Don't Forget This Sunday's Live Oscar Blog
This Sunday night, Matt Lickona and I will be seated before our television sets and laptops providing Big Screen readers with a blow-by-blow description of the 84th Annual Academy Awards. I was with Matt on Sunday night and he gave …
Meet Wim Wenders in Person!
How often does a director of Wim Wenders' magnitude come through San Diego on a press tour let alone make himself available to the public? The director of such masterworks as The American Friend, Paris, Texas, and Wings of Desire …
Study Finds Video Piracy Has Little Impact on U.S. Box Office
Deadline Hollywood posted this fascinating study on the effects video piracy has on the American motion picture industry. The lag-time release to other countries may impact overseas profits, but back home people still prefer the theatrical experience over streaming BitTorrents. …
San Diego Latino Film Festival Announces 2012 Lineup
January through April traditionally denotes a slow time at the movies. Studios dribble out their precious awards contenders and winners, all of which I've already logged. You don't want to be around me if I can't see at least 3 …
Review: Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance
Q: What’s harder to find than a pack of wild unicorn? A: The script Nicolas Cage turned down. In the presence of evil, Johnny Blaze (Cage) turns into a monster who sucks the life out of his enemies. Directors Mark …
Unconditional Surrender Could Get the Kiss Off, But Hope Springs Eternal
Unconditional Surrender, the 25-foot, 6000-pound statue that’s been a tourist destination at Mole Park since its unveiling in February of 2007, may get a stay of execution. The waterfront enormity, owned by the Santa Monica-based Sculpture Foundation, has been on …
Latino Film Festival Sponsor Holds Brazilian Carnival This Weekend
San Diego Brazil Carnival, longtime Latino Film Festival sponsor and supporter of the annual Brazilian Cinema Showcase, holds its 20th Annual event starting at 9 p.m. this Saturday night. Brazilian Productions presents their San Diego Brazil Mardi Gras Carnival at …
One Facebook Ban is Lifted, Another Levied
Here we go again. Three days ago I reported on what turned out to be the first of two consecutive temporary bans that prohibit me from posting on Facebook. If you thought the Mickey Rooney incident was ludicrous, feast your …
Asian Film Foundation Partners on Documentary Program for Refugee High School Students
The San Diego Asian Film Foundation has joined forces with The AJA Youth + Photography Transformation Project, and Sun & Moon Vision Productions to launch Reel Voices Journey, a documentary program for refugee high students in Southeast San Diego. Thanks …
Dig A Hole: Zina Bethune, Scorsese's First Leading Lady
Technically, Marty's mother, Catherine Scorsese and Mimi Stark, star of the NYU short What's a Nice Girl Like You Doing in a Place Like This? were His first leading ladies. Zina Bethune, actress, dancer, choreographer, animal lover, and star of …
Review: Jewish Film Festival Screens Prima Primavera
While waiting for his elderly mother to finish a banking transition, Gábor (Andor Lukáts), a mentally challenged 55-year-old man, witnesses a robbery that results in her shooting death. Blonde-hair, blue-eyed Holland (Antonie Kamerling) is the shooter that gets away with …
Take Your Valentine to a Movie!
Cairo roses are purple, And so is my spleen. Happy Valentine's Day, From your pals at The Big Screen!
When It Comes to Facebook, I'm With the Banned
It started with this image: There is nothing less funny than having to spell out a joke, but here goes. Once upon a time, Mickey Rooney starred in the made-for-TV movie, Bill, as an intellectually challenged man who ventures outside …
Tony Bennett: Legalize Drugs, Save a Rock Star's Life
Did Tony Bennett leave his head in San Francisco or is there a follicle of truth to be found lurking beneath his toupee? While performing at Clive Davis' pre-Grammy party Saturday night, Bennett told the crowd at the Beverly Hilton, …
Review: The Agony and the Ecstasy of Phil Spector
No opus in the Phil Spector songbook links the megalomaniac to the madman better than He Hit Me (It Felt Like a Kiss), The Crystal’s eerie paean to S&M. When selecting a lyric to open a documentary portrait of the …
Watch The Magic of 'Hugo' Extra Bonus Behind-the-Scenes Making-Of Featurette
You don't want to see the emails I receive from publicists begging me to blog about a personal appearance by the latest Twilight background player coming through town, or post roundtable interviews with the cast of Disney's Prom. I feel …
Watch the Oscars and Help Send Kids to Camp
On Sunday, February 26, 49 charities in as many locations will host authorized viewing parties during the 84th Academy Awards ceremony. San Diego's officially sanctioned soiree will be held at the Joe and Vi Jacobs Center, 404 Euclid Ave. All …
Stooge Larry Fine on Performing During the First Super Bowl Half-Time Show
Taking a break from Remembrance of Things Past, I turn to the Qur'an of Stoogedom, Larry Fine's autobiography, Stroke of Luck (as told to James Carone), for my nightly dollop of literary enlightenment. The following photograph and accompanying text appears …
Give Your Sweetie the Gift of Cinema & Free Popcorn This Valentine's Day
Let the record reflect: Landmark's Ken Cinema pops the best corn in town. They use real butter, but I wouldn't know. The habit of greasing my popcorn ceased decades ago after movie theatres switched from butterfat topping to Havoline 10W-40. …
Oscar Class of 2012 Group Photo
Several weeks before Hollywood's annual version of the Bataan Death March, the hopefuls gather at the Beverly Hills Hilton for the Academy Awards nominations luncheon. After the rubber-chicken entree, the group assembles for a commemorative photo. According to Cinema Blend, …