philmguy

Ain't It Cool News is linking to these images from "The Simpsons Movie" today, as if they're some sort of big news. I'm definitely not feeling any heat for the flick, due out July 27. The series isn't exactly killing in the ratings, so I don't see why people will pay $10 each to see something they don't even make time to catch for free on TV. The South Park moive at least had the mystique of spawning from a late-night cable, under-the-radar, let's-see-what-they-can-get-away-with series. The Simpsons has none of that forbidden fruit edginess, so the leap to film makes about as much sense as a "Two and a Half Men" movie.

I sat through "Blood and Chocolate" last night, a werewolf love story that's as awful and stupid as the title suggests. I do congratulate it, however, on having two of the funniest scenes I've seen in a long time. One involves a werewolf who says grace right before he starts to chomp some human flesh. He may be a vile monster, but at least he's thankful to God about the food which he's about to receive. The other has the hero running in the forest, attempting to find a river. He happens upon a little creek, and he exclaims "A creek! Creeks flow into rivers!"

Back on Oct. 19 I laid out my predictions for how the Oscar nominations would pan out. I got two of the five best picture nominees correct (I was pleased to be wrong about "Dreamgirls." And a generous grader would give me credit for a third correct prediction thanks to "Letters from Iwo Jima," which Warner Bros. swapped out for "Flags of Our Fathers" - another side of the same Clint Eastwood Iwo Jima coin), two best director nominees (although I tagged Clint Eastwood with "Flags of Our Fathers" rather than "Letters from Iwo Jima") three best actors (I tabbed Leonardo DiCaprio for "The Departed" but hedged by noting he may well get it for "Blood Diamond," which he did) and three best actresses.

I think I'm happier that "Dreamgirls" didn't get a best picture Oscar nomination than I would have been had "Rocky Balboa" gotten nominated. As much as I liked "Rocky," I guess I hated "Dreamgirls" even more.

People are falling all over themselves proclaiming its greatness. TV ad quote stooges have proclaimed it the next "Blade Runner." Word has it Ricky Bobby is saying it beat out "Highlander" to win the Oscar for best movie ever.

It would be great to be a member of the Academy — which I’m not — so you can vote for Oscar winners, but at least the Golden Raspberry Award Foundation lets me have my say. Here’s a look at what I checked on my 2006 Razzie nomination ballo, which arrived today (I didn’t make up the categories or the nominees, so no prudes complaining about Sharon Stone’s lopsided breast nomination). Write-ins are denoted by *. They let you vote for up to five nominees:

The story of my undying love for Rocky movies is sort of buried on the site today, so I thought I'd put a link to it here. Many thanks to Je

Paul Greengrass’ sterling re-enactment drama, “United 93”? is picking up steam for an Oscar nomination. The New York Film Critics Circle and Washington Critics both tabbed it as their top film and it landed a spot in the Broadcast Critics’ top 10.

I caught a preview screening of supposed best picture Oscar shoo-in “Dreamgirls”? last night. It was awful and I’d rather spout off about it here before I start pounding out my review that will run Dec. 14, the day before the movie opens.

Looking to improve its infrastructure, Capcom has put out a survey asking customers to tips. Check this link out to let your opinion be known.