Monday, January 08, 2007

Two tips from the blogosphere

First off, to give credit where credit's due, both these crazy rumors come from the Film ick blog, which I recommend visiting as often as you can. It's just that good.

First comes a very welcome notion: Michel Gondry directing a biopic about Debbie Harry. Another music biopic? I can hear the groans now, but hear me out. Gondry is a top-notch director, and he's showed his love of music with the great "Dave Chappelle's Block Party" and other movies. And putting him in the middle of New York's punk scene in the late 70s would be a wild ride.

There is, however, a downside to all this. In the same post, reported by Brendan Connelly, it was revealed - by Kirsten Dunst - that Ms. Harry will be played by, well, Kirsten Dunst. Sheesh. I have nothing against Kirsten but, the more she works, the more I become convinced she's just a tremendous ditz. She does, however, have a record of success with Gondry in "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" (though her main contribution to that movie, as I remember it, was dancing around in her underwear, certainly not unpleasant to watch.)

If I had a vote, I'd go with Canadian actress Sarah Polley, who I've just loved ever since "The Sweet Hereafter." Who would you like to see in this plum role? Please feel free to sound off.

Miyazaki's next move

The second Film Ick tip is about the great Hayao Miyazaki, who I admit I always have to check up on at the IMDB to make sure he is still alive.

It seems he indeed is, and has his eyes on a new project that sounds as crazy as it does cool. The next Ghibli film will reportedly be Miyazaki's adaption of the Chinese children's novella "I Lost my Little Boy." The story apparently revolves around a young boy dying from heart disease - but isn't at all downbeat, according to Mr. Connelly.

He reports the oddest thing about the project is that the book is very obviously inspired by Miyazaki's previous films, and even makes mention of the Miyazaki character Totoro as though he actually exists right at the very top of the first page.

It just sounds like a bizarre melding of two worlds that should be suited just right to Miyazaki. My only request would be that, unlike "Howl's Moving Castle," it at least have the semblance of a linear plot. Maybe my imagination is just eroding, but I find myself yearning for the simpler days of "Kiki's Delivery Service" and the even-better "Porco Rosso."

Either way, it's a relief to hear that this great man is still working at all.

"Idiocracy" on DVD tomorrow

Please, please, please take this chance to show your support for Mike Judge by either buying or renting his movie when it comes out on DVD tomorrow (I will, admittedly, be getting it via Netflix because my wallet is kinda empty this week.)

The saga of "Idiocracy" is a sad but all-too-familiar one. After playing in New York, L.A., his hometown of Austin and maybe a few other cities, it just disappeared. What makes this even more frustrating is that the few people who have managed to see all reported that it's quite entertaining.

How can we end this madness? By showing that tons of people want to watch smart fare like this. Every little bit can help.

25 comments:

Chris said...

Hey, RF, I don't even think Idiocracy showed up in New York because I looked for it opening weekend (and future weekends) and no one was playing it as far as I could tell. The "one that got away" last year; I definitely wanted to see it.

Mo Diggs said...

Funny you mention Sarah Polley. "Go" was on broadcast TV last night. The movie with the most hilarious use of Macarena.

Anonymous said...

I hadn't really thought about it but you're absolutely right, Polley would be perfect for the role and, I think, she'd probably consider taking it too (I know how anti Hollywood she can be sometimes). As for Idiocracy, I can't wait to see it!

Anonymous said...

I'm not sure that I would go with either Dunst or Polley. Polley is a great actress, but, like Dunst, I don't think she looks particularly like Deborah Harry. That having been said, I'm not sure who I'd go with. Gretchen Mol, maybe?

Chris Marie Green/Crystal Green said...

Polley all the way, RF. Excellent call.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, I wanted to see 'Idiocracy' as well... guess I will have to get it on DVD.

Miazaki is amazing and his studio is the best animated studio around. I know he didn't do 'Grave of the Fireflies' but I believe his studio produced it (and I should have added that to my war movies list... just a heart wrenching movie). But, my favorite that he directed was 'Princess Monoke' but you can never go wrong with 'My Neigbour Totoro'.

GM-Carson said...

Thanks for stopping by our blog, you have a nice thing going here yourself. I was wondering what your opinion is of my favorite movie of all-time "labyrinth" w/ David Bowie and a young Jennifer Connelly...and I'm not kidding, sad but true, it's my favorite.

Reel Fanatic said...

Princess Mononoke (I always have trouble spelling that!) is indeed a great one, jedimerc, but my two favorites would have to be the two I mentioned, Kiki's Delivery Service, which is just charming, and Porco Rosso (with a special note of admiration for Totoro too)

I'm ashamed to say that I have not seen Labyrinth, but if it's at all possible to get it on DVD, I will soon .. I never turn down a movie recommended by the kind people who bother to read my ramblings

Handsome B. Wonderful said...

Awwww I loved, Howl's Moving Castle. It's my favorite Miazaki.

Reel Fanatic said...

I didn't hate it, James ... even Miyazaki that I don't love is miles above the rest of the animation that gets forcefed to us every summer

Anonymous said...

even Miyazaki that I don't love is miles above the rest of the animation that gets forcefed to us every summer

Hear, hear... and even most anime is miles above the cgi toy factories of Disney and Pixar (though the Japanese are pretty commercial in many of their anime, since I spend the weekends selling anime related products at shows :)

Reel Fanatic said...

I'm with you, jedimerc ... Once John Lasseter started giving the introductions for the DVD releases of Miyazaki flicks, I was hoping he would incorporate some of that magic into Pixar's flicks ... Apart from some of the look used for "Cars," however, he has adapted none of the markers of Miyazaki's style or grace

Anonymous said...

Elisha Cuthbert is no great acting talent, but she looks a lot like Debbie Harry and I think she could pull it off with a LOT of coaching and a preparedness to look foolish. But definitely not Ms. Dunst.

Reel Fanatic said...

She definitely does have the look, daddy's girl, and though you're right that she's no master thespian, she does seem to have a genuine attitude that would fit the part, as you also said, with a LOT of coaching

Anonymous said...

Have to do my requisite flag-waving and point out that Elisha Cuthbert's another Canuck.
And my requisite Dunst-slamming. I've thought she was a ditz since she claimed that the producers of Spiderman were going to kill off Spidey and leave MJ to raise a Spider-baby.
I'm getting a little sick of her, but Scarlett Johannson seems a good match for facial resemblance...although a young Michelle Pfeiffer would be ideal. When will get that cloning technique perfected.

I love Miyazaki and just watched a gorgeous oldie (1984) called Nausicaa of the Valley of the Winds.

Labyrinth is definitely available on DVD. The bf got it this Christmas in a box set with MirrorMask and Dark Crystal. So Sweet!

Reel Fanatic said...

It will probably take more than one known star to pull this off, Divinity, so Michelle Pfeiffer would definitely be a solid choice for the later years, methinks

Anonymous said...

Oh, and the bf suggests Britney Murphy and... um someone else... I've forgotten and he's gone to work. :(

Linda said...

Saw Idiocracy last night, and it's pretty damn funny! The "what if" is very clever. I heard about this film about a month ago, but it never made it to theaters here. Gotta love DVD!!

Anonymous said...

Kate Hudson! That was the other bf suggestion. Whew.

Reel Fanatic said...

I'm expecting it in the mail any day now, Linda, and will do a full-blown review sometime soon .. I can't wait to see it!

M said...

hm, I'm not sure about Kirsten as Debbie Harry - though Kirsten can sing very well maybe that's what tipped the scale - whomever the role goes to, I think they should be able to sing it. Not sure about Polley either - though I do like her. Chloe Sevigny would be good because I think that she has that even toned public persona that Debbie Harry seems to have - not sure about whether she can sing though.

Reel Fanatic said...

Chloe Sevigny would indeed be an intriguing .. I've liked her in almost everything I've seen her in, but rarely has it been as the star of the show

Anonymous said...

Miyazaki is an old, old favorite of mine. I am particularly fond of Porco Rosso....that was just brilliant. Kiki's was superb, simple yet brilliant. And Nausicaa, valley of the wind had this Dune like feel to it. But I think my favorite will be Spirited away.

Reel Fanatic said...

Spirited Away is indeed a gem, too, Sunil .. this latest one just sounds like it's perfectly suited to his style, even if it was written by a Chinese author rather then by Miyazaki himself

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