Red (Morgan Freeman): We sat and drank with the sun on our shoulders and felt like free men. Hell, we could have been tarring the roof of one of our own houses. We were the lords of all creation. As for Andy – he spent that break hunkered in the shade, a strange little smile on his face, watching us drink his beer.

 
This film, also one of my favorites, often sits atop #1 voted movies on IMDb and some 16 years later it continues to resonate and inspire.
 
Caption:
Seasoned life “Red” (Morgan Freeman) and members of his gang (left to right: David Proval, William Sadler, Neil Giuntoli, Brian Libby and Joe Ragno) tar the Shawshank prison factory roof.
 
Photo by:
Michael Weinstein
 
Related Coverage:
::: View 1280×845
 
Image Source:
Official still that was used in the original US release of the film.
 
Related Links:
::: IMDb Profile
 

The Daily Movie Wallpaper
Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Here we see a young Charles Foster Kane given a replacement sled named “The Crusader” where a terse, “Merry Christmas” is exchanged. This moment although incredibly brief offers a key piece of the puzzle in helping to unravel one of the greatest secrets of cinema lore… Rosebud.

If you are a fan of Citizen Kane and/or Orson Welles, I recommend checking out the new Richard Linklater film, Me and Orson Welles, where Christian McKay gives a commanding performance playing Mr. Welles. If you have already seen it be sure to show your support and tweet: Christian McKay as Orson Welles for Best Actor #oscar

Richard Linklater mentioned last night at the special screening of his film at the Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar that he recently helped and took part in a plaque (along with the daughter of Mr. Welles) honoring the Mercury Theater in New York being placed on it (currently is an office building that without the plaque one would probably never know what it once was). Mr. Linklater noted of Mr. Welles that he was born in the perfect time to master theater, radio and cinema but ironically at the wrong time to be an independent filmmaker and how today’s set up would have much better facilitated his filmmaking career.

Related Coverage:
::: View Image 1280×935

Image Source:
Official French lobbycard that was used in the original French release of the film.

Related Links:
::: IMDb Profile

I’m beyond excited that one of the best films of 2009 is coming out relatively soon now on home video! I urge anyone that is a fan of the film to hop over onto Twitter and tweet why you think Sam Rockwell should be nominated for Best Actor and be sure to include the hashtag:

#samrockwelloscar

Related Coverage:
::: View 710×1000
::: Duncan Jones Official Twitter Account
::: Kevin Spacey Official Twitter Account
::: Duncan Jones Official Moon Blog
::: Official Site

Image Source:
Official still that was used in the original US release of the film.

Related Links:
::: IMDb Profile

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The Daily Movie Wallpaper
Sunday, September 13, 2009

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The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus was one of the last movies I saw play at Cannes this year. Terry Gilliam’s Time Bandits ranks as one of the most impressionable movies I saw as a kid that helped give me my great passionate affinity for the power and magic of cinema. Gilliam’s body of work is such that whatever he does I’m more than eager to check it out as was the case with this latest effort as word of mouth was very strong.

Heath Ledger turns in his most unique and soul searching performances to date. Coming off playing the Joker and perhaps recognizing how audiences perceive him, he goes in a completely different direction to really dive into the character of Tony and this story by Gilliam. He does anything but play it safe or try and walk ground we have seen him walk before which if nothing else will bring back his fans to watch this again and again.

Lily Cole and Christopher Plummer in particular I thought were exceptional and really help to give the effort more emotional attachment and energy.

The assemble cast that inhabits Ledger’s shoes are all interesting in their own ways but I think it would have been far better had Ledger been able to finish it and we have seen his complete character arc, which is a shame as I’ll always wonder how and where he would have taken Tony as the film raced towards its final act. Law, Farrell and Depp make the most of their screen time and their most to blend right in.

As I watched the first half of The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus unfold I was completely surprised by how well everything came together and was into the film, its world and characters. When the effort moves into the second half and becomes incredibly manic and the revolving door of who plays Tony next really starts swinging open again and again, I just failed to connect with it. It’s an admirable effort at just what was able to be carved together yet this part feels to sprawling and out of control. It adds too much excess in its second half in an otherwise engaging tale. One or two more passes in the edit room and its second half excess trimmed out and this would be one of the years best and I’m really looking forward to seeing its updated cut at Sitges Film Festival. If I’ve learned anything from titles that played at Cannes is that post their showing there they are often re-cut or evolve into different prints that work far superior.

Image Source:
Official stills that were used in the original international release of the film.

Related Links:
::: IMDb Profile

The Daily Movie Wallpaper
Sunday, August 30, 2009

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Steven Spielberg has officially signed on to tackle remaking or putting this well loved play and film through his own particular vision. Tom Hanks seems like he would be the perfect Elwood P. Dowd and who could most easily walk in the shoes and shadow of James Stewart, which is no easy thing to do.

Caption:
Elwood P. Dowd (James Stewart) converses with Harvey, his invisible rabbit companion, at a neighborhood bar in this scene from Universal-International’s screen version of the play hit, “HARVEY.”

Image Source:
Official still that was used in the original international release of the film.

Related Links:
::: IMDb Profile