lights...camera...action!

It's been a while huh?

2010-04-13T05:19:00.000-07:00

Hey....so it's been a long time since my last review. School has been pretty busy over the past couple of months - however I have seen quite a few movies (I need a break sometime!).

Here is a list of the reviews I will be completing within the next few weeks.....

Up in the Air

Alice in Wonderland

Training Day (I know it's not new, but Denzel kills it - won an Oscar in 2001)......and here's the trailer for this outstanding cop thriller film

Again, I know it's been a while but once school is over (soon) I will be hittin' the theater often.

I also plan on seeing Spring Awakening, the off Broadway performance that will be shown at the Fisher Theatre in downtown Detroit from April 19th to May 9th. I am looking forward to sitting up close and personal with the cast, and enjoying every song and dance! Below are a couple of links that will inform about the musical.....

Official Website

Video clip from the performance at the Tony Awards.....

LOOK FOR THIS REVIEW SOON TOO!

"You wanna go to jail or go home?" - Alonzo Harris (Denzel Washington - Training Day)

Oscars 2010

2010-02-02T06:35:00.000-08:00

The Oscar nominations for this year's award ceremony were announced last night. Here is the complete list ---- I have bolded my pick for each category. And a follow-up post will judge my accuracy. Let's see how I do! (there will be some categories that I leave blank, simply because I haven't seen any onf the films in the category- ie: foreign film, documentary)

Best Picture---
"Avatar"
"The Blind Side"
"District 9"
"An Education"
"The Hurt Locker"
"Inglourious Basterds"
"Precious"
"A Serious Man"
"Up"
"Up in the Air"

Best Actor----
Jeff Bridges, "Crazy Heart"
George Clooney, "Up in the Air"
Colin Firth, "A Single Man"
Morgan Freeman, "Invictus"
Jeremy Renner, "The Hurt Locker"

Best Actress----
Sandra Bullock, "The Blind Side"
Helen Mirren, "The Last Station"
Carey Mulligan, "An Education"
Gabourey Sidibe, "Precious"
Meryl Streep, "Julie & Julia"

Best Supporting Actor----
Matt Damon, "Invictus"
Woody Harrelson, "The Messenger"
Christopher Plummer, "The Last Station"
Stanley Tucci, "The Lovely Bones"
Christoph Waltz, "Inglourious Basterds"

Best Supporting Actress----
Penelope Cruz, "Nine"
Vera Farmiga, "Up in the Air"
Maggie Gyllenhaal, "Crazy Heart"
Anna Kendrick, "Up in the Air"
Mo'Nique, "Precious "

Best Director----
James Cameron, "Avatar"
Kathryn Bigelow, "The Hurt Locker"
Quentin Tarantino, "Inglourious Basterds"
Lee Daniels, "Precious"
Jason Reitman, "Up in the Air"

Best Foreign Language Film----
"Ajami" Israel
"El Secreto de Sus Ojos" Argentina
"The Milk of Sorrow" Peru
"Un Prophete" France
"The White Ribbon" Germany (following the Golden Globe win)

Best Adapted Screenplay----
Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell, "District 9"
Nick Hornby, "An Education"
Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci, Tony Roche, "In the Loop"
Geoffrey Fletcher, "Precious"
Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner, "Up in the Air"

Best Original Screenplay----
Mark Boal, "The Hurt Locker"
Quentin Tarantino, "Inglourious Basterds"
Alessandro Camon and Oren Moverman, "The Messenger"
Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, "A Serious Man"
Bob Peterson, Pete Docter, Tom McCarthy, "Up"

Best Animated Feature Film----
"Coraline"
"Fantastic Mr. Fox"
"The Princess and the Frog"
"The Secret of Kells"
"Up"

Best Art Direction----
"Avatar"
"The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus"
"Nine"
"Sherlock Holmes"
"The Young Victoria"

Best Cinematography----
"Avatar"
"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince"
"The Hurt Locker"
"Inglourious Basterds"
"The White Ribbon"

Best Sound Mixing----
"Avatar"
"The Hurt Locker"
"Inglourious Basterds"
"Star Trek"
"Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen"

Best Sound Editing----
"Avatar"
"The Hurt Locker"
"Inglourious Basterds"
"Star Trek"
"Up"

Best Original Score----
"Avatar," James Horner
"Fantastic Mr. Fox," Alexandre Desplat
"The Hurt Locker," Marco Beltrami and Buck Sanders
"Sherlock Holmes," Hans Zimmer
"Up," Michael Giacchino

Best Orignal Song----
"Almost There" from "The Princess and the Frog," Randy Newman
"Down in New Orleans" from "The Princess and the Frog," Randy Newman
"Loin de Paname" from "Paris 36," Reinhardt Wagner and Frank Thomas
"Take It All" from "Nine," Maury Yeston
"The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart)" from "Crazy Heart," Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett

Best Costume Design----
"Bright Star"
"Coco Before Chanel"
"The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus"
"Nine"
"The Young Victoria"

Best Documentary Feature----
"Burma VJ"
"The Cove"
"Food, Inc."
"The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers"
"Which Way Home"

Best Documentary Short----
"China's Unnatural Disaster: The Tears of Sichuan Province"
"The Last Campaign of Governor Booth Gardner"
"The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant"
"Music by Prudence"
"Rabbit a la Berlin"

Best film Editing----
"Avatar"
"District 9"
"The Hurt Locker"
"Inglourious Basterds"
"Precious"

Best makeup----
"Il Divo"
"Star Trek"
"The Young Victoria"

Best Animated Short Film----
"French Roast"
"Granny O'Grimm's Sleeping Beauty"
"The Lady and the Reaper (La Dama y la Muerte)"
"Logorama"
"A Matter of Loaf and Death"

Best Live Action Short----
"The Door"
"Instead of Abracadabra"
"Kavi"
"Miracle Fish"
"The New Tenants"

Best visual Effects----
"Avatar"
"District 9"
"Star Trek"
(Information courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter online)

"Every time an Oscar is given out, an agent gets his wings." - Kathy Bates (2003 Academy Awards)

It's still "Up in the Air"

2010-01-30T20:54:00.000-08:00

Tonight I finally had the chance to see Up in the Air - and to be honest, I enjoyed the film. The review will be up soon so check it out.

For now, check out the trailer for Up in the Air, along with the cast....

George Clooney: Ryan Bingham
Vera Farmiga: Alex Goran
Anna Kendrick: Natalie Keener

Jason Bateman: Craig Gregory

The film is directed by Jason Reitman, of Juno and Thank for Smoking fame - his style shows through in this film as well (more to follow in the review).

Below is a picture the film's premiere in Los Angeles on November 30th of last year.

Anna Kendrick, Jason Reitman & Vera Farmiga (left to right)

"Book of Eli"

2010-01-22T19:29:00.000-08:00

I have been waiting for this film to unspool for quite a while, and with Denzel Washington in the lead I was expecting great things. Although the film is directed by a relatively new team (The Hughes Brothers), I was prepared for solid performance from Washington.

Based in a post-apocalyptic world, The Book of Eli revolves around the actions of one man, and his dealings with other "survivors". Eli has been wandering the Earth for 30 years, "ever since the big flash in the sky" - he only carries a knapsack. On screen Eli's (Washington) first interaction with others results in a violent altercation. We aren't subjected to the full brutality of the fight, because it occurs in the shadow of an over pass - but we know exactly what went down, it's clear. During his travels, Eli stops at a settlement (think Mad Max). The town is baron, uninviting and downright dirty - it's run by a gang, headed up by Carnegie (Gary Oldman). They have a very mysterious goal...(I won't spoil that one for you!)

Eli is well-kept and does not fit the bill of an ordinary wanderer - he doesn't blend in. Right away he is singled out and, with his excellent combat skills, recruited by Carnegie (Oldman) to be a part of the gang. Eli respectfully declines, but this isn't the last he will see of the gang - even after he leaves the settlement.

Overall, I thought The Book of Eli was OK - however as a whole, it didn't live up to my expectations. Denzel Washington played Eli exceptionally well, but wasn't well supported by the rest of the cast.....As Solara, Mila Kunis was dreadful - but I wasn't expecting much from the Forgetting Sarah Marshall star, so I wasn't disappointed. She plays a hard-ass, naive young woman who was born after the war - very rough around the edges. For me though, Mila Kunis isn't a strong-willed, violent character actress....she was not well cast and failed miserably. I think she should just stick to comedies and looking good!

As far as everyone else ---- they played the stereotypical roles of 'boss' and 'henchmen', often flirting too much with the generic forms of their characters. Although Gary Oldman (Carnegie) is pretty terrifying as the leader - he rules by fear, and doesn't let anyone forget it.

I don't want to deter any of you from seeing this movie, because I thoroughly enjoyed it! Denzel Washington is always amazing, and makes the film worth the money. I'm very glad that The Hughes Brothers chose him to star - it's his performance that holds it all together.

"You wanna go to jail or go home?": Alonzo (Washington) - Training Day

Midnight Tonight...

2010-01-14T13:05:00.000-08:00

Book of Eli premieres at my local theatre tonight at midnight, and I'm definitely not going to miss this one!

From the trailer, Denzel Washington looks to have been perfectly cast - playing a seemingly intelligent loner in a post-apocalyptic world, it should be interesting to see how he does in Eli.

Look for the review over the next couple of days! I'm really looking forward to writing about Book of Eli - Denzel Washington is one my favorite actors, so expectations are high.

"Okay, my friend. It's off to the next life for you. I guarantee you, you won't be lonely."
- Creasy (Washington - Man on Fire)

Simply Fantastic

2010-01-13T14:56:00.000-08:00

Fantastic Mr. Fox director, Wes Anderson, gave an unusual acceptance speech at the National Board of Review awards ceremony.

After being selected as the winner in the "Special Filmmaking Achievement" category, this video was played on the screen ----

Wes Anderson is a standout director in Hollywood - while some of his films might seem odd, he is simply a genius. From The Royal Tenenbaums to Rushmore and his latest feature, Fantastic Mr Fox, Anderson stuns his audiences with his ability to tell a story without so much dialogue. He has a knack for introducing characters, and scenes, by simply showing them to us - I really think this creates a great film, allowing the viewer to interpret the characters' actions and really sets up the story.

With his success, Anderson has been able to attach such stars as George Clooney, Gene Hackman, Luke & Owen Wilson, Ben Stiller, Bill Murray and Meryl Streep to his projects. Wes Anderson will continue to amaze us through his work for many years to come.

Fantastic Mr. Fox trailer ----

"You know, you really are... fantastic." - Mrs Fox (Meryl Streep)
"I try." Mr Fox (George Clooney)

Public Enemy No. 1

2010-01-12T17:58:00.000-08:00

For those who haven't seen Public Enemies (2009).....you should. Based on the life and career of notorious bank robber John Dillinger, Michael Mann's adaptation is outstanding. I'm not going to review the film - only wanted to let people know that it will amaze you. The sets, clothing and era weapons and mannerisms are spot on - Mann has really showed us what he is capable of with Public Enemies.

I think that Johnny Depp, as well as Christian Bale and the film itself will have a decent shot at wrapping up some Oscars this March. Marion Cotillard (Billie Frechette) plays Dillinger's girlfriend - shines through with her Academy Award winning ability - and fills the role with perfection. Don't be surprised to hear her name called either!

Here's the trailer ----

"I like baseball, movies, good clothes, whiskey, fast cars... and you. What else you need to know?" - John Dillinger (Depp)

Unbelievable....

2010-01-11T13:03:00.000-08:00

According to CNN.com, Avatar is leaving people feeling "depressed" and causing "suicidal thoughts". Apparently, the fantasy world of Pandora is leaving people unhappy and wanting the planet to be real. To me, this is astounding - and I can't understand why people in this country can't differentiate between what's real and what will NEVER be reality. I have added the link below for the story....

CNN's Avatar article

I really want comments on this - let me know your thoughts!

Must-Sees...

2010-01-10T07:02:00.000-08:00

I have been pretty busy organizing for school the last week, so I have yet to see another film since Sherlock Holmes. BUT, by the time I get the chance a couple more will have been released - giving me a larger selection. Both The Lovely Bones and Book of Eli unspool on January 14th. Those are definitely must-sees! Trailers below....

Book of Eli

Starring veteran actor Denzel Washington and relative newcomer Mila Kunis, this film tells a post-apocalyptic tale of one man's fight to survive. Helmers Albert and Allen Hughes (aka The Hughes Brothers) are unknown, but from the trailer it seems as though he has done a great job bringing Gary Whitta's screenplay to the screen. Look for the review on this soon - Denzel is one of my favorite actors. Book of Eli will be astonishing - can't wait to see it.

The Lovely Bones

I truly think that Peter Jackson's directorial genius will enhance The Lovely Bones - along with the dazzling specials effects that have been talked about, this film will come to life. Both well-written and well-directed, The Lovely Bones will surely do well at the box office. The film is based on a book by award-winning American novelist Alice Sebold - who looks to Jackson so bring her novel to life.

"Everytime I go to the movies, it's magic, no matter what the movie's about" - Steven Spielberg

"Nothing Escapes Him"

2010-01-03T08:24:00.000-08:00

We have all read about him, we have all heard about him, we have all been amazed by him - but now, Guy Ritchie brings this titillating story to life in Sherlock Holmes...the film!

In this tale of the greatest fictional (maybe?) detective of all time, Ritchie creates yet another chapter in the adventures of Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey, Jr.). Alongside Dr. Watson (Jude Law), the pair thwart criminals and break missing person cases - just as they always have. However, in true Ritchie form, Holmes becomes somewhat of an action hero in this adaptation. And I'm not complaining!

Jason Bourne meets detective James Bond. I really can't think of a better way to describe the role that Downey, Jr. dominates. Holmes is a smooth-talking, intelligent bad ass - who shines through with his deductive reasoning and sheer brilliant martial arts skill. He turns a sly detective into a one-man army, hell bent on solving every crime he is given. Ritchie also creates an outstanding vision of Dr. Watson (Jude Law), Holmes' sidekick. Watson also fits the bill for one of the action directors' lead characters - he's intelligent far beyond the need, but also can turn a nose into mush with is walking cane, which houses a sword.

The film opens with a chase (Ritchie at his best) in which Holmes (Downey, Jr.) is chasing a would-be criminal through the London underworld. Then, in slow motion, he begins to describe his "plan" to immobilize the gentleman - where, and how he will strike. Guy Ritchie, as I've said, is well-known for his fight scenes. And Sherlock Holmes is no different. We are then subjected to the full speed, devastating confrontation between Sherlock and his new buddy - the other guy has absolutely NO chance.

In short, Sherlock Holmes follows the duo through a death-defying case - one that will test their intelligence, physical ability and first and foremost, their reputation. The story centers around Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong), a member of the House of Lords at the Houses of Parliament in London - he also terrorizes the underworld of the beautiful city. Holmes and Watson must put a stop to the black magic that Blackwood (Strong) is using on innocent citizens. Along with Irene Adler (Rachel McAdams), a mistake in Holmes' past, the trio fight their way through the ranks.

I know I keep bringing him up but Guy Ritchie is one of my favorite directors - his adaptations of scripts are absolute genius. Not to mention unbelievably entertaining. He keeps audiences coming with this - his knack for creating outrageous chase scenes, encompassing intense explosions and deafening sound effects is beyond that of so many other action directors.

So, what's my verdict? I think you can deduce from what I've said thus far - it was great. From the perfection of Robert Downey, Jr and Jude Law, to the amazing script and even the era clothing, sets and language - this movie rocked. The script was written by a team of screenwriters. Among them, were the writers of Invictus, Jumper, Mr and Mrs Smith, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Without saying much, I think your jaw will hit the floor when you see this film - the writing brings to live action a character that we only read about in the past. Now, we are given the opportunity to see what he was really like - well at least in the eyes of Guy Ritchie and the writers.

The producers on this project were brilliant as well - I mean, look who they were able to cast, write and direct this blockbuster! They knocked it out of the park. As of today , January 3 2010, the movie goer has been friendly to Sherlock Holmes, grossing nearly $120 million in just shy of a week.According to imdb.com, an Untitled Sherlock Holmes Sequel is in the making - again with Guy Ritchie as the director. I will keep everyone updated on the progress of this project, seeing as it will most likely stun us, as its predecessor did.

Robert Downey, Jr, as well all know, starred in the comic book adaptation of Iron Man - and the box office proved his worth then, just as it has for Sherlock Holmes. However, Downey Jr might be astounding us again in the near future with his roles as Tony Stark/Iron Man in the upcoming Iron Man 2 (May 2010) and eventually the final installment, Iron Man 3 (pre-production). He is also slated to once again play Sherlock Holmes in the sequel - just another day with a franchise actor!

Jude Law ceases to amaze me with his performances - from his small role as Erroll Flynn in The Aviator, to his more involved Broadway and London theatre roles. He is what I like to call a 'true thespian' - growing up in England, he was exposed to the theatre at a very young age. This exposure created one of the most talked about young actors of our generation. Jude Law also stars in Repo Men, to be released in April 2010. I plan on seeing everything this guy stars in - he is truly an amazingly talented man.

We are all hypnotized by the beauty of Rachel McAdams - as Irene Adler in Sherlock Holmes she stuns us with her looks but again, dazzles her with her performance. She played confused, love struck Allie Hamilton in The Notebook and gun-ho, outstanding reporter in State of Play to wile senator's daughter Claire Cleary in Wedding Crashers. Rachel can do it all! I hope to see her on the Oscar sheet someday soon - she has talent beyond many actresses of her age.

Dr Watson: "Holmes, does your depravity know no bounds?"
Sherlock Holmes: "No"

Picks this week....

2009-12-27T15:33:00.000-08:00

The holiday weekend always gives us the opportunity to see some new films - and this year wasn't any different. Below is a list of the films that were unspooled over the holiday:

Sherlock Holmes

Alvin and the Chipmunks 2: The Squeakquel

Nine

It's Complicated

All three films did mediocre at the box office, due to the James Cameron's Avatar phenomenon. According to the Box Office Mojo website, Avatar grossed another $75 million while Sherlock Holmes took in just about $65 million. In third place over the weekend was Alvin and the Chipmunks 2: The Squeakquel, taking in $50 million.

It astounds me that James Cameron still remains strong - one week after its release, Avatar is still destroying the competition. I believe that many movie goers are repeat customers, enjoying the film again and again. He's done it again! Check out my review on Avatar here.

Of the movies released over the weekend, I plan on going to see Sherlock Holmes and Up in the Air. I think that both will be amazing - so look for my reviews soon! The sheer brilliance of Jude Law and Robert Downey, Jr will bring Sherlock Holmes 'home' for director Guy Ritchie.

Newcomer Anna Kendrick stars alongside Hollywood great George Clooney in Up in the Air. I think this has a great shot at an Oscar this year - Clooney looks fantastic in the trailers!

As far as Alvin goes, I'm going to stay away from that one. I've never been a fan of the shrieking chipmunk voices. Although it's a musical, Nine will bring some changes to the screen - it's been a few years since we've seen a true musical feature film. I definitely plan on seeing Nine because I've always been a fan of the genre, especially now, with the star-studded cast.

From a comedy standpiont, It's Complicated looks like a solid film. With Meryl Streep, Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin headlining the film it should give us a great laugh. Yet another movie I would like to check out in the near future - always been a fan of Alec Baldwin, and Meryl Streep is excellent in everything. Check ou the trailer here

Published....

2009-12-22T07:29:00.000-08:00

US Film Review has taken an interest in my reviews and is now featuring me on their website. For the time being, I am the only reviewer that is being published on their page.

This is very exciting - it means that I get to see more movies, and create many more reviews! The site will be up and running in its final form pretty soon, so check it out and let me know what you think. Hopefully this leads to even more opportunities for me.

I have Christopher Ewing of Metro Media Group, Inc. to thank for US Film Review and for giving me this great chance to shine. Thanks Chris! Check out the links below to learn more about Mr Ewing and his corporation....

Metro Media Group, Inc
Christopher Ewing's website

"They've sent us a message... that they can take whatever they want. Well we will send them a message. That this... this is our land!" - Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) - Avatar

"Believe it, or not"

2009-12-21T10:00:00.000-08:00

James Cameron's Avatar - release date: December 18, 2009

After seeing this movie last night I honestly do not know where to start. Well, let's just say that is by far the most expensive movie ever made - with numbers above $300 million being reported by numerous sources. I provided the trailer on my last post (for those of you who never watch TV).

Avatar uses a combination of live action and CGI (computer generated imagery) in order to provide us with vivid realizations of the characters. Cameron sets the standard for CGI-based films with this epic - from his ginormous budget, to his incredible talent not only behind the camera but on the end of the pen. Mr Cameron, according to interviews, has been throwing this idea around for over a decade. However it wasn't until recently that he realized the technology had finally reached the point that was needed to make Avatar. According to multiple sources, Cameron had a USC professor by the name of Paul Frommer develop the Na'vi language used by the natives on Pandora. Just another reason why James Cameron deserves even more credit! From paper (probably napkins at dinner) to the big screen, James Cameron has once again created an epic feature that will once again impress even the most cynical of moviegoers.

Avatar transports us to the future - one in which space travel is a part of life, and corporations aren't just settling for controlling Earth anymore: they want the universe. The film follows a paraplegic Marine to a mystical planet named Pandora, where the corporation has taken over much of the land inhabited by the Na'vi people. The corporate head, Parker Selfridge, played by Giovanni Ribisi, is hell-bent on mining a precious metal from the soil of Pandora. At one point he states that "this is why we're here, because this little gray rock sells for twenty million a kilo".

Corporal Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) replaces his fallen twin brother in the "avatar" program in which he is transferred into a Na'vi body - in order to learn the ways of the People. Because of his Marine days on Earth, Corporal Sully is talked into providing intelligence to the security forces on Pandora by Colonel Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang). However, the young Corporal finds himself a part of the Na'vi clan and seemingly considers Pandora his "home" - much to the disappointment of the Colonel.

Sully is forced to decide between defending Pandora from his own race, or to be an accomplice to the destruction of a beautiful planet....and a spectacular People.

Sam Worthington has come a long way from his days on Australian television and films, to his role as Corporal Jake Sully in Avatar. After auditioning for the film, Worthington received a call from Cameron himself offering him the lead - I can't even imagine the astonishment felt by Sam after that phone call! This will change his career forever. As Jake Sully, and his Na'vi "avatar", Worthington delivers a stunning performance. He threw everything he has into this role, and give the audience something to think about - who is Jake Sully: Na'vi? Human? It is tough to decide because the two worlds seem to blend together, "everything is backwards now, like out there is the true world and in here is the dream". Sam Worthington goes from relative unknown to superstar, thanks to James Cameron. See him in the upcoming film Clash of the Titans, where he will be playing Perseus.

Starring alongside Worthington is James Cameron regular Sigourney Weaver, who plays Dr Grace Augustine. As a self-proclaimed 'tree hugger' this scientist in charge of "avatar" shines through in a dark world, filled with greed and anguish. Grace, who also transports into the body of a Na'vi, traveled to Pandora to study the People, and eventually learn their ways. Weaver is brilliant as the brash, intelligent scientist - she stuns us, as she did in Aliens (also directed/written by James Cameron).

We get a look at Pandora through the eyes of a Na'vi woman, Neytiri (Zoe Saldana). She is the tough, beautiful, impatient daughter of the tribe's chief - and Sully must gain her trust in order to be accepted into the tribe. Saldana, although we never see her personally, her actions and voice are perpetuated by Neytiri. Zoe's ability to develop the character of the Na'vi woman enhances the movie tenfold. In this relationship, Sully's love for Pandora - and Neytiri - create the underlying plot: a beautiful, but forbidden love. Zoe will be reprising her role as Uhura in the sequel to this summer's blockbuster Star Trek.

I think everyone can appreciate the genius of James Cameron - from the Terminator films to Titanic and now the spectacular Avatar, he has ceased to amaze the world. Even if you are the kind of person that despises science fiction, I guarantee this movie will amaze you! It's unbelievable that one man developed the world of Pandora, the creatures within AND the story to complete this film. The incredible attention to which Cameron pays to detail is what hit me the hardest - I think my jaw was on the floor for the entire 162 minutes. For example - when the Na'vi people trek across the forest, the ground lights up when they place their feet. Even though this is a minor detail in a much larger film, it really illuminates James Cameron's ability to impress. I could on for hours about Cameron and his genius that shines through in this film - but I don't see the point.

You have the see this movie to understand what I'm talking about - one cannot explain the film enough for you to get the true feel of sitting in that theater watching this imaginary planet come to life.

Avatar!

2009-12-20T18:35:00.001-08:00

Look for a review of James Cameron's epic Avatar in the next couple days. I am more excited to see this than I have been for a film in a long time. My goal is to have the review up by tomorrow afternoon!

If you have been living under a rock for the past few weeks, here's the trailer:

By the way, James Cameron is a genius so I'm pretty sure this film is gonna be amazing! It's already killing at the box office, with a total near $220 million worldwide - looking to break his Titanic record.

Rugby...

2009-12-20T16:08:00.000-08:00

From director Clint Eastwood (Gran Torino) comes this extraordinary tale of courage, honor and dignity. One that brings the daunting life of blacks in South Africa to light, without boring its audience with the typical History Channel attitude. Invictus breathes new life into the apartheid struggles that plagued the nation of South Africa for nearly 50 years.

Based on a true story, this film follows the controversial election of Nelson Mandela (Morgan Freeman) and his campaign to host the 1995 Rugby World Cup. As a way to gain respect among the nation's white citizens, Mandela developed a slogan: "one team, one country". With this in mind, it would surely demand support for the nation's abysmal rugby team.

Francois Pienaar, played by Matt Damon, was the captain of the Springbokke team during these tough seasons. Standing behind his promise, Mandela takes interest in the rugby team's performance and meets with Pienaar at his presidential palace - much to his surprise I might add. Before this era, rugby was predominantly a game played by whites, for the enjoyment whites - but this was all destined to change.

Director Clint Eastwood captures the story in one of the most original ways possible - focusing on rugby as a sort of political tool. The majority of the film is seen through the perspective of Nelson Mandela, which points out the importance of his role in the country's restructuring. Using rugby as a tool not only reunited a country, but gave us this amazing opportunity to relive to story - with thanks for Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon.

As Francois Pienaar, Matt Damon gives his best performance to date - he nails the accent, the rugby skills and most of all, he shows us a different side. He gives remarkably stunning monologues throughout and is, in my opinion, a shoe-in for an Oscar nomination. Without a doubt, Damon gives Morgan Freeman a run for his money in Invictus. I knew he had it in him - now let's hope he does more films that he can really sink his teeth into. With 9 films still yet to spool, Matt Damon is definitely keeping himself busy these days. Look for him in the upcoming film Green Zone -

We all love the voice of Morgan Freeman - but how does his on screen appearance come off as he plays world renowned figure Nelson Mandela? One word: brilliant. But we really didn't expect anything less from the actor, who wowed us in Shawshank Redemption and keeps us enthralled with his smooth, gentle voice as a narrator in more than 10 films and documentaries. Back to Invictus - Freeman gives an outstanding performance that really dug deep into the life of Mandela. From his struggles with his family, to his triumph over apartheid and political oppression, Freeman delivers. I cannot say anything more about this man, for he is a legend in the business. Look for him soon in the untitled Batman project - he is also rumored to be starring alongside Bruce Willis in a political thriller. I'll keep everyone updated on the progress!

All in all, this films hits all the right notes. Invictus tells the story of Francois Pienaar, Nelson Mandela and the South African Springbokke with ease - providing short history lessons that keep the plot alive. Even if you're not a rugby fan this film will astonish you! Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon make Invictus, along with the direction of veteran Clint Eastwood.

Invictus trailer (courtesy of Youtube)

"It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul." - portion of poem given to Francois Pienaar by Nelson Mandela

Exciting news

2009-11-05T07:47:00.000-08:00

According to Variety's website, actor/director/producer Andy Garcia is in the process of organizing his dream project: Hemingway & Fuentes. This has been in the works for years - Garcia, along with Hemingway's granddaughter, wrote the script that focuses on Hemingway's time in Cuba. Garcia is a native of Cuba, and has spent a lot of time fishing off the coast of Havana.

Not only is Garcia shopping for buyers at this years American Film Market, but he has Anthony Hopkins and Annette Bening in the works to play the leading roles. This, in my opinion, will serve as a great marketing point for the film at the AFM this week.

Story can be found here!

Andy Garcia has recently starred in the Ocean franchise as casino owner Terry Benedict and is well-known for his role as one of the Untouchables alongside Kevin Costner and Sean Connery in 1987.

Oscar-winning actor, Anthony Hopkins is one of the greatest talents of our generation. Starring in over 100 motion pictures, he has wowed us with his ability to scare us to death in Silence of the Lambs and will amaze us as Odin in the upcoming blockbuster Thor.

Annette Bening, who most notably starred in American Beauty alongside Kevin Spacey, has most recently appeared in The Women with Meg Ryan and Eva Mendes. According to "the internet movie database" she has more than four projects in the works - so look for her soon!

"On a similar note I must confess to you, I'm giving very serious thought... to eating your wife." - Hannibal Lecter

Mr Perkins' Lovely Matrimony

2009-11-03T16:20:00.001-08:00

I am currently involved with another independent film project - a script entitled Mr Perkins' Lovely Matrimony written by Brentt Slabchuck.

My role in the film is that of a producer: basically, once the script has been fully optioned to me I am in total control of the film's production. First and foremost my duty is to acquire funding and thankfully, this project will cost very little. I am also responsible, along with my assistant Ryan Stemm, for formulating a budget, auditioning cast as well as finding locations to shoot the film. In my opinion my most important job is to find a director; one that will bring this screenplay to life and give justice to the writing of Slabchuck. Equipment will be the easiest item to acquire, seeing as though my university loans out HD film cameras at their technology department.

I am looking to do this film for a very low budget! It's going to be a great time...

If you are interested, or may know someone who is interest in acting let me know! For this film, I need 4 actors:

Female in her 40's
Male in his mid 30's
Younger female in her mind 20's
Male of nearly any age to play the police officer

I will keep you updated with the progress of this project and look forward to sharing the finished film.

News Flash

2009-11-03T16:00:00.000-08:00

As I said in my first post, I want to keep readers up-to-date with the film industry as well as provide reviews.

First of all I'd like to discuss the upcoming film Descendants - according to www.variety.com, George Clooney is in talks to star as the lead. You can see Clooney in The Men Who Stare at Goats which debuts this weekend, and his newest animated film Fantastic Mr. Fox in theaters November 25th.

Check out the story on Variety!

Everyone loves Matt Damon - from his days as Jason Bourne in the Bourne trilogy to his more recent roles in The Informant!. In just these two examples we see his ability to play multiple, completely different roles. According to Variety and Yahoo! News, Damon is to appear in an "action-packed" film entitled Green Zone. He is playing a CIA operative that is on tour in Iraq - check out the trailer....
&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://video.msn.com/?mkt=en-GB&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;from=sp&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;vid=503152ef-8135-4724-b41a-e7a697035c6c" target="_new" title="EXCLUSIVE: Green Zone - Trailer"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Video: EXCLUSIVE: Green Zone - Trailer&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

This hits the screen in March of next year - it is definitely a must see for the spring!

Thanks for reading...."Do you even know why you're supposed to kill me? Look at us. Look at what they make you give." - Jason Bourne

The Italian Job - A Must See!

2009-11-03T15:02:00.001-08:00

This is one my favorite movies of all time, and I'm excited to write about it. The Italian Job, as I said in the previous post, revolves around a group of thieves that work together to pull of a death-defying, outrageous heist in the city of Venice, Italy. The camera pan of the boardwalk throws the viewer right into the setting, and begs us to enjoy the beautiful city of Venice. F. Gary Gray makes this shot with his wide angle views, as well as with the close-ups of both Sutherland and Wahlberg.

The film begins with a shot of the Venice boardwalk from which we are introduced to John Bridger (Donald Sutherland) and Charlie Croker (Mark Wahlberg). Bridger makes a phone call to his daughter, Stella, played by the stunning Charlize Theron. He is first shown exiting a jewelry - where he just bought a beautiful necklace for Stella.

The next few scenes Charlie's crew examines the heist, bit by bit, in order to ensure it's correct and can be executed with perfection. Each member has his own duty within the crew. Handsome Rob (Jason Statham) is the wheelman, Lyle (Seth Green) is the computer genius, Left Ear (Mos Def) demolitions and Steve (Edward Norton) is the all around player. The director, F. Gary Gray, adds a lot of cuts into this scene - cutting from character to character, allowing the viewer to really get a sense of urgency from the film.

Later in the film, Charlie Croker introduces the crew by giving the viewer a background story of how they got their start in the "business".

Our imaginations are blown when the crew actually pulls off the heist - which is the stealing of a large safe full of gold bars from armed men. Handsome Rob (Statham), with the help of Lyle's (Green) programming skills, pulls their boat into the target garage. Meanwhile Steve (Norton) "paints" explosive paint underneath the safe on the 3rd floor. The explosives cause the safe to fall through the floors above and into the water below the boat. With the decoy safe in place, Handsome Rob takes off in the boat - this is one of the greatest boat chase scenes - right up there with James Bonds' escapade in Moonraker. Check it out on Youtube!

Meanwhile below the surface, Charlie and John crack and empty the safe. This ends what is known at "the Italian job" and the scene quickly turns to the crew, all celebrating with champagne, debating over what they're going to buy with their share of the gold. Each of them want a specific item, but Steve (Norton) is unsure - he just wants "one of everything you guys said". Then the crew mounts up and takes to the mountain roads in Northern Italy to make their escape complete. However, they are stopped shortly thereafter by men in trucks who work for Steve. Not only does he take all the gold for himself, he back stabs his so-called best friends by killing one of the crew. *I won't give away who, so watch the film to find out!*

The scene in which the crew is debating over what to buy, you are given an insight into each character's personality. Handsome Rob (Statham) imagines himself driving brand-new Aston Martin Vanquish which allows us to see where his priorities stand - in his image.

Handsome Rob, Charlie, John, Lyle and Left Ear are dumped in the ice cold water below, shot at by Steve and left for dead. Obviously the majority of the crew survives, vowing revenge for the death of their friend - they hunt down Steve at his Los Angeles mansion.

Their goal: retrieving the gold. With your best interest in mind, I refuse to go any further with the summary. Although I will say this - 3 astonishing MINI Cooper S cars are used, by the crew, in the next job.

In my opinion this film has been a star vehicle for each and every actor/actress that starred. Mark Wahlberg plays a go-getter who isn't afraid on anything....and the viewers are let into a character that is quite different from his more recent roles in The Departed and Max Payne. As for Charlize Theron, she is magnificent - with her driving abilities (I think) to her witty personality throughout the film, she adds that extra spark to the screen. Edward Norton is one of my favorite actors, partly because of this film - he plays a snide, ignorant human being who is only out for himself. However, he does it with class! No other actor can pull off this kind of role with the abilities of Ed Norton - a sheer genius.

Overall I think you can tell that I enjoyed this movie - it's one that you can just throw in the DVD player and watch as many times as you want. You can't say that about many films!

Thanks for reading! Hope you go out and rent this movie (or buy it at WalMart for $5 like I did).

Director: F. Gary Gray
Writers: Donna Powers - derived from the 1969 screenplay by Troy Kennedy-Martin

For those of you haven't seen the original - check it out! Here's the poster.....starring Michael Caine

MINI's in film...

2009-10-27T12:21:00.000-07:00

I drive a MINI Cooper S and absolutely love my car - this movie is amazing and shows MINI's in action. One of my favorite movies of all time is The Italian Job, a 2003 "British caper film" remake of the 1969 classic that centers around a group of jewelry thieves played by some big time actors.

Mark Wahlberg, Charlize Theron, Donald Sutherland, Jason Statham, Seth Green, Mos Def and Edward Norton highlight in this adventurous, thrilling film.

Look for The Italian Job review in my "Must See" section in the coming days!

"I trust everyone. It's the devil inside them I don't trust." - Stella (Charlize Theron)

Where lying doesn't exist....

2009-10-22T06:48:00.000-07:00

Sorry for such a delay in the review for The Invention of Lying, but with exams and whatnot I have been really busy. I'm glad I finally found the time to get this done!

The film begins with an introduction narrated by Mark Bellison (Ricky Gervais) that explains the world in which we, as viewers, will be thrown into - one of sheer 'straightforwardness'. In this bazaar universe, the human race cannot help but tell the truth. This is not more evident than in the first character scene when we are introduced to Anna McDoogles (Jennifer Garner), who nonchalantly explains her annoyance with Mark being "too early" for their date, and that she had not finished "masturbating" yet. In excellent fashion, Ricky Gervais portrays an unsuccessful, sarcastic script writer who is down on his luck but everything changes when he's at the bank one afternoon. As the title foreshadows, this is when Mark Bellison discovers that he can tell a non-truth and for some reason, isn't questioned in the slightest.

Then, as most people would do, Mark Bellison takes his idea to the streets and tests his new discovery on the unsuspecting public, exercising his revelation to its fullest potential. "The world is going to end if we don't have sex right now!" - Bellison, to an attractive woman in her 40's who, to his surprise believes him and is willing to act upon his proposal. This is just another way the writers of the film (Ricky Gervais and Matthew Robinson) emphasize the 'bass ackwards' way of thinking in this alternative world.

Although much of the film focuses on Mark Bellison and the art of lying you are also introduced to some sub stories that are placed ever so carefully to tweek the viewer's interest. Brad Kessler (Rob Lowe) is one of Bellisons' colleagues, but really comes to life in his witty, degrading comments he flings at Ricky Gervais' character. Rob Lowe is truly amazing in his role - you've never seen him like this before! Anna McDoogle's (Garner) life is one of the strangest parts of the film. Her mother, who you only hear on the phone, demands perfection from her daughter every time they talk.

If you haven't gotten it by now I am huge fan of this film and recommend it to anyone who enjoys a great laugh. The script is written with pure genius, and allows everyone to dive head first into their roles - this really makes for a great movie! Ricky Gervais, as usual, plays his sarcastic, absolutely hilarious character and is even more impressive taking on writing, producing and even directing The Invention of Lying. Jennifer Garner reprises her dorky, oblivious character role from her role in 13 Going on 30 (2004), and ceases to amaze me with her multi-faceted abilities. Her stints on Alias and her role in The Kingdom showed us her 'hard- ass' side and further her career.

Overall, I love this movie! Definitely going to be buying it the day it comes out on DVD....

“It's the one thing I actively don't like: just being recognized.” - Ricky Gervais

2009-10-11T06:55:00.000-07:00

I finally got a chance to see The Invention of Lying Friday night! I will have the review up pretty soon, just need to get through the next couple days/exams in school.

Review to come....

"My Pick of the Week"

2009-10-01T07:16:00.000-07:00

I am definitely going to see The Invention of Lying this weekend, and include the review in my blog. Always been a fan of Ricky Gervais' humor, from his days on the original Office to his newer film Ghost Town. I see this as being quite fitting for my first review, and look forward to posting this weekend!

I'll also have the weekend box office numbers for the top three highest grossing films of the weekend.

Also in theaters: Zombieland, Capitalism: A Love Story and Whip It

I think cinema, movies, and magic have always been closely associated. The very earliest people who made film were magicians." - Francis Ford Coppola

WELCOME

2009-09-29T15:14:00.000-07:00

Hello and welcome to my movie review blog. Here I will be posting my opinion of the new theater releases, as well as information on upcoming film projects. I have a great respect for directors, writers and actors alike - and through this blog I'd like to share my thoughts on each. I look forward to sharing my appreciation for the film industry with everyone. I will include all genres of film, allowing my blog to cater to all types of people - from action to drama to comedy and even some thrillers thrown in there.

The blog, as I see it now, will focus around a few main topics - "My Pick of the Week", where I will post my choice for the upcoming release weekend and "Must See", where I will simply post random movies that I enjoy (old and new). Sometimes readers may have questions or comments, and I want to include a "Reader Questions" section - this will give me chance to respond to any e-mail questions I receive. In addition, I will post any significant film industry news. This will include information from all the award shows as well as new projects that arise.

Please though, keep in mind that this is simply my opinion and that I accept questions at any time. Thanks for reading, and I hope to entertain and engage my readers with my reviews.

"Every time I go to a movie, it's magic, no matter what the movie's about." - the great Steven Spielberg.