To welcome the New Year: four craptacular train wrecks

Okay, maybe a little harsh but tomorrow is Thursday, the first day of 2009 and my fancy isn’t even the least bit tickled with the four major releases opening tomorrow. They are; Bolt, Marley & Me, The Tale of Despraux and Yes Man. On second thoughts I might see Yes Man just because of the delightful Zoey Deschanel and Murray from Flight of the Concords. But I’d have to be bloody despraux to see a film about a mouse that goes to rescue a princess from rats. In my eyes no animated film on mice and rats can beat Ratouille. Ever. Bolt on the other hand looks like it’s overcrowded with painfully likable characters which are clichés stolen from every other animated movie ever made. And finally, Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston have a puppy that repairs their fractured relationship in Marley & Me. Vomit anyone? If the trailer is anything to go by then the best acting in that god-awful film is done by the dog who even has better hair than Wilson. I think I’ll read a book this week and instead count the days until the advance screenings of Milk.

15 Films from 2008 you haven’t seen, but probably should

Originally I wanted to compile a list of my favourite films of 2008, given the year is drawing to a close. However, I kept getting frustrated with the number of apparently good movies I haven’t seen. Instead I’ve thrown together a list of some very interesting films that for one reason or another have slipped under most peoples radar. A few mentioned might not necessarily make my list of best films of `08 but they’re still worthy for a host of other reasons. All of these titles you can pick up on DVD at your local rental store. Enjoy!

Southland Tales
There aren’t many people who can forget Richard Kelly’s debut film Donnie Darko. Majority of them are still trying to work out what actually happened besides the fact Jack Gynehall’s character got laid in the final half. Therefore there was understandably a lot of buzz about his follow up film Southland Tales. In the seven years since Kelly made Donnie Darko it has become a cult and critical hit and the hype surrounding this recent work was equally as positive, especially when it got accepted in to Cannes. The critics creating that hype soon turned in to a vicious mob after what was called “one of the most disastrous screenings at Cannes ever and one of the worst films ever selected”. For an idea of how bad it went, think the fictious screening of Medellin in Entourage, Season 4. Yes it was that bad. People booed and got rowdy before storming out of the theatre. Regardless, I was keen to see it as it had a pretty intriguing cast comprised of random actors from all over the shop. After two and a bit hours of watching Southland Tales I am utterly and completely confused. In fact, three days later I’m still not sure what it was about. But I know this – I liked it. For some strange reason beyond all my comprehension I enjoyed it. Kelly drew some fantastic performances out of his mixed bag cast considering he chose actors that he thought were underrated and whom he wanted to perform really different performances from their usual roles. The stars include Sarah Michelle Gellar, Dwayne `The Rock’ Johnson, Sean William Scott, Justin Timberlake, Amy Poelher, Mandy Moore and Bai Ling just to name a few. And, very surprisingly, they’re all good! Especially Sean William Scott and Justin Timberlake. Conceptually I think the film is pretty brilliant. Yes, it’s very confusing but you really have to hold out until the end. Not that by the end you understand the film any more but it’s best to try and sort through the puzzle in its entirety. Stylistically I think Kelly is having a bit of a wank and has got carried away with his own special effects budget and what he sees as cleverness with the camera. This film has its flaws, no doubt. But it also has it’s merits which I think more than out weigh the negatives. In fact, this futuristic world on its way to the apocalypse was a little scary because it reminded me so much of our current situation. Plus you also see a car screw another car in a creative CGI display and that alone is worth your time. See this.
Gone Baby GoneAn absolute classic if I ever saw one. Who knew Ben Affleck had the potential to direct, write and produce in such an exceptional manner? Okay we knew he had the balls after his writing debut with BFF Matt Damon won them an Oscar for Good Will Hunting but Gone Baby Gone is beyond and better than that. The camera work is great and Affleck directs his cast and crew very well. But the real clincher here is the story. Affleck is so masterful in his direction and writing that he leads the audience one way and then all of a sudden you’re thrown in to a completely different situation darker and more difficult than before. This is the kind of film that once you see it, you don’t forget it and it truly makes you question your personal morals and ethics. The Academy made a massive oversight in not selected this film as a contender for best picture. One of my favourite films period.
Sukiayaki Western Django A swashbuckling ride with big guns, big explosions and a big cameo from Quentin Tarantino. Takashi Miike (a director who makes a ridiculously large amount of films each year) throws everything at you in this exploitive action romp which is slightly kooky and a tad bit fun.
Body of Lies
One of the most underrated movies of the year, Russel Crowe and Leonardo Dicaprio face of in this tense spy-thriller which had me biting my nails the whole way. The story is complex, the locations are mind blowing and in true Ridley Scott fashion the camera work/techniques are exceptionally innovative. The story centres on CIA agent Roger Ferris played by Dicaprio who uncovers a lead on a major terrorist leader suspected to be operating out of Jordan. Crowe is his CIA supervisor and the thing that really completes Body of Lies is seeing these two superb actors throw stellar performances at each other. You must see this.
Teeth
Brilliant, unsettling and hilarious are perhaps three words I’d use to describe this little gem of a black comedy. Or is it? It’s hard to define as a black comedy when there are definitely elements of horror. But whatever genre you want to throw it in Teeth is just a little bit awesome. In a nutshell Teeth is about a teenage virgin named Dawn who discovers, through a series of unfortunate incidents, she has teeth in her vagina. Yes, that’s right I said teeth in her vadge (a phenomenon popular in mythology in civilisations throughout the world know as vagina dentata). And if you think she’s unlucky wait to you see the how the handful of douches that try to pop her cherry end up. Lets just say there are certain scenes that the male audience may find . .er . . .uncomfortable. An indie film with a cast of unknowns, you can tell lead actress Jess Weixler is going to be a star. I loved how the director mocks how Hollywood has made showing female genitalia in films taboo and the sex scenes are shown from both the man AND the women’s perspective (for once). But what I truly adore is once you put the shocking concept of the film aside, Teeth is essentially about a young women who comes to accept her flaws and use them to her advantage. Who would have thought a film about a fang filled giny could present a strong message on female empowerment?
RocknRolla
Undoubtedly one of my favourite films of the year! But despite the impressive cast RocknRolla didn’t seem to attract much of an audience. After a few colossal failures RocknRolla is a return to form for Guy Ritchie and my favourite film of his to date. “What?! But nothing can be better than Snatch or Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels” I hear you say. Oh but it is. At least for me personally anyway. A shade lighter than his previous gangster flicks RocknRolla is funny, fast paced and packed to the brim with action. The ensemble cast ticks all the performance boxes with Toby Kebbell delivering an absolutely smashing performance as drug-addicted rocker Johnny. Plus the jerking exchange between Thandie Newton and Gerard Butler is one of the best dance scenes I’ve seen since Uma Thurman and John Travolta in Pulp Fiction.
We Own the Night
2008 hasn’t been a great year for Mark Wahlberg film wise. His show Entourage has continued its roaring success and in his personal life fiancée Rhea Durham popped out another son for him. But for some reason the films he has starred in haven’t bode well with critics despite his stellar performances. We Own the Night was the exception. Applauded by critics for the superb camera work and dark, thrilling atmosphere created by writer/director James Gray, We Own the Night was accepted in to the Cannes Film Festival and received a standing ovation after it screened. The problem was, no one saw this movie. Okay, that’s a lie. There were some people who saw it but frankly all nine of us are going to have trouble spreading the good word about this film. The script and concept is superb and the acting is nothing short of brilliant. Mark Wahlberg and Joaquin Phoenix play brothers on different sides of the law who team up to protect their families from the Russian mafia. Gray, Wahlberg and Phoenix worked together in The Yards which was another critical success and clearly the trio work well considering the quality films they produce. Wahlberg and Phoneix also took on the major task of producing the film. We Own the Night will have you on the edge of your seat as it’s suspenseful, smart and beautifully shot. Wahlberg is the stand out in a role which is quite different to anything he has played before and Eva Mendes is smokin’. But the real star here is James Gray who in my books has cemented himself as one of the most notable up and coming film makers. With previous semi-classics such as Two Lovers, Little Odessa, The Yards and now We Own The Night, Gray is shaping up to be the next Martin Scorcese. And the man is only in his early 40s! Hot damn.
Redacted
Legendary director Brian De Palm of Scarface and The Untouchables fame stepped outside his comfort zone to make this fictional drama which won the Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival for best director. Redacted is a montage of stories about U.S. soldiers fighting in the Iraq conflict, focusing on the modern forms of media covering the war and is designed to make you feel like you’re actually there with the soldiers. This film is truly unique compared to everything else De Palma has done in his career which spans almost half a century. It’s raw, fast paced and you can tell you’re in the hands of a veteran director. I think the Redacted tag line does a better job of describing the film than I can - “Truth is the first casualty of war”.
Be Kind RewindAnother notable mention is Be Kind Rewind starring Jack Black and Mos Def . Although it lacked the budget and special effects of some of the other comedies released this year, Be Kind Rewind had more heart than all of them put together and featured some of the best spoofs of Hollywood classics Rocky, King Kong and Ghostbusters. Mos Def has rarely been seen in a comedy but his performance is so natural it’s clear he has a real knack for this genre. Be Kind Rewind can be a bit slow in parts but in others it’s hilarious and more authentic than any other comedy of the year. Best line? “You know you’re in love with someone when you have an imaginary conversation with them for more than 20 minutes a day”.
Stop-Loss
Another film about soldiers in the war in Iraq by none other than super-lesbian Kimberley Peirce of Boys Don’t Cry acclaim. After having a massive break from making movies after her exceptional debut mentioned above, Peirce wrote and directed this heart wrenching masterpiece of a film with one of the hottest young casts around. Starring Ryan Philippe, Channing Tatum, Aussie lass Abbie Cornish and Movie Mazzupial favourite Joseph-Gordon Levitt the performances are, to say the least, mind blowing. I kid you not, I had shivers from the delivery and conviction these actors brought to the roles. Peirce wrote the film after her brother became a victim of the Stop-Loss phenomenon which is a loop hole created by the American government forcing some soldiers to return to the war zone after they have already completed their initial tour. I read a review from one critic who described Stop-Loss as “the first truly brilliant film of the year”. I would have to agree, a truly brilliant film.
Savages
I’ll try and keep this brief because I already covered this film extensively in August but Savages is that rare kind of a movie that has the ability to connect with each of us on some level. Laura Linney and Phillip Seymour Hoffman star as dysfunctional siblings Wendy and John Savage who are forced to confront the issues in their own lives when they to try looking after their father who has recently been diagnosed with dementia. Yet another black comedy to add to the list and I’m sure there’s a fair few people who have seen this due to Laura Linney’s Oscar nomination for the role but this film is so affecting I had to include it anyway.
How She Move
It’s easy to understand why no one wanted to watch another dance movie in `08 after such atrocious efforts like Step Up 2 The Streets and Make It Happen (my front runner for the worst film of the year). Essentially that’s what How She Move is; a dance film. But there’s a difference. Unlike the dozens of bubblegum pieces that fill this genre, the movie is authentic and sheds light on a genuine, not fictional, underground movement of step dancing. It’s not filled with the lofty, predictable storylines of other dance movies instead it looks at the gritty ghetto filled with sex, drugs, death and darkness. It examines family relationships in the face of losing a loved one to heroin and it looks at the failing education system for lower-class black Americans. Plus there are some wicked cool dance scenes. On the whole, How She Move will leave you feeling like you saw something substantial rather than just another popcorn dance movie. Despite being an official selection at the Sundance Film Festival where it was the surprise hit of the event, How She Move failed to make a dent at the global box office particularly in Australia. Don’t let that stop you.
Not Quite Hollywood
Maybe the best Aussie film of the year and definitely the best documentary Not Quite Hollywood is an exciting debut for director Mark Hartley. The doco delves deep in to the world of Ozploitation cinema, popular in the 70s and 80s which is a hybrid of one of my favourite genres; exploitation cinema. A fascinating look at an undocumented portion of Australian film history it also features interviews from the likes of Quentin Tarantino, Jamie-Lee Curtis and Dennis Hopper. To read more see my August post titled Rude, crude and totally attractive.
In Bruges
Funny and oh so dark at the same time. In Bruges is about two hit men who are forced in to hiding after a hit goes horribly, horribly wrong. Colin Farrell is superb as a tormented hitman struggling to come to terms with what he has done and Brendan Gleeson is just as brilliant as Farrell’s mentor. Ralph Fiennes rounds up the solid performances as their boss and keep an eye out for the funniest dwarf, correction, ‘small person’ incorporated in to an action comedy. The humour is abrupt and black with some of the best one liners in a movie this year. One of my favouritest, favouritest, favouritest flicks of `08 and hopefully more people have seen this then I give them credit for.

Got milk?

Hot damn, I wish I did! And no, I don’t mean the kind that comes out of a cows teat. I’m talking about the new film from super-awesome Gus Van Sant titled Milk which is getting all sorts of praise for great acting and superb direction. A true story, Milk is based on California's first openly gay elected official, Harvey Milk, a San Francisco supervisor who was assassinated along with Mayor George Moscone. Not only is this directed by one of my top six favourite directors (Sant) it stars one of my favourite actors (Sean Penn) in the title role. Penn is backed up by a superb supporting cast with Josh Brolin, Emile Hirsch and James Franco in another strong career move. I’ve seen the trailer no less than six times at the movies and it blows my mind every view. The link below will take you to said trailer of brilliance -
www.youtube.com/watch?v=WW0lQrWn5VI
I’d heard a little bit about this story thanks to the copious amount of gay friends I have and the movie looks absolutely brilliant from the 2 minutes and 35 seconds I’ve seen. From those who have seen Milk they’re tipping it to take out all five major categories at the coming Oscars including; best picture, best director, best actor in a lead role, best supporting actor and best original screenplay. Win or loose I’m pumped to see this asap. Milk is released January 2009 in Australia, probably at selected cinemas so keep your eyes peeled.

C.R.A.Z.Y Christmas

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

Sorry I haven’t been writing much lately but I’ve been busy doing the festive rounds and visiting family and friends all over the shop.
I hope you all have a jolly day with your loved ones and remember the true meaning of Christmas: Santa’s birthday.
If you feel like watching a holiday movie this Christmas I recommend an absolutely beautiful French film I saw last night called C.R.A.Z.Y.

The title stands for names of the five main children in the film which is directed by Jean-Marc Vallee and based on the experiences of co-writer Francois Boulay growing up. In a nutshell C.R.A.Z.Y follows Zac (pictured below as an adult in the film) from childhood when he is born on Christmas day in to a family with four very different brothers. The movie becomes more complex as his sexuality begins to surface as a child and he and his parents struggle to come to terms with his orientation throughout in to adolescence and adulthood. Yes, it’s a movie about Christmas and homosexuality all rolled in to one but that doesn’t make it any less brilliant! It is a beautiful, gut-wrenching film which explores sexuality, religion and family relationships in a way I have never experienced before. Please see this film, originally released in 2006, because it’s superb in every way.

Note: Alternatively if you’re after a bit of fluff Love Actually is always good for you (and you and you and you).

Taking the Strait path

Every now and then Movie Mazzupial finds a new actor, director or film to obsess over. This time it's none other than the delicious Steven Strait who is, for lack of a recognised word, yum yum yum. The 22-year old first came to my attention as Warren Peace in the highly underrated action adventure Sky High. From there I've pretty much followed his career from film to film. Next he appeared in The Covenant and then backed up with another blockbuster 10, 000 BC. Taking a turn away from big budget flicks Strait then appeared in the Kimberley Pierce's critically acclaimed Stop-Loss. Although his films haven't been that popular with critics his performances in them have been "stand out" leading said critics to tag him as a "star to watch". His next projects should showcase his talent more with leads in City Island and Priest alongside Gerard Butler. Unfortunately he's married to some 29-year old chick called Lynn Collins who is playing Silver Fox in the new X-Men Origins: Wolverine movie. Ho-hum. Here's some juicy picks to fill your appetite none the less .
As Warren Peace in Sky High, complete with red hair streaks and smokin' powers. Strait as the lead brooding witch in The Convenant.

Strait as D'Leh in 10, 000 BC and still looking hot with dreads.
Strait just being himself - delicious.

More disturbing than a Hancock sequel . . .

WTF! I just read some disturbing, disturbing news. Apparently with a fresh director for New Moon, Catherine Hardwicke is out and Chris Weitz is in, the Twilight cast is getting a major shake up. Before you storm Summit Entertainment with flaming torches and pitchforks, chillax. Robert Pattison and Kristen Stewart are remaining as Edward and Bella. BUT casters are taking offers for a new Jacob Black to replace Taylor Lautner who they feel is too baby-faced for the more mature New Moon. That's bullshit! In case the fags in charge of New Moon didn't read the books properly or the English was too advanced for their juvenile minds - Jacob Black is supposed to be a year younger than Bella! That's one of the key factors in their relationship! Also, did they even watch the movie? Taylor Lautner was one of the best aboutTwilight and considering there were some pretty shiteous performances from major leads, he should definitely not be getting replaced. This makes me so angry! Lautner was perfect as Jacob Black and there's even these clips on YouTube I watched which show him and the other dudes who play the Quilette boys talking about how they studied the tribes myths and actually learnt how to speak the native tongue. Let me remind you this kid is only 16, but he had the initiative to go out and learn how to speak the specific language of a Native American tribe for a role. He deserves this part! And what ever happened to Chris Weitz saying he wasn't going to make any major changes to New Moon and was happy with everything Hardwicke had done in Twilight? He also said in the same official statement that he didn't want to do anything to upset fans. Liar, liar, liar! And what the hell is Stephenie Meyer doing? Seriously, when Hardwicke was filming Meyer had no objection to cutting her scenes willy nilly and adding extra sequences in (basically overwriting Hardwicke's authority as director) because she wasn't 100% happy. Now when they're actually stuffing up some awesome casting decisions by getting rid of Lautner, Meyer is sitting on her hands and saying nothing. Why? They're trying to get 26-year old Michael Copon (of such fine films* as Bring It On 4: In It To Win It and The Scorpion King 2) to play Jacob Black in the next film. Also, Prince Caspian aka Ben Barnes has been quoted saying he wants to play the role of Aro in New Moon. No, no, no. I think Ben Barnes is great and all but he's too young and good looking for the role of Aro who is supposed to be a 3000 year old vampire or something. Remember the onion skin-like texture of his skin people? Meyer is becoming a total sell out and pimping out her franchise. Whatever ridiculous casting decisions they make they better hurry up and do em quick as New Moon starts filming in just 12 weeks. Read all the details on the Twilight cast upheaval here at Perez Hilton.

Jamie Foxx with Taylor Lautner, the current and awesome Jacob Black

Michael Copon aka the guy casters and director Chris Weitz are most interested in as the new Jacob Black

Ben Barnes is keen to play Volturi leader Aro in New Moon

*By fine films I mean absolute, trashtastic disasters where the entire cast exhibit their hideous lack of acting talent.

Bettie Page 1923 - 2008

I missed this sad news which occurred earlier in the week but the amazing Bettie Page passed away at age 85. Page was the original pin-up girl and in a time of sexual repression, particularly amongst females, she challenged the dominant cultural ideologies and America’s idea of conventional sex and/or sexiness. If you want to know more about Page I recommend Mary Harron’s film The Notorious Bettie Page which is a superb retelling of Page’s early life and America’s political climate. You can pick it up from most mainstream DVD rental stores. Otherwise the following obituary, which appeared in the UK Telegraph, is a fitting tribute to a true sexual icon.

Bettie Page: Look how far we haven't come...

Bettie Page, the playful Fifties centrefold who died on Thursday at the age of 85, showed women how to be daring beauties. But is today's generation taking her legacy for granted?

By Hannah Betts
Bettie Page, the Fifties centrefold who died on Thursday at the age of 85, made a career out of reducing men to rubble. But with her all-American physique, Cleopatran tresses, and blithe insouciance about being immortalised in states of undress, she also had an extraordinary effect on her own sex. The "Miss Pin-up Girl of the World", who rose to fame after she posed in 1955 in Hugh Hefner's newly launched Playboy magazine and became one most photographed women of the last century, she achieved that rare feat of being an object of masculine lust no less admired by women.

Her role in the sexual revolution may have been in a minor key compared with the advent of feminism or the contraceptive pill. However, her jaunty up-and-at-'em approach to matters erotic sanctioned the idea that sex was a normal – or, at times, divertingly abnormal – part of the female repertoire.

There was something genuinely radical about her embodiment of a certain joie de vivre. Page herself once observed that: "Young women say I helped them come out of their shells." By her own acknowledgment, she was the girl next door who got the girl next door thinking.

Interesting, then – suggestive, one might say – that the week that marked her passing witnessed a flourishing of 21st-century cheesecakery.

Tonight, the latest Miss World will be crowned from a phalanx of leering lovelies in Johannesburg. The world's most widely-watched annual TV show is expected to attract the biggest turnout in its 58-year history.

Meanwhile, closer to home, more than 400 London undergraduates are undergoing remarkably homogenous metamorphoses in the quest to find "Miss University London", a beauty contest for a post-feminist age open to students at colleges in the capital. Dubbed by organisers "the ultimate contest of off-campus brains and beauty", the winner will be presented with her sash and tiara at a grand final in February, protests permitting.

A Cambridge undergraduate has also provoked outrage by posing, Page 3-style, for her student rag, while even those who might be considered old enough to know better, notably that most quotidian of sex symbols Jennifer Aniston, has been jumping on the bandwagon by shedding her kit for GQ.

Such behaviour invariably provokes consternation, the Stepford Wife poses of the Miss University London contestants being especially troublesome. Many will shake their heads and interpret this deluge as further evidence of the corrupting influence of people like Page.

And, yet, the continuing popularity of "The Queen of Curves" may reveal some of the nuances behind what motivates today's women to make spectacles of themselves in this most apparently retrogressive of manners.

Ariel Levy, American author of the Female Chauvinist Pigs, an influential book on 'raunch culture', critiques the conflation between exhibitionism and liberation by asking "why young women today are embracing raunchy aspects of our culture that would likely have caused their feminist foremothers to vomit".

New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd lamented feminism's usurpation by narcissism when she said: "When Gloria Steinem wrote that 'all women are Bunnies,' she did not mean it as a compliment; it was a feminist call to arms. Decades later, it's just an aesthetic fact… all women can look like inflatable dolls."

Those of us wont to complain that we have been let down by the younger generation's body-brandishing superficiality ignore the disservice that we older, more ideological types did them by making them believe that feminism and the playful expression of sexuality were somehow incompatible. In fact, as every schoolgirl ought, yet all-too frequently fails to know, such self-expression was one of the movement's most fundamental gifts.

French feminists such as Hélène Cixous and Luce Irigaray infamously revelled in their fur coats and their jouissance. Meanwhile, if the "dungaree feminism" of the Anglo-American tradition gave rise to innumerable august achievements, its most perverse was a generation of post-feminists content to repackage rebellion as the opportunity to dress up and strip off.

Celebrated modern-day burlesque artist Dita Von Teese, whose own brand of voluptuosity is straight from the school of Page, today told the Telegraph: "With the passing of Bettie, we have lost yet another great 20th century icon. She dared to be different all those decades ago, combining an erotic fetishism and pin-up playfulness with a little wink of the eye. She certainly inspired me, and will be remembered by the world as a daring beauty and style icon for ever."

Page's biography may not offer much by way of liberation, encompassing, as it did, parental abuse, an inability to profit from her own image, and a descent into mental illness. However, her iconography enjoyed a life beyond such squalor.

Images of Page will continue to hold a resonance, whether pouncing in leopard-skin, flashing her magnificent bosom, or, yes, even gagged and bound. Sex, as Page's many incarnations taught Middle America, is curious, complicated and, above all, fun – not least when untrammelled by dogma.

Hungry for Hunger?

There’s been a lot of hype in the critical circles that count surrounding Steve McQueen’s latest venture Hunger. Heard of it? You probably have considering its had the best reviews of any film all year, excluding The Dark Knight and There Will Be Blood. Hunger is about the experiences of prisoners and prison guards during the 1981/82 hunger strikes in Belfast, Ireland. This film is raw, real and quite unsettling. I was surprised at how much main stream appeal this picture has had considering how avant-garde it is. The shots are long and linger on seemingly insignificant aspects of every day in a bid to underline how depressing the situation is for everyone involved. McQueen uses everything in his arsenal as a director and weaves a delicate web incorporating every aspect of life for the prisoners and the motivations behind their actions. Be warned: this film is not for the light hearted. For majority of the film there’s no dialogue besides a sentence here and there and maybe the odd scream. The living conditions the prisoners had to endure were disgusting and McQueen doesn’t skimp on the details. In the last third of the film you watch a man starve to death step by agonizing step. Personally I was disappointed. Hunger isn’t supposed to be entertainment, it’s supposed to be a message film and deliver the audience with McQueen’s message on the situation in Ireland in the 80s. But I think there’s dozens of message films out there who deliver their specific political message in a more effective manner. I mean, did we really have sit through a five minute scene where we watch a prison guard sweep piss and bleach down a hallway? All the way down the hallway? Don’t mistake me, I think Hunger is a powerful film and has a valid message. I just don’t think it’s as good as everyone has made it out to be. I felt like McQueen was trying to manipulate the audience with some of the camera angles used and overall Hunger is a very one sided affair. Hunger has flaws. You should still go and see it though for no other reason than to catch what I thought was the pinnacle of the film: a 21 minute dialogue exchange between a prisoner and priest. The scene is a straight shot with no cut aways and the audience is drawn in to a heated discussion between the prisoner and priest as one tries to justify his intentions of going on a hunger strike and the other begs him to have some regard for life. Undoubtedly this is one of the most powerful scenes in any film all year and the dialogue is incredible. However, one scene (no matter how long) doesn’t make a good film and Hunger falls well below the bar.

On a completely irrelevant note I saw Madagascar 2: Escape to Africa and it was a joyful, hilarious, adventure! It’s not as good as other animated releases from this year like Wall E and it may not trump my all time favourites (The Incredibles, The Nightmare Before Christmas and Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride) but it was seriously funny. There are more than enough jokes to please the kiddies and parentals but it’s the characters who steal the show. The penguins and king Julius are amusing to no end. If you’re looking for something light and not about people starving themselves to death then this is a worthy alternative.

Notoriously catchy

The Biggie Smalls biopic might not be out for another four months in Australia but I can’t stop listening to the first single off the movie soundtrack. Jay-Z has come out of `retirement’ (yeah, as if he was ever going to hang up the reigns) and put together a track for the Notorious movie. The song is called Brooklyn (We Go Hard) and was written by Hov himself and produced by Kanye West. Hip hop rising star and personal fav Santogold performs the chorus and separate verse. I love this track! Can’t wait to see who else has is on the album which is definitely shaping up to be the hottest movie soundtrack of 2009. You can hear the song and watch the clip here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tocy-vp5djI
To read up on the Notorious film see my September post titled B.I.G Mistake?

The delicious Santogold (above) and yes, she does look remarkably like M.I.A.

Have some `un' in the New Year :o)

I’m sorry, the above post title is a tad boring but you’d be surprised how difficult it is to think of something about two horror movies with `un` in the title. Both of these flicks are out early next year and (if their trailers are anything to go by) are likely to scare your pants off. Below is a quick rundown:
The Unborn

Try and push aside your first thoughts when you see this movie poster. My thoughts were somewhere along the lines of "(sigh) where are her pants? Do possessed people not where pants now?". I mean seriously. However, of the two 'un' choices The Unborn definitely looks scarier and has the writer/director caliber to back it up. The writer of Batman Begins and Blade, David S Goyer gives us a new take on the whole exorcism thing. Keeping with the sibling theme of the film mentioned below, The Unborn is about hottie Casey Beldon who fights the spirit of her dead twin which is trying to possess her. In the lead role is Odette Yustman who is the chick from Cloverfield and playing her boyfriend is the very spankable Cam Gignadet aka the dude who played James in Twilight. The always-impressive Gary Oldman is thrown in for good measure playing the Rabbi who tries to exorcise Casey’s demons and Meagan Good, in a film that isn’t about black dancers from the ghetto, is the best friend. I watched the trailer for this a few months ago and although there’s a few scenes that look like they’ve been stolen straight out of The Ring or The Grudge, this flick looks genuinely scary. I honestly can’t remember the last time I saw a trailer and got the wiggins*. Whether The Unborn delivers on the promising nature of the trailer remains to be seen. It’s out in 0z on January 22. Watch the trailer here:
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=sc3Cba0qOco
The Uninvited"No, I gave you the rubber ducky." Emily Browning and Arielle Kebbel fight it out in a scene from The Uninvited (above).

Boom! That `boom’ is my Ari Gold rendition for `what a cast’! Okay, so there’s really only two people in this film I’m interested in but in all honesty I never dared hope they would end up working together. The Uninvited is adapted from yet another successful Asian horror film called A Tale of Two Sisters. One of my favourite Australian actresses and major up and comer Emily Browning (pictured below) plays Anna who after a stint in a mental hospital returns home to live with her sister (and best friend) Alex and her dad. However, things have changed since the last time she lived with her family and her father’s new wife Rachael has moved in. The rest of the plot you can guess pretty easily as the two sisters start to think there’s something seriously wrong with their new `mum’. After a bit of digging around the chickies discover some horrific incidents in Rachael past and from there things start to get a little freaky. And who plays the psychotic Rachael you ask? Why none other than the delightful Elizabeth Banks who seems to be bounding from one solid role to another. The brother team of Charles and Thomas Guard are directing and this looks like an impressive entry in to the mainstream market but at the same time remaining a tad left of centre. The Uninvited definitely carries the supernatural thriller title but I think the element which set this film apart from the hundreds of others in this genre is the strong performances from leading ladies Browning and Banks who are both the cream of my hypothetical acting crop. This puppy has a March 19 release date in Australia but you can view the juicy (and I do mean juicy) trailer here:
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=pqZpkxKPFQk

*Wiggins: (not to be confused with musical act The Wiggles) is a phrase first coined by Velma Dinkley of Scooby Doo fame and means to be afraid or have the feeling of fear. Synonyms: heebie-jeebies, frankfurters, hoodoo-gurus.

Ed Wood October 10, 1924 – December 10, 1978

Okay so I may be a few days late but the important thing is I semi-remembered to write a post commemorating the death of kitsch director Ed Wood. Made famous by Tim Burton’s 1994 biopic of the same name, Ed Wood is widely regarded as the best worst director of all time. Follow me? Basically the concepts of his movies were a tad outrageous considering the time they were made in and are still ridiculous even by today’s standards. For example he wrote a film about a newlywed who was struggling to come to the terms with the fact she was a gorilla in her past life. His writing aside, Wood is better known as a director for such dud-licious classics like Glen or Glenda, Plan 9 from Outer Space, Night of the Ghouls, Bride of the Monster and The Young Marrieds. I mean, how can you not love a director who mid-scene will cut to a shot of a fan simply because he needed a cut away? Hilarious. Born on October 10 1924, Wood passed on December 10 1978 and has left behind legions of fiercely dedicated fans. For example, the University of Southern California holds a yearly `Ed Wood Film Festival’ where students are challenged to form teams to write, film and edit an Ed Wood-inspired short film based on a preassigned theme. A reverend in California created a legally recognised religion with Wood as its official saviour. The Church of Ed Wood has over 3,500 legally baptised followers called Woodites and who celebrate Woodmas on October 10, his birthday (like Christmas). However, cult status and daggy awesomeness aside, Wood’s work is surrealist brilliance which has lived on long after he has passed- for good reason. My favourite Ed Wood quote is as follows:

“If you want to know me, see Glen of Glenda. That’s me, that’s my story, no question. But Plan 9 is my pride and joy. We used Cadillac hubcups for flying saucers in that.”

Empire Online are running a very fitting Ed Wood tribute which you can visit here: http://www.empireonline.com.au/news/story.asp?NID=1000003722

The host of the party

It seems everyone’s favourite, non-violent Australian actor (sorry Russ) Hugh Jackman will take on one of the most sought after gigs in showbiz. Hughy or Jacko as I like to call him has been announced as the host of the up and coming Oscars. Woot woo. I’m pumped. I think Hugh is very likable and natural on screen so I look forward to seeing him host this years ceremony which apparently Gus Van Sant’s newbie Milk is going to clean up at. Those who take bets on this kind of thing tip Milk to take out best picture, best director and best lead actor (Sean Penn) when the Oscars get underway early next year. Movie Mazzupial will wait for the nominations before I make my call.

Get a Woody

Prepare to be jealous. Although the new Woody Allen film Vicky Cristina Barcelona has a December 26 (boxing day) release date in Australia, I was lucky enough to catch an advanced screening at the local arts centre. And it was great! Sweet, funny and honest this is a return to form for Woody after the not-so-great Scoop. Vicky Cristina Barcelona tells the tale two American best friends played by Scarlett Johansson and Rebecca Hall who fall for a bohemian artist (Javier Bardem) while holidaying in Barcelona for the summer. Throw in the smokin’ Penelope Cruz as Bardem’s psychotic ex-wife and you have a winner. Pure and simple this a bunch of fun with substance. The performances are all magnificent (see the Golden Globe nominations below for further proof) and Allen’s signature quirkiness is endearing, not irritating as it sometimes can be. I strongly recommend this mature romantic dramedy for anyone out there looking for a break from the generic holiday movie experience. This is the fourth film in a row Allen has shot out of the US (the third with Johansson in a lead) so I can’t wait to see where he takes us next on his global adventure . . .The soooo hot right now Penelope Cruz as Maria Aneala (above)

A few minor additions

So I got a few more of the movie titles from that CineBuzz Club ad I wrote about yesterday.
They were:
-Anchorman
-Iceage
-Kiss of the Spider Woman
-American Graffiti
-The Queen
And that's all I got folks. There are three particular cartoons that have got me stumped. The first are two spider webs with numbers on them, the next is a man wearing an 1800s sailing outfit with a hat that says TNT and he is about to blow up and the third is a building that rocks back and forth with love hearts coming off the roof. Does anyone know what these are? Argh help. My total is now 27, wahoo, past half way.

Tis the season . . .

It’s geering up to one of my favourite times of year! No, not Christmas . ..awards season! I always look forward to finding out the nominations for the Golden Globes and Oscars despite the fact I’m nearly always disappointed with who the winners are. The Globes and Oscars mark a tradition for me-staying up late with a tasty beverage and watching the whole ceremony. I find the whole process so fascinating and like the opportunity to earmark any quality films I haven’t seen yet. The Golden Globe nominations were announced today by the always lovely Miri opps I mean Elizabeth Banks and are as follows:

BEST MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
The Reader
Revolutionary Road
Slumdog Millionaire

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married
Angelina Jolie, Changeling
Meryl Streep, Doubt
Kristin Scott Thomas, I’ve Loved You So Long
Kate Winslet, Revolutionary Road

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
Leonardio DiCaprio, Revolutionary Road
Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn, Milk
Brad Pitt, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler

BEST MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Burn After Reading
Happy-Go-Lucky
In Bruges
Mamma Mia!
Vicky Cristina Barcelona

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Rebecca Hall, Vicky Christina Barcelona
Sally Hawkins, Happy-Go-Lucky
Frances McDormand, Burn After Reading
Meryl Streep, Mamma Mia!
Emma Thompson, Last Chance Harvey

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Javier Bardem, Vicky Christina Barcelona
Colin Farrell, In Bruges
James Franco, Pineapple Express
Brendan Gleeson, In Bruges
Dustin Hoffman, Last Chance Harvey

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
Bolt
Kung Fu Panda
Wall-E

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
The Baader Meinhof Complex (Germany)
Everlasting Moments (Sweden/Denmark)
Gomorrah (Italy)
I’ve Loved You So Long (France)
Waltz With Bashir (Israel)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
Amy Adams, Doubt
Penelope Cruz, Vicky Christina Barcelona
Viola Davis, Doubt
Marisa Tomei, The Wrestler
Kate Winslet, The Reader

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
Tom Cruise, Tropic Thunder
Robert Downey Jr., Tropic Thunder
Ralph Fiennes, The Duchess
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Doubt
Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight

BEST DIRECTOR – MOTION PICTURE
Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire
Stephen Daldry, The Reader
David Fincher, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Ron Howard, Frost/Nixon
Sam Mendes, Revolutionary Road

BEST SCREENPLAY – MOTION PICTURE
Simon Beaufoy, Slumdog Millionaire
David Hare, The Reader
Peter Morgan, Frost/Nixon
Eric Roth, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
John Patrick Shanley, Doubt

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE – MOTION PICTURE
Alexandre Desplat, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Clint Eastwood, Changeling
James Newton Howard, Defiance
A.R. Rahman, Slumdog Millionaire
Hans Zimmer, Frost/Nixon

BEST ORIGINAL SONG – MOTION PICTURE

a. “DOWN TO EARTH” — WALL-E
Music by: Peter Gabriel, Thomas Newman
Lyrics by: Peter Gabriel

b. “GRAN TORINO” — GRAN TORINO
Music by: Clint Eastwood, Jamie Cullum, Kyle Eastwood, Michael Stevens
Lyrics by: Kyle Eastwood, Michael Stevens

c. “I THOUGHT I LOST YOU” — BOLT
Music & Lyrics by: Miley Cyrus, Jeffrey Steele

d. “ONCE IN A LIFETIME” — CADILLAC RECORDS
Music & Lyrics by: Beyoncé Knowles, Amanda Ghost, Scott McFarnon, Ian Dench, James Dring, Jody Street

e. “THE WRESTLER” — THE WRESTLER
Music & Lyrics by: Bruce Springsteen

Thoughts? The awards committee clearly responded well to Ben Stiller’s comedy Tropic Thunder with more than a few nominations. Everyone’s eyes are on the best supporting actor category. I think it’s awesome Robert Downey Jnr was nominated for Tropic Thunder because he really was brilliant but I thought he would be starved of a nomination due to the comedic nature of the film. And Tom Cruise! His turn in said movie was also great and it’s nice to see he’s getting some recognition for it . . . even if I think he’s a tool. I thought Australia was unlucky to miss out nomination in several categories, particularly best actress for Nicole Kidman. Don't get me wrong-I'm not a Nicole Kidman fan. Yeah, I know, I'm unAustralian etc etc but she was genuinely great in Australia. I’m glad to see In Bruges has a handful of nominations as it was one of the best and underrated films of the year. But it’s all about Heath. If he doesn’t win, the awards committee (in the wise words of Homer Simpson) deserve a “glove slap”. His turn as the joker in The Dark Knight was seriously one of the best things I have EVER seen on screen. I couldn’t take my eyes off him and his performance had a lot to do with why I saw that film five times at the cinema. The fact he is no longer with us is irrelevant to the award. No other actor in any film this year (dare I say the past few decades) came close to something as brilliant as what he pulled out of his dynamite ridden bag. Heath Ledger deserves the Golden Globe for his joker. He deserves the Oscar for it too. Let’s hope his posthumourous win at the Australian Film Institue Awards over the weekend for best international performance from an Australian actor is a good indication the Globe and Oscar are on their way.
Wait a second, I almost forgot to mention my second favourite nomination.
JAMES FRANCO FOR PINEAPPLE EXPRESS! YAAAAAAAAYYYYYY! I’ve already mentioned a thousand times over this is my favourite comedy of 08 and I’m glad to see the critics have got off their high horse and slipped the nominations out to those who deserve them. If you haven’t seen Franco in this film yet then you MUST see it! NOW! GO! Freakin hilarious.

Twolight

I went and saw Twilight again today and despite what you may say, it’s not because I’m a crazy, obsessive fan. Okay, I am a crazy, obsessive fan but basically I missed so much of the movie last night due to the screaming kiddies I wanted to watch it again. For me it boded better the second time. I still stand by my previous statement-it was great but had its flaws. My rating is 3 1/2 stars out of 5 for the reasons I outlined in my previous post. I forget to mention how much I dug Emmet and Jasper! Particularly Jasper, I don’t really cared about the actor who played him just the on screen character. I loved the whole baseball match where he swings the bat and stuff mmmm. Also, for those people bagging out the dodgy special effects in the film . . . I agree. They do look like something straight out of a tv movie but what every one must remember is Twilight was made on a budget of only $30 million. Technically that’s the same amount of money indie flicks are made with. I’m amazed at how far they got with such a shit amount of money considering you have to pay actors, directors, producers, special effects peeps, equipment hire and try and scrape enough change together to run a decent promotional campaign in the lead up to release. When you think films like Will Smith’s I Am Legend had a budget of $180 million (which is still quite small for a Hollywood blockbuster) it really puts things in to perspective. It’s all good though because in the US alone Twilight grossed over $22 million in its opening weekend and once you tally in a global theater run profits will probably be in the $300 million mark. It looks good for the sequels, the next which is called New Moon and according to entertainment media around the world is to be directed by Chris Weitz (pictured below). Yes, unfortunately Summit Entertainment confirmed Catherine Hardwicke is moving on to other projects and is being replaced for the next film. But who is Chris Weitz you ask? He's behind such films as The Golden Compass, About A Boy and the American Pie franchise. He was also nominated for an Oscar for best adapted screenplay for his work on the About A Boy script. He has written screenplays for other flicks such as Antz and the Nutty Professor II. Apparently the lad is in final negotiations with Summit to jump on the New Moon bandbagon. Personally I’m a bit worried about this choice. I don’t like any of his films and in my eyes his only saving grace is the fact he was one of the producers on Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, American Dreamz and In Good Company. I think he’ll be able to handle a big budget and the pressures of a film with a massive fanbase better than Hardwicke. For arguments sake lets say I’m undecided about the worth of Weitz in relation to New Moon . . .only time will tell.

Did anyone else notice author Stephenie Meyer’s (above) delicious cameo in the film? She’s sitting at the Carver bar with her laptop and gets delivered the veggie plate by the waitress who calls her Stephenie. I’m 99% sure its her. The camera then pans to Bella who has just walked in to the café to have lunch with her dad.

Funner than playing Hungry, Hungry Hippos!

Since your reading this blog I’m guessing you go to the movies relatively often. Unless you’re so avante-garde it hurts then I'm also guessing you’ve probably been to a Birch Carroll and Coyle cinema. Have you seen the new CineBuzz Club ad screening before the start of each movie? How good is it! I freakin love it. I’m talking about the ad where they cram 50 movie titles in to the 1 minute ad and you have to try and pick them. Naturally you’re not supposed to guess them all therefore encouraging you to come back to the movies more often and guess again. Naturally I go to the movies a few times a week and I seriously have so much fun trying to pick them all. There are so many but here are the ones I’ve got so far:
-One flew over the cuckoo's nest
-Saw
-Kiss the girls
-Cinderella man
-The devil wears Prada
-Swordfish
-Titanic
-March of the penguins
-Fast and the furious
-Matchstick men
-Walk the line
-Ironman
-Raging bull
-Million dollar baby
-Thin red line
-Cat on a hot tine roof
-Lock, stock and two smoking barrels
-Signs
-The hills have eyes
-Spiderman
-Cool runnings
-The birds

For those of you playing at home that’s 22 movie titles I’ve been able to name but where oh where are the other 29? Do you know some I’ve missed out? Please help, I want to nail that 50 damn it.

Please note: have run out of Twilight headlines

I can’t believe it. After months of writing about it, now I’ve finally seen Twilight . . . and I was not disappointed! Since falling in love with the book series earlier this year, I’ve been obsessed with every scrap of news surrounding the movie, exhibit A is the sheer volume of Twilight posts on this blog. However, when the film was released in America on November 21 there was a pretty even split of negative and positive reviews. To be honest though, it wouldn’t have mattered if the reviews were similar to Gigli, I would still have gone and seen Twilight anyway and I think this is the general consensus among fans of the novel. On Tuesday, Australian Empire Magazine gave Twilight 4 out of 5 stars (which is up there with the best reviews of Catherine Hardwicke’s filmography) and that small portion of my excitement which had been taken away was again restored. It was every bit as good as I had dared hope despite a few minor flaws. One of those flaws was the fact I could barely concentrate on the movie due to a full theatre of screaming idiots who squealed when:
-a trailer started which they thought was the beginning of the movie (idiots)
-the Summit Entertainment logo appeared on screen
-the Twilight logo appeared on screen
-Bella’s narration started
-Robert Pattison/Edward Cullen appeared on screen (EVERY TIME!)
-Taylor Lautner/Jacob Black appeared on screen
-the Cullens appeared on screen
-Bella and Edward kiss
-the movie ended
-the credits started
You get the general idea. But it wasn’t the movie’s fault I just happened to catch a screening with 400 of the most annoying people on the Gold Coast. If you were one of those people at the 6.30pm screening at Pacific Fair, I hate you. I had to use ALL of my Edward Cullen-like restraint to prevent going all James your arse. The fact I had to pre-book my tickets and still line up for half an hour just to get a seat didn’t help my mood. So it’s even more impressive how impressed I was with the film given the above scenario. Most of the credit should go to Hardwicke who has shortened scenes from the book where they needed to be and added ones in for those who are unfamiliar with the subject material.

Keeping in true Hardwicke fashion she has assembled a multicultural cast incorporating every racial minority. Robert Pattison is superb as Edward and you truly believe every line, facial expression and gesture he performs. He steals the film. Taylor Lautner as Jacob Black is also great as is Billy Burke as Charlie Swan and all of the Cullen family are exceptional. The weakness here is Kristen Stewart as Bella Swan. There were moments when I though “wow, she’s a good actress, I really believed that”. Majority of the time though I was frustrated by her constant blinking which was almost as annoying as the people sitting behind me. Throw in a few over-acted scenes on her behalf and I was cringing. Who knows, Stewart might be like Daniel Radcliffe and it may take her a few films to get in to her character a bit more. She definitely had the Bella mannerisms and clumsiness down pat. The camera work is slick and it truly feels as if Hardwicke has pooled all her creativeness in to making this film. Personally, I think it has paid off. Kudos must go to Melissa Rosenberg for making the script funnier and as powerful as the original book. I loved the Victoria tie in at the end too. I’m glad I waited to see the film in a cinema, the way it was intended, and not hurriedly watched a pirated version of the film on the internet a few weeks earlier courtesy of US pirates. However, unlike the Somali kind these dudes don’t demand ransoms. The integral kissing scene is pretty steamy so I’d like to imagine what it was like before Stephanie Meyer cut it down. Pattison and most of the cast from the film have signed on for another three movies although whether a third installment, Eclipse, will be made depends on the success of New Moon. According to Entertainment Weekly New Moon shouldn’t be too far away thanks to Summit Entertainment already announcing a 2009 release date. It’s good to see they’re not making Twilight fans wait as long as Harry Potter-heads between each movie. For the best and wittiest review I’ve read so far check out: http://www.empireonline.com/

Note: I’m especially fond of the tight Grey shirts Edward frequently wears.

Dec-Ember

With Twilight being released tomorrow and thousands of screaming fans buying every pre-sale ticket in sight, there’s another worthy film which has slipped under the radar. City of Ember is from the Oscar nominated director behind Monster House, Gil Kenan, and is adapted from the popular novel (of the same name) written by Jeanne Duprau. I had the opportunity to catch this film at the premiere tonight and let me tell you, it’s definitely worth battling the Christmas holiday crowds to see. Starring Bill Murray, Tim Robbins, Saoirse Ronan, Toby Jones and Harry Treadway it’s about the people of the city of Ember who for generations have flourished in an amazing world of glittering lights - underground. Built as a refuge for humanity and powered by a massive powerful generator, the city was only designed to last 200 years and now the power is failing. Two curious teenagers (why is it always two curious teenagers? Why?) start following the clues left to them by the builders of the artificial city in a hope of discovery a way to the surface. This film did okay in the US scrapping in above $7 million and got pretty positive reviews from the critics that count. My favourite Aussie critics Margaret and David both gave it three and a half stars each. And that’s what it deserves. It’s good and far above your average adventure flick targeted at adolescents. The concept is quite dark given the end of humanity and all, plus there a super scary monster creature which would cancel out a pre-tween audience. So, not really sure what the target market is here but if you’re looking for something a bit left of centre and minus the sexual tension and/or frustration of Twilight then City of Ember is calling. Stay posted for my musings on said vampire flick tomorrow.

Undoubtedly awesome!

Okay, this has nothing to with movies (except for the fact Gwen Stefani appeared in The Aviator once upon a time) but I just love NO DOUBT so much I had to write about this! The ska, rock, punk, pop quartet announced on their official website they’re GOING ON TOUR! Now who’s feelin hella good and wants to keep on dancing? ME! THAT’S WHO! Man I so so so hope they come to Australia, it’s been way too long since they have played together and us Australian fans deserve to see them live. Of course it was gossip guru Perez Hilton to who broke the reunion news to the world and you can check out the whole story here: http://perezhilton.com/2008-11-22-no-doubt
Basically the Gweninator said it will be great to reconnect with fans at their shows and they plan to write and record a new album while on the road. Talk about a juggling act. But if anyone can do it, no doubt No Doubt can! I can’t wait to hear some new material from them and hopefully see them in Oz soon . . . .