Pop Culture Buzz

No One Could Predict
The Mess That Became Known As
Speed Racer The Film

** STARS

I am sad to announce that the first official disappointment of the summer season is here, although it doesn’t land with a thud, the distinct whimper of a so-so movie can be heard within the 2 hours of this film. The idea of a “Speed Racer” movie sounded like a great idea, but even the creators of “The Matrix” (The Wachowski Brothers) can’t muster up enough imagination to keep me on the edge of my seat with their latest outing.

If it wasn’t for the eye popping visuals, some semi-good acting (by Emille Hirsch and Matthew Fox) and the neon drenched special effects I wouldn’t be able to halfway recommend this movie at all. “Speed Racer” eventually becomes hampered by its paper thin plot and slapstick moments with Chim-Chim and Speed Racer’s annoying little brother Spritle.

I wouldn’t be surprised if young adults and teens flock to this film, it is being marketed like soda or candy, and much like those things this movie is the equivalent of junk food. Its fun to consume in the beginning, but it eventually leaves you feeling a bit empty and loaded down. It’s a shame that the visuals became the selling point and main gimmick in “Speed Racer, with a great story this could have been an exhilarating ride.

This summer is chock full of enormous films and I’d like to save you some cash by recommending that you wait to see this movie until it comes out onto DVD. If you want to be dazzled by great effects and get the full summer experience from your blockbuster’s then rush out to see “Iron Man”, because “Speed Racer” doesn’t deliver on the goods it promises.

DIRECTOR JOHN WATERS

STORY FROM THE HOLLYWOODREPORTER.COM

Johnny Knoxville and Parker Posey are attached to star in John Waters’ Christmas children’s film “Fruitcake.”

This Is That Prods. and Killer Films are producing “Fruitcake,” which once was set up at New Line. ThinkFilm is said to be in talks to come aboard.

John Waters is my favorite director and if anyone can pull off a warm hearted and quirky family film, he can. After all, his major hit “Hairspray” is ratd PG and it is a true family classic with all of Waters signature gross out moments and campy style to boot! I cannot wait to see “Fruitcake” in theaters this holiday season!

JOHNNY KNOXVILLE

PARKER POSEY

Welcome to a new editorial section of Pop Culture Buzz called “Yeah, I Said It” written by a good friend of mine (who is also a “pop whore”) Stephen A. Marchi. He is currently galavanting across Europe to see the one and only pint sized gay diva herself, Miss Kylie Minogue!

I have asked Stephen to review Madonna’s “Hard Candy” because he is one of Madge’s biggest fans and he has a fabulous sense of pop culture taste…I will forgive him for his love of Britney. But that is why I have asked him to join my blog as a guest blogger once in a while, I need another perspective to spice things up.

I personally agree with Stephen’s reviews for each of these songs, he hits the nail right on the head. I currently can’t stop playing “Give It To Me”. I give Madonna’s “Hard Candy” a solid B+, it is already one of my favorite albums of 2008. Check out Stephen’s mini-review below and keep your eyes peeled for more “Yeah, I Said It” postings!

YEAH I SAID IT!
By Stephen A. Marchi

MADONNA - “HARD CANDY”

Candy Shop: Probs my least favorite track off the album. Turkish Delight?? Only Parker Posey can say ‘Turkish Delight’ in my book - Party Girl. He he Hello! Too Pharrell’ish.

4 Minutes: Loves it! And it does sound like a Justin Timberlake track, HOWEVER, it’s a Madonna Track - peeps need to get over it. There are a lot of Madonna’isms in it. Especially her singing/yelling ‘YEAAAAH’ And “sometimes I think I need a you Intervention.” The road to hell is paved with good intentions…YEAAAAH. And the video is BRILLS. Love those French boy directors.

Give It To Me: Love the beat and it’s the second single off the album. She’s already filmed the video. Have you seen the video on YouTube where’s she’s vacuuming telling Miley Cyrus/others to keep up the good work on spoofing ‘4 Minutes’? Again, BRILLS. Madge is reaching out to her younger audience.

Heartbeat: Sounds like a song off Kylie’s new album X. Very 80’s sounding. Solid Track.

Miles Away: Ode to Guy Ritchie - seems like their marriage is better when they’re Miles Apart. It works for some peeps and with a force like Madonna, it probs has too. Another Solid Track.

She’s Not Me: Ok, love this song. I believe she’s totes talking about Guy Ritchie’s girlfriend before they were a couple. Hmmm, maybe a counter-attack to Robbie Williams/PetShopBoy’s ‘She’s Madonna’ (loves that song and video).

Incredible: Ok track. Fun, light, airy. To me, sounds very early 90’s.

Beat Goes On: The Beat is Hip/Hop. Ok song, very Pharrell..AGAIN Oh and a cameo by Kayne West. Not a big fan of ‘I deserve every award’ West. Still love it. It’s Madonna.

Dance2Night: Another Justin Timberlake track. It’s ok.

Spanish Lesson: Another Madonna Spanish song. What kind I say…it’s ok. It will grow on you. However, I don’t need a Spanish Lesson.

Devil Wouldn’t Recognize You: Love, LOVE, LOVE this song. Great beat, ominous. Overall, an awesome song. I keep listening to this song over and over. This song with her last song on the album are slower, which I love when Madge sings slower songs. She’s good at ballads.

Voices: “Who is the Master, Who is the slave” as Justin T begins this song. And then….the BEST beat on the album!!! This is my FAV song on the album. It’s got great lyrics, beats, and a genius ending for her ending relationship with Warner Bros. It’s almost like an end to a Musical or Opera. Hands down a FEROCH SONG! OMG, it’s really good.

Well, that’s my TWO CENTS! I love it, I love Madonna, and I love “Hard Candy”! She can do no wrong in my book! FRESH!

YEAH, I SAID IT!
Stephen A. Marchi

LISTEN TO MADONNA’S NEW ALBUM BELOW:

*** STARS

A lot of people will dismiss “Baby Mama” as a fluffy chick flick based on the previews. As a huge fan of both Tina Fey and Amy Poehler’s I am so glad to report that this film is a sweet comedy with a huge heart and lots of charm. The jokes in this movie are nowhere near as raunchy or dirty as they are in recent adult comedies like “Forgetting Sarah Marshall”, but they work in creating lots of laughs.

It is Poehler and Fey’s chemistry alone that lifts this film from mediocrity and DVD obscurity. “Baby Mama” has been certified as a hit and critics have generally been won over by the duo’s hilarious banter and onscreen relationship. I think both ladies have a great chance at becoming decent film actresses if they pick roles that compliment their spot on comedic timing.

Tina Fey and Greg Kinnear also have a cute and believable relationship in this movie as love interest’s that doesn’t take up too much screen time. The main focus in “Baby Mama” is always on the great one liners and Poehler’s clumsy down to earth performance as the white trash surrogate to Fey’s lonesome professional single woman.

Even though this summer is filled with all kinds of special effects extravaganzas and huge tent pole releases from the major studios, “Baby Mama” is the perfect choice for a side splitting hour and a half of fun in theaters. If you are looking for a simple old fashioned comedy with likeable characters this is a great way to cool off in a cram packed summer of glossy choices.

WATCH THE “BABY MAMA” MOVIE TRAILER BELOW:

Robyn’s breakthrough pop CD “Robyn” has finally been released in the U.S. and the publicity machine is in full gear. One of her first singles “Who’s That Girl?” is a stand out track amongst a list of other sparkling gems. The song itself was written by fellow Swedes, The Knife.

A few years ago while making this CD Robyn looked at the way in which The Knife were releasing their music and was impressed. As owners of Rabid Records, siblings Karin Dreijer Andersson and Olof Dreijer (The Knife) have complete creative control over their music and are able to license it to territories and labels as they see fit. Robyn eventually created her own label Konichiwa Records based on their influence.

Robyn wrote this track and then recorded it with the duo around the time they were putting out their second album “Deep Cuts”, the song has a blend of Robyn’s pop shine and the duo’s dark moody electro music combined.

Check out the video for “Who’s That Girl?” below:

STORY FROM WIKIPEDIA.COM

“Christmas on Mars” is a forthcoming science fiction feature film from my favorite Oklahoma psychedelic alternative rock band The Flaming Lips. It has been in development since 2001. Filming was completed in October of 2005, and the film is scheduled to premiere on May 25th, 2008 at the Sasquatch! Music Festival.

According to the band’s website, Christmas on Mars is a film “written and directed by Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne, and featuring all of the band and many of their associates as actors.”

The film tells the story of the experiences of Major Syrtis during the first Christmas on a newly-colonized Mars. Coyne has described the film as “Maybe “Eraserhead” or “Dead Man” crossed with some kind of fantasy and space aspects, like “The Wizard of Oz” and maybe “2001: A Space Odyssey”, except done without real actors or money, and set at Christmas-time. The story that unfolds is intended to hint at childlike magic within a tragic and realistic situation.”

I have been waiting for this bizarre little “film” for a few years. I am one of the biggest Flaming Lips fans around. 2 years ago I was picked out of the audience at one of their shows in S.F. on New Years Eve to dance on stage. I have been an rabid fan ever since!

It is not intended for ‘Christmas on Mars’ to be released at conventional movie theaters. Instead, a DVD release will be preceded by a number of screenings at rock venues. In true Flaming Lips style, the plan is to use more than the standard movie screening equipment and turn each screening into ‘a big visceral event’.

Lead singer of The Lips Wayne Coyne mentioned that the band plans to take the film on a tour of some sort. “I want the Flaming Lips audience to shape this. It’ll be like our live show, which evolves as it goes. We’ll show it to the audience and let them talk out there on message boards, and then maybe we’ll take that and go back and change it and put it out there again and see what they think. It’ll be a different experience than sitting at home and watching a DVD, for sure. I don’t know if a lot of bands can do that, but the Flaming Lips sure can.”

WATCH THE “CRHISTMAS ON MARS” MOVIE TRAILER BELOW:

MEL C - “NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN” (2000)

THE UNDERDOG PROJECT - “SUMMER JAM” (2000)

ROBBIE WILLIAMS - “LET LOVE BE YOUR ENERGY” (2001)

RACHEL STEVENS - “SWEET DREAMS MY L.A. EX” (2003)

Sam Sparro (born Sam Falso) is a producer, songwriter and performer, and former child actor. He is signed to UK-based record label, Island Records. After hearing Sparro’s singing, Chaka Khan became one of his early admirers….add me to the list of his new fans as well!

Sparro performed this song with Mark Ronson at this year’s Coachella Music Festival and it instantly won me over and now I am a huge Sam Sparro fan. This fun summer jam is currently rising up the UK music charts.

Check out Sam Sparro’s catchy brand of dance music below:

LISTEN TO SOME OF THIS SUMMER’S HOTTEST MUSIC TRACKS BELOW!

JUST HAVE FUN!

GRADE: A

I wish I would have seen this fabulously creepy film in theaters. The attention to detail and the intelligent script make “The Orphanage” a stand out spooky movie with genuine chills and moments of real tension. This movie belongs in the ranks of “The Sixth Sense” and “The Others” as one of the most effective ghost stories ever filmed.

Right off the bat the atmosphere and story start to build up in “The Orphanage”. A lot of the mood and chills in this film come from what is not seen as your imagination runs wild. Leading lady Belen Rueda gives an electric performance as the haunted mother who returns to her childhood orphanage to start a life with her husband and newly adopted son.

The twists and plot devices in this scary picture are refreshing and creative. The dark tone of this movie is highlighted by the vibrant cinematography and uber intelligent script. I was completely mesmerized by every scene in this film up until the films jolting shocking ending.

If you love a good ghost that doesn’t use gore or run of the mill familiar gags to elicit scares, then this fresh adult film is what you have been waiting for. “The Orphanage” is a brilliant work of horror film making and it is already a classic that deserves a cult following for years to come.

“Finding Amanda” is a comedy out this summer starring Brittany Snow and Matthew Broderick. The plot revolves around a television producer with a penchant for drinking and gambling, who is sent to Las Vegas to convince his troubled niece to enter rehab.

The trailer below doesn’t give much hope that this quirky little film will be able to fit in amongst the huge blockbusters that are being released this summer. In a sea of multi-million dollar special effects monsters this movie doesn’t have a chance. Thank god for Netflix.

*** 1/2 STARS

This summer is going to be a doozy! Already we are off to a surprise bang with the fast paced ultra charged superhero film “Iron Man” starring Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeff Bridges and Terrence Howard. With critics already calling this another “super hero summer” this movie will be hard to top. The fleshed out characters, hilarious dialogue and subtle special effects make “Iron Man” already one of the best comic book films ever made.

I was a bit hesitant when I heard Downey Jr. was cast as the drunken billionaire inventor Tony Stark. But as you will find out by watching this high octane action film, Downey Jr. carries the charisma and bubbly energy that is through out this film. Downey Jr. even bulked up to become the next big action star and it suits him well.

The chemistry between Paltrow and Downey is like a throw back to old school Hollywood. The hilariously flirty banter between them creates a great comic tone that keeps the movie from drowning in testosterone. Director John Favreau put a lot of heart and realism into these characters, which is different for a comic book movie. “Iron Man” sits right next to “Spider Man” as one of the most realistic and human movies about superheroes ever created.

In the next few weeks an avalanche of great looking movies will be forced upon the movie going public. “Iron Man” has already set the bar high for all other action films that dare to come out this summer. This film has already been deemed a classic by many fans and for good reason. The witty dialogue, likeable characters, the down played visuals and high energy make “Iron Man” a stand out in the genre.

1.) Iron Man $100,750,000 / $104,250,000

2.) Made of Honor $15,500,000 / $15,500,000

3.) Baby Mama $10,332,000 / $32,329,000

4.) Forgetting Sarah Marshall $6,132,000 / $44,804,000

5.) Harold & Kumar 2 $6,015,000 / $25,270,000

6.) The Forbidden Kingdom $4,200,000 $45,124,000

7.) Nim’s Island $2,750,000 / $42,544,000

8.) Prom Night $2,500,000 / $41,447,000

9.) 21 $2,100,000 / $79,057,000

10.) 88 Minutes $1,600,000 / $15,426,000

LETTERS TO CLEO - HERE AND NOW (1995)

JILL SOBULE - I KISSED A GIRL (1995)

LUCIOUS JACKSON - NAKED EYE (1996)

TRACY BONHAM - MOTHER MOTHER (1997)