“X” is the tenth studio album by Australian dance-pop singer (and gay icon) Kylie Minogue. It is Minogue’s first album released since she was diagnosed with breast cancer in May of 2005. The album has already sold over 669,000 copies worldwide so far. “X” was just nominated for the Best International Album at the 2008 Brit Awards ceremony.
Below I have posted both of Kylie’s new singles from her terrific new c.d. “X”. “In My Arms” is my second favorite single off of “X” behind “2 Hearts”. “Wow” is starting to grow on me thanks to the gay disco inspired music video. Check them both out and let me know what you think!
I read a review of this film that said; “Teeth is the most ruthless cautionary tale for men since Fatal Attraction..”, and boy was that a dead on summary. “Teeth” is an imaginatively demented horror-comedy that makes you extremely curious about director, screenwriter and producer Mitchell Lichtenstein’s next cinematic project, it is that original.
“Teeth” is definitely a tongue-in-cheek film that is more comedy than horror, but the gore level isn’t as extreme as you would think. Instead of obvious, childish dialog we are treated to a smart, tense and hilarious film with bite (excuse the pun). There are some great over the top moments of pure camp in this film, but otherwise “Teeth” is a fun, adult strange ride.
Brilliant newcomer Jess Weixler plays “Dawn” a girl who is a stranger to her own body. Dawn works hard at suppressing her budding sexuality by being the local chastity group’s most active participant. Dawn eventually discovers she has a toothed vagina when she becomes the object of violence. Towards the end of the film Dawn comes to terms with her “mutation” and the final few frames will have you cheering.
“Teeth” is a convincing film with a lot to say about the power of female sexuality and the cultural forces that try to stifle it. The film’s mix of being a macabre coming-of-age story and a social satire works on every level. Of course many guys will squirm in this film, but after years of being the easy victim in horror films the girls finally get their pay back in this film. Watch this movie with no preconceptions and I guarantee you will be surprised by it’s gross out charm.
I will be posting a list of streaming “unfamiliar” music acts that will be playing The Coachella Music Festival this coming April. I plan on attending this 3 day event so I should start my homework right away. The bands or singers below are just some of the acts that will be playing on day three of the festival. Check them out below:
When “Michael Clayton” was released in the fall of 2007 it was met with little fan fair from audiences, but critics loved the taught, intelligent legal thriller. The admiration for this film carried it through the winter and it received 7 Academy Award Nominations this past week. Actors George Clooney, Tilda Swinton and Tom Wilkinson all received deserved nominations as did Writer and Director Tony Gilroy.
Michael Clayton (George Clooney) is an attorney and former gambling addict employed as a “fixer” at a prestigious law firm in New York City. The crafty plot begins with a sudden jolt and then flashes back to four days earlier. Tom Wilkinson’s character Arthur works at the same law firm as Michael Clayton and the two are close friends. In the middle of a crucial deposition involving a class action lawsuit against the firm’s largest client’s “U-North”, Arthur suffers a serious mental breakdown.
Tilda Swinton plays Karen Crowder, U-North’s chief counsel, who takes Arthur’s briefcase from the deposition room and discovers that he has internal memorandums that prove the company’s liability for releasing cancer-causing chemicals. The rest of the film unravels with a meticulous and intelligent maturity that keeps you in its grasp until the explosive ending scene.
“Michael Clayton” is a dark, engaging drama that asks some difficult moral questions, but most of all it is a classy piece of filmmaking for adults. Michael Clayton is a very entertaining, engrossing and shrewd piece of crowd-pleasing storytelling. The sly marketing catch phrase, “The Truth Can Be Adjusted” says it all; this film is a gripping and poignant look at the corrupt legal system in America.
Part of my pop culture education has always been having to watch crappy films, bad TV shows and listening to horrible music for the sake of debate and argument. Now that I blog, it is necessary that I watch most of the high interest event shows and pictures so I can gauge the hype and buzz myself.
Most of the time the broo-ha-ha over a new show or movie is just that, hot air being blown up our asses by the big wigs in Hollywood. Well the writer’s strike has proven that this is a bad time for TV by any standards. “The Moment of Truth” on FOX is proof that the “end of days” is upon us. If there is a god, please help us all, this show is the worst that reality television can offer.
This show will go right up there with “Armed & Famous”, “Temptation Island” and “Black/White” as one of the worst ideas for a reality show ever put onto the small screen. How bad is it? Not only do you cringe and suffer, but you actually root for the people to get “busted” or caught in a lie. Basically, I felt dirty after watching this show.
DOUCHEBAG HOST MARK WAHLBERG
Some of you may ask how come I didn’t give this show an “F”? There were a few questions that really grabbed my attention, but then again, I am not too proud to say this. Douchebag host Mark Wahlberg (not to be confused with the hot Oscar nominated movie actor) asks a married personal trainer (while his wife is watching front and center on the stage);
“have you ever gone out of your way to look at another man’s privates while taking a shower at the gym?”….he answered slowly…“yes”.
That moment was priceless; the others were embarrassing and gross.
I will be posting a list of streaming “unfamiliar” music acts that will be playing The Coachella Music Festival this coming April. I plan on attending this 3 day event so I should start my homework right away. The bands or singers below are just some of the acts that will be playing on day one of the festival. Check them out below:
I plan on going to at least the Saturday and Sunday Coachella shows this April and I will review each act on this site. I am in love with Mark Ronson, Calvin Harris, My Morning Jacket, Dimitri From Paris, Simian Mobile Disco and have been waiting to see them forever!
Even though this set list is not as magical as years past, maybe it will just be more mellow and less hectic. Nothing will compare to the Daft punk/Madonna year though, nothing! Check out the list below and let me know what you think!
It is too obvious to call “Cloverfield” a mix between “Godzilla” and “The Blair Witch Project”. That may have been the pitch during the initial planning stages of this film, but I think “Cloverfield” stands alone in the creature feature genre. Every piece of this film is dripping with creativity and originality. “Cloverfield” is not your average monster movie, this film has got some brains and genuine laughs.
A lot of people will avoid this film because they feel the style is just a gimmick, or that the hand held cameras are irritating, but they would be missing out based on those assumptions. “Cloverfieldâ€? is at times a realistic and very frightening “popcorn flickâ€?, but the gore level isn’t as high as you would think. A lot of the tension in this film is caused from “the unknownâ€? or what is partially seen. But don’t worry, you get to see a lot of the monster!
“Cloverfield” runs under 90 minutes and you become completely enthralled with the action on the screen right away, the pulse pounding escapism is one of its best qualities. The “real time” video camera work done by one of the main characters is gritty and gives the freakishly real special effects the ability to blend into the realistic backgrounds and city neighborhoods being filmed.
The characters in this film are atypical, but the dialog crackles with wit and authenticity. The first few moments of destruction, mayhem and confusion prepare you for the overwhelming non stop action of the last 45 minutes.
Some scenes from “Cloverfield� will most likely remind folks of 9/11, these images add to the emotional punch when we see buildings being toppled over like matchsticks. The most eerie visuals in this movie are the tiny pieces of paper that are falling from the sky after a building collapses, an image we all have become too familiar with.
I personally loved the abrupt ending of this film. It made the film even more believable and shocking then the sappy happy endings of most Hollywood movies. The themes and destructive images in this movie are nothing new, but the mind fuck and scary creature effects make this a classic monster movie for geeks everywhere to rejoice its praises. “Cloverfield” is the first great event picture of 2008 and we still have the summer movie season to look forward to, hooray!
Heath Ledger, who was nominated for an Oscar for his performance in the critically-acclaimed movie Brokeback Mountain, has died! The Australian born actor was just 28. This is not only surprising, but very sad, Heath was a remarkable actor.
He was found dead at 3:26 p.m. in his downtown Manhattan residence, an NYPD spokesperson says. He was apparently scheduled to have a massage in his apartment this afternoon. Sources say the death may be drug-related and that there were pills scattered around the room.
Ledger had recently separated from his wife, actress Michelle Williams. The couple have one daughter, Matilda. He is appearing in the next installment of the “Batman” movie opposite Christian Bale as the infamous “Joker” and was in the midst of filming “The Imaginarium Of Dr. Parnassus.”
Other well-known films Ledger appeared in include, “10 Things I Hate About You”, “The Patriot,” “A Knight’s Tale,” and “Monster’s Ball.” Ledger would have turned 29 on April 4.
Best Picture: “Atonement,” “Juno,” “Michael Clayton,” “No Country for Old Men,” “There Will Be Blood.”
Best Actor: George Clooney, “Michael Clayton”; Daniel Day-Lewis, “There Will Be Blood”; Johnny Depp, “Sweeney Todd the Demon Barber of Fleet Street”; Tommy Lee Jones, “In the Valley of Elah”; Viggo Mortensen, “Eastern Promises.”
Best Actress: Cate Blanchett, “Elizabeth: The Golden Age”; Julie Christie, “Away From Her”; Marion Cotillard, “La Vie en Rose”; Laura Linney, “The Savages”; Ellen Page, “Juno.”
Best Supporting Actor: Casey Affleck, “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford”; Javier Bardem, “No Country for Old Men”; Hal Holbrook, “Into the Wild”; Philip Seymour Hoffman, “Charlie Wilson’s War”; Tom Wilkinson, “Michael Clayton.”
Best Supporting Actress: Cate Blanchett, “I’m Not There”; Ruby Dee, “American Gangster”; Saoirse Ronan, “Atonement”; Amy Ryan, “Gone Baby Gone”; Tilda Swinton, “Michael Clayton.”
Best Director: Julian Schnabel, “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly”; Jason Reitman, “Juno”; Tony Gilroy, “Michael Clayton”; Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, “No Country for Old Men”; Paul Thomas Anderson, “There Will Be Blood.”
Best Foreign Film: “Beaufort,” Israel; “The Counterfeiters,” Austria; “Katyn,” Poland; “Mongol,” Kazakhstan; “12,” Russia.
Best Adapted Screenplay: Christopher Hampton, “Atonement”; Sarah Polley, “Away from Her”; Ronald Harwood, “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly”; Joel Coen & Ethan Coen, “No Country for Old Men”; Paul Thomas Anderson, “There Will Be Blood.”
Best Original Screenplay: Diablo Cody, “Juno”; Nancy Oliver, “Lars and the Real Girl”; Tony Gilroy, “Michael Clayton”; Brad Bird, Jan Pinkava and Jim Capobianco, “Ratatouille”; Tamara
Jenkins, “The Savages.”
Best Animated Feature Film: “Persepolis”; “Ratatouille”; “Surf’s Up.”
Best Art Direction: “American Gangster,” “Atonement,” “The Golden Compass,” “Sweeney Todd the Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” “There Will Be Blood.”
Best Cinematography: “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford,” “Atonement,” “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly,” “No Country for Old Men,” “There Will Be Blood.”
Best Sound Mixing: “The Bourne Ultimatum,” “No Country for Old Men,” “Ratatouille,” “3:10 to Yuma,” “Transformers.”
Best Sound Editing: “The Bourne Ultimatum,” “No Country for Old Men,” “Ratatouille,” “There Will Be Blood,” “Transformers.”
Best Original Score: “Atonement,” Dario Marianelli; “The Kite Runner,” Alberto Iglesias; “Michael Clayton,” James Newton Howard; “Ratatouille,” Michael Giacchino; “3:10 to Yuma,” Marco
Beltrami.
Best Original Song: “Falling Slowly” from “Once,” Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova; “Happy Working Song” from “Enchanted,” Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz; “Raise It Up” from “August Rush,” “So Close” from “Enchanted,” Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz; “That’s How You Know” from “Enchanted,” Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz.
Best Costume: “Across the Universe,” “Atonement,” “Elizabeth: The Golden Age,” “La Vie en Rose,” “Sweeney Todd the Demon Barber of Fleet Street.”
Best Documentary Feature: “No End in Sight,” “Operation Homecoming: Writing the Wartime Experience,” “Sicko,” “Taxi to the Dark Side,” “War/Dance.”
Best Documentary (short subject): “Freeheld,” “La Corona (The Crown),” “Salim Baba,” “Sari’s Mother.”
Best Film Editing: “The Bourne Ultimatum,” “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly,” “Into the Wild,” “No Country for Old Men,” “There Will Be Blood.”
Best Makeup: “La Vie en Rose,” “Norbit,” “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End.”
Best Animated Short Film: “I Met the Walrus,” “Madame Tutli-Putli,” “Meme Les Pigeons Vont au Paradis (Even Pigeons Go to Heaven),” “My Love (Moya Lyubov),” “Peter & the Wolf.”
Best Live Action Short Film: “At Night,” “Il Supplente (The Substitute),” “Le Mozart des Pickpockets (The Mozart of Pickpockets),” “Tanghi Argentini,” “The Tonto Woman.”
Best Visual Effects: “The Golden Compass,” “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End,” “Transformers.”
Kate Nash is an English singer songwriter from Harrow, North London. She has been compared to Lily Allen because of their silly storytelling lyrics, the dry sense of humour and wit that fuels their songs as well as the distinctive lower-middle-class London accents they both have. But that is where the comparisons should end in my opinion.
Nash, who studied at the same performing-arts high school as Amy Winehouse, says she sees herself as a storyteller, and her raconteur chops are especially sharp on “Foundations,” where she chastises her sloppy-drunk crush for puking on her new sneakers. Nash makes dude-dissing fun on this bouncy cut, airing boyfriend gripes over sunny piano pop.
“Mouthash” sounds very familiar to Regina Spektor and other pixie-esque piano driven pop princesses of recent days. But the layered production over Nash’s Cockney-drawl gives way to a sweeping orchestra of pop magic. The same can be said for the spry and fresh “Pumpkin Soup”. The catchy beat and ripe chorus on this song are infectious and radio friendly.
“Merry Happy” is a Beatles sounding track with a Scissor Sister’s tambourine beat that will have you tapping your feet. Nash’s soft spoken singing voice has great storytelling warmth to it which is endearing. The subtle production values and home spun sound on “Made of Bricks” are a gems in a rotten music scene filled with hit platinum records by Soulja Boy and Josh Grobin.
Tunes like “We Get On”, “Dickhead” and “Shit Song” bring a smile to your face while delivering fun hooks and melodies. If you can get past the comparisons to other U.K. chart toppers and enjoy this c.d for the frothy piece of fun music it is then you will enjoy Kate Nash’s original point of view like I do.
“I look at people and I see nothing worth liking”…”I see the worst in people”…”I have a competition in me, I want no one else to succeed”…”I can’t keep doing this on my own, with these…people”. These are words uttered by Daniel Day Lewis’ electrifying character Daniel Plainview in the brilliant and awe inspiring film titled “There Will Be Blood”. “Blood” was written and directed for the screen by Paul Thomas Anderson (”Magnolia”, “Boogie Nights” and “Punch Drunk Love”).
Daniel Plainview embodies everything that this country was built on; the ambition to become wealthy and to succeed in business. Throughout “Blood” this standard of life is constantly being contradicted by the religious fundamentalism that this country claims it has based its morals and principles on. The whole film plays on the ideals of monetary success or spiritual resolution. It is easy to see in this movie that the choice of financial gain and faith are very similar, it is the balance of both that will destroy a man.
Daniel Day Lewis gives a performance that rocked me to my core, his fierce intensity and fine tuned method acting skills have never been so well executed, and his skills in “Blood” can easily be described as “mammoth” and tremendous in scale. This performance will stand out in my memory for years to come as one of the best male acting feats of recent history. I found myself feeling sympathy for this “devil” and the emotional investment paid of two fold in the end.
Paul Dano (“Little Miss Sunshine�) plays the priest Eli Sunday with a ferocious energy that is just as creepy, if not more evil, then Plainview’s greedy oil tycoon. Dillon Freasier gives a quiet but emotional turn as the orphan, and emotional pawn to Plainview, named H.W. H.W. is the closest we see Plainview get to love and this bond is devastating at certain points in this film.
I felt emotionally pummeled and shaken after this film unlike any other movie I put onto my favorite films of 2007 list (read that list by clicking here). The film’s score by Radiohead’s guitarist Jonny Greenwood is unnerving and keeps the film cohesive and eerily ominous. The music coupled with the gorgeous cinematography gives this film much deserved Oscar credibility and ups its chances for multiple nominations.
Relating to a flawed, complex and somewhat insane character like Plainview is what great filmmakers’ have the capacity to do with their art, this film moved me more than I can express. The plot details are not the main focus of this film; it is the underlined feeling that things are not far off on the screen from how we run our society today. Paul Thomas Anderson’s biggest triumph is making us see a bit of ourselves in the Plainview character. Anderson has created a gorgeous engulfing epic that will leave you speechless with horrified fascination from beginning to end.
WATCH THE “THERE WILL BE BLOOD” MOVIE TRAILER BELOW:
“Baby Mama” is an upcoming comedy film directed by Michael McCullers and starring Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Greg Kinnear, Dax Shepard, Maura Tierney, and Sigourney Weaver. By the looks of this hilarious trailer Tina Fey should be a big screen star. Her comedic genius is the stand out reason why I love her t.v. show “30 Rock”.
The plot of “Baby mama” centers on Fey’s character who is a successful and single 37 year old businesswoman who is finally determined to have a kid on her own. But her plan is thrown a curve ball after she discovers she has only a million-to-one chance of getting pregnant. Undaunted, the driven Kate allows a South Philly working girl (Amy Poehler) to become her unlikely surrogate.
Cloverfield Release Date: January 18th 2008 Director: Matt Reeves Cast:Mike Vogel, Lizzy Caplan, Jessica Lucas, T.J. Miller, and Michael Stahl-David The Buzz: If anything else, the top secret JJ Abrams produced monster movie had one of the best teaser trailers of all time. Will the movie be even half as good? We have no idea. The film follows a group of friends in New York City during one January night (January 18th) when some kind of monster attacks. The whole film is shot from the perspective of a consumer video camera that the college-age group bring along for the adventure.
Teeth Release Date: Spring 2008 Director: Mitchell Lichtenstein Cast: Jess Weixler, Adam Wagner The Buzz: Teeth is a black comedy horror film written and directed by Mitchell Lichtenstein. High school student Dawn works hard at suppressing her budding sexuality by being the local chastity group’s most active participant. Her task is made even more difficult by her bad boy stepbrother Ross McIntire’s increasingly provocative behavior at home. A stranger to her own body, innocent Dawn discovers she has a toothed vagina when she becomes the object of violence. As she struggles to comprehend her anatomical uniqueness, Dawn experiences both the pitfalls and the power of being a living example of the vagina dentata myth.
Jumper Release Date: February 15th 2008 Director: Doug Liman (Go, The Bourne Identity) Cast: Hayden Christensen, Samuel L Jackson, Diane Lane, Jamie Bell, Rachel Bilson The Buzz: A feature film adaptation of the Steven Gould series of novels about a genetic anomaly that allows a young man to teleport himself anywhere. He discovers this gift has existed for centuries and finds himself in a war that has been raging for thousands of years between “Jumpers� and those who have sworn to kill them. The film has been delayed, which is usually a bad sign, but the extensive mythology behind the story has held my interest.
Be Kind Rewind Release Date: January 23rd 2008 Writer/Director: Michel Gondy (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Science of Sleep) Cast: Jack Black, Mos Def, Danny Glover, Melonie Diaz, Mia Farrow The Buzz: Michel Gondry’s twisted comic tale of the magic of filmmaking. Jack Black plays Jerry, a junkyard worker who inadvertently causes his brain to become magnetized, leading to the unintentional destruction of all the movies in his friend’s (Mos Def) video rental store. In order to keep the store’s one loyal customer, an elderly lady with a tenuous grasp on reality, the pair re-create a long line of films, putting themselves and their townspeople into it. They become the biggest stars in their neighborhood. Rewind was originally scheduled for release in December 2007, but was pushed back to January. It is likely that the film was pushed back so that it can premiere at the Sundance Film Festival.
Horton Hears a Who! Release Date: March 14th 2008 Directors: Jimmy Hayward, Steve Martino Voice Cast: Jim Carrey, Steve Carell, Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill, Dane Cook, Jaime Pressly, Isla Fisher, Will Arnett, Selena Gomez, Amy Poehler, Dan Fogler The Buzz: Could this be the first great Dr. Suess inspired film since Chuck Jones’ The Grinch who Stole Christmas? Jim Carrey voices Horton the Elephant, who one day hears a cry from help coming from a speck of dust. Even though he can’t see anyone on the speck, he decides to help it. As it turns out, the speck of dust is home to the Whos, who live in their city of Whoville. Horton agrees to help protect the Whos and their home, but this gives him nothing but torment from his neighbors, who refuse to believe that anything could survive on the speck. Still, Horton stands by the motto that, “After all, a person is a person, no matter how small.� The computer generated animation looks top notch (almost Pixar quality even).
Harold & Kumar 2 Release Date: April 4th Directors: Jon Hurwitz & Hayden Schlossberg (Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle) Cast: John Cho, Kal Penn, Rob Corddry, Neil Patrick Harris, Eddie Kaye Thomas The Buzz: This stoner sequel follows the cross-country adventures of the pot-smoking duo as they try to outrun authorities who suspect them of being terrorists when they try to sneak a bong on board their flight to Amsterdam.
Speed Racer Release Date: May 9th 2008 Director: The Wachowski Brothers Cast: Emile Hirsch, Christina Ricci, Susan Sarandon, Matthew Fox, John Goodman, Scott Porter The Buzz: Based on the classic 1960’s Japanese animated series, The Wachowski Brothers (Matrix) direct the story of a young race car driver as he attempts to obtain glory, with the help of his family and the Mach 5, the advanced car created by his father. Emile Hirsch stars as Speed, Christina Ricci as Trixie, and Mathew Fox as Racer X. Even if you weren’t a fan of the tv series, all indications so far point to this being unlike anything ever seen before on the big screen. Here is a bit of trivia: Director Alfonso Cuarón was once attached to direct with Johnny Depp starring.
Iron Man Release Date: May 2nd 2008 Director: Jon Favreau (Elf, Made) Cast: Robert Downey, Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeff Bridges, Terrance Howard The Buzz: Jon Favreau’s big screen adaptation of the popular Marvel comic book character. Robert Downey Jr. plays Weapons designer Tony Stark, who is injured by shrapnel in his heart while in Afghanistan to introduce his new missile design. His captors order him to assemble a missile for them, giving him access to a workshop. He puts his creativity to use by assembling a bulletproof set of power armor, complete with pacemaker and flamethrowers, and uses it to free himself. Back at home, he becomes Iron Man, developing a flying suit with the red and gold scheme and advanced weapon capabilities.
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian Release Date: May 16th 2008 Director: Andrew Adamson (The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe) Cast: Liam Neeson (voice), Ben Barnes, Warwick Davis, William Moseley, Anna Popplewell The Buzz: Okay, so the first film lacked action, but Disney has promised to up the ante with Prince Caspian. This could be the film to jump-start the Summer.
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Release Date: May 22nd 2008 Director: Steven Spielberg (Raiders, Jaws, Every great movie from your childhood) The Buzz: Steven Spielberg directs the fourth installment of the Indiana Jones series. Harrison Ford is back, and so is Karen Allen as Marion Ravenwood. New to the production is Cate Blanchett as the bad girl, John Hurt as ??? and Shia LaBeouf as Indy’s greaser sidekick. Not much can be said about the storyline, as it is being kept tightly under wraps. George Lucas has said that Crystal Skull is more in tone with Raiders than any other film in the series.
The Sex & The City Movie Release Date: September 19th 2008 Director: Michael Patrick King Cast: Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Catrell, Kristin Davis, Cynthia Nixon The Buzz: The plot of the film revolves around the lives of the four main characters, four years after the time frame of the finale of the HBO series.
Get Smart Release Date: June 20th 2008 Director: Peter Segal Cast: Steve Carell, Anne Hathaway, The Rock, Alan Arkin, Terence Stamp, Masi Oka The Buzz: Steve Carell stars as Maxwell Smart in the big screen adaptation of the classic Mel Brooks comic spy television series. Anne Hathaway plays Agent 99, Dwayne Johnson plays Agent 23, and Alan Arkin is the Chief. I think this could be the next Austin Powers if done right.
Wall-E Release Date: June 27th 2008 Director: Andrew Stanton (Finding Nemo) The Buzz: Andrew Stanton developed WALL-E before Toy Story was made: the original idea was, “What if mankind evacuated Earth and forgot to turn off the last remaining robot?� After hundreds of lonely years of doing what he was built for, WALL•E (short for Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth-Class) discovers a new purpose in life (besides collecting knick-knacks) when he meets a sleek search robot named EVE. EVE comes to realize that WALL•E has inadvertently stumbled upon the key to the planet’s future, and races back to space to report her findings to the humans (who have been eagerly awaiting word that it is safe to return home).
The Dark Knight Release Date: July 18th 2008 Director: Christopher Nolan Cast: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, Aaron Eckhart The Buzz: Christopher Nolan’s follow-up to the highly acclaimed Batman Begins. Batman (Bale) raises the stakes in his war on crime with the help of Lieutenant Jim Gordon (Oldman) and District Attorney Harvey Dent (Eckhart). Batman sets out to dismantle the remaining criminal organizations that plague the city streets. The partnership proves to be effective, but they soon find themselves prey to a reign of chaos unleashed by a rising criminal mastermind known to the terrified citizens of Gotham as The Joker (Ledger).
Mamma Mia! Release Date: July 18th 2008 Director: Phyllida Lloyd Cast: Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan SkarsgĂĄrd, Amanda Seyfried The Buzz: Mamma Mia! employs the hit songs of famed pop group ABBA to tell the story of Sophie Sheridan a young girl who hopes to discover the identity of her father. On the eve of her wedding she brings three men from her mother past back to the Greek island they visited over two decades ago.
The Pineapple Express Release Date: August 8th 2008 Director: David Gordon Green (George Washington, All the Real Girls, Snow Angels) Cast: Seth Rogen, James Franco, Bill Hader, James Remar, Gary Cole, Rosie Perez The Buzz: Yes, another Judd Apatow produced comedy. Superbad co-writers Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg return with an action comedy about a stoner (Rogen) and his dealer (Franco) who are forced to go on the run from the police after the pothead witnesses a cop commit a murder.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Release Date: November 21st 2008 Director: David Yates (Order of the Phoenix) Cast: Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliffe, Jim Broadbent, Rupert Grint, Tom Felton The Buzz: As Harry Potter begins his 6th year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, he discovers an old book marked mysteriously “This book is the property of the Half-Blood Prince� and begins to learn more about Lord Voldemort’s dark past.
Star Trek Release Date: December 25th 2008 Director: JJ Abrams The Buzz: JJ Abrams restarts the Trek series at the beginning. Not much is known about the film other than it will feature a young Kirk and Spock in the early days of the Enterprise. Casting of young and comedic actors has worried long time fans, but producers have stated since the beginning that they are trying to attract a new audience to the series. Zachary Quinto as Spock, Eric Bana as the villain Nero, Zoe Saldana as Uhura, Anton Yelchin as Chekov, John Cho as Sulu and possibly Chris Pine as Kirk.
The Happening Release Date: June 13th 2008 Writer/Director: M. Night Shyamalan Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Zooey Deschanel, John Leguizamo
The Buzz: Say what you will about M. Night Shyamalan, but many of his detractors have admitted that The Happening is his best script since The Sixth Sense. A paranoid thriller about a family on the run from a natural crisis that presents a large-scale threat to humanity. The Happening will be released purposely on Friday the 13th.
The Incredible Hulk Release Date: June 13th 2008 Director: Louis Leterrier and Writer: Edward Norton
Cast: Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, Tim Roth, William Hurt, Tim Blake Nelson The Buzz: Edward Norton stars as Bruce Banner, in a non-sequel sequel to Ang Lee’s The Hulk. The Incredible Hulk is on the run, and the action is more intense in Edward Norton’s screenplay (that’s right, Norton also wrote the screenplay).
The X-Files 2 Release Date: Fall 2008 Director: Chirs Carter Cast: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson The Buzz: Due to the highly secretive nature of the project, very little is known about the movie’s plot. It is known that, unlike the first film, the plot will not focus on the series’ ongoing “mythology” and will instead be a standalone thriller/horror story, similar to many of the “monster-of-the-week” episodes that were frequently seen in the TV series.
Trailer Trash Release Date: August 22nd 2008 Director: Eli Roth The Buzz: An R-Rated feature film full of connected faux horror movie trailers. Eli Roth says he wants to make a film like “Monty Python and the Holy Grail,� which he considers “to be the greatest achievement in the history of cinema.� I, like many, really enjoyed the fake movie trailers which were attached to Grindhouse. And I’ve always been a fan of the short form film (ie short film) because if you don’t like it, just wait a few minutes and it will be over and another one will begin. Plus as Roth notes, you can make a trailer full of tentpole moments without all the exposition and connected story in between.
James Bond 22 Release Date: November 7th 2008 Director: Marc Forster (Stranger Than Fiction, Finding Neverland, The Kite Runner) Cast: Daniel Craig, Goran Visnjic, Judi Dench, Giancarlo Giannini, Jesper Christensen The Buzz: It’s Bond, what more can you say? Daniel Craig returns as agent 007. Not much is known about this film as of yet. All we do know is that this movie is going to be the first ever direct sequel to another official James Bond film (Casino Royale)
Where the Wild Things Are Release Date: October 3rd 2008 Director: Spike Jonze (Being John Malkovich, Adaptation) Cast: Forest Whitaker, Michelle Williams, Catherine Keener, James Gandolfini, Catherine O’Hare The Buzz: Every kid has read the classic illustrated Maurice Sendak book, about Max, a mischievous little boy, creates his own world - a forest in habited by fabulous wild creatures who crown Max as their ruler. Music Video turned filmmaker Spike Jonze has always created some visual and conceptual masterpieces. This is also Spike’s first feature film not written by Charlie Kaufman.
The Changeling Release Date: November 7th 2008 Director: Clint Eastwood (Million Dollar Baby, Mystic River) Cast: Angelina Jolie, John Malkovich, Riki Lindhome, Amy Ryan The Buzz: Jolie plays a woman whose son is abducted but retrieved; she suspects, however, that the returned child is not hers. The woman must then confront corruption in the LAPD. The story is based on true events in 1920s Los Angeles. The film is being produced by Ron Howard and Brian Grazer.
The Day the Earth Stood Still Release Date: December 12th 2008 Director: Scott Derrickson (The Exorcism of Emily Rose, Hellraiser: Inferno) Cast: Keanu Reeves (Matrix) The Buzz: A remake of the classic 1951 sci-fi action film by Robert Wise, which is considered one of the best Science Fiction films of all time (#7 on Arthur C Clarke’s List) and was debated for it’s religious symbolism and many interpretations. Bernard Herrmann score is also notable, partly because of its use of two theremins. The film is currently ranked #187 of all time on IMDb, with a 8.1 rating. Reeves will play Klaatu, an alien who arrives on Earth accompanied by a large humanoid robot named Gort, with a warning to world leaders that their continued aggression will lead to annihilation by species watching from afar.
And the following films are in production or being rushed into production before the strike, and couple possibly be released in Fall 2008, although there are no guarantees.
Zack and Miri Make a Porno Release Date: Fall 2008 (estimated) Writer/Director: Kevin Smith (Clerks, Chasing Amy) Cast: Jason Mewes The Buzz: Two friends, both in their late 20s and feeling various strains of adulthood, decide to launch an amateur porn studio — a knockout story for their upcoming high school reunion. I’m a huge fan of Kevin Smith’s work, and this sounds like a step back towards Chasing Amy, which is probably Smith’s best film to date.
Brüno: Delicious Journeys Through America for the Purpose of Making Heterosexual Males Visibly Uncomfortable in the Presence of a Gay Foreigner in a Mesh T-Shirt Release Date: 2008?? Director: Dan Mazer (Borat) Cast: Sacha Baron Cohen The Buzz: The follow-up to Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, follows Cohen’s third Da Ali G Show character Brüno, a gay Austrian TV reporter who interviews unsuspecting guests about topics such as fashion, entertainment, celebrities and homosexuality, with an emphasis on the latter as each interview progresses.
The Box Release Date: Fall 2008 (estimated) Writer/Director: Richard Kelly (Donnie Darko, Southland Tales) Cast: Sean William Scott, Cameron Diaz The Buzz: I, like many others, LOVED Kelly’s feature film debut Donnie Darko. I have yet to see his follow-up, Southland Tales, which has garnered far less acclaim. Based on the story “Button, Button� written by Richard Matheson (I Am Legend), the film surrounds a troubled married couple who find a small wooden box on their doorstep, which brings with it unforeseen fortune. Their good luck, however, comes at a price.
Australia Release Date: Fall 2008 (estimated) Writer/Director: Baz Luhrmann (Romeo + Juliet, Moulin Rouge!) Cast: Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman, David Wenham, Bryan Brown The Buzz: Luhrmann’s film is set in northern Australia prior to World War II and centers on an English aristocrat (Kidman) who inherits a ranch the size of Maryland. When English cattle barons plot to take her land, she reluctantly joins forces with a rough-hewn cattle driver (Jackman) to drive 2,000 head of cattle across hundreds of miles of the country’s most unforgiving land, only to still face the bombing of Darwin, Australia, by the Japanese forces that had attacked Pearl Harbor only months earlier.
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