Public Enemies - What Did You Think?
Judd Apatow’s Funny People: The Films of George Simmons
Posted on Wednesday, June 17th, 2009 by Peter Sciretta
In Judd Apatow’s Funny People, Adam Sandler’s character George Simmons is a successful stand-up comic turned comedy star who has appeared in many shitty but successful movies. Apatow was forced to create some of the character’s earlier big screen hits. Some of the films appear as posters or whatnot in the background, while others actually feature prominently on screen.
Click on the poster images above to enlarge. After the jump we have a few clips from some of these films, complete with hilariously bad plot outlines.
In Funny People, Adam Sandler’s character George Simmons is a successful stand-up comic turned comedy star who has appeared in many shitty but successful movies. Judd Apatow was forced to create some of the character’s earlier big screen hits. Some of the films are just mentioned or hinted at, others appear as posters or whatnot in the background of Sandler’s house. And you might even see some footage from some of these faux movies.
I’m not sure where this alternative poster for Kevin Smith’s Zack and Miri Make a Ponro came from. Was it officially released from the studio? It looks very legit. I’m guessing that it may have been one of the alternative ideas to the stick figure campaign.
source: IMPA
via: Cinematical
Zack and Miri Make a Porno - What Did You Think?
Posted on Sunday, November 2nd, 2008 by Peter Sciretta
If you’re seeing a movie this weekend, then chances are you’re seeing Kevin Smith’s Zack and Miri Make a Porno. I would really like to know what you thought.
Was it Smith’s funniest movie to date?
Did Craig Robinson steal the show?
What did you think of the 12-frame, half-a-second shot that had the MPAA up in arms? (Vulture’s quote poster mock up below)
And how classic was Star Whores?
Leave your thoughts in the comments below!
The Weinstein Co has released one last final trailer for Kevin Smith’s Zack and Miri Make a Porno, and I think this might be the best one yet. I’ll make this short and sweet - Zack and Miri is the funniest movie I’ve seen all year. It doesn’t pretend to cure cancer, it’s just an incredibly funny movie. Check out the trailer below.
Watch the trailer in High Definition on MySpace. Zack and Miri Make a Porno hits theaters on October 31st 2008.
The Weinstein Co has launched a pretty cool new website for Kevin Smith’s Zack and Miri Makes a Ponro at ZackAndMiriStarID.com.
The site has some of the standard options like the green band and red band trailers, but is surprisingly clickable, with all kinds of fun animations. The centerpiece is the Get Your Porn I.D. program which allows you to create a porn identification card which can be shared socially (myspace, facebook, wherever).
You can even choose to upload your completed ID to the cast section of the official website, which is kinda cool.
Dreamworks has released the trailer for The Uninvited, and American remake of Kim Jee-Woon’s 2003 Korean horror film Changhwa Hongryon. The American version tells the story of “modern-day teenage sisters Anna and Alex Rydell who return home from a mental hospital only to find their recovery unraveling because of a cruel stepmother, clueless or seemingly ignorant father and a lingering, scary ghost. With their mental states deteriorating can they stay alive in a haunted house where the only thing they have is each other?” The film stars Elizabeth Banks, Arielle Kebbel, Emily Browning, and David Strathaim.
I have yet to see Jee-Woon’s original film, but it was fairly well reviewed. Sadly, the film shown in this trailer looks nothing beyond a typical Hollywood horror remake. From what I’ve read on message boards, this looks and feels nothing like the original. I will admit that I’m slightly interested due of the involvement of Banks. As always, tell me what you think in the comments below!
The Uninvited hits theaters on January 30th 2009.
Lionsgate has released a 2-minute long extended movie trailer for Oliver Stone’s W. The more and more I see from this film, the funnier it looks. I particularly love the way Josh Brolin shrugs about 30 seconds in. I think that shot says everything you need to know about this film. As always, share your thoughts in the comments below. Enjoy.
W. hits theaters on October 17th 2008. You can watch the new trailer in High Definition on MYSpace.
Lionsgate has released a final trailer for Oliver Stone’s W, which is basically an extended version of the recent tv spots. I think this is a vast improvement over the teaser trailer, because you get a much better understanding of the comedic/dramtic tone of the film. The juxtaposition of the war images with Bush’s stupidity is pure Stone. I also love how they call George Bush Sr. “Poppy”. Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Official Plot Synopsis: Whether you love him or hate him, there is no question that George W. Bush is one of the most controversial public figures in recent memory. In an unprecedented undertaking, acclaimed director Oliver Stone is bringing the life of our 43rd President to the big screen as only he can. W takes viewers through Bush’s eventful life — his struggles and triumphs, how he found both his wife and his faith, and of course the critical days leading up to Bush’s decision to invade Iraq.
Cast: Josh Brolin, James Cromwell, Ellen Burstyn, Elizabeth Banks, Toby Jones, Thandie Newton, Jeffrey Wright, Scott Glenn, Ioan Gruffud, Richard Dreyfuss, Jesse Bradford
W. hits theaters on October 17th 2008.
The Weinstein Co has released new photos from Kevin Smith’s Zack and Miri Make a Porno. More after the jump.
Zack and Miri Make a Porno MPAA Approved Movie Poster
Posted on Friday, September 12th, 2008 by Peter Sciretta
The MPAA gave Kevin Smith so much trouble regarding the poster for Zack and Miri Make a Porno, that he has to resort to stick figures… Seriously! I like it better than the original design which ended up as the Canadian poster. Should be up in movie theaters this weekend.
Movie Review: Kevin Smith’s Zack and Miri Make a Porno
Posted on Monday, September 8th, 2008 by Peter Sciretta
I have a theory that Kevin Smith’s Zack and Miri Make a Porno is actually just a chronology of Smith’s career so far as a filmmaker. The film starts off much like Clerks, with Seth Rogen trying to wake up for his dreadful job. Minutes later he is walking through the local mall with his roommate and best friend Miri, played by Elizabeth Banks, in a scene that is reminiscent of Mallrats. The high school reunion sequence that follows feels oh so Chasing Amy. And when Zack and Miri must band together with a group of misfits to make a porno, I’m reminded of both Dogma and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. And the last 30 minutes of Zack and Miri is more like a conventional romantic comedy, like Jersey Girl.
I got a chance to screen this film a few months ago, before the MPAA appeal hearing had taken place. When I told Smith my theory on the film, he replied “Congrats, sir - you’re the first person to say, what to me, is so blatantly obvious. It’s not a movie about porn, really: it’s a movie about how we made Clerks.” And I think that says everything you really need to know about Zack and Miri.
One of the reoccurring stories found in the teen films from the 80’s and 90’s is that of the dork or geek who is hopelessly in love with his best friend. She is a cute looking girl, probably out of his league, who has an asshole jock boyfriend and is completely ignorant to the fact that her sole-mate might actually be her best friend. Usually those 80’s teen films end with the realization. You know, the one that usually never happens in real life.
I would like to think that Zack and Miri takes place a decade after that unresolved story. Zack works in a coffee shop, and is currently living with his best friend Miri, whose good looks got her only as far as a job in the local mall. They are struggling to pay the rent. With their electricity turned off, they get an idea from a chance meeting at their High School reunion to raise money by creating a porno. The theory is that at least everyone in their high school class would pay to see it. This leads to without-a-doubt, the funniest Star Wars reference from Smith yet. I’m not sure how they accomplished so much under the guise of parody, but regardless, the entire sequence is hilarious. I wonder what George Lucas must think.
The first 30 minutes of the film is the funniest half-hour Smith has ever written/directed. As a studio executive would say, there are more laughs per a minute in the first third, than probably any of Smith’s previous films. Thank god Smith won the MPAA appeal, as the 14 frame, half a second shot is the equivalent of the hair-gel moment from “There’s Something About Mary”.
The Office’s Craig Robinson completely steals every scene he appears in. And Jason Mewes is more than just a pleasant surprise, delivering one of the biggest laughs of the entire film. Traci Lords and Katie Morgan will make you wonder why more porn actresses haven’t crossed over to the Hollywood mainstream. Cinematographer David Klein takes the visuals to the next level. It’s hard to believe this is the same guy who shot Clerks?
If there is any downside, it is that the film transitions from laugh out loud comedy to romantic dramedy in the last act, which might be too abrupt for some. But I think that by that point in the story you have come to care about the story of Zack and Miri enough to go through the transitional tone.
Bottom line is that Zack and Miri is the funniest film of 2008, and quite possibly the most fucked up romantic comedy ever to hit the big screen.
/Film Rating: 8 out of 10
