The Omen

vs.
1976 original | 2006 remake
(click on either image for desktop images)

I have to get this off my brain asap before I implode. I already talked off Erin from Fox's ear last night about it... must. jot. down. before. I. forget. Or before armaggedon it.

As soon as I gotofftheplaneatLAX-hoppedinthecarwithMattandMartin-pickedupkeysfromKarenonthewestside-hoppedbackinthecar-watereddownthecarafteritoverheated-gottoKaren'swashedfaceputfacebackon, Lisa & Mary & I went to Mann's Chinese Theater for the remake of The Omen's screening. It was supposed to start at 730, we got there at 745 thanks to rush hour traffic (even though we took La Cienega and not the 405-101 which would have been worse!). Anyway, thanks to Hollywood - the screening was running late too. I mean, I had time to be walked up to our reserved seats, get up and get nachos + raisinets + pepsi, sit back down and just in time for the preview! (Singluar. It was only one for The Devil Wears Prada.) As Lisa noted, "We couldn't have timed it better."

So, the movie... right. Well, I REALLY ENJOYED IT. I was really impressed with the way the picture moved; It's pace. The visuals were beautiful! Definitely up to par with the way the 1976 version was shot. (The original came out June 6, 1976.) They focused on things that I had *always* wished the original would have elaborated on. Like, Catholic/Vatican research, beliefs on the anti-christ and the religion itself. Sure - they didn't dwell on it, it's not a documentary after all. But they did acknowledge the church's studies and predictions - which is rad. The first nanny was only there for one scene, which doesn't really lead you to associate a very important relationship to Damien, as nannies would have with kids they care for, right? Evil nanny is played by Mia Farrow. (If you don't recognize her by name - she is an actress most recognized for her marriage to Woody Allen failing after he falls for their adopted daughter Sun Yi and marries her, but most beloved by myself for her role in Rosemary's Baby.) It's nice to see her in a major motion horror picture again. [Sigh of sweet relief here.] Liev Schriber, who's acting I've never enjoyed before, was great in this role. Julia Stiles was thankfully given more of a character as the mother than Lee Remick in the original. All the characters are more believeable, more human - which today's movies are more concentrated on. (Is this the effect of reality TV?) The suspense is still there, even though the scare-factor is more immediate. (The original had a lot of slow foreshadowing where you knew something bad was going to happen, often times you knew what was going to happen, and just had to wait it out.) The gore is minimal, but effective. The situations in which people get killed (some of which were changed) are more animated, leaving little to the imagination - which in this case is a good thing. It is an intelligent thriller. You have to follow the story in order to be involved in what is going on, so don't take too long in the bathroom if you're going for a break. It's not the kind of movie that is going to give you too terrible of a fright in the theater, it's the after-math that would potentially scare you. Exactly like the original, you can go and open any ol' page in the Bible (the good book of tall tales around so long people believe it's real) and read passages that are quoted in the movie. Mwah-ah-ah-ah-ahh!

Summary: Go see it.
If you haven't seen the original Omen, you'll still be cool.
If you have, you won't be bummed.

Okay, I'm off into more of 90 degrees in the City of Angels.

Np) Echo & the Bunnymen - "Never Stop"

Paris, J'Taime

I'm not quite sure if this the poster for the movie, but after some mediocre efforts to seek out any official movie images - all I could come up with is Nataie Portman stills and this. I'm excited both in the concept of this film and its execution. I have been hungry for cinema lately. Seeking out films "On Demand" from film classics to softcore trash, and of course the terrible and obvious Rom-Coms. I've also gone old school and started borrowing from the video store 4-at-a-time. My time at home in Chicago is rare, and I have no time to wait for Netflix to arrive in the mail. The trailer says June 21st, but I think that is the french release date... TEASE!

Does anyone know when anyone detained in America can view this film?

From the producers: "Paris, Je T'aime is about the plurality of cinema in one mythic location: Paris, the City of Love. Twenty filmmakers will bring their own personal touch, underlining the wide variety of styles, genres, encounters and the various atmospheres and lifestyles that prevail in the neighborhoods of Paris. Each director has been given five minutes of freedom, and we, as producers, carry the responsibility of weaving a single narrative unit out of those twenty moments.

The 20 films will not appear in the order of the arrondissements, from one to twenty, but rather, in a pertinent narrative order, initially unknown to the audience. They will be fused together by transitional interstitial sequences, and also via the introduction and epilogue sequences of the feature film.

Each transition will begin with the last shot of the previous film and will end with the first shot of the following film, and will have a threefold function:
1) The first is to extend the enchantment and the emotion of the previous segment
2) The second is to prepare the audience for the surprise of the next segment
3) The third is to provide a general, comfortable and cohesive atmosphere to the feature film.

The delightful and brief interludes of these transitions will enable the viewer to slide from one world to the next, featuring a recurring and unexpected character. This mysterious character is a witness to the Parisian life and helps create a continuous narration. It appears both in and in-between the films.

In addition to the information these transitions will provide about the city and its people, their tone will be intentionally light often referring to famous scenes easily attributed to the history of Paris cinema.

Similar specifications will be followed by the composer who will supervise the musical fusion between the films and the transitions as he creates the musical score of Paris, je t'aime. Considering the common theme of Paris and Love, the fusion between the films and the transitions, the fast pace of a fluid and complete storytelling, Paris, je t'aime will not be just another "anthology" picture. It will be a unique collective feature film that will constitute a two-hour cinematographic spectacle whose original structure will make for a dramatically different experience for its global audience."

Apparently, whoever cut the trailer is part of the 5% of the world's population* who has a boner for Elijah Wood:

TRAILER ONE

TRAILER TWO

*not counting girls under the age of 12 and pedophiles.

Ledger as Dylan in movie?

BOB FEELS THE SAME WAY I DO ABOUT THE CASTING:
After working together in "Brokeback Mountain," Oscar-nominated couple Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams have joined the all-star cast of the Bob Dylan movie "I'm Not There."

Ledger, who replaces Colin Farrell, would play one of seven actors representing the different aspects of Dylan's life story and music. Williams is set as Coco Rivington, a model with whom an androgynous folk star (Cate Blanchett) is taken. Also cast are Christian Bale, Julianne Moore and Richard Gere.

The film's co-writer/director Todd Haynes ("Velvet Goldmine") and Killer Films principal Christine Vachon persuaded Dylan to assign them the rights to his life story and music two years ago. The first biographical screenplay about Dylan is set to go before the cameras in July in Montreal.

Ledger and Williams received Oscar nominations this year for their performances in
Ang Lee's "Brokeback Mountain." -Reuters/Hollywood Reporter

I bloody love Todd Haynes, and dislike every single actor/tress that is mentioned here. Can Haynes alone save the movie for me?

Bob Dylan - The Girl From The North Country (The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan version)
The Black Crowes - Girl From The North Country (Live)
Francis Cabrel & Jean Jacques Goldman - La Fille Du Nord (Girl From The North Country)

more here: My Old Kentucky Blog: Girl From The North Country