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Nyt's Manohla Dargis Offers Her Top 13 of 2009
14 hours ago
Just recently New York Times critic Manohla Dargis made some waves with an interview she gave using some salty language and calling out a few people here and there. Today she delivers a list of her favorite films of 2009.
While beating the dead horse that is the hatred for such films as G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen she also has a few kind words for some films that didn't make her ultimate list such as Star Trek, Julie and#038; Julia (agree keep the Julie), Duplicity, A Perfect Getaway, Up and A Single Man.
I have listed her top 13 directly below as she listed them, "in order of their domestic release" with links to my reviews where available. Following that is a list of her "other favorites." Like I said when I linked to her interview, "I have mixed feelings when it comes to
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- Brad Brevet
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The Walt Disney and Touchstone Pictures 2010 Movie Preview
16 hours ago
Walt Disney Pictures and Touchstone Pictures are the latest to reveal their 2010 slate of films with such selections as Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland, the videogame adaptation Prince of Persia, Toy Story 3, Step Up 3D, Oceans, Rapunzel and several more.
All the cast, director and synopsis information is listed over the course of the next few pages as well as all the release dates for 23 upcoming films. Gallery links have been added for all films and remember, the links open in a new browser window so just close the new window to return to this article and continue the preview.
When In Rome
January 29
Photo: Touchstone Pictures
Browse The Gallery
Starring: Kristen Bell, Jon Heder, Dax Shepard, Will Arnett, Danny DeVito, Josh Duhamel
Director: Mark Steven Johnson
An ambitious young New Yorker (Kristen Bell), disillusioned with romance, takes a whirlwind trip to Rome where she defiantly plucks magic
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- Brad Brevet
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Wait, Freeze That! Now... Enhance It!
17 hours ago
Seeing how this has always been a pet peeve of mine in film and television I offer you a video brought to my attention by Film Drunk. Perhaps screenwriters will see this and realize how truly awful it is when the words "enhance it" are uttered:
This video, which even goes as far as to include a clip from "MacGyver," was created by dunk3d.
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- Brad Brevet
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This Weekend at the Movies: December 18, 2009
18 December 2009 3:51 AM, PST
The main film this weekend is Avatar and that's obvious, but there are a few films opening in limited release to begin discussing as they will be expanding further in the coming weeks. Let's get to it.
Avatar
It's the talk of the Internet and I am anxiously awaiting box-office returns. I hope this film will be a big hit because it's a lot of fun. Unfortunately I had to skip a second screening of it last night to finish up writing this weekend's reviews or I would be able to say I've seen it twice. I expect most of the regular movie fans that frequent film sites such as RopeofSilicon.com will be sure to check this one out this weekend and I can't wait to hear what everyone thinks.
This film is rated PG-13 for intense epic battle sequences and warfare, sensuality, language and some smoking.
Click Here
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- Brad Brevet
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Movie Review: Nine (2009)
18 December 2009 3:44 AM, PST
Daniel Day-Lewis in Nine
Photo: The Weinstein Co.
As anyone that reads me regularly already knows, Federico Fellini's 8 1/2 is one of my all-time favorite films. As a result, my anticipation for Rob Marshall's Nine, an adaptation of the Tony Award winning Broadway musical, which itself was an adaptation of Fellini's 1963 classic, was through the roof. Particularly because I viewed this as a cinematic re-imagining and not an attempt to remake a classic as much as it is influenced by it. This gives Nine something of a different meaning for me as I see it as a colorful (and musical) companion piece to Fellini's film. The B-side to Fellini's A. Where it falls short is the missing personal touch that caused Fellini to make his film about an agonizing film director in the first place, but at times Nine satisfies and the finale is worth the wait.
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- Brad Brevet
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Movie Review: Crazy Heart (2009)
18 December 2009 3:36 AM, PST
Jeff Bridges in Crazy Heart
Photo: Fox Searchlight Pictures
Scott Cooper's Crazy Heart marks the helmer's feature film directorial debut. Having also penned the screenplay, an adaptation of the Thomas Cobb novel, there are obvious decisions that were made limiting the risk of this story of an alcoholic country music singer. In fact, Crazy Heart could have gone down much darker and less cliched paths had it dared and at the same time told greater truths about its subject matter. Instead Cooper plays it safe and relies on a powerful lead performance from Jeff Bridges and worthy supporting efforts from Maggie Gyllenhaal, Colin Farrell, Paul Herman and Robert Duvall to make it all work.
Already described by most as The Wrestler for 2009, this is an apt comparison in terms of framework, but the execution isn't as closely comparable. Bridges plays Bad Blake, a country singer that once toured and
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- Brad Brevet
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Movie Review: The Lovely Bones (2009)
18 December 2009 3:26 AM, PST
Saoirse Ronan in The Lovely Bones
Photo: Paramount Pictures
As mud flies with every smashing turn of a battered safe pushed to its final resting place, I came to realize Peter Jackson's The Lovely Boneswas the very best film he could make out of Alice Sebold's bestselling novel. This, though, doesn't mean he ended up with a fantastic film. In fact The Lovely Bones is a perfectly fine film that never stalls and truly shines inside its technical efficiency, but it seems to lack something of a human element, muting the overall result. I can't blame this on Jackson or anyone involved; I never thought this was a book that could perfectly translate to the big screen. As a result I can't imagine anyone being entirely disappointed as much as you will walk away plainly amused and slightly entertained.
Murdered at the age of 14, The Lovely Bones is
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- Brad Brevet
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Movie Review: The Young Victoria (2009)
18 December 2009 3:14 AM, PST
Emily Blunt and Rupert Friend in The Young Victoria
Photo: Apparition
The Young Victoria is an excellent film, but it's missing a conclusion. The script penned by Julian Fellowes ends just when it seems it should be getting to the final act of the story of the up-and-down first years of Queen Victoria's rule. Fellowes gets us over a hill only to feed us text to take us down the other side. It's like investing in the stock market and watching your stock climb only to have it earn you hundreds instead of thousands when you cash out. Sure, you're a little richer, but the promise was much greater than the ultimate payoff.
For as melancholy as the film opens, The Young Victoria is actually quite the entertaining royal period piece as it introduces us to 17-year-old Princess Victoria (Emily Blunt) describing her "palace as a prison" while she sits in waiting.
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- Brad Brevet
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Movie Review: Broken Embraces (2009)
18 December 2009 3:07 AM, PST
Penelope Cruz and Lluis Homar in Broken Embraces
Photo: Sony Pictures Classics
Earlier this year I did myself a favor and invested some time in the most recent work from director Pedro Almodovar. I missed the bus on the acclaimed director's work to this point (outside of Bad Education) and wanted to remedy the situation somewhat. Of those I watched I was completely floored by Volver to the point I will most likely never watch another Almodovar film the same way as they all now have something to aspire to. Broken Embraces doesn't live up to that 2006 film, but it still contains a magical touch only Almodovar currently seems to be bringing to his features.
This isn't to say Broken Embraces is otherworldly like Volver, but it has a mystical style to it as a 14-year-old story is brought back to life as a film director left blind from a
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- Brad Brevet
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Box-Office Oracle: Dec. 18 - Dec. 20, 2009
17 December 2009 4:54 PM, PST
#1 movie predicted correctly: 7 Weeks in a Row
1. Avatar
I'm finally going low on a big title. Too low? We'll know soon enough. Yes, it has 3-D and IMAX dollars rolling in, yes it's got a massive marketing budget and the power of James Cameron behind it. But it also has something big working against it too: Timing. The third weekend in December isn't the best time to be shooting for massive dollars, folks are finishing up shopping and entertaining family. King Kong opened at $50m, Lord of the Rings: Return of the King brought in $73m. National Treasure: Book of Secrets could only rustle up $45m in a similar time slot.
Is Avatar different? Will the years of waiting translate to big dollars? We'll see. Here's the even bigger question: If Avatar clears $60-80m this weekend, and then loses to Sherlock Holmes next weekend, is that good enough?
Estimate:
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- Laremy Legel
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'Iron Man 2,' 'Shutter Island' and 'Shrek 4' are Part of Paramount's 2010 Movie Preview
17 December 2009 3:57 PM, PST
Paramount Pictures and DreamWorks have released their 2010 picture preview, which includes nine upcoming films including Shutter Island, Iron Man 2, Shrek Forever After and The Last Airbender. Along with the preview we have five brand new images not to mention select new images that were recently released such as the poster for Shrek and new images for Iron Man 2.
All the cast, director and synopsis information is listed over the course of the next few pages as well as all the release dates for 23 upcoming films. Gallery links have been added for all films and remember, the links open in a new browser window so just close the new window to return to this article and continue the preview.
Shutter Island
February 19
Photo: Paramount Pictures
Browse The Gallery
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Michelle Williams, Emily Mortimer, Patricia Clarkson and Max Von Sydow
Director: Martin Scorsese
From Oscarandreg;-winning director Martin Scorsese,
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- Brad Brevet
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Get a Load of These 'Babies' ... Literally
17 December 2009 2:08 PM, PST
From out of nowhere comes a movie I had not heard of and one that is sure to have at least half (if not more) of the RopeofSilicon audience going, "Awwwwww, how cute..." Yup, it's Babies, a new documentary from Focus Features arriving in 2010 and directed by Thomas Balmes. The film moves the audience from Mongolia to Namibia to San Francisco to Tokyo simultaneously, following four babies around the world - from first breath to first steps.
Today I received the poster and have just posted the trailer, both of which are included below. Like I said, I had not heard of this film, but thought it was a rather interesting concept. Check everything out directly below and get a larger look at the poster right here.
Photo: Focus Features
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- Brad Brevet
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Puss in Boots Got Fat in the 'Shrek Forever After' Trailer and Poster Premiere
17 December 2009 1:40 PM, PST
Photo: DreamWorks Animation
As if we hadn't had enough new trailers this week, Apple has debuted the trailer and the poster for Shrek Forever After, the fourth and final installment in the Shrek franchise due in theaters on May 21, 2010.
On top of that, we also get the first official synopsis which reads as follows:
After challenging an evil dragon, rescuing a beautiful princess and saving your in-laws' kingdom, what's an ogre to do? Well, if you're Shrek, you suddenly wind up a domesticated family man. Instead of scaring villagers away like he used to, a reluctant Shrek now agrees to autograph pitch forks. What's happened to this ogre's roar? Longing for the days when he felt like a "real ogre," Shrek is duped into signing a pact with the smooth-talking dealmaker, Rumpelstiltskin. Shrek suddenly finds himself in a twisted, alternate version of Far Far Away, where ogres are hunted, Rumpelstiltskin
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- Brad Brevet
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Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning Rock Out in 'Runaways' Teaser Trailer
17 December 2009 1:26 PM, PST
MTV has debuted the teaser trailer for The Runaways, the recently Apparition acquired feature starring Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning as Joan Jett and Cherie Currie telling the story of the ladies' rise from rebellious Southern California kids to rock stars of the now legendary group that paved the way for future generations of girl bands.
The film is set to hit theaters on March 19, 2010 following its January premiere at the Sundance Film Festival. It also stars Scout Taylor-Compton, Alia Shawkat and Stella Maeve.
Check out the trailer directly below and check out the first official still from the film in our gallery here.
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- Brad Brevet
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The 2010 Screen Actors Guild Awards Nominations are Here
17 December 2009 7:15 AM, PST
Photo: Screen Actors Guild
Nominations for the 16th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards were announced this morning just two days after the 2010 Golden Globe Nominations giving us plenty to chew on heading into the weekend. As for surprises I can say there are really only a couple.
First off, one nod that's not really a surprise is the one that went to Jeremy Renner for The Hurt Locker, most likely edging out Daniel Day-Lewis for Nine. Considering we are talking about actors nominating actors this seems about right. However, Diane Kruger getting a nomination for her performance in Inglourious Basterds is a bit of a surprise, especially as she's beating out her co-star in that film Melanie Laurent, not to forget Marion Cotillard in Nine, both performances I believe are more deserving. Don't expect Oscar to follow suit with that choice.
The other nominations causing me to scratch my head
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- Brad Brevet
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'Magnolia' Bloomed Ten Years Ago Today; We Haven't Forgotten
17 December 2009 2:38 AM, PST
Philip Seymour Hoffman in Magnolia
Photo: New Line Cinema
Beware of anyone who associates with Ricky Jay. He shows up in the films of David Mamet, who always loves a good con. He's the narrator of one of my favorite movies of 2009, The Brothers Bloom, also a movie about con artists. When there is trickery and sleight of hand afoot, look around and you might notice a large bearded man peering around the corners.
I know a magician. He's a pretty damn good one. His name is Jerry. To tell you more is to reveal his secrets. I asked him a few weeks ago which magician he is most impressed by. I mentioned some popular names like David Blaine (you know, to help him out). He shook his head at every name I mentioned and said, "That's easy. The greatest magician I've ever seen is Ricky Jay."
Ricky Jay pops
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- Andre Rivas
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Bryan Singer Signs on for 'X-Men: First Class' at Fox
17 December 2009 12:18 AM, PST
An interesting development occurred on the Los Angeles "blue carpet" premiere of Avatar tonight as Bryan Singer reveals he has just signed on to direct X-Men: First Class for 20th Century Fox.
Singer was asked about his future projects by MySpace hosts and replied, "I'm prepping a movie called Jack the Giant Killer [with] Warner Bros, and I just yesterday signed a deal to do an X-Men: First Class -- Origins -- picture, which is kind of cool." The video to the right features the words coming out of his mouth if you need further confirmation.
Of course, this news is likely to be received with open arms by the X-Men faithful that enjoyed Singer's original X-Men and then like most movie fans fell in love with X2: X-Men United. The rails sort of fell off with X-Men: The Last Stand in 2006 directed by Brett Ratner. While Ratner's film was a s financial success,
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- Brad Brevet
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The First 'Iron Man 2' Trailer is Here
16 December 2009 5:26 PM, PST
Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) and War Machine (Don Cheadle) in Iron Man 2
Photo: Paramount Pictures
I don't think I need to say much to get you to hit play on this one as Paramount has just released the first official trailer for Iron Man 2, which will be hitting theaters attached to Sherlock Holmes on Christmas Day.
The film reunites director Jon Favreau and Robert Downey Jr. as the world is now aware that billionaire inventor Tony Stark (Downey Jr.) is the armored Super Hero Iron Man. Under pressure from the government, the press and the public to share his technology with the military, Tony is unwilling to divulge the secrets behind the Iron Man armor because he fears the information will slip into the wrong hands. With Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow), and James "Rhodey" Rhodes (Don Cheadle) at his side, Tony forges new alliances and confronts powerful new forces.
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- Brad Brevet
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'Hot Tub Time Machine' Trailer Warps Online
16 December 2009 4:48 PM, PST
Apparently this is the 2010 comedy everyone is currently latching onto, which has got to make MGM happy considering they aren't exactly having a banner year. The film is Hot Tub Time Machine starring John Cusack, Rob Corddry, Craig Robinson, Clark Duke and Lizzy Caplan and it follows a group of best friends have become bored with their adult lives: Adam has been dumped by his girlfriend; Lou is a party guy who can't find the party; Nick's wife controls his every move; and video game-obsessed Jacob won't leave his basement. After a crazy night of drinking in a ski resort hot tub, the men wake up, heads pounding, in the year 1986. This is their chance to kick some past and change their futures - one will find a new love life, one will learn to stand up for himself with the ladies, one will find his mojo, and one will make sure he still exists!
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- Brad Brevet
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Latest MPAA Ratings: Bulletin No: 2100
16 December 2009 4:26 PM, PST
Here are the new MPAA ratings from Bulletin No: 2100.
Adopted
Rated R For some language.
The Crazies
Rated R For bloody violence and language.
Release Date: February 26, 2010
The Final
Rated R For sadistic violence and torture, language, sexual references, drug and alcohol use - all involving teens.
Gnomes And Trolls
Rated PG For some rude humor including language, and for peril.
The Good Guy
Rated R For pervasive language and some sexual content.
Knife Edge
Rated R For violence, language and brief drug use.
Legion
Rated R For strong bloody violence, and language.
Release Date: January 22, 2010
Somewhere
Rated R For sexual content, nudity and language.
Release Date: Tba 2010
You can always stay up-to-date on all the latest updates to our database right here.
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- Brad Brevet
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