Secret Messages: The Escape

secret messages from the movies... 

He made possible the r... escap ... frm

Can you guess the movie? Check your guess after the jump.

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Transform This

I skipped Transformers: Dark of the Moon this weekend -- too much going on chez moi -- but that didn't stop me from thinking about robots or transformations.

My water pressure is weak. As is my willpower.

Weekend Box-Office (Actuals) 
figures via box office mojo

01 TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON new $97.8 (cum. $162.6)
02 CARS 2  $26.2 (cum. $117.2)
03 BAD TEACHER $14.5 (cum. $59.9)
04 LARRY CROWNE new $13 
06 MONTE CARLO new $7.4 
07 SUPER 8 $7.9 [thoughts] (cum. $108.4)
07 GREEN LANTERN $6.5 [review] (cum. $102.2)
08 MR POPPER'S PENGUINS $5.5 (cum. $50.5)
09 BRIDESMAIDS $3.6 (cum. $153) ♥
10 MIDNIGHT IN PARIS $3.5 (cum. $33.7) [podcast]

"I also have an announcement."Related box office news: Bridesmaids is now the highest grossing film from the Apatow school of filmmaking, having knocked Knocked Up from its perch. X-Men First Class [review] recently passed The Incredible Hulk (2008) to become the 19th highest grossing live action superhero flick though it's sadly the lowest grosser in the X-franchise. (So the question is: Did Last Stand and Wolverine, both high grossers despite anger about their quality, kill off the interest in this franchise or was this summer just too full of superheroics?) Finally, you may have heard that Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides [review] passed the billion dollar mark worldwide (sigh) indicating that 3 more sequels was a smart studio gamble despite the fact that the franchise has literally never demonstrated any reason for existing. The first film is excellent, yes, but one film does not a franchise make and it's been all weak xeroxing ever since. 

What did you see this weekend? 
Which household items do you wish would transform for you? Did you enjoy the long weekend? 

Happy Sparklers Day!

Or Happy Fourth of July to you Americans.

The Tree of Life (2011)

We've had off blog duties this weekend and today's patriotism to attend to. We'll be back later tonight to reignite the reg'lar posting schedule. Hope you're all doing well out there. Have fun today!

Links: Sand Pitt, Snow Trilogy, Leonardo Faces

<-- Look it's Brad Pitt on the set of World War Z in Malta. Is he trying to keep sand out of his eyes or faking tears? You decide. (I vote for sand since he's quite a good cryer, don't you think? Has anyone read this novel? I tried and admired the structure but couldn't quite get into it.) Speaking of Brad... let's start the links.

Shortlist 30 Facts about David Fincher's Se7en (1995)
Icelandic Cinema a new website offers on demand Icelandic classics like the Viking epic The Raven Flies and Noi the Albino. They also have free downloads of short films.
Cinema Blend ARGH. The televisionization of the movies continues. Turns out that Snow White and the Huntsman -- the one with Kristen Stewart and Thor -- now thinks it needs three movies to tell its story. In the past few years I have come to respect television more than I used to but they are two different artforms. Why this constant push to make them the same? It's so disheartening. There is much to be said for stories with beginnings middles and ends which you can absorb in one two hour sitting.
Grant Land interesting take on the lack of male movie stars and the real and manufactured cases of Will Smith and Ryan Reynolds. Very sports-analogy filled for those of you who are into that.
The Many Faces of... Leonardo DiCaprio "how to freak out and go crazy!" (as Jorge pointed out to me this is kind of a sequel or a spiritual cousin to my "dead wives club" and so I just love it.

IFC musical sequence from Sucker Punch restored for its blu-ray release
Your Movie Buddy best of 2011 thus far... in Oscar categories. Definitely some surprising choices and omissions here. Yes, yes, I'll do one soon.
Stale Popcorn on the poster for Paddy Considine's Tyrannosaur. It is arresting.
In Contention Kris on his ten year relationship with A.I. Artificial Intelligence (which I just mentioned but alas... my obsession with Gigolo Joe doesn't seem to be shared by many)

Off Cinema
DHARBIN "Some Common Fears" I love this guys comics. I've been so into web comics lately. I appreciate referrals if you know of good ones. 
Towleroad Cher takes on the Bachmann anti-gay crazy on Twitter. Cher = forever fierce.
Boy Culture Matthew proposes the best callsign for Mr. Bachmann I've yet heard proposed "Lady Bird Bachmann" -- PASS IT ON.
Some Came Running on the politics of David Mamet now and Demi Moore then

Take Three: Michael Shannon

Craig from Dark Eye Socket here with Take Three. Today: Michael Shannon

Take One: Shotgun Stories (2007)
Shannon looks to be getting the best raves of his career for the ominous apocalyptic mystery Take Shelter, which stunned critics at Sundance and Cannes. It’s the second feature from Jeff Nichols whose debut, Shotgun Stories, also starred Shannon. In that film he plays Son Hayes, the eldest of three brothers along with Kid (Barlow Jacobs) and Boy (Tim Blackwood)  who alternately avoid and pursues conflict with their recently-deceased father’s other family. (Maybe the conflict was originally over the father’s terrible child-naming skills, who knows?) Son is a quiet, intense guy. It seems like fortuitous casting: Shannon, in shape and presence, and with his innate ability to show us exactly what his characters are thinking whilst doing very little, is ideally suited to the role. He brings perceptive silent intelligence to this role of an unlucky man who keeps his cards, and all else, close to his chest. (Son has numerous shotgun-bullet scars on his back and only late in the film do we discover their origins.)

Although outwardly Shannon doesn’t appear to transmit much emotionally, there are many minor moments when he imparts a great deal with shuffling body movements and facial expressions. He turns a scene in which he hears devastating news in a hospital into a painful, sincere display of grief. His face turns red, crumples and then empties out in vacant disbelief. Even when Shannon is filmed working at the fishery or wandering his quiet house he never lets one minor aspect of his character slip.

Take Two: Revolutionary Road (2008)

Shannon’s most high-profile role to date is undoubtedly John Givings in Sam Mendes’ Richard Yates adaptation Revolutionary Road.

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