Mike Judge's 'Extract'

Here's the trailer for Mike Judge's new comedy, 'Extract.' The guy continually makes great movies that continually flop in the theaters. Let's all go out and see this one, people. Even Beavis and Butthead think you should.

Jon Stewart talks Food, Inc.

If I know you, it's unlikely that you're going to sit down and watch the documentary Food, Inc. like you probably should. Maybe at least you'll take something away from this Daily Show interview with the filmmaker, Robert Kenner.

"Where the Wild Things Are" movie poster

This movie has been "in production" forever. Apparently the studio got all fussy when they realized director Spike Jonze wasn't making it into a goofy kids' movie. Hopefully they don't fuck it up.

Click image to enlarge.

Update: Watch the trailer! I'm going to go ahead and call the best-cinematography Oscar for this right now.

Spacesick: "I Can Read Movies"

These things are beyond awesome. Some designer who goes by the name Spacesick has reimagined several cult movies (some of my absolute favorites above) as vintage paperback covers from the 50's and 60's. Top notch!

Via Grain Edit.

"Handmade Nation" opening titles

Handmade Nation is an upcoming documentary on the rise of D.I.Y. and the new wave of art, craft, and design. It's directed by Faythe Levine of Milwaukee, who also produces the yearly event Art vs. Craft. That song -- by Noisola -- is frickin' sweet. If this movie is half as good as the opening titles, it should definitely be worth seeing.

Also, check out Etsy.com for all your handmade buying and selling needs.


Update: Handmade Nation premieres Thursday, February 5 at Milwaukee's Oriental Theater. Check here for more screenings.

M. Ward - "Hold Time"

NPR does it again. Last week, they had the new Andrew Bird. This week, they're streaming the new M. Ward album. I'm really enjoying that cover art. And darned if he didn't go and put the future Mrs. Ben Gibbard on this one. In case you haven't heard, that would be Zooey Deschanel. And if you haven't seen it yet, you should probably take at look at Zooey and M. in The Go-Getter, the film that brought She & Him's musical stylings together.

Hold Time will be in your local record shoppe on the Seventeenth of February, Aught-Nine. Here's the languid title track...

Ronald Chevalier

Jemaine Clement stars as novelist Ronald Chevalier in the upcoming flick, Gentlemen Broncos, by Napoleon Dynamite director Jared Hess. A suitable pairing to anyone who's seen Eagle vs. Shark.

Jemaine's regular gig, Flight of the Conchords, begins airing Season 2 this Sunday. Watch the first episode online!

"Objectified" Movie

Objectified is a new film on industrial design and our relationship to mass-produced objects. It's directed by Gary Hustwit, who brought us the great documentary on a typeface, Helvetica. Looks like another winner.

Fleet Foxes on Conan

I'm not sure if I've posted these guys yet. So here they are... Fleet Foxes with "English House." This one can be found on the Sun Giant EP.

Btw, that's Eva Mendes in the preview pic. If you want to be completely bored by her, you can skip back a couple dots on the timeline. She's in Frank Miller's new movie, The Spirit, which does not look boring.

Update: Looks like the video is down. Check out the Foxes in a couple recent posts here and here.

Redford on Saving the Redrock

According to a government official, "the Bush Administration is on pace to do almost as much damage to our environment in its last eight weeks in office as it did over the last eight years." Actor/director/activist Robert Redford sent out a message today trying to stop one of the Bush Administration's final "Fuck yous" to our environment, a plan to auction off Utah's Redrock wilderness to oil and gas speculators...

"The Bush Administration cynically chose Election Day to
advance an outrageous plan that will sell off leases for some
160,000 acres of spectacular Utah canyonlands to oil and gas
speculators.

While America was voting for Barack Obama and his vision of a
clean energy future, Bush and Cheney's underlings were
conspiring to plunder one of the crown jewels of our natural
heritage for their fossil fuel cronies.

The auction of Redrock country will take place on December 19.
At stake are world-renowned vistas near Canyonlands and Arches
National Parks, as well as near Dinosaur National Monument. The
highest bidders will earn the right to turn vast tracts of
pristine wilderness into industrial wastelands.

It's bad enough that Bush officials went behind the backs of the
American people with this disastrous scheme. But what's worse,
they didn't even tell their own National Park Service until
after the fact."

Tell the Bush Administration to cancel the Redrock auction!

The image above is from the outstanding 1972 Sydney Pollack-directed mountain man movie, Jeremiah Johnson, which was filmed in Robert Redford's adopted home state of Utah.

Ghostbusters

As a Halloween treat, we give you Ghostbusters.

Ecto-10 Speed

Got an old red-and-white 10-speed bicycle? I can't think of a better way to customize it than to deck it out Ghostbusters style, like the one above. All this bike needs is a proton gun attached to the handlebars, and you'd be all set for your daily commute / paranormal extermination. Check out more details and pics of the Ecto-10 Speed.

Speaking of Ghostbusters, here's the latest news of a possible Ghostbusters 3... The script is being written by two guys from The Office and could pair the original cast with the gang from 40-Year-Old-Virgin. Sounds like a winner, but you know how these sequels can go.

R.I.P. Paul Newman

Bummer. The legendary actor Paul Newman died Friday at his home in Connecticut. In addition to starring in such classic films as Cool Hand Luke, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Sting, and Slap Shot, Newman was also an entrepreneur who founded the Newman's Own line of organic foods in which he donated all proceeds to educational and charitable causes. As a former chain smoker, Newman ultimately died of lung cancer at the age of 83. He was a great actor and an undeniably cool guy. He will be missed.

The clip above (via BlogFoot) is a scene from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

007 Theme by Jack White & Alicia Keys

When you think of James Bond theme songs, Jack White and Alicia Keys may not be the first two names that pop in your head to do the honors. But I'm thinking they pretty much nailed it with the new song, "Another Way to Die."

The upcoming Bond flick, Quantum Of Solace, hits theaters November 14.

Update: And here's the video.

Early Steve Martin

Those of you young'uns out there may not realize that the old guy from Cheaper by the Dozen was actually a pretty brilliant comedian in his day. And even those more familiar with Steve Martin's hilarious body of work (e.g. Saturday Night Live; The Jerk; Three Amigos; Planes, Trains & Automobiles) may not know too much about his early days as a magician, stand-up comedian, and a writer for shows like The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. For an interesting look at the young Steve Martin, check out his memoir, Born Standing Up.

Or, just watch him act like an idiot for the Smothers Brothers...



Yes, he actually had brown hair once.

Movie Folk Rip Sarah Palin

I don't know why they're interviewing a movie star about this, but as long as we're still on the Sarah Palin topic, this is worth watching for Matt Damon's comparison of the Republican VP pick to "a really bad Disney movie."

Movie critic Roger Ebert also has a pretty keen take on Palin, calling her the "American Idol candidate."

Zack and Miri Make a Porno

Seth Rogen is once again starring in a comedy about a loser who somehow ends up with a hot chick. This has all the ingredients of a Judd Apatow flick, but it's actually written and directed by Kevin Smith. Who knows when the hell his last good movie was? But, as long as he sticks to the Apatow formula, it should be pretty good...




Some other breaking news on the Apatow/Rogen front... they are rumored to be involved in a Ghostbusters 3... with the original cast!!

Role Models

Paul Rudd and Sean William Scott have been popping up in comedies for a while now with some hilarious bit parts/cameos. Neither one of them have any business carrying a movie on their own, but if you put them together, they just might have the right chemistry to make this "buddy comedy" worth watching. Throw in McLovin, and you've got yourself some good Netflix potential.

Role Models hits theaters in November.

Bottle Rocket, The Criterion Collection

Bottle Rocket, the film that introduced the world to Wes Anderson and the Wilson brothers, is now getting the Criterion treatment.

Original Bottle Rocket trailer can be seen here.

Bush Surveys Damage That He Caused

Update: Check out the teaser for Oliver Stone's upcoming film, "W."