Good morning all
The Hollywood microsm of fantasy does not stop.
Here are some news bits for you to enjoy.
It's refreshing to see that a film with few recognisable stars in it, at least to the masses, winning an award. The LA Times reported earlier yesterday that Debra Granik's "Winter's Bone," a drama about a teenager living in Missouri's Orzak mountains who puts her life in danger in a hunt for her meth-maker father, was named best film of 2010 at the 20th-anniversary Gotham Film Awards on Monday evening in New York.
It is worth noting that last year's Gotham winner, "The Hurt Locker," won the Oscar for best film, director and screeenplay this year.
The film also won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance in January, which means it has sustained praise over a year. It stars Jennifer Lawrence, John Hawkes, Lauren Sweetser, Dale Dickey, Garret Dillahunt and Devin Breznahan, actors whom we aim to keep an eye on in future.
The Best Film Not Playing at a Theater Near You honors was awarded to Mike Ott's "Little Rock."
Davis Guggenheim's documentary "Waiting for Superman" garnered the Festival Genius Audience award, which was voted on by filmgoers online.
Career tributes were given to Oscar-winners Robert Duvall and Hilary Swank and director Darren Aronofsky and Focus Features Chief Executive James Shamus. Darren Aronofsky seems to get onto our blog often; we know.
The Gotham Independent Film Awards are presented by the Independent Filmmaker Project, the nation's oldest and largest organization of independent filmmakers.
The Australian newspaper the Herald Sun reported today that Australian moviemakers were being encouraged to do business with China's filmmakers.
Western film-makers have usually struggled to get Chinese government approval to make co-productions with Chinese companies.
However a new alliance between Australian and Chinese screen producers would foster better filmmaking relations between the two countries.
The Screen Producers Association of Australia and China Screen alliance has been created to assit producers with getting through Chinese bureaucratic systems.
It will also provide services such as translators to help put producers directly in contact with one another.
A film producer from South Australia has already gained approval for a co-production with a Chinese film company.
Mario Andreacchio, who recently finished his children's feature The Last Dragon, said Chinese film makers were keen to work with Australian counterparts, the Herlad Sun said.
"In Xi'an alone they have over 300 film production companies," he told the newspaper.
The Screen Producers Association of Australia has said film production is booming in the fast growing economy of China, with 2010 box office takings expected to exceed US$1.5 billion," the paper said.
"That is expected to get to $4.5 billion in the next 5 years," SPAA executive director Geoff Brown told the Herald Sun.
Tuesday 30 November 2010
Monday 29 November 2010
Hollywood says goodbye to two legends
It is difficult to have a truly brilliant artist leave you but to have two of them do so on the same day is very demanding.
Comic legend Leslie Nielsen passed away on Sunday of complications from pneumonia in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He was 84. He will be remembered for his roles in the Airplane! and Naked Gun series, even if he actually began his career in the 1950s starring in serious films such as The Poseidon Adventure.
"Airplane!" released thirty years ago created by the team of Jim Abrahams and David and Jerry Zucker. It garnered Mr Nielsen the nickname of "The Olivier of spoofs".
Mr Nielsen played an incompetent doctor on a plane wrought with disaster. One of the most famous scenes from the film had him asking a fellow passenger to fly the plane because the pilots had fallen ill.
"Surely you can't be serious," the passenger responded.
"I am serious," the doctor said. "And don't call me Shirley."
After that, Leslie Nielsen worked with the Zucker brothers as the loss-kop detective Frank Drebin on the 1982 television show The Police Squad! The show became a cult favourite even though it was cancelled in its first season. Mr Nielsen took Drebin to the film stage, and had great success doing it. He starred in The Naked Gun (1988), Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear (1991) and Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult(1994).
He also starred in Wrongfully Accused and Dracula, Dead and Loving It. They were critically panned but that may be because he could just never top the Naked Gun.
It was then sad to hear that director Irvin Kershner passed away earlier today.
He is probably most famous for having directed Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back. It has been lauded as the best Star Wars film of the series. It had exceptional special effects, impressive acting and strong scenes between the characters. This is the film that has the line of "Luke, I am your father," in it after all.
He died at the age of 87 his home in Paris after suffering from a long illness, his goddaughter Adriana Santini confirmed to the Associated Foreign Press today.
He also directed Sean Connery in the popular 1983 James Bond film, Never Say Never Again, which saw Sean Connery return to the lead role, after he had said he would "never" play bond again. Science-fiction fan boys will also remember his direction of Robocop II. It may not have been as good as the original but it was definitely miles better than the third one.
He got his start in Hollywood under the auspices of Roger Corman. He also made Stakeout On Dope Street which studied youth trying to trade drugs the John Carpenter written thriller, Eyes Of Laura Mars, and the drama Raid On Entebbe.
Later in his career, he famously said in an interview with Vanity Fair that he lamented that he should have directed one of the Star Wars prequels. Many Star Wars fans who were disappointed by the prequels may have appreciated that.
Born in Philadelphia in 1923, he trained as a musician and photographer before becoming a documentary and then fictional filmmaker.
Alistair Anderson
Comic legend Leslie Nielsen passed away on Sunday of complications from pneumonia in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He was 84. He will be remembered for his roles in the Airplane! and Naked Gun series, even if he actually began his career in the 1950s starring in serious films such as The Poseidon Adventure.
"Airplane!" released thirty years ago created by the team of Jim Abrahams and David and Jerry Zucker. It garnered Mr Nielsen the nickname of "The Olivier of spoofs".
Mr Nielsen played an incompetent doctor on a plane wrought with disaster. One of the most famous scenes from the film had him asking a fellow passenger to fly the plane because the pilots had fallen ill.
"Surely you can't be serious," the passenger responded.
"I am serious," the doctor said. "And don't call me Shirley."
After that, Leslie Nielsen worked with the Zucker brothers as the loss-kop detective Frank Drebin on the 1982 television show The Police Squad! The show became a cult favourite even though it was cancelled in its first season. Mr Nielsen took Drebin to the film stage, and had great success doing it. He starred in The Naked Gun (1988), Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear (1991) and Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult(1994).
He also starred in Wrongfully Accused and Dracula, Dead and Loving It. They were critically panned but that may be because he could just never top the Naked Gun.
It was then sad to hear that director Irvin Kershner passed away earlier today.
He is probably most famous for having directed Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back. It has been lauded as the best Star Wars film of the series. It had exceptional special effects, impressive acting and strong scenes between the characters. This is the film that has the line of "Luke, I am your father," in it after all.
He died at the age of 87 his home in Paris after suffering from a long illness, his goddaughter Adriana Santini confirmed to the Associated Foreign Press today.
He also directed Sean Connery in the popular 1983 James Bond film, Never Say Never Again, which saw Sean Connery return to the lead role, after he had said he would "never" play bond again. Science-fiction fan boys will also remember his direction of Robocop II. It may not have been as good as the original but it was definitely miles better than the third one.
He got his start in Hollywood under the auspices of Roger Corman. He also made Stakeout On Dope Street which studied youth trying to trade drugs the John Carpenter written thriller, Eyes Of Laura Mars, and the drama Raid On Entebbe.
Later in his career, he famously said in an interview with Vanity Fair that he lamented that he should have directed one of the Star Wars prequels. Many Star Wars fans who were disappointed by the prequels may have appreciated that.
Born in Philadelphia in 1923, he trained as a musician and photographer before becoming a documentary and then fictional filmmaker.
Alistair Anderson
Film Review: Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky
Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky
Directed by: Jan Kounen
Produced by: Chris Colzli, Claudie Ossard, Veronika Zonabend
Written by: Carlo de Boutiny, Jan Kounen
Based on Chris Greenhlagh’s Coco and Igor.
Starrring: Anna Mouglalis and Mads Mikkelsen
Music by: Gabriel Yared.
It is difficult to watch the opening scene of Jan Kounen’s Coco Chanel and Igor Stravinsky without wondering whether our society has not digressed somewhat into an epoch of cultural banality, vulgarity and simplicity. A concert hall is filling up with an expectant audience that has come to see a ballet written by the bizarre, some might say revolutionary, Russian composer Igor Stravinsky. A choreographer is coaching a dancer on how to elicit the agony of the character she portrays. The troop manager is imploring him to calm down. The composer kisses his wife who wishes him luck. He wonders from the back stage enclosure to the viewing area. He takes his seat.
The conductor tells his orchestra to forget rhythm and play to the melody; to forget the German and Russian masters: Wagner and Tchaikovsky; to forget everything they know. He assumes the mantle from where he will direct the musical score written for the ballet, as Stravinsky and Coco Chanel, unaware of each other’s presence in the hall, watch on. The music, which is nothing short of epic, shocks the crowed immediately, and the dancing is tolerated even less. The crowed are stirred into a frenzy of insults, jeers and violent attacks at the Russian touring company. Amidst the mounting chaos Stravinsky visibly shaken and dismayed leaves his seat. Chanel keeps watching calmly and with deep interest. Eventually they become lovers in a complex and emotionally loaded affair.
In a scene worthy of serious study, the director transports the viewer to a time that he or she has virtually no knowledge of, unless the viewer knows something of life in Paris circa 1913. Our culture’s quick consumption of small chunks of information, it’s dependence on constant stimulation, it’s thirst for variety and de-familiarization, leaves it lacking in the face of a society that would in time lay the foundations of life in the present. The genius of both Stravinsky and Chanel would in time come to influence Western music and World fashion to such an extent that it is hard to imagine our lives without their influence.
But, since I have rather critically remarked on our society’s descent into a world-wide cultural wasteland, one is left to wonder whether the lives of Stravinsky and Chanel aren’t part of the problem? This is a question the reader will have to answer for themselves. Nevertheless, through tracing the influence of these genius lovers we are bound to discover a slow erosion of creative integrity and noble genius. I leave it to the reader/viewer to decide whether life as it is, is not an embarrassment, for it is plain to see that in times past society functioned and thrived on high art, and not the quick satisfaction of multiple needs and desires, which something like Twilight and Iron Man serves solely to do. Kounen’s Coco Chanel and Igor Stravinsky is a film biopic that requires multiple viewings to appreciate the cultural density of a love story that is both remarkable and timely.
77/100
Directed by: Jan Kounen
Produced by: Chris Colzli, Claudie Ossard, Veronika Zonabend
Written by: Carlo de Boutiny, Jan Kounen
Based on Chris Greenhlagh’s Coco and Igor.
Starrring: Anna Mouglalis and Mads Mikkelsen
Music by: Gabriel Yared.
It is difficult to watch the opening scene of Jan Kounen’s Coco Chanel and Igor Stravinsky without wondering whether our society has not digressed somewhat into an epoch of cultural banality, vulgarity and simplicity. A concert hall is filling up with an expectant audience that has come to see a ballet written by the bizarre, some might say revolutionary, Russian composer Igor Stravinsky. A choreographer is coaching a dancer on how to elicit the agony of the character she portrays. The troop manager is imploring him to calm down. The composer kisses his wife who wishes him luck. He wonders from the back stage enclosure to the viewing area. He takes his seat.
The conductor tells his orchestra to forget rhythm and play to the melody; to forget the German and Russian masters: Wagner and Tchaikovsky; to forget everything they know. He assumes the mantle from where he will direct the musical score written for the ballet, as Stravinsky and Coco Chanel, unaware of each other’s presence in the hall, watch on. The music, which is nothing short of epic, shocks the crowed immediately, and the dancing is tolerated even less. The crowed are stirred into a frenzy of insults, jeers and violent attacks at the Russian touring company. Amidst the mounting chaos Stravinsky visibly shaken and dismayed leaves his seat. Chanel keeps watching calmly and with deep interest. Eventually they become lovers in a complex and emotionally loaded affair.
In a scene worthy of serious study, the director transports the viewer to a time that he or she has virtually no knowledge of, unless the viewer knows something of life in Paris circa 1913. Our culture’s quick consumption of small chunks of information, it’s dependence on constant stimulation, it’s thirst for variety and de-familiarization, leaves it lacking in the face of a society that would in time lay the foundations of life in the present. The genius of both Stravinsky and Chanel would in time come to influence Western music and World fashion to such an extent that it is hard to imagine our lives without their influence.
But, since I have rather critically remarked on our society’s descent into a world-wide cultural wasteland, one is left to wonder whether the lives of Stravinsky and Chanel aren’t part of the problem? This is a question the reader will have to answer for themselves. Nevertheless, through tracing the influence of these genius lovers we are bound to discover a slow erosion of creative integrity and noble genius. I leave it to the reader/viewer to decide whether life as it is, is not an embarrassment, for it is plain to see that in times past society functioned and thrived on high art, and not the quick satisfaction of multiple needs and desires, which something like Twilight and Iron Man serves solely to do. Kounen’s Coco Chanel and Igor Stravinsky is a film biopic that requires multiple viewings to appreciate the cultural density of a love story that is both remarkable and timely.
77/100
Morning News Bulletin
Good morning all.
The Morning News Bulletin is a daily roundup of film news that happens usually in the US where all the "film-people" live.
Here are two of the bigger news items floating along the film seas.
The production problems on the Transformers 3 set do not seem to be subsiding.
Megan Fox, the film's human and not robotic eye-candy was kicked of the film and now Total Film has reported that the film is struggling to integrate 3D technology into the film.
However, director Michael Bay has attacked the rumours with a rather aggressive blog post.
“I read these morons on the internet who think they are in the know. ‘We have have problems with our 3D????’ Really?” he wrote.
“Come into my edit room and I will show you beautiful 3D. There has never been a live action show that has pushed the boundaries of 3D like Transformers 3. We shot the entire movie with 3D cameras. I actually loved shooting in 3D.”
Mr Bay promised to make all the critics eat lots of humble pie when the trailer for Transformers: Dark Side Of The Moon debuted at showings of Tron: Legacy and Narnia: Voyage Of The Dawn Treader later this year.
In other Total Film news, comedy acting legend Leslie Nielsen passed away this morning.
The Canadian actor died at 84 after suffering from pneumonia.
He had spent the past 12 days at the Ft. Lauderdale Hospital.
"With his friends and his wife, Barbaree, by his side, he fell asleep and passed away," Doug Nielsen, his nephew said.
Nielsen is famous for his roles in spoofs. He starred in Airplane! and Dracula Dead annd Loving It as well as Wrongfully Accused. His most beloved role may have been as detective Frank Drebin in the Naked Gun movies. And to think in the 1950s he was a serious actor, garnering praise for his role in The Poseidon Adventure.
The Morning News Bulletin is a daily roundup of film news that happens usually in the US where all the "film-people" live.
Here are two of the bigger news items floating along the film seas.
The production problems on the Transformers 3 set do not seem to be subsiding.
Megan Fox, the film's human and not robotic eye-candy was kicked of the film and now Total Film has reported that the film is struggling to integrate 3D technology into the film.
However, director Michael Bay has attacked the rumours with a rather aggressive blog post.
“I read these morons on the internet who think they are in the know. ‘We have have problems with our 3D????’ Really?” he wrote.
“Come into my edit room and I will show you beautiful 3D. There has never been a live action show that has pushed the boundaries of 3D like Transformers 3. We shot the entire movie with 3D cameras. I actually loved shooting in 3D.”
Mr Bay promised to make all the critics eat lots of humble pie when the trailer for Transformers: Dark Side Of The Moon debuted at showings of Tron: Legacy and Narnia: Voyage Of The Dawn Treader later this year.
In other Total Film news, comedy acting legend Leslie Nielsen passed away this morning.
The Canadian actor died at 84 after suffering from pneumonia.
He had spent the past 12 days at the Ft. Lauderdale Hospital.
"With his friends and his wife, Barbaree, by his side, he fell asleep and passed away," Doug Nielsen, his nephew said.
Nielsen is famous for his roles in spoofs. He starred in Airplane! and Dracula Dead annd Loving It as well as Wrongfully Accused. His most beloved role may have been as detective Frank Drebin in the Naked Gun movies. And to think in the 1950s he was a serious actor, garnering praise for his role in The Poseidon Adventure.
Thursday 25 November 2010
Morning News Bulletin
Good morning all.
The Morning News Bulletin is a daily roundup of film news that happened over the last couple of hours while we were fast asleep here in SA. Today is one of those relatively slow days on the news front so all I've got for you is Jeremy Renner confirming that he will be Tom Cruise's replacement for future Mission: Impossible movies, Emma Stone (Zombieland) talking about her role in the Spiderman reboot and Mark Wahlberg announcing that he will star as Nathan Drake in a film adaptation of the best-selling video game Drake's Uncharted. See the details on these stories after the jump.
The Morning News Bulletin is a daily roundup of film news that happened over the last couple of hours while we were fast asleep here in SA. Today is one of those relatively slow days on the news front so all I've got for you is Jeremy Renner confirming that he will be Tom Cruise's replacement for future Mission: Impossible movies, Emma Stone (Zombieland) talking about her role in the Spiderman reboot and Mark Wahlberg announcing that he will star as Nathan Drake in a film adaptation of the best-selling video game Drake's Uncharted. See the details on these stories after the jump.
Wednesday 24 November 2010
Jonah Hex Is The Turd Of 2010
Yahoo! Movies has released a list of some of the biggest garbage to get splattered upon our cinema screens in 2010 so far.
Jonah Hex tops the list in which films like Toy Story 3 and Alice in Wonderland have earned more than $1bn each in ticket sales.
Jonah Hex was based on a graphic novel and starred W and No Country for Old Men actor Josh Brolin, as a really ugly bounty hunter with a face that supposed to look mean, and Transformers' Megan Fox as a tough prostitute. It sounded like a good idea at the time, I'm sure - an ugly guy with a hot woman from a movie about giant robots teaming up - but it was not one, apparently.
It scored a pathetic 13 out of 100 on Rotten Tomatoes and is sitting on 33 on Metacritic's scale. The film earned back only 24% of its estimated production budget of $47 million at the box office.
Empire's James White wrote - "Isn't one "Wild Wild West" enough? Okay, so Jonah Hex didn't come with the same expectations, but it's still an object lesson in how not to adapt a comic book. A crushing disappointment."
Mr Brolin at least gets to save face in True Grit but Megan Fox, who is not in Transformers 3, may be looking for work. I still think Transformers 1 was just OK and nothing more and that two was quite poor. How they can scrounge around enough for a third one, makes me wonder.
Second behind Jonah Hex was Extraordinary Measures. This was one of the first releases from the new feature film wing of CBS news. The excrement starred Harrison Ford as a doctor trying to help Brendan Fraser's sick children.
The film earned only $15m on an estimated $31m budget.
The Miami Herald's Rene Rodriguez wrote: "Everything about this excruciatingly dull, talky film screams made-for-network-TV: The I'm-only-here-for-a-paycheck performances by famous actors; the Crate and Barrel catalog mise-en-scene; the syrupy, heartwarming score that lays the pathos on so thickly you gag on it."
In third place was Repo Men, starring Jude Law and Forest Whitaker.
"The futuristic thriller from troubled Universal Pictures was made for only an estimated $32 million, but it failed to perform at the box office, earning only $18 million, or 56% of its budget. Luckily for Law his previous film, Sherlock Holmes, was the highest grossing of his career," Yahoo! Movies's Dorothy Pomerantz wrote.
I'd like to know what colossal turds you think Hollywood, or Nollywood or Jollywood -if it exists- left on your screen this year.
Alistair Anderson
Jonah Hex tops the list in which films like Toy Story 3 and Alice in Wonderland have earned more than $1bn each in ticket sales.
Jonah Hex was based on a graphic novel and starred W and No Country for Old Men actor Josh Brolin, as a really ugly bounty hunter with a face that supposed to look mean, and Transformers' Megan Fox as a tough prostitute. It sounded like a good idea at the time, I'm sure - an ugly guy with a hot woman from a movie about giant robots teaming up - but it was not one, apparently.
It scored a pathetic 13 out of 100 on Rotten Tomatoes and is sitting on 33 on Metacritic's scale. The film earned back only 24% of its estimated production budget of $47 million at the box office.
Empire's James White wrote - "Isn't one "Wild Wild West" enough? Okay, so Jonah Hex didn't come with the same expectations, but it's still an object lesson in how not to adapt a comic book. A crushing disappointment."
Mr Brolin at least gets to save face in True Grit but Megan Fox, who is not in Transformers 3, may be looking for work. I still think Transformers 1 was just OK and nothing more and that two was quite poor. How they can scrounge around enough for a third one, makes me wonder.
Second behind Jonah Hex was Extraordinary Measures. This was one of the first releases from the new feature film wing of CBS news. The excrement starred Harrison Ford as a doctor trying to help Brendan Fraser's sick children.
The film earned only $15m on an estimated $31m budget.
The Miami Herald's Rene Rodriguez wrote: "Everything about this excruciatingly dull, talky film screams made-for-network-TV: The I'm-only-here-for-a-paycheck performances by famous actors; the Crate and Barrel catalog mise-en-scene; the syrupy, heartwarming score that lays the pathos on so thickly you gag on it."
In third place was Repo Men, starring Jude Law and Forest Whitaker.
"The futuristic thriller from troubled Universal Pictures was made for only an estimated $32 million, but it failed to perform at the box office, earning only $18 million, or 56% of its budget. Luckily for Law his previous film, Sherlock Holmes, was the highest grossing of his career," Yahoo! Movies's Dorothy Pomerantz wrote.
I'd like to know what colossal turds you think Hollywood, or Nollywood or Jollywood -if it exists- left on your screen this year.
Alistair Anderson
Morning News Bulletin
Good morning all.
The Morning News Bulletin is a daily roundup of film news that happened over the last couple of hours while we were fast asleep here in SA. In today's news headlines Toy Story 3 starts officially campaigning for a Best Picture Oscar nomination, Adrien Brody blocks a film that he stars in from being released and Gore Verbinski is set to direct The Lone Ranger. Details on these stories after the jump.
The Morning News Bulletin is a daily roundup of film news that happened over the last couple of hours while we were fast asleep here in SA. In today's news headlines Toy Story 3 starts officially campaigning for a Best Picture Oscar nomination, Adrien Brody blocks a film that he stars in from being released and Gore Verbinski is set to direct The Lone Ranger. Details on these stories after the jump.
Tuesday 23 November 2010
New Trailer: Black Swan
Darren Aronofsky's next film to hit SA is Black Swan. Fresh from making probably his most actor and least concept driven film, The Wrestler, the director is trying to do both.
Natalie Portman plays Nina, a ballerina in a New York City ballet company. She is first choice to replace the prima ballerina Beth, played by Winona Ryder but then a new ballerina comes along, Lily who is played by Mila Kunis of That 70s Show fame.
The Swan Lake performance they are competing to be in, however, needs a dancer who can play both the White Swan with innocence and grace, and the Black Swan, with guile and sensuality. Nina is more White Swan than Black Swan and this becomes a challenge for her.
Having been a fan of Aronofsky's work since his film, Pi, I am really excited to see what he does with such an art form as ballet. Natalie Portman was one of my favourite actresses too, albeit years ago and I really enjoyed watching Ms Kunis as Jackie in That 70s Show. Still, I want to see their acting ability shine through beyond their pretty faces.
Black Swan releases next year.
Natalie Portman plays Nina, a ballerina in a New York City ballet company. She is first choice to replace the prima ballerina Beth, played by Winona Ryder but then a new ballerina comes along, Lily who is played by Mila Kunis of That 70s Show fame.
The Swan Lake performance they are competing to be in, however, needs a dancer who can play both the White Swan with innocence and grace, and the Black Swan, with guile and sensuality. Nina is more White Swan than Black Swan and this becomes a challenge for her.
Having been a fan of Aronofsky's work since his film, Pi, I am really excited to see what he does with such an art form as ballet. Natalie Portman was one of my favourite actresses too, albeit years ago and I really enjoyed watching Ms Kunis as Jackie in That 70s Show. Still, I want to see their acting ability shine through beyond their pretty faces.
Black Swan releases next year.
Box Office Report: Liefling sings and dances its way to the top
South African Box Office numbers for last weekend are out and Liefling has made a solid debut at number one with R 1 923 899. Check out the full chart and analysis after the jump.
Memorable lines from films
While in the bathroom today, a line from a film came into my head.
"In the army, we wash our hands. In the marines, we don't piss on our hands," the line read in my head.
It turned out that I had the line completely incorrect. I could not remember the film it was from either but I knew that, inside, it meant something. It actually comes from the 1998 smart thriller, "The Negotiator".
Chris Sabian, played by Kevin Spacey is trying to get Danny Roman, played by Samuel L Jackson, to release hostages.
Roman says, while on the phone to Sabian: "Omah, A marine and a sailor are in the bathroom taking a piss. The marine goes to leave without washing up. The sailor says 'In the navy they teach us too wash our hands'. The marine turns to him and says (Omah joins in) 'In marines, they teach us not to piss on our hands'. Then, there is a gunshot.
Instead of worrying about having the incorrect quote in my head, I remembered why I had a quote from the film living in my mind at all. The Negotiator was a very enjoyable, well-crafted film. The chemistry between the two leads, Jackson and Spacey, was impressive - and I have seen the film about 15 times. It is probably on TV so often because other people rate it as if not more highly.
So I decided to look search through my brain for other interesting dialogue memories.
Here's what I came up with:
Filmsite.org helped to fill in the blanks in my memory.
The Matrix - Tank, a skilled programmer, to Neo, on the breakfast they are eating: "Dozer makes it. It's good for two things, degreasing engines and killing brain ... So you're here to save the world. What do you say to something like that? ..."
"As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a gangster."
GoodFellas (1990)
"Hail to the king, baby."
Army of Darkness (1992)
"Ssssmmokin'!"
AND
"Somebody stop me!"
The Mask (1994)
"Mr Freeze, the heat is on" - Batman and Robin (1997)
Jules - "Ezekiel 25:17. The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he, who, in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee."
Pulp Fiction (1994)
"Good morning...Oh, and in case I don't see ya, good afternoon, good evening, and good night!"
The Truman Show (1998)
"Vanity is definitely my favorite sin."
Devil's Advocate (1997)
"Some people say it's forgive and forget. Nah, I don't know. I say forget about forgivin' and just accept - and get the hell outta town."
Grosse Pointe Blank (1997)
"What we do in life echoes in eternity."
Gladiator (2000)
"Are you not entertained! Are you not entertained! Is this not why you are here!"
Gladiator (2000)
"I - drink - your - milkshake! (slurping sounds) I drink it up!"
There Will Be Blood (2007)
"Want to know how I got these scars? My father was a drinker and a fiend. And one night, he goes off crazier than usual. Mommy gets the kitchen knife to defend herself. He doesn't like that. Not one bit. So, me watching, he takes the knife to her, laughing while he does it. He turns to me, and he says: 'Why so serious?' He comes at me with the knife - 'Why so serious?!' He sticks the blade in my mouth. 'Let's put a smile on that face!' And why so serious?"
The Dark Knight (2008)
Alistair Anderson
"In the army, we wash our hands. In the marines, we don't piss on our hands," the line read in my head.
It turned out that I had the line completely incorrect. I could not remember the film it was from either but I knew that, inside, it meant something. It actually comes from the 1998 smart thriller, "The Negotiator".
Chris Sabian, played by Kevin Spacey is trying to get Danny Roman, played by Samuel L Jackson, to release hostages.
Roman says, while on the phone to Sabian: "Omah, A marine and a sailor are in the bathroom taking a piss. The marine goes to leave without washing up. The sailor says 'In the navy they teach us too wash our hands'. The marine turns to him and says (Omah joins in) 'In marines, they teach us not to piss on our hands'. Then, there is a gunshot.
Instead of worrying about having the incorrect quote in my head, I remembered why I had a quote from the film living in my mind at all. The Negotiator was a very enjoyable, well-crafted film. The chemistry between the two leads, Jackson and Spacey, was impressive - and I have seen the film about 15 times. It is probably on TV so often because other people rate it as if not more highly.
So I decided to look search through my brain for other interesting dialogue memories.
Here's what I came up with:
Filmsite.org helped to fill in the blanks in my memory.
The Matrix - Tank, a skilled programmer, to Neo, on the breakfast they are eating: "Dozer makes it. It's good for two things, degreasing engines and killing brain ... So you're here to save the world. What do you say to something like that? ..."
"As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a gangster."
GoodFellas (1990)
"Hail to the king, baby."
Army of Darkness (1992)
"Ssssmmokin'!"
AND
"Somebody stop me!"
The Mask (1994)
"Mr Freeze, the heat is on" - Batman and Robin (1997)
Jules - "Ezekiel 25:17. The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he, who, in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee."
Pulp Fiction (1994)
"Good morning...Oh, and in case I don't see ya, good afternoon, good evening, and good night!"
The Truman Show (1998)
"Vanity is definitely my favorite sin."
Devil's Advocate (1997)
"Some people say it's forgive and forget. Nah, I don't know. I say forget about forgivin' and just accept - and get the hell outta town."
Grosse Pointe Blank (1997)
"What we do in life echoes in eternity."
Gladiator (2000)
"Are you not entertained! Are you not entertained! Is this not why you are here!"
Gladiator (2000)
"I - drink - your - milkshake! (slurping sounds) I drink it up!"
There Will Be Blood (2007)
"Want to know how I got these scars? My father was a drinker and a fiend. And one night, he goes off crazier than usual. Mommy gets the kitchen knife to defend herself. He doesn't like that. Not one bit. So, me watching, he takes the knife to her, laughing while he does it. He turns to me, and he says: 'Why so serious?' He comes at me with the knife - 'Why so serious?!' He sticks the blade in my mouth. 'Let's put a smile on that face!' And why so serious?"
The Dark Knight (2008)
Alistair Anderson
Morning News Bulletin
Good morning all.
The Morning News Bulletin is a daily roundup of film news that happened over the last couple of hours while we were fast asleep here in SA. In today's headlines, Jaden Smith will star in M. Night Shyamalan's next movie, Darren Aronofsky gives us more details on The Wolverine, Buffy The Vampire Slayer is set to get the reboot treatment and Liefling tops the local box office. As always, check out the full details on these stories after the jump.
The Morning News Bulletin is a daily roundup of film news that happened over the last couple of hours while we were fast asleep here in SA. In today's headlines, Jaden Smith will star in M. Night Shyamalan's next movie, Darren Aronofsky gives us more details on The Wolverine, Buffy The Vampire Slayer is set to get the reboot treatment and Liefling tops the local box office. As always, check out the full details on these stories after the jump.
Monday 22 November 2010
Film Review: Jackass 3D
Director: Jeff Tremaine. Producers: Johnny Knoxville et al. Cinematographer: Dimitry Elyashkevich. Editors: Seth Casriel, Matt Kosinski and Matt Probst. Studio: Paramount. Starring: Johnny Knoxville, Bam Margera, Ryan Dunn, Steve-O, Jason "Wee Man" Acuna, Preston Lacy, Chris Pontius, Ehren McGhehey and Dave England. Running Time: 94 Minutes.
Judging by GAD's review of Battle For Terra, I doubt he had a particularly enjoyable start to his professional film reviewing career. Unfortunately, neither have I. As a matter of fact I feel compelled to send an invoice of my ticket to Johnny Knoxville and his posse not so politely asking them for my money back.
The premise of this film is very simple: for approximately one and a half hours of your life that you will never get back, you have to watch a group of adult men (if you can call them that) go through stunt after stunt of what can only be described as toilet porn. In this movie, like most 90s sitcoms with canned laughter, there's a lot of laughing happening but none of it comes from you the viewer. In fact it is quite ironic that a couple of times during the movie some of the toilet-pornstars themselves were throwing up in disgust at their own colleague's antics. Surely at this point they should have realised that maybe, just maybe, they shouldn't show those disgusting scenes to audiences if they themselves couldn't handle watching them. But clearly sanity didn't prevail and this film was the end result. I could go on forever but I fear I'll run out of adjectives for it.
Summary: A crude, vulgar and unfunny abomination of a movie with absolutely no redeeming qualities whatsoever. Unless of course you have a fetish for fart bubbles and faecal volcanoes...
Rating: 29/100
Judging by GAD's review of Battle For Terra, I doubt he had a particularly enjoyable start to his professional film reviewing career. Unfortunately, neither have I. As a matter of fact I feel compelled to send an invoice of my ticket to Johnny Knoxville and his posse not so politely asking them for my money back.
The premise of this film is very simple: for approximately one and a half hours of your life that you will never get back, you have to watch a group of adult men (if you can call them that) go through stunt after stunt of what can only be described as toilet porn. In this movie, like most 90s sitcoms with canned laughter, there's a lot of laughing happening but none of it comes from you the viewer. In fact it is quite ironic that a couple of times during the movie some of the toilet-pornstars themselves were throwing up in disgust at their own colleague's antics. Surely at this point they should have realised that maybe, just maybe, they shouldn't show those disgusting scenes to audiences if they themselves couldn't handle watching them. But clearly sanity didn't prevail and this film was the end result. I could go on forever but I fear I'll run out of adjectives for it.
Summary: A crude, vulgar and unfunny abomination of a movie with absolutely no redeeming qualities whatsoever. Unless of course you have a fetish for fart bubbles and faecal volcanoes...
Rating: 29/100
Morning News Bulletin
Good morning all.
The Morning News Bulletin is your daily roundup of film news that happened over the last couple of hours while we were fast asleep over here in SA with the Monday bulletin including any major news that occurred over the weekend. In today's news headline's Leonardo Di Caprio is set to star in a new JFK conspiracy movie, Howard Shore will compose the score for the two Hobbit films and The Dark Knight Rises will start production in May 2011. Details on these and more after the jump.
The Morning News Bulletin is your daily roundup of film news that happened over the last couple of hours while we were fast asleep over here in SA with the Monday bulletin including any major news that occurred over the weekend. In today's news headline's Leonardo Di Caprio is set to star in a new JFK conspiracy movie, Howard Shore will compose the score for the two Hobbit films and The Dark Knight Rises will start production in May 2011. Details on these and more after the jump.
Saturday 20 November 2010
New Trailer: Source Code
After his critically acclaimed debut Moon, British Director Duncan Jones is back with a new film called Source Code. Check out the trailer after the jump.
Film Review: Red
Director: Robert Schwentke. Screenplay: Jon Hoeber and Erich Hoeber. Producers: Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Mark Vahradian. Cinematographer: Florian Ballhaus. Score: Christophe Beck. Editor: Thom Noble. Studio: Summit. Starring: Bruce Willis, Mary-Louise Parker, Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich, Helen Mirren,Karl Urban, Richard Dreyfuss and Brian Cox. Running Time: 111 Minutes.
Red is the second film this year that tries to milk classic action film actors for our entertainment. The first film was Sylvester Stallone's The Expendables, so maybe it is fitting that one of his Planet Hollywood partners leads this picture.
Based on a three issue comic book mini-series published across 2003 and 2004, Red tells the story of retired CIA operative Frank Moses, played by Bruce Willis, who began the Planet Hollywood restaurants in 1991. Frank becomes the target of an apparently South African hit squad. What ensues is Mr Moses meeting old colleagues who have also become embroiled in plots, the details of which I will not divulge here.
The acting is acceptable but not impressive. Mr Willis shone in Sin City - which was also based upon a graphic novel, as did most of the other actors in that film but, this time, he's "just Bruce". In fact, Malkovich, Mirren and the other superstars are all basically themselves; which works but makes the film less memorable. The action scenes are rather good, however, even if the script is under par because it is sprinkled with cracks. Still, it was always going to be better than The Expendables , since that film really struggling with making its plot anything more than that of a B-grade 1980s action fest.
Summary: Red is worth-watching if you feel like seeing its cast in another film and working with one another. However, individually, they have been in much better films.
Rating: 61/100
Alistair Anderson
Red is the second film this year that tries to milk classic action film actors for our entertainment. The first film was Sylvester Stallone's The Expendables, so maybe it is fitting that one of his Planet Hollywood partners leads this picture.
Based on a three issue comic book mini-series published across 2003 and 2004, Red tells the story of retired CIA operative Frank Moses, played by Bruce Willis, who began the Planet Hollywood restaurants in 1991. Frank becomes the target of an apparently South African hit squad. What ensues is Mr Moses meeting old colleagues who have also become embroiled in plots, the details of which I will not divulge here.
The acting is acceptable but not impressive. Mr Willis shone in Sin City - which was also based upon a graphic novel, as did most of the other actors in that film but, this time, he's "just Bruce". In fact, Malkovich, Mirren and the other superstars are all basically themselves; which works but makes the film less memorable. The action scenes are rather good, however, even if the script is under par because it is sprinkled with cracks. Still, it was always going to be better than The Expendables , since that film really struggling with making its plot anything more than that of a B-grade 1980s action fest.
Summary: Red is worth-watching if you feel like seeing its cast in another film and working with one another. However, individually, they have been in much better films.
Rating: 61/100
Alistair Anderson
Film Review: Guzaarish
Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Screenplay: Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Bhavani Iyer. Producers: Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Ronnie Screwvala. Cinematorgrapher: Sudeep Chatterjee. Score: Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Editor: Hemal Kothari. Studio: UTV Motion Pictures. Starring: Hrithik Roshan, Aishwarya Rai, Aditya Roy Kapur, Monikangana Dutta, Rajit Kapoor and Shernaz Patel. Running Time: 135 Minutes.
The reader will please excuse me for what is an abrupt and curt review of Guzaarish. A Bollywood movie with no real distinction from others. At least this is how it appeared to my ignorant perspective. There was singing, dancing, mediocre acting, some characteristic Indian nod/shake head-bobbing and actors with disturbingly light bleached skin. Bollywood movies conform to their own conventions that my Western inculcate mind cannot wrap itself around. The singing and dancing while doubtlessly impressive always appear to be random, over-the-top and disconnected from the main thrust of the story being told. This odd juxtaposition has always hindered me from seeing these movies for what they are: cultural artefacts that are as complex and profound as most Western films, if not more so. A billion people cannot be wrong, but this singular reviewer cannot identify.
The one really alluring aspect of Guzaarish is the landscape of Southern India. The story is set in Goa, a former Portuguese colony founded along the Western coastline of tropical India. A picturesque setting that offers much by way of visual and sensual pleasure. Aishwaria Rai is a resplendent as ever and offers the viewer the strongest dramatic performance is what is a excessively dramatic tale. But then again aren’t all Bollywood movies? Or is my ignorance being revealed in an incandescent bloom that the Bollywood regular will spot from a mile away?
Unfortunately the drama is lost on me. In the same way that a Bollywood marathon undertaken with an ex-girlfriend of mine in the humble setting of Tongaat on the Northern Natal Coast was lost. I would urge all Indian fellas out there, who can stomach all the grandiose dramaturgy of Hindi movies, to take your Wife, you Girlfriend, your Mom, your Sister, or your Niece to see Guzaarish as they will most certainly love the romanticism on display. And I would advise either some ice-cream, a slice of chocolate cake or a good curry afterwards, as comfort eating will be required afterward.
Rating : 60/100
The reader will please excuse me for what is an abrupt and curt review of Guzaarish. A Bollywood movie with no real distinction from others. At least this is how it appeared to my ignorant perspective. There was singing, dancing, mediocre acting, some characteristic Indian nod/shake head-bobbing and actors with disturbingly light bleached skin. Bollywood movies conform to their own conventions that my Western inculcate mind cannot wrap itself around. The singing and dancing while doubtlessly impressive always appear to be random, over-the-top and disconnected from the main thrust of the story being told. This odd juxtaposition has always hindered me from seeing these movies for what they are: cultural artefacts that are as complex and profound as most Western films, if not more so. A billion people cannot be wrong, but this singular reviewer cannot identify.
The one really alluring aspect of Guzaarish is the landscape of Southern India. The story is set in Goa, a former Portuguese colony founded along the Western coastline of tropical India. A picturesque setting that offers much by way of visual and sensual pleasure. Aishwaria Rai is a resplendent as ever and offers the viewer the strongest dramatic performance is what is a excessively dramatic tale. But then again aren’t all Bollywood movies? Or is my ignorance being revealed in an incandescent bloom that the Bollywood regular will spot from a mile away?
Unfortunately the drama is lost on me. In the same way that a Bollywood marathon undertaken with an ex-girlfriend of mine in the humble setting of Tongaat on the Northern Natal Coast was lost. I would urge all Indian fellas out there, who can stomach all the grandiose dramaturgy of Hindi movies, to take your Wife, you Girlfriend, your Mom, your Sister, or your Niece to see Guzaarish as they will most certainly love the romanticism on display. And I would advise either some ice-cream, a slice of chocolate cake or a good curry afterwards, as comfort eating will be required afterward.
Rating : 60/100
Friday 19 November 2010
Daniel Day-Lewis to star as Abraham Lincoln in Steven Spielberg's Lincoln
The headline is pretty self explanatory. Here's the official press release courtesy of Dreamworks Pictures:
Los Angeles – Two-time Academy Award winner Daniel Day-Lewis will star as the 16th President of the United States in DreamWorks Studios’ Lincoln to be directed by Steven Spielberg. The announcement was made today by Spielberg and Stacey Snider, Co-Chairman and CEO of DreamWorks Studios.
“Daniel Day-Lewis would have always been counted as one of the greatest of actors, were he from the silent era, the golden age of film or even some time in cinema's distant future. I am grateful and inspired that our paths will finally cross with Lincoln,” said Steven Spielberg. "Throughout his career, he has been exceptionally selective in his choice of material," added Stacey Snider, "which makes us feel even more fortunate that he has chosen to join with us for Lincoln."
Based on the best-selling book, Team of Rivals, by Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Doris Kearns Goodwin, the screenplay has been written by the Pulitzer Prize winner, Tony Award winner, and Academy Award nominated writer Tony Kushner. It will be produced by Kathleen Kennedy and Steven Spielberg.
It is anticipated that the film will focus on the political collision of Lincoln and the powerful men of his cabinet on the road to abolition and the end of the Civil War.
Doris Kearns Goodwin won her Pulitzer Prize for No Ordinary Time, the story of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt and the home front in World War II. Kushner's prize was for his play Angels in America, which later became an Emmy Award-winning television special. He had previously worked with Spielberg on Munich for which he was nominated for an Oscar in the Adapted Screenplay category.
Filming is expected to begin in the fall of 2011 for release in the fourth quarter of 2012 through Disney’s Touchstone distribution label.
When a film has Daniel Day-Lewis, easily one of the best actors on the planet, as it's lead and Steven Spielberg as it's director it is bound to attract Oscar buzz as soon as it is announced. Add that to the fact it will be released in the fourth quarter of 2012, which is when most Academy Award hopefuls are released and you can tell that this will be an elephant in the Oscar nominations room. Stick with us for more news and analysis on this film as it comes.
“Daniel Day-Lewis would have always been counted as one of the greatest of actors, were he from the silent era, the golden age of film or even some time in cinema's distant future. I am grateful and inspired that our paths will finally cross with Lincoln,” said Steven Spielberg. "Throughout his career, he has been exceptionally selective in his choice of material," added Stacey Snider, "which makes us feel even more fortunate that he has chosen to join with us for Lincoln."
Based on the best-selling book, Team of Rivals, by Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Doris Kearns Goodwin, the screenplay has been written by the Pulitzer Prize winner, Tony Award winner, and Academy Award nominated writer Tony Kushner. It will be produced by Kathleen Kennedy and Steven Spielberg.
It is anticipated that the film will focus on the political collision of Lincoln and the powerful men of his cabinet on the road to abolition and the end of the Civil War.
Doris Kearns Goodwin won her Pulitzer Prize for No Ordinary Time, the story of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt and the home front in World War II. Kushner's prize was for his play Angels in America, which later became an Emmy Award-winning television special. He had previously worked with Spielberg on Munich for which he was nominated for an Oscar in the Adapted Screenplay category.
Filming is expected to begin in the fall of 2011 for release in the fourth quarter of 2012 through Disney’s Touchstone distribution label.
When a film has Daniel Day-Lewis, easily one of the best actors on the planet, as it's lead and Steven Spielberg as it's director it is bound to attract Oscar buzz as soon as it is announced. Add that to the fact it will be released in the fourth quarter of 2012, which is when most Academy Award hopefuls are released and you can tell that this will be an elephant in the Oscar nominations room. Stick with us for more news and analysis on this film as it comes.
Film Review: Battle For Terra
Director: Aristomenis Tsirbas. Screenplay: Evan Spiliotopoulos. Producers: Ryan Colucci and Keith Calder. Cinematographer: Aristomenis Tsirbas. Abel Korzeniowski. Editor: J. Kathleen Gibson. Studio: Lionsgate. Starring: Evan Rachel Wood, Luke Wilson and Justin Long
A major problem with 3D animated movies is that they tend to privilege the medium over the message, form over content, and 3D technology over good movie making. This is true for most of the 3D movies that I have been released this year, but for a certain select few which includes Up, Avatar, and Legend of the Guardians. The last may appear rather ill chosen as the first two movies are certainly classics in their time. The reason for its selection lies in the fact that Legend of the Guardians is based on a rather famous children’s book and for this reason has more substance, structure and cohesion than movies like Despicable Me, Alpha Omega and so on.
Battle For Terra not surprisingly lacks the content required to turn a good animated production into a memorable tale. In fact, the themes of this movie are very much the same as those we saw earlier this year in Avatar. Humans wandering through space have come upon an alien planet, which they decide to exploit, ergo they need the planet’s resources, which are being protected and preserved by a native indigenous population of what from the human perspective is an alien species. A human being through a series of not so unfortunate events lands himself in the daily life of the native species of the planet Terra. He comes to admire their way of life and develops a close bond with a particular feminine member of the natives. It sounds familiar doesn't it? Eventually there is a Battle as the title suggests but, praise be to the script writing gods, there is an original ending to what is a very unoriginal movie.
Adults will probably end up bored to death, while their young will enjoy it! So Moms and Dads take your kids to see Battle For Terra, but don’t switch off your Blackberries as you may finally have the time to catch up on some deferred emailing.
Rating: 40/100
A major problem with 3D animated movies is that they tend to privilege the medium over the message, form over content, and 3D technology over good movie making. This is true for most of the 3D movies that I have been released this year, but for a certain select few which includes Up, Avatar, and Legend of the Guardians. The last may appear rather ill chosen as the first two movies are certainly classics in their time. The reason for its selection lies in the fact that Legend of the Guardians is based on a rather famous children’s book and for this reason has more substance, structure and cohesion than movies like Despicable Me, Alpha Omega and so on.
Battle For Terra not surprisingly lacks the content required to turn a good animated production into a memorable tale. In fact, the themes of this movie are very much the same as those we saw earlier this year in Avatar. Humans wandering through space have come upon an alien planet, which they decide to exploit, ergo they need the planet’s resources, which are being protected and preserved by a native indigenous population of what from the human perspective is an alien species. A human being through a series of not so unfortunate events lands himself in the daily life of the native species of the planet Terra. He comes to admire their way of life and develops a close bond with a particular feminine member of the natives. It sounds familiar doesn't it? Eventually there is a Battle as the title suggests but, praise be to the script writing gods, there is an original ending to what is a very unoriginal movie.
Adults will probably end up bored to death, while their young will enjoy it! So Moms and Dads take your kids to see Battle For Terra, but don’t switch off your Blackberries as you may finally have the time to catch up on some deferred emailing.
Rating: 40/100
Weekend TV Top 10
This is the first in what will be a series of regular Friday afternoon columns where we highlight the best films to watch on TV during the weekend beginning on Friday evening till Sunday. See what those films are after the jump.
Morning News Bulletin
Good morning all.
The Morning News Bulletin is a daily roundup of film news that happened over the last couple of hours while we were fast asleep here in SA. In today's news we report on the search for the new Superman, Darren Aronofsky's dealings with Fox and the official entries for the Best Documentary Oscar. More details after the jump.
The Morning News Bulletin is a daily roundup of film news that happened over the last couple of hours while we were fast asleep here in SA. In today's news we report on the search for the new Superman, Darren Aronofsky's dealings with Fox and the official entries for the Best Documentary Oscar. More details after the jump.
Thursday 18 November 2010
Morning News Bulletin
Good morning all.
The Morning News Bulletin is your daily roundup of film news that happened over the last couple of hours while we were fast asleep over here in SA. In today's headlines, Tribeca Film has acquired the US distribution rights to the Bang Bang Club, Tom Hardy is rumoured to play the villainous Dr. Strange in The Dark Knight Rises and news on yet another alien invasion movie. Details after the jump.
The Morning News Bulletin is your daily roundup of film news that happened over the last couple of hours while we were fast asleep over here in SA. In today's headlines, Tribeca Film has acquired the US distribution rights to the Bang Bang Club, Tom Hardy is rumoured to play the villainous Dr. Strange in The Dark Knight Rises and news on yet another alien invasion movie. Details after the jump.
Wednesday 17 November 2010
New Trailer: Cowboys and Aliens
The first teaser trailer has just been released for Iron Man director John Favreau's Cowboys and Aliens. While I like the concept of a Western with cowboys taking on intergalactic baddies, I'm tired of Harrison Ford and I'd rather see Daniel Craig in another Bond film.
It's based on a graphic novel, which may make it quite imaginative. Maybe it will rejuvenate Mr Ford's career? Remember, he made Hollywood Homicide and other schlock like K19: The Widowmaker. But maybe Olivia Wilde of the OC and House fame will bring something interesting to the film. Also Brian Grazer and Steven Spielberg were involved in the producing which might be a good thing. Still, this may be the closest thing we get to a film of the fantasy Western that was Bravestar.
It's based on a graphic novel, which may make it quite imaginative. Maybe it will rejuvenate Mr Ford's career? Remember, he made Hollywood Homicide and other schlock like K19: The Widowmaker. But maybe Olivia Wilde of the OC and House fame will bring something interesting to the film. Also Brian Grazer and Steven Spielberg were involved in the producing which might be a good thing. Still, this may be the closest thing we get to a film of the fantasy Western that was Bravestar.
New Trailers: Green Lantern and Your Highness
Two new blazing hot trailers for Green Lantern and Your Highness came out in the last couple of hours so without further ado, lets have a look at both after the jump.
Morning News Bulletin
Good morning all.
The Morning News Bulletin is your daily roundup of film news that happened over the last couple of hours while we were fast asleep over here in SA.
Today its all quiet on the western front and there isn't much in the way of major news headlines. I only have a couple of short snippets which you can have a look at after the jump.
The Morning News Bulletin is your daily roundup of film news that happened over the last couple of hours while we were fast asleep over here in SA.
Today its all quiet on the western front and there isn't much in the way of major news headlines. I only have a couple of short snippets which you can have a look at after the jump.
Tuesday 16 November 2010
New Trailer: Cars 2
In today's Morning News Bulletin I showed you a new image from Cars 2 as well the official plot synopsis and a teaser trailer. A couple of hours ago Disney/Pixar released the first trailer for the film and I've gotten my hands on it so take a look and let me know what you think.
I obviously can't really tell from one full trailer whether this will be a great movie or not but this looks pretty good to me. The trailer is quite funny in certain parts and I'm certainly keen on seeing how the whole secret agent plot plays out. In case you are a bit sceptical about the whole sequel thing do keep in mind that this is from the master filmmakers at Pixar who so far seem to know how to do to sequels so this won't be like the Shrek series that got progressively worse with each subsequent film. Cars 2 will be in cinemas next year.
I obviously can't really tell from one full trailer whether this will be a great movie or not but this looks pretty good to me. The trailer is quite funny in certain parts and I'm certainly keen on seeing how the whole secret agent plot plays out. In case you are a bit sceptical about the whole sequel thing do keep in mind that this is from the master filmmakers at Pixar who so far seem to know how to do to sequels so this won't be like the Shrek series that got progressively worse with each subsequent film. Cars 2 will be in cinemas next year.
Moustaches in film
In the spirit of Movember, over the last few weeks, I have been studying moustaches and their place in society.
Film is a way through which we entertain ourselves but also a reflection of how we; society behaves. So, it should come as no surprise that moustaches have played a very important role in film.
Before I go further - some of you may not know what Movember actually is. Born in Australia, it is a campaign dedicated to grow moustaches for cancer charities - most specifically testicular cancer ones. Thus, blokes are growing tashes all month. While some people think they look like paedophiles, I think they look like ubermensches. Although, I'm growing a moustache myself.
So here is a list of mo bros from film:
Charles Bronson
Robert Redford
Brad Pitt
George Clooney
The cast of Anchorman - The Legend of Ron Burgundy
Clint Eastwood
Lee Marvin
I could go on.
Expect more Movember-related posts soon
Alistair Anderson
Film is a way through which we entertain ourselves but also a reflection of how we; society behaves. So, it should come as no surprise that moustaches have played a very important role in film.
Before I go further - some of you may not know what Movember actually is. Born in Australia, it is a campaign dedicated to grow moustaches for cancer charities - most specifically testicular cancer ones. Thus, blokes are growing tashes all month. While some people think they look like paedophiles, I think they look like ubermensches. Although, I'm growing a moustache myself.
So here is a list of mo bros from film:
Charles Bronson
Robert Redford
Brad Pitt
George Clooney
The cast of Anchorman - The Legend of Ron Burgundy
Clint Eastwood
Lee Marvin
I could go on.
Expect more Movember-related posts soon
Alistair Anderson
How do we determine good movies from bad?
There is an undeniable correlation between the level of one's exposure to various filmic modes, genres and categories of experience and one's ability to decide very quickly whether or not one will enjoy a particular movie. If one were asked in the process of watching what makes the movie good or bad, the difficulty of articulating the criteria according to which the movie is judged will become accentuated. Mostly, we (the viewers) know that certain genres, categories and movements within film appeal to us, and that others do not.
I, for one, struggle with science fiction and fantasy and but take rather easily to foreign language films. The reason is not that I consider sci-fi to be for computer geeks, and fantasy for juveniles or children. The problems that I experience with these genres lie within.
The bounds that are transcended by sci-fi and fantasy filmmakers, which are imposed in the first instance by a governing prejudice of what is real and what is not, reveal a level of creativity that I cannot seem to acquire and assimilate. Perhaps if I were to force myself to watch Blade Runner (again), Battlestar Gallactica, Star Wars, Star Trek and all the seminal sci-fi works I would, with time, be able to judge at an instant what constitutes good sci-fi and what would be bad?
Is the need to determine the good from the bad a problem within itself? I think not. We simply need, desire and thirst for good movies. This is an imperative we demand of those who seek to entertain us. With such little time in life people generally do not like wasting it unnecessarily. This is one of the reasons we go out of our way to avoid Banks, Home-Affairs Offices, and Police Stations. We simply do not like waiting in unpleasant locations without good reason. We tolerate bad movies even less.
I walked out of my first movie a couple of months ago after years of buying tickets and waiting patiently through-out for the end credits. And I owe this "first" to the opening moments of Resident Evil 3. I walked out and decided to go banking...
I, for one, struggle with science fiction and fantasy and but take rather easily to foreign language films. The reason is not that I consider sci-fi to be for computer geeks, and fantasy for juveniles or children. The problems that I experience with these genres lie within.
The bounds that are transcended by sci-fi and fantasy filmmakers, which are imposed in the first instance by a governing prejudice of what is real and what is not, reveal a level of creativity that I cannot seem to acquire and assimilate. Perhaps if I were to force myself to watch Blade Runner (again), Battlestar Gallactica, Star Wars, Star Trek and all the seminal sci-fi works I would, with time, be able to judge at an instant what constitutes good sci-fi and what would be bad?
Is the need to determine the good from the bad a problem within itself? I think not. We simply need, desire and thirst for good movies. This is an imperative we demand of those who seek to entertain us. With such little time in life people generally do not like wasting it unnecessarily. This is one of the reasons we go out of our way to avoid Banks, Home-Affairs Offices, and Police Stations. We simply do not like waiting in unpleasant locations without good reason. We tolerate bad movies even less.
I walked out of my first movie a couple of months ago after years of buying tickets and waiting patiently through-out for the end credits. And I owe this "first" to the opening moments of Resident Evil 3. I walked out and decided to go banking...
Box Office Report: Unstoppable crashes into 1st place while Despicable Me moves down to 3rd after 7 weeks on the charts
The final South African box office numbers for the last weekend are out and, to be honest, there are no real shocks or surprises here. See the full top 10 list after the jump.
Morning News Bulletin
Good morning all.
The Morning News Bulletin is your daily roundup of film news that happened over the last couple of hours while we were fast asleep over here in SA.
Today's news include the official final list of films to be considered for nomination for the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, our first look at Cars 2 and Cowboys and Aliens and a deleted scene that will be included in the upcoming Avatar Extended Edition DVD and Blu-Ray sets. See more details after the jump.
The Morning News Bulletin is your daily roundup of film news that happened over the last couple of hours while we were fast asleep over here in SA.
Today's news include the official final list of films to be considered for nomination for the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, our first look at Cars 2 and Cowboys and Aliens and a deleted scene that will be included in the upcoming Avatar Extended Edition DVD and Blu-Ray sets. See more details after the jump.
Monday 15 November 2010
Cue the elevator music
Most people say elevator music is annoying but they're probably lying. It actually adds to the lift experience. Don't believe me? How else are you going to get over the awkwardness of being stuck in a lift? Yes, lifts do get awkward - check out the movie Devil when it finally hits SA and you will understand.
Its tag-line reads: Bad things happen for a reason.
Basically, a group of people trapped in an elevator realise that the devil is among them.
Unfortunately, it is co-written by M Night Shyamalan. I have noticed a trend where his next film is worse than the last, so you may be better off stuck in a lift for a week, than watching Devil.
Music adds to an experience. It adds to life. So when a film is made, it is used to add some magic quality to the overall experience. Yet, people often tend to overlook it when they watch films in favour of visual aspects often related to special effects.
But let's give scores and soundtracks some credit. Gladiator was awesome partly because of Hans Zimmer's score. Garden State and Juno were memorable for many people because of their awesome soundtracks. For about a year after its release, CD stores could not order Juno because there were such severe stock shortages.
Getting back to scores, there are reasons why Oscars are awarded to composers. Their work can make or kill a film. Surely, Walt Disney films of the 1990s were so special partly because of how brilliant they were musically?
So, maybe in future when looking for a film to watch, check who did the score, not just who was in it. Your ears deserve some entertainment too. In fact, why not watch Gladiator or the Lion King, with a blindfold on?
In the meantime, I am going to look for some examples of films that had rubbish scores.
Alistair Anderson
Its tag-line reads: Bad things happen for a reason.
Basically, a group of people trapped in an elevator realise that the devil is among them.
Unfortunately, it is co-written by M Night Shyamalan. I have noticed a trend where his next film is worse than the last, so you may be better off stuck in a lift for a week, than watching Devil.
Music adds to an experience. It adds to life. So when a film is made, it is used to add some magic quality to the overall experience. Yet, people often tend to overlook it when they watch films in favour of visual aspects often related to special effects.
But let's give scores and soundtracks some credit. Gladiator was awesome partly because of Hans Zimmer's score. Garden State and Juno were memorable for many people because of their awesome soundtracks. For about a year after its release, CD stores could not order Juno because there were such severe stock shortages.
Getting back to scores, there are reasons why Oscars are awarded to composers. Their work can make or kill a film. Surely, Walt Disney films of the 1990s were so special partly because of how brilliant they were musically?
So, maybe in future when looking for a film to watch, check who did the score, not just who was in it. Your ears deserve some entertainment too. In fact, why not watch Gladiator or the Lion King, with a blindfold on?
In the meantime, I am going to look for some examples of films that had rubbish scores.
Alistair Anderson
Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 1 sneak preview screenings
Unless you're a Chilean miner and have been living under a rock for slightly longer than you planned to, you should be aware by now that there is a new Harry Potter movie coming to theatres next week. Based on the last book in the series which has been split into two parts for its cinematic adaptation, Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 1 is opening next Wednesday and Friday at NuMetro and Ster-Kinekor theatres respectively. Both cinema chains are planning special preview screenings this Friday night at 8pm at all of their venues that will be showing the movie when it is released officially next week. Here's a sneak peak of what to expect:
If you want to see this before your friends do then head over to either the SterKinekor or the NuMetro website and book your tickets now before they sell out!
If you want to see this before your friends do then head over to either the SterKinekor or the NuMetro website and book your tickets now before they sell out!
Morning News Bullettin
Good morning all.
The Morning News Bulletin is your daily roundup of film news that happened over the last couple of hours while we were fast asleep over here in SA with the Monday bulletin including any major news that occurred over the weekend.
The last weekend has seen quite a few interesting things happening in the world of film both locally and in Hollywood including the Spud premiere at MonteCasino in Johannesburg, Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart getting steamy at the filming of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn in Brazil and my favourite US President of all time, Bill Clinton, (sorry Barack) making a surprise cameo appearance in the sequel to one of the funniest movies of 2009. Details on these stories and more can be found after the jump.
The Morning News Bulletin is your daily roundup of film news that happened over the last couple of hours while we were fast asleep over here in SA with the Monday bulletin including any major news that occurred over the weekend.
The last weekend has seen quite a few interesting things happening in the world of film both locally and in Hollywood including the Spud premiere at MonteCasino in Johannesburg, Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart getting steamy at the filming of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn in Brazil and my favourite US President of all time, Bill Clinton, (sorry Barack) making a surprise cameo appearance in the sequel to one of the funniest movies of 2009. Details on these stories and more can be found after the jump.
Opening Credits
Greetings everyone!
I'm not one for speeches, written or otherwise, so I will keep this very brief. This is a blog for film lovers of all shapes, sizes and varieties. Whether you're into art house thrillers or romantic comedies, this site is for you. It doesn't matter if you go to the cinema 5 or 50 times a year, if you've ever watched a movie in your life, this blog is for you. The aim is to keep you entertained and informed with news, reviews, and previews of films that are playing on TV and on the big screen in South Africa.
If you have any questions, comments, compliments and/or (constructive) criticism, please feel free to share your thoughts with the team via the comments section or via email which is screenforum@gmail.com.
We look forward to you joining us on this exciting journey into the world of film.
Lunga Gxumisa
I'm not one for speeches, written or otherwise, so I will keep this very brief. This is a blog for film lovers of all shapes, sizes and varieties. Whether you're into art house thrillers or romantic comedies, this site is for you. It doesn't matter if you go to the cinema 5 or 50 times a year, if you've ever watched a movie in your life, this blog is for you. The aim is to keep you entertained and informed with news, reviews, and previews of films that are playing on TV and on the big screen in South Africa.
If you have any questions, comments, compliments and/or (constructive) criticism, please feel free to share your thoughts with the team via the comments section or via email which is screenforum@gmail.com.
We look forward to you joining us on this exciting journey into the world of film.
Lunga Gxumisa
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