+: etcetera :+

Understanding the strike

DoZ — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 20:32:01 +0000

LA Times looks at why it’s been so difficult to come to an agreement in the on-going writers strike: no one has a clear understanding of what entertainment is worth, so no one really knows what they’re negotiating about. Are YouTube clips stopping us from watching TV shows or are they making us fans of them? If you can’t agree on that, you can’t agree on their value. Go read.

Strictly for Allen fans

DoZ — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 07:45:39 +0000

NYT reviews “Conversations With Woody Allen”, the new book featuring a collection of interviews with the prolific director. The verdict: “It may not be fashionable to say so, least of all in Woody Allen’s house, but the man, when he’s on form, is as capable as ever of delivering pleasure.” Amen to that. [Link]

Strike countdown

DoZ — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 18:53:46 +0000

Time’s running out on scripted shows, my fellow TV addicts. Here’s a handy chart you can look at as you prepare yourself for either giving up TV altogether or resign yourself to realty shows (shudder) - The Office is all out, 2 episodes left of 2.5 Men, 3 each of Grey’s Anatomy, Heroes and How I Met Your Mother, 5 of House - get the complete list here.

And the Brits have arrived

DoZ — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 01:45:59 +0000

What do the following TV shows all have in common: Brothers & Sisters, Journeyman, The Wire, Bionic Woman, House M., and the Riches? No, we’re not talking of nominations - they all have Brits pretending to be Americans! [Link]

Lifestyles of the rich and infamous

DoZ — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 01:39:13 +0000

The next time you feel good about yourself when reading about Ms. Spears or her ex, remember this.

Three (real) Medellíns?

DoZ — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 22:11:54 +0000

No fewer than three movies about the cocaine cartel and its kingpin, Pablo Escobar, are in the works. One is based on an adaptation of “Killing Pablo: The Hunt for the World’s Greatest Outlaw,” Mark Bowden’s best-selling 2001 book; Antoine Fuqua (“Training Day”) plans to direct another film, based on “Mi Hermano Pablo,” a Spanish-language memoir by Escobar’s brother and associate, Roberto; and the third is to be directed by Alexander Witt (“Resident Evil: Apocalypse”), based on original research. And Ari & Co couldn’t sell an Escobar picture in this market [Link]

More Craig to follow. Niiiiice.

DoZ — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 17:35:56 +0000

If you’re one of those people who didn’t like the new Bond, prepare for some heart break. MGM has signed Daniel Craig for another four movies. [Link]

John Updike’s

DoZ — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 18:34:15 +0000

LA Times reviews John Updike’s new collection of pieces published in the New Yorker. The heart of “Due Considerations” consists of 60 book reviews and 10 essays published in the magazine during the new millennium. As always, the author has ranged widely: There are pieces about Orhan Pamuk and Peter Carey, Muriel Spark and Mo Yan, J.M. Coetzee’s wretched youth and Michel Houellebecq’s sexed-up maturity. The roster is heavily tilted toward the contemporary novel, especially toward those loose-and-baggy monsters that emulate their Victorian forebears. (”Nineteenth-century novelists,” Updike observes, “catered to a more generous, less nibbled attention span; they breathed with bigger lungs and naturally wrote long, deep, and wide.”) [Link]

Egad - there’s to be one more

DoZ — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 21:16:50 +0000

One knew this was coming, but it hurts to be reminded nevertheless. Yes, Tom Hanks is to reprise his role as Robert Langdon in a follow-up to The Da Vinci Code for the original film’s director, Ron Howard.This time around Langdon investigates a secret society that threatens the existence of the Catholic Church. Yes folks, make way for Angels And Demons. [Link]

Indie films could use some help

DoZ — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 19:42:39 +0000

So far, 2007 hasn’t had any breakout hits like “Little Miss Sunshine,” “Brokeback Mountain” or “The Queen.” Ther’ve been plenty of movies which received good reviews - not all of the ones listed in this article - “A Mighty Heart,” “In the Valley of Elah”, “Lars and the Real Girl”, Richard Gere’s “The Hunting Party,” Kenneth Branagh’s “Sleuth” or Mark Ruffalo / Joaquin Phoenix’s “Reservation Road” - are still playing. But here’s your chance to show some Netflix love for Indiewood.