MEN IN BLACK 3 Review

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: May 24th, 2012 at 12:40 pm

Fifteen years ago, Men in Black was released in theaters.  It further cemented Will Smith‘s star status, gave his high-energy style a perfect foil with Tommy Lee Jones‘ dour-yet-playful performance, and provided a fun, upbeat experience that was delightfully silly and bizarre (I still crack up when Smith tells Jones, “Awww.  You brought that tall man some flowers!”).  Strangely, Men in Black 3 doesn’t draw strength from anything that made the original film an enjoyable experience.  Instead, the latest sequel finds its heart in supporting characters, and letting special-effects makeup guru Rick Baker run absolutely wild as he swings his marvelous alien creations into the 1960s.  It’s a shame that Mr. Smith and Mr. Jones’ performance, and the humor can’t match Baker’s bravado and creativity.

Red-Band Trailer for ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER Is the Best One Yet

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: May 24th, 2012 at 8:11 am

I’ve been running cold on Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, but Fox has now released a new red-band trailer for the film, and I’m starting to warm up to the flick.  While it looks like half of the movie will be speed-ramped, I can now make out the action on screen, and characters are actually talking to each other.  I’m also surprised at how bloody this looks, and I’m starting to wonder if Fox will release two R-rated blockbusters this summer (the other is Ridley Scott‘s Prometheus).  Keep in mind that director Timur Bekmambetov‘s previous film, Wanted, went out in the summer of 2008 with an R-rating and raked in $341 million worldwide, although having Angelina Jolie in your movie doesn’t hurt.

Hit the jump to check out the “Red-Band” (unrated would be a more accurate description) trailer.  The film stars Benjamin Walker, Dominic Cooper, Rufus Sewell, Anthony Mackie, and Mary Elizabeth Winstead.  Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter opens in 3D on June 22nd.

Will Smith Talks MEN IN BLACK 3, M. Night Shyamalan’s AFTER EARTH, His Love of STAR WARS and Future Projects

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: May 22nd, 2012 at 5:42 pm

Opening this weekend is the third film in the Men in Black franchise.  Barry Sonnenfeld returns as director and the story finds Will Smith’s Agent J travelling back in time to save Tommy Lee Jones’ Agent K.  In addition to Bill Hader as Andy Warhol, Josh Brolin plays a younger version of Jones’ character and does an incredible job.  You’ll absolutely think you’re watching Jones as a young man.  Men in Black 3 also stars Jemaine Clement, Alice Eve, and Emma Thompson.  In addition, make-up effects artist Rick Baker returns to the franchise and you can see some of his creature work here.  For more on the film, here’s all our previous coverage.

Last week I got to speak with most of the cast and every day this week I’ll be posting a new interview.  Yesterday was Tommy Lee Jones and today I’ve got Will Smith.  During the interview we talked about when he knew they could make another Men in Black, the impact Star Wars had on him as a kid, how many takes he likes to do, and more.  In addition, we talked about future projects like M. Night Shyamalan‘s After Earth, and I tried to get updates on Independence Day 2, Bad Boys 3, I Am Legend 2 and Hancock 2.   Hit the jump to watch.

First Trailer for THE GREAT GATSBY Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, and Carey Mulligan [UPDATED with Poster]

by Dave Trumbore    Posted: May 22nd, 2012 at 4:41 pm

The first trailer for director Baz Luhrmann‘s The Great Gatsby has gone online.  While I’m not the biggest fan of the source material, I do happen to be a fan of Luhrmann’s.  Having this phenomenal cast lined up for the production doesn’t hurt either and this new trailer gives us a glimpse at each of them in turn.  There are no 3D effects on display as of yet, but the first trailer highlights all of the bravura, hyperbole and flair we’ve come to expect from the Moulin Rouge! director.  While I was a little put off by the choice of music for the trailer, I’ve got faith that the soundtrack will be exemplary as always.

Hit the jump to watch the trailer.  The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Carey Mulligan, Joel Edgerton, Jason Clarke and Isla Fisher.  The Great Gatsby opens in 3D on December 25th. [Update: We've now added the teaser poster, which you can find after the jump.]

Damon Lindelof Talks at Length about the Ending of LOST

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: May 22nd, 2012 at 9:52 am

Lost ended almost two years ago, and the finale was predictably controversial and divisive.  After the finale, show-runners Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse understandably went radio-silent, so the ending could sink in.  The duo also didn’t return to Comic-Con that summer because it wouldn’t have been a conversation with fans but an inquisition (although I would have liked to seen the room erupt in a massive conflict between people who liked the ending and those who disliked it).  While Lindelof eventually did open up regarding some of the fan questions, I haven’t seen a one-on-one interview where he has a civil conversation about the ending rather than an interrogation.

Today, a one-on-one interview has gone online, and it features Lindelof talking about the reactions to the ending, his intent, and providing a little clarification on some vague points, but never clearing up the ambiguity of the show’s final scenes.  Hit the jump to check out the interview and my reaction to it.

Reactions to First Footage from Quentin Tarantino’s DJANGO UNCHAINED

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: May 21st, 2012 at 2:13 pm

Earlier today, we got our first look at director Paul Thomas Anderson’s long-awaited new film The Master by way of a brief teaser.  While it was definitely great way to start the day, select folks over at the Cannes Film Festival were treated to something a bit more special.  The Weinstein Company offered an extended look at The Master, Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained and David O. Russell’s The Silver Linings Playbook a few hours ago.

While us common folk have to wait a while to see anything from the aforementioned titles, we’ve compiled a round-up of reactions to the footage from Tarantino’s latest for those interested to see how the pic is shaping up.  Hit the jump for more.

First Teaser Trailers for ANCHORMAN 2

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: May 21st, 2012 at 9:22 am

The first teaser trailers for director Adam McKay‘s Anchorman 2 has gone online.  While I love reporting on movie news, I can’t help but be a little jealous of Anchorman fans who will walk into The Dictator, and had no idea that Anchorman 2 was on the way (I’m working off the assumption these fans also missed Ron Burgundy’s announcement on Conan).  We don’t know what the plot of the sequel will be (it might involve the dawn of the 24-hour news cycle and diversity), but it will most likely contain more of the brilliant one-liners you heard in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy and the ones you’ll hear in this trailer.  We’ve also included an exclusive teaser trailer from FunnyOrDie, which contains different dialogue.

Hit the jump to watch the trailers, and click here to check out the poster.  The film stars Will Ferrell, Paul Rudd, Steve Carell, and David Koechner.  Anchorman 2 (possibly titled Anchorman: The Legend Continues) opens in 2013.

First Trailer for New James Bond Movie SKYFALL Starring Daniel Craig

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: May 21st, 2012 at 1:03 am

Sony has released the first teaser trailer for director Sam Mendes’ (American Beauty, Road to Perdition) Skyfall and it looks fantastic.  Unlike some trailers that show you everything and leave nothing to the imagination, this teaser trailer is exactly that…a teaser.  It’s a perfect first look at Skyfall, and what I love is that we don’t even get see the film’s baddie, Javier Bardem. If you’re the type that likes to stay spoiler free, I promise you can watch it and you won’t be mad that you did.  Hit the jump to check it out.

Skyfall also stars Daniel Craig, Bérénice Marlohe, Judi Dench, Naomie Harris, Ben Whishaw, Helen McCroy, Albert Finney, and Ralph Fiennes.

First Trailer and Poster for HYDE PARK ON HUDSON, Starring Bill Murray as FDR

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: May 18th, 2012 at 11:20 am

The first trailer for the historical drama Hyde Park on the Hudson has gone online.  The film stars Bill Murray as President Franklin D. Roosevelt and centers on a weekend in 1939 which marked the first ever visit to America by a British monarchy when King George VI and Queen Elizabeth visited FDR’s upstate New York cottage.  Roosevelt also had an affair with his cousin, Daisy, during the same weekend.  The trailer basically plays like a funnier version of Downton Abbey, with a great deal of heart thrown in towards the end.  Lest you think this is another droll, period drama without a sense of humor, Murray is splendidly fun as Roosevelt.

Hit the jump to watch the trailer.  Directed by Roger Michell (Notting Hill), the film also stars Laura Linney, Olivia Williams, Samuel West, Olivia Colman, Elizabeth Marvel, Elizabeth Wilson, and Eleanor Bron. Focus Features will release Hyde Park on the Hudson on December 7th.

Watch Clips from New CW Series: ARROW, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, and EMILY OWENS, M.D.

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: May 17th, 2012 at 10:29 am

We just posted the new fall 2012 schedule for The CW, and now the network has released “sneak peeks” at a couple of their new series.  Briefly:

• Arrow – The television adaption of the popular comic book character of Green Arrow stars Stephen Amell as the titular hero.
• Beauty and the Beast – A modern-day retelling of the popular classic pits the female protagonist as a detective who strikes up a romance with a presumed-dead doctor who went missing under enemy fire in Afghanistan in 2002.
• Emily Owens, M.D. – This series follows the misadventures of a young med school graduate who is now a first-year intern at a Denver hospital.

Hit the jump to check out synopses and clips from the aforementioned series.

Disturbing NSFW Trailer for Elijah Wood’s MANIAC Remake

by Dave Trumbore    Posted: May 16th, 2012 at 7:36 pm

As if these images from Elijah Wood’s remake of the 1980 slasher flick, Maniac, weren’t disturbing enough, here’s a new trailer to haunt your dreams.  This NSFW first look at the Franck Khalfoun-directed thriller features nudity, gruesome violence and the scalping of not just the dime-store mannequins, but real live women as well.  The original, directed by William Lustig, starred Joe Spinell as Frank, a psychopath with a history of childhood abuse who takes women’s scalps as trophies.  Wood is doing his best to out-creep Spinell in this trailer and I dare say that he has succeeded.  Maniac also stars America Olivo and Nora Arnezeder.  Hit the jump to check out the trailer.

First Trailer for THE POSSESSION

by Dave Trumbore    Posted: May 16th, 2012 at 4:31 pm

The first trailer for the horror film The Possession has gone online. Produced by Sam Raimi, the film centers on a young girl who acquires an antique box at a yard sale, but she’s unaware that the box contains an evil spirit.  First of all, if you haven’t been creeped out by the poster yet, take a look here. As for the trailer, let me just say that the film earns positive marks for not following in the found footage genre’s footsteps.  The Possession trailer actually plays more like an homage to classic horror films like The Exorcist, Rosemary’s Baby and Poltergeist rather than any major horror film that’s been produced within the past ten years.  It’s also refreshing to see an exploration of the darker side of  Jewish folklore (the original film was titled The Dibbuk Box) rather than a rehashing of Catholic mythos.  Director Ole Bornedal may well have found a combination of a respectable method of shooting and a capable cast that can restore some faith in the horror genre.

Hit the jump to watch the trailer.  The film stars Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Kyra Sedgwick, and Natasha Calis.  The Possession opens on August 31st.

Full Trailers for New CBS Series: ELEMENTARY, VEGAS, MADE IN JERSEY, and PARTNERS

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: May 16th, 2012 at 3:02 pm

Earlier this morning, CBS announced their Fall 2012 schedule.  Full trailers have now been unveiled for the network’s new shows, including three dramas and one comedy.  Briefly:

• Elementary – Jonny Lee Miller stars as Sherlock Holmes and Lucy Liu plays Dr. Joan Watson in this modern day drama about the crime-solving duo.
• Vegas – Dennis Quaid stars as a former military police officer who is called in by the Mayor of Las Vegas to look into the murder of a casino worker.  Quaid clashes with a ruthless Chicago gangster (Michael Chiklis) in this 1960s drama.
• Made in Jersey – Janet Montgomery stars as an attorney who uses her street smarts to compete against her pedigreed Manhattan colleagues.
• Partners – This new comedy stars David Krumholtz and Michael Urie as two life-long best friends, one straight and one gay, whose friendship is tested when one of them gets engaged.

Hit the jump for synopses and full trailers for all the new shows.

HULK May Be on ABC Next Year; THE PUNISHER TV Series Not Moving Forward at Fox

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: May 15th, 2012 at 12:50 pm

It’s upfronts week, and we’ve already gotten a look at the upcoming fall schedules for NBC, Fox, and ABC.  However, we’ve now got word on a couple of comic book series that weren’t on any of said schedules.  A Hulk television series has been in development at ABC for a while with Guillermo del Toro onboard as executive producer.  ABC president Paul Lee had this to say regarding Hulk:

“Hulk is in development.  It wasn’t going to be ready this season, but we hope it’s going to be ready for next season.”

With word that Marvel might be planning a new Hulk movie with Mark Ruffalo following the stellar reaction to the character/Ruffalo’s performance in The Avengers, many wondered what this meant for the TV series.  It sounds like ABC is very much still game for the show, so I wouldn’t be surprised if a Hulk movie is held until the studio sees how the TV series fares.  Hit the jump for more, including word on The Punisher TV series.

THE DICTATOR Review

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: May 15th, 2012 at 8:33 am

Anyone can be offensive.  The skill comes with trying to get people to laugh at it.  Sacha Baron Cohen, the mind behind the semi-scripted comedies Borat and Bruno, has shown a great skill at getting audiences to laugh at light comic fodder like incest, rape, anti-Semitism, screaming dickholes, and carrying bags of shit to the dinner table.  He also tends to throw in a little social criticism for some spice.  The Dictator marks his first feature-length, fully-scripted film, and while the blade may be a bit more polished, the edge remains razor-sharp.  Despite a slapdash plot and a cop-out ending, The Dictator is brilliantly irreverent, juvenile, cartoonish, and it will have you laughing, feeling guilty about laughing, and then laughing even harder.

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