You can now find Sounds of Cinema on myspace!
The profile will include audio files of my film reviews.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Paul Newman Dead at 83
Acting legend Paul Newman dies at 83
WESTPORT, Conn. - Paul Newman, the Academy-Award winning superstar who personified cool as the anti-hero of such films as "Hud," "Cool Hand Luke" and "The Color of Money" — and as an activist, race car driver and popcorn impresario — has died. He was 83.
Newman died Friday after a long battle with cancer at his farmhouse near Westport, publicist Jeff Sanderson said. He was surrounded by his family and close friends.
Read the full story here.
WESTPORT, Conn. - Paul Newman, the Academy-Award winning superstar who personified cool as the anti-hero of such films as "Hud," "Cool Hand Luke" and "The Color of Money" — and as an activist, race car driver and popcorn impresario — has died. He was 83.
Newman died Friday after a long battle with cancer at his farmhouse near Westport, publicist Jeff Sanderson said. He was surrounded by his family and close friends.
Read the full story here.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Maverick at the Movies now Sounds of Cinema
Maverick at the Movies is now completely changed over to Sounds of Cinema, including a new URL and some redesign of the website:
www.soundsofcinema.com
Some other aesthetic changes will occur in the coming weeks and months and be sure to update your bookmarks, although this blog will remain.
www.soundsofcinema.com
Some other aesthetic changes will occur in the coming weeks and months and be sure to update your bookmarks, although this blog will remain.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
MOA hopes real butter, wine will woo movie fans
By Gita Sitaramiah
The movie complex at the Mall of America is closed for a serious and some say much-needed renovation to attract more moviegoers.
Can wine, dessert, popcorn with real butter and revamped auditoriums draw crowds? Time will tell. The 14-screen cinema will reopen Friday afternoon while work continues to replace old seats and upgrade two screens to digital sound and 3D-image capabilities. In addition, a no-kids-allowed VIP theater at the complex will serve wine at specified times.
The Bloomington megamall will operate the 16-year-old movie complex as Theatres-Mall of America. It had been run by the AMC Theatre chain and before that by General Cinema.
"It gives us the freedom to do some special things, like bringing in more independent films and doing movie marathons... around the holidays," said mall spokesman Dan Jasper.
East metro cinema owner Nathan Block believes the mall's movie complex needed the upgrade but is skeptical the film rotation will change much given that blockbusters pay the bills at cinemas with fewer screens.
"If they really wanted to bring in special events and more independent films, they should have put in four more screens," said Block, owner of the $2-a-seat Plaza Maplewood and discount first-run Woodbury Theatre.
Block does laud the effort to spruce up the mall's movie complex, however, saying it faces competition from megaplexes that have popped up in the area. Trying to attract more mature crowds with wine and a 21-and-overcinema is something of a gamble but not a bad idea since surveys say the major reason people aren't going to movies is patron behavior. That includes ringing cell phones and nonstop texting.
"That's just driving everybody crazy," he said.
Steve Mann, owner of Mann Theatres including the Grandview and Highland in St. Paul, said he and other operators need to look at adding 3D technology. No matter the changes made, he suspects the economy will impact movie-going frequency this fall and winter.
"I think we'll feel the pinch, too," he said.
A movie-going slowdown already may be underway. This past weekend's $67.7 million overall box office gross was the lowest since 2003, the Associated Press reported, citing data from Media by Numbers.
Link.
By Gita Sitaramiah
The movie complex at the Mall of America is closed for a serious and some say much-needed renovation to attract more moviegoers.
Can wine, dessert, popcorn with real butter and revamped auditoriums draw crowds? Time will tell. The 14-screen cinema will reopen Friday afternoon while work continues to replace old seats and upgrade two screens to digital sound and 3D-image capabilities. In addition, a no-kids-allowed VIP theater at the complex will serve wine at specified times.
The Bloomington megamall will operate the 16-year-old movie complex as Theatres-Mall of America. It had been run by the AMC Theatre chain and before that by General Cinema.
"It gives us the freedom to do some special things, like bringing in more independent films and doing movie marathons... around the holidays," said mall spokesman Dan Jasper.
East metro cinema owner Nathan Block believes the mall's movie complex needed the upgrade but is skeptical the film rotation will change much given that blockbusters pay the bills at cinemas with fewer screens.
"If they really wanted to bring in special events and more independent films, they should have put in four more screens," said Block, owner of the $2-a-seat Plaza Maplewood and discount first-run Woodbury Theatre.
Block does laud the effort to spruce up the mall's movie complex, however, saying it faces competition from megaplexes that have popped up in the area. Trying to attract more mature crowds with wine and a 21-and-overcinema is something of a gamble but not a bad idea since surveys say the major reason people aren't going to movies is patron behavior. That includes ringing cell phones and nonstop texting.
"That's just driving everybody crazy," he said.
Steve Mann, owner of Mann Theatres including the Grandview and Highland in St. Paul, said he and other operators need to look at adding 3D technology. No matter the changes made, he suspects the economy will impact movie-going frequency this fall and winter.
"I think we'll feel the pinch, too," he said.
A movie-going slowdown already may be underway. This past weekend's $67.7 million overall box office gross was the lowest since 2003, the Associated Press reported, citing data from Media by Numbers.
Link.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
MICHAEL MOORE'S NEW FILM TO BE OFFERED FREE ON INTERNET
MICHAEL MOORE'S NEW FILM TO BE OFFERED FREE ON INTERNET "AS A GIFT TO FANS"
FIRST MAJOR FEATURE-LENGTH FILMTO BE RELEASED FOR FREE ON INTERNET
TRAVERSE CITY, MI
(Sept. 4, 2008) -- After 20 years of making groundbreaking films and setting box office records -- from "Roger & Me" to "Bowling for Columbine" to "Sicko" – Oscar-winning filmmaker Michael Moore has decided to thank his many fans by giving them a download of his newest film, "Slacker Uprising," for free. This will be the first major feature-length film by a noted director to debut for free via the internet.
"Slacker Uprising" traces Michael Moore’s 62-city tour of the swing states during the 2004 Presidential election and records the thrilling -- and frightening -- response he received across the country.
Moore, who has made three of the five top-grossing documentaries of all time (including “Fahrenheit 9/11”), said he is doing this giveaway for personal reasons. "I realized that in a few months it will be the 20th anniversary of my first film, 'Roger & Me'," he said. "I've been very blessed and fortunate to have so many people come to my movies over these two decades, I decided why not bypass the studios and the exhibitors and make one that the fans can have for free, as a show of my profound appreciation of their support."
The free download is being organized and distributed by Robert Greenwald's Brave New Films. The download itself is being offered, free of charge.
Neither Moore nor Brave New Films will make any money from the film, which had a budget of over $2 million. "This is being done entirely as a gift to my fans," said Moore. "The only return any of us are hoping for is the largest turnout of young voters ever at the polls in November. I think 'Slacker Uprising' will inspire million to get off the couch and give voting a chance."
“Our mission here at Brave New Films is to get out a message of social justice,” said Greenwald. “This year, that means getting people to take a close look at what’s at stake in this incredibly important election. You can find literally no better storyteller in the world for that purpose than Michael Moore. Michael is a genius and an inspiration to people all over the country. This new movie is a gift to our country in this critical moment, and we’re honored to be distributing it for free over the internet.”
Moore's goal four years ago was to convince millions of non-voting "slackers” -- mostly between the ages of 18-29 -- to give voting a try. Starting out in Elk Rapids, Michigan, in front of an audience of 400, the tour caught on like wildfire with up to 16,000 slackers each night coming to see Moore and his traveling band of speakers, comedians, and musicians.
To encourage the slackers to show up, they were offered a clean change of underwear, Ramen noodles, and a promise that no event would start before noon and no politician would be allowed to speak. These enticements filled basketball arenas and football stadiums every night on the "Slacker Uprising Tour."
Part concert tour, part stand-up comedy performance and part rock concert, SLACKER UPRISING is an uplifting and patriotic look at the birth of a new political generation in America -- a generation of young people who would signal the era of “Obamania” that would take place just four years later.
Along with Moore's appearance, "Slacker Uprising" features live performances or appearances by Eddie Vedder (of Pearl Jam), Roseanne Barr, Joan Baez, Tom Morello (of Rage Against the Machine), R.E.M., Steve Earle, and Viggo Mortensen.
To view a trailer and a scene from "Slacker Uprising," go to http://www.slackeruprising.com/
FIRST MAJOR FEATURE-LENGTH FILMTO BE RELEASED FOR FREE ON INTERNET
TRAVERSE CITY, MI
(Sept. 4, 2008) -- After 20 years of making groundbreaking films and setting box office records -- from "Roger & Me" to "Bowling for Columbine" to "Sicko" – Oscar-winning filmmaker Michael Moore has decided to thank his many fans by giving them a download of his newest film, "Slacker Uprising," for free. This will be the first major feature-length film by a noted director to debut for free via the internet.
"Slacker Uprising" traces Michael Moore’s 62-city tour of the swing states during the 2004 Presidential election and records the thrilling -- and frightening -- response he received across the country.
Moore, who has made three of the five top-grossing documentaries of all time (including “Fahrenheit 9/11”), said he is doing this giveaway for personal reasons. "I realized that in a few months it will be the 20th anniversary of my first film, 'Roger & Me'," he said. "I've been very blessed and fortunate to have so many people come to my movies over these two decades, I decided why not bypass the studios and the exhibitors and make one that the fans can have for free, as a show of my profound appreciation of their support."
The free download is being organized and distributed by Robert Greenwald's Brave New Films. The download itself is being offered, free of charge.
Neither Moore nor Brave New Films will make any money from the film, which had a budget of over $2 million. "This is being done entirely as a gift to my fans," said Moore. "The only return any of us are hoping for is the largest turnout of young voters ever at the polls in November. I think 'Slacker Uprising' will inspire million to get off the couch and give voting a chance."
“Our mission here at Brave New Films is to get out a message of social justice,” said Greenwald. “This year, that means getting people to take a close look at what’s at stake in this incredibly important election. You can find literally no better storyteller in the world for that purpose than Michael Moore. Michael is a genius and an inspiration to people all over the country. This new movie is a gift to our country in this critical moment, and we’re honored to be distributing it for free over the internet.”
Moore's goal four years ago was to convince millions of non-voting "slackers” -- mostly between the ages of 18-29 -- to give voting a try. Starting out in Elk Rapids, Michigan, in front of an audience of 400, the tour caught on like wildfire with up to 16,000 slackers each night coming to see Moore and his traveling band of speakers, comedians, and musicians.
To encourage the slackers to show up, they were offered a clean change of underwear, Ramen noodles, and a promise that no event would start before noon and no politician would be allowed to speak. These enticements filled basketball arenas and football stadiums every night on the "Slacker Uprising Tour."
Part concert tour, part stand-up comedy performance and part rock concert, SLACKER UPRISING is an uplifting and patriotic look at the birth of a new political generation in America -- a generation of young people who would signal the era of “Obamania” that would take place just four years later.
Along with Moore's appearance, "Slacker Uprising" features live performances or appearances by Eddie Vedder (of Pearl Jam), Roseanne Barr, Joan Baez, Tom Morello (of Rage Against the Machine), R.E.M., Steve Earle, and Viggo Mortensen.
To view a trailer and a scene from "Slacker Uprising," go to http://www.slackeruprising.com/
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