A Third Good Film: A Good Year

I've posted this year about the buzz-worthy films The Good Shepherd (directed by Robert De Niro, staring Matt Damon, Angelina Jolie, De Niro and Joe Pesci) and The Good German (directed by Steven Soderbergh, straring George Clooney and Cate Blanchett).

But I have not yet said a word about the third buzz-worthy "Good" movie coming out in 2006.

I introduce: A Good Year a movie that's not about tires, but a movie about a vineyard.

Russell Crowe plays Max Skinner, a London investment banker who feels empty in life. As fate would have it, he has recently been left an 18th century chateau and vineyard in the south of France by his deceased uncle. He moves out to take possession of the estate, where he used to spend his summers as a child, but discovers that his wine leaves much to be desired, that his long-lost American cousin wants a share of the action, and that some of the villagers are less than thrilled to see him. (premise abridged from here)

The film is adapted by the book by Peter Mayle and is being directed by three-time Academy Award nominee Ridley Scott. The film also stars five-time nominee Albert Finney.

I don't know why, but I just feel like this film will be a good movie. Not neccesarily a sweeping award winning film, but I think there is room for it to be touching and moving and highly enjoyable. I hope that somehow Crowe could stay out of the tabloids so that people could appreciate him for his acting, and not for his anger.

Related Tags: A Good Year, Russell Crowe, Albert Finney, Ridley Scott, Peter Mayle, Literature, Film Adaptations, Award Buzz, Movie

Next Week: Lethal Weapon Found in Pet Sematary

True Story:

Woman gets Chihuahua from breeder.

Vet says puppy only 4 months old and needs to be returned to mother.

Chihuahua puppy dies before able to return dog to breeder.

Woman breaks into breeders house fighting her way to the basement to get another puppy.

Breeder wrestled the woman out of the house.

Woman hits the breader over the head multiple times with dead Chihuahua puppy

Woman drove away waving dead puppy out of the car's sunroof while yelling threats

Related Tags: strange, bizarre, random, Chihuahua, People Who Don't Know The Proper Use For Pets

Can Jamie Foxx Pull Off Another Musical Legend

The other day I reported that Liam Neeson was cast to play Abraham Lincoln but get this...

Jamie Foxx has been cast to play Bob Marley.

Foxx has an academy award for Ray, but can he change his image and be reggae-politico Bob Marley??

The film is being directed by the Algerian director Rachid Bouchareb (who recently get some attention at Cannes for his film Indigènes, which I believe is also called "Days of Glory")

Can Foxx pull of Marley??? (Especially, can he pull off Marley as well as he pulled off Ray Charles?)

The film is apparently supposed to be about Marley's life as a child through his young adulthood.

As a side note, reading about Marley I've discovered that Marley had 12 children, 4 with his wife Rita...for some reason's this reminds me of Jacob's 12 children which became the 12 tribes of Israel...maybe these children will be the 12 tribes of Jamaica, whose offspring it will be responsible to spread the Rastafari message. I have heard some of the music of Ziggy Marley.

Related Tags: Bob Marley, Ray Charles, Jamie Foxx, Rachid Bouchareb, Indigènes, Days of Glory, Jamaica, Rastafari, Rita Marley, Upcoming Movie, Film

Jessica Replaces Lindsay in Bill

Strange Culture recently reported that Lindsay Lohan was frustrated with Bernie Goldmann and Melisa Wallack, first time directors of the film Bill.

Well, I didn't know if Lohan had already begun this film or not, but apparently she hadn't, and because the Bill-crew was beginning filming this week they needed a replacement fast and they hired Jessica Alba to take over Lohan's former role.

It's hard to tell if this film has potential to be even remotely enjoyable or popular, but if anything it shows that Lindsay Lohan lacks a little finesse she might need to remain in the Hollywood game.

Also, props to Jessica Alba for somehow manage to get her name written on my blog again...this is actually the 4th time.

Previous Post mentioning Jessica Alba on Strange Culture:

• Jessica Alba 3 Nomination and the Host! (must be the MTV movie awards): Mentioned for hosting and having 3 nominations
• New Takes on the Original Top Ten: Mentioned for being cast in the new 10 commandments parody directed by David Wain
• 2006 MTV Movie Award Winners: Mentioned for her win of sexiest performance at the award show for the film Sin City.

So since I've never followed Jessica Alba or her career..
here are some random facts about Jessica Alba:

• Young Jessica Alba appeared in two national TV commercials for J.C. Pennys and Nintendo
• Her father is Mexican-American, her mother is Danish/Italian/French/English
• Alba's most prominent award nomination to date is her Golden Globe nod ("Lead Actress in a Drama Series" TV) for her wark the first season of Dark Angel
• Alba said that in her teen years she became a born-again Christian in a rebellion against her parents but later abandoned these beliefs because people gave her grief and made her feel ashamed for having a body that "tempted men"
• She has a tattoo of a daisy on the back of her neck, a butterfly just above her lower back, and the Sanskrit symbol for lotus flower on her wrist

Facts found here.

Related Tags: Jessica Alba, Lindsay Lohan, Bill, Movie, Bernie Goldmann, Melisa Wallack, Gossip, Movie News, MTV Movie Awards, Child Actors, Dark Angel, Christianity, Tattoo

Don't BE a tool -- Use A tool.

Have you ever used bloglines?

If you haven't it's great...you can set up an account really easily and put the urls to all your favorite sites into the program and when you log in it will show you what blogs you check have had updates, and you can even read the post directly from bloglines.

I probably use it to check your blog, maybe you'd be interested in using to keep in touch with strangeculture and your other favorite online blogs.

Related Tags: technology, bloglines, blogs

Lindsay Doesn't Work Like That

In April I posted: "That's" weird" or What I thought When I saw Lindsay Lohan in the A Prairie Home Companion Preview . Here's a little follow-up (per se).

Cinematical reports: "According to rumors, the actress is unhappy with the production [of the movie Bill] and is planning on only working for big name directors from now on (Bill is being shot by first-time directors Bernie Goldmann and Melisa Wallack). "

Well let's see how things are looking directorially for power-player Ms. Lohan post Robert Altman and with the directors of "Bill"...

• Bobby is being directed by Emilio Estevez (sure a big name, but a big name director??)
• Chapter 27 is being directed by Jarrett Schaeffer (never done anything large scale as far as I can tell)
• A Woman of No Importance (2007) is being directed by Janusz Kaminski (not a big name director but one of the greatest cinemotographers)
• Georgia Rule (2007) is directed by Garry Marshall and is Lindsay's next project, obviously he's a big name director...certainly a very "light" director, but a name for sure.
• Speechless(2007) directed by Brian Dannelly (not a big name as I understand, he's credited with Saved! and the pilot of Weeds)

I'm sure this announcement comes post-filming of some of this projects. I will be interested though to see if how these thoughts shape her next projects she choose, she certainly has her hands full, and it's obvious she's moving away from the Teeny-bopper films.

Related Tags: Lindsay Lohan, directors, Bernie Goldmann, Melisa Wallack, Robert Altman, Bill, Bobby, Emilio Estevez, Chapter 27, Jarrett Schaeffer, A Woman of No Importance, Janusz Kaminski, Georgia, Garry Marshall, Speechless, Brian Dannelly, Movies

Liam as Lincoln

Just discovered this: Steven Spielburg's next motion picture slated to come out in 2007 is an Abraham Lincoln movie (Spielburg is also slated to direct Indian Jones 4 also for 2007).

But I found it interesting that Liam Neeson was cast for the part of Abraham Lincoln.

Did you know Liam Neeson is 6'4'', which is the same hieght of Abraham Lincoln (without his top hat).

Did you know Abraham Lincoln died at the age of 56? Liam Neeson will turn 54 on Wednesday (his Birthday is June 7th)

Why do I get the feeling that this movie is about the assasination of Abraham Lincoln?

I think it's a little interesting that Kentucky born Lincoln will be played by Norther Ireland born Neeson.

No other cast has been announced.

Related Tags: liam neeson, steven spielberg, abraham lincoln, historical films, upcoming movies

MTV Loves The Same-Sex Kiss

Wendy asked on my last post: 2006 MTV Movie Award Winners
"I LOVE Brokeback Mountain, but that is such a silly PC choice for best kiss. Who were the other contenders? I never watch those awards. "

Wendy, here are the complete list of MTV Best Kiss Nominees for 2006:

Brokeback Mountain (2005) - Jake Gyllenhaal; Heath Ledger
Hustle & Flow (2005) - Taraji P. Henson; Terrence Howard
Just Friends (2005) - Anna Faris; Chris Marquette
Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005) - Angelina Jolie; Brad Pitt
Sin City (2005) - Rosario Dawson; Clive Owen

Other Same-Sex Kiss Nominations:
2005: Elektra (2005) - Jennifer Garner; Natassia Malthe
2004: Monster (2003) - Charlize Theron; Christina Ricci
2002: American Pie 2 (2001) - Jason Biggs; Seann William Scott (they won)
2002: Not Another Teen Movie (2001) - Mia Kirshner; Beverly Polcyn
2000: Cruel Intentions (1999) - Sarah Michelle Gellar; Selma Blair (they won)
2000: Boys Don't Cry (1999) - Hilary Swank; Chloë Sevigny
1999: Wild Things (1998) - Matt Dillon; Denise Richards; Neve Campbell
1998: Chasing Amy (1997) - Joey Lauren Adams; Carmen Llywelyn
1998: In & Out (1997) - Kevin Kline; Tom Selleck
1997: Bound (1996) - Jennifer Tilly; Gina Gershon
1994: Free Willy (1993) - Jason James Richter; "Willy"
1993: White Men Can't Jump (1992) - Woody Harrelson; Wesley Snipes

Related Tags: 2006 MTV Movie Awards, Same-Sex Kiss, Best Kiss, Jake Gyllenhaal, Heath Ledger, Brokeback Mountain, Taraji P. Henson, Terrence Howard, Anna Faris, Chris Marquette, Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Rosario Dawson, Clive Owen, Jennifer Garner, Natassia Malthe, Charlize Theron, Christina Ricci, Jason Biggs, Seann William Scott, Mia Kirshner, Beverly Polcyn, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Selma Blair, Hilary Swank, Chloë Sevigny, Matt Dillon, Denise Richards, Neve Campbell, Joey Lauren Adams, Carmen Llywelyn, Kevin Kline, Tom Selleck, Jennifer Tilly, Gina Gershon, Jason James Richter, Woody Harrelson, Wesley Snipes

2006 MTV Movie Award Winners

Complete List of Winners for 2006 MTV Movie Awards



Best Movie
Wedding Crashers








Best Performance
Jake Gyllenhaal -Brokeback Mountain

Best Comedic Performance
Steve Carell - The 40-Year Old Virgin

Best On-Screen Team
Vince Vaughn & Owen Wilson - Wedding Crashers

Best Villain
Hayden Christensen - Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith

Breakthrough Performance
Isla Fisher - Wedding Crashers

Best Hero
Christian Bale - Batman Begins

Sexiest Performance
Jessica Alba - Sin City

Best Fight
Angelina Jolie vs. Brad Pitt - Mr. & Mrs. Smith

Best Kiss
Jake Gyllenhaal & Heath Ledger - Brokeback Mountain

Best Frightened Performance
Jennifer Carpenter - The Exorcism of Emily Rose

mtvU Student Filmaker Award
Joshua Caldwell (Fordham University) - A Beautiful Lie

Silver Bucket of Excellence (a movie from the past that has present-day resonance)
Spike Lee for Do The Right Thing

The award show occured last night and will be shown this upcoming Wednesday on MTV.

Pictured above is Isla Fisher who played Gloria Cleary in Wedding Crashers. The breakthrough performance award is her first film award.

Previous 2006 MTV Movie Award Post:
Strange Culture: Jessica Alba 3 Nomination and the Host! (must be the MTV movie awards)
Strange Culture: Knocked Up Gossip

Related Tags: 2006 MTV Movie Awards, Wedding Crashers, Jake Gyllenhaal, Brokeback Mountain, Steve Carell, Vince Vaughn, Owen Wilson, Hayden Christensen, Isla Fisher, Christian Bale, Jessica Alba, Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Best Kiss, Heath Ledger, Jennifer Carpenter, Joshua Caldwell, Silver Bucket of Excellence, Spike Lee, Do The Right Thing, Film Awards

Knocked Up Gossip

Some comments just need there own post.
Woobot recently posted this comment in response to my MTV Movie Award post.

Yeah, get this... MTV has nominated Steve and "40 yr old virigin", meanwhile filming on Judd Apatow's follow up movie (Knocked Up) is shooting on the same lot (Sony) as the awards show. So Judd has decided to shoot the star's entrances on the "red carpet" for his new project. You see Katherine Heigel stars as an up and coming E! journalist so Judd is having her "interview" stars as they enter. I'm sure Steve will get some screen time "playing" himself and will be funny, as they have been doing lots of takes, and letting the actors improv the funniest stuff.

Woobot is Hunter Woo, read about Hunter Woo on Strange Culture here.

Related Tags: Hunter Woo, Katherine Heigel, Judd Apatow, Sony, Knocked Up, Steve Carell, MTV Movie Awards, Red Carpet, Gossip, 40 Year Old Virgin, Movies

Some Simple Shopgirl Thoughts

Watched Shopgirl last night. Steve Martin's novella is definitly better than his screenplay directed by Anand Tucker. The film just went sort of slow, and Martin's novella is written with such a wonderful tone that the film cannot echo.

I commend Martin because I think this story really has an excellent lesson about loving a whole person, not just part of a person.

The film is excellently cast...no one else could do as well as Jason Schwartzman at playing the part of Jeremy. Claire Danes also does a wonderful job. (I don't think I've seen Danes in any thing since Igby Goes Down)

Related Tags: Shop Girl, Steve Martin, Adaptations, Claire Danes, Jason Schwartzman, Anand Tucker, Love, Film

Colorado Rockies Management Wants A Team of Angels

Colorado Rockies had a unique front page story of USA today a couple days ago. The article was about how the Rockies management are seeking out people of character namely Christians to play for the Rockies. The article talks in depth about such issues as weekly prayer meetings and the absence of adult-themed magazines and obscene music.

A few highlights from the USA today article:
"While praising their players, Rockies executives make clear they believe God has had a hand in the team's improvement."

"Music filled with obscenities, wildly popular with youth today and in many other clubhouses, is not played. A player will curse occasionally but usually in hushed tones. Quotes from Scripture are posted in the weight room. Chapel service is packed on Sundays. Prayer and fellowship groups each Tuesday are well-attended. It's not unusual for the front office executives to pray together."

"No copies of Playboy or Penthouse are in the clubhouse of baseball's Colorado Rockies. There's not even a Maxim. The only reading materials are daily newspapers, sports and car magazines and the Bible."

Yet the Rocky Mountain News ran a story with the players backlash of the USA today article.

A few highlights from the Rocky Mountain News article:
"I get Maxim (a men's magazine) sent to me in the mail in the clubhouse," first baseman Todd Helton said.

"I thought the story was over the top," [Jason Jennings] said. "I have strong beliefs, but I don't judge others and I never will. My opinion is we look for good character guys, not Christian guys. A good teammate doesn't have to have the same beliefs you have. A good teammate is a good person who plays to win."

Collin Hansen of Christianity Today responded to this news story with some good thoughts. In summary, he ties the news to the personal conviction of Rockies managment (Charlie Monfort, Clint Hurdle, and Dan O'Dowd) over the players conviction. Obviously that makes sense since USA Today makes Todd Helton out to be an Angel, and Todd Helton virtually rejects those claims in the Rocky Mountain News Article.

Some Highlights from the Christianity Today article:

"Monfort, the CEO, and manager Clint Hurdle told USA Today they became Christians three years ago. Monfort abandoned a party lifestyle that had landed him 18 months of probation for driving while impaired. "

"USA Today ran a fair, balanced, mostly positive story about the Rockies. But the editors didn't put this on the front page to encourage other teams to adopt the Rockies model. This story plays into fears of undue Christian influence on American institutions—including the national pastime."

"God does not promise that our good behavior will reap financial rewards—or wins. He does not promise to protect us from suffering—or injuries. He promises much more for his people—that justice will ultimately be done, that if we remain faithful, we will live with him and enjoy him forever."

First heard about this here.
Related Tags: Colorado, Rockies, USA Today, Rocky Mountain News, Christianity Today, Charlie Monfort, Clint Hurdle, Dan O'Dowd, Jason Jennings, Todd Helton, MLB, Baseball, Christianity, God, Sports

New Takes on the Original Top Ten

Way before David Letterman's top 10 on the late show or MTV gave us a top 10 countdown on TRL God gave us the Ten Commandments.

Obviously Cecil B. DeMille's The Ten Commandments is the most famous film version, but it has been announced in Variety that David Wain (director of Wet Hot American Summer) is directing a parody of The Ten Commandments called The Ten.

The Ten will star Paul Rudd, Jessica Alba, Amanda Peet, Justin Theroux, Adam Brody (The OC), and Ken Marino.

I'm very curious of how they will do a parady of this film...especially with this cast...it sounds horrible.

Far funnier is this You Tube video which parody's Cecil B. DeMille movie with the concept of "10 Things I Hate About You" This fake preview is for "10 Things I Hate About the Commandments"



For a better perspective on the 10 Commandments then The Ten or this fake movie preview I recommend Covenant and Commandment: A Study of the Ten Commandments in the Context of Grace by C.W. Christian. This is a book we read together at church which I think has wonderfully powerful teaching.

I wonder if there's going to be a slew of old testement themed movies to include Evan Almighty.

(info on the new movie "The Ten" via Looking Closer Journal)

Related Tags: you tube, the 10 commandments, The Ten Commandments, The Ten, David Wain, Paul Rudd, Jessica Alba, Amanda Peet, Justin Theroux, Adam Brody, Ken Marino, Parody, Old Testament, Moses, Cecil B. DeMille, Movies

Jessica Alba 3 Nomination and the Host! (must be the MTV movie awards)

Jessica Alba is hosting the MTV movie awards this year. The event is this Saturday (June 3rd) and will be aired June 8th.

Alba is actually up for 3 nomination herself in the catagory Sexiest Performance which pits Jessica Alba (Sin City) against Beyonce Knowles (the Pink Panther), Ziya Zhang (Memoirs of a Geisha), Jessica Simpson (Dukes of Hazzard), and Rob Schnieder (Duece Bigalow: European Gigolo).

Her 2nd nomination is in the catagory of Best Hero for her role in the Fantastic 4 up against Christian Bale (Batman Begins), Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter), Ewan McGregor (Star Wars III), Kate Beckinsale (Underworld Evolution).

Her 3rd nomination is in the catagory Best on Screen Team which she shares with the other Fantastic Four Members...they are up against the teams of 40 Year Old Virgin, Dukes of Hazzard, Harry Potter, and Wedding Crashers.

Is there any precedent for an awards host to have 3 nominations???

This year Wedding Crashers and The 40Year Old Virgin lead the nominations with 5 nominations each.

Other catagories this year are:

Best Kiss (with controversial kiss by Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger nominated from Brokeback Mountain)

Best Frightened Performance (Who would think that Paris Hilton and Dakota Fanning might be nominated in the same catagory? There nominations are for House of Wax and War of the Worlds)

Best Fight (King Kong vs. The Planes & Obi-Won vs. Anikan Skywalker seem like the top contenders...or then again there's Mr. and Mrs. Smith?)

Best Performance (4 of the 6 got academy nominations: Reese Witherspoon, Jaoquin Pheonix, Terrance Howard, Jake Gyllenhaal...and MTV also recognizes Rachel McAdams for Red Eye and Steve Carrell for 40 Year Old Virgin...but of course, why didn't the academy recognize these 2 performances??)

Best Comedic Performance (Steve Carrell's nomination here reminds me of when animated films get nominated for best animated film and best film or when British films at the BAFTAs get nominations for Best Film and Best British film...doesn't this mean that Steve Carrell is a shoe in for this award?)

Best Villian (Ralph Fiennes, Tilda Swinton, Cillian Murphy...these are some buzz names in the award circuit recently...good actors always get to play the villians.)

Best Breakthrough Performance (how could it be anyone but Nelly for the Longest Yard? It is the MTV awards)

Best Movie (it's a funny list: Batman Begins, King Kong, Sin City, Wedding Crashers, 40 Year Old Virgin...is it wierd that I hope Batman Begins wins?)

The complete list of nominations for 2006 can be found here.

Related Tags: Jessica Alba, MTV Movie Awards, Wedding Crashers, 40 Year Old Virgin, Awards, Television, Movies