Film news

June First was a sad day for the fashion world with the passing of the iconic Yves Saint Laurent. Laurent was often lauded as the fashion master of the late twentieth century - with his longtime business partner, Pierre Berge, stating that "Coco Chanel gave women freedom. Yves Saint Laurent gave them power". This September the Australian Centre for Moving Image will pay homage to the taboo-breaking designer with a showcase of films and documentaries celebrating his life and career. The series kicks off on September one with the Australian debut of Yves Saint Laurent - His Life and Times. This documentary follows Laurent's often reclusive life; from his childhood in algeria and early dabblings in fashion to the birth of his own fashion house at the age of 26. Other films to be shown during the week include Belle Du Jour and The Hunger; classic movies that starred both YSL clothing and Laurent's longtime muse Catherine Deneuve. For further info head here.

So Mean Girls is soon going to become a video game. I’m guessing you’ll play Lindsay Lohan pre-drug fiend and earn points by solving Mathletes equations and wearing pink on Wednesdays. Apparently the fact that the game is being developed in conjunction with Legacy Interactive means it will be a cheap and disposable with a safe and boring plot line. I can’t help but think they should take some inspiration from Grand Theft Auto and let you drive around in a school bus running down Regina George and earn money by selling Calteen bars on street corners. Who's with me? Regular moms might not be down with it, but I'm sure "cool moms" would.

It seems that yet another Wonderland production has been made. How is it that, being the biggest Alice fan, such a thing was undetected by myself? I believe this is the third Alice inspired movie being filmed as of late - Tim Burton and Marilyn Manson have gotten Lewis Carroll fever too.
Dakota Fanning's younger sister Elle stars as Phoebe in Phoebe in Wonderland. The movie's tag line pretty much sums it up - "Dare to dream your life". Phoebe, a nine year old daughter of two writers, has an obsession with Alice after being cast as the character in the school play, and sees her mother's book on Wonderland as a way to repair their estranged relationship. Struggling with some pretty comical behavioural issues such as Tourette's-like outbursts and a hint of OCD, Phoebe sees herself trapped in a world of non-sensical rules, just like Lewis Carroll's famous protagonist. Ultimately, Phoebe must decide between being herself or conforming to society's rules. This is the part I love most about Alice in Wonderland - deciding which makes sense more. An imaginary world we create or everyday life, where we're confronted with crazy laws and regulations everyday?
Phoebe's received positive reviews at Sundance, but unfortunately no release date's been announced for the Southern Hemisphere.

I was positive that I’d seen this film but when i watched it, I realised that I hadn’t.
I like Larry Clark, and Harmony Korrine is a straight up funny weirdo but this film was pretty gnarly...“Telly” is such a Dirtbag that it makes me cringe.

Unless you've been living under a rock, you're aware that the Dark Knight hit cinemas last week. You can't escape Batman mania, and now that evil joker grins is everywhere! Seriously, it's all over the internet! To mark the release of the movie, bloggers everywhere have been defacing their avatars with evil joker grins. Warner Bros. has even created an application which lets the owners of iPhones or the iPod touch put a sinister smile on their face. Here's just a few I found.



If you've managed to get your paws on an iPhone or already own an iPod touch, you can download the Warner Bros. application through iTunes. The rest of us can make do with this application on Facebook.

Tonight, Sydneysiders, grab a blanket and head to Darlinghurst from 7.30 because the Darlo bar is playing Harold & Maude...for free!!! A most amazing, quirky film, Harold and Maude is a cult classic that plays with slapstick, black comedy, existentialism and beautiful whimsical imagery. The soundtrack was also composed and performed by Cat Stevens. Darlo Bar is at 306 Liverpool street, sydney. Get in early!

One day back in 1974 thousands of New Yorkers stared up at the Twin Towers in shock and horror. No, I'm not confused, I'm just referring to the day that Phillip Petit attempted a high-wire walk between the top floors Trade Center towers. "Man on Wire" is a documentary chronicling Petit and the various tight-ropes walked and laws broken during his career (including one involving the Sydney Harbour Bridge). Directed by film maker James Marsh, the hair-raising documentary debuted earlier this year at Sundance - where it one the Grand Jury prize.  "Man on wire" is due in Australian cinemas later this year.