Screening next month at the Toronto Film Festival is the Mandarin language film from Wu Ershan titled The Butcher, The Chef and The Swordsman (Doug Liman has come aboard as presenter).
The Butcher, The Chef and The Swordsman is a highly stylized action-comedy about revenge and greed, following a group of misfits who get involved with a mystical kitchen cleaver made from the five greatest swords of the martial arts world.
No official release date yet, but we'll keep you posted.
Barney's Version is an indie dramedy starring Paul Giamatti, Dustin Hoffman, Bruce Greenwood, Rosamund Pike, Minnie Driver, Rachelle Lefevre, Scott Speedman and Saul Rubinek. The film is adapted from Richard J. Lewis bestseller of the same name.
The synopsis for the book goes something like this-
Even Barney Penofsky’s friends tend to agree that he is a wife-abuser, an intellectual fraud, a purveyor of pap, a violent drunk, and probably a murderer. But when his sworn enemy threatens to publish this calumny, Barney is driven to write his own memoirs, selecting and plagiarizing his life.
Look for Barney's Version in select theaters September 15th.
I know we're all sick of vampires by now, but this rock and roll-vampire-comedy looks like it could become an instant cult classic. The films features appearances by Alice Cooper, Henry Rollins, Moby, and Iggy Pop.
Nice Guy Johnny is the forthcoming indie film from Edward Burns. The film is about a mid 20′s guy who considers giving up the pursuit of his dream job due to pressures from his over bearing fiance. Naturally, he meets a beautiful girl that begins to change his life. The film stars Matt Bush and Kerry Bishe...oh and of course Burns cast himself.
Look for Nice Guy Johnny in select theaters October 26th.
A US trailer for A Simple Noodle Story (or A Girl, A Gun and a Noodleshop) is indeed a remake of the Coen Brothers neo-noir classic. Director Zhang Yimou adds his flashy wuxia touch (a la his other films Hero or House of Flying Daggers). Even though the plot is licensed from the Coen Brothers the tone is overwhelmed by a feverish pitch of swirling colors and humor. I bet the Coens are were scratching their heads when they saw the trailer for the first time.
A Simple Noodle Story is scheduled for a limited September 3rd release, but I would keep an eye out for this via Netflix.
My Dog Tulip is a bittersweet retrospective account of a man who rescues a German shepard and how the two become fast friends. The film features the voices of Christopher Plummer, Lynn Redgrave, and Isabella Rossellini
No official release date just yet, but when we know more so will you.
The first trailer for Vanishing on 7th Street recently went up online. This is the new film from The Machinist director Brad Anderson about a group of people who wake up to find everyone dead, except for a small group that bands together in a dimly-lit tavern on 7th Street, struggling to survive. The film stars stars Hayden Christensen, Thandie Newton and John Leguizamo.
No official release date just yet, but when we know more so will you.
View the new trailer here or watch the original trailer right here...
Indie film Wah Do Dem will be available on DVD October 26th from Factory 25. The film stars musicians Sean Bones & Norah Jones, and is directed by Sam Fleischner & Ben Chacethrough.
The story follows Brooklyn musician Max (Sean Bones), who is all set to take his girlfriend (played by Norah Jones) on a Carribean cruise until she dumps him just days before. When his friends flake, the determined Max decides to set sail solo, where, after docking in Jamaica, having all his personal possessions stolen and literally missing the boat, he embarks on a philosophical journey with surprises lurking around every corner. The reggae-infused odyssey features music and appearances by MGMT, Santigold, Sean Bones, The Congos, Yeasayer, and more.
View the new trailer here or watch the original trailer right here...
IFC Films has just debuted the official US release of Gaspar Noé's Enter the Void, a drug-trip film about a brother and sister living in Japan. The brother is killed in a run in with the cops and the POV camera floats around the city following the aftermath, getting trippier by the minute.
Look for Enter the Void in select theaters September 24th.
View the new trailer here or watch the foreign trailer right here...
Magnet has just debuted a second trailer for Gareth Edwards' incredible low-budget alien sci-fi film Monsters. Early reviews suggest that the film is actually the story about two people, and what they go through.
Look for Monsters in select theaters October 29th.
View the new trailer here or watch the original trailer right here...
Paul Haggis' (Crash) forthcoming drama The Next Three Days stars Russell Crowe and Elizabeth Banks as a married couple that go through hell when she is accused of murder. Liam Neeson and Olivia Wilde, the RZA, and Brian Dennehy also star.
Look for The Next Three Days in theaters November 19th.
This thriller is based on a true story about a teenager who is kidnapped along with his older sister. They are forced to do something deeply traumatic together then released to figure out how to reconstruct their lives and relationship. The film stars Dario Yazbek Bernal (brother of Gael Garcia Bernal) and Marimar Vega.
Look for Daniel y Ana in select theaters August 27th.
Barry Munday is a dark comedy about a man that wakes up after being attacked only to realize that he's missing his family jewels. To make matters worse, he learns he's facing a paternity lawsuit filed by a woman he can't remember having sex with.
The film stars: Patrick Wilson, Judy Greer, and Chloë Sevigny.
Look for Barry Munday in select theaters October 1st.
This is the story of a young couple moves into an old schoolhouse on a desolate stretch of farm country, when a dark chain of events unfold that will alter the lives of everyone around them.
Look for The Afterlight in select theaters September 10th.
Colin Fitz Lives! is a 1997 Independent film directed by Robert Bella. The film received many film festival awards, however it was never released to theatres. In August 2010, IFC Films released a newly remastered version of the film as part of its Video On Demand
This film has just released via Video On Demand (Aug. 4th).
View the trailer (and see how many faces you recognize) right here
A US trailer for French director Pascal Chaumeil's new film Heartbreaker starring Romain Duris and Vanessa Paradis (Johnny Depp's ladyfriend) has surfaced online. It's a romantic comedy (lord knows it's so hard to do a good one), but this looks like it might be some fun.
Look for Heartbreaker in select theaters September 10th.
The Bang Bang Club is an action-drama based on the true story of four combat photographers in South Africa shooting the final days of apartheid. The film stars Ryan Phillippe, Taylor Kitsch, Malin Akerman, and Frank Rautenbach.
This film will be looking for a distributor at the Toronto Film Festival. When we know more so will you.
A teaser trailer for Guillermo del Toro and Troy Nixey's horror remake of the seventies classic Don't Be Afraid of the Dark recently popped up online. The film stars: Guy Pearce, Katie Holmes, and Bailee Madison.
Look for Don't Be Afraid of the Dark in theaters January 1st 2011.
David Schwimmer's next directorial effort stars Clive Owen, Catherine Keener and Viola Davis.
In the drama Owen and Keener are the parents to a 14 year old (newcomer Liana Liberato) who is assaulted and then stalked by a man who posed as a teenage boy online to lure her in. The script was penned by Andy Bellin and Robert Festinger, the latter of whom seems to be working in the same tone as In the Bedroom, which he co-wrote.
Based on the comic book series created by Steve Niles, who also co-wrote the script, Dark Days sees Stella Oleson (Kiele Sanchez replacing Melissa George) returning to her home in Los Angeles, a bitter and scarred women following the harrowing ordeal in Barrow, Alaska, that claimed the life of her estranged husband, Eben. Oleson begins lecturing about the existence of vampires in the hopes of drawing the blood-suckers out into the open and discovers that there are others who share her desire to destroy all vampires.
Each year in China more than 130 million migrant workers travel home for the New Year's holiday—the one time they’ll reunite with family all year. The mass exodus constitutes the world’s largest human migration. Amid this chaos, director Lixin Fan focuses on one couple, Changhua and Sugin Zhang, who embark upon a two-day journey to see their children.
Last Train Home is the first documentary from Chinese-Canadian director Lixin Fan. Look for it in select theaters September 3rd.
AMC premiered an exclusive trailer for the small screen adaptation of The Walking Dead at Comic Con.
Based off the graphic novel of the same name, the story opens with a police roadblock and shootout that leaves deputy Rick Grimes hospitalized. When he wakes up, the hospital and city are deserted (28 Days Later style), his family is missing, and he learns that zombies have overrun Atlana.
Director Frank Darabont also hinted that they may try to get some well-known horror directors for season two.
So, I was at this little thing called Comic Con over the weekend and I thought the announcement of the cast of The Avengers was a great place to start mentioning some of the cool stuff that went down. Below is a link to the panel, which introduced the cast: Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man), Clark Gregg (S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Phil Coulson) Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Chris Evans (Captain America), Samuel L. Jackson (Nick Fury), Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye) and Mark Ruffalo (replacing Edward Norton as The Hulk).
Writer/director Arvin Chen Kai has picked up some festival awards for his independent film Au Revoir Taipei. The film revolves around Kai and Susie who are in the pre-romantic stage of a relationship. As well as the exploits of Brother Bao, a gangster who longs to retire, and his incompetent nephew, who wants to rip his uncle off to prove his manhood.
No US release date just yet, but when we know more so will you.
Udaan is an interesting film that revolves around around teenager (Rohan). After being in a boarding school for eight years, Rohan returns to the small industrial town of Jamshedpur (in Jharkhand) and finds himself living with an authoritarian father and a half brother who he didn’t know existed.
Forced to work in his father’s steel factory and study engineering against his wishes, he strikes to forge his own life out of his given circumstances and pursue his dream of being a writer.
Many think that Christopher Nolan's big break-out film Memento was his first, however it was actually a super low-budget black & white indie film called Following. Based on the recent success of all of Nolan's movies, IFC Films has decided to re-release Following in theaters and on-demand to give audiences and fans of Chris Nolan the opportunity to see a film that most have probably never seen.
Following is currently playing on demand via IFC In Theaters, so check your local listings.
View the trailer right here...
{You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger}
Sony Pictures Classics just debuted the official US trailer for Woody Allen's forthcoming film You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger. The quirky comedy stars: Josh Brolin, Naomi Watts, Freida Pinto, Anthony Hopkins, Antonio Banderas, Gemma Jones, Lucy Punch and Ewen Bremner.
You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger will release in select theaters September 22nd.
Oh, wait a minute...a full trailer for The Social Network recently popped up online! The film is a story about the founders of the social-networking website, Facebook. It should come as no surprise that the film is not allowed to advertise on Facebook, seeing as co-founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg is likely portrayed in a less than flattering light (other posters for the film have the tag line ”You don’t get to 500 million friends without making a few enemies”).
David Fincher directs, Jesse Eisenberg and Justin Timberlake star.
Look for The Social Network in select theaters October 1st.
Starring James Franco as Allen Ginsberg, Howl is the story of how the young poet’s seminal work broke down societal barriers in the face of an infamous public obscenity trial. In his famously confessional style, Ginsberg – poet, counter-culture icon, and chronicler of the Beat Generation – recounts the road trips, love affairs, and search for personal liberation that led to Howl, the most timeless work of his career. The film interweaves three stories: the unfolding of the landmark 1957 obscenity trial; an imaginative animated ride through the prophetic masterpiece; and a unique portrait of a man who found new ways to express himself, and in doing so, changed his own life and galvanized a generation.
Howl is written and directed by Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman and stars James Franco, David Strathairn, Jon Hamm, Bob Balaban, Alessandro Nivola, Treat Williams, with Mary-Louise Parker and Jeff Daniels.
Howl opens in New York and San Francisco on September 24th and
in Los Angeles on October 1st.
I just got a release date for Werner Herzog and David Lynch's psychological thriller starring Michael Shannon, Chloë Sevigny, and Willem Dafoe. The feature will be available on DVD with Special Features on September 14th.
Inspired by a true story, My Son opens in a a typical middle-class neighborhood in San Diego. The suspect has barricaded himself inside a home and appears to have taken hostages.
Then, in a series of flashbacks, the bizarre story of Brad Macallam begins to emerge. After an ill-fated kayaking trip in a distant land, Brad finds readjustment to suburban life increasingly difficult. As his disaffection grows and his relations with those around him become strained. The detectives try to penetrate the mystery of his story, but the questions only multiply as Brad's unfolding personal and family drama leads to an obsession with an ancient Sophocles play that finally drives him to murder.
I just got a link for the trailer of the upcoming dramedy It's Kind Of A Funny Story. The film is about a teenager who checks himself into a mental health clinic and learns that the youth ward is closed – and finds himself stuck in the adult ward. He forms a friendship with one of the patients, and is drawn to another 16-year-old.
The film is directed by Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden (Half-Nelson) and stars Keir Gilchrist, Zach Galifianakis, Emma Roberts, Viola Davis, and Jim Gaffigan.
Look for It's Kind of A Funny Story in select theaters September 24th.
This documentary looks at three beautiful islands, shaken by climate change: Tuvalu in the South Pacific, Venice in Italy, and Shishmaref in Alaska. The islands all have different climates and cultures, but the people all love their native lands.
It portrays festivals that foster ties among the people, traditional crafts which have been passed on for generations, and peaceful lives by the water. They are all disappearing by climate change. When these people lose their homelands, their cultures and histories face “death.” Their lives in the midst of all the changes suggest where our future leads. I read that director, Kana Tomoko purposely decided not to put any narration or music in this film because she really wanted the viewer to feel what we are going to lose as climate change really (threatens) hits our planet.
Beautiful Islands is currently screening in select theaters.
A second teaser trailer for The Social Network recently popped up online! The film is a story about the founders of the social-networking website, Facebook. It should come as no surprise that the film is not allowed to advertise on Facebook, seeing as co-founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg is likely portrayed in a less than flattering light (other posters for the film have the tag line ”You don’t get to 500 million friends without making a few enemies”).
David Fincher directs, Jesse Eisenberg and Justin Timberlake star.
Look for The Social Network in select theaters October 1st.
View the second teaser trailer Here or right here...
This independent film is about a U.S. soldier returning home from war, struggling to reconcile his experiences abroad with the life and family in Texas.
The film stars America Ferrera, Melissa Leo, Wilmer Valderrama, and Jason Ritter
Look for The Dry Land in select theaters July 30th.
This is an interesting thriller with a story that revolves around French intelligence that alerts the U.S. about a Soviet spy operation during the height of the Cold War, which sets off an unfortunate chain of events.
Farewell is from French director Christian Carion an stars Emir Kusturica, Willem Dafoe, Fred Ward, Diane Kruger ("Inglourious Basterds") and David Soul of "Starsky & Hutch" fame.
The trailer for The American looks intriguing. I like that it hardly utilizes Clooney as the main draw, instead focusing on story, character and the complexities surrounding him. Director Anton Corbijn, an acclaimed music video director of videos (from Depeche Mode, Joy Division, Echo & The Bunnymen, Nirvana, Nick Cave and more) looks to be creating a kind of foreign film in its tone and look.
The story focuses on a loner assassin who is a master of his craft. But when a job in Sweden goes awry, he vows his next target will be his last. Of course, nothing is ever that simple, or it wouldn’t be a movie.
Look for The American in select theaters September 1st.
Now for some good fluff. Finding Bliss tells the story of Jody, unemployed after a year, and faced with the hard decision of taking the only well-paying industry job she can get – editing porn at Grind Productions, a profitable adult film company.
Fining Bliss is currently screening in select theaters.
Based on the acclaimed novel from Kazuo Ishiguro's hauntingly poignant and emotional story of Kathy (Carey Mulligan), Tommy (Andrew Garfield) and Ruth (Keira Knightley), who live in a world and a time that feel familiar to us, but are not quite like anything we know. They spend their childhood at Hailsham, a seemingly idyllic English boarding school. When they leave the shelter of the school and the terrible truth of their fate is revealed to them, they must also confront the deep feelings of love, jealousy and betrayal that threaten to pull them apart
Look for Never Let Me Go in select theaters October 1st.
Conviction is the true story of Kenny (Sam Rockwell), arrested for murder and sentenced to life in prison, and his sister (Hilary Swank) who dedicates her life to overturning the murder conviction.
Sofia Coppola has just unveiled a teaser trailer for her forthcoming Focus Feature film Somewhere.
The film stars Stephen Dorff as an actor in Los Angeles, who lives at the Chateau Marmont, and finds himself having to take care of his young daughter (Elle Fanning). Fanning has certainly come of age, but Dorff looks spot-on as a tired and disillusioned actor.
I got a trailer for this film that will be making it's premiere during this weekends LA Film Festival.
The Wheeler Boys is a bittersweet coming-of-age story of respect won and lost and the truth behind illusions. Smart, awkward high school freshman Ted, nicknamed Bug, (LORENZO JAMES HENRIE) lives with his abusive, paralyzed father Ron (BILLY CAMPBELL) and his older brother Truck (ALEX FROST). Truck and his friends call themselves “The Kings” – high school royalty – and Ted, seeking a connection to his idolized brother, soon becomes initiated into their world.
Netflix will stream The Wheeler Boys online simultaneously during the film’s world premiere at the Los Angeles Film Festival. Anyone in America can stream the film on Netflix for members and non-members alike, free for 48 hours starting at 8:00pm PT on Friday, June 25 and ending at 8:00pm PT on Sunday, June 27, by visiting www.netflix.com/findyourvoice.
The Father of My Children (Le père de mes enfants) is a French drama about a family in debt and one's inner struggles. The film is directed by Mia Hansen-Løve and won the Jury Special Prize at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival.
Look for The Father of My Children in select theaters May 28th.
Let the viral sites for Chris Nolan's Inception begin!
Wired magazine was recently sent an operations manual for something called the Dream-Share. The manual contains multiple pages for various "tactical employment procedures", however all the written text has been blacked out. When it's done, we are directed to the PASIV Device Instructions site.
French director Jean-Pierre Jeunet (Amelie) returns with a quirky new film, in which a gang of Parisian friends plot to bring down two weapons-manufacturing companies,
A red band trailer for [REC] 2 recently popped up online.
The story picks up 15 minutes from where we left off, taking us back into the quarantined apartment building where a terrifying virus has run rampant, turning the occupants into mindlessly violent, raging beasts. A heavily armed SWAT team and a mysterious government official are sent in to assess and attempt to neutralize the situation. Above all it must be contained, before it escapes to wreak havoc on the unsuspecting world outside.
[REC] 2 will be available on VOD June 4 and in select theaters July 9th.
I recently received the trailer for the real life drama (starring Helen Mirren and Joe Pesci) Love Ranch.
The film is the story of a brothel owning couple who acquire a prize boxer in the 1970’s. Spanish actor Sergio Peris-Mencheta makes his English language debut as the boxer who seduces Mirren. Love Ranch also features Gina Gershon, Bai Ling, and Taryn Manning.
The Thai film (from Apichatpong Weerasethakul) Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives won the coveted Golden Palm at the 63rd Cannes Film Festival.
The story revolves around Uncle Boonmee (Thanapat Salsaymar), who is suffering from acute liver failure and has decided to spend his last days in the Thai countryside, surrounded by his loved ones. To his surprise, he is visited by the ghost of his dead wife (Natthakarn Aphaiwonk) and also his long lost son, who returns home in a non-human form – that of a man-sized hairy animal with blazing red eyes.
Sounds a little strange, but I can't imagine this film winning top honors at Cannes without being a superb film. There is no US release date just yet, but I'm sure a date will be announced shortly.
A few weeks back I got a screeners copy (along with a huge stack of production notes) for Holy Rollers and I accidentally buried it under a pile of magazines, only to be found over the weekend. Thank god I did, I highly recommend this one!
Holy Rollers is inspired by actual events in the late nineties when Hasidic Jews were recruited as mules to smuggle ecstasy from Europe into the United States. Sam Gold (Jesse Eisenberg), a young Hasid from an Orthodox Brooklyn community reluctantly follows the path his family has chosen for him, awaiting a pending arranged marriage and studying to become a Rabbi, when a neighbor approaches him about a job.
The film stars: Jesse Eisenberg, Justin Bartha, Ari Graynor, Danny A. Abeckaser, Q-Tip, Elizabeth Marvel, and Jason Fuchs. Holy Rollers is now playing in select theaters.
In/Significant Others is a multi–narrative drama that navigates through the different lives of one city’s residents, each of whom is connected to the same local homicide investigation.
The story lines include an emotionally disturbed wife, a new father living in the shadow of a successful younger brother, a sister caught up in a web of addiction, and a cameraman who attempts to exploit the reality behind all of their stories, or at least his version of them. The search for truth becomes a life and death struggle as the subtle manipulation of all relationships is exposed.
The film is currently screening in select theaters.
Got a trailer for Fox Searchlight's forthcoming film Cyrus. The film is about a a man who's life at a standstill as his ex-wife is about to get remarried. The down on his luck divorcee finally meets the woman of his dreams, only to discover she has another man in her life – her son. Written and directed by Jay and Mark Duplass, the filmmaking team behind Sundance Film Festival favorite The Puffy Chair, Cyrus takes an insightful and funny look at love and family in contemporary Los Angeles.
The film stars: John C. Reilly, Marisa Tomei, Jonah Hill, and Katherine Keener.Look for the film in select theaters June 18th.
A newTrailer for Christopher Nolan's (The Dark Knight, The Prestige, Batman Begins, Insomnia, Following, Memento) forthcoming film Inception recently popped up online!
The sci-fi thriller stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Ellen Page, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard, Cillian Murphy and Michael Caine, and more. Inception is set to hit theaters July 16th.
Another of my favorite films I took in during The Newport Beach Film Festival was the Canadian film written and directed by Ryan Ward called Son of the Sunshine. Son of the Sunshine is a somber film follows the life of Sonny Johnns, who has been diagnosed with tourette’s Syndrome, and chronicles his life as he undergoes a life-altering surgery that will open the doors to the “normal life” he has always dreamed of. The film revolves around the idea of identity and the idea of discovering who we really are.
The film features music from Joanna Newsom and Devandra Banhart and is wonderfully shot and acted. Do yourself and watch this one when it plays at a theater near you.
The film stars Michael Douglas as a former owner of a car dealership chain whose career and marriage were destroyed by his shady business deals and romantic indiscretions. The film also stars: Mary-louise Parker, Susan Sarandon, Jenna Fischer, Danny Devito, and Jesse Eisenberg.
Look for Solitary Man in select theaters May 21st.
Based on the noir novel by Jim Thompson about a dumb, friendly sheriff who is secretly a brilliant psycho. The adaptation is directed by Michael Winterbottom (24 Hour Party People) and stars Casey Affleck in the disturbing role of Lou Ford. The film was much talked about during it's premiere at Sundance, not for being exceptionally good or bad, but for the films violence towards women.
An extended red band trailer (nearly 6 minutes) recently popped up online, but be warned there is nudity and numerous scenes of violence towards women that may be hard to watch.
Look for The Killer Inside Me in select theaters June 18th.
Watch the extended red band trailer here or the theatrical trailer right here...
During last weeks Newport Beach Film Festival I had a chance to take in a whole lotta full length features, short films, and documnetaries.
The Australian film Dark Horse was my absolute favorite short film of the dozen or so screenings that I attended. Clocking In under the thirty minute mark this film was poignant, beautiful and all together captivating.
The story follows Minh Tran, a lonely taxi driver whose relationship with his wife has disintegrated following a miscarriage. One night his path crosses that of Isabella Fortino, a girl forced into prostitution by her boyfriend. Minh’s show of kindness to Isabella leads to an unlikely connection as they lose themselves in each other’s company and leave their troubled lives behind.
Dark Horse has been selected for screening at various film festivals including international events hosted by India, Thailand, Ireland, South Africa, Egypt and the U.S. It won the Best Short Film award at the Byron Bay International Film Festival.
I had a chance to speak with producer Simon Ritch, who told me that he and director Marc Furmie are currently working on a full length feature. When I hear more on that, so will you!
The Good Heart (by Dagur Kári) features Brian Cox and Paul Dano. The film follows a homeless boy (Lucas) who meets a grouchy bar-owner (Jacques) whose unhealthy lifestyle has resulted in five (yes, five) heart attacks. Jacques takes Lucas under his wing with the intention of having him continuing his legacy...that is until a drunken stewardess (April) enters the picture.
Look for The Good Heart in select theaters April 30th.
The Newport Beach Film Festival is currently going on. I have screened many films and I will be mentioning some of the films that I have seen over the past few days.
180 South is a great documentary that follows adventurer Jeff Johnson as he retraces the epic 1968 journey of his heroes Yvon Chouinard and Doug Tompkins to Patagonia.
180 South is currently playing in select theaters.
A fully restored version of Fritz Lang's 1927 sci-fi masterpiece Metropolis will be hitting theaters this summer before arriving on glorious Blu-Ray at the end of the year. Kino Int. is calling it The Complete Metropolis, a new 147-minute version of the movie.
Look for The Complete Metropolis in select theaters on May 7th.
This Irish film Kisses (from Lance Daly) is a wonderful looking film about two kids who run away from home and spend a “night of magic and terror on the streets of inner-city Dublin.”
It's A Wonderful Afterlife is a comedy from Gurinder Chadha (Bend It Like Beckham) about an Indian mother who takes her obsession with marriage into the world of serial murder. It is billed as My Big Fat Greek Wedding meets Shaun of the Dead.
It's A Wonderful Afterlife opens in the UK this weekend. No word on a US release date yet, but when we know more so will you.
Paper Man is a coming of age/comedy about an unlikely friendship between Richard (Jeff Daniels), a failed middle-aged novelist who has never quite grown up and Abby (Emma Stone), a 17-year-old girl whose role in a family tragedy years earlier has stolen away her youth.
Paper Man will release in select theaters April 23rd.
Oscilloscope Laboratories acquired the distribution rights to Michel Gondry's documentary The Thorn in the Heart (L'Epine dans le Coeur), a personal look at the life of Suzette Gondry (Michel's aunt) and her relationship with her son Jean-Yves.
Michel examines Suzette's years as a school teacher and her life in rural France. During the course of filming the documentary, Michel unearths new family stories and uses his camera (and shabby chic stop motion animation sets) to explore them in a subtle way.
The Thorn in the Side will release in select theaters May 14th.
In honor of the date (4/20) yesterday a trailer was released for John Stalberg’s debut film HIGH School. The film got some rave reviews when it premiered at Sundance, some writing that it is destined to become a new stoner classic. HIGH School stars: Adrien Brody, Michael Chiklis, Matt Bush, Sean Marquette, and Colin Hanks.
No official release date yet, but when I know more so will you.
The promo trailer for forthcoming Chinese wuxia film Reign of Assassins (co-directed by John Woo and Su Chao-Pin) recently popped up online. The film stars Michelle Yeoh and Jung Woo-sung (from The Good, The Bad, The Weird as "The Good").
Reign of Assassins will arrive in the US sometime in 2011.
Accidents Happen is a British-Australian black comedy directed by Andrew Lancaster and starring Geena Davis. Written by Brian Carbee, based on his own childhood and adolescence, the story revolves around an accident-prone teenage boy and his family.
Look for Wild Grass in select theaters April 22nd.
From acclaimed French director Alain Resnais comes the story of a wallet lost and found.
Synopsis: After examining the ID of its owner, it is not a simple matter for Georges to turn in to the police the red wallet he has found. Nor can Marguerite retrieve her wallet without being piqued with curiosity about the person who found it. As George and Marguerite navigate the social protocols of giving and acknowledging thanks, turbulence enters their everyday lives. Wild Grass is based on the novel "L’incident" by French novelist Christian Gailly
I got this promising trailer in my inbox. Mercy is a love story about a young novelist, Johnny Ryan (Scott Caan), and the beautiful Mercy (Wendy Glenn), who also happens to be the only major book critic who dislikes his novel.
The film also stars: James Caan, Erika Christensen, Troy Garity, and Dylan McDermott. Look for Mercy in select theaters April 30th.
This documentary untangles the web of cultural and historical ties underlying Japan's deep fascination with insects, not to mention some great camera work!
Look for Beetle Queen Conquers Tokyo in select theaters May 12th.
I'm not entirely sure what this film is about, but it's picked up a bunch of awards at film fests and features Tilda Swinton speaking Italian, with gorgeous cinematography.
No US release date yet, but again when I hear more so will you.
I got this sneak peek at this stop-motion fantasy from Best Foreign Film Oscar-winning filmmaker Jan Sverak (Kolya). The film combines live-action and puppets for a very imaginative look at childhood.
The story revolves around the stuffed teddy bear Kooky, who is thrown out and about to be crushed when he suddenly comes to life, making his escape into a mysterious forest where the real adventure begins.
No release date yet, but when I hear more so will you.
Cherrybomb is a British coming-of-age film starring Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley in Harry Potter), Robert Sheehan (Nathan on "Misfits") and Kimberley Nixon (Wild Child, Easy Virtue). The film follows three teenagers Luke, Malachy, and Michelle as they embark on a wild weekend of drinking, drugs, shop-lifting and stealing cars until things spins out of control.
The film did the festival circut and was picked up by Little Film Company for US distribution. However, there is no official date when this will arrive in US theaters.
The Living Wake is a dark comedy which chronicles the final day in the life of self-proclaimed artist and genius, K. Roth Binew. Binew is a dreamer who elevates his drab and somewhat pitiful existence into a personal mythology. For his final day K. Roth Binew enlists his best friend, the unrecognized poet and biographer Mills Joquin to chronicle his final hours.
Exit Through the Gift Shop is a documentary directed by British street artist Banksy. It was originally being put together by French filmmaker Thierry Guetta, but when he lost his handle on the project, Banksy took all of his tapes and finished the film on his own.
Look for Exit Through the Gift Shop in select theaters April 16th.
Quite simply this documentary offers a look at the making of the cult classic film Troll 2 and its journey from being crowned the "worst film of all time".
Look for Best Worst Movie in select theaters April 23rd.
This indie film received a Spirit Award nomination for Best First Feature.
The story follows Davy Mitchell, as he sets out on a road trip to promote his unpublished novel with his younger brother. Being on the road proves to be a lonely and unfulfilling experience until one night in a motel room he gets a random phone call from a mysterious woman.
Got a trailer in the mail today for this indie comedy! It's the story of lab technician Virgil Gurdies, who struggles to choose between his truelove Angie and his newfound quest to create the greatest goat cheese the world has ever known.
Artois the Goat will screen in L.A. on April 10th.
Plastic Bag is a fantastic short 18-minute film directed by Ramin Bahrani (Man Push Cart, Chop Shop) and narrated by the legendary German auteur Werner Herzog.
I posted about this one before, but there is now a US release date. IFC Films will be bringing Kim Ji-woon's Korean action extravaganza The Good, The Bad, The Weird starring Song Kang-ho (The Host), Lee Byung-hun (G.I. Joe), and Jung Woo-sung (The Restless) to limited theaters as well as VOD on April 23rd next month, before arriving on DVD.
The plot goes a little something like...The Weird steals a map from a Japanese official. The Bad is paid to get it back. The Good is a bounty hunter who tracks them down.
The Spike Jonze thirty minute short feature film titled I'm Here is up online!
The short stars Andrew Garfield as a library assistant who goes through an ordinary life in LA until a chance meeting opens his eyes to the power of creativity and love.
Godspeed is an intense thriller set in the sublime light of Alaska's midnight sun. The story follows Charlie Shepard (Joseph McKelheer), who is a modern day faith healer. Living hand-to-mouth with his young son and wife, Charlie ekes out a meager living from his "healing" sessions.
His marriage seems to be failing and an old drinking habit is coming back to haunt him, when his family is brutally attacked by unknown assailants for seemingly no reason whatsoever.
El Secreto de Sus Ojos (The Secret in Their Eyes) is the latest from Argentinean writer-director-editor Juan Jose Campanella.
The film is a multi-layered thriller interweaving the personal lives of a state investigator, a judge, and a manhunt spanning twenty-five years. When this one came out in Argentina last year it got plenty of rave reviews.
Got this trailer in my inbox from this film that got some pretty rave reviews at the Sundance Film Festival.
The story revolves around the Cheng family who are being evicted after the hardworking single mom falls for a pyramid scheme. After she goes missing the children are forced to look after themselves.
Look for Children of Invention in select theaters March 12th.
The Harimaya Bridge is a drama about an American man who must travel to rural Japan to claim some important items belonging to his late son, from whom he was estranged.
Look for The Hariyama Bridge in select theaters March 12th.
Please Give is a new film from Nicole Holofcener (Lovely and Amazing). The plot revolves around Kate (Catherine Keener) and Alex (Oliver Platt), a married couple who run a successful business reselling estate-sale furniture (checkout all the great furniture). They live in Manhattan with their teenage daughter Abby and want to expand their two-bedroom apartment. However, they have to wait for the occupant next door, Andra, a cranky elderly woman, to die. The wait becomes complicated when the family develops relationships with Andra and her two grown granddaughters.
Greenberg is the forthcoming film from Noam Baumbach (Margot at the Wedding, The Squid and the Whale). The film stars Ben Stiller as a hopelessly adrift, narcissistic neurotic staying at his younger and more successful brother’s house for six weeks after some sort of nervous breakdown.
Greenberg also stars Rhys Ifans, Jennifer Jason Leigh (who co-wrote the script), and Greta Gerwig. The soundtrack is from James Murphy (LCD Soundsystem).
I got a trailer for this Australian film noir styled movie The Square. The plot centers on an adulterous couple whose scheming leads to arson, blackmail and murder.
The Square opens in New York & Los Angeles on April 9th and nationwide in May.
I got this trailer for The Good Heart (by Dagur Kári) featuring Brian Cox, Paul Dano and Isild Le Besco. The film follows a homeless boy (Lucas) who meets a grouchy bar-owner (Jacques) whose unhealthy lifestyle has resulted in five heart attacks. Jacques takes Lucas under his wing with the intention of having him continuing his legacy. Everything is going according to plan until a drunken stewardess (April) enters the picture.
Look for The Good Heart in select theaters April 30th.
I got this trailer for the documentary No One Knows About Persian Cats. This is the fifth feature by award winning director Bahman Ghobadi (A Time For Drunken Horses, Turtles Can Fly).
The film is an indictment of cultural repression in Iran’s underground music scene and a celebration of an entire generation of Iranians striving towards personal and creative freedom. The film was shot in secret and features performances by real underground bands. the film follows a pair of young musicians, recently released from prison, on a mission to take their rock band to Europe.
Look for No One Knows About Persian Cats in select theaters April 16th.
I got this trailer for the documentary The Heart is a Drum Machine out on DVD today (March 9th via Lightyear Entertainment)
The film features: Wayne Coyne, Jason Schwartzman, Elijah Wood, Andrew VanWyngarden of MGMT, Britt Daniel of Spoon, Juliette Lewis, John Frusciante, Maynard James Keenan, and more, all answering the question "What is Music?" Looks like an entertaining film for all kinds of music lovers.
Premiering this weekend at SXSW in Austin, TX, writer/director/star Paul Gordon's The Happy Poet is, "an all-organic, mostly vegetarian comedy about Bill, a struggling poet who pours his heart, soul, and last few dollars into starting a healthy food stand. Motivated by help from a rag-tag group of supporters and a budding romance with a poetry-loving customer"
I recently got this trailer from one of my recent favorite directors Christophe Honoré (Love Songs, Dans Paris)! La Belle Personne (The Beautiful Person) is the story of a sixteen-year old girl who changes high school mid-year, following the death of her mother. She quickly finds herself the talk of the town and caught up in a love triangle.
I read that the soundtrack is full of Nick Drake songs, and at one point (in true Christophe Honoré fashion) a character bursts into song on screen.
La Belle Personne stars: Louis Garrel, Léa Seydoux, and Grégoire Leprince-Ringuet. The film is currently out on DVD.
This film is about the relationship between two brothers, a father trying to connect with his sons and the young woman who gets between the three of them. Lee Toland Krieger is up for a Spirit Award for Best Screenplay.
This film follows a brother and sister through the first year of their parents' separation. This one is up for the John Cassavetes Award (presented to the creative team of a film budgeted at less than $500,000 by Film Independent) at the Spirit Awards, which are taking place this weekend.
Ajami is the religiously mixed community of Muslims and Christians in Tel Aviv. The film follows five stories about everyday life in Ajami. This one is up for an Oscar for Best Foreign Film, and it looks like a strong contender.
Sneak-Peek Theatrical Screenings of the Canadian Tour Film Kick-Off This Week at AMC Theaters and other locations across the country!
In the summer of 2007, The White Stripes embarked on a cross-country Canadian tour to accomplish their goal of performing in every province and territory across the expansive northern nation. Beginning Friday, February 26th in Seattle and Toronto, the Emmett Malloy-directed documentary film, The White Stripes Under Great White Northern Lights will be making its way across North America for a series of special screenings – allowing fans a peek into their touring lives before its official DVD release on March 16th.
Additionally on March 16th, audiences across the country will have the opportunity to host their own screenings of The White Stripes Under the Great White Northern Lights. Fans have the chance to “Be a Part of the Tour” by purchasing a special screening kit and turning a favorite room, a local hangout, or any other location of their choice into their own premiere event. For more information on being part of the event.
AMC Theaters is holding special midnight screenings of the film on Wednesday, March 11 at the following locations:
WASHINGTON DC – Hoffman 22
DETROIT – Forum 30
PHILADELPHIA – Neshaminy 24
CHICAGO – River East 21
MINNEAPOLIS – Rosedale 14
LOS ANGELES – Block 30
SAN DIEGO - Mission Valley 20
SEATTLE – Pacific Place 11
BOSTON – Boston Common 19
NEW JERSEY – Palisades 21
NEW YORK CITY – Empire 25
ATLANTA – Barrett 24
I just got this clip for this film that came out overseas a few years back, but is now finally getting a US release date.
The Warlords story focuses on General Pang Qingyun (Jet Li) who survives a battle which wiped out his whole battalian and three blood brothers and their struggle in the midst of war and political upheaval.
It is based on "The Assassination of Ma" a Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) story about the killing of general Ma Xinyi. The film stars: Andy Lau, Takeshi Kaneshiro, and Jet Li.
I got a trailer for this 13min. short film from David McDermott and Peter McGough.
“Shot in the latter’s anachronous 1932 Manhattan apartment, replete with art deco furniture, the 13-minute romp portrays newcomer (British model) Agyness Deyn as a victimized starlet consumed by passion and greed. Exacting revenge upon her abusive lover (Law and Order’s Linus Roache).
I got this trailer in my inbox for this drama that tells the story of the racial tension surrounding a 1970 lynching in the south. The film is an autobiographical work, written as a book by Timothy B. Tyson while he was a professor of Afro-American studies at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
Blood Done Sign My Name is in select theaters now.
I got this trailer for this film (from the producers of The Triplets of Belleville) that was submitted for the Best Animated Film Oscar nominees. Tough competition with Coraline, Fantastic Mr. Fox, The Princess and the Frog, and Up in contention, but this one looks pretty good too.
The Secret of Kells is an interesting hand-drawn film about a ninth-century boy who rebels against his guardian’s orders and helps to illuminate a famous Irish manuscript. The film has already been released internationally and has received very enthusiastic reviews.
Look for The Secret of Kells in select theaters March 6th.
When You're A Stranger, which director Tom DiCillo says is part documentary and part narrative, screened at the Sundance Film Festival back in 2009. However, it took on a new life after Johnny Depp agreed last spring to narrate the piece. The film was produced by Wolf Films/Strange Pictures, in association with Rhino Entertainment, which has the Doors’ musical catalog and will release the soundtrack on March 30th.
When You’re Strange will release in limited theaters April 9th.
I got this trailer in my inbox for a film about a young epileptic woman named Ivy (Zoe Kazan) who is on summer break from college, struggling to balance her feelings for her boyfriend while her friend Al crashes with her for the season.
No official release date yet, but when we know more so will you.
I got this interesting teaser trailer for Earthling in my inbox.
Plot synopsis: After a mysterious atmospheric occurrence aboard the international space station causes a tragic event, a small group of people wake up to realize that their entire lives have been a lie. They are in fact aliens disguised as humans. Now they have to make a choice: Live amongst men, or try to find a way back home.
I recently received a trailer for this comedy about a family that begins to discover that the more time they spend together the more their secrets and lies begin to surface. Andy Garcia, Julianna Margulies, Emily Mortimer, and Alan Arkin.
Look for City Island in select theaters March 19th.
I recently received a trailer for this indie dramedy in which two sisters, Jayne (Parker Posey) and Laura (Demi Moore), return home to deal with their ailing father Joe (Rip Torn), only to face some surprising situations.
Look for Happy Tears in select theaters Feb. 19th.
{Criterion Collection Sale for Out-of-Print Classics}
Criterion Collection has just announced that they are about to lose the rights to 23 titles from StudioCanal at the end of March. "The titles are going to Lionsgate, and we don't know when they may be rereleased. As ever, we will continue to try to relicense the films so that they can rejoin the collection sometime in the future".
The titles: Jean Luc Godard's Alphaville, Carlos Saura's Flamenco Trilogy, Henri-Georges Clouzot's Le corbeau, Coup de torchon, Diary of a Country Priest, The Fallen Idol, Forbidden Games, Gervaise, Grand Illusion, Le jour se leve, Last Holiday, Mayerling, The Orphic Trilogy, Peeping Tom, Pierrot le fou, Port of Shadows, Quai des Orfevres, The Small Back Room, The Tales of Hoffmann, Trafic, Le trou, Variety Lights, and The White Sheik.
Until they're out of stock, each of these films will be an additional $5 off. That means you can get a Jean Luc Godard (soon to out-of-print) classic for only $13.96!
Boy is the new film from New Zealand comedian/filmmaker Taika Waititi, better known as Taika Cohen (director of Eagle vs Shark and episodes of Flight of the Conchords). I heard this film got a warm reception when it premiered at the Sundance Film Fest.
The story begins when a father returns after many years away and 11-year-old Boy (James Rolleston) and his little brother Rocky (Te Aho Aho Eketone-Whitu) must reconcile reality with a fantasy dad they created in their minds.
Just received a trailer for the latest film from Bong Joon-ho (The Host). The story revolves around a single mom to 27-year-old who is naïve and dependent on his mother. Walking home alone one night down a nearly empty city street, he encounters a young girl who he follows for a while before she disappears into a dark alley. The next morning, she is found dead in an abandoned building and he is accused of her murder. Thanks to an inefficient lawyer and an apathetic police force, Do-joon’s case is quickly closed, but his mother refuses to let this be the end of the story and sets out to find the girl’s killer and prove her son’s innocence.
The Spike Jonze thirty minute short feature film titled I'm Here is premiering at the Sundance Film Festival. The short stars Andrew Garfield as a library assistant who goes through an ordinary life in LA until a chance meeting opens his eyes to the power of creativity and love.
No word yet on the official release date for this robot love story, but it looks great.
In this thriller Michael Farr (Ciarán Hinds) is a widower living in a misty Irish seaside town who is struggling to adjust to his new role as the sole caretaker of his two children. Still reeling from the death of his wife, he has been plagued by terrifying apparitions. When he meets Lena Morelle (Iben Hjejle), she tries to help Michael with the mystery of his nightmarish visions. However, she must contend with a jealous one-time lover (Aidan Quinn) as things get violent.
The Eclipse will premiere on VOD, Amazon and XBOX Live February 26th, 2010 and opens in theatres March 26th.
Just got this teaser for Rodrigo Cortes' Buried (making its world premiere at Sundance this Saturday).
The plot synopsis goes a little something like this:
A U.S. contractor working in Iraq awakes to find he is buried alive inside a coffin. With only a lighter and a cell phone it's a race against time to escape this claustrophobic death trap.
There seems to be alot of buzz surrounding the film, mainly because everyone is curious if Ryan Reynolds can actually pull off acting in a coffin the entire movie.
Are you, like me, unable to make it to Park City for this year's Sundance Film Festival? Well wipe those tears, because now you can watch some of this year's Sundance selections at the same time festival-goers do, by way of a video-on-demand service called Sundance Selects.
You will be able to view three movies debuting simultaneously with their screening at the fest through Sundance Select's "Direct from the Sundance Film Festival" banner. The films are: Michael Winterbottom and Mat Whitecross' new documentary about disaster capitalism, The Shock Doctrine; the latest indie from the Safdie brothers, Daddy Longlegs and also Daniel Grou's dark revenge thriller 7 Days (which is part of the fest's Park City at Midnight program). Each will be available on the VOD channel for 30 days.
Here's the trailer for Daddy Longlegs...
Here's the trailer for Seven Days (Les 7 jours du talion)...
The official full-length trailer for Roman Polanski's new thriller The Ghost Writer (based on the Robert Harris novel) starring Ewan McGregor, Pierce Brosnan, Timothy Hutton, Kim Cattrall, and Olivia Williams has just gone online. Put aside your feelings towards Polanski and enjoy this trailer because it looks like it will be a great film.
Summit Entertainment will bring The Ghost Writer to limited theaters on February 19th.
Based on the 1979 popular anime series that was broadcast in the States under the name Star Blazers, Space Battleship Yamato is about a band of humans who construct a spaceship to battle a race of aliens who are destroying Earth.
There’s a Japanese teaser trailer that will either look really cool or really lame, depending on who you are. The live action makes me a bit nervous for the film, but also the fact that it stars J-pop singer Takuya Kimura. The film will release in Japan December 2010, no word yet when or if it will get a stateside release.
Competing at The Oscars for best foreign language film (from Spain) is Fernando Trueba's The Dancer and the Thief.
The adaptation of Antonio Skarmeta's novel is a romantic tragedy, set in post-dictatorship Chile. The story follows two men, a seasoned safe-cracker and a feisty 20-year-old in trouble with the law, as they pursue the women they love while plotting a daring heist. *You can rent this one from Netflix.
The horror comedy Tucker & Dale vs Evil will be screening at The 2010 Sundance Film Festival. The comedy twists the usual college-kids-go-camping-and-get-killed story, in favor of a kids-only-think-two-peaceful-hillbillies-are-vicious-killers (when they're really not). It doesn't sound that great on paper, but judging from the unofficial trailer it looks like it will be pretty darn funny.
Eli Roth (otherwise known as "Bear Jew" in Inglorious Basterds) directed the short snipper flick "Nation's Pride", a film-within-the-film that stars Frederick Zoller (German actor Daniel Brühl) as a sharp-shooter whose skills are depicted and lionized in the film for furthering Nazi doctrine.
Keep an eye out for Quentin Tarantino's head being blown off!
Kick-Ass (based on the comic of the same name) is about a teenage boy that decides to become a real-life superhero after being inspired by the heroes of comic books. Along the way he meets a crime fighting 12 year old girl named Hit Girl. The Red Band Trailer that recently popped up online highlights Hit Girl's ruthless talent. Look for Kick Ass in select theaters April 16th.
Every year it seems that I miss seeing more and more films, but here is a list of my favorite films that I did manage to see..
The Hurt Locker
This thriller follows a United States Army bomb squad team during the Iraq War. View the trailer here or right here...
A Christmas Tale
This French dramedy from Arnaud Desplechin tells the story of a family with strained relationships.
View the trailer here or right here...
(500) Days of Summer
This one is a romantic comedy, but as the tag line for the film states 'It is not a love story'. View the trailer here or right here...
The Fantastic Mr. Fox
This classic handmade stop-motion animated film from Wes Anderson is based on the Roald Dahl children's novel about a sly fox with a penchant for stealing chickens. View the trailer here or right here...
Pirate Radio
Pirate radio expertly captures the spirit of the sixties as a story follows a group of dj's illegally broadcasting tunes. View the trailer here or right here...
Zombieland
This comedy follows survivors of a zombie apocalypse, as they take an extended road trip in an attempt to find a sanctuary. View the trailer here or right here...
Paranormal Activity
This independent horror film centers on a young couple who are haunted by a supernatural presence in their home. The movie is presented using "found footage" from the camera set up by the couple to capture what is haunting them. View the trailer here or right here...
Precious
This film follows an illiterate teen who is pregnant with her second child is invited to enroll in an alternative school in hopes that her life can head in a new direction. View the trailer here right here...
Sin Nombre
This film follows a Honduran teenager with an opportunity to realize her dream of a life in the U.S. as she has an encounter with a gang member on the run, which lead to some unexpected events.
This Pixar film centers around a grumpy old man and an overeager wilderness explorer that form an unlikely bond. View the trailer here or right here...
The Watchmen
This film is set in an alternate 1985 where the murder of a former superhero sends vigilante Rorschach into his own investigation, uncovering something that could completely change the course of history as we know it. View the traier here or right here...
Capitalism: A Love Story
This is a shocking documentary film by Michael Moore that centers on the financial crisis of 2007–2009 . View the trailer here or right here..
Let The Right One In
This is a Swedish romantic horror (based on the novel of the same name by John Ajvide Lindqvist) that tells the story of a bullied 12-year-old boy who develops a friendship with a vampire child in a suburb of Stockholm. View the trailer here or right here...
Ponyo
Directed by Hayao Miyazaki, the plot to this animated feature centers on a goldfish named Ponyo who befriends a five-year-old human boy, and wants to become a human girl. View the trailer here or right here...
Inglorious Basterds
Tarantino's film follows a group of Jewish-American soldiers chosen specifically to spread fear throughout the Third Reich by scalping and brutally killing Nazis. View the trailer here or right here..
Coraline
This stop-motion film was adapted from the fantasy/horror novel by Neil Gaiman. It has been compared to Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland.
This black-and-white film from Shane Meadows (This is England) follows two teenage boys adrift in an adult world, as they form an unlikely friendship and the girl they both fancy.
After a death, the family gathers to divide the estate and trade memories. French writer/director Olivier Assayas crafts a near perfect blend of humor and heartbreak, .View the trailer here or right here...
The Cove
This documentary uses state-of-the-art equipment, as a group of activists infiltrate a cove near Taijii, Japan to expose horrifying events that happen there. View the trailer here or right here...
Extract
Mike Judge (Office Space, Idiocracy) Joel (Jason Bateman) is about to sell his flavor extract factory when a freak accident sets in motion a series of events . View the trailer here or right here...
Everlasting Moments
This Swedish drama from Jan Troell follows the working class Maria Larsson through ups and downs, which include an abusive, alcoholic husband. View the trailer here.
Moon
This science fiction/psychological thriller stars Sam Rockwell as a solitary lunar employee who experiences a personal crisis as the end of his three-year stint nears.View the trailer here or right here...
The Brothers Bloom
This is Rian Johnson's story about two brothers who are the best con men in the world. View the trailer here or right here...
So, since I signed on to to attend the Sundance Film Festival (that I sadly cannot attend), I have been receiving emails about films that will be screened. This is one such film...
This British psychological thriller Exam (from Stuart Hazeldine) premiered at the Edinburgh Film Festival this past June has been getting a strong word of mouth. In the film eight talented candidates have reached the final stage of selection for an unspecified high-powered job. That's all we really know for certain, but the trailer looks incredible.
The movie is set six months after the effects of the events of Iron Man, with billionaire inventor Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) under pressure from the government, the press and the public to share his technology with the military. The film also stars Gwyneth Paltrow (as Pepper Potts), Don Cheadle (as James “Rhodey” Rhodes), and Mickey Rourke (as Ivan Vanko / Whiplash).
The Hollywood Reporter asked Tarantino what his favorite films of 2009 are and he gave them a list of 8 films that are his picks "so far". As he explains in the video (which you can watch below), he hasn't seen Avatar, The Lovely Bones, or Invictus yet, so they're not included. And he also needs to watch Bright Star and District 9 again, because he thinks they may move back up on the list once he does so.
Tarantino's Top 8 Films of 2009:
1. Star Trek
2. Drag Me to Hell
3. Funny People
4. Up in the Air
5. Chocolate
6. Observe & Report
7. Precious
8. An Education
While I enjoyed the autistic-girl-turned-martial-arts-expert flick Chocolate and the campy horror of Drag Me To Hell, I am fairly certain neither would make my picks. Personally, I failed to even sit through Star Trek, but Precious would probably be on my list. Hmmm...time to think of my picks.
Everyone Else is an independent German film directed by Maren Ade.
The film is about a German couple that travel to Sardinia and as Karina Longworth at Spout wrote, "watch, almost as if helplessly, as their seemingly solid relationship erodes upon contact with foreign forces."
No US release date for this one just yet, but when I know more so will you!
Saint John of Las Vegas is a new indie film starring Steve Buscemi, Romany Malco, Sarah Silverman, Peter Dinklage, Emmanuelle Chriqui, and Tim Blake Nelson. The film is about a compulsive gambler who gets lured back into Las Vegas.
Look for Saint John of Las Vegas in select theaters on January 29th, 2010.
