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    <title>Mr. and Mrs. Smith's Recent Activity - Spout</title>
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      <title>Film:Mr. and Mrs. Smith</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/films/Mr_and_Mrs_Smith/231399/default.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<table width='100%' style='font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><tr><td><img align='left' src='http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/u47789bcxs5.jpg' hspace='10' style='height:80px;' /></td>
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<strong>Title:</strong> Mr. and Mrs. Smith<br/>
<strong>Year:</strong> 2005<br/>
<strong>Director:</strong> Doug Liman<br/>
<strong>Plot:</strong> Many married couples have secrets, but one pair of lovebirds discover they've both been living dangerous secret lives in this action thriller laced with comedy. <a href="/players/P____36009/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Angelina Jolie</a> and <a href="/players/P____56988/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Brad Pitt</a> and play Jane Smith and John Smith, a suburban couple whose marriage has started to go a bit stale after five or six years. Both wish for more excitement in their relationship, but as it happens, each of them is finding plenty of thrills elsewhere. Both Jane and John are world-class assassins who will take on perilous missions for the right price, but neither is aware of the other's secret life - Jane thinks her husband runs a successful construction company, and John believes his wife works on Wall Street. However, when John and Jane are both assigned to take out the same target, one Benjamin Danz (<a href="/players/P___357423/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Adam Brody</a>), they become aware of each other's secret lives, and suddenly both their careers and their marriage go through some dramatic and potentially deadly changes. Mr. and Mrs. Smith also stars <a href="/players/P___225542/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Vince Vaughn</a> as an assassin with John's company who still lives with his mother and <a href="/players/P___281843/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Kerry Washington</a> as one of Jane's associates. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide<br/>
<strong>Times Tagged:</strong> 115<br/>
<strong>Number of Lists:</strong> 96<br/>
<strong>Number of blog posts:</strong> 11<br/>
<strong>Number of discussion threads:</strong> 2<br/>
<strong>SpoutRating:</strong> 3<br/>
</td></tr></table>]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:12:23 GMT</pubDate><spout:Title>Mr. and Mrs. Smith</spout:Title><spout:Year>2005</spout:Year><spout:Director>Doug Liman</spout:Director><spout:Plot>Many married couples have secrets, but one pair of lovebirds discover they've both been living dangerous secret lives in this action thriller laced with comedy. &lt;a href="/players/P____36009/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'&gt;Angelina Jolie&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="/players/P____56988/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'&gt;Brad Pitt&lt;/a&gt; and play Jane Smith and John Smith, a suburban couple whose marriage has started to go a bit stale after five or six years. Both wish for more excitement in their relationship, but as it happens, each of them is finding plenty of thrills elsewhere. Both Jane and John are world-class assassins who will take on perilous missions for the right price, but neither is aware of the other's secret life - Jane thinks her husband runs a successful construction company, and John believes his wife works on Wall Street. However, when John and Jane are both assigned to take out the same target, one Benjamin Danz (&lt;a href="/players/P___357423/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'&gt;Adam Brody&lt;/a&gt;), they become aware of each other's secret lives, and suddenly both their careers and their marriage go through some dramatic and potentially deadly changes. Mr. and Mrs. Smith also stars &lt;a href="/players/P___225542/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'&gt;Vince Vaughn&lt;/a&gt; as an assassin with John's company who still lives with his mother and &lt;a href="/players/P___281843/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'&gt;Kerry Washington&lt;/a&gt; as one of Jane's associates. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide</spout:Plot><spout:TimesTagged>115</spout:TimesTagged><spout:taglevel>Tag Target (&gt;10)</spout:taglevel><spout:Numberoflists>96</spout:Numberoflists><spout:NumberOfBlogPosts>11</spout:NumberOfBlogPosts><spout:NumberOfDiscussionThreads>2</spout:NumberOfDiscussionThreads><spout:SpoutRating>3</spout:SpoutRating><spout:FilmCoverURL>http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/u47789bcxs5.jpg</spout:FilmCoverURL><spout:SpoutFilmDetailURL>http://www.spout.com/films/Mr_and_Mrs_Smith/231399/default.aspx</spout:SpoutFilmDetailURL><spout:type>Film</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Post: Re:Which of these recent Brad Pitt roles is your favorite?</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/groups/Movie_Polls/Re_Which_of_these_recent_Brad_Pitt_roles_is_your_f/657/44182/1/ShowPost.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div><img align='left' src='http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/u47789bcxs5.jpg' hspace='10' style='height:80px;' />
<strong>Post By:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/members/150926/default.aspx'>CassieAnnette</a><br/>
<strong>Post To:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/groups/Movie_Polls/657/discussions.aspx'>Movie Polls</a><br/>
<strong>Post Date:</strong> 10/13/2009 8:46:21 AM<br/>
<strong>Body:</strong> I loved him in Burn After Reading, Too funny. Sorry it took me so long to reply and that this is no longer open.   [quote user="Risselada"] Please reference this thread for the rules of this group.    Please vote only once in each poll. Movies referenced in this poll:The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert FordBabelBurn After ReadingThe Curious Case of Benjamin ButtonInglorious BasterdsMr. &amp; Mrs. SmithOcean's ThirteenTroy [/quote]<br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 13 Oct 2009 12:46:21 GMT</pubDate><spout:postby>CassieAnnette</spout:postby><spout:postto>Movie Polls</spout:postto><spout:postdate>10/13/2009 8:46:21 AM</spout:postdate><spout:body>I loved him in Burn After Reading, Too funny. Sorry it took me so long to reply and that this is no longer open.   [quote user="Risselada"] Please reference this thread for the rules of this group.    Please vote only once in each poll. Movies referenced in this poll:The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert FordBabelBurn After ReadingThe Curious Case of Benjamin ButtonInglorious BasterdsMr. &amp;amp; Mrs. SmithOcean's ThirteenTroy [/quote]</spout:body></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Post: Which of these recent Brad Pitt roles is your favorite?</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/groups/Movie_Polls/Which_of_these_recent_Brad_Pitt_roles_is_your_favo/657/43906/1/ShowPost.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div><img align='left' src='http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/u47789bcxs5.jpg' hspace='10' style='height:80px;' />
<strong>Post By:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/members/5353/default.aspx'>Risselada</a><br/>
<strong>Post To:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/groups/Movie_Polls/657/discussions.aspx'>Movie Polls</a><br/>
<strong>Post Date:</strong> 9/15/2009 2:42:49 PM<br/>
<strong>Body:</strong> Please reference this thread for the rules of this group.    Please vote only once in each poll. Movies referenced in this poll:The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert FordBabelBurn After ReadingThe Curious Case of Benjamin ButtonInglorious BasterdsMr. &amp; Mrs. SmithOcean's ThirteenTroy<br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 15 Sep 2009 18:42:49 GMT</pubDate><spout:postby>Risselada</spout:postby><spout:postto>Movie Polls</spout:postto><spout:postdate>9/15/2009 2:42:49 PM</spout:postdate><spout:body>Please reference this thread for the rules of this group.    Please vote only once in each poll. Movies referenced in this poll:The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert FordBabelBurn After ReadingThe Curious Case of Benjamin ButtonInglorious BasterdsMr. &amp;amp; Mrs. SmithOcean's ThirteenTroy</spout:body></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Post: The ultimate rocky marriage</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/blogs/the_mow/archive/2009/5/1/41993.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div><img align='left' src='http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/u47789bcxs5.jpg' hspace='10' style='height:80px;' />
<strong>Post By:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/members/148616/default.aspx'>The_MOW</a><br/>
<strong>Post To:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/blogs/the_mow/default.aspx'>The_MOW Blog</a><br/>
<strong>Post Date:</strong> 5/1/2009 11:05:33 PM<br/>
<strong>Body:</strong> "John" and "Jane Smith" (Brat Pitt and Angelina Jolie) appear to have the perfect marriage, but looks can be deceiving. They are, in fact, keeping a huge secret from one another -- they are competing secret agents working for different agencies. They learn of each other's jobs when both are assigned to take out the same target. Then their relationship spirals downward from there until something unexpected brings them back together. The first thing you notice is that Jolie and Pitt have great on-screen chemistry. With exception of a few badly scripted spots and lines, they worked very nicely together. It got real fun watching them play cat and mouse with one another as they tried to kill each other through a good chunk of the film. A problem I noticed with this movie is the lack of development of the supporting characters. You might not remember them that well as the closing credits role on the screen. Also, any subplot that directly affects the supporting characters are poorly written. One thing that really stands out of this film is the gunplay and other action. The fights are well choreographed, and shot quite nicely. During these scenes, there is little room to breathe. The special effects, though typical when it comes to explosions, are done very well. There is just enough interesting visual effects to keep you entertained and your eyes glued to the screen. Though there are times the script lags and jokes miss the mark, "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" is an entertaining movie that would be worth renting as, at minimum, a solid second choice.<br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 02 May 2009 03:05:33 GMT</pubDate><spout:postby>The_MOW</spout:postby><spout:postto>The_MOW Blog</spout:postto><spout:postdate>5/1/2009 11:05:33 PM</spout:postdate><spout:body>"John" and "Jane Smith" (Brat Pitt and Angelina Jolie) appear to have the perfect marriage, but looks can be deceiving. They are, in fact, keeping a huge secret from one another -- they are competing secret agents working for different agencies. They learn of each other's jobs when both are assigned to take out the same target. Then their relationship spirals downward from there until something unexpected brings them back together. The first thing you notice is that Jolie and Pitt have great on-screen chemistry. With exception of a few badly scripted spots and lines, they worked very nicely together. It got real fun watching them play cat and mouse with one another as they tried to kill each other through a good chunk of the film. A problem I noticed with this movie is the lack of development of the supporting characters. You might not remember them that well as the closing credits role on the screen. Also, any subplot that directly affects the supporting characters are poorly written. One thing that really stands out of this film is the gunplay and other action. The fights are well choreographed, and shot quite nicely. During these scenes, there is little room to breathe. The special effects, though typical when it comes to explosions, are done very well. There is just enough interesting visual effects to keep you entertained and your eyes glued to the screen. Though there are times the script lags and jokes miss the mark, "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" is an entertaining movie that would be worth renting as, at minimum, a solid second choice.</spout:body></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Post: 10 Sexiest Non-Sex Scenes</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/blogs/spoutblog/archive/2009/2/27/40694.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div><img align='left' src='http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/u47789bcxs5.jpg' hspace='10' style='height:80px;' />
<strong>Post By:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/members/9325/default.aspx'>SpoutBlog</a><br/>
<strong>Post To:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/blogs/spoutblog/default.aspx'>SpoutBlog on spout.com</a><br/>
<strong>Post Date:</strong> 2/27/2009 6:01:36 PM<br/>
<strong>Body:</strong> One of the most popular sex scenes of all time is the kitchen scene from the 1981 version of The Postman Always Rings Twice. But many people find the more implicit parts of the 1946 version to be sexier. These people include the earlier film’s female lead, Lana Turner, who wrote in her autobiography, “[The makers of the 1981 film] didn’t have to worry about the censors. I’d had to project a rather intense sexual presence, but always with my clothes on. I was amused to read that [NY Times film critic] Vincent Canby considered the remake a pale, rather sexless imitation of my version.”
Yes, a film with neither nudity nor simulated lovemaking can be quite sexy, likely sexier than an explicit remake, for innuendo and other teasing maneuvers around either the Hays Code or the MPAA ratings board’s restrictions are far more tantalizing than any bare and balls-out displays of graphic sex common in movies today. Though many classic implications of sex on the big screen were rather obvious and quick, giving the audience a nudge but hardly a rise (think the Eisensteinian metaphors of a train entering a tunnel in North by Northwest or fireworks exploding in To Catch a Thief), loads of films turned up the heat through the use of careful camerawork, daring dialogue and more subtly suggestive actions. Sometimes such sexy moments of tension and/or playfulness are definite forms of foreplay and serve as lead-ins to actual sex acts, on or off screen. But not always.
Everyone has his or her own ideas of what’s sexy, so feel free to disagree with our choices and/or suggest your own (I can guess what the first suggestion will be). Consider our list simply a starting point for discussion.


“‘Makin’ Whoopee’ scene,” from The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989)
Basically, this famous scene, in which Susie Diamond (Michelle Pfeiffer) sings “Makin’ Whoopee” while wriggling around atop a piano, is a slightly classier version of Whitesnake’s “Here I Go Again” music video. Just as loads of metal heads dreamed they were David Coverdale’s Jaguar, a few years later tons of moviegoers wished they could have been that piano.

“Bogie gets wet,” from The Big Sleep (1946)
Philip Marlowe (Humphrey Bogart) and the unnamed bookseller (Dorothy Malone) may actually get it on offscreen following this flirtatious exchange, but even if their little rye-drinking party is purely an innocent moment between two strangers waiting out a rainstorm, there’s no denying the sexual energy going on between them. While it may be hard for a guy to understand the appeal of the quite blunt and rude Marlowe (are the glasses really that big a turn-off, Bogie?), Malone is very sexy when communicating her eagerness for whatever, even before she complies with the eyewear request and then voluntarily lets down her hair. Just watch her reaction when he says, “I’d a lot rather get wet in here.”

“Airplane scene,” from Chungking Express (1994)
As far as suggestive imagery goes, the way Cop 663 (Tony Leung) plays with that toy airplane around the half-clothed stewardess (Valerie Chow) is only slightly subtler than the aforementioned montages from North by Northwest and To Catch a Thief, but Wong Kar Wai is much more sensual in the way he films his symbolic object. Certainly there is more direct sexiness to be found without Eisensteinian cutaways, anyway, and the additional innuendo provided by the airline safety instructions and the stewardess’ spilling of her beer gives the scene a delectable feeling of reciprocation.

“Kiss scene on the beach,” from From Here to Eternity (1953)
This scene is a bit of an obvious choice, and in a way it barely counts because the whole thing involves an explicit form of intimacy between two lovers (Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr) that can hardly be considered completely non-sexual. But the reason we’re including it is because it’s one of the greatest and most unmistakable substitutes for an actual, outright sex scene ever put on film. That’s why so many films have imitated it so faithfully, even in times when it’s been more favorable and more acceptable to recreate the scene without the bathing suits.

“Gable takes off his shirt,” from It Happened One Night (1934)
Unlike Bogie’s come on, the appeal of Gable’s undressing is completely understandable, to either sex. And it’s not just clear in the way Ellie (Claudette Colbert) stares and then rushes off to her side of the room all hot and bothered. Male audiences also recognized the sexiness of the scene, evidenced in the film’s infamous influence on the (misfortunate) undershirt business. There’s plenty of sexual tension going on in the rest of the “walls of Jericho” sequence, and Colbert’s behind-the-sheet undressing is also quite sexy (as is her iconic hitchhiking display in another scene), but considering male stripping in cinema is rarely so inviting, we have to go with this narrowed-down choice.

“The phone scene,” from It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
Were you aware that such a seemingly family-friendly director as Frank Capra gave us so many sexy scenes? There’s not much in It’s a Wonderful Life that’s as arousing as those mentioned moments from It Happened One Night, but one of the all-time best shots depicting sexual tension is in this holiday favorite. If George (James Stewart) and Mary (Donna Reed) hadn’t finally kissed at the end of this scene, audiences would probably have just burst in their seats.


“‘Moonglow’ dance,” from Picnic (1955)
Beginning with Kim Novak’s sultry wiggle down the steps, this is one of the sexiest dances in cinema, and that’s compared to hundreds of more explicit numbers throughout film history. Even without the graphic double crotch shot, which is used to frame Susan Strasberg (though surely you’re not actually focusing on her, right?), the scene is as clearly a substitute for sex as the beach scene from From Here to Eternity.

“Jane changes clothes in silhouette,” from Tarzan and His Mate (1934)
It wasn’t the first time a silhouetted stripping scene was used in a film. But we just couldn’t include the moment from the “Petting in the Park” number from Gold Diggers of 1933, because the voyeuristic kid makes it just a little too creepy. Besides, the idea of a nude woman silhouetted against a tent wall is a more iconic image, one that’s been constantly redone both erotically and comically. A later scene in the film, in which Jane (Maureen O’Sullivan, though replaced at this moment by Olympic swimmer Josephine McKim) goes skinny-dipping with Tarzan (Johnny Weissmuller), is also quite a sexy non-sex scene.

“Lusty eating scene,” from Tom Jones (1963)
Did anyone else see the recent special episode of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations about the concept of food porn? Or, has anyone else felt a little dirty watching Padma Lakshmi bite into an apple during Top Chef promos? Well maybe not all cinephiles are also foodies, but for those that are, the feast of food and foreplay in Tom Jones is certainly relatable. Watching Tom (Albert Finney) and Mrs. Waters (Joyce Redman) may not directly turn you on, but if you understand the erotic power of food, you should at least be able to appreciate the sexual energy here.

“Returning stolen goods,” from Trouble in Paradise (1932)
Far more than Frank Capra, Ernst Lubitsch was responsible for many of the sexiest films of the ‘30s and ‘40s, but it’s arguably Trouble in Paradise that tops them all. Using his signature “Lubitsch touch,” he had a way of getting around censors by only carefully alluding to censorable things, all through the trust in the audience’s ability to read between the lines and imagine what’s happening behind closed doors. His sexiest scene, however, is more blatant than all that; two master criminals (Miriam Hopkins and Herbert Marshall) fall in love while returning the items they’ve pickpocketed off each other. Decades later, people will see a similar sexiness in a scene from Mr. and Mrs. Smith, clearly derivative of this scene, in which Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt pat each other down for weapons while dancing. Originally posted on:SpoutBlog<br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 27 Feb 2009 23:01:36 GMT</pubDate><spout:postby>SpoutBlog</spout:postby><spout:postto>SpoutBlog on spout.com</spout:postto><spout:postdate>2/27/2009 6:01:36 PM</spout:postdate><spout:body>One of the most popular sex scenes of all time is the kitchen scene from the 1981 version of The Postman Always Rings Twice. But many people find the more implicit parts of the 1946 version to be sexier. These people include the earlier film’s female lead, Lana Turner, who wrote in her autobiography, “[The makers of the 1981 film] didn’t have to worry about the censors. I’d had to project a rather intense sexual presence, but always with my clothes on. I was amused to read that [NY Times film critic] Vincent Canby considered the remake a pale, rather sexless imitation of my version.”
Yes, a film with neither nudity nor simulated lovemaking can be quite sexy, likely sexier than an explicit remake, for innuendo and other teasing maneuvers around either the Hays Code or the MPAA ratings board’s restrictions are far more tantalizing than any bare and balls-out displays of graphic sex common in movies today. Though many classic implications of sex on the big screen were rather obvious and quick, giving the audience a nudge but hardly a rise (think the Eisensteinian metaphors of a train entering a tunnel in North by Northwest or fireworks exploding in To Catch a Thief), loads of films turned up the heat through the use of careful camerawork, daring dialogue and more subtly suggestive actions. Sometimes such sexy moments of tension and/or playfulness are definite forms of foreplay and serve as lead-ins to actual sex acts, on or off screen. But not always.
Everyone has his or her own ideas of what’s sexy, so feel free to disagree with our choices and/or suggest your own (I can guess what the first suggestion will be). Consider our list simply a starting point for discussion.


“‘Makin’ Whoopee’ scene,” from The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989)
Basically, this famous scene, in which Susie Diamond (Michelle Pfeiffer) sings “Makin’ Whoopee” while wriggling around atop a piano, is a slightly classier version of Whitesnake’s “Here I Go Again” music video. Just as loads of metal heads dreamed they were David Coverdale’s Jaguar, a few years later tons of moviegoers wished they could have been that piano.

“Bogie gets wet,” from The Big Sleep (1946)
Philip Marlowe (Humphrey Bogart) and the unnamed bookseller (Dorothy Malone) may actually get it on offscreen following this flirtatious exchange, but even if their little rye-drinking party is purely an innocent moment between two strangers waiting out a rainstorm, there’s no denying the sexual energy going on between them. While it may be hard for a guy to understand the appeal of the quite blunt and rude Marlowe (are the glasses really that big a turn-off, Bogie?), Malone is very sexy when communicating her eagerness for whatever, even before she complies with the eyewear request and then voluntarily lets down her hair. Just watch her reaction when he says, “I’d a lot rather get wet in here.”

“Airplane scene,” from Chungking Express (1994)
As far as suggestive imagery goes, the way Cop 663 (Tony Leung) plays with that toy airplane around the half-clothed stewardess (Valerie Chow) is only slightly subtler than the aforementioned montages from North by Northwest and To Catch a Thief, but Wong Kar Wai is much more sensual in the way he films his symbolic object. Certainly there is more direct sexiness to be found without Eisensteinian cutaways, anyway, and the additional innuendo provided by the airline safety instructions and the stewardess’ spilling of her beer gives the scene a delectable feeling of reciprocation.

“Kiss scene on the beach,” from From Here to Eternity (1953)
This scene is a bit of an obvious choice, and in a way it barely counts because the whole thing involves an explicit form of intimacy between two lovers (Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr) that can hardly be considered completely non-sexual. But the reason we’re including it is because it’s one of the greatest and most unmistakable substitutes for an actual, outright sex scene ever put on film. That’s why so many films have imitated it so faithfully, even in times when it’s been more favorable and more acceptable to recreate the scene without the bathing suits.

“Gable takes off his shirt,” from It Happened One Night (1934)
Unlike Bogie’s come on, the appeal of Gable’s undressing is completely understandable, to either sex. And it’s not just clear in the way Ellie (Claudette Colbert) stares and then rushes off to her side of the room all hot and bothered. Male audiences also recognized the sexiness of the scene, evidenced in the film’s infamous influence on the (misfortunate) undershirt business. There’s plenty of sexual tension going on in the rest of the “walls of Jericho” sequence, and Colbert’s behind-the-sheet undressing is also quite sexy (as is her iconic hitchhiking display in another scene), but considering male stripping in cinema is rarely so inviting, we have to go with this narrowed-down choice.

“The phone scene,” from It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
Were you aware that such a seemingly family-friendly director as Frank Capra gave us so many sexy scenes? There’s not much in It’s a Wonderful Life that’s as arousing as those mentioned moments from It Happened One Night, but one of the all-time best shots depicting sexual tension is in this holiday favorite. If George (James Stewart) and Mary (Donna Reed) hadn’t finally kissed at the end of this scene, audiences would probably have just burst in their seats.


“‘Moonglow’ dance,” from Picnic (1955)
Beginning with Kim Novak’s sultry wiggle down the steps, this is one of the sexiest dances in cinema, and that’s compared to hundreds of more explicit numbers throughout film history. Even without the graphic double crotch shot, which is used to frame Susan Strasberg (though surely you’re not actually focusing on her, right?), the scene is as clearly a substitute for sex as the beach scene from From Here to Eternity.

“Jane changes clothes in silhouette,” from Tarzan and His Mate (1934)
It wasn’t the first time a silhouetted stripping scene was used in a film. But we just couldn’t include the moment from the “Petting in the Park” number from Gold Diggers of 1933, because the voyeuristic kid makes it just a little too creepy. Besides, the idea of a nude woman silhouetted against a tent wall is a more iconic image, one that’s been constantly redone both erotically and comically. A later scene in the film, in which Jane (Maureen O’Sullivan, though replaced at this moment by Olympic swimmer Josephine McKim) goes skinny-dipping with Tarzan (Johnny Weissmuller), is also quite a sexy non-sex scene.

“Lusty eating scene,” from Tom Jones (1963)
Did anyone else see the recent special episode of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations about the concept of food porn? Or, has anyone else felt a little dirty watching Padma Lakshmi bite into an apple during Top Chef promos? Well maybe not all cinephiles are also foodies, but for those that are, the feast of food and foreplay in Tom Jones is certainly relatable. Watching Tom (Albert Finney) and Mrs. Waters (Joyce Redman) may not directly turn you on, but if you understand the erotic power of food, you should at least be able to appreciate the sexual energy here.

“Returning stolen goods,” from Trouble in Paradise (1932)
Far more than Frank Capra, Ernst Lubitsch was responsible for many of the sexiest films of the ‘30s and ‘40s, but it’s arguably Trouble in Paradise that tops them all. Using his signature “Lubitsch touch,” he had a way of getting around censors by only carefully alluding to censorable things, all through the trust in the audience’s ability to read between the lines and imagine what’s happening behind closed doors. His sexiest scene, however, is more blatant than all that; two master criminals (Miriam Hopkins and Herbert Marshall) fall in love while returning the items they’ve pickpocketed off each other. Decades later, people will see a similar sexiness in a scene from Mr. and Mrs. Smith, clearly derivative of this scene, in which Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt pat each other down for weapons while dancing. Originally posted on:SpoutBlog</spout:body></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Post: 10 Actresses Who’d Be Great as Catwoman</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/blogs/spoutblog/archive/2008/8/4/33522.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div><img align='left' src='http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/u47789bcxs5.jpg' hspace='10' style='height:80px;' />
<strong>Post By:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/members/9325/default.aspx'>SpoutBlog</a><br/>
<strong>Post To:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/blogs/spoutblog/default.aspx'>SpoutBlog on spout.com</a><br/>
<strong>Post Date:</strong> 8/4/2008 3:01:15 PM<br/>
<strong>Body:</strong> It’s funny how out of control a rumor can spin on the web. The Angelina Jolie as Catwoman “news” has to be at the top of the list of most reported unconfirmed rumors ever. And it’s sad that it’s not actually true, because after seeing Jolie in the dominatrix outfit she wears at the beginning of Mr. and Mrs. Smith, I’d be perfectly fine seeing her wear another tight black costume for a possible third Christopher Nolan-directed Batman movie.
But who instead could play the part, if Jolie is indeed not interested, or not even offered the role (or, obviously, if Catwoman is not in the movie, as screenwriter David Goyer has apparently hinted)? One theory says that Maggie Gyllenhaal will return in the follow-up to The Dark Knight, this time donning a catsuit (Graeme at io9 strongly disputes the idea). Another terrible suggestion is to cast the too-cute Zooey Deschanel as the villainess. A far more interesting recommendation, from Catherine Bray, is Tilda Swinton. But I think the character needs to be a little sexier. Plus, I want to dismiss Bray’s idea on the principle that it’s included in the DenOfGeek list, which consists mostly of the usual hot young actress ideas that probably get thrown around for every casting decision like this.
I’m actually shocked that Eva Green wasn’t anyone’s pick, as she’s one of those hot young actresses, and she’s done the “good and bad at the same time” thing in Casino Royale. She was even part of my list until a better candidate edged her out, mostly on the idea that we don’t need to see her replay Vesper Lynd in a Catwoman costume. So, who did make the cut? Check out my 10 favorites, in descending order, after the jump:


10. Halle Berry - She is a good actress, and she was a great sport in accepting her Razzie for playing the character in Catwoman, so wouldn’t it be neat if Nolan gave her a second chance at the part? It certainly fits with the nine lives thing. Plus, with a better script, better direction and, most importantly, a better outfit, the Oscar winner would do a much better job.

9. Cate Blanchett - Another Bob Dylan vs. Bob Dylan showdown! (The Dark Knight’s Christian Bale and Heath Ledger each portrayed Dylan in I’m Not There, as did Blanchett). And Nolan can round out the villain casting with Ben Whishaw as Riddler, Richard Gere as the Penguin and Marcus Carl Franklin as Anarky (or he could be Robin?). Seriously, though, after Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, I’m not sure we ever need to see her as another blockbuster villain. Besides, there’s other Oscar-caliber actresses who would be more enjoyable.

8. Penélope Cruz - Like this sexy Spanish lady, who I thought of for the role based on her line from Vanilla Sky, “I’ll see you in another life, when we are both cats.” Wait, would that mean Tom Cruise would have to appear as Catman? Hell, I’d deal with that if I got to see Cruz prance around with a tail attached to a form-fitting bodysuit.

7. Maggie Cheung - It’s been 12 years since Cheung wore a tight black catsuit for Assayas’ Irma Vep, but she’d still be damn hot as Catwoman. Unfortunately, she has retired from acting, last appearing in Wong Kar-Wai’s 2046 and Assayas’ Clean back in 2004.

6. Rachel Weisz - Something about her wonky eyes makes me think she’d be a good Catwoman. I can’t quite explain what I mean by that. She did a fine job as an attractive yet ultimately evil character in Neil LaBute’s The Shape of Things, so there’s another point for her.

5. Emily Blunt - A well-meaning bitch in The Devil Wears Prada, I’d love to see Blunt do more of the same, only in a catsuit. In a way, she’s like my fill-in for the excluded Eva Green, since I continually mix up their names, and Prada costar Anne Hathaway, who too many people think is as good a choice.

4. Emily Mortimer - Basically my choice for the obscure, indie-cred slot, since I don’t agree with the Deschanel suggestion. Plus, I can see her building off her short stint as the two-faced “Phoebe” on 30 Rock in order to play a terrific villainess.

3. Emily Watson - The last of three candidates named Emily, Watson has always been my favorite love interest for Christian Bale (she’s played opposite “Batman” in Metroland and Equilibrium). Third time’s the charm, I say.

2. Marion Cotillard - I know, I’m probably including too many Oscar nominees and winners in this list, but after Ledger’s performance as The Joker, the role of Catwoman requires talent along with beauty. Besides, Michelle Pfeiffer was nominated for two Academy Awards prior to playing the part in Batman Returns and Halle Berry won an Oscar before giving her Razzie-winning performance in Catowman. So, as the most recent recipient of the Best Actress trophy, the chameleon-like star of La Vie en Rose seems the most appropriate. Oh, and some guy already did a rendering of what she’d look like.

1. Sean Young - The part she always wanted. And what fun it would be for Catwoman to be an older woman. You know, as in a cougar. Which is a kind of cat. There have been crazier ideas — though maybe not crazier actresses. However, Young’s unstable personality should make for an unpredictable and unbeatable performance. Originally posted on:SpoutBlog<br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 04 Aug 2008 19:01:15 GMT</pubDate><spout:postby>SpoutBlog</spout:postby><spout:postto>SpoutBlog on spout.com</spout:postto><spout:postdate>8/4/2008 3:01:15 PM</spout:postdate><spout:body>It’s funny how out of control a rumor can spin on the web. The Angelina Jolie as Catwoman “news” has to be at the top of the list of most reported unconfirmed rumors ever. And it’s sad that it’s not actually true, because after seeing Jolie in the dominatrix outfit she wears at the beginning of Mr. and Mrs. Smith, I’d be perfectly fine seeing her wear another tight black costume for a possible third Christopher Nolan-directed Batman movie.
But who instead could play the part, if Jolie is indeed not interested, or not even offered the role (or, obviously, if Catwoman is not in the movie, as screenwriter David Goyer has apparently hinted)? One theory says that Maggie Gyllenhaal will return in the follow-up to The Dark Knight, this time donning a catsuit (Graeme at io9 strongly disputes the idea). Another terrible suggestion is to cast the too-cute Zooey Deschanel as the villainess. A far more interesting recommendation, from Catherine Bray, is Tilda Swinton. But I think the character needs to be a little sexier. Plus, I want to dismiss Bray’s idea on the principle that it’s included in the DenOfGeek list, which consists mostly of the usual hot young actress ideas that probably get thrown around for every casting decision like this.
I’m actually shocked that Eva Green wasn’t anyone’s pick, as she’s one of those hot young actresses, and she’s done the “good and bad at the same time” thing in Casino Royale. She was even part of my list until a better candidate edged her out, mostly on the idea that we don’t need to see her replay Vesper Lynd in a Catwoman costume. So, who did make the cut? Check out my 10 favorites, in descending order, after the jump:


10. Halle Berry - She is a good actress, and she was a great sport in accepting her Razzie for playing the character in Catwoman, so wouldn’t it be neat if Nolan gave her a second chance at the part? It certainly fits with the nine lives thing. Plus, with a better script, better direction and, most importantly, a better outfit, the Oscar winner would do a much better job.

9. Cate Blanchett - Another Bob Dylan vs. Bob Dylan showdown! (The Dark Knight’s Christian Bale and Heath Ledger each portrayed Dylan in I’m Not There, as did Blanchett). And Nolan can round out the villain casting with Ben Whishaw as Riddler, Richard Gere as the Penguin and Marcus Carl Franklin as Anarky (or he could be Robin?). Seriously, though, after Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, I’m not sure we ever need to see her as another blockbuster villain. Besides, there’s other Oscar-caliber actresses who would be more enjoyable.

8. Penélope Cruz - Like this sexy Spanish lady, who I thought of for the role based on her line from Vanilla Sky, “I’ll see you in another life, when we are both cats.” Wait, would that mean Tom Cruise would have to appear as Catman? Hell, I’d deal with that if I got to see Cruz prance around with a tail attached to a form-fitting bodysuit.

7. Maggie Cheung - It’s been 12 years since Cheung wore a tight black catsuit for Assayas’ Irma Vep, but she’d still be damn hot as Catwoman. Unfortunately, she has retired from acting, last appearing in Wong Kar-Wai’s 2046 and Assayas’ Clean back in 2004.

6. Rachel Weisz - Something about her wonky eyes makes me think she’d be a good Catwoman. I can’t quite explain what I mean by that. She did a fine job as an attractive yet ultimately evil character in Neil LaBute’s The Shape of Things, so there’s another point for her.

5. Emily Blunt - A well-meaning bitch in The Devil Wears Prada, I’d love to see Blunt do more of the same, only in a catsuit. In a way, she’s like my fill-in for the excluded Eva Green, since I continually mix up their names, and Prada costar Anne Hathaway, who too many people think is as good a choice.

4. Emily Mortimer - Basically my choice for the obscure, indie-cred slot, since I don’t agree with the Deschanel suggestion. Plus, I can see her building off her short stint as the two-faced “Phoebe” on 30 Rock in order to play a terrific villainess.

3. Emily Watson - The last of three candidates named Emily, Watson has always been my favorite love interest for Christian Bale (she’s played opposite “Batman” in Metroland and Equilibrium). Third time’s the charm, I say.

2. Marion Cotillard - I know, I’m probably including too many Oscar nominees and winners in this list, but after Ledger’s performance as The Joker, the role of Catwoman requires talent along with beauty. Besides, Michelle Pfeiffer was nominated for two Academy Awards prior to playing the part in Batman Returns and Halle Berry won an Oscar before giving her Razzie-winning performance in Catowman. So, as the most recent recipient of the Best Actress trophy, the chameleon-like star of La Vie en Rose seems the most appropriate. Oh, and some guy already did a rendering of what she’d look like.

1. Sean Young - The part she always wanted. And what fun it would be for Catwoman to be an older woman. You know, as in a cougar. Which is a kind of cat. There have been crazier ideas — though maybe not crazier actresses. However, Young’s unstable personality should make for an unpredictable and unbeatable performance. Originally posted on:SpoutBlog</spout:body></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Post: 5 Reasons Brad Pitt Should Play Thor</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/blogs/spoutblog/archive/2008/5/12/28666.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div><img align='left' src='http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/u47789bcxs5.jpg' hspace='10' style='height:80px;' />
<strong>Post By:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/members/9325/default.aspx'>SpoutBlog</a><br/>
<strong>Post To:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/blogs/spoutblog/default.aspx'>SpoutBlog on spout.com</a><br/>
<strong>Post Date:</strong> 5/12/2008 4:00:39 PM<br/>
<strong>Body:</strong> It’s not always worthwhile to jump on rumors like this, but the idea that Brad Pitt could be cast as The Mighty Thor in Marvel’s upcoming movie adaptation (due June 4, 2010) is too good an idea to be left alone. The word comes from Latino Review that Marvel is simply tossing the actor’s name around, though apparently the role hasn’t even been suggested, let alone offered, to Pitt.
Unfortunately, it’s hard to imagine that Pitt would be interested in playing a superhero. He’s still a big enough star and a talented enough actor that he might feel he’s above such a thing. However, if he wants to continue making great films like The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, which don’t make him much cash, he’s going to need some mainstream hits, and he could do much worse for a paycheck than wear a cape and helmet and fight evil as the Norse God of Thunder.
So, I’ve come up with five reasons for Pitt to grab Thor’s hammer. Hopefully he’ll find the list convincing.

Lucrative Franchise Potential - Without the security of more Ocean’s movies and the chance that your star power will wane (it’s happened to your friends and peers), now is the time to suit up for a comic book movie. It’s not like this would be that different from your only other recent hits, Troy and Mr. and Mrs. Smith, neither of which can be proven to have been successful because of you.
Everyone Should Try it Once - Yes, it’s the cool thing to do for actors of your generation. Your Fight Club costar Ed Norton is The Incredible Hulk, and your Less Than Zero costar Robert Downey Jr. (OK, you weren’t a star then, you only had a bit part) is Iron Man. Sure, your buddy George Clooney and your Troy costar Eric Bana might have some bad words to say about playing a superhero, and it’s easy to see how it didn’t work for either Ben Affleck or his wife. But with your clout, you could make the movie worthwhile. Surely you have the power to make sure there’s a good script and a good director on board (too bad your Snatch producer just quit the gig). You could probably (hopefully) even bring your girlfriend aboard to play Enchantress. Wouldn’t that be fun?
Do It For Your Kids - As Latino Review suggests, you’re probably going to want to make some movies that your children can watch, and what kid doesn’t want to see his or her dad play a superhero? Better to do something like Thor now than settle for some kind of awful male nanny part down the road.
It Will Actually Be Good - Superhero movies may be a dime a dozen, and none will ever be as good as any film directed by Terence Malick, or the Coens or Andrew Dominik or any of the other amazing filmmakers you’ve worked with, but as Iron Man has shown, they can be decent. And Marvel Studios is the company that’s making the best effort to produce quality comic book adaptations. Supposedly Mark Protosevich (I Am Legend) has delivered a good script, and Avi Arad is probably going to hire someone respectable to take the helm now that Vaughn is gone (perhaps you could convince David Fincher!).
You’re the Best Person for the Job - Don’t pass up the chance just because you might believe Marvel has a long list of actors who’d be good for Thor. Yes, they could hire any number of buff blonds, but there is nobody with the combination of looks, talent, charisma, intelligence or star power that you have. And like Downey has done with Iron Man, you can bring some of yourself to the character in order to make it fit more perfectly.
 Originally posted on:SpoutBlog<br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 12 May 2008 20:00:39 GMT</pubDate><spout:postby>SpoutBlog</spout:postby><spout:postto>SpoutBlog on spout.com</spout:postto><spout:postdate>5/12/2008 4:00:39 PM</spout:postdate><spout:body>It’s not always worthwhile to jump on rumors like this, but the idea that Brad Pitt could be cast as The Mighty Thor in Marvel’s upcoming movie adaptation (due June 4, 2010) is too good an idea to be left alone. The word comes from Latino Review that Marvel is simply tossing the actor’s name around, though apparently the role hasn’t even been suggested, let alone offered, to Pitt.
Unfortunately, it’s hard to imagine that Pitt would be interested in playing a superhero. He’s still a big enough star and a talented enough actor that he might feel he’s above such a thing. However, if he wants to continue making great films like The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, which don’t make him much cash, he’s going to need some mainstream hits, and he could do much worse for a paycheck than wear a cape and helmet and fight evil as the Norse God of Thunder.
So, I’ve come up with five reasons for Pitt to grab Thor’s hammer. Hopefully he’ll find the list convincing.

Lucrative Franchise Potential - Without the security of more Ocean’s movies and the chance that your star power will wane (it’s happened to your friends and peers), now is the time to suit up for a comic book movie. It’s not like this would be that different from your only other recent hits, Troy and Mr. and Mrs. Smith, neither of which can be proven to have been successful because of you.
Everyone Should Try it Once - Yes, it’s the cool thing to do for actors of your generation. Your Fight Club costar Ed Norton is The Incredible Hulk, and your Less Than Zero costar Robert Downey Jr. (OK, you weren’t a star then, you only had a bit part) is Iron Man. Sure, your buddy George Clooney and your Troy costar Eric Bana might have some bad words to say about playing a superhero, and it’s easy to see how it didn’t work for either Ben Affleck or his wife. But with your clout, you could make the movie worthwhile. Surely you have the power to make sure there’s a good script and a good director on board (too bad your Snatch producer just quit the gig). You could probably (hopefully) even bring your girlfriend aboard to play Enchantress. Wouldn’t that be fun?
Do It For Your Kids - As Latino Review suggests, you’re probably going to want to make some movies that your children can watch, and what kid doesn’t want to see his or her dad play a superhero? Better to do something like Thor now than settle for some kind of awful male nanny part down the road.
It Will Actually Be Good - Superhero movies may be a dime a dozen, and none will ever be as good as any film directed by Terence Malick, or the Coens or Andrew Dominik or any of the other amazing filmmakers you’ve worked with, but as Iron Man has shown, they can be decent. And Marvel Studios is the company that’s making the best effort to produce quality comic book adaptations. Supposedly Mark Protosevich (I Am Legend) has delivered a good script, and Avi Arad is probably going to hire someone respectable to take the helm now that Vaughn is gone (perhaps you could convince David Fincher!).
You’re the Best Person for the Job - Don’t pass up the chance just because you might believe Marvel has a long list of actors who’d be good for Thor. Yes, they could hire any number of buff blonds, but there is nobody with the combination of looks, talent, charisma, intelligence or star power that you have. And like Downey has done with Iron Man, you can bring some of yourself to the character in order to make it fit more perfectly.
 Originally posted on:SpoutBlog</spout:body></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Post: Jumper: World weary</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/blogs/usesoap/archive/2008/2/18/25291.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div><img align='left' src='http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/u47789bcxs5.jpg' hspace='10' style='height:80px;' />
<strong>Post By:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/members/113227/default.aspx'>usesoap</a><br/>
<strong>Post To:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/blogs/usesoap/default.aspx'>usesoap Blog</a><br/>
<strong>Post Date:</strong> 2/18/2008 8:00:17 PM<br/>
<strong>Body:</strong>  A great marketing tagline for &ldquo;Jumper&rdquo; could have been: Jumper: It&#39;s &ldquo;Highlander&rdquo; for the myspace generation! Both feature leaps through space (and logic), centuries-old rivalries, and an acting vacuum for a lead (Christopher Lambert in &#39;Highlander,&#39; Hayden Christensen in &#39;Jumper&#39;), and both are a laughable assault on the intellect (but &#39;Jumper&rdquo; lacks that groovin&#39; Queen soundtrack).  Jumper may also be notable for no other reason than Samuel L. Jackson managed to wear a more bizarre wig than his Gumby model he sported for &ldquo;Unbreakable&rdquo; a few years back. Frosted an unnatural shade of white, he resembles a pissed-off piece of Sno-Caps candy. Perhaps it was the chance to jet to exotic locales on the director&#39;s dime that enticed the actor to sign off on this mess, or maybe he was looking for a role that would allow him to slap former co-star Christensen around a bit in retribution for wrecking the last two &ldquo;Star Wars&rdquo; movies. Christensen plays David Rice (finally, a character with a last name to match his on-screen charisma!), a hedonistic, self-centered jerk who starts the on-screen narration by stating, &ldquo;Once I was a normal person &ndash; a chump just like you.&rdquo; Nothing like cuddling up to your audience right off the bat, David. David is a Jumper, a race long persecuted for their abilities by Christian zealots known as the Paladins, who feel only God should have the power to be everywhere at once (ironically, the Paladins still manage to stay in hot pursuit of the Jumpers, presumably without the use of teleportation). Their penalty for &ldquo;jumping?&rdquo; Death by stabbing. David makes his living &ldquo;jumping&rdquo; into banks, siphoning the cash and globe-trotting to catch some killer waves, bed exotic babes and rest atop the Sphinx, seemingly because it just looks cool on the movie poster.  He transports back to his hometown and hooks up with a high school crush (Rachel Bilson, a human Bratz doll), and tries to impress her by taking her around the globe. Her presence slows down his time-space hopscotch, leading him and her prone to a Paladine assault. Looking for more plot? Sorry, check the theater next door. There&#39;s no plans for global dominance, no natural catastrophe faced. It&#39;s essentially just a first date that goes south on a cosmic level. The fact that Christensen brings to the proceedings all the enthusiasm of a disturbed nap is really no surprise. What is surprising is that the entire endeavor is directed by a should-have-known-better Doug Liman (&ldquo;Swingers,&rdquo; &ldquo;Go,&rdquo; &ldquo;The Bourne Identity,&rdquo; &ldquo;Mr. and Mrs Smith&rdquo;). While adapting young-adult novels from author Steven Gould, Liman figures we do not care about any of particulars, like: what the hell are Jumpers? Paladines? What is the source behind their abilities, weaponry and their feud? What exactly is the past relationship between David and his absentee mommy (played by Diane Lane)? Why the hell should we care about the current relationship with his girlfriend? What is the rationale behind a fellow jumper&#39;s plot to take down the Paladines? Of all the scary government agencies Jackson&#39;s character could say he&#39;s employed by, why does he choose the IRS? Sadly, the list could continue for the rest of this column.  On the flip side, the lack of details means there are that many more minutes that we do not have to suffer through Christensen&#39;s constipated narration. Instead we get scene after scene of watching the &ldquo;jumping&rdquo; trick, which is only marginally impressive &ndash; and that margin diminishes with each additional leap. So does our tolerance and patience.<br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 19 Feb 2008 01:00:17 GMT</pubDate><spout:postby>usesoap</spout:postby><spout:postto>usesoap Blog</spout:postto><spout:postdate>2/18/2008 8:00:17 PM</spout:postdate><spout:body> A great marketing tagline for &amp;ldquo;Jumper&amp;rdquo; could have been: Jumper: It&amp;#39;s &amp;ldquo;Highlander&amp;rdquo; for the myspace generation! Both feature leaps through space (and logic), centuries-old rivalries, and an acting vacuum for a lead (Christopher Lambert in &amp;#39;Highlander,&amp;#39; Hayden Christensen in &amp;#39;Jumper&amp;#39;), and both are a laughable assault on the intellect (but &amp;#39;Jumper&amp;rdquo; lacks that groovin&amp;#39; Queen soundtrack).  Jumper may also be notable for no other reason than Samuel L. Jackson managed to wear a more bizarre wig than his Gumby model he sported for &amp;ldquo;Unbreakable&amp;rdquo; a few years back. Frosted an unnatural shade of white, he resembles a pissed-off piece of Sno-Caps candy. Perhaps it was the chance to jet to exotic locales on the director&amp;#39;s dime that enticed the actor to sign off on this mess, or maybe he was looking for a role that would allow him to slap former co-star Christensen around a bit in retribution for wrecking the last two &amp;ldquo;Star Wars&amp;rdquo; movies. Christensen plays David Rice (finally, a character with a last name to match his on-screen charisma!), a hedonistic, self-centered jerk who starts the on-screen narration by stating, &amp;ldquo;Once I was a normal person &amp;ndash; a chump just like you.&amp;rdquo; Nothing like cuddling up to your audience right off the bat, David. David is a Jumper, a race long persecuted for their abilities by Christian zealots known as the Paladins, who feel only God should have the power to be everywhere at once (ironically, the Paladins still manage to stay in hot pursuit of the Jumpers, presumably without the use of teleportation). Their penalty for &amp;ldquo;jumping?&amp;rdquo; Death by stabbing. David makes his living &amp;ldquo;jumping&amp;rdquo; into banks, siphoning the cash and globe-trotting to catch some killer waves, bed exotic babes and rest atop the Sphinx, seemingly because it just looks cool on the movie poster.  He transports back to his hometown and hooks up with a high school crush (Rachel Bilson, a human Bratz doll), and tries to impress her by taking her around the globe. Her presence slows down his time-space hopscotch, leading him and her prone to a Paladine assault. Looking for more plot? Sorry, check the theater next door. There&amp;#39;s no plans for global dominance, no natural catastrophe faced. It&amp;#39;s essentially just a first date that goes south on a cosmic level. The fact that Christensen brings to the proceedings all the enthusiasm of a disturbed nap is really no surprise. What is surprising is that the entire endeavor is directed by a should-have-known-better Doug Liman (&amp;ldquo;Swingers,&amp;rdquo; &amp;ldquo;Go,&amp;rdquo; &amp;ldquo;The Bourne Identity,&amp;rdquo; &amp;ldquo;Mr. and Mrs Smith&amp;rdquo;). While adapting young-adult novels from author Steven Gould, Liman figures we do not care about any of particulars, like: what the hell are Jumpers? Paladines? What is the source behind their abilities, weaponry and their feud? What exactly is the past relationship between David and his absentee mommy (played by Diane Lane)? Why the hell should we care about the current relationship with his girlfriend? What is the rationale behind a fellow jumper&amp;#39;s plot to take down the Paladines? Of all the scary government agencies Jackson&amp;#39;s character could say he&amp;#39;s employed by, why does he choose the IRS? Sadly, the list could continue for the rest of this column.  On the flip side, the lack of details means there are that many more minutes that we do not have to suffer through Christensen&amp;#39;s constipated narration. Instead we get scene after scene of watching the &amp;ldquo;jumping&amp;rdquo; trick, which is only marginally impressive &amp;ndash; and that margin diminishes with each additional leap. So does our tolerance and patience.</spout:body></item>
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      <title>Spout Post: Defending Doug Liman</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/blogs/spoutblog/archive/2008/2/14/25149.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div><img align='left' src='http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/u47789bcxs5.jpg' hspace='10' style='height:80px;' />
<strong>Post By:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/members/9325/default.aspx'>SpoutBlog</a><br/>
<strong>Post To:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/blogs/spoutblog/default.aspx'>SpoutBlog on spout.com</a><br/>
<strong>Post Date:</strong> 2/14/2008 4:00:29 PM<br/>
<strong>Body:</strong> I have been making the case for Doug Liman for years now. I’d even recently given up the claim that I completely despise Swingers (it’s mostly the neo-swing soundtrack I hate). I constantly argued that his The Bourne Identity was better than Greengrass’ The Bourne Supremacy — in the end Greengrass’ The Bourne Ultimatum turned out ultimately the best —  and still continue promoting the genius of Mr. and Mrs. Smith (I watched it with a newbie just the other night, and that person was convinced). But now, I am on the fence about Jumper, which I haven’t yet seen and which arrived in theaters today. I can’t decide whether to bother seeing it.
The movie certainly looks stupid. I’ll admit it. Yet this is where my Liman defending came about in the past year, especially recently, as its release got closer. Every time the trailer or TV ad came on the screen, someone would turn to me and say it looks really stupid. Or I would overhear a similar statement coming from the mouths of strangers. Oh, it has to be better than it looks, I would say. It’s Doug Liman, a great action director who tackles seemingly stupid movies. But now the reviews are out. It has an 18% critical rating on Rotten Tomatoes. I can’t find one trustworthy critic who offers good enough reason to see it.
 (more…) Originally posted on:SpoutBlog<br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 14 Feb 2008 21:00:29 GMT</pubDate><spout:postby>SpoutBlog</spout:postby><spout:postto>SpoutBlog on spout.com</spout:postto><spout:postdate>2/14/2008 4:00:29 PM</spout:postdate><spout:body>I have been making the case for Doug Liman for years now. I’d even recently given up the claim that I completely despise Swingers (it’s mostly the neo-swing soundtrack I hate). I constantly argued that his The Bourne Identity was better than Greengrass’ The Bourne Supremacy — in the end Greengrass’ The Bourne Ultimatum turned out ultimately the best —  and still continue promoting the genius of Mr. and Mrs. Smith (I watched it with a newbie just the other night, and that person was convinced). But now, I am on the fence about Jumper, which I haven’t yet seen and which arrived in theaters today. I can’t decide whether to bother seeing it.
The movie certainly looks stupid. I’ll admit it. Yet this is where my Liman defending came about in the past year, especially recently, as its release got closer. Every time the trailer or TV ad came on the screen, someone would turn to me and say it looks really stupid. Or I would overhear a similar statement coming from the mouths of strangers. Oh, it has to be better than it looks, I would say. It’s Doug Liman, a great action director who tackles seemingly stupid movies. But now the reviews are out. It has an 18% critical rating on Rotten Tomatoes. I can’t find one trustworthy critic who offers good enough reason to see it.
 (more…) Originally posted on:SpoutBlog</spout:body></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Post: Wish they were my neighbors!</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/blogs/kickstandsup/archive/2008/1/21/24184.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div><img align='left' src='http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/u47789bcxs5.jpg' hspace='10' style='height:80px;' />
<strong>Post By:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/members/109669/default.aspx'>kickstandsup</a><br/>
<strong>Post To:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/blogs/kickstandsup/default.aspx'>kickstandsup Blog</a><br/>
<strong>Post Date:</strong> 1/21/2008 11:38:30 PM<br/>
<strong>Body:</strong> I almost hate to admit this, but I honestly liked this movie. Lots of action, kind of fun twist along the way. Brad and Angelina do a great job. A decent story line, not bad acting, and was kind of fun.The ending is a little extreme, but you should know that going into watching the movie. Definitely recommend renting this one.<br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 22 Jan 2008 04:38:30 GMT</pubDate><spout:postby>kickstandsup</spout:postby><spout:postto>kickstandsup Blog</spout:postto><spout:postdate>1/21/2008 11:38:30 PM</spout:postdate><spout:body>I almost hate to admit this, but I honestly liked this movie. Lots of action, kind of fun twist along the way. Brad and Angelina do a great job. A decent story line, not bad acting, and was kind of fun.The ending is a little extreme, but you should know that going into watching the movie. Definitely recommend renting this one.</spout:body></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Post: &amp;quot;shoot to hell&amp;quot;</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/blogs/alienlazer/archive/2007/8/15/18180.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div><img align='left' src='http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/u47789bcxs5.jpg' hspace='10' style='height:80px;' />
<strong>Post By:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/members/19564/default.aspx'>AlienLazer</a><br/>
<strong>Post To:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/blogs/alienlazer/default.aspx'>AlienLazer Blog</a><br/>
<strong>Post Date:</strong> 8/15/2007 6:48:53 PM<br/>
<strong>Body:</strong> Best spy/agent/gun movie since True Lies with Schwarzenegger, and it&#39;s just as hot and sexy.  I loved the twists and turns that occured thoughtout this exciting movie.<br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 15 Aug 2007 22:48:53 GMT</pubDate><spout:postby>AlienLazer</spout:postby><spout:postto>AlienLazer Blog</spout:postto><spout:postdate>8/15/2007 6:48:53 PM</spout:postdate><spout:body>Best spy/agent/gun movie since True Lies with Schwarzenegger, and it&amp;#39;s just as hot and sexy.  I loved the twists and turns that occured thoughtout this exciting movie.</spout:body></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:love</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/love/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/love/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>love</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 12479</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 338</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 1481</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 23 Dec 2009 05:51:34 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>12479</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>338</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>1481</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:funny</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/funny/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/funny/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>funny</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 609</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 316</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 942</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 16 Dec 2009 21:10:58 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>609</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>316</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>942</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:Loved-It</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/Loved-It/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/Loved-It/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>Loved-It</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 509</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 179</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 921</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:56:35 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>509</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>179</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>921</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:fun</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/fun/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/fun/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>fun</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 459</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 142</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 296</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 15 Sep 2009 14:23:09 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>459</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>142</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>296</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:movie</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/movie/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/movie/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>movie</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 364</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 115</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 188</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 11 Dec 2009 21:57:46 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>364</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>115</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>188</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:action</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/action/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/action/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>action</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 319</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 111</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 460</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 15 Dec 2009 15:49:02 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>319</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>111</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>460</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:film</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/film/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/film/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>film</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 657</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 82</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 190</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 22 Sep 2009 20:35:41 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>657</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>82</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>190</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:sexy</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/sexy/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/sexy/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>sexy</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 117</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 82</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 157</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 20 Feb 2009 20:16:48 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>117</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>82</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>157</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:marriage</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/marriage/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/marriage/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>marriage</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 3471</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 67</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 267</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Sun, 29 Nov 2009 15:39:11 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>3471</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>67</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>267</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:suspense</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/suspense/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/suspense/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>suspense</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 129</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 66</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 189</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:28:43 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>129</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>66</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>189</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:betrayal</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/betrayal/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/betrayal/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>betrayal</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 1035</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 62</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 155</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Sun, 20 Dec 2009 18:42:32 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>1035</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>62</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>155</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:gay</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/gay/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/gay/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>gay</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 166</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 62</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 191</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 12 Nov 2009 01:49:41 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>166</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>62</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>191</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:deception</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/deception/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/deception/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>deception</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 1090</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 55</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 123</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:18:11 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>1090</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>55</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>123</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:spy</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/spy/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/spy/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>spy</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 366</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 46</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 97</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 20 Oct 2009 21:24:02 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>366</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>46</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>97</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:secrets</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/secrets/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/secrets/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>secrets</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 1384</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 43</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 100</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:32:11 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>1384</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>43</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>100</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
  </channel>
</rss>