Nice Milk pic.
Is Shareeka any relation to Omar Epps?
The MOVIES thread
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enderzero
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...resssssurrected.
Waiting Alone This romantic comedy was nominated for Best Picture in China last year - and for a damn good reason. Taiwanese born, American raised, and University of Washington-slash-Beijing Film Academy educated director Dayyan Eng crafts an intricate and irreverent story of a young smitten writer. The lover boy, played by the very compelling Yu Xia, heads the great ensemble cast of friends that all weigh in on how to win the girl of his dreams. I can't say I am usually a big fan of "romantic comedies," which is precisely why it is so refreshing to see a film that doesn't particulary follow the formula of Hollywood romance. Who knows if anyone will get a chance to see this fantastic first-feature - but you shouldn't pass it up if you do.
The Great Yokai War I am convinced that Takashi Miike can do just about anything and it will come out respectable. Yokai War is his film for the kiddies, or more accurately his take on a children's ghost tales - think Jim Henson meets Wes Craven. What comes out is a very cohesive, hilarious, and visually marvelous adventure film. The story centers on a young boy picked to be his village's Kirin Rider as he journey's to find a mysitcal goblin sword. The beauty of the film is in the fantastic costumes and makeup used to create the hundreds of Yokai spirits that aid him in his quest. There was a bit too much green screen behind these awesome low-tech creations for my taste and the villain is not nearly as menacing as his foxy henchwoman, but overall it is really fun film and impressive addition to Miike's library.
The Queen Stephen Frears' story of Queen Elizabeth II and her interaction with Tony Blair around the time of Princes Di's death is a fantastically interesting film and early pick to show up in a number of Academy Award categories. Helen Mirren is a clear fave for Best Actress at this stage of the game, but I was just as impressed with Michael Sheen, a virtually unknown actor, as Tony Blair. Best Picture and Best Director noms are also likely unless some heavy competition come down the pipe soon.
Waiting Alone This romantic comedy was nominated for Best Picture in China last year - and for a damn good reason. Taiwanese born, American raised, and University of Washington-slash-Beijing Film Academy educated director Dayyan Eng crafts an intricate and irreverent story of a young smitten writer. The lover boy, played by the very compelling Yu Xia, heads the great ensemble cast of friends that all weigh in on how to win the girl of his dreams. I can't say I am usually a big fan of "romantic comedies," which is precisely why it is so refreshing to see a film that doesn't particulary follow the formula of Hollywood romance. Who knows if anyone will get a chance to see this fantastic first-feature - but you shouldn't pass it up if you do.
The Great Yokai War I am convinced that Takashi Miike can do just about anything and it will come out respectable. Yokai War is his film for the kiddies, or more accurately his take on a children's ghost tales - think Jim Henson meets Wes Craven. What comes out is a very cohesive, hilarious, and visually marvelous adventure film. The story centers on a young boy picked to be his village's Kirin Rider as he journey's to find a mysitcal goblin sword. The beauty of the film is in the fantastic costumes and makeup used to create the hundreds of Yokai spirits that aid him in his quest. There was a bit too much green screen behind these awesome low-tech creations for my taste and the villain is not nearly as menacing as his foxy henchwoman, but overall it is really fun film and impressive addition to Miike's library.
The Queen Stephen Frears' story of Queen Elizabeth II and her interaction with Tony Blair around the time of Princes Di's death is a fantastically interesting film and early pick to show up in a number of Academy Award categories. Helen Mirren is a clear fave for Best Actress at this stage of the game, but I was just as impressed with Michael Sheen, a virtually unknown actor, as Tony Blair. Best Picture and Best Director noms are also likely unless some heavy competition come down the pipe soon.
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enderzero
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New Years Resolution... post at least on blurb a day - no matter how short - just get these out.
Children of Men Alfonso Cuarón has had a textbook rise for a young director: make an indie/foreign film that wins wild acclaim (Y Tu Mamá También), then do a big budget studio pic that makes a ton of money (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban), then get to pick your big budget passion project. This film is that project, and what a grand film it is. While some critics have pointed to the six credited screenwriters as evidence that there is something wrong with the story, if you can accept the basic premise, then these issues are rather minor. What really dazzles is the astounding production value, and the cinematography in particular. This is easily the most visually impressive film of the year, and not because of special effects or CGI, but because of camera work. Many shots go on for a number of minutes, raising, backtracking, and revolving like a head on a body. This film rewrites the book on action photography, bringing the audience truly into the space of the action. My mind kept flashing to immersive video games like Half Life 2 that really succeed in a cinematic way. Some filmmakers might take a comparison to a video game as an insult, but Cuarón has succeeded in capturing that intense immersion, and translating it to a non interactive medium.
Children of Men Alfonso Cuarón has had a textbook rise for a young director: make an indie/foreign film that wins wild acclaim (Y Tu Mamá También), then do a big budget studio pic that makes a ton of money (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban), then get to pick your big budget passion project. This film is that project, and what a grand film it is. While some critics have pointed to the six credited screenwriters as evidence that there is something wrong with the story, if you can accept the basic premise, then these issues are rather minor. What really dazzles is the astounding production value, and the cinematography in particular. This is easily the most visually impressive film of the year, and not because of special effects or CGI, but because of camera work. Many shots go on for a number of minutes, raising, backtracking, and revolving like a head on a body. This film rewrites the book on action photography, bringing the audience truly into the space of the action. My mind kept flashing to immersive video games like Half Life 2 that really succeed in a cinematic way. Some filmmakers might take a comparison to a video game as an insult, but Cuarón has succeeded in capturing that intense immersion, and translating it to a non interactive medium.
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enderzero
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Try to bust out some quick and easy ones...
Rocky Balboa My first big H.wood premier! Having not seen any other pics in the franchise, I can't really compare the sixth and final (mm, hmm) to its predecessors. However it was pretty much what I expected. Stallone plays Rocky in every one of his roles, so he does a pretty decent job. The story is fine. If you are on the fence about seeing the film but leaning toward going, just go late. If the film starts at 7:30 go at 8:40 - you will be just in time for when the movie starts heating up.
Volver Almodovar's latest film is a bit of a foray into the mainstream for this normally far out director. That doesn't mean it isn't interesting, just not quite as risque as many have come to expect. It also means this Penelope Cruz vehicle is a front runner for both a best foreign language Oscar and a best actress nod. The story works but slows down at the end - but basic rule of thumb - if you enjoy oogling at Penelope Cruz's voluptuous curves and gorgeous features, you will enjoy Volver.
For Your Consideration While Harry Shearer, Catherine O'Hara, and Parker Posey shine in Christopher Guest's latest mocku, the film is ultimately dry and disappointing. A few more dollars in the production design budget could have gone a long way in prettying up the flat palette. Seems like nothing can quite hit the perfect note set by Best in Show.
Last King of Scotland Everyone is talking about Forest Whitaker running away with the best actor Oscar for this film, but his role is really more of a supporting one. While it is a good film, I wasn't blown away. I did like the look and feel of the rich African setting, but the story felt pretty Hollywood.
Rocky Balboa My first big H.wood premier! Having not seen any other pics in the franchise, I can't really compare the sixth and final (mm, hmm) to its predecessors. However it was pretty much what I expected. Stallone plays Rocky in every one of his roles, so he does a pretty decent job. The story is fine. If you are on the fence about seeing the film but leaning toward going, just go late. If the film starts at 7:30 go at 8:40 - you will be just in time for when the movie starts heating up.
Volver Almodovar's latest film is a bit of a foray into the mainstream for this normally far out director. That doesn't mean it isn't interesting, just not quite as risque as many have come to expect. It also means this Penelope Cruz vehicle is a front runner for both a best foreign language Oscar and a best actress nod. The story works but slows down at the end - but basic rule of thumb - if you enjoy oogling at Penelope Cruz's voluptuous curves and gorgeous features, you will enjoy Volver.
For Your Consideration While Harry Shearer, Catherine O'Hara, and Parker Posey shine in Christopher Guest's latest mocku, the film is ultimately dry and disappointing. A few more dollars in the production design budget could have gone a long way in prettying up the flat palette. Seems like nothing can quite hit the perfect note set by Best in Show.
Last King of Scotland Everyone is talking about Forest Whitaker running away with the best actor Oscar for this film, but his role is really more of a supporting one. While it is a good film, I wasn't blown away. I did like the look and feel of the rich African setting, but the story felt pretty Hollywood.
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enderzero
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The Banquet Xiaogang Feng's (A World Without Thieves) stylish take on Hamlet is a worthy choice for Hong Kong's entry for foreign language Oscar. Zhang Ziyi and Daniel Wu lead a solid cast. The story hits all the right notes and pacing between action and dialog is on point. It seems the filmmakers opted to use their generous budget on production design instead of big visual effects and it results in gorgeous sets and rich photography. Overall, this is probably my favorite Chinese costume drama since Crouching Tiger.
Curse of the Golden Flower On the other side of Kowloon Bay, The People's Republic proper has nom'd Zhang Yimou's "final" costume drama as their hope for Oscar glory. Unfortunately, this time last actually is least as this bloated behemoth is a real stinker. Sure the sets are pretty (though overwhelming) and the acting is fine (though the casting is questionable) - but the story is all too predictable and the final multi million dollar battle scene is so implausible it made me angry. Everyone knows that this kind of movie is going to end in tragedy and whomever you want to come out on top will be the big loser. The originality is in how you get to that point, and in this case, director Zhang just followed the well trodden path instead of doing anything fun.
Curse of the Golden Flower On the other side of Kowloon Bay, The People's Republic proper has nom'd Zhang Yimou's "final" costume drama as their hope for Oscar glory. Unfortunately, this time last actually is least as this bloated behemoth is a real stinker. Sure the sets are pretty (though overwhelming) and the acting is fine (though the casting is questionable) - but the story is all too predictable and the final multi million dollar battle scene is so implausible it made me angry. Everyone knows that this kind of movie is going to end in tragedy and whomever you want to come out on top will be the big loser. The originality is in how you get to that point, and in this case, director Zhang just followed the well trodden path instead of doing anything fun.
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enderzero
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Some Best Picture hopefuls:
Dreamgirls Bill Condon's adaptation of the Broadway musical is a joyous ride that hits all the right notes. I loved the characters and found myself tapping my foot along with the fantastic 70s music that makes it succeed in a way Chicago wasn't able to. Foxx, Beyonce, Hudson, Glover and especially Eddie Murphy really give great performances, thanks in a large part to Condon's masterful direction of a genre that may be one of the most difficult to succeed at. While it isn't looking all that likely at this point, if this film did sweep the awards, I wouldn't feel disappointed at all.
Babel Guess what... they are all connected. While the multi-story connection device might be a bit tired (Crash, Traffic, Magnolia), no one does it better than Inarritu who has used it in all of his films. Hopefully this will be the last. I actually did really enjoy the film with great performances by the entire ensemble. The stories are only related because they have to be, but if you can overlook that, it is an interesting study of how events ripple outward like stones thrown into a reflecting pool.
Little Miss Sunshine A quirky comedy is on the short list for best picture? You got that right, and you can thank the incredible award campaign being run by Fox Searchlight. All politics aside, this is certainly one of my favorite films of the year and probably the best written. With comedy that invokes The Office at some times and Billy Wilder at others, this film manages to seem both wildly contemporary and familiar. All in all it is an amazing success for first feature directing duo Valerie Faris and Jonathan Dayton and freshman writer Michael Arndt.
The Departed Martin Scorsese is back with another good chance to be snubbed during award season (he has been nominated for 6 films). I had a great time with The Departed. It is a fun and rambunctious gangster drama with especially good supporting performances by Jack Nicholson, Alec Baldwin and Mark Wahlberg. Leo and Matt do fine but I would have rather seen others in their lead roles. The story works well and whole thing is a good time, but not quite a best picture kind of film.
Dreamgirls Bill Condon's adaptation of the Broadway musical is a joyous ride that hits all the right notes. I loved the characters and found myself tapping my foot along with the fantastic 70s music that makes it succeed in a way Chicago wasn't able to. Foxx, Beyonce, Hudson, Glover and especially Eddie Murphy really give great performances, thanks in a large part to Condon's masterful direction of a genre that may be one of the most difficult to succeed at. While it isn't looking all that likely at this point, if this film did sweep the awards, I wouldn't feel disappointed at all.
Babel Guess what... they are all connected. While the multi-story connection device might be a bit tired (Crash, Traffic, Magnolia), no one does it better than Inarritu who has used it in all of his films. Hopefully this will be the last. I actually did really enjoy the film with great performances by the entire ensemble. The stories are only related because they have to be, but if you can overlook that, it is an interesting study of how events ripple outward like stones thrown into a reflecting pool.
Little Miss Sunshine A quirky comedy is on the short list for best picture? You got that right, and you can thank the incredible award campaign being run by Fox Searchlight. All politics aside, this is certainly one of my favorite films of the year and probably the best written. With comedy that invokes The Office at some times and Billy Wilder at others, this film manages to seem both wildly contemporary and familiar. All in all it is an amazing success for first feature directing duo Valerie Faris and Jonathan Dayton and freshman writer Michael Arndt.
The Departed Martin Scorsese is back with another good chance to be snubbed during award season (he has been nominated for 6 films). I had a great time with The Departed. It is a fun and rambunctious gangster drama with especially good supporting performances by Jack Nicholson, Alec Baldwin and Mark Wahlberg. Leo and Matt do fine but I would have rather seen others in their lead roles. The story works well and whole thing is a good time, but not quite a best picture kind of film.
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enderzero
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Alpha Dog Justin Timberlake's big screen debut is how this Nick Cassavetes directed "true crime" thriller is being billed. This is somewhat a fair assessment of the film's strength as JT does a great job. The story is quite good and the, lead by JT, the acting is solid. But Cassavetes is a hack and he makes a lot of mistakes in post production, adding way too many split screen gimmicks and words on the screen. The true times and places the events took place and the odd documentary style interviews are meant to add validity to the film, but ironically these devices draw the viewer out of the story, reminding them it is just a movie. (Full disclosure, this film was produced by the company I work for)
Apocalypto It is not often that I walk out of a theater upset I spent the $11 on a ticket. That was certainly the case with Mel Gibson's on screen violence spoogefest. Wayyyy too graphic is all I can remember. Dark, dreary and disgusting, this movie was only made to push boundaries and offers nothing positive except allowing me to finally have a movie I can say I positively disliked.
Casino Royale The latest Bond movie is very easily my favorite I have seen in the theater. In fact, it is one of my favorite films I saw this year! Dean Craig is the best Bond since Connery and I can't wait for more. The action is fantastic but what really shines is the story. It is so refreshing to see a big budget blockbuster where the action is driven by the story, instead of the story being driven by the action. If you somehow missed this one, try to track it down while it is still in a B-roll theater.
Little Children I was in no hurry to see this Todd Field film after what I considered to be his disappointing In The Bedroom. I am pleased to say I very much enjoyed this drama about infidelity and parenthood. The big surprise is the fantastic role of a maladjusted sexual deviant played by Jackie Earle Haley, recognized with an Academy nomination. An interesting fact about writer/director Todd Field, he also plays the voice of Aqua Teen recurring character Ol' Drippy.
The Prestige I really enjoyed Christoper Nolan's latest period film about dueling magicians. Christian Bale especially and Hugh Jackman also do fantastic jobs as the illusionists. What really made me happy was Nolan's return to temporal play (a la Memento) and other trickery that kept my eyes bulging and mind racing throughout.
Apocalypto It is not often that I walk out of a theater upset I spent the $11 on a ticket. That was certainly the case with Mel Gibson's on screen violence spoogefest. Wayyyy too graphic is all I can remember. Dark, dreary and disgusting, this movie was only made to push boundaries and offers nothing positive except allowing me to finally have a movie I can say I positively disliked.
Casino Royale The latest Bond movie is very easily my favorite I have seen in the theater. In fact, it is one of my favorite films I saw this year! Dean Craig is the best Bond since Connery and I can't wait for more. The action is fantastic but what really shines is the story. It is so refreshing to see a big budget blockbuster where the action is driven by the story, instead of the story being driven by the action. If you somehow missed this one, try to track it down while it is still in a B-roll theater.
Little Children I was in no hurry to see this Todd Field film after what I considered to be his disappointing In The Bedroom. I am pleased to say I very much enjoyed this drama about infidelity and parenthood. The big surprise is the fantastic role of a maladjusted sexual deviant played by Jackie Earle Haley, recognized with an Academy nomination. An interesting fact about writer/director Todd Field, he also plays the voice of Aqua Teen recurring character Ol' Drippy.
The Prestige I really enjoyed Christoper Nolan's latest period film about dueling magicians. Christian Bale especially and Hugh Jackman also do fantastic jobs as the illusionists. What really made me happy was Nolan's return to temporal play (a la Memento) and other trickery that kept my eyes bulging and mind racing throughout.
Wow, I'm surprised you hated Apocalypto. It didn't reach into the best part of the Mayan culture which predated the time in the movie, however, it did touch on what happened to their civilation once they believed Kukulkan had left the whites came in and took everything they had. It imploded, they turned on eachother.
They sacrificed tens of thousands of their own people in hopes it would bring Kukulkan back, it never happened, in their lifetime.
They sacrificed tens of thousands of their own people in hopes it would bring Kukulkan back, it never happened, in their lifetime.
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enderzero
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Pan's Labyrinth Guillermo Del Toro's Oscar-nominated Best Foreign Language feature is a whimsical, yet very adult fairy tale. The Franco era Spain setting is rich yet ultimately dreary when compared to the fantastical fantasy elements that are sprinkled throughout the film. These scenes are where the real fascination lies and although, all things considered, I loved the film, I was left wanting a bit more of the fantasy, and less of the war. This is my sure-thing bet for the Oscar win.
The Lives of Others Pan's main competition is probably this German "Wall" thriller by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, winner of Academy Award for longest freaking name. This very cerebral story follows an East German secret agent as he listens in on and eventually starts secretly manipulating a playwright threatening to defect to the West. It is a very interesting concept and I certainly enjoyed it, but the American moviegoer in me ultimately wanted a bit more suspense.
Perfume: The Story of a Murder Tom Tykwer (Run Lola Run) takes us on an olfactory adventure of intrigue following a man with a super sense of smell. He becomes so obsessed with a particular woman's smell that he takes to murdering women to extract their scents. An odd concept to be sure, Tykwer does a great job of telling the story in a light and fun way. The rich European scenery is also very enjoyable.
Notes on a Scandal Intense! is the best way to describe this fantastic film by Richard Eyre. Judi Dench stars as a school teacher who takes a fascination with young mother and new teacher played brilliantly by the incredibly gorgeous Cate Blanchett. When Blanchett's character starts to engage in an affair with a student, Dench's character decides to use her knowledge to secure their friendship. With fantastic performances all around (including Bill Nighy) and incredible fast paced intensity, this is one of the most engaging movies of the year. Amongst the Oscar maelstrom it is easy for films like this to slip though the cracks. If you like having your buttons pushed, you should seek this one out.
The Lives of Others Pan's main competition is probably this German "Wall" thriller by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, winner of Academy Award for longest freaking name. This very cerebral story follows an East German secret agent as he listens in on and eventually starts secretly manipulating a playwright threatening to defect to the West. It is a very interesting concept and I certainly enjoyed it, but the American moviegoer in me ultimately wanted a bit more suspense.
Perfume: The Story of a Murder Tom Tykwer (Run Lola Run) takes us on an olfactory adventure of intrigue following a man with a super sense of smell. He becomes so obsessed with a particular woman's smell that he takes to murdering women to extract their scents. An odd concept to be sure, Tykwer does a great job of telling the story in a light and fun way. The rich European scenery is also very enjoyable.
Notes on a Scandal Intense! is the best way to describe this fantastic film by Richard Eyre. Judi Dench stars as a school teacher who takes a fascination with young mother and new teacher played brilliantly by the incredibly gorgeous Cate Blanchett. When Blanchett's character starts to engage in an affair with a student, Dench's character decides to use her knowledge to secure their friendship. With fantastic performances all around (including Bill Nighy) and incredible fast paced intensity, this is one of the most engaging movies of the year. Amongst the Oscar maelstrom it is easy for films like this to slip though the cracks. If you like having your buttons pushed, you should seek this one out.
I didn't search thoroughly, but if you haven't seen We Are The Strange yet, then you must. It's a feature film, that was made in part using Mario Paint. (it also has sounds from Sinistar)
I hunger!
Anyway, watch it. I believe it is still on:
http://quicksilverscreen.com/
Or here is the official site:
http://www.wearethestrange.com/store.html
I hunger!
Anyway, watch it. I believe it is still on:
http://quicksilverscreen.com/
Or here is the official site:
http://www.wearethestrange.com/store.html
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Bill Drayton Jr.
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Bill Drayton Jr.
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- Location: teh w00ds
Can't beleive I am posting this...
Twilight - The ultimate supreme super cheesy teenage girl chick-flick. I am embarrassed saying I even saw it but I had no idea what it was about I SWEAR!!! It is a story about a love triangle between a 18 year old girl(who is actually 19 in real life) and two real life "boys" age 17 and 23 in real life. Filmography for any of them is pointless so mentioning their names is pointless. The acting is really bad like a bad teenage tv series and the girl basically has one emotional state where she is numb the whole time. Oh I forgot to mention one boy is a werewolf who in his spare time runs around in shorts and no shirt in the forest of Forks Washington with other werewolves that do the same thing in human form with CG abs. The other boy is a vampire! He looks really sickly with his shirt off and in his spare time he just hangs around with his vampire friends wearing really really bad colored contacts making their eyes naturally bloodshot. Only two vampires are murdered in the movie where one dreadlock sporting African American vampire is ripped apart by a pack of wild werewolves and another vampire just got depressed being a vampire and wanted the counsel of vampires to rip his head off so they turned him to stone and ripped his head off like a pack of blood drinking sophisticates.
Ok I am getting sick of describing this horrible movie...so blah blah blah, girl saves vampire, girl has to choose between vampire and wearwolf, vampire asks to marry girl, werewolf runs back into the woods with tail between legs...The End.
Oh I think I was like guy 1 of 3 in the whole theater and going through the ticket line the ticket taker commented, "and another one gets conned into seeing the movie." Did I get conned? Did my girlfriend secretly pretend to not know what it was about? Damn that WENCH!!!
Anyway it was kind of interesting watching the girls, and older women who most likely went to see it with their daughters, swoon when the boys took their shirts off. I think about 1/3 of the movie they had their shirts off...
Ok I am getting sick of describing this horrible movie...so blah blah blah, girl saves vampire, girl has to choose between vampire and wearwolf, vampire asks to marry girl, werewolf runs back into the woods with tail between legs...The End.
Oh I think I was like guy 1 of 3 in the whole theater and going through the ticket line the ticket taker commented, "and another one gets conned into seeing the movie." Did I get conned? Did my girlfriend secretly pretend to not know what it was about? Damn that WENCH!!!
Anyway it was kind of interesting watching the girls, and older women who most likely went to see it with their daughters, swoon when the boys took their shirts off. I think about 1/3 of the movie they had their shirts off...