Australian Penthouse

Director: Jay Roach
Stars: Steve Carell, Paul Rudd, Zach Galifianakis, Jemaine Clement, Stephanie Szostak, Lucy Punch, Bruce Greenwood, Ron Livingston

PARAMOUNT

Review: Dave Kozicki

It’s been a while between drinks for director Jay Roach, who makes a triumphant return to comedy with Dinner for Schmucks. Best known for the Austin Powers and Meet the Parents franchises, his more recent work has been a bit of a departure, most notably the brilliant (and Golden Globe-winning) made-for-TV movie Recount, driven by Kevin Spacey, Laura Dern and Denis Leary, that details the aftermath of the 2000 US Presidential election. Continue reading “Reviews – Film: Dinner for Schmucks” »

HEY, YOU IN THE BLACK T-SHIRT
MICHAEL CHUGG WITH IAIN SHEDDEN
MACMILLAN

Michael Chugg is not what the literati would call a sympathetic protagonist. Even in his auto-biography (written with Iain Shedden, music critic for The Australian), he is not a man it’s easy to root for—at least most of the time. But he is one of Australia’s most respected music promoters, and he is responsible for a string of tours that will always have a chapter in Australia’s rock history. Continue reading “Reviews – Books: Hey, You In The Black T-Shirt” »

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNERS:

David Robert, Beaconsfield, Vic

T. Phan, Sunnybank, Qld

Sony Pictures and Australian Penthouse are offering 10 double passes to see Robert Rodriguez’s homage to 70′s grindhouse films, MACHETE, in cinemas from November 11, 2010! Continue reading “WINNERS! cinema double passes to MACHETE!” »

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNERS:

Thanks to NZX and Australian Penthouse, 10 lucky winners will have the chance to win an NZX 2011 wall calendar!

Continue reading “WINNERS! NEW ZEALAND MODELS CALENDAR” »

Confidential Report (aka Mr. Arkadin/1955)

Cast: Orson Welles, Robert Arden, Paola Mori, Patricia Medina, Akim Tamiroff, Michael Redgrave, Mischa Auer, Katina Paxinou, Suzanne Flon

MADMAN

Written and directed by, and starring Orson Welles, Confidential Report (1955), also known as Mr Arkadin in Europe, is often referred to as being a darker reimagining of Welles’ classic Citizen Kane (1941). But at the time, the film was considered Welles’ last shot at Hollywood’s big budget pictures, in fact, his three previous films—The Magnificent Ambersons (1942), The Stranger (1946), The Lady from Shanghai (1948)—had performed so poorly that Welles had to stop-and-start Confidential Report in between taking acting jobs to finance the film.

When Guy Van Stratten (Robert Ardin) hears the name “Arkadin” from the lips of a dying man muttered to his partner in white-collar crime Mily (Patricia Medina), he senses an opportunity.  After some research, Van Stratten finds the mysterious Arkadin (Orson Welles) in Italy, suffering amnesia.  Attracted by his vast wealth and his feisty and lovely daughter, Raina (Paola Mori), Van Stratten accepts a proposition from Arkadin: to prepare a report detailing the now-forgotten events of his life in order for him to recover who he was.

Motivated by greed, Van Stratten delves deep into the history of Mr Arkadin, traveling the globe in search of witnesses to help him uncover the mystery. But as his witnesses begin to turn up dead, Van Stratten realises there is something more sinister than a missing persons report waiting to be uncovered… Arkadian is lying about his amnesia: he plans to use Van Stratten’s findings to track down anyone who knows about his criminal past, and kill them to ensure their silence.

Welles had written a deep story structured around flashbacks; however, financier Luis Dolivet and second editor Renzo Lucidi eliminated most of this in favour of a straightforward script.  According to Welles, scenes crucial to developing Arkadin’s character were also deleted.  One version of the film was released in the U.S.A. in 1962. Another (Confidential Report) opened in Europe in 1955. Still other variants, some of terribly low quality, have appeared on video. Welles disowned every version he saw in his lifetime

Welles played the part of Arkadin himself. For the lead role of Van Stratten, he cast Robert Arden, a veteran of the stage whom Welles worked with in radio. English/Spanish actress Patricia Medina was cast as Van Stratten’s girlfriend Mily, the scheming showgirl he discards in his pursuit of Raina, the Italian Countess di Girfalco, Paola Mori (later to become the third Mrs Welles).

The director of photography was Jean Bourgoin, who shot Jean Renoir’s La Marseillaise (1938), and later Marcel Camus’ Black Orpheus (1959). Confidential Report is fascinating because it is not one film but many. A unique film in that its many incarnations remain available to view.  Film buffs can witness the dissembling of Welles’ ideal into a streamlined and superficial (yet still rewarding) film.

Australian Penthouse and Melbourne’s Spearmint Rhino are dedicated to offering Penthouse readers the greatest possible experiences—be they spiritual, emotional or fiscal. So we recommend that you investigate the following sexy offer from  Spearmint Rhino Gentlemen’s Club:

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WOW I recently received my Sculpture from Body Cast!! Check it out! Many thanx Justin … I’m sure you had fun making that one ;o) I Love it!!! Thiking about putting her up for auction for Breat Cancer – will keep you posted!!

AMAZING ... it's no real!

Love Always
Jewell Tyler
POTY 2010

Exit Through The Gift Shop: A Film By Banksy

DIRECTOR: Banksy
STARS: Thierry Guetta, Banksy, Shepard Fairey, Space Invader
MADMAN

THIS highly anticipated film by Banksy is not what many of us expected—especially if what you had in mind was something along the lines of the 1992 hip-hop documentary Style Wars. Though Exit Through The Gift Shop’s biggest draw is that it’s a documentary focused on established street artists and their craft, the film quickly becomes about the documentary-maker himself. Continue reading “Reviews – DVD: Exit Through The Gift Shop: A Film By Bansky” »

It’s Official I will be shooting the POTY Cover on SUNDAY!!!! YAY let’s permit that the weather is great!
Soooooooooo excited!!!!

Love Jewell
POTY 2010

Lovely people, make sure you get your own personally signed 2011 Topless Eye Candy Showgirls Calendar! It is a calendar of luscious ladies (including Miss Nude Australia 2010 Amarli Inez, Porn Star Surhey Sins and myself) in various states of undress…

I have a hot pic in a concrete bunker in ripped jeans and pink boxing gloves!

Calendars are $20 signed and you can order direct from my website www.zahra.org.au

Thanks and much love! xx Zahra