RIP Karl Malden

Add comment July 1st, 2009

Actor Karl Malden  – born born Mladen Sekulovich in Chicago on March 22, 1912 — has died at the age of 97. He died of natural causes at his home in Brentwood, Calif. Here’s a link to the LA Times obit, and here’s a great Malden quote from that article…

“I was so incredibly lucky. I knew I wasn’t a leading man. Take a look at this face.”

Though he was probably best known (especially in the past couple of decades) for his American Express commercials and the phrase “don’t leave home without it,” Malden had a long, distinguished career in theater, movies and television. He won an Oscar for playing Mitch (a role he originated on Broadway) in A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE with Marlon Brando and director Elia Kazan. He worked with both of those men again in ON THE WATERFRONT. Here’s a great Malden moment from that movie…

That’s right! Corn!

Add comment July 1st, 2009

Here’s the trailer for Steven Soderbergh’s new movie, THE INFORMANT. Nice to see that after starring in the Bourne films, Matt Damon still remembers how to play a loveable goofball.

‘Is that the way you say it? ‘That’s a bingo’?

Add comment July 1st, 2009

As we head into the Fourth of July weekend, what could be more patriotic than a movie about fighting Nazis? Here’s a new international trailer for Quentin Tarantino’s INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS which definitely puts the emphasis on the action and the comedy. I love the opening shot — make that shots.

By the way, I erred in a previous posting. Mike Myers is obviously playing a Brit, not a Nazi. Maybe, just maybe, this will allow him to make up for the cinematic crime that was THE LOVE GURU.