We’ve all been wondering if Lindsay Lohan would ever return to her original career as an actress after spending so many years as a professional fuck-up (and I absolutely love her for that). The role of Elizabeth Taylor seems like the ideal role for such a comeback, but how serious can this movie be taken when it’s already slated to air on TV–and on Lifetime no less? Perhaps if it was Logo, an exception could be made to the kiss of death given to TV productions involving stars who typically appear on movie theater screens. And while, Lohan is no stranger to the small screen, the majority of her presence on it was when she was just starting out (e.g. Life Size and Get A Clue for the Disney Channel). Doing it now sort of comes across as going backwards from her rise to the top.

Channeling Liz.

The other clincher about the project is that it is titled Liz and Dick. Is it me, or does that seem ripe to be converted into a porno? Such a title also suggests that the primary focus of the movie will be on Taylor’s torrid on and off romance with Richard Burton, in spite of Taylor’s life being filled with numerous other topics of interest. But then, Lifetime prides itself on female drama, so I suppose the focus on Taylor’s rapport with Burton is what will draw in the viewers. Moreover, Lohan has already gone into self-promotion mode as she will also host Saturday Night Live on March 3rd. Here’s hoping for a sketch of her competing audition with Megan Fox for the part of Liz Taylor.

Okay, so we all know you can sue anyone for just about anything in the world of legalese, but lately, it seems like movies have been bearing a severe brunt of that burden. On the heels of Twentieth Century Fox being sued by some fucktard interns who worked on Black Swan for not being paid (reconcile that the film industry only employs people to work for free or, in exchange for sexual favors, they will give you a credit as a best boy), some clearly deranged ho named Sarah Deming of bumfuck, Michigan has decided to take legal action against the distributors of Drive and the movie theater she saw the film in for falsely advertising what the plot was about.

He's in a car, isn't that enough for you Sarah Deming?

Now, I understand being upset over thinking a movie is going to be about one thing and then discovering in the theater that it’s the last purchase you ever would have made, but we all have to move on eventually and perhaps use our zeal for other, more worthy causes–like making sure Starbucks never opens a chain on Italian soil. But Deming feels personally affronted that Drive was not “very similar to the Fast and Furious series of movies.” And wait, it gets more ridiculous.

Cannes worthy, bitch.

Deming has added a further accusation to her lawsuit, insisting that Drive exhibits “extreme gratuitous defamatory dehumanizing racism directed against members of the Jewish faith, and thereby promoted criminal violence against members of the Jewish faith.” Listen, if anyone was portrayed negatively in Drive, it was the pseudo-Italians (as usual). And if we can take it, so can you Sarah Deming.

Yet another instance of driving in Drive

If you want to know the truth, Deming is desperate to get Ryan Gosling to fellate her as recompense for the “trauma” she had to endure in watching his flawless carapace strut/drive the streets of L.A. knowing full well she could never have him. This is as close to him as she will ever get, the only form of sweet vindication she will ever know against the Rachel McAdamses and Eva Mendeses of the world. Enjoy it while you can darlin’.

It is safe to say that Madonna has conquered the music industry in a way that no other artist – male or female – has been able to. Every icon to come out before her seems tame in comparison and every zygote pop star to come out after her is a pale imitation of the tour de force. As Behind they Hype is especially appreciative of those who pursue different facets of pop culture, a camp that Madonna has been firmly ensconced in from the outset, we think that there is great potential in Madonna’s second directorial effort, W.E. The plot of the film revolves around the romance of Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson, the American divorcée he abdicated his throne for.

On set with Abbie Cornish.

Madonna has been no stranger to the world of film, clutching to its orbit ever since 1985′s Desperately Seeking Susan, considered by most to be her only palatable movie. Other exceptions to malignment in Madonna’s acting repertoire are Truth or Dare and Evita. The only other times Madonna has been credited with film success is when the film in question incorporates the transmedia platform Madonna is known for, such as the Who’s That Girl Tour and the song “Who’s That Girl” to coincide with the release of the 1987 movie of the same name or 1992′s number one song “This Used To Be My Playground” to coincide with Penny Marshall’s A League of Their Own, in which Madonna played the role of All the Way Mae. With the criticism that is invariably flung at her each time she stars in another film, it makes sense that Madonna would veer toward the behind-the-scenes role of director, a duty that is actually more suited to the hands-on approach she applies to everything she tackles. As Madonna herself has said, “To me, the whole process of being a brush stroke in someone else’s painting is a little difficult.”

Madonna: Very much at home in the role of director.

While rumors of Madonna’s directorial methods being a bit too abrasive swirled throughout filming last year (a fact Guy Ritchie is undoubtedly smirking about), the post-production phase of W.E soldiers on after being picked up for distribution by The Weinstein Company. Though W.E has been on an arduous journey from the beginning (mainly in terms of casting; Ewan McGregor, Vera Farmiga, and Amy Adams were all attached to the project at one time or another), Madonna, shrewd businesswoman that she is, waited for the right distributor before settling. The chanteuse also directed Filth and Wisdom starring Eugene Hutz of Gogol Bordello and wrote and produced the 2008 documentary, I Am Because We Are. This pattern of consistent filmmaking over the past decade would suggest that, regardless of anyone else’s opinion, Madonna will not be stopped until she dominates the art of film.

photo: Objective Cinema

Parkour is defined as a noncompetitive sport where participants run along buildings, rooftops and landscapes attempting to negotiate obstacles using only their bodies.

It’s obviously quite dangerous, and for that reason it’s quite exciting to watch. Imagine a guy running full blast and hurtling himself off the roof of some building, catching himself on a ledge with his hands, and doing it over and over and over, jumping across wider and wider gaps, at full speed. Yikes.

Objective Cinema, an online cinema website that streams exclusive films and documentaries about a wide variety of subjects, is currently featuring My Playground, a documentary by Danish filmmaker Kaspar Astrup Schröder chronicling the sport of Parkour and its sibling activity Free Running, and how they are affecting the concept of urban space.

From the press release:

My Playground centers on Team Jiyo, a Danish Parkour group, as they explore cities around the world from China to Japan , the US and Denmark and encounter the obstacles they present.

“It started in France in the 1990’s and has evolved to the whole world,” says Schröder. “I’ve seen videos from India to Africa to New Zealand; people are doing it every where and it is really growing. Especially in Denmark it is the fastest growing sport among young people.”

The film additionally looks at how acclaimed award-winning Danish architect, Bjarke Ingels became such an integral part of the film addressing the question of the future of urban space design. “My Playground is a film of course about Parkour, but is also very much about how public life and architecture are intricately linked,” says Ingels. “Life in the city is always evolving and it is our job as architects to make sure that our opportunities for expression aren’t limited, and that our cities match the life we want to live.”

Ingels’ involvement with the film and Parkour is a result of his fascination with Schröder’s initial footage. Claiming that he had never seen buildings from this perspective, he felt compelled to be part of the project. “After Bjarke came on board we began the discussion about preserving space, exploiting space, and you could show architecture in a film,” says Schroder. “It was a journey for everyone to make a film not only on Parkour but also on architecture that didn’t feel like a traditional architecture film.”

Here’s a promo clip about My Playground:

MY PLAYGROUND WS TRAILER from Objective Cinema on Vimeo.

If this intrigues you as much as it should and you want to check out the film, here are the details:

For the month of March you can watch MY PLAYGROUND here in any country for only 99¢ ( a $2.00 USD savings) for 48 hours of unlimited viewing just enter coupon code: 11mp993 into the shopping cart .  DOES NOT APPLY TO DVD PURCHASES

All films at Objective Cinema can be viewed on mobile smart phones, IPADs, I Phones , home computers .  Additional discounts and promotions are being given away on Facebook and Twitter.

Sounds pretty neat. Cheap movies that you won’t see otherwise, about cool crazy stuff like Parkour? Yes, please.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
The City of Gardens Wraps Filming in Lima, Peru…Production Moving to Los Angeles.
Dynamic ensemble cast, John Robinson, Alex Meraz, Johnny Lewis, Michael DeLorenzo, Deborah Unger, James Remar and Grant Bowler star in a story inspired by true events.

Produced by Four Fish Films/DragonTree Media
Production is currently underway on the feature film The City of Gardens, which is the 1980s story of a young American surfer, wrongfully accused of cocaine trafficking and sent to prison. Production has wrapped photography in Lima, Peru and will continue in Los Angeles.

The intense action drama and coming of age story stars John Robinson (Lords of Dogtown, Transformers, Elephant), Alex Meraz (The Twilight Saga: Eclipse and New Moon), Johnny Lewis (Sons of Anarchy, The Runaways, AVPR: Aliens vs. Predator – Requiem), Michael DeLorenzo (A Few Good Men, Not Forgotten, Resurrection Blvd), Deborah Unger (White Noise, The Hurricane, Angel and the Bad Man, The Game), James Remar (Red with Bruce Willis, Gun with Val Kilmer, Pineapple Express, 2 Fast 2 Furious) and Grant Bowler (Killer Elite with Robert De Niro, Jason Statham, and Clive Owen, True Blood, Ugly Betty).  The City of Gardens is directed by Camilo Vila (18 Wheels of Justice, Resurrection Blvd), who wrote the script with Monty Fisher.  Monty Fisher and Alicia Rivera Frankl (Gettysburg, Babysitter, The Mask of Zorro) are producing alongside co-producer Rami Rivera Frankl. DragonTree Media president Rami Rivera Frankl is in discussions for Domestic and International Distribution. Production is currently casting the role of Wayne’s (John Robinson) mother.

The action drama, The City of Gardens, follows a blond Californian surfer, Wayne Montgomery (John Robinson), who is a fun loving beach bum escaping the influence of his wealthy and powerful father (James Remar). Wayne leaves his home in Beverly Hills for the enchantment of exotic Peru. Wayne’s carefree lifestyle and love affair with his beautiful girlfriend, Maritza, (introducing Anahi De Cardenas a Peruvian actress), ends when he is framed during a political uprising. Framing turns into extortion in the sadistic prison.

In the nightmarish prison, Wayne finds himself surrounded by a group of political activists and social misfits, including a schizophrenic who believes he is Jesus Christ (Grant Bowler) and an Icelandic devotee of Krishna, Jorge (Johnny Lewis). Wayne is forced to share a mattress with the animalistic beast that everyone calls Nicaragua (Alex Meraz) which leads to a confrontation between them.

In a desperate attempt to gain freedom, Wayne meets with Consul Powers (Debra Unger) whose hands are tied by the false drug charges. As Wayne’s naivety dissipates, another nemesis, the power hungry Lt. Gutierrez (Michael DeLorenzo), moves to break Wayne´s spirit, torturing him to extort money from his family. Left with few options, Wayne adopts a new ethic – engaging the Peruvian activists, sharing his gifts with them and learning the importance of faith through his sympathetic friend, Jorge (Johnny Lewis). Wayne challenges Lt. Gutierrez’s authority, confronting the depravity of corruption and abuse with his newfound spirit and courage. Wayne´s confrontation with Gutierrez propels the story to its final climax.

Monty Fisher’s Four Fish Films endeavors to develop and produce feature films, focusing especially on the cultures of both North and South America.

DragonTree Media, founded by CEO Alicia Rivera Frankl and President Rami Rivera Frankl, specializes in developing successful entertainment properties for the mainstream market with a multi-cultural awareness. Rami Rivera Frankl is represented by Montana Artist Agency. DragonTree Media has several projects in development including Gitano, Dead and Kicking and The B-Let Report to name a few.

Websites:

http://www.thecityofgardens.com

http://www.fourfishfilms.com

http://www.dragontreemedia.com

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1652361/

TWITTER: http://twitter.com/cityofgardens

MYSPACE: http://www.myspace.com/thecityofgardens

FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/thecityofgardens

YOUTUBE: http://www.youtube.com/user/thecityofgardens