October 9, 2002

I’m off on the road to Mill Valley…

The 25^th Anniversary Mill Valley Film Festival has started without me.  But I’ll be jumping in the convertible and driving north as soon as I get out of this morning’s screening of the Gangs of New York 20, last seen at Cannes.  I should arrive in time for Beth Harrington’s Welcome to the Club: The Women of Rockabilly, about which I have heard terrific things.  After that, it’s four days of interesting films and beautiful surroundings… a new adventure.

There may or may not be fresh updates from the festival on Thursday and Friday.  I’ll see how things work out.  Regardless, tomorrow will include the first Oscar Update.  And there will be a full Mill Valley wrap-up on Monday. 

I’m sorry to say that there isn’t much worth writing about today.  It’s still to early to pan the majority of movies that are coming on Friday.  Perhaps the only interesting news of the day was Jennifer Lopez pissing off ICM enough for Ed Limato to walk away from being her point person, which was followed by her decision to leave the agency… but I’ll leave that inside scoop to FilmAnus.com.

Yesterday’s non-quiz quiz was apparently too easy.  The only mistakes often made were flip-flopping White Oleander and Brown Sugar.  One response down below in ROTD.

JUST WONDERING:  How many ways is there to spell Levine?  Right now, nice Jewish girl Avril Levigne is selling lots of records and nice Jewish boy David Levien’s newest film, Knockaround Guys, is hitting the big screen.

FUNNY:   It’s an odd day when SpongeBob SquarePants’ sexuality is a Wall Street Journal front-page story.  And a funny story it is.  If you are a WSJ subscriber, it is here.

YICK:  I don’t now if I’ve seen anything in a while that was quite as disgusting as what I ran into on Yahoo! yesterday… “Gwyneth Paltrow's Father Dies Slideshow.”  You know, they have slideshows for all kinds of things, but the dead parent slideshow… geez.

NEXT WEEK:  We’ll be announcing a new DVD giveaway next week of a movie very near and dear to my heart.  But in the meantime, do check out our DVD sponsor, Digital Eyes. Enter the code “HOTBUTTON” at checkout and get $5 off any purchase of $35 or more. 

MORE APOLOGIES:  I hate short columns… but I hate knowing that I’ll be driving for 6 hours today and still have to worry about writing tonight… maybe that 5000 word column last week has caught up with me…. enjoy tomorrow’s Oscar column… and thanks for understanding.

READER OF THE DAY:  COKIE’S COUSIN answers yesterday’s non-quiz quiz:  “A) Pokemon 4 - Since I have no children, I like to pretend that these movies don't exist

B) Bowling for Columbine - critics take on this has been pretty consistent and despite the fact that I don't often see documentaries in the theater, I'll be looking for it.

C) Comedian - The trailer for this movie boarders on genius but I never watched Seinfeld and, can't bring myself to give a crap about this movie.

D) Swept Away - I thoroughly enjoyed Snatch and I sort of liked Lock, Stock, despite it trying too hard, but I have no desire whatsoever to see this movie.  She can't act.  She should stop trying.  The Golden Globes should be ashamed of themselves for giving her that award for Evita and encouraging her. 

E) Tuck Everlasting - Ben Kingsley and Jonathan Jackson, in my opinion, two reasons to see the movie.  Ben Kingsley is self-explanatory.  As for Jonathan Jackson, most teen actors on soap operas are painful to watch (I Tivo some soaps so I can fast-forward through those painful parts, I know, it's sad, but I like them anyway), but Jonathan Jackson was freaking brilliant on General Hospital and I'm a firm believer that anyone who can take the AWFUL writing on soaps and make it look good deserves a shot.  I've been waiting for him to do something good ever since he left the show so I'm rooting for him in this movie.  Too bad early reviews don't seem to take much note of him either way.

F) The Rules of Attraction - as someone who generally avoids teen movies I've been interested in this since I first heard it described as a teen movie that's the antithesis of most teen movies (not sure that previous sentence made any sense, but I'm moving on anyway).  Sounds like a rough ride though, any reason I should see it on the large screen instead of waiting for the DVD rental?

G) Punch Drunk Love - don't like Adam Sandler, and despite my love for Boogie Nights, I am only mildly impressed with PTA, going to catch this one on cable.

H) Knock Around Guys - Sure, I like Vin Diesel, Pitch Black got me on that bandwagon.   I even like Seth Green, but I'm in this movie for Barry Pepper.  He pushes my buttons for some reason and I want to see him have a long, happy, acclaimed career despite his participation in Battlefield Earth (I choose to blame Travolta).  Maybe enough people didn't see 61*, that's the only way I can figure that Barry doesn't get better work in more movies.

I) The Transporter - I'll likely see it this weekend.  Not because I think it's the best movie out, but mostly because I LOVE good action and I like Jason Statham.  I tend to appreciate movies that simply are what they advertise and I get the impression from some early reviews that this is one of those rarities.

J) White Oleander - I'm just going to say it.  Michelle Pfeiffer is still the most beautiful actress working today and it is about more than just her physical appearance.  I'm going to end up by myself at this one because none of my action movie watching friends will want to go.

K) Brown Sugar - Not even going to comment on the movie, just going to move along to something even worse.  Why does Halle Berry think she can remake Foxy Brown?!?!?!?  Pam Grier should show up at her house, take the Oscar away from her and beat her with it for having the stones to think she can do Foxy Brown.  Sheesh!”

E ME:  Come on… I dare you!