Karina on SpoutBlog

Under discussion:

Bruno  (2009)

It looks like the pre-election battle over California’s Propositon 8 (which would render gay marriages illegal in the state) could provide the backdrop to a scene in Bruno, Sacha Baron Cohen’s upcoming Borat follow-up. Cohen Boratshowed up at a Yes on 8 rally this weekend in character as Bruno, the gay Austrian fashion designer, and apparently initally blended into the crowd — camera crew and all — but was eventually recognized, at which point he fled the scene. The write-ups I’ve read don’t indicate that Bruno was doing/saying anything controversial or even contrary to the anti-gay marriage message of the rally, so one wonders what he was saying/doing. Can anyone make sense of that sign he’s holding above?

Under discussion:

Zack & Miri Make a Porno  (2008)

• With Halloween dragging the weekend box office down by over thirty percent, High School Musical 3 took the top spot with just $15 million. The Weinstein Company says Zack and Miri Make a Porno came in second with $10.7 million, but rival studios say that projection may be inflated.
• Meanwhile, Europeans really like James Bond.
• MSNBC Films has picked up Witch Hunt. The documentary, which premiered at Toronto and is narrated by Sean Penn, willhave an Oscar qualifying run and then air on TV next year.
• Variety has picked up the “Joaquin Phoenix is quitting movies” story. They’re running an AP item which says the actor, who showed up to Saturday’s Two Lovers premiere at AFI with the phrase “good bye” written on his knuckles, confirmed to reporters that he’s leaving the business to “focus on music,” and promised, “I will emotionally impact you with that, as well.”