Page 84 of 1232

25th anniversary of “Hoosiers”

December 14, 2011 /

“Hoosiers” is one of the best basketball movies and sports movies of all time, and this year we reached the 25th anniversary of its release. Barry Locke at ESPN has a pretty funny article about the movie, arguing that Gene Hackman’s Norman Dale wasn’t a great coach, but we don’t have to buy that argument.

It’s been 25 years since “Hoosiers” immortalized the legend of Hickory High, the small school that beats long odds to make underdog history by winning the Indiana state basketball championship. Yes, it’s been a generation since we were inspired by the story of a coach seeking redemption, a team coming together and a town being transformed in one of the greatest sports films ever made.

But every time I watch the movie — and who hasn’t seen it at least five times — I come to the same conclusion:

Norman Dale can’t coach.

There, I said it. The Wizard of Hickory High, at least as he was shown in the film, manages a game about as well as Shooter manages his booze. Sure, Dale took an undermanned, undersized, undisciplined group of farm boys all the way to the state title. But watch closely. Time and again, they won in spite of their coach.

Regardless of your thought’s on Norman Dale’s coaching ability, this movie definitely gets most people fired up about basketball. It’s a great game for kids and adults as well, and it offers a great way to get in shape. There are so many ways for people to get involved, whether they join gyms or buy in-ground, adjustable basketball goal systems for their home driveways. For kids it offers valuable lessons in teamwork, but it also gets them out running around, and in today’s world with obesity problems that’s a great thing.

So rent the movie and watch it with your kids, and then play some hoops outside!

Movies

Gary Oldman discusses how he creates a character

December 9, 2011 /

Will Harris was recently invited to New York City to take part in the press junket for Focus Features’ new thriller, “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy,” and along with partaking in some roundtables with the cast and crew, he also got a chance to sit down for a one-on-one interview with star Gary Oldman. Though the veteran actor had plenty to discuss regarding his role as iconic spy George Smiley, he also had something interesting comments about past performances as well, like how he based the character of Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg from “The Fifth Element” on Bugs Bunny and Ross Perot, and this entertaining story about creating the look of Drexl Spivey for “True Romance.”

You know what? There’s a story behind that. I was putting together that character, and I had no rehearsal and…I was on another movie, so I actually finished on a Sunday evening, drove home, and started Drexl the next day. And I had to kind of put him together, I had to work on him while I was doing something else. Because there just wasn’t the time to meet with Tony (Scott). I wrote him a letter, sent him a note, saying, “I would like dreadlocks. What do you think?” And he said, “Yeah, great.” So I knew Stuart (Artingstall), who had been the wigmaker on “Dracula,” so he made me that wig in about 48 hours. And I went to a dentist – I was working here in New York – who made the gold teeth, and I got the eye from the prop department at the…well, it was one of the eyes I wore for “Dracula”! And I put ‘em all together and walked on the set and hoped Tony liked it.

Be sure to read the full interview on Bullz-Eye, as well as Will’s other “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” interviews with co-star Colin Firth and director Tomas Alfredson and writer Peter Straughan. And when you’re done, don’t forget to check out our celebrity spy feature, “They Were Spies.”

Actors, External Entertainment, External Movies, Interviews, Movie Dramas, Movies, News

Marilyn Monroe in England

November 14, 2011 /

Here’s the trailer of a new film that covers a week Marilyn Monroe spent in England called “My Week with Marylin.” Michelle Williams plays Marilyn and this is the kind of role that could define her career. In many ways, Williams really captures Marilyn’s look, perhaps better than other actresses that have attempted the role. She’s getting a lot of buzz for her portrayal of the iconic actress. The movie is out later this month and everyone will get the chance to weigh in on her performance.

But just looking at the trailer you can see that Williams brings considerable talent to the role.

It’s also an interesting angle on Marilyn as it covers her time in England. This is a less well-known chapter in her life so it can offer a new take on the story. England is always a great setting for any film, and it changes the whole backdrop for this particular character. It will also spark renewed interest in travel to England as movies can move popular culture and remind people of places they want to see. London is always high on everyone’s list but we may see increases in interest in other parts of the country as people search for Brighton hotels or Cardiff hotels. All of England has always been a draw for Americans, and seeing the ultimate American icon and sex symbol on the big screen in England can only add to the romance of the UK.

It will be interesting to see how the film does. So far the reception has been good, and maybe we’ll see Michelle Williams at the Oscars!

Actresses, Movies

Mickey Rourke confirms what everybody else was already thinking

November 8, 2011 /

When you interview a guy like Mickey Rourke, you can be sure that you’re going to walk away with at least one or two tasty pull quotes, which is exactly what the actor delivered when Bob Westal sat down to talk to him about his new film, “Immortals.” But while he chatted extensively about working on the Tarsem Singh action fantasy, it was in a discussion about an earlier projects — the 1986 film “9 1/2 Weeks” — that made our day:

I never watched that movie until about five years ago… I saw it [again] about a year or so ago, like little pieces of it, and I said, “That fuckin’ Kim [Basinger] was hot as shit!” I used to go home with a boner every night. Really. That was no fun…

Head over to the Bullz-Eye Blog to read the full interview, including more about “Immortals,” his experience working with directors Darren Aronofsky and Francis Ford Coppola, and how he feels about some of the newer technological advances in film.

Action Movies, Actors, External Entertainment, Interviews

« Older posts Newer posts »

© 2026 Premium Hollywood

Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑