Posts tagged Rome
When in Rome – Movie Trailer
Feb 10th
Disillusioned with romance during her whirlwind trip to Rome, an ambitious New Yorker defiantly swipes a few magic coins from a “foolish” wishing fountain, inadvertently igniting the passions of a motley crew of suitors as she’s pursued by a handsome reporter with charm to spare. Beth (Kristen Bell) is at a point in her life where love seems like a luxury she just can’t afford. Years of waiting for that perfect romance has made Beth bitter, and one day, while vacationing in Rome, she cynically plucks a handful of coins from a local fountain of love. Almost immediately thereafter, Beth finds herself fending off the advances of a diminutive sausage magnate (Danny DeVito), a lanky street magician (Jon Heder), a doting painter (Will Arnett), and a narcissistic male model (Dax Shepard). Meanwhile, a smitten reporter (Josh Duhamel) does his best to convince Beth that true love isn’t just a topic of fairy tales and romance novels.
“Nine” Does Fellini Proud
Jan 6th
Does Fellini Proud
“Hotshots” looks at a movie!
NINE is the film production of the 1982 award-winning Broadway musical, which in turn was based on Federico Fellini’s 1963 award-winning film 8-1/2.
Expect this film to win many awards, as well, and it is great entertainment, even for those who don’t care for musicals.
The story is about how a famous Italian film director is all set to begin his next film, but he has no idea what the film is going to consist of, and all he has is the title, ITALIA.
The title of Fellini’s 1963 film, which was autobiographical, reflected that he had made 8-1/2 films, the “half” representing the one that he had co-directed. The title of the Broadway musical and this film means that the director is trying to make his ninth film, but is blocked creatively, and his personal life and professional responsibilities come crashing down and have put him into a suicidal depression.
In other words, it is a musical comedy full of beautiful women, elaborate musical numbers and songs, and gorgeous sets and locations.
Daniel Day-Lewis plays the director, Guido Contini, and the women in his life, each with a musical number, are Marion Cotillard as his wife, Penelope Cruz as his mistress, Nicole Kidman as his film star and muse, Judi Dench as his confidant and costume designer, Kate Hudson as a fashion journalist, Sophia Loren as his mother, and Fergie from The Black Eyed Peas as a prostitute from Guido’s youth.
The story mixes reality, fantasy, and memories seamlessly as we follow Guido’s impossibly difficult efforts to begin–much less make–his ninth film.
In fact, at the beginning of the story, Guido ducks out of a press conference about his next film, telling his costume designer, “I can’t face these reporters. I have nothing to say.”
You see, Guido’s last two films were flops, and he is terrified that his next one will also fail, the nightmare of all creative artists who have achieved success.
Guido escapes from Rome to a hotel at a spa, but he is recognized everywhere he goes, and his producer finds him and shows up with a film crew ready to begin work.
In addition, Guido has called on the women in his life to also come there to help him.
NINE does Fellini proud, and I give it an “11.”
I’m Dan Culberson and this is “Hotshots.”
“The September Issue” Over The Top
Sep 16th
Over the Top
“Hotshots” looks at a movie!
THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE is an excellent documentary about the making of the September 2007 issue of VOGUE magazine and its legendary editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, said to be the inspiration for the Meryl Streep character in the 2006 THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA.
Wintour is called the single most important figure in the $300 billion fashion industry. That is a lot of dresses, shoes, accessories, makeup, a lot of woman, and by that I don’t mean Wintour, but all the women all over the world, as well as the ones in every man’s life.
Now, I know what you are thinking: “Sure, women will like this movie, because it is all about fashion and clothes, but will men like it, too?
Of course, women will love it for the fashion, and men will love it for the beautiful models. You will see beautiful outfits on beautiful women and ugly, atrocious outfits on beautiful women.
As someone in the film says, “Anna is the most powerful woman in the United States.”
Why? Because Vogue is the so-called “Bible” of the fashion industry, and if VOGUE–meaning Anna Wintour–gets behind something, it sells.
However, as Anna herself says at the beginning of the film, “There is something about fashion that can make people very nervous.”
The film begins in 2007 in New York City, and we see what goes into the making of the September issue of the magazine, because “September is the January in fashion.” A film crew was given access to everything, including the offices, the private lives of the editors and creative directors, the photo sessions, and the trips to Paris, Rome, and London for the fashion shows, meetings, and photo shoots for the cover with actress Sienna Miller.
The film also spends a lot of time with Grace Coddington, the magazine’s creative director and “resident genius,” as TIME magazine called her.
She and Anna started working at the American VOGUE on the same day 20 years ago, and Grace serves as some of the comic relief in the seriousness of the film, as we see her frustration after spending a lot of time and money on portions of the magazine only to have Anna take them out at the last minute or order a reshoot.
THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE is over the top, but fascinating, just like fashion.
I’m Dan Culberson and this is “Hotshots.”