——

Not sure what director Marc Webb’s reboot offers that’s much different than the three that came before, but that’s probably the idea. No sense in fixing what isn’t broken.

(more…)

–REPUBLICAN PARTY ANIMAL 2011 HOLLYWOOD BASH!

Suddenly I’m almost sorry I left Los Angeles. Almost. But this looks like a blast and you won’t believe what a mere $15 buys you food and drink-wise — not to mention the opportunity the hear The Gary Graham Garage Band. Also attending are some familiar names to Big Hollywood readers such as Ben Shapiro (stand back when he lets his hair down — no really, pure wild man), Alfonzo Rachel, Bill Whittle, Stephen Kruiser, Evan Sayet, Ann McElhinney, and Tony Katz.

It all happens July 30th. More here.

–NETFLIX PRICE INCREASE A DISASTER OR NECESSARY?

Jimmie at the Sundries Shack is mostly on Netflix’ side:

Netflix doesn’t have much of a choice. They’re looking at some very large expenses over the next three years for which they’ll need to pony up far more money than they’ve had to spend so far. These expenses are not the fault of Netflix but the movie studios.

DaTechGuy is less forgiving:

So can anyone explain to me why I would accept the price increase when I can do better by going to Amazon? And without the streaming as a value added, can anyone explain why I shouldn’t just go to cheaper sources of movies and drop Netfilx altogether?

Currently I’m on the unlimited streaming plan where I also receive one disc at a time by mail. The current price is an incredibly low $7.99 a month. In September this same plan will cost $15.98. Am I happy about the increase? No. But I would be lying if I said that $7.99 hasn’t always felt like a ridiculously low price for what I was getting in return. A steal, really.

(more…)

We know – because we’ve been told – that love is many things. Unrequited love, however, is only a few things, mainly painful and baffling. But mostly baffling, because long after the pain ebbs the confusion remains: Why didn’t she love me?  In director Marc Webb’s feature debut, the clever and charming “500 Days of Summer,” that’s the question a despairing Tom Hansen (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) asks as he looks back and tries to put the pieces of a broken relationship together in a way that might help to make sense of it all.

Like the fevered recollections of the newly heartsick, the plot leaps back and forth through the now-haunting highs and inexplicable lows of Tom’s 500 day relationship with Summer (Zooey Deschanel), a girl he met at the office, a girl who warned up front that she’s not wired for any kind of permanent relationship. Foolishly, instead of taking that personally, Tom might have made the mistake of taking her at her word and goes all in, sure he’ll be the first to make his way through Summer’s natural defense, the ethereal aloofness that both draws him and constantly keeps him off guard.   (more…)