ScreenCrave.com » alia shawkat http://screencrave.com Upcoming New Movies - Reviews Interviews Trailers & Posters Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:52:56 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Cedar Rapids: Movie Review http://screencrave.com/2011-02-10/cedar-rapids-movie-review/ http://screencrave.com/2011-02-10/cedar-rapids-movie-review/#comments Fri, 11 Feb 2011 01:18:46 +0000 Krystal Clark http://screencrave.com/?p=134061 Cedar Rapids Insurance Guys 2 10 11 kc Cedar Rapids: Movie Review

Miguel Arteta’s latest film Cedar Rapids takes bits and pieces from his previous projects and rolls them all into one. There are some elements of “The Office” with Ed Helms, a bit of The Good Girl with John C. Reilly, and some awkward and sometimes dark humor like seen in Youth in Revolt. Rapids is set in a small town at a convention and it magnifies the seedy underbelly of the insurance world.

The Players:

  • Director: Miguel Arteta (watch our video interview)
  • Screenwriter: Phil Johnston
  • Cast: Ed Helms, John C. Reilly, Anne Heche, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Stephen Root, Kurtwood Smith, Alia Shawkat
  • Cinematography By: Chuy Chávez
  • Original Music By: Christophe Beck

The Plot:

Cedar Rapids takes place in the title city, where insurance agent Tim Lippe goes to participate in an industry convention. While there, he’s given strict instructions on what to do and who to avoid. But he gets distracted by three other agents played by Reilly, Whitlock Jr., and Heche and trouble ensues.

The Good:

  • Anne Heche: Heche plays the lone female in the group of insurance agents and her character is truly one of the boys. She’s not dainty or demure. When she interacts with the rest of the cast, she’s assertive but doesn’t come across as trashy. She’s a guy’s girl and she kept even the most obnoxious male characters on their toes.
  • The World of Insurance: Johnston’s take on insurance companies and their conventions is refreshing and different. Everyone knows that insurance agents are competitive but who knew they were so down and dirty with each other?

The So-So:

  • Tim Lippe: When I first saw Tim the first thought that came to mind was, ‘Stu is that you?’ I’m referring to Helms’ character from The Hangover who shares a lot of the same traits as Tim. There’s even a scene in both films that feature Helms doing the same action, in the same location, but as the different characters. The roles are almost too close for comfort.
  • John C. Reilly: Let me preface this by saying that I like John C. Reilly. He’s an awesome actor at both comedy and drama, but haven’t we seen him play this character before? Him and Helms suffer from the same homogeneous role that continues to pop up in all their films.

The Bad:

  • The Tone: This is definitely a comedy but there are some emotional moments as well. I don’t want to spoil anything, but Tim Lippe has some serious abandonment issues.
  • Underuse of Thomas Lennon: How can you have Thomas Lennon in a film and treat him like a third string character? Granted his role served its purpose to progress the story but he was still greatly underused. They could have given him some better dialogue for the short period of time he was on screen.

Overall:

Cedar Rapids is a fun film that mixes The Hangover with Old School and a pinch of Step Brothers. If that sounds like a winning combination to you, go see it!

Rating: 7.5/10

Cedar Rapids opens in limited release on February 11th.

Photo Gallery:

Cedar Rapids Anne Heche and Ed Helms 2 10 11 kc 150x150 Cedar Rapids: Movie Review Cedar Rapids Ed Helms 2 10 11 kc 150x150 Cedar Rapids: Movie Review Cedar Rapids Heche and Helms 2 10 11 kc 150x150 Cedar Rapids: Movie Review Cedar Rapids Insurance Guys 2 10 11 kc 150x150 Cedar Rapids: Movie Review Cedar Rapids The Gangs All Here 2 10 11 kc 150x150 Cedar Rapids: Movie Review

Trailer:

default video player Cedar Rapids: Movie Review

Will you be seeing Cedar Rapids this weekend?

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]]> http://screencrave.com/2011-02-10/cedar-rapids-movie-review/feed/ 0 New Photos From The Runaways http://screencrave.com/2010-01-20/new-photos-from-the-runaways/ http://screencrave.com/2010-01-20/new-photos-from-the-runaways/#comments Thu, 21 Jan 2010 00:40:00 +0000 Krystal Clark http://screencrave.com/?p=60353 The Runaways The Runaways With Their Manager 21 1 10 kc New Photos From The Runaways

Now that the Sundance Film Festival is upon us it seems like the promotion for this year’s films has been kicked up a notch. Today several high quality photos from the biopic The Runaways have been released and they feature Kristen Stewart, Dakota Fanning, Michael Shannon, Alia Shawkat, and more…

The Runaways were one of the greatest punk bands to come out of the 1970s Los Angeles music scene. Not only was their music legendary, but they were one of the only successful female groups in the male dominated genre. Their music was off the charts and so was their lifestyle. The film focuses on the duo of guitarist/vocalist Joan Jett and lead vocalist Cherie Currie as they deal with fame, drugs, and abuse all before their 18th birthdays.

Back in December we saw a very short teaser trailer for the film that showed us glimpses of the unstable lifestyle that the famous group maintained. With these new photos we get a closer look at some of the actors who didn’t get a fair amount of screen time, like Shawkat. The following photos feature some eerie shots including one with Fanning and Stewart that’s too close for comfort…

The Runaways Dakota Fanning and Kristen Stewart 21 1 10 kc 150x150 New Photos From The Runaways The Runaways Michael Shannon as Kim Fowley 21 1 10 kc 150x150 New Photos From The Runaways The Runaways Dakota Fanning Michael Shannon 21 1 10 kc 150x150 New Photos From The Runaways The Runaways Kristen Dakota Alia Shawkat 21 1 10 lc 150x150 New Photos From The Runaways The Runaways The Runaways With Their Manager 21 1 10 kc 150x150 New Photos From The Runaways The Runaways Cherie and Joan Hanging Out 21 1 10 kc 150x150 New Photos From The Runaways The Runaways Joan Jett and Cherie Currie 150x150 New Photos From The Runaways The Runaways Cherie and Joan in a Tight Spot 21 1 10 kc 150x150 New Photos From The Runaways

The Runaways will be released by Apparition in over 1400 theaters on March 19th.

What do you think of the photos from The Runaways? Do they capture the essence of the real group?

Source: Collider

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]]> http://screencrave.com/2010-01-20/new-photos-from-the-runaways/feed/ 3 Ellen Page to Write and Produce HBO Show http://screencrave.com/2009-10-09/ellen-page-to-write-and-produce-new-hbo-show/ http://screencrave.com/2009-10-09/ellen-page-to-write-and-produce-new-hbo-show/#comments Fri, 09 Oct 2009 21:00:44 +0000 Laura Aguirre http://screencrave.com/?p=42645 ellen page drag to hell2 Ellen Page to Write and Produce HBO Show

Ellen Page is bringing her awesomeness to the television. At only 22-years-old, Ms. Page has landed the job of both writer and producer for a new HBO series called Stitch’n'Bitch, reports NY Daily News. Page’s current cast-mates in Whip It! Alia Shawkat (Arrested Development) and Sean Tillman have already landed roles in the HBO show about a pair of hipster girls who move from Brooklyn to LA to pursue their art.

The young actress has already received an Oscar nomination for her performance in the 2007 film Juno, where she played a witty pregnant teen, but Page’s portrayal wasn’t a fluke. Her performance in Whip It! is completely honest and the character is much different than her Juno counterpart.

There’s no word on whether the actress will star in Stitch’n'Bitch, but with her serving as writer and producer it’s safe to say that she’ll be very present from behind the scenes. Page is currently filming Inception next to Leonardo DiCaprio, where she’ll play Ariadne, DiCaprio’s sidekick. As if there was something else this Oscar-nominated, writer/producer, 22-year-old girl couldn’t do. She’s keeping herself pretty busy and making us all proud in the process.

What do you think of Page’s new job?

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]]> http://screencrave.com/2009-10-09/ellen-page-to-write-and-produce-new-hbo-show/feed/ 1 Arrested Development’s Alia Shawkat’s a Runaway? http://screencrave.com/2009-06-30/arrested-developments-alia-shawkats-a-runaway/ http://screencrave.com/2009-06-30/arrested-developments-alia-shawkats-a-runaway/#comments Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:45:06 +0000 Krystal Clark http://screencrave.com/?p=25539 runaways Arrested Developments Alia Shawkats a Runaway?

Michael Cera isn’t the only child star from the Fox series Arrested Development making career moves. Do you remember Alia Shawkat? She played Mae “Maeby” Funke,  the daughter of Portia Di Rossi and David Cross on the show. I haven’t seen her around lately, so I was a bit pleased to hear that she may be up for a high profile film gig. According to Latino Review the young actress may star in the upcoming punk biopic, The Runaways.

The Runaways is a drama based on the real life all girl band of the same name. It spawned well known musical acts such as Joan Jett, Lita Ford, and Micki Steele of The Bangles. The cast currently includes Kristen Stewart, Dakota Fanning, and Michael Shannon. Shawkat is up for the role of a bass player named Robin. She’s an 18 year old who is “the oldest and most feminine of the band.” The bass player was in constant rotation throughout the group’s time together, so who knows how big her part will actually be.

If Shawkat gets the role, it could be a perfect launching pad for her to gain more exposure. Unlike the majority of her co-stars she hasn’t experienced such a rise in popularity as Cera, Jason Bateman, and Will Arnett.  Even the grandma from that show is on the new 90210, and Jeffrey Tambor popped up in this summer’s, The Hangover.

Do you think Shawkat would fit in with the rest of The Runaways? Do you want to see her in more films?

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