Before Stieg Larsson (Millennium Trilogy, The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo) and Jo Nesbø (Headhunters, Harry Hole novels) there was Henning Mankell. Based on an original story from immensely popular Swedish crime writer Henning Mankell, Wallander: The Revenge follows the titular chief inspector Kurt Wallander (Krister Henriksson) as he investigates crimes and solves mysteries in the deceptively dark underbelly of picturesque modern Sweden.
The Wallander series (Series 2) consists of a total of thirteen 90 minute episodes, including “The Revenge”, “The Guilt”, “The Courier” and “The Thief”. The film will have a limited release in NY and LA on Friday June 1st and will be available on VOD and DVD starting May 29, 2012.
Mosquita y Mari is a coming of age story about two girls growing up in Huntington Park, Los Angeles and have only known loyalty to one thing: family. When Mari moves in across the street from Yolanda a strange yet beautiful connection surfaces and choices will need to be made.
There's no official release date yet, but when I know more so will you.
The soundtrack to the film is also something to get excited about. I'll give y'all more details when I get a release date. In the meantime, here's the pop gem that closes the film. It's La Bien Querida "9.6"...
One of my favorite short films at the Newport Beach Film Festival was this animation mixed with live action short from Libor Pixa. It's the story of a lonely tiger that who goes looking for his lost love on the facades of Prague's houses.
This film is about San Francisco-based musician Goh Nakamura (playing himself) and his long-distance girlfriend Erika (Ayako Fujitani) that breaks up with him over Skype.
There's no official release date yet, but keep your eyes peeled for this one.
Written and directed by Dustin Lance Black, Virginia stars Jennifer Connelly as a single mother who struggles to raise her, while dreaming of escaping her small town. Her long time affair with the very married, Mormon Sheriff Richard Tipton (Ed Harris) is thrown into question when he decides to run for public office.
Four featurettes were released yestrday for Wes Anderson's forthcoming film Moonrise Kingdom (to release Memorial Day weekend). The featurettes focus on the characters played by Bill Murray, Edward Norton, Bruce Willis and one for Wes Anderson.
The film also stars: Frances McDormand, Tilda Swinton, Jason Schwartzman, Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward. Set on an island off the coast of New England in the 1960s, Moonrise Kingdom follows a young boy and girl falling in love. When they are moved to run away together, various factions of the town mobilize to search for them and the town is turned upside down.
One of my personal favorite films I got to screen at the Newport Beach Film Festival was July Delpy's French dramedy Le Skylab.
The film is set in 1979. Albertine is 10 years old and all her relatives have gathered in the family house in Bretagne for their grandmother's birthday. Some believe the Sky Lab, a piece of a NASA rocket, will fall on their head that summer. This reunion turns out to be a crazy week-end of revelations, love and singing.
One of the most exciting documentaries I caught at the Newport Beach Film Festival was Sunset Strip.
The documentary follows the history of the mile-and-a-half strip of road in Los Angeles where dreams are started, chased, loved, hated, displayed, ignored, ended, or all of the above. The film features Sofia Coppola, Johnny Depp, Mickey Rourke, Keanu Reeves, Dita Von Teese, Peter Fonda and many more.
Here's another film I'm looking forward to seeing at the Newport Beach Film Festival.
25 years after the historic recording of the iconic mega-hit "Rapper's Delight," former original members of The Sugarhill Gang, Master Gee & Wonder Mike, come back to reclaim their identities and rightful place in hip-hop history.
This documentary will screen at the Newport Beach FIlm Festival on Saturday April 28th
at 8:30pm at Triangle Square
Here's another film I'm looking forward to seeing at the Newport Beach Film Festival.
I'm excited to see the documentary about pioneers of Latin alternative Café Tacuba called Seguir Siendo or Being Cafe Tacuba. So far, the film has received endless praise, and is directed by two promising directors Ernesto Contreras and Juan Manuel Craviotto.
This film will screen at the Newport Beach FIlm Festival on Saturday April 28th
at 7:15pm at Islands Cinema 2
Here's another film I'm looking forward to seeing at the Newport Beach Film Festival.
In this film American writer Tom Ricks comes to Paris desperate to put his life together again and win back the love of his estranged wife and daughter. When things don't go according to plan, he ends up in a shady hotel in the suburbs, having to work as a night guard to make ends meet. Then Margit, a beautiful, mysterious stranger walks into his life and things start looking up. This stars Ethan Hawke and Kristin Scott Thomas.
This film will screen at the Newport Beach FIlm Festival on Saturday April 28th
at 6:00 PM at Triangle Square 6
Here's another film I'm looking forward to seeing at the Newport Beach Film Festival.
Ecstasy is a dark romantic comedy, based on the controversial book Ecstasy by Irvine Welsh (Trainspotting).
This film will screen at the Newport Beach FIlm Festival on Friday April 27th
at 6:15 PM at Edwards Island Cinemas
Here's another film I'm looking forward to seeing at the Newport Beach Film Festival.
Directed by Lee Kirk this is an offbeat romantic comedy about a silver-painted street performer and the soft spoken zoo worker who falls for him.
This film will screen at the Newport Beach FIlm Festival on Friday April 27th
at 6:15 PM at Edwards Island Cinemas
Here's another film I'm looking forward to seeing at the Newport Beach Film Festival.
My Way is a war film by Kang Je-gyu which and stars Jang Dong-gun along with Japanese actor Joe Odagiri and Chinese actress Fan Bingbing. Set in colonial era Seoul, 1938, two young men have had a strong sense of rivalry since they were young. Joon-sik is a Korean man who dreams of following in the footsteps of Olympic marathon gold medal winner Sohn Kee-chung. Tatsuo is a top Japanese marathon runner and lived with Joon-sik as his family worked for Tatsuo's as servants. They grew up as rivals representing their respective countries.
One day, Joon-sik falls into trouble and is conscripted into the Japanese army. One year later, Joon-sik faces Tatsuo who is now a captain for the Japanese Imperial Army. The two young men are now caught in World War II and go through countless battles starting from Nomonhan, stretching from China, the Soviet Union and Germany, while inspiring hope in each other.
This film will screen at the Newport Beach FIlm Festival on Monday Apr 30th 7:15pm at Big Newport 6
Here's another film I'm looking forward to seeing at the Newport Beach Film Festival. Charlotte Gainsbourg stars in Julie Bertuccelli's mystical drama of loss and rebirth in the Australian countryside.
This film will screen at the Newport Beach FIlm Festival on both Tuesday May 3rd at 7:30 pm and May 5th at 3:00 pm.
Here's another film I'm looking forward to seeing at the Newport Beach Film Festival. Rodrigo Santoro stars as "40s Brazilian soccer superstar Heleno de Freitas. The biopic also stars up and comer Alinne Moraes who plays Silvia, Heleno’s estranged wife who stands by her man. Angie Cepeda plays Diamantina, a nightclub singer with whom the soccer star has an ongoing and passionate affair.
This film will screen at the Newport Beach FIlm Festival on Wednesday May 2nd (7:45pm) at Newport 4
The Eyes of Thailand is a heart warming documentary (narrated by Ashley Judd) about Soraida Salwala, a woman who dedicated ten years of her life to help give two Asian elephants a second chance to walk again after losing their legs from stepping on landmines.
The documentary will screen as an official selection of the Newport Beach FIlm Festival on Saturday, April 28th (6:30pm) at Triangle Square Cinemas. There will also be a second screening on Tuesday, May 1st at 6:00pm.
This dramedy from Sarah Polly stars Michelle Williams, Seth Rogen, Sarah Silverman, and Luke Kirby. Look for it in select theaters May 25th.
Synopsis: When Margot (Michelle Williams), 28, meets Daniel (Luke Kirby), their chemistry is intense and immediate. But Margot suppresses her sudden attraction; she is happily married to Lou (Seth Rogen), a cookbook writer. When she learns that Daniel lives across the street from them, the certainty about her domestic life shatters. She and Daniel steal moments throughout the steaming Toronto summer, their eroticism heightened by their restraint. Take this Waltz leads us through the familiar, but uncharted question of what long-term relationships do to love, sex, and our images of ourselves.
View the trailer here or another trailoer right here...
This psycho-thriller from Canadian Writer/Director Desiree Lim is a different kind of ghost story about a woman that just quit her coveted job as an investment banker on Wall Street. After a soul-searching journey traveling around the world, she retreats to an empty vacation home owned by a friend's rich family.
The film is currently making it's way around festivals. It will screen during the Newport Beach Film Festival on April 30th (8:30pm) at Triangle Square 5.
Just a reminder The Newport Beach Film Festival will be showcasing more than 400 films from 50 countries from April 26th through May 3rd.
Jewtopia makes it's world premiere as it opens the festival. This one stars: Jon Lovitz, Rachel G. Fox, Rita Wilson, Joel David Moore, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Camryn Manheim and Tom Arnold.
In this film Henry James Herman is a boy-genius petri dish child who embarks on a search for his biological father. The film stars Toni Collette an Michael Sheen.
Chernobyl Diaries is an original story from Oren Peli (Paranormal Activity). The film follows a group of six young tourists on an "extreme tour" into the city of Pripyat, the former home to the workers of the Chernobyl nuclear reactor, which is a deserted town since the disaster more than 25 years ago. Naturally, the group finds themselves stranded and then the real scares begin.
In Abel Ferrara's sci-fi drama at 4:44 am the world will come to an end. Some hope for a miracle, but not our two lovers. They, like the majority of the Earth's population have accepted their fate: the world is going to end.
Look for the film in select theaters on March 23rd.
Hit So Hard follows the rise to fame (and the near-fatal fall from it) of Patty Schemel, drummer for Courtney Love's rock band, Hole. Given a Hi-8 video camera just before Hole's infamous Live Through This world tour, Patty captured intimate footage of the grunge scene. The documentary features members of Nirvana, Faith no More, Veruca Salt, Luscious Jackson, The Go-Go's, Hole, and The Bangles.
Look for the film in select theaters on April 13th.
Part of the new wave of Greek cinema, this is an offbeat coming-of-age film. 23-year-old Marina is living in a small town by the sea where her once-visionary architect father, has returned to die.
Look for the film in select theaters on March 9th.
This romantic drama from Terence Davies (starring Rachel Weisz and Tom Hiddleston) about the wife of a British Judge who is caught in a self-destructive love affair with a Royal Air Force pilot.
Look for the film in select theaters on March 23rd.
Based on the true story of serial killer John Bunting, this is Justin Kurzel's directorial debut. I thought this film was officially released and even included it on my Favorite Films of '11 list. I was sent a screener copy of this film and it was like no other film I've ever seen. It's brutal and violent, and will likely make you uncomfortable the way certain scenes in American History X did.
Look for the film in select theaters on March 2nd.
This documentary explores the life and sudden death of Bruce Lee, one of the most iconic human beings ever to enter the public consciousness. The film features interviews with Kobe Bryant, Mickey Rourke, Ed O'Neill, Manny Pacquiao, and more.
Look for this film in select theaters February 9th.
This psychological thriller was released in select theaters back in December, and despite nominations is still only playing in select theaters. The film is about a mother, Eva (Tilda Swinton), as she contends for 15 years with the increasing malevolence of her first-born child, Kevin (Ezra Miller).
This film is currently screening in select theaters.
This documentary follows filmmaker (and amateur astronomer) Ian Cheney, who moves to New York City from Maine and discovers an urban sky almost completely devoid of stars. Posing a deceptively simple question-"What do we lose, when we lose the night?"
This film is currently screening in select theaters.
Terrence Malick envisions the origin of the universe and ponders some of life's deepest questions. It has it's flaws, but it's strengths far outweigh them if you buy into his vision.
View the trailer here.
The Debt
This underrated film is told in flashbacks about a covert mission three agents undertook and the personal cost it played in their lives.
View the trailer here.
Beginners
This film is about about love and family, more specifically about a son and his dying gay father.
View the trailer here.
Waiting For Superman
Davis Guggenheim's documentary on the plight of America's public school system is altogether poignant, engaging, and enraging.
View the trailer here.
The Skin I Live In
Pedro Almodóvar's latest is a thriller about an obsessive plastic surgeon that keeps a beautiful young woman imprisoned in his home using her as a guinea pig.
View the trailer here.
The Trip
Michael Winterbottom's latest film follows Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon (loosely playing themselves) as they travel to fine restaurants in northern England, philosophizing and bickering along the way. Music peeps will love the scene where Coogan sets up Joy Division's "Atmosphere" for a drive through the countryside and food peeps will love the scenes at (Michelin star rated) L'Enclume.
View the trailer here.
Hanna
Fairy-tale qualities are in abundance in this first rate thriller about a teenage assassin.
View the trailer here.
Midnight in Paris
Woody Allen's latest features Owen Wilson rubbing shoulders with famous dead writers, painters, etc. of Paris' past.
View the trailer here
13 Assassins
Takashi Miike's samurai tale of love, revenge and liberation features one of the best (and longest) battle scenes I can recall.
View the trailer here.
Win Win
In this film Paul Giamatti moonlights as a high school wrestling coach who stumbles across a troubled teen that has natural talent for wrestling, only for things to get complicated.
View the trailer here.
I Saw The Devil
This violent revenge thriller is both disturbing and engaging. Not for the faint of heart
View the traier here.
Bridesmaids
It's witty, it's crude, and it's arguably one of the funniest films of the year.
View the trailer here.
Submarine
Richard Ayoade's (of the IT Crowd) debut feature is a coming of age story about love and family drama.
View the trailer here.
Beats, Rhymes, and Life
Michael Rapaport's documentary about influential hip-hop group, A Tribe Called Quest, plays like one of the best Behind The Music episodes.
View the trailer here.
Bill Cunningham New York
Richard Press's documentary follows New York Times “On the Street” fashion photographer Bill Cunningham, but really it's about the man behind the camera. I really can't say enough good things about this.
View the trailer here.
13
This remake of 2005 French shocker 13 Tzameti was directed by original director Géla Babluani. This film is about an intense game of Russian roulette.
View the trailer here.
Drive
Ryan Gosling stars as a wheelman for hire, stunt driving for movie productions by day and steering getaway vehicles by night.
View the trailer here.
X-Men: First Class
This reboot/prequel of the x-men comic book franchise did a great job on building the storyline of how it all started.
View the trailer here.
The Ides of March
I've never been one for political dramas, but this is an excellent film about what goes on behind the scenes in the world of politicians.
View the trailer here.
La Casa Muda (The Silent House)
This Uruguayan horror film is based on a true story and was shot in just one take.
View the trailer here.
50/50
This is a dramedy about a young man with cancer.
View the trailer here.
Armadillo
This Danish documentary follows troops in Afghanistan into a firefight and its aftermath.
View the trailer here.
Happythankyoumoreplease
This romantic comedy was written and directed by How I Met Your Mother's Josh Radnor
View the trailer here.
The Future
Miranda July's art-house film is a whimsical tale of lovers in Los Angeles.
View the trailer here.
The Inerrupters
This documentary is a study of a community crushed by deprivation and violence.
View the trailer here.
Uncle Boonmee Remembers His Former Lives
This is a slow moving mystical drama from Thailand, about a man that chooses to spend his final days surrounded by his loved ones in the countryside.
View the trailer here.
Tuesday, After Christmas
This Romanian drama is about the fallout from one man's infidelity.
View the trailer here.
Le Quatrro Volte
This slow-moving film contains no dialogue, no music, no narration and almost no camera movement. It is about an elderly goat herder in rural Italy.
View the trailer here.
Poetry
This Korean film is about a woman finding purpose in a poetry class after being diagnosed with a medical condition and the discovery of a heinous family crime.
View the trailer here.
Viva Riva!
This is a Congolese gangster flick, heavy on the sex and violence.
This film follows the rapid progress of a lethal airborne virus that kills within days.
View the trailer here.
Crazy Stupid Love
This is a romantic comedy about relationships and overcoming obstacles.
View the trailer here.
Captain America
This comic book adaption relies on its story over its special effects.
View the trailer here.
The Names of Love
Never mind for a moment that the lead actress is drop dead gorgeous and nearly naked throughout the film. This quirky French dramedy is sure to win over anyone who enjoyed Amelie.
View the trailer here.
Rampart
It's Los Angeles, 1999 and Woody Harrelson plays a dirty cop in the Rampart Precinct.
View the trailer here.
A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas
I've got a soft spot for Harold & Kumar films. As long as they keep making these funny stoner movies, I'll likely keep watching 'em.
View the trailer here
Snowtown
This is a true story of an infamous Australian serial killer. It will likely make you feel uncomfortable, but it is interesting nonetheless.
View the trailer here
As of yet, I haven't seen these films, but am looking forward to watching...
This is the story of 85 year-old Jiro Ono, considered by many to be the world’s greatest sushi chef. He is the proprietor of Sukiyabashi Jiro, a 10-seat, sushi-only restaurant inauspiciously located in a Tokyo subway station. Despite its humble appearances, it is the first restaurant of its kind to be awarded a prestigious 3 star Michelin review, and sushi lovers from around the globe make repeated pilgrimage, calling months in advance and shelling out top dollar for a coveted seat at Jiro’s sushi bar.
For most of his life, Jiro has been mastering the art of making sushi, but even at his age he sees himself still striving for perfection, working from sunrise to well beyond sunset to taste every piece of fish; meticulously train his employees; and carefully mold and finesse the impeccable presentation of each sushi creation. At the heart of this story is Jiro’s relationship with his eldest son Yoshikazu, the worthy heir to Jiro’s legacy, who is unable to live up to his full potential in his father’s shadow.
This is a story about a young woman (Sybil Temtchine) that wakes up on Hollywood Boulevard at dawn on the handprints and footprints of the famed Grauman's Chinese Theatre with no idea who she or how she got there.
Look for the film in select theaters December 16th.
Niall MacCormick's debut feature pitches wild-child Emelia (Jessica Brown Findlay) into the Fischer family, where her influence on daughter (Felicity Jones) and dad (Sebastian Koch) threatens to tip their peaceful, but dysfunctional life.
France's Official Entry for Best Foreign Language Film for the Academy Awards is based on extraordinary real-life events experienced by filmmaker Valerie Donzelli and co-star/writer Jeremie Elkaim. The film tells the story of a young couple suddenly dragged from their carefree existence by an unexpected twist of fate.
Look for the film in select theaters January 27th.
Canned from a 20-year job as roadie for Blue Oyster Cult, Jimmy is broke and desperate. With nowhere else to go, he returns home to Forest Hills, Queens to visit his aging mother, where a wild night with some hard-partying high school friends shows him that some things never change. From director Michael Cuesta, Roadie features powerful performances from Ron Eldard, Bobby Cannavale, Jill Hennessy and a 70s hard rock soundtrack.
The husband-and-wife team of Charles and Ray Eames are widely regarded as America's most important designers. Remembered best for their mid-century plywood and fiberglass furniture, the Eames Office also created a mind-bending variety of other products, from splints for wounded military during World War II, to photography, interiors, multi-media exhibits, graphics, games, films and toys. Narrated by James Franco, Eames: The Architect and the Painter is the first film dedicated to these creative geniuses and their work.
Look for the film in select theaters November 18th.
In the early summer of 1956, 23 year old Colin Clark (Eddie Redmayne), just down from Oxford and determined to make his way in the film business, worked as a lowly assistant on the set of 'The Prince and the Showgirl'. The film that famously united Sir Laurence Olivier (Kenneth Branagh) and Marilyn Monroe (Michelle Williams), who was also on honeymoon with her new husband, playwright Aurthur Miller (Dougray Scott). Nearly 40 years on, his diary account The Prince, the Showgirl and Me was published, but one week was missing and this was published some years later as My Week with Marilyn - this is the story of that week.
Look for the film in select theaters November 23rd.
Inni focusses on the band's performance at Alexandra Palace over two nights, which is artfully captured by French-Canadian director Vincent Morisset (Arcade Fire's Miroir Noir).
The film is currently screening in select theaters.
Sidewalls is a romantic comedy from director Gustavo Taretto. The film is a clever and moving ode to the modern people and urban landscape of Buenos Aires.
Look for the film in select theaters October 28th.
From writer/director James Westby (Film Geek, The Auteur) comes Rid of Me, a black comedy that follows Meris, an awkward young woman trying too hard to perfect her marriage, amongst a new group of friends.
Look for the film in select theaters November 18th.
I Melt With You is a film about old college friends that gather for a week in Big Sur to celebrate their friendship and catch-up on each other's lives. They talk about their careers, families, and enormous responsibilities, but there is a lot more going on beneath the surface.
Look for the film in select theaters December 9th.
This documentary is about America's underpaid and overworked teachers. This is from filmmaker Vanessa Roth and produced by Dave Eggers (best-selling author) and Ninive Calegari (of the literacy non-profit 826 National), so I'm betting some folks will watch it just because their names are attached to the project.
Look for the film in select theaters September 30th.
13 is a remake of the 2005 French film 13 Tzameti. It’s directed and written by Géla Babluani, who directed and wrote the original film. A naive young man assumes a dead man’s identity and finds himself embroiled in an underground world of power, violence, and chance where men gamble behind closed doors on the lives of other men. The remake stars Jason Statham, Alexander Skarsgard, 50 Cent and Mickey Rourke.
Look for the film in select theaters October 28th.
John Madden (Shakespeare in Love) directs Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Tom Wilkinson, Bill Nighy and Dev Patel in this dramatic comedy that follows a group of British retirees who decide to “outsource” their retirement to less expensive and seemingly exotic India.
Connected is a eye-opening documentary from Tiffany Shlain, which takes audiences on a rollercoaster ride to discover what it means to be connected in the 21st century.
Look for the film in select theaters September 16th.
This dramedy by Anne Sewitsky is about a perfect couple that move in next door and open the neighbor girl to a whole new world, with consequences for everyone involved. This one won the World Cinema Jury Award at The Sundance!
Look for the film in select theaters September 16th.
Martha Marcy May Marlene stars Elizabeth Olsen as Martha, a damaged woman haunted by painful memories while trying to reassimilate with her family after fleeing a cult. The film also stars John Hawkes.
Look for the film in select theaters October 21st.
A full length trailer for Pedro Almodovar's The Skin I Live In (La Piel Que Habito) has finally surfaced. The film is the story of a plastic surgeon interested in creating a new skin for his wife, who was burned in a car crash.
Look for the film in select theaters October 14th.
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The film tells the moving story of three Violence Interrupters in Chicago who with bravado, humility and even humor try to protect their communities from the violence they once employed.
This film is currently screening in select theaters
Kind of on the fence on this one, I'll let you be the judge. The world of Bunraku is past and present, shadow-play fantasy, Samurai and Western all combined. The film stars Josh Hartnett, Demi Moore, Woody Harrelson, Ron Perlman, and Kevin McKidd.
Look for the film in select theaters September 2nd.
Anita is the story of a young woman with Down syndrome meticulously cared for by her mother in Buenos Aires. One tragic morning in 1994, everything changes when Anita is left alone, confused and helpless after the nearby Argentine Israelite Mutual Association is bombed.
Joann Sfar (comic book artist) delivers a biography of French singer Serge Gainsbourg (Eric Elmosnino). The film follows him from his childhood in Nazi-occupied Paris, his transition from painter to jazz musician to pop superstar, as well as his many relationships.
Rebirth is a moving documentary that follows the nearly ten-year transformation of five people whose lives were forever altered on September 11, 2001 .
Love Crime is a thriller from Alain Corneau about office politics played out by two ruthless executives. Starring (Kristin Scott Thomas and Ludivigne Sagnier.
Look for the film in select theaters September 2nd.
This action-thriller directed by Steven Soderbergh features a cast that includes: Channing Tatum, Ewan McGregor, Michael Fassbender, Antonio Banderas, Bill Paxton, Michael Douglas, Michael Angarano, and mixed martial arts superstar Gina Carano.
Look for the film in select theaters January 20th 2012.
Steven Soderbergh's next thriller Contagion is about a virus outbreak that is spreading worldwide. The film also has a fine cast: Matt Damon, Laurence Fishburne, Kate Winslet, Gwyneth Paltrow, Marion Cotillard, Bryan Cranston, Jude Law, and John Hawkes.
Look for the film in select theaters September 9th.
This is Vera Formiga's directorial debut, in which she also plays the main character Corrine, a devoted Christian woman who has a lifelong struggle with her faith.
Sony Pictures Classics has just debuted a new theatrical trailer for Gus Van Sant's Restless. The quirky indie drama stars Mia Wasikowska and Henry Hopper.
Look for the film in select theaters January 28th.
Errol Morris' documentary Tabloid follows Joyce McKinney, a former "beauty queen" whose single-minded devotion to the man of her dreams leads her across the globe and directly onto the front pages of the British tabloid newspapers.
Beats Rhymes & Life is a documentary directed by Michael Rapaport about one of the most influential and groundbreaking musical groups in hip-hop history. A fan himself, Rapaport sets out on tour with A Tribe Called Quest in 2008, when they reunited to perform sold-out concerts across the country, almost ten years after the release of their last album, The Love Movement. As he travels with the band members (Q-Tip, Phife Dawg, Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Jarobi White), Rapaport captures the story of how tenuous their relationship has become; how their personal differences and unresolved conflicts continue to be a threat to their creative cohesion. When mounting tensions erupt backstage during a show in San Francisco, we get a behind-the-scenes look at their journey and contributions as a band and what currently is at stake for these long-time friends and collaborators.
Look for the film in select theaters in NY and LA on July 8th.
Eighteen years after disappearing without a trace, Cornelius Rawlings returns to his family's farm. While his parents are long deceased, Cornelius's brothers Ezra and Amos continue to live in isolation on this old, forgotten land. It takes a mysterious drifter to smother the Rawlings Brothers' demons once and for all.
Girlfriend tells the story of a young man with Down Syndrome who unexpectedly comes into a large amount of money and uses it to romantically pursue the girl he has always loved.
China, 1899. A young man must assume the role of heir to a banking empire he cares little about. Following the tragic kidnapping of his brother’s wife, he (Aaron Kwok) reluctantly submits to pressure from his overbearing father.
After a much-publicized departure from theTonight Show, O'Brien hit the road with a music-and-comedy show titled the "Legally Prohibited From Being Funny on Television Tour" to exercise his performing chops and exorcise a few demons.
Synopsis: 1937, at the height of the Second Sino-Japanese War. The Imperial Japanese Army has just captured the then-capital of the Republic of China, Nanjing. What followed was known as the Nanking Massacre, or the Rape of Nanking, a period of several weeks wherein tens of thousands of Chinese soldiers and civilians were killed. The film tells the story of several figures, both historical and fictional, including a Chinese soldier, a schoolteacher, a Japanese soldier, a foreign missionary, and John Rabe, a Nazi businessman who would ultimately save thousands of Chinese civilians.
Now for something a little sappy. This romantic comedy follows two people (Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess) over two decades, as key moments of their relationship are experienced over several July 15ths in their lives.
Mexican film The Cinema Holdup (in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition at Sundance) tracks a group of Mexican youth unhappy with their social situation that decide to rob a movie theater.
No US release date yet, but we'll keep you posted.
October is the "purple month" in Lima, when the grey city's somber tones give way to processions celebrating the Lord of Miracles. Hope is reborn among the throngs of devotees who light candles and follow the processions, each in search of their own miracle. In one of the Lima's modest flats lives a small time loan shark Clemente, who returns home one day to find a newborn on his doorstep.
The film is currently screening in select theaters.
Hey locals, just a reminder that the Newport Beach FIlm Festival is going on this coming week (April 28 through May 5th). There will be a Latino showcase and an Asian showcase, as well as films from Sweden, Italy, France, Australia, Ireland.
I will be on holiday, but I will be sending a correspondent and will fill you in on some of the festival highlights when I am back at my desk!
Showtime ordered up 12 episodes of a new series called Homeland.
The thriller stars Claire Danes as CIA agent Carrie Anderson, who begins to suspect that the recent rescue of longtime POW Scott Brody (Damian Lewis) is actually one piece in a larger terrorist plot.
Two 24 exec producers are onboard (Alex Gansa and Howard Gordon), as well as Gideon Raff, exec producer of Israeli series Prisoners of War.
Australian filmmaker Julia Leigh directs this haunting erotic fairytale about Lucy (Emily Browning), a University student drawn into a mysterious hidden world of beauty and desire with prostitution.
Kirsten Dunst, Kiefer Sutherland, John Hurt and Charlotte Gainsbourg star in this drama about a mysterious planet moving towards earth an the domestic drama playing out around it.
Conception is a romantic comedy that follows nine couples in different stages of their relationships.
The movie's cast includes Pamela Adlon, David Arquette, Aaron Ashmore, Moon Bloodgood, Julie Bowen, Connie Britton, Jennifer Finnigan, Tim Griffin, Steve Howey, Sarah Hyland, Jennifer Jostyn, Leila Charles Leigh, Jason Mantzoukas, America Olivo, Leah Pipes, Matt Prokop, Jonathan Silverman, Gregory Smith and Alan Tudyk. I just received word that the film will be screening Friday April 29th and Thursday May 5th at Newport Beach Film Festival
Hesher is the story of a twenty-something (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) that unexpectedly enters the life of a grieving family. The film also stars Rainn Wilson.
This South African film was Shortlisted for Best Foreign Language Film for the Academy Awards, and from the looks of the trailer I can see why.
The film is about a rumor that spreads trough a dust-ridden village near Johannesburg and destroys a family and forces her mother to flee.
Woody Allen's next film stars Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody, Marion Cotillard, and Rachel McAdams. The dramedy is about a family travelling through Paris (with some amazing scenic shots).
Takashi Miike directs the ultra-violent film 13 Assassins, a remake of Eiichi Kudo’s 1963 black-and-white Japanese film of the same name. The story focuses on a group of unemployed samurai who are enlisted to bring down a sadistic lord and prevent him from ascending to the throne and plunging the country into a wartorn future.
Optimum Releasing recently debuted the official US trailer for kung fu master Yuen Woo-Ping's (responsible for those killer action sequences in The Matrix, Kill Bill) newest martial arts epic True Legend. The film stars Man Cheuk Chiu, Xun Zhou,Michelle Yeoh and David Carradine in his last role.
Le Quattro Volte (The Four Times) is Michelangelo Frammartino's philosophically minded four-part docu-essay is an ode to the belief that animal, vegetable and mineral are ultimately one.
From Julian Schnabel (director of The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, Before Night Falls, Basquiat) comes Miral, the story of four women whose lives intertwine in search for justice amid conflict.
Beautiful Boy is a somber film about a married couple (Michael Sheen and Maria Bello) trying to find some hint of an explanation after finding out that their only son committed a mass shooting at his university before taking his own life.
Cave of Forgotten Dreams is a documentary from Werner Herzog (Encounters at the End of the World, Grizzly Man). The film follows Herzog’s exclusive expedition into the highly guarded Chauvet Cave in France, home of the most ancient and inaccessible pictorial artwork known to have been created by man.
Known as an outlaw comic, Bill Hicks (one of my all time favorite comics) spent his life touring the world performing his act, whilst at the same time trying to deliver a message. He unfortunately succumbed to cancer at the early age of 32, just as his popularity was soaring. This documentary attempts to show us the man behind the message.
The documentary combines live action with an animation technique manipulating 1,000s of photographs to uniquely immerse the audiences in his world, which is re-told from the point-of-view of the people who shared it with him.
Look for this film in select theaters April 8th.
View the official redband trailer here or right here...
Here's a couple of his finest moments (Warning these contain foul language)...
Written by Joe Cornish (The Adam & Joe Show) and the producers of Shaun of the Dead. Attack The Block is a British comedy/ action adventure movie that pits a teen gang against an invasion of savage alien monsters.
There is no US distributer for this film as of yet, but when we know more so will you.
Synopsis: Suffering from acute kidney failure, Uncle Boonmee has chosen to spend his final days surrounded by his loved ones in the countryside. Surprisingly, the ghost of his deceased wife appears to care for him, and his long lost son returns home in a non-human form. (This film won the palme d'or at Cannes)
This film is currently playing in select theaters.
Here's the synopsis: The year is 1845, the earliest days of the Oregon Trail, and a wagon team of three families has hired the mountain man Stephen Meek to guide them over the Cascade Mountains. Claiming to know a short cut, Meek leads the group on an unmarked path across the high plain desert, only to become lost in the dry rock and sage. Over the coming days, the emigrants must face the scourges of hunger, thirst and their own lack of faith in each other's instincts for survival. When a Native American wanderer crosses their path, the emigrants are torn between their trust in a guide who has proven himself unreliable and a man who has always been seen as the natural enemy.
The film is directed by Kelly Reichardt (Wendy and Lucy, Old Joy) and stars Michelle Williams.
Zero Bridge tells the story of a teen pickpocket and about daily life in Kashmir. This is the first dramatic narrative feature film about contemporary daily life in the Indian-controlled city of Srinagar, Kashmir. It was filmed entirely on location with a local cast of first-time, non-professional actors performing in their native Kashmiri language. This film is nominated for The Spirit Awards John Cassavetes Award.
Look for this film in select theaters February 16th.
This film stars San Francisco musician Goh Nakamura (playing himself), whose life of solitude is disrupted when he is hired to teach TV actor Danny Turner (Chadd Stoops) how to play guitar for an upcoming film.
I got a new Red Band trailer for Ji-woon Kim’s serial killer thriller I Saw the Devil. The film is about a secret agent that tracks a serial killer who murdered his fiancée.
This film follows the story of a married couple, apart for a night while the husband takes a business trip with a colleague to whom he's attracted. While he's resisting temptation, his wife encounters her past love. The film stars Sam Worthington, Keira Knightley, and Eva Mendes.
This film was already released overseas. I couldn't find a US release date, when we know more you will.
I got this teaser trailer for Xavier Dolan's forthcoming film Les Amours Imaginaires (or Heartbeats in the US). The film tells the story of three close friends who are involved in a love-triangle. The song featured in the trailer is "Bang Bang" by French singer Sheila.
Look for the film in select theaters February 25th.
El Cielo Gira (The Sky Turns) is a documentary that follows director Mercedes Alvarez as she returns to her native village Aldealsenor in remote northwest Spain after a 35 year absence. She was the last child born there; now only 14 aged inhabitants remain.
Look for the film in select theaters February 11th.
Based on a novel by Sergio Bizzio, Rage (Rabia) is set in Spain as two South American immigrants get involved in a passionate relationship, when a violent confrontation results in another man's death.
Elekrta Luxx is the follow-up film to Women in Trouble, from director Sebastian Gutierrez.
The film stars Carla Gugino stars as Elektra Luxx, a former porn star looking to turn her life around as a sex ed teacher. The film also stars Timothy Olyphant, Joseph Gordon- Levitt, Malin Akerman, Adrianne Palicki, Emmanuelle Chriqui, and John Colella.
This film is about a disheartened attorney (Giamatti) who moonlights as a high school wrestling coach. He stumbles across a star athlete through some questionable business dealings while trying to support his family. Just as it looks like he will get a double payday, the boy’s mother shows up fresh from rehab and flat broke, threatening to derail everything.
Magnolia Pictures has released released a trailer for Max Winkler‘s (son of actor Henry Winkler) feature directorial debut Ceremony.
The film stars Michael Angarano (Almost Famous, Snow Angels), who plans to break-up a wedding ceremony because he is in love with the bride ( Uma Thurman). This film also stars Clive Owen.
Peep World is a family dramedy that stars Michael C. Hall, Sarah Silverman and Rainn Wilson. The story is set on the day of their Father's 70th birthday party, with four siblings coming to terms with the publication of a novel written by the youngest sibling that exposes the family's most intimate secrets.
Skateland is an indie film about the dramatic events that take place in small-town Texas in the early ’80s, that force a 19-year-old skating rink manager to look at his life in a very new way.
Tambien La Lluvia (Even the Rain) is a film that takes us from the fiction of a period film to the reality of a film set in a small Bolivian city. Then, from that reality to another which is deeper and more dramatic.
The film stars Luis Tosar and Gael Garcia Bernal. It is Spain's official selection for Best Foreign Language Film for the Academy Awards.
Look for the film in select theaters February 18th.
The French Canadian film Incendies tells the story of a set of adult twins who are set out on a journey to the Middle East by their mother’s last will and testament to find their long-lost father and sibling. The film has gotten a nomination for Best Foreign Language Film by the Academy Awards.
Cold Weather is written & directed by Aaron Katz. The film is about a guy who moves back to Portland becomes involved in the mystery of his ex-girlfriend's disappearance.
No official release date yet, but when we know more so will you.
Cold Weather is written & directed by Aaron Katz. The film is about a guy who moves back to Portland becomes involved in the mystery of his ex-girlfriend's disappearance.
Look for the film in select theaters February 4th.
Sony Pictures Classics recently debuted the trailer for Susanne Bier's In a Better World (originally known as Hævnen in Danish). The film was one of five Best Foreign Language Film nominees at the Oscars this year and winner of the Best Foreign Film Golden Globe.
No official US release date just yet, but we'll keep you posted.
This thriller is Argentina's official Oscar submission for Best Foreign Film. The story revolves around two people that meet during a traffic accident.
Look for the film in select theaters February 11th.
Josh Radnor makes his (How I Met Your Mother) writing/directing debut with HappyThankYouMorePlease. The film stars Josh Radnor, Kate Mara, Malin Akerman, Zoe Kazan, Pablo Schreiber, Tony Hale and Richard Jenkins. the film follows three very different couples looking for love.
IFC's The Time That Remains is a humorous and heartbreaking film composed of autobiographical episodes from the life of writer/director Elia Suleiman. The film explores life among the Israeli Arab community, and is shot largely in homes and places in which Suleiman’s family once lived. Inspired by his father’s diaries, letters his mother sent to family members who had fled the Israeli occupation, and the director’s own recollections,
A favorite at this year’s Cannes, Toronto and Fantastic Fest film festivals, IFC's erotic and stylish Korean thriller The Housemaid is about an innocent young woman caught in the twisted web of a rich family's games.
Look for the film in select theaters January 11th.
I just picked up Baltimore dream pop duo's Zebra EP. The EP centers around that album’s lead-off track “Zebra” (off their critically acclaimed Teen Dream album). The four-song disc includes a UK radio edit of the title track, plus new a mix of Teen Dream’s “10 Mile Stereo” now subtitled “Cough Syrup Remix”. The EP also contains two exclusive new tracks “The Arrangement” and “Baby”.
This is the story of a girl trying to track down her drug-dealing father while trying to keep her family intact.
View the trailer here.
The Good Heart
In this film Jacques (Brian Cox) is determined to drink and smoke himself to death when he meets Lucas (Paul Dano), a homeless young man who has already given up on life.
View the trailer here.
Ajami
This film explores five different stories set in an actual impoverished Christian-and-Muslim Arab neighborhood of the Tel Aviv - Jaffa neighborhood, called Ajami.
View the trailer here.
A Prophet
This French prison film is the story of a young man's rise in the mafia.
View the trailer here.
The Secret in Their Eyes
This Argentine crime thriller is about a retired legal counselor who writes a novel hoping to find closure for one of his past unresolved homicide cases.
View the trailer here.
The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo
This Swedish trilogy revolves around a journalist, a hacker and a 40-year-old cold case.
View the trailer here.
Mother and Child
This drama from Rodrigo Garcia (Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her, Nine Lives, Six Feet Under) centers around three women, and the connection each has with each other.
View the trailer here.
The Kids Are Alright
In this dramedy two teenaged children get the notion to seek out their biological father (Mark Ruffalo) and introduce him into the family life that their two mothers (Bening and Moore) have built for them.
View the trailer here
The Square
This Australian film noir thriller centers on an adulterous couple whose scheming leads to arson, blackmail and murder.
View the trailer here.
The Good, The Bad, The Weird
This is the story of three Korean outlaws in 1940s Manchuria and their rivalry to possess a treasure map while being pursued by the Japanese army.
View the trailer here.
Solitary Man
This a redemption story about a disgraced car salesman (Michael Douglas) on a downward spiral.
View the traier here.
Kick Ass
This is about an unnoticed high school student and comic book fan who one day decides to become a super-hero.
View the trailer here.
This film is about a mountain climber that becomes trapped under a boulder while canyoneering and resorts to desperate measures in order to survive.
View the trailer here.
Holly Rollers
This film is about a young man in an Orthodox Jewish community, who is lured into becoming an Ecstasy dealer by his pal who has ties to an Israel drug cartel.
View the trailer here.
Scott Pilgram Vs The World
Scott Pilgrim must defeat his new girlfriend's seven evil exes in order to win her heart in this comic adaptation.
View the trailer here.
Buried
A man wakes up 6 feet underground with no idea of who put him there or why.
View the trailer here.
This film (from Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant) is about three friends who are stuck in boring jobs in a small town in England.
View the trailer here.
The Secret of Kels
This animated film is about a boy who must fight Vikings and a serpent god to find a crystal and complete the legendary Book of Kells.
View the trailer here.
I Am Love
This Italian film is a tragic love story.
View the trailer here.
The American
This film is about an assassin hides out in Italy for one last assignment.
View the trailer here.
Exit Through The Gift Shop
This is the story of a French shop keeper and amateur film makers attempt to locate and befriend the artist Banksy.
View the trailer here.
Rabbit Hole
This is a somber film about how a couples life is turned upside down after their young son dies in an accident.
View the trailer here.
The Ghost Writer
This Roman Polanski film is about a ghostwriter hired to complete the memoirs of a former British prime minister, and uncovers secrets that put his own life in jeopardy.
View the trailer here.
Marwencol
This is is a documentary about the fantasy world of Mark Hogancamp, who emerged from his coma, following a vicious attack.
View the trailer here.
This film picks up immediately after the events depicted in the original. I know this one got mixed reviews, but I think this was a fun sequel.
View the trailer here.
Red
This one is loosely inspired by a comic book series by Warren Ellis about a former black-ops CIA agent, is now living a quiet life in retirement.
View the trailer here.
As of yet, I haven't seen these films, but am looking forward to...
Another Year is a film from Mike Leigh (Secrets & Lies, Vera Drake) about a couple who have managed to remain blissfully happy into their autumn years, are surrounded over the course of the four seasons (of one average year) by friends, colleagues, and family who all seem to suffer some degree of unhappiness.
Look for the film in select theaters December 29th.
And Everything Is Going Fine is an intimate documentary (by Steven Soderbergh) of master monologist Spalding Gray, as described by his most critical, irreverent and insightful biographer: Spalding Gray.
Look for the film in select theaters December 10th.
White Material is set in a politically unstable African country the countryside is poluted by roving child soldiers.
All the expatriated French people have gone home, getting out before things turn really nasty.
Maria doesn't want to leave her coffee plantation and abandon her harvest the first time she hears gunfire. She believes she can find protection from the mayor of her neighboring town.
The film stars Isabelle Huppert. Look for it in select theaters November 19th.
This indie drama from Ry Russo-Young is an emotional character study of Shelly Brown, a young alienated urban misfit - recently released from a psychiatric hospital - who’s fallen on some tough times.
Look for the film in select theaters December 10th.
Inspired by Slavomir Rawicz’s novel The Long Walk: The True Story of a Trek to Freedom, director Peter Weir’s (“Witness”, “Master And Commander”, & “Dead Poet’s Society”) The Way Back is a remarkable story chronicling the escape of a small group of multi-national prisoners from a Siberian gulag in 1940 and their epic journey over thousands of miles.
The early reviews have this one as a possible contender for 'movie of the year'.
Look for the film in select theaters December 29th.
Applause is a powerful drama about a recovering alcoholic actress (Paprika Steen) that has divorced her husband and trying to gain custody of their two boys.
Look for the film in select theaters December 3rd.
From IFC Films and written, directed and starring Lena Dunham, Tiny Furniture explores the depths of romantic humiliation and the heights of post-college confusion. The film also stars Dunham's real-life sister, Grace, and real-life mother, (artist, photographer) Laurie Simmons.
Look for the film in select theaters November 12th.
From Triplets of Belleville director Sylvain Chomet, The Illusionist is the story of a dying breed of stage entertainer. With emerging rock stars stealing the illusionists thunder in the late 1950s, he is forced to accept increasingly obscure assignments in fringe theatres. While performing in a village pub he encounters an innocent young girl who will change his life forever.
Look for the film in select theaters December 25th.
This film is about a man that returns to the Philadelphia neighborhood where he came of age in the midst of the Black Power movement. His arrival raises suspicion among his family and former neighbors, who think he might have been a snitch.
The soundtrack to the film is performed by The Roots.
Look for the film in select theaters December 3rd.
Here's a trailer for the third episode in the “Millennium” Trilogy by Swedish writer Stieg Larsson, after The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and The Girl Who Played with Fire. The third installment finds Lisbeth recovering in a hospital and awaiting trial for three murders when she is released.
Look for the film in select theaters October 29th.
This animated film by Fernando Trueba and Javier Marascal is set in Cuba, 1948 and tells the story of two individuals that must battle impossible odds to unite in music and love.
Look for the film in select theaters November 19th.
This is the true story of the 1968 Ford sewing machinists strike at the Ford Dagenham assembly plant, where female workers walked out in protest against sexual discrimination and the desire for equal pay.
Look for the film in select theaters November 19th.
From writer-director Rachid Bouchareb comes the film Outside the Law (Hors-La-Loi), the story of three brothers who fight for Algeria's independence from France after World War II. After losing their family home in Algeria, three brothers are scattered across the globe.
Look for the film in select theaters November 3rd.
Columbia Pictures has debuted the first official trailer for Gus Van Sant's new teenage drama Restless starring Mia Wasikowska and Henry Hopper.
The film tells the story of a 16-year-old terminally ill girl (Mia Wasikowska) who falls for a boy (Henry Hopper) who likes to attend funerals and their encounters with the ghost of a Japanese kamikaze pilot from WWII.
Look for the film in select theaters January 28th.
Jazz is just so much cooler in black and white and so is Damien Chazelle's romantic musical dramedy Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench.
The film is about Guy (actual trumpeting phenom Jason Palmer) and his girlfriend Madeline (Desiree Garcia) who waits tables and waits for her break as a jazz singer. We see the two finish a decidedly awkward conversation on a park bench and soon both are on the rebound.
The film kind of reminds me of John Cassavetes' Beat generation improvisation inspired film Shadows. On a side note: The Hold Steady's 2008 album Stay Positive makes various allusions to Cassavetes' film Opening Night. Also, Pedro Almodovar repeats the film's accident scene in his All About My Mother as the epicenter of the dramatic conflict.
Look for the film in select theaters November 5th.
Wrecked stars Adrien Brody as a man who awakens in a car at the bottom of a ravine in the wilderness with a broken leg surrounded by a bunch of dead people.
Sngmoo Lee's The Warrior's Way is a kung fu western that stars Kate Bosworth, Danny Huston, Geoffrey Rush and Dong-Kun Jang as Yang. The film mixes westerns, martial arts, with fantasy.
Look for The Warrior's Way in select theaters on December 3rd.
Boogie Woogie is a star studded comedy about a whole bunch of people having affairs with each other in the London art world. The synopsis reads like this: "Each parallel story plummets towards its own depraved and egotistical conclusion until the stories collide, leading to a sobering and tragic finale.
The film stars Amanda Seyfried, Heather Graham, Stellan Skarsgard, Gillian Anderson, Alan Cumming, Christopher Lee, and many more. Look for it in select theaters April 12th.
The Coen brothers next film is a remake of a good old fashioned western. The film stars Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, Josh Brolin and Barry Pepper. Look for it in theaters December 25th.
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.
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.
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.
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.
New from the Criterion collection comes France's Arnaud Desplechin's lovely, novelistic drama that captures the holidays in all of it's dysfunctional glory.
Catherine Deneuve stars as a woman who learns of her life-or-death need for a bone-marrow transplant. She calls the family together, a reuniting of sorts, and the merriment and melancholy (in equal parts) begin.
From the writers of Sexy Beast comes the action packed comedy 44 Inch Chest. The film boasts an impressive British cast including: Ray Winstone, Ian McShane, John Hurt, Tom Wilkinson, and Joanne Whalley.
The film is about a mobster who loses his wife to another man, kidnaps the other man, and then apparently everything goes wrong.
This film just recently got picked up by Image Entertainment stateside, but doesn't have a release date set just yet. When we know more, so will you.
This years Spirit Awards nominees have been announced, now it's time to get caught up on my independent film viewing! Some guys have the super bowl...I have The Spirit Awards.
I am wondering though...where are Moon (or Sam Rockwell for Best Actor) and The Hurt Locker.
I am also surprised I don't see Michael Moore's Capitalism: A Love Story, It Might Get Loud (featuring: Jimmy Page, Jack White, and The Edge), or Tyson (about the life of Mike Tyson) in the Best Documentary category. I thought those were three of the best docs I saw this year.
The Spirit Awards will air Friday, March 5th, 2010 next year following the Oscars.
New on SlashControl is Fumihiko Sori's sci-fi action tale Vexille. Now, the plot to the '07 film is a bit complicated (plot synopsis), but the stunning visuals (combining 2-D and 3-D animation, as in his earlier film Appleseed), and score by Paul Oakenfold should be enough of a draw for some of you!
While you can see the whole film for FREE right here, I would recommend checking this out on DVD so you could fully appreciate the animation.
I recently got this trailer in my inbox...looks promising.
The plot of revolves around Ben Singer (Matthew Broderick), a failed children’s folk singer, a career proofreader, a compulsive marijuana smoker, and a less-than-extraordinary weekend dad. He’s also the most negative man alive. When his Senegalese roommate Ibou (Michael Kenneth Williams) is suddenly struck ill his pessimistic worldview seems unequivocally confirmed. His only recourse is to pour his energies into a frivolous lawsuit against the city for depraved indifference, but Ben soon finds that cynicism may be all a matter of perspective.
Wonderful World is directed by Josh Goldin. Look for it in select theaters January 8th.
When I watched The Fantastic Mr. Fox over the long weekend I caught a trailer for the documentary Babies.
This visually stunning film follows four babies around the world, from first breath to first steps. Shot in Mongolia, Namibia, San Francisco, and Tokyo the documentary captures babies in the earliest stages of humanity that are at once unique and universal to us all.
Focus Features will release Babies in select theaters April 16th, 2010.
The second US Trailer for the Richard Linklater's new film "Me and Orson Welles" (starring Zac Efron, Christian McKay, and Claire Danes) recently popped up online. Me and Orson Welles premiered in very limited release (NY, LA) over the weekend, but we're hoping this one gets a nationwide release soon!
In the film Efron plays a teenage actor who nabs a small role in a Orson Welles' Julius Caesar. The film portrays one fateful week in the young actor’s life and his encounters with Welles and love.
Also, The Criterion Collection's website has video of director Richard Linklater and his "Me and Orson Welles" co-stars Zac Efron and Oscar buzz focal point Christian McKay (who plays Welles in the film) unveiling a plaque that commemorates the location of Welles' famed Mercury Theatre in New York. Welles' daughter, Chris Welles Feder, was also on hand for the ceremony.
I got this trailer for Shake Hands with the Devil (based on Lieutenant-General Roméo Dallaire’s award-winning book) in my inbox.
The story follows Emma, a journalist, as well as the personal journey of General Roméo Dallaire through the 1994 Rwandan genocide and how Dallaire's request for more aid went ignored by the United Nations.
No official release date yet, but Shake Hands with the Devil is slated for limited theaters in early 2010.
Last week IFC debuted the original five-episode Web series Dead & Lonely, written, produced, and directed by cult indie horror filmmaker Ti West (The Roost, Trigger Man, The House of the Devil).
In this series, two lonely Los Angeles singles are brought together via the popular Internet dating website DateOrDie.net. The only problem is...one of them is a vampire.
The series stars Bishop Allen frontman Justin Rice (Mutual Appreciation, Alexander The Last) and Paige Stark. Dead & Lonely brings the classic vampire love story to the modern Internet dating age. The series unfolds from both the predator's and the victim's perspectives until the characters finally meet. In the vein of Let the Right One In, the series focuses on the mundane reality of the day-to-day life of an immortal, while seeking to humanize her to the degree that she seems almost as desperate and lonely as the rest of modern society.
From China comes True Legend (aka Su Qi-Er), the latest martial arts epic from Yuen Woo-Ping, the fight choreographer on all three Matrix movies and Kill Bill. The film stars Michelle Yeoh (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) and Man Cheuk Chiu. David Carradine is also listed as part of the cast as well as Jay Chou, who is playing Kato in The Green Hornet.
Su Qi-Er (Man Cheuk Chiu) is the story of a wealthy man living during the Qing Dynasty who loses his fortune and reputation as a result of a conspiracy against him. After being forced out onto the streets, Su dedicates his life to martial arts and reemerges as a patriotic hero known as the "King of Beggars."
The film was produced by Focus Features. There is no US release date yet, but when we know more so will you!
Women in Trouble is an ensemble film about ten women and the trouble in their lives, however, these aren't ordinary women...they're strippers and call girls.
Carla Gugino plays real life porn star Elektra Luxx. She's joined by: Emmanuelle Chriqui, Adrianne Palicki, Marley Shelton, and Connie Britton. The film also stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Simon Baker. This looks like it could be a real hit or miss, but I'm still interested in checking it out.
Screen Media Films brings Women in Trouble to very limited theaters starting on November 13th.
The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day is an upcoming sequel to the 1999 cult classic The Boondock Saints. Director Troy Duffy returns to film the sequel, which sees the return of Sean Patrick Flanery and Norman Reedus as Irish brothers who act as vigilantes.
The story begins with the two brothers deep hiding in the quiet valleys of Ireland, far removed from their former lives or modern technologies. When word comes that a priest has been killed by sinister forces in the tough underworld of Boston (the Yakavetta Crime Family), they return to mount a bloody crusade to bring justice to those who must now suffer the consequences, with a new partner in crime (Clifton Collins, Jr.) aiding them and FBI Agent Paul Smecker's protege (Julie Benz) in pursuit of them.
The film opens in select theaters this weekend (October 30th).
I got an email about the forthcoming indie film Uncertainty, co-directed by Scott McGehee and David Siegel and staring Joseph Gordon-Levitt (500 Days of Summer), Lynn Collins (Wolverine), and Olivia Thirlby (Juno).
Uncertainty is about a young couple (played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Lynn Collins), in love and facing a life-changing decision, find one seemingly ordinary July 4th cleaved in two by the flip of a coin on the Brooklyn Bridge. Look for Uncertainty in limited theaters and on VOD starting on November 13th.
Oscilloscope has just debuted the official trailer for The Messenger!
The film is about a US soldier struggles with an ethical dilemma when he becomes involved with a widow of a fallen officer.
The Messenger is directed by first-time filmmaker Oren Moverman, who previously wrote the screenplays for I'm Not There and Married Life. The film stars Ben Foster, Woody Harrelson, Jena Malone, and Samantha Morton.
The Messenger will open in limited theaters starting on November 13th.
A new trailer for Sony Pictures Classics forthcoming release A Prophet has just gone online!
The film (Un Prophete) by French filmmaker Jacques Audiard has been getting a strong word of mouth at film festivals. Unfortunately the full-length trailer is still only in French without English subtitles, but you can get the general idea of what's going on.
The film is about a young Arab man named Malik El Djebena is sent to a French prison where he becomes a mafia kingpin.
A Prophet will release stateside in limited theaters on February 12th, 2010.
From the producers of Wendy and Lucy, Paranoid Park, and Old Joy comes Portland filmmaker Matt McCormick's debut feature film Some Days are Better than Others!
Shot primarily in Portland and the surrounding areas, Some Days are Better than Others is a poetic, character-driven independent feature film starring: James Mercer, Carrie Brownstein, Renee Roman Nose, and David Wodehouse. A charmingly melancholy look at abandonment, Some Days are Better Than Others asks the question, “Why do the good times slip by so fast while the sad times seem so sticky?”
Some Days are Better Than Others is a quirky black comedy about the disposable relics of our always-consuming society. It’s a film about growing up, growing old, and holding on to hope while looking for second chances.
A new trailer for Jonathan Auf Der Heide's Van Diemen's Land has recently popped up online!
This Australian thriller is about cannibalism during the early 1800s...so this one may not be for the squeamish. The title pertains to an actual piece of Australian wilderness known as Van Diemen's Land, referring to the island of Tasmania.
Van Diemen's Land tells the true story of Alexander Pearce, Australia's most notorious convict. In 1822, Pearce and seven convicts escaped from Macquarie Harbour, a place of ultra banishment and punishment, only to find a world less forgiving… the Australian wilderness.
Oh how i love early John woo movies...and how i love Wǔxiá films (a broad genre of Chinese fiction that concerns itself with martial arts adventures set primarily in ancient China)!
Magnet has just debuted the official US poster for John Woo's Red Cliff, his two-part ancient Chinese epic!
For those unaware, Red Cliff is a two part ancient Chinese history war epic that Woo shot in 2007. It actually debuted theatrically in China last July, but oddly, no US distributor ever bought it. It went on to make the most money in Chinese box office history (roughly $44 million)!
This film is an adaptation of Guanzhong Luo's novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms and stars Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Zhang Fengyi, Chang Chen, Hu Jun, Lin Chi-ling and Zhao Wei.
Look for Red Cliff in select theaters on November 13th...or if you're like me and don't like waiting hit up the nearest Chinatown dvd retailer (which should have the proper subtitle/dvd region).
This forthcoming indie comedy titled Defendor stars Woody Harrelson as a wanna-be superhero.
The film is premiering at the Toronto Film Festival later this month, where it will be looking for a distributor. My guess is that this will get picked up pretty quickly. This should be easy to market to audiences that are currently infatuated with superheroes.
I received an email about a Behind the Scenes featurette of Drew Barrymore's directorial debut Whip It starring Ellen Page!
Also featured in the film are Marcia Gay Harden, Kristen Wiig, Juliette Lewis, rapper Eve, Zoe Bell ("Death Proof"), Alia Shawkat, Ari Graynor ("Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist"), Jimmy Fallon, Daniel Stern, and Barrymore herself, while musician Landon Pigg (playing a musician) plays Page's love interest.
The film takes place in Bodeen, Texas with the indie-rock loving Bliss Cavendar (Ellen Page) trying to find a way of dealing with her small-town misery after she discovers a roller derby league in Austin and tries to join the Babe Ruthless. Fox Searchlight will bring Whip It! to theaters on October 2nd.
Watch the Behind the Scenes featurette or the Trailer Right Here
The trailer for Michael Moore's forthcoming documentary Capitalism: A Love Story recently found it's way online!
The film explores the root causes of the global economic meltdown and takes a comical look at the corporate and political shenanigans that culminated in what Moore has described as the biggest robbery in the history of this country the massive transfer of U.S. taxpayer money to private financial institutions.
Capitalism: A Love Story hits theaters on October 2nd.
When I caught Inglorious Basterds last weekend I caught the Teaser Trailer for Christopher Nolan's forthcoming film Inception!
I still don't really have much of an idea of what the film is about, however the tagline says “Your Mind is the Scene of the Crime” and the action sequences seem to echo The Matrix. Seeing as Nolan has brought us The Dark Knight, The Prestige, Batman Begins, Insomnia, Following, and (arguably his best film) Memento, I expect this to be something special.
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, 2010.
Right when I was thinking 'not another Michael Cera coming of age story', the Weinstein Company debuted the first trailer for Youth in Revolt...and it looks like Cera has nailed it again!
The film, based on the C.D. Payne book, is about a teenage kid who falls in a love with a girl he can't have but decides to go to lengths to win over her heart.
Youth in Revolt stars Michael Cera, Steve Buscemi, Ray Liotta, Jean Smart, and M. Emmet Walsh. Look for it in select theaters October 30th.
The Burning Plain is the directorial debut of Oscar-nominated screenwriter Guillermo Arriaga (Babel , 21 Grams, Amores Perros, The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada).
The story is a romantic mystery about a woman on the edge who takes an emotional journey back to the defining moment of her life. Oscar-winner Charlize Theron plays Sylvia, a beautiful restaurant manager whose cool, professional demeanor masks the sexually charged storm within. When a stranger from Mexico confronts her with her mysterious past, Sylvia is launched into a journey through space and time that inextricably connects her to these disparate characters, all of whom are grappling with their own romantic destinies.
The Burning Plain is now available on VOD, XBOX Live and Amazon and will be released theatrically on September 18th.
Werner Herzog directs and David Lynch produce a very strange tale titled My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done.
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.
The film stars Michael Shannon, Chloe Sevigny, Willem Dafoe, Brad Dourif, Michael Pena, Udo Kier, and the wonderful Grace Zabriskie and will open in select theaters sometime in 2010 (no official release date yet). When I know more so will you!
An Education is the story of a teenage girl’s coming-of-age set in Britain in the early 1960's on the cusp of the strait-laced, post-war period and the free-spirited decade to come. The film is directed by Danish filmmaker Lone Scherfig (Italian for Beginners) and the screenplay is by Nick Hornby (High Fidelity, About a Boy), Aa Education was adapted from a memoir by journalist Lynn Barber, which originally appeared in the literary magazine Granta.
The film stars Peter Sarsgaard, Carey Mulligan, Alfred Molina, Dominic Cooper, Rosamund Pike, Olivia Williams, and Emma Thompson. Look for it in select theaters October 9th.
The full trailer for The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus recently went online over at Yahoo!
This will get alot of attention due to the fact that this was Heath Ledger's last role. Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell all join in to finish Ledger's role, but I have a feeling that Heath will be the one everybody ends up talking about
The film looks wildly original and also stars Christopher Plummer and Tom Waits. I'm not even a big Terry Gilliam fan, but this looks very interesting if only for the acid trip effects and artistry.
Look for The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus in select theaters September 24th.
Peter Jackson directs The Lovely Bones, Alice Sebold's best-selling tale of a young girl murdered and what she observes from the afterlife.
In The Lovely Bones Movie, Mark Wahlberg and Rachel Weisz play the parents of Susie Salmon (Saoirse Ronan), the child who narrates the story from heaven. Stanley Tucci plays the killer in hiding.
It was announced the day before The Lovely Bones commenced filming that original star Ryan Gosling was replaced by Mark Wahlberg.
Look for The Lovely Bones in theaters December 11th.
I did not get a chance to participate in the True Blood festivities while at Comic Con over the weekend, however last Saturday HBO did premiere an exclusive advanced trailer that introduced new characters (including a first look at Evan Rachel Wood as Queen Sophie-Ann) and a preview the remainder of the explosive season, which has now been posted online!
So if you want to see a sneak peek at what’s in store for the rest of True Blood Season 2, then click away!
Watch the True Blood Comic Con Exclusive Right Here
In the mood for a real tearjerker? Then this one (directed by Nick Cassavetes) will be right up your alley.
My Sister's Keeper is the story of a family that is rocked by sudden, heartbreaking news that forces them to make a difficult and unorthodox choice in order to save their baby girl’s life. The parents’ desperate decision raises both ethical and moral questions and rips away at the foundation of their relationship. Their actions ultimately set off a court case that threatens to tear the family apart.
The film stars: Cameron Diaz, Abigail Breslin, Alec Baldwin, Sofia Vassilieva, Joan Cusack, and Jason Patric. Look for My Sister's Keeper in select theaters on June 26th.
While we're on the subject, I'll go ahead and mention the soundtrack, which seems to be a nice quite mix of singer/songwriters. Here's the tracklistng...
1. “Feels Like Home” – Edwina Hayes
2. “Don’t Wanna Cry” – Pete Yorn
3. “Better” – Regina Spektor
4. “Life Is Beautiful” – Vega 4
5. “Carry You Home” – James Blunt
6. “We All Fall In Love Sometimes” – Jeff Buckley
7. “Girls Just Want To Have Fun” – Greg Laswell
8. “Find My Way Back Home” – Priscilla Ahn
9. “With You” – Jonah Johnson
10. “Life Is Just A Bowl Of Cherries” – E.G. Daily
11. “Heaven” – Jimmy Scott
12. "Hymn: Amazing Grace" – Pipe Major Jim Drury and Julia McGurk
Have a listen to this previously unreleased Jeff Buckley tune "We All Fall in Love Sometimes" (written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin) Right Here
Also here's Pete Yorn's video for "Don't Wanna Cry"...
If you liked Quarantine then the Spanish original, which is more intense and much more graphic and is now available stateside on DVD is essential viewing!
Spanish horror specialists Jaume Balagueró (Darkness) and Paco Plaza (Second Name) join forces for this experimental frightener about a mysterious outbreak in an old tenement building.
Here's a trailer for a great book (written by former Simpsons and Beavis and Butt-head writer Larry Doyle) that looks like it will be ruined my a big screen adaption!
I Love You Beth Cooper tells the story of a nerdy valedictorian who proclaims his love for the hottest and most popular girl in school Beth Cooper during his graduation speech. Much to his surprise, Beth shows up at his door that very night and inadvertently ends up showing him the best night of his life.
The book was a fantastic light summer read, but I remain sceptical about the movie.
Purchase I Love You, Beth Cooper the book Right Here.
20th Century Fox has debuted the first red band trailer for Jennifer's Body starring Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried...and I know the poster is eerily similar to True Blood's, but there was some debate about this last year when both camps revealed their posters at the same time.
This is a teenage horror film written by Diablo Cody 9Juno) and produced by Jason Reitman. It looks pretty sexy and violent as all hell!
Warner Brothers has debuted the first trailer on AOL for Richard Kelly's (Donnie Darko) The Box and stars: Cameron Diaz, James Marsden, and Frank Langella. This is a story is about a box with a button that when pressed makes the owner wealthy but causes some other harm somewhere in the world.
The Box is both written and directed by Richard Kelly and is based on Richard Matheson's short story "Button, Button", which was also adapted in a "Twilight Zone" episode. Look for it in theaters October 30th.
The Watchmen Director's Cut will be hitting shelves on July 21st!
The film will be re-released in theaters in just four selected cities (the weekend before Comic-Con), Los Angeles and New York, Dallas and Minneapolis for one screening only. The Directors Cut will have 27 minutes of extra violence and sexiness.
I get not having a major re-release, but four screens...that's ridiculous?
This South Korean film is the latest from Chan-wook Park (director of the cult-classic Old Boy and Sympathy for Lady Vengeance). The plot revolves around a priest, who is the subject of a medical experiment which turns him into...you guessed it...a vampire.
Park recently picked up the Jury Prize at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival for this vampire love story (*just an fyi the red band trailer below is pretty graphic). Thirst gets a limited release on July 31st.
View the Red Band Trailer (Courtesy of IGN) Right Here
In this dark comedy Paul Giamatti (playing himself) decides to lighten his load by having his soul extracted and put on ice. When he decides a soul-less existence isn't for him a mishap leads to his essence being shipped to Russia, where he must track it down. Parts of this film remind me of Being John Malkovich and others of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
Cold Souls also stars: Emily Watson, David Strathairn, Dina Korzun, and Lauren Ambrose. Look for it in limited release on August 7th.
Save our CEOs! Overture Films has debuted the trailer for the new documentary from Michael Moore. This is just a teaser trailer...no footage yet, sorry.
Love him or hate him, this is a creative way to introduce the concept for this doc and play with the audience. In fact, a few theaters in NY, LA, Chicago, and DC will have an "interactive" portion where ushers bring out bins to collect money in the audience. That's sticking it to Wall Street!!!
Overture Films and Paramount Vantage have announced that Moore’s new documentary will be released domestically on October 2nd.
Horror comedies are always hard to do. There's Shaun of the Dead or Return of the Living Dead..or more recently Sam Raimi's (oh Evil Dead...there's another one) Drag Me To Hell, which was less entertaining than the others but had it's moments.
There are way more straight to DVD movies that fail to frighten or conjure up laughs. This humorous look at the zombie apocalypse stars: Woody Harrelson, Abigail Breslin and Bill Murray. Look for this one in theaters on Ocotober 9th.
Dave Eggers The Wild Things is available for pre-order on Amazon.com, the script is loosely based on the Maurice Sendak story, and co-written with Spike Jonze for the forthcoming movie!
Here's the synopsis:
The Wild Things is about the confusions of a boy, Max, making his way in a world he can't control. His father is gone, his mother is spending time with a younger boyfriend, his sister is becoming a teenager and no longer has interest in him. At the same time, Max finds himself capable of startling acts of wildness: he wears a wolf suit, bites his mom, and can't always control his outbursts. During a fight at home, Max flees and runs away into the woods. He finds a boat there, jumps in, and ends up on the open sea, destination unknown. He lands on the island of the Wild Things, and soon he becomes their king. But things get complicated when Max realizes that the Wild Things want as much from him as he wants from them. Funny, dark, and alive, The Wild Things is a timeless and time-tested tale for all ages. Where The Wild Things Are will release in theaters nationwide October 16th.
The trailer for Martin Scorsese's forthcoming film Shutter Island recently popped up online!
Marty Scorsese's Shutter Island trailer is over on Apple right now (available in several different formats) and it sorta looks like a ghost story or a psychological thriller at least.
Based on the Dennis Lehane's (Mystic River, Gone Baby Gone) novel Shutter Island stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Mark Ruffalo as a couple of U.S. Marshals who travel to the remote Shutter Island to investigate the disappearance of a murderess/patient at the island's strange loony bin where, naturally, a guy like Ben Kingsley runs the show. The film is slated for an Oct. 2nd release.
Yes, I've posted about this before, but I've got some exclusive clips to pass along!
This Sam Mendes film (written by Dave Eggers and Vendela Vida) opened in select theaters (in NY and LA) last week. As of yet there's no nationwide release date yet, but the film has been getting pretty good word of mouth so I'm hoping it will be coming to a theater near me soon!
This film is about a couple who are expecting their first child and decide to travel around the U.S. in order to find a perfect place to start their family. The film stars John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph in the lead roles and I gotta admit it all looks a little Juno-like, but this is definitely a thirty-somethings coming of age story. Rounding out the cast are: Jeff Daniels, Carmen Ejogo, Jim Gaffigan, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Josh Hamilton, Allison Janney, Melanie Lynskey, Chris Messina, Catherine O’Hara, and Paul Schneider.
I recently received word that Alejandro Jodorowsky's latest project titled King Shot will begin shooting this October!
Jodorowsky is the director of such cosmically trippy films as El Topo and Holy Mountain that were only recently released in region 1 DVD format after years of legal wrangling with his former partner Allen Klein of ABKCO films.
King Shot is a so-called "metaphysical spaghetti western" starring Marilyn Manson, Asia Argento, Nick Nolte, Udo Kier, and Alejandro's son Adan Jodorowsky (who was also in his father's film Santa Sangre). Nolte and David Lynch (!!!) are executive producers. Lynch's Absurda production company will be the worldwide sales rep.
Here's the trippy Trailer for El Topo...
Here's the (even more bizarre) Trailer for Holy Mountain...
Order the films of Alejandro Jodorowsky Right Here
The Weinstein Company recently debuted the trailer for The Road, the highly anticipated adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's post-apocalyptic novel!
After reading the novel I had a hard time believing that this somber story could be brought to the big screen, but this looks much better than I thought it would. I have a feeling this will be one of the most highly anticipated non-summer films this year. The Road stars: Viggo Mortensen, Charlize Theron, Robert Duvall, and Guy Pearce and will release in theaters on October 16th.
I got this interesting trailer in my inbox today...from first-time director John Hindman, comes The Answer Man, a romantic comedy starring Jeff Daniels (The Squid and the Whale), Lauren Graham (“Gilmore Girls”) and Lou Taylor Pucci (Thumbsucker). Magnolia Pictures will premiere THE ANSWER MAN On Demand June 26 and will release in theaters July 24.
The plot revolves around Arlen Faber (Daniels) a reclusive author of "Me and God," a book that has redefined spirituality for an entire generation and has been translated into over 100 languages. On the eve of the 20th anniversary of his still wildly popular book, Arlen is still sought after as the man who has all the answers. Arlen's life collides with Elizabeth (Graham), a single mom raising her seven year-old son, and Kris (Taylor Pucci), a young man fresh out of rehab who is searching for meaning. Both Elizabeth and Kris are hopeful that Arlen has the answers, but the truth is, he hasn't got a clue. The film also stars Kat Dennings (Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist) and Olivia Thirlby (Juno).
Quentin Tarantino's long-awaited WWII epic Inglourious Basterds premiered at the Cannes Film Festival the other day, and so far it's gotten some pretty mixed reviews. One thing I'm certain of is that it will have it's fair share of violence with comedy.
Hayao Miyazaki is one of the great filmmakers of all time...so if you only see one animated film this year, Ponyo on the Cliff might be your best bet!
Ponyo on the Cliff looks a little more lighthearted and kid friendly than his last few films...more on par with My Neighbor Totoro or Kiki's Delivery Service. The film has also got a celeb heavy cast for the English voiceover (Cate Blanchett, Matt Damon, Tina Fey, Liam Neeson, Lily Tomlin and more). The film is written and directed by master animator Hayao Miyazaki, maker of Castle in the Sky, Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, and Howl's Moving Castle.
Disney is bringing Ponyo on the Cliff (the Japanese title), now known as just Ponyo, to theaters everywhere August 14th.
The film is described as an animated adventure centered on a 5-year-old boy and his relationship with a goldfish princess who longs to become human.
View the Japanese Trailer (sorry, that's all that's out there) Right Here
Watch the first seven minutes of Rian Johnson's second film The Brothers Bloom!
Rian Johnson btw, is the clever guy who brought us that fantastic indie gem Brick a few years back.
The Brothers Bloom looks like a wacky film that follows a couple of con men who decide to take one last job. The film stars stars Adrien Brody, Mark Ruffalo, Rachel Weisz, and (Babel's) Rinko Kikuchi. Look for The Brothers Bloom in select theaters on May 15th.
Watch the opening sequence, in which the Brothers Bloom began grifting at a very young age, right here...
Sony Picture Classics recently debuted the first trailer for Duncan Jones' Moon, a much hyped indie sci-fi film starring Sam Rockwell that first premiered at Sundance earlier this year!
The plot revolves around astronaut Sam Bell (Sam Rockwell) who has a personal encounter toward the end of his three-year stint on the Moon, where he, working alongside his intelligent computer, GERTY, sends back to Earth parcels of Helium 3, a resource that has helped diminish our planet's power problems.
The trailer for Ang Lee's next film Taking Woodstock recently popped up online after debuting last week on "Important Things with Demetri Martin".
Based on a true story, Taking Woodstock stars Demetri Martin as Elliot Tiber, a boy working at his parents' motel in the Catskills who agrees to host Woodstock in their backyard and inadvertently sets into motion the generation-defining concert in the summer of 1969.
Chances are you've seen this already, but I'm gonna post it anyway because I'm excited that the trailer for Where the Wild Things Are popped up online today... and it looks pretty amazing!
I have high hopes for Spike Jones (director) and Dave Eggers (screenplay) film which includes Catherine Keener, Mark Ruffalo, Lauren Ambrose, and James Gandolfini in the cast.
Bonus points for using a slightly different version of The Arcade Fire's song "Wake Up" for the trailer...it really intensifies the film's fantastical elements.
Here's to hoping this is an instant classic! Where the Wild Things Are hits theaters on October 16th.
View the Trailer over on Apple in HD Here or right here...
Clips of this Jennifer Lynch's (daughter of David Lynch) forthcoming film Surveillance popped up online awhile back, but now we get a full-length trailer!
The plot revolves around an FBI agent who tracks a serial killer with the help of three of his would-be victims - all of whom have wildly different stories to tell.
The thriller stars Bill Pullman and Julia Ormond and is set for a June 26th release. David Lynch is also credited as Executive Producer so I'm sure he gave his two cents with the some of the films haunting imagery.
Here's a promising film opening this weekend in select theaters!
The story revolves around a young Honduran woman who joins her father and uncle on a journey to cross the gauntlet of the Latin American countryside en route to the US. Along the way, she crosses paths with a Mexican gang member, who is attempting to outrun his violent past. Together they must rely on trust and street smarts if they are to survive their journey towards the hope of new lives.
This Sam Mendes film was written by Dave Eggers and Vendela Vida so I'm expecting this to be pretty good!
This film is about a couple who are expecting their first child and decide to travel around the U.S. in order to find a perfect place to start their family. The film stars John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph in the lead roles and I gotta admit it all looks a little Juno-like, but this is definitely a thirty-somethings coming of age story. Rounding out the cast are Jeff Daniels, Carmen Ejogo, Jim Gaffigan, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Josh Hamilton, Allison Janney, Melanie Lynskey, Chris Messina, Catherine O’Hara, and Paul Schneider.
Mysteries of Pittsburgh is a coming-of-age tale based on the 1988 novel by Michael Chabon. This was Chabon's first novel, which he began writing when he was a twenty-one-year-old undergraduate at the University of Pittsburgh. The story revolves around alienated youth, while serving up some familiar details of sex, alcohol and drugs. The film adaptation stars Jon Foster, Sienna Miller, Peter Sarsgaard, Mena Suvari, and Nick Nolte
Look for Mysteries of Pittsburgh in select theaters March 27th.
This film will includes three shorts from Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine, Human Nature), South Korean filmmaker Joon-ho Bong (The Host) and French director Leos Carax (Pola X)!
The trailer looks visually stunning, as you might expect from anything that uses the city of Tokyo as its backdrop. Tokyo! will release on March 6th in NY and March 20th in LA.
Here’s a rundown of each of the three stories...
“Interior Design” by Michel Gondry: the surreal fable of a young couple who moves to Tokyo in search of a future. While the boy’s ambition to be a movie maker is clear, the girl begins to drifts apart. Both of them will be drowned in the imensity until the girl, feeling alone, discovers something strange.
“Merde” by Leos Carax: a mysterious man spreads confusion on the streets of Tokyo through a succession of irrational and provocative acts. ” The Creature of the Sewers ” as the media have dubbed him, arouse passion or repulsion. He will be captured, judged and then…
“Shaking Tokyo” by Bong Joon-Ho: He is a hikikomori - like many others in Japan, he has withdrawn from all contact with the outside world. When the pizza delivery girl faints during an earthquake, the unthinkable happens - the man falls in love. Will he take the unimaginable step : leaving the dead security of his apartment for the streets of Tokyo?
It seems like the day would never come, but The Watchmen finally arrives in theaters this weekend nationwide!
Here's some Rorschach-heavy clips...
While we're on the subject...The Watchmen Soundtrack seems to be a nice mix of classic tunes, here's the tracklisting...
"Desolation Row" (Bob Dylan cover by My Chemical Romance)
"Unforgettable" (Nat King Cole)
"The Times They Are A-Changin" (Bob Dylan)
"The Sound Of Silence" (Simon & Garfunkel)
"Me & Bobby McGee (Janis Joplin)
I'm Your Boogie Man" (KC & The Sunshine Band)
"You're My Thrill" (Billie Holiday)
"Pruit Igoe & Prophecies" (Philip Glass)
"Hallelujah" (Leonard Cohen)
"All Along The Watchtower" (Jimi Hendrix)
"Ride of the Valkyries" (Budapest Symphony Orchestra)
"Pirate Jenny" (Nina Simone)
I got an email bout this Festival De Cannes Jury Prize winner about a seemingly ordinary Japanese Family.
Tokyo Sonata is a portrait of a seemingly ordinary Japanese family. A father who loses his job conceals the truth from his family; the eldest son in college hardly returns home; the youngest son furtively takes piano lessons without telling his parents; and the mother, who knows deep down that her role is to keep the family together, cannot find the will to do so.
Directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s (no relation to Akira Kurosawa) the film is set to release in select theaters March 13th.
The first trailer for Alejandro Amenábar's (Abre Los Ojos, The Others, The Sea Inside) historical drama Agora recently hit the web.
Now, I'm not a big fan of these kinds of period films, but I love this director this one looks pretty promising. Agora stars Rachel Weisz as Hypatia of Alexandria and Max Minghella as her slave named Davus. The story follows Davus who turns to the rising tide of Christianity in the hopes of pursuing freedom while also falling in love with his master, the famous female philosophy professor and atheist Hypatia. Below is an early promo trailer (no dialogue yet), but it looks good so far.
Focus Features has tentatively set a December 18th release date.
Have I mentioned lately how much I love Pedro Almodóvar? Well, now a good a time as any because a teaser trailer for his forthcoming film Broken Embraces (Los Abrazos Rotos) has just popped up online!
Broken Embraces is written and directed by Pedro Almodóvar and re-teams the director with his muse Penelope Cruz. If you are unfamiliar with his work here are some titles to seek out: Law of Desire, High Heels, Live Flesh, All About My Mother, Talk to Her, Bad Education, and Volver.
Broken Embraces is described as a "four-way tale of amour-fou, shot in the style of '50s American film noir at its most hard-boiled, with signature Almodóvar themes such as fate, the mystery of creation, guilt, unscrupulous power, the eternal search of fathers for sons, and sons for fathers."
Broken Embraces opens in select theaters November 6th.
Following the success o Paris, je t'aime 12 filmmakers present New York, I Love You. The 5 minute short films illustrate the universal theme of encountering love within the five boroughs of New York City. The directors chosen this time around are: Fatih Akin, Yvan Attal, Allen Hughes, Shunji Iwai, Wen Jiang, Scarlett Johansson, Shekhar Kapur, Joshua Marston, Mira Nair, Natalie Portman, Brett Ratner, Andrei Zvyagintsev, Randall Balsmeyer.
The cast that features: Carlos Acosta, Eva Amurri, Kevin Bacon, Jacinda Barrett, Justin Bartha, Jordann Beal, Rachel Bilson, Orlando Bloom, James Caan, Richard Chang, Jeff Chena, Gary Cherkassky, Hayden Christensen, Julie Christie, Bradley Cooper, Chris Cooper, Sinsu Co, Simon Dasher, Cesar De León, Drea de Matteo, Eddie D'vir, Andy Garcia, Taylor Geare, Ethan Hawke, Juri Henley-Cohn, John Hurt, Ashley Klein, Sean T. Krishnan, Shia LaBeouf, Cloris Leachman, Blake Lively, Eliezer Meyer, Adam S. Phillips, Natalie Portman, Nicholas Purcell, Maggie Q, Amy Raudenbush, Christina Ricci, Robert d Scott, Qi Shu, Gurdeep Singh, Olivia Thirlby, Goran Visnjic, Eli Wallach, Saul Williams, Robin Wright Penn, Burt Young, Ugur Yücel, and Rebecca Merle.
Look for New York, I Love You in select theaters on April 10th.
I recently viewed Christophe Honoré's excellent films Dan's Paris (Inside Paris) and Love Songs (Les Chansons D'Amour)!
Dans Paris stars Romain Duris, Louis Garrel, and Joana Preiss in this French film about a man (Paul) depressed after the break-up of his marriage. Paul moves in with his divorced father and womanizing younger brother as his father tries in vain to cheer him up.
Love Songs is a modern day musical told through songs sung entirely by the cast and scored by Alex Beaupain. The story revolves around a relationship between Ismael (Louis Garrel of Dans Paris, The Dreamers), Julie (Ludivine Sagnier of Swimming Pool, Girl Cut in Two), and Alice (Clotilde Hesme of Regular Lovers) who engage in a threesome as things begin to get tricky. Ultimately tragedy strikes and these young Parisians are forced to deal with the fragility of life and love.
Here's an indie film that I'm looking foreward to seeing!
When Trudi suddenly dies, Rudi is thrown out of gear and learns that his wife wanted to live a totally different life in Japan. Look for Cherry Blossoms in select theaters Jan. 16th. (Above is the German movie poster)
Every year it seems that I miss seeing more and more films, but here is a list of my favorite films that I did see with a little music mix from some of the films.
Slumdog Millionaire
Directed by Danny Boyle (Trainspotting, Millions, 28 Days Later, Sunshine) Slumdog Millionaire's plot revolves around an Indian street orphan who wins the grand prize on the Hindi version of Who Wants to be A Millionaire, as we find out (via flashbacks) if it was it all luck or if he was cheating. View the trailer here or right here...
The Wrestler
Directed by Darren Aronofsky this is the story of Randy "The Ram" Robinson (Mickey Rourke) a professional wrestler from the 80s, who still wrestles on the weekends in semi-pro matches for extra money. He is forced to retire completely after a heart attack threatens to kill him the next time he wrestles. He takes a weekend shift at the deli counter at the grocery store where he already works on weekdays, attempts to form a relationship with an aging stripper (Marisa Tomei) and does his best to reconcile with his estranged daughter (Evan Rachel Wood). However, he is drawn to the prospect of a rematch with his old wrestling nemesis the Ayatollah (Ernest Miller), even though the fight may cost him his life.
View the trailer here or right here...
Paranoid Park
Directed by Gus Van Sant this artsy drama (based on the novel of the same name by Blake Nelson) takes place in Portland, Oregon and revolves around a teenage skateboarder who accidentally kills a security guard. View the trailer here or right here...
The Visitor
The Visitor's plot revolves around sixty-two-year-old Walter Vale, who is sleepwalking through his life. Having lost his passion for teaching and writing, his college sends him to Manhattan to attend a conference and he is surprised to find a young couple has taken up residence in his apartment who have nowhere else to go. In the first of a series of tests of the heart, Walter reluctantly allows the couple to stay with him. View the trailer here or right here...
A Band's Visit
The film follows a band of members of the Egyptian police force who head to Israel to play at the inaugural ceremony of an Arab arts center, only to find themselves lost in the wrong town with a series of quiet happenings and confessions. View the trailer here or right here...
The Go-Getter
The plot to this road-trip movie revolves a teenager (Lou Pucci) who steals a car to find his long-lost brother and discovers a profound connection along the way (with Zooey DeShannel). View the trailer here or right here...
The Counterfeiters
Based on the true story of counterfeiter extraordinaire Salomon Sorowitsch who gets put in a German concentration camp and agrees to help the Nazis in an organized counterfeit operation set up to help finance the war effort. View the trailer here or right here...
Cassandra's Dream
Directed by Woody Allen, Ewan McGregor and Colin Farrell play brothers in this dark drama about siblings who dream of improving their lives only to find themselves in a sticky situation when an uncle asks them to do an illegal favor. View the trailer right here...
Frozen River
Frozen River is the story of Ray Eddy, an stuggling mom who is lured into the world of illegal immigrant smuggling when she meets a Mohawk girl who lives on a reservation that straddles the US-Canadian border.
This is the strange tale of a high school student who discovers that she has a physical advantage when she becomes the object of male violence. View the trailer here or right here...
Cloverfield
The plot revolves around an attack in New York as told from the point of view of a small group of people who film the entire story on their hand held camera. View the traier here or right here...
When Did You Last See Your Father
This film explores the father/son relationship of Blake Morrison (Colin Firth) deals with the death of his father. Blake’s upsetting memories about his childhood are interspersed with tender scenes in the present, as he struggles to come to terms with his father and their history of conflict. View the trailer here or right here..
Girl Cut in Two
This French film from Claude Chabrol is about a girl torn between an older man (a famous married author who won't leave his wife) and a semi-deranged young heir to an industrial fortune who loves her. View the trailer here or right here...
Towelhead
Directed by Alan Ball (Six Feet Under) and based on Alicia Erian's novel of the same name, Towelhead tells the story of a young Arab American girl named Jasira (Summer Bishil) who is sent to live with her strict Lebanese father (Peter Macdissi) who lives in a suburb of Houston, Texas. Jasira struggles against her father's lifestyle and against her racist classmates. For the first time in her life, the problems of being an Arab in America hits Jasira, causing her to become sexually obsessed with her neighbor; a bigoted army reservist. View the trailer here or right here...
Flashbacks of A Fool
Errogant and aging Hollywood star Joe Scott (Daniel Craig) finds out about the death of his childhood best friend and takes us into an extended flashback to a sea-side town in 1970's Britain that helps to explain why he is so tormented. View the trailer here or right here..
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Adapted from the 1920s story by F. Scott Fitzgerald this tells the story of Benjamin Button, a man who starts aging backwards with bizarre consequences.
When two brothers plan to rob their parents' jewelery store the job goes horribly wrong, triggering a series of events that sends them, their father and one brother's wife hurtling towards a shattering climax.
Ed Harris directs this western about two gunmen (Harris and Viggo Mortensen) who try to help a lawless town suffering at the hands of a thuggish rancher (Jeremy Irons).View the trailer here or right here...
In Bruges
This film stars Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson as hitmen hiding out in the Belgian city of Bruges, awaiting instructions from their gangster boss (Ralph Fiennes) as they come to terms with issues of guilt, morality, and redemption. View the trailer here or right here...
Quarantine
In this film a television reporter and her cameraman are trapped inside a building quarantined by the CDC after the outbreak of a mysterious virus. View the trailer here or right here...
The Dark Knight
Christopher Nolan (Memento, The Prestige, Following, Insomnia) directs the second installment of the Batman seires, and I'm sure you've all read that Heath Ledger steals the show as The Joker. View the trailer here or right here...
Two Lovers is a romantic drama starring Joaquin Phoenix as Leonard, a charismatic but troubled young man who moves back into his childhood home following a recent heartbreak. While recovering under the watchful eye of his parents (Isabella Rossellini and Moni Monoshov), Leonard meets two women in quick succession: Michelle (Gwyneth Paltrow), a mysterious and beautiful neighbor who is exotic and out-of-place in Leonard's staid world, and Sandra, the lovely and caring daughter of a businessman who is buying out his family's dry-cleaning business.
Two Lovers opens in select theaters February 13th, 2009.
The Wrestler is definitely one film that I will be looking forward to checking out!
There is a ton of hype surrounding Darren Aronofsky's forthcoming drama about a washed-up professional wrestler played by Mickey Rourke. The film also stars Marisa Tomei, who plays Rourke's stripper friend and Evan Rachel Wood as Rourke's estranged daughter. The Bruce Springsteen song in the trailer is also a nice touch.
More on the film: The film is actually about Randy "The Ram" Robinson, a 1980s era pro wrestler who had become a burnt-out shell of his former self. After he had a heart attack during a small-time match, doctors told him he could die if he fights again. In an effort to build a new life Robinson took a job at a deli, moved in with an aging stripper and tried to build a relationship with her son. But the prospect of a rematch with his old nemesis, the Ayatollah, proved too tempting to resist...even if it meant risking his life.
The Wrestler opens in select theaters on Dec. 17th.
View the Trailer (courtesy of Cinematical) Right Here
Here's one more new film that recently came out on dvd that I would recommend!
Harmony Korine's (director of Kids, Gummo) latest film Mister Lonely is his first film in quite awhile. The plot synopsis goes like this: An American kid, a Michael Jackson impersonator, is lost...and he meets a Marilyn Monroe impersonator and he gets found when he goes to this place where Charlie Chaplin, Shirley Temple, Madonna, and a bunch of other Jack Rabbit Slims employees live and see nuns falling out of the sky. Diego Luna and Samantha Norton star in the lead roles.
Here's another new film that recently came out on dvd that I would recommend!
Based on the autobiography of Blake Morrison of the same name, When Did You Last See Your Father? is a film that reflects upon themes of respect, contempt, and understanding one’s parents and the indisputable truth that as children we are doomed to become them in one facet or another.
There's a few new films that recently came out on dvd that I would recommend viewing, this is but one of them!
Sukiyaki Western Django is directed and co-written by renowned Japanese filmmaker Takashi Miike, known for horror films including Ichi the Killer, Audition, Gozu, and One Missed Call.
Asian cowboys, samurai, and Quentin Taratino squaring off in the old west east...what more could you ask for?
Have y'all seen the teaser trailer for Roland Emmerich's 2012, which popped up online last week?
T film is based on the Mayan calendar prediction that the end of the world will arrive sometime in 2012...the movie is about that arrival and what will happen. Of course that means there is alot of potential for some crazy viral marketing, which brings us to a site called Institute for Human Continuity that talks about registering for a lottery to guarantee your survival when the apocalypse comes in 2012. Nothing much happens once you register, but it's still early in the game.
Look for 2012 in theaters theaters on July 10, 2009.
Register at Institute for Human Continuity Right Here
View the Teaser Trailer (if you have not already done so)...
One of my favorite French directors Olivier Assayas is set to release his latest drama titled Summer Hours!
Summer Hours plot revolves around a family that meet at their mother’s 75th birthday in an old French country home that belonged to their great uncle, who was a famous artist. After the party the film follows the three adult children (Charles Berling, Juliette Binoche, and Jeremie Renier). The film meditates on what memory and family mean as we grow older and how objects play a role in that.
Fans of Assayas' early films like Late August, Early September might enjoy this one. No official stateside release date yet, but I'm betting this will be popping up in art house cinemas quite soon. You'll know more when I do.
Here's the trailer for Kelly Reichardt's follow-up to the '06 indie film Old Joy (starring Will Oldham).
Wendy and Lucy follows Wendy (Michelle Williams) and her dog Lucy as they travel to Alaska for a summer job. Wendy's life begins to fall apart once her car breaks down in Oregon as her financial situation gets progessively worse. There is already much talk from the films viewings at various festivals about Michelle Williams powerful performance.
Indie film I've Loved You For So Long hits select theaters this weekend! If you are not headed out to see Clint Eastwood's Changeling or Charlie Kaufman's Synecdoche NY then this is a wise choice.
The story revolves around a woman named Juliette (Kristin Scott Thomas) who has had no ties with her family who had rejected her over 15 years ago. Although life once violently separated them, Lea, her younger sister, takes her into her home which she shares with her husband Luc, his father, and their two daughters.
I've Loved You For So Long opens in select theaters this weekend (October 24th).
Indie film Sunshine Cleaing aims to be this years Little Miss Sunshine!
A single mom and her slacker sister find an unexpected way to turn their lives around in the off-beat dramedy directed by Christine Jeffs (Rain, Sylvia).
Once the high school cheerleading captain (Amy Adams) now finds herself a thirty something single mom working as a maid. Her sister Norah (the beautiful Emily Blunt), is still living at home with their dad Joe (Alan Arkin), a salesman with a lifelong history of ill-fated get rich quick schemes. Desperate to get her son into a better school, Rose persuades Norah to go into the crime scene clean-up business with her to make some quick cash.
Look for Sunshine Cleaning in select theaters March 13th 2009.
Screw Twilight! This Swedish vampire film looks like a real wild ride and now the Exclusive Red Band Trailer has just popped up online!
Terrorized by bullies, lonely 12-year-old Oskar befriends a mysterious young girl whose arrival coincides with a series of gruesome deaths and attacks. Though Oskar realizes that she's a vampire, his friendship with her is stronger than his fear.
Let The Right One In has been picking up awards at various screenings, so I'd say it's only a matter of time before this gets an official stateside release date.
View the Exclusive Red Band Trailer (Courtesy of Rotten Tomatoes) Right Here
Screw Twilight! This Swedish vampire film looks like a real wild ride!
Terrorized by bullies, lonely 12-year-old Oskar befriends a mysterious young girl whose arrival coincides with a series of gruesome deaths and attacks. Though Oskar realizes that she's a vampire, his friendship with her is stronger than his fear.
Let The Right One In has been picking up awards at various screenings, so I'd say it's only a matter of time before this gets an official stateside release date.
One of our favorite British directors Mike Leigh (Secrets and Lies, Vera Drake) is back with a new film!
Usually Leigh's work tends to lean towards the dramatic side, but this one Happy-Go-Lucky appears to be more of a lighthearted feature.
The story revolves around Poppy (Sally Hawkins), a cheerful primary school teacher who is thirty years old, single, and infinitely optimistic. Determined to learn to drive, Poppy finds herself matched with Scott (Eddie Marsan), an uptight driving instructor who is everything she is not, and that is just the tip of the iceberg.
Look for Happy-Go-Lucky in theaters stateside October 10th.
View the Trailer right here or get more info Right Here.
Hong Kong born Chinese American writer/director, best know for his screen adaptation of The Joy Luck Club is back!
Wayne Wang's new films storyline revolves around a parental bond between a father and daughter who have not seen each other in 12 years and touches upon a past that is hard to reconcile. The story is adapted from a short story of the same name by Yiyun Li.
The indie film A Thousand Years of Good Prayers arrives in select theaters this weekend.
View the Trailer right here or get more info Here...
Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio reunite in an interesting domestic drama that will undoubtedly be in the Oscar run!
The first trailer for Revolutionary Road recently popped up online and it looks quite impressive. The 1950's-set romance/drama is directed by Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Road to Perdition, Jarhead), and is based on a book of the same name written by Richard Yates.
Paramount Pictures is debuting Revolutionary Road in limited theaters on December 26th later this year.
View the Trailer (courtesy of Slash Film) Right Here
A road trip movie about three U.S. soldiers returning home...sounds interesting enough!
Five years into the invasion of Iraq war-related movies have often proved disappointments, even last year's wonderful film In the Valley of Elah was not considered a success. The Lucky Ones, however is a different kind of story. When three soldiers find themselves on an unplanned road trip across America they form a deep bond that may be the closest thing any of them has to real family. This humorous drama stars Rachel McAdams (The Notebook, Wedding Crashers), Tim Robbins (Mystic River, The Shawshank Redemption) and Michael Peña (Crash, World Trade Center), and is directed by Neil Burger (The Illusionist).
Speaking of war films Spike Lee's Miracle at St. Anna also opens this weekend!
The Lucky Ones opens in select theaters tomorrow (Sept. 26th).
What's that you say...a new Michael Moore documentary for free!!!
Michael Moore plans to release his forthcoming documentary Slacker Uprising exclusively on the Internet for free. Slacker Uprising is a documentary about Moore's tour through swing states during the 2004 US presidential elections to rally young voters.
The download will be available on BlipTv.com for three weeks on September 23rd. A DVD will be released on October 7th through Amazon.com and NetFlix.
What's that you say...a new Michael Moore documentary for free!!!
Michael Moore plans to release his forthcoming documentary Slacker Uprising exclusively on the Internet for free. Slacker Uprising is a documentary about Moore's tour through swing states during the 2004 US presidential elections to rally young voters.
The download will be available on BlipTv.com for three weeks on September 23rd. A DVD will be released on October 7th through Amazon.com and NetFlix.
I recently caught a trailer for this forthcoming indie film from Sean Baker and Shih-Ching Tsou, who make their feature debut as writer/directors with the documentary-style drama titled Take Out.
Korean-American actor Charles Jang stars as Ming Ding, a Chinese illegal immigrant struggling to make ends meet working as a deliveryman at a take-out restaurant with a smuggling debt with one day to pay up.
I recently caught a trailer for this forthcoming indie film from Sean Baker and Shih-Ching Tsou, who make their feature debut as writer/directors with the documentary-style drama titled Take Out.
Korean-American actor Charles Jang stars as Ming Ding, a Chinese illegal immigrant struggling to make ends meet working as a deliveryman at a take-out restaurant with a smuggling debt with one day to pay up.
Here's one film that I'm sure to see when it opens at a theaters near me!
Acclaimed French director Claude Chabrol returns with the seductive and suspensful film A Girl Cut in Two. The story centers around Gabrielle Deneige (Ludivine Sagnier of Swimming Pool) as an ambitious TV weather girl torn between her love of a distinguished author (Francois Berléand) and the attentions of a potentially unstable young suitor (Benoit Magimel).
Currently Girl Cut in Two is screening at various film festivals around the globe with no official release date. You'll know more when we do.
The Good, The Bad, and The Weird is a Korean spaghetti western that received rave reviews at the Cannes Film Festival!
The film does not has a US distributor yet, although I'm hoping that after screenings at various Film Festivals the film will pick up a US distributor soon.
A Red Band Trailer for Zack and Miri Make A Porno has recently popped up online!
The story centers around lifelong platonic friends Zack and Miri, who look to solve their respective cashflow problems by making an adult film together. As the cameras roll, however, the duo begin to sense that they may have more feelings for each other than they previously thought. The film is written by Kevin Smith and stars Seth Rogen, Elizabeth Banks, Traci Lords, and Jason Mewes.
Zack and Miri Make a Porno hits theaters on October 31st.
view the Red Band Trailer courtesy of Cinematical (Warning this trailer contains material that may not be suitable for those under 18) Right Here
Watching the trailer for RocknRolla you would swear you were watching scenes from Snatch, but I'm ok with that especially given the early praises the film has received. RocknRolla stars Gerard Butler, Gemma Arterton, Thandie Newton, Jeremy Piven, Idris Elba, Tom Wilkinson, Mark Strong, and Ludacris.
RocknRolla is (tentatively) set to open in theaters stateside on October 31st.
The soundtrack features music from The Scientists, The Clash, The English Beat, Wanda Jackson, War, Lou Reed, The Sonics, The Subways, and The Hives.
Sukiyaki Western Django is directed and co-written by renowned Japanese filmmaker Takashi Miike, known for horror films including Ichi the Killer, Audition, Gozu, and One Missed Call. The film arrives in US theaters sometime in August 08 courtesy of First Look Studios.
Asian cowboys, samurai, and Quentin Taratino squaring off in the old west east...how much more could you ask for?
Watch the Trailer Right Here...
This scene contains spoliers, so only watch this one if you don't mind knowing more than you should...
Bret Easton Ellis has given us Less Than Zero, American Psycho, and The Rules of Attraction, now he is set to release The Informers!
The Informers will feature the late Brad Renfro's last role, and also stars Lou Taylor Pucci, Billy Bob Thornton, Amber Heard, Winona Ryder, Mickey Rourke, Kim Basinger, Rhys Ifans, and Brandon Routh.
The film observes the goings-on during a week in Los Angeles in 1983, with many intersecting characters including a kidnapper, movie executives, rock stars, and other freewheeling, morally loose individuals. No official release date just yet.
Warning: there is Foul language and nudity included in trailer below.
Last week Sony unveiled the first trailer for Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist starring Michael Cera and Kat Dennings. This quirky comedy is about two loners who, on a whim suddenly start dating as they head off on an evening adventure through New York City.
Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist opens in select theaters October 3rd.
I'm no wine connoisseur, but I can always appreciate a great film about it!
Directed by Randall Miller Bottle Shock is based on a true story that chronicles the events leading up to the famous 1976 'Judgment of Paris' tastings, told through the lives of father and son, Jim and Bo Barrett. A former real estate attorney, Jim (Bill Pullman) sacrificed everything to realize his dream of creating the perfect hand-crafted chardonnay.
Meanwhile in Paris, British wine shop owner Steven Spurrier (Alan Rickman) hopes to revive his own failing business by sponsoring a competition which will pit the traditional French powerhouse against the California upstarts. Little did they realize that they were both on course to change the history of wine forever.
The film stars Chris Pine, Alan Rickman, Bill Pullman, Rachael Taylor, Freddy Rodríguez , Dennis Farina, Eliza Dushku. Bottle Shock opens in select theaters August 6th.
The X-Men Origins: Wolverine trailer that premiered at Comic Con keeps getting taken down online before most peeps can view it, but now it can be found...for the time being.
The plot revolves around Wolverine who lives a mutant life, and seeks revenge against Victor Creed (who will later become Sabertooth) for the death of his girlfriend, and ultimately ends up going through the mutant Weapon X program.
Summit Entertainment has released the first trailer for Rian Johnson's second film The Brothers Bloom. Rian Johnson is the clever guy who brought us the fantastic indie gem Brick a few years back.
The Brothers Bloom looks like a wacky film that follows a couple of con men who decide to take one last job. The film stars stars Adrien Brody, Mark Ruffalo, Rachel Weisz, and (Babel's) Rinko Kikuchi. Look for The Brothers Bloom in select theaters on October 24th.
Over the weekend an official trailer for Oliver Stone’s forthcoming George W. Bush biopic (titled W) went online.
The film stars Josh Brolin as George W. Bush, Elizabeth Banks as Laura Bush, James Cromwell as George H. W. Bush, Ellen Burstyn as Barbara Bush, Thandie Newton as Condoleezza Rice, Ioan Gruffudd as Tony Blair, Richard Dreyfuss as Dick Cheney, Scott Glenn as Donald Rumsfeld, Jason Ritter as Jeb Bush, Noah Wyle as Donald Evans, Jeffrey Wright as Colin Powell, Rob Corddry as Ari Fleischer and Toby Jones as Karl Rove. Look for W in theaters October 17th.
Paramount came up with a killer marketing tactic for the forthcoming comedy Tropic Thunder. They made a mockumentary titled Rain of Madness about the making of the film that completely mimics Hearts of Darkness, which is about the making of Francis Ford Coppola's Apocalypse Now.
Tropic Thunder is directed by Ben Stiller (Zoolander) and written by Etan Cohen ("King of the Hill", Idiocracy) and actor Justin Theroux (who is also in the film). The movie stars Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr., Brandon T. Jackson, Jay Baruchel, and Steve Coogan. Tropic Thunder arrives in theaters everywhere on August 15th.
Alan Ball (Oscar winning writer of "American Beauty" and creator of "Six Feet Under") adapts and directs Towelhead, which is based on the critically acclaimed novel by Alicia Erian.
The plot revolves around Jasira, who is thrown into an unfamiliar suburban world and must confront racism and hypocrisy at home and at school. Aat the same time struggle to make sense of her raging hormones and newfound sexuality. Towelhead stars Aaron Eckhart, Toni Collette, Maria Bello, Peter Macdissi and newcomer Summer Bishil.
The new Heroes wepisodes are neat, but the new season of Heroes, titled Villians, will kick off with a two-hour premiere on September 22nd. Here's a preview...
NBC's Heroes have released the first of three webisodes!
The episodes are completely free and only a few minutes long. The first is titled A Nifty Trick and features a character that has a familiar power to comic book fans. The first webisode is great and I'm looking forward to viewing the next two. Heroes new season titled Villians will kick off with a two-hour premiere on September 22nd.
Joss Whedon’s brand new web series Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog has just went online!
Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog stars Neil Patrick Harris as an aspiring super villain named Dr. Horrible, who hopes to gain admission into the Evil League of Evil. Through song and dance he must deal with his arch-enemy Captain Hammer (played by Nathan Fillion) and deal with his crush on the girl at the local laundrymat.
The episodes are completely free! Act II and III will be available on Thursday July 15th and Saturday July 17th.
A new trailer for Frank Miller’s forthcoming film The Spirit recently found its way online!
The new trailer focuses on the women characters in the film, before introducing Samuel L. Jackson as the main villain, The Octopus. The Spirit has that similar Sin City look (which Miller also wrote) and marks Frank Miller's directorial debut.
Awhile back we posted about the forthcoming film Quarantine. Well, now a new trailer has surfaced online that gives us a more detailed look!
John Dowdle's film is an American remake of Spanish horror film [rec]., which film follows a TV news crew that gets trapped with a hazmat crew in a CDC quarantined apartment building which has been infected by something unknown. When the quarantine is eventually lifted, the only evidence of what happened is the news crew’s videotape (ala Cloverfield).
Look for Quarantine in theaters October 10th.
View the new trailer (in High-Def) courtesy of Yahoo
A red band trailer for Chuck Palahniuk's Choke has recently surfaced online!
The raunchy and hilarious red band trailer for Chuck Palahniuk's Choke looks promising. Fox Searchlight is banking that Choke will be one of this years big indie hits.
Choke is both written and directed by first-time filmmaker and actor Clark Gregg. The film is an adaption of Fight Club writer Chuck Palahniuk's novel of the same name. Choke premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January and was bought by Fox Searchlight for around $1 million.
Info on Quentin Tarantino's forthcoming war flick Inglorious Bastards recently surfaced! (*above is a pic from the 70's Italian war movie of the same name)
In one bit of dialogue from the film Raine tells his men: "Every man under my command, owes me, one hundred Nazi scalps. And I want my scalps. And all y’all will git me, one hundred Nazi scalps, taken from the heads of one hundred Nazi's or you will die trying."
The events are spread across 165 pages and five chapters -
Chapter One: Once Upon a Time, Nazi Occupied France
Chapter Two: Inglorious Bastards
Chapter Three: German Night in Paris (to be filmed in "French New Wave Black and White")
Chapter Four: Operation Kino
Chapter Five: Revenge of the Giant Face.
Look for Inglorious Bastards in theaters in June '09.
I was invited to attend the screening of the forthcoming indie film Garden Party this friday in Los Angeles.
The plot surrounds a 15-year-old girl (April) who is running from one bad situation into another, hoping to find an answer that doesn't involve taking off her clothes. As April navigates Los Angeles, she falls in with a group of confused kids struggling to chase their dreams. The black widow at the center of this web is a sexy, pot-dealing realtor named Sally St. Clair. Anyone who gets too close falls victim to her kinky entanglements. For some it goes bad, for others worse, but that's just a day in the life of the Garden Party - where everyone has a story.
Look for Garden Party in select theaters on July 11th.
I was also sent a zip file of a few tunes from the soundtrack from Erik Scott Smith (who plays aspiring musician Sammy in the film). 2 originals by Erik (“Hollywood” and “Victory Marks”) and a cover of a Rickie Nelson song (“Garden Party”). Copy the zip link here...
Elegy is a forthcoming film based on the novel by Phillip Roth, directed by Isabel Coixet (My Life Without Me, Paris, je t'aime), and stars Penélope Cruz, Ben Kingsley, Peter Sarsgaard, Patricia Clarkson and Dennis Hopper.
Elegy follows the passionate relationship between a college professor and a young woman whose beauty ravishes him. As their intimate connection transforms them, a charged sexual contest evolves into an indelible love story. Look for Elegy in select theaters on August 8th.
View the Trailer (courtesy of Moviefone) right here
Perhaps you may have seen a preview of Mirrors if you've been to watch a movie lately. It's very likely that you weren't all together impressed, but that's because you haven't seen the gory Red Band Trailer that has recently popped up online!
The story revolves around an ex-cop (Kiefer Sutherland) and his family, who are the target of an evil force that is using mirrors as a gateway into their home.
Look for Mirrors in theaters on August 15th.
View the Red Band Trailer (courtesy of IGN) right here (*Not for the squeamish)
I'm looking forward to watching the indie comedy/romance flick In Search of a Midnight Kiss. The film premiered to warm reviews at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2007.
In Search of a Midnight Kiss is written and directed by Alex Holdridge, Midnight Kiss tells of Wilson, who, considering he'll be broke and alone on New Year's Eve, is convinced by his best friend to post a personal ad online. Through that he meets Sara and the story unfolds. Look for In Search of a Midnight Kiss in select theaters on August 1st.
View the Trailer (courtesy of Moviefone) right here
I'm looking forward to watching Spike Lee's forthcoming drama Miracle at St Anna. The film set in 1944 Italy, and tells the story of four black American soldiers who get trapped in a Tuscan village during WWII. Look for the film in theaters nationwide September 26th.
The trailer for Bill Maher’s forthcoming documentary Religulous has recently popped up online. In the film, Maher travels to some of the world's most popular religious destinations (Jerusalem, the Vatican, etc) questioning believers while being upfront about his own skepticism. Why is suffering so random? Why are so many religions down on homosexuality? What’s up with the virgin birth? He talks to Hasidic scholars, Jesus impersonators, Jews for Jesus, Muslims, polygamists, Satanists, creationists, stoners, and a Senator who believes in the Rapture. Funny stuff. Look for Religulous in select theaters on October 3rd.
If you're not going to be watching The Hulk or The Happening this friday the 13th, then maybe this indie flick might be you're cup of tea.
Quid Pro Quo's plot revolves around Isaac Knott, a semi-paralyzed radio reporter (Nick Stahl) sent out to investigate a story when he encounters Fiona (Vera Farmiga), a woman who leads him into an odd subculture and a journey of disturbing self-realization. Quid Pro Quo opens this weekend in select theaters.
The indie film War Inc. will open in more theaters tomorrow (on June 6th), but if it's not playing at a theater near you, fear not. War inc. will be getting the super quick DVD release date of July 1st.
The plot revolves around Brand Hauser (John Cusack) is a corporate hit man who travels to the embattled country of Turaqistan, which has been taken over completely by a private corporation. Hired to kill a Middle East oil minister, Hauser poses as the corporation's Trade Show Manager and oversees the wedding of a pop singer (Hilary Duff) to get close to his target. The film stars John Cusack , Joan Cusack, Marisa Tomei, Hilary Duff, Ben Kingsley, and Dan Aykroyd.
The indie film The Go-Getter will hit theaters this weekend (on June 6th) in limited release.
The film stars Lou Taylor Pucci (Thumbsucker), Jena Malone (Donnie Darko), and Zooey Deschanel in a coming-of-age road movie that plays out like a modern day Fellini film. Indie rocker M. Ward provides the soundtrack.
The plot revolves around Pucci's character, who steals a car and goes on an odyssey to search for his estranged brother, after the death of their mother.
A red band trailer for the Coen brothers forthcoming dark spy comedy Burn After Reading recently popped up online!
The plot revolves around an ousted CIA official's memoir accidentally falling into the hands of two unwise gym employees intent on exploiting their find. The film stars: Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Frances McDormand, John Malkovich and Tilda Swinton. Look for Burn After Reading in theaters September 12th.
View the Trailer (via iTunes) here
or right here...
I'm really looking foreward to viewing Largo - The Film, which will be in the Documentary Competition section of the LA Film Festival.
Tickets go on sale June 2nd at 10 am. Screening dates, times, and venues are listed at the official LA Film Festival Site
The trailer features snippets of performances from: Jon Brion, Fiona Apple, Paul F. Tompkins, Zach Galifianakis, David Garza, Grant Lee Phillips, Michael Penn, John C. Reilly, Bic Runga, Margaret Cho, Colin Hay, Aimee Mann and many more.
Joss Whedon’s (Buffy, Firefly, Serenity) upcoming Fox TV show Dollhouse, which received a seven-episode order shortly before the strike, will debut midseason.
"Dollhouse" revolves around a group of young men and women, aka "Dolls," who are imprinted with different personalities for different assignments. They have no memories of their previous lives, until Echo (Eliza Dushku) begins to try to find out who she was.
View the Trailer right here...
{Australia}
Not really feeling any excitement for forthcoming action flicks like Batman or Indiana Jones? Well, here's one for you...
Australia is Baz Luhrmann's forthcoming romantic action-adventure. Set prior to World War II, Australia centers on an English aristocrat (Nicole Kidman) who inherits a ranch the size of Maryland. When English cattle barons plot to take her land, she reluctantly joins forces with a rough-hewn cattle driver (Hugh Jackman) to drive 2000 head of cattle across hundreds of miles of the country’s most unforgiving land, only to still face the bombing of Darwin, Australia by the Japanese forces that had attacked Pearl Harbor only months earlier.
Nope, we couldn't make it to this years Cannes Film Festival either, but that doesn't stop us from getting psyched about some of the films (premiering at the festival), which will make their debuts nationwide later this year.
First let's mention the official poster, which is a photograph by David Lynch, adapted by French cinema poster artist Pierre Collier. It pays tribute to the talent and works of the renowned American filmmaker. The event organizer said the poster's design conveys the same tone as director Lynch's films. David Lynch's films have been nominated four times at the Cannes Film Festival. He also won the Golden Palm award for Best Picture in 1990 (for Wild at Heart) and an award for best Director for the film Mulholland Drive in 2001.
There are just too many films to mention making their debut at the festival. Amongst those I'm looking forward to hearing about are Charlie Kaufman's Synecdoche, Steven Soderbergh's Che, and Clint Eastwood's Changeling. Couldn't find any trailers for those films, but here's a couple that I did find trailers for.
Fernando Meirelles' (director of City of God, The Constant Gardener) Blindness...
Here's an exclusive look at NBC's Fear Itself. The summer shock series features a new 1 hour mini movie every week from some of Horror's biggest names. The series debuts on NBC at 10pm on May 29th.
Visit the Official Site for more info or watch a clip right here..
Are you fans of Fox's hit tv series 24 having withdrawls too? Then check out the new 24 spin-off The Rookie!
In these side stories rookie analyst/field agent Jason Blaine (Jeremy Valdez) is sent to Mexico City to find his mentor Alex Maxwell (Eric Beck), who has been kidnapped by drug czar Estaban Salazar (the Salazar brothers were introduced in season 3 of 24). The plot also thickens when a a mole is discovered inside the CTU (Counter Terrorist Unit), adding that familiar set up to fans of the 24 storytelling.
There's a bit too much brand advertisement (the webisodes are brought to you by Degree men's deodorant), and the acting isn't quite up to snuff, but it's still 24 right? The familiar setup is all there, the ticking clock, the framed character windows, etc.
Quarantine's viral marketing aims to replicate Cloverfield-esque hype!
After 40 seconds of amateur videocam footage posted on YouTube back in March, Sony Pictures' forthcoming film Quarantine (directed by John Dowdle) is the latest in viral marketing that aims to replicate the kind of hype that Cloverfield generated.
The story centers around tv reporter Angela Vidal (Jennifer Carpenter of The Exorcism of Emily Rose) and her cameraman (Steve Harris), who are covering a story about a Los Angeles Fire Station. When a 911 call takes them to an apartment building, they find police officers already on the scene responding to horrible screams coming from one of the units. They learn a woman living in the building has been infected by a mysterious source. When the residents, officers, and tv crew try to escape they learn that the CDC has quarantined the building. There is no phone, internet, television, or cell phone access and officials are not relaying information to those locked inside. Once the quarantine is finally lifted the only evidence of what took place is the news crew videotape.
Quarantine is based on the '07 Spanish import {REC} by Paco Plaza & Jaume Balaguero. Look for Quarantine in theaters nationwide on October 17th.
Visit the Official Site to watch the full screen or hi-def trailer or view it right here...
The red-band trailer is now online for Andrew Fleming's forthcoming comedy Hamlet 2. I had an opportunity to catch an advanced screening of the film last month, and I was pleasantly surprised that there were indeed a few good laughs to be had. The film starts slowly and resorts to all-too-familiar jokes early on, but once the musical gets underway that's when the real laughs begin.
Hamlet 2 is about an eccentric high-school-drama teacher (Steve Coogan) who enlists his Tucson, Arizona students in a politically incorrect musical sequel to William Shakespeare's Hamlet. Hamlet 2 costars: Catherine Keener, Amy Poehler, David Arquette and Elisabeth Shue (as Elisabeth Shue). Look for Hamlet 2 in theaters on November 22nd.
View the Red Band Trailer right here (or view it from the Official Site)...
Last weeks Lost episode demands a repeat viewing, mainly to try and speculate on some of the mysteries that surround Ben. In the meantime, here's some Sneak Peaks at this weeks episode.
Jennifer Lynch's directs her first film in fifteen years (her only other being her debut Boxing Helena) is not your typical serial killer thriller. The film is titled Surveillance and stars: Julia Ormond, Bill Pullman, French Stewart, Michael Ironside, and Cheri Oteri (yea, Cheri Oteri).
Ormond and Pullman star as FBI agents tracking a serial killer with the help of three of his would-be victims...all of whom have wildly different stories to tell.
Warner Bros. controls the German release rights to Surveilance, where it opens this summer, so this is the overseas trailer. No word yet on wehter this will get a U.S. theatrical release. Jennifer Lynch and Kent Harper wrote the script and (her father) David Lynch executive produced.
I recently began contributing to the excellent movie site dTheatre. I posted my first entry on Olivier Assayas new erotic noir thriller Boarding Gate starring Asia Argento, Michael Madsen, Carl Ng, Kelly Lin, and a cameo from Sonic Youth's Kim Gordon. Read all about it, checkout the trailer, and view some production stills right here!
In addition to launching this aspiring District Attorney’s political campaign mini-site, Warner Bros has launched this new viral video clip for 'The Dark Knight' of Rachel Dawes endorsing Harvey Dent.
Christopher Nolan returns to direct, Christian Bale reprises the lead role. Heath Ledger stars as the joker, Aaron Eckhart as district attorney Harvey Dent and Maggie Gyllenhaal plays assistant D.A. Rachel Dawes, a childhood friend of Bruce Wayne.
View the Rachel Dawes endorsing Harvey Dent clip right here...
March 31, 2008
{X-Files 2}
The X-Files 2 trailer was shown at the Paley Fest last week and it's got me exited about seeing the return of agents Mulder and Scully, even though the trailer doesn't exactly reveal what the plot is all about. So you might want to dust off those old X-Files DVD's to familiarize yourself Chris Carter's wonderful series!
IFC Films recently acquired the North American rights to the French film Fear(s) of the Dark. The black and white animated film provides a look at six different nightmares from six cartoonists and graphic artists.: Charles Burns, Blutch, Marie Caillou, Pierre DiSciullo, Lorenzo Mattotti, and Richard McGuire.
The official US release date for Fear(s) of the Dark has not been set yet, but we'll keep you posted.
Here's a couple of sneak peeks from this weeks forthcoming Lost episode titled Meet Kevin Johnson, in which we may discover what Michael has been up to all this time.
The trailer for The Incredible Hulk premiered tonight and surprise surprise it's already online. The film stars Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, Tim Roth and William Hurt. In this new beginning, scientist Bruce Banner (Edward Norton) desperately hunts for a cure to the gamma radiation that poisoned his cells and unleashes the unbridled force of rage within him. Let's hoping it's better than the last one!
Remember the Daze is a forthcoming independent film written and directed by Jess Manafort. The film follows a group of teens on the last day of class in suburbia 1999. This group of students cope with their undetermined fate over a 24 hour period, told in a stream-of-consciousness style. Remember the Daze (orignally titled The Beautiful Ordinary) opens in select theaters on April 11th.
The red band trailer for The Foot Fist Way recently popped up online.
Here's the synopsis:
After he attacks the man who slept with his wife, a tae kwon do instructor (Danny R. McBride of Napoleon Dynamite) goes on a downward spiral that ultimately causes him to escape his feelings by going on a pilgrimage with his buddy and two of his students to see his hero, Chuck "The Truck" Wallace
Look for The Fist Foot Way in theaters May 30th.
I was invited to an advanced screening of the forthcoming comedy tentatively titled Hamlet 2 last night. The comedy is about a failed actor-turned-worse-high-school-drama teacher (Steve Coogan) who rallies his students and stages a modern day musical sequel to Shakespeare’s Hamlet.
Hamlet 2 is directed by Andrew Fleming (Dick, Nancy Drew) and co-written by Fleming and Pam Brady (South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut, Team America, Hot Rod). The film stars: David Arquette, Catherine Keener, Amy Poehler, and Elisabeth Shue.
Hamlet 2 was one of the first (and biggest) sales at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival, claimed by Focus Feaures for a reported $10 million.
Let's start with what doesn't work. Like does the silly male student who adores Dana have to be so swishy? Do the Latino students who wind up in Dana's (Coogan's) class have to be so horribly stereotyped? What's with the racist Christian girl who suddenly becomes enamored by the Latino kids culture? Then there's Amy Poehler (an ALCU lawyer ready to defend Dana's production), who's lines are written with the word 'Jew' as the punchline?
There are plenty of funny of moments, such as in the opening scenes that portray just how down-and-out Coogan's charactor is. The scenes toward the end of the film, during the musical, are also especially funny. See the "I feel like I've been raped in the face!" or the "Rock Me Sexy Jesus" numbers for examples.
At the end of the day this movie still needs plenty of editing, but there certainly is a comedy to work with here. I wish I had a trailer for you, but their keeping this one on lockdown for now.
Beautiful Losers is a documentary film by Aaron Rose & Joshua Leonard celebrating the independent and D.I.Y. spirit that unified a loose-knit group of American artists who emerged from the underground youth subcultures of skateboarding, graffiti, punk rock and hip-hop including: Ed Templeton, Spike Jonze, Harmony Korine, Cheryl Dunn, Clare Rojas and Mark Gonzales.
The verdict is still out on whether this clip, which popped up online a few days ago, is real or not. The clip is from Spike Jonze and Dave Eggers scripted adaptation of Maurice Sendak's children's book Where the Wild Things Are. The visual effects for the film may have resulted in the film being pushed back to 2009, so this may in fact be an early (or unfinished) clip we're looking at. Judge for yourself...
Awhile back I was cordially invited to the red carpet premiere of Teeth. I couldn't make it, but after watching the preview I wish I had.
Here's the synopsis: High school student Dawn works hard at suppressing her budding sexuality by being the local chastity group's most active participant. Her task is made even more difficult by her stepbrother Brad's increasingly provocative behavior at home. A stranger to her own body, innocent Dawn discovers she has a toothed vagina ('vagina dentata') when she becomes the object of violence. As she struggles to comprehend her anatomical uniqueness, Dawn experiences both the pitfalls and the power of being a living example of the vagina dentata myth.
Teeth is written and directed by Mitchell Lichtenstein and is currently playing in select theaters.
View the first five minutes of the movie right here...
Nada Surf is now streaming their entire forthcoming album on their MySpace! Their fifth album, titled Lucky, will release on Feb. 5th (from Barsuk Records) and features guest spots from Ed Harcourt ("Weightless" and "Beautiful Beat"), the Long Winters John Roderick ("Ice on the Wing"), and Ben Gibbard and Harvey Danger's Sean Nelson ("See These Bones").
This American Life is planning a stage show that would be filmed and sent live via satellite to movie theaters across the country. Ira Glass perform will host a audience Q&A via satellite with theater attendees. This is a public radio program first, but to make it happen This American Life needs to know if you’re interested! They are asking for your input by taking this very short survey (it’ll take less than two minutes).
Here's one of my favorite clips from a past This American Life episode: The Allure of The Mean Friend. This clip is from Mike Albo's book The Underminer (because I've known plenty of 'em). Give it a listen...
Smart People is an indie-comedy that premiered at this years Sundance Film festival. The story revolves around a literature professor (Dennis Quaid), his overachieving daughter (Ellen Page), and his freeloading brother (Thomas Haden Church). The film is the directorial debut from Noam Murro and was produced by Michael London (producer of Sideways). Look for Smart People in theaters April 11th.
The story of Alice's House (or A Casa De Alice) revolves around Alice, a fortysomething manicurist trapped in a loveless marriage with a husband who has affairs with teenage girls. Alice also has trouble keeping her teenage boys in line, and things get even more complicated when a romantic figure from Alice's past suddenly comes back into her life
This award winning Brazilian drama is on the top of my movie viewing list and is currently playing in select theaters stateside.
Harmony Korine's (director of Kids, Gummo) forthcoming film Mister Lonely is his first film in awhile.
The plot synopsis goes like this: An American kid, a Michael Jackson impersonator, is lost...and he meets Marilyn Monroe impersonator and he gets found when he goes to this place where Charlie Chaplin, Shirley Temple, Madonna, and a bunch of other Jack Rabbit Slims employees live and see nuns falling out of the sky. Not quite sure what to expect from this one, but it stars Diego Luna and Samantha Norton in the lead roles. No official release date for Mister Harmony just yet, but we'll keep you posted.
This forthcoming comedy is co-written by Seth Rogen and stars Owen Wilson and Leslie Mann. The film is based on a John Hughes story about two kids who hire a low-budget bodyguard to protect them from the playground bully. Look for this in theaters March 21st.
The plot to Pineapple Express revolves around a stoner (Seth Rogen) and his dealer (James Franco) who are forced to go on the run from the police after the potheads witness a cop commit a murder. Look for this comedy in theaters Aug. 8th.
Gus Van Sant's new film Paranoid Park is based on the novel of the same name by Blake Nelson. The story is set in the world of Portland's skateboarders, it's about a teenage kid "who accidentally kills a security guard and has to figure out what to do when police start to investigate the death". His otherwise typical life spins into a strange new reality of confusion, cover-up and guilt. Look for Paranoid Park in select theaters on March 7th.
Have you seen the very realistic Oceanic Airlines billboards around town? Days after the billboards went up they were grafittied over with a web address of a former Oceanic employee digging to uncover the truth about flight 815. Just the latest clever marketing scheme to get people talking. Look for the new season to premiere Jan 31st.
Warner Independent recently put out a trailer for David Gordon Green's forthcoming film Snow Angels. The plot description simply lists this as: a drama that interweaves the life of a teenager, with his old baby sitter, her estranged husband, and their daughter. The film is adapted from the novel of the same name (by Stewart O'Nan) and stars Sam Rockwell and Kate Beckinsale. Bonus points for using The National's "Slow Show" in the trailer. Look for Snow Angels in select theaters on March 7th.
The trailer for the forthcoming film My Name is Bruce recently popped up online. The film stars B-movie legend Bruce Campbell. Campbell plays himself in the movie, in which teenagers unwittingly unleash a demonic creature in a small town and the locals demand that Ash...er, Bruce save them. Campbell is known for the iconic Evil Dead movies and has also appeared (in cameos) in the Spider-Man films, the television show Brisco County Jr., and dozens of straight-to-DVD horror flicks. My Name is Bruce was originally slated for a 2007 release, but has recently been pushed back to 2008.
Five minutes of the forthcoming film Cloverfield is now online! The film is about five New Yorkers who throw a going-away party the night that a monster the size of a skyscraper descends upon the city. Cloverfield is told from the point of view of their camcorder and doesn't feature any big Hollywood stars. Cloverfield is directed by Matt Reeves (The Pallbearer) and written by Drew goddard (Lost, Alias, Buffy). Look for the film in theaters on Jan. 18.
I was super excited that Shane Meadows' This is England was released stateside on DVD (exclusively through Netflix) last week. I posted about this film earlier in the year when it released overseas and was anxiously awaiting a theatrical release in the US. To my surprise Netflix released the film on their own. The film won numerous awards upon it's release, the cinematography alone is worth noting, and as much as I try not to look at Rotten Tomatoes reviews, it received a remarkably high rating. I highly recommend checking this one out.
Preview the awesome soundtrack, which features tunes from: Toots & The Maytals, Soft Cell, The Specials, Dexy's Midnight Runners, Percy Sledge and more right here
Last week I posted a David Ford cover of The Smiths "There is A Light", this week it's another cover of The Smiths that was featured in the finale of This is England.
The red band trailer (which means you have to be 18 and over to view it) for Harold & Kumar 2: Escape from Guantanamo Bay recently popped up online. It is clearly funnier than the 'made for tv' trailer, so sit back and laugh it up for a few minutes.
The first teaser trailer from Stephen Chow's forthcoming film CJ7 has finally hit the web. The sci-fi comedy revolves around a poor Chinese father and his son who have their lives turned upside down by the arrival of a strange “pet”. The teaser is pretty short and doesn't explain much, but it's something. CJ7 hits theatres overseas on February 8th, no word on a stateside release date yet.
The first feature film to be launched exclusively on iTunes opened today! Written and directed by Edward Burns, Purple Violets is a romantic comedy starring Selma Blair, Debra Messing, and Patrick Wilson. Read more about it The LA Times. Set in lower Manhattan, Purple Violets is a relationship comedy about four friends from college ready for change.
Fernando Meirelles' 2003 film City of God was argueably one of the best modern day films, giving Meirelles the credibility to go on to direct the Oscar winning picture The Constant Gardener. Now, comes the spin-off to City of God titled City of Men, with Mereilles taking producing duties. Look for City of Men in theaters Jan. 18th.
Guy Ritchie, who directed modern day classics like Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch before marrying Madonna, has a new trailer online for his upcoming return-to-cool film Revolver. The crime-thriller stars Jason Statham, Ray Liotta, Andre 'Andre 3000' Benjamin and Terence Maynardlooks. Look for Revolver in theaters on December 7th.
Pixar makes their first forray into 2-D animation with the 11-minute short Your Friend the Rat, which will be included on the Ratatouille DVD releasing this week. The short explores the three worst epidemics of the New York subway system: homeless gangs, rats, and feminists.
The trailer for Todd Haynes' forthcoming Bob Dylan biopic I'm Not There has surfaced online. We catch a glimpse at all of the actors who will be portraying Dylan including: Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Marcus Carl Franklin, Richard Gere, Heath Ledger, and Ben Whishaw. I'm recommending to everyone I know to check out the 200 film Masked and Anonymous for a little Dylan inspiration. I'm Not There will open in select theaters on Nov. 21st. View the trailer right here...
The trailer for the comic book to big screen adaptation of Wanted has surfaced online.
The film stars Angelina Jolie as an assassin named Fox, James McAvoy as Wes, an office worker turned deadly killer, and Morgan Freeman as the Fraternity’s leader who teaches Wes to unlock his powers. Look for Wanted in theaters on March 28th.
This indie dramedy is set in a strange afterlife way station that has been reserved for people who have committed suicide. The film stars Patrick Fugit, Shannyn Sossamon, Shea Whigham, Tom Waits, and Will Arnett. Look for Wristcutters in select theaters on Nov. 23rd.
David Lynch's cult classic tv show Twin Peaks gets the gold treatment! Not only will the Twin Peaks Gold Box unite Season 2 with the now out of print Season 1 set, but it will include the Pilot Episode that had been missing from that first season set. All we need now is for Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me to get the star treatment, so you can round out your Twin Peaks catalogue.
Look for the Twin Peaks: Definitive Gold Box Edition on Oct. 30th. Watch the trailer right here...
Pre-order the Twin Peaks: Definitive Gold Box here
Here's a trailer for the forthcoming film The Kite Runner, which is based on the novel by Khaled Hosseini. The story follows Amir, who returns to his homeland in Afghanistan to help his old friend whose son is in trouble. There is a great deal of controversy surrounding the film (read about it here), which looks like a real tearjearker. Look for The Kite Runner in theaters Jan. 17th.
Here's the first Japanese teaser for Stephen Chow's Shaolin Girl, which judging from the teaser it looks as though this should have been titled Shaolin Lacrosse! Shaolin Girl is the officially sanctioned follow up to Shaolin Soccer, though obviously not a direct sequel. The film is a full Japanese production with Chow on board as a producer and lead character. No word on an official US release date yet, but we'll keep you posted.
There's now a trailer online for Doug Liman's forthcoming film Jumper. The film is based on the Steven Gould novel and follows a young man (Hayden Christensen) who discovers that he has the ability to teleport. The story revolves around the boy's quest for the man he believes is responsible for the death of his mother. You may be familiar with Doug Liman's action films such as The Bourne Identity or Mr and Mrs Smith, but I'm a huge fan of his comedies like Go and Swingers. No offical release date yet, but we'll keep you posted.
The Sci-Fi Channel is doing a new take on The Wizard of Oz? I know, I know this doesn't exactly sound like the best idea in the world, but checkout the trailer and see for yourself how this could be interesting. The six-hour miniseries stars Zooey Deschanel, Richard Dreyfuss, Alan Cumming, and Neal McDonough. The Tin Man is slated for a December 2007 premiere.
The trailer for Tim Burton's Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, based on the hit Broadway musical, is now online. The story follows Sweeney Todd (a.k.a Benjamin Barker) who returns to London after being sent away by Judge Turpin and opens a barber shop above Mrs. Lovett's Meat Pie Shop were she sells "the worst pies in London." With the help of Mrs. Lovett, Todd tries to rid of all the people who have ever done him wrong and hopes to be reunited with his daughter, Joanna, who is now Judge Turpin's ward. Depp is joined by Helena Bonham Carter and Borat's Sacha Baron Cohen. The film hits theatres in December.
No trailers yet folks. This barely went into pre-production, but if you saw the CGI Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie that released earlier this year, then you're already familiar with the work that Imagi Animation Studios does. All we have right now is this incredibly detailed poster! Warner Brothers and The Weinstein Company will distribute the film and are aiming for release sometime in 2009.
Astroboy tells the story of a powerful robot boy created by a brilliant scientist in the image of the son he lost. Our hero journeys to find acceptance in the human world and ultimately discovers true friendship as he uses his incredible powers to help others and save Metro City from destruction.
The Astroboy CGI film is being directed by Colin Brady. When we know more so will you.
Wong Kar Wai's Lust, Caution premeires in select theaters this coming week, but Philips has commissioned (and is hosting) a short film from the director as part of their new website for their Ambilight televisions. There’s Only One Sun stars Amelie Daure as a secret agent who is blinded in order to protect another's identity. The cinematography by Phillippe Le Sourd is a futuristic neon canvas that looks straight out of Wong Kar Wai's last film 2046. As with most of his films the story explores themes of unrequited longing. The best example of this theme can be found in Wong Kar Wai's 2000 masterpiece In The Mood For Love. Also on the website is a free download of the orchestral music used in the film, which you may also recognize from 2046.
View the trailer (in cyrstal clear format) here or right here...
Juno is the coming of age dramedy about a teenage girl (Ellen Page) who gets pregnant after sleeping with classmate Bleeker (Michael Cera), then proceeds to find the unborn child a suitable home. Along the way Juno comes in contact with Mark (Jason Bateman) and Vanessa (Jennifer Garner), an affluent suburban couple who have been unable to conceive a child of their own. The film comes from Thank You for Smoking director Jason Reitman and is due in theaters Dec. 14th.
Wes Anderson's Hotel Chevalier is a 13-minute short that was supossed to be shown prior to his film The Darjeeling Limited. Fox Searchlight scraped the footage and now it will be available as a free download on iTunes. Hotel Chevalier will also be included on the Darjeeling Limited DVD.
Thw short is about Jason Schartzman's Darjeeling Limited character being visited at a Paris hotel by his ex-girlfriend played by Natalie Portman. The big news around the web is that there is a sex scene, in which Portman gets naked.
Head over to iTunes and download Hotel Chevalier for FREE!
Heroes new season kicks off tomorrow night (monday Sept. 24th) and I for one can't wait! Milo Ventimiglia (aka Peter Petrelli) stars in the forthcoming thriller Pathology, a film about a group of interns at a prestigious medical program getting caught up in a disturbing competition among themselves to see who can pull off the perfect murder. Pathology hits theatres on November 30th.
The season openers for both Dexter and Brotherhood kick off next Sunday (September 30th). Showtime sent over the first few episodes for the two series, and I like what I've seen thus far!
Showtime has made the Season 2 premieres of both Dexter and Brotherhood available for free online. The password to view the episodes is “Killer Shows”.
Dexter stars Six Feet Under alum Michael C. Hall as a Miami crime scene investigator that moonlights as a serial killer and Brotherhood is Showtime's under-acknowledged crime drama.
View the Season premiere episodes before they air right here
This is a short teaser for Francis Ford Coppola’s forthcoming film Youth Without Youth, based on the 1976 novel by Mircea Eliade.
The film stars Tim Roth as a 70-year-old who is struck by lightning and suddenly gets younger and more brilliant. The film co-stars Alexandra Maria Lara and Bruno Ganz, and Matt Damon. This marks Coppola’s first time behind the camera in ten years!
I'm looking foreward to seeing Brad Anderson's (director of Happy Accidents, Session 9, and The Machinist) forthcoming film titled Transsiberian. The crime thriller revolves around an American couple (Woody Harrelson and Emily Mortimer) traveling from China to Moscow on the Trans-Siberian Railway. They meet an outwardly friendly couple (Eduardo Noriega and Kate Mara) traveling the same route, soon deception gives way to murder as Ben Kingsley and Thomas Kretschmann co-star as a pair of Russian police officers striving to solve the case.
NBC's Bionic Woman, Chuck and Journeyman are available for online viewing. You can also head over to Blockbuster for a FREE rental (when you rent another DVD) of pilot episodes of NBC's Journeyman, Chuck, and Life one disc. I didn't care too much for Life or Journeyman, but Chuck had some funny moments. I have yet to view Bionic Woman, but what I've seen of the action sequences look pretty neat. Watch 'em for free right now via Amazon (just register)!
Bionic Woman Synopsis: Jaime Sommers is back and as technologically enhanced as ever in this remake from the 70s. In this version, Jaime Sommers works as a bartender who gets into a near-fatal car accident. The only way to save her life is an amazing surgery using top-secret technology - but it will cost her more than she may be willing to give in the long run. Will she be able to use her powers for good while paying back the enormous debt?
Journeyman Synopsis: This mystery-drama revolves around a newspaper reporter named Dan Vasser who suddenly begins to travel through time to change the lives of those around him. When his travels reunite him with his long-lost fiancée Livia, life with his present-day wife get very interesting.
Chuck Synopsis: This plot centers around a computer geek named Chuck Bartowski who becomes the CIA's most important agent when he accidentally opens a top-secret email full of government secrets, which somehow downloads into his brain. Can the CIA protect him from terrorists before they can access the tremendous amount of government knowledge from Chuck's brain?
As we head into mid September we are one step closer to new seasons of our favorite shows! While we'll still be waiting awhile for some of our favs (24, Lost), some brand new shows kick off relatively soon. There was alot of buzz back at Comic Con about ABC's dramatic fantasy Pushing Daisies, which revolves around a man who can briefly bring the dead back to life. Look for that series to air on Oct. 3rd (Wednesdays). NBC's comedy adventure Chuck is set to air Sept. 24th (Monday nights to pair with Heroes) and it looks like it could be entertaining. There's also alot of hype around the re-imaginining of NBC's Bionic Woman, which is set to premiere Sept. 28th (Wednesdays), but I remain a skeptic on that one.
Anyhow, enough about new shows for now, you just be sure to tune in to the one hour season premiere of The Office thursday September 27th 9/8 central.
In the meantime see how the Dundler Mifflin crew spent their summer vacation...
Iced Media sent over two brand new clips from the Sarah Silverman Program. The show airs October 3rd at 10:30 pm EST on Comedy Central. See Sarah Silverman's Comedy Central page for more details.
The official Iron Man trailer premiered during last nights MTV Video Music Awards. I'm not sure about using Black Sabbath's "Iron Man" in the trailer, but I guess it was a no brainer. Iron Man will be in theaters on May 2nd.
This is the final installment of Dario Argento's "Three Mothers" trilogy (twenty-seven years after the last film). Mother of Tears (La Terza Madre) centers on a young American art student, Sarah, who opens an ancient urn that unleashes the demonic power of the world's most powerful witch. As a scourge of suicides plague the city and witches from all over the world converge on Rome to pay homage, Sarah must use all her own psychic powers to stop the 'Mother of Tears' before her evil conquers the world.
The film stars Asia Argento and Udo Kier. Mother of Tears has just released in Canada and releases in Italy next month. No word on a US release date yet, but keep your eyes peeled.
Magnolia Pictures acquired English-language rights to Hong Kong director Johnny To’s film Exiled. The stylized action thriller is set in the Hong Kong Underworld with a cast-full of classic gangster actors including Anthony Wong, Simon Yam, Francis Ng, Lam Suet, and Roy Cheung, which coincidentally is most of the cast for Johnnie To’s classic film The Mission. Since the film has already released overseas, you may be able to track down a region-friendly DVD at your local Asian video store or on ebay. Otherwise look for Exiled in select theaters on Aug.31st.
Plot Summary:
The time is 1998. Every living soul jumps at every chance to make quick money before the Portuguese colony ushers in a new era under the Chinese rule. For the jaded hit men, they wonder where this journey will end. Against this background of fin-de-siècle malaise come two hit men from Hong Kong sent to take out a renegade member trying to turn over a new leaf with his wife and newborn baby. They soon find themselves in the throes of a dilemma when two of their former associates also show up, intent on thwarting them at every cost. Look for Exiled in theaters August 31st.
Perhaps you've seen the trailer for this one already but if you haven't then this is for you! From the producers of A Scanner Darkly, Waking Life, & Requem For A Dream comes, yet another, post-apocalyptic drama that will have you thinking.
Plot Summary:
After multiple dirty bombs are detonated, spreading deadly toxic ash across Los Angeles, Brad (Rory Cochrane) inadvertently quarantines his wife, Lexi (Mary McCormack) outside their new home by safely sealing himself inside. With the city under siege and Martial Law in affect, Brad and Lexi struggle to survive with little supply, limited time and no information—all the while separated by thin doors and thinner sheets of plastic. When “help” finally does arrive, it appears to be anything but. Right At Your Door is currently playing in select theaters.
I can't wait to see Ang Lee’s forthcoming film Lust, Caution, which is an espionage thriller set in WWII-era Shanghai that looks an awful lot like a Wong Kar Wai movie. Lust, Caution stars Tony Leung (“Hero,” “In the Mood for Love”), Joan Chen, and making her feature film debut as Tang Wei. One thing that separates this from Wong Kar Wai's films is the graphic sexuality, which give the film an NC-17 rating. Look for Lust, Caution in theaters Sept.28th.
{The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford}
Over the weekend the trailer for The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford popped up online. The western stars Brad Pitt and Casey Affleck and will arrive in theaters on Sept. 21st.
The plot revolves around Robert Ford joining Jesse James's gang, only to become resentful of the legendary outlaw as he hatches a plan to kill the fastest gun in the West.
Woody Allen’s next film Cassandra’s Dream, which again is set in London (as was Match Point and Scoop) boasts a very British cast that includes Ewan McGregor, Colin Farrell, and Tom Wilkinson.
The film tells the story of two Cockney brothers (Collin Farrell and Ewan McGregor) in south London and their relationship with a young woman (Hayley Atwell) who lands in London on her search for fortune. She crosses the two men by accident on her path and when one them falls in love with her, she becomes aware of her power to attract the opposite sex and uses this to the point of leading the two brothers, who are in financial difficulty, into crime, and creating a dangerous rivalry between the two men.
Seeing as Woody Allen’s films notoriously perform better in Europe, there are no plans to release the film stateside, so you'll have to trek down a region-friendly version when it becomes readily available or wait for it to officially release on DVD in the US.
David Cronenberg's forthcoming film Eastern Promises follows the ruthless Nikolai (Viggo Mortensen), who is tied to one of London's most notorious organized crime families. When he crosses paths with Anna (Naomi Watts), an innocent midwife trying to right a wrong, who accidentally uncovers potential evidence against the family.
Here's a teaser trailer for the Harold & Kumar sequel, once again featuring Neil Patrick Harris. The movie has had it's share of delays and title changes, but will tentatively open next spring.
Dan in Real Life is a dramedy is about a widower named Dan (Steve Carell), who falls for his brother’s (Dane Cook) latest girlfriend (Juliette Binoche). Apart from mis-cast Dane Cook the trailer actually looks pretty good as Steve Carell attempts to do a more serious comedic role that eventually all good comics do (such as: Will Ferrell, Jim Carrey, Robin Williams, Tom Hanks, Adam Sandler, etc). Look for Dan in Real Life in theaters on October 19th.
"Two robots who journey across a mythic American landscape of haunting, surreal beauty on a quest to become human" is the official description attached to Daft Punk's second full-length feature titled Electroma.
Oddly enough, the music featured in the film is not by Daft Punk whatsoever. Daft Punk's Electroma is now screening in select theaters on the East Coast, but the rest of us can look for it on DVD in September.
Ever since Comic Con (nearly two weeks ago) I've been searching for a decent quality trailer for this forthcoming Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine, Human Nature) film. Until late last week the only video that surfaced online was a pretty bad bootleg recorded by a fan at Comic-Con, but now the official trailer has arrived.
The plot goes something like this...Jerry (Jack Black) inadvertently causes his brain to become magnetized, leading to the unintentional destruction of all the movies in his friend's (Mos Def) store. In order to keep the store's one loyal customer, an elderly lady with a tenuous grasp on reality, the pair re-create a long line of films including The Lion King, Rush Hour, Ghostbusters, When We Were Kings, Back to the Future, Driving Miss Daisy, and Robocop. Look for Be Kind, Rewind in theaters December 21st.
There's this great old saying..."Para todo mal, mezcal. Para todo bien, mezcal." Which translates for everything bad, mescal - and for everything good, mescal.
In a cantina in Oaxaca (in the mythical town of Parián) all roads converge in a collision of woes soothed and encouraged by the strong drink known as mezcal. Mothers mourn departed children. Children ask parents to report the strange visions they get from drinking mezcal. The elderly long for death. Estranged couples try to make amends. A brother seeks sweet vengeance for a sibling after decades have passed. Townspeople wander around aimlessly singing funeral hymns. As the story unfolds, unlikely fates are revealed.
Director Ignacio Ortiz takes a surrealistic approach through the back roads of the Mexican subconscious, swerving in and out of past and present without any real promise of the future. Mezcal was the winner of 6 Ariels (Mexican Oscars) back in 2005 when it was originally released and is due to release stateside in select theaters soon, so keep your eyes peeled.
Fans of Curb Your Enthusiasm will probably be interested in comedian Jeff Garlin's forthcoming film titled I Want Someone To Eat Cheese With. Carlin, who plays Larry David’s manager on Curb, wrote, directed, and stars in this independent comedy about a man, the food he loves, and the woman who tortures him. The film co-stars Bonnie Hunt and Sarah Silverman, with appearances from Amy Sedaris and Dan Castellaneta. I Want Someone To Eat Cheese With opens in select theatres on September 5th.
Jon Favreau debuted a trailer for his forthcoming Iron Man film at Comic Con and trying to track down footage that hasn't been removed has proved a difficult task, but alas I found some bootleg footage. Enjoy.
View over 4 minutes of footage courtesy of The Blemish!
Also, view footage Comic Con's unveiling of the suit with Jon Favreau, Robert Downey Jr., and Stan Winston...
Heroes returned to this years Comic-Con with a panel of the entire cast. Here's some highlights from that panel...
Dania Ramirez (X-Men: The Last Stand) will play a Mayan woman from the Dominican Republic.
Alex Ross and Jim Lee will be doing covers for Heroes online comics, which will actually come out on hardcover on DC comics this fall.
The most exciting news revealed was that Kevin Smith will be directing the first episode of Heroes: Origins. Smith came out on stage and joked that he wanted to direct an episode about the first 'gay heroes'. He also joked about how the 'two Japanese dudes' were gay. Heroes: Origins starts in April.
The panel concluded by previewing a teaser from Season Two featuring scenes of Hiro trapped in the past, a bearded Nathan Patrelli, and Claire cutting off her little toe with scissors. There were also a few shots of some samurai battles, and a battle in the Dominican Republic.
View the footage of the Heroes at Comic Con (in parts 1 through 7) on Youtube.
Here's a handful of neat looking posters that were unveiled at Comic Con.
Above is the poster for J.J. Abrams forthcoming monster flick for Paramount which is currently going under the name Cloverfield (I think the title Monsterous has been cnacelled out).
Above is the poster for the film adaptation of Greg Rucka’s comic series Whiteout. The film stars Kate Beckinsale and is directed by Dominic Sena.
Above is the poster for Tim Burton's Sweeney Todd. It looks slightly dark and disturbing, much like the source material, and just the idea of Tim Burton and Johnny Depp together again should be reason for us all to get excited.
Above is the poster for Rogue Pictures and Crystal Sky Pictures forthcoming thriller from British writer-director Neil Marshall ("Dog Soldiers", "The Descent") titled Doomsday,
Last but certainly not least is the poster for Indiana Jones 4. Karen Allen is back as Marion and Harrison Ford is finally suiting up as Indy once again.
A full 5 minute trailer was shown at Comic Con for the forthcoming fantasy film The Golden Compass. The footage has now surfaced online. Look for the film in theaters in December.
Lots to mention from this years Comic Con, which went down over the weekend in San Diego. I've still got a pile of fliers to look through, but in movie related news here's a scoop on Marvel's panel for the forthcoming film The Incredible Hulk.
The big news to come out of the panel was the shocking announcement that Edward Norton wrote the screenplay for The Incredible Hulk, and we're not talking about a polish job neither, but is pretty much a full on script change (with director Louis Leterrier). Here's a peek at the concept image for The Hulk so that you won't worry and think Hulk will look like Ang Lee's version.
Mp3 bloggers have been going crazy over this five-piece indie rock band from Sydney, Australian indie rock band lately...and for good reason! Their recently completed second album Granddance, has been on constant rotation for the past couple of weeks.
You can find tracks from the album all over the Hype Machine
Samuel Goldwyn Films announced that director Richard Kelly (Donnie Darko) will be at Comic-Con to make a special announcement regarding his forthcoming film Southland Tales starring: Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Seann William Scott, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Justin Timberlake, Mandy Moore, Cheri Oteri, Miranda Richardson, and Jon Lovitz. Following the announcement, Kelly will be onhand signing posters from the film.
Now I realize that this film boasts a less-than-impressive cast, but I'm willing to give Kelly the benefit of the doubt...especially when this clip looks pretty hilarious. Look for it in theaters November 9th.
The trailer for Wes Anderson's forthcoming film The Darjeeling Limited premiered over the weekend before screenings of Sunshine and Once. Now an official trailer has surfaced online!
The quiet comedy is about three brothers re-forging family bonds. The eldest, played by Wilson, hopes to reconnect with his two younger siblings by taking them on a train trip across the vibrant landscape of India. Look for it in theaters September 29th.
After posting about this film the other week I found an article in the OC Register about the new Viet film wave that's been gaining momentum. The article mentions to four directors in particuar, which resemble the cinematic alliance of Mexico's "Three Amigos" (Alfonso Cuarón, Guillermo del Toro and Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárritu) due to the fact that they are all close friends and offer advice on each others screenplays and in the editing room. Read the article right here.
Owl and the Sparrow (Cú và chim se sẻ in Vietnamese) is a film by Stephane Gauger that follows the fictional story of three Vietnamese individuals (a runaway child, a zoo keeper, and a flight attendant) over a period of five days as they meet in Vietnam. The movie premiered at the San Francisco Asian American International Film Festival, where it won the "Best Narrative Feature".
James Wan's (director of the original Saw film) movie Death Sentence, based on the comic book, stars Kevin Bacon as a father who seeks out revenge on a crime gang after his family is attacked. Wan and Bacon will both be onhand at the San Diego Comic Con next week, see the site for more details.
I trust you all saw this clip from the forthcoming Bob Dylan movie from Todd Haynes titled I'm Not There. The scene features Cate Blanchett as Bob Dylan and David Cross as beat poet Allen Ginsberg. The movie is to be released on September 21.
If you have not yet seen the clip, view it now why don't you...
Did you catch Transformers over the holiday? Well then you probably already caught a teaser for a top secret untitled J.J. Abrams (of Lost) movie. The project is rumored to be called Cloverfield and is supposedly a giant monster movie, featuring something that's being referred to internally as “The Parasite". I understand most of the film is going to be shot using home video cameras, as if from the point of view of real people who are experiencing an attack on New York. It’s designed as a fairly small picture that will deliver some wild thrills (like an earthquake that levels Manhattan or an oil tanker flipping over by the Statue of Liberty), but it’s reportedly not going to turn into a giant $150 million movie.
This looks like one of the freshest marketing tactics I've seen in a while (The Blair Witch Project comes to mind). The teaser only shows “Produced by J.J. Abrams" and says “1.18.08″ and that's it. The trailer has recently been taken down from YouTube so here's a link to a bootleg copy of the teaser.
Paul Haggis' (director of Crash, writer of Million Dollar Baby) trailer for his forthcoming film In the Valley of Elah has hit the net. The film is an Iraq themed drama about man looking for his son. Look for In the Valley of Elah in theaters on September 21st.
Before the Devil Knows You're Dead is a forthcoming thrillerfromSidney Lumet and stars Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ethan Hawke, Albert Finney and Marisa Tomei.
The story revolves around two brothers who try to rob their parents' jewelry store, but when an accomplice ignores the rules his actions trigger a series of events that effect everyone.
View the trailer right here WARNING: This trailer may not be suitable at work.
Margot at the Wedding is the forthcoming film from Noah Baumbach (Mr. Jealousy, Kicking and Screaming, The Squid and the Whale). The film stars Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Jack Black, and John Turturro. Look for Margot at the Wedding in theaters on November 9th.
The 1970's cult classic by director Alejandro Jodorowsky has recently been re-released on DVD! If you're into mainstream Hollywood films, than El Topo (or any of of jodorowsky's films) is not your cup of tea. Jodorowsky's 'surreal cinema' style is surely unlike anything you've ever seen. The plot to El Topo is almost non-existant though most decibe it as a very abstract "western".
This little black & white hand-drawn film based on Iranian author Marjane Satrapi’s comic book autobiography won audiences over at this year's Cannes Film Festival armed with nothing more than an intelligent story and realistic characters.
Persepolis is a coming-of-age story (that begins during the Islamic Revolution) of an Iranian girl and her move to Austria as a teenager at school, where she struggles to overcome stereotypes and predjudices. No official release date slated stateside, but keep your eyes peeled for this one to release in an arthouse theater near you!
View clips from the Persepolis MySpace or checkout the trailer (in French) right here...
Rocket Science is written and directed by Jeffrey Blitz (dir. Spellbound). It brings Thumbsucker to mind, except this story is about a stuttering boy joins his high school debate team. There's also some hints of Wes Anderson in there, and the trailer features a whole lotta Violent Femmes. Look for Rocket Science in theaters August 10th.
No Country For Old Men, There Will Be Blood, 3:10 to Yuma...this has surely been a western kind of week for trailers. 3:10 to Yuma is a remake of James Mangold's 1957 classic western. The film stars Christian Bale, Russell Crowe and Peter Fonda. Look for it in theaters this coming Fall.
Meadowlands is Showtime's new psychological thriller. You can catch the first episode online right now! Meadowlands follows a British family in a witness relocation program, who soon encounter the dangers they were on the lamb from.
Mica over at Showtime was kind enough to send me the first four episodes and after viewing them I am anxious to see how the show unfolds. Episode 1 starts off a little slow, but it sets up the story quite nice. Episode 2 is where the series really picks, and Episode 3 and 4 are totally intriguing. I can't wait to see how this all plays out.
For a good overview of the show with clip of interviews with the cast and creators, watch this...
View Episode 1 right here (the password is: secret)
PT Anderson (Magnolia, Boogie Nights, Punch Drunk Love) offers up a first glimpse at his forthcoming film There Will Be Blood, a tale about the beginnings of the oil boom in America.
I posted on this awhile back before there was a poster and a decent trailer, but now they have surfaced online.
Dead bodies, a stash of heroin and more than $2 million in cash near the Rio Grande set the stage for the forthcoming film adaptation of the novel by Cormac McCarthy. No Country For Old Men is slated for a November 21st release date.
View the Trailer...
Meadowlands is Showtime's forthcoming psychological thriller, which will premiere on the network next week (June 17th). You can catch a sneak peek of the first episode online right now! Meadowlands follows a British family in a witness relocation program, who soon encounter the dangers they were on the lamb from.
Mica over at Showtime was kind enough to send me the first four episodes and after viewing a couple of episodes thus far, I'm anxious to see where the plot is heading.
For a good overview of the show with clip of interviews with the cast and creators, watch this...
View Episode 1 right here (the password is: secret)
Quite simply, this comedy is ten stories, each inspired by one of the ten commandments. The film stars Jessica Alba, Adam Brody, Bobby Cannavale, Amanda Peet, Paul Rudd, Famke Janssen, Justin Theroux, Gretchen Mol, Rob Corddry, Winona Ryder, Liev Schreiber, Oliver Platt, and many more. The Ten is set for an August 3rd release.
This forthcoming action-suspense film stars Clive Owen, Paul Giamatti, and Monica Bellucci and is due for a September 7th theatrical release. The plot seems pretty lazy (read about it here), but it boasts a strong cast.
I Am Legend (based on the novel from Richard Matheson) stars Will Smith, who just might be the last man on earth. The movie has some Independance Day-type shots, but Will Smith isn't doing his usual comedic shtick so this might be worth viewing. I've heard great things about the novel so I'm not sure if the film will measure up. I'm going to be picking up the book this week and then I believe I'll have more of an opinion.
Here's the synopsis: In 2006, the KV virus is developed in a laboratory, but the virus mutates out of control, changing the world’s population into bloodthirsty creatures. Three years later, former military scientist Robert Neville (Will Smith) is working in Manhattan, since quarantined, to develop a cure for the pandemic. Neville finds himself to be the only uninfected human on the island, if not the world. I Am Legend is scheduled for a December release.
It looks like the 30 Days of Night trailer surfaced online over the weekend!
30 Days of Night was initially a miniseries of horror comics written by Steve Niles, illustrated by Ben Templesmith and published by IDW Publishing in 2002. The story takes place in Barrow, Alaska, which is so far north that during the winter the sun does not rise for 30 days. The premise of the series is that vampires (who are harmed by the sun) flock to the small town and terrorize the area.
The Farrelly Brothers have done some incredibly funny stuf...Kingpin, Dumb and Dumber, and There's Something About Mary, but they've also given us Shallow Hal, Me, Myself & Irene, Osmosis Jones, Stuck on You, and Fever Pitch. So let's cross our fingers that their forthcoming film The Heartbreak Kid (starring Ben Stiller and Rob Corddry) is a return to form. The Heartbreak Kid is set to open nationwide on October 5th. View the trailer here or right here...
You Kill Me is a forthcoming film starring Ben Kingsley, Luke Wilson and Tea Leoni. It's about a hit-man who tries to turn his life around and ends up getting a job in a mortuary, where he meets a woman who is a relative to one of his hits. View the trailer...
Talk To Me comes out in limited release next month. The film stars Don Cheadle, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Martin Sheen. Talk To Me is based on the true story of Washington D.C. radio presenter Ralph Greene, who overcame drug addiction and jail time to become one of the most prominent personalities on Washington’s airwaves in the 1970’s even getting invited to the Whitehouse by invitation of President Carter. View the trailer...
Michael Moore was onhand at the Cannes Film Festival, in which he premiered his forthcoming documentary Sicko to a receptive audience. Moore uses differnet methods than in previous documentaries, read all about it from the LA Times.
Angelina Jolie was on hand at Cannes to promote Michael Winterbottom's (The Road to Guantanamo, 9 Songs, Code 46, 24 Hour Party People) forthcoming film A Mighty Heart, in which Jolie plays Mariane Pearl, widow of slain Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl. The film was said to have gotten positive reviews. Look for it at select theaters on June 22nd.
New Line studio came to the Cannes Film Festival this year with a few minutes of an unfinished film to prove that they haven't trampled a beloved piece of fantasy literature, and also to show that they have an impressive epic on their hands. This same method worked wonders with 2001's sneak peek at Lord of the Rings footage, but can The Golden Compass measure up?
The impressive cast includes: Daniel Craig, Nicole Kidman, Eva Green, Eric Bana, Kevin Bacon, Sam Elliott, Ian McShane, and John Hurt.
Three of my favorite movies from last year were Pan's Labyrinth, Babel, and Children of Men. The three directors of these films (and longtime friends) Guillermo del Toro, Alfonso Cuaron, and Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu have joined together as a team. The Mexican director trio are attempting to sell themselves in an "all-or-nothing five-picture deal", which I wouldn't think would be that hard to do, but then again I thought at least one of them would have went home with an Oscar last year so you never know.
The Cannes Film Festival kick off this week and Hong Kong's finest director Wong Kar Wai will open the festival with his first film in English. My Blueberry Nights stars Norah Jones (in her acting debut), Jude Law, David Strathairn , Tim Roth, Natalie Portman and Rachel Weisz.
No official US release date yet for the rest of us, but I'll be keeping my eyes peeled and you should too.
This accumulation of acclaimed international directors presents an intimate portrait of one of the most romantic cities in the world: Paris. Each directors' short segment will be connected to the next in one of the (if not thee) most unique collaborative films of all time!
Each director is given five minutes to weave a single narrative unit out of those twenty moments. Each transition will begin with the last shot of the previous film and will end with the first shot of the following film, and will have a three functions: 1) The first is to extend the emotion of the previous segment, 2) The second is to prepare the audience for the surprise of the next segment, and 3) The third is to provide a general, comfortable and cohesive atmosphere to the feature film.
Considering the common theme of Paris and love, the fusion between the films, the transitions, and the unique storytelling, Paris, je t'aime will not be just another "anthology" picture. This collective feature film will constitute a two-hour cinematographic spectacle whose original structure will make for a dramatically different experience for a global audience.
Directors on board: Olivier Assayas, Frédéric Auburtin, Emmanuel Benbihy, Gurinder Chadha, Sylvain Chomet, Ethan Coen, Joel Coen, Isabel Coixet, Wes Craven, Alfonso Cuarón, Gérard Depardieu, Christopher Doyle, Richard LaGravenese, Vincenzo Natali, Alexander Payne, Bruno Podalydès, Walter Salles, Oliver Schmitz, Nobuhiro Suwa, Daniela Thomas, Tom Tykwer, and Gus Van Sant.
Paris, Je T'aime stars: Florence Muller, Bruno Podalydès, Cyril Descours, Marianne Faithful, Elias McConnell , Gaspard Ulliel, Julie Bataille, Steve Buscemi, Axel Kiener, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Barbet Schroeder, Li Xin, Javier Cámara, Sergio Castellitto, Miranda Richardson, Leonor Watling, Juliette Binoche, Martin Combes, Willem Dafoe, Hippolyte Girardot, Yolande Moreau, Paul Putner, Sara Martins, Nick Nolte , Ludivine Sagnier, Lionel Dray, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Joana Preiss, Seydou Boro, Aïssa Maïga, Fanny Ardant, Bob Hoskins, Olga Kurylenko, Elijah Wood, Emily Mortimer, Alexander Payne, Rufus Sewell, Melchior Beslon, Natalie Portman, and Gérard Depardieu. Whew!
Visit the official site here or watch the trailer right here...
Here's another interesting drama now playing in select theaters, which I'm itching to see...
Private Fears in Public Places is dirceted by French filmmaker Alain Resnais and stars Sabine Azéma (Not on the Lips), Pierre Arditi (One Stays, The Other Leaves), and André Dussollier (Amélie).
Azéma plays Charlotte, a Bible-toting secretary. By day, Charlotte works in the office of a sexually repressed real estate agent, Thierry (played by Dussollier). In the evenings, she cares for Lionel's bedridden father. Lionel (played by Arditi) is a bartender in a chic Paris hotel. Loneliness is a quality shared by all of the characters in Private Fears, which is based on a play by Alan Ayckbourn.
Snow Cake stars Alan Rickman, Sigourney Weaver, Carrie-Anne Moss. This drama focuses on the friendship between a high-functioning autistic woman (Weaver) and a man (Rickman) who is traumatized after a fatal car accident involving a hitchhiker (Moss).
Snow Cake is currently playing in select theaters.
If this comedy lives up to the trailer, then this will surely be absolutely hilarious.
Superbad is the story of two co-dependent high school seniors (Jonah Hill and Michael Cera of Arrested Development) are forced to deal with separation anxiety after their plan to stage a booze-soaked party goes wrong. Superbad will release in theaters on August 17th.
Away From Her is directed by Sarah Polley (who starred in Go, My Life Without Me, Dawn of the Dead), based on the short story, "The Bear Came Over the Mountain", by Alice Munro.
The story revolves around Fiona and Grant, an Ontario couple who have been married for over 40 years and are forced to face the fact that Fiona's "forgetfulness" is actually Alzheimer's Disease. After being put into a nursing home and after a "no-vistors" policy for the first 30 days of a patient's stay, Fiona has seemingly forgotten Grant, and has transferred her affections to another man. This looks like it could be a real tearjerker. Away From Her is currently playing in select theaters.
Pixar Animation Studios ("Toy Story", "A Bugs Life", “Cars”, “Finding Nemo”, “The Incredibles”) could have another winner on their hands. The story revolves around a young rat living within the walls of a famous Paris bistro and wishes to become a chef, but is hindered by his family's skepticism and the rat-despising staff and patrons. The fim is slated for a June 29th release.
The special 30 minute stop-motion animated episode of Robot Chicken: Star Wars is George Lucas approved, Seth Green directed, and features the voices of: George Lucas, Mark Hamill, Conan O’Brien, Seth MacFarlane, Robert Smigel, Malcolm McDowell, Hulk Hogan, James Van Der Beek, Donald Faison, Abraham Benrubi, Breckin Meyer and Joey Fatone.
The Robot Chicken: Star Wars special will premiere on Adult Swim on June 17th at 10:00pm.
This is a trailer for Justin Lin's (director of Better Luck Tomorrow) new film Finishing the Game, which is set to premiere tomorrow night at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival. The film appears to be a hilarious comedy about the search for the next Bruce Lee. The film stars Roger Fan and Sung Kang (both from Better Luck Tomorrow), as well as James Franco, Dustin Nguyen, and MC Hammer.
A handful of interesting films come out on DVD this week (Little Children, Alpha Dog, and The Queen among them). Here are a couple of films I intended to post about recently, not having any idea that they were heading straight to DVD. So here's a qiuck synopsis and trailer...
Old Joy is the story of two old friends, who reunite for a weekend camping trip in Oregon’s Cascade Mountains. The critically-acclaimed film stars Will Oldham (aka Bonnie Prince Billy) and Daniel London, and features a soundtrack by Yo La Tengo.
This bittersweet coming-of-age story about a close group of friends, all of whom are forced to embrace change as their small-town way of life is soon to be altered forever. Diggers stars Lauren Ambrose (Six Feet Under), Ron Eldard, Josh Hamilton, Ken Marino, Sarah Paulson, and Paul Rudd.
Nevermind for a sec that this film is directed by David Arquette ok. The trailer for a Ronald Reagan-obsessed serial killer who targets a bunch of hippies who are heading to a weekend-long concert actually appears to be entertaining. Arquette and wife Courtney Cox make cameo appearances in the horror ensembler, which also stars Jamie King, Thomas Jane, Jason Mewes (Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back), Lukas Haas, Paul Reubens and Balthazar Getty. Visit The Tripper's MySpace for more info.
This is the trailer for Shane Meadows' latest film, This Is England. Based largely on his own experience as a youngster the film is about a troubled boy growing up in England, set in 1983.
The film releases in the UK on April 27th. No word yet on a stateside release date.
Lots of good movies on display at the Newport Beach Film Festival, which kicks off this thursday (April 19th - 29th). Here's some interesting films I was able to find trailers for...enjoy.
The Waitress Trailer
This is the story of one woman trapped in a life from which she dreams of escape. Jenna has a gift for making unusual pies whose recipes are inspired by the trials, tribulations and circumstances of her life. Her secret ambition is to save enough money from her waitressing job to leave her overbearing husband. The film stars Keri Russell, Nathan Fillion, Cheryl Hines (Curb Your Enthusiasm), Jeremy Sisto (Six Feet Under), and Andy Griffith. This was the final work of the late writer, director, and actress Adrienne Shelly. The real news though is that Nathan Fillion (AKA Captain Malcolm Reynolds of the Firefly class spaceship "Serenity") will be at the premiere on Saturday, April 21st! So, all you Browncoats be sure to head out.
Eagle Vs Shark Full Trailer
two socially awkward misfits and the strange ways they try to find love; through revenge on high-school bullies, burgers, and video games.
Paprika Trailer
Dr. Atsuko Chiba is an attractive but modest Japanese research psychotherapist whose work is on the cutting edge of her field. Her alter-ego is a stunning and fearless "dream detective," code named PAPRIKA, who can enter into people's dreams and synchronize with their unconscious to help uncover the source of their anxiety or neurosis.
Big Dreams Little Tokyo Trailer
The story of Boyd, an American with an uncanny ability to speak Japanese. Boyd aspires to succeed in the world of Japanese business but finds himself mostly on the outside looking in. Meanwhile, his roommate Jerome, is a Japanese American who has always felt too American to be Japanese but too Japanese to be American. He aspires to be a sumo wrestler but finds his weight and blood pressure are thwarting his dreams. Together they struggle to find their place in a world where cultural identity is seldom what it seems.
Dante's Inferno Trailer
Using paper puppets and sets, Dante's Inferno is a satirical update of the classic tour of Hell. It's venue is the familiar places of modern civilization: mini malls, airports, gated communities, used car lots, and the U.S. capitol. The ancient Roman poet Virgil (voiced by James Cromwell) guides our hapless Dante (voiced by Dermot Mulroney) through the nine circles of the underworld. Much like an animated graphic novel, the film follows the hapless slacker Dante as he accompanies Virgil into the depths of the Inferno, encountering various popes, princes, presidents, and pimps along the way.
The Restless Trailer
The Restless is a neat looking Koren fantasy action movie.
He Was A Quiet Man Teaser
Bob Maconel is about to have a bad day. Another eight hours of sitting in a dull grey cubicle, ignored by his co-workers, existing in a world where he feels completely out of sync. On this particular bad day Bob crosses the line from potential killer to inadvertent hero. This film stars Christian Slater, Elisha Cuthbert, and William H. Macy.
Death Note Trailer
Death Note is a Japanese manga series that centers around a high school student who decides to rid the world of evil with the help of a supernatural notebook that kills anyone whose name is written in it.
Always - Sunset on Third Street Trailer
Sorry no subtitles, so I'm not really sure what's going on here, but this gorgeous period piece of 1950's Japan has a Frank Capra feel, plus it's the winner of 13 of Japan's 14 Academy Awards!
This Thai horror/comedy is about Udd and Yai, a gay couple who leave the big city and move to a remote town where the scenery matches their favorite gay western movie Brokeback Mountain. There, they buy an abandoned gas station so they can settle down. Unfortunetly, Udd later finds out that Yai secretly has an affair with a local girl. When his pure love turns to jealousy, Udd plans to use the gas station to murder Yai. But, no one really knows that the gas station is already haunted, and the ghosts there have plans of their own. No word yet on a stateside release, but I'll be sure to keep my eyes peeled for this one.
The Vietnamese international Film Festival kicks off tonight and continues all through next week. Kicking off the fest is the highly touted epic romance drama The Rebel. Closing the fest (Sun. April 22nd) is Dust of Life, which offers a gritty look at displaced Vietnamese teens in Westminster. Screening locations include UCLA and UCI.
Be sure to checkout Han Tran's moving drama, Journey From The Fall, a story about loss and survival as a South Vietnamese family flees Saigon while a proud father stays behind. Journey From The Fall will be SCREENING AT UCLA FOR FREE!
The tiny country called Iceland has produced some of the world's most original music of the past few decades, which is pretty amazing considering it is inhabited by just 300,000 people!
Screaming Masterpiece is a documentary (originally titled Gargandi Snilld) which chronicles the careers of well known Icelandic acts (Björk, Sigur Rós, Múm), as well as some lesser-known Icelandic acts (Bang Gang, Minuswith, Slowblow, Mugison).
Penned by Wes Anderson, Roman Coppola, and Jason Schwartzman, this is the first poster to surface online for Darjeeling Limited. Ain't It Cool News has a report from a Wes Anderson fan who sat in on an early Darjeeling Limited screening and wrote “The main problem with the movie is that it really goes nowhere”. Judge for yourself.
In case you missed it, last week the new Halloween trailer hit the net. Rob Zombie's (the director) films are definitly an aquired taste, however this trailer of his rendition of Halloween seems to capture the spirit of the original.
Here's Zombie's faux-trailer for Werewolf Women of the SS from Rodriguez and Tarantino's Grindhouse.
Good news cinephiles...Sony's HK company, Columbia Pictures Film Production Asia, have acquired the worldwide rights for Stephen Chow's upcoming sci-fi/comedy film titled A Hope! You'll know more when we do.
In he meantime, here's a nice interview with Stephen Chow from Film Freak Central.
Hank & Mike is a Canadian comedy about a couple of unemployed Easter Bunnies. The trailer is something shot as a promo piece long before the film went into production. After selling the concept the film got financed and is now in post-production. So, basically none of this is from the finished film, but it's hilarious nonetheless so be on the lookout for this one.
If you've just tuned in disregard the 'On Vacation' bit for now and checkout this sick Thanksgiving trailer, which is the fake trailer that Eli Roth (Hostel) has put together for Tarantino and Rodriguez' Grindhouse feature...stick around for the end and catch a glimpse of Nic Cage in Rob Zombies Werewolf Women of the SS!
This FREE program begins in the morning with Korean film Aachi & Ssipak, a 2006 feature directed by Bum-Jin Joe about a futuristic city that converts human waste to energy. The screening will be followed by a reception with drinks and snacks at 12:30 pm.
The afternoon will feature a screening of Mamoru Hosoda's far more appealing time-traveling-teenage-girl odyssey, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, which features character designs by Yoshiyuki Sadamoto (Neon Genesis Evangelion) followed by a panel discussion with Bum-Jin Joe, Mamoru Hosoda, USC professor Mimi Ito and moderator Ken Duer.
If I was going to be in town this weekend, this is definitely where I'd be. It all goes down this saturday, March 31 from 11:00 am - 5:00 pm at the American Cinematheque at The Egyptian Theater (6712 Hollywood Blvd.) and the best part is it's completely FREE! Attendees must RSVP ahead of time on the Japan Foundation's Web site. Tickets will be available for pick-up on the day of the event.
I'm looking foreward to watching this emotional film, which has already began garnering rave reviews.
Inspired by the true stories of Vietnamese refugees who fled their land after the fall of Saigon—and those who were forced to stay behind, Journey From The Fall follows one family’s struggle for freedom.
Synopsis: April 30, 1975 marked the end of Vietnam's two-decade-old civil war and the start of the exodus of hundreds of thousands of refugees. Despite his allegiance to the toppled South Vietnamese government, Long Nguyen decides to remain in Vietnam. Imprisoned in a Communist re-education camp, he urges his family to make the escape by boat without him. His wife Mai, son Lai and mother Ba Noi then embark on the arduous ocean voyage in the hope of reaching the U.S. and freedom.
Back in Vietnam, Long suffers years of solitary confinement and hard labor, and finally despairs that his family has perished. But news of their successful resettlement in America inspires him to make one last desperate attempt to join them.
Journey From the Fall is currently playing in limited theaters (see schedule here)
More than five years in the making, Discovery Channel's Planet Earth redefines blue-chip natural history filmmaking. The 11-part series promises to amaze viewers with never-before-seen animal behaviors, startling views of locations captured by cameras for the first time, and unprecedented high-definition production techniques. Actress and conservationist Sigourney Weaver is the series' narrator.
Planet Earth airs on consecutive Sundays from March 25th through April 22, 2007, on Discovery Channel and in high definition on Discovery HD Theater.
I'm not quite sure what to make of this film based on the science fiction short story "The Golden Man" by Philip K. Dick. It's directed by Lee Tamahori (Along Came a Spider, Die Another Day and XXX: State of the Union) who doesn't appear to have a very good track record, and it stars an uninspired Nicolas Cage in the lead role. Nonetheless this is a Phillip K. Dick story so I'll do my best to remain hopefull.
Next is the story of a man who can see into his own future. Needless to say, this skill causes all sorts of problems, both internally and externally. Also along for the mayhem are Julianne Moore, Jessica Biel, Peter Falk and Thomas Kretschmann. Next hits theaters April 27th.
I've gone on and on about This American Life too many times, so I'll keep this short and sweet. I've watched the four episodes available for review, amongst my favorites are a story on a group of senior citizens who make a film with the object of entering it in the Sundance Film Festival (both funny and moving) and the story of an improv troupe that pretend to be die-hard fans of a relatively small time band called Ghosts of Pasha. The visual interpretation of the radio series stays true to the structure and spirit of the radio show, so skeptics need not fear.
