Advertisement

JOBS Official Poster Debut!


SOME SEE WHAT'S POSSIBLE, OTHERS CHANGE WHAT'S POSSIBLE.
 
Open Road Films has just released the brand new poster for JOBS, starring Ashton Kutcher as Steve Jobs. JOBS is the extraordinary story of Steve Jobs; the original innovator and ground-breaking entrepreneur who let nothing stand in the way of greatness. Check out the brand new poster for JOBS to catch a glimpse of the man who blazed a trail that changed technology -- and the world – forever.


JOBS will hit theaters everywhere August 16, 2013


CAST: Ashton Kutcher, Josh Gad, Dermot Mulroney, Lukas Haas, J.K. Simmons, Matthew Modine, James Woods
DIRECTOR: Joshua Michael Stern
 
#JobsMovie

New Teaser Trailer and Poster for THE BOXTROLLS‏

 
 
 
Focus Features has released the official teaser trailer and one-sheet for next year's highly anticipated animated feature, The Boxtrolls, starring Ben Kingsley, Isaac Hempstead-Wright, Elle Fanning, Jared Harris, Toni Collette, Nick Frost, Richard Ayoade, Tracy Morgan, and Simon Pegg.
 
 
 



Release
: September 26, 2014
Starring: Ben Kingsley, introducing Isaac Hempstead-Wright, Elle Fanning, Jared Harris, Toni Collette, Nick Frost, Richard Ayoade, Tracy Morgan, and Simon Pegg
Director: Anthony Stacchi, Graham Annable
Synopsis: The new 3D stop-motion and CG hybrid animated feature is a comedic fable that unfolds in Cheesebridge, a posh Victorian-era town obsessed with wealth, class, and the stinkiest of fine cheeses. Beneath its charming cobblestone streets dwell the Boxtrolls, foul monsters who crawl out of the sewers at night and steal what the townspeople hold most dear: their children and their cheeses. At least, that’s the legend residents have always believed. In truth, the Boxtrolls are an underground cavern-dwelling community of quirky and lovable oddballs who wear recycled cardboard boxes the way turtles wear their shells. The Boxtrolls have raised an orphaned human boy, Eggs (voiced by Isaac Hempstead-Wright), since infancy as one of their dumpster-diving and mechanical junk-collecting own. When the Boxtrolls are targeted by villainous pest exterminator Archibald Snatcher (Academy Award winner Ben Kingsley), who is bent on eradicating them as his ticket to Cheesebridge society, the kindhearted band of tinkerers must turn to their adopted charge and adventurous rich girl Winnie (Elle Fanning) to bridge two worlds amidst the winds of change – and cheese.
 
 
 
LIKE The Boxtrolls on Facebook:
 
 
Follow The Boxtrollson Twitter:
http://twitter.com/TheBoxtrolls
Be sure to use#THEBOXTROLLS when tweeting about The Boxtrolls.
 
 
 
Subscribe to The Boxtrolls channel on YouTube:
 
 
Official film site:
 

"THE SPECTACULAR CLASSICS" SCREENING SERIES COMES TO THEATERS TUESDAYS IN JULY!

 
 
Landmark Theaters across the country, along with the Angelika in Dallas and the Los Feliz theater in Los Angeles have curated a film series for the month of July, presenting an iconic coming-of-age film each week leading up to theatrical release of THE SPECTACULAR NOW (August 2). An exclusive video introduction will precede each screening by screenwriters Michael Weber and Scott Neustadter. Audience members will also receive a ticket to an advance word of mouth screening of THE SPECTACULAR NOW in their market.
 
 
FILMS & SCHEDULE
Tuesday, July 9 - SAY ANYTHING
Tuesday, July 16 - DAZED AND CONFUSED
Tuesday, July 23 - ALMOST FAMOUS
Tuesday, July 30 - BREAKFAST CLUB
 
 
CITIES & THEATERS
New York - Landmark Sunshine
Los Angeles - Los Feliz
Dallas - Angelika Dallas
Boston - Kendall Square Cinema
DC - E Street Cinema
Philadelphia - Ritz Five
Chicago - Century Centre Cinema
Minneapolis - Lagoon Cinema
Seattle - Harvard Exit Theatre
 
 
THE SPECTACULAR NOW official site: http://spectacularnowmovie.com/

Tai Chi Hero Blu-ray review



  • Actors: Jayden Yuan, Angelababy, Tony Leung, Eddie Peng, Shu Qi
  • Format: Blu-ray, NTSC, Dolby, Subtitled, THX, Widescreen
  • Language: Mandarin Chinese
  • Subtitles: English
  • Dubbed: English
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Rated: Unrated
  • Studio: Well Go USA
  • Release Date: July 2, 2013
  • Run Time: 106 minutes


  •  

     

            Tai Chi Zero was somewhat like the Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World of martial arts films, meshing an assortment of comic book and video game references with a steampunk style and traditional kung-fu action. The result was a melting pot of unbridled entertainment, which was not appreciated by all. Attempting to readjust, director Stephen Fung gives us a slowed down follow-up film with Tai Chi Hero, the second in what is supposed to be a trilogy. The characters are more important in this film, though the energy suffers some because of this. There is also a feeling of incompleteness, as there was with the first film, putting a great deal of pressure on the final film for delivering a satisfactory conclusion.

     

            Lu Chan (Jayden Yuan) has been accepted into the Chen Village after marrying Yu Niang (Angelababy), daughter of Master Chen (Tony Leung KA-Fai). This wedding is interrupted by the arrival of Yu Niang’s brother, who is intent to interfere for unknown reasons. The village also must fear the return of Yu Niang’s former fiancĂ© and a powerful man named Duke Fleming (Peter Stormare) who controls an army. There are a few great action sequences, though it is a milder film from the last one.

     

            The Blu-ray release of this Asian blockbuster includes only a making-of featurette as far as extras are concerned. There is also an optional English dubbing option, though I prefer the subtitles.

     

    Entertainment Value: 7.5/10

    Quality of Filmmaking: 7/10

    Historical Significance: 6/10

    Disc Features: 4/10

     

     

    6 Souls Blu-ray review

  • Actors: Julianne Moore, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Jeffrey DeMunn, Frances Conroy, Nathan Corddry
  • Director: Björn Stein, MĂĄns MĂĄrlind
  • Writers: Michael Cooney
  • Producers: Alex Garcia, Bill Bannerman, Billy Rovzar, Darlene Caamano Loquet, David Bergstein
  • Format: Blu-ray, NTSC, Widescreen
  • Language: English
  • Subtitles: English, Spanish
  • Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Rated: R (Restricted)
  • Studio: Starz / Anchor Bay
  • Release Date: July 2, 2013
  • Run Time: 112 minutes


  •  

     

            Far from an original script or any ideas contained within it, 6 Souls manages to rise above the terrible thanks to a cast of talented actors and director team that knows how to utilize them. This is far from a memorable or even good film, but that should already be expected from a movie that has been sitting on the shelf since 2010. What is unexpected is how engaging a bad idea can be with Julianne Moore as your protagonist. Even the most unbelievable scenarios are easier to believe, and this actually allows some of the suspense to work as well.

     

            The film follows the investigation of forensic psychiatrist Dr. Cara Harding (Moore) into the multiple personalities of Adam (Jonathan Rhys Meyers). Cara is brought in to interview Adam by her father (Jeffrey DeMunn), who is also a psychiatrist of some sort, in order to debunk the existence of split personalities. This is the typical scenario in which a credible authority in disproving supernatural events is forced to face an unexplainable situation. This particular situation is a man with several personalities, all of which seem to be former murder victims.

     

            Apparently this film was originally titled Shelter when it played at festivals years back. It sat on the Weinstein shelf collecting dust, as many adequate films often do, even after directors MĂĄns MĂĄrlind and Björn Stein (simply appearing in credits as Marlind & Stein) directed the latest in the Underworld franchise in 2012. Why this film remained unseen for so long is a mystery, but the choice to release it straight to home entertainment is not. As I said before, this movie is not great. It is just surprisingly watchable.

     

            The Blu-ray release includes no special features, unsurprisingly. The high definition is not entirely necessary with a film like this, which delivers more chills than thrills, but there are a few special effects in the film which are effectively enhanced in this presentation.         

    Entertainment Value: 5/10

    Quality of Filmmaking: 6.5/10

    Historical Significance: 2/10

    Disc Features: 0/10

     

     

    No Blu-ray review

  • Actors: Gael GarcĂ­a Bernal, Alfredo Castro, Antonia Zegers, Luis Gnecco, Marcial Tagle
  • Director: Pablo LarraĂ­n
  • Writers: Antonio Skármeta, Pedro Peirano
  • Producers: Pablo LarraĂ­n, Daniel Marc Dreifuss, Jonathan King, Juan de Dios LarraĂ­n
  • Format: AC-3, Blu-ray, Dolby, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
  • Language: English
  • Subtitles: English, French
  • Subtitles for the Hearing Impaired: English
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Rated: R (Restricted)
  • Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
  • Release Date: June 25, 2013
  • Run Time: 118 minutes


  •  

     

            No was the Chilean entry for Best Foreign Film in the 85th Academy Awards, and was also one of the final nominees. This should come as no surprise, considering how much the film has in common with Best Picture winner, Argo. Both are films based on true international political events which American became involved in, primarily through the entertainment industry. No follows the marketing campaign which changed a country in 1988, essentially by treating the campaign advertisements with commercial rather than political sensibilities.

     

            In 1988, Chile was run by military dictator Augusto Pinochet until international pressure forced him to call a plebiscite on his presidency. A vote on whether or not Pinochet will stay in rule for another eight years is set, with the country simply to vote yes or no. While the Yes side has unlimited funds and all of the control, the opposition hires advertising executive RenĂ© Saavedra (Gael Garcia Bernal) for the No campaign. Each side is given fifteen minutes a day to argue their case, and Saavedra makes the bold choice to entertain and move the audience as if selling a product, avoiding the more shocking footage and political discourse most expected. This approach works, forcing the opposing side to adjust, hiring Saavedra’s business partner (Alfredo Castro) as their advisor.

     

            No is shot in the outdated video support U-matic 3:4, equipment used around the time in the1980s that the film’s events took place. The result is a narrative feature that often appears and feels much more like a documentary. I found myself in a state of confusion when first watching the film’s trailer, because I was so convinced that the footage was old that the presence of Bernal confounded me for more than a moment. Above all else, No is a well-rounded and entertaining film. There is a nice mix of humor, suspense and non-fiction, not unlike Argo.

     

            The Blu-ray release includes a commentary track with Bernal and director Pablo Larrain. There is also Q&A footage with Bernal.
     

    Entertainment Value: 7.5/10

    Quality of Filmmaking: 8/10

    Historical Significance: 8/10

    Disc Features: 7/10

     

     

    A Place at the Table Blu-ray review

  • Actors: Jeff Bridges
  • Format: AC-3, Blu-ray, Closed-captioned, Dolby, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
  • Language: English
  • Subtitles: Spanish
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
  • Studio: Magnolia Home Entertainment
  • Release Date: June 25, 2013
  • Run Time: 84 minutes


  •  

     

            If you have ever shopped at Food For Less or any of the other discount grocery stores and wondered why all of the unhealthiest foods are also the cheapest, this documentary will provide the answers. A Place at the Table gives a precise amount of information in explaining why America has so many people without food, despite being a country with plenty of it. This doesn’t sound like light entertainment, but the human element makes this an engaging documentary.

     

    There is a major difference between hunger in third world countries and the poverty experienced in America, because some of the most impoverished are also becoming some of the most obese. This is due to the type of food which is made affordable, mostly due to the government’s choice to subsidize larger farms providing crops that will lead to processed food rather than fresh.

     

    As well as the bigger political picture behind our country’s hunger issues, there are also more intimate human stories within the narrative. We are brought into the seemingly average and ordinary homes of families struggling to put food on the table each week, often utilizing the help and charity of local organizations or government just to survive. In one of the more harrowing sequences, a single mother realizes that she is no better off financially once finding a job and losing the government aid. The loss of one is not overpowered by the gain of the other, and she finds that the stress of existing week to week is never-ending.

     

    Documentaries have become a great podium for a call to change, allowing the voice of the public to be heard as well as providing information to those who are unaware. Unfortunately, there are so many of these agenda-based documentaries in existence that it is hard to believe much difference will come from one film. All cynicism aside, A Place at the Table provides a concise and entertaining presentation of some very real problems in the United States.

     

    The Blu-ray release includes deleted scenes and interviews, as well as a commentary track with directors Lori Silverbush and Kristi Jacobson, as well as producer Tom Colicchio. There are also some cast and crew interviews and a few additional featurettes about organizations attempting to help the problem.

     

    Entertainment Value: 7/10

    Quality of Filmmaking: 7/10

    Historical Significance: 5/10

    Disc Features: 7.5/10

     

     

    The Gatekeepers Blu-ray review

  • Actors: Ami Ayalon, Avraham Shalom, Avi Dichter, Yaakov Peri, Yuval Diskin
  • Director: Dror Moreh
  • Producers: Dror Moreh, Estelle Fialon, Philippa Kowarsky
  • Format: AC-3, Blu-ray, Dolby, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
  • Language: Hebrew
  • Subtitles: English, French
  • Subtitles for the Hearing Impaired: English
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
  • Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
  • Release Date: July 9, 2013
  • Run Time: 101 minutes


  •  

            The Gatekeepers is not a film which holds the hand of the viewers, assuming them ignorant of basic events and historical significance. Many documentaries these days merely dumb down information and present it in an entertaining and agenda-based manner. The Gatekeepers doesn’t provide a solid agenda or message, but instead provides insight by humanizing the men at the top forced to deal with the conflict in the most direct manner. 

     

            The Shin Bet is Israel’s Secret Service, and the head of the Shin Bet is key to every decision made in the war against terror, both Palestinian and Jewish. Six former heads of this highly secretive agency agreed to be interviewed for this film, for the first time reflecting publicly on decisions made, often controversially so. The Gatekeepers stands above most documentaries with the exclusivity of the interviews, and it is the humanizing element of talking with individuals that allows us to see the conflict from a new perspective.

     

            The six former heads of Shin Bet have to answer for their actions, but they all seem prepared for this. There are certain issues they have regrets about, while they stay rigid on other decisions. Regardless, each answer humanizes them in a way which was impossible before, allowing us to understand why decisions were made. The Blu-ray includes a commentary and Q&A with director Dror Moreh.

     

    Entertainment Value: 7/10

    Quality of Filmmaking: 8/10

    Historical Significance: 8/10

    Disc Features: 6.5/10

     

     

    Damages: The Complete Fifth Season DVD review

  • Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
  • Language: English
  • Subtitles: Chinese, English, Portuguese, Spanish
  • Dubbed: French
  • Subtitles for the Hearing Impaired: English
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
  • Number of discs: 3
  • Studio: Sony Pictures Entertainment
  • DVD Release Date: July 16, 2013
  • Run Time: 529 minutes



  •         The last couple seasons of “Damages” fell slightly in quality. They kept the same format as the first season, showing flash-forwards to clue us in on the impending damage caused by the case currently being worked on. The first season made it clear that one of the characters would be dead by the end of the season, and nearly every season since has also resulted in a death which is ominously hinted at. The final season repeats this technique, once again hinting that a significant character will be dead. It works better this time around, perhaps because something is at stake and because the mystery behind the situation is a little cleverer than before, but this show was right to end on this note. There wasn’t anywhere left for it to go.

     

            The ripped-from-the headlines cases take a backseat to the show’s rivalry melodrama in this final season. Ethically questionable practicing of law at the firm owned and run by Patty Hewes (Glenn Close) continues. This Emmy-award-winning role showcases both the cold and wicked side of Close, as well as more engaging and sentimental moments where we are meant to feel for her. Or at least understand her better. Ellen Parsons (Rose Byrne) now works for herself, running a small firm in need a chance to make a name. This chance along with the opportunity for revenge comes in the form of a case against Patty Hewes in court.

     

            The case involves an international cyber-hacker (Ryan Phillippe) who has made a name for himself with a website that allows sanctuary for whistleblowers trying to get information to the public with anonymity. This all changes when the website leaks the personal information of its latest whistleblower (Jenna Elfman), resulting in a death and an impending lawsuit. Patty also engages in a custody battle with her son over her granddaughter, and Ellen helps her boyfriend expose the ill treatment of soldier with post traumatic stress symptoms. The series closes out admirably enough, though with less spectacle than you might anticipate.

     

            All ten episodes are includes on three discs, along with special features. There are deleted scenes and outtakes.

           

    Entertainment Value: 7.5/10

    Quality of Filmmaking: 7/10

    Historical Significance: 6/10

    Disc Features: 5/10

     

     

    Last Resort: The Complete First Season DVD review

  • Actors: Andre Braugher, Scott Speedman, Daisy Betts, Camille De Pazzis, Dichen Lachman
  • Director: Michael Offer
  • Format: AC-3, Box set, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
  • Language: English
  • Subtitles: Chinese, French, Korean
  • Dubbed: Spanish
  • Subtitles for the Hearing Impaired: English
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
  • Number of discs: 3
  • Rated: NR (Not Rated)
  • Studio: Sony Pictures Entertainment
  • DVD Release Date: July 2, 2013
  • Run Time: 558 minutes


  • Last Resort: The Complete Series

     

            “Last Resort” is an action/suspense series with a premise that had promise, but ultimately a single season was enough for the storyline. As it is, this series feels as though it is a storyline meant for a feature film, dragging out a single scenario into a series of surprising twists and turns. Characters are fickle, switching sides from episode to episode as a way of keeping the fixed cast of players more interesting.

     

            In the pilot episode of the series we are introduced to the unrivaled U.S. ballistic submarine, Colorado, which is equipped with new cloaking equipment and a stockpile of nuclear weapons. When Captain Marcus Chaplin (Andre Braugher) and XO Sam Kendal (Scott Speedman) receive an order to fire nuclear missiles at Pakistan, they question the order’s legitimacy and are fired on by another American submarine.

     

            Escaping to a tropical island, the crew of the Colorado find refuge and a base to stand their ground. They are seen as enemies of the United States, but the power of the submarine’s weapons keeps other ships at bay. While it becomes clear to some stateside that the current administration is corrupt, Chaplin must fight his own personal war with his own country and the men he is leading. Kendal spends the entire series teetering back and forth between loyalty to his Captain and the urge to return home to his wife.

     

            All thirteen episodes of this brief series are captures on three discs, along with special features. There are thirteen behind-the-scenes featurettes, exploring a wide array of the show’s technical and creative elements.

     

    Entertainment Value: 6.5/10

    Quality of Filmmaking: 6/10

    Historical Significance: 3/10

    Disc Features: 7/10