Chat gim
Severance
Shake Hands with the Devil *
Sharkwater *
Shoot 'Em Up
Shooter
Shrek the Third
Sicko
Silk *
Simpsons Movie, The
Skinwalkers
Sleeping Dogs *
Sleuth
Smokin' Aces
Spiderman 3
Stardust
Starter for 10
Stomp the Yard
Stone's Throw, A *
Sunflower / Xiang ri kui
Sunshine
Superbad
Sur la Trace d'Igor Rizzi / On the Trail of Igor Rizzi *
Surf's Up
Surviving My Mother *
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Sweet Mud / Adama Meshuga'at
Sydney White
Talk To Me
Terror's Advocate / L'avocat de la terreur
That Beautiful Somewhere *
Things We Lost in the Fire, The
This Christmas
This is England
TMNT
Tracey Fragments, The *
Transformers
Ultimate Gift, The
Underdog
Vacancy
Valet, The / La Boublure
Venus
Vitus
Waitress
Walk All Over Me *
Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story
War
We Own the Night
Weirdsville *
White Masai, The / Weisse Massai, Die
Who Loves the Sun *
Why Did I Get Married
Wild Hogs
Wind that Shakes the Barley, The
Year of the Dog
You Kill Me
Young Triffie *
Your Mommy Kills Animals
Zodiac

*incidates film as Canadian or Canadian co-pro

Please note this list of releases reflects first run film released in Toronto, Ontario, Canada as of December 28, 2007

2006 Releases

Complete listing of films released in theatres in Toronto during 2006.

Total films releases: 317
Canadian: 40 (notated with *, includes co-productions)
Re-releases: 3 of previously released films.

3 Needles *
12 and Holding
16 Blocks
Accepted
Akeelah and the Bee
Alex Rider: Operation Stormbreaker
All the King’s Men
American Dreamz
American Hardcore
Annapolis
Ant Bully, The
Apocalypto
Aquamarine
Art School Confidential
Ask The Dust
ATL
Babel
Basic Instinct 2
Barnyard
Beerfest
The Benchwarmers
Beowulf and Grendel *
Big Momma's House 2
Black Christmas *
Black Dahlia, The
Black Eyed Dog *
Blood Diamond
Bloodrayne
Bobby
Bon Cop, Bad Cop *
Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
Boynton Beach Club, The
The Break-Up
Brick
Cache / Hidden
Cars
Casino Royale
Catch A Fire
Charlotte's Web
Cheech *
Clerks II
Click
Children of Men
Covenant, The
Confetti
Conversations with God
Conversations With Other Women
Crank
Crossing the Bridge: The Sound of Istanbul
CSA: The Confederate States of America
Curious George
Curse of the Golden Flower / Man cheng jin dai huang jin jia
Da Vinci Code, The
Date Movie
Dave Chappelle's Block Party
Dear Wendy
Death of a President
Deck the Halls
Déjà Vu
Deliver Us From Evil
Departed, The
Descent, The
Devil and Daniel Johnston, The
Devil Wears Prada, The
District B13 / Banlieue B13
Don't Come Knocking
Doogal
Down in the Valley
Dreamgirls
Dreamland
Driving Lessons
Eight Below
Employee of the Month
L'Enfant / The Child
Eragon
Eve and the Fire Horse *
Everyone's Hero *
Failure to Launch
Familia *
Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, The
Fast Food Nation
Fateless / Sorstalansag
Final Destination 3
Firewall
Flags of Our Fathers
Flicka
Flushed Away
Flyboys
For Your Consideration
Fountain, The
Free Zone
Freedomland
Friends with Money
Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus
Gabrielle
Garfield: A Tail fo Two Kitties
Glory Road
Good German, The
Good Shepherd, The
Good Woman, A
Good Year, A
Grandma's Boy
Gridiron Gang
Grudge, The
Guardian, The
Guide to Recognizing Your Saints, A
Guy X *
Half Nelson
Hamster Cage, The *
Happy Feet
Hard Candy *
Harsh Times
Hate Crime
Heart of the Game, The
Hills Have Eyes, The
History Boys, The
Holiday, The
Hollywoodland
Hoodwinked!
Hoot
Hostel
House of Sand / Casa de Areia
How to Eat Fried Worms
Ice Age: The Meltdown
Idiocracy
Idlewild
Illusionist, The
Imagine Me and You
Inconvenient Truth, An
Infamous
Inside Man
Into the Great Silence / Große Stille, Die
Invincible
Jackass Number Two
Jet Li’s Fearless / Huo Yuan Jia
John Tucker Must Die
Journals of Knud Rasmussen, The *
Joyeux Noel
Just My Luck
Kamataki *
Kardia *
Karla
Keane
Keeping Mum
Keeping up With the Steins
King, The
Kinky Boots
Lady Vengeance / Chinjeolhan geumjassi
Lady in the Water
Lake House, The
Larry The Cable Guy: Health Inspector
Last Holiday
Last King of Scotland, The
Last Kiss, The
Last Trapper, The / Le Dernier Trappeur *
Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man
Let's Go to Prison
Libertine, The
Limb Salesman, The *
Little Children
Little Fish
Little Man
Little Miss Sunshine
Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World
Lost City, The
Lucid *
Lucky Number Slevin
Madea's Family Reunion
Man of the Year
Manufactured Landscapes *
Marie Antoinette
Marine, The
Matador, The
Match Point
Material Girls
Metal: A Headbanger's Journey *
Miami Vice
Mission Impossible III
Mistress of Spices
Monkey Warfare *
Monster House
My Super Ex-Girlfriend
Nacho Libre
Nanny McPhee
Nativity Story, The
Neil Young: Heart of Gold
New World, The
Niagara Motel *
Night at the Museum
Night Listener, The
Night Watch / Nochnoi Dozor
Notes on a Scandal
The Notorious Bettie Page
Omagh
The Omen
On A Clear Day
Only Human / Seres Queridos
Open Season
Over the Hedge
Painted Veil, The
Paperback Hero * - re-release
Pan's Labyrinth
Passenger - re-release
Peaceful Warrior
La Petite Jerusalem / Little Jerusalem Phat Girlz
The Pink Panther
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
Poseidon
Prairie Home Companion, A
Prestige, The
Promise, The / Wu ji
Proposition, The
Protector, The/ Tom yum goong
Pulse
Pure *
Pursuit of Happyness, The
Queen, The
Quiet, The
Quinceañera
R. V.
Rainbow Raani
Return, The
Rhinoceros Eyes
Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles / Qian li zou dan qi
Road to Guantanamo, The
Rocket, The / Maurice Richard *
Rocky Balboa
Running Scared
Running with Scissors
Salt
Santa Clause 3: The Escape, The
Saw III
Scanner Darkly, A
Scary Movie 4
School for Scoundrels
Science of Sleep, The / La Science des rêves
Scoop
Secret Life of Words, The / La Vida Secreta de las Palabras
See No Evil
Sentinel, The
Shadowboxer
Shaggy Dog, The
She's the Man
Shooting Dogs
Shortbus
Shut Up and Sing
Silent Hill
Simple Curve, A *
Six Figures *
Sketches of Frank Gehry
Sleeping Does Lie
Slither *
Snakes on a Plane
Snow Cake *
Something New
Sophie Scholl: The Final Days
Souvenir of Canada *
Spymate *
Stay Alive
Step Up
Stick It
Stranger than Fiction
Strangers With Candy
Sun, The / Solntse
A Sunday in Kigali / Un dimanche à Kigali *
Superman Returns
Switch Off / Apaga Y Vamanos
Take the Lead
Tales of the Rat Fink *
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny
Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning
Thank You For Smoking
These Girls *
Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, The
Three Times / Zui hao de shi guang
Through the Fire
Tideland
Tim Burton's A Nightmare Before Christmas in 3D
Trailer Park Boys: The Movie *
Tristan & Isolde
Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story
Trust the Man
Tsotsi
Turistas
Typhoon / Taepung
U-Carmen Ekhayelitsha
U.S. vs. John Lennon, The
Ultraviolet
Unaccompanied Minors
Underworld: Evolution
United 93
Unnatural & Accidental *
V for Vendetta
Van Wilder: The Rise of Taj
Vers le Sud / Heading South *
Volver
Wah-Wah
War Within, The
We Are Marshall
What the Bleep!? - Down the Rabbit Hole
When Do We Eat?
When A Stranger Calls
The White Countess
Who Killed the Electric Car
Whole New Thing *
Why We Fight *
Wicker Man, The
The Wild
Wordplay
World Trade Center
The Worlds Fastest Indian
X-Men: The Last Stand
Year in the Death of Jack Richards, A *
You, Me and Dupree
Zoom

*incidates film as Canadian or Canadian co-pro

please note list of releases reflects first run film released in Toronto, Ontario, Canada as of December 29, 2006

The Latest on TV: AFI 10th Anniversary

Bravo will be re-airing the three-hour television special AFI's 100 Years, 100 Movies - 10th Anniversary Edition twice on Friday.

Since the American Film Institute no longer releases these programs on DVD, this will likely be your last chance to see it; they tend not to repeat them after the year they originally air.

And as a special treat, here is a video slideshow of this year's list.

Links via BravoTV.com, AFI.com and YouTube.com.

Golly, Wall-E

Pixar once again seems to have a winner on its hands, as seen in this latest trailer for WALL·E, next year's animated offering from the toon giant.

There has been lots of chatter about how the little bot resembles a certain cinematic extra-terrestrial, and this trailer appears to reinforce that idea a bit. However, considering their track record, it is safe to assume that Pixar will yet again deliver an original story that stands on its own merits. Although I do have a feeling the exploits of WALL·E will have us reaching for the tissues just as much as the adventures of E.T. did 25 years ago.

For another look at the film, there is also this commercial-like teaser that describes what the WALL·E robots were built for, and you can also take a look at the "official website" for the Buy N Large corporation, the fictional company that mass-produces them.

Links via YouTube.com and BuyNLarge.com.

Women We Love: Doris Day

Object of our affection: Doris Day, actress/song bird.
- Why we love her: For her vivacious, bubbly personality and wholesome, all-American woman image as seen in a highly popular string of musicals and romantic comedies.
- A star is born: Her debut in Romance on the High Seas, wherein she performed the hit song "It's Magic", was so popular, that it was released in the UK under the title It's Magic.
- Awards on her mantel: Oscar nomination for Pillow Talk; various lifetime achievement awards, most recently from the Grammy Awards; oh yeah, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
- She was robbed: Snubbed by the Academy for her dramatic turn as Ruth Etting in Love Me or Leave Me.
- Other choice roles: The sharp-shootin' title character in Calamity Jane (her personal favorite among her films); the frantic mother of a kidnapped boy in The Man Who Knew Too Much; a sassy pro-union factory worker in The Pajama Game.
- What else has she done: Five seasons of the beloved The Doris Day Show on television.
- Golden voice: Six songs that she sung onscreen were nominated for Oscars, including two winners -- "Secret Love" (which she recorded in one take) and her signature tune, "Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Que Será, Será)".
- Musical legacy: She has been name-dropped in several songs over the years, including "Look at Me, I'm Sandra Dee" from Grease, Billy Joel's "We Didn't Start the Fire" and Wham!'s "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go".
- Bet you didn't know: Was in a car accident at age 14 that derailed a career as a ballerina; she was born on the same day as Marlon Brando.
- Yes, it's true: Is a vegetarian and a Republican; turned down the role of Mrs. Robinson in The Graduate.
- Nickname: Do-do; frequent co-star and longtime friend Rock Hudson always called her "Eunice", because he said that whenever he thought of her as a "Eunice", it made him laugh. On the other hand, she called him "Ernie", because "he's certainly no Rock".
- Can we quote you on that: "I like joy; I want to be joyous; I want to have fun on the set; I want to wear beautiful clothes and look pretty. I want to smile and I want to make people laugh. And that's all I want. I like it. I like being happy. I want to make others happy."
- What is she up to now: Founder of the Doris Day Animal League, which advocates homes and proper care of household pets; co-owner (with her son) of the Cypress Inn in Carmel-By-The-Sea.
- Video tribute: A salute to Rock and Doris' biggest hit, Pillow Talk.

Links via Imdb.com, LATimes.com, DDAL.org, DorisDay.com and YouTube.com.

The Latest on DVD: Holiday Left-Overs

It's the post-holiday doldrums as far as most entertainment goes, but there are a few new DVD releases hitting stores this week:

• Eastern Promises- Viggo Mortensen and his already legendary nude fight scene are featured in the Golden Globe nominated crime drama from director David Cronenberg.
• Men in the Nude- A middle-aged writer finds an unlikely muse in the form of a young male prostitute in this Hungarian import.
• Galactica 1980: The Complete Series- Lorne Greene, Kent McCord and Barry Van Dyke star in this ill-advised sequel series to the original Battlestar Galactica.
• The Kingdom- Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Garner and Chris Cooper make up an elite FBI team seeking answers in the Middle East in this war torn action flick directed by Peter Berg.
• Ballroom- A reclusive gay artist is haunted by "two spooky clowns" in this French drama.
• Pan's Labyrinth- Guillermo del Toro's modern masterpiece, now on Blu-ray and HD-DVD.

Click on the above links for more information or to purchase from Amazon.com.