Soderbergh continues to push the limits on independent filmmaking. You have to give him credit for even getting funding for a project like this.  Although, from the looks of things, one can see why Moneyball shut down production.

For over 50 years, Chanel has paired great directors and talent to help promote its Chanel No. 5 fragrance.  Some of the past talent include Catherine Deneuve, Luc Besson, Ridley Scott, Baz Luhrman, and Nicole Kidman.

The latest short film is directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet, and stars Audrey Tautou.  Tautou also played Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel in the biopic of Chanel’s life titled Coco avant Chanel.

For the film, a behind the scenes look, and the story of Chanel No. 5, click here.

Yeah, this poster mash-up is clever and all…but I don’t recall any breakfast cereal connections in There Will Be Blood, do you?

Wouldn’t this have been much more effective as There Will Be Milkshakes?And the long white line was either a straw or a thin pour of vanilla into a stainless steel milkshake shaker?

“When Ambition Meets Breakfast” and “Coming Spoon” are nice one-liners, but who are the ad wizards who came up with this one?

Apparently, these are the things that bother me.

For all you fans of Top Chef and Hell’s Kitchen, you should check out the trailer for Pressure Cooker.  This hot potato won’t be in theaters long, so check your local listings ASAP.

Piggy-backing on the Whatever Works episode…

I’ll be the first to admit, the last ten years have not been kind to Mr. Woody Allen.  

Of course, there’s flashes of greatness – Match Point, Sweet and Lowdown, and Vicky Cristina Barcelona – but those gems are unfortunately sandwiched between such embarrassing debacles as Anything Else, Curse of the Jade Scorpion, Hollywood Ending, Celebrity, Small Time Crooks, and Melinda and Melinda.

With this in mind, I ask you to reconsider Woody Allen…standup comic.  Next time you find yourself planning a road trip, seek out this collection of his standup years between 1964 and 1968.

For the rest of the article and a CLIP, follow the jump…

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Toy Movies

This brilliant little animation was created by Dan Meth…via Atom.com.

I’d rather watch any of these over Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen and G.I. Joe.

Today, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced that the 2010 Oscars will have not five…but TEN Best Picture nominations!

This is insanity, and save for publicity value, I don’t exactly see the logic behind it. I suppose behind-the-scenes they figure having ten Best Picture noms equates more promotional power for theatrical box office, more advertising clout for DVD releases, and thus, more money.  Surprise, surprise.

As much as the press release references nostalgic roots and overall fairness, I don’t buy it.  Every year, Jimmy and I make our “Top Ten” lists, as I’m sure you do, but I’ve never had a list that ALL deserved the sacred nod.  What do ya’ll think?

Special thanks to super fan Max Elliot for sending in this story!

Whatever Works - Official Website

NPR’s “Fresh Air” – Woody Allen on Life, Films, and Whatever Works

Woody Allen and the New Orleans Jazz Band

The Magic Castle in Hollywood

This has absolutely nothing to do with movies, but since we veer off topic all the time on our show, I feel justified in sharing it with you.

After my “Bruno in Germany” post yesterday, super fan Nicholas West alerted me to the wonderful website, awkwardfamilyphotos.com.

Of course, I fell in love immediately…especially with the Awkward Hall of Fame.

Check it out, forward it to family members, and try not to piss your under garments.

Did you know that over the course of 22 years…in 17 western movies…Jimmy Stewart rode the SAME horse?  The horse’s name was “Pie.”

Joan Bakewell at the National Film Theatre interviewed Stewart about Pie in 1972:

“I liked this darned little horse…I actually believed that he understood about making pictures. I ran at a full gallop, straight towards the camera, pulled him up and then did a lot of dialogue and he stood absolutely still. He never moved. He knew when the camera would start rolling and when they did the slates. He knew that because his ears came up.

The last picture that Hank Fonda and I made, The Cheyenne Social Club, Pie was getting old. We did it in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Pie got sick and I couldn’t use him the whole time. And, unbeknownst to me, Hank painted a picture of the horse in watercolour. He’s an excellent artist – watercolours, oils, ink, lithograph, anything. He has an amazing talent. When we got home, he brought me the picture and two days later Pie died. It was a great loss. But I have Pie in our library and I consider him a friend.”

Super fan and fellow Stewart admirer, Warren Madsen, alerted me to this fact a while back, and now I share this random tidbit with you.