Sunday, May 5, 2013
Saturday, May 4, 2013
Abrams, Takei, Samberg, Facebook, and Star Trek
Just days before Star Trek Into Darkness opens in theaters worldwide, JJ Abrams will answer YOUR questions on Facebook Live.
WHO: Featuring: JJ Abrams: Writer/Director/Producer (Star Trek Into Darkness, Super 8, Lost)
The Host: Andy Samberg: Actor/Comedian/Writer (Saturday Night Live,Celeste and Jesse Forever, The Lonely Island)
Special Guest: George Takei: Actor/Activist (Star Trek, Oh Myyy! (There Goes the Internet), Allegiance)
WHAT: JJ Abrams is a filmmaker whose work, on both the small and big screen, has been shaping our culture for decades. On May 10th 2013, just days before Star Trek Into Darkness opens in theaters across the globe, the acclaimed director visits the Facebook Headquarters in Menlo Park along side his friend Andy Samberg to answer your questions live. This is an exclusiveopportunity for Facebook fans to ask anything about the Star Trek universe, and to boldly go where few have gone before. Who knows, maybe even Sulu (GeorgeTakei) might beam in for a guest appearance.
RSVP to watch and participate live on Facebook here: http://bit.ly/abramslive
WHEN: Streamed live at 5:30pm PT / 8:30pm ET, Friday, May 10, 2013
WHERE: www.FacebookLive.com
WHO: Featuring: JJ Abrams: Writer/Director/Producer (Star Trek Into Darkness, Super 8, Lost)
The Host: Andy Samberg: Actor/Comedian/Writer (Saturday Night Live,Celeste and Jesse Forever, The Lonely Island)
Special Guest: George Takei: Actor/Activist (Star Trek, Oh Myyy! (There Goes the Internet), Allegiance)
WHAT: JJ Abrams is a filmmaker whose work, on both the small and big screen, has been shaping our culture for decades. On May 10th 2013, just days before Star Trek Into Darkness opens in theaters across the globe, the acclaimed director visits the Facebook Headquarters in Menlo Park along side his friend Andy Samberg to answer your questions live. This is an exclusiveopportunity for Facebook fans to ask anything about the Star Trek universe, and to boldly go where few have gone before. Who knows, maybe even Sulu (GeorgeTakei) might beam in for a guest appearance.
RSVP to watch and participate live on Facebook here: http://bit.ly/abramslive
WHEN: Streamed live at 5:30pm PT / 8:30pm ET, Friday, May 10, 2013
WHERE: www.FacebookLive.com
Friday, May 3, 2013
Review: "Doctor Strange" Casts Animated Spell
Doctor Strange (2007)
Running time: 76 minutes (1 hour, 16 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for action violence and some frightening images
DIRECTORS: Patrick Archibald, Jay Oliva, and Richard Sebast with Frank D. Paur (supervising)
WRITERS: Greg Johnson; screen story by Craig Kyle and Greg Johnson
PRODUCERS: Frank D. Paur and Avi Arad
EDITOR: George Rizkallah with Aeolan Kelly
COMPOSER: Guy Michelmore
ANIMATION/SUPERHERO/ACTION/ and FANTASY/DRAMA
Starring: (voices) Bryce Johnson, Paul Nahauchi, Kevin Michael Richardson, Michael Yama, Susan Spano, Fred Tatasciore, Tara Strong, and Jonathan Adams
The subject of this movie review is Doctor Strange, a 2007 animated film based on the Marvel Comics character, Doctor Strange. Also known as Doctor Strange: The Sorcerer Supreme, this is the fourth straight-to-video (or direct to DVD) animated film produced by MLG Productions, a subsidiary of Marvel Animation and Lionsgate. The character, Doctor Strange, and the first comic book series featuring him were created by Steve Ditko and Stan Lee, the original creators behind Spider-Man.
A selfish and vain physician, Dr. Stephen Strange (Bryce Johnson), loses the use of his hands in an automobile accident. Although he is no longer able to perform surgery, he can still be a doctor, but he has always seen himself foremost as a surgeon. Putting his career on hold, Strange obsesses over finding a cure for his hands, and as his career dies, Strange falls apart.
Directed by a stranger named Wong (Paul Nahauchi), Strange makes a life-altering journey to Tibet, where he hopes to be healed by the Ancient One (Michael Yama). However, this Ancient One is Earth’s “sorcerer supreme,” and he has plans to heal more than just Strange’s hands. With the help of Wong, Stephen studies magic and learns to let go of the past. As Strange’s knowledge of and ability to wield mystical powers grows, the Ancient One hopes Strange will replace him as the sorcerer supreme, much to the chagrin of Mordo (Kevin Michael Richardson), a follower of the Ancient One who covets his master’s position and power. Soon, Stephen must embark on a mission to protect humanity from a dark, other-dimensional god called Dormammu (Jonathan Adams), but he and the Ancient One will discover a traitor in their midst.
Doctor Strange is by far the best of the Marvel/Lionsgate films to date. It is the first of this series that is equal to Warner Bros.’ animated television series and straight-to-video animated films that are based on DC Comics characters. Doctor Strange’s story is strong – capturing the rise and fall and redemption of the protagonist. It has an epic feel, a good supporting cast, and convincingly evil adversaries.
The animation is quite good, as the characters, creatures, and objects move very well. The layout, background art, set decoration, and conceptual design are all top notch, and the color has a painterly quality. Considering all that, Doctor Strange does indeed seem strange next to the earlier MLG animated films, which while entertaining, do not match the excellence of Doctor Strange.
7 of 10
A-
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Thursday, May 2, 2013
"Man of Steel" Soundtrack Due June 11 2013
Man of Steel Two-Disc Soundtrack Featuring Original Music by Hans Zimmer Set for Release June 11th
Limited Deluxe Edition Soundtrack Also Available
Man of Steel: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Available For Pre-Order
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--On June 11, 2013, WaterTower Music will release two configurations of the Man Of Steel: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack. The album will be available in standard form as well as a limited edition deluxe version at all physical and digital retailers. Academy Award®, Grammy, and Golden Globe-winning composer Hans Zimmer composed the music for this highly anticipated project, joining forces for the first time with director Zack Snyder.
“The challenges of creating a Superman score are daunting because Superman is so iconographic," said Snyder. "I really feel like what Hans created is perfect. Subtle and stirring, epic and commanding. Honestly, Hans crushed it."
Fans will have the ability to choose between the standard two disc, 18-song soundtrack, and a limited, deluxe edition of the soundtrack. This deluxe edition will be housed in a special embossed steel case, contain 24 score selections, and give fans the ability to access multiple videos showing an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at the creation of the music. Both the standard and deluxe editions will include the epic track “Man of Steel (Hans Original Sketchbook)” which clocks in at over 28 minutes long. This exclusive track is performed solely by Zimmer, and allows listeners to experience firsthand his initial experiments with the film’s music, which ultimately lay the foundation for the film’s final score.
Those fans who purchase the CD version of the deluxe edition will have the opportunity to download all 24 songs in DTS Headphone: X, which reproduces a cinematic multi-speaker surround sound experience using only the user’s headphones. DTS Headphone:X presents a whole new way to hear mobile entertainment over headphones. The technology garnered rave reviews from the likes of The Wall Street Journal, and Cnet, among others at this year’s CES convention.
Additionally, a double, 180 gram vinyl configuration of the soundtrack is slated for a summer release.
In addition to his orchestral arrangements, Zimmer, no stranger to stepping outside the confines of traditional film scoring, has assembled two unique musical entities to contribute music to Man of Steel. The first, a “drum orchestra,” which was brought together for the album, is described by soundtrack co-producer Peter Asher as “some of the best drummers in the world all playing simultaneously in a space designed for a symphony orchestra – using not only rock drum kits but tympani and field drums as well.”
The membership of this elite assembly consists of many of today’s top musicians including John JR Robinson, Jason Bonham, Josh Freese, Pharrell Williams, Danny Carey, Satnam Ramgotra, Toss Panos, Jim Keltner, Curt Bisquera, Trevor Lawrence Jr., Matt Chamberlain, Ryeland Allison, Bernie Dresel, Vinnie Colaiuta and Sheila E. Their contribution, under Zimmer’s musical direction, creates a towering and powerful musical accompaniment to the film.
Another distinctive group the composer assembled was a gathering of eight of music’s finest pedal steel guitarists who play classical string section parts. This collective, consisting of Chas Smith, Marty Rifkin, Skip Edwards, Boo Bernstein, Peter Frieberger, Rick Schmidt, JD Maness, John McClung, was described by Asher as, “a uniquely new metallic orchestra” added it’s own distinct and soaring musical stamp to the soundtrack.
The Man Of Steel: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is currently available for preorder at Amazon and will be available for preorder on iTunes starting May 7.
SOUNDTRACK TRACK LISTING
Disc 1 – Flight
1. Look to the Stars
2. Oil Rig
3. Sent here for a Reason
4. DNA
5. Goodbye My Son
6. If You Love These People
7. Krypton's Last
8. Terraforming
9. Tornado
10. You Die or I Do
11. Launch
12. Ignition
13. I Will Find Him
14. This is Clark Kent
15. I Have So Many Questions
16. Flight
17. What Are You Going to Do When You Are Not Saving the World?
Disc 2 – Experiments from the Fortress of Solitude
1. Man of Steel (Hans' Original Sketchbook)
2. Are You Listening, Clark? (Deluxe Edition Only)
3. General Zod (Deluxe Edition Only)
4. You Led Us Here (Deluxe Edition Only)
5. This Is Madness! (Deluxe Edition Only)
6. Earth (Deluxe Edition Only)
7. Arcade (Deluxe Edition Only)
Hans Zimmer has scored more than 100 films, which have, combined, grossed over 19.6 billion dollars at the worldwide box office. He has been honored with an Academy Award®, two Golden Globes®, three Grammys®, an American Music Award, and a Tony® Award. In 2003, ASCAP presented him with the prestigious Henry Mancini award for Lifetime Achievement for his impressive and influential body of work. He also received his Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in December 2010. Some of his most recent works include the History Channel’s miniseries The Bible; the Christopher Nolan-directed films Inception, The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises; and Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows. Upcoming titles include Ron Howard’s Rush, Gore Verbinski’s The Lone Ranger and Steve McQueen’s Twelve Years a Slave.
Zack Snyder directed Man of Steel from a screenplay by David S. Goyer from a story by Goyer & Nolan, based upon Superman characters created by Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster and published by DC Entertainment. Charles Roven, Christopher Nolan, Emma Thomas and Deborah Snyder are the producers, with Thomas Tull, Lloyd Phillips and Jon Peters serving as executive producers. The film stars Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Michael Shannon, Kevin Costner, Diane Lane, Laurence Fishburne, Antje Traue, Ayelet Zurer, Christopher Meloni and Russell Crowe.
Warner Bros. Pictures presents, in association with Legendary Pictures, a Syncopy Production, a Zack Snyder Film, Man of Steel. The film will be released in 3D and 2D in select theaters and IMAX®, and is slated for release on June 14, 2013. It will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.
About Headphone: X
DTS Headphone: X enables content owners (e.g., movie studios, music labels or retail) to capture the acoustics of a high quality audio production studio and control the manner by which they are reproduced at the consumer end. Content providers can rest assured that the sonic reproduction presented to the listener can match the mix they so carefully crafted.
About WaterTower Music:
WaterTower Music , the in house music label for Warner Bros., has been releasing recorded music since 2001. Distributed through InGrooves Fontana, WTM has released over 150 titles, including the film soundtracks to “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” “The Dark Knight Rises,” “Project X,”, “Rock of Ages,” “Hairspray,” “Sex and the City,” “Elf,” “The Notebook,” and “Love and Basketball” among others. Its 2013 schedule includes “42,” “Pacific Rim,” and “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.”
Limited Deluxe Edition Soundtrack Also Available
Man of Steel: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Available For Pre-Order
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--On June 11, 2013, WaterTower Music will release two configurations of the Man Of Steel: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack. The album will be available in standard form as well as a limited edition deluxe version at all physical and digital retailers. Academy Award®, Grammy, and Golden Globe-winning composer Hans Zimmer composed the music for this highly anticipated project, joining forces for the first time with director Zack Snyder.
“The challenges of creating a Superman score are daunting because Superman is so iconographic," said Snyder. "I really feel like what Hans created is perfect. Subtle and stirring, epic and commanding. Honestly, Hans crushed it."
Fans will have the ability to choose between the standard two disc, 18-song soundtrack, and a limited, deluxe edition of the soundtrack. This deluxe edition will be housed in a special embossed steel case, contain 24 score selections, and give fans the ability to access multiple videos showing an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at the creation of the music. Both the standard and deluxe editions will include the epic track “Man of Steel (Hans Original Sketchbook)” which clocks in at over 28 minutes long. This exclusive track is performed solely by Zimmer, and allows listeners to experience firsthand his initial experiments with the film’s music, which ultimately lay the foundation for the film’s final score.
Those fans who purchase the CD version of the deluxe edition will have the opportunity to download all 24 songs in DTS Headphone: X, which reproduces a cinematic multi-speaker surround sound experience using only the user’s headphones. DTS Headphone:X presents a whole new way to hear mobile entertainment over headphones. The technology garnered rave reviews from the likes of The Wall Street Journal, and Cnet, among others at this year’s CES convention.
Additionally, a double, 180 gram vinyl configuration of the soundtrack is slated for a summer release.
In addition to his orchestral arrangements, Zimmer, no stranger to stepping outside the confines of traditional film scoring, has assembled two unique musical entities to contribute music to Man of Steel. The first, a “drum orchestra,” which was brought together for the album, is described by soundtrack co-producer Peter Asher as “some of the best drummers in the world all playing simultaneously in a space designed for a symphony orchestra – using not only rock drum kits but tympani and field drums as well.”
The membership of this elite assembly consists of many of today’s top musicians including John JR Robinson, Jason Bonham, Josh Freese, Pharrell Williams, Danny Carey, Satnam Ramgotra, Toss Panos, Jim Keltner, Curt Bisquera, Trevor Lawrence Jr., Matt Chamberlain, Ryeland Allison, Bernie Dresel, Vinnie Colaiuta and Sheila E. Their contribution, under Zimmer’s musical direction, creates a towering and powerful musical accompaniment to the film.
Another distinctive group the composer assembled was a gathering of eight of music’s finest pedal steel guitarists who play classical string section parts. This collective, consisting of Chas Smith, Marty Rifkin, Skip Edwards, Boo Bernstein, Peter Frieberger, Rick Schmidt, JD Maness, John McClung, was described by Asher as, “a uniquely new metallic orchestra” added it’s own distinct and soaring musical stamp to the soundtrack.
The Man Of Steel: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is currently available for preorder at Amazon and will be available for preorder on iTunes starting May 7.
SOUNDTRACK TRACK LISTING
Disc 1 – Flight
1. Look to the Stars
2. Oil Rig
3. Sent here for a Reason
4. DNA
5. Goodbye My Son
6. If You Love These People
7. Krypton's Last
8. Terraforming
9. Tornado
10. You Die or I Do
11. Launch
12. Ignition
13. I Will Find Him
14. This is Clark Kent
15. I Have So Many Questions
16. Flight
17. What Are You Going to Do When You Are Not Saving the World?
Disc 2 – Experiments from the Fortress of Solitude
1. Man of Steel (Hans' Original Sketchbook)
2. Are You Listening, Clark? (Deluxe Edition Only)
3. General Zod (Deluxe Edition Only)
4. You Led Us Here (Deluxe Edition Only)
5. This Is Madness! (Deluxe Edition Only)
6. Earth (Deluxe Edition Only)
7. Arcade (Deluxe Edition Only)
Hans Zimmer has scored more than 100 films, which have, combined, grossed over 19.6 billion dollars at the worldwide box office. He has been honored with an Academy Award®, two Golden Globes®, three Grammys®, an American Music Award, and a Tony® Award. In 2003, ASCAP presented him with the prestigious Henry Mancini award for Lifetime Achievement for his impressive and influential body of work. He also received his Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in December 2010. Some of his most recent works include the History Channel’s miniseries The Bible; the Christopher Nolan-directed films Inception, The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises; and Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows. Upcoming titles include Ron Howard’s Rush, Gore Verbinski’s The Lone Ranger and Steve McQueen’s Twelve Years a Slave.
Zack Snyder directed Man of Steel from a screenplay by David S. Goyer from a story by Goyer & Nolan, based upon Superman characters created by Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster and published by DC Entertainment. Charles Roven, Christopher Nolan, Emma Thomas and Deborah Snyder are the producers, with Thomas Tull, Lloyd Phillips and Jon Peters serving as executive producers. The film stars Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Michael Shannon, Kevin Costner, Diane Lane, Laurence Fishburne, Antje Traue, Ayelet Zurer, Christopher Meloni and Russell Crowe.
Warner Bros. Pictures presents, in association with Legendary Pictures, a Syncopy Production, a Zack Snyder Film, Man of Steel. The film will be released in 3D and 2D in select theaters and IMAX®, and is slated for release on June 14, 2013. It will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.
About Headphone: X
DTS Headphone: X enables content owners (e.g., movie studios, music labels or retail) to capture the acoustics of a high quality audio production studio and control the manner by which they are reproduced at the consumer end. Content providers can rest assured that the sonic reproduction presented to the listener can match the mix they so carefully crafted.
About WaterTower Music:
WaterTower Music , the in house music label for Warner Bros., has been releasing recorded music since 2001. Distributed through InGrooves Fontana, WTM has released over 150 titles, including the film soundtracks to “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” “The Dark Knight Rises,” “Project X,”, “Rock of Ages,” “Hairspray,” “Sex and the City,” “Elf,” “The Notebook,” and “Love and Basketball” among others. Its 2013 schedule includes “42,” “Pacific Rim,” and “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.”
"May the Fourth" Be With You - Star Wars Fan Holiday
Millions of Star Wars Fans Around the World Prepare to Celebrate May the 4th
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Since the very first Star Wars movie came out in 1977, fans everywhere have made the galactic saga their own and found creative ways to celebrate their love of the Force. One of the most visible ways is annually transforming the date of May 4th into “May the Fourth,” the day that Star Wars fandom has created to share their passion around the world. Fans of all ages wear their favorite Star Wars items, partake in parties and screenings, and pass on messages of “May the Force be with you” in person and online.
Lucasfilm has long supported Star Wars fans in their grassroots celebrations, whether they be extravagant or small. Visit Lucasfilm’s official May the 4th microsite, http://maythe4th.starwars.com, for Star Wars Day news, ideas on how to celebrate, special events calendar, themed recipes, fun crafts and activities, fan photos, and a regularly updated list of deals and promotions from major online and brick-and-mortar retailers. Keep track of the Force of fans on Twitter with the #maythe4thbewithyou hashtag -- @StarWars will be tweeting highlights on May the 4th and in the days leading up to it.
About Lucasfilm Ltd.
Lucasfilm Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is a global leader in film, television and digital entertainment production. In addition to its motion-picture and television production, the company's activities include visual effects and audio post-production, cutting-edge digital animation, interactive entertainment software, and the management of the global merchandising activities for its entertainment properties including the legendary STAR WARS and INDIANA JONES franchises. Lucasfilm Ltd. is headquartered in northern California.
Lucasfilm, the Lucasfilm logo, STAR WARS and related properties are trademarks and/or copyrights, in the United States and other countries, of Lucasfilm Ltd. and/or its affiliates. TM & © 2013 Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved. All other trademarks and trade names are properties of their respective owners.
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Since the very first Star Wars movie came out in 1977, fans everywhere have made the galactic saga their own and found creative ways to celebrate their love of the Force. One of the most visible ways is annually transforming the date of May 4th into “May the Fourth,” the day that Star Wars fandom has created to share their passion around the world. Fans of all ages wear their favorite Star Wars items, partake in parties and screenings, and pass on messages of “May the Force be with you” in person and online.
Lucasfilm has long supported Star Wars fans in their grassroots celebrations, whether they be extravagant or small. Visit Lucasfilm’s official May the 4th microsite, http://maythe4th.starwars.com, for Star Wars Day news, ideas on how to celebrate, special events calendar, themed recipes, fun crafts and activities, fan photos, and a regularly updated list of deals and promotions from major online and brick-and-mortar retailers. Keep track of the Force of fans on Twitter with the #maythe4thbewithyou hashtag -- @StarWars will be tweeting highlights on May the 4th and in the days leading up to it.
About Lucasfilm Ltd.
Lucasfilm Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is a global leader in film, television and digital entertainment production. In addition to its motion-picture and television production, the company's activities include visual effects and audio post-production, cutting-edge digital animation, interactive entertainment software, and the management of the global merchandising activities for its entertainment properties including the legendary STAR WARS and INDIANA JONES franchises. Lucasfilm Ltd. is headquartered in northern California.
Lucasfilm, the Lucasfilm logo, STAR WARS and related properties are trademarks and/or copyrights, in the United States and other countries, of Lucasfilm Ltd. and/or its affiliates. TM & © 2013 Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved. All other trademarks and trade names are properties of their respective owners.
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Review: "Argo" is Indeed a Best Picture
Argo (2012)
Running time: 120 minutes (2 hours)
MPAA – R for language and some violent images
DIRECTOR: Ben Affleck
WRITER: Chris Terrio (based on the book, The Master of Disguise, by Antonio J. Mendez and the article, “Escape from Tehran,” by Joshuah Bearman)
PRODUCERS: Ben Affleck, George Clooney, and Grant Heslov
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Rodrigo Prieto (D.o.P.)
EDITOR: William Goldenberg
COMPOSER: Alexandre Desplat
Academy Award winner
THRILLER/DRAMA/HISTORICAL
Starring: Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin, John Goodman, Victor Garber, Tate Donovan, Clea DuVall, Scoot McNairy, Rory Cochrane, Christopher Denham, Kerry Bishé, Kyle Chandler, Chris Messina, Zeljko Ivanek, Titus Welliver, Shelia Vand, Richard Kind, Michael Parks, Adrienne Barbeau, and Mark Rhino Smith
Argo is a 2012 thriller and historical drama directed by Ben Affleck, who also plays the lead role and is one of the film’s three producers. Argo is based upon two sources: the book, The Master of Disguise, by Antonio J. Mendez and the Wired magazine article, “Escape from Tehran,” by Joshuah Bearman. The film dramatizes a real-life event – the 1980 joint CIA-Canadian secret operation to extract six fugitive American diplomatic personnel out of revolutionary Iran.
At the 85th Academy Awards (February 24, 2013), Argo won the Oscar for “Best Picture.” It is not my pick for best picture of the year (which I still think is Django Unchained), but it is not far behind. Argo is not only one of the greatest American thriller films ever made, but it is also a joy to watch.
Argo opens on November 4, 1979 at the United States embassy in Tehran, Iran. Militants and protestors storm the embassy and take the occupants hostage in retaliation for President Jimmy Carter giving asylum to the recently ousted Shah of Iran (Mohammad Reza Pahlavi). However, six of the embassy staff escape and find shelter in the home of the Canadian ambassador, Ken Taylor (Victor Garber).
The U.S. State Department begins exploring options for exfiltrating the six Americans from Iran. Tony Mendez (Ben Affleck), a CIA “exfil” specialist who uses the name “Kevin Harkins,” concocts a rather unusual idea. He creates a cover story in which a Canadian film production crew is scouting locations for a new science fiction film, and Iran is one of the locations he wishes to scout. With the help of his supervisor, Jack O’Donnell (Bryan Cranston), Mendez recruits John Chambers (John Goodman), an Oscar-winning make-up artist, and Lester Siegel (Alan Arkin), a film producer.
They pretend to have a film in development; entitled Argo, it is a science fantasy in the style of Star Wars. When Mendez moves to Iran for the most crucial stage of the operation, he discovers that he and his fake movie are always in real danger.
From the very beginning of the film, Argo grabbed me and pulled me to the edge of my seat, and from there, the movie kept me in the grip of fear and trepidation. From start to finish, damn, this is a great movie. Argo is an example of how supremely important the film editor, in this case, William Goldenberg, is to a film; Goldenberg is totally indispensable to success of the Argo. The nerve-wracking thriller that Argo is results from Goldenberg putting together what becomes a transfixing narrative. He certainly deserved and earned his best editing Oscar for Argo.
Of course, by praising Goldenberg, I do not want to take anything away from Ben Affleck as director. Affleck has made a movie that is a terrific thriller, but it is not an action thriller. Affleck uses the suspense weaved into Chris Terrio’s Oscar-winning screenplay and summons his inner Hitchcock, turning in what is one of the best heist movies in recent memory. He does it with such intimacy. Argo isn’t wide open. Affleck squeezes everything into tight and cramped visual spaces, as if it to emphasize that the characters are working hard to avoid the confines of either prison or the grave.
There are some good performances in this film, though nothing really outstanding, except for two. Alan Arkin and John Goodman turn in some of their most distinctive work in supporting roles as the unconventional Lester Siegel and John Chambers, respectively. Ben Affleck is oddly muted and stiff as Tony Mendez/Kevin Harkins. There are a few scenes when that works, but not many. Sometimes, it is as if Mendez isn’t even present in the movie, even when he’s in a scene; maybe that not-really-there act is the way a CIA operative is supposed to be.
Anyway, Argo is fantastic. This is one time when I don’t think that the “Best Picture” Oscar winner is a joke, even if it isn’t my choice. I plan to make Argo a favorite of mine, worthy of repeated viewings.
9 of 10
A+
NOTES:
2013 Academy Awards, USA: 3 wins: “Best Motion Picture of the Year” (Grant Heslov, Ben Affleck, and George Clooney), “Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published” (Chris Terrio), and “Oscar Best Achievement in Editing” (William Goldenberg); 4 nominations: “Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score” (Alexandre Desplat), “Best Achievement in Sound Editing” (Erik Aadahl and Ethan Van der Ryn), and “Best Achievement in Sound Mixing” (John T. Reitz, Gregg Rudloff, and José Antonio GarcÃa), “Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role” (Alan Arkin)
2013 BAFTA Awards: 3 wins: “Best Film” (Grant Heslov, Ben Affleck, and George Clooney), “Director” (Ben Affleck), “Editing” (William Goldenberg); 4 nominations: “Adapted Screenplay” (Chris Terrio), “Leading Actor” (Ben Affleck), “Original Music” (Alexandre Desplat), and “Supporting Actor” (Alan Arkin)
2013 Golden Globes, USA: 2 wins: “Best Director - Motion Picture” (Ben Affleck) and “Best Motion Picture – Drama;” 3 nominations: “Best Original Score - Motion Picture” (Alexandre Desplat), “Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture” (Alan Arkin), and “Best Screenplay - Motion Picture” (Chris Terrio)
Wednesday, May 01, 2013
Review: "Paycheck" More Than Minimum Wage Film
Paycheck (2003)
Running time: 119 minutes (1 hour, 59 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for intense action violence and brief language
DIRECTOR: John Woo
WRITER: Dean Georgaris (based upon a short story by Philip K. Dick)
PRODUCERS: Terence Chang, John Davis, Michael Hackett, and John Woo
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Jeffrey L. Kimball (D.o.P.)
EDITORS: Christopher Rouse and Kevin Stitt
COMPOSERS: John Powell
SCI-FI/ACTION/THRILLER
Starring: Ben Affleck, Aaron Eckhart, Uma Thurman, Paul Giamatti, Colm Feore, Joe Morton, Michael C. Hall, and Peter Friedman
The subject of this movie review is Paycheck, a 2003 science fiction movie from director John Woo and starring Ben Affleck. The film is based on the short story, “Paycheck,” written by author Philip K. Dick and first published in the June 1953 issue of Imagination, a 1950s American science fiction and fantasy magazine. Paycheck the movie focuses on an engineer who takes what seems like an easy million-dollar payday, but ends up on the run and trying to piece together the reason why.
Michael Jennings (Ben Affleck), a brilliant reverse engineer (takes other people’s technology and works backwards to figure out what makes the tech work), takes a job from a powerful friend named Rethrick (Aaron Eckhart). The final part of each of Michael’s assignments involves his employer wiping Michael’s mind clean of the memories of his time working on a project; that’s how his employers keep what they’ve done secret.
However, Michael discovers something decidedly nasty while working on Rethrick’s project, so he mails himself a package full of goodies to help him remember his mission before Rethrick has Michael’s memory wiped. The problem is that once he wakes up from his mind wipe, he can’t remember why he needs this packet full of odds and ends, but he does learn that Rethrick wants him dead.
The writings of science fiction author Philip K. Dick, especially his short fiction, has been adapted into quite a few well-regarded films including Blade Runner, Total Recall, and Minority Report. Director John Woo’s Paycheck is the most recent adaptation, and while the film doesn’t make movie history or break new ground in cinema as the aforementioned have, Paycheck is an entertaining action thriller that doesn’t wear its sci-fi on its sleeves.
This is an old-fashioned action movie that relies on complicated and dangerous stunt work for the action sequences. It does not rely on CGI and the other computer enhancements that have become so favored since The Matrix. The film is true to what Woo does best, pure macho action built around car chases, explosions, gunfights, and fisticuffs. While Paycheck may not be as good as Woo classics like his Hong Kong work or Face/Off, the film is in that spirit.
The casting, however, isn’t great; I could think of actors who would have better fit these roles, and some of these actors weren’t given much with which to work. Still, everyone is game, and they seemed like they were into the film. They play their parts well enough to make this quite entertaining, so while Paycheck isn’t landmark science fiction, it is a fun movie to watch. It has more than enough suspense and mystery to keep the viewer intrigued. And while the chase scenes won’t keep you on the edge of the your seat all the time, they’ll get you close enough most of the time.
7 of 10
B+
NOTES:
2004 Razzie Awards: 1 win “Worst Actor” (Ben Affleck – also for Daredevil-2003 and Gigli-2003)
2010 Razzie Awards: 1 nomination: “Worst Actor of the Decade” (Ben Affleck – also for Daredevil-2003, Gigli-2003, Jersey Girl-2004, Pearl Harbor-2001, and Surviving Christmas-2004; nominated for 9 “achievements” and “winner” of 2 Razzies)
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