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Monday, February 28, 2011

Upcoming Movies: March 2011

[Note: Updated highlight of the Oscars post 2/28]

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March 4
"The Adjustment Bureau" (http://www.theadjustmentbureau.com/) - The affair between a politician and a ballerina is affected by mysterious forces keeping them apart.
"Rango" (http://www.rangomovie.com/) - A chameleon with an identity crisis.

March 11
"Red Riding Hood" (http://redridinghood.warnerbros.com/) - Set in a medieval village haunted by werewolf, a young girl falls for an orphaned woodcutter.
"Battle Los Angeles" (http://www.worldinvasionbattlela.net/) - A Marine platoon faces off an alien invasion.

March 18
"Limitless" (http://www.iamrogue.com/limitless) - A writer discovers a top-secret drug which bestows him with super abilities.
"The Lincoln Lawyer" (http://www.thelincolnlawyermovie.com/) - A criminal defense attorney operates out of his Lincoln car. His latest case could bring him close to unexpected evil.
 
March 25
"Sucker Punch" (http://suckerpunchmovie.warnerbros.com/) - A young girl is institutionalized by her wicked stepfather. Retreating to an alternative reality, she envisions a plan to help her escape.

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Academy Awards 2011

2010 was truly a phenomenal year for films! Let's hope that 2011 will be at least as memorable.

Psyched to see "Inception" finally received the major recognitions it deserves (have you ever seen any other sci-fi being as high on the Oscar ladder?)  While David Fincher, "The Social Network" was a critics-favorite to win for Best Director, in many ways, it's no surprise the Academy Awards went with Tom Hooper, "The King's Speech."  It's been the tradition (the majority of times) to grant Best Director to the director who directed Best Picture. Well-deserved, either way.  

Updated post (2/22/11) on Oscar noms and pick for winners: 

Academy Award winners:

Best Motion Picture 
     "The King's Speech"
Best Performance by an Actor 
     Colin Firth - "The King's Speech"
Best Performance by an Actress  
     Natalie Portman - "Black Swan
Best Director 
     Tom Hooper - "The King's Speech
Best Cinematography
     Wally Pfister - "Inception"
Best Original Screenplay 
     David Seidler - "The King's Speech"
Best Adapted Screenplay
     Aaron Sorkin - "The Social Network"
Best Original Score  
     Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross - "The Social Network"
Best Sound Mixing
     Lora Hirschberg, Gary Rizzo, Ed Novick - "Inception"
Best Sound Editing
     Richard King - "Inception"
Best Visual Effects 
     Chris Corbould, Andrew Lockley, Pete Bebb, Paul J. Franklin - "Inception"
Best Documentary - Feature
     Charles Ferguson, Audrey Marrs - "Inside Job"
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role 
     Christian Bale - "The Fighter"
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role 
     Melissa Leo - "The Fighter" 

More on http://oscar.go.com/

"Inside Job"

I squeezed this phenomenal documentary in between watching "Black Swan" and "The King's Speech" a while ago, but just didn't have the time to write a review. Using real people, news, interviews, testimonials, it's a true documentary and as gripping as any Academy Award-winning fiction or fiction-based drama. Complex terms are explained in easy-to digest language. Opening with the scene in Iceland, the financial crisis connects to the corruption in Wall Street, conflict of interest among the people in power (business, government, academia - and still in power), and how it melts down Main Street and the entire global system. All plainly explained in "Here's how it happened," which is cleverly partitioned in several sections. It's too maddening to watch, but a must-see!

Saturday, February 26, 2011

"I am Number Four"

A-w-e-s-o-m-e.  Not once did I look at my watch ("The Last Airbender," anyone?). Along the lines of "Jumper," it's a 'Michael Bay' movie that blasts "summer" into frozen February. Not sure why TPTB didn't release in the summertime, although it's probably because it's already packed with superheroes. I liked that they explain the little things, such as how the alien trackers disguise themselves among humans. The battle in the high school must be seen to be believed! And watch for the dog! As a sci-fi fan, I'd be there for a sequel - they've got to find Number Five and the others...

DVD: http://tinyurl.com/4ajmdam
DVD (blu-ray): http://tinyurl.com/4vdxvmv

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Just For Fun: The Oscars - Out with the Old, In with the New

Out with the old, in with the new.

Check out the article on Hollywood Reporter, debuting the new look for the Oscars 2011 telecast:

Also see how "rough" the prep for Oscar hosts duty really is: :-P

"Unknown"

What if "Bourne Identity" was blended with "Taken?" That concoction is "Unknown." "Taken" was a sleeper hit a couple of years ago and one of the more memorable movies that year. It also made Liam Neeson ("A-Team," "The Next Three Days"), best known previously for his dramatic role in Oscar-winning “Schindler's List,” a bonafide action star.

Neeson reprises his role as a one-man force. This time, instead of crossing continents to find his kidnapped daughter, he's in search for the truth to recover his lost identity.

Neeson is Dr. Martin Harris, a university botanist arriving in a snowy Berlin from the United States with his wife, Elizabeth (January Jones), for a summit. The summit is funded by Prince Shada (Mido Hamada) and features Professor Bressler (Sebastian Koch) as a keynote speaker. The goal is to rid of the world's hunger, and through research the professor has evidently discovered genetically modified corn that can grow in any climate.

Upon arrival at the hotel, Martin realizes that he has left his briefcase at the airport. While his wife is checking in at the lobby, he takes a cab back to the airport to retrieve it. A car accident sends the cab reeling into the river. Whilst his life is saved by the courageous driver, 'Gina' (Diane Kruger; "Troy," "National Treasure: Book of Secrets"), Martin has no idea that he's about to embark on the ride of his life.  

Lying at the hospital in a coma for four days without any identification, no one has visited Martin. While it's a blur of images, he remembers his name and bits and pieces about his life.

After he's prematurely discharged from the hospital at his insistence, Martin goes back to the hotel. To his shock, no one recognizes him, not including his wife. Furthermore, someone else has taken his place as "Dr. Harris." Predictably, Martin is hauled out by the police. At the station, when the online profile of Dr. Harris comes up, it's the picture of that other man. When he asks to contact a colleague and old friend, Rodney Cole (Frank Langella) back in the States, the call is greeted by a voicemail. Later at the university, Martin is met with Professor Bressler and "Dr. Harris."

Martin goes on to track the cab driver in hopes that she could help him with any details. An illegal immigrant who initially refuses to have anything to do with him, Gina soon sympathizes with him and becomes embroiled in his quest. Compared to bland Jones, Krueger is good and she gets the benefit of speaking in her native German tounge, but I don't buy her as a super-skilled driver.

Thinking that he's probably indeed lost his mind, he returns to the hospital for further treatments. He knows something isn't right but could not put his finger on it. His sense of being followed proves to be true when a mysterious man tries to kill him. Although things are actually better now he's convinced that he's not going out of his mind.

At the recommendation of the nurse (Eva Lobau) who cares for him at the hospital, he talks to Ernst Jurgen (Bruno Ganz), a former Stasi officer who specializes in finding missing identities. Meanwhile, assailants continue to pursue Martin.

Chaos soon follows. Brawls and shootouts. Car chases and crashes. More deaths. When Rodney arrives in Berlin and meets Martin, not all is well. But finally, revelations. And topped with explosions.

It's hard to overlook the oversized plot holes. In 21st century Berlin, why would Martin not even attempt to log on to his professional and personal e-mail accounts, and contact anyone else in the States? Why would he not insist the police to take his fingerprints? Because then there wouldn't be a story. Lastly, it's not easy to surpass suspension of disbelief concerning our protagonist and his actions in the end.

"Unknown" is a twisty thriller with an ending of "The Sixth Sense" (M. Night Shyamalan) proportion. Preposterous? Sure. But within the larger movie universe, I can accept the purported reality. It's just too entertaining not to.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Just For Fun: Oscar Party Time

The magic of the movies inspires a collection of Oscars menus, based on the Best Picture nominees ("Black Swan," "The Fighter," "Inception," "The Kids are All Right," "The King's Speech," "127 Hours," "The Social Network" "True Grit," "Toy Story 3," "Winter's Bone"). This year's contenders encompass action, drama, Western, animated, and science fiction films, making for an enticing mix. 

Check out the article on Epicurious for themed-meals and drinks for your Academy Awards bash:

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Academy Awards 2011 Preview Spotlight

The Academy Awards 2011 is next Sunday, February 27. 

Check out updated commentary (2/19/11) on the top films to bring home the gold:
http://themoviemaven.posterous.com/academy-award-2011-nominations

10 top movies running for Best Picture:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7vtDBf9zHk 

Movie Trend: Superhero Pics Nab Top Talents

There was a time when the most highly acclaimed actor you could get to star in a movie based on a Marvel comic was Dolph Lundgren. But now, as both the budgets and the respectability of "comic book movies" have increased, it's become standard practice for Academy Award winners and nominees to appear in them. 

Currently, four out of the 20 Oscar nominees in the acting categories will be in a Marvel Comics film in the next two years.

Check out the article on Yahoo about Oscar-quality talent appearing on comic book adaptations:

Friday, February 18, 2011

Movie Trend: Foreigners as Superheroes

A new trend has emerged in recent years... British, Australian and Canadian actors have seemingly corned the market on leading action superhero roles in Hollywood: British actor Henry Cavill as "Superman," Canadian Ryan Reynolds as "Green Lantern," Australian Chris Hemsworth as "Thor," British-raised Andrew Garfield as "Spider-Man," British Christian Bale as "Batman," Australian Hugh Jackman as "Wolverine."

Australia’s Sam Worthington has claimed the lead in big box-office movies ranging from "Terminator: Salvation" to "Avatar" to "Clash of the Titans." And British actor Daniel Day-Lewis has been cast as "Abraham Lincoln" in the upcoming Steven Spielberg biopic.

Check out the article on CinemaSpy and Hollywood Reporter on why so many foreigners are playing American superheroes:

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Movie Trend: Superheroes for the Ages


The year 2000 marked the rise of superheroes to mainstream stardom, starting with "X-Men." 

No longer lampooned as Saturday's cartoon or exclusive territory of the geeks, superheroes have gone "public" and they're big business for Hollywood.  Producers, directors, writers go as far as bringing in their unfinished creations to Comic-Con every year to get feedback or gauge reactions from fans. 

In the last decade we've seen the invasion of superheroes on the silver screen ("X-Men," "Lara Croft," "Spider-Man," "Daredevil," "Elektra," "Fantastic Four," "Hulk," "Hell Boy," "Batman," "Superman," "Transformers," "Iron Man," "Wolverine," "The Punisher," "GI: Joe," "Tron"). 

Some of these superhero tales are light and fun, but some are heavyweight champions, both in the minds and hearts of the audience, as well as at the box office. 

Visionary storytellers have churned out stories that are relatable to young and old, males and females of all races. Special effects have come a long way that superpowers appear to be realistic.  Talented actors have embodied characters that are believable.  And in some instances, the superhero roles have actually made relatively unknown or browbeaten actors household names (Tobey Maguire, "Spider-Man;" Christian Bale, "Batman;" Hugh Jackman, "Wolverine," Robert Downey Jr., "Iron Man"). 

The super-trend continues...

This year, expect to see "The Green Hornet" (recently out; January 14), "Thor" (May 6), "X-Men: First Class" (June 3), "Green Lantern" (June 17), "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" (July 1), "Captain America: The First Avenger" (July 22).  Next year you can expect "The Avengers," "The Dark Knight Rises," "The Wolverine," "Deadpool," "Spider-Man" (reboot - Andrew Garfield, "The Social Network"), "Superman: Man of Steel" (reboot - Henry Cavill, "The Tudors") flying at theaters near you. 

Then there are those "in development" for 2013 and may be subject to change, such as (not in particular order) "Iron Man 3," (another) "Fantastic Four," "The Flash," "Justice League: Mortal," "Aquaman," "Thundercats," "Red Sonja," and so on.  One thing is for certain; the rebirths of "Spider-Man" and "Superman" alone will spew more sequels in the last half this decade. 

Stay tuned for more superheroes!

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Just For Fun: Valentine's Day - Romantic Movies & Food

Chocolate truffle.  Banana cream pie.  Crab Souffle.  These are a few goodies featured in rom-com movies to set the mood.

Check out the galleries on Delish for a list of movie titles and recipes: (it's missing "Julie & Julia" and "No Reservations")

Friday, February 11, 2011

Movie Guides 2011 by Genre

In the mood for certain types of movies?  

The year is still young.  Check out the movie guides below from Movie-Moron, which include synopsis and images of many of this year's releases by genre - action, comedy, horror, romance, sci-fi, thriller:

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Movie Trend: Dark Fairy Tales

Forget "The Princess Bride," "Stardust" or "Enchanted."  The upcoming live-action remakes are not your mother's fairy tales - "Red Riding Hood," "The Brothers Grimm: Snow White," "Snow White and the Huntsman," "Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters." 

Are fairy tales going grim?

Check out the article on Entertainment Weekly:

Monday, February 7, 2011

Just For Fun: Super Bowl by Filmmakers

Slate puts together amusing clips of the Super Bowl as if the telecast were directed by filmmakers Quentin Tarantino, David Lynch, Wes Anderson, Jean-Luc Godard, Werner Herzog.  

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Just For Fun: Super Bowl - Best Football Movies

From the classic hall of famers ("Knute Rockne," 1940) to recently championed contenders ("The Blind Side," 2009).

Check out the article on Moviefone for the best football movies of all time:

Friday, February 4, 2011

"The Mechanic"


Jason Statham ("Transporter, " "Crank") is back in killing machine mode as Arthur Bishop in "The Mechanic," directed by Simon West ("Con Air," "Lara Croft: The Tomb Raider"). Living in laid-back Louisiana bayou country, Arthur is an elite assassin with a rigid code to abide by; prepared, detached, and on the mark. Always.

When his mentor and close friend, wheelchair-bound Harry McKenna (Donald Sutherland), takes a bullet to the chest, everything changes. The identity of the shooter, connected to Arthur's employer, 'Dean' (Tony Goldwyn), is disguised in the plot synopsis, but there is no mistake about it.

Henry's screwed-up son, Steve, (Ben Foster) latches onto Arthur to learn everything about the trade and looks for revenge. Job after job, Arthur takes Steve as an apprentice and methodically shows him the mechanics of being a professional killer.

There is a specific mindset required to "fix things." Detachment. Patience. Different methods are applied to different jobs, depending on a variety of variables, such as the subject, habits, and surrounding environment.
It's not as simple as shoot and kill. You've got to study the subject. Not only that it's imperative he hits the target every time, the killing is also meticulously and precisely done in a way so that it's as efficient and clean as it can be. To the outside world, each death appears to be accidental by nature. It's the perfect kill; nobody knows you were there.

Once Steve enters the picture, it's different mechanism. Far from a steely professional, he goes in for the kill in a purposefully brutal way. Assassinations that are planned to be quick and tidy turn vicious and messy. As Steve joins forces in pursuing Arthur's shady employer and uncovers the identity of his father's killer, the duo's relationship is altered.

If you've seen and enjoyed a Statham movie, you know what to expect. The surprise factor is here is Foster's hot-tempered Steve; be it when he defiantly engages a hitman twice his size in mano-a-mano, or jumps up to gun down a band of hitmen.

The "pre-ending" as the closing would have been a fresher take. At the same time, as inscribed on Harry's gun, "Victory loves preparation" is the overriding theme of the movie. There's no way of getting around it; all the way to its back-to-back, blown-to-bits finale.

http://www.sdentertainer.com/arts/reviews-arts/movie-review-mechanic/

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Note: "The Mechanic"

"The Mechanic" review is now up on http://www.sdentertainer.com/arts/reviews-arts/movie-review-mechanic/ It will be posted on the blog at a later time.
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"The Company Men"

Bobby Walker (Ben Affleck) is a hotshot sales executive living his life through rose-colored glasses. At the prime of his career at GTX, Bobby is laid off after 12 years of service. Gene McClary (Tommy Lee Jones), his boss and mentor, couldn't save his job.  

Gene later finds that his position is not as secured as he thought - even if he's friends with James Salinger (Craig Nelson), the callous CEO who earns millions, while conducting rounds of mass layoff in order to meet the market's demand and keep the stock prices up. Another aging executive on the chopping block is haggard Phil Woodward (Chris Cooper).

With his qualifications, Bobby smugly believes that he would land on his feet in a matter of days. And with three months worth of severance package that includes outplacement service, he has no plan to leave the good life. Sprawling McMansion, fancy Porsche, country club membership, luxury vacations are measures of success. His job was his identity.

Bobby's stay-at-home wife turning part-timer, Maggie (Rosemarie De Witt), is loyal, realistic and practical. She gets the credit for having her feet planted firmly on the ground and gently urging her husband to get his head out of the sand. Another goes to Jack Dolan (Kevin Costner), her brother, a hard-working owner of a small construction company. He takes in dismissive Bobby as an extra worker even as his business is not exactly breaking even.

Unemployment is ever-present these days that it would be hard not to empathize with anyone out of work. But Bobby, Gene or Phil is not your everyman. It's not easy to cry a river over the few elites who are used to the six-figure lifestyles. Bobby pointedly refuses to even consider a related position paying about half of his previous base salary.

There may be a question of why anyone should bother watching reality played on the screen. If it's any consolation, the human impact is real. The gamut of emotions that an unemployed goes through - shock, denial, anger, shame, guilt, lost, resignation. Dreams dashed, respect lost, plans canceled, family affected.

Eventually, with continued hardships, come the attitude adjustment. The corporate jets and expensed trips are not coming back. Gone are the $500 lunches and $5,000/night hotel stay. The reality is, as a family man with two kids, it may be vital for Bobby to trade in his white-collar suit with a blue-collar sweatshirt - if it means earning an honest pay for an honest day of work, however back-breaking a manual labor may be.

Living within the means also takes on a new meaning. Being unemployed is very humbling, not to mention agonizing experience. There's rarely any comparison to the struggle of keeping your livelihood. Countless hours are spent pounding the pavement. The stress to keep up the skills and appearances marketable. Days stretch into weeks, weeks into months and months... without knowing when the end will be in sight. Hopes are intermixed with fears. Finding a job is a full-time job on its own and may be the hardest one of all.

The worst part next to survival is perhaps knowing that the world goes on and leaves you behind. Families, friends, neighbors, acquaintances continue asking about how your job search is going and how you're holding up. Or they may be in the dark because you're forced to keep up the charade of being a successful professional. Keeping the spirit up and faking enthusiasm of having to start over and prove yourself continually can take a toll. For one former executive, it may prove to be too humiliating.

The ending, while felt tacked on, provides an essential positivism to conclude the story. It represents the American spirit. Like its sleeker counterpart, "Up in the Air," "The Company Men" was born during the worst recession since the Great Depression. It's the sign of the times and carries much relevancy.