my week at the movies: ‘Crank: High Voltage,’ ‘Tyson,’ ‘Sleep Dealer,’ ‘Is Anybody There?,’ ‘American Violet’

BUMPED UP: To note that I’ve added another screening this week: The Soloist (opens in the U.S. on April 24, and in the U.K. on September 11), the Jamie Foxx-Robert Downey Jr. movie about crazy musical genius. It’s from director Joe Wright (Atonement, Pride & Prejudice) and screenwriter Susannah Grant (Catch and Release, Charlotte’s Web, … more…

trailer break: ‘American Violet’

Take a break from work: watch a trailer… Can I just say: I love Tim Blake Nelson. He’s always amazing without every being showy about it — he just sneaks up on you and makes sure you can never, ever forget how amazing he is. American Violet opens in the U.S. on April 17; no … more…

North American box office: Hannah Montana beats up Vin Diesel

Oh, the burn: 1. Hannah Montana: The Movie: $32.3 million (NEW) 2. Fast & Furious: $27.2 million (2nd week; drops 62%) 3. Monsters vs. Aliens: $21.8 million (3rd week; drops 33%) 4. Observe and Report: $11 million (NEW) 5. Knowing: $6.4 million (4th week; drops 21%) actual numbers, not estimates Never underestimate the breathtaking power … more…

more ‘Doctor Who’ fan fiction

That new chapter in my latest Doctor Who fanfic saga I promised? It’s posted now. Enjoy. (I think you’ll recognize the little bit of dialogue echoed in “Planet of the Dead,” and why it works too well as I used it — long before I ever heard of “Planet of the Dead” — to alter … more…

trailer break: ‘The Boat That Rocked’

Take a break from work: watch a trailer… Ah, so the Internet generation didn’t invent piracy after all? These guys were like the bloggers of their day: independent voices saying whatever they wanted outside the auspices of corporate control. Good for them. I’m hearing some not-so-good things about this from the British contingent among my … more…