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- Sundance 2011: Connected’s Tiffany Shlain Review/Interview
- Sundance 2011: Life in a Day – Movie Review
- Sundance 2011: Review–Richard Ayoade’s Submarine Doesn’t Disappoint
- Will Ferrell Joining NBC’s The Office…As a Temp
- Michael Fassbender Joins Noomi Rapace in Prometheus
- Trailer for Robert Redford’s The Conspirator
- Sundance 2011: Take Shelter – Movie Review
- John Travolta Eyeing John Gotti Biopic
- Christian Bale in the Lead for Ron Howard’s The Dark Tower
- Photos: Glee Super Bowl Thriller Episode
- Ridley Scott’s Prometheus Switches Dates with John Carter
- Battlestar Galactica: Blood and Chrome – Meet The New Adama
| Sundance 2011: Connected’s Tiffany Shlain Review/Interview Posted: 26 Jan 2011 08:36 PM PST
Tiffany Shlain is the only director with two films at this year’s Sundance Film Festival: her short film, Yelp: With Apologies to Allean Ginsberg’s “Howl,” and her documentary Connected: An Autoblogography About Love, Death, and Technology. The documentary begins as an exploration of the increasing connectivity among humans from the advent of written language to the rise of the internet, but takes a hard turn when her father, the inspiration for and collaborator on the film, is diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. To find out more about the film and our response, and see footage of our interview with Ms. Shlain, check out the rest of the article after the jump…
Connected feels like a personal story from its beginning. Director Tiffany Shlain puts herself at the center of the film immediately by addressing the camera and explaining her story and intentions to the audience. She presents her thesis and dives right into the material. It starts by taking a rather academic tone, asserting the history of human communication and technology, how it has progressed over time, and what that has meant for the evolution of the human brain. She explores right and left brain theory, and how that relates to differences between male and female thought. She introduces her father as an influence over her interest in the study of technology and its relationship with the human brain. She also opens up and explains that in spite of five miscarriages, she and her husband are continuing to try and build a family. But just as she manages to get pregnant, her father is diagnosed with brain cancer. She then decides to use the film to as a vehicle document her father’s final thoughts and opinions, many of which are related to his life’s work at the center of this film. But he also ruminates on life and relationships. These emotional topics replace the original crux of the film’s subject, and it becomes more about their relationship than anything else. Though the genuine emotion conveyed in the latter part of the film is compelling, it’s hard not to feel disappointed that the fascinating exploration of the implications of technology and human interaction fall by the wayside. One could certainly assertt that actual human interaction will always be more important than artificial or manufactured connections, but with the way the world is moving, and the unique perspective of founder of the Webby awards, awareness of the consequences of these trends ought not to be ignored. The film is crafted well enough, relying on a great deal of stock or found footage from different areas of pop culture, á la Michael Moore, to serve as stimulus while the lecturing monologues on history are delivered. The studio footage of Shlain addressing the camera is well lit and vivid, but a lot of the home movies seem to have been shot on consumer grade cameras, and the inconsistency in the footage of her father with the high quality the rest of the film is a bit distracting at times. But such is the nature of documentary: one uses what they can of what they have available to capture a specific moment in time. By the end of the film, Connected feels more like an exercise in a filmmaker’s use of their medium as a means of personal catharsis than to explore a particular subject or character in great depth. That is not to say that it utterly fails, but if you are looking for a scientific discussion on the matter of neuroscience and technology, you may be better off searching TED.com. However, if you are looking for the chance to see an artist present a stream of consciousness rumination on love, life, death, and family, then there is a lot of material in this film to connect with. Rating: 6/10Also, check out our interview with director Tiffany Shlain, in which she talks about her filmmaking techniques, the involvement of her family in the doc, and her desire to connect with audiences. And you can learn more about the film at its site, www.ConnectedTheFilm.com Related Posts
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| Sundance 2011: Life in a Day – Movie Review Posted: 26 Jan 2011 07:55 PM PST
Hearing that the Scott Brothers have produced a film of entirely of user-submitted content means one of two things — this is going to be a complete, chaotic mess, with random thoughts, and scattered ideas that don’t lead up to anything OR this is a film that will change cinema as we know it and absolutely shock and amaze audiences. For me there was really no in between. So what was it….
The Players:
The Plot:Life in a Day is a documentary that includes footage from filmmakers all over the world that shows what happens over the course of one day — July 24, 2010. With the help of YouTube users, director Kevin McDonald was able to gather enough material to make a feature film that will hopefully serve as a time capsule for future generations Review:To my surprise it was the latter. I went in expecting a mess, and was shocked when I found that this was one of the most thoughtful, well-made, honest, and highly effectual films of the festival. There was something about it that just touched your inner core; whether it be the mother of a family, having cancer and taking care of her child with a smile on her face, a young boy shining shoes, a music festival going horribly wrong, or a teenage girl talking to the camera having “just one of those days” — there was something that just resonated with our basic human instincts. It does a beautiful job at showing people’s distinct individual personalities and yet also shows how similar we all are. It leaves you feeling relieved in an odd way because no matter what is going on in your life, there is so much more out there, and yet your single life is also important. It’s a hard concept to display cinematically or even grasp in general, but somehow this film manages to have it all simply laid out in front of you for you to experience. And that is what this film is, an experience of life, big, small, old new. And don’t be too discouraged about the seriousness or headiness of what I’m talking about. For such a seemingly convoluted film, it was extremely easy to follow and filled with quite a bit of humor. This is not just for the “educated” film-goer (if that even exists) this film is for everyone, of all ages (not too young it does get violent), all genders, creeds…. It’s for you. There’s no doubt that someone or something in this film will resonate with you, because there is so much basic life issues that we all deal with, that we all can grasp. Overall:This is a truly beautiful film like anything you’ve ever seen before. I highly recommend sitting down and letting it wash over you as soon as you get the chance. And who knows, cinema may have just changed in the way that we know it… Rating: 9.2/10Related Posts
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| Sundance 2011: Review–Richard Ayoade’s Submarine Doesn’t Disappoint Posted: 26 Jan 2011 06:24 PM PST
I could kiss Richard Ayoade, and very nearly did when I ran into him between screenings at Sundance. Not only is he devilishly handsome, but he’s proven himself as a writer and director with his new film. Submarine is one of those films you find yourself daydreaming about days after. It’s not the story itself that really sticks with you, it’s the tone. Flippant, smart, sarcastic, and charming as hell, Submarine raises the bar for ironic coming of age comedies. If you liked Rushmore, you’ll love this!
The Players:
The Official Sundance Synopsis:Meet Oliver Tate, a precocious 15-year-old whose worldview is exceedingly clever and largely delusional (he imagines the outpouring of grief that would spread through Wales if he died). Oliver carries a briefcase, doesn't agree with everything Nietzsche said but concedes that he had some interesting points, peruses the dictionary for new words (fla•gi•tious, adj, wickedly shameful), and suspects his mother of having an affair with their New Age neighbor. But foremost on Oliver's mind is finding a girlfriend. Enter Jordana Bevan. Adapted from Joe Dunthorne’s wry novel and bolstered by aesthetic wit, fabulous performances, and a clever score by Andrew Hewitt (with songs by Alex Turner), Submarine evokes the spontaneity and breezy cinematic cool of the French New Wave. Ayoade sidesteps coming-of-age clichés to explore a kid who's too self-absorbed to realize that to know somebody, you first have to remove yourself from the center of the universe. The Good:This film is exactly my kind of comedy. It’s ironic, a little pretentious and a little dry, but really cutting and really quick. It hooks you from the beginning and the main character, Oliver, manages to be at once pitiable and despicably real. The brutality and abject humiliation of teenage life is prolific, and though hilariously funny to watch, very real and relate-able. The cast is fantastic. Craig Roberts and Yasmin Paige have amazing screen presence and good romantic chemistry, even playing awkward teenage lovers. Sally Hawkins does prim, uptight, and sexually repressed without breaking a sweat. Paddy Considine nailed the part of the weird, spiritual hippy neighbor–not a part I would have ever associated with him, but I’m so glad he did it! Noah Taylor couldn’t have been better as the academic, anti-social husband. I must also give some points of praise to style and wardrobe for putting together a cool and consistent sartorial look for the whole film. The Bad:There were two things that irked me a little about the film. One was that the pace slowed a bit toward the ending, and the ending itself was not wholey satisfying for me. After being put through the ringer of teenage angst, anger, depression, and anome, I was ready for a proper cathartic moment; a break through that I felt was never fully realized. Second, Richard Ayoade took some risks with some of his shots and I estimate that about half of the riskier shots were really necessary (but I did love the still shot of the girl falling into the pond!). Overall:If you’re looking for spry wit in a coming of age comedy that will have you laughing for days, you’ve found it. This is intelligent and, though it has moments of emo-style nostalgic camera work, is an excellent addition to the ranks of indie coming of age films. Rating: 7.5/10Related Posts
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| Will Ferrell Joining NBC’s The Office…As a Temp Posted: 26 Jan 2011 05:42 PM PST
Earlier this month we discovered that Steve Carell and his alter ego Michael Scott won’t be around for the season finale of “The Office.” When he jumps ship there will still be four episodes left, which makes a lot of people wonder how the writers and producers will handle such a void. They’ll hire Will Ferrell that’s how!
According to EW, Ferrell has been hired to soften the blow that will come at the end of the season with Carell’s departure. This is a great way to cushion his absence and perk up the ratings as well. Carell and Ferrell will appear in three episodes together, followed by a solo one with only Ferrell. This will be a great reunion for the two who previously co-starred in another little workplace comedy called Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy. Let’s just call Paul Rudd and really get this party started shall we? If they won’t give us a sequel, they can at least give us a taste of how great the movie could have been.
What do you think of Ferrell joining The Office? Do you think it’s a great plan for Carell’s exit? Related Posts
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| Michael Fassbender Joins Noomi Rapace in Prometheus Posted: 26 Jan 2011 05:02 PM PST
Ridley Scott is pulling out all the stops for the cast of his “not-so-Alien prequel” Prometheus. Earlier today we learned that the film’s release date had been pushed back to June 8, 2012, making it another one of the many blockbusters to expect that summer. Now THR, is reporting that a U.K. actor is set to play the male lead in Prometheus opposite Noomi Rapace and it’s Michael Fassbender.
Even though we have no idea what the script for Prometheus entials, we hear it will have some “Alien DNA.” Fassbender’s character is said to be an android, so if he’s a love interest for Rapace that relationship can’t really go anywhere — or can it? He was initially asked to join the film last year when it was still being shopped as the Alien prequel, but talks never solidified until now. Fassbender is really making a name for himself in Hollywood. He has a headlining role in Fox’s X-Men First Class, which comes out this summer (June 3), and next year he’ll follow that up with Prometheus. That’s not a bad schedule to have. Fassbender and Rapace are a great combination and we can’t wait to see them together on the big screen! What do you think of Fassbender joining Prometheus? Related Posts
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| Trailer for Robert Redford’s The Conspirator Posted: 26 Jan 2011 04:15 PM PST
While Robert Redford’s annual Sundance Film Festival is still underway, the first trailer for his latest feature The Conspirator has been released. The trailer debuted on Yahoo Movies, and it centers on the conspiracy surrounding the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. It stars James McAvoy, Robin Wright, and Tom Wilkinson. Take a look…
The Conspirator also stars Kevin Kline, Stephen Root, Justin Long, Danny Huston, and Johnny Simmons. The film centers on Mary Surratt (Penn), the only female charged in the conspiracy to kill the president (Lincoln), and McAvoy plays Frederick Aiken, the war hero assigned to defend her. Wilkinson stars as Reverdy Johnson, the former attorney general who as U.S. Senator is the mentor to the young lawyer, and sympathetic to Surratt. Kline plays Lincoln's War Secretary Edwin Stanton, and Bledel plays Aiken's wife, Catherine Morgan. Any movie that bring Kevin Kline back to the forefront, we’re in! The cast for this film is extremely impressive and it’s great to see Simmons in something that’s not so “teen-centric.” We loved him in Scott Pilgrim vs The World and he was the only enjoyable thing about Jennifer’s Body, but it’s great to see him get serious! The Conspirator is scheduled to hit theaters in April 2011. What do you think of the first trailer for The Conspirator? Related Posts
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| Sundance 2011: Take Shelter – Movie Review Posted: 26 Jan 2011 03:37 PM PST
“This is a film that speaks to the anxiety [happening now] and hopefully answers for that stress.” — That’s how Jeff Nichols introduced his latest work, Take Shelter to audiences and immidiately I realized, “this is going to be a thinker.” To me Take Shelter felt like a Raymond Chandler short story brought to the big screen — but not in an entirely successful or unsuccessful way. The film suffers for it’s length and repeititve nature. That being said, there were some many interesting ideas raised by the film, stunning visuals, and great acting that it’s hard not to respect. What I liked about it is also what bothers me which makes it almost impossible to form an actual opinion on it… but I’ll give it a go… The Players:
The idea that this film represents the fears that our deeply wedged within our society today make this film is what immediately catches your attention. It’s fascinating for the average American viewer, but it also have some crazy effects for those of you looking for something with a bit of flashy entertainment. The end is rather satisfying, but I’m not sure if the journey is as enjoyable as the result. The main problem with this film is that it establishes a concept (which sadly I can’t go into detail on because you really need to experience the it for yourself) and then repeats it over and over again with only a few subtle shifts. The repetitive nature of the film is accurate to the way that a “real person” would deal with the problem, so I do respect that… BUT this is a film. Sometimes honesty isn’t the best device to tell a story. This film could have been made even stronger with a bit of cutting, some additional changes in the pattern, or some kind of acceleration through the previously mentioned patterns. Once we get to the same thing for the fourth time, do we really need to spend five minutes establishing what’s going on? The pace starst so strong, but then seems to slow down and needed a little bit of a jolt about 45 minutes in to keep its momentum. Despite my complaints I did enjoy that neither you nor the characters in the film knew what the hell was going on until the very end. When one of these said patterns emerges, you never know what’s going on until it ends. Each time you have to discover it with the character, though you do start to predict it at a certain point. The acting in the film was wonderful. Michael Shannan is incredible at giving subtle but effectual performances and Jessica Chastain did a fine job as the ever supporting wife. Overall:If you’re prepared to slow yourself down and turn on your brain for a bit of metaphorical cinema with fine acting, this is a great film. It’s thought-provoking and the end is satisfying enough — but it’s not an entirely easy ride to get there. Rating: 7.5/10Related Posts
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| John Travolta Eyeing John Gotti Biopic Posted: 26 Jan 2011 03:32 PM PST
It seems as if John Travolta is looking to revive his career — again. The star is said to be circling the developing mob-centric biopic based on the life of John Gotti. The real life New York based gangster became world reknowned during the eighties and early nineties as he moved up the mafia ranks to become the infamous “Teflon Don.”
Over on EW, they spoke to the Gotti film producer Marc Fiore — the CEO of Fiore Films, LLC, who claims that Travolta is in serious talks to play the mobster.
Fiore also has his eye on James Franco to play the role of John Gotti Jr. He says the actor is in early preliminary talks for the part but according to Franco’s reps, they haven’t sent him the script yet. Weird. Nick Cassevetes is also said to be in negotiations to direct the film, which would be a perfect fit. If handled correctly this project could put him on the map as one of Hollywood’s heavy hitters. On the surface, the movie seems to be an action laced drama dripping with violence, but Fiore sees it as more. In the end, he describes it as "a story about a father and a son, but the father happens to be John Gotti Sr." Do you agree? What do you think of Travolta playing Gotti? What about Franco as his son? Would that be a good fit? Related Posts
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| Christian Bale in the Lead for Ron Howard’s The Dark Tower Posted: 26 Jan 2011 02:54 PM PST
Ron Howard has his hands full with the upcoming film and television adaptations of The Dark Tower. The novels have been described as Stephen King's answer to JRR Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. For such an epic story, we need an epic actor in the lead, and who better than Oscar nominee Christian Bale?
According to a report over on the New York Post, Howard is interested in casting Bale as the story’s protagonist Roland Deschain. The book follows Deschain, who’s the last of his kind, as he wanders across dimensions and other worlds on an endless quest to find the Dark Tower, a fabled building said to be a nexus between worlds. We could see Bale getting down with this lone ranger type of character but we’re not sure if he would be willing to get involved with both the films and the TV shows. But then again, maybe he is in the market for his next big project. After he wraps production on The Dark Knight Rises, he’ll be free to take on another coveted hero. We also should mention that “Dexter” star Jennifer Carpenter has also been listed as a possible contender for a role in The Dark Tower as well. Do you think Bale would make a good Roland? Who else could play the part? Related Posts
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| Photos: Glee Super Bowl Thriller Episode Posted: 26 Jan 2011 02:10 PM PST
The biggest night in television (Super Bowl Sunday) is almost upon us and the Fox network is busy promoting the event. This year’s Super Bowl will be followed by a very special episode of “Glee,” which will be “thrillerific!” We’re pretty sure that’s not a word but it’s a good way to describe the episode. It will feature a classic tune from Michael Jackson and put a serious spin on football! Check out the photos below…
           Back in November we learned that “Glee” would have a special Super Bowl themed episode following the coveted game that would feature a special mash-up of Michael Jackson’s hit “Thriller” with a yet to be named tune. We still don’t know what song is epic enough to go head to head with M.J. Perhaps it will be something from The Beatles or The Rolling Stones? Perhaps, they'll pick a present day hit to balance it out? For those of you who think it will be a tribute episode — it’s not. Sorry. For some odd reason it’s O.K. to honor artists from the last decade as opposed to those who have been a part of pop cultures for over 40 years. What other song do you think they’ll use in the episode? Source: Collider Related Posts
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| Ridley Scott’s Prometheus Switches Dates with John Carter Posted: 26 Jan 2011 01:18 PM PST
The Hollywood studios continue to play a game of release date shuffle. Last week we learned that Frankenweenie and John Carter of Mars‘ respective dates had been moved, and now according to Heat Vision John Carter’s has been changed again. This time, the decision has to do with Ridley Scott’s upcoming sci-fi epic Prometheus.
The trade is reporting that Prometheus will move from its original March 9, 2012 date to something a little more high profile. The film will switch with John Carter of Mars and be pushed back to June 8, 2012. Therefore, Mars will be released on March 9. This means Fox wants Scott’s sci-fi epic to get take full advantage of the summer blockbuster season. Prometheus—which has morphed from being an Aliens prequel to original sci-fi tentpole—stars Noomi Rapace, star of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. Damon Lindelof is working together with Scott on the new script, which was originally written by Jon Spaihts and based on an idea by Scott. Now that John Carter has moved up, we wonder if it will be able to have a successful opening without the summer buzz and hype? It is Pixar’s first attempt at live action, and it’s a CGI 3D hybrid. There’s a lot going on there. What do you think of the new release date for Prometheus? Is it a better fit? Related Posts
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| Battlestar Galactica: Blood and Chrome – Meet The New Adama Posted: 26 Jan 2011 12:16 PM PST
Over the past several months we’ve been hearing about the new prequel series that the SyFy Channel is developing called “Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome.” We’ve got some important casting news regarding one of the headlining characters on the show — William Adama. The new actor who’ll play the role is only 21 years old, but he’s already a TV veteran.
The new Adama will be played by Luke Pasqualino. The actor is a native of England, and he’s best known for his role as Freddy on the U.K. version of “Skins.” The other lead character on “Blood & Chrome” will be a “battle-weary officer” played by Ben Cotton whom Adama will report to. We can honestly say that we have no interest in watching this show. Are we still bitter over the cancellation of “Caprica“? Perhaps, but this kid doesn’t come across as leading man material. Official Character Synopsis:
What do you think of the new Adama? Source: EW Related Posts
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