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First Look: 10 Minutes Of New ‘Amazing Spider-Man’ Footage Reviewed!

traviswoods — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 22:57:36 +0000

Warning! Some spoilers!!

OK, Spider-Man fans, have I got some news for you: after having just left a screening of the new Amazing Spider-Man trailer (check it out) as well as about 10 minutes of new footage, I can say this: any doubts or fears about this reboot not living up to the potential, heart and scope of the first two Sam Raimi Spidey-ficks can now be dispelled. Amazing, indeed.

Given, the special screening (held worldwide in various theaters, from here in L.A. to New York, London, Rio, Tokyo and more) wasn’t of the whole film, and so a complete and total opinion cannot yet be formed. That said, we were given several extended glimpses into the lives of Peter Parker, Gwen Stacy, Dr. Connors/Lizard, and more, and despite all the flashy special effects (some of which were not completed, some of which were breathtaking), what really caught hold were the performances and moments between characters. The upcoming film seems to be—again, judging by the footage seen today—not just a Marvel cash-in on a popular name brand, but also a genuine attempt to translate the Spider-Man franchise into a more “realistic” and human series of films than the previous three.

Complaints? If there were any, it was that once again we seem to be watching Spider-Man fighting a good scientist whose experiments have driven him mad. Beyond that, nada. Spoilers? Well, it seems that Peter Parker’s father, and possibly his untimely death, are tied into the early history of Doc Connors; Gwen Stacy’s dead unmasks Spider-Man in front of an armed police squad in the middle of a busy city street; and we get to see Pete construct his web-slingers, as featured in the comics.

In all, it seemed as if director Mark Webb has attempted to wed the epic and dramatic heft of the wonderfully grandiose and operatic first two Spider-Man films with gritty realism of a certain Christopher Nolan franchise that has now become the yardstick for “realistic” comic book films, making The Amazing Spider-Man shoot up from a film I was mildly curious about and into a movie I cannot wait to see.

PS: The Lizard in 3-D? Gotta admit, it was the coolest thing I’ve seen on the big screen in quite awhile.

What do you think of the Spider-Man news?

Sundance 2012: Celeste and Jesse Forever – Movie Review

Brendan Walsh — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 23:37:58 +0000

The Sundance Film Festival is full of emotional relationship dramadies, but so many of them feel like writers and directors working out their emotional issues from their own relationships. By using their movies as a cathartic opportunity to whine about their breakups, they miss the chance to connect with audiences and speak to the human condition and shared experiences. But that is not the case with Lee Toland Krieger’s Celeste and Jesse Forever. The film, which stars The Office‘s Rashida Jones and SNL’s Andy Samberg, is not about the pain of ending a long, substantial relationship, but about the way we’re forced to move on and grow as a result. Check out the rest of the review, after the jump…

UPDATE: Watch Mali Elfman and Brendan Walsh review Celeste and Jesse Forever.

Celeste And Jesse Forever

Director: Lee Toland-Krieger
Screenwriters: Rashida Jones, Will McCormack
Players: Rashida Jones, Andy Samberg, Will McCormack, Emma Roberts, Elijah Wood, Chris Messina

Synopsis:

Celeste and Jesse are the perfect couple, except for one thing: They’re divorced. Months after their break-up, they’re still best friends and living with each other. But when they realize that it’s time to move on, their lives are thrown into upheaval, and the two must reevaluate the way they view each other and themselves.

The Good:

Chemistry - Samberg and Jones are adorable together. Their comedic backgrounds allow for a quick repartee, and a natural back and forth that makes it easy to believe them as more than a couple, but great friends. But their dramatic scenes are especially strong. The way they argue never feels like a forced shouting match, but as if the two are more disappointed in what they find in the circumstance, resulting in real heartbreak. Rashida Jones has displayed broad emotional range in her TV career, but with the scope of a whole feature film her to breathe as an actress, she drives the films story and emotions with her performance.
Samberg?! – I normally can’t stand Andy Samberg. I don’t like his smug persona or his over the top, clumsy acting style. However, in this film, he is positively disarming. He is rarely playing for laughs, and turns in a shockingly natural performance. His dramatic scenes are reserved and quiet, accenting the internal confusion towards the state his character suddenly finds himself in.
Cinematography - Director of photography David Lanzenberg shot the film on the Arri Alexa, which is a high latitude digital format, allowing for great detail in high and low light situations (think Drive), and it is employed nicely. Backlit, early morning shots are evenly shaded, and dark nighttime shots are full of rich facial details. The filmmakers really took advantage of the capabilities of their camera system.

The Bad:

Subplots - There are a couple of subplots that are in fact essential to the story, but in the moment feel superfluous or unresolved. Particularly when Jones’ brand designer character tries to get back on her feet in the dating world, and when she establishes a new friendship with a combative, pop star client. Though ultimately relevant to the story, leading Jones’ character to where she needs to be, they feel a little clunky in the moment.

Overall:

Celeste and Jesse Forever ultimately stands as a testament to the benchmark relationships that define who we become as adults. Most people seem to have one especially substantial relationship before finding their true loves, and this is a story about that and the process of moving on. It has great performances from talented comedic actors (Elijah Wood’s performance as Jones’ gay assistant is especially well tempered and fun), and stands apart from the generic romantic comedies churned out by studios, as well as distinguishes itself from the pretentious, overwrought relationship dramas commonly attributed to Sundance.

Watch Mali Elfman and Brendan Walsh review Celeste and Jesse Forever:

Rating: 7.5/10

Sundance 2012: Brendan’s Top Five Films to See

Brendan Walsh — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 21:05:30 +0000

Alright! It’s 2012, which means this could be the last Sundance Film Festival ever, so we’d better make the most of it! With over 100 feature narrative & documentary films being screened, as well as short film programs, panel discussions, art installations, music performances, and industry parties, it’s next to impossible to decide how to spend our time here! However, I’ve managed to whittle down the top 5 films I’m absolutely determined to see, so whatever happens beyond that will be pure gravy. Check out the rest of the article after the jump, to see what my top 5 anticipated films of this year’s fest are, and be sure to check out Mali’s Top Five Films To See At Sundance 2012 as well!

UPDATE: Watch Mali Elfman and Brendan Walsh go through their Top 5 Most Anticipated Sundance Films below:

5. Celeste & Jesse Forever

Director: Lee Toland Krieger

Screenwriters: Rashida Jones, Will McCormack

Starring: Rashida Jones, Andy Samberg, Chris Messina, Ari Graynor, Emma Roberts, Elijah Wood

Ever since I first saw her on David Kelly’s Boston Public, I’ve had a goofy crush on Rashida Jones, which has only grown as she’s developed and refined her career. She has a serene sincerity to her performance which often grounds the silliness of the comedies in which she tends to co-star. Now, she’s co-written a film about a “perfect” marriage coming to an end, and I’m truly curious to see her express herself as a storyteller, rather than a performer. I’m also very interested to see Andy Samberg, whose smug puss I usually can barely stand to even look at, playing a true character rather than a caricature.

4. We’re Not Broke

Directors: Karin Hayes, Victoria Bruce

Editor: Cindy Lee

Socially-conscious documentaries are a forte of Sundance, with such films as Restrepo, 8: The Mormon Proposition, and Waiting for Superman. But while many documentaries this year seem to focus on the human condition within the national climate, We’re Not Broke appears to be the most pointedly political. With the continued presence of the #Occupy movement, there is still a great deal of confusion and misinformation about the goals and opinions of those who count themselves among it. With any luck, this documentary will illuminate and clarify some of these points, and reveal some of the reasons behind the inequity among American economic classes.

3. Red Hook Summer

Director: Spike Lee

Screenwriters: James McBride, Spike Lee

Starring: Clarke Peters, Jules Brown, Toni Lysaith, Nate Parker, James Ransone, Thomas Jefferson Byrd

My favorite Spike Lee film is usually whichever one I’ve seen most recently. And while I’m excited to hear that he’s slated to direct the upcoming American remake of Oldboy, I’m more excited to see him going back to his roots with a Brooklyn based family story. Also, the film stars Clarke Peters and James Ransome, two of the most gifted alumni of HBO’s prolific The Wire, adding to the film’s already prestigious pedigree.

2. The Raid

Director/Screenwriter/Editor: Gareth Huw Evans

With all the high minded melodrama, and exploration of the human condition of the typical Sundance films, it’s a pleasant surprise to see a stylized action film thrown in the mix. Showcasing the Indonesian martial art Silat, The Raid appears to be a mix between Elite Squad and Attack the Block. It’s a story of an elite SWAT team storming a tenement building run by a ruthless crime lord. With the singular setting and intense action, it should provide a welcome respite from the heavy emotional themes of the rest of the festival.

1. Tim and Eric’s Billion Dollar Movie

Directors/Screenwriters: Tim Heidecker, Eric Wareheim

Starring: Tim Heidecker, Eric Wareheim, Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, Zach Galifianakis, Will Forte

Sundance has long prided itself on nurturing and developing the careers of independent filmmakers, and while the titular Tim and Eric have had successful careers in their own rights up to this point (Adult Swim’s Tom Goes to the Mayor and Tim and Eric Awesome Show Great Job), this film seems to be the culmination of their cult icon status. They can only branch out and become more legitimate from here. In fact, they are both starring in another film, The Comedy, which may be a sign of things to come. But first, I plan to see this, and expect it to be better than Avatar.

So there you have it! I’m certain we’ll get to lots more movies than these, and am looking forward to dozens of other films, including narratives Filly Brown, The Surrogate, Your Sister’s Sister, Sleep Walk With Me, Black Rock, Excision, John Dies at the End, and documentaries The House I Live In, Teddy Bear, Detropia, West of Memphis, Finding North, and Shut Up and Play the Hits.

Watch Mali Elfman and Brendan Walsh go through their Top 5 Most Anticipated Sundance Films below:

Stay tuned for more highlights from this year’s Sundance Film Festival!

Sundance 2012: Mali’s Top Five Films to See

Mali Elfman — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 19:40:26 +0000

ScreenCrave is back at Sundance Film Festival again with Brendan Walsh, Christie Ko and myself covering, in the somewhat freezing cold to bring your some of the best indie films of 2012. The schedule is packed with what looks like numerous amazing films with phenomenal filmmakers. One of our favorite Sundance veterans is Mark Duplass (Cyrus – 2010, Humpday – 2009, Puffy Chair – 2005) who is here with four, count ‘um, four films this year and there are many newcomers that I’m sure we’ll be saying “are the REAL filmmakers” in a week’s time.

So, to break it down, I’ve picked the top 5 films that I’m excited for this Sundance 2012, which was extremely challenging. Check out the list below… and be sure to check out Brendan’s Top Five Films To See At Sundance 2012 as well!

UPDATE: Watch Mali Elfman and Brandan Walsh go through their Top 5 Most Anticipated Sundance Films below:

5. Chasing Ice

Director: Jeff Orlowski
Screenwriter: Mark Monroe
Producers: Jeff Orlowski, Paula DuPré Pesmen, Jerry Aronson
Cinematographer: Jeff Orlowski

Synopsis: In this breathtakingly beautiful documentary, filmmaker Jeff Orlowski follows National Geographic photographer James Balog as he brings to life the Extreme Ice Survey (EIS)—a massive photography project that placed 30 cameras across three continents to gather visual evidence of the Earth’s melting ice.

Why I Like it: Paula DuPre Pressman, who produced the award winning documentary The Cove, is back with another poignant and important film.

4. Wish You Were Here

Director: Kieran Darcy-Smith
Screenwriter: Kieran Darcy-Smith and Felicity Price
Producers: Angie Fielder
Cinematographer: Jules O’Loughlin
Actors: Joel Edgerton, Teresa Palmer, Felicity Price, Antony Starr

Synopsis: Two expectant parents join their younger sister, Steph, and her new boyfriend, on an impromptu tropical getaway in Cambodia that goes terribly wrong when one of them disappears. After, the survivors attempt to return to their normal lives in Sydney, but their recovery begins to fall apart when a stinging truth about their time in Cambodia is revealed.

Why I Like it: Every year at Sundance I’m blown away by what up and coming Australian filmmakers bring to the table. They have a way of presenting raw, colorful, vibrant and emotional films from interesting perspectives, unlike filmmakers from almost anywhere else in the world. That joined with an amazing. The director, Kieran Darcy-Smith, who is more known for his acting in Animal Kingdom and The Cave, is premiering as a feature film director with a stunning cast. Can’t wait to see what they come up with!

3. Robot and Frank

Director: Jake Schreier
Screenwriter: Christopher Ford
Producers: Galt Niederhoffer, Sam Bisbee, Jackie Kelman Bisbee, Lance Acord
Cinematographer: Matthew Lloyd
Actors: Frank Langella, Susan Sarandon, James Marsden, Liv Tyler, Peter Saarsgard

Synopsis: Set sometime in the future, Robot & Frank is a delightful dramatic comedy, a buddy picture, and, for good measure, a heist film. Curmudgeonly old Frank lives by himself. His routine involves daily visits to his local library, where he has a twinkle in his eye for the librarian. His grown children are concerned about their father’s well-being and buy him a caretaker robot. Initially resistant to the idea, Frank soon appreciates the benefits of robotic support—like nutritious meals and a clean house—and eventually begins to treat his robot like a true companion.

Why I Like it: First time feature filmmaker with a high concept idea, a character driven plot and one hell of a cast! Bit of comedy, bit of emotions, if done well, what’s not to be excited for?

2. Safety Not Guaranteed

Director: Colin Trevorrow
Screenwriter: Derek Connolly
Producers: Marc Turtletaub, Peter Saraf, Stephanie Langhoff, Colin Trevorrow, Derek Connolly
Cinematographer: Benjamin Kasulke
Actors: Aubrey Plaza, Mark Duplass, Jake Johnson, Karan Soni

Synopsis: Three magazine employees are sent to investigate a personal advertisement placed in the newspaper: guy seeking partner for time travel. They venture to the coast and set up a haphazard surveillance. Darius is recruited as the shill; her dry wit and cynical nature are perfectly suited to trap this enigmatic oddball, Kenneth, and get a good story. But it is she who first sees past the paranoid loner façade to the compelling person inside. The drawback? This still doesn’t rule out the possibility that he just might be crazy.

Why I Like it: Again, a high concept idea that revolves around character, but this time based on an actual true event that you may have seen sent to you in a mass e-mail a couple of years back. Plaza and Duplass, are both great comedians, with a subtle yet extremely effective delivery. I’ll likely see all of Duplass’ films and I didn’t want to put him on the list more than once, but it’ll be great to see him in his numerous films at the festival!

1. Red Lights

Director: Rodrigo Cortés
Screenwriter: Rodrigo Cortés
Producers: Adrián Guerra, Rodrigo Cortés
Cinematographer: Xavi Giménez
Actors: Cillian Murphy, Sigourney Weaver, Robert De Niro, Elizabeth Olsen, Toby Jones, Leonardo Sbaraglia

Synopsis: Two investigators of paranormal hoaxes, the veteran Dr. Margaret Matheson and her young assistant, Tom Buckley, study the most varied metaphysical phenomena with the aim of proving their fraudulent origins. Simon Silver, a legendary blind psychic, reappears after an enigmatic absence of 30 years to become the greatest international challenge to both orthodox science and professional sceptics.

Why I Like it: Time to get dark and dramatic! This is what Sundance is all about! One of my favorite, memories from Sundance 2010 was Rodrigo Cortes film Buried. He’s a phenomenal director, with a great eye for detail. It’s a shame he didn’t use his old cinematographer Eduard Grau, but I’m sure Xavi Giménez, best known for The Machinist will be able to capture Cortes vision.

That all coupled with Cillian Murphy leading the film with a phenomenal supporting cast including Elizabeth Olsen who blew audiences away with her performance last year in Martha Marcy May Marlene and I think we may have a winning combination!

Other Must See Films:

The Comedy
For Ellen
Nobody Walks
I’m Not a Hipster
Goats
Finding North
The Last Elvis

Watch Mali Elfman and Brandan Walsh go through their Top 5 Most Anticipated Sundance Films below:

Check back soon for reviews and more!

The Top 10 Most Berserk Computers In Film

traviswoods — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 20:50:33 +0000

Computers. As is the case with sentient robots, cinema has warned us repeatedly that the instant we give our Macs, iPads, X-Boxes and missile defense systems the ability to think on their own, that’s pretty much the end of humanity as we know it. Film after film, from sci-fi warnings to horror fantasias to action adventures, self-aware computers have been portrayed as instantly godlike beings who quickly recognize the obsolescence of human beings, and become hell-bent on our destruction (often sending California governors back in time to assassinate our teenage saviors). In fact, there have been so many berserker computers in cinema that we were able to cull together a list of our favorites—in the insane-computer-genre, these baddies rank as the best.

10. The Ultimate Computer (Superman III, 1983)

Ok, usually, in the berserk computer genre, it’s the computer that’s totally insane. There are, however, exceptions—such as the case in Superman III, in which it is the film itself that is, for lack of a better term, nuts. Imagine this: Supes foils new villain Ross Webster’s plans to control the world’s coffee bean supply (seriously, it gets even better). In a rage, Webster hires tech wiz Richard Pryor (really) to generate some Kryptonite, which accidentally splits Superman into two men—a “good” Supes and a bad “Supes.” Pryor then builds the Ultimate Computer, a device which should be able to zap both Supermen with a Kryptonite ray and kill them (deep breath, this is only half the madness). Pryor then changes his mind at the last minute and destroys the Ultimate Computer’s Kryptonite ray, and so the computer does the only logical thing—it eats Ross Webster’s sister and spits her out as a killer cyborg in the film’s most deranged scene. Yes, you read that right—ate her, and digested her as a cyborg. You just can’t top that.

9. ARIA (Eagle Eye,2008)

Let’s be honest—Eagle Eye is pretty overwhelmingly terrible. Its ridiculously convoluted story would take up about half this post, what with it’s tale of ARIA (that’s Autonomous Reconnaissance Intelligence Integration Analyst, to you), a self-aware missile defense system that can control any networked device in the world (from cell phones to automated construction cranes) that decides to wipe out the entire executive branch of the U.S. government because the president willfully bombed civilians in the middle east. What makes ARIA a keeper, then? Her ultimate goal (for reasons too confusing to go into here) includes the murder of Shia Labeouf and his twin brother. Two dead Shias for the price of one movie? Bless you, ARIA, bless you.

8. Queeg 500 (Red Dwarf, 1988)

In the oddball sci-fi sitcom Red Dwarf, we watch the cast and crew of the Red Dwarf starship get by with their “intelligent computer,” Holly. However, when Holly’s inefficiency (due to “computer senility”) puts the crew in danger, the back-up computer system, Queeg 500, kicks in to bring some efficiency to the RD. However, Queeg’s style leaves a little to be desired—he forces the crew to scrub the ship before any food will become available, and morning workouts become mandatory. After seemingly killing Holly, Queeg disappeares—turns out he was just a prank pulled by Holly, who wanted to teach the Red Dwarf crew a lesson about appreciating a slightly less efficient (but much less insane) computer.

7. Master Control Program (Tron, 1982)

Come on—it’s the original Tron. And it’s the villain, which is also cool. And it’s voiced by David Warner, which is even cooler. And it decides to—of course—take over the world because it can run things “900 to 1,200 times better than any human.” And it’s a giant spinning red face! So, to recap the MCP: Tron, bad guy, David Warner, world domination, big weird spinning head. How awesome is that?

6. Proteus IV (Demon Seed, 1977)

Scientist creates Proteus IV self-aware computer system to cure leukemia. Proteus IV grows and learns at an exponential rate. Proteus IV kidnaps scientist’s wife. Proteus IV (deep breath) impregnates scientist’s wife. Seriously, you just have to see it to believe it. Oh, and you’ll probably want to take about 50 showers afterwards.

5. “The Machines” (The Matrix franchise, 1999 – 2003)

There’s no real name for the collective of self-aware machine baddies who, after a prolonged war with humanity, eventually succeed and begin harvesting humans for the energy our bodies naturally generate. They did give a name for our prison, however—The Matrix, an artificial reality that keeps humans under control by allowing them to believe that they are living out their lives in the late 1990s. We see a few faces of the enemy throughout the franchise—from the evil, insane Agent Smith (who goes from policing the Matrix to attempting to control it) to the arrogant and pompous Architect (the program which designed the Matrix itself). And while the last couple of films in the series were major fumbles, the original Matrix—and the ominous, mysterious artificial intelligence that was behind it—remain high-water marks of sci-fi cinema.

4. WOPR/ Joshua (WarGames, 1983)

In WarGames, early ’80s teen hacker Matthew Broderick hacks into a computer system that he thinks is related to the video game industry, and begins playing several of the games, including one called Global Thermonuclear War. One problem, however: Broderick didn’t hack a gaming company, he contacted a self-aware system belonging to the U.S. military called WOPR (War Operation Plan Response), and WOPR isn’t playing any game—Global Thermonuclear War is a real program, and WOPR thinks that it is now at war with Russia. Broderick must then convince the entire U.S. military, along with the WOPR’s creator (who refers to it as “Joshua”) of what has happened, as well as convince WOPR/Joshua that it kinda sorta isn’t really totally necessary to go and start World War III, and to pretty please not obliterate Russia. An instant 80s classic.

3. V’Ger/ Voyager 6 (Star Trek: The Motion Picture, 1979)

In what is probably the most fascinating back story in this list, V’ger began life as Voyager 6, a 20^th century NASA probe. One day, Voyager 6 flew into a massive black hole and ended up on the other side of the universe, where it encountered a planet populated only by “living machines.” Assuming that the primitive probe was some kind of kindred spirit, the machines programmed Voyager 6 (which they called V’ger, as the “oya” in Voyager was obscured by space-dust) to “learn all that was learnable,” and, once that was accomplished, “return to its creator.” So V’ger spends a few hundred years with an infinite storage capacity learning everything there is to know about the universe, becomes self-aware, and generates a forcefield cloud around itself the size of half our solar system. Then it decided to return to Earth to find its creator, which V’ger assumes is God. Instead, V’ger finds William Shatner’s hairpiece and Leonard Nimoy’s fake ears and decides to wipe out the Earth in a rage. All of which is yet another reason why we probably shouldn’t let our PCs get too religious, apparently.

2. SkyNet (The Terminator franchise, 1984 – 2009)

Really, Arnie said it best in Terminator 2:

In three years, Cyberdyne will become the largest supplier of military computer systems. All stealth bombers are upgraded with Cyberdyne computers, becoming fully unmanned. Afterwards, they fly with a perfect operational record. The Skynet Funding Bill is passed. The system goes online on August 4th, 1997. Human decisions are removed from strategic defense. Skynet begins to learn at a geometric rate. It becomes self-aware 2:14 AM, Eastern time, August 29th. In a panic, they try to pull the plug.

After that, SkyNet nukes, well, the whole planet, and deals with pesky resistance leader John Conner by sending cyborgs in the past to murder him as both a fetus and a teenage boy. Then SkyNet decided the best way to torture and destroy humanity would be by releasing some of the most awful sequels to great films ever, Terminator3 : Rise of the Machines, and Terminator: Salvation. Humanity has yet to recover.

1. HAL 9000 (2001: A Space Odyssey, 1968)

Come on—you knew Hal would be No. 1 on this list. An AI computer onboard a spaceship bound for Jupiter in a mission which may lead to the discovery of extraterrestrial life, Hal runs the day-to-day operations of the vessel. When the crew discover there may be a flaw in Hal’s circuitry, the smooth-talking computer does what any living would try to do—protect itself. However, Hal goes the extreme route, and decides killing the entire crew would be the smart way to go, before he begins to go a bit insane. But hey, when he finally does get shut down, he shuts down in style, singing a showtune as he slowly powers down. Both sympathetic and disturbing, Hal is king of the crazy computers.

What is your favorite out of control computer in cinema?

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Top 10 Macho Movies that Ruled the ’90s

Krystal Clark — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 18:50:08 +0000

In the 1990′s, action movies evolved. The plots hit closer to home and heroes had Average Joe appeal. This is also the decade that turned former pretty boys into action royalty (we’re looking at you Antonio Banderas and Keanu Reeves). So hold on as we count down the top 10 macho movies that ruled the ’90s — one bullet at a time.

10. Cliffhanger (1993)

Is it cold in here, or is it just us? Forget New York and L.A., 1993′s Cliffhanger takes place in the Rocky Mountains! The film follows Sylvester Stallone as he battles the icy elements and a group of merciless thieves. Not only does Stallone do some impressive rock climbing but he does it in shorts and a tank top! Who cares if it’s 20 degrees below zero, he doesn’t have time to freeze.

9. The Rock (1996)

Before he retired, Sean Connery made a few badass action films, including Michael Bay’s The Rock. As Captain John Patrick Mason, he helps a group of soldiers infiltrate the most secure prison in the country – Alcatraz. Even though he was a senior citizen, Connery still had what it took to get the job done. He may be old, but he’s still James Bond, damn it!

8. Hard to Kill (1990)

Don’t let the ponytail fool you; Mason Storm is hard to kill. After being shot and left for dead, the man just won’t quit. He wants justice and he doesn’t care how many bones he has to break to get it. Unlike Stallone and Van Damme, Steven Seagal doesn’t need bells and whistles to handle his business. Give him a handgun, a pool stick and he’ll make magic happen. Nothing screams macho like low maintenance.

7. Desperado (1995)

Antonio Banderas is the man, the myth, and the legend – El Mariachi. Before becoming the family-friendly Puss in Boots, Banderas made a name for himself as a vengeance-seeking musician. After a drug lord kills his lady love, he goes on a mission to make him pay! El Mariachi is one of the few action heroes who can literally pull a gun out of thin air. And in some cases, his jacket sleeves, guitar case, and even his hair. The man’s resourceful.

6. Double Impact (1991)

Are you ready for “Double the Van Dammage?” In Double Impact, Jean-Claude Van Damme plays twin brothers looking to avenge their dead parents. One packs a punch, while the other packs a piece. What more could you ask for? There are fights, explosions, and lots of unnecessary nudity. This is the perfect movie for a guy’s night in.

5. True Lies (1994)

By the mid-nineties, Arnold Schwarzenegger had played every action character under the sun. But in 1994, he reunited with Terminator’s James Cameron to create Harry Tasker, super spy! By day, he works at a boring office but by night, he’s flying jets and riding horses in elevators. Tasker’s not your everyday badass — he has versatility. Do you need a pilot? He’s on it! You need someone to disable a bomb? He can do that too!

4. Con Air (1997)

Believe it or not, Nicolas Cage used to make good movies. After surviving his time on The Rock, he returned to the action genre in 1997’s Con Air. He plays a former Army Ranger who’s sent to prison after killing a man (with excessive force) in self defense. After serving his sentence, he’s placed on an airplane with some of the worst criminals in the country. What’s more awesome than one man fighting a group of psychos? One man fighting a group of psychos at 40,000 feet!

3. Bad Boys (1995)

Bad Boys is the movie that introduced us to professional pyromaniac and director Michael Bay. The movie features Will Smith and Martin Lawrence as funnymen turned heroes Mike Lowery and Marcus Burnett. They’re detectives, they live in Miami, and they’re protecting an attractive murder witness (Tea Leoni). With a set up like that are you surprised explosions and car chases ensue?

2. Speed (1994)

“Pop quiz, hotshot. There’s a bomb on a bus. Once the bus goes 50 miles an hour, the bomb is armed. If it drops below 50, it blows up. What do you do? What do you do?” Before becoming “The One,” Keanu Reeves went after Dennis Hopper in 1994′s Speed. As Officer Jack Traven, he had to maneuver a bus through L.A. traffic, while keeping its passengers calm and safe. Somehow he manages to stop the bus, find the bomber, and get the girl with little to no help. You’ve gotta respect a man who works well under pressure.

1. Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995)

Die Hard with a Vengeance is one of our favorite entries in the Die Hard series. Seven years after the release of the original, Bruce Willis and director John McTiernan returned for what was supposed to be John McClane’s last hurrah. Similar to Speed, this film centers on a psycho bomber who has a bone to pick with our hero. Once again, McClan,e armed with a wife beater, gun, and his famous one-liner (Yippee Ki Yay Motherf*cker!), goes head-to-head with a terrorist/ thief. It may sound over the top to us but for him, it’s just another day at the office.

What’s your favorite Macho Movie of the nineties?

Top 10 Macho Movies that Ruled the ’80s

Krystal Clark — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 21:00:02 +0000

In the 1980s, action flicks ruled Hollywood. Theaters were overrun with iconic bad-asses like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis and the one and only Chuck “Frakkin’” Norris! It’s time to grab your headband and machine gun, because we’re counting down the top 10 macho movies of that decadent decade.

10. Road House (1989)

After the success of Dirty Dancing, Patrick Swayze was ready to shed his twinkle-toe image. So in 1989, he appeared in the testosterone-fueled Road House. The film centers on a bouncer who tries to protect a bar from a sleazy businessman and rowdy patrons. Don’t let his size or demeanor fool you. He cleans house one swift roundhouse kick at a time.

9. American Ninja (1985)

Whatever happened to Michael Dudikoff? He’s the brave soul that went up against the Black Star Army in 1985′s American Ninja. His character’s trained in the sacred martial arts and uses his rare skills to defeat evil. Not only can he handle a gun but he also knows his way around a pair of sais (above). Like the tag line says, the deadliest art of the East is now in the hands of an American. Watch out!

8. Rocky IV (1985)

“I must break you.” It’s been 26 years since Rocky IV’s release and those words still send chills down our spine. The movie isn’t a masterpiece but what it lacks in sensible dialogue it makes up for in spirit. It was Rocky Balboa versus Ivan Drago. It was the U.S. versus The Soviet Union. It was blonds versus brunettes. You get the picture.

7. Missing in Action (1984)

James Braddock can’t forget what happened in Vietnam. After escaping a prison camp, the war hero vows to rescue every soldier stuck behind enemy lines. Armed with a machine gun, fists of fury, and a rockin’ beard — Chuck Norris kicks ass and takes names. Because in his eyes, the war isn’t over until the last man comes home.

6. Predator (1987)

Predator contains all the elements of an over the top action movie. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Check! Carl Weathers. Check! A popular professional wrestler. Check! Predator pits the ultimate alpha males against Earth’s biggest threat – aliens! After being dropped in a rain forest, a group of soldiers have to fend for themselves as they’re hunted like dogs. In a situation like that, only the strong survive. No weaklings allowed.

5. Escape from New York (1981)

“One man must go in where no man has ever gotten out.” Snake Plissken (Kurt Russell) does the unthinkable when he tackles New York City after its gone to hell in a hand basket. Escape from New York has gunfights, knife fights, even a random brawl in a boxing ring. It’s all the action you could ask for set against the futuristic backdrop of 1997 (Ha!). Oh the ’80s, gotta love ‘em!

4. Die Hard (1988)

NYPD officer John McClane’s (Bruce Willis) plan is to spend Christmas with his family, but that goes to crap when his wife is taken hostage in a high-tech high-rise heist (say that three times fast), thanks to overzealous terrorist/ thief Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman). McClane goes from Average Joe to “Yippee Ki Yay Motherf*cker” in the matter of two hours. It’s one man against a building full of professional killers. If that doesn’t get your blood pumping, we don’t know what will.

3. Bloodsport (1988)

Jean-Claude Van Damme split-kicked his way into our hearts when he played martial artist Frank Dux in 1988’s Bloodsport. In the film, Dux travels to Hong Kong to participate in a dangerous, underground competition called the Kumite. Only the world’s best martial artists are invited and mild-mannered Dux has to put up or shut up. Fighters are maimed, blinded and even killed during their matches. They don’t call it Bloodsport for nothing.

2. Commando (1985)

Get your war paint ready, because Schwarzenegger’s going Commando! In this film, the bad guys have messed with the wrong man. They killed his friends, kidnapped his daughter and actually think they’re going to get away with it. Commando is one of our favorite Schwarzenegger movies because the stakes are so high and he just doesn’t give a damn!

1. First Blood (1982)

John Rambo (Sylvester Stallone) is the ultimate ‘80s action hero. He’s a loner. He’s quiet. And he happens to be an expert in guerrilla warfare. After being tormented by a corrupt sheriff, Rambo taps into his survival training to fight back. As one man, he takes on 200 police officers and still manages to come out on top. How? Because he oozes machismo! If you send in 200 men against Rambo, don’t forget one thing – “a good supply of body bags.”

What’s your favorite Macho Movie of the eighties?

The Best Oddball Christmas Films To Watch During The Holidays

traviswoods — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 20:00:45 +0000

Christmas. It’s a time in which families huddle together around the warm, bustling glow of the fireplace, with the mantle framed with rows of stockings the TV set as we nod off from half a gallon of eggnog and some turkey. And, in keeping with that tradition, we here at ScreenCrave have cobbled together a list of our favorite unusual Christmas films—not A Christmas Story or It’s a Wonderful Life or any other of the more obvious picks; rather, it’s our favorite oddball X-mas movies, the films that somehow catch our attention every single year, even if they aren’t exactly the most appropriate holiday fare.

So, with that in mind, dig our list after the jump, and get your Tivo ready to line these up for some Christmas Eve viewing (also, and perhaps it’s a generational thing, or maybe it was the impressive amounts of blow Hollywood execs were inhaling back then, but all of the best weirdo Christmas movies came from the 1980s. Go figure).

5. Trading Places (1983)

Taking us back to those halcyon days when Eddie Murphy was actually brilliantly funny, and when Dan Aykroyd was letting us all know he was still alive, John Landis dropped the comedy masterpiece Trading Places on an unsuspecting world. Taking place over the holiday season in 1980s Philadelphia, the film is a witty, decadent, hilarious and charmingly vulgar update of Mark Twain’s The Prince and the Pauper, in which hotshot brokerage director Danny Aykroyd is forced to switch places with homeless street hustler Eddie Murphy, and both must survive as a fish out of water in the other man’s life. As Aykroyd becomes suicidal and driven into the arms of a hooker with a heart of gold, and Murphy goes from being a ribald street thug to a slick power player, it may not sound like a family classic, but Trading Places is one of the funniest flicks you’ll catch on TV all Christmas long.

4. Scrooged (1988)

A modern, semi-meta take on A Christmas Carol, Scrooged finds Bill Murray as a black-hearted TV exec at the height of his cynical, soulless career, during the rehearsals for his live TV adaptation of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. And, just like in that Dickens classic, Murray is visited by three ghosts who show him where his life went off track, and how he sacrificed true love for material wealth. But just in case that sounds a little too typical of Christmas schmaltz for you, don’t worry—Murray is in his full-on 80s smartass mode, all while being chased around by rotting corpses, insanely violent pixies, and Death itself, as he simultaneously struggles to staple some fake antlers onto a mouse’s head for his TV special and avoid network TV censors. Dark, wacky Christmas fun.

3. Christmas Vacation (1989)

Probably as much of a Christmas tradition in suburbia as opening presents on December 25th, viewing Christmas Vacation during the holidays has become a kind of unavoidable yuletide habit. The story of a brutally inept and occasionally foulmouthed father (Chevy Chase in a slightly smarter Homer Simpson mode) trying to survive the ultimate staycation as his parents, his in-laws, his children, his bitchy yuppie neighbors, his idiot cousin, a monstrous dog, a berserk squirrel and a full-on SWAT team converge upon his house over Christmas, Vacation is nothing short of a holiday classic. Sure the language is risqué, and it’s probably the only holiday classic to feature electrocuted cats and exploding sewage lines, but hey—that’s what surviving Christmas with a giant family feels like.

2. Gremlins (1984)

It doesn’t get much better than this—Joe Dante directing a Steven Spielberg-produced, Chris Columbus-penned gem about Gizmo, the most adorable little pet ever… and the truly horrifying, reptilian and murderous gremlins that Gizmo accidentally gives birth to. Playing like a live action episode of Looney Tunes (except all the cartoon characters are determined to murder you with household items before taking in a showing of Snow White), Gremlins truly is an utterly insane film. It’s also a classic that, inexplicably, the whole family can somehow enjoy—and when a film’s comic highlight is a played-totally-straight monologue about a child who discovers her dead father dressed as Santa and wedged in the chimney, that’s really saying something.

1. Die Hard (1988)

The recipe: It’s Christmas in Los Angeles. Hard-headed NYPD cop John McClane is visiting his estranged wife at the Nakatomi Plaza corporate high rise. German terrorists take over the building to raid its vaults, and manage to take everyone but McClane hostage. McClane runs around over broken glass with no shoes and a machine gun, and one seriously bad attitude.

As good as full-on ‘80s action films get, Die Hard is both an instant action and holiday classic. Coasting on the sheer charm of Bruce Willis as McClane and Alan Rickman as his smooth-talking nemesis, Die Hard has everything you could want from a Christmas film: Bruce Willis tossing bad guys from a high rise roof, blowing up public property, pissing just about everyone off, and letting loose with some stellar one liners (“Yippee kai yay, mother f*****,” anyone?). You’ll spend all of Christmas morning repeating “Now I have a machine gun. HO-HO-HO,” to as many relatives as you can after watching this holiday winner.

What’s your favorite odd holiday film?

The Top 10 Most Anticipated Films of 2012

Laura Aguirre — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 17:30:38 +0000

As we bid farewell to 2011, it’s time for us to look ahead and get excited about the movies that 2012 will bring. The Golden Globes and Oscars haven’t named their favorites yet, but we’re not waiting around for that. We are excited about the future. There are some great movies to look forward to in 2012 – sequels, re-releases, film adaptations, and even a Pixar movie. Distinguished directors like Judd Apatow and Quentin Taratino both have movies coming out next year, so we’re excited for that too. Below is a list of what we think are some of the most anticipated movies of 2012.

10. The Comedy: This Is 40

Judd Apatow’s last directorial effort was the 2009 dramady Funny People. The film showed us a new side of Apatow, whose previous films Knocked Up and The 40-Year-Old Virgin had been mainly comedies. Although This Is 40 is a spinoff from Knocked Up, the film will follow in the footsteps of Funny People in terms of tone (don’t worry, it’ll still be a comedy). Seth Rogen and Katherine Heigl won’t be reprising their characters, instead the film will focus on Paul Rudd‘s and Leslie Mann‘s characters.

Release Date: December 21, 2012
Director: Judd Apatow
Biggest Draw: Jason Segel, Paul Rudd, Melissa McCarthy

9. The Re-Release: Titanic 3D

One of the highest grossing films of all time is returning to the big screen – Titanic. James Cameron has given his epic romance and disaster film a new 3D look and is going to re-release the film just in time for the 100th anniversary of the Titanic sailing. While some may scoff and roll their eyes at a re-release thinking the studio just wants to make more dough, let’s look at it this way – some movies are meant for the big screen and Titanic is definitely one of them.

Release Date: April 6, 2012
Director: James Cameron
Biggest Draw: Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, 3D

8. The Pixar Movie: Brave

Brave is different than other Pixar films. For starters, this will be the studio’s first fairy tale; and second, the film is directed by Pixar’s first female director Branda Champman, who also penned the screenplay. Brave tells the story of a royal Scottish family and its Princess Merida who is determined to follow her own path as a warrior. Who’s excited for another Pixar movie?

Release Date: June 22, 2012
Director: Mark Andrews, Brenda Chapman
Biggest Draw: Um, it’s a Pixar film!

7. The Period Piece: The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby is a classic tale that has been made into a movie plenty of times, so why is this one so special? Well, aside from its stellar cast, there’s whole generations who haven’t seen this story brought to life. The last Gatsby to hit theaters was in 1974 with Mia Farrow and Robert Redford, and the film wasn’t a total critical success (despite its two great leads). With a December-release date, this version seems to have its eyes set on an Oscar.

Release Date: December 25, 2012
Director: Baz Luhrmann
Biggest Draw: Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan, Tobey Maguire

6. The Unconventional Drama: Django Unchained

Quentin Tarantino is following his 2009 Nazi drama Inglorious Basterds with Django Unchained, a film that will touch upon another sensitive subject – slavery. Tarantino is known for his violent and bloody films, and this topic is exactly that. Django Unchained will follow a slave-turned bounty hunter (Jamie Fox) who sets out to rescue his wife from a brutal plantation owner (Leonardo DiCaprio). This will be the first time we see DiCaprio play the actual villain. If anything, Django Unchained is going to shed some light on one of our country’s most disgraceful moments, and we can count on Tarantino to make this history lesson very entertaining.

Release Date: December 2, 2012
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Biggest Draw: Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Samuel L. Jackson, Jamie Fox, Kurt Russell

5. The Twisted Tale: Snow White and the Huntsman

When the first photos of Kristen Stewart as Snow White were released, we were shocked to see her dressed in armor instead of the iconic blue and yellow dress. The photos showed that Rupert Sanders‘ version of the timeless fairytale would definitely be twisted and dark. The trailer confirmed our suspicions, and made Snow White and the Huntsman our favorite of the two Snow White films being released in 2012.

Release Date: June 1, 2012
Director: Rupert Sanders
Biggest Draw: Kristen Stewart, Charlize Theron, Chris Hemsworth

4. The Comic Book Movie: The Amazing Spider-Man

Just a few years after Spider-Man 3, there whole superhero franchise got a reboot. In 2012, we’ll see Spider-Man take another form in the shape of British actor Andrew Garfield, who won audiences over with his cute stunt during this year’s Comic Con. Marc Webb‘s version, The Amazing Spider-Man will not include Mary Jane Watson; instead, it will highlight Spider-Man’s first real love, Gwen Stacy, who will be played by Emma Stone. Despite how fans of the comics may feel about this new take, there’s no denying that it’s a film we really, really want to see.

Release Date: July 3, 2012
Director: Marc Webb
Biggest Draw: Emma Stone, Andrew Garfield

3. The Summer Blockbuster: The Avengers

The Avengers is a crossover movie that will bring together our favorite superheroes including Iron Man, Captain America, Hulk, Thor, Black Widow and Hawkeye. This is a comic fan’s dream. We’re going to be seeing all of these superheroes on-screen, at the same time, fighting the forces of evil. More important, we’re going to see these characters interact with each other, which based off the trailer, we can garner that it’ll be very entertaining to watch. We’re excited!

Release Date: May 4, 2012
Director: Joss Whendon
Biggest Draw: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson

2. The Sci-Fi Adaptation: The Hunger Games

With Harry Potter over and just one more Twilight film to go, many are wondering if The Hunger Games will be the next big franchise. Like the two before it, The Hunger Games is being adapted from young adult novels. This film is set in the future United States where 24 young boys and girls are pit against each other in a bloody battle to the death, while their efforts are broadcasted for everyone to see. Could this be Lionsgate’s answer to Harry Potter and Twilight? And you excited to see this series brought to the screen?

Release Date: March 23, 2012
Director: Gary Ross
Biggest Draw: Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth

1. The Sequel: The Dark Knight Rises

Christopher Nolan‘s super-sequel The Dark Knight Rises is probably the most anticipated movie of 2012. The film even won the award for Most Anticipated Movie at the 6th annual Scream Awards. Every time new footage or photos are revealed, fans and bloggers alike jump with eagerness. When The Dark Knight Rises hits theaters this Summer, it will be the end of an era. This will be the last time we see Christopher Nolan at the helm (of the Batman franchise) and Christian Bale as the famed cape crusader.

Release Date: July 20, 2012
Director: Christopher Nolan
Biggest Draw: Christian Bale, Gary Oldman, Anne Hathaway, Morgan Freeman, Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Honorable Mentions:

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
World War Z
Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter
The Bourne Legacy
Prometheus
Skyfall
Life of Pi
Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax
Paranormal Activity 4
Haywire
The Gangster Squad
Okay, this one too — The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2

What do you think of our Most Anticipated Films of 2011? Who would you include on the list?

ScreenCrave’s Top 20 Films of 2011

Mali Elfman — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 16:00:58 +0000

2011 was the year of the indie. The majority of adaptations and blockbusters all fell completely flat, and numerous big studio dramas were missing that something special. Normally I’m one to say that every year is a great year, but this is no There Will be Blood Vs. No Country for Old Men, or even Moon Vs. Inglourious Bastards. That being said, the end of this year has been packed with award-worthy films and Sundance seemed to produce a number of films that made it big throughout 2011.

20. Ides of March – Dir. George Clooney

This film had such potential to be a top 5 film, but sadly, just barely made the list. The film itself was good, but lacked in depth and complexity. That being said, there are some moments in this film, far superior to the others on this list, including one hell of a monologue-off between Ryan Gosling and George Clooney towards the end of the film. Luckily when these two guys go to steal the show, they do it well.

Read Ides of March Review

19. Trust – Dir. David Schwimmer

Who knew Schwimmer had it in him? This was one of those films that few people really wanted to go see, because of the subject matter, but it was actually extremely relevant, timely and interesting. It not only discussed rape, but also the effects that it has on an entire family, and the unexpected responses that it draws out of people. Truly a fascinating piece of filmmaking if you can stomach it, with many stunning performances.

18. Contagion – Dir. Steven Soderbergh

Don’t touch anything! Few films can’t illicit such a strong response from its audience as this one. It was hard not to run from the theater because of all the germs around you, while at the same time, they’re dying to see what’s next (hopefully not literally). This was Soderbergh playing fast and lose, and it was fun to go on the ride. Thankfully he had Matt Damon to anchor down the film, and really give it the heart that took it from thrill ride to a meaningful piece of filmmaking.

Read Contagion Review

17. Moneyball – Dir. Bennett Miller

This was the film that brought in the Fall and reminded us all that films aren’t only made to entertain us, sometimes there’s that little something more that warms our heart and possibly even teaches us a thing or two. This was one of the first meaningful films of the year, that was finely made and an easy pick for everyone.

16. Shame – Dir. Steve McQueen

Provocative, innovative and starsring Michael Fassbender, a man who has three films on this list. He must be a lucky charm of some sort. The film is by far the most scandalous on the list, mainly due to its subject matter, NC-17 rating, and a whole lot of nudity. That being said, the film is poignant, strong and undoubtedly has paved the way for other films to talk about “sex addiction.”

Read Shame Review

15. Bridesmaids – Dir. Paul Feig

Wait, women can be funny too? Let’s face it, there were a lot of bad comedies this year, especially within the studio released arena. Not only was this the best broad comedy of the year but it also helped remind us of comedic female power. And that there are more funny women out there than just Tina Fey!

Read Bridesmaids Review

14. X-Men: First Class – Dir. Matthew Vaughn

Out of the many half-assed blockbusters this summer, this was the only one that really stood out as a quality film, with fine acting, interweaving subplots and a story-line that actually added up to something. This was one of the only comic book adaptations that really felt like a film instead of just a wash of special effects.

Read X-Men: First Class Review

13. My Week with Marilyn – Dir. Simon Curtis

It’s hard not to just see this film as an Oscar device for Michelle Williams, but if it was, she played the game well. The film did what any good bio-pic does, it showed us the Monroe that we didn’t know, the one that made her reach for the stars and eventually perish too young. Williams was amazing, but even more amazing was the stellar supporting cast that really brought this film to life.

Read My Week With Marilyn Review

12. Beginners – Dir. Mike Mills

This was a small film, that seemed to get over-looked for the most part, but really deserved some attention. Visually and conceptually, the film took a number of creative risks and dealt with a number of heavy topics with a sense of meaningful levity. It was meaningful and yet not overtly dark. It definitely is a “small” but great film.

Read Beginners Review

11. Buck – Dir. Cindy Meehel

Another Sundance darling that was so popular at the festival that Buck himself had to give up his own seat. Buck’s dedicated his life to helping horses and healing people. This a film where you will not only be transported into a life that is likely not anything like your own, but much like Buck, it has a subtle and unpretentious way of teaching you a thing or two about your own life while watching it.

Read Buck Review

10. Tucker and Dale Vs. Evil

I saw this film at Sundance two years ago and was waiting for its release for years, only to see it never get the attention it fully deserved. This is the best comedy of the year, highly underrated, but well worth your time in theaters. It plays on stereotypes in a new way and will have you laughing the whole way through.

Read Tucker and Dale Vs. Evil Review

9. Midnight in Paris – Dir. Woody Allen

Here is a filmmaker who loves making film and you can literally smell it on the screen. This is Woody Allen at his best, playing with a fun idea and really indulging in the art of cinema. From the music, to the settings, to the colors and the concept, this was a brilliantly made film all around.

Read Midnight in Paris Review

8. Red State – Dir. Kevin Smith

The indie film that pushed all the boundaries and said fuck you to the system. Not only was it a film worth remembering, but the film itself it a story worth following. With its mix of graphic violence and witty one-liners, this film gets both big laughs and big jolts. It walks that magical line of horror and comedy and does it well. Plus, Michael Parks gives probably one of the best performances of the year.

Read Red State Review

7. Senna

I hate car racing and sports, I just don’t get them, and yet I loved Senna. They were able to beautifully capture the heart-ache, stress and drama that goes into car racing in a way I never thought possible. They do a wonderful job at always keeping the story balanced and somehow managed to give a pulse to stock footage like I’ve never seen before — impressive.

6. Take Shelter – Dir. Jeff Nichols

This is one of the best examples of how to take a high concept and run with it. This is quite possibly, the most beautiful film of the year. The way they managed to not only capture the scenery in a beautifully informative way, but also visually portray the psyche of a man on the verge is nothing short of stunning. This is one of those films that seems near impossible to portray on the big screen, and yet with the right vision, it’s breathtaking.

Read Take Shelter Review

5. Win Win – Dir. Thomas McCarthy

Sweet. Simple. Truly wonderful filmmaking here. Extremely well written, acted and executed. This film sets the bar for all other comedic dramas out there. Win Win is simple but not dumbed down and smart without being preachy. The film perfectly walks the line of drama and comedy without ever losing momentum and most importantly doesn’t rely on any romantic undertones or cliches to help it! It’s a high class Rom-Com!

Read Win Win Review

4. The Guard

Some of the best dialogue of the year. You don’t need to go big to be remembered, sometimes you just need a simple story and to tell it well. This is a definite must-see film, packed with action, comedy, suspense, and proper macho charisma. Brendan Gleeson’s character completely absorbs you from beginning to end and leaves you wanting more. And it’s sure to leave you with numerous one-liners to quote for some time!

Read The Guard Review

3. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Yes it’s a remake, but it’s also David Fincher, who is able to take just about any source material and put his own finger print on it. It’s edgy, risky, and at the end of it, you’ll know you just saw something worth remembering.

2. A Dangerous Method

Now this is a FILM in the true sense of the word with beautiful sets, an immersive story, and Viggo Mortenson at his absolute best. It’s one thing to talk about indie filmmaking, it’s a whole other thing to watch the masters at work. Though Keira Knightley pushes a bit much at the start, this is a great film, that leaves you knowing you just saw something worth remembering. And this marks Fassbender’s third time on the list.

Read A Dangerous Method Review

1. Martha Marcy May Marlene

The little indie for the win! Yes it has fine acting, filmmaking, the whole package, but the reason it’s my #1 pick, is because it sticks with you long after it’s over and leads you into so many interesting debates with others. It’s one of the must stressful watches of the year, that literally will have your stomach churning from start to finish, but it’s also one of the most intense and interesting films that’s come out.

Honorable Mentions: Project Nim, Submarine, Tree of Life, Anonymous, Hesher, Beautiful Boy, Born to be Wild, Source Code, Another Earth, We Need to Talk about Kevin
Haven’t Seen (but heard were amazing!): Young Adult, I Saw the Devil, The Skin I Live In, Hugo, Real Steel, Descendants, Certified Copy, Margaret

So that’s it for the year! Let us know which films you loved in the comments below!

Top 10 Young Actors To Watch in 2012

Laura Aguirre — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 17:00:25 +0000

In this world of Kardashians and Real Housewives, there’s something very refreshing about discovering someone with actual talent. It’s good to know that there’s still kids out there who don’t want to take the shortcut to fame and fortune, rather that they are willing to work hard and let their talents lead them to super stardom. What we have below is a list of the Top 10 Young Actors you’ll want to look out for in 2012. Some of these youngsters have been working hard for years, either in television or in other countries; others have maintained a low profile. Whatever their situation, the actors that make up our list have one very important thing in common, and that’s talent.

10. Caleb Landry Jones

Where He’s From: Garland, Texas
Where You’ve Seen Him: “Friday Night Lights” and X-Men: First Class
What’s Next: Caleb Landry Jones is starting 2012 with a bang. The 22-year-old actor is playing Mark Wahlberg‘s troubled brother-in-law and Kate Beckinsale‘s little brother in Contraband. Jones is currently filming Neil Jordan‘s vampire drama Byzantium, where he plays the lead character. Brandon Cronenberg, son director David Cronenberg, also cast Jones in his feature debut Antiviral, which is also scheduled for a 2012 release.

9. Lena Dunham

Where She’s From: NYC, New York
You Know Her From: As the writer, director and star of Tiny Furniture
What’s Next: Lena Dunham first made a splash with her low-budget movie Tiny Furniture, which caught the eye of big shot comedy director and producer Judd Apatow. With the help of Apatow, the 25-year-old actress, writer, and director will be making her television debut next spring in HBO’s “Girls.” The first tease for the series recently hit the web and it’s definitely one show we’ll be tuning in to watch. Dunham will also be making an apperances in Judd Apatow’s This is Forty.

8. Chadwick Boseman

Where He’s From: Brooklyn, New York
You Know Him From: Various TV shows such as “Lincoln Heights” and “Lie To Me“
What’s Next: Chadwick Boseman will be making the big leap from unknown TV actor to silver screen superstar in 2012. Boseman will be headlining the upcoming biopic 42 as Jackie Robinson. Harrison Ford will star opposite Boseman as Branch Rickey, the LA Dodgers executive who helped break down racial barrier when he signed Robinson. This film will make this young actor’s career, no doubt.

7. Holliday Grainger

Where She’s From: Manchester, England, U.K.
You Know Her From: As Lucrezia Borgia in “The Borgias” and Jane Eyre
What’s Next: Holliday Grainger is on that fast track to stardom. The 23-year-old British actress has two films scheduled for 2012. First, we’ll see her star opposite Twilight megastar Robert Pattison in Bel Ami. Grainger will also play the pivotal role of Estella in Mike Newell‘s adaptation of Charles Dickens novel Great Expectations.

6. Brit Marling

Where She’s From: Chicago, Illinois
You Know Her From: Another Earth
What’s Next: After showing up at Sundance with not one but two movies, Brit Marling generated some buzz. In 2012, this 27-year-old actress will appear alongside Richard Gere and Susan Sarandon in Arbitrage. She has also been cast in Robert Redford‘s next movie The Company You Keep, a film that will tell the story of a former Weather Underground activist. Marling joins a cast of talented young actors like Anna Kendrick and Shia LaBeouf, and older serious actors like Nick Nolte, Richard Jenkins and Brendan Gleeson. And lastly, Marling will star alongside Ellen Page and Alexander Skarsgard in The East, which is directed by another Sundance newcomer Zal Batmanglij.

5. Diego Boneta

Where He’s From: Mexico City, Mexico
You Know Him From: “Pretty Little Liars” and “90210“
What’s Next: Before “Pretty Little Liars” and “90210,” Diego Boneta was already a well-known actors in Mexico. He starred in the extremely popular Mexican soap opera “Rebelde.” Next year, the Latin sensation will make his big screen debut in Adam Shankman‘s Rock of Ages alongside Tom Cruise and Julianne Hough. Recently, Boneta was cast in Paradise Lost where he’ll he starring with the likes of Camille Belle, Bradley Cooper, and Casey Affleck. It seems like Boneta is set on becoming an international celebrity.

4. Felicity Jones

Where She’s From: Birmingham, U.K.
You Know Her From: The British TV show “The Worst Witch,” 2010′s The Tempest and this year’s dramatic romance Like Crazy
What’s Next: Felicity Jones is the talk of the town right now. Her performance in Drake Doremus‘ Like Crazy has stunned critics and audiences alike, and this has put the 28-year-old actress on high demand. Who’s getting a piece? Warren Beatty. The Hollywood legend has booked Jones to star in his directorial about Howard Hughes. In 2012, Jones will reunite with Doremus for another project, which will also feature Guy Pearce and Kyle MacLachlan.

3. Shiloh Fernandez

Where He’s From: Ukiah, California
You Know Him From: Red Riding Hood
What’s Next: Shiloh Fernandez lost the role of Edward Cullen to Robert Pattinson back before this whole Twilight-mania. But after starring in Red Riding Hood this year, this young actor has opened a lot of door for himself. 2012 is going to be a big year for Fernandez. He’ll be joining Brit Marling, another actress on this list, in The East; he’s also been cast in Adult World opposite Emma Roberts; and he’ll also be appearing in Syrup with a number of other young talents like Amber Heard, Kellan Lutz and Brittany Snow.

2. Elizabeth Olsen

Where She’s From: Sherman Oaks, California
Best Known For: Being the younger sister of Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, and her debut performance in Martha Marcy May Marlene
What’s Next: It would be wrong not to put Elizabeth Olsen on this list. Even with two infamous twin sisters, this Olsen was completely out of our radar. She made waves this year with her debut, breakthrough performance in Martha Marcy May Marlene, and now she’s everyone’s favorite Olsen. Next year the 22-year-old actress will star in a number of films including Liberal Arts with Zac Efron, and Red Lights with Robert De Niro and Cillian Murphy. There’s also Silent House, Olsen’s other film at Sundance, which will be getting released early next year; and Peace, Love, & Misunderstanding with Jane Fonda, which doesn’t have a release date yet. With all of these movies lined up, Lizzy Olsen is making a name for herself.

1. Rooney Mara

Where She’s From: Bedford, New York
You Know Her From: The Social Network and The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo
What’s Next: Rooney Mara was on our list of Top Actors to Watch in 2011, but we felt the need to put her again. The thing is, all Mara is known for right now (besides her wonderful performance in The Social Network) is as the girl who’ll play the American version of Lisbeth Salander in David Fincher’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. The movie hasn’t even hit theaters, but Mara is already receiving award nominations for her performance. Next year, Mara will star in Kathryn Bigelow‘s next Untitled International Thriller, about the hunt and capture of Osama bin Laden. Lately, she’s been seen filming Lawless alongside the man of the hour, Ryan Gosling. Next year, Mara will be the woman of the hour.

Do you agree with out list? Who would you have liked to see on it?

Sherlock Holmes: A Games of Shadows — Movie Review

Laura Aguirre — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 23:04:37 +0000

Robert Downey Jr. reprises his role as the legendary fast-talking intellectual sleuth Sherlock Holmes in Guy Ritchie‘s sequel Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows. Jude Law also returns as Holmes’s faithful best friend and sidekick Dr. Watson. This time, the two travel to exotic places like Paris and Switzerland with the sole purpose of taking down the villainous Professor Moriarty (Jared Harris), an influential scholar and close friend to the British prime minister. Joining them in their journey is Noomi Rapace, the Swedish actress who became an international success thanks to her portrayal of Lisbeth Salander in the original The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo; comedian Stephen Fry plays Holmes’s snobby older brother. Let’s see if this blockbuster is worth your jolly golly time this Holiday season.

The Players:

Director: Guy Ritchie
Writer: Michele Mulroney, Kieran Mulroney, and Arthur Conan Doyle
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Jared Harris, and Noomi Rapace
Cinematography: Philippe Rousselot

The Plot:

Sherlock Holmes and his sidekick Dr. Watson take on a new criminal mastermind, Professor Moriarty. When the Crown Prince of Austria is found dead, the evidence points to suicide. But Sherlock Holmes concludes that the prince has been the victim of a murder designed to look like a suicide by Professor Moriarty. Holmes and the Doctor set out to expose Professor Moriarty for what he really is, but he proves to be a fierce adversary.

The Good:

Robert Downey Jr. Is A Star: The true star of this movie is RDJ. With his charm and wit, RDJ’s Holmes keeps this movie alive. Whether he’s dressed in drag or covered in dirt, he is always entertaining to watch.
The Sleuth And His Sidekick: RDJ and Jude Law have mastered their brother-like relationship on the screen. They know each other better than they know themselves. In this sequel, Holmes is sad – though he denies it – to see his best friend and partner in crime-solving get hitched. Unfortunately, because of the lack of story (see below), that’s all we see. The film doesn’t explore how things will be now that Dr. Watson is married. Sometimes the two talk about their future, but these conversations are overshadowed by plot and action. Still, the chemistry is there. RDJ may be the star, but behind every great detective, there’s a great sidekick. Jude Law brings out the best in RDJ.
Noomi Rapace: Sherlock Holmes is Rapace’s first American movie. It’s endearing watching her play with two Hollywood big shots. Despite being a relatively newcomer, Rapace never allows herself to be overshadowed by RDJ or Jude Law. In part, this is thanks to Ritchie who didn’t cast Rapace as a replacement for Rachel McAdams, instead she plays a badass gypsy who needs no looking after. Here, she’s doing the saving.
Professor Moriarty: Although Jared Harris isn’t as charming as our hero, he’s the perfect match – intelligent, arrogant and, he’s even got an evil grin.

The So-So:

Clever Cinematography: Throughout the movie, there’s this recurring sequence where Holmes calculates the outcome of a certain fight seconds before it happens. While this is a unique way to play out a fighting scene, it could be a bit distracting and insulting. The big problem with this clever cinematography is that it’s not just showing us what is going to happen, but Holmes is describing his every move. Filmmaking 101: Show, don’t tell. Yes, the slow motion, attention to detail and loud sound effects look and sound amazing, but by the end, Ritchie’s method is exhausted. He’s spoon-feeding his audience and that’s insulting. He doesn’t allow his audience the chance to figure anything out.

The Bad:

They Forgot About The Story: Despite the great performances in the movie, it’s sad to say that each character, with the exception of Holmes, is mostly used to move the plot forward. At a glance, Sherlock Holmes has some great topics both political and personal, but none of these are ever explored. It’s always about solving the murder and getting rid of the bad guy.

Overall:

Sherlock Holmes is a movie for the masses – there’s exotic locations, tons of action and a charming and witty hero. Though some of us may want more story than plot, let’s face it, 70% of the box office revenue will come from overseas audiences where plot is king. Does Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows entertain? You bet it does.

ScreenCrave.com » Editorial

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