Stories from Armchair Commentary
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And the Nominees Are....
Armchair Commentary &bull Feb 2, 2012
The nominees for the 84th Annual Academy Awards have been out for a few days now so we've all had time to stew and gain some perspective. I can describe the nominations and this whole year in film in terms that my once favorite English teacher told me never to do, as "interesting". As a group it just doesn't seem like a stellar year. This year we've… Full Story »
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Now Showing: Amazon Studios Movies in the Making
Armchair Commentary &bull Jan 30, 2012
Imagine that you could see a movie before it gets made, and tell the filmmakers what you think of it (Tweak that ending! Cut the sidekick! More chase scenes!). Now quit imagining, and check out the Amazon Studios "test movies"... Full Story »
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The 69th Golden Globes - What Went Down
Armchair Commentary &bull Jan 16, 2012
The 69th Golden Globes have happened; click here for the full list of winners, including which ones you can order on DVD, Blu-ray, or Amazon Instant Video; the others you can sign up to be notified whenever they become available... Full Story »
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Topics:
- Golden Globes
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Screenwriters/"Reno 911!" Stars on TV vs. Movies, and Creating By Committee
Armchair Commentary &bull Jan 11, 2012
Robert Ben Garant and Thomas Lennon are probably best known as the stars of Reno 911!, but they've also written hit movies like Night at the Museum. And they've written a book, Writing Movies for Fun and Profit, that's a... Full Story »
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Topics:
- Night at the Museum
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"Mr. CSI" Shares Some Inside Stories ... and His True Feelings About Caruso's Shades
Armchair Commentary &bull Dec 12, 2011
If he had it to do over again, would the creator of CSI: Miami let David Caruso wear the sunglasses that have become such a defining element of the show? Anthony Zuiker, aka "Mr. CSI," shares some behind-the-scenes stories about... Full Story »
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Topics:
- David Caruso
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Best of 2011 in Art House & International
Armchair Commentary &bull Dec 11, 2011
From tense thrillers to tuneful documentaries, literary adaptations to windswept westerns, this year's art house DVDs covered every emotion. Characters with trouble expressing their feelings paid the highest price, while happier fates awaited the more forthright protagonists. Fish Tank (The… Full Story »
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Best of 2011 in Anime
Armchair Commentary &bull Dec 5, 2011
In the United States, 2011 was the year of the animated sequel (Cars 2, Kung Fu Panda 2, Hoodwinked 2, etc.) And many of the year's best anime releases were also sequels, continuations or reworkings of familiar properties. But the re- imagined stories were often improvements on the original. Fullmetal Alchemist (2003) would be high on anyone's list of the best series of the last decade. But the more recent Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood, which follows the original manga more closley, boasts a more emotionally charged story and flashier… Full Story »
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Best DVDs of 2011: Kids and Family
Armchair Commentary &bull Nov 21, 2011
You could say that 2011 was the year of the book in the kids and family DVD genre. There were Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, Mr. Popper's Penguins, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules, Judy Moody... Full Story »
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Humorist Andy Borowitz on Hollywood, Happiness and John Hughes
Armchair Commentary &bull Nov 4, 2011
Twitter star and bestselling author Andy Borowitz had what some would consider a charmed run in Hollywood: He started out working with TV legend Norman Lear, created Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (the sitcom that made Will Smith a megastar), and... Full Story »
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Topics:
- Will Smith
- John Hughes
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I Have Seen the Future (And It Looks Terrible): 10 Movie Dystopias Before "In Time"
Armchair Commentary &bull Nov 3, 2011
Director Andrew Niccol's In Time, which opened on October 28, envisions a future in which the world's population has been genetically engineered to stop aging when they reach their 25th year. There is, of course, a catch: they are also "programmed" to die at age 26, but can stave off the inevitable by working for minutes to add to their lifespan. This combination of technological heaven and biological hell is the latest in a long line of dystopias on film, depicting worlds where the promise of… Full Story »
