David Carradine found Dead

Sad news has been reported today. Actor David Carradine was found dead in his hotel in Thailand under uncertain circumstances. He was 72.

Carradine was probably best remembered for his roles as Kwai Chang Caine on the 1970s televesion series Kung Fu, the revived Kung Fu: The Legend Continues in the 90s and as the title character in Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill Volume I and II. He's also been doing some recent YellowBook.com commercials.

I am pretty shocked by this and can't understand why Carradine would hang himself, which is beginning to look more unlikely as reports come in. It seems like he had everything going for him after Kill Bill; he revived his career, was in the limelight again, and seemed to be moving on to better things. More news is still coming in that could shed light on this event, and reports are circulating that his death resulted from a sex game gone wrong. I'm inclined to believe the latter report. Regardless of the reasons behind it, Carradine's death is a sad reminder about the unglamorous side of Hollywood stardom. My thoughts are with his family and friends.

As an aside, I greatly admired David's father John Carradine, one of the great character actors of all-time. I loved his performances in Stagecoach, The Grapes of Wrath, and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.

RIP David Carradine.

Pegg and Frost add Cast Members for 'Paul'

A few days ago I reviewed Hot Fuzz, a hilarious comedy starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost and directed by Edgar Wright. I mentioned that I hoped for a movie reunion of these three, since both Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead were so successful. Today, I discovered that two of these Brits, Pegg and Frost, are in pre-production on a movie called Paul that shows some promise. The film stars Pegg and Frost as two science-fiction fanatics who journey to Area 51 to test their conspiracy ideas. Once there, they run into, you guessed it, an alien. Paul will not be directed by Wright, but there's no need to worry. Superbad and Adventureland director Greg Mottola should adequately fill his shoes. Pegg and Frost wrote the script and I imagine it will be full of great humor directed at movies like Independence Day and Men in Black. Not that it will be a satire of Will Smith movies, but recent sci-fi action hits.

While the fact that Mottola, Pegg, and Frost are collaborating on a film is definitely enough to get me excited, more news has surfaced today that will boost this film's appeal. Seth Rogen, Jason Bateman, Kristin Wiig, Bill Hader, and Jane Lynch have joined the cast. Rogen, who has shown his voice-over skills in last year's Kung Fu Panda, will voice the titular alien Paul. It is unclear what characters the other recent additions will be playing, but it goes without saying that they are all extremely funny people. I can't wait to see how this turns out, although I'll go on record here saying that it sounds like it can't miss. Expect Paul to hit theaters sometime late in 2010.

Source: Variety

Steve McQueen Biopic

A few months ago, it was announced that a Steve McQueen biopic was in the works, with Michael Cerenzie and Christine Peters producing. According to Variety, the project will likely end up at Paramount and will cover McQueen's Hollywood career. No ETA on when we can expect this movie, but I'll be keeping my eyes open for news about this.

Steve McQueen is one of my favorite actors and his persona is extremely unique. I particularly love him in The Great Escape. His Virgil Hilts is one of the most memorable film characters ever, with the motorcycle chase sequence at the climax of the film ranking as one of the most iconic movie scenes of all-time. The big debate surrounding this movie is who will star.

Apparently, Brad Pitt may be in the mix to play the legendary actor. I think Pitt could pull off McQueen, if anyone could. They even look somewhat similar and both share a passion for motorcycles. If the producers decide to cast a major Hollywood star, I think Pitt is a good choice. Apparently McQueen's widow (his third wife) envisions Daniel Craig in the role, which could work as well. What do you think? Who would you like to see playing Steve McQueen?

32nd Anniversary of Star Wars - One Day Late

Oops! Yesterday I forgot to mention why it is one of the most important dates in film history. 32 years ago, on May 25, 1977, Star Wars premiered! Obviously, the movie went on to be a great box-office success and one of the very first blockbusters. It spawned five more films, many successful toy lines, an animated feature film and series, untold numbers of video games, fabulous books, and pretty much anything else you can think of. While other movies would later knock Star Wars off its box-office pedestal, it's hard to imagine what cinema would be like today without George Lucas' seminal creation. I love Star Wars and I'm thankful for its existence. Happy 32, Star Wars!

Hot Fuzz (2007)

Hot Fuzz
Release Date: February 14, 2007
Director: Edgar Wright
Starring: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Jim Broadbent, Timothy Dalton
Rated: R
Runtime: 121 minutes



The Slant / Made it, Ma! Top of the World!



Hot Fuzz is everything I expected from the team that produced Shaun of the Dead, and so much more. I enjoyed Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg's first outing in 2004, but Hot Fuzz is on a whole different level.

Simon Pegg stars as London Police Officer Nicholas Angel, who excels in his duties to the point that his superiors become jealous of his awards and commendations. The opening montage detailing Angel's achievements as a police officer (never call him a policemen) drags the viewer in and never lets go. Angel's superiors decide to promote him to sergeant and ship him out of their hair to the small country village of Sandford, where he will pass his days in quiet anonymity, or so they hope.

Of course, Sergeant Angel does not find a peaceful village. Sandford boasts a crew of incompetent police officers that Angel tries to whip into shape, with lackluster results. At first, it seems as if the town's quaintness and the police department's apathy will get the better of Angel, who grows bored and irritable from what he sees as incompetence among his fellows and lack of real action in the town. On his first night, he expels some underage boys from the local pub. Angel insists on taking a hard-line approach even when the pub's owners declare that they let them drink there "for the greater good," since it keeps the kids off the street and out of trouble. This kind of gray area is foreign to Angel, who follows the letter of the law in all circumstances.

Eventually, a string of deaths breaks the peace in Sandford, although everyone but Angel strives to reconcile the deaths as an unfortunate string of accidents. Angel believes something much bigger is going on and investigates further with the help of his new partner Danny (Nick Frost). They uncover a terrible, if a little ridiculous, plot that reveals the town of Sandford is not at all what it seems.

One of the most surprising aspects of Hot Fuzz is how realistic it is, at least to a point. In Shaun of the Dead, for instance, the whole movie was an over-the-top send up to zombie flicks. While Hot Fuzz gives the same treatment to cop movies, until the final shootout everything that transpires could actually happen in an English country town. To be sure, the characters would probably not be so irreverant, witty, or entertaining, but everything at least seemed plausible. Once the explosive and brilliant final showdown begins, all bets are off and Hot Fuzz really comes into its own. In fact, the movie shifts gears so abruptly that it is almost shocking. Still, the lead-up and fraternal bonding between Angel and Danny make the final clash that much more exciting and even emotional. You really feel like you know the characters and hope they make it out okay. And then you also want to see Sgt. Angel with a veritable armory strapped to his back, delivering flying kicks to elderly (and evil) women threatening to gun him down.

The movie is exquisitely cast. Pegg is brilliant as the super-cop Angel and brings an effortless humor to the role. While not as over-the-top as his recent portrayal of Scotty in Star Trek, Pegg improves upon his earlier starring role in Shaun of the Dead. His chemistry with sidekick Nick Frost seems to have grown too, and the scenes with the two of them (and there are plenty) are rife with laughs as well as tender moments. Here is another installment in the oft-repeated label of bromance movies. The supporting cast is just as great, though Timothy Dalton excels above the rest as the overly-friendly and suspicious owner of a local supermarket. He elevated the humor whenever he was on screen. Jim Broadbent also adds to the movie's levity, playing Angel's superior in such a deadpan manner that rivals Buster Keaton himself.


Hot Fuzz is one of the best comedies in recent memory. It's slow build-up might not work for some viewers hoping only for mindless action, but the film's climax should keep them satisfied while others can enjoy the first half for its dry British wit. The film is rated R, but it is most assuredly a soft R; the film could easily have been edited to a PG-13 rating if Wright had decided to throw out a few choice words. This harder edge enhances the film, however. Hot Fuzz has few dull moments and many surprises that should delight its viewers. Let's hope Wright and Pegg reunite in the near future for another classic outing.

Porco Rosso (1992)

Porco Rosso
Release Date: July 18, 1992 (Japan), March 5, 2004 (North America)
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Starring (English Dub): Michael Keaton, Cary Elwes, Susan Egan, Kimberly Williams, David Ogden Stiers
Rated: PG
Runtime: 94 minutes


The Slant / Here's looking at you, kid



I am a great admirer of Hayao Miyazaki. I've been happily (and slowly, due to the demands of graduate school) meandering through his film collection recently, thanks to Netflix. His animated films are at least rivals to the great Disney classics, while some surpass them in terms of depth and beauty. Even Porco Rosso, Miyazaki's weakest movie, is a beautiful film. It does not have as many of the fantastical elements that define his other works, like Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind or Princess Mononoke, but it is an enjoyable yarn that draws the viewer into the world of World War I seaplane pilots.

The premise of Porco Rosso, which translates into Crimson Pig, is quite simple if not fully explained. The setting is the Adriatic Sea, circa 1929, as the Italian fascists reaching the height of their power. Porco, formerly named Marco, is an expatriate Italian fighter ace who through mysterious circumstances is magically transformed into a anthropomorphic pig. The protagonist is stubborn, "pig-headed" in the figurative sense, and a womanizer, so the fact that he embodies the persona of a pig is really just an extended metaphor. It allows Porco to exclaim that he'd "rather be a pig than a fascist." He sells his exemplary piloting skills to the highest bidder, although he refuses to contradict his honor by returning to the Italian air force. Porco bears a resemblance, both in his demeanor and physically, to Humphrey Bogart, especially since he is almost always seen speaking through a haze of his own cigarette smoke. As a devoted Bogie fan, I appreciated this homage to the American star.

Porco angers the local sea pirates and they hire a hotshot American pilot named Curtis to hunt him down. When Porco is shot down after experiencing engine problems, he enlists the aid of an old friend and his 17 year-old granddaughter to rebuild his plane. The girl, Fio, resembles many of Miyazaki's heroines. She's young, obsessed with flight, and strong-willed. Eventually, Porco and the American have a rematch and the ending wisely leaves it open concerning the pig's ultimate fate, although the audience has a pretty good idea how things turn out.

This is a departure for Miyazaki. For one thing, it lacks the focus on environmental issues that defines much of his other work. Also, Porco Rosso is geared primarily for adults, while his other movies could be enjoyed by both young and old alike. I'm not saying that children would not enjoy this movie (I mean, it's a pig flying around in a plane!), but an adult audience will better appreciate both the plot and the characters. The flying sequences, one of Miyazaki's trademarks, are superb. One gets the idea that the director made this movie almost to showcase these amazing dogfights which he is so obsessed with. If so, it works. Though it is my least favorite of the Japanese director's films, it still beats the standard animation Hollywood consistently churns out every year.

If you are a neophyte to the work of Hayao Miyazaki, I suggest starting with either Princess Mononoke or Spirited Away. If you enjoy Miyazaki's classics, then you can delve deeper into his collection and experience Porco Rosso for what it is; a high-flying adventure accentuated by beautiful animation.

Angels & Demons - An Uninspired Thriller that has its Moments

Angels & Demons
Release Date: May 15, 2009
Director: Ron Howard
Starring: Tom Hanks, Ewan McGregor, Ayelet Zurer, Stellan Skarsgard, Armin Mueller-Stahl
Rated: PG-13
Runtime: 138 minutes



The Slant / Well, nobody's perfect.



Angels & Demons, follow-up to The Da Vinci Code (2006), is a forgettable detective story wrapped up in church intrigue. Still, it has its moments and keeps the audience guessing, at least for the first 3/4 of the film. Eventually the conclusion becomes readily apparent and, although I won't spoil it here, ultimately dissatisfying.

Once again, we follow esteemed symbologist Dr. Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks)as he struggles to unravel a mysterious plot involving religious motifs. This time around, instead of the Holy Grail and the Knights Templar, Langdon's adversaries are the mythical Illuminati, ancient enemies of the Catholic Church. The pope has died and the Vatican is in an uproar over his successor. The Illuminati have supposedly stolen an incredibly powerful antimatter bomb, which they will use to level Vatican City to revenge the Church's past transgressions. This secret society has also kidnapped the most prominent candidates for the papacy, stating that they will kill these cardinals every hour on the hour before detonating the explosive.

Langdon is called upon to rescue the holy men and stop the bomb, with the help of the Vatican police and Dr. Vittoria Vetra (Ayelet Zurer), one of the antimatter bomb's research developers. The Camerlengo (Ewan McGregor), the man in charge of the Church while the cardinals choose a new pope, promises to give his assistance to Langdon in any way possible. What follows is a race through Vatican City from the Catholic archives to ancient churches, with the life of every inhabitant of the city on the line. Sounds exciting, doesn't it?

And it is...for awhile. I found myself drawn into the plot and wondering about these mysterious Illuminati. I have not read the book and thus found myself enjoying this Dan Brown adaptation more than The Da Vinci Code, since I was unsure at first where the story would ultimately end. Ultimately I found it more compelling than the previous installment. Director Ron Howard does a good job balancing the ever-present forces of science and religion, portraying Langdon as an agnostic academic and the church as progressive and open to scientific scrutiny.

The ultimate reveal at the end of the film is unsatisfying and, by that time, quite apparent. As a historian and being familiar with the painstaking hours it takes to adequately conduct archival research, I found it baffling that Langdon locates his source within 15 minutes of his search. Statues pointing the way to the Illuminati's secret hideout? If only it was that easy! Of course, it is a movie and such trivialities are not terribly important.

Less forgivable are two unnecessary scenes, one at the beginning involving the creation of the antimatter bomb and another suspenseful scene halfway through that has Langdon and a hapless guard struggling to escape the archives before their oxygen runs out. Also, do we need to see the Camerlengo berating church leadership about the necessity of bringing science and religion into harmony? I think the movie could have been improved if it stuck to its guns, following Langdon through the streets of Vatican City on a race against time. When the movie stops to take a breath, the viewer's mind wanders. The movie crams a lot into its 138 minutes, but could have been trimmed.

The casting is, for the most part, adequate and in some cases, inspired. Tom Hanks, normally an actor I enjoy greatly, has little to work with here. Langdon is a pretty flat character and not incredibly likable. Hanks does what he can with the stoic symbologist. Ewan McGregor plays the Camerlengo well and is convincing in his supporting role. He was the character I found most easy to cheer for, although I could be biased due to my unabashed adimration for McGregor's acting. Ayelet Zurer's Dr. Vittoria just seems along for the ride. The always menacing and underrated Stellan Skarsgard plays the commander of the Swiss Guard with his usual detached scowl. Armin Mueller-Stahl, who I loved in Eastern Promises, gives the best performance as a cardinal with questionable loyalties.

Go see Angels & Demons if you have already seen Star Trek and Wolverine, and are looking for an enjoyable thriller that doesn't require too much mental investment. It's worth the price of admission, but you can wait for the DVD.

Troop Beverly Hills (1989)

Troop Beverly Hills
Release Date: March 22, 1989
Director: Jeff Kanew
Starring: Shelley Long, Craig T. Nelson, Betty Thomas, Mary Gross
Rated: PG
Runtime: 100 minutes


The Slant / It's going to be a bumpy night.

I must have missed this movie in my youth, but I was not missing much. A few people I know busted this "classic" out last night and wrangled me into watching it. Apparently it has achieved cult status among some fans, although why this has occurred is beyond me.

To get right down to it, Troop Beverly Hills is about a group of Wilderness Girls, aka Cub Scouts for girls, that need a new troop leader. Judging by the title, you can probably tell that the group is from ritzy Beverly Hills. Phyllis Nefler (Shelley Long), a shopaholic soon-to-be divorcee and mother of one of the girls, takes the job and things spiral out of control from there. Nefler shows the girls how to brave the wilderness that is Beverly Hills, experiencing shopping, makeovers, and camp-outs at the Beverly Hills Hotel. But when the overzealous troop commandant attempts to run Nefler out of the organization, Shelley Long's character decides to fight back and teach her troop how to be real Wilderness Girls.

It's pretty much as bad as it sounds. Picture Police Academy with terrible characters, little humor, and no satire. The movie takes itself too seriously when it could have been a tongue-in-cheek portrayal of the Beverly Hills lifestyle. The random cameos are distracting and do nothing to add to the plot or the laughs.

Still there are moments of fun. Shelley Long wears about 30 different outfits int he movie, each one more ridiculous than the last. A few one-liners here and there beget a chuckle, but usually groans ensue. It has some redeeming qualities and watching it with people who clearly love it for its campiness is a good time. Hard to take seriously, yes, but sometimes the movie brings a smile to the face through its sheer ridiculousness. Maybe I'm being too critical about a movie clearly designed for a different demographic in a different era.

The film has a decent message about hard work and friendship, but I could not believe that the Neflers reconcile and decide not to divorce. Craig T. Nelson's character is a jerk and if this movie had any self-respect then Long would have walked out on him, realizing she was worthy of more from a man. But they get back together and the movie passes this off as a happy ending. Boy I would hate to see how things worked out in that marriage. Thankfully there is no sequel.