The last few weekends I recommended that you see The Master if you wanted to see some of the finest performances and some of the most beautiful cinematography you'll ever see. If you still haven't seen it then I suggest you try to at some point but something far more entertaining and important hits theaters today that you simply have to see, so it can wait...
Looper is Rian Johnson's third feature film and it is by far his biggest, and most enjoyable. For those of you who haven't seen any commercials or trailers for this film, it's a sci-fi noir about time travel, and hit men.
Before I continue I want to promise you that there are absolutely no spoilers in this. Everything I'm telling you comes from the trailers and commercials I've seen.
"Loopers" are assassins who kill people sent back in time and dispose of their bodies so that they are erased from the future. Joseph Gordon Levitt plays one of these "loopers" and is faced with the tough task of disposing of his future self played by Bruce Willis. Both actors give top notch performances, and JGL continues to show why he will be a big name in Hollywood for years to come.
I will leave it at that. I want to write more about the plot because I am still grinning ear to ear from what I just saw, but I could never give anything in a movie away before someone sees it, without it being a complete accident. I have in the past done it by accident and I still feel like a total dick about it so that's the kind of person I am. I'd let you know what spoiler I said to the person but then I'd be giving away something in a classic movie that maybe one of my readers hasn't seen. I can't take that risk. I have to carry what little integrity I have left to make sure it never happens again.
I will however state that Looper has many tricks up it's sleeves and will keep you on your toes as a viewer throughout. It's probably the most challenging sci-fi/action film since 2010's Inception and while it may not look as clean and crisp as a Nolan film, it doesn't skimp out on the violence and profanity. That being said none of the action or dialogue seems over the top and completely fits with the story presented. Rian Johnson creates a world that is so true to itself that you are completely engrossed in the narrative and easily gloss over things that most time travel movies leave you itching your scalp trying to understand.
I highly recommend that you go out and see this movie. It's the most inventive film I've seen in years and it will lock you to your seat, cause you to drop your jaw several times, and leave you thinking about it well after you see it. In my opinion, it's probably the best action movie I've seen all year, surpassing The Avengers and even The Dark Knight Rises. I'll have to think about it more and maybe see it a few more times before I can definitively make that distinction, but right now I am completely head over heels for this movie.
Fuck everything else that's out right now. Go see Looper.
Oh and remember Rian Johnson's name because he just became a pretty big swinging dick in Hollywood my friends.
Friday, September 28, 2012
Friday, September 21, 2012
What to see this weekend 9/21-23
Last week I told you to see The Master. Pretty much everything I expected out of the movie was exactly what I got and I absolutely adored it. If you're lucking enough to have it playing near you, go and check it out because Paul Thomas Anderson gets some of the most amazing performances out of his actors and he makes a case that film should continue to be a mainstay in Hollywood. While I said the 70 mm is more wide, it isn't with his film which means he cropped it down. What it is though, is extremely detailed and beautiful. Every frame is artfully composed and the film looks absolutely gorgeous. I don't know how it could possibly lose the best cinematography award this year. Radiohead's Johnny Greenwood adds a chilling score and you should really check it out. While you may not know exactly what happened it will leave lasting thoughts and keep you thinking about it for days. It was everything I think last years Tree of Life wanted to be, but was much more. Check it out if you like films that are critically acclaimed that will be nominated for several academy awards.
If you just want to see movies that are the exact opposite but are filled with beautiful slow motion blood and gore, then you should see Dredd 3D. At first I thought the movie looked pretty stupid, but it is getting great reviews and if you think it's a movie you'd like, then it sounds like it is a movie you'd like. Other than that, there's nothing out there worth seeing unless you like seeing movies where Clint Eastwood says lots of terrible lines and talks about shrinking garages in Trouble With The Curve. If that's your thing, then go for that. If it isn't, then don't see anything, it's not worth it.
If you just want to see movies that are the exact opposite but are filled with beautiful slow motion blood and gore, then you should see Dredd 3D. At first I thought the movie looked pretty stupid, but it is getting great reviews and if you think it's a movie you'd like, then it sounds like it is a movie you'd like. Other than that, there's nothing out there worth seeing unless you like seeing movies where Clint Eastwood says lots of terrible lines and talks about shrinking garages in Trouble With The Curve. If that's your thing, then go for that. If it isn't, then don't see anything, it's not worth it.
Friday, September 14, 2012
What to see this weekend 9/14-16
First off, I'm sorry for not posting anything for the last few weeks about what to see a particular weekend. The thing was that there was jack-diddly-squat-shit out there to see, and I didn't even think it was worth detailing that to you. I would've just told you to see the same things over and over again, or see Lawless which I've heard is mediocre, and is a wait and see for free (WTSFF) kind of film.
The past few weeks have been so bad at the box office that The Possession, a pathetic The Ring-like horror flick starring Jeffrey Dean Morgan topped off the list both weeks. This is a movie that I didn't even see an advertisement for until about a week before it came out and I was completely unaware of, and it topped the list both weeks...
This past weekend was so bad that the total box office recorded the second lowest amount of money by the top 12 films in the last decade. None of the films made over 10 million, and that was because there was literally no reason to go out to see a movie last weekend.
If a big release had come out, then I would've told you to go see it, but there was just nothing out there. There was however, supposed to be a pretty big release this past weekend that had to get delayed all the way to Jan. 11, the day before my 24th birthday, Gangster Squad. The ultra-violent mobster film with a stacked cast was pushed back by Warner Bros. because of the horrific shooting in Aurora, Colorado. In the trailer for the film you see a line of gangsters with tommy guns in a movie theater open fire from behind the screen into the crowd. Warner Brothers, the distributor's of TDKR and Gangster Squad probably thought it would be best to push the film back to next year to separate themselves from the Aurora tragedy a little more, and to be a little more sensitive to the whole ordeal itself. It remains to be seen if it will make it into the movie, I hope it stays but we'll see if they have enough stones to keep it in there. If it's taken out, then it's just another thing that, that fuckhead James Holmes ruined.
Getting down to business in real terms there a few wide releases that hit the movie theaters this weekend but it's either a film you've seen before that has newly added 3D, or is just pure garbage also in 3D. Finding Nemo 3D is an adorable Pixar movie that came out about a decade ago. It's one of Pixar's finer movies, and is well worth your money if you haven't seen it. If you have seen it then don't because it's just a fucking ploy for Disney to make more money off of a movie by just adding 3D to it. Fuck that noise. The movie was good enough as it was, there was no need to add 3D, but whatever Disney, suck as much money out of our wallets as you can.
The other 3D release is the fifth in it's series, and probably not the last because it seems like another one of these god damn movies comes out every fall. Of course I'm talking about Resident Evil: Who Gives a Flying Fuck? Of course that's not the real name but who cares. I love looking at Milla Jovovich but why couldn't they have made First, Second, Third and Fourth Element movies before they made any Resident Evil film? I feel like there's a producer in Hollywood who's made a career out of beating old ideas to death over and over to make his money. Oh wait, that's all producers in Hollywood....
Really though, if you are fortunate enough to live in a place where it is playing, you should probably go see The Master this weekend. Paul Thomas Anderson's latest film is set to display a dysfunctional relationship between a man, Lancaster Dodd (Philip Seymour Hoffman or PSH), who's the leader of a religion that closely mirrors that of scientology, and a man named Freddie Quell (Joaquin Phoenix) who is trying to integrate himself back into society after WWII. Dodd thinks he can help Quell integrate himself back into society with his teachings.
That's all I can really tell you about the films story because that's all I really know at this point. Paul Thomas Anderson is one of the greatest working directors in Hollywood and is a true "Master" of his craft. His films are beautiful, challenging, original and haunting works of art that shy away from the derivative drivel that the rest of Hollywood produces. His films may not be for all, but if you are a true student of cinema, or just really appreciate a good film, then he is a director who's work you simply can't miss. He manages to inspire actors to give their best performances, and truly immerses you into his vision.
From what it looks like from the trailers Joaquin Phoenix straps on a set of crazy eyes and does his best to finally get that Oscar that has alluded him for so long. It remains to be seen if he will be better than Daniel Day Lewis was as Daniel Plainview but maybe I'll have to do a compare and contrast after I see it. Here are a few clips from the movie that give a good look into what kind of movie it is, and if you would be into it. Chances are if you saw There Will Be Blood and didn't appreciate it, then you won't appreciate this movie. It's definitely not a movie for all, but if you are interested and have the opportunity to see it, don't hesitate because I'm sure it will be unlike anything you've ever seen.
The film is only playing in New York and LA this weekend and will slowly spread out to more cinemas all over the country over the upcoming months. The film is presented in either 70mm or 35mm format and if you have the opportunity to see it in 70mm then I highly encourage you to take that opportunity. A lot of people don't really know what that means but the difference is quality of film detail, and the width of the screen. Most theaters don't have the capabilities to screen the film in 70mm because they have already chucked their film projectors and made the switch to digital. 70mm film is the same height as 35mm, but it is almost twice the width which makes for a crisper picture, and extremely fine detail. PTA filmed the movie in this format for a reason and if you want to see the movie for it's qualities as a work of art, then you should try your best to see it in 70mm.
Here are a list of theaters it's going to be presented in 70mm throughout the country, and when it will be making to those theaters. CT hasn't even made it onto the list for the 35mm print meaning it probably won't make it to Hartford, New Haven and Madison until September 28th or later. Look for it to make it to Mystic in late October because that place blows.
That's pretty much it for this weekend. There are other movies in theaters but they aren't worth mentioning unless you have an AMC theater near you still playing Raiders of the Lost Ark in IMAX then you could do that and feel good about yourself. They are also screening Indy marathons in certain AMC theater chains so that may be worth your time as long as you leave before the 4th and refuse to believe that it actually exists. So there are my thoughts on how to attack the cinema this weekend so watch responsibly.
PS. Check out the trailer for Steven Spielberg's Lincoln, which hits theaters in November. Another star studded cast, and a sure-fire Oscar contender.
The past few weeks have been so bad at the box office that The Possession, a pathetic The Ring-like horror flick starring Jeffrey Dean Morgan topped off the list both weeks. This is a movie that I didn't even see an advertisement for until about a week before it came out and I was completely unaware of, and it topped the list both weeks...
This past weekend was so bad that the total box office recorded the second lowest amount of money by the top 12 films in the last decade. None of the films made over 10 million, and that was because there was literally no reason to go out to see a movie last weekend.
If a big release had come out, then I would've told you to go see it, but there was just nothing out there. There was however, supposed to be a pretty big release this past weekend that had to get delayed all the way to Jan. 11, the day before my 24th birthday, Gangster Squad. The ultra-violent mobster film with a stacked cast was pushed back by Warner Bros. because of the horrific shooting in Aurora, Colorado. In the trailer for the film you see a line of gangsters with tommy guns in a movie theater open fire from behind the screen into the crowd. Warner Brothers, the distributor's of TDKR and Gangster Squad probably thought it would be best to push the film back to next year to separate themselves from the Aurora tragedy a little more, and to be a little more sensitive to the whole ordeal itself. It remains to be seen if it will make it into the movie, I hope it stays but we'll see if they have enough stones to keep it in there. If it's taken out, then it's just another thing that, that fuckhead James Holmes ruined.
Getting down to business in real terms there a few wide releases that hit the movie theaters this weekend but it's either a film you've seen before that has newly added 3D, or is just pure garbage also in 3D. Finding Nemo 3D is an adorable Pixar movie that came out about a decade ago. It's one of Pixar's finer movies, and is well worth your money if you haven't seen it. If you have seen it then don't because it's just a fucking ploy for Disney to make more money off of a movie by just adding 3D to it. Fuck that noise. The movie was good enough as it was, there was no need to add 3D, but whatever Disney, suck as much money out of our wallets as you can.
The other 3D release is the fifth in it's series, and probably not the last because it seems like another one of these god damn movies comes out every fall. Of course I'm talking about Resident Evil: Who Gives a Flying Fuck? Of course that's not the real name but who cares. I love looking at Milla Jovovich but why couldn't they have made First, Second, Third and Fourth Element movies before they made any Resident Evil film? I feel like there's a producer in Hollywood who's made a career out of beating old ideas to death over and over to make his money. Oh wait, that's all producers in Hollywood....
Really though, if you are fortunate enough to live in a place where it is playing, you should probably go see The Master this weekend. Paul Thomas Anderson's latest film is set to display a dysfunctional relationship between a man, Lancaster Dodd (Philip Seymour Hoffman or PSH), who's the leader of a religion that closely mirrors that of scientology, and a man named Freddie Quell (Joaquin Phoenix) who is trying to integrate himself back into society after WWII. Dodd thinks he can help Quell integrate himself back into society with his teachings.
That's all I can really tell you about the films story because that's all I really know at this point. Paul Thomas Anderson is one of the greatest working directors in Hollywood and is a true "Master" of his craft. His films are beautiful, challenging, original and haunting works of art that shy away from the derivative drivel that the rest of Hollywood produces. His films may not be for all, but if you are a true student of cinema, or just really appreciate a good film, then he is a director who's work you simply can't miss. He manages to inspire actors to give their best performances, and truly immerses you into his vision.
From what it looks like from the trailers Joaquin Phoenix straps on a set of crazy eyes and does his best to finally get that Oscar that has alluded him for so long. It remains to be seen if he will be better than Daniel Day Lewis was as Daniel Plainview but maybe I'll have to do a compare and contrast after I see it. Here are a few clips from the movie that give a good look into what kind of movie it is, and if you would be into it. Chances are if you saw There Will Be Blood and didn't appreciate it, then you won't appreciate this movie. It's definitely not a movie for all, but if you are interested and have the opportunity to see it, don't hesitate because I'm sure it will be unlike anything you've ever seen.
The film is only playing in New York and LA this weekend and will slowly spread out to more cinemas all over the country over the upcoming months. The film is presented in either 70mm or 35mm format and if you have the opportunity to see it in 70mm then I highly encourage you to take that opportunity. A lot of people don't really know what that means but the difference is quality of film detail, and the width of the screen. Most theaters don't have the capabilities to screen the film in 70mm because they have already chucked their film projectors and made the switch to digital. 70mm film is the same height as 35mm, but it is almost twice the width which makes for a crisper picture, and extremely fine detail. PTA filmed the movie in this format for a reason and if you want to see the movie for it's qualities as a work of art, then you should try your best to see it in 70mm.
Here are a list of theaters it's going to be presented in 70mm throughout the country, and when it will be making to those theaters. CT hasn't even made it onto the list for the 35mm print meaning it probably won't make it to Hartford, New Haven and Madison until September 28th or later. Look for it to make it to Mystic in late October because that place blows.
That's pretty much it for this weekend. There are other movies in theaters but they aren't worth mentioning unless you have an AMC theater near you still playing Raiders of the Lost Ark in IMAX then you could do that and feel good about yourself. They are also screening Indy marathons in certain AMC theater chains so that may be worth your time as long as you leave before the 4th and refuse to believe that it actually exists. So there are my thoughts on how to attack the cinema this weekend so watch responsibly.
PS. Check out the trailer for Steven Spielberg's Lincoln, which hits theaters in November. Another star studded cast, and a sure-fire Oscar contender.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)