Celebritology 2.0: Movies


Posted at 12:13 PM ET, 10/01/2012

Critics debate the best potential Criterion DVD, which raises a question: Do people still buy DVDs?
By Jen Chaney
Which movie is ripe for a Criterion release? And, in a related question, does anyone still care about DVDs?

By Jen Chaney  |  12:13 PM ET, 10/01/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Movies | Tags:  Movies

Posted at 03:12 PM ET, 09/18/2012

The ‘Manimal’ movie seems like it can’t be happening but actually might be happening
By Jen Chaney
Remember that horrible ’80s show? No? Want to see the movie anyway?

By Jen Chaney  |  03:12 PM ET, 09/18/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Movies | Tags:  Movies, Retro Nostalgia, Terrible Hollywood Ideas

Posted at 11:43 AM ET, 09/04/2012

All hail ‘The Oogieloves,’ one of the biggest movie flops ever
By Jen Chaney
Its pitiful Labor Day weekend opening marks the most dismal returns ever for a wide release.

By Jen Chaney  |  11:43 AM ET, 09/04/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Movies, Box Office | Tags:  Summer Movies

Posted at 11:20 AM ET, 09/03/2012

Summer box office 2012: Not just for the boys
By Jen Chaney and Caitlin Moore
The summer film landscape was more gender-inclusive than an initial scan of the top blockbusters might suggest.

By Jen Chaney and Caitlin Moore  |  11:20 AM ET, 09/03/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Box Office, Movies | Tags:  Summer Movies

Posted at 04:57 PM ET, 08/15/2012

‘A Christmas Story 2’ actually happened?
By Jen Chaney
Yes, it exists and it’s coming to DVD and Blu-ray.

By Jen Chaney  |  04:57 PM ET, 08/15/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Movies | Tags:  Holiday Movies, Pop Culture Head-Scratchers

Posted at 03:28 PM ET, 08/01/2012

‘Vertigo’ is now a better movie than ‘Citizen Kane’
By Jen Chaney
The British Film Institute’s Sight &Sound poll on the greatest film of all time has placed Hitchcock above Welles for the first time in 50 years.

By Jen Chaney  |  03:28 PM ET, 08/01/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Movies | Tags:  Movies

Posted at 11:09 AM ET, 08/01/2012

The original ‘Total Recall’ predicted the future . . . sort of
By Jen Chaney
A lot of it — body scanners, videoconferencing — is pretty accurate.

By Jen Chaney  |  11:09 AM ET, 08/01/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Movies | Tags:  Summer Movies

Posted at 01:42 PM ET, 07/12/2012

The ‘Dark Knight Rises’ trailer is much funnier with only Pee-Wee Herman’s voice
By Jen Chaney
Herman replaced everyone’s voices with his own. And yes, he meant to do that.

By Jen Chaney  |  01:42 PM ET, 07/12/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Movies | Tags:  Dark Knight Rises, Movie Trailers, Summer Movies

Posted at 03:31 PM ET, 07/06/2012

Friday list: 10 hot and sweaty movies for hot and sweaty days
By Jen Chaney
Movies in which the characters perspire as much as you do on a 100-degree day.

By Jen Chaney  |  03:31 PM ET, 07/06/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Movies, Friday Lists | Tags:  Summer Movies

Posted at 04:42 PM ET, 07/03/2012

‘The Amazing Spider-Man’ vs. ‘Spider-Man’
By Jen Chaney
How does Marc Webb’s origin story measure up against Sam Raimi’s? We’re so glad you asked.

By Jen Chaney  |  04:42 PM ET, 07/03/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Movies | Tags:  Amazing Spider-Man, Summer Movies, Andrew Garfield, Tobey Maguire, Emma Stone, Kristen Dunst

Posted at 02:34 PM ET, 07/02/2012

‘Ted,’ ‘Magic Mike’ and the box office gender divide
By Jen Chaney
Mostly boys went to see “Ted,” while more ladies opted for Channing Tatum.

By Jen Chaney  |  02:34 PM ET, 07/02/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Box Office, Movies | Tags:  Summer Movies

Posted at 01:15 PM ET, 06/08/2012

Aubrey Plaza on ‘Safety Not Guaranteed,’ Judy Garland and dreams of a ‘Parks and Rec’ pregnancy
By Jen Chaney
She also talks about time travel.

By Jen Chaney  |  01:15 PM ET, 06/08/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Movies | Tags:  Aubrey Plaza, Summer Movies, Parks and Recreation

Posted at 12:33 PM ET, 06/07/2012

‘Prometheus’: Five things to do or ponder before you see it
By Jen Chaney
Consider this your preparatory guide for the much-anticipated Ridley Scott sci-fi saga.

By Jen Chaney  |  12:33 PM ET, 06/07/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Movies | Tags:  Summer Movies, Michael Fassbender

Posted at 10:20 AM ET, 06/01/2012

‘Snow White and the Huntsman’: A Q&A
By Jen Chaney
An answer to all the questions you (probably) have about this suit of armor version of the fairy tale.

By Jen Chaney  |  10:20 AM ET, 06/01/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Movies | Tags:  Kristen Stewart, Charlize Theron, Summer Movies

Posted at 04:30 PM ET, 05/25/2012

This Memorial Day, what’s the one movie to watch to get in a summer mood?
By Jen Chaney
Here’s my pick. I want to hear yours in the comments and on Twitter.

By Jen Chaney  |  04:30 PM ET, 05/25/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Movies | Tags:  Summer Movies

Posted at 02:55 PM ET, 05/20/2012

‘Battleship’ loses to ‘Avengers’ at box office, confirms Tim Riggins can’t beat the Hulk
By Jen Chaney
“The Avengers” easily hangs on to the top spot while “Battlefield” underperforms.

By Jen Chaney  |  02:55 PM ET, 05/20/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Box Office, Movies | Tags:  Summer Movies

Posted at 04:59 PM ET, 05/18/2012

‘Battleship’: 10 things that make it a classic American blockbuster
By Jen Chaney
Stuff blows up! AC/DC is played!

By Jen Chaney  |  04:59 PM ET, 05/18/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Movies | Tags:  Summer Movies

Posted at 04:50 PM ET, 05/17/2012

Peter Berg talks ‘Battleship,’ Rihanna’s toughness and the ‘Friday Night Lights’ movie
By Jen Chaney
Also covered: Taylor Kitsch and the “John Carter” debacle.

By Jen Chaney  |  04:50 PM ET, 05/17/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Movies | Tags:  Friday Night Lights, Summer Movies

Posted at 03:17 PM ET, 05/15/2012

‘What to Expect When You’re Expecting’: A primer on its massive cast
By Jen Chaney
We expected to see Cameron Diaz in this. But why did Chris Rock and Anna Kendrick sign on?

By Jen Chaney  |  03:17 PM ET, 05/15/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Movies | Tags:  Movies

Posted at 12:41 PM ET, 05/02/2012

‘Avengers’? ‘Dark Knight Rises’? Which summer movie do you most want to see?
By Jen Chaney
In 140 characters, explain which film you are looking forward to and why. The most interesting responses will be shared in a follow-up post.

By Jen Chaney  |  12:41 PM ET, 05/02/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Movies | Tags:  Summer Movies

Posted at 03:05 PM ET, 03/13/2012

Watch another ‘Battleship’ trailer (Video)
By Sarah Anne Hughes
This is for all the marbles, Tim Riggins.

By Sarah Anne Hughes  |  03:05 PM ET, 03/13/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Movies | Tags:  Movies, Taylor Kitsch

Posted at 01:46 PM ET, 03/13/2012

Will Ferrell and Nick Offerman, in bathrobes, promote ‘Casa de mi Padre’ on ‘Today’
By Sarah Anne Hughes
The Spanish language comedy will be released Friday.

By Sarah Anne Hughes  |  01:46 PM ET, 03/13/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Movies | Tags:  Will Ferrell, Today show, Movies

Posted at 09:43 AM ET, 02/09/2012

‘Wet Hot American Summer’ sequel is happening, says Michael Showalter
By Jen Chaney
He confirmed that the whole cast would return during Bravo’s “Watch What Happens Live,” but other details are scarce at the moment.

By Jen Chaney  |  09:43 AM ET, 02/09/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Movies | Tags:  Movies

Posted at 08:40 AM ET, 09/16/2010

'The Tourist': Johnny Depp, meet Angelina Jolie
By Jen Chaney
Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp have never appeared in a movie together. That all changes with "The Tourist," the spy thriller/romance in which Jolie seduces Depp, but for reasons that are not based purely on physical attraction. The trailer is now circulating online and provides our first glimpse of what director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck has described as "incredible chemistry" between the two stars. It's a bit difficult to assess that chemistry in the trailer, though; many of the scenes feature close-ups of an impossibly sultry Jolie, or Depp seeming confused and/or panic-stricken. Still, the notion of Edward Scissorhands and Lara Croft, together at last, is pretty intriguing. Take a look and share your reaction to this cinematic pairing -- to be seen in December on the big screen -- in our comments section....

By Jen Chaney  |  08:40 AM ET, 09/16/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Movies, Movies | Tags:  Fall Movies, Movie Trailers

Posted at 04:35 PM ET, 09/13/2010

A look at the 'Hereafter' trailer
By Jen Chaney
A film about a psychic, that focuses on the afterlife and features Bryce Dallas Howard in a supporting role. I must be talking about an M. Night Shyamalan movie, right? Wrong. Actually, "Hereafter" -- whose trailer recently debuted online -- was directed by Clint Eastwood, stars Matt Damon and looks like it has potential, despite at least one special effect that a couple of YouTube commenters rather uncharitably compared to "2012." But take a look and decide for yourself. The films opens Oct. 22 (just in time for Halloween) and I can promise this much: unlike this Friday's "Devil," this one did not spring from the mind of Mr. Shyamalan....

By Jen Chaney  |  04:35 PM ET, 09/13/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Music | Tags:  Fall Movies, Movie Trailers

Posted at 03:05 PM ET, 08/17/2010

'Piranha 3D' makes a bid for Best Picture
By Jen Chaney
We've already established that "Inception" has a lock on at least a few Academy Award nominations. But now another summer movie is coming to theaters that just might threaten the Oscar prospects for Christopher Nolan's dreamscape thriller. Okay, not really. But Funny or Die has posted an amusing video (with, of course, some NSFW language) in which several cast members from "Piranha 3D" attempt to make a case for their multidimensional bloodbath's award-season prospects. In the process, they raise some valid questions. Given the amount of CGI in "Piranha 3D," why not nominate it for best animated feature? Do the Oscar organizers really want young people to watch the telecast and, if so, why do they continue to make the show so [bleep]y and boring? Why can't we change the name of Cheetos to Paul Scheer-tos? Why, I ask you?...

By Jen Chaney  |  03:05 PM ET, 08/17/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Movies, Movies | Tags:  Movie Trailers, Summer Movies

Posted at 11:35 AM ET, 06/23/2010

With 'Knight and Day' in theaters, it's time for ... Tom Cruise Court
By Jen Chaney and Liz Kelly
Welcome to Tom Cruise Court, a proceeding that allows us to finally decide whether Tom Cruise is a dangerously judgmental man who does not deserve our attention nor our box office dollars, or a charismatic movie star whose sometimes unconventional behavior is outweighed by his charms

By Jen Chaney and Liz Kelly  |  11:35 AM ET, 06/23/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Celebrities, Celebrities, Celebrities | Tags:  Movies, Tom Cruise

Posted at 11:00 AM ET, 06/22/2010

Assessing the 'Green Hornet' trailer
By Jen Chaney
The first trailer for "The Green Hornet" -- a movie that the fan community already has expressed grave concerns about -- has been released. And after watching it, I think it's safe to say that it's going to change ... absolutely nothing. I am still not sure if Seth Rogen is quite the right fit for the wealthy, suave, hard-partying guy who takes on the role of stealth crime-fighter. And absolutely nothing about the directorial choices I can see in the trailer tells me this is a Michel Gondry movie. A commenter on YouTube -- one of the ones who wasn't dropping an f-bomb or talking about how awesome Christoph Waltz will surely be in this comic book movie extravaganza ("CHRISTOPH FRIGGIN WALTZ MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) -- described this "Green Hornet" as a cross between "Iron Man" and "Kick-Ass." That sounds about right to me. But take a look for yourself, then...

By Jen Chaney  |  11:00 AM ET, 06/22/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Movies, Movies | Tags:  Movie Trailers, Movies

Posted at 02:40 PM ET, 06/21/2010

Five perfect movies to watch on the first day of summer
By Jen Chaney
It's the first day of summer, even if it seems like the season of extreme humidity got underway, oh, back when "Iron Man 2" came out. (Remember all that hype and hope about how massive this summer movie season was going to be? Man, those were the days.) In honor of the summer solstice -- the official kick-off to two months filled with complaints about the heat registered by people who spend their days inside air-conditioned offices --here are five films that are perfect for a first-day-of-summer movie marathon. Feel free to watch them on your computers while sitting inside those air-conditioned offices. Your boss won't notice -- he's totally on vacation. "Dazed and Confused" I rarely need an excuse to watch a movie -- set on the last day of school in a Texas town circa 1976 -- that I have been quoting incessantly since the mid-1990s. ("I want...

By Jen Chaney  |  02:40 PM ET, 06/21/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Movies, Movies | Tags:  Movies, Summer Movies

Posted at 10:54 AM ET, 06/15/2010

Sofia Coppola's 'Somewhere': Assessing the movie trailer
By Jen Chaney
The trailer for "Somewhere," the upcoming film from Sofia Coppola, was released yesterday and looks quite promising. Fans of Coppola will be pleased to see all that lush, urban imagery, as well as what appears to be a return to the sort of meandering, contemporary character study the writer-director navigated so elegantly in "Lost in Translation." Speaking of "Lost in Translation," it's impossible to ignore one thing about this trailer: the fact that "Somewhere" looks an awful lot like "Lost in Translation." Let's have a look at the clip, take a brief break for some Suntory time, then count all the connections between the latest Coppola effort and the previous, Academy-Award-winning one that happened to contain the best karaoke scene ever....

By Jen Chaney  |  10:54 AM ET, 06/15/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Movies, Movies, Movies | Tags:  Movie Trailers, Movies

Posted at 02:08 PM ET, 05/13/2010

Battle of the movie trailers: 'Inception' vs. 'Adjustment Bureau'
By Jen Chaney
In what may be the hottest psychological-thriller battle of 2010, new previews for both Christopher Nolan's much-anticipated "Inception" and the Matt Damon drama "The Adjustment Bureau" recently debuted online. And weirdly, though the films are clearly different, their trailers share a number of things in common. In this corner, we have the latest, lengthiest trailer for "Inception" (in theaters July 16), which gives us quick-cut glimpses of a super-stressed-out Leonardo DiCaprio; a possibly doomed romance between DiCaprio and Marion Cotillard; vaguely sci-fi themes about stealing from the subconscious of others; a glass-smashing car crash and an epic building collapse; Joseph Gordon-Levitt doing some pseudo-"Matrix"y stuff with a bunch of levitating guys; and a pervasive paranoid vibe that's been cranked up to 11. And in the other corner, there's "The Adjustment Bureau" (coming Sept. 17), which shows us images of a super-stressed-out Matt Damon; a possibly doomed romance between Damon and...

By Jen Chaney  |  02:08 PM ET, 05/13/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Pop Culture, Pop Culture | Tags:  Movie Trailers, Movies, Summer Movies

Posted at 01:55 PM ET, 05/07/2010

Friday list: The best summer movie seasons ever
By Jen Chaney
With "Iron Man 2" banging and clanging into theaters today, the summer movie season of 2010 has officially begun. It's a season that happens to mark an important anniversary: the 35th birthday of the summer blockbuster, which was officially born when 1975's "Jaws" dominated the box office and the collective cultural conversation. In the years that have followed, the months of May, June, July and August have gotten more and more crowded, as movies -- both of the massive, Spielbergian variety, as well as comedies, indies and even documentaries -- compete to capture our attention during the time of year when everyone is eager to enjoy blissful escapism beneath the chilly blast of cineplex air-conditioning vents. Luke Skywalker and Yoda, using the summer blockbuster force. (Lucasfilm) But since "Jaws" ushered in the era of the summer movie, which hot-and-humid years have given us the very best flicks? After careful consideration,...

By Jen Chaney  |  01:55 PM ET, 05/07/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Pop Culture, Pop Culture | Tags:  Iron Man, Movies, Summer Movies

Posted at 01:50 PM ET, 05/06/2010

Talking with Jon Favreau, director of 'Iron Man 2'
By Jen Chaney
As soon as I hear Jon Favreau's voice on the telephone, I immediately have a flashback to that scene in "Swingers." You know the scene I mean. Jon Favreau at the L.A. premiere of "Iron Man 2." (Reuters) As a consequence, I am very tempted to begin our conversation by saying, "Hi, this is Nikki. Leave a message!" But I don't, because Favreau isn't calling from Los Angeles to discuss his "so money" 1996 movie. He's calling to talk "Iron Man 2," his soon-to-debut sequel to the enormously successful "Iron Man," both of which he directed. Our conversation ping-pongs all over the place, from the subject of whether there will be an Easter egg at the end of the "Iron Man 2" credits, to Favreau's feelings about Twitter, to that all-important question I also posed to "Iron Man 2" screenwriter Justin Theroux: if Iron Man could fight anyone, dead or...

By Jen Chaney  |  01:50 PM ET, 05/06/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Pop Culture, Pop Culture | Tags:  Iron Man, Movies

Posted at 12:45 PM ET, 05/05/2010

Talking with Justin Theroux, writer of 'Iron Man 2'
By Jen Chaney
Justin Theroux arrives at the 'Iron Man 2' world premiere on Monday, April 26 in Los Angeles. (AP) You probably know Justin Theroux best as an actor. During his 15 years in the movie business, he's popped up in films as varied as "Zoolander," "Mulholland Drive" and "Miami Vice," and on an equally wide range of TV series ("Six Feet Under," "The District" and "Parks and Recreation" among them). You may not realize that Theroux also is a screenwriter who co-penned "Tropic Thunder" and wrote a little film due to debut in theaters this weekend: "Iron Man 2." I recently got Theroux on the phone for a quick chat, during which we discussed his time growing up in Washington, D.C., his childhood fixation on Iron Man and an important question that "Iron Man 2" director Jon Favreau also will address in a Q&A slated to appear in Celebritology tomorrow:...

By Jen Chaney  |  12:45 PM ET, 05/05/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Pop Culture, Pop Culture | Tags:  Iron Man, Movies

Posted at 05:10 PM ET, 04/19/2010

Box office update: Actually, 'Kick-Ass' wins
By Jen Chaney
We should have known better than to discount Hit-Girl. Final studio figures now indicate that "Kick-Ass" -- not "How to Train Your Dragon" -- was the No. 1 movie in North America this weekend, earning $19.8 million to "Dragon's" $19.6. This is the second weekend in a row that early studio projections have been incorrect, and the top movie has not been accurately determined until more solid figures were released Monday. Executives at Lionsgate and comic-book-movie lovers? Consider this your moment of vindication....

By Jen Chaney  |  05:10 PM ET, 04/19/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Pop Culture, Pop Culture | Tags:  movies, weekend box office

Posted at 02:35 PM ET, 04/16/2010

Friday list: The Rewatchables -- The movies we can view again and again
By Jen Chaney and Liz Kelly
On Jen's list: 1994's 'Pulp Fiction. (Miramax) A couple of weeks ago, we focused a Friday List on what we called The Unwatchables: the movies, TV shows and Web videos we take pride in having skipped. This week, we hit the opposite end of the spectrum with The Rewatchables, a look at the movies we never tire of viewing again and again, and then one more time after that. Some people believe watching a film once is enough. Here at Celebritology, we do not understand these people. Some motion pictures are filled with so much rich dialogue, blood pressure-raising action and gut-busting comedy, there's no such thing as seeing them too many times. After the jump, read about our favorite rewatchable movies, then add your selections in the comments below....

By Jen Chaney and Liz Kelly  |  02:35 PM ET, 04/16/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Friday Lists, Friday Lists | Tags:  movies