movie buzz

I’ll admit that I stole the title of my review of Waitress, “Slice of Life Pie,” from Nathan Fillion, who stars in the film as Keri Russell’s doctor/paramour. Fillion loves the film because “it’s a slice of life, a slice of life pie,” and that’s the perfect description, so I stole it. He’s quoted in … more…

pirates! Tonight I see Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End. Just a few hours to go! Most of it waiting on line at the theater to make sure I get in because Disney doesn’t think onliners are real film critics! But we still get threatened with the plank if we post reviews before Friday! … more…

Is this, from Shrek the Third: an animated nod to the Star Trek rocks… you know, where Kirk fought the Gorn?: (They’re actually called the Vasquez Rocks. Who knew?) And is there anything to the line early in 28 Weeks Later, about the kid who shows up at the house where Robert Carlyle is holed … more…

Noooooooo!: Shrek 4: The Early Years? Next installment to cover ogre’s origin. Look: Shrek Babies? A diaper-clad Donkey and a toddler Shrek and goo-goo, gah-gah in the swamp? Could someone just shoot me now? After the first Shrek flick, I might have trusted that a movie about the grumpy ogre as a baby would avoid … more…

Everyone wants to be a rock star. Even movie stars: One way or another, “Spider-Man 3” star Kirsten Dunst is determined to play punk/new-wave icon Debbie Harry in a biopic. “It’s in development,” she said excitedly about playing the Blondie singer. “I’ve talked to Debbie. We’re both Jersey girls, and I think she’s the coolest … more…

Pop culture pop quiz! Imogen Poots and Mackintosh Muggleton are: 1) new Hogwarts first-years in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows whom Voldemort will kill and Harry will avenge? 2) the newcomer child stars of 28 Weeks Later Answer after the jump. You didn’t really think it was No. 1, did you? It appears that … more…

From today’s New York Times: In a significant change to its movie ratings system, the Motion Picture Association of America on Thursday said portrayals of smoking would be considered alongside sex and violence in assessing the suitability of movies for young viewers. Films that appear to glamorize smoking will risk a more restrictive rating, and … more…

There are all different kinds of screenings members of the press are invited to, at least here in New York City. Often they take place in large multiplexes and draw large crowds of nonpress people who win tickets from radio stations, are invited by marketing organizations, and so on. And some studios force all of … more…

You’d think that after more than a decade of some serious damn film criticism online, we’d have gotten beyond this: Bloggers come in many shapes and sizes. Some are professional journalists. Others are amateur fanboys. That’s Anne Thompson in Variety a couple of days ago, and that is the full extent of what she sees … more…

So, Steve Carell as a modern-day Noah? That’s the premise of Evan Almighty, the sequel to Bruce Almighty opening June 22. I predict numerous jokes about poop and who’s going to be doing the mucking out on Evan’s 21st-century ark. As soon as the yabbering over Spider-Man 3’s costs and earnings dies down, be on … more…