Thompson on Hollywood

Immersed in Movies: Stepping Up the VFX for 'G.I. Joe: Retaliation'

Features

After viewing the bang-bang antics of "G.I. Joe: Retaliation," it made perfect sense that Jon Chu became the director. His dance experience with "Step Up 2: The Streets" and "Step Up 3D" provided the perfect training for the choreographed action he devised for the "G.I. Joe" sequel starring newcomers Dwayne Johnson as Roadblock and Bruce Willis as the original Joe. The stealthy overthrow of Cobra after the Joes have been decimated and disgraced involves a series of escapades that are as remarkable for their balletic brilliance as their explosive firepower.

By Bill Desowitz
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March 29, 2013 2:55 PM
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Watch: 'Voice' Contestant Judith Hill Talks Singing with Michael Jackson in Sundance Hit 'Twenty Feet From Stardom'

Video

Check out this clip from must-see Sundance documentary "Twenty Feet From Stardom," in which Judith Hill (a breakout from the most recent season of "The Voice") discusses her experience working onstage with Michael Jackson. Morgan Neville's film --which hits theaters 14 via June RadiusTWC-- spotlights the true stories of gifted talents who tried to build careers but stayed within arm's reach of the spotlight: backup singers.

By Anne Thompson and Beth Hanna
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March 29, 2013 1:57 PM
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Peter Bogdanovich's Ernst Lubitsch Files UPDATE: Part 1 and Newly Added Part 2 [CLIPS]

Features

The great Polish-German director Ernst Lubitsch was not an absolute favorite of mine while I was keeping my card file of every movie I saw, 1952-1970, so my ratings and comments would be a great deal higher and more effusive today, because over the years he has evolved into one of my all-time top picture artists. (Watch a selection of Lubitsch clips below.)

By Peter Bogdanovich
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March 29, 2013 1:47 PM
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Fay Kanin, An Appreciation

News

Fay Kanin died yesterday at the age of 95, and I suspect that her accomplishments have long since faded from the memory of most people. But, beyond her career as a movie and television writer and playwright, she was a remarkable woman – graceful, gracious, and determined that women should steer their own lives.

By Aljean Harmetz
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March 29, 2013 1:01 PM
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'Blancanieves' Review: 'Snow White,' Spanish Style

Reviews

"Blancanieves" is Pablo Berger's magical Spanish transposition of the Snow White myth into the thrilling arena of bullfighting and flamenco. Opening Friday in New York at the Paris as well as the Angelika, this sumptuous black-and-white silent drama is cause not only for celebration, but for reflection on why "Snow White" is so adaptable now.

By Annette Insdorf
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March 29, 2013 12:58 PM
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Tribeca Trailer Watch: 'Gore Vidal: The United States of Amnesia' Interviews the Iconic Writer, Essayist and Feisty Feuder

Festivals

Check out the new trailer for documentary "Gore Vidal: The United States of Amnesia," set to premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival (April 17-28). Directed by Nicholas Wrathall, the film features candid interviews with the iconic American writer, essayist, intellectual and first-rate feuder. Also interviewed are David Mamet, Sting, Mikhail Gorbachev, William F. Buckley, Norman Mailer, Jodie Evans and Nina Straight. Commentary blends with footage from Vidal's legendary on-air career.

By Anne Thompson and Beth Hanna
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March 29, 2013 12:50 PM
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Clint 'Eastwood Directs' Documentary to Premiere at Tribeca, Followed by Panel with Eastwood and Darren Aronofsky

Festivals

WBHE's documentary "Eastwood Directs: The Untold Story" will have its premiere April 27 at the Tribeca Film Festival (April 17-28), followed by a panel with Clint Eastwood, moderated by Darren Aronofsky.

By Anne Thompson and Beth Hanna
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March 29, 2013 12:44 PM
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Trailers from Hell: Larry Karaszewski on 'Hannibal Brooks,' Starring an Elephant-Rescuing Oliver Reed

Video

Oliver Reed Week! concludes at Trailers from Hell with screenwriter Larry Karaszewski introducing Michael Winner's "Hannibal Brooks," starring Reed as an escaped POW who rescues an elephant from a bombed-out Nazi zoo and tries to get her to Switzerland.

By Trailers From Hell
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March 29, 2013 11:29 AM
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Costume Designer Anthony Powell Talks to BFI, from Polanski to Friedkin's Controversial 'Sorcerer'

Interviews

Three-time Oscar-winning costume designer Anthony Powell, who gave us the sumptuous sartorial designs in Roman Polanski's "Tess," Steven Spielberg's Indiana Jones films "Temple of Doom" and "Last Crusade" and William Friedkin's "Sorcerer," sat down recently with the BFI to discuss his career. Highlights below, with photos of his many costuming feats.

By Beth Hanna and Ryan Lattanzio
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March 28, 2013 5:37 PM
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'From Up on Poppy Hill' Review: 60s Coming of Age Romance From Two Miyazakis

Reviews

"From Up on Poppy Hill," the latest hand-drawn Studio Ghibli animated feature, might have failed to grab an Oscar nomination last year, but it's an exquisite and engaging movie about young love and preserving the past. GKIDS is expanding the film theatrically next month. (See "From Up on Poppy Hill" trailer below.)