http://www.gomemphis.com/news/movies/beifuss/?partner=RSSGo Memphis Stories: Beifuss on Moviesen-usmovies/beifusshttp://www.gomemphis.com/news/2009/nov/20/precious-delivers-shock-with-message/?partner=RSS"Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire" expands into Memphis and other cities Friday after breaking per-theater box-office records the past two weeks in limited release. What "Precious" does well is to create sympathy and understanding for its unique title character. The movie functions almost as a public service announcement for the need for social service agencies, bootstrap initiatives and public education programs. beifuss@commercialappeal.com (John Beifuss)Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:44:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-165938-733731movies/beifussJohn BeifussMemphis, TNFilm Review: 'Precious' delivers shock with messageGo Memphisprecious-delivers-shock-with-messageurn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-165938-733731Change0Usablehttp://www.gomemphis.com/news/2009/nov/20/blind-side-eyes-local-pride/?partner=RSSSarah Palin isn't the only gun-toting, conservative Christian sports mom back in the news. This week also gives us Sandra Bullock as Leigh Anne Tuohy, the no-nonsense, git-'r-done, steel magnolia Memphis mother whose rescue of inner-city gentle giant Michael Oher provides the real-life inspiration for "The Blind Side". The movie is peppered with calculatedly memorable exchanges, which emphasize that this is more Leigh Anne's than Michael's story. beifuss@commercialappeal.com (John Beifuss)Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:05:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-165917-733731movies/beifussJohn BeifussMemphis, TNFilm Review: Inspirational 'Blind Side' tackles gritty issuesGo Memphisblind-side-eyes-local-prideurn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-165917-733731Change0Usablehttp://www.gomemphis.com/news/2009/nov/20/moviegoers-have-lots-to-choose-from/?partner=RSSTwo of the more eagerly awaited movies of the year open today: "The Blind Side," inspired by the real-life story of Memphis couple Sean and Leigh Anne Touhy and their adopted son, current NFL right tackle Michael Oher; and "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire," which has generated a lot of local interest (judging from my phone calls and e-mail messages), thanks in part to the endorsements of Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry. beifuss@commercialappeal.com (John Beifuss)Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:04:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-165923-733731movies/beifussJohn BeifussMemphis, TNMoviegoers have lots to choose from during holiday season Go Memphismoviegoers-have-lots-to-choose-fromurn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-165923-733731Change0Usablehttp://www.gomemphis.com/news/2009/nov/20/planet-51-is-launch-of-the-clich233s/?partner=RSS "Planet 51" is a trite compendium of everything that's wrong with non-Pixar computer-animated feature films. The voice actors (Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Jessica Biel) mostly were chosen for their name recognition, not their mellifluousness. The soundtrack is burdened with inferior covers of familiar rock and pop tunes. (Because the title planet is presented as an alien version of America in the 1950s, these songs include "Be-Bop-A-Lula" and "Long Tall Sally.") beifuss@commercialappeal.com (John Beifuss)Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:02:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-165934-733731movies/beifussJohn BeifussMemphis, TNFilm Review: 'Planet 51' is launch of the clichésGo Memphisplanet-51-is-launch-of-the-clich233surn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-165934-733731Change0Usablehttp://www.gomemphis.com/news/2009/nov/20/character-study-marks-good-education/?partner=RSSThis is stay-in-school week at the movies: "The Blind Side," "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire" and "An Education" all counsel young people to hit the books, not the streets or the sheets. In the first two movies, school offers the hope of not just salvation but survival. The stakes aren't as high in "An Education," but this impeccably mounted and acted BBC Films production is more successful at achieving its less-ambitious aim. beifuss@commercialappeal.com (John Beifuss)Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:02:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-165926-733731movies/beifussJohn BeifussMemphis, TNFilm Review: Character study marks good 'Education'Go Memphischaracter-study-marks-good-educationurn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-165926-733731Change0Usablehttp://www.gomemphis.com/news/2009/nov/15/talking-in-memphis-w/?partner=RSSWhen Kathy Bates returns this week to her hometown, the Memphis-born Oscar winner will be applauded not just for her status as one of Hollywood's most sought-after performers but for what might be the most challenging and inspirational role of her career: cancer survivor. Bates will talk about her battle as the keynote speaker Friday at the 8th annual Methodist Healthcare Foundation Cancer Center Luncheon at The Peabody. beifuss@commercialappeal.com (John Beifuss)Sun, 15 Nov 2009 06:05:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-164902-733726movies/beifussJohn BeifussMemphis, TNGoing public with cancer battle, actress Kathy Bates aims to encourage othersGo Memphistalking-in-memphis-wurn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-164902-733726Change0Usablehttp://www.gomemphis.com/news/2009/nov/13/film-review-2012-merges-disaster/?partner=RSSThe bad news: The world as we know it has come to an end. The good news: Mommy's new boyfriend was squashed in the gears of a giant high-tech ark, so Daddy's back in the picture! In typical disaster-movie fashion, "2012" presents these events as being of more or less equal significance. Such Hollywood accounting may offend the literal-minded, but others will accept the equation as part of the preposterous fun of this campy if overlong exercise in gleeful world-smashing spectacle. beifuss@commercialappeal.com (John Beifuss)Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:29:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-164874-733724movies/beifussJohn BeifussMemphis, TNFilm Review: '2012' merges disaster genre's greatest hits Go Memphisfilm-review-2012-merges-disasterurn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-164874-733724Change0Usablehttp://www.gomemphis.com/news/2009/nov/13/love-hate-at-play-in-the-damned-united/?partner=RSSAs a film inspired by British football, "The Damned United" may hold limited appeal for Memphis moviegoers. But it's also a film about a form of unrequited or spurned love, which means it's a story about love and hate, which means it's a movie that everybody can relate to. And yet, it's a movie entirely without romantic love -- in fact, it's been a long time since I've seen a film in which women were so nearly absent. beifuss@commercialappeal.com (John Beifuss)Fri, 13 Nov 2009 06:05:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-164875-733724movies/beifussJohn BeifussMemphis, TNFilm Review: Love, hate at play in 'The Damned United'Go Memphislove-hate-at-play-in-the-damned-unitedurn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-164875-733724Change0Usablehttp://www.gomemphis.com/news/2009/nov/05/film-takes-intimate-look-at-combat-life/?partner=RSS "I've been waiting for this film since the early days of the war," writes Roger Ebert about "Brothers at War," which he calls an "honest, on-the-ground documentary" about American soldiers fighting in Iraq. The Samuel Goldwyn Films release screens at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Malco's Stage Cinema, 7930 U.S. 64. Admission is $7, or $5 with military ID. beifuss@commercialappeal.com (John Beifuss)Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:08:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-163808-733716movies/beifussJohn BeifussMemphis, TN'Brothers at War" takes intimate look at combat lifeGo Memphisfilm-takes-intimate-look-at-combat-lifeurn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-163808-733716Change0Usablehttp://www.gomemphis.com/news/2009/nov/04/take-bow-indie-memphis-receives-grant-oscars-organ/?partner=RSSA golden statuette is nice, but sometimes green stuff is even nicer. The Indie Memphis Film Festival has been awarded a $10,000 grant from the Oscars organization, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The amount was the maximum available to Indie Memphis under Academy guidelines, based on the festival’s annual operating budget of just under $180,000. The grant was the first the Oscars organization had awarded to Memphis. beifuss@commercialappeal.com (John Beifuss)Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:26:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-163686-733715movies/beifussJohn BeifussMemphis, TNTake a bow: Indie Memphis receives grant from Oscars organizationGo Memphistake-bow-indie-memphis-receives-grant-oscars-organurn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-163686-733715Change0Usablehttp://www.gomemphis.com/news/2009/oct/29/jacksons-talent-in-full-force-in-this-is-it/?partner=RSSMemphis, as any concert promoter will tell you, is a walk-up town. So while screenings of "Michael Jackson's This Is It" -- a concert documentary about a concert that never was -- have sold out in advance at a record pace from Hollywood to Bangkok, Memphians will have no trouble finding tickets to the movie, which opened today at a dozen area theaters. Even so, any true Michael Jackson fan should run not moonwalk to the nearest theater. beifuss@commercialappeal.com (John Beifuss)Thu, 29 Oct 2009 20:09:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-162711-733709movies/beifussJohn BeifussMemphis, TNFilm Review: Jackson's talent in full force in 'This Is It'Go Memphisjacksons-talent-in-full-force-in-this-is-iturn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-162711-733709Change0Usablehttp://www.gomemphis.com/news/2009/oct/22/generous-hair-cut-above-strident-documentaries/?partner=RSSUnlike most documentaries with a message, "Good Hair" —Chris Rock's amusing examination of African-American hair culture — invites moviegoers to a conversation, not a lecture. "Good Hair" warns against the perils of chemical relaxer ("the creamy crack," the film calls it); chides working women for spending thousands of dollars on weaves; and charges that "hands off the hair" mandates have decreased intimacy between black men and black women. beifuss@commercialappeal.com (John Beifuss)Thu, 22 Oct 2009 23:08:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-161802-733702movies/beifussJohn BeifussMemphis, TNFilm Review: Generous 'Good Hair' a cut above strident documentariesGo Memphisgenerous-hair-cut-above-strident-documentariesurn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-161802-733702Change0Usablehttp://www.gomemphis.com/news/2009/oct/19/secrets-getting-out/?partner=RSS"The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry," which opened Sept. 25 on two Mid-South screens, is itself something of a secret to most moviegoers. Even so, on Friday the faith-based movie began its fourth week at the Wolfchase Galleria Cinema 8 and the Collierville Towne 16, thanks to steady viewership and the support of its local "sponsors," Bellevue Baptist Church and the Memphis Metro chapter of the Child Evangelism Fellowship. beifuss@commercialappeal.com (John Beifuss)Mon, 19 Oct 2009 18:24:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-160970-733699movies/beifussJohn BeifussMemphis, TNFaith-based 'Jonathan Sperry' attracts loyal viewers with its family messageGo Memphissecrets-getting-outurn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-160970-733699Change0Usablehttp://www.gomemphis.com/news/2009/oct/14/film-review-paranormal-activity-gives-big-chills-m/?partner=RSS“Paranormal Activity” proves there is a sucker born every minute, and I mean that in the happiest way possible, because I admire this spooky, creepy, genuinely dread-inducing film. And I am in awe of the marketing geniuses at Paramount, who have transformed a $15,000, shot-in-one-week wonder into an Internet and box-office phenomenon, and the most fan-hyped horror hit since the similarly camcorded and micro-budgeted “The Blair Witch Project.” (Expect a similar backlash, too.) beifuss@commercialappeal.com (John Beifuss)Wed, 14 Oct 2009 22:47:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-160598-733694movies/beifussJohn BeifussMemphis, TNFilm Review: 'Paranormal Activity' gives big chills for mini-budgetGo Memphisfilm-review-paranormal-activity-gives-big-chills-murn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-160598-733694Change0Usablehttp://www.gomemphis.com/news/2009/oct/12/news-in-the-arts-louis-gossett-jr-film-looking/?partner=RSS"The Grace Card," a faith-based film with Oscar-winner Louis Gossett Jr. that begins production in the Memphis area next week, is seeking African-American extras for a pair of big church scenes to be shot Oct. 17 and 24. Interested parties should e-mail their contact information to thegracecard@ memphiscalvary.org or call 386-8988. beifuss@commercialappeal.com (John Beifuss)Mon, 12 Oct 2009 19:06:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-159906-733692movies/beifussJohn BeifussMemphis, TNNews in the Arts: Louis Gossett Jr. film looking for extrasGo Memphisnews-in-the-arts-louis-gossett-jr-film-lookingurn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-159906-733692Change0Usablehttp://www.gomemphis.com/news/2009/oct/12/evening-sun-garners-award-at-film-festival/?partner=RSSDirector Scott Teems' "That Evening Sun," a deceptive, thought-provoking and intense drama that stars Hal Holbrook as a cantankerous octogenarian who fights to remain on his family farm in East Tennessee, was named Best Narrative Feature at the 12th annual Indie Memphis Film Festival. beifuss@commercialappeal.com (John Beifuss)Mon, 12 Oct 2009 17:03:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-160268-733692movies/beifussJohn BeifussMemphis, TN'Evening Sun' garners award at Indie Memphis Film FestivalGo Memphisevening-sun-garners-award-at-film-festivalurn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-160268-733692Change0Usablehttp://www.gomemphis.com/news/2009/oct/09/indie-memphis-film-festival-one-that-got-away/?partner=RSSOriginal, surprising and, yes, lovely to look at, "Lovely by Surprise" is the forgotten Memphis movie. It was shot in early 2006, when interest in local moviemaking was at an unprecedented high. A sort of deranged comedy about a troubled author (Carrie Preston, now a regular on HBO's "True Blood") whose fictional characters seem to break into the "real" world, the movie was written and directed by Memphis-born Kirt Gunn, and shot on location in Memphis and Arkansas. beifuss@commercialappeal.com (John Beifuss)Fri, 09 Oct 2009 20:33:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-159654-733689movies/beifussJohn BeifussMemphis, TNIndie Memphis: One that got away, "Lovely by Surprise" gets dueGo Memphisindie-memphis-film-festival-one-that-got-awayurn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-159654-733689Change0Usablehttp://www.gomemphis.com/news/2009/oct/09/indie-memphis-film-festival-sci-fi-westerns-hit/?partner=RSSOn a film festival menu heavy with documentary-style American independent films about troubled relationships and 21st century malaise, finding the ambitious, imaginative, stylized -- and fun -- films of Cory McAbee is sort of like discovering a red velvet cake among the sprouts and tofu at a health food store. beifuss@commercialappeal.com (John Beifuss)Fri, 09 Oct 2009 05:05:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-159664-733689movies/beifussJohn BeifussMemphis, TNIndie Memphis: Sci-fi Westerns hit galactic trail in welcome breakGo Memphisindie-memphis-film-festival-sci-fi-westerns-hiturn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-159664-733689Change0Usablehttp://www.gomemphis.com/news/2009/oct/08/offbeat-entrees-offer-real-feast-with-local/?partner=RSSFrom its midnight movies (Friday's buzzed-about "Paranormal Activity") to its "Amerindie" auteurs (Chicago-based Joe Swanberg delivers his "Alexander the Last," at 7:45 p.m. Friday) to its celebrations of Memphis music (the Live From Memphis Music Video Showcase at 7:30 p.m. Saturday), this week's Indie Memphis Film Festival could be the most worthwhile in the event's 12-year history. beifuss@commercialappeal.com (John Beifuss)Thu, 08 Oct 2009 15:09:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-159650-733688movies/beifussJohn BeifussMemphis, TNIndie Memphis: Offbeat entrees offer real feast, with local flavorGo Memphisoffbeat-entrees-offer-real-feast-with-localurn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-159650-733688Change0Usablehttp://www.gomemphis.com/news/2009/oct/07/thebloodshoteyecom-small-budget-paranormal-gets-bi/?partner=RSSOn TheBloodshotEye.com: "Paranormal Activity," the most buzzed-about micro-budget horror movie since "The Blair Witch Project," gets an exclusive midnight screening Friday at the Studio on the Square as part of the Indie Memphis Film Festival. The screening will be hosted by celebrity fan Craig Brewer, who used his Paramount Pictures connections to get the movie to Memphis. So far, "Paranormal Activity" has no other scheduled local play date. beifuss@commercialappeal.com (John Beifuss)Wed, 07 Oct 2009 21:51:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-159512-733687movies/beifussJohn BeifussMemphis, TNTheBloodshotEye.com: Small budget "Paranormal" gets big responseGo Memphisthebloodshoteyecom-small-budget-paranormal-gets-biurn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-159512-733687Change0Usable