In a piece titled “Studio Script Notes On ‘The Passion’,” written by director, actor and comedian Steve Martin in the latest issue of The New Yorker — an article which, unfortunately, is not available online — Martin launches a biting satirical attack on Mel Gibson and his Hollywood version of the death of Jesus Christ, mocking the film as a piece of money-making show business — and suggests that he, too, regards the film as anti-Semitic.
While Gibson, who made the film with his own money, claims that his intention was to produce a profound statement of his religious beliefs, Martin — influenced, perhaps, by the film’s ticket sales of $212 million US in less than two weeks — appears to disagree.

Continue reading Steve Martin attacks Gibson’s ‘Passion’ →

If you’ve ever experienced any resentment about the number of godawful movies that litter our multiplexes — or the absurd price you have to pay for popcorn or candy at those same cinematic mausoleums (and haven’t we all?) — watch this comedy clip from Rick Mercer’s CBC show, Monday Report.
Not only is it funny, there’s more than a grain of truth in Mercer’s thesis.

As expected, Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ maintained its standing at the box office, topping ticket sales with $51.4 million in its second weekend, soaring to $212 million in its first 12 days of release.
The Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson comedy vehicle — a big-screen update of the ’70s TV hit Starsky & Hutch — experienced a particularly robust opening weekend, taking in $29 million on 3,185 screens, besting all estimates by Hollywood pundits.
Projected figures for the remaining films in the box office sweepstakes may be found at Daily Box Office, also a link under Cinema, to your left.