andPOP - Pop Culture With Substance

“Pirate Radio” is entertaining, well written — but also forgettable. Directed and written by Richard Curtis (“Love Actually,” “Four Weddings and a Funeral”), there’s no question this movie will appeal to rock lovers and rock dummies alike. However, that doesn’t make it a memorable film.

In theory, this comedy has everything going for it: actors who can actually act (like Philip Seymour Hoffman), a reasonably original plot and a witty, Oscar-nominated screenwriter. The movie is based on the true story of a seafaring group of rock-obsessed DJs who captivated 1960’s Britain with their “pirate radio.” This at a time where rock music was mostly banned from the airways so the group broadcast live-to-air in an old tanker from the middle of the North Sea.

Their radio station helped unify millions across the nation and their story is without a doubt hilarious as told by Curtis. So what’s the problem? It’s just clustered. “Pirate Radio” is an ensemble film, but one with too many characters. While the movie does a fantastic job of developing a handful of oddball DJs, the rest of them are merely props.

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Sony Pictures confirms Oct. 30 as the release date for Michael Jackson’s “This Is It” movie, which documents the King of Pop’s final concert rehearsal.

The film is being produced with the full support of The Estate of Michael Jackson and will be drawn from hundreds of hours of rehearsal and behind-the-scenes footage – all captured in high definition.

To add to the experience, “This Is It” will also offer certain sequences in 3-D, along with interviews with some of Jackson’s closest friends and creative collaborators.

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A deal involving Sony Pictures, to acquire rehearsal footage from Michael Jackson’s “This Is It” concert rehearsal is being finalized. According to Variety, the distribution company hopes to give the film a theatrical release this Halloween.

It has been reported that Sony is paying approximately $60 million for 80 hours of rehearsal footage of Jackson. The footage currently belongs to AEG Entertainment, the company responsible for promoting Jackson’s 50 shows in London.

Kenny Ortega will reportedly assemble the movie which Sony plans to released on October 30, according to MTV News. The “High School Musical” director shot the original footage. According to Variety, the rehearsal film will feature “at least three” videos, and one of them could be an alternative version of Jackson’s hit “Thriller.

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Sean Avery isn’t only a celebrity-dating hockey player, he’s also the inspiration for a new film.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, New Line Cinema is working on a film that would detail his recent experience interning at Vogue; his “experiences in the fashion world and the relationships he made there.”

Avery began his internship in May, and among his duties he was a guest editor for MensVogue.com.

There were rumours that while he was there, he was dating Calvin Klein’s 51-year-old ex-wife, Kelly.

Not many Canadian producers will be honoured with Oscar nods today, but they do have reason to celebrate: a new award created just for them at the Canadian Indie Awards.

The Canadian Film and Television Production Association announced yesterday that the Best Feature Film category will be added to the awards list. The award will be given to the producer of the best film. The CFTPA also announced all their nominees for the best in Canadian independent film, television and new media.

Those nominated include Robert Lontos (Eastern Promises); Daniel Iron, Jennifer Weiss and Simone Urdle (Away From Her); Bruce McDonald, Sarah Timmins and Paul Barkin (The Tracey Fragments).

The 2008 Sundance Film Festival is officially underway.

The 27th annual festival kicked off last night in Park City, Utah with the world premiere of “In Bruges,” a dark comedy starring Ralph Fiennes and Colin Farrell, and written by award-winning playwright Martin McDonagh.

But that’s just the beginning. Another 120 feature-length films will be screened during the 11-day festival, which showcases independent projects from all over the globe.

Twelve Canadian projects will be screened this year. Among the homegrown offerings are “Smile,” a short from past Sundance winner Julia Kwan, and “Madame Tutli-Putli,” an animated tale by artists Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski.

Canadian documentaries in the festival include “Up the Yangtze” and “The Women of Brukman and Triage: Dr. James Orbinski’s Humanitarian Dilemma.”

Canadian actor Sandra Oh is one of the judges set to pick the 2008 Sundance award winners. Other judges include actor Diego Luna, and directors Jason Reitman and Quentin Tarantino.

Awards will be given to jury and crowd favourites on Jan. 26.

A Canadian comedic drama featuring Montreal’s Jay Baruchel has been chosen to kick off the alternative Slamdance Film Festival.

“Real Time,” written and directed by Canadian Film Centre graduate Randall Cole, stars Baruchel (”Undeclared,” “Knocked Up”) as a compulsive gambler given one hour to live. Veteran actor Randy Quaid plays the hit man who gives him the temporary reprieve.

The 14th annual Slamdance Fest features 29 movies and will be held Jan. 17 to 25, running concurrent with the Sundance Film Festival. Like Sundance, Slamdance will take place in Park City, Utah.

Only first-time directors can submit feature films, which must have budgets under $1 million to be eligible.

The new trailer for Beowulf, one of Hollywood’s most anticipated epic films, went live on Apple.com yesterday.

The family friendly preview (as well as the provocative restriced version) are just the beginning of the buzz for the film, slated for release November 16.

“Scene Unseen Movie Reviews” has been conducting weekly podcasts for the Robert Zemeckis film that will continue up until the film’s release. Hosts Chris and Jimmy interview cast and crew members, discuss behind-the-scenes stories, and dish the dirt on this medieval movie.

With a star studded cast including Ray Winstone, Anthony Hopkins, John Malkovich, Robin Wright Penn, Brendan Gleeson, Crispin Glover, Alison Lohman, and Angelina Jolie, Beowulf will surely heat up the holiday season.

To learn more about the legendary battle of Beowulf and Grendel, and to hear from your favourite stars, check out the remaining seven podcasts:

9/24: Crispin Glover
10/8: Brendan Gleeson
10/15: Doug Chiang
10/22: Roger Avary & Neil Gaiman
10/29: Ray Winstone
11/5: Angelina Jolie
11/12: Robert Zemeckis

According to the “Globe and Mail,” director Oliver Stone was greeted with a standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival on Sunday to preview 25 minutes from his new, controversial film, “World Trade Center” (opening Aug. 9).

The clip was from the beginning of the movie and preceded the 20th anniversary showing of his movie “Platoon” starring Charlie Sheen.

However, most of the audience left after “World Trade Center.”

“It’s the true story of two New York Port Authority policemen who were trapped in the rubble, their wives and their children, and the incredible and almost improbable rescue efforts that went on to save them,” Stone said, in his introduction to the clip.

“World Trade Center” is the second Hollywood film to be made about the 9/11 attacks, “United 93″ about the passengers aboard the flight that crashed into a Pennsylvania field, was released earlier this year.

The first Fantasy Worldwide International Film Festival was launched this Friday in Toronto to celebrate 31 films from the world of magic and sci-fi.

Running for three days until Sunday, the festival is showcasing all of its movies at the Bloor Cinema.

Film highlights include Lord of the Brush, the tale of artist John Howe, who helped bring Peter Jackson?s The Lord of the Rings to the big screen; and Moongirl, the latest animation from Henry Selick, the director behind The Nightmare Before Christmas and James and the Peach.

Organizers have attempted to provide a broad range of material, from low-budget creations to high-budget flicks, and from silly spoofs to thought-provoking commentaries.

The Bloor Cinema reportedly received ticket inquiries from filmmakers and audience members in Canada, the U.S., and overseas.