For those of you who noticed a film crew at Stewart’s Drive-in on Jaques Avenue on Thursday, apparently ESPN Radio was filming a commercial for Mike & Mike in the Morning. They also used the St. Mark’s Church parking lot on Hamilton Street while doing other shoots around town. Thanks to all who emailed/commented with a heads-up.
Tag Archives: movies
The top posts of 2008
And now the moment you’ve all been waiting for, or not, the most viewed posts of 2008 (I’ll be scouring garage sales and flea markets for an appropriately gaudy trophy to present to the top spot):
1. Cubanu: A review, 855 page views
2. Luciano’s set to open, 847
3. On tap for 2008: Park Square, Sky View, 837
4. Luciano’s open for business, 446
5. Luciano’s: A review, 427
6. Pizza Pizza, 404
7. Zoning Board KOs condos at Koza’s, 387
8. Rahway welcomes Hollywood, 330
9. Eatery targets July opening, 267
10. The Waiting Room by a mile, 238
Hmm…I sense a restaurant theme. Maybe we’ll focus a bit more on that if that’s what readers want, although of the 132 posts in 2008, 20 were restaurant related. It’s likely a common way to find the blog, while looking for info about new restaurants, particularly Luciano’s and Cubanu. In 2009, we’ll also try to more consistently offer news outside of downtown, like Route 1 or St. Georges Avenue.
Another movie filmed in Rahway?
Taking a break from redevelopment news: It looks like Cadillac Records, which opens today, can be added to the list of movies filmed in Rahway.
Thanks to a blog reader who passed along this report from All About Jazz:
“On a brisk March day in Rahway, N.J., Beyonce and Adrien Brody are filming a crucial scene for their upcoming movie, Cadillac Records. The set is an old Ukrainian social club that has been converted into a 1950s production studio, complete with vintage instruments and cream, perforated walls.”
Both Yahoo! Movies and IMDB mention filming locations only as New Jersey, nothing more specific.
Meanwhile, The Wrestler, which we mentioned early this year and opens in limited release Dec. 17, is racking up indy nominations, rave reviews and Oscar talk.
Cool Hand Luke easily tops the poll
It’s clear which Paul Newman film RR readers prefer. I’d say the top three in our latest poll are the ones he’s probably most well known for generally, although I was surprised how poorly The Hustler and The Color of Money fared.
Each option garnered at least one vote, and I tried to offer a smattering of choices, from old to newer to comedy or drama. There were a few that I wanted to squeeze into the list (The Hudsucker Proxy, probably one of his least known and most underrated), but we got to 10 pretty fast.
As always, our polls are anything but scientific:
“If the UCPAC were to screen Paul Newman films, which would you like to
see?”
Cool Hand Luke, 52 percent (18/34)
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, 38 percent (13/34)
The Sting, 35 percent (12/34)
Slap Shot, 20 percent (7/34)
The Hustler, 17 percent (6/34)
The Long, Hot Summer, 17 percent (6/34)
Fort Apache the Bronx, 14 percent (5/34)
Absence of Malice, 8 percent (3/34)
Hud, 8 percent (3/34)
The Color of Money, 5 percent (2/34)
The poll was borne out of an earlier post in which we suggested the arts center show some Newman films since he passed away in September. Maybe take a slow weekend and show a movie Friday and double features Saturday and Sunday?
We’ll try to get back to posting a poll every couple of weeks. Watch out for new ones, and maybe even some repeats since we have more readers lately, and don’t be shy about suggestions. Enjoy.
How about Newman films at the arts center?
On my way home last week, I drove past the Union County Performing Arts Center where a big crowd of middle-aged women congregated, waiting to see “Menopause: The Musical Out Loud.” It reminded me of the huge crowds that were at the arts center one weekend this summer for an Indian movie.
I drove by Friday night and the arts center was dark. The combination of a dormant arts center on a Friday night and the passing of Paul Newman in recent weeks got me thinking: why not screen a few of his classic films, the kind that almost have to be seen regardless of age or movie interests, like Cool Hand Luke and The Hustler. It’d be timely marketing and it would seem there might be some interest since his passing, not only from those who typically visit the arts center for the likes of Connie Francis, but also some “youngsters” who might be intrigued to see his early work and check out UCPAC.
Of course, with programming planned so far in advance (usually a year for live events), I figured it can’t be done too quickly, but I sent an email to arts center director Sandy Erwin anyway. She seemed enthused and talked about restarting a film series in January when their equipment is ready. Not as timely as in the weeks after Newman’s death, but you figure all the year-end magazines will remind people of his along with other celebrities’ passing in 2008.
I’ve seen classics like Citizen Kane and Easy Rider — so-called “important” films — at the arts center and it’s an enormously better opportunity than watching a DVD at home or catching an edited version on a Sunday afternoon on Channel 11. It hasn’t seemed to be a big draw at least judging by the attendance when I’ve been there for old movies. The arts center has offered double features and timely film weekends around Halloween and Christmas in the past. For an idea of what RR readers would like to see at the arts center, we did a completely unscientific poll back in January.
What do you think? Would you pay $5, $10, even $20 to catch a few Newman films at UCPAC? Hmm, I think the RR poll might make a return to the blog.
By the way, the arts center celebrates its 80th anniversary this month with its first annual gala. Meanwhile, another old-time theater reopens this month in Montclair with Counting Crows, so there’s more competition coming.
Rahway hosts Downtown NJ conference
Rahway will host Downtown New Jersey’s annual conference (“Hard Times…Real Opportunities”) next week at the Union County Performing Arts Center. Downtown officials from all over the Garden State will descend on the city, starting with a redevelopment tour Wednesday night.
Continue reading Rahway hosts Downtown NJ conference
Rahway on film
On the occasion of a movie filming in Rahway last month, our latest poll question had nothing to do with redevelopment, but it was fun nonetheless. Is it just me, or wouldn’t it be a lot of fun to have a “Rahway Film Festival” of sorts with the Union County Arts Center featuring a bunch of these movies one weekend (even if Rahway’s scenes are only a few seconds long in some)?
“What’s your favorite movie that was filmed in Rahway?”
The School of Rock (2003), 40 percent (18/44)
Rounders (1998), 38 percent (17/44)
City Hall (1996), 9 percent (4/44)
Something Wild (1986), 9 percent (4/44)
Other, 2 percent (1/44)
“School of Rock” and “Rounders” jumped out to a monster lead early and never looked back, with “Rock” edging out the win among RR readers. Interestingly, or not, the 44 votes is the same number as the poll before last, though fewer than the 58 votes cast in the most recent one.
“The School of Rock” is probably the most prominent of those listed, with major scenes filmed in and around the Union County Arts Center, including the finale of the “Battle of the Bands.” It’s the biggest hit of those in the poll, raking in $81 million while costing $35 million to make, according to The International Movie Database (IMDB).
“Rounders” (costing an estimated $12 million and grossing $23 million) was Matt Damon’s next movie after his Oscar-winner, “Good Will Hunting,” along with “Saving Private Ryan.” It also starred a pre-“Fight Club” and “American History X” Ed Norton. IMDB doesn’t list Rahway as a location, but from what I’m told, the gambling scenes were in fact filmed at the Elks Lodge on West Milton Avenue.
“City Hall” is the weakest of the bunch when it comes to netting a profit at the box office — costing $40 million but barely grossing $20 million — starring big names in Al Pacino and John Cusack, and a big name at the time, Bridget Fonda. Rahway also isn’t included on the filming locations for “City Hall,” according to IMDB, but more than a few people I’ve spoken to recall a scene filmed at Lehrer-Gibilisco Funeral Home on West Milton (just down the street from the Elks Lodge). The filmmakers repainted the entire funeral home and made some cosmetic changes.
We didn’t include in the poll movies (“Malcolm X,” “He Got Game“) that IMDB listed as being filmed in Rahway but probably were filmed at East Jersey State Prison (formerly Rahway State) because it’s in Woodbridge, although it has a Rahway mailing address. But it wouldn’t surprise me if “Something Wild,” which grossed $8 million, should be included in that group now. Thinking back, I recall Ray Liotta’s character is released from prison, and I’d bet it’s East Jersey State.
For those interested, “The Wrestler” will be filming in Dover this week, according to the Daily Record. Something else I came across since the first post: Nicolas Cage had originally been tapped to star, at least according to this report. Also, IMDB has a lot more information about the cast, which includes one of the software engineers we haven’t seen since “Office Space.”
Thanks for indulging in some non-redevelopment blog posts. We’ll get back to some redevelopment-related items this week. And also thanks to the readers who have emailed comments the past few weeks.
Rahway welcomes Hollywood
In the spirit of tonight’s 80th annual Oscars, as well as Rahway’s own Hollywood presence last week, we present our new poll question, below right. Be sure to cast your vote, and add your two cents in the comments section.