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Film

Trailer Park: Black Metal and High Camp

By Judy Berman on

Welcome to “Trailer Park,” our regular Friday feature where we collect the week’s new trailers all in one place and do a little “judging a book by its cover,” ranking them from worst to best and taking our best guess at what they may be hiding. Perhaps because most of the film world (including our own Jason Bailey) has converged in Park City for Sundance, the pickings feel a bit slim, not to mention random. What unites this week’s most and least promising offerings is a whole lot of camp, from space Nazis and hotties with tails to Kirk Cameron and Nicolas Cage. … Read More

Film

Ranking Your Cinematic Presidents from Worst to Best

By Jason Bailey on

On this day back in 1947, President Harry S. Truman became the first US president to give an official address on television, asking the American people to cut back on their use of grain in order to help starving Europeans. It was the beginning of a complicated and occasionally contentious relationship between the White House and the moving image.

This week, another image of the American presidency — a fictional one, this time — hits multiplexes in the form of George Clooney, whose new film The Ides of March concerns a handsome governor running for the highest office in the land (with the help of equally dreamy staffer Ryan Gosling). In commemoration of this significant date in presidential mass media history, and with Clooney’s Mike Morris aiming to join the ranks of cinematic commanders-in-chief, let’s rank ten of the most memorable movie presidents from worst to best. (And to clarify: we’re ranking them as presidents, not as enjoyable movie characters). Check out our rankings after the jump, and let us know if you agree in the comments. … Read More

Comedy

Michael Showalter Reveals All in Our Interactive Interview

By Doug Levy on

Comedian Michael Showalter has done it all. He’s been a member of one of the most-loved comedy troupes of all time (The State); written, directed, and starred in movies like Wet Hot American Summer and The Baxter; released a hilarious album — and now he’s written a book too.

In our exclusive Interactive Interview — where you ask the questions — he talks about his literary inspirations, the possibility of sequels and reunions for some of his projects, and the bizarre rumor that he has a rivalry with fellow comedy sensation Eugene Mirman. Plus, he tells us his real name. … Read More

Film

Rate-a-Trailer: The Conspirator

By Jason Bailey on

After years of chatter, Steven Spielberg is finally getting to work on his long-awaited Abraham Lincoln biopic, and not a moment too soon, since fellow Oscar-winner Robert Redford already has his own Lincoln-inspired historical drama ready for release. However, Redford’s The Conspirator is less about the former president than the aftermath of his assassination, and the prosecution of Booth’s co-conspirators — specifically, Mary Surratt (Robin Wright — she’s back to going by Robin Wright now, right?). Dreamy James McEvoy will apparently thunder righteously as Frederick Aiken, her lawyer. Reports from the picture’s premiere at last year’s Toronto Film Festival indicated that the movie moves a bit slowly for some tastes, but with the lure of a vintage (and genuine) conspiracy theory, and a cast of our favorite character actors (Tom Wilkinson! Kevin Kline! Danny Huston! Colm Meaney! Stephen Root! Jim True-Frost! And, um, Justin Long), we’re definitely intrigued. Click through to watch the trailer, and let us know if you agree in the comments. … Read More