Here is some more links to some articles and other such stuffs online (trailers or such like) that tickled our movie fancy this week and are perfect fodder for a lazy Sunday in front of the computer. Enjoy.
LINKS
Not much this week, mostly Miramax related stuffs.
Disney closed down the mini mega studio Miramax this week, sad news indeed for any film fan especially those who grew up with their films basically forming the background of their life (Red and myself in particular) here is a lookback by the Guardian and also one by Eye Weekly and a even further lookback to the first day of the first film at EW.com. RIP Miramax. Like to think something will appear from either of us, but dont count on it. soz.
Back to Sundance which draws to a close this weekend, heres a look at whats been happening.
Empire magazine have announced the results of their poll which counts down the top 50 worst films this week. how many have you seen? i have only seen 8. Im particularly happy that The Sweetest Thing features, as i thought it was horrible but my girlfriend thinks it rocks. i feel somehow vindicated.
(Red here, the list has some worthy shite on it but as always when the public vote for stuff it has too many recent films and it's a bit too populist. Spiderman 3 and Transformers 2 are indeed dreadful but do they genuinely belong on this list? The problem is most people haven't really seen truly terrible cinema of the level of Roger Corman or Coleman Francis so their films don't appear. Corman could fill the list himself! Plan 9, The Room and the Uwe Boll films are of this level I'm talking about but they are only the popular peak of awful cinema. Batman and Robin at number 1 though might be the best shout of the whole thing.)
and
Edge Of Darkness out this week sees a return to the big screen of Mel Gibson, here is a look at the projects he could have made his return with however, all totally serious.
TRAILERS
Zoe Saldana is my burd du jour and the trailer for The Losers which shows her in hot pants at some point is here. Also a trailer for Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe together again in Robin Hood and lastly Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps which is a silly title but still a good short trailer.
ON RUUD'S TV THIS PAST WEEK
The Bands Visit which was a funny wee Isreali film about a Egyptian band lost in Isreal. The tail end of the Lost season 5 in preperation for the final season starting this week!
and I have started reading a book called Fake! by Clifford Irving which is the biography of a famour art forger called Elmyr De Hory, which in turn is the subject of a Orson Welles doco from 1974 called F for Fake actually. The author himself actually went to prison for forging letters to write a autobiography of Howard Hawks which ended up being a hoax. This actually led to another film, The Hoax in 2007 starring Richard Gere as Irving. Funny how things work, i just saw the book sitting and thought it look interesting, never knew anything about it. Click on both the author and the subjects names to read their Wikipedia entries. Very interesting.
Red here with a wee video that Empire linked to via their Twitter. Some bloke made this jaunty wee tune out of music, speech and sound effects from Up:
If you don't smile after that then I just give up...
Right Avatar, 3D and all that. Let's get the whole 3D thing out of the way first as many of the 5 star reviews attributed to Avatar seem to focus on how amazing it looks and the whole immersive experience and what not. And it is indeed a stunning looking movie. The effects are indeed incredible, probably the finest yet. The world of Pandora is full and brilliantly realised and the motion capture techniques used for the Na'vi characters are almost flawless. The 3D is really good too, although it has its problems, many of which are the sort of things that blight any new technology at first. Really they're minor grumbles involving framing of shots when characters and objects come out of the screen. At times you're staring at half a Na'vi just floating there. When it is used only to create depth going back into the screen it is sublime. Basically Avatar is an incredible technological achievement.
The problem is that's all it is.
James Cameron has never really been one for his brilliant stories. Even his most celebrated films, Aliens, the first two Terminators, were pretty thin on plot but made up for it with some of the best, most tense action scenes you could wish for. Avatar's got a few explosive moments too, but if you're looking for another Cameron film to compare it to, structurally speaking, then look no further than Titanic. Way too long? Check. Tepid love story? Check. An outsider introduced to another culture? Check. Only really gets exciting after you've stopped caring and your buttocks are numb? You get the idea.
It really is very long. Most of the events that occur in the first two hours or so would probably have been presented as a series of montages in other films so we could get to the juicy action stuff. In all honesty you can't blame Cameron for wishing to dwell on events happening on Pandora. It really is a beautiful, wonderfully realised world. It's just that at the same time you wouldn't mind seeing some of it getting all exploded n shit.
Well rounded as the world may be, the same term cannot be applied to the characters who either populate or visit it. Most are identikit like you'd buy out of some stock character Ikea or something. There's the science geek, the company man, the hard as nails drill Sgt. that R. Lee Ermey would play if this had been made twenty years ago. In fact only Sigourney Weaver's chain smoking biologist Grace Augustine, who's a bit like a cross between Ripley and her from Gorillas In The Mist, is actually interesting. Of course a lot of that is mainly thanks to Weaver being her usual level of smashing. In fact as bad as the characters are there are actually some pretty good performances. Colonel Quaritch may be as cliched as war is hell but it's a fun turn from Stephen Lang none the less. And most of the main Na'vi are very good. Again the wonder of the technical side of the film comes into play as even though most only appear as CGI characters the motion capture tech developed by Weta and Cameron means that the actor's performance isn't lost, even if they don't have much in the way of character or dialogue to actually work with. This would have come in handy for lead character Jake Sully if Sam Worthington had managed a performance. Instead he continues to confound as to why he has been lined up as Hollywood's next golden boy. He lacks anything approaching charisma, but in a way that means he's perfectly suited to play Jake, a total tool of a man who is very difficult to root for in any way. It's very hard to care about his predicament and even harder to believe in his ability to rally the Na'vi troops when you hear the delivery of the big speech.
For many Avatar will rankle thanks to all the hippy stuff, all the pro-environment, anti-war messages. The Vatican really didn't like the idea of it promoting the worship over nature. Supposedly that's because putting faith in a tree is ridiculous when there's a big floaty unprovable man and his dead son cutting about. These messages are delivered in a pretty heavy handed way but they're not really a problem, unless you're some ultra right-wing bastard type who likes death. For most people seeing it the special effects will have enraptured them to the point they don't notice any message. Watching it as an effects showcase is probably the best way to experience Avatar, they really are incredible and the film will deserve all the technical Oscars that will no doubt be thrust in its direction. The problem is watching it this way is what's leading so many to award it five stars and declare it "the greatest thing they've ever seen". It's what's going to lead to it winning the Best Picture Oscar. In fact it looks like it'll sweep the board, just like Titanic did twelve years ago. An overblown effects showcase that's quite a poor movie when stripped of its bells and whistles that's being awarded for its money making ability? Check.
Here is some more links to some articles and other such stuffs online (trailers or such like) that tickled our movie fancy this week and are perfect fodder for a lazy Sunday in front of the computer. Enjoy.
LINKS
Here goes nothing; lets start with Spiderman, the story has been covered a bit on Splice in past few weeks and now we have a new director. If movies were fitba then tabloid writers would have a field day with the new mans name.
Sundance Film Festival started on Thursday just passed, and taking its bow there is our blogs namesake Splice starring Adrien Brody and Sarah Polley. Its actually a Canadian film and is mentioned here alongside the other Canuck fare the Utah filmlovers are getting to see over the festival.
I actually didnt know Sundance was this week until i read this preview of what to look out for there in the excellent free paper Eye Weekly as i made my way home on the streetcar so i then went looking for the British perspective to go with the canadian one i read and found it.
In fact the British view is actually a good base to follow the festival all the way through, looks like the blog will be updated regularly.
Last bit of Sundance stuff here is this link to a clip from the new Chris Morris film Four Lions which i actually laughed out loud at but resisted the urge to cut the phrase down to three letters.
Staying on film festival mode, last week I was trying to encourage Red to put Splice about at the Glasgow Film Festival, so far he hasnt told me he has or he hasnt so we still live in hope. If he hasnt yet, maybe this look ahead at the fest will whet his appetite.
Award season is upon us, the Golden Globes have came and went and now the Bafta Nominations are out, still to come are the Oscars and the curtain will come down with the Spliceys, its sure to be a entertaining few months.
The award ceremonys are revelling in the last year of film however there is a season of films on at the TIFF Cinematique for the next few weeks. I still have a few free passes left so have a look at this and tell me what to go see.
And finally, some news to make Big Red smile, Bruce Campbell related you understand.
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Featuring in this weeks trailers is Shutter Island which was supposed to be in last week but I ended up putting Extraordinary Measures in twice. Then here is Legion which is a kind of sci-fi horror type fantasy thing which has been on my TV for weeks now and I think looks cool. After that a quick teaser for Buried which looks interesting and ties into the Sundance stuff in the links as it is being shown there sometime in the next week. And finally MacGruber which is a redband trailer, which i never knew existed, that means there is swearing in it and swearing is funny.
ON RUUD'S TV THIS PAST WEEK
The burning embers of the final episodes of Conan O'Brians tenure as host of The Tonight Show which featured a strange final credit singing of Freebird by Will Ferrell with the Tonight Show band and Conan on guitar and what looked like Beck and Ben Harper also. Very weird. still not sure what the pregnant woman thing was about.
Here is The Golden Globes Ceremony: a commentary from a film fan watching a ceremony for the first time.
Ok so I flick it over and I have missed the opening credit sequence, I am thinking was there one or was it just a voiceover to introduce the host Ricky Gervais. I am pretty sure I have only missed maybe two minutes so its not like the Oscars all music and dancing. Though I haven’t ever watched the Oscars either (but I will this year) so I don’t even know if that’s what happens in that. What I will do is assume all I missed was a voiceover intro and our host making his way to the front of the stage to speak to his audience. So Ricky cracks a few gags, a good NBC one in particular and then were straight into awards.
Best supporting actress kicks it all off, I posted a link to the nominations the other day so I wont go through with a dry run down of all nominees and the eventual winner for every award because I have neither the time nor the patience and if your reading this neither will you I expect. So Monique won for the Precious based on a book called Sapphire by someone or other won it. Her speech was quite nice, how she spoke about her husband was touching. When reading the nominations there was no clips, just straight out with the winner. This could all be over sharp if that’s how it goes. But I like clips.
I forgot TV awards were involved in this, now up is best actress on TV in a comedy or something. Whoever the girl is that is presenting with Lost’s own Jack Sheppard is making a big mess of her spiel. As the nominees appear on the screen it comes to my attention that Edie Falco is stunning, but she doesn’t win. Toni Collette wins for I don’t know what. She is quite a good looking lady too actually, I only really remember her as the hippy mother in About a Boy. Hmmm. Ok it’s a break now, 16 minutes in and two awards. The ad breaks have me wondering if its all live, I would think it is live, but what do they do in the ad breaks? But while I think about this it comes back on and its been a short break, the likes of which north american TV ordinarily never sees, so I will say yes, its live.
Out comes the fellow who plays Sheldon on The Big Bang Theory, that character is worth watching a TV show for alone, I hope he wins something though I have no idea if he is nominated, he probably isn’t. him and someone else are presenting best actor or maybe supporting actor in a TV show. John Lithgow gets it from under Ari Gold and Ben Linus. Its best actor in a TV series or TV movie I think actually. Michael C Hall must be ill, he is shown in the audience here, it appears Lithgow is in Dexter now. Im so far behind with that, I have only seen series one before STV basically humped it and never showed series 2 and it appeared on ITV4 but wasn’t advertised. I will catch up but probably with a boxset, which disappoints.
Paul McCartney (is he knighted? Should I have Sir in there, I should just have written Macca) cracks a terrific joke I think about how he is now known as that guy from rock band. That’s a funny joke I think. He is out presenting best animated flick and whats going through my mind is the frog chorus for some reason
This award has clips, yeah! Up wins which is kind of predictable. I have no doubts that its awesome but Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs looks interesting and maybe a film like that winning would make others think that maybe Pixar hasn’t got it sewn up and cool stuff like that might get made. I actually like Bolt! but it came out the year before in the US and last year just in the UK and probably isn’t able to qualify. Plus others might think its shite. It has just occurred to me that I think Mo’Nique is the only winner to thank god, that’s kind of refreshing. If its true that is. Anyways its another break, I hope Ricky Gervais makes another appearance when it comes back, seems a waste to have a host that doesn’t feature much.
As it comes back the kind of pan around the room and it makes me think it looks a little like the Lakeside where the BBC’s darts is held every new year. It just doesn’t really look that fancy, its just a big room with big tables, I am not even sure if the tables are for films or TV shows to sit together. I would guess it is but what if you straddle two nominees? What a decision to make, I guess I would pick the one that’s expected to win the most, glory hunting if you will.
So what happened next is this, I am taking notes using my mobile phone, however midway through this note my phone went on the blink ad the note wiped so for 15 minutes my extensive musing are gone. So I will try fill in some details from memory. Michael C hall wins for Dexter in the best actor in TV drama category, no mention of the fact he is wearing a hat on the commentary, I just I don’t remember hearing he was unwell. Regardless, get well soon and well done on the win tonight. Ok best actress in the same category goes to Julianna Margulies for a show I haven’t even heard of. This show she is apparently great in is exec produced by the Scott Bros (Ridley and Tony) so it must have some merit. Other things that happened in this missing link were Kate Hudson came out and showcased a clip of 9 which is in the running for best film in a comedy or musical. Is she still with A-rod I ponder. I don’t really like him.
Meryl Streep makes a speech for winning an award, Best Actress in a comedy/musical maybe? I am trying my best to keep up with all the categories and it’s a break again. A chance to breath. Before every break mostly Avatar is mention for the viewer to tune in and see if it wins for whatever award its up for. Why is it only that film is being mentioned ad nauseam? Is ita link between nbc and the studio. Keeps me in mind of when movie stars like Ben Stiller were on Conan on the same channel promoting the film the week before it came out and they weren’t even in it, it was supposed to be funny, I found it weird.
But back to the Globes, were 71 minutes in and Helen Mirren is presenting Precious to the audience for the best film award its up for, sneaking suspicion its not comedy/musical. The camera shows the representatives of that filma nd I have to say the director of the film has the best facial hair at the awards by some distance.
Sam Worthington and the blue girl from Avatar are presenting best actor in a TV movie or mini series to Kevin Bacon for whatever it is he was in, because guess what? I haven’t seen it. Drew Barrymore wins the female version of the same award and waffles a speech. Anna Paquin however ahs a revealing low cut top on. Which by the power of the internet I should be able to show below
Viola!
Its just mentioned where the awards are held. The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills. I have never been so cant really pass comment. My dad has been to where the Oscars ate held though. He claims its in a shopping mall. Might well be. Cameron Diaz intro’s a clip for the other Meryl Streep film that’s award nom worthy, the one where she is having an affair with her ex husband, its name escapes me. I should have a catch up of whats happened so far but it all moves so fast. Gerard Butler is now out with Jen Aniston who out of a lot of smoking ladies on show is by far the smokingest tonight, wow. They give the best screenplay to Up in the Air writer and director Jason Reitman who in his speech says that Quentin should have won, I have seen Inglourious Basterds and Up in the Air and though I liked Tarantino’s film and the script rocked, I think the right one won regardless of what Reitman says. His speech is actually a little soppy and leads me to wonder what I would do if I won. I would no doubt be like I am when im drunk and Scotland win or Killie win and I call everyone brother because of the shared experience of it all, no doubt it would be embarrassing for all.
Mr Demi Moore and Mrs Ben Affleck (a wee curveball to keep you awake) award best actor in tv comedy or whatever to Alec Baldwin for 40 Rock and he isn’t there, the first not to be present to pick up his award, there is no live to video of him or anything, rather Kutcher (Mr Demi Moore) picks it up for him, which seems a bit disappointing. couldn’t one of his brothers came in his place, in fact isn’t one of his brothers on celeb Big Brother? You think they discuss such things when they talk? Like would Alec tell of his filming with Meryl Streep this year and his successful TV show and basically a successful time in his career and he asks his brother and he says he slept in the same room as fallen rap star Sisqo and the Basshunter, plus the guy that shagged Jordan years ago. I hope they do talk like that. I wonder what the situation is with getting your award after the event, is it mailed? At this point you know what it is so do you open it or do you just leave it in the box after signing for it and stick it in the ikea unit at your front door that the house phone sits on? Hmmm, that’s something to ponder.
Ok best drama series now and Mad Men wins, I am particularly happy about this as I actually watch this show. John Hamm has a stunning beard I se as he appears on the stage as does the weasly Peter character from the show. He doesn’t actually look so weasly in real life, its that kind of acting then that wins awards! Christine Hendricks is also up on the stage, I mean the whole cast is, she rocks my socks I have to say.
I am thinking that no one is visibly drunk yet, though I may not know how to spot a drunken Hollywood celeb. One would like to think that the casts of some of these shows meet at one cast members house beforehand to drink a carryout so they are half stewed in preparation of the night ahead. It makes sense that they would do this. Though its probably free booze at this bash so maybe that negates the need for a carryout session.
I just missed five minutes while I attended to another matter, I come back and the German chap who is so excellent in his role as the eager Nazi in Inglorious Basterds is winning the awards for best supporting actor. A splendid choice I say regardless of who he was up against, he was pretty damn awesome. Its another break now and the announcer is telling me that Robert De Niro and Leo Di Caprio are coming up to honour Martin Scorsese with the Cecil B. DeMille award. I hope there is a montage of clips from his classics in amongst this, those types of montages are great. The show returns from the break and there they are, Marty’s two boys. They each say there piece and then there is the mantage, its immense, I instantly feel the urge to go through the Scorsese canon right here and now. His speech itself is great, a humble man who knows his stuff when it comes to film. Thanks to you tube, here is that segment from Bobby D and Leo’s arrival to the end of Marty’s speech. TV gold I think.
Another break and it returns with Jodie Foster presenting the clip from the Hurt Locker. After that Gervais returns claiming to be boozed up and beer in hand, but its only to set up a great Mel Gibson gag as he is coming out next to give out an award. He takes it in good humour the ol Jew hating drunk that he is! Ha! Gibson is presenting best director and the winner is…..James Cameron. Does that mean Avatar automatically wins best film? Oh I hope not. James Cameron has some really bad hair right now I should mention.
Also Jason Reitman looks gutted to have lost as well, I actually like that though, looks like he really wanted to win. Moving on with the awards, Jack Bauer is presenting best tv comedy, I hope for entourage to win. Its Glee though. Fuck!
The Glee disappointment is followed by another break but not before avatar gets another wee plug. After the break the guys from The Hangover present a clip for The Hangover funnily enough as its in the running for best comedy/musical I think. I hope that wins, I loved The Hangover, such a good movie. Actually, the next award being given out is that very category and The Hangover wins. Well that’s just excellent, a worthy winner I say, nice when something quite edgy wins I think. The Governor of California is here and he is showing the clip from AVATAR! He also cracks a nice NBC joke which are always nice in these Tonight Show war times.
Moving on as I smell the end, Mickey Rourke hands out best actress in a drama to Sandra Bullock, Rourke looks pretty awesome by the way and Sally Hawkins, whom I don’t actually know, gives Robert Downey Junior best actor gong (comedy/musical) for Sherlock Holmes over Matt Damon for The Informant! Two points about that, first the mysterious Sally Hawkins is wearing what looks like a Airdrieonians away strip with a diamond on the front and secondly I am so unimpressed by the fact Damon never won. I have said in this very blog that I was tipping Damon for award glory and to see him lose isn’t nice. Though Downey Jnr is a class act and his speech is the best of the night which makes up for it.
Ok here we are at the final stretch. Clooney is beaten out by Jeff Bridges in best actor, shame for clooney who was great in Up in the Air but smashing for Bridges who is excellent in everything really and I think I might be correct in thinking this is his first award. Its nice, his speech is rather good too.
Last of all best film. The nominees? Avatar, The Hurt Locker, Up in the Air (please let it win) Inglourious Basterds. The winner is….Bloody Avatar. Balls.
So that’s it, that’s my first experience watching The Golden Globes, it was odd. Really wasn’t as glamorous as I had hoped and seemed kind of dry. I mean the awards shows I generally watch are the British Comedy Awards and the Brits. The brits has music which breaks things up and the comedy awards is manic chaos (though nothing like what it used to be) and it has clips. The Globes was more bang bang bang with the awards I felt. Also the pans round the crowd shoed the great and the good in Hollywood and there is so many faces I didn’t know. Must be all the husbands and wives. All in all the three hours didn’t seem wasted at all, it passed quite quickly. Bring on the Oscars!
For a full list of who won what since my account may not be worth much click here.
Here is some more links to some articles and other such stuffs online (trailers or such like) that tickled our movie fancy this week and are perfect fodder for a lazy Sunday in front of the computer. Enjoy.
LINKS
During this week I went to a taping of a Toronto based talk show The Hour and sat in the audience when Harrison Ford gave a very rre intimate interview. Would have mentioned it before but it is shown on TV on Monday night coming so if you can see it, watch it and if you cant then I will try get some youtube links to it and give a bit of commentary of my experience, so this is a link into the future in soem ways if such a think exists. Trailer for Harrisons new film is further down this post.
"Friend" of Splice Ivan Reitman, see the TIFF diaries on here for confirmation of this kinship, has hinted that he will be back on Ghostbusters 3. Not that the link tells you much more, but think of it as proof of some sort.
Is Sherlock Holmes a load of garbage? I dont know, I think it looks quite decent and Guy Ritchie is far from the worst director the world has seen. However I have heard that in terms of being a authentic adaptation of Doyles book its a bit off the mark, Holmes is gay for example? But this guy says its actually quite on the money.
The Glasgow Film Festival is coming up in February and that wee link was for Red to click and try chasing up a press pass, cos if you dont ask you dont get. More to follow on the festival as the schedule is announced, right now though the Cary Grant retrospective is sounding good though. Failing a access all areas pass being granted, there is always volunteering, its ace.
But tonight its The Golden Globes. If you live in the UK then this happenes usually when your tucked up in bed and the news of who has won what and what the hell are they wearing usually comes at the earliest when your eating breafast and watching GMTV. I am over in North America so I will enjoy my first big awards ceremony in real time. I get to find out how mind numbingly boring they supposedly are. Heres the runners and riders. Hey, Scorsese is getting the Cecil B DeMille award and Gervais is hosting, it cant be that bad. If i do watch then i will document the event and post on here, hows that.
And
Hey ho kids, it's Big Red here with a wee link for you. It's the Rotten Tomatoes Awards.
TRAILERS
ON RUUD'S TV THIS PAST WEEK
Kids in the Hall Presents Death Comes to Town American Idol The Last 7 or 8 episodes of 24 day 7 in preparation for day 8 starting this weekend.
still reading The Hot Kid by Elmore Leonard, its good but my brain isnt clicked into reading the now so its a slog.
We here at Splice are unashamed Coen Brothers fans. Any regular reader will know that their work tends to send us into a froth and A Serious Man is no different. I've already popped it into my films of the year list so this is just a quick roundup of why it's bloody great.
It's easily the most Coen-like of all Coen movies. It's their Jewish film and as a result I'll admit to feeling that I've missed a few things in this thanks to not being up on the Jewish stuff. But that doesn't matter, it just adds to the whole mystique of the film. It's essentially a pretty meaningless little tale, but one that appears to be about very weighty subjects like God and faith and how life treats you. But in the end it feels like the Coens are playing a bit of a trick on the viewer making them try to interpret what they're seeing when in reality there isn't actually much to interpret. The key to the whole thing is the dentist finding messages in teeth story in the middle and how that just peters out. The Coens have made a lot about how their previous films were just little yarns and that the in depth analysis was the result of people over thinking. A Serious Man almost dares you to do just that.
It isn't some serious drag of a movie though. In fact it's absolutely hilarious, quirky, obscure and a trove for those who love Coen Brothers films. List all those reoccurring features you love and you'll probably be able to tick them off while watching A Serious Man. And in response to No Country's and Burn After Reading's obtuse endings we get another one. It's a great end but one that feels like a fuck you to the haters.
Basically if you love the Coens see A Serious Man. If you don't, see it anyway. It'll give you lots to complain about.
Now Spidey 3 was shite, but a lot of that now is clearly thanks to studio intervention. This thing looks like it's going to be entirely the result of studio minds clashing. In fact it appears that rebooting superhero franchises is the done thing in Hollywood right now with Fantastic 4 supposedly getting redone, Superman definitely getting one and Hulk having already had one and might be getting another. Looks like lukewarm reviews from the geek community is now enough for studios to totally shake up any comic book property. Expect Thor's reboot to be announced about two weeks after it comes out.
Here is some links to some articles and other such stuffs online (trailers or such like) that tickled our movie fancy this week and are perfect fodder for a lazy Sunday in front of the computer. Enjoy.
LINKS
Spiderman 4 is going through more studio red tape than is surely necessary, the studio and director Sam Raimi seemingly at loggerheads over who should be the villain for the upcoming sequel, here is some info and some villains to get you all thinking. will the geeks win, will Raimi win, will the studios win. Will we, the public who arent geeks or directors or studio execs win? Since we only want a return to the first two films rather than the quite messy third, are we not the majority?
Staying on Spiderman 4, witht he news above its May 6th 2011 spot which seemed untouchable has now became touchable, hot on the news of above a n other blockbuster moved in on its spot from its own May 20th release, and then another blockbuster took up that May 20th release spot. All the while the Spidey situ could get resolved and the bandwagon could be back on track.
Hitchcock articles appear in papers the world over it would seem every once in a while, they are rarely boring, this one is no different. Undervalued film writer who basically rewrote the book on Hitchcock criticism died recently and a fan of his wrote an article.
I got the best viral email in a long time this week, its a youtube video and is pretty specific about my hometown in Scotland but then I can watch movies about New York and San Fransisco and follow whats going on even though i have never lived there so this shouldnt be a problem for people that arent my fellow townsfolk to enjoy this. If you want to make your own movie in this style you can, do it here, its kinda cool you only need a script, or simply hoof it and make it up there and then.
Ever wonder what would happen if Star Wars was used in one of the orange cinema ads and they were trying to peddle the fact that orange now lets you browse facebook for free and what would Grand Moff Tarkin say? wonder no more.
And staying on a facebook theme, have a read at this piece of fiction which i read in a free paper i picked up when i was down in Chicago at Christmas, its pretty entertaining, at first i thought i was real then i thought, god if this is real where is it going, then i realised it wasnt, im not wasting any of it telling you this i must add. hmmm.
TRAILERS
ON RUUD'S TV THIS PAST WEEK
Dazed and Confused (1st viewing) The Golden Girls Weeds The Express What Happened in Vegas Slap Shot
and im currently reading The Hot Kid by Elmore Leonard which is cracking and has movie written all over it, but then what Leonard book hasn't?
Another year is done so it's time to pick some of the best films to come out in those fifty two weeks. 2009 was a little strange movie-wise. In some ways it felt like a damp squib mainly thanks to a blockbuster season full of utter dross. The big event movies were nearly all tied to running series that just weren't very good and Michael Bay finally made the mess of Transformers we all thought he would first time around. As such it was smaller cinema's year to shine. Not just in the "indie" or arty fields but in horror, sci-fi, comedy and so on. While Hollywood strove to destroy the world or saturate the already packed vampire sub-genre those looking to tell different stories really came to the fore. The list sees some fantastic movies from old favourites and new filmmakers alike. It also is missing some great films that just didn't make it. So what follows isn't some snobby, screw the blockbusters list. We here at Splice love a good wham bam summer movie. The problem was that none of them were any good. Thankfully there was many a great film released during the year as this now attests:
10) District 9 A stunning exploration of how countries treat immigrants and an even more stunning effects driven sci-fi thriller. Made for something like a fifth of what it cost to make Revenge of the Fallen Neill Blomkamp's debut film shows Hollywood how to do it. Employing a documentary-like handheld style and some breathtaking effects work for the price spent District 9 is creative in a way most Hollywood fare of a similar ilk (Cloverfield) can only dream about. Plus the performance of first time actor Sharlto Copley is astounding, not just because it is his first film but because a great deal of his dialogue is improvised and he wrings real emotion from the situation.
9) Drag Me To Hell
Sam Raimi's return to the horror genre, although it's arguably actually a comedy, shows up the rest of the genre for the redundant blunt edge it is. Whereas the plebs chose yet another ineffective, pointless remake of something they may have heard of from the 70's or 80's, those in the know chose Drag Me To Hell. It's a good, old fashioned shocker and Raimi has no shame in going for the obvious to get his audience jumping. There is no one better working in film in terms of creative camera work, use of sound and editing and it's through these supposedly simple techniques that he crafts many of the film's best scares. Plus he loves punishing his lead actors and Alison Lohman takes Cambell-level abuse. The horror genre has really missed Raimi, let's hope he works in it again soon.
8) Zombieland
Or the geek's guide to surviving the zombie apocalypse. Ruben Fleischer's debut felt a bit like if Tarantino made a zombie movie given how it's full of dialogue and lots of self-conscious nods to what has gone before. But given that the great man has now descended into relentless self-parody let's be thankful for someone else able to channel the energy needed to make this more than just another comic zombie flick. Like Shaun Of The Dead before it Zombieland does a lot of the cliches but in a way that feels fresh thanks to the direction and witty writing. The performances are great as well, with Woody Harrelson in particular clearly having a bawl. Oh and we can't finish without mentioning that cameo. Simply genius.
7) The Hurt Locker
Kathryn Bigelow does war. The Iraq War to be exact. It's a brutal experience taking you inside the action thanks to a free form, handheld style and it's a place you don't really want to be, well not in real life anyway. Some have criticised Hurt Locker for being pro-war but it's more neutral, which for some is just as bad. Instead it focuses on the soldiers experiences of it and looks at what can only really be described as "war addiction", people who only feel alive when in a situation that could cause their death at any moment. The performances are great, especially Jeremy Renner, the direction tight and the action nerve-shreddingly tense. The year's most intense experience.
6) A Serious Man
It's the Coen Brothers being the Coen Brothers. They've went and done it again sneaking this little gem in right at the death. It focuses on one Jewish man's attempts to explain why his life is falling apart. It could be God, or luck, or, you know, the shit for all intents and purposes happening. It's clear the Coens are playing with us creating something that appears to be incredibly deep and meaningful and yet in the end it seems to be actually pretty meaningless. Call it their response to critics endlessly trying to pick apart their films that they claim don't hold any deeper meaning. The proof lies in the middle of the film with the story about the teeth that contain a message from God. Plus it's the only film this year where you'll get to witness a Bar Mitzvah through the eyes of a stoned 13 year old.
5) The Wrestler
Darren Aronofski decides to tone down all that stylistic stuff and turns in his most raw and human of films as a result. Plot wise it's pretty much every boxing movie ever made only this time it's about a guy risking his life for a "sport" that isn't even real. At least that's the perspective of those who don't like Wrestling. It is for the people involved and its fans very real, as is Randy's situation. It's a movie about someone whose life has passed him by. His glory years are long behind him but he can't let go as he has nothing else. It's a heartbreaking watch and this is mainly thanks to what has to be the performance of the year from Mickey Rourke. He is Randy to some extent, only he is now finding the redemption the character might not allow himself to receive. Oh and Springsteen's song on the end credits should have won a damn Oscar but since Rourke didn't win it was clear the Academy didn't like it. But then, what do they know?
4) Moon
Another debut feature, from Duncan Jones, and another incredible sci-fi film that defies its budget to show Hollywood how ideas will always triumph if allowed to flourish. Moon cost $5 million and yet looks amazing thanks to clever practical effects, model work and subtle CGI. It's a deep, funny and very touching film about a man isolated in a mining base on the lunar surface with only a robot for company. It does what all the best sci-fi does and questions the ideas of what it is to be human. Plus in a time when Hollywood is happy for the genre to feature planet sized destruction Moon comes as a breath of fresh air by looking back to smaller films like Silent Running. Sam Rockwell is brilliant acting pretty much himself for the whole movie and it also features the year's best score thanks to Clint Mansell.
3) In The Loop
Or the sweariest fucking film you'll shitting well see all pissing year. Armando Iannucci's first film, based on the TV show The Thick Of It, is easily the funniest of the year. Anchored by the always brilliant Peter Capaldi as British government spin doctor Malcolm Tucker the film details the run up to a war in the Middle East which both the American and British governments want, they're just struggling to justify it. Sound familiar? It's a biting satire on how rubbish government actually is, whether it's in dour northern English towns or the White House itself. The film is driven almost entirely by dialogue and by the, mainly idiotic or sinister, actions of the characters. And in Jamie the press secretary it features the best one of the year. Witness his outburst towards a fax machine and bask in the sheer insane genius of it all.
2) Up
Why do you have to make me greet like a big wean every bloody time Pixar? There I am in the cinema surrounded by kids who are busy laughing and I'm tearing up. Thankfully when I wipe those tears away I realise all the parents are too, as are my mates. That's the power of these guys and their magical little tales. Everyone gets something from it. For the kids there's talking dogs and silly birds. For the adults, well, there's talking dogs and silly birds as well but there's also a genuinely sad, but ultimately uplifting, story of an old guy who loves his wife, no matter if death separates them or not. If the opening ten minutes, the finest opening to a film all year, doesn't get you, Carl seeing what's in the rest of the adventure book will. Sublime, beautiful and damn exciting Up is another fine achievement from some of the best filmmakers in the business, animated or otherwise.
1) Let The Right One In
So after all the moaning about how many bloody vampire films and TV shows have been released thanks to the abysmal yet ridiculously successful Twilight my film of the year is a bloody vampire film. But what a film it is. Whereas so many others added nothing to the bloodsucker sub-genre Let The Right One In is a stunningly original take on the tale that seems older than time. Instead of being an outright horror it rather is an exploration of adolescent love, friendship and loneliness. Well seeing it's a European film instead of Hollywood. Like many of the other genre pictures on this list it towers above most other modern examples by trying to be something different instead of yet another blunt, redundant pile of rubbish. It is a stunning little film, slow and ponderous, yet brutal at all the right moments. It is also a brave picture, not just in its attempts to bring something new to the vampire film, but in how happy it is to dwell in its ambiguities. It asks the viewer to work out what is going on and can be read many ways. Original, brilliant and the best film released this year, even if it is yet another bloody vampire film.
P.S. Make sure you see it before the Hollywood remake comes out and ruins everything!
