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Ollie Stone’s “W”
Posted on May 9, 2008 by Ed Symkus
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Say it ain’t so! Oliver Stone directing a movie about George W. Bush. Damn! I go to every movie he makes, and now he’s doing one about Bush, something I have no interest in seeing. Even worse, there’s going to be a Condi Rice (Thandie Newton) in it , too. Ah, well, at least we’ll have Rob Corddry playing Ari Fleischer.
Color crazy
Posted on May 9, 2008 by Ed Symkus
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Here’s a simple visual test that will help to fry your mind. Before starting, read the instructions, then read them again. Then, for good measure, read them yet again. Please do have fun!
I messed with David Copperfield
Posted on May 8, 2008 by Eddie Shoebang
Filed Under Uncategorized | 2 Comments
In this week’s arts section in various Tab Newspapers there is a Q&A with none other than David Copperfield, the master illusionist. We had heard he was coming into town soon and figured it was appropriate to do a story.
What I didn’t figure was that the man would only conduct an interview via email, meaning I would send him 10 questions and he would answer them.
These are always iffy things (and seriously, does Copperfield even need to do press?). You’re never really sure who’s answering the questions. And when you get PR-ish sounding answers, it becomes even more suspicious. Take this question that I omitted from the story
If you do happen to have free time, how do you relax? Do you watch television, read books, make prank phone calls?
To remain calm its all about Mind over matter, but one of the most calming influences on me is spending time on water’s edge. That’s one of the reasons I actually bought my own island in the Bahamas, (which relates to your previous question) check out - www.mushacay.com. One day here, and a “state of calm” is a given and ANYONE would feel younger!
See? It even feels weird to read. Since I assumed these were the kinds of answers I would get, I asked him whether or not he missed his early days of teaching magic at Fordham University.
That was a curveball. He never taught there. He taught at New York University (his wikipedia entry confirms this, as does his website and calls to Fordham University and NYU).
And he didn’t pick up on it. Now that the story’s out (and I playfully suggested Copperfield forgot where he taught), I got a “response” from Copperfield. See it after the jump.
More remakes, more sequels … phooey!
Posted on May 7, 2008 by Ed Symkus
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Original movies do come by every once in a while. Here are a few off the top of my head: “King Kong,” “Being John Malkovich,” Koyaanisqatsi,” “Brazil,” “The Saddest Music in the World,” “The Incredibles,” the about-to-open “Mister Lonely.” Yes, I could go on; yes, there have been gobs of truly original movies. %20-%20fm555.jpg)
But there seem to be more remakes and sequels than ever, because Hollywood bean counters believe that if something works, it should just be copied.
Here are a few unoriginals coming our way soon.
Tom Hanks speaks for me.
Posted on May 5, 2008 by Ed Symkus
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As news folks, we’re not supposed to put political bumper stickers on our cars or hammer political signs into our lawns. We have to be, you know, fair and balanced. We are not allowed to let you, dear readers, know who we’re voting for. But I don’t think there are any rules about having A-list movie actors speak for us. So here are a few words from my friend, Tom Hanks.
Hey! It’s Cinco de Mayo!
Posted on May 5, 2008 by Eddie Shoebang
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Did you know that? Well, it’s here and if you’re in the mood to celebrate (and have easy access to Harvard Square, here’s some options for you thanks to a timely press release I just got.
There’s a lot so I’m just copying and pasting it onto the blog. Why? Cause my eye is twitching and I’m tired.
IFF Roundup: This is totally late…
Posted on May 5, 2008 by Eddie Shoebang
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Last Friday (May 2) the Independent Film Festival Boston announced the three films that won Audience Awards (you got a slip of paper before each film and was asked to rate it on a scale of 1-5). Below are the winners.
Narrative: MY WINNIPEG
Documentary: LIFE.SUPPORT.MUSIC.
Short: TONY ZOREIL (TONY ZEAR)
The Great Ed Symkus told me how good “My Winnipeg” was, but I never got see it. The documentary as well. Missed it and could have seen it. I think I decided to sleep in on Sunday instead.
Though the festival is over, you can still relish in the experience Symkus and I had (it was the first time either of us attended the IFF). Check out all we did after the jump.
Is this one of those end of the world signs?
Posted on May 5, 2008 by Eddie Shoebang
Filed Under Uncategorized, pop music | 3 Comments
The Backstreet Boys are back…
According to a press release we got at the office, the 90s-boyband-minus-one (Kevin left. He was the guy with the trenchcoat on in this video…I’m ashamed I know that too) will be back on stage at the Meadowbrook U.S. Cellular Pavilion on August 16.
Why in New Hampshire? I imagine it’s because the New Kids on the Block are getting back together and probably muscled out the competition…because that’s not NKOTB rolls.
With all this happening, I’d keep an eye out for the inevitable All-4-One reunion and the world to collapse onto itself since society refuses to leave the year 2000.
Speed Racer
Posted on May 3, 2008 by Ed Symkus
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What a pleasant surprise. I’d actually never — NEVER — seen the TV cartoon, only stills. And for some reason, I knew the theme song. Saw the film this morning at a packed screening. As the end credits rolled, a group of people in the row behind me started singing along to the original song. They were happy. I was happy. This is one of the best examples yet of a living, breathing live action cartoon. To be honest, I’m still kinda confused about the details of the story. It goes off into mechanical mumbo-jumbo land, and there are all of these corporate takeover plots.
But it just doesn’t matter. You sit down and get transported into this hyper-real (is that the right word?) other world, one which I hadn’t seen in a movie before (although there was “Tron”). And you go with it. The races are really nuts, as is, during them, the use of facial closeups, along with people chatting, in extremely busy situations. The insane action stops pretty much only when we see the Racer family trying to hold things together, or when the bad guy (Roger Allam, who should star in the Al Gore Story) delivers some deliciously evil dialogue. Emile Hirsch plays the lead as a nice, heroic young man (this guy is always amazing, always doing different things in vary varied movies), and Christina Ricci looks great in red — especially in bright red lipstick.
I’ll be doing a full review shortly. I’ll end this brief one by mentioning that the Wachowski boys have definitely pulled off a good one. It opens on May 9.
Psst…. Beach Boys live (and free) in Wellesley
Posted on May 1, 2008 by Greg Reibman
Filed Under pop music | 1 Comment
An anonymous donor “who has a passion for the Beach Boys and wants to share her passion with the town” is paying for the band to perform a free concert on the high school baseball field.
