NOW HEAR THIS - OR NOT!

Law To Restrict Cinema Sound Level

Some legislators in the State of Connecticut want to enact a law which would limit the sound level at cinemas, and become the first State to impose such a ban.  The bill, currently before the State Legislature's Public Safety and Security Committee, would limit the sound level in cinemas to 85 decibels. Is this even Constitutional?

Initiated by a one, William Young, a Stamford, CT resident, who claims, "We don't need such loud sounds.  Hopefully this will be a wakeup call to theater owners to get their act together and do something that is good for the public".  What?  Democratic Senator Carlo Leone, who introduced the bill, said "I support the concept moving forward.  If there are other corrective measures without legislation and it takes care of the problem, that would be the better choice."  What?  Are these guys smoking bananas?

According to the experts there is no need to limit the sound levels for movies from a health standpoint. Dr. Robert Dobie, of the Univ. of Texas, and an expert in noise-induced hearing loss, states, "The exposure, in cinemas, to sounds above 85 decibels is so brief and intermittent that no one with any expertise would ever say that they have any real risk of hazard or harm. I fell quite comfortable that the exposures are not anywhere near hazardous.  It's the combination of level and duration that matters." For example, 85 decibels is at the same loudness level as average traffic on a busy street, while a hairdryer is 100 decibels.

People go to the cinema to get the 'WOW' factor

The Motion Picture Association of America, opposes any ban.  Van Stevenson, SVP at the MPAA, told CMG, "Certainly no one is going to do anything that would have a hint of being harmful.  We have gone to great lengths to make sure that average sound level in movies is acceptable and is not harmful."  Proponents of the ban however say a limit is needed as cinemas do not stick to any standard, and levels are too high, on average.

My feeling is that moviegoers go to the cinema to view and 'listen' to the high-impact, action movies because they can't replicate the sound experienced at the cinema in their living rooms.  What these kill-joys want to ban is enjoyment.  Sound is everywhere.  We live with it.  Moviegoers want to experience it and moviemakers want to replicate the sound of, for example, a car crash.  This places the moviegoers into the movie and provides the immersive  experience they are paying for.

Doesn't the Connecticut legislature have anything better and more constructive to deal with?  How about filling potholes?  What's next, limiting the sound level at football stadiums?  Leave cinemas and their customers to decide what the sound levels should be. I'm sure that if it hurt their ears cinema patrons will complain and the operator would turn the volume down.

Jim Lavorato

MGM Lions - Roaring for Over 90 Years

You've seen this image hundreds of times - the MGM Lion roaring before each of their movies.  This iconic image is almost as old as the movie industry.  Started in 1917, the first MGM lion (Slats) was only shot in B&W and never roared. Since Slats there have been six other MGM lions - Jackie, Telly, Coffee, Tanner, George, and Leo.  Leo has been used as the MGM mascot image since 1957, the longest of any lion and the one most people have grown up with.

Tanner messing around with trainer

The biggest star of all of the lions was Jackie.  Jackie was a full-cast member of MGM and appeared in over 100 films, including all of the Tarzan movies. Jackie was very gentle, or as gentle as a male lion can be.  Tanner, who also appeared in many films, was used in the MGM logo from 1934 through 1956 - he is the lion seen in all of MGM's movies during Hollywood's golden years during the 40's and 50's.


In 2012, for the Bond movie 'Skyfall', MGM introduced a 3D animated lion - it was meet with very bad reviews from moviegoers and critics alike and was not used, to my knowledge, again. Several spoof logos have been used throughout the years, as the Tom and Jerry cartoon logo, seen at right.



The MGM lion is truly distinct and the best logo/image of any company that comes to mind - very one loves the lions.

Ellen (Thinks Better) and Tips Pizza Boy $1,000

$1,000 Tip Was Great PR for Ellen D.

Martirosyan at work

As reported by CMG  yesterday, the Big Mama's Pizzeria delivery boy (who brought the pies to the Dolby Theater during the Oscar presentations) was stiffed on payment for the pies and didn't receive a tip. This faux pas went viral and to turn a bad situation into a PR opportunity, Ellen DeGeneres had the delivery boy on her daytime talk show on Monday and give him a $1,000 tip. Presumably she paid for the pies as well, although the free publicity Mama's received will reap huge sales - Nielsen Ratings Service estimated increased business for the pizzeria due to the Oscar appearance at $10 million.

Edgar Martirosyan received the $1,000 tip from Ellen. About $300-400 was collected during the Oscars from the attending stars, including Brad Pitt and Kevin Spacey, Ellen kicked in the rest to bring the 'tip' to $1,000.

Regarding the historic delivery, Martirosyan said, "I didn't know.  It was a big surprise to me. They told me I'm going to deliver pizzas for writers, and when I went there Ellen came out and told me 'Just follow me'.  I realized I was on the stage. I was cool. I didn't know what was going on."  He said he was getting calls from his native country of Armenia and Russia (where he resided in Moscow).

Most viewers liked the Oscar's pizza stunt. I think it lent a 'yes, we're just like other folks' statement to celebs who seem (and in many respects are) above the common Joe.  Good luck Mama's.

CMG Comments on The Oscars

And The Winner is 'THE PIE'

Ellen w/Big Mama Deliverer

Brad goes for  the 'works'

Harrison grabs a slice

The best moments of this year's Oscar Awards was when the pizza was doled out to the celebs. Having scrounged $300 from several of the luminaries, Ellen D. sent out for some pies from Big Mama's & Papa's Pizza - a Hollywood pie palace. Unfortunately, Mama's never got paid for their pies although plenty of tinsel town's glitterati feasted.  Not to worry, Mama's got a ton of free publicity as the eating went on for 8 minutes, and at $1.8 million for a 30 second Oscar prime-time spot, Mama Mia!


Who The Academy Forgot

The Academy, as it does every year, pays tribute to a long list of people in the 'In Memoriam' part of the show. Unfortunately, this year several that should have been honored were not, so CMG will honor them here:

Dennis Farina - Actor/former Chicago Police Officer.  Played in over 35 films and numerous TV films, episodes, and series, including over 46 episodes of  'Law and Order'.  For CMG his best role was as Ray "Bones" Barboni in 'Get Shorty'.

Tom Clancy - Writer. Copies of Clancy's books have sold over 100
million copies, with 17 being best sellers. A number of his books became very successful big screen and TV movies, as well as. TV series or mini-series.  His Jack Ryan and John Clark characters are common names in action films and his storylines have been used in a number of video game series, such a the Ghost Recon series - which have sold in the tens of million of copies.

Jean Stapelton - Actor. Best known for her role as Edith Bunker of the '70s TV hit 'All In The Family', Stapelton was a consummate actor. Starting with stage performances she starred in many Broadway and off-Broadway productions.  Then moved to movies and TV shows. Several of her movie credits included: 'Klute', 'Cold Turkey', 'You've Got Mail', 'Michael', and 'Cinderella'.  Stapelton had earned three Emmys, two Golden Globes, and was an inductee to the American Theatre Hall of Fame and the TV Hall of Fame.

Jonathan Winters - Comic/Actor. A multiple Grammy and Emmy winner Winters' career spanned over six decades, appearing in literally hundreds of TV shows and series including: 'Mork and Mindy'.  His movies included: 'It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World', 'The Russians Are Coming', 'Swing', and 'The Flintstones'.  Winters also did voice overs for such films as 'The Smrufs'.  He was a multiple Emmy winner and has a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.  He was a very, very funny dude.

Best
Jim Lavorato

CINEMA BuzzFEED - 1 March 2014

The Latest Trends in Food

Once or twice a year CMG delves into the latest trends in mass market food which is very useful information for cinema owners.  The goal being to inform on how to maximize the moviegoing experience while increasing concession profits.

Food trends, like fashion trends - come and go.  The trick is to be aware of them and perhaps adjust or endeavor to offer a twist on the trend.  Doing so, is great for business and sets your cinema apart as a destination for entertainment and not just a movie theater.

Donuts w/chicken @ Federal Donuts

Mexican 'sandwiches' @ Tortas Frontera

Some food trends endure. For example, 25 years ago sushi could only be enjoyed at a Japanese restaurant, now you can purchase it at most any supermarket.  Another example, is Buffalo chicken wing.  It currently appears that bacon, bacon, bacon is out. Restaurants moved to and pushed bacon and other pork products on their menus because pork was cheap - but no longer and it appears that the burger is back, particularly gourmet . The other notable trends are: ethnic fusion foods, soda alternatives, donuts w/everything from fried chicken to ice cream, kebobs, and super fancy grilled cheese sandwiches.

'Lettuce' Entertain You Burger @ M Burger

Burgers are back, but they are not your normal burger the trend is for gourmet or speciality burgers perhaps paired with a butterscotch milkshake.

Ethnic fusion and natural/organic is also trending. Cava Mezze Grill does both with their 'Greek Mexican' inspired menu.
Little Muenster does grilled cheese to the max, while at the Kebob Shop, Shawarmas take top billing.

Tortillas w/ Tzatziki sauce @ Cava

Grilled cheese @ Little Muenster

A Shawarma @ the Kebob Shop

'Tumbler' Replica Sells For $1Million

How about a quiet Sunday drive

If you are so inclined and have a spare million lying around a 'Tumbler' Batmobile could be in your future.  The street-legal 'Tumbler' is being sold by James Edition Luxury Goods of London, which says of the car, "we have built this insane vehicle to be street-legal; however, please understand that this in not made for the daily drive!" 

The car's specs include: 44 inch tires, 8 channel stereo which is Bluetooth and iPod compatible, CD/DVD player, and five driver assist cameras.  As you guessed, the 8 cylinder Tumbler comes only in black.  Other James Edition vehicles are a Dodge Pickup Truck with 9/11 memorial paint job, and a camo-Hummer with drone helicopter.

Keywords in Movies Show Societal Norms

There are loads and loads of data and statistics on the movie industry - but none are more esoteric and interesting as the keywords of the Best Picture Oscar Nominees.  Now, what is this exactly? And what is its value?

Compiled by IMBd.com, a web-based company that amasses info. on the cinema industry and which is owned by Amazon, scourers movies for keyword phrases which point to society's changing norms and viewpoints (see chart).

One trend in movies is the dropping of the movie's title into the dialogue of the film.  For 2013, 33 films released had a character dramatically speak the title and four of those were nominated for Best Picture Oscar.  In two of these films (Captain Phillips and Philomena) the title doubles as a character's name.  The other two (Dallas Buyers Club and The Wolf of Wall Street) use the title in the film's dialogue.

Other key phrases often used in films last year were:"father-son relationship", "mother-son relationship", "husband-wife relationship", and "beating".  The most commonly used keyword in all the movies released last year - "bear-chested male".  Yes, you heard it here first @ CMG.

Best
Jim Lavorato

The 'Annual' Sequel - 'Ghostbusters III' A Go - and More

Sony To Have Annual Spider-Man Sequel

Venom: a scary dude

Sony Pictures announced that it has plans to release a Spider-Man movie every year.  The idea is to expand on the Spidies' world and include other linked comic characters.  "We are expanding the Spider-Man universe with the inclusion of the Sinister Six and Venom, so that we have Spider-Man movies every year for the foreseeable future", Amy Pascal, Sony Pictures co-chairperson told CMG.

Venom, an alien symbiote, is a good character for Sony to key in on as Venom can go it alone (sans Spider-Man) and have its own adventures.  The Sinister Six, includes: Doctor Octopus, Sandman, Electro, The Vulture, Mysterio, and Kraven the Hunter.  These characters provide Sony a stable of baddies to thwart Spider-Man.

Sony is playing catch-up to Disney in its use of comic characters.  Sony owns the rights to Marvel Comic's Spider-Man and several other characters, like Venom.  Disney, which now owns Marvel and pretty much all of the other famous Marvel superheros, started the annual sequel gimmick  in 2010 with Iron Man.  Disney has released an Iron Man inspired movie each year since.

Ghostbusters III - Still on Track

Murray, Ramis, and Aykroyd in 'Ghostbusters'

A sequel to 'Ghostbusters' has been in the works for sometime and the recent, and untimely death, of Harold Ramis, who was to play a cameo role in 'Ghostbusters III' (along with original cast members Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd), may actually jump-start the project.

'Ghostbusters' (1984) and 'Ghostbusters II' (1989) were very popular at the box office, and after a 25 year hiatus 'Ghostbusters III' is ready to roll.  Dan Aykroyd has been the prime-mover of the movie, with Bill Murray less so, but Sony Pictures recently released a statement saying that Murray was now on board.

Both 'Ghostbusters' and 'Ghostbusters II' were written by Ramis and Aykroyd.

More American Than Apple Pie

What's more American than Apple Pie?  The Western movie of course.  The 'old' West is truly All American and has been depicted and glamorized as so in the movies since almost the beginning of motion pictures. All the great movie actors, both male and female have starred in Westerns - from Tom Mix to Will Smith, Marilyn Monroe to Jane Honda - Hollywood brought the Old (and Wild) West into the American mindset and way of life.

The cowboy, a lonesome and independent figure, and the American cinema grew up together and Western films are some of the best movies ever to hit the big screen.  In fact, many are must-be-seens, for any serious moviegoer (fan). My must see Western film recommendations are:
- The Searchers (1956), Shane (1953), The Good, the Bad, & the Ugly (1966), Unforgiven (1992), The Wild Bunch (1969), Magnificent Seven, High Noon (1952), Django Unchained (2013), One-eyed Jacks (1961), Cat Ballou (1965), The Quick and The Dead (1995), True Grit (1969).

Disney Unveils 'Disney Movies Anywhere'

Consumers owning movies that are cloud-based is crucial to Hollywood's future.  So, as promised, Disney Entertainment this week introduced a 'free service' aimed at making collecting their films in the cloud easier.  'Disney Movies Anywhere' allows consumers to buy a Disney, Marvel, or Pixar movie once and watch it on any web-ready TV, mobile device, or computer.

Disney had refused to go along with the other major studios in joining the digital movie storage and management system called 'UltraViolet' as Disney felt becoming part of the 'UltraViolet' group would diminish its brand.  Disney also wanted to enter the cloud-based market in sync with Apple - which is not part of  the'UltraViolet" consortium either - but which controls 60% of digital movie purchases.

Disney and Apple have had very close ties since 2006 when Steve Jobs, Apple's then CEO and founder sold Pixar to Disney and joined the Disney Board of Directors.  Jobs served on Disney's board until his death - his widow, Laurene Powell Jobs, remains Disney's largest shareholder.  Additionally, Bob Iger, Disney's CEO, sits on Apple's board.

Hollywood wants consumers to collect movies and form cloud-based digital libraries, the modern day equivalent to living room shelves stocked with DVDs.  The reason is that selling a digital movie is three times more profitable for studios than renting a movie, as a typical digital movie sells for $15. Spending on digital movies and TV shows surged 46% last year to $1.19 billion, and to push sales the studios have started to make new movies available for digital purchase two weeks before selling then on DVD or BluRay discs - and the new 'Disney Movies Anywhere' system will also prod consumers to shift to the digital library concept.

The introduction of  'Disney Movies Anywhere' coincides with the digital release of  'Frozen', which has grossed over $980 million worldwide.  Additionally, Disney, for a limited time, will provide a digital copy of  'The Incredibles' to those who activate 'Disney Movies Anywhere' and link to their iTunes account.

To use the service: download an app or visit the 'Disney Movies Anywhere' website.  Users can then import Disney, Marvel, or Pixar films from their iTunes accounts.  Lucasfilm, another Disney unit, is likely to join the service next year, with the release of a new 'Star Wars' movie.

Best
Jim Lavorato

CINEMA BuzzFEED : 24 February 2014

4K Isn't Enough!

We often hear that digital cinema's 2k image resolution may be upgraded to 4k.  If so, than this begs the question: Why would it stop at 4k?  To me, that is the main reason d-cinema won't move to 4k.  As a matter of fact, 8k resolution is the new 'thing' in digital imaging. 

Despite talk from myself and others in the cinema industry that the average moviegoer can not discern the difference between 2k v. 4k presentations (I can't) - it's really a moot point given the emergence of 8k (termed 'Super Hi-Vision') resolution.  For example, NHK, Japan's national public broadcasting network has already tested transmission of 8k programming and Japanese officials have made it known that their intention is to launch full-scale 8k broadcasting in time for the 2020 Summer Olympics to be held in Tokyo.  Further, Sharp and Samsung both demonstrated 8k displays at  last month's Consumer Electronics Show.

But will 8k be the end of the resolution evolution?  Probably not. So, cinema exhibitors, I believe, need not worry about the industry moving to 4k, as this technology has already been surpassed.  At 2k, d-cinema offers twice the resolution of HD-TV and if the right equipment was chosen for their digital conversion, movie exhibitors should not be concerned of being 'out-performed' by home-based entertainment systems for some time to come, if ever.

Bond 'Smart Gun' Goes on Sale

'Smart Gun & Watch'

The James Bond 'Smart Gun' that can be used only if the user is wearing a special watch has gone on sale in the U.S.  Some pro-gun proponents say this is the way all guns should be sold, as it would transform the industry and make guns much safer.

The German-made Armatix iP1 gun and watch have electronic chips that communicate.  The watch is activated by a PIN number and if it is close to the weapon a light on the gun's grip turns green and the gun can be fired.  It will not fire if the gun falls into the hands of someone who is not wearing a watch with the proper chip.  The technology is the same that is used on anti-theft tags attached to clothing.

Bond-type 'Smart Guns' have gone on sale in Los Angeles for $1399, plus $399 for the watch.  They are .22 caliber.  This compares in price to a .40 caliber 'regular' gun that sells for about $600.

The Bond 'Smart Gun' was used in the film 'Skyfall' where Bond's gun was equipped with palm print technology that recognized him as the owner and wouldn't fire if held by anyone else.

Pro-gun lobbyists say that guns being sold with this technology will dramatically reduce gun violence, and legislation has been introduced in the U.S. Congress that will make it mandatory for new handguns to be fitted with this technology within two years, and for most older guns to be retrofitted within three years.  However, gun-control proponents say they are "skeptical of what this technology can accomplish".  We'll have to wait and see.  There was no news on how much the price of the original Bond 'Smart Gun' was auctioned for.

Sex & The City 3 - Do We Want (Need) Another Sequel?

Michael King recently told Entertainment Weekly that he agrees with Sara Jessica Parker in wanting to do another sequel to 'Sex & The City'.  Says King, who wrote and directed the two other S&TC films, "There is one last chapter to tell. Sara and I know what it is. I do think there is one story left.  It's not whether you can get away with it, that anybody will buy into it.  It's really, is there enough or more for a story that would justify people willing to see it."

S&TC enjoyed a six year run as a very successful TV series (1998-2004) and also the two big screen pics ('Sex & The City 1' and '2', in 2008 and 2010 respectively) that were less popular with fans. 'S&TC 2', in particular, did not gross well and was summarily panned by critics. On a third installment Parker's three co-stars Kristin Davis (Charlotte), Kim Cattrall (Samantha), and Cynthia Nixon (Miranda) all think a third sequel is a good idea and have stated they are open to the possibility. No surprise there.

Is a S&TC 3 a good idea? Probably not.  The 'girls' should have moved on with their lives, would now be seven years older, and societal views on what was edgy in 1998 isn't any longer.  But bad storylines never stopped a Hollywood production if there was money to be made. S&TC 3, hey, why not.

Best
Jim Lavorato

The 'Alternative' Oscars

Each year Esquire Magazine publishes a list of the winners of the 'Alternative' Oscars, because in Esquire's world, "somebody has to recognize achievement in the art and science of cinema ..... and the movies too" !  Here are several of this year's 'Alternative' Oscar winners:

Best Frontage: Human on Human - Scarlett Johansson and Joseph Levitt in Don Juan
Best Frontage: Human on Object - Cameron Diaz on hood of car in The Counselor
Most Effective Use of Weight Loss - Matthew McConaughey in Dallas Buyers Club
Most Effective Use of Weight Gain - Christian Bale in American Hustle
Achievement in Assholery - Steve Carell in The Way Way Back
Scene Stealer of the Year - Jonah Hill's Teeth in The Wolf of Wall Street
Best All Female Seduction Scene - Rooney Mara and Catherine Zeta Jones in Side Effects
Best Risky Casting - Andrew Dice Clay in Blue Jasmine

Space Shit

Least Realistic Details - China Space Lab in Gravity
Most Powerful Image of Perseverance - Robert Redford's orange hair in All Is Lost
Best 3D - Floating Space Shit in Gravity
Lifetime Achievement Award for Drooling - Bruce Dern in Nebraska
Terrifying Characters in a Children's Movie - Purple Minions in Despicable Me 2
3D Movie Best Seen in 2D - Star Trek Into Darkness
Worst Fking Movie (We Want Our Money Back) - Elysium (WTF, Damon?)

The Oscars: Behind The Scenes and Loser's Sway Bags

On February 20th the annual Oscar luncheon took place. This is where all of the award nominees come together for libation and grand photoshoot.

Photo of Oscar Nominees at Luncheon

The lunch is a loose rehearsal for the hopeful winners that will take place on March 2nd.  Hosted at the Beverly Hilton, limos delivered the 'A'  listers who were all about conviviality and congratulations. Back-slapping and cheek-kissing were the preferred gestures - no high-fives here, this is serious business.  But, as we know, behind the smiles and bear-hugs lurked lust and vanity for the precious Prize.

So, let's get real. Statements, like Jonah Hill's, "To work with Martin Scorsese, that's all I wanted in my creative life, that was my dream.  I would paint his house if he asked me to."  were par for the course (as in meal) as the schmoozing was paired with the Chardonnay.  Neil Meron, the producer of this year's televised event, provided the nominees with the obligatory warning against verbose, long-winded diatribes during acceptances.  He asked that their acceptance be "personal, funny, and heartfelt and not from a list written on a scratch pad". The theme of this year's show is 'Movie Heroes' - including those behind the scenes.

Each of the nominees was given a sweatshirt embossed with "Nominee" (my guess is most of these were summarily incinerated directly after the luncheon).  Curious as to what the lunch menu included? Well the nominees feasted on (among other items): Horseradish chive mousse, Konbu paper, Weird strawberries, and Stir-fired vegetables.  But, alas, don't feel to sorry for the Oscar noms for they will be receiving their mega-dollar swag bags (see following post), and all of that free publicity, kudos, and saunter down the red carpet.

Oscar Losers Get $80K Sway

Shoes are included in the Swag

Don't feel too badly for the also-rans during the Oscars presentation this year: for, in addition to all of the fame, fortune, accolades, and career improvement an Oscar nomination brings, the nominee also receives the coveted 'swag bag' - and this year's sway is worth over $80 grand.

This week, Distinctive Assets, the marketing firm that puts the bags together, released a list of the goodies which will be included, and which should provide, be it a smidgeon of, solace to the losers.
This year's bags will include everything from pepper spray to maple syrup, with the biggest gifts being a $15,000 private, customized tour called "Walk Japan', and at $9,000 smackers a "Best of Las Vegas" travel package.

"We want to introduce celebrities to an array of companies with fabulous gifts", says Lash Fary of Distinctive Assets. "It will surely brighten their day. Even Hollywood's most acclaimed stars are disappointed over an Oscar loss, and when our consolation gift shows up the next day we like to think it's a welcome distraction."   Those poor bastards, you're breakn' my heart Lash.

This year's, "Everybody Wins" swag bag (which has no affiliation to the Academy Awards) includes this sampling of gifts:

- Chocolatine's Wine Pairing - $80
- Halo Natural Pet Foods - $6,000 donation to animal rescue or shelter of giftee's choice
- Steamist Home Spa System - $2,560
- Rouge Organic Maple Syrup - $250
-Acupuncturist House Call - $500
- 5 nights @ Koloa Resort, Hawaii - $2,000
- 5 nights @ Imanta Resort, Ocean Casa - $3,300
- Rocky Mountaineer Canada Train Package - $4,075
-Epic Pet electrolyte therapy sessions - $1,500

and on and on. It seems like it's a lot better being rich and famous than poor and unknown.

Best
Jim Lavorato

Romcons Save Marriages - Chastity Bra Needs Script - Blockbuster Flop To Come

Movies Can Save Your Marriage

Time to watch a few Romcoms !

Apparently, there is some evidence that watching romantic comedies (romcoms) can prevent marriages from failing.  That's right. According to a study conducted at the University of Rochester, NY, couples that viewed 5 or more romcoms per month (OMG) and discussed them afterwards (OMG x 10) reduced their likelihood of divorce.

Who would have thunk it?  Forget about emotional support, shared activities, family, or an understanding of what each partner's desires and aspirations are - all you have to do, to live happy ever after, is watch 5 sappy movies each month.  Well, I can think of a few good romcoms right off the top that would work perfectly: 'The Full Monty', Mr. & Mrs. Smith', 'Kramer vs. Kramer', Tyler Perry's 'Why Did I Get Married', and 'Wall-E'.

Seriously though, Professor Rogge and his associates at the U of R found that watching films and then discussing them with your spouse "drastically reduces the likelihood of divorce".  Oddly, many romcoms end in not so perfect ways so openly discussing these issues is the key to this approach.
Hmmmm........ what about watching action/adventure or fantasy films, what about porn?  Not the same I'm told. Not warm and cuddly enough. But if romance and comedy are all a couple needs to 'make it' and be blissful, I believe, romcom viewing should be government mandated.  Gosh, wouldn't that be a boon to the movie industry!

In summary, if you marriage is currently on the rocks watching a few romcoms with your better-half may solve your problem(s).  Good luck!

A Product That Demands A Script

I rarely post about items or issues that are not related, in some way, to the cinema but this topic has huge potential for a 'movie' in the making - the smart bra.  At long last, a chastity bra that magically unlocks only when the wearer finds true love.  You can't make this stuff up, and yes, I'm sorry to say this bra trumps the smart toupee.

Manufactured by Ravijour, a Japanese lingerie company, the bra stays locked tight against any unwanted intrusions until .... the 'one' comes along, then it swings open - hopefully to no one's injury.
Ravijour's Human Sexuality Specialist told CMG, "When we fall in love, we experience an instant boost in excitement.  That feeling is unlike any other excitement we encounter in life. When excited the adrenal medulla secretes catecholamine, that affects the automatic nerve and stimulates the heart rate."

A sensor built into the bra detects the wearer's heart rate and sends it to a smartphone app via Bluetooth.  The app calculates the "love rate" based on changes in the heart rate over time.  When this rate exceeds a certain value - presto!  According to the company spokesperson, "Until now, the bra was just a piece of clothing, but now it is an instrument to test for true love, and destined to become a friend of women around the world."  Ok, if you say so.  Hopefully the heart rate doesn't mistake road-rage or watching romcoms as detecting true love.

Speaking of romcoms, this bra would make a perfect storyline for a romantic-comedy, think about it.

Superman v. Batman - Is It a Box Office Flop Already?

Sometimes you can see tough-times ahead for movies. An example could be the upcoming planned blockbuster - Superman v. Batman, which seems to be trending toward the proverbial flop-house.  How can we foretell?  Well the big omen comes in the form of the casting of the movie - which has now been moved to a 2016 release vs. the original 2015 date.

First it was announced that Ben Affleck won the role as Batman and that he had signed on for three Batman movies.  Later it was revealed that he would also be Directing the film which is being shot in Detroit.  However. by the time the third sequel is released Ben will be well into his fifties - a bit too old for Bruce Wayne.

Next came the announcement that Gal Gadot, a good but little known actress and fashion model, won the role of Wonder Woman in the film.  Again, Gadot is 'iffy' and perhaps miscast for the bomb-shellish  WW role - she'll have be beef-up to be believable.

Now along comes the announcement last week that Jesse Eisenberg has been selected to play the role of the very sinister Superman nemesis Lex Luther. - now that's a far cry from  'Juno'.  It was rumored that the role was turned down by several actors before offered to Eisenberg, Joaquin Phoenix for one.  But again, as with Affleck and Gadot, Eisenberg just doesn't fit the part and has no background in playing in high-impact, action movies.  In fact, all of the casting selections are far removed from the powerfully physical  comic characters they are to portray.

Come to think of it, the whole idea of  Superman v. Batman is ludicrous.  Superman is indestructible and has no physical weakness (save Kryptonite) while Batman is human with no super powers. The entire premise of the movie is flawed - even for a make believe comic.  Anyway, we'll all have to wait and see the box office judgment.

By the way, what ever happened to Robin, you remember, Batman's crime-fighting sidekick. I guess he got thrown under the casting bus.

Best
Jim Lavorato

DEATH of A COMMON MAN

To me, Philip Seymour Hoffman represented the common American male - not pretty, overweight, receding hairline, and fashionably unkempt.  He was uncommon in that he was , I believe, the best living actor.

In 'Scent of A Woman'

'The Big Labowski'

'Capote'

'Owning Mahowny'

Hoffman made very role his own.  From teen snitch in 'Scent of A Woman', to a mournful son in 'Savages', to an emotionally conflicted priest in 'Doubt', Hoffman knew - better than any other  actor - how to make each role uniquely his own.

'Charlie Wilson's War'

On screen, he always had his 'A' game on and brought out the best in his fellow actors. A hulking man, ironically, he received the Oscar for Best Actor portraying a very small and effeminate Copote. In that role Hoffman made himself look diminutive with near perfect replication of Capote's squeaky drawl and gestures.

'Doubt'

It is really hard to pick a favorite Hoffman character.  Freddie Miles in  'The Talented Mr. Ripley', Brandt in 'The Big Labowski, or Lancaster Dodd in 'The Master' quickly come to mind.  But my favorite was Dan Mahowny in 'Owning Mahowny' where he plays a compulsive gambler who embezzles funds from the bank where he works to feed his out-of-control addiction.  One may say that 'Owning Mahowny' was a metaphor for Hoffman's personal demons. But regardless of the role, Hoffman was at his best all of the time, he let nothing slide - it was all perfect.

In upcoming 'A Most Perfect Man'

As fans, we will get an opportunity to see Philip Hoffman at work one last time. His last, and yet to be released, movie is 'A Most Perfect Man' .  The film is based on a John le Carre' novel of the same name.  In it, Hoffman portrays Gunther Bachmann, a German intelligence agent and from all of the pre-release buzz it is another stellar performance.   Recounts Anton Corbijn, the film's director, "When Phil and I watched the film together in its early stages, I could not believe that the guy sitting next to me was the same person as the one on screen.  The belief in the reality of his character was total. Despite any issues he was dealing with outside of the film, domestic or otherwise, the performance never suffered."  That was Philip Seymour Hoffman.

CINEMA BuzzFEED - 3 February 2014

FOOTBALL FLIX

On Super Bowl Sunday, I thought it would be fun to list what I consider to be the top football themed movies.  Football movies have been around almost as long as the sport itself.  Modern American football is derived from the English sport of rugby. Starting around 1900, rugby rule changes conceived by Walter Camp, who is considered to be the "Father of American Football", were instituted and the new game began to be played on college campuses.  The first professional game was played in 1920 and went on to become the great spectator sport we know today.  Here are my favorites:

Horse Feathers (1932) - The Marx Brothers, Nuff said.

Chico, Groucho, Harpo Huddle in Horse Feathers

Knute Rochne All American (1940) - Tells story of Knute Rochne, an All American player at Notre Dame.  Ronald Reagan got his nickname "The Gipper" from playing the role of George Gibb in this film.

Paper Lion (1968) - Alan Alda stars as George Plimpton, the author. The story follows the novel Plimpton wrote about his attempt to become a professional football player, to no avail.

Brian's Song (1971) - True story of close relationship between two Chicago Bears teammates, one of which is dying of cancer.

Rudy (1993) - Where perseverance and over-achievement triumphs over all odds. The first movie allowed to be shot on the Notre Dame campus since the Rochne story. Tear-jerker with happy ending.

Sean Astin played 'Rudy' #45 in movie

Any Given Sunday (1999) - Oliver Stone delves into the real-life perils of playing pro-football with this riveting fictional story. Stars Al Pacino as coach with a heart and Cameron Diaz (who would have thunk it) as the heartless and manipulative team owner.

Remember The Titans (2000) - Football is used as the vehicle to confront racial integration, as a high school team struggles with white and black relations, as due the coaches and parents/fans.

Friday Night Lights (2004) - Another depiction of high school players confronting game related issues. This time, as they deal with defeat and the fact that their glory days as high school stars will be ending for many of them.


 BAD MOVIE BEHAVIOR TO THE MAX

Many moviegoers believe that bad behavior in cinemas has reached a new low.  Talking and texting on cell phones are the worst offensives, but other behavior trends are catching up.

Recently a moviegoer in London was seen using her smart phone with an app that turned her phone into a mirror.  She then proceeded to use her fellow moviegoer's phone as a flashlight to "do" her makeup.  Other common and very offensive cinema behavior includes:
-Slurping drinks, rustling and foraging for 'whatever'.
-Arriving late for the presentation causing annoyance for other patrons.
-Putting feet on seats or seat backs.
- Irresponsible parenting, ie. using the cinema as a babysitter as one watches an 'R' rated movie.

-What seems to be the rise of the 'cinema tailgate' with moviegoers sneaking in all manner of food and drink.

The vast majority of moviegoers are courteous and aware of proper cinema etiquette, and practice it. But like many other things in life there is always the jerk to deal with.


BEST OSCAR SONG NOMINATION DISQUALIFIED

The song 'Alone Yet Not Alone' was disqualified from the Oscars, as the Academy revoked its nomination for Best Original Song.  The song's writer, Bruce Broughton, himself an Academy official, violated the rules and emailed voters requesting consideration of the song for a Best nomination. Broughton, a former Academy governor and current executive committee member of the music branch, composed the song for the movie of the same name (the film generated very little box office draw).

Commenting on its decision, the Academy released a statement saying, "using one's position as a former governor and current committee member to promote one's Oscar submission creates the appearance of an unfair advantage." Broughton said he "was devastated by the decision".

Original songs, to be nominated, are voted for by the 240 members of the music branch of the Academy, who are sent DVDs of the songs with the film and song title only.  The voters are not given the name of the composer or lyricist and are required to vote for no more than five nominees.

A HOLLYWOOD INSIDER'S PERSPECTIVE

Many of you have probably never heard of James Schamus, but he has been a Hollywood mover and shaker for over 25 years. His most recent post as head hancho at Focus Pictures & Entertainment - he now hangs his hat in NYC. At 54, Schamus describes working in Hollywood "as ego-crushing. It's a gigantic ass-kicking to the soul. That said, I love the challenge of Hollywood, there's nothing like it."

Although you may not of heard of Schamus, you have seen his produced movies, which include: 'Lost in Translation', 'Brokeback Mountain', 'Burn After Reading', 'The Pianist, "The Constant Gardener'. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon', and 'The Hulk' - just to name several.

With James Franco, Sean Penn, Josh Brolin

Being outspoken about the industry has been one of Schamus's trademarks. On the Oscars he says, "Hollywood, basically - what's the polite word for shitting?  Defecates hundreds of millions of dollars, all so that everyone can chase after the little blue ribbon.  The economics are insane.  If you do the math, very few films get what's known as the Oscar bump."  And doing the math is what Schamus likes best.  He is a "marketing" man, who enjoys playing in the world of movie markets. "The key to making money is in niche demographics - and in this context, niche can mean whole continents outside America.  You can take the data and throw up a map of the world and see where, for example, family movies are big: northern Europe, action film: Middle East and Asia, Sci-Fi: Russia."

"I'm an eternal pessimist", he says, "Only a handful of movies break the $30-40 million in profit mark each year. So, you'd better plan on getting your ass kicked pretty regularly in this business."

Thanks for the chat James.