Had a rather depressing conversation with Rosscoe the other week whereby we were both racking our brains trying to think of female filmmakers and failing most miserably (Thelma Schoonmaker and Tina Fey being about the only notable exceptions- Leni Riefenstahl deliberately skipped over). But not long since, it seems like I have, entirely undeliberately, gone to see some rather good movies and (usually only when the credits are rolling) realised that they have been directed by a member of the sisterhood. It seems lack of Y chromosome no longer seems the excluding factor it used to be.  Maybe 2008/9 represent two curvacious lady lumps on the otherwise masculine body of of cinematic history. Maybe glass ceilings are out. Maybe the ladies have been around a long time but I just never realised before, or they just don’t get much press. Maybe the Mamma Mia glitter bomb made Hollywood realise that women- and not just teenage boys- can buy A LOT of cinema tickets. Maybe you have an opinion.

At the vanguard has to be Kathryn Bigelow’s Hurt Locker, much touted as the film of the year (5 stars Guardian, Empire, Uncut). And happily, it can definitely not be dismissed as a ‘chick flick’, being about explosions and bombs and such. Out this week I think, though I’m yet to see it.

But there’s many more out, or on their way from the womb-ed-ones…

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This looks kinda fun. Wonderfully titled ‘My Son My Son What Have Ye Done’, directed by Herzog, executatively produced by Lynch with lots of big birds, a dwarf and her off Twin Peaks as the victim. The words ‘creepy’, ‘cult’ and ‘classic’ spring to mind, albeit like a tired cliche-ridden flying titles after-effect voiced by growly voiceover man on an otherwise great trailer.

Spotted on this Guardian bloggy-type thing

Posting about Winsor McCay recently, I completely forgot to mention that he is probably best known nowadays for making the earliest animated cartoons. That isn’t strictly true; but I’d say he certainly perfected the art form into something we can still gawp at today. The most famous McCay animation has to be Gertie the Dinosaur (1914), touted as the very first recognisable animated ‘cartoon character’.

In truth though, animated cartoons started (sort of) in 1900, maybe being the first twentieth century art form…

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After District 9 I am quite suprised to find a couple films I’m excited about this year, with an original-abotomy hanging in hollywood its good to see. First one Ross blogged about last year from a short film by Shane Acker which has been picked up by the hand of Tim Burton out on the 30th of October:

The second is from James Cameron and his first big feature film since Titanic called Avatar, supposidly he wanted to do this straight after but the special effects in 1999 werent up to standard. Therefore theres gonna be a heeluva a lot of CGI which I’m hoping doesnt mean poor acting performances, George Lucas is not involved so thats always a plus. Out in December 2009.

Here’s a short TV spot for District 9. The more I hear about this film, the more I like. For example; the dialogue is mostly improvised by the cast and the lead actor’s last big role was at his school drama class. This may be fantastic. It certainly has balls.

via Denofgeek

Here is the new video for ‘King Rat’ by the very awesome Modest Mouse. Apparently it was conceived and directed by the late Heath Ledger to raise awareness- and money- in preventing illegal whale hunting (see here for more info). What a nice man he was. RIP.

Check out the editing on this baby, for the upcoming movie from the Coens, ‘A Serious Man’.

I’ll admit I love me a bit of Desert Island Discs now and again. It’s strangely comforting despite the premise (stranded — alone —-  forever) which is pretty alarming when you think about it. David Mitchell was on the other week-

So for he, me and middle class neurotics everywhere here is David Mitchell’s ultimate desert island disc as sung by a frog with a banjo- and Debbie Harry on this occasion. I hope this makes up for all my recent rantings.

And as Rosscoe has just reminded me of the true awesomeness of Vincent Price- and this came up in related videos…

Tim Burton’s visual style must be one of the most consistent things on this planet. His films are very often brilliant and the animations he’s been involved in I think I’ve liked even more. He knows macabre. Hell, I think he defines it. In the short animated film below from 1982, Vincent Price recites a poem about a small child who wishes he was Vincent Price. The scary thing is, the child looks like Tim Burton, and I wouldn’t be surprised if this was actually based on his childhood. Love it. So I say bring on Mr. Burton’s Alice in Wonderland, Show me 9, (although I realise he’s just putting his money in…show me it anyway…) and surely this man is destined to direct an updated verson of ’The Raven’? 

Yup. I love this. It’s already everywhere on the internets. To Tron!!

So shock! It did all turn out to be Fox not wanting to pay money, but the cast still wanting to have the glamour of being paid with some kind of money. Who’d have thuncked… although the Canadian news that has this story says that the studio is paying more, and the actors getting payed less. I don’t know who won there. I think Futurama won. And If one pays more and the other receives less, makes me wonder what the frakk is going on. 

26 episodes dudes!

To explain my happiness, witness one of my favourite theme tunes, which is also linked to one of the greatest comic strips of all time. Behold… the cast of peanuts still-screen. Most of them seem happy!!

via Topless robot