My Blog :): 2012

November 2

THE BUZZ: Disney's had this project on the backburner for a while, but its release date was given a prime holiday berth after more time was needed for Pixar's Monsters University. Without anything to go on aside from the story idea at this point, I can say the premise sounds cool and a bit Pixar-inspired. Can we hope for some retro animation, too? Perhaps a joke about PS3 identity theft?

THE BUZZ: The brassiest major-studio release of the year, hands down. For years now, RZA has defined himself as more than the mastermind of Wu-Tang Clan and one of the best music producers of any generation; ever since his compositions for Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai, it was clear the man would one day direct a movie, and after years of quiet development and production, the first trailer and images literally burst onto the scene this summer. Hopefully Universal opted for more than just U.S. rights to the film, because something tells me the real money will be made elsewhere. And I wonder if Universal's fortunes would be any different if RZA ran the show.

THE BUZZ: Robert Zemeckis returns to big, live-action filmmaking and, amazingly, his first team-up with Denzel Washington, who plays the drug-addled pilot responsible for the crash. This is definitely a movie where we probably won't see a lot of product placement.

THE BUZZ: Likely to cause confusion this Oscar season with Dustin Hoffman's directorial debutis this equally starry drama from writer/director Yaron Zilberman. Notes from the Toronto Film Festival, where the film debuted, indicate that the acting outshines the direction -- but really the picture's chances hinge on potential word-of-mouth amongst the art-house crowd, who are likely to embrace mainstays Philip Seymour Hoffman, Catherine Keener, and the rest of the cast.

THE BUZZ: We thought there was a chance that Il Divo director Paolo Sorrentino's English-language debut might slip into obscurity despite featuring the first curious Sean Penn role in a decade or so. Now outfitted with an awards-friendly release strategy from Oscar specialist Harvey Weinstein and a resonant theme of a man picking up his father's legacy, our dark-horse campaigning starts here.

THE BUZZ: Indie distributor looks to twist the horror genre into a new shape with two of its year-end releases: V/H/S, a brutalizing, 5-segment wraparound endurance test arrives first, followed by this horror omnibus from an international array of directors.

November 9

THE BUZZ: For a film that once seemed as super secretive as the master spy himself, Bond's latest adventure has taken the Internet by storm with daily twitpics from the set and morefacebook fans than Jason Bourne (sorry, Matt Damon). We can't get enough.

THE BUZZ: Between the election-year parallels, the Tony Kushner-ness, and the assertion that Steven's Spielberg's upcoming film features his personal-best cast ever, we're genuinely excited for the first time in decade at the prospect of a Spielberg live-action history class!

November 16

THE BUZZ: With Bill Condon at the helm, the first-part-of-the-final-part definitely had some bite and some over-the-top energy these movies sorely needed, but ultimately we fear this final film will be just like your high school commencement: full of pomp, pageantry, a lot of boring people talking, good-byes to friends you've had for the past four years, and a bit of emptiness in the part of your heart where a twinkly-skinned vampire, a sullen-yet-determined girl, and an egregiously shirtless werewolf used to dwell, whether by your choice or the force of marketing. To Edward, Bella and Jacob: BFFs forever - stay cool over summer!

THE BUZZ: Leo Tolstoy's flawless novel in the hands of playwright Tom Stoppard gives us hope for this reunion of Joe Wright and Keira Knightley; her work in Pride & Prejudice andAtonement has convinced me that she is at her best on his sets. But perhaps you, like me, are more focused on Kelly Macdonald, the Boardwalk Empire star who here will play Dolly, Anna's sister-in-law who upsets the family dynamic with the discovery of her husband's infidelity as the novel opens.

November 23

THE BUZZ: Initially, David O. Russell's follow up to The Fighter has earned more attention for who isn't starring as loony teacher Pat Peoples; Mark Wahlberg wanted the role that ultimately went to Bradley Cooper, creating a rift between Russell and his former leading man/best bro. The main thing that bums me out with all this casting/friendship drama: Wahlberg's at his best when Russell guides him. Meanwhile, Cooper looks to diversify his appeal with his most promising role to date, and I'm looking to see how Julia Styles and Chris Tucker -- both of whom have been MIA from the big screen -- figure into the story.

THE BUZZ: Peter Ramsey, who worked as head of story on Monsters vs Aliens, takes to the director's chair for the first time with an adaptation of William Joyce's book, The Guardians of Childhood (Joyce has handled the screenplay). Sort of like a folklore version of The Avengers, the first thing that strikes me is heavy Japanimation influence; the second is the realization that DreamWorks Animation has never worked from pre-existing characters until now.

THE BUZZ: In my fantasy, Werner Herzog directs this as a staged documentary. But if Ang Lee's adaptation of Yann Martel's novel represents his attempt to deliver some affecting and offbeat family entertainment, I'm in. In theory. Better Lee than M. Night Shyamalan, who was originally set to direct. But when the animals heard that Shyamalan was on board, they refused to get on the boat.

THE BUZZ: Jacques Audiard's follow-up to A Prophet has early birds talking about his writing and direction as well as Marion Cotillard's performance; perhaps Ms. Cotillard will be up for her second Best Actress Oscar. Though something tells me The Artist's awards coup will make it tough for a foreign film to find similar success with the Academy for a year or two.

November 30

THE BUZZ: The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford goes down as one of the starriest films to be passed over during its initial release, but Andrew Dominik's second film -- as cult-y and enduring as his debut, Chopper -- has earned its audience over time. And when your fans include Harvey Weinstein and upstart producer Megan Ellison (a true hero if the film industry has one, especially since she avoids the press), talent and money follow. Hollywood would be wise to generate more high-profile, hard-boiled thrillers for the worldwide audience.

	Wreck-It Ralph (2012) Animation \| Comedy \| Family A video game villain wants to be a hero and sets out to fulfill his dream, but his quest brings havoc to the whole arcade where he lives. Director: Rich Moore Stars: John C. Reilly, Jack McBrayer, Jane Lynch, Sarah Silverman
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	The Man with the Iron Fists (2012) 96 min - Action In feudal China, a blacksmith who makes weapons for a small village is put in the position where he must defend himself and his fellow villagers. Director: RZA Stars: Russell Crowe, Cung Le, Lucy Liu, RZA
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	Flight (2012) Drama An airline pilot saves a flight from crashing, but an investigation into the malfunctions reveals something troubling. Director: Robert Zemeckis Stars: Denzel Washington, Melissa Leo, John Goodman, Don Cheadle
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	A Late Quartet (2012) 105 min - Drama Members of a world-renowned string quartet struggle to stay together in the face of death, competing egos and insuppressible lust. Director: Yaron Zilberman Stars: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Christopher Walken, Catherine Keener,Mark Ivanir
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	This Must Be the Place (2011) 118 min - Comedy \| Drama Cheyenne, a retired rock star living off his royalties in Dublin, returns to New York City to find the man responsible for a humiliation suffered by his recently deceased father during WWII. Director: Paolo Sorrentino Stars: Sean Penn, Frances McDormand, Judd Hirsch, Eve Hewson
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	Skyfall (2012) Action \| Adventure \| Thriller Bond's loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. Director: Sam Mendes Stars: Daniel Craig, Helen McCrory, Javier Bardem, Ralph Fiennes
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	Lincoln (2012) Biography \| Drama \| History \| War As the Civil War nears its end, President Abraham Lincoln clashes with members of his cabinet over the issue of abolishing slavery. Director: Steven Spielberg Stars: Daniel Day-Lewis, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Tommy Lee Jones, John Hawkes
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	The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2 (2012) Adventure \| Drama \| Fantasy \| Romance After the birth of Renesmee, the Cullens gather other vampire clans in order to protect the child from a false allegation that puts the family in front of the Volturi. Director: Bill Condon Stars: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Dakota Fanning
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	Anna Karenina (2012) 130 min - Drama Metascore: 65/100 (8 reviews) Set in late-19th-century Russia high-society, the aristocrat Anna Karenina enters into a life-changing affair with the affluent Count Vronsky. Director: Joe Wright Stars: Keira Knightley, Jude Law, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Matthew Macfadyen
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	Rise of the Guardians (2012) Animation \| Adventure \| Family \| Fantasy When the evil spirit Pitch launches an assault on Earth, the Immortal Guardians team up to protect the innocence of children all around the world. Director: Peter Ramsey Stars: Hugh Jackman, Alec Baldwin, Isla Fisher, Chris Pine
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	Life of Pi (2012) Adventure \| Drama The story of an Indian boy named Pi, a zookeeper's son who finds himself in the company of a hyena, zebra, orangutan, and a Bengal tiger after a shipwreck sets them adrift in the Pacific Ocean. Director: Ang Lee Stars: Suraj Sharma, Irrfan Khan, Adil Hussain, Tabu
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	Killing Them Softly (2012) 97 min - Crime \| Thriller Metascore: 69/100 (7 reviews) Jackie Cogan is a professional enforcer who investigates a heist that went down during a mob-protected poker game. Director: Andrew Dominik Stars: Brad Pitt, Ray Liotta, Richard Jenkins, Scoot McNairy
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Senin, 24 September 2012

Kamis, 20 September 2012

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