The News: 2007, We Hardly Knew Ye

Next: "Possibly the dumbest / worst movie of the decade (excluding the Wayan Bros filmography of course)"? (Photo: Paramount Pictures)

By S.T VanAirsdale

Some of today's movie news of note from around New York:

--This will likely be the last thing I write here for a couple of days as I recover from my P.T. Anderson marathon and prepare The Reeler's annual Top 10 of Top 10s. (NB: What's with all you people writing Top 20s or Top 25s with four-way ties for 12th place? Have you no shame?) I know you're heartbroken, but you know who's got it together (as usual)? Nathaniel Rogers, whose "AMC 10 Hades" features a thoroughly great rundown of so-called underachievers including 300 ("Boneheaded. Boring. Butch. BUT NOT GAY!"), La Vie en Rose ("I really . movie this do hate . I") and Waitress ("The most insensitive thing you'll possibly ever hear me say: If someone dies tragically, it does not mean they were good at making movies.") We agree to disagree on The Brave One, but hey.

--Which one of the abused Kite Runner kids in exile is Khalid Abdalla, and why is he having sushi in Tribeca with The New York Times? And who gave him cigarettes?!?

--Ira Deutchman has a bone to pick with Stephen Holden over his dismissal of the "cliché" Honeydripper: "Do people show their own ignorance -– and even racism -- when they have a kneejerk reaction to a story that, while set in a certain time and place, is trying to get to something a little different from what is expected?" Oh, snap. And no less an authority than Charles Burnett has his back. (H/T: Filmmaker Blog)

--And a fitting ending for the year: For the Endings Blog-a-Thon, Maul of America offers this close read of The Taking of Pelham One Two Three. Gesundheit indeed, 2007 -- I'll see you all next year.

Posted at December 31, 2007 12:25 PM