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 ca
