We Are Movie Geeks

MY OLD LADY – The Review

Starring Maggie Smith, Kevin Kline and Kristin Scott Thomas, MY OLD LADY is already my favorite film of the year. Based on the play by Israel Horovitz, who also adapted and directed for the screen, this charming “dramedy” hits the mark at every turn.

Kline plays Mathias Gold, a down on his luck New Yorker and recovering alcoholic who has inherited an enormous Paris apartment from his estranged father. Thinking he can quickly flip the valuable property for a fast buck, he shows up to find 90-year old tenant Mathilde Girard (Maggie Smith) living there with her adult daughter Chloe (Kristin Scott Thomas).

Mathias soon learns from local real estate agent Monsieur Lefebvre (played perfectly by scene stealing French character actor Dominique Pinon) that the deal is a “viager” – a uniquely French system whereby the buyer doesn’t take legal possession of the property until the seller dies (one of the biggest laughs comes when Mathias asks Mme. Girard how old she is), AND he has to pay her.

As Mathias sets out to speed up the process, family secrets begin to spill out and he realizes it is so much more complicated than he expected.

Smith is at her usual level of genius as the very English and very direct Girard – “I’m 90, subtlety isn’t something that interests me.” Not surprisingly, Kristin Scott Thomas also turns in a very sweet performance as the cold and somewhat sad Chloe, who has given up a life of her own to stay with her widowed mother. But Kline is the one that keeps you hanging on his every word. His sad-sack, thrice divorced, about to fall off the wagon any minute Mathias is at once sad, funny, sharp-witted and charming.

After a summer of over-the-top, CGI heavy, and way too long action flicks, this sweet film is a welcome reprieve. The story moves along nicely and by the end, we are invested in this nearly tragic threesome and all the secrets they hold and reveal.

5 out of 5 stars

The film premiered at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival. It opens in limited release on September 10th and in St. Louis on September 19th.

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First Official Photo of Batmobile From BATMAN v SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE

Director Zack Snyder has revealed the first official photo of how Batman rolls from BATMAN v SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE.

Here’s a real picture of the #Batmobile. http://t.co/47beaZqr6f pic.twitter.com/Ez1ILa8JeE

— ZackSnyder (@ZackSnyder) September 11, 2014

At Comic Con 2014,Snyder, Henry Cavill and Ben Affleck surprised the crowd in Hall H with the first footage from Warner Bros. Pictures’ film as well as the first photo of Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman.

Filming began in May on the highly anticipated action adventure starring Henry Cavill in the role of Clark Kent/Superman, and Ben Affleck as Bruce Wayne/Batman.

The movie also stars Gal Gadot as Diana Prince/Wonder Woman, with Amy Adams, Laurence Fishburne and Diane Lane returning from MAN OF STEEL Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor, Jeremy Irons as Alfred, and Holly Hunter in a role newly created for the film.

Set to open worldwide on May 6, 2016, BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE is based on Superman characters created by Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster, Batman characters created by Bob Kane, and Wonder Woman created by William Moulton Marston, appearing in comic books published by DC Entertainment.

http://batmanvsupermandawnofjustice.com

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Actor Richard Kiel Dead at 74 – Played Bond Villain ‘Jaws’

Sad but not surprising. I’d met Richard Kiel several times over the years and he was always in a wheelchair – never saw him stand up to his 7’2” height. He was always super-nice though and posed with my young nephew while pretending to crush his head. He was probably best known for two roles: as ‘Jaws’ in THE SPY WHO LOVED ME and MOONRAKER, he was the only recurring 007 villain to be played by the same actor, and the Twilight Zone episode To Serve Man is part of TV folklore. He starred at age 23 as a caveman in EEGAH and had roles in the horror films HOUSE OF THE DAMNED, TWO ON A GUILLOTINE, and THE HUMAN DUPLICATORS. He had a small part in THE NUTTY PROFESSOR with Jerry Lewis and acted opposite Clint Eastwood in PALE RIDER, Burt Reynolds in THE LONGEST YARD (“I think I broke his fucking neck!”) and Adam Sandler in HAPPY GILMORE. Kiel acted in tons of Television shows. He was in The Man From U.N.C.L.E pilot, played a ghost on Gilligans Island, and a swamp monster in the The Spanish Moss Murders episode of The Night Stalker. Richard Kiel died from complications following a fall last week as his home in Fresno, California. He was 74. RIP big guy.

From The Hollywood Reporter:

Richard Kiel, the 7-foot-2 actor who played Jaws, the James Bond villain with the teeth of steel, died Wednesday, according to TMZ. He was 74. Kiel broke his leg last week and was in a hospital in Fresno, Calif., a family member told the website. Kiel’s signature character appeared in the Bond films The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) and Moonraker (1979). The actor also played an alien in the famed 1962 Twilight Zone episode “To Serve Man,” a hitman in the Gene Wilder–Richard Pryor comedy Silver Streak (1976) and Adam Sandler‘s boss in the classic golf comedy Happy Gilmore (1996)…..

Read the rest HERE

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/james-bond-villain-richard-kiel-732088

EPIX And St. Louis Rams Host FORGOTTEN FOUR: THE INTEGRATION OF PRO FOOTBALL Screening, Q&A Panel

On Tuesday evening, EPIX and the St. Louis Rams hosted a special advance screening of the upcoming EPIX Original Documentary Forgotten Four: The Integration of Pro Football. This original documentary from Emmy award winning producer Ross Greenburg, chronicles the story of the four African-American athletes — Kenny Washington, Woody Strode, Marion Motley and Bill Willis – who are credited with breaking the color barrier in professional football in 1946, one year before Jackie Robinson.

The special screening took place at the Wehrenberg Galaxy Theatre. There was also a post-screening panel discussion with St. Louis Rams alumni including Brandon Williams and Derek Stanley and St. Louis Post-Dispatch Columnist Bryan Burwell.

Photos by Jeff Curry

An original documentary, EPIX’s Forgotten Four: The Integration of Pro Football will make its World Premiere on Tuesday, September 23, 2014, at 8PM ET.

The 60-minute documentary, narrated by Tony Award winner Jeffrey Wright and produced by 52 time Emmy award winner Ross Greenburg, tells the little-known story of four outstanding and brave African American men – Kenny Washington, Woody Strode, Marion Motley and Bill Willis – who broke the color barrier in pro football in 1946, one year before Jackie Robinson and Branch Rickey were credited with integrating Major League Baseball.

EPIX has joined forces with the National Football League to celebrate the achievements of the Forgotten Four with local screenings in NFL team markets across the country, followed by panel discussions on the current state of race relations and athletics. The first team to kick off the commemoration is the Denver Broncos on August 2, 2014. Other NFL teams confirmed to host events as of now include the Atlanta Falcons, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, New Orleans Saints, San Francisco 49ers, St. Louis Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tennessee Titans and Washington Redskins. More teams will be announced over the coming weeks.

The hardships and triumphs of the Forgotten Four are told through the recollections of their families and those who have researched these remarkable pioneers. Those interviewed for this Epix Original Documentary include Forgotten Four family members Tony Motley (Marion Motley’s grandson), Mike Brown (Paul Brown’s son), Clem and William Willis, Jr. (Bill Willis’ sons), Karin L. Cohen (Kenny Washington’s daughter) and Kalai Strode (Woody Strode’s son). An all-star lineup of football legends also shares its insights, including: Don Shula (Hall of Fame coach who also played for the Cleveland Browns), Bob Gain, Sherman Howard, Jim Hardy (Los Angeles Rams) and George Taliaferro (Indiana University). Participating writers/historians include Joe Horrigan (Pro Football Hall of Fame), Lonnie G. Bunch (National Museum of African American History and Culture), Khalil Gibran Muhammad (Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture), Jarrett Bell (USA Today) and Brad Pye, Jr. (Los Angeles Sentinel).

“EPIX is pleased to work with the National Football League to bring the story of these trailblazers in civil rights and professional sports to a new national audience,” said Mark Greenberg, President and CEO, EPIX. “We believe Forgotten Four presents an insightful and informative account of the profound impact these courageous men had on the sport.”

Forgotten Four: The Integration of Pro Football, an EPIX Original Documentary, was produced by Ross Greenburg and directed by Johnson McKelvy. Ross Greenburg and Wesley E. Smith are executive producers. Ross Bernard is executive producer and Jill Burkhart is producer for EPIX. Donovan McNabb, former star NFL quarterback with the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Redskins, served as creative consultant for the film.

EPIX 14-Day Free Trial – access to 3000+ Big Hollywood movies, music, comedy & more http://www.epixhd.com/freetrial/

To learn more about The Membership Club and its benefits, please visit, http://www.nfl.com/themembershipclub

FORGOTTEN FOUR premieres on EPIX on September 23. Go to epixhd.com/forgotten-four-the-integration-of-pro-football/ to learn more.

Join the conversation about #ForgottenFour on Twitter http://Twitter.com/EpixHD, on Facebook http://Facebook.com/EPIX

Chris Rock’s Toronto Favorite TOP FIVE To Be Distributed By Paramount Pictures

Paramount Pictures announced it will distribute writer / director Chris Rock’s TOP FIVE worldwide. The news comes as the film from producer Scott Rudin, and his IACF partner Barry Diller, earned rave reviews at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival.

“Chris and I go back decades, both personally and professionally, and so I am particularly proud to have watched his career grow to its highest heights over many decades. This film showcases brilliantly how talented Chris is as a filmmaker and storyteller and we are thrilled to be partnering with him, Scott Rudin and my longtime friend, the legendary Barry Diller and IACF for its worldwide launch,” said Brad Grey, Chairman and CEO of Paramount Pictures.

Written, directed by, and starring Chris Rock, TOP FIVE tells the story of New York City comedian-turned-film star Andre Allen, whose unexpected encounter with a journalist (Rosario Dawson) forces him to confront the comedy career—and the past—that he’s left behind.

Starring Chris Rock, Rosario Dawson, Kevin Hart, Tracy Morgan, Cedric The Entertainer, J.B. Smoove, Sherri Shepherd, Anders Holm, Romany Malco, Leslie Jones, Michael Che, and Jay Pharoah. The film is produced by Scott Rudin and Eli Bush. The Co-Producers are Shawn “Jay Z” Carter and Kanye West; the Executive Music Producer is Questlove. Barry Diller and Scott Rudin’s IACF financed the film.

UTA negotiated the deal on behalf of the IACF and the filmmakers. The studio’s negotiating team was lead by Paramount’s SVP of Acquisition and Production Eben Davidson and Rona Cosgrove, EVP of Business Affairs.

Top critics have said about TOP FIVE:

“Chris Rock’s third turn in the directing chair proves the proverbial charm in this smart, ferociously funny Hollywood-insider romp… it’s also a candid, fresh, ferociously funny snapshot of life in the celebrity bubble. Rock has finally found a big-screen vehicle for himself that comes close to capturing the electric wit, shrewd social observations and deeply autobiographical vein of his standup comedy,” said VARIETY’s Scott Foundas

“Chris Rock brings it big time in this uproarious celebrity self-portrait….piling on one hilarious sequence after another in a barrage of hard-hitting humor that has rarely been so successfully dished out in a single film. It’s like watching a first-rate standup routine transformed into fiction, or in this case auto-fiction, as Rock has more on his mind than just making us laugh, offering up a witty celebrity satire that doubles as a love story set during one long and eventful New York City day,” said THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER’s Jordan Mintzer

“Rock has hit a career high with his new film TOP FIVE….Hilarious situations continue to top themselves as the film progresses. Just when you think the surprises are over, another famous face and comedy icon appears…. Rock may know the ins and outs of American stand-up better than any of his peers because he uses that knowledge masterfully in casting this picture. But TOP FIVE transcends its genre…. It’s a movie about the current state of race relations. It’s a movie about honesty and forgiveness. It’s another searing indictment of the world of celebrity. It’s even a movie about the lasting legacy of hip-hop. And it all combines to smash you silly and leave you breathlessly wanting more,“ said HITFIX’s Greg Ellwood

“Chris Rock is at his rude, ribald and raucous best in the laugh-out-loud TOP FIVE, a deliriously funny film that looks destined to be a box office hit. Written, directed and starting Rock, the film mines similar territory to Woody Allen at his younger best – sex, comedy, paranoia, insecurity and more sex – but with a much rawer and uncensored edge,” said SCREEN INTERNATIONAL’s Mark Adams

Final Poster for THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY – PART 1 Arrives; New Trailer in 5 Days

“The Courage Of One Will Change The World” in this final poster for THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY – PART 1.

A brand new trailer will be here in 5 days.

The film stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Elizabeth Banks, Woody Harrelson, Julianne Moore, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Donald Sutherland, Stanley Tucci, Jeffrey Wright, Natalie Dormer, Sam Claflin, Jena Malone, Willow Shields.

The worldwide phenomenon of The Hunger Games continues to set the world on fire with THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY – PART 1, which finds Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) in District 13 after she literally shatters the games forever. Under the leadership of President Coin (Julianne Moore) and the advice of her trusted friends, Katniss spreads her wings as she fights to save Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) and a nation moved by her courage.

THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY – PART 1 is directed by Francis Lawrence from a screenplay by Danny Strong and Peter Craig and produced by Nina Jacobson’s Color Force in tandem with producer Jon Kilik. The novel on which the film is based is the third in a trilogy written by Suzanne Collins that has over 65 million copies in print in the U.S. alone.

Check back on September 15 to see Our Leader The Mockingjay arrive in full force in the new official worldwide trailer and go behind the scenes with exclusive interviews and images in The Hunger Games Exclusive Series 2.

TheHungerGamesExclusive.com

THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY PART 1 opens nationwide November 21, 2014. Part 2 is coming November 2015.

http://www.ThehungerGamesExplorer.com
https://www.facebook.com/TheHungerGamesMovie
http://www.twitter.com/TheHungerGames

Keanu Reeves Seeks Vengeance In JOHN WICK Poster

Lionsgate has revealed the first poster for filmmakers Chad Stahelski’s and David Leitch’s action thriller JOHN WICK.

An ex-hitman comes out of retirement to track down the gangsters that took everything from him. With New York City as his bullet-riddled playground, JOHN WICK (Keanu Reeves) is a fresh and stylized take on the “assassin genre”.

Come back on Friday when the first trailer debuts.

The film also stars Michael Nyqvist, Alfie Allen, Adrianne Palicki, Bridget Moynahan, Dean Winters, Ian McShane, with John Leguizamo, and Willem Dafoe.

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY composer Tyler Bates has written the score for the movie.

Prepare for bullet-riddled scenes with full throttle mayhem when this film hits theaters October 24.

Official Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/johnwickmovie

Official Twitter Page: https://twitter.com/johnwickmovie

#JohnWick

Check Out THE KILLERS RESOLUTE – 9-Part St. Louis-Produced Web Series

If you’re a fan of exploitation films, then you’ll want to take a wild ride with “Ronnie Terminus,” “Dahlia Frankenstein” and “Rhett Darling” in THE KILLERS RESOLUTE. This nine episode web-series follows a trio of cold-blooded killers on their twisted journey doing what they want, when they want…which turns out to be a violent, bloody mess.

All episodes of THE KILLERS RESOLUTE can be found HERE

http://88mmfilms.com/killersresolute/

A throwback to great 70s films like Dirty Mary Crazy Larry (and the more recent Pulp Fiction), The Killers Resolute takes a dark path down the human psyche while providing an indictment of modern living in the age of media hypocrisy. Writer/director Chris Grega was drawn to this project as a statement on our modern media-driven world, and the blatant falseness he feels it’s all built upon. From “Do Not Attempt” labeled advertising propaganda to the false airs of television reporters he explains “This project grew out of a desire to show the darker side of humanity that’s really just outside of the light, possibly only by a few inches or a few moments in time. I settled on the web series format because above all else, it’s something new and refreshingly simple.”

A cast of notable St. Louis actors bring these delightfully deviant characters to life against a beautifully shot Midwest backdrop. With each episode running 3-5 minutes, watching the entire series will take approximately 30 minutes. Released out of sequence, viewers will also have the option to watch in order.

The critics are impressed:

“The Killers Resolute bleeds off the screen so smoothly that you forget how fast this story is moving and you are left quickly left in the lurch wanting more. Well written and cast and wonderfully lit and edited, Killers stands out in a crowd of independent horror where there certainly is a love and passion for the art, but often little technical skill.” – Horror Movies Uncut

Chris Grega is a filmmaker based out of St. Louis. The death of his close friend in 1999 prompted him to pursue film and form 88mm Productions. Even with no formal training, he has created several award-winning short films and four feature films. Game of the Year (mockumentary) and Rhineland (war drama) are both available through Amazon.com. His latest feature, the post-apocalyptic tale Sound of Nothing, is set for a fall VOD release.

The Facebook page for THE KILLERS RESOLUTE can be found HERE

https://www.facebook.com/killersresolute

VERY GOOD GIRLS – The Blu Review

Acute portrayals and nice performances by leads Dakota Fanning and Elizabeth Olsen as best friends who pledge to lose their virginity before college, helps this mildly racy but ultimately innocuous teen sex film VERY GOOD GIRLS stay a step or two above the exploitative premise to emerge as something almost worthwhile. Boyd Holbrook also gives more than the role calls for as the handsome street artist who becomes their would-be conquest. His role is believable and even brings out Fanning’s performance, delivering something that could have been icky, but remains tender and even a tad affecting. Olsen is good as well, but Fanning’s always seemed a lightweight before.

The problem with VERY GOOD GIRLS (besides the 25-year old Ms. Olsen being far too old for this role) is that, despite the sexually tinged subject matter, the script is never fleshed out beyond what’s needed to service the plot. The girls are introduced with little detail other than the fact that one is leaving for college and the other is staying home for college and the whole tone often rings false in its portrayal of sisterhood and coming-of-age angst. The first-time director, Naomi Foner, just happens to be the mother of the Gyllenhaal siblings (Jake and Maggie) which most likely helps explain why this talented cast (Which includes Demi Moore, Richard Dreyfuss and Peter Sarsgaard who is Foner’s son-in-law) signed onto such a pedestrian, half-baked script.

VERY GOOD GIRLS comes to Blu-ray Disc from Well Go USA on September 23^rd featuring 1080p AVC encoded video that has an average bitrate of 26 Mbps and lossless DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio sound that has an average bitrate of 2.2 Mbps.

The image features all of the usual elements in good working order and yields a high-end quality presentation that should satisfy all viewers. The image appears slightly warm at times, resulting in mildly red flesh tones, but altogether offers a bright, consistent coloring that flourishes outdoors but still delivers precise hues under any lighting condition.

The sound mix is well-rendered and provides a wealth of involving surround activity. Dialogue is always cleanly presented and well prioritized. Fidelity is superb throughout the track.

The only extra is a 54minute featurette that is basically long Interviews with writer/director Naomi Foner, Dakota Fanning, and Elizabeth Olsen

I do recommend VERY GOOD GIRLS if you’re a fan of these two actresses or if you’re curious to see how a remake of LITTLE DARLINGS might play 34 years later.

Liongate Announces Release Dates For NOW YOU SEE ME 2 And Robert De Niro’s DIRTY GRANDPA

Lionsgate has released the dates for two of their upcoming films in 2015 and 2016.

DIRTY GRANDPA – presently the tentative title – will open in wide release on December 25, 2015, from Lionsgate.

Starring Robert De Niro and Zac Efron, the film’s synopsis reads:

Right before his wedding, an uptight guy is tricked into driving his foul-mouthed grandfather, a former Army general, to Florida for spring break.

The movie is directed by Dan Mazer (BORAT) and written by John Phillips.

The sequel to director Louis Leterrier’s 2013 hit NOW YOU SEE ME, will be in theaters on June 10, 2016, from Summit Entertainment.

Titled NOW YOU SEE ME 2, the film stars Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Isla Fisher, Dave Franco, Morgan Freeman, and Michael Caine. In the original entertaining movie, four talented magicians mesmerize an international audience with a series of bold and original heists, all the while pursuing a hidden agenda that has the FBI and Interpol scrambling to anticipate their next move.

The sequel is from director Jon M. Chu (G.I. JOE: RETALIATION).

5 out of 5 stars

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