Acclaimed filmmaker Morgan Spurlock, best known for his documentary Super Size Me, died on May 23 in New York City at the age of 53 from cancer complications.
Spurlock’s family announced his death with his brother Craig’s statement, “It was a sad day, as we said goodbye to my brother Morgan. Morgan gave so much through his art, ideas and generosity. The world has lost a true creative genius and a special man. I am so proud to have worked together with him.”
Spurlock’s 2004 film Super Size Me catapulted him to critical acclaim and earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Documentary Feature. In the documentary, Spurlock challenged himself to eat only meals from McDonald’s for an entire month to shed light on the fast food industry’s impact on health and wellness. The film’s provocative and insightful approach made it a landmark in the genre.
Beyond Super Size Me,...
Spurlock’s family announced his death with his brother Craig’s statement, “It was a sad day, as we said goodbye to my brother Morgan. Morgan gave so much through his art, ideas and generosity. The world has lost a true creative genius and a special man. I am so proud to have worked together with him.”
Spurlock’s 2004 film Super Size Me catapulted him to critical acclaim and earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Documentary Feature. In the documentary, Spurlock challenged himself to eat only meals from McDonald’s for an entire month to shed light on the fast food industry’s impact on health and wellness. The film’s provocative and insightful approach made it a landmark in the genre.
Beyond Super Size Me,...
- 5/25/2024
- by Baila Eve Zisman
- Uinterview
Morgan Spurlock, best known for the 2004 documentary Super Size Me, has died following a private battle with cancer, Deadline reports. He was 53 years old.
Spurlock directed and starred in the aforementioned Super Size Me, which followed the filmmaker over a 30-day period in which he only consumed McDonald’s food and charted the drastic changes in his physical and psychological health. The film earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Documentary Feature.
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His filmography...
Spurlock directed and starred in the aforementioned Super Size Me, which followed the filmmaker over a 30-day period in which he only consumed McDonald’s food and charted the drastic changes in his physical and psychological health. The film earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Documentary Feature.
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His filmography...
- 5/24/2024
- by Ryan Schwartz
- TVLine.com
Morgan Spurlock, the independent filmmaker who playfully critiqued consumerism and capitalism in documentaries like Super Size Me and The Greatest Movie Ever Sold, has died at the age of 53.
Spurlock’s family confirmed the director’s death, adding that Spurlock died Thursday surrounded by friends and family in New York. The cause of death was complications from cancer.
“It was a sad day, as we said goodbye to my brother Morgan,” his brother and frequent collaborator Craig Spurlock said in a statement. “Morgan gave so much through his art, ideas,...
Spurlock’s family confirmed the director’s death, adding that Spurlock died Thursday surrounded by friends and family in New York. The cause of death was complications from cancer.
“It was a sad day, as we said goodbye to my brother Morgan,” his brother and frequent collaborator Craig Spurlock said in a statement. “Morgan gave so much through his art, ideas,...
- 5/24/2024
- by Daniel Kreps
- Rollingstone.com
Morgan Spurlock, the Academy Award-nominated documentarian, has died at the age of 53 due to complications from cancer.
Spurlock is perhaps best known for his 2004 film Super Size Me in which he consumed only McDonald’s food for a period of 30 days. The documentary was nominated for an Oscar and won Best Documentary Screenplay from the Writers Guild of America. It also grossed more than $20 million at the box office, making it one of the most commercially successful documentaries of all time.
Spurlock initially began his career as a playwright after attending New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. Prior to helming Super Size Me in 2004, he created the dare show I Bet You Will, which initially began as a webseries and was then picked up by MTV.
The success of Super Size Me led Spurlock to become of the Hollywood’s most in-demand documentarians. In the years that followed,...
Spurlock is perhaps best known for his 2004 film Super Size Me in which he consumed only McDonald’s food for a period of 30 days. The documentary was nominated for an Oscar and won Best Documentary Screenplay from the Writers Guild of America. It also grossed more than $20 million at the box office, making it one of the most commercially successful documentaries of all time.
Spurlock initially began his career as a playwright after attending New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. Prior to helming Super Size Me in 2004, he created the dare show I Bet You Will, which initially began as a webseries and was then picked up by MTV.
The success of Super Size Me led Spurlock to become of the Hollywood’s most in-demand documentarians. In the years that followed,...
- 5/24/2024
- by Scoop Harrison
- Consequence - Film News
US documentary filmmaker Morgan Spurlock has died at the age of 53.
The director, best known for his Oscar-nominated film Super Size Me, died from complications with cancer on May 23, his family said in a statement.
Spurlock began his career as a playwright before rising to international prominence with his fast food documentary Super Size Me, about McDonalds, which premiered at Sundance in 2004 and garnered several accolades including best documentary screenplay from the Writers Guild of America.
His other documentaries include Where In The World Is Osama Bin Laden?; The Greatest Movie Ever Sold; and Super Size Me 2: Holy Chicken!...
The director, best known for his Oscar-nominated film Super Size Me, died from complications with cancer on May 23, his family said in a statement.
Spurlock began his career as a playwright before rising to international prominence with his fast food documentary Super Size Me, about McDonalds, which premiered at Sundance in 2004 and garnered several accolades including best documentary screenplay from the Writers Guild of America.
His other documentaries include Where In The World Is Osama Bin Laden?; The Greatest Movie Ever Sold; and Super Size Me 2: Holy Chicken!...
- 5/24/2024
- ScreenDaily
Many horror fans have been eager to see what filmmaker Sean Byrne has in store for them following his well-received feature film debut, The Loved Ones (2009). Next March, the wait will finally be over, as IFC Midnight has acquired Byrne's The Devil's Candy for North American distribution, with a release slated for March of 2017.
In case you missed it, check out Kalyn Corrigan's Fantastic Fest 2015 review of The Devil's Candy. Below, we have the official press release with full details on IFC Midnight acquiring the film:
Press Release: New York, NY (October 21, 2016) – IFC Midnight announced today that the company has acquired North American rights to Sean Byrne’s The Devil’S Candy. The film, written and directed by Byrne, stars Ethan Embry, Shiri Appleby, Pruitt Taylor Vince and Kiara Glasco. The film was produced by Keith Calder and Jessica Calder for Snoot Entertainment LLC. The film made its world premiere...
In case you missed it, check out Kalyn Corrigan's Fantastic Fest 2015 review of The Devil's Candy. Below, we have the official press release with full details on IFC Midnight acquiring the film:
Press Release: New York, NY (October 21, 2016) – IFC Midnight announced today that the company has acquired North American rights to Sean Byrne’s The Devil’S Candy. The film, written and directed by Byrne, stars Ethan Embry, Shiri Appleby, Pruitt Taylor Vince and Kiara Glasco. The film was produced by Keith Calder and Jessica Calder for Snoot Entertainment LLC. The film made its world premiere...
- 10/25/2016
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
Produced by Morgan Spurlock (Pom Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold) and directed by Brent Hodge (I Am Chris Farley), The Pistol Shrimps follows an L.A.-based rec-league team. Actress Maria Blasucci created The Pistol Shrimps, and their point guard is Aubrey Plaza (Parks and Recreation). The team is primarily made up of actors and writers, and Hodge’s doc […]
The post ‘The Pistol Shrimps’ Trailer: Are You Ready For Shrimps Basketball Time? appeared first on /Film.
The post ‘The Pistol Shrimps’ Trailer: Are You Ready For Shrimps Basketball Time? appeared first on /Film.
- 6/17/2016
- by Jack Giroux
- Slash Film
Director Morgan Spurlock has tackled a variety of topics in documentary films. He looked at the nutritional value of McDonald’s in Super Size Me, tried to hunt a terrorist in Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden?, exposed marketing tricks in Pom Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold and even followed around One […]
The post Crafted Trailer: Morgan Spurlock’s Documentary Short About Artisanship appeared first on /Film.
The post Crafted Trailer: Morgan Spurlock’s Documentary Short About Artisanship appeared first on /Film.
- 6/7/2015
- by Ethan Anderton
- Slash Film
Morgan Spurlock is to direct a new documentary about the presence of rats in New York City.
Rats NYC will be a feature-length film looking at the origins of rats, their ability to spread diseases, including historical plague, and their use as test subjects, reports Deadline.
It will feature discussions with exterminators, city officials, sanitation workers, hunters, historians and animal rights activists.
Rats NYC is based on Robert Sullivan's book Rats: Observations on the History & Habitat of the City's Most Unwanted Inhabitants, which sees Sullivan investigate a rat-infested alley just a few blocks away from Wall Street.
Spurlock said of the film: "As a New Yorker, I've had a two-decade-long love/hate affair with rats. We've all seen them and we all live with them, we just don't want to know we're living with them.
"This movie is going to be a modern day horror film - it will make you squirm,...
Rats NYC will be a feature-length film looking at the origins of rats, their ability to spread diseases, including historical plague, and their use as test subjects, reports Deadline.
It will feature discussions with exterminators, city officials, sanitation workers, hunters, historians and animal rights activists.
Rats NYC is based on Robert Sullivan's book Rats: Observations on the History & Habitat of the City's Most Unwanted Inhabitants, which sees Sullivan investigate a rat-infested alley just a few blocks away from Wall Street.
Spurlock said of the film: "As a New Yorker, I've had a two-decade-long love/hate affair with rats. We've all seen them and we all live with them, we just don't want to know we're living with them.
"This movie is going to be a modern day horror film - it will make you squirm,...
- 11/10/2014
- Digital Spy
Disney is developing The Princess of North Sudan, which is based on the recent events of an American man claiming a territory in Africa and proclaiming himself and his family its kings and queens. The studio has picked up the life rights of the man, Jeremiah Heaton, as well as that of his family. Morgan Spurlock, the filmmaker behind documentaries Super Size Me and The Greatest Movie Ever Sold, is on board to produce along with Richard Arlook. The media covered the event in the summer, which focused on American dad Heaton whose daughter asked if she would ever
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- 11/6/2014
- by Borys Kit
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Morgan Spurlock, the documentary filmmaker at the helm of Super Size Me and The Greatest Movie Ever Sold, is shaking things up again with his new digital series We The Economy: 20 Short Films You Can’t Afford To Miss. The series, which is a collaboration between Spurlock’s production company Cinelan and Paul Allen’s Vulcan, aims to educate Americans about the economy in ways that are accessible and entertaining.
Spurlock and advisor Adam Davidson explained to uInterview how We The Economy, which offers collaborations between with actors, leading directors and economists, seeks to break through the clutter. “We have 20 A-list actors, we are working with 10 brilliant economic minds, to tell stories that we should all understand a little bit better and that we should want to embrace,” Spurlock told uInterview.
One short film Davidson worked on, The Unbelievable Sweet Alpacas, a cartoon that confronts income inequality and features the voices of comics Sarah Silverman,...
Spurlock and advisor Adam Davidson explained to uInterview how We The Economy, which offers collaborations between with actors, leading directors and economists, seeks to break through the clutter. “We have 20 A-list actors, we are working with 10 brilliant economic minds, to tell stories that we should all understand a little bit better and that we should want to embrace,” Spurlock told uInterview.
One short film Davidson worked on, The Unbelievable Sweet Alpacas, a cartoon that confronts income inequality and features the voices of comics Sarah Silverman,...
- 10/27/2014
- Uinterview
“There are more movies nowadays, so the cultural decay of ideas is much, much faster.” Those words stuck with me right after I heard them from a branding expert in Morgan Spurlock’s documentary ‘The greatest movie ever sold’. Sure, it’s nothing new. It’s a given: causing an impact nowadays is much harder than it used to. Back in 1977, works like ‘Star Wars’ were like an oasis in the desert. Under that analogy, today’s movie landscape would be like a desert filled with oases. It’s a good thing, in principle. 2014 alone is already shaping up as quite the geek fest. Spidey, X-Men, Cap, Robocop, Godzilla (my personal favorite for the year)… And I won’t even get into 2015. That’s some insane amount of geekery that’s coming, y’all. But still, the expert’s words haunt me… because of how sad they are. It’s...
- 1/11/2014
- ComicBookMovie.com
An indulgent documentary about James Toback and Alec Baldwin's attempt to pitch an erotic drama at Cannes festival has little new to say
Having long been agnostic on the subject of James Toback's manly genius, I can't say that this whimsical HBO (mock?)-doc was a disappointment – merely a confirmation. Toback and Alec Baldwin team up to raise financing for a feature film that will transpose the eroticism of Last Tango in Paris to battle-scarred Iraq – or so they claim. So it's off to Cannes for a series of meetings with international money-men, interspersed with cosy conversations with their famous friends (Scorsese, Coppola, Bertolucci) and punctuated by what the makers presumably feel are funny/touching/profound personal vignettes. The revelations about Cannes (the glitz is tacky, the market is real) are all as old as the festival itself; the insights into the movie biz (art doesn't matter, stars...
Having long been agnostic on the subject of James Toback's manly genius, I can't say that this whimsical HBO (mock?)-doc was a disappointment – merely a confirmation. Toback and Alec Baldwin team up to raise financing for a feature film that will transpose the eroticism of Last Tango in Paris to battle-scarred Iraq – or so they claim. So it's off to Cannes for a series of meetings with international money-men, interspersed with cosy conversations with their famous friends (Scorsese, Coppola, Bertolucci) and punctuated by what the makers presumably feel are funny/touching/profound personal vignettes. The revelations about Cannes (the glitz is tacky, the market is real) are all as old as the festival itself; the insights into the movie biz (art doesn't matter, stars...
- 11/10/2013
- by Mark Kermode
- The Guardian - Film News
It’s become a pop music rite of passage for all the big acts to try to release a concert film at the height of their popularity. Or at least that’s the way it seems. I can’t help but cynically assume that once a pop star like Justin Bieber or Katy Perry or the Jonas Brothers come out with their concert movies, they’ve lost confidence in their future drawing ability. They figure this is the best chance they’re going to get to draw people out to a theater, perhaps even to shill out enough to cover a 3D ticket in the hopes of getting the True Concert Experience. It’s all downhill after the concert movie. And to be clear, I don’t know if this is an actual, measurable trend, or if it’s merely anecdotal. I also don’t know who “they” are in this scenario exactly,...
- 9/17/2013
- by Darren Ruecker
- We Got This Covered
Today’s film is the 2013 short You Don’t Know Jack. The film, which is a documentary focusing on Jack Andraka and his contributions to pancreatic cancer research, is directed by Morgan Spurlock. Spurlock rose to prominence in 2004 with his debut documentary feature Super Size Me, before going on to do the tv series 30 Days and A Day in the Life and features such as The Greatest Movie Ever Sold and Mansome. His newest documentary This Is Us, focusing on the pop group One Direction, opens in wide release in American theatres this weekend.
The post Saturday Shorts: ‘You Don’t Know Jack’, directed by Morgan Spurlock appeared first on Sound On Sight.
The post Saturday Shorts: ‘You Don’t Know Jack’, directed by Morgan Spurlock appeared first on Sound On Sight.
- 8/31/2013
- by Deepayan Sengupta
- SoundOnSight
The 5 easiest reasons I could come up with for how in god’s name One Direction: This Is Us turned me from a skeptic into a belieber believer would be: Harry, Niall, Louis, Liam, and Zayn. That would be both far too easy and obvious, and also too simplistic—I do want to be clear that I absolutely could do that because these guys are genuinely adorbs. I didn’t want to like them as much as I did, and I didn’t want to admit that I liked them as much as I did, and yet here I am.
Tempting as it might be to attribute this likeability entirely to the band (a term which everyone calls them, despite boy bands being as much “band” as “Cheez Whiz” is cheese), major credit is due to the efforts of directioner director and honorary sixth One Direction member, Morgan Spurlock. I...
Tempting as it might be to attribute this likeability entirely to the band (a term which everyone calls them, despite boy bands being as much “band” as “Cheez Whiz” is cheese), major credit is due to the efforts of directioner director and honorary sixth One Direction member, Morgan Spurlock. I...
- 8/31/2013
- by Darren Ruecker
- We Got This Covered
The director of One Direction's new documentary has revealed that, although the band agreed to give him access to everything he wanted, there were moments when the boys were "vulnerable" and he decided himself to stop filming.
"When you're somebody in the position that they're in, there is a kind of vulnerability all the time," Morgan Spurlock tells HuffPostUK.
Morgan Spurlock (centre) with One Direction, whom he's spent the past year filming
"We filmed in moments when they were sad, when it was hard, when they didn't want to talk, but we got them to... but there are times when you say, 'Ok, now we should stop, now's a time when someone needs their space.'"
Spurlock may seem an unlikely choice to document 'This Is Us', an undiluted celebration of globalised pop. His previous films demonstrate an eyebrow permanently raised to such corporate endeavours, including force-feeding...
"When you're somebody in the position that they're in, there is a kind of vulnerability all the time," Morgan Spurlock tells HuffPostUK.
Morgan Spurlock (centre) with One Direction, whom he's spent the past year filming
"We filmed in moments when they were sad, when it was hard, when they didn't want to talk, but we got them to... but there are times when you say, 'Ok, now we should stop, now's a time when someone needs their space.'"
Spurlock may seem an unlikely choice to document 'This Is Us', an undiluted celebration of globalised pop. His previous films demonstrate an eyebrow permanently raised to such corporate endeavours, including force-feeding...
- 8/21/2013
- by Caroline Frost
- Huffington Post
Feature Simon Brew 21 Aug 2013 - 07:12
When Peter Capaldi was cast as the 12th Doctor, we found ourselves with a big article on One Direction to write. And we've done it...
This bit is not part of the word count. Instead, it seems important to set the scene.
On Saturday 3rd August 2013, I sent out a Tweet from the Den Of Geek account, which looked something like this:
If Peter Capaldi is cast as the 12th Doctor tomorrow night, we will commit to a good 3000 words on the One Direction movie.
— Den Of Geek (@denofgeek) August 3, 2013
Hence, this article. Which now begins...
The Wordcount Starts Here
If you were reading Den Of Geek back in 2010, you may recall we ran a series of blockbuster movie preview feature articles. Because we were having a light-hearted moment, we ran one for Sex And The City 2. If you clicked on that article...
When Peter Capaldi was cast as the 12th Doctor, we found ourselves with a big article on One Direction to write. And we've done it...
This bit is not part of the word count. Instead, it seems important to set the scene.
On Saturday 3rd August 2013, I sent out a Tweet from the Den Of Geek account, which looked something like this:
If Peter Capaldi is cast as the 12th Doctor tomorrow night, we will commit to a good 3000 words on the One Direction movie.
— Den Of Geek (@denofgeek) August 3, 2013
Hence, this article. Which now begins...
The Wordcount Starts Here
If you were reading Den Of Geek back in 2010, you may recall we ran a series of blockbuster movie preview feature articles. Because we were having a light-hearted moment, we ran one for Sex And The City 2. If you clicked on that article...
- 8/20/2013
- by ryanlambie
- Den of Geek
They light up our world like nobody else. If, like us, you have a giant poster of One Direction on the ceiling above your bed that your girlfriend finds both strange and disturbing, you are probably fully aware that Niall, Zayn, Liam, Harry, John, Paul and Ringo have a movie coming out very soon. What you might not know is that at the helm is Morgan Spurlock, the documentary filmmaker behind Super Size Me and The Greatest Movie Ever Sold.
- 6/26/2013
- Sky Movies
Earlier this year, a teaser for the concert documentary 1D3D went behind the scenes of the British pop phenomenon One Direction debuted. Normally, we wouldn't really care about this sort of thing, but infamous documentarian Morgan Spurlock (Super Size Me, The Greatest Movie Ever Sold) is behind the camera for this late summer release. The buzz around the band seems to have died down considerably lately, and now their movie is going by the title One Direction: This is Us, just to make sure people other than fans know what the hell this movie is all about. Looks like fun for fans of the band's music at least. Watch? Here's the full trailer for One Direction: This is Us from the band's Vevo page: One Direction – Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson – were discovered by Simon Cowell on the U.K.’s “The X Factor...
- 6/25/2013
- by Ethan Anderton
- firstshowing.net
Morgan Spurlock is one of the most well-known documentary filmmakers working in Hollywood. He was nominated for an Academy Award for "Super Size Me" and drove films like "The Greatest Movie Ever Sold" and "Where In The World Is Osama Bin Laden?" to audiences beyond the art house.
He also made a movie about One Direction.
Titled "1D3D," the One Direction movie follows in the path of "Katy Perry: Part of Me" and "Justin Bieber: Never Say Never" in that it's a concert movie plus documentary. The film follows the boys of One Direction -- Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, Liam Payne and Louis Tomlinson -- as they embark on a global tour. "You think you know their story," reads a title card, "but this is just the beginning."
"1D3D" is set for release on Aug. 30. Watch the trailer above.
He also made a movie about One Direction.
Titled "1D3D," the One Direction movie follows in the path of "Katy Perry: Part of Me" and "Justin Bieber: Never Say Never" in that it's a concert movie plus documentary. The film follows the boys of One Direction -- Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, Liam Payne and Louis Tomlinson -- as they embark on a global tour. "You think you know their story," reads a title card, "but this is just the beginning."
"1D3D" is set for release on Aug. 30. Watch the trailer above.
- 2/11/2013
- by Christopher Rosen
- Huffington Post
One Direction are getting super sized! Morgan Spurlock is set to direct the 3D documentary about the teen sensations.
Following in the footsteps of Justin Bieber and Katy Perry the movie will combine concert material with behind the scenes footage, charting the bands journey from their X Factor beginning to world wide domination.
“This is an incredible opportunity and an amazing moment in time for the band,” Spurlock said. “To capture this journey and share it with audiences around the world will be an epic undertaking that I am proud to be a part of.”
Spurlock first made his name in 2004 with Oscar nominated documentary Super Size Me, where he looked at effects of fast food by consuming nothing but McDonalds for thirty days. He has gone on to make other documentary features such as Where in the World Is Osama Bin Laden?, The Greatest Movie Ever Sold and TV documentary series 30 Days.
Following in the footsteps of Justin Bieber and Katy Perry the movie will combine concert material with behind the scenes footage, charting the bands journey from their X Factor beginning to world wide domination.
“This is an incredible opportunity and an amazing moment in time for the band,” Spurlock said. “To capture this journey and share it with audiences around the world will be an epic undertaking that I am proud to be a part of.”
Spurlock first made his name in 2004 with Oscar nominated documentary Super Size Me, where he looked at effects of fast food by consuming nothing but McDonalds for thirty days. He has gone on to make other documentary features such as Where in the World Is Osama Bin Laden?, The Greatest Movie Ever Sold and TV documentary series 30 Days.
- 11/21/2012
- by Fay Brennan
- Obsessed with Film
If you needed any further evidence that Morgan Spurlock has slid from somebody who perhaps had an interesting viewpoint on modern contemporary life to a man who is churning out doc shlock, here it is: he'll be directing the One Direction 3D concert movie. That's right, the latest boy-band sensation is following in the footsteps of Justin Bieber and Katy Perry and getting their own movie that will make its way to bargain bins and pop culture irrelevancy soon enough. For Spurlock it's another project in a string of lightweight movies that has seen him turn his ever winking camera to Star Wars nerds ("Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan's Hope"), male grooming ("Mansome"), himself/advertising ("The Greatest Movie Ever Sold") and hell, he even made the hunt for Osama Bin Laden seem pretty trivial with "Where In The World Is Osama Bin Laden." This will be your standard (carefully vetted) "behind-the-scenes" plus.
- 11/14/2012
- by Kevin Jagernauth
- The Playlist
Here’s an interesting one. Morgan Spurlock (Supersize Me, Comic Con Episode IV, The Greatest Movie Ever Sold) will direct (and produce) a 3D movie based around X-Factor sensations, and lets be honest, global dominators, One Direction. This is quite the rollercoaster for One Direction who are going from strength to strength since been “discovered” in 2010. 13 million odd records have been sold worldwide, not to mention the fact that their debut album entered the U.S. Billboard chart at number one. Which made a bit of history along the way, being the first album from a UK group to debut in the top spot. Simon Cowell said "I'm delighted we're making this film and Morgan is the perfect person to give that access-all-areas, behind-the-scenes look into what it's like to be One Direction today.What the band have achieved is incredible, they and their fans have made history around the...
- 11/13/2012
- by noreply@blogger.com (Vic Barry)
- www.themoviebit.com
One Direction is heading to the big screen. Sony Pictures is making a behind-the-scenes 3D movie based on the boy band behind the hit What Makes You Beautiful. Photos: The Beatles to The Wanted: The Evolution of Boy Bands Morgan Spurlock will direct the project, and TriStar Pictures will release it Aug. 30, 2013. Spurlock, who helmed the well-regarded documentaries Super Size Me and The Greatest Movie Ever Sold, is producing with Simon Cowell, who discovered the band on his X Factor U.K. reality show in 2010. Also producing are Ben Winston and Adam Milano. One
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- 11/13/2012
- by Borys Kit
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The concert movie trend has been a little hit or miss in recent years, with some scoring huge-- Justin Bieber's Never Say Never-- and others, like Katy Perry's Part of Me, failing to make much of an impact. But it's still a pretty good strategy to team up with a pop sensation and release a movie about them, and Sony Pictures will be next to get in on the game, planning a new concert documentary about British boy band phenoms One Direction. And in a movie you almost definitely didn't see coming, they've chosen an Oscar nominated documentarian to make it. Morgan Spurlock, who rose to fame with Super Size Me and has since made The Greatest Movie Ever Sold and Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan's Hope, will direct the One Direction movie, which is already set for an August 30, 2013 release. Simon Cowell, who is credited with "discovering...
- 11/13/2012
- cinemablend.com
What do you know about the 2013 Ford Fusion? If you watched last night’s New Girl, the answer is “all too much” — thanks to a two-minute sequence in which clumsy Jess struggled to model at a car show. As she stumbled about in her giant heels, a brand ambassador droned on and on about the new model’s many features. If the physical comedy hadn’t been so labored, the bit might have worked. But it didn’t.
In an age of ad-skipping DVRs and pirated online streaming, viewers have learned to accept a certain degree of commercialization on their...
In an age of ad-skipping DVRs and pirated online streaming, viewers have learned to accept a certain degree of commercialization on their...
- 10/24/2012
- by Hillary Busis
- EW.com - PopWatch
Anyone who has ever checked their watch 30 minutes into one of Morgan Spurlock’s documentaries and thought, “You know, this really should have just been a TV show” is in luck (again). Furthering its concerted efforts to hip up its brand identity by performing the programming equivalent of turning a baseball cap around, CNN has announced that the premise-generator behind Super Size Me and The Greatest Movie Ever Sold will debut a new reality series on the network in April of next year. The Los Angeles Times reports that Spurlock’s Inside Man will parachute drop the “adventurous documentarian ...
- 8/23/2012
- avclub.com
Movie theaters downloading their films from a secure studio-run cloud; inexpensive high-quality cameras at the fingertips of creators; fans as front-end financiers. It may represent 5 short years, but technology and culture are shifting so quickly that the movie world of 2017 has the potential to look radically different than our own. How will studios respond to an influx of independent films? Will a rejection of owning physical discs lead to a ballooning rental business? Will actors and creator be able to earn millions without stepping foot on a studio lot? We’ve asked Tugg CEO and Terrance Malick production partner Nicolas Gonda as well as savvy, forward thinking indie producer Keith Calder (The Wackness, The Greatest Movie Ever Sold, Thunder Soul) to mentally step into a time machine and report back on what that world might look like. From production to exhibition and everything in between. The only sure thing is that cars will be driving us to...
- 8/16/2012
- by Cole Abaius
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
Documentary funnyman (and Academy Award nominee) Morgan Spurlock has had a tough run of late in theaters. Ever since his debut "Super Size Me" become a high-grossing indie phenomenon (it made North of $11 million domestically), Spurlock has seen his theatrical stock drop with each subsequent release. In 2008, his "Where In The World Is Osama Bin Laden" grossed $148,698 from 102 screens, ending up with just $384,955 in total. Last year, his much-hyped "Pom Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold" averaged $6,572 from 18 screens en route to a $638,476 gross. And this year, Spurlock released his two biggest theatrical flops to date: "Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan's Hope" and "Mansome. The latter nose dived theatrically in May after premiering at the Tribeca Film Festival, averaging just $920 per theater (it opened in 20) in its first week of limited release. "Comic-Con" fared a bit better by averaging $2,734 when it...
- 7/31/2012
- by Nigel M Smith
- Indiewire
Del Toro joins six other directors for 7 Days in Havana, an anthology that treads a fine line between advertorial and artistry
In the scramble for financial backing, even big-shot film directors must take money where they find it. Shane Meadows took a £500,000 commission from Eurostar, and turned out Somers Town. Morgan Spurlock made a satirical virtue of it with sponsorship from juice manufacturer Pom Wonderful for The Greatest Movie Ever Sold. That, presumably, is part of the reason why film-makers of the calibre of Gaspar Noé, Laurent Cantet and Elia Suleiman accepted the invitation of rum magnate Havana Club, through its cultural arm Havana Cultura, to collaborate in a short film anthology called 7 Days in Havana. It might, just might, be designed to promote Havana.
As it turns out, 7 Days in Havana treads that fine line between advertorial and artistry, with a distinguished Cuban novelist, Leonardo Padura, overseeing the screenplay,...
In the scramble for financial backing, even big-shot film directors must take money where they find it. Shane Meadows took a £500,000 commission from Eurostar, and turned out Somers Town. Morgan Spurlock made a satirical virtue of it with sponsorship from juice manufacturer Pom Wonderful for The Greatest Movie Ever Sold. That, presumably, is part of the reason why film-makers of the calibre of Gaspar Noé, Laurent Cantet and Elia Suleiman accepted the invitation of rum magnate Havana Club, through its cultural arm Havana Cultura, to collaborate in a short film anthology called 7 Days in Havana. It might, just might, be designed to promote Havana.
As it turns out, 7 Days in Havana treads that fine line between advertorial and artistry, with a distinguished Cuban novelist, Leonardo Padura, overseeing the screenplay,...
- 7/5/2012
- by Andrew Pulver
- The Guardian - Film News
We start the Top 7. You finish the Top 10.
This week’s “Question of the Week” on Jeff Bayer’s “Movie B.S.” podcast is inspired by Brave — the first film by Pixar to have a lead female protagonist.
The discussion goes to other firsts, namely movie experiences. What movies do you wish you could watch again for the first time?
Here are my Top 7 movies, which include a whole bunch of significant movies with first-time experiences that will never be matched.
7. Psycho (1960)
Recap: Alfred Hitchcock made it forever unsafe to shower in motels and befriend handsome mama’s boys with this film, starring Janet Leigh and Anthony Perkins.
First Viewing Experience: By myself, in the dark, in my basement (Note: This was a very bad idea).
Reason: Many horror movies work best when you don’t really know what’s coming. And even with the pop culture sensation of this movie ruining its famous bits,...
This week’s “Question of the Week” on Jeff Bayer’s “Movie B.S.” podcast is inspired by Brave — the first film by Pixar to have a lead female protagonist.
The discussion goes to other firsts, namely movie experiences. What movies do you wish you could watch again for the first time?
Here are my Top 7 movies, which include a whole bunch of significant movies with first-time experiences that will never be matched.
7. Psycho (1960)
Recap: Alfred Hitchcock made it forever unsafe to shower in motels and befriend handsome mama’s boys with this film, starring Janet Leigh and Anthony Perkins.
First Viewing Experience: By myself, in the dark, in my basement (Note: This was a very bad idea).
Reason: Many horror movies work best when you don’t really know what’s coming. And even with the pop culture sensation of this movie ruining its famous bits,...
- 6/22/2012
- by Nick Allen
- The Scorecard Review
From the meta-documentary The Greatest Movie Ever Sold, to the dark comedy Thank You For Smoking, and the family-friendly adventure Wall-e, the evils of advertising has been at the center of a wide-range of features. But never has marketing seemed so purposefully menacing as in Branded, an upcoming sci-fi thriller featuring Max Von Sydow, Jeffrey Tambor, and Leelee Sobieski. Spawned by writing-directing team Jamie Bradshaw and Aleksandr Dulerayn, Branded reveals a terrifying tale set in a dystopian future where corporations willfully deceive the consumer population, manipulating them to their own evil ends. I mean, can you imagine such a thing? But wait! This isn't your average tale of avarice and corporate greed, but rather a story of conspiracy, brain-draining, and world domination! Check out the feature's creepy first trailer to uncover what lurks behind ads.like this one: While encrypted codes in advertisements has made most of the globe's population...
- 6/13/2012
- cinemablend.com
In a bid to explore the dynamics of product placement and other forms on big screen advertising, Morgan Spurlock put every aspect of his 2011 documentary up for sale - even the title. Pom Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold was an enjoyable romp through the world of marketing, with an important message. But Spurlock notably failed to question the hype behind his headline sponsor.
Now Us Federal Trade Commission judge D. Michael Chappell has ruled that Pom Wonderful - the juice drink consumed in huge quantities when the film headlined last year's Sheffield Docfest - is not so wonderful after all. Specifically, he has ruled that there is no evidence to substantiate its claims that it can “treat, prevent or reduce the risk heart disease, prostate cancer or erectile dysfunction.”
Spurlock was certainly aware of concerns about the company's marketing when he made his film. He told the New.
Now Us Federal Trade Commission judge D. Michael Chappell has ruled that Pom Wonderful - the juice drink consumed in huge quantities when the film headlined last year's Sheffield Docfest - is not so wonderful after all. Specifically, he has ruled that there is no evidence to substantiate its claims that it can “treat, prevent or reduce the risk heart disease, prostate cancer or erectile dysfunction.”
Spurlock was certainly aware of concerns about the company's marketing when he made his film. He told the New.
- 5/22/2012
- by Jennie Kermode
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Warrior Poets and Snoot Entertainment, the production companies of Morgan Spurlock ("The Greatest Movie Ever Sold," "Super Size Me") and Keith Calder ("The Greatest Movie Ever Sold," "The Wackness"), have teamed to form Warpaint, a commercial production company with directors who include filmmakers Darren Aronofsky, Spurlock, Liz Garbus and Michael Tucker. Warpaint's first project is a Revlon ad with Halle Berry and Emma Stone directed by Aronofsky. Also on Warpaint's slate of directors are Rupert Wyatt ("Rise of the Planet of the Apes"), Gary Hustwit ("Helvetica"), Adam Wingard ("You're Next"), Adam Lisegar (LonelySandwich.com), Maggie Choo and Damien Toogood. Warpaint will maintain offices in New York, Los Angeles and London.
- 5/7/2012
- by Bryce J. Renninger
- Indiewire
After teaming on the sponsored docu The Greatest Story Ever Sold, Morgan Spurlock’s Warrior Poets has teamed with Keith Calder’s Snoot Entertainment to go with a full-blown commercials production operation. New York, NY (May 7, 2012) – Morgan Spurlock’s New York based production company Warrior Poets has teamed with Keith Calder’s Los Angeles based Snoot Entertainment and 16 year commercial production veteran Shannon Lords to create Warpaint, a commercial production company that will serve as a home for innovative directors who are looking to expand their craft into more diverse and lucrative opportunities. The company will represent a diverse array of both established and emerging directors from a variety of production backgrounds. Warpaint will maintain offices in New York, Los Angeles and London. Warpaint completed its first project in January 2012 with acclaimed director Darren Aronofsky, who directed the upcoming campaign for Revlon featuring Emma Stone and Halle Berry. The company...
- 5/7/2012
- by MIKE FLEMING
- Deadline
Morgan Spurlock – Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan’s Hope – Q&A Following its D.C. Premiere
The man behind Supersize Me, 30 Days, The Greatest Movie Ever Sold, and many more enjoyed premiering his latest film – Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan’s Hope on April 6th. One week later, Morgan arrived in Washington, D.C. to host two intimate screenings of the film followed by audience Q&A.
Topics discussed include: the moment of epiphany when, at Comic-Con 2009, Spurlock realized he had to make a film about the event; the non-stop 4-day production schedule with up to 30 simultaneously running cameras; and the blessings from the “comic nerds” in order to have permission to make the film.
Morgan also talks about his experience in producing Supersize Me and how, even before it hit theaters or was nominated for awards, he caught the ‘bug’ and knew documentary film making was his newly discovered love.
The man behind Supersize Me, 30 Days, The Greatest Movie Ever Sold, and many more enjoyed premiering his latest film – Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan’s Hope on April 6th. One week later, Morgan arrived in Washington, D.C. to host two intimate screenings of the film followed by audience Q&A.
Topics discussed include: the moment of epiphany when, at Comic-Con 2009, Spurlock realized he had to make a film about the event; the non-stop 4-day production schedule with up to 30 simultaneously running cameras; and the blessings from the “comic nerds” in order to have permission to make the film.
Morgan also talks about his experience in producing Supersize Me and how, even before it hit theaters or was nominated for awards, he caught the ‘bug’ and knew documentary film making was his newly discovered love.
- 4/22/2012
- by Andrew R. Tedeschi
- Boomtron
Mani, pedi, facials, spa treatments, you say? Sounds like it's male bonding time for Jason Bateman and Will Arnett! Intrepid documentarian Morgan Spurlock, who gorged on Happy Meals in Super Size Me and explored Hollywood product placement in The Greatest Movie Ever Sold, now trains his astute eye on a hirsute subject: male grooming. And he's got two funnymen to help guide him along: the Arrested Development Bluths both star and are executive producers! Shall we slather on the facial masks? More: Five Buzzworthy Movies at the Tribeca Film Festival The film, which premieres at the Tribeca Film Festival on Saturday, takes a look at the high-maintenance world of male...
- 4/20/2012
- E! Online
During 2010's San Diego Comic Con, famed documentarian Morgan Spurlock (Super Size Me, The Greatest Movie Ever Sold) teamed up with comics industry icon Stan Lee, director/producer Joss Whedon and Kevin Smith to create an honest behind-the-scenes look at the world's biggest pop culture event. I am going to give an honest fan’s review of this documentary instead of a professional critique because I am too emotionally invested in the material to offer an unbiased opinion. That being said, I loved this film. When I heard about this project two years ago I fully believed in the message it wanted to bring. However, as the geek world has been continuously expanding, I grew steadily hesitant. More people are looking to explore and represent geek culture in mainstream media with TV shows such as...
- 4/11/2012
- by Zoë Gulliksen
- The Daily BLAM!
When the Tribeca 2012 Festival line-up got announced, I was initially surprised to see a new documentary from Morgan Spurlock. After all, he was just coming off The Greatest Movie Ever Sold last year and gearing up to release his Comic-Con doc, but I suppose it should be no surprise the man works as hard as he does. His latest feature, Mansome, follows the often unspoken topic of male grooming.
Variety reports that the film has been picked up by Paladin, the distributor behind Tom Shadyac’s I Am. They plan a release in May for the film that is produced by Arrested Development stars Will Arnett and Jason Bateman, who also appear in the doc alongside Paul Rudd, Zach Galifianakis, Adam Carolla, Judd Apatow and John Waters. Tribeca also has the first three clips from the film, which can be seen below while we await news on Spurlock’s next film,...
Variety reports that the film has been picked up by Paladin, the distributor behind Tom Shadyac’s I Am. They plan a release in May for the film that is produced by Arrested Development stars Will Arnett and Jason Bateman, who also appear in the doc alongside Paul Rudd, Zach Galifianakis, Adam Carolla, Judd Apatow and John Waters. Tribeca also has the first three clips from the film, which can be seen below while we await news on Spurlock’s next film,...
- 4/5/2012
- by jpraup@gmail.com (thefilmstage.com)
- The Film Stage
Electus announced today that Oscar and Emmy Award-nominated director/producer Morgan Spurlock’s new documentary film Mansome will be distributed theatrically by Paladin. The hilarious look at men’s identity through the exploration of male grooming habits, which is scheduled to have its world premiere at the 2012 Tribeca Film Festival on April 21st, will open in limited release in several major cities nationwide including New York and Los Angeles beginning May 18th. Written, directed and produced by Morgan Spurlock (Super Size Me, The Greatest Movie Ever Sold) and executive produced by DumbDumb co-founders Will Arnett, Jason Bateman and Electus Founder Ben Silverman, Mansome marks Arnett and Bateman’s first executive producer credits.
In the age of manscaping, metrosexuals, fancy men’s day spas, and high-end grooming products galore, Mansome is a witty, provocative and highly-entertaining glimpse into what it means to be a man in a world where the definition...
In the age of manscaping, metrosexuals, fancy men’s day spas, and high-end grooming products galore, Mansome is a witty, provocative and highly-entertaining glimpse into what it means to be a man in a world where the definition...
- 4/4/2012
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
As adults with incomes and free will, some of us will eventually make it out West for Comic-Con International, which is commonly thought of as Nerd Mecca (that, and the place where they filmed the upside-down kiss in "Spider-Man.") For those of us who can’t, "Super Size Me" director Morgan Spurlock is bringing us "Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan’s A Hope," a documentary that will explore the event from the inside perspective of five fans, all of whom see different things in the multi-purpose convention.
In an expansive Los Angeles Times story about the film, Spurlock discussed a number of things, such as the difficulties of shooting and the process of figuring out what type of movie to make.
"This big challenge was figuring out how you cover something as massive and as crowded as Comic-Con and tell a coherent story," he said said. "And what is that story?...
In an expansive Los Angeles Times story about the film, Spurlock discussed a number of things, such as the difficulties of shooting and the process of figuring out what type of movie to make.
"This big challenge was figuring out how you cover something as massive and as crowded as Comic-Con and tell a coherent story," he said said. "And what is that story?...
- 4/4/2012
- by Jeremy Gordon
- MTV Splash Page
"Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan's Hope" is the first Morgan Spurlock movie not blatantly about Morgan Spurlock. Each of the documentarian's previous efforts, from "Super Size Me" to last year's "The Greatest Movie Ever Sold," took cues from Spurlock's wry on-camera presence. Removing himself from the picture, Spurlock reveals his documentary technique to have little distinguishable from the usual talking heads/verite approach. It's a light, amusing collage of the titular event, but his absence makes it clear that the movie could have used a biting edge. "Comic-Con" studies the annual San Diego convention without condescending to the subculture it represents. Much as an anthropological approach might offer greater insight into the intersecting behaviors and marketplace concerns driving this colossal gathering, Spurlock has crafted an inoffensive love letter sure to please the contingency it represents. However, no matter...
- 4/2/2012
- by Eric Kohn
- Indiewire
“You sound 40% smarter because your accent just sounds that much more polished.”
Morgan Spurlock’s charm mission swings into gear.
“Until you do actually start speaking, and it drops,” he adds, beaming.
The acclaimed documentary maker is reflecting on the difference between “you Brits” and “us Yanks”, the subject of his new series New Britannia, which takes him around the British Isles with a catalogue of Brit/Us-friendly guests in tow – Ruby Wax, Howard Marks, Jamie Oliver and company.
What qualifies and motivates Mr Spurlock – hamburger connoisseur (Super Size Me), pursuer of evil (Where In The World Is Osama Bin Laden?) and deconstructor of film product placement (The Greatest Movie Ever Sold) – to cast his appraising eye thus?
“Because I am an outsider, and sometimes you need an outsider just to hold up the mirror and say that shirt doesn’t look very good, it doesn’t fit right… you need a friend,...
Morgan Spurlock’s charm mission swings into gear.
“Until you do actually start speaking, and it drops,” he adds, beaming.
The acclaimed documentary maker is reflecting on the difference between “you Brits” and “us Yanks”, the subject of his new series New Britannia, which takes him around the British Isles with a catalogue of Brit/Us-friendly guests in tow – Ruby Wax, Howard Marks, Jamie Oliver and company.
What qualifies and motivates Mr Spurlock – hamburger connoisseur (Super Size Me), pursuer of evil (Where In The World Is Osama Bin Laden?) and deconstructor of film product placement (The Greatest Movie Ever Sold) – to cast his appraising eye thus?
“Because I am an outsider, and sometimes you need an outsider just to hold up the mirror and say that shirt doesn’t look very good, it doesn’t fit right… you need a friend,...
- 4/2/2012
- by Caroline Frost
- Huffington Post
South by Southwest was created for 'real movie fans,' documentarian Morgan Spurlock tells MTV News.
By Kara Warner
Morgan Spurlock speaks at 2011 SXSW
Photo: WireImage
There's something inherently cool about Austin's annual South by Southwest film festival. For starters, it has a fun acronym and a decidedly casual vibe, but what sets SXSW apart from the other big film fests is that it caters to actual film fans. And there's something for everyone, from a few mainstream studio-made crowd-pleasers to the genre-tastic Midnighters series to eclectic documentaries and shorts.
"What I love about the film festival is it's real movie fans," documentarian Morgan Spurlock, a frequent attendee of SXSW (and the man behind "Super Size Me"), recently told MTV News. "It's not filled with people from Los Angeles, not people from business side of things, it's real local people who love movies. You get a real gauge how an...
By Kara Warner
Morgan Spurlock speaks at 2011 SXSW
Photo: WireImage
There's something inherently cool about Austin's annual South by Southwest film festival. For starters, it has a fun acronym and a decidedly casual vibe, but what sets SXSW apart from the other big film fests is that it caters to actual film fans. And there's something for everyone, from a few mainstream studio-made crowd-pleasers to the genre-tastic Midnighters series to eclectic documentaries and shorts.
"What I love about the film festival is it's real movie fans," documentarian Morgan Spurlock, a frequent attendee of SXSW (and the man behind "Super Size Me"), recently told MTV News. "It's not filled with people from Los Angeles, not people from business side of things, it's real local people who love movies. You get a real gauge how an...
- 3/9/2012
- MTV Movie News
South by Southwest was created for 'real movie fans,' documentarian Morgan Spurlock tells MTV News.
By Kara Warner
Morgan Spurlock speaks at 2011 SXSW
Photo: WireImage
There's something inherently cool about Austin's annual South by Southwest film festival. For starters, it has a fun acronym and a decidedly casual vibe, but what sets SXSW apart from the other big film fests is that it caters to actual film fans. And there's something for everyone, from a few mainstream studio-made crowd-pleasers to the genre-tastic Midnighters series to eclectic documentaries and shorts.
"What I love about the film festival is it's real movie fans," documentarian Morgan Spurlock, a frequent attendee of SXSW (and the man behind "Super Size Me"), recently told MTV News. "It's not filled with people from Los Angeles, not people from business side of things, it's real local people who love movies. You get a real gauge how an...
By Kara Warner
Morgan Spurlock speaks at 2011 SXSW
Photo: WireImage
There's something inherently cool about Austin's annual South by Southwest film festival. For starters, it has a fun acronym and a decidedly casual vibe, but what sets SXSW apart from the other big film fests is that it caters to actual film fans. And there's something for everyone, from a few mainstream studio-made crowd-pleasers to the genre-tastic Midnighters series to eclectic documentaries and shorts.
"What I love about the film festival is it's real movie fans," documentarian Morgan Spurlock, a frequent attendee of SXSW (and the man behind "Super Size Me"), recently told MTV News. "It's not filled with people from Los Angeles, not people from business side of things, it's real local people who love movies. You get a real gauge how an...
- 3/9/2012
- MTV Music News
South by Southwest festival will bring Jay-z, Joss Whedon, Matthew McConaughey and Seth MacFarlane to Austin, Texas.
By Kara Warner
Jay-z
Photo: FilmMagic
Whether wandering past the vast amount of watering holes on 6th Street, catching a screening at the Alamo Drafthouse, or lining up for world-class BBQ at Iron Works or Tex-Mex at Guero's Taco Bar, this year's South by Southwest attendees are bound to bump elbows with a celebrity or two who are worth bumping into: for the annual Austin, Texas, film, music and interactive-arts festival.
Our picks for five celebrities scheduled to attend SXSW and worth bumping into:
The Geek God: Joss Whedon We've already mentioned our excitement for the world premiere of Whedon's long-delayed but much-buzzed-about horror film "Cabin in the Woods," and in addition to his promotional duties for the film — which he co-wrote with director Drew Goddard — Whedon will be appearing at the Austin...
By Kara Warner
Jay-z
Photo: FilmMagic
Whether wandering past the vast amount of watering holes on 6th Street, catching a screening at the Alamo Drafthouse, or lining up for world-class BBQ at Iron Works or Tex-Mex at Guero's Taco Bar, this year's South by Southwest attendees are bound to bump elbows with a celebrity or two who are worth bumping into: for the annual Austin, Texas, film, music and interactive-arts festival.
Our picks for five celebrities scheduled to attend SXSW and worth bumping into:
The Geek God: Joss Whedon We've already mentioned our excitement for the world premiere of Whedon's long-delayed but much-buzzed-about horror film "Cabin in the Woods," and in addition to his promotional duties for the film — which he co-wrote with director Drew Goddard — Whedon will be appearing at the Austin...
- 3/8/2012
- MTV Music News
Comedy duo Tim and Eric have garnered quite a cult following with their previous shows on Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim, “Tom Goes to the Mayor” and especially “Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!” Now the two are poised to dominate the world of film with their absurdly funny Tim and Eric’s Billion Dollar Movie, which features appearances from Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, Zach Galifianakis, and Will Forte.
In the film, Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim play versions of themselves as failed Hollywood directors who take over a mall in hopes of repaying bloodthirsty movie executives.
Though one might expect them to be particularly animated during an interview, they were fairly laid back when I talked to them. Despite their soft-spoken nature, they did seem to take turns periodically amusing themselves during this interview, as you’ll read below.
Along with a college newspaper writer, I sat...
In the film, Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim play versions of themselves as failed Hollywood directors who take over a mall in hopes of repaying bloodthirsty movie executives.
Though one might expect them to be particularly animated during an interview, they were fairly laid back when I talked to them. Despite their soft-spoken nature, they did seem to take turns periodically amusing themselves during this interview, as you’ll read below.
Along with a college newspaper writer, I sat...
- 3/6/2012
- by Nick Allen
- The Scorecard Review
Another week, another Monday. So it’s time for the rundown of DVDs and Blu-rays hitting stores online and offline this week. It’s another packed week, with plenty of movies waiting to take you money, so let us breakdown the new releases and highlight what you should – and shouldn’t – be buying from today, February 27th 2012.
Pick Of The Week
The Shrine (DVD/Blu-ray)
After a young backpacker goes missing, a group of journalists link his disappearance to a remote village called Alvaina. Upon further investigation, the journalists discover that Alvaina has a history of bizarre cult activity revolving around human sacrifice. Hell bent on discovering the truth, they travel to the small village, but quickly find themselves pursued by a mysterious group set on killing them. Forced into the gruesome reality of true survival horror, the journalist’s soon discover that Alvaina hides a much darker secret than they could ever imagine.
Pick Of The Week
The Shrine (DVD/Blu-ray)
After a young backpacker goes missing, a group of journalists link his disappearance to a remote village called Alvaina. Upon further investigation, the journalists discover that Alvaina has a history of bizarre cult activity revolving around human sacrifice. Hell bent on discovering the truth, they travel to the small village, but quickly find themselves pursued by a mysterious group set on killing them. Forced into the gruesome reality of true survival horror, the journalist’s soon discover that Alvaina hides a much darker secret than they could ever imagine.
- 2/27/2012
- by Phil
- Nerdly
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
When I first heard about The Greatest Movie Ever Sold, it immediately sounded like it could have the potential to be a fascinating study of movie product placement – something which now drives the modern film industry. Then I found out that it was helmed by Morgan Spurlock and my expectations were somewhat skewered. With that said, I actually quite like Spurlock himself (who often comes across as a well humoured, good sport) but his previous documentaries have often left me more infuriated than informed. Super Size Me was essentially an extended Jackass skit, which said hardly anything that wasn’t already crystal clear about the fast food industry.
With The Greatest Movie Ever Sold there is immediately an enormous history weighing down on the documentary. Product placement is a process which has spanned decades of filmmaking, and something which – for better or worse – continues to grow and grow.
When I first heard about The Greatest Movie Ever Sold, it immediately sounded like it could have the potential to be a fascinating study of movie product placement – something which now drives the modern film industry. Then I found out that it was helmed by Morgan Spurlock and my expectations were somewhat skewered. With that said, I actually quite like Spurlock himself (who often comes across as a well humoured, good sport) but his previous documentaries have often left me more infuriated than informed. Super Size Me was essentially an extended Jackass skit, which said hardly anything that wasn’t already crystal clear about the fast food industry.
With The Greatest Movie Ever Sold there is immediately an enormous history weighing down on the documentary. Product placement is a process which has spanned decades of filmmaking, and something which – for better or worse – continues to grow and grow.
- 2/27/2012
- by Stephen Leigh
- Obsessed with Film
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