Visionary lensman Ed Lachman is being recognized for his incredible contributions to film at Brooklyn's BAMcinématek this month. The cinematographer for Far From Heaven, Less Than Zero and A Prairie Home Companion talked to AMCtv.com about past projects and future plans.

Q: How do you choose your projects?

A: I like to work with first time directors because they're very open to ideas, or the feeling of what we can do together in collaboration. And I like working with female directors... this is maybe a strange thing to say, but I found working with female directors, ego doesn't become a part of the equation, that it's about the work.

Q: What are your memories of working with Robert Downey Jr on Less Than Zero?

A: I haven't seen that film in a long time. I always thought he was a wonderful actor and we were friendly. When he was doing the Chaplin film, I visited him on the set and he was just a great guy. I'm so glad he's back in his form.

Q: It's surprising how racy the film seems, even now.

Continue reading "Q&A - Cinematographer Ed Lachman on Censoring the Red Hot Chili Peppers and the Vitality of Robert Altman" »

Breaking into Hollywood is a difficult thing to do. It takes discipline, perseverance, and a whole lot of luck. But compared to boot camp, military service, and Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training, making it into showbiz is a walk in the park.

Before he became a wrestler, actor or a politician, Jesse Ventura was a Navy SEAL, completing his BUD/S training, which includes doing 42 push-ups in two minutes and swimming 500 yards in 10 minutes. Such physical training would come in handy for his work in the action movies Predator, Demolition Man, The Running Man, and Abraxas, Guardian of the Universe. Ventura described his SEALs training in his autobiography as "worse than anything you can imagine." Worse then going to 20 auditions without getting a call back? Ventura continued with useful advice for both aspiring SEALs and actors: "You have to want it bad, very bad."

Continue reading "Compared to Navy SEALS Training, Making It in Showbiz Is a Walk in the Park" »

Anyone who's seen the music-appreciation film, Mr. Holland's Opus, remembers the music of John Lennon being used to great effect, not only during a scene related to the Vietnam conflict, but also in a performance meant to build a bridge between the titular band-leader and his deaf son, Cole. The filmmakers buried a message of father-son reconciliation into the very fabric of their movie, however, by asking Julian Lennon to perform "Cole's Song" for the soundtrack.

Continue reading "The Reconnection of John and Julian Lennon Through the Music of Mr. Holland's Opus" »

They just want to be left alone... unless you're buying furniture. And yet, their quiet culture has permeated Hollywood since as far back as 1955 when Ernest Borgnine played Stadt, the Amish farmer, in Violent Saturday. Whether they are central to the story, a simple plot device or used for comic effect, it's time someone took note of the Amish and gave credit where credit is due. (They're not going to do it: They don't even watch movies.)

So, I'm introducing the Ishmael Awards, a prize created solely to celebrate the Amish on the silver screen. The envelopes, please.

The Ishmael for Best Amish Spring Break Movie goes to...
Sex Drive. In a surprise upset, the documentary Devil's Playground doesn't get the statuette. There's a new Rumspringa in town. Sex Drive, set for release this October, is a teen comedy that stars Seth Green as Ezekiel, an Amish mechanic that likes to rock. Green told MTV, "I'm like Daniel Day Lewis when I prep, so I was out in Lancaster for a few months just tilling soil, working hard to raise a few barns. I took a few wives." Expect bad beard jokes and Amish girls gone wild.

The Ishmael for Best Achievement in Science Fiction goes to...

Continue reading "Introducing the Ishmael Awards, Celebrating the Amish in Film" »

Once in office, actors-turned-politicians behave in a manner quite the opposite of some of their best-known roles. Former action heroes-turned-governors Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jesse Ventura left their machine guns, killer robots, six-shooters and pile drivers behind when they took office. Schwarzenegger proved himself to be an especially flexible politician, hiring a Democrat as his chief of staff, in sharp contrast to his on-screen persona, which tended toward the unequivocal and violent, whether you're talking Conan the Barbarian or the Terminator. And while you might argue that Ventura used the People's Elbow on behalf of the citizens of Minnesota on a number of occasions, he was liberal when it came to social policies.

Continue reading "In Law and Order, Ronald Reagan Was a Supporter of Big Government" »

The fans from this week's episode of Cinemania were on the Talk forum, talking about why they love Planet of the Apes. David, blogging under the pseudonym Ape Fan, said that the film was really the first An Inconvenient Truth: "The film was so far ahead of its time in dealing with the harsh reality that man himself will one day be the cause of his own demise," he wrote. "POTA is the ultimate disaster movie. Climbing to the top of an upside-down ocean liner is child's play compared to dealing with talking Apes that want to cut pieces out of your brain." Jessica echoed David's sentiments about the film's foreshadowing. "The series conveys the notion that the more compliant and backwards and slow mankind gets, the more we open the door for a better species to take over," she writes as jstlykawmn. She goes on to say that the film had a profound influence on her: "John Chamber's make-up creations have influenced my interest in make-up but it is Roddy McDowall who influenced me as an actress!"

Log onto the Talk forum to share your thoughts on Planet of the Apes, or to start a Future of Classic topic of your own!

Round 2 of the Greatest Movie Hero Tournament finds Eastwood's Dirty Harry, now victorious over Bronson's Paul Kersey, facing Arnold Schwarzenegger's Terminator. Julia Roberts' Erin Brockovich crushed Sally Fields' Norma Rae but does she have a shot at beating Sigourney Weaver's Ripley? Now more then ever, your vote decides who qualifies as the ultimate movie hero. So cast your vote, and enter the sweepstakes for a chance to win $5000 for yourself and another $5000 for your favorite charity.

A new round begins each Friday and you can enter the sweeps daily to better your odds of winning. Make sure to check the tournament schedule for the opening and closing dates of each round.

The host of AMC's Cinemania talks about the show, his celebrity status, the future of Tivo and his secret life as an adult film star.

Q: You were on AMC's last movie show, The Movie Club. Did the Cinemania opportunity come out of that experience?

A: It actually had absolutely nothing to do with that. In fact, to be honest with you, I'm not sure if AMC even remembers I was on that show. I had hosted shows in the past, and I told my peeps, my representatives, that if I'm going to host anything in the future it has to be something that I'm enthusiastic about -- not just Celebrity Fit Cook-Off. But they said there was a movie show in development at AMC, and I am a movie buff, so I said definitely.

Q: Cinemania is all about knowing the minutiae of movies. Are you a big trivia buff?

A: Heck yeah. I kick ass. And I try to work that in a little bit. But the thing I have to remember is, I'm talking with the people who made the movie. They already know the answers to these, so they're not really impressed. So when I go, "It must have been really interesting working with the second AD Jack Salinger who also was the special effects coordinator on a little movie that came out in 1982," they're like, "Yeah, Jack's cool, he's a real nice guy." And I'm like, "Aren't you impressed that I knew that?" "No not really." They just figure some producer told me, I just want to raise my hand and go, "NO! NO! I really do love your movie! I really am a dork!"

Continue reading "Q&A - Cinemania Host Regan Burns" »

The Matrix revolutionized special effects, merged Hong Kong-style martial arts with cyberpunk science fiction, and injected video games with classical philosophy. But how well did you absorb the teachings of the Oracle? Take our Ultimate Fan Quiz and see if you're The One... winner. If you're the first to post correct answers to all 15 questions in the comments section below, you'll win this Invasion of the Body Snatchers DVD and be profiled in an upcoming blog entry.

The quiz runs from Friday, May 9 to Friday, May 16 at midnight. The winner will be announced shortly afterward. (Make sure we have a relevant email address in your profile so we can contact you about your prize.)

Hope you took the red pill.

1. According to all the street corner references in The Matrix, in what American city does the film take place?

2. What is the title, and who is the author, of the book Neo hides his disks in?

3. What's playing on the television in the Oracle's waiting room?

Continue reading "Ultimate Fan Quiz - The Matrix" »

There are many reasons to watch Troy: the crisp direction by Wolfgang Peterson; the all-star cast of Orlando Bloom, Eric Bana, and Brian Cox; the re-telling of Homer's The Iliad with action movie tropes. The very best reason, however, is Brad Pitt.

Pitt spent over seven months training his body to almost physical perfection for his role as Achilles. And since scenes were shot out of chronological order, Pitt had to maintain his exact body appearance throughout the filming, which entailed a long, hard exercise regime for the entire length of the shoot. So herewith, we're going to rate Brad Pitt's film roles and decide whether they're hunky, or the "pitts." He's no slouch in the looks department on a regular day, so keep in mind that zero Pitts is still better than 10 Buscemis.

Interview With a Vampire (1994)
This is, arguably, the film that rocketed Pitt to stardom. He plays an undead vampire so beautiful, even Tom Cruise wants to make out with him. In embodying Anne Rice's Louis, Pitt needed no special effects to make himself seem like a supernatural being.

Rating:

Continue reading "Is Troy the Hottest Brad Pitt Role Ever?" »