Displaying items by tag: Bud Elder

Anybody know a good screenwriter? Here’s true scenario that would offer a perfect studio pitch.

And it’s a thriller, in a way, with a determined adventurer racing against time to seek justice for a hero from a past generation – one who sacrificed finances, reputation and goodwill to slay a dragon that was, in the long run, perhaps beyond even his reach.

This story is about John Wayne. This story is about Robert Harris. This story is about America and the importance of its cultural maintenance. And, ok, it’s also about personal obsession. Duke Wayne did what he said. No backing out. No cutting corners. No half assed. [Read on here...]

[Editor’s Note: The section of text below regarding The Alamo has been updated on 5/31 to reflect important corrected information. Please give it another read to ensure that you have the most accurate/updated info.]

We’re closing out the week here at The Bits today with some big announcement news for you Marvel Universe fans, as well as an update on the situation with The Alamo.

But first, our own Bud Elder has turned in a new View from the Cheap Seats column in which he talks about location scouting in his native Oklahoma and takes a look at a great new book on John Wayne. He also spotlights some of the better recent classic film releases on disc from Olive, Twilight and more. By the way, you can listen to quick movie reviews from Bud on 104.5 KRXO radio in Oklahoma City. So don’t miss the column and be sure to give Bud’s Movie Minute a listen on the radio and online. [Read on here…]

For a long time, I had the honor of serving the people of Oklahoma as their state film commissioner. I took the job only because we hadn’t created yet the position of “Lord High Minister of Culture.” To know the movie business was but a small component of the being the liaison with Hollywood – the job was for the most part about locations, locations, locations and I knew every bright golden haze on every Sooner state meadow and every field of corn as high as an elephant’s eye. [Read on here...]

We’ve got a great new View from the Cheap Seats column today from our own Bud Elder, in which he remembers the late Mickey Rooney. Bud also highlights some great recent releases on Blu-ray and DVD. Don’t miss it.

Also today, the good Dr. Jahnke has turned in a new An Honor to Be Nominated installment of his Jahnke’s Electric Theatre column in which he looks back at Stanley Kubrick’s Barry Lyndon. Be sure to read his thoughts and then check out our review of the film on Blu-ray too. [Read on here...]

Even with all the plaudits and platitudes, not enough was written upon the passing of Mickey Rooney. I don’t know, actually, if there could ever be enough.

Lord Laurence Olivier once called Mickey Rooney “the greatest actor of them all,” and Marlon Brando said he was “the best actor in films.” [Read on here…]

We’re closing out the week with a bit of a slow news day here at The Bits, but we do have a new column for you to enjoy...

Our own Bud Elder has turned in a new View from the Cheap Seats – The Sundance Kid Rides into Town features a good story about a Robert Redford visit to Oklahoma. Bud also talks about some of his favorite books on film, and picks a few great recent catalog DVD and Blu-ray tiles too. Enjoy!

In announcement news today, MGM has set a new Escape from New York (1981) Blu-ray for release on 6/3, along with The Birdcage (1996). We have no other details yet on either, aside from the fact that each will SRP for $19.99. [Read on here...]

I can probably state as fact that many of you reading this are not familiar at all with the general manager of your local cable company – I guess most are bean counters, flesh pressers and empty suits. Oklahoma City, from whence I hail, has been very fortunate with Cox Communications – their company is very community driven and its management staff very public and outgoing.  [Read on here…]

All right, sorry for the last of an update here at the site yesterday. We’ve got some stuff we’re working on that’s kept us pretty busy. And honestly, there hasn’t been a ton of new announcement news anyway. But we’ve got some good stuff to make it up to you today...

First, I’ve tuned in a review of Alfonso Cuarón’s Gravity, which is newly available on Blu-ray Disc from Warner Home Video. Our own Jeff Kleist has also added his thoughts on Warner’s Blu-ray 3D version of Gravity. The film is definitely worth your time and the discs are surprisingly great, both in terms of video and audio quality and also extras.  [Read on here…]

What follows is a completely thought through and double checked top ten list for the year 2013 and, and, like those who write for Film Comment magazine, I usually don’t create this puppy until I have seen just about every movie which might, in fact, be good.  

Here are the top ten, in no particular order:  [Read on here…] 

Back as promised today and we’ve got a great new holiday-themed View from the Cheap Seats column from our own Bud Elder!  This time around, Bud looks back on his favorite non-Christmas Christmas films, and also runs down some great new indie Blu-ray and DVD offerings.  We hope you enjoy it!

We’ll be off the next couple of days, but we’ll be back on Thursday with more new reviews and a round-up of any release news worth reporting.

So with that, we bid you all a very Merry Christmas!  We wish you and yours a great and safe holiday.

Stay tuned!

- Bill Hunt