Toronto After Dark Film Festival 2008 - Awards

The Toronto After Dark Film Festival awards winners have been announced. Three out of the four catagories are audience chosen and it sounds like many of you had your say! Overall more than 3,500 ballots were cast! Let's check out the results.

Audience Choice Award for Best Feature Film:
Let the Right One In - Gold (1st Place)
Repo! The Genetic Operal - Silver (2nd Place)
4BIA / Phobia - Bronze (3rd Place)

The Toronto After Dark Vision Award for Best Independent Feature Film:
I Sell the Dead - Gold
Home Movie - Silver
South of Heaven - Bronze

Audience Choice Award for Best Canadian Short Film:
Treevenge - Gold
The Facts in the Case of Mister Hollow - Silver
The Flower - Bronze

Audience Choice for Best International Short Film:
I Live in the Woods - Gold
Kingz - Silver
Martians Go Home: The Revenge of Sara Clockwork - Bronze

The Toronto After Dark Film Festival 2008 ran from October 17-24/08 at the Bloor Cinema, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Monthly Wallpaper - November 2008: Sports Movies

Go team! Our Movie Dearest November calendar wallpaper salute to Sports Movies features the cinematic athletic endeavors of baseball (The Pride of the Yankees, Bull Durham, The Natural), football (Rudy), basketball (Hoosiers), boxing (Rocky, Raging Bull), horse racing (Seabiscuit), karate (The Karate Kid), bicycling (Breaking Away), soccer (Bend It Like Beckham), golf (Caddyshack) and the ultimate sporting competition, the Olympics (Chariots of Fire).

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.

On Location: The Bates Motel

To conclude not only our month long On Location looks at the locales of the scariest movies of all time, but also our Octoberfest of filmic frights, we take a trip to the set of the most celebrated horror movie of all time, Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho.

The exteriors of the Bates Motel and the adjacent Bates family home were constructed on the Universal Studios backlot. The buildings, which have made appearances in many other films and TV shows over the years, can still be seen on Universal Hollywood's theme park tram tour.

For a creepy up-close look, head on over (if you dare) to our pal Retrocrush's photo-filled trip report of when he got to walk in Norman's footsteps. Look closely, and you'll even see the frightful image of Mama Bates, lurking in the parlor window.

Out in Film: Howard Ashman

Idol worship: Howard Ashman, lyricist/writer/ director/producer.

- He first collaborated with his longtime musical partner Alan Menken on a musical adaptation of Kurt Vonnegut's novel God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater, but it was their Little Shop of Horrors (with lyrics, book and direction by Ashman and based on the B-movie classic Roger Corman film) that became a hit. It ran for five years and is one of the highest grossing Off-Broadway productions of all time. He would go on to adapt the script for the 1986 film version, and received his first Academy Award nomination for the new song "Mean Green Mother from Outer Space".

- He directed and wrote the book and lyrics for his next screen-to-stage musical, based on the movie Smile. With music by Marvin Hamlisch, it was short lived on Broadway, but would go on to gain cult status in subsequent years.

- The success of Little Shop on both stage and screen brought him to the attention of the Disney Studio in the mid-80's. His first work for them was the song "Once Upon a Time in New York City" for the animated film Oliver and Company, but it was his next three projects (reuniting him with Menken) that would bring him his greatest acclaim: The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin. Six of his songs for this unofficial "trilogy" (which revitalized Disney and set the standard for all animated films to follow) were nominated for Oscars, winning two for Mermaid's "Under the Sea" and the Beauty title song. He also won Golden Globes and Grammy Awards for the two toon tunes.

- Tragically, he would never know the true success that his wonderful music brought to audiences of all ages; he passed away due to complications from AIDS in 1991, months before the debut of Beauty and the Beast. That film is dedicated to his memory: "To our friend Howard, who gave a mermaid her voice and a beast his soul, we will be forever grateful".

- However, his legacy lives on. In addition to the posthumous Oscar for "Beauty and the Beast" (accepted by his surviving partner, Bill Lauch), he received Tony Award nominations for the stage versions of both Beauty and Mermaid and was named a Disney Legend in 2001. And a new two-disc CD, titled Howard Sings Ashmanand featuring rare demo recordings of the lyricist singing his songs from both stage and screen, will be released November 11.

14 Days of Bond on Mpix - Countdown to Quantum of Solace

Who is up for a Bond film marathon?

Casino Royale was a nice revival of the Bond Franchise and we have the next Daniel Craig installment arriving on November 14, 2008 in a mere two weeks time. This summer, I attemped to catch up with all of the Bond films prior in anticipation for Quantum of Solace but only made it up to Live and Let Die. It looks like we have an opportunity to see not all, but many of the Bond films thanks to Mpix! From November 1 - 14, 2008 they are playing the first fourteen Bond films* every night at 9pm. This will bring us from Dr. No to A View to A Kill and includes all Bond films* with Sean Connery, George Lazenby and Roger Moore.

For the Timothy Dalton Bond fan, and I know there are a lot of you out there, don't fret. They will also be playing both of the Dalton Bond films: The Living Daylights on Nov 3/08 at 7:15am and Licence to Kill on Nov 10/08 at 9:30am.

Here's a list of the Bond films showing on Mpix, including date shown, orginal year of release and Bond actor:

Dr. No
Nov 1/08 at 9pm
Year: 1962
Bond played by: Sean Connery

From Russia with Love
Nov 2/08 at 9pm
Year: 1963
Bond played by: Sean Connery

Goldfinger
Nov 3/08 at 9pm
Year: 1964
Bond played by: Sean Connery

Thunderball
Nov 4/08 at 9pm
Yera: 1965
Bond played by: Sean Connery

You Only Live Twice
Nov 5/08 at 9pm
Year: 1967
Bond played by: Sean Connery

On Her Majesty's Secret Service
Nov 6/08 at 9pm
Year: 1969
Bond played by: George Lazenby

Diamonds Are Forever
Nov 7/08 at 9pm
Year: 1971
Bond played by: Sean Connery

Live and Let Die
Nov 8/08 at 9pm
Year: 1973
Bond played by: Roger Moore

The Man with the Golden Gun
Nov 9/08 at 9pm
Year: 1974
Bond played by: Roger Moore

The Spy Who Loved Me
Nov 10/08 at 9pm
Year: 1977
Bond played by: Roger Moore

Moonraker
Nov 11/08 at 9pm
Year: 1979
Bond played by: Roger Moore

For Your Eyes Only
Nov 12/08 at 9pm
Yeaer: 1981
Bond played by: Roger Moore

Octopussy
Nov 13/08 at 9pm
Year: 1983
Bond played by: Roger Moore

A View to a Kill
Nov 14/08 at 9pm
Year: 1985
Bond played by: Roger Moore

*excluding Never Say Never Again which was released between For Your Eyes Only and Octopussy with Sean Connery as Bond, but it technically isn't included as a part of the Bond Franchise (see more info here).

Happy Halloween!

Wishing everyone a frightfully fun yet safe Halloween tonight -- don't get your tricks mixed in with your treats!

Film Fan Fridays for Friday October 31, 2008!

Happy Halloween Film Fans and Fanatics!

Welcome to Film Fan Fridays for Friday October 31, 2008! Well, well, well it is a good day to be a film fan. I was expecting a bunch of scarefest horror this week but we actually have some awesome festival films making their debut in the regular cinemas. One film meets both definitions. I hope you take the opportunity to see these films while you can (although there will be more great releases in the weeks to come).

In limited release this week we have the highly acclaimed Swedish vampire film Let the Right One In / Låt den rätte komma in, which would be an awesome Halloween choice if you are heading to the theatre. It isn't paced like horror film but is captivating throughout - I highly recommend it. It you are looking for something a smidge less dark and enjoy historical martial arts films, bring on Wong Kar Wai's Ashes of Time Redux, restored from the 1994 print with enhanced cinematography and soundtrack. Both Let the Right One In / Låt den rätte komma in and Ashes of Time Redux will be in the running for my favourite films of the year, I highly recommend you get out there and see them while you can! We also have Madonna's directorical debut with Filth and Wisdom, a documentary on reggae with Made in Jamaica and a look through the eyes of a Hollywood producers in What Just Happened?, based on the memoirs of Art Linson.

In wide release this week we have choices from different genres with of course one horror film just in time for Halloween with The Haunting of Molly Hartley. If you are looking for romance, there is the across-the-world romance The Other End of the Line. We also have the highly anticipated Kevin Smith comedy Zack and Miri Make a Porno.

November is a huge month for film festivals. This week alone there are six playing throughout the city and this pace will continue throughout the month. For a look ahead you can always check out the September to December listings.

Have a spooktacular Halloween weekend (and remember it's daylight savings on Sunday!)

Shannon

Special Screening

48 Hour Film Project
The results of the world's largest extreme film competition, the 48 Hour Film Project will be revealed!
Sunday, November 2, 2008 at 4:00PM at The Bloor, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Tickets $8 at the door

Festival Watch

International Diaspora Film Festival
Selections from a wide spectrum of diverse ethnicities and cultures from Eastern Europe, North Africa, Latin America and Asia.
November 5 - 9, 2008 at Innis Town Hall in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Moving Image Film Festival
This is the festivals first year and the focus of the festival is to welcome fusion and clash of different genres and the experimentation of moving images
November 5 - 9, 2008 at various locations in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Regent Park Film Festival
November 5 - 9, 2008 at the Nelson Mandela Public School in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Rendezvous with Madness Film Festival
Films focusing on mental health and addiction
November 6 - 15, 2008 at Workman Theatre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Toronto International Latin Film Festival
October 31 - November 8, 2008 at The Royal in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Toronto Palestine Film Festival
Continues until November 1, 2008 at various locations in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Friday October 31, 2008 Releases

Ashes of Time Redux
Dir: Wong Kar Wai (My Blueberry Night, In the Mood for Love, Chungking Express)
Cast: Leslie Cheung, Brigitte Lin, Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Carina Lau, Tony Leung Ka Fai, Jacky Cheung, Charlie Young
Hong Kong/China
Limited Release
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer
Trailer spoiler free until 3/4 of the way through

Filth and Wisdom
Dir: Madonna - feature film directorial debut
Cast: Eugene Hutz, Holly Wseston, Vicky McClure, Richard E Grant
UK
Limited Release
Official Film Site (autoplays trailer), IMDb Page, Trailer
Trailer is spoiler free

The Haunting of Molly Hartley
Dir: Mickey Liddell - feature film directorial debut
Cast: Haley Bennett, Marin Hinkle, Chace Crawford, Jake Weber, Shannon Marie Woodward
USA
No Official Film Site Found, IMDb Page, Trailer
Spoilers start at the 1/2 way point

Let the Right One In / Låt den rätte komma in
Dir: Tomas Alfredson
Cast: Kåre Hedebrant, Lina Leandersson
Sweden
Limited Release
Official Film Site (autoplays trailer), IMDb Page, Trailer
You get the gist of the film by the 1/2 way point, spoilers at 2/3rd and beyond

Made in Jamaica
Writer/Dir: Jérôme Laperrousaz (À l'école des étoiles)
Documentary on the leaders of Reggae music
France/USA
Limited Release
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer
Trailer is spoiler free

The Other End of the Line
Dir: James Dodson (Deadly Rivals)
Cast: Shriya, Jesse Metcalfe
USA
Official Film Site & Trailer, IMDb Page
Trailer spoiler free until 1/2 way point

What Just Happened?
Dir: Barry Levinson (Man of the Year, Sphere, Wag the Dog)
Cast: Robert De Niro, Robin Wright Penn, Bruce Willis, Stanley Tucci, John Turturro, Kristen Stewart
USA
Limited Release
Official Film Site (autoplays trailer), IMDb Page, Trailer
Trailer is spoiler free

Zack and Miri Make a Porno
Writer/Dir: Kevin Smith (Clerks, Mallrats, Chasing Amy)
Cast: Seth Rogen, Elizabeth Banks, Craig Robinson, Jason Mewes, Justin Long
USA
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer
You get the gist of the film by the 1/2 way point

**please note this list of releases reflects first run film released in Toronto, Ontario, Canada as of October 31, 2008**

Selections from I Sell the Dead Q&A at Toronto After Dark Film Festival 2008

The following video clips are from the screening of I Sell the Dead on Friday October 24, 2008 at the Toronto After Dark Film Festival. The post screening Q&A was led by Adam Lopez (Toronto After Dark Film Festival founder and director) and included from I Sell the Dead Glenn McQuaid (director) , Larry Fessenden (actor & producer), legendary screen actor Angus Scrimm, Brenda Cooney (actor) and Peter Phok (producer).

See my review of I Sell the Dead here.

Director Glenn McQuaid discusses the film and his love of the horror genre:


Larry Fessenden discuss his involvement with the film and introduces Angus Scrimm:


Angus Scrimm responds to an audience question regarding if he played the violin:


Producer Peter Phok speaks to the production side of the film including locations:


Larry Fessenden on why they chose to premiere at Toronto After Dark and where to go from here:


The Toronto After Dark Film Festival 2008 ran from October 17-24/08 at the Bloor Cinema, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Selections from South of Heaven Q&A at Toronto After Dark Film Festival 2008

The following video clips are from the screening of South of Heaven on Wednesday October 22, 2008 at the Toronto After Dark Film Festival.

See my review of South of Heaven here.

South of Heaven writer/director J.L. Vara discusses inspiration and influences for the characters:



J.L. Vara discusses locations, sets and effects:



J.L. Vara response to audience question regarding the kind of direction did he gave to the actors:



The Toronto After Dark Film Festival 2008 ran from October 17-24/08 at the Bloor Cinema, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Reverend’s Halloween Review: Madonna’s Scary Movie

While a successful acting career has alluded her, save her Golden Globe-winning turn as Evita, that hasn’t stopped Madonna from trying her hand at directing. Her behind-the-camera debut, Filth and Wisdom (released by IFC Films, watch the trailer here) opens tomorrow in Los Angeles and is already playing in New York City.

The good news: it isn’t as unwatchable or as downright laughable as some of the films Madonna has starred in. She has assembled a pretty good if no-name cast (apart from Richard E. Grant) for this London-set tale about political-sexual expatriates trying to achieve their dreams of success. Madonna also has a good command of the technical dimensions of filmmaking, and she is well-aided here by director of photography Tim Maurice Jones and editor Russell Icke.


The bad news: Madonna’s skill as a screenwriter leaves a lot to be desired. There’s hardly a cliché unturned in the dialogue (“There is duality in everything”), and the script (co-written by Dan Cadan) seems built upon a laundry list of Madonna’s longtime obsessions: fetishes, sex, music, sex, cross-dressing, sex, dance, sex and class/religious distinctions. Actually, no sex is depicted in Filth and Wisdom — unless you count a guy in schoolboy attire getting spanked by his role-playing “headmaster” — but the topic overshadows everything else.

In the end, Filth and Wisdom is neither all that filthy nor wise, and its characters and story aren’t particularly memorable. However, it offers a glimmer of hope that Madonna may yet achieve cinematic glory … but behind the camera and not in front of it.

UPDATE: Filth and Wisdom is now available on DVDfrom Amazon.com.

Review by Rev. Chris Carpenter, resident film critic of Movie Dearest and the Orange County and Long Beach Blade.

The Latest in Theaters: Zack & Miri & Bruce & Jesse

Not everything will be spooks and scares this Halloween weekend at the movies; there will also be some laughs, a little romance and maybe a tear or two in this week's new releases:

• Zack and Miri Make a Porno: The latest from Kevin Smith has endured poster scandals, title angst and prudish theater owners, but the not-so-X rated comedy (starring Seth Rogen -- who was born to be in a Smith film -- and Elizabeth Banks) is finally here. And hey, they'll even give you a porn name of your very own!
• My Name is Bruce: Not to be confused with They Call Me Bruce? (shudder), this wacky horror comedy stars cult icon Bruce Campbell as Bruce Campbell out to save a small town from an immortal evil. And the Ash man even directs! Watch the groovy trailer here.
• The Other End of the Line: Rom com starring Desperate hunk Jesse Metcalfe as a guy who falls for a girl (Sara Foster) over the phone; trouble is, she's an India-based call center operator. Talk about your long distance relationships.
• The Haunting of Molly Hartley: Haley Bennett is the title character, the new kid at school (with the proverbial deadly secret) who falls for the BMOC, played by Gossip Girl hottie Chace Crawford.
• Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father: A documentary filmmaker trying to memorialize his murdered friend discovers that the woman who killed him was pregnant with his late friend's son. Watch the heart-breaking trailer here.
• And last (and least, according to Chris' review): The Gay Bed and Breakfast of Terror. See it in theaters before it hits DVD in about three weeks (seriously, it comes out November 18).

To find out what films are playing in your area, visit Fandango - Search movie showtimes and buy tickets!

Selection from Who is KK Downey? Q&A at Toronto After Dark Film Festival 2008

The following video clips are from the screening of Who is KK Downey? on Tuesday October 21, 2008 at the Toronto After Dark Film Festival with Peter Kuplowsky - Programming Manager, Pat Kiely (director/producer/actor) and Matt Silver (writer/actor).

See my review of Who is KK Downey? here.

Matt Silver and Pat Kiely describe how Kidnapper Films came to be as well as the inspiration for the characters and story of Who is KK Downey? (includes spoilers)



Pat Kiely response to audience question regarding the Voltaire scene (includes spoiler).



Pat Kiely and Matt Silver respond to audience questions regarding whose hair is real in the film as well as upcoming projects.



The Toronto After Dark Film Festival 2008 ran from October 17-24/08 at the Bloor Cinema, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Cruising for Tricks and Treats

If you ever wanted to dress up like Al Pacino as Cruising's undercover detective Steve Burns for Halloween, now's your chance. A hanky for your back pocket (choose the appropriate color and positioning from this handy NSFW chart) and a bottle of poppers (sold separately) are all you need to complete this risk-taking ensemble. And don't forget to practice your dance moves.

For more lost costumes of yesteryear, be sure to check out this INSANE fashion show held by the geniuses over at Kindertrauma.

Best of the Fests: AFI Fest 2008

An "unfinished version" of John Patrick Shanley's Doubt (the religious drama based on his Tony Award winning play and starring Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Adams) will open the American Film Institute's AFI Fest 2008 tonight. The last minute change is due to Paramount pulling The Soloist (Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey Jr.) from the lineup since they have rescheduled it to open next spring.

The Soloist is just one of several high profile films that are being shifted to 2009 (and thus out of this year's awards races), such as Crossing Over (Harrison Ford and Sean Penn), The Road (Viggo Mortensen) and Shanghai (John Cusack), not to mention the oft-delayed Fanboys.


One film that will sneak in under the wire is Edward Zwick's Defiance (starring Daniel Craig, Liev Schreiber and Jamie Bell), which closes AFI Fest on November 9. The Holocaust drama (watch the trailer here) will have a limited run starting December 31 (thereby just barely qualifying it for potential future gold) and then open wide January 16.

And speaking of awards and Doubt, it has been revealed that Philip Seymour Hoffman will be shooting for a Supporting Actor nomination for the film. This will put him in direct competition yet again with Heath Ledger, pretty much a sure thing at this point for his Joker in The Dark Knight.

Estelle Reiner: 1914-2008

Estelle Reiner, best known for delivering one of the funniest punch lines in film history, passed away last Saturday. She was 94.

The wife of Carl Reiner (she was the inspiration for the character of Laura Petrie on The Dick Van Dyke Show), her brief but memorable cameo in her son Rob's 1989 romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally ... made her a star. Her only line in the movie -- "I'll have what she's having", quipped in response to Meg Ryan's infamous fake orgasm in the middle of a New York deli -- was named one of the top 100 movie quotes by the American Film Institute in 2005.

In addition to roles in Fatso, The Man with Two Brains and To Be or Not To Be, Reiner was also an artist and jazz singer, a career she began at the age of 65.

Selection from Lazer Ghosts 2: Return to the Laser Cove Introduction at Toronto After Dark Film Festival 2008

The following video clip is from the introduction of the screening of the short Lazer Ghosts 2: Return to the Laser Cove on Wednesday October 22, 2008 at the Toronto After Dark Film Festival. See my review of Lazer Ghosts 2: Return to the Laser Cove here.

Peter Kuplowsky introduces Lazer Ghosts 2 Return to Laser Cove director Steven Kostanski whom discusses the company Astron 6:



The Toronto After Dark Film Festival 2008 ran from October 17-24/08 at the Bloor Cinema, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Selection from Tokyo Gore Police Introduction at Toronto After Dark Film Festival 2008

The following video clip is from the screening of Tokyo Gore Police on Thursday October 23, 2008 at the Toronto After Dark Film Festival. International features programmer Todd Brown introduces Tokyo Gore Police including discussing director Yoshihiro Nishimura as well as a few prominent faces in the Japanese film industry to look for.

See my review of Tokyo Gore Police here.

Please note the following clip includes mild spoilers.



The Toronto After Dark Film Festival 2008 ran from October 17-24/08 at the Bloor Cinema, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Women We Love: Annette Funicello

Object of our affection: Annette Funicello, actress and singer.

- At age 12, she was discovered by none other than Walt Disney himself and cast as one of the original Mousketeers on the original Mickey Mouse Club. She would soon become the show's breakout star, receiving 6,000 fan letters a month. In addition to her mouse-eared appearances on the program, she also starred in several serials, including Spin & Marty and her own, titled simply Annette (a collection of all 19 episodes of which will be released as part of the Walt Disney TreasuresDVD line on November 11).

- Following MMC, she remained under contract with Disney and starred in the movies The Shaggy Dog (her film debut), Babes in Toyland, The Misadventures of Merlin Jones, and The Monkey's Uncle, as well as television guest spots on Zorro and Elfego Baca, among others. She also had a (reluctant) singing career via the studio, producing such hit songs as "Tall Paul", "Jo Jo the Dog Faced Boy" (?!) and "Pineapple Princess". Due to her many contributions to the studio, she was named a Disney Legend in 1992.

- Moving on from Disney, she became a certified teen idol in a popular string of "beach movies" opposite Frankie Avalon. The pair co-starred in six of them during the 1960's -- Beach Party, Muscle Beach Party, Bikini Beach, Beach Blanket Bingo and How to Stuff a Wild Bikini -- and would later re-team many a time on television as well as for a reunion movie in 1987, Back to the Beach.

- In the 1970's, she was a frequent presence on television thanks to her many commercial appearances as the spokesperson for Skippy peanut butter.

- She announced that she suffers from multiple sclerosis in 1992 and published her biography, A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes: My Story,two years later. It was made into a TV movie, A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes: The Annette Funicello Story, starring Eva La Rue.

A Single Man a Go

Per EW.com, the film adaptation of the classic Christopher Isherwood novel A Single Man will start filming next month under the direction of fashion mogul-turned-first time director Tom Ford (as previously reported).

The story, set in 1962, depicts one day in the life of George (to be played by Colin Firth), a gay middle-aged Englishman who works as a college professor in Los Angeles, whose lover Jim (Matthew Goode, of this year's Brideshead Revisited and next year's Watchmen) has recently died in a car accident. Julianne Moore will also star.

UPDATE: Big Love's Ginnifer Goodwin and About a Boy's Nicholas Hoult (as a "sexually ambiguous grad student who shows an unusual interest in" George) have joined the cast.

Death Becomes Them

Death is not a funny subject ... except in some movies ... and especially if it involves Anne Ramsey, a basketball and a Deadly Friend.

(And yes, the videos are NSFW.)

La Vie en Melrose

On the heels of the (somewhat) success of their 90210 reboot, the CW is looking to return to another familiar Southern California TV locale (also created by Darren Star): Melrose Place. Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello reports that the network is aiming to launch the new series as early as next fall, but there's not much more to go on at this point.

However, like the nouveau 90210, one can assume that the new Melrose will feature a fresh set of characters in familiar settings (Shooters, D&D, the WeHo apartment complex with its infamous swimming pool -- so perfect for catfights and accidental drownings). And of course, there's a whole slew of former cast members ripe for the guest star picking ... those whose characters didn't meet untimely ends, that is.

First Look: Beltrán as Lorca and Pattinson as Dalí

Javier Beltrán as poet Federico García Lorca and Twilight's Robert Pattinson as a young Salvador Dalí square off in the first (and gayest) Dalí biopic to get out of the gate, Little Ashes, due next year.

Toon Talk: In the Tink

Since her stage debut as a spot of light in J.M. Barrie’s legendary play Peter Pan, Tinker Bell has enchanted and delighted audiences of all ages. However, following her featured role in Walt Disney’s classic animated version over 50 years ago, Miss Bell has had her ups (introducing the weekly Disney television series, leading the nightly fireworks shows at Disney theme parks worldwide) and downs (four words: Julia Roberts in Hook). Nevertheless, Tink is a show biz trooper; she even received her own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame recently.

Already the most famous fairy of all time, Tinker Bell is about to get even bigger (despite her pixyish size) as Disney launches its latest multi-media franchise, with Tink herself front and center. With books, websites and a slew of merchandise, the Disney Fairies are poised to give the Disney Princesses a run for their money … all the way to the bank.


Chief among the new wave of offerings set to enthrall little girls everywhere is a brand new series of original DVD adventures starring our gal and her fairy friends, the first of which, titled Tinker Bell (naturally), is now availableon both standard Disney DVD and Disney Blu-ray. And if this premiere installment is any indication, fans of fairies and fantasies are in for a treat for years to come.

Click here to continue reading my Toon Talk review of Tinker Bell at LaughingPlace.com

Poster Post: Monsters with Babes Edition

With Halloween fast approaching, here's a collection of old school B-movie posters featuring the best of the classic "Monsters with Babes" motif. First up, you don't get any more B-grade then Ed Wood's Bride of the Monster, starring "the screen's master of the weird", the one and only Bela Lugosi.


Then there's Attack of the Crab Monsters ... damn, I hate it when that happens ...


Who could forget The Beast with 1,000,000 Eyes? And who knew it only had seven eyes?


And of course, a true icon in every sense of the word: Attack of the 50 Foot Woman, which cleverly provided eager audiences with a monster who was a babe.

For more "Monsters with Babes" posters, check out the gallery over at Retrocrush.

The Latest on DVD: The Gang's All Here

Featuring all 80 of the original Hal Roach Our Gang gang's theatrical talkies in their entirety, fully remastered, restored and uncut, The Little Rascals: The Complete Collectionis a treasure trove for fans of these classic comedy shorts.

Spanning the years 1929 to 1938, this collections contains the timeless adventures of Spanky, Alfalfa, Darla, Buckwheat, Porky, Wheezer, Stymie, Butch, et al (and don't forget their dog Petey and the lovely Miss Crabtree) in a deluxe 8-disc set, plus a collectible booklet, rare bonus footage (including three silent Little Rascals shorts) new featurettes (such as one on "Rascals and Racial Issues") and a heaping helping of nostalgia.

Check out the Latest on DVD widgets located in the sidebar for more of this week's new DVD releases available today from Amazon.com.

The Bloor has some rockin' upcoming films!

In the past little while I've been spending a heck of a lot of time at the Bloor. It started with Thing-Fest 2008 (pics & vids will be posted soon!) then daily trips to the theatre throughout the Toronto After Dark Film festival for over a week. Come to think of it, the day after the festival closed I just about got off at Bathurst Station out of habit.

And you may do the same soon with their rockin line up over the next little while:

Army of Darkness
Tuesday October 28/08 at 9:30PM
Friday October 31/08 at 7:00PM
Facebook Page

Bubba Ho-Tep
Thursday October 30/08 at 7:00PM
Mr. Vampire III
Thursday October 30/08 at 9:05PM
Bubba Ho-Tep and Mr. Vampire III Facebook page

The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Friday October 31/08 at 9:00PM
Friday October 31/08 at 11:30PM

The Toronto 48 Hour Film Project
See screening of films created in a mere 48 hours!
Sunday November 2/08 at 4:00PM
The Toronto 48 Hour Film Project Website, Facebook group

Repo! The Genetic Opera
Yes, folks it's official. Repo! The Genetic Opera will be at The Bloor starting Friday November 21, 2008 and it will be running for 1 week.
Director Darren Lynn Bousman will be in attendance at the Friday November 21, 2008 screening.
See the Facebook group here

Home Movie Intro & Q&A

The following video clips are from the screening of Home Movie on Thursday October 23, 2008 at the Toronto After Dark Film Festival. The clips contain some discussions that speak to the plot of the film and therefore may contain spoilers. See my review of Home Movie here.

Adam Lopez and Home Movie producer Andrew van den Houten introduce the film:

Home Movie Producer Andrew van den Houten discuss the casting and working with child actors:



Home Movie Producer Andrew van den Houten discusses if any animals were harmed during the production:



Home Movie Producer Andrew van den Houten response to then question regarding how much the actors filmed scenes of the movie:


The Toronto After Dark Film Festival 2008 ran from October 17-24/08 at the Bloor Cinema, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Poll Results: What is your preferred way to watch horror movies?

The Poll results are in for What is your preferred way to watch horror movies? Looks like the most of us want to see the film out there at the theatre with friends. Watching horror films can definitely be enhanced in the company of others and it sounds like the voters agree:

50% At the theatre, with friends
33% At home, alone
16% At the theatre, alone
0% At home, with friends

Thanks for voting!

Check out the sidebar to your right latest poll.

Toon Talk: Senioritis

Following the phenomenal success of the original High School Musical on The Disney Channel two years ago, which was further cemented by the equally popular made for TV High School Musical 2 last year, the decision to bring the third and (supposedly) final chapter of the HSM trilogy to the big screen as a theatrical release was still a risky one for Disney.

As evidenced by this summer’s dismal ratings flop reality series (High School Musical: Get in the Picture), not all things HSM are sure things. However, with the chart-topping box office returns this past weekend of High School Musical 3: Senior Year, all has been righted in the world, this world that will continue to be gripped (at least for the immediate future) in the throes of Wildcat fever.

But how does HSM3 stack up to its predecessors? Not too shabbily, as a matter of fact. While the by-now tried-and-true HSM formula (Troy and Gabriella once again face teen angst-y problems that may rip their true love apart, Sharpay schemes to keep her self-deluded stardom on the rise, all is made happy through peppy pop songs and delirious dance numbers) is very much apparent … so much so that if there is a HSM4 (as rumored), I suspect it will collapse into self-parody.

Nevertheless, by the time the diplomas are handed out in a frenzied finale, director/choreographer Kenny Ortega and screenwriter Peter Barsocchini will have you as wrapped up in the celebration as much as if it was your own kin standing there in cape and gown.

Click here to continue reading my Toon Talk review of High School Musical 3 on LaughingPlace.com.

UPDATE: High School Musical 3: Senior Year is now available on DVD and Blu-rayfrom Amazon.com.

Cinematic Crush: Rock Hudson

Crush object: Rock Hudson, actor.

- Born Roy Harold Scherer Jr. in 1925, he would go on to become "Rock Hudson", one of the most popular movie stars of the 1950's and 60's. But his screen beginnings were not quite auspicious: legend has it that it took 38 takes before he could successfully deliver his one line in his film debut Fighter Squadron.

- His first major successes were opposite Jane Wyman in the Douglas Sirk melodramas Magnificent Obsession and All That Heaven Allows, followed by his one and only Academy Award nomination, for George Stevens' Giant.

- He closed out the 50's by starring with Doris Day in the first of their popular romantic comedies, Pillow Talk; they would re-team for Lover Come Back and Send Me No Flowers.

- In the 70's and 80's, he turned mostly to television, most notably with his hit crime fighter series McMillan & Wife and the mini-series version of Ray Bradbury's The Martian Chronicles. His final screen role before his headline making death in 1985 of AIDS related causes was on the nighttime soap opera Dynasty.

- Other classic movies in his filmography include Written on the Wind, A Farewell to Arms, Seconds, Ice Station Zebra, Darling Lili and The Mirror Crack'd.

See more pictures of Rock Hudson in The Back Room (NSFW).