Writer/director Tom Provost brings ghost story to the screen that is part Alfred Hitchcock, part Rod Sterling and, to some degree, Agatha Christie while delivering the creepy goods those names are known for. From the beginning, The Presence creates quite an impact with an almost over-powering score that builds throughout the opening credits. After that it gets quiet, a little too quiet. The story begins with a melancholy Shane West mulling around a stark wooden cottage looking a bit lost. Then it switches focus to Mira Sorvino who is heading to her family’s remote cottage to do some work for her undisclosed profession. Turns out they’re both going to be staying at the…
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Ohhh, Look…60's Inspired 'X-Men: First Class' Title Sequence
Hey now, would ya look a this! For years, Saul Bass’ work has inspired many imitators but I think we may have a new heir to the throne. Whoever created this has a future in film, advertising, you name it. Since Matthew Vaughn’s X-Men prequel is based in the 60’s, this artist (read: gifted genius) has created a fan-made “retro” intro for the film that is just swanky. “Classy baby” is about all I can say for now. Have a look! So while I’m already suped excited for this throw-back take on the Uncanny X-Men, this and the retro inspired magazne covers have been enough so send me into a frenzy.…
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Sweet Trailer…'Warrior'
Tom Hardy has certainly had some great turns in Layer Cake, Rocknrolla, Bronson, Inception and his star just continues to rise. Next up, before playing Bane in The Dark Knight Rises of course, he’ll play an MMA fighter who must face off against his own brother. Warrior stars Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton as the two brothers and the supporting cast includes Nick Nolte, Jennifer Morrison, Kevin Dunn and Noah Emmerich. Have a look at the trailer below (for now click the image to be taken to the trailer) and see what everyone has already been talking about since the Sundance Film Festival… Nick Nolte plays the boys’ estranged father and ex-House alum Jennifer Morrison plays Edgerton’s…
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DIFF Review…Red Dog
Every dog owner usually claims their pride and joy is the smartest or most loyal dog on the planet. But let me ask you this: Has your dog ever hitchhiked his way across the Australian Outback to find you? Neither has mine. The star of this film is the famous titular Australian that dog who did just that and a whole lot more. But, as the say in the film, “It’s not what he did, it’s who he was“. His name, as simple as the colored sand that stretches across that vast continent, is Red Dog. In the film this highly lovable canine brings a community together as the remote town in the Pilbara region transitions into a…
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DIFF Review…Salvation Boulevard
There’s quite an A-List ensemble cast in this indie film from IFC and you’ll find that the laughs to be had are about as big as the stars themselves. Salvation Boulevard is directed and written by George Ratliff and is based on Larry Beinhart’s book of the same name. In the film Pierce Brosnan plays Dan Day, Pastor of a mega-church who is planning to build an entire community for the followers of his mega-parish The Church of the Third Millennium. But after he accidentally shoots a highly regarded atheist author (Ed Harris) after their debate on religion, the plans for his mega-city could soon turn to dust. Salvation Boulevard is a clever satire…
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DIFF Review…Lucky
Ok, so the idea of “a serial killer winning the lottery” is bound to get plenty of curious (and morbidly curious) in the theater doors. But homicide really is small potatoes compared to marital troubles and incompatibility. Lucky is directed by Gil Cates Jr. and does quite a lot with this little indie script. He sets things up nicely with the simple but passable back story where we find Ben has always been in love with his next door neighbor. But Lucy has never thought of Ben as anything more than a friend. That is until he won the 36 Million dollar Iowa lottery. Soon Ben’s life is changed completely and he’s…
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DIFF Review…13 Assassins
Takashi Miike paints a samurai film for the ages with his gripping epic 13 Assassins. A gritty story about 13 Ronin tasked with killing the corrupt son of the Shogun, Miike sends a love letter to Akira Kurosawa that would make any filmmaker envious of such a compliment. Right off the bat Miike recounts this true story by establishing a villain set for the record books in the form of Lord Naritsugu Matsudaira. His careless and detestable actions are close to breaking the peace that has been held for many years. Called to stop him is Shinzaemon Shimada and he’s to assemble 12 other samurai to take down Naritsugu. It’s 13 against 200 but to a well…
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When Is It “Too Late” (Or Unnecessary) To Make A Sequel?
Inspired by the home video release of TRON: Legacy and the original TRON (for the first time on Blu Ray) hitting shelves today, I wanted to look at popular stand alone films/franchises that have several years (even decades) between installments. To date, some are good, some are bad and there are scheduled/rumored sequels to some older properties coming down the pike that seem questionable. To this day, it still boggles my mind that Disney wanted to dust off the original TRON and attempt this sequel a whopping 28 years after Flynn’s adventures in “The Grid”. Now truth be told, I liked Legacy and it did a fine job at continuing the story but had trouble fleshing…
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"Miyazaki Madness" Is Over!!
Well friends, “Miyazaki Madness” is officially over. We’ve had 4 weeks of match ups, voting, comments and best of all, appreciation for the films of Studio Ghibli! In total, the tournament brought in nearly 10,000 visitors, racked up nearly 300 votes and I have to say it was a tremendous turnout! Thank you all for stopping by to participate in this event (I bet you’ll be glad to see an end to my Twitter and Facebook updates, huh?). So who gets to wear the winner’s crown and strut their stuff all around the animation world?? Well click the image below (for a hi-rez version) and find out for yourself…
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DIFF Review…The Greater Good
“How many deaths are enough to justify something as being a benefit?” That’s exactly what director/producer Kendall Nelson asks in her new documentary. Bringing three tragically affected families’ stories to light, The Greater Good tells how childhood vaccines (medication that is supposed to be good for these children) are nowhere as safe as they were led to believe. Headlining The Greater Good is 16 year old Gabi Swank. After seeing commercials for the drug Gardasil, she wanted to be protected against the possibility if cervical cancer. But all too soon did this “fast tracked” drug wreck her life and that of her family as well. Gardasil (like other market ready vaccines)…