Twitch

Betwitched by Comics: Unwritten, Wednesday Comics, Fearless Dawn, Olympus

2009-07-10T03:28:24Z

(As I continue to search for movies that haven’t been covered at Twitch, I thought I’d share further observations on new and recent comic books.)

The Unwritten #3 (Vertigo) is a decent transitional issue for this limited series by Mike Carey and Peter Gross. The first issue was nearly double-sized and set up great chunks of a good story about Tom Taylor, a man haunted by his late father’s best-selling series of children’s fantasy books featuring a character named “Tommy Taylor.” Details are filled in, but it feels like more of a set-up for what’s to come than an entirely satisfying read.

Wednesday Comics #1 (DC) hearkens back to the Golden Age. Like a newspaper comics section, it’s printed on newsprint using, I’m guessing, the four-color printing method, with all the hazards of newsprint publishing. (In my case, two pages were mis-registered, so the colors look blurry and ugly.) The issue is loose-leaf (unbound) and folded into quarters. Unfold it, and you can read 15 different comics, each on its own page (14 inches by 20 inches).

THE HURT LOCKER Review

2009-07-09T23:49:21Z

[I originally reviewed Kathryn Bigelow’s The Hurt Locker when it screened as part of the Toronto International Film Festival and with the film finally receiving a limited release now - opposite the Bruno marketing behemoth, a factor that does not bode well - I figured it could use a little love and have pulled the original review forward.]

I present to you a basic Hollywood reality that should have been recognized long ago but apparently has not been: This is a bad time to be making an Iraq War film. Good film, bad film, big cast, no cast, fiction, documentary, it really doesn’t matter. Whatever the merits of the film in question - and there have been a number of good ones made - if it is about the Iraq War it is destined to fail at the box office as has been proven repeatedly over the last year. The conflict is still far too fresh, still far too much in the news and an audience overloaded by Iraq every night on the six o’clock news simply won’t pay money to see more of the same on the big screen. Too bad for Kathryn Bigelow, then, because with The Hurt Locker she has put together one potent piece of work.

Brünoooooooooooo. Review.

2009-07-09T20:17:10Z

Oh boy. Where to begin. First off let me just say that Sacha Baron Cohen’s got balls. Huge wrecking ball size balls. His followup to the mega hit Borat goes farther than I had imagined or dared to imagine and had such an effect on me that I spent most of the time watching the film with my hands over my eyes and saying to myself “No no no no no! This isn’t happening.” At one point I had to close my eyes and and put my hands over my ears because I couldn’t bear the tension that was on the screen. I have a very hard time watching these types of comedies where people are put in to awkward situations, like the UK’s The Office and Extras, Alan Partridge and such because I get an actual physical reaction to what’s happening on screen. I want to be somewhere else, be able to shut it off if it becomes to unbearable and I can’t do that in the cinema unless I simply walk out. That’s why I’ve only seen Borat once and that was in the cinema.
I live in a very liberal and easygoing society and it takes allot to shock us but the people at the screening were stunned after watching this thing. So I can’t imagine the reaction this film is going to get in the states where sex and homosexuality is still taboo in many people’s minds. But man the film is funny, I haven’t laughed like that at a movie since, well Borat I think.

Tomm Moore’s BRENDAN AND THE SECRET OF KELLS To Have US Premiere Next Week!

2009-07-09T18:05:34Z

Well, hooray! This is a brilliant film and it’s been a long time coming to these shores.

NEW YORK INT’L CHILDREN’S FILM FESTIVAL PRESENTS:
***US PREMIERE***
THE SECRET OF KELLS

The highly anticipated new animated masterpiece from the producers of Kirikou and the Sorceress and Triplets of Belleville

• Winner Audience Award - Annecy Animation Festival
• “Absolutely luscious to behold!” – Variety
• “Stunning! A cascade of light, color and wonder burst from the screen!” – The Irish Times
• “A visual universe of true splendor!” – Le Monde

SAT & SUN, JULY 18 & 19, 11:00AM
IFC Center (323 West Sixth Ave)

Tickets on sale now at
http://WWW.GKIDS.TV or 212-349-0330

New York, NY, June 23, 2009 –New York Int’l Children’s Film Festival extends its reputation as one of the nation’s premiere showcases of new animation with the July 18 & 19 U.S. Premiere screenings of The Secret of Kells, the highly anticipated new animated masterpiece from the producers of Kirikou and the Sorceress and Triplets of Belleville. The film has been hailed by international critics as one of the year’s most beautiful movies and has recently won audience awards at the prestigious Annecy Animation Festival and Edinburgh International Film Festival. Tickets are now on sale at http://www.gkids.tv and 212-349-0330.

ANIMATION at NYICFF
New York Int’l Children’s Film Festival (NYICFF) has a history of presenting important and groundbreaking new feature animation, including U.S. Premiere screenings of Castle in the Sky, Porco Rosso and Nausicaa by Hayao Miyazaki, Kirikou and the Sorceress and Azur & Asmar by Michel Ocelot, Steamboy by Katsuhiro Otomo, Mia & the Migoo by Jacques Remy Girerd, as well as many Oscar nominated short films.

NYICFF co-director Eric Beckman said, “We are absolutely delighted and thrilled to present The Secret of Kells. The film is completely unique, combining imagery from Celtic mythology and illuminated manuscripts, but also from print design and graphic novels, for a gloriously brilliant, explosion of color and form that is like nothing else you have seen.”

SYNOPSIS
Young Brendan lives in the Abbey of Kells, a remote medieval outpost, where he labors with the other monks to fortify the abbey walls against Viking raids. But a new life of adventure beckons when a celebrated master illuminator arrives from foreign lands, carrying an ancient—but unfinished—book, brimming with secret wisdom and magical powers. To help complete the book, Brendan has to overcome his deepest fears on a dangerous quest that takes him for the first time beyond the abbey’s walls and into the enchanted forest where mythical creatures hide. It is here that he meets the fairy Aisling, a mysterious young wolf/girl, who helps him along the way. But with the terrifying Viking hordes closing in, will Brendan’s artistic vision illuminate the darkness and show that enlightenment is the best fortification against barbarians?

The Secret of Kells
Ireland/Belgium/France, Tomm Moore, 2009, 75 min
Sat & Sun, July 18 & 19, 11:00am – IFC Center, 323 West Sixth Avenue (at West Third)

Tickets $12.50 adult/ $8.50 children and seniors – Recommended ages 6 to adult
http://www.gkids.tv 212-349-0330

About NYICFF:
Over the past 12 years, NYICFF has earned the reputation as one of the finest film festivals for people under 18 by programming an uncompromising slate of the best new animation, live action and experimental film from around the world, with filmmaker Q&As, hands-on production workshops, red-carpet premieres, audience voting, and the NYICFF Awards. Programs are organized by age group, with screenings available for all ages from tots to teens. Winners are chosen by audience ballot and NYICFF also presents a Special Jury Award. The Festival jury Emmy® winner and Golden Globe® nominated actor John Turturro (Quiz Show), Academy Award® winning actress Susan Sarandon (Dead Man Walking), Academy Award® nominated director Gus Van Sant (Milk, Good Will Hunting), Academy Award® nominated filmmaker James Schamus (Brokeback Mountain, Milk), actor Matthew Modine (Birdy), director Rob Minkoff (The Lion King), Producer Christine Vachon (I’m Not There, Boys Don’t Cry), Evan Shapiro, President of Sundance Channel and The Independent Film Channel (IFC TV) and New Yorker contributor Adam Gopnik. In recognition of its efforts, NYICFF has been twice honored by the Academy Foundation of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, while NY State Council on the Arts named NYICFF “a model for youth programming in New York State.”

Tickets and info: http://www.gkids.com
212-349-0330

REVIEW: WRITTEN BY - another take

2009-07-09T17:49:03Z

Wai Ka Fai clearly has a penchant for the supernatural. His directorial collaborations with Johnnie To (MAD DETECTIVE, RUNNING ON KARMA) often explore spiritual, philosophical and fantastic themes that To, when flying solo, tends to eschew in favour of more grounded, if super-stylised, interpretations of reality. When Wai works alone, however, the results can often be a little more haphazard.

How Come Peter Serafinowicz Never Does This When He Bumps Into Me On The Street?

2009-07-09T17:48:44Z

Okay, so I’ve never actually bumped into Peter Serafinowicz on the street - or Will Arnett for that matter - but a guy can dream, right? He’s the voice of Darth Maul and he makes me laugh. Look below the break to see what I mean.

AFFD Brings Asian Films to Dallas (Yes!)

2009-07-09T16:28:34Z

Established in 2002, the Asian Film Festival of Dallas has been rocking North Texas with quality Asian and Asian-American films ever since. I have a personal attachment to the fest, since I volunteered in a tiny, behind the scenes capacity at the first edition, and have been proud to see it blossom into an essential component of the local arts scene.

The 8th edition begins next week, opening with Dante Lam’s galvanizing Beast Stalker. It’s not quite perfect, but it’s a very smart thriller in its own right, and a very good variation on the classic Hong Kong cops ‘n’ criminal flick. I can’t wait to see it on the big screen next Friday, July 16.

I can also recommend Chris Martinez’ comedy/drama 100, which screens on Saturday, July 17. Sure, it’s a little weepy and melodramatic, but this Filipino Bucket List also surprised and touched me with its warm, empathetic view of a woman who is ready to face death alone—until she comes to realize the importance of family and friends.

The fest concludes on Thursday, July 23, with Wilson Yip’s Ip Man, a wonderfully entertaining biopic about Bruce Lee’s teacher, featuring Donnie Yen in one of his better performances, plus great action choreography by Sammo Hung. I hope to be out nearly every night and will be posting reports throughout the fest.

The complete line-up can be found in a press release after the jump.

First Teaser for CEMETERY JUNCTION

2009-07-09T12:28:45Z

I just can’t help but find this funny… no actual footage, but who needs it.

CEMETERY JUNCTION Tells the funny, touching and universal story of being trapped in a small town and dreaming of escape. In 1970s England, three blue-collar friends spend their days joking, drinking, fighting and chasing girls. Freddie (Christian Cooke) wants to leave their working-class world but cool, charismatic Bruce (Tom Hughes) and lovable loser Snork (Jack Doolan) are happy with life the way it is. When Freddie gets a new job as a door-to-door salesman and bumps into his old school sweetheart Julie (Felicity Jones), the gang are forced to make choices that will change their lives for ever.

Ralph Fiennes (The Reader, Schindlers List), RICKY GERVAIS (The Invention of Lying, Ghost Town), Emily Watson (Synecdoche, New York, Breaking the Waves) and MATTHEW GOODE (Watchmen, Brideshead Revisited) feature alongside stars-of-the-future Christian Cooke, Felicity Jones, Tom Hughes and Jack Doolan.

Cemetery Junction is set for a 2010 release from Sony Pictures.

The Wright Stuff Brings Toronto An ARMY of WORLD POLICE!

2009-07-09T01:35:36Z

I’ll just let this speak for itself:

FILMMAKER EDGAR WRIGHT BRINGS THE WRIGHT STUFF BACK TO THE BLOOR FOR A SPECIAL ONE NIGHT ONLY EVENT

The acclaimed writer/director will host an evening “In Conversation” with renowned cinematographer Bill Pope, including a special double-BILL of Pope classics.

Toronto - On July 26th, 2009 filmmaker Edgar Wright (Spaced, Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz) will bring his famed screening series The Wright Stuff back to the Bloor Cinema for a special night to host an “In Conversation” with cinematographer Bill Pope (Darkman, The Matrix Trilogy, Spider-Man 2 and 3). The evening will also include a double feature of Pope’s work personally selected by Wright as well as an in-depth discussion with the cinematographer himself.

Wright is one today’s true auteur filmmakers while Pope is among the most sought-after cinematographers. The two are currently collaborating on Wright’s film Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (based on the graphic novels by Bryan Lee O’Malley). In honor of this pairing, Wright selected Sam Raimi’s Army of Darkness and the Trey Parker/Matt Stone satire Team America: World Police.

Tickets for the double bill are $18 and will be available online and at the Bloor box office starting July 17th. Single movie tickets are $10 and will only be available 30 minutes before each screening. No Bloor Cinema membership is required.

For more information visit this page.

Location:
Bloor Cinema
506 Bloor Street West
(just east of Bathurst Street - Bathurst Subway Station)
Tel: 416-516-2331

7:00 PM
Army of Darkness:
Unfortunate housewares employee Ash (Bruce Campbell) is transported back to the Middle Ages, where destiny has him squaring off against the titular army. Despite a larger narrative scope then the earlier films, Raimi expertly preserves the franchise’s formula for Looney Tunes-inspired anarchy and Svankmajer-esque experimentation. The proceedings are funnier then ever.

9:30 PM
Team America: World Police:
Initially conceived as an attempt to remake The Day After Tomorrow entirely with Gerry Anderson-inspired puppets, South Park co-creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone focused their satiric lens on Bruckheimer and Bay blockbusters with this “miniature” epic about an obnoxiously patriotic American military group bent on arrogantly spreading freedom across the globe while comically destroying everything in their path in doing so.

We love you Edgar.

‘District 9’ looking better and better. New Trailer hits the web.

2009-07-08T23:40:01Z

I hate Neill Blomkamp. Hate him. Why you ask?
Because the talented bastard is only 30 years old, four years younger than me and he’s probably gone and made the best sci-fi film this year. Now obviously I’m only basing this on the fantastic looking new trailer that has just been released for his first feature District 9. People have contemplated that the film would be in the mockumentary mode ala Blair Witch and more recently Cloverfield, which is not surprising since the short the feature is based on is exactly that but what I did notice in this trailer is that it seems that only a small part of the film uses that format and the actual plot is told in the regular way. As a result the film is much much larger than we originally thought.
Color me tickled pink.
Yahoo has the goods.

Producer Bill Kong Talks BLOOD: THE LAST VAMPIRE

2009-07-08T23:17:37Z

[Producer Bill Kong is, without a doubt, one of the most important faces in Asian film. His Edko Films has produced a remarkable string of international hits - films that include Hero and House of Flying Daggers and were also the Asian side of the live action adaptation of Blood: The LAst Vampire. Our very sincer thanks go to Diva Velez for sharing the following interview with Kong on his latest work. Find it below the break!]

REVIEW of THE CONSCIENCE OF NHEM EN

2009-07-08T19:05:24Z

Steven Okazaki’s Oscar®-nominated documentary short The Conscience of Nhem En is profoundly distressing for reminding that Hannah Arendt’s conception of the “banality of evil” is as global a phenomenon as it is a human one and no less a threat in the machinations of warfare today as yesterday. Our’s is the constant task to remember and resist such inhumanity. Arendt’s understanding of the complicity that supports man’s officious inhumanity to man aligns with filmmaker Okazaki’s thematic concerns with the extraordinary lives of ordinary people. When he and I spoke on the occasion of his Emmy®-award winning White Light, Black Rain, Okazaki expressed his upset with a historicity that excludes the testimonials of survivors of horrific events; an exclusion he deemed “disturbing” if not “racist.” Such exclusions avoid the fascinating and tragic human story and—for his part—talking about survivors and allowing survivors to speak for themselves is “more of a rebellious act” against systemic historical erasure; a rebellion made all the more essential in the face of a younger generation of Cambodians remaining uninformed about these relatively recent events. Admittedly not a political creature, Okazaki achieves an intimate view of the past through individual experience by stressing—as he says—the story rather than the message. Allowing individuals to tell their stories, he asserts, is itself a political act.

Along with Smile Pinki, Megan Mylan’s Oscar®-winning documentary short, The Conscience of Nhem En will screen FREE this evening, Tuesday, July 7 at the Jewish Community Center in Berkeley followed by a discussion with Steven Okazaki. The Jewish Community Center is located at 1414 Walnut Street, Berkeley, California. Doors open at 6:30PM, followed by the screening at 7:00PM, filmmaker discussion at 8:15PM and a dessert reception at 8:45. Those interested should RSVP at https://www.homeboxoffice.com/rsvp/oscarshorts or phone 888.684.0385. For those unable to attend this community outreach event, The Conscience of Nhem En debuts July 8 at 8:00PM on HBO2. Other HBO2 playdates: July 13 (5:30PM), 18 (10:00AM), 21 (8:30AM), 23 (noon), 26 (6:00AM) and 30 (3:30PM). All listings EST.

More Mouth-Blade! We’ve Got Stills From Iguchi’s ROBOGEISHA!

2009-07-08T17:51:15Z

Just in case the utter insnanity of the trailer wasn’t enough to slake your thirst for Japanese cult madness we’ve just scored a trio of stills from Noboru Iguchi’s RoboGeisha. Here’s how I described it when we released the trailer a little more than a week ago:

RoboGeisha is the latest collaboration between Iguchi and special effects man Yoshihiro Nishimura - himself the director of Tokyo Gore Police - and it bears all of the now-classic hallmarks of the duo: outrageous special effects, grotesquely hilarious gore and weapons where weapons just should not go. Machine Girl had the mechanized arm. Iguchi’s earlier Sukeban Boy had leg and breast cannons. Nishimura’s Tokyo Gore Police has the infamous penis cannon. RoboGeisha? This one boasts what the trailer graciously describes as hip-katanas, though the swords are actually placed considerably lower and more to the rear. Yes, Iguchi’s latest has ass-swords and women who aren’t afraid to use them. And that’s not even mentioning the giant robot-building, the transforming geisha-tank or the fried shrimp rammed into eye sockets.

Somehow I forgot to mention that even the buildings spout enormous geysers of blood when damaged in this one and I’m sure there are one or two other moments of true lunacy in there as well. You’ll find the trailer below the break if you missed it the first time, and you can get stills from the link below.

Hey TORONTO! Are You Ready To Come Out AFTER DARK?

2009-07-08T17:07:31Z

It’s been a bit of an odd experience working on the lineup for Toronto After Dark this year. Due to travel commitments and other factors this year there has not been a single all-staff meeting for the fest this year. Nary a one, and all of us involved have simply worked away on our own little areas while getting the occasional update from fest honcho Adam Lopez to let us know what was going on. The end result of this being that I hadnt actually seen the full lineup of films - and didn’t even know what was being pursued outside of my own block of five titles - until late last week. And let me tell you: It’s one damn good lineup. In fact I’m quite comfortable saying that this is - by a healthy margin - the best top-to-bottom lineup the festival has had in its entire history, including the year that I programmed the whole damn thing myself so boo to me and hurray to everyone else.

But you don’t have to take my word for it! The first programming announcement wen public earlier this morning, including the first eight feature titles. And they are: Trick ‘R’ Treat; Grace; Franklyn; Black; Embodiment of Evil; Vampire Girl Versus Frankenstein Girl; The Forbidden Door and Someone’s Knocking At The Door. Anyone who can guess which of those were mine gets a cookie. The remaining nine titles will be announced at the end of the month.

Are you a teenage girl? Do you love Twilight? Well then this is aimed at you.

2009-07-08T16:01:15Z

Really Lions Gate? Really?