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Trailer Park: Kings of Pastry, Miral, Amigo
Filed under: Comedy, Documentary, Drama, Foreign Language, Independent, Cinematical Indie, Trailers and Clips
The trailer for Danny Boyle's 127 Hours appears to be working. It won last week's poll with about 40% of the vote, beating out second- and third-place trailers A Horrible Way to Die (19%) and Legendary (14%). Good to see a number of you are also looking forward to the new documentary from Charles Ferguson, Inside Job (8%).
This week's big movie is Machete, which is kind of based on a trailer. What kinds of movies do you advertise ahead of something like that? How about another movie kind of based on a trailer, like Hobo with a Shotgun? It's especially appropriate because both of the original "fake" trailers were included in theatrical releases of Grindhouse -- though Hobo was only part of the Canadian version. I'm just assuming that the Rutger Hauer-starred B-movie about a violent vigilante is attached to the Danny Trejo-starred B-movie about a violent vigilante. Let me know if your cinema missed the opportunity.
As for the rest of the roundup, it's a pretty mixed bag, though there are a lot of international trailers this week, most for films we've already seen domestic spots for. Oddly enough, though, the English-language remake 13 had its first ad drop this week and none of it's in English. Hopefully we'll soon get to see the non-dubbed version, as well as a U.S. release date set for the well-cast thriller.
Find out my favorite trailer of the week -- for a film which interestingly and fittingly opens the same day as Top Chef Just Desserts debuts on TV -- and vote for your top pick in the poll after the jump.
Watch This: Juliette Binoche Says Gérard Depardieu Might Be Jealous of Her
Filed under: Foreign Language, RumorMonger, Celebrities and Controversy, Trailers and Clips
A few days ago, we shared a story about Gérard Depardieu calling Juliette Binoche "nothing" in an Austrian magazine article. It was a pretty out of the blue and uncalled for tirade -- and pretty personal to boot. In the interim, everyone's wondered what Binoche thought of his comments -- and Empire Online caught up with the actress and got her take on the whole debacle.
Anyone hoping Binoche would look into the camera and offer up a hearty "F you!" to Depardieu is bound to be disappointed. The actress takes the high road and comes across as quite lovely and even more sympathetic in her brief response. Ever the promoter, she manages to take the opportunity to tie things back to her new film, Certified Copy, while saying she's not sure what prompted the outburst in the first place.
The actress states that it's Depardieu's right not to like her and speculates that maybe something in her provocative new film offended his masculine sensibilities. She says she felt detached from the comments because even though she bore the brunt of his anger, it seems to have more to do with something going on inside of him. In fact, the only even remotely controversial comment she makes is wondering if it was jealousy on the actor's part that she's had too much success. But even that comes across innocently in light of what Depardieu said about her and in the fact that she doesn't point out she has an Oscar while he doesn't.
If Depardieu is smart this will be the last we hear of this story save for a piece on his subsequent apology -- but I can easily envision another scathing response from him far easier than I can him burying the hatchet. Think Depardieu will settle down now or will this inspire a new outburst? Hit the jump for Binoche's video response.
Interview: 'Mesrine' Star Vincent Cassel
Filed under: Drama, Foreign Language, Thrillers, New Releases, Magnolia, Fandom, New in Theaters, Interviews
I remember the hype surrounding La Haine at the time of its release in the mid-1990s, and I also remember thinking that much of the adulation offered for Mathieu Kassovitz' feature directorial debut was a little excessive. But what I remember most is its star, an oddly handsome young actor who, perhaps not unlike his character in the film, was in the process of defining himself, and for better or worse left an indelible impression. Fifteen years later, Vincent Cassel has become one of the most acclaimed and successful actors in the world; not only did he go one to become one of France's best-known leading men, he has worked the world over in everything from genre films to harrowing dramas to breezy Hollywood thrill rides. And in his latest, the epic, two part true-crime French film Mesrine, he seems to combine all of those experiences into one epic performance that shows him at his most charming and terrifying, intelligent and animalistic, grandiose and understated, but as always, unforgettable.
Cinematical recently sat down with Cassel at the Los Angeles press day for Mesrine, where the actor waxed poetic about playing the on screen version of one of France's most notorious criminals. In addition to discussing the challenges of tackling a role based on a real-life person, Cassel examined his ongoing process as a performer, and reflected on an eclectic career that continues to grow and expand with each new effort.
Legendary Fight Choreographer Yuen Woo-Ping to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award at Fantastic Fest
Filed under: Action, Foreign Language, Fantastic Fest
With each new press release, Fantastic Fest - which is no longer just Austin's premiere genre film festival since it is now the largest of its kind in the entire US - keeps getting better and better. FF have already announced a host of drool-worthy action, horror, sci-fi and just plain oddball films from around the world as part of its programming slate (there are around 30 known titles thus far with even more to come), but the fest isn't just about screenings. No, in true Alamo Drafthouse fashion, it's also about the special events.
So far we've heard about: Fantastic Arcade, a spotlight on indie game developers that will be set up at The Highball, a bar next to the main theater owned and operated by Drafthouse founder Tim League; Nevermore... An Evening With Edgar Allen Poe, a special presentation of Jeffrey Combs' one-man stage play directed by Stuart Gordon; a party featuring the culinary delights of an entire cow cooked Argentinian-style over an open fire by the Drafthouse's executive chef; and Buried with Buried, an event wherein four brave souls will watch the Ryan-Reynolds-Buried-Alive flick while they are themselves are buried alive.
Now joining that already-awesome list of special events will be a ceremony honoring the legendary fight choreographer Yuen Woo-Ping (Drunken Master, Kill Bill, The Matrix, Fist of Legend, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Kung Fu Hustle-- the list goes on). Not only will FF be presenting the man who defined ass kicking for generations with a special Lifetime Achievement Award, but they'll also be world premiering his latest martial arts film, True Legend, as well as a screening of Snake in the Eagle's Shadow (AKA the film that put Jackie Chan on the map).
Hop below to check out the full details.
Fantastic Fest to Play '30 Days of Night' Sequel, 'I Spit On Your Grave' and More
Filed under: Action, Animation, Classics, Comedy, Drama, Foreign Language, Horror, Independent, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Thrillers, Mystery & Suspense, Fantastic Fest, Remakes and Sequels
Cannibals, crooks, vampires, aliens and geeks galore are all lined up to invade Austin for Fantastic Fest next month, and if you think that we harp on this particular film festival a bit, A) you're right and B) it totally deserves every effusive word.We've got the whole list of newly announced titles after the jump, but right off the bat, I can tell you that we're looking at the U.S. premiere of crime drama Stone (starring Robert De Niro, Edward Norton and Milla Jovovich), the world premiere of 30 Days of Night: Dark Days, North American premieres of Hatchet 2 (which just received a warm reception at Frightfest over in the U.K.) and Ong-Bak 3 (just please have less dancing than 2), and a double bill of a restored print of 1960's The Housemaid and its recent remake.
All of this on top of Opening Night Film Let Me In and a slew of super-secret screenings in the mix? You bet your ass that we're gonna be there covering it from September 23-30.
Gerard Depardieu Thinks Juliette Binoche is "Nothing"
Filed under: Foreign Language, RumorMonger, Celebrities and Controversy
Gerard Depardieu is at it again -- channeling his inner Serge Gainsbourg and being outrageous. The actor, never one to bite his tongue, usually saves his outbursts for politicians, but he turned on his colleagues in a recent interview with the Austrian mag Profil.The most shocking comments were reserved for fellow star Juliette Binoche. The actress -- who's won an Oscar, a Best Actress award at this year's Cannes Film Festival for her work in Abbas Kiarostami's Certified Copy, and critical acclaim -- apparently doesn't impress Depardieu. During his interview, the actor went off on a tirade highlighted by the following question:
"Please can you explain to me what the secret of this actress is meant to be? I would really like to know why she has been so esteemed for so many years. She has nothing. Absolutely nothing!"
Cinematical Late Night: Albert Brooks, William Hurt, Rogue Moon
Filed under: Foreign Language, Independent, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Casting, DIY/Filmmaking, Home Entertainment, HBO Films, Images, Cinematical Indie, Trailers and Clips
- That's an image of Mads Mikkelson (Casino Royale) as Rochefort in Paul WS Anderson's upcoming 3D version of The Three Musketeers. See other location stills, including one of Logan Lerman as D'Artigan at ComingSoon.net.
- I don't know why so many people are stunned that Albert Brooks would be cast as the villain in Nicolas Winding Refn's next film, Drive, which also stars Carey Mulligan, Ryan Gosling and Bryan Cranston. Brooks is quite a bad guy in Out of Sight, a sort of bad guy on Weeds and he voices the villain in The Simpsons Movie. Sure, I couldn't see him as the main villain of a Bond movie, but I also have never really considered him much of a good guy in anything, either.
Cinematical Late Night: 'Biutiful,' 'Footloose,' Honorary Oscars
Filed under: Foreign Language, Independent, Awards, Casting, Images, Cinematical Indie, Trailers and Clips
- People are going crazy for these character posters for Never Let Me Go. I say meh. At least two of them fit nicely as a header image. You can see the Andrew Garfield one over here, along with larger versions.
- Jean-Luc Godard is finally getting an Oscar. If he wants it, which he might not. The Academy is honoring him and the shockingly never-nominated actor Eli Wallach, as well as film historian and preservationist Kevin Brownlow, with honorary Oscars this November. This year's Irving G. Thalberg award will go to Francis Ford Coppola for his producing work through American Zoetrope. It's a shame these honors aren't presented at the Academy Awards anymore, as this would be a good crop for the telecast, though Godard would not likely show up. And not just because he can't be found to even be informed of the honor.
- Have you been dying to see Biutiful, the new film from Babel director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu featuring Javier Bardem in a Cannes-honored performance? Finally someone has picked it up for U.S. distribution. Specifically Roadside Attractions and Liddell Entertainment. Hopefully it'll find its way into theaters this fall so Bardem can contend for the Oscar.
Cinematical Seven: Indies That Might've Slipped Under Your Radar
Filed under: Action, Animation, Comedy, Documentary, Foreign Language, Horror, Noir, Mystery & Suspense, IFC, Magnolia, Sony Classics, Cinematical Seven, Remakes and Sequels
After I pitched my Cinematical Seven about films that might've slipped under the radar so far this year -- to tie in with today's DVD/Blu-ray release of The Square, an Aussie noir that I really dug at SXSW '09 -- I grew a little worried that David Ehrlich's list of "The 5 Best Films You've (Probably) Missed This Year" would beat me to the punch. However, only his pick of the wonderfully off-kilter Dogtooth overlapped with my own selections, so without any further ado, here's seven (more) movies to keep an eye out for.
1. The Good, The Bad, The Weird (now on DVD/Blu-ray) - As I wrote elsewhere... "From the trio of spot-on lead performances to the prevalence of practical stunts, from the relentlessly lush color scheme and period details to the often sweeping cinematography, not to mention the constantly energetic soundtrack, every last aspect is dedicated to making the most of this heady showcase of glorious excess, the bastard child of The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly and Kung Fu Hustle."
Almodovar's Creepy New Fetish Flick to Come Minus Penelope Cruz
Filed under: Drama, Foreign Language, Horror, Independent, Newsstand
As Monika first reported in May, Pedro Almodóvar's next movie is The Skin I'm In, a horror movie that begins shooting today which Almodóvar said will be "the harshest film I've ever written." The official casting list has been revealed, and surprisingly, his modern muse Penelope Cruz is nowhere to be found. The Skin I'm In does reunite the director with Antonio Banderas, the star of Almodóvar's edgy Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!, which made novel use of a wind-up bath toy, but his female costar will be Elena Anaya, who was in Talk to Her. The Skin I'm In is based on the novel Tarantula by Thierry Jonquet, and while I'm sure some changes were made in its adaptation for the big screen, its description on Amazon.co.uk, is certainly worth noting. It's slightly different than the shorter description on Amazon, which gives away all the goods. The main characters are a plastic surgeon who has an operating room in his basement and keeps his wife Eve locked up in their bedroom, a killer on the loose, and a kidnapper who tortures his prey in cruel and novel ways.
Why You're Not a "Moron" If You Enjoyed 'Machete'
Can a Sex-Free Movie Like 'Twilight' Sell Sex?
Trailers and Clips: Buried, Due Date, and Let Me In
James McAvoy and Tom Cruise Consider Trip to 'Mountains of Madness'
How Important is a Film Title to International Audiences?
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