NEWS: Green Lantern to Go Young?

It looks like Warner Brothers may be back to their old tricks in having a completely mind boggling idea for a potential tentpole franchise. Screenrant is reporting, through LatinoReview, that Charlie Bartlett himself may take on the green and black tights...

Just when the Green Lantern movie was starting to sound cool - epic script and Martin Campbell as director, comes a rumor that is NOT good news. It seems that for some bizarre reason, Warner Bros. wants to go “young” on the Green Lantern movie. The word from Latino Review is that one actor being considered to wear the emerald and black tights is:

Anton Yelchin.


This just really beats me. This makes little to no sense, and it shouldn't come as much of a surprise for people who know more about the background of WB and their attempts to get other DC characters to the big screen. However, with what is sounding like one hell of a script, and Casino Royale helmer Martin Campbell behind the lens, I still have a lot of faith in my second favorite superhero.

What are your thoughts?

Go see something good!

TV REVIEW: Dollhouse Ep. 2 - - The Target - -

So, I NEVER really watch all that much television. However, over the past couple of months, I've really gotten behind a few shows. Fringe being the biggest of them, and is my favorite show going today, I also have gotten into, and in the case of Trust Me, out of, a few others. Lie to Me is solid, not great, but the one that really surprised me has been Dollhouse. Sure, we are only two episodes in, but this last one, "The Target", has gotten me excited for what is set to come.

Whenever I bring this show up to people in conversation, the first thing that is asked is, "wtf mate? What is that?". Well, easily put, Dollhouse is about a laboratory that assigns different tasks to its various residents, who then have their memories erased upon the completion of their assignments. One of them is Echo, our main character, played by Eliza Dushku, who is slowly starting to become aware of herself and what's going on - all the while somebody on the outside is trying to bring the Dollhouse down while getting closer to Echo - possibly not aware that she is one of the Dolls he is after. It's the newest show from Buffy The Vampire Slayer/Angel/Dr. Horribles Sing Along Blog/Firefly creator Joss Whedon, and while the pilot was just alright, the second episode is definitely picking up the slack.

Here is the first episode's plot, and thanks to Wikipedia for the quick cover of it...

Echo is introduced as one of the "Actives" in the Dollhouse. The Dollhouse scientist Topher Brink wipes her mind and reprograms her as a ruthlessly efficient kidnapping negotiator. Echo's new personality incorporates memories from another woman who was molested as a child, and it turns out the molester is one of the kidnappers she must now negotiate with. She crumbles in fear during the ransom exchange, nearly getting their client killed. But she is allowed to confront the kidnappers, turning them against each other and rescuing the kidnapped girl. Meanwhile, FBI Agent Paul Ballard struggles with his assignment to uncover information on the Dollhouse, which has destroyed his marriage and is wrecking his career

After a rather lackluster pilot, Dollhouse's second episode, The Target, takes the action up a notch. Echo's newest imprint has her as the perfect date for Richard, an outdoorsman, who takes her on a "romantic" wilderness outing. However, the experience takes a turn for the worse when Richard indicates he will conclude the "date" by hunting her for sport, Rainesford style. Although Echo is imprinted with absolute trust in Boyd Langton, her handler, he is unable to do more than deliver a weapon to her, and she must kill Richard on her own. Afterward the Dollhouse team discovers the handiwork of Alpha, a rogue doll, on the corpse of an unknown assassin. It was Alpha who had maimed a past doctor, Dr. Saunders and butchered the handler Boyd was hired to replace. Then, an FBI agent, Agent Ballard receives an anonymous package concerning Echo's previous identity as a woman named Caroline, and continues his search.

The biggest thing about this second episode is that it felt like the series' proper pilot. The first episode went through a lot of turmoil with rewrites and re-shoots, and really took a hit in quality. There wasn't much of a back story into exactly what Dollhouse is, and it felt like a filler episode more than a pilot. However, this newest episode sets up most of the back story, at least into what looks to be the biggest part of the plot, including our main villain, Alpha, as well as the relationship between Echo and her handler, Boyd Langton, played by Harry Lennix. It's an interesting relationship, that doesn't go for the stereotypical love interest style plot, at least it's not setting up to be like that.

Also, the visuals to this show are rather top notch for a tv show. There is a lot of movement within the frame, as well as with the camera, that adds a lot of drama to this sci-fi series. Where as the first episode felt sort of hap-hazard in it's filmmaking, and watered down in a way, this episode was really well shot and directed. The main villain of this episode was interesting, and the idea of this series will have you intrigued from the very start.

Another improvement has come in the script. As I stated above, the pilot went through various re-writes, and this second script just seemed to be vastly improved over the last episode. It's a really interesting concept, with a great set of characters, and along with the sci-fi aspect, Joss Whedon knows how to do humor alongside the action. Best line of the episode - "Do you know how to shoot a gun", Echo: "I have four brothers, none of them Democrats". There is just a lot of great dialogue like that in this script, and it has my hopes high for the following series.

However, and this is just a small thing, to me, the real star of the show is Fran Kranz, who plays Topher. He's just really funny, and yet, his relationship with Echo and the rest of the Dolls is one that I think could be mined for some deep ideas.

Sure, it can be quite confusing, but if you don't mind doing a bit of heavy lifting, and a lot of paying attention, please, give Dollhouse a chance. It's available 24/7 on Hulu for crying out loud. Give it a shot.

Dollhouse is available online here, or can be seen on Fox, Friday nights at 9 pm.

Are these TV reviews something you would like me to continue? If so, I may do this for Castle, and Fringe, when it returns in roughly 5 weeks.

Go see something good!

NEWS ROUNDUP: 2-26-09

There have been a ton of little pieces of news that I have ignored over the past week, and this post is here to round up those stories.

- Columbia Pictures has tossed Total Recall up on the remake mound, and sited the huge leaps in special effects as to why this will work...

- It looks like Samuel L. Jackson has signed up to play Nick Fury for NINE more Marvel films...

- Pirates of the Caribbean director, Gore Verbinski, has been tapped to helm a new adaptation of the board game, Clue...

- The third book in the Twilight series, Eclipse, has been green lit and will look for a release in 2010...

- Warner Brothers has released their tent pole slate, and it's pretty damn sweet...

December 25, 2009 Sherlock Holmes

March 26, 2010 - Clash of the Titans

July 16, 2010 - Inception (Nolan’s next film after Batman)
(Same weekend as Marvel Films’ Thor)

August 6, 2010 - Jonah Hex

December 2010 - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I
December 17, 2010. - Green Lantern

July 15 2011 -
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II
(Same weekend as Marvel Films’ The Avengers)

- E! is reporting that Michael Cera has stopped holding out on the much anticipated Arrested Development film. It's not a sure fire deal, as it IS E! that is reporting, so when this is updated, so will this post...

- Finally, Cate Blanchett WILL be playing Maid Marian in Ridley Scott's Notingham...

Come back later for more news and notes, along with a review of something this weekend...Coraline?

Go see something good!

NEWS: Coppola Updates Tetro...

Over at the official website for Francis Ford Coppola's next film, Tetro, there is a new video blog from the set, in which he updates us on what exactly Tetro is and is about. There isn't much here, but seeing him talk about his 15 million dollar baby is exciting.

Here's the synopsis...

Tetro is the first “original screenplay” he’s written since The Conversation (not too shabby, that one). He then points the camera over to a new, unrelated script he’s writing. As we reported last year, Tetro follows two brothers, the titular eldest played by Gallo, the other by newbie Alden Ehrenreich, who endure “rivalries born out of creative differences passed down through generations of an artistic Italian immigrant family.” Also co-starring are Maribel Verdu (Pan’s Labryinth) as a love interest, and Carmen Maura (Volver) in a role originally intended for Javier Bardem, who not uncharacteristically dropped out. This is subject matter that Coppola knows like a glass of wine—referring to it as semi-autobiographical—and I get a damn good feeling about it. If only Michael V. Gazzo were alive to shout at Gallo about the good ol’ days.

Sounds good to me. What are your thoughts?

Go see something good!

VIDEO: The Science of Watchmen...

Go see something good!

DVD REVIEW: District B13...

So, I love Netflix. First, there is no late fees for renting films. That's all great and stuff, but what really pushes my love over the cliff is their Watch Instantly feature. One is able to watch a film from their library at any point in time, if you either have a computer or a set top TV box. I've seen such films as Angel-A, and The City Of Lost Children via this service, and I also had the chance to check out a solid, adrenaline fueled, action film from Taken director, Pierre Morel. It's called District B13.

Simply put, District B13 is a film set in the ghettos of 2010 Paris, a tough undercover cop and an ex-thug are sent inside the hostel District B13 to defuse a stolen neutron bomb. That's about the extent of the story, and 85 Parkour filled minutes later, that's all one really needs for one hell of an action film.

District B13 is the first feature film from d.p. Pierre Morel, who has become famous as the helmer of the recent action hit, Taken. It was written by Luc Besson, and this group, Besson and his proteges have really become the Apatow crew of action films. From this, to the Transporter, to films like Angel-A and even classics like Leon The Professional or the Fifth Element, they have become the go to group for action films.

This is one of the best of the group. It takes the opening of Casino Royale, the parkour scene, spans it over 85 minutes, and shoots it like a Guy Ritchie action film. This is the epitome of an economic action film. It's a brisk 85 minutes, and there are only a couple of shots that could have been taken out. About two days ago, I watched Red Eye, which if you have seen that, has a similar feel, at least pace wise. B13 is a lot more action packed, but both films have a really brisk pace, and don't like to waste shots.

The cinematography for this film is also quite well done. Where as in Taken it's a much more monochromatic look, with a lot of dark blues and blacks, this feels a lot more warm. Another thing that makes this film superior to his other work, is the fight sequences. In Taken, and a lot of other recent action films, they take a "Bourne-esque" approach to the action. The camera is placed literally in the middle of the action, and it's much more kinetic, but it's also quite confusing. However, in this film, it takes a page out of the Ong Bok book. The camera is placed further back, allowing for the same amount of energy in the frame, but it allows the viewer to know who is who and what is going on inside of the said frame. The stunts here are stunning, and along with the music, there really isn't a dull moment.

Sure, there is a bit of a lag once the cop is introduced, but once the proverbial shit hits the stylized fan, it is one of the best, or at least most fun, action films I've seen in a long time.

DISTRICT B13 - 8/10

Action packed debut of Pierre Morel, and while flawed, particularly in the cop character, the fight sequences alone warrant this films high rating. If you want a deep, thought provoking film, skip it. But if you want something that makes the action of an action more than just superfluous, check this film out. It's art in District B13...

Check out a few of the fight scenes here...





Go see something good!

NEWS: Gondry to Direct The Green Hornet?

According to this report from Variety it looks like...

Columbia Pictures has set Michel Gondry to direct "Green Hornet," with production to begin later this year.
Seth Rogen is starring, and wrote the script with Evan Goldberg. Neal Moritz is producing.

Gondry most recently completed "Tokyo."

Based on the cult TV series of the same name, the Seth Rogen penned superhero flick was set to be helmed by co-star, Steven Chow, who will play the role Bruce Lee made famous, Kato, but had to drop out of the directors chair due to schedule conflicts.

I love Gondry, like a little eccentric son that he is to me, and this looks to be a really interesting mix of aesthetics...

What do you think?

Go see something good!

OPINION: The Real Reason Why The Dark Knight Didn't A Best Picture Nod...

****This is all opinion. Facts are given, but my conclusion is in no way a fact, just my own personal opinion, with facts to support it****

Sure, today is Tuesday, two days after the Academy Awards. However, people are still buzzing about what they thought was right and wrong with the show, and more importantly, the nominations.

As I was on my way home from class on Monday, I began to think about why certain things weren't nominated (like Springsteen for Best Original Song), and came to a rather interesting conclusion. The monster of '08 that was The Dark Knight, did not receive a Best Picture nomination, not because of the films quality, but the content.

Here are two major facts:

-The Dark Knight has now grossed over 1 billion dollars world wide, and is only the fifth film in history to do so
-It currently has a 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, compared to the lowest Best Picture nominee, The Reader, with a 60% rating (They garnered a 9 and a 7.5 from yours truly)

Now, these two things should lead to a Best Picture nomination, right? Wrong.

To me, The Dark Knight is a brilliant film, that sort of falls apart in the final 20-30 minutes. The pacing is off a little bit, it should be more staccato, where as in the film it's far to legato, but it's largely due to the films massive ambition, which is 100% forgivable. However, what many people don't talk about, is the films political leanings in this flawed final 30 minutes.

Take the Joker character for example. In the Dark Knight, the Joker is a human embodiment for terrorism. Terrorism as defined by Wikipedia is as follows...

Terrorism is the systematic use of terror (imposing fear), especially as a means of coercion

He is the personification of what this world has been attempting to take down since 9/11. Within this attempt to rid the world of evil, some peoples civil liberties have been kicked to the curb, with things like The Patriot Act. The surveillance of civilians in an attempt to hinder terrorist activities, wait, that sounds a lot like the ending of The Dark Knight.

You have Christian Bale as Batman, basically playing the superhero version of the Bush Administration, maybe a Dick Cheney character. He sets up this surveillance system, and uses the thought of impending terrorist attacks to coerce the only person who can run it, Lucious Fox (Former President Bush), to do so.

Then at the end, you have Batman running off, as the police are hunting him down, for all that he has done. Hell, you even have Harvey Dent's famous line, saying "You either die a hero, or live long enough to see yourself become a villain." After 9/11, Bush had extremely high approval ratings, and had the support of the strongest nation in the world behind him. However, 7 years later, it couldn't have been more the opposite, just like the arch of the caped crusader, in TDK.

Now, look at what DID get nominated. First, there's the Reader, which is a film about the Holocaust, which is a guaranteed nomination. Then you have Ben Button, which is a version of Forrest Gump, just not sucky. Next, Milk, which, with Prop 8 being passed, and the insane liberal tilt in Hollywood (it's why I want to live there), it was a sure fire lock for one of the 5 spots. Finally, the most obvious nominations, Slumdog Millionaire and Frost/Nixon.

With Slumdog, you not only have a great, if overrated film, with a great love story, but it's about getting yourself out of poverty, and in the economic world we live in, this is one that really worked for EVERYONE, except yours truly. I liked it, but honestly, as Spout so brilliant said, The Wrestler is a better film about getting up out of poverty, mainly due to the fact that Slumdog revolves around a game show, that .00001% of the population is able to play, or have played. But this is about TDK, so moving on.

Finally, Frost/Nixon is the exact opposite of The Dark Knight. It's about a set of interviews between journalist David Frost, and Richard Nixon. The film is about corrupt politicians getting their court days in the court of public opinion. Need I say more.

That's about all I can say, as I'm sitting in my Journalism History class getting dirty looks from my teacher. So, I hope you all enjoy this piece, and I hope it starts up some conversation. I know it's not really the best written piece, but I just wanted to get my thoughts down, so I hope you all enjoy! What are YOUR thoughts?

Go see something good!

NEWS: Potential Oscar Films for '09...

Instead of doing just a basic credit sequence, before the 2009 Academy Awards went off of the air, they decided to preview some upcoming films from the 2009 slate that may have some sort of impact either award wise or box office wise, and you can see it below!



The movies that they previewed were Sherlock Holmes, Funny People, The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, Public Enemies, Julie & Julia, The Soloist, Up, Fame, Terminator Salvation, Inglourious Basterds, 500 Days of Summer, Amelia, Old Dogs, Angels & Demons, Whatever Works, Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, Monsters vs. Aliens, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and much more!!

What films are YOU looking forward to?

Go see something good!

NEWS: Oscars Recap...

Sorry for the late post, but in between my insane man love for one Hugh Jackman and my insane love for a certain beverage that sounds like what a grandmother would call a booty, I didn't really have the mental capacity or the time or will to do a live blog/tweet. Amazing people + Fun atmosphere = not a great setting for a live tweet. Sorry guys, but here is my recap...

CLICK HERE TO SEE A LIST OF THE WINNERS

And here are some of my thoughts...

- I LOVED the production of this show. There was a flub in the beginning, but it ran smoothly otherwise...
- The five piece presenters for the four major acting categories was stunning. It was a classy thing to do, and gave some scope and a bit of grandiosity to the otherwise standard Academy Awards
- Hugh is a god, and by that I mean I would make love to him, and then let him dance and host something for me. He won an Emmy for his Tony Award hosting, and he was really great here.
-Ryan Seacrest is a douchebag
- The pre-shows are the biggest pieces of crap ever. It's cliche to say, but this year just seemed to really amp up the tooliness. ESPECIALLY when people were interviewing the cast of Slumdog. We really saw what it sounds like to come off American.
- Anne Hathaway is the love of my life. Sorry, but if any of you like her, get off, she's mine. I'll fight to the death for her. That dress she wore was the fashion highlight of the night
- Meryl Streep could be the mouse you are using to scroll down my post, and you wouldn't even know
- It was a very straightforward award show, with very few surprises. Maybe it's just because I read more about who people were picking this year, but it seems like last year was much more wide open then this one.
-Finally, congrats to Slumdog. I've been harsh on it this year, but it really is a great film, one of the 15 best from last year, and is probably the best story. It was set to be released straight to DVD, and now seeing it win Best Picture is really great. Congratulations.

Go see something good!

TRAILER: Funny People...

Sorry for the late post, but between a basketball game and a late night trip to the hookah lounge, I really didn't have much time. However, once I returned to the palace that is 4350, I had this little gem to come home to.



This is the first trailer for Judd Apatow's next film, Funny People. I am not the biggest fan of the whole Apatow crew, but for some reason, I just really love this trailer. There is something about seeing Adam Sandler really mix his great dramatic acting that he has grown through films like Reign Over Me and Punch Drunk Love, and also return back to his stand up roots. There is a lot more story than I thought would be revealed in this trailer, but for a guy who isn't a big fan, or really a fan at all, of Apatow's previous works, 40 Year Old Virgin and Knocked Up, I needed more than just a regular trailer, and this one really works.

Here's the synopsis...

Over the past few years, writer/director Judd Apatow (The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Knocked Up) has shown that nothing—not even losing your virginity or the miracle of childbirth—is sacred. About his third film behind the camera, he says, “I’m trying to make a very serious movie that is twice as funny as my other movies. Wish me luck!” Apatow directs Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen and Leslie Mann in Funny People, the story of a famous comedian who has a near-death experience. Adam Sandler, Eric Bana, Jason Schwartzman, RZA and newcomer Aubrey Plaza join a cast that reunites Judd Apatow with Seth Rogen, Leslie Mann and Jonah Hill in their third comedy together.

What are your thoughts?

Go see something good!

TRAILER: Los Abrazos Rotos Teaser...

Finally, something actually news worthy. Outside of a really ridiculous new logo for the upcoming Twilight sequel, something I won't even link to, there really hasn't been any huge pieces of news. However, there is a little something that you all can check below...



This is the teaser trailer for the next film from genius director, Pedro Almodovar. It's called Broken Embraces, or for those of you who know some spanish, Los Abrazos Rotos. This is one of the most beautiful teaser trailers I've seen in a long time. Now, not much is really known about this project, but it looks amazing, so more on this as it becomes available!

Go see something good!

NEWS: Is The Watchmen Ending ACTUALLY Changed?

So, there has been a lot of buzz around the web about the apparent changes to the ending for the film adaptation of Watchmen. However, Devin Faraci over at CHUD had a chance to briefly chat with Zack Snyder, director of Watchmen, about a certain beast and it's status for the film.

Ahead be spoilers, so read with caution.

I'm at the historic Beverly Hilton right now for the Watchmen junket. While my one on one interview with Zack Snyder isn't until Friday, I ran into him in the halls of the hotel and talked about a little reference I caught in his movie.

There are potential spoilers ahead, especially if you haven't read the comic. Be warned.

Some fans have been up in arms that Zack Snyder changed elements of the end of the story, specifically removing a giant alien squid from the climax (told you it was a spoiler if you hadn't read it). More reasonable fans understand that a giant alien squid wouldn't quite work in the movie.

But eagle eyed moviegoers will realize that Zack DID keep the squid. Just maybe not in the way you might expect.

In the film Adrian Veidt and Dr. Manhattan are working together on a project that will replicate Manhattan's energy, providing free and unlimited power to the world. That project? SQUID, the logo for which is briefly visible.

"I'm glad you caught that," Zack said when I complimented him on getting the squid in the movie. And what does SQUID stand for? "Sub QUantum Intrinsic Device."

As for how that SQUID plays into the larger film... You'll have to wait until March 6th to find out.

Creative Mr. Snyder, very creative.

In other Watchmen news, or in this case, non-news, /Film has a video blog up, contemplating the box office merit of this geekgasm. This is where you all come in...

Are YOU going to be checking out Watchmen on the 6th? Why or why not? I'm a HUGE fan of the graphic novel, and a pretty big comic book geek as a whole, so of course I will be seeing it, but for the more mainstream film goer, what do you think about the film?

Come back later for more news and notes.

Go see something good!

MUSIC: The Wrestler Gets a Video...

In honor of the Academy, and the years biggest snub...

Go see something good!

My Oscar Picks....

We are less than a week away, and I figure, my favorite websites are making their picks, so why not make my picks known. First, let me put this all in perspective, by giving you all my top 10 of last year.

10. Wall-E
9. The Fall
8. Vicky Cristina Barcelona
7. Dark Knight
6. Funny Games
5. Curious Case Of Benjamin Button
4. Milk
3. Paranoid Park
2. The Wrestler
1. Rachel Getting Married

Now, onto my picks...

Performance by an actor in a leading role

* Richard Jenkins in “The Visitor” (Overture Films)
* Frank Langella in “Frost/Nixon” (Universal)
* Sean Penn in “Milk” (Focus Features)
* Brad Pitt in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.)
* Mickey Rourke in “The Wrestler” (Fox Searchlight)

Will - Sean Penn ---- MILK
Should - Mickey Rourke ---- THE WRESTLER

Performance by an actor in a supporting role

* Josh Brolin in “Milk” (Focus Features)
* Robert Downey Jr. in “Tropic Thunder” (DreamWorks, Distributed by DreamWorks/Paramount)
* Philip Seymour Hoffman in “Doubt” (Miramax)
* Heath Ledger in “The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.)
* Michael Shannon in “Revolutionary Road” (DreamWorks, Distributed by Paramount Vantage)

Will - Heath Ledger ---- THE DARK KNIGHT
Should - Heath Ledger ----- THE DARK KNIGHT

Performance by an actress in a leading role

* Anne Hathaway in “Rachel Getting Married” (Sony Pictures Classics)
* Angelina Jolie in “Changeling” (Universal)
* Melissa Leo in “Frozen River” (Sony Pictures Classics)
* Meryl Streep in “Doubt” (Miramax)
* Kate Winslet in “The Reader” (The Weinstein Company)

Will - Kate Winslet ---- THE READER
Should - Anne Hathaway ---- RACHEL GETTING MARRIED

Performance by an actress in a supporting role

* Amy Adams in “Doubt” (Miramax)
* Penélope Cruz in “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” (The Weinstein Company)
* Viola Davis in “Doubt” (Miramax)
* Taraji P. Henson in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.)
* Marisa Tomei in “The Wrestler” (Fox Searchlight)

Will - Penelope Cruz ---- VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA
Should - Penelope Cruz ---- VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA

Best animated feature film of the year

* “Bolt” (Walt Disney), Chris Williams and Byron Howard
* “Kung Fu Panda” (DreamWorks Animation, Distributed by Paramount), John Stevenson and Mark Osborne
* “WALL-E” (Walt Disney), Andrew Stanton

Will - WALL-E
Should - WALL-E

Achievement in art direction

* “Changeling” (Universal), Art Direction: James J. Murakami, Set Decoration: Gary Fettis
* “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Art Direction: Donald Graham Burt, Set Decoration: Victor J. Zolfo
* “The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.), Art Direction: Nathan Crowley, Set Decoration: Peter Lando
* “The Duchess” (Paramount Vantage, Pathé and BBC Films), Art Direction: Michael Carlin, Set Decoration: Rebecca Alleway
* “Revolutionary Road” (DreamWorks, Distributed by Paramount Vantage), Art Direction: Kristi Zea, Set Decoration: Debra Schutt

Will - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Should - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Achievement in cinematography

* “Changeling” (Universal), Tom Stern
* “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Claudio Miranda
* “The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.), Wally Pfister
* “The Reader” (The Weinstein Company), Chris Menges and Roger Deakins
* “Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), Anthony Dod Mantle

Will - Slumdog Millionaire
Should - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Achievement in costume design

* “Australia” (20th Century Fox), Catherine Martin
* “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Jacqueline West
* “The Duchess” (Paramount Vantage, Pathé and BBC Films), Michael O’Connor
* “Milk” (Focus Features), Danny Glicker
* “Revolutionary Road” (DreamWorks, Distributed by Paramount Vantage), Albert Wolsky

Will - The Duchess
Should - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Achievement in directing

* “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), David Fincher
* “Frost/Nixon” (Universal), Ron Howard
* “Milk” (Focus Features), Gus Van Sant
* “The Reader” (The Weinstein Company), Stephen Daldry
* “Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), Danny Boyle

Will - Danny Boyle ---- SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
Should - David Fincher ---- THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON

Best documentary feature

* “The Betrayal (Nerakhoon)” (Cinema Guild), A Pandinlao Films Production, Ellen Kuras and Thavisouk Phrasavath
* “Encounters at the End of the World” (THINKFilm and Image Entertainment), A Creative Differences Production, Werner Herzog and Henry Kaiser
* “The Garden” A Black Valley Films Production, Scott Hamilton Kennedy
* “Man on Wire” (Magnolia Pictures), A Wall to Wall Production, James Marsh and Simon Chinn
* “Trouble the Water” (Zeitgeist Films), An Elsewhere Films Production, Tia Lessin and Carl Deal

Will - Man on Wire
Should - Encounters at the End of the World

Best documentary short subject

* “The Conscience of Nhem En” A Farallon Films Production, Steven Okazaki
* “The Final Inch” A Vermilion Films Production, Irene Taylor Brodsky and Tom Grant
* “Smile Pinki” A Principe Production, Megan Mylan
* “The Witness - From the Balcony of Room 306” A Rock Paper Scissors Production, Adam Pertofsky and Margaret Hyde

Will - Smile Pinki
Should - Smile Pinki

Achievement in film editing

* “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall
* “The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.), Lee Smith
* “Frost/Nixon” (Universal), Mike Hill and Dan Hanley
* “Milk” (Focus Features), Elliot Graham
* “Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), Chris Dickens

Will - Slumdog Millionaire
Should - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Best foreign language film of the year

* “The Baader Meinhof Complex” A Constantin Film Production, Germany
* “The Class” (Sony Pictures Classics), A Haut et Court Production, France
* “Departures” (Regent Releasing), A Departures Film Partners Production, Japan
* “Revanche” (Janus Films), A Prisma Film/Fernseh Production, Austria
* “Waltz with Bashir” (Sony Pictures Classics), A Bridgit Folman Film Gang Production, Israel

Will - Waltz with Bashir
Should - The Class

Achievement in makeup

* “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Greg Cannom
* “The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.), John Caglione, Jr. and Conor O’Sullivan
* “Hellboy II: The Golden Army” (Universal), Mike Elizalde and Thom Floutz

Will - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Should - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)

* “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.),Alexandre Desplat
* “Defiance” (Paramount Vantage), James Newton Howard
* “Milk” (Focus Features), Danny Elfman
* “Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), A.R. Rahman
* “WALL-E” (Walt Disney), Thomas Newman

Will - Slumdog Millionaire
Should - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)

* “Down to Earth” from “WALL-E” (Walt Disney), Music by Peter Gabriel and Thomas Newman, Lyric by Peter Gabriel
* “Jai Ho” from “Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), Music by A.R. Rahman, Lyric by Gulzar
* “O Saya” from “Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), Music and Lyric by A.R. Rahman andMaya Arulpragasam

Will - "Down To Earth" ---- WALL-E
Should - "THE WRESTLER" ---- THE WRESTLER

Best motion picture of the year

* “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), A Kennedy/Marshall Production, Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall and Ceán Chaffin, Producers
* “Frost/Nixon” (Universal), A Universal Pictures, Imagine Entertainment and Working Title Production,Brian Grazer, Ron Howard and Eric Fellner, Producers
* “Milk” (Focus Features), A Groundswell and Jinks/Cohen Company Production, Dan Jinks and Bruce Cohen, Producers
* “The Reader” (The Weinstein Company), A Mirage Enterprises and Neunte Babelsberg Film GmbH Production, Nominees to be determined
* “Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), A Celador Films Production,Christian Colson, Producer

Will - Slumdog Millionaire
Should - Milk

The following two categories are the shorts, and it would be really pretentious of me to pick a winner as I haven't seen any of them, so here are simply the nominees...
Best animated short film

* “La Maison en Petits Cubes” A Robot Communications Production, Kunio Kato
* “Lavatory - Lovestory” A Melnitsa Animation Studio and CTB Film Company Production, Konstantin Bronzit
* “Oktapodi” (Talantis Films) A Gobelins, L’école de l’image Production, Emud Mokhberi and Thierry Marchand
* “Presto” (Walt Disney) A Pixar Animation Studios Production, Doug Sweetland
* “This Way Up”, A Nexus Production, Alan Smith and Adam Foulkes

Best live action short film

* “Auf der Strecke (On the Line)” (Hamburg Shortfilmagency), An Academy of Media Arts Cologne Production, Reto Caffi
* “Manon on the Asphalt” (La Luna Productions), A La Luna Production, Elizabeth Marre and Olivier Pont
* “New Boy” (Network Ireland Television), A Zanzibar Films Production, Steph Green and Tamara Anghie
* “The Pig” An M & M Production, Tivi Magnusson and Dorte Høgh
* “Spielzeugland (Toyland)” A Mephisto Film Production, Jochen Alexander Freydank

Achievement in sound editing

* “The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.), Richard King
* “Iron Man” (Paramount and Marvel Entertainment), Frank Eulner and Christopher Boyes
* “Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), Tom Sayers
* “WALL-E” (Walt Disney), Ben Burtt and Matthew Wood
* “Wanted” (Universal),Wylie Stateman

Will - WALL-E
Should - WALL-E

Achievement in sound mixing

* “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), David Parker, Michael Semanick, Ren Klyce and Mark Weingarten
* “The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.), Lora Hirschberg, Gary Rizzo and Ed Novick
* “Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), Ian Tapp, Richard Pryke and Resul Pookutty
* “WALL-E” (Walt Disney),Tom Myers, Michael Semanick and Ben Burtt
* “Wanted” (Universal), Chris Jenkins, Frank A. Montaño and Petr Forejt

Will - WALL-E
Should - WALL-E

Achievement in visual effects

* “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Eric Barba, Steve Preeg, Burt Dalton and Craig Barron
* “The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.), Nick Davis, Chris Corbould, Tim Webber and Paul Franklin
* “Iron Man” (Paramount and Marvel Entertainment), John Nelson, Ben Snow, Dan Sudick and Shane Mahan

Will - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Should - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Adapted screenplay

* “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Screenplay by Eric Roth, Screen story by Eric Roth and Robin Swicord
* “Doubt” (Miramax), Written by John Patrick Shanley
* “Frost/Nixon” (Universal), Screenplay by Peter Morgan
* “The Reader” (The Weinstein Company), Screenplay by David Hare
* “Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), Screenplay by Simon Beaufoy

Will - Slumdog Millionaire
Should - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Original screenplay

* “Frozen River” (Sony Pictures Classics), Written by Courtney Hunt
* “Happy-Go-Lucky” (Miramax), Written by Mike Leigh
* “In Bruges” (Focus Features), Written by Martin McDonagh
* “Milk” (Focus Features), Written by Dustin Lance Black
* “WALL-E” (Walt Disney), Screenplay by Andrew Stanton, Jim Reardon, Original story by Andrew Stanton, Pete Docter

Will - Milk
Should - WALL-E

So, there they are. There are a couple I'm going back and forth on, mainly the last category. What do you think? What are your picks??

NEWS: Scott Pilgrim VS. The World Update...

There is a little film that is in the works, that has been buzzing around the web like the indie graphic novel bug that it is. The film is called Scott Pilgrim VS. The World, and is based on the Scott Pilgrim graphic novel series.

Thanks to Wikipedia for the synopsis on the series, which I have yet to check out...

The series is about 24-year-old Canadian Scott Pilgrim, a slacker, hero, wannabe-rockstar, who is living in Toronto and playing bass in the band "Sex Bob-Omb." He falls in love with American delivery girl Ramona V. Flowers, but must defeat her seven "evil ex-boyfriends[1]" in order to date her.

Now, that sounds like a really fun story right? To me it does at least. However, what makes the film adaptation all the more interesting, is the man behind it, Shaun of The Dead/Hot Fuzz helmer, Edgar Wright.

Recently, he has been releasing a bunch of cast photos, probably at least one a day, on his photoblog. Most recently, there was a cryptic photo of a man standing behind a set of blinds, with a paper adorned with a question mark. Now, there has been a ton of hype that the mystery man is Jason Schwartzman, and if that's the case, then lock me in my seat, but the rest of the cast is pretty solid also.


Scott Pilgrim - Michael Cera
Ramona Flowers - Mary Elizabeth Winstead
Wallace Wells - Keiran Culkin
Satya Babha – Matthew Patel
Chris Evans - Lucas Lee
Brandon Routh – Todd Ingram
Mae Whitman – Roxy Richter
Mark Webber – Stephen Stills
Johnny Simmons – Young Neil
Brie Larson – Envy Adams
Anna Kendrick – Stacey Pilgrim
Ellen Wong - Knives Chau
Aubrey Plaza - Julie Powers
Alison Pill - Kim Pine

I'm just saying, be on the look out for more informatino on this film as it comes...

Go see something good!

NEWS: Sin City 2 Update...

This isn't so much of a Sin City 2 update as it is a Robert Rodriguez update, but you will see why it's newsworthy after I give thanks to /Film for the heads up...

Last month word broke that Robert Rodriguez was involved in a mystery project called Nerverackers, set up at Dimension with an announced release date of April 16th 2010. We had no further information about the project, until now. Variety confirms that Rodriguez will write and direct the futuristic thriller which follows “a character named Joe Tezca who is part of an elite unit dispatched to quell a crime wave in a theoretically perfect future society” in the year 2085.

2 Things...

- Rodriguez is a great effects guy, or at least for a budget, but here's to the film looking more like a futuristic, more high tech version of Planet Terror, visually, than Spy Kids...

- This all but knocks him out of the Sin City 2 directors chair, along with kicking his Predator reboot and his much hyped Machete trilogy to the curb. Or at least for now. A while back it was reported that Sin City 2 was written, and with Frank Miller's recent attempts at directing, look for him to maybe take the seat. Not that I want this to happen, but it's looking more like it will be the case...

Go see something good!

NEWS: A Tiny Note on The Next Batman Film...

So, it's been quite a while (about two weeks) since our last piece of news on the next Batman film, and today has seemed to change that.

IGN is now reporting that at this moment, the only screenwriter attached to The Next Batman Film as /Film so greatly put it (they say that Batman films began before Begins, so it's not Batman 3), is Mr. Chris Nolan.

Studios and guild members are required to submit work lists to the guilds of the projects that they are on. IGN has learned that a work list from Warner Bros. was submitted last week listing Christopher Nolan as the sole screenwriter on Batman 3.

From what we've learned, The Dark Knight's Jonathan Nolan or David Goyer aren't officially involved in the script phase as of yet.

So, while the film is still in the most bare stages, as a story hasn't even been created yet (at least that we know of), this is a true final lock to Nolan's involvement in the project, which if the film is to succeed, is mandatory.

Also, in smaller news, it looks like the deal that was struck by WB for Nolan's next film, Inception, has a "Batman clause", stating that he will indeed be helming the second sequel to Batman Begins. Inception is set for a release in 2010, and is in pre-production if IMDB is to be believed...

Go see something good!

VIDEO: Oh How I Miss 2007...

TRAILER: Transformers 2...

I think we have found what Michael Bay was born to make. This looks amazing, and I will post the actual trailer, not the bootleg, come Monday when it is released...

Go see something good!

REVIEW: Friday the 13th/ The International...

Alright, so this has been a really hectic weekend, however, I did get a chance to see two new films this weekend, both of which reminded me that sometimes the beginning of the year doesn't have to always suck. That said, I'm just going into my brief thoughts on it, so here we go, with Friday the 13th...

Here's the synopsis...

Young friends Whitney (Amanda Righetti), Mike (Nick Mennell), Richie (Ben Feldman), Amanda (America Olivio), and Wade (Jonathan Sadowski) end up missing in the woods near the abandoned Camp Crystal Lake (made famous by the original 1980 film), after allowing their curiosity to get the better of them and visiting the site where a psychopathic killer resides. Six weeks later, Trent (Travis Van Winkle) invites friends Jenna (Danielle Panabaker), Bree (Julianna Guill), Chewie (Aaron Yoo), Chelsea (Willa Ford), Lawrence (Arlen Escarpta), and Nolan (Ryan Hansen) to his father's cabin on Crystal Lake for a weekend of sex, booze, pot smoking, and water skiing. However their seemingly fun weekend soon escalates into a nightmare after lone traveler Clay (Jared Padalecki) shows up looking for his missing sister Whitney. The police have searched with no luck, and Clay is now searching alone. Local citizens have advised Clay not to go into those woods, because anyone who shows up missing is already dead, and he is wasting his time. During his search, one of the students, Jenna, decides to help Clay find his sister, and they go into the woods. They find the abandoned Camp Crystal Lake and search the dilapidated camp house for any signs of his sister. They soon find themselves face to hockey-mask with evil reborn, reimagined, and rebooted, and his name is Jason Vorhees. (Thanks to IMDB for this and the synopsis for The International.)

First off, I love Tool Academy. It's just fun to see the lives of bras be completely destroyed. However, when they enter my films, I will go Chris Brown (critically, not literally) on the film. The characters, or more so the script that this film is based around is quite possibly the most awkward and just horribly written films I've seen in a long time, probably since Space Chimps. That all said, it's really rewarding to see people get what makes the films they make theirs.

This is the newest film from Marcus Nispel and the Michael Bay led crew behind the remake of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and the attention to what made the original so good that they gave to TCM, they did the exact same for Friday the 13th. It's a B-grade film, with lots of kills and nudity, something that made 80's horror films just that, 80's horror films. While they really aren't my cup of tea, this preaches right to the choir of Hot Topic laden people that made the original such a cult hit.

Also, something David Cronenberg has said, is that true horror comes from a level of sympathy for the characters. While there isn't to many people to be sympathetic for in the film, the duo you follow near the end, and the reason behind them searching the woods, is rather touching, and makes the ending that much better.

You have all of the Friday the 13th staples, and one other thing that really made this film work for me was the opening. It's about a good 20 minutes of a group of what seem like college kids, and while it plays heavily into the plot, after the final thing happens, and the banner saying Friday the 13th comes up, you know you are in for a ride, and honestly, I haven't seen a reaction come from a title screen like this one maybe ever.

It's a horribly written and acted horror film that didn't work totally for me, but seen with a packed, and I mean packed theatre, I couldn't help but kind of get sucked into it a little bit. Horrifically schlocky, but fun. Rent it with some friends.

FRIDAY THE 13TH - 5/10

Now onto The International...

In The International, Interpol Agent Louis Salinger and Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Eleanor Whitman are determined to bring to justice one of the world's most powerful banks. Uncovering illegal activities including money laundering, arms trading, and the destabilization of governments, Salinger and Whitman's investigation takes them from Berlin to Milan to New York and to Istanbul. Finding themselves in a high-stakes chase across the globe, their relentless tenacity puts their own lives at risk as the bank will stop at nothing - even murder - to continue financing terror and war.

This is the newest film from Perfume/Run Lola, Run director, Tom Tykwer, and is a bold step out from the senses that the man so perfectly dwells in. It stars Clive Owen and Naomi Watts, both of which are quite solid in the film.

The true star of this film for me however was Tykwer and his direction. There are some really breathtaking shots, particularly the shooting of a political figure and a shoot out in the Guggenheim, that are just a couple of really solid set pieces. It's a conspiracy film, with a lot of reflection on modern affairs, and none of it was really done heavy handed. The script is really well written, and all the roles are done quite well. The cinematography from Frank Griebe is solid too, but there are quite a few flaws.

Where as a film like Michael Clayton delves into a less action oriented film, the conspiracy and unfolding of the said conspiracy, and the the resulting film, is so much more compelling. There are a few solid action set pieces, but they seem so over the top, and the plot really doesn't fit the scope or type of film that it wanted to be. Also, I don't think I've seen a more annoying or aggressively overt score in quite a long time. The ultimate flaw for a thriller is the amount of times I check my watch, if at all, and you could have pasted my phone to my forehead.

A solid thriller, that plot wise and direction wise were a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde of mediocrity. Again, rent it, if Tykwer interests you. Second thought, rent Cache or Michael Clayton instead.

THE INTERNATIONAL - 5/10

Sorry for the short reviews. I wanted to get these out as soon as I could, and with my busy weekend (vaction and seeing Candide, check the review of that tomorrow) I didn't have much time.

Come back later for more news and notes.

Go see something good!

TRAILER: Tales of The Black Freighter...

Movie Trailers - Movies Blog

This is the first trailer for the upcoming adaptation of the comic-within-a-comic from Watchmen, Tales of The Black Freighter. Produced by Zack Snyder, this animated feature film stars Gerard Butler as the main character, and looks absolutely amazing.

Go see something good!

TRAILER: Taking Of Pelham 123...

This is the first trailer for the upcoming remake of the 1974 thriller, The Taking of Pelham 123, starring Denzel Washington and John Travolta, directed by Tony Scott.

Denzel Washington stars as New York City subway dispatcher whose ordinary day is thrown into chaos by the hijacking of a subway train. John Travolta stars as the criminal mastermind and leader of a highly-armed gang of four who threatens to execute the train’s passengers unless a large ransom is paid within one hour. “As the tension mounts beneath his feet, Garber employs his vast knowledge of the subway system in a battle to outwit Ryder and save the hostages. But there’s one riddle Garber can’t solve: even if the thieves get the money, how can they possibly escape?”

(Thanks to /Film for the synopsis...)

I think this looks interesting, but nothing really stellar. I'm not the biggest Scott fan, but I do like Denzel, and Travolta looks interesting. I just want to see a bit more about this before I pass judgement...

Go see something good!

NEWS: HAPPY VALENTINES WEEKEND!!

So, it's Valentine's Weekend, and since I will be out for Friday and Saturday in Detroit and out at a musical for the Lanthorn (which can be read here...READ IT!), I decided that I will bring you a roundup of some smaller news reports that I felt didn't really call for a separate post, but still newsworthy. Here are the headlines...

- FIRST, let me give you all a link to a video that I think epitomizes Valentines Day...

Now, onto the news...

- Star of the new Joss Whedon television series, Dollhouse, Eliza Dushku was recently on Howard Stern, and had some interesting things to say about possibly playing The Black Widow in Iron Man 2...

“They’re doing Iron Man 2, and I’m so perfect for the Black Widow character, that they just need to get into it. They need to understand… I just learned Russian because I had to play a Russian girl in Dollhouse.”

Currently the role belongs to Devil Wears Prada co-star Emily Blunt, but due to possible schedule conflicts (Fox wants her as the romantic lead in their adaptation of Gulliver's Travels, and has the option to do so), she may have to give it up...

- 3 separate one-minute spots for Wolverine will be aired this Sunday (February 15) on “Family Guy,” the second on Monday (Feb. 16) on “House,” and the third on Tuesday (Feb. 17) on “American Idol.”

- With the start of his new series, Important Things, Demitri Martin has been on the road promoting it, and in doing so, finally shed some light on his role in Brokeback Mountain/Ice Storm/Hulk/Crouching Tiger director, Ang Lee's next film, Taking Woodstock. Thanks to /Film for the heads up...

The focus of their discussion was Martin’s lead role in Taking Woodstock, the upcoming Ang Lee movie about Elliot Tiber. Tiber unwittingly became a pivotal part in the chain of events that carried the Woodstock music festival from the realms of hippie pipe dreaming and into reality.


Martin’s account of his first meeting with Lee and screenwriter-producer James Schamus gives a good idea of how the film is being pitched:

“I went into the Ang Lee meeting and I had read the book and they’re like, ‘I don’t know how much you know, but we want to do this movie. We’re kind of interested in you as a character. We’re not going into as much of the like underground New York gay scene and that stuff. We’re focusing more on the family relationship and this guy’s personal journey, as a gay person who is in the closet in 1969 as that relates to making Woodstock happen and finding yourself as a generation is finding itself.”

As this is essentially a biopic of Tiber, Martin has apparently been required to appear in every single scene - easily trumping his previous, relatively meagre, cameo appearances in The Rocker and Analyse That. I hope he’s up to the job.

Only one scene is given a fully detailed description, but it’s a key one:

“There’s a scene where I kiss a guy – the only scene where I have a real kiss – and I’m on a dance floor and these girls pull me in to dance with them in my family’s bar in the motel, and they pull me onto the dance and a girl plants a kiss on me and then I push away from her. And then a guy grabs me and swings me around and kisses me, and at first I pull back, like who’s kissing me? And then I see him and I’m like, ‘Oh my god – it’s you!’ and then I go back in for the kiss and it’s more passionate and it’s real and there’s a catharsis and everybody cheers.”

This is where Tiber effectively comes at as gay in front of his Father (played, I believe, by Henry Goodman) and I’d imagine a lot of the drama to follow is ignited at this moment.

There’s an undeniable Oscarability to this picture, so I think we’ll be hearing a lot more about it as the year draws to an end and the ten-pins are re-framed for the next awards season.

As a footnote, I should alert you that this Sunday, the 15th of February, the new episode of Flight of the Conchords (a show on which Martin has appeared, and was co-created by sometime collaborator of his, James Bobin) has been directed by none other than Michel Gondry. Should be truly excellent, not least because we’ll be getting two new de facto Gondry music videos in the mix - so set your reminders now.

- Justin Marks is tapped to rewrite McG's adaptation of 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea. Now, I'm not normally hip to writing about these things, but let me give a little bit of credence to Mr. Marks. He's a young, hotshot writer, who has turned in a couple big time scripts. First there was his Voltron script that really made everyone stand up and take notice, and then he did the screenplay for He-Man, and had critics who got a hold of it really excited. He has also turned in drafts of SuperMax (the Green Arrow film), and Street Fighter.

- Smells Like Teen Spirit music video director Samuel Bayer is getting the keys to the much talked about remake of Nightmare on Elm Street...

- Darren Bousman, director of Saw 2, 3, and 4, along with Repo: The Genetic Opera, will be helming a film about a heist set on a submarine, called Akula...

- The Wachowski Brothers (Matrix series, Bound, and Speed Racer), are in the hunt to reboot the Superman franchise...

- Finally, click here to play an 8 Bit Watchmen web game...it's kick ass...

Happy Meaningless Hallmark Holiday!

Go see something good!

TRAILER: Inglorious Basterds HQ...or more HQ...

Here's a few things I'm noticing...

1) It's so far, and this is about 5 seconds worth of footage, not really looking like a quintessential Tarantino film. There isn't much movement with the camera, and sure there are his patented foot shots as well as noir-esque dialogue quirks, but it's an interesting new feel for a Tarantino film, visually

2) Eli Roth is creepy as hell

3) Brad Pitt looks amazing

4) The cast kinda scares me, well, only in the case of Mike Meyers. He plays an overweight Jewish Rabbi, and Tarantino LOVES to take these kind of stars and reboot their careers, but I'm just a little nervous

5) This. Movie. Looks. Great. I'm a huge Tarantino fan, so take my thoughts with a grain of salt (Pulp Fiction is my favorite film of all-time), but I really like this trailer quite a bit.

Come back later for more news and notes...

Go see something good!

NEWS: Batman 3 Will Need To Wait...

So it looks like The Caped Crusader will be put on the shelf for a while. Reports are that Chris Nolan will NOT be helming the third film in his Batman franchise right out of the gate, but instead, he will be holding that off for a while, in place of a original piece called Inception...Thanks to Comingsoon.net for the heads up...

Christopher Nolan has set up his next project with Warner Bros., an original screenplay he wrote called Inception. The "Dark Knight" director hopes to shoot the sci-fi action film in the summer for a release during summer 2010.

Nolan will produce with partner Emma Thomas, who served as a producer on The Dark Knight.

"Chris Nolan is a visionary filmmaker who continually raises the bar with each movie he makes," Warner Bros. Pictures Group president Jeff Robinov said. "We are thrilled to be collaborating again with him and Emma on this exciting new motion picture."

Inception is described as "a contemporary sci-fi actioner set within the architecture of the mind."

This pushes back any potential filming on a third Batman film, but three years -- and The Prestige -- passed between Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. Nolan has also long been attached to direct a big-screen adaptation of the British TV series "The Prisoner" for producer Scott Stuber at Universal.

This is brilliant news. He is still attached to the third Batman film, so he will be doing it, but it's good to see this brilliant of an auteur go out of that comfort zone for something he created. And look, The Prestige came between Begins and Dark Knight, so I have complete faith that not only will this film be amazing, but so will the third Batman film. Honestly, I have more interest in this piece than the Dark Knight sequel, so I'm excited.

-In other news, I saw RockNRolla and rewatched Vicky Cristina Barcelona on DVD and both films are great. RockNRolla isn't Guy Ritchies best, but it's vastly superior to Revolver, and while it's not as good as Lock Stock or Snatch, it's a return to form, and one hell of a step up from Revolver. Sherlock Holmes is next for the guy, and I can't wait. Oh, and it had one HELL of a soundtrack.

Vicky Cristina Barcelona is brilliant, and just go check out my old review of it. It's better every time I see it...

Come back later for more news and notes.

Go see something good!

POSTER: H2...

For some reason, I'm pretty excited about the upcoming Friday the 13th remake, that will be hitting the megaplexes this weekend. There is something about that crew, the group behind the Texas Chainsaw Massacre remake, that gets me pumped. That film, as lame as some parts are, truly got what made the original so frightening. The neo-documentary style, the idea of a road trip gone a rye, and the sheer creepiness of backwoods families. However, you can't say the same for films like Rob Zombie's Halloween. As much as I admire Zombie for his first two films, House of 1,000 Corpses and Devil's Rejects, Halloween really just missed. It gave an unnecessary back story to Mike Meyers, the back story was also cliche, and the bloodless pallet of the original was revamped into a torture porn slaughterhouse. That all said, it looks like the sequel will be here faster than we expected. Check out the teaser poster below...



Go see something good!

TRAILER: Inglourious Basterds ET Preview...

As promised, the amazing teaser for Quentin Tarantino's new film, Inglourious Basterds...



Thoughts?

Go see something good!

VIDEO: Why I Love the Colbert Report...

Go see something good!

TRAILER: Entertainment Tonight's Inglourious Basterds Sneak Peek...

So, in just a few hours, Entertainment Tonight will be premiering the first teaser trailer for Quentin Tarantino's long awaited war epic, Inglourious Basterds, a film he has been working on since Pulp Fiction. While it's gone through a distinct change, the teaser for the teaser even looks pretty damn good, so lets just wait to see what's in store this evening.



Go see something good!

NEWS: Thom Yorke and Gustavo Santaolalla to Do Music For T4?

So, aside from the Grammy's, not much in the way of news has arisen this weekend (sure, there are the BAFTA's, but really, I think the Oscar's are almost pointless, so whatever). However, that has changed, as there happens to be a big rumor making it's way around the web, coming out of the N.Y. Comicon.

It looks like Radiohead leader Thom Yorke, and the brilliant composer, Gustavo Santaolalla (Motorcycle Diaries and all Inarittu films), will be helping in the creation of the Terminator Salvation score. Thanks to The Playlist for the info...

We already know that Danny Elfman is composing the music to director McG's "Terminator Salvation" and that the original theme written by Brad Fiedel will probably be included if it "seems appropriate," Elfman said.

However, at the New York Comic Con this weekend during the "Terminator Salvation" panel, McG -- who also called Christian Bale on his phone, more on that later -- said he had reached out to Radiohead's Thom Yorke and Academy Award-winning Argentinian composer Gustavo Santaolalla ("Babel," "21 Grams," "Brokeback Mountain") to write some music for the film.

"We talked about Gustavo getting together with Thom Yorke from Radiohead which I thought would be very interesting. And they may still do a couple of sounds for the movie," McG said sounding hopeful. As for why he chose Danny Elfman? "I needed someone who understood film as a whole and understood the delicate nature of humanity and the the brutality of the machines."

While the thought of a Santaolalla/Yorke collaboration makes us froth at the mouth, we're not sure "Terminator Salvation" would be the best place to showcase those kinds of potentially amazing sounds. We're also a bit skeptical about the collaboration happening in time, or either artist agreeing to the McG-made request, but we're sure this report will flush some news out there either way.

I love the idea. I am a huge Radiohead fan, and there is no better film score composer working today, my number one with a brilliant and sonic bullet, than Mr. Gustavo. Check out this video for Radiohead's Talk Show Host, from the Romeo + Juliet Soundtrack, along with OK Computer, I beieve.



Now, witness the brilliance of Gustavo Santaolalla...



Gahh, this would be a match made in my heaven, so here's to hoping it happens...

Go see something good!

REVIEW: Push...

I used to love Heroes. I never got into it when the first season was on television, but on DVD, I got heavily into it. That alone made the Watch Instantly feature from my Netflix account worth the monthly fee. However, the past two seasons have been the antithesis of that, and you won't be catching me in front of the tv when it restarts sometime in the coming weeks.

There is just something about superheroes being placed inside a real world setting, that works for me. Push takes that formula, normal people + powers + real world, and tries to make a solid film come out on the other end. Does it work though?

Push is a sci-fi action film that involves a group of young American expatriates with telekinetic, telepathic, and clairvoyant abilities, hiding from a hidden U.S. government agency referred to only as "Division." They are on the hunt of the only woman that ever escaped from "Division". She is their only key to finding out how to escape the agency forever. They must also use their different talents and band together for one final job, enabling them to finally get out.

The film stars Chris Evans as Nick, a second generation "Mover" (simply put, he has telekinetic powers), and Dakota Fanning (a horribly underrated actress, who should be every tweens idol, NOT people like Miley Cyrus), as Cassie, a "Watcher", or someone who can tell the future. The story gets a little convoluted, so let me break down the powers for you all.

(Thanks wikipedia...)
Movers can manipulate inanimate objects at varying distances. The actual technique is known as kinetic signature control, where the mover is trained to "hear" and identify the specific atomic frequency of any given material, and alter the gravity wave around it, usually producing the nearby air to appear "warped". Advanced movers can work at the molecular level creating protective shields in the air around them.

Pushers can "push" specific thoughts, memories, and even emotions into their targets. This technique can be used to gain a subject's trust, or to have them perform any action, thinking it was their own agenda.

Watchers are trained to self-induce visions of the future, very much like a prolonged sense of déjà vu. The technique of following the future, either of a person or object, is called subject tracking. A Watcher's skill is primarily rated by how far they can see into the future.

Bleeders have the ability to emit high-pitched sonic vibrations that cause ruptures in a target's blood vessels.

Sniffs are highly developed psychometrics who can track the location of either people or objects over varying distances. Like psychic bloodhounds, their tracking ability is increased if they have tactile access to an object that has been in direct contact with the subject. Sniffs receive information based on images, not specific addresses, which is why identifiable landmarks help increase their effectiveness.

Shifters can temporarily shift patterns of light on any object to create illusions to the naked eye. They work mostly on a touch basis, but once the illusion is established, it remains with the object for short periods of time. For example, a Shifter could momentarily touch a one dollar bill, altering its light pattern to appear as a one hundred dollar bill for hours, until the effect expires. The length of the shift is based on experience and ability.

Wipers are skilled at either temporary or permanent memory erasure, an invaluable asset in espionage. Experience will dictate the accuracy of their wipes, though the danger is always present that they will eliminate a desired memory.

Shadows are trained to block the vision of other clairvoyants such as Sniffs, making any subject within their target radius appear "dark". Experience will enhance the size of the area they can shadow and the intensity of their shielding effect. Shadows need to be awake to perform their ability, and it is common for a detail of two Shadows to operate in shifts while protecting a person or object for extended periods.

Stitchers are psychic surgeons trained to quickly reconstruct cells to their previous or healthy state. Using only their hands, they can heal and even "unheal" whatever they have done. For more detailed work, Stitches use a silver based cream on their hands which acts as a conductor to their ability.


Sounds a little hectic, right? Well the film is a little bit over the top. This is the newest film from Lucky Number Slevin director, Paul McGuigan, so you can tell it's going to have a little bit of style to it. The film is indeed stunning to look at. It's set in China, and it's a perfect place to set this hyper kinetic superhero flick. Visually, and musically as well, this film looks as to be heavily inspired by the films of Guy Ritchie, and for a superhero film, it's a perfect match. The colors are bright and really pop off of the screen, and the music is pumping, really moving the action forward.

There are also little flashes of what look to be 16mm film shots, that were really well used, just a little to few times. There were other really great flares outside of just the stylized action scenes. There were some really well shot tracking shots, particularly in the beginning, and the dialogue scenes were also rather well shot.

Also, the way the powers are broken down, and the differences between the people using them, is rather interesting. Particularly, the difference between two "Watchers" played by Dakota Fanning, and another actress. Fanning's character is able to tell the future, but only the outcome of it. Therefore, as nothing is set in stone (more on this in a brief second), it's always changing, making her power not truly impactful. However, the other character, part of a Chinese gang of "Bleeders", is able to tell peoples futures, based on intentions, making her insanely powerful. This difference not only was interesting to watch on screen, but it had me thinking. Was this a sly slap at religion and faith of some sort?

Take the power of Fanning's character for a second. She only tells what people will end up doing, or how they die. In the film however, she says she's not very good with her power, and it constantly changes, basically saying that no ones future has in inevitable end, that one can know before it happens. Then you have the character Pop Girl, played by Lu Lu, who reads peoples intentions. She is extremely powerful, and while she does have weaknesses, she is normally spot on. These interesting little comments, as pretentious as it may be, can be seen in this film, and along with the visual flares.

The acting, while not brilliant, was also rather solid. Chris Evan, best known as the Human Torch, proves, along with Sunshine from two years ago, that he is more than just a comedic playboy. Fanning is solid, and really funny, bringing some heart to the film, and Djimon Honsou looks like he is having a blast playing this true bad ass "Pusher". Camilla Bell is horrible, but luckily she doesn't do too much, so it's not to distracting. However, other things were.

Aside from Bells really horrible performance, this is one of the most convoluted stories I've sat through in a long time. I understood most if not all of it, but for an action film this visually kinetic, to have a story as energetic and static, it really made this more work than expected. That's not necessarily a flaw, but that is when the story doesn't end with a tidy ending, and with such an obvious ploy for a sequel. There is also a love story set inside of this action/thriller that does play into the ending, but the stuff you have to sit through to get there, is just so melodramatic, and really took away from the energy and fun that this film is.

If you don't mind doing a lot of work, story wise, please, do yourself a favor. Take some friends, grab some popcorn, and take a seat in front of Push.

Push - 6/10

Insanely fun, visually kinetic, yet equally so in the story, Push steps into theatres with a world of superhero films behind it. While it doesn't make a strong indentation, it does amount to a lot of fun, and finally, there is something worth looking at in theatres. Check this one out.

Go see something good!

Oh! I'll have a review of He's Just Not That Into You up tomorrow, along with a review of Revolutionary Road up sometime this week, I hope at least...

TRAILER: Observe and Report Red Band Trailer...

I don't know how to break this to you all, but I'm not a Seth Rogen fan. Sure, the guy is really funny, but as a leading man, I still think he is a little lacking. Take Pineapple Express for example. It was his second true staring vehicle (Knocked Up was his lead debut, and that wasn't to high on my list), and he was funny, but I felt really one note. He was a lead character in dialogue, but second fiddle to James Franco's hilarious turn, and this film looks to be his next attempt. However, the pedigree isn't all that bad.

As compared to Judd Apatow, who I also think is a tad bit overrated (He's simply doing bigger budget Kevin Smith films), the recent attempt to take Apatow produced films and give them solid directors has seemed more fruitful. First was Superbad, helmed by Greg Mattola, and while I also wasn't a huge fan of that, I think it's vastly superior to Knocked Up and the 40 Year Old Virgin. Then you have the aforementioned Pineapple Express, with indie god David Gordon Green, which bred the best Apatow film to date. Sure there was Zohan and Drillbit, but we will throw those two out.

Observe and Report looks to continue the streak, as it is being directed by the director of the horrifically under seen comic gem, The Fist Foot Way, Jody Hill. That fact alone has me wanting to see this film, and seeing this trailer, while it really doesn't do anything to make me want to see it, it doesn't turn me off from the film, which is what Apatow productions have been wan to do. What are your thoughts?

Here is the synopsis...

The dark comedy stars Seth Rogen as Ronnie Barnhardt, head of security at the Forest Ridge Mall who dreams of being a real cop. “His delusions of grandeur are put to the test when the mall is struck by a flasher. Driven to protect and serve the mall and its patrons, Ronnie seizes the opportunity to showcase his underappreciated law enforcement talents on a grand scale, hoping his solution of this crime will earn a coveted spot at the police academy and the heart of his elusive dream girl Brandi, the hot make-up counter clerk who won’t give him the time of day. But his single-minded pursuit of glory launches a turf war with the equally competitive Detective Harrison of the Conway Police, and Ronnie is confronted with the challenge of not only catching the flasher, but getting him before the real cops do.” Anna Faris, Michael Pena and Ray Liotta co-star.

Go see something good!

NEWS ROUNDUP: 1-5-09...

Hey there faithful readers! Now, over the past week, there hasn't been much news of note, as is the case with the week after Sundance. However, that all changed with this past evening, and there is a lot to get into...

- Just Jared is reporting that The Farrley Brothers are in the hunt for possible actors to fill their Three Stooges cast, and they are going for heavy hitters. Rumor has it that Johnny Depp and Sean Penn have been courted to fill two of the spots, as Larry and Moe respectively. And apparently, some of this rumor is true. FilmDrunk is now reporting that famous voice actor, Billy West, has been in touch with Penn, helping him work on his impressions.

- With the recession going full bore into the gut of our economy, some films have been scrapped by their respective studios. The most recent victim, and to much applause, is the American remake of The Orphanage.

- Mark Campbell is in talks to take the helm of Warner Brothers much talked about Green Lantern adaptation...

- Variety is reporting that Enchanted director, Kevin Lima, will be directing the film adaptation of Candy Land, with a script written by Tropic Thunder producer, Etan Cohen.

- Finally, and most interestingly, there were some interesting comments made by Warner Brothers CEO Jeff Bawkes made during an earnings call earlier this week...

“We look at Harry Potter. It’s fantastic to have franchises that last that long. We want to do that with Batman and Superman and perhaps Sherlock Holmes. The sequels are as good, with new characters added, as were the originals. That wasn’t the case in the years ago. Warners has more tentpoles as an on-going strategy that very much lifts its distribution and performance. We think that’s going to hold up our slate in the 2009 - 2010 period. We’ve got four more big tentpoles coming this year.”

What do you make of these comments? Would you like to see the bat expand like this? Maybe not in a straight continuation of the series, but maybe go into an alternate future with The Dark Knight Returns? Zack Snyder got full consent from writer Frank Miller, and I would LOVE Snyder's take on this really gritty book, probably the second best in the Bat's comic book/graphic novel canon. What do you think?

Come back later for more news and notes!

Go see something good!

What Exactly Is Coraline...

So, this is one of the first weeks of this new year that has more than one new film release of note. However, there is one film in particular that doesn't really have the biggest buzz, at least in mainstream web circles. I'm here to change that a little bit, and hopefully turn you all onto a little film that will be released this Friday, known as Coraline.

Coraline is the newest film from Nightmare Before Christmas/James and The Giant Peach director (NOT Tim Burton), Henry Selick, and while sure, he made Monkeybone, David Fincher did Alien 3, so all directors have slip ups.

And not only does it have a great director behind it, it has as great of starting material as one could ask for.

Coraline is a new stop motion animation film that is based on the 2003 Huggo Award winning horror novella, from British writer, Neil Gaiman. The novel has been often compared to Lewis Carroll's beloved Alice In Wonderland, due to it's surrealist feel and story based around an alternate reality.

The story revolves around a young girl who walks through a secret door in her new home only to discover an alternate version of her life. On the surface, this parallel reality is eerily similar to her real life – only much better. But when her adventure turns dangerous, and her counterfeit parents try to keep her forever, Coraline must count on her resourcefulness, determination, and bravery to get back home – and save her family. (Thanks to IMDB for the summation of the plot)

It's also a rare chance to check out a film done in completely stop motion animation. Sure, there are films like Wallace and Gromit, or even Corpse Bride, but this just seems to take that style to a whole 'nother level.

It features the voices of Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, and Ian McShane, and will be hitting theatres this Friday in normal film, and Real-D. So instead of heading out to He's Just Not That Into You or Pink Panther 2, maybe you should throw on the goofy glasses and get lost in the world of Coraline.



Come back for more news and reviews!

Go see something good!

NEWS/PHOTOS: Vanity Fair Hollywood Issue...

As is the case with every year around Oscar time, this upcoming issue of Vanity Fair is the Hollywood Issue, and this years theme is "Something Just Clicked."

Some of these actor-director teams have a history together—remember Ron Howard and Tom Hanks’s breakthrough, Splash, a quarter-century ago?—while others produced their first mind-melds in 2008. Sam Mendes and Kate Winslet even brought marriage and kids to the Revolutionary Road set. But in each case the chemistry was profound, the effect exponential. From Gus Van Sant and Sean Penn to John Patrick Shanley and Meryl Streep, Annie Leibovitz photographs 10 partnerships that helped generate more than four dozen Oscar nominations this season. Related: Krista Smith goes behind the scenes at the shoots. Plus: Video from the photo shoots.

Below is my personal favorite picture, a haunting composite shot of Best Supporting Actor nominee, and probable winner, the late Heath Ledger, and The Dark Knight auteur, Chris Nolan. It's just an amazing photo, and one that I can't wait to post on my wall when this issue hits shelves. All photos were taken by Annie Lebowitz.



Check out the full slideshow here...

Go see something good!

TRAILER: Tokyo!...

Tokyo! is the newest film to take on a city as a setting for seperate vigniettes directed by seperate film makers. However, unlike Paris, Je t'aime, and the upcoming New York film, New York, I Love You, this is only three films, directed by directors known for their artistic and often times mind bending visions. It features Michel Gondry (Science of Sleep/Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind/Be Kind Rewind), Leos Carax (Pola X), and Bong Joon Ho (The Host). If that's not enough reason to get hyphy over this piece, Cinematical gives you a little more insight...

Gondry's segment is about a girl who metamorphoses into something very unexpected, Carax follows a "shit" creature who terrorizes Tokyo whilst wearing a green corduroy suit, and Joon-ho's centers on an agoraphobic man who falls in love with a pizza delivery woman during an earthquake.

Come back later for more news and notes...

Go see something good!

NEWS: Damage Control...

So, as many of you may have heard, Christian Bale went off on a poor, poor director of photography, the other day, and it happened to be leaked on the web by the bastions of journalism known as TMZ. I posted it up yesterday, and it looks like today is time for damage control. Assistant Director Bruce Franklin has come to Mr. Bateman's rescue... Thanks to /Film for the heads up...

“If you are working in a very intense scene and someone takes you out of your groove…but was the most emotional scene in the movie. And for him to get stopped in the middle of it. He is very intensely involved in his character. He didn’t walk around like that all day long. It was just a moment and it passed. This was my second movie with Christian and it has always been a good experience with him. He is so dedicated to the craft. I think someone is begging to make some noise about this but I don’t think it’s fair. The art of acting is not paint by numbers, it’s an art form.”

In other news, Happy 23rd Birthday to Pixar!

Come back later for more news and notes, along with (hopefully) a review of Revolutionary Road.

Go see something good!

NEWS: Don't Mess With Bruce Wayne...

Really, don't...

Go see something good!

VIDEO: Stark Trek Superbowl Spot...

The new Superbowl TV Spot for J.J. Abrams Star Trek has been released, and is now available on the web. It looks to be a solid little teaser spot, and is probably 3/4ths new material. TV spots are hard to judge, because it's normaly right around 30 seconds, but for a film that I'm not really all that hyped about, to get me a little more stoked, then it's done it's job. It's not Abrams, it's not the cast, it's just the universe, and it looks to be completely rehashed, something that this dead franchise could use.



Leave your thoughts below!

Go see something good!