Marvel Studios’ Iron Man dominated the movie box office during its first weekend, at a near-record pace. Even more surprisingly, it has some serious thoughts behind it.
Movies
Mel Gibson to Star in Crime Drama
For the first time since 2002, actor Mel Gibson will be the lead actor in a new movie. Gibson has signed on to star in Edge of Darkness, a crime thriller based on a 1985 BBC miniseries.
Miley Cyrus, Unprotected Celebrity
The embarrassing Miley Cyrus Vanity Fair photo shows the value of public relations people—and why investing real money makes people more careful about what they do.
‘Fitna’ Link Shut Down, Replacements Proliferate
As you’ve seen if you clicked on the link in the story immediately below, the film Fitna was removed from the Livelink site because of threats of violence against the proprietors. We’ve embedded a new link that should work, as numerous sites are carrying the film, in the grand tradition of liberty that the Internet has already developed. Those who dislike the film—whether they have seen it or otherwise—are trying to ensure that it gets lost on the internet, by posting other videos with "Fitna" as the title. Those who wish to make sure others can see the film should point them to this permalink: http://stkarnick.com/blog2/2008/03/post_120.html. We will monitor the situation and continue updating the link as necessary. If it should prove necessary in future, we’ll download the file and save it to our own site.
Mixed-Up Messages from J-Lo’s ‘Bordertown’
The Jennifer Lopez ‘message film’ Bordertown is seriously mixed up about the causes of crime, but it does manage to entertain—and it includes some real libertarian lessons. TAC correspondent Thomas M. Sipos provides the details.
‘Fitna’ Outlines Muslim Plans for the West—and the World
The Dutch politician Geert Wilders has released Fitna ("Fatwa"), his short film about Islam’s plans for the west and for world domination (see earlier article here).
The Changing of the American Mind
Two crime movies based on the same play nicely illustrate the change in the mind of the American elite during the twentieth century.
The Art of Richard Widmark and Classic Hollywood
Hollywood actor Richard Widmark dies at age 93, represented Hollywood’s heyday. Richard Widmark, best known for his Academy Award-nominated performance as a giggling, grinning gangster in the 1947 film noir classic Kiss of Death and as an NYPD policeman in the 1970s TV program Madigan, represents a Hollywood long gone and greatly missed, where on-camera performers and others involved in making films saw themselves as professionals, not artists—and succeeded in creating real art much more often than today’s more overtly ambitious and politically active generation. Madigan was based on a very good film directed by Donald Siegel, which is well worth seeing. For more on Widmark and his career, see the AP story.
David Mamet Swings to the Right
TAC correspondent Michael D’Virgilio analyzes the cultural implications of the political journey of David Mamet, another modern liberal mugged by reality.
Jack Black Wrestles for God
The zany Jack Black comedy Nacho Libre, now on The Movie Channel, has a surprisingly strong religious foundation.
The Light in “Dark” Fiction
"Dark" fiction can have highly positive values behind it, writes S. T. Karnick. From the Feb. 25 issue of National Review.
Clooney’s Anti-Business Fairy Tale
Michael Clayton, now on DVD, blu-ray, download, and pay per view, is presented as a "ripped from the day’s headlines" true story of corporate greed and perfidy—but in fact it’s a fairy tale.
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