Well, Edward Norton is definitely interested in whatever Christopher Nolan does in regards to the hero franchises. Film School Rejects brought us the news today that Norton is interested in playing the main villain in BATMAN 3. This news only made me want to know more on the subject, soI found an interview that Norton did exclusively with IGN U.K. on that very topic. (more…)

I think we all just got took by the Coen Brothers.

With THE SOCIAL NETWORK hitting this weekend, the buzz has not only been unanimously positive, but so much so, that it is far and away the biggest contender at this point in time to walk away with the Best Picture Oscar come that time in 2011.

That is, at least until now.

We have our first trailer for TRUE GRIT, thanks to Apple, and I have to say, just when you thought the Coens couldn’t do the Western genre better than their neo-noir neo-Western masterpiece that was NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN, we have TRUE GRIT. (more…)

Oliver Stone is notorious force in the film industry. He consistently brings quality films to the table, and receives critical acclaim almost universally. Now he’s coming back for his first true sequel - WALL STREET: MONEY NEVER SLEEPS – which brings Gordon Gekko back from prison to rekindle his relationship with his daughter, and possibly make some dough while he’s at it.

If you’re ready to live your life in excess, check out the episode after the break. (more…)

Do you want to play a game? No, it’s not the kind of game where I ask you trick questions about horror films so that you get them wrong and I can then murder you with a clear conscience since you deserved it. Rather it’s a harmless guessing game with virtually no repercussion (other than the fact that I won’t be friends with you any longer if you get the answer wrong). Ready? Okay. Here’s how to play.

You look at the following photo and then guess which SCREAM film it’s from.

While it could be from any of the prior 3, something tells me our friendship will make it through the day as Cox’s hairstyle is pretty modern, which should give you a pretty good hint as to what the answer is. Also, there is the fact that I told you the answer in the title of this article. So, if you do in fact get it wrong, let’s just say you’ll be receiving an email from me notifying you that “I think we should see other blogs. It’s not me, it’s you.”

Good luck! (more…)

WHAT’S NEW & COOL THIS WEEK:
This week brings the release of one of this past summer’s biggest blockbusters. That being IRON MAN 2, which returns Robert Downey Jr. to the role of billionaire manboy Tony Stark AKA Iron Man. Director Jon Favreau did a sufficient job carrying on the mythos he so successfully started with 2008′s IRON MAN, what may be the best character-introducing, universe-presenting comic book film next to Christopher Nolan’s BATMAN BEGINS. If you have yet to see IRON MAN 2, what have you been doing? Isn’t this the type of film that, even if you never go see movies in the movie theater, you drag yourself out of your cave to the cinema to check out? Well, if that is in fact the case, I urge you to check it out as it hits Blu-ray and DVD complete with 2 discs full of special features.

Additionally out this week is GET HIM TO THE GREEK, a psuedo-sequel/spin-off to 2008′s FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL. Spin-off in the sense that the film finds British rocker Aldous Snow (Russell Brand) washed up and strung out. It is up to record company intern Aaron Green (played by Jonah Hill. Yes, he was also in MARSHALL. No, he does not play the same character. I know…it’s weird…but try to stay with me) to get him to The Greek Theatre for a come back show to save his career and his life. Doesn’t sound much like a comedy, does it? Well, that was the film’s main problem. It had an even balance between heavy dramatic tones intermixed with scenes of drug-induced carpet feeling and a threesome between Snow, Green, and his girlfriend. However, the film is still worth a watch as it does provide for a good amount of laughs (thanks in part to P. Diddy) despite not having fully made up its mind on whether it is an over-the-top comedy or not.

Also hitting shelves this week is a few films from this year’s Sundance including Adam Green’s (HATCHET) FROZEN and the Casey Affleck-starring THE KILLER INSIDE ME.

And for you Criterion-loving cinephiles, Terrence Malick’s WWII film THE THIN RED LINE and the David Bowie-starring MERRY CHRISTMAS MR. LAWRENCE gets the “C” treatment. (more…)

Does anyone still truly care about the long-talked about feature film adaptation of the video game, Kane & Lynch?

Well, for those who still do, the LA Times is reporting that the film has hit yet another roadblock, after director Patrick Alessandrin has left the project, just a month out of the slated start of production.

Now, in the wake of this news, the studio funding the film, Millennium, is heading back to square one, looking at the original trio of possible directors – F. Gary Gray, Wayne Kramer, and Antoine Fuqua, who seems like the likeliest choice, after working with the studio on BROOKLYN’S FINEST. (more…)

It’s getting to be that time.

With the deadline for foreign Oscar submissions coming this Friday, a few countries have jumped the gun and already announced their selections.

First, according to Variety, Thailand has selected Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s Palme d’Or winner, UNCLE BOONMEE WHO CAN RECALL HIS PAST LIVES, to contend for the Best Foreign Langauge Film at the upcoming Academy Awards. 

Variety is also reporting that the Philippines has selected NOY, a Dondon Santos directed docu-drama, which “tracks a young man from the slums who poses as a journo to document the ascent of his namesake Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III who goes on to become President-elect of the Philippines.” (more…)

Editor’s note: Sound too cool to be true? Yeah, it is. We just got word from Pohlad’s PR team this story is not true. Looks like we don’t need to head out to Minneapolis just yet.

Anyone have River Road Entertainment producer Bill Pohlad’s home phone number? I could use it right now.

According to the Star Tribune (via The Playlist), the producer not only has a cut of Terrence Malick’s upcoming film, the massively hyped TREE OF LIFE, on his projector, but he’s also set to play host to a series of private screenings of the film to gauge audience reactions at his Minneapolis home.

Pohlad, if you’re reading this (and I know you are, or maybe not), I’d love to let you know what I think of it. It would be an honor. (more…)

Rating: 3/5

Writer: Chi-long To
Director: Yuen Woo-ping
Cast: Michelle Yeoh, Xun Zhou, Man Cheuk Chiu

In Yuen Woo-ping’s first directorial effort in 14 years, he has returned to some of his original drunken (style) roots. The director that first became a household name in America with his fight choreography work on THE MATRIX and KILL BILL franchises, has made many a martial arts fanboy salivate at the thought of seeing a new film that comes directly from his visionary martial arts choreography roots. The end result is a visually stunning yet heartwarming tale of a troubled man, with a family to live for, and a promise to always keep that family together. (more…)

Director: Arild Fröhlich
Writers: Arild Fröhlich, Lars Gudmestad, Lars Ramslie
Cast: Nils Jørgen Kaalstad, Josefin Ljungman, Kyrre Hellum

This review of FATSO is brought to you by the makers of The Fleshlight. “The Fleshlight, the worlds #1 selling male sex toy.” It should be pointed out that this review is actually NOT sponsored by the Fleshlight but it definitely gets its moment to shine in this film. FATSO is a wonderful tale of a man and his roommate that could be considered a coming of age tale for both the man, and his roommate.  (more…)

Matt Reeves started off directing episodes of Felicity, then made himself a household name in the geek world when he teamed up with J.J. Abrams to make CLOVERFIELD. Reeves is back, and staying in the horror genre with LET ME IN, the American remake of the 2008 Swedish vampire film, LET THE RIGHT ONE IN. If you read my review (spoiler free), you see that this director is here to stay.

I missed the chance to interview Reeves at TIFF, and I blame having the worst sense of direction, but a second chance came via Fantastic Fest, and here we are. Check out the video interview after the break, where we talk car crashes, 8mm camera tattoos, and the appreciation of remakes. (more…)

For their honoree of this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award, Fantastic Fest chose to honor master martial arts choreographer Yuen Woo-ping, complete with a double feature of his latest film TRUE LEGEND – his first directorial effort in 14 years – and his directorial debut 1978′s SNAKE IN THE EAGLE’S SHADOW starring a then unknown, yet soon-to-be superstar Jackie Chan.

We were given the distinct privilege to speak with Mr. Woo-ping about his vast and impressive career boasting hundreds of films and including duties as an actor, producer, writer, director, assistant director along with being a stunt man, stunt coordinator, and fight choreographer on such films as DRUNKEN MASTER, KILL BILL: VOL. I & II, THE MATRIX TRILOGY, CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON, and KUNG-FU HUSTLE amongst countless other kung-fu and martial arts films. Not to mention his latest film, which marks his return to the director’s chair. As it has been said “If you’ve ever walked out of a movie theatre after watching a martial arts film and left your jaw on the floor, your eyes were probably dazzled by the fight choreography of filmmaker Yuen Woo-Ping.”

Read on for our interview with a true master, in which he discusses his regarded body of work. (more…)

Rating: 4/5

Writers: Chris Peckover, Joe Peterson
Director: Chris Peckover
Cast: Scott Mechlowicz, Alona Tal, Peter Stormare, Noah Segan, Kevin Weisman

UNDOCUMENTED centers around a group of graduate students (Scott Mechlowicz, Alona Tal, Kevin Weisman) who attempt to document America’s issue of illegal immigration. And what’s the best way to document something? Why, a documentary, of course! And so the group sets out to make their thesis film by quite literally putting themselves in the shoes of native Hispanics as they try to illegally enter the country, poor in their pockets but rich in their dreams of a better life in America. Imagine an episode of Dirty Jobs…gone horribly wrong. (more…)

Interviewing Ned Vizzini was a dream come true for me. I first read his third novel, “It’s Kind of a Funny Story,” about three years ago, when my mom bought it for me for Christmas. The kind of funny story on my end is she thought I would relate to the main character Craig, and I really did (high school was rough, man). I fell in love with this book and read it over and over and over.

When it was announced that the novel would be made into a feature film, I sought out Vizzini and we began messaging one another (via Facebook) about doing an interview about the book and film. If you’ve seen my TIFF coverage, you would have seen that I did see the film and spoke with its directors and main cast. This was a true delight. After the break is my interview with Vizzini. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did conducting it – this one hit close to home. (more…)

Rating: 2/5

Writers: Scott Milam (screenplay and story), Charles Kaufman and Warren Leight (1980 screenplay)
Director: Darren Lynn Bousman
Cast: Rebecca De Mornay, Jaime King, Shawn Ashmore, Briana Evigan, Frank Grillo

MOTHER’S DAY, the latest from SAW II-IV and REPO! THE GENETIC OPERA director Darren Lynn Bousman, is a remake of a 1980 minor genre classic that took elements from backwoods slashers and rape-revenge films to create a hokey yet fun 90 minute exploitation film. Bousman’s film, on the other hand, takes elements from home invasion films and creates an, at first, hokey fun 45 minutes and then finishes with an exceedingly stupid and borderline tedious 45 minutes. It’s a shame, too, as it features a standout performance by the lovely Rebecca De Mornay. (more…)