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02.14.08

Odds: Thursday - China regrets (it's unable to lunch today).

Beijing. Mia Farrow releases a victory statement in her battleground of choice, the New York Post's Page Six, after shaming Steven Spielberg into leaving his role artistic director of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. At BBC News, China expresses regret, passive aggression:

"It is understandable if some people do not understand the Chinese government policy on Darfur, but I am afraid that some people may have ulterior motives, and this we cannot accept," [Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao] told a news conference.

"China is also concerned about the humanitarian situation in Darfur. [But] empty rhetoric will not help. We hope that relevant people will be more pragmatic."

Anthony Kaufman tackles what's "not exactly a cinematic new wave. A clique, maybe? No, too fashionable. A band of outsiders? Too self-conscious. Maybe the best way to describe them is a filmmaking family" at the Village Voice. We'd hoped to see a mumblecore rumble on the horizon, but the piece is actually about producer Paul Mezey and Journeyman Pictures.

Elliott Gould briefly discusses his namesake sandwich (at the Stage Deli) with Esquire:

ESQ: What is bologna, anyway?

EG: Sometimes they say it’s a lie. Don’t give me the bologna or malarkey. But it’s some junky thing. I thrive on being honest. When I was asked if I’d like to have my hands and feet at Grauman’s Chinese -- and I was younger and I didn’t have perspective -- I said no thank you. But obviously, I got a sandwich named after me, so I deserved it.

The "leaked Diablo Cody screenplay" at Something Awful (via Reverse Shot) is almost harsh enough to reverse the "Juno" backlash-backlash-backlash, or wherever we're at these days.

In her review of "Jumper," Slate's Dana Stevens describes previous Hayden Christensen project "Shattered Glass" as "'Saw' for journalists."

From the AP: "A construction worker has pleaded guilty to manslaughter, admitting he strangled actress Adrienne Shelly while trying to rob her in her New York City apartment... Diego Pillco will receive 25 years in prison when he is sentenced on March 6."

+ MIA'S MUSCLE (NY Post)
+ China 'regrets' Spielberg action (BBC News)
+ The New American Realism (Village Voice)
+ The Elliot Gould, Stage Delicatessen, New York (Esquire)
+ honest to blog . . . (Reverse Shot)
+ Super Frat Boy (Slate)
+ Guilty Plea in Adrienne Shelly Killing (AP)

Permalink | Comments (3)

Comments

My only question is why do they have bacon on a widely renowned Jewish actor's sandwich?

Posted by: marty | Feb 15, 2008 1:37:39 AM

Why are you reporting a piece of parody like it's news? The Diablo Cody "screenplay" wouldn't pass muster as a 'Juno' parody on SNL. I'm sure Diablo Cody will be heartbroken to know she's not indie enough for you.

Posted by: Simon Crowe | Feb 15, 2008 8:47:46 AM

Mia Farrow is out of her mind.

After so many years of inaction and indifference by the West, we suddenly want to blame Darfur on China? There are plenty of blame to go around, starting with our support of the SPLA and John Garang 10 years ago:

http://www.google.com/search?q=Darfur+CIA+early+involvement

At any rate the original Darfur mess we started has since been replaced with inter-tribal conflict and herdsmen fighting for territory. Neither Khartoum nor Beijing has much influence over that.

China is simply a scapegoat.

Posted by: Charles L | Feb 18, 2008 4:35:08 PM

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