Niki N. Phaser

           For all of you interested in the iconic all-girl punk-glam pioneers, The Runways, you should clear your schedule for next spring. March 2010 will see the premiere of Floria Sigismondi’s biopic about the rise and fall of the short-lived phenomenon which was The Runaways. If you know what I’m talking about, you also probably know that Kristen Stewart will be playing Joan Jett and Dakota Fanning, Cherrie Currie, with Michael Shannon as the controversial manager of the band, Kim Fowley. The film is directed and written by Italian multi-dimensional artist, Floria Sigismondi. She knows her way around the music world, being the author of music videos for acts like The Cure (remember The End of the World), Sigur Ros, Marylin Manson, and plenty of others. She’s also responsible for the cool video for Bowie’s Little Wonder. Here’s a taste of how her unique vision fits a biopic:

RUNAWAY here

        A new documentary about The Doors is about to hatch out of its festival-circuit shell. When You’re Strange was written and directed by indie veteran Tom DiCillo and has been seen at some of the major festivals, but is still awaiting general release. Contracts for France, Britain, Australia, Canada, Japan and Germany have been completed, so if you live there… lucky you. The movie documents the period between 1965 and 1971 and uses ONLY real footage (no  reenactments), including never seen before material. There’s stuff from the studio, from gigs, a lot from their personal lives (for example, I’d never have imagined Jim Morrisson driving). When You’re Strange has the endorsement of the remaining members of The Doors, who weren’t too happy with Oliver Stone’s version. But bands never are, so don’t give too much thought to it. 

Trailer

John Hughes died yesterday, August 6, of a heart attack. He was 59. For those of you who are not paying attention during movie’s opening titles, you should know that Hughes wrote, produced or/and directed the best teen movies of the 80′s, to which you can add some other great stuff in the 90′s (you know that deep inside you crave to see Home Alone once more). He pretty muched shaped the teen comedy genre and created the matrix on which teen comedies are built and which indie filmmakers resent. It was the mind of John Hughes that spawned such teen classics like The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink (he wanted a different ending), 16 Candles, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and what have you. You can almost bet that half of the comedies which marked your childhood are John Hughes products. Some of these movies, like The Breakfast Club or Pretty in Pink, are full-on masterpieces, managing to deal with more serious issues regarding teen life, without becoming Larry Clark. It’s fun for the whole family, but food for though for each member individually. John Hughes, we will never forget about you.

THE BREAKFAST CLUB TRAILER PRETTY IN PINK TRAILER HOME ALONE TRAILER