Tuesday, March 31, 2009

The Soloist preview/synopsis

The Soloist April 24

Directed by Oscar nominated Joe Wright ( Pride and Prejudice, Atonement ) Starring Jamie Foxx, Robert Downey Jr. Catherine Keener, Stephen Root, Rachel Harris. Written by Oscar nominee Susannah Grant ( In Her Shoes, Erin Brockovich ) Cinematography by Oscar nominee Seamus McGarvey ( World Trade Center, The Hours ) Editing by Oscar nominee Paul Tothill ( Atonement, Pride and Prejudice ) Original music by Oscar winner Dario Marinelli ( The Brothers Grimm, Atonement )

Story is about LA reporter Steve Lopez ( Downey ), who befriends a homeless former Julliard trained cellist, who happens to be inflicted with schizophrenia, as Lopez befriends musician Nathanial Ayers ( Foxx ), he begins to chronicle his experiences with Nathanial and also wants to help him get off the dangerous streets of LA as well..

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements, some drug use and language, 109 min.

Oscar chances ? Best supporting actor ( Downey ) best supporting actress ( Keener ) adapted screenplay, original score. Spring release puts damper on it's chances. Downey is safest bet.

The Escapist preview/synopsis

The Escapist April 13

Written and Directed by newcomer Rupert Wyatt. Starring Brian Cox, Joseph Fiennes, Damien Lewis, Liam Cunningham, Dominic Cooper. Cinematography by Phillip Blaubach ( Little White Lies ) Editing by Joe Walker ( Grow Your Own, Tabloid ) Original music by Oliver Wolfisch ( The Brothers Grimm, Atonement )



Film is a prison escape premise, about longtime prisoner Frank Perry ( Cox ) a lifer, who has pretty much relinquished any hopes of ever being a free man again. When Frank finds out that his daughter is near death and there is the chance he may never see her again, he begins to think about escaping. In time, a mish-mash of an escape crew is assembled. Currently the film has a 88% approval rating. The Escapist is supposed to to have a different feel to it than most prison escape movies in it's structure. Director Wyatt splices the preperation and plans to escape and the actual escape, cutting back and forth between the two scenarios.

Rated R for violence and language. 102 min.

Observe and Report preview/synopsis

Observe and Report April 10



Written and directed by Jody Hill ( The Fist Foot Way ) Starring Seth Rogen, Ray Liotta, Anna Faris, Michael Pena. Cinematography by Tim Orr ( Pineapple Express, Choke ) Editing by Zene Baker ( Undertow, Dreamland ) Original music by Joseph Stephens ( Eastbound and Down ) Tagged as the " dark " mall cop movie, as Observe is a more " mature " film than Paul Blart and way more daring and out there. Story revolves around a bi-polar mall security guard Ronnie Barnhardt whose major focus as of late has been capturing a serial flasher and his ways of trying to catch the freak. But once Barnhardt cannot capture said flasher, a detective ( Liotta ) is called in and gets involved into the investigation and some very wrong things ensue.

Rated R for pervasive language, graphic nudity, drug use and violence. 86min.

Adventureland preview/synopsis

Adventureland April 3

Written and directed by Greg Mottola ( Superbad ) Starring Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Ryan Reynolds, Kristen Wiig, Bill Hader, Jack Gilpin, Wendie Malick, Martin Starr. Cinematography by Terry Stacey ( The Nanny Diaries, Dexter ) Editing by Anne McCabe ( Maria Full Of Grace, You Can Count On Me )

Film is about anal retentive college graduate James Brennan, who daydreams of his day where he get's to go on a trip across Europe, but when the ball gets dropped and his parents cannot fund the trip, James has no other solution but to get a crummy job at the local amusement park. With all his hopes and dreams of chugging German beer and ogling French woman dashed, he knows his next months will be dominated by cranky parents and screaming kids. He feels deflated.
Luckily what looks to be like the worst summer ever, he experiences quite a few interesting adventures, including the discovery of love.

Rated R for language, drug use and sexual references. 107 min.

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Coen's take a stab at True Grit ?

The Coen brothers have finished their latest satire A Serious Man for release for later this year, and now word is out that they want to adapt the original True Grit that won John Wayne the Oscar.
The Coen's want to change the script to the way the book was told, where the story revolves through the eyes of a 14 year old girl, Hattie Ross, who's father has been killed by a no good farm hand who has then escaped. Hattie wants to track the man first hand, but knows she can't do it alone and needs help. That help will be from a deputy marshall that is somewhat lacking in couth.

The brothers are just in the beginning of adapting the novel by Charles Portis, and giving it a more straight adaptation and not lean so much on the Rooster Cogburn character, as seen in the film True Grit.

Hunter S. Thompson's The Rum Diary is casted

An adaptation of Hunter S. Thompson's book The Rum Diary has been written and given a shooting date at the end of March with Johhny Depp in the lead with the supporting cast of Richard Jenkins, Giovanni Ribisi and Aaron Eckhart.

A Runaways movie

There is going to be a Runaways biopic and so far casted is Kristen Stewert ( Into The Wild, Twilight ) as Joan Jett and Dakota Fanning as Cherrie Currie.

Early acting accolades

So far for 2009 ( obviously still real early )

Picture
Duplicity
Sunshine Cleaning

Actor
Clive Owen- Duplicity

Actress
Amy Adams- Sunshine Cleaning

Supporting Actor
Clifton Collins Jr.- Sunshine Cleaning
Paul Giamatti- Duplicity
Jackie Earle Haley- Watchman

Supporting Actress
Emily Blunt- Sunshine Cleaning

Director
Tony Gilroy- Duplicity
Christine Jeffs- Sunshine Cleaning
Zack Snyder- Watchman ( for pulling off something seemed unfilmable and for creative vision )

About Me

My photo
Started to really pay attention to film ( movies ) what was going on in front of the camera, but more interestingly, behind it as well at about as far back as age 10. Motion pictures ( when good ) are a fascinating medium. All the work and prep that goes into filmmaking. It's an amazing process !