Opening This Week (01 Jul, 2011)

As expected, Car 2 sped past all the other competition in the box office this past weekend, with a final weekend total of $68 million. Bad Teacher had a decent start for an R-Rated comedy, enough to take the #2 spot with $31 million. Green Lantern‘s light dimmed significantly, dropping to #3 with $18 million, an almost 66% drop in revenue from last weekend. If two summers ago is any indication of the box office this weekend, we will have a new #1 this weekend:

Transformers: Dark of the Moon (Opens June 29th)

Rated: PG-13

Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson, John Turturro

Director: Michael Bay

Synopsis from IMDB: The Autobots learn of a Cybertronian spacecraft hidden on the Moon, and race against the Decepticons to reach it and to learn its secrets.

 Trailer:

Chris’ Take: I really hope that there is more Navy involvement in this movie. That provided most of my entertainment in the last film. I love learning about new weapons systems that I didn’t know we had. Apparently, Shia LaBeouf and Michael Bay have apologized about how crappy the last Transformers movie was, and vowed to make this one better, even going as far as filming it in 3D. I heard a lot about the 3D technology used in this film, so I will probably try to see it in that format. There are 4 reviews in so far on RottenTomatoes, and 3 of them are good reviews, but they are pretty luke warm. We’ll see what happens, but like a car wreck that I can’t look away from, I will probably stick around to watch this one.

Larry Crowne

Rated: PG-13

Starring: Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Cedric the Entertainer, Bryan Cranston

Director: Tom Hanks

Synopsis from IMDB: After losing his job, a middle-aged man reinvents himself by going back to college.

Trailer:

Chris’ Take: That Thing You Do was one of my favorite films when I was younger, and that was Tom Hanks’ last directorial effort. While this film looks fairly formulaic, pretty much anything Hanks is involved with turns out to be at least “decent”. So, I am not normally one for chick flicks, but I think this could be one that I could be convinced to see. There aren’t any early reviews yet, but if you’re looking for a nice alternative to the bombastic Michael Bay Transformers film, this is probably a safe bet.

Monte Carlo

Rated: PG

Starring: Selena Gomez, Leighton Meester, Katie Cassidy

Director: Thomas Bezucha

Synopsis from IMDB: Three young women vacationing in Paris find themselves whisked away to Monte Carlo after one of the girls is mistaken for a British heiress.

Trailer:

Chris’ Take: I guess they needed a movie that appealed to tween girls in order to cash in on a group that might feel ostracized during the weekend release of Transformers: Dark of the Moon. There was not a single clever moment in the whole trailer, and based on the talent found in this group, I doubt there will be through the whole movie. No early reviews yet, so nothing really to compare it to. Anyway, if you’re looking to drop off your tween daughter for some harmless fun while you get some adult time, this would be a great movie for them . Just make sure you make them pay their own way.

Limited Releases

Terri

Rated: R

Starring: John C. Reilly, Creed Bratton, Jacob Wysocki

Director: Azazel Jacobs

Synopsis from IMDB: Centers on a large 15-year-old boy in a small town as he struggles to adjust to his difficult life.

Trailer:

Chris’ Take: John C. Reilly is co-starring in another indie film with a guy’s name as a title, and focuses on a troubled large person (Cyrus and Terri). While Cyrus seemed more for laughs, this seems like a film that has a more poignant dramatic focus. I think it will also be nice seeing Creed out of The Office. With 75% on RT, this probably will be a decent and thoughtful viewing.

The Perfect Host

Rated: R

Starring: David Hyde Pierce, Nathaniel Parker, Helen Reddy

Director: Nick Tomnay

Synopsis from IMDB: A criminal on the run cons his way into the wrong dinner party where the host is anything but ordinary.

Trailer:

Chris’ Take: I was just musing the other day, while watching Wet Hot American Summer, about what happened to David Hyde Pierce. He is a humorous, yet quirky fellow, even if he would probably be pegged as a nerdy chemistry type for the rest of his career. When I watched this trailer, I didn’t really know what to make of it. It seemed like an odd mix of The Collector, Weekend at Bernie’s and House Party. I am a bit confused, but a bit intrigued. The reviews are mixed (50% on RT), which seem to mirror my confused state about this film.

Finally, if you’ve read this far, you really probably have nothing better to do today do you? To reward you, in honor of Michael Bay’s “genius”, I give you one of my favorite South Park clips:

**Trailer Time** Fight for Your Right Revisited

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).

Opening This Week (07 – 13 Feb, 2011)

The week I have been dreading since last July is here…Feb 11, 2011…the day Justin Bieber invades our cinemas and takes money from your young daughters to see him in 3D. In case you are looking to avoid the rush of screaming young girls at your local theater, I recommend viewing the limited release section at the bottom of the page. But, if you are willing to brave it, there are a couple of films that might be worth your time as well.

Cedar Rapids

Rated: R

Starring: Ed Helms, John C. Reilly, Anne Heche

Director: Miguel Arteta

Synopsis from IMDB: Tim Lippe has no idea what he’s in for when he’s sent to Cedar Rapids, Iowa to represent his company at an annual insurance convention, where he soon finds himself under the “guidance” of three convention veterans.

Trailer:

Chris’ Take: I put this one first on the list to give you hope that his weekend might not  entirely be a wash. It’s nice to see Ed Helms finally getting a lead role, but I also like that they give him a strong supporting cast as well. The film is receiving pretty good early reviews and was an “Official Selection” at the Sundance Film Festival. I find it hard to believe that Helms and Reilly would let us down, so this receives my recommendation for this weekend.

Justin Bieber: Never Say Never

Rated: G

Starring: Justin Bieber, Usher Raymond, Ludacris, Jaden Smith

Director: Jon Chu

Synopsis from IMDB: Follows Justin Bieber with some footage of performances from his 2010 concert tour.

Trailer:

Chris’ Take: I should probably refrain my criticism for a less professional setting. Just know, I am not a fan. It is one thing to release something like this on DVD, but in the theaters, in 3D, seems like blatant exploitation. Oh well, I guess I will never understand it. You can see my original thoughts on this project here.

Just Go With It

Rated: PG-13

Starring: Adam Sandler, Jennifer Aniston, Brooklyn Decker

Director: Dennis Dugan

Synopsis from IMDB: A man enlists the help of a woman and her kids to land the woman of his dreams.

Trailer:

Chris’ Take: If you have never seen an Adam Sandler comedy (relative term) in the last 10 years (Spoiler Alert) he will end up with Jennifer Aniston and will begin to mature into a father figure to the kids. End of story. If I am wrong, then it will be a momentous day for Adam Sandler and I will write an apology on the blog. There are no early reviews out for this one yet, which doesn’t bode well for it either. I am really sorry to see Jennifer Aniston continuing down the path of self destruction as well, but I haven’t seen the film, so maybe I am wrong….I doubt it.

Gnomeo and Juliet

Rated: G

Starring: James McAvoy, Emily Blunt, Michael Caine, Ashley Jensen

Director: Kelly Asbury

Synopsis from IMDB: Garden gnomes Gnomeo (voice of McAvoy) and Juliet (voice of Blunt) have as many obstacles to overcome as their quasi namesakes when they are caught up in a feud between neighbors. But with plastic pink flamingos and lawnmower races in the mix, can this young couple find lasting happiness?

Trailer:

Chris’ Take: This idea seems to come out of left field and looks to be centered around sight gags with the gnomes rather than an actual solid script. It’s in 3D, but animated films usually have better 3D than others. It might be worth checking out if you have kids, but if not, probably not worth your time or money.

The Eagle

Rated: PG-13

Starring: Channing Tatum, Jamie Bell, Donald Sutherland

Director: Kevin MacDonald

Synopsis from IMDB: In Roman-ruled Britain, a young Roman soldier endeavors to honor his father’s memory by finding his lost legion’s golden emblem.

Trailer:

Chris’ Take: I think if the film is provided some better leads, it might be decent. I originally thought this was a film starring Donald Faison and Zach Braff from Scrubs.

Eaaagle!!!!!!

However, I soon found out that Channing Tatum could be trying to prove that he is capable of holding his own as an actor. Kevin MacDonald brings some credibility to the project, previously directing such projects as State of Play and The Last King of Scotland. I want this film to do well, since I am fan of period action pieces like this, but I am still on the fence about it.

Limited Releases

Poetry

Rated: Unrated

Starring: David Lee, Jeong-hie Yun, Kim Hi-Ra

Director: Chang-dong Lee

Synopsis from IMDB: A drama centered on a woman at the end of her life in search of new meaning.

Trailer:

Chris’ Take: Looks like a thoughtful look at the twilight of someone’s life.  The film won Best Screenplay at Cannes and was an “Official Selection” at both Telluride and Toronto. The cinematography looks superb and it has received outstanding early reviews. If you can make it to a limited theater, this will probably be the best film coming out this weekend.

Carancho

Rated: Unrated

Starring: Ricardo Darin, Martina Gusman, Carlos Weber

Director: Pablo Trapero

Synopsis from IMDB: In Argentina over 8,000 people die in traffic accidents every year. Behind each of these tragedies is a flourishing industry founded on insurance payouts and legal loopholes. Sosa is a lawyer who tours the A&E Departments of the public hospitals and the police stations in search of potential clients. Luján is a young doctor recently arrived from the provinces. Their love story kicks off one night when Luján and Sosa meet in the street. She’s trying to save a man’s life; he wants him on his client portfolio.

Trailer:

Chris’ Take: Even though the trailer was rather cryptic and featured what seemed like an inordinate amount of people fighting for unexplained reasons, it looks alright. I am always curious when someone throws the word “noir” into a film description.

Hey! It’s That Guy!: Mark Duplass

There have been a couple of great inventions in the film world since the Internet came into being. The first greatest invention: Netflix. The second greatest invention: IMDB.com. I use both of them frequently, often times together, and am known for enthusiastically exclaiming during a movie, “Hey! It’s that guy! He was in…uh…that movie with the guy who wore those pants and lived in a house. You know?”

If you can't think of anything, just say Law and Order. Chances are, every actor has been on that show at some point or another. It's like a rite of passage.

I had one of those moments on Saturday while I was watching the Noah Baumbach film Greenberg. During a short scene in the film, a familiar face appeared from one of the highlights of the fall TV season. It was Pete from The League, but what was his name? Using my Droid X IMDB app (it’s free!), I looked up his name: Mark Duplass. 

This Guy

Who is that? Besides the aforementioned, Pete from The League, he recently wrote and directed the popular 2010 indie film Cyrus, which attracted such talent as John C. Reilly and Jonah Hill. His first film was called Puffy Chair, which he wrote and directed with his brother, Jay. It garnered a few awards from the Bender Film Festival, the SXSW film festival, and a couple of nominations from the Independent Spirit Awards. His next film, Baghead,  another indie darling film from 2008, also another collaboration with his brother, received a 77% Tomato score on RottenTomatoes.com. Here are the trailers for Baghead and Puffy Chair:

Not only is he a successful director, but he has proven that he can be successful in front of the camera as well. Here is a clip from The League, he begins speaking at about the 0:07 mark (sorry I couldn’t find a much better clip):

He, and his brother, have been touted as some of the most promising filmmakers in the business right now. He is slated as an actor in two films in production right now and is currently directing a film that he wrote, Jeff Who Lives at Home, starring Jason Segel and Ed Helms. After that, he is involved in three more projects currently in development. So, look to see a lot more of him in the future.

If you want to know more, here is an article on his recent developments, courtesy of CinemaBlend.com:

http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Mark-Duplass-Joins-The-Crowded-Welcome-To-People-Cast-22651.html#

***Trailer Time*** Ed Helms and John C. Reilly Star in “Cedar Rapids”, Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams in “Blue Valentine”

This edition of Trailer Time features Ed Helms in a long-awaited lead role, with a strong supporting cast. The film is called Cedar Rapids and focuses on the hilarity that ensues at an insurance convention. Here is the official synopsis:

To call insurance agent Tim Lippe (Ed Helms), “naive” is a gross understatement. He’s never left his small hometown. He’s never stayed at a hotel. And he’s never experienced anything like Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Sent to represent his company at the annual insurance convention, Tim is soon distracted by three convention veterans (John C. Reilly, Anne Heche and Isiah Whitlock Jr.) who will show him the ropes and push his boundaries. For a guy who plays everything by the book, this convention will be anything but conventional.

The trailer makes it look like John C. Reilly will be doing his darndest to steal the show again. While it looks like some crazy shenanigans, it is directed by Miguel Arteta (Youth in Revolt), which means that we should see some true heart show through at some point.

The next trailer is long overdue. I have failed many of you by not mentioning this film sooner, especially with all recent debate over its MPAA rating. Finally, this film won its long battle to be reduced to a hard “R” rating, after originally being slapped with “NC-17“, due to a graphic sex scene. However, Blue Valentine, appears to be far from the realm of throwing sex in a film for sex’s sake. The film received high acclaim at both the Cannes Film Festival and the Sundance Film Festival, and also garnered Golden Globe nominations for the performances of its leads, Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams. Valentine is about two lovers (Gosling and Williams) and the evolution of their relationship, cutting back and forth in the timeline to accentuate the change. It comes out next week, which is why I feel bad for not mentioning it sooner, and the trailer has been out for about two months. If you haven’t seen the trailer, here it is: