'Boyhood' Named Film of the Year by London Film Critics Circle

Whether here or abroad, Richard Linklater's Boyhood appears to be building an incredible, possibly unstoppable, amount of momentum heading into the Academy Awards. Coming off Best Picture wins at the Golden Globes and Critics' Choice, Boyhood has now been named Film of the Year by the London Film Critics Circle. That goes along with a Director of the Year win for Linklater, and Best Supporting Actress for Patricia Arquette. In general everything went according to the established playbook. Michael Keaton still took the top acting prize for his Birdman performance, while Julianne Moore won Best Actress for Still Alice. JK Simmons racked up another Best Supporting Actor victory for throwing drumsticks around in Whiplash, and Wes Anderson's The Grand Budapest Hotel won for its screenplay.

Looking at the British side it was Jonathan Glazer's Under the Skin which won for Best British Film, while Rosamund Pike saw some love for her performance in Gone Girl. Full list of winners is below:

35th LONDON CRITICS' CIRCLE FILM AWARDS WINNERS
FILM OF THE YEAR
Boyhood

FOREIGN-LANGUAGE FILM OF THE YEAR
Leviathan

BRITISH FILM OF THE YEAR
Under the Skin

DOCUMENTARY OF THE YEAR
Citizenfour

ACTOR OF THE YEAR
Michael Keaton - Birdman

ACTRESS OF THE YEAR
Julianne Moore - Still Alice

SUPPORTING ACTOR OF THE YEAR
JK Simmons - Whiplash

SUPPORTING ACTRESS OF THE YEAR
Patricia Arquette - Boyhood

BRITISH ACTOR OF THE YEAR
Timothy Spall - Mr Turner

BRITISH ACTRESS OF THE YEAR
Rosamund Pike - Gone Girl (Fox) & What We Did on Our Holiday

YOUNG BRITISH PERFORMER OF THE YEAR
Alex Lawther - The Imitation Game

DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
Richard Linklater - Boyhood

SCREENWRITER OF THE YEAR
Wes Anderson - The Grand Budapest Hotel

BREAKTHROUGH BRITISH FILMMAKER
Yann Demange - '71

TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Under the Skin - Mica Levi, score

DILYS POWELL AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN FILM
Miranda Richardson

Read More

Critics Honor 'Birdman' and 'Boyhood' at 2015 Critics' Choice Awards

Last night here in Hollywood the Broadcast Film Critics Association (of which I'm a voting member) gathered for one more big celebrity bash to celebrate the best and brightest movies of 2014. The 15th annual Critics' Choice Awards were handed out in a variety of different categories that you won't see at the Oscars or Golden Globes, but the results still ended up pretty much the same with Birdman and Boyhood dominating most categories.

Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's Birdman took off with seven wins, with Michael Keaton winning twice for Best Actor in a Comedy and for Best Actor. It was a pretty big night for the film and for him, so much so that he accidentally slipped off the stage and fell right into the Boyhood table after winning. Richard Linklater's acclaimed 12-years-in-the-making drama earned him Best Director, while Patricia Arquette continued her Oscar surge with a Best Supporting Actress win, and Ellar Coltrane won Best Youth Performance. Julianne Moore took home Best Actress for Still Alice, pretty much solidifying her hold on the category. And one win that brought smiles to a lot of faces was The Lego Movie's win for Best Animated Feature after getting snubbed by the Academy Awards.

Full list of winners below, and if you want to check out photos from my night at the Critics Choice Awards, find them at my Facebook page.

Best Picture – “Boyhood”
Best Actor – Michael Keaton, “Birdman”
Best Actress – Julianne Moore, “Still Alice”
Best Supporting Actor – J.K. Simmons, “Whiplash”
Best Supporting Actress – Patricia Arquette, “Boyhood”
Best Young Actor/Actress – Ellar Coltrane, “Boyhood”
Best Acting Ensemble – “Birdman”
Best Director – Richard Linklater, “Boyhood”
Best Original Screenplay – Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris Jr., Armando Bo, “Birdman”
Best Adapted Screenplay – Gillian Flynn, “Gone Girl”
Best Cinematography – Emmanuel Lubezki, “Birdman”
Best Art Direction – Adam Stockhausen (Production Designer), Anna Pinnock (Set Decorator), “The Grand Budapest Hotel”
Best Editing – Douglas Crise, Stephen Mirrione, “Birdman”
Best Costume Design – Milena Canonero, “The Grand Budapest Hotel”
Best Hair & Makeup – “Guardians of the Galaxy”
Best Visual Effects – “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes”
Best Animated Feature – “The Lego Movie”
Best Action Movie – “Guardians of the Galaxy”
Best Actor in an Action Movie – Bradley Cooper, “American Sniper”
Best Actress in an Action Movie – Emily Blunt, “Edge of Tomorrow”
Best Comedy – “The Grand Budapest Hotel”
Best Actor in a Comedy – Michael Keaton, “Birdman”
Best Actress in a Comedy – Jenny Slate, “Obvious Child”
Best Sci-Fi/Horror Movie – “Interstellar”
Best Foreign Language Film – “Force Majeure”
Best Documentary Feature – “Life Itself”
Best Song –  “Glory”, Common and John Legend, “Selma”
Best Score – Antonio Sanchez, “Birdman”

Read More

Steve Carell Joins 'The Big Short'; Michael Keaton is 'The Founder'; Matthew McConaughey joins Music Comedy

With an Oscar nomination for his nose-worthy...er, noteworthy performance in Foxcatcher in the bag, Steve Carell is having a pretty good morning. And it gets even better as he joins the superstar ensemble of Adam McKay's financial and housing crisis drama, The Big Short. Starring Brad Pitt, Ryan Gosling, and Christian Bale, the adaptation of Michael Lewis' book "chronicles multiple storylines and juggles various characters against the backdrop of the housing and credit bubbles of the 2000s that led to the 2007-08 global financial crisis." Carell will play money manager Steve Eisman, who shorted subprime mortgages. [THR]

Speaking of Oscar hopefuls, Michael Keaton is also in the Best Actor race for Birdman, and he too is closing in on a new project. He's entered talks to join John Lee Hancock's The Founder, about the early days of the McDonald's food chain. So if you were wondering how your greasy hamburger came to become so popular, this is the movie for you. The story tells "how Ray Kroc, a salesman from Illinois, met Mac and Dick McDonald, who were running a burger operation in 1950s Southern California. Kroc was impressed by the brothers' speedy system of making the food and saw franchise potential. He maneuvered himself into a position to be able to pull the company from the brothers and create a billion-dollar empire." [THR]

And Matthew McConaughey has lined up an untitled "music-driven event comedy" directed by Garth Jennings, the guy behind Son of Rambow. What's the plot? Nobody knows but hopefully we'll find out soon. [THR]

Read More

Michael Keaton may Head to 'Kong: Skull Island'

Bats, birds, and now apparently gorillas. Michael Keaton has been riding high after his acclaimed performance in Birdman, and may be walking away with an Oscar when all is said and done. Thankfully, he's not going to fade into the background once the buzz winds down. Deadline reports Keaton is now in talks to join Legendary's Kong Kong film, Kong: Skull Island.

Directed by Jordan Vogt-Robert (The Kings of Summer) and set to star Tom Hiddleston and JK Simmons, the film takes audiences to King Kong's dangerous and mysterious home where a team of explorers attempt to find the legendary "king of the apes". With a script by John Gatins (Real Steel) and Max Borenstein (Godzilla), this promises to be a massive film in more ways than one. During his "comeback" Keaton hasn't shied away from potential franchises, appearing in both Need for Speed and Robocop just last year.

Keaton will be seen next in Tom McCarthy's Catholic Church drama, Spotlight. Kong: Skull Island opens March 10th 2017.

Read More

The 12 Days of Christmas – Day 5: ‘Batman Returns’

 

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) was high up on my favorite movies of 2014 list, and like practically everyone else I’ve talked to, Michael Keaton was primarily the reason why. Michael Keaton, you guys! How easily he veers between stoic and stone-faced and bizarre and unhinged; how effortless he makes those contrasting emotional states look. Keaton excels with it in Birdman, but look at his filmography and it’s always been there – of course in Beetlejuice, but also importantly in Batman Returns.

It’s strange to go back and watch Batman Returns now that our pop-culture psyche has been shaped so thoroughly by Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy, but since Tim Burton’s sequel is set during Christmas time and it is now, you know, Christmas time, you should do it. And get ready for just how Tim Burton-y it is, a dimly macabre – and almost anti-capitalist – view of the holiday season. All in all, it’s quite strange: Batman (Keaton) and the Penguin (a perfectly cast Danny DeVito) are supposed to be doubles, and the movie amps up the Penguin’s physicality to drive home their differences; Michelle Pfeiffer goes full unhinged, oozing confrontation in a way that Anne Hathaway’s Catwoman never did; and CHRISTOPHER WALKEN. Christopher Walken! Christopher. Walken.

Still need more reasons for why you should cue up Batman Returns in the next few days? OK, fine, let’s do this.

+ Reason 1: The overall set design! Want to see Christmas put through some kind of fascist nightmare? Look no further than the depiction of Gotham in Batman Returns – all ominous statues; imposingly tall, leaning-over-you buildings; marble and granite and materials that feel like no warmth will ever make its way into your body again. Christmas is supposed to be a festive time, but here, Gotham feels unabashedly cold – and as an indictment of the season, it works.

+ Reason 2: Alfred! Our favorite manservant spends this movie decorating Bruce Wayne’s almost grotesquely opulent Christmas tree and doling out hard truths to our favorite orphan. And he does them both like a badass because, you know, it’s Alfred. What is he going to do, fuck those things up? Please.

+ Reason 3: Michelle Pfeiffer’s scarily sexual Catwoman. The perfect mix of teasing and terror. And look, those hairdos speak for themselves.

+ Reason 4: Speaking of hairdos, please take note of Christopher Walken’s exceptional bouffant. It’s silver as hell and it’s moussed within an inch of its life and it does not fuck around.

+ Reason 5: The Penguin’s penguin army. If you have any kids in your life interested in seeing Dreamworks’s Penguins of Madagascar this holiday, shut that down immediately and show them Batman Returns instead. They might have some nightmares, but that’s a natural part of life, right? And then you won’t have to see Penguins of Madagascar, so really, it’s a Christmas miracle.

Batman Returns is available for streaming through Netflix Instant and for rent through Amazon Instant Video. 

Read More

John Lee Hancock may Direct McDonald's Drama 'The Founder'

The two most recognizable brands in the world are Disney and McDonald's. It can argued that too much of either is a bad thing, but filmmaker John Lee Hancock doesn't see it that way. He last directed Saving Mr. Banks, a biopic on the making of Disney's Mary Poppins, and now he's in talks to tell the story of McDonald's expansion into a global fast food empire.

Variety reports Hancock may direct The Founder, which centers on Ray "Big Mack" Croc, a businessman who acquired the efficiently-run burger franchise from the McDonald Brothers and grew it into the most successful fast food chain in history. Robert Siegel (The Wrestler) wrote the screenplay which is described as a cross between The Social Network and There will be Blood, an amazing combination if Hancock can realize it.

And there's some strong talented circling this one already. Producers had been seeking out Hancock and his Saving Mr. Banks star Tom Hanks since early on,  but both had turned it down. Hanks could change his mind if Hancock comes aboard, although he may have to fend of Michael Keaton who was waiting on a director before deciding if he would agree to play Croc.

When I think of how McDonald's has been portrayed in the movies I think of Morgan Spurlock's Super Size Me first, and chances are so do most other people. So you can bet they'd like any film to come along and change that. Hancock, who mostly makes crowd-pleasing dramas, would be the right pick to put a happy face on McDonald's founding.

Read More

'Birdman' Soars to Five 2014 WAFCA Award Wins; 'Boyhood' Earns Best Film

The Washington DC Area Film Critics Association, of which most of us are members, has announced the winners of the 2014 WAFCA Awards, and it continues the string of success for Richard Linklater's coming-of-age drama, Boyhood. The indie film took home four awards, including wins in the Best Film and Best Director category. Best Supporting Actress went to Patricia Arquette while the Best Youth Performance (for actors under age 20) went to star Ellar Coltrane.

Taking the most victories with five was Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's meta-comedy, Birdman, with Michael Keaton winning Best Actor. Best Animated Feature went to The Lego Movie, while Julianne Moore won for portraying a woman with Alzheimer's Disease in Still Alice. Keeping up with the beat was JK Simmons who won Best Supporting Actor for his role as a sadistic drum instructor in Whiplash, while in a surprise victory Under the Skin won for Best Original Score.

The full list of winners is below:

THE 2014 WAFCA AWARD WINNERS:

Best Film:
Boyhood

Best Director:
Richard Linklater (Boyhood)

Best Actor:
Michael Keaton (Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance))

Best Actress:
Julianne Moore (Still Alice)

Best Supporting Actor:
J.K. Simmons (Whiplash)

Best Supporting Actress:
Patricia Arquette (Boyhood)

Best Acting Ensemble:
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

Best Youth Performance:
Ellar Coltrane (Boyhood)

Best Adapted Screenplay:
Gillian Flynn (Gone Girl)

Best Original Screenplay:
Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, Jr., Armando Bo (Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance))

Best Animated Feature:
The LEGO Movie

Best Documentary:
Life Itself

Best Foreign Language Film:
Force Majeure

Best Art Direction:
Production Designer: Adam Stockhausen, Set Decorator: Anna Pinnock (The Grand Budapest Hotel)

Best Cinematography:
Emmanuel Lubezki, ASC, AMC (Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance))

Best Editing:
Douglas Crise, Stephen Mirrione, ACE (Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance))

Best Original Score:
Mica Levi (Under the Skin)

The Joe Barber Award for Best Portrayal of Washington, DC:
Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Read More

First Trailer for 'Despicable Me' Spinoff 'Minions' Shows Minions Throughout History

When Universal debuted Despicable Me a couple of years ago they never could have expected it to be the phenomenon it turned out to be. Originally designed as a starring vehicle for Steve Carell, voicing the supervillain Gru, most popular characters to emerge were actually his little yellow sidekicks, the minions. Now you can find them everywhere: on t-shirts, as toys, in their own amusement park ride at Universal Studios, and now they've got their own movie.

Universal has revealed the first trailer for Minions, a Despicable Me spinoff that works as an origin story. Directed by Pierre Coffin and featuring the voices of Jon Hamm, Sandra Bullock, Steve Coogan, Michael Keaton, and Allison Janney, the story shows how the Minions serving evil throughout history, until finally an ambitious trio set out to find a new master. Their best prospect turns out to be Scarlet Overkill (Bullock), the world's first female supervillain.

Basically, this looks like everything fans could want from a Minions movie, and with the first two Despicable Me films grossing more than $1.5B Universal is in no hurry to change the formula. Minions opens July 10th 2015.

Read More

Review: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's 'Birdman' starring Michael Keaton, Emma Stone, and Edward Norton

Michael Keaton has had a lot of great roles in his stories career, but he'll always be remembered as the guy who starred as Batman, and is considered by many to be the best Batman ever. But after a couple of those movies he ducked out of the franchise game, and kind of floundered around looking for his niche until only recently things started to pick up. The more you know about Keaton and his career, the easier it will be to get sucked into Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's dizzying, meta, and oh-so sublime comedy Birdman or (the Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), which features the perfect synthesis of technical acumen with an actor at the height of his powers.

It's a wild change of pace for Inarritu, known for directing emotionally-crippling dramas like 21 Grams, Amores Perros, and Babel, and it shows he can do pretty much anything he puts a mind to. Birdman is a trip right from the beginning; part savage takedown of media criticism, part mid-life crisis comedy, and part superhero origin story. Keaton plays Riggan Thomson, whose career has been defined by the $1B-grossing blockbusters he starred in as Birdman, a superhero literally (and comically) dressed up as a bird. Years later he's still haunted by those films, and in his desperate bid to be a true thespian worthy of respect, he's attempting an ambitious stage play of a Raymond Carver short story. The film even begins with this quote from Carver, which is inscribed on his tombstone...

And did you get what 
you wanted from this life, even so? 
I did. 
And what did you want? 
To call myself beloved, to feel myself 
beloved on the earth.

There's even meaning in the selection of Carver, who is regarded frequently in the film, as a sort of muse for Riggan and his arrogant superstar lead actor, Mike Shiner (Edward Norton). Carver was a playwright known for defying stereotypes and labels, and Birdman is a film that defies easy categorization. In fact, Riggan has a particular disdain for labels, as expressed during an angry tirade with a theater critic (Lindsay Duncan) holding a nasty grudge. It's clear Inarritu, who co-wrote the script, has a bone to pick with critics in general, and he throws some seriously sharp elbows getting his point across. For Riggan, who is in the midst of one heck of an existential crisis, they may be writing those words on his own tombstone if this play isn't a success. As his mental state begins to unravel (or does it?), we see him exhibiting the powers of Birdman, especially when he's deep in hallucinatory conversation with the gravelly-voiced hero. 

And yet Birdman isn't just some self-serving passion project, it carries real weight as Inarritu perceptively explores obsession and celebrity culture without losing any of the film's absurdist flourishes. Helping to keep one foot in reality and the other in bizarre fantasy is DP Emmanuelle Lubezki, whose camerawork dazzled us in Gravity last year. He's actually more impressive here, seamlessly presenting the film as one continuous shot stretched for the duration. While he uses a number of tricks to get there, and finding them may be another reason to see the film again, it's an added touch that is proves to be absolutely crucial to the story. In general, movies about the making of movies or Broadway plays are common, but there is nothing about Birdman that is common. In a way it feels like the surreal comedies of Charlie Kaufman if turned up to eleven.

The brilliance of the film extends to the performances, as well. This is basically a four-man show with Keaton at the center, but all are perfectly cast and bring a bit of real-world baggage to add context to their characters. Keaton brings a manic energy that gives the film much of its life. It's difficult to tell if the fury boiling beneath Riggan matches some of Keaton's own concerns about the industry and his career, which hit a lengthy barren stretch as he got older. The first half of the film is owned by Norton, though, whose performance as the method-acting Mike Shiner hilariously plays up his real life reputation for being hard to work with and volatile. It's good to see Norton loose and free-wheeling again; we haven't seen it nearly enough since Rounders and Fight Club. Doing some of the best work she's ever done is Emma Stone as Riggan's daughter, Sam, recently-released from rehab and now working as her father's assistant. She's one of a handful of outside observers keeping tabs on the chaotic production while struggling with her own issues, many of which burst forth in one incredibly blistering screed about her father's need for acceptance from a world that has forgotten him.  It's powerful stuff, and even if she doesn't get much else to do that scene is more than enough. Others make the most of smaller roles. Naomi Watts and Andrea Riseborough complete the foursome starring in Riggan's play, adding to the aura of crises surrounding the entire project. Zach Galifianakis, in rare straight-man role here, is solid as Riggan's best friend and manager, while Amy Ryan lends the film her usual brand of fire and heart as Riggan's caring ex-wife, perhaps the one person who truly gets him.

Backed by a persistent, percussion-heavy score that adds urgency to a film that never slows down for a heartbeat; Birdman is consistently entertaining, thought-provoking, funny, and genuinely surreal. Birdman is a remarkable achievement on both sides of the camera, and it's going to be tough for any film to compete with it as the best of the year.

 Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Read More

Five Clips from Alejando Gonzalez Inarritu's 'Birdman' with Michael Keaton

This far into awards season we're still staring to get a lay of the land, so to speak. While some films are emerging as obvious contenders and others maybe not living up to the hype (lookin' at you, St. Vincent), one that has been universally praised and seems like a lock for a Best Picture and Best Actor nomination is Birdman, Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's meta comedy starring Michael Keaton.

Here are five clips from the film which has Keaton in a familiar role, that of a down 'n out actor most famous for playing a superhero early in his career and is now trying to mount a comeback. For the former Batman it's the kind of role he was obviously perfectly suited for, and Inarritu knew it almost immediately. He told the New York Times recently....

“When I finished the script, I knew that Michael was not the choice or option, he was the guy. He’s one of the few guys in the world who has worn that cape. The authority and the relatability that he gave, all those were essential.”

It isn't just Keaton who is showered by praise, though, as the technical wizardry of Gravity cinematographer Emmanuelle Lubezki is also turning heads. Using a variety of techniques he's managed to make Birdman look like one continuous shot from start to finish. Wow.  Looking forward to this one big time, and fortunately our screening is tonight so I won't have to wait long.

Starring Emma Stone, Zach Galifianakis, and Edward Norton, Birdman is in theaters now in some cities but opens in DC on Oct. 24th. 


Michael Keaton, Edward Norton in BIRDMAN Clip ('Fight Club') by The Seven Sees


Michael Keaton, Emma Stone in BIRDMAN Clip ('Hammer') by The Seven Sees


Michael Keaton, Zach Galifianakis in BIRDMAN Clip ('Bring The Curtain Down') by The Seven Sees

Read More

Michael Keaton Hates Bloggers in First 'Birdman' Clip

While attending another screening yesterday for a film I wasn't too excited about, one of the ladies running it told me they had just held a trade screening of Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's Birdman. I've never been so jealous of people I'll never know or meet. The film, a meta comedy starring Michael Keaton as an actor attempting a comeback in the superhero role that built his career, has been earning the year's best reviews since playing at festivals. And while festival buzz is sometimes hard to judge (ask me about the "festival bubble" some day) the trailers and this new 15-second clip are pretty darn good.

In what is basically a tease of a tease, this scene features an argument between Keaton's character and his daughter, played by Emma Stone. Actually it's more of a scolding from her since he doesn't get a single word in, but we get that he's clearly not someone she holds in the highest esteem right now. This probably won't be good for his deteriorating mental state.

Birdman hits theaters on October 17th and it can't get here soon enough for me. 

Post by Birdman Movie.

Read More

Rachel McAdams, Mark Ruffalo, Stanley Tucci, and More Join Catholic Church Scandal Film 'Spotlight'

It's been a good little while since we've heard anything on the Catholic Church scandal  movie being developed by Win Win and The Station Agent director Tom McCarthy. About a year ago Matt Damon was circling the lead role and while that would have been a major coup landing the actor it didn't happen, but now McCarthy has made up for it with some big names and a new title: Spotlight.

Rachel McAdams, Mark Ruffalo, Stanley Tucci, Aaron Eckhart, Liev Schreiber, and Michael Keaton have all come aboard Spotlight,  which McCarthy co-wrote with The West Wing's Josh Singer. And just as that show hit on a number of hot-button topics so will this film as it centers on the Boston Globe journalists who exposed Archbishop Bernard Law who was protecting priests accused of sexual assault. He did this by moving them to different parishes where they inevitably committed the same atrocities.

This one's got definite momentum now as production is gearing up for a fall start. [Deadline/TheWrap]

Read More

New Trailer and Poster for Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's 'Birdman' Starring Michael Keaton

Tired of your typical tale of comic book-inspired superheroics? Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu may have the answer with his new film, Birdman, which has quickly risen to the top of many "Most Anticipated" lists. Based on what we saw in the initial footage, Inarritu is taking a dark look at fame and celebrity seen through the lens of today's glut of superhero movies. It's an intriguing, potentially complicated theme to tackle but in this latest trailer it appears he's found just the right tone.

With a cast led by Michael Keaton, Edward Norton, Emma Stone, Naomi Watts, Zach Galifianakis, Amy Ryan, and Andrea Riseborough, there's every reason to think Birdman will be on the Oscars radar very soon. Keaton plays an actor whose best days saw him playing an iconic superhero, but now as he tries to mount a Broadway comeback his mental state starts unraveling. Inarritu is going to some twisted meta territory here, and with cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki (Gravity) handling the visuals it looks absolutely stunning.

Birdman hits theaters on October 17th.


Birdman International Trailer (2014) Michael Keaton, Naomi Watts HD by Shachizonzon

Read More

Michael Keaton Goes Crazy in Trailer for Alejandro Inarritu's 'Birdman'

Any time Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu reveals a new project it's a cause for celebration. It's also probably a good idea for Oscars prognosticators to take notice as the Amores Perros, 21 Grams, Babel, and Biutiful director has a pretty good track record on that front. But does his latest film, the rather absurd-sounding comedy Birdman, have the goods to take advantage of its prime fall release date? The first trailer would suggest that it absolutely does.

Michael Keaton leads an all-star cast of Emma Stone, Naomi Watts, Andrea Riseborough, Edward Norton, and Zach Galifianakis, playing an actor best known for playing an iconic superhero. When he tries to mount a comeback in a Broadway play he starts to go a little nutso. So we've got Keaton going meta here, and with a somewhat darker tone highlighted by an ominous version of Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy" this looks like nothing we've seen from Inarritu before. Even the poster is off-the-wall.

Birdman is set to take flight October 17th.

Read More

Review: 'Need for Speed' Starring Aaron Paul, Dominic Cooper, and Imogen Poots

After years of cheering on Vin Diesel leap from speeding muscle cars, survive deadly crashes, and shift gears a thousand times over in the Fast and the Furious franchise, do we really have the right to criticize Need for Speed for....well, anything? Of course this blazing, pedal-smashing adaptation of the best-selling video game strains credulity and cares more about shredding tires than building characters, it also has enough breathtaking race action to cross the finish line with some style.

Need for Speed is a straight up revenge tale; more in league with the early F&F films before they shifted into heist gear. Directed by ex-stuntman Scott Waugh and starring Breaking Bad's Aaron Paul, any thought of plot complexity goes up like a puff of exhaust fumes within moments. Paul plays badass racer Tobey Marshall, who with his close-knit crew of pals (Rami Malek, Scott "Kid Cudi" Mescudi, Ramon Rodriguez, and Harrison Gilbertson) run a floundering but respected body shop in town. When arrogant ex-NASCAR tough guy Dino Brewster (Dominic Cooper) shows up in town with an offer to rebuild a legendary ride, it's an offer Tobey can't resist. Unfortunately it also leads to a showdown between the two, who share a past beefin' over the same woman (Fifty Shades of Grey's Dakota Johnson). A dangerous race in souped up cars leads to Dino killing the most earnest and innocent of Tobey's friends, framing him for the accident.

Two years later and out on parole, Tobey is looking for vengeance, the kind of vengeance that only comes from behind the wheel. The only way to do that is to gather his remaining team, score the fastest car on the planet, and enter the Deleon, a dangerous race for the world's best drivers. The race is put on by recluse Monarch (Michael Keaton, kind of fun but clearly high on something), who has a street racing podcast run out of his living room. Doesn't sound like the type of guy to hold such amazing sway, but there ya go. Putting the old crew back together is easy, topped off by a hilarious job quitting scene by Malek, who after his scene-stealing performance in Short Term 12 is becoming a terrific character actor. Finding a car proves to be no problem for Tobey, either, thanks to Julia (Imogen Poots), the quirky English gal who negotiated the deal for Dino and Tobey's hyped up car. Together they race across the country to find the location of the big race, all the while avoiding keystone cops and surviving mercenaries looking to cash in on the bounty Dino has placed on Tobey's head.

You'll be shocked, no doubt, to learn that the relationship between Tobey and Julia starts off antagonistic, only to give way to the flashing blinkers of love. They're actually quite a fun pair, even if the role seems a step beneath Poots. She's just feisty enough to match up nicely with the ever-intense Paul, who makes for more an action lead than a romantic one. The real stand-out here is Waugh, who co-directed the "real" military thriller Act of Valor a couple of years ago. He's more in his element directing cars rather than people, and he made the brilliant decision to use real cars, real stuntmen, and real blazing speed in every action sequence. Don't bother looking for any CGI because there isn't any, and it's a decision that adds a real urgency and momentum to every jaw-dropping sequence. Keeping car chases and smash 'em up collisions fresh is never easy but Waugh pulls it off easily. If Need for Speed continues on as a franchise, not a sure thing just yet, Waugh could prove to be as integral to it as any member of the cast.

Need for Speed isn't going to change the negative perception of video game movies, which is fine because it doesn't seem to have any aspirations other than to be a dumb, fun action flick. It may be the less starry, less flashy cousin of F&F, but there's plenty of room for both to exist.

Read More

Review: 'Robocop' Starring Joel Kinnaman, Michael Keaton, and Gary Oldman

Dead or alive, you're getting a reboot. Long in the works and desired by absolutely nobody, the remake of Paul Verhoeven's satirical sci-fi actioner Robocop has been dreaded by those who feared it would lack the teeth of the original. But what will come as a surprise to those who have prematurely mocked it and all of the early images of star Joel Kinnaman's robo bat-suit, is that the film is forward thinking enough to have some big ideas while also providing a solid dose of violent justice.

While not as progressive as Verhoeven's effort, this one crafted by Elite Squad director Jose Padilha is certainly a product of today's drone warfare culture and the dominance of the military industrial complex. Like its predecessor, the message is obvious, current, and delivered with enough humor that the general lack of character doesn't totally shut down the system.

In the not-so-distant future, nearly the entire world has turned to the use of militarized drones for law enforcement and military tactics. Weaponized droids stalk the streets of Tehran while the citizens live under what is later described as "the illusion of free will".  There is an obvious anti-drone rebellion out there causing a ruckus, but here in the United States drones have been strictly forbidden, a fact which continues to gall OmniCorp CEO, Raymond Sellars (Michael Keaton), who hopes to bring it here. But despite the efforts of bloviating Bill O'Reilly-esque propaganda artist Pat Novak (of the hilariously-named The Novak Element), Congress refuses to pass a bill allowing the use of drones on American soil. This is satire in the pure Verhoeven mold because you can turn on the TV right now and see guys just like Novak spouting the same sort of fact-free rubbish; pumping their patriotic chests while deeming their enemies terrorists or cowards.

Turns out what the people want is a robot with a human touch, a droid that knows right from wrong. And so OmniCorp finds the perfect test subject in Alex Murphy (Joel Kinnaman), a lean and brave Detroit detective with the courage to fight corruption within his own ranks. When Murphy's investigations get him blown up by a car bomb, leaving his body devastated, his wife (Abbie Cornish) agrees to sign him over to OmniCorp in hopes of saving his life. "What kind of life will he have?” she asks, not knowing that it will be a life of steel exo-skins and prime directives. His transformation begins in earnest, led by the ethically-ambiguous Dr. Norton (Gary Oldman) and cheered by Sellars who just wants a marketable product. As Alex comes to grips with being a walking cyborg, including a powerful moment where he sees what his body really looks like, he's left to wonder if the man he used to be exists underneath the armor and programming.

Padilha, who directed the intense Elite Squad cop flicks, works around the PG-13 and delivers some top notch video game action, including a brilliantly kinetic sequence lit only by the flash of blast rifle fire. The Robocop side of things isn't the issue; it's the Alex Murphy side where Joshua Zetumer loses focus. There simply isn't enough to distinguish Murphy beyond his good looks, and everything involving his brothers in blue (including Michael K. Williams as his former partner) is undeveloped. The same goes for his family life which mostly seems like a component nobody wanted to deal, in favor of getting back to the shenanigans over at OmniCorp. And truth be told, the biggest ideas and the best characters are all from the corporate powerhouse. Jay Baruchel gets geeky as a sniveling marketing guru, while Jennifer Ehle and Jackie Earle Haley make for a particularly devious roundtable of henchman for Keaton to play off of.  Kinnaman doesn't really hold up against such a strong supporting cast, but he finds occasional moments of genuine heartbreak in Murphy's interactions with his son, who looks up to Dad as a hero.

Verhoeven's prior films have proved especially popular territory for remakes of late, with the stink of Total Recall still wafting in the air. So it's good to see that someone put some actual thought into making Robocop cool and contemporary, rather than it being just another generic reboot in an empty robotic suit.

Read More

"Crime Has a New Enemy"- 'Robocop' Delivers New Trailer, Poster, and Images

While the previous trailers for the Robocop remake have impressively sold the film's sizzle, perhaps in an effort to win over those who are still highly skeptical about it, there's more to the story than just a robot cop meting out his brand of justice. There's also the story of Alex Murphy (Joel Kinnaman) outside of the metal suit, and the impact his becoming Robocop has on his familyi.

The latest trailer takes a more melancholic tone than we've seen before, showing Murphy's wife Clara (Abbie Cornish) sadly agreeing to turn his body over for research. We know where that leads, right into the lab of a scientist played by Gary Oldman, who transforms Murphy into the titular cyborg hero, although it seems to come with considerable reflection about the nature of such an existence.  There's still plenty of action, though, and it's good to see a bit more of Jackie Earle Haley as the guy who trains Robocop to be a bad ass.

Directed by Jose Padilha, Robocop hits the streets in IMAX on February 12th.


ROBOCOP - Bande-Annonce Officielle #3 VOST [VOST|HD1080p] by Team Lyricis

Read More

Aaron Paul Races for Revenge in New 'Need for Speed' Trailer

If Aaron Paul has anything to look forward to after Need for Speed, it may be that every story written about him won't be preceded with the words 'Breaking Bad' or 'Jesse Pinkman'. For now Paul remains an untested leading man headlining a potential franchise based on a video game, so the jury is very much out on this one as the latest trailer crashes its way online.

As expected the plot is pretty "meh", but it's basically a revenge tale that has Paul getting behind the wheel in a dangerous cross country race against the wealthy ex-NASCAR racer who got him sent to prison. Comparisons to Fast & Furious abound, with the exception of Michael Keaton who looks like he's going to devour every single scene he's in. There's some major talent in the pit crew with Imogen Poots, Dominic Cooper, and Dakota Johnson co-starring (Kid Cudi is there too but....), although we know the real stars are the smashed up rides and booming engines.  Bring earplugs.

Directed by Scott Waugh, Need for Speed opens March 14th 2014.


Need For Speed - Bande Annonce #2 [VOST|HD] by addictomovie

Read More

Aaron Paul Takes the Wheel In First 'Need for Speed' Trailer

Don't worry too much for Aaron Paul as Breaking Bad comes to a close after five seasons. The actor has spent the last year building up his rep on the big screen, giving a strong performance in last year's alcoholism drama Smashed, and lining up his first franchise in the video game adaptation Need for Speed. Of course comparisons already have it pegged as being the ugly stepchild to Fast & Furious, and at least judging by the first trailer that may turn out to be accurate.

Directed by Scott Waugh, who turned the supposedly realistic Act of Valor into what looked like Call of Duty, Need for Speed's racing scenes don't pack a whole lot of punch and certainly don't rival that of the game. Slightly more successful are the dramatic aspects, with Paul playing a street racer who hooks up with a wealthy associate played by Dominic Cooper, only to be double-crossed and framed for manslaughter. When Paul gets out, he comes looking for revenge and seeks it by joining an illegal cross-country race, but a bounty placed on his head makes things even more deadly. Hot rides race over dangerous terrain, get flipped, explode, and it's a pattern that will probably be repeated until the credits roll.

Waugh isn't the most inspiring director, but he should be able to pull off a simple, no-frills action flick like this, and it's good to see Paul hitting the big time. Plus there's reason for optimism with Michael Keaton and Imogen Poots joining him, so maybe there's more to Need for Speed than meets the eye. Eh, probably not. We'll find out when the film opens March 14th.


Need For Speed with Aaron Paul - Official Trailer by FanReviews

Read More

First Trailer for 'Robocop' Remake Starring Joel Kinnaman and Samuel L. Jackson

There's already been a lot made of Jose Padilha's remake of Paul Verhoeven's satirical sci-fi flick, Robocop. Many have chosen to cynically bash the film without seeing much other than a few set photos, while others rightly worry about the tone that will be struck, and whether Joel Kinnaman is the right guy for the lead. Nobody wants this to turn out like the Total Recall remake, which by most accounts was an unmitigated disaster. Well after months of speculation, the questions are beginning to be answered with the release of the very first trailer.

The footage at Comic-Con dug a bit deeper into the modern day parallels of drone warfare and military propaganda, but this trailer does a pretty good job of setting things up. Kinnaman plays cop and family man Alex Murphy, whose body is destroyed in an explosion, and subsequently is rebuilt as the cyborg defender of justice. We get a look at Abbie Cornish as Murphy's wife, as well as Gary Oldman as the scientist who designed Robocop, and Michael Keaton as a slimy corporate exec. And then there are snippets of Samuel L. Jackson delivering one of his famous fire 'n brimstone monologues as a media figure pushing the Robocop program.

Some obvious nods to Verhoeven's film are on display, including a model that looks almost exactly like the original Robocop, while there are some new touches like the redesigned ED-209 and the ability for Robocop to show his face. The big question is whether or not the obvious political themes are going to mesh with the need for big action. Even though we know how the story will play out for the most part, the trailer does seem to give a lot away.

Robocop opens on February 7th 2014.


Robocop trailer by FilmBoy-gr

Read More