Larry Kennar's New Series on OUT TV

Okay, so I know a lot of you have been waiting for this. I've spent the last year working on a new series by Larry Kennar, producer of films such as Barbershop and 50 First Dates and the hit television series, "The L Word." DTLA is a gay scripted drama series premiering on OUT TV this spring. Best described as a cross between "Queer As Folk" and "Swingers." Would you like to see the trailer? I only have one line in the trailer, but it's a good one.

Just follow this link:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/larrykennar/dtla

DTLA is a self-financed, gay scripted drama series, best described as a cross between "Queer As Folk" and "Swingers." Six 30 minute episodes have been produced, and we are seeking funds to complete post-production and a few pick-ups on the series in order to deliver it to OutTV for an April 2012 premiere. We have also received strong interest from two U.S. cable distributors and will close a deal pending the successful completion of post production. We are confident that we will have the series premiere in the U.S. Fall 2012.

DTLA depicts the relationships of seven friends with varied ethnic, cultural, and sexual orientations who work and live in the vibrant community of Downtown Los Angeles. It's a story of love, friendship, loyalty, and being true to oneself - no matter what the cost.  It is the first dramatic series with gay leads since "Queer as Folk," "Noah's Arc," and "The L Word." 

Our eyes into this world are Lenny (Darryl Stephens of "Noah's Arc") and Bryan (newcomer Matthew Stephen Herrick), a long term couple who can no longer escape some fundamental truths about their relationship. As they begin to deal with end of their relationship - their lives, and the lives of their friends will be forever altered.

THE HUNGER GAMES l NEW Trailer!‏

With less than 50 days to go until THE HUNGER GAMES opens in theaters everywhere, you get a sneak peak at Katniss' journey to the arena in the film’s new trailer!  Check it out now! 

 

The world will be watching when The Hunger Games hits theaters on March 23rd!  You can also see it in IMAX during its one week exclusive engagement.

Want a chance to win tickets to THE HUNGER GAMES World Premiere in LA on March 12th?  Then be sure to check out one of the 50 sites giving away tickets to lucky fans by searching #HungerGames50 on Twitter or head over to the official THE HUNGER GAMES Facebook Page now: http://on.fb.me/HungerGames50

Transformers The Ride 3D Super Bowl Commercial

The ride will open at Universal Studios Hollywood in May 2012! Could they show any less about the ride ? Still, I like the concept for the ad.

A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas Blu-ray/DVD review

Starring: Tom Lennon, Danny Trejo, John Cho, Kal Penn, Neil Patrick Harris 
Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1
Number of discs: 1
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: New Line Home Video
Release Date: February 7, 2012

            The first Harold and Kumar was a revelation, a return to the smartly written weed comedy duo days which had been gone since the parting of Cheech and Chong. It was a road trip comedy in structure and a slapstick drug trip in content. The lackluster sequel brought a few laughs and a vaguely similar scenario. With a “bottomless” party and a look-alike actor playing our infamous former president, the Harold and Kumar sequel also had an abundance of Bush jokes.

The latest film brings a little bit of holiday cheer in the form of an assaulting 3-D movie. Cocaine rains across the screen and everything from feces to eggs are thrown into view for these effects. But beneath that is a continuation of a series about the friendship of two very different minority pot smokers. There are many more drugs than marijuana in this second sequel, A Very Harold & Kumar 3-D Christmas, even inspiring a claymation sequence when an unknown substance in ingested in eggnog.

             When we join our best friends, they are not at all close any longer. While Kumar has merely spiraled even further into his drug addled routine with the loss of both Harold and his girlfriend. When she returns momentarily to announce her pregnancy, Kumar is too stoned to even pay attention. Harold, on the other hand, is obsessively responsible. He has quit smoking marijuana and although he is a successful man with a beautiful wife, the holidays mean a house full of his angry and racist in-laws. When Kumar stops by momentarily to give Harold a gift delivered to their former shared apartment, it causes an accident which forces the pair to spend the rest of the evening trying to repair. And no Harold & Kumar film is quite complete without a visit from Neil Patrick Harris as himself, this time even showing off some of his Broadway talent with a song and dance.

            There are many hilarious riotous moments within the storyline, however sweet the sub-line of the film may be. One of these running gags involves a baby. Imagine that the baby in The Hangover had been treated the way the monkey was treated in The Hangover Part 2. Now double that and you will have an idea of what the baby in A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas withstands.  Even the claymation sequence, which has forever been synonymous with Christmas specials, is wrought with violence and bloody mayhem. Throw in a few car crashes, a violent Russian mob boss and you have one extreme Christmas film.

            The Blu-ray includes both an extended cut of the film, which is about six minutes longer, and the theatrical. The DVD is also included on the flipside of the double-sided disc. The special features include a few deleted scenes, along with two featurettes. The better of the two is about the making of the claymation sequence. The high definition doesn’t help improve the fact that this film was meant to be seen in 3-D. This doesn’t mean that the jokes aren’t still funny, but the special effects are not quite as forgiving in 2-D. The Blu-ray combo pack also includes an Ultraviolet digital copy.

Malcolm X Blu-ray Book Review

Starring: Denzel Washington, Delroy Lindo, Albert Hall, Angela Bassett, Al Freeman Jr.
Director: Spike Lee
Format: AC-3, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, Original recording remastered, Widescreen
Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1
Number of discs: 2
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Warner Home Video
Release Date: January 31, 2012
Run Time: 201 minutes

            Twenty years later and it is quite clear that Malcolm X is one of the great masterpieces in the career of Spike Lee, a crowning achievement in an endlessly intriguing career of risks alongside a consistency in filmmaking. Both style and substance in a Spike Lee film are often recognizable to the director, and none established this better than Malcolm X.

            Spike Lee burst onto the scene with a great deal of attention when he made the explosive independent film, Do the Right Thing (1989), which went on to achieve two Oscar nominations. He carried on with films about racial and social issues with Jungle Fever and Mo’ Better Blues, which were both modestly budgeted films. He was an independent film director and didn’t rely on large scale filmmaking for his type of storytelling, but this would all change with Malcolm X.

            The budget ran over, the running time was far beyond what studio heads wanted, and Lee ended up turning to celebrities such as Oprah, Michael Jordan and Bill Cosby to obtain finances for finishing the film the way he envisioned it. When he completed the epic masterpiece, it was well over three hours long. Even at 201 minutes, however, Malcolm X was a rousing success both critically and commercially, going on to two Academy Award nominations among many others.

            One of these nominations went to Denzel Washington for Best Actor in the title role. There are a number of talented actors in Malcolm X, but there is no denying the impact of Washington’s performance. He practically bursts off of the screen with energy and intensity. The year that Lee had last been awarded two Academy Award nominations was also the year that Washington won his first. After winning Best Supporting Actor for his unforgettable role in Glory (1989), and having already played Malcolm X off-Broadway, Washington seemed an obvious choice. Now it is nearly impossible to imagine anyone else in the role.

            In celebration of Black history month and the twentieth anniversary of its release, Malcolm X is available for the first time on high definition Blu-ray in a special collector’s book. Along with 40 pages of photos, bios, production notes and trivia; this special collection also includes the Oscar-nominated 1972 feature-length documentary, Malcolm X, on DVD. Each of the discs is contained in the inside cover of the book.

The Blu-ray disc also has some special features. There aren’t tons, but what is included is all rather significant. There is a making-of featurette which goes through the struggles of completing this film with the filmmaker’s integrity intact, as well as some deleted scenes with an introduction by that filmmaker. Lee also gives more background in his feature film commentary, joined by cinematographer Ernest Dickerson, editor Barry Alexander Brown and costume designer Ruth Carter.  

The Double Blu-ray review

Starring: Richard Gere, Topher Grace, Martin Sheen, Stephen Moyer, Odette Yustman
Director: Michael Brandt
Language: English
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: IMAGE ENTERTAINMENT
Release Date: January 31, 2012
Run Time: 92 minutes

            The Double closely resembles a few other thrillers, but it is in ways which I cannot divulge without ruining some of the surprises the film has to offer. These are surprises which may be easily spotted by those who have seen these other films, but I will leave it up to the memory and film instinct of each individual viewer. Personally, I have seen far too many films for The Double to stick as anything entirely memorable, though I do remember being entertained as I watched the film. It may not leave a lasting impression, which is probably why few have heard of this film prior to home video release, but it still has an entertainment purpose.

            Part spy film and part serial killer thriller, The Double follows the investigation of a series of murders which begin with the assassination of a United States Senator. Each murder is a slit throat, which is thought to be the work of a political Soviet assassin known only Cassius. Many thought Cassius to be dead, including the ex-CIA agent who was once responsible for the investigation on his murders. Paul Shepherdson (Richard Gere) is called into the new investigation after the murder of the Senator, paired up with a young FBI agent named Ben Geary (Topher Grace), whose thesis was on Cassius.

            These two experts disagree on whether the new murders are Cassius or a copycat, but they must find a way to trust each other in order to put an end to the killing. There are many layers of the plot, with grander Russian schemes than the simple murders of Cassius. It is all rather complex and well thought out, however improbable a story like this may seem.

            The Blu-ray release includes an audio commentary with co-filmmakers Michael Brandt and Derek Haas. Brandt directs and Haas produces, but both co-wrote the screenplay together as they have previously done with the successful 3:10 to Yuma and Wanted. Also included in the extras is a making of featurette and the trailer, which is below.

Texas Killing Fields Blu-ray review



Starring: Sam Worthington, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Jessica Chastain, Chloe Grace Moretz
Director: Ami Canaan Mann
Language: English
Subtitles: English, Spanish
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: ANCHOR BAY
Release Date: January 31, 2012
Run Time: 105 minutes

            Texas Killing Fields does not come with many twists and turns. There are no secret bad guys who appear innocent or corrupt cops doing the killing. The people who appear bad are likely to actually be bad, and this allows for a straightforward crime film which stands on story and characters alone. And it stands rather tall in a genre which can often feel tiresomely familiar. Even with no surprises or revelations, Texas Killing Fields is an impressive film because of good filmmaking alone.

            Inspired by true events, this crime thriller follows the investigating done by homicide Detective Heigh (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) and his close friend and partner Detective Souder (Sam Worthington) after a serial killer begins dumping bodies just out of their jurisdiction. The corpses of the women and girls being slaughtered and dismembered are dumped in a marsh called “The Killing Fields” by locals.

            Despite warnings by his partner, Detective Heigh insists on pursuing the investigation which they aren’t responsible for. This ends up attracting the attention of the serial killer, who begins playing his own games with the detectives. This includes targeting a young local girl (Chloë Crace Moretz), who has always been able to rely on our protagonists when her home life was too difficult. In a race against time, they set out to save the girl and catch the killer.

            The Blu-ray includes an audio commentary with director Ami Canaan Mann and writer Donald F. Ferrarone. The actual high definition presentation of the film is not exception, but this is mostly because of the lower budget and grittier feel to the photography. It just doesn’t make as much of a difference, though there are a few shootouts and chase sequences which are certainly enhanced by the 7.1 TrueHD surround sound.

Drive Blu-ray review

Starring: Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Albert Brooks, Ron Perlman,  Bryan Cranston
Director: Nicolas Winding Refn
Rated: R
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: January 31, 2012
Run Time: 100 minutes

            On average, I watch about 600 movies a year. Sometimes it’s more and sometimes it is less, but I will only watch a small percentage of them more than once. The truth is, very few of the 600 are altogether memorable. Some are praiseworthy but I feel no emotional connection to them, while others are indulgent but less than adequate upon later examination. Then there are the perfect films. The ones which not only have the ability to keep you thinking for days, but also grab you in a way which almost feels personal. In 2011, for me, this film was Drive. A culmination of a director I have long respected, an actor I very much admire, and a promising premise taken from a book by James Sallis resulted in the best film of the year. 1 in 600.

            Ryan Gosling stars as a Hollywood stunt driver who moonlights as a getaway driver for criminals at night. This job pays much better but it also comes with added risks. These risks are avoided by careful planning and precise maneuvering, as we see in the opening sequence. This is one of the most intelligent car chases I have ever seen on film. These risks are fine until the driver becomes somewhat involved with a beautiful young mother (Carey Mulligan) living next door. Suddenly he finds himself pulled in on a job which goes wrong, involving a pair of wicked criminals (Albert Brooks and Ron Perlman), and he is forced to take action in order to protect his innocent neighbor.

The storyline is rather simple, and the filmmaking simplifies it even further. We are not given lengthy scenes of dialogue to fill us in on back-story, and occasionally we even leave the scene before the dialogue has even begun. In one amazing sequence the driver is walking through a grocery store when he notices his neighbor, Irene (Mulligan). At this point it is clear from his facial expression when he sees her that he wants nothing to do with her. Perhaps he wants no attachments or maybe he has another reason, but instead of approaching the woman and her son, he retreats down another aisle. As fate would have it, he walks out of the store just as Irene discovers that her car won’t start. As well as being a stunt driver and a getaway driver, our antihero protagonist also works with a mechanic (Bryan Cranston), and again we see the look on his face, hesitating before approaching to help. The film then cuts to a shot of them in their apartment elevator. We don’t need the unnecessary dialogue. We know everything we need to know from the images, and with the help of a pop-electronic soundtrack. 

           

            This has been a good year for Gosling, whose range has always been excellent. This year he had success with a romantic comedy in Crazy Stupid Love, a political thriller in George Clooney’s The Ides of March, and with Drive he has made another masterpiece at heights as great as Half Nelson. Shoot, this is even as good as The Notebook. Gosling’s performance comes as no surprise, however, as he has never been short of excellent. What truly surprised me was to see how much director Nicholas Wining Refn has come into his own. He was born and bred amidst the Dogma ’95 movement of Danish cinema, but while he debut feature was certainly shot in natural surroundings with mostly non-actors with natural light, Refn’s Pusher was also a stylistic and graphic gangster film resembling the type of films Quentin Tarantino was making in the 1990s. Followed by two sequels which were each better than the last, Refn showed promise from the very beginning. His films have otherwise always proven to be worth watching, though some are more impressive than others. Each attempts to intellectually approach the art of filmmaking while telling otherwise straightforward stories. He is one of many filmmakers, including Tarantino, who have elevated the genre film into an incredible art form. Drive is Refn’s masterpiece.

            The Blu-ray release of the year’s best film includes four featurettes and an interview documentary with Refn. The featurettes are precise and thoughtful, though there are layers even deeper within the film that aren’t really delved into. Sometimes it feels as though featurettes are made not to spoil the film, rather than directed at the audience who has already watched it. These are better than most, though the interview is far more revealing. High definition is certainly the way to see this film, which has one of the best soundtracks of the year in between the few major car chase sequences, and all of this is captured excellently on the 5.1 DTS-HD audio. There is also an instantly streamable Ultraviolet copy for home computers and mobile devices.

Real Steel Blu-ray review

Starring: Hugh Jackman, Evangeline Lilly, Dakota Goyo 
Director: Shawn Levy
Rated: PG-13 
Studio: Touchstone / Disney
DVD Release Date: January 24, 2012

            Many critics used Rocky as a comparison for Real Steel, only with robots, but it seems to me that the plot is much closer to resembling another Sylvester Stallone vehicle instead. Over the Top is about a distant father given a cross-country trip to get to know his son better, and Real Steel has a similar scenario between irresponsible father and financially stable son. Only set in the future instead of the 1980s, and with robots instead of the Italian Stallion.

             Hugh Jackman stars as Charlie Kenton, a washed up fighter who has turned into a promoter for the robot fights which have replaced humans in the boxing ring. His haphazard and reckless treatment of the robots, along with a strong penchant for making bets he can’t afford, Charlie finds himself deep in financial debt when the added trouble of a custody hearing also comes up. With the death of the boy’s mother, Charlie is the rightful guardian, though he has no relationship with the boy and other wealthy family members are eager to earn custody. Seeing a way to benefit financially from the relationship, Charlie agrees to take his son along with him on a cross-country trip.

            After discovering a beat-up training robot perched on a muddy slope over the ravine beside a dump yard, Charlie and his son build a relationship as they build a fighter. Standing at 8-feet, their robot is one of the smallest competitors in the business, relying on the boy’s video game experience and Charlie’s boxing skills and knowledge to win. Against all of the odds, this unlikely trio find themselves on a winning streak that eventually pits them against the world champion robot.

            Although we are never asked to believe that their robot named Atom has emotions or is human in anyway, it is certainly clear that he is different from the rest of the robots. There is more expression and humanity within his movements and his face, making him feel like a combination of Wall-E, the robot from The Iron Giant and every great underdog boxer in the history of cinema.

            The Blu-ray release of this special effects blockbuster features a spectacular high definition presentation, fully equipped with 7.1 DTS-HD audio for the metal crunching soundtrack. The 2-disc combo pack also includes a DVD version of the film, along with a few special features. There are bloopers, two making-of featurettes and an audio commentary with director Shawn Levy. The Blu-ray disc has these features as well as three exclusive features. There are deleted and extended scenes with an introduction by Levy, a featurette about Charlie’s story before the robots, and an exclusive second-screen feature compatible with iPad.

The Ides of March Blu-ray review

Starring: Ryan Gosling, George Clooney, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Giamatti, Marisa Tomei
Director: George Clooney
Rated: R 
Studio: Sony Pictures Entertainment
Release Date: January 17, 2012
Run Time: 101 minutes

            The Ides of March is a unique and brilliant film about politics, bringing a view which was profoundly effective first in the play by Beau Willimon, who lent a hand in adapting the screenplay along with director and co-star George Clooney and his writing partner, Grant Heslov. What makes this film so profound is not the fact that it exposes corruption and all kinds of backdoor bargaining going on within a presidential campaign, but the manner in which the layers of individual mistakes can effectively coerce any given political decision. And it does all of this with spectacularly written dialogue and immaculate performances all around.

            The film follows in just a brief portion of the election campaign, during the Ohio primary which may determine the election’s final results down the line. These tense few days are given added pressure after a series of coincidental events force presidential candidate Governor Mike Morris (George Clooney) to rethink his strategy. Although he always seems to be present, hanging on the wall nearby or on television in the background, this film is less about Mike Morris than it is Stephen Meyers (Ryan Gosling), an ambitious campaign worker who has a lot to gain from the election of Morris. Working only under a close friend (Philip Seymour Hoffman) and the Governor himself, Meyers is both idealistic and hard-working, though this does not necessarily make him incorruptible.

             Clooney started his directorial career with a lot of flash, and some critics called his debut over-directed. Then Clooney dove deep into films about politics. The Ides of March takes elements of all of these, though each more subtle than before. Clooney has come into his own as a solid filmmaker, as well as an actor. The Blu-ray release of The Ides of March includes a 1080p high definition experience, along with 5.1 DTS-HD audio. The special features include a commentary track with Clooney and Heslov. There is also a featurette with Clooney, and another about the entire cast of this film, which also includes Marissa Tomei, Paul Giamatti and Evan Rachel Wood. The remaining two featurettes are about the political aspects of the film. 

The Apartment Blu-ray review

Starring: Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine, Fred MacMurray, Ray Walston, Jack Kruschen
Director: Billy Wilder
Writers: Billy Wilder, I.A.L. Diamond 
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: MGM
DVD Release Date: February 5, 2008
Run Time: 125 minutes

The Apartment has always been my personal favorite Billy Wilder film, which is cemented with each additional time I re-watch this masterpiece in melancholy. Although the transfer of a classic such as this may not be a notable Blu-ray release, especially with minimal special features bragging about, but I welcome any reason to revisit this poignant and touching dramedy. Billy Wilder was inspired to make The Apartment after seeing the British film Brief Encounter, written by playwright Noel Coward based off of his scene written for the stage. It was directed by David Lean and is about two married people who have a brief affair when they meet at a train station one evening. The couple never sleeps together, but at one point they go to an apartment lent out by a friend, and apparently Billy Wilder saw this as the most fascinating aspect of the film.

Years later when censors had calmed significantly Wilder decided to make the film, using his powers at casting to bring a perfect orchestration of talent. The role of CC “Bud” Baxter was written for Jack Lemmon, who had achieved great success in Wilder’s Some Like It Hot, and was now given the chance to bring an enormously touching and humane character to life in The Apartment. Someone like Lemmon was essentially considering the film was about a man who lends out his apartment as a way to advance in his business achievements, and the actor had become well loved by audiences. Other great casting choices include Feed MacMurray as J.D. Sheldrake, Baxter’s boss and the man having an affair with Fran Kubelik (Shirley MacLaine), the elevator woman in the building that Baxter just happens to have a crush on. Without even realizing it he allows her to enter his apartment, and when the affair turns sour it is Baxter who is there is, despite the threats it has to his promotions.

With the new release of a Blu-ray there isn’t a great deal of new information that can be found, especially considering so many of the key figures are now dead. The way that the special features attempts to work around this problem is found in having the offspring speak for their parents instead. It works some of the time, although it is a lot of speculation. The “Inside the Apartment” thirty-minute documentary about the film there are a lot of stories given from people who know them more out of being passed along rather than having the information on their own. Therefore there is very little new in the documentary, although it is still mildly interesting and entertaining nonetheless. The other featurette is exclusively about the talented and touching Jack Lemmon, mostly given through interviews by his son about the path to acting that Lemmon took. Perhaps the most insightful of all of the features is a commentary track by film producer and historian Bruce Block.   

Although the high definition is certainly admirable, however unnecessary it may seem for enjoying the film, the real treat of this film on Blu-ray is simply the reminder. Each time a new edition or version of a film is released it gives us critics a chance to turn more unsuspecting audience members onto an unforgettable classic. If you haven’t yet seen this film, waste no time. While waiting to see who will win Best Picture at this year’s Academy Award ceremony, watch 1960’s winner; The Apartment.

Relativity and Hasbro Bring Stretch Armstrong to the Big Screen: Targeted for April 11, 2014 Release

Relativity Media has partnered with global branded play company Hasbro, Inc. to develop and produce a live-action tent-pole film based on Stretch Armstrong, the iconicaction hero figure launched in the 1970s, it was announced today by Relativity’s Co-President, Tucker Tooley and Hasbro’s President and CEO, Brian Goldner.

Relativity will be the domestic distributor and will release the film internationally through its network of foreign output partners. The film is targeted for an April 11, 2014 release date.

The film will be produced by Relativity’s CEO, Ryan Kavanaugh (The Fighter), Hasbro’s Goldner (Transformers) and Bennett Schneir, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Motion Pictures (Battleship). Tooley (Immortals) will serve as executive producer.

 Since 2007, Hasbro's Transformers and G.I. Joe franchises have grossed nearly $3 billion at the worldwide box office. 2012 is shaping up to be another stellar year for Hasbro with its partners Universal Pictures releasing Battleship in April and Paramount Pictures releasing G.I. Joe: Retaliation in June. 

“We are absolutely thrilled to partner with Hasbro, a company whose global reach and ability to innovate has made them immensely successful in the arena of brand re-imagination-- as evidenced by their legacy of creating such franchises asTransformers and G.I. Joe,” said Tooley, “We look forward to bringing Stretch Armstrong to audiences worldwide.”

“Stretch Armstrong is a great example of Hasbro’s rich portfolio of intellectual properties that we are continuing to develop globally,” said Goldner, “We are excited to partner with Relativity on this movie as they are a growing and innovative studio.”

Stretch Armstrong is the classic action hero figure first launched by Hasbro in 1976 and re-launched in the 90’s, sold successfully throughout North America and in markets across the world. The original Stretch's unique design broke free of traditional action figures, as he could be stretched over and over and always returned back to his original size. The nostalgic toy is considered to be rare and collectible to this day.

Must See Video! Movie Promotional Stunt has People Flying Over New York City

Recently 20th Century Fox teamed up with Thinkmodo for an unusual viral promotion for the upcoming superhero flick CHRONICLE.  Using three custom RC planes shaped like people, they launched them over NYC to create the illusion of human flight.                                                      

Check out the video now: 

“Since the three main characters of the movie have the ability to fly, we came up with the idea of staging a few “flying people” sightings around NYC. We achieved that illusion by having 3 custom-made aircraft (which were shaped like human beings) fly above designated areas in NYC and NJ,” says Michael Krivicka from Thinkmodo. 

CHRONICLE flies in theaters everywhere Friday, February 3rd.

Punished DVD review

Starring: Anthony Wong, Richie Ren, Maggie Cheung
Director: Wing-Cheong Law
Language: Cantonese
Subtitles: English 
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Vivendi Entertainment
DVD Release Date: January 24, 2012
Run Time: 94 minutes

            Revenge is a common theme in Chinese action films, and even just in the filmography of producer Johnnie To, who is best known for another film called Vengeance. This one is called Punished, though it is somewhat of an untraditional revenge film. There are more layers of plot and morality than the average revenge film, though it packs just as much excitement.

            Punished begins as a rather unpleasant family melodrama. It feels like a Chinese episode of “The Sopranos” when the drug habit of a powerful man (Anthony Wong) becomes more than just an embarrassment. Her behavior threatens business, which somehow feels slightly less than legitimate, but none of this is an issue when the daughter is suddenly kidnapped. The reasons for this kidnapping are unknown, and even after the ransom is paid she is killed just the same.

            This is when it becomes a revenge film, though there is a certain level of distance in this vengeance. Instead of dirtying his hands with the act of murdering the people responsible for his daughter’s death, the tycoon hires his ex-bodyguard (Richie Jen) to do it instead. Determined to make enough money to ensure his son’s financial stability in life, this bodyguard is willing to throw everything away in order to destroy the culprits. He videotapes the deaths and sends them back to his boss, who only becomes involved with the final death.

            The DVD release includes a featurette about the making of Punished, as well as one about the direction of the cast by Law Wing Cheong (Tactical Unit, Comrades in Arms). There is also a stills gallery from behind-the-scenes.

Bunny and the Bull review

            Paul King is best known for directing the television series, “The Mighty Boosh.” This breakout success has afforded him the opportunity to make a film like Bunny and the Bull, which is full of the same crass and bizarre humor, while also managing to be rather sensitive. There is a bit of brilliance in this feature film by King, but there is also a lot of other stuff I could have easily done without. This may not be a perfect film, but it has its moments.

            Stephen Turnbull (Edward Hogg) is a recluse tied down to his apartment with a set of habits. He hasn’t had any contact with the outside world in months, but is forced out of his daily routine with an infestation of mice. This somehow forces Stephen to deal with the memories which haunt him, his recollection of a road trip with his best friend, Bunny (Simon Farnsby). The two of them had escaped on a trip across Europe after Stephen had his heart broken, and is filled with all sorts of surreal adventures.

This road trip is a memory in Stephen’s mind, making everything even more exaggerated. There is an absurdity in the visuals which is fantastical and imaginative, just like the popular television show. It is inventive and fun, but not altogether clear if it is necessary. The film sometimes gets caught up in forcing humor with somewhat unlikable characters, which only makes the characters even more unlikable.

White Material Blu-ray review

Starring: Isabelle Huppert, Christopher Lambert, Nicolas Duvauchelle, Isaach De Bankole, William Nadylam
Director: Claire Denis
Format: DTS Surround Sound, NTSC, Special Edition, Subtitled, Widescreen
Language: French
Subtitles: English 
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Criterion Collection
DVD Release Date: April 12, 2011
Run Time: 105 minutes

            There is a ferocious intensity to each of the actions within White Material, even when nothing at all happens. Death is inevitable, as we are shown the demise of significant characters from the opening sequences, before jumping back in time. We know things will end badly in this film, and yet it is the time before it happens which is most harrowing. The characters are infuriatingly flawed, and we as an audience are forced to watch the events as they must unfold.

            Isabelle Huppert stars as French colonist Maria Vial, a woman who has raised a family in an unnamed African country with a questionably successful coffee bean plantation when suddenly civil war threatens to push them out. Although they are in an area inhabited by an army of rebel children, they are not much protection and hardly treat the foreigner with any welcome. Maria is taxed just to drive on the road near her house and her son Manuel (Nicolas Duvauchelle) is accosted by them. This is all despite the fact that their leader, known as The Boxer (Isaach de Bankolé), is hiding out wounded at the Vial coffee plantation.

            Somehow this information also makes it to the opposing army, and danger seem likely at every turn. Despite the pleas of other members of the family, Maria insists on staying and seeing the crop through. She wants to harvest when all of the rest of the colonials have long since fled the country. She is consistently referred to as “the white woman” in the film, and her son is accosted because of his blonde hair, which he responds alarming to. The unease of the white person in a volatile country may come some from writer/director Clair Denis’ own past, as she herself grew up as a French native.

            The 2009 film was digitally transferred for this Blu-ray release, under the supervision of Denis and her cinematographer, Yves Cape, along with a DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack. The special features include new interviews with Denis, Huppert and de Bankolé, a deleted scene and a short documentary done by Denis at the premiere of the film at the 2010 Ecrans Noirs Film Festival in Cameroon. There is also a booklet with an essay by film writer Amy Taubin. 

Somewhere film review

            Sofia Coppola seems to be trying desperately to revisit the success she had with Lost in Translation, once again telling a tale about a silent and irate looking actor. There is even a sequence in a foreign country where the actor looks uncomfortable as they are unclear of what is happening due to the language barrier. The only difference between films is that a near-romance is replaced with father-daughter relationship. Perhaps the reason Coppola keeps going back to this when writing and directing films is because she knows more about spending time with her father in expensive hotels ordering room service than anything else.

            Stephen Dorff stars as Johnny Marco, a movie star who doesn’t seem to do much of anything. He has the obligations for marketing and interviews which suggest a movie is soon to be released, but other than that he mostly lives a more depressing version of the lifestyle shown on “Entourage.” Things look up a bit when his 11-year-old daughter, Cleo (Elle Fanning) visits him. It breaks up the monotony of sleeping with random women and popping pain pills.

            Nothing much happens here, but maybe I’m just annoyed with Coppola’s style of filmmaking. Her films are beginning to annoy me. Somewhere isn’t bad, but it never really commits to anything other than showing us what it is like to have a famous father and to live in LA and travel to Italy. And it isn’t all that fun to watch.

Godzilla Blu-ray review

Rated: Unrated

Studio: Criterion Collection

DVD Release Date: January 24, 2012

Run Time: 96 minutes

            For those who don’t appreciate how closely the horror genre is tied with social and political commentary, Ishiro Honda’s Godzilla is all of the evidence needed to make an airtight case. The fact that Godzilla is a creature feature simply allowed for easier accessibility to audiences, both nationally and internationally, giving it a wider audience base for the poignant and timely horror story. This Japanese film is a cautionary tale about nuclear weapons, made in a country which had itself been ravished by the atom bomb during World War II. It is both ironic and fitting that Godzilla would also be released in 1956 as Godzilla, King of the Monsters, in the very country which had been responsible for the devastation of Hiroshima.

            The fire-breathing creature from the Jurassic period is awakened by H-bomb testing in the ocean, baptized in the waters of nuclear destruction and seemingly immune to the arsenal of humanity. As though Pandora’s box had been opened by the H-bomb tests, Godzilla wreaks havoc on the city that lay waste to civilization in a manner which looks familiar to the wreckage of Hiroshima. Even more fitting is the fact that Godzilla carries radioactive fallout in his path, making ill those who survive his path of destruction. This is far more than the camp of bad monster suits and the 28 sequels which became of the Godzilla franchise. This first film is a masterpiece, and one which was just as relevant as it was popular.

            Part creature-feature in the tradition of King Kong and part thoughtful and emotionally resonant melodrama about the difficult decisions which come with the creation increasingly destructive weapons, Godzilla is a complete picture. Just the same, when it was “Americanized,” Godzilla was completely re-cut with new footage and a superimposed American character, played by Raymond Burr. This comical manner of bringing the classic to Hollywood set the stage for the camp of later decades, but there is still a great deal of emphasis on nuclear destruction and fallout within the storyline.

            The high definition presentation of Blu-ray is somewhat of a double-edged sword, especially in terms of the effects. Although there are some undeniably effective sequences, it becomes easier to see the man within the monster suit in a few key shots which are enhanced in this pristine presentation. Not all of the images are perfect, however, as some have been worn down from years of use and are filled with irreparable scratches. The real highlight of the high definition is the sound, specifically Godzilla’s signature roar which is compiled of sound clips from an assortment of military arsenals.

           

            The Blu-ray includes both a high-defintion digital restoration of Godzilla and Godzilla, King of the Monsters. Both films have an audio commentary by film historian David Kalat, and there is also an illustrated audio essay by historian Greg Pflugfelder and an interview with Japanese film critic Tadao Sato. The package also has an insert booklet with an essay by critic J. Hoberman. And what a package this is, even containing a pop up Godzilla as the sleeves are unfolded. Additional special features include a number of interviews, both new and old, and a featurette about the effects within the film.

Dead Poet’s Society Blu-ray review

            Before Peter Weir gave Jim Carrey a chance to break out of the rubber-man routine he had become known for on “In Living Color” and the Ace Ventura franchise and into more dramatic roles following The Truman Show, he took a similar chance on Robin Williams. At the time, Williams was best known for comedy. In fact, he was essentially only known for comedy, which made him an unexpected choice for a key role in the extremely dramatic Dead Poet’s Society.

            Taking place in the rigid environment of a private boy’s school, Welton Academy, Dead Poet’s Society follows the changes which are inspired in the students with the arrival of an untraditional English professor named John Keating (Williams). His unconventional methods light a fire in the students, inspiring them to start a secret poetry club and take chances that they may never otherwise have had the courage for. With the motto “Carpe Diem,” and the promise of youth, this group of friends is given the opportunity to grow and the responsibility of hard decisions.

             The Blu-ray release of this depressing and inspirational classic features a high definition presentation like never before seen. The film itself has never looked better for home entertainment, and it comes packed with an assortment of special features as well. There is a retrospective featurette as well as some footage of raw takes from the filming. There is also a great featurette on the film’s cinematography, as well as one on the film’s sound with interviews by Weir and director David Lynch. Also included is a commentary track with Weir, Academy-Award-winning screenwriter Tom Schulman and cinematographer John Seale.

Starring: Robin Williams, Ethan Hawke, Josh Charles, Robert Sean Leonard, Gale Hansen 
Rated: PG 
Studio: Touchstone / Disney
DVD Release Date: January 17, 2012
Run Time: 129 minutes

Good Morning Vietnam Blu-ray review

Rated: R 
Studio: Touchstone / Disney
DVD Release Date: January 17, 2012
Run Time: 121 minutes

 

            If any filmmaker can lighten the Vietnam War into a comedy, it is Barry Levinson, and if any actor was capable of the fast-talking military deejay it was Robin Williams. Williams won a Golden Globe for his performance and it increased his popularity in a whole new field of roles. This would next include his performance in Dead Poet’s Society, also on Blu-ray this week. The 25^th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray release of Good Morning, Vietnam features all the bells and whistles of high definition, not to mention a film which is worth owning in the best quality.

            Williams stars as deejay Adrian Cronauer, a man who entertains the American troupes in Vietnam with the latest hits of the 1960s and his own unique style of comedy. This routine is extremely popular with the soldiers, and not as much with the superior officers. Cronauer hardly even seems attached to the war until he is caught in moments of violence from bombs placed in cafes and restaurants frequented by soldiers.

            There are some heavier moments within Good Morning, Vietnam, but the highlight of the film is the time spent on-air. It is the radio monologues which fuel the humor and the heart of the film, taking away a bit more than just the senseless violence which most Vietnam films display front-and-center.

            The Blu-ray special features include a six-part production diary which takes one the film’s production from its conception to a year after filming wrapped.  The highlight of the special features, however, is the inclusion of raw material from the radio program monologues. There are also two trailers.