I finally watched Brave yesterday and was blown away by its surprisingly different message from the trailer. I don't know if the Pixar + Disney collab took the gamble on only advertising half of the film knowing that the word of mouth would help promote the film or wanted to play it safe by telling the adventurous stories that most of their animated films entail. Either or, I was caught off guard and moved. Naturally, when I came across this video, I had to share it.SoundWorks Collections behind-the-scene feaurettes presents the sounds of The Hunger Games, The Avengers and Prometheus. Now, they are feauturing Brave, an animated film where everything from ambiance to props to voices have to be conjured and precisely sewn into place. Take a look.
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I'm so sad that this film already came out in France and not in the US. I mean naturally, it should as Julie Delpy is French but still. Now, we have to wait a couple more months for the sequel to her explosively refreshing film, 'Two Days in Paris.' I heard so many things about it and honestly, did not expect much from the trailer. But after watching it, I was blown away. Hence, the reason why i'm so excited to see more of anything relating to Julie Delpy. She's back and this time, Marion (Delpy) has broken up with Jack (Adam Goldberg from the first film) and now resides in New York with their child. But when her family decides to come visit her, she's oblivious to the different cultural background held by her new American boyfriend Mingus (Chris Rock). Her odd ball father, sister Rose, and ex-boyfriend all make a reappearance for the second installment.
At first, I thought it was odd that she picked Chris Rock to be her love interest out of everyone. But I guess she does like those awkward and idiosyncratic types. I mean Adam Goldberg? I feel like he's just typecasted as Chandler's roommate from Friends for life. That cynical, angry, and easily irritable type of guy. But after seeing the first film, it worked well with Delpy's character. I'm excited to see Chris Rock expand and really see him in action and not in Madagascar. Two Days in New York comes out in August 10! YAY!
I'm so late on this! I've been interning at the Look East Festival so I've been swamped and haven't had time to blog! I had no idea Michel Gondry was coming out with two films! As I mentioned before that he is coming out with a coming-of-age film 'The We and the I' that has more of a documentary feel contrary to his usual quirky, surreal, and fanstasy infused stories he is known for. Well, have no fear because he's back. I mean look at the image below, is that a floating car or an amusement park ride? Either or, I need more Gondry in my life.
I've been getting the stills from different sources and at the first site, there was this orange tint that gave the film a similar tone much like Jean-Pierre Jeunet's films. But after seeing the original stills from a French film site, it seems as though they were edited. These stills are the real deal!
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I've been getting the stills from different sources and at the first site, there was this orange tint that gave the film a similar tone much like Jean-Pierre Jeunet's films. But after seeing the original stills from a French film site, it seems as though they were edited. These stills are the real deal!
Gondry's Mood Indigo is based on Boris Vian's 1947 novel "L'Ecume des Jours" (or "Froth on the Daydream"), stars Audrey Tautou as Chloe, a woman who marries an inventor but falls ill during her honeymoon due to a water lily that emerges her lung, and the only possible way to treat the sickness is to surround her with fresh flowers, a sacrifice that soon wipes out his funds. The cast includes Omar Sy, Jamel Debbouze, Romain Duris, Gad Elmaleh, Alain Chabat and Aissa Maiga. Regardless of it just being a story of a woman whose lungs are inundated with a flower, the stills sure looks beautiful. It's the usual idiosyncratic story that Gondry is known for that is sure to bring joy and heartache to his audience. It's called L'ecume des jours in French and there is no certain release date out yet, so watch out for it!
Look East Korean Film festival (LEF) is taking place Saturday & Sunday, June 23-24, at Graman’s Chinese Theater in Hollywod Ca marking the first time in Grauman’s 85-year history, Korean actors Lee Byung-Hun and Ahn Sung-Ki wil cast their hand and footprints in cement in front of the legendary theater. Byung-Hun, Sung-Ki and international filmmaker Pierre Rissient will all be honored at the Opening Ceremony.
The following screenings scheduled include 3 Iron (Bin Jip), A Bittersweet Life (Dar Kom Hahn Inseng) with Q&A with star Byung-hun Lee, The Day He Arrives (Book Chon Bahng Yang), Flower in Hell (Jiok Hwa) – U.S. premiere, A Hometown in Heart (Maum Ae Gohyang) – U.S. premiere, The Host 3D (Gae Mur), Pierre Rissient: Man of Cinema – with Q&A with subject/star Pierre Rissient, Poetry (Shi) with Q&A with director Chang-dong Lee, Punch (Wahn D’Ghi), Unbowed (Booruh Jin Hwa Sal) with Q&A with star and Hand and Footprint honoree Sung-ki Ahn, and Thirst (Bahk Ji) with Q&A with director Chan-wook Park.
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HOLY SHIT. I first saw "The Imposter" trailer back in February and was haunted by the impossible and mind-blowing story. For some reason, they took the video down but now, there is an official U.S. trailer for Bart Layton's documentary about Frederic Bourdin. Bourdin is an adult French criminal who deceived authorities and convinced them that he was the 16-year-old missing child from Texas. Um, say what?! This is one story you have to see to believe. Through gifted filmmaker Layton's eye-catching dramatization and electrifying structure, the story unravels like an consuming thriller. Thank goodness Indomina acquired 'The Imposter' so we will all be able to believe it when we see it on July 13. I'm still getting chills up and down my spine...
Check out these incredible banners for 'The Dark Knight Rises.' These little sneak peeks really create more anticipation as well as bittersweet feelings for the end of Christopher Nolan's Batman Trilogy. It's heartbreaking to hear that the trilogy will all be over but I'm sure he's not going to go without a huge bang. The film comes out on July 20th.
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(click on each of the posters for epic detail)
The Great Gatsby trailer is out already! I dont think it'll be necessary for me to explain the plot of Gatsby unless you've been living in a cave for the last ninety years or so. But just in case you were,
it's basically about this kid name Nick Carraway (Tobey Maguire) who becomes fascinated by the lush and extravagant lifestyle of his neighbor, Jay Gatsby (Leonardo Dicaprio). Carraway is invited into Gatsby's circle of friends and becomes a witness to obsession and misfortune.
At first I was like what the heck is this? The film is coated with silicon modernity that cheapens the film entirely. And why are they using the Jay-Z/Kanye song from the movie Safe House (2012)? But after i soon realized that the director was Baz Luhrmann (Moulin Rouge, Australia), I'm starting to understand the appeal. Maybe I am biased but if there was one person that could make a film like this with such a ridiculously modern twist, it's Luhrmann and Luhrmann only. Of course, we should still hold onto our doubts after seeing the trailer but it's worth a shot to see what Baz has turn it into. Will it be a Frankenstein or a Mona Lisa? I guess we'll find out when it comes out on Christmas 2012. That is, if we're not all dead yet.
Theres a new Michel Gondry film coming out and I know fans couldn't be happier. What I expect is the usual witty, whimsical, and mind-bending stories that he has been known for. But after watching 'The We and The I' trailer, it feels more like an optimistic version of Larry Clark's Kids (1995.) It tells a heartfelt story about the final bus ride home for a group of high school students and graduates. It has the coming-of-age charm to it but don't let that fool you. It seems like its packed with punches of freshness that we haven't witnessed before so candidly. The film premieres at Cannes this month, but has no release date yet. But its GONDRY, i expect to see a release date later on this year and i cant wait. It's so raw and emotionally charged. The film industry needs this kind of film. I need this kind of film. And after all the blockbusters, I think we will all need this kind of film. Thank you, Gondry.
Like most Tim Burton films, Dark Shadows is filled with such eccentricities that can only be enjoyed by a few. The target audiences are either Burton fans,
who will watch anything he comes out with or the fans of the actors. I mean
Chloe Moretz in a Tim Burton film, IM IN! Guilty as charged, I fall into both
of these categories. Even though the film is an adaptation of the 60’s
broadcast of Dark Shadows, most of the audiences were in their teens to early
twenties who probably have never heard of Dark Shadows before this film.
Embarrassingly, I must admit that I fell asleep. Possibly from the lack of
sleep the night before or because of the sheer prolonged and unsensical
happenings on screen. Which is the real reason is still unknown.
After being rejected
by Barnabas Collins (Johnny Depp), servant Angelique Bouchard (Eva Green) kills
his parents and the love of his life Josette DuPres (Bella Heathcote). If that
wasn’t enough she turns him into a vampire and buried alive for 200 years so
that his suffering would never end.
This is Johnny Depp and Tim Burton’s Eighth collaboration
together and it feels as if Depp is evolving and Burton is just treading in the
same chill pool of darkness for all these years. I mean, if it’s not broken
don’t fix it right? Every single character that Depp has played through
Burton’s vision is continuously without a doubt engraved in people’s mind for
all of pop culture eternity. Even in this weirder than his usual character as
Barnabas Collins, he speaks eloquently and as-a-matter-of-factly. Collins with
his caked face and vampire gear stands out like a sore thumb in the midst of
the bellbottom, long hair, and free loving hippie era of 1970’s. Yet again,
even though the film wasn’t completely satisfactory, Depp has created a
character that is worthy of remembrance.
Rather than focusing on the plot, this film was filled with
quirky and memorable characters. Every single character from Chloe Moretz’s teenage angsty Carolyn Stoddard to newcomer Bella Heathcote as Victoria Winters’ ice cold
eyes and melodic voice is a charm all in it’s own. Heathcote plays both Barnabas’s
long lost love, Josette and Governess of the youngest Collins boy who can see
ghosts, David Collins (Gulliver McGrath), Victoria Winters. The best part of Burton’s films is that he
discovers these diamonds in the rough types and most of them so happens to be
found in Australia. Like Mia Wasikowska (Alice in Wonderland), Heathcote is Australian
and won the Heath Ledger scholarship, an award set up by the actor’s family
after his death to give Australian actors a chance to make it in L.A. After
moving to L.A. and getting a few jobs, in 2010, her manager called and said "Tim
Burton saw your picture", and that was that! I don’t know if it was her icy,
gothic look that captivated Burton but it was her unexpectedly endearing voice that caught my attention.
I'm also enthralled that Jackie Earle Haley (Little Children, Watchmen) was part of the Collins clan as their drunken manor
caretaker. He is such an underrated actor! Everyone in Dark Shadows couldn’t
have been more better casted. No one actor overpowered another with their
“superior” acting skills or whatnot. They were individually memorable and quirky in their own way.
Moretz did not let me down either. Her
character has Carolyn Stoddard portrayed exactly what a teenager from the 1970’s
would be. Despite her only being fourteen at the time of the filming, her
character oozed with sexuality, angst, and rebellion. And seriously, don't get me started on Michelle Pfeiffer! I was so glad to see her in another film, it just felt so long since I last saw her in Stardust (2007). I can't believe she was in New Year's Eve (2011) either. That's pretty low Michelle, I know you can do better. She was able to show us a different side of her as sour-faced woman of the house, Elizabeth Collins Stoddard.
If the film is sliced into moment and segments, it truly shows the character's individual quality that make Dark Shadows so great. But put the whole picture together, the story lacks the coherent messages that films need. It gets lost halfway in the midst of Alice Cooper's performance at the Collins mansion (and the point was...?) The point was for funsies and nothing more. We get it, now get back to the story. I guess it was about 3/4 of the way through, my eyelids started to get heavy. And during the climax, something so bizarre happened, i wasn't sure if i was dreaming or not. As a Tim Burton fan, I used to go to watch his films to drown myself in his idiosyncrasies as a filmmaker. But now after Alice in Wonderland (2010), I go for mindless fun. Now, that's another thing I dont know if it's a good thing or not. B
Year: 2012
Director: Joss Whedon
Region of Origin: U.S.
Rating: PG-13
Time: 143 mins.
The accumulation of the Marvel comic hero films for the past
years with Iron Man, Iron Man 2, Captain America, and Thor
has come down to this moment and film, The Avengers. Joss Whedon who got his
start in Buffy the Vampire Slayer is
a self-proclaimed mega comic nerd so it is only natural that he direct one of
the biggest movie franchise that we may ever see. Unlike the other Marvel
films, what Joss has done with the Avengers is remarkably refreshing and
honestly, surprising. Hollywood has had many trial and errors and finally learned
that with good storytelling, acting, and in this case, superb special effect,
the viewers and critics will come.
When Loki (Thor’s bro, Tom Hiddleston) arrives through a
wormhole and steals the Tesseract—a cosmic cube can potentially save or destroy
our planet and threatens the global safety and security of Earth, Nick Fury
(Samuel L. Jackson), Director of the International peacekeeping agency known as
S.H.I.E.L.D finds himself in need of a team to save the world.
Joss Whedon who directed and wrote The Avengers does two things that propels the Action-hero genre to
whole other level. For one, he brings
unexpected realism into the mixing pot. Pop cultural references and superheroes
ego and flaws are dished out on crystal plate with dazzling comic timing that
you will catch yourself laughing at something that resembles much like a joke
from Superbad. It’s so true that you
can’t help but laugh at its hilariously frank and surprising joke. No joke, there were
roars of laugher spitting from every row, I thought I was at a rodeo. And two,
he equally presents each of the character and their own demons from the
beginning and manages to intertwine the stories with the other heroes with such
precision that will make you wonder if he mapped it with a knife. In Thor, I
perceive Loki as a threat but rather an insecure, power-hungry, black
sheep of the family. But in The Avengers, he is so sly and devious it will make
you reestimate his powers and strength.
The movie started out like any other Blockbuster that left
me mindlessly gazing at the screen but half way through the movie (after the initial bitch fight each superhero have with each other) when Hulk
(Mark Ruffalo) is chasing Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), my mind woke up, I
leaned forward, and my eyes gleamed with excitement. While watching Captain American
fight some bad guys that it came to my attention that yeah, you don’t need
superpowers to make a decent action film (ahem, Safe). It’s all action
choreography that shows the variety of fighting with guns, their fists, and
maybe a fancy leg move. Which brings me to Scarlett Johannson. I was starting
to doubt Hollywood in their ability to show a superwoman who can truly kick ass
on screen and not just be a sex eye-candy. Johansson said that the most
questions she was asked while being interviewed about The Avengers was “What
was Scarlett wearing under her catsuit? What kind of underpants were you
wearing?” Does that really matter asshole? Considering Black Widow is a spy
instead of a “soldier,” all her battles were done through mental manipulation, gunfights,
and ninja-like ass kicking. Whedon has tried to launch a Wonder Woman movie for
several years now but Studios continue to tell him that a woman cannot headline
an action movie. Due to the popularity of The Hunger Games, it might just
change all that. Well I hope so, cause a Black Widow movie sounds pretty great
right about now.
It was surprising to find out that the Iron Man franchise
and Thor director are none other than actors themselves, Jon Favreau and
Kenneth Branagh, respectively. I honestly didn’t know it was THAT Jon Favreau
but Favreau nonetheless. There has been a trend going on lately to potentially
create more hype or just more money like usual by releasing Blockbuster films
in foreign countries first before the U.S. The movie business hasn’t been
popping lately and it’s known that internationally studios can make more money
because foreigners are willing to shell out big bucks for 3D Blockbusters.
That’s one reason and another is because U.S. audiences are the biggest fans of
these comics so they wanted to create more anticipation and hype surrounding
the film and potentially rack in more mula. It is an interesting business plan,
reverse psychology or whatnot. We always want what we don’t have. The usual.
In unorthodox fashion, The Avengers was able to achieve what
not many Action hero film was able to achieve: candid honesty, individual
character and team development, and most important of all, KICK-ASS action
sequences. A-
What could’ve been Jason Statham’s pivotal role into the
genre of semi-drama turned out to deflate before our eyes with the routine
gun-fights and vengeful one-liners. The premise had the same old dirty stain of unoriginal that most action films these days are plagued with. Director Boaz Yakin whose previous films like Remember the Titans and Uptown Girls had a mix of great acting and heart-felt plots, fail to bring Safe to life.
imdb: Mei, a young girl whose memory holds a priceless numerical code, finds herself by the Triads, the Russian mob, and corrupt NTC cops. Coming to her aid is an ex-cage fighter whose life was destroyed by the gangsters on Mei's trail.
The only thing that makes Safe different from the reminiscent 'The Professional' is because Mei has a photographic memory. Judging from Yakin's previous films, it seems like he knows how to navigate the drama within the story. But even though he chose actors who could only provide a limited amount of emotions, the story left a lot of room for him to go wild. Usually with action films, it's common that either action or story get the short end of the stick and with Safe, both ends were shamefully lacking. Statham and friends have the usual lead bath from scene to scene without much interesting action tricks to show. If only American action films just put in that extra punch of effort to make truly inventive action films like say, The Raid: Redemption? How long can a battle last with just bullets flying from all direction? Quite a while it seems. The connection between Statham and Mei was not plausible. Statham is known to be a man of action who has a seemingly endless amount of mystery surrounding him. And that's probably why we're not sick of him like we are with Tom Cruise or Bruce Willis (who btw, both have more than 3 films coming out this year, talk to me at the end of the year if you think otherwise). And so, to have Staham play a man who cares so deeply about this girl that he's willing to be showered in bullets, well come on. There were some genuine emotions seeping through but not enough to make us believe. C+
Year: 2011
Director: Lee Hirsch
Cast: Alex, Ja'Maya
Region of Origin: U.S.
Rating: NR
Time: 98 mins
Bully went full circle and presented all the kinds of victim and angles of
the bullying spectrum. The documentary follows five high school kids and their
families from Georgia, Iowa, Texas, Mississippi and Oklahoma during the school
year 2009 to 2010. It focuses on the deaths of Tyler Long and Ty Smalley,
victims of bullying who took their own lives. Director Lee Hirsch was a bully victim himself
and wanted to make a film that truly shows what goes on behind the supposedly safe gates of
school.
The film opens up with video footage of Tyler Long of Murray
County, Georgia as a kid happily playing and laughing. David Long, Tyler’s
father states that “Tyler was a happy kid but as he got older, he started to
distance himself and wanted to be alone.” It wasn’t till it was too late that
his parents discovered what emotional and physical torment Tyler was going
through. Ty Smalley was only 11-years old when he had enough of the ridicule from
the kids at school. Ty’s father Kirk,
states a fact that haunts average citizens everyday, “we’re a bunch of nobodies.
If this had happened to some politician’s kid, a law would be passed in a
minute.” In the film the audience continues to see authorizes from schools
wether it be assistant principles or district leaders turn their cheek on the
issue and simply state “kids will be kids.”
Kelby Johnson is 16-year-old lesbian in Tuttle, Oklahoma as best known as "Bible Belt Oklahoma." After coming out to the
town about her orientation, her and her family are now ostracized from the
town. Friends that they’ve had for many years don't even acknowledge them. Moving to another town isn’t an option because Kelby think then the town wins.
Kelby believes she can make a difference but as time progresses it’s clear that
is easily said than done. With her group of outcasts and her pint sized girlfriend,
she doesn’t feel so bad. But nonetheless, the pain lingers in her eyes as she constantly fights for her life and rights in a town that won't open their eyes.
As a society we are taught to ignore or brush off the bullies who continue to taunt us. But there are always the few who want/try to stand up for
themselves and end up going too far. Like Ja’Maya from Yazoo County,
Mississipi. After being hassled time and time again, she wanted to scare her
bullies by bringing her mom’s loaded gun to a crowded school bus. She didn’t
fire, merely waved it around to scare them but what impulse and anger
shielded her from seeing was her life-scarring consequences. With 44 counts of felony under her belt, she spends a few months in a Juvenile Delinquent Center. A local law enforcement said "There's nothing, no amount of bullying, or teasing, or picking on, or whatever, there's nothing, unless someone was whipping on this girl everyday, unless someone was hitting this young lady in the head and being physically brutal to her, there NOTHING to me that justifies her taking her gun on that bus, I don't care what it is." Apparently, this "law enforcement" has never been emotionally abused before. Nothing justifies her bringing a gun to a school bus but what should be the main concern here is how to prevent any other kid reacting like this due to bullying.
But the real star this film highlights is Alex Libby, a 12
year old in Sioux City, Iowa. With all the types of bullied victims that were
shown, Alex is one victim that the audience needs to watch out for. It is clear
from Tyler Long and Ty Smalley of what could happen when a kid is pushed too
far and it seems like Alex is on his way to the same destination. He is
playful, responsible, and happy within his family life but in school, he
struggles to make friends and opts for bullies as his “friends.” His mother
exclaims, “you are just a punching bag to them, they’re not your friends.” And
with the most heart-breaking reaction, Alex responds, “if they are not my
friends, who is?” There is a glimmer of hope for Alex on the last day of school when a schoolmate asks for his signature on her t-shirt and vice versa.
Immediately after seeing the trailer for Bully, I became overwhelmed with emotions knowing that this was an important film to see because it hit so close to home. I was bullied as a child and didn’t think that there could ever be a solution because like people say, kids will be kids. But after seeing Bully, I do have hope that there can be change within the high school system. A change doesn't happen over night, it takes one person to stand up. And luckily, that person was Harvey Weinstein. Without his power and the help of Katy Butler, the MPAA would've won with their ridiculous R rating. As early as elementary school, kids are already exposed to the realities of life that are beyond the rated R rating. How will the problem ever get solved if kids that are 17 and over can only see the movie. That doesn't seem very logically MPAA. Great job.
As seen in media and history, the presence of an authority figure is able to persuade the most stubborn types of people. And in this case, the camera itself was an authority figure. Due to the increasing bullying of Alex, the filmmaker decided to show the police, school, and his parents the footage. The reaction of his mother is troubling and concerning as she seems worried but seems forced to react due to the presence of camera. The principle and vice principle both act for the camera as the upmost best caretakers as they try to break up fights and advise the boys to reconcile even if it is the victim and the bully. They say they've talked to the bullies numerous times but it isn't until this moment that some action is taken place. The principle talks to each of the bullies and tell them to cease their torment or consequences will ensue. Their upstanding act is shattered when Alex says he has asked for their help and got no attention a year ago. While their concerned grins turned into stammering tongues, my cries turn into sinister laughter. Will bullying ever end? Not likely. But like this rating, all it takes is one person to make a difference. It may not happen today or tomorrow but with time, it'll be better. I swear it. A
