Cinematicalhttp://www.cinematical.comCinematicalhttp://www.cinematical.com/media/feedlogo.gifCinematicalhttp://www.cinematical.comen-usCopyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only.Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Interview: Joseph Gordon-Levitt on 'Uncertainty', 'Inception' and His Favorite Movieshttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/13/joseph-gordon-levitt-interview/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/13/joseph-gordon-levitt-interview/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/13/joseph-gordon-levitt-interview/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Lynn Collins and Josephn Gordon-Levitt in Uncertainty


Whether as a fast-talking high schooler in a film noir (Brick) or a disfigured soldier in a big budget blockbuster (G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra), Joseph Gordon-Levitt has proven himself to be one of the most talented young actors. His new movie, Uncertainty, takes the viewer on a journey into two different worlds, where a flip of a coin takes a young couple (Gordon-Levitt and Lynn Collins) into an innocuous visit to her family and decisions about their future and another takes them into a strange criminal underworld where everyone is after a cell phone they found in a cab. Directed by David Siegel and Scott McGehee, Uncertainty was filmed on the fly with hand-held cameras in S16m and HD as the couple race towards their different futures. In this interview, we discuss the freedom of improvising within a structured world, his favorite movies, and what he can't say about G.I. Joe sequels or Christopher Nolan's Inception.

Cinematical: Can you discuss the beginning of the movie a bit? I was confused if it was symbolic or literal or what.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt: What do you think was happening?

Cinematical: Well, I went back and I watched it again and wasn't sure.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt: I don't want to be evasive or anything... You know, it's the kind of movie that's meant to stimulate a conversation or provoke your own creative thoughts about it, so I hesitate to say, "Well, what it means is blah blah blah." First of all, because it means something different to everybody. And second of all, I would never want anybody to say, "Well, I read an interview where the actor said that it means blah blah blah, so it means that and it doesn't mean anything else. 'Cause to me that's the beauty of movies, is that it can mean really whatever you want. The act of watching a movie, I think, is a creative act; it's not just input. All of us, as audience members, we're telling the story the way that we see it.

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]]>Christopher NolanChristopherNolanG.I. JoeG.I. Joe The Rise of CobraG.i.JoeG.i.JoeTheRiseOfCobrainceptioninterviewJoseph Gordon-LevittJosephGordon-levittlynn collinsLynnCollinsuncertaintyJenni MillerFri, 13 Nov 2009 12:45:00 ESTKristen Stewart Goes Southern in 'The Yellow Handkerchief'http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/12/kristen-stewart-the-yellow-handkerchief/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/12/kristen-stewart-the-yellow-handkerchief/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/12/kristen-stewart-the-yellow-handkerchief/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


She's about to open the second-biggest film of her career, so what better timing than now to point you to a new peek at Kristen Stewart's next non-Twilight film? Check out the new trailer for The Yellow Handkerchief, a Sundance entry that follows three strangers in post-Katrina Louisiana - Martine (Stewart), Gordy (Eddie Redmayne), and Brett (William Hurt) -- as they search together for life, love, and the perfect Southern accent.

Ok, so it seems the Southern slangin' is done primarily by Stewart, while Brit Redmayne goes American and Hurt rocks the ex-con handlebar mustache. As they embark on a road trip together, the two teens listen to Brett's tale of the woman who got away (Maria Bello) while they navigate the murky waters of young love. (Read Erik Davis's Sundance review here.)

Watch the trailer after the jump.

Continue reading Kristen Stewart Goes Southern in 'The Yellow Handkerchief'

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]]>Eddie RedmayneEddieRedmaynekristen stewartKristenStewartMaria BelloMariaBelloWilliam HurtWilliamHurtYellow HandkerchiefYellowHandkerchiefJen YamatoThu, 12 Nov 2009 16:32:00 EST'Make-Out with Violence' For Free in L.A.!http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/12/make-out-with-violence-for-free-in-l-a/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/12/make-out-with-violence-for-free-in-l-a/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/12/make-out-with-violence-for-free-in-l-a/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,


Indie movie lovers of the greater Los Angeles area, take note of a wonderful gem from this year's SXSW festival that's coming your way. Make-Out with Violence is an angsty teenage zombie horror comedy that I caught last year at the Oxford Film Festival, and tonight - November 12 - it screens in Los Angeles. For free!

Ok, technically it's screening in Alhambra. But this one-night only engagement will likely be your only chance to see the underappreciated indie film that our own Scott Weinberg called "pretty damn good" - and if I may add my own endorsement, Make-Out with Violence is original and gorgeously shot, a great alternative to mainstream (i.e. made with way more money) films about either teenage life or zombies. The best part? Make-Out with Violence is about both of those things. (It's also got the most attractive zombie hottie of the year, with apologies to Zombieland's Amber Heard.)

Continue reading 'Make-Out with Violence' For Free in L.A.!

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]]>Deagol BrothersDeagolBrothersMake-Out with ViolenceMake-outWithViolenceJen YamatoThu, 12 Nov 2009 09:48:00 ESTDiscuss: What Will Everyone Else Think About 'Precious'?http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/11/precious-movie-debate/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/11/precious-movie-debate/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/11/precious-movie-debate/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Oprah is pushing both Precious and the book it's based on, Push by Sapphire, on her show, and I'm seriously curious to know what her audience will think about it. How many people will be able to watch a film told from the point of view of an illiterate high schooler who is raped by her father, physically (and, in the book, sexually) abused by her mother, hates herself for not being white, has given birth to one child with Down's Syndrome who's nicknamed Mongo (short for Mongoloid), and is pregnant for a second time with her father's child?

Let's assume that Oprah's reach is strong enough and far enough to get her demographic to plunk down their eight to 12 dollars to see Precious - the Oprah Effect in full effect. (You can find out where and when Precious is playing near you on the official movie website.)

I'm not talking about critics and journalists or the people in big cities who like to participate in a friendly Oscar pool or want to be up on what was in the New York Times. They're already seeing the movie in droves; it made $1.8M in limited release its opening weekend. The latest numbers I could find on her demographic are from 2007, back when people were wondering if Oprah could help get a president elected. (Answer: Yes, she can.)

According to Nielsen via MSNBC, "Oprah's audience is predominantly female, white, and over the age of 55. Nationally 7.4 million people watch Oprah daily -- about 2.6% of American households. Four percent of American women (about 5.7 million) watch her daily, compared with 1.2% of men (1.7 million people). Overall, 2% of all 18- to 49-year-olds watch Oprah."

Continue reading Discuss: What Will Everyone Else Think About 'Precious'?

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]]>Gabourey SidibeGaboureySidibelee danielsLeeDanielsmariah careyMariahCareymarketingmoniqueoprahoscarPaula PattonPaulaPattonpreciousPrecious:BasedOnTheNovelPushBySapphirepushtyler perryTylerPerryJenni MillerWed, 11 Nov 2009 22:18:00 ESTIndie Roundup: Swanberg Sex, Veterans Day Docshttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/11/indie-roundup-swanberg-sex-veterans-day-docs/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/11/indie-roundup-swanberg-sex-veterans-day-docs/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/11/indie-roundup-swanberg-sex-veterans-day-docs/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Cinematical's Indie Roundup

Indie Roundup is your guide to what's new and cool in the indie film world.

On-Demand / Online Viewing. Love him or find him irritating, he's practically a category unto himself now. Joe Swanberg continues to explore the endlessly fascinating topic of twenty-something romantic relationships in Young American Bodies, a web series now on IFC.com. Season 4 debuted on Monday at IFC.com, and future episodes of the five-part series will premiere on a weekly basis. If you're a Swanberg fan, you'll want to check it out: it expands on his vision of sex and everything that leads up to it and follows afterward: elusive, kinda real, kinda fake, pretty messy.

In honor of Veterans Day, SnagFilms presents a selection of films appropriate for the occasion, covering a national shrine in Arlington: Field of Honor, dangerous missions in Baghdad Bound: Devil Dog Diaries, remembering the Battle for Midway, and so one. Truly, there's something for everyone to discover among the documentaries showcases. Similarly, Hulu has two films of interest: Jerabek, the tragic story of U.S. Marine Ryan Jerabek, and When I Came Home, which covers the troubling issue of homelessness among veterans.

Also newly available online: the enchanting "banjo player goes to Africa" doc Bela Fleck: Throw Down Your Heart (on iTunes) and a close-up (sorry) view of artist Chuck Close (also on iTunes).

Deals. As always, our friends at indieWIRE has been tracking recent acquisitions. The latest: romance My Year Without Sex (Strand Releasing, due spring 2010); drama The Good Heart, with Brian Cox and Paul Dano, directed by the very talented Dagur Kari (Magnolia Pictures, due next year); and social satire The Joneses, with David Duchovny and Demi Moore (Roadside Attractions, due spring 2010).

After the jump: more than Precious at the box office.

Continue reading Indie Roundup: Swanberg Sex, Veterans Day Docs

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]]>bela fleck throw down your heartBelaFleckThrowDownYourHeartchuck closeChuckClosejerabekjoe swanbergJoeSwanbergmy year without sexMyYearWithoutSexthe good heartthe jonesesTheGoodHeartTheJoneseswhen i came homeWhenICameHomeyoung american bodiesYoungAmericanBodiesPeter MartinWed, 11 Nov 2009 18:02:00 ESTExclusive: 'Wonderful World' Posterhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/11/wonderful-world-movie-poster/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/11/wonderful-world-movie-poster/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/11/wonderful-world-movie-poster/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Click on the image below to view full poster

Cinematical has just received the official poster for Matthew Broderick's sharpie-smiled Wonderful World. It's been a good two years since the actor signed on to the project, which was then simply described as a movie that "centers on a depressed, divorced, and unemployed father who finds solace in his Senegalese roommate's sister." That now sounds as telling of the story as saying The Lord of the Rings is about a journey to play a fiery game of ring toss.

The directorial debut of writer Joshua Goldin, this feature also marks a reunion with Broderick, who starred in his 1992 script, Out on a Limb. But this flick sounds like it will be even further out on that limb, making Broderick's stint in Election sound like your Average Joe kinda day:

"A pessimistic pothead struggles with his own cynicism after his Senegalese roommate is stricken ill and an insensitive municipal employee inadvertently exacerbates an already desperate situation. Ben Singer (Matthew Broderick) wanted to be a children's folk singer; instead he's become a career proofreader and the world's worst weekend dad. But while Ben's life may be a mess, at least his regular chess games with his roommate Ibou offer some amount of intellectual release. That all changes with Ibou falls mysteriously ill, and his malady is compounded by the indifference of a rude municipal employee. Convinced that his negative worldview has finally been confirmed, Ben channels all of his energy into a frivolous lawsuit against the city before discovering that his misanthropy may be a simple matter of perspective."

Chess, folk singing, Senegalese roomies, proofreading ... I'm getting the funny feeling that there's a lot going on behind that piece of yellow-lined paper, and I'm dying to see it. In one of those VOD-before-theater marketing pushes, Magnolia's Wonderful World will be available on VOD starting December 4, and then have a stint in theaters in the New Year, on January 8.

Check out the full poster in the gallery below.

Gallery: Wonderful World Poster

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]]>CinematicalJoshua GoldinJoshuaGoldinMatthew BroderickMatthewBroderickWonderful WorldWonderfulWorldMonika BartyzelWed, 11 Nov 2009 11:15:00 ESTSee A Little 'Kick-Ass' In This Teaser Trailerhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/11/see-a-little-kick-ass-in-this-teaser-trailer/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/11/see-a-little-kick-ass-in-this-teaser-trailer/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/11/see-a-little-kick-ass-in-this-teaser-trailer/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


The teaser trailer for Kick-Ass has arrived! Having been subjected to so much hype by everyone luckier than me at ComicCon, it's a bit of a let down because there's just not much ass-kicking going on. It's basically an animated version of the poster, introducing you to the characters while showing a little more blood and smacks. But hey, this is just the beginning and I don't expect them to spill all the cool stuff in the first glimpse.

I do like what I see, though. On the surface it looks like a teenage Watchmen but with a lot of emphasis on how fun it is to be a vigilante. There's no awkward geek humor on display. The characters are young comic book fans, but we aren't subjected to any "Ow, it hurts to be an action hero" moments. Instead, it's all about the action and potential for violence. Kick-Ass is confident! He doesn't shirk from being a superhero. In his mind, he's as worthy as Batman, and he's able to take the pain and punches. I like that, and I expected no less from Matthew Vaughn. My favorite remains Hit Girl, though. Her costume is practical, there's nothing creepy or sexual about her (so far), and her knife-flinging is lethal. Plus, she does appear to have Nite Owl's greatest fan as her father. The resemblance goes further than just the poster, and I want to believe we'll leave this theater saying "This makes up for Bangkok Dangerous, Mr. Cage."

The trailer is embedded below the jump, courtesy of MySpace. Kick-Ass hits theaters April 16, 2010.

Continue reading See A Little 'Kick-Ass' In This Teaser Trailer

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]]>ChloeMoretzchristopher mintz-plasseChristopherMintz-plassefeaturedKick-AssKick-Ass teaser trailerKick-assTeaserTrailerLionsgateMark MillarMarkMillarMatthew VaughnMatthewVaughnNicolas CageNicolasCageElisabeth RappeWed, 11 Nov 2009 09:03:00 EST'Kick-Ass' Is Coming! Get Ready!http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/09/kick-ass-is-coming-get-ready/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/09/kick-ass-is-coming-get-ready/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/09/kick-ass-is-coming-get-ready/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


Exclusives have become tricky things in our field that I held off sharing these Kick-Ass posters, which debuted on IGN on Friday. But now you might need some inspiration for your Monday in the form of home made teenage vigilantes. Kick-Ass is based on the Mark Millar miniseries, and is directed by Matthew Vaughn. It's had a pretty crazy ride to the big-screen, as when it was first optioned no studio wanted to touch it because of its teenage violence and foul language. Vaughn went the indie route and it's paid off with a lot of ComicCon buzz, fan enthusiasm, and a distributor in Lionsgate.

So far, Lionsgate is handling the marketing well. The poster designs are quite classy (I've put a high-res version in the gallery), which go with the daring approach of not showing a single face. Instead we only get the, ahem, asses of Red Mist, Kick-Ass, Hit Girl, and Big Daddy. I particularly like the nod to Nite Owl in Big Daddy's silhouette. Very appropriate for something that borrows from the real world "heroes" of Watchmen, no?

In a sign that its April 16, 2010 date isn't too far away, the official site went live on Friday and the trailer is set to debut on MySpace in 12 days. We'll bring it to you here on Cinematical, so no need for you to stress ... just us! Hey, we're vigilantes in our own way.

Gallery: Kick-Ass

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]]>Chloe MoretzChloeMoretzchristopher mintz-plasseChristopherMintz-plasseKick AssKickAssLionsgate FilmsLionsgateEntertainmentLionsgateFilmsMark MillarMarkMillarMatthew VaughnMatthewVaughnNicolas CageNicolasCageElisabeth RappeMon, 09 Nov 2009 10:32:00 ESTIs Pakistan's Film Industry Dying?http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/08/is-pakistans-film-industry-dying/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/08/is-pakistans-film-industry-dying/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/08/is-pakistans-film-industry-dying/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Left to right: Hand painted movie poster, Peshawar, Pakistan, 2006 (photo by Jim Henry); The Odeon Cinema, Lahore, Pakistan, 2009 (photo by Rahat Ali Dar for Los Angeles Times).

You've heard of Bollywood, Nollywood, and even Dollywood, but what about Lollywood? Based in Lahore, the second-largest city in Pakistan (and home to the U.S. Consulate), Lollywood produced more than 100 movies annually back in the 70s and 80s. Today, however, "Pakistani cinema has all but vanished," writes Alex Rodriguez in Los Angeles Times. Reportedly, the number of movie theaters in the country has declined from 1,100 in 1985 to just 120 today, and local film production has shrunk to fewer than a dozen movies each year. It's gotten so bad, the theater pictured above has been playing the same movie for three years. The same movie, and evidently not by popular demand!

Most of the usual suspects are blamed, with one that is unique to the country: "VCR, cable television, President Muhammad Zia ul-Haq's Islamization of Pakistani society, and finally DVD piracy." (Emphasis added.) While film industries have weathered changes in viewing habits, it appears that government edicts played a big role in the collapse of the industry: "Many cinemas were shut down, the rest were heavily taxed. New laws that required producers to have college degrees thinned the ranks of movie makers. The message Zia ul-Haq's government was sending to society was clear, [theater owner Jahanzaib] Baig says: 'We were being told that filmmaking was a vulgar and bad business to be in.'"

Continue reading Is Pakistan's Film Industry Dying?

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]]>lahorelollywoodpakistan film industryPakistanFilmIndustrypakistani independent filmsPakistaniIndependentFilmsPeter MartinSun, 08 Nov 2009 09:02:00 ESTRobert Pattinson Talks 'Breaking Dawn' & 'Unbound Captives'http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/07/robert-pattinson-talks-breaking-dawn-and-unbound-captives/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/07/robert-pattinson-talks-breaking-dawn-and-unbound-captives/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/07/robert-pattinson-talks-breaking-dawn-and-unbound-captives/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Good news, Twilight fans. You have the first official news for the fourth Twilight installment, courtesy of our own Jen Yamato, FearNet and the New Moon junket.* The magically-coiffed Robert Pattinson has confirmed that Breaking Dawn will begin filming in Fall 2010, and that it's penciled into his schedule for next year.

Of course, Dawn remains unconfirmed by Summit. The most controversial installment of the Twilight series, rumors swirl that the studio is hesitant to take it to the big screen. If it is made, it seems likely that it could be split into two films a'la Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Personally, I don't see Summit risking the money they'd make on #4, and they'll find a way to steer around the gorier aspects of the book. But now you know when to look for it, though you still have the madness of Eclipse pre-production to get through.

Pattinson also dished on the movie I want to mark on my calender (Sorry, I dig boots and spurs more than vampires), a Western called Unbound Captives. The directorial debut of Madeleine Stowe, it stars Hugh Jackman, Rachel Weisz, and Pattinson. The young heartthrob revealed that it's tenatively scheduled to begin shooting in early 2010, and he sounds enthusiastic for a role that'll be miles away from Edward Cullen. "I'm playing a kid who is kidnapped by Comanches when he was four years old, and he is brought up by them. His mother spends her entire life trying to find me and my sister. When she finds us, we can't remember who she is and can't remember anything about the Western culture she grew up in. I speak Comanche the whole movie. You can't really speak more differently from Edward."

[Special thanks also goes to Collider who apparently pried the Breaking Dawn date out of Mr. Pattinson]

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]]>Breaking DawnBreakingDawnfeaturedhugh jackmanHughJackmanmadeleine stoweMadeleineStoweNew MoonNewMoonrachel weiszRachelWeiszrobert pattinsonRobertPattinsonSummit EntertainmentSummitEntertainmentThe Twilight SagaThe Twilight Saga Breaking Dawnthe twilight saga: new moonTheTwilightSagaTheTwilightSaga:NewMoonTheTwilightSagaBreakingDawntwilightunbound captivesUnboundCaptivesElisabeth RappeSat, 07 Nov 2009 00:50:00 ESTGwyneth Paltrow Joins Nicole Kidman in 'The Danish Girl'http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/06/gwyneth-paltrow-nicole-kidman-the-danish-girl/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/06/gwyneth-paltrow-nicole-kidman-the-danish-girl/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/06/gwyneth-paltrow-nicole-kidman-the-danish-girl/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The upcoming The Danish Girl is one of those independent, edgy films that has all the right elements for something brilliant, but it's subject matter is so tricky that it could end up becoming a farce. Based on David Ebershoff's novel, The Danish Girl is the story of the world's first post-operative transsexual, Einar Wegener, and his wife, Greta. Tomas Alfredson is set to direct, Nicole Kidman has long been attached to play Einar, and Variety reports that Gwyneth Paltrow has stepped in to play Greta. She's stepping in for Charlize Theron, who originally held the role, but has dropped out for unspecified reasons.

The story takes place in 1920s Denmark. Greta* was a portrait painter, and needed a model. She asked Einar to step into a dress, stockings, and heels, and created some kind of awakening in Einar. In women's clothes, her husband became an outrageous character named Lili. The paintings of Lili became extremely popular, few realizing a man had stood in for them. Lili than took on a public life of her own, and Greta often introduced Lili as her sister. Eventually, Einar / Lili decided to commit to gender reassignment surgery, a dangerous and experimental procedure at the time. Greta stood beside her husband until his transformation was complete, and then their marriage was declared null and void by the King of Denmark.

Continue reading Gwyneth Paltrow Joins Nicole Kidman in 'The Danish Girl'

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]]>charlize theronCharlizeTheronDavid EbershoffDavidEbershoffEinar WegenerEinarWegenerfeaturedGerda WegenerGerdaWegenerGreta WegenerGretaWegenerGwyneth PaltrowGwynethPaltrowLili WegenerLiliWegenerNicole KidmanNicoleKidmanthe danish girlTheDanishGirlTomas AlfredsonTomasAlfredsonElisabeth RappeFri, 06 Nov 2009 18:15:00 ESTReview: Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphirehttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/06/precious-based-on-the-novel-push-by-sapphire-review/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/06/precious-based-on-the-novel-push-by-sapphire-review/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/06/precious-based-on-the-novel-push-by-sapphire-review/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



By Eric D. Snider (reprint from 1/19/09 -- Sundance Film Festival)

The premise of Precious is so unsettling and bleak that no one would blame you if you didn't want to see it: It's the story of an obese 16-year-old illiterate Harlem girl who's pregnant (for the second time) by her own father, lives with her monstrously abusive mother, and has almost given up on life. But if you do see it, you'll find that it's compelling and artistic, punctuated with warm humor and masterful performances, and ultimately triumphant and hopeful.

The girl is named Claireece "Precious" Jones (she goes by Precious), and she's played with astonishing rawness by newcomer Gabourey Sidibe. Narrating the film, Precious tells us the grim facts. Beyond the ones already noted, she is still in junior high school (where she's dumbly in love with her kindly math teacher); her first child, born with Down syndrome, is technically in her mother's custody but is actually cared for by her grandmother; and her mother, Mary (Mo'Nique), is a welfare-absorbing harridan who abuses Precious in every possible way, hating her daughter for "stealing" her man. Precious did no such thing, of course -- she was raped by her father -- but Mary is not interested in details.

Precious is directed by her principal to an alternative school called Each One Teach One. Her class is populated by other girls who dropped out or were kicked out of public schools for various reasons; it's telling that even in such a motley group, Precious is still the most timid, the most withdrawn, and the most messed-up. The teacher, Ms. Rain (Paula Patton), is dedicated to her work, perhaps the first adult to ever take a genuine interest in helping Precious. The other students might be Precious' first friends, too.

Continue reading Review: Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire

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]]>precious: based on the novel push by sapphirePrecious:BasedOnTheNovelPushBySapphirereviewCinematical staffFri, 06 Nov 2009 16:48:00 ESTDanny Boyle Knows Where He'll Spend '127 Hours'http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/05/danny-boyle-knows-where-hell-spend-127-hours/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/05/danny-boyle-knows-where-hell-spend-127-hours/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/05/danny-boyle-knows-where-hell-spend-127-hours/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

After a year of speculation (Will it be James Bond? Will it be Maximum City? Trainspotting 2?), Danny Boyle has finally settled on his next project. Variety reports that it will be 127 Hours, the tale of mountain climber Aron Ralston. Boyle has been loosely attached to the project since June when the LA Times reported that Boyle and Fox Searchlight had signed a long term, best friends forever deal. Boyle has already penned a treatment, and Simon Beaufoy is in talks to write the script.

In this age of flashmob media stories, you might have forgotten the tale of Ralston. Like your humble authoress and Balloon Boy, Ralston hails from Colorado. He became famous for a Utah climbing accident in 2003, when an 800 lb boulder shifted and crushed his hand. Ralston was forced to choose between life and limb, and in a stomach-turning story heard around the world, he amputated his own hand with a pocketknife. In the media frenzy that followed, Ralston was hailed as a hero and as an idiot, because he had chosen to go climbing alone and without notifying anyone. It was particularly intense locally, and I still remember the heroism debate Ralston sparked in my American Culture class. (It even inspired one student's final project!) Since those heady days of early fame, Ralston has enjoyed success with his autobiography, continues to climb, and is a motivational speaker.

The director is already on the casting hunt for the part of Ralston, which Variety declares will be "a plum job" because it will force an actor to work solo for most of the shoot. Below the jump, I've embedded a video of Ralston describing his amputation. Watch it to prepare for two hours of unflinching detail, and sound off on who you think should be lucky enough to act out a very painful 127 Hours.




Continue reading Danny Boyle Knows Where He'll Spend '127 Hours'

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]]>127 Hours127HoursAron RalstonAronRalstonDanny BoyleDannyBoylefeaturedFox SearchlightFoxSearchlightSimon BeaufoySimonBeaufoyElisabeth RappeThu, 05 Nov 2009 10:33:00 ESTWhat's the State of Fox Searchlight?http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/04/whats-the-state-of-fox-searchlight/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/04/whats-the-state-of-fox-searchlight/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/04/whats-the-state-of-fox-searchlight/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

In the 2007 awards season, Fox Searchlight had two strong films in the mix with Juno and The Savages, and then in 2008, they dominated with Slumdog Millionaire and The Wrestler. As many other indie arms were folding (Paramount Vantage, Warner Independent, Picturehouse), Searchlight managed to keep things up on their end.

2009, however, hasn't been so kind to them. January's Notorious didn't do bad actually, though March's Miss March was indeed D.O.A. June's My Life in Ruins similarly underperformed, while July's Adam failed to catch on as that same month's (500) Days of Summer had. Post Grad was dumped in the doldrums of August, while Whip It failed to find a crowd in October.

Cut to now: Amelia has been effectively neutered as a ready-made Oscar contender, while Gentlemen Broncos (from the director of Napoleon Dynamite, which did particularly well for the same studio) is being pulled from wider release after this weekend after posting modest numbers on two screens and earning savage reviews for the most part.

With Miramax also facing tough times, it's a shame to see studios like these have an off-year, though there's time for a turn-around yet so far as Searchlight is concerned. Summer's summer release means the timing could work out to earn a push for Original Screenplay as a happy-go-lucky alternate to many dour contenders. This month's similarly light Fantastic Mr. Fox is an Animated Feature candidate at the very least, and -- according to THR -- the Jeff Bridges drama Crazy Heart is getting a last-minute test run of sorts at the moment to see if it can merit a move to be positioned for this year's race instead of next year's.

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]]>500 days of summer500DaysOfSummerameliaamelia earhartAmeliaEarhartcrazy heartCrazyHeartfantastic mr. foxFantasticMr.Foxfox searchlightFoxSearchlightgentlemen broncosGentlemenBroncosjeff bridgesJeffBridgesnapoleon dynamiteNapoleonDynamiteWilliam GossWed, 04 Nov 2009 22:02:00 ESTSundance U.S.A.: The Festival Comes to Youhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/04/sundance-u-s-a-the-festival-comes-to-you/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/04/sundance-u-s-a-the-festival-comes-to-you/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/04/sundance-u-s-a-the-festival-comes-to-you/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

If you can't make it to Park City, Utah, in January for the Sundance Film Festival, don't worry -- Sundance will come to you! Sort of! If you live in one of eight specific cities! Still, it's a good start, and a pretty nifty idea.

They're calling it Sundance Film Festival U.S.A., and it will work like this. On Jan. 28, while the festival is taking place in Utah, eight filmmakers from the fest will travel to theaters around the country to show their movies to local audiences, followed by the customary Q&A. For the local audiences, it will be a decent approximation of what a real Sundance screening is like, minus the insane crowds and absence of parking. Several of the chosen cities are even in snowy climes, so you won't have to miss out on that aspect of Sundance attendance. If you're lucky, for the full effect, maybe you'll even run into a journalist complaining about the weather.

The selected theaters are: Michigan Theater, Ann Arbor, Mich.; Coolidge Corner Theatre, Brookline, Mass.; BAM, Brooklyn, N.Y.; Music Box Theatre, Chicago; Downtown Independent, Los Angeles; Sundance Cinemas, Madison, Wisc.; Belcourt Theatre, Nashville; and Sundance Kabuki Cinemas, San Francisco. Tickets will be sold through the individual theaters. Each location will get a different film, and we won't know what those films are until after the festival announces its programming in December.

Dispatching filmmakers to appear with their movies live and in person is a cool innovation, and a good way to spread the Sundance vibe beyond the confines of Park City. But it makes me wonder if the next logical step is to simply beam the films via satellite to theaters around the country, the way they do with concerts and special events. As big as Sundance is getting, and as small as Park City is staying, I'm glad to see the festival expanding its reach any way it can.

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]]>featuredsundancesundance film festival usaSundanceFilmFestivalUsaEric D. SniderWed, 04 Nov 2009 14:27:00 ESTScheherazade Takes a Backseat in 3D 'Arabian Nights'http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/04/scheherazade-takes-a-backseat-in-3d-arabian-nights/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/04/scheherazade-takes-a-backseat-in-3d-arabian-nights/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/04/scheherazade-takes-a-backseat-in-3d-arabian-nights/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Are sandstorms and magic lamps going to become the next swashbuckling trend? I think it's possible. Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time lurks on the horizon (and is receiving a very mixed reception) and now Variety reports that Scheherazade and her thousand and one tales are about to get a 3D makeover. Chuck Russell is set to direct a reworking of 1001 Arabian Nights from a script he co-wrote with Barry P. Ambrose. It's not clear whether this will be live action 3D or animation, but I'm guessing live action due to the emphasis on "action adventure" in the trade article.

In Russell's Arabian Nights, Scheherazade will become a damsel in distress instead of a brainy, tale-spinning bluestocking.Apparently it's a young commander who is the hero, as he joins forces with Sinbad, Aladdin, and his genie to rescue Scheherazade and her kingdom from unspecified dark forces. I see shades of Russell's The Scorpion King.

Now, I like the idea of adapting Middle Eastern tales. It's good for kids to be exposed to world cultures, and to encounter other races and religions even if it's through animation. But there are a thousand tales worth telling that are undoubtedly more exciting and interesting than something cobbled together out of the most recognizable characters. As a kid, I was always very taken with The Sisters Who Envied Their Younger Sister because it was full of magic objects and starred a princess who took matters into her own hands. But Russell's deserts are where girls aren't muscle-bound enough for adventure, though I'm sure we'll see a very scantily clad Scheherazade in 3D. Maybe 3D skin is the next trend, not Middle Eastern settings ...

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]]>1001 Arabian Nights1001ArabianNightsArabian NightsArabianNightsBarry P. AmbroseBarryP.AmbroseChuck RussellChuckRussellScheherazadeElisabeth RappeWed, 04 Nov 2009 14:18:00 ESTFree Flick of the Day: Salome's Last Dancehttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/03/free-flick-of-the-day-salomes-last-dance/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/03/free-flick-of-the-day-salomes-last-dance/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/03/free-flick-of-the-day-salomes-last-dance/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Amazon sellers are selling copies of Ken Russell's Salome's Last Dance on DVD for a minimum of $214.89. It's not on Netflix. However, if you're in the mood for the kind of bizarrely decadent films that only writer/director Ken Russell (Gothic, The Lair of the White Worm) can serve up, it's high time you headed over to this hard-to-find Oscar Wilde adaptation for free over at SlashControl.

In Salome's Last Dance, Russell plays around with Oscar Wilde's banned play Salome, adding a bit of meta-goodness to the whole shebang by making the film about Oscar Wilde (Nickolas Grace) and his lover Lord Alfred Douglas (Douglas Hodge) watching a performance of the famous play in a brothel. The actors are all employees or patrons. And it's no accident that this is also Guy Fawkes Day.

Alfred Taylor, the brothel-owner played by Stratford Johns, announces, "Guy Fawkes wanted to strike a spark for freedom and blow up a Parliament he considered oppressive; you have done the same with your play, Salome... In defiance of the law and in honor of our greatest playwright, the premiere of Salome will take place here tonight, the 5th of November, 1892."

Continue reading Free Flick of the Day: Salome's Last Dance

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]]>Free Flick of the DayFreeFlickOfTheDayKen RussellKenRussellSalomesalomes last danceSalomesLastDanceslashcontrolJenni MillerTue, 03 Nov 2009 18:44:00 ESTSpin-ematical: New on DVD for 11/3http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/03/spin-ematical-new-on-dvd-for-11-3/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/03/spin-ematical-new-on-dvd-for-11-3/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/03/spin-ematical-new-on-dvd-for-11-3/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Cinematical's Spin-ematical: New on DVD for 11/3

G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
Here's my problem with the picture: a furiously-filmed chase through the streets of Paris should be spectacular and thrilling. Instead, it's incoherent, routine, even disappointing. Director Stephen Sommers (The Mummy, Van Helsing) turns in another by-the-numbers action spectacle, this time starring Dennis Quaid, Channing Tatum, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Marlon Wayans, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. There are better ways to waste your time and money. Skip it. Also on Blu-ray.

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The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3
Tony Scott's remake is a higher-grade disappointment, coming achingly close to delivering an unqualified success. Derailed by John Travolta's unrepentant scenery-chewing, which goes far beyond the bounds of bad taste, and an unhealthy preoccupation with explaining everything, the film motors along reasonably well, fashioning a paranoid tale of post-9/11 terror and ticking time bomb suspense. Denzel Washington is eminently watchable, and James Gandolfini has a good turn as the Mayor of NYC. Recommended with reservations. Rent it. Also on Blu-ray.

Add to Netflix queue | Buy at Amazon

I Love You, Beth Cooper
As I wrote in my review, Larry Doyle's very funny book has been transformed into a dreadfully boring movie. Hayden Panettiere and Paul Rust are miscast as a rule-breaking dream girl and the boy who loves her from afar, respectively. The spend a night together that seems endless. Chris Columbus directed, without distinction. Skip it. Also on Blu-ray.

Add to Netflix queue | Buy at Amazon

Also out: Aliens in the Attic.

Indies on DVD, more Blu-ray picks, and Collector's Corner -- after the jump!

Continue reading Spin-ematical: New on DVD for 11/3

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]]>bela fleck throw down your heartBelaFleckThrowDownYourHeartfeaturedfood incFoodIncgi joe the rise of cobraGiJoeTheRiseOfCobrai love you beth cooperILoveYouBethCooperthe taking of pelham 1 2 3TheTakingOfPelham123Peter MartinTue, 03 Nov 2009 12:03:00 ESTWarren Ellis' 'Black Summer' Optioned By Vigilantehttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/02/warren-ellis-black-summer-optioned-by-vigilante/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/02/warren-ellis-black-summer-optioned-by-vigilante/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/02/warren-ellis-black-summer-optioned-by-vigilante/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Comics legend Warren Ellis is all over Hollywood these days. He has Red in development at Summit, Gravel was just recently optioned by the top-notch crew at Legendary Pictures, and Ocean is in the works with Hollywood Gang, for whom Ellis is also penning a King Arthur script. Now Variety reports that Ellis' miniseries Black Summer has been optioned by the fledgling banner Vigilante Entertainment. Ryne Pearson is set to adapt it for the big screen.

Black Summer kicked off in 2007, and walks some familiar Watchmen ground as it examines the darker implications of vigilante heroes. It centers around a superhero team called the Seven Guns, a group of ordinary humans who have willingly undergone severe surgery to become superhuman vigilantes. They take to the streets of a West Coast city to battle a corrupt city government, its equally sleazy police force, and greedy private security forces. But by the time we meet them, those days are gone. But one member, John Horus, decides to go after the man he feels is committing the biggest illegal act of all -- the President of the United States. His violent decision puts the rest of the Guns in danger, In typical Ellis fashion, the blood begins spraying and the bodies drop, and everything becomes very politically murky. If you'd like to see some previews or check out some interviews with Ellis, it's all been neatly collected at Avatar Press' site.

This project is in pre-pre production right now, so it's hard to get too excited as to how (or if!) it will end up on the big screen. But it's great to see more and more of Ellis' work being picked up for adaptations. Let's hope it meets better fate than most of Alan Moore's work.

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]]>avatar pressAvatarPressBlack SummerBlackSummerVigilante EntertainmentVigilanteEntertainmentWarren EllisWarrenEllisElisabeth RappeMon, 02 Nov 2009 09:03:00 ESTSavannah Film Fest: Where Indie Meets Oscarhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/10/31/savannah-film-fest-where-indie-meets-oscar/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/10/31/savannah-film-fest-where-indie-meets-oscar/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/10/31/savannah-film-fest-where-indie-meets-oscar/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


I'm in Savannah, Georgia to spend a week as a guest blogger for the Savannah Film Festival, an eight-day fest hosted in the historic Southern town by the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). [Read my entries in the "Voices from the Fest" section on the festival website.] As the town prepares to kick off the 12th annual festivities with the Iraq film, or rather post-Iraq film, The Messenger, I'm wondering how SFF's growing success might reflect or even influence the rise of film festivals that similarly fall somewhere in between the biggies (Cannes, Sundance, Toronto, Venice) and the little guys.

For starters, a brief look at SFF's line-up and star-studded guest list. The festival begins today, October 31, with The Messenger, a Sundance entry that has Oscar possibilities but more likely will make a run at the Indie Spirit Awards. Stars Woody Harrelson and Ben Foster will be in attendance. (I will be attempting to run into them at the local Starbucks or wherever it is that Hollywood actors hang out when they visit other cities.) Another Oscar hopeful, the Emily Blunt-starring period biopic The Young Victoria, is screening the following day.

And then there are the almost certain Oscar pictures: George Clooney in The Men Who Stare At Goats; Lone Scherfig's An Education; Michael Haneke's Cannes winner The White Ribbon; Kathryn Bigelow's The Hurt Locker, with star Jeremy Renner in attendance; and Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire, which will bring both director Lee Daniels and his star Gabourey Sidibe to town.

Read on for more about this year's Savannah Film Festival.

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]]>AdamAn EducationAnEducationDear Lemon LimaDearLemonLimaMercyPrecious:BasedOnTheNovelPushBySapphiresavannah college of art and designSavannah Film FestivalSavannahCollegeOfArtAndDesignSavannahFilmFestivalSCADthe city of your final destinationThe Hurt LockerThe Loss of a Teardrop DiamondThe men who stare at goatsThe Messengerthe white ribbonTheCityOfYourFinalDestinationTheHurtLockerTheLossOfATeardropDiamondTheMenWhoStareAtGoatsTheMessengerTheWhiteRibbonWhatever WorksWhateverWorksJen YamatoSat, 31 Oct 2009 19:02:00 EST