for my sister...

a sad Keanu Halloween...



in case you've sadly missed this internet meme: context

Jon Stewart is my hero

There are many great moments from yesterday's Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear (one of the few times I've wished I live in DC), and I'll try to add some others up here in case you missed it, but to start with, here's the man of the hour's closing statement...

Happy Halloween!!

Bet you're not as committed as this guy:

seriously, i love nerds

we've learned about the way Facebook can ruin movies (although, ironically, not the facebook movie, that shit's just awesome), now see an example of the amazing things facebook can do for a movie. I give you the entirety of Star Wars: A New Hope presented as one Facebook thread...

(and, yeah, i know that's pretty much unreadable, but you can either click on the images (there are two different ones) for enlarged versions or just go here to see the whole thing)

soooo true...

click on the image to enlarge to readable size...

when funny people get together...

funny things normally happen. and occasionally some mind-blowing things.

Get ready for your head to explode around the 3:30 mark...



From Jon Stewart's "Night of Too Many Stars" benefit for autism education...

good news of the day

It sounds like the cast of the Hangover all had the same reaction we did when we read about Mel Gibson's casting in a cameo role in the Hangover 2 (falling to our knees, raising our fists, and shouting "Noooooooo!" to the sky planet of the apes style, duh).

Rumor has it that the main 3 cast members (Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis, and Ed Helms) all pretty much issued a "hell no" to the casting (which makes me love them all more). Of course, director Todd Phillips had this to say: "I thought Mel would have been great in the movie. But I realize filmmaking is a collaborative effort, and this decision ultimately did not have the full support of my entire cast and crew."

Sorry, Todd, you may have given us both Old School and the Hangover, but you're pretty much dead to me after that one. Attempting to throw Mel Gibson's career a lifeline after the decades of despicable things he's done is pretty unforgiveable for me (US magazine has been kind enough to provide a brief slideshow of some of his controversies, but for my money, Cracked tells it best (as usual) (no, seriously, read that article)).

Of course, this does raise an interesting question- why were we okay with convicted rapist (and ear-biter) Mike Tyson's cameo? The Bibes (aka Entertainment Weekly) does a pretty good job analyzing this dilemma, which I hadn't really considered before. I think the answer is most likely the one they come up with- time, though in a different way than they present it. Not as in that people think he's paid for his crime, but more that they've pretty much forgotten he's a rapist. People remember the crazy and the ear-biting, but, sadly, that other piece of his history is overlooked. I don't think this is an argument for why we should be okay with Gibson, but more why we shouldn't have been okay with Tyson, but it's a little late for that now.

On the happier side of things, all around dreamboat and 3pies4rolls favorite Liam Neeson continues his "fuck it, I made Schindler's List, now I can do whatever the hell I want and still be considered a great actor (see: Taken, Clash of the Titans, The A-Team, Battleship)" tour, and will take over the cameo from Mel.

before I forget again...

This is happening!!!! Let us all rejoice in the return of Derek Zoolander...



it's so simple...

the evolution of the geek...

(click the image to see a version you can read)

alec baldwin, I love you

After Modern Family star Jesse Tyler Ferguson announced his intention to marry Alec Baldwin (once we've taken care of the asshole politicians standing in the way of equality (and despite the teensy little issue of Alec Baldwin not being gay)), Baldwin needed to respond:

oh dear...

apparently the gotham awards and I do not see eye to eye this year. As in they like unlikeable movies and I like awesome ones. Okay, maybe that's not fair, but two of my most disappointing trips to the theater show up in their nominations (released today). The Gotham Awards honor only independent movies, so it's often a different list than you see at other awards (though last year's big winner was The Hurt Locker, a little film that went on to win one or two other awards).

The two most nominated films this year were Winter's Bone and The Kids Are All Right:



Now, to be fair, I have not seen Winter's Bone, though I hear it's fabulous. Of course, I heard the same thing about TKAAR, and, in the words of my sister, that movie was "a fucking mixed bag." That's even more generous than I would be. I found it unsatisfying and filled with unlikeable characters (featuring great acting from actors that I love, which was not enough to redeem it). Also, it suffered from the "Up in the Air" syndrome of being completely miscategorized as a charming comedy (and anyone who actually thinks either of those movies were funny needs to get their sense of humor checked). I don't need every movie to be as upbeat and likeable as, say, Easy A (dude). However, I do need it to have something that makes me care at all about what happens to these characters, and not just make me dislike everyone and everything they do.

The other movie that suffers from this problem this year (and that, again, I was really excited about, featuring actors that I love) was "Please Give." So, of course, it's also nominated at Gotham (for best ensemble). Oh well, guess we'll just have to agree to disagree. Sigh.

I am excited for the inclusion of Blue Valentine, Black Swan, and Let Me In (though, since Gotham likes them, does that mean I won't? Conundrum...), and to try to seek out the Best Films Not Playing at a Theater Near You, but, all in all, I feel like these awards, much like TKAAR, are a fucking mixed bag.

Sesame Street- still out there doing good

Aside from its rad spoofs of the Old Spice commercials and True Blood (and, I'm sure, many others), Sesame Street is still looking out for its primary audiences of children.



Showing kids an African-American girl singing about how much she loves her hair = awesome in my book(and something that little girls don't get to see portrayed anywhere else- see Chris Rock's documentary "Good Hair")

Proof that Bill Murray loves us and wants us to be happy...

On Saturday night at the Scream Awards (honoring horror, sci-fi, comics and fantasy), Dr. Peter Venkman himself showed up to accept awards for best cameo and best horror movie- both for the fabulous Zombieland. And how else would he show up but in a full Ghostbusters uniform?



Of course, this has led to lots of speculation on what this could mean for the rumored 3rd Ghostbusters movie (more pics at that link as well), though Murray explained it with the simple "It doesn't mean anything, it's just the only thing I had clean." Heart him.

and in a sad alternate reality...

Eric Stoltz plays Marty McFly in the Back to the Future movies. Apparently they shot 5 weeks of footage with him in the main role before deciding that it just wasn't right and recasting Michael J. Fox. Which, you know, sucks for Stoltz, but is pretty awesome for the rest of the world. The new edition of the trilogy has released some of the actual footage (maybe this is the reality where Biff is a billionaire?)



also, in true nerd dedication, apparently in an episode of Fringe there is an alternate reality where this is the movie marquee:

well this is depressing

proving that they're still the coolest nerds in town, the Simpsons had their opening couch gag storyboarded and directed by Banksy (apparently it's the first time an artist has been invited to storyboard part of the show). Of course, it brought us slave labor and imprisoned unicorns, and some pretty serious commentary:

RIP Mr. Solomon Burke

he passed away today in Amsterdam

can you tell me how to get, how to get to...

Sesame Street has really been killing with the pop culture references of late. We already pointed out how the earth exploded a bit when the world's premiere kids show spoofed the super violent and sex-filled True Blood. Now they mark the return of the best ad campaign of 2010...

so damn charming

in case you missed it today, apparently an awesome 9-year-old sent Captain Jack Sparrow the following fabulous letter about needing help with a mutiny:


so, of course, Captain Jack Sparrow shows up:



more info here, but just when I think I couldn't love Johnny Depp any more...

we heart you, franco

James Franco on the cover of Candy, 'The first fashion magazine ever completely dedicated to celebrating transvestism, transexuality, cross dressing and androgyny, in all its manifestations.'



as part of his tour of awesome, he was also just on the cover of The Advocate

well holy crap

the first official full trailer for True Grit was released today. Relish in the awesome-ness...

and, because Kim's a genius, let's just honor Mssrs Coen and Bridges appropriately: