Tintin Teaser Trailer: And the Crowd Goes Wiiiild

Ahhh, we've been traversing this chilly Sydney evening, from Walsh Bay to Mosman, from Fatima Bhutto's opening address at the Sydney Writer's Festival to the Tintin teaser trailer. Fuck yes, Tintin. Hey, we didn't say our brows were high, just that we had some.

Yes people, the very first trailer for The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of The Unicorn, directed by Steven Spielberg and produced by Peter Jackson (a dream team, if ever one existed) is indeed on the interwebs. The motion capture technology creates stunningly crisp images; married with the braying, dramatic soundtrack (thank you John Williams, master of the blockbuster movie score) and intriguing glimpses at the characters and the mystery surrounding said unicorn, this first-class trailer leaves us eager for more. 

Et tu, nerds?

Beastie Boys, Hells Yeah: Why Music Videos Matter

There are few bands who take such pride in their work (and have such an obvious love for film) as to commission a 30 minute short in the lead up to the release of their new album (in this case, Hot Sauce Committee: Part 2). The Beastie Boys are one such band and oh boy, should they be pleased as pie, or whatever it is MCs eat, with the results. 

Fight for Your Right (Revisited) is not simply an exercise in record company marketing, although we don't doubt this short would have busted first week sales wide open. It's a celebration of fun, hard work, and the enduring beats--yes, we realise we're white, but so are they--of New York's Beastie Boys. 

Written and directed by Beastie Boy Adam Yauch (Ad-Rock), we pick up where the story in Fight for Your Right left off and follow The Beastie Boys of yester-years, Ad-Rock (Elijah Wood), MCA (Danny McBride), and Mike D (Seth Rogen)--out of the party they've clearly just trashed. To that end, we're back in early-80s New York, in the company of brownstones, bodegas, and terriflyingly brick-like police cars. "I think we can all agree we're on the same team here and that's the no pie no sledgehammer team," says the young Mike D to an uptight Susan Sarandon and Stanley Tucci, who are returning to their apartment and rightly concerned for its continued equilibrium.

The boys rock out onto the street, intent on picking up more beers and perhaps, but less importantly, some breakfast. It must be said that the editing, as well as the story and screenplay, is truly well-refined. The use of rewind and slow-mo takes in just the right places fit in perfectly with what is first up a remixed version of the Beastie's new single, 'Make Some Noise'--a song so catchy, mind you, you'll find it difficult to get out of your head for days.

Having robbed the bodega, accosted a bunch of richies in a cafe for champagne, been hit by a limo (MCA) and then dragged into it (all of them) and drugged by metal chicks (Chloe Sevigny, Kirsten Dunst, and Maya Rudolph), the wayward MCs are at their halfway mark: out on the pavement and tripping on LSD, having just 'seen' a certain anchor man dressed in a traditional Mexican costume, standing on top of the limo, going to town with a stick and cowbell. Awesome. 

Then, all of a sudden, silence, except for the howl of wolves in the back ground and the wind picking up, that is. The street in front of them is deserted, all but three older men materialising from a Delorean (but probably not THE Delorean): The Beastie Boys version 2.0, in the form of Will Ferrell (Ad-Rock), Jack Black (MCA), and John C. Reilly (Mike D). A challenge to a dance contest is layed down, for shiz. "All right guess what? I get what you're layin' down, you future fuckers. And it's on. I'm tripping my balls off right now," says the young MCA. 

The sextet start their epic dance battle to another track from Hot Sauce Committee: Part 2, 'Too Many Rappers', which has to be seen in all of its cracked-out comedic glory to be believed. The last title and statement, 'To be continued, check back in 25 years' serves as a testament to the longevity and development of a band who have always been ahead of their time and yet, simultaneously relevant. And kids, you don't get much more relevant than Seth Rogen and freaking Frodo. 
 
If Hollywood hasn't already cottoned on to the fact that Adam Yauch should be writing full-length comedy screenplays, well, they hot damn will. Fight for Your Right (Revisited) has parties, girls, crime, nerd references, celebrity cameos up the yin yang, and Jack Black dancing: we for one wouldn't change a single busted beer can. 

****1/2 (shiny, shiny stars)

Review: Burke & Hare

Pegg was mighty unimpressed with Serkis's hipster hat. For shame.

 

Director: John Landis

Release Date: 12 May 2011

Rating: M

Runtime: 91 mins

The mighty, they have fallen: and probably into a grave of their own digging. William Burke (Simon Pegg) and William Hare (Andy Serkis) are conmen of sorts. We meet the hapless pair on the streets of Edinburgh in 1828, trying to sell miracle moss from bonny Donegal to anyone stupid enough to take pause. Apparently, not such a convincing act, as the cheese mould is discovered in seconds and the deadend duo are chased over the cobblestones by riotous villagers. It's a new plan that needs a hatchin' and unfortunately for them, brains only pass in their vicinity in the form of fresh corpses, as opposed to getting thoroughly acquainted with the living, breathing sponge most of us use daily. 

Their new enterprise as grave robbers, which they come across by mistake, is sadly shortlived. What ho? Graverobbing a fun pastime? Not exactly what we're trying to say here, just that the synopsis of the film was entirely misleading in representing how Burke & Hare come across their bodies: bodies sold profitably (in a time of medical discovery and scholarship) to the Edinburgh Medical College. 

Against everyone's better judgement, not least the screenwriting team Piers Ashworth and Nick Moorcroft (who worked on both St Trinian's films together before this), Pegg and Serkis start giving people a nudge, and then a more definite push towards death, perhaps keeping with the notion that if you play it light hearted, everyone will forget it's murder you're committing. 'Oh look a puppy!' says Darth Vader as he draws out (draws out, fires up?) his Lightsaber and proceeds to cut off your arm. Mmmm, that'll work. If this film had been penned as a straight-up black comedy, perhaps we could commit more to the idea. However, the current even balance of light and dark only serves to confuse the viewer and doesn't allow us to invest in the concept as a whole. 

What's more, the laughs come sporadically: like having half-popped bubble wrap on the ground and stomping about willy nilly, you're not always guaranteed a success. Pegg is still loveable and Burke as a character has many redeeming qualities, but Serkis lacks the charisma he usually radiates like an iceberg poking out of a black, Arctic sea. The addition of big names in British cinema and comedy such as Bill Bailey and Tim Curry do little to drag this confused comedy out of the murky patch of bog marsh it seems content to reside in.

John Landis, who in his early career directed popular horror and comedies including The Blues Brothers. An American Werewolf in London, and Three Amigos (not to mention the music video for Thriller, possibly the only music video ever made to share popularity equally with critical acclaim) is actually responsible for the direction of Burke & Hare. A shame, really, when you consider his previous achievements in popular cinema. Burke & Hare? Non non, pas de tut. Burke & Shmeh. 

**1/2

Trailer: One Day

Lone Scherfig's forthcoming film (she of An Education fame) One Day, starring Anne
Hathaway and Jim Sturgess, finally has a trailer. We've been looking forward to a peek at this for some time and the story element does not disappoint: the evolution of a relationship over twenty years is fascinating and full of charm. However, we are lft wondering if it wouldn't have been better to cast a British actress in the role of Emma. Hathaway did a good job in Being Jane, but seems to falter on the accent and phrasing of a modern, middle-class British woman.

Sturgess is interesting enough, but will one bodged accent ruin a film and ultimately take away a role from a British actress who could have done a highly convincing job? Also, what's with the annoying American voiceover? This is a British film, is it not? Are you responsible for this, Random House Films?

Tarantino in for Django Unchained

Quentin Tarantino ala Hoodie, Photo Copyright Zach Zupancic.

For those who've been waiting for an announcement about Tarantino's next project after Inglourious Basterds, look no further. Variety exclusively reported this morning that cult Director Quentin Tarantino has penned and will direct Django Unchained for The Weinstein Company. Django Unchained will be a Western (freakin' A), but we'd be interested to see if buddy Robert Rodriguez would come on board to crew. The pair of them together on a Western would be an unstoppable filmmaking force. Variety's report also contained information that the front page of the script had in fact been leaked online, which you can see at Collider until the takedown notice is undoubtedly served. 

Our thoughts? Can't wait for more plot details (but not too many - that's the beauty of a Tarantino production) and for someone to throw us some meagre scraps of casting news. 

Trailer News: Transformers 3 Stomps In

If Michael Bay ever learns subtlety, we'll eat our own feet. That said, the full length trailer for Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon is visually dynamic. This time it's World War III, Transformers style, and Le Beouf & Co. are battling with the knowledge that the 1966 moon landing was also the location of an event of national importance. Government conspiracy + robots + a former Victoria's Secret model will probably equal success for Bay and Executive Producer Steven Spielberg.

Will you be lining up to watch things go boom boom with Optimus and friends for a third time running?

Review : Hoodwinked Too! Hood Vs. Evil (3D)

Red (Panettiere) attempting the innocent look in Hoodwinked Too!

Director: Mike Disa

Release Date: 5 May 2011

Rating: TBC

Runtime: TBC

This sequel to Hoodwinked!, which is a mash-up of Little Red Riding Hood (without the bad character makeup seen in the recent Catherine Hardwicke adaptation) and Hansel & Gretel. Really, the film just takes the characters and picks elements from each story to spin a modern tale fit for your little ones. Many, many of them. Our decision to attend the preview where, suspiciously, four tickets had been issued instead of the regular two should have alerted us to what was to come. What was it that Dylan Moran said about children being like midget drunks? Oh right, just that.

Red (Hayden Panettiere) is off in some far-flung location training with the Sisters of the Hood. Deep. Well no, but kind of funny. Things go awry during a tactical mission where Granny (Glenn Close) and the Wolf (Patrick Warburton) are attempting to save Hansel (Bill Hader) and Gretel (Amy Poehler) from the Witch —and a finer pair of hilariously stereotyped German children, you won't find anywhere else.  Granny is kidnapped along with the kids and the H.E.A (Happily Ever After) Agency calls Red back from her training to save the day.

The integration of 3D here is seamless: that said, you wouldn't notice if it wasn't there either and it doesn't necessarily blow minds like it's meant to. As far as animated children's fare goes, all is well up to a certain point. Some of the jokes are really funny, for example, when the Wolf says of Witch Verushka's gingerbread house (Joan Cusack, who was just born for voice acting), 'It's against housing codes to live in any dessert bigger than a cupcake', the cinema just exploded in cackles. The Yokel Goat (Benjy Gaither) playing the banjo is a nice touch, as he uses every opportunity to make up nonsensical songs about his current situation: a troubadour, if you will.

The only downfall here is the rather heavy-handed message about kids eating right and exercising at the end of the film. The writers really could have left it at 'You have the right to a treadmill. If you do not have a treadmill, one will be provided for you' when the H.E.A Agency arrest the now gigantor Hansel and Gretel.

Even though our viewing experience was more like feeding time at the Zoo (but louder), Hoodwinked Too is light-hearted, genuinely amusing entertainment the whole family can watch together.

***1/2

Trailer & Pic News: This Week in Fantasy

Remember when we posted this back in January? Well, now Summit have released the second pic from the forthcoming film Breaking Dawn, starring every 16-year-old's favourite vamp/werewolf. Behold, a buff Taylor Lautner running in the rain. We can't remember exactly what scene this is supposed to be, but it looks like the werewolf has now become some sort of messenger-dog. 

Taylor Lautner as Jacob Black, photo Copyright Summit Entertainment.

Next up on the agenda, and really, how could it have taken us this long to report this, but the first trailer for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 is here. Yes, on the interwebs. Sorry, Harry Part 1, but this trailer foreshadows a film that is ultimately more exciting than you. We know that due to the expository nature of the story that had to be told in Part 1 that it was always meant to be more of an 'oh, that's why' fitting-together-of-the-puzzle-pieces type of film. However, the trailer for Part 2 looks equal parts chilling, emotional, and exciting. Ralph Fiennes is truly terrifying and it looks as though Radcliffe will finally get to come into his own as an actor in the final installment.

Can July 14 come soon enough? We think not! Your thoughts are required below.

Review: Source Code

The official SXSW poster for the film by Olly Moss.

Director: Duncan Jones

Release Date: 5 May 

Rating:(TBC)

Runtime: 93 mins 
 

It's all fine and Fanta if you want to put 'FROM THE DIRECTOR OF MOON' on all of the promotional material for a film; this draws in your movie geeks, so that's one market covered.  What probably isn't okay is sticking this label on the film when it becomes a fake proclamation that this will be another Moon. The budget is way higher, the writer (Ben Ripley) is not also the director and Source Code does not exude any of the eerie strangeness that Moon had so much of. 
 

Fact is, Source Code errs strongly towards the traditional, Hollywood thriller. A clear tracking shot of a crisp autumn day in Chicago opens the film and leads us through the city and across landscapes until we meet the train crossing a bridge and our hero, Captain Colter Stevens (Jake Gyllenhaal), who's just woken up disoriented and doesn't know where or who he is. Jakey spends the first few minutes on the train talking to fellow passenger Christina (Michelle Monaghan) and trying to figure out how he came to be there: before the train blows up, kabluey!

Captain Stevens wakes up in a visualisation tank in an unspecified military facility and is told he's on a mission: he's being sent into the 'source code' to locate the bomber and stop another, larger, foreshadowed attack. The source code is a program, composed from the last eight minutes of memory before people meet their maker: in this case, one of the passengers from the train that morning, Sean Fentress (Frederick de Grandpre). Colter is Sean, Sean is now Colter. Writer Ripley then faffs out approximately 60 seconds of explantaion on quantum physics which no-one can really understand (but that's okay, right, because the audience figures they shouldn't understand it?). 
 

The eight-minute cycle repeats as Captain Stevens picks up more clues each time and tests the inner and outer limits of the source code, as well as himself. Colter's commander, Captain Goodwin (the ever-strong Vera Farmiga) attempts to guide him with a sense of compassion not normally associated with a member of high-up government operations, doing the film enormous credit. As we are within the thriller genre, the major twist does turn up eventually. However, the inadequate lack of tension built up until that moment, due to the fact that Gyllenhaal takes being blown up every eight minutes pretty calmly while in the source code, means that the twist kind of just yo-yos back and says 'So what?' in a voice not dissimilar to the Governator's. 
 

While the humanising elements of the film (Colter's remorse at not talking to his Dad enough and his desire to save passenger Christina) add bonus points, they don't heighten the experience enough to make it much more than a fairly standard, yet entertaining thriller. 
 

***
 

Midnight in Paris: Poster & Trailer

Poster from the Official Site.

Curse you, Woody Allen. Just when we thought you'd lost us forever with Whatever Works (confining Larry David in a number of contrived situations with Evan Rachel Wood didn't work, by the way), you do this. A poster for your next movie involving many, many things we like: midnight (but mainly the promise of moonlit cinematography), Paris, a partial replication of Van Gogh's The Starry Night in the background. 

The trailer below shows a fidgety Owen Wilson, roaming the streets of Paris after midnight and cloaked in mystery following an antisocial bout of disagreement with his lady friend (McAdams). Intriguing and full of Allen's dry, speculative wit, Midnight in Paris opens the Festival de Cannes this year, May 2011.

Review: Brighton Rock

Sam Riley and Andrea Riseborough, awash in Brighton Rock.

Whether you celebrate Easter as a religious holiday or you're simply longing for a five day break, there is one fact you can rely on: you'll need some solid movie recommendations for the long weekend. 

To that end, check out our review of Brighton Rock over at The Brag.

American Gods Going to HBO

Remember when we told you rights had been sold to Neil Gaiman's American Gods and he was being a little fuzzy on the details? Well, according to Deadline, American Gods will not be a feature film, but a HBO series. Could we really have hoped for anything better? Those that know the novel will know that it's a hefty tome, laden not only detail but really complex ideas and characters that deserve to breathe on the screen beyond a potential 2.5 hour film. Robert Richardson (foresaid award-winning cinematographer of Kill Bill, Inglourious Basterds, Shutter Island, and soon to be Hugo Cabret fame) and Gaiman will write the pilot for HBO and Tom Hanks (>insert confused face here<) and Gary Goetzman of Playtone are bringing it to HBO for development. 

Now all someone needs to do is convince local cinemas to run special sessions when it goes to air, thus giving fans exactly what they want: a big screen experience and a longer exposure to Shadow & co. Let the petitioning commence.

Review: Scream 4

Emma Roberts looking spooked in Scream 4.

Director: Wes Craven

Release Date: 14 April 2011

Rating:(TBC)

Runtime: 111 mins

The Scream films are, by and large, a credit to Wes Craven and Kevin Williamson (we'd excise Scream 3 from our memory if it weren't so forgettable). One of the only horror films in recent years to incorporate equal portions of humour and gore, Scream set the bar for smart, entertaining horror with whip smart writing, cultural references, and a hip young cast.

Scream 4 represents an absolute return to form, with the most important original cast members reappearing: Sidney (an older, yet more vulnerable Neve Campbell), Dewey (David Arquette), and Gail (Courtney Cox) as well as a batch of fresh blood. Emma Roberts steps in as Jill (Sidney's cousin), Hayden Panettiere as her friend Kirby, and Rory Culkin (yep, same family - those lips don't lie).

Sidney returns on the anniversary of the murders to do publicity for her new book, Out of Darkness. Someone's pretty ticked off about Sid showing her freckled face in this neck of Woodsboro again and promptly turns the terror up to eleven. Everyone's a potential victim and a potential suspect, but serious props have to be handed to the writers for creating real tension and mystery—the red herrings planted in this ensemble are played so masterfully, you'll find it intriguingly difficult to guess who the killer is.

The comments on the genre and the fact that the actual movie takes a decent seven minutes to start due to the movie within a movie within a movie and the killer cameos (hint: the word we uttered upon seeing who was cameoing has two syllables and ends in an -eeehhhhhhh) really just take this to a cut above. Scream 4 will keep you on the edge of your seat, giggling intermitently, until the very last.

What's your favourite scary movie?

****

Review: How I Ended This Summer

Photo from the Official Movie Website

Hola, comrades! Our review of Russian thriller How I Ended This Summer is now up at The Brag. Head on over and take a look.

Come on, Bret, you're Famous Now

Bret McKenzie. Photo copyright Indigo_Jones

In an exclusive update from Showblitz (Variety), word on the street is Bret McKenzie (pronounced 'Briit'), one half of the famed TV duo in Flight of the Conchords, will star as Rivendell elf Lindir in The Hobbit.

This seems like a bizarre casting choice at the outset, but we've no doubt the young actor has more than 'Foux Da Fa Fa' floating around in that talented brain of his. The Hobbit is currently in production in New Zealand.