Screening Gotham: When David Mamet Gets it Wrong

Some of today's movie news of note from around New York:

--Everyone knows how much writer David Mamet adores critics, particularly following the release of his recent Hollywood love letter Bambi vs. Godzilla ("Critics are a plague," is published invective that springs immediately to mind). And today, Premiere critic (and blogger! Hissssss!) Glenn Kenny is getting his pestilential money's worth with a fact-checking exodus through Mamet's book. I thought it was a wonky goof at first, but then came the words "practically fraudulent." And a plume of smoke. And I knew there was trouble.

--Speaking of trouble (and a certain prophecy made not long ago on this very site), MGM is planning a Fame remake for 2008. "We'll update it, (but) we'll still keep some of the songs," said studio COO Rick Sands. "The script is being written right now, but we are keeping it under wraps." Oh, yes -- "under wraps," as if the idea hasn't been stale for 25 years.

--An eagle-eyed reader sends this touching dispatch from NY's own Nick Zedd: "Underground must threaten the status quo. It is not Star Trek fandom, Hollywood clowns, gay rodeo riders or Bollywood dreamers. ... Thru the censorship of omission and chemistry of substitution, Consensus Reality deceives and distorts. It's all fake but nobody cares. I am the King of Underground Films." Amen! When will gay rodeo quit slumming and go back to the mainstream where it belongs?

--And in lieu of a review of Apichatpong Weerasethakul's nifty Syndromes and a Century (opening today in New York), here's Nathan Lee kicking it with Joe via e-mail at the Village Voice.

Posted at April 18, 2007 1:46 PM