30 novembre : Un po' di news!

	Forgotten Films: Cellular (2004) Cell phones are everywhere and anywhere these days. If you go to have lunch at a fast food joint, you are likely to see at least 2 or 3 people on the phone while eating or waiting in line. If you find yourself in your car driving to work, you will view a lot of people on their cell phone talking to their significant other. Cell phones just cannot be avoided no matter where you go. I would venture to say that 1 out of 3 Americans own a cell phone. I have no proof of this fact, so don't quote me on it. I'm willing to bet it is a safe assessment and guess though. Who is to blame for the cell phone craze of the world? One person comes to mind and that is Zach Morris from Saved The Bell. He was one of the first to introduce the cell phone to America when he used it in class on the show. It was a large and odd looking phone but it was effective and it did what Zach wanted it to do. He got in trouble for bringing it into school and using it, but America saw all they needed to see to fall in love with the cell phone. Nowadays cell phones are a lot smaller and easier to carry around than they were during their introduction to the world by Zach Morris. Now you have cell phones which can fit in the palm of your hand or even in your ear as an ear piece. You also have these gimmicks called "sidekicks." What they do or how you use them is clearly beyond me. But cell phones are almost needed as much as water by certain people today and they cannot bare to live without them. I might be one of the few people who does not own a cell phone on this planet. Truth be told, I don't think anyone is that important that they need to be contacted 24-7. Not even the president or god should own a cell phone in my eyes. Cell phones are loud, disturbing, selfish, and a pain in the butt. Have you ever been out with a friend and you have to sit there when he or she gets a phone call and wait for them to finish a conversation? It's irritating, right? You have to look around and wait for them to get done with the conversation while you look like a damn fool. Not to mention when someone is not paying attention in traffic and they miss a red light because they are on the phone. Cell phones should only be used for emergencies such as car accidents or if you need help and are lost somewhere. For feeble minded conversation, it is just plain rude. With all of that said, it is surprising that it took Hollywood so long to release a film about cell phones and cell phone usage. They finally did in 2004 with Cellular starring Kim Basinger, Jessica Biel, Chris Evans, Rick Hoffman, William H. Macy, Jason Statham, and many more. This also might be one of the few movies ever released that featured a cell phone as a main character. The cell phone in this film is just as important as the characters themselves if not more important. The film was also directed by David R. Ellis, who has directed a variety of films such as Final Destination 2, Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco, and last but not least Snakes on a Plane. He has directed films that feature cell phones, talking animals, killer snakes, and teens that perish. He has done a little bit of everything to say the least. The story of Cellular starts with two different stories and turns them into one complete story as one story follows Jessica (Kim Basinger) and the other follows Ryan (Chris Evans). Ryan is your stereotypical slacker who just wants to hang around the beach and avoid all the responsibility he possibly can. This quality is no longer appealing to his girlfriend Chloe (Jessica Biel), who is ready to end their relationship once and for all due to his immature habits. She gives him one last job to prove that he is finally mature and can handle responsibility, but things don't go exactly as planned. He finds himself on the other line of a phone call that is life or death. Jessica is kidnapped at gunpoint and locked in an undisclosed attic by a group of bad guys lead by Jason Statham. She has no idea who they are, what they want, or what to do. They have smashed her phone, tied her up, and will soon return to her kill her. Luckily, Jessica is a science teacher and she puts together a few wires and cords and is able to get a signal to Ryan. Ryan thinks it is nothing but a prank call at first and does not take it seriously at all. He soon discovers this is no laughing matter and he is her only hope of staying alive. The problem is that he as much information as Jessica and that is none. Ryan must transform into a responsible, mature, and intelligent person if he wants to save her life. Ryan is then sent on a series of high chase adventures to save her life. He first goes to the police and they are of little to no help. That includes William H. Macy as a feminine cop who is more interested in beauty products than helping out others. He spends most of his days getting in trouble for having products ordered to the station. Ryan must also deal with a boat load of obstacles such as the cell phone battery dying, interference, rude drivers, and traffic. He is in way over his head, but he must act quick in order to save the life of someone he does not even know. But if we have learned anything from Seinfeld, it's that you must be a good samaratin. But did she pick the right guy? She picked a surfer guy whose hobbies don't go past sleeping, girls, and surf boards. But beggars can't be choosers and he is her only hope. Let's run through some of the obstacles he must face as I mentioned above. The cell phone battery is perishing due to all the minutes he spent on the phone with Jessica and he has no battery to recharge it. He goes to one of many cell phone places and no one is eager to help him whatsoever. He uses a very unique method to get their attention and the charger that he needs. He also runs into a fast talking and horny lawyer played by Rick Hoffman of Hostel fame in a bizarre and hilarious performance. He must also find a way to speed up traffic and he winds up using some car techniques similar to The Fast and The Furious. Will Ryan be able to save her life? Can Jessica trust Ryan? Will the cell phone die again? Cellular is similar to Snakes On A Plane in that it finds a way to make tense situations funny and exciting all in one. If the film decided to be straight up humor and just went for comedy, it would become overdone, silly, and tedious. If the film decided to be too serious, too intense, and too dramatic, it would take itself far too seriously and not be a whole lot of fun. The film finds the perfect mix of random moments of humor and comedy such as when Ryan tells someone to get off her cell phone while she is driving, and it goes back to intense moments between Jessica and the bad guys. The film has a real nice sense of pacing and it knows when to be funny and when to be a thriller. It is able to merge them both effortlessly. David R. Ellis is a master and genius at doing that style. What is also nice about the film is the level of star power that occupies the screen. A lot of times in films like this you get a lot of TV actors or B-grade actors, but they went out and got some top names to be apart of this project. The film has a revolving door of great actors giving great performances. Kim Basinger does a skillful job of portraying a terrified, scared, and emotionally upset mom. I really wish Kim would do more movies as I also really enjoyed her in The Sentinel as well. I understand why she is not too involved in movies lately with her divorce issue, but if she ever returns full time, I'm ready for it. Chris Evans, who was in the forgettable Fantastic Four, is solid as the slacker who is turned into a hero and must grow up awfully fast. Chris Evans is a charismatic actor if he gets the right role and this is definitely the right role for him. Macy and Statham are also stand out in their particular roles in this movie. Lastly, Cellular is just a fun popcorn movie. I know I use the term "fun" far too much, but I believe movies are best enjoyed when you are smiling, laughing, and shouting along at the screen. Cellular is a self aware and fun movie that has fun with its premise and we have fun with them. The film shows us our unhealthy obsession with cell phones and uses it in a full length movie to poke fun, entertain, and engage us and that is what this movie does to the fullest. I recall seeing this film on its opening night and it was a hoot and a holler to view with a jam packed audience. It never slows down and it keeps things interesting by throwing you in with the characters into some bizarre and tense situations. The thing I learned most from Cellular is never answer the phone when a stranger calls, it never ends up good.
	Baldwin Not So Bitter Towards Basinger Alec Baldwin has hinted his bitter divorce and custody battle with ex-wife Kim Basinger is over after taking time to praise her mothering skills on TV. The movie star has been embroiled in a fraught legal battle with Basinger for years, but after winning a new "order" earlier this year, the Pearl Harbor seems ready to stop fighting. Speaking on CNN show Larry King Live last week, Baldwin said, "My ex-wife was somebody who was funny and she was fun... and she was a lot of fun to be with. "She was a great, great person. And then all of a sudden I think we just wanted to live different lives. "But I think she's a great mother. Yes, good mom." In court, Baldwin accused his ex of refusing to obey by the terms of court-imposed custody and attempting to turn their daughter Ireland against him. But the actor star accepts he's won as much custody as he thinks is fair: "I have what I have now. I have the orders that I have now."
	Alec Baldwin Praises Kim Basinger For the first time in six years... Interestingly enough Alec Baldwin seems to have left all his bitterness for ex-wife Kim Basinger by the wayside instigating rumours that their various court battles are now over. Baldwin and Basinger have been arguing over custody rights to their young daughter Ireland ever since they split in 2000, but now he has been heard praising the aging actress. Speaking on the Larry King Live show last week Baldwin said of Basinger: "My ex-wife was somebody who was funny and she was fun... and she was a lot of fun to be with. "She was a great, great person. And then all of a sudden I think we just wanted to live different lives. "But I think she's a great mother, yes, good mom." Since his divorce Baldwin has revealed he is planning on writing a book for fathers on how they can beat the legal system after splitting from their wives. Multi-talented or what?
	USA Rentals: 5 Nov. 2006: 25. 23 The Sentinel (2006) 68 $990K $38.9M 12 Nov. 2006: 30. 25 The Sentinel (2006) 75 $830K $39.8M 19 Nov. 2006: 38. 30 The Sentinel (2006) 82 $690K $40.5M 26 Nov. 2006: 42. 38 The Sentinel (2006) 89 $590K $41M
	L’ATTRICE E’ UNA DONNA SPOSATA INNAMORATA DI UN MONACO NELL’«ISOLA DEGLI AIRONI BIANCHI» PER LA RETE LIFETIME Kim Basinger: io diva trascurata? Fare film per la tv non è da serie B LOS ANGELES. Per anni è stata un simbolo di bellezza e ossessione erotica, prima come Bond Girl in Mai dire mai, poi come protagonista di Nove settimane e mezzo. Infine è arrivata la conferma d’attrice, con l’Oscar vinto nel 1997 per L. A. Confidential. Una bellezza classica, quella di Kim Basinger, ma anche una bellezza segnata da anni di tensioni e turbamento: il difficile divorzio da Alec Baldwin, gli incontri-scontri pubblici con giudici e avvocati per determinare la custodia della figlia Ireland. Negli ultimi anni la si ricorda nel ruolo di mamma di Eminem nel film 8 mile, e in The Sentinel come First Lady al fianco di Micheal Douglas. Ora è la volta di The Mermaid Chair (L’isola degli aironi bianchi), girato per la rete televisiva Lifetime, una storia tratta dall'omonimo best-seller di Sue Monk Kidd nella quale recita la parte di una donna sposata che intrattiene una relazione impossibile con un monaco benedettino e che, attraverso questa relazione, si confronta con alcuni lati oscuri della sua vita. Dal podio degli Oscar ai film tv. Signora Basinger, si sente l’ennesima diva un po' trascurata? «E perché mai? The Mermaid Chair è una storia molto bella di un’autrice molto amata. Abbiamo girato a Victoria, nella British Columbia, con degli standard di produzione molto elevati. Ho accettato perché ho visto un ruolo molto profondo, una storia che ti costringe a farti delle domande. E poi, in una notte di programmazione raggiungo un pubblico più vasto che con un film che rimane in sala per mesi». Quindi si sente soddisfatta della sua vita professionale? «Io mi sento prima di tutto una mamma. Purtroppo le battaglie con il mio ex-marito sulla custodia di Ireland sono diventate pubbliche, è quello che succede quando sei un personaggio pubblico. Mi piace lavorare, ma se dovessero offrirmi un Via col vento e avessi già un impegno preso con mia figlia sarei pronta a dire di no». Una donna di mezza età che cerca di scoprire chi è e che cosa vuole. C'è un qualcosa di autobiografico nel suo ultimo film? «Non ne sono così sicura, la vita a volte imita l'arte e a volte no. Quando interpreti un personaggio, finisci inevitabilmente per metterci qualcosa di tuo. Ma l'insoddisfazione e il farsi delle domande è un tratto condiviso da milioni e milioni di donne. Col passare degli anni, ho imparato che le cose non sono necessariamente in bianco e in nero, che spesso ci sono delle sfumature di grigio. Ho imparato a cercare di non giudicare e di accettare gli altri. E' importante anche conciliarsi con se stessi. In questo percorso di vita sento di avere Dio come co-pilota, ma se non diventi la tua migliore amica è difficile andare lontano». Sembrano i discorsi di una donna in preda a molte lotte interiori... «Noi tutti abbiamo demoni con cui fare i conti, decisioni difficili da prendere su ciò che è giusto e ciò che è sbagliato. Ho avuto la mia dose di dolore nella vita anche se, certo, non posso paragonarmi a chi soffre di fame in Africa. Ma con il passare degli anni, ho imparato ad essere più umile. E ad accettare che alla fine ciò di cui abbiamo bisogno è amore». Amore nel senso di matrimonio? «Non voglio sentire la parola matrimonio, semmai posso pensare di incontrare un uomo perbene. E che mi faccia sentire libera». E che cos’è la libertà per lei? «Vorrei sentirmi libera di essere chi sono, senza sentirmi giudicata. E avere a fianco una persona che mi aiuti a superare le mie paure».
	Kim Basinger Is In with Indie 'Out' Kim Basinger will star in "While She Was Out," a real-time thriller being helmed by Susan Montford, a producer who is making her directorial debut on the picture. The indie film is being produced by Insight Film Studios' Kirk Shaw, Angry Films' Don Murphy and Mary Aloe of Proud Mary Entertainment. Guillermo del Toro is executive producing. The script, written by Montford and based on a short story by Edward Bryant, centers on a suburban housewife who heads to the mall on Christmas Eve and ends up fighting for her life against four hooligans in a nearby forest. Principal photography on the film will begin in January in Vancouver, with Montford intending to shoot in an intense, you-are-there style. Foreign rights have been sold to Optimum Releasing in the U.K., Manga Films in Spain and Square One in Germany. Insight and Proud Mary are teamed to make Canadian-American co-productions. They recently produced the feature films "When a Man Falls in the Forest," with Sharon Stone and Timothy Hutton, and "Numb," starring Matthew Perry and Mary Steenburgen. They are in preproduction on "Battle in Seattle," starring Charlize Theron. Montford, a partner at Angry Films, is a producer on New Line Cinema's "Shoot 'Em Up," starring Clive Owen and Paul Giamatti, and "Faces of Death," which is set up at Rogue. Basinger, repped by CAA, last appeared in "The Sentinel" with Michael Douglas. Her other recent credits include "Cellular," "The Door in the Floor" and "8 Mile." She won an Oscar for 1997's "L.A. Confidential."
	I guai di Kim Basinger Sullo schermo o fuori la vita di Kim non è una passeggiata Casalinga disperata - Sarà questo il suo prossimo impegno cinematografico di Kim Basinger: la bionda attrice simbolo di bellezza sarà la casalinga di una tranquilla cittadina periferica che, uscita di casa per fare un po' di shopping al centro commerciale, si ritroverà a lottare per la sua sopravvivenza in un bosco braccata da quattro pericolosi assassini. L'unica possibilità di difesa è data da una cassetta degli attrezzi e dal suo contenuto; un po' Desperate Housewife e un po' MacGyver insomma, ma molto più thriller. Braccata - Il titolo del film in questione sarà While She Was Out e le riprese partiranno a gennaio. Regista della pellicola sarà Susan Montford, produttrice scozzese che esordisce dietro alla macchina da presa. Un nuovo ruolo drammatico dunque, dopo l'ultimo discusso film per la tv che l'ha vista interpretare una donna che intrattiene una relazione con un monaco benedettino e del quale la Basinger s'è detta soddisfattissima. Guai in casa - Ma i guai per Kim purtroppo sono di casa anche nella vita reale: non si è ancora risolta la controversia sull'affidamento della figlia Ireland (10) che ha avuto dall'ex marito Alec Baldwin: l'attore sex symbol degli anni '80 l'ha infatti accusata di non rispettare i periodi di visita parterna imposti dal tribunale e di non averlo avvisato quando la piccola è stata ricoverata in ospedale per un piccolo incidente: Kim, nonostante si sia dichiarata innocente, rischia multa e galera.
	Baldwin waxes eloquent over Basinger's mothering skills Actor Alec Baldwin has hinted that the bitter legal battle between him and his ex-wife Kim Basinger over the custody of their daughter may have ended. The movie star, who has been embroiled in a nasty legal battle with Basinger for years, praised the latter's mothering skills on CNN show 'Larry King Live' last week. "My ex-wife was somebody who was funny and she was fun... and she was a lot of fun to be with. She was a great, great person. And then all of a sudden I think we just wanted to live different lives," Contactmusic quoted him as saying. "But I think she's a great mother, yes, good mom," he added. Earlier, Baldwin had accused Basinger before the court, of refusing to abide by the terms of custody, and attempting to turn their daughter, Ireland, against him. However, he now accepts that he has won as much access to his daughter as he thinks is fair. "I have what I have now. I have the orders that I have now," he said. (ANI)