Category Archives: Narrative

Drama, Hit & Miss, In Theatres, Independent Film, Narrative, Review, Sci-Fi, War

Hit & Miss: Another Earth, The Devil’s Double

1 Comment

I’m usually a pretty good judge of movies before even watching them. I can often tell whether I think a movie is going to be good or bad based on the trailer, logline, filmmaker, cast, or any other factor. Of course, this is not unique to me. Many of us have this super power. But every now and then, my senses go awry and I find myself in disbelief. Here are a couple of recent examples:

Hit

ANOTHER EARTH

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8hEwMMDtFY]

Going In: I’m not much for sci-fi, and after having seen the trailer, I just had a feeling—this is not going to be a good movie. And that’s a shame, because Fox Searchlight is my favorite distributor—but hey, even Fox Searchlight is entitled to a not-so-great movie once in a while. (Has anyone seen The Tree of Life?) Another Earth looked sleepy, boring, quiet, and any other number of synonyms that describe bland.

Stepping Out: BEST. MOVIE. OF. THE. YEAR. (so far) I can’t believe how wrong I was with this one. Brit Marling. Remember that name. She wrote, produced, and stars in this micro-budget indie that was directed by Mike Cahill. Nearly everything about this film is perfect. The dynamic performances. The breathtaking cinematography. The mesmerizing music. And most especially, the complex characters in a simple, original story. It just goes to show you, a film’s budget is no barometer for how good a movie is. The writing is (among other things). You can go into space with a tight script. And this film is proof.

Miss

THE DEVIL’S DOUBLE

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auE1FAGP1Kc]

Going In: The true story of the man who was forced to act as Uday Hussein’s double. (That’s Saddam’s son, folks.) I was easily intrigued, quite simply because I hadn’t seen anything like this before. And speaking of something I haven’t seen before, (based on the trailer) it looked like Dominic Cooper was turning in a performance unlike any other he’s done. I’m sold.

Stepping Out: WTF! Sure, there is gory violence, but this film isn’t nearly as gritty as I thought it would be. Sure, Cooper’s performance is solid, but that’s pretty much all this Lee Tamahori-helmed film has going for it. It’s glitzy, golden visuals are clearly implied in the trailer and poster, but I was mostly going into this film with the overall concept in mind. Clearly, I wasn’t paying close enough attention. This film resembled more of a flashy music video than any film worth my time. (I was actually expecting something on par with The Hurt Locker, in style and substance.) Mind you, I didn’t hate it—and “not hating it” is the best compliment I can offer.

Comedy, Foreign Film, Independent Film, Narrative, Short Film

Short Film: “Signs” by Patrick Hughes

Leave a comment

I first watched this short a couple of years ago and loved it. Watching it again, I like it, but it doesn’t have the magic that I seemed to remember the first time.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uy0HNWto0UY]
Actors, Coming Soon, Drama, Independent Film, Narrative, Preview

DRIVE Goes Full Throttle at Comic-Con

Leave a comment
Fresh off its run at Cannes and a presence at 2011 Comic-Con, filmmaker Nicolas Winding Refn brings his latest feature, Drive, to theatres on September 16. This Ryan Gosling-starring vehicle also stars Bryan Cranston (TV’s Breaking Bad), Carey Mulligan, Christina Hendricks (TV’s Mad Men), Albert Brooks, and Ron Perlman. Here’s the official trailer, synopsis, and photos from Comic-Con.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eup3tFOgbk&feature=channel_video_title]
Drama, Independent Film, Narrative, New Release, Preview, Sci-Fi

New Web Series: Death’s Door

Leave a comment

My friend Stephanie just produced a new web series called Death’s Door, which will be premiering next month. Check out the trailer and synopsis below. Also, be sure to stop by the YouTube page, where you can watch exclusive interviews with the filmmakers and cast.

The first time Marcus died, he thought his life was destroyed. The second time, he discovered what life is. Death’s Door is a 10-part sci-fi web series that starts August 7. New episodes will release weekly on Sundays at 8pm.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81LMpuCJDls]
Coming Soon, Narrative, Preview, Trailer

Official Trailer: Martin Scorsese’s Hugo

2 Comments

Not even Martin Scorsese is above the lure of 3D. This Thanksgiving, his latest offering Hugo hits theatres, and it looks to be a family friendly piece of eye candy with heart. This is Scorsese’s first feature narrative in nine years to not star Leonardo DiCaprio.

I think famed production designer Dante Ferretti might need to clear some space off his mantle for another Oscar. (He’s already won twice for The Aviator [2004] and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street [2007].)

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hR-kP-olcpM]
Actors, Awards, Coming Soon, Drama, Independent Film, Narrative, Oscars, Preview

Meryl Streep Is Made of Iron

1 Comment

The most nominated actress in Oscar history is working hard for her 17th nomination next year. Meryl Streep has been consistently nominated at least every few years since her first Academy recognition in 1978’s The Deer Hunter. Despite her two wins, you can call Streep the new Susan Lucci. Her last win came nearly 30 years ago for Sophie’s Choice (1982). Thirty years! For some reason, the Academy can’t bear to honor who is arguably the greatest actress of all time just once more. Perhaps it feels “she’s won twice, so let’s honor someone new—all the while, we can’t not recognize her talent, so a nomination will be enough for her.” Enough for her? Maybe. Enough for her fans? Hardly. All these years later, Streep still turns out some truly inspired performances. (I still get goosebumps thinking about what she did for her character in 2008’s Doubt.)

Continue reading Meryl Streep Is Made of Iron →

Classic Film, Narrative

The Homestretch: 10 More to Go!

1 Comment

This past weekend, I watched Patton, the 1970 Best Picture winner that took home a total seven Academy Awards. That’s one more film checked off my 170 list, leaving me with 10 more to go and 127 days left to watch them. Here we go—the final 10:

The Crowd (1928)

Doctor Zhivago (1965)

Continue reading The Homestretch: 10 More to Go! →

Coming Soon, Film Festival, Independent Film, Narrative, Preview

THE GUARD Unveils Official Poster

Leave a comment

Sony Pictures Classics has released the official poster for The Guard, starring Brendan Gleeson and Don Cheadle in a buddy-cop comedy from John Michael McDonagh in his feature directorial debut. The poster has a sort-of classic film vibe to it, which is cool to see for more contemporary fare.

The Guard screened at this year’s Sundance, Berlin, Los Angeles, and Tribeca film festivals and is set to bow in New York and LA on July 29. (Check out the trailer after the jump.)

Synopsis: Two officers from different worlds (and countries) have to team up to take on an international drug-smuggling ring.

Official site: sonyclassics.com/theguard

Continue reading THE GUARD Unveils Official Poster →

Drama, Foreign Film, Independent Film, Narrative, Sci-Fi, Short Film

Short Film: “Alive in Joburg” by Neill Blomkamp

2 Comments

In my last post, I referenced District 9, the South African Oscar Best Picture nominee from 2008. “Alive in Joburg” is the 2006 short film on which District 9 was based, directed by Neill Blomkamp (who also helmed the feature) and produced by Sharlto Copley (who stars in the feature adaptation).

Aliens have arrived to Johannesburg …

Awards, Classic Film, Drama, Narrative, On My DVR, Oscars

On My DVR: Sophie’s Choice (1982)

6 Comments

Currently on my DVR is the 1982 classic Sophie’s Choice. This is the story of a Holocaust survivor and her lover as they befriend a writer who lives in their Brooklyn boarding house. This film earned Meryl Streep her fourth Oscar nomination and second win. (She had previously won three years earlier for her supporting role in Robert Benton’s Kramer vs. Kramer.) In total, the film earned a total of five Oscar nominations, with recognition also given to its cinematography, costumes, music, and writing. Sophie’s Choice is based on the William Styron novel of the same title.

This film was not on AFI’s original “100 Years … 100 Movies” list, but it did find a spot on the organization’s 10th anniversary list, creeping in at #91. No doubt, its ranking as one of the greatest 100 American films of all time is partly due to what some consider Streep’s greatest performance.

Director: Alan J. Pakula
Screenwriter: Alan J. Pakula
Producers: Keith Barish, Alan J. Pakula
Cast: Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline, Peter MacNicol
Genres: Drama, Romance
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Runtime: 150 min.