Archive for July, 2007

Broken English – Trailer

Friday, July 6th, 2007
  Broken English - Trailer
In a startling mature and nuanced performance, Parker Posey plays Nora Wilder, a thirty-something Manhattanite who is cynical about love and relationships, in this astute collaboration with first-time writer/director Zoe Cassavetes. Nora plugs away at her job in a posh downtown hotel and can’t help but wonder what it is she has to do to find a relationship as ideal as her friend Audrey’s (Drea De Matteo) “perfect marriage.” It doesn’t help that her overbearing mother (Gena Rowlands) takes every opportunity to remind Nora that she’s still unattached. After a series of disastrous first dates, she meets Julien (Melvin Poupaud), a seemingly devil-may-care Frenchman with a passion for living. Expecting another disastrous ending, Nora tries to avoid making the same mistakes. She finds herself in Paris looking to break old patterns. Inevitably, Nora has to look inward before she can find a new outlook on life and most importantly, love.
Directed by: Zoe Cassavetes
Starring: Parker Posey, Drea de Matteo, Gena Rowlands, Melvil Poupaud

The Invasion – Trailer 1

Friday, July 6th, 2007
  The Invasion - Trailer 1
The Invasion tells the story of a mysterious epidemic that alters the behavior of human beings. When a Washington D.C. psychiatrist (Nicole Kidman) discovers the epidemic’s origins are extraterrestrial, she must fight to protect her son, who may hold the key to stopping the escalating invasion.
Directed by: Oliver Hirschbiegel
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Jeremy Northam, Jeffrey Wright, Malin Akerman

August Rush – Trailer 1

Friday, July 6th, 2007
  August Rush - Trailer 1
Tells the story of a charismatic young Irish guitarist (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) and a sheltered young cellist (Keri Russell) who have a chance encounter one magical night above New York’s Washington Square, but are soon torn apart, leaving in their wake an infant, August Rush, orphaned by circumstance. Now performing on the streets of New York and cared for by a mysterious stranger (Robin Williams), August (Freddie Highmore) uses his remarkable musical talent to seek the parents from whom he was separated at birth.
Directed by: Kristen Sheridan
Starring: Freddie Highmore, Keri Russell, Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, Terrence Howard, Robin Williams

Lions For Lambs – Teaser 1

Friday, July 6th, 2007
  Lions For Lambs - Teaser 1
Robert Redford, Meryl Streep and Tom Cruise star in LIONS FOR LAMBS, a powerful and gripping story that digs behind the news, the politics and a nation divided to explore the human consequences of a complicated war. Directed by Academy Award winner Robert Redford, the story begins after two determined students at a West Coast University, Arian (DEREK LUKE) and Ernest (MICHAEL PENA), follow the inspiration of their idealistic professor, Dr. Malley (REDFORD), and attempt to do something important with their lives. But when the two make the bold decision to join the battle in Afghanistan, Malley is both moved and distraught. Now, as Arian and Ernest fight for survival in the field, they become the string that binds together two disparate stories on opposite sides of America. In California, an anguished Dr. Malley attempts to reach a privileged but disaffected student (ANDREW GARFIELD) who is the very opposite of Arian and Ernest. Meanwhile, in Washington D.C. the charismatic Presidential hopeful, Senator Jasper Irving (CRUISE), is about to give a bombshell story to a probing TV journalist (STREEP) that may affect Arian and Ernest’s fates. As arguments, memories and bullets fly, the three stories are woven ever more tightly together, revealing how each of these Americans has a profound impact on each other and the world.
Directed by: Robert Redford
Starring: Robert Redford, Meryl Streep, Tom Cruise, Derek Luke, Michael Pena

Claude Chabot: Apnee

Thursday, July 5th, 2007

apnee.jpg

Claude Chabot’s “Apnée” is a deceptively simple film that uses cleverly conceived 3D scenes to tell a story in a refreshingly innovative way. Each scene is meticulously constructed in order to be unpacked by the viewer, whose deliciously fun job it is to construct a narrative around the clues provided.

The moral: Mommas don’t let your babies grow up to be paparazzi.

Apparently, “Apnée” screened at the recent Platform International Animation Festival, but it didn’t net any awards. Seems like a travesty. I hope Mr. Chabot gets the laurels he deserves soon.

(If you have trouble viewing the video at the above link, try right-clicking to gain a little more control over playback. Or try watching it here.)

Bug ups to our very own Babe Elliott Baker for spotting this one and bringing it to our attention.

Al Gore Defends Arrested Son’s Carbon Offset Strategy

Thursday, July 5th, 2007

From the mighty Scrappleface:
(2007-07-05) – Al Gore, the concert organizer and former U.S. vice president, today defended his son, Al III, after the younger Gore’s arrest for speeding and drug possession, applauding his use of the hybrid Toyota Prius to offset the carbon emissions of his smoking marijuana.
“Even at 100 miles per hour,” said the […]

Sketchtravel Trailer

Thursday, July 5th, 2007

Brilliant transitions abound in this whimsical trailer for the Sketchtravel project. This is a fine example of expository motion graphics, educational and titillating in equal parts.

Tipped by Eric Henry via Drawn.ca.

10 Things we learned from Die Hard 4.0

Thursday, July 5th, 2007

WARNING! SPOILERS AHEAD!

1. Don’t EVER try and cop a feel off John McClane’s daughter! What are you, stupid?

2. Bald is the new hair.

3. What? You’ve discovered that the government’s defence network is susceptible to computer attack? Nobody will listen to you? You’re concerned about the welfare of your fellow Americans? Well, why not SCARE THE SHIT out of them all and kill hundreds of innocent people?

4. The nerdy computer hacker ALWAYS gets the girl.

5. The girl is ALWAYS the daughter of a crazy mutherfucker that just saved your life ten times. But if you save his life, you might be in with a shot at boning her.

6. People who insist on calling themselves ‘The Warlock’ will inevitably live in their mother’s basement.

7. It’s ok to beat up women as long as they know kung-fu.

8. Jet-fighter pilots will blow up entire bridges and as many civilian cars as they can until they get their man!

9. Jet-fighter pilots never get their man.

10. John McClane is still the coolest guy ever.

Read our Die Hard 4.0 review

Review – Die Hard 4.0 (2007)

Thursday, July 5th, 2007

Dave Corkery

Thanks to an increasingly worrying trend of 80s regurgitation (McGyver film…. go ooooon), Die Hard is back. But rather than shy away from numbered titles like Rocky 6 (Rocky Balboa) and Rambo 4 (John Rambo), McClane is proud of his roots and so we have the simple and effective title of Die Hard 4.0 (or the wanky Live Free or Die Hard in the US.)

Best Worst Fashion Statements

Thursday, July 5th, 2007

Out of this world fashions now appearing in Paramus, New Jersey.

Runtime: 29 sec