Freshly Popped Movie Blog Archives - December 2008

The year 2008 quickly draws to a close--and to that end, so to speak, this site pays tribute to Hollywood's long history with a collection of end title cards from both known (From Here to Eternity) and mostly obscure (I Walked With a Zombie) films.Even if you can't guess which film belongs with which ending, it's a fascinating look at these graphics from the talkie era to the '60s...

The last week of the year boasts these releases, which didn't open in theaters everywhere, so now's your chance to see 'em. An American Carol Hollywood conservatives (yes, there are a few) take on Michael Moore in this David Zucker-directed spoof starring Kevin Farley as Michael Malone, a lefty filmmaker accosted by three ghosts of the patriotic kind after he announces his intent to...

She's baaack! Megan Fox, known as Transformers' sexy brunette, returns in the upcoming sequel Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen to top Fandango's 2009 Hot List. We asked, and more than 2,000 of you responded with your top picks for 2009’s most anticipated blockbusters and celebs who star in them. The sexes don’t always agree — except on Fox. When a woman’s...

The Coen Brothers' follow-up to No Country for Old Men features an all-star cast (George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Tilda Swinton) playing characters who are so dumb it's unbelievable, except you're watching a Coen Brothers film and that's exactly how you know it'll be. This film is less like the deadly serious, existential No Country than it is The Big Lebowski ridiculous, involving...

The latest awards nominations were announced this morning, this time for the Screen Actors Guild (the second most popular bellwether to Oscar glory after the Golden Globes). The full list is below...and the surprise nominees are...eh, it's pretty much in line with the rest of the critics awards so far. Missing from the lead actor category is Gran Torino's Clint Eastwood, but the odds-on...

Halle Berry + boob slip = highly searched movie online. The Oscar-winning actress reportedly pulled a Janet Jackson while filming her latest movie, Frankie and Alice, in Vancouver. The psychological drama stars Berry as both Frankie and Alice, a character with multiple personality disorder who struggles against her racist Caucasian alter-personality. She's also producing the indie film. On a...

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor Of Brendan Fraser's two blockbusters last summer, The Mummy 3 and Journey to the Center of the Earth, the former was least compelling, but still popcorny action fun. It's the silliest and most brainless of the three, yet Fraser still manages to entertain despite the onslaught of Yetis, dragons, clay soldiers and terrible accents (that's you, much...

Chances are at least a few of you caught The Day the Earth Stood Still so that you could get a big-screen glimpse of Hugh Jackman in next summer's X-Men Origins: Wolverine. The first trailer looks a lot more tough and gritty than the last X-Men movie, and Jackman going it alone seems to fend for himself just fine. In the clip below, we get a look at Taylor Kitsch as card-throwing Gambit,...

In search of New Moon's director, Summit Entertainment is this close to anointing Chris Weitz (The Golden Compass) as Catherine Hardwicke's replacement. He's not yet confirmed, but EW.com says a deal is imminent, and the studio has stopped talking to other directors.As a Twilighter, I'm not opposed to a man's perspective on an unabashed romance. If Weitz—or any male for...

Most people take the Golden Globes with a grain of salt when it comes to predicting Oscar, and this year's no different. One thing that seems sure, though, is that Heath Ledger will get that posthumous Academy nod after all. Today's nominations announcements included the young actor, who died of an accidental drug overdose in January, in the supporting actor category--but surprisingly...

The year's most anticipated DVD release hits stores today, and those who enjoyed the movie one, two, five times in theaters will no doubt be thrilled. But discerning fans should know the Blu-ray far outshines the DVD, and it might be the best reason yet to buy that BD player for Christmas. If you haven't seen it five times, you have to at least know what it's about, so I'll spare...

In a surprising Twilight twist, director Catherine Hardwicke is definitely off the sequel New Moon. Summit Entertainment confirmed the rumors today, but didn't give any hint of the reported rift between the director and the studio (Hardwicke was supposedly "difficult" and "irrational"), saying only that scheduling difficulties caused the decision and adding,...

DreamWorks has been giving Pixar a run for its money with such recent releases as Kung Fu Panda and the Madagascar movies. The studio's latest animated feature, Monsters vs. Aliens, will continue that roll with help from a motley crew of 3D-enhanced monsters, including a 340-foot-tall baby insectosaurus who's teething on skyscrapers, a brilliant doctor (voiced by Hugh Laurie) with a...

This contest has ended. Thanks to all those who entered! And thanks for your patience, as we've determined and contacted our winners...congrats to our final four, Lauren M., Jamielyn B., Manda M. and Rebecca S.! P.S. In case you were wondering, too, check the questions below to see if you had the correct answers to the quiz part of our giveaway...and check back on our blog for more upcoming...

The National Board of Review, typically the first out of the gates during movie awards season, has just announced their winners, and (woohoo!), I'm happy to say that my two personal favorites of 2008, Slumdog Millionaire (go see it now!) and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (go see it at Xmas!), have taken the prizes for, respectively, Best Picture and Best Director. Judging by NBR's...