Monthly Archives: July 2007

Bogdanovich right on 'Rio Bravo'

Peter Bogdanovich writes in The New York Observer of the several Howard Hawks movies that, should he chance upon them on television, he finds it almost impossible to switch off. “‘Rio Bravo” is certainly one of them,” he says, “but … Continue reading

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'El Violin' deserves another bow

Francisco Vargas’ finely crafted story of peasant rebellion, “El Violin,” which screened in London Sunday as part of BAFTA Goes to Mexico, warrants a full U.K and U.S. release for its rich texture and powerful filmmaking. The film has won … Continue reading

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Cuaron was shaken by Bond, but not stirred

Mexican filmmaker Alfonso Cuaron (left) says he was going to make a James Bond picture until Joel Coen talked him out of it. Speaking in a Q&A at BAFTA in London on Friday, the director of “Y Tu Mama Tambien,” … Continue reading

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Wiesenthal: Now there was a man

Concentration camp survivor Simon Wiesenthal, who lost 89 relatives to the Nazis, was for many the conscience of the Holocaust. An extraordinary man who died at 96, outliving almost all of his enemies, Wiesenthal (left) celebrated his 90th birthday at … Continue reading

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D'oh! What about Alf?

Homer and family learn that Alf Clausen’s music is not in the movie Nearly all of the familiar names and voices associated with the television series worked on “The Simpsons Movie” except one: Alf Clausen. If you recall such ditties … Continue reading

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Barbieri's 'Tango' lasts forever

Marlon Brando and Maria Schneider (left) were not the only sensations in Bernardo Bertolucci’s “Last Tango in Paris,” which has been screening this month at bfi southbank and around Britain. The 1973 film’s Italian cinematographer Vittorio Storaro went on to … Continue reading

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U.K. Coming Attractions: August

Matt Damon’s return as Jason Bourne is the big release in August but since my Coming Attractions piece for the month went to press in Cue Entertainment, a major treat has been added for later in the month with Julie … Continue reading

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Argentina get the bird

Argentina played far and away the best soccer and scored the most goals at Copa America 2007 but in Sunday’s final against Brazil — played in Maracaibo and telecast in the U.K. by Sky Sports — they fulfilled Alex Ferguson’s … Continue reading

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Romantic mischief rules in 'Moliere'

Dramatic actor Romain Duris displays fine comic flair in ‘Moliere’ Laurent Tirard’s splendid “Moliere,” just released by Pathe in the U.K., is for everyone who loved “Shakespeare in Love,” but those who found that Oscar-winning picture smarmy, smug and overrated … Continue reading

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Gee, thanks. I think

Reuters covers Live Earth London and gets a great Madonna dig in: “The incredibly fit but coldly mechanical star performed a song she’d written for the night titled ‘Hey You,’ in which she personally ordered everyone to save the world. … Continue reading

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