“Film” on The Daily Caller

In 2008 David Koch, the well-known philanthropist and boogeyman on the left, donated $100 million to the New York City Opera. When I read that, I thought of an old friend of mine, Michael Rust. I worked with Michael at Insight magazine in the late 1990s. He died in 2002 at age 41. Michael was a brilliant and very funny man, and he and I once created, at least in our heads, an opera based on the rise of the conservative movement in the 20th century. We imagined the scenes showing the slow climb of the right (and yes, we saw the silly humor in the idea), culminating in a grand scene of William F. Buckley standing on top of a model of the National Review building in New York and driving all the anti-Semites and wackos out of the movement. The melodrama would be worthy of the melodrama of “Medea.” Then would come Reagan, played by Pavarotti. (more)

Actor Martin Sheen may be an advocate for any number of far-left causes, but he has become something rare in Hollywood (and outside of it as well): a man who is motivated by principle rather than expediency. He advocates for causes dear to the hearts of Tinseltown leftists: against the Iraq war, against fur, for mandated higher wages for workers and more government spending on drug addiction treatment. However, he also is unapologetically against abortion and euthanasia, positions that win him no love in the studio halls. In his personal life, he has been candid about his past struggles with alcoholism, his mental breakdowns, and his failures as a father. Yet, he and his clan quietly supported son Charlie Sheen through his erratic behavior earlier this year. (more)

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie may have waffled on whether he wanted to run for president, but on the subject of whether taxpayers should foot the bill for the MTV reality show “Jersey Shore,” Christie issued a resolute no. The governor vetoed the so-called “Snooki subsidy” last week. This is welcome news to any New Jersey taxpayer uncomfortable with the idea of financing a show that features stereotypical Italian-American characters engaging in embarrassing and idiotic behavior. (more)

“Sometimes on this voyage through life we need to sit on the deck and regard the waves,” Roger Ebert writes in his new memoir, “Life Itself.” In the book, Ebert documents the waves he has regarded throughout his life: his long career at The Chicago Sun-Times; his friendship with the late, great Gene Siskel; his marriage to the magnificently patient Chaz. All of these topics are covered in a book that lets viewers inside the life of one of America’s most prolific movie critics. (more)

Friends of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher are reportedly disgusted with the portrayal of the conservative icon in the upcoming biopic, “The Iron Lady,” starring Meryl Streep. (more)

The picture of Marilyn Monroe pushing down her dress as she stands over a New York City subway grate may be one of the most iconic images from American film history. Now, that famous dress has sold at auction for $4.6 million. (more)

During his travels in 1831, the French writer Alexis de Tocqueville observed that America was an exceptional nation with a special role to play in history. Tocqueville wrote that, unlike Europe, where social standing defined a citizen, America was a new republic where liberty, equality, individualism, and laissez-faire economics defined the “American creed.” (more)

“Atlas Shrugged: Part 1,” the film adaptation of Ayn Rand’s prescient, unabashedly pro-free market capitalism novel, hits theaters April 15. Its timing could not be better. (more)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The good news for Russell Brand is that his animated comedy “Hop” remains the top movie for the second-straight weekend with $21.7 million. (more)

Movies have the power to make us laugh, cry, get mad, feel inspired, identify with others, and cross cultural barriers. But while movies can provide an emotional escape, movies also have a power that goes far beyond simple entertainment; they have a significant social and cultural impact. (more)

Filming is taking place at Stone Street Studios, Wellington, and on location around New Zealand. (more)

With Charlie Sheen filling the role of Hollywood’s resident trainwreck, it may have seemed like the perfect time for Summit Entertainment to schedule a premiere for Mel Gibson’s latest film, which had been delayed due to Gibson’s relationship troubles. (more)

As of right now, 2011 will see the likes of 27 sequels. And who knows how many subsequent announcements there are to come. (more)

Former Calif. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s “Terminator” catchphrase, “I’ll be back” took another meaning Thursday when he announced via Twitter that he’s open to resurrecting his acting career, which he halted when he took office in 2003. (more)