15 Actors Deserving of Oscars Attention (But Probably Won't Get It)

The speculative phase of the awards season is only now getting underway and already we're starting to see a few names emerge as definite Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor contenders. Michael Keaton for Birdman, David Oyelowo for Selma, and JK Simmons for Whiplash seem like obvious picks. But let's not forget there were a lot of other great performances throughout the year that shouldn't be overlooked. Just as with my list of great overlooked female performances, the actors here have either received minimal awards love or are just my favorites that I wanted to put some shine on. Some took chances, like hiding their faces behind giant masks; others are making the leap into dramatic territory for the first time. In every case, these guys were tremendous in 2014 so let's just get right into it.

Irrfan Khan- The Lunchbox




Michael Fassbender- Frank



Tom Hardy- Locke




Bill Hader- The Skeleton Twins




Antoine-Olivier Pilon- Mommy




Tom Hiddleston- Only Lovers Left Alive




Nicolas Cage- Joe




Jon Favreau- Chef



Ansel Elgort- The Fault in Our Stars



Brendan Gleeson- Calvary



Chadwick Boseman- Get On Up



Jack O'Connell- Starred Up



Edgar Ramirez- The Liberator



Chris Rock- Top Five



Michael Shannon- Young Ones

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First Trailer for Pixar's 'Inside Out' Brings the Emotion

That emptiness you feel is the complete lack of Pixar movies in 2014. The studio took the year off to better prepare their upcoming slate of films, and it couldn't come at a better time. Lately there has been a lot of complaining about their sudden reliance on sequels (Cars 2, Monsters University, the upcoming Finding Dory) rather than creating the fresh, imaginative films we've grown accustomed to. But in 2015 Pixar will hit us with two completely original works, and one that sounds like an ambitious return to form is Inside Out.

Pixar has debuted the first teaser for Inside Out, which takes us inside the mind of an 11-year-old girl named Riley (Kaitlyn Dias) so we can literally meet her emotions. And this being the brain of a pre-teen, those emotions are all over the place, voiced by the likes of Bill Hader, Amy Poehler, Lewis Black, Mindy Kaling, and Phyllis Smith.  Most of this teaser is a look back at Pixar's past classics, with actual footage from the film not arriving until the end. But maybe we should be encouraged they are confident enough to lump it in with them?

Directed by Pete Docter, Inside Out opens June 19th 2015, and it will be followed later that year by The Good Dinosaur which arrives November 25th.


Pixar Inside Out Trailer by itsartmag

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Review: 'The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Them', starring Jessica Chastain and James McAvoy

Ned Benson's The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby is a unique thing, especially for a debut feature director. Originally designed as two movies, titled "Him" and "Her", both telling the same narrative from differing perspectives, the decision was made to appease audiences with a more neutral version titled "Them". The other two will be in theaters next month but "Them" is out now, and Benson's inexperience shows in tackling such a complicated narrative, but a pair of truly great performances save the day.

Similar in corrosive tone to Blue Valentine, the film chronicles the crumbling of the marriage between New York couple Eleanor Rigby (Jessica Chastain) and Connor (James McAvoy), when once it had been gloriously happy. When we first meet them it's at one of those high points, the two showing their playful side during a mischievous dinner date. "There's only one heart in this chest. Please be gentle with me.", he says to her early one. Nothing remotely gentle awaits him or the audience, however. The very next scene is a dazed and distraught Eleanor attempting to end her life on the Brooklyn Bridge. How such a loving couple could reach such a horrible low is a mystery that Benson keeps at arm's length and tucked inside solemn conversations. There's been a tragedy; one that left her depressed and him unable to cope with the hopelessness. When two people grieve differently it can drive a wedge between them worse than the tragedy itself.

Recovering after the suicide attempt, Eleanor shacks up with her family, leaving Connor without a clue as to what happened. Her father (William Hurt) is a college professor and psychologist, always speaking in well-meaning if clunky platitudes like "Tragedy is a foreign country. We don't know how to speak to the natives." Yeah, okay. Her mother (the great Isabelle Huppert) always has a glass of wine at the ready, and Eleanor's sister (Jess Weixler) needs a date. Poor Connor is left to manage his failing restaurant with chef pal Stuart (Bill Hader), while trying not to ask his successful father (Ciaran Hinds) for help. Eleanor and Connor move on without the other but find it hard to redefine themselves as single people. She heads back to school and strikes up a friendship with her abrasive professor (Viola Davis) who, in stark contrast to Eleanor, has abandoned all maternal instincts. Connor is stuck in emotional limbo; wanting to reconnect with Eleanor but finding it impossible to do so. He goes to some pretty extreme lengths to get her attention but it works, for better or worse.

Benson has a lot to say, and in melancholic fashion he explores the different ways people communicate with one another after a personal loss. Eleanor feels she has lost herself and struggles for reinvention, and she's surrounded by a family who are perhaps too eager to help. Connor is basically running in place, but the fact is he and Eleanor are weighed down by the burdens of the past and may always be. It's tough material, and Benson approaches it honestly. He's got a great visual eye, and his version of Brooklyn has a real majesty to it. Less effective is his screenplay which has characters making the kinds of awkward-sounding statements you'd never hear in life but always hear in badly written Hollywood movies. They probably read as very clever on the word processor but are less so in execution.

Fortunately, it helps when you have a cast as great as this one reciting the dialogue. Chastain and McAvoy are the stars here and they are simply incredible as two pained people trying to put on a brave front. McAvoy gives us flashes of the playful guy we've seen him play so often, but there's something darker lurking underneath it all. Chastain is, as always, beyond reproach, but it's fair to say that Eleanor remains a bit formless as a character. She remains a wisp of a figure through to the end; an idea of a character rather than a fully realized one. Despite this being a his and her story, Eleanor really is the focus and not being able to connect with her is an issue that perhaps only the "Her" version of the film can fix, and that should not be the case.The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby doesn't quite live up to the talent it's been gifted with, but Benson's bold first effort is worthy of attention.

 Rating: 3 out of 5

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Review: 'The Skeleton Twins' Starring Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader

 NOTE: This is an edited version of my review from the Sundance Film Festival.

The rapport between Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig is obvious from their first moment together in The Skeleton Twins, and why shouldn't it be? Beyond their shared SNL history the two have delivered fantastic performances together in the past, most notably in Adventureland but also on a smaller scale in Paul. That instant chemistry is what is to be expected, but what will come as a shock to many is that it isn't solely from a comedic standpoint, but that they connect in a film heavy with issues of suicide, abuse, and infidelity.

Wiig has ventured into dramedy territory before, most recently in last year's underwhelming Girl Most Likely, but right from the start it's clear The Skeleton Twins is something new for both co-stars. The film begins with estranged siblings Milo (Hader) and Maggie (Wiig) considering suicide. He's a failed actor living in Los Angeles and dealing with a failed relationship to another man. Maggie's in New York where she leads a life of dull normalcy, working as a dental assistant and married to the overly-eager Lance (Luke Wilson), described later as a "big Labrador retriever". It's a phone call that Milo is in the hospital that stops Maggie from doing herself in, and flying off to LA to check in on him the two speak for the first time in a decade.

The film establishes early on how close they were as children, playing dress up and sharing a love of Halloween with their father. The reunion starts off tense, until Milo breaks the ice with a joke about the book Marley & Me that only those of a similar sense of humor would find funny. Humor is a constant defensive device for both, and after she invites him to stay with her in New York, the return to familiar territory brings back some old, very bad habits. Milo seems to be stalking another gay man (Ty Burrell), until we learn they share a very dark past. Maggie and Lance are attempting to have a child, only he doesn't know she's been actively working against it and indulging in a number of romantic affairs.

Considering the years he spent as the flamboyantly homosexual Stefon on SNL, one might expect Hader to go a little overboard. He never turns Milo into a running gag, however, and is secure enough in himself to crack jokes about being the "creepy gay uncle" or a "tragic gay cliché". Wiig is terrific as a woman incapable of being happy, and always destined to ruin her one shot at a comfortable life. Over time we come to learn about the reasons for Milo and Maggie's estrangement, including the family's history of suicide, highlighted by a memorable but sadly undeveloped appearance by their mother, who both siblings loathe with a passion. These broken siblings seem unable to function normally around anybody else, but they find light and laughter in one another's company. Those are the moments when the film really shines, especially during an impromptu lip-syncing of Journey's cornball '80s hit, 'Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now'. Director Craig Johnson, working with producers Mark and Jay Duplass, deftly balances the weightier scenes with unexpected bursts of humor. Still, the film goes to some disturbing places later on when we see that Maggie and Milo are as capable of being cruel as they are sharing a few laughs.

Because the film never shies away from the desperate depths of its characters, the overly tender and rushed conclusion is jarring. Nothing can completely overcome Hader and Wiig's excellence in exploring the joys and pains of such a close familial bond. If there was a film that truly puts their SNL past in the rear view mirror, The Skeleton Twins is it.

 Rating: 4 out of 5

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First Trailer for 'The Skeleton Twins' with Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader

Unlike her Bridesmaids co-star Melissa McCarthy, Kristin Wiig has taken a measured approach to everything that has come afterward. Steadfastly refusing to do a sequel to that hit comedy, she instead took on the lukewarm Girl Most Likely and had a largely thankless role in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. Followed by Hateship Loveship which audiences never even looked for, Wiig is still looking for that next big film to show what she can do without the benefit of a large ensemble, and The Skeleton Twins may be it.

Wiig stars alongside Bill Hader, another actor looking to flex his dramatic muscles, in a film that follows a brother and sister who, after growing as virtually inseparable, have been estranged for nearly a decade. Now reunited at the lowest point in their lives, they must deal with the consequences of decisions made while apart. Easily one of the best to debut at this year's Sundance,  I noted in my review the complexity of Hader and Wiig's performances, stating "If there was a film that truly puts their SNL past in the rear view mirror, The Skeleton Twins is it."

The unmistakable imprint of producers Mark & Jay Duplass (Jeff, Who Lives at Home) are all over this one, working with director Craig Johnson and co-stars Luke Wilson, Ty Burrell, and Boyd Holbrook. The Skeleton Twins opens on September 9th.

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James McAvoy & Jessica Chastain Fall Out of Love in 'The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby' Trailer

For his directorial debut, The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby, Ned Benson has done something rather special. He's giving audiences as many ways to see the film as possible, each presenting the same love story from a different perspective.  There are the two 95-minute versions titled The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Her and The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Him, which played the festival circuit last year. And then there's the combined 2-hour version The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Them, which opens this fall. The hope is that audiences will be so invested they'll want to see all three, and the new trailer makes a pretty good case why they should.

James McAvoy and Jessica Chastain are at the heart of this one, playing a married couple who have lost what they once had for one another. As their relationship deteriorates the story goes back to the beginning to find out where things went wrong. So basically this reads, and occasionally looks, a lot like Blue Valentine with many of the same joys and pains explored. William Hurt, Viola Davis, Nina Arianda, Bill Hader, Isabelle Huppert, and Jess Weixler make up a supporting cast more than capable of keeping up with the two stars.

The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Them opens September 26th with the other movies arriving later this year.

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Musings: What romantic-comedy mockery does “They Came Together” do best?

You can tell that director David Wain wants his new film, They Came Together, to be as iconic as his most famous work, Wet Hot American Summer. The intent soaks the film, manifesting in every crazy aside, every use of Christopher Meloni, and every bizarre sex scene. They Came Together is Wain’s attempt at recapturing the weird magic of Wet Hot American Summer, but it doesn’t quite work—you can’t strike ridiculous lightning twice. (Check out Travis's review here.)

Nevertheless, stars Paul Rudd and Amy Poehler—as Joel and Molly, respectively—give it their all, and for as much as the film feels like an overly long sketch jammed before the 1 a.m. cutoff on Saturday Night Live, there are moments here as memorable as Meloni and his can of vegetables. If you’re going to end up seeing or renting They Came Together this weekend, do it for these five moments.

+ “He’s handsome but in a nonthreatening way; vaguely but not overly Jewish.” “Molly is the kind of cute, klutzy girl that sometimes will drive you a little bit crazy, but you can’t help but fall in love with her.” One of the first things They Came Together does well is introduce the main characters played by Rudd and Poehler, and could they have been more spot-on in their generalizations of romantic-comedy protagonists? Absolutely not. Especially if you’ve ever seen Rudd play a romantic lead, like he did way back when in Baz Luhrmann’s “Romeo + Juliet” – Paris basically defined “handsome but in a nonthreatening way.”

+ Amy Poehler shaving her face. In an early sequence, a split-screen shows Rudd and Poehler getting ready for their days in a similar fashion—singing along to the same song in the shower, for example—and then Rudd shaving his face … while Poehler also shaves her face. It’s so stupid, but her cutesy, grinning face as she smears shaving cream all over it has stuck with me since.

+ Jason Mantzoukas’s beard. The thing should get its own IMDB credit. Whether he’s trying to tame it down as a candy-company executive or letting it look all crazy while he’s in costume as a vampire, it’s a thing of beauty. Bless this man’s commitment to growing, and keeping, insane facial hair. It’s almost as important to the film as Michael Ian Black’s greasy sideswept hair and orange tan—because if you’re a romantic-comedy villain, that’s just how you look. That’s just true.

+ “That’s the point of view I represent!” says Kenan Thompson, who plays the token married and token black friend to Rudd’s Joel. If only all movies were this upfront about their casting quotas.

+ That time Joel pulls a cheeseburger out from behind the ear of Molly’s-never-before-mentioned son, who immediately calls him “Daddy.” We’re so used to seeing romantic-comedy protagonists try to charm children onto their side, but at least Wain abandons the change route—who even uses coins anymore?—and goes straight for the grilled-meat option. I keep hoping someone will pull this move on me someday. I would love them for the rest of my life. 

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Review: David Wain's 'They Came Together' Starring Paul Rudd and Amy Poehler

Normally, when David Wain is at the peak of his comedic powers he's also at his most bizarre.  His seminal comedy hit Wet Hot American Summer is incredibly ridiculous, offbeat, and distinct in the way that many consider it a classic, while others will probably never get it. Most recently, Wain has been dabbling in more mainstream efforts such as Wanderlust and Role Models, but his latest film They Came Together is a poor attempt to reclaim his indie cred by tearing to shreds the most conventional genre of all: the romantic comedy.

That's right, the old rom-com, which everybody can admit is stale and painfully formulaic. That seems to be the entire point of Wain's film, which stars the bulk of his 'Wet Hot' cast, with Paul Rudd and Amy Poehler in the lead roles as a couple whose love follows a familiar step-by-step path. The problem is that Wain isn't especially clever in pointing out the silliness behind the infamous "meet cutes", contrived romantic obstacles, and phony emotional entanglements that litter romantic comedies. We're all in on the joke right from the beginning, and Wain struggles to make that one joke fly for more than 20 minutes, much less the 83 minute run time.

The whole set-up is basically ripped from You've Got Mail; perhaps the stick by which all formulaic rom-coms will forever be measured. Molly (Poehler) and Joel (Rudd) are at a restaurant on a double date with a bored married couple (Bill Hader and Ellie Kemper), when the dinner conversation turns to how they met and fell in love. All the standard genre tropes are rolled out in a fashion that is initially hilarious because we all recognize them: Molly is an awkward but lovable candy shop owner, so innocent and pure and she gives all of her profits to charity. Joel is nominally her perfect match, but he works for a huge corporation planning to open its own store right across the street and put Molly out of business. When the two meet, of course they are instant enemies despite the obvious physical attraction, but soon they overcome the tension with the help of their stereotypical ethnic best friends.

It's obvious that Wain and his talented cast are having a lot of fun with this, and the film is at its best when it ventures into ludicrous tangents that feel separate from the rom-com shaming. Wain favorite Christopher Meloni co-stars as Joel's money-grubbing boss, and his embarrassing toilet misadventures at a costume party are a highlight. Joel has his group of racially diverse buddies (including SNL vet Kenan Thompson and The State'sKen Marino) who all play basketball (badly) and act as Joel's voices of reason. While these scenes are funny and clever in their own way, you can almost hear the gears grind to a halt during a torturous, repetitive sequence between Joel and a bartender over the phrase "You can say that again". It's one of those scenes that starts off funny, becomes tiresome, but never goes back around to being funny again, and you know that's what Wain was hoping for. The film's weak double-entendre of a title should tell you there's nothing subversive going on here; every joke is pretty obvious.

Unfortunately, there are too many moments just like that one. There comes a point when Hader and Kemper's characters begin to grow weary of the overlong tale, and it's a pretty good reflection of how the audience will feel at that point. Satire is a tough beast to tame, and while some of Wain's jokes are obviously meant to be terrible, surely not so many were designed to fall as flat as they do. Rudd, who has been in more than his share of lame romantic comedies, plays along with the gags and pokes fun at himself most of all. He and Poehler make for a great pair, one that wouldn't be too surprising if they were in a straight-up rom-com at some point, but they just don't have enough material to work with. As a fan of The State and Wet Hot American Summer, They Came Together feels like Wain flailing desperately to reclaim that old magic but finding it simply isn't there.

NOTE: This is a reprinted review from the Sundance Film Festival.

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Bill Hader Takes Lead Role in Judd Apatow's 'Trainwreck'

Even while he was a regular on SNL, Bill Hader still found time to keep busy on the big screen, stealing scenes in everything from Adventureland to Men in Black III. And that doesn't include all of the voice work he's done on animated films like Turbo and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. But now it looks like he's landed another major role, co-starring opposite Amy Schumer in Judd Apatow's Trainwreck.

Variety calls Trainwreck his "biggest role", but I think that will change once people see how great he is in The Skeleton Twins (review of that here), a film that asks him to do a lot more than just be funny. We don't know much about the plot of Trainwreck other than that it was written by Schumer and follows a basket case trying to get her life together. No word on Hader's role but prior stories listed boyfriend and best friend characters yet to be filled.

Hader has had small parts in Apatow's  Knocked Up and its "sequel" This is 40. Trainwreck is set to open July 24th 2015.

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Sundance Review: 'They Came Together' Starring Amy Poehler and Paul Rudd

Normally, when David Wain is at the peak of his comedic powers he's also at his most bizarre.  His seminal comedy hit Wet Hot American Summer is incredibly ridiculous, offbeat, and distinct in the way that many consider it a classic, while others will probably never get it. Most recently, Wain has been dabbling in more mainstream efforts such as Wanderlust and Role Models, but his latest film They Came Together is a poor attempt to reclaim his indie cred by tearing to shreds the most conventional genre of all: the romantic comedy.

That's right, the old rom-com, which everybody can admit is stale and painfully formulaic. That seems to be the entire point of Wain's film, which stars the bulk of his 'Wet Hot' cast, with Paul Rudd and Amy Poehler in the lead roles as a couple whose love follows a familiar step-by-step path. The problem is that Wain isn't especially clever in pointing out the silliness behind the infamous "meet cutes", contrived romantic obstacles, and phony emotional entanglements that litter romantic comedies. We're all in on the joke right from the beginning, and Wain struggles to make that one joke fly for more than 20 minutes, much less the 83 minute run time.

The whole set-up is basically ripped from You've Got Mail; perhaps the stick by which all formulaic rom-coms will forever be measured. Molly (Poehler) and Joel (Rudd) are at a restaurant on a double date with a bored married couple (Bill Hader and Ellie Kemper), when the dinner conversation turns to how they met and fell in love. All the standard genre tropes are rolled out in a fashion that is initially hilarious because we all recognize them: Molly is an awkward but lovable candy shop owner, so innocent and pure and she gives all of her profits to charity. Joel is nominally her perfect match, but he works for a huge corporation planning to open its own store right across the street and put Molly out of business. When the two meet, of course they are instant enemies despite the obvious physical attraction, but soon they overcome the tension with the help of their stereotypical ethnic best friends.

It's obvious that Wain and his talented cast are having a lot of fun with this, and the film is at its best when it ventures into ludicrous tangents that feel separate from the rom-com shaming. Wain favorite Christopher Meloni co-stars as Joel's money-grubbing boss, and his embarrassing toilet misadventures at a costume party are a highlight. Joel has his group of racially diverse buddies (including SNL vet Kenan Thompson and The State'sKen Marino) who all play basketball (badly) and act as Joel's voices of reason. While these scenes are funny and clever in their own way, you can almost hear the gears grind to a halt during a torturous, repetitive sequence between Joel and a bartender over the phrase "You can say that again". It's one of those scenes that starts off funny, becomes tiresome, but never goes back around to being funny again, and you know that's what Wain was hoping for. The film's weak double-entendre of a title should tell you there's nothing subversive going on here; every joke is pretty obvious.

Unfortunately, there are too many moments just like that one. There comes a point when Hader and Kemper's characters begin to grow weary of the overlong tale, and it's a pretty good reflection of how the audience will feel at that point. Satire is a tough beast to tame, and while some of Wain's jokes are obviously meant to be terrible, surely not so many were designed to fall as flat as they do. Rudd, who has been in more than his share of lame romantic comedies, plays along with the gags and pokes fun at himself most of all. He and Poehler make for a great pair, one that wouldn't be too surprising if they were in a straight-up rom-com at some point, but they just don't have enough material to work with. As a fan of The State and Wet Hot American Summer, They Came Together feels like Wain flailing desperately to reclaim that old magic but finding it simply isn't there.

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Sundance Review: 'The Skeleton Twins' Starring Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig

The rapport between Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig is obvious from their first moment together in The Skeleton Twins, and why shouldn't it be? Beyond their shared SNL history the two have delivered fantastic performances together in the past, most notably in Adventureland but also on a smaller scale in Paul. That instant chemistry is what is to be expected, but what will come as a shock to many is that it isn't solely from a comedic standpoint, but that they connect in a film heavy with issues of suicide, abuse, and infidelity.

Wiig has ventured into dramedy territory before, most recently in last year's underwhelming Girl Most Likely, but right from the start it's clear The Skeleton Twins is something new for both co-stars. The film begins with estranged siblings Milo (Hader) and Maggie (Wiig) considering suicide. He's a failed actor living in Los Angeles and dealing with a failed relationship to another man. Maggie's in New York where she leads a life of dull normalcy, working as a dental assistant and married to the overly-eager Lance (Luke Wilson), described later as a "big Labrador retriever". It's a phone call that Milo is in the hospital that stops Maggie from doing herself in, and flying off to LA to check in on him the two speak for the first time in a decade.

The film establishes early on how close they were as children, playing dress up and sharing a love of Halloween with their father. The reunion starts off tense, until Milo breaks the ice with a joke about the book Marley & Me that only those of a similar sense of humor would find funny. Humor is a constant defensive device for both, and after she invites him to stay with her in New York, the return to familiar territory brings back some old, very bad habits. Milo seems to be stalking another gay man (Ty Burrell), until we learn they share a very dark past. Maggie and Lance are attempting to have a child, only he doesn't know she's been actively working against it and indulging in a number of romantic affairs.

Considering the years he spent as the flamboyantly homosexual Stefon on SNL, one might expect expect Hader to go a little overboard. He never turns Milo into a running gag, however, who is secure enough in himself to crack jokes about being the "creepy gay uncle" or a "tragic gay cliche". Wiig is terrific as a woman incapable of being happy, and always destined to ruin her one shot at a comfortable life. Over time we come to learn about the reasons for Milo and Maggie's estrangement, including the family's history of suicide, highlighted by a memorable but sadly undeveloped appearance by their mother, who both siblings loathe with a passion. These broken siblings seem unable to function normally around anybody else, but they find light and laughter in one another's company. Those are the moments when the film really shines, especially during an impromptu lip-syncing of Journey's cornball '80s hit, 'Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now'. Director Craig Johnson, working with producers Mark and Jay Duplass, deftly balances the weightier scenes with unexpected bursts of humor. Still, the film goes to some disturbing places later on when we see that Maggie and Milo are as capable of being cruel as they are sharing a few laughs.

Because the film never shies away from the desperate depths of its characters, the overly tender and rushed conclusion is jarring. Nothing can completely overcome Hader and Wiig's excellence in exploring the joys and pains of such a close familial bond. If there was a film that truly puts their SNL past in the rear view mirror, The Skeleton Twins is it.

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Review: 'Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2', Starring Bill Hader

Imagine an island where you’d never starve because there are gigantic food portions everywhere. No, the gigantic portions of food are not a reference to Big Macs, though there is a giant cheeseburger spider-thing, complete with fries for legs. If you thought that the first movie had a lot of food, think bigger because Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 really goes all out and gets delightfully creative with the food this time around.  

Exactly eight minutes after Flint Lockwood (voice of funnyman Bill Hader) saves the world from enormous food portions, he gets with meteorologist Sam Sparks (voice of Anna Faris) and makes his dad Tim (voice of James Caan) proud. Together with Mr. T-like cop Earl Devereaux (voice of Terry Crews) and former bully Brent (voice of Andy Samberg), the group agrees to work together.

Immediately after the pact, in swoops Chester V (voice of Will Forte), a scientist the likes of Bill Nye the Science guy, only much more sinister in nature. Flint quickly falls for his act of goodwill because he’s admired the scientist his entire life and fanboys over him while Chester takes charge and boots Flint and his friends from the island.

He convinces Flint to join his company, Live Corp, where the younger scientist spends six months attempting to please Chester. Flint is ultimately drawn back to help get rid of the food animals that now inhabit the island. But Flint and his friends begin to question whether that’s the right thing to do.

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 (and isn’t that a mouthful?) is a different kind of sequel. The first film has Flint seeking approval. The sequel is a quest movie. Flint is on a quest different in nature; one is to destroy, and later help the food animals, and the second is the quest to realize that he now has friends he can trust and doesn’t have to rely on himself anymore. 

The characters are actually better rounded this time and evolve in fun ways. Now that they’re all together, the dynamic of the film is much more fun and lighthearted. It’s what the first film kind of lacked and what the sequel has in spades. The voice cast is spot on and Will Forte as Chester V is especially entertaining. You’ll laugh at him and get frustrated with him in the span of five minutes.

The creative team really put in a great effort to bring to life the food animals. Flamangoes, cheese spiders, and a little strawberry named Berry bring amusing and cute touches to the film. Probably the funniest moment comes when the strawberry named Berry translates what Flint is saying to the other food animals. Classic and the highlight of the entire movie. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 is better than the original on first watch and will entertain at every age.

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Food Animals Take Over 'Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2' in New Clip

It's been four years since we last encountered the creative world of Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs with its jello houses and ice cream monstrosities. Now Flint, Sam, and the rest of the crew are back in the film's sequel and they have a new adventure ahead of them. 

Flint has supposedly put his past behind him and moved on from the fiasco that was his food machine. He's surprised to find out that his machine is still working and instead of churning out humongous amounts of food, it's now creating food animals. 

A new clip gives us a look at exactly what Flint and co. are facing. There are potato-shaped hippos, walking bananas, meat mountains, and gigantic strawberries with eyes. You can immediately understand the issue here! They've taken over the island and the gang is in awe at its beauty, bringing even Officer Earl Devereaux to almost shed one stubborn tear.  

You can check out the clip below! 

Bill Hader, Anna Faris, Benjamin Bratt, Neil Patrick Harris, Terry Crews, and Will Forte all lend their voice talents to Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2. The film is set to hit theaters September 27. 

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New Trailer for 'Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs 2'

The food puns come fast and often in the latest trailer for Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs 2, which looks like it hasn't missed a bit with new directors Cody Cameron and Kris Pearn taking over for Chris Miller and Phil Lord. The story brings back Flint Lockwood (Bill Hader) to the town of Shallow Falls, only to discover that the FLDSMDFR's leftover have mutated into nasty food creatures.The controlled chaos of the first film has been replaced by what looks like a fairly simple Jurassic Park-style plot, so maybe this one will appeal to me where the last one definitely didn't.

Featuring the voices of Anna Faris, Terry Crews, Neil Patrick Harris, Andy Samberg, James Caan, and Benjamin Bratt, Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs 2 opens on September 27th.


CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS 2 - Trailer 2 by dmagianet

PLOT: In the wake of the disastrous food storm at the end of the first movie, Flint Lockwood and friends are forced to leave their town of Swallow Falls.  But when it is discovered that sentient food beasts have overrun the island, they are asked to return to save the world…again.

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First trailer for 'Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2'

Let the food puns begin! The first trailer for Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2, the sequel to 2009's animated hit, has arrived and it looks like it hasn't missed a step. Or a meal, for that matter. Phil Lord and Chris Miller have stepped back into a producer capacity, handing over the directing reins to Cody Cameron and Kris Pearn, who have clearly decided to not fix what wasn't broken.

The story brings back inventor Flint Lockwood (Bill Hader) and his gal pal Sam Sparks (Anna Faris) who return to Swallow Falls where his famous water-to-food machine has begun creating mutant food/animal hybrids. The animation is strong and the quips are clever, so this could be another smash when for Sony's animation division.

Also featuring the voices of Terry Crews, Will Forte, Andy Samberg, Benjamin Bratt, and Neil Patrick Harris, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 gets served up on September 27th.


Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs 2 (Trailer) by tvPRIME

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Sure Shots: Kristen Wiig; Philip Noyce; 'Man of Steel'

* Kristen Wiig will get a chance to re-team with her Adventureland co-star and fellow SNL alum Bill Hader in The Skeleton Twins. She'll be replacing Anna Faris in the film from co-writer Mark Heyman and director Craig Johnson, which follows "estranged twins Maggie and Milo, who coincidentally cheat death on the same day, prompting them to reunite and confront how their lives went so wrong. For Maggie, that means re-examining her marriage to sweet "nature frat boy" Lance (Wilson), while her gay brother Milo revisits his old flame Rich, a former teacher with a past he'd rather keep quiet. As the twins' reunion reinvigorates them both, they realize the key to fixing their lives may lie in fixing their relationship with each other" Luke Wilson has also come aboard to play Lance, and the Duplass Brothers(Jeff, Who Lives At Home) are producing. That's a hell of a lot of talent on all corners. Production begins next month. [Variety]

* 20 years ago Jeff Bridges snagged the rights to Lois Lowry's novel, The Giver, with the hopes of producing it for his father Lloyd to star in. The film has gone through various stages of development over the years, once having Vadim Perlman(House of Sand and Fog) directing based on his own script. But he's out, and now Philip Noyce(Salt) appears to be stepping in to fill the void. Jeff Bridges will remain as producer and will take over the lead role, although it's unclear if Perlman's script will stay in play. The story is set in a utopian society where memories of the past are kept sage old figure known as the "Giver". When his replacement is found in a 12-year old boy, the child learns that the things he's been taught aren't necessarily the truth.

* Back in July Warner Bros. accidentally let slip their plans to convert Zack Snyder's Man of Steel for 3D and IMAX. The studio quickly tried to pull back by saying it wasn't confirmed, but now they've gone ahead and done it anyway. So be prepared to pay a few extra bucks to see those heat vision rays pop off the screen. This decision probably doesn't surprise anybody, especially if you followed their recent decision to have Guillermo Del Toro's Pacific Rim converted.

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1st poster for Dreamworks' 'Me and My Shadow'

Pixar may still be the animation king, but Dreamworks has been slowly gaining on them in recent years. The trend now it seems, based on Tangled and Disney's amazing looking Paperman, is to blend CG animation with traditional hand drawn. So far the combination has worked brilliantly, and Dreamworks is looking to capitalize with their latest film, Me and My Shadow.

The first poster for the film has been released, and it shows that Dreamworks is really catching up to Pixar in the CG department. Alessandro Carloni(How to Train Your Dragon) will make his directorial debut, with the living shadow in the film done in hand drawn style, and his human counterpart in CG. Bill Hader voices Stan, a shadow who yearns for a bit more excitement in his life, but knows that won't happen as long as he's stuck with the boring Stanley Grubb(Josh Gad). When a crime in the shadow world puts his and Stanley's lives in danger, Stan breaks the cardinal rule and takes control to investigate. 

Me and My Shadow also features the voice of Kate Hudson, and is expected to hit theaters on March 14th 2014.

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Viola Davis, Bill Hader, Isabelle Huppert and more join 'The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby'

Already boasting a unique two-film premise that tells the same story from differing perspectives, The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby is looking like one of the more unique movies we'll see in 2013. Jessica Chastain and James McAvoy are set to play the husband and wife couple at the center of the story, and now as production kicks off, the rest of the cast has been filled out with some major names coming aboard.

Written and directed by Ned Benson, the film has now been joined by Viola Davis, William Hurt, Isabelle Huppert, Bill Hader, Ciaran Hinds, and Jess Weixler(Teeth), making for one incredibly strong cast that promises this will be an actor's showcase. Nina Arianda, who recently snagged the lead in Sean Durkin's Janis Joplin biopic, is set to play the couple's therapist, but we don't know anything about the other roles yet. The story is set in New York City, and has Chastain playing a wife who makes the surprising decision to return to college, while McAvoy is her restauranteur husband. Doesn't sound all that thrilling on the surface, but there must be something more to it with so many eager to be a part of it.

The two movies are said to be totally stand-alone, but make up one complete story when put together. It's an ambitious story, but with a cast like this that shouldn't be a problem nailing it just right. [ScreenDaily]

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Sure Shots: Elysium; Sarah Palin/Julianne Moore; The Hand Job

* A couple of quick notes about Neill Blomkamp's follow-up to District 9, the sci-fi flick Elysium. LatinoReview broke the news that Wagner Moura(Elite Squad 2) has signed on as a villain with a "crazy sense of humor". He'll be joining Matt Damon, Jodie Foster, and Sharlto Copley. Sony has also announced a March 8th 2013 release date.

* Ever since it was announced that Jay Roach would be directing Game Change, based on the controversial book about the 2008 Presidential campaign of John McCain, I've been wondering who would play his running mate turned professional victim, Sarah Palin. I guess it was too much to hope for Tina Fey, but I'll take Julianne Moore please! EW reports that the Boogie Nights super-actress(she's always awesome, I don't care what anyone says) will play the Vice Presidential nominee. I can't wait to see what approach she takes, since we've seen so many impersonations of her already. 

* Aubrey Plaza is going to be a star. Count on it. The hilarious comedienne was the best part of Judd Apatow's Funny People, and she had a few spot on moments in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. Her first true starring vehicle is The Hand Job, which sees her playing a studious high school grad trying to get some sexual experience before college. The film was written by Bill Hader's wife, Maggie Carey, who also plans to direct. Hader just dropped some additional casting to The Playlist: Alia Shawkat(Amreeka), Donald Glover(Mystery Team), Andy Samberg(Hot Rod), Mae Whitman(Scott Pilgrim), and Connie Britton(Friday Night Lights) are all aboard. Count me in!

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