Midnight Ballad for Ghost Theater FTW!

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus came to a sad and jolting halt following the death of its leading actor, Heath Ledger. While the circumstances are hardly lucky, the film, described as a modern-day fantasy adventure, involves a magical mirror capable of transporting people into different dimensions. Due to the real life tragedy, the mirror’s abilities have been tweaked to include altering the appearance of those who use it.

As a result, three Hollywood favorites – Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell, and Jude Law, respectively – will be stepping up to fill in the blanks. Producers insist that no aspect of Ledger’s performance will be modified through digital technology.

“Each of the parts played by Johnny, Colin and Jude is representative of the many aspects of the character that Heath was playing”, says director Terry Gilliam, who continued filming with the support of Ledger’s family.

While unique, this is not the first time an actor has been called upon to fill the shoes of another; in the 1994 goth favorite The Crow, doubles and a variety of special effects were required to complete the film after the death of Brandon Lee.

Sure the Super Bowl is a day for football, excessive eating, and amateur gambling, but for many people it is of course the television ads that remain in the memory long after the game is over. For those of you in need of some pre-game hype, the following film festival offers movies of every genre, but all of them satirize the world of commercials and advertising in their own unique way.

How to Get Ahead in Advertising: Bruce Robinson reteams with Richard E. Grant after their cult hit Withnail & I for this blistering portrait of a corporate go-getter who gets advice from the strangest place.

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As the screens go dim at Sundance, the Slamdance crew sweeps the floors after their closing reception, and the projectionists at the Rotterdam prepare to wind up their reels, one may wonder what films to watch for from these three popular film festivals. Having written about many of the films from these fests for the All Movie Guide, I thought it would be fun to pull together a collection of films that piqued my interest. Of course I’ll be the first one to admit that I don’t have the most mainstream tastes when it comes to movies, so the flicks that I single out may not be the ones that will receive the most commercial exposure, and your mileage may vary. If you’ve seen something interesting at one of the fests – by all means feel free to chime in by voicing your picks in the comments section below!

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As the release of Diary of the Dead draws near and zombie fanatics across the globe shiver in anticipation, what better way to celebrate the cinema of a true living legend than to reflect back on his remarkable life and career? Independent filmmaker Rusty Nails has been working on a documentary about horror visionary George A. Romero for some years now, and recently, a trailer for his film Dead On: The Life and Cinema of George A. Romero debuted online.

Take a look at the trailer below, and when you’re done why not head on over to the official website for the film to find out more. Judging by the looks of things, Nails has really outdone himself in crafting a comprehensive retrospective on the man who frightened generations of horror fans into seeing the world from a unique, and truly thought-provoking vantage point.

Having recently assembled my somewhat “serious” list of nominations for the Detroit Film Critics Association, I decided to stave off the boredom of repetition by having a bit more fun with my year-end pics for the All Movie blog. The result: A stream of consciousness-driven list that presents my favorite cinematic feats of 2007. Readers who prefer their lists served up with reverence, order, or staunch adherence to Academy standards are encouraged to click away as quickly as possible. For everyone else, I hope you had as much fun at the movies as I did in 2007, and here’s to another great year of wild and weird cinema in 2008!

Most Intimidating Hair in a Motion Picture: Viggo Mortensen in Eastern Promises
(Mark my words: Film theory students will be studying Mortensen’s Eastern Promises coiffure for decades, I felt like I’d have a hit put out on me for just staring at it as long as I did)
 
 
 
 
 

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In a year filled with its share of predictable stinkers (Across the Universe, I Know Who Killed Me) and disappointments (Youth Without Youth, the awful Reign over Me), a handful of U.S. releases stand out like sparkling gems. I hereby present my top ten for the crème-de-la-crème of 2007; if you missed any of these, which are currently at varying levels of release – some still in theaters, some now on home video – do make a point of seeking them out over the holidays. I heartily recommend all of them.

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You’ve cleaned up the streets of San Francisco with Dirty Harry, busted the French Connection with Popeye Doyle, and taken on corruption in the highest ranks of the police force with Serpico. But where to go for action when the toughest rogue cops from coast to coast have given all the bad guys the boot? If you’re an adventurous viewer with fondness for mustaches, a taste for some of the swankest music ever set to film, and a tolerance for the occasional poor dubbing job, you might want to see just how cinematic justice was dished out in Italy in the 1970s by taking a closer look at the Poliziotteschi sub-genre of Italian cop films. Cynical, action packed, and at times downright brutal, this popular brand of pulp cinema kept audiences on the edge of their seats while cementing the star status of such screen heavies as Thomas Milian, Fabio Testi, and Maurizio Merli, and launching the careers of such prolific directors as Umberto Lenzi and Enzo G. Castellari.

Featuring enforcers who were often as flawed and violent as the criminals they pursued and bad guys whose hatred of the law knew no boundaries, Poliziotteschi films painted a grim portrait of urban moral decay while questioning the role that police play in modern society and delivering some of the most exciting action around. Though many of these films have long been unavailable in their original form to viewers outside of Italy, international fans can now toss out those well-worn bootlegs thanks to the efforts of such companies as Blue Underground and No Shame in getting these violent classics released in the United States. So fans of weird and wild world cinema rejoice, because the time has finally come to hit the beat with some of the toughest cops on the street and dish out some serious two-fisted justice — Italian style!

If you think you might be ready to take a trip to The Boot to see how justice was served overseas in the 1970s, why not start with these offerings that truly deliver….

Street Law:

When the police cannot prosecute heinous crimes effectively, sometimes all it takes is one brave citizen to do their jobs for them. In a kinetic poliziotteschi from prolific genre director Enzo Castellari, an average businessman is forced to fend for himself after being kidnapped and brutally assaulted by a trio of sadistic bank robbers. With law enforcement turning a blind eye and no other means of getting revenge, the shirt of this white-collar worker runs red with blood as he takes a violent ride straight into the heart of Genoa’s criminal underworld.

Heroin Busters:

An undercover cop deeply entrenched in an international drug syndicate (Fabio Testi) and a hair-trigger Interpol agent (David Hemmings) attempt to survive on the streets long enough to bring the men behind a lucritive international heroin ring to their knees in director Enzo Castellari’s explosive poliziotteschi. A killer Goblin soundtrack, a strong performance by Testi, and a swank international vibe make this one a favorite amongst fans.

Big Racket:

A by-the-books cop struggling to bust a brutal protection racket in Rome is forced to throw the rules out the window when the vicious gang attempts to cement their status by moving into the drug trade in another tough-talking poliziotteschi from Italian director Enzo G. Castellari. A jaw-dropping attack on an undercover cop car, stylish direction by director Castellari, and an all-around sleazy vibe set The Big Racket apart from the pack.

Emergency Squad:

This entry in the Italian crime film cycle of the ’70s directed by Stelvio Massi and starring the great Thomas Milan presents an interesting take on the format by offering an unusually postmodern revenge tale that spends equal time exploring the violent motivations of the ruthless criminal and the cop who’s determined to bring him down. The bad guys just don’t stand a chance when Milan is on the beat.

A Man Called Magnum:

This late-period entry into the cycle of Italian crime films, directed by Michele Massimo Tarantini and starring Luc Merenda, is a prototypical example of the form. A fun vibe, a fast pace, and plenty of action make A Man Called Magnum a perfect introduction to poliziotteschi films for the uninitiated.

Beretta 70:

…and for movie soundtrack lovers who might be looking to cruise the streets to the tune of some of the hottest Poliziotteschi flcks ever to hit the silver screen, look no further than the fantastic
Beretta 70 compilation featuring songs from the above titles and tracks by Luis Babalov, Stelvio Cipriani, and, of course, Goblin.