"Channing Tatum"
A&F Model to Movie Star
January 12, 2005
by Tim Nasson, Wild About Movies publisher

CLICK HERE FOR THE NEW "SHE'S THE MAN" INTERVIEW WITH "CHANNING TATUM" - By Tim Nasson, Wild About Movies publisher!

Channing Tatum photoNew York City – Channing who? Yes, Channing is his first name, and Tatum is his last. And, no, he is not in any way related to Carol Channing (or Tatum O’Neal). And, Channing Tatum is his birth name, not just some wild name thought up in a duplicitous publicist’s office.

You may not have known his name, but now that you do, it will be hard to forget – the boy’s face and body has graced the pages of virtually every glossy magazine in the world, (Nautica, Aeropostale, Dolce & Gabbana and A&F ad campaigns), and on television in one of Mountain Dew’s most popular commercials, “Drive” – now that he is co-starring with Samuel L. Jackson and Ashanti in “Coach Carter."

It’s quite unusual for male print and television models to make the transition to the big screen, and even more surprising when they can actually, well, um, ‘act.’

Standing at six feet, one inch tall, the (almost) shaved headed, twenty-four year old, with the most well-defined jaw my I have ever seen, greets me with an outstretched hand, clenching mine firmly, staring directly into my eyes. “How are you? Channing Tatum,” he says, as polite as he can be, upon entering the suite in which we share a breakfast on a recent Sunday morning at the Drake Hotel, during the hustling and bustling Christmas shopping season in the Big Apple. You see, Channing is not a native New Yorker, nor Los Angelino. He is, what many, including him, would describe as ‘white trash.’

Interview continues below...

Channing Tatum at Amazon.com.
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Interview continues...

Channing Tatum photo“Yeah, I am white trash, by blood,” he says, his piercing blue eyes, glowing, trying to convey with his looks and charisma that the trash is long gone. “I was born in Alabama, raised in the summers by my grandparents, Nana and Papa, in Mississippi and then my parents decided to move to Mississippi to be closer to my grandparents. I was definitely an outdoors type of boy, getting into trouble all the time. But my Nana would always say to me, ‘Oh, Channing,’ when she knew I was feeding her a line of bullshit.”

And what were those lines of bullshit? Well, for starters, he was not supposed to be playing in the bayous. “There were (and still are) alligators, rattlesnakes, and Jesus knows what else in those swamps,” he laughs. “And I was the one who was always spending as much time as I possibly could down by the bayous, against the advice and, dare I say, orders of my Nana.”

Channing Tatum has come a long way from the bayous. He might still be weathered and tanned, i.e., beautiful, ‘fuck-me,’ white trash, but the evolutionary process has taken hold. He has, it seems, become more civilized during the plethora ad campaigns in which he has appeared, clothed, (sadly), – in the latest, most popular U.S. fashions, groomed and to die for.

“I love modeling,” he chimes, sipping a bottle of Evian, and then picking at a fruit plate, (slices of watermelon, pineapple, honeydew, cantaloupe, and strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and grapes.)

“But, I ‘loved’ making my first movie. I did an episode of ‘CSI,’ [the original], this season, (September) – I shot it after the movie – but the movie was the fucking bomb. I can see myself, at least part of the time, acting. I love modeling but acting is a great distraction.”Channing Tatum Perfect Body Photo

As rumors abounded in the late 90s and early 00s, A&F solicited models on the street and didn’t pay them. According to the rumor mill, A&F used their models as slave laborers. The models got free ink and A&F got hot, young, tight-assed boys. “That’s a crock of shit,” says Channing, when I ask him how he got involved with A&F. “I have an agent and my agent got me that contract. Contrary to what the urban legend is, A&F pays their models, they are not solicited in malls or in parking lots. They leave that to the government,” he chuckles, referring to a scene in “Fahrenheit 9/11,” proving he is not a vapid model, cum actor.

“I know that modeling is not going to last forever, so I need to find something else that will keep me busy for the next forty years,” he explains, in all sincerity.

“’Coach Carter’ was such a godsend,” he says. “I never, in a million years, expected to be cast in an MTV/Paramount collaboration. I mean, they are the partners behind ‘Save The Last Dance’ (which grossed over $100 million US), and that catapulted Julia Stiles to fame.”

Is Channing Tatum destined to multiplex, name recognition status? You will be the judge. Do you think he is hot enough to plop $10 down for one hour and forty-five minutes worth of pleasure on the big screen?

If I didn’t think “Coach Carter” was worth the price of admission, I would be the first to omit my praise for the movie in my “Channing Tatum Feature.” I mean, it would be that easy. I wouldn’t have to say I liked it, or I hated it.

The truth is, even if one removed Channing Tatum from “Coach Carter,” the movie would be a crowd pleaser, unlike anything since “Hoosiers,” “Lean On Me,” and “Remember The Titans.”

He just adds to the fabulosity of the film.

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2008 Movies

 




In The Spotlight
"Bitch Slap"

11 Movie Posters & Movie Trailer
July 23, 2008

Bitch Slap


Wild About Movies now provides you with more movie posters, movie trailers, movie synopses, Behind The Scenes of movies, and celebrity interviews with stars of upcoming movies than any other web site in the world. Today you are able to peruse the movie trailers, movie posters and movie synopses of more than 500 movies not yet in theaters (and more than 5000 movies in theaters and on DVD). Which movies, you ask? "The Dark Knight" himself, Christian Bale, as John Connor in "Terminator Salvation." Mark Wahlberg in "Max Payne" and "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist" starring Michael Cera. And "Frozen River" and "The Day The Earth Stood Still" and Tyler Perry's "Madea Goes To Jail." And "Tyler Perry's The Family That Preys." Ricky Gervais in "Ghost Town." Rob Zombie's "Tyrannosaurus Rex" and Justin Chatwin in "Dragonball" and Keanu Reeves in "The Day The Earth Stood Still." Also, "The Pink Panther 2." "Filth And Wisdom," directed by Madonna and "Rock N Rolla," directed by her husband, Guy Ritchie. "Everybody Wants To Be Italian." And Seth Rogen is "The Green Hornet." Shia LaBeouf in "Eagle Eye." Keira Knightley in "The Duchess" and the kid friendly movie "The Perfect Game" along with "Witchblade 2009," and "Smother," as well as Rainn Wilson in "The Rocker" - and the gay movie, based on at true story, starring Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor as lovers, "I Love You Phillip Morris." Sequels: Everything from "Cloverfield 2" and "Iron Man 2" and ... keep perusing. "GI Joe The Movie" and Seann William Scott in "Trainwreck My Life As An Idiot." And the big screen adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's "The Road" and two Tony winning plays turned movies, opening the same day, December 5, 2008, "Doubt," starring Meryl Streep, and "Frost Nixon," starring Frank Langella. Also, "The Year Of The Fish" and the Coen Bros' "Burn After Reading" and a novel cum movie, "Choke," and Woody Allen's "Vicky Cristina Barcelona," a lesbian movie. And Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio's next collaboration, "Shutter Island." In addition, "Flash Of Genius" and the big screen incarnation of "Marley & Me" and "City Of Ember" and Frank Miller's "The Spirit," now a Christmas 2008 release. And "Adam Resurrected" and "The Great Buck Howard" and Nicolas Cage in "Bangkok Dangerous." Also, everything from Brad Pitt in "The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button" to the updated 70s cult classic "Death Race," to "Dance Of The Dead" and the big screen adaptation of Maurice Sendack's "Where The Wild Things Are Movie," to the George Lucas produced "Star Wars: Clone Wars," to fab film director Michael Mann's "Public Enemies," to "Saw 5," or "Saw V," depending whether you're into Roman numerals. Also, "Esther Blueburger." And "Taken," starring Liam Neeson. And "The Lost Boys 2" - yes, featuring the two Corys. And "Mirrors" and "The House Bunny" and "Sex Drive." Along with "Wild Child" and "The Escapist" and "Towelhead." Also, Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway in "Bride Wars;" to another movie from the creator of "Borat," "Religulous." Also, the probable movie box office smash, "Ice Age 3." And Daniel Radcliffe naked not in "Harry Potter 6" - but Daniel Radcliffe naked at WAM and on Broadway in "Equus." More? Sure! Judd Apatow's "The Pineapple Express;" and Guillermo Del Torro's "The Hobbit Movie." And "The X Files 2." Colin Farrell in "Pride And Glory" and Will Ferrell in "Step Brothers." Also, Dreamorks Animations' "Madagascar 2" and "Monsters vs Aliens." "The Smurfs Movie;" and Robert DeNiro & Al Pacino in "Righteous Kill." "Splice;" and the remake of the 1939 classic "The Women;" "Repo: Genetic Opera;" "Babylon AD;" "Push;" "Terminator 4;" "GI Joe;" "AstroBoy." Even more! Spike Lee's "Miracle At St. Anna" and Steve Coogan in "Hamlet 2" and Oliver Stone's "W" along with Steven Spielberg's "Lincoln" and "Chicago 7." And Peter Jackson's "The Lovely Bones." "Star Trek XI." And a slew of animated and non animated Walt Disney movies, many in 3D: including "Fraggle Rock: The Movie" and "The Jonas Brothers Movie 3D" and "Beverly Hills Chihuahua," "Bolt," "The King of the Elves" and "Rapunzel," "The Bear and the Bow;" "Toy Story 3," "Newt," "The Princess And The Frog," "Up" and "Cars 2." And Universal's animated movie "The Tale Of Despereaux." Heath Ledger's last movie, "Dr. Parnassus." "Black Devil Doll" and WB's "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2," as well as Catherine Zeta-Jones' "Death Defying Acts." More? Brendan Fraser in "The Mummy 3." "The Fly Boys" and Wesley Snipes in "Gallowwalker!" Even more: "Igor" and "Quarantine" and "Zack And Miri." Also: Zac Efron naked - but not in three big screen 2008 movies: "Footloose 2010," "17 Again" and "High School Musical 3." And Daniel Craig in "Defiance," and as 007 in "Bond 22," which now has the official title "Quantum of Solace;" to the prequel of "The DaVinci Code," "Angels & Demons;" "Hotel For Dogs" and Benicio Del Toro as "The Wolf Man" and Hugh Jackman's "Wolverine;" "Valkyrie." Not enough? How about the 2009 films, James ("Titanic") Cameron's "Avatar;" "Watchmen," (from the director of "300") and Hilary Swank in "Amelia," Also washed up Kevin Costner in "Swing Vote" and a naked Hayden Christensen in "Virgin Territory." Also, "Twilight" along with "College," "Boy A" and the Canadian smash "3 P'tits Cochons," Italian worldwide hit "Gomorra," as well as the Chinese blockbuster "Red Cliff" and the French hit "Ch'tis." Also, Sean Penn as Harvey "Milk." And don't forget "Disaster Movie." Or "How To Lose Friends and Alienate People" starring Simon Pegg. Our latest entry - "Bitch Slap" - at ComicCon this week and in movie theaters next year. For the current and complete 2008 movie box office report... (continue)





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