Kiefer Sutherland – We Are Movie Geeks

Find THE LOST BOYS at The Wildey Theater in Edwardsville Tuesday April 26th

ing in Santa Carla I never could stomach, – all the damn vampires!”

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Nothing’s more fun than The Wildey’s Tuesday Night Film Series. THE LOST BOYS (1987) will be on the big screen when it plays at The Wildey Theater in Edwardsville, IL (252 N Main St, Edwardsville, IL 62025) at 7:00pm Tuesday April 26th. Tickets are only $3 Tickets available starting at 3pm day of movie at Wildey Theatre ticket office. Cash or check only. (cash, credit cards accepted for concessions) Lobby opens at 6pm.

It may not be the scariest horror movie of the ‘80s (heck, the ridiculously over-sized 80s hairstyles and mullets on show are probably more frightening than the fangs), but thirty-five years later it’s easier to appreciate director Joel “Bat Nipples” Schumaker ‘s THE LOST BOYS as the first teen vampire movie. Boasting not just one but both of those late 1980s/early ’90s pubescent “pin-ups” called “Corey”, THE LOST BOYS was a sort of brat-packer attempt at the typical vampire/horror flick. It became a pop-culture phenomenon in 1987 thanks to its attractive young stars, offbeat soundtrack, and hip, clever marketing campaign (but it’s never explained why does Corey Haim’s character has a poster of Rob Lowe on his door!).

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Recently divorced Diane Wiest moves with her two sons (Jason Patric and Haim) to the California community of Santa Carla, where teenage vampires (headed by Kiefer Sutherland) cruise the boardwalk. These ‘Lost Boys’ (there is a lost girl too, but nobody mentions her) hang from the ceiling of their lair in the ruins of an old hotel, while at night they go out seeking blood in Santa Cruz, known as the Mass Murder Capital of the World. Patric is initiated into the gang, but tries to resist his vampiric urges while his brother calls in Edgar and Alan Frog (Corey Feldman and Jamsion Newlander), gonzo teen vampire hunters from the local comic store, to battle the undead bloodsuckers.

THE CONTRACTOR (2022) – Review

Just a few weeks after the release of the armed forces “dramedy” DOG, Hollywood calls upon another of its “hunkiest” action stars/leading men to don the “camo” and “gear up”. Now there’s no specially trained canines to chase after in this film, but like Channing Tatum’s Briggs, this movie’s focus wants desperately to get “back in” and rejoin his “band of brothers” in the current “hot spot”. If only he was given a road trip/mission like Briggs. That’s the main reason his “title” changes. He’s not “the soldier”, but rather THE CONTRACTOR.

That “warrior” is named James (Chris Pine), who is still considered “wounded”. We first see him in his early morning routine in order to get his body back into fighting shape after taking a bullet to his right knee in his last tour of duty. But the jogging and the weightlifting “reps’ at his cabin “sanctuary” deep in the woods aren’t enough, prompting a few “injection enhancements. Unfortunately, the “docs” at the local military camp are able to detect his “juicing” and Jim is officially discharged from Special Forces. So how will he be able to keep the home he shares with nursing student/wife Brianne (Gillian Jacobs) and their pre-teen son Jack (Sander Thomas)? As the “past due” notices pile up and debt collectors fill their answering machine, James is enticed by a visit with his old “grunt buddy” Mike (Ben Foster). Seems that Mike has been earning loads of cash by offering his “special skills” as a military contractor, who “slips in under the radar”. He puts James in contact with the director of the contracting company, another vet named Rusty (Keifer Sutherland), who offers a nice “gig”. Despite Brianne’s pleading, James gets his gear in working order and joins Mike in an undercover assignment in Berlin. They’ve got to ‘scoop up” a radical scientist that’s creating biological weapons. And though the plan is simple, several things go “sideways’ as James is separated from the team and becomes a “loose end” to be “severed”, As his wound acts up can James keep himself alive and somehow make it back to the states?

Taking a break from the twin “tentpole” franchises that are WONDER WOMAN and STAR TREK, Pine proves that he can get “down and dirty” as a “working Joe”/action hero carrying (he may be in every scene) this grim “grabbed from the headline” dramatic thriller. James is no “super-soldier” as he winces in pain pushing his battered body in the opening “getting back in shape” sequence. But that’s merely a prelude to the agony to come. First up is humiliation and frustration as his military “home” pushes him aside adding extra tension to his actual home as Pine shows us the worry closing in on James as forces “pick him clean”, making him to grasp at any lifeline, no matter how shady. And when the “payday” goes awry PIne shows us how James tries to ignore his old and new wounds while holding on to his moral code which further complicates his survival. As usual Foster is solid as the old cohort Mike who may not be completely open about their new “C.O.” and recruiters. Sutherland slathers on the “fatherly charm” and “gung ho” encouragement as he binds James with a promise of quick moola with little risk. Jacobs is a welcome addition to the story, but her Brianne is later regulated to the cliched “spouse on the phone” when the story shifts into “chase and elude mode”. Though introduced close to the big finale, Eddie Marsan is a welcome supporting player as the mysterious Virgil who comes to the aid of the battered James.

The script from J.P. Davis switches gears from domestic drama to globetrotting thriller, a detour carefully executed by director Tarik Saleh, who knows when to concentrate on character and when to “amp up” the tension and plunge us, alongside James, into the “danger zone”. He makes excellent use of the overseas locales as James and Mike stalk their “target”, then slowly lets us in on the “truth”. The “hand-to-hand” throwdowns are staged and shot effectively, while the “fire fights’ are filled with moments of chaos and calamity. Unfortunately, the real villains and motivations fall “into place” too cleanly and the last act denouncements and showdowns seem too rushed, letting the story seem too familiar to any number of military action “potboilers”. The first-rate cast can’t quite elevate the “plot beats” making THE CONTRACTOR an intermittingly engaging but quickly forgettable modern-day “shoot em up”.

2 Out of 4

THE CONTRACTOR opens in select theatres and is available as a video-on-demand beginning on Friday, April 1, 2022

Kiefer Sutherland and Lou Diamond Phillips in RENEGADES Available on ‘Retro VHS’ Blu-ray October 19th From Mill Creek

“Look over my shoulder and tell me if you see an Indian following me.”

Kiefer Sutherland and Lou Diamond Phillips in RENEGADES available on ‘Retro VHS’ Blu-ray October 19th from Mill Creek Entertainment

Kiefer Sutherland and Lou Diamond Phillips star in RENEGADES, a modern-day action-adventure as mavericks who join forces to bust the city’s biggest crime ring. Unconventional undercover cop Buster McHenry (Sutherland) infiltrates a gang of criminals by joining in a jewelry heist. The attempt fails, but the gang manages to steal a rare weapon from a nearby American Indian exhibit. Deserted by the gang and now hunted by the police, McHenry reluctantly joins forces with Hank Storm (Phillips), and Indian who’s come to the city to recover the sacred lance. Their whirlwind trail propels the team through a wild car chase, a harrowing rooftop gunfight and a perilous run on top of a subway car. It’s a fast-paced action that leads to a fiery climax in this exciting climax in this exciting film from director Jack Sholder (The Hidden).

Find THE LOST BOYS at The Tivoli Midnights This Weekend

“One thing about living in Santa Carla I never could stomach, – all the damn vampires!”

THE LOST BOYS screens this Friday and Saturday nights (October 4th and 5th) at midnight at the Tivoli Theater as part of their ‘Reel Late at the Tivoli’ Midnight series. A facebook invite for this event can be found HERE.

Been feeling a bit under the weather lately? Too many late nights? Keep missing the daytime or having to wear sunglasses when you do make it up before dusk?…… How do you feel about garlic? Crosses? Stakes?

Yes, it’s vampire time again…

It may not be the scariest horror movie of the ‘80s (heck, the ridiculously over-sized 80s hairstyles and mullets on show are probably more frightening than the fangs), but twenty-five years later it’s easier to appreciate director Joel “Bat Nipples” Schumaker ‘s THE LOST BOYS as the first teen vampire movie. Boasting not just one but both of those late 1980s/early ’90s pubescent “pin-ups” called “Corey”, THE LOST BOYS was a sort of brat-packer attempt at the typical vampire/horror flick. It became a pop-culture phenomenon in 1987 thanks to its attractive young stars, offbeat soundtrack, and hip, clever marketing campaign (but it’s never explained why does Corey Haim’s character has a poster of Rob Lowe on his door!).

THE LOST BOYS tagline – “Sleep all day. Party all night. Never grow old. Never die. It’s fun to be a vampire.” — perfectly captured its knowing mixture of attitude and gore. Now this weekend you can sleep all day and party all evening at THE LOST BOYS when it screens at the Tivoli in St. Louis this Friday and Saturday nights ( October 4th and 5th ) as part of the ‘Reel Late at the Tivoli’ midnight show.

Here’s the upcoming Reel Late at the Tivoli Line-up

Oct. 11-12 HALLOWEEN (1978)

Oct. 18-19 and Oct. 25-26

THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW with live shadow cast, Samurai Electricians!

FREE TO ROCK: HOW ROCK & ROLL HELPED END THE COLD WAR Screening at The St. Louis Science Center May 4th

Culture Shock: A Film Series presents its first in a traveling film series with the documentary FREE TO ROCK screening Saturday May 4th at 7pm at the Saint Louis Science Center’s OMNIMAX Theater (5050 Oakland Ave.) Admission is $7. Concessions will be available to purchase. A Facebook invite for the event can be found HERE This is a benefit for
Helping Kids Together (http://www.helpingkidstogether.com/)

FREE TO ROCK is a 60 minute documentary film directed by 4 time Emmy winning filmmaker Jim Brown and narrated by Kiefer Sutherland. Ten years in the making, the film explores the soft power of Rock & Roll to affect social change behind the Iron Curtain between the years 1955 and 1991, and how it contributed to the collapse of the Soviet Union and to ending the Cold War. Rock & Roll sounded the “chimes of freedom” in the hearts and minds of Iron Curtain youth. Inspiring its youth to demand freedom to listen, play and record rock music, to enjoy basic human rights and freedom from oppressive communist rule. The story follows the key political, musical and activist players in this real-life drama as the KGB cracked down hard with arrests, beatings, death threats and imprisonment. Thousands of underground rock bands with millions of passionate supporters inspire and fuel independence movements that eventually cause the Soviet communist system to implode without blood shed or civil war. Interviews and performance subjects include: Presidents Carter, Gorbachev and Vike-Freiberga, NATO Deputy Secretary General Vershbow, KGB General Kalugin, diplomats, historians and journalists, along with Elvis Presley, Beatles, Billy Joel, Metallica, Scorpions, Beach Boys, Elton John, Bruce Springsteen, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and the WALL in Berlin concert; plus the Iron Curtain rockers who braved the long struggle with the Kremlin and KGB. The film is produced in collaboration with the Grammy Museum, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and the Stas Namin Center of Moscow, with support from the U.S. Government’s National Endowment of the Humanities and the National Endowment for the Arts, both US Government arts agencies.

“Culture Shock” is the name of a film series here in St. Louis that is the cornerstone project of a social enterprise that is an ongoing source of support for Helping Kids Together (http://www.helpingkidstogether.com/) a St. Louis based social enterprise dedicated to building cultural diversity and social awareness among young people through the arts and active living.

The films featured for “Culture Shock” demonstrate an artistic representation of culture shock materialized through mixed genre and budgets spanning music, film and theater. Through ‘A Film Series’ working relationship with Schlafly Bottleworks, they seek to provide film lovers with an offbeat mix of dinner and a movie opportunities.

POMPEII – The Review

Going into a film from the director of MORTAL KOMBAT, RESIDENT EVIL, and AVP: ALIEN VS. PREDATOR, one has to put aside any hope that POMPEII will be anything more than a mindless 3-D adventure. I mean . . . look at the title. The inevitable volcanic eruption is far from just hinted at in the advertising for the disaster flick. And while one could argue that the film is quite a bit late to the whole disaster film crazy unofficially reignited by Roland Emmerich, the film’s director seems to be a slave to a script that attempts to be much more than just the kitschy spectacle that the film’s title would imply.

POMPEII wants to have its dramatic cake and explode it too. The film takes itself way too seriously instead of embracing the ‘B-movie’ style that it should. For the first hour we are treated to the recycled story of a young boy being thrown into slavery and earning the approval of the common people. Milo, played by GAME OF THRONES veteran Kit Harington, unexpectedly falls in love with the princess of Pompeii (Emily Browning) while being transported to the city for gladiatorial combat. When we’re not witnessing him brooding in a cell or trying to avoid revealing his real name to his cell-mate, we are forced to witness some pseudo-political plot involving Carrie-Ann Moss, Jared Harris, and the truly unbelievable, Kiefer Sutherland. I say this only because he has reached a new level of unintentional goofiness that only Nicholas Cage can claim throne to. His sniveling one-note act as the obvious villain is at least entertaining partly due to his struggle to maintain an accent that seems inspired by Jeremy Irons’ “Simon” from DIE HARD: WITH A VENGEANCE even though it sometimes sounds like Val Kilmer doing Doc Holliday.

To properly critique Kit Harington’s performance would imply he actually delivers a performance; such is not the case. Harrington is consistently on-screen during much of the film’s duration, but I’m left to wonder if he really, truly was there. I can only assume his emotional range must have been eclipsed by all the hard work he put into achieving his six-pack abs – which clearly was more of a priority than anything else. His chemistry with Emily Browning is no better. This wouldn’t have been as much of an issue for me if POMPEII wanted to just be a fun, explosion filled ‘B-movie.’ However, it tries to reach the emotional heights of TITANIC while incorporating the epic journey that we have seen in SPARTACUS, CONAN THE BARBARIAN, and GLADIATOR (just to name a few of the films POMPEII liberally borrows from). Anderson, whose strength lies in creating spectacle rather than igniting our hearts seems far more comfortable once the films settles into the last act. I looked at my watch and it was past the hour mark before the real main “character” bursts forth from the screen. As you would expect, fires erupt and volcanic rocks are thrown at the screen. The visuals that accompany the final 25 minutes are occasionally entertaining and are even a bit brutal given the film’s PG-13 rating – we are treated to civilians set ablaze and characters frequently stabbed or impaled. But have no fear, barely a drop of blood is shed in all of the catastrophic proceedings. I guess it’s ok to simulate fear, death, and destruction but to show any real effects would not be Paul W.S. Anderson’s style.

The poster displays the tagline “No warning. No escape.” As evident by the several occurrences where characters react to loud rumblings and large cracks in their GGI environment, this is obviously not the case. There are clear warnings to the characters and yet they repeatedly stand still, looking up at the fiery beast as if they have a chance at beating it. As filmgoers, we too should heed to the warnings that accompany most of Paul W.S. Anderson’s disposable video-game flicks and run from the imminent danger. Run as fast as you can.

OVERALL RATING: 2 OUT OF 5 STARS

Win Tickets To The Advance Screening of POMPEII In St. Louis

Romance, adventure and a natural disaster of cataclysmic proportions collide headlong in POMPEII, director Paul W. S. Anderson’s epic recreation of one of the ancient world’s most compelling tragedies.

Set in 79 A.D., Pompeii tells the heroic story of Milo (Kit Harington), a slave turned invincible gladiator who finds himself in a race against time to save his true love, Cassia (Emily Browning), the beautiful daughter of a wealthy merchant who has been unwillingly betrothed to a corrupt Roman Senator. As Mount Vesuvius erupts in a torrent of blazing lava, Milo must fight his way out of the arena in order to save his beloved as the once magnificent Pompeii crumbles around him.

The film stars Kit Harington (“Game of Thrones,” The Seventh Son), Carrie-Anne Moss (The Matrix film franchise, Memento), Emily Browning (Sucker Punch, Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events), Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (Thor: The Dark World, “Lost”), Jessica Lucas (Evil Dead, Cloverfield), with Jared Harris (The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, “Mad Men”), and Kiefer Sutherland (“24”, Melancholia).

The film will be in theaters February 21, 2014.

The POMPEII screening will be on Wednesday, February 19th at 7PM in the St. Louis area. Each pass is good for 2 tickets. If you are a winner, you will need to head over to SONYSCREENINGS.COM and register to receive your two passes.

Answer the following:

Name the two Romans who witnessed the eruption of Vesuvius and then later wrote about it.

OFFICIAL RULES:

1. YOU MUST BE IN THE ST. LOUIS AREA THE DAY OF THE SCREENING.

2. ENTER YOUR NAME AND ANSWER IN OUR COMMENTS SECTION BELOW.

3. YOU MUST SUBMIT THE CORRECT ANSWER TO OUR QUESTION ABOVE TO WIN. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.

This film is rated PG-13 by the MPAA for the following reasons: INTENSE BATTLE SEQUENCES, DISASTER-RELATED ACTION AND BRIEF SEXUAL CONTENT.

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Check Out The Explosive Trailer For POMPEII From Director Paul W.S. Anderson

This February, witness the lost city of POMPEII. Watch the new trailer for TriStar Pictures’ action adventure starring Kit Harington, Carrie-Anne Moss, Emily Browning, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Jessica Lucas, with Jared Harris and Kiefer Sutherland.

(Yahoo! Movies)

Set in 79 A.D., POMPEII tells the epic story of Milo (Kit Harington), a slave turned invincible gladiator who finds himself in a race against time to save his true love Cassia (Emily Browning), the beautiful daughter of a wealthy merchant who has been unwillingly betrothed to a corrupt Roman Senator.

As Mount Vesuvius erupts in a torrent of blazing lava, Milo must fight his way out of the arena in order to save his beloved as the once magnificent Pompeii crumbles around him.

Paul W.S. Anderson’s film will be in theaters February 21, 2014.

http://pompeiimovie.tumblr.com/

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https://twitter.com/PompeiiMovie

Watch The First Trailer For Paul W.S. Anderson’s POMPEII

Sony Pictures has unveiled the teaser for director Paul W.S. Anderson’s POMPEII.

The film stars Kit Harington, Carrie-Anne Moss, Emily Browning, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Paz Vega, Jessica Lucas with Jared Harris and Kiefer Sutherland.

Set in 79 A.D., POMPEII tells the epic story of Milo, a slave turned invincible gladiator who finds himself in a race against time to save his true love Cassia, the beautiful daughter of a wealthy merchant who has been unwillingly betrothed to a corrupt Roman Senator. As Mount Vesuvius erupts in a torrent of blazing lava, Milo must fight his way out of the arena in order to save his beloved as the once magnificent Pompeii crumbles around him.

POMPEII will be in theaters February 2014. Beforehand try to see THE LAST DAYS OF POMPEII (1935) – sure, Old Hollywood spectacle, but well worth your time. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ALOL9QO/ref=atv_feed_catalog?tag=imdb-amazonvideo-20

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#PompeiiMovie

Kiefer Sutherland To Return As Jack Bauer In 24: LIVE ANOTHER DAY – FOX To Restart The Iconic Clock Summer 2014

Sometimes the lines can become blurred between fantastic films and must-see TV… and in this case, 24 is great TV.

FOX has ordered 24: LIVE ANOTHER DAY, a thrilling new tent-pole event series set to restart the clock on the groundbreaking and Emmy Award-winning drama franchise starring Kiefer Sutherland. Produced by 20th Century Fox Television, Imagine Television and Howard Gordon’s Teakwood Lane Productions, 24: LIVE ANOTHER DAY will make its historic debut in the summer of 2014 on FOX.

The announcement was made this morning by Kevin Reilly, Chairman, Fox Broadcasting Company; Dana Walden and Gary Newman, Chairmen, Twentieth Century Fox Television; and Brian Grazer, Chairman, Imagine Entertainment.

The high-octane saga will reunite showrunner Howard Gordon with Sutherland and retain the real-time, pulse-pounding, fast-paced format with split screens and complex interweaving storylines, with 12 episodes representing 24 hours.

The suspenseful event series once again follows the exploits of heroic agent JACK BAUER (Sutherland), who will resume his story several years following the events of the final season.

“It’s great to have Jack back. ‘24’ redefined the drama genre, and as we reimagine the television miniseries, this iconic show will again break new ground for the network,” said Reilly. “The series remains a global sensation, and everyone at FOX is thrilled to be back at work with Kiefer, Howard and the incredibly creative ‘24’ team.”

“When Howard came to us saying he had an idea for a new chapter of ‘24,’ he quite simply had us at ‘hello,’” remarked 20th Century Fox Television Chairmen Gary Newman and Dana Walden. “’24’ is a signature series for this studio, beloved by critics and audiences worldwide. Howard’s idea to revive the franchise as an event series couldn’t be timelier, and with the brilliant Kiefer Sutherland on board to reprise his iconic role, we can’t wait to get started.”

Added Imagine Television Chairman Brian Grazer, “I’m both excited and proud that Howard, Kiefer, and I, along with ours partners at 20th and Fox, have this new opportunity to give ‘24’ fans what they’ve been asking for – more Jack Bauer. It’s been my experience that people love Jack Bauer because he’s a guy who cuts through the red tape and gets the hardest things done. I am certain 24: LIVE ANOTHER DAY will again have a huge impact on our culture.”

“The response to ‘24’ is unlike anything I have ever experienced as an actor before,” noted Sutherland. “To have the chance to reunite with the character, Jack Bauer, is like finding a lost friend. The story ideas from Howard Gordon are exciting and fresh, and will not disappoint. Great thanks to 20th Century Fox Television, Imagine Television and the FOX network for this opportunity. Make no mistake, my goal is to knock your socks off. See you soon.”

“Jack Bauer has always been an exciting, thrilling character, and I confess that I’ve missed him. I think the audience has too,” said executive producer Howard Gordon who served as showrunner for most of the series’ run and won multiple Emmy Awards for his work. “The character has evolved through the years, and this new and exciting event series format is perfect to tell the next chapter of his story and continue to reflect how the world is changing. Fans can rest assured that the Jack they know and love will be back.”

Originally premiering November 6, 2001, ‘24’ was nominated for a total of 73 Emmy Awards, winning for Outstanding Drama Series in 2006. Over eight seasons, Kiefer Sutherland garnered seven Emmy Award nominations and one win for Outstanding Lead Actor – Drama Series. While the series gained global recognition, Sutherland’s portrayal of the legendary character penetrated the American psyche like no other dramatic television character to become part of the cultural lexicon.

24: LIVE ANOTHER DAY is a production of 20th Century Fox Television and Imagine Television in association with Teakwood Lane Productions. Howard Gordon, Brian Grazer and Kiefer Sutherland will executive produce, along with an additional team to be announced. The original series, which had its last American broadcast on May 24, 2010, was created by Joel Surnow and Robert Cochran.

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OVERALL RATING: 2 OUT OF 5 STARS

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