See more Thomas Haden Church videos at Funny or Die
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Random Notes: Kevin Smith on Judd Apatow
"I'm thankful for that guy. Nevermind the fact that he brought us Seth Rogen, which I'm really thankful for, but he did shatter that glass ceiling and made my job much easier in terms of, like, trying to get the next one made." -- Kevin Smith on Judd Apatow
Continue HERE.
Random News: Robert Downey Jr. and Don Cheadle sign on for the Avengers
Marvel Entertainment has just announced that Robert Downey Jr and Don Cheadle have signed on for both Iron Man 2 and The Avengers. Iron Man 2 director Jon Favreau will also executive produce The Avengers. As previously reported, Cheadle will be replacing Terrence Howard as Colonel James “Rhodey” Rhodes.
The announcement also comes with the first look at a plot synopsis tease: ” “In a movie event, The Avengers will bring together the super hero team of Marvel Comics characters for the first time ever, including Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, the Hulk and more, as they are forced to band together to battle the biggest foe they’ve ever faced.” Who could that be? With Hulk on the listed team line-up, does that mean that the big green guy is out as a possibility?
Iron Man 2 hits theaters on May 7th 2010, and The Avengers hits theaters on July 15th 2011. Check out the full press release here.
Photos: Star Trek (2009)
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Do I care much about this movie? No. BUT it has two of my favorite actors; Simon Pegg and Eric Bana. Anyway, check them out.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Trailers: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
The new International trailer is here. That doesn't mean I've forgiven the movie for breaking my heart.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Listmania: Cinematical's 7 Funniest Horror Films
{This was actually posted about 2 weeks ago, but I thought it more appropriate closer to Halloween. Plus Shaun of the Dead is number one!}
Find it HERE.
Random News: Weinsteins to move ALL releases to 2009
From Cinematical:
If they got some sort of financial bonus for every year they kept an unreleased movie on the shelves, I could understand it -- but this is getting a little ridiculous. According to a rather interesting L.A. Times piece, the Weinsteins are taking all their movies (save for Zack and Miri, The Reader, and perhaps the inevitably brilliant Extreme Movie) and bumping them back to next year. That includes some oft-delayed titles like Killshot and Fanboys, as well as higher-profile stuff like Crossing Over (with Harrison Ford and Sean Penn) and Shanghai (with John Cusack). Ah yes, and the highly-anticipated adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Cormac McCarthy novel The Road.
Despite the fact that The Weinstein Co. is losing employees by the fistful, Harvey W. insists that the reasons for the delays are legit: Killshot he wants to hold for Mickey Rourke's The Wrestler; Fanboys is waiting for a Comcast promotion in January; Crossing Over deserves to enter a non-crowded marketplace; and Shanghai isn't even finished yet. Regarding The Road ... hmph, it never came up.
God, this is disappointing. The Road was one of my most anticipated films of this year. I hadn't seen ANYTHING for it, and I was still really excited. This is such a shame.
Trailers: Doubt (2008)
I had, for some reason, been avoiding this trailer, but it was forced upon me so now here it is!
Friday, October 24, 2008
Review: Happy-Go-Lucky (2008)
Mike Leigh's films usually focus on somewhat dark subject matter (see most recent: Vera Drake). But this time 'round he's gotten in touch with his inner 30-year-old single Londoner in the form of a Primary school teacher, Poppy (Sally Hawkins). She's bright, bubbly, and far too cheery. She doesn't let anybody's bad mood get her down, she doesn't care that she's single, and things work out for her. So why isn't it that easy for all of us?
This film is very very heavy in dialogue, and I have to say that it is maneuvered beautifully. The film is a candid portrait of Poppy, who is of no real significance, but we seem to care about her anyway. Her cheerful demeanor can't help but make you feel lighter on your way home. This is the warmest and most interesting film I've seen from Leigh, who writes words for 30-something women as if they were his own thoughts.
There's even a small nod towards his masterpiece Naked, which I found amusing, but blink and you'll miss it.
All that said, this film moves slow. I caught myself looking at the time, only to discover that an hour had passed, when it felt at least like it had been a half hour longer. It doesn't gloss over the mundane, which I suppose is part of its charm, but I think it needs to be reigned in just a touch.
Overall, I'd say this movie is one for the older crowd, at least that's the vibe I was getting from the audience I sat in. It's simple, minimalistic, and delightful.
Grade: B+
Review: Zack and Miri Make a Porno (2008)
If Kevin Smith and Judd Apatow had a baby, it would be this movie.
And I have no idea what else to write. I liked this movie, I thought it was good. There are a lot of laugh out loud moments, some more disturbing than the other. I think Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks are good together. I think Justin Long has the most amazing 15 minutes of the movie to his name. I think the idea of a Star Wars porno, and the way that they set it up, is the most brilliant thing ever, and I'd totally watch it. I think this movie is worth your time and money, so you should go see it.
Grade: B
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Review: Rachel Getting Married (2008)
I expected this movie to be predictable; dysfunctional family has drama because of the black sheep (Anne Hathaway), who keeps getting up to all these crazy shenanigans.
I was sort of right. But I was also very pleased with the overall effect of the film. It has the look of a documentary. All hand held camera work and fuzzy picture, like it was filmed with a DV camera. The dialogue all flows well, and there is a fantastic buzz of music constantly heard underneath everything. Anne Hathaway's character Kym is effortless, and it's easy for the viewer to like her, despite her many flaws. Even though she has this laundry list of defects, she's getting better and redeeming herself to her family.
The film falters in a few areas, where it is just the family talking, or at the rehearsal dinner for the wedding, and it takes way too long, and one eventually loses interest in what's going on. The movie is candid in a good way, yes, but then there are those times where it maybe.. gets too candid.
Whatever, this movie is emotional and profound, and is beautifully performed by all those in it.
Grade: A
Review: Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist
Note: I saw this more than 2 weeks ago, so this review is going to be highly unsophisticated.
Um, first, this movie has a bangin' soundtrack. The whole movie is about two crazy kids who bond over their identicle eclectic taste in music, and then fall in love over the course of 5 hours or something. Anyway, the music here is key. WIthout it, you are missing most of what's important in the movie.
Next would be the ease of the two main characters, Nick and Norah, played nicely by Michael Cera and Kat Dennings, who are the new Michael Cera and Ellen Page, but far, far more interesting. Their characters are genuine and relatable (except for the part about having a famous record executive for a daddy) and their story is subtle and magical. Magical!
The dialogue isn't forced and the supporting characters are somewhat exaggerated; it's sort of like a wizard of oz for the pseudo-indie hipster comedies. The crazy drunk friend who is lost somewhere in Manhatten, the douchey sort-of boyfriend, the three gay fairy godmothers...
Anyway, this movie is funny, unpretentious, and endearing. If you haven't already seen it (which would make you what, 3 weeks late?) then you should.
Grade: A-
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Random News: Don Cheadle to replace Terrence Howard in Iron Man 2.
From /film:
Marvel Studios has hired Don Cheadle to replace Terrence Howard in the upcoming Iron Man sequel. Cheadle will play Jim Rhodes, Tony Stark’s best friend and future War Machine. Director Jon Favreau has made numerous hints that War Machine may play a part in the second film. The Hollywood Reporter’s sources claim it was a conflict due to financial differences. Earlier this year, it was widely speculated that Marvel was trying to low ball Favreau with an offer not much higher than his initial payday for the first film. It is not unusual for salaries to double for a sequel, especially when the first film outperformed to the level that Iron Man had. But from what I’ve heard, Marvel believes the superhero characters themselves are the real stars, and some have said that the company is being thrifty in their negotiations for their future projects.
Friday, October 03, 2008
Interviews: Simon Pegg
From The A.V. Club:
A big star in his native England, actor-writer Simon Pegg has developed a devoted cult following in the States for his smart, pop-culture savvy work alongside friends and collaborators Edgar Wright and Nick Frost. Pegg rose to prominence as the star and co-creator (alongside fellow star/co-creator/writer Jessica Hynes) of Spaced, a clever, Wright-directed sitcom that gave a deliriously cinematic, larger-than-life spin to the misadventures of a pair of slacker roommates. The 2004 instant cult classic Shaun Of The Dead took Spaced's fanboy-friendly, pop-culture-warped sensibility to the big screen in the scary/funny story of a directionless young man whose humdrum existence is shaken up by a zombie attack. Pegg, Frost, and Wright reunited for 2007's equally awesome Hot Fuzz, a giddy deconstruction of/homage to the buddy-cop genre. In recent years, Pegg has embarked on a number of projects without Wright or Frost, including the 2006 dark comedy Big Nothing, last year's romantic comedy Run, Fatboy, Run, which he co-wrote, and the brooding comedy/drama The Good Night. Next year Pegg will play Scotty in J.J Abrams' feverishly anticipated update of the Star Trek franchise, and he'll appear in and co-write the road comedy Paul with Frost for Superbad director Greg Mottola. Pegg can currently be seen in How To Lose Friends & Alienate People, an adaptation of Toby Young's memoir about his oft-disastrous tenure writing for Graydon Carter at Vanity Fair. The A.V Club recently spoke with Pegg about Young's on-set faux pas, Star Trek, cutting the profanity from the American version of Run, Fatboy, Run and, of course, his Marxist overview of popular '70s cinema and hegemonic discourses.
Find it here
Thursday, October 02, 2008
Review: The Duchess (2008)
Can I just say, I'm so glad that I live in the time and place that I do now. Women have been undermined for millenia, and as if we needed one more movie just to show us, in intimate detail how much it actually sucked.
The Duchess is a portrait of Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire (Keira Knightley), who was married at 17 to the Duke of Devonshire (Ralph Fiennes), for the only reason women were ever married back then; to produce heirs. She doesn't produce a son for quite some time, thus drama ensues.
Knightley starts out as a 17 year old, and you really believe it. She's shy and seems adolescent, but isn't afraid to speak her mind, obviously raised to be an independent woman. Fiennes is scary and downright asshole-ish. It's not too difficult to believe, citing two recent portrayals of his (See: In Bruges and the Harry Potter series).
Hayley Atwell (Cassandra's Dream, Brideshead Revisited) plays the third wheel in their relationship, Lady Elizabeth, firstly best friend of 'G', and then mistress of the Duke, thus causing a rift between the two women, and a bigger rift between husband and wife. She plays the kind friend wonderfully, and also the awkward third wheel well. Not only that, but she's gorgeous. I think I have a crush.
Overall, the film is pulled off well with a very fine mixture of substance and sentiment. Keira plays motherhood exceptionally, and it's not hard to sympathize with a woman who is constantly beaten down by the system, especially when portrayed so effortlessly. Kudos to Knightley.
Grade: B
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
DVD: Eight Iron Man DVD Exclusives
From Slash Film
Man, I really got screwed over here. Every one of those looks amazing, and I HAD to go and pre-order my copy weeks ago, when I could've waited instead to get one of these awesome deals. That just goes to show, kids, you never win by pre-ordering.
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