NEWS: Princess and The Frog Behind The Scenes Featurettes Sparking Controversy?

On Tuesday, Disney hit the interwebs hard with five, count 'em, five new behind the scenes featurettes for their upcoming return to 2-D animation, the Princess and The Frog. However, one thing that they may not have expected, was the apparent buzz created around these videos, and what seems to be some sketchy views on race, particularly in one new character.

Thanks to /Film for the heads up!

Today, both Movieline and CinemaBlend have questioned the representation offered by Mama Odie, a “fairy godmother” character. Movieline propose that Odie is an offensive stereotype, in the vein of Aunt Jemima; CinemaBlend contest that they don’t see the issue. What side will I come down on?

Having seen the videos, the one I'm least worried about is the one that is sparking all of the controversy. To be honest, I don't think Disney is THAT dumb, to go complete Transformers 2 on us, by throwing in random racial stereotypes. However, if there is a character that is cause for pause, it's Ray. Ray is the most reminiscent to the afformentioned Twins from Transformers Revenge of The Fallen. /Film sums up how I feel about these two controversial characters rather well.

But I’m still only a little worried about Ray. I don’t think Disney are about to make a serious misstep here. They’ve been keeping Song of the South in the vaults for a good while now, scared of the inevitable controversy and stockroom wrecking that its (well deserved, wrongly denied) release might cause. I don’t think they’d be cooking up another film to effectively do damage in its stead. Animation is produced slowly enough, and under enough scrutiny - and in this case, by folks smart enough - that any creeping prejudice would surely be sniffed out. I’m expecting anything that looks stereotypical here to possibly be subverted, or at least contextualized, in the finished film.

I couldn't have said it better. Disney has done this type of thing before, and they are ones to be a little touchy about race. Not only do they have the impossible to find Song Of The South, but along with others, most famously changed a lyric in the opening tune of Aladdin, which the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee found unacceptable. Disney has done this before, but have been quick to either clean it up in post production or just get rid of the character, or in Song of the South's case, the film as a whole.

You can watch all five videos HERE.

What do YOU think about this news? Do you think this is even important, or just something brought up by the interwebs?

Go see something good!

WTF: Really Bay, MORE Of The Pointless Sidekick For Transformers 3??

Not only is the idea of Transformers 3 an idea that makes me want to drown my sorrows with gallon of razors dipped in bleach, but hearing this idea come out of the brainless skull that is Michael Bay's mug, makes me want to shoot that same bleach into my veins. In an interview with Michael Bay over on Hero Complex talking about actor Ramon Rodriguez, they say that "if it plays out as he expects, the next installment would have a more substantial role for Rodriguez.":

"I've worked with big stars, people like Will Smith, Sean Connery and Bruce Willis, but casting is a weird thing, it takes you places you don’t expect," Bay said. "We went looking for a sidekick in this movie, Shia’s sidekick, and we find this new kid who really pops on screen. I think he’s going to have a real bright career. It’s great to work with big stars, but it’s always fun to discover people."

Of all the piles of robotic turds that infested the abortion that was Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen (I'm really just seeing how many metaphors I can fit here, aren't I?), near the top of the list was this very character. Annoying, pointless, and uninteresting, this character just should not exist. Along with the racist duo, these three characters not only made Transformers 2 a horrible film, but easily one of the three worst of the year. Really, none of this is good news.

But there are fans out there. What do YOU all think of this news?

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NEWS: Transformers 2 Grosses $201 Million For Five Days...

That headline is NOT wrong.

Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen grossed an estimated $201.2 million, beating out former number two, Spider-Man 2, in the category of biggest five day domestic gross of all time. The film fell just a few million short of the record holder, The Dark Knight, which had a 5 day gross of $203.8 million. Worldwide, Transformers: RotF has grossed another $181.6 million, bringing the film's worldwide gross to $363.2 million

As /Film points out, this includes 169 IMAX screens, which contributed $14.4 million to the total.

Apparently the film broke all kinds of IMAX records including the biggest single-day gross ($3.9 million) and the biggest five-day gross ($14.4 million). Of course, with IMAX retrofitting more and more digital IMAX theatres each month, these records don’t mean that much

So, all in all, the world is going to shit. Having Transformers: RotF in between Spiderman 2 and Dark Knight is like having a delicious sandwich from Panera Bread or whatever, only to find out that a donkey shit between the pieces of hipster delivered focaccia bread. Just awful news.

Go see something good!

PLAYLIST: Summer is Half Way Gone...

So, this normally a film only blog, but ever so often, I throw in my opinion as to not only what should be your film to go see this weekend, but what should be playing in your car during the drive. That is why I've decided to give you my 10 song playlist to throw in your car as you drive to the theatre. These are 10 tunes that I have been addicted to, and so should you. Enjoy!

1. Cage The Elephant - AIN'T NO REST FOR THE WICKED



2. Matt and Kim - LESSONS LEARNED



3. Miniature Tigers - CANNIBAL QUEEN



4. Bob Dylan - BEYOND HERE LIES NOTHING



5. Major Lazer - HOLD THE LINE



6. The Sounds - NO ONE SLEEPS WHEN I'M AWAKE



7. Grizzly Bear - TWO WEEKS



8. The Very Best - WARM HEART OF AFRICA (FEAT. EZRA KOENIG)



9. Bright Eyes - LOVER I DON'T HAVE TO LOVE



10. White Rabbits - PERCUSSION GUN



Go see something good!

POSTERS: Entire Character Poster Set For 9...

Early this week, a special character poster for Shane Acker's upcoming animated feature, 9, was released, starring, you guessed it, the doll simply named 9. Well, after that hit the web running, it wouldn't take long for the studio to shell out the other 7 posters (2 characters share a poster), all of which are stunning works. All of these posters fit the style and feel of the film perfectly, and below you can see my personal favorite. Tell me you wouldn't want that hanging up in your room! The other's can be seen by clicking the link after the poster.



Click HERE to see the other 7 posters

9 takes place in a world parallel to our own, in which our very humanity is threatened. A group of rag dolls living a post-apocalyptic existence find one of their own, 9, who may be the key to their survival.

9 is both written and directed by visionary filmmaker Shane Acker, of two previous animated shorts The Hangnail and The Astounding Talents of Mr. Grenade. The screenplay was co-written by Acker and Pamela Pettler (Corpse Bride, Monster House). 9 was first an animated short that debuted in 2005 and received an Oscar nomination. Focus Features will be debuting 9 in theaters everywhere starting on September 9th.

Go see something good!

NEWS: Watchmen Director's Cut To Get Theatrical Release...

A very limited one though.

So, if it weren't for the masterpiece that was Pixar's Up, my personal film of the year would have to be Zack Snyder's genius adaptation of the legendary comic series, Watchmen. It was both action packed and chock full of themes, subdued and overt alike. Brilliant acting, direction, style, and one hell of a score, make this easily one of the best films of the year, and one of, if not THE best comic book adaptation ever.

That said, I could ALWAYS go for some more, and it looks like we all may just get that opportunity. Well, if we live in one of the bigger cities in the states. Thanks to Live For Film for the news.

“I can verify that you will get to see the brutal murder of Hollis Mason by a bunch of top-knotted thugs. As with most of the violent scenes in WATCHMEN, Snyder has taken a dozen or so panels from the graphic novel and transformed them into breathtaking cinema. He’s also turned the sequence into a half-clever, half-heartbreaking homage to Raging Bull, with Hollis flashing back to his crime-fighting heyday as the “Intermezzo” from CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA briefly dominates the soundtrack. The music - and his punch-drunk reverie - ends abruptly when the gang’s ringleader busts open Hollis’s skull with his Nite Owl trophy. This is a brilliantly shot-and-edited sequence.”

This new cut will not only be on DVD on July 21st, but it will also play in LA, Dallas, Minneapolis, and New York City for one weekend (a week before San Diego Comic Con). So basically that sucks for people in the mighty mitten, but at least the studio has enough confidence in the film that they would use money to make more prints. That shows that WB really loves this film, which is always good for the inevitable DVD release.

Go see something good!

NEWS: Michael Jackson Jokes Out Of Bruno?

Last night was the official premiere of Sacha Baron Cohen's newest film, Bruno, out in LA, and with that came news out of the Risky Biz Blog, stating that a Michael Jackson-related scene was cut for the screening, showing Universal’s sensitivity to the news of Jackson’s passing.

Uni removed a scene in which Bruno, the flamboyant Austrian journalist played by Sacha Baron Cohen, interviews an unsuspecting LaToya Jackson about a number of topics, including her brother.

Among the gags is a joke about the King of Pop's high-pitched voice, as well as a reference to his trademark white glove, all done in Baron Cohen's characteristically absurdist tone.

It looks like Universal decided to pull the scene after having a few meetings, from which they decided to cut the scene, which had been previously in place for press screenings. The reason behind it, as director Larry Charles said, "We decided to take it out for tonight and we’ll reassess before the release whether to keep it out." So actually, the scene could very well be in the final cut. That said, sources have said, particularly The Guardian, that the scene won't be put in the final release, but probably on the DVD instead. I don't know really what to make of this news, as it does seem as a responsible play by Universal for PR reasons, but the price that they will be forced to pay to trim all of probably 2500 film reels is going to be pretty large. Also, reports are conflicting, so it looks like we will all have to wait until opening night to see what happens.

As /Film points out, the most famous example of a studio pulling something for a film happens to be the much talked about teaser for the first Spiderman film, which sees Spiderman hand a group of bank robbers between the two towers of the World Trade Center. Check out that trailer below, and let me know what you think of this news?



Go see something good!

TRAILER: Amelia...

Not to be outdone, Fox Searchlight, one to always try and get their mid major name in Oscar's golden cap, they have decided to, a day after the Academy announced they were upping the Best Picture nominee count to ten, have released the first trailer for their upcoming Mira Nair directed film, Amelia.

While Amelia Earhart has already been played on screen this year already, I think Swank, like Amy Adams, is a phenomenal actress, so she should do quite stellar in this role. Don't get me wrong, I love Adams and those brown pants she wore in Night at The Museum 2, but I think this is going to be a much more serious look at the historical figure. Joining her are Ewan McGregor, Richard Gere, Virginia Madsen, Joe Anderson, Christopher Eccleston, and Mia Wasikowska. The film looks, at least in this trailer, gorgeous, if albeit a little bit of "Oscar bait." However, I love Mira Nair, and this cast is hard to argue with. What do YOU think? Let me know after you check out the trailer below!



Amelia is directed by Indian filmmaker Mira Nair, of Monsoon Wedding, Vanity Fair, and The Namesake previously. The screenplay was written by Oscar winning writer Ronald Bass, of a great amount of films including Rain Man, When a Man Loves a Woman, Dangerous Minds, Waiting to Exhale, My Best Friend's Wedding, What Dreams May Come, Entrapment, and Mozart and the Whale most recently. This is based on numerous biographies of Amelia Earhart written by authors Susan Butler, Mary Lovell, and Elgen Long. Fox Searchlight will finally be bringing Amelia to limited theaters starting on October 23rd this fall

Go see something good!

REVIEW: Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen...

So, it's here. Finally, Michael Bay's wet dream has landed it's robotic feet in theatres around the US. Based on the legendary series of toy/cartoon series, Transformers first hit the big screen in 2007, and was one of not only the biggest box office monsters, but one of the most divisive amongst the film crowd. There were fans of the film, who defended it as not the deepest films, but a cinematic stepping stone into the future of computer graphics. Then there were the haters, of which I place myself in (the smart group), who saw it as Bay's stepping stone into complete 'splosion masturbation. Would the sequel, one of the most anticipated films of the summer, even by yours truly, see the same controversy? Or would it increase in quality from the crap pile that was Transformers?

T:RotF sees the return of the hated Decepticons to Earth, on a mission to take Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf)prisoner, after our hero learns of the ancient origins of the robotic beings inhabiting the Earth, the Transformers. In the hopes of bringing the final Prime back to life, Megatron returns to bring The Fallen back to his planet, in hopes of taking the last source of power, for his kind, on Earth. To stop them, Optimus Prime and the other Autobots must join forces with international armies for a final battle. Oh, and to make a mediocre film.

The true, and only, stars of this film are the special effects. This film will go down in history as one of the most influential films in the realm of special effects. The Transformers look stunning, and finally, their transformations seem to be seamless. While there are a few hiccups, particularly in the first couple of transformations, the following two hours feature some of the most flawless effects of any action film ever. It's really stunning to look at, and saved this movie from being thrown on the trash heap.

Also, the action scenes between the transformers were well done. Sure, they were confusing, at least in telling which robot was which, but viscerally, they worked, at least for me. The use of slo-mo in these scenes really added a bit as well. These scenes were not only of a higher visual quality, but they were often quite brutal, even when talking about robots. Seeing as how these characters, the Autobots, are the ONLY characters in the film that you have any sort of emotional interest in, seeing them get impaled by a blade, and then blown up by a gun behind the blade, really added a bit, if any, emotional response to the film. On the opposite end, seeing Optimus rip the spine out of Rampage had me pumping my fist in enjoyment.

However, the scenes in between, and everything about them, left me wanting more. Actually, it left me wanting SOMETHING at all.

This film will not only go down as one of the most important for visual effects, along with it's prequel, but it will also go down as one of the most down right bizarre and just awful films of '09.

First, let me go into the obvious point that has had the Internet a buzz. This film is not only bad, but quite racist as well.

This complaint comes in the form of two tiny little Autobots, who join Sam on his final journey, to save a fallen comrade. Their names are Mudflap and Skids, and are some of the most awkwardly written and horrible racial stereotypes on film this year. They talk in hip-hop/jive style lingo, they can't read, and they even have gold teeth. But honestly, it felt like it was just something that THIS film would do.

You know you are in really bad hands when, during a high paced action scene between these robots, is inter cut with two dogs having sex. Yes, Michael Bay, you cut a Transformer action scene with puppy coitus. Happy?

While the action scenes are very impressive, the human scenes, just like in the first film, absolutely killed this film. First, there is the awful script. Written by the awesome duo of Alex Kurtzman and Robert Orci, who also wrote Star Trek and the stellar TV show, Fringe, this film not only gives us Transformers using precious beat down time delving into the world of pointless exposition, but gives us two Jar-Jar Binks like abortions, and also gives us one of the most haplessly written romances I've seen in a long time. Basing a whole romantic arc on saying "I love you", they give us minute after minute of this nearly three hour long film retelling us that we shouldn't really care about what happens between these two, because we aren't going to anyways.

Oh, and the performances don't raise this big budget roll of toilet paper much. Sure, Shia is a great actor, and possibly the only shinning star in this black hole of acting ability, but he completely loses any speed when actually holding a discussion with another living being. Megan Fox is just that, Megan Fox, which is great to look at, but nothing to listen to, and they are joined on their journey by a little sidekick, who throws this film into complete disarray.

Honestly, my post-war tweet really summed up my thoughts:

So, T:RotF sucked, but it was a bit better than the first, but that's kind of like saying I had better sex with a midget than a lawn gnome. More action

Yes, the film is better than the first one. The action is of a superior quality, the score isn't nearly as oppressive, and Shia is really great here. Oh, and the army group that drug the first film into the proverbial mud are rarely used here. However, the film commits more than seven deadly sins. Horrible acting, awful direction, and a brutal screenplay. Oh, and the film is racist too. However, the deadliest sin is this. The film is slow. It's boring in many parts, and just downright bizarre.

Transformers: RotF is an awful film, with little to no emotional relevance, but if only for the action scenes and robot special effects, this film should either be skipped, or seen in theatres. Saved by a final action scene that is brilliantly done (but shit on by a rushed ending, full of Bay's patented exposition), this film is a bad movie, with some stellar effects. Skip, or see it in theatres. Don't wait for DVD for this robotic-splosion-gasm.

TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN 3/10

Go see something good!

NEWS: Academy To Allow 10 Best Picture...

So, outside of a trailer for Cat Ladies, it looks like Hollywood is taking the day off to see Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen. Well, most of Hollywood anyways. All but the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences.

In a shocking piece of news, the Academy has announced that they will now be allowing 10 films to be nominated for it's Best Picture award.

President of the Academy, Sid Ganis, had this to say:

Having 10 Best Picture nominees is going allow Academy voters to recognize and include some of the fantastic movies that often show up in the other Oscar categories, but have been squeezed out of the race for the top prize. I can’t wait to see what that list of ten looks like when the nominees are announced in February.

This, while an interesting decision, comes as a complete ploy to not only sell more films, but sell more views of the awards show, as this will no doubt allow more box office kings to sit on the throne of being a Best Picture nominee. The change will take place with the upcoming Oscars, and is not only a weird and rather random announcement, but in my eyes, quite the unnecessary number. 5 seemed, at least to me, as though it was the perfect number, and sure, some films that were critically acclaimed don't get nominated, but it was always an interesting mix. I hate this news on all levels, UNLESS, the soon announce that Best Animated Feature will be done away with. THAT can redeem this announcement.

What do YOU think about this news?

Go see something good!

NEWS/WTF: Fincher To Direct Facebook Film?

So, about a year ago, world renowned screenwriter Aaron Sorkin announced that he was currently working on a screenplay that would be based around Facebook. Well, now the film has a title, and possibly a phenomenal director to take the helm.

Variety is now reporting that Fight Club/Benjamin Button/Panic Room/Zodiac/Se7en (his best film imho)/The Game director David Fincher is now circling, or in their words, in "advanced talks" to add The Social Network to his canon.

Columbia Pictures is in advanced talks with David Fincher to direct "The Social Network," the Aaron Sorkin-scripted film for Columbia Pictures about the formation of Facebook.

The film will focus on the evolution of Facebook from its 2004 creation on the Harvard campus by sophomore Mark Zuckerberg to a juggernaut with more than 200 million members.

For those interested, the creation that they are talking about goes something like this:

The advent of Facebook came about as a spin-off of a Harvard University version of Hot or Not called Facemash. Mark Zuckerberg, while attending Harvard as a sophomore, concocted Facemash on October 28, 2003. Zuckerberg was blogging about a girl and trying to think of something to do to get her off his mind. According to The Harvard Crimson, Facemash “used photos compiled from the online facebooks of nine Houses, placing two next to each other at a time and asking users to choose the ‘hotter’ person.” To accomplish this, Zuckerberg hacked into the protected areas of Harvard’s computer network and copied the house’s private dormitory ID images. “Perhaps Harvard will squelch it for legal reasons without realizing its value as a venture that could possibly be expanded to other schools (maybe even ones with good-looking people … ),” Zuckerberg wrote in his personal blog. “But one thing is certain, and it’s that I’m a jerk for making this site. Oh well. Someone had to do it eventually … ” The site was quickly forwarded to several campus group list-servers but was shut down a few days later by the Harvard administration. Zuckerberg was charged by the administration with breach of security, violating copyrights and violating individual privacy and faced expulsion, but ultimately the charges were dropped.

After that, he went on to create "thefacebook.com" and from there on, it's all very publicized history.

This news, while interesting, is a bit weird. Personally, I don't see much in the way of cinematic value that would draw Fincher in, and it really doesn't fit his style, at all. He's been known as a darker film maker, as can be seen by his filmography. Even a tale of love that Benjamin Button can be seen as, is, by the directors own admission, a film about death. This also doesn't feature much of a period or style that can feed Fincher's need-to-be-perfect drive. It's really only been about 5 years since the rise of social networking, so it really doesn't fit anything that follows Fincher's style, nor does it warrant this type of super crew that they have, with Sorkin, Fincher, and mega producer Scott Rudin.

Here's my perfect director. Take Steven Soderbergh off of Moneyball, and give him this. Give him a 1-5 million dollar, if even that, budget, and let him go as experimental as the guy wants. THAT is what this film should be like. I'm not saying that Fincher will do a bad job, as I think the film will be amazing, hopefully, with this guys phenomenal direction, but it just seems a bit weird to me.

What about YOU?

Go see something good!

TRAILER: Ponyo...

Is there a better animation director than Hayao Miyazaki?

After the brilliant film that was Spirited Away, Miazaki is back with what has been hyped as "his next masterpiece." The film is called Ponyo, and it looks beyond amazing. It is completely Miyazaki's distinct style, and it looks like he has again hit it out of the ballpark with a phenominal voice cast, as usual. This trailer will be seen before My Sister's Keeper this weekend, and hopefully this will be a big hit. I know it's one that I won't be missing.



Inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale The Little Mermaid, the film tells the story of a baby goldfish named Ponyo (voiced by Noah Cyrus) who desires to be a human, and gets her wish. She runs away from her home in the sea and befriends a five-year-old human boy named Sosuke (Frankie Jonas). Other cast members include Cate Blanchett, Matt Damon, Tina Fey, Cloris Leachman, Liam Neeson, Lily Tomlin and Betty White.

Go see something good!

TRAILER: The Last Airbender Teaser...

So, there may be no bigger fall from grace in modern cinema than that of the career of M. Night Shamalamadingdong. Kicking off a career with The Sixth Sense, THEN adding Unbreakable to that canon, makes his last four films all the more depressingly bad, with the proverbial kick to the crotch that was The Happening. Now we have his adaptation of the HUGELY popular Avatar: The Last Aibender animated series on Nickelodeon, and it looks like all of his eggs are in this bald little basket.

That said, it looks like he may be back, at least based on this short teaser trailer. I personally really enjoy the look of the film, and it looks like there is a lot of mythology behind the story, which is always a plus when talking about a film based around martial arts and ancient/future worlds. The scope looks to be much bigger than anything Shammer has ever done, and hopefully he will step up his game with the step up in scope. All in all, this is an awesome trailer, for what I hope will be an awesome movie. What do YOU think?



Based on the hugely successful Nickelodeon animated TV series, the live-action feature film is set in a world where human civilization is divided into four nations: Water, Earth, Air and Fire.

The Fire Nation is waging a ruthless, oppressive war against the other three nations. The film’s hero, the reluctant young Aang (Noah Ringer), is the “Last Airbender” — the Avatar who, according to prophecy, has the ability to manipulate all of the elements and bring all the nations together.

Aided by a protective teenage Waterbender named Katara (Nicola Peltz) and her bull-headed brother Sokka, Aang proceeds on a perilous journey to restore balance to their war-torn world. Dev Patel plays the Fire Nation’s evil prince Zuko. Exiled from the Fire Nation by his father, Zuko is sent to capture the Avatar in order to restore his honor and right to the throne.

The Last Airbender is being targeted for a July 2nd 2010 release.

Go see something good!

FIRST LOOK: Depp, Bonham Carter, Hathaway, and Lucas in Alice in Wonderland...

Over the weekend, Walt Disney Pictures released the first promotional photos from Tim Burton’s 3D re-imagining of Alice in Wonderland. The photos below are the first official photos of Johnny Depp as a freakish-looking Mad Hatter, Helena Bonham Carter as the Red Queen, and Anne Hathaway as The White Queen, looking very pale. Finally, you have the newest photo released, which hit the web today, of Matt Lucas as -shaped Tweedledee and Tweedledum (Matt Lucas) and more. Enjoy, and let me know what you think!!!




Also released, was some of the much anticipated concept art for the film, which can be seen HERE.

Honestly, I'm not nearly the biggest fan of Tim Burton, or at least his repetitive style, but for Alice In Wonderland, it fits perfectly. I had previously announced my love for this project, in not only the cast, but having Burton take the helm, and while I wish he would stick to original material, but THIS is what Burton was born to do. This and get emo kids to procreate.

What do YOU think?

Go see something good!

TV: True Blood Episode 1 & 2 Review/Wrap Up...

Ahhh, vampires. How you have a horrible cinematic history.

Actually, only recently has the cinematic outings involving the toothy beings have been popular, and the quality has been quite a mixed bag. For every brilliant piece of celluloid like Let The Right One In, we the people get simply mediocre pieces of lard like Twilight. That said, TV really hasn't had an upstanding vampire television show since Buffy: The Vampire Slayer. Well, starting its second season, True Blood looks to add something to the blood sucking canon. And what an addition it is, and will be.

Here's what you need to know.

Based off of the best selling series of novels written by Charlaine Harris, True Blood follows the lives of Sookie Stackhouse (Rogue...uh...Anna Paquin), a mind reading waitress in a small Louisiana town, Bon Temps, who falls for Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer), a 173 year old Vampire who happens to have an eye for Sookie as well. In the first season, along with following these two lovers and their tumultuous relationship, there has also been a rash of murders involving women who have had relations with vampires. This is the main mystery, and it all stems back to women who not only have relations with vampires, but also have had relations with Sookies six packed brother Jason (Ryan Kwanten). Near the end of the season, it is revealed that Rene, a friend of Jason's, is actually a guy named Drew Marshall, who simply had a fake Cajun accent.

Along with the overall plot of season one, they also hint at plots that will play out in the current season, the second of three planned as of this date. Bill, to save Sookie, was forced to turn a young girl, Jessica, into a vampire, and in turn has to have her live with him, as shes "too annoying", for fellow vampire Eric, to care for. Also, while sitting in prison, Jason decides that he should join an anti-vampire movement, the Fellowship of the Sun. Also, for Merlotte's owner Sam, a shape shifter, has a past "friend" return, named Maryanne, whose powers don't become known until this new season.

The last shot of season one involved a dead body, with simply a few painted toenails showing, and Sookie and Tara (Sookies bff, played by Rutina Wesley) screaming. Many people simply thought that was Tara's cousin, Lafayette (Nelsan Ellis), who was also openly gay. However, season 2 picks up at that very second, and to all of our surprise, it was not Lafayette. It was Miss Jeanette, who had performed an "exorcism" for Tara and her mother. Lafayette in turn has been kidnapped by the aforementioned Eric, and in the second episode, is for all accounts and purposes, being turned into a vampire.

Not much has really taken up yet in the season, but what is really nice about the first two episodes, is actually two fold. First, it's really heartening to see that, so far, the writers all seem to really understand where they want this season to go. Then, compared to the lackluster opening to the first season, to see the second season kick off with such a bang really has my hopes high.

A few things HAVE happened in the opening however, particularly in Bill and Sookie's relationship, and Jason and the G.O.D's relationship.

In the opening episode, Sookie discovers that Bill has been living, and will be living with another woman, who is not only younger, but quite the hot piece of ass Jessica. This throws Sookie off the deep end. However, she ends up taking him back, and in the following episode, begins to grow to really enjoy her company. That said, the end of the second episode leaves everything out in the open. Sookie brings Jessica to her families house, who have been on the hunt for her ever since her disappearance/turning. The episode ends with Bill telling Sookie to get the hell out of there, and both Bill and Jessica looking at confronting Jessica's father, who has been revealed to be quite abusive.

The other major storyline gets picked up primarily in the second episode. Jason is in full Jesus kick, and is now attending the Light of Day leadership camp, where he becomes the star pupil. Tara gets a lot more screen time, at least in comparison to the opening of season 1, as she is beginning to have some sort of romantic relationship with fellow "rehab" mate Eggs, and Maryanne has finally come out and shown us what her powers truly are. She "charms" people at Merlotte's Bar, and even charms Sam into turning into his shape shifting form, a Dog, all of which he is unable to control. That is the primary points that all should know, and for more information on the series, if you are interested, you can go to HBO, and actually watch the thing on Sunday nights at 9 pm.

To me, the best thing about this show, and the primary difference between this and its closest relative, Twilight, is both the female lead, and her relationship to the male lead. In Twilight, the female is completely mindless, and no matter the amount of shit she is given, she will still fawn for the guy who would kill her if he had the chance. However, in True Blood, Sookie has a mind of her own, and Bill does as well. Both have a deep love for each other, and they go through fights, just like any couple. If Bella saw Edward living with a sexy piece of ass, she would be all like, I'm down with that, if you would still have me Edward, all in a wide eyed puppy dog face. But instead, Sookie flips her lid, and tells Bill just what she thinks. It's a much easier role and performance to get attached to, and that, in turn, allows for the viewer to get much deeper into the twos relationship as a whole. Moyer is also stellar as the southern gentleman Bill, and really brings a lot of heart into a show that otherwise could play itself out, at least play as some sort of high class smut that HBO has pumped out like Entourage. Without these good performances, the show would be of the same quality of Entourage, just with deeper themes.

Those themes also really add a lot to the show. The biggest theme that the show deals with is gay rights. Vampirism is a play for gay rights, and in the show, it really works, particularly with the new addition of the new Jason storyline, bringing religion into the equation. It may be a bit up front and in your face, but in the second season, it seems to be played pretty straight, and rather subdued. It's most easily comparable to what Bryan Singer did with X-Men and X-2 as to what Brett Ratner did with the drek fest that was X-3. It lets the story breathe, while still playing with these themes, instead of forcing these themes upon the story, as Hackner did in X-3, with the addition of Angel, and other things.

However, to me, the true star of this in the setting. The show takes place in a small town in the deep south, which not only has more than its fair share of religious background and history, but the area also breathes style albeit particularly Gothic. It's a grungy little town with a bunch of distinct characters, and for these people to live in such a stylistically Gothic and rural area, is something much more fresh than the urban landscapes that rule television.

Finally, the opening credits. Can we just have a moment here to mention just how awesome these credits are. In the midst of just a minute and a half, you get an, albeit brief discussion of redemption, all wrapped in this stylish opening, to the tune of Bad Things by Jace Everett. The song oozes sexuality and really matches the shows grungy feeling. It's a raw, twangy tune that is a pitch perfect match for the show. Watch the opening titles below.



All in all, the show may not be the biggest intellectual boost, but it's not just mindless smut like many people have said. It deals with many issues that, while sometimes standard fodder for television, have rarely been done with such an entertaining and raw style, that this show is really a must see. It's a message filled tale of love, wrapped in a Gothic shell, and I personally love every second of it. So will you.

I will be posting my thoughts on True Blood after two new episodes have aired, and they will feature my thoughts on only those new episodes, and season two as a whole. For my thoughts on season one, come back to this post, or check out my previous True Blood discussions by clicking on the True Blood tag below.

Go see something good!

NEWS/WTF: Sony Drops Moneyball...

So, 3 days before production for Moneyball was going to kick off production, Columbia Pictures has taken the option to drop it.

Here's the story. Friday, Sony stated that the project was put into some sort of "limited turnaround", meaning that the they have given Soderbergh, the director, a chance to set it up with another studio, most likely Warner Brothers or Paramount.

As FirstShowing stated, the sudden change came after Sony Co-Chair Amy Pascal received a final draft from Steven Zaillian last week, that was vastly different from the earlier scripts that Pascal had gotten behind. She was uncomfortable in how the director's vision had gone in such a different direction from the former drafts, which led her to her brash decision.

So, it appears that, as no new financier has appeared today, at least to my knowledge, the project has been delayed, at the very least. Variety reports that, if a new financier does not emerge today, Columbia will take a look at all options, which not only includes delaying the film, but possibly replacing Soderbergh, or even dropping the project as a whole.

According to various sources, Pascal was concerned on the marketability over seas, as not only is baseball a fairly unpopular sport overseas (which is a horrible concern, as it's not true), and the film has ONLY a $50 million budget, which includes Brad Pitt's salary. Oh, and Soderbergh was going experimental once again.

This is really awful news. I CAN understand it, as a studio has to make some sort of monetary gain, but to shelve a film for such a silly reason like, "oh, we hired Soderbergh, the guy behind Bubble, to do this baseball movie, we totally expected an Ocean's 11". I love Soderbergh as a film maker, and this is one film that has not only an interesting director, but cast, AND source material, that I really hope this film gets picked up by someone. Here's to hoping!

Go see something good!

TRAILER: World's Greatest Dad...

FINALLY, it's here. With Father's Day being today (happy Father's Day to all dads!), Magnolia has released the first trailer for the much talked about Sundance hit, World's Greatest Dad (actually, it was released on Friday, but I never really got around to writing about it). The one film from the Waterfront Film Festival that I was truly sad to miss, World's Greatest Dad is quite a dark, dark film.

Robin Williams stars as Lance Clayton, a man who has learned to settle. He dreamed of being a rich and famous writer, but has only managed to make it as a high school poetry teacher. His only son Kyle (Daryl Sabara) is an insufferable jackass who won’t give his father the time of day. He is dating Claire (Alexie Gilmore), the school’s adorable art teacher, but she doesn’t want to get serious — or even acknowledge publicly that they are dating.

Then, in the wake of a freak accident, Lance suffers the worst tragedy and greatest opportunity of his life. He is suddenly faced with the possibility of all the fame, fortune and popularity he ever dreamed of, if he can only live with the knowledge of how he got there.

The film is directed by writer/director Bobcat Goldthwait, the world famous comedian. His second film, after the '06 "girl who gave a dog a blowjob" comedy, Sleeping Dogs Lie, World's Greatest Dad stars Robin Williams. I think this could be a huge return for Robin Williams, similar to the way he came back with One Hour Photo. That is a phenomenal film, and he is a revelation in that role. The film looks great, and is one of my ten most anticipated from the rest of the summer.

The film hits theatres on August 21st, 2009.



Go see something good!

PHOTO: Inception Begins Shooting...

This news is a bit straightforward, so all there really is to know is that Christopher Nolan's new film, Inception, has begun filming, and this photograph is proof (Taking Back Sunday reference anyone? No, whatever, moving on). It features (from left to right) Leonardo DiCaprio, Nolan, and Ken Watanabe.



Go see something good!!

REVIEW: The Hurt Locker...

The rush of battle is often a potent and lethal addiction, for war is a drug."
-Chris Hedges

This is the first thing you see when viewing Kathryn Bigelow's new action-thriller, The Hurt Locker. It is a perfect opening card for this phenomenal film.

The Hurt Locker is a portrayal of elite soldiers that, in Iraq, have one of the most dangerous jobs: disarming bombs during combat. One of these soldiers is a new sergeant, James, who is taking over control of a bomb disposal team amidst heated conflict. After the death of Sergeant Matt Thompson, he takes over the team, and surprises his two subordinates, Sanborn and Eldridge, by hurling them, and the viewer, into a deadly game of cat and mouse. This film takes a look at not only the events that this team goes through, but the psychological tole that these events have taken on the men. From being afraid of death, to being indifferent, this film takes a look at three men, and their fight to survive, while staying sane in an insane setting.

The summer movie season has always been known to bring out the biggest action and thrillers out there. This summer has been no different. Terminator 4, Transformers 2, Taking of Pelham 123 are all examples of this.

Well, one that hasn't gotten the same level of hype, at least publicly, is Kathryn Bigelow's film, The Hurt Locker. It's a shame to, as this may be the best yet.

Bigelow may be best known as the woman who has brought us the underrated action film, Point Break, which is a film that I really hold dear to my heart. Bigelow has always had a great eye for action, and this film may be her best film to date.

From the outset, this film is a no hold barred action film, that has edge of your seat thrills. From the opening scene, you are thrust right into the middle of the story. A group of men, in one of the most hostile areas in the world, with the most dangerous job of them all. Not only do these men have to worry about the surroundings that they work in, but their job at hand, disarming bombs, is nothing to shake a stick at.

With each set piece, 4 or 5 to be exact, the level of suspense is amped up, until you get to one of the most tense scenes I've seen in a long time. There is also one scene in particular, a sniper battle, that will haunt you far after the end credits. It's both action packed, and white knuckle tense, and there is not a dull moment during this master's class in war time tension. It's taught, tight, and is similar to a film like Red Eye, in where there is not a single scene wasted. Each scene plays into either the story on screen, or the story in the player's heads.

Not only have we seen a rush of action-thrillers recently, but we also have seen more than our fair share of films based around the Iraq War, with most of them bombing. Rendition was flawed, Lions for Lambs was awful, and Stop-Loss was probably the worst. However, that trend is destroyed with this film. This film not only gives us one of the most taught and suspenseful action films this year, but it also gives us a stark look into one of, if not the most dangerous job on the planet. These men risk their lives on a daily basis, and this film, while being a portrayal of these men, it also takes a really intriguing look at what the idea of losing your life simply doing your job, and what toll that can have on a persons mentality and life. This is much more than a standard action film.

While the action and tension will keep you glued to the screen, it wouldn't be that way without the brilliant cast.

During the film, you follow three soldiers. You have the confident yet reserved Sanborn, played superbly by the always great Anthony Mackie. He is the second in command, yet is much more of the father of the group. He is afraid of dying, and there is one scene between he and Jeremy Renner, who plays the new Sergeant, James, that will leave you heartbroken and wondering why this man isn't a household name yet. Renner is great as well, as he is the opposite of Sanborn and the other crew member, Eldridge played by Brian Geraghty. He is fearless, and a tad bit off his rocker, yet he also has his fears. He is a father, and a husband, and he fears that he may never get to see them again.

Written by Mark Boal, the Hurt Locker is Kathryn Bigelow's newest film. Director of the great Point Break and the less than stellar K-9 The Widowmaker, this film is easily the best in her canon. Along with Barry Ackroyd's cinematography, the two paint a gritty and realistic portrait of these men's lives. It also is aided by the great script from former embedded reporter and Rolling Stone writer, Mark Boal, which gives us a great sense of tension, as well as giving us more than enough great character moments.

That said, the film does have a few flaws.

The main flaw is when the film relies solely on it's character portraits. Particularly in the performance of Renner as Sergeant James, you never completely know what makes each of these people tick. You get hints, like how Sanborn is a bit more conserved because he wants to make it home to have a family, but it's not completely fleshed out, or at least not to the point where it makes total sense. Yes, there is room for ambiguity, but when you have room for more, it leaves the viewer wanting more. Also, the music is a bit overpowering in the film. Not the score, which is almost non existent, but the source music is just a bit mistoned. It fits the characters, but not really my taste, at least for such a tense film.

However, this film is perfect in every other way.

More than an action film, this film can be seen as a top notch character study, about what war can do to people involved in it. Throw these brilliant performances in with the superb direction of Bigelow, and you will have a film you won't soon forget. It works as both a war film, as well as an action film, and is the most brisk, and tense 2 hours you can spend at the theatre this weekend. From the opening scene to the end credits, the pace doesn't slow, and grabs you along for the ride. Please, check this film out.

THE HURT LOCKER - 9/10

Go see something good!

BUZZ: Early Reviews (Or Tweets) Not So Kind To Transformers 2...

So, Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen is simply 5 days away, and some critics stateside have finally gotten a chance to see the hotly anticipated robot beatdowngasm that is the Michael Bay 'splosion fest. But IS it a 'splosion fest, or something wholy different?

It looks as though it may be a bit different than that. At least to a few tweets that have been sent out. Here are a few snippets of some tweets related to the film, as a whole.

devincf (Devin from CHUD.com): Here's the question about this movie: why is it so BORING? why so little action? Why so much slow bullshit?

johncampea (The Movie Blog): Transformers 2 - The "Twins" are the new Jar Jar Binks

However, more interesting than either of these tweets or the fact that it currently has a 38% on Rotten Tomatoes (7% less than the Sandra Bullock vehicle, The Proposal), is the fact that the film could be seen as rascist? Let's go back to these two sources of information...

devincf: Racist robots look like monkeys, speak jive, one has a gold tooth, they can't read.

johncampea: Shocked by how blatantly racist Transformers 2 is.

So not only are people calling the film slow and of a less-than-a-Sandra-Bullock-film quality (quit frakking low), but the film is also racist.

Anyways, I'm still holding out hope for this film, as I did kind of like the first. It's not looking good though, for Bay's robot epic. What do YOU think of this news?

Go see something good!

TRAILER: Zombieland...

So, with the second apocalyptic trailer today, comes Ruben Fleischer's Zombieland (the first full length 2012 trailer was also released today), and I must say, I'm a bit impressed. It looks really funny, with a few, what look to be, great comedic turns from Jesse Eisenberg and Woody Harrelson, and hopefully a great plot involving the wonderful Emma Stone. It doesn't look like anything great (there is a bit of awkward CGI), but I do love where this thing is going. The trailer features a ton of great kills, and while the slo-mo is rather lame, the look and feel of the movie have me quite excited! What about you?



Columbus (Eisenberg) has made a habit of running from what scares him. Tallahassee (Harrelson) doesn't have fears. If he did, he'd kick their ever-living ass. In a world overrun by zombies, these two are perfectly evolved survivors. But now, they're about to stare down the most terrifying prospect of all: each other.

Zombieland is directed by first-time filmmaker Ruben Fleischer of only a few episodes of "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" previously. The screenplay was written by newcomers Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese best known for "The Joe Schmo Show" previously. Sony will be bringing Zombieland to theaters on October 9th this fall.

Go see something good!

VIDEO: Greatest. News Video. Ever.

This is what news stories look like in David Lynch's eyes...



Go see something good!

NEWS: Oldboy Remake DOA?

Well, as of this second, it looks so (and that was the girlsh scream you heard me just yell out of excitement)

Steven Spielberg and Will Smith have been developing (or so news has said) an American remake (of sorts) of the famous and brilliant film, Oldboy, which was the second film of Chan-wook Park's vengence trilogy (with Sympathy for Mr. Vengance, and Sympathy for Lady Vengance as the trilogy's bookends). It was going to be an adaptation of the original Manga by Nobuaki Mingegishi and Garon Tsuchiya, which the afformentione film was also based on.

However, that may have just been thrown in the gutter by Japanese publisher Futabasga. Here's what a report from AnimeNewsNetwork stated:

Futabasha is suing to confirm the lack of a binding contract between the two parties, due to an alleged breach. Futabasha asserts that Show East violated its basic agreement with Futabasha, and thus nullified it, when Show East pushed for the production of a film remake with America’s Universal Pictures. Show East signed its contract with Futabasha over film rights in September of 2002, and signed a second contract in December of 2003 that amended the original one to cover other materials.

If you have not seen the original film, Oldboy, then you have something important to do right now. The film is easily one of the best modern revenge films (possibly the best of all time), and one of the best films period, from the past 10 years. It follows a man, named Dae-Su, who is locked in a room for 15 years without knowing why or who is his captor. He is suddenly released, given money, clothes and a cellphone and is sent on journey for revenge. Really, this movie is something that should not be missed by anyone. Also, tell me this fight scene isn't bad ass.

This is perfect news, and while I do love Speilberg, Smith is NOT someone who should be in this film, and really, Speilberg isn't a director that should be doing this film. It's not a big film, but quite the opposite. It's a stark and disturbing look at revenge, and the films style is equally as intimate and dark. What do YOU think?

Go see something good!

NEWS: Antichrist...The Video Game...

This would be under a WTF category, but I'm actually quite intrigued.

Coming out of Cannes this year, there was no film that was more talked about amongst cinefiles, and in many cases, news outlets, than Lar Von Trier's Antichrist. However, it's not only going to be getting a slow (if by slow you mean probably to two theatres stateside, if that many) release in the coming weeks, it's also going to be getting the film to video game adaptation deal. A post on the video game message board NeoGAF, which leads to a Politiken.dk article (Google translation) announcing its development.

Stated in the above article, writer of Hitman (the game), Morten Iversen will be developing the project, with the help of Zeitguyz (his newly formed company), and Zentropa Eden Games. Trier will have final approval of the design and final outcome.

Here is how /Film described the project:

Eden, as the game will be called, will be a first-person thriller/adventure game that invites players to confront their fears. Willem Dafoe will reportedly reprise his role in voice-over, though the game will not replicate the film, picking up afterward instead. (Not having seen Antichrist, I can’t surmise what that means for Dafoe’s performance.) Iversen says the experience will be “strong and very personal,” “controversial” and that it “…must be your own personal hell - a bit like a nightmare version of ‘Myst’.” First one to help I.D. exactly what ‘Myst’ he means there (the Cirque de Soleil show? seems weird) gets a no-prize. Iversen evidently was interviewed on Danish radio this week; if you heard that broadcast and have more details, let us know

The film sounds insanely interesting, and Von Trier is wan to not only push the envelope but sort of abuse his audience, most of the time for no real intellectual gain. He's not my favorite director ever, but he does have his own distinct style, something that I think is perfect for a world like Myst. The game, while having you confront your fears, will allegedly allow the computer (it's a PC only title) to take in news stories from the real world, and somehow include them into gameplay. It's an ambitious title for a very ambitious film. Hopefully this will break the "shitty game from a movie" formula that has befalled cinema in the past.

Here's the films premise...

A grieving couple retreats to their cabin in the woods, hoping to repair their broken hearts and troubled marriage. But nature takes its course and things go from bad to worse.

That's all that anyone going into the film should know, because honestly, after reading a few spoilers, the movie is the epitome of an "f'ed up" movie. If you would like to read the FULL premise, click here.

Go see something good!

POSTER: Stunning New Inglourious Basterds Poster...

While I do think the "Is A Basterd" posters are quite kick ass, this one takes those and bashes their skulls in with a baseball bat. It's the newest Italian poster for Quentin Tarantino's new film, Inglourious Basterds, and it is one of the best posters so far this year. Hopefully we get a poster like this, or at least similar, for this film stateside, by the time this film hits in August. Am I the only one that thinks this film is going to do BIG?



During World War II, a group of Jewish-American soldiers known as "the Basterds" are chosen to spread fear throughout the Third Reich by scalping and brutally killing Nazis. The Basterds soon cross paths with a French-Jewish teenage girl who runs a movie theater in Paris that is targeted by soldiers.

Inglourious Basterds is both written and directed by the infamous Quentin Tarantino, of everything from Reservoir Dogs to Pulp Fiction to Kill Bill to Death Proof previously. The Weinstein Company and Universal have partnered to bring us Tarantino's WWII masterpiece in all of its brilliant glory. Inglourious Basterds will officially hit theaters worldwide on August 21st later this year after its world premiere at Cannes.

Go see something good!

NEWS: Batman 3 Not a Given With Nolan At The Helm...

This does come as quite a surprise, and not a good one, at least for fans of the Caped Crusader.

IGN is reporting that the rumor mill is a blaze with suggestions that Christopher Nolan's involvement with the inevitable sequel to The Dark Knight may not be 100%.

A trusted industry source for Batman-on-Film claims that it is going to take a herculean effort on the part of Warner Bros. to sell Nolan on doing a third Bat-film, confirming an old rumor that the studio has indeed compiled a short list of replacement candidates. So why is Nolan reportedly iffy on directing the film?

"The death of Heath Ledger in January of 2008 rocked Mr. Nolan hard. So hard that Chris was convinced that TDK was going to be it for him and Batman on film," according to BoF's source, adding that the Joker was envisioned as the villain in the third film.

Their source did also confirm that BoF was indeed correct when they reported that Nolan is currently developing a story for the film with his brother, Jonathan Nolan, and David Goyer, but we are still waiting until at least 2012 until Batman will be in theatres again, and maybe not until 2013.

BoF's source went so far as to say that, as of now, there is no story for Batman 3 though.

Tis is all bad news. Just look at the Spiderman and X-Men franchises for why a third Batman film is bound to dissapoint, particularly in the case of X3, when they also ended up switching directors. This is about as good of news as hearing that you are getting a root canal from a toddler with a katana. Just not something you want to hear as the night ends.

Who do YOU think should take over this franchise? I'm hoping this goes into the hands of Zack Snyder, who is on WB's short list. What about you?

Go see something good!

NEWS/TOP 10: Paste's 25 Most Essential Foreign Films Since 2000 and MY Top 10...

So recently, Paste Magazine (awesome magazing for the indie music/film fan in your life) posted their list for the "Top 25 Foreign Films Since 2000". While it's a really solid list, I do have a few disagreements. Here is their list.

25. Maria Full of Grace
24. Persepolis
23. Volver
22. Let The Right One In
21. Oldboy
20. Gommorah
19. Downfall
18. Paradise Now
17. Yesturday
16. The Class
15. Nobody Knows
14. The Best of Youth
13. Y Tu Mama Tambien
12. Amelie
11. 4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days
10. Cache
9. Amores Perros
8. The Lives of Others
7. In The Mood For Love
6. Spirited Away
5. Talk To Her
4. City of God
3. The Diving Bell and The Butterfly
2. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
1. Pan's Labryinth

While I love the ones on the list I've seen (all but Nobody Knows, Yesterday, and Best of Youth), I have a BIT of a different list, at least a different top 10. Therefore, in my newest edition of TOP 10, here is my list of the 10 essential foreign films since 2000...

10. Howl's Moving Castle/Pan's Labryinth
9. Amorres Perros
8. Let The Right One In
7. Cache
6. Maria Full Of Grace
5. In The Mood For Love
4. City of God
3. Tripletts of Belleville
2. Amelie
1. Oldboy

What are YOUR favorite foreign films?

NEWS: Headlines....

The past couple of days have brought out many huge news stories, many of which I haven't had the chance to report. However, what follows will hopefully change that. Here are the headlines...

- Danny Trejo has told sources that Machete WILL begin shooting soon...how soon? FIVE WEEKS...

- Sources have reported that the remake of the classic anime, Akira, is officially dead...

- Platinum Dunes producers Andrew Form and Brad Fuller talked with a handful of press last week, and dropped a hint that the upcoming Friday the 13th sequel will be set in a snowy landscape...just a TINY bit awesome...

- A brand new rumor has just hit, and the web is a buzz with the possibility that Michael Sheen may be in talks to play Blofeld in Bond 23...

- The BBC has gotten ahold of Shia Labeouf, who happened to tell them that Steven Speilberg is "gearing up" a possible Indiana Jones 5...

- Pursuit of Happyness scribe Steven Conrad has taken over the duty of penning a rewrite of the upcoming Karate Kid remake/reboot...

- Paramount has purchased a pitch from Brian Koppelman and David Levien, Rounders screenwriters, which is reportedly based around online casinos. Oh, and they also have Leonardo DiCaprio starring in the film...

- Reports have been leaked saying that Bekmambatov, director of Wanted, will begin shooting the sequel in fall of this year, and that Fox, Angelina Jolie's character, will be back...

- Be sure to pick THIS up when it gets released in October...

- Lars Von Trier's Antichrist will be released in an unrated cut for it's theatrical release in the UK...hopefully the same can (but won't) be said for the US release...

- CREEPY stuff right here. An Italian woman who arrived late for the Air France plane that crashed, has been killed in a car crash...

- The official website for District 9 is up!

- In an update to last nights Black Swan post, MGM is now reporting that Aronofsky's RoboCop is now aiming for a 2011 release...

- A new photo from the set of Scott Pilgrim vs. The World is up. It features Mary Elizabeth Winstead who play’s Scott’s girlfriend Ramona V. Flowers, and Anna Kendrick who plays Scott’s sister Stacey Pilgrim.


- Finally, a new poster for The Hurt Locker is up. The film is brilliant, and I will post my review of it in a couple of weeks, when it gets its full theatrical release.



Go see something good!

NEWS: Nolan's Inception To Get $200 Million Budget?

It appears so.

Coming off of the MONSTER that was The Dark Knight, Christopher Nolan's next project will not only be another big budget film, but will be roughly 15 million dollars MORE expensive than his 2 1/2 hour superhero epic.

According to The Calgary Sun, Nolan's Inception will be shooting in Canada in the coming months, and not only do the mention a couple of location details, but they also report that the budget will be in the ballpark of 200 million dollars - or closer to $176.5 million if that first amount is actually Canadian dollars. All of this comes with the public knowing NOTHING about the film itself.

The Sun also reports that Inception will be shot in five countries, with most of it's photography being done in Kananaskis, just outside of Calgary.

"Nolan scouted nearby foothills and mountainous areas by helicopter and is said to have chosen Fortress Mountain as the main Alberta location."

The shoot will feature "hundreds, if not thousands, of local film workers starting this summer when construction on the elaborate set is due to begin." Shooting is set to start in November.

The only thing that really anyone knows about the film is that it's a "contemporary sci-fi actioner set within the architecture of the mind." Which, as FirstShowing so eloquently put it, means that no one knows anything about this film. Talk about secrecy. This must have J.J. Abrams freaking out right now, as he is the relative king of cinematic secrecy. I love this news, and I love how under wraps the project is. It's a breathe of fresh air in the current world of being pelted with 30 TV spots a day about Iron Man or Wolverine, showing every scene shot during the films production.

What about you? What do you think about Nolan getting this huge budget?

Go see something good!

EARLY BUZZ: Bruno Gets Its First Review...

So after last nights Paris premiere of Bruno, the first review has been released. The review comes to us from the British paper, The Sun, and along with other things, it mentions that "Hitler gets a mention every five minutes", and that “the pygmy sex scene is one of the most horrific incidents ever committed to celluloid.”

Here's just a snippet from the full review, which can be read here...

“To say Brüno makes uncomfortable viewing is an understatement of Battle of Britain proportions. When I wasn’t giggling like a 14-year-old, I was cowering behind my hands.” … “The character does lose a bit of steam towards the end but the musical climax … is a fitting finale.”

(Thanks to /Film for the heads up)

On a non-review note, the twittoshpere has had a few 140 character reviews posted, with the biggest one coming from the BBC's Jonathan Ross, who tweeted...

“Was very funny. Not as funny as Borat, but funny.”

What do you think of this news? I personally like the fact that it's pushing the limits, even more so than Borat, because if there is one thing I really enjoyed, was how ballsy Borat was. Sure, it's not a good movie, but it does show the awful side of America, and I hope this can kind of push the envelope even more. Plus that trailer is f***ing hilarious.

Go see something good!

NEWS: Portman Joins Aronofsky's Black Swan...

This is a mixed bag of emotions for yours truly.

There are really TWO pieces of news involved with this story. First, the most apparent piece of information:

Natalie Portman has officially signed on for Darren Aronofsky's upcoming project, Black Swan. Black Swan, from what we all know about it (which is little to nothing), is a paranormal thriller set in the world of New York City ballet. THR reports that Portman will play a seasoned ballerina who will reportedly find herself "locked in to a competitive showdown with a rival, with the stakes and twists increasing as the dancers approach a big performance", with the twist being that Portman's character isn't quite sure if her rival is a ghost or something similar, or just that she is seeing things.

That is the best news that I could have clicked on from a link on Twitter. I'm a monster Portman fan, and an even bigger fan of Darren Aronofsky. He has yet to make a bad film, and consistenly makes superb dramas. From Pi to The Wrestler, he has made stellar films, and will certainly make this interesting concept into one hell of a good film. However, it's not quite the film I wanted to see him make.

The other piece of news is that this could very well mean that his much talked about RoboCop reboot for MGM is off the books, or at least being delayed. It looks as though Aronofsky is looking to get this film into production by years end, with Portman certainly sealing the deal for potential studios. While I think the film will be great, I was much more interested in seeing him take a big budget, and doing a film with those kind of resources. Even more so than RoboCop was his take on Noah's Arc, which very well could be one of the most anticipated films to be talked about in a long time. I know it's the most anticipated film in the pipeline for yours truly.

What about YOU? What do you think about this news?

Go see something good!

Portman would play a veteran ballerina who finds herself “locked in to a competitive showdown with a rival dancer, with the stakes and twists increasing as the dancers approach a big performance.” But it isn’t as simple as that — the big twist is that Portman’s character is not sure whether her rival is a supernatural apparition or if she is having delusions.

WATERFRONT FILM FESTIVAL REVIEW: True Adolescents (With Thoughts On True North and Pride of Lions)...

So it was quite the interesting festival this year here in Saugatuck.

The 11th Annual Waterfront Film Festival not only brought to the shores of Saugatuck many new Midwest and in some cases US Premieres, but the quality of these films was shockingly high. I got a chance to see five films, and of those five, two stand out as not only the best, but possibly two of the better films I've seen all year. First, there was the second film I reviewed this past weekend, Peter and Vandy. Well, the final film I got to see on the final day of the festival will now join that film near the top 20 of the best films I've seen this year. That film is the new indie soon to be hit, True Adolescents.

Premiering at this past years SXSW Film Festival, True Adolescents is director Craig Jonshon's first feature film and stars Mark Duplass (who also co-starred in the WFFF premiere, Humpday) as Sam, a washed-up musician who is jobless and inevitably homeless. He then moves in with his aunt (Melissa Leo), who asks him to simply take her son on a camping trip with a friend of his. However, what ends up happening is much more of a journey than either of the kids or Sam could have imagined.

Coming into this film, I had previously seen the film True North and the documentary Pride of Lions (both of which I will talk about in a minute) and while the latter was quite good, True North did not kick start the day the way I had hoped. However, nothing could have ended the day better than this film.

The one thing that sold this film, and will hopefully make this film a hit, is the relationship between the main lead, Sam, and the two teens. They are just growing up, and this camping trip not only strains their maturity, but it also strains their relationship with Sam, and Sam's maturity as well. It's a coming of age tale, and while it may come off as a bit cliche, it is enhanced by three really great performances, spear-headed by Duplass.

Speaking of Duplass, this performance is something I hope everyone will take in sometime soon, because it's a special comedic turn. He plays an aging rocker who really can't handle the fact that he isn't a big name artist, and he sells this role perfectly. He's the right combination of charming, and yet lethargic that the role is perfect for him. He has superb comedic timing, and truly hits every note.

So does the supporting cast. Melissa Leo is the biggest name actor in the film, after her recent Oscar nomination for Frozen River, and is great here. She is fed up with her nephew, and yet still loves him. Shes compassionate, and is a really nice addition to this film. The two teens are also equally as good, and completely sell the idea that they are growing up and not quite sure about a lot of things in their lives. However, all of these performances couldn't be there is the script wasn't as strong as it really is. It's Johnson's first screenplay, and is really a fresh take on the coming of age story. It does have its cliches, but for a film to take a rather simplistic plot, and infuse it with so much heart and passion, really gives the film a lot of depth that others of its ilk would not have.

The film also has a very interesting visual style. While it is a low key take, a very indie style dramady, but it still has a great style. It's not a cinematic style of film, but it's much more intimate and engrossing than many other films out right now. It allows the story to breathe in its own world, while still planting the viewer right in the middle of the aforementioned story. The film also features a SUPERB soundtrack, rivaling any released this year. It really adds a lot to the film, and in some instances (like a specific scene involving a deal made between Sam and his aunt's son) gives you a stark sense of growth and development within the characters, something that most big budget films horribly miss.

Sure, the film has some flaws, like a hit or miss set of jokes throughout the film, a lagging first act, and a bit of a cliche plot and final payoff, but it will be a film that you won't be able to forget. It's easily one of the better comedies of this year, and along with Peter and Vandy, make this past Waterfront Film Festival one of the better ones of it's history.

TRUE ADOLESCENTS - 8/10

Now onto something COMPLETELY different, the horrible piece of drek that was True North.

It's been a pretty long time since I dug into a movie for it's sheer lack of quality, so it's probably overdue. True North is not the worst film I've seen all year, but what is wrong with the film, IS the worst I've seen all year.

True North tells the story of a crew of a Scottish trawler, who are on the edge, at least monetarily. The Skipper is bankrupt, and close to losing his ship to the bank. However, to make things better, the Skipper's son, Sean, takes on a group of Chinese illegal immigrants to Scotland, for quite the sum of money. His friend and crew mate Riley helps him out, and as they go on their trip, tides turn, and the scheme hits many bumps. Left out of the stored group is a young Chinese teen hides in the engine room. This also adds to the drama, and in many ways adds to the schlockiness of the film.

The movie does have a few highlights. First, Peter Mullin as Riley is phenomenal. He brings a lot of heart to this rather dreary and depressing story, and brings in a lot of breaths for the audience. Also, the visual style of this film is quite stunning. It's a dark tale, and the cinematography and direction really add depth to the film. It's a film primarily set on the open sea, and the look of the film is quite smooth and fluid.

However, the film is two separate movies, smashed together, with the outcome being the worst half.

The main flaw of this film is that it doesn't quite know what it wants to be. You have a very awkwardly shot, written, and paced opening that plays more like a dramadey than a film based around smuggling humans into a country. You have characters instead of full fledged humans being portrayed on screen, and the notes that it hits sounds like an out of tune flute. Grating and ear destroying, the film really fell flat in these important opening moments.

Then the ship takes on their new cargo, and the film switches gears. While it's an interesting look at what goes on when people do this, it doesn't wholly work. It is a lot more intriguing and engaging, as the roles, particularly that of Sean (which was the worst part of the opening of this film), become more fleshed out, but it is completely undone by the supporting cast, and particularly the score. Every heart turning scene is set to the sound of the most bombastic and thematic style of score that seemed to come out of Indiana Jones instead of an intimate and stark indie drama. It does the film no service, and while it does increase in quality exponentially during these moments, it still can't commit to being a good film completely.

While the film does have what can be called a third of a good film in it's whole, it doesn't amount for something you should strive to see. It's something that, if it's on TV or at your local rental shop, I will tell you that you should watch it, just so you can get as angry as I am.

TRUE NORTH - 3/10

Finally, I saw the documentary Pride of Lions, and it is a PHENOMENAL documentary. However, the story is quite deep, so I will simply point you to it's official website. Please, if you get a chance, see this film

PRIDE OF LIONS - 7/10

Thanks again to everyone at the Waterfront Film Festival, Jason Ritter, and all of the film makers who brought their films to the festival. Can't wait until next year!

Go see something good!

WATERFRONT FILM FEST EXCLUSIVE: A Few Minutes With Jason Ritter...

So, as many of you may know, I absolutely ADORE Peter and Vandy. It's a stellar film, with a great visual style, set around a realistic and very intriguing story. However, all would be for naught if the cast wasn't up to par.

Lead by two great lead performances by Jess Weixler and Jason Ritter, the film is not only an entertaining film, but a look into what a relationship does to each partner and the turmoil that a relationship can cause.

After a documentary called Pride Of Lions today, I had the chance to sit down with the aforementioned Jason Ritter for a few minutes. It was a bit of an impromptu interview (I was sitting probably two rows behind him during the film and decided to see if he would let me ask him a few questions) and I must say, he is one of the nicest guys I've met, and I hope the following is interesting for all of you. Enjoy.


ME: First, I would like to say that I loved Peter and Vandy. It was a really great film

JASON RITTER (JR): Thanks man, that means a lot.

ME: Your character, Peter, seemed very real and down to earth. Did you have any past experiences or current experiences that you were able to draw from?

JR: Well, I've been in a relationship for a long time now, and I think that as the relationship grows, you begin to confront the very worst parts of you. The script seemed extremely real to me, and I guess that is what drew me to it. It brought up the fact that as a relationship grows, different kinds of love also grow. You let the other person see the ugliest side of you, and if you come out of that, the person will truly love you for who you are. I think that everyone can somehow relate to this, and I was able to draw a lot from my experiences, which made the film a whole lot more real to me.

ME: What has the experience been like making this film?

JR: It was a very intense shoot. The film was shot in 18 days, with 3 days of rehersals before hand. The film is based on a play, and Jay's (Jay DiPietro, writer/director of Peter and Vandy) writing was amazing, and very specific. It got to the core of how people truly talk, in things like half sentences, stutters, and broken sentences. Me and Jess (Weixler, his co-star) ended up running lines all night long, and we had previously not worked with each other. This allowed us to get to know each other in a similar way that our characters did. We got to meet, flirt, and inevitable get ugly, which really let us put us into the film.

ME: How was it working with Jess Weixler?

JR: She's incredible. She's really receptive, and unlike most actresses who seem to just read lines, she looks directly at you when speaking, which allows me to get a lot more comfortable. We were both scared at the beginning, knowing that the movie depended on our chemistry and our performances, but she was someone who I could play with, which let me open up more. She's just not only an incredible actress, but an incredible person too.

ME: Well thanks for letting me ask you a few questions, and I would like to say again that I really loved the film, and I can't wait to see it again.

JR: Thanks man, we put a lot into it, and it's nice to hear people enjoy it. Thanks.

Hopefully that was interesting for you all, as it's easily one of the coolest things I've gotten to do as a film blogger. I would like to thank Jason Ritter for letting me bug him with a few of my questions, and hopefully you all will get a chance to check out Peter And Vandy, as it's a film that should not be missed. You will hear much more about this film as the weeks pass.

Go see something good!