Thursday, December 29, 2011

Poster for 'The Paperboy'

Clearly a departure from the roles Nicole Kidman usually plays -- she looks great in this poster. I'm a bit surprised to see Matthew McConaughey in this movie. John Cusack is listed as playing a character named Hillary Van Wetter -- that brings a certain wha? factor. Zac Efron looks to be breaking away from pretty boy roles -- judging from the synopsis:

A reporter returns to his Florida hometown to investigate a case involving a death row inmate.

Looks to be set in the 50s, dig that tie. A good thing for this kind of story.

Director Lee Daniels brings depth, coming off 'Precious' -- an apt choice for this type drama.

If 'The Paperboy' works it could mark a transition for Kidman and Efron. If it doesn't I'm thinking it still marks a transition for these two actors, and may be the beginning of a more indie-flavored career for McConaughey. Good moves all around.

In general, graphic has a lot of energy, thematic weight. I'm surprised how effective it is.




















Wednesday, December 28, 2011

2011 Additions to the National Film Registry


'The Silence of the Lambs' and 'Forrest Gump' are among the films added to the National Film Registry for 2011.

Here is the complete list:

  1. Allures (1961)
  2. Bambi (1942)
  3. The Big Heat (1953)
  4. A Computer Animated Hand (1972)
  5. Crisis: Behind A Presidential Commitment (1963)
  6. The Cry of the Children (1912)
  7. A Cure for Pokeritis (1912)
  8. El Mariachi (1992)
  9. Faces (1968)
  10. Fake Fruit Factory (1986)
  11. Forrest Gump (1994)
  12. Growing Up Female (1971)
  13. Hester Street (1975)
  14. I, an Actress (1977)
  15. The Iron Horse (1924)
  16. The Kid (1921)
  17. The Lost Weekend (1945)
  18. The Negro Soldier (1944)
  19. Nicholas Brothers Family Home Movies (1930s-40s)
  20. Norma Rae (1979)
  21. Porgy and Bess (1959)
  22. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
  23. Stand and Deliver (1988)
  24. Twentieth Century (1934)
  25. War of the Worlds (1953)














Joseph Farrell Tweaks Ending of 'Fatal Attraction'


It was interesting to learn that movie marketing guru, Joseph Farrell, who died a couple weeks ago and had run National Research Group, Inc. until selling the company in 2003, was responsible for getting the ending of 'Fatal Attraction' changed. Originally, the Glenn Close character committed suicide while listening to a recording of Madame Butterfly. I can't even picture that. And, that's the ending they had in the can and were going to go out with until Mr. Farrell convinced Paramount to reshoot it.

I remember watching the episode of At the Movies where Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel reviewed the flick. I think they both hated the ending. One of them said something like, "It's a pure Hollywood horror movie ending. Is she dead, or isn't she?" Ebert has called the ending a 'grown-up 'Friday the 13th'.

Hard to argue. The moment when Close comes up out of the water in the bathtub gasping for breath after you thought (for sure) she was dead is so corny and derivative of so many B slasher movies it might well be laughed at if the movie was made today. But still, that's got to better than the ultra-theatrical 'suicide while listening to Madame Butterfly'. Although, that she intended to arrange her suicide so that it would look like Dan (Michael Douglas) had murdered her is, from a story/character perspective, delicious. I love that. In that sense it would have worked great.

Nonetheless, with the newly reshot 'horror movie' ending 'Fatal Attraction' snagged six Oscar noms and pulled down $300 million. Good call Mr. Farrell.













New Poster for 'House of my Father' (Casa de mi Padre)

Good poster. Simple, but works. Have to admit I'm curious.


The tagline works pretty well, too:



















Friday, December 23, 2011

New Poster for 'The Woman in Black'

Pure goth, very nice. This may catch.


Love this detail:






















Thursday, December 22, 2011

Trailer for 'Prometheus' Lands


So, I'm thinking, 'Cool. Gotta see this trailer,' but wasn't prepared. The visuals rocked. Such beautiful, well-cut imagery. And that horseshoe-shaped ship -- love it.

'Alien' is not just one of my favorites, it helped shape the way I feel about movies in general. If 'Prometheus' is in the same league it'll be quite the treat.

If you've been under a rock for the last couple hours and didn't hear, Apple is running a hi-def trailer.















Tuesday, December 20, 2011

New Poster for 'Haywire'

The most conventional poster yet. I like it best. Edgy is okay, but previous graphics lacked focus and were too single-minded (at the same time).

Judging from trailers, this cast, and Steven Soderbergh's way with a script and camera, 'Haywire' will be absolutely must-see.




















Poster/Trailer for 'Wrath of the Titans'

Figured this would be just another numbing exercise like 'Immortals' but the trailer impressed me. Actually looks good. Not good for the genre, but just plain good. Hoping.

Poster is not so great, but it's just a teaser. Should come around.



















Friday, December 16, 2011

New Poster for 'Chronicle' Brings Things into Focus

These are getting good. Just when I said the campaign was a bit muddled, we get clarification.

















'Expendables 2' Gets a Poster

Yesterday, we got a teaser trailer. Today, we get a poster.

Say what you want about story quality but this is nice work and I'm thinking the movie will do great business. 'Expendables 3'? Don't think so, but wouldn't be surprised.





















Thursday, December 15, 2011

Poster for 'ParaNorman'

Winning.



















New Poster for 'Chronicle'


Not bad. Consistent with the first one:


Plot has a nice hook -- some guys find something weird and all blue-glowy in a cave and, later, gain super powers, or more correctly, the ability to make things they imagine really happen.

Could be good, but something about the trailer doesn't play right. It's one of those plots that tends to come unraveled and lurch along about halfway through Act II, then you get all squirmy going into Act III.

Directed by Josh Trank who seems to have a genuine indie vision. Written by Max Landis who, yes, is John's son. Max is a total newbie so it's hard to get a feel for his writing. However, he does have a flick in pre-production, 'Good Time Gang', which will star Jonah Hill and Mark Wahlberg. Here's the logline:

Two party-happy mercenaries decide to take on a serious case involving a terrorist, only to find their mission complicated when they discover one of them is related to the target

Good title, plot has potential -- both to be a wacky yet compelling comedy, or a by-the-numbers exercise. According to IMDb, no director attached yet.

'Chronicle' seems like a rental. I'd be glad to be wrong about that. We could use a story like this to find an audience. Exactly the kind of flick that does better than expected at the theater or finds a cult following on disc/stream, or fades away unnoticed.

So far, the rollout doesn't have a lot of forward momentum but posters are good. While the trailer doesn't really hit the bull's eye it's edited well, and camera work is good. Story is cool but kinda cheesy and hard to sell. Just the kind of indeterminate campaign you'd expect -- could break either way.

Waiting.


















Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Poster for 'Prometheus'


Neither the tagline nor the graphic is quite as distinct as that from the poster for 'Alien' but that's pretty tough to do. Still, it's got class, atmosphere.




















Louis CK Distributes his own Concert Film


This comedian, Louis CK, made a film of one of his performances, distributed it himself online for $5 a download, and made $200,000.

From Cnet:

I have a profit around $200,000 (after taxes $75.58). This is less than I would have been paid by a large company to simply perform the show and let them sell it to you, but they would have charged you about $20 for the video. They would have given you an encrypted and regionally restricted video of limited value, and they would have owned your private information for their own use. They would have withheld international availability indefinitely. This way, you only paid $5, you can use the video any way you want, and you can watch it in Dublin, whatever the city is in Belgium, or Dubai. I got paid nice, and I still own the video (as do you).

Really, I think this will be one of the main ways for upcoming filmmakers to distribute their movies. Make a cool flick, hawk it with good trailers, stills, posters, etc., allow downloads on your site for a few bucks. There will be those who simply ask a friend for a free copy or download it and sell it themselves, but that's the case today with major Hollywood flicks. I'm thinking most people will be honest, pay a buck or two, and if they like the film will post positive reviews on movie sites. You'd make gobs, fund your next project, and poof -- you're a full-time working director.

What kid starting out would pass on that deal? If you got just 10k views/downloads at two or three bucks each, that's enough to pay the bills for a while and do another movie.

And, it's not such a bad idea for Hollywood movies, either. I just don't get why movie theaters are essential anymore. I say cut the middleman out, make your own popcorn.













Tuesday, December 13, 2011

'Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance' Gets a Poster

Great graphic. You can tell when they know they have a good product.

Very nice poster.




















'Rock of Ages' Poster

There's a curiosity about this. I wonder. Pretty good poster.




















Saturday, December 10, 2011

'The Dark Knight' Poster

Okay, the mask is broken but that doesn't mean it has to end, does it? Come on, just one more.























Trailer for 'The Flowers of War'












.

Friday, December 09, 2011

'Buried'

It's Fiction Friday so here's a short story. I got the idea for this one, several times over the course of a few months, after reading the Sunday paper.

A lot of my stories come with a warning, and rightfully so. This one isn't that bad but it's a bit graphic here and there. Not for everyone.



Buried
written by Alan Green


Bobo stands next to the patch of dirt, his stance wide, blue eyes gleaming, looking serious. The storm had blown dead leaves away exposing a rectangular section of bare ground about seven by three feet. Yeah, it was curious. I didn't know what to think. Of course, that shape was eerie, but who goes there, mentally I mean? Who thinks stuff like that? Then, there was the way Bobo stood. Tense, his intelligent eyes trying to communicate something important. He is so smart. Really, it shakes me up sometimes. This was one of those times, for sure. That first time.

I had gotten Bobo from the pound. I just didn't like the idea of going to a pet shop. Wanted to rescue an animal, I guess. He had been brought in a few weeks earlier by someone who was moving to Europe and couldn't keep a dog any longer, and was scheduled to be put down the next day. Nobody had taken him, I guess, because he was scruffy. Short fur of black, dull aqua, silver, and burgundy that had darker patches here and there and was naturally dirty looking. A squat animal, thickly muscled with a large head, he was pure mutt with no discernible lineage. Like the dog in that 'Road Warrior' movie. Besides being homely, he didn't make a good first impression. He just lay there, on his side, like he was asleep but with his eyes open. He didn't sell himself as a prospective pet very well, seemed resigned to his fate.

But, those eyes. He pinned me with them. Intense, knowing, and made more captivating, almost disturbing really, by their deep iceberg color. Made you feel he could read your thoughts. When he sat up the guy from the pound said, 'He likes you. He usually just lays there.'

I squatted close to the wire mesh. 'What's his name?' I said. 'Bobo,' the guy answered. 'Hi Bobo.' His ears perked. I put my hand up and he sniffed, eying me. The guy opened the door. I reached in and stroked him. He put his paw in my hand. I thought it was noteworthy he could shake hands. A silly thing, but it seemed meaningful at the time. He stared at me. I swear it was like he was waiting for me to make a decision. Almost impatient. 'Are you taking me or not,' he seemed to say. Those eyes... Almost human. I took him.

Standing next to that patch of dirt, he was waiting for a decision again. I knelt, stroked his head, and looked at the ground. The hole hadn't been dug recently but nothing had grown over, either. And that shape -- a fairly good rectangle. Those dimensions -- seven by three. Bobo sniffed the earth and mewled, worried. He put his paw on my arm, growling low.

Okay, fine. I'll probably feel like a fool, I thought, but what the hell. I got a stick and starting digging. I hadn't gotten six inches before I uncovered a dried-up hand, its skin turned to a papery leather. I jerked back as soon as I recognized what it was, stood up, caught my breath. Bobo barked and backed away stiffly, his tail straight. He shot me a hard look. 'I told you it was important.'

The police arrived within a few minutes of the 911 call. Ten minutes later, three more cars arrived. An officer ran yellow crime scene tape around the perimeter. They asked questions. Bobo sat by my side panting, content, watching. He was always paying attention. A detective, William, arrived. We talked for a while. Nice guy. You could tell he'd seen a lot. I had nothing of value to offer. He took my information even though a uniformed officer had already done that. 'We'll be in touch,' he told me.

On the way home I stopped and picked up dinner. Bobo stayed in the car. He knew he couldn't go in the grocery store. I bought a steak, a pepper, onion, portobello, fresh garlic, a nice Chianti.

I separated Bobo's serving from mine before adding spices, mixed in some plain chopped-up pasta, and set it aside to cool while I finished cooking. Bobo watched every move, licked his chops, eyes wide and full of hope. We ate watching TV, as usual, but I kept glancing over. He looked the same but didn't seem the same. He seemed smarter, like a dog on a mission.

The discovery was covered by all the local stations. William made one of those generic noncommittal statements. A few weeks later the news said the body was that of a girl that had been reported missing years ago. Analysis of DNA evidence made it clear she was the victim of a serial killer who had been convicted and was serving a life term. With this body, the new total of known victims was fourteen. The killer said there were more but wouldn't help police locate their graves. He claimed to remember where each was but wasn't inclined to be of assistance.

I was curious so I looked him up online. He killed women because his mother had liked his two younger sisters better than him. She bought them new school clothes but made him wear the same stuff every year until he looked bad and that made him feel stupid. The three of them made fun of him. He didn't have friends. Other kids taunted him at school so he quit. When he turned eighteen his mother told him that if he was going to stay he would have to move under the house because she and the girls couldn't stand the sight or smell of him. They didn't have a finished basement but the space under the house offered protection from the elements. He lived like that for years while his sisters finished high school then went off to college in new clothes and new cars. One day they came home for Christmas break and found their mother raped and stabbed on the kitchen floor. Her head was in the microwave, fully cooked.

I checked my e-mail. William had sent me a thank-you note. He said the discovery of the body helped bring closure to the family. I e-mailed back thanking him for his professionalism in a difficult job.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


It's Sunday. That's the day I take Bobo out someplace special for a walk instead of the park up the street. I park in a lot overlooking the entire area -- a shallow valley with a picturesque river -- a great spot for a walk and a little adventure. A favorite spot in the summer the place is deserted this early on a cold, rainy, late-winter day. We head down the path, Bobo's tail wagging wildly. Nearer the water's edge he leaves the path and runs down to the river. I throw his ball and he dives in, swimming like a pro. I walk on expecting him to catch up. I get maybe fifty feet before I realize he hasn't rejoined me. Looking back I can just make out his shape through the brush. He is sitting on the muddy shore.

When I get closer I see he is soaking wet, his ball between his front paws, looking back and forth between me and something a few feet to his side. I call but he just sits there. He barks once, an edgy sound. I move to the edge of the path and can just make out the object next to him. A crumpled blanket in the water, right next to the bank. I make my way down and when I get close enough I realize there is something under the blanket, bobbing in the water. Holding a tree I lean out over the mud. It's a kid's blanket with yellow ducks and tiny elephants. Bobo growls cautiously. Daintily, I pull up the corner. There is a body.

This one was a young boy, seven years old, who had been reported days earlier as missing by his mother after she left him asleep in the car while she shopped at a local mall. The police said there were discrepancies in the mother's story that were cause for concern and, as she had been convicted of child abuse some years ago, was considered a suspect in the disappearance. The mother's family was split. Some thought she had something to do with the disappearance citing suspicious things the boy had said at various family gatherings, while others vociferously defended her, claiming the rest of the family was 'jealous of her good looks and would say anything to undermine her life'.

Police obtained a search warrant on the basis of a random comment the mother had made to the press. 'You get down to that river and you search,' she demanded. She had said this two days before the boy's body was discovered. William was on TV again. He announced that, as a result of the search a photograph of the boy had been found. It showed the child, his neck deeply bruised, apparently dead and was taken on the bank of a river. In fact, after cursory analysis, it was determined the photograph was made on the exact spot the body was discovered. The mother was taken into custody and charged with murder. Later, it was revealed that other items recovered connected the mother to the crime scene, including shoes caked with a certain dried mud that had been kept in a plastic bag in the back of a closet, perfectly preserving the evidence.

The coroner's report indicated the boy had been strangled, his throat crushed. However, it was clear he had survived for several minutes after the assault. In that time blood gathered in the throat and was drawn into the lungs as the boy struggled for breath. The walls of the air passageway swelled in reaction to trauma and pinched closed making breathing more difficult. None of this, the coroner pointed out during testimony, would have been possible had the boy died immediately. The prosecution pointed out that, had the mother sought medical care for the boy after the initial attack, she might have saved his life, but instead elected to take a picture of her dying son as a keepsake then leave him in the cold water to die. This, they claimed, indicated she had a callous disregard for human life which warranted the most severe punishment. The point was reiterated during the sentencing phase.

During the trial the mother sought empathy saying she had done it because she didn't want the father to get custody of the child in the divorce proceedings which were ongoing at the time. She called him a 'scoundrel' who couldn't be trusted to raise a kid correctly. She thought, given the father's drug use, criminal background, and how he regularly beat her, he would raise the boy to be a thug.

When I read this in the paper it made sense. Once, I had a Guinea pig. She had a litter and I would watch her care for the babies. Pressing my face close to the habitat, I would tap the plastic tubing and click my tongue. I guess I stressed her out because she ate one of the piglets as it tried to crawl away. It screamed the whole time she gnawed, starting with its butt and finishing with its head. I guess killing your baby is an instinctual reflex, under the right conditions. Then again, we aren't rodents.

The mother was sentenced to life in prison.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


I would look at Bobo a lot while we watched TV. What he had done had helped people, that's for sure. It made me feel good to have had a part in it. I found myself wondering whether there was something else at work, though. Some force. I mean, what are the odds of us finding those bodies? One, maybe, but two? There had to be something else at work here. Fate, destiny, a cosmic consciousness, something, guiding us.

Or, maybe Bobo was a person reincarnated in the body of a dog. He could have been a master detective whose life's work was unfinished so he came back to complete his assignment. But, why as a dog? Because they have a better sense of smell?

I test him: 'Bobo. What's two plus two?' He looks at me. I over enunciate and speak slowly in case his ability to understand human speech has become dull between incarnations. He cocks his head in an effort to comprehend. 'What's the square root of nine?' He lays his head back on the floor, watches TV, his eyes following the motion. Maybe he didn't speak English. Maybe he was a Chinese detective. I could hire an interpreter. Of course, that would create its own complications.

I marvel at my stupidity and go back to watching TV. It's mindless -- perfect, all things considered.

Bobo (I shouldn't take credit) found the next body in the middle of summer in a mountainside park. We were on a trail about halfway up one of the smaller hills when he took off running. I figured he was chasing squirrel or rabbit, but when he didn't rejoin me, I went back. Calling, I heard him bark, down a slope. He was a few yards off the unpaved access road that parallels the trail in fairly thick underbrush sitting next to the driver's side of a car which had run off the road. It sounds corny, but a chill ran up my spine. Out of habit, I suppose, I approached the car carefully so as not to disturb fragile evidence. It had crashed into a tree, but not too hard. The driver was slumped over the wheel. I tapped the window but he didn't move. Looking closer I saw he had a bullet hole in his forehead. I called William (he had given me his direct number). After the usual questions Bobo and I went home.

This case was one the strangest. I couldn't believe each new revelation I read in the paper. The guy in the car, I'll call him Joe, was shot by a jealous husband, we'll call him Lou. Lou owns a business. He comes in after office hours and finds Joe and his wife (Lou's wife, not Joe's), who was the office manager, talking in a way that, to Lou, meant something was up. The wife admitted during the trial that she and Joe had a relationship, but insisted it wasn't intimate. She said she would have had a sexual thing with Joe, seeing how she and Lou had been discussing divorce for a while and she figured the marriage was over anyway, except Joe was borderline retarded and she didn't feel right about it. 'He was forty on the outside but only, like, fourteen on the inside,' she testified. So, they were just friends. Well, Lou didn't see it that way. The business had been losing money and he thought his wife and Joe were bleeding him dry in order to finance running off together, though he could never explain what that was based on, saying sheepishly in court, 'It was just a hunch.'
So, Lou gets mad and levels accusations. They argue. Both Joe and the wife tell Lou he's crazy. Lou fires Joe, then, as Joe is leaving Lou tells him to wait a minute, goes in the back for his revolver, returns and shoots Joe in the face. Lou and his wife have a screaming match for a couple hours while Joe sits in a chair dead, staring at them. Over the course of the argument, the wife becomes impressed by the fact Joe was jealous enough to shoot a man he thought she was having an affair with. To her, this was a sign the marriage might still be salvageable. Lou, for his part, was touched by how his wife was still interested in him despite the fact he had just killed a man. They realize they were still in love, make up, and decide to give the marriage another go.

They load Joe into his car and Lou drives him out to the mountainside park with his wife following in a company car. They arrange Joe in the driver's seat, point his car down the hill, and release the brake. The car crashed into the tree doing about twenty -- not fast enough, really, to cause a bullet hole to appear in Joe's forehead. As an accident it was suspicious even on casual review.

Over a beer, William told me that when he questioned Lou and his wife, routine considering they were the victim's employers, they made up some ridiculous story about how Joe was upset when he left work and said something about meeting some guy he owed money to and was frightened cause this guy was tough and was, Joe thought, probably a dangerous criminal. They continuously interrupted each other with suddenly remembered details that began 'Oh, yeah, and then he...!' and ended with the other saying, 'Yeah, that's right!' nodding their head. William shook his head and rolled his eyes. 'Fuck,' he said. 'You see a lotta crazy shit in this line of work but I could hardly believe what I was hearing.' All I could do was gaze into my glass slack-jawed and say 'no shit' every now and then.

Lou and his wife's fingerprints were all over the interior of Joe's car. Ballistics matched the bullet in Joe's head to Lou's revolver. Though Lou and his wife cleaned the office, there was a lot of blood splatter hidden behind furniture and in crevices like around window sills, even a couple flecks of Joe's skin, and a shard of his skull. Witnesses testified they saw Lou and his wife put a heavy object that looked like 'a body wrapped in carpet' into the trunk of Joe's car. The carpet itself was found in a storage room, loaded with evidence. The keys to Joe's car were found in Lou's desk. The GPS system in Lou's company car indicated a round-trip to the mountainside park where Joe's body was found. And, as if that weren't enough, there was the sobbing confession upon subsequent questioning that, according to William, went 'on and on'.

Lou got twenty-five years for manslaughter while his wife got twelve for, you know, all the stuff she did.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


The dream. I've had it so many times I know when I'm in it. It's first light. The woods somewhere. Light rain, cool. I'm looking at Bobo. He's sitting next to a patch of fresh dirt. Behind him are several more. They go back into the woods as far as you can see. All about the size of a grave. Bobo turns to look at me. His eyes are more blue than normal. Almost lit up, like a neon sign. He snarls. It's the ugliest thing I've ever seen. He stands and takes a step and I realize he isn't looking at me but something behind me. His lip curls, baring large teeth, and he growls, low and serious. Behind me, very close, I hear the unmistakable sound of the hammer of a revolver being cocked and think 'I hope they take care of Bobo'. It's a ridiculous notion, I know, even while still dreaming.

My hair is wet. It's sweat but it may as well be the rain from the dream. It takes a moment to get my bearings. I pull the covers off to cool down. My tee-shirt is damp. My breathing slows, evens out. As usual, Bobo is there, looking up at me. 'Hi, boy.' I tap the bed and he jumps up, lays beside me. I wrap my right arm around him and extend my left hand into the sunlight streaming through the window onto the bed, enjoying the warmth and crispness of clean sheets. Bobo snuggles his nose under my ear. His tail taps my leg softly a while, then stops.

It's Sunday. I'm glad. Glad I don't have to go to work. Glad I have a job in this economy. Glad it's our special day. Don't know where we're going this time. Didn't plan it this week. Hope we don't find another body, but if we do I guess I'd be glad then, too. In a way.

We'll go get the paper at the corner shop. That way Bobo can get his first pee in and won't be uncomfortable while I make breakfast and read the news. Really, though, I'm not looking forward to it. I used to love reading the paper, especially on Sunday, but not so much anymore.

I pet Bobo, getting sleepy in the sun's warmth. I have to chuckle at the notion he is a person reborn in the body of a dog. The stupid things we think of... My eyes closed I say, 'Bobo. What's the square root of nine?' No response. I half whisper, 'What's two plus two?'

As I drift off Bobo's tail taps my leg three times then, after a moment, once more.





















New Trailer/Stills for 'Battleship'

Apple has a newly cut trailer. First trailer got ripped, this one is better but just so. Unfocused, a little desperate to please and excite, but still, more engaging all in all.

New story elements introduced are promising, especially for those who thought this would be just another movie where we fight giant machines.

Apple has a few new stills, as well.




















Thursday, December 08, 2011

'The Iron Lady' Featurette

I'll admit it. When I saw that first, what was it -- 90 second -- teaser, I thought 'Nice, quality, maybe I'll check it out'. But, the latest trailers, and now this featurette, have changed my mind. Here's a performance by Meryl Streep which raises the bar. How could that be possible? Aren't all her performances that way? No. This one is better. Every nuance, the most subtle variances of expression which bring this character to life, make her real, and evoke sympathy for her plight can be found in this portrayal. I'm not sure I've ever seen  anything like it.

I'll be seeing this movie.

 









Keith Olbermann Reviews 'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy'

It's not often you're treated to a 'must-see' review. A good review of a must-see movie, yes, we get those. But, here Olbermann delivers. You must see this review even if you have no plans whatsoever of seeing Tinker Tailor.

'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy' Featurette








  .

Wednesday, December 07, 2011

Poster/Trailer for 'Jiro Dreams of Sushi'

You gotta watch this trailer.






















The Business

With Kim Masters



'The Three Stooges' Roll Out a Poster

I like this. It's a good graphic.


Apple is running a trailer which comes off both stupider and funnier than I was prepared for.


















Trailer for 'The Cabin in the Woods'

This has a strange vibe. Are they trying to sell a cabin built over an underground site, complete with fully-wired control room with video feeds etc., surrounded by electric fencing so complete not even a bird can get in, in which monsters are released to prey on the campers? Wha?

Tuesday, December 06, 2011

New Stills/Trailer for 'The Darkest Hour'



At least I think they're new. Apple has more in their gallery plus a new trailer that's pretty good.





















Chinese Posters for 'The Flowers of War'

A graphic take on the traditional Asian cherry blossom drawing:


Here's Christian Bale's poster:


























Friday, December 02, 2011

Stills from 'Hugo 3D' Bring Production Value

There's something special about the look of 'Hugo'. You'd think that would be the case seeing how it's a Martin Scorsese film, but I'm struck by the depth of production value in these stills. The unassuming and subtle precision. Am I seeing things, or are the sets and costuming just plain better than what we generally see in high-budget period/fantasy pieces?






Whether I'm seeing things or not, it just plain looks better. A pleasure.



















Help Save the 'Night of the Living Dead' Chapel


Happened across this story. Gary Streiner, the sound tech on George A. Romero's 'Night of the Living Dead', is trying to raise enough money to repair the Evans City cemetery chapel which was featured in the movie. So far, he's raised $7000 but needs about $43000 more. The cemetery has given him a year to raise the funds before they demolish the building.

Go to fixthechapel.com to donate.


















Thursday, December 01, 2011

New 'John Carter' Banners/Posters

Apple has more in way way hi-rez.

















Rubik's Cube Poster for 'The Cabin in the Woods' (Part I?)

Tagline seems appropriate: "You think you know the story." Well, yes, we do. We've seen this kind of thing so many times, so very many times, we can tick off the plot points before they happen without looking up from our popcorn. As a genre, it's been run pretty ragged. So much so I had, in fact, written off this movie until I saw this poster.



Not bad. Gives me reason to hope this might be more than just another...um...schlock cabin-in-the-woods horror flick.

Here's a detail of the Rubik's Cube motif.


Didn't notice that, did you? (Well, you wouldn't have if I hadn't put 'Rubik's Cube' in the title of the post). That's right. The cabin is separated into sections just like a Rubik's Cube. Just what does that mean?

IMDb has this:

A group of friends at a cabin retreat scratch the surface of something so massive and horrific that they can only begin to fathom it as time quickly runs out.

Could there be a timeline warp element to the plot? Like, in one room you're in a timeline where everything is okay, but in the next room you're in a timeline where you've just murdered your friends with an ax, but (da-da-dummmm!) it was in self-defense because they went crazy just after coming out of another room where some evil entity dwells. Yes!! And the conceit is you have to go through the rooms and deal with the challenges found therein in just the right order, in just the right way, to prevent all hell from breaking loose? Something like that? Hmm? Yes, perhaps.

Seems like exactly the kind of thing you'd expect from Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard, who bring us the script and handle the direction. The stuff those guys have dreamt up and/or been involved with... We may indeed be in for a fresh take on this well-trodden plot path through the dark dark hackneyed woods, past the eerie creepy fog-shrouded cliché-ridden lake, into the haauunted glen where...okay I'll stop.

One thing that's already apparent -- "they can only begin to fathom it as time quickly runs out." -- is a not-too-subtle ten-pound hint dropped right on our foot that they're thinking this will be a yearly event. That is, just as our ill-fated protagonists begin to figure out the riddle of Rubik's Cabin, their 90 minutes will be up and we'll have to catch the sequel if we want to see how things develop. So...'The Cabin in the Woods Part 1'?

Nice timing, as 'Saw' and, looks like, 'Scream' have both petered out and 'REC' isn't going anywhere and 'Silent House' isn't franchise material and 'Paranormal Activity' surely can't go on more than, oh, one or two, maybe three, four more movies at most. Yeah -- we need another perennial horror flick and TCitW may be just the ticket. So to speak.

Could be good. (Could be crap, but...) could be good.





















Cleaner still from 'Prometheus'

Some of the most captivating stills I've seen in a while come from 'Prometheus'. We got snaps a couple days back but they were messy lo-rez captures. Here's a great clean picture:


I get the feeling this will be the one image that is most strongly identified with this movie. Like this one from 'Alien':
























New Poster/Banner/Quad/Internet Graphic for 'Haywire'















Best Cinematography: Phedon Papamichael, 'The Ides of March'

Best Cinematography: 'The Ides of March', shot by Phedon Papamichael.

I like this. Papamichael was also the DP for 'Walk the Line', 'Sideways', and '3:10 to Yuma', which all have a relaxed expression. They breathe. In each there's little sense of camera or photographic technique. This is especially true for '3:10 to Yuma'. The POV is always just so. You observe action as you would if you were tagging along. The camera never draws attention to itself or even, it would seem, acknowledges it's there at all. As if the movie was recorded by an invisible observer, rather than a huge unwieldy mechanical rig surrounded by crew and technicians.

Papamichael is directing 'Lost Angeles'. IMDb lists the synopsis:

A homeless convict is released from jail and comes to Los Angeles where he passes himself off as a legitimate photographer and becomes embroiled in a world of celebrity and sleaze.

That's got potential.

At any rate the imagery in this poster is pretty nice. Perfect framing, a good capture.



















Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Poster for 'Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows'

I know the property is silly swashbuckling superficiality, but posters up to this point have had no personality or draw. This one, though, conveys some atmosphere, intrigue, and is a visual play on the title.





















Tuesday, November 29, 2011

New Poster for 'The Innkeepers'

Here's another fantastic poster for 'The Innkeepers':


Simply works. Great dynamic range -- the shadows are murky but you can make out detail, and the lettering near the door is intensely lit, nearly blown, and mellows nicely across the carpet.

Reminds me of posters for spy thrillers from the 60s, especially in the style and layout of the title font. Very retro and used well here. There's also a vague Hitchcock/Saul Bass vibe that I like.

The new tag: "Every room has a secret" fits this poster well. It's refreshing that they change the line in each poster. I can't remember seeing that before.

My only crit is the flashlight beam is too blown and (maybe) too white, too pure. A warmer yellowish/green light would be better, more in keeping with the 70s tone/style.

I'm betting this, or something like it, will be what they use closer to release. Previous posters have been nice, very artsy, but not mainstream. Maybe too intense for average moviegoers. This style is more commercial, accessible, and will draw an audience.

So far, a great campaign and this graphic meets the high standard set by previous one-sheets. What's clear is somebody cares about this movie. Along with the excellent trailers, good signs.


















Patton Oswalt on Charlize Theron's Commitment

Getty Images

He delivered at the Gotham Awards. While introducing Charlize Theron, who received a career tribute award, Oswalt said (from Carpetbagger's coverage):

"By the way," he continued, addressing Ms. Theron in the audience, "I know that everyone gets on you for, 'oh she gained all this weight for 'Monster' " – the role that won her an Oscar –"and it was amazing.' I gained 40 pounds for 'Young Adult' 20 years before Diablo wrote the script. That is real commitment!"

Not bad. Neither is Theron's dress.



















Monday, November 28, 2011

Keanu Reeves on the '47 Ronin' Set


Some snapshots from the set of '47 Ronin' have hit the web. Here's Reeves in Samurai regalia looking fairly authentic (though there's not much to see the kimono crosses left side [the peaceful yin side] over right [the aggressive yang side] which is correct).

Directed by Carl Rinsch, which doesn't tell us much, but written by Hossein Amini, who gave us a nicely cut subtley powerful character-driven action flick in 'Drive', which gives me reason to look forward.














Monday, November 21, 2011

James Cameron Pitches 'Titanic 3D'

<a href='http://video.uk.msn.com/?mkt=en-gb&vid=96c5a8f4-e806-4e62-a33a-77d91fc15250&src=SLPl:embed::uuids' target='_new' title='MSN Exclusive: James Cameron on re-mastering Titanic'>Video: MSN Exclusive: James Cameron on re-mastering Titanic</a>









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'We Bought a Zoo' Crew Covers THR


So, THR writes up 'We Bought a Zoo'. Nice cover. No Matt Damon, but nice. I was struck by this excerpt:

DAMON LOVE BEING WOOED; DIDN'T WANT A "DISNEY VERSION" OF THE MOVIE

Crowe traveled to the set of the Coen brothers' True Grit in Austin and presented Damon with a script, a CD of songs that he'd burned and a copy of Local Hero -- a perfect little 1983 movie in which Peter Riegert played an oil-company executive sent to buy a remote village in Scotland, to woo him for Zoo. "My instructions were to not just read the script and make a decision," Damon says. Crowe had brought all the tools in his kit -- music, film and words -- not only to convey what he had in mind for this movie but to envelop Damon in the world he meant to create. "He said: 'I know what you're going to be afraid of; the bad version of this movie is really a movie you don't want to be in. That's what I'm afraid of too,' " Damon says.

Have to admit I'm glad to hear they at least tried to avoid 'the Disney version'. Just couldn't sit through that. Still have my doubts but this is good news.

But, what really catches my eye is the mention of 'Local Hero'. Have you seen this film? One of the most charming and affecting movies I've seen. About a burned-out schlubby middle of the pack oil company exec, Mac (played by Peter Riegert), who is sent to a beautiful bay in Scotland to buy up all the property from the locals so the boss (Burt Lancaster) can build an oil refinery on the site.

I know -- doesn't sound charming -- but the way the villagers' easy-going natural day-to-day life transforms Mac from a jaded city-dweller to a lover of nature, a reborn man really, makes for one of the most gratifying stories you're likely to see in a movie.

There's one scene in particular I love. Mac heads out to convince the only person who won't relinquish his property, Ben Knox (the local eccentric played by Fulton MacKay), to sell his strip of beach. Knox has Mac sit by the fire to work out details. Mac is eager and confident, making it clear the oil company has very deep pockets and will make Knox a rich man if he sells. Knox balks at the idea but offers a deal. He reaches down and scoops up a handful of sand and says he'll sell his beach to Mac in exchange for one dollar for every grain of sand he's holding. Mac's jaw drops, looking at the fistful of sand. Knox spills some and says, "Oop! Just saved you a few dollars." Mac eyes the man, sees he's not bluffing, but wonders if he's totally crazy. After a tense moment Mac suggests this is no way to make a business transaction. Knox holds fast -- that's the deal: a dollar for each grain of sand he's holding and the beach is Mac's -- take it or leave it. Finally, Mac caves saying he's in no position to offer that much money. Knox drops the sand saying, "Well! You could have had yourself a deal. For, I cannot hold more than ten thousand grains of sand in my hand, give or take." Mac narrows his eyes feeling like a fool. Knox beams, having made his point.

The scene is a distillation of the film's thematic subtext. A gem. Rewarding to watch every time.

'Local Hero' is uplifting, genuine, its sincerity catches you off guard. It's surely Riegert's best role, and one of Lancaster's best as well.


That 'Local Hero' was used by Cameron Crowe to help convince Matt Damon to make 'We Bought a Zoo' is promising. At least it says something about their intentions. If Zoo delivers even half the charm of 'Local Hero' it'll be a hit. Like I said, I have my doubts but I'm as jaded as Mac was.

We'll see. Zoo will be released two days before X-mas -- good timing for a flick like this.

If you haven't seen 'Local Hero', check it out. I can say with some confidence you'll be glad you did.
























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