What is Movie News After Dark? Usually it’s just a nightly column dedicated to the best news and links from around the movie blogosphere. Tonight it comes with a disclaimer: Its author has just returned from a bender of Pixar films and is in the midst of a Marvel films marathon as he writes this. This sort of situation may cause over-zealous Avengers coverage, animated goofiness and spontaneous, uncontrollable bouts of crying — that is, if the score from UP comes on. Be prepared.
We begin tonight with an awesome image of Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Bruce Lee in 1978 courtesy of the Tumblr blog of film critic Shawn Levy. Beyond being an exceptionally nice guy, Levy also has a taste for the moving pictures and the icons of said medium. This shot, in my opinion, is certified awesome.
Tonight in actual movie news, there are now reports that Jessica Chastain may join Iron Man 3 as a “sexy scientist.” It’s also possible that the “sexy” part is an interpretation based on her actual sexiness and not the character’s technical description, but it’s all pretty much the same, isn’t it?
Over at Lounge Geeks, the lovely Kayla Kromer presents her latest Geek Techniques entry, a Six Feet Under themed cocktail. Which reminds me that I need to dive back in and finish watching Six Feet Under. I’m told — by my mom, the all-knowing expert on television — that it has one of the greatest series finales of all-time. I need to see this for myself.
The New Yorker’s Adam Gopnik explains What Mad Men Shows About American Pop Culture. Aside from our predisposition for heavy drinking, womanizing, bigotry and propensity for major mid-life crisis issues, that is.
Over at Hollywood.com, our good buddy Matt Patches talks to Jason Statham about why he’d be a terrible Spider-man, among other things.
There will be a great deal said about The Avengers this week. Allow me to bring today’s items together into one paragraph. First, /Film gets a little snuggly with Joss Whedon about The Avengers. Next, renown geek art purveyors Gallery 1988 will hold an Avengers art show on opening weekend. And finally, also in the realm of Avengers art, Bleeding Cool explores What The Avengers Would Look Like in a World of Unrestrained Product Placement. Here’s an example:
The folks at Wired have a wonderful profile of a film called Londoners, which was shot with a hand-cranked camera from the 1920s. It’s essentially telling The Artist that silent films are okay, but using a hand-cranked camera is what’s actually in right now.
Ron Swanson as Fantastic Four‘s Thing? Sure, that’s something that I can get behind. It’s also something that Nick Offerman said on Marc Maron’s WTF podcast. Which is what makes it more than just fantasy casting.
Speaking of things you listen to, This American Life is doing a live cinema event on May 10th, and they’ve added David Sadaris to a line-up that already includes David Rakoff, Mike Birbiglia, Tig Notaro, Glynn Washington, Ryan Knighton, the Monica Bill Barnes Dance Company and OK Go. Sounds like fun.
Vulture takes a moment to look at Game of Thrones‘ Kid-Actor Problem. Apparently the show is moving things along a little too slow and these actors are growing up in real-time. Beware: there’s a lot of math and potentially spoilery info in there, if you’re the sensitive type.
Also in incredible television, Pajiba’s Dan Carlson walks us through a list of 6 Great Dramas That Owe a Debt to The Wire. Also known as everything good that has come along since The Wire. Point. Made. (Note to self: I need to watch Homeland.)
/Film’s David Chen presents his 5 Most Anticipated Movies of IFF Boston, one of the domestic film festivals that I would love to attend one of these days, if money and time were less of an issue. Sure, they don’t premiere a lot of stuff that can’t otherwise be seen at Sundance, Toronto, SXSW or other majors, but I’ve heard that it’s a really great party. And who doesn’t love Bean Town? You’re right, Yankee fans. That’s okay, I don’t count them as people.
Speaking of Yankee fans, here’s a carefully stitched together series of dolly shots from Spike Lee, a man who really does love a great dolly shot.