10 October 2009
09 October 2009
Chillers
Six horror films set in the snow:
Based on the novel of the same name by Stephen King, The Shining tells the story of Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson), an aspiring writer and former alcoholic who moves with his wife Wendy (Shelley Duvall) and their telepathic son Danny (Danny Lloyd) to the isolated Overlook Hotel, after accepting a job there as the hotels winter caretaker. However, Danny soon begins having disturbing visions, while cabin fever and writer's block cause Jack to slowly slip into insanity.
Based on the short story "Who Goes There?" by John W. Campbell Jr. and the 1951 film The Thing from Another World, The Thing follows members of an Antarctic research program who find themselves battling a shape-shifting alien life form capable of imitating anyone it infects. The team, including helicopter pilot R.J. MacReady (Kurt Russell), mechanic Childs (Keith David) and biologist Dr. Blair (Wilford Brimley), set out to destroy "the thing" while also trying to discover who among them is still human.
Based on the cult graphic novel by Steve Niles and Ben Templesmith, 30 Days of Night follows a small (dwindling) group of residents, including Sheriff Eben Oleson (Josh Hartnett) and his estranged wife Stella Oleson (Melissa George), in the snowbound Alaskan town of Barrow as they try to fend off a gang of bloodthirsty vampires, led by head vampire Marlow (Danny Huston), who have descended upon the town during a period in winter when the sun doesn't rise for a month.
The Children follows Elaine (Eva Birthistle) and Jonah (Stephen Campbell Moore) as they head to the snow-covered English countryside with Elaine's teenage daughter Casey (Hannah Tointon) and their two young children, Miranda (Eva Sayer) and Paulie (William Howes), to celebrate New Year's with Elaine's sister Chloe (Rachel Shelley), her husband Robbie (Jeremy Sheffield) and their two children Leah (Raffiella Brooks) and Nicky (Jake Hathaway). However, their celebrations take a violent turn when the children mysteriously fall ill and begin to turn on their parents.
Set in 1982 in the snowy Stockholm suburb of Blackeberg and based on the novel by John Ajvide Lindqvist (who also wrote the screenplay), Let the Right One In (Låt den rätte komma in) tells the story of 12-year-old Oskar (Kåre Hedebrant). Oskar dreams of getting revenge on the classmates who bully him and spends much of his time alone... until he befriends his strange, (eternally) 12-year-old new neighbour Eli (Lina Leandersson).
Dead Snow (Død snø) follows Martin (Vegar Hoel), Roy (Stig Frode Henriksen), Vegard (Lasse Valdal), Erlend (Jeppe Laursen), Hanna (Charlotte Frogner), Liv (Evy Kasseth Røsten) and Chris (Jenny Skavlan), seven medical students who travel to a secluded mountain cabin near Øksfjord in Norway for a fun, snow-filled weekend away only to find themselves fighting for survival against a band of Nazi zombies, led by the evil Standartenführer Herzog (Ørjan Gamst).
Based on the novel of the same name by Stephen King, The Shining tells the story of Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson), an aspiring writer and former alcoholic who moves with his wife Wendy (Shelley Duvall) and their telepathic son Danny (Danny Lloyd) to the isolated Overlook Hotel, after accepting a job there as the hotels winter caretaker. However, Danny soon begins having disturbing visions, while cabin fever and writer's block cause Jack to slowly slip into insanity.
Based on the short story "Who Goes There?" by John W. Campbell Jr. and the 1951 film The Thing from Another World, The Thing follows members of an Antarctic research program who find themselves battling a shape-shifting alien life form capable of imitating anyone it infects. The team, including helicopter pilot R.J. MacReady (Kurt Russell), mechanic Childs (Keith David) and biologist Dr. Blair (Wilford Brimley), set out to destroy "the thing" while also trying to discover who among them is still human.
Based on the cult graphic novel by Steve Niles and Ben Templesmith, 30 Days of Night follows a small (dwindling) group of residents, including Sheriff Eben Oleson (Josh Hartnett) and his estranged wife Stella Oleson (Melissa George), in the snowbound Alaskan town of Barrow as they try to fend off a gang of bloodthirsty vampires, led by head vampire Marlow (Danny Huston), who have descended upon the town during a period in winter when the sun doesn't rise for a month.
The Children follows Elaine (Eva Birthistle) and Jonah (Stephen Campbell Moore) as they head to the snow-covered English countryside with Elaine's teenage daughter Casey (Hannah Tointon) and their two young children, Miranda (Eva Sayer) and Paulie (William Howes), to celebrate New Year's with Elaine's sister Chloe (Rachel Shelley), her husband Robbie (Jeremy Sheffield) and their two children Leah (Raffiella Brooks) and Nicky (Jake Hathaway). However, their celebrations take a violent turn when the children mysteriously fall ill and begin to turn on their parents.
Set in 1982 in the snowy Stockholm suburb of Blackeberg and based on the novel by John Ajvide Lindqvist (who also wrote the screenplay), Let the Right One In (Låt den rätte komma in) tells the story of 12-year-old Oskar (Kåre Hedebrant). Oskar dreams of getting revenge on the classmates who bully him and spends much of his time alone... until he befriends his strange, (eternally) 12-year-old new neighbour Eli (Lina Leandersson).
Dead Snow (Død snø) follows Martin (Vegar Hoel), Roy (Stig Frode Henriksen), Vegard (Lasse Valdal), Erlend (Jeppe Laursen), Hanna (Charlotte Frogner), Liv (Evy Kasseth Røsten) and Chris (Jenny Skavlan), seven medical students who travel to a secluded mountain cabin near Øksfjord in Norway for a fun, snow-filled weekend away only to find themselves fighting for survival against a band of Nazi zombies, led by the evil Standartenführer Herzog (Ørjan Gamst).
30 September 2009
25 September 2009
Five Reasons To Watch Wet Hot American Summer
1. It's co-written and directed by David Wain, who co-wrote and directed Role Models.
2. It's set on the last day of summer camp, on the first day of the third week in August and is about "High Times. Hard Bodies. Soft Rock".
3. It has a great ensemble cast.
4. It was one of Entertainment Weekly's Ten Best Movies of 2001.
5. The hissy fit scene is great!
2. It's set on the last day of summer camp, on the first day of the third week in August and is about "High Times. Hard Bodies. Soft Rock".
3. It has a great ensemble cast.
4. It was one of Entertainment Weekly's Ten Best Movies of 2001.
5. The hissy fit scene is great!
20 September 2009
17 September 2009
16 September 2009
Five Reasons To Watch Adventureland
1. It's written and directed by Superbad director Greg Mottola, who also wrote and directed The Daytrippers.
2. It's a semi-autobiographical coming-of-age story.
3. It's about long hours, low pay, high times... and a giant-ass panda!
4. It has a great cast including Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Bill Hader, Martin Starr and Ryan Reynolds.
5. The 80s soundtrack, featuring "Modern Love" by David Bowie and "Satellite of Love" by Lou Reed, is also great.
2. It's a semi-autobiographical coming-of-age story.
3. It's about long hours, low pay, high times... and a giant-ass panda!
4. It has a great cast including Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Bill Hader, Martin Starr and Ryan Reynolds.
5. The 80s soundtrack, featuring "Modern Love" by David Bowie and "Satellite of Love" by Lou Reed, is also great.
15 September 2009
I Am Wonder Woman, Hear Me Roar
TV characters who've donned Wonder Woman costumes:
Miss Piggy transformed into "Wonder Pig" in order to fend off a giant chicken in a superhero themed episode of The Muppet Show, which featured a guest appearance by Lynda Carter (who played Wonder Woman in the 70s TV show Wonder Woman).
Comic book nerd Seth Cohen (Adam Brody) thought he was going to pass out when Summer Roberts (Rachel Bilson) put on a Wonder Woman costume as a Christmas Chrismukkah present for him in The OC.
After accidently killing the man he believed to be his father in a unicycle stunt gone wrong, Peter Griffin sported a Wonder Woman costume before heading to Ireland to try to find his real father in Family Guy.
Special Agent Seeley Booth (David Boreanaz) thought Dr. Temperance "Bones" Brennan (Emily Deschanel) looked wonderful when she dressed up as Wonder Woman for Halloween in Bones.
Miss Piggy transformed into "Wonder Pig" in order to fend off a giant chicken in a superhero themed episode of The Muppet Show, which featured a guest appearance by Lynda Carter (who played Wonder Woman in the 70s TV show Wonder Woman).
Comic book nerd Seth Cohen (Adam Brody) thought he was going to pass out when Summer Roberts (Rachel Bilson) put on a Wonder Woman costume as a 
After accidently killing the man he believed to be his father in a unicycle stunt gone wrong, Peter Griffin sported a Wonder Woman costume before heading to Ireland to try to find his real father in Family Guy.
Special Agent Seeley Booth (David Boreanaz) thought Dr. Temperance "Bones" Brennan (Emily Deschanel) looked wonderful when she dressed up as Wonder Woman for Halloween in Bones.
12 September 2009
Whip It Real Good
Five reasons I want to see the upcoming coming-of-age comedy Whip It:
1. It's about a rebellious Texan teenager who joins a roller derby team in order to escape the boredom of her small-town beauty pageant life.
2. Ellen Page plays the aforementioned rebellious Texan teenager, Bliss Cavendar.
3. It's the directorial debut of Drew Barrymore, who also appears in the film as Smashley Simpson.
4. It also features Kristen Wiig as Maggie Mayhem, Zoe Bell as Bloody Holly, Eve as Rosa Sparks and Juliette Lewis as Iron Maven.
5. It's written by L.A. Derby Doll Shauna "Maggie Mayhem" Cross.
1. It's about a rebellious Texan teenager who joins a roller derby team in order to escape the boredom of her small-town beauty pageant life.
2. Ellen Page plays the aforementioned rebellious Texan teenager, Bliss Cavendar.
3. It's the directorial debut of Drew Barrymore, who also appears in the film as Smashley Simpson.
4. It also features Kristen Wiig as Maggie Mayhem, Zoe Bell as Bloody Holly, Eve as Rosa Sparks and Juliette Lewis as Iron Maven.
5. It's written by L.A. Derby Doll Shauna "Maggie Mayhem" Cross.
11 September 2009
09 September 2009
07 September 2009
Five Reasons To Watch (500) Days Of Summer
1. It's an impressive feature film directorial debut from music video director Marc Webb.
2. It's original and offbeat and features a great musical number!
3. It's not a love story. It's a story about love.
4. It has a great cast including Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel.
5. It's received mostly positive reviews from critics and is "Certified Fresh" on Rotten Tomatoes.
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2. It's original and offbeat and features a great musical number!
3. It's not a love story. It's a story about love.
4. It has a great cast including Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel.
5. It's received mostly positive reviews from critics and is "Certified Fresh" on Rotten Tomatoes.
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05 September 2009
04 September 2009
Campus Capers
Three campus-based films:
Love and Other Catastrophes follows the romantic misadventures of a group of students at Melbourne University and focuses in particular on roommates Mia (Frances O'Connor) and Alice (Alice Garner) as they search for a third housemate. Mia’s fear of commitment has caused her to split from her girlfriend Danni (Radha Mitchell), while Alice has fallen for "the Warren Beatty of the campus" Ari (Matthew Dyktynski), and is being admired from afar by Michael (Matt Day), a shy medical student who is looking for a new place to live.
Adapted from the novel by Michael Chabon, Wonder Boys follows English professor Grady Tripp (Michael Douglas), a once successful novelist whose follow-up novel is seven years overdue. Over the course of one weekend Grady has to deal with his visiting editor Terry Crabtree (Robert Downey Jr.), a potentially suicidal student named James Leer (Tobey Maguire), who’s shot a dog dead and stolen a valuable piece of Marilyn Monroe memorabilia, and the news that the university chancellor (and his boss’s wife) Sara Gaskell (Frances McDormand) is pregnant with his child.
Adapted from the novel by Bret Easton Ellis, The Rules of Attraction chronicles the drug and alcohol fuelled days and nights of a group of students at a fictional New England liberal arts college named Camden College. Womanizing drug dealer Sean Bateman (James Van Der Beek) is in love with "virgin" Lauren Hynde (Shannyn Sossamon) but Lauren is saving herself for Victor Johnson (Kip Pardue), who is backpacking through Europe, while Lauren's bisexual ex-boyfriend Paul Denton (Ian Somerhalder) is infatuated with Sean.
Love and Other Catastrophes follows the romantic misadventures of a group of students at Melbourne University and focuses in particular on roommates Mia (Frances O'Connor) and Alice (Alice Garner) as they search for a third housemate. Mia’s fear of commitment has caused her to split from her girlfriend Danni (Radha Mitchell), while Alice has fallen for "the Warren Beatty of the campus" Ari (Matthew Dyktynski), and is being admired from afar by Michael (Matt Day), a shy medical student who is looking for a new place to live.
Adapted from the novel by Michael Chabon, Wonder Boys follows English professor Grady Tripp (Michael Douglas), a once successful novelist whose follow-up novel is seven years overdue. Over the course of one weekend Grady has to deal with his visiting editor Terry Crabtree (Robert Downey Jr.), a potentially suicidal student named James Leer (Tobey Maguire), who’s shot a dog dead and stolen a valuable piece of Marilyn Monroe memorabilia, and the news that the university chancellor (and his boss’s wife) Sara Gaskell (Frances McDormand) is pregnant with his child.
Adapted from the novel by Bret Easton Ellis, The Rules of Attraction chronicles the drug and alcohol fuelled days and nights of a group of students at a fictional New England liberal arts college named Camden College. Womanizing drug dealer Sean Bateman (James Van Der Beek) is in love with "virgin" Lauren Hynde (Shannyn Sossamon) but Lauren is saving herself for Victor Johnson (Kip Pardue), who is backpacking through Europe, while Lauren's bisexual ex-boyfriend Paul Denton (Ian Somerhalder) is infatuated with Sean.
28 August 2009
26 August 2009
25 August 2009
Teenage Angst
Three films about angst-ridden adolescents:
Welcome to the Dollhouse follows Dawn Wiener (Heather Matarazzo), an awkward and unpopular 11-year-old nicknamed "Wienerdog" by her classmates, who is tormented by bully Brandon McCarthy (Brendan Sexton III) at school and overshadowed by her nerdy college-bound brother Mark (Matthew Faber) and cute ballerina sister Missy (Daria Kalinina) at home.
Set in the small Swedish town of Åmål, Show Me Love (aka Fucking Åmål) tells the story of depressed teenager Agnes Ahlberg (Rebecka Liljeberg), an outsider with very few friends who has a crush on her classmate Elin Olsson (Alexandra Dahlström), who is bored with her small-town life and feels Åmål is so behind the times that something is out before it even gets there.
Adapted from the novel by Jeffrey Eugenides, The Virgin Suicides follows Cecilia (Hanna Hall), Lux (Kirsten Dunst), Bonnie (Chelse Swain), Mary (A.J. Cook) and Therese Lisbon (Leslie Hayman), five teenage sisters whose story is told through the eyes of the neighbourhood boys who worship them, and watch as their lives disappear following the suicide of the youngest sister Cecilia.
Welcome to the Dollhouse follows Dawn Wiener (Heather Matarazzo), an awkward and unpopular 11-year-old nicknamed "Wienerdog" by her classmates, who is tormented by bully Brandon McCarthy (Brendan Sexton III) at school and overshadowed by her nerdy college-bound brother Mark (Matthew Faber) and cute ballerina sister Missy (Daria Kalinina) at home.
Set in the small Swedish town of Åmål, Show Me Love (aka Fucking Åmål) tells the story of depressed teenager Agnes Ahlberg (Rebecka Liljeberg), an outsider with very few friends who has a crush on her classmate Elin Olsson (Alexandra Dahlström), who is bored with her small-town life and feels Åmål is so behind the times that something is out before it even gets there.
Adapted from the novel by Jeffrey Eugenides, The Virgin Suicides follows Cecilia (Hanna Hall), Lux (Kirsten Dunst), Bonnie (Chelse Swain), Mary (A.J. Cook) and Therese Lisbon (Leslie Hayman), five teenage sisters whose story is told through the eyes of the neighbourhood boys who worship them, and watch as their lives disappear following the suicide of the youngest sister Cecilia.
22 August 2009
One For The Road
Three films about road trips:
Thelma & Louise tells the story of unhappily married housewife Thelma Dickinson (Geena Davis) and diner waitress Louise Sawyer (Susan Sarandon), two friends from Arkansas who set off in Louise's 1966 Thunderbird convertible for a carefree weekend away to escape their small-town lives. However, their trip takes an unexpected turn when Louise shoots a would-be rapist (Timothy Carhart) and, convinced no one will believe their story, they hit the road and head towards Mexico, embarking on an impromptu cross-country crime spree along the way.
Little Miss Sunshine tells the story of unsuccessful motivational speaker Richard Hoover (Greg Kinnear), his overworked wife Sheryl (Toni Collette), their 7-year-old beauty pageant-obsessed daughter Olive (Abigail Breslin) and 15-year-old mute-by-choice son Dwayne (Paul Dano) who, along with Richard's heroin-snorting father Edwin (Alan Arkin) and Sheryl's suicidal brother Frank (Steve Carell), set off in a Volkswagen van on a cross-country road trip from Albuquerque to California so Olive can fulfil her dream of competing in the "Little Miss Sunshine" beauty pageant.
Transamerica follows Sabrina "Bree" Osbourne (Felicity Huffman), a pre-op male-to-female transsexual from Los Angeles who discovers she's the biological father of Toby Wilkins (Kevin Zegers), a 17-year-old street hustler who's the (unexpected) result of a sexual encounter Bree had in college when she was living as a man named Stanley Schupak. Bree's therapist Margaret (Elizabeth Peña) tells her she won’t sign off on her impending gender reassignment surgery until Bree confronts the issue, so she reluctantly flies to New York to meet Toby and as a result offers him a ride back to Los Angeles.
Thelma & Louise tells the story of unhappily married housewife Thelma Dickinson (Geena Davis) and diner waitress Louise Sawyer (Susan Sarandon), two friends from Arkansas who set off in Louise's 1966 Thunderbird convertible for a carefree weekend away to escape their small-town lives. However, their trip takes an unexpected turn when Louise shoots a would-be rapist (Timothy Carhart) and, convinced no one will believe their story, they hit the road and head towards Mexico, embarking on an impromptu cross-country crime spree along the way.
Little Miss Sunshine tells the story of unsuccessful motivational speaker Richard Hoover (Greg Kinnear), his overworked wife Sheryl (Toni Collette), their 7-year-old beauty pageant-obsessed daughter Olive (Abigail Breslin) and 15-year-old mute-by-choice son Dwayne (Paul Dano) who, along with Richard's heroin-snorting father Edwin (Alan Arkin) and Sheryl's suicidal brother Frank (Steve Carell), set off in a Volkswagen van on a cross-country road trip from Albuquerque to California so Olive can fulfil her dream of competing in the "Little Miss Sunshine" beauty pageant.
Transamerica follows Sabrina "Bree" Osbourne (Felicity Huffman), a pre-op male-to-female transsexual from Los Angeles who discovers she's the biological father of Toby Wilkins (Kevin Zegers), a 17-year-old street hustler who's the (unexpected) result of a sexual encounter Bree had in college when she was living as a man named Stanley Schupak. Bree's therapist Margaret (Elizabeth Peña) tells her she won’t sign off on her impending gender reassignment surgery until Bree confronts the issue, so she reluctantly flies to New York to meet Toby and as a result offers him a ride back to Los Angeles.
20 August 2009
19 August 2009
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