Get Your Drive On...

Go and see it. For every reason, go! You've got the romance. You've got the cars. You've got the explosive violence. You've even got the movie stuff that made Sundance give it a standing ovation: the great performances; the amazing director (breaking into Hollywood), blahblahblah.

Just go. Com'on!

The city landscapes haven't looked so good since Michael Mann's Collateral and Heat! The romance hasn't being so touching and intimate since...god I don't know! Yeah, it is sad when Carey Mulligan leaves for the last act or two - sidelined (again similar to 'the Mann') for male characters. And yes, it would benefit from that feeling of (small hint of a SPOILER!) impeding doom, that engulfs the likes of other crime saga's like Carlito's Way. But that's still not a good enough excuse.

Gosling and Mulligan (well done on the faultless american accent by the way!) are electric. So gooooooooooooooooo! Now.

Please....

Ubik and Neuromancer on There Way: New Classics to Sweep Hollywood???

It's unusual that you can boast of truly orginal film concepts heading to cinema, but with adaptation's of Philip K. Dick's Ubick and William Gibson's Neuromancer, we could be in for a very special treat.

The fact that Ubick has being picked up by, no other, than Eternal Sunshine's Michel Gondry, while the script for Neuromancer has being citied as "one of the best adaptation's he's ever read" by the author of the book himself (the one, usually, nutoriously hard to impress!), our theory of 'amazing-new-orginal-films-you-just-must-get-excited-about', has some credibility.

Each has it's own reasons for making us jump up and screech loud noises in anticipation. Neroumancer offers us a book that defined the cyberpunk genre, with noir-esque plots surrounding hackers, a.i., post-human modification, drugs, and sinister corporations. Ubick, meanwhile, treads on similar potentially-classic-sci-fi lines. In this case though we are focused on the team of men  who age rapidly while the world of corporate spies and the like around them goes backwards. Nothing if not original.

Either way, two very interesting concepts, and considering they are both staying away from the studios these are definately a couple of films to keep an eye on. Gondry's script (who is  surely the only person who could write about time running backwards while people age quickly and make it fit) is due very soon. Exciting times!

Watch this space.

the Lion King: Refind Your Childhood!

After plonking myself in front of the tv to watch the Lion King (my best friend was determined to watch it for his birthday!), I now realise the joy of my entire childhood.

With themes such as rivalry and grief, it's weird to think I could find my childhood in a film thick with adult themes. But I did! Because, despite tackling fairly adult themes, the Lion King still remains a children’s animation. Indeed, this is one of Disney’s finest children adventures.

With classic music (tell me hakuna matada doesn't make you want to jump up with happiness?) and heart warming character's (take a bow wise, old Rafiki.), the film oozes its classic status.

While it’s easy to forget some of these charming features which make the film so amazing, watching again can revitalised that inner feeling of joy you get as a child (as well as reminding me just how great Disney can be!).

So, while this may seem like a promotion to go and buy the amazing 2 disc special addition of the Lion King which is available from any good dvd retailers now(!), instead this is a blog to invite all readers to go and refind their childhood. It doesn't have to be with the Lion King (although I do suggest it should be!), it can be any of Disney's (or Pixar's, if you've moved on to the modern age of animation) classics. 

Beauty and the Beast, Snow White, Bambi, Cinderalla, Sleeping Beauty, Dumbo, Pinnocchio...you choose. Any takers?!

PS happy birthday p! thanks for getting me to watch this beauty again

Fincher's Girl With the Dragon Tattoo: the Trailer is Leaked!

Wow. If only it was the original instead of a remake. It feels like a new cult film. Perfect heroin for a cult film as well. I've never thought I'd feel so good about a 'feel bad film'. Especially a 'feel bad film of christmas' (that's the icing on the cake for this trailer, or is it 'she's coming'. Definitely one of the two).

Anyway, check out this trailer. It's a brilliant soundtrack, made amazing by the fast paced (and just pure genius) editing. A first class trailer. Very excited now.

Check out the new trailer below and share your thoughts...

New Girl With the Dragon Tattoo Red Band Trailer




PS Fincher I am sorry I questioned you (I was unsure about such a corporate-driven remake). You're a legend.

Andrew Dominik and Brad Pitt Together Again

One of the rarest gems in the world is a Jadeite. Bet you didn't know that, did ya? Well, the Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford is a similar gem. Very rare. Very unusual. And absolutely beautiful. The only major difference in this kinda weird analogy is that if Jadeite was a film it would be widely acclaimed and given tonnes of awards. Obviously, Jesse James wasn't given the privilege of such a reception. Despite this quite masterpiece (which managed to reinvent the recently stale western genre) going unrecognised by the Hollywood elite, we still have another collaboration on the way from the director-(mega) star duo that brought us Assassination.

Thus, we get a brand new pic from Andrew Dominik’s, Cogan's Trade. While no release date as yet (though expect to see this beginning of 2012), the film still sees Pitt's Plan B company supporting the film, as he did with Assassination, while he (as the picture below shows) also takes the lead role. In this lead role, Pitt plays the enforcer, Jackie Cogan, who hunts down the group of junkies that knocked off a mob-protected poker game, and made some bad people very unhappy. 

Needless to say, with Dominik behind the camera again and a host of acting talent including Ray Liotta, Bella Heathcote, Garret Dillahunt, James Gandolfini as well as Pitt himself, wesa is very excited about this one. Yes, the fact that the release date could be in January (Oscar time!) gives us an indication that the quality will be high, just to look at their last work can tell us that this will be exciting stuff.

As for the image leak. Little is given away in terms of plot details or how this one is going to play out, but nevertheless it still manages to get our excitement-glands moving. Why has it captured our imagination when there is very little to be seen, I hear you ask? Lacking in substance, it is the mood that captures the heart. The dim car park light, against the dull, dark night. The rough leather jacket, and the harsh, long shot gun. Long, slicked back hair and the rugged, dark beard. The atmosphere captivates us. Indeed, while simple, it is a clever first image leak. 

But what do you think? Are we looking too deep into it? Are we just getting carried away? Check out the image and post your thoughts about Dominik’s next latest below...

Drive: New Clip from Ryan Gosling's Latest

Like his recent endeavour (the amazing Blue Valentine), Ryan Gosling is underrated. While Total Film magazine would have given him the best actor Oscar this year, the academy award panel of mysterious old, wise wizards of the film industry didn't even want him nominated(!). Unusually, the movie execs cannot be accused of the same blunder, as they have scrambled - for some years now- to break Gosling into the big time (with the likes of both Captain America and Hawkeye being offered to him!). But, unfortunately (for them), to no avail.

Hence, we get a new clip from his latest small-time-indie film, Drive. It follows the story of a stunt driver (Gosling) who earns extra cash by being a wheelman to the odd shady character or two. This is until he finds a contract on his head when one hit goes a bit wrong. Needless to say, this looks like a keeper.

While Gosling appears to play the part with his usual subtly, though, it is the influence of (slightly-inconsistent) director, Nicholas Winding that makes us film geeks particularly excited about this low key collaboration.

While making his name known by Bronson, and dividing people with Valhalla Rising, this new clip could show the director hitting material. Introducing us to the getaway, the indications from this clip are clear. Lingering shots and the pulsing score. Beautiful lights, in those downtrodden city's. Slow build up of that subtle tension. While substance of the film will have to wait for the actual release, this clip at least proves a technical ability reminiscent of the legendary, and unforgettable Michael Mann. Adding the abilities of Carey Mulligan, Bryan Cranston and Christina Hendricks into the mix and we could have an overlooked golden egg of a film on our hands.

So, while everyone knows about the likely greatness of Fincher's Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, it is only us, the true film geeks, who will know of Winding's new break through and Gosling's new triumph (before it's all even happened!).

But don't take my word for it. Is this Winding's breakthrough into the full on big time? Check out the clip below and give us your thoughts on Gosling's and Winding's new collaborative outing...

Drive Preview from Cannes

Hanna: Bourne meets the Bride

Just went to see Joe Wright's Hollywood blockbuster, Hanna. I'm not going to review it or anything but just wanted to share the fact I'd give it 4 out of 5, and it was a surprisingly good film that took a simple concept and by running with it made it an above-average, action-thriller-coming-of-age movie. While the film dipped in the third act (though loving a Quentin Tarantino style end line), it has proved director Joe Wright to have vibrancy in his direction that was not even shown in the amazing Atonement.  More than this, the great new film proves Saoirse Ronan (absolutely fantastic in this!) and Wright, to be the future forces that will take Hollywood by storm in the years to come.

PS Oh and I also saw Thor (i.e. the one where Kenneth Branagh sold out to the Marvel movie executives, and Chris Hemsworth becomes a star). It's crap.