Support Leroy on Patreon.
MOVIES - From Variety: Paramount Pictures' "Pet Sematary" remake will be directed by Kevin Kolsch and Dennis Widmyer, the directors of the buzzed about horror film, "Starry Eyes."
----------
MOVIES - From Variety: Blake Lively's spy thriller, "The Rhythm Section" is due in 2019.
----------
SCANDAL - From Deadline: Harvey Weinstein has been expelled from the Producers Guild of America for life, following scores of sexual misconduct allegations.
----------
MOVIES - From Variety: Lupita Nyong'o and Josh Gad to star in zombie romantic comedy, "Little Monsters.
----------
SCANDAL - From Variety: Kevin Spacey becomes the latest big-time Hollywood actor to be accused of some kind of sexual misconduct. His accuser is Anthony Rapp of "Star Trek: Discovery."
From Variety: Kevin Spacey's response to those accusations have irked some.
From Deadline: Netflix is cancelling Kevin Spacey's streaming series, "House of Cards," after next year's sixth season in light of allegations against the two-time Oscar winner.
From HuffPost: Remember that creepy Kevin Spacey joke on "Family Guy" in 2005?
From YahooNews: Sexual misconduct accusations have dogged Kevin Spacey for year, according to "Newsweek."
From TheWrap: Netflix is looking at creating a spinoff of its hit series, "House of Cards," which is will end after the sixth season - in light of accusations against series star, Kevin Spacey.
----------
BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo: The winner of the 10/27 to 10/29/2017 weekend box office is "Jigsaw" with an estimated take of $16.25 million.
----------
MOVIES - From Collider: Quentin Tarantino has summoned big studios to look at the first script for his anticipated Charles Manson project.
----------
SCANDAL: From YahooGMA: Actress Annabella Sciorra ("Jungle Fever," "The Sopranos") is the latest to accuse Harvey Weinstein of rape.
----------
COMICS-FILM - From Variety: Zachary Levi, best known for NBC's "Chuck," has been tapped for the lead role in New Line Cinema's "Shazam," film based on the DC Comics character.
----------
MOVIES - From YahooEntertaiment: Writer-director Robert Rodriguez ("Spy Kids") once dated Rose McGowan, who says she was raped by Harvey Weinstein, who released several of Rodriguez's films.
----------
ANIMATION - From TheVillageVoice: This article argues that "South Park," has backed off criticizing President Trump and the alt-right, when it has historically not back off any sacred cows.
----------
MOVIES - From Variety: Tom Hanks to star in science fiction film, "Bios."
----------
MOVIES - From Collider: Vin Diesel releases information about the upcoming ninth and tenth installments of the "Fast & Furious" film franchise.
----------
CULTURE - From SplinterNews: The military has a serious White Nationalists problem? [Yes, it does. This is not new news. - Leroy]
----------
TELEVISION - From Deadline: Who knows what is going on with the "Bad Boys" film franchise, but producer Jerry Bruckheimer is developing a TV spin-off. The character played by Gabrielle Union, who was in "Bad Boys 2," will be the focus on the series.
----------
MOVIES - From Variety: Adam Driver ("Star Wars") is attached to star in Spike Lee's "Black Klansman" film.
----------
COMICS-FILM - From TheWrap: Gareth Evans, the director of the fantastic film, "The Raid," is in talks to direct a film based on the "Deathstroke" character from DC Comics.
----------
MOVIES - From Variety: Colman Domingo joins Barry Smith's (Moonlight) drama, "If Beale Street Could Talk." Domingo is known for his role as "Victor Strand" on "Fear the Walking Dead."
----------
MOVIES - From THR: Sharon Stone will star as a mob mistress in "Sunny," the English-language debut of Norwegian filmmaker, Eva Sorhaug.
----------
CELEBRITY - From YahooEntertainment: The daughter of the late actor, Paul Walker, has reached a settlement in her wrongful death lawsuit against Porsche. Walker and another man were killed in a Porsche car crash in November 2013.
----------
COMICS-FILM - From Variety: "Captain Marvel" director Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck are in talks to have the star of their film, "Mississippi Grind," Ben Mendelsohn, join their Marvel Studios film as the villain.
From WeGotThisCovered: Director James Mangold begins work on movie that spins off the character, "X-23," from the hit movie, "Logan."
----------
SPORTS - From CNN: The site offers a guide to the 2017 World Series pitting the Los Angeles Dodgers (National League) against the Houston Astros (American League). This is the Astros second trip to the World Series; they last played in 2005 as the representative of the National League, where they were until 2013. The Dodgers were last in the World Series in 1988, which they won.
----------
COMICS-FILM - From Deadline: Set photo from first day on the set of "Venom" starring Tom Hardy.
From Refinery29: Why is Tom Hardy always cast as the ugliest comic book characters.
From TheWrap: Marvel's "Captain Marvel" film will lead into the fourth "Avengers" film.
---------
TELEVISION - From TVLine: Ray Donovan is coming back for a sixth season, but there will be a big change.
----------
MOVIES - From THR: Oscar-winning actress Renee Zellweger will portray the legendary actress, Judy Garland, who is most famous for role in "The Wizard of Oz." The film will be set in the final years of Garland's life.
---------
STAR TREK - From TheWrap: "Star Trek: Discovery" gets a second season from CBS All Access, the streaming service.
----------
BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo: The winner of the 10/20 to 10/22/2017 weekend box office is "Tyler Perry's Boo 2! A Madea Halloween" with an estimated take of $21.65 million.
From Variety: Tyler Perry's "Boo 2!" keeps the weekend box office from being a complete disaster.
From Variety: With its big debut in China, "Kingsman: The Golden Circle" wins the recent international box office.
---------
SCANDAL - From TheWrap: James Gunn, director of Marvel's "Guardian of the Galaxy" films, says that he has been trying to warn people about writer-director James Toback, who has been accused by over 30 women of sexual harassment.
----------
MOVIES - From YahooEntertainment: Frank Oz talks about the Muppets and his career directing films.
----------
MOVIES - From SlashFilm: There is a synopsis and the promise of a trailer for Paul Thomas Anderson's upcoming film, "Phantom Thread."
----------
POLITICS - From NYTimes: President Trump isn't Adolf Hitler, but...
----------
SCANDAL - From LATimes: "Stranger Things" and "IT" star, "Finn Wolfhard," has led the LA-based talent agency, APA, after his agent, Tyler Grasham, was accused of sexually assaulting a teenager (who is not a director) a decade ago.
From LATimes: Over 30 women have made sexual harassment claims against director and Oscar-nominated screenwriter ("Bugsy"), James Toback.
From MadameNoire: Director Michael Canton-Jones days that Harvey Weinstein would not let him cast actress Sophie Okonedo in his 1998 flick, "B. Monkey," because Weinstein did not find her "f***able." Okonedo would go onto star in "Hotel Rwanda," for which she received a best supporting actress Oscar nomination. She has won a Tony Award.
OBITS:
From THR: Actor Jack Bannon has died at the age of 77, Wednesday, October 27, 2017. He was best known for playing the amiable city editor, Jack Donovan, on CBS's "Lou Grant."
From THR: Famed cinematographer Harry Stradling, Jr. died at the age of 92, Tuesday, October 17, 2017. A two-time Oscar nominee, Stradling was known for his work on Western films, like "Little Big Man" and "Rooster Cogburn." He worked across genres and earned Oscar nods for "1776" and "The Way We Were."
From RollingStone: The music icon and legend, Fats Domino, died at the age of 89, Tuesday, October 24, 2017. Domino, a symbol of the dawn of rock and roll, was an architect of rock and roll, and during the second half of the the 1950s, his record sales were reportedly second only to Elvis Presley. His hits including "I'm Walkin'," "Blue Monday," and "Ain't That a Shame," to name a few.
From TheWrap: The actor Robert Guillaume has died at the age of 89, Tuesday, October 24, 2017. He was best known for playing the character, Benson DuBois, a butler. He played Benson as a supporting character in the ABC TV series, "Soap," and as a lead character in the ABC series, "Benson." He won two Emmys for the role, once as a supporting actor and once as a lead actor. Guillaume is also known for his voice performance as "Rafiki," in the Disney animated film, "The Lion King." Guillaume won a Grammy Award for performing the character on "The Lion King" Read-a-long Book.
Showing posts with label Paul Walker. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Paul Walker. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 31, 2017
Sunday, January 17, 2016
Review: "Furious 7" is Furious and Bittersweet
[A version of this review first appeared on Patreon.]
Furious 7 (2015)
Running time: 137 minutes (2 hour, 17 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for prolonged frenetic sequences of violence, action and mayhem, suggestive content and brief strong language
DIRECTOR: James Wan
WRITER: Chris Morgan (based on the characters created by Gary Scott Thompson)
PRODUCERS: Vin Diesel, Neal H. Moritz, and Michael Fottrell
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Stephen F. Windon and Marc Spicer
EDITORS: Christian Wagner, Leigh Folsom Boyd, Dylan Highsmith, and Kirk Morri
COMPOSER: Brian Tyler
ACTION/CRIME/DRAMA
Starring: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Michelle Rodriguez, Jason Statham, Tyrese Gibson, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Dwayne Johnson, Jordana Brewster, Kurt Russell, Djimon Hounsou, Lucas Black, Nathalie Emmanuel, John Brotherton, Tony Jaa, Ali Fazal, Ronda Rousey, Iggy Azalea, Sarah Sohn, Noel Gugliemi, T-Pain, Luke Evans, and Sung Kang
Furious 7 is a 2015 action movie from director James Wan and released by Universal Pictures. It is the seventh installment in The Fast and the Furious movie franchise. Furious 7 is set after the third film, The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, but follows the events of Fast & Furious 6. In Furious 7, a new enemy seeks revenge against Dominic Toretto and his family.
Dominic “Dom” Toretto (Vin Diesel), Brian O'Conner (Paul Walker), and their friends are trying to live a normal life, but that is a bit more complicated than they imagined. Dom is troubled that his longtime girlfriend and ride-or-die chick, Letitia “Letty” Ortiz (Michelle Rodriguez), is having trouble regaining her memories. Brian struggles with domestic life as a husband to Mia (Jordana Brewster), who is also Dom's sister, and as a father to their small son, Jack.
Meanwhile, trouble is brewing overseas. Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham), the older brother of Owen Shaw (Luke Evans), swears revenge against Dom and his racers who defeated Owen (in Fast & Furious 6), leaving him in a coma. Deckard infiltrates the DSS (Diplomatic Security Service) office in Los Angeles to get information on Dom and company. In the process, Deckard severely injures Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson), who brought Dom and his race team into his hunt for Owen Shaw.
After Deckard launches a series of attacks on his friends and family, Dom reunites Brian, Letty, Roman Pearce (Tyrese Gibson), and Tej Parker (Chris “Ludacris” Bridges), to find Deckard. They get help from Frank Petty (Kurt Russell) a.k.a. “Mr Nobody,” the leader of a covert ops team. However, Deckard finds an ally in Mose Jakande (Djimon Hounsou), a mercenary and terrorist who leads a private military company. Now, all parties are chasing Ramsey (Nathalie Emmanuel), a computer hacktivist and her creation, God's Eye.
One cannot talk about Furious 7 without making note of the death of actor Paul Walker in November of 2013. Walker and Vin Diesel were the face of The Fast and the Furious franchise. Walker was only half-finished with the scenes he needed to film for Furious 7 when he died. Stand-ins for Paul, including his brothers, Caleb and Cody Walker, and the judicious application of computer-generated imagery were used to finish the rest of Walker's scenes.
Other than for a few scenes and some dialogue/audio, I could not tell the difference between Paul and the Paul stand-ins. Besides, Furious 7 is so full of over-the-top, eye-popping, and breath-taking action scenes and sequences that my focus was on taking it all in and not on detecting real-Paul vs. faux-Paul. Yes, Paul's death hangs over Furious 7, but not in a morbid way. This film is a celebration of the work for which Walker is best known and for which he will be best remembered.
I do find Furious 7 to be a little too long, but there is no point in talking about the art of filmmaking when it comes to Furious 7. Yes, it is well acted, surprisingly so. James Wan seems superfluous as director; any of the three directors who have helmed previous installments of this franchise could have directed this film. The script is half well-written, in terms of drama, and half-ridiculous, as the screenplay for a movie like Furious 7 must be.
When talking about Furious 7, we must talk about the action. I loved the Predator drone; the multi-million dollar sports car driven through three skyscrapers; the Caucasus Mountains sequence that begins with five vehicles dropped from an airplane; the Tony Jaa-Paul Walker fights; and the awesome Dwayne Johnson-Jason Statham fisticuffs, to name a few. This is not a great film, but it is fast and furious. So why let Furious 7 be the last one? Keep 'em coming.
6 of 10
B
Friday, October 30, 2015
The text is copyright © 2016 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.
Friday, October 9, 2015
Negromancer News Bits and Bites from October 1st to 10th, 2015 - Update #29
Support Leroy on Patreon.
NEWS:
From Variety: CBS cancels "Extant" with Halle Berry, but is developing a legal drama with Berry.
---------------
From InContention: Cinematography Oscar hopefuls.
---------------
From Variety: "The Expendables 4" in 2017.
---------------
From Variety: Disney announces release dates for the next 5 years, including release dates for "Cars 3" and "The Incredibles 2."
---------------
From YahooMovies: Meet the new Disney princess, Moana.
From IMDb: A photo of the young actress, Auli'i Cravalho, who will give voice to "Moana."
---------------
From YahooMovies: What has Rick Moranis been doing.
---------------
From YahooMovies: Francis Ford Coppola talks about one of my favorite movies, his film, "Bram Stoker's Dracula."
From Indiewire: Danny Boyle says he is open to directing "28 Months Later," or whatever the third "28 Days Later" film would be called.
---------------
From Vulture: EEOC to investigate how few women get directing gigs in Hollywood.
---------------
From YahooMusic: Will Smith is reportedly returning to music with an album and world tour next year.
---------------
From TheWrap: The director of "Snowpiercer" is working on a monster movie, and one of his "Snowpiercer" actors, Tilda Swinton, will return for that.
---------------
From BleedingCool: There will apparently be a prequel to "The Shining." Lord, have mercy!
---------------
From HitFix: George Miller would like to do 2 more "Mad Max" films... in addition to some smaller non-SFX films.
---------------
From JoBlo: The search for the director of the 8th "Fast & Furious" film is down to 3, with F. Gary Gray apparently in the lead.
---------------
From TheWrap: The debut season of "Fear the Walking Dead" had better ratings than the original "The Walking Dead" had in its debut season.
---------------
From BoxOfficeMojo: "The Martian" won the 10/2 to 10/4/2015 weekend box office with an estimated take of $55.7 million. That is just short of the October opening weekend record that "Gravity" set in 2013.
---------------
From ScreenRant: Update on the "Power Rangers" movie reboot.
---------------
From Variety: Sony plans an animated "Ghostbusters" film.
---------------
From ThePlaylist: Lionsgate wants a "Cabin in the Woods" sequel. So do I.
---------------
From Variety: "The Ring" sequel, "Rings" has lost its Nov. 13th, 2015 date, and will move to 2016, may the first quarter.
---------------
From YahooCelebrity: Porsche responds to Paul Walker lawsuit. This will get ugly.
COMICS - Titles and Films:
From YahooNews: "Ant Man" will have a sequel, "Ant Man and the Wasp."
---------------
From SlashFilm: In addition to being considered for "Furious 8" (the eighth "Fast & Furious" flick), F. Gary Gray is reportedly talking to Marvel about their "Black Panther" film, which is due in 2018.
---------------
From Variety: Seth Grahame-Smith, who is writing the "Lego Batman" movie and wrote the novel, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, is in talks to direct "The Flash" movie...
---------------
From BleedingCool: Another Marvel comic book is headed to ABC. This time, it's the late Dwayne McDuffie's "Damage Control."
---------------
From YahooNews: The surprising choice for director "Thor: Ragnarok" is Taiki Waititi.
---------------
From IGN: Marvel boss, Kevin Feige, talks about Ronda Rousey's campaign to be Captain Marvel.
---------------
From YahooNews: Marvel's "Doctor Strange" will be an origin story.
NEWS:
From Variety: CBS cancels "Extant" with Halle Berry, but is developing a legal drama with Berry.
---------------
From InContention: Cinematography Oscar hopefuls.
---------------
From Variety: "The Expendables 4" in 2017.
---------------
From Variety: Disney announces release dates for the next 5 years, including release dates for "Cars 3" and "The Incredibles 2."
---------------
From YahooMovies: Meet the new Disney princess, Moana.
From IMDb: A photo of the young actress, Auli'i Cravalho, who will give voice to "Moana."
---------------
From YahooMovies: What has Rick Moranis been doing.
---------------
From YahooMovies: Francis Ford Coppola talks about one of my favorite movies, his film, "Bram Stoker's Dracula."
From Indiewire: Danny Boyle says he is open to directing "28 Months Later," or whatever the third "28 Days Later" film would be called.
---------------
From Vulture: EEOC to investigate how few women get directing gigs in Hollywood.
---------------
From YahooMusic: Will Smith is reportedly returning to music with an album and world tour next year.
---------------
From TheWrap: The director of "Snowpiercer" is working on a monster movie, and one of his "Snowpiercer" actors, Tilda Swinton, will return for that.
---------------
From BleedingCool: There will apparently be a prequel to "The Shining." Lord, have mercy!
---------------
From HitFix: George Miller would like to do 2 more "Mad Max" films... in addition to some smaller non-SFX films.
---------------
From JoBlo: The search for the director of the 8th "Fast & Furious" film is down to 3, with F. Gary Gray apparently in the lead.
---------------
From TheWrap: The debut season of "Fear the Walking Dead" had better ratings than the original "The Walking Dead" had in its debut season.
---------------
From BoxOfficeMojo: "The Martian" won the 10/2 to 10/4/2015 weekend box office with an estimated take of $55.7 million. That is just short of the October opening weekend record that "Gravity" set in 2013.
---------------
From ScreenRant: Update on the "Power Rangers" movie reboot.
---------------
From Variety: Sony plans an animated "Ghostbusters" film.
---------------
From ThePlaylist: Lionsgate wants a "Cabin in the Woods" sequel. So do I.
---------------
From Variety: "The Ring" sequel, "Rings" has lost its Nov. 13th, 2015 date, and will move to 2016, may the first quarter.
---------------
From YahooCelebrity: Porsche responds to Paul Walker lawsuit. This will get ugly.
COMICS - Titles and Films:
From YahooNews: "Ant Man" will have a sequel, "Ant Man and the Wasp."
---------------
From SlashFilm: In addition to being considered for "Furious 8" (the eighth "Fast & Furious" flick), F. Gary Gray is reportedly talking to Marvel about their "Black Panther" film, which is due in 2018.
---------------
From Variety: Seth Grahame-Smith, who is writing the "Lego Batman" movie and wrote the novel, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, is in talks to direct "The Flash" movie...
---------------
From BleedingCool: Another Marvel comic book is headed to ABC. This time, it's the late Dwayne McDuffie's "Damage Control."
---------------
From YahooNews: The surprising choice for director "Thor: Ragnarok" is Taiki Waititi.
---------------
From IGN: Marvel boss, Kevin Feige, talks about Ronda Rousey's campaign to be Captain Marvel.
---------------
From YahooNews: Marvel's "Doctor Strange" will be an origin story.
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
"Furious 7" to Make Biggest Global IMAX Release Ever
Universal Pictures' Furious 7 Poised To Ignite Worldwide Box Office With Widest-Ever Global IMAX® Release Beginning April 1
IMAX to Debut New Laser Projection Technology at Furious 7 Worldwide Premiere Event
LOS ANGELES, PRNewswire/ -- IMAX Corporation (NYSE: IMAX) and Universal Pictures, a division of Comcast Corp. (NASDAQ: CMCSA), today announced that Furious 7 will receive the widest-ever IMAX release globally. The film begins its global launch on Wednesday, April 1, 2015 before rolling out domestically and in the majority of overseas markets on Friday, April 3, 2015. Throughout its global run, Furious 7 will screen at more than 800 IMAX® theatres, including approximately 445 international and 365 domestic IMAX locations.
Additionally, IMAX will be launching its revolutionary new laser projection system at the Furious 7 global premiere event to be held at the TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX in Los Angeles. This marks IMAX's U.S. debut of the new technology as well as the first film ever to receive a global premiere with laser projection. IMAX has undertaken a significant R&D investment to develop its next-generation projection and sound system, which incorporates the laser digital intellectual property IMAX exclusively licensed from Eastman Kodak and Barco's unique laser innovations. IMAX with laser represents a quantum leap forward in cinema technology - providing audiences with the sharpest, brightest, clearest and most vivid digital images ever, combined with a whole new level of immersive audio.
"Not only are we excited to be releasing Furious 7 globally in record-setting fashion, we are delighted to be partnering with Universal Pictures on the first-ever movie premiere event screened with laser," said Greg Foster, Senior Executive Vice President, IMAX Corp. and CEO of IMAX Entertainment. "As the most action-packed Fast and Furious installment yet, Furious 7 deserves to be seen in the most awe-inspiring and intense way possible across IMAX screens worldwide."
The IMAX(®) release of Furious 7 will be digitally re-mastered into the image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience(®) with proprietary IMAX DMR(®) (Digital Re-mastering) technology. The crystal-clear images, coupled with IMAX's customized theatre geometry and powerful digital audio, create a unique environment that will make audiences feel as if they are in the movie.
About IMAX Corporation
IMAX, an innovator in entertainment technology, combines proprietary software, architecture and equipment to create experiences that take you beyond the edge of your seat to a world you've never imagined. Top filmmakers and studios are utilizing IMAX theatres to connect with audiences in extraordinary ways, and, as such, IMAX's network is among the most important and successful theatrical distribution platforms for major event films around the globe.
IMAX is headquartered in New York, Toronto and Los Angeles, with offices in London, Tokyo, Shanghai and Beijing. As of Dec. 31, 2014, there were 934 IMAX theatres (809 commercial multiplexes, 19 commercial destinations and 106 institutions) in 62 countries.
IMAX®, IMAX® 3D, IMAX DMR®, Experience It In IMAX®, An IMAX 3D Experience®, The IMAX Experience® and IMAX Is Believing® are trademarks of IMAX Corporation. More information about the Company can be found at www.imax.com. You may also connect with IMAX on Facebook (www.facebook.com/imax), Twitter (www.twitter.com/imax) and YouTube (www.youtube.com/imaxmovies).
This press release contains forward looking statements that are based on IMAX management's assumptions and existing information and involve certain risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. These risks and uncertainties are discussed in IMAX's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and most recent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.
--------------
Monday, April 14, 2014
"The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" Leads 2014 MTV Movie Award Winners (Complete List)
by Amos Semien
The nominations for the 2014 MTV Movie Awards were revealed on Thursday, March 6, 2014. The 2014 MTV Movie Awards ceremony was held on Sunday, April 13, 2014 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT. The ceremony was hosted by Conan O'Brien.
The 2013 MTV Movie Awards winners:
MOVIE OF THE YEAR
• "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire"
BEST FEMALE PERFORMANCE
• Jennifer Lawrence — "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire"
BEST MALE PERFORMANCE
• Josh Hutcherson — "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire"
BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE
• Will Poulter— "We're the Millers"
BEST KISS
• Emma Roberts, Jennifer Aniston and Will Poulter — "We're the Millers"
BEST FIGHT
• "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug" — Orlando Bloom and Evangeline Lilly vs. Orcs
BEST COMEDIC PERFORMANCE
• Jonah Hill — "The Wolf of Wall Street"
BEST SCARED-AS-S**T PERFORMANCE
• Brad Pitt — "World War Z"
BEST ON-SCREEN DUO
• Vin Diesel and Paul Walker — "Fast & Furious 6"
BEST SHIRTLESS PERFORMANCE
• Zac Efron — "That Awkward Moment"
#WTF MOMENT
• The Lude Scene — "The Wolf of Wall Street"
BEST VILLAIN
• Mila Kunis — "Oz The Great and Powerful"
BEST ON-SCREEN TRANSFORMATION
• Jared Leto — "Dallas Buyers Club"
BEST MUSICAL MOMENT
• Backstreet Boys, Jay Baruchel, Seth Rogen and Craig Robinson Peform in Heaven — "This is the End"
BEST CAMEO PERFORMANCE
• Rihanna — "This is the End"
BEST HERO
• Henry Cavill as Clark Kent — "Man of Steel"
FAVORITE CHARACTER:
Tris from the film "Divergent" and performed by Shailene Woodley
MTV GENERATION AWARD:
Mark Wahlberg
MTV TRAILBLAZER AWARD:
Channing Tatum
-----------------
The nominations for the 2014 MTV Movie Awards were revealed on Thursday, March 6, 2014. The 2014 MTV Movie Awards ceremony was held on Sunday, April 13, 2014 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT. The ceremony was hosted by Conan O'Brien.
The 2013 MTV Movie Awards winners:
MOVIE OF THE YEAR
• "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire"
BEST FEMALE PERFORMANCE
• Jennifer Lawrence — "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire"
BEST MALE PERFORMANCE
• Josh Hutcherson — "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire"
BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE
• Will Poulter— "We're the Millers"
BEST KISS
• Emma Roberts, Jennifer Aniston and Will Poulter — "We're the Millers"
BEST FIGHT
• "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug" — Orlando Bloom and Evangeline Lilly vs. Orcs
BEST COMEDIC PERFORMANCE
• Jonah Hill — "The Wolf of Wall Street"
BEST SCARED-AS-S**T PERFORMANCE
• Brad Pitt — "World War Z"
BEST ON-SCREEN DUO
• Vin Diesel and Paul Walker — "Fast & Furious 6"
BEST SHIRTLESS PERFORMANCE
• Zac Efron — "That Awkward Moment"
#WTF MOMENT
• The Lude Scene — "The Wolf of Wall Street"
BEST VILLAIN
• Mila Kunis — "Oz The Great and Powerful"
BEST ON-SCREEN TRANSFORMATION
• Jared Leto — "Dallas Buyers Club"
BEST MUSICAL MOMENT
• Backstreet Boys, Jay Baruchel, Seth Rogen and Craig Robinson Peform in Heaven — "This is the End"
BEST CAMEO PERFORMANCE
• Rihanna — "This is the End"
BEST HERO
• Henry Cavill as Clark Kent — "Man of Steel"
FAVORITE CHARACTER:
Tris from the film "Divergent" and performed by Shailene Woodley
MTV GENERATION AWARD:
Mark Wahlberg
MTV TRAILBLAZER AWARD:
Channing Tatum
-----------------
Sunday, December 1, 2013
Paul Walker Dead at 40
by Leroy Douresseaux
Paul Walker apparently died in a car crash yesterday, Saturday, November 30, 2013 in Southern California. Walker had been acting since the mid-1980s, but he is best known for starring in five installments of The Fast and The Furious film franchise, beginning with the first film in 2001.
Go to the ComicBookBin for a small write up about Walker's passing or got to Hitfix, which is giving extensive coverage of the actor's life, work, and death.
The first time I saw Walker, I did not think that he would be an actor I liked, but over the last decade, I have become a big fan of his. I will miss him. Negromancer sends condolences to Walker's family, friends, and colleagues. R.I.P. Paul Walker.
Paul Walker apparently died in a car crash yesterday, Saturday, November 30, 2013 in Southern California. Walker had been acting since the mid-1980s, but he is best known for starring in five installments of The Fast and The Furious film franchise, beginning with the first film in 2001.
Go to the ComicBookBin for a small write up about Walker's passing or got to Hitfix, which is giving extensive coverage of the actor's life, work, and death.
The first time I saw Walker, I did not think that he would be an actor I liked, but over the last decade, I have become a big fan of his. I will miss him. Negromancer sends condolences to Walker's family, friends, and colleagues. R.I.P. Paul Walker.
Monday, November 11, 2013
Review: "Flags of Our Fathers" a Haunting Look Back
Flags of Our Fathers (2006)
Running time: 132 minutes (2 hours, 12 minutes)
MPAA – R for sequences of graphic war violence and carnage and for language
COMPOSER/DIRECTOR: Clint Eastwood
WRITERS: William Broyles, Jr. and Paul Haggis (based upon the book by James Bradley with Ron Powers)
PRODUCERS: Clint Eastwood, Steven Spielberg, and Robert Lorenz
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Tom Stern (D.o.P.)
EDITOR: Joel Cox, A.C.E.
Academy Award nominee
WAR/HISTORY/DRAMA
Starring: Ryan Phillippe, Jesse Bradford, Adam Beach, Paul Walker, Jamie Bell, Barry Pepper, John Benjamin Hickey, Robert Patrick, Neal McDonough, and Tom McCarthy
The subject of this movie review is Flags of Our Fathers, a 2006 war film from director Clint Eastwood. The film examines the Battle of Iwo Jima during World War II and its aftermath from the point of view of American servicemen. The film is based upon the non-fiction book, Flags of Our Fathers, from authors James Bradley and Ron Powers and first published in 2000. Eastwood also composed the film’s score with assistance from his son, Kyle Eastwood, and Michael Stevens.
In Clint Eastwood’s film, Flags of Our Fathers, a son attempts to learn of his father’s World War II experiences by talking to the men who served with him and discovers that friendship and brotherhood meant more to the men than the war itself.
The son, James Bradley (Tom McCarthy), knows that his father, John “Doc” Bradley (Ryan Phillippe), was in the famous photograph, “Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima,” which was taken by photographer Joe Rosenthal on February 23, 1945 and which became the most memorable photograph taking during WWII (as well as winning the Pulitzer Price for photography). The photograph depicted five Marines and one Navy Corpsman raising the American flag on Mount Suribachi on the tiny island of Iwo Jima, and “Doc” Bradley was that corpsman (medical personnel). The battle for that tiny speck of black sand, which was barely eight square miles, would prove to be the tipping point in the Pacific campaign against the Japanese during the war.
Through the recollections of the WWII vets, the son hears harrowing tales of Iwo Jima, and for the first time learns what his father went through there. The military later returns “Doc” Bradley and the two other surviving flag-raisers, Rene Gagnon (Jesse Bradford) and Ira Hayes (Adam Beach) to the U.S. and where they trio becomes props in the governments’ Seventh War Bond Drive. This particular bond drive is an attempt to raise desperately needed cash to finish fighting the war. However, Bradley, Gagnon, and Hayes are uncomfortable with their celebrity and find themselves at odds with being America’s new heroes.
Flags of Our Fathers is the first of Clint Eastwood’s unique two-film take on the war movie. The second film, Letters from Iwo Jima, depicts the Japanese side of the war. Flags runs hot and cool – hot when Eastwood keeps the film on Iwo Jima and cool when the flag-raisers are back in America and dealing with public situations that make them uncomfortable. The narrative, like Billy Pilgrim, the hero of Kurt Vonnegut’s novel Slaughterhouse-Five, becomes unstuck in time, dancing back in forth in the wartime and post-war past, with an occasional foray into the present.
Flags of Our Fathers is at its best when Eastwood focuses on Iwo Jima and the veterans nightmarish flashbacks, in particularly “Doc” Bradley’s flashbacks while he’s on the bond drive tour. He transforms the horrors of war into a taut thriller, in which the monster of violent death stalks the Marines on the battlefield. Eastwood also makes his point at certain times with beautiful subtlety. In one scene, Ira Hayes (played by Adam Beach who is, like Hayes, a Native American) is refused service at a restaurant because the owner “doesn’t serve Indians.” After all of Hayes’ dedication, the routine bigotry he faces is stinging and heart-rending, and Eastwood captures that moment (and so many others where bigotry is as common as air) in an understated fashion that turns that quiet scene into a blunt object he slams into the viewer.
Flags is by no means perfect. It lacks any great performances, and Jesse Bradford and Beach can only deliver soft performances since their characters are so thin. “Doc” Bradley isn’t a stronger character, but Ryan Phillippe jumps between that haunted look or playing stoic, which gives Bradley more traction in the narrative. Still, Flags of Our Fathers proves that Clint Eastwood is truly a great movie director, and that even his missteps here can’t hide this engaging look at brotherhood on the battlefield and surviving after war.
7 of 10
A-
NOTES:
2007 Academy Awards: 2 nominations: “Best achievement in sound editing” (Alan Robert Murray, Bub Asman) and “Best achievement in sound mixing” (John T. Reitz, David E. Campbell, Gregg Rudloff, and Walt Martin)
2007 Golden Globes: 1 nomination: “Best Director-Motion Picture” (Clint Eastwood)
Saturday, March 3, 2007
Updated: Monday, November 11, 2013
The text is copyright © 2013 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.
Monday, June 3, 2013
Review: "Fast and Furious 6" is Pure Furious
Fast & Furious 6 (2013)
Running time: 130 minutes (2 hours, 10 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action and mayhem throughout, some sexuality and language
DIRECTOR: Justin Lin
WRITER: Chris Morgan (based on the characters created by Gary Scott Thompson)
PRODUCERS: Vin Diesel, Neal H. Moritz, and Clayton Townsend
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Stephen F. Windon
EDITORS: Greg D’Auria, Kelly Matsumoto, and Christian Wagner
COMPOSER: Lucas Vidal
ACTION/CRIME/DRAMA
Starring: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson, Luke Evans, Jordana Brewster, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Sung Kang, Gal Gadot, Elsa Pataky, Gina Carano, John Ortiz, and Shea Whigham
Two years ago, I started off my review of Fast Five, the fifth movie in The Fast and the Furious film franchise, by telling you, dear reader, that my beat up Random House dictionary defines the word “furious” as meaning full of fury, and defines the word, “fury,” as unrestrained or violent anger.
Fast & Furious 6 is a 2013 action movie from director Justin Lin and released by Universal Pictures. It is the sixth installment in The Fast and the Furious movie franchise. Justin Lin was able to add scenes he could not use in his previous franchise installments (for various reasons, including budget and technology), so Fast & Furious 6 is even more unrestrained than Fast Five. It is the first Summer 2013 movie I have seen that really made me say, “Wow!”
Following the successful Rio heist (shown in Fast Five), Dominic “Dom” Toretto (Vin Diesel) and his crew have retired to different places around the world. That includes disgraced FBI agent Brian O’Conner (Paul Walker) and his girlfriend, Mia Toretto (Jordana Brewster), who welcome the arrival of their first child, a baby boy.
Retirement is not to be. Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) officer, Lucas “Luke” Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson), who was tasked with capturing Dom and company in Rio, arrives at Dom’s home with a shocker. He has a recent photograph of Letty Ortiz (Michelle Rodriguez), Dom’s former girlfriend and fellow street racer who is supposed to be dead. Letty is apparently working for Owen Shaw (Luke Evans), a former British Special Forces soldier. Shaw leads a crew of professional criminals who steal military-grade technology.
Shaw plans to build a device that could leave an entire nation or region in the dark. Hobbs promises full pardons for Dom and his crew if they can help him capture Shaw and his gang. Roman Pearce (Tyrese Gibson), Tej Parker (Ludacris), and Han Lue (Sung Kang) reunite with Dom and Brian in what may be their fastest and most furious heist yet.
Fast & Furious 6 takes the massive gun battles, bone-crunching fights, and reality-bending car chases of Fast Five and makes them even crazier. I thought that Fast Five proved the franchise could still surprise, but Fast & Furious 6 seems to declare that this movie franchise will always surprise. You may think you’ve seen the car chases through the city streets before in other Fast and Furious movies, but you’ve never seen them with these cars (especially the cool “flip car”), nor have you seen these crashes, with cars spinning through the air, as you will see in Fast & Furious 6.
Remember the body-slamming brawls between Vin Diesel and Dwayne Johnson’s characters in Fast Five? Fast & Furious 6 offers the hot-chick version of that with Michelle Rodriguez and Gina Carano’s characters crashing into each other like angry bucks in two monster clashes of the lady titans.
But it comes down to this simply fact: Fast & Furious 6 is a joy to watch. It is another fine action movie from director Justin Lin. I laughed and cheered, and the audience that saw it with me did, too – almost as much as the audience that saw Marvel’s The Avengers with me liked that movie. Fast & Furious 6 is one of those movies that deserve to be called “the ultimate summer movie.” It has fights, non-stop action, car chases, tanks, gunplay, sleazy Euro-trash bad guys, girl fights, and guys who love cars probably more than they love girls (even if it’s just a little more). Fast & Furious 6 has all the low-brow stuff that makes an action movie good, and this action movie is quite good.
8 of 10
A
Monday, June 03, 2013
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Review: "Pleasantville" is Pleasingly Pleasant
Pleasantville (1998)
Running time: 124 minutes (2 hours, 4 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for some thematic elements emphasizing sexuality, and for language
WRITER/DIRECTOR: Gary Ross
PRODUCERS: Robert J. Degus, Jon Kilik, Gary Ross, and Steven Soderbergh
CINEMATOGRAPHER: John Lindley
EDITOR: William Goldenberg
COMPOSER: Randy Newman
Academy Award nominee
COMEDY/DRAMA/FANTASY
Starring: Tobey Maguire, William H. Macy, Joan Allen, Reese Witherspoon, Jeff Daniels, Jane Kaczmarek, Don Knotts, Paul Walker, and J.T. Walsh
The subject of this movie review is Pleasantville, a 1998 comedy-drama and fantasy film from writer/director Gary Ross, who would go on to write and direct the Oscar-nominated, Seabiscuit (2003). Pleasantville stars Tobey Maguire and Reese Witherspoon as a brother and sister transported into their television set where they find themselves in the world of a 1950s black and white situation comedy.
It’s premise, especially the device that initiates the premise, is something straight out of pulp science fiction or pulp comics (in particular, EC comics), but Pleasantville ends up being a film poignant and delightful and thought provoking and entertaining. The film begins in the 1990’s with a brother and sister pair. David Wagner (Tobey Maguire), single, lonely, and unhappy, escapes his melancholy reality by watching the nostalgic 1950’s era soap opera, “Pleasantville.” After his TV breaks, a very strange repairman (Don Knott) gives him an equally strange remote control, but his sister, Jennifer (Reese Witherspoon), who is David’s exact opposite (happy and more far more sexually active than her brother), argues with David over watching the TV. During their struggle for the peculiar remote control, it transports the pair into the television to Pleasantville.
Suddenly, David and Jennifer are Bud and Mary-Sue Parker, and they find themselves completely assimilated into the new world. They are now black and white instead of color, and they have new 50’s era clothes. They also have new and different parents Betty (Joan Allen) and George Parker (William H. Macy), more pleasant than the old models. While David decides to blend in with this new world, Jennifer is sexually aggressive with the sexually naïve teenage boys of this “Leave it to Beaver” like world. David/Bud and Jennifer/Mary-Sue’s antics begin to change the world, and one thing leads to another and suddenly there is a vivid, red rose in this black and white world. Soon, the denizens of Pleasantville start to break rules and to break with long held traditions and before long, life is growing ever more colorful in Pleasantville. But not everyone is happy, including Bud and Mary-Sue’s Pleasantville dad and the town council, and they plan to do something about it.
There is so much to like about this movie, especially the wonderful cast. Tobey Maguire and Reese Witherspoon perfectly portray the squabbling pair of siblings, playing them at just the right pitch to make this movie work. However, it is the adult or older actors that sell Pleasantville’s ideas and messages. The themes of conformity, rebellion, marital discord, infidelity, betrayal, loyalty, and mob violence and group-think come to life in the stand out performances of William H. Macy, Joan Allen, Jeff Daniels and the late J.T. Walsh. It’s fun to watch Ms. Witherspoon’s antics, and Maguire has that young everyman quality that draws audiences into living vicariously through him, but the older actors shape and structure the elements that define this film.
Many Oscar® watchers had pegged this film as an early favorite to receive some big nominations, but it only earned three Academy Award nominations in the so-called technical categories. I get the feeling that many people were put off by the film. The very things that make it so intriguing – from its ideas to its concept start to fall apart about midway through the film. Slowly, but surely, the structure becomes shaky the longer the film runs. At 124 minutes (2 hours and 4 minutes) this film seems about 20 minutes too long. The last third of the film seems especially too preachy, too obvious, and heavy-handed.
Still, director/screenwriter Gary Ross created an enduring and charming gem; though flawed, it harks back to simply notions and an idealized simpler time in a fictional golden age. But the film does seem to ask, was that time really idealized and just how much is actually fiction about the good old days.
7 of 10
B+
NOTES:
1999 Academy Awards: 3 nominations: “Best Art Direction-Set Decoration” (Jeannine Claudia Oppewall and Jay Hart), “Best Costume Design” (Judianna Makovsky), and “Best Music, Original Dramatic Score” (Randy Newman)
---------------------------
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
The Empty Calories of "Into the Blue" are Surprisingly Tasty
Into the Blue (2005)
Running time: 110 minutes (1 hour, 50 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for intense sequences of action violence, drug material, some sexual content, and language
DIECTOR: John Stockwell
WRITER: Matt Johnson
PRODUCER: David Zelon
CINEMATOGRAPHERS: Shane Hurlbut with Peter Zuccarini (underwater)
EDITORS: Nicolas De Toth and Dennis Virkler
ACTION/ADVENTURE/CRIME/THRILLER
Starring: Paul Walker, Jessica Alba, Scott Caan, Ashley Scott, Josh Brolin, James Frain, Tyson Beckford, and Dwayne Adway
The subject of this movie review is Into the Blue, an underwater action movie and crime thriller starring Paul Walker and Jessica Alba. The film follows a group of friends who find both a sunken treasure and trouble from drug smugglers.
Recently fired from his job as a guide on scuba diving tour boat, Jared (Paul Walker) decides to pursue his dream of salvaging for lost treasure galleys in the deep, shark-infested waters of the Bahamas. His girlfriend, Sam (Jessica Alba), believes in him, of course, and is along for the ride, and so are his best friend, Bryce (Scott Caan), a young hotshot lawyer from New York City, and his latest conquest, Amanda (Ashley Scott), a young woman he just met a few days before. When the four young divers discover what may be a legendary shipwreck containing untold millions in gold, Jared believes his dream of finding buried treasure has come true.
However, near their salvage is a sunken plane containing the dead crew… and a large cargo of cocaine that may have a street value in the hundreds of millions. The friends make a vow to keep silent about both discoveries so that they can excavate the shipwreck and file a claim on it before rival treasure hunters (namely a challenger named Bates played by Josh Brolin) learn of their find and beat them to the gold. When two of the divers make a fatal decision regarding the cargo plane, drug smugglers looking for the plane turn the young treasure hunters into the hunted.
Into the Blue is the Sport’s Illustrated swimsuit issue version of a hard-edge action movie, but it has a campy edge that would make it suitable for the CBS Sunday Night Movie or a made-for-TV USA cable network action thriller; plus its PG-13 rating makes Into the Blue safe for all but those… well, 13-year olds. Director John Stockwell doesn’t turn Matt Johnson’s screenplay into a hyper-kinetic video game, but instead makes the film into a kind of crime film, imagine a R-rated, dumbed-down heist or caper film like Out of Sight for teens or for those who can’t stomach R-movie violence. Another good thing about Matt Johnson’s screenplay is that it emphasizes characters over action. Put a competent cast and crew behind a script like this and the audience gets a nice character-driven piece that makes the audience invest itself in the players – that’s Into the Blue. The script’s glaring error is that it seems stretched out, thus giving it a few huge dry patches in which the narrative is literally spinning its wheels or drowning.
Paul Walker (The Fast and the Furious franchise) and Jessica Alba aren’t close to being good actors. Walker comes from the Keanu Reeves school of acting, which means awkward and stiff dialogue delivery, but quite frankly, he’s beautiful and looks good on screen. His face can express more emotion that he ever could through speaking, and Walker’s eyes are indeed the windows into the soul of his characters. You learn just as much about what kind of man Jared is by watching Walker’s physical acting as you could by listening to Paul struggle with lines. Alba tries to be a serious actress, but her body is the Gromit to her acting’s Wallace. You don’t want her off screen; you want to see her, whether you’re a man or woman.
The setting and beautiful locations really sell this flick. I never thought I’d enjoy seeing people diving in and jumping out of the water so much (about 60 to 70 percent of the film); this is truly an underwater action/adventure. Add Josh Brolin’s Mephisto-like turn to the mix of lithe young bodies in motion, in danger, and in the water, and Into the Blue is a very entertaining thriller – fun in the water, the movie theatre, or at home.
6 of 10
B
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Paul Walker to Narrate IMAX 3D Documentary, "Air Racers 3D"
Paul Walker to Narrate New IMAX 3D Theatre Film "Air Racers 3D" Slated For Release in April 2012
Latest 3D Entertainment Distribution title is first IMAX theatre film to explore the Reno National Championship Air Races
LOS ANGELES, PARIS and LONDON /PRNewswire/ -- 3D Entertainment Distribution announced that actor Paul Walker (The Fast and the Furious franchise, Takers) will narrate Air Racers 3D, the first-ever IMAX 3D theatre film devoted to the fastest race in the world: the legendary Reno National Championship Air Races. With stunning aerial photography filmed entirely in 3D and unprecedented access granted to the course, Air Racers 3D takes audiences into Nevada's Valley of Speed to experience the intensity and high-speed thrills of a sports event like no other combined with spectacular air show entertainment.
"We are truly honored and delighted to have Paul Walker lend his storytelling talents to this action-packed 3D film, which will hit IMAX theatres in the US beginning this April," said Francois Mantello, Chairman and CEO of 3D Entertainment Distribution. "His passion for racing and high-adrenaline sports makes him a perfect fit for this celebration of aviation."
"I have always been fascinated by the sheer power, precision and skills of these tremendously talented pilots who race just 50 feet off the ground at twice the speed of a Nascar race," said Paul Walker. "I was further drawn to the film by its unique historical view of this legendary sport and for the educational insight into the science of flying that it provides."
"We are delighted to have Paul Walker be such an integral part of this film," said Air Racers 3D co-directors Christian Fry and Jean-Jacques Mantello. "His ability to connect with moviegoers of all ages, and teenagers in particular, as well as his genuine love of motor sports unquestionably enhances this ultimate air show experience."
Having captured the attention of audiences and industry executives alike with his undeniable on-screen presence in a string of supporting roles, Paul Walker's breakout role was as undercover cop Brian O'Conner in the 2001 hit film The Fast and The Furious. Since then, he has managed a balance of box-office films and dramatic roles to cement his leap to leading man status. Walker has demonstrated his on-screen versatility by transforming into a soldier under the direction of Clint Eastwood, an Arctic research scientist in a Disney family adventure, and a New Jersey mobster in a gritty independent feature. Walker, who also made a return in the fifth installment of The Fast and The Furious franchise, recently starred in and executive produced Vehicle 19, an indie thriller set for release in 2012.
From the pits to the roaring sky, Air Racers 3D explores the highly competitive world of air racing through the eyes of rookie pilot Steve Hinton as he attempts to fly his P-51 Mustang fighter plane to victory in the most highly-anticipated and unpredictable race class. Audiences will discover today's elite pilots in their World War II-era aircraft as they fight for position, wingtip to wingtip, and skim 50 feet (15 m) above the ground around an oval course at 500 mph (805 km/h). The film also features rare archival footage and performances by many of the world's top aerobatic pilots, including the Royal Canadian Air Forces Snowbirds.
Produced by 3D Entertainment USA and Pretend Entertainment in association with Stereoscope, Air Racers 3D is directed by Christian Fry and Jean-Jacques Mantello (Sharks 3D, Ocean Wonderland 3D and Dolphins and Whales 3D) and features a screenplay by Christian Fry and Rick Dowlearn. The musical score is by Christophe Jacquelin. The film is produced by Christian Fry and Raul Leckie, and executive produced by Francois Mantello, John Constantine and Jeffery Pierce. Two years in active production, principal 3D photography for the film took place during the 2009 and 2010 Reno National Championship Air Races and was completed in June 2011.
Visit the official film website at http://www.airracers-thefilm.com/
Follow all the latest news on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/AirRacers
About 3D Entertainment Distribution
Founded in 2001, 3D Entertainment Distribution is the marketing and theatrical sales arm of 3D Entertainment Films and 3D Entertainment USA. Affiliates of 3D Entertainment Films Holdings, the companies are focused on the production, postproduction, sales and theatrical distribution of innovative 3D films for IMAX theatres and Digital 3D cinemas worldwide. The cornerstone of the Company's film catalogue is a unique underwater film trilogy presented by Jean-Michel Cousteau that has grossed over USD 84 million at the box office. In 2010, the company successfully launched its first acquisition, the USD 13 million-grossing Sea Rex 3D: Journey to a Prehistoric World which was named the Best Earth Sciences Program at the 2011 Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival. The Company's current line-up of 3D films includes Kenya 3D: Animal Kingdom (February 2013), Patagonia 3D: Into the Wild and Time: The 4th Dimension, starring Christopher Lloyd and Deep Roy. The Company maintains offices in London (UK), Los Angeles (California) and Paris (France). For more information, please visit http://www.3defilms.com/
Latest 3D Entertainment Distribution title is first IMAX theatre film to explore the Reno National Championship Air Races
LOS ANGELES, PARIS and LONDON /PRNewswire/ -- 3D Entertainment Distribution announced that actor Paul Walker (The Fast and the Furious franchise, Takers) will narrate Air Racers 3D, the first-ever IMAX 3D theatre film devoted to the fastest race in the world: the legendary Reno National Championship Air Races. With stunning aerial photography filmed entirely in 3D and unprecedented access granted to the course, Air Racers 3D takes audiences into Nevada's Valley of Speed to experience the intensity and high-speed thrills of a sports event like no other combined with spectacular air show entertainment.
"We are truly honored and delighted to have Paul Walker lend his storytelling talents to this action-packed 3D film, which will hit IMAX theatres in the US beginning this April," said Francois Mantello, Chairman and CEO of 3D Entertainment Distribution. "His passion for racing and high-adrenaline sports makes him a perfect fit for this celebration of aviation."
"I have always been fascinated by the sheer power, precision and skills of these tremendously talented pilots who race just 50 feet off the ground at twice the speed of a Nascar race," said Paul Walker. "I was further drawn to the film by its unique historical view of this legendary sport and for the educational insight into the science of flying that it provides."
"We are delighted to have Paul Walker be such an integral part of this film," said Air Racers 3D co-directors Christian Fry and Jean-Jacques Mantello. "His ability to connect with moviegoers of all ages, and teenagers in particular, as well as his genuine love of motor sports unquestionably enhances this ultimate air show experience."
Having captured the attention of audiences and industry executives alike with his undeniable on-screen presence in a string of supporting roles, Paul Walker's breakout role was as undercover cop Brian O'Conner in the 2001 hit film The Fast and The Furious. Since then, he has managed a balance of box-office films and dramatic roles to cement his leap to leading man status. Walker has demonstrated his on-screen versatility by transforming into a soldier under the direction of Clint Eastwood, an Arctic research scientist in a Disney family adventure, and a New Jersey mobster in a gritty independent feature. Walker, who also made a return in the fifth installment of The Fast and The Furious franchise, recently starred in and executive produced Vehicle 19, an indie thriller set for release in 2012.
From the pits to the roaring sky, Air Racers 3D explores the highly competitive world of air racing through the eyes of rookie pilot Steve Hinton as he attempts to fly his P-51 Mustang fighter plane to victory in the most highly-anticipated and unpredictable race class. Audiences will discover today's elite pilots in their World War II-era aircraft as they fight for position, wingtip to wingtip, and skim 50 feet (15 m) above the ground around an oval course at 500 mph (805 km/h). The film also features rare archival footage and performances by many of the world's top aerobatic pilots, including the Royal Canadian Air Forces Snowbirds.
Produced by 3D Entertainment USA and Pretend Entertainment in association with Stereoscope, Air Racers 3D is directed by Christian Fry and Jean-Jacques Mantello (Sharks 3D, Ocean Wonderland 3D and Dolphins and Whales 3D) and features a screenplay by Christian Fry and Rick Dowlearn. The musical score is by Christophe Jacquelin. The film is produced by Christian Fry and Raul Leckie, and executive produced by Francois Mantello, John Constantine and Jeffery Pierce. Two years in active production, principal 3D photography for the film took place during the 2009 and 2010 Reno National Championship Air Races and was completed in June 2011.
Visit the official film website at http://www.airracers-thefilm.com/
Follow all the latest news on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/AirRacers
About 3D Entertainment Distribution
Founded in 2001, 3D Entertainment Distribution is the marketing and theatrical sales arm of 3D Entertainment Films and 3D Entertainment USA. Affiliates of 3D Entertainment Films Holdings, the companies are focused on the production, postproduction, sales and theatrical distribution of innovative 3D films for IMAX theatres and Digital 3D cinemas worldwide. The cornerstone of the Company's film catalogue is a unique underwater film trilogy presented by Jean-Michel Cousteau that has grossed over USD 84 million at the box office. In 2010, the company successfully launched its first acquisition, the USD 13 million-grossing Sea Rex 3D: Journey to a Prehistoric World which was named the Best Earth Sciences Program at the 2011 Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival. The Company's current line-up of 3D films includes Kenya 3D: Animal Kingdom (February 2013), Patagonia 3D: Into the Wild and Time: The 4th Dimension, starring Christopher Lloyd and Deep Roy. The Company maintains offices in London (UK), Los Angeles (California) and Paris (France). For more information, please visit http://www.3defilms.com/
Monday, September 12, 2011
Review: "Running Scared" Overdoes it on the Gritty (Happy B'day, Paul Walker)
Running Scared (2006)
Running time: 122 minutes (2 hours, 2 minutes)
MPAA – R for pervasive strong brutal violence and language, sexuality, and drug content
WRITER/DIRECTOR: Wayne Kramer
PRODUCERS: Michael Pierce, Brett Ratner, and Sammy Lee
CINEMATOGRAPHER: James Whitaker
EDITOR: Arthur Coburn
CRIME/THRILLER/ACTION
Starring: Paul Walker, Cameron Bright, Vera Farmiga, Karel Roden, Johnny Messner, Ivana Milicevic, Chazz Palmiteri, Michael Cudlitz, Arthur Nascarella, and Alex Neuberger
In Grimley, New Jersey, Joey Gazelle (Paul Walker) is a low-level employee for the Italian Perello mob. The first real disaster of his decade-long connection with the Perellos arrives when a drug deal goes bad, and Perello family scion, Tommy “Tombs” Perello (Johnny Messner) kills a dirty cop. Ignoring Tommy’s explicit instructions that he get rid of the gun he used to kill the corrupt cop, Joey keeps it as “insurance” against the Perello mob that he might need in the future, but his decision immediately puts his family in danger.
Joey’s son, Nicky (Alex Neuberger), and his son’s best friend, Oleg (Cameron Bright), are hiding in the basement when Joey hides the weapon, and Oleg secretly steals the gun. Oleg later uses it to shoot his abusive Russian stepfather, Anzor (Karel Roden), a drug-addict who operates a backyard crystal method lab, before running away. That one act of self-defense puts everyone of Oleg’s trail: the Russian Yugorsky mob to whom Anzor belongs, Tommy Perello and his goon, Sal “Gummy Bear” Franzone (Michael Cudlitz), and nefarious Detective Rydell (Chazz Palmiteri), a dirty cop hell-bent on exploiting the tension between the Perellos and Yugorskys to collect two million dollars in blackmail money from Tommy Perello.
Meanwhile, Joey with the help of his wife Teresa (Vera Farmiga) and Nicky embark on a frantic all-night search for Oleg and gun, not only to protect the frightened boy from those who would kill for the gun, but also to save their own lives should the Perellos discover that Oleg has the gun Joey was supposed to destroy.
In the field of gritty urban thrillers, Running Scared, seems determined to out gritty them all. The film is supposed to harken back to days of the 1970’s adult thrillers, according to this film’s writer/director Wayne Kramer (The Cooler). However, Running Scared seems firmly entrenched in the school of Pulp Fiction, Quentin Tarantino’s 1994 seminal crime film that became the most influential film of the rest of the 90’s and still casts a shadow on crime flicks to this day. Running Scared also belongs to the classic Film-Noir tradition of sober and stark black and white crime movies, except it’s in color. Color films like Pulp Fiction technically aren’t noir, but their combination of noir and the pulp crime fiction that was so popular during the middle 20th century has created something that can be called “pulp noir.”
Kramer’s Running Scared is edgy and violent, and obsessed with the extreme fringes of criminal society and the low life. Kramer so convincingly creates this world that he’s also able to turn pretty boy movie star Paul Walker into a cheap, dangerous thug. This is probably Walker’s least superficial performance to date, and that’s say something about an actor who clearly comes from the Kevin Costner/Keanu Reeves school of stiff acting. Kramer also makes the most of promising young actor Cameron Bright (Oleg Yugorsky), who has an emotive face. There’s something about his performance that reflects what the other performers are trying to do. Against Cameron’s character, the other characters reveal their true selves.
Well-written and thrilling, Running Scared does have a singular, fatal flaw – Kramer’s stylish photographic look for this movie. Kramer and his cinematographer, James Whitaker, who worked with Kramer on The Cooler, use elaborate steadicam and crane shots to create constantly moving camerawork. Then, they combine that with manipulation of camera shutter speed, image destabilization, and use of a hand-cranked camera. The entire film is also shot in moody lighting. It’s all supposed to create an atmosphere of menace, adrenaline, and nerve-wracked emotions, yet in the end it just got on my nerves.
These are the kind of artistic or visual choices that can hamstring, if not outright ruin, a good film. Kramer’s has as exciting story, colorful characters, interesting situations, an appealing setting for a crime film, and a plot line that could hold the attention of kid on a sugar high, but it’s mostly spoiled by visual flourishes that are exactly that – just flourishes. They don’t add as much to the storytelling, or at least not as much as Kramer thought they would. It’s a shame, really. Running Scared is a worthy choice for lovers of crime cinema – the razor’s edge in mob flicks. It could have been a contender for greatness…
6 of 10
B
Sunday, July 02, 2006
------------------------
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Review: "Fast Five" Most Furious Yet
TRASH IN MY EYE No. 36 (of 2011) by Leroy Douresseaux
Fast Five (2011)
Running time: 130 minutes (2 hours, 10 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13
DIRECTOR: Justin Lin
WRITER: Chris Morgan (based on the characters created by Gary Scott Thompson)
PRODUCERS: Vin Diesel, Michael Fottrell, and Neal H. Moritz
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Stephen F. Windon
EDITORS: Kelly Matsumoto, Fred Raskin, and Christian Wagner
COMPOSER: Brian Tyler
ACTION/CRIME/DRAMA
Starring: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson, Jordana Brewster, Tyrese Gibson, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Matt Schulze, Sung Kang, Gal Gadot, Tego Calderon, Don Omar, Joaquim de Almeida, Elsa Pataky, and Michael Irby
My beat up Random House dictionary defines the word “furious” as meaning full of fury, and defines the word, “fury,” as unrestrained or violent anger. Fast Five is the fifth movie in The Fast and the Furious film franchise. It is unrestrained.
Fast Five picks up where the fourth movie, Fast and Furious (2009), left off. Former FBI agent Brian O’Conner (Paul Walker) leads an assault on a prison transport bus to free his pal, elite street racer and ex-con, Dominic “Dom” Toretto (Vin Diesel). Brian and Dom’s sister, Mia Toretto (Jordana Brewster), go on the run to Brazil, where they reunite with Dom for a train heist of high-end cars. The heist goes badly, which earns them the ire and unwanted attention of drug lord, Hernan Reyes (Joaquim de Almeida).
Now, backed into a corner in Rio de Janeiro, Dom suggests they pull one last job in order to gain their freedom – steal 100 million dollars from Reyes. They assemble an elite team of racers, techs, mechanics, and weapons experts. These include Brian’s friends from his time in Miami, Roman Pearce (Tyrese Gibson) and Tej Parker (Ludacris), and some of Dom’s associates like Han Lue (Sung Kang).
However, Reyes is not the only one hunting Brian and Dom. They are wanted by the FBI, which has assigned a Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) officer, Lucas “Luke” Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson), to apprehend Brian and Dom. The hard-nosed Hobbs never misses his target, and he leads an elite strike team on an all-out mission to capture the two men. As his men tear through Brazil and he gets closer to his targets, Hobbs learns that he is caught between desperate forces – Dom and Brian on one side and Reyes on the other.
Fast Five takes the best of the previous four movies and crams that into an action movie extravaganza that runs at just over two hours of massive gun battles, bone-crushing fights, and reality-bending car chases. I give director Justin Lin some credit because this movie does have some moments of genuine character drama with a smattering of poignancy. Still, Lin, his crew, and creative collaborators know what this franchise is about – street racing.
But Fast Five gives us more than mere street racing. This film is furious and unstrained, offering loud, over-the-top, absurd action set pieces. Why just have pretty girls when you can have pretty girls with their butt cheeks hanging out? Why have a car chase when you can have a car chase with two cars dragging a giant safe? Everything is bigger, louder, and sleeker, and much of it defies the laws of physics. This movie made my breath catch a few times.
Vin Diesel and Paul Walker are as cool as ever, even if they aren’t the best actors. I’m sure readers want to know if this movie is as good as or even better than the others. Whether Fast Five is better is matter of taste, and I think it is. I can say one thing for sure. Fast Five is bigger, more outrageous, and more furious than anything else in The Fast and the Furious franchise.
7 of 10
B+
Sunday, May 01, 2011
--------------------
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Review: "Takers" Brings Heat
TRASH IN MY EYE No. 8 (of 2011) by Leroy Douresseaux
Takers (2010)
Running time: 107 minutes (1 hour, 47 minutes)
MPAA – R for intense sequences of violence and action, a sexual situation/partial nudity
DIRECTOR: John Luessenhop
WRITERS: Peter Allen, Gabriel Casseus, John Luessenhop, and Avery Duff
PRODUCERS: Jason Geter, William Packer, and Tip “T.I.” Harris
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Michael Barrett (D.o.P.)
EDITOR: Armen Minasian
CRIME/DRAMA/ACTION
Starring: Idris Elba, Paul Walker, Matt Dillon, Chris Brown, Hayden Christensen, Michael Ealy, T.I., Jay Hernandez, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Zoe Saldana, Steve Harris, Gaius Charles, Johnathan Schaech, and Glynn Turman
Arriving in theatres last August 2010, Takers is an ensemble crime drama that focuses on a seasoned team of professional bank robbers and the hard-nosed detective that is hunting them. Though not great, Takers is nonetheless an exciting little heist movie that manages to walk its own way, while showing its influences.
Gordon Cozier (Idris Elba), John Rahway (Paul Walker), A.J. (Hayden Christensen), and brothers Jake Attica (Michael Ealy) and Jesse Attica (Chris Brown) are a highly-organized team of bank robbers. They describe themselves a “takers,” because they see something they want and they take it. After shocking Los Angeles with their latest heist, they plan to lead a life of luxury for a long time before taking on their next job.
They get a surprise, however, from former team member, Dalonte Rivers A.KA. Ghost (Tip “T.I.” Harris). Caught in a previous robbery five years earlier, Ghost received an early release from prison and is on parole. Claiming he harbors no ill will towards his former teammates, Ghost convinces them that now is the right time to strike an armored car carrying $20 million. The “takers” carefully plot out their strategy and draw nearer to the day of the heist, but their activities have brought a reckless, rule-breaking police officer named Jack Welles (Matt Dillon) closer to learning their identities. As Welles and his partner, Eddie Hatcher (Jay Hernandez), get closer, things get crazy and new players move into the game.
Early on in the film, I recognized Takers as a sort of urban contemporary take on Michael Mann’s influential heist flick, Heat (1995), but Takers isn’t the complex and insightful character study that Mann’s film is. Takers’ characters are either shallow (John, A.J.), potential poorly executed (Ghost), or well-developed, but shorted on time (Jack Welles, Gordon Cozier).
Takers moves quickly and has a cool, slick visual manner befitting an L.A. crime film. Gripping set pieces open the film, straddle the film’s middle, and close the film, all of which make this work very well as an action movie. Takers is a thrill to watch. It’s a shame that the writing on the character side isn’t stronger, because that is pretty much what keeps Takers from being an exceptional action and crime film. Still, Takers is better than most recent crime films, and I wouldn’t mind seeing a sequel or even a prequel.
7 of 10
B+
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Takers (2010)
Running time: 107 minutes (1 hour, 47 minutes)
MPAA – R for intense sequences of violence and action, a sexual situation/partial nudity
DIRECTOR: John Luessenhop
WRITERS: Peter Allen, Gabriel Casseus, John Luessenhop, and Avery Duff
PRODUCERS: Jason Geter, William Packer, and Tip “T.I.” Harris
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Michael Barrett (D.o.P.)
EDITOR: Armen Minasian
CRIME/DRAMA/ACTION
Starring: Idris Elba, Paul Walker, Matt Dillon, Chris Brown, Hayden Christensen, Michael Ealy, T.I., Jay Hernandez, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Zoe Saldana, Steve Harris, Gaius Charles, Johnathan Schaech, and Glynn Turman
Arriving in theatres last August 2010, Takers is an ensemble crime drama that focuses on a seasoned team of professional bank robbers and the hard-nosed detective that is hunting them. Though not great, Takers is nonetheless an exciting little heist movie that manages to walk its own way, while showing its influences.
Gordon Cozier (Idris Elba), John Rahway (Paul Walker), A.J. (Hayden Christensen), and brothers Jake Attica (Michael Ealy) and Jesse Attica (Chris Brown) are a highly-organized team of bank robbers. They describe themselves a “takers,” because they see something they want and they take it. After shocking Los Angeles with their latest heist, they plan to lead a life of luxury for a long time before taking on their next job.
They get a surprise, however, from former team member, Dalonte Rivers A.KA. Ghost (Tip “T.I.” Harris). Caught in a previous robbery five years earlier, Ghost received an early release from prison and is on parole. Claiming he harbors no ill will towards his former teammates, Ghost convinces them that now is the right time to strike an armored car carrying $20 million. The “takers” carefully plot out their strategy and draw nearer to the day of the heist, but their activities have brought a reckless, rule-breaking police officer named Jack Welles (Matt Dillon) closer to learning their identities. As Welles and his partner, Eddie Hatcher (Jay Hernandez), get closer, things get crazy and new players move into the game.
Early on in the film, I recognized Takers as a sort of urban contemporary take on Michael Mann’s influential heist flick, Heat (1995), but Takers isn’t the complex and insightful character study that Mann’s film is. Takers’ characters are either shallow (John, A.J.), potential poorly executed (Ghost), or well-developed, but shorted on time (Jack Welles, Gordon Cozier).
Takers moves quickly and has a cool, slick visual manner befitting an L.A. crime film. Gripping set pieces open the film, straddle the film’s middle, and close the film, all of which make this work very well as an action movie. Takers is a thrill to watch. It’s a shame that the writing on the character side isn’t stronger, because that is pretty much what keeps Takers from being an exceptional action and crime film. Still, Takers is better than most recent crime films, and I wouldn’t mind seeing a sequel or even a prequel.
7 of 10
B+
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
------------------------------
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Review: "Fast & Furious" Faster and More Furious
TRASH IN MY EYE No. 44 (of 2010) by Leroy Douresseaux
Fast & Furious (2009)
Running time: 107 minutes (1 hour, 47 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, some sexual content, language and drug references
DIRECTOR: Justin Lin
WRITER: Chris Morgan (based upon characters created by Gary Scott Thompson)
PRODUCERS: Vin Diesel, Michael Fottrell, and Neal H. Moritz
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Amir Mokri (director of photography)
EDITORS: Fred Raskin and Christian Wagner
ACTION/CRIME
Starring: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Jordana Brewster, Michelle Rodriguez, John Ortiz, Laz Alonso, Gal Gadot, John Conley, Shea Whigham, Liza Lapira, Tego Calderon, Don Omar, Greg Cipes, Brandon T. Jackson, and Sung Kang
Fast & Furious is the fourth film in The Fast and the Furious franchise, but it is set before the events of the third film, The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift. The plot of Fast & Furious connects with the original 2001 film and actors Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Jordana Brewster, and Michelle Rodriguez reprise their roles from the first movie. Having them return makes it feel as if this franchise got its mojo back.
Fast & Furious opens with Dominic “Dom” Toretto (Vin Diesel) and his new crew, which includes Letty Ortiz (Michelle Rodriguez), hijacking fuel tankers in the Dominican Republic. A shocking murder brings the fugitive ex-con Dom back to Los Angeles looking for payback against a mysterious drug lord named Arturo Braga. Meanwhile, Brian O'Conner (Paul Walker), the FBI agent who 5 years earlier infiltrated L.A.’s illegal street racing underground, of which Dom was part, is also after Braga. Although he is still feuding with Brian, Dom will have to forge a new trust with the lawman if they are to have a hope of outmaneuvering the wily Braga. As they cross international lines to foil Braga, Dom and Brian are also forced to do what they do best – push the limits of what is possible behind the wheel of an American muscle car.
Even with its explosive beginning and shocking turn of events, Fast & Furious starts off slow. The character drama and set up of the plot are clunky, but the stars rise to the occasion. Fast & Furious, for the most part, is exactly that – fast and furious, so viewers will get what they expect from this franchise, but not exactly. The car chases and races are so fast and crazy that computer generated images obviously played a part in making them. The story is, overall, darker and edgier than ever before. However, Fast & Furious doesn’t seem derivative, even as part of a franchise, and in spite of some occasionally uninspired character moments, it is just plain fun to watch.
I thought I knew how much I missed Vin Diesel and Paul Walker, but I really had no idea. When they’re blazing, these two stars show us why Fast & Furious had to be and why there will be more.
6 of 10
B
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
---------------------
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Review: "2 Fast 2 Furious" Not 2 Bad
TRASH IN MY EYE No. 89 (of 2003) by Leroy Douresseaux
2 Fast 2 Furious (2003)
Running time: 107 minutes (1 hour, 47 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for street racing, violence, language and some sensuality
DIRECTOR: John Singleton
WRITERS: Michael Brandt and Derek Haas, from a story by Gary Scott Thompson, Michael Brandt and Derek Haas
PRODUCER: Neal H. Moritz
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Matthew F. Leonetti (director of photography)
EDITOR: Bruce Cannon and Dallas Puett
ACTION/CRIME/THRILLER
Starring: Paul Walker, Tyrese, Eva Mendes, Cole Hauser, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Thom Barry, James Remar, Devon Aoki, Michael Ealy, and Mark Boone Junior
When we left Brian O’Connor (Paul Walker) at the end of The Fast and the Furious, he was on his way to be stripped of his badge as an officer of the law for assisting hijacker Dominic Torreto in escaping. In 2 Fast 2 Furious, Brian has moved to Miami and plays the city’s street racing circuit for cash. However, the cops come calling again with a deal: help them infiltrate the domain of a drug lord named Carter Verone (Cole Hauser) and they will in turn clean his record.
Of course, the drug lord needs fast drivers (convenient, right), so Brian recruits Roman Pearce (Tyrese), a childhood buddy who has a grudge against Brian (which creates dramatic tension between the lead characters). Roman is also street racer, and Brian hopes Roman can help him pull off the sting better than another undercover cop could. The mission tricky with many complications, just like in TFTH. Brian is caught between anxious U.S. Custom’s officials and a jealous and violent criminal who doesn’t fear the law; neither side will let him and Roman let them down.
The first film borrowed liberally from the film Point Break changing Break’s surfer/bank robbers to street racer/hijackers. The street racing was an integral part of the film, and the original director Rob Cohen used every trick in the bag to heighten the illusion of super speed; he also had Vin Diesel.
2 Fast 2 Furious seems exactly what it is, a sequel, a by-the-book action movie that succeeds in at least being vacuous entertainment despite itself. The street racing exists solely because this film is a follow-up to a movie about fast cars. The script is lousy with action movie formulas. There’s a white guy/black guy dynamic with plenty of tension between the two. A sour incident from the past gives their partnership an extra edge and potentially endangers their assignment. Paul Walker as Brian O’Connor isn’t an energetic, kinetic action hero; he’s more stoic, so Tyrese as his partner Roman brings the comedy and raw sense of street bravado to the movie. Their chemistry is good in spite of a script intent on them not having any. Don’t forget the vaguely Latin drug lord who uses brutal methods to get his way. The cast is thoroughly mixed with sprinkles from every ethnic group, short of gypsies. The soundtrack is filled with slammin’ hip hop tracks (the first was a mixture of thrash, techno, and hip hop), and the score is surprisingly good and add fuel to the fire of the film’s best scenes.
Despite the paint-by-numbers scenario, director John Singleton manages to conjure a fairly entertaining car chase movie. While the cars were hot items in TFTF, Singleton treats them as art objects in his film. He lovingly caresses them with the camera; he suggests that they are almost as much the stars as the human actors. In fact, it’s a great move because all that attention on the hot cars distracts the viewer from some of the film’s drier moments. And don’t forget the girls; Singleton laps up the hotties when he’s not pushing up on the hot rides.
2 Fast 2 Furious isn’t bad, but it isn’t as good as its predecessor. But while TFTF was a hard-edged action flick, I will give 2 Fast credit for having a much better sense of humor. It never takes itself seriously. In fact, the filmmakers seem to insist on telling us that they know what this is – a perhaps dumber sequel to a dumb action movie, so let’s just relax and enjoy 2 Fast.
2 Fast is exciting and thrilling and hot and sexy. It’s a bad cartoon full of bullet-spitting guns, hot hoochies, fantastically speedy cars, explosions, and testosterone: in other words, a summer movie. When you go to see a thriller, you expect even the lamest concepts to give you that vicarious thrill of the jolt of danger, and sometimes I really believed that Brian and Roman might get a bullet to the head. So even if you don’t make it to the theatre to see 2 Fast 2 Furious, it will make a nice DVD rental.
5 of 10
C+
-------------------
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Review: "The Fast and the Furious" is Still Furious
TRASH IN MY EYE No. 88 (of 2003) by Leroy Douresseaux
The Fast and the Furious (2001)
Running time: 106 minutes (1 hour, 46 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for violence, sexual content and language
DIRECTOR: Rob Cohen
WRITERS: Gary Scott Thompson, Erik Bergquist, and David Ayer, from a screen story by Gary Scott Thompson (based on a magazine article, “Racer X” by Ken Li)
PRODUCER: Neal H. Moritz
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Ericson Core (director of photography)
EDITOR: Peter Honess
ACTION/THRILLER
Starring: Paul Walker, Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, Rick Yune, Chad Lindberg, Johnny Strong, Matt Schulze, Ted Levine, R.J. de Vera, Thom Barry, and Ja Rule
For some reason, I just felt that I had to see The Fast and the Furious before I saw its recently released sequel, 2 Fast 2 Furious. I wanted to see it when the film was first released, but I avoided it. When I asked a former associate about TFTF, he gave it a conditional approval, shrugging his shoulders to let me know that it was entertaining, but forgettable – one of those films. Yes, it certainly is one of those popcorn flicks, forgotten as soon as you walk out the theatre, but while you’re inside, you will be on one of those “rides of your life.” This is simply slick and fantastic entertainment, pure high-speed pleasure, and I wished I’d seen it on a big screen.
Brian O’Connor (Paul Walker) is an undercover cop trying to catch a ring of thieves who hijack 18-wheelers. They carry out their crimes in very fast, small cars. His bosses figure they can uncover the thieves’ identities by planting Brian into the world of L.A. street racing, where he meets the top dog of racers, Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel). Brian falls for Dominic’s sister Mia (Jordana Brewster), and before long, he just can’t believe that Dominic and his crew could be the hijackers because he’s down with them now. Brian soon finds himself caught between his professional obligations as a law enforcement officer and his position as Dominic’s homie and Mia’s boy toy.
I’ve seen director Rob Cohen’s other film with Vin Diesel, XXX, and while it’s very good, Furious is so much better. Cohen uses every trick in the book: computer effects, editing, and camera work, all to heighten the illusion of super speed for the chase scenes and car race sequences. Actually, the begins rather slowly, but the very second the first race kicks into high gear, I knew I was in for a especially wild ride.
The script ain’t nothing to scream about; it’s a professional by-the-numbers job, and not a really good one at that. There’s lot of emoting and dramatic huffing and puffing from the mostly young cast, but it all works out. The story owes something more than just a nod to the great Keanu Reeves/Patrick Swayze actioneer, Point Break, also about a policeman who goes native when he infiltrates a gang of crooks with a charismatic leader. With his mega buff body virtually leaking testosterone, Diesel is automatic charisma. Paul Walker (also a veteran of a Cohen film, The Skulls) is almost an exact copy of the Reeves character in Point Break, and he carries his part quiet well.
OK. This is a very good action movie, the kind you want to see when you want an action movie. If you’ve never seen it, then you’re really missing something. Every chase scene and race is brilliant staged and executed. The Fast and the Furious deserves to be called “an adrenaline rush.” [If you’ve seen it already, you’ll probably still get a kick out of it, especially with the “tricked out” DVD release of the film.]
Make sure you watch all the way through the credits, where you will find a tidy wrap up to the story.
7 of 10
B+
-------------------
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)