We’ve been doing the Weekend Film Recommendation for a little while now and this is the first time that I’ve included a Martin Scorcese film, which is surprising because he is my favorite director. There are a couple of his films on Netflix Instant (Casino, Mean Streets, The Last Temptation of Christ) and all of them are more than worth checking out. However, I chose to hone in on Gangs of New York.
As with most Scorcese films, you’re going to need three hours or so to sit down and watch, but this is one of those films that doesn’t feel like it actually takes that long. Scorcese sets up engrossing characters and an intriguing plot within the first five to ten minutes of the film, anchored strongly in Daniel Day Lewis’ Oscar Nominated performance as Bill the Butcher. Lewis has a way of making what could have been a static character and bringing the viewer to both admire and despise him equally. Everything he does is grand and charismatic, and the cinematography brings that to light, especially in scenes with large crowds.
The subtle social commentary about the balance between tradition and progress, run beautifully throughout the film until it comes to its ultimate culmination in the end. To me, while this may not be Scorcese’s best film, it is one of his most thoughtful and socially significant ones since Taxi Driver. It is equal parts brutal, bold and beautiful.
There is a downside I will mention in passing: Cameron Diaz. She does her best to sabotage a work of art with her fake Irish accent and cardboard acting, but fortunately she is only in the film a small amount. Also, her performance is counter-balanced by such great actors as Leonardo DiCaprio, Liam Neeson, Brendan Gleeson, and John C. Reilly.
While I am not belittling Adrien Brody’s performance in The Pianist, I think Daniel Day Lewis was robbed of the Oscar that year, and it was also sad to see another outstanding directorial work by Scorcese get waived by the Academy, prolonging his long overdue recognition.
Trailer:
To add Gangs of New York to your Netflix Instant Queue, click here.
There are definitely some candidates this week threatening to oust Rio from its two week run atop the box office, with another childish idea for a movie (Fast Five) and also an actual kids movie (Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil). Let’s run ’em down:
Starring: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Jordana Brewster
Director: Justin Lin
Synopsis from IMDB: Dominic and his crew find themselves on the wrong side of the law once again as they try to switch lanes between a ruthless drug lord and a relentless federal agent.
Trailer:
Chris’ Take: I have seen every single one of these films and despised them more with each viewing. While the reviews for this film are by far the best out of the franchise, the previous four have taken out of me any desire to see this installment. To add more meatheaded madness to Fast Five, the cast has added Dwayne “Forever Known as The Rock” Johnson. Maybe this will finally be his first overall positively reviewed film ever.
Starring: Hayden Panettiere, Patrick Warburton, Glenn Close, David Ogden Stiers
Director: Mike Disa
Synopsis from IMDB: Red Riding Hood is training in the group of Sister Hoods, when she and the Wolf are called to examine the sudden mysterious disappearance of Hansel and Gretel.
Trailer:
Chris’ Take: The first Hoodwinked film was “OK” at best. There were moments of humor, but were offset for me when I discovered it was a musical. So, suffice to say, it was not my cup of tea, but I know that there were a lot of people, mainly kids, that thoroughly enjoyed it. After watching the trailer for the second one, and reading some of the early reviews (18% on RT), it sounds like the sequel will be more of the same, except with less humor.
Starring: Thomas McDonnell, Aimee Teegarden, Siu Yin Chang, De’Vaughn Nixon
Director: Joe Nussbaum
Synopsis from IMDB: A group of teenagers get ready for their high school prom.
Trailer:
Chris’ Take: This Prom seems about as exciting and creative as the synopsis posted above. I suppose every generation needs multiple movies about the big event to call their own, but I doubt this one will go down in memory as one of the best. It is receiving mixed reviews (54% on RT), which is better than I would expect, but not enough for me to recommend seeing this one.
Starring: Brandon Routh, Taye Diggs, Sam Huntington, Anita Briem
Director: Kevin Munroe
Synopsis from IMDB: The adventures of supernatural private eye, Dylan Dog, who seeks out the monsters of the Louisiana bayou in his signature red shirt, black jacket, and blue jeans.
Trailer:
Chris’ Take: Brandon Routh proved that he can pull of dead pan humor, as seen in his character in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, so this film certainly has something going for it right there. It looks like it is trying to be the next Shaun of the Dead, which will be very hard to pull off and from the early reviews, it does not look like it does. I’m willing to give it a chance though and hope to find it entertaining at least.
Starring: Arata Furuta, Hiroki Matsukata, Kazuki Namioka, Koji Yakusho
Director: Takashi Miike
Synopsis from IMDB: A group of assassins come together for a suicide mission to kill an evil lord.
Trailer:
Chris’ Take: The premise seems simple, but the trailer looks to make it much more spectacular. The cinematography especially looks far above average, and it looks like it could be a more sophisticated version of 300. The early reviews have been outstanding (87% on RT), so this looks like it would definitely be worth checking out.
Late last year we kicked off a flurry of The Dark Knight Rises rumors with speculation on who the villain would be for Nolan’s third installment. We now know for sure that both Bane (Tom Hardy) and Selina Kyle/Catwoman (Anne Hathaway) will both be involved in the plot, but at the time the popular rumor was that Hugo Strange might make an appearance. These rumors have since fallen off with the announcement of Bane and Catwoman, as well as additional rumors of Talia Al Ghul, The League of Shadows, and Alberto Falcone. However, the Hugo Strange rumors ramped back up this past week thanks to My Entertainment World.
An unconfirmed plot synopsis for the next Batman film hit the internet including a plot line for Hugo Strange. In this synopsis, Dr. Hugo Strange, a villainous psychiatrist, concocts a a plan to destroy Batman and ultimately replace him. Though Strange will appear as a villain with similar motivations in the upcoming video game Batman: Arkham City, this plot line seems to fit nicely into Nolan’s universe and gives the film a more intellectually formidable villain opposite Batman. It could also explain Bane’s presence in Gotham as he was created by Hugo in the comics.
This, however, can never be explained
I’m still not convinced that Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Marion Cotillard’s characters are as advertised and I think it’s possible Nolan and Co. could be intentionally leading us astray with some of these announcements and/or rumors. I’d personally like to see Gordon-Levitt play a villain like Strange as opposed to an “ambitious cop”, as Strange appears to be a character with much more depth and importance. However, we’ve seen villain over-kill in superhero films before so the inclusion of a third opposition to The Dark Knight must be handled with care.
What do you think, is everything “as advertised” with The Dark Knight Rises or are we purposefully being fed false rumors and announcements? Would you like to see Hugo Strange in this next Batman film given what we already know about Bane and Catwoman? The Dark Knight Rises is slated for release July 20, 2012.
It is no secret my love for horror films and the Scream franchise in particular. Going to the midnight showing of Scream 4 and watching Ghostface terrorize a new group of teens, as well as some franchise favorites, may be my movie-going experience of 2011. That experience may take on a bit more nostalgic importance now that Scream 4 appears to be the last installment of the current franchise.
As far as modern horror films, particularly as far as sequels and slashers go, Scream 4 was a cut above the rest. Arguably the best Scream film since the original (though Rotten Tomatoes suggests Scream 2 is superior), Scream 4 revitalized the self-aware and all but replaced the panned Scream 3. However, money talks in Hollywood and Scream 4‘s poor box office showing thus far has left the future of Scream 5 about as promising as one of Ghostface’s victims. Rumor is that Dimension plans on ending the Scream franchise here, for the moment.
Well I guess that answers that one.
For a franchise that reveled in being “meta” and depending on its irony to keep the viewer engaged, it is being dealt a bit of irony itself. The disappointing revenue from this latest Scream film support the trend that horror remakes have a much higher rate of success than franchise sequels, suggesting that if we do see Ghostface again on-screen it will be in the form of a remake. Isn’t this exactly what Scream 4 was trying to avoid by mocking the current craze?
If there is, in fact, no Scream 5 in the future, let’s hope that the Weinsteins and Dimension let the franchise rest without a reboot.
Quality horror anthologies are a rarity, so when they do come along they often resonate with the audience create a cult-like following. Some of the more well known anthology films include: Black Sabbath (1963), Tales from the Crypt (1972), Campfire Tales (1997), and most recently Trick ‘r Treat (2007). However, perhaps the gold standard for this subgenre is Creepshow (1982).
However, this image clearly suggests it's "Tales from the Hood"
Written by Stephen King and directed by George A. Romero, the behind the camera credentials of Creepshow speaks for itself. However, there are a few recognizable names on-screen as well. Hal Holbrook, Leslie Nielsen, Ed Harris, Ted Danson, and Stephen King (yes, same one) all star in five different tales of terror inspired by the E.C. Comics of the ’50s.
If anyone reading this has seen any of the previously mentioned anthologies they would know that these films are as much about their campiness as they are scares. Creepshow is no different, but the attention to detail and the quality of work by those on and off screen seperate it from lesser attempts. Romero’s touch captures the comic book style and the script, though droll as King’s work can sometimes be, fits the tone.
Initially the film may have delivered some scares alongside the camp, but nearly thirty years of aged effects have tamed the film’s shock value to some degree. Regardless, Creepshow still holds up as a high quality, fun horror anthology that should be seen by any fan of the genre.
Synopsis from IMDB: As Harry races against time and evil to destroy the Horcruxes, he uncovers the existence of three most powerful objects in the wizarding world: the Deathly Hallows.
Trailer:
Pac’s Take: The release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1 to home video will probably be the ramp up to the marketing campaign for the release of …Part 2 to release this summer. The first installment of this two part chapter was a well made, engaging film for franchise die-hards and casual fans alike. Those who want to watch or re-watch part 1 before heading to theaters for the finale of the Harry Potter saga will make up most of this DVD/Blu-Ray’s buyers, but is likely to do pretty well. For those of you die-hard fans who can wait, however, you may be better served waiting for the 2nd part to release on Blu-Ray, as you’ll probably be able to get a collector’s set with both films. You can read our Take Two of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1 by clicking here.
Add Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1 to your Netflix Queue.
Synopsis from IMDB: The story of King George VI of Britain, his impromptu ascension to the throne and the speech therapist who helped the unsure monarch become worthy of it.
Trailer:
Pac’s Take: The King’s Speech was one of the best films of 2010 as indicated by its multiple Academy Award nominations and wins. Everything about this film is noteworthy when discussing cinematic achievement, and it is extremely entertaining to boot. There’s not much else needed to say about this film except that it is a must watch. Though there isn’t much else needed to say, we still managed to think of a few things in our Take Two of The King’s Speech.
Synopsis from IMDB: A hard-living Hollywood actor re-examines his life after his 11-year-old daughter surprises him with a visit.
Trailer:
Pac’s Take: I didn’t think I had heard of this film until I re-watched the trailer and was reminiscent of seeing it once. Though the trailer doesn’t tell you much, except that the film is written and directed by Sophia Coppola, it does have a certified fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes and the description of the film does minimally peak my interest. This film will probably make its way to the lower half of my Netflix queue. However, being written and directed by Sophia Coppola and featuring a song by The Strokes in the trailer will probably grab the attention of some viewers more than it did my own.
Synopsis from IMDB: Life for a happy couple is turned upside down after their young son dies in an accident. Based on a play by David Lindsay-Abaire.
Trailer:
Pac’s Take: I feel obligated to mention when a film is nominated for an Academy Award because it is a prestigious honor and does provide the film (and my take) credibility. I am starting to feel like a broken record though as every week at least one Oscar nominated film is released to home video. This week seems like every film, including Rabbit Hole, as Nicole Kidman was nominated for best actress. I know Rabbit Hole will be a great film but I often have a hard time putting these types of films high on my Netflix queue simply due to their often melancholy themes and tone.
Synopsis from IMDB: Travel writer Lemuel Gulliver takes an assignment in Bermuda, but ends up on the island of Liliput, where he towers over its tiny citizens.
Trailer:
Pac’s Take: I have not had the (dis)pleasure of seeing Gulliver’s Travels so I’m going to try hard not to pass too much judgment, though every inclination tells me this movie is terrible. Jack Black once was able to carry a movie as a lead (that one time being School of Rock), now I can only handle him in supporting roles or animated features. Judging by the trailer it seems they took a lot of creative liberties with Jonathan Swift’s book as well, which typically isn’t a good thing.
Synopsis from IMDB: Siberian gulag escapees walk 4000 miles overland to freedom in India.
Trailer:
Pac’s Take: Though I have seen Harry Potter and The King’s Speech, of all the films releasing this week, The Way Back interests me most. Peter Weir is a very good director, as indicated by the abridged filmography in the trailer, and Ed Harris has a very strong screen presence and rarely chooses bad roles. Colin Farrell even seems to be moving past his Miami Vice days and is choosing his roles more wisely (though back to back remakes of Fright Night and Total Recall may prove otherwise). Despite its limited release in theaters this should prove to be worthy of at least a rental.
Synopsis from IMDB: Lucy and Edmund Pevensie return to Narnia with their cousin Eustace where they meet up with Prince Caspian for a trip across the sea aboard the royal ship The Dawn Treader. Along the way they encounter dragons, dwarves, merfolk, and a band of lost warriors before reaching the edge of the world.
Trailer:
Pac’s Take: I thoroughly enjoyed the first Chronicles of Narnia film, mostly because it was a book I was forced to read during childhood and was interested to see C.S. Lewis’s masterpiece on-screen. However, my distaste for reading prevented me from completing the other two novels and therefore my interest in the films has deteriorated. If you were a fan of the first two films you’ll probably want to complete the trilogy, though this film was less critically praised than the other two. For those of you new to the franchise, check out the first two then make your decision from there.
On a related note, Liam Neeson is the most bad*ss man alive
Add Voyage of the Dawn Treader to your Netflix Queue.
Synopsis from IMDB: A drama centered on a rising country-music songwriter (Hedlund) who sparks with a fallen star (Paltrow). Together, they mount his ascent and her comeback, which leads to romantic complications involving her husband/manager (McGraw) and a beauty queen-turned-singer (Meester).
Trailer:
Pac’s Take: What a terrible segue from Liam Neeson and all his glory. Despite there only being two major releases this week, Country Strong still manages to be the lesser of the two. It is a wonder why Little Fockers didn’t get pushed back to compete with this instead of the laundry list of last week’s releases. The novelty of Gwyneth Paltrow singing country has worn off since the film’s theatrical release and her appearance(s) on Glee. Throw in Gossip Girl star Leighton Meester and I’ll be skipping this one for sure.
For the third week in a row, an animated movie topped the box office. Rio opened this past weekend with $40 million dollars, the best opening weekend so far this year, the second and third best were also animated films (Rango and Hop). Rio’s total was more than double the second place finisher, Scream 4, which finished below projections with $19.3 million. Hop remained in the top three this week, bringing in another $11 million. There probably won’t be much competition for Rio this week, with only a couple of modest releases this weekend.
Synopsis from IMDB: A veterinary student abandons his studies after his parents are killed and joins a traveling circus as their vet.
Trailer:
Chris’ Take: I like the tone of the trailer for this film, and I am interested in seeing Christoph Waltz’s talents put to use again. However, I am still a little skeptical about the film as whole. Mainly the fact that Robert Pattinson hasn’t really proven himself as an actor who can truly anchor a film. Francis Lawrence is making a directorial shift here as well. His past two feature films were I am Legend and Constantine, so he is really going to need to focus on character development and story rather than special effects.
Synopsis from IMDB: A nature documentary centered on two cat families and how they teach their cubs the ways of the wild.
Trailer:
Chris’ Take: I think this is the exact same documentary I saw at the Boston Museum of Science in the fourth grade. The African Cats seem to be a very popular subject of nature documentaries and Disney is bringing it out this Earth Day with Samuel L. Jackson narrating. While I’m sure it will be interesting, you can also probably see the same thing on Animal Planet at least three times a week.
Synopsis from IMDB: Madea jumps into action when her niece, Shirley, receives distressing news about her health. All Shirley wants is to gather her three adult children around her and share the news as a family. But Tammy, Kimberly and Byron are too distracted by their own problems: Tammy can’t manage her unruly children or her broken marriage; Kimberly is gripped with anger and takes it out on her husband; and Byron, after spending two years in jail, is under pressure to deal drugs again. It’s up to Madea, with the help of the equally rambunctious Aunt Bam, to gather the clan together and make things right the only way she knows how: with a lot of tough love, laughter … and the revelation of a long-buried family secret.
Trailer:
Chris’ Take: I’m going to be honest, I have no interest in seeing this. I am not saying that it might not be good for those that are, but I just can’t find much to say about this film. It seems like Tyler Perry never leaves the studio, whether it is doing TV or making another Madea movie, it seems like he decides which days he wants to put on make up and which days he would rather just hang out behind the camera (which apparently is rolling about 24-7).
Synopsis from IMDB: A documentary about branding, advertising and product placement that is financed and made possible by brands, advertising and product placement.
Trailer:
Chris’ Take: This documentary looks like it was a lot of fun to make, searingly poking fun at advertising. I am intrigued by the premise and will probably get around to seeing this, but not in theaters.
Synopsis from IMDB: A mother’s last wishes send twins Jeanne and Simon on a journey to Middle East in search of their tangled roots. Adapted from Wajdi Mouawad’s acclaimed play, Incendies tells the powerful and moving tale of two young adults’ voyage to the core of deep-rooted hatred, never-ending wars and enduring love.
Trailer:
Chris’ Take: This film looks like a gripping dramatic mystery into a barren land. It was released last year internationally, but is now receiving a wider release in the States. It is currently at 96% on RottenTomatoes, so it is probably worth a look.
Synopsis from IMDB: A drama based on the true-life experiences of four combat photographers capturing the final days of apartheid in South Africa.
Trailer:
Chris’ Take: I hadn’t heard of this film until I started writing this article, but out of the films this week, this one seems to have the most potential. There is a great cast and a compelling topic, combined with a relatively fresh director who is making his jump from documentaries to feature films. So, I’ll probably track this one down on Netflix.
Starring: Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox, David Arquette, Hayden Panetierre
Director: Wes Craven
Pac’s Take: The day finally came, after all the anticipation and build-up leading to the Scream 4, I can’t say I was disappointed. Scream 4 picks up 10 years after the events of Scream 3 with Sidney Prescott returning to Woodsboro on a book tour for her new self help book “Out of Darkness”. Expectedly, upon her arriving in Woodsboro, the Ghostface Killer returns and the bodies start to pile up. Among them is a new crop of teens who revel in the infamy of their town and celebrate the anniversary of the Woodsboro massacre with a “Stabathon”, a movie marathon of the “Stab” films based on the events of the actual Scream films (a film within a film). Now it is up to throwbacks Gale (Courtney Cox), Dewey (David Arquette), and Sidney (Neve Campbell) as well as Woodsboro’s new teens to survive and track down the identity of Ghostface.
I can’t say that someone who hasn’t seen the first three Scream films won’t enjoy this movie, but as a die hard fan of the franchise I can say that I felt this film was written for me, and others like me. Most of its brilliance is in the film’s ability to recapture moments and emotions from the first film and reboot them into this film. While Scream 4 is a sequel and not a reboot, it’s self-awareness and satire of the horror genre, particularly the reboot craze, allowed it to blend the two forms of franchise installments almost effortlessly. This film was a lot like Wes Craven’s New Nightmare, where Craven’s intention was to return the franchise to its original state by being self-satire.
Thank God Scream didn't get to this point first
Not unlike any other Scream film, Scream 4 had its flaws. A lot of the critical reviews I read before the film indicated that the film was overlong, and at 108 minutes I completely disagree. The pacing of the film was great but I felt like there were 15, or so, minutes missing from the film. While the characters were developed to the point the audience was able to connect and care (some more than others), some of the relationships between the characters seemed to be lacking. Since a certain character’s death in Scream 2, the franchise has suffered from this, never being able to recapture the charisma he/she brought to the screen (though Hayden Panetierre’s character Kirby comes close). Some of that missing fifteen minutes was lost in the kill scenes as well. One thing most sequels always forget is the concept of quality over quantity. Sure the absence of drawn out chases and killings made the film a bit more realistic, but a lot of the suspense is lost by removing the dramatic irony of the audience seeing the killer stalk its victims.
If I'm the killer I'm definitely stalking these two
What Wes Craven and Kevin Williamson created with Scream 4 was a love letter to themselves and the throwback slashers, as well as a big middle finger to the modern horror genre (particularly the Saw franchise). Also, Scream 4 seems to acknowledge the below-average to mediocrity of Scream 3, something I particularly enjoyed in hindsight. Scream 4 seems more like the concluding chapter of the original trilogy much more than Scream 3 ever did, and in a way (being Kevin Williamson’s third effort in the franchise) it is. In time, I think Scream 4 will stand out as the best sequel in the franchise, second only to the original. If you’re a fan of the Scream films be sure to see Scream 4 in theaters.
Characters: B
Cinematography: B+
Directing: B+
Plot: A-
Performances: B
Script: A-
OVERALL: B+
Chris’ Take: There are a lot of people recently who have decided that the theater experience is not worth it anymore. With all the new advancements in Video On Demand and Home Theater Entertainment, combined with the rise in ticket prices, people seem to be more inclined to wait for Netflix, or just pay the $5 a couple of weeks after the movie comes out to enjoy film without the ever present distractions and talkative jerks in the theater. I for one, still enjoy going to the theater, mainly because I am impatient to see new films, but also, if the crowd is right for the type of film, they can add something to the experience as well, and there is a sense of community. That’s how I felt last night as I sat in the packed theater for the newest installment in the Scream franchise. Slasher films don’t require the type of thought or attention span that a “good” horror film requires, and I think that’s why all the buzz going on in the theater didn’t bother me. It really felt more like a communal gathering that brought back the nostalgia of the experience of watching the first film. It was just plain fun.
I think critics’ reactions to this film will be based on their expectations. Scream is a horror movie, that isn’t a horror movie. That’s what was so fresh about the first one, it was parody and serious slasher film combined into one; in the same vein (but not quite on the same level) as Shaun of the Dead. Scream 4 returns that freshness to the slasher genre, even if it does it in a self-referential and predictable way.
Hmmm...it's a movie within a movie.
Kevin Williamson’s script was really the backbone of the film. While it wasn’t anything deep or super intelligent, it seemed like he took care in making sure that it didn’t feel like a lackadaisical sequel that was forced into production. Wes Craven only seemed to build on that, using his skill behind the camera to make the scares come to life. Craven’s last written effort, My Soul to Take, made him sound disconnected from the younger audience, and I’m glad that he wasn’t the one to pen the Scream sequel. Williamson kept the playfully gory tone consistent with that of the first two films, and fortunately polished up the tarnish left by the third one.
While the acting was only mediocre, it fit the film. I don’t think anyone has come to expect Oscar Winning performances from horror films, just that the actors at least try, and they did that. I thought that the younger talent in the film, the new faces in Scream, were more interesting and charismatic than the returning cast of Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox and David Arquette, who just seemed to deliver their lines to get their paycheck.
I thought the pacing of the film was perfect. The slasher scenes came fast and frequent, but they never felt like overkill, and they managed to keep the tension consistent. I actually thought they improved some of the slasher scenes as well. In some of the other films, the chase scenes seemed to drag on and became more and more ridiculous. This time, they were shortened and that made them a little bit more realistic, even if the characters still have the combined intelligence of a 1st grader.
Actually, I think even 1st Graders would be smart enough to follow the buddy system if a killer is on the loose.
I cannot say that this film was spectacular, but it was certainly entertaining and very enjoyable. Like I said earlier, I think the vibe in the audience really said a lot about it as well. A midnight showing is usually comprised of die hard fans, and there was no one that seemed disappointed. However, I think for anyone else who isn’t in on the self-referential humor, it would probably seem mediocre at best. Since I am in the former crowd, I thought it felt like Kevin Williamson had taken a look at what slasher films had become in the last ten years, shook his head saying, “Come on guys, really?” then knocked out a killer script in an awesome fit of spite.
We bring you a more recent film this week for our Weekend Film Recommendation. Christian Bale stars in The Machinist, a 2004 film about an insomniac machinist whose physical and mental state begins to deteriorate to the point where he has trouble telling hallucination from reality. As his life begins to fall apart around him, clues start to appear in the form of mysterious notes, leading him back to what might be causing his sleeplessness.
The film is certified fresh on RottenTomatoes, and while Christian Bale had already made a mark in Hollywood with his eccentric performance as Patrick Bateman in American Psycho, The Machinist showed his absolute dedication to the craft, as evidenced in dropping his actual weight to 118 lbs. On top of just his physical appearance, his subtly dark performance is what makes this twisted psychological thriller work. Without someone as dedicated as Bale, this project probably would’ve been chalked up to a lofty, but failed idea.
Trailer:
To add it to your Netflix Instant Queue, click here.
Back in 1984, three white boys from New York transformed the landscape of hip hop music forever. Formerly a hardcore punk band, The Beastie Boys broke on to the scene with their first album from Def Jam records “Licensed to Ill”. Produced by legendary producer Rick Rubin, “Licensed to Ill” produced such hits as “Paul Revere”, “She’s on it”, and “Brass Monkey”. However, the album’s biggest smash, and possibly the rap trios most popular song to date was “(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right to Party”. The video, directed by Ric Menello, is now an instant classic. Almost 25 years after the videos release, Beastie Boys member Adam Yauch (MCA) has directed a short film entitled Fight for Your Right Revisited. The film tells the story of what happened to the three boys after they left the party from the iconic music video.
The list of stars littered into this half hour short film is so ridiculous it deserves its own paragraph/run-on sentence: Rashida Jones, Amy Poehler, Mike Mills, Will Ferrell, Jody Hill, Clint Caluory, Jason Schwartzman, Stanley Tucci, Seth Rogen, Orlando Bloom, Steve Buscemi, Shannyn Sossamon, Arthur Scipio Africano, Danny McBride, Adam Horovitz, Losel Yauch, Nicole Randall, Martin Starr, Samantha Storr, Maya Rudolph, Chloë Sevigny, Adam Scott, Alfredo Ortiz, Ted Danson, Arabella Field, Kirsten Dunst, Rainn Wilson, Wyatt Troll, Silvia Suvadova, Mary Steenburgen, Gill Gayle, Will Arnett, Adam Yauch, Laura Dern, Mike D, David Cross, Alicia Silverstone, Jack Black, Roman Coppola, Susan Sarandon, Milo Ventimiglia, Elijah Wood, John C. Reilly, Neal Usatin.
The video premiered at Sundance to a lot of love from critics and fans alike, and now a trailer for the film is circulating the internet. It’s a marvel to believe this film even exists considering the star power involved, Adam Yauch’s personal battle with throat cancer, and the Beastie Boy’s return to the studio (which is also plugged in this trailer).
You can check out both the trailer for Fight for Your Right Revisited as well as the original music video for “(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right to Party” below (WARNING: The Fight for Your Right Revisited trailer is red band).
I would’ve never thought that a franchise inspired by the idea that intelligent apes take over the planet would spawn so many sequels and prequels. I thought Tim Burton‘s reboot would’ve killed the interest for another one, but here we are, except this time we’re going back in time even further. James Franco stars in this installment about the apes, where they came from and how they started to rule the Earth. While the trailer looks like it will be a decent and entertaining endeavour, I am hesitant to get excited about this film after the last one. Let us know your opinion after you watch the trailer:
There are some impressive films completed in one continuous shot, and some that have filmed captivating and complicated scenes this way, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen a horror film try to do this before. The Silent House, is a Spanish horror film that is completed in one continuous shot, and while it maybe just be used as a gimmick, it has me sufficiently intrigued if only from a technical standpoint. Check out the trailer here:
Joaquin Phoenix in Talks With P.T. Anderson for Upcoming Religious Drama
It is still up in the air how crazy Joaquin Phoenix had to be to even just pretend to be that insane for his faux documentary I’m Still Here. Whatever the case, it was quite a performance and he is now back on the market looking for work. The latest buzz from Entertainment Weekly is that he is in talks with Paul Thomas Anderson (Boogie Nights, Magnolia, There Will Be Blood) to be part of what is being called a “religious drama” revolving around Scientology.
Phoenix seems like a good fit for Scientology.
While nothing is confirmed yet, if Phoenix got a role it would probably be that of an alcoholic named Freddie Sutton who befriends Lancaster Dodd, the leader and founder of Scientology, who will be played by Philip Seymour Hoffman.
I think this sounds like a project worthy of note. P.T. Anderson, when he isn’t getting frustrated by people confusing him with Paul W.S. Anderson, puts out consistently great films.
"For the last time...I did not direct Showgirls or Resident Evil."
He manages to work with strong scripts and many of his films are darkly beautiful and profound. He seems to already be assembling a solid cast, so I look forward to the release of this film.
Tom Hanks to Star in Wachowskis’ Cloud Atlas
After drowning their financial woes after Speed Racer, the Wachowski siblings are back to bring another sci-fi film to the screen and according to Deadline they already have Tom Hanks onboard to star. The name of the film is Cloud Atlas and is based on a 2004 book of the same name by David Mitchell.
The book is known for its layered structure, telling multiple stories that are interconnected from 1850 to a post-apocalyptic future. There are several main characters, whose stories end up affecting the next story in the future some way. The book won multiple awards and sounds like it also has some anti-establishment sentiment that the Wachowskis seem to love.
Our backwards hats show our rebellion against "The Man".
It is unclear what part Tom Hanks will play in the film, but it is confirmed that he will be one of the main characters in the stories. Since there are so many different main characters, I am interested in seeing who they get to round out the rest of the cast.
I have gone on record on this site as a defender of the remake/reboot/prequel craze. While I understand why many people are upset with Hollywood’s infatuation with turning the movie-goers nostalgia into a quick buck, I also believe that, when done right, a rebooted film can be much better than any “original” work. However, with the most recent rumors being that there is a The Crow reboot in the works potentially starring Bradley Cooper, I may have finally reached my boiling point.
I am a fanboy of many franchises so I can understand supporting a film despite its obvious flaws. However, it is my personal belief that The Crow is a terrible movie. The product of the popular grunge scene in the mid 1990s and the untimely death of star Brandon Lee while filming; The Crow is not a film that transcends the era in which it was made. With a 7.6 user rating on IMDB and an 83% rating on Rotten Tomatoes I may go as far to say that The Crow is one of the most overrated films I’ve ever seen. Somehow, the original spawned a series of sequels as well as a television franchise and is now going to be rebooted; but will it be a success, I doubt it.
Not to mention one professional wrestling career
Let me again point out that the success of the original film was catapulted in large part due to the popularity of grunge in 1994 and the death of the film’s star. Consider The Dark Knight as a modern day example, yes the film was infinitely better than The Crow, but the untimely death of star Heath Ledger made his dark and destructive portrayal of the Joker seem all that more eerie (not to say Ledger did not deserve the acclaim he received).
CAPTION DELETED: Still too soon
It is worth noting that the film, The Crow, was adapted from a comic book written by James O’Barr and that source material does not dictate the “reinvention” remain stylistically similar to the first. In fact, script writer Stephen Norrington has stated that he wants his version of The Crow to be “realistic, hard-edged and mysterious, almost documentary-style.” Still, given the tradition of most franchise reboots, I imagine the studio would rather stay true to the original film and not anger the franchise’s cult following.
Last weekend continued the disappointing box office numbers, despite several over-advertised films that had hopes for box office success. However, it was Hop that remained on top, but it was only with $21.3 million, with the others trailing far behind. Hanna, the action film starring Saoirse Ronan, came in 2nd with $12.4 million, and the Russel Brand vehicle Arthur rounded out the top 3 with $12.2 million. This weekend really does have some promise for someone to top Hop with another wide release animated feature opening, and the horror fanboys long anticipated release of another Scream sequel.
Synopsis from IMDB: Ten years have passed, and Sidney Prescott, who has put herself back together thanks in part to her writing, is visited by the Ghostface Killer.
Trailer:
Chris’ Take: Well, it’s been 11 years since the last Scream film, and the last one was supposed to be the last one. However, writer Kevin Williamson decided he had enough fresh material to make a comeback. I am a fan of the franchise, since it is a staple in the horror genre, and managed to be both a parody and serious slasher film at the same time. When I heard a sequel was coming out, I was skeptical about and it wanted to get Pac’s opinion since he is a hardcore Scream fanboy.
I found him already camped out in line for tickets.
From his outdoor campsite, he started to share with me his take. He pointed out the fact that the original cast is coming back, which is very promising for any horror franchise when they are already at a fourth installment. Also, the director and writer are still the same, which again is very promising.
As long as you ignore this film completely.
However, the early reviews are mixed and they tend to say that unless you are a fanboy, like Pac, then this film will probably be simply laughable. But, those who are fans of the franchise are giving it pretty decent reviews. It currently sits at 43% on RT. I told Pac that if he paid for my ticket and took a shower, I would go to the midnight showing with him this Thursday.
Synopsis from IMDB: When Blu, a domesticated macaw from small-town Minnesota, meets the fiercely independent Jewel, he takes off on an adventure to Rio de Janeiro with this bird of his dreams.
Trailer:
Chris’ Take: This film looks a lot better than the previous animated wide release, Hop. The voices are less grating too. The early reviews have been pretty good, currently 77% on RT, and it enjoyed a very successful international release last weekend. I think this is a pretty safe bet to be at least an entertaining film this week.
Synopsis from IMDB: Mary Surratt is the lone female charged as a co-conspirator in the assassination trial of Abraham Lincoln. As the whole nation turns against her, she is forced to rely on her reluctant lawyer to uncover the truth and save her life.
Trailer:
Chris’ Take:The Conspirator opened at the Toronto International Film Festival last year and it received very mixed reviews. Right now it is sitting at a 64% on RT, but only 17 reviews are in so far. I am personally not interested in this film because Robert Redford tends to get up on a soap box of some sort most of the time and it is usually about as subtle as a baseball bat to the back of the head. I have a lot of respect for him, but Lions for Lambs was an incredible disappointment and this film seems to carry a very political tone as well. The reviews from Toronto all kind of hinted to that as well. If that’s your thing, go for it, but I really don’t like being lectured to while I am watching a movie.
Synopsis from IMDB: A powerful railroad executive, Dagny Taggart, struggles to keep her business alive while society is crumbling around her. Based on the 1957 novel by Ayn Rand.
Trailer:
Chris’ Take: Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged is not something I would’ve thought would make it to the big screen. I could imagine a set of 6 DVDs that was made into a mini series to watch at your own pace, but cramming it into a film like this seems absurd because its structure does not suit film that well. The early reviews have echoed a similar sentiment as well, and also have mentioned that the production quality is far below what a work of this kind demands. From what I’ve gathered, it is probably best to wait for Netflix for this one.
Synopsis from IMDB: In February 2009 a group of Danish soldiers accompanied by documentary filmmaker Janus Metz arrived at Armadillo, an army base in the southern Afghan province of Helmand. Metz and cameraman Lars Skree spent six months following the lives of young soldiers situated less than a kilometer away from Taliban positions. The outcome of their work is a gripping and highly authentic war drama that was justly awarded the Grand Prix de la Semaine de la Critique at this year’s Cannes film festival. But it also provoked furious debate in Denmark concerning the controversial behavior of certain Danish soldiers during a shootout with Taliban fighters. The filmmakers repeatedly risked their lives shooting this tense, brilliantly edited, and visually sophisticated probe into the psychology of young men in the midst of a senseless war whose victims are primarily local villagers. Yet more disturbing than scenes in which Taliban bullets whiz past their cameras is the footage of the young soldiers as each tries, in his own way, to come to terms with putting his life constantly on the line.
Trailer:
Chris’ Take: I am always interested in military films and documentaries and this looks like an intense one. Plus, it looks like an interesting perspective from forces that don’t get much attention in this war. Maybe not a film to rush out to a limited theater to see, but definitely worth a viewing on Netflix. Current RT rating 90%.
Synopsis from IMDB: A spark between a newly-met couple is snuffed out tragically.
Trailer:
Chris’ Take:The Double Hour is a highly acclaimed Italian film which is finally getting released in the States. I don’t know too much about it, and the synopsis from IMDB had me fooled. The trailer portrayed an unexpected juxtaposition in the love story and the mystery that starts to unfold, which has me very intrigued.
Welcoming us after this weekend is a trio of superhero news to kick the week into full gear…
Edgar Wright & Joe Cornish have Written Ant-Man:
In order for an Ant-Man film to be successful, there has to be a great creative team working on the project. Ant-Man is one of the quirkier and less-known superheroes of the Marvel franchise so relying on name recognition won’t be enough to draw the average movie goer. Fortunately, Edgar Wright and Joe Cornish are part of that creative team as they have recently submitted a 2nd draft of their Ant-Man script to Marvel. Edgar Wright is the creative mind behind Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World while Joe Cornish is making his feature writer/director debut this year with Attack of the Block. Hopefully, in addition to writing the script, one (or both) of these men will also be involved as director. This could be one of the most fun superhero adaptations to come to the big screen.
In the tradition of Fox studios, they continue to make questionable decisions regarding the X-Men franchise. After X-Men and X2 the franchise has completely taken a turn for the worse with X-Men: The Last Stand and X-Men Origins: Wolverine. This summer we’ll see if Matthew Vaughn can right the ship with X-Men: First Class; but even if he can another disaster is likely to follow. Recently, Darren Aronofsky backed out of directing the 2nd Wolverine film (smart) leaving the film without a director, and the other origin story no one cares about is X-Men Origins: Deadpool. With Ryan Reynolds still attached, apparently Fox still cares (sort of) because they’ve named Tim Miller their director. This will be Tim Miller’s directorial debut with all of his previous film experience being in visual effects. Just what we need, another director who thinks good story telling is about explosions…
One of the biggest questions surrounding Superman: The Man of Steel has been who will be cast to play the lead villain General Zod, well this weekend we got our answer. Other names surrounding the role have been Viggo Mortensen and Daniel Day Lewis, but the Kryptonian general will be played by none other than Michael Shannon. Shannon was rumored for a villain role in the film but the part was not specified until he was officially cast as Zod. Shannon is a fantastic choice for the role, an Oscar nominated actor who has recently delivered some strong performances in Revolutionary Road, The Runaways, and Boardwalk Empire among others. Shannon will join the star studded cast including: Ashley Judd, Kevin Costner, and Amy Adams (oh yeah and some guy named Henry Cavill will play Superman).
One of the greatest masters of cinema, Sidney Lumet (Dog Day Afternoon, The Verdict, 12 Angry Men) passed away this morning from lymphoma. He was 86. It was fitting that our blog’s last two weekend film recommendations were Lumet films. To read more about this incredible director, follow the link below:
Sidney Lumet has directed some masterful works over the course of his illustrious 60 year career in film and television and one of the perks of having Netflix is being able to watch many of these films through their Instant service. Among his filmography are 12 Angry Men, Network, The Verdict, and most recently Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead; however, my favorite of all Lumet’s films is Dog Day Afternoon.
The plot of Dog Day Afternoon revolves around Sonny Wortzik (Al Pacino), a desperate man who feels at wits end who decides to rob a bank in order to finance his lover’s sex change operation. Casting main characters who are homosexual may not shock too many audiences in today’s theaters, but to do so in 1975 was ahead of its time. However, while Sonny’s sexuality drives the plot of this film and his motive for robbing the bank, it is so understated that its message is still resonant today.
Sonny Wortzik circa 2002
Dog Day Afternoon is also credited among many as the seminal work of the modern heist genre, inspiring such films as Heat, Inside Man, Swordfish, and the classic Point Break. If you can picture any of the bank robbery scenes from those films you’ll probably see resembling characteristics of them in Dog Day Afternoon.
Although everyone only remembers one scene from "Swordfish"
Though these films are influenced by Lumet’s work, they stray from the path of building suspense and tension through character development and a lack of violence, instead favoring action-packed shootouts and showdowns. Dog Day Afternoon is a slow burning fuse that builds anticipation until the climax, keeping the audience on the edge of its seat. While a gun fight between cops and robbers would seem commonplace in any heist film today, the mere firing of a bullet is enough to drive the plot of this movie. Coincidentally, this also makes this one of the most realistic heist films to date (that and the fact that it’s based on a true story).
Still not convinced? Maybe an abridged list of accolades the movie’s received will convince you to give it a watch:
Oscar win for “Best Original Screenplay”
Oscar Nomination for “Best Picture”
Oscar nomination for “Best Actor in a Leading Role”
Oscar nomination for “Best Actor in a Supporting Role”
Oscar nomination for “Best Director”
Oscar nomination for “Best Editing”
7 Golden Globe Nominations
#70 on AFI’s “100 Years… 100 Thrills”
#84 on AFI’s “100 Years… 100 Movie Quotes” (Attica! Attica!)
#4 on Premiere Magazine’s “100 Greatest Performances of All Time”
Named “Culturally, Historically, or Aesthetically significant” by the Library of Congress, including it in the National Film Registry and preserved all time.
To add Dog Day Afternoon to your Netflix Instant Queue, click here.
Since Steve Carell is about to wrap up his stint on The Office, chances are we will start to see his talents showing up and more and more on the big screen. He is lined up for several projects already, but the next time you will probably see him is in this summer’s Crazy Stupid Love, alongside such big names as Julianne Moore, Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone. Here is the first full-length trailer for this comedy-drama:
Chris’ Take: I liked the tone of the trailer, although it looks like it has the potential to be uneven. It addressed serious relationship problems with oddball humor, yet it looks like it will take the time to actually take a good serious look at the underlying issues that lead to them. Steve Carell looks like he will be playing his normal slapstick/insecure guy, while Ryan Gosling seems to be taking a turn from his recent serious roles. Julianne Moore again shows that her roles will land all over the map, so I look forward to seeing what she will do with this one as well.
Attack the Block
One of the most talked about films from the SXSW Festival was Attack the Block, which recently picked up distribution in the U.S. This British film looks like it will take the tone of other horror comedies like Shaun of the Dead, and pit ghastly beasts against slackers and kids from South London. Besides Nick Frost (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, Paul), there are no recognizable faces in this trailer, but here it is in all its glory:
Chris’ Take: With the recent influx of alien invasion films, I think this one will be a breath of fresh air because it won’t take itself that seriously, while still trying to pay homage to the genre. I think that’s what made Shaun of the Dead successful, and I think that’s why audiences at SXSW loved it.
I already posted this trailer last week, but thought I would share it with you guys again because the MPAA just decided, “Hey, we might have dropped the ball on this one.” Apparently, after giving this trailer their stamp of approval, they pulled it from playing during Source Code because it was deemed too offensive and vulgar. Take a look and decide for yourself:
We’ve been doing the Weekend Film Recommendation for a little while now and this is the first time that I’ve included a Martin Scorcese film, which is surprising because he is my favorite director. There are a couple of his films on Netflix Instant (Casino, Mean Streets, The Last Temptation of Christ) and all of them are more than worth checking out. However, I chose to hone in on Gangs of New York.
It is no secret my love for horror films and the Scream franchise in particular. Going to the midnight showing of Scream 4 and watching Ghostface terrorize a new group of teens, as well as some franchise favorites, may be my movie-going experience of 2011. That experience may take on a bit more nostalgic importance now that Scream 4 appears to be the last installment of the current franchise.
Brian Pac Sostak
Chris Petersen
Sarah Higgins
stjerome03
Chris and Pac Take on Hollywood 
