Brian Knappenberger’s We Are Legion: The Story of the Hacktivists is a lot of things, but first and foremost it’s an outstanding example of documentary filmmaking done perfectly; it’s exciting, it’s propulsive, it’s entertaining, and it’s insightful. Documentaries should be educational and thorough as a rule, and We Are Legion doesn’t disappoint in that respect, but Knappenberger’s film– despite all of its historical and academic value– regardless manages to carry out its purpose with tongue firmly in cheek. And maybe there’s a point to that. After all, there’s something intrinsically bizarre about the idea that Knappenberger’s subject, the online, multi-faceted group of prankster-activists, Anonymous, actually has become a genuine catalyst for…
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Ohhh, Look…Awesome Minimalist Posters For 'The Avengers'
Comic fans have waited years, decades really, for the big screen adaption of Marvel’s The Avengers. Barring the advance screenings and international releases, on May 4th (step aside Star Wars) the world is going to come to a halt to take in the awesomeness Joss Whedon has been crafting and waiting to unleash on screens for the past 2 years. So to further whet your appetites, have a look at these rather awesome minimalist posters for The Avengers… (click on the images to see the hi-rez version) Whaddya think? Are these not just awesome?? Here’s some more you might like. The Avengers will be in theaters this Friday on May 4th.
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Sweet 3rd Trailer…'The Dark Knight Rises'
Well Bat-friends, we are getting ever closer to the last leg in Chritopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy. Batman Begins and The Dark Knight are two of the finest comic book adapations to ever grace the screen but more important are also just great films. Nolan has incredible reverence for the characters and the mythology and before we go up, up, and away with his Man of Steel project, here’s his final foray into the Gotham part of the DC universe. Behold, the final full trailer for The Dark Knight Rises. Was that awesome or what?? No honestly, tell us because we couldn’t watch it. Reason? Well, we believe that a film as…
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"What’s New on Blu?” – Week of 04/30/12
Whether you rent or buy movies, Blu-ray offers the ultimate in sight and sound. Streaming is convenient, but if you plan on watching the movie more than once, you need Blu. Check out what’s hitting the shelves this week… ——————————————————————————————————————————— Haywire is a great action flick and one that takes a slightly different twist than most. This flick gives a slight nod to 70’s action films and does not rely upon heavy CG work. If you’ve had a stressful week and just need to see some good old fashioned killing, this flick is for you. GoSeeTalk gives Haywire two thumbs up. Check out our review here. Blu-ray Release Date (U.S.): …
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[IFFBoston Review]…V/H/S
V/H/S could very well represent the pinnacle of found footage horror cinema. Actually, it may be fairer to think of the film a “do this, not that” instructional presentation to other aspiring horror filmmakers. In turns, V/H/S demonstrates both how to do found footage well and how to fail miserably maneuvering within the sub-genre’s cinematic mode; in fits and spurts, the film is tense and incredibly scary, but when it doesn’t work, it really, truly does not work in the most embarrassing and chagrin-inducing ways possible. That’s a risk of omnibus/anthology filmmaking. Assemble a ragtag team of five different directors—David Bruckner, Adam Wingard, Ti West, Joe Swanberg, Glenn McQuaid, and…
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[IFFBoston Review]…Polisse
Think of Polisse as a towering and worthy successor to television shows like The Shield and, far more accurately, The Wire. Dedicated to portraying its events and characters by way of a realistic mien, the film revolves around the lives of the Paris CPU (Child Protection Unit) both on the job and at home; the focus isn’t on a single narrative through-line carrying the picture from start to finish but rather on the people behind the armbands and badges and what motivates them and what haunts them. Polisse‘s stylistic bent lends itself to a sense of disarray, but while the movie may read as somewhat helter-skelter as it leaps from…
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G-S-T Review…The Pirates! Band of Misfits
From Aardman and Sony Pictures Animation comes this delightful tale about the Pirate Captain and his rag tag bunch of buccaneers. Based on The Pirates! book series by Gideon Defoe, Band of Misfits is a clever, charming and hysterical adventure, very much in the spirit of Wallace and Grommit and Chicken Run and is directed by pioneer of the animation world and Aardman co-founder Peter Lord. Lord, takes his first directing job since his smash hit Chicken Run in 2000. Among the high caliber voice talent aboard are Hugh Grant, Martin Freeman, Brendan Gleeson, David Tenant and more and add layers of depth to Lord’s latest stop-motion animated film. A wonderful blend of signature Aardman animation, wit and charm this is a return to…
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G-S-T Review…The Five-Year Engagement
By now a Judd Apatow comedy comes with a certain condemnation: they are far too long. That isn’t to say that his films, and the numerous ones he produces, aren’t funny. That’s a knock on the narrative and how it can get long in the tooth, especially in the middle as an important storyline transition is made. I prefaced this review to note that because it applies far too easily to The Five-Year Engagement. This is the second feature film to be directed by Nicholas Stoller and star Jason Segel, who both broke onto the film scene with their hit Forgetting Sarah Marshall, another Apatow production that suffered none of…
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“The CineMagic 8-Ball” – In Theaters 4/27/12
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… ——————————————————————————————————————————————- SAFE Mei, a young girl whose memory holds a priceless numerical code, finds herself pursued by the Triads, the Russian mob, and corrupt NYC cops. Coming to her aid is an ex-cage fighter whose life was destroyed by the gangsters on Mei’s trail. Statham…
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[IFFBoston Review]…Sleepwalk With Me
If Sleepwalk With Me does one thing well, it’s strike a balance between truth and delusion. For a film that grounds itself so heavily in reality while simultaneously reveling in the dreams of its protagonist, equilibrium is paramount; mercifully, the line between waking life and fantasy is never irreparably, irresponsibly blurred. We may not be able to immediately identify when our protagonist is dreaming– neither can he– but Sleepwalk With Me clues us in quickly enough so as to avoid leaving us in the lurch, establishing a clear relationship between the stages of awareness experienced by Matt, the aimless, disconnected, would-be comedian serving as our anchor. And why not? Dreams…
