Monthly Archives: September 2008

The Who to be honored by Kennedy Center

Pete Townshend and Roger Daltry of The Who (above with drummer Zak Starkey) are among the artists selected to receive the Kennedy Center Honors for 2008, it was announced Tuesday. The others are actor Morgan Freeman; country singer George Jones; … Continue reading

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Silent screen beauty Anita Page dies at 98

Here is her obituary in The Guardian: When Gene Kelly sang You Were Meant for Me to Debbie Reynolds in Singin’ in the Rain (1952), there was an echo of the first time this romantic ballad was performed on screen. … Continue reading

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Venice: The Wrestler wins the Golden Lion

Evan Rachel Wood and Mickey Rourke star in the Venice prizewinner U.S. movie “The Wrestler” won the Golden Lion for best picture at the Venice International Film Festival on Saturday at the close of the 11-day competition on the Lido. … Continue reading

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Last chance to vote for World Soundtracks Public Choice Award

Here’s a note from organizers of the World Soundtrack Awards, handed out at the Ghent Film Festival every year: Are you a soundtrack and film music fan? Then cast your vote for what you consider the best score of the … Continue reading

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Cheech and Chong still toking after all these years

Comedy team Tommy Chong and Cheech Marin back together My old TV Guide mate Bill Brioux has a pretty good interview in The Toronto Star today with Cheech and Chong, the great seventies tokers, who are back on tour in … Continue reading

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Venice: Sparkling performances in mischievous Gonna Explode

Maria Deschamps and Juan Pablo di Santiago as a pair of teenagers on the run, sort of By Ray Bennett VENICE — Two restless teenagers decide to run away together but do it by camping out on the roof of … Continue reading

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Venice: Compelling tale of hidden emotions in Country Teacher

Ladislav Sedivy as a troubled teen(left) and Pavel Liska as a teacher with a secret By Ray Bennett VENICE — A big-city natural history teacher arrives at a small rural Czech school and makes a great impression until his unresolved … Continue reading

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Venice: Broken relationships lack spark in Broken Lines

Paul Bettany and Doraly Rosa as a damaged ex-boxer and his straying partner By Ray Bennett VENICE — Sallie Aprahamian’s “Broken Lines” is a dour romance involving a man conflicted following the death of his domineering father and a woman … Continue reading

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Venice: Burn After Reading more like burn before viewing

When Randy Newman was writing the score for the Mel Gibson western “Maverick,” director Richard Donner asked him if he could write some funny music. “Funny music? What’s funny music?” asked Newman. “I could stick a trumpet up my ass … Continue reading

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Venice: Secret police breed terror in nail-hard Tonight

Pascal Gregory as a tough guy facing enemies on all sides and trying not to get burned By Ray Bennett VENICE — Noir doesn’t get any darker than in Werner Schroeter’s film version of Uruguayan novelist Juan Carlos Onetti’s “Tonight” … Continue reading

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