Friday, May 28, 2010

Joie' De Vivre On Celluloid: The Phantom


 

When I was a child and this film came out, all I needed to want to go was the thirty second advertisement on TV. I wasted no time in dragging my mother, my friend, his brother and their mom to the movies and we all went to see The Phantom. I came. I saw. I fell in love. And now, revisiting it again, after 15 years (short of a few sparse VHS rentals from my long gone childhood), it's as good as ever.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

A Review: Law Abiding Citizen

There was a point in this film, where I sat back, and literally said to myself aloud, "Ho-ley. Shit. I am fucking im-pressed." I agree with Gray's approach to this film, or maybe it was Butler's producer cred that was artisically injected? But that only lasted so long. Dammit. Now I remembered why I followed my instincts, and put the movie off, forgetting eventually it even existed. Recently I had a few friends tell me, they saw it and it was "Awesome dude." "Fuckin' sweet man!" Eh, okay, worth checking out to see what's really good. Not much really; if you can't get passed the Swiss as much as I couldn't.

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley Offered Female Lead In TF3


That's right kids! Rosie Huntington-Whiteley has been offered the new love interest in Loud Noises 3: A Michael Bay Film. If you've been following the blog, or the story, you'll remember about the little piece I wrote concerning the initial news outbreak, Fox was no longer in the franchise. 



But wait! There's more!

Joie' De Vivre On Celluloid: Hitman


Tim Olyphant stars as Hitman or, the bar-coded Agent 47 in this more refined take in recent years on a video game. With all of them rolling out all the time, every now and then, they gotta get one right. Right? Yezir...

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

A Review: Clash Of the Titans


This on, paired with  Kick Ass  is a great way to walk into May, which ushers in the summer blockbusters. Giving us the end of school, and the start of hot, hotness in this damn Florida weather. So do yourself a fav and beat the friggin' heat by patronizing your local cinema and watch something cool. You can start with this.

DD Lewis To Be Charles Dickens, Get Your Oscar Engraver Out


Thanks to CineFOOLS for droppin' the news. Out The Window, is the name of the new one. Based off the book The Invisible Woman by Claire Tomalin. The book shows a passionate secret love between Dickens and a young actress called Nelly Ternan. Whatever, I'm sold already. DD Lew, the best! End of story. All you otha sucka actas are shakin' in ya shoes boy!


I'll MOS DEF will be keepign you posted about this.I'm specifically refraining from getting started on why he's so damn good.

Munki Out.

'The Killer Inside Me' Poster & Trailer Drop

The Killer Inside Me has been on my list of must sees for a while now. With it's production history, it's a surprise the thing actually got off the ground. Michael Winterbottom, British legend and indie-film master, is finally cutting himself a slice of America pie in this film.


The new poster is above you, and the trailer is below this sentence. Let's see Casey show us, why he was rightful runner up to Bardem in the '07 Oscar race, and why he might be doing just that again (Bardem just got the Best Actor at Cannes, which is a fantastic feat to achieve). Affleck fa life.



Looks fuckin' raw son. Too bad it's on a limited release. Comin' atcha June 18, 2010. But thank God for film pirates. DVD screener anyone?

Munki Out.

Yeoh And Van Damme Join 'Kaboom Of Doom'

Michelle Yeoh and Jean-Claude are joining up with the rest of the cast for the next installment in the Kung Fu Panda series, Kung Fu Panda: The Kaboom of Doom. Coming off the heels of two recent updates about the film, Charlie Kaufman is polishing the script up for Dreamworks as we speak. What son?! Gary Oldman was added to voice the character of Lord Shen (a peacock), the film's formidable new villain while Yeoh brings to life the mystical character of The Soothsayer (a goat). Van Damme and Victor Garber round out the cast as Master Croc and Master Thundering Rhino, respectively.

The plot synopsis is as follows:

"In the sequel, Po goes on an amazing personal journey and we are thrilled to have assembled such a talented and well-respected group of actors to bring to life our new characters, who - alongside our returning cast - play such a critical role in Po's quest and his ultimate triumph over the forces of evil."
I'll say this, the first one, was really cool, when it got action the pieces of the film. I totally forgot where and when I even saw the damn thing to be honest, but, I remember the movie enough. It was even sorta funny.

Kung Fu Panda: The Kaboom of Doom is coming at you May 27th, 2011. 


Munki Out.

Monday, May 24, 2010

A Review: A Nightmare On Elm Street

 "How's this for a wet dream? Heheahaahahaha..."
                       --Freddy Krueger

I knew within the first two minutes of this film, that it was going to suck balls... That's sucks balls man. I was excited and stuff too. Here is my review on A Nightmare On Elm Street. Or, the 95 minutes I'll never get back.

A Review: Kick Ass (Yes, I know it's a little late in the game, get off me)















"...To go to Marvel's B and C-list characters and try to get movies out about them – what's the point of that?"
                                                                         --Mark Miller (Writer of the Kick Ass comic book series)

My review on Kick Ass. Which, while serving up a whole slue of things, also, kicks much ass suckas...

Friday, May 21, 2010

A Review: Moon

It's almost hard to believe that Sam Rockwell was just a glorified extra (Head Thug in the credits) in 1990's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. With young punks eager to join the infamous Foot Clan asking him if he had any cigarettes. Now look at him...

Baaawwlliiin'! 

(Silly commercial announcer voice) But wait! There's more!

Love Ranch Trailer Dropped Suckas (Staring Pesci As well As Mirren)

Yo son! All you tree-readin' suckas out there... The trailer for Taylor Hackford's new film, featuring his hot-ass wife (that's right) Helen Mirren, and Joe Pesci is out and ready for service. The film is about the notorious Mustang Ranch, Nevada's first licensed brothel opened in 1971. More to the point, the film is about married couple Joe and Sally Conforte who opened the brothel and tested themselves in numerous cases of infidelity.

This is like, some film geek's dream team or something, Joe Pesci?! Yeah son! Guy is the man, no doubt. But him staring with Helen Mirren? Hoooo Booooooyyy...

Okay, orgasm done. Here's the trailer. And it's awesome (and complete with pink border). 



Doesn't that look sweet?! After a visit to the new Mustang Ranch in 2008 Mirren announced, "I am a complete believer in legal brothels." I'll be sure to give you any updates on this, most likely sweet set pics or PR photo stills from the film. Coming to you on limited release June 30th.

Munki Out.

Meg Fox Reps Say She Quit Over Bay's 'Abuse'

Yesterday, Fox's reps released a statement saying she left, and wished all the best to the franchise. A few people weren't buying that, and cited it as poorly executed damage control. But today, new reports are saying, that may really be the case.

Via The Wrap, the newer details are as follows:
"Megan Fox walked away from “Transformers 3″ because director Michael Bay was “verbally abusive” toward her and “she had enough and decided to get out early,” an individual close to the actress has told The Wrap.
Given that the [original] story broke Wednesday on Deadline, it’s highly plausible that Paramount studio chairman Brad Grey’s well-known relationship with editor-in-chief Nikki Finke played a part in how the story was initially spun.
The studio stood by that position on Thursday with the statement: “Paramount had the unilateral right to exercise an option for Megan Fox to appear in ‘Transformers 3.’ Paramount at its sole election allowed the option to lapse.”
While Deal Central was skeptical at first that Fox would walk away from such a lucrative role, persistent whispers around Hollywood indicated that there was another side of the story. Bay has a history of demeaning his leading ladies, including “Pearl Harbor” star Kate Beckinsale; an individual close to the actress recalled that the director “wasn’t very nice” to her on the set, either.
Another individual close to the sequel’s production told TheWrap that Bay “wants his actresses to look a certain way, and if they can’t meet his absurd standards of beauty, he gets rid of them.” "
(High pitchWiz Khalifa style) Okaaaayyy.... I can dig that, like I said, I've quit over an XL Douche' director's abuse and head games before. 

Well, at the end of the day, she won't be appearing in the next installment of...

Loud Noises And Quickly Moving Objects 3: A Michael Bay Film.  


Munki Out.

2 For Franco, Can Stop! Won't Stop! (Silly Diddy Dance Ensues)

Franco may be the funniest guy who isn't exactly a comedy star, which makes him even funnier. He's also the coolest dude on the block when he feels like it.

And it seems now he's got some things in his pipeline ready to roll with.
But wait! There's more!

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Peter Jackson Develops 3D King Kong Ride @ Universal

 When the original got taken down in favor of some Mummy bullshit, I was damn pissed. That was my favorite Uni rdie and my family's too. Good memories attached. Now it seems that the new Godfather behind the 05 smash hit (and best pic snub) King Kong, Peter Jackson, is ushering in a new ride for Universal Studios. No word on if it's just Hollywood or if's it's Orlando too. Here's hoping for at least the Big O, cuz I'm a mere 2 hours away. He had this to say in the promo vid about it:



"We're very confident that it's the largest, most intense, 3D experience on the planet."
So stoked. Here's to this ride. even if I gotta fly across the country to get to it.

Munki Out.

Megan Fox Booted Out Of Transformers 3!/A Megan Fox Analysis



Oh word... What a way to start the day off.
News time baby.

(In short) Talking shit about your director isn't always the smartest thing to do... When you do it to major international media sources.

This kinda story is very bittersweet to wake up to.






  • Bitter, because I've got a few things for Fox, not just as a sex symbol either. She has a lot of potential, but maybe I'm the only guy in universe who thinks that.
  • Sweet because, hell, this is big fuckin' news you tree-readin' suckas!

But Wait! There's more!

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

The Way Of The Future

In the future (which some could argue is now) we will all have our letter openers replaced by eager bunnies.



I'd chill with him.

Munki Out.

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Joie' De Vivre On Celliloid: District 9


Sharlto Copley plays the South African with no real street smarts and a smokin' wife, Wikus van der Merwe. He gives us a real character with thoughts, feelings, functions, and a working brain. A brain that reasons and eventually steers him away from earlier, poorer, and less kind and understanding thoughts and default answers to his situations. Or maybe it's because he has no choice but to pair up with an alien buddy and take the control back in his life?

Here is my review on the Sci-Fi/drama/black comedy/action/thriller/political/morality-tale film, District 9.

Thursday, May 13, 2010

A Review: Let The Right One In


There are times in life, when I cross paths a with a film so fresh, the beats of my heart are stabbed with every passing minute the film roles on... and every second is relished and appreciated. This film applies to just that in the category of instant love and admiration.

Let The Right One In was terrific, stupendous, unique and ingenues. It was everything I've never quite seen on film before. In order of importance, the movie was:
  1. A story of romance, discovery and the expulsion of grim loneliness.
  2. With two twelve year olds at the center. One of them happening to be a vampire who needs to feed.
Here is my most satisfied review of Let The Right One In.

First 3 Photos From 'Let Me In'

Let The Right One In is a 2008 Swedish film about two pre-teens growing up in a shady apartment complex. The boy, constantly bullied and finding himself alone, one night has a chance meeting with a young girl and they slowly become entirely inseparable. But he begins to find out, what he doesn't initially know, is that his new friend is a vamp son. (I smell a 4 banana review coming on...)


But Wait! There's More!

'The American' Trailer Dropped For All To See

Suckas! Ma bad! This trailer dropped last week and I was busy with a friend in from out of town. I watched it but wasn't able to embed for you. But here it is now. As promised, I am and will continue to keep you updated. 



My last entry in regarding this thing was the 2 photos released.

Munki Out.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

The Adjustment Bureau Trailer Dropped Today

The first trailer for the Damon/Blunt staring film,  and George Nolfi directorial debut, The Adjustment Bureau, is here tree-readin' fools.

The story follows a man who glimpses the future Fate has planned for him and realizes he wants something else. To get it, he must pursue the only woman he's ever loved across, under and through the streets of modern-day New York. On the brink of winning a seat in the U.S. Senate, ambitious politician David Norris (Damon) meets beautiful contemporary ballet dancer Elise Sellas (Emily Blunt)--a woman like none he's ever known. But just as he realizes he's falling for her, mysterious men conspire to keep the two apart.


If you read my stuff, you'd know I have a penchant for Blunt, 'cuz... oh man, too many reasons. She's invigoratingly sexy, and real good in front of the camera too. Nolfi, who is primarily a writer, has written the wonderful, intricate, quick-witted and funny (and slightly pretentious and self-absorbed) Ocean's Twelve. He also penned The Sentinel, and co-wrote The Bourne Ultimatum with Tony Gilroy. Gilroy went on from writing to directing too, with the Oscar robbed, Michael Clayton. So let's see if Nolfi can pull off as good a hit. From the trailer, it looks slick, smart, and well crafted. Even though I'm not going for it for a few reasons (sorta get's a little hokey, but that's  Philip K. Dick for ya). Just watch the thing. If Damon isn't running from government men and shouting orders to someone he can save, he just ain't happy son.

 

The story is loosely based on the Philip K. Dick short story, "Adjustment Team". The cast includes Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Anthony Mackie (The Hurt Locker, She Hate Me), John Slattery (Howard Stark, Mad Men), and Terence Stamp (So much shit but, the blind dude in Electra and General Zod from Superman II should suffice).

Well, I'll be following this, even though it comes out, September 17th, it's sure to have one or more egg's dropped in the trades worth reporting.

Now without further adieu, Damon's finest work and the biggest Oscar-Snub ever.



Munki Out.

3rd Time's A Charm, Or So They Say

Brad Pitt and Darren Aronofsky have tried twice already to get on screen. Once with The Foutain, which Pit deserted, and once with The Fighter, which Pitt deserted. Pussy. Well, let's see what happens where here with The Tiger. Thanks to Slashfilm for the heads up (and their pic, sorry). Based off the novel The Tiger: A True Story of Vengeance and Survival by John Valiant. The story is a non-fiction account.

Variety desribes the pitch as follows:
The Tiger takes place on the Siberian plain, where human development is encroaching on the tigers’ habitat — and one tiger turns on the intruders. With townspeople being tracked and hunted with an almost supernatural power, a conservationist game warden must face down the tiger. It is a fight that only one of them can win.
Sounds intriguing, not unlike like The Ghost And the Darkness but we'll see what happens here. This is something completely different, for one it's not Africa. Siberian Plain, snow, jungle, villagers, the 90's, Brad Pitt, Daren Aronofsky, and not to mention Guillermo Arriaga (Amores Perros, 21 Grams, Babel) penning the script.  I'm sold.

Let's see if this ever comes to fruition. Or, if Brad doesn't get weak in the knees and just trust the Goddamn filmmaker with a terrific track record. Ehy buddy? I'll be keeping you tree-readin' suckas posted.

Munki Out.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

A Review: You Don't Know Jack

Dr. Jack Kevorkian was and still is many things.

Oil Painter. 
Jazz musician
Composer.
Arts enthusiast.
Right-to-die activist. 
Smart-ass.
Assisted suicide... uh, giver. 
Euthanasia-ist.
Killer?
Psycho?



Who's to tell really? But this movie tries to give you the clear details with Al Pacino and Barry Levinson at the helm. And it was effective. Swiftly accounting the life of Jack's work with the soon-to-be dead, this film stands as a biopic with class and interesting history behind it. Too many times, have we seen the same approach with musicians mostly; so it's nice to see it with a doctor and real pieces of U.S. medical history.


But wait! There's more!

De Niro Joins Clive Owen And Statham In 'The Killer Elite'! What Son?!

One of the men I look to as an actor is this guy to ma left palya. And now he's joining the cast of  The Killer Elite.

The story, written by British world explorer and adventurer, Sir Ranulph Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes, is based off The Feather Men. The novel follows a group of former British special forces members being hunted by a team of assassins led by Statham’s character, a former Navy Seal. Clive Owen will be a senior field op and part of a group that means to protect the special forces soldiers.

No word yet on who De Niro is playing. But this kinda stuff is what I look forward to. Let's see what happens next. Because I'll mos def be telling you tree-readin' suckas about it. 

Munki Out.

The Secret Mission Of The Terminator

Just watch this thing by this dude in China. The robot's chillen outside the Beijing Apple store begging for cash. But you gotta watch to find out why....



Munki Out.

Twilight = Spoiled Brats? Paycheck Problems Hold Up Last Installment

Short of the A list directors and then the Bill Condon story about these great talents stepping into the Twilight realm, I refuse to blog about this fad, bubble gum crap. But this developing story is worth it to me.

These two wieners featured to my right, who are supposedly dating but that doesn't mean shit to me, might find themselves up shit creek without a paddle surrounded by piling bills.

The news breaking over the web via The Hollywood Reporter is that some deals are still not in place for some of the supporting cast members, i.e., Kellen Lutz and Ashley Greene.

Taylor Lautner, Robert Pattinson and Kristen "I hate my life" Stewart are all locked down, with bigger checks. Lautner himself garnering he biggest kid salary today with 7.5 milli a film. In the 40's 50's and 60's, talent got you everything, looks were secondary. Today? (James Cann voice from Mickey Blue eyes) Forget about it! 

Both Twilight dads are in place with Bella's cop father (Billy Burke) Charlie Swan and the head of the Cullens, Carlisle Cullen played by a most lucky Peter Facinelli. But supposedly the last two are these guys. Kellen has some flimsy deal in place to head up a film with Samuel L. Jackson, which of course means it probably won't be spectacular, more so then a big attempt at something and miss. I don't know what Ashley Greene is up to, but as a Cullen, dating her "brother" in the film and in real life, I know she's important as Bella's best friend in the books/films. Summit has no official comment but a source close to the story has been quoted with this gem:
"We may have a situation where one of them is thrown out on the street to make a point."
I wouldn't step lightly around that quote. Lest we forget? Rachelle Lefevre (Victoria the bad bitch), who got canned after not clearing a scheduling conflict with Summit AND THEN asked for more money. So they got Bryce Dallas Howard, who is worth every penny, period. Nice. The Reporter goes on to say that offers from Summit -- which are said to be at least 10 times what the actors made on the first movie -- were deemed "offensive" given the mega-money the franchise has generated. Do these kids understand that the first film was a mere 40 million dollar budget, which includes EVERYONE'S CHECKS before gross participation. These films are getting more expensive every time they come out. Sure Summit is blowing up fast with all he goods they from The Hurt Locker, and all this crap from the Bubblegum whores. But in today's economy, which doesn't really seem to be effecting Tinseltown actually, you can't EF around with the money son! To be perfectly honest, it would be nice to see these two get squashed out of the franchise, take the power back studio! But Ashley Greene is good at what she's done already. Lutz? Eh.... So until this clears up, the studio isn't sure if it can move on a fifth film, and might condense it into a giant fouth. But Condon is signed for two films, supposedly filming back-to-back for 2011 fall and '12 summer releases. 

We'll see what happens with all this mess. If I hear someone got rocked off the boat, I'll tell you. If not, I wouldn't hold your breath. 

Munki Out.  

Monday, May 10, 2010

A Review: Harry Brown

"To them out there, it's just, entertainment. . ."

Michael Caine is easily, without a doubt, indisputably, an actor not only in his prime, but the incarnate of a performer's dedication and the ease of realism we all strive for in our roles. The kind of power Sir Caine possesses has been swimming through his veins since his emergence in the 60's and hasn't ever let him down. 


And Harry Brown is a very well placed example of just that. 


Daniel Barber, the British born director coming hot off his 2008 Oscar nomination for his 35 minute short film, The Tonto Woman , a western. I've yet to see this film, entirely, but from what I've watched so far, the guy followed his footsteps and formula from Tonto and bought that beauty and subtly to Brown.
   


This film starts off with the initiation (via cell phone footage, we're officially in 2010) of a new gang member. Which means he has to get high as fuck and tote a gun around, then use it on someone, completely random. They eventually choose someone in broad daylight, single mom, complete with stroller and a 2 year old son inside it. She gets a few bullets to the face and they speed off on the bike, only to get hit by an oncoming truck. The video phone spills into the street, filming the mess left behind. The next morning Harry Brown's eyes open, head drollfully resting on the pillows, as the news reports the story on his radio. This is the daily life around him, and pretty much how it really goes in that section of England today.

Harry's only attachments to a life with love and comfort are his dying wife, and his longtime mate, Leonard Attwell (David Bradley). They spend their days in the local pub, playing chess attempting to speak of things lite in topic. The pub is run by Sid, a man taking kickbacks from the local punks who run guns and drugs around the way. Harry chooses to ignore this, Leonard however, has extreme distaste. Harry is the man who regularly takes the longer routes to avoid the worst of his part of town. This also causes him to miss his wife's last minutes, afraid to pass under the tunnel. After the funeral Leonard revels to him he cannot take it and shows him a giant ass bayonet from WWI. Seriously it was huge (that's what she said). The next day, the police arrive at Harry's doorstep to inform him Leonard was murdered the previous night. That's now 2/2 the thugs have taken from Harry. Completely destroyed, Harry eventually snaps after a heavy night of drinking. On the way home, his muscle memory from the Royal Marines kicks in and he turns a knife on a local punk attempting to rob him. There is now no turning back and Harry decides to rid the whole area of them all.

Michael makes us cry, ponder and feel invigorated with power and finesse. Daniel Barber's approach to this film was real, scary, and grity. A 21st century English Death Wish, only better. Caine doesn't go out of his way to look cool, or perform some silly stunt. His age bleeds through all his heroics like a mustard stain on a white shirt. He is not that fast, he not that strong. But make no mistake, Harry Brown is still sharper than every knife at the store. 

Emily Mortimer plays "Mom" Detective Inspector from the department of redundancy, Alice Frampton. D.I. Frampton slowly starts to realize that the sad, lonely widower she's come into contact with might be none other than the catalyst behind the escalating violence, fear, and thug hits around the bend. Mortimer's pain for Harry's losses and newly secluded lifestyle is brought to life, in just the right sort of way a cop with a heart should do it. I sorta of thought of Mariska Hargitay from S.V.U., where at times, she feels the morality in the crimes and losses of the stories, just enough

This film gives us the feeling that the very real violence that exist on the streets of the Elephant And Castle housing estate can be brought into our own living rooms and we either fight or fold under the pressure. Harry fought, and Michael gave us something special to prove why he's the not just a Knight, but a king as well. 




Munki Out.

Monday, May 3, 2010

My Seudo Vacation

I'm taking one of sorts this week. I'll be back soon with losts of reviews and news. Don't fret fellow-tree-readin' suckas. I'll leave you with this one from A Giant Fart.com. One of the best places for funny shit.