Thompson on Hollywood

Seeing VFX Is Believing, From Original 'Star Wars' and 'Superman' Franchises to Woody Allen's 'Zelig'

Features

“You’ll believe a man can fly.” That was the promise made to potential ticket-buyers during the fall and winter of 1978, when Richard Donner’s take on the Superman legend was being readied to soar across Christmastime movie screens all over America. We certainly never believed (nor were we asked to believe) that George Reeves, the Superman known to viewers of the popular TV series which ran from 1952 until 1958, could really fly.

By Dennis Cozzalio
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March 11, 2013 10:30 AM
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Who's Your Favorite Movie Pope?

Features

When it comes to films about the church, I’m partial to nun films ("The Nun’s Story," "The Sound of Music," "The Trouble With Angels," "Therese," "Black Narcissus") than pope movies, because the pontiff is usually a distant authoritarian rather than a fleshed-out character.

By Carrie Rickey
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March 11, 2013 9:24 AM
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Test Your Mettle with Latest Sergio Leone and the Infield Fly Rule Movie Quiz

Features

Yes, fair pupils, it’s time once again break out the books and study aids, loosen your fingers, sharpen your #2s and settle into your seats, for the bell has rung and work will soon begin on a brand new Sergio Leone and the Infield Fly Rule movie quiz.

By Dennis Cozzalio
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March 8, 2013 3:56 PM
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Your Nominations for the Gender Bender Hall of Fame? [Video]

Features

“What is most beautiful in virile men is something feminine; what is most beautiful in feminine women is something masculine,” observed Susan Sontag, who was both a little butch and a lot beautiful.

By Carrie Rickey
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March 7, 2013 2:02 PM
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Wes Anderson Selects Louis Malle's 'The Fire Within' for Carte-Blanche Programming Screening at COL*COA 2013

Festivals

LA's 17th annual COL*COA has given director Wes Anderson carte-blanche to program one of his favorite French films. No surprise here, Anderson's taste is impeccable: He has selected Louis Malle's 1963 lyrical depression drama "The Fire Within."

By Beth Hanna
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March 6, 2013 2:41 PM
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Ten Things I've Learned at the Movies, From Slicing Garlic with a Razorblade to Applying Lipstick

Features

Who says movies aren’t educational? I’ve learned a lot, frivolous and otherwise, while watching the big screen.

By Carrie Rickey
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March 6, 2013 12:37 PM
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LACMA Presents Far-Out Film Series 'Beyond the Infinite: Science Fiction After Kubrick' [Vintage Trailers]

News

LACMA's highly successful engagement with the Stanley Kubrick exhibition is now in its second half, and the museum's always creative film programmer Bernardo Rondeau has put together the coinciding screening series "Beyond the Infinite: Science Fiction After Kubrick." It runs March 22 - April 6, and includes Andrei Tarkovksy's "Solaris," Nicolas Roeg's "The Man Who Fell to Earth" (starring David Bowie) and Saul Bass' "Phase IV," including the lost alternate ending recently unveiled at Austin's Alamo Drafthouse. Vintage trailers for all films in the series below.

By Beth Hanna
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February 27, 2013 2:36 PM
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2013 TCM Classic Film Festival Announces First Round of In-Person Stars: Max von Sydow, Ann Blyth, Eva Marie Saint and More

Festivals

The 2013 TCM Classic Film Festival is just over two months away, and is slowly unveiling its usual packed slate of classic stars set to make appearances. Included in this year's in-person lineup are Max von Sydow, Ann Blyth and Eva Marie Saint.

By Beth Hanna
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February 20, 2013 1:26 PM
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Behind Richard Burton's Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

Features

Richard Burton will receive his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on March 1. These ceremonies aren't cheap -- per the New York Times, the 300-pound cement-based terrazo stars themselves cost $30,000 a piece.

By Beth Hanna
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February 15, 2013 3:21 PM
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IMDb's Lists of Most Romantic Films Include Classics 'Casablanca,' 'Gone with the Wind,' 'Vertigo'; 2012's 'Silver Linings,' 'Les Mis'

News

Just in time for Valentine's Day, IMDb has released its lists of the Top 10 Most Romantic Films of 2012, and of all-time. As usual, IMDb lists are based on total page views, which doesn't necessarily correlate to a film's romance factor -- but does explain how "Rock of Ages" made the cut.