Here's the truth about my job as a professional movie critic: It's the most fun I can have and still earn a living.
That simplifying things -- but not too much. I do genuinely love watching movies. Always have.
As a kid I usually responded to an announcement that we were going to the movies by throwing up. It was the pure rush of excitement and anticipation that did it.
I've grown out of he throwing up part, but I'm still excited by the prospect of a good movie.
Submitted by ~melanie~ from KCMO
Q: Hi Bob, Just saw Prairie Home Companion this evening. I have a couple dozen questions and comments for another time. My burning question is this: At the beginning of credits -- a big thank you to Paul Thomas Anderson. I assume it's THE Paul Thomas Anderson. Here's my question: do we know why, how he was involved? OK, 2 questions -- where's he been the last few years. I see he'll back with "There Will Be Blood." ~melanie~ kcmo
Answered 07/21/06 18:12:16 by Robert W. Butler
A: Because Robert Altman is 80 years old, the bonding company that insures his film productions requires that a competant director be on hand to step in and complete the film if Altman dies or is incapacitated. On this film Thomas Paul Anderson took that role...he was on the set every day and helped out as a sort of director's assistant...but of course he didn't need to take over because Altman came through with flying colors.Submitted by GVA from Prairie Village, KS
Q: A friend & I disagree on a character in "Saving Private Ryan". Is the German soldier that killed the American sharpshooter in the tower with a knife the same soldier that was taken prisoner & then released, only to be killed by the pacifist American GI at the end?
Answered 07/21/06 18:10:25 by Robert W. Butler
A: No. The German characters do look alike, but the insignia on the uniforms is different. One's a German, the other apparently is a Polish conscript recruited by the Nazis. AT least that's what I recall hearing shortly after the movie came out and people all were asking those questions.Submitted by Alex from Kansas City, MO
Q: How would one get in contact with or find out who are the owners of Globe Cinemas? There is nothing listed at www.globecinemas.com and the staff at Red Bridge theater doesn't seem to know either.
Answered 06/02/06 16:50:37 by Robert W. Butler
A: Try John Shipp at (818) 523-7851.He books films into the Red Bridge.Submitted by top gun fan from st joe mo
Q: Is Star light (I think that is where it was) have the outdoor movies this summer like Top gun and Grease like they did last year??
Answered 06/02/06 16:49:38 by Robert W. Butler
A: Not Starlight. Crown Center has free outdoor movies on Friday nights on the Square.Submitted by Julie from Leawood, KS
Q: Mr. Butler, I wish there was a better place to ask you this question. I've tried a few websites, but the answer is always the same. Do you know if the movie An Inconvenient Truth is going to be played in the KC area? Thanks.
Answered 06/02/06 16:49:10 by Robert W. Butler
A: An Inconvenient Truth opens June 16 at the Tivoli Theatre.Submitted by Lucas Slater from De Soto, Kansas
Q: I was wondering if you knew when/if the film "The Proposition" with Guy Pearce and written by Nick Cave was coming to KC.
Answered 06/02/06 16:48:40 by Robert W. Butler
A: It opened in KC TODAY (6-2) at the Studio in Olathe and the Palace on the Plaza.Submitted by Anonymous from Apple Valley, Ca.
Q: I am originally from K.C.K. and thought that was a great idea to refurbish the old Granada threare that I once attended every Saturday over 70 years ago. Do you think it wise to go Hispanic with all the problems that are coming up with the Hispanics?? It would be great to have those Saturday morning movies or cartoons for the kids again. What do you think?
Answered 05/11/06 20:11:34 by Robert W. Butler
A: I think going with Hispanic films is the ONLY way the theater will work. Middle-class suburbanites aren't about to go to downtown KCK to see a movie. This will be the only theater in the city catering to Spanish-speaking audiences. The Granada will have cornered the market.Submitted by Shana from Lenexa, Kansas
Q: I have been eagerly awaiting the release date of "The Notorious Bettie Page" for months now. I've been checking the paper for the last couple weeks about show times/reviews and to my dismay (but not surprise)...NOTHING. Do you have any idea when the Bettie fans in our dinky little town will have the pleasure of seeing this movie?
Answered 05/11/06 20:10:13 by Robert W. Butler
A: "Bettie" is now scheduled to open here May 19 at the Palace Theatre on the Plaza.Submitted by meri from Arlington,Tx
Q: Hi! my name is america, and I like you love to watch movies. Sometimes there are no movies left for me to watch at the cinema. I watch the really good ones twice sometimes. If I wanted to become a movie critic what would I have to do?
Answered 05/11/06 20:09:16 by Robert W. Butler
A: Sounds like you already are a movie critic. The short answer: Start writing reviews of every movie you see. Take a journalism class and work on the school paper. Ask to write movie reviews. If you're very, very lucky, you might actually find a newspaper, magazine or web site that needs a movie reviewer. And if you've been faithfully writing reviews, you'll have something to prove what you can do.Submitted by judy b from opks
Q: I finally saw "Pride & Prejudice" by buying the DVD.In the director's commentary, he referred to several CGI shots with which he was disappointed.They seemed to be outdoor shots or nature shots.What did he mean by "CGI"?Excellent movie,by the way.I agree with your four stars.
Answered 05/11/06 20:06:17 by Robert W. Butler
A: Virtually every movie today undergoes some form of post production CGI work. It may be adding extra bodies to a crowded street scene or sweetening a sunset so that it's particularly colorful. Nobody thinks of "P&P" as a special effects movie...but they're there.Submitted by Greg from North Kansas City, MO
Q: Why is there such a delay between the time we read about independent films featured a film festival, and the time we see it at our local theater? A good example is "C.S.A", which I have been hoping to see since I first read of it 2-3 years ago in your column. I would think that, if there is profit to be made, the industry would be quick to get films to market. How is it that modest budget films like Blair Witch Project and Napoleon Dynamite get into mainstream distribution?
Answered 02/28/06 19:36:02 by Robert W. Butler
A: It's all about money. Often a distributor will buy the rights to a film during the heat and excitement of a film festival, then decide in the cold light of reason that maybe this movie is going to be harder to sell than they thought. That's pretty much what happened to "CSA." Another scenario: Unlike a big studio release which will be released simultaneously on 2,000 screens, a little indy movie may exist in only four or five exhibition prints. Each theatrical print costs about $3,000 to produce, and little companies can't crank out thousands of them. So they make just a handful and slowly circulate them through the system of mom & pop movie theaters that typically show indy movies. It's frustrating because many a film fest hit never can be seen at the local theater. Thank heaven for home video.Submitted by Mark Larson from Topeka
Q: There have been several versions of Ursula K. LeGuinne's "Lathe of Heaven" produced. I remember one shown on public TV some years ago (produced by the BBC, I believe). Do you know of this and is it available on DVD? Thanks!
Answered 02/28/06 19:33:21 by Robert W. Butler
A: Yes. It came out on home video about two years ago.Submitted by Anonymous from Shawnee Mission, KS
Q: I noticed in Thursday's Preview edition, page 22, "Coming Soon" section, that the movie "Night Watch" was listed for March 3rd. Is this the same as the recently released Russian horror movie of the same title? And since you have listed it does that mean it is opening in KC? I am asking this because every web site about the film I go to, including the films home page, states that "Night Watch" is not opening in this area whenever I search for theatres or tickets by zip code with the widest possible distance range. Ever since this movie was released I have been tracking it on the web and would like to see it. Please let me know of any info you have regarding screenings of Russian horror film "Night Watch" in the KC area. Thanks
Answered 02/28/06 19:31:12 by Robert W. Butler
A: "Night Watch" opens this Friday at both the Tivoli and the AMC Olathe 30.Submitted by albert from kck
Q: how does (ars gratia artis) above the mgm lion translate. I assume its latin
Answered 02/28/06 19:30:33 by Robert W. Butler
A: It means "Art for art's sake." Quite possibly the most hypocritical corporate motto in recorded history.Submitted by pksteelfurniture.com from kansas city,mo
Q: Block Party, directed by Michael Gondry, has a release date of March 3. Do you think it will be shown at any theaters in town? Dave Chapelle, as you may know, came up with the idea for the documentary if you could call it that. Also, what is your opinion of Buffallo 66, directed by Vincent Gallo. It happens to be my favorite movie. I just wanted your opinion. Thanks
Answered 02/28/06 19:25:31 by Robert W. Butler
A: "Block Party" opens this weekend at just about every megaplex in town.Submitted by Jim from Lenexa, KS
Q: Hi Mr. Butler, I seem to recall that you used to list the top 5 or so movies that were out on DVD. Was that the case? If so, I haven't seen that in the paper lately and wondered if you still did that. Sometimes you'll recommend a great movie when it comes out, then (especially when it's not one of the 'big name' flicks) it's hard to remember to look for it at the video store months later.
Answered 02/09/06 19:41:54 by Robert W. Butler
A: Every Friday in the FYI section I have a list of my picks of the Top Five Movies now playing in theaters. But I haven't done that with Video. It's a logistical problem...any given week there are dozens of new videos coming out. I can't begin to make a dent in them.Submitted by Vincent P. Bommarito from Merriam, Kansas
Q: I'm looking for the title to a movie. I believe part of it was filmed around the KC area. Anyway, it's a western, maybe near the civil war. You gave it a nice review, as I recall. I thought the director was Robt Altman but I can't find anything there. Maybe the word 'devil' was in the title. Anyway, I throughly enjoy your work and it's great that you guys are so accessible. Thanks for the assist..... Vince B.
Answered 01/13/06 17:59:43 by Robert W. Butler
A: Ride with the Devil. Directed by Ang Lee.Submitted by Movie Loving Lenexan from Lenexa, KS
Q: I have seen you attend several preview showings and I notice that you are always seem to be the last one in and, apparently, on of the first to leave, as, by the time I turn around to check your expression, you are gone. You never seem to watch the credits, so you miss many nuggets that are occasionally contained in them or after them. I remember a late 70's movie entitled "Sex and Violence" that had a nasty ending. After the credits were rolling, it stopped and asked, "But what if it didn't happen that way but like this?" and it continued on for five more minutes, afterwhich, it offered yet another alternate ending, which was much more satisfying. I would consider the movie to encompass ALL of its reels, not just those before the first credits roll. Care, or dare, to comment?
Answered 01/13/06 17:57:38 by Robert W. Butler
A: You're right. I don't usually stick around for the closing credits. On occasion, I will miss some nugget tucked in there by a playful filmmaker. I can live with that. Of course if a movie really blows me away, I stay in my seat because I don't want to ruin the movie's lingering mood.Submitted by cj from overland park ks
Q: I saw the movie "A Box of Moonlight" on the IFC channel a few months ago. Do you know if it is or will be available on DVD? thanks
Answered 01/13/06 17:55:41 by Robert W. Butler
A: Yes. It's available on DVD and VHS. Amazon.com offers it, and just about any video store can order it for you.Submitted by Clif Hostetler from Kansas City, KS
Q: Will the movie "Pearl Diver" be shown by a theater in the KC area? "Pearl Diver" was recognized earlier at the Woods Hole Film Festival -- http://tinyurl.com/adu5c -- and is now among the "dramatic feature" winners at the Heartland Film Festival in Indianapolis. -- http://tinyurl.com/aw4vp --
Answered 01/13/06 17:54:40 by Robert W. Butler
A: Sorry, no word on Pearl Diver playing here. It was a 2004 film, and I'd bet that since it hasn't played here in all that time, it probably won't. On the other hand, it's never come out on video, so possibly the distributor is going to attempt a second run at theaters.