ScreenCrave.com » Dennis Quaid

Footloose: Movie Review

Damon Houx — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 21:00:08 +0000

The 2011 version of Footloose is a remake intended for a new generation who have no interest in a thirty year old film starring that guy from X-Men and that guy from that sitcom about aliens with the kid who was awesome in Inception. With Craig Brewer‘s slick directing that new generation is in for a good ride – even if the central conceit was a bit dusty in 1984. Brewer finds the truth in overprotective parents enough to make this an entertaining, and faithful (almost too faithful) adaptation of the original.

The Players:

Director: Craig Brewer
Writers: Craig Brewer, Dean Pitchford
Starring: Kenny Wormald, Julianne Hough, Dennis Quaid, Ziah Colon, Miles Teller, Andie McDowell
Original Music by: Deborah Lurie
Cinematography by: Amy Vincent

The Plot:

Ren McCormack (Wormald) is an orphaned Boston kid who goes to live with his uncle in Georgia. What he doesn’t know about the town is that there’s laws against anyone under eighteen dancing and partying after a car accident which killed the son of the local Reverend, Shaw Moore (Quaid). The kids in town don’t care about the rules, though – especially Ariel (Hough) who’s dating a race car driver and likes to live wild. Ren is immediately picked on by the people in charge for listening to loud music, and seen as a disruption. On the bright side Ren quickly makes friends with Willard (Teller), while Ariel knows a good troublemaker when she sees one. But Ren’s actually got it together, and decides to fight the laws against teen partying.

The Good:

More of a musical: The first film was about dancing, but wasn’t much of a musical – even if every song on the soundtrack became a hit. That’s partly Craig Brewer’s gifts as a filmmaker, he makes films that are musicals without ever becoming full blown. But music is at the core of this movie, and it gives it a pulse and a vibrancy that is not felt in the original.
Wormald and Teller: These two hit a good rhythm early and are fun to watch play against each other, especially when Wormald’s Ren teaches Willard how to dance.
It’s about Respect: What I think makes both films work is about adults coming to respect teenagers for not being wild things, and that works fine.

The Bad:

It’s the Same Movie: When people do covers there are usually two types, one that tries to reinvent the song for the new musicians who then make it their own, and the other tries to do a reasonably faithful (almost Karaoke) version. This Footloose is more the latter than the former. There’s a couple of different touches here and there, but having recently watched the original film again made this version feel like a re-run. It’s not Gus Van Sant’s Psycho level stuff, but from Ren being arrested for loud music, to the “angry dance” to the sequence where they go to a honky-tonk bar, to the conclusion, to the film’s big speech, to Ariel telling off her parents, to the clothing, there are so many lifts that having watched this version in close proximity to the original, I didn’t know if it built the sense of the world closing in on Ren as much as the original, or if I couldn’t tell because eventually I was just seeing sequences that felt too familiar to judge in the context of their narrative.
Julianne Hough: Brewer comes across as an actor’s director, and that he couldn’t get much of a performance out of Hough speaks to her gifts. A dancer (and she’s got some moves), on screen she comes across as another in a line of Jennifer Aniston clothes that seem to learn to act by watching Friends. Which means when she’s got her big emotional beats they fall a little flat. Lori Singer’s character seemed suicidal, Hough could pull off bored and curious, but she can’t hit that deeper level of empathy the role requires.

Overall:

I thought the 1984 version was just okay, and I think this version is just okay as well. It improves some things – I like that the kids basically don’t care about the dancing law, so much as it exists to show the divide between parents and children – where other elements in the original are slightly better (John Lithgow’s preacher trumps Quaid’s). The film is intended for that younger audience who didn’t see the original, and that doesn’t defend it, it does raise interesting question about American culture. Are we still – in some ways – stuck in the 1980′s, or is it just our pop culture (especially in a weekend where one of the other big releases is a sequel to a 1982 film)?

Rating: 7/10

Photo Gallery:

Trailer:

Footloose opens October 14.

New Trailer Requests You Get Footloose

Damon Houx — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 22:29:37 +0000

Even if the original movie inspires fond memories, it’s hard to get upset at the remake of Footloose. I mean the premise of the 1984 original was thin then, but the music videos, and the then-prominence of MTV (which played the film’s hit songs repeatedly) embedded the film into the public consciousness. Then again, it only takes one listen to get that Kenny Loggins song stuck in your head. The new version by Craig Brewer has got the dancing, and a cast in Kenny Wormland, Julianne Hough, Dennis Quaid, Ray McKinnon, and Andie MacDowell. Check out the new trailer.

It looks like there’s dancing and the same “let us be teenager” message from the first film, but this version looks a little sexier, and maybe a little more fun. The film was screened a couple weeks back, and though there haven’t been any reviews, word was that the movie is fun and delivers on the premise as much as can be expected.

Director Craig Brewer likely did this because he needs a hit after Black Snake Moan failed to attract a larger audience. Brewer was in the spotlight for a moment after Hustle and Flow made him and Terrence Howard hot properties. This is a make or break for Brewer in terms of playing with the studios, but if it plays as it seems like it might, I’m sure he’s sleeping well. Footloose hits theaters October 14.

Do you want to cut loose?

Get Footloose with the Remake’s Trailer

Damon Houx — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 19:20:38 +0000

Craig Brewer took on the assignment of remaking Footloose, and the challenges were legion. The premise is still the same – a concerned father/local reverend (Dennis Quaid here) gets his community to stop dancing. An outsider (played by newcomer Kenny Wormald) comes to town, and doesn’t think the rules should apply anymore, while he also romances the reverend’s daughter (Julianne Hough). Will the town ever dance again? The trailer suggests yes. Check it out…

Brewer seems to have done his homework, as there’s hints of the more modern musicals in the film – the dancing recalls the acrobatics of the Step Up series. But for what seems like a terrible idea (even the premise in the 1980′s seemed taken from a 1940′s or 1950′s musical), this looks surprisingly fun. Though this definitely smells like one of more recent teen musicals, it could be interesting to see what a director like Brewer does to make it his own.

And Brewer has shown an eye for good melodrama. This is in his wheelhouse, and as long as he can find a way into the story, it might be entertaining on its own terms. The original is fun enough, but seems more popular for those nostalgic than much of a classic. Check out the full poster below.

The film opens October 14.

Are you a fan of Kenny Loggins?

Beneath The Darkness in the Running for Funniest Trailer of the Year

Damon Houx — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 02:29:37 +0000

Aimee Teegarden starred in one of the opening kill sequences in Scream 4, and yet the trailer for Beneath the Darkness plays like it should be a fake-out before a Scream 4 movie. A throwback to the slasher films of the late 70′s, Darkness plays like one of the film that ripped off Tobe Hooper’s Texas Chainsaw Massacre, which borrowed from the legend of Ed Gein (as did Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho). The film also stars Dennis Quaid and Tony Oller, and the trailer is fascinating. Take a look…

Teegarden was a strong presence on the TV version of Friday Night Lights, which was critically revered and found a niche audience but never broke wide. And while many of the cast have gone on to bigger and better (Kyle Chandler was recently in Super 8, Taylor Kitsch is the lead in the upcoming John Carter), Teegarden – like a number of pretty teen girls – seems destined to troll in the slasher genre.

Dennis Quaid seems to know the movie he’s in, and that helps with a film like this, but perhaps it’s the awkward cutting that makes this look like a camp-fest. Perhaps there’s a good scary movie hiding in this footage, but the trailer seems to mix the Ed Gein legend with the great Dutch thriller The Vanishing to comic effect. One way or another, it looks entertaining.

Did this make you laugh too?

Soul Surfer: Movie Review

JC — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 00:08:09 +0000

There appears to be a providential side to losing an arm in a shark attack. Bethany Hamilton, a sponsored teenage surfer, made national headlines after she survived an attack in 2004. She made INTERnational headlines when she refused to let a silly lack of limb stop her from competing. Now, she has a multi-million dollar film poised for release. TriStar Pictures & Film District present Sean McNamara’s Soul Surfer, starring Anna Sophia Robb, Helen Hunt, Dennis Quaid, and Carrie Underwood. The picture opens nationwide Friday, March 25.

Check out the review below…

The Players:

Director: Sean McNamara
Writer: Sean McNamara, Deborah Schwartz, Douglas Schwartz
Cast: AnnaSophia Robb, Helen Hunt, Dennis Quaid, Carrie Underwood

The Plot:

Bethany’s your bona fide beach babe: sun kissed skin, wavy blonde hair, a body that quite possibly rivals Kate Bosworth’s in Blue Crush, and a slew of sponsor’s banging down her door. Shark attack + loss of arm = athletically challenged (and not to mention a deflated spirit). The film follows the aftermath of the attack, specifically how Bethany bounces back from this traumatic accident and regains a little perspective on making the best of a bad situation.

The Good:

Visuals: Credits to credits Sould Surfer is a visually pleasing picture. Reminiscent of a Lords Of Dogtown with the bright palettes, skateboard/surfboard P.O.V.’s, and the beach-town-swagger environment, every frame screams “gnarly!!!”. This coupled with at least two dozen sweeping coast line shots very much captures the spirit of Bethany’s world.
Story: The story itself is undoubtedly inspiring and should certainly speak to McNamara’s target audience (presumably adolescents). Everyone loves a little “coming of age” eh?

The Good/Bad:

Family Crap: Clearly Bethany’s supportive, encouraging family had a substantial affect on her recovery, but the script puts major overemphasis on this fact. Chummy sibling banter, tickling, inside jokes blah blah blah – overkill. We get it, you like each other. I’m inclined to argue that writers don’t give actors enough credit - show us the affection, don’t declare it five times.

The Bad:

Length: The first act rolls steadily, but once the attack happens this film slips down a sluggishly paced slope. There were several scenes that could’ve either been entirely eliminated or simply cut shorter, particularly the competition montages.
Dialogue: Stage 5 Cheesiness. And, again, these writers aren’t giving the actors OR the audience enough credit. We’re not brain dead, we can follow a plot without having every story logistic reiterated a via dialogue.
Carrie Underwood: For real? Girl, stick to singing.

Overall:

Skip it.

Rating: 4/10

April 8th, 2011

Interview: Bethany Hamilton and Annasophia Robb For Soul Surfer

JC — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 16:13:12 +0000

Pro-surfer Bethany Hamilton made international headlines after losing her left arm in a shark attack in 2004. Determined to keep competing, Hamilton’s inspirational comeback has moved people worldwide, and this weekend the surfer will gear up for the release of her feature film, Soul Surfer, starring AnnaSophia Robb, Helen Hunt, Dennis Quaid and Carrie Underwood. We we’re fortunate enough to sit down with Ms. Hamilton and Ms. Robb to discuss their work on the picture.

Check out the interview below…

Bethany, your practically a household name. Is this your first real taste of Hollywood?

Bethany Hamilton: Kind of. I’ve been to another movie premiere, and the ESPY awards, is that Hollywood? That was kind of cool. I knew what to expect a little bit, but it was more exciting because it was my movie. Having AnnaSophia, all the actors, all the new friends I’ve made and my family and friends from Hawaii were there. We had a blast.

You handpicked AnnaSophia for the role, what made her the correct fit?

Bethany Hamilton: She’s a very good actor and she looks [the part], you know, blonde hair… I felt like she matched who I was. We did a little research online. I was just very picky about the person that would play me. She did amazing. It’s kind of weird when I’m talking about her when she’s right here.

AnnaSophia were you flattered to be Bethany’s first choice?

AnnaSophia Robb: I was incredibly flattered. I was so excited about the role. I was really curious to the ins and outs of Bethany Hamilton. I thought it’d be a really challenging role. Sean said, “You know, Bethany and her mom, you were the first recommendation for the role and I was like “No way!” It became even better, I was so down to play her.

Are you still surfing? And what did your training entail?

AnnaSophia Robb: Yes! I’m going out tomorrow! Not to Bethany’s extent, but I do love it. I just love getting out there, just being in the sun, in the water. Being at peace. It was a ton of work, I worked really hard for about 6 weeks in the ocean. I remember the first time I went out I was so excited, all giddy. The first time I went out I was with Bethany’s surf coach, Russell, and Bethany came out. The whole entire Hamilton family was on the beach with a camera filming my first surf and I was like “Ohhhh my gosh!”

Bethany Hamilton: She came out to visit me during Christmas break this winter and got in the water, that was really special. She’s a natural! She did really well. Surfing is one of those things that takes years, but she was motivated.

Bethany, was it difficult to watch AnnaSophia recreate the most traumatic experience of your life?

Bethany Hamilton: For the most part I’ve healed really well form the actually shark attack, so it wasn’t really hard to watch. The first couple edits I was concerned about overly dramatizing things as far as the attack scene. I was very blessed to be able to go into the editing room and give feedback. Editing is a huge part of movie making, it can be a completely different movie depending on how you edit it. The firstst edit I wasn’t happy, I thought we needed to tone this down a little. In real life it was really quick. Fast and painless. Literally.

AnnaSophia, outside of your performance what have you taken from Bethany’s story? How has she inspired you as an individual?

AnnaSophia Robb: Looking at the big picture. They say when man makes plans God laughs. That’s kinda what it seems like. This happened to her and instead of giving up her dreams she went, “No, this is something I love and am going to continue doing.” Bethany has didn’t ask for all this fame and press. She feels like it’s not her duty, but a privilege that she can share this. Instead of looking like it as a curse, she sees it as a gift

Catch Soul Surfer Friday, April 8th – nationwide!

Official Soul Surfer Movie Trailer

Krystal Clark — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 01:26:20 +0000

A couple weeks ago a teaser trailer was released for the upcoming biopic Soul Surfer, and as the title suggests — it’s about surfing. Well, it’s more of a combination of surfing and perseverance over a horrifying ordeal. The film refers to the lead character as played by AnnaSophia Robb, who stars as the real teenager (Bethany Hamilton) who caught America’s attention when the unthinkable happened to her while she was catching a wave. The official trailer for Soul Surfer has been released, check it out and you’ll see exactly what we mean…

In this version of the trailer, they actually show the partial arm. In the teaser, they were hiding it as if they were waiting for a big reveal. We all know what happens to it. The poor girl’s story was all over the news. To get the look, the actress had to wear a green sleeve on her arm, which they edited out later. The CGI isn’t the greatest in the world but it serves its purpose.

The film also stars Dennis Quaid, Helen Hunt, Carrie Underwood, Jeremy Sumpter, and Kevin Sorbo. It’s scheduled to hit theaters on April 8.

What do you think of the trailer for Soul Surfer?

AnnaSophia Robb and Carrie Underwood in Soul Surfer Trailer

Krystal Clark — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 20:54:26 +0000

The first trailer has been released for the Sean McNamara biopic Soul Surfer. Much like 127 Hours this film is based on actual events that center on a young person who loses a limb while participating in what’s supposed to be a fun activity. The movie stars AnnaSophia Rob as the title character, and also features Carrie Underwood in her feature film debut.

Is it just us or are they purposely hiding the shots of Hamilton’s missing arm? We’re actually interested in how they’re going to portray that on film. What type of effects can they use to remove it? We’ve seen paparazzi shots of the actress wearing a green sleeve, which we’re assuming was for the CGI.

The overall quality of the trailer makes it look like a made for TV movie, and the fact that Kevin Sorbo is in it doesn’t add to its credibility. We mean that in the nicest possible way. (He was awesome as Hercules!).

The film also stars Dennis Quaid, Helen Hunt, and Jeremy Sumpter. It’s scheduled to hit theaters on April 8.

What do you think of the first trailer for Soul Surfer? Are you interested in seeing the film?

Footloose Cast in Place and Set for 2011 Release

Mali Elfman — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 17:23:27 +0000

Today, the President of Paramount Pictures Film Group, Adam Goodman, has officially announced that the casting for writer/director Craig Brewer’s remake of Footloose has been locked down.

The roles will be played by…

Ren – Kenny Wormald | Originally Played by Kevin Bacon
Ariel – Julianne Hough | Originally Played by Lori Singer
Reverend Moore – Dennis Quaid | Originally Played by John Lithgow
Willard – Miles Teller | Originally Played by Chris Penn

Something tells me that the dancing might be more extravagant in this film, but it will take a lot more than some new moves for Kenny to fill Kevin Bacon’s shoes!

Read the rest of the press release about other members of the production below….

Craig Zadan, who also served as a producer on the original film, joins his longtime creative partner Neil Meron (“Chicago”) and producers Brad Weston and Dylan Sellers (“Agent Cody Banks”) on the remake. Oscar winning songwriter Dean Pitchford, who wrote the screenplay and songs for the original movie, will executive produce. Brewer (“Hustle And Flow,” “Black Snake Moan”) will shoot from a script he adapted from Pitchford’s original.

Julianne Hough will make her feature film debut in “Burlesque” in November, opposite Christina Aguilera and Cher, which will also coincide with the release of the two-time “Dancing With the Stars” champion’s second country album. She will co-star alongside newcomer Wormald, who appeared in the MTV series “Dancelife”, and most recently toured with Justin Timberlake. The film will mark the first major U.S. feature film role for the Boston native.

Miles Teller, who will next appear in John Cameron Mitchell’s “The Rabbit Hole” starring Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart, will also appear in the film.

The movie will feature choreography from Jamal Sims, who recently worked with Madonna on her Sticky & Sweet Tour. Sims has choreographed countless movies and videos, and will next choreograph the Neil Patrick Harris’ production of the award-winning musical Rent starring Nicole Scherzinger and Vanessa Hudgens, from August 6-8 at the Hollywood Bowl.

“I saw ‘Footloose’ in my hometown theater when I was 13-years-old and it rocked my world. It was a teenage rebellion movie that explored the struggles of faith and family in a small town, and it had an awesome soundtrack. I can promise ‘Footloose’ fans that I will be true to the spirit of the original film. But I still gotta put my own Southern grit into it and kick it into 2011,” said Brewer. “It’s going to be a blast!”

Are you ready for another Footloose? Do you think Kenny will be able to lead the way?

Bill Paxton Replaces Dennis Quaid in Knockout

Krystal Clark — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 21:31:41 +0000

We should have known the cast for Steven Soderbergh‘s Knockout was too good to be true. According to The Playlist, Bill Paxton has just signed on to star in the film, which would be fine and dandy if it wasn’t for the fact that he’s replacing Dennis Quaid. A few weeks ago Quaid’s casting was announced with a whole slew of actors including Michael Douglas and Ewan McGregor, but his stint on Knockout has ended before it even began.

A source close to the Knockout camp revealed that Quaid left the project due to scheduling conflicts with another film he’s working on called Soul Surfer. It’s a biopic about the teen girl who got her arm bitten off by a shark back in 2003. The story took the nation by storm, and has apparently caught the eye of Quaid, enough so that he’s ditching Soderbergh’s film. In his place, “Big Love” star Bill Paxton will take over, and hopefully give a performance that’s not sleep inducing.

Also joining the cast is French actor, Mathieu Kassovitz but his role is unknown. The story of Knockout centers on a woman raised in the military, who left to work for a Blackwater-esque company to make better money but is betrayed by one of her teammates. There’s nothing obscenely bad about Paxton joining this film, it’s just that his acting is very hit or miss. He’s one of those actors who have a very stoic delivery, and at least we could have gotten some emotion out of Quaid.

What do you think about Paxton replacing Dennis Quaid in Knockout?

McGregor, Quaid, Douglas, Join Knockout

Krystal Clark — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 00:09:25 +0000

A while back we brought you news about Steven Soderbergh‘s upcoming femme fatale flick, Knockout. The director cast professional fighter Gina Carano in the lead role, and with such a daring move you’ve got to have some serious backup, so he brought out the big boys for the supporting cast.

Today, several sites have posted news regarding the casting for the film including Movieline, who reported that Inglourious Basterds star Michael Fassbender had landed a role. They recently interviewed the actor and learned that Soderbergh will start filming early next month in Dublin. Other than that he couldn’t give any specifics on his part, except that it will have some level of physicality.

Next in line, The Playlist revealed that Michael Douglas, Dennis Quaid, and Ewan McGregor will also co-star, and gave a small character description for each. All the male actors will be a part of Carano’s special team. Douglas will play an older government official, Fassbender and a yet to be named actor will be members of her commando spy unit, and McGregor will be the owner of the private military company she works for.

The specifics on Quaid’s character haven’t been released, but we’re sure he’ll be in the thick of whatever drama the script has to offer. There’s also been a slight change in the film’s story, which originally centered on a girl from the wrong side of the tracks. Now she was raised in the military, and left to work for a Blackwater-esque company to make better money but is betrayed by one of her teammates.

It sounds like Soderbergh’s creating a super team of actors to protect the novice star at the center. This isn’t the first time the director has put an unknown in a lead role, and it probably won’t be the last. To see these men in a military action flick does sound intriguing, especially if its done in the same tone as the Bourne movies.

What do you think about the latest castings for Knockout?

Legion Red Band Trailer

Krystal Clark — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 19:40:09 +0000

Finally the trailer that we saw weeks ago at Comic-Con (read our first look) for the upcoming religious epic Legion has been released and it looks absolutely amazing. The film centers on the archangel Michael (Paul Bettany) and his journey to protect a young woman (Adrianne Palicki) and her unborn child. The trailer is just as creepy as it is beautiful.

The best part about this trailer is that, even though Doug Jones is assisted by special effects, we finally get to see his face on screen! Jones’ is known for playing almost every interesting animal-like creature in Guillermo del Toro‘s films, such as Pan in Pan’s Labyrinth, Abe (the Fish-Man) in Hellboy, and many more.

Check out the red band trailer after the jump…

Set in a small diner in the middle of nowhere, a group of random patrons realize their pawns in a war between heaven and earth. The cast includes Tyrese Gibson, Dennis Quaid, Kevin Durand and Doug Jones. Legion is directed and written by second time film-maker, long time visual effects creator Scott Stewart. It looks like he’s really using his background to his advantage, the effects looks amazing!

Legion hits theaters next year on January 22nd.

What do you think of the red band trailer for the film?

ScreenCrave.com » Dennis Quaid

Footloose: Movie Review

The Players:

The Plot:

The Good:

The Bad:

Overall:

Rating: 7/10

Photo Gallery:

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Soul Surfer: Movie Review

The Players:

The Plot:

The Good:

The Good/Bad:

The Bad:

Overall:

Rating: 4/10

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