Nov 29 2007 Watch a Scorsese-Directed Champagne Commercial!

At first glance, this Freixenet short seems to show Martin Scorsese misusing a rare, lost Alfred Hitchcock script to sell Spanish champagne, adapting a cultural artifact for petty commercial gain. But if you watch carefully, you'll realize that The Key to Reserva is just Martin Scorsese using his surprising acting talents and skillful direction to parody Hitchcock and channel Spinal Tap, all while still schilling alcohol.

That's better, right?

The Key to Reserva [Freixenet]

Oct 22 2007 Hopkins Confirms He's Hitchcock With Impression

After seeing this clip in which Sir Anthony Hopkins describes, in detail, the opening to the Alfred Hitchcock biopic he's starring in, complete with his impression of the director, I've decided a good television series would be Anthony Hopkins Describes Movies. Few master thespians are willing to paint a scene with the same sound effects, pantomiming, and general excitement of a 10-year-old like Hopkins does here, and we should take advantage of that. Imagine Hannibal Lecter doing scenes from Jurassic Park, complete with roaring, screaming, and character impressions, all vaguely distorted by his aging memory. Amazing.

Video under the cut.

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Oct 19 2007 Martin Campbell Directing 'The Birds' Remake

There often comes a point in a director's career, particularly if they have found some recent acclaim, where it becomes apparent that they've become arrogant beyond their means.

For Kevin Smith, for instance, his point came after he was lauded for making a student-level film into a series of student-level films with increasing levels of color, celebrity, and Good Will Hunting stars. Confusing his ability to extend the popularity of a stoner and a mute with genuine talent, he attempted to move beyond the New Jersey "Askewnivese" with a movie about different people in New Jersey, and starring J.Lo and the cast of Pearl Harbor. The resulting disaster will be remembered only as "wasn't that Gigli?"

For Martin Campbell, who just enjoyed surprising praise for making Bond less prissy in Casino Royale, that time is today, when he decided he could do something better with The Birds than Alfred Hitchcock did. Why, Martin? And how?

Remaking Dolemite or a cartoon about singing chipmunks is one thing, but a certified classic by one of the most respected directors ever? It's metaphorically covered yourself in birdseed and letting the birds peck you to death, wherein the birdseed is an ill-conceived remake of a classic film by one of the most respected directors ever, and the birds' pecking comes in the form of pun-filled cricitisms saying, "Leave Remake for the 'Birds'!"

'Birds' redo calls Campbell as director [Hollywood Reporter]