Friday, February 10, 2012
Movies Honeymoon's over with 'Breaking Dawn' Blu-Ray release
Posted by Curt Holman on Fri, Feb 10, 2012 at 2:47 PM
- Summit Distribution
- I NOW PRONOUNCE YOU MOPE AND SULK: Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart
Fortunately with Breaking Dawn Part 1, director Bill Condon proves disinclined to dwell on moony teen angst and sets a snappy pace. Edward recounts a dark chapter from his past when he hunted murderers — "Just like Dexter," I wanted him to say — and Condon makes a thematic appropriate shout-out to Bride of Frankenstein (a nod to director James Whale, subject of Condon's Gods and Monsters). Breaking Dawn wastes little time with the preparations for Bella and Edward's wedding, and apart from a lupine tantrum or two from Jacob, gets the couple hitched within the first half hour. The flowery bowers of the wedding ceremony aren't so kitschy as to be outright ridiculous.
Film Clips Film Clips: Journey to Pina's Star House
Posted by Henry Samuels on Fri, Feb 10, 2012 at 2:47 PM
- Universal Pictures
- Ryan Reynolds and Denzel Washington star in the CIA agent thriller Safe House
JOURNEY 2: THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND 3 stars (PG) In the sequel to Journey to the Center of the Earth, Sean Anderson (Josh Hutcherson) and his mom’s new beau (Dwayne Johnson) pick up a cryptic signal originating from the mysterious island from Jules Verne’s books. Taking full advantage of the technologies at his disposal, director Brad Peyton places his cast upon a fantastic tropical paradise full of amazing creatures and fantastic landscapes. Full of baseline humor, teen angst, and family bonding moments there’s an equal amount of intense chases and thrill rides on both ships and beasts to balance it out. Journey 2 is a definite improvement in the franchise and definitely worth seeing. — Edward Adams
OSCAR NOMINATED SHORT FILMS 3 stars (NR) The animation trumps the live-action in this annual program of the Academy Awards’ freshly-anointed short subjects. Highlights include the whimsical charmer “The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore” and the bittersweet historical sketch “Wild Life.” Ciarin Hinds stars in Terry George’s warm, live-action film “The Orphan,” but the most powerful punch comes from “Raju,” in which a German couple adopts an orphan in Calcutta. — Holman
PINA 3 stars (PG) German choreographer Pina Bausch died two days before director Wim Wenders was scheduled to begin filming a documentary about her work. The German director and Bausch’s ensemble of dancers completed the film as a deeply-felt posthumous tribute, but if you don’t know much about Bausch, you might wish Pina filled in more autobiographical tales between dancer numbers. Wenders’ ingenious use of 3D, particularly the introductory piece “The Rite of Spring,” superbly does justice to Bausch’s choreography. — Holman
SAFE HOUSE ( R) When a rouge ex-CIA agent named Tobin Frost (Denzel Washington) is brought to Agent Weston's (Ryan Reynolds) CIA safe house in South Africa, a small militia attacks the safe house in an attempt to capture Frost. The inexperienced Weston is then tasked with protecting Frost, one of the most dangerous men alive.
STAR WARS: THE PHANTOM MENACE 3D (1999) 2 stars (PG) Two Jedi knights (Liam Neeson and Ewan McGregor), a bumbling fish-man and a gifted young boy (Jake Lloyd) aid the deposed queen (Natalie Portman) of a besieged alien planet. The first of George Lucas’ Star Wars prequels unquestionably suffers from wooden performances, terrible dialogue and a misguided comic relief character, but disappointed Star Wars who call it the worst film ever made should really see more movies. On the plus side it offers some subtly ingenious intergalactic skullduggery, some lavishly designed alien worlds and the best light-saber battle in the six-film franchise. — Holman
THE VOW (PG-13) Brain damage from a car accident causes Paige (Rachel McAdams) to lose her memory, including all of the memories of her newlywed husband Leo (Channing Tatum). As Leo tries to win over Paige's heart again, the couple encounters many obstacles in finding the meaning of true love.
YOUNG GOETHE IN LOVE (NR) Director Philipp Stölzl (North Face) helms a lavish, charming lit-pic about aspiring poet Johann Goethe (Inglourious Basterds’ Alexander Fehling) and his love affair with a young woman betrothed to another man.
DULY NOTED
CANDYMAN (1992) 3 stars ( R) This solid, spooky horror film (with a soundtrack by Philip Glass) stars Tony Todd as a boogeyman out of urban legend who manifests himself when people say his name five times in succession. The cast includes Virginia Madsen, Xander Berkeley, Vanessa A. Williams and a bunch of angry bees. Splatter Cinema. Tue., Feb. 14, 9:30 p.m. Plaza Theatre, 1049 Ponce de Leon Ave. 404-873-1939. www.plazaatlanta.com. — Holman
THE YOUNG LOVERS (1950) (NR) Young dancers Guy and Carol stand at the brink of success when Carol is diagnosed with polio in this film by famed female director Ida Lupino. Sat., Feb. 11. 8 p.m. High Museum, Woodruff Arts Center, 1280 Peachtree St. $5-$7. 404-733-4200. www.high.org
THE PRUITT-IGOE MYTH (NR) This documentary traces the history of the St. Louis Urban Housing Project and whether it deserves its reputation as an example of the failures of public policy planning. Feb. 6-12. Cinefest Film Theatre, Georgia State University, 66 Courtland St., Suite 240. 404-413-1798. www2.gsu.edu/~wwwcft.
THE SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS 5 stars (1957) In this pitch-dark drama, Burt Lancaster plays powerful gossip columnist J.J. Hunsecker (patterned after Walter Winchell) who uses a hustling New York press agent (Tony Curtis) to ruin the relationshipo between Husecker’s sister and a jazz musician. Painting With Light. Wed., Feb. 15. 7:30 p.m. Emory Cinematheque. 208 White Hall, 301 Dowman Drive, Emory University. Free. filmstudies.emory.edu/home/events/film-series/emory-cinematheque.html — Holman
Movies 'Pina' does justice to dance in all its dimensions
Posted by Curt Holman on Fri, Feb 10, 2012 at 2:12 PM
- 2011 Donata Wenders / Sundance Selects
- BATTLE OF THE SEXES: The ensemble of 'Pina'
Last year, Werner Herzog’s Cave of Forgotten Dreams used the three-dimensional effect to convey the uneven surfaces of the Chauvet Cave, which makes the prehistoric paintings look markedly different than seeing them “flat.” Now, Wim Wenders’ Oscar-nominated documentary Pina encourages the audience to view modern dance through the eyes of deceased but renowned choreographer Pina Bausch.
Pina is never more powerful than during its presentation of “The Rite of Spring,” which finds the dancers of Bausch’s Tanztheater Wuppertal. A layer of reddish soil covers the performing space, and the conflicts between the male and female dancers convey the heightened emotions of courtship and passion. The 3D emphasizes how the performers move through the theatrical space and draw the audience’s attention to the emotional elements of blocking and movement. At times Wenders brings his camera into intimate close-up, but primarily the photography and editing respect Bausch’s choreography enough to let us see it, not chop it up.
Television / Movies / News ATLwood: Clint Eastwood wants to keep it Homegrown
Posted by Allison Keene on Fri, Feb 10, 2012 at 10:00 AM
Fresh Off The Press:
— According to Atlanta restaurant Homegrown's Facebook page, it seems that Clint Eastwood will be there filming in March … keep your eyes peeled!
— Hat Tip to my friend Ed for linking me to some new photos from the Savannah-filmed Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (not to be confused Abraham Lincoln versus Zombies, of course).
— As Season Three of "The Walking Dead" sets up production in Senoia (to begin in May), don't forget that Part Two of Season Two airs this Sunday night at 9pm on AMC!
— Singer Monica was in town and at the Hawks game Monday night to support her husband, Suns player Shannon Brown, and to say hello to her cousin Chris Lova Lova (who you might know more recently as Ludacris).
Filming Updates:
— According to ATLwood friend Tamara Tattles (a.k.a. The Woman Who Knows Everything There Is To Know About RHOA), Nene Leakes will continue her role on "Glee" … indefinitely!
— In Killing Season news, Robert De Niro and John Travolta are filming at Sweetwater Creek State Park this week into next, closing the park down for 10 days (this doubles as a PSA for anyone planning a trip there!)
— It seems that "The Vampire Diaries" filmed some mysterious hospital scenes in Decatur on Tuesday and Wednesday (thanks Abi!) before moving to Covington Town Square for more shooting on Thursday.
— On Wednesday, Madea’s Witness Protection filmed around Greenbrair Pkwy SW and Headland Dr SW as well as Peachtree St NE and Ponce De Leon Ave. NE Atlanta. Keep your eye on Midtown for more in the next few weeks for more!
Movies Oscar Countdown: Live-action & animated shorts
Posted by Curt Holman on Fri, Feb 10, 2012 at 9:58 AM
In advance of the Academy Award ceremony on Feb. 26, Screen Grab will predict the winners in all categories. Coincidentally enough, the annual program of The Oscar Nominated Short Films is now playing at Landmark Midtown Art Cinema.
Live Action Short Film: "Pentecost," "Raju," "The Shore," "Time Freak," "Tuba Atlantic."Hotel Rwanda's Terry George wrote and directed "The Shore" and cast Ciarin Hinds in a meaty central role as an Irishman trying to reconcile with an old friend after living for decades in the states. At 30 minutes, it's both the longest short and the one with the most famous people involved, but my impression is that the category doesn't always recognize the shorts with the biggest stars. "The Shore," like most of its competition this year, puts to much emphasis on a labored joke. "Time Freak" evokes Groundhog Day and Primer in a kind of extended comedy sketch about a young man's time machine. "Pentecost," also from Ireland, finds a parallel between altar boys and a team of soccer players on the eve of a big game. Norway's "Tuba Atlantic" finds some laughs in its tale of a dying old man trying to contact his long-lost brother through outlandish means, but overdoes the grisly slapstick.
Prediction: "Raju." A German couple adopt an orphan from Calcutta in this devastating short drama that turns Western guilt on its head.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Fruits of the Interwebs 'The Artist's' Jean Dujardin takes some auditions
Posted by Curt Holman on Thu, Feb 9, 2012 at 3:30 PM
I've been a fan of Jean Dujardin ever since I saw his splendidly unctuous turn as a French superspy in Michel Hazanavicius' OSS 177: Cairo, Nest of Spies (available on Netflix Watch Instantly). I look forward to discussing Dujardin's performance in The Artist a little later, when the Oscar Countdown gets to the Best Actor category. In the meantime, Funny or Die presents an extremely amusing viral clip of Dujardin that showcases his gift for comedy, as well as the typical way Hollywood treats actors from non-English-speaking countries:
And the award goes to... Oscar Countdown: Art Direction & Costumes
Posted by Curt Holman on Thu, Feb 9, 2012 at 9:47 AM
In advance of the Academy Award ceremony on Feb. 26, Screen Grab will predict the winners in all categories.
Art Direction: The Artist, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, Hugo, Midnight in Paris, War Horse. Art Direction is kind of a combined category that represents both production design and set decoration. Previous year's awards have recognized fantastical films like Avatar and Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland and Sweeney Todd, so Deathly Hallows Part 2 might have one last shot here. Like Costumes, this might be the kind of category that pits the two most-nominated films against each other. The Artist superbly replicates the sets and locales of Hollywood circa 1930, while Hugo presents a kind of fairy-tale vision of Paris from about the same decade.
Prediction: Hugo's two Italian art directors, Dante Ferretti and Francesca Lo Schiavo, are both movie veterans who've won Oscars before, so I think they have the edge over The Artist's relative unknowns.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Recap City 'The Bachelor,' Ep. 6: Back in the straddle
Posted by Gwynedd Stuart on Wed, Feb 8, 2012 at 3:21 PM
- ABC
- Things are about to get crotchy.
Panama City, Panama, huh? Really makes Panama City, Florida, look like Panama City, Florida.
Courtney's all confident, Ben's hair's all mushroomed, and Blakely's all upset that, yet again, she's not going on a one-one-one date. Upset because she has a mean case of blueballs.
KCB, who very much loves an off-the-shoulder blouse, gets the date and is instructed to bring three things with her scuz she and Ben are going to a private island to fart around and pretend like their ability to not die after a couple hours means something. "Today we really need to be here for each other," says Ben. "If we accomplish this we can do anything." Anything that is exactly this.
The three items Ben brought were a machete (which he pronounces like Alex Trebek would), a fishing net, and matches, so if worse comes to wurst, he can slit KCB's throat, wrap her body in the fishing net and set the whole thing on fire. KCB brought a stuffed animal, a cork screw, and a bag of candy because she's slow.
The first half of the date involves more grunting and coconut cracking than actual conversation, which is good news for these two. Pressure's on for dinner, though. Ben says, "I'm kinda looking forward to diving in DEEP tonight," which would sound sexually threatening if Ben wasn't s'much of a woman.
With nary a dead loved one to lean on for DEEP conversation, KCB resorts to the next best thing: an eating disorder. No, sorry, her eating disorders. In high school she was anorexic and bulimic, until she got caught being those things at a Super Bowl party (how topical). This made her grow up faster than her peers and created the strong woman we see before us today. She keeps the majority of that strength in her calves.
And the award goes to... Project Imagin8ion picks Georgia photographer
Posted by Curt Holman on Wed, Feb 8, 2012 at 1:52 PM
- Canon
- Allan Martelly's photograph "My Word" inspired 'Project Imagin8ion'
Georgia's Allan Martelly was one of eight winning photographers selected by director Ron Howard and Canon U.S.A. as part of Project Imagin8tion, which you may recall from those weird TV commercials. The competition chose eight photographs out of nearly 100,000 submissions, to inspire the themes ("setting, time, character, mood, relationship, goal, obstacle and the unknown") of a single short film. Martelly's photo "My Word" won in the "goal" category. The finished product, "when you find me," cuts between the past and the present as two sisters try to overcome a childhood tragedy. "when you find me" will screen on Thu., Feb. 9, at Morrow's Southlake Pavillion 24 at 6:30 p.m. Anyone interested in attending should email CanonGeorgiaScreening@grey.com.
Recap City "Justified," Season 3, Episode 4
Posted by Curt Holman on Wed, Feb 8, 2012 at 11:03 AM
- Courtesy of FX
- THAT'S MY 'CUE: Mykelti Williamson as Limehouse
“Hey, ‘Eye of the Tiger, settle down,” Quarles’ “talent scout” Tanner tells Devil, who’s visiting Quarles’ Oxy base to listen to his pitch. And Quarles is quite the salesman, apparently fully informed about the activities of Boyd’s gang, and even that Ava clobbered Devil with a skillet. Like the criminal equivalent of Moneyball, Quarles’s sermonizing recruits Devil to the Dixie Mafia’s Oxy operation, and Devil clearly has hostile intentions for Boyd.
