Superbowl ads are nearly as hyped the game itself. Recently, Walletpop reported that despite the “willingness to pander to the lowest common denominator” that characterizes Superbowl ads, Ashley Madison, a dating site for married people seeking affairs, was barred from advertising. This got me thinking, what else would the Superbowl nix?

Product placement is one of the more creative and insidious types of advertising. Sometimes paid for, sometimes not, often semi-secret, it has a long if not proud history. Here are 10 examples of movie product placement with questionable if not controversial messages. Don’t expect to see any of these during the Superbowl…

10. Bride Wars & Vera Wang

This surprising box office success (at least, surprising to me) features Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson as competitive brides. Here’s the trailer:

Why not: Forget family values. Marriage is for psychos. And if you’re already raving and maybe frothing at the mouth… a Vera Wang wedding dress is the perfect fit.

9. Empire of the Sun & Hershey’s Chocolate

As the movie takes place in a World War 2 internment camp in China, the scope for product placement is limited – but Steven Spielberg wasn’t discouraged. Here’s the trailer, including a Hershey’s handoff at 1:11.

Why not: After witnessing death and destruction, Hershey’s chocolate won’t be enough to cheer you up even if you’ve gone hungry for a long time.

8. Breakfast at Tiffany’s & Tiffany

The glamorous name of Tiffany lives on in this Audrey Hepburn classic - though in a rather misleading way if you don’t pay attention during the movie. Here’s the trailer:

Why not: Come to Tiffany and eat… nothing. It’s not false advertising, it’s a movie.

7. Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle & White Castle burgers

The writers of Harold & Kumar originally wanted to use Krispy Kremes, but the company balked. White Castle agreed, though they didn’t pay for the placement. Here’s the last scene in the restaurant:

Why not: Contribute to America’s fast-food-induced obesity epidemic and smoke some pot while you’re at it. White Castle supports you!

6. The Devil Wears Prada & Prada

As the high fashion world is the entire point of the movie (and the novel that preceded it), it can be considered an extended product ad for Prada, Chanel, etc. Here’s the trailer:

Why not: Wear Prada: Lose your boyfriend, your sanity and your soul while slaving away for a mean, heartless boss! At least you’ll also lose weight.

6. James Bond: Licence to Kill & Lark cigarettes

Bond films are product-placement classic. According to Wikipedia, Lark paid for placement in this one – not realizing that the Surgeon General’s Warning would roll in the end credits. Later releases for video and TV replaced the Lark pack with a generic one.

Why not: Be just like 007, die of lung cancer!

4. Little Miss Sunshine & Volkswagen

2006’s indie favorite features a family road trip in a Volkwagen bus. Here’s the trailer:

Why not: Volkwagen’s the perfect size for a family - with plenty of room for Grandpa’s corpse in back.

3. Jerry Maguire & Reebok

Reebok provided more than $1.5 million in ads and promo materials, thinking the movie would have a more flattering ending. They sued and TriStar pictures settled out-of-court for an undisclosed amount. Here’s Marcee Tidwell (Regina King) on the big four: “shoe, car, clothing line, soft drink”:

Why not: Buy Reebok, the shoes that will crush any hero’s dreams!

2. Fight Club & Ikea

Given the anger at consumer culture that characterizes Fight Club, it’s no surprise that the concept of product placement is turned on its head.

Why not: Surround yourself with Ikea, the soulless modern brand that inspires extreme violence.

1. Juno & Sunny D

Juno has a bunch of product placement, including orange Tic-Tacs, Sunny D, Converse sneakers and Coca-Cola. Here’s the Sunny D opening scene:

Why not: Sunny D, the best pre-pregnancy-test drink for sexually active teenagers!

For real examples of Superbowl ads gone wrong, check out The 7 Most Awful Superbowl Ads Ever on Blog of Hilarity. Or check Techcrunch’s pick of best 2009 Super Bowl ads.

Got another example? Please add it below!

Technorati Tags: Superbowl, product placement, Superbowl ads, Superbowl commercials, Movie Genome, movies, film

Popularity: 5% [?]

With the Oscar nominations announced, it’s time to review the main categories. To predict the winners, to vent my frustrations about those who shouldn’t have been left out and those who didn’t deserve their nominations – and to develop a few theories along the way.

10. Best Animated Feature

Bolt
Kung Fu Panda
WALL-E

The Winner: WALL-E
My Favorite: WALL-E
Worst Snub: Waltz with Bashir (Vals Im Bashir)

In the easiest category to predict, WALL-E is the definite winner. Bolt and Kung Fu Panda are sweet, funny, family movies. WALL-E, from the talented Pixar bunch, is visually stunning and deals with serious subjects like environmentalism.

Prize-Fixing: What I find puzzling is why Waltz with Bashir was omitted from this category and nominated only under the Foreign Film. Do the people calling the shots at the Oscars really think that Kung Fu Panda and Bolt are better movies? Or maybe they think both WALL-E and Bashir deserve an Oscar, so they didn’t put them in the same category. It’s never too soon to throw in a conspiracy theory…

9. Best Foreign Language

Der Baader Meinhof Komplex (Germany)
The Class (France)
Departures (Japan)
Revanche (Austria)
Waltz with Bashir (Israel)

The Winner: Waltz with Bashir
My Favorite: Waltz with Bashir
Worst Snub: Gomorra

Gomorra – a gritty depiction of modern day Italian crime families – is a surprising omission, considering its sweeping win of the European Film Awards and the Director prize at Cannes.
Waltz with Bashir is an animated documentary about war crimes (an original premise, you have to admit.) With an impressive stack of prizes already, including the Golden Globe, this critically acclaimed and thought-provoking film is most likely to win.

History Reversed: Last year an Austrian film (The Counterfeiters) took home the Oscar and left an Israeli anti-war film (Beaufort) empty-handed. This time it will probably be the other way around, with the Austrian film complimented and the Israeli film awarded.

8. Best Supporting Actress

Amy Adams - Doubt
Penelope Cruz - Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Viola Davis - Doubt
Taraji P. Henson - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Marisa Tomei - The Wrestler

The Winner: Amy Adams
My Favorite: Marisa Tomei and Amy Adams
Worst Snub: Debra Winger (Rachel Getting Married)

Ulterior Motive: Viola Davis and Taraji P. Henson had such small roles that I’m surprised they were even nominated. Marisa Tomei is mostly naked in most of her screen-time in The Wrestler. She’s very sexy - but I’m sure the guys at the Academy nominated her because of the way she said her (very few) lines…

That leaves us with Penelope Cruz and Amy Adams. I think Adams gave the better performance. Her filmography includes mostly light comedies like Enchanted, Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny and Talladega Nights. In Doubt she displayed her – impressive - dramatic skills.

Debra Winger, the 80s’ unfulfilled promise (Urban Cowboy, An Officer and a Gentleman, Terms of Endearment), and, believe it or not, one of the voices of E.T., made a welcome, highly acclaimed return to the big screen in Rachel Getting Married. This talented actress who we don’t see enough was at least worthy of a nomination.

7. Best Supporting Actor

Josh Brolin - Milk
Robert Downey Jr. - Tropic Thunder
Philip Seymour Hoffman - Doubt
Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight
Michael Shannon - Revolutionary Road

The Winner: Heath Ledger
My Favorite: Robert Downey Jr
Worst Snub: Tom Cruise (Tropic Thunder)

History Repeats: Philip Seymour Hoffman was nominated last year but didn’t stand a chance against Javier Bardem’s convincing turn as the psychopathic serial killer in No Country For Old Men. This year Hoffman will lose again – to another actor who portrays a psychopath: Heath Ledger as The Joker. Needless to say, the fact that Ledger is dead improves his chances of winning.

If I was calling the shots, Robert Downey Jr. would get the Oscar. He was hilarious in Tropic Thunder as the method actor who is so devoted to his performance that he undergoes a skin color operation to be more convincing in his role as a black soldier.

Funny Bias: But the name I miss most in this category is Tom Cruise. Barely recognizable, his performance in Tropic Thunder was the wackiest and best of his career, with all due respect to Magnolia, Jerry Maguire, Rain Man and Born on the Fourth of July. But it’s unlikely the Academy will give a prize to actors participating in a silly (okay, very silly) comedy.

Behind the Hype: And here’s a chance to take a risk and say it out loud: Ledger’s Joker is not such an amazing performance, compared to Jack Nicholson’s in particular, or to Bardem’s if considering psychopaths at large. I would stop here and go hide from the fanboys, but I still have 6 categories left…

6. Best Original Screenplay

Andrew Stanton - WALL-E
Mike Leigh - Happy-Go-Lucky
Martin Mcdonagh - In Bruges
Dustin Lance Black - Milk
Courtney Hunt - Frozen River

The Winner: In Bruges
My Favorite: In Bruges
Worst Snub: Robert D. Siegel - The Wrestler

History Repeats: Milk, with its strong social themes (tragic biopic of the first gay elected public official) and brand names, seems likely to follow in the footsteps of Brokeback Mountain, another tragic, gay groundbreaking film. Even WALL-E is a possibility here. But because I love Martin Mcdonagh (writer and director of In Bruges)’s witty and hilarious dialogue, I’ll take a wild gamble on a surprise winner in this category.

The Upset: I won’t shed a tear, though, if the surprise would come from a different direction and the winner is Mike Leigh’s Happy-Go-Lucky, a fascinating character study. Sally Hawkins is excellent as Poppy, striking just the right chord of cheerful yet not shrill or obnoxious. The movie is whip-smart and full of surprises - just when you are certain the story is going in a certain direction, Leigh gently nudges you down a different path. And you are glad.

I think The Wrestler should have been honored here. The movie got to 52 on IMDb’s 250 greatest movies of all times and got an amazing 98% positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. Such a well-received movie should have been honored under one of the three major categories for movies: Best Picture, Screenplay or Direction.

5. Best Adapted Screenplay

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Doubt
Frost/Nixon
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire

The Winner: Slumdog Millionaire
My Favorite: Slumdog Millionaire
Worst Snub: The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

As far as I can tell, the moral lesson in The Reader goes something like this: illiteracy can turn you into a Nazi, so kids, when confronted with the dilemma of going to school or skipping and going to the beach, you better choose the first option or else…

Take Two: The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas succeeds where The Reader fails in creating an emotional Holocaust movie. It should have been nominated here instead of The Reader.

Doubt is a fair movie, which can be summed up by question: Did he sexually abuse a child or not? I’m quite sure he did, but there is a doubt…

Double Take: Frost/Nixon is great, but this year’s Oscars are all about Slumdog Millionaire vs. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. These two movies got most of the important nominations - which made me wonder, what do they have in common? Here are the answers from our Movie Genome:

Romance, hope, youth and coming of age, loss of parent, a journey. Both are touching and sentimental. Actually, they have even more in common then I originally thought. But the better script - and the much better movie - is Slumdog Millionaire.

4. Best Director

David Fincher - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Ron Howard - Frost/Nixon
Gus Van Sant - Milk
Stephen Daldry - The Reader
Danny Boyle - Slumdog Millionaire

The Winner: David Fincher
My Favorite: Danny Boyle
Worst Snub: Clint Eastwood (Gran Torino)

I was amazed to see that Clint Eastwood (for Gran Torino) and Christopher Nolan (for The Dark Knight) were missing from this list of nominations. Both movies got a great reception from audiences and critics alike, and yet the Academy ignored them for some reason.

Pity Prize: In the previous category Slumdog was the winner. Here the Academy will give the Oscar to David Fincher (for Benjamin Button). But it would be what I call a “Scorsese Oscar”: when Scorsese won the Oscar for The Departed, it wasn’t because it was the best movie, but because the Academy compensated him for not getting a well-deserved Best Director Oscar for Taxi Driver, Raging Bull or Goodfellas. Benjamin Button is definitely not Fincher’s best film, but because he deserved it for Fight Club, Se7en and even The Game, he’ll get it now.

Boyle might be the next one in line to get the “Scorsese Oscar,” after Trainspotting and now Slumdog Millionaire don’t win him the prize.

3. Best Actress

Anne Hathaway - Rachel Getting Married
Angelina Jolie - Changeling
Melissa Leo - Frozen River
Meryl Streep - Doubt
Kate Winslet - The Reader

The Winner: Meryl Streep
My Favorite: Meryl Streep
Worst Snub: Sally Hawkins (Happy-Go-Lucky)

Quoting Ricky Gervais at the Golden Globe Awards: “Well done Winslet. I told you, do a Holocaust movie and the awards will come, didn’t I?”

Serial Loser: I guess Gervais jinxed her. Poor Kate – after a double jeopardy in the Golden Globes for both The Reader (supporting) and Revolutionary Road (leading), I predict at the Oscars she’ll be only applauding. The Academy pulled a trick on her, nominating her only once, for The Reader - but strangely as leading actress. So now her challenge is even tougher, and this unlucky serial loser is going to be disappointed for the 6th time!

Serial Winner: Why a tougher challenge? Because even though she’s already won the golden statue twice, Meryl Streep will win for her amazing performance in Doubt as Sister Aloysius Beauvier, the tough, uncompromising principal who’s sure that the charismatic priest is also a child molester.

I don’t know if Sally Hawkins’ performance in Happy-Go-Lucky is Oscar worthy (it was Golden Globes worthy), but she definitely should have been nominated.

2. Best Actor

Richard Jenkins - The Visitor
Frank Langella - Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn - Milk
Brad Pitt - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler

The Winner: Frank Langella
My Favorite: Frank Langella
Worst Snub: Colin Farrell (In Bruges)

Richard Jenkins is the actor we all know, but we’re not sure from where. After a bit of head-scratching, Jenkins is fondly memorable as the dead father in Six Feet Under, and he recently appeared in Burn After Reading and Step Brothers. Hopefully after the nomination for The Visitor, we won’t forget him no more. But he’ll have to settle for the nomination as the Oscar will go elsewhere.

Trivia Record: Brad Pitt shouldn’t have been nominated here. Greg Cannom, his makeup artist, should have. Oh well, Cannom is nominated under the makeup category and that’s more than enough. Maybe the Academy wanted to set a trivia record of hubbie and wife both nominated as leading actors in the same year, as neither Jolie nor Pitt gave great performances (to put it mildly…).

Ham Award: Sean Penn usually gets nominated for an Oscar when he overacts: he was nominated for I am Sam and for Sweet and Lowdown. Now he’s nominated for overacting in Milk. I don’t really like those movies of his where he goes over the top, it’s quite annoying.

The Wrestler is Darren Aronofsky’s bleakest movie, and we’re talking about the guy responsible for Requiem for a Dream. Some say no one could have played the role of the wrestler except Mickey Rourke, and I tend to agree. Rourke was great in Sin City in 2005, then he made some bad movie choices (what’s new…?), and now he’s back with an unforgettable performance.

History Repeats: The only one who can prevent Mickey Rourke from getting the Oscar is Frank Langella with his portrayal of Richard Nixon. When people say Nixon, I think first of Frank Langella and only then of Richard Nixon - he’s that good! I place my bet on him. Poor Sean Penn has already been hurt cinematically by Nixon in The Assassination of Richard Nixon.

In a better world, Colin Farrell would have been nominated instead of Brad Pitt. Farrell used the great script by Martin McDonagh to give his best acting performance to date; it got him the Golden Globe but not even an Oscar nomination.

1. Best Picture

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
Milk
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire

The Winner: Slumdog Millionaire
My Favorite: Slumdog Millionaire
Worst Snub: Gran Torino

Disappearing Acts: Let’s start with the absences. Justifiably absent is the disappointing Revolutionary Road, despite (or maybe because of) its big names (Did I say Winslet is jinxed?). Surprisingly absent is the most successful, acclaimed and talked-about film of the year, The Dark Knight. And to my disappointment, unjustifiably absent is Gran Torino. I think these two are much better candidates than The Reader, Milk and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

When the people who made The Reader met, I guess it went something like this: let’s take Bernhard Schlink’s book and make an updated version of The Graduate, with a twist. More sexual and daring than The Graduate, with the twist that this movie’s Mrs.Robinson will turn out to be a former Nazi. The first part of the movie is very sexual and daring, yes, even more than The Graduate. But the second part (the Nazi part) doesn’t work at all. Are we really supposed to feel sorry for her?

History Rewritten: Here’s a good place to stop and ask: Hey, what’s with the Good Nazi movement going on at the moment? Did all the studio heads secretly met and decided to produce movies with Good Nazis (The Reader, Valkyrie and The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas), because there were no more good survivor stories?

One-on-One: Let’s get back to our main issue. Although Frost/Nixon is a bit slow, it’s a brilliant psychological movie about a man’s downfall, and well worth watching even if you’re not big on history lessons. As I said, the movie’s leading actor Frank Langella will win the Oscar. The movie itself, though, won’t: Frost/Nixon, Milk and The Reader all know that the real fight is between Slumdog Millionaire and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

As you may have noticed by now, I was disappointed by Benjamin Button. I think it’s a lesser version of Forrest Gump, or in other words, Forrest Gump sans humor (except for the guy who constantly gets hit by lightening – and no, it’s not Kenny…). The parts in which we see the dying Daisy (Cate Blanchett) mumbling in the hospital are difficult to understand (well, she is mumbling) and annoying. When you start watching the movie, you know how it’s going to end, and yet when you see Daisy holding baby Benjamin (Pitt), it just doesn’t feel right…

Birth of a Classic: Slumdog Millionaire is my favorite in this category. It’s a movie that’s almost impossible to hate (unless you’re a pompous critic). I dare suggest that maybe Slumdog is the new Shawshank Redemption: everybody likes it. With an emotional love story, a young orphan hero who grew up in terrible poverty and the whole underdog, against-the-odds, rags-to-riches themes, it’s just an irresistibly amazing combination of Rocky, City of God and Oliver Twist.

And the Oscar goes to…?

Technorati Tags: Oscars, Academy Awards, Slumdog Millionaire, Angelina Jolie, Mickey Rourke, Oscar snubs, Oscar winners

Popularity: 8% [?]

One of our goals at Jinni is to help people discover less well-known yet high quality films or TV series that fit their personal tastes. This is especially relevant for indie and foreign titles.

Exactly 150 years ago, on January 24 1859, Moldavia and Wallachia were united in the first step to modern Romania. In honor of this historic occasion, here’s a look at the revival of Romanian cinema.

For many years, Romanian cinema was not considered among Europe’s finest. France, Germany, Italy, Poland and Hungary led both artistic and technical achievements. But after the fall of communism, Romanian cinema slowly grew. In the last few years, it’s gone from one success to another – so that it could now be described as a rising star of European cinema.

Here is an overview of some of the most acclaimed and successful contemporary Romanian films, all great introductions to the region’s cinema.

5. The Death of Mr. Lazarescu (2005)

This medical drama follows the title character as he waits for attention in a rundown hospital emergency ward – and unwittingly begins a nightmarish journey of horrendous mistreatment at the hands of the hospital staff. This bleak film is not easy to watch. Some say (and I agree) that it brings to mind Lars Von Triers‘ The Kingdom, though more realistic and less hallucinatory. The movie won numerous awards in films festivals, including Un Certain Regard award in 2005 Cannes Film Festival. To this day it is the most awarded Romanian film of all time.

4. 12:08 East of Bucharest (2006)

Set 16 years after the Revolution that brought Communist rule to an end in 1989, this Romanian satire centers around a local television station that invites several residents to share their memories. As several eccentric individuals share their stories, they must answer questions from viewers who doubt those events ever took place. This media satire has a dry wit that makes it fun to watch – while the skeptical take on historical memories adds a sad overtone to the comedy. Surprisingly, this is director Corneliu Porumboiu’s first feature film. The achievement was great enough to earn him The Golden Camera – the Cannes Film Festival award for best first film – and to garner an impressive 95% good reviews on Rotten Tomatoes.

3. The Way I Spent the End of the World (2006)

Set in Bucharest during the final year of Ceausescu’s dictatorship, this lighthearted, bittersweet drama offers a warm look at the life of one family in Romania. Teenage Eva accidentally breaks a bust of Ceausescu at school. For her crime against the nation, she is sent away to a technical school where she and a boy named Andrei plan to escape Romania for good. Meanwhile, Eva’s seven-year-old brother, Lalalilu, decides that his sister’s exile is all Ceausescu’s fault. With the help of some school buddies, he sets out to assassinate the dictator. Actress Doroteea Petre charmed the Cannes audience in her role as Eva and won the Un Certain Regard award. Like 12:08 East of Bucharest, this is director Catalin Mitulescu’s first feature film. It is hard to believe, as the film is “an astonishingly accomplished piece of filmmaking” (Cinematical). It is undoubtedly one sign of the blossoming of Romanian cinema.

2. California Dreamin’ (2007)

This based-on-a-true-story political satire is set against the backdrop of the war in Kosovo. A NATO train equipped with military supplies and weapons is passing through Romanian territory. Since the train has no official documents and received only verbal permission from the Romanian authorities, it is stopped in the middle of nowhere by the corrupt head of a railway station, who aims to manipulate the situation to his benefit. Like its predecessors, this movie also won the Un Certain Regard award in the Cannes Film Festival 2007 - the third year in a row of Cannes winnings for Romania, an undreamt-of achievement just few years earlier.

The young director Cristian Nemescu had shifted successfully from directing many award-winning shorts to full length films. Tragically, he was killed in a car accident during post-production - a big loss for the Romanian film industry.

1. 4 Months, 3 Weeks & 2 Days (2007)

This is the film which firmly established Romania as a major force in early 21st-century world cinema. Winner of the Palme d’Or at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival, Cristian Mungiu’s excruciatingly intense, realistic and minimalistic drama is set in Bucharest in the mid-1980s, when dictator Nicolae Ceausescu still held power. In this masterful, gut-wrenching depiction of personal trauma and decaying society, a young college student, Gabita (Laura Vasiliu) finds herself in big trouble when she discovers that she’s been pregnant - for quite a while, hence the film’s title. With abortion illegal, she turns to her roommate, Otilia (Anamaria Marinca), for help. On the day the film takes place, the pair connects with a black market doctor, Bebe (Vlad Ivanov), to abort Gabita’s pregnancy. But of course, it isn’t that simple. The resulting 24 hours is a harrowing descent into a world in which the possibility of tragedy lurks around every corner. Excellent reception worldwide and 97% positive reviews at Rotten Tomatoes got this film onto many lists as one of the best of 2007 / 2008.

What interests Romanian filmmakers in the 21st century? No romantic comedies, epic fantasies or costume dramas on this list… The main theme that intrigues Romanian filmmaker today, almost 20 years after the fall of the iron curtain, is still Communism, life under it and the marks it left on society. The films described here, even the comic ones, deal with “heavy” issues and have serious, sad tones.

It’s well-known that after major political changes, cinema tends to be realistic and gritty: Italian Neo-Realism after World War II, the French New Wave that followed it, the few Iranian Films made soon after the Islamic Revolution, Israeli films from the 70s and 80s…

In light of these cinematic waves and the recent Romanian successes, there is a good chance that Romania will continue to give us contemporary cinematic masterpieces.

Seen some other hidden cinematic pearls from around the globe? Do share!

Search on Jinni for -
Foreign * Romania * Communism * contemporary * 80s * bleak * sincere * doctors and patients * Cannes winner * revolution * dictatorship * TV show * sibling relations

Technorati Tags: cinema, movies, Romania, communism, foreign film

Popularity: 4% [?]

Julius Solaris is a Social Media and Social Networks expert. He blogs at www.juliussolaris.com

Quentin Tarantino is my favourite social topic.

I can see if there is a true match with my interlocutor just by the degree of his/her knowledge of QT movies.

The same applies to Social Media on a professional level. twitter, Wordpress, Facebook, Linkedin absorb most of my day.

In a logical sequence of arguments, let me show you how Quentin Tarantino and Social Media were made for one another.

10. Quentin loves conversations

I see the “Madonna Speech” (Warning: strong language) from Reservoir Dogs as a front page article on Digg.

Interpretation of popular themes in a conversational format, yummy!

Tarantino displays great knowledge on how to start and develop conversations and this is what it is all about.

9. Quentin is viral

The upcoming Inglourious Basterds has already captured a great deal of attention from social media.

You can find pics and videos all over the place such as “How to properly spit coffee.”

8. Quentin is pop

Social media are a good match for widely understandable topics.

Tarantino obviously knows that.

7. Quentin knows the importance of links

A sound linking strategy is a must for Search Engine Optimization as well as to develop relationships.

The work of Tarantino is a deep mix of references to other works. He displays his immense movie culture knowledge and transmits it to a younger audience in a cool fashion.

Now I am sure the setting and track suit should ring a bell.

6. Quentin likes visual impact

Clutter is a huge problem with whatever you display online. Having a neat design helps bring the content to fruition.

The astonishing photography of Kill Bill displayed how Tarantino cares about his design.

5. Quentin embraces different forms of media

Blogging is just a part of it. Audio and especially video are now a requirement for rich Social Media content.

Tarantino understood that movies are not only about humans and astonished his audience with this incredible cartoon (Warning: strong images).

4. Quentin found his niche

Finding your relevant audience is the most important step of a sound Social Media strategy.

Your niche may not need what the masses want.

By getting rid of skinny actresses in the super sexy dance of Death Proof, Tarantino makes a strong statement.

3. Quentin knows about affiliate programs

Referrals and affiliates are a key part of being successful online. Sometimes it is wise to have different blogs or guest post somewhere else.

Tarantino understood this well and launched a “Presented by Quentin Tarantino” series of movies, the most famous being Hostel or Sin City.

2. Quentin knows that personality goes a long way

What bothers me most about traditional media is the dull, standardized tone and manner.

Social media are funky and intimate. Great content often means great personality.

Tarantino obviously knows that.

1. Quentin know how to write catchy titles

Capturing attention is key.

Here is a great example: “I don’t tip” (Warning: strong language)

Technorati Tags: Tarantino, Social Media, Movies, Film

Popularity: 4% [?]

Barack Obama rode the inaugural train to Washington DC to be sworn in on January 20th - the first black President. To celebrate this first for the U.S., here are 10 other firsts for heads of state. Some are real-life firsts, some are fictions that I hope will come true - and I learned about them all from movies and TV.

First U.S President

George Washington in John Adams
This multi-award winning miniseries starring Paul Giamatti as President John Adams, Laura Linney as his wife Abigail Adams, and David Morse as President George Washington, covers the nation’s first 50 years in seven episodes. It’s a story of tragedy, love, war, friendship, freedom, liberty, and a uniquely American life. And it teaches us an important lesson, well put by Giamatti in his winning speech: “I’m living proof, kids at home watching, that anyone can play the President!”

First actor to become President

Ronald Reagan in Back to the Future
One of the funniest moments in Back to the Future goes like this:
Doc: “Then tell me, “Future Boy,” who’s President of the United States in 1985?”
Marty: “Ronald Reagan.”
Doc: “Ronald Reagan? The actor?!” Laughs and continues, “Then who’s VICE-President? Jerry Lewis??”

Yes, in the pre-reality-TV era, when being a celebrity wasn’t a job qualification, who would have thought that an actor could become President? Ronald Reagan did, two times in a row. A few of his most memorable films are Storm Warning, Bedtime For Bonzo, The Winning Team and his last film The Killers – based on a short story by Ernest Hemingway, in which he co-starred alongside Lee Marvin and John Cassavetes. Better actor or President? Depends on your political leanings. When Schwarzenegger said “I’ll be back,” did he have Reagan in mind…?

First assassination of a President

Abraham Lincoln in The Birth of a Nation
Abraham Lincoln was the first President of the U.S to be assassinated (unfortunately he wasn’t the last). In the movie, large-scale battle sequences and meticulous historical details culminate in a recreation of Lincoln’s assassination.

While The Birth of a Nation was a major step forward in the history of filmmaking, it must be noted that the film supports a racist worldview. But there is no denying that it remains a groundbreaking achievement, setting a high mark for film as an art form.

First President to resign

Frost/Nixon
Nixon saw the Vietnam War to an end. He also sets the record as the longest serving individual to have held the two highest executive posts in the U.S.  Ironically, he also holds the record of the only U.S. President to ever resign from office, due to the Watergate scandal.

Not exactly inspiring, but still - he’s been depicted in quite a few films dealing with the scandal, the man, or the era: the most memorable being All the President’s Men and Oliver Stone’s Nixon, in which he was portrayed by the famous cannibal Anthony Hopkins.

Ron Howard’s Frost/Nixon is the lastest entry in the Nixon filmography and is yet another of his movies that might pick up an Oscar or two. Although a bit slow, it’s a brilliant psychological movie about a man’s downfall, and well worth watching even if you’re not big on history lessons. Frank Langella’s portrayal of Nixon is nothing less than amazing and he might give a good fight to Sean Penn in the best actor category (funny, considering Penn has already been hurt cinematically by Nixon in The Assassination of Richard Nixon).

First (and hopefully last) President with a below-average I.Q.

W.
Many agree that George W. Bush is, was and will be the dumbest President of the U.S. ever. There’s no PC way to say it, especially when Michael Moore has bluntly (and manipulatively) argued it before, in his disturbing Fahrenheit 9/11. Nevertheless, Bush had two terms in office – what does that say…?

Oliver Stone, who likes confronting controversy in American society, history and presidency (JFK, Nixon, Platoon, Born on the 4th of July) contributed his own take on Bush in the intriguing yet financially and critically disappointing W. One can’t help thinking that this was Stone’s way of contributing to Obama’s campaign; otherwise he might not have rushed its release.

First honest (and rapping) President

Bulworth
This one is - unfortunately - still just fiction.

This surprisingly entertaining political comedy features a funny, magnetic Warren Beatty as disillusioned politician Bulworth. He’s arranged his own assassination but decides he wants to live after all – and so he begins to tell the complete truth at all times, not worrying about the repercussions. Oh yes, and he starts rapping….

I don’t know about Obama’s rapping skills, but I do hope he will deliver on his promise for a different politics – and telling the truth could be a good start.

First President of the galaxy

Zaphod Beeblebrox in Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
Based on the five-book series by Douglas Adams, this is a funny, wacky and highly creative ride through a bizarre universe. Martin Freeman stars as Arthur Dent, a British everyman suddenly thrust into intergalactic intrigue when the earth is destroyed by the Vogons to make room for an interspatial highway. Arthur travels the skyways with good friend Ford Prefect (Mos Def), an alien writer for an electronic encyclopedia called The Hitchhiker’s Guide to The Galaxy. Things get downright dangerous - and hysterical - when Arthur and Ford thumb a ride with the President of the universe, two-headed Zaphod Beeblebrox (a wild and crazy Sam Rockwell).

Why does two-headed president sound like a familiar concept, though not too successful thus far?

First Queen Elizabeth

Elizabeth
Trivia: the first Queen Elizabeth was crowned on January 15th 1559, 450 years (and six days) before Barack Obama.

This movie tells the story of Queen Elizabeth I from her early days as an innocent young woman, to her coronation, to the forming of her reputation as England’s stern “Virgin Queen.” Elizabeth is a lush portrait of history, full of pomp, intrigue, and romance, with colorful direction, and mostly anchored by Kate Blanchett’s award-winning performance.

So if Queens could rule so many years ago, why is it taking the U.S. more than 200 years to come up with a female president…?

First female President

Commander In Chief
Starring Geena Davis as the President, Commander In Chief was the first TV show or movie with a female U.S President. Few female presidents exist in fiction. Prison Break suggested one too, but there she started as vice president conspiring for the presidency and it was a rather minor role. Maybe if more filmmakers dared to make their presidents female, there’d be one in real life sooner. For now, it remains to be seen if the new female president on 24’s 7th season will contribute to realizing the idea, just as the show arguably contributed to the idea of a black president (in one of 2008 pre-election surveys, David Palmer was voted the most popular black presidential character).

First black President

The Man
After a series of coincidences, including the death of the President and the refusal of the Vice President to take over due to poor health, Senator Douglas Dilman (James Earl Jones) becomes the first black (cinematic) President. After this movie came Deep Impact, 24, Head of State and Idiocracy, all movies in which the President of the U.S. was black. Maybe those movies and shows made a small contribution to the public’s readiness for a black President… In any case, I would like to believe that popular art can foresee - and make - change!

Good luck Barack! Techcrunch has a nice list of resources for watching the inauguration here.

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