Horror Actressing: Amy Irving in "Carrie"

by Jason Adams

When we talk about Brian De Palma's 1976 horror masterpiece Carrie we talk about Actresses. But we tend to talk about the Big Two -- Sissy Spacek as Carrie White and Piper Laurie as her mamma Margaret, who were both rightfully Oscar-nominated. (They both should have won too, says me!) Then if there's oxygen left in the room after talking those two we'll gravitate towards the showier female roles below the line -- Nancy Allen playing one of cinema's greatest bitches Chris Hargensen, or wondering if Betty Buckley's Miss Collins is, in the grand tradition of P.E. teachers, same-sex-oriented.

What I haven't seen nearly enough love for is Amy Irving, who's celebrating her birthday tomorrow and who gives a truly complicated performance as Sue Snell, the girl whose motivations switch midway through, the one who sees through to the error of her ways but too late, and the one who ends up giving the film's tragedy, Carrie's tragedy, its shape....

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YNMS: "It: Chapter Two"

by Jason Adams

Slip into your yellow rain-slickers and come play with me down in the gutter, as the final trailer for director Andy Muschietti's It: Chapter Two arrived last week and we're taking a belated gander. While I preferred the shorter teaser that primarily focused in on a single creepy scene with Jessica Chastain, (taking over the role of Beverly from the terrific Sophia Lillis) and an old lady who's clearly not the old lady she seems to be, this full trailer delivers plenty of the pitch-black shocks we expect from these hard R-rated sojourns into what some consider Stephen King's most terrifying tale...

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Blueprints: William Goldman In Memoriam

This week, Jorge's screenplay column celebrates the work of one of the most versatile and distinguished screenwriters in cinema, who passed away on November 16^th.

Most artists can only hope to leave at most one iconic piece of legacy behind after they pass way. One great novel, one fantastic painting, one life-changing movie. There are few who can produce more than one. I think we can count with one hang those whose body of work can be considered unequivocally influential and unironically iconic.

William Goldman was one of those artists. Winner of two Academy Awards for Best Screenplay (one original, and one adapted), he left behind an oeuvre that spans across decades, genres, and mediums that most writers can only dream of. Let’s take a look at his most well-remembered screenplays, most of which will be embedded in the collective cinematic culture for generations to come... 

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Big Beautiful Losers

by Jason Adams

Have y'all been keeping an eye on the ever-ballooning cast of cool cats that've joined the It sequel? This week brought one of the names that's made me the happiest - Jess Weixler, star of Teeth and Jessica Chastain BFF, has joined It: Chapter II to play the wife of Bill Denbrough, aka the leader of the "Losers Club" who will be played by James McAvoy in the sequel. (Chastain herself is playing grown-up Bev, the lone girl in the Losers.) We've been clamoring for good stuff for Weixler ever since she wowed hard with Teeth in 2007 but even though she's worked steadily she's remained under-the-radar. The role of Bill's wife will probably definitely still under-exploit her talents, but it'll be good to have her around all the same.

Anyway back in September Chris asked y'all to offer up casting suggestions for the adult versions of the first film's kids and y'all actually got some names right in the comments! Pat yourselves on the back! The rest of the cast besides Chastain & McAvoy (Eleanor Rigby reunion in the house) are as follows: Bill Hader is Richie, James Ransone is Eddie (that one's my favorite), Jay Ryan is Ben, Isaiah Mustafa is Mike, and Andy Bean is Stanley. Oh and Xavier Dolan is playing a character that everybody figured would get cut from the film adaptation... but I'll refrain from details to keep this spoiler-free. Plus Bill Skarsgard will be of course be back doing his Pennywise thing. What do we think of the new cast? 

Beauty vs Beast: Total Eclipse of the Drunk

Jason Adams from MNPP here with this week's dose of "Beauty vs Beast" fun. The great Kathy Bates is turning 70 on Thursday, giving you a couple of days to craft your love letters to her on Twitter - until then let's celebrate one of her great roles, the other Stephen King one, 1995's Dolores Claiborne. The film was underrated when it was released and the film remains underrated today if you ask me, but I think it's got a diehard contingent of fans - it's top-shelf King, mainly due to its two leading ladies, Bates as Dolores and Jennifer Jason Leigh as her estranged daughter Selena. And now I am the jerk who makes you choose...

bike tracks

PREVIOUSLY Last week we climbed on the city bus with Keanu Reeves and Sandy Bullock and then we quickly proceeded to run right the hell over Dennis Hopper - Keanu won the Speed poll with 74% of the vote! Those biceps... I totally get it. Said Tom G:

"Jack ends up with Sandra Bullock. He wins."