Video: Watchmen Exclusive

Watchmen Exclusive


Makes my mouth water

Trailers: The Soloist (2009)

I didn't post this, even when I thought it was coming out in November. It will actually be coming out in the Spring, FYI. Different look for Joe Wright.

Review: Revolutionary Road (2008)

Sam Mendes is really good at making movies at depress the hell out of me.

What we have here is a very rough look at the plastic life of 50's American Suburbia through the eyes of Frank and April Wheeler (Leo and Kate), a young married couple who felt the pressure of society and "resigned from life", as they say.

The film starts out very well; we see how they meet, then BAM, they're married and with two kids. Before the title screen appears we've already seen one of their knock down, drag out wars (which, by the end, we will have gotten used to). It's a great great way to establish the setting. Okay, they're young, married, and unhappy.

Through more drama and infidelities, they decide that the time has come to be courageous and move away, far away, and start a life somewhere else, where-get ready for it-the wife will support the husband. Through this we see how different the Wheelers are from everybody else, despite how well they seem to fit the mold. They're depressed, and now I am too. But, it's refreshing to see married life portrayed so brutally, and (SPOILER ALERT) with no happy ending.

Mendes gives us a superficial world where ignoring someone is as easy as turning the volume on your hearing aid down. Or, getting over the loss of a friend by inviting the new neighbors over. It was a time when everybody was too busy over their martinis and cigarettes to give a damn about anybody else, as long as they all behaved the same. It's perfect.

I almost feel bad for thinking that the acting wasn't great. I rather felt that the two... Do you call them protagonists? I can't say I was definitely rooting for them. They both showed qualities that were far from admirable. Anyway, the two leads, I felt they overacted. I love Kate, I love Leo. But, they were not real great. Leo, I felt, was good when he was out of control. I think that kind of acting would be a fun challenge, and I think he took it and ran. Kate.... What happened? Maybe she'll be good in The Reader.

Just because it was sad, tough to watch, and made me numb, doesn't mean I didn't like it. On the contrary, I thought it was beautifully crafted. Heartbreaking, but beautiful.

They should call it Revolutionary Road, or further proof that Sam Mendes hates the suburbs.

Grade: B

Random News: Fox seeking Watchmen delay...

First there was this, now there's this:

Watchmen is not going to end 2008 on a high note. According to The Hollywood Reporter, a lawyer for 20th Century Fox has said that the studio will seek an order delaying the release of the film. Ever since Fox first filed its suit, Watchmen fans have been panicked that the film's legal woes would delay its March 6 release. Seriously, Fox, don't you just want some money? A nice chunk of money? Don't kick the Watchmen when they're down.

Continue...

Warner Bros. must be hurting right now. Hey, at least they had The Dark Knight, eh?

Random News: Harry Potter franchise ending early?

From Cinematical:

If you thought the delayed release of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince was too much to bear, what about never ever getting to see how things wrap up on the big screen? In the wake of news that Disney had dumped Narnia, The Independent reports that Harry Potter could be next.

Continue...

For Christ' sake.

Trailers: Clive Owen double feature

The International

Duplicity (I'm loathe to admit that this looks better than I thought it would be. Trust in Tony Gilroy)

Does anyone think these movies look kinda the same?

I want to watch Children of Men again...

Review: Australia (2008)

Calling all script editors: Baz Luhrmann is hiring.

Or at least he should be. I'm pretty confused what his latest film is really about.

Is it about cattle wars? Sure, there's about 90 minutes dedicated to the rivalry between Faraway Downs (owned and operated by Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman, respectively) and King Carney (Bryan Brown and his lackey, David Wenham). It's fun, it's exciting, and it has a happy ending.

But, could it also be about the injustice towards aborigine children, which is an underlying theme throughout the entire 2 hours and 45 minutes. The young child Nullah (Brandon Walters, who carries the weight of the film), is half white, and is constantly alert to "coppers" who will take him away to cleansing camps--where they "breed the black out of him."

Aye, it's most certainly about that.

But it's also about the Japanese attacks in Darwin. This small segment is Lurhman's answer to Pearl Harbor. After the attack, though, there's still like 3 hours of film left. I'm like, what's going on? How many movies is this?

Annnd it's a love story. Very dull. Very sappy. Very fluffy. There's way too much going on in this film. Wasn't there some sort of controversy before about the ending? Well, my complaint is that it's too long. About an hour and a half too long.

The first 20 minutes, I was ready to love it. It's super stylish and funny and pretty. Very Baz Luhrmann. I was like "hey! why is this getting such poor reviews?" Then I find out. It continues on with surface, but no substance. Ugh... Somebody help this film. Like a SCRIPT EDITOR.

Oh look at that, I think this review may need an editor too.

P.S. When is David Wenham going to get his own movie? He's forever the secondary character, and even though he was the main baddie in this, I still wanted to marry him. Oh, I've loved him too long. I think he really needs to get his own film.

Grade: C?