Darrell Hammond officially leaves 'SNL'

Darrel Hammond, Saturday Night Live cast member for 14 seasons has taken his final bow for the weekend sketch show and will not be reappearing.  Hammond has officially announced his retirement from SNL.

He apparently has said that he retired last year but his retirement is official today according to a post by Extra.  Hammond, 53-year-old will no longer be featured in the shows iconic opening credits but could appear in certain sketches on a “case-by-case basis.”

Hammond is most well known for his appearances as Sean Connery (“That’s not what your mother said last night!”), Donald Trump (“You’re fired”), Vice President Dick Cheney and the one and only President Bill Clinton.

Clinton had to be Hammond’s best impression all the way from the accent to that politicians thumb, as he spoke.  Hammond was one of the better impressionists of the show but never was fully appreciated unless you’ve been a fan for a long time.  He was older, but really brought a lot of class to the show and I will miss seeing his talent.

Darrel Hammond joined the show in ‘94 and is the longest running cast member.

I’m concerned his retirement is the final bow needed for Lorne Michaels, producer, to revamp the show with as much young talent as possible.  With the firing of Michaela Watkins and the hiring of younger Jenny Slate this furthers my theory.  As much as I love Samberg, Wiig, Hader and Sudeikis there was something about the classic comedians up there that made a more diverse and intriguing show.

We shall see how the show continues without Hammond and hopefully it sticks to the the same idea and that is to always remember the funny!

Venom: Why won't the black goo die?

Venom has been in development for some time after the release of the travesty that is Spider-Man 3, but news of the film getting a director and writer has surfaced.  Gary Ross (currently writing Spider-Man 4) could be writing the Venom spin-off and even directing.  Ross is an interesting fit for the franchise in terms of screenwriting with his credits including Big, Dave and Lassie. However he has had a shot at a very visually stimulating film, Pleasantville as a director.

The film was originally set to be written by Paul Wernick and Rhett Rheese, who scribed the recent film, Zombieland, and before them Jacob Estes was entrusted to write the Spidey villain’s story.
There are no casting plans as of right now.  Originally the character was played by Topher Grace (That ’70s Show.)  It can be assumed that Grace will not be recast in the spin-off so as to seperate Venom’s film from the critical flop Spider-Man 3.

To say that Spider-Man 3 was a bad movie is an understatement, to say that it was a disaster, an understatement, that movie was an attack on a child’s heart.  A child who loved to watch the Saturday morning cartoon and awaited the moment when Eddie Brock would become Venom.

I recall my experience at a late screening the night before it came out (work at a movie theatre the perks are amazing).  I indulged the corny action flicks and cheese ball dialogue.  I thought the whole time, just wait, Venom will be here soon, and he came and went.  Along with an emo Peter Parker waltzing down New York’s streets like Travolta in Saturday Night Fever. 

Honestly the character of Venom was good, not great, not everything he was in comic and cartoon lore.  I don’t blame Topher Grace, because I liked his performance but there was something that was just missing in the big black glob.

Spider-Man 4 is set for release on May 6 2011 and Venom currently does not have a release date.

Polanski: Behind bars and not so desired

Roman Polanski has been no stranger to the news lately after he was taken into custody in Zurich, Switzerland.

It is now known that Polanski will not be released by Switzerland. 30 years ago, Polanski awaited sentencing in Los Angeles after he was convicted of six felonies involving the drugging and raping of a 13-year-old girl. Polanski could no longer wait for his sentencing and fled. He was living in exile in Europe but recently was arrested because of extradition requests by the United States.

The reason for Switzerland’s holding of Polanski is that he presents a “high risk of flight.” Switzerland will hold Polanski while they await for the U.S. government to request extradition.

In reality Polanski should be happy because he’s safe in his cell for now, because if and when he gets back to the United States everything will be even more exciting than before. He will more than likely go through multiple trials and interviews before any of this situation is solved.

Polanski has tried to have the charges against him dropped but the U.S. said he must surrender. The woman involved who is now older has said on multiple accounts that she wants this all to be put behind her. She does not want her family or others close to her be affected by what this ‘70s director did years ago.

Polanski’s case also had another breakthrough as Marcia Clark, Los Angeles District Attorney lied to the director of a documentary about Polanski, “Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired.” This falsity could very well hurt any chance Polanski has to be proven innocent on all counts.

The case is an interesting one much like Polanski’s life, but it’s certain to go even deeper much like Polanski’s brilliant, often disturbing films.

Tarantino might be looking 'pretty' or Western

Tarantino’s “Inglourious Basterds” has grossed $117,023,832 and already has some Oscar buzz surrounding the film. So what should a successful director like Tarantino be doing? I have a feeling a trip to Disney World may not be in Quentin’s future.

According to a conference call with Variety, Tarantino is planning to put on hold the second sequel to his “Kill Bill” franchise. Tarantino plans to instead shoot a ‘20s/’30s ‘Pretty Boy Floyd’ type of gangster or a Western picture.

Tarantino last week had said he wanted to film “Kill Bill 3” but now his intent has changed after holding a press conference for “Inglourious Basterds” at the Morelia Film Festival. There he decided that he would like to do a different film in between “Basterds” and “Kill Bill 3.”

Tarantino is well known for his gangster pictures like “Pulp Fiction” and “Reservoir Dogs.” However, he has never taken on a period gangster picture like the one previously mentioned. As much as I’d be interested to see what Tarantino could do with a Western, I cannot help but want to see him take on the ‘20s/’30s crime period. It was recently fictionally documented in Michael Mann’s “Public Enemies,” but there are so many more stories to be told and it is no surprise that Tarantino is interested in the Pretty Boy Floyd character, who got very little screen time in Mann’s film.

Another reason I really do not want Tarantino to take on a Western is the fact that my favorite directors of all time are handling that department. The Coen Brothers are at work on a remake of “True Grit” originally starring John Wayne as ‘Rooster Cogburn. There has not been very much news about this remake besides the rumored casting of Jeff Bridges as Cogburn.

For now all of this is simply rumor and no matter what film Tarantino chooses to do it is a long way out. In the words of “Basterds” Col. Hans. Landa, “I love rumors! Facts can be so misleading, where rumors, true or false, are often revealing.”

'Toy Story' times two equals 3D

Many reviewers through the years have talked about “Toy Story” like it was their own. “Toy Story” was a film for anyone who wanted to revert to a child like state, but our generation was currently in that state. “Toy Story” is our movie, the children of the nineties. There was not a little kid out there not quoting the movie or singing along with Randy Newman when “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” came on the radio.

“Toy Story” was our “Jaws,” our “Star Wars.”

Well, guess what all you little kiddies out there we can relive those childhood movie moments. “Toy Story” and “Toy Story 2” premiered last weekend at the Rivoli Theatre as a double feature in 3D.

“Toy Story” explores the ‘secret life of toys.’ A young boy named Andy owns the toys. Andy loves his toys especially Woody, a hand me down cowboy doll, until a hip new space action figure named Buzz Lightyear arrives. Woody tries to get rid of Buzz but fails and Woody is disowned by Andy’s other toys. Buzz and Woody eventually must work together to get out of a few difficult situations including escaping a toy destroying child’s home.

Luckily I was able to see the films on Friday and it had been awhile since I had such an enjoyable movie watching experience. Lately I do not sit down for a ‘PG’ or ‘PG-13’ film and would rather watch a bloody, action ‘R.’ However; “Toy Story” truly has stood the test of time. Many animated features nowadays are forgettable but “Toy Story” was so original and creative that there is no question in my mind why most critics perceive it as a classic.

The 3D visual of my favorite toys coming to life again really was something spectacular. The 3D glasses and imagery did not create a gimmick like that of an amusement park. You will not see Sid’s maniacal smile in your face, but you will see things you’ve never seen before. Pixar gives you the ability to see deeper into Andy’s Room, Sid’s House or even Pizza Planet. The “Toy Story” double feature was a total immersive experience.

I have read and perhaps you have too that the 3D in “Toy Story” was not nearly as impressive as that of its sequel. I disagree with that, the only issues with the first film are the fact that the original is just that, the original and “Toy Story” was a learning experience for Pixar. Don’t be fooled by the naysayers, each film looks beautiful up on the big screen again.

“Toy Story” looked great, “Toy Story 2” because it had gone through innovations in animation looks amazing. “Toy Story 2” is a continuation of “Toy Story” that follows Buzz and other toys as they set out to rescue Woody from a creepy collector named Al. During their escapades Woody questions if Andy will love him forever and the toys must face off with both Al and Buzz’s enemy Emperor Zurg.

The opening with Buzz Lightyear is one of the best openings of all time with its science fiction references and intense near miss action sequences and then the humorous finale. As a moviegoer you quickly realize it may have old familiar faces but this film is all it’s own.

I said I wouldn’t call out too many details but it’s impossible for me not to mention my favorite voice actor in “Toy Story 2,” Kelsey Grammer. Grammer as “The Prospector” is one of the most brilliant casting decisions ever made for a Pixar film, he pulls off the loveable old man perfectly and when the character takes a turn for the worst Grammer is at his best. “Toy Story 2” is viewed as one of the best sequels of all time and I cannot deny that because it uses all the elements that made “Toy Story” so great in the first place. With its use of humor, compelling characters and a story that switches from drama to comedy so easily you forget the characters are animated.

For anyone concerned that the story or original animation has been changed can rest easy because the full story of Buzz and Woody is intact and funnier than ever. It was interesting to watch this children’s movie again and catch onto to the adult humor. I never knew why Mr. Potato Head took his mouth off and tapped it to his bottom as a six year old; now as a nineteen year old the old business insult makes perfect sense.

It is also interesting to think that my siblings today are watching films like “Coraline” which I interpret as inappropriate for children but when thinking about the horrors in Sid’s Room it makes me retract my grievances.

In between the two films is an intermission featuring the characters of the films, trivia, clips and more. One of the most interesting and disturbing clips I saw was the test footage for “Toy Story” with Woody as a ventriloquist dummy and Buzz as a pint-sized version of himself named “Tempas from Morph.”

The most intriguing part of the double feature besides the films has to be the new trailer that is currently only being shown in theatres. The trailer is wonderful and gave me goose bumps seeing the toys back, looking better than ever and a grown up version of a familiar someone, who could it be? I guess you’ll have to find out. If that is not enough incentive to sit down and watch another stirring adventure of Andy’s toys then maybe the casting of Michael Keaton (“Cars”), Whoopi Goldberg (“Lion King”), Ned Beatty (“Rudy”) and Timothy Dalton (“License to Kill”) is.

I wish I could say more but I don’t want to spoil it for you but I have high hopes for the third “Toy Story” film and I believe Pixar will not let me down and the millions other willing to pay opening day, June 18, 2010. Until then my fellow moviegoers, to infinity and beyond!

Michael Bay is more than meets the eye, with no ‘Pain’, no ‘Gain’

Michael Bay had said before the release of “Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen” that he wanted to direct a smaller more personal “Pulp Fiction” type film. Apparently that is no longer the case, Bay is meeting with Hasbro, the company that holds "Tranformers" rights, in Rhode Island to incorporate new characters into the multi-million dollar franchise. Bay is also working on a script with Ehren Kruger, who wrote the latest installment of the series, and Steven Spielberg,.

The film is set to release on July 1, 2011. Paramount and DreamWorks will produce it like the previous two films.

The release date was mentioned in March but Bay was not sure he would be willing to direct the robots again so quickly. Seemingly he intends to leave behind “Pain and Gain.” “Pain and Gain” was to be a “kidnapping and extortion thriller about a pair of idiot bodybuilders,” according to IMDB Pro. Bay intends to follow the third “Transformers” film with “Pain and Gain” as of right now.

There is also development surrounding “I Am Number 4” and “Bad Boys 3.” “I Am Number 4” has three writers attached and follows “nine alien teens that come to Earth after their planet is destroyed by an enemy species. But soon discover that their enemy is now after them on Earth,” according to IMDB Pro.

Finally, Megan Fox will also be returning to the sequel. Fox and Bay have had their differences in the past few months, but she will be back to fight alien robots, according to Bay’s post on his official forum. Bay has not dropped the feud between the two though as he posts:

Megan Fox, welcome back. I promise no alien robots will harm you in any way during the production of this motion picture. Please consult your Physician when working under my direction because some side effects can occur, such as mild dizziness, intense nausea, suicidal tendencies, depression, minor chest hair growth, random internal hemorrhaging and inability to sleep. As some directors may be hazardous to your health, please consult your Doctor to determine if this is right for you.

Megan Fox can currently be seen in the Twentieth Century Fox film, “Jennifer’s Body,” and will next star alongside Josh Brolin in the Legendary Pictures and DC Comics produced “Jonah Hex.”

Thank you to SlashFilm.com for breaking this story.

Movies about filmmaking, keep 'em comin'

As an entertainment reporter mainly focused on film, I love every aspect of the art. From the pre-production, production, to the final product it's a fascinating process to me, but what is more fun is when the act of film or television takes on the art with a funnier and surprising side to it.



Being a younger writer I would like to take on a more contemporary look at the world of films about film making with some recent films and television shows as well as some modern classics in my mind. I would like to take a look at several films including, "Tropic Thunder," "What Just Happened," "Get Shorty," "Ed Wood," "Barton Fink," the television show "Entourage" and the classic film "Singin' in the Rain." At the end I will give you a few other examples that you might want to add to your mental library.



Let's first explore the brilliance that is "Tropic Thunder." The film is about the production of a Vietnam war epic with the help of a has-been comedian with a drug problem, an action juggernaut with a brain the size of his latest box office intake, a thespian who takes method acting to the next level (that's putting it lightly), a young hip-hop star wanting to break into films, and the young lucky kid who got his first big role in a movie. On top of that it's got caricatures of famous directors, producers, and crew members. The reason the movie is so great is the attacks done upon the film business are so crisp and brilliant that they make Ari Gold of "Entourage" blush.



Ben Stiller directs the film with great ease and makes you want to see him actually take on a big budget war flick. He has never performed better as Tugg Speedman, action star who is losing his touch ala Steven Seagal or Jean Claude Van Dam. However, the actor that owns the film is Robert Downey Jr. in the role of method actor Kirk Lazarus who takes Stanislavski's teachings to far when he puts on black face and becomes Sergeant Lincoln Osiris. His portrayal of this true artist mocks any actor who might have taken a role to far just to reach for that Oscar gold. There are many other performances that stand out in this film including Tom Cruise, Jack Black, Steve Coogan, Nick Nolte and Danny McBride. This film has no limits on what they attack, ridicule and in the end greatly honor. It is a truly hilarious film that grows to be better each time I view it and I can always pick up on something new.



The next film I'd like to take a look at is "What Just Happened" it is an obscure film that I had heard of but never saw it in theatres. I was able to check it out on Netflix and found a gem of a film, simple but interesting. It is directed by Barry Levinson and follows Robert De Niro as a movie producer named Ben. He is encountered with a crap shoot of a film that ends with the violent murder of a dog and is a starring vehicle for the real Sean Penn. It is originally destroyed in early audience screenings with "F you's!" and flipping of the bird. It is obvious to Ben that something needs to happen and fast with the film so he takes his British overly artsy director and forces him to cut his "baby" to be more family friendly and less dark. During this tale Ben runs into marriage problems with his wife (Robin Wright Penn), issues with future scripts and a crazed bearded Bruce Willis who refuses to shave the animal that lives on his face. Ironic that Phoenix would eventually revolt against the establishment in the same way. He takes it as an attack on his artistic choice and has a hissy fit bordering on childish behavior. This was not a well reviewed film, but sometimes reviewers can't look deeper into the brilliance of this story with the real life actors and situations. The brilliance is not so apparent like that of "Tropic Thunder" with action packed scenes and perfectly executed caricatures. It is this simple approach that makes the film fun and intriguing as one man struggles through marriage and counseling while a Brit director tricks the establishment and gives a big middle finger to Ben with the newly cut final scene for his film. The movie has elements recognizable in "Entourage" with the use of actual celebrities, but instead of taking it on from an actors point of view it goes for the balls of the producer.



Mobsters, movies and money. That is the focus of the next selection, "Get Shorty" which takes on the movie business with a hint of mobster and a lot of laughs. This movie like many others in this time period has a lot of twist and turns that are similar to the films they parody. The film has an all star cast le by John Travolta and Gene Hackman and follows a film enthusiast mobster who is looking to change his scene to the land of glitz and glamour. "Tropic Thunder" is to war movies as "What Just Happened" is to simple indie films and "Get Shorty" is to mobster movies. To give you a synopsis of all that goes down in this film would pretty much destroy my brain so I'll just tell you "Get Shorty" takes you on a trip that will have you confused if you blink for just a moment. It explores all elements of the film industry from pre-production with Gene Hackman's Harry Zimm, acting with Danny Devito's portrayal of famous actor Martin Weir and financial efforts with Travolta's Chili Palmer and his mob ties. This film is great because it is the filmmaking equivalent of "Pulp Fiction" which I was misled by with people playing famous celebrities of course I now know that was for the Jack Rabbit Slim's scene. The movie uses comedy as an ally too, much like the previously mentioned films. There are some great scenes in the movie within the realm of comedy as well as crime. It is a great film overall, but certainly leaves you hanging just like any good crime film would in Hollywood.

Hey everybody sorry i didnt post last night but i promise to later

Hey make sure to check out the Blog later tonight for a full editorial on movies about making movies.

The laid back world of comedy

The new laid back "dude" seems to need an arsenal of pot, beer, and nudie mags to be all he can be, but where did this change take place?

I recently saw the films, "Observe and Report" and "I Love You, Man." Quick review for you, "Observe and Report" is a violent romp of painfully unfunny scenes and made me want to see Kevin James ("Paul Blart: Mall Cop") with his "Hello Kitty" band-aids and porno 'stache.

As for "I Love You, Man," it might have been my mindset, but this was probably the greatest comedy I had seen since "Forgetting Sarah Marshall." The story of a man who needs a good guy friend, connected with me on a level many comedies have never even touched. The awkward humor of the always brilliant Paul Rudd ("Anchorman") made the film. Jason Segel ("Forgetting Sarah Marshall") was great as well and a gem of a comedy actor hidden by all the Saturday Night Live leftovers. "I Love You, Man" is a great film and makes you realize what counts in life and will make you piss your pants with laughter, well it made me.

However, my issue with these two films is within the context of the story. That is the persona of the laid back character. He is the dude who likes to chill, watch T.V., and shred on his guitar. On top of these simple entertaining material objects there are drugs and alcohol, the sex is for personal time in the LA-Z-BOY.

It has become apparent to me that the laid back guy needs drugs such as marijuana first of all, then if that's not enough cocaine, Ecstasy, or even to go as far as heroine. It seems very lazy screenwriting to just give this person a seriously personal drug issue to show that he is a "cool" guy and is able to just "go with the flow."

I never imagined I would defend the film "Observe and Report," but the character who originally uses illegal substances turns out to be the bad guy, but not before transforming a normal individual like Ronnie Barnhardt (Seth Rogen) into a drug maniac who doesn't turn away from this "laid back baddie" until he witnesses him robbing a jewelry store. It is wrong to give these views of people as laid back or "cool" individuals when they are abusing drugs and alcohol.

This is especially noted when I saw the film "I Love You, Man" where Jason Segel plays a very cool character who can figure people out with just a quick glance, but there is an instant where in his bachelor pad you catch glance of a bong and I didn't lose respect for the character so much as I lost respect for the comedy genre as of late.

I will not deny I liked "Pineapple Express" and loved "Tropic Thunder" which both have substance abuse and couldn't help, but laugh when Jack Black was tied to a tree trying to get over his addiction. However, the humor has gone to far when it is just thrown in for a quick drug joke for the heck of it. The bong added nothing to the character Segel plays and I was slightly upset that these directors and writers think we are all gonna fall for the "pot equals cool" message.

I'm not saying stop the stoner comedy, but have a reason for it. The fact is James Franco in "Pineapple Express" needed to use substances to portray the character right and if you wanted to see a substance abused has-been comedian, Jack Black played it best. A security card doesn't need to shoot up to rob a mall, and a classy "dude" doesn't need pot to party.