Category: Movies

“You have to help me. You have to stand.” Disney has revealed one final epic trailer for their upcoming live-action Beauty and the Beast musical, starring Emma Watson as the lovely Belle. We’ve already seen one full-length trailer before this, but this final trailer is really going all out, playing up the excitement and magic of this charming “tale as old as time”. This really looks quite wonderful, and will probably make a boat load of money. Also starring Dan Stevens as the Beast, Luke Evans as Gaston, Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Plumette, Ewan McGregor as Lumiere, Ian McKellen as Cogsworth, Emma Thompson as Mrs. Potts, Kevin Kline as Maurice, Stanley Tucci as Cadenza and Josh Gad as Le Fou. This new Beauty and the Beast movie hits theaters this March, just a few months to go, for anyone who just can’t wait to see this. ›››

Continue reading Dance Along with the Final Trailer for Disney’s ‘Beauty and the Beast’

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Another 34 films screened. Lots of tacos (hat tip to El Chubasco). Tons and tons of snow. Good friends. Fun interviews. One blogger party. I love Sundance so much. I just wrapped up my 11th year at the Sundance Film Festival, Robert Redford’s snowy film festival in Park City, Utah. January is a tough month for most people. After the joys of the holidays in December, the first month of the year is so cold and quiet and depressing. But I’m lucky to be able to attend Sundance, which helps me get through January quickly. I get to watch some of the best films made by some of the most passionate, dedicated, ingenious filmmakers, and spend 10 days romping through the snow, catching up with some of my best friends and freezing my ass off. ›››

Continue reading Sundance Blog: Another 34 Films in 2017 – Dancing Through Cinema

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“Can you please look at me for a second, Pete?” The Orchard has released a trailer for a wacky, dark comedy titled Donald Cried, from writer/director/star Kris Avedisian. The film is presented by David Gordon Green, Jody Hill, Danny McBride and Brandon James, which is a powerhouse comedy team-up. Avedisian stars as the titular Donald, a childhood friend of a man who returns to his hometown after his grandmother passes away. Awkwardness ensues, and things get a little fun. The cast includes Jesse Wakeman, Louisa Krause, Ted Arcidi, Shawn Contois, and Kate Fitzgerald. This played at festivals all over the world throughout 2016, so even though it may seem a bit weird, it’s definitely a quality film worth your attention. ›››

Continue reading Official Trailer Wacky Dark Comedy ‘Donald Cried’ from Kris Avedisian

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Nicolas Cage is a unique talent in the acting world. His performances often give us something to talk about regardless of the quality of the film surrounding that performance, and it creates an air of excitement that follows the actor wherever he’s seen. This is exactly why, for the past four years, the Alamo Drafthouse has programmed a day of movies in Cage’s honor. Entitled CAGED (or “C4GED” for this year’s program) the day, usually coordinated by Tough Guy Cinema programmer Greg MacLennan and in honor of Cage’s 53rd birthday, treats movie-going fans to five, surprise titles all headlined by a memorable Nicolas Cage performance. Every year MacLennan has invited Cage to attend, and it was for seemingly this final year of CAGED that we were all witness to the biggest surprise of them all. Nicolas Cage actually showed up. ›››

Continue reading A Surprise Appearance by Nicolas Cage Made ‘C4GED’ Unforgettable

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With the Sundance Film Festival wrapped up in Utah, Hollywood took over to announce the Screen Actors Guild Awards winners. The SAG Awards honor the greatest performances from 2016, as chosen by other actors which means this is one of the most definitive lists of the best on-screen performances. Actors know their profession better than anyone and are very particular about good performances. This year, Denzel Washington won for Fences, taking home his first SAG Award after four nominations. The very talented Mahershala Ali also won for Best Supporting Actor in Moonlight, which makes me very happy. Emma Stone and Viola Davis were the big winners on the Best Female Actor side of things. Full list found below. ›››

Continue reading ‘Hidden Figures’, Emma Stone & Mahershala Ali Win 2017 SAG Awards

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Yo, this film is dope. Patti Cake$ (yes, the title is actually spelled with the $ sign) is an original comedy about a chubby white girl in New Jersey who dreams of being a famous rapper. Australian actress Danielle Macdonald plays Patti, a young, impoverished, overweight woman living with her mom and grandmom in “Dirty Jersey”. Her best friend is an Indian man, played by newcomer Siddharth Dhananjay, who works as a pharmacist. Together they spend their nights spitting rhymes, catching shows, and strolling the streets of New Jersey with the skyscrapers of Manhattan taunting them in the distance. When they meet a musician known as “Basterd”, played by Mamoudou Athie, they realize this might be their chance to make it big. ›››

Continue reading Sundance 2017: Geremy Jasper’s ‘Patti Cake$’ is Raucous & Hilarious

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Aw, what an adorable little monkey. This BAFTA nominated short film titled Monkey Love Experiments is worth a quick watch, telling the story of a tiny monkey named “Gandhi” who dreams of traveling into space. Made by Ainslie Henderson and Will Anderson, the short is inspired by actual experiments and space missions in the early 1960s. Gandhi is a stop-motion animated puppet but they bring him to life perfectly to tell this charming story (it’s all in the eyes, right?). I appreciate the attention to detail and that they made this feel like it was filmed on 16mm in the 60s. Poor lil’ guy just wants to go to space. Don’t we all, monkey. ›››

Continue reading Watch: Monkey Dreams of Space in ‘Monkey Love Experiments’ Short

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“When you’re born in prison, you don’t know what to do with the freedom.” Netflix has debuted a trailer for the indie drama Imperial Dreams, starring John Boyega, better known as Finn from Star Wars. Before he went on to make The Force Awakens, Boyega made this indie film with Los Angeles director Malik Vitthal, starring as an aspiring and gifted writer who returns home to his neighborhood after being in prison for two years. He dreams of a better life for himself and his 4-year-old son in this hopeful depiction of inner-city life. This premiered at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival, three years ago, and is just now getting released thanks to Netflix. This looks pretty damn good, might be worth checking out even a few years late. ›››

Continue reading John Boyega Stars in Official Trailer for Indie Drama ‘Imperial Dreams’

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The power of people. But who is the leader that can inspire people to actually get out and protest? Joshua: Teenager vs. Superpower is a documentary about the Umbrella Movement in Hong Kong in 2014, as well as the story of Joshua Wong, the young activist who lead the movement. I’ve been excited to see a documentary about this specific moment in Hong Kong’s history, and this film covers that event and much more. This really shook up something deep inside of me. Joshua Wong is now my idol, I’m totally inspired and invigorated by him and his endless passion for democracy through peaceful protest – power in numbers. I admire this kid so much, and this doc is a fantastic introduction to who he is and what he helped achieve. ›››

Continue reading Sundance 2017: ‘Joshua: Teenager vs. Superpower’ Doc is Invigorating

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The use of silhouettes in cinematography can be powerful and evocative. One of the masters of silhouettes is cinematographer Roger Deakins, who has earned 13 Academy Award nominations over three decades (but never actually won one yet). One Perfect Shot video editor H. Perry Horton put together this compilation titled “Paint it Black: The Silhouettes of Roger Deakins” profiling some of his best silhouette shots. There’s footage from Skyfall, True Grit, Sicario, Assassination of Jesse James, The Hurricane, Jarhead, Prisoners, The Shawshank Redemption, and even the new Blade Runner (because why not?). Watch below. ›››

Continue reading Watch: Video of The Silhouettes of Cinematographer Roger Deakins

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