Paul Haggis is back with something that looks much more thrilling than the borderline terrible In The Valley of Elah. It is a remake of the 2007 French film Pour Elle, directed by Fred Cavayé. The Haggis version stars Russell Crowe, Elizabeth Banks, Liam Neeson, Brian Dennehy and Olivia Wilde. Check out the trailer below via Yahoo. Read the full story
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Courtesy of Variety, we have news that Elizabeth Banks will play the leading role of Tinkerbell in Disney’s Tink. Read the full story
E-mail Joshua Blackburn and be sure to follow him on Twitter. You can also interact with him on our Facebook page!
We reported Paul Rudd had joined the indie comedy My Idiot Brother, directed by Jesse Peretz, last week. Now THR has the exclusive that four lucky ladies will be by his side. Elizabeth Banks, Zooey Deschanel, Emily Mortimer and Rashida Jones will star opposite Rudd. Check out the plot below. Read the full story
Apple has just released the trailer for Michael Mann‘s Public Enemies starring Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, and Marion Cotillard. Check it out below or in HD on YouTube.
Universal Pictures has released the first movie poster for Michael Mann’s Public Enemies on MSN. The film stars Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, and Marion Cotillard. Check it below:
By Dan Mecca
During a recession, a paranoid political thriller in which the bad guy is a debt-collecting international bank seems like an easy sell. Unfortunately, The International never takes the time to figure out what exactly it’s trying to say or how exactly it’s trying to say it. Although directed by the perennially-promising Tom Tykwer, the German director who gave us Run, Lola, Run over a decade ago, the film was doomed to fail, first and foremost, on the printed page. Written by first-timer Eric Warren Singer, the BIG messages rampant throughout the plot of this thing are as ambitious as they are convoluted, and it appears there was nothing Tykwer could do to distract viewers from this fact. There are no small lines in this film, just large lines comprised of altruisms that sound like the worst version of Robert Frost (“Sometimes a man meets his destiny on the road he took to avoid it”).
Clive Owen stars as Louis Salinger, an Interpol agent bent on taking down IBBC, an evil multi-national bank with countless ties to terrorists, bombs and the like. The poorly cast, or simply under-utilized, Naomi Watts stars as Eleanor Whitman, a Manhattan D.A. also bent on taking down IBBC. There is literally nothing else about her character established – oh wait, she has a family, so I guess that was Singer’s sympathy angle.
UPDATE: The list below was written in January of 2009. I suggest checking out our new list, 65 Must See Movies of 2010. Click the image below to see:
So 2008 is over, come on, it’s time to move on. Here are 50 great reasons to go to the theater this year:
January
Synopsis: After surviving a fatal accident that claimed the lives of five of men in a mine shaft, Harry Warden performed a horrific killing spree on Valentines night in the town of Harmony, killing 22 people before he was shot to death.
Why You Should See It: Early screening reports have said there is more sex, limbs, and buckets of blood than one can handle. The 3-D gimmick is the only reason this is on my list. If implemented right it should be a great time at the movies.
Directed by Judd Apatow (Knocked Up, 40-Year-Old Virgin) this comedy is about…comedians. Funny People stars Adam Sandler as George Simmons, a comedian who finds out he has less than a year to live because of a blood disorder. Eric Bana, Seth Rogen, Leslie Mann, Jonah Hill, Jason Schwartzman co star. What a cast! There also seems to be alot of cameos. Much of the movie is supposed to be based on Apatow’s own experiences. Check out the comedy when it hits theaters July 31st, 2009.
Will Apatow continue his winning streak or will these ‘People’ not be so ‘Funny’?
If 2008 did one thing right it was comedies. There was a hilarious mix all around, from Apatow to Smith to some new faces and even some crazy Canadians. Here are my ten favorite comedies of the year.
10) Step Brothers
Will Ferrell and John C. Reily prove to be the ideal comedic duo as they learn to love (and hate) each other as new siblings. While the film is nothing more than a long string of one-liners, it still brings more laughs than expected. There isn’t much story to find here, but if you still enjoy Ferrell’s man-child act, you will not be disappointed. Richard Jenkins is superb as Reily’s emotionally exhausted father, continuing his tremendous year after The Visitor and Burn After Reading. The film falters a bit leading up to the conclusion but I leave you with just four words: Fuckin’ Catalina Wine Mixer.
9) Hamlet 2
Steve Coogan stars as a diligent high school drama teacher that puts on an irreverent and disturbing play, the sequel to the beloved classic, Hamlet. It is his performance alone that carries the film. His charm and desire to make something worthwhile is fascinating and hilarious to watch. The film takes awhile to get going but it is all worth it for the extraordinary finale.
Trailer Park Boys: The Movie
Although this film came out two years ago in Canada it just made its way to US theaters this past January. I was recently introduced to these crude boys from Canada, and after watching all seven seasons, three specials, and the film I have fallen in love. The film follows the Trailer Park Boys as they come up with the next big plan to get out of their life of crime forever. Nothing else makes me want to swear, smoke, drink, have sex, and get in trouble more than this show. The movie itself doesn’t live up to the greatness of the rest of the show, but for a new viewer, or a long time fan it delivers more than enough laughs. It’s too bad all we have left is one more movie (late 2009), and then the fine boys from Sunnyvale are done with the series.
7) The Foot Fist Way
2008: The Year of Danny McBride. The man starred in two more films coming up on my list and showcased his talent in this small independent flick. The Foot Fist Way features McBride as a hopeless karate instructor at a North Carolina strip mall martial arts school. His obsession with karate master Chuck “The Truck” Williams leads to a hysterical culmination. McBride’s crude and blunt delivery elevate the film to more than just your standard comedy. Look for more McBride on HBO this February when his new show East Bound and Down premieres.
6) Zack and Miri Make a Porno
Kevin Smith brings us the dirtiest and one of the most sentimental comedies of the year. Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks star as childhood friends turned roommates who, strapped for cash, decide to make a porno. Their surprising chemistry, along with the likes of Craig Robinson, Brandon Routh, and Justin Long as great supporting characters make the film truly remarkable. It’s a shame the film didn’t make more money. If one listens to Kevin Smith’s newest SModcast episode they would learn he spent much of the last month in a “pot-induced” haze because of the box office failure of the film. It’s a sad tale but this movie brings more than enough laughs for us to remember.
5) Tropic Thunder
Ben Stiller’s big-budget movie about a big-budget movie proved to be one of the most entertaining comedies of the summer. Although some of the jokes fell a little flat there was more than enough greatness to make this one hell of a ride. Most of this is due to the spectacular set of characters from Golden Globe nominated Kirk Lazarus and Les Grosman to passionate director Damien Cockburn to action star Tugg Speedman and his agent Rick Peck; each giving us unique ways to laugh. It’s been awhile since I’ve seen a comedy with such high production values and such memorable characters. This movie made my p-p-p-p-pee-pee tingle in more than one way.
4) Role Models
Any movie that can make a live action role playing battle more intense and gripping than a Lord of the Rings skirmish gets major points in my book. That’s not the only thing this comedy does right. Smart writing and outstanding performances truly elevate the film. Rudd and Scott are fantastic, but the real winner is Jane Lynch. She is the supervisor of Sturdy Wings; the Big Brother program Rudd and Scott must take part in for community service. Her matter-of-fact delivery and painfully funny dialogue make her one of the finest parts of the film. I’m equally happy for David Wain. As director, co-writer, and actor in the film he truly deserves a hit, after last year’s underappreciated The Ten didn’t do so well.
3) Sex Drive
Did anyone see this movie? Unfortunately, it’s only made $8.4 mil during 7 weeks of release. For one of the funniest movies of the year this is some sad news. The film follows 18-year-old Ian Lafferty on a cross country road trip with his friends and the desire to lose his virginity. Yeah sure, the idea sounds like a mix of Road Trip and American Pie, but the jokes are smarter and dirtier than both films put together. James Marsden and Seth Green both surprise as being pretty damn near perfect for their respective roles; as a homophobic older brother and a technically proficient Amish man. As Ian goes on his quest to lose his virginity everything that happens and everyone he meets culminate into a flawlessly written and hilariously executed finale. For the many that missed it in the theater, be sure to check it out when it hits DVD and Blu-ray on Feb 3rd.
2) Pineapple Express
Directed by indie auteur David Gordon Green, this action-comedy is so much more than just your generic stoner flick. I haven’t seen a film in a long time where the action compliments the comedy so perfectly. As the plot and the jokes get more ridiculous, so does the action. James Franco is the definition of excellence as a lovable stoner and weed dealer. The best scene of the film involves Danny McBride, Seth Rogen, and Franco in all out brawl. Imagine a fight where the contenders have no idea how to fight. David Gordon Green is able to perfectly capture the chaos and sloppiness of such an event. The whole film echoes this messy style, and it is so damn fun to watch. This film is a prime example of how beneficial a good director can be when it comes to comedies. With such a solid string of films, I look forward to what David Gordon Green does next, whether it is a blockbuster summer comedy or a low budget independent film.
1) Forgetting Sarah Marshall
This romantic comedy does everything right. Jason Segel hits it out of the park with his first produced screenplay and first lead role. Every line is so well crafted and each performance so enjoyable that it’s near impossible not to fall in love with the film. Who wouldn’t want to take surfing lessons with Paul Rudd, explore the island (and more) with Jack McBrayer, or sit by a campfire with Mila Kunis? Segel may be the lead here but Russell Brand steals the show as rocker Aldous Snow. He is rude, obnoxious and completely lovable. This film does more than just tell an entertaining story. The endearing dialogue and genuine relationships transport us right into the film; something most comedies strive for, but rarely do.
What were your favorite comedies of the year?
Who knew a film about porn could be one of the most touching of the year? Don’t worry, Kevin Smith’s new comedy still raises the offensive bar in more than one way. Starring Seth Rogen (Pineapple Express, Knocked Up) and Elizabeth Banks (W, Definitely, Maybe) as Zach and Miri, childhood friends turned roommates. Strapped for cash with no where else to turn they decide to make a porn. Bringing the most laughs is Craig Robinson (Pineapple Express, “The Office”) who plays Delaney, Zach’s coffee shop co-worker and disgruntled husband. Brandon Routh, who brings more life to his cameo than he did in all of Superman Returns, is hilarious as Justin Long’s (Dodgeball, Die Hard 4) gay porn co-star and lover. The two of them are the catalyst for getting the idea of a porn in Zach’s head when the meet at a high school reunion.
The film hits its stride when Zach and Miri raise the question of sex getting in the way of their 20-year friendship. The laughs are heavy and constant, but the romantic dynamic between the two characters is what really keeps the film going. The movie still has its plentiful share of vulgar, even obscene dialogue. I was surprised at the mother and young teenage son sitting to the right of me during this preview screening, as this was easily the hardest R in terms of sexual content and dialogue I have seen. There isn’t a sexual subject that goes unmentioned. We are hit with anal, blowjob, gay porn, and even a queef joke, as seen in the trailer.
Don’t expect another Clerks, but this film sits proudly next to Chasing Amy as one of Smith’s better works. Make sure you don’t get up as the credits roll because there is an hilarious extended bonus scene. The film opens wide on Halloween.
8 out of 10
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