Despite a Lil John Reaction from audiences Nolan won't change Bane's Voice in The Dark Knight Rises

WWHHHHHHHAAAAATTTTT?????!!!!!!!!

Despite the awesomeness that was The Dark Knight Rises trailer, the number one complaint among bat enthusiasts was Bane's voice. Several people found it difficult if not damn near impossible to hear what the hell Tom Hardy was saying. Personally I was able to hear Hardy clearly when he tells Bruce Wayne, "When Gotham is ashes you have my permission to die."

But I'm not everyone.

Rumor has it that the outcry has the execs at Warner Bros. nervous and that something needs to be done. With a $250 million budget I really can't blame them. However to be perfectly honest this movie is going to make money no matter what and I will go on record as writing that at the very least this movie will rate a 9. I know that's tantamount to going all in in Texas Hold 'Em without looking at your cards, but hey sometimes you just gotta say "Let's dance!"

Apparently, the one person who isn't concerned is director Christopher Nolan. Although he will apparently tweak the voice in editing, Nolan refuses to go back and change Bane's dialogue. His position is that the audience needs to only get a "general idea" of what Bane says and that it's not necessary to understand every word.

Um...what?

Look I guess I could understand his reasoning if the villain had a lisp or a stutter or something but that's not the case. I'm of the opinion that Bane's dialogue could be very crucial to various plot points in the film, and being able to understand Bane is essential. Granted Bane does wear a breath mask throughout the film so maybe a certain muffle is warranted, but don't make him completely unintelligible.

Bottom line is that although Christopher Nolan has earned his reputation as one of the leading directors working in Hollywood today, the studio execs have to step in tell Chris to correct this. It would be a tragedy for the voice of a main character to undercut an entire film. The main focus needs to be the anticipation of the film's release, not the voice of a main character.* However, I have faith in Nolan and I trust that this whole voice situation will be ironed out in post-production.

*On a side note one of the biggest complaints with The Dark Knight was Christian Bale's Batman voice. Too many people felt that it sounded like Clint Eastwood after a sandpaper and gravel milkshake. Hopefully Bale toned it down for The Dark Knight Rises.

Ender's Game Gets a Few More Pieces: Ford and Breslin Sign On

Recently I reported that Harrison Ford and Hailee Steinfeld were both "in talks" to join the film adaptation of Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game. Apparently, both actors have progressed from talking to putting pen to paper. As previously mentioned Ford will play Colonel Hyram Graff who spearheads the training of recruits at Battle School, while Steinfeld will play Petra Arkanian, Ender's right hand woman.

Additionally, Abigail Breslin (Little Miss Sunshine, Zombieland) will join the cast as Valentine Wiggin, Ender's older sister. As a fan of the book I can't stress enough how important Valentine's role is in the novel and I think Breslin is an excellent choice for the role.

In case you're unaware, all three of the actors in this article have been nominated for an Academy Award. This tells me that this production is moving in the right direction and director Gavin Hood (X-Men Origins: Wolverine) has the film on the right track. Principal photography is set to begin early next year for a March 2013 release date.

Every day I'm Shiring!!! The Trailer for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is Here!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0k3kHtyoqc

One of the fantastic (and unexpected--pun definitely intended) parts of seeing The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was that the very first trailer was for next year's The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. Anyone who knows me knows that this novel is very near and dear to my heart. It quite literally helped define my childhood and my love for fantasy. I can remember being five years old and reciting the entire story record book, complete with voices and the tone to turn the page, to any and every family member that would listen. To say I'm a little biased in favor 0f The Hobbit is like saying Tim Tebow likes Jesus. Both are understatements of massive proportions.

I was actually pleased that this was a legitimate full on trailer and not some second rate trailer where they spliced in footage from The Lord of the Rings movies. We get a touch of everything in this trailer--Gandalf's initial meeting with Bilbo, an introduction of the dwarves led by Thorin Oakenshield, and even Bilbo's discovery of Sting. (The sword not the musician that's into tantric sex.) It's amazing to see Ian McKellen back in all his glory as Gandalf. He is the quintessential wizard whether he is smoking a pipe or saving the dwarves from goblins.

Without question the most awe inspiring part of the trailer that just sent chills down my spine was when the dwarves started singing about the loss of their treasure to the dragon Smaug. I literally thought my skin was going to detach itself from my body. Those weren't goosebumps they were gooseflesh. Songs and poems are at the heart of Tolkien's work and it is nice to see Peter Jackson include them in the film. I can't think of another person more qualified to bring this film to life then him.

The soundtrack and the scenery once again looks epic with plenty of shots of the Misty Mountains and Rivendell. And of course there's no better way to end the trailer than with a shot of the One Ring and Bilbo's encounter with Gollum.

Precioussss wwweee wanntssss thisss movie to come sssooon!!!

December 14, 2012 seems an eternity away. Until then I guess I'll have to make due with this trailer.

Review: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Plot: Based on the worldwide bestselling Swedish novel of the same name, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo centers around discredited reporter Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig) and his socially maladjusted research assistant Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara). After Blomkvist loses a court battle against business magnate Hans-Erik Wennerstrom, Swedish business tycoon Henrik Vanger (Christopher Plummer) invites Mikael to investigate the 40 year old murder of his great-niece Harriet Vanger. Enticed by the money and the promise from Henrik that he will help him nail Wennerstrom, Blomkvist accepts the offer and delves into the mystery. However, before long Mikael realizes he desperately needs a research assistant and tracks down Lisbeth Salander, the same person who did his background check for Henrik Vanger. Armed with Salander's genius level computer and research skills and dogged determination, Blomkvist and Salander nevertheless find themselves soon ensconced in a mystery that ranges far beyond Harriet's murder.

Review: As an avid reader I always approach the film adaptation of a popular novel with a certain degree of trepidation. There's always a certain amount of expectation that builds up and a total film disaster is not unheard of. For every success (Silence of the Lambs, The Lord of the Rings) there is an epic failure (Eragon, Congo). The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo had twice as much to live up to. Not only was the film battling the scrutiny of fans of the novel but also fans of the Swedish films starring Noomi Rapace.

I'm ecstatic to say that director David Fincher's 2011 version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is a triumph of film making and will likely please both fans of the novel and the Swedish film. Tattoo succeeds on every level from the breathtaking Swedish countryside, to pulse pounding score, to the iconic and riveting acting performances. At just over 2 1/2 hours the film flies by with an intensity that only the best thrillers provide. And like all great films, this one left a strong impression that kept me thinking about it long after the credits had rolled.

The tone for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is set with the opening credits. The opening sequence plays like a goth/James Bond video that is difficult to describe other than the main features are people in oiled up black and white set to the background of a souped up version of Led Zepplin's "Immigrant Song." Tattoo's opening is reminiscent of one of Fincher's earlier works, Fight Club. The adrenaline of the opening credits (the credits mind you!) indicates the thrill ride that is to come. Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross's score continues to generate energy throughout the rest of the film. The two musicians previously collaborated with Fincher on The Social Network and won an Academy Award. Unless Fincher decides to ever do a period piece, he might as well just pencil these two in for every film he does from now on. The Girl with the Tattoo is easily the best score I've heard this year.

As for Fincher, he rarely makes bad films and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is no exception. Not only is he faithful to the source material (with a few minor exceptions) his direction captured the raw reality of the human condition. Tattoo is stunning in its starkness, whether it is in the brutal snowy landscapes of Hedestad (where Mikael's investigation originates) or the equally brutal rape (and revenge) scenes that were again reminiscent of another Fincher work-Seven. Fincher unflinchingly reveals the dark side of human nature whether it's greed, murder, or simple indifference.

Fincher's vision would never have come to fruition without the help of cinematographer Jeff Cronenweth. Although there were several memorable shots in the film, the one that stood out was the initial shot of Henrik Vanger's house on Hedeby Island. The zoom in shot made the house loom like the Overlook Hotel from The Shining and implied dark secrets within an outwardly beautiful home.

Steven Zaillian's screenplay adaptation is superb. Not only is it faithful to the book, the scenes are tight and dialogue driven and punctuated with the requisite amount of action and intrigue. It is a credit to both Fincher and Zaillian that although I knew the plot of the movie (I've read the books) and how it was going to turn out, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo still kept me on the edge of my seat. The suspense was that palpable.

Without question The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo anchors itself with its iconic characters. Casting was paramount in the production of this film and I don't think producer Scott Rudin could have done a better job. Craig is excellent as Blomkvist, showing a reservation that completely counters his role as James Bond. He's completely believable as an intrepid journalist and as a doting father.

While Stellen Skarsgard's role as nephew Martin Vanger intrigues with every scene, Christopher Plummer as Henrik Vanger almost steals the show. His Vanger is exactly how I pictured him in the novel. Plummer is equal parts charismatic, friendly, dogged, loving, and a little manipulative. Those are not easy traits to bring together. I only wish he could have been in more scenes. In spite of this I think he has a good shot at getting a Best Supporting Actor nomination this year.

Then there is Rooney Mara's Lisbeth Salander. I can't begin to describe how profound her performance is in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. She deftly captures the essence of Larsson's Salander. The social awkwardness that borders on the pathological (Salander at one point freely admits she's insane), her genius skill with computers and research, her raw sexuality, her unapologetic nature...it's all there. In spades. Equally as important as the personality of Salander were the physical aspects of the character, and again Mara triumphs here. Rooney went full on method with this role, taking up smoking, getting her nose, ears, and nipples pierced, and even learning how to drive a motorcycle. With black short cropped hair and bleached eyebrows, Mara owns this role.

I have the utmost respect for any actor or actress that takes risks, and Mara certainly has my vote of confidence. Rape scenes are not easy to do. Not only are they uncomfortable by nature, but you can't half-ass it or it is not believable. Mara just flat out went for it. She is totally invested in both rape scenes and doesn't shy away from the grit and grime. It demonstrates an honest performance and makes her ultimate revenge that much more impactful. Despite the fact that Salander is a borderline psychopath somehow you find yourself rooting for her. If Mara doesn't receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress you might as well flush the whole award show down the toilet and get Kei$ha to host the damn thing.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is a stunning cinematic achievement. It is quite literally the reason we go to the movies.

My rating: 10/10

Review: Crazy, Stupid, Love

Plot: When Carl Weaver (Steve Carell) discovers that his wife of almost 25 years Emily (Julianne Moore) cheated on him with co-worker David Lindhagen (Kevin Bacon), he moves out of his house and into a one bedroom apartment. With no outlet and no hope, Carl continues to go to a bar night after night complaining to anyone and everyone about his love life. However, it's not until ladies man Jacob Palmer (Ryan Gosling) takes Carl under his wing and turns him into a swinging single that Carl begins to regain his manhood. But will his change in attitude prevent him from fighting for his soul mate?

Review: I didn't expect much going into Crazy, Stupid, Love and I wasn't disappointed. Crazy, Stupid, Love is just another average romantic comedy with some occasional laughs, a few strong performances, and not much substance.
Dan Fogelman's plot doesn't leave much to the imagination. A man who finds out his wife is cheating on him, turns into a swinging bachelor, and then discovers that he really just wants his wife after all. Originality thy name is Hollywood. If the plot sounds almost cartoonish you'd probably not be surprised to learn that Fogelman's two previous script credits are Cars and Tangled. Better stick to the animated features Danny boy.
Crazy, Stupid, Love suffers the fate of a lot of rom-coms because it's a situational and formulaic idea that's been tried over and over and over again. To their credit c0-directors Glenn Ficara and John Requa do a fair job of keeping a steady pace throughout the movie. Despite its almost two hour running time, Love did not drag, and Ficara and Requa struck a nice balance between comedy and drama. The best scene in the whole film might have been when Carl and Emily are talking to each other before going into their son's parent/teacher conference meeting. The tension and chemistry between Carrell and Moore is excellent and dovetails nicely into the next scene when Carl realizes that his son's teacher is actually a woman he slept with. Even though it was one of the coincidences you only see in romantic comedies it did make for a funny scene.
While Carrell is endearing as the spurned husband Carl, the whole "lovable schlub" act is getting really old. We've already seen this Carrell before in movies like The 40 Year Old Virgin and Little Miss Sunshine. The whole routine is no longer refreshing; it's just tiresome.
Thankfully, Ryan Gosling saves the hour with his portrayal of rich playboy Jacob. Gosling, one of the finest working actors today, could have turned Jacob into a womanizing jerk but he didn't. Yes Jacob is a womanizer, however he's also helping Carl with no ulterior motive and he's not derogatory towards women. The Academy Award nominated actor plays a very upfront charming Jacob and he was one of the few characters I actually responded to. The scene where Carl realizes Jacob "Miyagied" him is hilarious and heartfelt at the same time. His scenes with the proverbial "woman who changes the ladies man" character of Hannah (Emma Stone) rather than being hackneyed, come off as honest and sweet. Yes Jacob lost his father, has tons of money, and a distant mother and yes all of these things are cliche, yet somehow Gosling pulls it off. I give credit to anyone who can let their acting ability overshadow cliched storytelling.
While Crazy, Stupid, Love plods along initially as an average rom-com it descends into the realm of contrived with its ending. A "surprise" meeting in the final reel is so convenient that I should have gotten a Slurpee and some nachos to go along with the scene. All I could think of was the Monday Night Football crew on ESPN. "C'mon man!"
In the end Crazy, Stupid, Loves comes across as more stupid than anything.

My rating: 5.5

Craig to be Bonded to 007 for a bit longer

The man who made Bond cool for a new generation of moviegoers with Casino Royale, may be hanging around with MI6 a little longer.

Actually a lot longer if the reports are true.

Daniel Craig, who is currently filming his third Bond film Skyfall, is negotiating to star in FIVE more James Bond films. (Craig originally signed on for three films.) If negotiations are successful and Craig does all five films, he would tie Roger Moore for most Bond movies.

Now let's assume for a second that all of these "ifs" happen. If we estimate three years between movies, that means that Craig will wrap up that contract just before he hits 60. Initially my thought was that Craig would be too old, however Moore was 58 when he did A View to a Kill (1985) his final James Bond film. Also Sean Connery was 53 when he did his last Bond film Never Say Never Again in 1983. Hell I guess if Harrsion Ford can play Indiana Jones at 65, then Craig can play Bond at 59.

Although I think Craig is an excellent James Bond, one of the great things about the Bond series is that the torch is passed every couple of years to a new actor. I was really hoping for Christian Bale to be next James Bond but I guess Craig will have to suffice.

Skyfall is currently filming and will be released November 2012.

Who ya gonna call? Apparently not Bill Murray

This news is just bizarre beyond words. After months and months of speculation as to whether or not Bill Murray was going to join the cast of Ghostbusters III, the world finally got its answer.

Apparently, Murray was so enraged by the script that he channeled his inner Lou Ferrigno and ripped the script in half. He then returned said script to Harold Ramis and Dan Aykroyd (far left and far right above) with the note: "No one one wants to pay money to see fat, old men chasing ghosts!"

I'd say that is a definitive no.

Look I have no problem if Murray doesn't want to do this film. I think it'd be a lot better if he was in it, but it's his decision. Furthermore, I can understand his point. After all it's been almost 28 years since the first Ghostbusters film, and even though the script purportedly involves handing the torch to the next generation of ghostbusters, you know people really want to see Peter, Ray, Egon, and Winston.

What I have a problem with is the juvenile, hurtful, and unnecessary response to the offer. Bill has had the script in his possession since early Spring and once he bothers to read it this is how he responds? Murray may as well have run over Aykroyd and Ramis with Ecto-1 and had the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man take a deuce on their heads. Really Bill? You're going to call two of your ex-partners, people who helped make you a star, fat? Furthermore, you're the one who made a sequel to Garfield. I'm willing to lay odds that GBIII will be a better sequel. Very mature Bill.

In recent years I've noticed a disturbing trend with Bill Murray. He's turning into a real douche. It started I think when he lost out to Sean Penn for the best actor award seven years ago. Since then he's taken himself way to seriously. Don't forget Bill that you started on SNL and one of your first films was Meatballs. Get a reality check and show some respect. If you don't want to do GBIII fine but don't act like a tool.

Apparently the film is going to press on without Dr. Peter Venkman, which impresses me. The ghostbusters aren't about one character. Ramis and Aykroyd will both be back, as will Ernie Hudson and director Ivan Reitman. As a huge fan of the first two films* I will definitely be checking this out. I ain't 'fraid a no Bill.

*When the hell is Ghostbusters II coming out on Blu-Ray already?

THE TRAILER! THE TRAILER! IT RISES!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrzwIJQZX0k

After a weekend of being complete anal retentive dbs and pulling the copyright card, WB finally released the brand new The Dark Knight Rises trailer to the rest of the world. Thankfully I can now give a complete breakdown of the trailer after having to wait an excruciating 4 days. (Please note: WATCH THE TRAILER FIRST before you read my breakdown.)

First off the start of the trailer with the kid singing the national anthem absolutely gave me goosebumps. You could just tell there was this ominous undertone as the first chords rang out. FYI that is in fact Heinz Field, the Pittsburgh Steelers stadium, although in the trailer Gotham's NFL team are the Gotham Rogues.* Bane stalking through the tunnels of the stadium is an underlying part of the trailer, as the focus keeps cutting back to the stadium. Also during the opening 30 seconds Alfred (Michael Caine) tells Bruce in near tears how he hasn't protected him. What that implies is ambiguous because what exactly would Bruce need protecting from? He's obviously avoided the police (who think he killed Harvey Dent) since the last film. Intriguing.

Next we see a few Gotham officials commenting on how Jim Gordon is going to be removed from office in the Spring by the mayor. One of them says that in Gotham it is "peacetime." The fact that Rises picks up eight years after the last film implies an extended (and fortunate) time of peace.

Afterwards, we see Anne Hathaway (Selina/Catwoman) cutting Bruce and his rich friends down, implying there is a storm coming. What follows are scenes where criminals are attacking the rich in Gotham and also where hundreds are released by Bane from Blackgate prison or Arkham Asylum I'm not sure which. To me this implies an undertone of class warfare. Is this meant to be social commentary? Perhaps. A lot of people felt, as I did, that The Dark Knight examines the nature of terrorism through the Joker and how we as a society respond to it. I don't think it was anything intentional or overt, it just flows from the story naturally...as all good social commentary in movies tends to do. What with the economic crisis, occupy Wall Street, and the impending 2012 election, I wouldn't be a bit surprised if class warfare issues will be in the third film.

The next section is very interesting because we see Christian Bale at some kind of retreat/monastery sporting a large beard and hearing people (monks?) chanting a word that means rise. There's two possibilities here. One is that this is a flashback to when Bruce was training with the League of Shadows in Batman Begins. I suspect this because a young Ra's Al Ghul is supposed to be in Rises and he has an unknown connection to Bane. The other possibility (and I think this one is more likely) is that this is where Bruce has gone in the intervening years between the second and third film. At the very least it is where he goes to train and rediscover his inner Batman.

Following this we are treated to easily one of the coolest sequences I've ever seen in a trailer. Bane blows up the Gotham Rogues field while one of the players runs for a touchdown. That player incidentally just happens to be Pittsburgh Steeler Hines Ward. (Several Steeler players including Ward, Troy Polamalu, and Ben Rothliesberger were all in this film.) The effect is like a roundhouse kick to the groin.

However as cool as that action sequence was, it's nothing compared to the quick 5 second exchange between Bane and Bruce. Bruce appears to be lying on the ground apparently after being pummeled (back broken???) by Bane who calmly says, "When Gotham is ashes you have my permission to die." Chilling stuff.

After that the last 15 to 20 seconds or so are several cut action sequences involving chases and fights including one where strangely enough Bane and Batman appear to be fighting during the day. Now before Batman fans go all fanboy and raise an outcry that Batman never comes out during the day (I'm nerd enough to know that it is actually rarely before 11pm and it's usually 1am before he saunters out) let me point out that the Bane villain doesn't play by the rules. As the physical and mental match for Batman he's going to do whatever it takes to draw Batman out of his shell. If that means freeing prisoners in the middle of the day that's what he's going to do. In any case, seeing the new fangled Batwing right at the end dismissed any non-cannon complaints I might have had.

So my overall impression? While this trailer doesn't compare to the trailer for The Dark Knight four years ago, there's plenty in here to get the geek inside me screaming for joy. It seems that Rises draws heavily from the Knightfall arc of the Batman universe. (I'm not going to explain what that is. If you want to know check Wikipedia.) The action sequences, the new gadgets, and Bane in all his badass glory are only a few of the highlights. It would have been nice to see Hathaway in her Catwoman outfit, however her dialogue scene with Bruce was fantastic. Any doubts that the Academy Award nominated actress could pull this off are gone. My only complaint is that Bane's voice is hard to understand, but I feel that will be cleared up in post production.

July 20, 2012 can't come quick enough for this Batman fanatic.

*For those of you who may not have noticed the "R" in the Gotham Rogues sign that people are holding up in the stands, that is actually the same "R" symbol that Robin uses. Does that mean we will see the boy wonder in the final film? Guess we will find out.

Review: Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

Plot: The world's greatest detective Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr.) returns in the followup to director Guy Ritchie's 2009 hit. Holmes's latest adventure finds him and colleague Dr. John Watson (Jude Law) pitted against the nefarious Professor James Moriarty (Jared Harris) whose machinations could spell worldwide doom. Along with gypsy Sim (Noomi Rapace) and Sherlock's brother Mycroft (Stephen Fry), Holmes and Watson must thwart an enemy more dangerous and enigmatic than either have ever encountered.

Review: For the life of me I can't understand why the first Sherlock Holmes movie gets so much hate. Despite the fact that the Rotten Tomatoes rating is a 70%, I can't tell you how many people I run into who detest that movie. Most can't stand to see Holmes as an action hero but personally I love it. It does not take away from his deductive methods, which are still the essence of Holmes. If anything it makes him even more intriguing. Holmes uses his mind to develop the best way to physically overpower his enemies. It is the perfect marriage of brains and brawn. While A Game of Shadows doesn't quite match the fresh quality of the original, it certainly is a strong followup to what undoubtedly will be a trilogy.
Although I enjoyed the film, the first fifteen minutes almost derailed the entire movie. What made Downey's performance so memorable in the first film was his ability to balance the right amount of humor, action, and drama through his portrayal of Holmes. Shadows started off almost exclusively with humor, to the point where it was borderline slapstick. But if you can weather through the first quarter hour, which involves Holmes turning his office into a jungle, drinking formaldehyde, and attacking Watson with fake darts, you're in for a great thrill ride.
Shadows finds its legs at Watson's stag party, where we are introduced to gypsy fortune teller Sim (Noomi Rapace). The former star of the Swedish version of The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo and the heroine of next year's Ridley Scott sci-fi film Prometheus, plays the wayward gypsy perfectly. At times vulnerable and other times tough as English tack, Rapace gives a memorable performance that certainly proves she can act in English just as well as she can in Swedish.
After Holmes discovers that Sim's brother is involved with Moriarty's latest schemes, it kicks off an amazing action sequence that is a visual delight. It's just a taste what's in store. Harrowing escapes from trains, collapsing buildings, and a game of wits at Reichanbach Falls are the order of the day. All hail cinematographer Philippe Rousselot, whose work is some of the best I've seen this year.
While the cinematography and actions sequences are fantastic, Ritchie goes way over the top when it comes to slow motion in Shadows. Although this was a key feature of the original that I enjoyed, the slow motion is excessive to say the least. James Herbert's less than stellar editing exacerbates this problem and other sequences come across slightly choppy. Additionally, I think Ritchie needs to cut back on the "Holmes-inner dialogue-plan-out-what-ass-kicking-sequence-I'm-about-to-do" routine. It gets a little tiresome. Although I will admit the one between Holmes and Moriarty in the closing scenes is awesome.
Fortunately, Kieran and Michele Mulroney have written an excellent script where the plot unravels like an onion. Truth be told the audience really doesn't understand Moriarty's master plan until about three quarters of the way through. This not only generates a considerable amount of suspense but keeps the audience invested as well. I know I was. Veteran composer Hans Zimmer (The Lion King, The Dark Knight) succeeds yet again, delivering a fantastic score that punctuates the dramatic dialogue driven scenes as much as the action sequences.
Jude Law excels again as Watson, an excellent foil to Holmes. While their relationship is a complicated one and often tempestuous, the Academy Award nominated actor does a great job of demonstrating the loyalty and friendship that exists between the two comrades. Law plays the uptight, almost anal retentive Watson to a t. It's the perfect balance to Downey's impulsive and reckless behavior. The chemistry between the two is fantastic. Credit Ritchie for making an excellent casting decision to bring these two together.
Incidentally Stephen Fry is hilarious as Mycroft Holmes, Sherlock's lazy brother who works for the British government. Not only is he Holmes equal in deduction but both Fry and Downey play off of each other beautifully. Mycroft's "nude" scene with Watson's wife Mary (Kelly Reilly) is hysterical.
Where A Game of Shadows fundamentally succeeds is in the dynamic interaction between Downey's Holmes and Harris's Moriarty. The scenes between these two are absolutely enthralling. Downey's Holmes is the best on screen since Basil Rathbone--maybe ever. Equally impressive is Harris's Moriarty. He brings just the right amount of sinister evil, charisma, intellectual prowess, and physical presence to the role. If you tried to pin me down and decide who was better I honestly couldn't give you an answer. While their initial encounter in Professor Moriarty's office is palpable with tension, it's nothing compared to the "chess scene" at the end of the film. Simply amazing.
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows is a rousing, action packed film. Guy Ritchie does a superb job of bringing 1891 Europe to life. Although Shadows stumbles at the outset it certainly proves the adage, "it's not how you start, it's how you finish."

My rating: 7.5/10

*Incidentally I saw the full trailer for The Dark Knight Rises before this film and let me tell you it is all kinds of awesome. As soon as WB takes the stick out of their rectum and puts it on the Internet, I'm going to post it and do a complete breakdown.

Review: Our Idiot Brother

Plot: When burnout organic farmer Ned Rockliffe (Paul Rudd) gets busted at the local Farmer's Market for selling pot to a policeman, Ned spends eight months in prison. Upon his release Ned finds that his girlfriend Janet (Kathryn Hahn) has taken up with a new man and refuses to let Ned have his dog "Willie Nelson." With nowhere else to turn Ned heads back to the city and into the lives of his three sisters, Miranda (Elizabeth Banks) a career driven perfectionist with no time for men, Natalie (Zooey Deschanel) a bi-sexual hipster living with five roommates and afraid of commitment, and Liz (Emily Mortimer) a lonely housewife and mother ignored by her documentary filmmaker husband Dylan (Steve Coogan). While the sisters consider Ned to be somewhat of an idiot, as time progresses all three find that Ned's free spirit may be exactly what they need.

Review: It's extremely difficult to quantify director Jesse Peretz's film Our Idiot Brother. While ostensibly a comedy, Brother often slips into the realm of drama as well. The result makes for a mish mash of sentimentality, occasional laughs, cinematic boredom.

Our Idiot Brother suffers from a lack of cohesiveness. While all of the performances in the film are strong, particularly Rudd's, I just didn't always find myself caring about the characters. Banks is the weakest of the bunch as career driven woman Miranda. However, her no nonsense persona masks the fact that she's secretly attracted to her neighbor Jeremy (Adam Scott) who secretly loves her too. The problem is that the idea is a cliche and the lack of chemistry between the two actors only exacerbates the problem.

Meanwhile Emily Mortimer while decent as the lonely house wife Liz is an incredibly bad role model for women. Her character is weak and subject to her husband Dylan's philandering. The desperate sad house wife routine gets very monotonous after awhile. Also side note: I really did not need to see Steve Coogan's ball sack in this film when Ned discovers he's cheating.

Zooey Deschanel's Natalie may be the most atypical of the three sisters, a bi-sexual slacker that constantly cheats on her girlfriend Cindy played by an incredibly butched up Rashida Jones. Her fear of commitment yet desperate love of Cindy rings true, and her relationship with Ned is the most believable.

Peretz's unwillingness to focus enough time on the individual relationships between Ned and his sisters made for a rough narrative, where the pacing constantly jumps around. I was surprised to find that the movie was only 90 minutes long as it felt like 3 hours. Additionally, Evgenia Peretz and David Schisgall's script is full of stock, one dimensional characters that make the whole movie one tired cliche.

The only saving grace to Our Idiot Brother was the near flawless and committed performance by actor Paul Rudd. This is probably Rudd's best performance to date. His Ned was heartfelt and sweet with a measure of restraint not displayed in Rudd's previous films like Role Models and Anchorman. I found myself rooting for Ned to get his dog "Willie Nelson" back. His relationship with nephew River (Matthew Mindler) was the most believable and endearing part of the whole film.

Unfortunately for Rudd none of the characters in the script come close to matching the fleshed out Ned. Furthermore, the film's ending is one of the most contrived I've seen in recent memory. While Rudd's stellar performance rules the day, it's not nearly enough to make Our Idiot Brother look anything more than idiotic.

My rating: 5/10

"BITCH SET ME UP!" Eddie Murphy set to play former DC Mayor Marion Barry in HBO Biopic

In a surprise move this week Eddie Murphy decided to take a role that did not involve him getting into a fat suit. The Academy Award nominated actor/comedian (for Dreamgirls not Norbit in case you were wondering) is set to play former Washington D.C. mayor Marion Barry in an upcoming biopic for HBO. Spike Lee is also attached to direct.

Barry's life is certainly fodder for good drama. Barry served as mayor of D.C. from 1979 to 1991, when he resigned after being arrested for crack cocaine possession. After serving only six months Barry ran again for mayor in 1994...and won. I don't know if that means that America just loves a good comeback story or a majority of voters at the time were idiots. Maybe a little of both.

In any case this is certainly a bold move for Murphy who's publicly stated he wants to do "more edgy stuff." Barry's political and personal peccadilloes certainly fall into that category. And although his films have lagged in recent years, and his feud with Clint Eastwood was just misguided and ignorant, I believe Lee is the right choice to direct.

With movies like 61* and the recent Too Big to Fail (about the 2008 financial crisis-seriously check it out) I have a lot of confidence in this upcoming film. Should the project move forward Lee and Murphy are both set to executive produce the film as well.

Can't wait to see how Murphy delivers the line in my post title.

HOLY WHUP ASS BATMAN!! Check out this new Bane poster for The Dark Knight Rises

Typically movie posters don't give me goosebumps, but I have to confess this one captured my attention. With The Dark Knight Rises still seven months from release (sigh), all things Batman have been heating up this week as director Christopher Nolan's viral campaign is in full force.

First the Nolan camp leaked a fake CIA dossier to Wired and Empire about a Dr. Leonid Pavel (Alon Aboutboul). While fanboys everywhere are blowing up the Internet with speculation about this dossier, most seem to think he's connected with Bane somehow. A few have even offered that he Pavel may be the real name of another Batman villain known as Dr. Hugo Strange. The only thing the public knows for certain is that he is a nuclear physicist and he's "missing."

Next there was a countdown clock on the website that revealed what IMAX theaters were going to show the six minute Bane-prologue that's airing before Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol.

Now this poster.

This may single handedly be one of the most ominous posters I've ever seen for a film. Notice how stark and bereft of color it is. Then of course there is Bane walking away from the scene having apparently just opening a can on Batman. Then there is the tagline, "The Legend Ends." It's almost like saying "The Legend Dies."

So what exactly does this poster suggest if anything? Well for those of you unfamiliar with the Batman universe, Bane is the one villain that ever did any serious damage to Batman. Point of fact he broke his damn back. He ended up recovering through the help of a psychic healer named Dr. Shondra Kinsolving. Since Nolan tends to ground Batman in reality (well as much as possible) I doubt that Kinsolving or her psychic healing powers will show up.

But as for Bane breaking Batman's back? This poster suggests that bit of comic book history may come to pass in the upcoming film. Nolan and Tom Hardy (Bane) have already come out and said that Bane is an incredibly vicious character who breaks bones and rips throats. (Like MacGruber?) At the very least Batman is going to be taken to the woodshed in Rises. Furthermore, the tagline even suggests that Batman may die in the next film.

As for Batman's death I think that is highly unlikely. While I suspect that the third installment will be the darkest of the trilogy, I doubt that Nolan would extend a giant middle finger to moviegoers by killing the Caped Crusader.

Well time will tell. Hopefully, we will receive a little more insight when the prologue and the trailer come out next week.

July 20, 2012 can't come soon enough for me.

WHERE ARE THE DRUGS??!!! 24 Movie Coming Soon

Jack is back!
After much speculation, innuendo, and terrorist plots, we finally possess some concrete news on the impending 24 movie. The film finally has a script writer as Mark Bomback has been tapped to write the screenplay. Imagine Entertainment and 20th Century Fox however are insisting that the script be finished by the end of the year, reason being they want to start shooting this Spring when Kiefer Sutherland is available.
I understand the need to please the studio, but isn't it more important to produce a quality script and not rush it? This is 24 after all and I'd rather production be delayed in order to create a good script. Otherwise you are liable to end up with something akin to White Chicks or Insert Adam Sandler comedy here. Furthermore, what the hell is Kiefer Sutherland doing that he can't be available a little later? Last time I checked there was no Flatliners sequel or Young Guns III in the works.
Tony Scott is no longer attached to direct unfortunately, but I'd suggest bringing back one of the directors from the actual television show. The show did last for eight seasons so I'm pretty sure they know what they are doing.
24 is set to begin filming in April 2012.

With Ford Bleed Dodger Blue in Jackie Robinson Biopic

Man it seems like baseball is hot in Hollywood again. Clint Eastwood continues to develop his upcoming film about an aging baseball scout called Trouble with the Curve, and now a huge story on one of the most important players in the history of major league baseball.

Hoping to capitalize on the huge success of Moneyball, Hollywood is currently developing a biopic on the life of baseball player Jackie Robinson, the first black player ever to play in the major leagues. One of the key reasons why Robinson broke the color barrier was due in large part to Brooklyn Dodger general manager Branch Rickey, who signed Robinson in an unprecedented move.

Currently veteran actor Harrison Ford is in talks to play Rickey. I'm not sure this is good fit for Ford. He certainly doesn't look the part and I'm dubious that he could capture the spirit of Rickey. Actor Tom Wilkinson I think would be a better fit.

Ford certainly has been busy lately. He's been in talks to play Wyatt Earp in the film Black Hats, Colonel Graff in the upcoming Ender's Game, and now this. Oh and also there is some small thing involving some character named Indiana Jones.

The film will be titled simply 42 (Robinson's number which has since been retired by EVERY major league team) but no director or studio is attached at present.

The real question is who will play Robinson? Let's hope it's not Keenan Thompson from SNL. I'm pretty sure his roles in Goodburger and Fat Albert exclude him from the running.

Peter Weller beamed up to Star Trek while Benicio Del Toro Torpedoed into Space and Is Khan the Villain?

KHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAANNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!

Sorry I just needed to get that out of the way.

Well it's been a big week on the Star Trek sequel front. Academy Award winner Benicio Del Toro is out as the main villain. According to Vulture, negotiations broke down over (surprise!) monetary issues. So long Mr. Del Toro. Trekkies hardly new ye.

But with every cloud comes a silver lining and for Trek fans it is in the form of actor Peter Weller. Robocop himself has signed on the dotted line to play an undisclosed villain. My guess is he is not a main villain as Weller joined the cast before Del Toro exited. All that is known at this point is that Weller will not be a half man/half machine and will not be spouting lines like "Stay out of trouble" and "Dead or alive you're coming with me."

As for the villain, speculation is still running rampant as to who it could be, but all indications seem to point to fan favorite Khan.* Latino Review originally reported that Del Toro would in fact be playing Khan in the Star Trek sequel but the next day director J.J. Abrams came out and told Hitflix "Not true."

Personally I don't have an opinion either way. I was always a big fan of Khan and if Abrams decides to bring him back that's ok. If decides to go with a completely original villain I'm ok with that too. Let's just hope there are some Klingons in the next film. I would love to see Chang (Christopher Plummer) quoting Shakespeare in Klingon like he did in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, which incidentally was released twenty years ago this week.

I saw it in the theater.

God I'm old.

*I tried to find a picture of Ricardo Montalban exposing more chest but it just wasn't out there.

Kermit is a Commie...According to Fox News

Twins separated at birth???

And here I thought Miss Piggy was always a "capitalist pig."

Just when you thought Fox News couldn't lose any more credibility as a "news" station they release this latest gem of journalistic triumph.

In a move that probably left even Glenn Beck scratching his head in confusion, Fox News recently ran a story alleging that recently released The Muppet Movie is a liberal plot (natch) to "brainwash kids against capitalism."* Fox's argument is that the villain of the story "Tex Richman" (Chris Cooper) promotes an anti-capitalist agenda because Richman wants to destroy the old Muppet theater and drill for oil. So this is apparently anti-oil and a "class warfare" issue. Riiiiggghhhttt... I see the logic. Oh wait no I don't. Fox News acts like this is the first time in the history of cinema that a greedy businessman was a villain.

I usually don't make broad sweeping statements and I have never seen the movie (although I plan to) but I can guarantee Fox's notion is categorically false. I'd no more believe that the Muppets are anti-capitalist than that the Swedish chef is a Nazi.

It's important to note that this is not the first time Fox has done this. In 2005 Fox ran a story stating that the quote from Star Wars Revenge of the Sith where Anakin Skywalker said, "You're either with me or you're my enemy" was a veiled indictment of George W. Bush's foreign policy. IT'S EFFING STAR WARS!! Also when The Dark Knight came out three years ago Glenn Beck stated that the film represented the war on terror.

It's the MUPPETS Fox News. Get a grip.

I feel like Stan from South Park shaking my head after his father dropped the n-bomb on Wheel of Fortune.

Normally I don't like to comment on politics because I really don't care. Most politicans are crooks who are out for themselves and guess what kiddies? I have a mortgage to pay, a wife to hang out with, books to read, and of course movies to see. Essentially I have more important things to do than freeze my ass off occupying Wall Street.

Fox News ought to be ashamed of themselves. How can you call yourselves a credible "news" station when you run garbage like this? This is a bigger reach than the person who said Hurricane Katrina was caused by the Japanese Yakuza's weather machine. Not for nothing, but for a film that is anti-capitalism The Muppet Movie has been number one at the box office two weeks in a row. This just in: studios make movies hoping the film will make money.

I'd like to think that this won't happen again, but I'm sure that before long Fox will run a story about how Shrek is secretly Chairman Mao.

Congratulations Fox News. Along with the Kardashians you get my vote for Asshats of the Year.

*To see the video go to http://mediamatters.org/mmtv/201112020036

Play Some Phil Collins and Split My Head with An Axe Amerian Psycho getting a Remake

This news made me want to go Uncle Leo from Seinfeld and scream "STOP THE SHOW!"

Since it is the season of giving, Hollywood has decided to shove a Michael Moore sized piece of coal right up American moviegoers collective asses. In a move more inexplicable than Herman Cain quoting from The Pokemon Movie, the geniuses in LALA land are going to remake (reboot? repent? repuke? who knows what the terminology is anymore?) the 2000 classic American Psycho.

Now granted this is nothing new for movie studios. Hollywood subjects cinema fans to remakes on a yearly basis. I'm not one to lament and say "there are no original ideas in Hollywood anymore" because the whole sentiment is played out. Anybody who's a real movie fanatic knows this, so why bemoan it?

Well at the risk of being hypocritical I'm going to bemoan this decision. Let me be very clear: THERE IS NO REASON TO REMAKE THIS FILM. The only films that should ever be remade are movies that were marginal or had little success at the box office; i.e. Inglorious Basterds. American Psycho was the film that catapulted Christian Bale into the public eye. Before his epic portrayal of psychopath Patrick Bateman in the 2000 film, Bale was known as the guy in Newsies or Laure from Little Women. After that the floodgates opened for Bale and today he is one of the biggest moviestars in Hollywood.

Putting aside the iconic role of Bale, American Psycho is an excellent dark comedy that captures the greed and "me generation" of the 1980s. Many thought the Bret Easton Ellis novel* could never be converted to the big screen, but director Mary Harron (Pet Semetary) did a masterful job of bringing Ellis's work to life. After American Psycho I've never been able to listen Huey Lewis and the News's "Hip to be Square" or Phil Collins "Pseuseudeo" in the same way.

Noble Jones, an apparent protege of David Fincher, is set to write and direct the remake. Look I love Fincher and his films, however this film inevitably sets up Jones for failure. Recreating iconic movie characters, especially ones where the original portrayal was amazing, is damn near impossible. Instances such as Jeff Bridges portrayal of Rooster Cogburn in True Grit (the original film starred John Wayne in an Oscar winning performance) are rarer than an honest politician. Bottom line: NO ONE will top Bale's portrayal of Patrick Bateman.

The only consolation that I can take away from this is that the film is still in the early stages. That means the film could be nixed. No studio is attached right now and no one has been cast. Although I won't be surprised if the brain trust in Hollywood decides to have Zac Efron or Robert Pattinson take the role. That would just be the feces coated cherry on this movie manure sundae.

*Incidentally the American Psycho novel is the only book I've liked that I actually thought about not finishing. It was THAT disturbing.

Review: Conan The Barbarian

Plot: Based on the classic pulp fiction stories of the 1930s by author Robert E. Howard, the 2011 edition follows the story of Conan (Jason Mamoa) a skilled and violent warrior. Born on the battlefield, Conan is raised by his clan chief father Corin (Ron Pearlman) and taught in the art of swordplay and war. When warlord Khalar Zym (Stephen Lang) attacks Conan's people in search of a mask fragment that will allow him to subjugate the world, Conan's village and father are both destroyed. Thus begins a 20 year quest where only the death of Khalar Zym can satiate Conan's lust for revenge.

Review: The tag line for the 2011 reboot of Conan reads "Enter An Age Undreamed Of." Unfortunately for viewers Conan is a nightmare from start to finish. Noisy, loud, and perpetually bloody, the film holds none of the charm or epic nature of the 1982 Arnold Schwarzenegger masterpiece directed by John Milius and written by Oliver Stone.

Conan begins badly with Morgan Freeman (yes the Morgan Freeman) performing the voiceover for a back story involving sorcerers from Acheron, who once constructed a mask made of the skulls of dead kings. Rather than sounding malevolent and evil, as I'm sure director Marcus Nispel intended, it comes off as corny and laughable. And if Morgan Freeman doing the initial voice over for this film sounds awkward its because it is. The sequence was more out of place than the Pope at the Adult Film Awards in Las Vegas.

Like so many other films, Conan suffers from having too many writers at the computer. Scriptwriters Thomas Dean Donnelly, Joshua Oppenheimer, and Sean Hood, rather than create an original story, opt instead for a revenge tale involving deadly sand phantoms (really?) and a half shaved Rose McGowan. This is a shame because Robert E. Howard's source material is rife with adventures that make the 2011 reboot incredibly juvenile by comparison.

Director Marcus Nispel displays an inherent lack pace and tone in Conan, as the film's action, while enjoyable, almost never lets up. Consequently, the viewer has little or no time to recover before it's onto the next fight scene. And don't get me wrong I have nothing against violence in films, but why have violence for violence sake? Somehow Nispel felt that if five minutes had passed without a dismembering or a beheading he was doing the audience an injustice.

Ken Blackwell's editing leaves something to be desired as well. So many scenes are choppy and jarring it creates a Crom sized headache. Also Tyler Bates's score seems severely understated for sword and sandal "epic." He's got nothing on Basil Poledouris, who did the music for the 1982 film. It still gets me pumped every time I hear it.

The acting isn't awful in Conan although it is by no means good. Although Arnie will forever be Conan in my mind, Jason Momoa manages a decent Conan. While he captures the spirit of the Hyborian warrior, too much of his dialogue sounds like a junior high bully making threats. When he tells a soldier at one point in the film, "I will follow you to Hell!" I had to restrain myself from peals of laughter.

Stephen Lang displays the requisite amount of malice and evil in Kahlar Zim, although his performance pales in comparison to James Earl Jones's Thulsa Doom. Conan's love interest Tamara (Rachel Nichols) is nothing more than a one dimensional damsel in distress. The chemistry was non-existent between her and Momoa and her passive portrayal is insulting to women everywhere. However, when it comes to horrific acting Rose McGowan's Marique takes the cake. It's so terrible I think the guys from Mystery Science Theater 3000 might reject it. The only thing more ludicrous than McGowan's acting was her makeup. It looks like somebody applied it with one of those t-shirt guns you see at sporting events. The best of the bunch was actually Leo Howard. Too bad his role as the young Conan only lasted for about 15 minutes.

Lionsgate and the producers of Conan the Barbarian attempted to make a film that was as sharp, sleek, and penetrating as the original. Sadly, the 2011 version is duller and less appealing than a rusty broadsword.

My rating: 3/10

HOOO--RAHH! Starship Troopers is getting a reboot

Another week another reboot.

Sony Pictures announced this week their plans to reboot 1997's Starship Troopers. Now in an era where Hollywood feels like they have to reboot every film ever made, this news actually comes as a pleasant surprise. Why? Because the original starred Casper Van Dien, Denise Richards, and Neil Patrick Harris. Do I really need to say more than that? The movie was a convoluted, special effects saturated, vapid dialogue nightmare that was essentially the visual equivalent of receiving oral sex from a piranha for two hours.

Starship Troopers is actually based on the 1959 Hugo Award winning novel by Robert A. Heinlein who, along with Frank Herbert and Arthur C. Clarke, is regarded one of the three best science fiction writers of all time. Next to Stranger in a Strange Land it's Heinlein's most well regarded and recognized work, and I might offer his best. Heinlein received a firestorm of criticism regarding the novel. Politicians, professors, and literary critics alike bombarded Heinlein with allegations of militarism, racism, fascism, and utopianism. (If you can figure out how those last two are supposed to co-exist in the same novel you are a more intelligent person than I.)

The original novel was a first person narrative told through the eyes of Juan "Johnnie" Rico, a soldier from the Phillipines who joins the Mobile Infantry to fight Earth's alien enemies, a spider-like species referred to only as "Bugs." Starship Troopers examined everything from civic virtue to capital punishment, as well as the moral aspects of war.

1997's film adaptation was heavy on camp and as deep as Kim Kardashian's personality. It is my sincere wish that the producers of the reboot will do this novel justice and do a straight adaptation. While no director or actors have been attached to the film thus far, Zack Stentz and Edward Miller who wrote X-Men: First Class and Thor will be penning the script. Since both of those films were not only box offices hits but well reviewed, it bodes well for the future of Starship Troopers. HOO-RAH!

"True Grit" to Deep Space? Hailee Steinfeld in talks to join Ender's Game

Man seems like all I'm talking about this week is Ender's Game and Indiana Jones.

After a breakout Academy Award nominated performance as Mattie Ross in 2010's True Grit, Hailee Steinfeld is now in talks to join the film adaptation of Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game. If Steinfeld joins the cast (which currently only consists of Asa Butterfield in the lead role) she's set to play Petra Arkanian, Ender's confidante and right hand girl.

For those of you not familiar with the story, Petra acts as a surrogate sister to Ender. However, she is also an incredibly aggressive almost cutthroat character and a skilled tactician. Additionally, Petra represents one of the few females at Battle School.

Personally I think Steinfeld is a perfect match for this role. She's already proven that she can be tough and determined as evidenced by her role in True Grit. It will be interesting to see if she can bring the required viciousness and eventually softening to the role of Petra. Steinfeld is clearly an amazing young talent and far above some veteran adult actors working in Hollywood. Truth be told I'm surprised she hasn't been in anything since True Grit.

In order for Ender's Game to be successful the casting (which consists mostly of children) needs to be damn near perfect. Casting Steinfeld would be a huge step in the right direction. Hopefully director Gavin Hood will take a look at some of the child actors from Super 8 as several of them would be welcome additions as well.

Ender's Game hits theaters March 15, 2013.