movieguyjon

AFI FEST: Day 3 (Sunday)

Posted on November 9, 2010 by movieguyjon Blather Film 1

Confession time! I had never had crepes until today (Sunday). Yep, it’s true. To those of you who just gasped, I know. How could someone such as myself not have had crepes before? Well, I did and they were marvelous. Probably ate too much in the way of crepes, but that’s to be expected with something so wonderful. It’s with this sustenance that I was able to endure the harsh conditions of waiting in the evil Rush Line.

See, I’m not huge on awkward small talk. If I don’t really have anything to say, I’m not going to say it. I’m also probably not going to initiate small talk either. When I get into a line by myself, I zone out and go into my own little world. It’s a safe place where the outside world becomes a blur and I can reflect. Sometimes, I’ll pull out my phone and just get back to that wonderful internet. Well, this doesn’t seem to mesh well with a lot of the more friendly people in line who I had the fortunes of conversing with. Almost every situation involved the person standing or sitting next to me and making random observations in the hopes that I would acknowledge them and respond. Since none of them had the decency to talk above a mumble, I could only nod casually and go back to my phone.

I’m kind of a prick like that. I should clarify that if I’m with friends in line I’m quite chatty. That make things better? No. Okay. Jerks.

Did have one experience while in line for Heartbeats that was particularly interesting and didn’t involve me talking to anyone. It involved someone trying to give away his tickets to some screening I wasn’t going to. He waved them around and played the scalper game, laughing and saying he’d give these away for a measly fifteen dollars. This was the type of guy who wore faded baseball caps and button-up shirts a little too large for his frame. His jeans had painter’s splotches on them and were faded to light blue. Being a fan of darker colored jeans, I was quietly disgusted.

Someone in the line in front of mine got quite irate with this “fake scalper” and attempted to tell him off before leaving in a huff. In response, this guy went on a twenty minute rant against the person in line, claiming the guy was a real asshole and that he didn’t understand that it was all a joke. The rant bounced between accusatory and defensive in a potpourri of sentences that amused and irritated me. At one point I may or may not have used the twitters to express that the “joking” wasn’t all that funny to begin with and that perhaps the “joke” was infuriatingly unfunny to the person in line.

The guy next to me mumbled something about killing his mother, which I didn’t realize until later was him stating the title of Xavier Dolan’s previous film. Someone else in line awkwardly walked away.

Onto the day’s films!

Shorts Program 1

Successful Alcoholics
Directed By: Jordan Vogt-Roberts
Starring: Nick Thune and Lizzy Caplan
Rating: ★★★★☆

A very strong short film starring Lizzy Caplan. I thought it was rather funny and had a solid turn at the end. It was distracting hearing music from Little Miss Sunshine, however, during some of the more cutesy moments. Still, I liked it. You can see the trailer HERE or by clicking on the title.

I Love Luci
Directed By: Colin Kennedy
Starring: Camilla Rutherford, Colin Harris, Wilson the Dog
Rating: ★★★☆☆

A voyeurish look into the lives of two recovering drug addicts and a case of missing teeth. Cute until the end. :)

On Leave
Directed By: Asaf Saban
Starring: Daniel Bruk, Dalik Volinitz, Irit Gidron, Dana Keila
Rating: ★★★☆☆

A rather dark piece about a soldier on leave. It didn’t really fit with anything else in this set, but it was still a solid film. Just not my cup of tea.

Time Freak
Directed By: Andrew Bowler
Starring: Michael Nathanson, John Conor Brooke
Rating: ★★★★☆

A fun little short about time travel with two likable leads and a funny concept.

Photograph of Jesus
Directed By: Laurie Hill
Starring: Voiceover by Matthew Butson, Neil Armstrong voice by: David L. Hayles
Rating: ★★★★★

The only animated short film in this section. I thought it was the best short film of the bunch. You can find the short film HERE or by clicking on the title of the film.

The Savage Canvas
Directed By: Tim Hope
Starring: Julian Barratt, Bethmi Tikiribandra, Monsterrat Lombard, David Ashton
Rating: ★★★★☆

A very cute short film that pits a young writer versus a stubborn director. I thought it was rather cute and that the characters were really well-developed.

Heartbeats (Les Amours Imaginaires)
Directed By: Xavier Dolan
Starring: Monia Chokri, Niels Schneider and Xavier Dolan
Rating: ★★★★☆

Style and substance. The two met and you get this film. I don’t like to gush too much, but this film definitely deserves it. The story is simple, and gets fleshed out by excellent music taste and great camera work. Now I just need to go and see this fellow’s previous work so I can get a better look into his stylings and sensibilities. (Postscript: I would say this is the winner for the day and among my favorite for the entire festival) Did I mention that the music was really good? Yeah, that.

13 Assassins
Directed By: Takashi Miike
Starring: Kôji Yakusho, Takayuki Yamada and Yûsuke Iseya
Rating: ★★★★☆

I left the previous screening, well aware that I didn’t have a whole lot of time to reach the Rush Line for 13 Assassins. Sure enough, when I got there, the line extended rather far back and people were grumbling that “they might not make it.” Considering I had gotten in to the other things I rushed, I wasn’t 100% worried, but I was still kind of nervous. Thankfully, I got in and was able to sit where I wanted. The film started and what ensued was pretty much what I expected, except for the flaming bulls perhaps.

13 Assassins is a rather typical Samurai film, which takes it’s time getting us involved with the characters as they prepare to seek vengeance on a Shogun leader. Without this buildup, the ending could have been gratuitous and boring (not one to enjoy violence for violence’s sake). If you go to see this, there’s a specific scene that wowed me. You’ll know when you see it because it features a bunch of swords and one really swell swordplay.

Norwegian Ninja
Directed By: Thomas Cappelen Malling
Starring: Mads Ousdal, Jon Øigarden and Trond-Viggo Torgersen
Rating: ★★★☆☆

I’ve grown to be more open-minded about films, something my younger self would be very surprised by. That said, this film is strange. The premise is simple, sort of. Imagine if Ninjas from Norway filmed a propaganda film about their way of life. Since Ninjas from Norway tend to do ninja’y things primarily, their filmmaking draws heavily from films they watch. So, what we end up with is a incoherent piece of fun that will no doubt share shelf space with Black Dynamite.

That’s about the best I can do as far as a review goes.

(Stay tuned for Day 4 where I have trouble understanding the words that are coming out of this young girl’s mouth and where I experience OUTRAGE over a Yakuza film)

AFI FEST: Day 2 (Saturday)

Posted on November 8, 2010 by movieguyjon Blather Film 1

Getting to the Box Office was much easier on the second day. It helped to know where it was and that I could actually go in when I got there. As with the day before, I attempted to get the next day’s tickets but failed due to excessive site fail. Pity. Might have to wait in the Rush Line for Heartbeats and 13 Assassins.

After a much needed lunch, I got in line for the first film of the day to start. A few thoughts crossed my mind as I stood there, such as what to expect from a full day’s worth of films and if I’d be able to handle the marathoning.

Hahaha
Directed By: Sang-Soo Hong
Starring: So-ri Moon, Sang-kyung Kim and Ju-bong Gi
Rating: ★★★★☆

I can count the number of Korean films I’ve seen on one hand, and each one has been quite awesome. Of course, both films featured violence, mayhem and some moments of WTF. I went into Hahaha with an open mind, especially considering this was a straight relationship drama and not a super violent romp in the wild west or a WTF-inducing revenge flick. This film didn’t disappoint. The first thing that stood out to me was the structure of the film. Everything is told in flashback, with the present depicted in still photography. Each character gets a turn to tell their point of view and we’re never on one person’s story for too long.

The character work is strong too, and each actor gives a great performance. They manage to keep the film from feeling too melodramatic, and they each have their own little quirks that really paint the world they’re in.

I’d love to see this again when I get the chance, especially considering I had to duck out before the ending to get in line for another film. If you get a chance to see it, I suggest you do. Good stuff.

Pulsar
Directed By: Alex Stockman
Starring: Sien Eggers, Vincent Lecuyer and Matthias Schoenaerts
Rating: ★★★☆☆

This film is conflicting for me. The acting was superb and the ominous mood was masterfully handled. But since it was a slow burn with a rather ambiguous ending, I had a tough time getting into it. Not to mention I was quite tired from the other day’s screening, which combined with the slow burn equals the rating you see here. Would like to see this again at some point to see if my thoughts on this film change. Maybe a clearer head will appreciate the meandering near the end of the film.

Boy
Directed By: Taika Waititi
Starring: Te Aho Aho Eketone-Whitu, Ei Kura Albert and Taika Waititi
Rating: ★★★★☆

Out of all the trailers I saw before coming out to the fest, this one stood out the most. The film seemed like it would be a fun coming-of-age tale with quirky characters and some interesting locations. I remember even saying to myself that “this is going to be fun.” How right I was. The film started with the main character, Boy, stepping into frame and reciting his school report on both his dad and his love of Michael Jackson. Just this sequence alone was enough to hook me in.

The rest of the film kept in step with the opening and was a fun ride overall. I really enjoyed the performances and never felt them to be unbelievable. The father, played by director Taika Waititi, was a pure delight. It’s a role that would oftentimes be played very one-dimensional and here Waititi managed it well. Even in the some of the more ridiculous moments there was a tragedy to the character. I liked that.

The Weather Station
Directed By: Johnny O’Reilly
Starring: Pyotr Logachev, Vladimir Gusev and Sergey Garmash
Rating: ★★★☆☆

The Weather Station was a solid thriller with an interesting structure and good performances overall. There wasn’t really anything new brought to the table with this film, especially since we’ve seen thrillers like this before. But it was entertaining and I had fun seeing how the story resolved itself. The way the main character grew in the film from being a young brat to a strong protagonist was interesting and quite enjoy that he was rather unlikable at the start. A few things could have been handled better in the structure, but for what it was I had fun.

Julia’s Eyes
Directed By: Guillem Morales
Starring: Belén Rueda, Lluís Homar and Pablo Derqui
Rating: ★★★★★

Guillermo Del Toro came out before the screening to introduce the film. He mentioned that it had influences from Mario Bava (The Girl Who Knew Too Much) and various Dario Argento films (Deep Red, Opera, etc.). Not knowing that beforehand, I suddenly became super-stoked for this film. What followed was a really strong and creepy thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end. I don’t think I’ve been that stressed while watching a movie in awhile. Every moment the main character found herself alone and in the dark, I was in agony. Just goes to show that you don’t have to see ANYTHING to still feel scared.

Props to the cinematography, which is a homage to the aforementioned Argento films. Pretty much every cinematic trick that I loved from those films is in play here and there’s a particular scene in the end that’s tough to forget. There’s no question. You need to see this film!

(Stay tuned for Day 3, which has me delighted by crepes and short films and worried that I might not get into a movie about Shogun assassins!)

AFI FEST: Day 1 (Friday)

Posted on November 7, 2010 by movieguyjon Blather Film 0

I arrived at the Will Call line excessively early, which is to say that I arrived almost two hours before the screenings were supposed to start. Not entirely sure what to do or where to go, I milled around what looked like the Will Call booth. A few people had taken their seats behind the tables and the whole affair looked really fancy. I thought to myself more than once that this AFI Fest was in fact “really fancy.” A security guard walked over and I asked if this was the Will Call line. They said yes, and that I should stay in this area. When a regular pedestrian decided to pass through, the guard’s demeanor changed immediately and they told off the hapless wanderer. Heh.

After a few minutes of waiting, another security guard showed up. This one seemed more knowledgeable. He told those of us in the line that we needed to back up to the Will Call sign which was stationed boldly ten feet behind us. Line chaos ensued and we all reformed back at the new line. Somehow, I maintained the same spot.

Not too long after that I got bored and decided to check in to Foursquare. Noticed that a friend of mine had checked in and was in the nearby area. I texted to say I was waiting in line and they informed me that I was in the wrong one.

Oops.

We met up at the correct box office and I grabbed my myriad of tickets. The guy behind the desk was nice and made sure to hand me an envelope with my tickets so I could have a safe place to store them all. I’m not a very coordinated individual, so I spent a good chunk of my time between the box office and my first screening trying to get those suckers tucked away.

Free Radicals: A History of Experimental Film
Directed By: Pip Chodorov
Rating: ★★★★☆

I’m a little inconsistent and finicky when it comes to documentaries in general. I like being introduced into worlds I’m not familiar with and educated on their histories, but I have little to no patience for being preached at. It’s why I consider This Film Is Not Yet Rated a terrible film, even though it’s subject matter is fascinating. I’d rather get information that I can later tack an opinion onto than have opinions thrown at me about something I know little about.

Free Radicals is a history lesson, and I’m quite okay with that. Knowing nothing of experimental film, this was a fascinating journey through various artists

Saw 2/3 of the film before having to duck out for the rush line for Rubber. Very fascinating documentary on experimental film. Then again, I like documentaries that tend toward history lesson versus having a strict agenda. Perhaps the best parts out of what I saw were the shorts that we got to see in their entirety. When I get a chance, I want to try and see this again.

Rubber
Directed By: Quentin Dupieux
Starring: Stephen Spinella, Roxane Mesquida, Jack Plotnick
Rating: ★★★★★

Waiting in the Rush Line for this film was an interesting experience, and I think one that helped inform the film I was about to watch. Ahead of me were a large group of people that weren’t speaking English and laughing REALLY loudly, and behind me was a fellow and his father keeping strict count of the lines and trying to analyse their chances of making it in. The guy behind me mentioned once or twice that we should riot if we didn’t get in. His method of lighting garbage cans on fire and throwing them into the theater seemed like a terrible idea.

Why did I tell you that anecdote? It’s simple. No reason.

Rubber is a film whose main premise is that things happen for no reason. If you keep that in mind, you’ll enjoy the hell out of this film. The story is about people watching a movie about a rubber tire that can explode things with it’s mind. And that’s just the first twenty minutes. I wish I could formulate better what makes this film so great. It manages to poke fun at audience sensibilities and deconstruct B-movies all the while being a B-movie itself. The layers to this film pile on for a really fun and engaging experience. If you get a chance to see this film, don’t pass up the opportunity.

Cargo
Directed By: Ivan Engler
Starring: Anna-Katharina Schwabroh, Martin Rapold, Regula Grauwiller
Rating: ★★★☆☆

It’s tough to be harsh on this film, considering it’s troubled production history. At the same time, I can’t give this film that glowing of a review. Cargo is an ambitious film that gets lost in it’s pacing and inability to focus on one plot thread for too long. The visuals, which stand out the most here, are a treat and give you a real sense of scope. I don’t think I’ve seen a sci fi film recently that gives me quite the menace of space that this film did. And the sound work was exquisite at minimum. Every piece of metal groaned and wailed under the cold and the overall ambience really helped to sell the more terrifying parts of this film. The acting was top notch and I bought that these people lived within this world.

Given how long it took to make the film, it’s understandable that the focus of the film would get mired. Still, you have to marvel at the end result with a meager $2 Million budget. This is an impressive film, and I REALLY hope I can see the next Ivan Engler film soon…provided it’s not a Western Musical.

(Stay tuned for Day 2, in which I see the most films I’ve ever seen in a day and I discover just how influential Michael Jackson really is!)

Diagnosis: Film–Weekend of Nov. 5

Posted on November 5, 2010 by movieguyjon Blather Film Trailers 0

Moved the post to Friday so you could go straight from reading this to the theater. Isn’t that convenient? You can thank me later. Personally, I’m interested in seeing 127 Hours, Guy and Madeline and Making the Boys. I’ll probably try to see these after I finish up with AFI Fest. How about you? What are you planning to see this weekend?

	Due Date Directed By: Todd Phillips Written By: Alan R. Cohen Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Zach Galifianakis, Michelle Monaghan Release Date: Nov. 5, 2010 (3,200+ screens) Synopsis: High-strung father-to-be Peter Highman is forced to hitch a ride with aspiring actor Ethan Tremblay on a road trip in order to make it to his child’s birth on time. Thoughts: ANOTHER Z.G. FILM! ZOMG HE SO FUNNY! Diagnosis: Netflix Instant
	For Colored Girls Director: Tyler Perry Written By: Tyler Perry Starring: Janet Jackson, Anika Noni Rose and Whoopie Goldberg Release Date: Nov. 5, 2010 (2,127 screens) Synopsis: Each of the women portray one of the characters represented in the collection of twenty poems, revealing different issues that impact women in general and women of color in particular. Thoughts: Sounds like a serious outing from Tyler Perry. Don’t really follow him, but it looks like this will be a solid film. Diagnosis: Curious.
	Megamind Director: Tom McGrath Written By: Alan J. Schoolcraft & Brent Simons Starring: Will Ferrell, Jonah Hill and Brad Pitt Release Date: Nov. 5, 2010 (3,500 screens) Synopsis: The supervillain Megamind finally conquers his nemesis, the hero Metro Man… but finds his life pointless without a hero to fight. Thoughts: It’s like every other Dreamworks CG animated property in existence. I’d rather go back and watch The Incredibles. Diagnosis: Pass.
	127 Hours Director: Danny Boyle Written By: Danny Boyle Starring: James Franco, Amber Tamblyn and Kate Mara Release Date: Nov. 5, 2010 (4 screens) Synopsis: A mountain climber becomes trapped under a boulder while canyoneering alone near Moab, Utah and resorts to desperate measures in order to survive. Thoughts: Whoa. Danny Boyle is doing this? Yikes. Sounds like a must see to me. Also, James Franco. Diagnosis: Must see.
	Client 9: The Rise and Fall of Eliot Spitzer Director: Alex Gibney Written By: Alex Gibney Release Date: Nov. 5, 2010 (2 screen) Synopsis: An in-depth look at the rise and fall of New York Governor Eliot Spitzer, including interviews with the scandalized, former politician. Thoughts: I’m always on the quest to find documentaries about subjects I am not interested in. That way I can not watch them. Diagnosis: No, really. Will not see.
	Fair Game Director: Doug Liman Written By: Jez Butterworth and John-Henry Butterworth Starring: Naomi Watts, Sean Penn and Ty Burell Release Date: Nov. 5, 2010 (35 screens) Synopsis: Plame’s status as a CIA agent was revealed by White House officials allegedly out to discredit her husband after he wrote a 2003 New York Times op-ed piece saying that the Bush administration had manipulated intelligence about weapons of mass destruction to justify the invasion of Iraq. Thoughts: Seems like a by-the-numbers sort of film. Diagnosis: Meh.
	Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench Director: Damien Chazelle Written By: Damien Chazelle Starring: Jason Palmer, Desiree Garcia and Sandha Khin Release Date: Nov. 5, 2010 (1 Screen) Synopsis: For his feature debut, writer-director Damien Chazelle has fashioned a contemporary musical, shot in 16 mm black-and-white on the streets of Boston and New York. During the film’s opening credits, we learn that Guy (professional musician Jason Palmer), a trumpet player, and Madeline (Desiree Garcia), a grad student looking for work, have broken up. (MORE) Thoughts: A musical shot on 16mm. I don’t hear of that sort of thing often. Looks interesting. Diagnosis: Curious.
	Making the Boys Director: Crayton Robey Starring: Edward Albee, Mart Crowley and Michael Cunningham Release Date: Nov. 5, 2010 Synopsis: On the eve of the 40th anniversary of the Gay Rights Movement, the film explores the drama, struggle and enduring legacy of the first-ever gay play and subsequent Hollywood movie to successfully reach a mainstream audience. Thoughts: Seems like an interesting and educational documentary. Diagnosis: Curious.

My Week In TV: Oct. 24-30

Posted on October 29, 2010 by movieguyjon Blather TV 0

Solid episodes from the shows I’m watching this week. Perhaps the standout of this week comes from Boardwalk Empire, with the worst offender of the bunch being both the Not!Fringe episode and the lackluster Weeds episode. Seriously, I have some guesses as to how the season is going to end and I hope to Christ it throws me a curve ball. Community was a riot as usual and No Ordinary Family is still pulling me in with solid writing and engaging characters. Check it!

Boardwalk Empire: S1 x 06 – Family Limitation ★★★★☆

We get some serious mobster schtick this week in Boardwalk Empire and it’s all from the Chicago crew. I admittedly squee’d in delight when I saw the pictured characters gun down their adversaries in as close to a Scorsese fashion as possible by someone NOT Scorsese. The guy playing Al Capone plays the role well. I’m interested in seeing how this progresses in paralel to the Atlantic City plot with Nucky Thompson. Also at the forefront is Eli and her sudden attention from Nucky himself and what that means for her life. Seriously, if you aren’t watching this show, you need to be!

Community: S2 x 06 – Epidemiology ★★★★☆

Last year’s Halloween episode was epic, and the clip of Abed as Batman has been played on my computer COUNTLESS times. While this episode wasn’t as groundbreaking, it served perhaps THE MOST HILARIOUS sequence I’ve seen in awhile. Let’s just say it involves an old horror film trope I don’t particularly like and it involves an animal that the internet at large likes. Anyway, laughed my ass off. The rest of the episode was solid and the references were clever.

Terriers: S1 x 08 – Agua Caliente ★★★★☆

If there’s one thing that Terriers has going for it, it’s the depth that’s been given to all of the characters. So, when a rather straight-forward and predictable episode like this one comes along, it’s nice that we ACTUALLY CARE about the characters. A worthy follow-up to last week’s heartfelt and heavy episode.

No Ordinary Family S1 x 05 – No Ordinary Quake ★★★★☆

No Ordinary Family gets a lot of flack for not being what the hardcore nerds want it to be. The problem is that everyone expects this to be THE NEXT HEROES or HEROES EQUIVALENT. It’s got super-powered individuals so NATURALLY the themes need to be complex and the situations harsh and gritty. Problem is that this is a family-oriented super hero series on ABC. As far as that genre is concerned, this show is television gold. The characters are decently written and played by charismatic and likable actors. No exception in this episode, which continues the Powell’s struggle to figure out their lives as a family with super powers. The message that Jim delivers to his son J.J. is thematic gold and makes up for the relatively little danger the family finds themselves in.

It makes a lot of sense that the Powell family hasn’t found themselves in considerable danger yet. They’ve been by and large under the radar, and the bad guys have been working behind the scenes. The Powells haven’t come across the decision to become the gung-ho good guys yet and I appreciate that they haven’t had to address that yet. They’re just a young family going through life.

All that aside, this beats the shit out of anything in Heroes past season 1.

Weeds: S6 x 10 – Dearborn-Again ★★★☆☆

There’s really nothing new in this episode and it’s frustrating. We’re almost done with the season and all the Newmans have done is flounder around on one giant road trip. The introduction of a potential parental unit was interesting, but it wasn’t enough to keep me from using this episode as white noise while I wrote. Also, what an utter waste of Richard Dreyfuss. Absolutely no chemistry between him and Mary Louise-Parker, which makes their backstory almost impossible to buy. As is custom for Weeds, the malevolent good guys are onto them and we get a glimpse as to what to expect in the next few episodes with the Feds and their search for the Botwins.

Not!Fringe: Episode Something-Or-Other ★☆☆☆☆

An improvement from last week, but still utterly terrible. It’s obvious that there was an attempt this time, as we were given a look into the Not!Other Dimension and how things worked on that side.

*sigh*

Next week can’t arrive fast enough.

Diagnosis: Film–Weekend of Oct. 29

Posted on October 26, 2010 by movieguyjon Blather Film Trailers 0

Fairly decent week for films, although the only one with significant release is one I’m least interested in seeing. Seriously, I hope the trailers for Saw 3D are correct when they say that this is the final chapter. Time for some new torture horror, people! I REALLY need to try and find a way to see the documentary on The Magnetic Fields.

Am I the only one who could use a week of no film releases to catch up on the plethora of films I need to catch up on? Anyone? Yeah? No?

	Saw 3D Directed By: Kevin Greutert Written By: Patrick Melton & Marcus Dunstan Starring: Tobin Bell, Costas Mandylor, Betsy Russell Release Date: Oct 29, 2010 (2,700 screens) Synopsis: As a deadly battle rages over Jigsaw’s brutal legacy, a group of Jigsaw survivors gathers to seek the support of self-help guru and fellow survivor Bobby Dagen, a man whose own dark secrets unleash a new wave of terror. Thoughts: Lost interest in the series after Saw 2. Diagnosis: Ugh. What I just said. PASS.
	The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest Director: Daniel Alfredson Written By: Jonas Frykberg Starring: Michael Nyqvist, Noomi Rapace, Lena Endre Release Date: Oct 27, 2010 (130 screens) Synopsis: Lisbeth is recovering in a hospital and awaiting trial for three murders when she is released. Mikael must prove her innocence. Meanwhile, Lisbeth is plotting her own revenge against the people who put her in this situation. Thoughts: I really enjoyed the first film in the series and want to see the remaining two parts, even though I’ve been hearing they aren’t nearly as good as the first. Diagnosis: Must See.
	Inspector Bellamy Director: Claude Chabrol Written By: Odile Barski, Claude Chabrol Starring: Gérard Depardieu, Clovis Cornillac, Jacques Gamblin Release Date: October 29, 2010 (1 screen) Synopsis: A well known Parisian inspector becomes involved in an investigation while on holiday. Thoughts: I like mysteries. I am on a foreign film kick. The trailer grabbed me. Diagnosis: Curious.
	Monsters Director: Gareth Edwards Written By: Gareth Edwards Starring: Whitney Able, Scoot McNairy Release Date: October 29, 2010 (2 screens) Synopsis: Six years after Earth has suffered an alien invasion a cynical journalist agrees to escort a shaken American tourist through an infected zone in Mexico to the safety of the US border. Thoughts: I REALLY want to see this movie. Diagnosis: Yep. This.
	Strange Powers: Stephin Merritt and the Magnetic Fields Director: Kerthy Fix, Gail O’Hara Release Date: October 27, 2010 (1 screen) Synopsis: Songwriter Stephin Merritt is known as “the Cole Porter of his generation” for his memorable melodies, lovelorn lyrics and wry musical stylings. Shot over a period of 10 years, “Strange Powers: Stephin Merritt and the Magnetic Fields” explores his friendship with his longtime bandmate and manager Claudia Gonson. Through his recording and songwriting process, the film traces a 20-year career that has yielded one of the most engaging bodies of work in the contemporary American songbook. Thoughts: My favorite musician ever..in a documentary. Diagnosis: Must see. You have no idea.
	Waste Land Director: Lucy Walker, Karen Harley Release Date: October 29, 2010 (1 screen) Synopsis: What happens in the world’s largest trash city will transform you. Thoughts: Kind of interested in seeing this. The trailer grabbed me, for the most part. Diagnosis: Curious to see.
	Welcome to the Rileys Director: Jake Scott Written By: Ken Hixon Starring: James Gandolfini, Kristen Stewart, Melissa Leo Release Date: October 29, 2010 Synopsis: On a business trip to New Orleans, a damaged man seeks salvation by caring for a wayward young woman. Thoughts: The trailer gives me the impression this movie is trying too hard. That said, I would probably see it if it were on Netflix Instant. Diagnosis: Will Netflix it.
	Wild Target Director: Jonathan Lynn Written By: Lucinda Coxon Starring: Bill Nighy, Emily Blunt, Rupert Grint, Rupert Everett Release Date: October 29, 2010 (4 screens) Synopsis: A hitman tries to retire but a beautiful thief may change his plans. Thoughts: Sometimes a cast list is all that’s required to grab my interest and make me want to see a film. They had me at Bill Nighy. Diagnosis: Want to see.

My Week In TV: Oct. 17-23

Posted on October 22, 2010 by movieguyjon Blather TV 0

Going to change things up a little this week in terms of the format. Instead of writing these out in alphabetical order based on the show name, I’d like to write them out in rating order, putting the best at the top and the worst at the very end. That said, it was a better week for TV than the last and I was more engaged with the shows in general. I hope the coming weeks can see the same or better.

Terriers: S1 x 07 – Missing Persons ★★★★☆

This is A GREAT episode. The writing is superb and the character work between Hank and Steph is both moving and tragic. Can’t really gush too much without spoiling, but this is easily the best episode of the bunch this week.

Community: S2 x 05 – Messianic Myths and Ancient Peoples ★★★★☆

It’s not a billion laughs a minute, but it’s interesting character work. Shirley gets to step into her own and deal with her place amongst the godless youth at Greendale. Pierce gets an interesting sub-plot with Jeff and Brita. There’s only one complaint that I have for this episode and it’s a joke that doesn’t make sense for Shirley’s character. Other than that, another great episode from a crew that seems to get my sense of humor.

Boardwalk Empire: S1 x 05 – Nights in Ballygran ★★★★☆

I was wondering if we’d get an Eli-centric episode. She’s an interesting character and I was hoping we’d be able to get back to her point of view in the story. After all, she’s fighting the good fight against alcohol and the only challenge that she faces is the very man (Nucky) who helped her out. Quite an interesting twist at the end. I’m curious to see how this complicates matters. Highlight of the episode: Nucky’s brother in a kilt, bombing a speech completely. I hope we get an episode with him down the road.

Weeds: S6 x 09 – To Moscow, And Quickly ★★★★☆

Nancy is going through change. She’s coming to grips with being a failure as a mom and by the end of this episode things get rather clear for her. Interestingly enough, we get another look at who might care that the Botwin family did some bad business in the previous season. The humor was subdued some in this episode, but the character work was good and it was nice to see the Botwin brothers together after the aforementioned bad business. A bunch of likable assholes these people are.

No Ordinary Family S1 x 04 – No Ordinary Vigilante ★★★★☆

A strong episode for a show that’s starting to find it’s feet. It’s not without it’s cheese and far-fetched plot this time through, but I bought the events as they played out and thought the character development was strong. Chiklis and Benz are great in this and a treat to watch. While it might not be the pinnacle of subtle writing, this episode is a worthy contender with everything else this week. Except maybe…

Not!Fringe: Episode Whatever ☆☆☆☆☆

A poorly constructed non-episode from a rather uninspired non-crew. You’ll remember that these assholes were the ones in charge of that Non-Doctor Who episode where the Non-Statues didn’t do a damn thing. Yeah, folks. It was THAT bad. I’m going to go punch myself in the face to try and clear my mind of this non-monstrosity. J.J. Abraham, you should be ashamed of yourself.

Diagnosis: Film–Weekend of Oct. 22

Posted on October 18, 2010 by movieguyjon Blather Film Trailers 8

There’s not a whole lot to see this week, which is good because that means I can catch up on the plethora of films I have been meaning to see. The standout trailer this week was for The Taqwacores, and the least interesting trailer was that of Paranormal Activity 2. The rest didn’t grab me a whole lot. Think you might see any of these films this week? If so, I’m curious to hear what you think.

	Boxing Gym Directed By: Frederick Wiseman Written By: Frederick Wiseman Starring: Genre: Documentary Release Date: Oct 22, 2010 (NY) Synopsis: Explores the world of a boxing gym in Austin, Texas, dwelling on the discipline of training as people from all walks of life aspire to reach their personal best. Diagnosis: Not much of a gym person so this aspect of how people live is interesting to me. Curious to see.
	Inhale Director: Baltasar Kormakur Written By: Walter Doty, John Claflin Starring: Dermot Mulroney, Diane Kruger, Sam Shepard, Vincent Perez, Rosanna Arquette, Jordi Molla Genre: Thriller Release Date: Oct 22, 2010 (NY, LA) Synopsis: A couple goes to dangerous lengths to find a lung donor for their daughter. Diagnosis: Great. Another family willing to go to dark places to save their child. Pass.
	Kalamity Director: James M. Hausler Written By: James M. Hausler Starring: Nick Stahl, Jonathan Jackson, Christopher M. Clark, Beau Garrett, Robert Forster, Alona Tal Genre: Thriller Release Date: October 22, 2010 (NY) Synopsis: After a recent breakup, Billy returns to his hometown to find something is not quite right with his best friend. Diagnosis: I’m not entirely grabbed by the trailer. Pass.
	Knucklehead Director: Michael W. Watkins Written By: Bear Aderhold, Tom Sullivan Starring: Mark Feuerstein, Wendie Malick, Will Patton, Saul Rubinek Genre: Comedy Release Date: October 22, 2010 (limited) Synopsis: After con artist Eddie Sullivan (Feuerstein) incurs a large debt with a local criminal ringleader, he creates a get-rich-quick scheme and enlists a sweet gentle giant named Walter as his unwitting accomplice. Diagnosis: I was into the idea until the poo joke at the end of the trailer. Pass.
	Paranormal Activity 2 Director: Tod Williams Written By: Michael R. Perry Starring: Katie Featherston, Gabriel Johnson Genre: Supernatural Thriller Release Date: October 22, 2010 Synopsis: After experiencing what they think are a series of “break-ins”, a family sets up security cameras around their home, only to realize that the events unfolding before them are more sinister than they seem. Diagnosis: The first one was nothing special. This trailer is the same. Pass.
	Punching the Clown Director: Kip Williams Written By: Henry Phillips, Gregori Viens Starring: Henry Phillips, Ellen Ratner, Matthew Walker, Wade Kelley, Audrey Siegel, Evan Arnold, Mik Scriba, Mark Cohen, Guilford Adams Genre: Comedy Release Date: October 22, 2010 (NY) Synopsis: Winner of the Audience Award at the 2009 Slamdance Film Festival, this uproarious and smart new comedy tells the story of Henry Phillips, a hapless modern day troubadour who grinds his way through the heartland, living out of his car and singing his twisted satirical songs to anyone who will listen. Diagnosis: I WAS into the shit joke in this trailer. Curious to see.
	Rising Stars Director: Daniel Millican Written By: Daniel Millican Starring: Fisher Stevens, Barry Corbin, Catherine Mary Stewart, Graham Patrick Martin, Kyle Riabk, Leon Thomas III, Jessie Payo Genre: Drama Release Date: October 22, 2010 (limited) Synopsis: Challenged with creating songs and music videos, three musical acts find more than their futures on the line when the competition gets fierce and their lives are caught on tape broadcast to the nation. Egos clash and worlds collide as these teens find how far they will go to win the coveted prize and achieve stardom. Diagnosis: I switched tabs after about 30 seconds into the trailer. Just doesn’t grab me. Pass.
	The Taqwacores Director: Eyad Zahar Written By: Eyad Zahar, Michael Muhammad Knight Starring: Bobby Naderi, Noureen DeWulf Genre: Drama Release Date: October 22, 2010 (limited) Synopsis: Yusef is a first-generation Pakistani-American engineering student who moves off-campus with a group of Muslim punks in Buffalo, New York. His new “un-orthodox” housemates soon introduce him to Taqwacore – a hardcore, Muslim punk rock scene. As the seasons change, Taqwacore influences the house more and more. The living room becomes a mosque during the day, while it continues to host punk shows at night. Ultimately, Yusef begins to challenge his own faith and ideologies. A powerful and original story of punk Islam in the USA and the discovery of oneself within the confines of religion. Diagnosis: The premise seems interesting and I am always curious to watch portrayals of punk culture in film. Curious to see.

On Those Stupid Outline Thingies

Posted on October 16, 2010 by movieguyjon Blather Film My Life Screenwriting Writing 0

5.1 GB left of 8.7 GB. I’ve been sitting at my computer for a little bit now, staring at the progress bar in the hopes that it will magically move faster and faster in the ensuing moments. Since I’ve been doing this for a bit now (like I just said), it’s probably safe to assume that it’s going to take even longer to finish. So while the download is doing it’s thing and pissing me off, I figured I would jot down some thoughts in a stream of conscious manner to break the monotony of my latest string of “well-organized” posts.

In short, I want to talk about outlines.

I hate outlines. I hate writing outlines and I hate thinking about them. I come from a method of writing that involves turning on the writing program of choice and just vomiting as many words out as I can, hoping to touch upon a compelling narrative or two in the process. I like saving that organization thing for the second draft, where I have to put thought into stuff like theme or why making the side character a cat instead of a man is hilarious. No, really. It’s funny as hell.

But lately I’ve started to change how I see the writing process. Call it a writer’s puberty, if you will. Suddenly, I find that I can’t write anything unless it’s got a preset structure going in. Something that would have simply been a sit-and-write before has now become an exercise in meticulous planning. The change happened with the last script I wrote (which I have YET to revise). I decided to do things different from my usual method and write out an outline to focus my writing and get things done in a shorter period of time.

Well, it worked. In fact, it worked so great that I got it in my brain that outlining was a good thing. Now I can’t write any kind of story without drafting up a roadmap of all the things that need to happen in the story. The problem here is that I’m still the person from before who needs to jump right in and start hammering on the keyboard like there’s no tomorrow. I still need that freedom to take the story anywhere and develop the characters as I go along.

4.5 GB left.

God, I really hate outlines. I should probably finish the one I’ve started for my horror film.

My Week In TV: Oct. 10-16

Posted on October 16, 2010 by movieguyjon Blather TV 0

Community and Fringe were perhaps the highlights of this rather uninspired week of television. I hope things pick up for these other shows in the weeks to come. No new Fringe until November. That means this post will be shorter next week. *frowns*

Boardwalk Empire: S1 x 04 – Anastasia ★★★☆☆

This episode was a bit of a step down from the previous in that there wasn’t a whole lot that happened and there wasn’t a whole hell of a lot of character development. There was a bunch of setup, so I imagine that things established here will be resolved later. Still, they could have at least done more to make it interesting.

Community: S2 x 04 – Basic Rocket Science ★★★★★

Community is my favorite show on television right now. Not many are able to balance the comedy and pop culture references with the heart and character development like this show does. And this episode is right up there among my favorites for this series, being a smart parody of Apollo 13 and most other space mission films in existence. Kudos.

Fringe: S3 x 04 – Do Shapeshifters Dream of Electric Sheep ★★★★☆

Another strong episode of the best sci-fi show out now. We’re back to the regular universe as “Fauxlivia” finds herself under a bit of scrutiny for being different since the season finale. Considering she’s not the real Olivia, it makes sense that she would have some problems portraying her original counterpart. It’s nice that they haven’t outed her as the fake yet. If this were in anyone else’s hands, we might have them guessing right away and her running off into the distance firing her weapon and swearing. Thankfully, everyone is still convinced that she’s the real deal. Great title. It plays well into the story and reminds me of a good book I read awhile back. Heh.

No Ordinary Family S1 x 03 – No Ordinary Ring ★★★★☆

This show is getting better with each episode and I much enjoyed this step back to develop the characters rather than focus on the bad guys. Granted, there were still bad guys in the episode, but they weren’t the focus. The crux of this arc seems to be the Powell family coming to grips with their powers. I wouldn’t mind keeping the bad guy quotient low if it meant fleshing these characters out even more. I’ll admit in the beginning that I was skeptical of the super powers that were chosen for these characters, but it works and makes sense by this episode. I say it’s worth sticking with for now.

Terriers: S1 x 06 – Ring-a-Ding-Ding ★★★☆☆

An episode about a ring with predictable twists and turns and a bit of a melodramatic ending. Not my favorite in the bunch and if the previous episodes hadn’t been as good as they were, I’d probably put the show on notice. Still, the characters are compelling. Basically, a light and fluffy episode when I expected a little more meat.

Weeds: S6 x 08 – Gentle Puppies ★★★☆☆

Nancy finally gets it on after a few episodes of frustration and everything going completely wrong. Andy, meanwhile, is up to his usual hilarious antics and everyone else plays along. It’s a pretty straightforward episode, and still a fun ride for the most part. I’m kind of curious if they have some kind of payoff in mind this season or if it’s just going to end. They’ve brought in the feds, but we’ve only seen them in the opener of an episode.