Final 'Twilight'
Poster Premiere
When Talking Animals Attack!
Cinematical Interviews
Anne Hathaway
Horror Remakes
That Don't Suck
Which Upcoming Marvel
Film Has the Most Promise?
Exclusive: Clip from 'The Duchess'
Filed under: Drama, Fandom, Movie Marketing, Trailers and Clips
Cinematical has just received this exclusive clip from the period drama The Duchess (click image above or head after the jump to view), directed by Saul Dibb and based on Amanda Foreman's best-selling novel. Starring Keira Knightley as Georgiana, the Duchess of Devonshire, the film chronicles the life of a vibrant beauty and celebrity of her time; a woman held prisoner in an unhappy marriage, but one who'd risk it all for the love of a young politician. (Been there, done that -- right ladies?) Also starring Ralph Fiennes, Charlotte Rampling, Dominic Cooper and Hayley Atwell, the following clip takes us inside a pretty intense confrontation between Georgiana and the Duke of Devonshire (Fiennes) as they battle one another for the respect each feels they deserve.
The Duchess (which is currently enjoying a limited release) expands to theaters across the country on October 10.
This Just In: 'Let the Right One In' is Ten Times Better Than 'Twilight'
Filed under: Foreign Language, Horror, Romance, Thrillers, Magnolia
Sorry for tricking you, but I just used that headline to grab your attention. I haven't even seen Twilight yet. But if you're someone who's in the market for a film based on an award-winning book about a dark-yet-poignant romance between two young people -- one of whom happens to be a vampire -- then I have a movie that's NOT called Twilight that I want you to check out. You'll have to (gasp) brave some subtitles to earn your rewards, but Tomas Alfredson's Let the Right One In is one fantastic film. Either you know that already, you've heard it already, or you'll find out in a few months time: It's awesome.Anyway, Magnet / Magnolia has just announced an official release pattern for the brilliant Swedish film, and I'll give you the full calendar after the jump, but I will say this: There's good news afoot if you happen to live in or around New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Baltimore, Philadelphia (hooray!), Seattle, Denver, Nashville, Santa Fe, Hartford ... Oh hell, just click on in and check the big list. (And thanks to Fangoria for the heads-up.)
As much as I hate to contribute to "overhype," some films just deserve the praise. Like this one. As far as Twilight goes, well, if it's half as good as LTROI, then it will be a VERY good film. (Again, I'm not comparing -- merely piggy-backing on a popular title in the hopes of shedding some light on a much smaller one. Movie geeks are clever that way.)
**Update: Added NY and LA info
Jesse Eisenberg Joins Woody Harrelson in 'Zombieland'
Filed under: Comedy, Horror, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Casting
When it comes to 'Zombie comedy', (if that is even such a thing), you have to admit that it is going to pretty difficult to top Shaun of The Dead -- but you can't blame someone for trying. The Hollywood Reporter announced that Jesse Eisenberg (The Squid and the Whale) has signed to star opposite Woody Harrelson in the horror-comedy, Zombieland. According to THR, "Eisenberg is in negotiations to play Flagstaff, a terrified shut-in whose cowardice makes him an expert at surviving the zombies but who is forced out of his shell to join the band of survivors, which includes Harrelson."Zombieland was written by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, and is about a "mismatched pair of survivors who find friendship and redemption in a world overrun by zombies." So I guess that makes Zombieland a comedy, a horror, and a 'feel-good' buddy flick? Ruben Fleischer has already signed to direct, and is a relative newcomer to the world of feature films. Fleischer might only have a few credits to his name, but he can include the dubious distinction of being one of the people responsible for unleashing Rob & Big onto the world.
Zombieland could be a gamble for Columbia. 'R rated' comedy has yet to prove that it can compete at the box-office, so it was only a matter of time before studios started tacking on a body count. Personally, I think I'll just hold out for Seth and Jay vs. The Apocalypse instead. How about you?
Fan Made: If Foodies Made 'Transformers'
Filed under: Fandom
Right off the bat, let me admit this: I never saw all of Transformers. I knew it wasn't my cup of tea, and when I caught about ten minutes at the DVD store recently, I was convinced I made the right decision. (God, that dialog made me laugh.) That being said, I think I might have been swayed if BBQ fiends had a hand in the film.
As Serious Eats has shared, the right porcine transformer above was part of the American Royal Barbecue Contest, which recently smoked up lots of meat and had some clever competitors from Massachusetts. I never realized before how perfectly a pig would fit into the Transformer mold until now. Instead of Optimus Prime, maybe it'd be Optimus Prime Rib? Rawhide rather than Ironhide?
Okay, so maybe a meat-themed Transformers movie would be a little weird, but that logo still rules.
The Geek Beat: A Lament for the Old School
Filed under: Classics, Fandom, Comic/Superhero/Geek, The Geek Beat
First off, I must confess – I'm dating someone. Clint Eastwood circa 1970, to be exact. Judge our DVD romance all you will, decry that we break the time-space continuum, but we're very happy together. We just spent a delightful weekend via The Beguiled and Two Mules for Sister Sarah. The sun came up and we were still together. What can I say? He treats me like a lady, despite the fact that he only ever sees me sans make-up and in pajamas.
The sad thing is, I'm only half-kidding -- and yes, I will look back on this period of my life (probably via therapy or alcoholism) and wonder why Eastwood was the most dependable man in it. But our affair got me thinking overmuch about today's men, both in and outside of Hollywood. And it didn't help that in the early days of my relationship with Eastwood, we lost the wonderful Paul Newman. I wrote in Cinematical's tribute to him that the world could use more men like Newman – and it is so very true. Where are the men like Newman, Eastwood, Robert Redford, James Garner and Gregory Peck? The men who are rugged, larger than life, and who exude honesty and decency even when acting in so-so films? Who exude it in real life? What the heck happened to the world since these guys arrived on the scene?
Cinematical Watches The 'Watchmen'
Filed under: Action, Fandom, Movie Marketing, Comic/Superhero/Geek, Trailers and Clips
"I'm most excited that it's brought people into comics." -- Dave Gibbons, when asked what his favorite part of this Watchmen journey has been.
Last night, Cinematical was lucky enough to attend a private screening of Watchmen footage hosted by director Zack Snyder and Watchmen co-illustrator Dave Gibbons. There was a reception before and after (where they served this really great sushi), and in a separate room off to the side they set up a sort of Watchmen museum, with costumes worn in the film, as well as drawings, set design stuff, character posters -- the works.
Once inside the theater, Snyder introduced the first twelve minutes of the film by giving us a little background on his past with comics (started reading Heavy Metal as a kid, and was immediately turned off when he read other graphic novels because there wasn't enough "f**king or dying"). His work on Watchmen began while they were still finishing up 300, and originally they wanted to update Watchmen to the War on Terror. Eventually, though, Snyder chipped away and convinced the studio to remain faithful to the source material, which meant a film that took place in 1985, included the Vietnam War, Richard Nixon and all the scary realities which make the graphic novel so intriguing to read.
My thoughts on the footage and notes from the post-screening Q&A after the jump ...
'Get Smart' Sequel on the Way, Along with More Steve Carell Goodness
Filed under: Comedy, Casting, Deals, Remakes and Sequels
This summer's Get Smart reboot, with Steve Carell as Maxwell, was far from brilliant, but sweet Jebus, Carell is funny. His improvised dance with a bewildered-but-willing overweight partygoer is one of this year's comic highlights -- a perfect blend of good-natured mockery and non sequitur. So the official announcement of the inevitable sequel strikes me as a good thing. I doubt they'll ever come up with any sort of finely tuned masterwork, but I figure it's guaranteed to have a bunch of great moments. Big budget comedies are often so dire that "uneven with flashes of inspiration" is music to my ears.Even better, the success of Get Smart has earned Carell a three-year deal with Warner Bros., giving him a chance to develop both starring vehicles and projects for others. It's good to see the right people take off like this, y'know? On the other hand, it's kind of unfair: why do today's teenagers get to inhabit a comedic landscape dominated by the likes of Carell, Judd Apatow, Michael Cera, Seth Rogen, etc., while I got Adam Sandler and Mike Myers? Kids these days, they don't know how good they got it.
I guess I liked Mike Myers back when; I was 13 when the first Austin Powers came out. I still kind of like him. But he's certainly overshadowed by the crop of comics in today's mainstream.
Hathaway and Bonham Carter Join 'Alice in Wonderland'
Filed under: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Casting, Remakes and Sequels
Once word hit that Tim Burton was taking on the world of Alice in Wonderland, two things were so very inevitable. One: Johnny Depp would get a role, and he nabbed a perfect one at that -- Mad Hatter. Two: Helena Bonham Carter would get one as well. I am not sure why it took so long to release the info, but here it is: The Hollywood Reporter posts that Burton's main squeeze will become the Red Queen, the woman who loves to screech "Off with their heads," while Anne Hathaway will balance her radical redness as the benevolent White Queen, who gets deposed and banished.
Taking a cue from the initial images of Mia Wasikowska as Alice, I'm dying to see what Burton does. Johnny and Helena, Michael Sheen, Matt Lucas, and Ms. Hathaway -- it's one of those mixtures that should thrive under the eye of Burton. Now we just need to get Burton to cast Danny Huston as the Chesire Cat. (He's made for that role!)
What do you think of the cast so far? Is it time for Johnny and Helena to not be in a film together, or are these the perfect roles? How about Helena and Anne as sisters? Weigh in below!
Spin-ematical: New on DVD for 10/7
Filed under: Animation, Classics, Comedy, Drama, Foreign Language, Independent, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Noir, New on DVD, Home Entertainment, Cinematical Indie
Above: You Don't Mess with the Zohan, The Happening, Sleeping Beauty
You Don't Mess with the Zohan
Adam Sandler wandering into topical territory, actually making sense, and stll making the funny? I was surprised too! Don't worry, he still packs in plenty of juvenile gags about the outlandish size of his package and drags in every ancient ethnic stereotype possible, but as an Israeli intelligence operative who wants to become a hairdresser, he pulls off the neat trick of creating a completely silly character in a wish-fulfillment scenario that, well, nearly everyone wants to see. Rent it. Available rated (theatrical cut) on a single-disc DVD and unrated in single-disc and double-disc DVD editions. The Blu-ray includes both the rated and unrated versions.
The Happening
Maybe the inclusion of "over 1 hour of intense bonus footage not shown in theaters!" -- extended versions of "Lion Attack" and Survivalist Porch" among them -- will convert me. Maybe I'll watch M. Night Shyamalan's first R-rated horror flick again some day to see if it still makes me roll my eyes and laugh out loud at scenes that were evidently intended to make me shiver in my seat. Maybe one day pigs will fly. Skip it. Available on DVD and Blu-ray with deleted scenes and "making of" features.
Sleeping Beauty
Scott Weinberg has already written about the awesomeness of the new edition of Disney's animated treasure on Blu-ray. This is a classic no-brainer, a movie that both young and old can dip back into time and again. Buy it. Available on DVD and Blu-ray.
After the jump: Indies on DVD, Blu-ray, and Collector's Corner. Join us, won't you?
Fantastic Fest Review: Role Models
Filed under: Comedy, Universal, Theatrical Reviews, Fantastic Fest
Remember Broken Lizard's Beerfest? Whatever you thought of that 2006 comedy, it's difficult to dispute how incredibly astute the filmmakers were with rattling genre expectations in just a single scene. See, the American team's greatest beer guzzler, "Landfill", has passed away under shady circumstances, and right when everyone's ready to throw in the towel, in walks Landfill's identical twin brother, who they knew nothing about but who happens to have been told everything about each of them. Better yet, he's more than willing to even adopt Landfill's name, in an effort to bypass that whole awkward 'getting-to-know-you' stage.
It's every end-of-second-act "what do we do now, coach?" dilemma from an inspirational sports movie mercifully condensed to a couple of rapid-fire beats, and even if the rest of the film otherwise adheres to said sports movie formula, it's nice knowing that audience and actors alike were not going through the paces entirely unaware of how clichéd the entire narrative was.
The Geek Beat: A Lament for the Old School
Cinematical Watches The 'Watchmen'
Spin-ematical: New on DVD for 10/7_thumbnail.jpg)
Exclusive: 'Special' Poster Premiere!
Fan Made: Tasty Life-Size Yoda Cake
_thumbnail.jpg)
_thumbnail.jpg){kind=spacer}
