'Ron, Ron, the neo-con!'

Actors turned pundits -- hardly a trend worth embracing given the kind of information spat out by too many celebs. Need proof? Consider the musings of John Cusack, a terrific actor but a fellow who appears to have anger issues.
Character actor Ron Silver is throwing his hat into the ring with a new blog posted at Pajamas Media, a right-leaning forum.
Here's his opening salvo. Check it out and see if his thoughts are worth considering.
I remember seeing Silver at the annual White House Correspondents Dinner in DC a few years back, and he bumped into Bradley Whitford of "The West Wing" fame. Silver had become a defender of the Bush administration at that point, specifically its war on terror efforts. Whitford gave him a big smile and cried, "Ron, Ron, the neo-con." It was all in good fun, I guess, but it showed just how out of touch Silver had become with his Hollywood pals.

More Craig, more Haggis

Good news for James Bond fans. Daniel Craig has signed on for four more Bonds following his terrific debut "Casino Royale." Craig remade the superspy in his own, bruised image, and "Royale" showcased his acting chops as well as some brutally entertaining action sequences. But one key reason why "Casino" was such a good bet was that Paul Haggis ("Crash") helped pen the script. A Bond film doesn't need an ace scriptwriter, technically. It's a glorified genre picture. But Haggis' contribution to the latest Bond was obvious. The lines were smarter, and we cared more about the characters in Bond's world. And while I've had issues with some of Haggis' projects -- his "Million Dollar Baby" may be the worst Best Picture winner in my lifetime - he's a step or two above the average screenwriter. And word is he just submitted the script for Craig's second Bond adventure. I can't wait.

Go Joe!

"G.I. Joe" is coming to a theater near you in 2009. You may not recognize him, though. From imdb.com:

Concerned about the current negative image of the American military in many countries, Paramount Pictures and Hasbro, the toy manufacturer, have decided that in their forthcoming film featuring comic-book patriot G.I. Joe, the character will become part of a multinational force, the London Daily Telegraph reported today (Tuesday). Even the character's name has become an acronym for Global Integrated Joint Operating Entity, the newspaper said. Word of the makeover is likely to anger U.S. conservatives, the Telegraph noted.

It makes perfect sense, since multinational forces have proven so effective in recent years.

Late night sans Jay?

Jay Leno will, indeed, be stepping down as host of "The Tonight Show" in 2009, according to NBC head honcho Jeff Zucker. Conan O'Brien will take over at that time, part of an agreement forged a few years back meant to keep the red-haired comic in the NBC fold.
Change is typically good, although it's hard to say if O'Brien's comic persona will be a match for "The Tonight Show." Under Leno's helm, the program is the ultimate comfort food -- rarely tasty but always filling. And while Leno's interviews can be maddeningly inane, his opening monologue remains a primer in how to deliver topical humor. Leno's other blast of brilliance comes on Monday nights with "Headlines," where the audience sends in goofy newspaper clippings and he reads them on air. It's the most simple of comic set-ups, and also routinely hilarious.

The real 'Simple Life'

Paris Hilton's humanitarian career has been put on hold. The leggy socialite was supposed to visit Rwanda as part of her post-prison promise to do some good with her celebrity. Now, that trip will have to wait.
Let's all give Paris a hand for trying to do some good, but I wish they could film her upcoming trip for a version of "The Simple Life" without the faux set-ups and silly sound effects. That reality show was more staged than Michael Jackson's MTV kiss with then-wife Lisa Marie Presley.

Can't we all just get along?

Mario Van Peebles wants to do what no politician seems capable of these days -- unite the world. At least, that's how I read this new item courtesy of Dark Horizons. The project looks like it could be heavy handed, but I'll use it as an excuse to plug "Baadasssss," his 2003 film about the making of his father Melvin Van Peebles' 1971 film "Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song." "Baadasssss" is a rough and tumble movie, overstuffed at times but always engaging. And the back story behind "SSBS" is worth sharing. So we'll let the good folks at wikipedia.org do the rest.

'Dan' the man

Steve Carell drew a nice crowd this weekend with his dramedy "Dan in Real Life." It came in second at the box office with $12.1 million behind the horror juggernaut "Saw XXIV." But "Dan" only showed on 1,900-plus screens, not the 3,000 the big films usually get, so the numbers are even more impressive. Will be very curious to see how word-of-mouth affects its ticket sales next week. And speaking of WOM, has their been a film in recent memory which really exploded thanks to it? Refresh my memory, and faith in WOM, if you please.
The weekend's smallest surprise came courtesy of "Jimmy Carter Man from Plains," Jonathan Demme's documentary of the ex-President's recent book tour. The film follows Carter as he visfaljf;laajfaujfafa -- sorry, I feel asleep on my keyboard. Ace critic Kyle Smith gives the gruesome details here.

Set phasers on 'stunned'

The upcoming "Star Trek" reboot has said, 'thanks, but no thanks' to a cameo from William Shatner. The Shat isn't happy, and he thinks it's a bad business move. He may be right, but it sounds more like wounded pride than anything else. But if the new film is a debacle, or simply a shadow of past "Trek" glory, he may consider himself lucky for being left out.

Carell 'in Real Life'

Steve Carell's hot streak could be cooling, depending on how audiences take to his new movie this weekend. After the calamitous reaction to last summer's "Evan Almighty," Carell needs a little box office love. "Dan in Real Life," opening today, is no sure thing.
Carell is "Dan," an advice columnist losing control over his own life. He's a widower with three opinionated daughters, and he's taking them to visit his extended family. During his visit, Dan stops by a local bookstore and meets a woman (Juliette Binoche) with whom he strikes up an instant rapport. Turns out the woman just so happens to be dating his brother (Dane Cook, Mr. October). Hilarity ensues. Or, sometimes ensues. "Dan" is an uneven hybrid of indie sensibilities and mainstream yuks. But Carell makes it worthwhile, both with his endearing persona and the same unique slapstick we've seen on "The Office" and "The 40-Year-Old Virgin."
"Dan in Real Life" could be perfect counter-programming against "Saw IV" this weekend. If it isn't, Carell might be relegated to second-banana status in future movie projects. He deserves better.

A war weary nation

Hollywood all but refuses to fight terrorism on screen - "The Kingdom" being a strong exception - but it has no problem critiquing our handling of the war on terror. The general public isn't buying into the latest cinematic diatribes, as recent box office numbers indicate. My Washington Times story breaks down some of the reasons why films like "Rendition" and "In the Valley of Elah" are tanking, and what it could mean for upcoming features like "Grace is Gone" and "Lions for Lambs." Note: Opinionjournal.com cited the story in its "Best of the Web" round-up and added an intriguing side note.
(Photo: Reese Witherspoon can't dial up her missing husband in "Rendition.")

Boo!

Halloween is the perfect excuse to watch horror movies -- and to dress up as if you're still 10 years old. So when your local Blockbuster clerk tells you they're out of the usual suspects - "Carrie," "Psycho," "Silence of the Lambs" or "Halloween," try a few of these lesser known horror films.
* "The Descent" - ah, my favorite scare-fest in recent memory. Solid characters, great suspense and a grab bag of clutch-your-popcorn jolts. Six feisty ladies go spelunking and come across some nasty locals. Can't wait to see what British director Neil Marshall has for us next.
* "Wolf Creek" - Give this one time. It's a bit talky, and the gorgeous Aussie vistas seem like we're watching a Discovery Channel show. But it's got a nasty underbelly that will stay with you long after Oct. 31. Roger Ebert gave it zero stars with this explanation - "There is a line and this movie crosses it. I don't know where the line is, but it's way north of "Wolf Creek." Ebert is a legend, and his grasp of film lore is considerable. Here, he's simply wrong.
* "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" (2003 remake) - Yes, yes, the film shows far more gore than the original, and the less-is-more lessons of filmmaking still apply. But the remake offers tightly choreographed action, a bewilderingly beautiful lead (Jessica Biel) and enough tension to make those "edge of your seats" quote lines darn near accurate.
Please skip these movies if the sight of gore offends you. And while the first film is an insta-classic, the latter two are merely solid horror spectacles. But if you haven't seen them, it's better than watching Anthony Perkins in drag for the umpteenth time.

Chase speaks!

"Sopranos" creator David Chase has opened up about the final scene of the great HBO series. And he sounds a bit cranky about all the fuss it kicked up. He essentially puts to rest many of the theories which sprang up after the final episode aired, but in doing so he took some of the mystery out of the ending. Great art can leave us with as many questions as answers, and while TV isn't routinely considered art, The Sopranos" was a welcome exception.

A personal favorite

Check most "best ever" movie lists, and you'll find either "Casablanca," "Citizen Kane" or "Gone with the Wind" at the top. Can't argue much about those selections, but personal favorites are another matter. My numero uno film remains 1987's "Raising Arizona" even though the best it can do, list-wise, is rank #31 on the AFI all-time comedy chart.

The film will be re-released next month as part of a large Coen brothers retrospective, which also includes "Blood Simple," "Fargo," "Miller's Crossing" and "Barton Fink." Not a clunker in the bunch, and "Miller's Crossing" remains the most underrated gangster film in recent memory. But it's "Raising Arizona" which demands repeated viewings for me. I just can't tire of it. And for a simple explanation why, check out IMDB's movie quote page for the film. No one movie should pack this much linguistic perfection. (Photo: H.I. McDunnough - Nicolas Cage -smiles for his mug shot)

There he goes again

The scariest thing about the new-to-DVD horror film “The Tripper” is “a film by David Arquette” above the title.
Let’s give Arquette an "A" for tackling a horror comedy as his maiden directorial voyage. It's not an easy genre to nail. His letter grades in every other category hover in the D-minus range. The wannabe cult film is a throwback slasher movie with a Ronald Reagan imposter doing the ax wielding. Naturally, using the late president as the latest Freddy/Jason/Michael isn’t by accident. Arquette fires away at conservatism in general and Reagan in particular. His idea of fair and balanced is to make the film's hippie heroes nearly as insufferable as his right-of-center targets. Suffice to say his political bromides are about as delicate as a hippo noshing at a banquet. Zero budget horror flicks need something, anything, to make them rise above the competition, so adding partisan politics isn’t the worst idea. Here, it’s just another awful element in a slapdash feature that barely made it to theaters nationwide. The cast is a grab bag of semi-famous and should-never-be-seen-again faces. Thomas Jane plays the straight arrow cop and comes off the best, while Paul Reubens shouts obscenities out from under a curly wig in his poorly written role as a concert promoter. The special effects are beyond awful, but that's almost endearing, like it wants to sidle up to other '80s slasher flicks. Stick around for the credits and you’ll hear private plane lovin' Robert Kennedy, Jr. droning on about the environment, just the sort of prattle every horror fan dreams of.

If he's good enough for Chuck ...

Chuck Norris has spoken. I'm not sure who's listening, but both CNN and AOL prominently linked to his announcement on their respective Web sites.
OK, here it is: Walker, Texas Ranger is pulling for ex-Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee for president. It could be the news that turns a dark horse candidate into a front runner. More likely, it means the media is getting even lazier about its news judgment. It's bad enough major movie stars inject themselves into the political conversation without ever facing a tough question from so-called news anchors, but why should we care what Chuck's take on politics is? No offense to Chuck, who seems like a reasonable fellow, but his political thoughts aren't much more relevant than yours or mine.

Worth a howl

Looks like the suddenly busy Benicio Del Toro will be growing some serious facial hair. The movie site Rope of Silicon reports the actor will star in a new version of "The Wolf Man" along with Sir Anthony Hopkins. The film will be released February 2008, a time of year usually reserved for Jamie Kennedy films and other suspicious packages. Perhaps the release date could be tweaked between now and then. In funnier news, the site also says a remake of "Child's Play" is in the works. Jennifer Tilly, call your agent.

No 'Reservation' necessary

Sometimes a film can arrive with such a solid-gold pedigree you think you simply must embrace it. So goes "Reservation Road," which unites Joaquin Phoenix, Mark Ruffalo, Jennifer Connelly and Mira Sorvino together with "Hotel Rwanda" director Terry George. The project screams quality, but the finished product is sorely disappointing. Phoenix and Connelly play a couple who lose their son when a distracted driver (Ruffalo) plows into a gas station lot where the boy is letting loose some butterflies. Right away we're immersed in grief, but we aren't sure what kind of film will follow. Is it a meditation on recovery, a vigilante vehicle or a hybrid of the two? The film isn't sure, either. Instead, it relies on our affection for these fine actors to set its course. Sadly, they can't, especially with Connelly shrieking in such a coarse, improbable role.
"Reservation Road" is as maudlin as "Things We Lost in the Fire," but the latter finds the kind of redemption for its characters that "Road" isn't smart enough to achieve.

Affleck's new 'Baby'

No, Boston Ben Affleck hasn't impregnated Jennifer Garner again. He's gone out and made a critically hailed movie, "Gone Baby Gone." I wasn't as enamored with the film as my peers -- I couldn't swallow the umpteenth plot twist which brings the film to a close -- but it's still an impressive work. And Affleck appears right at home as a director, capturing the gritty side of working classs Beantown and drawing strong, sustained performances from his cast (Morgan Freeman, Ed Harris and brother Casey as the film's star). Affleck's acting chops were never great, which became more obvious with every role he took. But he's still effective when cast just right, as he was in the underrated "Hollywoodland." If "Gone" makes some Oscar noise, he might not have to worry about his acting for a while. (Photo: Casey Affleck plays a conflicted private investigator in "Gone Baby Gone")

'Lost' and found

Talk about hard sells. "Things We Lost in the Fire" finds Halle Berry mourning the loss of her husband (played in flashbacks by David Duchovny). No slinky cat suits, no Bond-style swimwear -- good luck tracking down the male demographic.

Still, both genders should give this drama a try. It's far from the formulaic mess it could have been, and Benicio Del Toro provides a devastating as the late husband's tortured pal. Does any actor's face register sorrow as effectively as Del Toro's? The actors' complicated on-screen relationship is the selling point here. It's part awkward romance, part gentle healing, and it rarely registers a false moment. Berry gives as good as she gets, proving her recent string of flops shouldn't make us forget that gleaming statue on her shelf.

Danish director Susanne Bier ("After the Wedding") keeps the melodramatic moments to a minimum. When a few sneak through, the characters are so firmly established the ensuing set consumption is quickly forgiven.

"Things" will likely get overlooked given the bulk of movies out this week, but that doesn't mean it should slink its way to DVD in a few months.

(Photo: Halle Berry and Benicio Del Toro share a moment)

Alaska or bust

"30 Days of Night" is better than your standard horror film, but that's primarily because so many God awful slasher films come out each year. The setup is a hoot -- vampires descend on a remote Alaskan town where the sun doesn't shine for a full month. Neat, eh? It's all based on a graphic novel of the same name from a few years back.
My review breaks down the good, bad and the ugly parts of the film. For those who need a better vampire fix, consider ... trying another monster on for size. There haven't been many good vampire movies of late. "Bram Stoker's Dracula" (1992) comes to mind, but you have to put up with Keanu Reeves' surfer dude hero. And "Fright Night" (1985) remains a personal fave, but even I can see the layer of 80s cheese coating most scenes.

Didn't he direct 'Jack?'

Director Francis Ford Coppola just threw three of our best actors under the bus. In the newest issue of GQ, the "Godfather" director said Robert De Niro, Jack Nicholson and Al Pacino are "living off the fat of the land" and don't tackle challenging roles any more. There's more than a little truth here, but to be fair to the trio it's not as if they're getting the best roles anymore. Those scripts get handed to younger, Capital A-listers like Tom Hanks and Brad Pitt first. And is Coppola the best person to hurl such barbs? He hasn't directed a project of substance since the flawed but intriguing "Dracula" (1992). Let's hope his new film "Youth Without Youth" ends his dry streak.

'Guys and Dolls'

Plenty of attention will be paid to the new film "Lars and the Real Girl," in which Ryan Gosling falls in love with a dummy. OK, the doll looks more authentic than those scary, inflatible sex dolls, but she's still inanimate.
I'm much more interested in "Guys and Dolls," a UK documentary which follows several men obsessed with actual Real Dolls. For those who don't listen to Howard Stern, Real Dolls are intricately designed faux women who could be mistaken for actual women at first glance. And, of course, they're anatomically correct.
Stern played dialogue snippets from "Dolls," and now I'm curious to see the entire film. But I can't find much about it online. The ol' reliable imdb.com only offers a bare bones description with no good links.
Perhaps interest in "Lars" will force distributors to bring "Guys and Dolls" stateside.

The heart wants what it wants

Woody Allen uttered that uber-creepy line in defending his relationship with then-squeeze Mia Farrow's adopted daughter Soon-Yi. Ben Stiller repeated it, to chilling effect, in the surprise box office dud "The Heartbreak Kid."

The phrase came to mind while watching "Crazy Love," a new documentary out on DVD this week. "Crazy" follows the real tale of Burt and Linda Pugach, a couple who met, fell in love and then separated when he ordered thugs to throw lye on her face following a quarrel. They split up - incarceration makes staying together pretty tough - but when he left prison he renewed his courtship with Linda. And, after a while, she accepted his advances. Crazy, huh? Not as crazy as you might think, given the circumstances. Watch and see for yourself. Warning -- the first half hour is pokey, and it comes off as just your ordinary gossip tale. But it gets better, much better, soon thereafter. (Photo: Those "Crazy" lovebirds, Linda and Burt Pugach)

'Bad choice of words' nominee

Director David Lynch is in Israel to preach the power of transcendental meditation, according to a report on IMDB.com. In a speech at the Sam Spiegel Film and Television School in Jerusalem, he told the crowd: "Real peace is not just the absence of war but the absence of all suffering, all negativity. Change comes from within. From the first meditation, boom, you're there."
Boom? Really, David? Maybe you should save the speech for the suicide bombers who choose Israel as their final resting place ...

I laughed! I cried! It's better than 'Cats!'

Ever wonder why even the worst movies find some critic, somewhere, to sing its praises? Well, The Washington Post did a little digging on the subject and came up with a few answers. (hat tip: Movie Mom)
Typically, an excellent movie will feature blurbs from The New York Times, Time magazine or Ebert & Roeper. If the film isn't top notch, the critics mentioned won't have as high a profile. Once in a blue moon they'll even tap me for comments!
One sure sign of a clunker -- when the ads tout Larry King's opinions in bold face. He's not a critic, and he's about as discerning as a hungry kid staring down a bucket of french fries.

What I really, really don't want

Are we recycling nostalgia at such a fevered pace that we need another round of the Spice Girls?

Apparently so. Look out for a new album and world tour, not to mention a cavalcade of really awful outfits, from the sunny Brits.

And if you're not sure where to buy that album, look no further.

The Force is strong with this one

George Lucas wishes he knew how to quit Luke and co.
The "Star Wars" creator keeps telling interviewers that he can't wait to wrap "Star Wars" and return to smaller, more personal films. That's great, so why is he summoning freelance writers to his compound for a new "Star Wars" series?

Werewolf? There 'Wolf'

Caught up with the 1994 film "Wolf" tonight, courtesy of Comcast HD for free. Some random thoughts on seeing it again all these years later:
* "Wolf" featured more slow-motion scenes than a full season of "The Six Million Dollar Man." Apparently, whenever director Mike Nichols cried "action," he was just fooling.
* Jack Nicholson's hairline defies time and follicle science. He belongs to a rare club, along with Woody Allen and Sting, of men who started to lose their hair early on but somehow their scalp never went the full Monty. Maybe each does a little hocus-pocus to freeze the process, but it still fascinates me.
* Boy, Michelle Pfeiffer sure was bewitching to behold in the '90s. Glad she's back making films again.
* Is there a better yuppie villain than James Spader?
* Love Ennio Morricone's score, an homage to those '30s horror flicks. If only they could digitally add Abbott & Costello into the film for a cameo ...
Variety's Todd McCarthy officially breaks the film down, and I agree with his criticisms, here.

Sean Penn? Kevin Spacey? Hello??

It's one thing to cozy up to Fidel Castro-lovin' types like Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, as Sean Penn and Kevin Spacey have done in recent months. But how about a little protest when Chavez's regime slaps down freedom of expression?
Here are the details. We await a reaction from the aforementioned actors, or better yet anyone in the artistic community.
The sound you will soon here, I'm afraid, is silence.

Now that's torture

Joaquin Phoenix is a heck of an actor. But he's not so great as an interview subject. There are worse crimes than giving lousy interviews, but would it be so hard to fake it? I've interviewed dozens of actors, and I bet a few pretended to be cordial to make the process go smoothly.
Not Joaquin. Check out this interview he gave to Time Out New York. It's more awkward than watching "The Office" in slow motion.
In a way, I respect his position. The press often harps on a single theme, no matter what evidence you give that doesn't follow its narrative. But that's the game, and it seems a tiny price to pay for getting huge gobs of money to act. That said, the Time Out reporter clearly goaded Joaquin and deserved to get that dial tone response.
I did a brief interview with Joaquin a little while back in connection with "Ladder 49." I recall him being a bit uncomfortable, although he was polite enough on the whole. What I recall most vividly is how he wouldn't discuss any aspect of "Walk the Line," the Cash biopic he was shooting at the time.

'Night' falls

Sometimes, the first minutes of a movie set you up for something wonderful. Or even just wonderfully sweet, like Marisa Tomei getting dressed to the music of Suzanne Vega at the start of "Untamed Heart." Instantly, I knew I was gonna like that film.
I felt the same tug during the opening moments of "We Own the Night." The film features a roll call of black and white images, all relating to police officers and their work. Brilliant.
Then the movie starts, and it's a slow, steady roll downhill. My review summarizes the descent, in all its technicolor glory. Check out the trailer. (Photo: Mark Wahlberg, left, confronts Joaquin Phoenix in "Night.")

Save me, Hillary!

Haven't caught up with NBC's "Bionic Woman" yet, but I understand our bio-gal has already made up her mind regarding the upcoming presidential election. This dialogue snippet comes from a recent episode. (Hat tip: www.newsbusters.org)
JAIME SOMMERS: OK, you know what, this camera in my eye? It sucks.
JONAS BLEDSOE: It's not a camera. It's...
SOMMERS: (interrupting and finishing his sentence) A total violation of privacy. You know what? I'm going to call somebody. The Justice Department or—Hillary Clinton. She'll get to the bottom of this.

Wes on Wes

The AP juggernaut sure does crank out the copy, so let's stop and applaud when the wire service whips up a winner.
Director Wes Anderson speaks to the AP for this balanced profile on his young film career. It's both congratulatory and cynical, all in the right doses. Well done.

Clooney for the defense

George Clooney scooped up an Oscar for the 2005 drama "Syriana." This year, he might have helped a fellow actor nab a nomination.

Clooney stars in "Michael Clayton," a new legal drama which opens wide across the country tomorrow. Clayton is a fixer, a guy who helps his prestigious law firm "fix" problems that arise with clients and fellow litigators. "In the Bedroom's" Tom Wilkinson co-stars as a firm member who goes off his meds and threatens to harm the firm with his antics. Clayton is assigned to bring Wilkinson's character back into the fold, but in doing so finds his own conscience needs repair.

"Michael Clayton" isn't your average legal thriller. First-time director Tony Gilroy (who wrote the "Bourne" pics) arranges the narrative in a fresh, provocative way so it feels like a new genre. And Wilkinson is terrific as the addled lawer, a role which will surely turn the heads of Oscar voters. Sydney Pollack, who is assembling a sturdy career as a character actor as his directorial projects wane, is nearly as good as a senior law partner. "Michael Clayton" has a generic title, a great ad campaign - "The truth can be adjusted" - and top-flight execution all around. Check out the trailer for yourself (photo: Tom Wilkinson, left, argues with George Clooney over prescription pills)

A grim 'Kingdom' -- spoiler alert! wreee-wreee!

Turns out "The Kingdom" originally served up an even more bleak look at Islamic fanaticism. The LA Times reports the new film was meant to have a truly explosive epilogue. (hat tip: http://www.opinionjournal.com/)
From the LA Times:
As originally scripted, Jamie Foxx's FBI team is about to board its plane bound for the U.S. when one of their Saudi counterparts approaches them with a concealed bomb strapped to himself--and blows everyone up. To avoid making a grim film grimmer, the filmmakers opted instead to end with a more thoughtful comparison of the bloodlust of the American FBI agents and the Saudi terrorists.
Of course, the FBI's bloodlust is morally the same as that of the terrorists, right?

'Weeks' not 'Days'

As horror sequels go, "28 Weeks Later" is one of the more ambitious ones greenlit in recent years. Rather than repeat "28 Days Later's" brilliant set-up, it pushes the action forward far enough to create a whole new set of circumstances for the zombies' prey. The "rage virus" has played itself out, and a band of cautious Brits are filing back into their homeland. When the virus re-awakens, the military must beat back the zombies - and more than a few innocents caught in the crossfire. The perpetually unsung Robert Carlyle leads a solid, unglamorous cast, and while the film doesn't measure up to the original it does have its moments. The opening sequence, for example, blends grandiose terror with a haunting score, itself an extension of "Days'" soundtrack.

I met with most of the film's principals during a London junket earlier this year, and they all tried to tell reporters this wasn't a "zombie" picture. And we thought "28 Days Later" had wiped away the stigma zombie films had. Apparently not.

A 'Killer' idea?

Reuters reports Hollywood is remaking "The Killer," one of Hong Kong director John Woo's signature films. I'm not a big fan of Woo's American features, although I finally caught up with his classic "Hard Boiled" recently and understood why the film made Entertainment Weekly's 'Best Action Movie' list. The box office tally for the new "Killer" could decide whether Hollywood takes a chance on a "Hard Boiled" remake.
For anyone who dug "The Departed," check out the inspiration for the film, the Hong Kong feature "Infernal Affairs." It strips away the bloat that weighed down Martin Scorsese's otherwise terrific feature, leaving a lean, mean gangster flick that transcends cultural divides.

Da worst

The reliable Rotten Tomatoes Web site offers up a cheeky list that's a must for movie lovers. It's the 100 worst-reviewed films in the site's history.
Ah, memories.
Rather than clicking through the whole list, just go here for what ol' Reege would call the "final an-sah."

Where's that duct tape?

The time to release "Civic Duty," a thriller about a man who thinks his new neighbor is a terrorist, was a good five years ago when our collective fear of the next terrorist attack was still palpable. But lousy timing is the least of the 2006 film's problems. "Duty," just released on DVD, stars a wildly miscast Peter Krause as an accountant who suspects his neighbor may be part of a terror cell. Set weeks after the September 11th attacks, "Civic Duty" could have been a telling look at one man's over-reaction to the savage attacks. Instead, it's a surface-level potboiler, and you won't believe an instant of it.

It's plain to see the filmmakers want to make a statement about what an incessant media and a president fighting the war on terror (I can see director Jeff Renfroe doing air quotes on the latter statement) can do to a regular Joe. But none of the characters act in a manner resembling real people, and the nature of the neighbor's activities are so obvious there's never any sense of mystery to goose the tension.

Horror sleepers

It's hard out here for a horror fan. Many mainstream slasher flicks can't bring the scary - see the new "Halloween" for a ghastly exhibit A. But sometimes a straight-to-video flick rises above the dreck and deserves a little love. Two horror movies hitting DVD shelves this week come quickly to mind.

I never saw 2003's "Wrong Turn," which had a brief theatrical run, but its direct-to-video sequel dials directly into the heart of a horror movie nut. "Wrong Turn 2 Dead End" follows six reality show contestants who discover the "Survivor" style challenges they face are nothing compared to the hungry cannibals lurking nearby. Sure, these reality show wannabes are as annoying as their real-life counterparts, but the genetically warped creeps provide a ferocious, unstoppable enemy. And Henry Rollins turn as the former Marine turned reality show host delivers the requisite muscle to beat the baddies back. The opening scene is a doozy, as gross and original as a slasher film can muster. Turn a deaf ear to the clunky dialogue and enjoy a ghoulish gross-out.

I still can't believe I popped the New Zealand import "Black Sheep" into my DVD player. Killer sheep? Is this the lost Monty Python sketch from hell? Nope, just a giddy horror-comedy with grisly effects and more than a few belly laughs. More genetic mutations, a horror writer's best plot device, turn docile sheep into killing machines. The beautiful countrysides provide a nice counterpoint to the mayhem to follow, and co-star Danielle Mason tweaks the PETA crowd as a tree-hugging activist.

The movie can't sustain its trippy humor, but it's got more than enough smarts to keep our interest.

Mind you, I'm not comparing these films to "The Shining" or "28 Days Later," and each packs more blood and guts than the average movie goer will tolerate. But open-minded gore hounds might find these two sleepers more entertaining than the next "Saw" or "Hostel" torture-fest.

Wes Anderson, 'Limited'

Caught director Wes Anderson's new droll-fest "The Darjeeling Limited" this morning. It opens in DC and select cities today, then goes wide next week. It's far more coherent, and entertaining, than the director's last effort, "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou."

For "Limited," Anderson casts Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody and Jason Schwartzman as far from identical brothers on a spiritual quest across India. Their trek aboard the Darjeeling Limited introduces them to a colorful landscape, curious characters and their own mommy and daddy issues. For Anderson-philes, it's all familiar stuff, from the look of the piece to the fractured familial themes. Yet few directors corral such interesting soundtracks as Anderson, and his sonic relief map here is no different. And if you must include a slow-motion sequence or three in a film, better get Anderson to stage it. It's a wonder how he can produce goosebumps simply by shooting his leads racing to catch the aforementioned train. And, of course, Bill Murray makes a brief appearance here as a flustered traveler.

"The Darjeeling Limited" can't compare to Anderson's previous masterworks, "Rushmore" and "The Royal Tenenbaums." But it's a step away from "Aquatic," a move in the right direction for one of our most intriguing auteurs.

DVD update: The film's Feb. 26 release includes the Anderson short which sets up the crisis with Schwartzman's character. It's a throwaway taken alone, but when watched before "Darjeeling" it adds another layer of pathos.

(Photo: Jason Schwartzman, Owen Wilson and Adrien Brody hop aboard "The Darjeeling Limited")

This 'Kid's' only all right

I laughed, a lot, at the new comedy "The Heartbreak Kid." Check out my review for the blow-by-blow details. But it still left me underwhelmed. Maybe those Farrelly brothers can't shock us anymore, or perhaps I was still thinking of how complex the original "Kid" proved back in 1972 compared to the 2007 model.

Anyway, the film will make a bundle, and audiences will take away a few memorable laughs. On-screen coupling never looked so wrong as when Ben Stiller and his bride (Malin Akerman, to the right of Stiller in the picture) are makin' whoopee. The scene alone is worth the ticket price.

'Indy & the Sense of Impending Disaster'

Anyone else a bit terrified at the prospect of the new "Indiana Jones" film coming this May? Harrison Ford desperately needs a hit, and while he looks smashing for his age (65) he could be too old to recreate the character. He's certainly looked lethargic on screen of late, particulary in the exceedingly mediocre thriller "Firewall."

The LA Times whips up a fun story on the history of the project today, and this will have to satiate Jones fans until the first trailers appear.

Maybe the film will shatter my suspicions. I'll be the first one to admit that, and happily so. If any director can take inject movie magic into a long-buried franchise, it's Steven Spielberg.

OK, I'm begging you to watch

Don't make "30 Rock" another "Arrested Development."

NBC's "Rock" starts its second season at 8:30 p.m. EST tonight (Thursday). Assuming we won't see a vast drop in quality, "30 Rock" remains one of the best broadcast comedies in ages.

And thanks to the Web, you can download past episodes for free. The downloading system is darn near instantaneous, and you only have to endure about three commercials, far less than a single commercial break on standard TV. Tina Fey, who created the series and serves as its atypical star, is one of the medium's brightest talents. But even if her bespectacled beauty isn't your cup of Joe, stick around to watch Alec Baldwin as her unctuous boss. It's the stuff Emmys are made of, even if Emmy voters failed to give him a statue last month. If that weren't enough of an incentive, Jerry Seinfeld drops in on tonight's episode. And there's not a thing wrong with that.

"30 Rock's" ratings last year were anemic, but NBC stuck with the program anyway. They won't be so stubborn forever, so please at least give it a try.