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Moneyball: Movie Review

Mali Elfman — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 18:46:53 +0000

When I saw Moneyball I realized one thing — thank the Cine-Gods, it’s fall. Most of the silly action flicks, meaningless horror films, and silly rom-coms are out of the way, and it’s time to get into those hard hitting, meaningful, 2+ hour, dramas that will soon be award contenders. I love this time of year, though I didn’t necessarily love this film, it fulfilled a need that I think all cinema-goers have been needing for some time and has a number of wonderful qualities that make it worth a trip to the theaters.

The Players:

Director: Bennett Miller
Writers: Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin (screenplay), Stan Chervin (story), Michael Lewis (book “Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game”)
Stars: Brad Pitt, Robin Wright, Jonah Hill, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Robin Wright, Chris Pratt, Stephen Bishop

The Plot:

Moneyball follows the story of Oakland A’s general manager Billy Beane’s, a man who was known as a failed baseball player, who went on to successfully put together a baseball club on a budget by employing computer-generated analysis to draft his players.

The Good:

Success Junkie: They did a absolutely wonderful job of capturing all of the complexities of a success junkie, who as they say in the film “hates to lose, more they they love to win.” The kind of person who will never accept the good, but always wait for the other shoe to drop. It’s wonderful to see a script, director and actor seem to understand this concept so well and really show the audience what it means in all its different forms.
The Acting: Though the burden of carrying the film was largely placed on Pitt, who carried the film with ease, the supporting cast of Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Jonah Hill, Robin Wright and the surprisingly wonderful Chris Pratt all added wonderful dynamics to the film and were a joy the watch.
The Humor: There’s not much of it, but when it’s there it’s strong and well used. Pitt has always had great timing on screen and this film really shows that he’s able, with a mere eyebrow or pause, give the film that extra something that makes it special.
The Metaphor: It’s great when a film ends with a morality tale that is relevant and clever but not shoved down your throat, and this film does exactly that. So whatever my problems with the film, I can safely say that I left the theater with a smile on my face — and I like that.

The Bad:

Some Errors: The film doesn’t always follow the facts, though it doesn’t really hurt the journey to an untrained eye. The broad strokes were all added and the story was well told. I have to say that I know NOTHING about baseball, but heard others that did have some complaints coming out of the theater. So if you’re a fan of the sport, you may have some issues, though I have NO idea what or what they are. My only problem was that they play a song in the movie several times that didn’t come out until years after this story took place. Details.
Length: This is definitely a film you have to settle into and one that about 100 minutes into I was ready to have it be wrap up. It’s not too slow, but there is just a LOT of sadness and failing before we get to any pay off. It’s 133 minutes, so be prepared to settle in for the long hall.

Overall:

This is a fine film, one that again, kicks off the fall season. I think there will be a number of others that top it in coming months, but it’s still a contender and one worth your almighty dollars.

Rating: 7/10

Moneyball hits theaters today, September 23rd.

Spider-Man Updates: Dianna Agron, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Venom Returns?

Krystal Clark — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 20:41:29 +0000

After the release of The Social Network, British actor Andrew Garfield will be free and clear to train and prepare for the role of a lifetime — Spider-Man. Sony has already found their Peter Parker but the search is still on for the villain and love interest who will occupy his life. According to recent reports several names are being splashed around as possible candidates including Oscar winner Philip Seymour Hoffman and “Glee” star Dianna Agron.

Deadline is reporting that some major talent has been going in and out of Sony offices for a part in their superhero reboot. The last time we checked, they were going the unconventional route with the female lead. Instead of casting Mary Jane they’ll tap into the other women featured in the comic. There’s word that Argron tested for a role last night, and Georgina Haig, Alice in Wonderland’s Mia Wasikowska, Dominique McElligott, and Emma Stone are all being considered.

If they do go the route of putting Stone in this she should definitely play Mary Jane, if only for aesthetic reasons. As for the others, they seem to be better suited for Gwen Stacy or Felicia Hardy. These women join the growing list of potentials, which already includes Lily Collins, Ophelia Lovibond, Imogen Poots, Teresa Palmer, and Emma Roberts.

Next, we have rumors of Hoffman playing the villain. Yes, there’s “early unconfirmed talk” that they’re interested in the actor for a pivotal role. And wait for it….they’re thinking about bringing back Venom! Why?! We’ve had enough of him in live action form to last us a lifetime.

What do you think of the casting news for Spider-Man so far? Should they bring back Venom?

George Clooney to Direct Chris Pine, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Giamatti

Krystal Clark — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 01:45:30 +0000

George Clooney is getting that director’s itch again. The Oscar winner and recent recipient of the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award has his eye on a new project. According to Vulture (via JoBlo), Clooney is interested in helming the drama Farragut North, and he already has a dream cast that includes Chris Pine, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Giamatti, Evan Rachel Wood, and Marisa Tomei.

Farragut North is based on the stage play of the same name that’s “set in Des Moines, Iowa, just weeks before the state’s Democratic caucuses officially commence; it follows the exploits of a twenty something presidential campaign spinmeister/wunderkind named Stephen Myers, and the dirty pool he plays to get his candidate the nomination against a rival senator.”

Clooney is looking at Pine to play the twenty something, a role Leonardo DiCaprio was previously attached to. Pine portrayed the character in the Los Angeles stage production in 2009 and earned great reviews for his performance. Brad Pitt was interested in taking on the role of his boss but can’t commit because of scheduling conflicts. His part will go to Philip Seymour Hoffman, while Giamatti will play the manager of the opposing candidate.

Wood has been offered the role of a teenage staffer who Pine has a tryst with and Tomei will star as an investigative reporter. The film is currently independent but Clooney is looking at Sony to distribute. Filming is slated to begin in February.

What do you think of the cast for Farragut North?

Trailer for Philip Seymour Hoffman’s Jack Goes Boating

Krystal Clark — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 18:48:47 +0000

Philip Seymour Hoffman isn’t content with being an Oscar winning actor so he’s decided to step behind the scenes and try his hand at directing. His first feature film is entitled Jack Goes Boating and it stars himself along with Amy Ryan, John Ortiz, Daphne Rubin-Vega, and Tom McCarthy. In early 2009 we reported on the his directorial debut and now over a year and a half later the first trailer has arrived. Take a look…

Here’s the official synopsis:

Jack (Philip Seymour Hoffman) and Connie (Amy Ryan) are two single people who on their own might continue to recede into the anonymous background of the city, but in each other begin to find the courage and desire to pursue their budding relationship. In contrast, the couple that introduced them, Clyde (John Ortiz) and Lucy (Daphne Rubin-Vega), are confronting unresolved issues in their marriage. Jack is a limo driver with vague dreams of landing a job with the MTA and an obsession with reggae that has prompted him to begin a half-hearted attempt at growing dreadlocks.

He spends most of his time hanging out with his best friend and fellow driver Clyde and Clyde’s wife Lucy. The couple set Jack up with Connie, Lucy’s co-worker at a Brooklyn funeral home. Being with Connie inspires Jack to learn to cook, pursue a new career and take swimming lessons from Clyde so he can give Connie the romantic boat ride she dreams of. But as Jack and Connie cautiously circle commitment, Clyde and Lucy’s marriage begins to disintegrate. From there, we watch as each couple comes face to face with the inevitable path of their relationship.

The film premiered at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival and is scheduled to hit regular theaters this fall.

What do you think of the trailer for Jack Goes Boating? Are you interested in seeing the film?

Philip Seymour Hoffman, Robin Wright Joining Moneyball?

Laura Aguirre — Fri, 14 May 2010 21:04:26 +0000

After multiple director changes and actor replacements, we’re shocked that Moneyball is still a developing production. Now that helmer Bennett Miller has taken over, the film’s future is looking a lot more promising. Variety reports that Miller is in talks with the extremely talented Philip Seymour Hoffman and Robin Wright to join the cast, which already includes Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill (yeah we know). Could it be? This sounds — and excuse the cliché — too good to be true.

Based on Michael Lewis’ nonfiction book, Moneyball centers on the 2002 Oakland Athletics, who were led by general manager Billy Beane (Pitt) to an excellent season despite having the lowest payroll in the Major Leagues. If Hoffman signs on, he would play Art Howe, the field manager of Billy Beane’s Oakland Athletics; and Wright would play Beane’s ex-wife.

It’s likely that this deal will go through because Miller and Hoffman have worked together in the past; remember Capote, that awesome film that earned Hoffman an Oscar for his performance as the title character? Yeah, that one. The film is scheduled to start shooting around July in Los Angeles, but with Moneyball’s rough history, who knows if that will actually happen.

Do you think the project will finally get made?

Paul Thomas Anderson Reunites With Philip Seymour Hoffman

Krystal Clark — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 17:14:43 +0000

Director Paul Thomas Anderson plans on reuniting with frequent collaborator Philip Seymour Hoffman for his next project. According to BFDealDemo, Anderson will once again tackle the theme of religion in an untitled period piece for Universal.

Hoffman is known for playing supporting roles in several of Anderson’s films, but with this latest project he’ll star as the lead. His character will be called “The Master,” as in “master of ceremonies,” a charismatic intellectual who hatches a faith-based organization that begins to catch on in America in 1952.

The core is the relationship between The Master and Freddie, a twenty-something drifter who becomes the leader’s lieutenant. As the faith begins to gain a fervent following, Freddie finds himself questioning the belief system he has embraced, and his mentor.

Anderson is known for his cynical approach when it comes to organized religion, which was apparent in There Will Be Blood. This time around he seems to be targeting more contemporary followings such as Scientology and Mormonism, which are newbies as compared to Christianity and Judaism.

The script for the film is yet to be completed and Universal refuses to green light the project until they see the final product. The studio is weary about producing an adult themed drama of this caliber, because they typically go on to become cult favorites as opposed to commercial successes.

What do you think about Hoffman and Anderson reuniting on another film?

Pirate Radio: Movie Review

Andrew Payne — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 03:00:21 +0000

Rock ‘N’ Roll hits the high seas this week as Pirate Radio debuts in theaters from Love Actually and Four Weddings & A Funeral creator Richard Curtis. His latest film will storm the airwaves and movie screens with its unique blend of comedy, history, and some of the best music ever made. This could have been one the most entertaining musical/radio infused films produced, if it wasn’t for its muddled delivery. Find out what went right and what went wrong when we boarded Pirate Radio.

Check out our review…

The Players:

Director: Richard Curtis
Producer: Tim Bevan, Eric Fellnar, Hilary Bevan Jones, and Richard Curtis
Written By: Richard Curtis
Starring: Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Nighy, Rhys Ifans, Nick Frost and Kenneth Branagh

The Plot:

In 1966, the BBC banned the playing of rock and pop music on the radio. In order to combat this, several stations began broadcasting on ship-to-shore radio bands from boats anchored several miles off the coast. This film details the impetuous goings-on aboard one such ship and the officials in the government who seek to bring them down.

The Good:

The Music: Obviously the main character in any such rock film is always the soundtrack, which does not disappoint here. From the opening riffs of The Kinks‘ “All Day and All of the Night” to the haunting organ of Procol Harum’s “A Whiter Shade of Pale”, the soundtrack never misses a note. Literally.
The Look: Curtis captures the sixties in all of its technicolor glory with fashions that seem ready to hang from a mid-century film’s wardrobe closet and the camera style to match. Combined with the music, Curtis transports the viewer directly into the best time of Rock ‘N’ Roll.
Kenneth Branagh: There’s a lot of acting firepower adrift on the high seas in this film, but the show is stolen by one its few landlubbers. Branagh crafts the character of Pirate Radio-loathing Minister Dormandy with an uptight precision that leads to the film’s funniest moments. He is a perfect comedic villain, instantly loathsome, completely powerful, yet totally vulnerable at the same time.

The Bad:

The Story, or Lack Thereof: The main problem with this film lies within the central plot. Rather than telling a story about a Pirate Radio ship, Curtis attempts to tell a series of loosely related tales, causing the focus to move from one character to the next with no apparent reason or goal. Instead of concentrating on a central story, the movie tries to tell three (plus dozens of additional sub-plots) and doesn’t tell either of them very well.
Too Many Characters: With so many good actors in this film, you don’t need a lot of dead weight hogging the screen. New characters flow in and out without an apparent purpose, often serving as nothing more than a MacGuffin to either reveal something about another character or simply set up a joke. The constant interruption disrupts the already tenuous main story and can often make the movie seem like it’s simply adrift.

Overall:

Pirate Radio is indeed a lot of fun. There’s plenty of good humor, memorable characters and excellent tunes that allow the movie to overcome its many structural failings. While it would have been nice to see a tighter story, the one it has never becomes anything approaching dull. Go for the music, go for the yucks, go for the style, but don’t go expecting to see a rattling good tale, because you will be disappointed.

Rating: 6.5/10

Pirate Radio opens in wide release on November 13, 2009

Further Reading:

Photo Gallery

Trailer:

The Boat That Rocked Picked Up By Focus and Is Edited Down

Kara — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 00:14:21 +0000

The latest film by Richard Curtis (Love, Actually), The Boat That Rocked, has been picked up by Focus Features for distribution in the United States. The movie is about the colorful DJs of a pirate radio station, that plays nothing but rock music, operating on a tanker off the coast of the U.K. The movie has a really solid cast, staring Nick Frost, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Nighy, Kenneth Branagh, and Rhys Ifans.

The movie seems like it would be a slam dunk, but the reviews over in the U.K. have been less than stellar. Apparently, the biggest problem is the length of the film. In effort to salvage the movie before the U.S release date, Focus has decided to edit the 129 minute movie to make it shorter. The Boat That Rocked was originally supposed to hit U.S. theaters on August 28, but it has been pushed back to November. Focus president James Schamus stated, “It will be a shorter, leaner version…We think it is a real crowd-pleaser. We love a challenge, and we love working with Working Title.”The story and cast of this film sounds absolutely amazing, but it seems like that might not be the case. The editing and the later release date are not encouraging. I really hope Focus can work some magic and better the movie. With this cast and director, I refuse to believe that they can’t make an entertaining movie.

What do you think?

Source: /Film

New The Boat That Rocked Trailer and Photos

Mali Elfman — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 22:30:13 +0000

This film has got Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Nighy, Rhys Ifans, Nick Frost, Tom Sturridge, Kenneth Branagh; it was written and directed by Richard Curtis (Love Actually); and it is based off a true story about a group of radio pirates who brought rock n’ roll to the UK in the 1960′s by boat. Do I really need to say anything else? You should be sold, hook, line, sinker.

You’ve got an amazing cast, a great writer and director, and amazing source material. It would be a feat to mess this one up.

Check out the trailer and photographs from the film below…

I do have to warn you, the trailer is amazing, but it does reveal a little bit too much information for my liking. So! If the above is enough to sell you on the film, I suggest stopping with the photos. If you need more convincing or don’t mind a few spoilers, then check out the trailer below…

The film will be coming your way, on August 28, 2009.

Are you sold? Or do you not see what I see?

Hoffman to Make Directorial Debut

Krystal Clark — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 21:00:41 +0000

Academy Award winning actor Philip Seymour Hoffman is about to make a transition that very few actors can pull off successfully. He’s going to try his hand at directing! According to /Film, Hoffman will be making his directorial debut with the comedy, Jack Goes Boating. The film is based off of the Bob Glaudini play of the same name, which appeared on Off Broadway. Hoffman will both direct and star in the feature alongside Academy Award nominee Amy Ryan (Gone Baby Gone).

Hoffman will play Jack, a stoner limo driver, and the story will center around his quest for perfection, as well as the fellow pothead he falls in love with (Ryan). A New York Times review of the play called it “immensely likable.”

Other co-stars include John Ortiz and Daphne Rubino-Vega, who will make the transfer to film, by reprising their roles from the stage production. Filming for Jack Goes Boating starts next month in New York. The project will be co-produced by Hoffman’s production company Cooper’s Town, which produced his Oscar winning film Capote in 2006.

Review: Doubt – Streep Vs. Hoffman

JC — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 05:45:33 +0000

Written and directed by John Patrick Shanley, Doubt, adapted for the screen, stars Oscar winners Philip Seymour Hoffman and Meryl Streep, and is supported by Oscar nominee, Amy Adams. Set in the early 1960’s at a Catholic elementary school in the Bronx, Father Flynn (Hoffman), a charismatic priest, is attempting to modernize the school’s Catholic customs – strictly enforced by the rigid Sister Aloysius (Streep). Struggling to fit in as the school’s first black student, Donald Miller, takes a particular liking to Father Flynn – a liking that is certainly reciprocated. Suspicious, and confident in her certainty regarding the true whereabouts of their relationship, Sister Aloysius embarks on a relentless mission to eliminate Fr. Flynn, and restore order in her community.

Unlike most films, Doubt lacks the conventional series of climatic turning points that peak a story. Fr. Flynn never gets caught in a graphic rape scene with Donald, leaving everyone heartbroken ad nauseas – However, the eerie, suspenseful tone of the score, and subtle shots of sneaky exchanges between the priest and boy alluding to inappropriate behavior keeps the film extremely engaging, and the viewers on the edge of their seats. The audience never actually witnesses a crime committed or a verbal confession from Fr. Flynn. This not only forces the audience to read between the lines, but keeps them from forming judgments about the characters until the film has ended.

Streep’s story line carries the film, and ultimately serves as the film’s final payoff. A woman dedicated to maintaining order and honoring tradition, is forced to challenge her religious vows in order to restore peace in her community. Could a woman so confident in her faith, admit to experiencing doubt? The film shows that regardless of how committed someone can be to a particular way of life – in order to truly stick to the books, you might have to bend the rules.

Doubt is entirely character driven, giving Hoffman and Streep yet another opportunity for critically acclaimed performances. Their scenes are fiercely committed, screaming Oscar nominations from start to finish. Doubt requires an audience to be in a very specific mood – which may stifle is appeal to a broad audience. But if you’re in the mood for some of the best acting of the year – spend the ten bucks.

Doubt available in select theaters December 12th.

TRAILER: The Boat That Rocked

Mali Elfman — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 20:39:06 +0000

I’m so excited to see this movie on it’s way to theaters. This is where “pirate” radio. Director Richard Curtis (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Love Actually) brings you another amazing film, with one of the best casts you could ever ask, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Nighy, Rhys Ifans, Emma Thompson, Kenneth Branagh, Gemma Arterton and more in The Boat That Rocked.

Check out the trailer below…

I can’t wait for this. How about you?

ScreenCrave.com » Philip Seymour Hoffman

Moneyball: Movie Review

The Players:

The Plot:

The Good:

The Bad:

Overall:

Rating: 7/10

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