Horror fans rejoice (and, perhaps, burn some Twilight merchandise in celebration), one of the continent’s best horror film festivals begins tonight withthe international theatrical premiere of The Last Lovecraft. Soundonsight.org has already reviewed a few of the films in this year’s line-up, including Black Death and the infamous Human Centipede (First Sequence). Also, be sure …
Telling the heartbreaking and extraordinary story of Elle magazine editor, Jean-Dominique Bauby, “The Diving Bell And The Butterfly” won awards at festivals all over the world for it’s beautiful cinematography, thoughtful direction and sublime writing. Bauby is committed to hospital after a massive stroke and is diagnosed with “locked-in syndrome”, leaving him completely paralyzed bar …
The Devil (1972) Andrzej Zulawski What is that paranoia we often feel in a room full of strangers? Some of us do our best not to be noticed, some of us make our best effort to be noticed; either way, there is a steady stream of doubt circulating through our veins in that moment. Now, …
It looks like Biutiful, the latest film from one of my favorite auteur’s Alejandro González Iñárritu (Babel), might get stateside distribution from Roadside Attractions, the specialty division of Lionsgate. According to Deadline, the deal could be completed as soon as the end of the week and they plan on getting it out before the end …
I took in The Other Guys today and liked it a lot. I thought it was very funny up until this very bizare and misplaced end credits sequence enfuriated me. Before I should go on, I just want to say that there will be semi-spoilers for The Other Guys coming up. I will try not to give too much away but if you don’t want any vague hints and you want to go in fresh, stop reading now.
Since its’ July 22 debut, the Huayi Bros. production Aftershock continues to break records for Chinese film at the domestic box office with an accumulated 532 million yuan ($ 78.6 million)(Wall Street Journal Online). With a release on 3,500-4,000 screens domestically, the newest creation of director Feng Xiaogang sets a new standard in local production …
Yesterday, Netflix announced a deal that will add films from Lions Gate, Paramount, and MGM to its online subscription service. The deal, a five-year, multi-million dollar arrangement with little-known company EPIX, will allow Netflix to compete with cable and satellite TV companies for consumer’s digital media dollars. Until recently, film studios preferred to pre-sell the …
Animal Kingdom Directed by David Michôd Sleek cinematography and a tremendous cast do little to hide the flaws of Animal Kingdom, a mostly by-the-numbers crime thriller that offers a few pleasant surprises and a lot of dead space. After the death of his mother, seventeen-year-old Josh moves into his grandmother’s home where he is introduced …
Coming out of World War II, the major Hollywood studios had hoped to get back to business as usual. The distraction of the war was gone, rationing repealed, and the boys – 15 million of them — were coming home. But the expected upsurge in business didn’t come. In fact, almost immediately box office began …
The Toronto After Dark Film Festival announced today the names of a group of outstanding feature filmmakers, including acclaimed horror filmmaker Eli Roth (Cabin Fever), who will be attending the 2010 edition. These groundbreaking visionaries of genre cinema will introduce their films on stage, host a lively Q&A with fans straight after their screenings, and …
On January 25, 2007, Onion A.V. Club critic Nathan Rabin inadvertently added a phrase to the movie lexicon. One that would eventually get it’s own Wikipedia page and it’s own NPR story. The Manic Pixie Dream Girl. In his review of Elizabethtown, Rabin said the following of Kirstin Dunst’s character: “Dunst embodies a character type I like to call The Manic Pixie Dream Girl (see Natalie Portman in Garden State for another prime example). The Manic Pixie Dream Girl exists solely in the fevered imaginations of sensitive writer-directors to teach broodingly soulful young men to embrace life and its infinite mysteries and adventures. The Manic Pixie Dream Girl is an all-or-nothing-proposition. Audiences either want to marry her instantly (despite The Manic Pixie Dream Girl being, you know, a fictional character) or they want to commit grievous bodily harm against them and their immediate family.”
Kathryn Barrett and Misha Solomon have been friends and movie fanatics for over a dozen years. They have spent countless hours watching premieres in darkened theatres. An almost equal amount of time has been devoted to perusing Entertainment Weekly. Barrett and Solomon, both nineteen, go through a lengthy Google-fueled process before viewing a movie. Their …
“Castaway On The Moon is a masterful piece of filmmaking – compelling, smart, and truly original …” Castaway On The Moon Directed by Hae-jun Lee Being as it is a deserted island picture, you would think Castaway On The Moon would seem derivative of previous work – and while picking up on some influences from …
She could have been Mrs Robinson in The Graduate; she did play (once) the all-American mama Olivia Walton; and for 30 years she was the real-life Mrs Roald Dahl. For me, though, Patricia Neal will always be plain old Alma Brown, the world-weary housekeeper who refused to become another notch on the bedpost of Paul …
Out of the Cineplex in Toronto This past weekend, Toronto added yet another film festival to its crowded scene. Each weekend for the rest of August, Open Roof Films will screen films atop the Amsterdam Brewery. Each screening will be something of a party; filmgoers can expect a band, a Q&A, and an after party. …
Producer Scott Rudin and director David Fincher are taking steps in finalizing the principal cast for the Hollywood remake of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. The recent acquisition of gems Robin Wright (formerly Penn) as Erika Berger, and Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgard as Martin Vanger to the team, has given rise to hope for …
Joann Sfar’s Gainsbourg (Vie héroïque) could well lay claim to being one of the longest cigarette commercials in movie history. In this smoke-filled take on the life of singer, songwriter and French icon, Serge Gainsbourg, even the fish in the animated opening credits sequence are puffing away.
Producer Scott Rudin and director David Fincher are taking steps in finalizing the principal cast for the Hollywood remake of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. The recent acquisition of gems Robin Wright (formerly Penn) as Erika Berger, and Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgard as Martin Vanger to the team, has given rise to hope for …
Black Narcissus Directed by Emeric Pressburger and Michael Powell UK – 100 minutes. Color Criterion Spine # 93 Black Narcissus is one of the seminal works in British film history. Transplanting Anglican nuns to a strange and corrupting land, their identity and peace of mind is threatened by the exotic setting. The altitude and ever …
Cult Cinema: Volume 6 In the 1980s, author Clive Barker was dubbed the new face of horror. And what a face it was, one that looked like it should be fellating both Lord Byron and Aleister Crowley during a sex magic ritual, all arched eyebrows and smooth cheeks and smoky eyes. Barker’s 1985 short story …
Brad Anderson has been on of the most underappreciated American film directors in the past ten years. His films have varied from Sundance Film Festival audience favorites Next Stop Wonderland and Happy Accidents to darker themed movies such as Session 9 and The Machinist. His last film, Transsiberian flew under everyone’s radar. The thriller starring …
Adoration Directed by Atom Egoyan After a string of critical flops, Atom Egoyan is back in a big way with the rich and vibrant Adoration, a complex portrait of teenhood, grief and simmering sociopolitical tension. Smart but oddball teen Simon (Devon Bostick) makes an unusual association while translating an article regarding Israeli airport security for …
“…grim atmospheric tale of madness and isolation.. tortures the viewer with its rich landscapes and violent twists.” Dark Nature Directed by Marc de Launay With a Chopin fueled drive into the horrific, Marc de Launay’s grim atmospheric tale of madness and isolation, Dark Nature, tortures the viewer with its rich landscapes and violent twists. Following …