Yesterday yours truly decided to make full use of my Canada Day and actually, well, relax. I stayed in bed to finish “New Moon,” the second book in Stephenie Meyer’s “Twilight” series. I wrapped up Act 4 of the Metal Gear Solid 4 on my PS3. Then I spent the rest of my day relaxing with family, consuming so much food I felt immobile, then foolishly becoming mobile in order to fail to build a dollar store kite properly and (worse) play soccer with my niece and nephew. While doing that I not only realized I can burp a lot under the wrong circumstances, but that I really need to start doing more cardio and less weights at the gym.
That’s a long, excessively personal way of saying that here on theREELaddict it’s going to be a poster kind of day. Compliments (again) of the fine folks at Cinematical, here we have the poster to the film BLINDESS, which I am highly anticipating based on the fact that I loved Jose Saramago’s original novel. I also love Julianne Moore. And Mark Ruffalo. And director Fernando Meirelles. Well, you can see where this is going.
Now that we’ve entering the month that heralds the halfway mark of the year, it seems like as good a time as any to take stock and evaluate what has been the best the year 2008 has produced so far.
1. THE BAND’S VISIT
Though at the beginning of the film THE BAND’S VISIT assures us that “not many remember” the events of the film, and that in the end “it wasn’t that important,” precisely the opposite is true. It’s a lovely told little story, an ode to the potential power of brief yet burning moments. Moments fueled by human interaction that then can culminate years of day-to-day living into a sudden burst of piercing reflection, self-awareness, and realization, before that day-to-day routine returns once again. The fact that most of that message is conveyed through the dazzling performances of both Sasson Gabai and Ronit Elkabetz is all the more impressive. It is a film that is nothing short of a revelation and revelatory.
2. THE VISITOR
Tom McCarthy’s excellent follow-up to his previous THE STATION AGENT is once again a quiet, but thoughtful and emotional story of a man who emerges from a self-imposed exile within himself. This time that man is powered by the hopefully to be Academy Award recognized performance by Richard Jenkins, as well as a strong supporting cast that infuse the film with its peaceful, delicately sweet energy that makes it film you gladly welcome into your emotional centre, and let it envelop you with its poignancy.
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It’s pretty common knowledge in my circles that I have no love for George Lucas. In fact, in my crappier modes I have been known to call him a “money-grubbing Ewok.” A loving moniker I’ve given him based on my admittedly outlandish theory that he modeled the look of the Ewoks after himself (seriously, do a side by side comparison, you’ll see what I’m talking about). However, if ever there was an argument that could convince me he isn’t some superficial capitalistic, cash-cow milking, creativity stifling, fan-disregarding, brand-name draining filmmaking force, it would be John’s incredibly well thought out and written piece over at The Movie Blog.
Though I think perhaps John overestimates Lucas latent level of talent - dormant or not - there’s no denying that AMERICAN GRAFFITI and the first two STAR WARS demonstrated Lucas has got “it” somewhere in him, it’s just an “it” that has not - as John points out - been capitalized on since, largely because Lucas can’t seem to pull himself away from his franchises. It’s a great insight, and the author goes on to offer some helpful advice on how Lucas can break out of his creative rut. Definitely worth checking out, if for no other reason than a surprisingly dead-on allusion to LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS.
If you’re anything like me, you’re loving the fact that Hollywood brilliantly insists on refusing to indulge in new, untested properties, and instead goes after films and properties we know and love. Really, with so many things fighting for our time in today’s world, who actually wants to invest in characters we’ve never met before, or stories that have to be told from the ground up? It’s so much work, and so much investment on my part as an audience member. I like it when films meet me halfway, which is why remakes, sequels, spin-offs, prequels, and reboots, are just my cup of java.
Naturally then I’m just thrilled about the double-whammy news announcements that not only are Nicolas Cage and German director, Werner Herzog, remaking the Harvey Keitel film, BAD LIEUTENANT, but that Jan de Bont (SPEED) is directing a sequel to the Kathryn Bigelow action flick, POINT BREAK. It’s a good time to be a movie fan these days.
Also, while I’m at it, I think somebody really needs to reboot the PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN franchise. Those last two films weren’t that great, and I think it’s time for a do-over.
Source: Variety (1 and 2)
Anyone with a half-decently working funny bone should be ecstatic at the news that director Edgar Wright (SHAUN OF THE DEAD, HOT FUZZ) has extended his deal with Working Title and the distribution deal with Universal Pictures for two more films. Best part? One of those films will be the next collaboration between Wright and Simon Pegg, currently titled THE WORLD’S END, which will complete their “homage” trilogy. No, don’t worry, it’s not an ode to the third PIRATES OF THE CARRIBEAN movie, but instead is most likely going to be their take on the end-of-the-world science fiction genre, one that is very near and dear to my heart (I’m a sentimental fatalist, what can I say?). The bad news in the good news is that we might have to wait for a while. Wright is busy with directing the upcoming ANT MAN, SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD, and BABY DRIVER – not necessarily in that order.
Source: Cinematical
Though the site has been up and running for a little while now, I haven’t yet had the chances to formally introduce myself, let alone lift the curtain at all to reveal the individual behind the words. Well, for those of you who are perhaps wondering a little bit about who exactly the mysterious and sexy REEL Addict is, you can now read up on me over in the “Contact” section (or just click here) where you’ll find some biographical information about yours truly, and even an embarrassing and scandalous movie confession or two. There you’ll also find the email where you can reach me for any and all inquiries. Anything you like or don’t like on the site? Just let me know. After all, all of this is for your benefit. Questions, suggestions, hate mail, or even the odd Shakespearean sonnet are also welcome.
I’d also like to take a moment to thank those of you who have been reading the site for a while now and keep coming back for more, as well as those of who are just finding the site and giving it a chance. I hope you find something worth liking and decide to continue checking it out in the future.
Cheers,
The REEL Addict
A while back we reported on how Jason Segel had come on board to work on the next installment of the ever-popular but somewhat dusty Muppets franchise. Given Segel’s comedic and a little naughty background, a lot of us were wondering what he would actually do with the project. Be faithful to the Muppet films of old, or do something modern with lots of winking at the audience, a la SHREK. Well, rest easy, Muppet fans, it seems Segel is sticking to a storyline that is perfectly in synch with the golden olden days of these characters. According to CHUD, the plot will go something like this:
“Apparently their Muppet film is going to be incredibly old fashioned, with the familiar Muppet characters putting on a show to save an old theater (the theater from The Muppet Show?). The danger? An evil character wants to tear the place down to get at the oil underneath.”
Sounds like exactly what those who grew up on the Muppets would expect and want from a Muppet film. It might even be fun to do this like BLUES BROTHERS, and have someone like Kermit have to track down the rest of the gang and let us see what they have been doing with their lives after so many years. But that’s just me.
Do you guys like the idea, hate the idea? Do you like the old-school vibe, or would want something a little more modern?
Why not start the week off on the right foot by checking out some of our favaorite content across the vast and ever-expanding Addict Network™
On the TV Addict:
We ran 10 Questions with 30 ROCK’s Tina Fey, posted spoiler photos from both SMALLVILLE and GOSSIP GIRL, and imagined what the long-awaited Michael/Sara reunion might look like on PRISON BREAK.
On the REEL Addict:
We reviewed RUN FAT BOY RUN, helped sell more kleenex with our 15 Bleakest Film Endings of all time and posted the one funny moment in SUPERHERO MOVIE, thus saving you the thirteen bucks.
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