Monthly Archives: December 2010

Black Swan Movie Interpretation

Posted on by
177

If you’ve seen director Darren Aronofsky’s latest work, then you‘re no doubt searching for a Black Swan movie interpretation. That‘s because the entire film is a brilliant and frequently dreamlike look at the price one pays for artistic excellence. The central plot concerns a ballerina (Natalie Portman) who tries to live up to expectations in the dual role of the White Swan and Black Swan during a production of Swan Lake. But it’s a lot more complex than it sounds, and many viewers have been seen wandering the theatre parking lot in a confused stupor.

But your worries are at an end, as a Black Swan movie explanation will be coming your way in just a few short minutes. I’ll also throw in a Black Swan movie analysis at no extra charge. But no matter how many opinions I deliver, just keep in mind that the only person with the real answers is Darren Aronofsky. And like many artists who deliver brilliantly mind-bending works, he’s keeping quiet on the subject.

The Origin of Black Swan

Darren Aronofsky first became fascinated with ballet when his sister performed at New York’s High School of Performing Arts. Years later, he hired a group of screenwriters to re-work a script about understudies and the idea of being haunted by a double. Then he dabbled with a project about a wrestler who falls in love with a ballerina. Eventually, this tale would be split into The Wrestler and subsequently Black Swan.

Aronofsky considers the two films to be companion pieces, saying “Wrestling some consider the lowest art–if they would even call it art–and ballet some people consider the highest art. But what was amazing to me was how similar the performers in both of these worlds are. They both make incredible use of their bodies to express themselves.”

He first mentioned the idea to Natalie Portman in 2000, and she was keen to expand her resume of diverse acting roles. While the project wouldn’t begin for another nine years, Portman has stated that this gave her plenty of time to mull the role over and get it straight in her head. That’s probably a good thing, as many who’ve seen the film will be wondering for decades without a little help from a Black Swan movie interpretation.

The Plot of Black Swan

Before I can provide you with a decent Black Swan movie analysis, we first need to take a look at the overall plot and meaning of the film. This section is filled with spoilers, so you might consider skipping this part if you‘ve yet to see the film.

Black Swan is set in New York City, where a respected ballet company is making plans to put on a production of Swan Lake. Aging ballet superstar Beth Macintyre (Winona Ryder) has been kicked to the curb, and company director Thomas Leroy (Vincent Cassel) is looking for some fresh meat to fill the dual lead role of the White Swan and the Black Swan. The frontrunner is Nina Sayers (Natalie Portman), a beautiful and talented ballerina who Leroy would love to take to bed. Another dancer competing for the part is Lily (Mila Kunis), an exotic beauty who’s more in touch with her sensuality than Nina.

As everyone auditions and frets about the upcoming ballet, the audience gets a glimpse of Nina’s life at home. She lives with her controlling mother (Barbara Hershey), herself a failed dancer. She hopes Nina will surpass her limited success, so she pushes the young woman at every turn.

Leroy is in a bit of a pickle, as he wants to cast Nina (and subsequently have sex with her), but he doesn’t know if she has what it takes to embody the Black Swan role. As the pair share a kiss, Nina surprises him by biting his lip. Shocked, and more than a little turned on, he decides to go ahead and award her the part. But just in case, he casts the naturally sensual Lily as her understudy.

Nina develops an unsightly rash on her shoulder, and at the same time begins to be plagued by bizarre and graphically brutal visions. Things aren’t going any better at work, as her inhibitions are holding her back, and her reluctance to sleep with Thomas are making him increasingly frustrated. And like a rotten cherry on top of her life sundae, she becomes convinced that Lily is scheming behind her back to take the lead role.

Nina is more than a little surprised when Lily shows up at her door, inviting her out for dinner and dancing. But they wind up having a great time thanks to drugs and alcohol, and soon they’re getting in some lesbian action on Nina’s bed. But when the next morning comes, Lily is nowhere to be found, and Nina finds that she’s later for rehearsal.

When she arrives at the theatre, she’s shocked to find Lily dancing the part of the Swan Queen. Hurt and betrayed, she confronts Lily and asks why she didn’t wake her. Lily plays dumb, saying that she went home the previous night with a guy from the club. Lily mocks Nina’s sexual attraction to her.

The rash on Nina’s shoulder is getting worse, and picking at the wound reveals several black feathers imbedded inside. Her mother’s painting are also talking to her, and the horrific visions continue. It becomes too much for Nina to take, and she falls over, knocking herself out in the process.

Her mother discovers her the next morning, making the decision to call the company and tell them that her daughter won’t be there for opening night. That’s when Nina becomes violent, savagely lashing out at her parent in an effort to make the show on time. Once backstage at the theatre, she begins to prepare in earnest.

The first act is a disaster. Nina’s partner drops her while they dance, and she returns backstage to find Lily waiting in her dressing room, dressed as the Black Swan. Nina attacks her, breaking a mirror and stabbing Lily with one of the shards. Hiding the corpse of her rival, Nina returns to the stage for the second act and gives a brilliant performance. As she receives a standing ovation, Nina imagines that black feathers have sprouted from her body.

When she returns to her dressing room to prepare for the final act, she finds Lily waiting to congratulate her. As it turns out, Nina did not stab Lily. Noticing the broken mirror, Nina realizes that her fevered brain caused her to stab herself. But she heads to the stage anyway, dancing with both passion and abandon as her life fades away. She tries to leap to her death in an emulation of the Swan Queen, and the members of the concerned cast and crew surround her. Proud of her performance, Nina triumphantly comments as she does, “I felt it. Perfect. I was perfect.”

Black Swan Movie Interpretation

Now for the Black Swan movie analysis that you’ve been waiting patiently for:

Nina is nuts. There, I said it. To be more specific, she’s suffering from a mental condition known as schizophrenia. Without treatment, this disorder can be a real bitch, resulting in hallucinations, paranoid delusions, and disorganized thinking and speech.

The schizophrenia is brought on by the extreme pressure Nina is under, both from her mother, her dance director, and herself. She desires to be perfect, and this unattainable desire is slowly eating away at the walls of her psyche. It also doesn’t help that she’s struggling with confused sexual feelings, from the advances of her boss to the strong attraction to her chief rival.

While the film winds its way towards a grand conclusion, you should be able to chart a definite increase in Nina’s hallucinations. These start small in the beginning phase of the movie, but opening night brings her paranoia and obsession into full, bloody bloom.

As she obsesses about being able to pull off the role of the Black Swan, her personality shifts to one that’s more sensuous, unpredictable, and violent. After she believes herself to have killed Lily, she fully transforms into the Black Swan, with plenty of delusional feathers to prove it.

And if you need further proof that she’s losing her mind, just check out the increasingly deep scratches on her shoulder. Her mother recognizes this pattern (“You are scratching again”), which is part of the reason she tries to keep Nina confined to her home. But Nina’s art is more important than her health, and her desire to excel drives her to risk everything in an effort to achieve artistic perfection. The same can be witnessed at the conclusion of The Wrestler, as Mickey Rourke’s Randy “The Ram” Robinson leaps from the turnbuckles in a final display of artistic integrity and passion.

That wraps up our Black Swan movie interpretation. I hope you’ve found it instructive, and now maybe you’ll stop bothering your friends and family for an explanation. To read an explanation of the symbolism in 2011′s weird film The Tree of Life, read this “The Tree of Life movie interpretation“. Life By the way, in case anyone out there was wondering, Brad Pitt and Edward Norton are the same person in Fight Club, and Keyser Soze from The Usual Suspects is actually Verbal Kint (Kevin Spacey). Have a nice day.

 

Neo Noir Movies

Posted on by
1

While neo noir movies aren’t exactly the same as those labeled film noir, they do have much in common. The grim storylines, doomed characters, and frequent use of shadows are still present, but neo-noir movies recognize modern technology and themes. For example, you’re not going to see films made in the ‘40s or ‘50s commonly dealing with technology issues or a crisis of identity. These, however, are common themes of the neo noir. The violence is also bloodier, and naked breasts frequently accompany the big screen adventures of tough-guy detectives and sultry ladies in peril.

Translating directly into “new black,” neo noir movies borrow heavily from their film noir counterparts, and some would argue that any modern-day motion picture with elements of noir would qualify for this category. The movement has been recognized as beginning in the 1970s, and the style has become increasingly popular over the decades. The following dozen films are my favorite examples of neo-noir, and I urge you to see each and every one.

  • Brick (2005) – Rian Johnson exploded onto the scene by writing and directing this superb neo-noir that owes a great deal of credit to the works of Dashiell Hammett (The Maltese Falcon, The Thin Man). Set in an unnamed California high school, the plot follows social outsider Brendan Frye (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) as he attempts to solve the murder of his one-time girlfriend (Emilie de Ravin). But in order to do so, he’ll have to deal with everything from the popular kids to a youthful crime boss (Lukas Haas) who still lives with his mom. A masterful take on the hardboiled detective story, it’s a must-see for fans of crime movies thanks to a star turn from Gordon-Levitt.

  • Blood Simple (1984) – Joel and Ethan Coen made their directorial debut with this tale of jealousy and murder, and cinematography was provided by future director Barry Sonnenfeld. Abby (Frances McDormand) and Ray (John Getz) are in love, but there’s just one problem: Abby’s violent-tempered husband, Marty (Dan Hedaya). Once he has proof of their infidelity, Marty hires a slimy private investigator (M. Emmet Walsh) to murder them, but things quickly spiral out of control thanks to greed and suspicion. Walsh excels as a creepy slimebag, the camerawork is fresh and inventive, and the script will keep you guessing right up until the final shot.
  • The Last Seduction (1994) – Linda Fiorentino exhibits both sex appeal and animal cunning as Bridget Gregory, a femme fatale who steals $700,000 from her lowlife husband (Bill Pullman) and then seeks refuge in a small Illinois town. There, she begins an affair with a naïve insurance agent (Peter Berg) and schemes on how not to get caught by her revenge-minded spouse. Fiorentino gives one of the most sly and smoldering performances ever captured on-screen, and it’s a shame that she wasn’t eligible for an Oscar nomination (the film aired on HBO before hitting theatres).
  • Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang (2005) – Shane Black (Lethal Weapon, The Last Boy Scout) wrote and directed this motion picture that deftly mixes crime and comedy. Robert Downey Jr. is delightfully flippant as Harry Lockhart, a small-time thief who wanders into the middle of a movie audition and finds himself being flown to L.A. Paired with gay private eye Perry van Shrike (Val Kilmer), Harry is supposed to watch and learn in preparation for his role. Instead, he romances a childhood crush (Michelle Monaghan), gets caught up in a plot involving kidnapping and murder, and initiates perhaps the most ill-conceived game of Russian Roulette ever played. The dialogue drips with wit and sarcasm, and Downey and Kilmer are at the top of their game throughout.

  • The Postman Always Rings Twice (1981) – Based on the novel and the 1946 film adaptation, this version was directed by Bob Rafelson and penned by David Mamet. Jack Nicholson stars as Frank Chambers, a drifter who wanders into a California diner, gets a job there, and begins an affair with Cora (Jessica Lange), the beautiful young woman whose older husband (John Colicos) owns the place. As you might expect from a neo-noir, they soon plot to kill Cora’s husband. The kitchen table sex scene is still remarkably erotic, and co-stars include Michael Lerner, Anjelica Huston, and MMA star Chuck Liddell (who plays a boy scout).
  • Body Heat (1981) – You’d be hard-pressed to find a steamier example of neo-noir, all thanks to star Kathleen Turner’s smoky voice and beautiful body. She plays Matty Walker, the conniving wife of a wealthy businessman (Richard Crenna) who begins an affair with a seedy attorney named Ned Racine (William Hurt). Thanks to a prenuptial agreement, Matty will be left with almost nothing in a divorce, so the sinful pair hatch a scheme to kill her husband and flee together. But that’s just part of the plot, as Racine comes to suspect that there’s a double-cross in the works. Mickey Rourke co-stars in an early role as an arsonist, and the sex scenes between Turner and Hurt will fuel your erotic dreams for weeks to come.
  • L.A. Confidential (1997) – Based on the crime novel by James Ellroy, the film is set in L.A. during the 1950s and focuses on three police officers: the brutal Bud White (Russell Crowe), the smooth Jack Vincennes (Kevin Spacey), and the ambitious Edmund Exley (Guy Pearce). When a massacre goes down at a coffee shop and leaves a former cop dead, the three men pursue justice in their own ways. This leads them to corrupt politicians, seedy journalists, pimps, pushers, and hookers cut to look like famous celebrities. Boasting an intelligent script, numerous twists and turns, and an Oscar-winning performance from Kim Basinger, L.A. Confidential is a neo-noir that easily bridges the gap between the 1940s and the 1990s. Also starring James Cromwell, Danny DeVito, David Strathairn, and Simon Baker.

  • Bound (1996) – If you’re a lesbian (or would like to be one for a day), then be sure to check out this steamy neo-noir crime thriller from the Wachowski brothers. Corky (Gina Gershon) has just completed a five-year stint in prison, and now she’s landed a maintenance job at an apartment building. That’s where she meets Violet (Jennifer Tilly), a bi-sexual bombshell who lives with a short-tempered thug (Joe Pantoliano) who launders money for the Mafia. After beginning a passionate affair, the sapphic duo hatch a plan to steal the money, frame Violet’s boyfriend, and start a new life together. But nothing is as simple as it sounds.
  • Fargo (1996) – Nominated for seven Academy Awards, Fargo is the movie that transformed the Coen brothers from quirky filmmakers into perpetual critical darlings. Set in Minneapolis during the late ‘80s, the film begins with a seedy car salesman (William H. Macy) hiring a couple of crooks (Steve Buscemi and Peter Stormare) to kidnap his wife. His plan is simple: get his rich father-in-law (Harve Presnell) to pay the ransom, and then keep most of the money for himself. But things go fatally off the rails, and a pregnant police chief (Oscar winner Frances McDormand) is soon on the case. Off-kilter characters abound, and the Coens excel at blending dark humor with moments of graphic violence. Film critic Roger Ebert went so far as to state, “Films like Fargo are why I love the movies.”
  • After Dark, My Sweet (1990) – Based on the 1955 Jim Thompson novel, After Dark, My Sweet revolves around a brain-damaged ex-boxer (Jason Patric) who escapes from a mental institution, falls in with a sexy widow (Rachel Ward), and helps carry out a kidnapping. Filled with the wretched and the doomed, it’s a powerful, compact tale that would be right at home in the 1950s (if not for the sex and violence). Bruce Dern co-stars in a memorable role as the treacherous and ultra-sleazy “Uncle Bud.”
  • Sin City (2005) – You can almost feel the grit and smell the smoke in this visually distinctive film from director Robert Rodriguez. Taking his material from the works of comic book legend Frank Miller, Rodriguez interweaves five stories to create a portrait of death, hope, love, and redemption in the digital backlot known as Sin City. “The Hard Goodbye” is a standout, with Mickey Rourke playing a massive bruiser trying to avenge the death of his prostitute lover (Jaime King). Along the way, he’ll get some assistance from his lesbian parole officer (an off-the-charts Carla Gugino), and have to butt heads with an unnaturally quick cannibal (Elijah Wood). Other tales in this crime anthology star Bruce Willis, Clive Owen, Benicio del Toro, Jessica Alba, Rosario Dawson, Brittany Murphy, Josh Hartnett, and Powers Boothe.
  • Memento (2000) – Written and directed by Christopher Nolan, Memento stars Guy Pearce as Leonard Shelby, a man whose amnesia-riddled brain refuses to store any new information. So he takes pictures–lots of pictures–not to mention tattooing key bits of information onto his body. This is all so he can avenge the rape and murder of his wife (Jorja Fox), and the audience is kept in suspense until the very end thanks to key segments being presented in reverse chronological order. A dazzling film brimming with violence, confusion, and regret, Memento is a thinking man’s neo-noir. Co-starring Carrie-Anne Moss and Joe Pantoliano.

If you enjoy tales of murder, deception, and lust, then be sure to take a look at one or more of these neo noir movies. They’re just as good as anything turned out in the ‘40s or ‘50s, especially with the addition of squibs and naked breasts. And even when nudity isn’t present, it’s hard to beat actresses like Kim Basinger, Frances McDormand, and Carrie-Anne Moss.

George Romero Movies

Posted on by
5

When someone says “George Romero movies,” the first word that usually comes to mind is “zombies.” But the legendary filmmaker with massive glasses and white hair has done more than just make films about the undead. George A. Romero has also directed vampire movies, supernatural movies, modern-day fantasies, monkey movies, and even a romantic comedy. If you need further proof, take a look at this complete list of feature films from one of the most respected names in horror.

  • Night of the Living Dead (1968) – George A. Romero started his legacy as a horror icon by directing this nihilistic, black-and-white indie flick about a group of survivors trapped in a farmhouse while flesh-eating zombies try to get at them. But while the zombies are certainly lethal, Romero clearly has mankind pegged as the real menace. As the undead claw at the exterior walls and doors, the inside of the house is rife with racial tension and generally negative human behavior. Made on a budget of just over $100,000, it’s estimated to have made over $650 million (adjusted for inflation). It was also one of the rare films of the day to cast an African-American as the hero amidst a sea of white faces. The impact of Night of the Living Dead is undeniable, and virtually every zombie film to come afterwards was influenced by it in one way or another.
  • There’s Always Vanilla (1971) – Following his groundbreaking zombie masterpiece, George Romero decided to try his hand at…a romantic comedy?! When a soldier returns home, he’s torn between working for the family business or going his own way. Then he meets a model, knocks her up, and adds additional complications to his life. Come to think of it, there’s really not a lot of comedy to be had here. Romero would later regard the film as the worst of his career, referring to it as “a total mess.” If you really want to see it, you’ll need to pick up a copy of Season of the Witch on DVD (which also includes There’s Always Vanilla).
  • The Crazies (1973) – After his disastrous attempt at making a romantic film, our favorite director went back to making the George Romero movies that we all know and love. When a biological weapon gets released into the water supply of a small American town, the shit hits the fan in a major way. People begin losing their minds and resorting to violence, and the arrival of the military only makes matters worse. In the middle of all this, a firefighter and his pregnant girlfriend try to survive. Once you’ve seen this one, be sure to check out the 2010 remake starring Timothy Olyphant and Radha Mitchell.
  • Season of the Witch (1973) – Set in the suburbs of Pittsburgh, this Romero film deals with a lonely housewife (Jan White) whose casual interest in witchcraft slowly morphs into something more dangerous. Romero was unhappy with the finished product, and he’s gone on record as having an interest in remaking the film.
  • Martin (1978) – This unusual vampire movie follows Martin Mathias (John Amplas), a young man who fancies himself a vampire. But he doesn’t have fangs or the ability to turn into a bat, instead preferring to drug young women and then slit their wrists for the yummy red stuff. When he goes to live with his superstitious granduncle in a Pennsylvania town that’s wasting away, he begins a tragic affair with an unhappy housewife. Romero cameos as a priest, and Martin marked his first collaboration with special effects whiz Tom Savini. The director has referred to this as his favorite film, and plans for a remake were announced in 2010.

  • Dawn of the Dead (1978) – Expanding on the events depicted in Night of the Living Dead, Romero went out and promptly created the gold standard for all zombie movies to follow. This time the setting is a major city instead of a rural farmhouse, and the dangers of the reanimated dead are amplified greatly. Our heroes include SWAT members (Ken Foree and Scott Reiniger) and employees of a TV station (David Emge and Gaylen Ross), and they wind up seeking shelter in a shopping mall. As they clear out the undead, do some unsupervised shopping, and try to avoid losing their minds, the outside world seems to recede into the background. But nothing lasts forever, and the arrival of a marauding band of bikers puts their consumer-based paradise in serious jeopardy. Tom Savini provides a number of great gore effects, and Romero never misses a chance to skewer a society obsessed with material wealth.
  • Knightriders (1981) – After a series of horror movies, Romero changed gears to direct this film about a group of traveling performers who joust on motorcycles for the entertainment of the crowd. Ed Harris stars as the leader of the troupe, a chivalrous, modern-day knight who lives by an antiquated code of honor. But his system of beliefs are increasingly put to the test by corrupt cops, greedy promoters, and a power-hungry performer named Morgan (Tom Savini). Stephen King and his wife have a cameo.
  • Creepshow (1982) – Romero teams up with Stephen King for this entertaining horror anthology that presents five tales of terror in the style of the old EC comic books. Stars include Ed Harris, Hal Holbrook, Ten Danson, Adrienne Barbeau, Stephen King, E.G. Marshall, and Leslie Nielsen. My favorite installment is “The Crate,” in which a henpecked husband (Holbrook) uses a crate containing a deadly monster to rid himself of his nagging wife (Barbeau).
  • Day of the Dead (1985) – The third film in Romero’s groundbreaking trilogy, Day of the Dead picks up with the Earth almost completely overrun by zombies. A group of scientists and soldiers try to survive in an underground complex, but tensions run high and the dead never rest. Audiences are introduced to “Bub,” (Sherman Howard) a zombie who exhibits memories of his human life, and he threatens to steal the show whenever he’s on-camera. The members of the military community are predictably portrayed as brutal thugs–a recurring theme in Romero movies–and it’s only a matter of time before their underground stronghold is compromised by the shambling undead. Co-starring Lori Cardille, Joe Pilato, and Jarlath Conroy.
  • Monkey Shines (1988) – Things look bleak when an athlete (Jason Beghe) gets hit by a truck and turned into a quadriplegic, but then his scientist pal loans him an experimental helper monkey named Ella. This makes life a lot easier at first, but part of the aforementioned experiments resulted in Elle being injected with human brain tissue. Is it any wonder that she eventually flips out, going on a homicidal monkey rampage? Co-starring Janine Turner and Stanley Tucci.
  • Two Evil Eyes (1990) – George A. Romero and Dario Argento team up, each helming a one-hour tale of terror. Romero goes first with “The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar,” the story of a dying man, his greedy and unfaithful wife, and the dangers of hypnotism. Adrienne Barbeau stars, and Romero works in plenty of his expected social commentary. The second half of the film, “The Black Cat,“ is the better of the two, with Italian horror icon Dario Argento teaming up with Harvey Keitel for the story of Rod Usher (Keitel), a photographer whose life goes down the toilet following an encounter with a mysterious feline. Co-starring Julie Benz, John Amos, Martin Balsam, and Sally Kirkland. You’ll get to see Keitel wear a beret, and you’ll also marvel at his ability to come up with fake voices in a pinch.

  • The Dark Half (1993) – Adapted from a novel by Stephen King, The Dark Half follows author Thad Beaumont (Timothy Hutton) as he learns that his pseudonym, George Stark (also Hutton), has physically manifested in the real world. Amy Madigan plays the writer’s wife, and Michael Rooker is the Castle Rock sheriff investigating the case. A delightfully twisted tale with a fine performance from the Oscar-winning Hutton.
  • Bruiser (2000) – Jason Flemyng stars as Henry Creedlow, a downtrodden executive who wakes up one morning to find his face replaced with a featureless mask. With his new face comes a whole new attitude, and soon Henry is killing off everyone who ever wronged him. Nina Garbiras is smoking hot as Henry’s unfaithful wife, and Peter Stormare is way over the top as his egomaniacal boss. Given that this is a George Romero movie, Bruiser is surprisingly light on gore.
  • Land of the Dead (2005) – Thanks to a renewed interest in the genre, Romero received his biggest budget for a Dead film ($16 million). Set in the city of Pittsburgh, the living have built a refuge of sorts thanks to water on three sides and an electrified fence on the other. But while most survivors scrape out a meager existence, the wealthy still live high on the hog in the center of the city (known as Fiddler’s Green). Chief among the social elite is Paul Kaufman (Dennis Hopper), and much of his power is thanks to the creation of Dead Reckoning, an armored vehicle that’s able to venture into zombie territory and retrieve critical supplies for the populace. Simon Baker and John Leguizamo are part of the vehicle’s crew, and Asia Argento is a hooker scheduled to be fed to the undead. Class warfare soon ensues, giving Romero plenty of opportunities to engage in social commentary. Meanwhile, a zombie named Big Daddy (Eugene Clark) is developing an alarming level of intelligence. Keep an eye out for cameos from Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, and Tom Savini.
  • Diary of the Dead (2008) – The fifth film in the George Romero Dead series, this one is shot documentary-style and follows a group of college students as their attempts to make an indie horror film are interrupted by the reanimation of the dead. The Amish get to show what badasses they are, a college professor wields a sword, and one girl seems oddly eager to shoot herself in the head. If you enjoyed the feel of REC, Cloverfield, and The Blair Witch Project, then give this one a try.
  • Survival of the Dead (2009) – The most recent of the George Romero movies about zombies, Survival follows a group of National Guardsmen seen briefly in Diary of the Dead. Looking for a safe haven in the midst of the undead apocalypse, they wind up on an island off the coast of Delaware. But Plum Island is largely dominated by two feuding Irish families, and even the dead rising from the ground can’t put a stop to their lengthy feud. Starring Alan van Sprang, Kenneth Welsh, and Kathleen Munroe, this one features zombie chicks riding horses, lots of old guys shooting at one another, and a lead character who should own stock in Philip Morris.

That wraps up our look at all the George Romero movies to be released as of this writing. If you love zombies but are unfamiliar with his work, I urge you to give them a try. While the budgets may pale next to modern-day remakes, you’ll find many of the Romero films feature impressive gore effects and a surprising dedication to using scenes of horror to make a social critique.

Ed Wood Movies

Posted on by
Reply

If you’re unfamiliar with Ed Wood movies, then you’re in for a treat. See, Ed Wood Jr. (also known as Edward D. Wood) didn’t just make movies; he made bizarre spectacles that are still being marveled at by lovers of cinematic trash and odd films (in addition to writing pulp, sex, and horror novels). Populated with real-life screwballs and misfits, his enthusiastic forays into the world of filmmaking reveal a unusual man with an absolute passion for cinema and a complete lack of good taste. So settle back, gentle reader, and prepare to revel in the twisted world of Ed Wood, a man frequently known as the worst director of all time.

  • Glen or Glenda (1953) – Ed Wood was a cross-dresser in real life, and this exploitation film was his plea for tolerance and understanding. The first part of the film follows Glen (Ed Wood) as he grapples with his hidden life as a cross-dresser. Horror icon Bela Lugosi narrates as a character named The Scientist, at one point bellowing “Pull the string!” as a stampeding herd of bison are shown on-screen. Later, Wood’s real-life girlfriend (Dolores Fuller) shows off her muscular back after Glen makes his confession to her. In the second part of the film, a pseudohermaphrodite named Alan fights in World War II while wearing women’s underwear. A strange film, even in this day and age.
  • Jail Bait (1954) – When the police get on his trail, a violent gangster (Timothy Farrell) undergoes plastic surgery to disguise his appearance. Not as downright weird as some of Wood’s other films, the movie also marks the feature film debut of Steve Reeves, who would later become Europe’s highest paid actor while starring in a series of sword and sandal pictures.

  • Bride of the Monster (1955) – Bela Lugosi stars as Dr. Eric Vornoff, a mad scientist hoping to create an army of nuclear powered soldiers with which to conquer the planet. With the help of his mute assistant Lobo (Wood regular and pro wrestler Tor Johnson), Vornoff abducts a nosy reporter (Loretta King Hadler), but this soon brings the police snooping around, not to mention riling up the local killer octopus. Funding was provided by a rancher, who just so happened to insist that his son (Tony McCoy) be cast as the heroic lead. Lugosi’s last speaking role in a film, Bride of the Monster also features spineless policeman Officer Kelton (Paul Marco), who would turn up again in Night of the Ghouls and Plan 9 from Outer Space.
  • The Violent Years (1956) – While he didn’t direct, Ed Wood did write the screenplay for this film about a gang of juvenile delinquent high school girls. Led by the bored daughter of a newspaper editor (Jean Moorhead), these tough gals dress like guys (not surprisingly, cross-dressing and body transformation was a staple of any Wood screenplay), rob gas stations, take part in a Communist plot, and even rape unlucky (or very lucky) men who cross their path. It only runs 65 minutes, but it’s jam-packed with paranoia about the state of American youth in the 1950s.
  • Plan 9 from Outer Space (1959) – The most famous (and infamous) of all Ed Wood movies, Plan 9 from Outer Space has often been labeled as the worst film ever made. Bela Lugosi receives top billing, although his death required Wood to get his chiropractor to stand in for the horror legend in a number of scenes (pulling his cape over his face). When humanity is on the brink of creating a doomsday weapon that will destroy the universe, a group of concerned aliens resurrect the planet’s dead in an effort to create a diversion. The strings on the flying saucers are clearly visible, lines are flubbed, and a boatload of other continuity errors are visible. Looking like something shot by kids over the weekend, Plan 9 from Outer Space perfectly captures Wood’s never-say-die approach to filmmaking, as well as his total ineptitude. Just make sure you’re prepared to laugh, as this is the most unintentionally funny of all the films by Ed Wood.
  • Night of the Ghouls (1959) – Another gem written, produced, and directed by Ed Wood, this one serves as a spiritual sequel to Bride of the Monster. Due to financing difficulties, it wasn’t released until 1987, but those with patience were treated to a tale of a conman (Kenne Duncan) who claims to be able to talk to spirits. Needless to say, he winds up regretting his actions. Paul Marco shows up again as the cowardly Patrolman Kelton, and Wood regulars such as Criswell and Tor Johnson are also included.

  • The Sinister Urge (1961) – The danger of pornography is illustrated in this crime film written and directed by Ed Wood. A pornographer’s assistant (Carl Anthony) loses his mind when confronted with continual imagery of T&A, and it’s not long before he’s murdering random women. As the police try to end his rampage, they must delve deep into the seedy world of adult films. More kookiness from the master of the bizarre.
  • Orgy of the Dead (1965) – Not only did Ed Wood write this blend of horror and eroticism, but he also held up cue cards, acted as casting agent, and served as production manager. When a young couple get involved in a car crash, they find themselves transported to a creepy graveyard where a series of striptease performances take place. The Mummy and The Wolf Man are included for comic relief, and the Wolf Man’s mask is especially laughable. Inaccurate real-life psychic Criswell (also seen in Plan 9 from Outer Space) plays the Emperor of the Night. It’s cheaper than going to a strip club, especially if you’re into chicks from the ‘60s.
  • Necromania (1971) – In his later years, Ed Wood made a number of porn movies. This is one of them, and it was believed lost for years. Luckily for fans of odd films, it wasn’t. The plot revolves around a young couple who visit a necromancer to get some help with the man’s erectile dysfunction, and the necromancer’s assistant takes good care of them prior to the main event. Maria Arnold stars as Madame Heles, a role that was originally offered to TV’s Vampira (she refused due to the required nudity). If you’ve ever wondered what it would look like if the world’s worst director did a porn movie, then be sure to track this one down (strangely, it’s better than some adult films that I’ve seen).
  • I Woke Up Early the Day I Died (1998) – Made two decades after his death, this film is intended as a tribute to Ed Wood (and based on his screenplay). Filled with intentional, camp, and stock footage, the plot revolves around a cross-dresser (Billy Zane) who escapes from a sanitarium, gets some money, loses the money at a funeral, and then sets out to kill everyone who was at the funeral. The eclectic cast includes Ron Perlman, Christina Ricci, Leif Garrett, John Ritter, Tippi Hedren, Sandra Bernhard, Eartha Kitt, Will Patton, Tara Reid, and Steven Weber. It was knocked by critics, but not everyone can be freakin’ Tim Burton.

So the next time you’re feeling like you’ll never be cut out for a career in film, just pop one of these Ed Wood movies into the DVD player. Your self-esteem will receive an immediate boost, and you’ll be cranking out scripts about aliens and transsexuals before you know it.

Werner Herzog Movies

Posted on by
1

While Werner Herzog movies are often captivating portraits of individuals struggling against nature or their own mad ambitions, the director himself is also equally fascinating. A commonly-told story had him threatening to first shoot actor Klaus Kinski and then himself if the volatile performer attempted to leave the production of Aguirre, the Wrath of God. He also ate his own shoe after losing a bet, and dismissed being shot by an air rifle while being interviewed by the BBC (“It is not a significant bullet.”). In other words, he often seems to fit the stereotype of the crazy German all too well, but there’s boatloads of genius to go along with the low-key madness. Give a few of these films a try, and you’ll soon find yourself becoming a Werner Herzog fan.

Herzog shares tips on the best way to tear a man apart with your bare hands.

For a site dedicated to the offbeat and unusual of the cinematic world, watching Werner Herzog movies are like finding an oasis in the middle of the desert. Here are a few examples of the good German movies helmed by the director:

  • The Grand (2008) – Before we dive into the Werner Herzog movies actually directed by the German genius, let’s look at one that features him as an actor. This largely improvised comedy revolves around a poker tournament in Las Vegas and the colorful assortment of gamblers who show up to participate. Entrants include Woody Harrelson, Cheryl Hines, David Cross, Dennis Farina, and Richard Kind. But Herzog trumps them all as The German, a leather-clad cheater who’s notorious for sacrificing animals before tournaments for good luck. He’s not in the film for long, but fans of the director should still get a kick out of it. The rest of the movie isn’t bad either, especially Ray Romano’s obsession with getting Peyton Manning onto his fantasy football team.
  • Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979) – Meant as a remake of the 1922 German vampire movie from F.W. Murnau, Nosferatu the Vampyre stars Klaus Kinski as the title character, a hideous undead noble whose hunger for love is matched only for his thirst for blood. Also starring Isabelle Adjani and Bruno Ganz.

If you ever needed proof that Klaus Kinski was nuts, here's Exhibit A.

  • Aguirre, the Wrath of God (1972) – A group of Spanish conquistadors head down the Amazon River in search of the fabled city of gold, El Dorado. Besides dealing with hostile locals and the unforgiving heat of the jungle, the group must also contend with the mad ambitions of Don Lope de Aguirre (Klaus Kinski), a delusional soldier who fancies himself the next ruler of the world. A brilliant look at the dangers of greed and ambition, the film scales back the dialogue and allows the scenery and Kinski’s crazed eyes to tell the story. The first of five collaborations between the director and actor, it’s the finest of all Werner Herzog movies in my opinion.
  • Fitzcarraldo (1982) – Based on a true story, this collaboration between Klaus Kinski and Werner Herzog tells the tale of Brian “Fitzcarraldo” Fitzgerald, an Irishman who dreams of getting into the Peruvian rubber trade and then building an opera house in city of Iquitos. But in order to do so, he’ll have to have his three-story steamer physically pulled across a muddy hillside from one river to another. Another manic performance from Kinski, and the lovely Claudia Cardinale co-stars as his brothel-owning lover. There was the usual tension on the set that one would expect from a film starring Kinski, and Herzog later revealed that a local tribal chief offered to murder the actor for him. Herzog declined, stating that he needed Kinski to complete the film.
  • Grizzly Man (2005) – For 13 summers, Timothy Treadwell traveled to Alaska to interact with the bear population of Katmai National Park and Preserve. But in 2003, he and his girlfriend were attacked and eaten by one of the creatures that he so fiercely loved. Herzog tells his story in this documentary about one man’s dangerous passion.
  • Cobra Verde (1987) – The final collaboration between Herzog and Klaus Kinski, the latter stars as a rancher who becomes a famed bandit and then sets out on a suicide mission to reestablish the slave trade between Brazil and Africa. Kinski is both mesmerizing and manic (nothing new there), and the film is a triumphant adaptation of the novel The Viceroy of Ouidah by Bruce Chatwin.

"You can either put these on or watch The Sorcerer's Apprentice. Your choice."

  • Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans (2009) – Nicolas Cage gets to act batshit crazy as Terrence McDonagh, a New Orleans cop with chronic back pain, gambling and drug addictions, and a high-class prostitute girlfriend (Eva Mendes). Herzog’s direction is equally offbeat, with portions of the film shot from the perspective of iguanas and alligators. A number of critics placed it on their lists for the best films of 2009, including Herzog devotee Roger Ebert.
  • Encounters at the End of the World (2007) – Most people think that nobody lives in Antarctica, but they’re wrong. The vast landscape is actually dotted with interesting characters, and Werner Herzog wastes no time in capturing their life stories in this compelling documentary. The land itself is also a star, and you’ll get more out of this than any boring mainstream film about penguins.
  • Stroszek (1977) -With most of the roles played by non-actors, Stroszek paints a bizarre portrait of a Berlin street singer who moves to Wisconsin with his prostitute girlfriend after being released from prison. Roger Ebert has called it “one of the oddest films ever made,” and that’s really saying something. Also starring Eva Mattes, who would also marry and have a child by the director.
  • Invincible (2001) – Loosely based around the real-life events in the life of Zishe Breitbart (Jouko Ahola), a Jewish strongman working in Berlin. But the timeline is shifted, and the freakishly strong Breitbart finds himself in 1932, on the eve of the Nazi party’s ascension to power. Hanussen (Tim Roth) is his employer, a seedy mystic who tries to gain the favor of men such as Heinrich Himmler. An interesting perspective on the rise of evil through one man’s eyes.
  • My Best Fiend (1999) – A fascinating documentary by Herzog about his longtime friend and frequent collaborator, tempestuous actor Klaus Kinski. The relationship was frequently stormy, and Herzog pulls no punches in both praising and damning his subject. Plenty of behind-the-scenes footage is shown, and Kinski co-stars such as Claudia Cardinale share their recollections of the unpredictable performer. If you’re a fan of any of the five films Herzog and Kinski did together, be sure to add this one to your Netflix queue.
  • Werner Herzog Eats His Shoe (1980) – In an attempt to inspire fellow filmmaker Errol Morris, Werner Herzog stated he would eat his shoe if Morris ever completed his project, Gates of Heaven. He did, and Herzog honored his word. This 20-minute documentary captures the director preparing the shoe with the help of a chef and then chowing down at the premiere of the movie. Are all Germans this wacky?

If you enjoyed this discussion of Werner Herzog movies, here are other articles you’ll be interested in:

Leslie Nielsen Movies

Posted on by
Reply

A comedic genius passed away on November 28th, 2010, so it’s high time we took a look at some Leslie Nielsen movies. Yes, I’m talking about the deadpan actor who made people around the globe bust out laughing with memorable roles such as Lt. Frank Drebin and Dr. Barry Rumack. But there was more to Nielsen than just a head of white hair and a serious expression: His lengthy career included over 100 films roles and 1,500 television appearances, and he was known as a serious performer until 1980’s Airplane! took his career in a whole new direction.

We now proudly present 11 of the best Leslie Nielsen movies, the man film critic Roger Ebert once referred to as “the Olivier of spoofs.”

  • Creepshow (1982) – Directed by George Romero and written by Stephen King (who also stars), this excellent horror anthology features five tales of terror. Leslie Nielsen pops up in the story entitled “Something to Tide You Over” as a wealthy nutcase who buries his unfaithful wife (Gaylen Ross) and her lover (Ted Danson) up to their necks on the beach and leaves them to drown. But this is a horror movie after all, so there are still a few surprises in store for the vengeful hubby. Nielsen plays it straight, effectively pulling off the role of a psychopath.
  • Airplane! (1980) – At the age of 54, Leslie Nielsen thought he’d reached the point in his career where he was doomed to play kindly uncles. But when filmmakers Zucker, Zucker, and Abrahams came calling with a role in their latest spoof, he jumped at the chance to try something different. His resulting turn as the deadpan Dr. Rumack led to comedy roles for the next thirty years. The rest of the cast in this film about a plane filled with wacky, food-poisoned passengers includes Robert Hays, Peter Graves, Lloyd Bridges, Robert Stack, Julie Hagerty, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

  • Forbidden Planet (1956) – Inspired by Shakespeare’s The Tempest, this sci-fi classic stars Leslie Nielsen as the commander of a spaceship sent to the planet Altair IV to learn the fate of a previous expedition. All they find when they get there are an aging scientist (Walter Pidgeon) and his horny teen daughter (Anne Francis)…oh, and an invisible beast that begins picking off the crew one by one. James Best, known as television’s Sheriff Roscoe P. Coltrane, shows up in an unaccredited role as a crewman, but it’s the massive Robby the Robot who steals the show.
  • Nuts (1987) – Leslie Nielsen’s final non-comedy role, Nuts stars Barbra Streisand as a call girl from an upper-middle-class background who struggles to be declared mentally competent enough to stand trial for killing one of her clients. Richard Dreyfuss co-stars as the public defender dedicated to helping her, and Nielsen is the aforementioned murdered john. The rest of the excellent supporting cast includes Eli Wallach, Maureen Stapleton, and Karl Malden (in his final role).
  • Prom Night (1980) – This slasher flick from the ‘80s begins with the accidental death of an 11-year-old girl. Six years later, the kids responsible are preparing for the high school prom, as are the brother (Michael Tough) and sister (Jamie Lee Curtis) of the deceased. But as the big event draws closer, strange things start to happen, and soon a masked killer is picking off teenagers. Prom Night would spawn three sequels and a modern-day remake, and Leslie Nielsen co-stars in a serious role as the school’s principal and father of the dead girl.

  • The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988) – Of all the Leslie Nielsen movies, this slapstick cop comedy from Zucker, Abrahams, and Zucker remains his most famous role. Nielsen stars as Lt. Frank Drebin, a straight-arrow L.A. cop who’s constantly screwing up and wreaking havoc in pursuit of the bad guys. When a deranged millionaire (Ricardo Montalban) sets out to assassinate Queen Elizabeth II at a California Angels baseball game, Drebin must use every trick in the book. These include passing himself off as opera singer Enrico Pallazzo and butchering the national anthem, as well as hitting the field as an overly-enthusiastic umpire. Priscilla Presley is fetching as the love interest, and other supporting players include George Kennedy and O.J. Simpson (back before he was known as a murderer). Two sequels would follow, although neither was as funny as the first.
  • Scary Movie 3 (2003) – Drawing heavily from movies such as Signs and The Ring, this David Zucker spoof of horror flicks opens with scantily-clad hotties Jenny McCarthy and Pamela Anderson getting dispatched after watching a cursed videotape. Nielsen appears as the President of the United States, who personally comes to the farm of Tom Logan (Charlie Sheen) to investigate the appearance of large crop circles that read “Attack Here.” Also starring Anna Faris, George Carlin, Anthony Anderson, Denise Richards, Simon Cowell, Jeremy Piven, and Queen Latifah.
  • The Plainsman (1966) – A remake of a Cecil B. DeMille movie from 1936, The Plainsman features Calamity Jane (Abby Dalton), Wild Bill Hickok (Don Murray), and Buffalo Bill Cody (Guy Stockwell) as they try to prevent an Indian war from breaking out. Leslie Nielsen looks great in a moustache as Colonel George Armstrong Custer, and Spanish/Sicilian actor Henry Silva pitches in as the marauding Indian known as Crazy Knife (boy, that name doesn’t have “villain” written all over it).

  • The Poseidon Adventure (1972) – An ocean liner makes one last voyage before being decommissioned, but an ill-timed underwater earthquake unleashes a tsunami that turns the whole shebang upside down. As the SS Poseidon slowly sinks into the depths of the ocean, a band of survivors must try to reach the safety of the ship’s hull. A massive success at the box office, the film stars just marquee names as Gene Hackman, Shelley Winters, Ernest Borgnine, Red Buttons, and Roddy McDowall. Leslie Nielsen is also part of the cast, playing the doomed Captain Harrison.
  • Day of the Animals (1977) – From the makers of Grizzly comes this outlandish tale of nature run amok courtesy of solar radiation. Leslie Nielsen is one of a group of hikers unlucky to be up in the mountains when it all goes down, and he ends up being affected just like the wildlife around him. See Leslie Nielsen stalk Christopher George! See Leslie Nielsen take on a grizzly bear! See just how crazy an owl can truly be!
  • Ransom! (1956) – Based on a 1954 television episode, Ransom! stars Glenn Ford as a wealthy executive whose son is kidnapped. The kidnappers demand a ransom of $500,000, but he decides to instead offer it as a bounty on the heads of the guilty if they don’t return his kid. Donna Reed co-stars as the wife who’s none-too-happy about his ploy, and Leslie Nielsen makes his film debut as a newspaper reporter. The film would be remade in 1996 as a vehicle for that Jew-loving Mel Gibson.

And if you’re a fan of golf, be sure to catch the series of comical instructional videos hosted by Nielsen. The first is titled Bad Golf Made Easier, while the sequels included Bad Golf My Way and Stupid Little Golf Video. A lifelong fan of the sport, surely he’s playing golf right now in that big course in the sky.

He is…and don’t call me Shirley.

Also recommended:

How to Become a Comic Book Artist

Posted on by
Reply

If you want to know how to become a comic book artist, then you’ve certainly come to the right place. In the following article, I’ll provide a brief outline of all the necessary steps you’ll need to take in order to succeed in this fun and rewarding career. Please note, however, that art lessons aren’t included. I’m assuming you’re already incredibly talented when it comes to drawing muscular men and big-breasted women with impossibly slim waists. If not, you may want to postpone this article until a time when your talent is as great as your ambition.

Get an Education – Getting a degree in art won’t automatically land you a job in the comics industry, but it does demonstrate that you’re got the dedication to finish what you start. And just in case you don’t become the next Jim Lee, you’ve always got that degree to fall back on. If pottery and photography aren’t your thing, you should be delighted to know that certain schools do offer programs in sequential art.

Put Together a Portfolio – When you go to apply for a job, the hiring editor who interviews you will want to see examples of your artwork. That’s where the portfolio comes in, and it should show off all your strongest talents as an artist. Be sure to include a few drawings of characters made popular by the company you’re applying for, but don’t forget to add in some original characters to show off your ability to be creative. Tailor portfolios for the company you’re applying for, which means don’t sit down with someone from Marvel and show them a ton of Superman illustrations. If you have talents as an inker, include artwork that demonstrates this ability. Being skilled in two area will certainly increase your chances of landing a job. Finally, it’s a smart idea to keep a web portfolio and stay active on social networking sites, as you never know who might come across your work online.

Apply for a Job – Now that you’ve got the talent and the portfolio to prove it, it’s time to go job hunting. In order to do this, you’ll need to get your work seen by one of the editors for the comic book company you’re interested in working with. The first way to do this is via mail. Find out the submission guidelines for the company in question, and then send your work along. Some companies accept unsolicited submissions, while others do not. Keep in mind that editors are swamped with applications–not to mention their day-to-day duties–so it might be a while before you hear anything back. And frankly, don’t be surprised if you don’t hear back from them at all.

The best tip for how to become a comic book artist is to attend conventions. Editors from all the big names will be there, as well as guys from the smaller comapnies. In most cases, a certain amount of time will be carved out for aspiring artists to show off their portfolios and receive honest, face-to-face feedback. This is ideal, as impressing one of these editors could quickly land you some work or a request for additional samples of your art. At the same time, be prepared to accept negative feedback gracefully. But no matter what the results, be sure to give the editor your contact information and send a follow-up letter thanking them for their time.

Don’t Forget the Smaller Companies – If you’re rejected by all the major players in the industry, there’s always the chance of catching on with one of the smaller outfits. Try to follow the same advice as listed above, and be sure to keep a positive attitude throughout. If you’re still not having any luck, maybe it’s time to go back to the drawing board…literally.

That concludes our look at how to become a comic book artist. Unless you’re totally committed to working in the industry, I suggest you go ahead and put the dream behind you right now. Becoming a comic book artist is a tough proposition, so only the most professional and most dedicated are going to rise to the top. If that sounds like you, then don’t let anything stand in your way.

How to Frame a Movie Poster

Posted on by
Reply

You might be asking yourself, “Why in the world would I need to know how to frame a movie poster”? Well, for the sake of argument, let’s assume that you’ve just purchased the following poster:

Pretty sweet. I mean, who wouldn’t want a giant movie poster featuring a black biker grafted together with a honky racist? And the only thing cooler than telling all your friends about it online is to actually frame and display the thing in your home. Talk about a conversation starter.

Which, to get back to the initial question, is why you need to know how to frame a movie poster. Here’s how:

  • Measure the Movie Poster – First, you’ll want to measure the movie poster in order to determine the correct size for the frame and mounting board. At this stage, you’ll also need to decide how you want the poster to look inside the frame. You can either go for a snug fit where only the poster is visible, or you can leave an inch or two to allow colored paper or the mounting board to show through. I recommend the second option, as a snug fit may clip the edges of your poster, which is especially bad if you’re looking to keep it as a collector’s item.
  • Buy the Poster Frame – When it’s time to buy the poster frame, simply refer to the measurements you took. Again, you can either go for a snug fit or leave an inch or two to allow a border to be visible. If you’re unsure, don’t be afraid to ask an employee for help, and you can also ask to examine framed movie posters of similar size to get an idea of what the finished product should look like.
  • Glass or Plexiglass – Should you go with glass or plexiglass for your frame? Glass can break and it also traps moisture, so it’s not recommended for collectible movie posters. Conservation glass is too expensive, and the results still aren’t perfect. Go with plexiglass, but be sure to get a high grade plexiglass (which is usually about an eighth of an inch thick). Otherwise, you’ll find that it may turn yellow or develop an opaque film over time. If you’re really serious about your movie posters, be sure to buy plexiglass with UV filtering.
  • Poster Boarding – You’ll need a poster board backing to support your movie poster. Some frames come with the poster board already attached, or you can buy your own and insert it. The latter option may call for some measuring and trimming, but it shouldn’t be anything you can’t handle. Doing it yourself may also save you a few bucks. As always, don’t hesitate to tell an employee what you want and solicit their opinion. One word of advice: Be certain that you get acid-free poster backing (acid-free foamcore is the best). If the backboard contains acid, then your poster will wind up damaged from contact with the surface.
  • Undo Hinges – Now that you’ve got your frame and poster board, take it all home and get ready to move to the next phase of how to frame a movie poster. You’ll notice hinges on the back of the picture frame, and you’ll want to undo them.
  • Slide the Poster In – Once the hinges are undone, you should be ready to get started. If the frame came with acid-free poster board already inside, then it will be very simple. Otherwise, you’ll need to trim your own poster board so that it fits snugly. Once that’s done, just slide the movie poster on in.
  • Adjustments - When the poster is inside, close it up and make sure that it fits the way you want. In some cases, the poster will stay secure on its own. Otherwise, you’ll need to secure it to the poster board with tape or some other type of adhesive. When the poster is adjusted to your specifications, be sure to clean the glass and allow it to dry before closing the hinges. If you have plexiglass covering the poster, be sure to avoid cleaning it with ammonia based products. This will lead to a cloudy film on the surface.
  • Hanging – Once your lovely and somewhat bizarre movie poster is tucked away securely inside the frame, look for a suitable spot to hang it. I suggest somewhere that will both amuse you and catch the eye of any guests you might have over.

Congratulations are in order, because now you know how to frame a movie poster. Remember, stay away from anything containing acid, and always use high-quality plexiglass. If you follow the tips set down in this article, you’ll be decorating your home or apartment with movie posters in no time.

How to Write a Movie Script for Dummies

Posted on by
Reply

Today’s article is titled How to Write a Movie Script for Dummies. As you might have guessed, it’s aimed at anyone who’s ever dreamed of seeing their name on the credits of a film. Of course, writing a full-length movie script isn’t as easy as it might sound, even if you’ve managed to come up with an idea that can’t miss. And just because you get the screenplay completed without totally losing your mind, there’s still no guarantee that Hollywood will come calling.

That being said, there’s nothing wrong with pursuing your passion. And if you’ve seen some of the films to come out in the last few years, you’ve no doubt realized that the movie industry needs all the good scripts it can get. So fire up your computer and your imagination; you’re almost ready to crank out an award-winning movie script.

Get Familiar with Screenplays – If you’re going to write a movie script, it sure helps to know what it looks like. Things on the written page can seem very different from what ends up on the screen, so it’s a good idea to look through a number of film scripts to see how they translate. Pick some movies you find especially well-written and go hunting for them on the Internet. You can also pick some screenplays from crappy films with lots of explosions (Michael Bay, anyone?) and give them a once-over. Here are some places to search:

  • SimplyScripts
  • Drew’s Script-O-Rama
  • The Internet Movie Script Database
  • Scriptwriter Center
  • Daily Script

Learn the Format – Movie screenplays are expected to adhere to a very specific format. If they don’t, there’s a distinct chance that they’ll end up in the garbage bin of some Hollywood studio. And when I say specific format, I’m talking about everything from the size of the print, to spacing, to how many holes are punched in the pages. So where do you learn the proper formatting for a screenplay? Any of the following books will do the trick, plus they’ll also provide a number of trick and tips for getting the most from your scriptwriting experience.

  • Screenwriting For Dummies by John Logan and Laura Schellhardt
  • Screenplay by Syd Field
  • Your Screenplay Sucks!: 100 Ways to Make It Great by William M. Akers
  • From Reel to Deal: Everything You Need to Create a Successful Independent Film by Dov S.-S. Simens
  • How to Write a Selling Screenplay by Christopher Keane
  • Screenplay, the Sequence Approach by Paul Gulino
  • Making A Good Script Great by Linda Seger
  • Screenwriting for Teens: The 100 Principles of Screenwriting Every Budding Writer Must Know by Christina Hamlett
  • Author! Screenwriter!: How to Succeed as a Writer in New York and Hollywood by Peter Miller
  • Story by Robert McKee
  • The 101 Habits Of Highly Successful Screenwriters: Insider’s Secrets from Hollywood’s Top Writers by Karl Iglesias
  • How Not To Write A Screenplay by Denny Martin Flynn

Come Up with a Winning Idea – Before you begin to write your screenplay, you’ll need to come up with a winning idea. This can be more difficult than it sounds, as thousands of ideas have already been used up by both foreign and domestic productions. The genre of the film is just as important, as most studios are obsessed with taking advantage of the latest trends. If you happened to have a top-notch vampire romance sitting around during the Twilight craze, you might have been in luck. But no matter what your idea, your script needs to have the following:

  • Motivation - The characters in the film need to want something, whether it’s an object or an ideal. Otherwise, why would anyone want to watch them in the first place?
  • Conflict - No matter what the characters want, they should have to struggle to get the desired results. Life is all about conflicts of various types, and your movie script should reflect that.
  • High Concept – While not absolutely essential, it never hurts to come up with an idea that’s considered high concept. This means that your story can easily be grasped by the audience and features a compelling idea that’s sure to pack those flabby American butts into the seats. In the world of songwriting, this factor is known as a hook.

Screenwriting Software – There’s no way I could call this article How to Write a Movie Script for Dummies unless I mentioned screenwriting software. That’s because all Hollywood scripts are expected to be in the exact same format, and anything that deviates from the formula will be quickly discarded. Unless you want to keep up with all those requirements in your already-cluttered brain, you can purchase screenwriting software to do all the work for you. When you decide to head over to Amazon and do some shopping, be sure to check out the following:

  • Final Draft
  • Movie Magic Screenwriter
  • Movie Outline
  • Dramatica Pro
  • Storyist
  • Montage
  • Outline 4D
  • John Truby’s Blockbuster
  • Celtx (free software available online)
  • Rough Draft (free software available online)

Start Writing – Now that you’ve brushed up on what a screenplay should look like and picked up some tips from various books, it’s time to start writing your screenplay. Dive right in and don’t worry about mistakes, as you’ll probably rewrite your work a number of times. Make sure that the audience will care about the lead character, and don’t forget that film is a visual medium. When possible, make sure the audience is shown the action and not told about it. You should also shoot for 100 to 120 pages for your first screenplay, as this is about average. You can write a sweeping epic once you’ve become famous or at least gained more experience.

Rewrites – Once you’ve got the first version of your screenplay completed, go back and begin the rewriting process. You’ll want to make sure the overall story and structure make sense, and this is your chance to tighten up the dialogue.

Now the Really Hard Part – Once your script is finally completed, it’s time to go out and try to sell it. This is the hardest part of the whole process, as you’ll be competing against many screenwriters with more experience. But don’t give up. Nobody ever said selling your screenplay was going to be easy, and that will make it all the more worthwhile when you finally obtain a level of recognition. For more on this step, try typing “selling your movie script” into Google.

So there you have it: How to Write a Movie Script for Dummies. While there are dozens of tricks and tips not included in this article, I hope I’ve driven home the basic concepts that you need to be aware of. And just in case you happen to sell your scripts and become a wealthy screenwriter, don’t forget us little people who helped start you on the road to success.

How to Be a Gangster: Movies About Organized Crime

Posted on by
3

I’m calling this article How to Be a Gangster: Movies About Organized Crime. That’s because all you wanna-be gangsters out there can learn all you’ll ever need to know about the subject by watching the following films. Whether you’re interested in brushing up on how to whack out an informant or your inevitable death scene, these classics of the genre will provide a wealth of information. So load up your gat, grab your favorite moll, and prepare to pick up a trick or two about the fine art of crime (which, by the way, doesn’t pay).

  • The Krays (1990) – Twins Martin and Gary Kemp of Spandau Ballet play real-life British gangsters Ronnie and Reggie Kray, the most infamous criminals in the London underground of the 1960s. When asked by a reporter if they know The Beatles, one of the brothers replies, “No, but they know us.”
  • The Godfather (1972) – If you want to know how to be a gangster, be sure to catch this groundbreaking film from director Francis Ford Coppola. As family head Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando) attempts to deal with the changing face of organized crime, his son Michael (Al Pacino) is slowly sucked into the life of murder and betrayal. Also starring Diane Keaton, James Caan, Robert Duvall, and John Cazale.
  • The Godfather: Part II (1974) – No list of movies about organized crime would be complete without this Oscar-winning sequel about the further bloody intrigues of the Corleone family. As Michael (Al Pacino) wrestles with the pressures of running the family, a series of flashbacks show father Vito’s (Robert De Niro) arrival in America and his rise to power within the mob.

  • Eastern Promises (2007) – David Cronenberg directed this tense thriller about a London midwife (Naomi Watts) who gets caught up with the Russian mob while trying to find the father of a recently born child. Viggo Mortensen fights naked in a bath house, while Vincent Cassel seems all kinds of unstable. An interesting look at a Russian crime family, especially when it comes to their complex series of tattoos.
  • Little Caesar (1931) – Edward G. Robinson stars as Rico, a cold-blooded thug who quickly rises to power as the head of the Chicago crime world. Meanwhile, his pal (Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.) is more interested in chasing dames and becoming a famous dancer. Robinson became a star after the release of this film, this providing would-be mimics with an easy subject.
  • Goodfellas (1990) – Based on the book by Nicholas Pileggi, this captivating Martin Scorsese film looks at life through the eyes of gangster Henry Hill (Ray Liotta). There’s plenty of period music and graphic violence, and the presence of Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci really puts this production over the top. Pesci is especially memorable as the quick-tempered Tommy DeVito, who was actually based on a real guy.
  • While the City Sleeps (1928) – This silent film stars Lon Chaney as a flat-footed cop out to bring down a viscous gangster. Also starring Anita Page, Carroll Nye, and Mae Busch.
  • Reservoir Dogs (1992) – Director Quentin Tarantino burst onto the scene with his blood-soaked tale of a gang of criminals who meet back at a warehouse following a botched robbery. They soon come to the realization that they have a police informant in their ranks, and various flashbacks reveal the personalities and secrets of each man. Starring Harvey Keitel, Chris Penn, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, Steve Buscemi, and Lawrence Tierney.
  • City of God (2002) – A highly-regarded film about the rise of organized crime in a violent suburb of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Since the main characters are followed over a period of many years, it’s very reminiscent of Goodfellas (which, by the way, is one helluva compliment).
  • Road to Perdition (2002) – After being betrayed by his employer (Paul Newman), a mob enforcer (Tom Hanks) goes on the run with his son and plots his revenge. Daniel Craig plays the jackass son of the mob boss, while Jude Law is a deranged hitman who likes to photograph his victims. Based on a graphic novel.

  • Get Carter (1971) – While Sylvester Stallone made a remake in 2000, the better version came in 1971 and starred Michael Caine as a British gangster who returns home following the death of his brother. Convinced that his sibling’s demise wasn’t accidental, Carter begins shooting and torturing everyone who crosses his path, and watching Caine wield a shotgun will make you forget all about Alfred the butler.
  • Miller’s Crossing (1990) – The Coen brothers turned out this overlooked gem about a gangster (Gabriel Byrne) caught in the middle of a gang war. Filled with the Coen’s trademark violence and black humor, Miller’s Crossing also benefits from strong performances from Albert Finney, Marcia Gay Harden, John Turturro, and Jon Polito.
  • Once Upon a Time in America (1984) – Legendary director Sergio Leone abandons his Spaghetti Westerns to film this epic look at a group of childhood friends in New York City who grow up to become players in the world of organized crime. Starring Robert DeNiro, James Woods, Joe Pesci, Elizabeth McGovern, and William Forsythe. Avoid the shorter 139-minute version and go for the full 229-minute cut (as intended by Leone).
  • Pusher (1996) – The first film in a trilogy, this Danish crime flick shot director Nicolas Winding Refn to international stardom. The subject of the film is Frank (Kim Bodnia), a drug dealer in Copenhagen who’s in debt to a Serbian drug lord named Milo (who also happens to be an awful cook). As he tries to scrape together enough money to cover his debts, Frank slowly drives a series of nails into his own coffin. Filmed fast and loose, Pusher maintains a gritty edge due in large part to the excellent performance from Bodnia.
  • The Untouchables (1987) – Kevin Costner stars in this entertaining Brian De Palma crime film about the Prohibition era war between Eliot Ness and Chicago crime boss Al Capone (Robert De Niro). Sean Connery is a standout as Ness’s streetwise mentor, Andy Garcia is a rookie cop who’s a crack shot, and Billy Drago oozes sinister as Capone henchman Frank Nitti. Connery would go on to win the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his part in the film, and that Ennio Morricone score will stick with you for days.
  • Mean Streets (1973) – Before he hit a homerun with Goodfellas, director Martin Scorsese honed his skills with this work about Charlie (Harvey Keitel), an upwardly mobile gangster whose career is held back by his relationship with the self-destructive Johnny Boy (Robert De Niro). Many of Scorsese’s signature techniques are already visible in this film, but it’s also obvious that the best is yet to come.
  • Pulp Fiction (1994) – Quentin Tarantino delivers his masterpiece with this gritty and frequently comedic movie about organized crime in the city of Los Angeles. John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson plays a pair of bickering mob hitmen, while Bruce Willis is an aging prizefighter looking to screw over the mob. Told in a non-linear fashion with plenty of violence and quotable dialogue, Pulp Fiction remains one of the greatest crime films for modern audiences.

The Public Enemy (1931) – Voted as the eighth best gangster movie by the American Film Institute, The Public Enemy was an important work that shaped the way every crime film afterwards would be approached. James Cagney cemented his tough guy image as Tom Powers, a criminal who rises in the ranks of the criminal world before suffering his ultimate downfall. The scene where he smashes a grapefruit in his girlfriend’s face remains the movie’s most iconic image.

That concludes our look at How to Be a Gangster: Movies About Organized Crime. For even more films on the subject, be sure to check out online rental sites such as Netflix or GreenCine. With a little luck, you’ll be building your own crime empire in no time, at least until you’re betrayed by a colleague or gunned down by the cops.