Movies

Apparently people are blaming Sacha Baron Cohen for their own stupidity. As Slate points out, everyone interviewed for the new Borat movie was given a release form and paid for their troubles in cash. Further, most of them didn’t bother to read the contract that they signed. And in the brilliant analysis by one up-and-coming powerhouse of an attorney, Nate Cardozo: if you’re dumb enough to (a) get interviewed by borat, and (b) give a crap that you got fooled,…

When I was a sophomore at Berkeley in 2002, I took a class with Prof. Anna-Livia Brawn, on French colonial films — given that I knew I would be headed to Senegal later that fall. One of the filmmakers that she introduced us to was Ousmane Sembène, a Senegalese director and writer who she highly lauded and suggested that if ever we had the chance to see a Sembène film, that we should, given that Sembène apparently is very finicky…

Forget Snakes on a Plane — it’s all about Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan! Only 76 more days ! There’s a new trailer (in the Borat link above) that was released two days ago. Fucking briliant.

I’ve been informed that at last check, my radio piece on MobMov will be on The World today! Will be available on any of these stations (and their Internet streams): New York – 3 pm Eastern – WNYC – 820 AM – www.wnyc.org Washington, DC – 3 pm Eastern – WAMU – 88.5 FM – www.wamu.org Los Angeles – 12 pm Pacific – KPCC – 89.3 FM – www.kpcc.opg Boston – 4 pm Eastern – WGBH – 89.7 FM –…

So I just found out from my co-worker, Jim Galbraith, about the SF Indie Fest 2006, an indie film festival coming up right here in the City by the Bay. First, the SF Lebowski Festival ! Fuckin’ A, Dude! On Feb. 4 at ArtSF! The Third Annual Big Lebowski Party takes place Saturday, Feb. 4 at ArtSF. The party starts at 9p and lasts till they kick us out. Come dressed as your favorite Lebowski character! Free admission with any…

Big ups to Clive Thompson, of Slate fame. For the unitiated: WALTER : Way to go, Dude. If you will it, it is no dream. DUDE: You’re fucking twenty minutes late. What the fuck is that? WALTER: Theodore Herzel. DUDE: Huh? WALTER: State of Israel. If you will it, Dude, it is no– DUDE: What the fuck’re you talking about? The carrier. What’s in the fucking carrier? WALTER: Huh? Oh–Cynthia’s Pomeranian. Can’t leave him home alone or he eats the…

#1 : Syriana: From writer/director Stephen Gaghan, winner of the Best Screenplay Academy Award for Traffic, comes Syriana, a political thriller that unfolds against the intrigue of the global oil industry. From the players brokering back-room deals in Washington to the men toiling in the oil fields of the Persian Gulf, the film’s multiple storylines weave together to illuminate the human consequences of the fierce pursuit of wealth and power. As a career CIA operative (George Clooney) begins to uncover…

AP: The nation’s second-largest theater chain AMC Entertainment Inc., announced plans Tuesday to acquire Loews Cineplex Entertainment Corp. in a move that may help the new company compete as Hollywood struggles to lure more people to the nation’s megaplexes. The combined company, to be called AMC Entertainment Inc., will own, manage or have interests in about 450 theaters in 30 states and 13 countries. It will be headquartered in Kansas City and led by current AMC Chairman, CEO and President…