Wednesday, August 31, 2011
New Banner Posters for 'Drive'
The promo materials for this flick have been supremely confident. Like, this first banner -- shouldn't work, shouldn't have been released, but it's great. How I can't figure. Ryan Gosling (the star of the movie no less) has his back turned -- yet this graphic clicks perfectly.
Pure confidence. They know they have a winner.
This one has beautiful long lines. Great contrast of clutter vs. negative space in the opposing corners. Nice arch across the top. The angle of the barrel of the pistol lines up with the inside and outside edges of the side-view mirror and the edge of the steering wheel. Upper right corner of window is tucked nicely under Gosling's nose (an odd thing perhaps but, graphically, works).
Great moody capture of Ron Perlman.
And...Albert Brooks delivers. Notably, his is the only banner with the title on the right.
Even the tag "There are no clean getaways" has a nice zing. Flows, thematic, hints at plot.
Great banners.
Pure confidence. They know they have a winner.
This one has beautiful long lines. Great contrast of clutter vs. negative space in the opposing corners. Nice arch across the top. The angle of the barrel of the pistol lines up with the inside and outside edges of the side-view mirror and the edge of the steering wheel. Upper right corner of window is tucked nicely under Gosling's nose (an odd thing perhaps but, graphically, works).
Great moody capture of Ron Perlman.
And...Albert Brooks delivers. Notably, his is the only banner with the title on the right.
Even the tag "There are no clean getaways" has a nice zing. Flows, thematic, hints at plot.
Great banners.
Tell-All Trailer for 'The Double'
A lot of people were dismayed when the trailer for 'Dream House' with Daniel Craig, Rachel Weisz, and Naomi Watts rolled out. Loaded with spoilers, both obvious and tough to spot, which tipped the entire plot, twists and all, the teaser gave everything that made the movie worth watching away and left potential viewers with little to look forward to.
Now, Apple delivers the hi-def tell-all trailer for 'The Double' which comes loaded with spoilers as well. Huge spoilers.
I guess that's the way these days. Everyone complains trailers give too much away. I agree. This one, though. Wow. Totally gives away an Act II reveal that the plot revolves around, depends on to maintain suspense. This trailer fillets anything that might have been thrilling right out of the movie. Check it out.
Here's the boilerplate poster.
Now, Apple delivers the hi-def tell-all trailer for 'The Double' which comes loaded with spoilers as well. Huge spoilers.
I guess that's the way these days. Everyone complains trailers give too much away. I agree. This one, though. Wow. Totally gives away an Act II reveal that the plot revolves around, depends on to maintain suspense. This trailer fillets anything that might have been thrilling right out of the movie. Check it out.
Here's the boilerplate poster.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Monday, August 29, 2011
Canadian Poster for 'Tucker & Dale vs. Evil'
This Canadian poster captures the tone perfectly. Way too graphic for the prudish US market, obviously. But, funny as hell, smart and irreverent.
Here's the more conventional US one sheet. It's good, but we've seen this kind of poster so many times... Totally soulless -- kind of silly by comparison. It's a shame Americans are so backward. (Sigh) I'm moving to Europe...
Script, camera, direction in 'Tucker & Dale' are all a cut above. Looking forward to this. Will buy on Blu-ray if available (Yes. I'm studying this flick).
Alan Tudyk, especially, delivers beautiful deadpan (very smart) comedy. Looking forward to more from him. He's coming up in 'Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter', 'Conception', and 'Strange Frame: Love and Sax'.
This, along with movies like 'Attack the Block', modestly budgeted but garnering praise from critics and fans, are warning shots for big Hollywood wannabe blockbusters that have a harder and harder time making their budgets back.
Movies like this are probably what we'll see more of in the future -- less expensive, well written and directed, with big hearts, easy and fun to watch, rewarding on every level.
Here's the more conventional US one sheet. It's good, but we've seen this kind of poster so many times... Totally soulless -- kind of silly by comparison. It's a shame Americans are so backward. (Sigh) I'm moving to Europe...
Script, camera, direction in 'Tucker & Dale' are all a cut above. Looking forward to this. Will buy on Blu-ray if available (Yes. I'm studying this flick).
Alan Tudyk, especially, delivers beautiful deadpan (very smart) comedy. Looking forward to more from him. He's coming up in 'Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter', 'Conception', and 'Strange Frame: Love and Sax'.
This, along with movies like 'Attack the Block', modestly budgeted but garnering praise from critics and fans, are warning shots for big Hollywood wannabe blockbusters that have a harder and harder time making their budgets back.
Movies like this are probably what we'll see more of in the future -- less expensive, well written and directed, with big hearts, easy and fun to watch, rewarding on every level.
Friday, August 26, 2011
Fantastic New Trailer for 'The Woman'
First attempt was kind of an odd teaser that went on too long. Played a little chunky. This new trailer flows. Has great energy.
This flick could be a gem.
,
This flick could be a gem.
,
'Tucker & Dale vs. Evil' Poster/Trailer/Featurette/Clip
Condensed Version of 'In Time' aka The Latest Trailer
I'm thinking every major plot point is hit in this 2:30 mega-trailer.
.
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Red Band Trailer for 'Don't be Afraid of the Dark'
Okay... Did not know you could have such a thing for this movie, but here it is. The 'red band' trailer.
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'Don't be Afraid of the Dark' Poster
Combines all previous elements. Adds the cool, though a bit dated, camera motif. Nice column with Escher-esque ghoul hands. Fundamental horror color scheme -- red and black is all you need. All on a foundation of little nasty mischievous hairless rat/raccoon beasties that live in the poster's basement.
The tag works: "Fear is never just make believe." Shouldn't be all caps, but I quibble.
Very nice. A classic.
The tag works: "Fear is never just make believe." Shouldn't be all caps, but I quibble.
Very nice. A classic.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Improved Trailer for 'Atrocious'
Previous trailers played totally generic -- like just another 'found footage' thriller. This one amps up the scares, adds a bit of flare, sets the movie apart from the pack (a tad).
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International Trailer for 'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy'
Can't really remember when I was this impressed by a trailer.
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International (French) Drop Dead Trailer for 'Drive'
Here's the international (French) drop dead star-making poster for 'Drive'.
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Zoe Saldana Learns to Take a Fall
'Colombiana' stunt school.
When the stunt guy is missing an eye...? Is that a good sign or a bad sign?
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When the stunt guy is missing an eye...? Is that a good sign or a bad sign?
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International (French) Poster for 'Drive'
Just great. I've said it before -- Ryan Gosling has become a star as a result of the marketing campaign for this one movie. If he had done nothing before and did nothing after, the trailers and posters for 'Drive' would still make him a movie star. The movie wouldn't even need to open.
This movie is off the scale, and all we've seen are a couple clips, trailers, and these killer posters.
Corner-to-corner perfect. Even better than the last poster and it was stellar.
Wow!
This movie is off the scale, and all we've seen are a couple clips, trailers, and these killer posters.
Corner-to-corner perfect. Even better than the last poster and it was stellar.
Wow!
'Father's Day' Shocksploitation Poster
Designed by Tom Hodge, the same guy that did one of the best posters of the year, 'Hobo with a Shotgun'.
A few comments by Hodge:
The title design was supplied for this one and the design is quite a square block so i had to center things around it in the layout as its not a format which i could just run along the bottom of the poster. I then worked the main characters in a sort of pyramid form (with them almost coming out of the title and looming away into the distance... a bit of a homage to the man who loved cat dancing poster there!) surround by the flames which work great as a vehicle to frame the characters and they also do have a meaning... but you need to watch the film to find out what!!
Hit the link (above) for the rest. For reference, here's the poster for 'The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing':
Here's the Hobo poster.
Absolutely great. Love this guy's work. Here's his blog aka The Dude Designs.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Sam Shepard's 'Blackthorn' Gets a Poster and Trailer
Sam Shepard, possibly the coolest actor around, is James Blackthorn, aka Butch Cassidy. Here's the poster. Apple has a beautiful hi-def trailer.
Can't wait for this one.
Can't wait for this one.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Very Fine Poster for 'The Raven'
Who knew? 'The Raven' is looking better all the time. This poster simply knocks it out of the park.
Classy. Macabre. Elegant. Beautiful. Proper. How often do you say that about a one sheet?
I even like the tag: The only one who can stop a serial killer is the one who inspired him. That's nice.
Love it.
Classy. Macabre. Elegant. Beautiful. Proper. How often do you say that about a one sheet?
I even like the tag: The only one who can stop a serial killer is the one who inspired him. That's nice.
Love it.
Fun Schlocky Poster for 'Episode 50'
What sold me is the knowing tagline:
That, plus it's British -- they've got a sense of humor. And the expression on the skull's face. And I'm just so sick of movies depicting a team of researchers going into an abandoned insane asylum then disappearing -- Just how many of those are there? Shouldn't developers be building malls or something on that land? -- and it looks like the makers of this flick are too but wanted to have some fun with the premise.
All in all, reminds me of Dr. Phibes.
Over the course of three years, a television crew of paranormal inspectors disproved 49 cases of supernatural contact. This is episode 50.
That, plus it's British -- they've got a sense of humor. And the expression on the skull's face. And I'm just so sick of movies depicting a team of researchers going into an abandoned insane asylum then disappearing -- Just how many of those are there? Shouldn't developers be building malls or something on that land? -- and it looks like the makers of this flick are too but wanted to have some fun with the premise.
All in all, reminds me of Dr. Phibes.
Monday, August 22, 2011
German Poster for 'Margin Call' (Der Grosse Crash)
I like this better than the domestic version. Towering buildings overhead, ready to topple down onto us... Thematic. Good layout.
International Poster for 'Colombiana'
No clue what language that is but the graphic totally works. Nice yin/yang color scheme.
I'm thinking this movie will find an audience.
I'm thinking this movie will find an audience.
'Straw Dogs' Remake Finally Gets Good (Character) Posters
Everybody had lots to say, mostly negative, about the posters for Rod Lurie's remake of Sam Peckinpah's 'Straw Dogs'. I certainly didn't like them. Too conceptual, not well executed.
Now, we get character one sheets for Kate Bosworth, James Marsden, and Alexander Skarsgård. These totally abandon the attempt at homage to the original poster in favor of a contemporary take that works. The taglines are a bit obvious maybe but they delineate each character's motivation pretty clearly (a necessary thing I think) and the graphics will appeal to younger moviegoers, who probably couldn't have cared less this is a remake of a Dustin Hoffman movie from before they were born and, to whom, the first poster(s), which were a tad cerebral, meant little.
Far more on-the-nose, much cooler looking, more accessible. A good move.
Now, we get character one sheets for Kate Bosworth, James Marsden, and Alexander Skarsgård. These totally abandon the attempt at homage to the original poster in favor of a contemporary take that works. The taglines are a bit obvious maybe but they delineate each character's motivation pretty clearly (a necessary thing I think) and the graphics will appeal to younger moviegoers, who probably couldn't have cared less this is a remake of a Dustin Hoffman movie from before they were born and, to whom, the first poster(s), which were a tad cerebral, meant little.
Far more on-the-nose, much cooler looking, more accessible. A good move.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Very Red Band Trailer for 'The Family Tree'
Don't know where this one has been hiding. Trailer is worth a look.
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Friday, August 19, 2011
Teaser Trailer for 'Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance' Rolls Out
Okay, I could care less about movies like this -- usually. Almost always too schlocky. But, the teaser for 'Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance' pretty much delivers. Visuals are top-drawer. Effects look great. There's the hint of theme and character. Nic Cage looks better than he has. Movie could be worth checking out.
Apple has the hi-def goods (the only way to watch this one).
Apple has the hi-def goods (the only way to watch this one).
Benedict Cumberbatch Gets a 'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy' Poster
Honestly, I'm getting tired of the motif. None of these compare to Gary Oldman's -- that one had character. They've gotten a bit generic.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
'Underworld: Awakening' Trailer
I can't believe these keep getting made, but have to admit this looks pretty fresh.
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Wednesday, August 17, 2011
What's Safe to say About the Poster for 'Safe'
There's a lot about this poster worth noting.
Starting with brass tacks and moving to the more aesthetic:
1: No tagline
"There's only one safe way out." "How far would you go to keep your loved ones safe?" You know. That kind of thing. It's missing. By itself, it doesn't mean that much, but for a Statham flick it's a bit conspicuous in its absence. Most action flicks, and definitely most Statham action flicks, have taglines on the poster. For 'Killer Elite' it's 'May the best man live'. 'The Mechanic': Someone has to fix the problems. 'Crank: High Voltage' went with: He was dead...but he got better. 'Transporter 3' used: If you need to arrive safe and in one piece -- hire a professional (more of a tag paragraph). 'Death Race': Get ready for a killer ride.
Does the lack of a cheesy tagline on the poster for 'Safe' mean anything? Maybe not. But, taken with other indications, could be.
2: The title
'Safe'. Not very Statham-y (refer to the titles in item #1). Back in 1995, Julianne Moore made a movie called 'Safe'. It was a very intellectual talky indie flick with a very indie title that Moore was perfect for. It's fair to say 'Safe' is atypical for a title of a Statham movie.
3: Hiding the star
Usually, Statham is front and center on his posters. Of course. He would be. He's the star. What are you going to do? Hide him. However, that's exactly what they do in this poster. There is a guy there, and we know that's Statham but, if you didn't know, could you identify him? No way.
That definitely says something about the plot of 'Safe'. It's so different from the Statham flicks we know and (mostly) love they didn't even want to put the guy's face on the poster. This is unusual enough as to qualify as making a statement.
4: Vertical alignment of the title
Why is the word 'Safe' in such big letters and aligned vertically? Because...that precludes a large graphic or still from the movie from being used. With the lettering going from top to bottom, filling almost the entire poster, there's no room for anything else.
Okay, why do that? The most likely candidate: There's no appropriate Statham-esque imagery. The movie might not have an exploding car, crashing helicopter, or fireball of any kind. There might not be a suitable visual to use on the one sheet.
The other problem with imagery is: just how do you convey what the story is about when you have a slugline like: A former elite agent (Statham) endeavors to rescue a 12-year-old girl (Chan).
The 'Safe' poster does have an image that sort of conveys this storyline but it's tiny, and...safe. The only movie with a similar storyline I can think of is 'Man on Fire' and I've always chuckled looking at that poster, which showed Denzel protecting Dakota Fanning thus:
Not bad except, in order to get Denzel's hand that low on Fanning's body (to keep it off her chest -- just not the look/feel they were going for), they elongated Washington's arm by several inches. The result is a tad unfortunate.
A poster with this design may have worked for 'Safe' but, all things considered, I'm glad they didn't go that route. Imagine where Statham's right hand would be if he reached out and put it on the girl's body (like in the 'Man on Fire' poster). Now imagine how bad it would look if his right arm were stretched out like Denzel's.
As is, his hand is safely in his pocket and his arms are the same length. Call it a lesson learned.
5: Color scheme. Black just doesn't say 'action'. The red lettering does, maybe, but a solid black background says 'serious', 'heavy', even 'dramatic'.
6: Graphic design. Taken separately from elements like color, font, layout etc., there's still something left over. The 'look' of the poster. It has that retro feel. It looks like folded paper. The edges are 'dirty', like they were white at one time but that was years ago.
Why? Could the plot be a more character-driven affair like a 70s movie? Could they be signaling us this isn't a typical Statham flash-bang plot-driven movie?
Now, let's look at stuff not on the poster.
1: Genre:
'Safe' is listed by IMDb as a crime flick. Not usual for Statham. A lot of his movies are about criminals, but they're action flicks with criminal elements. His movies are almost always action thrillers that may also carry a crime tag. As far as genre goes 'Safe' doesn't fit with Statham's other movies.
2: The release date.
October 28th. We don't get a lot of pure action over the Halloween weekend. There's horror (of course) and counter programming, usually a comedy, something foreign or period, nothing for kids. Pure action plays best in the summer, and cruddy action after the first of the year.
This year, at Halloween, there's 'The Thing', 'Paranormal Activity 3', and 'Red State' (horror for sure) taking care of the scares. 'Anonymous' delivers period intrigue. 'Johnny English Reborn' has the yucks covered, and 'Like Crazy' has counter-programming firmly under control.
Also opening is 'In Time'. That's sort of action, but it's got a sci-fi element so it's not the 'rob banks, crash cars, and blow things up brand' of action. But it's close, and this is another clue. If 'Safe' is a run-of-the-mill Statham action flick would it go up against 'In Time'? Why do that? Why not pick another slot? There has to be something about 'Safe' that makes it different enough from 'In Time' not to split the target demographic and, thereby, shoot itself in the foot.
I don't think the fact that one has sci-fi elements and the other doesn't explains it. I'm thinking 'Safe' has something else, maybe a depth, or a character thing, or even a dialogue-driven feel that 'In Time' won't emphasize. Something...just don't know what. 'In Time' may have some stiff competition.
3: Lastly, but certainly not least, the director.
Boaz Yakin. He has some action in his background but most of it was done a long time ago and it doesn't quite fit the bill genre-wise. The closest one to pure action (I haven't seen it) is 'Fresh' from 1994, which he both wrote and directed, but that looks more like a dramatic thriller. It was distributed by Miramax and they just didn't do pure action.
He co-wrote 'The Rookie', directed by and starring Clint Eastwood, with Charlie Sheen, but that's comedic crime. There's a co-story credit for 'From Dusk Till Dawn 2' but that's hokey crime/comedy/horror. He co-wrote 'Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time' but we know that ain't action. It's more fantasy with swashbuckling action/thriller elements.
So, what does Yakin like to direct? 'A Price Above Rubies', drama, with Renée Zellweger, which he also wrote. 'Remember the Titans' with Denzel Washington -- pure sports drama. 'Uptown Girl' with Dakota Fanning and Brittany Murphy -- comedy/romance. Yakin is not an action director. He's much more a go-to guy for dramatic, character-driven stuff.
Judging from the poster and other things, 'Safe' may have some action, but it's not your typical Statham movie. It may represent a branching out by the actor. He might be preparing the next phase. He's not getting any younger. Of course, he's not leaving the genre just yet. His next three projects listed at IMDb are 'Parker', a crime/thriller "centered on a thief who lives by a code of honor that includes never stealing money from people who need it," 'Echelon', about "SAS agent Nick Stone (who is) caught between the Russian Mafia and western agents trying to get their hands on the Echelon computer program," and 'The Expendables 2' -- we know what that's about.
Nonetheless, there's nothing in the poster for 'Safe' that says 'pure action' and lots that might indicate a departure from Statham's usual fare.
I think a lot of people would like to see a Statham movie that wasn't just another blow-em-up, and I think he's an underrated actor who could carry such a film. Here's hoping.
Starting with brass tacks and moving to the more aesthetic:
1: No tagline
"There's only one safe way out." "How far would you go to keep your loved ones safe?" You know. That kind of thing. It's missing. By itself, it doesn't mean that much, but for a Statham flick it's a bit conspicuous in its absence. Most action flicks, and definitely most Statham action flicks, have taglines on the poster. For 'Killer Elite' it's 'May the best man live'. 'The Mechanic': Someone has to fix the problems. 'Crank: High Voltage' went with: He was dead...but he got better. 'Transporter 3' used: If you need to arrive safe and in one piece -- hire a professional (more of a tag paragraph). 'Death Race': Get ready for a killer ride.
Does the lack of a cheesy tagline on the poster for 'Safe' mean anything? Maybe not. But, taken with other indications, could be.
2: The title
'Safe'. Not very Statham-y (refer to the titles in item #1). Back in 1995, Julianne Moore made a movie called 'Safe'. It was a very intellectual talky indie flick with a very indie title that Moore was perfect for. It's fair to say 'Safe' is atypical for a title of a Statham movie.
3: Hiding the star
Usually, Statham is front and center on his posters. Of course. He would be. He's the star. What are you going to do? Hide him. However, that's exactly what they do in this poster. There is a guy there, and we know that's Statham but, if you didn't know, could you identify him? No way.
That definitely says something about the plot of 'Safe'. It's so different from the Statham flicks we know and (mostly) love they didn't even want to put the guy's face on the poster. This is unusual enough as to qualify as making a statement.
4: Vertical alignment of the title
Why is the word 'Safe' in such big letters and aligned vertically? Because...that precludes a large graphic or still from the movie from being used. With the lettering going from top to bottom, filling almost the entire poster, there's no room for anything else.
Okay, why do that? The most likely candidate: There's no appropriate Statham-esque imagery. The movie might not have an exploding car, crashing helicopter, or fireball of any kind. There might not be a suitable visual to use on the one sheet.
The other problem with imagery is: just how do you convey what the story is about when you have a slugline like: A former elite agent (Statham) endeavors to rescue a 12-year-old girl (Chan).
The 'Safe' poster does have an image that sort of conveys this storyline but it's tiny, and...safe. The only movie with a similar storyline I can think of is 'Man on Fire' and I've always chuckled looking at that poster, which showed Denzel protecting Dakota Fanning thus:
Not bad except, in order to get Denzel's hand that low on Fanning's body (to keep it off her chest -- just not the look/feel they were going for), they elongated Washington's arm by several inches. The result is a tad unfortunate.
A poster with this design may have worked for 'Safe' but, all things considered, I'm glad they didn't go that route. Imagine where Statham's right hand would be if he reached out and put it on the girl's body (like in the 'Man on Fire' poster). Now imagine how bad it would look if his right arm were stretched out like Denzel's.
As is, his hand is safely in his pocket and his arms are the same length. Call it a lesson learned.
5: Color scheme. Black just doesn't say 'action'. The red lettering does, maybe, but a solid black background says 'serious', 'heavy', even 'dramatic'.
6: Graphic design. Taken separately from elements like color, font, layout etc., there's still something left over. The 'look' of the poster. It has that retro feel. It looks like folded paper. The edges are 'dirty', like they were white at one time but that was years ago.
Why? Could the plot be a more character-driven affair like a 70s movie? Could they be signaling us this isn't a typical Statham flash-bang plot-driven movie?
Now, let's look at stuff not on the poster.
1: Genre:
'Safe' is listed by IMDb as a crime flick. Not usual for Statham. A lot of his movies are about criminals, but they're action flicks with criminal elements. His movies are almost always action thrillers that may also carry a crime tag. As far as genre goes 'Safe' doesn't fit with Statham's other movies.
2: The release date.
October 28th. We don't get a lot of pure action over the Halloween weekend. There's horror (of course) and counter programming, usually a comedy, something foreign or period, nothing for kids. Pure action plays best in the summer, and cruddy action after the first of the year.
This year, at Halloween, there's 'The Thing', 'Paranormal Activity 3', and 'Red State' (horror for sure) taking care of the scares. 'Anonymous' delivers period intrigue. 'Johnny English Reborn' has the yucks covered, and 'Like Crazy' has counter-programming firmly under control.
Also opening is 'In Time'. That's sort of action, but it's got a sci-fi element so it's not the 'rob banks, crash cars, and blow things up brand' of action. But it's close, and this is another clue. If 'Safe' is a run-of-the-mill Statham action flick would it go up against 'In Time'? Why do that? Why not pick another slot? There has to be something about 'Safe' that makes it different enough from 'In Time' not to split the target demographic and, thereby, shoot itself in the foot.
I don't think the fact that one has sci-fi elements and the other doesn't explains it. I'm thinking 'Safe' has something else, maybe a depth, or a character thing, or even a dialogue-driven feel that 'In Time' won't emphasize. Something...just don't know what. 'In Time' may have some stiff competition.
3: Lastly, but certainly not least, the director.
Boaz Yakin. He has some action in his background but most of it was done a long time ago and it doesn't quite fit the bill genre-wise. The closest one to pure action (I haven't seen it) is 'Fresh' from 1994, which he both wrote and directed, but that looks more like a dramatic thriller. It was distributed by Miramax and they just didn't do pure action.
He co-wrote 'The Rookie', directed by and starring Clint Eastwood, with Charlie Sheen, but that's comedic crime. There's a co-story credit for 'From Dusk Till Dawn 2' but that's hokey crime/comedy/horror. He co-wrote 'Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time' but we know that ain't action. It's more fantasy with swashbuckling action/thriller elements.
So, what does Yakin like to direct? 'A Price Above Rubies', drama, with Renée Zellweger, which he also wrote. 'Remember the Titans' with Denzel Washington -- pure sports drama. 'Uptown Girl' with Dakota Fanning and Brittany Murphy -- comedy/romance. Yakin is not an action director. He's much more a go-to guy for dramatic, character-driven stuff.
Judging from the poster and other things, 'Safe' may have some action, but it's not your typical Statham movie. It may represent a branching out by the actor. He might be preparing the next phase. He's not getting any younger. Of course, he's not leaving the genre just yet. His next three projects listed at IMDb are 'Parker', a crime/thriller "centered on a thief who lives by a code of honor that includes never stealing money from people who need it," 'Echelon', about "SAS agent Nick Stone (who is) caught between the Russian Mafia and western agents trying to get their hands on the Echelon computer program," and 'The Expendables 2' -- we know what that's about.
Nonetheless, there's nothing in the poster for 'Safe' that says 'pure action' and lots that might indicate a departure from Statham's usual fare.
I think a lot of people would like to see a Statham movie that wasn't just another blow-em-up, and I think he's an underrated actor who could carry such a film. Here's hoping.
French Poster for 'Carnage'
aka 'Le Dieu du Carnage' (The God of Carnage) which just has a cool ring to it. They should keep that title for the US release.
'Puncture' Trailer Doesn't Play Like its Synopsis Reads
The synopsis is a real snoozer:
“Mike Weiss (Chris Evans) is a talented young Houston lawyer and a functioning drug addict. Paul Danziger (co-director Mark Kassen), his longtime friend and partner, is the straight-laced and responsible yin to Mike’s yang. Their mom-and-pop personal injury law firm is getting by, but things really get interesting when they decide to take on a case involving Vicky (Vinessa Shaw), a local ER nurse, who is pricked by a contaminated needle on the job. As Weiss and Danziger dig deeper into the case, a health care and pharmaceutical conspiracy teeters on exposure and heavyweight attorneys move in on the defense. Out of their league but invested in their own principles, the mounting pressure of the case pushes the two underdog lawyers and their business to the breaking point.”
Sounds like a movie of the week. Seems boring even for a courtroom procedural. You might be able to weave that storyline into a good novel, but a movie? Straight to video, rental for a rainy day, at best.
But, the trailer... This makes you want to run out and see the flick:
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“Mike Weiss (Chris Evans) is a talented young Houston lawyer and a functioning drug addict. Paul Danziger (co-director Mark Kassen), his longtime friend and partner, is the straight-laced and responsible yin to Mike’s yang. Their mom-and-pop personal injury law firm is getting by, but things really get interesting when they decide to take on a case involving Vicky (Vinessa Shaw), a local ER nurse, who is pricked by a contaminated needle on the job. As Weiss and Danziger dig deeper into the case, a health care and pharmaceutical conspiracy teeters on exposure and heavyweight attorneys move in on the defense. Out of their league but invested in their own principles, the mounting pressure of the case pushes the two underdog lawyers and their business to the breaking point.”
Sounds like a movie of the week. Seems boring even for a courtroom procedural. You might be able to weave that storyline into a good novel, but a movie? Straight to video, rental for a rainy day, at best.
But, the trailer... This makes you want to run out and see the flick:
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Why I Like Movies
The way this trailer plays, the way I feel watching, is the reason I like to watch movies.
If the movie delivers what the trailer promises it'll be a hit. (The first for CBS Films?)
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If the movie delivers what the trailer promises it'll be a hit. (The first for CBS Films?)
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Mark Strong gets a 'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy' Poster
These are starting to look the same. Getting a bit watered down. The posters with Colin Firth and Tom Hardy held their own, but just. This one for Strong, though, kinda just is.
It's okay but lacks the gravitas of the others.
Why is the first one with Gary Oldman so much better?
Captures the tone of the story very nicely.
It's okay but lacks the gravitas of the others.
Why is the first one with Gary Oldman so much better?
Captures the tone of the story very nicely.
'Red Tails' Gets a Poster
That just doesn't quite do it. Not bad, but... I figured it would be better.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Pure Silver 'Star Wars' Coins
Add this to your must-have list. For about $400 you can have a set (there are two) of pure silver $2 'Star Wars' coins. Minted in New Zealand, the price includes a case in the shape of either Darth Vader's helmet or the Millennium Falcon (which you gotta see).
Story at Cnet (with pics of the cases) and The Register
New Clip from 'Don't be Afraid of the Dark'
You can see this coming a mile away but, still, it delivers. Nice camera, lighting, design. Of course, that's to be expected from a Guillermo del Toro
production.
Kids will love this -- so will their parents.
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production.
Kids will love this -- so will their parents.
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Monday, August 15, 2011
What Really Killed 'The Lone Ranger'
Please. Come on. 'It would cost too much'? Excuse me while I fall over for dramatic effect. What, exactly, about a Lone Ranger movie would make production costs run to $250 million as Disney suggested? We're not talking 'The Lone Ranger & Aliens' yes? I mean, this is a guy who resides in the old west, rides a horse, and fights the bad guys. Right?
So, what would they have spent $250m on? The nearest parallel for a big-budget western would be 'Cowboys & Aliens'. That flick, with all the CGI you'd expect from a movie with a title like that, cost $160m.
So, you keep the cowboys (and Indians) but lose the aliens with their spaceships dropping plasma bombs and what's so expensive? What killed The Lone Ranger was the online thud that occurred when the movie was announced. There was no splash when the news hit. No web-wide hootin-n-hollerin. The announcement just sat there. It got what you might call utilitarian coverage. Obligatory write ups. But, steam? No.
Over at ClevverMovies YouTube page, in response to the question "Will you be checking out the Lone Ranger when it hits the big screen?, comments were fairly dead:
@Vgirl0829: Highly doubtful....I like him, just not in this role. And why is because he's not Native American, and no one is going to buy that he is. Unless of course they're that oblivious or ignorant.
And they go on like that. There's the most unengaging talk about what percentage Cherokee Johnny Depp is. Not one person wanted to see the movie. That's just not typical. Not a single OMG! I love this! or I can't f#%ing wait!!!!! No geek love at all.
In reporting Disney had pulled the plug The Orlando Sentinel said of the idea, "It sounded crazy. It sounded dumb." They probably tipped their hand with this comment a little more than they should have but, yeah, exactly. Sure, they waited until the project was dead before saying what they really thought, but that's exactly right -- that's what everyone thought -- they just didn't say it. But, online, when there's no overwhelming love for a movie (like this), that's a big fat 'meh' even if nobody says 'meh'.
It sounded like a dumb idea and I think Disney knew this, but weren't sure. That's why they made the announcement the movie was a go. Not because it was, because they wanted to see if anyone gave a damn. Nobody did.
That's the new thing. Throw an announcement at the internet, see what bounces. We get this all the time. Like, before a big movie opens, the announcement that a sequel is planned and the script is already written. Sometimes it is, sometimes it ain't. But, you make the announcement to make the movie you do have, the one that's opening in a week, look better.
Studios can't afford to do things old-school anymore. The 'make-any-crap-you-want-then-market-the-hell-out-of-it-and-rake-the-profits' approach doesn't necessarily cut it anymore. (See 'Battleship').
'It would cost too much' is a smoke screen. A polite way of backing out of a bad idea. It wouldn't have cost $250m to shoot 'Lone Ranger', couldn't have. It would have cost much less, however, it would have made back even less than that. There was no fan-boy critical mass. From the feel of it, 'The Lone Ranger' would have flopped. As such, Disney made a plausible sounding excuse and pulled the plug. Total savings: 100% of all costs.
Smart move. Can't argue. Now, let's wait and see how the waters test for 'Austin Powers 4'. I'm thinking we'll have a final decision by the end of the day.
Pic of DiCaprio in 'J. Edgar'
I hadn't given much thought to Clint Eastwood's biopic 'J. Edgar' (that title...does that work? "Two for J. Edgar, please."?) But, this image of DiCaprio is pretty good. Something about it, besides how ugly microphones were back then, grabs my attention.
Friday, August 12, 2011
Better than 50/50 Chance
Really had my doubts when the first trailer rolled out but now I'm thinking this will play.
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New Poster for 'Drive' Knocks It Out Of The Park
This poster is perfect. Color, lighting, composition, tone -- it's all there.
'Drive' is looking better all the time. During the rollout of trailers and posters -- just because of the marketing campaign -- Ryan Gosling has become a star. That's how good this stuff has been. That's how much bloggers have talked about it. That's how much people like 'Drive' already.
If the movie was never released, if nobody ever saw it, Gosling's new status would still be cemented. This guy is pure money. This movie rocks.
Great poster. Fantastic.
'Drive' is looking better all the time. During the rollout of trailers and posters -- just because of the marketing campaign -- Ryan Gosling has become a star. That's how good this stuff has been. That's how much bloggers have talked about it. That's how much people like 'Drive' already.
If the movie was never released, if nobody ever saw it, Gosling's new status would still be cemented. This guy is pure money. This movie rocks.
Great poster. Fantastic.
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