Sunday, March 20, 2011
The Weaknesses of Country Strong
There are unexpected similarities between country and metal fans?okay, really just one: Each faction tends to harbor people of a–let?s just say it–lower IQ and income bracket. Even so, listeners of country are surprisingly more in touch with the agonies of life than those of metal. Although the screaming and decibel levels of metal would [...]
Robert Pattinson Lets Some Saucy Language Slip In Our #1 RPattz Moment
All this week we've been counting down our favorite RPattz moments in preparation for "MTV First: Robert Pattinson," a 30-minute chat in which the actor will take questions from our own Josh Horowitz and fans like you, in addition to debuting an exclusive new clip from his latest movie "Water for Elephants."
It's not easy [...]
It's not easy [...]
I am Number Four
‘I am Number Four’ is a sci-fi action film that stars teen hunk�Alex Pettyfer as John Smith or Number Four, one of the nine gifted residents from planet Lorien who travels the earth hiding from Mogadorians who are hunting them. Number Four is very used to changing locations every now and then to make sure [...]
Aaron Johnson & Jude Law in Talks for Joe Wright's 'Anna Karenina'
Last December we heard that Lee Daniels was going to direct adaptation of the award winning Broadway play Anna in the Tropics, but director Joe Wright (Atonement, Pride & Prejudice) is set to direct a straight-up adaptation of Leo Tolstoy's classic Anna Karenina rather than the play inspired by the book. Keira Knightley has already been placed in the title role in the story about a woman stuck in a loveless marriage who struggles with her attraction to a soldier. Now Variety reports Jude Law and Aaron Johnson (Kick-Ass) are currrently in talks to join the project, though their roles in the story haven't been mentioned.
The novel has been adapted several times but this seems to be the most high profile adaptation in almost 20 years. And considering how well Wright fared with adaptations like Atonement and Pride & Prejudice. In addition, this cast is already pretty ...
The novel has been adapted several times but this seems to be the most high profile adaptation in almost 20 years. And considering how well Wright fared with adaptations like Atonement and Pride & Prejudice. In addition, this cast is already pretty ...
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Aaron Eckhart Talks ?Battle: Los Angeles 2?: Set it in Paris!
Given that Jonathan Liebesman’s recent sci-fi thriller, Battle: Los Angeles, opened to $35.6 million in a still sluggish box office slide, it was only a matter of time before Battle: Los Angeles 2 started being discussed. In a recent interview, actor Aaron Eckhart, who played SSgt. Michael Nantz in the film, was asked where he’d [...]
THE LINCOLN LAWYER
CAROLINE: Matthew McConaughey stars in the new courtroom drama/thriller, The Lincoln Lawyer, which co-stars Marisa Tomei, Ryan Phillippe and William H. Macy. I must say I went into this movie with pretty low expectations.RYAN: Why? I thought the trailer was decent.CAROLINE: It was OK, but I'm a little bit over Matthew McC lately. Having said that, he was great and I really liked the movie.RYAN: All right, now we're getting somewhere!CAROLINE: Matthew McConaughey still totally has the suave, charismatic thing down. He plays a slick lawyer who works out of his chauffeured car and usually defends criminals and druggies, but then gets a case where his client is a rich Beverly Hills kid.RYAN: I'll assume that's Ryan Phillippe.CAROLINE: Indeed. It feels like it could have been based on a John Grisham book, but it's based on a novel by Michael Connelly. It's a really good movie with lots of twists and turns. I was totally engaged; though it's a little too long.RYAN: Ugh, why do they always do that?CAROLINE: It felt like the movie ended and then it kept going for 10 or 15 minutes. Turns out those last few minutes were pivotal, and good stuff was revealed, but it felt a little tacked on. It wasn't a dealbreaker though. It's still a fun movie that I'd recommend.RYAN: I'm so excited to finally have some decent movies in theaters!CAROLINE: You and me both! I don't know if I liked it so much because I went in with such low expectations, but I was sitting there thinking, "Wow, this is so much better than I thought it would be!"RYAN: How's the rest of the cast?CAROLINE: Marisa Tomei is gorge. She doesn't have a huge part, but I liked the relationship between her and Matthew McConaughey. They're divorced but very friendly, and they're still attracted to each other. Ryan Phillippe is fine - he's somewhat annoying, but he plays the bad boy very well. And William H. Macy is great, as always. I was totally into it.RYAN: I'm so glad it wasn't predictable and lame.CAROLINE: Well, you're always good at predicting what's going to happen, but this one has some good twists. It's not necessarily shocking at any point, but it keeps you on your toes. And the client relationship between Matthew McConaughey and Ryan Phillippe is pretty fascinating. It's a fun movie that adults of all ages will enjoy. -- BOTTOM LINE --CAROLINE: I was surprised by how much I liked this movie. It's got an intriguing story, and is a fun courtroom drama. Matthew McConaughey's still got it, and the whole cast is great. I liked the twists and it kept me engaged throughout. It's about time we got a decent movie up in here. Check this one out! -- RATING --Cheeky & Fresh Movie Reviews
Oscar Hosts Featurette
RYAN: We're so freakin' excited about the Oscars coming up in a couple weeks!CAROLINE: Even though the major categories are completely predictable this year, except for maybe Best Picture, there's still so much to get our freak on about.RYAN: I'm super jazzed about the co-hosts this year. I love Annie Hath.
CAROLINE: It'll be cool to see James Franco host whilst also being a nominee, but I'm still not 100% sold on these two as hosts. They've got a lot to prove.RYAN: I'm looking forward to the live performances, especially the duet from Tangled with Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi.CAROLINE: That should be good. But, honey, the fashion!RYAN: Yes that's everything. And also the Rice Krispies Treats you make better than anybody! I'm already jonesing for them.CAROLINE: Feb 27th will be a good night at my house, don't you worry.Cheeky & Fresh Movie Reviews
CAROLINE: It'll be cool to see James Franco host whilst also being a nominee, but I'm still not 100% sold on these two as hosts. They've got a lot to prove.RYAN: I'm looking forward to the live performances, especially the duet from Tangled with Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi.CAROLINE: That should be good. But, honey, the fashion!RYAN: Yes that's everything. And also the Rice Krispies Treats you make better than anybody! I'm already jonesing for them.CAROLINE: Feb 27th will be a good night at my house, don't you worry.Cheeky & Fresh Movie Reviews
BATTLE: LOS ANGELES
CAROLINE: Battle: Los Angeles can very easily be summed up in two words: boy movie.RYAN: [laughs] I can't say that's a huge shock. I was semi-excited to see this with you, but couldn't make the screening. Would I have liked it? I am, after all, a boy.CAROLINE: You might have liked it for a bit, as I did. I was willing to give it a chance, and I knew it would be a movie with a lot of explosions; but that's basically all it was. Hardly any story, just an alien attack and then explosions.RYAN: Sounds like I dodged a bullet then.CAROLINE: Look, it's not the worst movie I've ever seen, and I'm sure men will go out in droves to see it this weekend; but after about 40 minutes of helicopters and explosions, I was bored. I quickly realized this movie was never going to be anything other than a bunch of Marines fighting aliens. Aaron Eckhart is always fun to watch; I hope for a better quality film from him next time. People were actually laughing at some of his dialogue.RYAN: Ouch. He was just in Rabbit Hole though. Maybe he wanted to do a cheesy blockbuster.CAROLINE: Fair enough. There are also smaller appearances from Michelle Rodriguez of Lost fame, Bridget Moynahan in a thankless damsel-in-distress role and Ne-Yo of all people.RYAN: Interesting.CAROLINE: Basically, if you've seen the trailer, you've seen the movie. I liked the trailer a lot, but it was only 2 minutes long; I don't need to see 2 hours of this stuff. I kept waiting for a twist, or at least for some story development, but it never came.RYAN: Well, honey, LBH, it's an alien movie. Maybe all it aspired to do was entertain men with explosions.CAROLINE: I totally hear you, and that's fine; but most movies like this have at least a little bit of plot. This one is just another apocalypse movie, this time with angry aliens invading our water supply. They gave the characters some back story so you'd care about them, but you kind of lose track of who's who after a while. I didn't really care who lived or died.RYAN: How were the effects?CAROLINE: They were good. It's got a summer blockbuster feel, and is very reminiscent of Independence Day. There's obviously some decent action, but I was never really engaged or on the edge of my seat.-- BOTTOM LINE --CAROLINE: I somewhat liked this movie for 30 or 40 minutes, but ultimately, it wasn't good enough to sustain 2 full hours. I know this is much more of a movie for men, and it requires a suspension of disbelief, but it just wasn't that entertaining. Clearly I'm not the the target audience though. If you like aliens, explosions and minimal plot, then this movie is for you and you'll definitely want to see it on the big screen to get the full effect. Otherwise, you don't need to see it.-- RATING --Cheeky & Fresh Movie Reviews
THE LAST LIONS
CAROLINE: I was very curious about the new documentary The Last Lions, so I took myself to see it this past holiday weekend.RYAN: Honey, I haven't even heard of this movie. What on earth are you talking about?CAROLINE: It's only out in limited release, but I saw something about it on The Today Show and I was intrigued. Let's just say I don't regret seeing it, but it wasn't all that.RYAN: So is it a nature documentary?CAROLINE: Yes, from National Geographic. Obviously, it's well shot with beautiful scenery of Africa and all that and the lion cubs are adorable; but the whole thing feels very contrived.RYAN: How so?CAROLINE: They make this whole story up about the main lioness and her cubs and you don't know if it's just creatively edited or if all this stuff actually happens. Allegedly, she loses her mate and has to go off to another territory to escape the enemy pride, and in so doing she puts her cubs in peril. It has some harrowing moments, but you're never sure if they're real.RYAN: I see what you mean. So it's not just a straight up doc about lions - they try to make it a real story?CAROLINE: Exactly, and it feels potentially fake like a reality show in that way.RYAN: That's disappointing. I do love a good nature movie.CAROLINE: Me too, but this one never fully engaged me. I thought I'd be much more into it than I was. Having said that, I totally bawled my eyes out in one scene.RYAN: Seriously?CAROLINE: Yeah. Something awful happens to one of the cubs.RYAN: Ugh. I can't stand to watch that. -- BOTTOM LINE --CAROLINE: I was excited for a really good National Geographic nature documentary, but this movie didn't live up to my expectations. It feels a little forced. Maybe the story of the lioness is totally true, but a lot of the movie just seemed like clever editing. It has some redeeming value, but overall was a disappointment. I think there are better nature movies out there.-- RATING --Cheeky & Fresh Movie Reviews
Michael Chabon May Rewrite Disney's 'Magic Kingdom' for Favreau
Now things are getting interesting. THR is reporting that Pulitzer Prize-winning author and screenwriter Michael Chabon is considering teaming up with director Jon Favreau for Disney's new project Magic Kingdom. As we already know, Magic Kingdom is the project that Disney lured Favreau away from Marvel with, and it seems to be one of their most high priority features, especially because it's set inside Disneyland (think Night at a Museum, but where the "attractions" come to life). The original script was written by Ron Moore (of "Battlestar") but Favreau wants to bring over Chabon for a "potential team-up on Kingdom."
No offer has been made yet, so it's far from official, but Favreau wants him. Chabon, mostly known for his books, has been inside the Disney family already, doing a lot of uncredited screenwriting work on films like John Carter of Mars, Tron Legacy and pretty much anything at Pixar. He's ...
No offer has been made yet, so it's far from official, but Favreau wants him. Chabon, mostly known for his books, has been inside the Disney family already, doing a lot of uncredited screenwriting work on films like John Carter of Mars, Tron Legacy and pretty much anything at Pixar. He's ...
Trailer Tuesdays!
CAROLINE: There are a bazillion movies coming out this, but I only care about one of them - Just Go With It, which stars Jenny Ani and Adam Sandler.RYAN: This is the Valentine's Day rom com offering for 2011, and I'm excited for it too. Though I'm not sure why Adam Sandler thinks he can be a romantic leading man. CAROLINE: He's no hottie, but I've enjoyed him in the past as Drew Barrymore's love interest in various movies so I'll take it. Let's just hope this is better than last year's Grown Ups. RYAN: Oh dear God, there's no way it can't be. This movie has a cute, original yet typically-rom-com-silly premise. I'm sure something like this could happen but I doubt in real life it pans out as in this movie. Who's the blond chick?CAROLINE: Brooklyn Decker, who's a model and also Andy Roddick's wife. He's a tennis player.RYAN: Thank you for clarifying that. This movie better be funny. We're desperate for a good rom com! Check out the trailer here: RYAN: Next up is the animated Disney movie, Gnomeo & Juliet in 3D, which I know you're just dying to see.CAROLINE: Yeah, not so much, though the cast of voices is good: Emily Blunt, James McAvoy, Michael Caine, Patrick Stewart and even Ozzy Osbourne. And it somewhat randomly features the music of Elton John.RYAN: Interesting. As you can imagine, I think it looks really cute. I love that it's based on Shakespeare and I love James McAvoy and Emily Blunt. Plus the animation looks fab. CAROLINE: It's not the worst animated trailer I've seen, but let's just say it's low on my list of priorities.RYAN: Well, I'm all over this one. I think it looks like a good one that even you could enjoy. Watch the trailer here: CAROLINE: And there's another one for the kids, and by that I mean 'tweens - the Justin Bieber movie. Which, let's be honest, isn't really a movie as much as a concert film.RYAN: It's called Justin Bieber: Never Say Never, in 3D no less, and I don't think you could pay me to see it. I suffered through the Jonas Brothers movie a couple years ago; that was enough.CAROLINE: It's hard for me to take "movies" like this seriously, though I suppose if I were 12 I'd be dying to see it. But in my adulthood, I find the Bieber to be obnoxious and offensive.RYAN: I don't like his music and I don't love concert films to begin with. I did like Spice World back in the day though. CAROLINE: I think the audience for this movie knows who it is. Check out the trailer here: RYAN: Finally, there's The Eagle starring one very buff Channing Tatum along with Jamie Bell, whom we love.CAROLINE: This is a total boy movie. Some Roman war epic. No, thank you! But yes, I do love Jamie Bell.RYAN: It has casting going for it but not much else. I love Mark Strong and Denis O'Hare too, but this trailer looks awful! CAROLINE: Yeah, I'm kind of putting it in the 'you couldn't pay me to see it' category.RYAN: I don't know if I'd go that far, but I'm not too interested. I hope it focuses more story than epic fighting. CAROLINE: I hope I never ever have to see it. Watch the trailer here: Cheeky & Fresh Movie Reviews
Saturday, March 19, 2011
MGM's 'Red Dawn' Remake Will Have North Korea as Revised Villain
MGM stirring up more trouble? The LA Times reports very candidly on MGM's recent decision to revise the villain in their already-completed remake of the 1980's classic Red Dawn, directed by Dan Bradley. They report that the original villain of the Chinese invading America, already updated from Russia/U.S.S.R. in the 1984 film with Patrick Swayze, will be revised to North Korea, because of concern for the Chinese box office. Go figure, it's all about business. "The filmmakers now are digitally erasing Chinese flags and military symbols from Red Dawn, substituting dialogue and altering the film." Let's hope it doesn't cause a backlash.
The decision was apparently made by MGM alone, "no one at the studio has had discussions with Chinese government officials about Red Dawn." Over the last few years, the box office in China has become a key place to make strong earnings, which is why you see films like ...
The decision was apparently made by MGM alone, "no one at the studio has had discussions with Chinese government officials about Red Dawn." Over the last few years, the box office in China has become a key place to make strong earnings, which is why you see films like ...
Watch 'MTV First: Robert Pattinson' LIVE Right Here, Right Now!
The moment you've all been waiting for is finally here, folks -- Robert Pattinson is officially in the building!
We've been teasing "MTV First: Robert Pattinson" all week long with a countdown of our five favorite RPattz moments, including his very first interview with MTV, his near-kiss with Kristen Stewart at the 2010 MTV Movie Awards, [...]
We've been teasing "MTV First: Robert Pattinson" all week long with a countdown of our five favorite RPattz moments, including his very first interview with MTV, his near-kiss with Kristen Stewart at the 2010 MTV Movie Awards, [...]
Jennifer Lawrence Officially Cast as Katniss in 'The Hunger Games'
Even though there were more than a few naysayers in the comments when we heard that Winter's Bone star and Academy Award nominee Jennifer Lawrence was the frontrunner to take the lead role of Katniss Everdeen in the adaptation of The Hunger Games, no amount of complaining can stop it. The Wrap reports that Lawrence has officially landed the coveted role in Lionsgate's highly anticipated new franchise based on Suzanne Collins' best-selling book of the same name. The deal officially closed for Lawrence's casting on Wednesday and it's likely that the actress is signed for adaptations of all three books in the young adult novel series.
Gary Ross (Seabiscuit) will direct the adaptation, and now the next big role to be filled in the film is that of the lead male character Peeta. Josh Hutcherson and Alex Pettyfer have been mentioned as contenders and apparently "Weeds" star Hunter Parrish just recently ...
Gary Ross (Seabiscuit) will direct the adaptation, and now the next big role to be filled in the film is that of the lead male character Peeta. Josh Hutcherson and Alex Pettyfer have been mentioned as contenders and apparently "Weeds" star Hunter Parrish just recently ...
Shia LaBeouf Attached to Lead Adaptation of Joe Hill's 'Horns' Novel
Way back in October of 2009 we heard that Mandalay Pictures had picked up Horns, a novel from Joe Hill (son of Stephen King), for a big screen adaptation. Now the project finally has some legs as Variety reports Shia LaBeouf (Transformers) is not only attached to star in the film, but will also be heavily involved in the project's development. "In Treatment" writer Keith Bunin will adapt the story which follows a 26-year-old man who wakes up one morning from a blackout hangover and finds horns sprouting out of his head. As the horns grow bigger by the day, the reason why seems to lie in the unsolved murder of his girlfriend. How twisted!
Described as a lovey story driven by horror and vengeance, the project sounds like something much better than the generic action flicks LaBeouf has found himself in for the past few years. ...
Described as a lovey story driven by horror and vengeance, the project sounds like something much better than the generic action flicks LaBeouf has found himself in for the past few years. ...
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Megan Fox To Star in Judd Apatow Knocked Up Spin-Off?
Judd Apatow is tweeting about Megan Fox. She's joining his new comedy, a spin-off of the 2007 hit Knocked Up. Leslie Mann and Paul Rudd will reprise their roles as a married couple in the film. Apatow pretty much confirmed the new, retweeting this: "i am SO excited to see Megan in your film. it is such an interesting choice alongside rudd and your wife but i love this idea!!" Fox is currently negotiating for her role in the film, but we have no idea who she will play. Perhaps she will seduce Paul Rudd's character? Babysitter? The options are endless! Fox is currently filming Friends with Kids, alongside Jon Hamm, Kristen Wigg, and Jennifer Westfeldt, who wrote and is directing the film as well.
2011 Academy Awards
RYAN: OK, it's the biggest night of the year for us and all of Hollywood, and the night did not disappoint. There were so many highlights, and even enough low lights to keep us going all night.CAROLINE: Surely by low lights, you mean Kirk Douglas.RYAN: Well, that was beyond. But seriously, The Wolfman winning Best Makeup when it was one of the worst films of 2010?! I'm just beside myself.CAROLINE: Honey, please that was a shoo-in. But before we go into the categories let's get our best and worst dressed out of the way. My best dressed were Scarlett Johansson, Penelope Cruz and I kinda liked Reese Witherspoon's dress even though she looked like I Dream of Jeannie with that hair.RYAN: OMG I loooved Reese, hair and all! My best dressed is Annette Bening and worst is - I can't believe I'm gonna say it - but Nicole Kidman. Seriously.CAROLINE: The dress was a little weird, but I thought she looked pretty from the waist up. But I know you love her, so that must be tough for you to admit.RYAN: I'm also just thrilled beyond expectation with Anne Hathaway and James Franco. They're both sharing moments of brilliance and I just abba-solutely loved Anne singing!CAROLINE: Moments of brilliance?? What show are you watching, honey? They were so bland and underwhelming! Anne can actually sing fine, I guess.RYAN: Brilliantly! But yes, I wouldn't be surprised if she wanted to punch James Franco by the end and say, "Thanks for nothing!"CAROLINE: He redefined phoning it in. Anne was trying, but she's so awkward. RYAN: She can do no wrong in my eyes. I actually felt bad for Mandy Moore. I love that song from Tangled, but she was so nervous she was barely breathing. And they truncated the song so I felt gypped.CAROLINE: Gwyneth seemed incredibly nervous too. And that song from Country Strong is just so not worthy.RYAN: She was so flat. And I'm not talking just about her singing.CAROLINE: [laughs] No big surprises in the major categories except for Best Director. I thought for sure that would go to David Fincher. RYAN: But statistically, Best Picture and Director go hand in hand, so it was appropriate for Tom Hooper to win.CAROLINE: I just hoped The Social Network would win more awards. Worst speech of the night clearly goes to Melissa Leo...what was she thinking, and more importantly, what was she wearing?RYAN: I just don't buy her whole "shocked" business. She knew she was gonna win. CAROLINE: Of course! And her fake dropping of the F-bomb?? So ridic. She had clearly planned that ahead. I'm a little over her right now, though she totally deserved the win. RYAN: By and large, I liked the acceptance speeches. They were the right mix of emotional, heartfelt and not too long.CAROLINE: Except for Colin Firth, who insisted he was going to be brief and then rambled on forever. RYAN: I feel really ripped off that there wasn't another musical moment for the hosts especially with that leaked Grease promo.CAROLINE: I heard James Franco's singing was so atrocious that they had to pull one of the musical numbers. Or maybe he was just too high to sing. Ha- I'm just kidding. Not sure I buy into that "he's high all the time" thing. Maybe he's just weird. Or really tired.RYAN: He's busier than anyone I know, for sure. He barely returns my phone calls anymore. But I have to comment on the finale of the show, because seeing the Emerald City up there and every winner on stage singing along to Over the Rainbow was waymazing.CAROLINE: I couldn't believe what an afterthought those poor kids were! The show ended and then they brought them onstage. And the song totally sounded pre-recorded. The kids were doing their best to sing along but you could tell it was canned. RYAN: I didn't notice. I loved every minute. CAROLINE: No one had a full-on onstage stroke this year, but Jennifer Hudson came close. Was she even speaking English up there? RYAN: Honey, it's because she hasn't eaten in two years. Celine Dion was the best singer of the night, of course, during the In Memoriam segment. But where was Corey Haim in there? CAROLINE: Oh God. I didn't even notice they left him out. I thought for sure at the end they were going to cut to Kirk Douglas dead backstage. RYAN: [laughs] I don't ever want to see him onstage at the Oscars again. Cheeky & Fresh Movie Reviews
Limitless Movie Review: Great Premise, So-So Execution
Limitless is an original story with huge potential. It almost reaches that place, but doesn't quite cross the threshold to enter into the amazing zone. Bradley Cooper does a fine job in his role and the whole idea of being the best versions of ourselves is something people are constantly striving for. This escapist thriller does more than just evoke our senses, it gets us thinking about what we would do if we had that much power and intelligence. The Plot: Bradley Cooper stars as Eddie Morra, a struggling writer who has hit rock bottom - he's suffering from writer block, his girlfriend Lindy (Abbie Cornish) has dumped him, and he is very quickly running out of money. When he meets his ex-brother-in-law on the streets of NYC, his life changes for the better - or does it? He is given a drug called NZT that will help him write his book and stay focused. He resists taking the pill at first, but then thinks 'what the heck?' NZT does more than he ever dreamed, he becomes the best version of himself, using 100% of his brain when human's normally have the capacity to only use about 20% of their brain. But what happens when people start to find out what is making you such a winner? You become the target of some very dangerous and lethal people. Eddie is thrown into a world of criminals and excessive greed, not to mention the troubles he faces when he runs out of the coveted super drug. The Good: The thriller is meant to entertain and have fun with the idea of having limitless access to the brain -- and it succeeds in doing that. There are some greater underlying issues about drug use that are never fully explored. When Eddie doesn't have the drug for a couple days, he goes through serious withdrawal and exhibits the same symptoms as one without heroine or cocaine would experience. It's an interesting exploration on how far people would go to get what they want. Although there are some of those underlying factors, the film doesn't take itself too seriously in general and Bradley Cooper does a great job of adding in tiny elements of humor throughout to keep the movie light and interesting. Cooper's first performance in a leading role comes off with extreme success. He does a great job playing a man who goes from having nothing and living in squalor to becoming a man who is practically invincible. The Bad: Director Neil Burger tries to completely encapsulate the visuals associated with taking this kind of drug. When Eddie is writing his book, we see words and numbers flying around the screen. When he takes the pill, audience sees two or three versions of Eddie. The thought behind these visual elements is there and I can understand what Burger was trying to do, but it just comes across as distracting and disjointed. Most of the film is fun and superficial with images of Eddie getting whatever he wants, including buying $8 million apartments and beach houses with luxury accommodations. You never feel like you need to take the film too seriously, but then about 3/4 of the way through, there starts to be a little too much action-packed gory violence that doesn't quite seem to fit with the rest of the movie. There is one scene in particular where Eddie drinks another man's blood just to get some of the NZT that's lingering there. Overall, Limitless is an entertaining film that will keep you interested for almost 2 hours, but it doesn't really have that extra sparkle that shoots it into the "amazing" territory. Burger tries to do just that with the fast paced, exciting shots and sequences, but even with the creative shooting tactics, it's not quite there. Greater intensity and a bit more quick banter between the characters would have improved the film significantly.
The Adjustment Bureau
Love conquers everything and in the film The Adjustment Bureau, the lead character David Norris played by Matt Damon proved that his love for Elise (Emily Blunt) can challenge fate, destiny and even these ‘people’ who worked for Adjustment Bureau who said to set everything according to plan. David Norris lost in his Senatorial bid [...]
PAUL
CAROLINE: Paul is a new comedy from the British guys who wrote Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, and it's directed by Greg Mottola, who made Superbad. RYAN: It's animated, right?CAROLINE: Seriously? Honey, have you even watched the trailer? The alien Paul is animated, but everything else is live-action. Get it together.RYAN: Sorry. I didn't get to see this with you, but it looks really funny, and I was sad to miss it.CAROLINE: I wish it were really funny. Honestly, it kind of bored me after a while.RYAN: That's a bummer.CAROLINE: I might have been in the minority though because the audience seemed to be enjoying it. It's also a little bit of a boy movie - lots of juvenile humor, fart jokes, pot jokes, etc. But all in a very rated R way, so it's funnier. I just thought the movie would be hilarious and clever, but it was more mildly amusing.RYAN: How was the cast?CAROLINE: The British guys, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, are fine. Woefully unattractive, but fine. And then it's got a bevy of people we love - Kristen Wiig, Jason Bateman, Bill Hader and Jane Lynch in a small role. And the voice of Paul is Seth Rogen.RYAN: How's Wiig? I adore her.CAROLINE: She's fine, but her character is this religious chick who has to change her whole belief system when she meets Paul, and her transformation just isn't that funny. She curses for for the first time and it becomes a running gag, but her lines aren't that great. They could have done more with it.RYAN: How's Seth as the alien?CAROLINE: He's actually great. It's the perfect role for him, since Paul is a bit of a rebel who smokes pot, gets in trouble, etc. And the special effects were great. They did an amazing job of seamlessly working Paul into the scenes. You couldn't even tell he was animated half the time. That was definitely impressive.RYAN: So is it a spoof movie like Shaun of the Dead spoofed zombie movies?CAROLINE: Yeah, kind of. But sci-fi and aliens aren't really my thing, so maybe that's why I wasn't as into it. Some of the gags are OK, but based on the people behind the film, I thought I'd be LOL'ing throughout. Instead, I chuckled 3 or 4 times. It's not awful, but it wasn't as good as I thought it would be, especially with this cast.RYAN: I guess I'll be saving my 13 bucks then!-- BOTTOM LINE --CAROLINE: I was hoping to love this movie, or at least be highly entertained, but I wasn't. It's funny and cute in parts, well cast and well acted, but it never made me laugh like I hoped. Having said that, my husband loved it and was highly amused, so maybe it's more of a guy movie.-- RATING --Cheeky & Fresh Movie Reviews
Review: ?Limitless? Showcases Bradley Cooper, Laughs
An intoxicating mix of style, substance and charm, Limitless is an engrossing thriller with vivid effects, oh-so memorable scenes and a thought-provoking story. Directed by Neil Burger (The Illusionist) and based on the novel, The Dark Fields, by Alan Glynn, the film is also a perfect vehicle for actor Bradley Cooper who finally puts the [...]
Limitless Movie Review: Great Premise, So-So Execution
Limitless is an original story with huge potential. It almost reaches that place, but doesn't quite cross the threshold to enter into the amazing zone. Bradley Cooper does a fine job in his role and the whole idea of being the best versions of ourselves is something people are constantly striving for. This escapist thriller does more than just evoke our senses, it gets us thinking about what we would do if we had that much power and intelligence. The Plot: Bradley Cooper stars as Eddie Morra, a struggling writer who has hit rock bottom - he's suffering from writer block, his girlfriend Lindy (Abbie Cornish) has dumped him, and he is very quickly running out of money. When he meets his ex-brother-in-law on the streets of NYC, his life changes for the better - or does it? He is given a drug called NZT that will help him write his book and stay focused. He resists taking the pill at first, but then thinks 'what the heck?' NZT does more than he ever dreamed, he becomes the best version of himself, using 100% of his brain when human's normally have the capacity to only use about 20% of their brain. But what happens when people start to find out what is making you such a winner? You become the target of some very dangerous and lethal people. Eddie is thrown into a world of criminals and excessive greed, not to mention the troubles he faces when he runs out of the coveted super drug. The Good: The thriller is meant to entertain and have fun with the idea of having limitless access to the brain -- and it succeeds in doing that. There are some greater underlying issues about drug use that are never fully explored. When Eddie doesn't have the drug for a couple days, he goes through serious withdrawal and exhibits the same symptoms as one without heroine or cocaine would experience. It's an interesting exploration on how far people would go to get what they want. Although there are some of those underlying factors, the film doesn't take itself too seriously in general and Bradley Cooper does a great job of adding in tiny elements of humor throughout to keep the movie light and interesting. Cooper's first performance in a leading role comes off with extreme success. He does a great job playing a man who goes from having nothing and living in squalor to becoming a man who is practically invincible. The Bad: Director Neil Burger tries to completely encapsulate the visuals associated with taking this kind of drug. When Eddie is writing his book, we see words and numbers flying around the screen. When he takes the pill, audience sees two or three versions of Eddie. The thought behind these visual elements is there and I can understand what Burger was trying to do, but it just comes across as distracting and disjointed. Most of the film is fun and superficial with images of Eddie getting whatever he wants, including buying $8 million apartments and beach houses with luxury accommodations. You never feel like you need to take the film too seriously, but then about 3/4 of the way through, there starts to be a little too much action-packed gory violence that doesn't quite seem to fit with the rest of the movie. There is one scene in particular where Eddie drinks another man's blood just to get some of the NZT that's lingering there. Overall, Limitless is an entertaining film that will keep you interested for almost 2 hours, but it doesn't really have that extra sparkle that shoots it into the "amazing" territory. Burger tries to do just that with the fast paced, exciting shots and sequences, but even with the creative shooting tactics, it's not quite there. Greater intensity and a bit more quick banter between the characters would have improved the film significantly.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Eyreian Nation
For awhile I thought Jane Austen was the only British author with any repute in the world of book to film adaptations. The Bront� sisters have certainly received their due in the past with prior filmic renderings of both Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights, but never with the same degree of exactitude as Austen-inspired gems [...]
HALL PASS
CAROLINE: Hall Pass is the new comedy from the Farrelly brothers starring Owen Wilson, SNL's Jason Sudeikis, Christina Applegate and Jenna Fischer, aka Pam from The Office. RYAN: I was so hoping to attend this screening with you, but due to my bronchitis, I could not. Color me bummed. How was it?CAROLINE: I'm not sure what you would have thought of it, but I thought it was freaking hilarious. I LOL'ed throughout. It's highly quotable too.RYAN: Wow, really?? A comedy that's actually funny? We haven't seen one of those in ages!CAROLINE: Believe me, I'm as surprised as you are, though there's really no reason to be. The Farrelly brothers have turned out consistently funny movies over the years, including There's Something About Mary and The Heartbreak Kid. RYAN: Does this one include their usual gross-out humor though? I have a low threshold for that.CAROLINE: So do I, but in this movie it totally works. Yes, there are poop jokes, and I know that usually disappoints us; but this movie is a totally adult, totally rated R raunch fest, so a little poop didn't bother me. One scene was juvenile and annoying, but the rest was hilarious. And there's full frontal male nudity!RYAN: Male nudity?! That's something you don't see every day.CAROLINE: I know, right? The audience was dying. There are so many funny moments. It's totally crass, but the Farrelly brothers are known for that, and it's not dumbed down for a PG-13 audience, which I really appreciated. I'm sure the humor isn't for everyone, but I found it laugh-out-loud funny.RYAN: I'm sure I would have too. How's my girl Christina Applegate?CAROLINE: She's good. All of the characters and scenarios are totally relatable for people our age. The scenarios are totally realistic while still being zany and fun. It's definitely a comedy, but it addresses marriage and fidelity and parenting and all that jazz in a serious way. Joy Behar has a little cameo, as does Richard Jenkins, whom I adore.RYAN: What about Owen Wilson? You usually hate him.CAROLINE: I find him alarmingly unattractive, but he didn't bother me as much in this movie. His character is a little dorky, which suits him. I'm tired of him playing the supposed hot stud all the time. He actually has a moment at the end that made me mist up a little.RYAN: Wow! Who would have thought?-- BOTTOM LINE --CAROLINE: This is a thoroughly enjoyable and highly entertaining comedy for those who don't mind a little raunch. I laughed out loud a lot, as did the entire audience. It's over the top at times, but I didn't mind because I was too busy laughing. The cast is great too. Finally - a worthy comedy!!! Thank you, Farrelly brothers!-- RATING --Cheeky & Fresh Movie Reviews
Trailer Tuesdays!
RYAN: Lots of new movies to discuss this Trailer Tuesdays! Apparently, March is gonna show us a lot of new releases. Let's start with our most anticipated flick, The Adjustment Bureau.CAROLINE: I want to be excited for this movie, and I am... but I can't help but remember it was supposed to come out last fall and got bumped to now. Never a good sign.RYAN: But it looks waymazing! We love Emily Blunt and we know Matt Damon can serve up some good action. I'm thinking it could be the best movie of the year so far. Or maybe I'm just hoping so...CAROLINE: I'm hoping so too, but will proceed with caution. The trailer is great though; it's got overtones of Inception. The premise is cool too - it's got a sci-fi vibe and it's based on a Philip K. Dick story.RYAN: That is so up my alley! And I'm interested to see what kind of chemistry Matt D. has with John Krasinski's wife.CAROLINE: Emily Blunt had to do some kind of ballet training for this role, though not nearly to the extremes of Natalie Portman in Black Swan. We'll see how her dancing stacks up. Watch the trailer here: RYAN: Next up is Beastly, which is based on the story of Beauty and the Beast. I'm so psyched for all the upcoming live action fairy tale movies like this one and Red Riding Hood. Bring 'em on! CAROLINE: This just seems like such a teenybopper movie though. I can't get that jazzed for it.RYAN: I love the premise, but I just worry the casting is really cheesy. Mary-Kate Olsen, Vanessa "High School Musical girl" Hudgens and of course the new It Boy, Alex Pettyfer, who we just saw in I Am Number Four. CAROLINE: Exactly my point. I don't think you and I are the target demo for this movie. I'll see it for free, but other than that, no thank you. Check out the trailer here: RYAN: There's also a new animated family film, Rango, coming to theaters this weekend. This one features the voice talents of Johnny Depp along with Isla Fisher, lil' Abigail Breslin and Timothy Olyphant.CAROLINE: I've already seen my kids' movie for the quarter. Count me out for this one.RYAN: It's got a great cast and great looking animation. I think it looks like a fun, albeit cutesy, Western. I could be down for this kind of Western.CAROLINE: I'm just worried that Johnny Depp is going to be making primarily kids' movies from here on out. That seems to be his M.O. lately and it doesn't sit well with me.RYAN: Don't worry, honey. He'll keep making oh-so-great movies like The Tourist in his free time, just for you.CAROLINE: Please. Spare me. Check out the Rango trailer here: RYAN: Lastly, we've got Take Me Home Tonight, an '80s comedy starring Topher Grace. CAROLINE: This movie looks fun and cute, though certainly not great. I also read it was filmed in 2007! The fact that it's coming out 4 years later is not a good sign.RYAN: It looks like such a broad comedy. You can tell from the trailer it's a rental at best. But I do like Anna Faris!CAROLINE: Yeah, the cast definitely has some appeal. This is another one I'd see for free but wouldn't pay $13 for.RYAN: You and me both. Though I'm sure the soundtrack is awesome. Watch the trailer here: Cheeky & Fresh Movie Reviews
?Hereafter? Pulled from Japan After Tsunami Devastation
After an earthquake and tsunami devastated Japan earlier this month, Warner Bros. has pulled the Clint Eastwood film . Starring Matt Damon, the film opens with a reenactment of the 2004 tsunami that hit the Indian Ocean in 2004. The film arrived in Japanese theaters in February and was slated to run until the end [...]
The Casting Tidbits: John Hawkes, Christina Hendricks & Will Forte
Well, I wouldn't argue that it wasn't a no-holds-barred, adrenaline-fueled thrill ride. But there is no way you can perpetrate that amount of carnage and Casting Tidbits and not incur a considerable amount of paperwork. First up, Variety reports John Hawkes (Winter's Bone) will star in the indie drama Surrogate. Based on the life of poet and journalist Mark O'Brien, the story follows the man as he decides to explore his sexuality after spending most of his life with an iron lung after struggling with polio. He hires a sex surrogate and soon develops a relationship that changes both of their lives. Yep, sounds like your standard indie drama to me.
Next, Deadline reports Christina Hendricks, the voluptuous star of "Mad Men" has signed on to star in Seconds of Pleasure. The actress joins Brendan Fraser, Julia Stiles, Matt Dillon and Kristen Scott Thomas in a story that ...
Next, Deadline reports Christina Hendricks, the voluptuous star of "Mad Men" has signed on to star in Seconds of Pleasure. The actress joins Brendan Fraser, Julia Stiles, Matt Dillon and Kristen Scott Thomas in a story that ...
DAILIES: Darren Aronofsky Leaves 'The Wolverine' And An 'American Reunion' Is On The Way
Wolverine has a remarkably gifted healing factor, but can "The Wolverine" recover from its latest wound?
Splash Page reports that Darren Aronofsky is parting ways with the film due to a lengthy production schedule that would have kept him out of the United States for nearly a year. Fox and leading man Hugh Jackman have pledged [...]
Splash Page reports that Darren Aronofsky is parting ways with the film due to a lengthy production schedule that would have kept him out of the United States for nearly a year. Fox and leading man Hugh Jackman have pledged [...]
TAKE ME HOME TONIGHT
RYAN: I was primarily interested in seeing this movie because of Anna Faris. She's so cute and funny.CAROLINE: I missed the screening for this one and while I enjoy her too, I thought the bigger draw would be all the 80's stuff.RYAN: Yes, the music, the costumes, the hair was all very funny to remember the 80's.CAROLINE: Was it a fun movie, overall?RYAN: A little bit. It's weird because it's very much a John Hughes movie, in a way, or at ripping off from or paying homage to his work. But not in the refreshing way Easy A did last year.CAROLINE: So it's not that good.RYAN: No. It's pretty lame. It has some cute moments and the soundtrack is great but it's still lame. Basically, they tried to make an 80's movie for today's audience and I don't think it worked.CAROLINE: Not even for those of us who remember the 80's apparently...RYAN: Right. And Anna was completely underused.CAROLINE: That's too bad. Remember this movie was also made four years ago.RYAN: That's always really bad sign... when they can't figure out when or how to distribute a film... not good.CAROLINE: How's Topher Grace and the rest of the cast?RYAN: He's fine, average. And then there's the hot Aussie girl, Teresa Palmer, who was just in I Am Number Four and that fat actor Dan Fogler.CAROLINE: Nice.RYAN: Shouldn't he be cast sometime as the brother of either Zach Galifianakis or Jonah Hill?CAROLINE: Yes.-- BOTTOM LINE --RYAN: Definitely not worth the cash or the time to check it out. Some very brief comedic moments, and a bit of nostalgia but just not that entertaining.-- RATING --Cheeky & Fresh Movie Reviews
'Jackass' Director Jeff Tremaine Ready to Plot 'Revenge of the Jocks'
Through comedies like Revenge of the Nerds, the pocket-protected crew has come out on top many times. But now a new project from Jackass franchise director Jeff Tremaine is going to give the big men on campus their time in the spotlight. THR reports the director will be at the helm of Revenge of the Jocks, a comedy from I Heart Huckabees screenwriter Jeff Baena that follows three men, once popular high school jocks, with their glory days behind them. The trio find themselves forced to adapt to a world run by the geek and nerd crowd, some of whom are only too eager to unleash their tormenting on the new underdog class.
Apparently the Warner Bros. purchased script was originally written by Rami and Etan Cohen (the latter of the writers was responsible for Tropic Thunder), and simply turns the Revenge of the Nerds story on its head. ...
Apparently the Warner Bros. purchased script was originally written by Rami and Etan Cohen (the latter of the writers was responsible for Tropic Thunder), and simply turns the Revenge of the Nerds story on its head. ...
HALL PASS
CAROLINE: Hall Pass is the new comedy from the Farrelly brothers starring Owen Wilson, SNL's Jason Sudeikis, Christina Applegate and Jenna Fischer, aka Pam from The Office. RYAN: I was so hoping to attend this screening with you, but due to my bronchitis, I could not. Color me bummed. How was it?CAROLINE: I'm not sure what you would have thought of it, but I thought it was freaking hilarious. I LOL'ed throughout. It's highly quotable too.RYAN: Wow, really?? A comedy that's actually funny? We haven't seen one of those in ages!CAROLINE: Believe me, I'm as surprised as you are, though there's really no reason to be. The Farrelly brothers have turned out consistently funny movies over the years, including There's Something About Mary and The Heartbreak Kid. RYAN: Does this one include their usual gross-out humor though? I have a low threshold for that.CAROLINE: So do I, but in this movie it totally works. Yes, there are poop jokes, and I know that usually disappoints us; but this movie is a totally adult, totally rated R raunch fest, so a little poop didn't bother me. One scene was juvenile and annoying, but the rest was hilarious. And there's full frontal male nudity!RYAN: Male nudity?! That's something you don't see every day.CAROLINE: I know, right? The audience was dying. There are so many funny moments. It's totally crass, but the Farrelly brothers are known for that, and it's not dumbed down for a PG-13 audience, which I really appreciated. I'm sure the humor isn't for everyone, but I found it laugh-out-loud funny.RYAN: I'm sure I would have too. How's my girl Christina Applegate?CAROLINE: She's good. All of the characters and scenarios are totally relatable for people our age. The scenarios are totally realistic while still being zany and fun. It's definitely a comedy, but it addresses marriage and fidelity and parenting and all that jazz in a serious way. Joy Behar has a little cameo, as does Richard Jenkins, whom I adore.RYAN: What about Owen Wilson? You usually hate him.CAROLINE: I find him alarmingly unattractive, but he didn't bother me as much in this movie. His character is a little dorky, which suits him. I'm tired of him playing the supposed hot stud all the time. He actually has a moment at the end that made me mist up a little.RYAN: Wow! Who would have thought?-- BOTTOM LINE --CAROLINE: This is a thoroughly enjoyable and highly entertaining comedy for those who don't mind a little raunch. I laughed out loud a lot, as did the entire audience. It's over the top at times, but I didn't mind because I was too busy laughing. The cast is great too. Finally - a worthy comedy!!! Thank you, Farrelly brothers!-- RATING --Cheeky & Fresh Movie Reviews
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Trailer Tuesdays!
CAROLINE: There are a bazillion movies coming out this, but I only care about one of them - Just Go With It, which stars Jenny Ani and Adam Sandler.RYAN: This is the Valentine's Day rom com offering for 2011, and I'm excited for it too. Though I'm not sure why Adam Sandler thinks he can be a romantic leading man. CAROLINE: He's no hottie, but I've enjoyed him in the past as Drew Barrymore's love interest in various movies so I'll take it. Let's just hope this is better than last year's Grown Ups. RYAN: Oh dear God, there's no way it can't be. This movie has a cute, original yet typically-rom-com-silly premise. I'm sure something like this could happen but I doubt in real life it pans out as in this movie. Who's the blond chick?CAROLINE: Brooklyn Decker, who's a model and also Andy Roddick's wife. He's a tennis player.RYAN: Thank you for clarifying that. This movie better be funny. We're desperate for a good rom com! Check out the trailer here: RYAN: Next up is the animated Disney movie, Gnomeo & Juliet in 3D, which I know you're just dying to see.CAROLINE: Yeah, not so much, though the cast of voices is good: Emily Blunt, James McAvoy, Michael Caine, Patrick Stewart and even Ozzy Osbourne. And it somewhat randomly features the music of Elton John.RYAN: Interesting. As you can imagine, I think it looks really cute. I love that it's based on Shakespeare and I love James McAvoy and Emily Blunt. Plus the animation looks fab. CAROLINE: It's not the worst animated trailer I've seen, but let's just say it's low on my list of priorities.RYAN: Well, I'm all over this one. I think it looks like a good one that even you could enjoy. Watch the trailer here: CAROLINE: And there's another one for the kids, and by that I mean 'tweens - the Justin Bieber movie. Which, let's be honest, isn't really a movie as much as a concert film.RYAN: It's called Justin Bieber: Never Say Never, in 3D no less, and I don't think you could pay me to see it. I suffered through the Jonas Brothers movie a couple years ago; that was enough.CAROLINE: It's hard for me to take "movies" like this seriously, though I suppose if I were 12 I'd be dying to see it. But in my adulthood, I find the Bieber to be obnoxious and offensive.RYAN: I don't like his music and I don't love concert films to begin with. I did like Spice World back in the day though. CAROLINE: I think the audience for this movie knows who it is. Check out the trailer here: RYAN: Finally, there's The Eagle starring one very buff Channing Tatum along with Jamie Bell, whom we love.CAROLINE: This is a total boy movie. Some Roman war epic. No, thank you! But yes, I do love Jamie Bell.RYAN: It has casting going for it but not much else. I love Mark Strong and Denis O'Hare too, but this trailer looks awful! CAROLINE: Yeah, I'm kind of putting it in the 'you couldn't pay me to see it' category.RYAN: I don't know if I'd go that far, but I'm not too interested. I hope it focuses more story than epic fighting. CAROLINE: I hope I never ever have to see it. Watch the trailer here: Cheeky & Fresh Movie Reviews
Take Me Home Tonight
There can be no denying that life gets progressively worse once you graduate from college. And, if you didn’t go to college, then I guess life gets progressively worse after high school. It has nothing to do with “peaking” or losing social relevance so much as it has to do with losing that constant feeling [...]
Bradley Cooper: ?A Team 2? Won?t Be Made
Actor Bradley Cooper (The Hangover) says there are no plans to bring a ‘A-Team 2‘ to theaters and despite his love for the 2010 remake of the hit ’80s TV series, The A-Team just wasn’t the hit at the box office 20th Century Fox was hoping for. “…Unfortunately, outside of you, a few of your [...]
Trailer Tuesdays!
RYAN: I'm excited about this week's new movies. All three of them look like they have some potential, which is more than I can say for other movies lately. Let's start with my most anticipated, Rid Riding Hood. I'm dying to see it!CAROLINE: I'm intrigued by this one too, largely because of Amanda Seyfried. RYAN: I love her, but don't forget Sirius Black is in it too!CAROLINE: That would be Gary Oldman for those of you over the age 14. It's also directed by Catherine Hardwicke, who did the first Twilight movie.RYAN: And it features a werewolf, so that shouldn't be too much of a stretch for her.CAROLINE: Yeah, I think they've played with the story a little bit and made it a little more grown up. Red Riding Hood is choosing between two men or something like that. I don't know if Grandmother's house is involved anymore, but we'll see. Check out the trailer here: RYAN: There's also a new version of Jane Eyre in town, and it looks like it could be haunting and cool. It's a new twist on a classic.CAROLINE: This book has been made into a movie a million times, so I'm not exactly sure why we need another one. Having said that, I adore the book, so I'd be interested to see it.RYAN: I love Mia Wasikowska, who had a big 2010 with roles in Alice in Wonderland and The Kids Are All Right. It's also got Dame Judi Dench and Jamie Bell.CAROLINE: Great cast so far. Michael Fassbender plays Rochester, and he's supposed to be swoonworthy, though I didn't really get that from the trailer.RYAN: Yeah, he doesn't really do it for me either. This is sure to be well made and very British, but I hope they capture the right amount of creepy too. Watch the trailer here: CAROLINE: Finally, there's a movie for the menfolk this weekend, Battle: Los Angeles, which stars Aaron Eckhart.RYAN: He definitely gives this movie some legitimacy. It's also got Michelle Rodriguez from Lost, and Bridget Moynahan. It looks cool, but a bit war/boy movie for my tastes.CAROLINE: It's a total boy movie, so I'm surprised that I'm actually interested. The trailer grabbed me from the first time I saw it. It looks like a real edge-of-your-seat type flick.RYAN: But you hate sci-fi and war movies! I would think this movie couldn't be less up your alley if it tried.CAROLINE: I know, right? Since when do I care about aliens? But the trailer is so exciting that I got hooked and now I really want to see it. And isn't that the job of a good trailer?RYAN: Indeed it is. I'll look forward to seeing this one with you then. Check out the trailer here: Cheeky & Fresh Movie Reviews
Disney: ?Mars Needs Moms? Didn?t Sink ?Yellow Submarine?
Beatle-maniacs looking forward to the much discussed redo of the band’s classic film Yellow Submarine may need a shoulder to cry on. Deadline is reporting that mysterious insiders within Disney have confirmed that the Mouse House has dropped plans to make a stop-motion version of the film. Robert Zemeckis (Back to the Future, Forrest Gump) [...]
The Roommate Does Not Satiate
“I was never your friend.” With this final line, so concludes The Roommate, a surprisingly believable tale of getting a schizophrenic roommate (the college in question is in Los Angeles, that’s why I insist it’s believable. You have no idea what kind of fucked up shit goes on there until you’ve lived it). The main [...]
'Bridesmaids' Director Paul Feig Developing Comedy for Jon Hamm
Yes, he plays suave, debonair and troubled ad executive Don Draper on "Mad Men," and his appearances in films such as The Town and The Day the Earth Stood Still have all been quite dramatic, but you may not know that actor Jon Hamm really has quite a penchant and gift for comedy. His comedic work on the big screen won't be seen until Bridesmaids (watch the trailer here) hits theaters on May 13th, but the film's director Paul Feig (who also worked on "Freaks and Geeks with Judd Apatow) is already working on a new comedy being crafted specifically for Hamm. He says, "I think he?s so funny. He?s like Cary Grant to me."
Sadly, 24 Frames had no details on the project, but just the concept of Jon Hamm leading a comedy has me absolutely enthralled. If you're one of those film lovers who hasn't bothered to tap ...
Sadly, 24 Frames had no details on the project, but just the concept of Jon Hamm leading a comedy has me absolutely enthralled. If you're one of those film lovers who hasn't bothered to tap ...
Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake Together No More
How many times have we heard the rumor that Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel are breaking up? Well today is different because it is already official and both camps confirmed. Addressing the media speculation regarding Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake?s relationship, we are confirming that they mutually have decided to part ways. The two remain [...]
Megan Fox Joining Judd Apatow's 'Knocked Up' Spinoff, But As Who?
Judd Apatow's "Knocked Up" spinoff just got a whole lot foxier.
The currently untitled comedy, which sees Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann reprising their roles as dysfunctional married duo Pete and Debbie from "Knocked Up," has added its first additional cast member in the form of Megan Fox. The "Transformers" actress is in negotiations to star [...]
The currently untitled comedy, which sees Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann reprising their roles as dysfunctional married duo Pete and Debbie from "Knocked Up," has added its first additional cast member in the form of Megan Fox. The "Transformers" actress is in negotiations to star [...]
GNOMEO & JULIET
RYAN: The new animated 3D movie Gnomeo & Juliet opens today, and though I can already predict what you thought of it, I actually liked it a lot.CAROLINE: I actually didn't hate it. I was prepared to though, and I went in with a baditude as I always do with kids' movies. This movie is OK as animated films go, but I much prefer ones with humans as opposed to talking animals, or as in this case, lawn ornaments.RYAN: At least they're lawn ornaments in the shape of gnomes, which are sort of human. And the animation was so good that you could actually see paint chips on them.CAROLINE: I did notice that, and I was very impressed. The gnomes are very realistic looking, which we'd expect from a Disney movie, but the 3D wasn't much to speak of.RYAN: I think this movie has two great things going for it. One is the script, which is obviously inspired by Romeo & Juliet. Any retelling of Shakespeare, if done well, is good, and there were a lot of cute jokes and sub-plots that I enjoyed. Secondly, the music was fantastic! It's all Elton John, and you can't go wrong there.CAROLINE: I wholeheartedly agree on both points. These things made the movie tolerable for me. Parents who are forced to see this movie will find humor in the Shakespearean references, of which there are many. It's fun to hunt for them; some are very obvious but some are subtle. And of course, who doesn't want to rock out to Elton John during a movie? RYAN: There are some funny pop cultural references to him and his crazy costumes, which made me laugh. And I liked the secondary characters too. Ultimately, what makes this movie work though is the length. It's a perfect 90 minutes.CAROLINE: Honey, not even! It's barely 85 minutes, so if you don't count the credits, you're outta there in a hour and 20 minutes. You know I loved that the most.RYAN: Well, I loved that there are two actors from the Harry Potter franchise doing voices in this, Maggie Smith and Julie Walters.CAROLINE: The lead roles are voiced by James McAvoy and Emily Blunt, but there are some great supporting roles voiced by Jason Statham and none other than Ozzy Osbourne, which was hilarious. I noticed Michael Caine in there too.RYAN: And a great cameo from Dolly Parton!-- BOTTOM LINE --RYAN: I really liked this movie. Like the best family films, it's enjoyable for all ages. It's very well done and cute, and there's even a tear-jerking moment. It didn't make me cry, but if I had a heart, it would have.CAROLINE: I will concede that adults can enjoy this movie, largely because of the Elton John music and funny Shakespeare references. It feels like a conscious effort was made to make this movie tolerable for parents, which I appreciate as an adult. I can't say I loved it, but I also didn't sleep through it, which is progress for me in an animated movie.-- RATING --Cheeky & Fresh Movie Reviews
Disney: ?Mars Needs Moms? Didn?t Sink ?Yellow Submarine?
Beatle-maniacs looking forward to the much discussed redo of the band’s classic film Yellow Submarine may need a shoulder to cry on. Deadline is reporting that mysterious insiders within Disney have confirmed that the Mouse House has dropped plans to make a stop-motion version of the film. Robert Zemeckis (Back to the Future, Forrest Gump) [...]
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Trailer Tuesdays!
RYAN: There are three new movies coming out this week, and I want to see all of them! Let's start with Limitless, starring one very hot Bradley Cooper. I love him!CAROLINE: Honey, we all do; take a number. I was intrigued by this trailer the very first time I saw it, and I think Bradley was a big part of the reason. We've loved him since he was Will Tippin on Alias. But the premise is interesting too.RYAN: Yeah, it looks really cool. It's the kind of sci-fi premise that makes you think, "Wow! I wish we could actually do that."CAROLINE: I'm not sure about that. Basically, he takes a pill that lets you use 100% of your brain capacity, and it turns his whole life around. But of course, there are repercussions. And it co-stars Bobby De Niro.RYAN: Sign me up for this one! Check out the trailer here: CAROLINE: Next up is The Lincoln Lawyer, starring Matthew McConaughey.RYAN: Where has he been hiding?CAROLINE: I know, right? He hasn't been in anything since the painfully mediocre Ghosts of Girlfriends Past two years ago.RYAN: I like him though, and I loved him last time he played a lawyer. I just hope the script is good and keeps us guessing. CAROLINE: Yeah, I can't really get a read on this trailer. It looks all right, but I'm not as enamored of Matthew McM these days as I used to be.RYAN: Well, it co-stars Marisa Tomei, Ryan Phillippe, William H. Macy and some other good peeps, so that should keep it interesting.CAROLINE: Yeah, the story looks pretty good. Kind of straight up murder mystery; but surely there will be a twist or two. Watch the trailer here: RYAN: Lastly, we have the comedy, Paul, which looks cute. I'm so glad to see E.T. is working again.CAROLINE: When I first heard about this movie, I was like, "Wha???" But now knowing the cast and the people behind it, I'm totally on board.RYAN: It stars the guys who were in Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, but it's also got several other people we love - Bill Hader, Kristen Wiig, Jane Lynch and Jason Bateman to name a few.CAROLINE: I can't wait for this! I hope it's smart-funny and not dumb-funny, but knowing who's behind it gives me faith. It's got a good director too. I have high hopes. RYAN: Paul the alien is voiced by Seth Rogen. It's always better when we don't have to see his face, let's be honest.CAROLINE: Ouch! But now that he's put a lot of the weight back on, I'd have to agree. Check out the trailer here: Cheeky & Fresh Movie Reviews
No Aspersions to Cast on Barney?s Version
Paul Giamatti typically has a strong sense of picking roles that suit his…look. These roles rarely seem to include a romantic leading man, and yet, Giamatti has managed to find his most endearing, and even sexually appealing, character to date in Richard J. Lewis’ Barney’s Version, based on the novel by Mordecai Richler (why yes, [...]
The Roommate Does Not Satiate
“I was never your friend.” With this final line, so concludes The Roommate, a surprisingly believable tale of getting a schizophrenic roommate (the college in question is in Los Angeles, that’s why I insist it’s believable. You have no idea what kind of fucked up shit goes on there until you’ve lived it). The main [...]
Sam Worthington Set to Star in Drift
According to Variety, Sam Worthington will star in Drift. The film is set in the surfing world and will be financed by Screen Australia. Drift will feature Australian talent both behind and in front of the camera, noting that Sam Worthington will be the star in front of the camera and Morgon O'Heill and Ben Nott will be taking the reigns behind the camera. Screen Australia's Fiona Cameron told Variety, "The unique combination of surfing and performance expertise gives Drift the potential to be the first character-driven action movie set in the surfing world since Kathryn Bigelow's Point Break."
Megan Fox Joins Paul Rudd & Leslie Mann for Judd Apatow's Next
Back in January we heard that Leslie Mann and Paul Rudd would reprise their married characters from Knocked Up for a spin-off film from director Judd Apatow. Though the film still doesn't have a title, the project is slated to be released on June 1st, 2012, and has a new cast member coming on board the comedy. THR reports Megan Fox (Transformers, Jennifer's Body) is negotiating to join the film, but her role is being kept under wraps. As for the plot, well that's not known at this time either, but Apatow has mentioned that the film will follow Rudd and Mann's characters' marriage five years after the events in Knocked Up.
Since it's actually been five years since Knocked Up hit theaters, the real-time passing between films pretty much guarantees that Apatow's kids will still be around (they played Rudd and Mann's kids in the 2007 film as well). As ...
Since it's actually been five years since Knocked Up hit theaters, the real-time passing between films pretty much guarantees that Apatow's kids will still be around (they played Rudd and Mann's kids in the 2007 film as well). As ...
No Aspersions to Cast on Barney?s Version
Paul Giamatti typically has a strong sense of picking roles that suit his…look. These roles rarely seem to include a romantic leading man, and yet, Giamatti has managed to find his most endearing, and even sexually appealing, character to date in Richard J. Lewis’ Barney’s Version, based on the novel by Mordecai Richler (why yes, [...]
Alex Pettyfer and Josh Hutcherson Both Up for 'The Hunger Games'
We've just heard that Jennifer Lawrence is the likely candidate to take on the lead role in the anticipated adaptation of The Hunger Games, but fans are still eager to hear who will play the lead male love interest role of Peeta. Well, a couple of names have surfaced over the past week with Josh Hutcherson (The Kids Are All Right) and Alex Pettyfer (I Am Number Four) have already had meetings about taking the role, but it sounds like there's likely just as many names in contention as there were for the role of Katniss Everdeen. Pettyfer hasn't read a script, but has met with producers, while Hutcherson may be in deeper.
Pettyfer recently confirmed to Access Hollywood that he is indeed in the running to play Peeta saying, "Yes, but undecided yet, still [waiting] to see a script.? However, Hutcherson told EW that he's already read an earlier version ...
Pettyfer recently confirmed to Access Hollywood that he is indeed in the running to play Peeta saying, "Yes, but undecided yet, still [waiting] to see a script.? However, Hutcherson told EW that he's already read an earlier version ...
Shawn Levy's 'Real Steel' Kicks Off World Robot Boxing League Viral
Its been rather quiet on the Real Steel front since the teaser trailer for the Shawn Levy-directed, Hugh Jackman-starring action movie about giant rock 'em sock 'em-like boxing robots debuted in December. But that's about to change, as it looks like Disney is kicking off some viral marketing. I've been receiving emails from people who picked up printed remote control units handed out at the PAX East gaming convention in Boston. The controllers link to the site WRB.com, home of the World Robot Boxing League, essentially the WWE of Real Steel. The site has since been updated and is asking for codes to be input on a controller.
Click to visit the site below and sign up for the WRB as well, which reminds me a bit of the Flynn Lives viral.
I've been watching the site since it came online, as Hero Complex did a write-up about this yesterday too, and ...
Click to visit the site below and sign up for the WRB as well, which reminds me a bit of the Flynn Lives viral.
I've been watching the site since it came online, as Hero Complex did a write-up about this yesterday too, and ...
Disney: ?Mars Needs Moms? Didn?t Sink ?Yellow Submarine?
Beatle-maniacs looking forward to the much discussed redo of the band’s classic film Yellow Submarine may need a shoulder to cry on. Deadline is reporting that mysterious insiders within Disney have confirmed that the Mouse House has dropped plans to make a stop-motion version of the film. Robert Zemeckis (Back to the Future, Forrest Gump) [...]
HALL PASS
CAROLINE: Hall Pass is the new comedy from the Farrelly brothers starring Owen Wilson, SNL's Jason Sudeikis, Christina Applegate and Jenna Fischer, aka Pam from The Office. RYAN: I was so hoping to attend this screening with you, but due to my bronchitis, I could not. Color me bummed. How was it?CAROLINE: I'm not sure what you would have thought of it, but I thought it was freaking hilarious. I LOL'ed throughout. It's highly quotable too.RYAN: Wow, really?? A comedy that's actually funny? We haven't seen one of those in ages!CAROLINE: Believe me, I'm as surprised as you are, though there's really no reason to be. The Farrelly brothers have turned out consistently funny movies over the years, including There's Something About Mary and The Heartbreak Kid. RYAN: Does this one include their usual gross-out humor though? I have a low threshold for that.CAROLINE: So do I, but in this movie it totally works. Yes, there are poop jokes, and I know that usually disappoints us; but this movie is a totally adult, totally rated R raunch fest, so a little poop didn't bother me. One scene was juvenile and annoying, but the rest was hilarious. And there's full frontal male nudity!RYAN: Male nudity?! That's something you don't see every day.CAROLINE: I know, right? The audience was dying. There are so many funny moments. It's totally crass, but the Farrelly brothers are known for that, and it's not dumbed down for a PG-13 audience, which I really appreciated. I'm sure the humor isn't for everyone, but I found it laugh-out-loud funny.RYAN: I'm sure I would have too. How's my girl Christina Applegate?CAROLINE: She's good. All of the characters and scenarios are totally relatable for people our age. The scenarios are totally realistic while still being zany and fun. It's definitely a comedy, but it addresses marriage and fidelity and parenting and all that jazz in a serious way. Joy Behar has a little cameo, as does Richard Jenkins, whom I adore.RYAN: What about Owen Wilson? You usually hate him.CAROLINE: I find him alarmingly unattractive, but he didn't bother me as much in this movie. His character is a little dorky, which suits him. I'm tired of him playing the supposed hot stud all the time. He actually has a moment at the end that made me mist up a little.RYAN: Wow! Who would have thought?-- BOTTOM LINE --CAROLINE: This is a thoroughly enjoyable and highly entertaining comedy for those who don't mind a little raunch. I laughed out loud a lot, as did the entire audience. It's over the top at times, but I didn't mind because I was too busy laughing. The cast is great too. Finally - a worthy comedy!!! Thank you, Farrelly brothers!-- RATING --Cheeky & Fresh Movie Reviews
Christopher Nolan on ?Inception 2?: ?You Never Know?
If you’re thinking that Inception 2 makes sense..you’re not the only one. In fact, you’re in good company because director Christopher Nolan says a follow-up to the 2010 smash hit, Inception, has “potential.” Nolan, who also wrote the screenplay for the Leonardo DiCaprio and Ellen Page mind-bender, says that he has always “liked the potential [...]
Down the ?Rabbit Hole?
If you’re one of those people who wonders why “sad” movies get made, why anyone would possibly want to sit in a darkened movie theater with a handful of strangers and grow increasingly misty-eyed as the plot unfolds, then�Rabbit Hole is most definitely not the film for you. If, however, you can appreciate the ability [...]
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