Sign of the Zodiac

No one plays naive yet sharp like Jake Gyllenhaal. We saw this in his younger days in October Sky and Donnie Darko, and he pulls off this "boy scout" persona once again in Zodiac as a timid newspaper cartoonist who becomes obsessed with cracking the case of San Francisco's most infamous serial killer.

Based on the true story, David Fincher brings the story to the screen as a complex, twisty murder mystery that draws you in as a spider does a fly. A straight-laced Mark Ruffalo and a scene-stealing Robert Downey Jr. co-star as the two other points of the triangle struggling to solve the unsolvable Zodiac murders, with nice character turns by Anthony Edwards, Brian Cox and a creepy Charles "Roger Rabbit" Fleischer lurking around the edges.

Despite its grim subject matter, the film does find unexpected pockets of humor within the suspenseful scenario. And cinephiles will dig the references to two particular era- and location-specific anti-heroes.

Click here to buy Zodiacon DVD from Amazon.com.
Link via Imdb.com.

Cinematic Crush: Marlon Brando

For generations of aspiring actors, one name is all that is needed to epitomize the greatness they all desire: Brando.

And desire was the name of the streetcar that delivered Marlon Brando to fame on the Broadway stage. Women were known to gasp aloud when he, as the brutal Stanley Kowalski, removed his shirt onstage. It was if they could sense from the audience all that pent-up, raw sexuality exuding out of him. No wonder they swooned.

Naturally, Hollywood soon called for the young actor, and put up with his "method" for they knew he had the look that sold tickets. Despite its controversial themes, the movie version of A Streetcar Named Desire proved them right, netting Brando his first of four Oscar nominations in a row, culminating in a win for his sensitive, tortured Terry Malloy in On the Waterfront.

In between those two iconic roles was another, less heralded but equally important one: The Wild One. As Johnny Strabler, Brando created the archetypal motorcycle tough who, when asked what he's rebelling against, replies curtly yet meaningfully "What do you got?"

Many movies followed, some legendary (The Godfather, Apocalypse Now), some not (Reflections in a Golden Eye, The Island of Dr. Moreau). But it is those early films that captured that lightning in a bottle, that animalistic machismo those women sitting in that theater back in 1947 must have felt. And we can still feel it today.

See more pictures of Marlon Brando in The Back Room (NSFW).

The Crying Game

As opposed to in real life, I can cry at the drop of a hat while watching a movie. And I don't even have to see the whole movie, as I've been known to burst into tears from the last five minutes alone of The Color Purple or Pocahontas.

It goes without saying that I am far from the only one who finds cathartic release through film (I remember when I saw Braveheart and a teen-aged girl had to literally be carried out of the theater by her friends when it was over, she was sobbing so hard). There is something about certain films that can sneak up on your emotions and you don't even realize it until your sobbing into your snack bar napkins. They are called "tearjerkers" for a reason, after all.

Entertainment Weekly recently ran their list of the top tearjerkers of all time (in two parts: part one, part two). Or should I say re-ran, as this is basically the same list they came up with in 2003 with some tweaking. Gone are such films as The Yearling and The Sixth Sense (huh?), replaced by more recent ones such as The Notebook and Million Dollar Baby.

And while it is nice to see Brokeback Mountain deservedly in the top ten, it is a little off-putting for it to take the place (#6) of Longtime Companion, which has been bumped down to #22. Now now, EW. Are you saying gay weepies are interchangeable?

The déjà vu-ness of the new list aside, the list covers many of the most tear-stained films in movie history, although they included the wrong Cocoon and The Champ in my opinion (the sequel and the original, respectively, are much more tearjerky).

Since their list is 50, my usual top 5 favorites culled from their list will be a top 10. (As you can tell, I like to cry in my popcorn.)

• Bambi - "Your mother can't be with you anymore."
• Brokeback Mountain - The shirts. That's all it takes.
• E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial - "I'll be right here."
• The Iron Giant - Totally catches you off guard. Damn you, Brad Bird!
• The Joy Luck Club - Oh man, where to begin ...
• Longtime Companion - Bruce Davison, bedside. Don't need to say more.
• Stella Dallas - One image: Barbara Stanwyck in the rain.
• Terms of Endearment - EW has it right with this one: Huckleberry Fox gets to me every time.
• To Kill a Mockingbird - "Stand up. Your father's passing." (Man, just typing that gives me goose bumps.)
• West Side Story - "Hold my hand and I'll take you there ..."

Links via EW.com and Imdb.com.

The Latest on TV: Zac is Back and More

Notable movies and other programs on TV for Monday August 13 to Sunday August 19:

- MUST-SEE OF THE WEEK: Drama tweens and musical queens alike will be tuning in to The Disney Channel Friday night for the premiere of High School Musical 2. Kenny Ortega returns as director/choreographer, leading his cast, headlined by current "It" boy Zac Efron (pictured) in the sure to be successful next chapter in HSM mania.

For more on the movie, LaughingPlace.com has a complete viewer's guide, Entertainment Weekly gives a behind-the-scenes look and Playbill.com has a full rundown of the weekend's schedule, which includes special sing-along airings and more.

And to get you in the mood a little early, the soundtrack albumgoes on sale Tuesday. (Click the link to pre-order the CD from Amazon.com.)

- AMC will air a couple of interesting documentaries this week: Dial H for Hitchcock on Tuesday and Rated R: Republicans in Hollywood on Friday. The latter seeks to answer the question "could Hollywood be more conservative than we think?"

- Gore Vidal, author of Myra Breckinridge and Caligula, is scheduled to appear on Monday's Henry Rollins Show on IFC.

- Turner Classic Movies continues their "Summer Under the Stars" with a week's worth of star-a-day salutes. Following is my pick for the day's best bet, along with other notable programming.

• Monday - June Allyson: The Opposite Sex. Yep, it's the musical remake of The Women in all its letterboxed glory - plus Joan Collins and Delores Gray!
• Tuesday - Ernest Borgnine: From Here to Eternity.
• Wednesday - Joan Bennett: Father of the Bride.
• Thursday - Elvis Presley: Viva Las Vegas (with a red-hot Ann-Margret).
• Friday - Maureen O'Hara: The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
• Saturday - Spencer Tracy: Inherit the Wind.
• Sunday - Errol Flynn: The Adventures of Robin Hood. Plus: the documentary The Adventures of Erroll Flynn.

Click on the network links to find the show times in your area. All programming is subject to change.

Links via Disney.go.com, Imdb.com, LaughingPlace.com, EW.com, Playbill.com, AMCTV.com, IFC.com and TCM.com.

Great Performances: Jesse L. Martin as Collins

When watching Jesse L. Martin in the role of Tom Collins in Rent, one can feel the joy that this man finds in life, even if that life could be cut short at any time by his HIV- status.

Martin brings a warmth, a familiarity to his characterization that is refreshing, even surprising. One can easily see why he has the loyal friends that he does, and why his Angel would fall in love with him so completely, so easily. Their duet, "I'll Cover You", is sexy, even playfull, but ultimately rock solid romantic.

Which makes Collins' solo reprise, after Angel is taken from him, all the more heart breaking. As he stands at the funeral of his beloved, he fights back the pain, yet somehow finds the strength - the love - to lead his "family" through their combined grief.

Marin played Collins in the original Broadway production of Rent, and the time spent in the role shows. His Collins is lived in, and while Wilson Jermaine Heredia's Angel is the heart of the piece, Martin's performance is its soul.

Click here to buy Renton DVD from Amazon.com.
Links via Imdb.com and Ibdb.com.

Hammer Time!

Something tells me that Robert Downey Jr. is not in that Iron Man armor (pictured). Isn't it ironic that, for the most part, they cast all these big stars in these superhero movies only to cover their faces with masks (Spider-Man), make-up (half the X-Men) or just CGI 'em (Hulk).

One superhero that doesn't wear a mask is Thor - although he does get to wear a little winged hat. Stardust director Matthew Vaughn has signed-up to direct the movie, which, you will be happy to know, will need a tall, muscle-bound, golden-haired hunk for the title role.

I can just see the casting notice now:

"WANTED: Built, blonde Norse God, no previous experience necessary. Must look good in long hair and a cape and not speak with a lisp (dialogue will include a lot of "thee's" and "tho's"). Please bring your complete measurements and a current headshot. Prop hammers will be provided."

Any guesses who will don the mantel of "The Mighty Thor"? How about ... Channing Tatum?

And in related superhero news, AfterElton.com wonders if Watchmen's gay hero will make it to the screen.

Links via Imdb.com, Wikipedia.com, Variety.com, MostBeautifulMan.com and AfterElton.com.

Potent Quotables: Baby Jane Edition

The bitter rivalry between Joan Crawford and Bette Davis is legendary, as were their onset altercations during the filming of the cult classic, What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?

Joan had this to say about her co-star:

"Bette and I work differently. Bette screams, and I knit. While she screamed, I knitted a scarf that stretched clear to Malibu!"

On the other hand, Bette said:

"The best time I ever had with Joan Crawford was when I pushed her down the stairs in "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?".

Click here to buy What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? on DVD from Amazon.com.
Link via Imdb.com.