Movie Posters...Bob Peak Art creations! Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences!

Oft times it is the jazzy celebrated movie poster that lures film buffs into the Theatre.

To many connoisseurs they are a unique American Art Form.

Many rare promotional fliers have become collector's items, too 

In fact, when Tom Cruise's last big-budget action adventure flopped at the box-office (Knight & Day), critics blamed a lackluster poster which they argued confused potential theatre-goers about what was being sold at the box-office.

You know what they say.

Packaging! Packaging! Packaging!

If you're intrigued by the medium, then you  may want to trot over to Beverly Hills and catch the ground-breaking Poster Art of Bob Peak which is on hand over the weekend at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences.

The display is dazzling, to say the least.

Examples of Peak's distinctive creations include posters for Apocalypse Now, Every Which Way But Loose, and Superman.

The free exhibit is housed on the Fourth Floor Gallery 'til Sunday.

See 'ya there!

Gallery
Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences
Fourth Floor Gallery
8949 Wilshire Blvd
Beverly Hills, CA

http://www.oscars.org/

http://www.thetattler.biz/

Poster blamed for Cruise flop!

Tom Cruise..."Knight & Day" sparks debate! Lead horse to water, at least...

Motorcycle publicity still better poster choice?

Shortly after I posted my review of "Knight and Day" - the Tom Cruise spy thriller - the hits went through the stratosphere at the Tattler.

In my caption, I shouted - "Tom Cruise...He's back!" - which must have triggered an emotion or two judging by the response.

Post:  06/27/10

http://ijulian.blogspot.com/2010/06/tom-cruisehes-back-knight-day-quirky.html

Industry honchos, media pundits (and fans) appeared to have written the action-adventure off as a "bomb" based on a slow start at the box-office and negative buzz on the Internet.

In fact, I penned an article on the issue wherein I wondered aloud if "Tom" was still suffering from lingering image problems due to a bizarre couch-jumping incident, his involvement with the flakey Ron L. Hubbard's Scientology "outfit", and a controversial stint on Matt Lauer's hot seat in which he came off as a total pig-headed a**.

Post:  06/26/10

http://ijulian.blogspot.com/2010/06/tom-cruisehes-back-knight-day-quirky.html

So, what gives?

Essentially, the Knight and Day fiasco all boils down to marketing (misguided) and the way "Knight and Day" was promoted.

In the morning LA Times, Patrick Goldstein pointed out that the poster - which featured a stunning graphic of the two stars - was part 'n parcel of the problem.

He argued that the failure of the studio brass to feature the identifiable faces of the two stars - Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz - may have been a fatal lack of judgment in the total scheme of things which negatively impacted the project (and perceptions of it).

In response, Tony Sella (co-President of marketing at Fox) scoffed at Goldsmith's wild idea that the studio was hiding the faces of the two stars because their appeal was lacking in a demographic they were striving to lure into theatres come opening day.

"I was doing an homage to fabled title designer Saul Bass," Sella fessed up.

"It was a way for us to signal that this was a different kind of adult movie.The whole campaign was designed to evoke a film like "North by Northwest (a Hitchcock classic)."

Because I attended film school, and have a background in the film industry in a myriad of capacities, I understood that.

If anything, the concept intrigued me - hence - my decision to screen it in spite of a bevy of biting press clips (and stinky rumors denouncing it).

I agree with Sella that the commercial spots - in which Cruise appeared to be a wacko dude kidnapping a woman - may have fallen short  in getting the film's essential storyine across.

If the studio noted - in a nutshell - that this was a spy thriller (and that Cruise character's was on a ultra-secret mission) Cruise fans and spy-thriller enthusiasts would have flocked to the theatres from the get-go when theatre doors swung open.

It appears, in retrospect, that filmgoers took a - "let's wait and see" - attitude.

Movie dollars only stretch so far these days, after all.

Call me sophisticated, if you will, but the quirky "promo" didn't phase me.

Frankly, I tire of "trailers" that reveal so much of the plot, that you end up saying to yourself:

"Why bother going to see the film now?

The studio's big sin was they didn't give enough "tease" - and as a result - left filmgoers and fans in the proverbial dark.

Fox brass  didn't even lead the horse to water!

 How do you expect them to drink?

http://www.julianayrs.com

Tom Cruise...He's back! Knight & Day quirky thriller that entertains!

Far and wide, fans and critics alike, have been poohing-poohing the notion that Tom Cruise's - "Knight and Day" - will restore his flaggng career and propel him over the top into the glare of the spotlight as a full-fledged A-list star once again.

Actually, from the prospective of  a romantic/thriller/comedy - mixing genres is generally risky business by the way - the quirky little engine that could has succeeded as a fast-paced funny feature with a lot of original material that resonates in the ticket-holder.

Personally, I was surprised at how fresh some of the schtick  was.

Sight gags took fans by surprise, playful moments with dialogue caused the audience to roar, and unexpcted sidesteps jolted folks enough to pull them effectively into the one-note storyline.

Although the script was not Oscar material, it managed to provide a solid framework, so that the actors were able to flesh out meaty characters.

Cameron Diaz is amazing in this movie!

The pretty blond handles drama equally as well as comedy (a requirement here).

Of all her performances, this is the one gem that stretched her creative muscles, to her advantage.

Tom, in some respects, goes backwards in time to roles like Jerry McQuire and Risky Business in a desperate effort to conjure up the ingredients of a persona that once worked well for him on the silver screen.

However, in "Knight and Day", he is adventurous enough to take some risks (which pay off).

I loved Mr. Cruise's performance.

Kudos!

This film - though not totally dark - is a borderline black comedy piece.

In the final analysis, the right (twisted) mindset may be required to fully appreciate this 3 Star film.

http://www.julianayrs.com

Tom Cruise..."Knight and Day" slow out-of-gate! Top gun losin' it?

 

A role in the feature film - TAPS - was his first big break.

And, in an interview with Charlie Rose, the handsome actor poignantly recalled that it was a dizzying whirlwind turning-point in his career.

When he flew into town - Sean Penn (co-star) - not only picked up the aspiring wannabee at the airport - but also invited him to stay in a cottage on his property.

Do you suppose any hanky-panky went down?

Ah, so that's where those gay rumors started up!

As to the work itself, Cruise executes all his own stunts.

Frankly, I find that practise DUMB!

An actor's body is his "instrument' - a tool - which he facilitates to flesh out a character.

Without it, an actor is pretty much up a creek without a paddle.

Leave the tricky stunts to the professionals, Tom.

In the heady day of the eighties and nineties, Cruise was a megastar savoring all the trappings of a spoiled A-list performer.

The pint-sized performer actor could do no wrong.

Today, however, the fact that Mr. Cruise is a practising scientologist often gets the odd-ball mamma's boy into trouble.

But, nothing can hold a candle to the couch-jumping incident on Oprah or the fiery chat with Matt Lauer on the subject of psychiatry.

When those scary moments unfolded unexpectedy across the old boob-tube, the public's perceptions of the  diminutive star  flew all over the map.

Although Oprah's fave guest has managed to rehabilitate his image somewhat in the past few months - the talented "Interview with a Vampire" star - is facing other dilemmas.

Ticket sales have been dismal for "Knight and Day", for instance.

How would Tom  describe what Catheron Diaz (co-star) was like in four words?

"Bright, fun, generous, and talented," he smiled, after reflecting for a moment or two.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the film raked in a paltry $3.8 million opening day. 

In contrast, Tim Allen's new release - "Toy story 3 - rustled up 13 million Ka-chings.

Studio brass weren't totally in the dark about the bumpy ride ahead, though.

Sneak peaks at pre-release junkets determined that fans &  filmgoers in general weren't thrilled with the studio's quirky offering.

Roger Ebert gave the "comeback" film  three stars, though.

The NY Times called it "loud, seemingly interminable, and altogether incoherent."

"Hollywood has been buzzing the studio might drop 'MI4' - Mission Impossible 4 - if 'Knight' doesn't fair well at the box office," one insider whispered.

Like many a struggling actor, Tom can always fall back on waiting tables inbetween gigs.

.

http://www.julianayrs.com

www.julianayrs.com

MTV Movie Awards...wild & woolly! Sandra Bullock lipstick lesbo kiss! Vampires score big!

The poor man's Julia Roberts!

The MTV Movie Awards were - wild and woolly, prone to lapses of judgment, rife with high-spirited hi-jinks - even poignant at times.

A lipstick lesbian, the alter-ego of Tom Cruise (in a show-stopping dance routine with Jennifer Lopez prettying up the theatrical terrain), and a bobbing Mark Wahlberg loose-as-a-goose caused tongues to wag at water coolers around the country the next day.

The racy ribald humor and streak of rat-a-tat expletives (for the most part nipped in the bud by quick thinking censors - except for a zinger or two - that broke through the shackles intended to harness them) didn’t surprise many.

What do you expect from a network hell-bent on churning out hip edgy hip material to satiate the robust free-wheeling organic tastes of their enviable demographic.

Hands down, MTV gets the nod for hustling up a smattering of precious television moments, that the competition will be struggling to match 'til network television doomsday.

Just around the corner, I expect.

Today, it was no surprise, then - to happen across a news clip in one of the morning papers - which reported that MTV was inclined to apologize for the raunchy material that splashed out over the airwaves non-stop to the delight of rapt viewers.

Ho-Hum.

Business as usual.

In true Hollywood style, the brass at MTV milked the much-anticipated musical extravaganza, for all it was worth.

To entice Sandra Bullock out-of-hiding, for example, the suits created a special Movie Award sure to drum up a ratings blockbuster if the scandal-ridden gal graced the stage with her presence.

Unfortunately, opportunistic starlets - like Scarlett Johansson - seized on the moment to thrust themselves into the glare of the spotlight.

In one of those awkward - you had to be there off-the-wall moments - the lipstick lesbo strode up to the stage begging for a kiss.

Say what?

Talk about queer!

Good sport that she is, Sandra plunked a deep one (somewhat reminiscent of the tongue probe that Al Gore surprised Tipper with) on her pouty lips.

Yeah, a real gagger.

That out of the way, Sandra uttered up one of the sanest sentiments of the night.

“Can we get back to normal now?”

When Tom Cruise gyrated on stage - with shaved head and bizarre wardrobe get-up - many anticipated another golden “couch” moment in spite of the fact Oprah was nowhere in sight.

Surprise!

The former mega-star - struggling for credibility in Tinsel-town after he slipped through the cracks in recent days for head-shaking screwball antics - pulled off an entertaining performance with a slightly out-of-character Jennifer Lopez at his side.

Wonders never cease.

The show continued at a dizzying pace - jokes jolted, fizzled, titillated, struck a chord or didn’t - go figure!

Uh-huh!

The smorgasbord of visual and audio delights was nothing short of a zany parade, with something for everyone, amidst a zoo-like atmosphere that stuck to the wall.

But, the big winner of the night was Twilight.

The sequel - Eclipse - nabbed 5  trophies - to the delight of fans who went wild at the mere mention of their cult hit!

Yes, the Vampire genre continues to propel the industry forward.

For MTV, it's a good marriage with  the Twilight franchise.

Both, will suck the life out of you, if you let ‘em.

http://www.julianayrs.com/

John McCain...Top Gun! Not. Cocky Pilot? Uh-huh...

Cocky young Maverick flew by seat of pants...

As the reports filter in about John McCain's days as a fighter pilot, the reminisces start to sound a lot like a page or two out of the feature film script - "Top Gun" - which starred Cruise and Kilmer a couple of years back.

There's a lot of talk that Johnny was a real cocky son-of-a-bit**.

Like the character Maverick - in the film - McCain was inclined to push the envelope, fly by the seat of his pants, and take uncalculated risks.

Oftentimes, just like Cruise's character, McCain went down in flames.

And, that is the subject of some debate, now.


In his biography, McCain would prefer to look back - not in anger - but through rose-colored glasses.

But, frankly - to some - his recall of events is shameless.

Or, is he just having a Senior moment?

For instance, the presidential candidate's recollection of events surrounding one hairy airplane mishap, was way out-of-whack.

"The engine quit while I was practising landings," he noted matter-of-fact, on the written parchment.

At least O.J. Simpson was clever enough to try to determine if there were any witnesses to the events before he opened his mouth in defense when his latest fiasco with the law went down in Las Vegas.

In this instant case - an investigator who witnessed the events - is quite adamant there wasn't any inexplicable engine failure as alleged by the wrinkly old dude.

In fact, investigators came to the conclusion that McCain wasn't on the ball.

In the opinion of the experts, the accident occurred because the power setting on the instrument panel was too low to maintain level flight in a turn.

Well, every Maverick is capable of running some interference, now and then.

But three times, you say?

According to informed sources in the Navy, that number is accurate.

In each instance, investigative teams faulted McCain for error in judgment.

It has taken wild horses to drag the facts out of him, though.

In one stinky incident - silly clowning around while operating expensive Government equipment - resulted in a near calamity.

Should American voters give him a crack at Air Force 1?

In a Skyraider aircraft in Southern Spain, for instance, he flew into electrical wires which caused a black-out.

A miscalculation caused a T-2 trainer jet in Virginia to crash, in another incident he downplayed, too.

By Naval standards - the three nail-biting incidents were cause for concern - according to a former air force pilot, Michael L. Barr.

Mr. Barr is an Internationally-known aviation safety expert who teaches at the USC Aviation and Safety Security Program today with 137 combat missions in Vietnam under his belt.

In the case of any pilot - three troubling mishaps - would definitely signal sloppy flying skills and a lack of sound judgement, for sure.

In large part - the problem stemmed from a tendency on the part of McCain - to be overconfident, cocky, and a fearless risk-taker at the Government's expense.

In the final analysis, the ballsy flyer over-estimated his limited skills.

Yup, a swinging di** got in the way.

But, high connections in the right places, prevented McCain from getting the axe.

Because McCain fell under a long line of Admirals in a family way, inestimable privileges were bestowed upon the handsome young buck.

The facts support the contention, today.

On occasion, for instance, McCain savored dalliances at the Captain's table, while fellow officers languished in cramped quarters below deck.

In another glorious Kodak moment, McCain was handed the prestigious task of maneuvering a commemorative landing on the deck of the Enterprise.


Fortunately, he didn't have to bail out last minute.

According to Maurice Rishel - who commanded McCain's VA-64 Squadron in early 1961 when it was deployed in the Mediterranean - the unit nick-named the kid "Ace McCain".

Although he was a spoiled brat (born with a silver spoon in his mouth) he did his job, Rishel confessed without any qualms.

Just like John Kerry before him, foes are getting out the hatchets to bury one in McCain's back, after-the-fact.

Uh-huh.

Where Eagles dare, heroes fall.

For McCain, though, ignorance is bliss.

He'll ride through it all unscathed, I just betcha.

After all, that soldier boys's got missiles up his a**.

Just like in the movies, John always got the girl..