Definitions are changing. Not that that's a secret. More often these
days, the best movies are found on 'TV' (which now goes in quotes).
The
only thing about this new HBO series that's television-esque is the
title -- 'True Detective', which may as well be the latest boilerplate
cop procedural to roll out on the networks. However, with Matthew
McCanaughey and Woody Harrelson, directed by Cary Fukunaga, and written
by Nic Pizzolatto, the series has the look of a feature movie.
I
used to hate TV. Long story short: I thought it was stupid and couldn't
stand to watch. Now, much of the time, I think movies (in theaters)
aren't worth my time and, about 45 minutes in, having gotten dressed,
driven to the theater at a given time, stood in line and purchased a
ticket, etc., I regret going out to see them and wish I was at home
watching something I like on DVD or, increasingly, television.
The
tables have turned. The future of movies at the theater is looking more
bleak all the time. With stuff like 'True Detective' it's little wonder
theater attendance is down.
I'm moving. My new blog is 101-to-la, as in highway 101 to Los Angeles. I'll be double posting here and at the new blog for a while, then retiring MoovyBoovy.
Showing posts with label Matthew McConaughey. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Matthew McConaughey. Show all posts
Monday, September 09, 2013
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
'Dallas Buyers Club' Trailer
Massive. Wow. Matthew McConaughey is so money right now. Good to see Jennifer Garner again.
Monday, June 17, 2013
Wall Street Wolf
DiCaprio has never looked better. (I know, cheesy, but I mean it. [His portrayals never connected with me]). The guy looks like a real person in this trailer. He always looks like he's in 'actor-mode', but not here. Here, he looks like a Wall Street wolf. A crazy guy with tons of money. I'm looking forward to seeing DiCaprio in this movie -- something I've never been able to say before.
And Matthew McConaughey looks like a movie star, a lead, for the first time. Yes, I know, he's carried movies, but here he seems like a star, a headliner, which he never did before.
That this is based on a true story, namely Jordan Belfort's, and is directed by Martin Scorsese makes 'The Wolf of Wall Street' something to look forward to. Really, a breath of fresh air.
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And Matthew McConaughey looks like a movie star, a lead, for the first time. Yes, I know, he's carried movies, but here he seems like a star, a headliner, which he never did before.
That this is based on a true story, namely Jordan Belfort's, and is directed by Martin Scorsese makes 'The Wolf of Wall Street' something to look forward to. Really, a breath of fresh air.
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Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Must-Watch Trailer for 'Mud'
Directed by Jeff Nichols, who did 'Take Shelter' which was as must-see as it gets for cinephiles. With Matthew McConaughey who is becoming the new top dog for character-driven stuff, and Reese Witherspoon who is making a move away from candy-coated movies.
Also with Michael Shannon, who had the lead in 'Take Shelter' and always brings it. Sam Sheppard takes a turn, which can't be missed. And get this, Joe Don Baker is in this. Yeah, I know.
Here's a clip that shows Nichols' confidence.
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Also with Michael Shannon, who had the lead in 'Take Shelter' and always brings it. Sam Sheppard takes a turn, which can't be missed. And get this, Joe Don Baker is in this. Yeah, I know.
Here's a clip that shows Nichols' confidence.
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Friday, November 02, 2012
Starts Okay, Gets Better, Ends Great
So. The trailer for 'Side Effects'. I'm watching this thinking it's so 80s, almost made-for-TV. That title... Come on, that's like a paperback you buy at the airport. You know -- with garish cover art that includes a syringe with a drop hanging off its tip and figures in silhouette running away in the background. That kind of novel. A 'pharmaceutical thriller'? Not so much any more. Been there, done that.
What the hell. I click start anyway and, as the trailer rolls it's looking pretty bad. But, it gets better. Something is there among all that soap-opera build up.
And, yeah, I didn't know it was a Soderbergh property until the end (I'm a little embarrassed to admit), when I saw his name, along with writer Scott Burns, and it came as a relief. Suddenly, the pieces fall into place. Oooh, it's a Soooderbeerrgh movie. It's a throw-back genre, sure, but it's Soderbergh, and he's surely delivered a finely wrought rendition (though you don't get much sense of camera/editing style/technique) of Burns' screenplay and the result will probably be very good. Why else shoot dice on this? It has to be, good that is.
And, really, these guys could do anything, any genre, any type of plot, and make it work, make it entertaining and intellectually invigorating. They've proven it before.
And, as far as performances go, Jude Law gives notice. Bit after bit this guy nails it to the wall. He's so good. He's gone from being a supporting actor -- delivering solid craft and all that, but always in the shadow of a 'star', always second fiddle -- to, these days, a leading man whose involvement means the story will get under your skin and, moment to moment, scenes will ring true, characters will seem like people you might know or, at least, have heard about in real life, maybe in a story you read in the paper or overheard at a party or bar.
It's like the transformation of Matthew McConaughey's career, sort of. The two actors aren't alike, yes, don't play the same kind of roles, I know, but both went from being on the sideline in one respect or another to being pure money, go-to. Just having one of them in your movie gives it weight, makes average people want to see it and movie buffs need to see it, whereas a few years ago it meant the average person might give it a pass and movie buffs might give it a spin as a rental, maybe, sometime.
And, that's what I was thinking, watching this trailer, at the beginning. I was thinking I might rent this for Law's performance (some time down the road). I was thinking he was a cut above and I had to see him despite the movie being what it was, or what I thought it was. No hurry, though.
Then, there's hints of quality. Crumbs, tidbits, of a story you can savor, a plot with a spine, more performances that sizzle and, by the midpoint, I'm wondering how this can look so good, how it can seem so interesting when I'm sure I've seen this stuff, this same movie, over and over in years past, mostly late night on television. Then, at the end, I see Soderbergh's and Burns' names and I can't wait to see the movie. At the theater, thank you very much. By the end, I'm not wondering how a B plot could get made these days, I'm wondering what kind of characters actors like Law, Rooney Mara, and Catherine Zeta-Jones signed on to create, what kind of story Burns wrote, and how well actors like Vinessa Shaw and Channing Tatum hold their own in this environment.
So, yeah, I thought it was boilerplate but I changed my mind. The trailer changed my mind.
.
What the hell. I click start anyway and, as the trailer rolls it's looking pretty bad. But, it gets better. Something is there among all that soap-opera build up.
And, yeah, I didn't know it was a Soderbergh property until the end (I'm a little embarrassed to admit), when I saw his name, along with writer Scott Burns, and it came as a relief. Suddenly, the pieces fall into place. Oooh, it's a Soooderbeerrgh movie. It's a throw-back genre, sure, but it's Soderbergh, and he's surely delivered a finely wrought rendition (though you don't get much sense of camera/editing style/technique) of Burns' screenplay and the result will probably be very good. Why else shoot dice on this? It has to be, good that is.
And, really, these guys could do anything, any genre, any type of plot, and make it work, make it entertaining and intellectually invigorating. They've proven it before.
And, as far as performances go, Jude Law gives notice. Bit after bit this guy nails it to the wall. He's so good. He's gone from being a supporting actor -- delivering solid craft and all that, but always in the shadow of a 'star', always second fiddle -- to, these days, a leading man whose involvement means the story will get under your skin and, moment to moment, scenes will ring true, characters will seem like people you might know or, at least, have heard about in real life, maybe in a story you read in the paper or overheard at a party or bar.
It's like the transformation of Matthew McConaughey's career, sort of. The two actors aren't alike, yes, don't play the same kind of roles, I know, but both went from being on the sideline in one respect or another to being pure money, go-to. Just having one of them in your movie gives it weight, makes average people want to see it and movie buffs need to see it, whereas a few years ago it meant the average person might give it a pass and movie buffs might give it a spin as a rental, maybe, sometime.
And, that's what I was thinking, watching this trailer, at the beginning. I was thinking I might rent this for Law's performance (some time down the road). I was thinking he was a cut above and I had to see him despite the movie being what it was, or what I thought it was. No hurry, though.
Then, there's hints of quality. Crumbs, tidbits, of a story you can savor, a plot with a spine, more performances that sizzle and, by the midpoint, I'm wondering how this can look so good, how it can seem so interesting when I'm sure I've seen this stuff, this same movie, over and over in years past, mostly late night on television. Then, at the end, I see Soderbergh's and Burns' names and I can't wait to see the movie. At the theater, thank you very much. By the end, I'm not wondering how a B plot could get made these days, I'm wondering what kind of characters actors like Law, Rooney Mara, and Catherine Zeta-Jones signed on to create, what kind of story Burns wrote, and how well actors like Vinessa Shaw and Channing Tatum hold their own in this environment.
So, yeah, I thought it was boilerplate but I changed my mind. The trailer changed my mind.
.
Wednesday, August 01, 2012
Sizzling Trailer for Nicole Kidman's 'The Paperboy'
Yes, this is Nicole Kidman's movie. She's changed and it's most apparent here. This work is less technique-y, more from the gut. Much more free, even capricious, a quality one senses Kidman has gone to great effort to suppress in years past, and the results are compelling. What a raw, vibrant performance.
Everybody looks good here, though. The new Matthew McConaughey -- totally go-to for gritty drama these days (who would have guessed that would come to pass?), John Cusack -- always has been go-to for indie drama, and yes Zac Efron carries his weight.
Directed by Lee Daniels (Precious) who has 'The Butler' coming up with, get this, Liam Neeson, John Cusack, Nicole Kidman, Robin Williams, Alan Rickman, James Marsden, Melissa Leo, Liev Schreiber, Cuba Gooding Jr., Forest Whitaker, Jane Fonda, Lenny Kravitz.
Wha?! Really, how many directors could snag that cast?
Okay, the critical reception for 'The Paperboy' has been mixed but to hell with that. This flick is must-see and these performances are cut like gems. Certainly, Hollywood's best can tell a good director when one comes along and Daniels is that. People are lining up to work with him.
Great trailer, great entertainment.
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Friday, May 18, 2012
New Trailer for Steven Soderbergh's 'Magic Mike'
How in the hell did Soderbergh make a flick about male strippers look so damn good? And, when did Matthew McConaughey become so money?
.
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Thursday, May 10, 2012
Clip from Jeff Nichols' 'Mud'
With Matthew McConaughey and Reese Witherspoon, who are both becoming more go-to for character-driven pieces.
The real news here is director Jeff Nichols, whose 'Take Shelter' with Michael Shannon and Jessica Chastain is must-see for cinephiles. That flick was elegant, subtle and very confidently executed. It's one of my favorites. In less capable hands 'Mud' could be a struggle to sit through but Nichols will (surely) deliver a fine movie. That Nichols also wrote the script for 'Mud' (as he did for Take Shelter) makes it even better.
'Mud' is about two teenage boys who help a fugitive evade capture and reunite with his girlfriend.
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The real news here is director Jeff Nichols, whose 'Take Shelter' with Michael Shannon and Jessica Chastain is must-see for cinephiles. That flick was elegant, subtle and very confidently executed. It's one of my favorites. In less capable hands 'Mud' could be a struggle to sit through but Nichols will (surely) deliver a fine movie. That Nichols also wrote the script for 'Mud' (as he did for Take Shelter) makes it even better.
'Mud' is about two teenage boys who help a fugitive evade capture and reunite with his girlfriend.
Tuesday, May 08, 2012
New Trailer for NC-17 Rated Food-Centric 'Killer Joe'
Very nice. Much better than the first trailer. McConaughey owns this -- as he should -- it's tailor made for him.
Now, what makes this NC-17 (besides the standard MPAA spiel about 'graphic sexual content and objectionable yadda yadda') must have something to do with food, considering all the weight the subject gets in this trailer and on the poster. What's so bad about food? Well, it can only be two things when you think about it -- the way it's cooked or the ingredients used...
Looks delicious. I mayeat see this one.
.
Now, what makes this NC-17 (besides the standard MPAA spiel about 'graphic sexual content and objectionable yadda yadda') must have something to do with food, considering all the weight the subject gets in this trailer and on the poster. What's so bad about food? Well, it can only be two things when you think about it -- the way it's cooked or the ingredients used...
Looks delicious. I may
.
New Poster for NC-17 Rated 'Killer Joe'
Just a bit different than the last poster.
Producers have elected to release with an NC-17 rating (for scenes involving drug use, nudity, savage violence, and graphic sexual content, among other objectionable content) after losing an appeal with the MPAA.
Steve McQueen's 'Shame' was the last flick to carry the burden of this rating and it did pretty badly in theatrical release. I'm thinking 'Killer Joe' stands better, though. A movie like this wouldn't really do great business even with an R-rating. The NC-17 tag may be a draw, especially since 'Killer Joe' is more mainstream than 'Shame' and fits more snugly into genre conventions than that film.
Will be interesting to watch how this one does. I'm thinking people will turn out. This NC-17 thing will probably fade into being a non-issue soon.
Rolls out July 27.
.
Producers have elected to release with an NC-17 rating (for scenes involving drug use, nudity, savage violence, and graphic sexual content, among other objectionable content) after losing an appeal with the MPAA.
Steve McQueen's 'Shame' was the last flick to carry the burden of this rating and it did pretty badly in theatrical release. I'm thinking 'Killer Joe' stands better, though. A movie like this wouldn't really do great business even with an R-rating. The NC-17 tag may be a draw, especially since 'Killer Joe' is more mainstream than 'Shame' and fits more snugly into genre conventions than that film.
Will be interesting to watch how this one does. I'm thinking people will turn out. This NC-17 thing will probably fade into being a non-issue soon.
Rolls out July 27.
.
Monday, March 12, 2012
Crunchy Delicious Poster for William Friedkin's 'Killer Joe' -- Staying with the Murder/Food Motif
Didn't think much of the trailer. Seemed a bit by-the-numbers with Matthew McConaughey as a killer hired to off a drug dealer's mother for the insurance money.
Love this poster, though.
Here's the first poster, which sports the intriguing tagline: Murder never tasted so good.
Okay...
That makes me wonder -- is there any connection between the murder/food motif in both posters and the NC-17 rating the movie just got from the MPAA?
It's all starting to come together. I'm hungry now.
.
Love this poster, though.
Here's the first poster, which sports the intriguing tagline: Murder never tasted so good.
Okay...
That makes me wonder -- is there any connection between the murder/food motif in both posters and the NC-17 rating the movie just got from the MPAA?
It's all starting to come together. I'm hungry now.
Monday, March 07, 2011
Thursday, March 03, 2011
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Quick Cut Trailer for 'The Lincoln Lawyer'
I'm sensing trouble with the story here. Super-fast cuts are used to promote action pictures, especially ones with lots of eye candy vfx. TLL clearly isn't that kind of movie. It's loaded with dialogue-heavy scenes, I suppose a certain amount of procedural police/courtroom stuff, and some violence.
TLL doesn't deserve the quick cut trailer treatment. It doesn't fit for this type movie.
Problem is, first trailer was much more conventional, with far longer cuts, and the story it was selling bored me. Going the other way hasn't helped. What is it about the story that can't support a normal trailer?
If they're trying to entice the target demographic, which is used to seeing flashcut trailers for movies like, say, 'Fast and Furious', I don't think it'll work. Those guys can sense when they're being taken for a ride. If the target demo is 30-somethings, well, they're looking for story, and the trailer doesn't really promote that. Besides, does that age group really want to see this movie?
It's a jangly campaign for a movie that occupies a gray-zone as far as who it appeals to. Curious to see what the strategy will be for rollout of future promo materials.
Marisa Tomei is certainly a draw.
TLL doesn't deserve the quick cut trailer treatment. It doesn't fit for this type movie.
Problem is, first trailer was much more conventional, with far longer cuts, and the story it was selling bored me. Going the other way hasn't helped. What is it about the story that can't support a normal trailer?
If they're trying to entice the target demographic, which is used to seeing flashcut trailers for movies like, say, 'Fast and Furious', I don't think it'll work. Those guys can sense when they're being taken for a ride. If the target demo is 30-somethings, well, they're looking for story, and the trailer doesn't really promote that. Besides, does that age group really want to see this movie?
It's a jangly campaign for a movie that occupies a gray-zone as far as who it appeals to. Curious to see what the strategy will be for rollout of future promo materials.
Marisa Tomei is certainly a draw.
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