NBC in the BA

Stanley White vs. Joey Tai

Galack Obama

Perhaps the Sci-Fi Channel should consider sending some reporters out to cover the GOP Convention in the Twin Cities this week. I mean, I know Battlestar Galactica is supposed to be a grand metaphor for the Iraq war and all, but come on - cylons running for president is laying it on a bit thick.

This election is the first between two nominees born outside of the continental United States (Barack was born in Hawaii; McCain, Panama) so why not add a VP pick who lives next door to Russia?

I can see the Ivan (Jason?) Reitman movie now - the 72 year president dies a few months after the inauguration and suddenly a 44-year-old Alaskan über-Soccer Mom becomes leader of the free world. With sexy results.

(Thanks, Ken!)

Frankenheimer Trailers

John Frankenheimer was one of the great black & white directors - in fact, I took his advice from an interview with him I saw once and checked out some of his cheesy eighties pulp like 52 Pick-Up with Roy Scheider and Dead Bang with Don Johnson but I turned the colour off on my TV; he said they were much better viewed in monochrome and yes, they are. He was also the master of the DVD director's commentary track. Too bad he never recorded one for Black Sunday...

Very disturbing trailer for The Manchurian Candidate (1962)



The most depressing movie ever made - Seconds (1966)



Cinerama-hyping TV trailer for the bloated Grand Prix (with Françoise Hardy!) (1966)



Am I the only one who prefers French Connection II (1975) to the original?

JLG & ACJ

More 'Waters of March' discoveries - here's a montage obviously made with love and some consideration.

Águas de Março

The sacred.



The profane.

The ABC Movie Of The Week

Mary Tyler Moore font slathered in Douglas Trumbull visual effects set to the music of Burt Bacharach... does it get any more seventies than this? I guess if you were to watch the clip while wearing orange Foster Grants after stirring your fondue...

Avant et Apres: Nino Ferrer

The mid-sixties yé-yé look

Disciplined Salut les Copains crowd enjoying the rave-up? Check.
Ray Davies meets Jacques Dutronc stage presence? Check.
Microphone framed by substantial sideburns of singer? Check.
Ruffled cuffs on Hammond organ? Check.
Belting out a song about pickles? Check.

The mid-seventies burnout look

Giant, foamy Civil War beard? Check.
The fashion sense of Mike Love at his most attenuated (beard-hat combo adorning gaunt skullface)? Check.
Walking around a waxy jungle diorama while ignoring a beautiful woman? Check.

Basking In Bacharach

Vedettes Sur 45

All I know is Françoise is on the charts and I think she placed ahead of 'More Zan Zis'. The year is 1982.

Hypercolour

Awesome scene from the awesome Sholay!

This scene from Mehboob Ki Mehndi is pastelrific.

Sydney Pollack - R.I.P.

This clip would be even better if it was the Sydney Pollack from Husbands and Wives or Eyes Wide Shut dressing you down for preferring to watch films that have been formatted from their original aspect ratio to fit your TV... "What the hell is the matter with you? Don't you realize you lose 50 fucking percent of the widescreen image when you watch this shit in pan and scan? You infant!"



Widescreen title sequence for Three Days of the Condor... avec Data70 et Dave Grusin.

And the master in action...


He will be missed...

Whither The Weather?

"It Even Looks Like Freedom."

Toronto Hulk

The Incredible Hulk wreaking havoc on Yonge Street, beating tanks up in front of The Big Slice and swatting shoulder-fired missiles down on the U of T campus promises to be one of the highlights of a long hot Toronto summer. My friend Dov and I thought long and hard about other amazing Toronto-centric sequences that no doubt will await us in the multiplex...

The Hulk having dinner at Cafe Diplomatico and then going to Soundscapes

The Hulk walking everywhere or on his bike wearing a helmet with wings on it

The Hulk riding a paddle boat at Ontario Place

The Hulk at H&M trying on low-waist jeans

The Hulk at the Brass Rail

The Hulk in K-Town ordering another garbage can full of kimchi

The Hulk turning Play De Record into Break De Record

The Hulk getting rejected by the NFB

The Hulk in Yorkville tickling young ladies passing by with tree branches

The Hulk ordering a triple-triple at Timmy's and rolling up the rim of the actual store

The Hulk getting in on that 2 day rebate on his April Metropass because of the TTC strike

The Hulk hanging around the Central Reference Library waiting to check his hotmail on the free computers

The Hulk starting a facebook group to promote his DJ night in Kensington Market

The Hulk renting an apartment on Roncesvalles, inspiring a hulkaccino drink at his local fair trade coffee spot

The Hulk producing an award-winning season at Soulpepper after being named the new Artistic Director