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THIS WEEK'S MOVIE REVIEW
"Mr. And Mrs. Smith"
 by Mike Smith

ASIAN FILM UPDATE
Tetsuo: The Iron Man
 by Peter Card

SPLASH PAGE
I'm Back....You Go, Iraqis....Revenge of the Madagascar....Fuel Some Flames
 by Brandon Jones

MIKE'S RANT
One of the Great Ones....Who Was The Graduate....Happy Birthday....Where's Matt?...JAWSFEST
 by Mike Smith
Nolan's Pop Culture Review, 2005!
    Established A.D. 2000, March 19. Now in our sixth calendar year!
    Number 272  (Vol. 6, No. 23). This edition is for the week of June 6--12, 2005.

  • Anne Bancroft, dead at 73
  • The Return of Splash Page
  • NolanCon picks up steam
  • Romeo Coffeehouse Reminder
  • Short PCR issue this week
  • Anne Bancroft, who won the 1962 best actress Oscar as the teacher of a young Helen Keller in "The Miracle Worker" but achieved greater fame as the seductive Mrs. Robinson in "The Graduate," has died. She was 73.

    She died of uterine cancer on Monday, June 6th, at Mount Sinai Hospital, John Barlow, a spokesman for her husband, Mel Brooks, said Tuesday.

    Bancroft was awarded the Tony for creating the role on Broadway of poor-sighted Annie Sullivan, the teacher of the deaf and blind Keller. She repeated her portrayal in the film version.

    Patty Duke, who played Keller to Bancroft's Sullivan, said "there aren't superlatives enough" to describe what working with Bancroft was like. "On most nights we performed it felt as if we were one," she said.

    Yet despite her Academy Award and four other nominations, "The Graduate" overshadowed her other achievements.

    She had been acting in '50s television as Anne Marno. Her real name, Anna Maria Louise Italiano, sounded too ethnic for movies. The studio gave her a choice of names; she picked Bancroft "because it sounded dignified."

    A Classic Scene From 1967's "The Graduate"...

    Mrs. Robinson (Anne Bancroft): Benjamin, I am not trying to seduce you.

    Benjamin (Dustin Hoffman): I know that, but please, Mrs. Robinson, this is difficult...

    Mrs. Robinson: Would you like me to seduce you?

    I'm trying to remember who else was tapped to play Benjamin. Was it Billy Mumy or Davey Jones? In any event, our own Mike Smith will most assuredly do his usual great follow-up in this week's Mike's Rant.

    The Return of Splash Page
    PCR welcomes back Brandon Jones and Splash Page! Brandon's been dealing with some pressing personal matters over the last two months and I'm happy to say, looks like the blackout has lifted on his regular column which features movie and comics updates, incisive commentary, and biting wit and satire. Check out his latest column. And welcome back, Brandon!

    NolanCon Picking Up Steam
    The first press releases and copy ads relating to NolanCon should be out over the next couple weeks. This includes Tampa and Sarasota area papers (including The Weekly Planet/Creative Loafing). More ambitiously, Clearwater ICON chief Chris Woods is cobbling together the first NolanCon TV commercial! If we're lucky, that could be out well before the end of the month. I myself ran waaaaaaay behind on the TV commercials due to problems fine-tuning the film festival/contest that took so much time during May.

    While I'm pleased at the great support and how many pledges I'm getting, I miscalculated how many of you are evidently waiting till the last second to make table and/or room reservations or get advance tickets. This makes it difficult to budget things effectively, money-wise and time-wise. Get on the ball, y'all, the Con will be here before you know it! Don't miss out.

    NOLANCON FILM FEST "PITCH" RULES STABILIZED
    Another great miscalculation was not proof-reading carefully enough the rules to the NolanCon "pitch" contest. Briefly, the $5,000 award for that particular category is no longer called a "cash prize", an "advance against future profits", or a "pre-buy award". All those terms were used and all were horribly misunderstood. Neil McCurry was trying his level best to convey a concept that proved very stubborn and I didn't know how to help him. Finally, due to input from a couple very credible sources, we revamped the whole thing to say, basically, the award for the best pitch is a $5,000 production budget with an eye toward distribution. Nobody has to sign away any rights, but the money is intended to produce a movie. And nobody has to pay the money back even if the finished film tanks. I hope that clears things up.

    NOTE #1: The Application Form that must accompany your "pitch" is available as a PDF downloadable form from Neil's website. You'll notice the $20 application fee includes a weekend pass to NolanCon.

    NOTE #2: the remainder of the contest is unchanged. That is: $250 for the Best Short Subject, and $1,000 for Best Full-Length Feature. A $10 handling fee must accompany all film festival submissions (not related to the "pitch" contest). Please see my Film Fest page for more details and, ultimately, Neil McCurry's website for the final disposition on anything having to do with the Film Contest.

    Romeo Coffeehouse Film Series Reminder
    TOO Productions presents the next Coffeehouse Film Review on Thursday, June 9 from 8 – 10 p.m. at Studio 1515, located at 1515 Seventh Avenue in Ybor City. Coffeehouse Film Reviews showcases independent films made by local filmmakers. Coffeehouse Film Reviews is held every second Thursday of the month and is free.

    This month’s film, a feature, is:
    Light of Blood, featuring Tampa resident Gustavo Perez: When a soldier tests a formula that is supposed to turn him into a super soldier, dead bodies begin to turn up all over Cuba. (90 mins)

    TOO Productions feels that there are very few, if any, regular outlets in the local area for local independent filmmakers to showcase their films. Hopefully, this monthly event will provide that outlet for everyone, from experienced local independent filmmakers to local college and high school filmmakers experimenting with film production for the first time. TOO Productions promises your film will be shown!
    Studio 1515 is owned and operated by Walter and Sarah Romeo, who opened the coffeehouse in order to provide local artists a place to gather and share their art. Coffeehouse Film Reviews is another way to provide a showcase to local artists.
    TOO Productions is looking for film submissions for future events. For more information on the event or for information on how to submit a film, email tooprod@hotmail.com or paulguzzo@hotmail.com. All genres of films are accepted – feature length, shorts, documentaries, comedy, horror, love, art, drama, foreign language, experimental etc. No pornography!


    Announcements
    Happy Birthday Wishes to little brother Ron Canova who turns (yikes) 47 years old, Monday, June 13th. He's hasn't been very "little" in a long time. Ron will be excercising his basso profundo at NolanCon as our announcer.

    Why such a short PCR this week? Due to recovering from JAWSFest and a catch-up work week, Mike Smith's The Rant wasn't updated until Saturday (but it's there now, please check it out! It's excellent). I heard nothing from either Matt Drinnenberg or John Lewis. Presumably Matt is also recovering from JawsFest, John Lewis is likely being distracted by his castle demons (as usual), but Drew Reiber did I.M. me again and verified he simply doesn't have anything to say this week. No letters arrived, so the pickin's are pretty slim. Well, it happens. Thanks to all who did write in.

    Please consider making a donation to help support Crazed Fanboy! Click on the "donate" link below and give whatever you can. I sincerely thank you for any and all consideration.---Nolan
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    "Mike's Rant" is ©2005 by Michael A. Smith    "Matt's Rail" is ©2005 by Matthew Drinnenberg     "La Floridiana" is ©2005 by William Moriaty     "This Week's Movie Review" is ©2005 by Michael A. Smith    "Asian Film Update" is ©2005 by Peter Card    "Chiller Cinema" is ©2005 by Drew Reiber    "Creature's Corner" is ©2005 by John Lewis      All contents of Nolan's Pop Culture Review are ©2005 by Nolan B. Canova    
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