MamaPop™

Diablo Cody to Write and Produce Sweet Valley High

The Wakefield twins are about to be back, this time with wittier repartee and pop culture references. Diablo Cody, she of the Juno and The United States of Tara awesome (can't speak to Jennifer's Body; haven't seen it yet) will be adapting the Sweet Valley High books into a screenplay and producing the big-screen version.

A Review of 'The Boys Are Back' And Screening Tickets To Win!

I'm going to start off this review of Clive Owen's new movie "The Boys Are Back" the same way I started it off when I told my girlfriends about it: Clive is HOT.

That should convince 85% of the women reading (and a percentage of the men as well) so here's a review for everyone else.

Based on a true story, "The Boys Are Back" follows the life of sportswriter Joe Warr (Owen) and his journey to rebuild his world and conquer the challenges of single-fatherhood after the death of his beloved wife Katy.  The film is directed by Scott Hicks (he directed the amazing 'Shine') and is set against the breathtaking landscapes of Australia. Did I mention Clive was pretty breathtaking, too?

Paranormal Activity Trailer

I've heard whispers about this movie for a while. Called the next Blair Witch Project and already rife with lore such as how it scared the crap out of Steven Spielberg to such a degree that he was convinced there was something actually demonic about his DVD screener, the thing looks it might be the genuine, terrifying article.

Trailer after the jump. You might wanna brace yourself a little.

Matt Damon and Michael Douglas to Star in Steven Soderbergh's Liberace Biopic

Steven Soderbergh will be directing a biopic of the late pianist and entertainer, Liberace, which will be released in 2011. Not surprisingly, Soderbergh has attracted some pretty impressive talent to star in the film. Oscar winners Michael Douglas and Matt Damon will star, with Douglas playing Liberace and Damon playing, presumably, Scott Thorson, Liberace's bodyguard, driver, and alleged live-in boyfriend.

Does Kirsten Dunst Have to Pull Stupid Stunts to Get Roles? Already?

I know that she bugs some people but I kind of like Kirsten Dunst. I haven't forgotten how good she was as Claudia in "Interview with the Vampire". I loved "The Virgin Suicides" and "Drop Dead Gorgeous" and "Bring it On". So why, at 27, is she already resorting to crashing parties to audition for roles?

The rumor is that she crashed a party for Jane Campion because she is dying to get a role in Runaway, a film that Campion is working on that will be based on Alice Munro's book of short stories.

Why Do Some of My Favorite Directors Keep Doing Me Wrong?

It seems that Kurt and I both had the unfortunate experience of seeing Extract this past weekend. In fact, I spent much of the morning writing about all of the ways it sucked, only to look up and see that Kurt had beaten me to the punch. So, with that out of the way, I'll expand on the related rant that I included with my review.

Brief Interviews With Hideous Men Trailer

Sign me up for this one.

Canned synopsis: After her boyfriend mysteriously leaves her with little explanation, grad student Sara Quinn is left looking for answers as to what went wrong. Directing all her energies into her anthropological dissertation, Sara conducts a series of interviews with men in an effort to uncover the secret thoughts that drive their behavior. As she records the astonishing and disquieting experiences of various subjects, Sara discovers much more about men and herself than she bargained for. 

Based on the book by David Foster Wallace, the film's all-star ensemble cast includes John Krasinski, Will Arnett, Bobby Canavale, Dominic Cooper, Max Minghella, Timothy Hutton, and Julianne Nicholson.

In theaters September 25th y'all! Get out your Sharpie and mark that calendar!

I know, I know, this again, but do you know how much I enjoy asking you to vote on which movie I should see over the weekend? Probably more than really makes sense. It also helps when you pick something my husband would usually whole-heartedly disapprove of, and I can say to him, "IT'S OUT OF MY HANDS! I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO SEE IT!"

So, it's a three-day weekend and in between all the beer drinking and non-laboring I'll be doing, I'd like to see a movie. Probably by myself. Probably not tonight but Monday afternoon because I'm suburban like that.

What should I see, Internet?

What's not to love here? George Clooney, Kevin Spacey, Ewan McGregor AND The Dude himself, Jeff Bridges (Yowza!)... plus one of the greatest rock songs of all time:

I am SO in.

How did you sleep last night? I ask because I didn't — in large part because I spent most of it awake with a 4-year old who was apparently trying to turn herself inside-out. The good news is that while I was enjoying this extended dance remix tour of my daughter's digestive system, my thoughts wandered to the many and splendored ways that this particular facet of existence has been illuminated on film over the years. In some contexts, it has been treated as comedy. In others, it's an element of high drama or great horror. But no matter how it is presented, these scenes create a portrayal of humanity at its most vulnerable — and, in the process, may even teach us a little something about ourselves.

(cue: a very special episode music...)

• Team America
I can only presume that you're already familiar with Team America, the Academy Award-winning geopolitical documentary featuring hardcore puppet sex. Lovingly crafted by the sensitive minds behind South Park, Team America features an entire galaxy of stars (my personal favorite: Matt Damon), the Eiffel Tower getting blown to smithereens, and a scene in which our hero Gary - having descended into alcoholism - hits bottom and proceeds to engage in a bout of epic vomiting that must been seen to be believed. 56. Full. Seconds. Of. Puppet. Vomiting. So staggering is this mannequinamation expurgation of effluvia that its status as the ne plus ultra of onscreen hurling is challenged by only a single precedent...

So here's the thing...I really want to do a sincere and honest review of Inglourius Basterds but there's no way I'm getting to the theaters before Saturday, so I'm guessing someone else will have something clever and insightful  posted by then and I'll be left all "But...But...I WANTED to!" and sure maybe in THIS culture whining isn't sexy, but I bet it's like an aphrodisiac in another one, so don't get all judgey on me. I'm totally hot amongst the lost tribes of the Amazon or something. But back to the movie I haven't seen yet, but really want to... It was the BEST movie I've seen this year (if you count the future obviously.)

So, although Julie & Julia put up a respectable effort, when the votes came in, The Time Traveler's Wife eked ahead. Now, for those of you have not seen the movie and plan to see the movie, I can't promise something juicy and crucial to the storyline won't slip out in my review. It wouldn't be MUCH of a review if all I talked about was how yummy Eric Bana looked after he cut off his hair in his older scenes. So, probable spoilers (of both book and film) ahead. You've been warned.

The husband and I went to see Funny People last night (which was, indeed, kind of crappy) and saw a preview for the newest Sandra Bullock vehicle.

I've been mostly ambivalent about Sandra Bullock. She never did anything extremely offensive and she's entertaining enough. But the preview for All About Steve made me wonder if she had made someone angry during her early years in Hollywood.

If I somehow injure myself by over rolling my eyes at Gwyneth Paltrow and one more of her freakazoid, snob-filled moments that seem to be occurring at a frightening rate of return, thus causing my eye muscles to seize up so I can only see the area right above my head, I will sue her and her Goop-filled accounts for corrective surgery plus more money than I can count.

Each time a gossip source talks about her latest dumbass move, I detest her just that much more. For the record, I must state that I actually used to like Gwyneth Paltrow -- especially back in the Brad Pitt / Ben Affleck era when she seemed a hell of a lot less snobby and more singleton-best-friend needy in a way that didn't seem annoying. But now she's just annoying. I think it all happened when she started hanging around Madonna or maybe it was when she ruined Chris Martin for me. It's a hard call, I should have taken better notes.

I just got back from the premier of District 9, (but it was only the premier in that it was the first time I watched it, not the actual tuxedo one that I NEVER seem to get invited to) and I really have no idea what I just watched. Or whether or not I liked it. I think I did. Yeah, I'm pretty sure I did. I might have to get back to you on that one. Also I'm not sure how to categorize it. Is Surgery Channel-Sci-Fi-Fake Documentary-Horror a category? Because if it is, this movie is getting the fucking Oscar. Because it was definitely the best one of those I've ever seen.

 You sent me to see (500) Days of Summer recently, and that was a Very Wise Choice. (Review here!) In fact, why I haven't been asking you to make all my daily decisions (what to eat, what to wear, so on, so forth) is beyond me. You're obviously better qualified than I am as I would have chosen The Ugly Truth because looking at Gerard Butler for any amount of time makes me very happy. Well, I'm squeezing in a movie this weekend, and I need your help again. Choices are below, so cast your vote accordingly and then promptly donate some money to the popcorn fund. (Or just vote. Whatever.) I'll watch whatever the majority decides upon. (Again, Orphan is not a choice because I like to sleep without night terrors.)

Last night, we finally got around to watching Pineapple Express. It's been languishing on our TiVo for weeks now, as every time I thought about watching it I noticed the two-and-a-half star rating and remembered the mixed reviews and the not-great word-of-mouth it got from People I Know.

But...then again, surely other people loved it, and the concept seemed solid and the cast and it's House of Apatow and I think a lot of people said it was just marketed badly so you weren't expecting the violence and chewed-off ears and whatever, so surely, it could not be as bad as I'd heard.

Pick My Movie, Third Installment

I know, I know, this again, but do you know how much I enjoy asking you to vote on which movie I should see over the weekend? Probably more than really makes sense. It also helps when you pick something my husband would usually whole-heartedly disapprove of, and I can say to him, "IT'S OUT OF MY HANDS! I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO SEE IT!"

So, it's a three-day weekend and in between all the beer drinking and non-laboring I'll be doing, I'd like to see a movie. Probably by myself. Probably not tonight but Monday afternoon because I'm suburban like that.

What should I see, Internet?

Men Who Stare At Goats Trailer

What's not to love here? George Clooney, Kevin Spacey, Ewan McGregor AND The Dude himself, Jeff Bridges (Yowza!)... plus one of the greatest rock songs of all time:

I am SO in.

How did you sleep last night? I ask because I didn't — in large part because I spent most of it awake with a 4-year old who was apparently trying to turn herself inside-out. The good news is that while I was enjoying this extended dance remix tour of my daughter's digestive system, my thoughts wandered to the many and splendored ways that this particular facet of existence has been illuminated on film over the years. In some contexts, it has been treated as comedy. In others, it's an element of high drama or great horror. But no matter how it is presented, these scenes create a portrayal of humanity at its most vulnerable — and, in the process, may even teach us a little something about ourselves.

(cue: a very special episode music...)

• Team America
I can only presume that you're already familiar with Team America, the Academy Award-winning geopolitical documentary featuring hardcore puppet sex. Lovingly crafted by the sensitive minds behind South Park, Team America features an entire galaxy of stars (my personal favorite: Matt Damon), the Eiffel Tower getting blown to smithereens, and a scene in which our hero Gary - having descended into alcoholism - hits bottom and proceeds to engage in a bout of epic vomiting that must been seen to be believed. 56. Full. Seconds. Of. Puppet. Vomiting. So staggering is this mannequinamation expurgation of effluvia that its status as the ne plus ultra of onscreen hurling is challenged by only a single precedent...

So here's the thing...I really want to do a sincere and honest review of Inglourius Basterds but there's no way I'm getting to the theaters before Saturday, so I'm guessing someone else will have something clever and insightful  posted by then and I'll be left all "But...But...I WANTED to!" and sure maybe in THIS culture whining isn't sexy, but I bet it's like an aphrodisiac in another one, so don't get all judgey on me. I'm totally hot amongst the lost tribes of the Amazon or something. But back to the movie I haven't seen yet, but really want to... It was the BEST movie I've seen this year (if you count the future obviously.)

So, although Julie & Julia put up a respectable effort, when the votes came in, The Time Traveler's Wife eked ahead. Now, for those of you have not seen the movie and plan to see the movie, I can't promise something juicy and crucial to the storyline won't slip out in my review. It wouldn't be MUCH of a review if all I talked about was how yummy Eric Bana looked after he cut off his hair in his older scenes. So, probable spoilers (of both book and film) ahead. You've been warned.

The husband and I went to see Funny People last night (which was, indeed, kind of crappy) and saw a preview for the newest Sandra Bullock vehicle.

I've been mostly ambivalent about Sandra Bullock. She never did anything extremely offensive and she's entertaining enough. But the preview for All About Steve made me wonder if she had made someone angry during her early years in Hollywood.

If I somehow injure myself by over rolling my eyes at Gwyneth Paltrow and one more of her freakazoid, snob-filled moments that seem to be occurring at a frightening rate of return, thus causing my eye muscles to seize up so I can only see the area right above my head, I will sue her and her Goop-filled accounts for corrective surgery plus more money than I can count.

Each time a gossip source talks about her latest dumbass move, I detest her just that much more. For the record, I must state that I actually used to like Gwyneth Paltrow -- especially back in the Brad Pitt / Ben Affleck era when she seemed a hell of a lot less snobby and more singleton-best-friend needy in a way that didn't seem annoying. But now she's just annoying. I think it all happened when she started hanging around Madonna or maybe it was when she ruined Chris Martin for me. It's a hard call, I should have taken better notes.

I just got back from the premier of District 9, (but it was only the premier in that it was the first time I watched it, not the actual tuxedo one that I NEVER seem to get invited to) and I really have no idea what I just watched. Or whether or not I liked it. I think I did. Yeah, I'm pretty sure I did. I might have to get back to you on that one. Also I'm not sure how to categorize it. Is Surgery Channel-Sci-Fi-Fake Documentary-Horror a category? Because if it is, this movie is getting the fucking Oscar. Because it was definitely the best one of those I've ever seen.

 You sent me to see (500) Days of Summer recently, and that was a Very Wise Choice. (Review here!) In fact, why I haven't been asking you to make all my daily decisions (what to eat, what to wear, so on, so forth) is beyond me. You're obviously better qualified than I am as I would have chosen The Ugly Truth because looking at Gerard Butler for any amount of time makes me very happy. Well, I'm squeezing in a movie this weekend, and I need your help again. Choices are below, so cast your vote accordingly and then promptly donate some money to the popcorn fund. (Or just vote. Whatever.) I'll watch whatever the majority decides upon. (Again, Orphan is not a choice because I like to sleep without night terrors.)

Last night, we finally got around to watching Pineapple Express. It's been languishing on our TiVo for weeks now, as every time I thought about watching it I noticed the two-and-a-half star rating and remembered the mixed reviews and the not-great word-of-mouth it got from People I Know.

But...then again, surely other people loved it, and the concept seemed solid and the cast and it's House of Apatow and I think a lot of people said it was just marketed badly so you weren't expecting the violence and chewed-off ears and whatever, so surely, it could not be as bad as I'd heard.

The Technicolor Yawn in Technicolor: The Top 6 Instances Of Puking On Film

How did you sleep last night? I ask because I didn't — in large part because I spent most of it awake with a 4-year old who was apparently trying to turn herself inside-out. The good news is that while I was enjoying this extended dance remix tour of my daughter's digestive system, my thoughts wandered to the many and splendored ways that this particular facet of existence has been illuminated on film over the years. In some contexts, it has been treated as comedy. In others, it's an element of high drama or great horror. But no matter how it is presented, these scenes create a portrayal of humanity at its most vulnerable — and, in the process, may even teach us a little something about ourselves.

(cue: a very special episode music...)

• Team America
I can only presume that you're already familiar with Team America, the Academy Award-winning geopolitical documentary featuring hardcore puppet sex. Lovingly crafted by the sensitive minds behind South Park, Team America features an entire galaxy of stars (my personal favorite: Matt Damon), the Eiffel Tower getting blown to smithereens, and a scene in which our hero Gary - having descended into alcoholism - hits bottom and proceeds to engage in a bout of epic vomiting that must been seen to be believed. 56. Full. Seconds. Of. Puppet. Vomiting. So staggering is this mannequinamation expurgation of effluvia that its status as the ne plus ultra of onscreen hurling is challenged by only a single precedent...

No. It's Not A Review of Inglourious Basterds. Shut Up.

So here's the thing...I really want to do a sincere and honest review of Inglourius Basterds but there's no way I'm getting to the theaters before Saturday, so I'm guessing someone else will have something clever and insightful  posted by then and I'll be left all "But...But...I WANTED to!" and sure maybe in THIS culture whining isn't sexy, but I bet it's like an aphrodisiac in another one, so don't get all judgey on me. I'm totally hot amongst the lost tribes of the Amazon or something. But back to the movie I haven't seen yet, but really want to... It was the BEST movie I've seen this year (if you count the future obviously.)

The Time Traveler's Wife: Review

So, although Julie & Julia put up a respectable effort, when the votes came in, The Time Traveler's Wife eked ahead. Now, for those of you have not seen the movie and plan to see the movie, I can't promise something juicy and crucial to the storyline won't slip out in my review. It wouldn't be MUCH of a review if all I talked about was how yummy Eric Bana looked after he cut off his hair in his older scenes. So, probable spoilers (of both book and film) ahead. You've been warned.

Who Exactly Did Sandra Bullock Piss Off?

The husband and I went to see Funny People last night (which was, indeed, kind of crappy) and saw a preview for the newest Sandra Bullock vehicle.

I've been mostly ambivalent about Sandra Bullock. She never did anything extremely offensive and she's entertaining enough. But the preview for All About Steve made me wonder if she had made someone angry during her early years in Hollywood.

Gwyneth Paltrow Apparently Had Few Fans on Set of Iron Man 2

If I somehow injure myself by over rolling my eyes at Gwyneth Paltrow and one more of her freakazoid, snob-filled moments that seem to be occurring at a frightening rate of return, thus causing my eye muscles to seize up so I can only see the area right above my head, I will sue her and her Goop-filled accounts for corrective surgery plus more money than I can count.

Each time a gossip source talks about her latest dumbass move, I detest her just that much more. For the record, I must state that I actually used to like Gwyneth Paltrow -- especially back in the Brad Pitt / Ben Affleck era when she seemed a hell of a lot less snobby and more singleton-best-friend needy in a way that didn't seem annoying. But now she's just annoying. I think it all happened when she started hanging around Madonna or maybe it was when she ruined Chris Martin for me. It's a hard call, I should have taken better notes.

District 9 Is Not Where They Keep The Sexy Aliens

I just got back from the premier of District 9, (but it was only the premier in that it was the first time I watched it, not the actual tuxedo one that I NEVER seem to get invited to) and I really have no idea what I just watched. Or whether or not I liked it. I think I did. Yeah, I'm pretty sure I did. I might have to get back to you on that one. Also I'm not sure how to categorize it. Is Surgery Channel-Sci-Fi-Fake Documentary-Horror a category? Because if it is, this movie is getting the fucking Oscar. Because it was definitely the best one of those I've ever seen.

Pick My Friday Night, Part Two

 You sent me to see (500) Days of Summer recently, and that was a Very Wise Choice. (Review here!) In fact, why I haven't been asking you to make all my daily decisions (what to eat, what to wear, so on, so forth) is beyond me. You're obviously better qualified than I am as I would have chosen The Ugly Truth because looking at Gerard Butler for any amount of time makes me very happy. Well, I'm squeezing in a movie this weekend, and I need your help again. Choices are below, so cast your vote accordingly and then promptly donate some money to the popcorn fund. (Or just vote. Whatever.) I'll watch whatever the majority decides upon. (Again, Orphan is not a choice because I like to sleep without night terrors.)

Movies That Are Just As Bad As You've Heard They Are

Last night, we finally got around to watching Pineapple Express. It's been languishing on our TiVo for weeks now, as every time I thought about watching it I noticed the two-and-a-half star rating and remembered the mixed reviews and the not-great word-of-mouth it got from People I Know.

But...then again, surely other people loved it, and the concept seemed solid and the cast and it's House of Apatow and I think a lot of people said it was just marketed badly so you weren't expecting the violence and chewed-off ears and whatever, so surely, it could not be as bad as I'd heard.