A Taste of Cineman

Award Season Roundup: 'The Artist' and 'The Help' Are Looking Mighty Fine

2012-01-30T10:01:00.002-06:00

Sources: Directors Guild of America, Producers Guild of America, and Screen Actors Guild

In the hubbub of smaller award ceremonies that precede the Academy Awards, the Directors Guild of America Awards (DGA), Producers Guild of America Awards (PGA), and Screen Actors Guild Awards (SAG) are the best predictors of who will and will not be taking home Oscars come February 26th. In the last eight days, each of these Guilds have dolled out their varying prizes- the most relevant (film-wise) being equivalents to Best Picture, Director, Actor, and Actress awards. In short, The Artist took home the PGA's Best Film, the DGA's Best Director, and SAG's Best Actor for Jean Dujardin. The Help recieved three awards from SAG: Best Actress went to Viola Davis, Best Supporting Actress went to Octavia Spencer, and the Ensemble Cast Award (SAG's version of Best Picture). Hit the break to see complete lists from each award ceremony.

Winners are highlighted in blue.

Directors Guild of America:

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film
Woody Allen (Midnight in Paris)
David Fincher (The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo)
Michel Hazanavicius (The Artist)
Alexander Payne (The Descendants)
Martin Scorsese (Hugo)

The header photo is of Michel Hazanavicius (with award in hand) and some other guy I don't know.

Producers Guild of America Awards:

Darryl F. Zanuck Producer of the Year Award in Theatrical Motion Pictures
The Artist
Bridesmaids
The Descendants
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
The Help
Hugo
The Ides of March
Midnight in Paris
Moneyball
War Horse

The Producers Guild of America Producer of the Year Award in Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures
The Adventures of Tintin
Cars 2
Kung Fu Panda 2
Puss in Boots
Rango

The Producers Guild of America Producer of the Year Award in Documentary Theatrical Motion Pictures
Beats, Rhymes, and Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest
Bill Cunningham New York
Project Nim
Senna
The Union

Screen Actors Guild Awards:

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role

Demián Bichir, A Better Life
George Clooney, The Descendants
Leonardo DiCaprio, J. Edgar
Jean Dujardin, The Artist
Brad Pitt, Moneyball

84th Academy Awards Nominations Released: 'Hugo' Gets Eleven Nods and 'The Artist' Ten

2012-01-28T11:39:00.000-06:00

Source: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

This past Tuesday, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced its nominations for the 84th Annual Academy Awards (Oscars) in Los Angeles, California. The Oscars, hosted yearly at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California, are the biggest, though most predictable award ceremony in the movie industry. This year, the Academy decided to change its Best Picture rules once again- instead of the ten nominations that were dolled out in the past two years, the number now varies between five and ten (depending on how many votes a given film receives). There are nine nominees for Best Picture this year, with Hugo and The Artist taking the most nods at eleven and ten, respectively, and War Horse and Moneyball following with six nods each. Hit the break to see the full list of nominations.

Best Picture
The Artist
The Descendants
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
The Help
Hugo
Midnight in Paris
Moneyball
The Tree of Life
War Horse

Best Director
Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist
Alexdander Payne, The Descendants
Martin Scorsese, Hugo
Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris
Terrence Malick, The Tree of Life

Best Actor In a Supporting Role
Kenneth Branagh, My Week With Marilyn
Jonah Hill, Moneyball
Nick Nolte, Warrior
Christopher Plummer, Beginners
Max von Sydow, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close

Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Bérénice Bejo, The Artist
Jessica Chastain, The Help
Mellisa McCarthy, Bridesmaids
Janet McTeer, Albert Nobbs
Octavia Spencer, The Help

Best Actor in a Leading Role
Demian Bichir, A Better Life
George Clooney, The Descendants
Jean Dujardin, The Artist
Gary Oldman, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Brad Pitt, Moneyball

Best Actress in a Leading Role
Glenn Close, Albert Nobbs
Viola Davis, The Help
Rooney Mara, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady
Michelle Williams, My Week With Marilyn

Animated Feature Film
A Cat in Paris, Alain Gagnol and Jean-Loup Felicioli
Chico & Rita, Fernando Trueba and Javier Mariscal
Kung Fu Panda 2, Jennifer Yuh Nelson
Puss in Boots, Chris Miller
Rango, Gore Verbinski

Cinematography
The Artist, Guillaume Schiffman
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, Jeff Cronenweth
Hugo, Robert Richardson
The Tree of Life, Emmanuel Lubezki
War Horse, Janusz Kaminski

Foreign Language Film
Belgium, “Bullhead”, Michael R. Roskam, director
Canada, “Monsieur Lazhar”, Philippe Falardeau, director
Iran, “A Separation”, Asghar Farhadi, director
Israel, “Footnote”, Joseph Cedar, director
Poland, “In Darkness”, Agnieszka Holland, director

Music (Original Song)
“Man or Muppet” from The Muppets, Music and Lyric by Bret McKenzie
“Real in Rio” from Rio, Music by Sergio Mendes and Carlinhos Brown, Lyric by Siedah Garrett

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
The Descendants, Screenplay by Alexander Payne and Nat Faxon & Jim Rash
Hugo, Screenplay by John Logan
The Ides of March, Screenplay by George Clooney & Grant Heslov and Beau Willimon
Moneyball, Screenplay by Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin. Story by Stan Chervin
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Screenplay by Bridget O’Connor & Peter Straughan

Writing (Original Screenplay)
The Artist, Written by Michel Hazanavicius
Bridesmaids, Written by Annie Mumolo & Kristen Wiig
Margin Call, Written by J.C. Chandor
Midnight in Paris, Written by Woody Allen
A Separation, Written by Asghar Farhadi

Art Direction
The Artist: Laurence Bennett (Production Design); Robert Gould (Set Decoration)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2: Stuart Craig (Production Design); Stephenie McMillan (Set Decoration)
Hugo: Dante Ferretti (Production Design); Francesca Lo Schiavo (Set Decoration)
War Horse: Rick Carter (Production Design); Lee Sandales (Set Decoration)

Costume Design
Anonymous, Lisy Christl
The Artist, Mark Bridges
Hugo, Sandy Powell
Jane Eyre, Michael O’Connor
W.E., Arianne Phillips

Documentary Feature
Hell and Back Again
If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front
Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory
Pina
Undefeated

Documentary Short
"The Barber of Birmingham: Foot Soldier of the Civil Rights Movement", Robin Fryday and Gail Dolgin
"God is the Bigger Elvis", Rebecca Cammisa and Julie Anderson
"Incident in New Baghdad", James Spione
"Saving Face", Daniel Junge and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy
"The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom", Lucy Walker and Kira Carstensen

Film Editing
The Artist, Anne-Sophie Bion and Michel Hazanavicius
The Descendants, Kevin Tent
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall
Hugo, Thelma Schoonmaker
Moneyball, Christopher Tellefsen

Makeup
Albert Nobbs, Martial Corneville, Lynn Johnston and Matthew W. Mungle
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, Nick Dudman, Amanda Knight and Lisa Tomblin
The Iron Lady, Mark Coulier and J. Roy Helland

Music (Original Score)
The Adventures of Tintin, John Williams
The Artist, Ludovic Bource
Hugo, Howard Shore
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Alberto Iglesias
War Horse, John Williams

Short Film (Animated)
"Dimanche/Sunday", Patrick Doyon
"The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore", William Joyce and Brandon Oldenburg
"La Luna", Enrico Casarosa
"A Morning Strol"l, Grant Orchard and Sue Goffe
"Wild Life", Amanda Forbis and Wendy Tilby

Short Film (Live Action)
"Pentecost", Peter McDonald and Eimear O’Kane
"Raju", Max Zähle and Stefan Gieren
"The Shore", Terry George and Oorlagh George
"Time Freak", Andrew Bowler and Gigi Causey
"Tuba Atlantic", Hallvar Witzø

Sound Editing
Drive, Lon Bender and Victor Ray Ennis
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Ren Klyce
Hugo, Philip Stockton and Eugene Gearty
Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Ethan Van der Ryn and Erik Aadahl
War Horse, Richard Hymns and Gary Rydstrom

Sound Mixing
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, David Parker, Michael Semanick, Ren Klyce and Bo Persson
Hugo, Tom Fleischman and John Midgley
Moneyball, Deb Adair, Ron Bochar, Dave Giammarco and Ed Novick
Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Greg P. Russell, Gary Summers, Jeffrey J. Haboush and Peter J. Devlin
War Horse, Gary Rydstrom, Andy Nelson, Tom Johnson and Stuart Wilson

Visual Effects
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, Tim Burke, David Vickery, Greg Butler and John Richardson
Hugo, Rob Legato, Joss Williams, Ben Grossman and Alex Henning
Real Steel, Erik Nash, John Rosengrant, Dan Taylor and Swen Gillberg
Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Joe Letteri, Dan Lemmon, R. Christopher White and Daniel Barrett
Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Dan Glass, Brad Friedman, Douglas Trumbull and Michael Fink

It's inevitable that the Oscars will hand out a few snubs and upsets amongst its list of nominees. I cannot say anything much about the snubs personally, though I have heard that Michael Fassbender's performance in Shame is terrific. On the the other hand, having seen Elizabeth Olsen's fantastic performance Martha Marcy May Marlene, I get the feeling that either Hollywood had an influx of award worthy acting or Olsen got snubbed. However, I am happy that The Tree of Life is nominated for Best Picture- it's a shame Terrence Malick is not up for Best Director, but at least the film is getting some well deserved recognition. Speaking of the Best Picture award, The Artist has an almost sure-fire chance of winning the category after winning the equivalent Producers Guild of America award for best film last week. If The Artist succeeds, it will be the first time a black and white, silent film has won the award since Wings received the very first Best Picture Oscar in 1927.

Billy Crystal will host the 84th Academy Awards at the Kodak Theatre on Sunday, February 26.

American Society of Cinematographers and Directors Guild of America Nominations Released

2012-01-13T19:46:00.003-06:00

Sources: Directors Guild of America and American Society of Cinematographers

Over the past week the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) and the Directors Guild of America (DGA) revealed their award listings for Best Cinematography and Outstanding Achievement in Feature Film, respectively. As with the Screen Actors Guild, Writers Guild, and Producers Guild, these awards are solid indicators of what the Oscar nominees (announced January 24th) and eventual recipients will be. Hit the jump to check out the lists.

American Society of Cinematographers:

Guillaume Schiffman (The Artist)
Jeff Cronenweth (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo)
Robert Richardson (Hugo)
Hoyte van Hoytema (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy)
Emmanuel Lubezki (The Tree of Life)

Directors Guild of America:
Woody Allen (Midnight in Paris)
David Fincher (The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo)
Michel Hazanavicius (The Artist)
Alexander Payne (The Descendants)
Martin Scorsese (Hugo)

And so it goes. I'm torn between The Artist and The Tree of Life in the ASC's list. Both are fine films and two favorites from the past year, and I feel that both deserve the award. Sadly, that won't be happening. However, only one of those films (The Artist) is nominated for a DGA award. With The Tree of Life,Terrence Malick created what I believe will go down as one of the best films of the decade. Perhaps Malick's film will be nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars, but with no DGA nomination, a Best Director nod or award is probably out of sight. Come January 28th, the Directors Guild of America will host its ceremony, and the American Society of Cinematographers will follow February 12. May the best "artist" win.

Rocking Trailer for LCD Soundsystem Concert Doc "Shut Up and Play the Hits" Arrives

2012-01-12T17:29:00.002-06:00

Source: Youtube

I'm surprised it has taken this long for LCD Soundsystem to make a prominent entrance into the film world, even if it's after the group has disbanded. LCD Soundsystem's sound, a mix of pop, electronic, and dance punk, is punchy and momentous- qualities that are easily translated visually (on a side note, I based my film school submission off of one of their songs). James Murphy, the leader of the band, called it quits last year, and the group played a massive final show at Madison Square Garden in April 2011. Yesterday, LCD Soundsystem nonchalantly announced via Facebook that directors Dylan Southern and Will Lovelace will release a documentary based on the performance, Shut Up and Play the Hits, which will debut at Sundance Film Festival in the coming weeks. Hit the jump to view the official synopsis and trailer.

On April 2nd 2011, LCD Soundsystem played its final show at Madison Square Garden. LCD frontman James Murphy had made the conscious decision to disband one of the most celebrated and influential bands of its generation at the peak of its popularity, ensuring that the band would go out on top with the biggest and most ambitious concert of its career. The instantly sold out, near four-hour extravaganza did just that, moving the thousands in attendance to tears of joy and grief, with NEW YORK magazine calling the event "a marvel of pure craft" and TIME magazine lamenting "we may never dance again." SHUT UP AND PLAY THE HITS is both a narrative film documenting this once in a life time performance and an intimate portrait of James Murphy as he navigates the lead-up to the show, the day after, and the personal and professional ramifications of his decision.

As a huge fan of LCD Soundsystem, I jump for joy over the announcement of Shut Up and Play the Hits. The music is fantastic (a guest appearance by Arcade Fire!), James Murphy opens up, and the camera work comes off as surprisingly orchestrated for what comes off as a low budget project. However, I find it hard to separate my love of LCD Soundsystem from the movie itself. Many music documentaries, such as the U2/Martin Scorsese collaboration U2 3D, are best enjoyed by the fans that already adore the group(s) a given film focuses. Shut Up and Play the Hits is a sort of dream come true for fans- but time will tell if the film can live up to audiences with no knowledge of the band (Sundance may not be the best place for this to be gauged since indie lovers of all kind take up the majority of seats there). Check out the trailer below.

Shut Up and Play the Hits will blast into the Sundance Film Festival, in Park City, Utah, on January 22.

2011 Producers, Screen Actors, and Writers Guilds' Nominations Released

2012-01-07T13:17:00.002-06:00

Source: /Film (Producers, Screen Actors, Writers)

Three weeks ago the 2011 Screen Actors Guild Awards (SAG) nominations were announced, and the 2011 Annual Producers Guild of America Awards'(PGA) and the Writers Guild of America Awards' (WGA) nominations were revealed this past week, respectively. These awards are often the best indicator of what films will be nominated for a given year's Oscars, as there is a lot of member overlap between the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the various guilds. The Screen Actors Guild and Producers Guild cover both television and film awards, though only movie-related nominations will be posted here. Nomination lists can be seen after the break.

Producers Guild of America Awards:

Darryl F. Zanuck Producer of the Year Award in Theatrical Motion Pictures:
The Artist
Bridesmaids
The Descendants
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
The Help
Hugo
The Ides of March
Midnight in Paris
Moneyball
War Horse

The Producers Guild of America Producer of the Year Award in Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures:
The Adventures of Tintin
Cars 2
Kung Fu Panda 2
Puss in Boots
Rango

The Producers Guild of America Producer of the Year Award in Documentary Theatrical Motion Pictures:
Beats, Rhymes, and Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest
Bill Cunningham New York
Project Nim
Senna
The Union

Screen Actors Guild Awards:

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role

Demián Bichir, A Better Life
George Clooney, The Descendants
Leonardo DiCaprio, J. Edgar
Jean Dujardin, The Artist
Brad Pitt, Moneyball

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
Glenn Close, Albert Nobbs
Viola Davis, The Help
Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady
Tilda Swinton, We Need to Talk About Kevin
Michelle Williams, My Week With Marilyn

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
Kenneth Branagh, My Week With Marilyn
Armie Hammer, J. Edgar
Jonah Hill, Moneyball
Nick Nolte, Warrior
Christopher Plummer, Beginners

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
Bérénice Bejo, The Artist
Jessica Chastain, The Help
Melissa McCarthy, Bridesmaids
Janet McTeer, Albert Nobbs
Octavia Spencer, The Help

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
The Artist
Bridesmaids
The Descendants
The Help
Midnight in Paris

Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture
The Adjustment Bureau
Cowboys & Aliens
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
Transformers: Dark of the Moon
X-Men: First Class

Screen Actors Guild Awards 48th Annual Life Achievement Award
Mary Tyler Moore

Writers Guild of America Awards:

Original Screenplay
50/50, Will Reiser
Bridesmaids, Annie Mumolo & Kristen Wiig
Midnight in Paris, Woody Allen
Win Win, Tom McCarthy; Story by Tom McCarthy & Joe Tiboni
Young Adult, Diablo Cody

Adapted Screenplay
The Descendants, Alexander Payne and Nat Faxon & Jim Rash; Based on the novel by Kaui Hart Hemming
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Steven Zaillian; Based on the novel by Stieg Larsson
The Help, Tate Taylor; Based on the novel by Kathryn Stockett
Hugo, John Logan; Based on the book The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
Moneyball, Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin; Story by Stan Chervin; Based on the book by Michael Lewis

Documentary Screenplay
Better This World, Katie Galloway & Kelly Duane de la Vega
If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front, Marshall Curry and Matthew Hamachek
Nostalgia for the Light, Patricio Guzmán
Pina, Wim Wenders
Position Among the Stars, Hetty Naaijkens-Retel Helmrich, Leonard Retel Helmrich
Senna, Manish Pandey

There you go. For starters, it's too bad that The Help is getting so much press with it's PGA and SAG nominations, à la The Blind Side back in 2009. The book on which The Help is based is more or less a manifestation of white guilt. In my humble opinion, members of the Academy should not be promoting a movie that continues to pretty up racism for white audiences (where's Spike Lee when we need him?). To be fair, I haven't seen the movie, though I'm sure it's well done given all the press it received.

As always, there are hits and misses during award season. However, having seen so few awards contenders this year, there isn't much for me to say. Hopefully I'll be able to catch more Oscar bait-ers as they hit the rental stores. My Top Ten of 2011 should be coming in the next month or so.

The PGA will reveal its awards on January 21st, with SAG following on January 29th, and the WGA on February 19th.

The Dark Knight Rises Prologue: A Heist and A Terrorist

2011-12-14T18:21:00.001-06:00

Last night I was lucky enough to attended an IMAX screening of Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Rises prologue. The prologue (which is just the first six minutes, plus flashes of about a dozen different scenes from the movie) was set to premiere with 70 mm IMAX prints of Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol when the film debuts this Friday. However, through an online viral campaign called "Operation Early Bird," a set of theaters was revealed. It turned out that the locations would be hosting screenings. Once the listing of theaters was released, screening passes became available to the public. /Film had been covering the activity thoroughly, and being a Christopher Nolan fan I jumped at this opportunity.

The film begins with a prisoner exchange outside of an airplane. Soon after, the plane takes flight, and a CIA agent begins questioning the captives about Bane. Just like The Dark Knight, the first scene is a villain reveal and heist- but this time, what's being stolen is something a bit more lively than money.

The first six minutes of The Dark Knight Rises are jaw dropping. It'sclear that Christopher Nolan is continuing to evolve his style. The prologue's shots (especially a semi-Kubrickian one in which the camera moves down a "tube" while pointing up) reflect a blending of the aesthetics of Inception and The Dark Knight with a terrorist thriller twist. It would be safe to say that certain aspects of Nolan's direction are more kinetic than in the past, though not hectic.

With the suggestions that Bane is a terrorist, The Dark Knight Rises feels more indicative of the zeitgeist than The Dark Knight. The Joker was similar in some sense, but Bane is visually (the military garbs) and aesthetically (his militant posse, as opposed to the Joker's henchmen) reminiscent of more realistic terror figures.

It will be tough for Tom Hardy (Bane) to live up to Heath Ledger, but he looks to be a great villain regardless. Bane can physically challenge Batman (versus Scarecrow's chemicals or the Joker's handymen), and the mask is a terrifying look. His energy is primal and presence intimidating, as if a cage fighter decided to start a high tech modern militia. Sadly, it's almost impossible to understand a word the guy says. In addition to a heavy accent, the mask muffles all of his lines. It'll be a rough ride for audiences if this isn't changed.

Hans Zimmer's score is great so far. A bit of the chanting from the trailer makes an appearance, and it's just as "boomy" as one would hope for.

If you've been following the viral campaign (namely the doomsday device and the detained scientist) then the prologue will make good sense. I don't want to say what happens word for word, because there are plenty of other places where you can find that online. All I can say is that things are looking pretty darn good.

*The header image is of a t-shirt I got at the screening. There were Bane ones too. (SPOILERS FOR THE DARK KNIGHT) The chalked-on look hints at some sort of grassroots movement for Batman- maybe Gotham revolts after Bane reveals how Harvey Dent died, and a few citizens still support Bruce Wayne. How fitting for the state of protest that parts of the world are currently in.

Eerie NSFW Teaser Trailer for Spanish Fright Fest [REC] 3

2011-09-16T17:45:00.001-05:00

Source: Shock Til You Drop

The teaser trailer for the Spanish horror prequel [REC] 3: Genesis appeared online today via Shock Til You Drop. The first film in the found footage series, [REC], focused on a TV reporter's experience with a zombie-like virus while trapped in an apartment building. [REC] 2 took the concurrent perspective of a SWAT team sent into the same situation. Both movies were co-directed by Jaume Balagueró and Paco Plaza, however Plaza will be doing this one on his own. [REC] 3, which will explain the origins of the virus, takes place at a wedding party gone wildly wrong (or right, for horror fans). Catch the trailer after the jump.

[REC] is one of my favorite horror movies and [REC] 2 was enjoyable (see my reviews here and here), so any tease of a third is tantalizing. The teaser reveals almost nothing in regards to the plot of Genesis, but those bloody shots at the very end are just wicked. I love the Aliens-esque vibe given off by the bride- directors Plaza and Balagueró did a great job of framing Manuela Velasco's B.A. performance in the first. It looks like Plaza and Balagueró's hectic (yet skillfully understandable) found footage style of the first two is back with a vengeance. Since the film takes place at a wedding reception, or at least part of it does, the setup is ripe for the occasion. Check out a preview of the wedding from hell, below (Google Reader users will have to visit this post in order to view the trailer).

[REC] 3: Genesis will hit Spanish theaters in March 2012. No U.S. release has been scheduled.

Massive Praise in Toronto for Indonesian Action Flick 'The Raid'

2011-09-09T21:01:00.001-05:00

Sources: /Film, MTV, and Deadline

What a day it must be for director Gareth Evans. Evans' Indonesian wild ride The Raid, which focuses on a police force's assault on a drug lord's stronghold, debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival's Midnight Madness earlier today. On top of this, just a few hours ago it was announced that Linkin Park member Mike Shinoda is on board to compose a score. Sony Pictures acquired the distribution rights back in May at Cannes, so this will surely be hitting theaters at some point. Check out the official synopsis (via /Film), a NSFW trailer, and various reactions after the break.

For starters, here's the synopsis:

Deep in the heart of Jakarta’s slums lies an impenetrable safe house for the world’s most dangerous killers and gangsters. Until now, the run-down apartment block has been considered untouchable to even the bravest of police. Cloaked under the cover of pre-dawn darkness and silence, an elite swat team is tasked with raiding the safe house in order to take down the notorious drug lord that runs it. But when a chance encounter with a spotter blows their cover and news of their assault reaches the drug lord, the building’s lights are cut and all the exits blocked. Stranded on the sixth floor with no way out, the unit must fight their way through the city’s worst to survive their mission. Starring Indonesian martial arts sensation Iko Uwais.

The trailer, a red band (meaning don't watch it at work or around kids), was released today via MTV. This one is certainly worth your two minutes.

Get More: Movie Trailers, Movies Blog

And now for some quick takes on The Raid (of this bunch, only Alex and David have full reviews online).

Peter Sciretta of /Film:

"When I walked into the theater today to see Gareth Evans‘ The Raid, I knew nothing about the film. I had heard some positive buzz coming out of the film’s midnight madness premiere last night at the 2011 Toronto Film Festival, but that that was it. I had no expectations, and no idea how hard my ass was going to get kicked by this Indonesian action movie. This is the best action film I’ve seen in years."

Alex Billington of Firstshowing.net:

"I feel like The Raid is one of those amazing action films from abroad that those lucky enough to hear about will discover themselves, then will go back and introduce it to all of their friends, boasting about how they found this awesome movie...There are a few slow moments that allow us to catch our breath, but for the most part the action will knock you out as much as the people in the film are getting completely knock out (but at least you'll be alive at the end to tell everyone about it). What an exhilarating way to start this festival, it's a film I definitely won't be forgetting anytime soon. It truly is one of the best action films I've seen in years. That was so badass!"

And David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter:

"For a movie with very little downtime, The Raid is remarkably well modulated in its succession of extended set pieces. Full of dynamic physical stunts and imaginative death blows, the movie balances moments of intense quiet with fresh crescendos of visceral violence. This kind of relentless noise and carnage can be numbing in less skilled hands, but Evans, who also handled the rapid-fire editing, brings elegance and imagination to the outrageously charged action, as well as unflagging energy."

It's pretty difficult to not be exited for The Raid after seeing the kick butt trailer and reading all of those reactions. Because I tend to blog about the movies that get the most buzz on the festival circuit this type of posting may be getting old. However, not too many films can garner this kind of attention after only a handful of screenings. Even though the film may not be in English (and won't be raking in the dough at the box office), I'm sure this is will be a sleeper smash of a different nature whenever it hits the U.S. There are plenty of forum and blog readers, circles of film lovers, and pirates that will be ready to gobble The Raid right up. You can count me as one of them already.

Eddie Murphy to Host the 84th Academy Awards

2011-09-07T18:34:00.001-05:00

Source: Deadline (and again)

After news broke over the weekend that Brett Ratner wanted Eddie Murphy to host the 84th Academy Awards, the massively successful comedian has agreed to the gig. As yesterday morning, the deal is officially sealed. Brett Ratner, one of the co-producers of this year's show (and director of the Rush Hour series and X-Men: Last Stand), worked with Murphy on Tower Heist, which is gathering positive buzz before its November 4th release. With the Academy having announced this decision much earlier than in the past (typically Oscar hosts and/or hostesses are not revealed until January), the move is definitely intended to be a publicity builder for both Ratner and Murphy. Catch the scoop after the jump.

Although Tower Heist is very marketable (the comedy's cast includes Eddit Murphy, Ben Stiller, and Matthew Broderick among others), few in Hollywood would shy from a word-spreading opportunity such as this. These days, non-franchise movies need all the attention they can get, regardless of star power. As much as the Oscars may not be as popular as they used to be, Ratner and co. have undoubtedly made a good play here (assuming Murphy doesn't go Sheen on everybody). Here's what the future host has to say:

“I am enormously honored to join the great list of past Academy Award hosts from Hope and Carson to Crystal, Martin and Goldberg, among others...I’m looking forward to working with Brett and Don on creating a show that is enjoyable for both the fans at home and for the audience at the Kodak Theatre as we all come together to celebrate and recognize the great film contributions and collaborations from the past year.”

The quote is pretty generic, but hey, at least the guy is excited about it. I'm sure Eddie Murphy will do a fine job, and besting the James Franco/Anne Hathaway's effort of yesteryear probably won't be very hard. On top of this, former host Billy Crystal is set to make an appearance in "some marquee way" according to Deadline. It all sounds pretty rad to me.

Alexander Payne's 'The Descendants' Receives Rousing Buzz at Telluride

2011-09-03T20:44:00.001-05:00

Source: /Film, Firstshowing.net, Youtube, and Variety

Reviews of Alexander Payne's (Sideways, About Schmidt) new movie The Descendants came online after a screening at the Telluride Film Festival in Telluride, Colorado, earlier today. The dramedy, starring George Clooney, focuses on real estate mogul and distant family man Matt King and how he deals with his wife's entrance into a coma. This is Alexander Payne's first film since the Oscar winner Sideways hit theaters in 2004. See the official synopsis (via Apple Trailers), the trailer, and festival reactions after the break.

From Alexander Payne, the creator of the Oscar-winning SIDEWAYS, set in Hawaii, THE DESCENDANTS is a sometimes humorous, sometimes tragic journey for Matt King (George Clooney) an indifferent husband and father of two girls, who is forced to re-examine his past and embrace his future when his wife suffers a boating accident off of Waikiki. The event leads to a rapprochement with his young daughters while Matt wrestles with a decision to sell the family's land handed down from Hawaiian royalty and missionaries.

Payne has been unable to premiere his last two films at Telluride despite invitations to do so. With The Descendants, the director was able to snag a screening at the festival, which started yesterday. Various bloggers have already posted reactions to the film, and the consensus has been quite positive. Critics have praised Shailene Woodley's performance as King's older daughter. Payne's direction, George Clooney's effort in the lead, and the Hawaiin score have also met good reactions. Although phrases including the word "Oscar" haven't been thrown around yet (there will be plenty of that when the Toronto International Film Festival starts this coming Thursday), things are sure sounding good for Payne and company. See below for some quick reactions.

Peter Debruge via Variety:

""The Descendants" is one of those satisfying, emotionally rich films that works on multiple levels. Some will call their travel agents to book Hawaiian vacations as soon as they dry their eyes (just as "Sideways" boosted wine-tasting in the Santa Ynez Valley), while more cynical auds should find layers to engage their sensibilities as well."

Peter Sciretta of Slash Film

"The Descendants is a brilliant film about the catharsis in the face of the death of a loved one, and the realization that you might not have known everything about that person...The film is beautifully scored using Hawaiian music, and while the movie is set in Hawaii, we get a much different view of this “island paradise” than we’re used to seeing on screen...I can’t wait to revisit the movie again when it is released later this year."

Todd McCarthy via The Hollywood Reporter

"Payne has always impressed with his talent for injecting his studies of flawed ordinary people with unexpected warmth and comedy, but never has his knack for mixing moods and modulating subtle emotions been more evident than in this adaptation of Kaui Hart Hemmings’ 2007 novel."

On a different note, here's what Alex Billington of Firstshowing.net had to say:

"The biggest problems with Descendants lie in the script, and subsequently the dialogue. It seemed as if they took a PG-13 script and punched it up with cursing just to make it more "real", but almost every single line of dialogue with a curse word felt forced, it didn't feel like natural discourse...While I don't think this is Clooney's best performance, he does a great job playing Matt King, as he balances the nuanced, calm side of King, and his wild, angry side (when it comes out), too. However, two of the best performances in the film are Shailene Woodley, who plays his older daughter, and surprisingly Matthew Lillard, who shows up in the later half of the film."

Sound intriguing? The Descendants will do a flippy floppy run into theaters November 23rd.

Wild and Wacky First Trailer for Hunter S. Thompson Adaptation 'The Rum Diary'

2011-08-27T11:57:00.000-05:00

Source: YouTube and /Film

This past Thursday the first trailer for the Hunter S. Thompson adaptation The Rum Diary finally hit the 'net. The film, directed by Bruce Robinson and starring Johnny Depp (this is Depp's second role in a Hunter S. Thompson movie, the first being Raoul Duke in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas), centers on journalist Paul Kemp and his move to Puerto Rico after becoming sick of the United States. Once there, Kemp develops affinities for rum and a woman named Chenault, the fiancée of a wealthy corrupt businessman. Aaron Eckhart plays Sanderson the businessman and Amber Heard is Chenault. The Rum Diary saw a decade of development before being completed. Production occurred in 2009, and a release has been held back since. See the official synopsis (via the film's official YouTube channel) after the break.

Based on the debut novel by Hunter S. Thompson, "The Rum Diary" tells the increasingly unhinged story of itinerant journalist Paul Kemp (Johnny Depp). Tiring of the noise and madness of New York and the crushing conventions of late Eisenhower-era America, Kemp travels to the pristine island of Puerto Rico to write for a local newspaper, The San Juan Star, run by downtrodden editor Lotterman (Richard Jenkins). Adopting the rum-soaked life of the island, Paul soon becomes obsessed with Chenault (Amber Heard), the wildly attractive Connecticut-born fiancée of Sanderson (Aaron Eckhart). Sanderson, a businessman involved in shady property development deals, is one of a growing number of American entrepreneurs who are determined to convert Puerto Rico into a capitalist paradise in service of the wealthy. When Kemp is recruited by Sanderson to write favorably about his latest unsavory scheme, the journalist is presented with a choice: to use his words for the corrupt businessmen's financial benefit, or use them to take the bastards down.

Tropical aerial shots? Check. Beautiful women? Check. Alcohol? Check. LSD prompted hallucination of a one foot human tongue? Check! Sure enough, The Rum Diary looks about as ridiculous as any Hunter S. Thompson adaptation should be. Johnny Depp's trademark quips and unfiltered yelling are as obvious as ever, though there is a lack of the fashionably questionable piles of accessories he usually dons. Depp's semi-quirky humor seems to fit well with the absurdity of the rest of the movie, not to mention his ability to act while on drug trips and drunken escapades (Oh he was acting that way? My bad.) This comes off as pretty entertaining, but I've felt this way before when it comes to the hey-look-this-movie-is-sort-of-absurd-so-that's-the-main-marketing-point types of films (often times they and up having a poor script and go to die in the second act). I would love to see The Rum Diary end up being more than the usual fare, and so far there's potential for that to be the case.

The Rum Diary drunkenly stumbles into theaters October 28th.

Pixar Releases the Official Synopsis for 'Brave'

2011-08-26T16:01:00.000-05:00

Sources: Pixar Planet and /Film

Yesterday Pixar revealed the official synopsis for its new fantasy film Brave. After releasing a teaser back in June and giving out some new facts at Disney's D23 Expo last week, there is now some word as to what the movie is really about. (FYI: before this info was let out of the bag, the only details on the story were that Brave would be a fantasy, taking place in Scotland, and starring a bow-wielding ginger named Merida). Check out the full synopsis after the break.

"Since ancient times, stories of epic battles and mystical legends have been passed through the generations across the rugged and mysterious Highlands of Scotland. In “Brave,” a new tale joins the lore when the courageous Merida (voice of Kelly Macdonald) confronts tradition, destiny and the fiercest of beasts.

Merida is a skilled archer and impetuous daughter of King Fergus (voice of Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (voice of Emma Thompson). Determined to carve her own path in life, Merida defies an age-old custom sacred to the uproarious lords of the land: massive Lord MacGuffin (voice of Kevin McKidd), surly Lord Macintosh (voice of Craig Ferguson) and cantankerous Lord Dingwall (voice of Robbie Coltrane). Merida’s actions inadvertently unleash chaos and fury in the kingdom, and when she turns to an eccentric old Witch (voice of Julie Walters) for help, she is granted an ill-fated wish. The ensuing peril forces Merida to discover the meaning of true bravery in order to undo a beastly curse before it’s too late.

Directed by Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman, and produced by Katherine Sarafian, “Brave” is a grand adventure full of heart, memorable characters and the signature Pixar humor enjoyed by audiences of all ages. The film takes aim at theaters on June 22, 2012, and will be presented in Disney Digital 3D™ in select theaters.

A grand adventure full of heart, memorable characters and signature Pixar humor, “Brave” uncovers a new tale in the mysterious Highlands of Scotland where the impetuous Merida (voice of Kelly Macdonald) defies an age-old custom and inadvertently unleashes chaos, forcing her to discover the meaning of true bravery before it’s too late."

I suppose it's a little redundant towards the end there, but otherwise Brave sounds solid to me. Pixar's first foray into fantasy (as well as their first film with a female lead) looks to be an epic and well animated one at that. See the teaser below.

How 'bout them apples? I don't know about you all, but I think this is already looking spectacular. The animation looks as gorgeous as ever and the voice work sounds great too. Although the teaser wasn't too Pixar-ish per se, a few tid bits surely are (Lord Macintosh cannot be anything but a reference to one of Pixar's most influential figures, Steve Jobs). The film has been mentioned to be a bit darker than usual, though the signature humor from Studios is said to be intact. On a side note, the bear at the end of the teaser is named Mordu. He's supposedly one of the principle villains of the film, and Pixar has described him as "Moby Dick on Land" The wait for Brave is going to be just unbearable.

You can also view a pretty little poster for the film here.

Brave will be day walking it into theaters June 22, 2012, in Disney Digital 3-D.

Stunning U.S. Trailer for Silent Black and White Cannes Hit 'The Artist'

2011-08-26T01:06:00.003-05:00

Source: Youtube

The official U.S. trailer for the silent Cannes favorite The Artist appeared online today. The black and white film focuses on silent film actor Geroge Valentin's fall from stardom, as well as the subsequent rise of Peppy Miller, a love interest. Director Michael Hazanavicius' movie gained a boatload of buzz at Cannes this year, some of which lead to a hint of Best Picture talk. See the offical synopsis (from Apple Trailers) below.

Hollywood 1927. George Valentin is a very successful silent movie star. The arrival of talking pictures will mark the end of his career. Peppy Miller, a young woman extra, becomes a major movie star.

Having watched almost no silent films, much of my excitement (and/or curiosity) towards The Artist stems from the opportunity to see a current movie embody such a relatively old style. I'm already in love with the old school imagery, especially the painting and trantrum-like shots near the end of the trailer. Given the fact that audiences have been experiencing films with sound for the last 80 years or so, I'm interested to see what the broader opinion will end up being. It seems apparent that The Artist will be receiving a fair amount of attention come Oscar season, and given the footage here (plus the buzz out of Cannes) that will most likely be the case. Check out the trailer below.

On a side note: with The Artist, The Iron Lady, My Week With Marilyn, and Corolianus all set for releases this fall, it looks like the Weinstein Company will be having a pretty exciting time come awards season.

The Artist will be hitting theaters November 23.

Ridley Scott Set to Return for a "wholly original" 'Blade Runner'; No Harrison Ford Attached

2011-08-21T16:36:00.002-05:00

Sources: Deadline, Los Angeles Times, and /Film

This past Thursday Alcon Entertainment announced that Ridley Scott will be directing and producing a movie set in the same universe as the seminal 1982 sci-fi classic Blade Runner. Back in March, Alcon Entertainment (a production company based out of Warner Bros.) acquired the rights to make sequels, prequels, and television content based on the film. The original, a sort of futuristic noir set in 2019 Los Angeles, focused on police officer Rick Deckard (played by Harrison Ford) and his mission to track down escaped androids called replicants. Blade Runner is loosely based on the Philip K. Dick novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

Director Ridley Scott is currently finishing work on the quasi Alien prequel Prometheus (due June 8 of next year, in 3-D) and is involved in the development for this new project as well. It would be safe to assume that the new film will be in three dimensions, with Scott having said how he'll "never work without 3-D again" On the other side of things, the movie's relationship with the original Blade Runner is not yet clear. The project could end up being a sequel or a prequel, and has no legal means to be a remake. So what does all of this add up to then?

Alcon Entertainment producer Andrew Kosove put it best: "Everything Ridley does as a filmmaker is fresh...I believe he sees an opportunity to create something that’s wholly original from the first 'Blade Runner.' " Much like Prometheus' transformation from Alien prequel to a project with "strands of Alien's DNA," this could turn out to be a film nearly unrelated to the original. And as for casting, that means that there will indeed be a lack of some Harrison Ford.

However, any casting news is likely a good year (or two) out. Ridley Scott and Alcon producers must first go through pre-production, which consists of choosing a writer, verifying the screenplay, and conceptual design. According to the Los Angeles Times, production will probably not begin until early 2013- assuming Scott doesn't direct one of his other developing projects first. Even if he moved straight to a new Blade Runner, the earliest it could be released would be 2014.

There's no doubt that Ridley Scott is a fantastic director. Hopefully this will turn out good, if not great (knock on wood). Although, it's pretty difficult to follow one of the Greatest Movies of All Time with something comparable (see George Lucas multiple times). Maybe some things are best left alone, but then again, maybe not.

Belated Review: The Tree of Life is a Mesmerizing Art House Epic

2011-08-11T18:31:00.002-05:00

THE TREE OF LIFE

Directed by Terrence Malick

Starring Brad Pitt, Sean Penn, Jessica Chastain, and Hunter McCracken

Written by Terrence Malick

Rated PG-13 for some thematic material

138 Minutes

Release Status: In limited release since May 27

Plot: The Tree of Life tells the story of Jack O'Brien's complicated relationship with his father within the context of the entire universe.

Director Terrence Malick's 1998 World War II drama The Thin Red Line exposed movie goers to a valor-less, mindless, and timeless account of the Battle of Mount Austen on Guadalcanal. Instead of heroic violence or noble intentions, Malick's depiction of the Second World War focused on Humanity's disconnection with Nature, a pervading sense of subtle insanity throughout its characters (as well as the conflict itself) and the survival of good in such terrible circumstances. Although it would be hard to say that Malick focused on any one thing, per se (he is known for his rather erratic style, though it evokes more feelings of transcendence than Attention Deficit Disorder), it seemed as if the intent of such thematic and stylistic schizophrenia in The Thin Red Line was to juxtapose horror and calm, war and peace, God and Man, and good and evil. With The Tree of Life, Malick throws similar themes into a context that is both as large as physically possible- the universe- and one that is searingly intimate- a boy's relationship with his father, himself, God, and the forces of Grace and Nature.

"Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation...while the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?"

The Tree of Life opens with this quote from the Book of Job, bringing the sense that the film one is about to experience is much more than the intimate domestic story at its core. What follows is a sort of prologue that establishes all of the film's primary focuses. None of the footage is shown in any linear fashion, save for the clips themselves.

In this way Malick's initial organization is fairly confusing, and forces us to hope that the entire movie is not as as seemingly sporadic. However, once the principle narrative of Jack's childhood is underway, all fears are laid to rest as the order becomes chronological. Though in The Tree of Life, Malick's definition of chronological is a bit more literal that most: he really does go from start to finish.

According to Terrence Malick, the moment of creation begins with an eerie, embryonic collection of colors followed by a slow burst of light. The flame-like looking thing, which is most likely intended to be the Creator, fades away to reveal a post-Big Bang view of the Universe. Wandering lights, refractions, and collections of vibrant celestial colors paint the screen. In this case, Malick has played the role of the Creator, using the Universe as his canvas (though with artistic intent instead of who knows what). These sequences, containing exploding gases, floating planets, and magnificent silhouettes- are mesmerizing. It would be difficult not to be stunned by the sheer poetic magnitude of the events unfolding onscreen.

The Tree of Life then narrows its sights on the origins of terrestrial life. From a fiery volcanic surface comes bubbling pools, and from these the first microbes. Peaceful Jellyfish, deft fish, plants, moss, and even dinosaurs follow suit, though at times the computer animation in these scenes is rather outdated. Being as this is not a movie attempting to flex its digital muscles, any "old" looking visuals are a nuisance in an already taking set of stunning footage.

At this point, Jack O'Brien's childhood becomes the center of the The Tree of Life's Universe. Jack's mother (Jessica Chastain) is the manifestation of Grace, which entails a lifestyle full of passivity and unconditional love. On the other hand, the boys' father (played poignantly by a sinister Brad Pitt) is Nature in all its forceful glory: powerful, demanding, and stern. Put into the context of 1950's suburban Texas Americana, these two characters are not only the bearers of the key motifs of The Tree of Life, but a fitting take of an old time's culture. Stay at home mom Mrs. O'Brien loves her children dearly, and puts up little resistance when any of her children turn rebellious. She aptly represents all the qualities that would fit a divine presence: serenity, love, and femininity (which leads to the notion that she could, in some form, be Mary the mother of Jesus). The crew cut Mr. O'Brien chooses to take his self criticized aspirational inadequacies and convert them to a fearful control over his life. Being one who chose the path of Nature, Mr. O'Brien takes control over what he can.

Brad Pitt has just been informed that his wife carries the Gingervitis gene.

Undeterred by all of the philosophical inquiries in The Tree of Life, Jack O'Brien's story still takes center stage. His development contains a few staples of what it is to be a morally grey being engaging in a seemingly grey world. Jack struggles with the rebelliousness and confusion of adolescence, as well as taking charge of his own Universal identity despite the pressings of his father.

Given this set up, Jack, as quoted saying "Father, Mother, always you wrestle inside me," brings the viewer into the very conundrum of Human "nature". If the Universe has existed for billions of years, and one's lifetime contains that but less than one hundred, do our choices matter, or even the life that contains them? The Tree of Life makes an enormous effort to explore this question. By integrating pacing (Jack's narrative takes over the vast majority of the running time for a reason), thematic qualities, metaphors galore, and footage that makes life on Earth seem the running definition of beauty, Malick tells us that yes, our lives, the God in them, and the choices we make are indeed important as long as we allow them to be. To make his case, Terrence Malick utilizes idyllic imagery and the oft felt taste of love-born nirvana.

Malick's style is distinct as ever in The Tree of Life. Most of the communication from director to audience is made by wandering visuals instead of dialogue. In fact, much of the talking in the film consists of whispered voice overs. Following suit, there are almost no scenes in the traditional sense; the bulk of the movie is essentially a montage of sorts. Nearly all of the shots in the Tree of Life are moving- not only literally, but fluidly from idea to idea as well. It's as if Terrence Malick somehow developed ADHD throughout filming. Even if the director has befallen such a circumstance, it has paid off well for both he and the viewers. Malick's wonderful images, surely a product of intense Steadicam use, has the capacity to be both mind bogglingly dazzling and searingly painful.

The film's vibrant colors and editing style results in picture that is easy to become lost in. It's entirely worth it, too. For each viewing there is to be a different look at the principle concepts of The Tree of Life. On top of this, the film brings out the wonderment of the world, even if life is so apparently short. The artistry, multilayer nature, beauty, and seamless synthesis within this movie is like few others. If there is one film in 2011 to be declared showing a true artist at work, this is it folks. Not only is The Tree of Life destined to become the defining movie of Terrence Malick's career, but it will also last as a great work of modern cinema.

Midnight Showing...and a Few Hours Later
A perfect movie or close to it. Get off this blog and see this movie immediately.

Must Watch Trailer for Transformers: Dark of the Moon

2011-04-28T19:12:00.001-05:00

Source: Apple Trailers

The theatrical trailer for director Michael Bay's Transformers: Dark of the Moon hit the internet today via Apple Trailers. This massive robot-clashing epic, the third movie of the Transformers trilogy, centers on Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf), his new lady friend (Rosie Huntington-Whiteley), the Autobots, and the military ops team (lead by Tyrese Gibson and Josh Duhamel) seen in the previous films as they fight to save Earth yet again. This time, however, a hidden Space Race era plot has surfaced, and there's a whole lot more Decepticons (or just evil robots, I'm not sure to be honest) to go around. See the official synopsis, from Apple, below.

Shia LaBeouf returns as Sam Witwicky in Transformers: Dark of the Moon. When a mysterious event from Earth's past erupts into the present day it threatens to bring a war to Earth so big that the Transformers alone will not be able to save us.

I'm going to admit that this is one of the best trailers of the year so far. For better or for worse, it's classic Michael Bay- a multitude of enormous effects shots, enormous explosions, and just plain enormous things in general are here for the ogling. Plenty of downright ballistic action clips fill this trailer as well. Optimus Prime's sword swinging what have you and the giant worm/destroyer-of-buildings-thing end up coming off as almost average by the time the trailer is done. As always, the special effects look gritty and cutting edge. Oh, and it's been filmed in 3-D, so it'll all be in your face. On the flip side, the story looks a bit corny (read: the same thing as the other Transformers movies), but hey, at least this time Michael Bay has said that the scale will have a tighter character focus. Speaking of which, I don't usually look for strong acting in a Michael Bay movie, yet somehow Dark of the Moon has a fairly strong cast. I've never been much for Shia "nonononononono!!!" LaBeouf (who has?). Thankfully John Malkovich and Frances McDormand are involved this time around. Who knows how large of roles they have; at least we won't be seeing a couple of racist robot caricatures in their places. In its entirety, this looks to be one heck of an epic conclusion. Check out the trailer for yourself below!

Transformers: Dark of the Moon stars Shia LaBeouf, Josh Duhamel, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, John Malkovich, Patrick Dempsey, Ken Jeong, John Turturro, Frances McDormand, Peter Cullen, and Tyrese Gibson, and will crash into theaters on July 1st, in 3-D.

Review: Rango is Wonderfully Creative and Engrossing Mixtape Movie

2011-03-23T22:08:00.001-05:00

RANGO

Directed by Gore Verbinski

Starring the voices of Johnny Depp, Isla Fisher, Abigail Breslin, Alfred Molina, and Bill Nighy

Written by John Logan

Rated PG for rude humor, language, action and smoking

107 Minutes

Release Status: In major theaters since March 11th

Premise: The identity-less lizard Rango becomes stranded in the desert after falling out of a car. After defeating a hawk, an enemy of the local town Dirt, Rango becomes the hero of moment- but with water running out and a conspiracy threatening to surface, he may not stay that way.

Rango is a bit of a paradox. Much like Quentin Tarantino, the Coen brothers, or a track from the latest Girl Talk album, Gore Verbinski's Western not only straddles genres- specifically western, comedy, action adventure, and mystery- but also a bevy of film references ranging from The Big Sleep to Star Wars. It may sound as if this movie lacks originality as a result, but by no means is that the case. Rango is the most original and audacious movie of the year so far, by far.

It becomes apparent that Rango is unusual the moment the movie starts. Instead of being greeted by an establishing shot or view of the film's title character, we are presented with a mariachi band consisting of four small birds. The group's leader, in a clever, American Beauty like manner, informs us that Rango will die by the time the story is over. While this tidbit may come off as overly complicated and dark for the first few minutes of what appears to be a children's movie, it is only the first of many times in which the film's protagonist is doubted by its own narrators.

In addition to the birds and audience, Rango tends to doubt himself too. Despite defeating one of Dirt's most fearsome villains, the lizard still does not trust or know himself. This is the place where Rango carries its strongest emotional depth. Much like last year's How to Train Your Dragon, Rango is a surprisingly taking tale of identity and what it means to be a man/hero. How fitting for that to be the theme- The Big Lebowski, a movie dealing with the same ideas,among others, is referenced in Rango along with a potluck of other films (interestingly enough, the detail cited in Rango is referencing a costume from the Coen brothers' 1998 cult classic that refers to a noir classic by the name of The Big Sleep).

Rango is essentially a retelling of Chinatown. The 1974 detective story directed by Roman Polanski deals with a conspiracy to monopolize Californian water (a theme that is central to Rango). Both films are mysteries in their own right, share similar structures, and explore themes of heroism. For any viewer who has seen both movies, the similarities between Rango and Chinatown are borderline copycat. On the other hand, the classy and self conscious way in which this is done adds much to the meaning of this picture.

As much as Gore Verbinski and John Logan (director and writer, respectively) poke fun at noir cliches, westerns get their fare share of gags as well. The references start with a mysterious traveler met by Rango, continue with genre gags from the tense bar scene, a couple of females with whom the hero bonds, to a chase scene or two, and end with one of the greatest filmmakers of all time. There are even nods to Apocalypse Now and Star Wars- nonetheless, both of those are within the span of a minute or two.

However, the motley of film references comes with a small price. As with many stories that are built on others, Rango becomes rather predictable, and thinks it's a much better movie than it truthfully is. Don't get me wrong, this is a fun one, but such self assurance results in a few bad jokes (amongst a slew of other clever ones) and a terrible, tweeny use of the word "awkward" Despite these mars, Rango manages to be an incredibly entertaining experience.

Rango performs the near impossible on-horse One Cheek Sneak

I'm not sure how well this one will fare for kids under ten, as there are a few potentially scary scenes and mildly complicated plot. But for anyone older, Rango is a caper worth paying money for. For one thing, there are plenty of chuckle-inducing jokes to go around from start to finish. Acting in his usual wacky ways, Johnny Depp delivers most of the laughs. Children will find joy in the film's rather simple humor, and adults will discover more mature jokes hidden within. When there's no laughter in the crowd, Verbinski gives us action scenes and intriguing gumshoe/sheriff sequences. The thrill seeking in Rango doesn't go much beyond the minimum in terms of, well say, keeping our attention, but manages to give a nice change of pace from the dialogue.

As Rango is fairly plotty, the team behind it treats us to a good amount of detective style story telling. In the aforementioned Chinatown style, Rango navigates his pursuit of truth in a hard boiled order- finding a body, asking the right and wrong questions, as well as following footprints. Filled with jabs at the noir and detective genres, these scenes will bring joy to any avid moviegoer. Along with the investigative segments comes a few clever twists here and there. While far from original, these turns allow Rango to take on a tone more mature than other animated films.

Speaking of which, the animation in Rango is fantastic. Not only are the CGI creations in this one pushing the industry all the more towards photorealism, but also make for a quirky and rather bold take on the West. It's hard not to notice the bendy lines and animal style citizens of Dirt. Not quite Tim Burton, but far from a Pixar film, Rango boasts a vision both unique to cinemas and startlingly creative.

When it comes to Depp, I was unsure of how well he could hold the film's quirky humor for 100 minutes or so, not to mention keep any emotional ties intact. And with Johnny Depp's fairly redundant acting, things can easily go from bad to worse. Luckily, it's the opposite, but not without a slight intolerance toward the Pirates star's all too recognizable voice inflections (let me put it this way: if this movie had the him in person, it would have been a lot more obnoxious). Aside from the lead, the rest of the cast is top notch. The citizens of Dirt fit their visual manifestations to a tee and give the film's atmosphere closure.

If it weren't for the hand of Gore Verbinski, this picture could have gone off the rails easily. Verbinski's direction, most skillful in scenes full of movement and dream sequences, is at times the star of the show. From the stellar opener, which contains a well constructed unintentional escape, to a hilarious encounter with one of cinema's greats, kinetics and atmosphere are synthesized into a feeling almost unreal. Which is precisely the point, since there are a couple of portions far from normal (remember those acid trips in Lebowski?). But in Rango, which somehow makes something new out of many a old thing, being offbeat is what makes it feel right on the beat.

In Theaters
Great. Not one of the years best, but memorable.

James Bond-ish First Trailer For X-Men First Class Debuts

2011-02-10T19:31:00.000-06:00

Source: Youtube.com

The first trailer for director Matthew Vaughn's X-Men: First Class came online today via Youtube. The new X-Men movie is a prequel to the others, and may be the start of a new, darker trilogy. This one focuses on the formation of the X-Men and the eventual rift between Professor X and Magneto. Due to the Cold War era and resulting aesthetics, there have comparisons to old-school James Bond movies. We'll see how the global espionage shtick turns out in a few months. See the official synopsis (via Youtube) below.

X-MEN FIRST CLASS charts the epic beginning of the X-Men saga, and reveals a secret history of famous global events. Before mutants had revealed themselves to the world, and before Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr took the names Professor X and Magneto, they were two young men discovering their powers for the first time. Not archenemies, they were instead at first the closest of friends, working together with other Mutants (some familiar, some new), to prevent nuclear Armageddon. In the process, a grave rift between them opened, which began the eternal war between Magneto's Brotherhood and Professor X's X-Men.

Maybe it's the quality of this trailer, or the recent trend of previews to show the whole movie, but my first impression of X-Men: First Class is a mixed one. The trailer shows little action, which to some degree is precisely what trailers should be doing, and gives a good sense of the plot. However, the small amount of excitement makes me feel a little disappointed compared to other trailers. But I'm anxious to see more. I think the 60's feel could work out very well, especially with the connection to the Cold War. I also love the brief taste of action revealed- yup, Magneto is controlling a frickin' submarine. With Matthew Vaughn directing and a solid pair of leads, I have a pretty good feeling about this one. Let's just hope it's not another X-Men: The Last Stand. Check out the official trailer below!

X-Men: First Class will hit theaters on June 3rd.

The Weekly Taste: Last Minutes With ODEN

2011-02-08T17:39:00.001-06:00

Short of the Week:

Source: Vimeo.com

This week's selection is Eliot Rausch's Last Minutes With Oden. The short recently won Best Video, Best Documentary, and Community Choice at the 2010 Vimeo Awards. Eliot Rausch's short doc tells the story of Jason Wood's dog, Oden, and the two's final minutes together. Last Minutes With Oden is a touching and well produced film. The story, although hard to grasp at first, is a tearjerker. It can be hard for me to take such sentimental things seriously, depending on the context and production values, but Last Minutes With Oden is a strong exception. Intimate, focus-lapsing shots and smart editing allow the plot to prevail. It's no wonder the video won the awards it did. Check out the short below, and get some tissues ready if you've ever owned a dog.

Last Minutes with ODEN from phos pictures on Vimeo.

The Weekly Taste:

127 Hours

Directed by Danny Boyle

Plot: Aron Rolston (James Franco), a young and reckless hiker, gets caught between a rock and a hard place- literally. In a battle to survive, Rolston must go to extremes in order to overcome his situation.

Full of dazzling colors, unique imagery, and fine directing, 127 Hours is one of 2010's best films. James Franco delivers an incredible performance, and the result is a gripping, intense, and physically exhausting piece. If you haven't seen this movie yet, do so soon- it's received far less attention than it deserves.

Midnight Showing...and a Few Hours Later
A perfect movie or close to it. Get off this blog and see this movie immediately.

The Roommate
Directed by Christian E. Christiansen
Plot: A girl moves in with a creepy roommate who begins to obsess with her.

If it weren't for the obnoxious talking scenes, The Roommate would have been the best unintentional comedy in years. Full of hilarious "scares", incoherent editing, cliches and stereotypes galore, and muted colors, redundantly named Christian E. Christiansen's The Roommate started of February on a brown note. This movie sucks. Hard.

Find Something Else To Do
Really, really bad. Sometimes too bad to even laugh at.

I Love You Phillip Morris
Directed by Glenn Ficarra
Plot: Steven Jay Russell is gay, gay, gay, gay, gay. However, he soon learns that being gay requires lots of money- so he becomes a con man.

It's too bad I Love You Phillip Morris ended up as it did. Even with Jim Carrey in the lead, and a couple of good jokes here and there, the comedy ends up being little more than a typical con man movie with a homosexual main character. The somewhat dry script and mostly average directing pull from what could be a truly funny and touching trip to the movies. If only much of I Love You Phillip Morris wasn't mediocre.

Rent it
Flawed, but there's enough entertainment available to warrant a viewing.

The Weekly Taste: Gong

2011-02-02T17:41:00.000-06:00

Short of the Week:

Source: Youtube.com

This week's selection is Eric Lerner's 2008 film Gong. The short centers on a man who has an emotion telling machine on his body (the multicolored box thing in the photo above). Gong is a documentary style piece highlighting the possibilities of open emotion. It's interesting to see the brief situations the protagonist is thrust into- especially the end. Although the song "Gong" by Sigur Ros casts a shadow on about everything else in it, the short is a well shot and constructed piece. I enjoyed the colors and setup of the story. It's always surprising how much can be told in five minutes. Take a look and enjoy!

The Weekly Taste:

Buried
Directed by Rodrigo Cortes
Plot: U.S. contractor Paul Conroy (Ryan Reynolds) wakes up in a coffin with no idea of how he got there and must find a way to escape before he suffocates.

It's an excellent and mind boggling premise- make an entire movie that takes place in a coffin. Although the one man show can be frustrating at times, Rodrigo Cortes does a fine job directing, as does star Ryan Reynolds. With plenty of "how did they do that?" shots and a strong plot, it's a shame Buried didn't see more attention.

Buy the DVD
Pretty good. A movie that is for the most part enjoyable.

On a side note, My First Date directors Sam Nunez and Wayne T. Williams put up a vlog on my interview with them. Check it out below! I feel so special...

They're Just Two Guys Having a Good Time: The Story of Sam Nunez and Wayne T. Williams' Documentary My First Date

2011-01-31T19:13:00.006-06:00

Source: myfirstdatemovie.com, Facebook.com, and Sam Nunez and Wayne T. Williams

You never really know what the Internet has in store for you. As a follower of multiple movie blogs and news sites, I run into random, sometimes obscure films on a regular basis. However, about two weeks ago, by complete chance, I saw a link to a movie called My First Date on Firstshowing.net's Facebook page. It's funny, I rarely look at the site's feed via Facebook, and this movie was only linked on their Facebook wall. I visited My First Date's page and was surprised to say the least.

The movie turned out to be a documentary based on 20-year-old Los Angeles film student Sam Nunez's quest to go on his first date- with none other than Harry Potter star Emma Watson. Intrigued? Who wouldn't be. Within a few minutes I found myself on My First Date's official site, viewing promotional clips and street interviews conducted by Sam Nunez. Not only did I find the idea of the film itself catchy, inspirational, and a touch wild, but the footage showed a man full of honesty, enthusiasm, and love for Emma Watson. My First Date was looking pretty frickin' interesting.

Next thing I knew, I was exchanging e-mails with Sam Nunez himself. Eventually arrangements were made to conduct a phone interview with Sam and his co-director, Wayne T. Williams. To say that I was ecstatic is an understatement. The following story is based on the words of Nunez and Williams, with a recording of the interview at the very bottom. I hope you enjoy the story as much as I enjoyed the wonderful opportunity I received. In fact, Nunez and Williams eventually told me they planned on putting the interview in their movie. They also told me I would be at the premiere if that were to happen. How about that for clicking a random link on Facebook?

See a teaser for My First Date below:

Sam Nunez was born in Oahu, Hawaii and was the only male in the house of his childhood. Nunez watched such classics as Star Wars and The Lord of the Rings while growing up, and went on to make videos with friends in high school after falling in love with film. He moved to Los Angeles and began attending film school at the Art Institute of California Los Angeles in 2008. Nunez met current best friend and co-director Wayne T. Williams there, and the two instantly clicked.

My First Date officially began production on Sam Nunez's 20th birthday, in December of 2009. The project, which Nunez said drew inspiration from the 2005 documentary My Date With Drew, had been in Sam's head since high school. However, it was after a conversation with Wayne T. Williams that he finally found the motivation to get going. Williams told Nunez that his long time crush on Emma Watson was not stupid, and that the idea for a documentary based on it was in fact pretty cool.

My First Date saw a slow start. Neither Nunez nor Williams had had much education in documentary film making, if any, and were mostly accustomed to highly structured narrative pieces. Williams said that, initially, he found it difficult to adjust to the spur of the moment style shooting. The two also struggled with finding time throughout the crew's already busy schedule- film school, internships, and jobs took up enough time on their own. Williams said that not much consistent headway was made until September of 2010, when man-on-street interviews were conducted. In October of 2010, My First Date's official website went up, as did promotional clips and a teaser. Since then, the project has been gaining some momentum.

Sam Nunez has never been a date. So, throughout production, Nunez has received dozens of tips, stories, and pieces of advice all in regards to dating. Nunez said the conversations have been fascinating and that hearing them makes him feel more comfortable. However, he said he should take anything he hears with a grain of salt, as there have been some interesting encounters. Williams (seen at right) described one case in which a young, quite attractive woman would literally get up and walk out on a date. In fact, apparently the woman went on to say things that were, as Williams put it, "like R, like XXX", which would be unusable in any cut due to the teen audience goal (and PG-13 rating). Nunez summed it up beautifully: "[She was a] gorgeous girl...with a typical guy's mind," On the other end, Nunez and Williams once interviewed a startlingly bleak clown who said, in response to Sam asking in he had a shot at the date, "Well you can write her a letter, but I doubt that she would go out with you if she doesn't know you."

As with any project, the random stranger is not the only naysayer. Nunez said that some people consider the project to be a joke, or see the date as nothing short of attempting to shoot the moon. "There are always two sides: people who are gonna like it, people who are gonna hate it," said Nunez. Some also find his crush to be creepy. Nunez finds the behavior to be frustrating, but said he tends to use the comments as "fuel or ammunition to prove them wrong," or just brushes them off. He said he's always been a big believer in the date. Williams, on the other hand, isn't bothered by the negative comments. He said he realizes that it is much harder for Sam to take insults or hard press than it is for him. However, Williams went on to say that any publicity is good publicity, and both expressed the great need for any attention due to the size of My First Date's current following.

When it comes to the documentary's reliance on word of mouth, both Nunez (seen on the left) and Williams were in the same boat. "[It's] not a super positive or negative thing," said Williams. He went on to say that word of mouth, especially in the hands of complete strangers (or 17-year-old bloggers from Minnesota) can easily go either way. It's no surprise that the two find it frustrating when they put a lot of work into something that may go unnoticed. Both Nunez and Williams knew that these would be struggles going into the project, but have high spirits regardless. Nunez said word of mouth can be effective, specifically for their project, and has a feeling that people will soon begin to take an eye to their movie. In fact, Nunez is convinced that the date is going to happen this year. In order for that to occur, Williams said "[We] got a lot of stuff cooking" The two plan on promoting their movie by standing on street corners, hosting "support the movie" bar nights, and handing out fliers. There's plenty of stuff going on online, too. My First Date has its own website, Facebook page, Twitter account, and Youtube channel, all of which require frequent maintenance. In fact, Williams and Nunez see the Internet as their most lucrative avenue of promotion.

"It's is gonna play a huge role. [Sic] Ironically, I don't think the date will happen without the Internet." said Williams. For one thing, the project will rely heavily on its fan base to reach popularity- even for the date itself. Williams said he would see the date as more compelling if Emma Watson heard of it via a friend rather than an e-mail from Nunez. In terms of numbers, Williams said he hopes to see the Facebook page's fans in the thousands, their Youtube views in the high thousands, and a heavy amount of attention on Twitter. Nunez added that the Internet is a tool for anyone to take advantage of, and that it can be hard to get your stuff out there. He also wishes to avoid contacting Emma Watson's agent for the date.

And as for the date itself? Nunez hopes that nothing, at all, would go wrong. He would want Emma to be as comfortable as possible, hoping that anything from a nice dinner, movie, bowling, arcade visit, or record shop browse would be in the mix. Nunez said he would really just want to hang out and get to know his date, without much pressure for anything serious.

Nunez conducts one of his numerous interviews

If the date happens, what then? The two mentioned that they hope for a release, but Nunez said "All that stuff...would be the amazing perks." However, if My First Date did see success, Nunez said he would love to be in question and answer sessions. He brought up the fact that he enjoys attending them now and finds the sessions to be inspiring. Nunez would love to inspire others and help those who helped the project along the way. As for Williams, who is a big fan of reality shows, he would likely continue with directing music videos. Williams agreed that the date is the foremost goal in this project.

Nunez was the only male living in his childhood home. He said he is grateful for the way in which he was raised, and that it has contributed greatly to who he is today. His childhood made him a more sensitive man, and a bit of a romantic at that. Nunez mentioned that the experiences he had growing up have had some part in My First Date, and that his romanticism has made him feel that his first date has taken too long to happen. Although frustrating, this aspect of Sam is integral to the project. "I hope to inspire others that have not gone on a date," said Nunez "Nothing is wrong with you, it'll happen." Sam, I think you'll be getting your first date sooner than you think.

My First Date is directed by Sam Nunez and Wayne T. Williams. Don Cunanan and Michael Alvarado are producing the project, which is currently in production.

Check out My First Date's official site at myfirstdatemovie.com, and the Facebook page here.

Listen to the interview below!

My First Date Interview with Sam Nunez and Wayne T Williams from Tom Vatterott on Vimeo.

The Weekly Taste: Fight the Foot

2011-01-26T16:53:00.002-06:00

Short of the Week:

Source: Youtube.com

This week's selection is Fight the Foot by a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle fan. The video centers on April O'Neil and her first encounter with Raphael. The Foot Clan, hence "Foot" in the title" makes an appearance- but as more of a street gang than ninja troupe. See the synopsis from Youtube below:

April O'Neil reported on a new gang in the streets. Then it got personal. Only those below the streets can help her now.

Who knows, the maker of this may end up being involved in the live action TMNT reboot that is in the works. As someone who is too young to really appreciate all of this stuff, I can't really say much. However this fan made short is worth a watch. Although it appears to be shot in digital, the visuals are stellar. I love the editing too, although it gets a bit fluky during the action. If there was a TMNT movie that looked a lot like this one, I know I would be on board. Check it out for yourself below.

The Weekly Taste:

The Green Hornet:

Directed by Michael Gondry

Plot: Trust fund man child Britt Reid unwillingly inherits his father's newspaper. With a growing sense of purpose, the party animal decides to fight crime with his Swiss knife-like friend Kato.

If Kick-Ass were PG-13, had Seth Rogen, was a lot less funny, and not containing much action, The Green Hornet would be the end result. There is plenty of room for improvement when it comes to the weak story and horrible 3-D, but the occasional laughs and fast paced action scenes assist greatly. If only Seth Rogen didn't play himself for the millionth time in a row.

Rating:

Download it
Mediocre. Genre, series, director, or other fans would be the only people enjoying this one.

The Blind Side:

Directed by John Lee Hancock

Plot: The "true" story of Michael Oher's stay with the Tuohy family and his exploits in football.

Chock full of racial stereotypes, clichés, and sappy scenes, The Blind Side is one of the most over rated movies of 2009. Sure, the production values are solid, and Sandra Bullock does a great job, but the racist undertones and fairytale-like story prove too much to be anything forgivable.

Rating:

Download it
Mediocre. Genre, series, director, or other fans would be the only people enjoying this one.

On a side note, I've been messing around with chroma key (greenscreening) and these two videos are some of the results. Enjoy!

2011 Academy Awards Nominations Announced

2011-01-25T21:22:00.004-06:00

Source: Oscars.go.com

The nominees for the 83rd annual Academy Awards of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences were revealed this morning in Beverly Hills, Calirfornia. The awards, for the second time in a row since 1943, have ten Best Picture nominees. James Franco and Anne Hathaway will host the awards, held at the Kodak Theatre, starting at 7PM Central on February 27th, 2011. ABC will be broadcasting the show live.

I have to say that this year's selections are satisfactory. Initially, I found the listing to be quite mundane and predictable. However, the trumping of The Social Network by both The King's Speech and True Grit made things much more interesting. Here's the list of the biggest movies and their number of nominations:

The King's Speech: 12
True Grit: 10
Inception: 8
The Social Network: 8

While the excitement of following the Oscars intensely has easily worn off from last year, these awards still do a pretty good job. It's too bad Andrew Garfield didn't see any nods, or Never Let Me Go for that matter. Also, I would have loved to see Exit Through the Gift Shop for Best Picture- Banksy would throw a fit. Hopefully Banksy's film wins Best Documentary, not only because it's an awesome movie, but because I know he would definitely consider doing something crazy at the awards show. Although, seeing Winter's Bone in there (and not The Town, thank the Lord) makes things feel a bit better. I wouldn't be surprised if the biggest race of the year ends up being for Best Actor or Director- seeing that those categories are much more hotly contested in relation to the nominees against each other. Check out the full list below.

PICTURE:
Black Swan
The Fighter
Inception
The Kids Are All Right
The King's Speech
127 Hours
The Social Network
Toy Story 3
True Grit
Winter's Bone

DIRECTOR:

Darren Aronofsky - Black Swan
David Fincher - The Social Network
Tom Hooper - The King's Speech
Joel & Ethan Coen - True Grit
David O. Russell - The Fighter

ACTOR:

Javier Bardem - Biutiful
Jeff Bridges - True Grit
Jesse Eisenberg - The Social Network
Colin Firth - The King's Speech
James Franco - 127 Hours

ACTRESS:

Annette Bening - The Kids Are All Right
Nicole Kidman - Rabbit Hole
Jennifer Lawrence - Winter's Bone
Natalie Portman - Black Swan
Michelle Williams - Blue Valentine

SUPPORTING ACTOR:

Christian Bale - The Fighter
John Hawkes - Winter's Bone
Jeremy Renner - The Town
Mark Ruffalo - The Kids Are All Right
Geoffrey Rush - The King's Speech

SUPPORTING ACTRESS:

Amy Adams - The Fighter
Helena Bonham Carter - The King's Speech
Melissa Leo - The Fighter
Hailee Steinfeld - True Grit
Jacki Weaver - Animal Kingdom

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY:

Mike Leigh - Another Year
Scott Silver; Paul Tamasy; Eric Johnson - The Fighter
Christopher Nolan - Inception
Lisa Cholodenko; Stuart Blumberg - The Kids Are All Right
David Seidler - The King's Speech

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY:

Danny Boyle; Simon Beaufoy - 127 Hours
Aaron Sorkin - The Social Network
Michael Arndt - Toy Story 3
Joel Coen & Ethan Coen - True Grit
Debra Granik & Anne Rosellini - Winter's Bone

ANIMATED FEATURE:

How to Train Your Dragon
The Illusionist
Toy Story 3

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM:

Biutiful (Mexico)
Dogtooth (Greece)
In a Better World (Denmark)
Incendies (Canada)
Outside the Law (Algeria)

CINEMATOGRAPHY:

Matthew Libatique - Black Swan
Wally Pfister - Inception
Danny Cohen - The King's Speech
Jeff Cronenweth - The Social Network
Roger Deakins - True Grit

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE:

Exit Through the Gift Shop
Gasland
Inside Job
Restrepo
Waste Land

DOCUMENTARY SHORT:

Killing in the Name
Poster Girl
Strangers No More
Sun Come Up
The Warriors of Qiugang

ANIMATED SHORT:

Day & Night
The Gruffalo
Let's Pollute
The Lost Thing
Madagascar, a Journey Diary

LIVE-ACTION SHORT:

The Confession
The Crush
God of Love
Na Wewe
Wish 143

VISUAL EFFECTS:

Alice in Wonderland
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
Hereafter
Inception
Iron Man 2

ART DIRECTION:

Alice in Wonderland
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
Inception
The King's Speech
True Grit

COSTUME DESIGN:

Alice in Wonderland
I Am Love
The King's Speech
The Tempest
True Grit

MAKEUP:

Barney's Version
The Way Back
The Wolfman

FILM EDITING:

Black Swan
The Fighter
The King's Speech
127 Hours
The Social Network

SOUND MIXING:

Inception
The King's Speech
Salt
The Social Network
True Grit

SOUND EDITING:

Inception
Toy Story 3
Tron Legacy
True Grit
Unstoppable

ORIGINAL SCORE:

John Powell - How to Train Your Dragon
Hans Zimmer - Inception
Alexandre Desplat - The King's Speech
A.R. Rahman - 127 Hours
Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross - The Social Network

ORIGINAL SONG:

"Coming Home" from Country Strong
"I See the Light" from Tangled
"If I Rise" from 127 Hours
"We Belong Together" from Toy Story 3

The Weekly Taste: Alive in Joburg

2011-01-16T18:26:00.002-06:00

From now on, instead of having "Short of the Week", these posts will be expanded into a weekly update. The short selection will remain, but the only new thing (as of now) is a cluster of brief movie suggestions/reactions. Enjoy!

Short of the Week:

Source: Youtube.com

This week's selection is Alive in Joburg, by director Neill Blomkamp. The short, which provided inspiration for Neill Blomkamp's feature District 9. The official synopsis goes "This short by Neill Blomkamp depicts a fictional world where extraterrestrials have become refugees in South Africa.". Alive in Joburg was produced by Simon Hansen and District 9 star Sharlto Copley during 2005 in Canada. The interviews in the documentary style short are actually the interviewee's thoughts on the Zimbabwean refugees. Alive in Joburg's commentary on apartheid can easily be seen in the feature length version.

I absolutely love this short. The influence on District 9 is clear and the documentary style works well. The score does a great job too. It's remarkable how much tension is built up in a matter of minutes. After watching this, I'm not surprised that Peter Jackson saw so much potential in Blomkamp. Check out Alive in Joburg below.

The Weekly Taste:

Blue Valentine

Directed by Derek Cianfrance

Starring Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling

Plot: A young couple struggles with their rocky marriage, and the years leading up to it are revealed throughout.

If I were to redo my Top Ten, Blue Valentine would be #3 or 4. With intimate direction and two incredible performances, this is one of the most emotionally involving movies of the past year. I found the direction to get old at times, and plot a bit stale, but this dark domestic drama contains enough production value to bypass those flaws easily. See this movie as soon as you can.

Woah! Vibrant Trailer for Angels and Airwaves' Love Released

2011-01-15T11:07:00.001-06:00

Source: Youtube.com

The second trailer for Angels and Airwaves' Love was released, via the movie's Youtube channel, on the 10th of January. The movie, written and directed by William Eubank centers on an astronaut's battle for sanity after being isolated in a space station. Love jumps to other time periods, including the American Civil War, what looks like conflict in the Middle East, and a possible post-Apocalyptic scenario. Check out the official synopsis below:

After losing contact with Earth, Astronaut LEE MILLER becomes stranded in orbit alone aboard the International Space Station. As time passes and life support systems dwindle, Lee battles to maintain his sanity - and simply stay alive. His world is a claustrophobic and lonely existence, until he makes a strange discovery aboard the ship. Driven by the powerful music of ANGELS & AIRWAVES, LOVE explores the fundamental human need for connection and the limitless power of hope A high-impact visual adventure, that resonates a common truth, that everyone has a story to tell and something even greater to leave behind.

Sounds incredible to me! Hopefully this doesn't end up being a sad project that started off as a great concept (like many movies these days). The trailer shows a wealth of footage. I'm already loving the 2001 like space station scenes and stunning space vistas. I also find the time periods intriguing- it looks like the main character may have lived past lives, and possible future ones too. I'm not sure what the music will end up being like, I've never touched Angels and Airwaves, but judging by the trailer it comes off as pretty darn epic. Although I doubt Love will venture into too much horror, the idea reminds me a lot of Danny Boyle's Sunshine. I can't wait to hear more about this movie. The Santa Barbara Film Festival will see the first screenings, and Lionsgate has already acquired distributing rights for the US. I'd rather see this one sooner than later. Check out the new trailer first, and an older one farther below.

First Official Photo of Andrew Garfield as Spider-Man

2011-01-14T17:59:00.000-06:00

Source: /Film

Sony released the first official photo of Andrew Garfield (The Social Network, Never Let Me Go) as Spider-Man yesterday. The new Spider-Man, directed by Marc Webb (500 Days of Summer), will focus on the high school years of Peter Parker and his relationship with Gwen Stacy (played by Emma Stone of Superbad and Zombieland). It has also been revealed that the film's villain will be Lizard, played by Rhys Ifans (Little Nicky, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1). Spider-Man has a pretty solid cast in addition to those three: Martin Sheen will play Uncle Ben, Sally Fields will be Aunt May, and Denis Leary will portray George Stacy (Gwen Stacy's father). The film is currently being shot in 3-D and is set for a July 3rd, 2012 release. Check out the photo below (click for super high resolution).

Well how about that! I have to say Andrew Garfield looks a hell of a lot like Peter Parker. As for the suit, it looks a bit cheesy (and what the heck is up with the background?). I'm glad it doesn't look the same as the suit Tobey McGuire donned- it's extremely important that uninformed audiences see that this is a brand new start to the Spider-Man movie franchise. However I do like the amateur look. I always found Tobey McGuire's suit to be a bit too fancy. This appears to be more realistic, and much more prone to wear and tear.

Another interesting piece that has come up is the presence of the metal disks on the suit's wrists. To my understanding, in the Spider-Man comics, Peter Parker created canisters full of web liquid on his palms. The device would then be connected to Peter Parker's wrists, and the webs would be shot from there. It appears as if the new Spider-Man will feature these devices. If you look closely, or at the enlargements below, you'll see what I'm talking about.

Pretty cool, huh? I think it's key that Marc Webb and company differentiate this movie as much as possible, without going too far. The first movies had Peter Parker shooting webs purely out of his wrists, not out of any invention (in the comics Parker was a science maniac). Hopefully this turns out as good as it sounds. I would be surprised if Garfield fell short of a solid performance. His work in both The Social Network and Never Let Me Go was great. With Marc Webb directing, 3-D cameras, and a strong cast, it's hard to see where this can go wrong. Knock on wood.

The List: 2010 Edition (Top Ten 2010)

2011-01-12T21:11:00.000-06:00

It's back. I mean, everyone loves lists.

2010 has been another great year for movies*. The past twelve months held something for everyone- tear inducing comedies, action bonanzas, dreamweavers (and weavings), wild adventures, intimate documentaries, far out science fiction, and even a good romance or two. From street artists to lesbians and Leonardo DiCaprio to Leonardo DiCaprio- audiences have seen it all. If you didn't like a movie this past year, you didn't look hard enough.

*Considering the degree of quality for good movies this year, not 2011 in its entirety.

This year, I decided to update my top ten list throughout the year, starting in July. It has been interesting to see the progression- Alice in Wonderland was #10 on the first iteration and Kick-Ass remained #1 for most of the year. There have also been movies that jumped around on the list, so watch out. Just like last year, there will be a group of films that deserve recognition. I hope you can see most or all of the movies that are listed below. Click the respective links to read my full reviews and enjoy!

Honorable Mentions:

True Grit

Directed by Joel and Ethan Coen

Plot: Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld), a 14-year-old girl living in the 1877 Old West, requests the assistance of Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges) in the tracking of her father's killer.

Boasting one of the best screenplays of the year, a stellar cast, score, and pair of directors, True Grit shines as the year's best Western, and a heartfelt film on its own. Jeff Bridges gives a performance worth being nominated for, as does newcomer Hailee Steinfeld. If you want an entertaining, well written, and surprisingly funny Coen Brothers Western, True Grit is it.

Winter's Bone

Directed by Debra Granik

Plot: 17-year-old Ree Dolly (Jennifer Lawrence) must track down her elusive father before she and her siblings, whom she takes care of, are evicted from their home.

While the production values aren't up to par with other dramas out there, Winter's Bone manages to be an ironically heated indie picture. Made for a seemingly minuscule $2 million, director Debra Granik allows Jennifer Lawrence, and a strong story, to shine. Although fairly depressing (which I don't mind), Winter's Bone is a satisfying and often harrowing film.

The Top Ten of 2010:
10. Machete
Directed by Robert Rodriguez
Plot: Machete (Danny Trejo), an ex-Mexican Federale, is framed for the attempted assassination of a U.S. senator. However, Machete doesn't let people push him around- and the Mexican gunslinger soon seeks revenge.

There's a reason why Machete's title character rappels out of a hospital with intestines instead of rope- it's totally awesome. Chock full of bad assery and hilarious scenes, Robert Rodriguez's Mexploitation masquerade is one of the most entertaining movies of the year. One can't complain when there's flying motorcycles, purposely cheap-looking explosions, and a priest with dual shotguns. And that's nothing.

9. Never Let Me Go Review
Directed by Mark Romanek
Plot: Tommy, Kathy, and Ruth have all attended Hailsham boarding school for their whole lives. A love triangle forms as the children age. When the three leave the comforts of their school, a strange and unexplainable world awaits.

Based on the novel of the same name by Kazuo Ishiguro, Mark Romanek's Never Let Me Go contains stark imagery and a trio of strong performances from leads Keira Knightly, Carey Mulligan, and Andrew Garfield. The film explores the meaning of life and the effects of love unto those who have no experience of it. It's a great movie regardless of the predictability and provides some serious food for thought.

8. The Kids Are All Right
Directed by Lisa Cholodenko
Plot: Laser and Joni, who exist because of an anonymous sperm donor, live with their moms Nic and Jules. The children attempt contact with their father, and soon enough, the family must deal with the newcomer his surprising effect upon their lives.

A movie that attempts to grasp the essence of a modern American family is often riddled with clichés and poor acting (to some degree, those two flaws have become cliché in themselves). The Kids Are All Right, far from the stereotypes beginning with the premise itself, captures the family lives that many live, with precision, humor, wit, and some good ol' sentimental themes. The incredible screenplay, which should be seeing serious nominations in the future, provides highly realistic characters and often hilarious dialogue. Oh, and there's some Oscar worthy acting in there as well. The Kids Are All Right is the best domestic drama I've seen in years.

7. Shutter Island Review
Directed by Martin Scosese
Plot: A U.S. Marshall Teddy Daniels (Leo DiCaprio) is sent to Ashecliff Hospital for the Mentally Insane in order to track down an escaped patient. While searching for the escapee, Daniels eventually finds out a lot more than her trail.

It's a shame Shutter Island didn't have an ending not unpredictable from the get go, because everything else is stellar. Martin Scorsese gives us some mind bending imagery and a few scares at that. Leonardo DiCaprio is, as always, incredibly intense and thoughtfully dark. The score, taken from classical pieces of old, yields some thrills too. If you're looking for a well done psychological/mystery/thriller, Shutter Island is waiting.

6. Inception Review
Directed by Christopher Nolan
Plot: Technology exists that allows people to enter each others' minds through their dreams. Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) is the best in the world at doing this, and is offered an impossible job- performing Inception, planting an idea in someone's mind, within young business heir - that could clear his record for good.

When it comes to instances of fairly intellectual, inventive, and intense blockbusters, Christopher Nolan's later work is where it's at. Inception is no exception to his recent 'explosion' of popularity. Christopher Nolan's dream weaver of a caper is the year's best (live action) blockbuster by far. And with a powerful score by Hans Zimmer, things don't get much better. BWAAAAAAAH

5. Toy Story 3 Review
Directed by Lee Unkirch
Plot: Andy's moving off to college. Woody, Buzz and company haven't been played with in years and face being thrown away or put in the attic. But the gang ends up at the seemingly “sunny” Sunnyside daycare, where Lots-O'-Huggin' Bear rules with a secret agenda. And Andy leaves for college in a matter of days!

It was established years ago that Pixar is one of the top studios around. Now it seems like they're just rubbing it in. Toy Story 3, the conclusion to Pixar's universally adored series, ends the story on a high note. Not only is there a pitch perfect ending, but a well balanced mix of comedy, heartache, and thrills is in there too. Sporting what is the best opening scene of the year, and the classic characters nearly everyone loves, Lee Unkirch gives us one what could be one of the greatest animated movies ever. It's a shame the Toy Story had to end, but I can't see a better way of saying goodbye to Andy and his toys.

4. Exit Through the Gift Shop Review
Directed by Banksy
Plot: After meeting his cousin, who happens to be a relatively famous street artist, Thierry Guetta embarks on an exploration of the exploding underground street art world. Oh, and Banksy's in (on) it.

Exit Through the Gift shop has Banksy's style written all over it. The British street artist, known for his counter cultural and often clever stencils, guides us on a funny, at times intense, and thought provoking journey through the street art world. Banksy's film explores the validity of buzz and fame in the art world, all the while delivering an intimate take on camera man Thierry Guetta and his subsequent art career. There's a good taste of Banksy too, we see him in his studio and even placing his art. Banksy manages to make art out of legitimate footage, but by the end, it almost seems too good to be true.

3. Kick-Ass Review
Directed by Matthew Vaughn
Plot: Dave Lizewski, a hilariously ordinary teenager, dresses up as a superhero named Kick-Ass. His popularity inspires several other vigilantes, Big Daddy, Hit-Girl, and Red Mist, and eventually gets in over his head.

Dave Lizewski: How do I get a hold of you?
Hit Girl: You just contact the mayor's office. He has a special signal he shines in the sky; it's in the shape of a giant cock.

Ever heard that from a balls out superhero action comedy? I think not. Kick-Ass, the sadly underrated comic book adaptation, is overflowing with these types of lines. Although not entirely a comedy or an action flick, Matthew Vaughn's ode to the teenage male zeitgeist is both the funniest and most entertaining movie of the year. Nic Cage pulls off one of his best, most intentionally comical performance in years, and youngster-pottymouth Chloe Moretz is surprisingly awesome. There is hardly anything for substance, but when everything from editing to the soundtrack is as awesome as it is in Kick-Ass, there's little complaining that can be done.

2. The Social Network Review
Directed by David Fincher
Plot: In the fall of 2003, Mark Zuckerberg begins work on what will become a social networking site known as "The Facebook". But as his work progresses, so does his lack of real human connections.

If there is one movie to encapsulate the digital aspects of our time, it would be The Social Network. Aaron Sorkin's incredible screenplay, which is sure to be receiving attention throughout the awards season, provides stellar dialogue and well presented themes and motifs. Jesse Eisenberg delivers an Oscar worthy performance, and so does David Fincher as director. If there would be one movie to looked back on as a manifestation of our digital times, The Social Network would be it.

1. Black Swan
Directed by Darren Aronofsky
Plot: Nina, a ballerina set on becoming a lead someday, lands the role of the Swan Queen in her company's production of Swan Lake. She gets the role, but as perfection eludes her, so does her sense of reality.

Darren Aronofsky is one of the best filmmakers alive today. Black Swan proves that statement to true. Full of striking art direction and haunting visual themes (how about those reflections?), Darren Aronofsky's direction is the best of the year. It's no mistake that the director is even given the green light to make a project as graphic, haunting, and mind bending as Black Swan. The on screen counterparts aren't too shabby either. Natalie Portman gives a riveting performance worthy of multiple awards. Vincent Cassel, as the ballerina Nina's instructor, is equally poignant. This movie is so brutally intense that many viewers dislike it, but really, that only goes to show how powerful of a film it is. It's a shame that pictures like this aren't put into production more often. Black Swan is flat out incredible.

Worst Movie of the Year:
Unstoppable
Directed by Tony Scott
Plot: A runaway train, with hazardous chemicals on board (Oh no!), threatens the population of Pennsylvania.

With laughable dialogue, a horribly unoriginal and predictable plot, too many zoom cuts, editing flukes, and enough train footage to make a movie all on its own, Tony Scott's Unstoppable achieves a lowly status only heard of a few times per year. Really, this movie sucks. Chris and Denzel, you both should have not even read the script.

There you have it. I would highly recommend seeing any of the movies listed above (except the last one). I have yet to see 127 Hours or Biutiful (two movies that, based on reviews and trailers, would have a serious shot at being in the Top Ten). I'll be starting my Top Ten of 2011 soon...Who knows what will be #1?

Finally, I want to say thank you to all of my friends, family, and readers who have supported me in this venture over the past two and a half years (not that readers aren't friends or family...). This blog wouldn't even exist if it weren't for a brother's suggestion. The comments, hints, and "likes" all add up. When it comes down to it, it's posts like these, in which I touch on the power of film itself, that make this blog worthwhile. Thanks again, folks. May 2011 be an even better year for movies!

Epic Theatrical Trailer for Battle: Los Angeles

2011-01-11T19:59:00.001-06:00

Source: Yahoo Movies

The full theatrical trailer for director Jonathan Liebesman‘s sci-fi flick Battle: Los Angeles was released online today via Yahoo Movies. The film, described as something along the lines of a combination of Black Hawk Down and Independence Day, stars Aaron Eckhart, Michele Rodriguez. Battle: Los Angeles centers on a group of Marines as they attempt to ward off the aliens during a global invasion of Earth. See the official synopsis below.

When unknown forces suddenly and mercilessly attack the City of Angels out of nowhere, it’s up to a local Marine staff sergeant (Aaron Eckhart) and a new platoon of unseasoned soldiers to meet the threat. As the invasion hits the streets of LA, these Marines become our first and last line of defense in an intense battle against an enemy unlike any they’ve ever encountered before.

This second, longer, and more revealing trailer makes a much stronger case for Battle: Los Angeles than the first trailer. I love the Hurt Locker-ish feel throughout the combat scenes. However, the use of the muted/brown color palate already throws some clichés in the mix. All of the pre-disaster, it's-just-a-normal-day-in-L.A. clips make for a few Hollywood stereotypes as well. The night vision section also looks intense, although that same effect was used in Ridley Scott's Black Hawk Down (I'm just full of comparisons today, aren't I!). It appears as if the CGI is incredible and the aliens well designed. The action looks pretty sweet, too.

I find it a bit hard to take Aaron Eckhart seriously, especially in a lead role. I feel the same about Nic Cage daily and Kick-Ass turned out terrifically, so who knows. I really hope this will take audiences by surprise, as Battle: Los Angeles looks to have some serious potential. To be honest, this could very well end up being the runaway hit of the spring. See the trailer below.

Battle: Los Angeles will be in theaters March 11.

Short of the Week: Overdrift

2011-01-09T18:11:00.000-06:00

Source: Youtube.com

This week's selection is Overdrift, by the Youtube video makers Duncanbros. The synopsis given on Youtube is "Dinos and Drift Racing". And that about sums it up. I've been following Duncanbros' channel since grade school and this is still one of my favorite videos by the group. They have a pretty disgusting sense of humor but sure know how to use a camera. I've always loved their exaggerated and in your face style. Having access to some wicked editing software helps too. Also, I'm pretty sure that the actors, and directors, involved almost all of their videos attend or attended USC School of Cinematic Arts. Pretty cool, huh? See the video below and enjoy!

Short of the Week: Da Crucible

2011-01-03T16:34:00.007-06:00

Source: Myself

First off: Happy 2011 from A Taste of Cineman! My Top 10ish list will be coming forth in the next few weeks- I have yet to see 127 Hours, Catfish, Let Me In, Biutiful, and a few others. However, I won't allow this issue to delay my list for too long. I hope all of my readers had an enjoyable holiday season!

This week's selection is a school project titled Da Crucible. One of my friends, Mike (the one pictured above) needed someone to help him shoot a video on The Crucible. I had little knowledge of the 17th Century based witch play but decided to help Mike after he mentioned the project. Based on my love of video making, it was a no-brainer (usually I have to make things by myself, which is quite tedious). Mike initially presented the idea as something along the lines of an extended trailer with music from Inception being a strong proponent (hence the use of "Mind Heist" by Zack Hemsey in the final video). However, after finding out that the video had to be of more substance, a different approach was taken. Mike wanted things done old school. Da Crucible was going to be a silent film.

With this clever, project friendly, and easy to work with aesthetic, Mike and the rest of his group (two girls named Anna and Lisa, minus another boy who couldn't make it) showed up and we shot the video last Friday. The shoot took a couple of hours and was fairly simple, as there was no dialogue whatsoever. The following day, Mike and I spent about four hours putting together a cut without any title cards or final music. At that point, things were looking fantastic. On Sunday, the rest of the group came by and we made a final cut. This again took four hours or so, and as a result, there are a few editing glitches (by then working on someone else's project had become old). The final cut turned out better than expected- and took a lot of hard work. The first few minutes are slow, but speed up rather suddenly after that. The group and I put a lot of hard and fun work into Da Crucible. However don't expect anything professional out of this. I'm interested in people's thoughts, as I consider this my best video yet. Please comment and enjoy!

People's Champion- The Eli Porter Documentary

2010-12-28T17:29:00.005-06:00

Sources: Facebook.com, Youtube.com, byroncrawford.com and IMDb.com

Few will recognize the face of the man in the photo above. But many know his legacy. That "mayne" is the legendary Eli Porter, famous for his appearance in round two of the Chamblee High School Iron Mic Freestyle competition in 2003. The Iron Mic competition was part of a video class at Chamblee High. Footage of the ordeal went online (and viral) in the following years. Eli has since become the butt of an internet meme, and one of the most notorious rappers to ever venture onto Youtube. Ever heard "I'm da best mayne, I deed it"? That silky smooth, swagtastic remark originated from Eli's seemingly choked up mouth. See the video of his Iron Mic freestyle below.

Keep the Iron Mic video in mind.

As a result of the fame Eli has received, a documentary by directors Trent Babbington and Walker Warren is now in post production. It's been seven years since the original video was created, and Eli has seemingly disappeared from view- save for a few video blogs here and there. But in July of 2010, a trailer for People's Champion, the afore mentioned documentary, was released online. And it looks awesome. This is one of my favorite trailers of the past year- inspiring, informing, and making me want to see so much more. If you're into any sort of true-journey-against-the-odds tale, People's Champion is one documentary you should be checking out. Although, take the footage with a grain of salt- it's hard not to laugh a bit at the ridiculousness of the film itself. See the first trailer below.

I've been following People's Champion's Facebook page since mid-August. No release has been set (the date listed moved from "Fall 2010" to "2011" within the last several weeks). However, a recent sneak peak allowed some light to be shed on the film. Jimmy Valentime, who I'm assuming is a blogger or writer of some sort, wrote a piece on the event. Here are several segments from his review:

"I was invited by Dallas Penn to a preview screening of Peoples Champion: The Eli Porter Documentary. I got to see 35 minutes of a rough cut of the movie that focused on analyzing the infamous YouTube clip that turned Eli in to an internet celebrity...I was intrigued at how the story would present itself and what angle the film makers would take.

The great thing is if you were watching the film and had no clue about the youtube clip you would still be thoroughly entertained by the battle, but also gain an understanding of where all these people are coming from. The documentary does a great job of putting the clip itself in to context.

Everybody that was there that day from the “Judges” to the AV club gets to say their piece...
The documentary spends a lot of time with Eli himself... The Viewer feels he understand the situation he was in during the YouTube clip and the one he is in presently by participating in this film."

Sounds frickin' sweet to me! Valentime makes it sound as if there is more than what meets the eye when it comes to the original clip. He ends the review with this section:

"I wouldn’t be surprised if this film becomes a huge hit outside of the hip-hop community. At the very least it will give you a better perspective of the people involved and their true intention, on what originally on the surface from watching the video seemed to be a cruel joke. You get to get a feeling for the person behind the Internet meme."

I'm not sure of this will be a huge it as Valentime says, but who knows. One has to take Valentime's word with a grain of salt. This guy might be easily impressed for all I know. I hope People's Champion is good enough to be a smash. Eli's story has strong elements of struggle and appears to be quite inspirational. This is the type of stuff that American movie goers love at the moment, with the recession and all. I have no idea as to what festivals the movie will be screened at (if any) due to the small nature of the film. At this point it is hard to judge what the success of People's Champion will be. I'm going to keep following this film without a doubt. It would be nice to see People's Champion live up to its title.

If you're really diggin' this movie check out the extended trailer below. It's worth a viewing.

Short of the Week: I'm Here

2010-12-26T19:47:00.000-06:00

Source: imheremovie.com

This week's selection is Spike Jonze's I'm Here. Jonze has directed Being John Malkovich, Adaptation, Where the Wild Things Are, and numerous music videos and skateboarding films. The short stars the voices of Andrew Garfield (Never Let Me Go, The Social Network) and Sienna Guillory (Inkheart, Eragon). I'm Here is a love story about two robots, Sheldon and Francesca, and the affect of the relationship upon their lives.

I'm Here debuted at Sundance in January 2010 and went online the following March. Absolut Vodka funded the short (hence "A Love story in an Absolut world" on the website). You can go to imheremovie.com to view the film (that's the best quality option) or if you prefer Youtube I'll embed part one (of three) below. It is a short, but the running time is 30 minutes. I found I'm Here to be well shot and designed, but the reason for the robots' coupling becomes over simplified due to the constraints of a short film. Also, be aware that shorts don't follow conventional characters for a reason. Watch part one (with links to two and following) below, or visit the link above for the best quality. Watch and enjoy!

Part 2 and part 3 can be seen by visiting the respective links.

Review: TRON: Legacy Displays Stunning Visuals and About Everything Else Held by a Typical Blockbuster

2010-12-20T14:25:00.001-06:00

TRON: LEGACY

Directed by Joseph Kosinski

Starring Jeff Bridges, Garrett Hedlund, Bruce Boxleitner, Olivia Wilde, Michael Sheen, James Frain

Written by Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis

Rated PG for sequences of sci-fi action violence and brief mild language

127 Minutes

Release Status: In major theaters since December 17th

Plot: Sam Flynn was devastated by the disappearance of his father, computer genius Kevin, and faces his complex emotions as an adult. However, he gains access to a forgotten office in his father's arcade and accidentally enters the world of TRON. What Sam discovers is a vivid, dangerous, and leather clad digital world ruled by the tyrannical program named Clu.

The original TRON, released in 1982 to a warm critical reaction and occasional bewilderment, used a then uncommon technology: CGI. The film was banned from the Academy Awards category for special effects based on the idea that computers could improve an actor's performance, but eventually became a cult hit. However, as any movie goer knows, CGI has become a staple of Hollywood movies. And TRON: Legacy, the sequel to the ancient looking TRON, doesn't beg to differ.

The visuals in TRON: Legacy are about what one would expect from a bigass blockbuster: glistening and glorious. TRON's digital landscapes are rendered with beauty and precision. Vibrant hues of blue and orange dominate the horizon and impressive mechanical constructions dot everything else. If you have any desire to view a sleek, sexy, and cutting edge digital world, TRON is where you need to be. The animations are at times borderline photo realistic and incredibly bad ass. Ever seen a light cycle assemble in slow motion? My guess is you haven't, and TRON provides a suitably epic first time. It's no coincidence that this year's CGI bonanza occupies the same slot as last year's, Avatar. Director Joseph Kosinski employs many of the same technologies that James Cameron exploited in 2009: 3-D cameras, motion capture animation, and enough green screens to repair the Metrodome. TRON's 3-D manipulations are nothing to call home about, save for saving the dimensional effect for the Grid (inside the digital world). The action sequences do benefit from getting up in one's grill, but the overall use is not worth the often $3.50 surcharge. Clu, the film's villain, takes advantage of motion capture to create a young Jeff Bridges. The result puts Robert Zemeckis's creations to shame. Clu still looks a bit fake, but is just one of TRON: Legacy's testament to the power of computer animation.

TRON: Legacy's art direction is an immense improvement over the geek-tastic blue patterns of old. From a Kubrick-like apartment to the kick ass leather suits that programs masquerade in, there's hardly a design that doesn't echo the best of today's video games and science fiction shows and movies. If you thought TRON looked bad before, TRON: Legacy only widens the gap between the two. In addition to the striking visual design, a good number of thrilling action scenes benefit from the strong CGI as well. Lightcycles finally get the epic treatment they deserve, and the result is a loud, techno laced and rather explosive bout. This scene is by no means alone- a bar brawl, disc war and digital dogfight take their heart pumping places as well. One can tell that Joseph Kosinski has a future with action blockbusters. However, Kosinski's strengths don't carry over into other scenes. Awkwardly edited conversations drag down TRON's already muddled dialogue, and pacing becomes an avoidable issue. For the action being as fun as it is on it's own, the slightly dry filler scenes explain why TRON is marketed as an epic blockbuster.

Clu and crew get their swag on

Director Joseph Kosinski can provide many epic action moments and slow-mo shots, but when it comes to displaying any acute emotion, he stumbles. Maybe it's the mostly mediocre acting, who knows, but Koskinski's skills clearly lie in sequences full of movement and devoid of talking. Sure, there are a few cool angles and such (such as the motorcycle tracking shot in the first few minutes), but overall there isn't so much a showing of talent as good ol' potential. It's a both a shame and a blessing that Kosinski happened to start off with TRON: Legacy. The visual effects and design really do deserve someone with more experience. Working with a sadly predictable and poorly constructed screenplay doesn't exactly help. Once past the first act, about every revelation can be guessed- and so can the stubborn dialogue. Conversations tend to hold cliche lines and overly explanatory quips in favor anything substantial. This makes for an easily accessible sequel, but at subcutaneously a weak one. TRON fans will catch references to the original and enjoy the sequel they've been yearning for. But they will quickly see that the new TRON is at heart a rehash of the first. Not to say that seeing updated versions of the first is bad (it's what I've been dreaming of), but taking that mentality past the first act gets old fast. The plot isn't the only thing that fails to be creative here. For whatever reason, the writers Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis decided to throw in some biblical symbolism. Ever thought of The Dude as God? Well now's your chance to see it happen.

The acting in TRON: Legacy also suffers from the poor screenplay. Garrett Hedlund, who plays Sam Flynn, manages to be pretty funny and pulls off the bottled emotions well. His performance is thoughtful, but appears better than it actually is when sharing a screen with Olivia Wilde. If it weren't for Wilde's sexiness, her acting would probably come off as less than the mediocrity that it is. As a result, there are a few cheesy instances to endure while on the Grid. Unsurprisingly, Jeff Bridges takes the cake for pulling off the Dude-like zen and calling people "man" (at least there is one good side to the screenplay). If it weren't for Jeff Bridges' participation in TRON: Legacy, many a scene would have been lost to the demons of poor acting.

Now to the part that many readers are eager to hear about (or just plain hear): the score by French house duo Daft Punk. The film's most popular song, "Derezzed", stands out for it's dance based beat and electric melody. It's no surprise that the score has enjoyed moderate attention, TRON: Legacy wouldn't be nearly as good without it. Daft Punk managed to create the digital sounds needed to achieve a full electronic experience, and not without forgoing the emotional pieces needed for a movie. When the tone needs to be epic, it's explosive, and when there needs to energetic, it's like drinking coffee with cocaine for sweetener. Thankfully, Daft Punk's score isn't the best part of TRON: Legacy. Though clearly flawed, Joseph's Kosinski's debut into the Hollywood scene is at least a good start. If anything, at fans will be able to enjoy the Legacy. Just don't get too caught up in the hype.

Rating:

Rent it

Flawed, but there's enough entertainment available to warrant a viewing.

Short of the Week: What.

2010-12-19T23:18:00.001-06:00

Source: Myself

This week's selection is What. by myself. I'm sharing this for my relatives, so don't feel as if I'm posting this out of self adoration. I shot this several weeks ago out of boredom. So far there have been positive reactions among friends (thank goodness!). I have no idea where the idea came from, so don't ask. By the way, the picture used in the short is of my dad circa 1990. I use a Sony HDR-CX100 high definition camera for all of my videos and Adobe Premiere 8 for editing. Check out the amateur-ness for yourself below! And don't be afraid of being harsh...

First Stunning Trailer for Terrence Malick's The Tree of Life

2010-12-16T16:28:00.000-06:00

Source: Apple Trailers

The first trailer for Terrence Malick's The Tree of Life was released yesterday, online, via Apple Trailers. The Tree of Life, starring Brad Pitt, Sean Penn, and Jessica Chastain, is the story of Jack, a child in the 1950's who becomes searching man in the modern world. Malick's other works include The New World and The Thin Red Line, among others. See the official synopsis below.

From Terrence Malick, the acclaimed director of such classic films as Badlands, Days of Heaven and The Thin Red Line, The Tree of Life is the impressionistic story of a Midwestern family in the 1950's. The film follows the life journey of the eldest son, Jack, through the innocence of childhood to his disillusioned adult years as he tries to reconcile a complicated relationship with his father (Brad Pitt). Jack (played as an adult by Sean Penn) finds himself a lost soul in the modern world, seeking answers to the origins and meaning of life while questioning the existence of faith. Through Malick's signature imagery, we see how both brute nature and spiritual grace shape not only our lives as individuals and families, but all life.

I absolutely love this trailer. There isn't much for a sense of story revealed here. However, the imagery (and great song) provides an emotionally powerful sequence. I especially get caught by the shots of nature (both terrestrial and not) and shaky childhood glimpses- I'm quite curious as to why water appears to be such a strong symbol. There are also hints of a solid performance from Brad Pitt, and maybe even the young Jack. I hope Malick hasn't bitten off more than he can chew when tackling such immense themes, but judging by this trailer, that doesn't look to be the case. Check out the trailer below and enjoy.

The Tree of Life will be in theaters May 27th, 2011.

68th Golden Globes Nominations Unveiled

2010-12-15T16:22:00.000-06:00

Source: Golden Globe Awards

Yesterday, December 14th, the 68th Annual Golden Globe Awards nominations were released. The results are, as what most expected, a more dignified version of the People's Choice Awards. However, a film that has garnered less mainstream attention than other nominees- say, The Social Network- took the lead with seven nominations. That film is The King's Speech, starring Colin Firth, Helena Bonham Carter, and Derek Jacobi, the story of King George the VI of Britain and his speech therapist. Following closely behind is The Social Network with six nominations. The Fighter also received six nominations. It's nice to see a few over shadowed movies, such as Winter's Bone and The Kids Are All Right (the former is great, the latter even better) be recognized. However, being listed next to Alice in Wonderland doesn't make the Golden Globes seem very tasteful. Check out the list for yourself below.

The Golden Globes will be presented on January 16th, 2011, at the Beverly Hilton. Rickey Gervais will be hosting the awards again (despite those penis jokes that managed to be aired on national television...).

BEST DRAMA

Black Swan
The Fighter
Inception
The King's Speech
The Social Network

ACTOR (DRAMA)

Jesse Eisenberg - The Social Network
Colin Firth - The King's Speech
James Franco - 127 Hours
Ryan Gosling - Blue Valentine
Mark Wahlberg - The Fighter

ACTRESS (DRAMA)

Halle Berry - Frankie and Alice
Nicole Kidman - Rabbit Hole
Jennifer Lawrence - Winter's Bone
Natalie Portman - Black Swan
Michelle Williams - Blue Valentine

BEST MUSICAL OR COMEDY

Alice in Wonderland
Burlesque
The Kids Are All Right
RED
The Tourist

ACTOR (MUSICAL OR COMEDY)

Johnny Depp - Alice in Wonderland
Johnny Depp - The Tourist
Paul Giamatti - Barney's Version
Jake Gyllenhaal - Love and Other Drugs
Kevin Spacey - Casino Jack

ACTRESS (MUSICAL OR COMEDY)

Annette Bening - The Kids Are All Right
Anne Hathaway - Love and Other Drugs
Angelina Jolie - The Tourist
Julianne Moore - The Kids Are All Right
Emma Stone - Easy A

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

Biutiful (Spain) - Alejandro González Iñárritu
The Concert (France) - Radu Mihaileanu
The Edge (Russia) - Aleksei Uchitel
I Am Love (Italy) - Luca Guadagnino
In a Better World (Denmark) - Susanne Bier

ANIMATED FILM

Despicable Me
How to Train Your Dragon
The Illusionist
Tangled
Toy Story 3

SUPPORTING ACTOR

Christian Bale - The Fighter
Michael Douglas - Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps
Andrew Garfield - The Social Network
Jeremy Renner - The Town
Geoffrey Rush - The King's Speech

SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Amy Adams - The Fighter
Helena Bonham Carter - The King's Speech
Mila Kunis - Black Swan
Melissa Leo - The Fighter
Jacki Weaver - Animal Kingdom

DIRECTOR

Darren Aronofsky - Black Swan
David Fincher - The Social Network
Tom Hooper - The King's Speech
Christopher Nolan - Inception
David O. Russell - The Fighter

SCREENPLAY

Danny Boyle; Simon Beaufoy - 127 Hours
Lisa Cholodenko; Stuart Blumberg - The Kids Are All Right
Christopher Nolan - Inception
David Seidler - The King's Speech
Aaron Sorkin - The Social Network

ORIGINAL SCORE

Alexandre Desplat - The King's Speech
Danny Elfman - Alice in Wonderland
A.R. Rahman - 127 Hours
Trent Reznor; Atticus Rose - The Social Network
Hans Zimmer - Inception

ORIGINAL SONG

"Bound to You" - Burlesque
"Coming Home" - Country Strong
"I See the Light" - Tangled
"There's a Place for Us" - Voyage of the Dawn Treader
"You Haven't Seen the Last of Me" - Burlesque

Trailer Debut: Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

2010-12-13T16:01:00.001-06:00

Source: Yahoo! Movies

The trailer for Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides has been released online today via Yahoo! Movies. Rob Marshall is directing Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz, and Geoffrey Rush in the 3rd sequel to the original Pirates of the Caribbean, the 2003 hit based on a Disney theme park ride. Johnny Depp is back as Jack Sparrow (Keira Knightly and Orlando Bloom will not be returning) and Penelope Cruz plays a woman from Sparrow's past. Sounds arrrgggfully pirate-like to me! See the official synopsis below.

“Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” captures the fun, adventure and humor that ignited the hit franchise —this time in Disney Digital 3D™. In this action-packed tale of truth, betrayal, youth and demise, Captain Jack Sparrow crosses paths with a woman from his past (Penelope Cruz), and he’s not sure if it’s love—or if she’s a ruthless con artist who’s using him to find the fabled Fountain of Youth. When she forces him aboard the Queen Anne’s Revenge, the ship of the formidable pirate Blackbeard (Ian McShane), Jack finds himself on an unexpected adventure in which he doesn’t know who to fear more: Blackbeard or the woman from his past.

The trailer essentially shows even more of what movie goers have been going nuts for the past seven years. Jack Sparrow gets put into sticky situations, and comes up with a clever line soon after. I'm not sure why this formula is so appealing, but hey, Johnny Depp is a pretty good actor. Gauging from the synopsis and footage, Pirates 4 looks a lot like Iron Man 2 in regards to steroids for story and cancer for character development. However, if you're a fan of the first three, this seems to be about what you've been dreaming of. Oh, and audiences will be getting cannonballs, Johnny Depp, and swords in their faces with the unsurprising 3D release. Check out the trailer for yourself below.

Short of the Week: The Black Hole

2010-12-12T18:43:00.000-06:00

Source: Youtube.com

This week's selection is The Black Hole (2008), directed by Philip Sansom and Olly Williams. The synopsis is as follows:

A sleep-deprived office worker accidentally discovers a black hole - and then greed gets the better of him...

Sansom and Williams (also known as Diamond Dogs) entered the short into the Short Film Corner at Cannes in 2009. The pair has also directed music videos and commercials (one was even for the Ford Fiesta). You can check out more of their videos here. The Black Hole is only two and a half minutes, so enjoy it while it lasts.

Short of the Week: Fallen Art

2010-12-05T13:47:00.001-06:00

Yesterday, I pondered any possible ways to get more posts online (it's been well over a month now...). As a result, I've decided to post a short film every Sunday possible (sometimes things get too hectic with school work but I'll do my best!).

This week, Fallen Art is the selection. Directed by Tomek Baginski, Fallen Art tells the story of a few deranged military officers who have an odd way of entertaining themselves. Enjoy!

Raunchy Red Band Trailer for I Love You Phillip Morris

2010-10-21T23:04:00.000-05:00

Source: Youtube.com

The U.S. red band trailer for I Love You Phillip Morris came online yesterday via Roadside attractions. Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, first time writer/directors, shared duties on the comedy. Ewan McGregor and Jim Carrey star as two gay lovers. See the official synopsis (from the official You Tube channel) below.

I LOVE YOU PHILLIP MORRIS is the improbable but true story of a spectacularly charismatic conman's journey from small-town businessman to flamboyant white-collar criminal, who repeatedly finds himself in trouble with the law and on the lam, brilliantly escaping from the Texas prison system on four separate occasions -- all in the name of love.

Steven Russell (Jim Carrey) leads a seemingly average life -- an organ player in the local church, happily married to Debbie (Leslie Mann), and a member of the local police force. That is until he has a severe car accident that leads him to the ultimate epiphany: he's gay and he's going to live life to the fullest -- even if he has to break the law to do it. Taking on an extravagant lifestyle, Steven turns to cons and fraud to make ends meet and is eventually sent to the State Penitentiary where he meets the love of his life, a sensitive, soft-spoken man named Phillip Morris (Ewan McGregor). His devotion to freeing Phillip from jail and building the perfect life together prompts him to attempt (and often succeed at) one impossible con after another. Told with an uncanny sense of humor and a lot of heart, "I Love You Phillip Morris" is an oddball tale of what can happen when the legal system, a daredevil spirit and undying love collide.

Be warned, this trailer is red band for a reason. Watch out within the first 30 seconds or so, and you'll know why. I'm not sure how good I Love You Phillip Morris is going to be. Comedies can be hard to judge when watching a trailer. However, as long as there's more where that came from, this could end up being a great movie. Some may find the gay main characters and jokes to be a bit too much (sadly that's just the way things are) but hopefully I Love You Phillip Morris isn't too alienating for everyone. Check out the trailer for yourself below, but we warned if you're homophobic.

I Love You Phillip Morris will be in theaters December 3rd. Although, for any fans of Bit Torrent, a leak appeared online some time ago.

First Pointless Cars 2 Teaser Trailer Released

2010-10-20T17:09:00.003-05:00

Source: Youtube.com

Pixar debuted the first trailer for Cars 2 today via their You Tube channel. Cars 2 is being directed by Brad Lewis and John Lasseter (A Bug's Life, Toy Story 2). Last year, Empire revealed the story for the Lightning McQueen's new adventure, and you can see that in a nutshell below.

Lightning McQueen, his pit crew and his new crew chief, Mater, head around the world for the "Race of Champions" taking place in five different countries: Japan, Austria, Italy, a 24-hour race in France and the United Kingdom. However, Mater, involved in a case of mistaken identity, saves the life of a British secret agent named Finn McMissile and finds himself embroiled in his world of international espionage.

If you're expecting any sort of actual footage or big story hints in this teaser, you may as well quit reading here. The trailer is nothing more than a title card reveal and a bunch of lasers (which is relevant, but hardly meaningful). I don't really understand why this was put online. Usually a clip like this goes on a DVD or before another Pixar movie. Nevertheless, I'm still terribly excited for this. Pixar hasn't had any slip ups yet, so I don't know why it would be with this one. If you're desperate for anything Cars 2, check out the teaser below.

Cars 2 will be in theaters June 24, 2011, in 3-D.

Must Watch Trailer for Alejandro González Iñárritu's Biutiful

2010-10-18T21:31:00.000-05:00

Source: Apple

The official trailer for Alejandro González Iñárritu's Biutiful came online today via Apple Trailers (see link above). The Spanish drama is directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu (21 Grams, Babel) and stars Academy Award winner Javier Bardem (No Country for Old Men, Vicky Cristina Barcelona). Biutiful is the story of Uxbal, a man on the path to redemption through the underground world of Barcelona. See the official synopsis below.

Biutiful is a love story between a father and his children. This is the journey of Uxbal, a conflicted man who struggles to reconcile fatherhood, love, spirituality, crime, guilt and mortality amidst the dangerous underworld of modern Barcelona. His livelihood is earned out of bounds, his sacrifices for his children know no bounds. Like life itself, this is a circular tale that ends where it begins. As fate encircles him and thresholds are crossed, a dim, redemptive road brightens, illuminating the inheritances bestowed from father to child, and the paternal guiding hand that navigates life's corridors, whether bright, bad - or biutiful.

According to the trailer, Biutiful looks a lot like its name. Javier Bardem's acting is supposedly fantastic (as one can see from the quotes within the trailer). His character, Uxbal, looks equally compelling. I also like the shots shown here- especially the mirror and snow scenes. I love intimate, character oriented movies like Biutiful looks to be. Much of the story has intense elements having to do with crime, disease (hence the MRI scanner), and possibly supernatural or mental health issues. I doubt this will be anything but good. With Iñárritu carrying some of the writing duties and all of the directing and Javier Bardem starring, this may end up being a serious Best Foreign Language Feature contender. Biutiful was shown at Cannes back in May and received positive reactions. Check out the awesome trailer below!

Biutiful will be in theaters December 29th.

Enticing Trailer for Michael Greenspan's Wrecked

2010-10-14T21:12:00.000-05:00

Source: MTV

The first trailer for Michael Greenspan's Wrecked came online via MTV today. Wrecked is Greenspan's first feature length debut. Surprisingly (based on the quality of the trailer) there is no US distributor yet. There is a Canadian one at this point. See a synopsis, from IMDb, below.

A man trapped in a car wreck at the bottom of a ravine must overcome incredible odds to survive.

I think the trailer looks fantastic. The story is a bit cliche with the total amnesia shtick,but I love the mixture of real memories and false ones. Adrian Brody looks to be incredibly intense in this. I imagine it will be more so with potentially long sections without dialogue. The wilderness shots, in the woods and looking upon small vistas, appear great, too. This could end up being a pretty sweet movie. It looks like this will end up having both psychological and physical action going on. A combination like that can be awesome. Oh, and how about the mountain lion? Hopefully Michael Greenspan can pull this one off and get a US distributor. I can't wait to see this. Check out the trailer below.

Movie Trailers - Movies Blog

Review: Never Let Me Go is a Haunting Exploration of the Nature of Life

2010-10-12T21:24:00.000-05:00

NEVER LET ME GO

Directed by Mark Romanek
Starring Carey Mulligan, Keira Knightly, and Andrew Garfield
Written by Alex Garland
Based on the novel "Never Let Me Go" by Kazuo Ishiguro
Rated R for some sexuality and nudity
120 Minutes
Release Status: In Limited Theaters

Plot: Tommy, Kathy, and Ruth have all attended Hailsham boarding school for their whole lives. A love triangle forms as the children age. When the three leave the comforts of their school, a strange and unexplainable world awaits.

My expectations surrounding director Mark Romanek's Never Let Me Go revolved around a tragic love triangle and the experiences of a group of people entering a world of which they know little. Was I right? Not entirely. Never Let Me Go ends up being a surprisingly stark exploration of what it means to be human.

Never Let Me Go takes a pair fairly oldish ideas- what it means to be human; what makes a human a human- and puts a new twist on the two. What if you knew you were going to die earlier than usual whilst perpetually struggling to find purpose in life? By no means are any of these ideas very original. But the way that author Kazuo Ishiguro, Mark Romanek and screenwriter Alex Garland explore the pertaining questions is. Romanek and Garland guide us through Kazuo's tale with a steady pace and beautiful direction. Romanek shows us what love really is, and that you don't necessarily need to be fully human to give or receive it. It's a powerful and scarily relevant message- the plot devices Kazuo uses are definite possibilities in our world today. Garland, on the other hand, aks us what the meaning of life is. With a complicated question comes a complicated answer (if one at all), but in consideration of what is previously mentioned, I'm sure you can figure that one out. However, despite rewards for thoughtful viewers, the path to getting to these themes can be rough for some viewers.

I for one did not read "Never Let Me Go" before it was released. Because of this, I found many scenes to be hard to access. Characters' actions can be hard to rationalize (and this is not some sort of revelation/post modern type of deal) and dialogue sometimes boarders on ill ambiguity. For readers, these scenes probably would have been easy to get- that's just my guess- but as a stranger to this story, the only thing I temporarily got out of some scenes was confusion. Even as I write this, I ponder whether or not the lines or actions I didn't immediately understand are above my level of thinking or just poorly executed. Despite what can be difficult story for some viewers, what I ultimately understood is a very well done tale. When I completely comprehended what was going on, things got a tiny bit predictable, but a compelling set of characters saves the day here. We don't know some people's thoughts until the latter half of Never Let Me Go, and even then this provides some meaty details to analyze. I enjoyed seeing various aspects of human nature manifested in a trio of old friends.Observing what Kazuo Ishiguro chose to include (or not) in his main characters comments on a few interesting points of human nature. I feel little doubt as to the original novelization's story, but am disappointed in what could have been a better told story.

Keira Knightly must have wanted what was just ordered. Sucks for her.

Like many aspects of Never Let Me Go, Mark Romanek does a great job of directing- but it isn't exceptional. Romanek treats us to some fantastic intimate shots- my favorite being a long awaited uniting of separated romantics. He also gives us a few doses of symbolism and thirds to top things off. Romanek certainly does a great piece with Never Let Me Go (who knows, maybe the Academy will give him a nod if they feel like it) but in the wake of other recent and superior releases, his work her pales a bit in comparison. A nice addition to the Romanek's camera work is an interesting style of art direction. I still don't know how exactly to describe it, but the main elements give off a futuristic/19th century/slight hipster feel. Tommy, Kathy, and Ruth's clothing can be hard to associate to any era, however that only proves how original the visuals are. We are also treated to some bohemian furniture that, compared to a parallel time line of our world, would have been years ahead. The result is intriguing and pleasant to look at- not quite sad, not quite happy, and satisfyingly beautiful.

Carey Mulligan and Andrew Garfield are take hold of the spotlight in Never Let Me Go. Mulligan (I hate to refer to her in that way) pulls off a few fake cries and distant glances with stellar accuracy. She takes advantage of scenes that contain little dialogue and fill them with powerful shrugs and usually trivial body language cues. Andrew Garfield (the new Spider-Man) does the same. Garfield's performance is nearly as good, if not as good, as his take in The Social Network. He also gives off some poignant sentimental moves- possibly my favorite being the juvenile jumps he does in and over puddles. Besides these two, the rest of the cat is more than decent, but is nothing to call home about. Keira Knightly does a good job, and could use a bit more zing in her acting, I guess I could say. Accompanying all of this is a well done score by Rachel Portman. The violin laden tracks provide solid momentum for Mark Romanek to utilize. Rarely is it emotionally rousing or turned up loud enough to take in. It's funny that so much of Never Let Me Go was like this- close to exceptional, but marred by a flaw that can be hard to avoid. In its entirety, I think Never Let Me Go is great, even as uncannily depressing as it is (although to me a depressing movie is a good one). Mark Romanek and Alex Garland could have given us a slightly better picture, but at this point it's relatively hard to complain.

Rating:
In Theaters
Great. Not one of the years best, but memorable.

Zack Snyder To Direct Christopher Nolan's Superman

2010-10-05T08:10:00.000-05:00

Source: Deadline

After a shortlist of possible directors was put online back in September, the director for producer Christopher Nolan's Superman project has been revealed to be none other than Zack Snyder. At this point, the project is being called The Man of Steel. The other possible directors on the list were Matt Reeves (Cloverfield, Let Me In), Duncan Jones (Moon), Tony Scott (The Taking of Pelham 123) and Jonathan Liebseman (Battle: Los Angeles). Darren Aronofsky (The Wrestler, Requiem For a Dream) was a rumored pick. Synder will enter the final stages of negotiations with Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures sometime this week. According to Heat Vision and confirmed by /Film, General Zod has been chosen as the villain for the project. General Zod appeared in Superman and as the main villain in Superman II. This new project is aiming for having a connection to the Superman movies of the past. David S. Goyer (writer of Dark City and co-writer of Batman Begins) is working on a screenplay.

As for Synder himself, who is a bit of a comic book geek, this may be the subject of a wet dream. I have mixed feelings about this choice, but not because of any doubts toward Synder. I thought Watchmen was fantastic from what he could control (the acting made the biggest blemish). 300 was also a blast. But Snyder's tone can be too mature or heavy for a character like Superman. I would have loved to see Darren Aronofsky directing The Man of Steel, as he is one of my favorite directors, but essentially the same thing could be said for his style versus what fits for Superman. Out of the other possible choices, Synder is the best pick. He has more experience than, say, Duncan Jones or Matt Reeves, and will have more still by the time production begins. With Zack Snyder and Christopher Nolan working together on this project (and David S. Goyer is penning) I can't wait for some more news. I really hope this can be pulled off- especially after Superman Returns. This is going to be a long wait, but by golly, maybe it'll be worth it.

The release date for The Man of Steel is currently unknown, but could be speculated to be between 2012 and 2014.

Totally Awesome Theatrical Trailer for the Coen Brothers' True Grit

2010-10-04T19:13:00.002-05:00

Source: Firstshowing.net and /Film

A second, full theatrical trailer for the Coen Brothers' True Grit has been released online. The Coen Brothers, directors of Fargo, The Big Lebowski, No Country For Old Men, Burn After Reading, and A Serious Man are releasing an adaptation of the 1968 novel of the same name that is apparently truer to the book than the John Wayne version. See the official synopsis below (from Apple) and the first teaser here.

"Fourteen-year-old Mattie Ross's (Hailee Steinfeld) father has been shot in cold blood by the coward Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin), and she is determined to bring him to justice. Enlisting the help of a trigger-happy, drunken U.S. Marshal, Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges), she sets out with him -- over his objections -- to hunt down Chaney. Her father's blood demands that she pursue the criminal into Indian territory and find him before a Texas Ranger named LeBoeuf (Matt Damon) catches him and brings him back to Texas for the murder of another man."

I was pretty excited after the first trailer released a week or so ago. But I am even more pumped now. True Grit is shaping up to be quite the movie- occasional humor, a strong performance from Josh Brolin, and even more badassery are shown in the new trailer. A handful of beautiful western landscape shots are shown as well. However, I think a bit too much of the story is shown. I haven't seen the original or read the book, but based on a general knowledge of storytelling this trailer reveals a good chunk of the plot. I really hope that this isn't the case, because so much of what I like about the Coen Brothers' movies are their unpredictability. Seriously, check this one out for yourself. True Grit looks frickin' sweet. See the trailer below.

True Grit will be in theaters on December 25th.

Mediocre Second Trailer for Paranormal Activity 2

2010-10-04T17:04:00.000-05:00

Source: Firstshowing.net and /Film

Several days ago the second trailer for Paramount Picture's Paranormal Activity 2 was released. No official synopsis has been given yet, but I'll give out two myself. One will be spoiler free and the other won't (the story of Paranormal 2 is dependent on the first). See the synopsis with spoilers after the trailer.

Spoiler free synopsis: A family is violently confronted by a demon and must face the entity as it attempts to harm them. The footage is compiled of security camera tapes and first person camera work.

I wouldn't go as far to say that Paranormal Activity was one of my favorite movies of 2009, but I did enjoy it. I would have seen a sequel as long as it garnered decent reviews at that point. After seeing this trailer, I'm not so sure. The acting looks even worse this time around and the budget a bit too high. I don't like the look of the too-good-to-be-homemade footage. Although, with found footage horror films it can be hard to tell from a trailer. As for scares, a trailer is also a poor indicator of things to come. Many scares in horror movies are based off of atmosphere- something that is hard to manifest in a brief trailer. Although, some of it does appear a bit creepy. How about the baby not being visible in the mirror? (That's actually in the photo above if you look closely). This is definitely a case of waiting for a critical consensus before paying at a theater. Hopefully Paranormal Activity 2 can build on the success of the first, because I love a good scare. See the trailer for yourself below.

Paranormal Activity 2 will be in theaters October 22.

Synopsis with spoilers for the first Paranormal Activity: After being taken hold of by the demon in Paranormal Activity, Katie moves to torment her relatives and their baby Hunter.

Review: The Social Network is a Masterwork

2010-10-03T22:07:00.000-05:00

THE SOCIAL NETWORK

Directed by David Fincher

Starring Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake, Brenda Song, Rooney Mara, Armie Hammer, Max Minghella

Written by Aaron Sorkin

Based on the book "The Accidental Billionaires" by Ben Mezrich

Rated PG-13 for sexual content, drug and alcohol use and language.

121 Minutes
Release status: In theaters since October 1st

Plot: In the fall of 2003, Mark Zuckerberg begins work on what will become a social networking site known as "The Facebook". But as his work progresses, so does his lack of real human connections.

Whether we like it or not, technology has essentially taken over the general population's lives. The line between our digital and physical selves continues to blur or even disappear. For some, the only way to live is through electronic socialization. Sadly, eerily, and damned accurately, The Social Network takes this message and turns it into a fine film.

Don't call The Social Network "The Facebook Movie". That title does no justice to what Director David Fincher's film really is. Many aspects are already great by themselves, but without the clever, humorous, and totally awesome screenplay written by Aaron Sorkin, The Social Network wouldn't have reached the levels of recognition that it already has. Sorkin crafts his characters distinctly and thoughtfully. Mark Zuckerberg is a desperate donkey hole looking for glory, and his methods of getting what he wants are powerful reminders of what a highly intelligent person can accomplish. However, because Zuckerberg is shown as such a nut, I found little emotional attachment to his life. The Social Network has a great set of characters but any emotion involved is little more than a decent amount.

Many of Sorkin's manifestations are defined by their verbiage. Jesse Eisenberg details the foundations of Zuckerberg's computer monster about as quick as an auctioneer during a price war. But later, Zuckerberg's sassy and mean comments begin to define his persona about as much as his decisions (and usually actions speak louder than words). Apply this consistency to every character and pretty soon we have what may be an Oscar worthy script. The smart, fast, and balls out dialogue in The Social Network just might be the best thing in the whole picture. Not only does Sorkin treat us to some clever jokes, but a minimum cerebral requirement is given too. For anyone who loves a film that takes a bit of gray matter to completely enjoy, this is it. Be prepared to pay attention to everything that is being said, because missing one line probably means missing a great line.

In addition to great characters and fantastic dialogue, The Social Network contains even more screenplay related assets- a well structured story and all-too-relevant meaning. Even though we are aware of what is going to happen to Zuckerberg and Co., the in between stages are fascinating. We don't always know how things came to be despite the flashback-ish setup Sorkin has crafted. The Social Network is also a stellar character study. Mark Zuckerberg is often unpredictable and completely asinine. Sorkin slowly introduces Zuckerberg's contorted personality with just enough crumbs to keep us thoroughly enticed the whole two hours. Not one moment is spared in Sorkin's writing, and he entertains thoroughly the entire time. When the credits arrive, Jesse Eisenberg's character has almost completely transformed because of his now digital (social) life. This is where the brainiest part of all comes in: as our social digital connections continue to grow, our humanity is steadily lost. That's why so many people are saying that The Social Network may be the defining movie of the decade. The most genius of ideas is completely changing out lives, for better or for worse, and David Fincher wants us to know how far it's gone (and could go). After deciphering the various motifs in The Social Network, we see how detrimental the computerized zeitgeist could be for our society.

Chatroulette has taken over the set of The Social Network

David Fincher may have done is best job yet with The Social Network. Like my video production teacher with his insistence on the rule of thirds, David Fincher applies the fundamental approach to nearly every shot. The resulting footage is gorgeous. Conversations are made into intimate and distanced scenes- it's a film without heroes. Classic film symbolism also takes its hold in many shots- an empty seat in a bar, an old friend being betrayed alone- just two instances of a plethora of brilliantly crafted scenes. At its heart, The Social Network is old-school cinema in an all too modern context. Fincher also gives us some crisp editing, allowing inter cut scenes to flow seamlessly.

Despite the biggest names being Jesse Eisenberg and Justin Timberlake, The Social Network has an all around fantastic ensemble cast. Surprisingly, the best acting comes from Jesse Eisenberg. Quick, careless deliveries are a regular occurrence in Eisenberg's portrayal- as are the involvement of his entire computer-monitor-tanned skin. Zuckerberg is played with a quiet and hard determination seen by few. The major A-hole mood in the Zombieland star's deliveries is utterly perfect. Not much more could be done to bring Andrew Sorkin's interpretation of Zuckerberg to life. Whether a Best Actor nomination is handed out or not, Jesse Eisenberg deserves recognition for what is one hell of a performance. Andrew Garfield does a startlingly powerful job of playing Eduardo Saverin- it's no wonder he has been chosen as the next Spider-Man. Even though Garfield has what initially seems like a boyish demeanor, he gives us what ultimately ends up being an emotionally gripping representation. Believe it or not, Justin Timberlake isn't half bad either. His highish voice can get a teensy bit annoying, but the playboy attitude shown is about as fitting as a performance can get.

Waiting for a few more negative tidbits describing The Social Network? Well you're not getting any. In addition to all of the above praise is a stellar electronic score. Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross provide a set of music that goes from invigorating to intense in one sweep. Slow builds, pumping renovations of classical music and quiet slow tones make for another aspect of The Social Network that may be seeing Academy Awards around the corner. At this point, a Best Picture nomination is a guarantee. David Fincher's film certainly has the quality- The Social Network is the best movie of the year so far. And it just might end up being the best movie of the year. Whether it becomes the defining film of the 2000's zeitgeist or not, The Social Network is a landmark in modern film. I might just go post a status about it.

Rating:

Midnight Showing...And a Few Hours Later
A masterpiece. Perfect or close to it. Get off this blog and see this movie immediately.

Second Intruiging Trailer for Alien Invasion Thriller Skyline

2010-09-29T17:31:00.008-05:00

On a side note: This is the fiftieth post of the year. I never thought I would get to this many after only 18 posts in 2008 and 2009 each. I realize this number is relatively nothing compared to big time movie blogs. However, with each post my enjoyment of blogging continues to grow (and thus my willingness to post more). Thanks to everyone for their support. You all keep reading and I'll keep writing!
-Tom

Source: Apple Trailers

The second trailer for Colin and Greg Strause's Skyline came online today. A teaser appeared in August and can be seen here. Skyline is the story of an alien invasion (focusing on abduction) as humans from around the world are taken away by an extremely powerful force. See the official synopsis below (from Apple).

"In the sci-fi thriller Skyline, strange lights descend on the city of Los Angeles, drawing people outside like moths to a flame where an extraterrestrial force threatens to swallow the entire human population off the face of the Earth."

Sounds pretty sweet, right? After watching this trailer I feel a bit disappointed because it looks a little bit...crappy, shall I say? The special effects look wonderful but the camera work in some instances hinted at some weak shots. At this point it's hard to tell, but the acting doesn't look like anything special either. The same can be said for the story. All it really seems to be is a cliche survivors' tale during and after a crisis. I liked the first trailer more for it's mysterious nature. I think this might be an interesting take on the alien invasion storyline, but we won't know until it comes out. Keeping the Brothers Strause's track record in mind (Alien vs. Predator: Requiem and some special effects work) things aren't looking to hot. But check out the trailer for yourself below!

Skyline will be in theaters November 12th.

The Social Network Receives The Best Reviews of the Year (So Far)

2010-09-28T21:34:00.000-05:00

Source: Rotten Tomatoes

The Social Network gathered significant buzz after a couple of trailers and festival tours. Plenty of people were anticipating (or hoping for) a good movie. But not many expected the magnitude of the positive reaction that has come forth. So far, 40 reviews have appeared on Rotten Tomatoes and delivered an official consensus (meaning that any reviews to follow will likely follow the same trend). Not one critic has had a bad review. And the average score is 9.4 out of 10. That's the best of the year up to this point. And some of the best reviews ever. However, keep in mind that many reviews may have yet to be released (but any strong deviation from what has been said so far is unlikely). If anything can top The Social Network's reception by 2011, 2010 is going to end up being a hell of a year for film. Critics have praised the writing, acting, directing, and themes. Here's what a few critics have to say:

Peter Travers of Rolling Stone:

"Here's a poke to users and nonusers of Facebook: The Social Network isn't some yawny visual aid on how the website grew from a few hundred users at Harvard in 2004 to a 2010 global reach of half a billion. The Social Network is a hard-charging beast of a movie with a full tank of creative gas that keeps it humming from start to finish (hell of a middle, too). Sure, it gives you the facts about how then-Harvard undergrad Mark Zuckerberg (a never-better Jesse Eisenberg) made billions by helping technology win the battle against actual human contact. But it's also about the nation of narcissists we've become, reshaping who we are on Facebook in the hope of being friended by other users who may or may not be lying their asses off. Bracingly smart, brutally funny and acted to perfection without exception, The Social Network lights up a dim movie sky with flares of startling brilliance. Director David Fincher (Fight Club, Seven, Zodiac) puts his visual mastery to work on the verbal pyrotechnics in the dynamite, dick-swinging script by Aaron Sorkin (The West Wing), and they both do the best and ballsiest work of their careers. The Social Network gets you drunk on movies again. It deserves to go viral."

Justin Chang of Variety:

"To those who initially scoffed at the notion of anyone, much less the director of "Seven" and "Fight Club," making an interesting film about the Internet's most ubiquitous social-networking site, Fincher has delivered a terrifically entertaining rejoinder; Sony can rely on strong word of mouth to stimulate general in what will likely be referred to, for better or for worse, "the Facebook movie". After "Zodiac" and "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," two big-canvas pictures with unusually cerebral themes for mainstream studio fare, it's great to see the director engaging the zeitgeist in a film that offers the old-school satisfactions of whip-smart dialogue, meaty characterizations and an unflagging sense of momentum."

Todd McCarthy of IndieWIRE:

"The story of the virtually accidental birth of Facebook and the subsequent (and continuing) squabbling over the identity of its actual parents, “The Social Network” is a knock-out—on a first viewing, it seems almost indecently smart, funny and sexy. The second time around, with the witty intelligence of Aaron Sorkin’s script and the electrifying verve of David Fincher’s direction no longer a surprise, half the time I sat there marveling at the similarities of the story, themes and structure to “Citizen Kane.”"

The Social Network is directed by David Fincher (Fight Club, Zodiac) and will be in theaters October 1st.

First Fantastic Trailer for the Coen Brothers' True Grit

2010-09-27T18:29:00.000-05:00

Sources: /Film and Firstshowing.net

The trailer for the Coen Brothers' True Grit has been released online today. True Grit is an adaptation of the 1968 Charles Portis novel. The story centers on Mattie Ross, who seeks revenge on those who killed her father. See the official synopsis (from Apple) below.

Fourteen-year-old Mattie Ross's (Hailee Steinfeld) father has been shot in cold blood by the coward Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin), and she is determined to bring him to justice. Enlisting the help of a trigger-happy, drunken U.S. Marshal, Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges), she sets out with him -- over his objections -- to hunt down Chaney. Her father's blood demands that she pursue the criminal into Indian territory and find him before a Texas Ranger named LeBoeuf (Matt Damon) catches him and brings him back to Texas for the murder of another man.

I am very excited for this. I absolutely love the wide shots of the western landscapes and bad ass action. With Josh Brolin, Jeff Bridges, and Matt Damon starring I am only more enticed. Rumor has it that True Grit has some serious Oscar potential- I believe it. The Coen brothers have an already incredible track record (The Big Lebowski, Fargo, and No Country For Old Men among others). I am hoping that this will be another great addition. Much of the film will probably hinge on Hailee Steinfeld's performance. But from the looks of the footage, all seems to be well. See the trailer below!

True Grit will be in theaters December 25th.

Review: Exit Through the Gift Shop is a Profound, Intriguing, and Intelligent Documentary

2010-09-24T23:32:00.001-05:00

EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP

Directed by Banksy

Starring Thierry Guetta, Banksy, Shepard Fairey, Invader

Narrated by Rhys Ifans

87 Minutes

Rated R for some language

Plot: After meeting his cousin, who happens to be a relatively famous street artist, Thierry Guetta embarks on an exploration of the exploding underground street art world. Oh, and Banksy's in (on) it.

Don't be fooled. Exit Through the Gift Shop is a film by Banksy, not about him. If you're expecting a documentary based on his works, think differently. Exit Through the Gift Shop is just Banksy's style of work in video form, and fittingly, carries the possibility of being a big social art joke. But still, you're still probably going to be tricked.

Exit Through the Gift Shop is a partially true, but possibly (and in my opinion probably) a largely embellished story. Thierry Guetta is the focus, and somehow he provides a good enough tale to supply a screenplay. Usually documentaries don't provide such a fascinating person, or character, to analyze in the way that Banksy does. The resulting tale is a riveting one. Surprising, funny, invigorating- just a few ways to describe the core of Exit Through the Gift Shop. As Thierry explores the world of street art, we meet a few figures in the art movement. Invader, Thierry's cousin, is a clever man who puts Space Invader sprites on random walls throughout the world. Shepard Fairey, who designed the Obama "Hope" poster, took a liking to Andre the Giant as he pasted the same image on cities around the world. And finally, Banksy creates clever social commentaries in places as meaningful as the West Bank border and the Lourve. And tagging along these artists is footage of their accomplishments.

Exit Through the Gift Shop allows us to see the underbelly of the street art movement in a new way. No longer are artists hoodlums barely evading trouble, but thoughtful human beings looking to make a point in a new way. Never has footage of this intimacy, quality, or grittiness been put into a full film like Banksy has. His brilliant and often comical exploitations are revealed through a gleeful lens. Thierry Guetta manages to shoot fairly well. This is no amateur, incoherent Youtube video but a near professional grade arrangement of clips. Much of the footage is captured when authorities have asked for Guetta not to film- another exciting and funny tidbit to enjoy. However, the best scenes come when things are most serious. Never before seen footage of a close call with the Disney Land security reveals a darker side of the magic kingdom and a high bar for any protest artist to reach. With this comes a startlingly thoughtful commentary on the art world. And in Banksy style, it's definitely not conventional.

You'd think a world class artist would dress nicer for an interview...

Though rarely used, the music in Exit Through the Gift Shop is a perfect fit. Richard Hawley's "Tonight the Streets are Ours" provides a glorious background for the terrific, street lamp laced intro to Banksy's work. Although not songs, the audio clips given by an interview with Banksy do the same. Banksy opens some of his mind up to us, revealing unsung projects and, as usual, his raw opinion of things. And even though Exit Through the Gift Shop isn't strictly about Banksy, we can deduce certain things about his persona through his film making style.

Banksy shows us the amusing aspects of the art world with an insider's knowledge. First we see the results of a seemingly indie, counterculture "artist"'s overnight breakthrough into the L.A. arts community. Banksy shows us how ridiculous many corners of the art world are (or the artists and fans that make it up). And the fact that watching these people observe apparently genius art is hilarious. If you enjoy giggling at hipsters in all their indie glory, you will laugh your donkey off during Exit Through the Gift Shop. Hundreds of art fans (and critics) fall victim to Mr. Brainwash, an artist that may not even be real (I'll get to that in a bit) and the reactions are uncanny. Gallery visitors lay the praise on Mr. Brainwash like none other, and buyers consume "his" works like they are Piscasso. Unsurprisingly, the slightest notion of an anti-conventional American style attracts pretentious and ultimately ignorant Angelenos bohemians like James Cameron to money. Second, by the end we are left questioning the existence Mr. Brainwash. Sure, a Google search will yield a crappy website and some pictures of Theirry Guetta, but is his story too good to be true? Banksy's most profound piece yet is what you've been reading about: Exit Through the Gift Shop just might be a big fat joke. Is Mr. Brainwash a real artist with a nonexistent set of talents or a nonexistent artist? Either way, Banksy has created an incredible film. Just don't get caught in the gift shop.

Rating:
Midnight Showing
Superb. Something that belongs in the Best Picture category.

Review: The Last Exorcism is a Fun, But Mixed Bag

2010-09-21T17:38:00.003-05:00

THE LAST EXORCISM

Directed by Daniel Stamm

Starring Patrick Fabian, Ashley Bell, Iris Bahr, Louis Herthum, Caleb Landry Jones and Tony Bentley

Written by Huck Botko and Andrew Gurland

99 Minutes

Rated PG-13 for disturbing violent content and terror, some sexual references and thematic material

Plot: Reverend Cotton Marcus sets out, with cameras in tow, to expose exorcisms for the scam that he is sure they are a part of. But when he encounters Nell, a seemingly possessed girl, he begins to have his doubts.

Classifying The Last Exorcism to the minute detail would reveal spoilers for any reader with a brain (which is everyone, I hope). At it's heart, The Last Exorcism is a cleverly made mockumentary with low-res images, title cards and all. And that's what makes director Daniel Stamm's horror attempt enjoyable. The other stuff, kind of.

The Last Exorcism is above average compared to most scare far today, but never gets to the point of true terror. The scary scenes are few and far between. Sure, things get much more tense as the film proceeds, but the best moments are not until the end (which is nerve racking and brilliant, by the way). Although, some of the attempted creepy shots fail miserably- if one is not completely in a suspension of disbelief, there are scenes that will be found utterly hilarious (I saw this in a packed theater full of squealing tweens, so that was more than a fourth wall break for me). I don't really care for the fact that a possessed girl can do the splits, or bend her back really far back and not tip over. But if one is in the right mood, many more scenes will become fuel for Monsters, Inc. Part of the lack of scares comes from Patrick Fabian's mixed acting. Overall it's pretty convincing- a con man exposing his own scheme- but at times falters. I couldn't help but laugh during one scene when he asked about a violent drawing in a complimentary manner. But everyone else does a mediocre job- The Last Exorcism is largely unaffected by it's unknown cast.

Even a cross couldn't get Nell to take off her boots while in the house.

Unlike most horror movies around (or popular movies, for that matter) The Last Exorcism has a well crafted story. Writers Huck Botko and Andrew Gurland weave a nearly unpredictable story full of strong characters and awesome twists. As things go along, the team grows as we really want to solve the mystery too- what is really going on with this girl? Botko and Gurland lead us on at several points, making us think we are ahead of the game, and deliver what we think is a botched revelation. Soon enough, things get flipped around again and before we know it the end has us by the brains too. The last five minutes of The Last Exorcism are by far the best. A bad ass, crazy, terrifying, and ultimately unexpected conclusion is coming your way, folks. However with the great story comes a price- much of the film is spent plotting in order to set up the final minutes. While this does pay off, sort of, a lot of potential terror is lost. But I would rather have a strong plot then a scary movie with no backbone.

Director Daniel Stamm's mockumentary style works to great effect, producing genuine feeling testimonies and smart thrills. The shaky cam stuff is only over done in a few scenes and is rarely disorienting- Daniel Stamm's style is a sure benefit to The Last Exorcism. This style allows the relatively tiny budget to go pretty far considering what little $1.8 million does for other movies. There's also room for some pretty funny stuff. Intercut scenes show Cotton Marcus joking about his magician-like tricks and even go as far as a banana bread based sermon. It doesn't deliver on all fronts, but The Last Exorcism is mildly enjoyable. Unless you're a desperate horror fan don't be looking for an exorcism here.

Rating:

Rent it
Flawed, but there's enough entertainment available to warrant a viewing.

Official Trailer for Scott Stewart's Priest Released

2010-09-09T20:37:00.001-05:00

Source: Trailer Addict

Desert wasteland? Check. Rebellious, passionate bad ass? Check. Vampires? Check. Crazy kung-fu-matrix-western-futuristic-vampire killing action? Big fat check. The official trailer for director Scott Stewart's Priest debuted online today. A trailer (or the same one) was shone at Comic-Con and later pulled from the internet. But now Screen Gems has decided to start marketing a fairly starless show with a pretty sweet trailer. The story, based on a Tokyopop manga, centers on Priest, a member of a vampire killing order. He becomes rogue in search of a girl and is soon fighting vampires, and (you guessed it!) his old friends. The plot doesn't look to be too original but the art direction does. Tokyo westerns, Mad Max, and The Matrix seem to have all been blended into one. Priest looks pretty entertaining but quite shallow. Hopefully this can pull through, because a May 13 release date is pretty big! See the official plot synopsis and trailer below.

Priest is set in a world ravaged by centuries of war between man and vampires. Paul Bettany is Priest, a legendary warrior priest during the last Vampire War, who now lives in obscurity among the other human inhabitants in walled-in dystopian cities controlled by the Church. But when his 18-year-old niece is abducted by a murderous pack of vampires in the desolate wastelands outside, Priest breaks his sacred vows and ventures out to find her and seek vengeance upon those responsible, especially their brutal leader (Karl Urban). Priest is joined on his crusade by his niece’s boyfriend, Hicks (Cam Gigandet), a local outpost sheriff, and Priestess (Maggie Q), a member of his former legion of vampire-killers who has otherworldly fighting skills.

Priest will be in theaters May 13, 2011, in 3D.

Telluride: Danny Boyle's 127 Hours Grabs Nearly Universal Positive Reviews

2010-09-05T21:09:00.002-05:00

Like Slumdog Millionaire's 2008 Telluride debut (and eventual success), Danny Boyle decided to show a near finished cut of 127 Hours on Saturday. Festival reviews have resulted in giant praise- a stellar screenplay, cutting climax (heh!), and a strong performance by James Franco. A few minor complaints have had to do with a slightly lacking score and predestined story. Festival reviewers even mentioned potential for Oscars, but knowing Boyle's past this was almost to be expected. I'm very excited to see this, despite what I felt was a lacking trailer. Hopefully Danny Boyle's exuberant style will pull 127 Hours through. Click here for the trailer and see review quotes below (sorry again for the blue font):

Eugene Novikov of Cinematical:

I suppose it's a testament to the supreme craft and professionalism of Danny Boyle and his crew that watching 127 Hours feels a bit like having surgery; the kind where you're asked to bite down on something. It's gut-wrenching in a queasy, horror-movie way – a shield-your-eyes-from-the-screen, chuckle-in-relieved-astonishment sort of experience, done incredibly well. Which is to say: you probably already know whether or not you're interested.

Alex Billington of Firstshowing.net:

I'm fighting with my own feelings. I love Danny Boyle
and I admire everything he achieved in his newest film
, 127 Hours, starring James Franco
as the real-life mountaineer Aron Ralston, but I didn't love the film. It's great, but not amazing, in my honest and humble opinion, and I'm wrestling with why exactly I feel that way and why I didn't get pulled into the film like I wanted to. In fact, my partner in crime Peter Sciretta and I recorded a video blog debating our feelings (which you can watch at the end), because he loved it and I had problems with it. It is a great film, but I think it just wasn't exactly what I was hoping/expecting to see.

Peter Sciretta of /Film:

The main problem of doing a film adaptation of true events is that most everyone knows the conclusion. Everyone knows that the story will end with Ralston cutting his arm off to escape to safety. The films that do this best are able to create a strong emotional investment between the audience and the characters involved. And this story has a bigger challenge as Ralston isn’t the most likable character — he is a cocky loner who likes climbing and biking dangerous trails. In fact, Ralston had not told anyone of his hiking plans and because of that, no one would be searching for him.

127 Hours will see a November 5th release.

Never Let Me Go Receives Mostly Positive Reactions at Telluride

2010-09-04T21:22:00.002-05:00

Mark Romaneck's Never Let Me Go, based on Kazuo Ishiguro's novel of the same name, debuted at Telluride Film Festival yesterday. The movie centers on a group of students who leave a constricting boarding school life and enter the world, unsure of everyday actions and social practices. Kiera Knightly (Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy), Carey Mulligan (An Education, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps) and Andrew Garfield (the new Spider-Man) star. So far, the reviews have been mostly positive, with the score gathering the most consistent positive reactions. Here's what Alex Billington of Firstshowing.net says:

"Earlier tonight I watched my very first film of this 30-day festival tour, attending the world premiere of One Hour Photo director Mark Romanek's newest film Never Let Me Go in Telluride. It's based on the beloved novel by Kazuo Ishiguro and it's kind of a period piece drama about a love triangle between three individuals growing up in England, but there is a lot more to it than just that. If you want to steer complete clear of any spoilers, then stop at the end of this paragraph, but I do want to say that I loved it. It's a beautiful film, full of fantastic performances and incredibly moving and emotional. It's not flawless, but it is a wonderful film."

Here's what Peter Sciretta of /Film has to say (sorry for the blue font):

The film is emotionally powerful, a haunting meditation about love, death, humanity and acceptance. The performances are all top notch — fantastic performances across the board, but Carey Mulligan is center stage. Mulligan deserves a nomination, which if it happens, would be the second year in a row.

Rachel Portman, who won an Academy award for her score in Chocolat, and was nominated for The Cider House Rules and Emma, delivers her best original score in the last decade. Romanek presents the dystopian British countryside as beautiful yet bleak, which nicely compliments the mood and tone of the film. There is so much underlying detail in this movie that I feel inadequate reviewing it after only one screening.

Read more: Telluride Review: Mark Romanek’s Never Let Me Go | /Film http://www.slashfilm.com/2010/09/03/telluride-review-mark-romaneks-never-let-me-go/#ixzz0ycMcIUuL

Never Let Me Go will be in limited release September 15th.

See the official synopsis (from Apple) and trailer below.

In his highly acclaimed novel Never Let Me Go, Kazuo Ishiguro (The Remains of the Day) created a remarkable story of love, loss and hidden truths. In it he posed the fundamental question: What makes us human? Now director Mark Romanek (ONE HOUR PHOTO), writer Alex Garland and DNA Films bring Ishiguro's hauntingly poignant and emotional story to the screen. Kathy (Oscar® nominee Carey Mulligan, AN EDUCATION), Tommy (Andrew Garfield, BOY A, RED RIDING) and Ruth (Oscar® nominee Keira Knightley, PRIDE & PREJUDICE, ATONEMENT) live in a world and a time that feel familiar to us, but are not quite like anything we know. They spend their childhood at Hailsham, a seemingly idyllic English boarding school. When they leave the shelter of the school and the terrible truth of their fate is revealed to them, they must also confront the deep feelings of love, jealousy and betrayal that threaten to pull them apart.

Crazy, Badass Trailer for Hobo With a Shotgun

2010-09-03T13:52:00.001-05:00

Source: AICN

Ain't It Cool News has debuted the first trailer for Jason Eisener's Hobo With a Shotgun. And it looks nuts (or balls out crazy if you prefer). The exaggerated gore is reminiscent of Eisener's 2008 short Treevenge. This type of film making makes me think of various Youtube videos that have been released over the last few years. A.D.D.-centric in-your-face editing and self-conscious cheesy gore are two things that tend to crop up in the likes of Duncan Bros., and other users. Grindhouse, anyone? I really hope this is good, as it certainly looks to be. And it will likely be very offensive due to the violence. Although, too much is a possibility as a sensory overload does happen sometimes. Rutger Hauer is a total B.A. in the trailer, by the way. Check out the trailer and Treevenge below!

Warning: Both videos are for sure NSFW for gore.

Review: North Face is a Superbly Shot and Gripping Mountain Caper

2010-08-25T13:43:00.001-05:00

NORTH FACE (NORDWAND)

Directed by Phillip Stölzl

Starring Benno Fürmann, Florian Lukas, Johanna Wokalek, Ulrich Tukur

Written by Christoph Silber, Rupert Henning, Johannes Naber, Phillip Stölzl

121 Minutes

Unrated, but it would be at least PG-13 for Scenes of Mild Terror (Heights) and Some Blood

Language: German

Plot: For Glory and Country. Two skilled mountain climbers, who are also best friends, are convinced to climb the Eiger, A.K.A. "The Wall of Death" for the 1936 Olympics. The Eiger has never been conquered, and as the race to the summit becomes the battle for survival, the pair soon learns why. Based on the true story of Toni Kurz and Andi Hinterstoisser.

No, this isn't a movie about the clothing company. But The North Face clothing would have come in handy for Andi and Toni as they scaled one of the most dangerous mountains in Europe. However, what the pair could have used in their endeavor is a nuisance compared to their journey. Because North Face is a gripping cliffhanger. Literally. So for those afraid of heights, this may not be the movie to watch...

The first half of North Face is cliched and almost too slow, but it sets up the rest terrifically. It's much like a heist film- the stakes are high, the competition fierce and slimey, and the romantic interest quite lovable. The initial segment is a bit hard to last through. It's beginnings- a pair of mountain climbers barely getting by in order to do what they love- sets up a nice, though fairly predictable platform to work with. But by the time the action starts, the patience is worthwhile. Spectacular mountain scenery is shown with an eye for beauty as well as danger. Pre-risk (well, relative risk) climbing scenes are reminiscent of IMAX documentaries. Broad, National Geographic like shots of the Alps dot the reel and provide immense vistas like few others. And these aren't fantasy-movie-flyover shots- they are acute documentations based on true happenings. There are times where director Phillip Stölzl makes us want to sit a tish back in our seats due to the intelligent cliff shots. I haven't a clue as to how these were done, and I almost don't want to know. But the effects are strong. The tension in North Face eventually becomes like the frozen ropes it's protagonists depend upon.

Unlike the faraway shots of the Alps in the first half of North Face, the mountain climbing segments are close, intimate affairs. We feel each step and grasp like we were there sitting on the climber's back. And the tension rises quickly when things go wrong. North Face is also fairly unpredictable- unless you know the historical account beforehand, you won't know what will happen until the very end. The stakes eventually become something different all together as the mountain becomes quite villainous. For the final 30 minutes or so, the intensity is relentless.With what seems like each passing minute things go from bad to worse and even worse. Desperation is an understatement. Andi and Toni's decisions are crucial moments, whether we know it or not. North Face is an exciting affair. The pace may be slow throughout, but certain physical triumphs, or accidents, result in a brief rush of adrenaline. Combined with the intense mood, Andi and Toni's mountain climb is a truly gripping, triumphant work. However, a small portion of this feeling is lost due to the flat characters. Save for the love interest and a mountain hermit, everyone is a product of a writer's cookie cutter. Sadly, we lose some emotional pull because of the stagnant nature of these people. But, they're cliche because they work.

Well SOMEONE didn't bring a matching outfit.

Aside from the characters, North Face is fairly well written. Occasional light buddy-banter between Andi and Toni adds a nice touch, as well as the contrasting feelings of warm and cold in the latter half. The dialogue (when it comes around in the mountain scenes) is pretty good too, but not anything spectacular. In addition to this, North Face delivers a strong portrait of human nature- go for victory and allow and enemy to die, or sacrifice your dignity for another. This message provides a deeper drive for those wanting something a teensy bit cerebral or heartfelt. While this segment is realistic, the rest is too. Historically accurate costumes and set pieces make for a beautiful 20th century Europe to visually peruse. The climbing is the same- no nylon winter coats here. For a WWII historian, this would be an interesting film to watch before the 1936 Olympics begin.

Finally, the biggest flaws in North Face are the divided levels of acting and average score. Benno Fürmann, as Toni, gives a poignant, quiet performance. His subtle looks give for than hints at his emotions. Fürmann also shows his sense of desperation without saying a word- his body language tells us all. Along side Fürmann is Johanna Wokalek, as Toni's love interest Luise. Her performance is much less intense, but is a solid companion to Fürmann's quiet gravity. Ulrich Tukur, as Louise's boss, is as cynical as Fürmann is contemplative. But aside from these three, the acting is shallow, thankfully not enough to break the cinematic illusion. The accompanying score to North Face is decent. It doesn't convey much emotion when it is sparingly used, but does give a nice backdrop. Even with these small hindrances, North Face is a compelling, though slow adventure film. Will I ever go mountain climbing now? Probably not, but I would sure see work from Phillip Stölzl again.

Rating:
In Theaters
Great. Not one of the years best, but memorable.

Slumdog-esque Trailer for Danny Boyle's 127 Hours Released

2010-08-24T17:47:00.001-05:00

Source: Apple and /Film

Well it seemed to take long enough, but Fox Searchlight has finally put out the trailer for 127 Hours. Danny Boyle (Trainspotting, The Beach, 28 Days Later, Sunshine and Slumdog Millionaire) directs James Franco as real-life Aron Ralston, a hiker who was caught by a boulder and forced to amputate his own arm. It's been stated that there will be an hour with no dialogue, a la Castaway. Two cinematographers, Anthony Dod Mantle (28 Days Later) and Enrique Chediak (28 Weeks Later) were hired for the effort. See the official synopsis below.

127 HOURS is the new film from Danny Boyle, the Academy Award winning director of last year’s Best Picture, SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE. 127 HOURS is the true story of mountain climber Aron Ralston's (James Franco) remarkable adventure to save himself after a fallen boulder crashes on his arm and traps him in an isolated canyon in Utah. Over the next five days Ralston examines his life and survives the elements to finally discover he has the courage and the wherewithal to extricate himself by any means necessary, scale a 65 foot wall and hike over eight miles before he is finally rescued. Throughout his journey, Ralston recalls friends, lovers (Clemence Poesy), family, and the two hikers (Amber Tamblyn and Kate Mara) he met before his accident. Will they be the last two people he ever had the chance to meet? A visceral, thrilling story that will take an audience on a never before experienced journey and prove what we can do when we choose life.

I am a little disappointed by the trailer. The shots are reminiscent of Slumdog Millionaire's sometimes tilted or distanced shots. I find the style to appear slightly amateur and unpleasant, but maybe that's what Boyle is wanting. However the cinematography looks beautiful, as Utah is one of the most visually fascinating places I've ever been to. Despite this trailer I am still fairly excited for this, as Danny Boyle has made some fantastic movies before Slumdog Millionaire. 127 Hours will premiere at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival and be released in theaters November 5th. See the trailer below.

Piranha 3-D has Received Surpisingly Positive Reviews

2010-08-21T20:02:00.000-05:00

Source: Rotten Tomatoes

This is not a joke. Upon seeing the first trailer (in 3-D) I honestly thought Piranha 3-D would manage to be worse than Dorm Daze 2. Well, relying solely on reviews, it isn't half bad. Critics have slammed the plot and characters (but does that matter with a self-conscious B movie?) and said the gore is "gleeful". The Piranha festival even has an 80%, average rating 6.4/10 on RT. Not bad for a 3-D squekquel to old school horror exploitation movies. The concept sounds hilarious, mostly due to the enjoyment I find in ripping apart god awful, cheesy movies. I'm dying to see this.

Terrific Poster for Buried Released

2010-08-20T11:55:00.000-05:00

Source: AICN

How about this! Some good buzz has been surrounding Buried (as one can see from the poster) since it's debut at Sundance. Rodrigo Cortes directs and Ryan Reynolds stars as a truck driver in Iraq who wakes up buried in a coffin with only a cell phone and lighter. Apparently Buried is quite claustrophobic and intense. Sounds awesome! See the official synopsis (from Apple) and the poster below that. Click the poster for a massive high-res version.

Paul Conroy is not ready to die. But when he wakes up 6 feet underground with no idea of who put him there or why, life for the truck driver and family man instantly becomes a hellish struggle for survival. Buried with only a cell phone and a lighter, his contact with the outside world and ability to piece together clues that could help him discover his location are maddeningly limited. Poor reception, a rapidly draining battery, and a dwindling oxygen supply become his worst enemies in a tightly confined race against time— fighting panic, despair and delirium, Paul has only 90 minutes to be rescued before his worst nightmare comes true.

Click for High-Res

Buried will be in limited release September 24th and will expand to a wide release October 8th.

Review: [REC] 2 is an Under Crafted and Over Plotted Sequel

2010-08-19T15:48:00.001-05:00

[REC] 2

Directed by Jaume Balagueró and Paco Plaza

Starring Manuela Velasco, Jonathan Mellor, Óscar Sánchez Zafra, Ariel Casas, Alejandro Casaseca, Pablo Rosso

Written by Jaume Balagueró, Manu Díez, Paco Plaza

85 Minutes

Rated R for strong bloody violence, disturbing images and pervasive language.

Language: Spanish

Plot: Minutes after [REC] ends, a SWAT team enters the apartment building to seek out the health representative sent in hours earlier. But the team soon realizes that the infection is much more serious than they thought, and the feces soon hits the fan...

Many horror squekquels these days tend to be worse than their predecessors. Maybe the movie is not as scary as the first, or the original raw feelings are lost. Sadly, [REC] 2 fits into this ever growing niche quite well.

[REC] 2's biggest flaw is the lack of claustrophobia and clever scares that densely populated the original. The video this time around is constituted of helmet mounted and standard large digital video cameras. The helmet cameras provide some cool shots and genuinely cramped feelings when they are occasionally used. (I wish the whole movie was based off of those shots). However, the rest is not handled as well as before. Scenes tend to feel a bit farther way, and thus, less intimate. Scares are not as good due to this. Infected popping out a few inches from the camera is much more terrifying than seeing a hand grab someone from several feet away. I can also honestly say that I had minimal feelings of terror until the end, where things got a wee bit scarier. Had I watched this one alone like I did the first, that probably would have been different (but how much is hard to gauge). The atmosphere is also hindered by some god awful acting. I was openly laughing at some instances it was so bad. As a result of this and some poor camera work, things occasionally become cheesy, too.

While having a SWAT team provides room for a bit more craziness, the sense of desperation and relation to the characters is lost. Having a team of professionals, with guns, makes for a less intense experience. One infected person stands as a smaller threat when one has a semi-automatic weapon on hand. By the end we feel that the infected are not so much a problem as the determination of the team leader to complete his mission. We also learn that essentially every character is a flatly written panic machine waiting to be bitten, dropped, shot, or bottle rocketed. We feel little compassion for anyone throughout the 85 minutes spent trying to avoid a bloody death. It's fair to say that hardly any emotional pull takes a place in [REC] 2, despite the sticky situations shown. There are a few good scenes of insanity. A few mistaken communications, improvised weapons weapons and clever visual tricks bring back the hectic mood from [REC]. However, these scenes are rare or tend to mimic the first.

For the [REC]ord, that little girl should try using a napkin when she eats.

[REC] 2 takes the original story and does a whole lot of explaining. For the most part, the revelations and such are not revelations at all- save for a few clever twists- because anyone who paid attention at the end of [REC] should be able to piece things together. There are also a few easter eggs for viewers of good memory. A few cast members return in health, or not, and even characters who were mentioned but never seen. The ending is perfect, too. A sequel is set up brilliantly, and the first two [REC] movies are tied off nicely. Aside from fanboy treats and a few interesting details, [REC] 2 is quite over plotted. There's not enough happening to confuse anyone, but the amount of down time saved for dialogue or back story takes away from the mood. Part of the adrenaline rush of the first movie was the fact that we were solving a sort of mystery at the same time as the characters. But here, someone already knows almost everything and must slowly reveal it instead of solve the puzzle with us. Since crappy stories are a staple of so many movies today, I would have been happier if a thick plot was set aside for a more chilling atmosphere.

The production values in [REC] 2 are clear. A significant amount of effort was put into keeping the continuity flow in check, as well as repeating the original sets. Photos, hallways, and blood splattered walls all return in their gory glory just like before. It's a shame that the sets are so great, but not used to their full extent. Because of this, [REC] and [REC] 2 are best watched back to back. They are almost the same film since 2 picks up right where 1 left off. And the original directors, Jaume Balagueró and Paco Plaza, return to make sure that this is no sold-out-to-a-big-studio dump. At least the creative zeal is intact in [REC 2]. If only the terror was, too.

Rating:

Rent it
Flawed, but there's enough entertainment available to warrant a viewing.

Intense Trailer for Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan

2010-08-18T14:11:00.000-05:00

Source: Apple Trailers

After seeing a few of Darren Aronofsky's other films (The Wrestler and Requiem for a Dream among them), my standards are pretty high. And the trailer for Black Swan does not look to disappoint. Natalie Portman's plot-in-a-nutshell intro voice over sets a dark mood, and the rest of the trailer follows suit. Apparently Portman is in top form in Black Swan (that's the buzz so far) but it looks like Aronofsky is too. I can't describe how excited I am for this, even though it looks pretty dark. See the trailer below!

Here's the official synopsis:

BLACK SWAN follows the story of Nina (Portman), a ballerina in a New York City ballet company whose life, like all those in her profession, is completely consumed with dance. She lives with her retired ballerina mother Erica (Barbara Hershey) who zealously supports her daughter’s professional ambition. When artistic director Thomas Leroy (Vincent Cassel) decides to replace prima ballerina Beth MacIntyre (Winona Ryder) for the opening production of their new season, Swan Lake, Nina is his first choice. But Nina has competition: a new dancer, Lily (Kunis), who impresses Leroy as well. Swan Lake requires a dancer who can play both the White Swan with innocence and grace, and the Black Swan, who represents guile and sensuality. Nina fits the White Swan role perfectly but Lily is the personification of the Black Swan. As the two young dancers expand their rivalry into a twisted friendship, Nina begins to get more in touch with her dark side with a recklessness that threatens to destroy her.

Black Swan will be in limited release December 1st.

Review: Mr. Nobody is a Riveting Portrait of a Man's Lives

2010-08-02T21:06:00.000-05:00

MR. NOBODY

Directed by Jaco Van Dormael

Starring Jared Leto, Diane Kruger, Sarah Polley, Linh Dan Pham

Written by Jaco Van Dormael

138 Minutes

Unrated, but it would be R for Nudity, Sexuality, Disturbing Images, and Language (I think)

Plot: As he lives the last days of his life, Nemo Nobody recounts the three possible paths that he could have taken, each for a different woman.

Note: The above poster is in French, but Mr. Nobody is in English.

Its hard to say what Mr. Nobody is about, exactly. Director Jaco Van Dormael guides us through questions dealing with possible lives of Nemo Nobody, love, the universe, human nature, life, and why things end up the way they do. Sounds like a pretty heavy movie, doesn't it? For the most part it is, but being heavy can't keep Mr. Nobody from soaring.

Of all the ideas presented in Mr. Nobody, the most interesting, and important, is that life is presented as a choice, not something dictated by fate. We are taken though Nemo Nobody's life in such a way that many things are possible. As a result, a nonlinear narrative structure takes hold as we watch Nemo fall in love with different women on his multiple paths through time. While confusing at first, the way in which Nemo's life is told is a cool idea- why should things be in an “order” when there really isn't one? The format also pulls us into the story quickly. “Why is this happening?” and “What happens next?” are questions that have a stronger meaning when watching Mr. Nobody. And many of the things that happen to Nemo are wholly unpredictable. Even with a boxed story structure, you never really know what is going to happen next. Unlike many popular movies today, Mr. Nobody is original and entertaining at that.

Although a great way to tell an already great story is present, the characters within it suffer. Only one character other than Nemo, who's only a bit more interesting than normal, deserves much attention. It is fascinating to see the same character go through traumas of all sorts, but a more complex cast of characters would have yielded more developed and intricate views of human nature to detail. But still, the meaning behind Mr. Nobody is enough to keep things going. For instance: though Nemo's monetary status or life experiences may be different, a few of his core traits are the same. We are shown human nature in the sense that one's subconscious person is predetermined, but the order or way in which we do things is something of our own decision.

Jared Leto and Diane Kruger pose for one of the many symmetrical shots in Mr. Nobody

Love, a great propellant in Mr. Nobody, is addressed in a way that is no stranger to most viewers. However, the methods in which it is communicated by Jaco Van Dormael are beautiful. Highly symmetrical shots dot the love splattered landscape of Nemo's life, as do similar cuts. We are then lead to believe that one woman, who is the one who most often populates these shots, is the one for Nemo. And is Nemo for her. Jaco Van Dormael does his best with his intimate shots showing Nemo and whatever woman he is with at the time. The best of these are underneath a cave of sheets when a couple is spending time together. However, due to the non linear storytelling, some scenes, most of them romantic, get repeated for emphasis. By the end a few of these get stale- once or twice is usually enough.

Despite having somewhat shallow subjects to work from, several of the actors and actresses in Mr. Nobody do terrific work. Jared Leto is the star, as Nemo, taking on what is essentially a handful of characters to emulate. He shifts between caring and torn as if it is quite a natural move. Leto gives a very convincing portrayal of a man caught between worlds. He seems to easily pulls off the hurt mannerisms of childhood trauma with slight looks and meaningful glances. Toby Regbo, who plays the teen Nemo, does just as well. He too must achieve the same hopscotching act, but with a teenager's angst, energy, and love. Sarah Polley, as Elise, is stellar. Her deeply depressed methods of moving are only tidbits of what eventually become actions much more hard to watch. Its like she has a form of charisma that forces both attraction and a strange sense of alienation.

Mr. Nobody is at heart a life tale told in a Science Fiction setting. For fans of the genre, Nemo's life is a treat. Mentions of string theory, stem cells, and a future on Mars are just a few good sci-fi elements. The notion of time travel is brought up as well. Along with these tidbits are CGI special effects, which for the most part are sub par. This issue doesn't make much of an effect, however to those used to the likes of Michael Bay: you're in for a bit of an eye sore. But otherwise, Mr. Nobody is a great film. And by the end, we know that Nemo is definitely more than a nobody.

Rating:

Midnight Showing
Superb. Something that belongs in the Best Picture category.

Review: Inception is Much More Than A Usual Summer Blockbuster

2010-07-29T01:40:00.002-05:00

INCEPTION

Directed by Christopher Nolan

Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Ken Watanabe, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard, Ellen Page, Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy, Tom Berenger, Michael Caine, and Dileep Rao

Written by Christopher Nolan

148 Minutes

Rated PG-13 for sequences of violence and action throughout

Plot: Technology exists that allows people to enter each others' minds through their dreams. Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) is the best in the world at doing this, and is offered an impossible job- performing Inception, planting an idea in someone's mind, within young business heir - that could clear his record for good.

It's been more than a week since I saw Inception. It's rare that I can successfully write a review more than a few days after seeing a given movie. So sitting down to put this together now is a testament to how memorable writer/director Christopher Nolan's vision is. Inception's ideas and execution-a dream come true for Nolan lovers, or movie lovers in general- presents a nearly unlimited set of possibilities not only for the characters involved, but also for Christopher Nolan to work with. So if you thought the trailers were crazy...

The most impressive aspect of Inception is the intellectual brilliance brought in by Christopher Nolan. His dream sharing idea- one person dreams while others explore their mind, in essence- provides a complex and thrilling set of scenes and predicaments. Physics defying, visually stunning, brain stimulating and incredibly intense scenes follow one after another for the latter half (and pepper the first half as well). And the notion that something completely unpredictable could happen next (and at times does) brings all the more excitement to the table. Though quite similar to The Matrix with the veiled reality schtick, this thought caper is not so much about escaping a false world, but exploring what exploitations could become of it. This summer blockbuster is immensely creative and pushes the intellectual boundaries of popcorn cinema. How many times to we see that in a year? (Or by people other then Christoper Nolan?) By the end we realize that much more than minimal thought has been put into this movie. The amount of effort Nolan put into his dream exploring piece results in a hugely entertaining and emotionally involving film that is similar to few others. By the end I didn't want to wake up.

Cobb's predicament- risk being stuck within his mind forever or being away from his kids for the same amount of time- makes for a surprisingly emotional experience for what is in essence a Science Fiction heist film. Leonardo DiCaprio's intense performance is the heart of the heart pulling aspects of Inception. It's much like the work DiCaprio did in Shutter Island, sans the questionable sanity of his character (two great jobs in the same year, who does that? Clooney?). In Inception, Leo's acting isn't about a man fitting together the puzzle that holds him in, it's about breaking the puzzle apart and finding new solutions. Dicaprio gives enough charisma to make us love him and at the same time shows the deep pain that emotional trauma can make someone feel- both in the “real” world and within the mind. Mal (played by Marion Cotillard), Cobb's wife, puts on a similar show with different means. If Cobb were to be the viewer, seemingly aware of what's real and what isn't, Mal is the one trapped in the movie. She fails to see beyond her own mind, an ironic antonym for Cobb to love. However, aside from these two, no other characters draw much deep thought. They are mostly one dimensional “projections” (human manifestations of one's mind within their own dream) in Nolan's world and sadly shallow.

Looks like someone got caught spying on Ken Watanabe's bathroom

Let's face it. Inception is about Cobb. Depending on your interpretation of the ending, each member of Cobb's team could be a projection of himself, and in that case a part of his character, or just a few more people along for the ride. This is part of the genius behind Inception, that maybe it's all just one character study- or something completely different. Like the dreams that Christoper Nolan's adventure take place in, the possible theories on Inception are endless.

A fantastic aid to Nolan's directing is the score by Hans Zimmer. Deep bass rattles the theater as we watch events unfold, and boldly propels the action forward. Some of Zimmer's work is similar to The Dark Knight, but doesn't become much of an issue since the Bat score was far from being painful for the ears. One electronically fueled song during chase through a South American city pushes the intensity to new heights. When the climax is said and done, this chase scene pales in comparison to the ingenious sequences that followed it. The entire second half (or roughly that) starts off with a balls out shoot out in an urban area. This scene flows as the next two start and continue. Each one is exciting and super sweet in their own regard, but when the three take place simultaneously, the effect incredible. Heart pumping explosions, mind bending fights, and Bond like ski scenes are more than enough to get us caught up in all the action.

While all this is going on you have to follow the story, too. Inception never becomes confusing- part of the enjoyment stems from the slightly complex narrative- but instead a very stimulating experience. Emotion, intellect, and physical and mental danger combine into one superb creature. It's as if Momento and The Dark Knight managed to have a Leonardo DiCaprio faced baby worth $170 million. When all is said and done (or what seems to be done...) Nolan leaves us to decide whether it was all a dream or otherwise. That's just one reason why Inception will be talked about for years to come.

Rating:
Midnight Showing
Superb. Something that belongs in the Best Picture category.

Review: Toy Story 3 is a Fitting End to Pixar's Beloved Series

2010-07-27T18:07:00.002-05:00

TOY STORY 3

Directed by Lee Unkrich

Starring the voices of Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Ned Beatty, Don Rickles, and Michael Keaton

Written by Michael Arndt

103 Minutes

Rated G

Plot: Andy's moving off to college. Woody, Buzz and company haven't been played with in years and face being thrown away or put in the attic. But the gang ends up at the seemingly “sunny” Sunnyside daycare where Lots-O'-Huggin' Bear rules with a secret agenda. And Andy leaves for college in a matter of days!

Finishing off an already classic trilogy is a tricky business in itself, but trying to give an adequate goodbye to a cast of beloved characters has potential to be career suicide. However, knowing Pixar's glistening set of releases over the past 13 years, these issues seem to dissipate at the smallest worry. Unsurprisingly, Toy Story 3 is a terrific addition to an already stellar catalog.

Toy Story 3 starts off with a brilliant Wild West playtime scene from Andy's childhood. All of the key toys are brought back in their own hilarious fashion. (Have you ever seen a mushroom cloud of plastic monkeys? I thought so.) A heart tuggin' home video montage follows, showing Andy's love for his playthings as well as his dog, Buster, who's gotten a little older since Toy Story 2. Director Lee Unkrich immediately pulls at our hearts (and tissues) when one tear jerking scene after another besets Woody and all the rest. A phone call gone awry, misunderstood trash bags, and the potential for seemingly eternal separation from Andy are just a few of the emotionally pulling instances. And what has been referred to as the “Mount Doom” scene of the Toy Story series is, to put it in appropriate terms, a near heart melter. And the reason for this, is of course, the charisma of the characters.

Woody and Buzz are two of the most famous animated “persons” in cinema history, so saying farewell is not exactly an easy task. Toy Story 3 makes us love them all over again for the very same reasons as before. Woody would never give Andy up or let him down, run around or desert him. Buzz is the flashy and often ridiculous hero. So leaving these two in the dust forever is a bit sad. Much to our joy, a pitch perfect ending ends the trilogy on a squealing high note. Throughout Toy Story 3, no original toy is left in the background in favor of a new one (Ken, for instance, who can't hold back his love of clothes). In turn, newcomers are given enough time to be enjoyed, or for some, hated. But even with all the bells and whistles, Toy Story 3 is essentially the same as the previous two. Andy's toys meet new toys and are on the brink of leaving Andy, while Woody tries his darndest to get them back home. Some may enjoy this, some may not, but I tend to lean towards things that are a bit more original.

Something that helps cover this screw up is the adventure that the toys go on. From the day care to a hilariously forewarned breakout and even more after that, Lee Unkrich brings us along for a truly fun ride. This will thrill the children and give some good laughs to their parental units in the next seat. There are great jokes for both little and old ones throughout Toy Story 3. The already mentioned introduction is stellar, but the tortilla'd Potato Head is one of the funniest things I've seen all year. Luckily the boring ironic humor that plagues some animated releases (Old man says “Let's get him fast!” and moves a mile an hour) takes no hold here. Almost every gag is clever and can be laughed at more than once (after seeing it twice within 24 hours I still crack up at some things).

The animation is, of course, fantastic. Closeups of Andy's hand reveal minute wrinkles and careful observation of various sets shows the amount of work put into Toy Story 3. The colors are vibrant and light appropriately soft or harsh. It's a little bit of a scary thing that each Pixar movie gets closer and closer to photo realism. Speaking of the visuals, the 3D in Toy Story 3's case is quite average. The effects are subtle and never is something thrown out of the screen (thank god), but nor is it really used for anything more than a conversation piece. I've seen both the 2D and 3D versions and neither is much better than the other. If you're seeing it for free the 3D is always kinda cool, but otherwise it's not worth the surcharge.

Save for a Spanish version of “You've Got a Friend in Me” in the credit sequence, Toy Story 3's score is for the most part average. Lee Unkrich already gives us some good heart tugging but a solid score would have enhanced the scenes all the more. But it's hard to complain when the rest is superb. While it may not stand up to the classics that are Toy Story and Toy Story 2, Toy Story 3 makes a strong effort- and comes pretty close.

Rating:

In Theaters

Not one of the year's best, but memorable.

A New Rating System!

2010-07-27T16:56:00.000-05:00

I've had trouble with the rating systems I've used in the past (5/5 scale and %) because they require too much thought and end up being more important than the review for some people. I've decided instead to make one up, where it's when you would see a given movie once it's released or what you would do when watching it. The order of score goes from top to bottom, "Midnight Showing...and a few hours later" being the best and "Avoid it" being the lowest. Beneath each is a description of what movies would make the cut and roughly how many movies a year would get that score (if I reviewed almost every movie that comes out in a year). The terms for each may change if I find better words, but the amount of ratings will remain the same. I'll keep this on the sidebar for easy reference. Enjoy!

Midnight Showing...and a few hours later
A masterpiece, a perfect movie or close to it. Get off this blog and see this movie NOW!
(0-2 movies a year will get this.)*

Midnight Showing
Superb. Something that belongs in the Best Picture category.
(3-5 movies a year will get this specific rating)*

In Theaters
Great. Not one of the years best, but memorable.
(6-8 movies a year will get this specific rating)*

Buy the DVD
Pretty good. A movie that is for the most part enjoyable.
(10-15 movies or higher will get this specific rating)*

Rent it
Flawed, but there's enough entertainment available to warrant a viewing.
(The most common rating. Lots of movies will probably get this specific rating)*

Download it
Mediocre. Genre, series, director, or other fans would be the only people enjoying this one.

Laugh at it
Self explanatory.

Find something else to do
Really, really bad. Too bad to even laugh at!

Avoid it
This “Film” came out of Satan's anus. May it burn in Hell with him.

* If most movies of the year were reviewed. Major releases and hits from the festivals

Update/Summer Movies

2010-06-13T00:11:00.000-05:00

Maybe you've noticed that I haven't posted for over a month...or maybe not. Whatever the case may be, I've been very busy with school and now that it's over will be off to camp (which means no blogging!) for the next four weeks! I enjoy posting and will write up a few when I can. But for now, I'm going to list the movies that I am excited to see this summer!

1. Toy Story 3 - June 18th

This one is pretty much self-explanatory if you've seen any Pixar movie. The toys are back (and their voices), this time facing the challenge of escaping the horrific day care that Andy leaves them in (he's college age now and voiced by the same actor, actually). I'm typing this late at night before I leave and don't feel like getting all the plot details and all that jazz, so that's why this is short. But I'm very excited for this movie to come out and early reviews are highly positive.

2. Inception - July 16th

Christopher Nolan's (The Dark Knight, Momento) Inception is based off an idea that he had when he was 16 years old. How cool is that? Cool enough for Leonardo DiCaprio, Marion Cotillard, Ellen Page, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and a few others to sign on. The story deals with taking information from a person's mind while they are dreaming- but the main character, Cobb (DiCaprio) has to insert information to clear his name. I love Christopher Nolan's work and his ability to bring out the strange aspects of the human mind. This one is going to be huge, folks.

3. Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World - August 13th

Michael Cera returns to the awkward, love struck teenage boy role yet again in Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World. But this time, things are looking a bit flashier. A distinct visual style and geeky-teen sense of humor appear to litter Scott Pilgrim. This looks to be like a more love-oriented, girl friendly and less violent version of Kick-Ass. Hopefully it can pack the same punch!