For of those of you have access to Turner Classic Movies, I highly recommend checking out the four films airing tonight (8PM Eastern): The Harvey Girls, Here Comes the Groom, Breakfast at Tiffany's, and Days of Wine and Roses. These selections encompass the Best Song Academy Award Winning films in the career of the prolific and brilliant Johnny Mercer. Before and after each film there will be discussion between our TCM host Robert Osborne and his co-host for the night, theater historian and Mercer expert Robert Kimball. What makes tonight special for me is that it marks my first foray into the realm of Producer. This was a really fun project, and one which I hope will lead to many more. Not only are the INTROs and OUTROs to the films entertaining and filled with great facts about Mercer, but the films are enjoyable as well. Thanks so much for all the support, and I hope you like what you see!
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
I guess we'll just have to adjust...
It was four or five years ago when I heard the rumors that Spike Jonze and Dave Eggers were settling into adapt Maurice Sendak's most beloved children's book Where the Wild Things Are, and immediately I thought, of all the directors out there, Jonze seems like the ideal choice to create a live-action feature film of the book. From his filmography - which, yes, is minimal and heavily weighted with music video credits - Jonze definitely has the ability to capture those childhood fears and fantasies. He, along with Michel Gondry, are two of the most creative and bizarre indie-mainstream filmmakers out there (I say indie-mainstream because they are able to straddle the boundary between the two, and I'm sure, they're more than happy to include themselves in either category depending on the conversation). Needless to say, I was stoked about this movie! Finally, after re-writes, sign-offs, production schedule changes, and months of anticipation and excitement over the first posters and trailers, the film was released last month.
The Art of the Movie Trailer (which, if that's not a blog, it should be) can be a blessing or a curse for a film, and the trailer for Where the Wild Things Are is absolutely brilliant! While settling into my theater seat, Arcade Fire's "Wake Up!" played over and over in my head as I thought back on that trailer. Finally, the lights dimmed, the silver screen lit up, and with a steadicam and muted colors, we meet Max, an out of control product of divorce who embodies an animalistic violence that seems to come when he dons his wolf costume. Now, obviously this movie takes liberties with and expands upon Sendak's very short children's book. I would say the movie is inspired by not based on the book, but you can weigh in on that. I, for one, was a tad surprised by how sad the movie is, and I realized that it is not at all a children's movie but one based off of the nostalgia Jonze and Eggers (and the rest of us who are well into our mid-twenties and beyond) have for the book. The animation was great and the soundtrack fitting. All the actors who lent their voices to Carol and Ira and KW and Douglas were fantastic, and I have to say the kid who played Max, Max Records, fit the part well. He was a little scary at times, but he captured the loneliness and misunderstood nature of Max incredibly well.
Overall, I really enjoyed the film. I think the trailer and marketing team did a brilliant job of getting me psyched for this movie, and I'll associate that Arcade Fire song with this movie for a long time. I have to give kudos to whomever selected it because it works. Jonze also managed to get tears in my eyes as his vision of Sendak's illustrations really was a touching adaptation and one that I would recommend to anyone above the age of 14 who has a fondness for the book. I'm not so sure about getting those kiddies who have just been introduced to Max and his Wild Things friends into the theater. I'd wait a few years then watch it on Blu-Ray, or streaming, or in hologram form - whatever is available to you when that time comes.
The Art of the Movie Trailer (which, if that's not a blog, it should be) can be a blessing or a curse for a film, and the trailer for Where the Wild Things Are is absolutely brilliant! While settling into my theater seat, Arcade Fire's "Wake Up!" played over and over in my head as I thought back on that trailer. Finally, the lights dimmed, the silver screen lit up, and with a steadicam and muted colors, we meet Max, an out of control product of divorce who embodies an animalistic violence that seems to come when he dons his wolf costume. Now, obviously this movie takes liberties with and expands upon Sendak's very short children's book. I would say the movie is inspired by not based on the book, but you can weigh in on that. I, for one, was a tad surprised by how sad the movie is, and I realized that it is not at all a children's movie but one based off of the nostalgia Jonze and Eggers (and the rest of us who are well into our mid-twenties and beyond) have for the book. The animation was great and the soundtrack fitting. All the actors who lent their voices to Carol and Ira and KW and Douglas were fantastic, and I have to say the kid who played Max, Max Records, fit the part well. He was a little scary at times, but he captured the loneliness and misunderstood nature of Max incredibly well.
Overall, I really enjoyed the film. I think the trailer and marketing team did a brilliant job of getting me psyched for this movie, and I'll associate that Arcade Fire song with this movie for a long time. I have to give kudos to whomever selected it because it works. Jonze also managed to get tears in my eyes as his vision of Sendak's illustrations really was a touching adaptation and one that I would recommend to anyone above the age of 14 who has a fondness for the book. I'm not so sure about getting those kiddies who have just been introduced to Max and his Wild Things friends into the theater. I'd wait a few years then watch it on Blu-Ray, or streaming, or in hologram form - whatever is available to you when that time comes.
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