Flags and Muscle Car Poster for 'Killing Them Softly'

Certainly better than the last effort but so unsubtle it's, well, laughable. This poster has devolved from a remarkable conceptual graphic to a literal-minded reminder to, now, a patriotic all-American (or anti-American), shotgun toting one sheet for what looks like a TV series debut.

And, "In America you're on your own?" I know that's a quote from Cogan that's in the movie. "I'm living in America. And, in America, you're on your own." But, so? What's that mean? Kill the next guy with a shotgun or he'll kill you? If you want someone dead you have to do it yourself? What? The only thing missing from that tagline is "Hell yeah, dammit! 'Merica! Pass me a Budweiser." Not that it would help clarify the tagline but, yes, it would fit. It's silly enough to fit.

And, a flag and muscle car? What's this movie about, a street racer that runs for president?

And, what does one thing have to do with the other? How is killing small time thugs who ripoff a poker game an all-American pursuit? What American virtue does this reflect? Maybe I'm not getting it. Maybe it's an anti-American, anti-Capitalist pursuit. Okay, how?

The movie has a political agenda. We've all heard that. However, is the average guy who wants to see a shoot-'em-up gangster flick starring Brad Pitt really going to get the Occupy vibe (or whatever vibe it is) from the poster and think 'Hell yeah. That's what I'm in the mood for. An anti-Capitalist, anti-America (or pro-America depending on how you look at it), Occupy-Everything-Now (or don't) movie'?

But, what about the more politically aware, you say? Won't they get it? You mean the politically aware, the politically active, who are headed to the multiplex to see a gangster movie? Those people? The people who are politically plugged in, who vote in every election, read the paper every day and want to see a crime flick with Brad Pitt shooting up the place. Those people. They're going to see this poster and get all excited about its anti-(fill in the blank) subtext then run every light in their Prius (a Japanese car, thank you very much) in their mad rush to the theater?

'Killing Them Softly' is a gangster movie. That's it. Few will notice the injections of political subtext and those that do will chuckle and forget it.

Dear Hollywood Suits: Please stop with the anti-America (yet nonetheless flag-waving) anti-money anti-whateverthefuck posters. You had us with the first poster. It was great. Remember that one? It had an American flag, yes, but it was a reflection in sunglasses so that was cool (especially considering the guy wearing the sunglasses was also pointing a revolver at us). We cool? Yeah, we're cool.

Given a choice between the new poster that bashes us over the head with...something, and the last one, I'll have to go with the last one. It was dumb but it was uncluttered. No silly subtext that no one cares about. It had Brad Pitt pointing a shotgun and that's really all we need to know.

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Trailer for the Restored 'Lawrence of Arabia'

On Blu-ray November 13. 




















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Red Band Phanal Clip from 'For a Good Time, Call'

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Trailer for 'The Comedy'...A Drama

If for nothing else, worth watching just for the snippets of reviews. Like these from the site:

“deserves tremendous respect for its clarity of vision... It’s not ‘Animal House,’ it’s Lars von Trier’s ‘The Idiots.’ —IFC

“A dark, determinedly abrasive study of a slovenly Brooklyn hipster … this singular Sundance entry is certain to split reactions every which way… Heidecker … gives a compulsively fascinating performance… Alverson's unfussy filmmaking breathes quiet assurance” —Variety

“by far one of the most wildly inappropriate and pitch black comedies I’ve ever seen in my life” —Film Threat

“Word on the street is you either love or you hate The Comedy -- an acerbic accounting of an over-privileged, aged Williamsburg hipster. I never knew what the main character, played perfectly by Tim Heidecker in his first dramatic role, was about to do -- not even for a second. For me, that was a major triumph of the film.” —The Huffington Post

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New Trailer for 'This Must Be The Place'

Mixed reviews and not a lot of interest in general, but trailers have been must-see. So well cut. Probably required viewing but only for movie buffs.




















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New Stills from 'Sinister'

(via STYD)

There's something about these visuals. Bleached color is put to good use. It creates the opposite effect found in most contemporary horror flicks, which come off hot, immediate, instantly forgettable. This is cool and quiet and suggests a slow-burn story you can get comfy with -- exactly the type that really chills an audience rather than simply making people jump at loud noises. Between the palette and the way Ethan Hawke seems to feel at home with the script and his performance, I get the notion 'Sinister' might stand out, if just a bit.

Here's some of what I said after seeing the first trailer:

• And, perhaps most noteworthy, the premise actually clicks. That an evil entity connects via imagery (like in a film or video) and becomes one with the viewer of such media (a twist on the urban legend which was the basis for 'The Ring') is scary and, considering this is in fact a movie, it might cause a bit of giddy niggling fright in the back of the minds of kids in the audience who might sense the creeping signs and symptoms of early-onset demonic possession as the film progresses.

And a bit of what I thought of the first poster:

• The face on the wall is perhaps a bit cliché (scary, but we've seen this kind of thing in gobs of movies and graphic novels). However, the fact it's formed by 'ink drips' coming out of the girl's hand sets this element apart and gives it weight.

• You have to wonder about the girl. Who is she? What role does she play? Why does something that looks so wicked come from her? It's rare a horror movie poster intimates such subtleties of story.

• And, look closely at the lower right corner. There's a reel of film unspooled on the floor which syncs visually with the image on the wall, as if the ink that forms the evil entity's face flows into the film (or vice versa). ...Nice touch, thematic.

• The tagline: "Once you see him, nothing can save you" is kind of ho-hum yet stops you. There's something there. What does that mean? It's good.

• Someone was conscientious about designing this poster. That the movie is by the makers of 'Paranormal Activity' and 'Insidious' can't be ignored, either.

If you're interested I snipped some clips from a review by Jeremy Kirk, who caught 'Sinister' at SXSW.

Director Scott Derrickson couldn't be hotter, having written and directed 'The Exorcism of Emily Rose' and written (with Paul Harris Boardman) the upcoming remake of 'Poltergeist'. Next, Derrickson is directing 'Two Eyes Staring', about the relationship between a girl and the ghost of her mother's twin, which will star Charlize Theron.

All things considered, 'Sinister' looks like one to catch.

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Trailer for 'Fin' (The End)

"The end is closer than you think."

I saw a trailer for this a few months back and knew it was one to watch for. Directed by Jorge Torregrossa, 'Fin' will play TIFF. Here's a bit from their write-up:

• As the film begins, a group of friends who have not seen each other for twenty years meet up for a weekend at a remote cabin. Fond reminiscences soon turn to bitter recriminations, however, as the former friends volley blame at each other for an incident long past that none has been able to forget. The tense atmosphere becomes more ominous when they discover that this impromptu reunion has been engineered by the one member of the group who has not shown up: a friend they once referred to as "The Prophet," whom most of the group abandoned when he went into treatment for psychiatric problems. 

• As the reunion approaches its boiling point, a series of inexplicable events occur. All power goes out; clocks and watches freeze at twenty past midnight; cellphones go dead and cars don't start. When the group sets out on foot in search of help, they discover nothing but abandoned homes and vehicles; there is not a single other human being in sight. As the friends desperately wander through the darkness, surrounded by a natural world that now seems to be closing in menacingly upon them, one by one their group gets steadily smaller — and it soon becomes apparent that survival will depend not just on braving the elements, but on facing up to the repressed memories and unspoken guilt that each carries within them.

Yeah, that's something to chew on. The kind of movie you watch at home, with the lights down and phones turned off. Looking forward, and hoping for a Hollywood remake.

Here's a new trailer -- same as the previous one but with subtitles.























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Click Click Red Band Trailer for 'Seven Psychopaths'

Just goes to show what a good director (that would Martin McDonagh, 'In Bruges') can do. Everything here just works. You expect it to be self-conscious, cliche, phoned-in, but it's good.

And, hard to believe, every moment is your favorite. Woody Harrelson's manic hood is cute and plays, well, real -- you hang on every word. Christopher Walken is always solid but here he rises above (don't ask how). Sam Rockwell is pure money. Gabourey Sidibe delivers, like don't even think about it. And Colin Farrell is just so, even with lines that would make other actors look silly he just shines. Tom Waits turns what seems like a toss away scene into something fun and worth watching.

These performances, these line readings, could be lifted from an awards contender. Every gesture, each tick, is informed by the actor's soul. You almost never get that even from high profile dramas.

Yeah, good direction. This script might have yielded a trite wooden snoozer but McDonagh got some great performances and brought it all to life.

Good stuff. Can't wait.




















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Poster/Trailer for 'Snowman's Land'

Just love the poster (via Apple). Beautiful, funny, scary -- nice job. As long as it's got some kind of subtext, a meaningful core, I really enjoy watching this kind of movie. Especially on a rainy day with the window open a bit.

I like the title, too. Kind of looks like material for a Hollywood remake.

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'V/H/S' Sneak Peek

I like this a lot. Great party movie that will stand up to multiple viewings.

Trailer. Video reviews.





















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Trailer for Robert Redford's 'The Company You Keep'

Okay, I'll admit it. I wasn't looking forward to this one. It struck me as product and I wasn't in the mood. But, after 10 seconds of this trailer I changed my mind. Yeah, it still strikes me as product-y, but it's got a spine, and how often does that happen.

Must-see product. Can't wait to buy my popcorn.

(Gotta say Shia LaBeouf looks good here. Well...how often does that happen).


















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Trailer for 'The Iceman'

I've been waiting for this one. Based on Richard Kuklinski's work (hit the link for background).

Looks fantastic. Michael Shannon is perfect for the role. Good to see Winona Ryder -- really moving performance, even from the snippets we get. A nice turn by James Franco. Always good to see Ray Liotta. A nice role for Chris Evans.

Don't see this doing great theatrical business (don't hold me to that, though) but should score on TV/cable/rental, etc., and make a great Blu-ray purchase. Looking forward to the making-of footage.

Must-see for movie buffs. I can see 'The Iceman' taking its place among great crime flicks.























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MotoArt Short Films by Vincent Laforet

MotoArt HQ from Vincent Laforet on Vimeo.

Shot with the Red Epic-M. More info at Laforet's blog

Here's a making-of video





















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'Tower Block'

Good reviews, and the footage hints at a movie with a backbone. The Brits know what they're doing with this kind of flick. They get the violence just right -- a mix of cinematic posturing and gritty realism.

Hollywood movies usually feature violence that's either too comic-bookish and over-the-top to be taken seriously -- though these movies can make a lot at the box office -- or too realistic, too much of a downer for commercial success.

This trailer has just the right feel.

Opens September 21 in the UK. Could be a good rental.



















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Not Cheesy?

This whole genre does little for me but I have to admit, the CGI looks good, action has a flow, sets look nice. Even the plot, whatever the hell that is, has potential. There's nothing to knock. All in all, a fun looking popcorn flick.

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Red Band Trailer for 'The To Do List'

With a release scheduled for Valentine's Day 2013 and a plot that revolves around relationships and sex you'd have to figure this is one to skip at the theater and maybe catch down the road on TV or whatever.

Trailer, though, is way funny. This might actually be one to buy on Blu-ray.























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Spanish Poster for 'The Impossible'

An unusual poster by Hollywood standards (though this is a foreign property with a Spanish director, Juan Antonio Bayona, and financing via Apaches Entertainment and Telecinco Cinema, with Warner Bros. only handling US distribution). Hollywood actors Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor, however, anchor the production and it seems clear there are high hopes for US box office dollars.

No faces are visible, making the selling point strictly story-centric as opposed to star-oriented. These are regular people caught in terrible circumstances who struggle for survival. There is an unmistakeable emphasis on light from above, which denotes influence of fate or the divine. This element, perhaps, will resonate more with Latino audiences than it would the average American and probably won't be seen in US posters.

There is also a left-to-right motion/energy of the water and the trees (which lean to the right), which implies moving forward, (right to left would be backward), in the correct direction, in an evolutionary process -- that is, facing your destiny (or, in this case, being swept along by destiny) and clinging to what's important -- loved ones and family -- when all else has been stripped away. Thematic.

It's true, though, an earlier (Spanish) banner did show the faces of the actors. This was probably necessary in that it was the first poster and served to introduce the movie to the public. This new poster, however, indicates the PR guys are pitching a purely human story (to any and all markets [where people may face uncertain futures]).

It will be interesting to see what emphasis domestic posters will have, what the American approach will be.

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Poster/Trailer for 'How to Make Money Selling Drugs'

"I mean, look around....this is the environment of post-industrial America. ...Work has gone away. The only factory that remains is the drug trade. And, they're hiring. They're the only people hiring." -- David Simon -- Creator, HBO's 'The Wire'

"In Compton the average income was probably twenty-four thousand dollars a year. (Selling drugs) You make three or four hundred thousand dollars in a day." -- Drug dealer




















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Poster for 'Butter'

I usually don't pay much attention to movies like this but there's something compelling about 'Butter'. Here's the poster which, like the trailer, is goofy but pretty fair, appropriate somehow when a similar design wouldn't work for another movie.

I think this movie has a psychological hold on us because we've all eaten so much butter.

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One Last Trailer for 'The Master'

One of the best rollouts I've seen. Great trailer. A mini movie -- deep character, strong sense of drama and conflict.

via TheFilmStage























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More 'Looper' Eye Candy

Love these fan posters. Lotta good buzz for this film.

From Linda Hordijk and Joshua Frost

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New Trailer for 'Django Unchained'

Overexposed, with crazy color and subtitles, but there's an elegance here missing from earlier trailers. Tarantino's crash zooms are still there but somehow they fit better, flow better.

Crash zooms... Quentin...

Thanks to Indiewire


















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Another Funny Clip from 'The Revenant'

We just got some very cool clips a couple days ago, now we get another that's, if anything, even better. So far, 'The Revenant' is looking like not only a cult fave, but one with breakout potential. Funniest stuff I've seen in a while.

















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Clips from 'The Apparition'

From the 'anything can happen for any reason' school of horror. Nonetheless, I have to admit, looks cool and I wouldn't feel cheated if I paid to see this.





















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Another Uncompromising Poster for 'The Master'

Nicely turned. Bold.

I believe this was first posted at Cigarettes & Red Vines

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New Poster for 'Life of Pi'

Nice. Very. But, why keep this element? A can of water? We know there's an issue with drinking water in the middle of the ocean. Why muck up an otherwise beautiful, striking, and compelling image?

This just about ruins the poster. Very nearly. Ugly, not needed, obvious. Just about stupid.

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'Dredd' Super Slo-Mo Featurette

Don't roll your eyes. This is worth a look.




















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'For a Good Time, Call...' Clips

Yeah, I've just been ignoring this, but it looks good. What's wrong with me? This is good stuff.

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New On-The-Nose 'Killing Them Softly' Poster

Not that it's bad. I didn't say that. It's just terribly literal-minded. Direct. Let me think...shows a lot of focus.

 

What do we learn? 1) Movie stars Brad Pitt. Check, got it. 2) He has a shotgun and is, well, killing someone (not that softly and from not that far away, not exactly 'from a distance' but let's not split hairs).

Yes, this is a simple poster. I like how there are no capital letters in the title -- that would run the risk of scaring people. And the giant font makes it easy to read. White against solid black helps, too. That's a nice touch.

And, once all that reading is done there's only one other graphic element: Scowly-faced Brad Pitt pointing a shotgun.

N o t   h a r d   t o   f o l l o w

When you compare it to the first poster it all makes sense.

What does that say? (Violent) American guy with revolver? See, it's not that easy to understand and that's where the new poster steps in. It clears things up. First one sheet was a snazzy artsy conceptual eye-catcher that only elite well-educated cinephiles (and a handful of movie bloggers) could appreciate, sooooo the next poster had to balance things out and be as plainly spoken and direct as possible.

"Violent movie with Brad Pitt shooting the place up."

Cause, let's face it, not everyone can appreciate subtext. We'll call this new poster 'advertising for dumb folks'. (Now, now. Don't take offense, cause if you do it marks you as a stupid mofo).

So, remember, when 'Killing Them Softly' opens at your local theater be sure to run out and see it. There will be an announcement when this happens. A simple straightforward announcement. The theater will have popcorn, fun snacks, and soda. Bring money.





















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Wha? 'Butter'? Really?

Very strong curiosity factor. I'll give it that. I don't want to, but I'm going to be seeing this movie. That is, the trailer is so good at making this dumbass story compelling I will probably end up buying the Blu-ray just to fill out the B's in my collection.

It's like actual butter -- you know it's bad for you but you gotta have it.



















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Trailer for De Palma's Very Blue 'Passion'

A remake of Alain Corneau's 'Crime D'Amour'. I'm hoping it's good. What else can I say? However, with Noomi Rapace and Rachel McAdams and with De Palma's stylish direction (love the split focus screen -- at :21 and :29 -- and the tilted camera/lit blue at :23) 'Passion' will at least be fun to watch.























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Insanely Funny! (Hey, I Didn't Say It. That Would Be The Critical Acclaim)

Yeah, 'Hit & Run' ain't an intellectual movie, but I bet it's smart. Footage looks good, story has potential, editing is tight, nice easy flow -- really, more than most movies deliver no matter how big the stars or budget or how many Oscars the writer or director has.

Like these trailers. Just plain good. I'm buying the Blu-ray. Yes, I'll have to check my brain at the door before watching, but so what. Sometimes, you wanna have fun. Not dumb dumb fun, though. Smart dumb fun. That's what this is.




















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'Lawless' Finally Gets Good Posters

Yesterday, we (finally) got a good trailer, today we get good posters. So much better. I thought this was going to flop but since the new trailer (and, to a lesser extent, these posters) 'Lawless' is looking like something worth seeing. Don't know if it'll be "Ferociously entertaining" as boasted on the first poster, but...I'll check it out. If I'm entertained to an extent that's ferocious, well, I'll be okay with that.

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New Clips from James Franco and Ashley Hinshaw's 'Cherry'

(aka 'About Cherry'). I've always liked this.

Clips are good. The first one is a bit too shaky maybe. I know the camera guy was told to jiggle the rig more than usual, but that ain't 'shake' that's wobble. They were going for the fly-on-the-wall feel I guess, so, fine.









Subtle, confident, honest. Looking forward to this one.

















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Official 'Looper' Posters Can't Keep Up With Fanmade Ones

This is the next official poster?

That might be thematic, but who can appreciate that. We've been getting great stuff from fans like this one from cryingoncue










































That works. Much better than the 'legit' version(s). I don't know why these designers can't pick up some freelance work. They're stuff is better than what we usually see from big PR firms and studios, so...




















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Nice Comfortable Clips from 'The Revenant'

These flow so well. Nobody's in a hurry, dialogue comes off like conversation. Funny. Creepy. Even the camera is good. Will be a classic. Can't wait.

 






















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New Poster for 'The Sessions'

Love this flick. Good poster (via TOH, where Anne calls the movie "...delicately modulated and utterly accessible, uplifting, moving and delightful to watch."). I can see people wanting to see this.

Here's the first poster and a trailer.





















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Trailer/Poster for 'Hollow'

I like this element.

Great reviews. Should be good with popcorn.



















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2nd Trailer for 'End of Watch' Looks to be Right Down The Middle

Most movies put me to sleep. 'End of Watch' looks to deliver. Good subject considering what's in the headlines. Nice style, camera. Story has potential.

I'm so sick of safe silly Hollywood bullshit. Looking forward to something that at least stands a chance of being worth my fucking time.

Right now 'End of Watch' is looking tight.























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Red Band Trailer for 'The Revenant'

Looking better all the time. Bound to be a cult fave.





















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Poster for 'Lincoln'

I'm somewhat at a loss as to what would be better but this poster doesn't do much for me. The white background, for one, seems wrong. Wouldn't a more sober color work better? I do like that Day-Lewis is in profile, though -- that works.



























The resolution is off as well. It seems way over sharpened and it's pixelated. Don't know why they'd go out with such a compromised image. Are they going for some old look to maintain verisimilitude? 

Don't know what good that level of rez does. It just looks bad. All in all this first poster probably does little to create anticipation for the movie.

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'Lawless' Finally Gets a Good (Red Band) Trailer

It may be too late. The damage may be done. This is an excellent trailer, though. If you can forget the choppily edited clips (I hope that's not how it is in the movie), the out-of-step posters, and silly attempts at going viral like the poster that runs down what kind of .45 the various characters use.

I'll give them the benefit of the doubt. Earlier trailers may have suffered from selling a nasty movie with a clean edit. That always, well...usually, goes badly. Here's a gritty violent red band cut and it does the story justice.

If the movie plays like this trailer, great, I'll check it out.


















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Trailer for Stacy Peralta's 'Bones Brigade: An Autobiography'

Love these guys. There's a purity to them and what the did, what they accomplished.



I'm not sure why Stacy Peralta felt the need to produce/direct 'Bones Brigade' having already done the wonderful doc 'Dogtown and Z-Boys', however I'm not complaining. The story of these kids is so compelling, the footage so captivating, I'll gladly watch a new film about them every few years.

Here's the trailer for 'Dogtown'.



If you didn't catch 'Dogtown' it's a great ride. If 'Bones Brigade' is half as good, that makes both must-see, must-own.


















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Trailer for Cusack/Cage Serial Killer Thriller 'Frozen Ground'

About Robert Hansen, a serial killer who some believe hunted human prey.

Trailer is strangely edited, almost non-professional looking. Could be an effort to keep it verité and avoid Hollywood gloss considering the subject.

Has the potential to be excellent and the best Nicolas Cage flick in a while. It's cool how much John Cusack looks like Hansen.

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'Hit & Run' Clips

Thought this would be a waste of time. Posters and trailers just confirmed that. But, these clips work. They're good. Both action/car chase stuff, and regular talking-heads shots -- better than you'd expect, better than they need to be for this kind of product.

Will probably do well both theatrically and as a rental. Probably a good buy on Blu-ray.

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Clips from 'The Words'

At first I had no intention of seeing this but trailers have gotten better and these clips are pretty good.

This one plays just so -- a scene from a literary novel (or the telling by a good author) brought to life. These flashbacks have long lines, a slow steady camera, lots of elegance.





The stuff that happens today doesn't have quite the same magic, feel of fable, but it works.



And then, just like that, the sense of fable comes back and it's pretty good story telling again.

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New Trailer for 'The Impossible'

Love this. Looks better with each trailer.

















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'Heretic' Poster/Trailer

A UK flick opening Halloween 2012. I like the teaser -- seems to have potential. Here's the storyline from the movie's site:

• After he refuses to accept responsibility for the death of a teenage girl a Catholic Priest is trapped and terrorised in a house haunted by those he should have saved.

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New Trailer for 'Hemorrhage'

I like the look of this a lot. Here's some background on director Braden Croft and snippets of reviews from Fantasia Fest.





















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Olly Knights Music Video

Shot by Philip Bloom on the Canon 1DX

Olly Knights: If not now when from Philip Bloom on Vimeo.

















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Clip from 'The Expendables 2'

I like this one.

Expendables 2: unité spéciale

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Clip from 'Cherry'

Co-written by Lorelei Lee, who is a fetish porn star. Some background here and here.

Looking better all the time.



















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'10 Years' Trailer

Is it product? Yeah, sure, but it's got a spine. This should work at the box office, on TV/Cable, as a rental, bootleg, you name it. They got it right: Tone, script, cast, story.

Directed by first-timer Jamie Linden who also wrote the script. Good things for a movie like this. 

Come to think of it, this might rise above the level of product. Who knows.

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'Expendables 2' Review

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Charming Clip from 'Robot & Frank'

The premise is roll-your-eyes dopey. In the near future, an older man is given a robot by his son to do chores around the house. The man and robot become allies in a scheme to rob jewelry from rich people.

Sounds like bad Disney, but trailers for 'Robot & Frank' have been utterly charming, disarming, and genuine.

Here's a new clip that plays so smoothly, is so polished, and has such a subtle rendition of character, you'd think the movie was in the Oscar race. I don't think I've seen better from Frank Langella.

Touching and funny, and yes, there is a strong what-will-happen-next feel. Can't wait to see and buy this one on Blu-ray.



Here's the trailer with commentary by director Jake Schreier.
















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Trailer for Arnold Schwarzenegger's 'The Last Stand'

At :27 there's a shot of Schwarzenegger in shorts. Is that a first? I can't remember seeing him wearing shorts in a movie.

Anyway, can't help it, it's funny. He looks funny in shorts. But, it's a good funny.


















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Must-See Make-Your-Day Featurette for 'ParaNorman' -- 'This Little Light'

Yeah, it's not often a featurette could be called 'must-see' but this is good stuff. Movie magic step by step. The work that goes into stop-motion... And, the results. Totally wow.





















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Cinematography by Mihai Malaimare Jr.

We just got a promo for PT Anderson's 'The Master'. What strikes me most about this movie is the sureness of direction by Anderson and the solid yet dynamic visuals from cinematographer Mihai Malaimare Jr.

Malaimare handles the camera in an orthodox manner to be sure, but the frame always has some asymmetry not usually found in such an otherwise classic technique. One side or the other is too full or too empty. What you would expect to be centered is not and what should be off the to the side is perhaps nudged too far.

I don't necessarily agree with the approach or even like it but it has a way of locking you into the moment, which may be Malaimare's intent. It accentuates the edge and suspense of Anderson's story, especially I think, the volatile and nebulous performance by Joaquin Phoenix.

Here's an atmospheric short film by Malaimare from his Vimeo page. These shorts can be tedious or pretentious or too conceptual but I was surprised at how the camera makes this one breathe. It gets under your skin. Makes me think Malaimare could direct a good feature some day.

'Take This Lollipop'

Take This Lollipop from mihai malaimare jr on Vimeo.


















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'The Master' Promo

Showing tonight, 8/16, in Chicago at the Music Box Theatre in 70mm. Show starts at 10 pm.

Tickets are $10, available at www.musicboxtheatre.com

























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Clip from 'The Expendables 2'

Now with more shooting!

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Origin of 'Dredd' Featurette

2012AUG15 by KUInternational

















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Quiet Deep Trailer for 'In The Fog'

 




































One of those trailers that, despite the inherent restrictions of the form, speaks of sureness and depth of story.

I found snippets of reviews at an Aussie site, Sharmill Films:

• FOUR STARS ‘In the Fog is an intense, slow-burning and haunting drama.’   Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian

 

• FOUR STARS ‘In the Fog is a war movie that foregrounds the emotions of individuals over the spectacle of battle’ Geoff Andrew, Time Out

 

• ‘Loznitsa knows that war exists and won’t go away; rather than indulging in patriotic or pacifistic platitudes, he tries to show what it might do to our souls. And, in this writer’s opinion, he succeeds.’   Geoff Andrew, Time Out

 

• ‘a universal meditation on the human condition, with war as an allegory for life, and fog as a metaphor for mankind’s stumbling progress into the unknown. …it is ultimately worth the journey.’    Stephen Dalton, The Hollywood Reporter

 

• ‘a beautifully rigorous piece which will delight cineastes’  Fionnuala Halligan, Screen

 

• ‘In The Fog is a carefully-calibrated three-hander from Sergei Loznitsa, its slow, precise rhythms playing out to compelling effect.’  Fionnuala Halligan, Screen

 

• ‘this very Russian tragedy is a jewel which will surely only burnish with time.’   Fionnuala Halligan, Screen

 

• ‘Classical in a good way, In the Fog explores the moralities of wartime with restraint and exacting execution’   Leslie Felperin, Variety

 

• ‘a delicately complex work of shifting perspectives, and… a contemplation on narrative and the act of storytelling.’   Jonathan Romney, Sight & Sound

 

• ‘The film is extraordinarily acted’   Jonathan Romney, Sight & Sound

• ‘among the handful of truly eloquent and moving films here [at Cannes]’   Jonathan Romney, Sight & Sound

Very convincing. Playing TIFF.























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