They should add an “L” between the “F” and the “I.” American Film List Institute. Anyway, this just arrived via press release. The criteria is apparently “accomplishments of considerable merit; influences with either a positive or negative impression; trends, either new or re-emerging; anniversaries or memorials of special note; and/or movements in new technologies, education, […]
AFI’s moments of significance in 2009
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 1:14 pm · December 28th, 2009
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Corliss declares Firth and Mo’Nique performances of the year
Posted by Guy Lodge · 4:52 pm · December 8th, 2009
We’re currently in that month where precursors do their utmost to reduce a year’s worth of cinematic achievement to a small handful of oft-repeated names and titles. It’s understandable (if disappointing) when groups or committees compile these identikit lists — but when individuals (and serious critics at that) stick rigidly to the formula, it becomes […]
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10/30 Oscarweb Round-up
Posted by Guy Lodge · 8:03 am · October 30th, 2009
• Brian Lowry on how The Ten is an Oscarcast producer’s nightmare. [Variety] • With Hugh Jackman out, Jeff Wells thinks the Oscars need to skew younger with their host. [Hollywood Elsewhere] • The producers of “London River” launch a deserved Oscar campaign for Brenda Blethyn, despite still lacking US distribution. [Notes on a Season]
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Thoughts on ‘Michael Jackson’s This Is It’
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 8:54 am · October 28th, 2009
I was going to sit down and write a proper review of “Michael Jackson’s This Is It,” but I hit a wall pretty fast. I don’t know how to review something that was never meant to be a cinematic work of art. It succeeds on so many levels but it also doesn’t aspire to a […]
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8/21 Web Round-up
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 7:34 am · August 21st, 2009
• How many days did Bill Murray re-live in “Groundhog Day?” [Chicago Tribune] • Screenwriter Roberto Orci to receive Imagen Awards’ Norman Lear Writer’s Award. [Variety] • David Poland sits down with three more Super Movie Friends to talk “Inglourious Basterds.” [The Hot Blog]
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40 years later…
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 8:36 am · July 20th, 2009
Today marks the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon walk. But I’m having trouble drumming up any real feeling about that since it really hasn’t meant a damn thing since. We never went back with any real initiative, the space program has stalled for the most part and never seems to break any new […]
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7/14 Web Round-up
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 6:46 am · July 14th, 2009
• Who dropped the “Moneyball?” [CNN] • Steven Soderbergh can see the end of his career. [The Guardian] • Michael Adams talks to filmmaker Mick Garris about the all-but-forgotten 1997 short film “Ghosts,” starring Michael Jackson. [Movieline] • Need a “Green Lantern” primer? Here’s a good one. [Empire]
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Jennifer Hudson sings for Michael Jackson
Posted by Guy Lodge · 3:22 pm · July 7th, 2009
I’m sure many of you have been watching the Michael Jackson memorials proceedings just as I have, so there’s no need to remind you of what went down. A largely tasteful, moving affair, I’m pleased to say. In the interests of keeping things movie-related (I mean, how many other Oscar winners can claim to have […]
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7/2 Web round-up
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 8:11 am · July 2nd, 2009
• Michael Bay is a drug. [First Showing] • Three years after stirring trouble regaring the on-set particulars of “Miami Vice,” Kim Masters decides to take aim at Michael Mann once again with speculation and anonymous quotes. [The Daily Beast] • Meanwhile, Harvey Weinstein seems to be making a transition to film critic, calls “Public […]
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7/1 Web Round-up
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 7:33 am · July 1st, 2009
• Drew McWeeny catches up to “In the Realm of the Senses” 23 years later on Criterion Blu. [HitFix] • Anna Pickard breaks down the “Funny People” trailer. [The Guardian] • Steve Weintraub chats with “Big Bang Theory” star Jim Parsons at the Saturn Awards. (It’s one of my favorite sit-coms, so I thought I’d […]
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Steve Lopez’s would-be Jackson column
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 2:19 pm · June 29th, 2009
Speaking of David Carr, he points us (via his must-follow Twitter page) to a Ventura County Star story today concerning Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez’s recent keynote address for the National Society of Newspaper Columnists. The part that caught my eye was a segment dedicated to Lopez’s description of his Michael Jackson column, had […]
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Michael Jackson’s filmmaker collaborations
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 11:40 am · June 29th, 2009
Tomorrow’s installment of The Lists is going to be Michael Mann-centric, but I was all set to write up something brief in the way of qualifying Michael Jackson’s contributions to the movie world until I came across this Christopher Campbell posting at Spout Blog. It’d be pretty difficult to go much deeper than he has. […]
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6/29 Web Round-up
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 8:01 am · June 29th, 2009
• Rachel Abramowitz catches up with Johnny Depp on the “Public Enemies” publicity trail. [Los Angeles Times] • Helen O’Hara remembers Michael Jackson’s movie moments. [Empire] • Jenni Miller talks to “Cheri” director Stephen Frears. [Cinematical] • Guillermo DelToro’s credo. [The Independent] • “Do the Right Thing” still asks burning questions. [Washingotn Post] • Hey, […]
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Has anyone seen this bizarre CNN interview with Joe Jackson???
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 10:08 pm · June 28th, 2009
I don’t think “WTF” says it, but…WTF???
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Deepak Chopra on his friend, Michael Jackson
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 11:05 am · June 28th, 2009
This Keith Olbermann interview with doctor and author Deepak Chopra, one of Michael Jackson’s closest friends and confidants, is required viewing for anyone wanting to get past the knee-jerk “a pedophile is dead” stupidity flooding the net, the air waves, etc., in the wake of the entertainer’s untimely demise Thursday. The interview comes on the […]
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WEEKLY WRAP: Bombshell upon bombshell
Posted by Guy Lodge · 5:23 pm · June 26th, 2009
Weird, unsettling week, this. Here’s how it went down: • In the week’s biggest movie news, the Academy threw us all for a loop by announcing a 10-nominee slate for the Best Picture category. • But even that shock was dwarfed in scale by the stunning news of Michael Jackson’s passing. • And in a […]
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‘Bruno’ cut out of respect to Jackson
Posted by Guy Lodge · 2:16 pm · June 26th, 2009
Well, that was quick. The Guardian reports that, following the coinciding events of last night’s “Bruno” premiere and Michael Jackson’s tragic passing, a hasty — and possibly permanent — cut has been to the film. The scene in question pits Sacha Baron Cohen against Jackson’s sister LaToya: The offending scene features Cohen, in the guise […]
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Still hurting, still remembering
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 11:02 am · June 26th, 2009
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