new Robin Williams movie

Let’s face it, there hasn’t been a decent Robin Williams movie in a long time.  Which makes me all the more excited about this movie, because it actually looks promising.  I hope it is.  Here’s a reminder of a really excellent Robin Williams film:

“Moon” – movie review

Ok so I’m going to attempt to give a review of the movie “Moon” without any spoilers.  But be warned, I may screw up and spoil something, so FYI in advance.  Click the pic above to watch the trailer.

“Moon” was a phenomenal movie starring Sam Rockwell and directed by Duncan Jones AKA David Bowie Jr.  In the film Rockwell plays the character “Sam” who is contracted by Lunar Industries  to stay on the moon for 3 years mining “Helium-3″ – a particle that helped create clean and abundant energy back on Earth.   Except for a robotic companion named Gerty (voiced by Kevin Spacey) Sam is all alone.  Left behind on Earth are his wife and daughter, whom he misses very much.  Sam is about to wrap up his 3-year duration and at last end his isolation when, while on a routine check on the moon’s surface, he discovers someone else, someone that seems quite familiar.  That’s all I can say on the plot without massive spoilage and believe me, this is one movie you do not want spoiled!

What I can say is that this movie is a welcomed breath of originality in a summer filled with sequels, eye-candy, and Bruno, which I’m pretty sure warrants its own category.  Make no mistake, this is an original hard science fiction movie, but one that is done tastefully and with heavy attention to emotion and character.  The movie hinges on Sam Rockwell’s performance and he manages to pull it off pitch-perfectly, hitting subtle nuances of loneliness and possible near-psychosis that can be pretty heart-breaking to watch.  The movie also focuses on the idea of “identity” – who we are and the “value” of our lives.  I know that sounds like a lot for one film, but it really is all there in this one.  Certainly check it out if you’re in the mood for something different and thought-provoking.

Geek News Galore

In preparation for the upcoming (ie: tomorrow) new Ghostbusters video game that is also a Ghostbusters sequel (squee!) I’ve found these incredibly nerdy yet also interesting articles on overhtinkingit.com.  The first one examines a very risky financial business plan for starting-up the Ghostbusters.  The second link is a somewhat comparison between Ghostbusters 2 and the beginnings of the AIDS epidemic.  It doesnt say that any of the comparisons were intended, but they are quite interesting nontheless.

JCVD – Review

So, I’m not the biggest Jean Claude Van Damme fan in the world.  Sure, Bloodsport was awesome, and as much flak as I get for it, I actually liked the Street Fighter movie (c’mon, Raul Julia was in it! Gomez Adams!) .  But after the horribleness that was Double Team, I gave up on him.  Rampant reports of cocaine use only added fuel to the fire.  He’s recently been showing up again, off the coke and in some decent movies such as In Hell so, being as I hadn’t completely written him off, I decided to give JCVD a chance.  Man, was I surprised.  Not only can he act, but he can act very well, and does a great job in this role.  In the film, Van Damme plays a fictional-ish version of himself, a washed up actor who is losing his roles to Steven Seagal and just recently lost his kid to his ex-wife.  Things aren’t looking up for him when he returns to Belgium and, going to the bank, stumbles upon a bank heist.  Through some confusion, the police believe him to be mastermind behind the bank robbery and it goes from there.  Sounds pretty basic, but the plot is really a vehicle for Van Damme to vette a bit on his life, foibles and all.  In one very Charlie Chaplin-Great-Dictator-esque scene, he even goes so far as to address his drug problems and the pitfalls of international superstardom.  All of it feels very real and gritty, and I can applaud Jean Claude for having the balls to do a role like this. 

The film is backed by great production value.  Sound and music is all top notch with a very mo-town/funky score.  Occasionally the film is a bit too needlessly indie for my taste, but it can be overlooked because of the great content.  It’s certainly worth the price of admission and worth looking into.

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” Now who wants to go home? AND WHO WANTS TO GO WITH ME?!?”

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PS: This is funny:

Funny People trailer

Watch this:

Now. Let’s examine the good things about this trailer ala bullet-point style:

• Judd Apatow
• Seth Rogen
• Adam Sandler and it NOT being a kids movie
• Jason Schwartzman
• Eric Bana (hey, shut up, I like the guy.  Screw “Hulk” go watch “Munich” and THEN tell me you don’t like him)

Ok, too many bullet points.  Basically, I enjoy movies that seem like the main actor is poking fun at themselves.  Semi-autobiographical, if you will.  “Lost in Translation” being a wonderful example.  What, you havent seen that either?  Jesus, get out more.  Here. Yes, I know Bill Murray isn’t really playing himself.  But maybe he is, just a little.  And I love that in a movie.  Even Julia Roberts playing an worldwide famous actress in “Notting Hill” (yes, I saw Notting Hill, sue me) – I can respect that.  It seems to me that that is what Adam Sandler, and maybe even Seth Rogen, are doing here, and I look forward to it.  Now just have Rob Schneider pop up and you’ve got a hit. 

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” The more you know who you are and what you want, the less you let things upset you. “ – Bob Harris (Bill Murray) from “Lost in Translation”

blurring the line between drama and comedy?

I usually don’t like to categorize movies, if I can help it.  Shoeboxing them into one “genre” just seems silly to me.  “Labels are for pickle jars” – thanks Liz.  But I’m not quite sure where this movie fits.  Is it a another Apatow-esque film or dark and bleak like Taxi Driver?  Who can say… below, the trailer for Seth Rogen’s newest “Observe and Report”.  By the way, not safe for work.

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” The world has no use for another scared man.  Right now, the world needs a fucking hero. “

movie trailers and other geekness to share

Check out this trailer for a new Judd Apatow-ish comedy “I Love You, Man” starring Paul Rudd and Jason Segel (Forgetting Sarah Marshall).  On a sidenote, apparently Segel is interested in making a Muppet-puppet movie with Marshall’s director – click this link here for JoBlo’s scoop.  Anyone who thinks this is a stupid idea, may I remind you of the awesomeness of Dracula: The Musical from Forgetting Sarah Marshall? 

Also, thought this was funny, but really only if you’ve seen the Predator movie and remember it.

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” Die…. die…. I… can’t.”  - Forgetting Sarah Marshall

(500) Days of Summer teaser

Looks interesting.  Hmm.  We’ll see.  What do you think of the voiceover?  Reminds me of old movie trailers from the 70s and 80s… see a comparison below.  They always had lots of talking in them…

 

 

Rocky (1977)

 

First Blood (1980s)

 

Back to the Future (1985)

 

aaand a creepy Star Wars (1977)

 

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“He’s the man that could only be loved by one woman because, somehow, she gets beneath the pain…”

cool stuffs.

Nip/Tuck Season 6 (aka Season 5.5) premieres tomorrow and it looks lovely.  Click the pic to watch the stylishly slick new trailer.

And, well, I was debating posting this.  If anyone ever saw the movie “Crank” with Jason Statham (of whom I’m not a huge fan, but I did enjoy the film for what it was – an almost satirical play on “extreme action movies”) then maybe this trailer is for you.  Yes, it’s Crank 2: High Voltage and it looks to be the most absurd, violent, sexual pervasive movie ever.  The trailer certainly is.  Not safe for work or within 100 feet of small children.  Not kidding. Click the poster below to see the trailer.

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here’s a trailer for the original Crank movie: http://www.apple.com/trailers/lions_gate/crank/

X-Men Origins: Wolverine Official Trailer!

more about “MySpace.com“, posted with vodpod

Holy Shiz!

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The line at the end of the trailer is a throw away to a recent Wolverine issue where he actually cuts Sabretooths head off with a sword, “killing” him.  At least he hasnt returned yet…. though I’d bet it’s only a matter of time.