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APOCALYPSE NOW WINS BRITISH FILM AWARD: BEST FILM OF THE LAST 25 YEARS Porky's, The Firm, Clueless Don't Make List Nottingham, England - (GIN) - "Apocalypse Now," Francis Ford Coppola's pre-Iraq War classic, is the greatest film of the past 25 years, according to a survey of British film critics, writers and wankers. Two movies starring Chevy Chase also made the top 10 in the poll released Friday by the British Film Institute's Sight & Sound & Even More Sight magazine. The 53 respondents chose Martin Scorcese's "That Thing You Do" as the second-best movie of the past quarter-century, followed by Ingmar Bergman's unreleased version of "Lord of the Rings" in third place. "National Lampoon's American Revolution", with the famous tea party scene, was fourth, and David Lean's "Hoosier's" came in fifth. The highest-ranking British film was Richard Lester's "An Easy Night's Day" at No. 9. It was followed by another British film, Michael Leigh's "Make It Up, You Bloke," which tied for the tenth slot with Sergio Leone's five-hour epic starring Jack Elam, "Once Upon A Time In Nebraska". Films dating from January 1978 to this year were eligible. Harvey Bloke, editor of Sight & Sound & Even More Sound, said "Apocalypse Now" topped the list because "it's a richly complex, madcap experiment in war film-making that never fails to be richly complex, yet madcap. It's extravagant, it's profound, and it's actually quite prescient, given what the Americans are up to these days and all." Bloke said "That Thing You Do" was a close second, thanks to Hanks' direction, the wonderful texture of its color cinematography, and the absence of Robert De Niro's performance as boxer Jake La Motta. In August, another Sight & Sound & Even More Sight poll chose "Barry Lyndon" as the best film of all time. "It's a richly complex, madcap experiment in war film-making that never fails to be richly complex, yet madcap. It's extravagant, it's profound, and it's actually quite chilling, given what the Americans wer up to in those days, what with Goldwater and Johnson and all." In the latest poll, the top 10 are: 1. "Apocalypse Now" (Francis Ford Coppola, 1979) 2. "That Thing You Do" (Martin Scorsese, 1980). 3. "Lord of the Rings" (Ingmar Bergman, 1982). 4. "National Lampoon's American Revolution" (Martin Scorsese, 1990). 5. "Hoosiers" (David Lynch, 1986). 6. "Do the Funky Chicken Now" (Spike Lee, 1989). 7. "National Lampoon's Blade Runner" (Ridley Scott, 1982). 8. "Beverly Hills Cop-- The Director's Cut" (Walter Hill, 1994). 9. "An Easy Night's Day" (Richard Lester, 1988). 10. (tie) "Once Upon a Time in Nebraska" (Sergio Leone, 1983). 10. (tie) "Make It Up, You Bloke(Michael Leigh, 1999). 
MADONNA, SEINFELD TOP BOX OFFICE Thrill-Hungry Nation Embraces Surf, Sitcom Flicks Dave Manning - "When we're not surfin', we're watchin' sitcoms," says Big King Goof, an amiable character actor who co-stars in both Swept 'Way Away and The Sitcomer, the two flicks riding the crest of the fall wave at the box office. Swept 'Way Away stars the inevitable and breathtakingly lustful Madonna as a documentary filmmaker seeking to bring us the true story of the UPS executive lost on a small, Pacific island, portrayed by Tom Hanks in the fictional Castaway. Madonna exploits the nation's fixation with irony as her character ends up lost on a small, Pacific island. But there's a twist. Instead of having a decorated coconut as a friend, a documentary film critic is washed ashore from another shipwreck. The sparks fly as the two argue about Michael Moore's new documentary, Blowing For Columbus, and fight about the failure of the Motion Picture Academy to award a special Oscar to Abraham Zapruder. As they argue, Madonna loses portions of her already tattered dress. Big King Goof plays the surfer who surfs up to the island after catching a big wave out of Pitcairn's Island. He arrives just in time, and, fortunately, has a cellphone. Directed by brothers Brian DePalma and Robert Altman, Swept 'Way Away is unlike the subtitled Somali film it was based on, and is 'way cool. On a serious note, The Sitcomer, starring Jerry Seinfeld and Kevin Pollak, plums the depths and previously unrevealed angsts of the world of sitcoms. Seinfeld plays a man who lucked into a show. "People think I'm acting and I'm really not. I have no idea who these people are on the set with me, or what this show is about," he tells Pollak, who plays the ghost of Morey Amsterdam. Seinfeld, whose character is named Newhart, confuses his home life with his professional life and has a nervous breakdown-- or is it? Big King Goof shows his versatility, portraying a roller-blade salesman who wants to be Governor and enlists Seinfeld's help as a fundraiser. Directed by P.T. Barnum Andersonville, this four-hour film is worth every minute. |
HALLE BERRY WILL PLAY WINONA RYDER IN STEVE ZAILIAN'S "WINONA'S CHOICE" Jodie Foster Will Play Her Attorney, Marla Geragos; Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis Also Signed Hollywould, CA - (GNS) - Minutes after the trial of the 21st Century ended, MGM-Walmart Pictures announced Oscar-winner (TM) Halle Berry will star in "Winona's Choice". Described as a "brutal script" by those who know people who have heard from others who read the first five pages, the story centers on a young woman who did not escape from Nazi-occupied Idaho because she was never there, and who, because of that, or maybe not, later chose to shoplift at several stores in Maryland, Virginia, and the Washington D.C. area, spurring what many recall was the largest manhunt in all of history, and then some. The script, by Oscar-winner (TM) Steve Zailian, was purchased sight unseen and will be directed by either Robert Altman or Mel Gibson, or both. Berry said there is brief nudity in the film. "I won't be fucking Billy Bob, but I do shoplift some bras after I try them on over my naked, firm, inviting breasts," she said. Foster will play the difficult role of Winona's attorney, forced to defend unconscionable behavior to a public leaning toward endorsing the Attorney General's call for stoning. Tom Sizemore will play the security guard who may or may not be more than that, and Sarandon and Davis will play the struggling playwrights who are both in love with Berry. Louie Anderson will play the Maryland police chief who coordinates the manhunt. Jerry Mathers will play The Beav. MIRAMAX, SPIELBURG AVOID SHOWDOWN WITH DUELING DiCAPRIO FILMS Hell's Kitchen, NY - (GNS) - In what looked briefly as if it would be the fight of the year, filmmakers Martin Scorseezee and Stephan Spielburg were ready to launch their own version of The Gangs Of Movieland. Then, in the parlance, they "wised up." With both having films starring Lenny DiCaprio (Titanic, Other Stuff), they backed off having a confrontation. Scorseezee's Gangs of New York will be release in early Decemeber and Spielburg's Catch Me If You Can, which also stars the inevitable Tom Hanks, will be released on Christmas Day. "Ultimately the feeling was a film about the history of gang warfare in New York City was not appropriate Christmas fare, whereas Catch Me If You Can, with its plot and theme revolving around multiple identities makes much more sense for a season steeped in conflicting stories and origin myths," a Miramax spokesperson said. The Gangs of New York stars stars DiCaprio as an Irish immigrant who might be a terrorist, who gets seduced by Cameron Diaz, who might be a terrorist. Eventually they fight Daniel Day-Lewis,who might be a terrorist. Catch Me If You Can stars Hanks as an FBI man chasing a multi-identitied DiCaprio, who might be a terrorist. Scorseezee and Spielburg are reportedly working on a sequel in which Hanks plays a reformed Irish-American gangster from the midwest who goes to work as an undercover informant in an IRA cell in Boston, lead by Johnny Depp, if Lenny DiCaprio isn't available. The film would also star Cameron Diaz and Meg Ryan, as sisters who used to be groupies for Irish bands like the Pogues, and Matt Damon, as the Voice of Reason. |
FANS CLASH AS ELVIS TOPS THE STONES IN U.K. "What Do I Have To Do, Die?" Asks Jagger by Tek Boss Fans of Elvis and the Stones clashed at music stores from Soho down to Brighton as the news hit the streets. "That's cocked up," said one young English lad. "Elvis is God, except for Eric Clapton," said a young, bubbly teenage girl. Film director Richard Lester supervised police reaction to the fights at Bloody Records in Liverpool, filming the action for his new movie, "Blue Altamont". HOLLYWOOD GOES TO WAR! See The Guns Of Kabul, starring Kevin Spacey, Madonna, Wolf Blitzer and Ben Stiller, opening next week at a theatre near you! AND DON'T MISS THESE GREAT NEW MOVIES:  ALL PLAYING AT THEATERS NEAR YOU!! (If you live near a theater) TOP |