Clip from 'Take This Waltz'

Really, this scene should be filler -- something the audience waits to get to the other side of -- but Polley's direction brings it to life. Second-to-second you can't take your eyes off and it's loaded with subtext and subtle reveals about these characters and their marriage. On the surface, very nice. But look deeper and there's something else there -- something not even these two are aware of -- yet it's thematically central to the plot.

What's on the page (if anything) couldn't be captured by another director. This is all Polley -- she scores.



















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New Poster for 'Take This Waltz' Breathes

Love this one sheet. This looks like a still from the movie (as opposed to a shot done expressly for a poster). Subtle direction by Sarah Polley is evident. I think she's one of the best helmers working. You rarely see this kind of acting and directors rarely care to shoot for this level. Those that do usually don't succeed.

Obviously, a great addition to Michelle Williams' portfolio, but this may also be a turning point for Seth Rogen.

Beautiful clip from a couple days ago

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Charming Trailer for Sarah Polley's 'Take This Waltz'

If you don't know the name Polley made an impressive directorial debut with the acclaimed 'Away From Her'.

The thing about this trailer (that I certainly wasn't expecting) is a heartfelt non-actorly vibe from all the crew. Not a stretch with someone like Michelle Williams but nice to see from Seth Rogen and Sarah Silverman, who you just figure will have an edge, a sort of put-on.

I've been waiting for this since I first heard it was a go. Looks great.

















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'50/50' Trailer was Great. Poster...not so Much

Okay, I'm being polite. This poster is horrible. This says 'you really don't want to see this movie, do you?' Sorry, but a guy shaving his head (while another guy watches) isn't what you'd call enticing. Anything would be better. A plain background with '50/50' and the stars names would put more butts in seats.

This movie has got enough working against it. Take the storyline: a guy finds out he's dying of cancer!!! Yes! Let's go see that! You know, the one with the guy shaving his head on the poster? That one.

When the writer/producer pitched that, how'd it go? What was that like?

INT. STUDIO EXEC'S OFFICE -- DAY

EXEC: So, what's this pitch?

WRITER/PRODUCER: Okay. This guy finds out he's dying of cancer!

(Exec's eyes light up).

EXEC: Hmmmm. I liiiiike that. The 'dying of cancer' genre. We're due for one of those! Go on!

As if that cryptic title wasn't bad enough. '50/50'? Yes!!! Let's go see that. That's the movie about that guy that finds out he's dying of cancer. You know? The one with the poster with the guy shaving his head while another guy whose standing behind him watching is all like 'what the hell are you doing'? Yeah, that one. It's called '50/50'!!! We should see it!!!!!!!!!!!

(By the way -- could you come up with a worse tagline than: It takes a pair to beat the odds? I mean...what the hell).

Take a cue from Seth Rogen's 'dude, you're not really doing that' expression and change this poster.

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'50/50' Trailer

'Green Hornet' Clip

I know everybody hates the concept, but the bits I've seen look pretty good.

Green Hornet Primer

Here's a little featurette that sets things straight.

'The Green Hornet'

Trailer looks good. I still think this will play well. Don't see the problem with Seth Rogen in an action pic.

TMagazine Covers Seth Rogen And James Franco

The New York Times is shifting more and more to online video production and interactive content. They've had audio slideshows and video movie reviews for a while. Their latest move to becoming an internet TV platform is TMagazine and T Exclusive Films.

The names don't do that much for me but I'm liking the content. The latest segment features Lynn Hirschberg talking with Seth Rogen re: being a sex symbol, how he determines what kind of movies he wants to do, and writing 'The Green Hornet'.

Here's the segment with James Franco, about the bromance element of 'Pineapple Express', his inspirations for becoming an actor, and kissing Sean Penn in '(Harvey) Milk'.

So far, I've liked what I've seen from TMagazine. The segments marry the focus of an NYT article with the free-flow energy of an NPR interview a la Terry Gross. It certainly gives NYT more traction online than other news services. I just wish they'd make their content embedable. (Come on, guys, that's par for the course these days and drives a lot of traffic your way).

Pineapple Express

The thing about this movie is it has too much raunchy language and too many drug references for mainstream trailers to do it justice. It even has some violence (the inciting incident, no less) that's too graphic to hawk to people looking for a cool dumb stoner comedy. Until I saw the real-deal trailer at the official site I just didn't like this movie too much. Trailers were looking too labored on Apple, Yahoo, et al. I was thinking Judd Apatow (who produced) had run out of steam.

But when you're allowed to show drug references, along with the crude language, (and the inciting incident), without concern for who you might offend the trailer springs to life.

Right now this is looking like another hit for the Apatow/Rogen comedy express. This is 100% pure comedy -- no stems, seeds, political correctness, or any of that other shit. Don't waste your time with the watered-down trailers they're pushing around the web. Head over to Sony's crib for the real dope. (End of double entendres).