Movie Song Hits: Are They Extinct?

There used to be a time when you could not turn on the radio and not hear a song from a popular movie. But, when was the last time you remember that happening? It may have been after we were inundated with 1997’s “My Heart Will Go On.” Do you remember that one from Titanic? If you don’t, you must not have been alive at the time because that song was played over and over and over on the radio. And over again! Frankly, I got sick of that one, but I must admit there have been movie songs that … Continue reading →

Is Oscar Unfair to Foreign Filmmakers?

Believe it or not, it’s that time of the year again – Oscar buzz has already started. But some filmmakers are hissing rather than buzzing about the Academy’s rules for foreign films. The Academy has a set of official rules that a film must adhere to in order to be eligible for Oscar consideration in the foreign language film category. One film of this year that has been getting buzz will not be getting consideration. Ang Lee’s “Lust, Caution” has been disqualified by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences despite the fact that Taiwan listed it as its … Continue reading →

Who is Michael Moore?

You may have seen some news about documentary filmmaker Michael Moore latest venture, Sicko, which explores the American health care system, including managed-care and pharmaceutical industries. If you don’t know who Michael Moore is, he is the filmmaker that is always out to stir up controversy. However, as conservative as I am, I often find that many of his observations are right on track. Michael grew up in Michigan in a time when most people worked in the auto business in some form. His mom was a secretary for General Motors and both his father and grandfather were GM autoworkers. … Continue reading →

Cannes Turns 60

The Cannes Film Festival opened today with its usual star-studded spectacular fanfare. This year is the sixtieth anniversary of one of cinema’s greatest showcases and you can expect to see big names such as George Clooney, Jude Law, and Martin Scorsese there. The Cannes Film Festival opened today with its usual star-studded fanfare. This year is the sixtieth anniversary of one of cinema’s greatest showcases and you can expect to such stars as George Clooney, Jude Law, and Martin Scorsese there. Cannes is traditionally a place for cinema movers and shakers as well as wannabes to network, make deals, and … Continue reading →

30 Days with Morgan Spurlock

Don’t be surprised if you’ve never heard of Morgan Spurlock. Until about three years ago, many had not heard of this director/screenwriter. But in 2004, he filmed a great documentary called Super Size Me. It was a film that starred Morgan setting out on what seemed like a simple mission – eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner at McDonalds for 30 days. I am sure this is something many of us can relate to. I know there have been busy, crazy days when I ate McDonalds or some type of fast food three times in one day. The premise was to … Continue reading →

Oliver Stone: Controversial Director

Oliver Stone was born on September 15, 1946, in New York City, to a Jewish father and French Roman Catholic mother. Raised an Episcopalian from some sense of compromise, his parents divorced while he was a teenager. Devastated by the family split, it was only then that he learned of his father’s many extramarital affairs. Oliver attended several schools, notably New York University and Yale University, but dropped out after one year. He returned to Yale after teaching English at the Free Pacific Institute in South Vietnam and working six months in the merchant marine, but he dropped out again … Continue reading →

Martin Scorsese: Director of Distinction

Martin Scorsese was born on November 17, 1942, in Queens, New York. As a youth, his desire was to become a Catholic priest, and he entered a seminary in 1956. Although he loved his faith, his passion for film overruled his religious dictates and he channeled his love of life into the art of filmmaking. He graduated New York University as a film major in 1964. His student films of the 1960s caught the eye of veteran film impresario Roger Corman, particularly his co-editing skills as reflected in “Woodstock” (1970). The early 1970s saw success with “Boxcar Bertha” (1972) and … Continue reading →

Ron Howard: Child Star and Gifted Director

Ronald William Howard was born on March 1, 1954, to an acting family in Oklahoma. His father, Rance Howard, majored in drama at the University of Oklahoma and his mother, Jean Speegle Howard, attended acting school in New York. He made his movie debut at the tender age of 18 months, when he appeared in “Frontier Woman” (1956). His first real part was in 1958 at the age of four. He became a regular on “Playhouse 90,” and in 1960 was cast as Andy Griffith’s precocious son in the “The Andy Griffith Show.” In his shift from child star to … Continue reading →

Peter Weir: Outstanding Filmmaker

Peter Lindsay Weir was born on August 21, 1944, in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. He attended The Scots College before studying law and art at the University of Sydney. Here he became interested in film through fellow students, particularly Phillip Noyce, who were of a filmmaking collective called “Ubu Films.” In the mid 1960s, he left the university and joined the Sydney television station ATN-7, where he worked as a production assistant on the satirical comedy show, “The Mavis Bramston Show.” While working there, he used the facilities to make his first two experimental films, “Count Vim’s Last Exercise” … Continue reading →

Woody Allen: A Unique Filmmaker

Allen Stewart Konigsberg was born on December 1, 1935, in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Martin and Nelttie Konigsberg. Some sources incorrectly claim his first name to be “Woodrow.” By the time he was fifteen years of age, he was selling one-liners to gossip columns. He graduated from Midwood High School in Brooklyn, and attended New York University for a while. He was suspended from college and never graduated. In his stand-up days, he referred to himself as ”Heywood”, and while he was working in that capacity, he was hired to write “What’s New, Pussycat?” in 1965. A year … Continue reading →