Temporary Hiatus

As much as we love posting here, JR and I have had to put the demands of Slim/Athletic on the back burner for now, as we're both focusing on other projects. In time, we will return, if not in 2009, certainly in 2010, hopefully with good news! Until then, thanks to everyone who has posted and read this blog, we'll see you soon!

David Lynch's Moby Music Video

Moby's new album "Wait for Me" was released today to some solid reviews. Check out David Lynch's contribution to the album with his music video for the appropriately titled track "Shot in the Back of the Head."

Kevin Costner: Friend to Airport Staff the World Over

In an intriguing career path turn, Kevin Costner is doing (dialogue free) commercials for Turkish Airlines now.  Warning: Viewing the spot above may make you more privy to impregnating airline stewardesses with only your charming smirk.  My favorite part of this spot is when the director has Costner rudely interrupt a family taking a picture; while the father is trying to snap a photo of his family, Costner slides in to the background with them, posing with the mother and 2 children.  When the father shoots an inquisitive "what the hell was that" glance at him following the incident, Kev gives him a smug pat on the back as if to say "Go fuck yourself buddy, I'm Kevin Costner." Enjoy!

Via Professional Travel Guide

Moneyball Strikes Out

The Moneyball movie has been put on indefinite hold days before shooting was scheduled to begin, as sources cite a last minute Steven Soderbergh rewrite as the prevailing reason. The film adaptation of Moneyball was to bring sabermetric baseball to the mainstream and star Brad Pitt as Billy Beane as the GM of the Oakland A's and Demitri Martin as his assistant Paul De Podesta. The film was also reported at different points to have signed real life baseball players David Justice and Scott Hatteberg to star as themselves in the film. As a baseball fan, this is disappointing news, as I feel Steven Soderbergh's stylistic approach would have suited the material well.
Via AP

Trailer Talk: Martin Scorsese's Shutter Island

Shutter Island was directed by Martin Scorsese and, as I’m sure you’re surprised to read, stars Leonardo DiCaprio in a filmmaking partnership that has become so inextricable that you could base a law school entry exam logic question around it (“Marty Scorsese is making a movie. It is being released after 2001. Who will it star in its lead role? A) Leonardo DiCaprio, B) Anyone else). While some of the imagery put on display in the trailer is cool (did it remind anyone else of Silent Hill? What if Martin Scorsese directed that movie?), I can’t help but be pessimistic. With all due respected to the greatness that is Martin Scorsese, the movies he’s put out there in the last decade, while admirable technical achievements like The Aviator and Gangs of New York, haven’t had the same emotional gravitas like the films that made him a household name to begin with. This may in part be due to his insistance on casting DiCaprio in all of his lead roles of late, even going so far as to liken him to Robert De Niro (Why? Because their last names both start with “Deh?”) I want to be proven wrong, but a little variety probably wouldn’t kill Marty in the casting department.

The L.A. Times explores Ferrell's Flattening

By now you've probably already heard that Land of the Lost was devoured by its competition this past weekend, being namely The Hangover and Up.  Land of the Lost reportedly cost over $100 million to create (what the fuck?) and only raked in $18.7 m in its opening weekend. Patrick Goldstein explores why what went down went down last weekend and discuses whether Ferrell's career as a bankable movie star is on life support in his Big Picture editorial here. Thanks to friend T.J. for the tip.

Weekend Weightlifting: The Hangover Certified Fresh, Land of the Lost, Not So Much.

The much ballyhooed weekend is upon us, and the two flicks with the most promo-buzz are Bradly Cooper starmaker The Hangover and Land of the Lost, which is apparently trying to outdo Will Ferrell's last movie, Semi-Pro, in crappy reviews. The fact that Ferrell's career seems to be on the "quality skids" lately doesn't seem to slow him down much. It's hard to really articulate why the movie-star version of Will Ferrell is so popular, but I guess his hits are so fantastic and fondly remembered that his more sucktastic movies are forgiven. The "Adam Sandler effect", if you will. The Hangover is directed by Todd Phillips, the same guy who ironically minted Ferrell's box office cred in Old School. Looks like this weekend, if you're looking for a new comedy it's best to go with the castle's architect, not its jester. Raise the bridge, Ferrell fans!