Sunday, May 31, 2009

REVIEW: Up...


When it comes to Pixar, some films need to be held to different standards.

Up has set them for the aforementioned studio.

Since 1995, Pixar has graced us with 10 films, all of which (minus Cars), have set the standard by which other animated films are judged. With Toy Story, A Bug's Life, Toy Story 2, Monster's Inc., Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Cars, Ratatouille, Wall-E, and now Up, Pixar has become not only the best animated studio, but arguably the best studio working in cinema today.

Up tells the story of the 78-year-old Carl Fredricksen, who since being a young child, has had an urge for adventure. However, instead of heading to a retirement home, he decides to feed these urges. By tying thousands of balloons to his colorful home, Carl sets out to fulfill his lifelong dream to head out to Paradise Falls, in South America. He's not alone though. After liftoff, he discovers that Russell, a wilderness scout, has joined him for his journey filled with talking dogs, giant birds, and a poetic tale of love gained, love lost, and love reborn.

Throughout the history of Pixar, the biggest current running through their art, is the attempt of bringing the themes of their pieces to the forefront. Ranging from the idea of moving out of adolescence from the Toy Story films, to the environmentalist rant that was the brilliant Wall-E, they have strive to not only make an entertaining film, but one that allows people to chew on the themes a bit more.

Up is no different. The film is a beautiful and poetic look at what happens over the span of a persons life, and how love lost can drive someone to do more than they are expected. The opening 20 minutes of this film may be some of the most moving and artistically paced pieces of cinema I have seen in a long time. In what can be described as a 10-15 minute montage, you go from Carl's childhood to the current day, and you see everything in between. His love of adventure never changes, but the type of adventure he goes on for his first 78 years changes. It is real things that happen in the lives of people, and it is just that much more moving. There wasn't a dry eye in the theatre, and it kept moving for the entire 102 minutes.

Then there is the voice cast. Another phenomenal thing that Pixar has been able to do, is cast primarily unknown actors in perfect roles. Other than Toy Story, TS2 and Cars, instead of casting Bruce Willis as a raccoon, simply because he's Bruce Willis, the cast Sarah Vow, an author, in a role that she was perfect for.

If their was some sort of Oscar for Best Voice Actor, Ed Asner as Carl would be the hands down winner. It's a role that could have simply been played as a grumpy old man, but instead, he plays it as a man whose seen more than his fair share of joys and tragedies, but isn't shunning the world because of it. The world is changing around him (his house is in the middle of a construction zone just as an example), and while he's not willing to change, he knows it comes. There is also such a deep well of emotion within the character, that he mines complete gold out of it. He's comedic, sweet, and yes, a bit grumpy, but he wants to complete his dream, as well as the dream of his late wife (a point that I'm not going to discuss for fear of bringing down the wall of emotion you will run into when you see the film), that it's truly a tour de force performance. Sure, it's just a voice, but if live action actors were half as great, we would have a lot more phenomenal films running around.

Not to be totally outdone though was Jordan Nagai as Russell, the sweet Wilderness scout who joins the journey. He wants to get his last Wilderness Badge, and he meets Carl while trying to get his last one, Aiding the Elderly. He's inspired by the world around him, and yet has this childish sense of innocence, that really holds this film down in the world of reality. His character is a bit predictable, at least his character arch, but it's such a joy to watch him not only deal with his own personal problems (his father isn't really around and his parents aren't together), and still be so innocent and inspired by everything around him.

Christopher Plummer is solid as the bad guy, Charles Muntz, but it really isn't his story, and he isn't given a ton of screen time. He's menacing enough, but his character's reasoning behind his actions isn't really justified (it's basically a guy getting his much sought after doll getting taken away from him). His character is a bit cartoonish, but like I said, his lack of screen time makes it a non-issue.

The film is also beyond gorgeous to look at. Pete Docter and Bob Peterson (who also co-wrote the piece), allow their frames to be completely filled with Pixar's stunning animation, that it's such a wonder to look at. The textures are completely realistic, particularly the skin of the characters, that it's surprising to see such detail come from an animated film. Then again, it IS Pixar, so what should be expected.

The film is also insanely funny. Throughout their journey, Carl and Russell come across a few very special characters. First, there is the dog with a talking collar, Dug. A lot of the comedy comes from the interchanges between Dug and the two leads, along with their special bird buddy, a snipe, called Kevin (it's a female btw). The beauty of the comedy within the film is that it's not a film based around a set of jokes, but instead, it's jokes that seem to come organically out of this truly moving story.

However, all would be for naught, for me at least, if the character motivations were not their, and that leads back to the themes. The films main thematic drive is that everyone and everything strives for love and to be loved, or at least have their love be fulfilled. There is Carl who is striving to finish off his lost loves dream that they shared, Russell just wants to find some one who truly appreciates him in some fashion, Dug wants to find a master who loves him, and Kevin wants to find her family, who she has been separated from. It's a truly realistic and poetic look at love and life that has been left behind. Each of the characters have been somehow left behind or separated from their love(s), and this is a story of their hunt to bring the love back.

Really, this is a brilliant film and I'm running out of things to say about it. It's easily the best film of the year so far, and it may be a perfect film. Sure, it has a few flaws, but this is not a flawed film. It's a stunningly beautiful and emotionally moving look at life, and it's a must see. Pixar's best to date is also the best film so far of '09. GO SEE THIS FILM.

UP - 10/10

Go see something good!

Friday, May 29, 2009

REVIEW: Drag Me To Hell...


This is why I think Spidey needs to stay where he is.

Before hitting the mainstream like a rock wrapped in spider webs to the groin, Sam Raimi made his mark on the horror genre. Still considered one of the unsung gods of the horror genre, Raimi made such classic films as the Evil Dead franchise, is back to the house that made him who he is today, and it will hopefully he will take off his jacket to stay a while.

Drag Me To Hell follow Christine Brown, a loan officer, who has a disturbing run in with an elderly woman. Ordered to evict the woman from her home, Christine finds herself in the awkward position to bring this news to the woman. However, when the elderly woman begins to beg, she denies her, and is subsequently cursed by her. The curse begins to increase, and makes her life hell. In a loving relationship, a great job, and a world ahead of her, Christine is pushed to the edge by this curse, and Drag Me To Hell follows her fight to break it.

As I stated above, this is Raimi's return to horror, and it's about time that he put his stamp on modern horror. His previous classics, the Evil Dead films, were much more than your typical point, shoot, scare, repeat horror films. They had a great sense of dark humor, brilliant writing, and featured great performances. Well, Drag Me To Hell, while not perfect, is a perfect addition to his canon.

The biggest surprise of this film comes in the form of the screenplay. Packed with great lines, a sweet romance, and wonderfully colored characters, while it may not work for everyone (it's a bit 2D, like the mother-who-doesn't-like-son's-girlfriend), it keeps this film going forward at a wonderful pace. It does slow down right near the middle, particularly a scene in a shed that doesn't quite hit, but the end of the final act brings the pace right back to Raimi's patented breakneck speed. It's a camp fest that is the equivalent of watching a horror film projected on a fun house mirror. It's not a psychological thriller that will haunt you, but it will get you out of your seat, and leave you laughing in the aisles.

The film would, however, fall completely flat if it was not for the great performances, particularly a surprisingly realistic turn from Justin Long as the loving boyfriend. He's a psychology professor who doesn't believe in the paranormal, but when his girlfriend begins to be consumed with this curse, he throws his disbelief out the widow for his belief in his love. His relationship with Allison Lohman who portrayed Christine, kept the film grounded, or as much as a midget could keep a balloon filled with three tons of helium. Lohman is great here, and really does a great job keeping the film moving, and while not as good of a lead as Bruce Campbell, but does a great job, especially near the end.

Raimi may be the biggest star of the film though.

In some previous reviews, I have said that while the film itself may not be very good, seeing the lead actor chew up the scenery and just have a blast, really made the viewing enjoyable. Well, take that, put the hons on the director, and make the film phenomenal, and you have this. This is his return to what he loves, and he is clearly having more fun making this film than should be allowed. He takes this basic horror story, and throws the camp factor up to 3000, and lets the celluloid role. Not without style though. Sure, much of the CGI here doesn't completely hit, but he puts his camera right in the middle of action, as gruesome as it may be, and boy does it get gruesome. There are a few really well framed shots, and like the script and performances, the direction keeps the pace of this film going, minus one scene.

If you are willing to throw away your brain in the garbage while entering the theatre, this is easily one of the most enjoyable times you will have at the theatre this year. Normally this isn't my thing, but this ballsy head trip from Raimi is one that really can't be missed. Imagine a nightmare staring an acid consumed Bugs Bunny, and you will get this grotesque, frightening, hilarious, and dark masters class in camp cinema.

DRAG ME TO HELL - 9/10

Go see something good!

TRAILER: Toy Story 3 Teaser...

Yeah, not much here. With the release of Up, comes the release of the first teaser trailer for Pixar's next film, Toy Story 3. We have basically all of the main characters back in the fold, and that is really nice. This is a film I've been waiting for for a long time, so it's nice to see that it's on its way. Check out the trailer below!



Go see something good!

NEWS: Stuff I Missed...

In the midst of job hunting and applying for some much needed press credentials, I've missed a few headlines. So, here are some that you all should know about...

- Eastbound and Down writer Shawn Harwell is working on an adaptation of the comic book series Hench, for EandD star, Danny McBride...

- Adam Brody, Ana de la Reguera, and Sean William Scott have joined the cast of Kevin Smith's new studio project, A Couple of Dicks...

- Speilberg's TinTin film will be released internationally, before hitting stateside December 2011...

- Michael Eisner is developing a movie adaptation of Bazooka Joe. Yes, Bazooka Joe, the bubble gum character...

- It looks like Tom Cruise's next project will be the action comedy Wichita, directed by Walk the Line/3:10 To Yuma helmer James Mangold...

- Commercial director Carl Erik Rinsch is at the top of the list to direct the upcoming Alien Remake...

- A new teaser poster for Final Destination 4 has hit...

- There is a horrible to promo trailer for the upcoming Werner Herzog film, Bad Lieutenant...

- Jonah Hill is promising an R rated 21 Jumpstreet adaptation...

- Finally, Breck Eisner has left the Creature From the Black Lagoon project...

Go see something good!

Thursday, May 28, 2009

TV REVIEW: True Blood Ep. 1 & 2 ("Strange Love"/"First Taste")


One of the television shows that I will still watch to this day, is Six Feet Under. One of the best modern dramas, Under was the brain child of writer Alan Ball, best known for writing American Beauty.

Well, Ball is back with his sexed up adaptation of the True Blood series of Vampire novels. Season One has hit DVD, and with Season Two about to kick off in a few weeks, I have decided to go through and briefly review each of the episodes, in hope that those interested may pick up when the new season begins.

With the discussion of True Blood, comes obvious comparisons to the monster hit film, Twilight. However, those comparisons are definitely unjust, at least through the first two episodes of this rather interesting television series.

True Blood as a whole is a new television series based around the Sookie Stackhouse series of books, and details the co-existence of vampires and humans in a fictional Louisiana town called Bon Temps.

In "Strange Love", we first meet the aforementioned Sookie Stackhouse, who is a telepathic waitress at a small bar in Bon Temps. The series takes places roughly two years after the coming out of vampires into mainstream public culture. Sookie's life is going as normal as a telepathic waitress' life could be, until things got even more out there when the 175-year-old vamp Bill Compton walked into Merlotte's Bar. We also meet Sookie's friend, Tara, who after quitting her job, comes to also work at Merlotte's, and we discover that she may have a slight little crush on Sookie's brother, Jason, a sexed up troublemaker who may be on the wrong side of the law after a sex act gone awry. The episode ends with a group of vampire drainers, the Rattray's, who were stopped by Sookie earlier in the episode, from draining Compton of his blood, which happens to be a highly addictive and sought after drug for mortals.

That is where "First Taste" picks up. Compton comes to Sookie's aid and kills the Rattray's, but Sookie is badly beaten. To save her, Bill forces her to drink a large amount of his blood, which is not only a drug, but aids ten fold in the healing process. It also allows Compton to know if Sookie is in trouble, as he is now able to "feel" her. If she is in trouble, he can come and aid her, no matter the distance. In return, Sookie invites him over to meet her Grandmother and her brother, who has been released from custody. He is discovered to only be a person of interest, which leaves us begging the question, who is causing this rash of murders, with all of the victims being females who have had relationships with vampires. This episode ends with Sookie running into a few interesting looking vampires while out looking for Bill.

I had heard of the series before the DVD release, mainly with the fact that the series has received insane critical acclaim and star Anna Paquin won a Golden Globe for her efforts.

However, while waiting to go to a bonfire, I watched a 30 minute documentary on the series, that was a recap of season one, narrated by creator Alan Ball. That documentary, which I have posted, was so interesting, and showed me the major plot points, which all seemed very intriguing, that I just had to pick the DVD up. Well, I was not disappointed.

The main reason for watching this show is the acting. Where I thought films like Twilight brought out very wooden acting, particularly in Twilight, that this came off as the polar opposite. Anna Paquin is really fun to watch, as she not only is stunning to look at, but her character is very intriguing. She is able to read everyone's mind, and there are many things that that could cause. She has never been able to have a real or lengthy relationship, and her friends, while close, can't completely open up to her. While she doesn't hit every note, the character is interesting enough that it drives the show forward.

As does the rest of the cast. Stephen Moyer is great as Compton, and while it's a cliche role with a few cliche moments in the performance (particularly his first appearance) as he plays it dark and brooding, that when he opens up to Sookie, their interchanges are really well done, and very sweet. He's a good guy who happens to be a vampire, and not a robot (like say, Robert Pattinson in Twilight).

The look of the film is also great. It's got a very realistic feel, a much more intimate style than most vampire stories, and reminds me a lot of Six Feet Under, at least in style and scope. The story is allowed to be more intimate as it's not an over the top tale of love and loss, but is much more of a Heroes-esque style show. Vampires, Shape-shifters, and Mind readers live in the open, and this is the story of what that may cause. It doesn't have many special effects, if any, just good character developments, as small as they may be at this point. It's intimate, funny, and did I mention that it is the sexiest show I've seen in a while? Yeah, good stuff.

Also, this may be a little more smart than people may admit.

"You can't blame an entire group for what a few members have done."

Not only is this film sexed up, highly entertaining, and interesting to dig into, but with the first two episodes, come a few quotes like this one that make me think that this show is attempting to be a bit more than entertaining vampire smut. You can look at it many ways, from an allegory for homosexuality, as many of these "superheroes live out in the open" stories have been, but maybe more so it can be read as an allegory for the modern state of American civil rights and racism, particularly with that of people of Islamic faith in post 9/11 America. While the show is primarily entertainment, some of the scenes within these first two episodes are apparently striving for something deeper, allowing for more to chew on.

Oh, and did I mention the music to this show, particularly the opening theme, is badass? No? Well it is.

All in all, there is still a lot left, 10 episodes to be exact. Sure, I do know what happens, but the first two episodes have been such a good time, that I hope you all check out at lest the documentary before season two kicks off in June.

Go see something good!

NEWS: Dreamworks Full Animated Slate...


Today, Dreamworks has announced their full animated slate up to 2012, and boy, is it exactly what we all expected. Sequels, sequels, sequels...Thanks to /Film for the heads up...

- March 26th 2010: How To Train Your Dragon -

“Meet Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, heir of the Viking chiefdom, but a boy with one very big problem: a hero he is not. “How to Train Your Dragon’ is the riotous story of Hiccup’s quest to hunt down the fiercest dragon, bring it into submission, and—hopefully—pass his initiation. Instead, he ends up with the smallest, most ornery dragon—it’s even toothless! Thus begins the hijinx of the world’s most lovable, unlikely hero and a most reluctant “beast.” Packed with energetic drawings and plenty of action, this boisterous tale is just right for fantasy fans or anyone with a spirit of adventure. Based on the book by Cressida Cowell.” Directed by Chris Sanders, and featuring the voices of Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse.

- May 21st 2010: Shrek Forever After (retitled from Shrek Goes Fourth) —

Directed by Mike Mitchell (Duce Bigelow, Surviving Christmas, Sky High).

November 5th 2010: Oobermind (formerly titled Master Mind) -

Written by Alan J. Schoolcraft and Brent Simons, Oobermind is a satirical take on superhero movies (think The Incredibles), in which a notorious villain (Robert Downey Jr) who finds life a little bit boring after he accidentally kills his nemesis, good guy superhero Metro Man. Ben Stiller and Tina Fey are also proving voices.

- June 3rd 2011: Kung Fu Panda: The Kaboom of Doom (formerly titled Kung Fu Panda 2) —

Longtime story exec Jennifer Yuh Nelson makes her feature directorial debut, in a story following continuing adventures of Po, the Kung Fu panda.

- November 4th 2011: The Guardians —

Based on an upcoming book series by William Joyce, whose work inspired Disney’s Meet The Robinsons. Described as “a contemporary fairytale based on existing fairytale characters,” Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, Jack Frost and the Sandman team up to defend the world from a Bogeyman-like villain. Of course, the characters have been “somewhat renamed and massively reimagined”. The first book has a tenative release of Christmas 2010. Visual effects artist and animator Jeff Lynch makes his feature directorial debut.

- March 20th 2012: Puss in Boots —

Shrek the Third director Chris Smith directs this prequel spin-off to Shrek 2, telling the story of Puss in Boots (Antonio Banderas). Salma Hayek will voice the female love interest named Kitty.

- May 27th 2012: Madagascar 3 —

Directed by Eric Darnell (Madagascar, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa), the new story will follow the animals as they travel to Europe as part of a traveling circus. Tom McGrath previously said that the would like to see the characters return to their home, the Central Park Zoo, but it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen any time soon..

- November 12th 2012: A Yet-to-be-chosen Original Feature from the following three options –

Chris Sanders and Kirk DeMicco’s caveman comedy The Croods (formerly titled Crood Awakenings) which was once set up with Aardman Animation. Set in the prehistoric era, a man’s position as Leader of the Hunt is threatened by the arrival of a prehistoric genius who comes up with revolutionary new inventions … like fire. Sanders has described the project as: “The idea of having all the modern conveniences and social structures that we’re familiar with gone and being left with just a pure form of people was really fun to imagine working with.”

Truckers — based on the first of the thee books in Terry Pratchett’s best-selling The Bromeliad Trilogy, which tells the story of the Nomes, a race of tiny people from another world who now struggle to survive in the world hidden among humans. They find an artifact known as “The Thing” which teaches them about their secret history and make plans to return home. Screenplay is being written by Slumdog scribe Simon Beaufoy. The film has been in development at the studio since at least 2001, originally with Shrek director Andrew Adamson attached to write and direct, but went on to helm Shrek 2 instead before moving on to the Chronicles of Narnia films.

Super Secret Ghost Project (tenative working title) — A story which asks what ghosts think about humans. I imagine this will be DreamWorks’ attempt at copying Pixar’s Monsters, Inc.

So we have sequels, a film based off source material that inspired Meet The Robinsons, a spin off about cats with a main character named Kitty, and a rip off of Monster's Inc. Dreamworks is like the brainless kid at school who copies off the kid in front of him, but doesn't quite read the other kids handwritting, so still gets it wrong.

Go see something good!

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

OPINION: Five Must See Films At This Year's Waterfront Film Festival...

The official lineup for the 2009 Waterfront Film Festival has been announced, and while the festival has a great lineup each year, this year has a few films that are must sees. That is why I am here. I will be checking out as many films as possible, and these are the five films that everyone must see while in downtown Saugatuck.

5. Children of Invention

USA, 2009, 86 mins, Color (Family Friendly)

MICHIGAN PREMIERE

+FILMMAKERS ARE SCHEDULED TO BE IN ATTENDANCE

Director/Screenwriter: Tze Chun
Producers: Mynette Louie, Trevor Sagan
Co-Producer: Dave Saltzman
Cinematography: Chris Teague
Editor: Anna Boden
Cast: Michael Chen, Tina Cheng, Crystal Chiu

Synopsis
Two young children living illegally in a model apartment outside Boston are left to fend for themselves when their hardworking mother disappears.

An interesting premise, upstart cast and crew, and a gorgeous visual style, this film is one that not only the avid film goer should see, but the family can get out and spend a great night together watching this interesting indie flick. I know I will.

TRAILER:



4. Dare

U.S.A., 2009, 92 mins, Color

MIDWEST PREMIERE

+FILMMAKERS ARE SCHEDULED TO BE IN ATTENDANCE

Director: Adam Salky
Screenwriter: David Brind
Producer: Jason Orans and Mary Jane Skalski
Co-Producer: David Brind
Cinematographer: Michael Fimognari
Editor: John F. Lyons
Cast: Emmy Rossum, Zach Gilford, Ashley Springer, Ana Gasteyer, Rooney Mara, Sandra Bernhard, Alan Cumming

Synopsis
The good girl, the outsider and the bad boy...like you've never seen them before. (Short but for more info click on the title)

This may be one of the most interesting films at the festival. Starring an interesting ensemble cast featuring Alan Cumming and Emmy Rossum, the drama Dare, based on a short film from director Adam Salky, is David Brinds look at what high school is like for three different teenagers, and their discovery that, not everybody is who they seem to be.

3. Peter and Vandy

U.S.A., 2008, 85 mins, Color (Sexual Content)

MIDWEST PREMIERE

+FILMMAKERS ARE SCHEDULED TO BE IN ATTENDANCE

Director/Screenwriter: Jay DiPietro
Producers: Peter Sterling, Austin Stark, Benji Kohn, Bingo Gubelmann
Cinematographer: Frank G. DeMarco
Editor: Geoffrey Richman
Cast: Jason Ritter, Jess Weixler, Jesse L. Martin, Tracie Thoms

Synopsis
'Peter and Vandy' is a love story told out of order. Set in Manhattan, the story shifts back and forth in time, juxtaposing Peter and Vandy's romantic beginnings with the twisted, manipulative, regular couple they become. The film explores the question most couples ask themselves... 'How the hell did we get this way?'

This is the one that may be the most surprising. I don't know much about this film, but I do know that it stars one of my favorite young actors, Jess Weixler, who is most famous as being the main female lead from the great indie horror film, Teeth. Her involvement in this film, which sounds similar to that of a film like 500 Days of Summer, makes this one that may shock this festival. Don't be surprised if this one is raved about come the end of the festival.

2. Humpday

U.S.A., 2009, 95 mins, Color (Sexual Content, Language, Nudity)

MIDWEST PREMIERE

Director/Screenwriter: Lynn Shelton
Producer: Lynn Shelton
Coproducers: Jennifer Maas, Steven Schardt
Cinematographer: Ben Kasulke
Editor: Nat Sanders
Production Designer: Jasminka Vukcevic
Composer: Vinny Smith
Principal Cast: Mark Duplass, Joshua Leonard, Alycia Delmore, Lynn Shelton, Trina Willard

TRAILER:



Synopsis
Two guys take their bromance to another level when they participate in an art film project.

Beloved by film sites such as Film School Rejects, this is the much talked about bromantic comedy that has taken the internet by storm. I don't know much about the film outside of the fact that I haven't heard a single bad thing about this film, and that means it's one to watch out for.

1. World's Greatest Dad

U.S.A., 2009, 98 mins, Color (Sexual Content, Violence, Adult Content, Language, Nudity)

MIDWEST PREMIERE

Director/Screenwriter: Bobcat Goldthwait
Executive Producers: Edward H Hamm Jr., Jennifer Roth
Producers: Tim Perell, Howard Gerter, Sean McKittrick, Richard Kelly
Coproducer: Sarah de Sa Rego Cinematographer: Horacio Marquinez
Editor: Jason Stewart
Composer: Gerald Brunskill
Cast: Robin Williams, Alexie Gilmore, Daryl Sabara

Synopsis
Lance is a high school teacher who protects his family from shame following the embarrassing accidental death of his son. Lance writes a fake suicide note to cover up the death, but without permission the note is published and becomes an unexpected hit. Keen to be a successful author, Lance produces an entire journal which he passes off as his son's.

Here's a scene...



Getting huge buzz out of Sundance, alongside films like 500 Days of Summer, this film was on the tips of everyones tounges after the storied festival. Directed by comedian turned film maker Bobcat Goldthwaite, this dark comedy starring Robin Williams takes a dark look at the relationship between a father and a son. This is the one film that, if it's all you can check out, you must give your 10 dollars to.

The full festival lineup can be found here:

Hopefully I will be bringing you reviews of these films, along with others when the Waterfront Film Festival hits the shore of downtown Saugatuck, June 11th-14th. Hope to see you all there!

Go see something good!

UPDATE: Pixar's BRAVE...


Late last week, sources reported that during an interview with ComingSoon, Pete Docter, director of Pixar's new film Up, hinted at a title of a film that no one had known about, Brave. Some people speculated that it may be an in title for an adaptation of The Brave Little Toaster, which Pixar head John Lasseter was originally working on before the film adaptation left his hands.

Well, The Pixar Blog has seemed to have cleared things up, and it was what many of us expected. Brave is simply an internal name for Pixar's Winter 2011 feature, The Bear and The Bow, from writer/director Brenda Chapman, who is most famous for doing the Prince of Egypt. Starring Reese Witherspoon, the film is considered Pixar's first fairy tale, and tells the story of Merida, a daughter of royalty who strives to make her name as a great archer. She is the "Brave" character hinted at in the in title.

“A clash of wills with her mother compels Merida to make a reckless choice, which unleashes unintended peril on her father’s kingdom and her mother’s life. Merida struggles with the unpredictable forces of nature, magic and a dark, ancient curse to set things right."

Well, that was a bit anticlimatic. But still, the film sounds interesting, and of course everyone should be looking forward to it, as it's a Pixar film, and their first fairy tale. What do you think about this project?

Go see something good!

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

WTF?: Buffy The Vampire Slayer Reboot...WITHOUT Joss Whedon??


It looks like the rumors have been true. Hollywood is working on a big screen reboot of Buffy The Vampire Slayer sans Buffy creator, Joss Whedon.

Reuters has the scoop:

The new "Buffy" film, however, would have no connection to the TV series, nor would it use popular supporting characters like Angel, Willow, Xander or Spike. Kuzui and Vertigo are looking to restart the story line without trampling on the beloved existing universe created by Whedon.

The parties are meeting with writers and hearing takes, and later will look for a home for the project. The producers do not rule out Whedon's involvement but have not yet reached out to him. Speaking from Tokyo, Fran Kuzui said she is constantly approached not only about sequels but theater, video games and foreign remakes for "Buffy." When Vertigo's Roy Lee contacted them, they were intrigued.


Fran Rubel Kuzui, who directed the original 1992 movie from which the tv series was created, is developing the relaunch with Vertigo Entertainment and while Whedon may have some part in the production, he has none as of yet.

Buffy is easily one of my favorite TV shows, and Angel is a great spin-off, all of which were created by Joss Whedon, who has since done the great Firefly, the hilarious web hit, Dr. Horrible's Sing-a-long Blog, and Dollhouse.

However, him not being involved with this project has made me lose all interest in this franchise. If he was creativly behind it, then I would be all for it, but this just seems like a really bad idea. No dice.

Go see somethig good!

Monday, May 25, 2009

TRAILER: The Burning Plain...

Three of the best films I've seen from the past 10 years have one common thing, the screenwriter. Amores Perros, 21 Grams, and Babel were written by Guillermo Arriaga, and now the screenwriter has made his directorial debut. Showing at last years Toronto, Venice, Glasgow, and Seattle Film Festivals, The Burning Plain is similar to his previous writing credits, in that it's an ensemble piece with a two-tiered storyline concerning a mother and daughter who try to form a bond again later in their lives. The buzz hasn't been huge, but the trailer looks quite good, and the pedigree is also quite great, so check out the trailer below!



The Burning Plain is both written and directed by Mexican filmmaker Guillermo Arriaga, who worked with and wrote Alejandro González Iñárritu's trilogy of Amores Perros, 21 Grams, and Babel, as well as the screenplays for The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada and The Night Buffalo. The film first premiered at the Venice Film Festival late last year and has played at other major film festivals ever since then. Magnolia Pictures will be bringing The Burning Plain to very limited theaters starting on September 18th this year.

Go see something good!

NEWS: Toy Story 3 Teaser Confirmation/Description...


A /Film reader, Wagner, has officially confirmed that a Toy Story 3 teaser trailer will be attached to Pixar’s Up, and the sight has also posted his short description of the teaser:

“It is confirmed.” … “Toy Story 3 teaser trailer is attached. Unfortunately like I said it is a teaser. It only shows the original characters building a Toy Story 3 sign led by Woody pretty funny. Then Buzz Lightyear showing him off by building a better one. They also show the release date of June 2010.”

Sure, it's only a short teaser, but it will be one hell of a nostalgia fest to see the beloved characters of this series back on the big screen. There have been talks of a longer trailer being released with Toy Story/Toy Story 2 3D double feature, which will be released in October, which I fully expect will happen. However, this is a welcome helping of Toy Story before the third films June 18th, 2010 release.

Go see something good!

NEWS: Cannes Film Festival Awards...

The 62nd Annual Cannes Film Festival has come to a close, and while I wasn't and probably will never be able to get out to the world renowned festival, many of the films that earn awards get huge buzz over in the states, even if it's only for Best Foriegn Film at our award shows. Well, the festival has issued it's awards, and at the top, there is a big surprise.

Palme d'Or (Golden Palm):
The White Ribbon directed by Michael Haneke

Grand Prize (Runner Up):
Un Prophète (A Prophet) directed by Jacques Audiard

Special Jury Prize:
Alain Resnais director of Wild Grass (Les Herbes Folles)

Best Director:
Brillante Mendoza for Kinatay

Best Screenplay:
Feng Mei for Lou Ye's Spring Fever

Jury Prize:
Fish Tank directed by Andrea Arnold
Thirst directed by Park Chan-wook

Camera d'Or (First-Time Filmmaker):
Samson and Delilah directed by Warwick Thornton

Best Leading Actor:
Christoph Waltz in Inglourious Basterds

Best Leading Actress:
Charlotte Gainsbourg in Antichrist

Un Certain Regard Prize:
Dogtooth (Kynodntas) directed by Yorgos Lanthimos

Jury Prize:
Police, Adjective (Politist, Adjectiv) directed by Corneliu Porumboiu

Special Jury Prize:
No One Knows About Persian Cats directed by Bahman Ghobadi
Father of My Children (Le Père de mes Enfants) directed by Mia Hansen-Løve

Congrats to controversial film maker Michael Haneke for his win, and in particular Charlotte Gainsbourg and Christoph Waltz for their big wins in best leading actor and actress. Can't wait to check these films out!

Go see something good!

VIDEO: Taste of True Blood With Alan Ball...

A Taste Of True Blood


I just watched this this evening, and I must say, I am beyond interested. This gives you any and everything that you need to know about season one of the hit vampire series from famous writer, Alan Ball, and it's a perfect set up to season two, which airs June 14th.

Thanks to the awesome blog Loving True Blood In Dallas for the video!

Go see something good!

Sunday, May 24, 2009

NEWS: WTF Is Pixar's Brave?

So, while doing promotion for their upcoming release, Up, Pixar’s Pete Docter and Jonas Rivera had an interview with ComingSoon.net, and with the uttering of a single word, they have created a firestorm of rumors.

Once in a while, we’re at these meetings where we all look at Toy Story 3 or Brave or whatever and we all give comments and notes, but that’s just like a day here or there.

WTF is Brave?

Well, one look at UpcomingPixar's Twitter page, and you will see that this may not have been some random slip up. However, there are a few films that this could be a mention of.

The best bet is that it may be a new title, or working title, for the upcoming Pixar film, The Bear and The Bow. The title hints at a story that could be about bravery, so that is one way it could go.

Another way this could go, is that since it was mentioned with Toy Story 3, it could be some sort of sequel or remake. There has been much talk about what will probably be an inevitable Monster's Inc. sequel, so it could be a working title for that. Or could it be the title of a sequel to Pixar's best film in my eyes, The Incredibles? Insanely unlikely, but at this point, no one knows a thing about this. On the remake front, /Film has an interesting idea:

My own suspicion (though it is only a vague one and I definitely wouldn’t stack any chips on it yet) is that Brave is a new adaptation of Thomas M. Disch’s The Brave Little Toaster.

Already adapted into an animated film - and two sequels - the original novel was billed by the author as “a bedtime story for small appliances”. He set the novel up for an adaptation at Disney, though that never quite happened. Later, the deal shifted and Hyperion produced the film, though it was distributed by Disney in 1987.


With that films strong ties to Pixar and its family, it is not out of the realm of possiblity that this film could be a hint at a Pixar created remake/adaptation of the film/novella, Brave Little Toaster.

What do you think this could be about?

Go see something good!

Saturday, May 23, 2009

NEWS: A Daredevil Reboot?


It appears as though the blind lawyer/superhero Daredevil may not be as dead as many of us thought, and some wanted.

Recently, a blog for the LA based comic book store, Golden Apple Comics, saw "Battlestar Gallactica" star Katee Sackhoff (Starbuck for those who watch the show), walk in and buy all comics that contained the character of Typhoid Mary, with "hopes of getting a part for a marvel movie."

So we got a little visit in our comic shop last week by Katee Sackhoff, also known as Starbuck for her role on BSG. She proceeded to grab all the Typhoid Mary
comics we had and has hopes to get a part for a Marvel movie
….


Now, this can mean a couple of things.

First off, die hard Marvel comics fans will remember that Mary is not only a lover, but a longstanding enemy of our masked handicapped hero. She is a mutant with a multiple personality disorder who comes to control various types of powers in relation to the personality that she is inhabiting at the time.

However, Mary is also a character that has had her schizo hands in many story arcs within the life and times of the merc with a mouth, and upcoming spin-off foder, Deadpool.

I'm not insanely familiar with the Daredevil story and it's subsequent storylines, but this is an interesting idea. She is stunning to look at, and she's one hell of an actress to book. The character sounds interesting, and even though the character WAS in the Daredevil spin-off, Elektra, if they reboot the franchise, I will be more than happy to give it another shot. The idea of Daredevil as a character is intriguing, and if they get the right cast, this could be a great film.

That said, I don't have much of the same hope for the yet to really be discussed Deadpool spin off. It's a fine idea, with a PERFECT casting choice in Ryan Reynolds who portrayed him in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, but unless Marvel takes complete control of the film (which has been talked about), it will almost dead on arrival, at least in my eyes.

What do YOU think?

Go see something good!

Friday, May 22, 2009

REVIEW: One Hour Fantasy Girl...


This summer is the season of robots, Vulcans, and more robots. It is the season of the biggest and loudest films to come this year. However, there are also a few small indie films that deserve the time of the average film goer.

One of these films is the character study, One Hour Fantasy Girl. Fantasy Girl introduces us all to the world of a twenty-year-old girl: Becky Lewis (Kelly-Ann Tursi), who escaped an abusive alcoholic mother at the age of 15 and has been surviving on her own in Los Angeles ever since. After becoming partners with Chi Trang (Paul Nguyen) who himself is an aspiring musician, becomes what is known as a "fantasy girl." Instead of selling her body like a prostitute, she simply is paid by men who want her to fulfill any fantasy they may have, as long as no sex is involved, and everything is legal. Along the way, she meets two customers, Roger and Bobby, who change her life, forever.

This film comes to us from the much buzzed about writer/director Edgar Michael Bravo, who is most famous amongst the indie scene for his film, The Three Stages Of Stan, a film that after seeing this, is one that I will be hunting down. His neo-documentary style allows this intriguing story to not only play for what it is, but also heighten the viewers emotional response.

The production values are also very high for how low budget this film is, and the high definition in which it was shot makes this a very crisp and moody film to watch. No matter the fantasy, the person, or the place, Bravo puts his camera right there, and allows the audience to see what Becky does for work, and doesn't spare a single scene. There may be a few pacing issues with this film, but for being 89 minutes long, this is easily one of the briskest watches I've seen in a long time, and it has a lot to do with the direction and visual style. This is a raw look at a woman's life, and the seedy things she is into, and the look and style of the film amp that feeling up to 11.

However, the true star of this film may be the cast, particularly the lead. The character of Becky is a tough and complicated one, and Tursi is pitch perfect. Becky is as far from happy with her life as one can be, and yet she doesn't seem to be shamed by what she is doing. However, she does have a sense of sadness and just something slightly dark about her, which brings a lot to the role. She's stunning to look at, and yet there is just something slightly off about her character that makes her all the more compelling to watch on screen. This film is a dense character study, almost an existential piece, and it works for the entire 89 minutes.

Also, the supporting cast brings their "A" game, particularly Joe Luckay. Luckay plays the sweet Bobby, and while his performance doesn't hit every note, the interchanges between he and Tursi, particularly one during their second meeting, are superb. He's a bit miscast here, but where there are a few flaws in his performance, they are made up in these very emotional and well written scenes. The only performance that slightly bothered me was the performance of Nguyen as Becky's partner, Chi. It is a fine performance, just one that seemed to be in the wrong film. It was a bit weirdly toned, but extremely well acted. The character has an edge, but isn't cartoonish like you would imagine someone who is the legal version of a pimp, and has a true heart for Becky. Not in a love interest style of way, but sort of as a big brother, which makes the weird sexual tension in the performance a tad weird. The performance was fine, just slightly one note.

The other surprising part of this film comes from the pieces score. Written by Nima Fakhrara, the music from this film fits every moment. When the scenes begin to ramp up in emotion, so does the music. This, along with the phenomenal script, surprising performances, and a stunning visual style, this is one film that you can't afford to miss. When I say go see something good at the end of each post, I'm talking about films like this.

ONE HOUR FANTASY GIRL - 8.5/10

Go see something good!

REVIEW: Terminator: Salvation...


This summer has seen the return of many storied film franchises. Star Trek, X-Men, and now, the most beloved, at least by me, Terminator.

Under the control of Kalamazoo native McG, Terminator: Salvation is the newest film in the line of sci-fi action thrillers made famous by James Cameron, and the father of Arnold Schwarzenegger's career. However, with the last film, Terminator 3: Rise of The Machines being lackluster at best, can this film redeem this franchise?

Set in post-apocalyptic 2018, Terminator Salvation follows John Connor, who is the man fated to lead the human resistance against Skynet and its army of Terminators. However, the future Connor was raised to believe in is altered in part by the appearance of Marcus Wright, a stranger whose last memory is of being on death row. Connor must decide whether Marcus has been sent from the future, or rescued from the past. As Skynet prepares its final onslaught, Connor and Marcus both embark on an odyssey that takes them into the heart of Skynet’s operations, where they uncover the terrible secret behind the possible annihilation of mankind, a factory of T-800's, and a cameo from a certain Governor of California.

Starting with Terminator, the Terminator franchise has seen its brilliant pieces of cinema (Terminator and T2), as well as its less than stellar outings (the aforementioned T3), and with Salvation, they have taken many steps in the right direction.

Throughout production of this film, there was much talk, as to not only who was cast in the film, but most controversially, in who WB picked to direct the film. Charlie's Angels director, McG. Whereas many of his previous films have been light and airy, with his typical corny direction, this is completely different.

From the very outset, you are thrust right into this war, and the world it's consuming. It's 2018, and Salvation is set in a post Judgment Day California. The film looks dark and the action is balls to the wall. There is one sequence in particular, a tow truck/ducati terminator chase that is not only set up after an intense action set piece, but what follows is not only completely ridiculous and can be seen as uncalled for, but what I saw it as was an intense and well done action set piece, of which there are many preceding it and following it. This film takes it's metallic fist and grips your balls, and drags you around by them for two hours. While this film takes a distinctly high budget fell into this series, which was created on a much more conservative budget, I think for what the film does action wise, it works. You get planted into the middle of the action, and it works, for the most part.

The cast does there best here. Bale plays yet another troubled man in the prophesied resistance leader, John Connor, and he's stellar. Yes, the role is one note, but that's not necessarily his fault. Anton Yelchin, who plays Connor's soon to be father Kyle Reese(yes, I know, it's weird) is great here. It's not a particularly heavy role, but it will be in subsequent films, and I feel completely comfortable with him in this role. He's a phenomenal young actor, and he only can grow as the films go on. However, the show stealer here has to be Sam Worthington as the human/machine (no spoilers there), Marcus Wright.

We first meet the death row inmate in the opening scene. He is about to be executed, and instead of simply being buried, he is given a neo-second chance in a special experiment, that he donates his body to. Little does he know that the experiment is for Cyberdyne, which later creates the A.I. network known as Skynet. After his death in 2003, Skynet forms, and decides to execute an attack on the whole of humanity. After a raid on an underground Skynet factory, Wright is awoken, dazed, and good hearted, yet left with no memory.

Where Bale seems to be hitting a single note throughout the film, Wright, who is the neo-main character of Salvation, is pitch perfect. He has the heart and mentality of a human, yet he has the makings of a flesh covered machine. Near the true climax of the film, he discovers the reason for his making, and that scene alone makes him an actor that everyone must pay attention too. He epitomizes what makes this character not only interesting on its own, but he also is the closest thing you get to to any emotional involvement.

That is this films major flaw. This film wants to try and attempt to be an emotionally stimulating outing, but this screenplay almost completely nullifies that. While it's not a horrible piece of writing, it is almost as mechanical and paint by numbers as one of Skynet's factories. It is chock full of cliches, that, while not drawing you out of the experience, make it less true. Screenwriters John D. Brancato and Michael Ferris take the stock ideas of the Terminator franchise, robot sent to save someone, and simply make a fourth film with that story, instead of taking the franchise in a new direction. It's a big film with big ideas, that is given a small amount of time. There are also copious amounts of plot holes that really leave this film out in the open.

Another thing that makes this series such a classic film franchise, is it's intelligence within an action/thriller/horror setting. While there are moments of that here, there are far to many side stories that, while necessary for subsequent films, take away from the message a bit.

That said, there are many things to chew on here for the more intellectual film goer.

The main thing that this franchise talks about, almost to a fault, is time, and how it can or can't be changed. The biggest thing that this film tries to convey is the idea of fate, and if fate can be changed. While that can be seen a little bit here, the message for T4 is what makes a human, well, a human. Is it our heart? Is it our compassion? Is it our personalities? This film takes a look at that, and while it's not the most perfect allegory ever put to film, it does work.

All of that said, this film works as not only some form of thought provoking entertainment, but as just that, entertainment. Where other thrillers recently leave you not only wanting more things to mentally chew on walking out of the theatres as well as something to keep you compelled while in them, this film works on both levels. Sure, it's a much stronger action film, probably the most action packed one so far this year, but it also leaves you talking afterwards. The script is schlocky, but is saved by great performances, and the look of this film is perfect. Not the best in the series, but it's a welcome addition, and one everyone should check out.

TERMINATOR: SALVATION - 8/10

Go see something good!

NEWS: Stuff I Missed...

Here are a few headlines that I haven't been able to write about, as I've been watching movies/catching up with some friends for the span of the day.

- Actor Dan Fogler has an interview with Moviehole, where he drops a hint that director Kyle Newman has been working on an idea for a sequel to the really solid comedy, Fanboys.

- In the "No duh" category, Michael Moore's upcoming film will indeed take a look at the economic meltdown(/Film)...

- Here's the newest trailer for the upcoming Bruce Willis sci-fi thriller, Surogates

SURROGATES trailer in HD


The movie tells the story of FBI agents (Bruce Willis and Radha Mitchell) who are investigating the mysterious murder of a college student linked to the man who helped create a high-tech surrogate phenomenon that allows people to purchase unflawed robotic versions of themselves.

- Brick director Rian Johnson has released an audio commentary for his new film, Brother's Bloom...

- Wayne Allwine, best known as the voice of Mickey Mouse since 1977, passed away on Sunday night due to complications from diabetes at the age of 62.

- President Obama has seen Star Trek, and reviewed it, kind of, over in an interview at Newsweek...

- Chris Pontius has been cast in Sofia Coppola's next film, Somewhere...

- A trailer for James Cameron's new sci-fi epic, Avatar, will be shown before Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen...

- IFC Films has picked up the controversial film, Antichrist, directed by Lars Von Trier...

- Finally, USA Today has the first shots off the set of M. Night's upcoming film, The Last Airbender...

I will have a review of Terminator: Salvation up, as well as a review of the small little indie film, One Hour Fantasy Girl, sometime tomorrow, so keep checking back!

Go see something good!

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

VIDEO: David Simon On Real Time...

Over the weekend, creator of the brilliant television show, The Wire, David Simon was on one of my favorite talk shows, Real Time With Bill Maher to not only talk The Wire and it's portrayl of a decomposing American city, but also what HE thinks is the cause of the death of newspapers, and what he thinks of the death of, at least the title, The War On Drugs. It's a phenominal discussion.



Go see something good!

NEWS: Early Buzz for Inglourious Basterds, 3 New Clips...

So, it's officially here.

At the Cannes Film Festival, Quentin Tarantino's new film, Inglourious Basterds has finally premiered, to what now can be considered rawkus hype. Sure, there are a couple of negative reviews, one of which I will post at the end in video form, but it is nearly a consesus hit. Hell, it's even been hinted at being a favorite for the festival's main award, The Palm D'or, due to the festivals lack of stand out films. Here are just a couple of reviews for the film.

Total Film's Sam Ashurst: “Not only did I love every minute, if the French projectionist wanted to cue it up and roll it again from the start, I would have sat through the whole film again, with the biggest grin on my face. This is Quentin’s best film since Jackie Brown. It might even be his best film since Pulp Fiction.” “[Eli Roth is] the only weak link I could spot” … “Tarantino dialogue at its best” … “QT’s magpie eye has never been sharper, swooping down on Italian cinema and plucking the very best shots, framing and music to create a deserving homage to the spaghetti westerns of my youth.”

Empire's Chris Hewitt: “Rather brilliant. Every bit as idiosyncratic as the spelling of its title, it’s a wonderfully-acted movie that subverts expectation at every turn. And it may represent the most confident, audacious writing and directing of QT’s career.” … “The performances are superb across-the-board.” “[Christoph Waltz] may be a shoo-in for a Best Supporting Oscar nom” … “Some of his Grindhouse flourishes – large captions stamped on screen, the usual flirting with structure and chronology, offbeat musical cues (a David Bowie track shows up at one point) and the sudden introduction of a hip narrator (Samuel L. Jackson) – may irk some” … “certainly very talky,”

Now, here is one of two negative reviews that I have seen, and it comes to us from The Hollywood Reporter. While I haven't seen the film, I have read the screenplay, and I must say, WTF THR? I'm not sure if this guy had seen anything before hand, but while I totally have insane respect for this guy, I must say, his critiscm is very strong. It's a talky film, which should have been known from the outset since it's not a Tarantino film or anything, and while it IS historically inaccurate, I think that's a nulified point, as I don't think Tarantino was going for accuracy, nor has it been sold as a historically accurate film. Great critic, not the strongest points, in my humble opinion.

Check out that review at the link below...

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid769343686?bctid=23801914001

More reviews can be seen here (via /Film).

What I can tell you though is that three new clips from Basterds have been released, and all look great!

Clip 1: Bridget von Hammersmark (Diane Kruger) informing Lt. Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt) of two recent developments in the operation



Clip 2: Lt. Aldo Raine (Pitt) interrogating a German soldier about the locations of their camps and the artillery they have. He respectively declines the offer and decides to die for his country.



Clip 3: Col. Hans Landa (Christoph Waltz) telling Perrier (Denis Menochet) how Jews are like rats. From the films opening, which may be the most intense opening audiences may see this year. It's just a superb pieceo of writing, and this clip looks stunnning.



Wow, just really wow. I can't wait for this film. What about YOU?

Go see something good!

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

TRAILER: 9...

One of the reasons I love being home, outside of seeing the family, is that I get access to my favorite TV channel, G4.

Yesturday, during G4's amazing show, Attack of The Show, they aired the newest trailer for Shane Ackers utterly beautiful dystopian future animated film, 9.

The new trailer not only feautres a few new shots, but it also features a look at each of the 9 dolls that will be at the head of this film, with my favorites being 3 and 4, a pair of twins. It will be interesting to not only see the interactions between these characters, but since they were all given life by a singular scientist, it will be interesting to see what differences each character will have in their actions, emotions, and personality.

Oh, and the film looks beyond gorgeous too. Check the trailer out below!



“When 9 (Wood) first comes to life, he finds himself in a post-apocalyptic world. All humans are gone, and it is only by chance that he discovers a small community of others like him taking refuge from fearsome machines that roam the earth intent on their extinction. Despite being the neophyte of the group, 9 convinces the others that hiding will do them no good. They must take the offensive if they are to survive, and they must discover why the machines want to destroy them in the first place. As they’ll soon come to learn, the very future of civilization may depend on them.”

Based on Acker's Oscar nominated short film of the same name, the film not only features a dark and unique art style, that sort of mixes the sensibilities of older Tim Burton, just amped to 11, and the characters from LittleBigPlanet. This is one I've been looking forward to for a while, and can't wait to check it out when it hits theatres on 9.9.09.

Go see something good!

VIDEO: Greatest. Video. Ever.

Thanks to /Film for the heads up on this great SNL skit from this past weekends season finale.



Ferrell, knee-deep in a yuppie’s faux-VietNam flashback, lead one and all in a touching rendition of Billy Joel’s wartime classic “Goodnight Saigon.” The meaning behind the lyrics, “Yes, we would all go down together,” in terms of the show’s legacy, its cast future and past, and our shaky times is subjective. But most everyone will agree that the sketch ended the 34th season on a categorically awesome note. Ferrell was in the zone. At this point, he probably bathes there.

Go see something good!

NEWS: Jarvis Cocker Does Some Music For Wes Anderson's Fox...


As reported by Pitchfork about a year ago, the brilliant musician has been recording music for the much anticipated adaptation of Roald Dahl's classic book, The Fantastic Mr. Fox, directed by Wes Anderson.

Well, more details about his contributions have been released, and they have me insanely intrigued.

Accourding to the Times, Cocker actually wrote a tune WITH Anderson himself. It's been described as "a little hoedown number", by the man himself, and in the article, it is also reported that Cocker will have a role in the animated film. He will play, well, voice the character of Petey, which has been described as a "mandolin-strumming puppet who looks and sounds like his real-life counterpart."

I'm beyond intrigued by this news. I hadn't really listened to much of the guys music before this news was released, but since then I have been on a tear checking out his YouTube videos, and must say, this is a perfect fit for a Wes Anderson film.

As a side note, it was also reported that due to his accent, U.S. test screening audiences didn't care to much for his apparent narration in the film, so his bit of narration has allegedly been redone. Like Pitchfork, I too could not be more proud of the United States...

Here's the video for one of Cocker's songs, called Running The World.



Go see something good!

Monday, May 18, 2009

TRAILER: Sherlock Holmes...

The first trailer for Guy Ritchie's new film, Sherlock Holmes has been released, and it is rather interesting, which is a bit of a mixed bag.

The film stars Robert Downey Jr. as the titular character, and co-stars Jude Law as Dr. John Watson, Rachel McAdams plays Holmes’ love-interest, Irene Adler. It features all of Guy Ritchies stylistic quircks, the dutch angles, the slow mo, the dry witty humor, and while it is a fun trailer, it's just not what I expect in a Sherlock Holmes film.

Yes, it is a Guy Ritchie film, and I know that, but it is just a bit jarring. That said, I think this film looks AMAZING. Not a Holmes film really, but I have no relationship with the subject matter, so it doesn't matter to me. It looks like Ritchie has hit this out of my personal ballpark. His style, along with that great cast, make this film one to look out for.



In a dynamic new portrayal of Arthur Conan Doyle's most famous characters, "Sherlock Holmes" sends Holmes and his stalwart partner Watson on their latest challenge. Revealing fighting skills as lethal as his legendary intellect, Holmes will battle as never before to bring down a new nemesis and unravel a deadly plot that could destroy the country.

Sherlock Holmes is directed and written by Guy Ritche, and stars Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, and Rachel McAdams.


Go see something good!

NEWS: Fringe Gets Its Renewal, But There's A Catch...

Looks like this Fall season will see me hitting up Hulu more than I should.

Last week, we got word that Fox would be not only bringing back Dollhouse, Lie To Me, but also it's highest rated new show, and the highest rated freshman show on TV, Fringe. However, the news also brought us the news that the time slot that Fringe would be living in would be drastically changed.

Instead of owning the Tuesday night slot, it appears that Fox will be moving the show to the hottest and most contested slot on the schedule, Thursday's at 9 p.m.

Yes, you heard me, fans of Fringe will have to make a choice. Fringe will go head to head against Grey's Anatomy (which also had a stellar season finale), CSI, The Office, 30 Rock, and Supernatural. The cooking show, Hell's Kitchen was shown in that slot the last two years, but those shows have yet to appear on Fox's preumptive schedule.

Sure, Fringe held its own against Idol and The Mentalist, and it had a brilliant finale, yet, it will still be a tough test for J.J. Abrams newest series.

What do YOU think will happen in this slot. Give me an order of ratings, from the show that gets the highest, to the lowest.

Go see something good!

Sunday, May 17, 2009

REVIEW: Passengers...


Sometimes, a person just has brilliance in their blood.

That may be the case for Rodrigo Garcia. The son of the famous writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez, the Columbia native has directd episodes of Big Love, Carnivale, and the brilliant Six Feet Under, as well as the critically acclaimed indie films, Ten Tiny Love Stories, and the phenominal Nine Lives. However, with Passengers, Garcia may have to stick with TV and films with numbers in the titles.

Making what can basically account for it's debut on DVD this past week (it was released in New York and LA for about one to two weeks, but is currently available on DVD or at Celebration Woodland), Passengers follows psychotherapist Claire Summers (Anne Hathaway), who is called upon to talk to and treat a group of five plane crash survivors. One of them happens to be a striking and charismatic man, Eric (Patrick Wilson), who not only exhibits signs that point to him hiding his true feelings, but begins to grow closer to Claire. As her patients begin to disappear, she begins to investigate what may be a cover up by the airline. Add in an estrainged sister subplot and you have the mix for an interesting plot, right? Yes, as well as a convoluted one.

I am a major supporter of Garcia, and I want you all to know that htis man is a true genius, particularly with his film, Nine Lives. It looks at the stories of nine women, and each vigniette is simply one complete take, and is one of the most emotionally stimulating films I've had the chance to see in a long time.

However, this film doesn't completely work.

The main problem with this film comes in its story. While somewhat compelling, it also seems a bit convuluted, and not well fleshed out. The film seems to be primarily built around what tries to be a surprise twist ending, but instead of coming off as a shocker, like any good twist should, it comes off as a complete bore. Instead of surprising the audience, it simply comes off as a kind of "so-what" moment. Also, while the ending gives a little meaning to a few of the characters, the performances in these roles are not great.

That said, they aren't all bad. Actually, the two leads are almost perfect. Anne Hathaway plays a psychotherapist who puts far to much of her life into her work, and when she meets the attractive Eric, she begins to change her tune. However, the film gives its viewers little to no reason to get emotionally involved with her. Sure, she has an estranged sister, but that fact isn't given nearly the amount of screen time that it should, and when that emotional climax hits in the end, it doesn't truly resonate with the audience. Wilson is also quite good here, and is the right touch of charismatic as well as vulnerable. Their chemistry single handedly saved the storyline.

However, what saved the film as a whole for me was the look of it.

While the direction as a whole isn't to particularly special, at least when compared to Garcia's previous films, Love Stories and Nine Lives. There aren't many visual flares, or his staple long continuous takes, which while allowing for the story to shine, also makes each moment more poignant. Along with Igor Jadue-Lillo's stunning cinematography, this is one film that will feed any cinephiles hunger for arresting visuals, in all of its constrast heavy glory.

So, if you are in the mood for a schlocky and convoluted plot, a side of stunning visuals and two great lead performances, grab a seat, and a copy of Passengers on DVD.

PASSENGERS - 5/10

Go see something good!

NEWS: DOLLHOUSE IS RENEWED!!!


Gahhh! This is just beyond great news. It appears that Fox has finally got their heads out of their asses, and made yours truly a happy guy.

According to The Live Feed, Fox has renewed my favorite show from this past fall season, Dollhouse, for another 13 episode season.

In a stunning move, sources say Fox has renewed Joss Whedon’s “Dollhouse” for next fall.

The official announcement will not be made until Monday at the network's upfront presentation, but sources confirm a deal has been struck for another 13 episodes. Fox plans to continue the show on Fridays next fall.

The low-rated series was last seen given up for dead by the media in a field somewhere.


Now, while the series has been low on the ratings boards, the DVR numbers for the show have been monsterous, and probably the single factor that saved this series from a probable death.

This also means great things for Fox Channel fans, as this officially caps the return of their three newest series, Lie To Me, Fringe, and Dollhouse. While I don't really care to much for Lie To Me (seen three episodes, it's interesting but very flawed), the other two have single handedly saved broadcast television dramas for me. Two superb shows are coming back this fall, which not only gives me more television to watch, but it also gives me respect for Fox. Well, at least their television channel.

Go see something good!

Saturday, May 16, 2009

REVIEW: Kobe Doin' Work...


There are many atheletes that trancend their specific sport. Tiger, Lebron, and Kobe are just a few examples.

Well, the latter example is the subject of a new Spike Lee documentary, called Kobe Doin' Work.

With 30 cameras, Lee was given access to every aspect of a day in the life of Kobe Bryant. Pregame, halftime, and postgame for a single day are covered in this film, as Kobe and his Lakers are looking to get the number one seed in the NBA Playoffs, in a game against their rivals, the San Antonio Spurs.

Now, one may be wondering, why cover this film? The answer is quite simple.

Spike Lee.

One of the most controversial film makers working, has created not only starteling dramatic narratives, such as Do The Right Thing and Bamboozled, fun genre films, like Inside Man, but also top notch documentaries, as his Katrina documentary, When The Leeves Broke, is a phenominal piece of cinema.

Here it's a bit different. This film is not for everyone.

One thing that I love about watching a DVD, are the special features, particularly the directors commentary. Well, imagine a DVD of a Laker's basketball game, with a commentary done by Kobe. This allows for much more action to take place on screen. Not once during the film are you taken off the action of the game for a talking head to give you his or her commentary. There are two talking head moments right at the begining, but instead of leaving the viewer cold, it gives you a sense of the stakes that this game has. The rest of the film features the game, in it's entierty, with Lee's 30 cameras shooting all of the action, and Bryant simply giving his comments on his team, his game, and what each moment means for him and his team.

However, while the film gives you access that only players, coaches, and towel boys get, and yes, that's insanely interesting, it's also not necissarily compelling for the non sports fan. If you are not a basketball fan, or a sports fan in general, then this may be one to skip.

That said, if you ARE a sports fan, then this is a must see. There is not a slow moment, and not only do you get Kobe giving you his comments, but you get into the huddle, the pregame preparation, post game, and even halftime, which for a basketball fan, is something really intriguing. The film is also gorgeous. Matthew Libatique, best known as the guy who has shot all of Darren Aronofsky's films, uses his skill to really give this film some more cinematic qualities. It's not just a commentary of the television broadcast, which really helps this film have more staying power.

Also, on a more meta level, this film is a great metaphor for the film making process.

Yes, at first that idea may seem a bit weird, but think about it this way. Over the years, Kobe has changed from the highschooler turned pro with a penchant for flashy moves, to a legit living legend with a penchant for turn around jump shots. Throughout the documentary, you see him directing his cast and crew to help make his team not only work more but but work smoother as well. He's the closest equivalent to a film director in the world of sports, and seeing this documentary not only had me compelled to the television screen, but gave me more respect for Kobe than I already had.

The film as a film is flawed though. Not very compelling for the random Joe movie goer, and the film also features a really annoying score. That said, as a sports documentary, the film works, and it works well. Not the best ever (see When We Were Kings), but it's an interesting take on the sports documentary.

Instead of floating heads, which most documentaries give you, you get basically a documentary consisting of a director's commentary, and instead of drawing attention off of the action on screen, it gives you more interest into it.

Not amazing, but a must see for sports fans. That's about all that should see the film.

KOBE DOIN' WORK - 7/10

Go see something good!

TRAILER: The Hangover Red Band Trailer...

Really, is there any thing not awesome about this?



A Las Vegas-set comedy centered around three groomsmen who lose their about-to-be-wed buddy named Doug during their drunken misadventures, then must retrace their steps in order to find him.

The Hangover is directed by comedy veteran Todd Phillips, of Road Trip, Old School, Starsky & Hutch, and School for Scoundrels previously. The screenplay was co-written by writing partners Jon Lucas and Scott Moore, of the comedies Rebound, Full of It, Four Christmases, and the upcoming Ghosts of Girlfriends Past. Warner Brothers is bringing The Hangover to theaters everywhere on June 5th this summer.


Go see something good!

NEWS: Chris Hemsworth is Thor...

Sure, it's a Saturday, but that doesn't mean news is never released.

The biggest chunk of news happens to come out of Marvel's camp, and it has to do with the Norse God himself, Thor.

It looks as though Chris Hemsworth, last seen in Star Trek as Kirks father, will play the title character in Marvel's upcoming adaptation of the hit comic book series, Thor, as well as the 2012 team up, The Avengers.

The final decision came earlier today, says Nikki Finke, and was made by Marvel and director, Kenneth Branagh.

The current project that Hemsworth is working on the Joss Whedon project, Cabin in The Woods, and has also been cast in the upcoming remake of Red Dawn.

The project is being written by Mark Protosevich, and Marvel is self financing it, which is set to be released on June 17th, 2011.

What do YOU think?

Go see something good!

Friday, May 15, 2009

REVIEW: Angels and Demons...


There are many things that intrigue me in this world.

Two of which happen to be religion and a good mystery. Therefore, you can understand why I was excited to see the first adaptation of a Dan Brown film, The DaVinci Code. Then, as many of you did, I saw it. That's all I will allow myself to remember from that viewing.

However, when the first full trailer for the newest Dan Brown adaptation, Angels and Demons, was released, I found myself intrigued once again. Illuminati, a film in and around the Vatican and Rome, and Tom Hanks all could have played into that interest. Now, the film has been released, and while it's better than The DaVinci Code, that's not saying much. It's like saying what's better, spontaneously combusting, or throwing yourself on a bomb.

Angels and Demons brings back Harvard Symbologist Robert Langdon to solve a mystery spanning centuries. When the Vatican discovers evidence of the resurgence of an ancient brotherhood, The Illuminati, who have kidnapped four high level priests. This is at a most inopportune time, as it has only been two weeks after the death of the Pope, and the four priests kidnapped are the high pontiffs. However, that may not be the biggest problem. A tube containing a piece of antimatter has been stolen and placed somewhere in the vicinity of the Vatican, and is set to go off before the day ends. Joining forces with Vittoria Vetra, a stunning Italian scientist, the duo embarks on a nonstop thrill ride into sealed crypts, cathedrals, and the bottom of my toilet as I flush this film out of my memory.

This film is not all flaws however.

The only real star of this film is the setting. I've always wanted to go to Rome, and this film just throws more want onto that fire. Salvatore Totino's cinematography here is stunning. It allows the action on screen to sort of play second fiddle to the setting in which this is all taking place, allowing for a more immersing experience.

This is the newest film from director Ron Howard, and while he does have some great films in his canon (Splash, Cinderella Man, A Beautiful Mind and Frost/Nixon to a lesser extent), this film is not one of his best. Over the years, his direction has become much more self important and really striving for importance within his film. Instead of allowing the action on screen to take place, he puts his hands all over it, and takes your focus off of the things going on in the frame, and places it on what the frame itself is doing. Sure, there are some flashes of greatness, particularly the chases within the catacombs and tight hallways, but they are to few and far between.

The acting is fine, as everyone pulls there weight. Hanks is the true star of the cast, as it really is a joy to see him on screen. He fits the role perfectly, and while some of his scenes are flawed, they are not particularly flawed because of him. The script is far to talky, and not in a good way. It doesn't allow Hanks to use his insane amount of charm and wit, and leaves a cold but intelligent carcass of a man. Ewan McGregor is alright, but a bit miscast, as I think it's to awkward of a role for him. He doesn't really fit, and I think this film would have done better if he was more of a lesser name, such as the role of Vittoria was. Ayelet Zurer was Vittoria, and she was the right bit of intelligent and also innocent, as it is her research "to bring new sources of energy", that instead of making the world better, ultimately killed many people.

The true flaw of this film doesn't come in the acting, the look, or the score (which is haunting by the way), but it's the story itself.

There is a fine line between plausible and implausible, between the suspending of belief and suspending of enjoyment. This film decides to take that line, and throw it to the wolves. It toes the line of implausible and ridiculous, treading both for the majority of the film. Whether it be silly escapes used simply for a laugh, or media outlets falling for a fake reason of a priests death, even though the mans lungs were punctured (you'll see what I mean when you see the film), it is almost laughable.

However, the biggest sin of this film is the potential it had.

This film is a humorless piece of drek, that strives to be weighty and intelligent, and while it does have elements for that, it leaves them for gags and action. There are elements in the film that hints at the possibility of a commentary on the state of religion today, the possibility of coercion between science and faith, and even the corruption of faith in the modern world, that seeing it end as a film so brainless, it just left a sour taste in my mouth.

The best comparison I can make to this film is that it is much more National Treasure than it is Doubt, and while it IS a Summer movie, it also ISN'T interesting.

The film forces the story to be as deep as See Spot Run, and not as deep as what the book this film is based on is. It moves from Point A to Point B at a break neck speed, which doesn't allow for any of these issues, that are even blatantly referenced within the film, sink in. The only thing keeping me interested on the screen and idea of walking out of the theatre is the cinematography. This film is like a model. Stunning to look at, brain melting to try and talk to.

The mystery, while implausible and completely ridiculous, may be more well paced and action packed than the DaVinci Code, the film is flawed on every level. Minus the score and cinematography, this film is full of interesting ideas and hits on none of them. Do not see this film.

ANGELS AND DEMONS - 3/10

After the brilliance of Star Trek, to see a film like this is not only a let down, but a stark reminder that while we get films like Trek and Watchmen, we also get films like this.

Go see something good!

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