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Happiness (1998) More at IMDbPro »
2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 1998
1-20 of 37 articles from 2009 « Prev | Next »
Lizard Watch: Dylan Baker May Be Back for 'Spidey 4'
22 October 2009 9:01 PM, PDT | GetTheBigPicture.net | See recent Get The Big Picture news »
I have seen Todd Solondz' Happiness, so I can't picture character actor Dylan Baker as anything other than a pedophile who admits he's thought about having sex with his own son, but would stop short. Bleeehhhh. However, Baker recently confirmed he's back for Spider-Man 4, which could mean he'll be playing a much more pleasant giant lizard.
At a screening for Trick 'r Treat in New York City, Baker said - and Ugo reported - that he had just received a call to reprise his character, Dr. Curt Connors. If this series follows the comics (and it damn sure didn't for Spidey 3), then Curt Connors will eventually become The Lizard. It also makes zero sense to bring Connors into the franchise if they don't use The Lizard. »
- Colin Boyd
A Frightening Tale About Horror Movies In Distribution Hell
13 October 2009 1:15 PM, PDT | The Flickcast | See recent The Flickcast news »
It takes a lot to be a horror fan. We suffer indignities that other film fans wouldn’t dream of. Genre films are seldom screened for press, leading to frantic scrambling to get a seat at a midnight showing so that we can have that review up and ready for you, dear readers, on opening day. Regular critics scoff at our genre, and often can’t be bothered with it at all. So it rests upon those of us who are true lovers of the genre to keep you abreast of the happenings in horror-land.
Adding to my general frustration with the powers that be is the mishandling of three recent films in particular. All the Boys Love Mandy Lane, Trick ‘r Treat, and Paranormal Activity have all gotten a rotten distribution deal in one way or another. I asked Scott Weinberg, Managing Editor of Cinematical and Editor of Horror »
- Shannon Hood
Horror Review: ‘Trick ‘r Treat’
13 October 2009 9:00 AM, PDT | The Flickcast | See recent The Flickcast news »
Trick ‘r Treat is yet another horror film that has been severely mishandled over the last few years. A few other notables are Paranormal Activity (finally out in theaters) and All the Boys Love Mandy Lane (collecting dust on a shelf somewhere). Trick ‘r Treat was shown at a few genre film festivals last year and a few this year as well. It was received by the audiences with giddy, glowing praise, and was heralded an instant Halloween classic.
Then it sat on a shelf with no release date. Fortunately, Warner Brothers threw us horror buffs a bone and released it last week on DVD. It promptly sold out, which demonstrated the pent up demand to see this movie.
Admittedly, it has been over-hyped a bit. It is not among the best horror movies ever made, but it is really fun. It actually celebrates the traditions of Halloween, and is unique in that respect. »
- Shannon Hood
Nyff '09 Podcast: Life During Wartime (Armond White, Andrew Grant, Sylvia Miles)
8 October 2009 7:30 PM, PDT | GreenCine Daily | See recent GreenCine Daily news »
Is Welcome to the Dollhouse auteur Todd Solondz a misanthrope, or a humanist whose characters just happen to engage in ugly, perverse, cruel behavior? For me, the answer has been made clear with Life During Wartime (screening Saturday, Oct. 10 at 9pm), Solondz's quasi-sequel to 1998's Happiness, in which all of the characters are now played by different actors: Todd Solondz starts his latest and finest film to date by introducing us to Joy (Shirley Henderson), whose husband Allen (Michael Kenneth Williams) is not quite cured of his peculiar "affliction." Joy's sister Trish (Allison Janney) is hoping to stabilize her family life by marrying the recently divorced Harvey (Michael Lerner), but her soon-to-be bar-mitzvahed son Timmy (Dylan Riley Snyder) isn’t sure he wants another man in the house—especially as it seems his dead father, Bill (Ciarán Hinds), might not be dead after all. His portrait of these and several »
New York Film Festival: The Second Half
1 October 2009 9:00 PM, PDT | Filmmaker Magazine - Blog | See recent Filmmaker Magazine news »
“We are family,” sang Sister Sledge in their 1979 disco hit. “Living life is fun…We don’t get depressed.” The films playing the second half of this year’s Nyff beg to differ. Nearly every one deals with families, traditional or alternative, and these families are not fun: They are disrupted and/or disruptive. What drives the dramas are the underlying causes of the dysfunction, and how they are manifest. Not that this is a minus in my book, but these movies are depressing. Only one is American: Todd Solondz’s Life During Wartime. Happiness, his 1998 satire, was a refreshing take on the American family, especially one of the Jewish persuasion. Three very different grown sisters, their divorcing parents, the psychiatrist husband who drugs,... »
- Howard Feinstein
Sound On Sight Radio #156 - Tiff ‘09 Report: Life During Wartime
28 September 2009 10:16 PM, PDT | SoundOnSight | See recent SoundOnSight news »
Since his 1995 breakthrough Welcome to the Dollhouse, director Todd Solondz has been one of the most audacious and controversial voices to come out of recent American independent cinema, and thanks to the arrival at Tiff of his latest, Life During Wartime, Ricky and Simon decided to take on three of his demented, blackly funny films, including Dollhouse, Wartime and his 1998 critical smash Happiness, to which Wartime is more or less a direct sequel - with a completely different cast. listen now [1] Download the show in a new window [2] Listen on I-Tunes [3] RSS feeds [4] Sound On Sight Forum [5] Twitter [6] Facebook [7] [8] [1] http://www.soundonsight.org/SoundReviews/Episode156.mp3 [2] http://www.soundonsight.org/SoundReviews/Episode156.mp3 [3] http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=301023002 [4] http://www.soundonsight.org../feed/ [5] http://www.popsyndicate.com/forums/viewforum/94/ [6] http://twitter.com/sound_on_sight [7] http://www.facebook.com/inbox/?ref=mb#/group.php?gid=38526697477 [8] http://click. »
- Ricky
Sound On Sight Radio #156
28 September 2009 9:26 PM, PDT | SoundOnSight | See recent SoundOnSight news »
Since his 1995 breakthrough Welcome to the Dollhouse, director Todd Solondz has been one of the most audacious and controversial voices to come out of recent American independent cinema, and thanks to the arrival at Tiff of his latest, Life During Wartime, Ricky and Simon decided to take on three of his demented, blackly funny films, including Dollhouse, Wartime and his 1998 critical smash Happiness, to which Wartime is more or less a direct sequel - with a completely different cast. Coming Soon! [1] [1] [1] http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=DNHFgIiNa10&offerid=129871.10000190&type=4&subid=0 [2] http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=DNHFgIiNa10&offerid=129871.10000190&type=4&subid=0 »
- Ricky
Tiff ‘09: Short Takes
24 September 2009 9:54 AM, PDT | SoundOnSight | See recent SoundOnSight news »
Trash Humpers Directed by Harmony Korine Anyone who enjoyed Korine's previous feature, the funny, surreal Mister Lonely, may have been looking forward to what he was to do next in anticipation of a further expansion into pseudo-accessible territory. Instead, Korine decided to jump off the arthouse deep end with Trash Humpers, a reasonably well-executed conceptual short that somehow found its way to an incredibly tortuous 78 minutes. An "artifact" rather than a film, Humpers is meant to act as a simulation of found art, an odd relic from an unknown universe bestowed to us through some incredibly unfortuitous happenstance. Perhaps if Korine had issued the film (shot on deliberately primitive video) anonymously in a soiled plastic bag, the film might have accomplished just such an effect after being rediscovered by the bored film students of future decades, but as it stands it's merely an intermittently funny but mostly agonizing collection of »
- Simon
James Gunn Reveals Exclusive Super Details
22 September 2009 6:30 AM, PDT | Atomic Popcorn | See recent Atomic Popcorn news »
Ahhh, the benefits of a Jesuit education. Saint Louis University graduate James Gunn, writer of Scooby Doo, Slither, Dawn of the Dead and the upcoming Super (which we talked about here) has been making the rounds preparing for production on his self-proclaimed dark comedic take on a superhero. The film stars Rainn Wilson of The Office, Ellen Page, and Liv Tyler. On his personal blog, James wrote:
“Rainn and I have been working together on the project for a few months now – Rainn will be playing the lead role of Frank D’Arbo who dresses up as a superhero called the Crimson Bolt; he’s got no superpowers other than a pipe wrench. Rainn and I both worked hard to get the best possible folks involved. We were lucky to get Ted Hope to produce – he’s done such movies as Happiness, The Ice Storm, The Savages, American Splendor, and 21 Grams. »
- John Cooper
Toronto Mini: 'Life During Wartime' treads familiar ground
21 September 2009 9:00 AM, PDT | Hitfix | See recent Hitfix news »
I run hot and cold on the work of Todd Solondz. Quite like "Dollhouse" and "Happiness," sort of dig "Palindromes," and have no real use for "Storytelling". Short answer. I think he's very good at creating a very particular dramatic reality. 'Cause he's not doing reality. And once I know a filmmaker's not trying to make a movie that is "real," but is instead theatrical, stylized, in some way heightened... I'm judging it by how well it does what it's trying to do. That's where I think he's really very skilled. His films have one of the most distinct cadences of... »
Toronto: Some closing thoughts, and Todd Solondz’s unhappy sequel
20 September 2009 11:38 AM, PDT | EW.com - The Movie Critics | See recent EW.com - The Movie Critics news »
Here are a few last, random thoughts on the Toronto film festival, which came to a close yesterday: It Was a Very Good Year. In the week I spent there, almost everyone I talked to seemed to agree -- as did I -- on the generally exciting quality of the movies. The fact that so many of those films connected with the anxious urgency of the moment lent the programming (intentionally or not) a certain seductive coherence. At times, coming out of a movie like Collapse or Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans, it was almost like attending the Whole Earth on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown film festival -- and I mean that as a compliment. Best Film I Saw. Hands down, Up in the Air. An exquisite reminder of everything that a Hollywood movie can still be, Jason Reitman’s sublime comedy about a jet-setting down-sizer »
- Owen Gleiberman
Tiff 2009 Day 6: Todd Solondz's Life During Wartime
18 September 2009 | ioncinema | See recent ioncinema news »
- I failed to re-watch the 1998 film prior to seeing this one, but just like a coat that got lost in a closest and hasn't been worn in some time, this pic has the same form – its just not as perverted as the original. Life During Wartime's first “re-introduction” sequences and this sense of familiarity that comes along with it can bring along a sense of glee and while the transfer from one actor the another is a great device, the appeal slowly dissipates until we are left with very little. Todd Solondz' follow up to Happiness won the best screenplay award in Venice – for very specific reasons, the dialogue sharply sticks it to the batch of unlike-able characters and Allison Janney steals the show when comparing her character to the pantheon of scary mothers who mean well. I enjoyed the pic and this is his best since 98', »
Toronto International Film Festival 2009: Part Three (Notes from the Road)
16 September 2009 4:05 AM, PDT | PopMatters | See recent PopMatters news »
In his third installment, Stuart reviews the hotly anticipated adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's The Road, a great documentary on Daniel Ellsberg, and new films from Todd Solondz (yuck) and Werner Herzog (yuck, but in a good way).
Life During Wartime (dir. Todd Solondz, 2009) Todd Solondz' new movie often feels like it is little more than a mash-up of his previous films. It even opens with a scene that is lifted almost wholesale from Happiness (1998). And, just like they did in virtually everything he has done before, pedophiles and other "perverts", unhappy middle class white people, sexually confused children, and a generally mocking tone abound. At his best, Solondz is a real auteur, a singular observer of an alienated America, of an America filled with weirdos and lonely souls, longing for comfort and finding little. Certainly,… »
- By Stuart Henderson
Venice Film Festival 2009 Winners
14 September 2009 1:12 PM, PDT | Filmofilia | See recent Filmofilia news »
Venice Film Festival’s jury announced the movie “Lebanon” was the winner of the Golden Lion on the last day of the 11-day screening of films from around the world.
“Lebanon,” tells the story of Israeli paratroopers searching a hostile town. The movie is a look at war from inside a military tank by Israeli helmer Samuel Maoz, based on his personal experience as a young soldier during his country’s 1982 invasion of Lebanon.
“I dedicate this award to all those thousands of people all over the world who came back from the war, like me, safe and sound. Apparently they are fine. They walk, get married, have children. But inside them, the memories will remain stuck in their souls,” said Maoz at the award ceremony.
The Silver Lion for best director went to New York-based Iranian visual artist Shirin Neshat for her first feature “Women Without Men,” an Iranian film about women and repression. »
- Fiona
Rainn, Ellen and Liv are Super
11 September 2009 6:39 AM, PDT | Atomic Popcorn | See recent Atomic Popcorn news »
Rainn Wilson, Ellen Page and Liv Tyler have been cast in Super, the new project from writer/director James Gunn (Slither, PG Porn).
After Variety ran a piece on the news earlier, Gunn responded with more details on his personal blog, stating that he’s “never loved a screenplay more than Super and have been working on it for years.”
Rainn and I have been working together on the project for a few months now – Rainn will be playing the lead role of Frank D’Arbo who dresses up as a superhero called the Crimson Bolt; he’s got no superpowers other than a pipe wrench. Rainn and I both worked hard to get the best possible folks involved. We were lucky to get Ted Hope to produce – he’s done such movies as Happiness, The Ice Storm, The Savages, American Splendor, and 21 Grams. This is not a wacky, over-the-top comedy. »
- John Cooper
New Trailer For Trick 'R Treat! Coming Finally On October 6th!
10 September 2009 11:17 PM, PDT | iconsoffright.com | See recent Icons of Fright news »
I can not wait until October 6th! Because the DVD and Blu-Ray of Michael Dougherty's Trick 'R Treat finally comes out and I plan on watching it every day until Halloween night! Yahoo has debuted another brand new trailer for the much praised Halloween anthology, and this one by far best represents the tone of the movie itself. This is out 'A Christmas Story' for Halloween! Check it out embedded below!
Check out the official website at: http://trickrtreat-movie.warnerbros.com
Trick 'R Treat was written & directed by Michael Dougherty (X-men 2, Superman Returns), produced by Bryan Singer (The Usual Suspects, X-men) and stars Quinn Lord, Brian Cox (Red, Manhunter, X-men 2), Leslie Bibb (Midnight Meat Train, Iron Man), Dylan Baker (Spider-man 2, Happiness), Rochelle Aytes, Anna Paquin (from HBO's True Blood), Moneca Delain, Lauren Lee Smith, Tahmoh Penikett, Lauren Lee Smith, Britt McKillip, Isabelle Deluce, Jean-Luc Bilodeau, Alberto Ghisi & Samm Todd. »
Telluride Tries to Survive Life During Wartime
7 September 2009 12:03 PM, PDT | Huffington Post | See recent Huffington Post news »
This is the second in a series of reports from the Telluride Film Festival. The event customarily held over the Labor Day weekend returned for its 36th season September 4-7. Coverage will include a quick look at a film screened the previous night; highlights of some of the group discussions and celebrity appearances; and word on the streets (or the tweets) about who or what might be creating the most showbiz buzz. Saturday's sneak review: Life During Wartime, which is playing all the major fall festivals, including Toronto, premiered Thursday at Venice and was in competition for the Golden Lion. Running time: 96 minutes. What's it all about? Maybe this is as close as writer/director Todd Solondz will ever get to a feel-good movie. Solandz has called Life During Wartime a "quasi-sequel" to 1998's Happiness, his bizarre take on... »
- Michael Bialas
Which seldom-seen celebrity could make you tune into Leno?
4 September 2009 4:16 PM, PDT | EW.com - PopWatch | See recent EW.com - PopWatch news »
For those of us dreading Leno’s return to NBC -- and indeed, we exist -- it is difficult to imagine what could turn our attention to his 10 p.m. whatever-it-is-going-to-be show. Promos seem to indicate he’ll spend a lot of time talking about cars, showing off his cars, and making other people race cars. Given that the last thing I want to think about in this economy is the nearly eradicated American auto industry, "enticing” is not the word I’d use for this theme. Still, certain names do pique the interest, perhaps none more so than Pee-Wee Herman, a.k.a. Paul Reubens, who will join Jay on Sept 22. The erstwhile children’s television star will likely be there to discuss his role in Life During Wartime -- Todd Solondz’s sequel to his own Happiness, making the film festival rounds this fall -- as well as »
- Whitney Pastorek
Tiff 2009 Must See List: Life During Wartime
3 September 2009 11:25 PM, PDT | SoundOnSight | See recent SoundOnSight news »
#4 Life During Wartime [1] Director Todd Solondz Cast: Paul Reubens, Ally Sheedy, Allison Janney Ten years ago Todd Solondz won the International Critics' prize at the Cannes Film Festival for his provocative Happiness. The film was highly controversial for its heavy sexual themes, especially its portrayal of Bill, a pedophile and rapist, as a three-dimensional human being with redeeming qualities. Life During Wartime revisits Solondz's unsettling terrain with new maturity, a resurrection of its characters with different actors; Wartime can be viewed as a sequel to Happiness. The film follows a group of people struggling to find a place for themselves in an unpredictable and volatile world. The past haunts the present and imperils the future: ghosts circle and loom, trouble and console. The question of forgiveness and its limits threads throughout a series of intersecting love stories, offering clarity and possibly alternatives to the comforts of forgetting. Visit the Tiff site [2] [1] http://www. »
- Ricky
Tiff Picks 09: Todd Solondz's Life During Wartime
3 September 2009 | ioncinema | See recent ioncinema news »
- #19. Life During Wartime Director: Todd SolondzCast: Shirley Henderson, Ciarán Hinds, Allison Janney, Charlotte Rampling, Michael Kenneth Williams, Michael LernerDistributor: Rights Available. Buzz: Despite his last two films, looking forward to this. Will brush up and re-watch a certain film beforehand. Venice report card coming soon. The Gist: The characters in this part-sequel/part-variation on Happiness struggle to find a place for themselves in an unpredictable and volatile world. The past haunts the present and imperils the future: ghosts circle and loom, trouble and console. The question of forgiveness, and its limits, threads throughout a series of intersecting love stories, offering clarity and, possibly, alternatives to the comforts of forgetting. Tiff Schedule: Click here for screening times ... »
2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 1998
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