trailers: 2012, cold souls

trailer: time traveler's wife

trailers: the "OMG these look awesome" edition

film news: march 2009

• The Movie Blog gives us a look at the new Spike Jonze Where the Wild Things Are movie poster. I can't remember the last time I've been so excited about a movie. (And no, Watchmen was never a site for geekiness for me.)

• Via Film School Rejects: Watchmen Legos!

• The Movie Blog reports Linda Hamilton will offer her voice for Terminator Salvation. Hopefully it's as mind-bendy as her classic voiceover in the first movie.

• According to Cinematical, Time Traveler's Wife will be released August 14th. It's about time. (Ha!)

• I Watch Stuff reports: "Natalie Portman and Brad Pitt have signed on to star in an adaptation of the Leanne Shapton lengthy-titled book Important Artifacts and Personal Property from the Collection of Lenore Doolan and Harold Morris, Including Books, Street Fashion, and Jewelry. Romantic comedy just got incredibly pretentious." As much as I love long titles, this one's not doing much for me, and I think the mock suggestion for Bidding on the Heart as a title is both hilarious and appropriate.

• Via Cinematical: Seriously? Seats with synchronized motion? I understand the importance of "dreaming of a better tomorrow," but can't this tomorrow involve a cure for cancer instead of a needless toy intended to generate more money for the culture industry? (Thanks, Adorno!)

• Film School Rejects give Best Worst Movie, a documentary about the adoration of Troll 2, an A+. I have been waiting forever this documentary to come out, so hopefully it will find wide distribution after SXSW.

• Cinematical is irritated by Sci-Fi's switch to Syfy. I concur. It's a stupid name, and it's insulting to sci-fi fans. (Not to go all Adorno on you again, but the Sci-Fi channel can't really trademark a genre... it's always about money, isn't it?)

• Screen Rant has a look at David Fincher's new animated film, The Goon. My favorite part of the film's press release? "There is a heavy slant on the paranormal." The poster looks pretty awesome.


Away We Go trailer, starring John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph
• As if the sudden surge in remakes and sequels isn't frustrating enough, I Watch Stuff explains that Chris Rock will be remaking Death at a Funeral. You know, that movie that came out in 2007 (!!!).

• Speaking of remakes, will Rihanna and Channing Tatum fill the shoes of Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner is a remake of The Bodyguard? This is one of the few remakes I'm actually okay with. My main problem is that studios are remaking GOOD films simply because they're older (The Day the Earth Stood Still, ahem). I'm fine with them remaking bad movies. And let's be honest, guys, The Bodyguard is not a good movie. You know what other movies are bad? Pretty Woman (it's sexism masquerading as female empowerment!) and Ghost.

• Film Junk had a poll for Best Time Travel Movie, and Back to the Future came out on top with 45% of the votes, followed by 12 Monkeys (15.6%), Terminator 2 (11.8%), and Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure is in 5th place with 4.3%. I think Bill and Ted's should higher, and as much as I love Back to the Future, 12 Monkeys is a perfect science-fiction film.

posters: they sure don't make 'em like they used to

Update, 11:54pm: Actually, it looks like they DO make 'em like they used to... check out the trailer for the upcoming Alien Trespass below. Needless to say, I think it looks like a Mystery Science Theater reject and oh-so awesomely awful.

trailer: funny people

My commentaries on Friday night's Battlestar Galactica and Dollhouse episodes will be posted in the next two days, but in the meantime, here's a trailer for an Adam Sandler movie that -- GASP! -- actually looks good. (He's one of those people, like Tyler Perry or Ben Stiller, who I wish would stop making movies.) Funny People was written and directed by Judd Apatow, and of the plot he says, "I'm trying to make a very serious movie that is twice as funny as my other movies. Wish me luck!" It's about a comedian (Adam Sandler) who has a near-death experience and then lives his life as new and fresh from then after. Highlights of the trailer include Leslie Mann's gloriously awful impression of Eric Bana (sporting his natural accent) and the gut-busting line, "I like your movies -- the ones where you kill Bruce Willis." Hanz Gruber love!

trailers: upcoming animated films

Happy New Year's Eve, everyone! This is just your friendly neighborhood reminder to be safe tonight. And if you're being super safe by staying in tonight, be on the lookout for Comedy Central to go off the air at 12:01... Today I bring you the trailers for some upcoming 2009 animated features, all of which look entertaining and artful (as opposed to the ghastly Delgo). I'm glad children's movies are becoming more mindful of fully grown children and incorporating solid storylines. As beautiful as Meet the Robinsons (based off of my favorite childhood book) was, the blatant moral almost killed me. (Did they have to repeat it in such a flashy manner so many times?) So here are the trailers and my following thoughts on them.


This film may be animated, but I don't think it's a children's movie. Director/Writer Shane Acker's post-apocalyptic narrative involving rag dolls as they try to survive is not exactly a heartwarming family affair, but I wouldn't consider most stop-motion films (sans Wallace and Gromit) to be children's movies (not that 9 is stop-motion, because it's not). The Corpse Bride and The Nightmare Before Christmas are freaky movies. This trailer is close to perfect, from the regretful voiceover at the beginning to the Coheed and Cambria song that matches the look of this dark parallel world. Not to mention the HAL9000 glowing red eye throughout. The only fault I have with this trailer is that it spends too much time listing the voice actors. I've said this before, and I will say it until my face turns blue -- I do not see animated films for the actors. In fact, there are very few actors that I will see anything they're in. But still, having an impressive cast will not deter me from seeing this film (that would be a silly reason to not see a movie). And remember the clever campaign; this film comes out 9.9.09.


First of all, Stephen Colbert plays the PRESIDENT? Brilliant. Seriously, that's amazing. Secondly, I don't think Seth Rogen should do any more animated films (he was also in Kung Fu Panda) because I cannot separate the distinctive gruffy voice from the actor. But he does offer up the best line in the trailer: "I think that jello gave me a fake phone number." Rogen's Bob the Blob would be the best reason for anyone over the age of 15 to see this movie because it definitely is targeted to children. My money is on the moral being comfortable in your own skin -- a la the star-bellied Sneetches -- and that everyone is special and unique... and can fight off invading aliens. Which brings me to my last point... if I were invading a planet, I would hope to say something as awesome as "I come in peace, but most of you will not survive the next twenty-four hours."


I'm not going to lie. This trailer creeped me out... before, that is, I found out it was from the mind of author Neil Gaiman. Don't get me wrong, the trailer still creeps me out (see my stop-motion comment from earlier), but I know I'll be treated to a fantastic story if I go see it. But the best thing about this movie is not the trailer but the website. It's an interactive exploration of Coraline's house! In the living room, you can find some really amazing images involving buttons, and elsewhere you can upload your own photo and "button your eyes" (button, of course, being a verb). This will certainly make for an interesting experience, especially for those select few who received The Coraline Boxes as part of their campaign (box holder #3 has the best photos). I don't think this film will make a lot of money, which is unfortunate because money equals success in Hollywood, but I think that the people who see this movie will love it.


I saved the best for last. You know you're in for a good time (of unbearable adorableness) with Pixar, and their upcoming feature is no exception. Up is about a cranky old Walter Matthau type who travels the world via a ballooned house. This is just a teaser trailer, but so much is packed into it. I don't know what's funnier -- the boy scout being denied admittance to the house, or the sound of his clanking pack as he runs to safety. Luckily for us, we don't have to wait too long for this film because it opens in May. I've noticed the annoying trend of trailers being broadcast way ahead of time (Terminator 4 and the new Star Trek film are some particularly obnoxious examples), so it's nice to know we don't have to wait a whole year and a half to enjoy this visual feast.

favorite trailers: revolutionary road

I absolutely love movie trailers. In fact, I could spend two hours at the theater just watching movie trailers. Trailers have to construct a narrative, develop relatable (or at the very least intriguing) characters, provide visual representation of what the film experience will be like, and lure in the audience in a matter of 30 seconds to 2 minutes. I think in today's ADHD society -- and I completely blame MTV -- people overlook the wonderful creative process of editing and sound mixing. Thankfully, trailers are recognized by the Golden Trailer Awards (they have categories for Best Voiceover!), so not all is lost. Below are four of my favorite recent trailers.


Revolutionary Road: I'm not even going to explain what this movie is about because I feel like the first trailer already provided that information (you can read a good synopsis of Richard Yates' 1962 novel here at Wikipedia). But how brilliant is the split screen? Go back and rewatch it. Pay attention to what's being shown on each side in juxtaposition with each other. And Cat Powers' "Sea of Love" song is perfect for this trailer -- it's dreamy, uncomplicated, romantic... and yet, secretive, nostalgic, and haunting. Sam Mendes, you may have won me back.

Little Children Trailer

Little Children: Two words -- choo choo. That child's train is one of the most suspenseful things I've ever seen in a montage of this nature. The movie is about an affair in suburbia... but it's so, so much more, and this trailer definitely alludes to the type of experience you'll have while watching this movie. This film gets better on repeat viewings, as does this trailer.

Watch more The Fountain videos on AOL Video

The Fountain: My all-time favorite trailer... for one of my favorite movies. I swear, this movie was made specifically for me. Just me.

Australia Trailer

Australia: I heart Baz Luhrmann. I heart Hugh Jackman. I heart beautiful cinematography. Other than The Fountain, I can't think of a single trailer that has really reminded me of why I love films so much, why I'm making them part of my career. Movies can be great -- they can be cathartic, they can imagine better realities for us, they ask questions and sometimes provide answers -- but, specifically, I love films because of their universal humanitarian themes. Love and nature. Difference and likeness. Old world and new world. Of course, these themes are held together by a really strong story, and Australia definitely has all of these. It is going to be -- and I do not use this word lightly -- epic.

film news: late october 2008

hello, my name is inigo montoya
by artist Rakka
From The Movie Blog, Spartacus is coming to television. Anyone who's ever eaten at a restaurant with me knows that Spartacus is my code name because I'm always hoping that somewhere there is a man who will stand up at the announcement "Spartacus, part of two" and shout "NO! I AM SPARTACUS!" Apparently, this show, which is being developed by Starz, will not come from the page of Kubrick, who directed the 1960 film Spartacus. But that works in the show's favor because it could not keep a multi-season story working within that framework. I'd be really interested to watch this show -- simply because Spartacus is the ultimate underdog and I will always root for him.

In the bizarro world of Tim Burton, Alan Rickman will be playing the Caterpillar in the upcoming Alice in Wonderland. I really can't picture this... which means I will be there opening weekend to see this.

Yet another Nicholas Sparks novel is being adapted for film. This time, it's Dear John. Let's see... it's about a soldier who falls in love with someone and then re-enlists after the 9/11 attacks. I don't even need to read the book, watch the movie, or heck, watch the trailer to know that someone dies -- most likely by self-sacrifice and for the good of the country. My friend was an extra on this film for a week, and he says that Channing Tatum, who plays the soldier, has done a good job... but I don't know if I can shake his Step Up persona. Regardless, I won't be seeing this movie.


Here's the trailer for Lord of the Rings and the Half-Blood Prince. Oh, wait, I'm sorry. This is the next Harry Potter installment. Excuse me while I roll my eyes.

Film School Rejects lists the 10 Hottest Sex Scenes on Film. The best part of the list is the commentaries. Who knew there were so many adjectives to use when describing sex? The commentaries are porn in their own right.

10. Damages
Jeremy Irons lusts after Juliette Binoche and shows it by fucking her on every hard surface in his house. And make no mistake, the duo is not making love, they’re fucking. One scene starts on his desk before moving to a stand-up position against his counter top and, eventually, the floor. Binoche is on her back with her feet up around Irons’ neck, her thigh-high stockings rubbing against his face as he thrusts into her French patisserie, gently knocking her head against the floor each time. Her moans begin to match the impacts until finally they both stop happily and simultaneously… and then they move to the bed.

Film School Rejects also creates a list of 7 Rejected High School Musical Plotlines. It's hard to decide which one is my favorite, but it may very well be High School Nudical, solely for the musical number:

In an effort to widen their audience, High School Nudical begins with drama teacher Ms. Darbus’s retirement from the school system and a much-needed vacation to the Caribbean. However, her replacement is a young, Danish teacher (played by Charlize Theron) who corrupts the now-full drama club by forcing them to do a reprisal of Hair, complete with full frontal nudity. After seeing what Troy is packing, Sharpay finally loses interest in him, but sparks still fly when Kelsi comes out of the Disney closet and tries to pry Gabriella away from Troy. Meanwhile, Chad has become a full-fledged hippie, coming under the influence of the classic free-love musical. Eschewing the tenants of capitalism, Chad slowly builds an underground network, creates a commune and firebombs the school during, “Hoony-Boony-Lacka-Wacka-Die-Capitalist-Pig-Dogs (The Clap Hands Song)”. The crew is split by political association, but after the national guard is called in to quell the uprising, and most of the minor characters are killed, Troy, Gabriella, Chad and Sharpay mourn their brethren and celebrate their enduring friendship with some of Zeke’s Freedom Cupcakes as dawn breaks on a new morning.

And lastly, studios are apparently looking to remake Hitchcock's The Birds, which is just mind-boggling. Isn't this movie so great because it's ridiculously campy and absurd and filled with horrible special effects... and yet you still freak out by flocks of birds? How can they "update" or "reimagine" this movie without destroying the silliness of the original? Is Hollywood so unoriginal that they can't even make remakes of movies worth remaking -- like, say, Audrey Hepburn's Wait Until Dark?

an amalgamation of awesome

Word! Above is the new promo for Season 5 of Lost. The idea of the show is better than its execution, but I'll be damned if this promo doesn't get me all excited again.

I completely own up to my dorkiness, and an animated parody with Superman and Batman is always going to make this fangirl smile. But what really gets me is the Batman voice, replicated to perfection. Once Batman says, "He dresses like A CLOWN," I can't stop laughing.


What if Wes Anderson made an attack ad for McCain? It would look like this and it would be awesome. (Note the yellow jogging suits!) Also included are fake ads from John Woo and Kevin Smith.


Here's the trailer for Zac Efron's 17 Again. I'm a sucker for these illogical body-swap movies -- Big, 13 Going on 30, Freaky Friday -- and although Efron looks nothing like Matthew Perry, I think the movie looks cute enough. But... is anyone else freaked out that Efron's character seems to be hitting on his daughter? An over-protective boy in high school? Isn't that an indicator of a crush?

the face of brilliance

Ever wondered what brilliance looks like? Here's the trailer for directorial debut of Charlie Kaufman's Synecdoche, New York. I am beyond excited for this. The petal falling off the tattoo? Beautiful, inspired, and haunting. "When are we going to get an audience in here? It's been seventeen years." This looks like a mind-bending look at life as an art -- literally.


And here are two posters for the film:

seven minutes of 'the day the earth stood still'

Oh, snap! Jon Hamm is in this movie. These seven minutes read like an extended trailer with longer scenes, but most of the scenes occur at the beginning of the movie, so instead of showing too much and turning me away, I'm actually more intrigued. I still don't think that this movie needed to be made, but I will make all sorts of justifications for science-fiction. I'm always game for movies that show how relying on technology is bad... "In this case, the less advanced civilization is us." Score one for aliens! And I don't care what anyone says. I like Keanu Reeves.

I just have one question: does the earth standing still have nothing to do with the sun's revolution anymore?

trailers of interest

Doubt, John Patrick Shanley
Update: "The dragon is hungry." I take it back. I am definitely seeing this. The acting looks phenomenal, and the setting is refreshing. Plus, I don't think I'll figure out the ending of this one...


The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, Terry Gilliam
This is just a pre-production trailer, but it still looks really amazing. You may remember hearing about this movie as the one where Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell will play variations of one role, the one that was originally cast as Heath Ledger. This, not Dark Knight (as is the popular belief), is really Ledger's last role. Director Terry Gilliam talks about the movie in a way that actually says nothing about the movie. It's a bunch of adjectives tacked onto fantastical words, but in all honesty, this trailer doesn't need words. Just show me the images. My favorite image clocks in at 2:19; iridescent blue-green jellyfish abducting people. Awesome.


Changeling, Clint Eastwood
Plot: Angelina Jolie's child is kidnapped and then the police return a boy to her, but it's not her son. I like Clint Eastwood well enough, but I don't think his name is synonymous with Academy Award and I thought Million Dollar Baby was extremely overhyped. But I loved Mystic River and I think Changeling will be a return to the mystery-suspense that Eastwood is so good at. I believed Tim Robbins' character was guilty, and I could very well believe that Angelina Jolie's character is just crazy. I'm indifferent to this movie -- I'll either see it or I'll wait to see it, but it'll be one of those "nothing else is playing" scenarios.


The International, Tom Tykwer
(Ignore the mini-trailer before the actual trailer. I would've put a Youtube trailer up, but this one is HD!) Plot: Clive Owen, playing Clive Owen, has to "go outside the system of justice." Naomi Watts also stars. I don't know. Stuff blows up and there are guns involved. With movies like this, I need a really intelligent plot (Italian Job and Inside Man did this well), and I just won't be able to tell until reviews come out. I don't really care if reviewers like a movie -- I just look for buzz words. If the phrase "plot holes" appear, I tend to avoid the movie. Also, if "great twist" appear, I tend to avoid it because I go into the movie knowing there's a twist so I'm subconsciously looking for clues and I figure out the end before it happens (I figured out 4/5 of the twists in The Prestige). So I'll wait on this one.


The Soloist, Joe Wright
I love Joe Wright, I do. I adored Pride and Prejudice and fell in love with Atonement, a faithful adaptation to one of my favorite novels. But this is just screaming "GIVE ME AN OSCAR" and I can't get behind that. Does it look beautiful and heartwarming? Yes. Is Robert Downey Jr. retrieving his career from oblivion? Yes. But am I also getting sick of him? Yes. It just looks like too many things are set up for "Best Oscar" for something... acting, directing, script, cinematography... where are movies like The Lives of Others, good honest movies? Sigh. I don't think I'll be seeing this...


Nothing Like the Holidays, Alfredo De Villa
Wow, it's September and here's a trailer for a holiday movie. But guess what, it actually looks funny. Plot: A Puerto Rican family spend what may be their last Christmas together; the parents are getting a divorce. The difference between this movie and others like it are that these jokes do not seem forced, and the ones that are ("Does your plumbing work?") work because of the Hispanic culture. And it really bothers me in comedies, TV or film, where other characters don't laugh when someone says something funny. People would laugh in real life! At least in Nothing Like the Holidays, the characters not only laugh, but they make fun of each other. They're an actual family, and it's not about them hating each other. (So overly cliché.) I'm definitely going to see this because I'm a closeted sap, and I'm a sucker for "Lean on Me."

new york, i love you trailer

Here is the trailer for New York, I Love You, the Big Apple version of Paris je t'aime. Both are anthologies celebrating a city in the title, but I can't help feeling underwhelmed by this trailer. Paris's trailer was visually stunning, from the opening of Steve Buscemi's face turning in a colorized metro to the symmetrical dancing of the mimes in prison (which was sadly not included in the Americanized trailer). Out of the handful of vignettes, I only really loved about five or so, but when I say I loved them, I mean I loved them. The trailer for New York, I Love You does not give me that sense of hope for really amazing cinematic feats. There is no altered coloration. It all just looks saturated (re: dirty). Each of the stories looks similar, so where is the director's vision? What makes each story stand out? And something tells me the narratives will not blow me away like they did in Paris, je t'aime. So I don't know. I may just hold out for the film Venezia, ti amo (which only exists in my dreams).

Below is the trailer for Paris, je t'aime. You can compare the two trailers, but I think you'll be disappointed by the former. For those that are interested, the stories I fell in love with are, in order:

Place des fêtes — by German writer-director Oliver Schmitz. A Nigerian man (Seydou Boro), dying from a stab wound in the Place des fêtes asks a woman paramedic (Aïssa Maïga) for a cup of coffee. It is then revealed that he had fallen in love at first sight with her some time previously. By the time she remembers him, and has received the coffee, he has passed.
Loin du 16e — by Brazilian writer-directors Walter Salles and Daniela Thomas. A young woman (Catalina Sandino Moreno) sings a Spanish lullaby ("Que Linda Manito") to her baby before leaving it in a daycare. She then takes an extremely long commute to the home of her wealthy employer (whose face is not seen), where she sings the same lullaby to her employer's baby.
14e arrondissement — written and directed by Alexander Payne. Carol (Margo Martindale), a letter carrier from Denver, Colorado on her first European holiday, recites in rough French what she loves about Paris.
Bastille — by Spanish writer-director Isabel Coixet. Prepared to leave his marriage for a much younger lover (Leonor Watling), a man (Sergio Castellitto) instead decides to stay with his wife (Miranda Richardson) after she reveals a terminal illness - and rediscovers the love he once felt for her.
Tuileries — by American writer-directors Joel and Ethan Coen. A comic film in which an American tourist (Steve Buscemi) waiting at the Tuileries station becomes involved in the conflict between a young couple (Axel Kiener and Julie Bataille) after he breaks the cardinal rule of avoiding eye contact with people on the Paris Metro.

trailers of interest

From Apple trailers: "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is a fictional story that offers a unique perspective on how prejudice, hatred and violence affect innocent people, particularly children, during wartime. Through the lens of an eight-year-old boy largely shielded from the reality of World War II, we witness a forbidden friendship that forms between Bruno, the son of Nazi commandant, and Schmuel, a Jewish boy held captive in a concentration camp. Though the two are separated physically by a barbed wire fence, their lives become inescapably intertwined. The imagined story of Bruno and Shmuel sheds light on the brutality, senselessness and devastating consequences of war from an unusual point of view. Together, their tragic journey helps recall the millions of innocent victims of the Holocaust."


From Apple trailers: "A Secret follows the saga of a Jewish family in post-World War II Paris. François, a solitary, imaginative child, invents for himself a brother as well as the story of his parents’ past. But on his fifteenth birthday, he discovers a dark family secret that ties his family’s history to the Holocaust and shatters his illusions forever. Adapted from Philippe Grimbert’s celebrated truth-inspired novel, Memory. Winner of the Grand Prix of the Americas Prize at the Montréal World Film Festival 2007." It stars Mathieu Amalric (The Diving Bell and the Butterfly).

I am particularly drawn to Holocaust films because it's an unimaginable time in history that is just around the corner from 2008. It's true what they say about history, that no one really comprehends the recent past. Perhaps it's because high school history classes never make it to WWII. Or maybe it's because kids don't want to hear their grandparents talk about how hard things were for them when they were young. I tend to think it's the latter since we're part of the "Me Generation" and we take things for granted. But holocausts have happened across centuries, and I don't think the average American really understand the significance of the Holocaust happening in a modern, industrial, civilized society. We can't blame it on barbarism or colonialism. It's ignorant Otherness, and if it happened in the twentieth-century, it'll happen again. It absolutely breaks my heart that I will never fully grasp the weight of what happened, and keeping this atrocity in the back of mind, I become so irate when I hear people say slanderous and racist things to one another. Why is hatred so popular? Is it because it's easier to hate one another? The reason I'm attracted to Holocaust films is because, even in the darkest and most heart-breaking times that we've known, there is hope in humanity. There is someone who knows that what is happening is wrong. There is someone with integrity who never loses their identity in the face of evil. There is someone who helps, who makes promises, who looks forward to a new day, who expects a new day. And I need that. I need those moments.

fall movie release schedule

The following dates come from the latest Entertainment Weekly Fall Movie Preview issue. You know, the one with Daniel Radcliffe on the cover. These are the ones I'm at least interested in, but I've included the percentage chance that I will actually see it in the theater.

Sept. 12
Burn After Reading -- 5%. The latest Cohen brothers movie (who last directed No Country for Old Men) follows two idiot gym employees trying on CIA blackmail. It looks like dumb comedy posing as smart comedy but it's really dumb comedy.

Sept. 17
Appaloosa -- 85%. I don't like Westerns, persay, but I like loners and I like Ed Harris and Viggo Mortensen. Loses points for having Renée Zellweger as the love interest.


Sept. 19
Battle in Seattle -- 70%, trailer above. Anarchy. Humanism. The State vs. the people. As a bleeding heart liberal, this is right up my alley. Also, it's Stuart Townsend's first crack at writing and directing.
The Duchess -- 5%. Looks at the life of 18th century aristocrat Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire. The original trailer lacked information and confused rather than awed the audience. But I like period pieces. I'll wait for reviews or another trailer, whichever comes first.

Sept. 26
Blindness -- 95%, heck yes. Citywide blindness as allegory for the sight being the disadvantaged? Blindness as a metaphor for not really seeing the quotidian? Blindness as an excuse to examine how an "Other" civilization would survive? All interesting possibilities. Plus, it's by the director of City of God and The Constant Gardener.
Choke -- 5%. Chuck Palahniuk. You either love him or think he's an overrated misogynist.
Eagle Eye -- 50%. I couldn't care less about Shia LaBeouf's personal life. I enjoy his casual performances, and since finding out that Michelle Monaghan is in it, I'm even more interested. But Spielberg originally conceived of this idea before the days of iPhones and surveillance paranoia, so I don't know if there will be a pay off. It might come off kind of silly, like Phone Booth.
The Lucky Ones -- 15%. Follows three soldiers returning from the Iraq War, including Tim Robbins and Rachel McAdams. I have avoided modern war movies on the Iraq War, but these two actors are very compelling.
Nights in Rodanthe -- 15%. Richard Gere and Diane Lane fall in love again. For the third time. This is their third pairing after 1984's The Cotton Club and 2002's Unfaithful. I tend to prefer romantic films about older people falling in love. It seems more genuine and they have actual obstacles standing in their way.


Oct. 3
How to Lose Friends & Alienate People -- 5%, sorry Simon Pegg.
Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist -- 95%. This could be a modern teenage take on Before Sunrise, but without Vienna and stealing wine. Well, there could be wine-stealing... they are underage, you know.
Religulous -- 70%, trailer above. At first, the trailer for Bill Maher's film on world religion looks to be mocking and at times insulting, but as you continue to watch, you realize there's something to be learned about acceptance of differences. A lot of those interviewed tell Maher he's limiting his understanding, presumably by summarizing their faith in neat ten-word sentences. But still, this film will not be lacking crazy people.


Oct. 10
City of Ember -- 50%. Saoirse Ronan (Atonement) finds herself on a journey to save her dying city from a failing power generator. The trailer looks quite inventive and aesthetically pleasing.
Happy-Go-Lucky -- 85%, trailer above. What a find. Sally Hawkins stars as an infectiously optimistic primary school teacher. Normally this is a secondary character, a sidekick, an annoying Molly Shannon role, but here, Hawkins's Poppy is front and center. It's refreshing to have a happy person as the lead.

Oct. 24
Changeling -- 15%. Clint Eastwood is like the Meryl Streep of directors. He just gets nominated for all sorts of things. This star Angelina Jolie as a mother whose son is kidnapped.
High School Musical 3: Senior Year -- 100%. Ha. Dollar theater, folks. I certainly can't miss out the guaranteed cheese-fest of the year! Did you see the second one? Zac Efron prances like a pixie through a golf course during a song. So ridiculously bad.
Passengers -- I haven't seen a trailer for this yet (not in English, anyway), so I don't know. Anne Hathway stars as a grief counselor for plane crash survivors and ends up falling for one of them, played by Patrick Wilson. I like both leads, but I'm not a fan of crime thrillers. I tend to figure out the ending early on. It's not the studio's fault. It's mine for being, you know, attentive.
Synecdoche, New York -- 100%. Two words: Charlie Kaufman. The most innovative screenwriter is now a first-time director, bringing to life his script about a theater director, Philip Seymour Hoffman, who attempts to create a life-size replica of New York inside a warehouse as part of his new play. It was not well received as some festivals, but I read that he has retweaked it. No trailer is out yet, but I don't need to see one.

Oct. 31
Zach and Miri Make a Porno -- 20%. I dislike Kevin Smith and most of his movies, but I really love Mallrats and Chasing Amy, and I'm hoping this movie is closer to those than Clerks or Jersey Girl. Less profanity, more content. Oh, and it's about Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks making a porno. So yeah. What the title says.

Nov. 7
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa -- 20%. I can't help it. I liked the first one; the penguins were hilarious. I won't go out of my way to see this, but if I'm looking to avoid doing work or if someone asks me to go, I will gladly go.
Quantum of Solace -- 100%. Casino Royale was such an intelligent film, and I've never been interested in James Bond. (The character's a bit outdated, admit it.) But Daniel Craig revitalized the character and I'm hoping that this next script will be just as character-driven as the first. And please, give us another strong female character like Vespar.
Repo! The Genetic Opera -- 65%. Can't pay the organ-financing company for that organ you have? They'll repossess it. Sounds disgusting, but it's a musical. I'm game. And I'm crossing my fingers that Paris Hilton will die in the movie, even if for her to wear her "See Paris Die" shirt again.


Nov. 14
Australia -- 100%, trailer above. Australian epic. Baz Luhrman. Hugh Jackman. Please, this movie was made for me. And look at that cinematography! This one'll sweep up every award.
Role Models -- 30%. I've had crushes on Paul Rudd and Sean Williams Scott ever since Clueless and The Rundown, respectively, although Mr. Woodcock was unforgivable. Still, these boys made me laugh in the trailer, and the "you white, then you Ben Affleck" line makes me so unbelievably happy.

Nov. 21
Twilight -- Less than 0%. Moved up from a Dec. 12 release because Half-Blood Prince moved from Nov. 21st to July 2009. This is only on here as a note to avoid the theater that God-forsaken weekend.
The Soloist -- 25%. Joe Wright's (Pride and Prejudice, Atonement) latest film about a schizophrenic homeless man, Jamie Foxx, who dreams of playing at the Disney Concert Hall. Robert Downey Jr. also stars (he's really capitalizing on his comeback, who knows how long it'll last). Trailer's not out yet, but I trust Joe Wright and the cast includes two strong leads.


Dec. 12
The Day the Earth Stood Still (remake) -- 75%. I really, really liked the original. This movie would be right up my alley had I not seen or heard or known about the original, but it loses points for having Klaatu warn earth of environmental issues. We remember how well the The Happening did... oh yeah, no one saw it. My sixth sense is telling me that this will not be a good remake (are they ever?), but I think it will be intolerably bad. But as a cinephile, I will do my duty to see this film.
Doubt -- 10%. Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman isn't a bad cast. It follows a nun who confronts a priest about sexually abusing a black student. Despite the obvious Oscar-bait themes, I'm more interested in the quick-fire dialogue between the two feuding stars, hoping there will be a strong commentary on morality, authority, and religion.
Seven Pounds -- 15%, trailer above. Judging by the trailer, Will Smith's character is in a car accident and is buried under guilt until he decides to take action and find redemption, likely in the arms of Rosario Dawson's character. I prefer Will Smith in his dramatic roles (The Pursuit of Happyness and I Am Legend showcased solid heart-tugging performances), so this movie is in my peripheral vision.


Dec. 25
Bedtime Stories -- 1%. Two words: Adam Sandler. Translation: Avoid at all costs. Still, the plot is cute enough, and it will do extremely well as a Christmas movie. National Treasure was only a box office success because it was a family friendly affair, and people want happy light movies during the holidays. (God knows it wasn't Nicolas Cage's performance...) Sandler plays a father whose bedtime stories to his niece and nephew start to come true, but then things start to go wrong when the children start introducing scenes.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button -- 95%, trailer above. Like Brokeback Mountain, this film is based off of a very short story, so I'm hoping a majority of the movie is about recreating the eras and settings. Brad Pitt stars in the title role as a man who was born old and grows to be a child. He falls in love with Cate Blanchett who ages normally. It's like The Time Traveller's Wife but better. Can you imagine being eighty years old and holding the baby-version of a man you love(d)? It's haunting. Another reason to see it: David Fincher is directing. He's my favorite current director, and I'll follow him anywhere. Need another reason? Brad Pitt's face is used for every single age of his character. This technology will be interesting to see.
The Spirit -- 1%. Looks horrible and the campaigns were so postfeminist that they came right back around to sexist again. But the "Frank Miller style" is interesting.

Dec. 26
Revolutionary Road -- 75%. I heart director Sam Mendes for giving me American Beauty and I heart his real-life wife Kate Winslet for being amazing in just about everything. Hippes-turned-hipsters, Winslet and Leo DiCaprio play a married couple who deal with trials in their marriage regarding their choices to settle in suburbia. Winslet repeatedly refers to DiCaprio as her best friend, which is amazing. They kept a strong friendship from Titanic eleven years ago.

film news: august 2008

Joss Whedon's version of Batman: Whedon told MTV that once upon a time, he pitched a Batman reboot to Warner Bros when Batman Begins was in early development. "It wasn't what they did but the vibe was very similar. Mine was a bit less epic. It was more about the progression of him and it was more in Gotham City. He didn't go to Tibet and meet cool people, but it was very similar in vibe." But most interesting of all was the idea that he didn't plan on using any villains from the comic book canon. "In my version, there was actually a new [villain], it wasn't one of the classics - which is probably why they didn't use it. It was more of a 'Hannibal Lector' type - he was somebody already in Arkham Asylum that Bruce went and sort of studied with. It was a whole thing - I get very emotional about it, I still love the story. Maybe I'll get to do it as a comic one day."



Pheobe in Wonderland trailer
From Film School Rejects: "The film stars Elle, little sister of Dakota Fanning, as Pheobe, a creative-minded little girl whose wild imagination and often temperamental nature cast her out in school and with her family at home. She finds refuge though, in the company of an eccentric teacher, played by Patricia Clarkson. It is a whimsical little film that starts out as an often funny, quirky family film, but turns sharply toward a dark, heavy-hearted story of a troubled child." The trailer sparks my curiosity, but I wish they wouldn't have used Lennon's "Imagine" and used a more instrumental (and less recognizable) version instead.

Is Twilight anti-feminist? I don't know what upsets me more -- people saying "I'm not a feminist" (which means they don't think women are equal to men, even women say it!) or the insults hurled at feminists. "You didn't take your husband's last name? Very feminist of you. That'll help prevent abuse and secure equal rights for men and women everywhere." If I knew who this "Joe" guy was, I'd kick him the balls and watch him cry. Some of the comments are intelligent, most are not. But the ones that are intelligent are worth reading. (For the record, I am anti-Twilight.)


How to Lose Friends and Alienate People trailer
Truth be told, this movie really doesn't interest me. I love Simon Pegg and will watch anything he's in (even Big Nothing, his pre-Run Fatboy Run collaboration with David Schwimmer), but this has a bad plot, a dull trailer, and Kirsten Dunst and Megan Fox. On imdb.com, it has an 8.8 rating, but that could just be based off 5 votes of ten-year-olds.

Robert Downey Jr. talks about Sherlock Holmes on The Movie Blog: I didn't know Sherlock Holmes was a martial artist (apparently it's true to his original character)... but do we really need another action-packed movie? Sherlock is amazing for his brilliance, his ability of deduction, not his fists. So I'm a little concerned about this upcoming movie. I think CSI and Monk and all those other crime shows prove that you don't need action to create suspense. You need mystery and good writing. I'm looking for to Downey's performance (and his mustache!), but I'll wait until a trailer is released before I pass any judgement.

Dorian Gray rounds out its cast: Dorian Gray, based of course on Oscar Wilde's "Picture of Dorian Gray," has a full cast joining Ben Barnes (Prince Caspian, Stardust) and Colin Firth (Moody Sexy Man, which doesn't exist but should). This cast includes Rebecca Hall, Ben Chaplin, Emilia Fox, Rachel Hurd-Wood, Fiona Shaw, Maryam D’Abo, Pip Torrens, Douglas Henshall, Caroline Goodall, Michael Culkin, Johnny Harris and Max Irons. It wil be directed by Oliver Parker (An Ideal Husband, The Importance of Being Earnest). I like a majority of the cast and I enjoy the director but, as usual in the fantasy genre, I'll wait until the trailer.


Tropic Thunder drinking game

Boycotting Tropic Thunder?: There's been controversy surrounding Tropic Thunder and their overuse of the word "retard" in a negative way. There're boycotts and requests for apologies, and some are wondering if this is a case of political correctness gone too far. Situations like this always remind me of a conversation I had with a classmate in ninth grade:

Him: That's gay.
Me: You shouldn't say that. It's offensive to gay people.
Him: Fine, then it's retarded.
Me: And that's offensive to mentally challenged people.
Him: Fine, what should I say then?
Me: I don't know. That's it's stupid.
Him: But that's offensive to stupid people.

On the one hand, I absolutely disagree with using any classification in a negative way, especially in terms of race, gender, or sexuality. On the other hand, sometimes political correctness goes to far. Eventually we'll have to censor everything. And as Ben Stiller has noted, the movie is actually mocking the actors who overuse retard. So is it the movie's fault if stupider audiences walk away quoting the movie's offensive language, or is it the audience's fault for being stupid and not understanding the subtextual context? Hmm, tough call... but I'm not one for censorship of the arts. So my vote goes for Tropic Thunder.

trailers of interest

The following are some recent trailers that have popped up that look interesting to me. The first one, Role Models, may not be on par with the Apatow flicks, but the cast has impeccable comedic timing. And McLovin' plays a caped geek. I'm more excited about these shenanigans because, unlike the Apatow flicks, I think this might actually have a developed story arc. The second movie, Appaloosa, is an Ed Harris directed western. Oddly enough, I don't like older westerns but newer westerns appeal to me. There's really no logical reason for it, but this trailer really intrigues me. I like no-nonsense asshole heroes, what can I say? And the third trailer, Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, is 200 Cigarettes - New Year's Eve + George Michael Bluth. It's apparently a book adaptation and I don't know if it will appeal to anyone over the age of eighteen, but I really like the two leads so I'm rooting for this one.


Role Models
Starring Paul Rudd, Elizabeth Banks, and Sean Williams Scott

"You're white, then you Ben Affleck."


Appaloosa
Starring Ed Harris (who also directed), Viggo Mortensen, and Renée Zellweger

"Matter of fact, I only shot two. Mr. Hitch shot the other one."


Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist
Starring Michael Cera and Kat Dennings

"I found Jesus. Jesus! He's much taller in person."

rock me, sexy jesus

This is a scene/slash/montage from Hamlet 2, which, I am embarrassed to say, I am geeking out over. I don't really care for Steve Coogan, but I was sold after the lines, "Didn't everyone die in the first one...?" "There's a thing that fixes that." "Oh... a time machine..." The above music video for "Rock Me, Sexy Jesus" comes with lyrics, and the word awesome immediately springs to mind...

films news: july 2008

I used to be on the fence about Blindness, a film directed by Fernando Meirelles (City of God, The Constant Gardener) about a city infected with a "white blindness." It stars Julianne Moore and Mark Ruffalo as a husband and wife, and Moore's character is one of the only people still left with her sight. She goes with her husband to a quarantined facility for the infected, where she meets up with Gael Garcia Bernal (who, in my opinion, should be in every movie). RowThree.com has the latest campaign posters, and, although I love Meirelles and Moore and Bernal, the original trailer did not appeal to my yearning for a psychological thriller. But the newer trailer (below) and the ad campaign, which bares a striking similarity to Antony Gormley's "Blind Light" exhibit, have secured Blindness for a spot on my fall movie list. "I'll never forget your face" is a wonderful tease, and I'm hoping the trailer intentionally left out the traumatic psychology so that the actual film could be that much more terrifying.


The National Treasure: Book of Secrets Drinking Game. Seriously. One of the worst movies ever. The plot doesn't even hold up... how was Cage's ancestor recused of being a traitor? Oh, that's right. He wasn't. But everyone's so anxious for this piece of crap to end that no one cares. Still, check out Alex Proyas's Knowing trailer at FilmJunk.com. Fifty years ago, a child wrote down a mathematical equation (of sorts) in a time-capsule, and the ever-brilliant Nicolas Cage figures out that the numbers predict cataclysmic events. The unbelievable part of the plot is not the equation but that Cage could figure out what it all means. But I grew up in a household where science-fiction surpasses all other genres (the running joke is that all sci-fi is "bad sci-fi" and yet we all love the genre), so, despite the presence of Nicolas Cage and despite the lame premise, I'm still intrigued. The trailer's last line is particularly interesting: "What happens when the numbers run out?"

Speaking of trailers, Harold stars Spencer Breslin (the kid from The Kid, who now sounds like a post-puberty Michael Cera, eerie!) as a 14-year-old boy who is going bald. The trailer is low-budget and reminds me of Napoleon Dynamite, so I'll wait for some reviews on this indie-flick before I lean one way or the other on it. Also, the Watchmen and Terminator Salvation trailers will air before The Dark Knight, which is like the Super Bowl for trailer spots. Lastly, Steve Coogan's new movie Hamlet 2 is all sorts of relatable brilliance, and FilmSchoolRejects.com has numerous clips from the film. You can view the original trailer here, but I warn you, it's been months and I still have "Rock Me, Sexy Jesus" stuck in my head.


According to Cinematical.com, Tim Burton and Disney are teaming up for an Alice in Wonderland remake (or is it a reimagining?). This makes so much sense that I don't know how this film has not already been made. I always thought Wonderland was an exceptionally creepy story, and who better to bring out the utter weirdness of Lewis Carroll's pedophilic love-letter? I think Helena Bonham-Carter would make an excellent Queen of Hearts and Johnny Depp could play the Mad Hatter, the Cheshire Cat, and Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum.

Neil Miller over at FilmSchoolRejects.com is apathetic about Keanu Reeves being cast in The Day the Earth Stood Still remake. I have my own problems with the trailer (like the fact that it rings false for anyone who's seen the original movie -- there's no way Hollywood will make Klaatu the bad guy), but I have actually come to the understanding that the movie should be remade. The original came out in 1951, so most of the allusions point to the Cold War. The remake will undoubtedly reference global warming and other environmentalist concerns, which, again, will ring false because it comes on the heels of The Happening. And although I agree with Miller that Reeves does not look alien enough, I do think his stilted acting style will fit the role nicely. Keanu is still better than Nicolas Cage.


Jon over at TheMovieBlog.com lists his picks for the best and worst films of the year so far. I was happy to see In Bruges is #2 on his Best list, but I was disappointed to see Wanted at #3, before The Dark Knight and Iron Man. Jolie has "never looked sexier," he says. Since when is emaciation sexy?