Author: Kirk

Cinevegas 2009 Preview: ‘It Came From Kuchar’

it-came-from-kuchar

CineVegas 2009 is right around the corner (next week to be precise), and We Are Movie Geeks are going to be there in full force. Throughout the festival, which runs from June 10th through the 15th, we are going to be bringing you all the coverage you need including reviews, interviews, party breakdowns, and red carpet premiere coverage.

George and Mike Kuchar are twin brothers who, throughout the ’60s and ’70s, made 15 films that became cornerstones of the underground film movement.   Jennifer Kroot’s documentary ‘It Came From Kuchar’ documents the filmography of this influential, directing duo.   The film incorporates interviews with such indie filmmakers as John Waters, Guy Maddin, Atom Egoyan, and Buck Henry.

Here’s the synopsis:

If you’re looking to track the birth of independent cinema in the 1950s and 1960s, when the “underground movie” was born, the atomic nucleus of the creative explosion might have been the Kuchar Brothers.

In the public’s eyes, only so-called professionals and famous studios with lots of money made the movies. But George and Mike Kuchar didn’t care. Pulling together friends and the tiniest of shoestring budgets, the Kuchar Brothers made hundreds of films of all lengths on their 8mm cameras, dubbing the dialogue and adding in wild soundtracks. Working together and individually, they spiked sexual anxiety with flying saucers, forbidden desires with booming orchestras — somehow bridging the burgeoning pop art world with the melodramatic Technicolor of Hollywood. The films of the Kuchars are constantly funny, often heart-tugging, and always original.

Director Jennifer Kroot takes us on the roller coaster trip that has been the brothers’ lives from the 50’s to today, from the early days of borrowing their Aunt’s camera through making big feature films, chasing tornadoes and teaching students on video. Kuchar devotees like Buck Henry and John Waters help guide us through the lurid journey, which will send you into the streets wanting to be a star. Whatever indie cinema is today owes a huge debt to the Kuchars.

‘It Came From Kuchar’ screens on Friday, June 12th at 3:45 pm and Saturday, June 13th at   1:15 pm.   Check out the film’s official site.

Jack Nicholson Joining James L. Brooks’ Ensemble Comedy

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Chalk up another Oscar nomination for Jack Nicholson.   The veteran actor is in final negotiations to join the all-star, ensemble cast of James L. Brooks’ new comedy.   The film, tentatively titled ‘How Do You Know?’, is a romantic comedy that already boasts a cast list that includes Paul Rudd, Reese Witherspoon, and Owen Wilson.

The story revolves around a love triangle involving the three listed above.   Rudd will be playing a corporate executive who is vying for the attention of Witherspoon’s character.   Owen Wilson will be playing a pro baseball player who is also in love with her.   Nicholson has signed on to play the role of Rudd’s character’s father.

For months, Bill Murray circling the role of the father, but his interests in the project diminished over recent weeks.   To fill the role, Brooks reached out to his long-time collaborator, Nicholson.   The two have previously worked together on 1983’s ‘Terms of Endearment,’ 1987’s ‘Broadcast News,’ and 1997’s ‘As Good As It Gets.’   Two of these films, ‘Terms of Endearment’ and ‘As Good As It Gets,’ propelled Nicholson to Academy Award wins.   All three films were nominated for Best Picture, with ‘Terms of Endearment’ actually winning the top honors.   That film also won Brooks the three Oscars he has won, for writing, directing, and producing.

Production on the latest film is scheduled to start in less than two weeks.

Source: Variety

CineVegas 2009 Preview: ‘The Revenant’

the-revenant

CineVegas 2009 is right around the corner (next week to be precise), and We Are Movie Geeks are going to be there in full force. Throughout the festival, which runs from June 10th through the 15th, we are going to be bringing you all the coverage you need including reviews, interviews, party breakdowns, and red carpet premiere coverage.

One of the awesome things about film festivals, of which there are several, are all the great genre flicks we get to check out long before they are ever even thought about for release.  A lot of the time, a filmmaker will inject ample amounts of story and character into their horror/sci-fi/thriller movies to make up for the lack of budget.  At this year’s Cinevegas, ‘The Revenant’ is one film I am hoping follows that pattern.

Here’s the synopsis:

The Revenant is a story about an ancient pestilence recurring to infect modern society.

Officer First Class Bart Gregory is killed while fighting in Middle East. His body is shipped back to the United States and laid to rest, but before the lid can be put on his tomb, Bart inexplicably awakens in his coffin and climbs from his grave; confused, horrified–a moldy, putrefying living corpse–a Revenant.

Bart desperately enlists the help of his best friend, Joey Leubner, in an attempt to ease his nausea and agony. Joey is shocked–and disgusted–by his putrescent pal’s return, but he rises to the occasion and tries to find a solution. When a panicked emergency room forces the confused corpse to flee, the two friends discover that there is only one cure for Bart’s condition: Human blood.

In their quest to keep Bart from decomposing Bart and Joey stumble into a solution—a way to obtain blood without taking innocent lives, becoming “The Vigilante Gun-Slingers”. But as their macabre crusade continues, they become entwined in an ever escalating cycle of violence, mayhem and ghoulism . . . all while cruising in a 1979 Camaro.

Looks very cool.

‘The Revenant’ screens on Thursday, June 11th at 11:30 pm and Saturday, June 13th at 11:00 pm.  Also, be sure to check out the film’s official site.

First Look: Josh Brolin as ‘Jonah Hex’

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‘Jonah Hex’ starring Josh Brolin as the former Confederate soldier turned bounty hunter is well into production.   Today, we bring you the first images of Brolin in his Jonah Hex getup, makeup and all.

Check ’em out:

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The makeup looks great, and Brolin looks like an awesome choice for this part.   The Western has been making a comeback of sorts over the past, few years, and mix that with the fact that this is based on a badass DC comic’s title makes it all the more anticipated.

‘Jonah Hex’ is set for release on August 6th, 2010.

Source: INF Daily

Arquettes Returning for ‘Scream’ Reboot?

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The idea is to churn out these reboots as quickly as friggin’ possible now, right?   Isn’t it about time to reboot ‘Benjamin Button’?   Doesn’t ‘The Wrestler’ need to be remade immediately only with a younger character, and it revolves around Sumo wrestling.

Evidently, writer/director Kevin Williamson is planning a new trilogy of ‘Scream’ films.   Of course, while this planned trilogy of films is regarded as a reboot/relaunch of the original franchise that began in 1996, Williamson is planning on many of the same characters and actors to return.   David Arquette and Courtney Cox Arquette have reportedly been approached by Williamson to reprise their respective roles.   Schedules are being hammered out and negotiations are underway, but I would put down some solid money that both of these actors will return.   For sure David Arquette will likely return.   Courtney Cox Arquette has her new show, Cougar Town, premiering on ABC, but we’ll see how long that lasts.

Okay.   Let’s analyze.   It’s a new set of ‘Scream’ films.   It has some of the same characters as the original trilogy.   These same characters are to be played by the exact same actors.   Soooooooo…..it’s a sequel?   Yeah.   I think that makes it a sequel.

Whether the Arquettes return or not, I’m sure Williamson is going to finish his screenplay, and slapping the ‘Scream’ title on it will surely get it funded.   The chances of us seeing a new ‘Scream’ in the next few years are fairly good.

Source: Entertainment Weekly

CineVegas 2009 Preview: ‘Black Dynamite’

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“This movie features some of the greatest, over the top fight scenes to ever be recorded, along with a soundtrack that leaves you to get funky fresh in your seat.”

“The film has the gritty 70s vibe nailed perfectly.”

Those are just a couple of excerpts from reviews found on this, very site about ‘Black  Dynamite.’  As one of the early films showing at Cinevegas this year, this film is near the top of the list of anticipated films.  Michael Jai White looks badass.  Scott Sanders directions looks equally so.  I’m sure this film is going to get a pretty favorable review from Cinevegas as it did from Sundance and Tribeca.

Here’s the synopsis:

When “the man” kills his brother, pumps heroin into the local orphanage, and floods the ghetto with a secret weapon disguised as Anaconda Malt Liquor, there is only one brother bad enough, strong enough, and brave enough to take them on: the legendary Black Dynamite. BLACK DYNAMITE is a throwback with an attitude. Hilarious, campy, hot, and sexy, it plays with every cliché from 1970s film and television, with a few new ones thrown in for color. Director Scott Sanders doesn’t need to show his hand to get his point across, making it even more fun to watch. He has miraculously assembled a huge cast that all perfectly tread the line between satire and spoof. Crazy kudos need to go to our leading man, played by Michael Jai White, who offers a pitch-perfect performance in every take. Sanders does the near impossible: he sustains the comedy while taking a nice big sucker punch at the underlying politics of our time.

Check out this red-band trailer:

‘Black Dynamite’ will screen on Thursday, June 11th at 10:00 pm.

Kurt Wimmer Tapped to Pen ‘Total Recall’ Remake

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Kurt Wimmer, seen above with two extremely cool cats and some dude in glasses*, has been set the task of re-adapting Philip K. Dick’s story “We Can Remember It For You Wholesale.”  In case that title doesn’t grab you, the story was originally adapted for the big screen in 1990 as ‘Total Recall’ directed by Paul Verhoeven and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger.  The new version of the film is being developed by Neal H. Moritz for Columbia Pictures.

Wimmer is most famous for writing and directing the 2002, moderately budgeted sci-fier ‘Equilibrium.’  The film didn’t gain much steam at the box office, but has acquired quite a cult following since its release.  Wimmer also wrote and directed the 2006 film ‘Ultraviolet,’ which is probably why we’ll never see Wimmer in the director’s chair again.  Wimmer’s upcoming screenplays include the Angelina Jolie thriller, ‘Salt,’ and ‘Law Abiding Citizen,’ starring Jamie Foxx and Gerard Butler.

The only piece of information about the new ‘Total Recall’ project coming from Columbia is that it is a “contemporized adaptation” of Dick’s original story.  Columbia acquired the rights to the film in February from Miramax.  I think I said it then, but I’m going to say it again.  I don’t care what they do to this film as long as it has this line of dialogue:

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

*The guy in the glasses is, actually, executive producer Lucas Foster.  Apologies to his family for not thinking he’s as cool as Christian Bale or the Taye.

Hump Day Horribleness: ‘Santa with Muscles’

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One of the great features over at the Internet Movie Database is the Bottom 100. Based on ratings viewers of the site give to various films, the worst of the worst films get put on this list. Some of them are on and off in a matter of days. Others stick around for the long haul, showing just how much suckage they truly emit.

It’s time to look at these movies and determine where they stand. Do they deserve to be on the Bottom 100 list? Are they not as bad as everyone says? Will they be off the list any time soon?

Here’s the breakdown for this week’s film:

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Title: ‘Santa With Muscles’

Release Date: November 8th, 1996

Ranking on Bottom 100 (as of 6/2/2009): 84 (based on 5888 votes)

Why It’s Here: Let’s be blunt for a moment.   This movie shouldn’t be on this list.   Granted, it’s #84, which isn’t the lowest of the low, but the fact that this film is on this list at any number is head-shaking.   To note, ‘Santa With Muscles’ is anything but a good movie.   It’s lame.   It’s trivial.   It’s much of what sent these low-rent, kids comedies of the mid to late ’90s straight to the VHS/DVD racks.   But, is it really 84 movies out from being dubbed the worst film of all time?   Certainly not.

The story is nothing to call the Academy of Motion Picture Sciences about.   Hulk Hogan plays a millionaire weight lifter who, after running from the cops because of reckless driving, gets amnesia, gets mistaken for Santa Clause, and, inadvertently, saves an orphanage from an evil scientist.   Ed Begley, Jr. plays said evil scientist.   Garrett Morris pops up as the janitor of the orphanage.   A young Mila Kunis plays one of the children.   Even Ed Leslie (AKA Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake) makes a brief appearance as a Sumo Lab Assistant, the only Sumo anything I’ve ever seen with six-pack abs.

Hogan is dreadful as usual.   This isn’t the seemingly tough Hogan of the mid-80s.   This is this Hogan:

Of course, for all its misgivings, horrid fight scenes, and ridiculously lame attempts at injecting something Christmas in every line of dialogue, ‘Santa With Muscles’ isn’t the worst of the worst.   Hell, it’s not even the worst movie featuring a wrestler.   It’s not even the worst movie starring Hulk Hogan.   How specific can we get?   This isn’t even the worst Christmas-themed movie starring a professional wrestler.   It seems its on this list, because A. it’s not a good movie and B. the title is excruciating.

Lowest of the Low Moments: The worst moment in this film comes at the end of a fight scene that, believe it or not, actually shows some talent from director John Murlowski.   Either that or he just had a dolly and a crane for one day and decided to pack all those shots into one.   The fight scene is fine, but it’s what happens to Hogan and a, seemingly innocent, Santa statue at the end.

Just see for yourself.   Jump to the 1:00 mark for the atrocity:

Will it Ever Get Off the List: It should, though it might not.   Even though it is pretty high on the list, it’s been out for 13 years.  Two possibilities arise here.  It could drop off the list if, in the next couple of years, it garners some type of cult status a la ‘Troll 2.’  It could also drop off the list if John Cena decides to do about 15 more movies.  Unless either of these two scenarios occur, it’s looking like ‘Santa With Muscles’ is here to stay.

Javier Bardem Must Think Greed is VERY Good

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Gordon Gekko believed greed was good, but, evidently, even he isn’t evil enough to stand in for the villain of Oliver Stone’s follow-up, ‘Wall Street 2’ (that title’s gotta go immediately).   According to Nikki Finke’s Deadline Hollywood, Oscar winner Javier Bardem has signed up for the sequel and will be playing the film’s villain.

According to Deadline Hollywood, the script, which is being second drafted by Allan Loeb, will find the film’s protagonist, played by Shia Labeouf, engaged to Gordon Gekko’s daughter.   Once again, Michael Douglas will portray Gekko.   Labeouf’s character is a young trader whose mentor kills himself.   Thinking a hedge fund manager (Bardem’s role) is responsible, Labeouf’s character goes to Gekko to seek help in vengeance.

Sounds like this one could end up being slightly more violent than Stone’s original, ’87 film.   However, with Stone and Douglas both returning, the chances of this being just a cash-in on the name seem slim.

‘Wall Street 2’ is set to go before the cameras on August 10th.   The film is set for release in February of 2010.

Source: Deadline Hollywood

CineVegas 2009 Preview: ‘Redland’

cinevegas-redland

CineVegas 2009 is right around the corner (next week to be precise), and We Are Movie Geeks are going to be there in full force. Throughout the festival, which runs from June 10th through the 15th, we are going to be bringing you all the coverage you need including reviews, interviews, party breakdowns, and red carpet premiere coverage.

This week, we are going to break down some of the more anticipated films of the fest   ‘Redland,’ for example, is the feature film debut of writer/director Asiel Norton, and it looks incredibly audacious.

Here’s the film’s synopsis:

A family on the brink of starvation struggles for survival in Depression-era rural America. While the fervently spiritual patriarch of the family tries in vain to provide for his family, his daughter goes to extremes to hide an affair from him. Yet as their way of life erodes and they run out of money and food, the family’s moral rectitude intensifies. One saving grace may be the beautiful forest that surrounds the family’s homestead, providing a fairytale backdrop into which the family hopes it can escape. Yet this scenario isn’t nearly that harmonious — this struggle is man vs. nature. Only after complete dissolution can the family be reborn.

First-time director Asiel Norton’s similar background to what is portrayed in the film provides a tone that makes REDLAND pure. The desolate American morality play is reminiscent of early John Sayles, with vivid characters bringing to life a fascinating history lesson. The characters succumb to the hallucinations of their hunger, both for food and for love. It all adds to REDLAND’s dreamy style, which also features the most luscious widescreen cinematography you may see all year.

The cinematography from Zoran Popovic and production design by Thomas William Hallbauer look to make this one, visceral motion picture.   With a story, acting, and direction to back them up, ‘Redland’ looks to be one of the most promising films of the festival.

‘Redland’ will screen on Thursday, June 11th at 6:00 pm and Friday, June 12th at 1:00 pm.