However, in this case I agree with him 100% and it is so refreshing to hear someone finally say it.
I still don't think the movie industry is going to wake up for a while yet though.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Movie Piracy
I don't always agree with Mark Kermode, but his point is usually pretty well made, which is why I'm a big fan of his.
However, in this case I agree with him 100% and it is so refreshing to hear someone finally say it.
However, in this case I agree with him 100% and it is so refreshing to hear someone finally say it.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Summer Season
As you can tell by my previous post, I went to see I Love You Man this weekend. For me this feels like the start of the summer movie season with a load of blockbusters about to hit our screens in the next few months.
So for anyone who’s interested, here’s a list of the films I’m looking forward to the most in the next few months (in chronological order) -
Wolverine
Star Trek
Terminator Salvation
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
Public Enemies
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
Inglorious Basterds
OK, I get that there aren’t any small independent movies in that list but as it’s the summer season I think I’m allowed to drool over big budget blockbusters without the guilt. Plus the small movies tend to pop up rather than have months of marketing build up.
However, if you’re aware of any hidden gems that are coming up I’d love to hear about them. Or if you just think there’s a blockbuster or two that I’ve overlooked.
So for anyone who’s interested, here’s a list of the films I’m looking forward to the most in the next few months (in chronological order) -
Wolverine
Star Trek
Terminator Salvation
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
Public Enemies
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
Inglorious Basterds
OK, I get that there aren’t any small independent movies in that list but as it’s the summer season I think I’m allowed to drool over big budget blockbusters without the guilt. Plus the small movies tend to pop up rather than have months of marketing build up.
However, if you’re aware of any hidden gems that are coming up I’d love to hear about them. Or if you just think there’s a blockbuster or two that I’ve overlooked.
The Apatow Bunch
I’m a big fan of the ‘Apatow Bunch’*. I’m referring, of course to the bunch of very funny guys - Seth Rogan, Judd Apatow, Paul Rudd, Bill Hader, Jonah Hill et al – who over the last few years have shown up in a bunch of great comedies that, more often than not, include some form of involvement from Judd Apatow.
Not only is this a really talented group of comedians, but they have managed to find a formula for making comedies that can appeal to everyone. For example, Knocked Up should, by all accounts, be described as a romantic comedy and therefore despised by all men. However, there’s enough guy humour running through it to keep me entertained. It is the perfect date movie.
However, not content with making the men and women laugh, they always through in some great lines for the geeks as well. There’s nothing a geek likes to see more than an in-joke. It makes us feel superior because we get a joke that some people in the audience won’t have understood because they don’t get the reference. You can see a great example of this if you watch I Love You Man staring Rudd and Segal, which came out in the UK last week. Just watch out for the Princess Bride reference – you’ll love it.
Even if you’re not a Princess Bride fan (ie soulless), you should go see it anyway because it’s just plain hilarious.
Amusingly enough I don’t think Judd Apatow had anything to do with I Love You Man, but it’s in the same style and stars two of his boys, so it counts as a ‘Bunch Movie’ as far as I’m concerned.
The only recent film by ‘The Bunch’ that I avoided in recent times was Pineapple Express. Stoner humour just doesn’t do it for me (that’s right, you heard me correctly Big Lebowski), and from what I understand I haven’t missed anything. Still, one dog out of around 15 movies isn’t so bad.
*The terms ‘Apatow Bunch’, ‘Bunch Movie’ and ‘The Bunch’ are registered trademarks of the Films and Things corporation (as if anyone cares!)
Not only is this a really talented group of comedians, but they have managed to find a formula for making comedies that can appeal to everyone. For example, Knocked Up should, by all accounts, be described as a romantic comedy and therefore despised by all men. However, there’s enough guy humour running through it to keep me entertained. It is the perfect date movie.
However, not content with making the men and women laugh, they always through in some great lines for the geeks as well. There’s nothing a geek likes to see more than an in-joke. It makes us feel superior because we get a joke that some people in the audience won’t have understood because they don’t get the reference. You can see a great example of this if you watch I Love You Man staring Rudd and Segal, which came out in the UK last week. Just watch out for the Princess Bride reference – you’ll love it.
Even if you’re not a Princess Bride fan (ie soulless), you should go see it anyway because it’s just plain hilarious.
Amusingly enough I don’t think Judd Apatow had anything to do with I Love You Man, but it’s in the same style and stars two of his boys, so it counts as a ‘Bunch Movie’ as far as I’m concerned.
The only recent film by ‘The Bunch’ that I avoided in recent times was Pineapple Express. Stoner humour just doesn’t do it for me (that’s right, you heard me correctly Big Lebowski), and from what I understand I haven’t missed anything. Still, one dog out of around 15 movies isn’t so bad.
*The terms ‘Apatow Bunch’, ‘Bunch Movie’ and ‘The Bunch’ are registered trademarks of the Films and Things corporation (as if anyone cares!)
Friday, April 24, 2009
In Bruges
Whoever made the trailer for In Bruges should be shot. To take an excellent, original, piece of work and make it look like an average, everyday, comedy must have taken some effort. I can only assume that it was done on purpose in order to bring in larger crowds.
I never really considered going to see the film in the cinema after watching the trailer. Even after it came out on DVD and my housemate bought it I let it sit on the side for about a month before finally watching it over the Easter Weekend.
The film begins with a simple enough premise – two Irish hitmen (Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson) flee London after a job and hideout in Bruges on their bosses orders. The first twenty minutes or so go as expected with some great witty banter between the two. However, there is an uncomfortable atmosphere that hangs over the comedy, created by bleak backdrops and a melancholy soundtrack.
Eventually the reason for the depressing feel is revealed and the film becomes one of the best black comedies that I can remember seeing. Farrell and Gleeson are superb and do a great job with some excellently written, witty dialogue. While the soundtrack and direction are impressive, it is the two of them that control the mood of the film throughout, making you laugh out loud one minute and then stopping you in your tracks without ever making it feel forced.
It’s difficult to talk about the film too much without stepping into ‘spoiler’ territory, and this is definitely a film that should be watched with as little prior knowledge as possible. So if you haven’t seen it yet then I would definitely recommend it – especially if you’ve avoided it because of the hideous job they did promoting it in the first place.
I never really considered going to see the film in the cinema after watching the trailer. Even after it came out on DVD and my housemate bought it I let it sit on the side for about a month before finally watching it over the Easter Weekend.
The film begins with a simple enough premise – two Irish hitmen (Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson) flee London after a job and hideout in Bruges on their bosses orders. The first twenty minutes or so go as expected with some great witty banter between the two. However, there is an uncomfortable atmosphere that hangs over the comedy, created by bleak backdrops and a melancholy soundtrack.
Eventually the reason for the depressing feel is revealed and the film becomes one of the best black comedies that I can remember seeing. Farrell and Gleeson are superb and do a great job with some excellently written, witty dialogue. While the soundtrack and direction are impressive, it is the two of them that control the mood of the film throughout, making you laugh out loud one minute and then stopping you in your tracks without ever making it feel forced.
It’s difficult to talk about the film too much without stepping into ‘spoiler’ territory, and this is definitely a film that should be watched with as little prior knowledge as possible. So if you haven’t seen it yet then I would definitely recommend it – especially if you’ve avoided it because of the hideous job they did promoting it in the first place.
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