Fox Searchlight’s Another Earth comes out on Blu-Ray and DVD today, and since the film only had a very limited theatrical release this summer, this may be the first opportunity for many to see the sci-fi drama. Is the film worth picking up at your local Blockbuster (this is 1998, right?), or is the premise too good to be true for an indie flick? Find out after the break.
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Martin Scorsese’s latest film Hugo, which opened yesterday in theaters, is indeed a “family film”, but do not let that dissuade you from seeing this amazing work from, arguably, our greatest living director. The movie tells the story of a young orphan who lives in the walls of a 1930’s Paris train station, repairing the station’s clocks and hiding from the cruel station master. The boy attempts to make sense of his father’s death through some puzzling clues and his journey begins a series of events that end up changing the course of film history. Ultimately Hugo is a story about a boy seeking his purpose in life and who, throughout his quest, helps others find their purposes too. What Scorsese has done with Hugo though is so much more than a mere rags-to-riches tale. Hugo is Martin Scorsese’s love letter to the cinema, to his own children and to the work of early cinematic pioneer George Méliès.
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I love the Muppets. I thought I should get that out of the way. The original The Muppet Movie is one of my favorite movies of all time, and by watching it again a few years ago, I gained a new appreciation for the Muppet universe as an adult. After some time away from the limelight, the Muppets are back in a new movie, appropriately titled The Muppets, that opens in theaters on Wednesday. Does it live up to the original? Find out in my review after the break.
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Currently in limited theatrical release, and VOD, Tucker & Dale vs. Evil packs a lot of substance into its 90-minute runtime. Tucker & Dale is a buddy comedy, a deconstruction of the redneck horror subgenre, a bloody gore fest and reverent homage to horror classics like The Evil Dead and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. First-time director, Eli Craig, deftly sets-up scene-after-scene of hilarious miscommunication, played out to the extreme, between a group of violent college kids and a pair of affable rednecks. But what truly makes Tucker & Dale so enjoyable is the chemistry between the film’s two leads, Tyler Labine and Alan Tudyk, whose rapport is reminiscent of Shaun of the Dead’s Simon Pegg and Nick Frost.
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This Friday, Relativity Media’s Immortals opens in theaters in 3D. The film, directed by Tarsem Singh (The Cell), is an action period epic about the war between the Greek Gods and the Titans. The solid cast includes future Superman Henry Cavill, Luke Evans, Freida Pinto, and Mickey Rourke, and the producers made the popular (and similar-looking) 300. So, does the film live up to its names? Find out after the break.
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Tower Heist, which opens this weekend in theaters, is an entertaining film that hits its stride about 20 minutes in and shortly thereafter turns on the cinematic cruise control. There is nothing inherently bad about the film, save for its ridiculous finale, but Tower Heist ultimately amounts to barely more than squandered potential. The main draw of Tower Heist is quality work by its cast: Ben Stiller, Eddie Murphy, and Matthew Broderick with a truly standout performance by Tea Leoni. The script has a witty edge without needing to resort to vulgarity, and obviously the plot, based on the Madhoff scandal, is timely. Unfortunately, where Tower Heist falls short is in its execution or, better yet, executioner – directorial hack, Brett Ratner.
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As a “Harold & Kumar” fan, I’ll be the first to admit the series is very hit or miss. The first film will remain as my generation’s comedy classic, but the second film made little effort and left quite a bad taste in my mouth. It had it’s share of moments, but just seemed to be bogged down by politics we could all do without in a stoner comedy. The threequel hits theaters this Friday, so is it a return to form or a spark that just sizzles out? Hit the jump to find out. [Read more...]
Director Lars Von Trier has had a controversial career and a reputation as an egomaniacal iconoclast. He was part of the influential Dogme 95 collective – filmmakers who pushed a new cinematic realism by setting-up a series of rules one must follow when making a film. Von Trier has since violated every single one of the collective’s rules. Von Trier has been accused of torturing his actors, barbarism, animal cruelty, misogyny and, of late, Nazism. His reputation for being difficult to work with, when paired with his reputation for making brilliant cinema, generates headlines and controversy for all of his films – his most recent, Melancholia, being no exception given his odd comments about Hitler during a recent press junket.
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Shawn Levy’s streak of directing some pretty awful movies has caused him to become some what of a pariah with writers and critics. And despite those movies, he still has made it out with some successful projects. But now comes Real Steel, a movie that has lifted the pariah name off his shoulders and into a director that is no longer a laughing stock. Sure it may be a bit campy, but the story works, especially in a movie like Real Steel. Which is why I was completely surprised at how much I actually liked the film. [Read more...]
Okay, I might as well just say it. 50/50 is the first actual film that can make you laugh and will most definitely make you cry. The performances are an honest and comedic portrayal of the human soul. While some may sympathize with cancer patients with tears and prayers, others like screenwriter Will Reiser and Seth Rogen chose to tackle the deadly disease with ingenious humor. And the result is pure bliss. 50/50 is a genuinely heartfelt comedy that works and is one of the best films of 2011. [Read more...]
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