For those who don’t know much about the upcoming Ang Lee film Life of Pi (or the Yann Martel novel that inspired it), it’s the kind of theater going experience that words just can’t describe. Sure there’s a synopsis, and that’s what the film is about. But what the film is…that’s something else entirely and left entirely up to the viewer to decide. Last week this one of a kind film was opened the New York Film Festival and first time actor Suraj Sharma (who gives an truly amazing and riveting performance) spoke at the Q&A following the premier. Here’s what he had to say about his experience and journey making this one of a…
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Yee-haw!…The G-S-T Trailer Round-Up: Zombies, Rom-Coms, and Arnold
Sometimes, too many trailers come out in a single week to give them all the individual attention they may deserve. So today I’m trying out something new and doing a trailer catch-all, because of all the teasers that have been release this week, I just can’t choose which ones I want to showcase the most. But why choose when I can just lump them all together in one big post? Let’s cut off the preamble there, let’s start off with: Warm Bodies If after seeing 50/50 last year, someone had told me Jonathan Levine’s next project would essentially be “Twilight with zombies”, I’d have laughed at them. So, really, I’m…
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G-S-T Review…Skyfall
Even after 4 years, Quantum of Solace still leaves a rather bland taste in mouths of Bond fans (though much of the flat reception the film was met with can be chalked up to the writer’s strike). As such, Bond would have a lot of making up to do in his next outing. But thanks to another solid turn from Daniel Craig, a fantastic cast to play opposite, great story, music and all of this under the artistic eye of Sam Mendes, Skyfall is not only one the franchises’ best installments but easily sits among the likes of the most beloved Connery films. Sounds like lofty praise but really it earns and…
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Michael Arndt "Likely" On Board To Pen 'Star Wars: Episode VII' – UPDATED
With the ink of the Disney/LucasFilm contract dry and one of the the biggest mergers in the history of ever now old news, there’s only one direction for Star Wars to go from here; to infinity and beyond (that’s right we’re throwing in Disney references anyplace we can). Beyond the facts surrounding the massive buyout, the best news to come of all this, so far at least, is that Episode VII is happening. As such the Mouse House is now full steam ahead to put Ep VII in theaters by 2015. Yes last week went by pretty fast so pinch yourself if you need to, you’re not dreaming. To further set things…
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“The CineMagic 8-Ball” – In Theaters 11/09/12
When so many movies are released each weekend and trailers often seem better than the movie itself, what should one do? In this precarious situation, we consult the The CineMagic 8-Ball (TM) to help us see through the nebulous marketing haze. Doing so just might save us all a disheartening trip to the cinema and spare us unnecessarily springing for $7 popcorn. See what the 8-Ball says about this week’s releases… ——————————————————————————————————————————————- LINCOLN In a nation divided by war and the strong winds of change, Lincoln pursues a course of action designed to end the war, unite the country and abolish slavery. With the moral courage and fierce determination to…
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First Look – Japanese Remake of 'Unforgiven'
This Summer we reported about Clint Eastwood’s Oscar-winning Western Unforgiven being remade and set in Japan. Taking the lead for the film is celebrated Japanese actor Ken Watanabe playing the iconic Eastwood role. Lee Sang-il is set to direct the film which takes place in 1880 around the time that the country is (like The Last Samurai) becoming more Westernized. In this similarly themed film Watanabe plays a “samurai with a violent past, who lives on Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido with his aboriginal wife, but is brought out of retirement for one last job.” The first set shots have been released and even though they only started shooting this month it’s still enough to…
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Ohhh, Look…Pixar Short 'La Luna' On-Line NOW!!
Most audiences on the planet automatically know that when going into a Pixar film they’ll be wow’d by great visuals and, more importantly, superb storytelling. But of equal and sometimes better quality are their fantastic short films like Partysaurus Rex. Case in point; this year, with Brave, we got the studio’s first Princess story but while it didn’t have quite the impact they regularly offer fans, the short La Luna couldn’t have been better. A wondrous story about a boy, his father and grandfather and their celestially custodial family business La Luna is magical and has the makings of a classic…if you could consider an animated short a classic that is. Today it showed up…
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Max Landis Set to Direct, Not Write, 'Me Him Her'
Well, here’s a cool bit of news from Variety: Max Landis, A.K.A “Son of Landis” and the man behind this year’s sleeper hit Chronicle, is going to step out from behind the keyboard and settle right down into the director’s chair. According to the press release, it looks like he’s going to be at the helm for Big Beach Films’ comedy project Me Him Her. After Chronicle, seeing Landis take on a comedy– particularly a comedy focusing on three twenty-something leads dealing with what sounds like an array of sexual identity crises– may strike a few out there as being somewhat odd at first blush. With a few moments of consideration, though,…
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Sweet Trailer…'Side Effects'
You may have seen this trailer already, given that it hit the web on Friday, but Steven Soderbergh’s films generally tend to be worth getting excited for and talking about. So, basically, forgive me for being late to the party. After the string of wins Soderbergh has had recently (2011’s Contagion, this year’s Haywire and, much more notably, Magic Mike), the chameleonic director doesn’t seem to be showing any signs of softening up or slowing down; the trailer for pharmaceutical drama/thriller Side Effects more or less confirms this while also continuing Soderbergh’s habit of keeping to a consistent roster of actors. See for yourself: That’s right: after appearing in both…
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G-S-T Review…Holy Motors
There’s no easy way to evaluate a film like Holy Motors after a single viewing. That’s why I watched my screener copy twice. Of course, I still feel somewhat behind the eight ball as I try in earnest to write my review, but in my own defense it’s worth noting that I’ve never seen anything like Holy Motors before in my life. (Continuing in that vein: I’d wager that there are more critics who share my position than not.) In fact, the film is so unique, original, and rampantly weird that calling it a new entry in surreal cinema feels like an observation of family resemblance and nothing more. How…