Armchair Commentary

Trailer Park: "A Nightmare on Elm Street" (#2)

Here's the second trailer for the new A Nightmare on Elm Street movie, opening April 30, 2010 and starring Jackie Earle Haley (Watchmen, The Bad News Bears) as Freddy Krueger.  I don't think I ever saw the original film all the way through, but is it a bad sign that one of the scenes I remember looks like it's being mirrored in this remake?  We'll have to wait and see. --David

Cover Art Crimes, Part III: Floating Heads & Curious Colors

In this latest edition, we look at more instances where the DVD cover art departs from the theatrical poster... and not in a good way.

Exhibit A: The Lovely Bones
Theatrical poster:

I didn't think this was the greatest poster, but Stanley Tucci's killer is ominously shadowed on the left hand side, with heaven beckoning to Saorise Ronan on the right.


The DVD cover decides Ronan is already in heaven by having her head take up half the cover art, with the title really huge, no Stanley Tucci, and nothing to indicate the brutal menacing act that overshadows the film. DVDs are really fond of the "floating head" phenomena to maximize star power, but why didn't they include Tucci, who is the film's sole Oscar nomination?

Exhibit B: Brothers

I rather liked this poster's stark black-and-white silhouettes of the three stars in this particular position: Husband and wife Tobey Maguire and Natalie Portman, with Jake Gyllenhaal looking on somewhat longingly. Even if you had no knowledge of the plot, this told you a lot.

Given the film's camouflage colors and, once again, the floating heads, I think this film is about two brothers who are fighting together at war, and the woman (Portman, who clearly got third billing as indicated by the size of her head) who is left at home waiting. And Gyllenhaal may or may not be homeless.  And no, that isn't quite right.

Exhibit C: Up in the Air

Paramount was very daring not to capitalize on star George Clooney's looks to sell this movie. The three silhouetted stars, plus the tag line "The story of a man ready to make a connection" perfectly captures the movie's light/sad tone.


So what possessed them to letterbox in the art, replace it with a movie still of Clooney and Vera Farmiga (no artistic renderings here!) and go with the start black/white fonts on the chalk blue background? Is that supposed to represent sky? Or those in-flight safety brochures? I'm so baffled by this one, all I can think of is someone decided to copy director Jason Reitman's first movie poster (only this one is supposed to look like a cigarette pack, so the shrunken photo is part of the joke):



What do you think? Anyone like the DVD cover art better? --Ellen

Charlie & Lola: "I can't stop hiccuping"

Cute clip from Charlie & Lola, Vol. 10: I Can't Stop Hiccuping (Charlie & Lola is the BBC series also seen on Disney Channel). --David

Michael Moore Interview for "Capitalism: A Love Story"

Turns out spending 30 minutes on the phone with Michael Moore is a great antidote to apathy disease.  So is watching Capitalism: A Love Story.  These days caring about the state of our country and following politics tends to be an emotional rollercoaster ride (at least for me).  I don’t pretend to be anything but the choir Moore’s critics most often complain he’s preaching too, but it’s been too easy to check-out in frustration and pretend like it doesn’t matter.  Moore’s new movie is a reminder that it does and that we have power over the state of things.  Talking to him felt like an extension of watching his intensely personal films and confirmed his intense commitment to igniting change and his deep love for our country.  It was completely inspiring (note my use of that word in the interview about 2000 times :)).  -- Kira

Q&A with Bruce Timm: "Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths"

Executive producer Bruce Timm offers new perspective on the creation of Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths, the latest entry in the ongoing series of DC Universe animated original movies, and "The Spectre," the inaugural DC Showcase animated short, in an all-new Q&A with the guru of super hero animation..

Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths is an original story from award-winning animation/comics writer Dwayne McDuffie (Justice League). Bruce Timm (Superman Doomsday) is executive producer, and Lauren Montgomery (Wonder Woman, Green Lantern: First Flight) and Sam Liu (Superman/Batman: Public Enemies) are co-directors. The full-length animated film is available from Warner Home Video as a Two-Disc Special Edition DVD and on Blu-Ray (both with an Amazon-exclusive lithograph), as well as single-disc DVD, all available in the DC Comics Store.

Timm has been the creative force behind many of Warner Bros. Animation's modern-day successes, elevating DC Comics' canon of super heroes to new heights of animated popularity and introducing generations of new fans to the characters via landmark television series and made-for-DVD films. The latter task includes the creation of the current series of DC Universe animated original movies, which have drawn critical acclaim and further whetted the public's appetite for comic book entertainment. Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths is the seventh film in the ongoing DC Universe series.

And here's what Mr. Timm had to say...

QUESTION: What excites you about Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths?

BRUCE TIMM: In a weird kind of way, this is a return to my favorite show, Justice League Unlimited. The original script was intended to be the bridge story between Justice League and Justice League Unlimited to explain how we went from seven heroes to more than 50 super heroes. We loved the story and the script, and it floated around here for years while we tried to figure out what to do with it--it was considered for a comic, but fortunately that got shot down. Then we took a look at it and, with just a few slight tweaks, we jumped at the chance to make it a DC Universe movie.

Ashton Kutcher vs. Josh Duhamel: Male Model Walk-Off

This isn't a new clip, but thanks to a recent InStyle interview with Ashton Kutcher and the power of YouTube, I got to watch this little gem for the first time. The year is 1997, and a pre-Las Vegas, pre-Fergie Josh Duhamel wins Male Model of the Year over a pre-That '70s Show (and pre-Demi) Christopher Ashton Kutcher (or "Chris Kutcher"). The part where Duhamel predicted that Kutcher, "that guy.. I don't remember his name... from Iowa," would win is hilarious. Check out the walk and their blue steel --Ellen

Q&A with Bruce Davison: "Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths"

Bruce Davison is no stranger to political office--at least in a fictional situation. He's played an ambassador, senator, congressman and judge, but Davison steps up in class--in his first voiceover for animation--as President Wilson in Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths, an all-new DC Universe Animated Original Movie from Warner Premiere, DC Comics and Warner Bros. Animation.

In Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths, a "good" Lex Luthor arrives from an alternate universe to recruit the Justice League to help save his Earth from the Crime Syndicate, a gang of villainous characters with virtually identical super powers to the Justice League. What ensues is the ultimate battle of good versus evil in a war that threatens both planets and puts the balance of all existence in peril. Davison's President Wilson is caught in the middle of the battle, attempting to find a balance between leading the human citizens of the parallel Earth and not being crushed by the powerful Crime Syndicate.

Davison's credits stretch through film and television to the tune of 160 different movies and series roles, catching the world's attention in 1971 as the title character in the benchmark rat-attack thriller Willard. He has since been a regular on primetime series, covering the gamut from The Waltons, Murder She Wrote, and thirtysomething to Seinfeld, Lost, Close to Home, and Knight Rider. Davison's film career has featured memorable and critically acclaimed roles in X-Men and X2, Six Degrees of Separation, Short Cuts, Grace of My Heart, and Longtime Companion, the last performance garnering an Academy Award nomination, a Golden Globe Award, an Independent Spirit Award, and top honors from the National Society of Film Critics and the New York Film Critics Circle. Though he has recorded numerous books-on-tape, Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths represents Davison's first foray into the animated world.

Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths is an original story from award-winning animation/comics writer Dwayne McDuffie (Justice League). Bruce Timm (Superman Doomsday) is executive producer, and Lauren Montgomery (Wonder Woman, Green Lantern: First Flight) and Sam Liu (Superman/Batman: Public Enemies) are co-directors. The full-length animated film will be distributed by Warner Home Video as a Two-Disc Special Edition DVD and on Blu-Ray (both with an Amazon-exclusive lithograph), as well as single-disc DVD, all available in the DC Comics Store.

During his recording session, Davison had a few minutes to discuss his inaugural animated role, his personal history with super heroes, an early adoration for EC Comics, and his ascent up the fictional political ladder. We'll let his words take it from here ...

QUESTION: What's it like being one of two characters without super powers in an all-super hero movie?

BRUCE DAVISON: Well, it's par for the course. In X-Men, I played Senator Kelly and, as my son likes to say, I didn't really have any powers--I just melted. It's tough when your action figure can't stand up. I had to stick it in a glass of water because it didn't have any feet, just this sort of drippy stuff off the bottom [laughs]. So I'm used to not having any real strength powers. But President Wilson is a pretty macho guy, which is great.

Trailer Park: 'The Last Airbender,' 'Toy Story 3,' 'Chloe'

Here's a look at upcoming movies. (Release dates subject to change). --Ellen

The Last Airbender (starring Noah Ringer and Dev Patel; dir. by M. Night Shyamalan) --Here's that other Avatar movie, based on the popular Nickelodeon series about a child named Aang who has the power to manipulate air, water, earth, and fire. The production's already drawn criticism for casting non-Asians in the roles (the lone exception is Patel, who only got cast after singer Jesse McCartney dropped out). If you're at all familiar with the show the difference is quite noticeable. Bet M. Night is hoping this isn't the next Dragonball: Evolution (Have you seen that movie? No? I did. I just saved you 90 minutes.) (Summer)

Chloe (starring Julianne Moore, Amanda Seyfried & Liam Neeson dir. by Atom Egoyan)-- I spent most of the trailer wondering what the hell Julianne Moore and Liam Neeson were doing in something that looks like a cross between The Hand That Rocks the Cradle and Fatal Attraction. Then I remembered that it's directed by Canadian auter Egoyan (The Sweet Hereafter), and plus those other two movies (Moore had a memorable death in Cradle) were actually pretty good genre films, so you never know. (Mar. 26)

Toy Story 3 (voices by Tom Hanks and Tim Allen dir. by John Lasseter): Remember in Toy Story 2, when Kelsey Grammer posited what would happen to the toys when Andy went off to college? Well, that's answered here, where the toys go to a donation center (complete with day spa!), Ken meets Barbie, and Woody is determined to make his way back home. Also, running pre-schoolers. Who isn't excited about this? (Jun. 18)

Kathryn Grayson, 1922-2010

Kathryn Grayson, one of MGM's leading ladies in the 1940s and '50s, passed away Wednesday at the age of 88 in Los Angeles. She was best known for her singing roles in musicals that included Kiss Me Kate (Lilli/Katharine), Show Boat (Magnolia), Anchors Aweigh, and Thousands Cheer. Read the Washington Post obit  --David

Film Scores and Figure Skating

Last night's pairs figure skating competition had a lot of people going "Where HAVE I heard that song before?" particularly during Amanda Evora and Mark Ladwig's short routine, set to the "Portuguese Love Theme" from Love Actually. (Ironically, this piece of music, which is used on 1 out of 5 romantic film trailers and in Oscar montages, is not actually on the soundtrack, nor available for purchase as a track. Grrrr.) Which made me think of two things I like: Olympic figure skating and film scores. When put together in the right way, they elevate each other to a new level of, well, misty eyes.

There are several great ones here that come to mind: Elvis Stojko's martial arts-infused routine to the score from Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story in 1994 Lillehammer; Jamie Sale and David Pelletier, 2002 Salt Lake City, in their shoulda-been gold routine to the theme from Love Story; Nancy Kerrigan's 1992 bronze-medalist routine to the iconic Born on the Fourth of July theme, and so forth.

But there is one routine that stands out to me: The year was 1992 in Albertville, France, during the men's long program. An underdog named Paul Wylie from the U.S., who was on his last Olympics and many thought had no business being on the team, came out and executed a near-flawless routine that stunned everyone including himself. Watch it again and I dare you not to get excited.

Wylie skated to selections from the Henry V score, composed by Patrick Doyle. Complete with swordplay and Russian splits, I was so exhilarated after watching this that I went out to find the soundtrack even though I'd never seen the film. (Wylie nabbed the silver medal and also skated memorable routines to the scores from JFK and The Untouchables the following year)

NBC really should print across the screen the skaters' musical selections, because with such a large audience I'm sure plenty of people go searching for these tracks that move them to tears. Anyone else have any favorite movie-themed skating routines? --Ellen