Wednesday, April 15, 2015
From Entertainment Weekly:
Peter Gallagher has filed suit against Joss Whedon and Lionsgate, claiming the Avengers: Age of Ultron writer took the idea for 2012’s The Cabin in the Woods from his novel.
Gallagher (not the Peter Gallagher who played Seth Cohen’s dad on The O.C.) filed suit in California federal court Monday, saying he believes Whedon, who produced and co-wrote the Cabin in the Woods script, took inspiration from his 2006 book The Little White Trip: A Night in the Pines. The film’s director Drew Goddard and Whedon’s production company Mutant Enemy are also named in the suit.
In the court papers, Gallagher explains what he believes are “striking” similarities between the book and the film, including the names of the lead characters and the cabin, the plot, mood, pace and sequence of events. The suit also points out specific scenes that closely resemble one another.
Gallagher claims he has “lost, and will continue to lose, substantial revenues from the production and sale of the Film,” and is seeking $10 million in damages.
Tags: Peter Gallagher , Joss Whedon , The Cabin in the Woods , The Little White Trip: A Night in the Pines , Lionsgate , Video
Wednesday, April 8, 2015
"After 1 year and 4 months of negotiations, I left because not enough money was offered to do the script the way I felt it needed to be done," Lynch said on Twitter, continuing in an ensuing Twitter update, "This weekend I started to call actors to let them know I would not be directing. Twin Peaks may still be very much alive at Showtime."
Here's what Twin Peaks' cast had to say about journeying back to the world of Laura Palmer and Special Agent Dale Cooper without Lynch:
Tags: david lynch , films , loft cinema , screening , twin peaks , video , elephant man , blue velvet , wild at heart , dune , Video
Friday, April 3, 2015
You might be looking at the long list of films screening in conjunction with the 24th annual Arizona International Film Festival and getting a little overwhelmed. You can opt for an animated adult-themed retelling of the Bible story of Noah's ark or you can try to relive the madness of your formative years. Well, never fear. Here's a quick guide to the three movies we're most looking forward to seeing this year when the AIFF takes over the Screening Room from April 9 until the 26.
Tags: arizona international film festival , tucson , movie , picks , screening room , Video
Monday, March 30, 2015
It's happening again, movie lovers: the beloved, gender-bending animated flick "Mulan" is being turned into a live action film.
From Entertainment Weekly:
Disney has purchased a script from writing duo Elizabeth Martin and Lauren Hynek with Chris Bender and J.C. Spink attached to produce.Don't for get to add (semi)recent character revivals Sleeping Beauty (in "Maleficent") and every character from "Into the Woods" to the list of five (five!!!) films EW listed in that blurb. It's 1995 all over again.
No release date or casting has been announced for the in-development project, but it can be added to the growing list of live-action takes on Disney’s vast catalog of beloved animated films. Cinderella recently debuted No. 1 at the box office and has so far earned over $330 million worldwide.
Disney also has a live-action Beauty and the Beast in the works, starring Emma Watson, coming in 2017, while another Alice in Wonderland is set for 2016. A new The Jungle Book is also planned for 2016, and a live-action Dumbo with Tim Burton directing is said to be in the works.
Also, "Dumbo" is happening? That'll be interesting.
Tags: Mulan , Disney films , live action films , with all the strength of a ragng fire , Video
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
UA's Social Justice Symposium and the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health are presenting the 2013 documentary "Tricked" for a special one-time showing at The Loft Cinema.
The film, which was directed by John Keith Wasson and Jane Wells, is a comprehensive look into the $3 billion dollar underground industry of sex work. It follows Denver Vice beat Sergeant Dan Steele and his team as they seek to bring justice to those kidnapping and selling people into sex work and free the victims of this pervasive crime.
The special "Tricked" screening starts at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 25. Tickets are available exclusively at the theatre, located at 3233 E. Speedway Blvd., the day of the screening. For more information on this event and other movies currently at The Loft, visit the theatre's website.
Tags: tricked , sex work , america , us , documentary , the loft cinema , tucson , Video
Wednesday, March 18, 2015
The Arizona International Film Festival announced its 2015 dates, promising an over two-week-long celebration of film along the streetcar line. From April 9 until 26, the event will screen films at The Screening Room and more with opening night festivities at Rialto Theatre.
If the event is anything like last year's, attendees can expect over 90 international and national independent filmmakers in attendance presenting 120 films from 31 countries. Several of this year's filmmakers will participate in an educational youth program called the Festival in the Schools and visit a cross section of Tucson area classrooms at no charge to the school.
In 23 years, the festival has showcased over 2600 films for more than 150,000 people. The diverse line-up of screened films often go on to win prestigious award like Oscars and garner national acclaim.
Senator Steve Farley will be the festival's honorary chairperson for the event.
Passes for the entire festival are $100, including screenings, workshops and special events. You can also purchase a $25 five movie pass or individual tickets for $8 in the evening or $6 for a matinee. For a full line-up of this year's films, including descriptions, visit the festival's website.
Tags: arizona international film festival , the screening room , rialto theatre , movies , film , tucson , cinema
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
Noted German badass Helma Sanders-Brahm is known for her discussion of feminist issues and the female point of view in her films, among other things. Using both documentary and fictional narratives, Sanders-Brahm's work spanned over three decades and was a stalwart for the social justice concerns and movements of the time.
Exploded View will be screening her first feature "Unter dem Pflaster ist der Strand" or "Under the Pavement Lies the Strand" on Wednesday, March 11 beginning at 7:30 p.m. The 1975 film covers issues that are still pertinent today, such as abortion reform and the student movement that was happening in West Germany.
As her style and approach transcends its more topical elements, the event promises to be a celebration of the career of Sanders-Brahm, who passed away in May 2014 after a long illness. You can see the film for $5 at the art gallery and experimental microcinema, located at 197 E. Toole Ave.
Tags: helma sanders-brahm , director , german , radical , film , tucson , exploded view , microcinema , under the pavement lies the strand , Video
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
Hey, hep cats. Exploded View is hosting a night of Beat-era film and poetry and the whole shebang should be a real kick. The event is set to explore the hip scenes in both North Beach and Greenwich Village of the era both on the screen and in person.
The "Can You Dig It, Man?" event will feature John Melillo of UA's English department presenting a selection of works from Housten Donham, Johanna Skibsrud and Christopher Cokinos. Then, on the big screen, you can catch Christopher Maclain’s "apocalyptic speedtrip" The End, Robert Frank’s Pull My Daisy (which is narrated by Jack Kerouac) and other rare films by Wallace Berman and Bruce Conner.
The whole event starts Wednesday, March 4 at 7:30 p.m. at the Exploded View Microcinmena. At just $5 a ticket, it shouldn't take much to noodle it out, ya dig?
Tags: beat , poetry , exploded view , cinema , film , tucson
Thursday, February 26, 2015
Last year, Tucson favorite ChamberLab set a live orchestra to Buster Keaton's classic Civil War silent film "The General." This weekend, the show is getting a rare second run.
Chris Black, who got ChamberLab started, says this was the show everyone was devastated to have missed.
"We did it right on Easter weekend, or around then, so a lot of people were out of town. People didn't know how awesome it was going to be," Black said, adding that this is the show he's been asked to repeat above all the others.
"If you haven't seen Buster Keaton before, he's just incredible. I don't know how he does what he does. This no special effects, no anything, just pure deranged athleticism as he leaps around and takes all kinds of chances with his life," Black explains. "It's about 78 minutes and all but about 15 minutes of it is train chases—so it's action packed."
This time, ChamberLab will be filming the event for DVD and digital download. They're running an IndieGoGo, from which proceeds are being split up between production costs for the filming and paying the musicians.
"It's just to make sure that we stay healthy and that we pay the musicians for the really ridiculous amount of rehearsal we'll be putting them through for the next week," Black said, noting that while his shows usually just split up the profits from ticket sales, that's just not enough for the amount of work people are putting into this. "Everyone is really amazing that they're giving us their time in the way that they have been I'm trying to get a little bit more into their pockets."
The show takes place this Saturday, Feb. 28 at 7:30 p.m., at the Fox Theater, 17 W. Congress St. You can get tickets and preorder a DVD/digital copy of the screening through their IndieGoGo—which will remain open for a week after the event, just in case you feel like sending a little more money their way after the performance.
"It's an amazing accomplishment. I mean, when you're right in the middle of it with the music playing and the movie's going and you can't stop and say 'Oops, lets take that again,' and theres 11 people just going at it—it's a tremendous feeling," Black said. "I have never surfed, but I imagine kinda like surfing a gigantic wave. I'm not sure how else to describe it, but thats a pretty good feeling."
Tags: ChamberLab , Chris Black , The General , IndieGoGo , Tucson events , Fox Theater , Video
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Tru Love CDN Trailer from Tru Love The Film on Vimeo.
It's time for the 22nd annual Lesbian Looks Film Series kicks off tomorrow night at the Loft! The first film in the series this year is "Tru Love," which has won a ton of awards and looks pretty good to me.
From the Loft:
Tru Love (Kate Johnston and Shauna MacDonald, 2013, Canada)The series will continue March 24 with "Out in the Night," April 2 with "The Home Stretch" and April 9 with "Of Girls and Horses."
Loft Cinema
Thursday Feb 19, 7 p.m.
A touching story of mourning and cross-generational desire set in Canada’s frigid winter. Toronto’s gray, snow-capped skyscrapers form a fitting backdrop for Tru and Alice, who kindle a close connection in their search for relief from desolate periods they have each been weathering in solitude. Alice’s mature elegance shines through to Tru, a 30-something commitment-phobe who has fled from romantic entanglements ever since running away from homophobic parents as a teenager. Alice has accumulated her own share of burdens over the course of her life; she became a widow just months earlier, and finds in Tru—played by co-director and co-writer Shauna McDonald—a partner for exploring romantic desires she repressed throughout her long marriage.
Winner of 14 International Film Festival Awards, and named one of 2013’s Top Ten Films by Huffington Post, UK.
“Delightful. A sparkling gem of a film.” Curve Magazine
Tags: Tru Love , Kate Johnston and Shauna MacDonald , 2013 , Canada , Loft Cinema , Lesbian Looks , Lesbian cinema , Out in the Night , The Home Stretch , Of Girls and Horses , Video
