At the Risky Biz blog, Steven Zeitchik accuses the Wachowskis of “insidious” product placement in Speed Racer, altering the design of Speed’s helmet and the Mach 5 to subliminally invoke corporate partner McDonalds. “It may not be brand placement. It’s something much newer and trickier: brand suggestion.”
FILMMAKER Magazine’s website has published the essay by David Gordon Green from the liner notes of the recently-released Benten DVD of Todd Rohal’s The Guatemalan Handshake. His first impression of that film? “I had a queer anxiety in my stomach that in fact the movie was “too good,” or should I say “special,” like a retarded kid who is enchanting and liberating in his or her world view, destined for a conflict with the traditional culture.”
Movie viral marketing or fan fic? It’s too early to tell, but twoG.I. Joecharacters have started Twittering. GeneralHawk’s latest update: “Having a late lunch at Bennigan’s with Snake-Eyes & Alpine. Alpine says The Roots newalbum is, quote, ‘Dope.’” [Tipped by Kevin]
Todd Rohal’s The Guatemalan Handshake, starring Will Oldham, is available on DVD today, thanks to the boys from Benten Films. See appreciations from Paul Harill, Michael Tully, and Michael Atkinson; see the trailer above.
“The Nonfiction Box Office is up more than 1100% from one year ago,” points out AJ Schnack. And it’s not just one big hit responsible for the bump: three docs (U2 3D, Shine a Light and Expelled) have so far made multiple millions of dollars, while Young@Heart looks like it’s on the path to soon do the same.
We’ve had a bit of trouble getting this episode to go through the iTunes feed, so we hope this re-post will fix the problem. The original post, with episode description and embedded player, is here.
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