No man is an island. As much as we hate to admit it, sometimes, no one gets anywhere in life without someone believing in them. The same is true for Hollywood. It takes the stars aligning (pun intended) for any success story for anyone to really make it, and especially to escape the shadow of how they may be initially perceived.
There may be no better example of that than Mr. Channing Tatum. He told GQ in 2009, “I got crazy lucky. Like, sometimes I think I won the lottery or something. I don’t really know how I got here. But I just keep moving forward, and it just keeps getting better and better.” Had the stars aligned differently, he could have been just an exotic dancer and never entered the public consciousness. Or just a model. Or just played a jock. Or just played generic romantic leads. Or just played generic action roles.
There may be no better example of that than Mr. Channing Tatum. He told GQ in 2009, “I got crazy lucky. Like, sometimes I think I won the lottery or something. I don’t really know how I got here. But I just keep moving forward, and it just keeps getting better and better.” Had the stars aligned differently, he could have been just an exotic dancer and never entered the public consciousness. Or just a model. Or just played a jock. Or just played generic romantic leads. Or just played generic action roles.
- 5/10/2024
- by Derek Mitchell
- JoBlo.com
Dark Horse Comics' "Reefer Madness" trade paperback, collects classic cannabis comic book stories from the 1930's to the 1950's, including works by "Superman" creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, Jerry Robinson of "Batman" fame, illustrators Jack Kirby, Frank Frazetta and a whole lot more:
"...Degradation! Crime! Madness! Mass hysteria surrounded marijuana as a 'gateway' drug from the 1930's to the 1950's and beyond.
"'Adventure Comics', by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, and works by Frank Frazetta, Jerry Robinson, Jack Kirby, and many more...
"...reveal the social reaction to this era of 'Reefer Madness'....
"...from the wildly misinformed....
"...to the soberly concerned...
"...these comics lament the impact...
"...of weed on youth culture..."
Click the images to enlarge...
"...Degradation! Crime! Madness! Mass hysteria surrounded marijuana as a 'gateway' drug from the 1930's to the 1950's and beyond.
"'Adventure Comics', by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, and works by Frank Frazetta, Jerry Robinson, Jack Kirby, and many more...
"...reveal the social reaction to this era of 'Reefer Madness'....
"...from the wildly misinformed....
"...to the soberly concerned...
"...these comics lament the impact...
"...of weed on youth culture..."
Click the images to enlarge...
- 4/20/2024
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
Grab a doobie, Reefer Madness is coming to Los Angeles.
To mark the show’s 25th anniversary, members of the original creative team are reuniting for a limited eight-week engagement at the Whitley in Los Angeles that opens on May 30. Back are Kristen Bell, Christian Campbell and Alan Cumming, who will produce alongside creators Kevin Murphy and Dan Studney. Andy Fickman, who directed 2005’s Reefer Madness: The Movie Musical, will also produce with America Olivo Campbell.
Spencer Liff, a veteran choreographer with credits on everything from So You Think You Can Dance? to Spring Awakening, will direct and choreograph the revival. The production team includes original cast member Wendy Parker as executive producer, with Maia Falconi-Sachs, Matthew Rosenthal and Nick Padgett taking co-producer credits. David Lamoureux will serve as music director, and Maxx Reed as associate director and choreographer.
The musical, with book and lyrics by Murphy, and book and music by Studney,...
To mark the show’s 25th anniversary, members of the original creative team are reuniting for a limited eight-week engagement at the Whitley in Los Angeles that opens on May 30. Back are Kristen Bell, Christian Campbell and Alan Cumming, who will produce alongside creators Kevin Murphy and Dan Studney. Andy Fickman, who directed 2005’s Reefer Madness: The Movie Musical, will also produce with America Olivo Campbell.
Spencer Liff, a veteran choreographer with credits on everything from So You Think You Can Dance? to Spring Awakening, will direct and choreograph the revival. The production team includes original cast member Wendy Parker as executive producer, with Maia Falconi-Sachs, Matthew Rosenthal and Nick Padgett taking co-producer credits. David Lamoureux will serve as music director, and Maxx Reed as associate director and choreographer.
The musical, with book and lyrics by Murphy, and book and music by Studney,...
- 3/7/2024
- by Chris Gardner
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
With the possible exception of food purchased in jam band parking lots, nothing pairs better with weed than a good film. It’s a substance that can make bad movies seem good and good movies seem downright incredible. Anyone who has attended a midnight screening of a cult classic knows that the thick haze of marijuana smoke is all part of the experience. And smoking a joint from the comfort of your own home while watching your favorite movie for the umpteenth time remains one of the most elite forms of relaxation known to man.
Certain films have a brilliance to them that can’t be truly understood until you watch them while indulging in your favorite strain of cannabis. Slightly dulling your focus in exchange for heightening your senses (including humor) is often a hell of a bargain. If a film doesn’t require excessive focus on a meticulous plot,...
Certain films have a brilliance to them that can’t be truly understood until you watch them while indulging in your favorite strain of cannabis. Slightly dulling your focus in exchange for heightening your senses (including humor) is often a hell of a bargain. If a film doesn’t require excessive focus on a meticulous plot,...
- 9/12/2023
- by Wilson Chapman, Alison Foreman and Christian Zilko
- Indiewire
Of all the unofficial holidays derived from an apocryphal bit police code, 4/20 is by far the most enduring. And just as “420” has gradually become entrenched as stoner shorthand for marijuana, the date April 20 has become an opportunity not just for college kids looking to indulge in a little extralegal fun, but also for drug law reformers and other advocacy groups to stump for a more reasonable national attitude toward America’s big green weed of choice.
And as marijuana laws have shifted over the years—from outright prohibition, to limited medicinal usage, to tightly regulated recreational use within certain states—marijuana themed movies have likewise evolved. Once upon a time, the only movies that even touched the subject of pot were hysterical propaganda pieces like Reefer Madness. Then, from the 1960s onward, weed became a popular (and hip) subject of broad comedy—in everything from Animal House to Annie Hall to Friday.
And as marijuana laws have shifted over the years—from outright prohibition, to limited medicinal usage, to tightly regulated recreational use within certain states—marijuana themed movies have likewise evolved. Once upon a time, the only movies that even touched the subject of pot were hysterical propaganda pieces like Reefer Madness. Then, from the 1960s onward, weed became a popular (and hip) subject of broad comedy—in everything from Animal House to Annie Hall to Friday.
- 4/20/2023
- by Matt Warren
- Film Independent News & More
In recognition of 4/20, take a look at Dark Horse Comics' "Reefer Madness" trade paperback, now available, collecting classic cannabis comic book stories from the 1930's to the 1950's, from "Superman" creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, plus Jack 'King' Kirby, Frank Frazetta and a whole lot more:
"...Degradation! Crime! Madness! "Hysteria surrounded marijuana as a 'gateway' drug...
"...from the 1930's to the 1950's and beyond.
"'Adventure Comics', by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster...
"...and works by Frank Frazetta, Jerry Robinson, Jack Kirby, and many more...
"...reveal the social reaction to this era of 'Reefer Madness'....
"...from the wildly misinformed....
"...to the soberly concerned...
"...these comics lament the impact of weed on youth culture..."
Click the images to enlarge...
"...Degradation! Crime! Madness! "Hysteria surrounded marijuana as a 'gateway' drug...
"...from the 1930's to the 1950's and beyond.
"'Adventure Comics', by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster...
"...and works by Frank Frazetta, Jerry Robinson, Jack Kirby, and many more...
"...reveal the social reaction to this era of 'Reefer Madness'....
"...from the wildly misinformed....
"...to the soberly concerned...
"...these comics lament the impact of weed on youth culture..."
Click the images to enlarge...
- 4/20/2023
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
In 1982, Tom Hanks landed his first leading role in a film with "Mazes and Monsters." Hanks stars in the made-for-tv movie as a college student who suffers a psychotic break from playing the titular role-playing game, a thinly-veiled fictional stand-in for real-life fantasy roleplaying games like "Dungeons & Dragons." It's "Reefer Madness" for RPGs, a laughably terrible propaganda piece based on a 1981 book that itself was inspired by inaccurate media stories trying to establish a non-existent link between mental health and a love of rolling "Nat 20s."
Thankfully, things only went up for Hanks from there. He would spend the rest of the '80s making his primary living as a comedic actor, starring in now-classic titles like "Splash" and "Big" in-between less successful comedy movies and his early attempts at drama in films like "Every Time We Say Goodbye." In time, however, Hanks would hit another low-point with his...
Thankfully, things only went up for Hanks from there. He would spend the rest of the '80s making his primary living as a comedic actor, starring in now-classic titles like "Splash" and "Big" in-between less successful comedy movies and his early attempts at drama in films like "Every Time We Say Goodbye." In time, however, Hanks would hit another low-point with his...
- 9/6/2022
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
Darren Aronofsky's 2000 addiction drama "Requiem for a Dream" is an aggressively devastating, forthrightly tragic scare film that long lingers in the consciousness. Based on the 1978 novel by Hubert Selby, Jr., "Requiem" bears all the emotional beats of ignorant "druggie" films of the 1930s ("Reefer Madness" and the like) with the added benefit of hypnotic, brilliant, cinematic style. As each of the characters descends deeper and deeper into self ruin at the hands of their drug thirst, we share their pain, feel their desperation, understand their loss. The world is only briefly bright at the times when the drugs are freshly consumed. All other times are devoted to seeking the high again once it wears off. As William S. Burroughs once said: "A junky runs on junk time. When his junk is cut off, the clock runs down and stops. All he can do is hang on and wait for non-junk time to start.
- 8/16/2022
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Dark Horse Comics' "Reefer Madness" trade paperback, now available, collects classic cannabis comic book stories from the 1930's to the 1950's, from "Superman" creator Jerry Siegel, plus illustrators Joe Shuster, Jack 'King' Kirby, Frank Frazetta and a whole lot more:
"...Degradation! Crime! Madness! Hysteria surrounded marijuana as a 'gateway' drug from the 1930's to the 1950's and beyond.
"'Adventure Comics', by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, and works by Frank Frazetta, Jerry Robinson, Jack Kirby, and many more...
"...reveal the social reaction to this era of 'Reefer Madness'....
"...from the wildly misinformed....
"...to the soberly concerned...
"...these comics lament the impact of weed on youth culture..."
Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Reefer Madness"...
Find "Reefer Madness" Here...
"...Degradation! Crime! Madness! Hysteria surrounded marijuana as a 'gateway' drug from the 1930's to the 1950's and beyond.
"'Adventure Comics', by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, and works by Frank Frazetta, Jerry Robinson, Jack Kirby, and many more...
"...reveal the social reaction to this era of 'Reefer Madness'....
"...from the wildly misinformed....
"...to the soberly concerned...
"...these comics lament the impact of weed on youth culture..."
Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Reefer Madness"...
Find "Reefer Madness" Here...
- 12/13/2019
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
Once upon a time in New York City, two young talents set off on a near-impossible quest: a successful Broadway career. Since childhood, Idina Menzel and Kristen Bell had focused on their quest with a ferocious drive — and learned to avoid the trolls.
In Long Island, Menzel, the daughter of a pajama salesman, spent her weekends singing at weddings and bar mitzvahs, and otherwise kept her big voice a secret. “No one knew how good I was at school because I didn’t want kids to know,” admits Menzel today. “I didn’t want to be the one to show off.”
Meanwhile in Michigan, Bell signed up for every community play and helped support her single mother by modeling underwear and karaoke machines for Kmart catalogs. Classmates would brandish shots of her in a training bra. Bell didn’t care. That money would get her to Manhattan.
Both Menzel and...
In Long Island, Menzel, the daughter of a pajama salesman, spent her weekends singing at weddings and bar mitzvahs, and otherwise kept her big voice a secret. “No one knew how good I was at school because I didn’t want kids to know,” admits Menzel today. “I didn’t want to be the one to show off.”
Meanwhile in Michigan, Bell signed up for every community play and helped support her single mother by modeling underwear and karaoke machines for Kmart catalogs. Classmates would brandish shots of her in a training bra. Bell didn’t care. That money would get her to Manhattan.
Both Menzel and...
- 11/19/2019
- by Amy Nicholson
- Variety Film + TV
Gavin Jasper Sep 9, 2019
Hey, hepcats! It's time to take a groovy look back at the teensploitation and high school movies that made for regular fodder on MST3K.
Mystery Science Theater 3000 has made fun of so many movies and a lot of the movie types are what you’d expect from such a goofy science fiction show. Movies about guys in rubber monster suits? Check. Movies about mad scientists playing God and it being their undoing? Check. Movies about dumpy white guys going to space? Check. Cheap ripoffs of James Bond? Check. Japanese superheroes who look absolutely ridiculous at every given moment? Check.
But then there’s one genre of movie that’s felt off-brand despite the fact that they’ve covered it a ton of times, as early as the first season. I’m talking about teensploitation. Very old movies about teenagers being dangerous jerks and destroying their own lives,...
Hey, hepcats! It's time to take a groovy look back at the teensploitation and high school movies that made for regular fodder on MST3K.
Mystery Science Theater 3000 has made fun of so many movies and a lot of the movie types are what you’d expect from such a goofy science fiction show. Movies about guys in rubber monster suits? Check. Movies about mad scientists playing God and it being their undoing? Check. Movies about dumpy white guys going to space? Check. Cheap ripoffs of James Bond? Check. Japanese superheroes who look absolutely ridiculous at every given moment? Check.
But then there’s one genre of movie that’s felt off-brand despite the fact that they’ve covered it a ton of times, as early as the first season. I’m talking about teensploitation. Very old movies about teenagers being dangerous jerks and destroying their own lives,...
- 9/8/2019
- Den of Geek
The Manx Cat is out of the bag.
Grimjack is being developed at Amazon by Avengers: Endgame directors Joe and Anthony Russo’s Agbo Studios and being written by Kevin Murphy, the creator of Defiance, Heathers the Musical and Reefer Madness. Grimjack, created by John Ostrander and Tim Truman, is the adventures of John Gaunt, hard-boiled barbarian who walks the mean streets of the interdimensional city Cynosure, where magic works on one side of the street but not the other, technology becomes sentient down the block, and swords and a bad attitude work everywhere.
If you want to read up on GrimJack before everyone else, here’s your chance— ComicMix is publishing the original runs in Omnibus format. Dive in now!
Grimjack is being developed at Amazon by Avengers: Endgame directors Joe and Anthony Russo’s Agbo Studios and being written by Kevin Murphy, the creator of Defiance, Heathers the Musical and Reefer Madness. Grimjack, created by John Ostrander and Tim Truman, is the adventures of John Gaunt, hard-boiled barbarian who walks the mean streets of the interdimensional city Cynosure, where magic works on one side of the street but not the other, technology becomes sentient down the block, and swords and a bad attitude work everywhere.
If you want to read up on GrimJack before everyone else, here’s your chance— ComicMix is publishing the original runs in Omnibus format. Dive in now!
- 7/19/2019
- by Glenn Hauman
- Comicmix.com
Today at Comic-Con, Joe and Anthony Russo announced projects that their AGBO Studios are in development on: an adaptation of the 1978 Japanese anime series Battle of the Planets and an Amazon series based on the graphic novel Grimjack Comics.
Battle of the Planets was originally created by Tatsuo Yoshida and Tatsunoko Studios and was arguably the first mainstream glimpse for U.S. audiences into Japanese anime during the late 1970s. In addition, it was one of the few sci-fi cartoons during that era. The series follows five young orphans who are trained from a young age to form an elite, intergalactic team known as G-Force, swearing to protect Earth and its allies from otherworldly invading forces.
Grimjack Comics, is being developed at Amazon by Agbo, Halfire and it’s being written by Kevin Murphy the creator of Defiance, Heathers the Musical and Reefer Madness. The Grimjack Comics graphic novel...
Battle of the Planets was originally created by Tatsuo Yoshida and Tatsunoko Studios and was arguably the first mainstream glimpse for U.S. audiences into Japanese anime during the late 1970s. In addition, it was one of the few sci-fi cartoons during that era. The series follows five young orphans who are trained from a young age to form an elite, intergalactic team known as G-Force, swearing to protect Earth and its allies from otherworldly invading forces.
Grimjack Comics, is being developed at Amazon by Agbo, Halfire and it’s being written by Kevin Murphy the creator of Defiance, Heathers the Musical and Reefer Madness. The Grimjack Comics graphic novel...
- 7/19/2019
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
With recreational marijuana use being legalized in various states seemingly on an annual basis, it’s hard to imagine what the United States’ thoughts on weed was back only 50 years ago. Leave it to hip hop legend Fab 5 Freddy and the folks at Netflix to remind the new generation of smokers about the turbulent, racist past that finally paved the way to the acceptance in 2019, with the new film “Grass is Greener.”
In the doc “Grass is Greener,” Freddy and various experts and musical icons talk the history of marijuana, from its “Reefer Madness” beginnings to its more socially acceptable times today.
Continue reading ‘Grass Is Greener’ Trailer: Hip Hop Icon Fab 5 Freddy’s Doc Covers The History Of Weed In Time For 4/20 at The Playlist.
In the doc “Grass is Greener,” Freddy and various experts and musical icons talk the history of marijuana, from its “Reefer Madness” beginnings to its more socially acceptable times today.
Continue reading ‘Grass Is Greener’ Trailer: Hip Hop Icon Fab 5 Freddy’s Doc Covers The History Of Weed In Time For 4/20 at The Playlist.
- 4/15/2019
- by Charles Barfield
- The Playlist
AMC Networks CEO Josh Sapan has a keen eye for shrewd business deals. So was he seeing straight in 2004 when he bought the Village Cinema in Greenport, N.Y.?
“I would not call it a lucrative business,” he says of his 632-seat, four-theater venue — now called the Greenport Theater — which offers movies all week long during the summer tourist season in the former whaling village on Long Island’s North Fork.
But Sapan knew what he was doing. He wasn’t in it to make money. The theater is his passion project, embracing his love of cinema and desire to support the town of about 2,200 near his weekend home on Shelter Island.
With so many people transfixed by TVs or mobile devices, “we’re in a world that’s increasingly remote and sometimes isolated,” he says. Greenport Theater “gives some heart to the town. Someplace for kids to go when it rains,...
“I would not call it a lucrative business,” he says of his 632-seat, four-theater venue — now called the Greenport Theater — which offers movies all week long during the summer tourist season in the former whaling village on Long Island’s North Fork.
But Sapan knew what he was doing. He wasn’t in it to make money. The theater is his passion project, embracing his love of cinema and desire to support the town of about 2,200 near his weekend home on Shelter Island.
With so many people transfixed by TVs or mobile devices, “we’re in a world that’s increasingly remote and sometimes isolated,” he says. Greenport Theater “gives some heart to the town. Someplace for kids to go when it rains,...
- 3/28/2019
- by David Lieberman
- Variety Film + TV
Spike Jonze has still not announced any new feature filmmaking efforts since the release of his Oscar winner “Her” in 2013, so fans will just have to settle for this surprise two-minute short film at the moment. Jonze released his new short, “The New Normal,” earlier this week in partnership with the cannabis company MedMen. The short finds Jonze advocating for marijuana legalization by retelling American history through the progression of cannabis in the country.
Per the synopsis from MedMen: “The commercial chronicles society’s evolving perceptions of the plant, from pre-prohibition to the modern industry of today. While looking back through America’s history, from George Washington’s hemp farm, to Reefer Madness propaganda, ‘The New Normal’ takes the audience on a journey through the injustices of the past and a hopeful view for the future.”
Jonze had some impressive collaborators on the film, including Oscar-nominated cinematographer Bradford Young. “Grey...
Per the synopsis from MedMen: “The commercial chronicles society’s evolving perceptions of the plant, from pre-prohibition to the modern industry of today. While looking back through America’s history, from George Washington’s hemp farm, to Reefer Madness propaganda, ‘The New Normal’ takes the audience on a journey through the injustices of the past and a hopeful view for the future.”
Jonze had some impressive collaborators on the film, including Oscar-nominated cinematographer Bradford Young. “Grey...
- 3/1/2019
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
Take one look at Wyatt Russell — the shaggy blond hair, the Southern California drawl, those blues eyes, that beard that sometimes fluctuates between handsomely masculine to Father-John-Misty bushy — and you can see why folks might want to cast him as a stoner heartthrob. To be fair, he does not necessarily have a problem with that. “Look, man, smoking weed is great!” the 32-year-old actor says, chuckling. The publicist sitting 10 feet away from Russell looks up from his phone for a second, shooting him a look that veers between friendly and dude-what-the-fuck-did-you-just-say-to-a-journalist?...
- 11/7/2018
- by David Fear
- Rollingstone.com
Dark Horse Comics' "Reefer Madness" trade paperback, now available collects classic cannabis comic book stories from the 1930's to the 1950's, including works by "Superman" creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, Jerry Robinson of "Batman" fame, illustrators Jack Kirby, Frank Frazetta and a whole lot more:
"...Degradation! Crime! Madness! Mass hysteria surrounded marijuana as a 'gateway' drug from the 1930's to the 1950's and beyond.
"'Adventure Comics', by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, and works by Frank Frazetta, Jerry Robinson, Jack Kirby, and many more...
"...reveal the social reaction to this era of 'Reefer Madness'....
"...from the wildly misinformed....
"...to the soberly concerned...
"...these comics lament the impact...
"...of weed on youth culture..."
Click the images to enlarge...
"...Degradation! Crime! Madness! Mass hysteria surrounded marijuana as a 'gateway' drug from the 1930's to the 1950's and beyond.
"'Adventure Comics', by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, and works by Frank Frazetta, Jerry Robinson, Jack Kirby, and many more...
"...reveal the social reaction to this era of 'Reefer Madness'....
"...from the wildly misinformed....
"...to the soberly concerned...
"...these comics lament the impact...
"...of weed on youth culture..."
Click the images to enlarge...
- 7/28/2018
- by Michael Stevens
- SneakPeek
Andy Fickman will direct the romantic comedy “Tension Ring,” the debut feature of the newly formed Robbins Lane Entertainment, Variety has learned exclusively.
“Tension Ring” marks the launch of Robbins Lane Entertainment, from Seth B. Fass and Scott Prisand. The shingle is named after the pair’s elementary school in Syosset, Long Island.
Fickman will direct from a script he wrote with Marnie Alexenburg and Kristen Gura Fickman. Inspired by a true love story, “Tension Ring” follows a New York stock broker who enlists the help of his girlfriend’s eccentric father to pull off the engagement of a lifetime — but quickly realizes the alliance could ruin everything.
The project is set to film in New York in early 2019. Fass and Prisand will produce with Fickman’s Oops Doughnuts, with Betsy Sullenger also producing. The film will be executive produced by Robert Leary of Vineyard Point Productions.
“We are thrilled...
“Tension Ring” marks the launch of Robbins Lane Entertainment, from Seth B. Fass and Scott Prisand. The shingle is named after the pair’s elementary school in Syosset, Long Island.
Fickman will direct from a script he wrote with Marnie Alexenburg and Kristen Gura Fickman. Inspired by a true love story, “Tension Ring” follows a New York stock broker who enlists the help of his girlfriend’s eccentric father to pull off the engagement of a lifetime — but quickly realizes the alliance could ruin everything.
The project is set to film in New York in early 2019. Fass and Prisand will produce with Fickman’s Oops Doughnuts, with Betsy Sullenger also producing. The film will be executive produced by Robert Leary of Vineyard Point Productions.
“We are thrilled...
- 6/1/2018
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Andy Fickman will direct and produce the music-driven romantic comedy “Roomies” with Jenna Dewan via her company, Everheart Productions.
Fickman’s Oops Doughnuts’ Betsy Sullenger and Everheart senior VP Jean Song will also produce.
“Roomies” is based on the 2017 romance novel of the same name by Christina Lauren, about a woman who marries an illegal immigrant in order to keep him in the country and help him get his dream job of starring in a Broadway musical. The story follows the couple as their marriage of convenience evolves from awkward roommates to besotted lovers. Christina Lauren, the combined pen name of Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings, will adapt their own novel.
Andy Fickman has directed and executive produced CBS’s “Kevin Can Wait” and Netflix’s stand up special “Never Don’t Give Up,” both starring Kevin James. He also helmed James in “Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2,” Disney Channel’s “Liv & Maddie,...
Fickman’s Oops Doughnuts’ Betsy Sullenger and Everheart senior VP Jean Song will also produce.
“Roomies” is based on the 2017 romance novel of the same name by Christina Lauren, about a woman who marries an illegal immigrant in order to keep him in the country and help him get his dream job of starring in a Broadway musical. The story follows the couple as their marriage of convenience evolves from awkward roommates to besotted lovers. Christina Lauren, the combined pen name of Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings, will adapt their own novel.
Andy Fickman has directed and executive produced CBS’s “Kevin Can Wait” and Netflix’s stand up special “Never Don’t Give Up,” both starring Kevin James. He also helmed James in “Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2,” Disney Channel’s “Liv & Maddie,...
- 5/4/2018
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
The Hollywood Reporter and the Catholic Church had different takes on 1978's Up in Smoke. THR called the comedy starring Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong "the most amusing pot movie since Reefer Madness," while the church said the Paramount release was "morally objectionable in toto" and described Smoke as an "utterly mindless comedy about two California potheads" filled with "witless cliches about the pleasure of the drug culture."
Despite the ecclesiastical condemnation ("Thank God we didn't have to depend on the Catholic Church to pay our rent," says Chong today), the comedy became one of the year's biggest hits. During...
Despite the ecclesiastical condemnation ("Thank God we didn't have to depend on the Catholic Church to pay our rent," says Chong today), the comedy became one of the year's biggest hits. During...
- 4/26/2018
- by Bill Higgins
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
<em>The Hollywood Reporter</em> and the Catholic Church had different takes on 1978's <em>Up in Smoke</em>. <em>THR</em> called the comedy starring Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong "the most amusing pot movie since <em>Reefer Madness</em>," while the church said the Paramount release was "morally objectionable in toto" and described <em>Smoke</em> as an "utterly mindless comedy about two California potheads" filled with "witless cliches about the pleasure of the drug culture."
Despite the ecclesiastical condemnation ("Thank God we didn't have to depend on the Catholic Church to pay our rent," says Chong today), the comedy became one of ...
Despite the ecclesiastical condemnation ("Thank God we didn't have to depend on the Catholic Church to pay our rent," says Chong today), the comedy became one of ...
- 4/26/2018
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
A lot of people can’t understand why someone would want to watch a bad movie – even one that’s “so bad, it’s good.” Yet many bad movies find a completely intentional audience, several years after the fact. Take Ed Wood. The filmmaker died obscure and broke in 1978. Now he’s a famous cult figure with […]
The post Why Young People Love Bad Movies: From ‘Reefer Madness’ to ‘The Room’ appeared first on /Film.
The post Why Young People Love Bad Movies: From ‘Reefer Madness’ to ‘The Room’ appeared first on /Film.
- 12/7/2017
- by Kristin Hunt
- Slash Film
Dark Horse Comics' "Reefer Madness" trade paperback, available April 2018, collects classic 'weed' comic book stories from the 1930's to the 1950's, from "Superman" creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, plus Jerry Robinson of "Batman" fame, illustrators Jack 'King' Kirby, Frank 'Conan' Frazetta and a whole lot more:
"...Degradation! Crime! Madness! Hysteria surrounded marijuana as a 'gateway' drug from the 1930's to the 1950's and beyond.
"'Adventure Comics', by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, and works by Frank Frazetta, Jerry Robinson, Jack Kirby, and many more...
"...reveal the social reaction to this era of 'Reefer Madness'....
"...from the wildly misinformed....
"...to the soberly concerned...
"...these comics lament the impact of weed on youth culture..."
Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Reefer Madness"...
"...Degradation! Crime! Madness! Hysteria surrounded marijuana as a 'gateway' drug from the 1930's to the 1950's and beyond.
"'Adventure Comics', by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, and works by Frank Frazetta, Jerry Robinson, Jack Kirby, and many more...
"...reveal the social reaction to this era of 'Reefer Madness'....
"...from the wildly misinformed....
"...to the soberly concerned...
"...these comics lament the impact of weed on youth culture..."
Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Reefer Madness"...
- 11/19/2017
- by Michael Stevens
- SneakPeek
It’s travel time at the vacation wing of the ole’ multiplex yet again. A couple of months ago we explored France in Paris Can Wait, and just a few weeks ago we joined Steve and Rob for a food-filled travelogue in The Trip To Spain. Summer may be over, but it’s not too late to “get away from it all” with another trip….a trip inside your mind. If you’re thinking of “mother’s little helper” then you’re on the right track. Movies about drugs have changed with society over the years. The first flicks were hysterical (in more ways than one) cautionary tales epitomized by the camp classic Reefer Madness. With the counter culture’s rise in the 60’s and 70’s there were more enlightened films like, well Roger Corman’s The Trip. And in the 80’s Cheech and Chong finally took their weed humor...
- 9/29/2017
- by Jim Batts
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Samantha Bee eviscerated Attorney General Jeff Sessions for increasing sentences for non-violent offenders caught with drugs. This is a reversal of a policy put in place former president Barack Obama, who aimed to reduce jail time for some non-violent, drug-related crimes.
"The worst weapon in the decades-long War on Drugs were mandatory minimum sentences," Bee declared. Later she added, "It's like Trump nominated a VHS tape of Reefer Madness to run his Justice Department."
Bee argued that modifying or eliminating mandatory minimum sentencing is a rare idea with bipartisan support.
"The worst weapon in the decades-long War on Drugs were mandatory minimum sentences," Bee declared. Later she added, "It's like Trump nominated a VHS tape of Reefer Madness to run his Justice Department."
Bee argued that modifying or eliminating mandatory minimum sentencing is a rare idea with bipartisan support.
- 6/8/2017
- Rollingstone.com
MaryAnn’s quick take… Tragic hipster indulges in the tribal Amazonian divine. Credulous, sophomoric garbage full of the slick salesmanship of a vaguely spiritual sneaker commercial. I’m “biast” (pro): nothing
I’m “biast” (con): nothing
(what is this about? see my critic’s minifesto)
James Freeman was a well-off young white American man suffering from incurable depression… or maybe he just could not get onboard with the bullshit of well-off white America and its insistence on conformity, financial success at any price, and the self sacrificed to mindless consumerism. When doctors and therapy and pharmaceuticals didn’t help, he decided — as a last-ditch effort before killing himself — to hie off to Peru, find a shaman, and test out the supposedly mind- and spirit-altering qualities of the ayahuasca plant, which is used in traditional rituals and is said to have cured mental illnesses.
I am sympathetic to many...
I’m “biast” (con): nothing
(what is this about? see my critic’s minifesto)
James Freeman was a well-off young white American man suffering from incurable depression… or maybe he just could not get onboard with the bullshit of well-off white America and its insistence on conformity, financial success at any price, and the self sacrificed to mindless consumerism. When doctors and therapy and pharmaceuticals didn’t help, he decided — as a last-ditch effort before killing himself — to hie off to Peru, find a shaman, and test out the supposedly mind- and spirit-altering qualities of the ayahuasca plant, which is used in traditional rituals and is said to have cured mental illnesses.
I am sympathetic to many...
- 5/11/2017
- by MaryAnn Johanson
- www.flickfilosopher.com
At a screening of Riverdale with the cast at La's Paley Center, we wanted to get to the bottom of a very important question. No, not who is Jason Blossom's killer - the murderer was finally revealed in episode 12! The burning question on everyone's mind: who is "most daddy" of the cast? Sure, Cole Sprouse was the crowned champion of the Twitter poll, though some might say he had an unfair advantage by posting from his own account. When asked who he'd choose if he couldn't choose himself, he was quick to answer: Lili. She did come in second place in the Twitter poll. "It's 'cause I voted for her 13,000 times on all my spam accounts," Cole said. Would he consider himself the biggest Lili "stan"? "Right, exactly," he said. When polling the entire cast, there was one clear winner, and she is ready to own the title for good.
- 5/5/2017
- by Kirbie Johnson
- Popsugar.com
After a three week break The Flash returned last night with Barry traveling to the year 2024 to try and gain any advantage he could over Savitar. What Barry wasn't expecting is how bad things would get in the future after the death of Iris. Barry had become so obsessed with finding out how to save Iris that when he does fail it will fracture the team in the future. This season Barry has forgotten about what he has learned about himself since becoming the Flash the he is doing more harm than good for the team. Being obsessed with saving Iris has made him forget to be the superhero that he is and sacrifice his feelings for the good of others. Grant Gustin and Carlos Valdez did an amazing job of transforming to their future selves and showing the hurt and anguish Iris's death brought to the team.
Caitlin's transformation...
Caitlin's transformation...
- 4/26/2017
- by Michael Connally
- LRMonline.com
For better or worse, the date April 20th infamously sparks an eternal flame in the hearts of potheads across the world in celebration over their vice of choice – and the canon of cinematic stoners is certainly no exception. Hash-loving hippies have long cropped up in motion pictures as anti-establishment icons, quasi-kings of interminable philosophy, and occasionally as crutches for comic relief or character development. While the presence of marijuana in the movies holds a certain time capsule cache in relation to broader anxieties over cultural identity within era-defining films such as Easy Rider or American Beauty or even Children of Men – not to mention its propagandist roots in cautionary tales such as Reefer Madness – it has chiefly acted as a dispensary for daffy, dippy diversions in cannabis-centric comedies like Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle, Half Baked, or Cheech and Chong.
Occasionally, a film strikes Humboldt gold and elevates the...
Occasionally, a film strikes Humboldt gold and elevates the...
- 4/20/2017
- by Daniel Crooke
- FilmExperience
Bungie has confirmed via a new trailer released today that Destiny 2 will launch September 8, with pre-orders granting early access to the sequel’s beta. The reveal, which you can see above, sadly doesn’t contain any gameplay, although it does once again feature the lovable Hunter Vanguard Cayde-6, as well as his colleagues Ikora Rey and Commander Zavala, two of which can be seen delivering impassioned speeches to the masses, following what appears to be an invasion of the Last City.
Here’s what the official video description has to say about the action that unfolds in the spectacle-laden trailer.
From the makers of the acclaimed hit game Destiny, comes the much-anticipated sequel. An action shooter that takes you on an epic journey across the solar system.
Humanity’s last safe city has fallen to an overwhelming invasion force led by Ghaul, the imposing commander of the brutal Red Legion.
Here’s what the official video description has to say about the action that unfolds in the spectacle-laden trailer.
From the makers of the acclaimed hit game Destiny, comes the much-anticipated sequel. An action shooter that takes you on an epic journey across the solar system.
Humanity’s last safe city has fallen to an overwhelming invasion force led by Ghaul, the imposing commander of the brutal Red Legion.
- 3/30/2017
- by Joe Pring
- We Got This Covered
Imagine being able to play Overwatch on a portable device away from home. Not only would it be the perfect way of killing time during your daily work commute, but it could very well eliminate the need to stare blankly into space with any of life’s laborious necessities. Up until now, such a prospect has been largely unexplored, due to there not being suitable device for such a thing to happen, but now we have the Nintendo Switch.
The burning question, of course, is whether we’re likely to ever see Blizzard’s shooter grace the hardware, to which we sort of have an answer. Posting on Reddit (via GameSpot) yesterday, Overwatch director Jeff Kaplan touched base in regards to his own personal opinion of the Switch and the possibilities of it ever receiving an Overwatch port. If you’re currently excited about where this is going, you might...
The burning question, of course, is whether we’re likely to ever see Blizzard’s shooter grace the hardware, to which we sort of have an answer. Posting on Reddit (via GameSpot) yesterday, Overwatch director Jeff Kaplan touched base in regards to his own personal opinion of the Switch and the possibilities of it ever receiving an Overwatch port. If you’re currently excited about where this is going, you might...
- 3/14/2017
- by Joe Pring
- We Got This Covered
“Would you look at Lumpy! He’s sure grown, huh? And I think his voice is changing!”
George Lucas and his intergalactic entourage don’t stand a chance when St. Louis Shakespeare’s The Magic Smoking Monkey Theatre takes them on in December. The uber-talented Smoking Monkeys adapt a cult film (or TV show) into an onstage farce once a year. Plan 9 From Outer Space, Reefer Madness, Glen Or Glenda, The Star Wars Trilogy, The Abominable Dr. Phibes, Stupefy!: The 90-minute Harry Potter, and last year’s Mad Max – Live! have all been the victims of sidesplitting, Pythonesque parody courtesy of The Smoking Monkeys. This time these lunatic thespians are calling their show The Making Of The Star Wars Holiday Special! – A Magic Smoking Monkey Theatre 20th Anniversary Special!
And rumor has it that Charles Bronson will be making an appearance hawking Mandom Cologne!!! It doesn’t get any better than that!
George Lucas and his intergalactic entourage don’t stand a chance when St. Louis Shakespeare’s The Magic Smoking Monkey Theatre takes them on in December. The uber-talented Smoking Monkeys adapt a cult film (or TV show) into an onstage farce once a year. Plan 9 From Outer Space, Reefer Madness, Glen Or Glenda, The Star Wars Trilogy, The Abominable Dr. Phibes, Stupefy!: The 90-minute Harry Potter, and last year’s Mad Max – Live! have all been the victims of sidesplitting, Pythonesque parody courtesy of The Smoking Monkeys. This time these lunatic thespians are calling their show The Making Of The Star Wars Holiday Special! – A Magic Smoking Monkey Theatre 20th Anniversary Special!
And rumor has it that Charles Bronson will be making an appearance hawking Mandom Cologne!!! It doesn’t get any better than that!
- 11/18/2016
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Over 65 films, the new and the classics, will screen at FEARnyc 2016 horror film festival, including Nosferatu, Hocus Pocus, Dead Awake, Night of the Living Dead (1968), Psycho, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and The Lost Boys, just to name a few. Continue reading for the full list of films in the FEARnyc lineup.
From FEARnyc: "FEARnyc will be presented this Halloween season at New York City’s Cinema Village. From October 21-27, 2016 the event will feature screenings of 65+ new and classic horror films, cast appearances, special events and a tribute to horror icon, Wes Craven.
Some of the highlights include:
Screenings of Night of the Living Dead, Psycho, Hocus Pocus, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The Lost Boys, and A Nightmare on Elm Street 3.
The premiere of Dead Awake, the new film from Final Destination writer Jeffrey Reddick.
A screening of The Exorcist which will begin with a seance with the audience led by a renowned psychic.
From FEARnyc: "FEARnyc will be presented this Halloween season at New York City’s Cinema Village. From October 21-27, 2016 the event will feature screenings of 65+ new and classic horror films, cast appearances, special events and a tribute to horror icon, Wes Craven.
Some of the highlights include:
Screenings of Night of the Living Dead, Psycho, Hocus Pocus, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The Lost Boys, and A Nightmare on Elm Street 3.
The premiere of Dead Awake, the new film from Final Destination writer Jeffrey Reddick.
A screening of The Exorcist which will begin with a seance with the audience led by a renowned psychic.
- 9/15/2016
- by Tamika Jones
- DailyDead
“The motion picture you are about to witness may startle you. It would not have been possible, otherwise, to sufficiently emphasize the frightful toll of the new drug menace which is destroying the youth of America in alarmingly increasing numbers. Marihuana!”
Reefer Madness screens Thursday August 4th at 7:00pm at Schlafly Bottleworks (7260 Southwest Avenue Maplewood, Mo 63143). $6 for the screening.
In 1932, Harry Anslinger was named head of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics. The position was not much more than a figurehead because all the bureau was involved in was the amount of morphine etc. that were in medicine like cough syrup. Anslinger wanted more power and the best way to get power was to put more “narcotics” under his control. So he set his sights on marijuana. He met and became friends with Charles Randolph Hearst (the Citizen Kane guy!) and they talked about their shared dislike of cannabis. During this time,...
Reefer Madness screens Thursday August 4th at 7:00pm at Schlafly Bottleworks (7260 Southwest Avenue Maplewood, Mo 63143). $6 for the screening.
In 1932, Harry Anslinger was named head of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics. The position was not much more than a figurehead because all the bureau was involved in was the amount of morphine etc. that were in medicine like cough syrup. Anslinger wanted more power and the best way to get power was to put more “narcotics” under his control. So he set his sights on marijuana. He met and became friends with Charles Randolph Hearst (the Citizen Kane guy!) and they talked about their shared dislike of cannabis. During this time,...
- 7/28/2016
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
4A Games, Ukrainian developer behind both Metro: 2033 and Metro: Last Light, is quietly toiling away on two secret, as-yet-unannounced projects.
Following the closure of publisher Thq some years ago, doubt was cast over the studio’s immediate future. But rest assured, 4A Games is alive and well, and the dev recently took to Facebook (via VG247) to post a status report revealing that, after persevering through testing times that included a studio move to Malta, it’s ready to come out of its self-imposed hiatus.
Hello everyone, yes we are alive! So thank you for putting up with us during a slight hiatus. Yes 2 years is a bit long but we have lots of exciting times ahead and wanted to bring you up to date since the last news that we were in Malta.
The burning question that you are all going to be asking (and have been asking) is:...
Following the closure of publisher Thq some years ago, doubt was cast over the studio’s immediate future. But rest assured, 4A Games is alive and well, and the dev recently took to Facebook (via VG247) to post a status report revealing that, after persevering through testing times that included a studio move to Malta, it’s ready to come out of its self-imposed hiatus.
Hello everyone, yes we are alive! So thank you for putting up with us during a slight hiatus. Yes 2 years is a bit long but we have lots of exciting times ahead and wanted to bring you up to date since the last news that we were in Malta.
The burning question that you are all going to be asking (and have been asking) is:...
- 7/20/2016
- by Michael Briers
- We Got This Covered
Horror in the ‘50s tended to lean towards the sci-fi end of the spectrum. And why wouldn’t it? This was the atomic age, and hiding under your school desk during a bomb drill (the safest place to be!) was scarier than any monster Hollywood could muster. So as a form of social moralizing (or an excuse to display giant, mutated lizards on screen), filmmakers merged the fear of nuclear annihilation with the need for entertainment. Most filmmakers, that is. Paul Landres’ The Vampire (1957) is a deliberate ride through the (mostly) human condition, small in scope but surprisingly big on emotion. Just don’t expect any vampires, radioactive, sparkly, or otherwise.
What you do get is a story much closer to Stevenson than Stoker, a simple riff on Jekyll and Hyde shot through a cautionary tale about America’s then growing concern with pill poppin’. The Vampire is more concerned...
What you do get is a story much closer to Stevenson than Stoker, a simple riff on Jekyll and Hyde shot through a cautionary tale about America’s then growing concern with pill poppin’. The Vampire is more concerned...
- 6/25/2016
- by Scott Drebit
- DailyDead
“If I’m gonna die, I’m gonna die historic on the Fury Road!”
St. Louis Shakespeare’s The Magic Smoking Monkey Theatre adapts a cult film into an onstage farce once a year. Previous adaptions have included Plan 9 From Outer Space, Reefer Madness, Glen Or Glenda, Game Of Thrones, Harry Potter, and The Star Wars Trilogy (!!). In 2011 they helped celebrate Vincentennial, the Vincent Price 100th Birthday Celebration with a stage presentation of one of the home town horror star’s classics: The Abominable Dr. Phibes in 3D, a sidesplitting, Pythonesque parody.
This year, those crazy Smoking Monkeys are presenting Mad Max – a spoof of all four of those great Mel Gibson action movies (and that Tom Hardy one). So join Mad Max and a cast of rowdy characters in an epic race for guzzolene, freedom and a better life beyond Thunderdome…in 60 minutes or less. That’S Right!
St. Louis Shakespeare’s The Magic Smoking Monkey Theatre adapts a cult film into an onstage farce once a year. Previous adaptions have included Plan 9 From Outer Space, Reefer Madness, Glen Or Glenda, Game Of Thrones, Harry Potter, and The Star Wars Trilogy (!!). In 2011 they helped celebrate Vincentennial, the Vincent Price 100th Birthday Celebration with a stage presentation of one of the home town horror star’s classics: The Abominable Dr. Phibes in 3D, a sidesplitting, Pythonesque parody.
This year, those crazy Smoking Monkeys are presenting Mad Max – a spoof of all four of those great Mel Gibson action movies (and that Tom Hardy one). So join Mad Max and a cast of rowdy characters in an epic race for guzzolene, freedom and a better life beyond Thunderdome…in 60 minutes or less. That’S Right!
- 5/19/2016
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
NYC has thousands of restaurants, but Monday night there was one table at one restaurant that stood out among the rest ... the one where Adele, Jennifer Lawrence and Emma Stone were seated. The ladies dined together at Cosme. The burning question ... Read more...
- 11/24/2015
- by TMZ Staff
- TMZ
Part Reefer Madness for the plugged-in generation, part Giallo slasher, and part coming-of-age psychodrama, #Horror is filled with the type of craziness that sounds like it would make it a shoe-in for genre festivals across the globe. But alas, it’s incredibly dull, and for every gonzo tangent into an enigmatic snuff film social network, there’s multiple other sequences that are so ineptly directed that a sense of atmosphere or narrative momentum seems purely accidental.
Split inexplicably down the middle of its thin running time between an avant-chic artist named Alex Cox (Chloë Sevigny) on an all-day sojourn away from her crumbling marriage to a famous modern artist (think Jeffrey Koons), and a violently escalating sleepover at their mansion hosted by her daughter, #Horror proves early on that it has no sense of how to bridge these halves.
Her daughter is Sofia, a social media-obsessed, emotionally-neglected 12-year-old who overjoys...
Split inexplicably down the middle of its thin running time between an avant-chic artist named Alex Cox (Chloë Sevigny) on an all-day sojourn away from her crumbling marriage to a famous modern artist (think Jeffrey Koons), and a violently escalating sleepover at their mansion hosted by her daughter, #Horror proves early on that it has no sense of how to bridge these halves.
Her daughter is Sofia, a social media-obsessed, emotionally-neglected 12-year-old who overjoys...
- 11/21/2015
- by Michael Snydel
- The Film Stage
Now that Justin Bieber has put out a track that hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, the entertainment community at large has been gracious enough to halt its collective verbal immolation of the young pop star. Case in point: Vice, a famously subversive media outlet that takes every opportunity to challenge the status quo, has continually celebrated the “Where Are Ü Now” singer’s recent releases in articles on its Thump channel – and has all but deified him in a recent interview on its i-d fashion channel.
When you cut through the ornate narrative, though, a couple of juxtaposing themes present themselves in Bieber’s quotes. On one hand, he attributes the success of “Where Are Ü Now” to a higher power, saying:
“I completely see that as being God. I couldn’t have asked for a better start to all this stuff, and then the direction that it went in?...
When you cut through the ornate narrative, though, a couple of juxtaposing themes present themselves in Bieber’s quotes. On one hand, he attributes the success of “Where Are Ü Now” to a higher power, saying:
“I completely see that as being God. I couldn’t have asked for a better start to all this stuff, and then the direction that it went in?...
- 11/12/2015
- by John Cameron
- We Got This Covered
The Conversation is a feature at PopOptiq bringing together Drew Morton and Landon Palmer in a passionate debate about cinema new and old. For their eleventh piece, they discuss Mathieu Kassovitz’s gritty yet sleek portrait of life on the margins of Paris, La haine (1995).
Landon’S Take
There’s a moment within the first act of Mathieu Kassovitz’s La haine (1995) that finds the film’s central trio – Vinz (Vincent Cassel), Hubert (Hubert Koundé), and Saïd (Saïd Taghmaoui), three young male descendants of immigrants living in the housing projects of outer Paris – confronted by a news crew. In the protests and riots following the brutalization of a friend, Abdel Ichaha (inspired by the real-life killing of Makome M’Bowole while in the custody of Parisian police in 1993), the news crew voyeuristically inquires into the opinions of those who very well may be the first group of “locals” their excursion encounters,...
Landon’S Take
There’s a moment within the first act of Mathieu Kassovitz’s La haine (1995) that finds the film’s central trio – Vinz (Vincent Cassel), Hubert (Hubert Koundé), and Saïd (Saïd Taghmaoui), three young male descendants of immigrants living in the housing projects of outer Paris – confronted by a news crew. In the protests and riots following the brutalization of a friend, Abdel Ichaha (inspired by the real-life killing of Makome M’Bowole while in the custody of Parisian police in 1993), the news crew voyeuristically inquires into the opinions of those who very well may be the first group of “locals” their excursion encounters,...
- 11/11/2015
- by Landon Palmer
- SoundOnSight
Since 2009, the RiffTrax Live series of performances featuring former Mystery Science Theater 3000 performers Michael J. Nelson, Kevin Murphy and Bill Corbett, along with special guests and broadcast to participating theaters, has been skewering a selection of B-movies ranging from notorious (Reefer Madness) to obscure (Jack The Giant Killer, Santa Claus Conquers the Martians). The offshoot of Rifftrax, these events — presented in hundreds of cinemas across the nation by…...
- 10/1/2015
- Deadline
WWE.com
Right now in WWE, there are well over 50 full-time characters regularly appearing on television. That number takes into account Monday Night Raw, Smackdown, Main Event, Superstars and other fresh WWE Network content. Given the amount of hours the creative team have to fill, and the sheer weight of numbers on the roster, there’s a lot of work that goes into writing WWE TV.
Perhaps for that reason, more than a few wrestlers on the rosters are failing badly. Whether these stars have been neglected by the creative staff is up for debate, but there are certain characters that simply aren’t clicking with the core audience. That needs to be addressed, because absolutely every performer that appears on WWE programming should contribute to the show’s success.
It’s been said that Vince McMahon changes his mind routinely, and often within the span of just a few minutes.
Right now in WWE, there are well over 50 full-time characters regularly appearing on television. That number takes into account Monday Night Raw, Smackdown, Main Event, Superstars and other fresh WWE Network content. Given the amount of hours the creative team have to fill, and the sheer weight of numbers on the roster, there’s a lot of work that goes into writing WWE TV.
Perhaps for that reason, more than a few wrestlers on the rosters are failing badly. Whether these stars have been neglected by the creative staff is up for debate, but there are certain characters that simply aren’t clicking with the core audience. That needs to be addressed, because absolutely every performer that appears on WWE programming should contribute to the show’s success.
It’s been said that Vince McMahon changes his mind routinely, and often within the span of just a few minutes.
- 9/30/2015
- by Jamie Kennedy
- Obsessed with Film
2006 American Society of Cinematographers winners: Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles on February 26, 2006. Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Theatrical Releases * Dion Beebe, Asc, Acs for Memoirs of a Geisha Robert Elswit, Asc for Good Night and Good Luck. Andrew Lesnie, Asc, Acs for King Kong Wally Pfister, Asc for Batman Begins Rodrigo Prieto, Asc, AMC for Brokeback Mountain Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in TV movie/miniseries/pilot Alan Caso, Asc for Into the West/"Wheel to the Stars" (TNT) Thomas A. Del Ruth, Asc for Code Breakers (Espn) * Robbie Greenberg, Asc for Warm Springs (HBO) Jan Kiesser, Asc, Csc for Reefer Madness (Showtime) Bill Roe, Asc for Faith of My Fathers (A&E) Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Regular Television Series (one episode) John Aronson for "Freefall"/Without a Trace (CBS) * Nathan Hope for "Who Shot Sherlock?"/CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (CBS) Jeffrey Jur, Asc for "Los Moscos"/Carnivale (HBO) John C. Newby,...
- 9/4/2015
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
Ahead of American Ultra’s release in UK cinemas, we look at the rise of the stoner in film, from the 30s to the present...
"The motion picture you are about to witness may startle you. It would not have been possible, otherwise, to sufficiently emphasize the frightful toll of the new drug menace which is destroying the youth of America in alarmingly increasing numbers. Marihuana is that drug - a violent narcotic - an unspeakable scourge - the Real Public Enemy Number One!
So reads the opening crawl to the now infamous film Reefer Madness. Originally released in 1936, it was designed as a hard-hitting expose of marijuana and its inherent dangers. The drug could cause "violent, uncontrollable laughter," the movie's introduction read. It could induce "dangerous hallucinations," "monstrous extravagances," all eventually leading to "shocking acts of physical violence... ending often in incurable insanity."
Reefer Madness was one of many...
"The motion picture you are about to witness may startle you. It would not have been possible, otherwise, to sufficiently emphasize the frightful toll of the new drug menace which is destroying the youth of America in alarmingly increasing numbers. Marihuana is that drug - a violent narcotic - an unspeakable scourge - the Real Public Enemy Number One!
So reads the opening crawl to the now infamous film Reefer Madness. Originally released in 1936, it was designed as a hard-hitting expose of marijuana and its inherent dangers. The drug could cause "violent, uncontrollable laughter," the movie's introduction read. It could induce "dangerous hallucinations," "monstrous extravagances," all eventually leading to "shocking acts of physical violence... ending often in incurable insanity."
Reefer Madness was one of many...
- 8/27/2015
- by simonbrew
- Den of Geek
The history of marijuana and cinema goes back decades and decades. And sure, things kind of got off to a bad foot with Reefer Madness in the 1930s, but since then we.ve seen pot-addled characters make us laugh, solve mysteries, and go on all kinds of crazy adventures. Now there.s a new stoner action-fest hitting theaters this weekend, so what better time to celebrate this grand history? With American Ultra in theaters this week, and sporting two lead stoner characters played by Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart, we thought that we.d look back at the history of cinema and weed, and determine our top 10 rankings for the greatest movie potheads. Read on to find out who is at number one! Note: As you can probably predict, there are going to be some famous duos on this list, and we counted them in the same slot. The reality...
- 8/20/2015
- cinemablend.com
There’s no other genre quite like the stoner comedy. From outrageous to heartfelt, absurd to relatable, the films that belong to the genre are more diverse than you might suspect.
The stoner comedy genre gets another entry this week with American Ultra. Jesse Eisenberg plays a perpetually-baked secret agent that doesn’t really know how lethal he is. Kristen Stewart plays his girlfriend who is horrified to learn that her boyfriend has been marked for extermination by his agency. Hilarity (and a wicked stunt or two) ensues as these two stoners try to make it through alive. Connie Britton and Topher Grace also star.
To clarify, not all of these movies were originally intended to be comedies (like the ridiculous Reefer Madness), and the film may feature other drugs and/or not have a plot that centres entirely on gettin’ high. Hey, stoners have lives too.
If you think...
The stoner comedy genre gets another entry this week with American Ultra. Jesse Eisenberg plays a perpetually-baked secret agent that doesn’t really know how lethal he is. Kristen Stewart plays his girlfriend who is horrified to learn that her boyfriend has been marked for extermination by his agency. Hilarity (and a wicked stunt or two) ensues as these two stoners try to make it through alive. Connie Britton and Topher Grace also star.
To clarify, not all of these movies were originally intended to be comedies (like the ridiculous Reefer Madness), and the film may feature other drugs and/or not have a plot that centres entirely on gettin’ high. Hey, stoners have lives too.
If you think...
- 8/17/2015
- by Amanda Wood
- Cineplex
Don’t have time to binge watch the entire first season of Game Of Thrones? The lunatics at The Magic Smoking Monkey Theater group have the perfect solution!
In the tradition of their internationally-acclaimed 1-hour productions of The Star Wars Trilogy, The Ten Commandments, Lord Of The Rings, the Smoking Monkeys are proud to present The One-Hour Game of Thrones Parody! And it’s coming to St. Louis this month
St. Louis Shakespeare’s The Magic Smoking Monkey Theatre adapts a cult film into an onstage farce once a year. Previous adaptions (besides the hour-long ones I mentioned) have included Pan 9 From Outer Space, Reefer Madness, and Glen Or Glenda. In 2011 they helped celebrate Vincentennial, the Vincent Price 100th Birthday Celebration with a stage presentation of one of the home town horror star’s classics: The Abominable Dr. Phibes in 3D, a sidesplitting, Pythonesque parody. These guys stage the most...
In the tradition of their internationally-acclaimed 1-hour productions of The Star Wars Trilogy, The Ten Commandments, Lord Of The Rings, the Smoking Monkeys are proud to present The One-Hour Game of Thrones Parody! And it’s coming to St. Louis this month
St. Louis Shakespeare’s The Magic Smoking Monkey Theatre adapts a cult film into an onstage farce once a year. Previous adaptions (besides the hour-long ones I mentioned) have included Pan 9 From Outer Space, Reefer Madness, and Glen Or Glenda. In 2011 they helped celebrate Vincentennial, the Vincent Price 100th Birthday Celebration with a stage presentation of one of the home town horror star’s classics: The Abominable Dr. Phibes in 3D, a sidesplitting, Pythonesque parody. These guys stage the most...
- 6/4/2015
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Broadway's 40 theatres aren't the only places to catch performances from your favorite stars Well after Broadway orchestra's begin their overtures, ensemble members take their dance breaks, and performers belt out their eleven- o'clock numbers, the party continues at various cabaret venues throughout New York City. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you some cabaret highlights for this week as picked by our theatre editors, including Melba Moore Live Covering Iconic Legends Patti LuPone The Lady with the Torch Seth Sikes Is Still Singing Judy Garland The Wedding Singer Reunion Concert Reefer Madness Reunion Concert.
- 4/12/2015
- by Louisa Brady
- BroadwayWorld.com
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