MCN: Movie City News

10 Days Of Sundance
Things To Do At Sundance While You're Dead
by David Poland

If there is a Garden State or Napoleon Dynamite to come out of Sundance 2006, it seems that it will be Wristcutters: A Love Story.

Make no mistake, Little Miss Sunshine is more naturally commercial and The Science of Sleep will be more of a critics darling, but if there is a movie here that is going to win the hearts and minds of the angst & rebellion laden teenagers of America, it's going to be Wristcutters.

It's Oscartown, Jake
For Your Consideration
by Kristopher Tapley

Batman Begins has already been recognized by the Art Directors Guild, the Costume Designers Guild and, most surprisingly, the American Society of Cinematographers. It was also nicely represented with a few BAFTA nominations. I've come across a number of interviews with actors who have openly expressed love for the film - all of them dying to work with Nolan at this point, it seems.

MCN DVD Wrap-Up
Grizzly Man

Let's hope that Grizzly Man being left off the short list of documentaries under consideration for an Oscar doesn't sway anyone from sampling one of the most compelling films of 2005. More >

The Hot Button: The most compelling and easily the funniest film about a man who gets himself and his girlfriend eaten alive by a bear you will ever see.

Plus: All Souls Day, The Aristocrats, Chan is Missing, Cisco Pike, Dallas, Dim Sum: A Little Bit of Heart, Educating Rita, Flightplan, Grizzly Man, Junebug, Lois & Clark, Lord of War, Missing, My Date with Drew, Oliver Twist, Partner(s), Puppetmaster vs. Demonic Toys, Sueno, The Tomorrow Show: Punk and New Wave, Thumbsucker, Two for the Money
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Who Will Get Nominated?
Best Actress

For eight days, you can put your powers of Oscar prognostication to the test. Each day a different category. Each day someone wins an award season collection of DVDs.

Thursday: Best Actress
Wed: Supporting Actress

Sundance: Status Kuo
Episode Eleven: God (quicktime)

One of the hot Sundance docs, God Grew Tired Of Us, tells the ongoing story of three Lost Boys of Sudan who moved to America. The Boys, now men, arrived in snowy Sundance with their own unique perspective.
Episodes 1-10

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The Ultimate DVD Geek
The Island
by Doug Pratt

Bay describes the basics of the production, and also attempts to justify his choices. "There are people who think that some of the product [placement] in this movie, that we were whoring out the movie and we were making the commercial. Now let's face it guys, the world is focused on products. Products surround us and for us to think in the year 2019 we're not still going to be focused and have products and labels, flying at us from every different vantage point, is just unreal, it's not a true world. So that's my statement for people who have given me a hard time for thinking I'm just trying to whore out the movie and just make a big advertisement."

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Sundance on Ice
by Ray Pride

After seeing the deeply disturbing, angry, vital doc The Ground Truth: After the Killing Ends, about the abandonment of Iraq War veterans by the US government, I was hypnotized by the flag waving behind Cisero's, at a pour for filmmakers and journalists. Nearby, Mexican director Carlos Reygada (Battle of Heaven) and his crew are conspiring in Spanish and Kirby Dick and Eddie Schmidt (This Film Is Not Yet Rated) are talking about censorship.

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The Reeler
A Good Listener
by ST VanAirsdale

"The story was just so unbelievably intense," Collette said when asked how she prepared. "I think basically this woman is very needy and wants love, and I think it's a very basic need to take it to the nth degree. I feel sorry for her. And I don't know how I prepared for it."

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The Weekend Report
by Leonard Klady

Underworld: Evolution sent a chill through the domestic marketplace with a potent debut estimated at $27.1 million. The vampire yarn far out-distanced all competition including no better than fair launches of the family values End of the Spear and the national bow of The New World. Nonetheless, it was a sufficient lead to send grosses soaring above 2005 levels and bear out the old industry saw about it being a "product driven" marketplace.
Weekend Estimates (Full List)
Domestic Market Share
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The Gurus Look At The Big Eight Categories ...

Best Picture
Best Supporting Actress
Best Supporting Actor
Best Original Screenplay
Best Adapted Screenplay
Best Actress
Best Actor
Best Director

Updated throughout the day
Updated: 3:59 pm

Woody & Buzz Head Back To Pixar For Sequel Duty As Part Of The Deal

Two Films At Sundance, A Possible Nomination, And More To Come From Paul Giamatti

Al Gore, Superstar
"It's a movie about global warming. Starring Al Gore. Doing a slide show.With charts. About "soil evaporation."

The Genies Go C.R.A.Z.Y.

Quiz: Do You Know Your Malick?

As Munich Is Released In Britain, Controversy And Documentaries Follow

Ella Taylor Meets Emma Thompson

The Updated Sundance Acquisition Hit List
Stay
Stephanie Daley
Slamdance's Sasquatch Dumpling Gang
Half Nelson
Wristcutters: A Love Story
Sold List: Little Miss Sunshine, The Science of Sleep, Right At Your Door, The Night Listener, Wordplay, Factotum

A Dirty Italian Movie

The AP Wants To Party At Sundance

The Woz On Brokeback Humor
"I wish I knew how to quit you is the new Show me the money."

Freida Lee Mock On Wrestling With Angels During Her Sundance Premiere

Lions Gate Buys Right At Your Door For Worldwide Distribution

Superman Returns In Pictures

Roger Ebert Finds Flannel Pajamas And An Update On The Kid On Day Six

The Reeler At Sundance: Wordplay Goes To IFC Films

Bringing NASA's Real Mars Missions To An IMAX Screen

The Transgender "Trend"

"God Save the Hollywood Industry" And Other Sundance Moments

A McSweeney's Minute
Films As Reviewed By The City Of Los Angeles Herself

Pop Quiz: How Many Gossip Headlines Have You Read This Week

Chris Penn Dies At 43

Miramax Shooting At The Night Listener, Picturehouse Trying To Lock Up Half-Nelson, Deals For Stephanie Daley, Open Window, The Illusionist, And Still, Wordplay, Expected Soon

A Deal Driven By Fear
Earlier - It's A $7.4 Billion Marriage For Disney And Pixar

Germain On Dick's Ratings Rant

From The Guy Who Gave Us Dodgeball: Magnum PI: The Movie

Everybody Hates Chris Meets Smallville
WB + UPN = The CW

Mizrahi's Back For The Oscar Red Carpet, But Academy Is Watching Carefully
"I can predict we would be extraordinarily angry if that happened on our carpet. I cannot predict what we would do afterwards"

MTV Looks Back At The Lighter Side Of Cross-Dressing In Film

Factory Girl Finds A Home With The Weinstein Co

The Academy Museum Finds A Hollywood Location

Eve And The Fire Horse And Roger Ebert

Sundance: The Science Of Sleep Goes To Warner Independent
And - The News From Park City

Tourtellotte On The Immigration Subtext Of Sundance 2006

Spielberg Finally Gets A Bit Pissed About The Treatment Munich Has Gotten
Earlier - Tony Kushner Defends Munich Territory

The Reeler On Night Listener and Wordplay

Sundance: The Bidding War For The Science Of Sleep Begins
Earlier - Bobcat's Doggie Tale
And - Sunday, Sunday

The Producers Guild Loves Brokeback

Picture Sundance On Ice