By Michael Knox, mknox@modernfilmzine.com

Michael Madsen has made a name for himself as the resident tough guy in such films as “Reservoir Dogs,” “Kill Bill Vol. 2,” and “Sin City,” but fans get to see a different side to the actor in the mockumentary, “Being Michael Madsen.”

Directed by Michael Mongillo the film focuses on the story of Madsen turning the tables on notorious paparazzo, Billy Dant, by hiring a trio of documentary filmmakers to chronicle Dant’s life, loves, and troubles. The story focuses on Dant’s unwarranted claims that Madsen killed a woman and the effects the story has on Madsen’s life as well as the relationship between the media and the celebrities they pursue.

…continue reading “Being Michael Madsen” director Q & A

By Michael Knox, mknox@modernfilmzine.com

It’s probably not much of a surprise to anyone with brain activity, but “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” looks to be the most anticipated movie of 2009,  according to a recent survey.

The survey of more than 2,000 Fandango fans was taken in December. It included votes for men and women, but broke down the results by what film each gender is looking forward to the most.

…continue reading 2009’s most anticipated blockbusters

By Michael Knox, mknox@modernfilmzine.com

“Shop smart. Shop S-Mart.” It’s the classic line Bruce Campbell quoted in the camp hit, “Army of Darkness,” the third installment in the “Evil Dead” series.  It is a line that made him a lovable idiot and helped establish Campbell as a cult hero.

But in the new film, “My Name is Bruce,” it’s Campbell’s star status that gets him in a load of trouble. The movie will be available to rent on Video on Demand at Amazon.com starting on Dec. 31.

The DVD of “My Name is Bruce” will be released on Feb. 10, and Amazon.com is pre-selling the DVD for $19.99.

…continue reading “My Name is Bruce” on DVD

By Michael Knox, mknox@modernfilmzine.com

“G.I. Joe,” had some of the coolest characters and toys when I was a kid. And of the coolest, I think my favorite was the Cobra H.I.S.S. tank.

That elusive piece of weaponry in the world of childhood torment was always just outside of my reach.  As a kid when I’d see it I’d be broke. And when I had money, before giving it up and spending in on something else, I could never find that blasted H.I.S.S. tank.

Just before Christmas though I lit up like I was 10 years old again, because I saw the elusive toy of my childhood in a store and grabbed it immediately. And I was broke. Just like childhood.

…continue reading It’s a “G.I.Joe” Christmas 20 years later

By Michael Knox, mknox@modernfilmzine.com

“Repo! The Genetic Opera” is getting a second chance at theatrical distribution with the “Repo! Road Tour.”

The road trip kicks off Jan. 13 and includes stops at theaters in Ohio, New Jersey, California, Indiana and other places. The movie is coming back to theaters, but will be released on DVD on Jan. 20. The on-line store, Amazon.com, is already pre-selling the movie for $13.99.

The movie’s storyline is set in the year 2056 and features the “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” star Anthony Stewart Head as Repo Man, according to a news release from the film’s distributor, Lionsgate.

…continue reading “Repo! The Genetic Opera” theatrical road trip

By Michael Knox, mknox@modernfilmzine.com

A one-hour interview with the producer of  “A Charlie Brown Christmas” is  available on the Internet radio show, TV Time Machine (http://www.tvtimemachine.com), hosted by TV historian Jim Benson.

Lee Mendelson, producer of  “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” talks about the 1965 animated holiday special on the show.

Mendelson’s interview includes how “A Charlie Brown Christmas” came about, discussing the casting  of the children who supply the “Peanuts” gang voices. Mendelson  also discusses working with “Peanuts” and “Charlie Brown” creator Charles M. Schulz and how Schulz’s Christmas special continues to be viewed by families today.

…continue reading Interview with “Charlie Brown Christmas” producer

By Michael Knox, mknox@modernfilmzine.com

“Judge Dredd” fans will get a second chance at seeing their favorite character brought to the big screen in a new feature film.

Rebellion,  publisher for the “2000 AD” magazines which feature the ultra intense character Judge Dredd, announced they will be working with DNA Films to produce the new film.

DNA Films is the movie production company that developed “The Last King of Scotland,”  “Sunshine” and “28 Weeks Later.”

…continue reading “Judge Dredd” movie franchise revived

There’s a tight knot that creeps up on my stomach each time the credits start to roll for my circus documentary, “Tearing Down the Tent.” And Saturday night was no different.

Oh sure, the screening group was made up of about 20 to 30 of my friends, who brought people they knew as well, so it was a “kid gloves” crowd. Especially since they knew this was my first outing at directing a feature film.

But you sit there and you watch the crowd and hope people laugh at the right spots and seem caught up in the story. The hilarious thing is, since I’ve seen this movie MULTIPLE times with two of my friends, we were actually in the back row quietly heckling the film. Not in a bad way. Just noticing things that made us start to laugh or think of other things.

…continue reading Screening “Tearing Down the Tent”

By Michael Knox, mknox@modernfilmzine.com

Here is a round-up of five movies made for less than $50,000 that actually made money.

1. “Tarnation” (2004) — Shot for $218 with a U.S. gross of more than $500,000. Directed by Jonathan Caouette the movie is part documentary, part narrative fiction, part home movie, and part acid trip, according to the Internet Movie Database. A psychedelic whirlwind of snapshots, Super-8 home movies, old answering machine messages, video diaries, early short films, snippets of ’80s pop culture, and dramatic reenactments to create an epic portrait of an American family travesty. The story begins in 2003 when Jonathan learns that his schizophrenic mother, Renee, has overdosed on her lithium medication. He is catapulted back into his real and horrifying family legacy of rape, abandonment, promiscuity, drug addiction, child abuse, and psychosis. As he grows up on camera, he finds the escapist balm of musical theater and B horror flicks and reconnects to life through a queer chosen family. Then a look into the future shows Jonathan as he confronts the symbiotic and almost unbearable love he shares with his beautiful and tragically damaged mother.

…continue reading 5 movies filmed for under $50,000 that made money