TFC Journal at TheFilmChair.com

A little hometown news. Erie filmmaker John C. Lyons directed a film called schism, the making of which I chronicled in the now grossly neglected section of this blog called In the Lyons Den. (Sorry, John.)  The film tells the story of a man’s descent into Alzheimer’s dementia. Heavy stuff, but beautifully made.

Well the film is playing at the Lancaster Area Film Festival tomorrow night.  If you’re in the Lancaster area, you should definitely go see it.  As I said after I first saw the movie, Lyons has a little Aronofsky in him.

Screening info after the jump.

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New York Lately (2009)

New York Lately is either a film that is too ambitious or not ambitious enough. Directed by up-and-coming indie filmmaker Gary King, this story of heartbroken, lovelorn New Yorkers perilously straddles the line between upbeat mainstream picture and deeply affecting indie drama. And its stories could be pulled back or expanded beyond the 97 minute runtime.

To its benefit, New York Lately has an intriguing quality that only a hunger young filmmaker like King can bring to the table. I never stopped enjoying the film as I watched it, never stopped caring about the characters. The film just doesn’t gel.

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Top Story: The Natalie Portman-produced dramedy Hesher just added Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Rainn Wilson to its cast.  The film following a bullied 13-year-old with a trouble home life also stars Portman and will be directed by Spencer Susser. (Variety)

In Other News: Robert Zemeckis casually mentioned a Roger Rabbit sequel to MTV. But it was in the same breath as him talking about his creepy motion capture animated movies. Should I be excited or scared? (MTV)

More surprising than a Roger Rabbit sequel is the idea that John Milton’s Paradise Lost could be coming to the screen thanks to producer Martin Poll. (THR)

Want to watch free movies from Sony online? Head over to Crackle.com for Spider-Man 2, A Few Good Men, and many more. (Variety)

In remake news, the French thriller Tell No One is getting a Hollywood makeover. Fitting for a film originally based on an American novel. Miramax and Focus Features team for the adaptation. (Variety)

Fin.

I tweeted about Obama’s press conference potentially going past 9 p.m. and running into what turned out to be one of the best episode of Lost all season. I love you Obama, but don’t screw with my Lost time.

Better Off Ted, however, did get bumped for “el jefe.” But don’t worry Ted Heads. YouTube to the rescue! The vid is just one more reason why ABC needs to renew this show… NOW!

Top Story: Mr. Big will be back to break Carrie’s heart in Sex and the City 2.  Chris Noth and New Line worked out a seven-figure deal to have the actor reprise his role as Carrie’s future ex-husband hubby in the sequel to the 2007 hit film. (Variety)

In Other News: Ricky Gervais’ Flanimals children’s book series will become an animated movie for Universal. (Variety)

Speaking of animation, DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg will stay at the helm at least until April 2014. (THR)

Roger Donaldson is set to direct The Day They Stole the Mona Lisa, based on a book by Seymour Reit, for Phoenix Pictures. (Variety)

Producers John Wells and Don Murphy have optioned the comic The Forgotten, which follows a man who is always forgotten five minutes after he meets someone. But with great power… (THR)

Fin.

During the early coverage of the current economic crisis, the name Gorden Gekko was repeated so many times you’d think people would be clamoring to purchase (probably on a credit card) the Wall Street DVD. But why watch the original when you can see a sequel?

Michael Douglas, who won an Oscar for his portrayal of the avaricious arbitrageur, and director Oliver Stone, who wasn’t even nominated, are on board for the return of the Gekko. And word is Shia LaBeouf is in negotiations to join the cast. Greed, for the lack of a better word, is good, especially when you can cash in on a sequel about the 24th most villainous character in motion picture history. Seems like a can’t lose investment for Fox and everyone else involved.

All I ask is that you don’t call it Wall Street 2. (The last title I being tossed around was Money Never Sleeps.) Gekko at least deserves the Eddie Felson treatment. If The Hustler can become The Color of Money, then a Wall Street sequel can be transformed into a stand alone product too.

Hmm. How about calling it Crash?

To my Sorkin president,

Happy 100th day in office. Here’s to 2,820 more.

Love,

The Film Chair

Top Story: There a just some things you never expect to write, and this is one of them. British comedian Russell Brand with star in the Universal’s remake of Drop Dead Fred. (THR)

Amanda Peet has joined the cast of Gulliver’s Travels. Jack Black stars in the Fox comedy which began filming last month. (THR)

Don Johnson has resorted to directing porn. Well, he’ll do it for an upcoming Adam Sandler-produced comedy, anyway. Johnson will play a down-on-his-luck porn director who gets shot at greatness. (THR)

Fin.

Top Story: David Cronenberg’s 1983 thriller Videodrome will be remade with Ehren Kruger writing and Daniel Bobker producing. Universal, the distributor of the original, has the right of first refusal for the remake. (Variety)

In Other News: Beyonce-starrer Obsessed topped the weekend box office with $28.5 million while last week’s No. 1 film, 17 Again, dropped to second with $11.6 million. (Variety)

Maria Bello and Craig T. Nelson will join Tommy Lee Jones, Kevin Costner, and Ben Affleck in The Company Men, which will be written and directed by John Wells. (Variety)

The first ‘it’ movie to come out of this year’s Tribeca Film Festival is Conor McPherson’s The Eclipse. I know, I didn’t think Tribeca could produce an ‘it’ movie either. But that hasn’t stopped Lionsgate, Magnolia, and Roadside Attractions from circling the project. (THR)

Fin.

Just got back from the Ani DiFranco show at Cleveland’s House of Blues. God, every time I see her it just feels good to be alive. She’s someone who gets it. And to be surrounded by so many other people who get it is exhilarating.  Thank you, Ani, for doing what you do.

The last time I saw Ani in concert was at the height of the 2004 election. For a fleeting moment during that election cycle, mostly because of Ani’s show, I thought that John Kerry was actually going to defeat Boy George. It didn’t happen, but I volunteered harder and more fervently in the weeks ahead of the election because of her show. Ani could mobilize the people who were listening.

Now more than five years later Obama is in the White House and everything just feels different. And Ani’s songs are different, as if she can breathe for the first time in her life. Tonight she performed a song called “November 4, 2008″ celebrating that historic election day. Yes, a little rejoicing is still in order. Obama is president and it feels damn good. Thank you Obama. And thank you Ani for this song.