November 2010

The Archives

  • 11.26.10
    THE AMERICAN: Tu vuo fa l’americano… Blog Exclusives, Reviews, Trailers | Comments Off
    REVIEW: THE AMERICAN DIRECTED BY ANTON CORBIJN. STARRING GEORGE CLOONEY, THELKA REUTEN, VIOLANTE PLACIDEO. [103 mins] Opens November 26 RATING: TWO AND A HALF/FIVE The term “International Man of Mystery” has just been taken to a whole new level. Based on Martin Booth’s 1990 novel A Very Private Gentleman, Anton Corbijn’s The American follows an assassin called Jack (what is it with Hollywood and that name?), as he broodingly wanders through picturesque Italian villages. And, eh, that’s about it. Despite what the trailer indicates, this isn’t a high-octane thriller with constant shoot-outs & a twisting plot – in fact, the violence is minimal & the ...
  • 11.25.10
    “It Gets Better, With Love From Pixar.” Trade News | Comments Off
    As if we didn't have enough reasons to love Pixar. The film studio has joined Barack Obama, Chris Colfer, the employees of Facebook and countless others to contribute to columnist Dan Savage's It Gets Better Project. Savage, known for his sex advice column Savage Love, started the project following the suicide of American teenager Billy Lucas & a number of other young people who were the victims of homophobic bullying. The project asks individuals to upload a video of themselves talking about their own experiences of bullying, and how they overcame these difficult times to lead wonderful, fulfilling lives of ...
  • 11.24.10
    THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNET’S NEST: Oh no!! Not the beeeeeeeeeeeeeees! Reviews, Trailers | Comments Off
    REVIEW: THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNET’S NEST DIRECTED BY DANIEL ALFREDSON. STARRING NOOMI RAPACE, MICHEAL NYQVIST, ANNIKA HALLIN, ANDERS AHLBOM. [147 MINS] Opens November 26 RATING: TWO/FIVE The final novel in Stieg Larsson’s Millenium trilogy was always going to have a tricky transition to the big screen. Its predecessor, The Girl Who Played With Fire ended just as Lisbeth Salander (the ever-impressive Noomi Rapace) was shot by her father Zalachenko and indestructible half-brother Niedermann. A dramatic climax indeed, but unfortunately it means that our enigmatic and engaging heroine now spends the majority of The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest lying in a hospital ...
  • 11.21.10
    Lincoln & Gatsby & Oz, oh my! Trade News | Comments Off
    - Robert Zemekis, I thank you. In a world where nothing is sacred & not even Tim Burton can treat Alice In Wonderland with the respect it deserves, it's refreshing to see a director turn down the chance to murder a classic. Zemekis had been in talks with Warner Brothers about updating the 1939 classic The Wizard of Oz, but has confirmed that he will not be involved... Continue Reading...
  • 11.20.10
    UNSTOPPABLE: Don’t stop me now, having such a good time Reviews, Trailers | Comments Off
    UNSTOPPABLE DIRECTED BY TONY SCOTT. STARRING DENZEL WASHINGTON, CHRIS PINE, ROSARIO DAWSON. [98 MINS] Opens November 24 RATING: FOUR/FIVE While film critics are obviously wild, crazy party animals (honestly, we are), we generally don’t give big reactions while reviewing movies because, I dunno, it’s not dignified or something. So when you’re reviewing in a theatre with a normal, noisy audience, you need to repress your desire to slip into librarian mode and shout “Shhh! I’m working here, stop laughing in my office! And I could also do without you two in the corner groping each other!” So God help my professional reputation now. During Tony Scott’s ...
  • 11.18.10
    Keeping up with the Jonze: Interview with Spike Jonze Interviews, Trailers | Comments Off
    INTERVIEW WITH SPIKE JONZE I’m always highly suspicious of people who everybody likes. Tiger Woods was sports’ golden boy til we read his text messages, we all thought Bertie was great craic til he lost our money and hid in a cupboard, and hell, apparently Ted Bundy made a delightful first impression. So after being repeatedly told what a lovely guy Spike Jonze is, I wasn’t surprised when he refused to shake my hand, instead waving me away with a grimace. I knew it. Don’t worry Jonzey, I won’t force you to make physical contact with a mere mortal like myself. ...
  • 11.18.10
    EXTRA, EXTRA: November 18 Trade News | Comments Off
    * Have the Sex and the City films taught us nothing? (Apart from the fact that it’s okay to be racist as long as you do it in Dolce & Gabbana, and the only thing women value over orgasms is co-dependence and diamond rings, obviously.) Determined to truly murder our fond memories of the TV series, a third X-Files film may be inflicted upon us. Writing is underway and the project is waiting for a green light from Fox. Don’t they realize the only thing out there is apathy? * Americans, take note: this is why we hate you. A live-action ...
  • 11.17.10
    HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: Black Magic Reviews, Trailers | Comments Off
    REVIEW: HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS DIRECTED BY DAVID YATES. STARRING DANIEL RADCLIFFE, EMMA WATSON, RUPERT GRINT, RALPH FIENNES, HELENA BONHAM CARTER. [146 MINS] Opens November 19 RATING: THREE/FIVE [kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/YzfEH0UPEBo" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /] Based on the first half of J.K. Rowling’s final novel of the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part One follows Harry, Ron and Hermoine’s (largely unsuccessful) mission to find and destroy five Horcruxes; dark magical objects that are the secret to Voldemort’s immortality. But Harry is still crippled with guilt by the death of Dumbledore (God knows why – the original Dumbledore died four films ago and he ...
  • 11.16.10
    CHICO AND RITA: Come on babe, why don’t we paint the town? And all that jazz. Reviews, Trailers | Comments Off
    REVIEW: CHICO AND RITA DIRECTED BY JAVIER MARISCAL AND FERNANDO TRUEBA. STARRING LENNY MANDEL AND LIMARE MENESES. [94 MINS] Opens November 19, Lighthouse Cinema RATING: THREE AND A HALF/FIVE [kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZTWxB9hRjwI" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /] It's a pity Dawson's Creek wasn't set in Cuba, because that whole Dawson/Pacey debacle would never have lasted six seasons. After three episodes, Joshua Jackson would have faced down James Van Der Irrelevant on a dancefloor, stealing Tom Cruise’s prisoner - I mean, wife – away for a sexually charged mambo before the two lads squared off in a knife-accompanied cha-cha, ‘Beat It’-style. When they were both killed, Joey would ...
  • 11.16.10
    From Famous and/or Foreign Director Trailers | (2)
    From the legends over at Cracked.com, it’s just so true. Enjoy this trailer for every Oscar Winning Movie Ever Made. Catchphrase! [kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/rbhrz1-4hN4" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]