<?xml version="1.0"?>
<rss version="2.0" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd"><channel><title>Cinematical</title><link>http://www.cinematical.com</link><description>Cinematical</description><image><url>http://www.cinematical.com/media/feedlogo.gif</url><title>Cinematical</title><link>http://www.cinematical.com</link></image><language>en-us</language><copyright>Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only.</copyright><generator>Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/</generator><item><title>Wait, Wait, Wait: 'Steven Seagal: Lawman'?</title><link>http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/30/wait-wait-wait-steven-seagal-lawman/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/30/wait-wait-wait-steven-seagal-lawman/</guid><comments>http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/30/wait-wait-wait-steven-seagal-lawman/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/category/celebrities-and-controversy/" rel="tag">Celebrities and Controversy</a></p><img hspace="4" border="1" align="right" vspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.cinematical.com/media/2009/11/steven-seagal-lawman.jpg" alt="" />I realize (belatedly) that this is not breaking news, but I heard about it for the first time the other day and nearly choked on my Sunkist. Did you know that: a) Steven Seagal, the pony-tailed B-movie bad-ass who needs no introduction, has spent the better part of two decades working as a deputy sheriff in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, a downscale suburb of New Orleans, and b) A&amp;E will shortly be airing a <em>COPS</em>-like reality TV show depicting his adventures called <em>Steven Seagal: Lawman</em>? It's true. The first episode airs December 2nd. <br />
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For more details on the show, you might take a look at <a href="http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/11/28/steven-seagal-lawman-an-early-look/">this post</a> from over the weekend on our sister blog <em>TV Squad</em>, which among other things includes this wonderful quote, delivered to a group of police trainees: "Some of you may know who I am, and some of you don't. I've been doing martial arts for 40 years, so you can look at me as Steven Seagal, he's a movie star, or you can look at me and say Steven Seagal, he can save my life." Indeed.<br />
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But you might also look at these clips from the <a href="http://www.aetv.com/steven-seagal-lawman/">A&amp;E website</a> for the show, which made me choke back some of my laughter. 'Cause as much as it sounds like a joke, it doesn't really look like one. I mean, by all accounts, the guy has been working as a real live policeman on the side for twenty years. It's a dangerous and unglamorous job. He doesn't do it for the money or the attention, as evidenced by the fact that almost no one knew about his moonlighting for twenty years. He does it, apparently, because it's a job where he can help people and put his skills to some use. Isn't that... kind of awesome? How many movie stars have done something similar? <br />
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Anyone else now have a new respect for Steven Seagal?<p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href="http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/30/wait-wait-wait-steven-seagal-lawman/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/forward/19257425/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/30/wait-wait-wait-steven-seagal-lawman/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>steven seagal</category><category>steven seagal: lawman</category><category>StevenSeagal</category><category>StevenSeagal:Lawman</category><dc:creator>Eugene Novikov</dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 30 Nov 2009 11:15:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title>UPDATE: Girl Was Not Bitten by Pervert at 'New Moon' Screening</title><link>http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/25/update-girl-was-not-bitten-by-pervert-at-new-moon-screening/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/25/update-girl-was-not-bitten-by-pervert-at-new-moon-screening/</guid><comments>http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/25/update-girl-was-not-bitten-by-pervert-at-new-moon-screening/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/category/new-releases/" rel="tag">New Releases</a>, <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/category/celebrities-and-controversy/" rel="tag">Celebrities and Controversy</a>, <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/category/exhibition/" rel="tag">Exhibition</a></p><img hspace="4" border="1" align="right" vspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.cinematical.com/media/2009/11/newmoon112409-1259181769.jpg" alt="" />This is a tale of the girl who cried <strike>wolf</strike> vampire...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.tmz.com/2009/11/25/cops-bitten-twilight-fan-a-bloody-liar/">TMZ</a> is reporting that the 17-year-old girl who claimed that a fellow moviegoer bit her neck while exiting a screening of <em>New Moon</em> was, as they put it, "lying through her teeth." Erin Westrate gave police her story of the so-called bite, but a witness came forward to say that they saw her leave the theater and saw no biting. After grilling the teen, she confessed: "the alleged culprit was simply kissing her on the neck at the time and she was a 'willing participant.'" What possessed her to make up this extravagant lie is beyond me. Is she an English literature fiend who wanted to play on the never-cry-wolf idea after a movie with wolves and vamps?<br />
<br />
Detective Lieutenant Timothy LaVigne says that the teen could now face criminal charges, and if this is all true and she did lie -- I say bring her down. Women have a tough enough time as it is when they <em>are</em> assaulted, crying wolf doesn't help matters.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/24/wtf-girl-bitten-by-pervert-at-new-moon-screening/"><em><strong>From the original post:</strong></em></a><br />
<br />
We keep hearing about the annoying <em>Twilight</em> <em>Saga</em> fans and their ever-loyal fandom, but there are other crazies coming out of the woodwork. An <a href="http://www.wzzm13.com/news/news_story.aspx?storyid=116041&amp;catid=14">ABC affiliate</a> in Michigan reports that while watching <a href="http://www.moviefone.com/movie/the-twilight-saga-new-moon/36045/main"><em>New Moon</em></a> at the Norton Shores theater, a teen girl was harassed and bitten by an old perv while watching the vampire/werewolf blockbuster.<br />
<br />
It seems that in the midst of a screen full of vamps and wolves, an old, short, white dude believed to be about 45 years old starting throwing "sexual comments" at a 17-year-old girl sitting in front of him. But he didn't just assault her with words. When the movie was over, he decided to give her a taste of the "real deal" and allegedly bit the girl on the neck (lucky for her, he didn't break the skin). Right now, the perv is at large, and the police are asking anyone with any information to contact the Norton Shores Police Department.<p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href="http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/25/update-girl-was-not-bitten-by-pervert-at-new-moon-screening/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/forward/19254656/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/25/update-girl-was-not-bitten-by-pervert-at-new-moon-screening/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>Cinematical</category><category>New Moon</category><category>NewMoon</category><category>pervy moviegoers</category><category>PervyMoviegoers</category><dc:creator>Monika Bartyzel</dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:45:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title>Roman Polanski Likely to Be Released on Bail</title><link>http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/25/roman-polanski-bail/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/25/roman-polanski-bail/</guid><comments>http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/25/roman-polanski-bail/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/category/rumormonger/" rel="tag">RumorMonger</a>, <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/category/celebrities-and-controversy/" rel="tag">Celebrities and Controversy</a></p><img hspace="4" border="1" align="right" vspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.cinematical.com/media/2009/11/cine-polanski.jpg" alt="" />A Swiss court has granted Roman Polanski bail in the amount of $4.5 million, according to the Associated Press (by way of <a href="http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118011827.html?categoryid=19&amp;cs=1">Variety</a>). The filmmaker, <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/27/roman-polanski-arrested-in-switzerland/">arrested</a> in September for having sex with a 13-year-old girl in 1977, is to be "kept under house arrest and electronic monitoring at his Swiss chalet."<br />
<br />
However, the appeal must still make it through Switzerland's supreme court before he is released. That decision should not affect the ongoing discussion by the Swiss government on whether or not Polanski should be extradited to the U.S., where he had been originally indicted on six counts and was facing a life sentence before he fled the country and a warrant was issued for his arrest.<br />
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His latest project, a Pierce Brosnan-Ewan McGregor thriller called <a href="http://www.moviefone.com/movie/the-ghost/32030/main"><span style="font-style: italic;">The Ghost</span></a>, remains in post-production, though <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8308298.stm">the BBC</a> suggests that Polanski is instructing his colleagues from jail to finish the film as intended in time for next February's Berlin Film Festival.<p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href="http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/25/roman-polanski-bail/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/forward/19254193/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/25/roman-polanski-bail/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>ewan mcgregor</category><category>EwanMcgregor</category><category>pierce brosnan</category><category>PierceBrosnan</category><category>robert harris</category><category>RobertHarris</category><category>roman polanski</category><category>RomanPolanski</category><category>the ghost</category><category>TheGhost</category><dc:creator>William Goss</dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:32:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title>WTF? Girl Bitten by Pervert at 'New Moon' Screening</title><link>http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/24/wtf-girl-bitten-by-pervert-at-new-moon-screening/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/24/wtf-girl-bitten-by-pervert-at-new-moon-screening/</guid><comments>http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/24/wtf-girl-bitten-by-pervert-at-new-moon-screening/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/category/new-releases/" rel="tag">New Releases</a>, <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/category/celebrities-and-controversy/" rel="tag">Celebrities and Controversy</a>, <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/category/newsstand/" rel="tag">Newsstand</a></p><img hspace="4" border="1" align="right" vspace="4" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.cinematical.com/media/2009/11/newmoon112409.jpg" />We keep hearing about the annoying <em>Twilight</em> <em>Saga</em> fans and their ever-loyal fandom, but there are other crazies coming out of the woodwork. An <a href="http://www.wzzm13.com/news/news_story.aspx?storyid=116041&amp;catid=14">ABC affiliate</a> in Michigan reports that while watching <a href="http://www.moviefone.com/movie/the-twilight-saga-new-moon/36045/main"><em>New Moon</em></a> at the Norton Shores theater, a teen girl was harassed and bitten by an old perv while watching the vampire/werewolf blockbuster.<br />
<br />
It seems that in the midst of a screen full of vamps and wolves, an old, short, white dude believed to be about 45 years old starting throwing "sexual comments" at a 17-year-old girl sitting in front of him. But he didn't just assault her with words. When the movie was over, he decided to give her a taste of the "real deal" and allegedly bit the girl on the neck (lucky for her, he didn't break the skin). Right now, the perv is at large, and the police are asking anyone with any information to contact the Norton Shores Police Department.<br />
<br />
Attention pervy men: While it might seem like biting is the new flirting, especially with the hordes of girls begging Robert Pattinson to bite them, you are <em>not</em> RPatt and that is <em>not</em> cool. And for you fellow filmgoers -- don't let the sickos get away, okay? Do you want to worry about who sits behind you or walks too close as you exit a theater?<br />
<br />
You can watch the newscast after the jump.<p><a href="http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/24/wtf-girl-bitten-by-pervert-at-new-moon-screening/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>WTF? Girl Bitten by Pervert at 'New Moon' Screening</em></a></p><p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href="http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/24/wtf-girl-bitten-by-pervert-at-new-moon-screening/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/forward/19252807/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/24/wtf-girl-bitten-by-pervert-at-new-moon-screening/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>CInematical</category><category>New Moon</category><category>NewMoon</category><category>pervy moviegoers</category><category>PervyMoviegoers</category><category>Twilight Saga: New Moon</category><category>TwilightSaga:NewMoon</category><dc:creator>Monika Bartyzel</dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:45:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title>Chris Weitz Blames New Line For 'The Golden Compass' -- Do You?</title><link>http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/23/chris-weitz-new-line-the-golden-compass-controversy/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/23/chris-weitz-new-line-the-golden-compass-controversy/</guid><comments>http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/23/chris-weitz-new-line-the-golden-compass-controversy/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/category/sci-fi-and-fantasy/" rel="tag">Sci-Fi &amp; Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/category/new-line/" rel="tag">New Line</a>, <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/category/celebrities-and-controversy/" rel="tag">Celebrities and Controversy</a>, <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/category/diy-filmmaking/" rel="tag">DIY/Filmmaking</a>, <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/category/newsstand/" rel="tag">Newsstand</a>, <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/category/religious/" rel="tag">Religious</a>, <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/category/fan-rant/" rel="tag">Fan Rant</a></p><img hspace="4" border="1" align="right" vspace="4" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.cinematical.com/media/2009/11/chris-weitz-photo.jpg" />Now rolling in <em>New Moon</em> millions, <a href="http://www.moviefone.com/celebrity/chris-weitz/2001798/main">Chris Weitz</a> is being more open about his troubles with New Line and <a href="http://www.moviefone.com/movie/the-golden-compass/23389/main?icid=movsmartsearch"><em>The Golden Compass</em></a>, a film that sank one studio and sent him into a tailspin. Rumors abounded as to what went wrong on that film, and as recently as last week, New York's <a href="http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/new_moon_helmer_bites_back_nafTB4SynnKqaZL0MfCkXO"><em>Page Six </em></a>was claiming that residual stress was causing him to leave the industry.<br />
<br />
Weitz denied any such thing to <a href="http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118011732.html?categoryid=13&amp;cs=1"><em>Variety</em></a>, and announced he was leaving the world of the supernatural behind with his next film, <em>The Gardener</em>. The film centers around a hard working Mexican gardener and his efforts to protect his son, and Weitz will be making it alongside his new best friends forever, Summit Entertainment. His new friendship enabled him to take a parting shot at New Line. Weitz praises Summit and Stephenie Meyer for trusting him with <em>New Moon, </em>an experience that was the polar opposite of the debacle that was <em>T</em><em>he Golden Compass. </em><br />
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Weitz claims that New Line didn't trust him to handle the content of the book, that the film was taken from him in editing. Heavy-handed hacking resulted in losing nearly 30 minutes of footage from the film, and neatly exercised the edgy thrust of Phillip Pullman's book. "It was an utter violation of my status as a director and the worst thing that has happened to me professionally ... I was treated badly, it was almost like they never read the books. They seemed frightened of offending the right." Out of loyalty to the cast and crew, Weitz said he "bit through my tongue" when <em>Compass</em> was released.<br />
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As a fan of Pullman's <em>His Dark Materials</em> series, I'd love to see all that missing footage to see if it could salvage Weitz's film, and if New Line really neutered it. <br />
<em><br />
Go below the jump for the rest <br />
</em><p><a href="http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/23/chris-weitz-new-line-the-golden-compass-controversy/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Chris Weitz Blames New Line For 'The Golden Compass' -- Do You?</em></a></p><p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href="http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/23/chris-weitz-new-line-the-golden-compass-controversy/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/forward/19250156/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/23/chris-weitz-new-line-the-golden-compass-controversy/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>Chris Weitz</category><category>ChrisWeitz</category><category>His Dark Materials</category><category>His Dark Materials The Golden Compass</category><category>HisDarkMaterials</category><category>HisDarkMaterialsTheGoldenCompass</category><category>new line</category><category>New Moon</category><category>NewLine</category><category>NewMoon</category><category>phillip pullman</category><category>PhillipPullman</category><category>The Gardener</category><category>The Golden Compass</category><category>TheGardener</category><category>TheGoldenCompass</category><dc:creator>Elisabeth Rappe</dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:33:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title>Forbes Determines Hollywood's Most Overpaid Actors</title><link>http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/forbes-determines-hollywoods-most-overpaid-actors/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/forbes-determines-hollywoods-most-overpaid-actors/</guid><comments>http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/forbes-determines-hollywoods-most-overpaid-actors/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/category/celebrities-and-controversy/" rel="tag">Celebrities and Controversy</a>, <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/category/box-office/" rel="tag">Box Office</a></p><img hspace="4" border="1" align="right" vspace="4" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.cinematical.com/media/2009/11/tomcruise112009.jpg" />Just the other day, I tackled the notion of whether A-List actors were <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/16/a-list-becomes-z-list/">becoming an endangered species</a>. Now Forbes is adding to the celebrities woes with a list of <a href="http://www.forbes.com/2009/11/17/hollywoods-most-overpaid-stars-business-entertainment-overpaid-stars_slide.html?partner=cbc">Hollywood's 10 Most Overpaid Stars</a>. Their criteria for the list: Look at the 100 biggest stars who have starred in at least 3 flicks opening in more than 500 theaters in the last 5 years, and calculate a return-on-investment by dividing total operating income on the 3 movies by the actor's total compensation (salaries and sales earnings). <br />
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So, who could possibly end up on such a list? Hazard a guess? Well, here are some hints. The 10-spot actor, who has the biggest earnings for his pay, earns an average of $8.62 for every $1 paid, while the worst offender skyrocketed to the #1 spot with a pretty big flop this year, earning only $3.29 for every buck paid. Some of the names in the middle are quite expected, especially <a href="http://www.moviefone.com/celebrity/tom-cruise/1848500/main">Tom Cruise</a> and <a href="http://www.moviefone.com/celebrity/eddie-murphy/1000174/main">Eddie Murphy</a>, the former still dealing with image issues, and the latter found out that his silly-comedy formula isn't working like it used to. Also, there is one lone woman on the list, but this actress might be a little hard to guess.<br />
<br />
Considering the previous post and some of the names on this list, I think we might be seeing a big decrease in star-power pay over the next few years. But for now ... Who's the least-bad investment, the worst, and the woman? Can you figure out the names in-between? Take a stab and then check out the list after the jump<p><a href="http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/forbes-determines-hollywoods-most-overpaid-actors/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Forbes Determines Hollywood's Most Overpaid Actors</em></a></p><p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href="http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/forbes-determines-hollywoods-most-overpaid-actors/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/forward/19248163/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/forbes-determines-hollywoods-most-overpaid-actors/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>10 Most Overpaid Actors</category><category>10MostOverpaidActors</category><category>A-List</category><category>Cinematical</category><category>Eddie Murphy</category><category>EddieMurphy</category><category>Forbes</category><category>Hollywood</category><category>overpaid actors</category><category>OverpaidActors</category><category>Tom Cruise</category><category>TomCruise</category><dc:creator>Monika Bartyzel</dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:15:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title>Oscar Snubs? Extortion Plot? Do Tell!</title><link>http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/oscar-snubs-extortion-plot-do-tell/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/oscar-snubs-extortion-plot-do-tell/</guid><comments>http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/oscar-snubs-extortion-plot-do-tell/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/category/documentary/" rel="tag">Documentary</a>, <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/category/awards/" rel="tag">Awards</a>, <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/category/celebrities-and-controversy/" rel="tag">Celebrities and Controversy</a>, <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/category/oscar-watch/" rel="tag">Oscar Watch</a></p><img hspace="4" height="298" border="1" align="middle" width="450" vspace="4" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.cinematical.com/media/2009/11/tyson1-(2).jpg" /><br />
<br />
Are members from the documentary branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences being paid to short list some films over others? That's what it sounds like director James Toback was alluding to when he spoke to the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/20/movies/20docs.html?_r=1&amp;ref=movies"><em>New York Times</em></a> recently about how his buzzed-about documentary, <a href="http://www.moviefone.com/movie/tyson/30126/main"><em>Tyson</em></a>, was left off the Academy's short list along with several other notable documentaries from the past year. Toback told the <em>Times </em>that at some point during the selection process he experienced something he puts "fully in the category of extortion", adding that he did not go along with it. <br />
<br />
Speaking on behalf of the documentary branch -- which Toback refers to as "some tiny, dirty covert weirdly protective group" -- chairman (and filmmaker) Rob Epstein said, "I have no idea. It certainly hasn't come before me." Among some of the critically acclaimed docs snubbed this year are Michael Moore's <em>Capitalism: A Love Story</em>, the awesome <em>Anvil! The Story of Anvi</em><em>l</em>, and <em>The September Issue</em>. This year's documentary short list <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/18/oscars-documentary-shortlist-no-anvil-no-capitalism/">was narrowed down to 15 finalists</a> from 89 possible contenders. So, yeah, obviously you're going to see some fantastic films miss the cut, and, subsequently, some pissed off filmmakers, but it's a pretty bold move for Toback to go and claim extortion, don't you think?<p><a href="http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/oscar-snubs-extortion-plot-do-tell/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Oscar Snubs? Extortion Plot? Do Tell!</em></a></p><p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href="http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/oscar-snubs-extortion-plot-do-tell/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/forward/19248051/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/oscar-snubs-extortion-plot-do-tell/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>academy awards</category><category>AcademyAwards</category><category>Anvil The Story of Anvil</category><category>AnvilTheStoryOfAnvil</category><category>capitalism: a love story</category><category>Capitalism:ALoveStory</category><category>tyson</category><dc:creator>Erik Davis</dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:02:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title>Robert Downey Jr. Wants to Retire?</title><link>http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/19/robert-downey-jr-wants-to-retire/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/19/robert-downey-jr-wants-to-retire/</guid><comments>http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/19/robert-downey-jr-wants-to-retire/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/category/celebrities-and-controversy/" rel="tag">Celebrities and Controversy</a>, <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/category/fandom/" rel="tag">Fandom</a>, <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/category/newsstand/" rel="tag">Newsstand</a></p><img hspace="4" border="1" align="right" vspace="4" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.cinematical.com/media/2009/11/rdj111909.jpg" />Retire. I am starting to hate that word in Hollywood. Most of the time it doesn't mean what it suggests. Retirement means ending work, maybe taking on a side gig if you really need to or are really bored, but for the most part, it's ending life in the workforce and enjoying a life of leisure. In cinema, however, it seems to be anyone who is taking a break from the biz. Luc Besson's "retired," as is Sean Connery. Now ... <a href="http://www.moviefone.com/celebrity/robert-downey-jr/1789971/main">Robert Downey Jr.</a>?<br />
<br />
The ever popular actor has told <a href="http://popwatch.ew.com/2009/11/19/sherlock-holmes-robert-downey-j/?xid=rss-feed-todayslatest-Robert+Downey+Jr.%3A+Quitting+time%3F&amp;utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+entertainmentweekly%2Flatest+%28Entertainment+Weekly%3A++Today%27s+Latest%29&amp;utm_content=Google+Reader">Entertainment Weekly</a> that he might quit acting. "I've never had it this good -- this is my day in the sun -- and I certainly don't want to look a gift horse in the molars. But [my wife] Susan and I want to begin to be in our lives as much as we are in our jobs. I'd love just to sit here and say, 'What movie's playing tonight?' I'd love to finish the new book about D-day I'm reading. I love painting, I love music." And if you can get through that without your gut falling out in dread: "But here's the thing: I can only be a guy on a call sheet probably, I don't know, maybe a couple more times. It's something I'm so grateful to have in my palm, and yet I already see its inevitable decay." <br />
<br />
He does leave room for hope by saying: "If <a href="http://www.moviefone.com/movie/sherlock-holmes/35683/main"><em>Sherlock Holmes</em></a> performs well, I could be busy for the next 5 or 7 or 10 years." But who knows whether that's just him appeasing potential fan backlash, dread at the thought of never catching a break, feeling uncertain in his career, or some other reason altogether. But if it's true and does happen, I shudder to think of Hollywood without his talent.<p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href="http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/19/robert-downey-jr-wants-to-retire/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/forward/19246870/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/19/robert-downey-jr-wants-to-retire/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>Cinematical</category><category>featured</category><category>retirement</category><category>Robert Downey Jr.</category><category>RobertDowneyJr.</category><dc:creator>Monika Bartyzel</dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:15:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title>Fan Rant: The Ridiculous, Disgusting Photoshopping Must End!</title><link>http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/18/demi-moore-worst-photoshopping-ads/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/18/demi-moore-worst-photoshopping-ads/</guid><comments>http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/18/demi-moore-worst-photoshopping-ads/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/category/celebrities-and-controversy/" rel="tag">Celebrities and Controversy</a>, <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/category/newsstand/" rel="tag">Newsstand</a>, <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/category/images/" rel="tag">Images</a>, <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/category/posters/" rel="tag">Posters</a></p><img hspace="4" border="1" vspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.cinematical.com/media/2009/11/psbodies111609.jpg" alt="" /><br />
<br />
I love image editors like Photoshop. They've allowed me to make boring pictures funky, wipe the years off old and worn memories, and even get rid of the errant hair or blemish to make that nice photo truly shine. But I would give it all up and wipe my hands of them if it meant that the programs would be pulled out of the hands of Hollywood and the image-fixing machine.<br />
<br />
We're getting bombarded by all sides. It's bad enough that lazy frakking poster creators actually shovel out horse poop like the embarrassingly <a href="http://www.dlisted.com/node/33834">terrible poster for <em>The Takers</em></a>, one that doesn't even bother trying to match the skin tones of the stars' heads with the stunt bodies, or thinks Paul Walker has massive <em>Science of Sleep-</em>like hands.<br />
<br />
But we're also getting a never-ending onslaught of body de-hancements. I really can think of no better word for the folks like Ralph Lauren who are <a href="http://images.google.ca/images?q=ralph+lauren+photoshop&amp;oe=utf-8&amp;rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&amp;client=firefox-a&amp;um=1&amp;ie=UTF-8&amp;ei=o3EDS470BYLdnAeQs-V1&amp;sa=X&amp;oi=image_result_group&amp;ct=title&amp;resnum=5&amp;ved=0CCQQsAQwBA">Photoshopping their models into sick, skeletal bodies</a>. Adding to the pack is <em>W Magazine</em>, as <a href="http://www.boingboing.net/2009/11/17/demi-moore-is-ralph.html">BoingBoing</a> shares. They scored an interview with <a href="http://www.moviefone.com/celebrity/demi-moore/1329066/main">Demi Moore</a> and threw her up on the cover. While she may have discussed her dislike of being called a cougar, methinks she'd have more of an issue with what they did to her body. She's already <a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2281/2130339748_a0e638ef77.jpg">ridiculously thin</a>, but still, they edit. It looks like they tried to give her an "hourglass" shape (I use that term begrudgingly because it really doesn't apply when we're talking about skinny women who are Photoshopped to look curvy.), but worst of all -- they wiped out part of her already pencil-thin legs and were too lazy to make sure it matched. You can see part in the image above, look at the hip on the right, or in its full glory after the jump.<p><a href="http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/18/demi-moore-worst-photoshopping-ads/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Fan Rant: The Ridiculous, Disgusting Photoshopping Must End!</em></a></p><p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href="http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/18/demi-moore-worst-photoshopping-ads/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/forward/19243353/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/18/demi-moore-worst-photoshopping-ads/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>Cinematical</category><category>Demi Moore</category><category>DemiMoore</category><category>photoshopped celebrities</category><category>PhotoshoppedCelebrities</category><category>photoshopping in the media</category><category>photoshopping posters</category><category>PhotoshoppingInTheMedia</category><category>PhotoshoppingPosters</category><dc:creator>Monika Bartyzel</dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:45:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title>Does Pattinson's Edward Cullen Make Men Feel Inadequate?</title><link>http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/18/robert-pattinson-edward-cullen-men-feel-inadequate/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/18/robert-pattinson-edward-cullen-men-feel-inadequate/</guid><comments>http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/18/robert-pattinson-edward-cullen-men-feel-inadequate/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/category/new-releases/" rel="tag">New Releases</a>, <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/category/celebrities-and-controversy/" rel="tag">Celebrities and Controversy</a>, <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/category/fandom/" rel="tag">Fandom</a>, <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/category/newsstand/" rel="tag">Newsstand</a>, <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/category/fan-rant/" rel="tag">Fan Rant</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img hspace="4" border="1" vspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.cinematical.com/media/2009/11/edward-cullen-twilight-series-2092842-443-500.jpg" alt="" /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><br />
On the heels of speculation that <a href="http://www.moviefone.com/search/twilight%20saga"><em>Twilight</em> </a>was <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/17/twilight-makes-abstinence-popular/">making abstinence fashionable</a> comes a very amusing bit of hand-wringing from <a href="http://www.details.com/celebrities-entertainment/movies-and-tv/200911/new-moon-twilight-edward-cullen-girlfriend-wife?currentPage=4"><em>Details </em></a>magazine. Reporting from the Ground Zero of Forks, Washington during Stephanie Meyer Day, <em>Details </em>discovered that it wasn't just impressionable teenagers pinning their hopes on Edward, <em>married women</em> were also carrying a torch for the eternal teenager: "Gentlemen, your wives have something they want to tell you. The polite way to put it is that the pressures and demands of running a home in the 21st century have a way of siphoning off the platelets from even the most red-blooded of romantic unions. To be blunt: Life is a grind, and our wives are bored sh*tless. Edward Cullen has, for millions of passion-starved better halves worldwide, become the undead embodiment of everything the contemporary schlub seems to have shed: danger, poetry, strength, speed, eternal devotion, and an insatiable hunger for the jugular."<br />
<br />
The modern man is finding it impossible to compete with Edward, and <em>Details</em> worries about the erotic dreams he's spawning in married women. The magazine listens dutifully to female confessions that range from enthusiastic to cagey, and lends sympathy to the wives whose husbands "don't get" <em>Twilight </em>or what it provides. "But with life so crazy, this is my escape - <em>Twilight</em>. Edward. Men get into that comfortable rut once the relationship is there. Life gets so busy ... Men and women both, they lose that need to impress each other."</div><p><a href="http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/18/robert-pattinson-edward-cullen-men-feel-inadequate/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Does Pattinson's Edward Cullen Make Men Feel Inadequate?</em></a></p><p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href="http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/18/robert-pattinson-edward-cullen-men-feel-inadequate/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/forward/19244241/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/18/robert-pattinson-edward-cullen-men-feel-inadequate/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>Edward Cullen</category><category>EdwardCullen</category><category>featured</category><category>New Moon</category><category>NewMoon</category><category>robert pattinson</category><category>RobertPattinson</category><category>stephanie meyer</category><category>StephanieMeyer</category><category>Twilight</category><category>twilight saga</category><category>Twilight Saga New Moon</category><category>TwilightSaga</category><category>TwilightSagaNewMoon</category><dc:creator>Elisabeth Rappe</dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:15:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title>Are the A-List Actors Becoming an Endangered Species?</title><link>http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/16/a-list-becomes-z-list/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/16/a-list-becomes-z-list/</guid><comments>http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/16/a-list-becomes-z-list/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/category/celebrities-and-controversy/" rel="tag">Celebrities and Controversy</a>, <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/category/box-office/" rel="tag">Box Office</a></p><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="right" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.cinematical.com/media/2009/11/money111509.jpg" alt="" />There was a time, not too long ago, when the dream was to be on the A-list in Hollywood. Being so high up on the ladder meant great roles, great movies, and box office success. It was a world raining money. Now, however, not only are times tough, but Hollywood is learning a valuable lesson: It's not all about the stars. (Something we wondered about <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/2006/11/27/monday-morning-poll-the-decline-of-the-a-list-actor/">three years ago</a>.)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSTRE5AC5AI20091113?sp=true">Reuters</a> reports that the movie town is rethinking the millions of dollars they spend to grab the big stars because big celebrity doesn't necessarily equal big box office. They cited the money brought in by <em>The Hangover, District 9, Paranormal Activity</em>, and the <em>Twilight Saga</em>, and the fact that none of these productions had big celebs leading the way. Meanwhile, the star extravaganzas like <em>A Christmas Carol, Surrogates, Funny People, Land of the Lost, Imagine That, </em>and <em>Duplicity</em> boasted big-name talent, but still flopped. Now insiders say that the stars used to big paychecks and gross profit deals are having a heck of a time getting their demands met. As Reuters says: "several films have shown that a great concept or story can trump star appeal when it comes to luring fans."<br />
<br />
What a concept! A worthy story being more important than the actors who star? Crazy talk! Could we, dare I say, be headed towards a Hollywood where they don't just write a bunch of crap to have big names appear in (say, Sandra Bullock), and actually put some more effort into the story? Or will we just get greeted by the same crappy stories, but now with unknown names?<p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href="http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/16/a-list-becomes-z-list/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/forward/19241209/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/16/a-list-becomes-z-list/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>A-list</category><category>box office</category><category>BoxOffice</category><category>Cinematical</category><category>featured</category><category>Hollywood</category><dc:creator>Monika Bartyzel</dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:15:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title>U.K. 'Couples Retreat' Poster Omits a Couple. Guess Which One?</title><link>http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/16/couples-retreat-poster-controversy-uk/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/16/couples-retreat-poster-controversy-uk/</guid><comments>http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/16/couples-retreat-poster-controversy-uk/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/category/celebrities-and-controversy/" rel="tag">Celebrities and Controversy</a>, <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/category/movie-marketing/" rel="tag">Movie Marketing</a>, <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/category/posters/" rel="tag">Posters</a></p><div style="text-align: left;"><em><img hspace="4" height="292" border="1" align="middle" width="396" vspace="4" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.cinematical.com/media/2009/11/couplesposters.jpg" /><a href="http://www.moviefone.com/movie/couples-retreat/36112/main"><br />
<br />
Couples Retreat</a></em> is about four couples, three white and one black. In the American poster for the film, all eight stars' pictures and names are shown. In the U.K. poster, however, one couple is omitted. Any guesses which one? The black one, obviously, or else this wouldn't be a story.</div>
<br />
Yep, Faizon Love and Kali Hawk are missing from the poster used in the U.K. As reported by London's <a href="http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/news/article-1227868/Race-row-black-stars-airbrushed-Couples-Retreat-film-poster.html"><em>Daily Mail</em></a>, Universal Pictures says they just wanted to "simplify" the poster for foreign release, to focus on "actors who are most recognizable in international markets." Nonetheless, after getting complaints about racism from British viewers, the studio has apologized and scrapped plans to use the revised poster in other countries.<br />
<br />
I feel a little sympathy for Universal here. It's certainly true that Love and Hawk are less famous in other countries than they are in the United States. (Heck, they're not that famous here, either.) Their characters are fourth in importance in the story; even in the American poster, they're all the way in the back. If you had to remove a couple from the poster, they'd be the logical choice. <br />
<br />
Ah, but there's the problem -- why did Universal think they had to remove a couple? The poster with all eight characters did fine in America. Why change it? Do international audiences reject movies that appear to have too many characters? Is "clutter" a big complaint among British poster aficionados? If nothing else, someone at Universal should have realized that removing the black couple -- even if race had nothing to do with it -- would at least <em>look</em> sketchy. You'd think that as bad as the movie is, they'd be extra careful not to turn off any potential viewers with their marketing. Live and learn!<br />
<br />
[Via <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/15/couples-retreat-poster-in_n_358276.html"><em>Huffington Post</em></a>.]<p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href="http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/16/couples-retreat-poster-controversy-uk/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/forward/19240396/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/16/couples-retreat-poster-controversy-uk/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>couples retreat</category><category>CouplesRetreat</category><dc:creator>Eric D. Snider</dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:32:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title>Johnny Depp to Bail Out Nicolas Cage?</title><link>http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/16/johnny-depp-nicolas-cage-bailout/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/16/johnny-depp-nicolas-cage-bailout/</guid><comments>http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/16/johnny-depp-nicolas-cage-bailout/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/category/rumormonger/" rel="tag">RumorMonger</a>, <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/category/celebrities-and-controversy/" rel="tag">Celebrities and Controversy</a>, <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/category/newsstand/" rel="tag">Newsstand</a></p><img hspace="4" height="289" border="1" align="middle" width="450" vspace="4" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.cinematical.com/media/2009/11/deppcage-(2).jpg" /><br />
<br />
To further prove that people with lots of money still care about people who used to have lots of money, <a href="http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/140023/Depp-says-I-ll-help-Cage-to-pay-his-debts-">The Daily Express </a>reports that <a href="http://www.moviefone.com/celebrity/johnny-depp/1148905/main">Johnny Depp</a> may help bail actor <a href="http://www.moviefone.com/celebrity/nicolas-cage/1781425/main">Nicolas Cage</a> out of his growing financial problems. Cage, as you may or may not know, is in some serious debt. He's already had two of his homes go into foreclosure, he owes something like $6 million in back taxes and he's currently suing his former business manager for $20 million claiming he sent "him down a path toward financial ruin."<br />
<br />
Now, though, things may be looking up for Cage as Depp could be coming to his rescue. The Daily Express says that Depp has contacted Cage and told him not to worry, that he'll sort everything out. Why Depp, you ask? Isn't that sorta random? What, was Depp a big fan of<em> Con Air</em> or something? Actually, no -- Depp feels like he owes his career to Cage in a way since Cage reportedly recommended Depp to his agent wayyy back in the day when Depp was a struggling musician. The story goes that Cage's recommendation led to Depp nabbing a role in the original <em>Nightmare on Elm Street</em> (his first), and the rest is history. <br />
<br />
So, is Johnny Depp really going to pony up some crazy cash to bail Nicolas Cage out of trouble? And can Hollywood somehow find a way to turn that into a movie with both power actors starring opposite one another? And would you go to see it?<p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href="http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/16/johnny-depp-nicolas-cage-bailout/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/forward/19241099/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/16/johnny-depp-nicolas-cage-bailout/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>cinematical</category><category>con air</category><category>ConAir</category><category>johnny depp</category><category>johnny depp bailing out nicolas cage</category><category>JohnnyDepp</category><category>JohnnyDeppBailingOutNicolasCage</category><category>nicolas cage</category><category>NicolasCage</category><category>nightmare on elm street</category><category>NightmareOnElmStreet</category><dc:creator>Erik Davis</dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:15:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title>Watch This: Wes Anderson Acts Out 'Mr. Fox' Storyboards</title><link>http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/13/watch-this-wes-anderson-acts-out-mr-fox-storyboards/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/13/watch-this-wes-anderson-acts-out-mr-fox-storyboards/</guid><comments>http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/13/watch-this-wes-anderson-acts-out-mr-fox-storyboards/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/category/Animation/" rel="tag">Animation</a>, <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/category/new-releases/" rel="tag">New Releases</a>, <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/category/celebrities-and-controversy/" rel="tag">Celebrities and Controversy</a>, <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/category/new-in-theaters/" rel="tag">New in Theaters</a>, <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/category/diy-filmmaking/" rel="tag">DIY/Filmmaking</a>, <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/category/trailers-and-clips/" rel="tag">Trailers and Clips</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img hspace="4" border="1" vspace="4" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.cinematical.com/media/2009/11/wesanderson.jpg" /></div>
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In this month's <a href="http://www.moviefone.com/movie/fantastic-mr-fox/28110/main?icid=movsmartsearch"><em>Fantastic Mr. Fox</em></a>, <a href="http://www.moviefone.com/celebrity/wes-anderson/1037869/main">Wes Anderson</a> makes his first foray into animation with an adaptation of Roald Dahl's story about an upwardly mobile fox (George Clooney) whose drive to steal chickens threatens his family and community. While it's Anderson's first non-live action project, <em>Mr. Fox</em> nonetheless shares qualities with his other films, including a meticulous attention to detail, stylish design, and idiosyncratic characters. So how did the live-action auteur tackle the challenges of stop-motion filmmaking, especially considering that he spent much of the production in an entirely different country than his crew? <br />
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<a href="http://www.hitfix.com/blogs/2008-12-11-awards-campaign-2009/posts/exclusive-watch-wes-anderson-act-out-the-fantastic-mr-fox">HitFix</a> has a fun little glimpse of the director at work that shows us how Anderson collaborated with his animation team to bring the characters of <em>Fantastic Mr. Fox </em>to life. From his base in Paris, Anderson shot video storyboards of scenes and character movements by acting out scenes and blocking himself. He then emailed the videos to his crew in London, who took their visual cues from Anderson's performances. The end results, when viewed side-by-side with Anderson's versions, are near identical. <br />
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<strong>Hit the jump and watch Anderson as Mr. Fox, Kristofferson, Ash, and other characters from <em>The Fantastic Mr. Fox</em>. </strong><p><a href="http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/13/watch-this-wes-anderson-acts-out-mr-fox-storyboards/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Watch This: Wes Anderson Acts Out 'Mr. Fox' Storyboards</em></a></p><p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href="http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/13/watch-this-wes-anderson-acts-out-mr-fox-storyboards/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/forward/19235952/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/13/watch-this-wes-anderson-acts-out-mr-fox-storyboards/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>animation</category><category>Fantastic Mr. Fox</category><category>FantasticMr.Fox</category><category>stop motion</category><category>StopMotion</category><category>Wes Anderson</category><category>WesAnderson</category><dc:creator>Jen Yamato</dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:32:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title>Megan Fox's Scratched SNL Hitler/Michael Bay Joke</title><link>http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/12/megan-fox-michael-bay-hitler-snl-joke/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/12/megan-fox-michael-bay-hitler-snl-joke/</guid><comments>http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/12/megan-fox-michael-bay-hitler-snl-joke/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/category/celebrities-and-controversy/" rel="tag">Celebrities and Controversy</a>, <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/category/fandom/" rel="tag">Fandom</a>, <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/category/newsstand/" rel="tag">Newsstand</a></p><img hspace="4" height="300" border="1" align="middle" width="450" vspace="4" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.cinematical.com/media/2009/11/megan-fox-transformers-2-(2).jpg" /><br />
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If you have a few minutes today I'd strongly recommend reading this fascinating five-page <em>New York Times Magazine</em> story on <a href="http://www.moviefone.com/celebrity/megan-fox/2106006/main">Megan Fox </a>called <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/15/magazine/15Fox-t.html?pagewanted=1&amp;_r=1&amp;partner=rss&amp;emc=rss"><strong>The Self-Manufacture of Megan Fox</strong></a>. I know, you're not really interested in reading another "OMG, she said that!" article on the overly hyped, sexified actress, but this one is a little different. Yes, it touches on just about everything controversial that's crossed her plate -- from her much-publicized spat with Michael Bay to her longterm off-screen relationship with Brian Austin Green -- but it also digs beneath the surface and exposes the way in which she's sort of self-manufactured her own image depending on where she is and who she's speaking to in order to expand her brand, which, she'll admit, isn't the most glamorous or family-friendly, but it's what's keeping her working.<br />
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Fox admits that she got herself into the whole <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/03/megan-fox-compares-michael-bay-to-hitler/">Michael Bay mess</a>, and wonders why no one came to her defense when that nasty <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/12/transformers-crew-members-absolutely-trash-megan-fox/">crew letter surfaced online</a> ("I think it's because I'm a girl. They left me out there to be bludgeoned to death"). Another interesting fact was that they were going to include a Hitler/Michael Bay joke when Fox hosted Saturday Night Live, but dropped it because it wasn't appropriate. Fox explains, "They wanted me to do a Q. and A. with the audience for the opening monologue. And Hitler is in the audience. Hitler stands up and says, 'Why did you compare me to Michael Bay?' " Fox laughed. "Which is funny, but we can't do that."<br />
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Watch the actual monologue and read more after the jump.<br />
<br /><p><a href="http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/12/megan-fox-michael-bay-hitler-snl-joke/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Megan Fox's Scratched SNL Hitler/Michael Bay Joke</em></a></p><p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href="http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/12/megan-fox-michael-bay-hitler-snl-joke/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/forward/19234070/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/12/megan-fox-michael-bay-hitler-snl-joke/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>featured</category><category>hitler</category><category>judy garland</category><category>JudyGarland</category><category>megan fox</category><category>MeganFox</category><category>michael bay</category><category>MichaelBay</category><category>new york times</category><category>NewYorkTimes</category><category>snl</category><category>the wizard of oz</category><category>TheWizardOfOz</category><dc:creator>Erik Davis</dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:32:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title>Ian McKellen Suffers 'The View' Stupidity with Grace and Wit</title><link>http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/07/ian-mckellen-and-how-to-take-idiocy-with-grace/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/07/ian-mckellen-and-how-to-take-idiocy-with-grace/</guid><comments>http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/07/ian-mckellen-and-how-to-take-idiocy-with-grace/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/category/celebrities-and-controversy/" rel="tag">Celebrities and Controversy</a>, <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/category/home-entertainment/" rel="tag">Home Entertainment</a></p><img hspace="4" border="1" align="right" vspace="4" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.cinematical.com/media/2009/11/mckellen110609.jpg" />Actors might make a lot of money, but at least they work for it with long hours on set, paparazzi insanity, exhausting PR tours, and the pressures of handling the same questions over and over and over again with grace and charm. But even more impressive is when they can be graceful in the face of utter ignorance or idiocy.<br />
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We've watched John Cusack get <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/2007/12/31/how-not-to-start-an-interview-with-john-cusack/">interviewed by a clueless film student</a>, and now (after the jump of course) you can see <a href="http://www.moviefone.com/celebrity/ian-mckellen/1814449/main">Ian McKellen</a> handle the women from <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0123366/"><em>The View</em></a>. Ah, there's nothing like having your television interview start out with an inflammatory rant about swine flu and socialized medicine. It's not a surprise really -- the once-sweet <em>Survivor</em> star Elisabeth Hasselbeck has made a career out throwing wild rants into unusual places on the show. But, sadly, that's only the start of the nonsense that McKellen handles with dashing grace. Whoopi Goldberg can't keep her actors straight, and Sherry Shepherd pulls off one of those classic moments where a clueless interviewer reads crap off the cards without knowing what the hell she's talking about.<br />
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Yet, in the face of all that, McKellen is pure charm. I always find that impressive. Sure, he's an actor and makes his living making fiction convincing, but to be ready with that clever retort, graciously correct someone who should know better, and take it all in stride ... I wouldn't say this about most of Hollywood, but I think we can all learn a little from that small part of the biz.<p><a href="http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/07/ian-mckellen-and-how-to-take-idiocy-with-grace/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Ian McKellen Suffers 'The View' Stupidity with Grace and Wit</em></a></p><p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href="http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/07/ian-mckellen-and-how-to-take-idiocy-with-grace/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/forward/19225851/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/07/ian-mckellen-and-how-to-take-idiocy-with-grace/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>Cinematical</category><category>Ian McKellen</category><category>IanMckellen</category><category>The View</category><category>TheView</category><dc:creator>Monika Bartyzel</dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 07 Nov 2009 11:02:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title>Wait, Now Heath Ledger Has a DirecTV Commercial?</title><link>http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/02/heath-ledger-directv-commercial/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/02/heath-ledger-directv-commercial/</guid><comments>http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/02/heath-ledger-directv-commercial/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/category/celebrities-and-controversy/" rel="tag">Celebrities and Controversy</a>, <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/category/trailers-and-clips/" rel="tag">Trailers and Clips</a></p><img hspace="4" height="300" border="1" align="middle" width="450" vspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.cinematical.com/media/2009/11/joker-(2).jpg" alt="" /><br />
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If you've been watching playoff baseball these past few weeks, you've probably come across the <a href="http://www.moviefone.com/movie/tommy-boy/1321/main"><em>Tommy Boy</em></a> DirecTV commercial about, say, 176,000 times. About a week after it began airing, the satellite television company came under fire for a second time for airing parody commercials featuring actors or actresses who died tragically at a young age. The first was a <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/2008/10/08/discuss-should-directv-use-poltergeist-kid-to-make-money/">commercial featuring <em>Poltergeist</em> actress Heather O'Rourke</a>, and now folks are really pissed DirecTV is using Chris Farley in a commercial that stars David Spade (who reprises his character from <em>Tommy Boy</em> in a parody of the "Fat Guy in a Little Coat" scene). <br />
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If you want my personal opinion, I think DirecTV does this sort of stuff on purpose -- claiming to be "celebrating" the life of a dead celebrity, though what they're really hoping for is that people like us (and several other sites) will give them a bunch of free publicity by writing attacks on their ads. But back to my original point: The folks over at Landline TV have put together a spoof of the DirecTV dead celebrity spoofs -- this time including folks like <a href="http://www.moviefone.com/celebrity/heath-ledger/2006248/main">Heath Ledger</a>, John F. Kennedy and Jesus Christ. Honestly, I'm surprised Michael Jackson hasn't made an appearance yet ... or, heck, how long before DirecTV butchers a scene from <a href="http://www.moviefone.com/movie/dirty-dancing/4518/main"><em>Dirty Dancing</em></a> and craps all over Patrick Swayze? <br />
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What do you think about these commercials? Yes, they're annoying (believe us we know), but are they in the wrong for featuring dead celebrities? Or what about celebrities who died tragic deaths at an early age? Is there a difference? Anyone canceling their DirecTV service because of this? <br />
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Chime in below, and watch the video after the jump.<p><a href="http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/02/heath-ledger-directv-commercial/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Wait, Now Heath Ledger Has a DirecTV Commercial?</em></a></p><p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href="http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/02/heath-ledger-directv-commercial/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/forward/19219613/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/02/heath-ledger-directv-commercial/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>chris farley</category><category>ChrisFarley</category><category>cinematical</category><category>directv</category><category>heath ledger</category><category>HeathLedger</category><category>poltergeist</category><category>the dark knight</category><category>TheDarkKnight</category><category>tommy boy</category><category>TommyBoy</category><dc:creator>Erik Davis</dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:02:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title>Got Millions? You Can Buy Rights To 'The Terminator'!</title><link>http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/02/got-millions-you-can-buy-rights-to-the-terminator/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/02/got-millions-you-can-buy-rights-to-the-terminator/</guid><comments>http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/02/got-millions-you-can-buy-rights-to-the-terminator/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/category/action-and-adventure/" rel="tag">Action</a>, <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/category/sci-fi-and-fantasy/" rel="tag">Sci-Fi &amp; Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/category/deals/" rel="tag">Deals</a>, <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/category/sony/" rel="tag">Sony</a>, <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/category/celebrities-and-controversy/" rel="tag">Celebrities and Controversy</a>, <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/category/diy-filmmaking/" rel="tag">DIY/Filmmaking</a>, <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/category/newsstand/" rel="tag">Newsstand</a>, <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/category/remakes-and-sequels/" rel="tag">Remakes and Sequels</a></p><img align="right" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.cinematical.com/media/2009/01/cine-term-salv.jpg" alt="" />Back in August, we reported that the <em>Terminator</em> franchise was in some serious<a href="http://www.cinematical.com/2009/08/18/is-the-terminator-franchise-in-trouble/"> legal and financial trouble</a>. The rights are currently owned by the Halcyon Company, who have managed to make more court appearances than they have films. They were in danger of losing the rights to their hedge fund, Pacificor, who was poised to claim them if Halcyon defaulted on their loan.<br />
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But according to <a href="http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/11ae81bc-c71e-11de-bb6f-00144feab49a.html?nclick_check=1"><em>The Financial Times</em></a>, Halcyon has now filed for bankruptcy after their lawsuit with Pacificor, and is selling off the rights to <em>Terminator. </em> It would appear that filing for Chapter 11 afforded their precious franchise some protection from the hedge fund, and they can now sell it to bail themselves out. The sale will be conducted by FTI Capital Advisors, and does not cover rights to the earlier <em>Terminator</em> films. <br />
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The <em>Times</em> notes that this auction is coming at a particularly tough time for Hollywood, who is feeling the economic crunch just like everyone else. But it notes that <em>Terminator </em>is one of the rare "blockbuster brands" not controlled by a big studio, and that alone has may drooling at the chance to control future properties. Summit is said to be particularly interested (they can probably pay for it just out of <em>Twilight </em>proceeds), as is Sony and Media Rights Capital. But remember, this is America! Everyone has a chance at destroying mankind, and if you have millions (estimates put the sale beyond $60 million, the benchmark set by <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/2009/10/21/so-much-for-a-dark-and-twisted-teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-mo/">the sale of the <em>Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles</em></a>), you can buy them for yourself. I would have faith in something other than John Connor if a <em>Cinematical </em>reader took the reins of this franchise.<p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href="http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/02/got-millions-you-can-buy-rights-to-the-terminator/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/forward/19218657/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/02/got-millions-you-can-buy-rights-to-the-terminator/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>featured</category><category>halcyon</category><category>HalcyonCompany</category><category>Media Rights Capital</category><category>MediaRightsCapital</category><category>SONY</category><category>Summit Entertainment</category><category>SummitEntertainment</category><category>terminator</category><category>terminator franchise</category><category>TerminatorFranchise</category><dc:creator>Elisabeth Rappe</dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:33:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title>Dennis Hopper Diagnosed with Prostate Cancer</title><link>http://www.cinematical.com/2009/10/30/dennis-hopper-diagnosed-with-prostate-cancer/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.cinematical.com/2009/10/30/dennis-hopper-diagnosed-with-prostate-cancer/</guid><comments>http://www.cinematical.com/2009/10/30/dennis-hopper-diagnosed-with-prostate-cancer/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/category/celebrities-and-controversy/" rel="tag">Celebrities and Controversy</a></p><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="middle" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.cinematical.com/media/2009/10/dennishopper102909.jpg" /><br />
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As if we needed yet another reason to do what we can to fight cancer. On top of the hundreds of thousands of cancer-related deaths the U.S. is plagued with every year, and just a short time after we lost Patrick Swayze to pancreatic cancer, <a href="http://jam.canoe.ca/Movies/2009/10/29/11573621-ap.html?cid=rssentertainmentmovies">The Associated Press (via Canoe)</a> reports that two-time Oscar nominee <a href="http://www.moviefone.com/celebrity/dennis-hopper/1457977/main">Dennis Hopper</a> has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. <br />
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The 73-year-old actor has canceled his travel plans, as well as his attendance at an exhibition of his artwork in Melbourne in order to focus on his treatment. Said treatment is said to be part of a "special program" at the University of Southern California, according to Hopper's manager, Sam Maydew, and they are "hoping for the best." That's not exactly an optimistic quote, which might not be so surprising. This news comes just days after the <a href="http://www.wikio.com/article/manager-dennis-hopper-hospital-136167108#news136167108">actor was hospitalized</a> for "showing severe flulike symptoms" and getting treated for dehydration. If those symptoms were the cancer, that cannot be a good sign. And even if they were just the flu, that can't be good for his health and strength.<br />
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Nevertheless, we hope for the best and that Mr. Hopper makes a full and speedy recovery.<p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href="http://www.cinematical.com/2009/10/30/dennis-hopper-diagnosed-with-prostate-cancer/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/forward/19216060/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/2009/10/30/dennis-hopper-diagnosed-with-prostate-cancer/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>Cinematical</category><category>Dennis Hopper</category><category>DennisHopper</category><dc:creator>Monika Bartyzel</dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:18:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title>A Sad Update On the 'Slumdog Millionaire' Kids</title><link>http://www.cinematical.com/2009/10/29/a-sad-update-on-the-slumdog-millionaire-kids/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.cinematical.com/2009/10/29/a-sad-update-on-the-slumdog-millionaire-kids/</guid><comments>http://www.cinematical.com/2009/10/29/a-sad-update-on-the-slumdog-millionaire-kids/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/category/celebrities-and-controversy/" rel="tag">Celebrities and Controversy</a></p><img hspace="4" border="1" vspace="4" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.cinematical.com/media/2009/10/slum030409.jpg" /><br />
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The winds of Hollywood move at a rapid pace, quickly replacing one drama with the next. The thing is, though, the drama doesn't go away. Earlier this year, the cinematic world was buzzing over the fate of the young kids from <a href="http://www.moviefone.com/movie/slumdog-millionaire/31044/main"><em>Slumdog Millionaire</em></a>. There was the <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/2009/03/05/post-oscars-the-slumdog-kids-head-back-to-the-slums/">culture shock between</a> Oscar fanfare and slum life, rumors about <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/2009/04/21/wtf-dad-tries-to-sell-slumdog-actress/">selling Rubina Ali</a> for profit, and the <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/2009/05/21/fan-rant-the-slumdog-situation/">demolition of their home</a>.<br />
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Now <a href="http://jam.canoe.ca/Movies/2009/10/29/11565696-ap.html?cid=rssentertainmentmovies">The Associated Press</a> reports that the kids could lose their trust fund. It's not a case of movie people jerkitude -- it seems that <a href="http://www.moviefone.com/celebrity/azharuddin-mohammed-ismail/848723/main">Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail</a> is only going to school 37% of the time, while <a href="http://www.moviefone.com/celebrity/rubina-ali/848722/main">Rubina Ali</a> only makes it 27% of the time. The claimed culprit: out-of-slum jetsetting. Trust administrator Noshir Dadrawala says: "They are constantly going to Paris and Cochin and Chennai. That's fine, but go over the weekend, not at the sacrifice of school." (For Ali, travel that's presumably for her many <a href="http://www.chesterchronicle.co.uk/entertainment-chester/chester-cinema-film-tv/2009/07/13/rubina-ali-double-life-of-the-little-girl-from-the-slum-59067-24140136/">performances and memoir PR</a>.) If their attendance doesn't improve to 70%, their monthly $120 stipend will be stopped, and they will forfeit the later lump-sum money they're set to receive. In response, Azhar's mother Shameen says these absences are due to the death of his father this September from tuberculosis: "He would cry often, so I kept him home from school for a while" -- and that she's determined to improve his attendance and get him an education.<br />
<br /><p><a href="http://www.cinematical.com/2009/10/29/a-sad-update-on-the-slumdog-millionaire-kids/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>A Sad Update On the 'Slumdog Millionaire' Kids</em></a></p><p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href="http://www.cinematical.com/2009/10/29/a-sad-update-on-the-slumdog-millionaire-kids/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/forward/19215120/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.cinematical.com/2009/10/29/a-sad-update-on-the-slumdog-millionaire-kids/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail</category><category>AzharuddinMohammedIsmail</category><category>Cinematical</category><category>featured</category><category>Rubina Ali</category><category>RubinaAli</category><category>Slumdog Millionaire</category><category>SlumdogMillionaire</category><dc:creator>Monika Bartyzel</dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:40:00 EST</pubDate></item></channel></rss>