Sunday, November 27, 2011

The Artist's Masterpiece

The Verdict
GO SEE!

REVIEW:

If there's a movie that is deserving of an Oscar in every category (from Best Picture to Costume Design) come 2012, it is Michel Hazanavicius' silent masterpiece The Artist.
The Artist is beautifully rare- not only because it's a silent, intertitle filled black and white film amidst the film age of sound, color and special effects- but because of the innocence of the romance within- which I haven't seen in a movie since 1997's Titanic- and because of the magnificent acting of French stars the equally excellent Jean Dujardin (as Geroge Valentin) and lovable Berenice Bejo (as Peppy Miller)- that puts most acclaimed actors and actresses to shame.
To watch The Artist is like taking an amazing journey back into the glamour of old Hollywood and actually being there. The Artist is simply delightful from start to end guaranteed to keep a silly smile on your face after the movie is over. It has love, heartbreak, comedy, action and even dance (a la Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers).
Durjardin (who looks very Clark Gable-ish) stars as a 1920's self-absorbed, charming Charlie Chaplin-esque silent movie star George Valentin whose fame number is up when talkies (movies with spoken dialogue) start making a splash. He meets by a happy accident at an autograph signing, Bejo's Peppy Miller, an adorable charismatic Betty Boop-ish extra who rises quickly to become a sought after lovable star and eventually becomes a bigger star than him. The two have such a wonderful, natural chemistry together. To watch them fall in love with each other without any words is so lovely. Penelope Ann Miller (Carlito's Way) is great as his wife turned ex-wife, who constantly glares at him and doodles mustaches and black eyes all over George's pictures in their home. Surprisingly cast John Goodman (t.v. show Roseanne) is good as a cutthroat big movie head.
It is a treat just seeing all the actors and actresses act with just facial expressions and body language and because they all are so great at it- knowing exactly what they are trying to convey. 
The wonderful, sweeping score (composed by Ludovic Bource) is another treat, setting the tone of scenes and often "speaking" for a character.
The ending may just be the most delightful part of the entire film- *SPOILER* when it turns wonderfully into a talkie.*
It truly is fitting that a French director had the guts to make a silent film today, after all- the founding fathers of film are the French Lumiere Brothers. 
I don't foresee a reemergence of silent films (although how cool and wonderful would that be?) but I do expect The Artist to become a film classic.
Every film lover needs to see this masterpiece of an ode to past cinema.
Let The Artist's George and Peppy, the silence, the music, the black and white- amaze, charm and delight you!




Trailer:



*Fun Film Facts*

~The original title of the film was, Beauty Spot (in reference to the beauty spot George draws on Peppy to make her stand out from the other actresses).
~Recreations of 1920's film cameras were made and used in certain of the film's frames.






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Wednesday, November 23, 2011

New Movies Playing!


The Artist
What's It About?
A silent movie star actor during the 1920's whose career is threatened by the emergence of talkies - while a young woman rises from an extra to a star because of them.

Trailer:


PREDICTION:
"The Artist looks just amazing! The fact that it's a B&W silent movie in 2011's film era is brilliant, wonderful and refreshing! It looks like a classic, magical and beautiful movie!"




A Dangerous Method
What's It About?
Great minds Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud both who become romantically involved with the same patient.
 
Trailer:

PREDICTION:
"It looks intriguing! Michael Fassbender, chameleon of roles and badass Viggo Mortensen are almost unrecognizable mustached & bearded up! Keira Knightley- the poster girl for period films it seems- looks right at home in her role."





My Week With Marilyn
What's It About?
Marilyn Monroe's brief one week romance with director Colin Clark.
 
Trailer:


PREDICTION:
"The most interesting will be seeing if the usually down-to-earth, semi bland Michelle Williams can pull of sexy Marilyn Monroe- and surprisingly she looks like she will!"






The Muppets
What's It About?
The Muppets reunite for The Greatest Muppet Telethon Ever.
 
Trailer:


PREDICTION:
  "A movie starring the Muppets looks unsurprisingly pretty fun and adorable!"





Arthur Christmas
What's It About?
Santa's son takes on the mission of delivering toys to the one child who was missed.
 
Trailer:

PREDICTION:
"It looks some cutesy- especially cutesy if you're under 13."



 
Hugo
What's It About?
A young boy goes on a journey to unlock a secret his father left.
 
Trailer:


PREDICTION:
"It looks pretty most ho-hum, surprisingly coming from
Martin Scorsese."





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Monday, November 21, 2011

Best New Movie Poster of the Week

(Official movie poster for upcoming movie  
The Artist.)
 
WHY THIS POSTER IS GREAT!:


*The two characters in black & white a la how the film is shot.

*The entire look of the poster screams- homage to classic movie posters.






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Wednesday, November 16, 2011

New Movies Playing!


The Twilight Saga:
Breaking Dawn- Part 1
What's It About?
The continuation of the Twilight series in which human Bella and vampire Edward marry, she becomes pregnant, gives birth to a half human half vampire child and her wish is finally granted: she is turned into a vampire.
 
Trailer:

PREDICTION:
"Breaking Dawn looks like the best movie of the year- if you're a Twihard (die-hard Twilight fan)! There's so many anticipated scenes: the wedding scene, the honeymoon (especially!!!) the birth and Bella's turning! 2008's Twilight was wonderful, '09's New Moon was so-so, '10's Eclipse was good but Break Dawn will probably top the cake! Next year's Part 2 can't come fast enough for Twihards!"



*


Another Happy Day
What's It About?
A woman must deal with her dysfunctional family at her estranged son's wedding.
 
Trailer:


PREDICTION:
"It looks pretty funny- films about dysfunctional families are always fun to watch."



*


The Lie
What's It About?
A ex happy artist turned unhappy 9-5er- spontaneously lies one day at work- that his child died- to get a break to reaccess his ambitions.

 
Trailer:



PREDICTION:
"It looks pretty good- darkly funny with it's outrageous plot."



*
 
Happy Feet 2
What's It About?
The sequel to Happy Feet, about dancing penguins.
 
Trailer:



PREDICTION:
"It looks cute enough- but only if you loved 2006's Happy Feet or penguins."



*



The Descendants
What's It About?
After one of his daughter's tell their father her mother was cheating on him- he is determined to find out who his deceased wife's lover's was.

Trailer:


PREDICTION:
"Nothing particularly special looking- although it should be interesting to watch playboy George Clooney play father to two daughters."




*


Tomboy
What's It About?
A young girl new to a town, pretends she is a boy.
 
Trailer:


PREDICTION:
"It looks very interesting with its controversial, subdued Boys Don't Cry, plot."
 







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Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Best New Movie Poster of the Week

(Official movie poster for upcoming movie  
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn- Part 1.)
 
WHY THIS POSTER IS GREAT!:


*Bella (Kristen Stewart) and Edward's (Robert Pattinson) romantic embrace, their highlighted wedding bands and the tiny glimpse of their honeymoon destination in the background.





(Alternative movie poster for upcoming movie  
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn- Part 1.)

 
WHY THIS POSTER IS GREAT!:


*The breaking of dawn sky background that correlates to the film's title.





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Wednesday, November 9, 2011

New Movies Playing!


J. Edgar
What's It About?
Biopic of FBI Founder, J. Edgar Hoover.
 
Trailer:

PREDICTION:
"It looks solidly good only because the wonderful Leonardo DiCaprio is taking on such a controversial figure in history and he looks like he will be able to pull it off. It's going to be great watching "Mr. Romantic/Titanic" play such a intimidating character."





 Melancholia
What's It About?
A planet called Melancholia heads towards Earth during a wedding party.
 
Trailer:

PREDICTION:
"This looks exceptionally amazing for the cinematography alone. The plot is great that it doesn't the same cliche chaotic plot most end-of-the-world films have- this is the first that looks beautiful and tranquil."





Immortals
What's It About?
The Greek warrior Theseus fights against an evil king.
 
Trailer:

PREDICTION:
"It looks very eye-popping-ly cool! It has the look and feel of 2006's 300 (both have the same producers) but a little more cooler! The only thing that isn't impressive however about it, is the cast- it's not strong enough."
 




11-11-11
What's It About?
After an author starts to notice the number 11 everywhere, he discovers the date 11-11-11 hold a horrifying significance for all of mankind.
 
Trailer:

PREDICTION:
"It looks okay- and actually half a la The Number 24 and part The Omen. The coolest aspect of this movie is its opening, date-11-11-11. "
 





Jack and Jill
What's It About?
A man who dreads the yearly Thanksgiving visit from his obnoxious twin sister.
 
Trailer:

PREDICTION:
"As inane as the plot is and as purposeless as it is seeing Adam Sandler play a woman (although "her" character is annoyingly cute) is- it is kinda cool he's playing two roles in the same movie. Even cooler, Al Pacino plays himself in the film."
 





 Into the Abyss
What's It About?
Documentary on a Texas murder case and the death row inmate responsible for the crime.
 
Trailer:

PREDICTION:
"This looks pretty interesting- but also very dismal."
 




 London Boulevard
What's It About?
An ex-criminal turned bodyguard/handyman, is reluctantly thrown back into a life of crime.
 
Trailer:

PREDICTION:
"It looks somewhat fun and darkly funny."
 





The Greening of
Whitney Brown
What's It About?
A rich city tween's life is turned upside when her parents announce they are broke and have to move to the country.
 
Trailer:

PREDICTION:
"It screams straight-to-DVD or made for t.v. The cutest thing about it, is the cute horse."
 





 The Conquest
What's It About?
Story of France's scandalous president Nicolas Sarkozy.

Trailer:

PREDICTION:
"Even though it's taking on a scandalous figure, it looks pretty uninteresting."
 





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Monday, November 7, 2011

Best New Movie Poster of the Week

(Official movie poster for upcoming movie  
Melancholia.)
 
WHY THIS POSTER IS GREAT!:


*The storybook-esque presentation of the poster: The film's title presented like a book title, the director's name like the author's name, the character's names like editors, illustrators, etc. and Kirsten Dunst's character in a wedding dress, like a fairytale princess.



(Alternate character poster for upcoming movie  
Melancholia.)
 
WHY THIS POSTER IS GREAT!:


*The tagline.

*The character looking up at Melancholia.

*The absence of the film's title.




(Alternate character poster for upcoming movie  
Melancholia.)
 
WHY THIS POSTER IS GREAT!:


*The tagline.
 
*The character looking up at Melancholia in amazement.

*The absence of the film's title. 




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Why 3D Has Become Annoying



I recant all the gushing I made last year when I said, "3D is God's gift to film":
(http://cinemanista.blogspot.com/2010/08/why-i-love-3d.html )

3D is cool when used with the right film (Tron: Legacy and Sanctum are the very best 3D movies I've seen so far) but for the most part, 3D has become annoying because it isn't exclusive anymore- it's everywhere!


Too many films are being done in 3D- too many movies that have no business using 3D- ahem, the recently released A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas

Contagion, the apocalyptic-esque movie about a world wide virus, is another film this year where you have to wonder, why was-this-made-in-3D?!? What really needed an emphasis to pop out? Germs?!? 
I saw it however in the alternative 2D, and it was fine, more than fine. I know if I would have saw it in 3D, I would have regretted paying close to twenty dollars to pointlessly wear 2 pair of glasses (I wear glasses when screen watching.).


 I see now why top critic Roger Ebert says he hates 3D and moviegoers should too:
( http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2010/04/30/why-i-hate-3-d-and-you-should-too.html )




But I don't necessarily hate it. 

I just think movies with these elements work the most effective for 3D:


-water
-flying
- fast driving
 -battles/fights
-dancing


And that these genres are the best for 3D:


-children's (Pixar, Disney)
-action
-superhero 
-artsy/experimental 
 -horror/thriller



Comedies especially, romance and dramas- and 3D should not really mix.

Can you imagine the comedy Jack and Jill in 3D?
Or the biopic J Edgar?
Or the upcoming romantic comedy New Year's Eve?

What would be the point?




2012 will be jam packed with big name films in 3D:


-Titanic
-Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance
-Men in Black III
-Underworld 4
-The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
-Halloween
-The Great Gatsby


I'm more excited that (most of) these movies are coming out, not that they'll be in 3D.


Sorry 3D, you can be cool but I'll take a good old 2D movie any day!







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Thursday, November 3, 2011

New Movies Playing!


The Son of No One
What's It About?
When a cop re-opens an old double murder case, trouble finds him.
 
Trailer:

PREDICTION:
"This looks like a solidly good cop movie. Al Pacino and Ray Liotta in the same movie is definitely a must-see for fans of both great actors!"
 


*

A Very Harold & Kumar
3D Christmas
What's It About?
Stoners Harold and Kumar embarking on a Christmas quest- in 3D.


Trailer:



PREDICTION: 
"For Harold & Kumar fans, this probably looks like the funniest movie ever made (include the prior two Harold & Kumar films)- to others- it looks so-so funny or like nonsense. It looks mindlessly funny enough."


 
*

Tower Heist
What's It About?
Workers at a fancy condominium plan to rob the billionaire who stole their retirement money.

Trailer:



PREDICTION:
"Funnymen Ben Stiller and Eddie Murphy make an odd team but they seem like they will bring the funny together."



*


Killing Bono
What's It About?
Two Irish brothers who dream of rock stardom but are out-shadowed by their schoolmates who form the popular Irish band U2.
 

Trailer:

PREDICTION:
"It looks okay- but fun at the same time, especially fun if you're a U2 fan."





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