Category: General News

Free Screening of 1 MILE TO YOU May 30th at The Tivoli


There will be a free screening of 1 MILE TO YOU, a feature film based on the Novel Life at These Speeds by Jeremy Jackson on Tuesday, May 30th at 7pm at The Tivoli Theater (6350 Delmar ‘In the Loop’). Go HERE for the free tickets. 


When a teenager (Graham Rogers) loses his once-in-a-lifetime girlfriend (Stefanie Scott) in a tragic accident, he finds that running keeps him connected to her during his “runner’s high” moments. Chasing her memory drives him to run faster, and to win for his new coach (Billy Crudup). Before long, however, his newfound noteriety attracts the attention of a whip-smart new girl (Liana Liberato) who is determined to find out what’s really going on inside him. Soon, he finds himself caught between keeping the past alive and making new memories in the present. “1 Mile To You” is an uplifting, emotional, and visceral romantic sports drama about the power of our fondest memories to sustain us through our worst traumas—and when it is time to let the memories go and face an uncertain future.


For more information on the film go to the film’s website or Facebook page. #1MileToYou


The screening is sponsored by  Advanced Training & Rehab, Anthrophysique,

THE SENSE OF AN ENDING Arrives on Digital HD May 23rd and DVD and On Demand June 6th


Unravel the truth when the suspenseful drama, based on the acclaimed novel, The Sense of an Ending, arrives on Digital HD May 23 and DVD and On Demand June 6 from Lionsgate. 


“The Sense of an Ending maintains intrigue and emotional magnetism as its mystery unfolds.” – Glenn Kenny, The New York Times


Unravel the truth when the suspenseful drama, based on the acclaimed novel, The Sense of an Ending, arrives on Digital HD May 23 and DVD and On Demand June 6 from Lionsgate. Academy Award® winner Jim Broadbent (Best Supporting Actor, Iris, 2001) shines in “an outstanding performance” (Vanity Fair) as a man who becomes haunted by his past when given a mysterious legacy. The all-star cast also includes Academy Award® nominee Charlotte Rampling (Best Actress, 45 Years, 2015), Golden Globe® (Best Actress, Television – Drama, “Downton Abbey”, 2013) and Emmy® nominee Michelle Dockery, as well as Emily Mortimer and Harriet Walter. Adapted for the screen by the award-winning playwright, Nick Payne, and directed by Ritesh Batra (The Lunchbox), The Sense of an Ending DVD includes two behind-the-scenes featurettes and will be available for the suggested retail price of $19.98.


OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS
Tony Webster (Broadbent) leads a reclusive and quiet existence until long-buried secrets from his past force him to face the flawed recollections of his younger self, the truth about his first love (Rampling), and the devastating consequences of decisions made a lifetime ago. Based on the acclaimed novel by Julian Barnes, The Sense of an Ending elegantly weaves mystery and suspense into a gripping and captivating movie experience.

DVD/DIGITAL HD SPECIAL FEATURES

  • “Doing Right by a Great Book” Featurette
  • “Power of Memory: Making The Sense of an Ending” Featurette

CAST
Jim Broadbent                         Iris, Cloud Atlas, Gangs of New York

Harriet Walter                          TV’s “The Crown,” Babel, Atonement

Michelle Dockery                    TV’s “Downton Abbey”, Anna Karenina

Emily Mortimer                        Shutter Island, Hugo

And Charlotte Rampling          45 Years, The Duchess, Night Train to Lisbon

 

WHISKY GALORE! Screens This Weekend at Webster University

WHISKY GALORE! screens Friday, May 19th through Sunday May 21st at Webster University’s Moore Auditorium (470 East Lockwood). The movie starts each evening at 8:00pm. Look for a review of WHISKY GALORE! by Mark Longden this Thursday night here at  We Are Movie Geeks. 

The inhabitants of a Scottish island try to plunder 50,000 cases of whisky from a nearby stranded ship. A remake of the beloved black and white original film directed by Alexander Mackendrick for Ealing Studios, which was based on the novel by Sir Compton Mackenzie, which itself was based on the real events of 1941 when the S.S. Politician was shipwrecked in the Outer Hebrides leading to a hilarious battle as the wily islanders on nearby Eriskay tried to salvage the huge cargo of whisky on board, enraging the British authorities.

Admission is:

$6 for the general public
$5 for seniors, Webster alumni and students from other schools
$4 for Webster University staff and faculty

Free for Webster students with proper I.D.

Advance tickets are available from the cashier before each screening or contact the Film Series office (314-246-7525) for more options. The Film Series can only accept cash or check.

The Webster University Film Series site can be found HERE

http://www.webster.edu/film-series/

WAMG Giveaway – Win the GET OUT Blu-ray

The GET OUT  DVD and Blu-ray release  is set for May 23, 2017!


When Chris (Daniel Kaluuya), a young African-American man, visits his white girlfriend’s (Allison Williams) family estate, he becomes ensnared in the more sinister, real reason for the invitation. At first, Chris reads the family’s overly accommodating behavior as nervous attempts to deal with their daughter’s interracial relationship, but as the weekend progresses, a series of increasingly disturbing discoveries lead him to a truth that he could have never imagined. This speculative thriller from Blumhouse (producers of The Visit, Insidious series and The Gift) and the mind of Jordan Peele (Key & Peele) is equal parts gripping thriller and provocative commentary.


Now you can own GET OUT Blu-ray. We Are Movie Geeks has FIVE copies to give away. All you have to do is leave a comment answering this question: What is your favorite movie with the word ‘out‘ in the title? (mine is INSIDE OUT!). It’s so easy!

Good Luck!

OFFICIAL RULES:

1. YOU MUST BE A US RESIDENT. PRIZE WILL ONLY BE SHIPPED TO US ADDRESSES.  NO P.O. BOXES.  NO DUPLICATE ADDRESSES.

2. WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN FROM ALL QUALIFYING ENTRIES.

Special Features:

  • Digital Copy of Get Out (Subject to expiration. Go to NBCUCodes.com for details.)
  • Includes UltraViolet (Subject to expiration. Go to NBCUCodes.com for details.)
  • Alternate Ending with Optional Commentary by Writer/Director Jordan Peele
  • Deleted Scenes with Optional Commentary by Writer/Director Jordan Peele
  • Unveiling the Horror of Get Out
  • Q&A Discussion with Writer/Diretor Jordan Peele and the Cast
  • Feature Commentary with Writer/Director Jordan Peele
  • Alternate Ending with Commentary by Writer/Director Jordan Peele
  • Deleted Scenes with Commentary by Writer/Director Jordan Peele

OPERATION MEKONG Arrived on Digital May 2nd and Arrives on Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack & DVD June 6


For action film buffs, Christmas has come early when members of an international task force seek justice against the leader of an Asian drug cartel and his murderous henchmen in the action-packed thriller OPERATION MEKONG.  Inspired by a true story, acclaimed Hong Kong filmmaker Dante Lam (Stool Pigeon,Unbeatable) brings his “shoot first, ask questions later” cinematic approach to this violent crime thriller, which stars Zhang Hanyu (The Taking of Tiger Mountain), Eddie Peng (Tai Chi Hero), Chen Baoguo (Moment in Peking), Sun Chun (1911), Feng Wenjuan (Helios), Wu Xudong (The Taking of Tiger Mountain) and Carl Ng (The Viral Factor). Bonus materials include the 6-part “Making-of” featurette that illustrates the craft that went into making the film. OPERATION MEKONG blasts onto digital May 2 and explodes on Blu-ray™/DVD Combo Pack and DVD June 6 from Well Go USA Entertainment.


The critics are blown away by OPERATION MEKONG:

“… one of the best and most enjoyable pure action films of the year …” ~ ASIAN FILM STRIKE

“… this film has a scale and an energy that rivals any Hollywood blockbuster.”
~ Noel Murray, LOS ANGELES TIMES

Synopsis:
A band of elite narcotics officers are sent by the Chinese government to uncover the truth behind the ambush of two Chinese commercial vessels traveling down the Mekong River. When it’s discovered the drugs seized from the ships had been planted by a notorious drug cartel, a multi-country joint task force is assembled to stop the criminals. The road to justice is, however, paved with dangerous and deadly obstacles.


Bonus Materials Include:

  • 6-Part “Making of” Featurette
    • Uncovering the Truth
    • The Team
    • The Secret Mission
    • The Journey
    • Two Heroes
    • A Force of Nature

OPERATION MEKONG has a runtime of approximately 124 minutes and is not rated.

Kinji Fukasaku’s COPS VS THUGS on Blu-ray From Arrow Video May 23rd


Considered by many to be director Kinji Fukasaku’s greatest single-film achievement in the yakuza genre, COPS VS THUGS was made at the height of popularity of Toei Studios’ jitsuroku boom: realistic, modern crime movies based on true stories taken from contemporary headlines. Returning to the screen after completing their Battles Without Honor and Humanity series together, Fukasaku joined forced once again with screenwriter Kazuo Kasahara, composer Toshiaki Tsushima and star Bunta Sugawara to create one of the crowning achievements of his career, and a hard-boiled classic which is still ranked as one of the best Japanese films of the 1970’s.


It’s 1963 in the southern Japanese city of Kurashima, and tough-as-nails detective Kuno (Sugawara) oversees a detente between the warring Kawade and Ohara gangs. Best friends with Ohara lieutenant Hirotani (Hiroki Matsukata), he understands that there are no clear lines in the underworld, and that everything is colored a different shade of gray. But when random violence interrupts the peace and an ambitious, by-the-books lieutenant (Tatsuo Umemiya) comes to town, Kuno’s fragile alliance begins to crumble. Greedy bosses and politicians alike seize the opportunity to wipe out their enemies, and Kuno faces the painful choice of pledging allegiance to his badge and keeping a promise to his brother. Echoing the great crime films of Sidney Lumet and Jean-Pierre Melville, in Fukasaku’s world, there’s no honor among thieves or lawmen alike, and the only thing that matters is personal honor and duty among friends.


Kasahara’s shattering screenplay and Fukasaku’s dynamic direction support an all-star, ensemble cast to create one of the most exciting, and deeply moving films about cops and criminals ever made.


FEATURES

  • High Definition digital transfer
  • High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) and Standard Definition DVD presentations
  • Original uncompressed mono audio
  • Optional English subtitles
  • Beyond the Film: Cops vs Thugs, a new video apprecation by Fukasaku biographer Sadao Yamane
  • A new visual essay on cops & criminals in Fukasaku’s works by film scholar Tom Mes
  • Theatrical trailer
  • Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Ian MacEwan

Pre-order at the MVD SHOP or on Amazon

Mario Bava’s PLANET OF THE VAMPIRES Midnights This Weekend at The Moolah – ‘Late Night Grindhouse’


“I’ll tell you this, if there ‘are’ any intelligent creatures on this planet… they’re our enemies.”


PLANET OF THE VAMPIRES screens Midnights this weekend (May 19th and 20th) at The Moolah Theater and Lounge (3821 Lindell Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63108) as part of  Destroy the Brain’s monthly Late Night Grindhouse film series.


In PLANET OF THE VAMPIRES (1963), two ships of humans are answering a distress signal they picked up from the planetoid Aura. After suffering through a crushing rise in gravity (were the actors indulge in some chuckle-tastic ‘gravity struggling’), both ships land. Problem arise almost immediately as those who fell unconscious during the descent suddenly attack their fellow shipmates.

The other immediate problem is that the planet is creepy as hell and full of strange lights, fog, floating lights, and bad forced perspective shots. Captain Mark, our hero, grabs some of his crew and seeks out the other ship, where he finds that they weren’t so lucky over there as they all managed to murder each other. Slightly perturbed, Mark sets up a guard and buries the bodies of the other ship’s crew (that’ll be the ones that didn’t mysteriously disappear when he went off to find a spade). At this point we get clued in on what’s happening (kind of) when the three dead astronauts rise up from the grave in slow motion!


Italian director Mario Bava’s reputation as an innovative and original genre movie maker seems to grow with every year that passes. Much of his output has been unfairly overlooked, but now that all of his work has become available, it’s become increasingly obvious that he was an important and influential director. PLANET OF THE VAMPIRES is a case in point. It’s flaws are obvious (so-so acting, poor dubbing, a handful of silly lines in the script), but these are easily overlooked by the amazing atmospheric look of the film. Bava managed to achieve some astonishingly effective visuals on an obviously small budget. Stylish, creepy, cool and fascinating. Others have pointed out the similarities to Ridley Scott’s ALIEN and while I also agree with credit where credit’s due, don’t just watch this movie for that reason alone. Only a small part of it is related. Every science fiction and Mario Bava fan should take advantage of this opportunity to see PLANET OF THE VAMPIRES on the big screen.


A Facebook invite for the Friday show can be found HERE

https://www.facebook.com/events/1631983203509295/

A Facebook invite for the Saturday show can be found HERE

https://www.facebook.com/events/245703092571877/

TICKETS ARE $7 AND YOU CAN BUY THEM ONLINE VIA MOOLAH’S WEBSITE.

THE PSYCHOTRONIC PRE-SHOW STARTS AROUND 11:30P WITH THE FILM STARTING AT MIDNIGHT.

The Moolah Theatre & Lounge serves alcohol until 2:30AM! Feel free to show up early and stay late to have some drinks and get friendly with the amazing Moolah staff.

 

Ringo Lam’s SKY ON FIRE Debuts On Digital May 9th and Blu-ray & DVD June 6th


Legendary filmmaker Ringo Lam (City on Fire, Full Alert) returns to his Hong Kong roots with SKY ON FIRE, the explosive crime drama packed with high-speed car chases, dramatic plot twists and fiery gunfights. The film also marks Daniel Wu’s return to Asian cinema following his stateside success on the TV series “Into the Badlands” and the international blockbuster Warcraft: The Beginning. Wu plays a security officer who becomes embroiled in an epic battle to protect stem cell research, which can potentially cure cancer, from falling into the wrong hands. Also starring Zhang Ruoyun in his feature film debut, Zhang Jingchu (Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation), Chang Hsiao Chuan (Wild City) and Amber Kuo (Lord of Shanghai).

Just look at this example of the amazing stunts in SKY ON FIRE!:


SKY ON FIRE blasts onto digital May 2 and on Blu-ray™ and DVD June 13 from Well Go USA Entertainment.

The critics are impressed with SKY ON FIRE:

Glenn Kenny at THE NEW YORK TIMES says:

“This is a Hong Kong action picture in the classical mode, balancing mayhem with sentimentality, offering up bone-crunching and jaw-dropping set pieces, and pulling out all the stops …”

Philip Brown at HIGH DEF DIGEST claims:

“The violence is bloody and intense, but executed with a certain balletic choreography that’s impossible not to admire”


Synopsis:
In this driving, non-stop action thriller, the chief security officer at a top-secret medical facility (Daniel Wu, “Into the Badlands”) finds himself caught in an explosive battle when a young thief and his accomplices steal a groundbreaking curative medicine. After discovering the true origins of the medicine, the officer must decide whom he can trust to protect the cure from falling into the wrong hands and prevent an all-out war from bringing the city to its knees.

WAMG Podcast – ALIEN COVENANT, KING ARTHUR, SNATCHED, CHUCK, and More!

This week’s episode of our podcast WE ARE MOVIE GEEKS The Show is up! Hear WAMG’s Cate Marquis, Jim Batts and Tom Stockman talk movies. We’ll discuss the weekend box office and review ALIEN COVENANT, KING ARTHUR: LEGEND OF THE SWORD, SNATCHED, SLEIGHT, CHUCK,  THE LOVERS, and WHISKEY GALORE. We’ll also discuss all the local movie-related events and we’ll pay tribute to Powers Boothe and Michael Parks.

Here’s our show:

 

THE DARK KNIGHT Midnights This Weekend at The Tivoli


“You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain.”


In 2008, Christopher Nolan did something no other Batman film director could ever do – he made a darker film than Tim Burton. Burton’s over-the-top, circus-like direction in his two Batman films, while albeit dark, isn’t anywhere near as dark and gritty as THE DARK KNIGHT.

Let’s start with the Joker first off. Heath Ledger outclassed Nicholson in this role (see CHINATOWN at the Tivoli Wednesday night for quintessential Jack). This isn’t the prim and proper Joker that Nicholson displayed – this Joker is a force of nature that plays by absolutely no rules except his own twisted moral code. He cares more about chaos and mayhem more than he would ever care about money or fame. He lives off the fear of the populace. Nicholson’s obsession with the Batman had more to do with him creating the Joker, versus a twisted and depraved fascination with Batman being the symbol of hope for a doomed city. Turning the Joker into a bona fide terrorist fit the post-911 world. Nicholson’s Joker was more preoccupied with settling personal vendettas than being a terrorist, which means that his Joker isn’t near as fascinating.

Likewise, Two-Face in this film, as played by Aaron Eckhart, is more in line with Nicholson’s Joker this time around. His existence in this film is purely about personal vendettas, though he’s largely overshadowed by the Joker. Harvey Dent in the film was a good idea to move Batman’s story along, but Two-Face was not the star attraction of THE DARK KNIGHT.

All the stars here seemed to know what was at stake with THE DARK KNIGHT, so they give it their all. Even with Heath Ledger out of the equation, the performances are fine. Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman really do take advantage of their supporting roles in the film, and use the limited screen time they have to make an impact. Christian Bale did another fine job as the freewheeling playboy as well.Too bad the next and final Nolan Batman, THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (2012) failed to live up to this one.


A Facebook invite for this event can be found HERE

https://www.facebook.com/events/747266605436256/