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‘The Wolf of Wall Street’ (2013) Movie Review

COMMENTS

Scorsese channels a director 50 years younger as he captures the life of a morally diseased degenerate

Brad Brevet

BY: 
PUBLISHED: TUESDAY, 

The Wolf of Wall Street movie review

Leonardo DiCaprio in The Wolf of Wall Street
Photo: Paramount Pictures

Iread about one-third of Jordan Belfort‘s autobiography before deciding I couldn’t take anymore. I only have so much tolerance for a blowhard wearing, with pride, the amount of cocaine and quaaludes he was able to take and the number of hookers he slept with as a badge of honor. Belfort’s book seems to believe we’ll be impressed by his tales of debauchery as much as we’ll feel sorry for and applaud him for coming out the other end after his involvement in stock market manipulation, securities fraud, etc. I’m not impressed, nor do I feel sorry for him and this is what Martin Scorsese‘s The Wolf of Wall Street gets exactly right.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

‘Amazing Spider-Man 2’ Trailer: Watch Now!

Andrew Garfield is back with a lot more villains to face this time around.

By Kevin P. Sullivan 

 

In the first trailer for “The Amazing Spider-Man 2,” Peter Parker has much more than teen angst to deal with. Going by the initial look at next year’s sequel, the web-slinger will have to combat both his parents’ secret past and at the very least, a trio of new villains.

Fans of the Marvel comics character will be left with the impression that for his second go-around as Spider-Man, Andrew Garfield fights a lot of bad guys. We’re not just talking about Jamie Foxx as Electro, either. The nearly three-minute trailer teased appearances by Rhino (Paul Giamatti) in both human and beefed-up robot form and someone who seems to have taken on the mantle of the Green Goblin.

 

‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2’

 

Green Goblin’s appearance will have the most people speculating. The version of the baddie here appears to skip over the original, Norman Osbourn, and go straight to Harry Osbourn.

Including three well-known Spider-Man villains in one movie might seem like a lot, especially for series that has suffered in the past for jamming too many into a single installment. But the rumors around “The Amazing Spider-Man 2” indicate that it may be laying the groundwork for an even bigger line-up, the Sinister Six.

Also returning, in addition to Garfield, is his real-life girlfriend Emma Stone, who plays Peter Parker’s love interest Gwen Stacy. Once again, the two are playing up their chemistry with quick banter about machine guns and being late for dates.

 

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Her’ (2013) Movie Review

A beautifully told new look at the language of love

Brad Brevet

BY: 
PUBLISHED: WEDNESDAY, 

Her movie review
Joaquin Phoenix in Her
Photo: Warner Bros.

Spike Jonze’s Her is absolutely wonderful. It’s a film that questions our very existence, who we are as people, what defines us and the complexity or lack thereof of human relationships and bonding. What’s truly amazing, is how simple Jonze makes it look, there are thematic layers to Her that could fill hours of discussion. One enlightened moment leads to another as the core pleasures we find in the company of others is stripped down to the very essence of humanity and what truly allows us to appreciate love and connect with someone else while also making a comment on our society on a whole.

‘HER’
REVIEW
GRADE: A+

 

 

 

 

Set in the not-so-distant future, Hercenters on Theodore Twombly (Joaquin Phoenix), a custom greeting card writer who’s marriage has recently ended. Heartbroken, Theo is walking through life with blinders on. We’re given glimpses of they joy he had with his wife (Rooney Mara) and the hole their separation has left in his heart and it’s easy to sympathize. Phoenix plays the character with such compassion and a gentle nature, we instantly cheer for him, wanting him to find happiness.

Theo’s life unexpectedly changes with the introduction of an advanced computer operating system that not only works with voice commands, but actually has a personality and learns and adapts the more you use it. Given the option to use a male or female voice, Theo chooses female and seconds later his computer and all connected devices come to life. “What’s your name?” he asks. After reading an entire book of baby names in a matter of seconds, his computer replies, “Samantha.”

It’s a little strange for Theo at first, recognizing human familiarity in a voice without a body as it browses through all his most personal bits of information stored on his hard drive and within old emails, but as time goes by, and all the embarrassing personal stuff is out of the way, all that’s left is the experience. Samantha has all the information “she” could ever possibly need at “her” disposal, but the stumbling block that typically gets in the way of stories dealing with advanced A.I. and the ability/inability to find kinship with humanity and experiencing feelings is eliminated early.

Samantha is curious, and the more “she” gets to know Theo the more “she” wants to experience life and Jonze smartly uses online sex chat rooms to advance the idea Samantha can feel on some level, proving intimacy isn’t only in physical contact, and that it all stems from our brain. After all, what is Samantha, but a giant, digital brain?

Samantha’s positivity, humor and general excitement for the unknown captures Theo’s heart and a relationship begins to blossom and perhaps most surprisingly, you too will find comfort in “her” companionship and joy in Theo’s resulting happiness.

Samantha is voiced by Scarlett Johansson, a good choice it turns out as her voice has a unique quality to it and Johansson is great in the role as she must convince the audience of her “existence” and “feelings” without a single facial twitch or roll of the eye. In a lot of ways, Her is the anti-silent movie, but then again, while Johansson provides the voice, Phoenix is responsible for the reaction.

As much as Theodore may talk to Samantha or his neighbor (played by Amy Adams) it’s in his reactions to his time spent with Samantha and the things “she” says that result in the most emotional moments. In a lot of ways it’s akin to a relationship lived over the telephone and some may call it “TheYou’ve Got Mail of a new generation” only without the inevitable physical meeting of the two pen pals. I’d argue, however, this is a far more intimate story and one that strikes a far more personal cord with anyone willing to let it in.

Her is about mustering up the courage to give oneself over to love or what Adams’ character describes as “socially acceptable insanity.” At one point it’s said Theo and Samantha both have learned how to love. Throughout the film Samantha asks questions such as what it means to share your life with somebody and a favorite line of mine, “How would you touch me?” which carries a much larger meaning than just the obvious physical description. While Samantha “learns” what these aspects of human behavior mean Theo is learning as well, learning to give himself over to the idea of love, to not hold back or be guarded with his feelings and not be afraid.

I loved the soft, sun-kissed and intimate cinematography from Hoyte Van Hoytema (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy). Almost every scene in Her breathes in the world around it, as Van Hoytema does anything he can to mimic Samantha’s experience “seeing” the world for the first time. And the costume (Casey Storm), production (K.K. Barrett) and set (Casey Storm) design are equally fascinating, with only the most subtle differences to today’s fashion and interior design, allowing for a slightly more future-minded setting, but nothing at all unfamiliar while the score from Arcade Fire most oftentimes blends into the narrative and never overwhelms it.

While Her centers on the story of a man falling in love with an operating system, in the end it remains a film about human connection and opening ourselves up. Samantha is an idea more than anything, she’s essentially an advanced Rosetta Stone, teaching the language of love and human connection. Obviously there is a commentary on society’s obsession with technology, but that’s only surface level stuff, there’s much more to Her to discover and dissect and I only hope it charms moviegoers as much as it did me. It’s a film I could watch over and over again and absolutely one of the year’s best.

 
GRADE: A+

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arnold Schwarzenegger in Sabotage
Photo: Open Road Films

The first pictures were revealed yesterday and now Open Road has premiered the first trailer for Sabotage, the new film from David Ayer(End of Watch) starring Arnold SchwarzeneggerSam Worthington,Olivia WilliamsTerrence HowardJoe Manganiello and Mireille Enos.

Set to hit theaters on April 11, 2014, the film centers on an elite DEA task force deals with the world’s deadliest drug cartels. Specializing in complex mobile operations, the team executes a tactical raid on a cartel safe house. What looks to be a typical raid turns out to be an elaborate theft operation, pre-planned by the DEA squad. After hiding millions in stolen cash, the team believes their secret is safe – until someone begins assassinating them one by one.

 

Buzz Builds for ‘Lone Survivor’ as a New Trailer is Released

Could it be as good as they’re saying?

Brad Brevet

BY: 
PUBLISHED: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8TH 2013

Lone Survivor movie trailer

Mark Wahlberg in Lone Survivor
Photo: Universal Pictures

A few days ago Universal sent over a packet with a promotional booklet inside with all the critical quotes you’re about to see in this new Lone Survivor trailer. The one that probably stands out the most comes fromGrantland‘s Bill Simmons declaring it “The most extraordinary war film since Saving Private Ryan.” Universal must have been running to print t-shirts with the quote as they put together their marketing package for the upcoming December 27 release.

The film is directed by Peter Berg (The Kingdom) and tells the story of four Navy SEALs on an ill-fated covert mission to neutralize a high-level Taliban operative who are ambushed by enemy forces in the Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan. It’s based on The New York Times bestseller and stars Mark Wahlberg, Taylor Kitsch, Emile Hirsch, Ben Foster and Eric Bana.

The December 27 release will be a limited one with the film going wide on Friday, January 10, 2014.

When I think of Simmons I don’t think of your typical movie trailer “quote whore” so when he says something such as that quote above it makes me take notice. I am really looking forward to seeing what Berg and his team have put together with this one.


 

 

 

Watch the Official Domestic Trailer for ‘Blue is the Warmest Color’

Arriving in theaters on October 25

Brad Brevet

BY: 
PUBLISHED: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19TH 2013 AT 11:16 AM

Blue is the Warmest Color trailer

Adèle Exarchopoulos in Blue is the Warmest Color
Photo: Sundance Selects

Sundance Selects has finally released an official domestic trailer for the Cannes Film Festival Palme d’Or winner Blue is the Warmest Colordirected by Abdellatif Kechiche and featuring two standout performances from Léa Seydoux and Adèle Exarchopoulos.

finally caught the film in Toronto earlier this month after missing it in Cannes earlier this year and the buzz over Exarchopoulos’ performance is legit and while many are wondering if she can slide into the Best Actress race at this year’s Oscars, the film’s NC-17 rating is going to make it an uphill battle, not to mention the fact IFC isn’t exactly known for mounting major awards campaigns.

The story centers on the young high school junior Adele (Exarchopoulos) as she begins her healthy, youthful exploration of her sexuality. Sex with men leaves her feeling empty and unfulfilled as her mind wanders and she dreams of a blue-haired girl she only saw briefly on the street, a chance encounter that caused something to stir inside her and on compelling her to learn more.

From there it simply follows her life trajectory in the most intimate and emotional ways. The film is highly explicit and emotionally powerful, but as I said in my review, it’s hard to tell if it’s “going to gain more attention for its Palme d’Or win at the Cannes Film Festival, the outstanding performances from its two lead actors or for its explicit (and questionably necessary) sex scenes.”

You can read my full review right here and Sundance will begin releasing it in theaters on October 25.

The trailer is directly below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New film: “Elysium”

After Earth

HOLLYWOOD has subjected us to all manner of cataclysms this year, destroying the human race with everything from giant dinosaur-crabs in“Pacific Rim” to priapic demons in “This Is The End”. Yet amid these end-of-the-world sci-fi shockers, a still smaller sub-genre has emerged: films that suggest that in the not-too-distant future, the human race—or those who can afford it—will abandon Earth and fly off to a colony in space. This bleak vision has been terribly popular in 2013, evident in the Wachowskis’ absurd but ambitious adaptation of “Cloud Atlas”; the glossy Tom Cruise vehicle, “Oblivion”; Will and Jaden Smith’s embarrassing father-son outing, “After Earth”; and now in Neill Blomkamp’s satirical action film, “Elysium”, a noisy, hectic, not-quite-as-clever follow-up to his tremendous 2009 debut “?District 9”?. The concept is not new—perhaps the best example is still Pixar’s “Wall-E” from 2008—but its recent ubiquity is slightly alarming. The consensus of cinematic opinion is that our days on Earth are numbered.

A decade ago film-makers with an apocalyptic bent had other concepts on their minds. They preferred to visualise the destruction of civilisation as it was underway. Films such as “28 Days Later …” (2002), “The Day After Tomorrow” (2004) and “Dawn Of The Dead” (2004) begin with society functioning much as it does today, only for it to be rocked by environmental collapse or decomposing cannibals. (This year’s “World War Z” was a profitable throwback.)

But after a few years this apocalyptic scenario had moved on. The creators of “I Am Legend” (2007), “The Road” (2009), “Zombieland” (2009), “The Book Of Eli” (2010) and television’s “The Walking Dead” (2010) assumed that audiences would be so familiar with killer plagues and eco-disasters that there was no need to dwell on them. They consigned the carnage to voice-overs in the opening minutes. From that point on, the stories concentrated on handfuls of survivors wandering around a wasteland, stopping occasionally to shoot at each other.

As grim as these films may have been—and “The Road” was very grim indeed—they at least promised us that life on Earth would continue in some recognisable form in centuries to come, especially if you knew your way around a semi-automatic rifle. Now, however, sci-fi blockbusters aren’t even offering us that consolation. The latest wave of big-screen armageddons implies that Earth will soon be so dystopian that it won’t be worth trying to live there. “Cloud Atlas” finishes with Tom Hanks and Halle Berry relocating to a distant world, and both “Oblivion” and “After Earth” send humanity to the stars. In “Elysium”, the super-rich have decamped to a luxurious orbiting space station—a none-too-subtle projection of a gated community—while the have-nots (led by a personality-free Matt Damon) are left to scrabble around in dust-choked poverty on Earth.

If you are feeling optimistic, you might take comfort in the notion that our descendants will still be around even after we’ve laid waste to our home planet. But, at bottom, all four of these recent films share the depressing message that the Earth is doomed, and that we might as well give up on it. It’s enough to make you watch some zombie pandemic movies to cheer yourself up.

Divergent teaser trailer

Shailene Woodley in Divergent
Photo: Summit Entertainment

13 seconds. This following teaser trailer for Divergent, yet another young adult adapation, is 13 seconds. What information can you gain about a movie in 13 seconds? Well, if you’re already in the bag for said movie all it can do is offer up a chance for you to scream because IT’S SO AMAZING! However, if you don’t know what it is and don’t really care… Well, you’ll probably be in the same position after watching.

Based on the novel of the same name, Divergent is described as a thrilling adventure centered around the monumental choice of deciding who you are and discovering who you can be. Set in a future where America is divided into five ideological factions to stabilize society and uphold peace, every citizen must choose a permanent faction at age 16 – either their own or another. Struggling to survive her initiation into the most aggressive and physically demanding of the factions, Beatrice Prior must uncover her true hidden strengths and risk her family, her new found love, and her very own life to defuse a mysterious conspiracy which could change the balance of power forever.

Shailene Woodley (The Spectacular Now) stars in the lead role as Beatrice and she’s supported by the likes of Kate Winslet, Maggie Q, Mekhi Phifer, Jai Courtney, her Spectacular Now co-star Miles Teller and Zoë Kravitz.

Neil Burger directs and Summit is set to release it in theaters on March 21, 2014.

Watch the teaser below and I expect we’ll see a full length trailer very soon if not tomorrow.

RELATED LINKS: DIVERGENT
    

Michael Bay Strikes a Pose in First Official ‘Transformers 4’ Set Picture

POSTED AUGUST 23RD 2013 

 
Michael Bay Strikes a Pose in First Official 'Transformers 4' Set Picture

Check out the first picture from the set of Transformers 4 and browse through a gallery of the cars chosen to represent the alien robots in the new movie.

First ‘Monuments Men’ Trailer and Six New Pictures

The potential Oscar contender gets a first look

Brad Brevet

BY: 
PUBLISHED: THURSDAY, AUGUST 8TH 2013 AT 7:54 AM

 
Monuments Men trailer
Matt Damon and George Clooney in Monuments Men
Photo: Columbia Pictures

Sony has premiered the first The Monuments Men trailer offering up the first glimpse at one of the more anticipated Oscar contenders of the year, a film assumed to be an Oscar contender due to the talent in front of and behind the camera along with its subject matter.

TH film is directed by George Clooney who also co-wrote the film with Grant Heslov and will star in the feature alongside Matt Damon, Bill Murray, Cate Blanchett, Jean Dujardin,Bob Balaban, Hugh Bonneville and John Goodman.

Based on a true story and adapted from Robert M. Edsel’s novel, “The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves, and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History”, The Monuments Men focuses on an unlikely World War II platoon, tasked by FDR with going into Germany to rescue artistic masterpieces from Nazi thieves and returning them to their rightful owners. It would be an impossible mission: with the art trapped behind enemy lines, and with the German army under orders to destroy everything as the Reich fell, how could these guys – seven museum directors, curators, and art historians, all more familiar with Michelangelo than the M-1 – possibly hope to succeed? But as the Monuments Men, as they were called, found themselves in a race against time to avoid the destruction of 1000 years of culture, they would risk their lives to protect and defend mankind’s greatest achievements.

The Monuments Men arrives in theaters on December 18, watch the trailer below and on the second page I’ve included six pictures that were published yesterday in USA Today.

 
 
 
 
 

The 7 Craziest Moments From the ‘Machete Kills’ Trailer

Danny Trejo and Michelle Rodriguez in 'Machete Kills' (Photo: Open Road Films)
Danny Trejo and Michelle Rodriguez in ‘Machete Kills’ (Photo: Open Road Films)
 August 2, 2013Movie Talk
 

 

When a trailer starts with Charlie Sheen — excuse us, Carlos Estevez — in bed with three women, and he’s also the president of the United States, you know the movie is not aiming for subtlety. But the new look at Robert Rodriguez’s “Machete Kills” is even more insane than anyone could’ve possibly predicted.

[Related: ‘Machete Kills’ World Premiere Set for Fantastic Fest]

The movie stars Danny Trejo, the 69-year-old (yes, seriously) boxer-turned-convict-turned-actor, as Machete Cortez, a betrayed former Federales who dispenses justice one slice at a time. The first movie, 2010’s “Machete,” was based on the fake trailer Rodriguez included in “Grindhouse,” his ill-fated double-feature withQuentin Tarantino. That flick featured a ridiculous plot, excessive violence, and plenty of stunt casting includingRobert De Niro, Steven Seagal, and Lindsay Lohan. This new trailer, though, takes it to the next level, complete with appearances by Mel Gibson (as a cape-wearing terrorist), Lady Gaga (as Cuba Gooding Jr.), and Sofia Vergara (as, well, you’ll see).

Here are our favorite moments from the trailer.

President Sheen:

Casting Charlie Sheen as the leader of the free world isn’t quite ridiculous enough, so the trailer features him shared a bed with not one, not two, but three lingerie-clad ladies.

There’s an App for That:

Most every character Trejo has played for Rodriguez has been named after a bladed weapon — Machete, Razor, Navajas (a Spanish knife) — so, of course, even his iPhone needs to be a switchblade.

High Voltage Action:

While a lot of the action in the trailer is completely over-the-top, this scene shows that Trejo is still completely grounded.

Vergara’s Secret:

Sofia Vergara plays Desdemona, a villainess who brandishes a pair of deadly weapons. Also, she wears a machine gun bra.

From Cuba to Gaga:

Lady Gaga makes her movie debut as La Chameleon, who can convincingly disguise herself to look exactly like Cuba Gooding Jr. (maybe it was really her in “Snow Dogs” the whole time).

Mel Gibson – Caped Crusader:

To play a madman bent of world domination, Gibson has to look the part. And that apparently includes wearing a shiny blue suit with a white cape.

[Related: Mel Gibson Plays His First (Fictional) Bad Guy in ‘Machete Kills’]

Flipping Out:

Machete is so dangerous he can turn anything into a lethal weapon (which he’ll need to defeat the guy from “Lethal Weapon”). And that includes flipping a speedboat to take out a pack of henchmen.

“Machete Kills” slices into theaters on October 11.

 

 

 

 

Watch a Japanese Trailer for ‘Diana’ Starring Naomi Watts

How will the film be sold to audiences all over the world?

Brad Brevet

BY: 
PUBLISHED: MONDAY, JULY 1ST 2013 AT 9:55 AM

Diana Japanese movie trailer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo: eOne Entertainment

As Bleeding Cool points out, this new trailer for Oliver Hirschbiegel’s Diana is primarily interesting as a comparison piece to the previously released domestic version.

Princess Diana (played by Naomi Watts) was undoubtedly a global icon, but how will the film based on the last two years of her life be sold across the world?

Check out the Japanese trailer directly below and below that is the originally released domestic teaser. Diana doesn’t currently have a release date, but I expect it will have a fall festival premiere, followed by an Oscar season release.

RELATED LINKS: DIANA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Suddenly I Really Want to See ‘Empire State’ with Dwayne Johnson and Liam Hemsworth

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Empire State (Blu-ray)Lionsgate has announced the September 3 release of Empire State on DVD and Blu-ray, which is a bit of a surprise considering it stars the billion dollar man, Dwayne Johnson. Johnson has had a film in the top ten at the box office ever since February 24 of this year when Snitch was released. He followed that up with G.I. Joe: RetaliationPain and Gain and most recently Fast & Furious 6. The four films have brought in over $1 billion at the worldwide box office this year, but his next film will skip the theater and go straight

 

 

The Family’ Trailer and Poster are Here

 

Starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Robert De Niro, the film tells the story of the Manzonis, a notorious mafia family who gets relocated to Normandy, France under the witness protection program. While they do their best to fit in, old habits die hard and they soon find themselves handling things the “family” way. Tommy Lee Jones and Dianna Agron co-star.

 

 

 

 

 



`To the Wonder` Trailer

A silent Ben Affleck navigates dramatic romances with Rachel McAdams and Olga Kurylenko amid narration by Javier Bardem in the new trailer for Terrence Malick’s To the Wonder.  Tender .Rapturous .Beauty

 




Ender’s Game’ Teaser Trailer

 

First short teaser trailer for the adaptation of Orson Scott Card’s Ender’s Game




‘The Great Gatsby’ Trailer

Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan and Tobey Maquire star in a tale of impossible love, incorruptible dreams and high-octane tragedy in Baz Luhrman’s The Great Gatsby.




‘Oblivion’ International Trailer

Tom Cruise stars as a veteran soldier sent to a distant planet to destroy the remains of an alien race. Joseph Kosinski directs the film also starring Morgan Freeman, Olga Kurylenko, Andrea Riseborough and Melissa Leo.

 




‘The Lone Ranger’ Trailer 3

The final trailer for Gore Verbinski‘s western starring Johnny Depp, Armie Hammer and Helena Bonham Carter

 




Man of Steel – Trailer 3

More is revealed and the fate of the world rests on Superman’s shoulders in the new trailer for Man of Steel.

 



 

‘Romeo and Juliet’ Trailer

Hailee Steinfeld and Douglas Booth topline as the star-crossed lovers in yet another adaptation of Shakespeare’s fabled masterwork Romeo and Juliet.




Arthur Newman Trailer

A failed professional golfer (Colin Firth) reinvents himself with a new identity and finds a woman (Emily Blunt) who is also trying to escape her past in the new trailer for Arthur Newman.

 




Syrup Trailer

Shiloh Fernandez, Amber Heard, Brittany Snow and Kellan Lutz must overcome the backstabbing and deceit of the ever-changing landscape of soft drink marketing in the new trailer for Aram Rappaport’s adaptation of the Max Barry novel Syrup.


 

 

‘The Hunger Games: Catching Fire’ Teaser Trailer

The first official trailer for Lionsgate’s anticipated Hunger Games follow-up, Catching Fireshows President Snow (Donald Sutherland) and the introduction of new head gamemaker Plutarch Heavensbee (Philip Seymour Hoffman) conspiring to eliminate Katniss.