R.E.M.: Live at the Olympia
Extended live lap through rarities and new ephemera Measured in raw commercial reach, R.E.M.’s appeal may be getting more “selective,” as the euphemism goes, but on this new live double-disc their edge feels recently sharpened. Staged across five nights in Dublin in advance of Accelerate, the set reels off sketches from the then-forthcoming album, including some that never ultimately made the cut. Juxtaposed with a subtle cherry-picking of their earlier work, it’s a coy but endearing alternative history of the band, who seem thoughtful curators. “New Test Leper,” “Cuyahoga” and “Electrolite” flow by as a gorgeous triplet, while the finale... read more
Found in: Music, ReviewsThe Flaming Lips: Embryonic
Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne proclaimed that their... read more
Found in: Music, ReviewsBuilt to Spill: There Is No Enemy
The implications of Built to Spill's seventh studio album are obvious... read more
Found in: Music, ReviewsMPAA Gives Harry Potter First PG Rating Since Third Installment
In a surprise decision, the MPAA has given Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince a PG rating. The last two films have been rated PG-13 for "sequences of fantasy violence and frightening images," and in a series that gets progressively darker, these traits certainly won't be missing from the film adaptation of the penultimate novel. But perhaps they won't be quite as severe as they have in the past, as the MPAA simply warns viewers against "scary images, some violence, language and mild sensuality." The last Potter film to receive a PG rating was Prisoner of Azkaban, which is the... read more
Found in: Movies, NewsVillage Roadshow Can't Meet Financing Promises
One of the most prolific and best-known film-production companies, Village Roadshow Pictures, became so strapped by constricted credit markets that it was ultimately unable to co-finance at least four films for partner Warner Bros. last year, the studio said in an earnings report. ... read more
Found in: Movies, NewsWarner Bros. opens its movie vault to the public
Tired of watching Turner Classic Movies and going, "Wow. This movie is really cool. I'll have to buy it on DVD," only to find out, well heck, they don't make it on DVD? Thanks to Warner Brothers, those frustrating days may soon be coming to an end (to an extent, anyway) with the studio's innovative idea to make available to the public nearly every film in its vault. ... read more
Found in: Movies, NewsThe Dark Knight passes $1 billion worldwide
The Dark Knight isn’t quite done generating new milestones. On Sunday, of course, it took home two Oscars (including Heath Ledger's second posthumous award), which followed an announcement on Friday that the film had finally crossed the $1 billion mark in worldwide revenues. ... read more
Found in: Movies, NewsBrad Pitt on board for The Odyssey in space
At first, it sounds pretty routine: Variety reports that Brad Pitt has added a new adaptation of The Odyssey to his roster as a producer, and Warner Bros. is reportedly trying to maneuver him into the lead role. Sure, his previous Homer adaptation Troy (pictured above) took its time making back its budget, but these are the kind of evergreen epics almost guaranteed a profit. Nothing to see here. ... read more
Found in: Movies, NewsClint Eastwood spills details about Gran Torino
We already knew a few of the character details, but now, at long last, a few more tidbits about Clint Eastwood's Gran Torino have been revealed, courtesy of USA Today (via /Film).... read more
Found in: Movies, NewsHollywood studios to help theaters pay for 3D technology
In a rare collaborative effort for the major Hollywood studios, word from Reuters is that Disney, Paramount, 20th Century Fox, Universal and Warner Bros. are close to an agreement worth upward of $1 billion to finance the installation of thousands of digital screens at theaters across North America. ... read more
Found in: Movies, News
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