January 10, 1914: With Mack Sennett‘s instruction to Charlie Chaplin to “get into a comedy make-up,” the legendary “Little Tramp” is born. January 10, 1923: The “Hollywoodland” sign is dedicated. It was built on the Hollywood Hills to promote sales…
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Michael Cera & Youth in Revolt
A friend asked his 14-year-old daughter’s pals who their favorite male actors were. Surprisingly enough, the answers ranged from Saturday Night Live’s Andy Samberg to Alan Rickman (!) to Sean Bean (!?). Not surprisingly, another name mentioned was Michael Cera….
Read more →Talking Pictures, Part 1: My Dinner With Andre
There are movies that can start conversations (Citizen Kane, Eraserhead, The Sixth Sense), movies that can end conversations (Salo: The 120 Days of Sodom, Fahrenheit 9/11, perhaps the entire oeuvre of Michael Bay), and movies that are simply about conversations….
Read more →Wallace Shawn: The Arthouse’s Favorite Dinner Guest?
It is, to borrow a phrase from one of his better-known movie roles, “inconceivable” that filmgoers of all ages aren’t familiar with at least the voice, if not the leprechaun-like face, of comedic mainstay Wallace Shawn. Fans of art films know…
Read more →Movie Poll – Who’s the greatest action film star of all time?
The King at 75: The Films of Elvis Presley 1976-2007
As most people know, Elvis Presley’s last feature film was in 1969 and he passed away eight years later. But what sort of movies might he have made if he hadn’t died? Let’s explore an alternate history of The King’s big-screen career post-1977.
Read more →This Week In Film History 01-03-10
January 9, 1931: Diminutive actor Edward G. Robinson creates a chilling persona in ruthless gangster “Rico” Bandello in Warner Bros.’ Little Caesar. January 4, 1954: The U.S. Supreme Court upholds the right of film distributors to confine first-run engagements to…
Read more →Movie Irv’s Top 10 for ’09
It’s not every year that picking a top 10 list becomes difficult. Usually, one scrambles just to come up with 10 quality releases. And this year seemed much of the same: a slog through the early part of 2009, a…
Read more →Movies Unlimited Movie Buzz Holiday Podcast III: Best of the Decade!
The party’s over. The year’s over. The decade’s over! Movie Irv, still hanging out at the Movie Buzz holiday party long after Sammy Claws and Brian B. have left the building, has decided to make up a list of his…
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