The Warlords 2007, Hong Kong/China Directed by Peter Chan Written by Xu Lan, Chun Tin-Nam, Aubery Lam, Huang Jian Xin, Jojo Hui, He Jiping, Guo Jun Li, James Yuen Starring Jet Li, Andy Lau, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Xu Jinglei 127 minutes, English 35 mm Generally speaking, when an action star attempts a role that requires delivering …
AMC, creators of Mad Men, have just confirmed a deal to adapt the hit comic book The Walking Dead to the small screen. Director Frank Darabont (The Mist, Shawshank Redemption) has signed on to write and direct the TV series with rumors of some A-list actors on board. The Walking Dead was originally a monthly …
Dear Sick Girl, I’m not sure what made me fall in love you or why we came together, but I do know that I’ll never be the same because of you. People say there’s no such thing as love at first sight but after seeing you, I’d have to say people don’t really know much …
District 9 Directed by Neill Blomkamp Produced by Peter Jackson It can be debated whether the quintessential science fiction film has stood the test of time, but when it comes to aliens, they stand as a genre all on their own. The seventies brought us Alien (1979), the eighties brought us E.T. (1982) and the …
South Africa has been to hell and back during the past century. Famine, corruption, AIDS and the apartheid era have seriously hindered the country’s chances of becoming a serious player within the African continent. A few years ago, local director Neill Blomkamp produced a short film entitled Alive in Joburg, a 6-minute science fiction “documentary” that would eventually be expanded to become District 9. The aforementioned short was so well made that Peter Jackson commissioned Blomkamp to direct the ill-fated Halo movie, but when that project fell through, Jackson felt that his South African counterpart should have another shot at directing a full-length film.
One of the foremost comedy writer/directors of the last 25 years has died. John Hughes, creator of such teen comedies as Pretty in Pink, Sixteen Candles, and his opus, the terrific The Breakfast Club died of a heart attack at the age of 59. He almost single-handedly defined the concept of “teen comedy” as we …
2009’s Ten Best and Five Worst Films (So Far) We’re technically over halfway through 2009, but a disproportionately large number of great films tend to spring up in the latter months of the year, so let’s call it halfway for the sake of our collective sanity. It hasn’t been a terrific year for filmgoing so …
Embodiment Of Evil Directed by Jose Mojica Marins *** 1/2 José Mojica Marins’ demonically anticipated Zé do Caixão (Coffin Joe) comeback film is everything you could hope for. Embodiment cleverly explains Zé ‘s absence over the years by opening with the character being released from prison after serving decades of time for the crimes depicted …
Fantastic Fest (September 24-October 1, 2009 www.fantasticfest.com) is one of the most unique, diverse, and successful film festivals in the world. The fest showcases great mainstream and independent films from around the world, and from genres such as sci-fi, fantasy, action, and horror, amongst others. Fantastic Fest also has bright stars and big premieres; having …
Inglourious Basterds Directed by Quentin Tarantino Normally I approach a new Tarantino film with caution because more often than not, due to his fame and talent, his movies are severely hyped in the months leading up to their release; they are promoted with so much zeal and accompanied by so many industry buzz-words that I …
Undertones: Volume 4 Jim Jarmusch’s transcendental western, Dead Man (1995), is the tale of a spiritual and physical journey taken by an ordinary man named William Blake (Johnny Depp) sometime in the later part of the 19th century. Travelling to a frontier town called Machine, Blake hopes to be given a job as an accountant …
I Sell The Dead Directed by Glenn McQuaid When January rolled around, I was all ready to throw in the towel and declare 2009 a wash for movies in general. I’ll tell you what, though. I continue to be surprised by some of this year’s offerings and some of last year’s that are finally making …
MJ Documentary? The King of Pop continues to be incredibly lucrative, even in death. The latest posthumous venture concerns the “…rights to the approximately 80 hours of high-definition, full dress rehearsal footage captured by AEG Entertainment, the company behind Jackson’s concert series.” It’s the rehearsal footage for the “This Is It” series of 50 live …
Black Dynamite has been officially announced as the opening gala film at the Toronto After Dark Film Festival. Directed by Scott Sanders the film stars Michael Jai White and is shot in the style of a blaxploitation film of the 1970’s. Inspired mostly by such films as Shaft, Dolemite and Superfly it was a Sundance …
The unlucky numbered 13th edition of the Fantasia Film Festival turned out to be a lucky year after all. With it’s diverse line-up of high selection standards, the festival attracted more than 90 000 fans this year and saw 40% of its 195 screenings completely sold out. With such eminent titles that had previously premiered …
Funny People Directed by Judd Apatow Creating a hero has been easy for Judd Apatow; whether you’re a 40-year old man who has never had sex or a 20-something freeloader accidentally knocking up a girl during a one night stand, you best be sure these people will rise to the occasion. The hero in Apatow’s …
Rosarigasinos (Gangs of Rosario) Directed by Rodrigo Grande “We’re still the same assholes.” Old habits die hard in Rodrigo Grande’s Rosarigasinos, a crafty little tale of rebirth and revenge. Imagine being separated from the world for 30 years. Imagine everything you once knew as life switched, grew, disappeared, died, or just simply changed, while you …
The director of several well-received horror films (Habit, The Last Winter) and producer of many others, Larry Fessenden has also made scores of appearances in mainstream films from the likes of Kelly Reichardt and Neil Jordan. Simon sat down with him at a bar here in Montreal to discuss his latest producing and acting gigs, …
In 1964, while the rest of the world was watching Mary Poppins take school kids on acid trips, Brazil was thrilling to the exploits of Coffin Joe, a character mixing the best parts of Anton LaVey, Count Dracula, and a homeless old man. Considered Brazil’s first horror film, At Midnight I’ll Take Your Soul was …
While waiting in line late last night for one of the most anticipated screenings at Fantasia, I saw a rather old gentleman with a huge grin slowly making his way towards me. He was shaking peoples’ hands and making small talk – I had no idea who it was and before I knew it he …
My Dear Enemy Directed by Lee Yoon-ki Furthering a developing hypothesis that South Koreans are launching a charm offensive against all hallowed Western film archetypes, the splendid My Dear Enemy, a spiritual kin to last year’s Adrift in Tokyo (from Japan), contains elements of the road movie, the romantic comedy, and Woody Allen-style light observational …
Coffin Joe. For Brazil, nothing personified horror quite like him. He’s a deceptively simple villain. He’s doesn’t drink blood, he’s not undead, he has no magic powers. There is absolutely nothing supernatural about him. Nothing. He is just an undertaker in a top hat and cape with extremely long fingernails. What strikes fear into the …
Ricky D interviewed director Barbara Bell on the subject of her new feature doc, Graphic Sexual Horror, which is making its debut at the Fantasia Film Fest here in Montreal. Horror explores the world of online hardcore bondage porn, with a focus on a specific, controversial site called Insex, and its founder, who goes by …