The Good Life

Star to Watch: SCOOT MCNAIRY

2010-11-12T10:47:00.001-05:00

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

Scoot McNairy in "Monsters"

Don't be fooled by the playful name. American actor Scoot McNairy has a dedication to independent cinema that's serious and sincere. Born in Texas, and with a background in regional theater, McNairy set out for Tinseltown with ambitions to break into the indie film scene. While chasing his goals, he took bit parts in an eclectic mix of movies, including "Wonderland," "Herbie Fully Loaded," "Art School Confidential" and "Bobby."

His indie breakout was with 2007's "In Search of a Midnight Kiss," a black-and-white New York romance that starred McNairy as the lead character, Wilson. McNairy produced "Midnight Kiss" with his friend and manager, John Pierce, with whom he started the production company The Group Films. Since then, the company has worked on "Frank and Cindy," starring Rene Russo, and "The Last Time I Made Straight A's," which has yet to be cast.

McNairy can now be seen as the male lead in "Monsters," a highly impressive British thriller that makes extraordinary use of its meager budget. Written and directed by documentarian Gareth Edwards, the film sees McNairy star alongside his real-life wife, Whitney Able, in a story that's minimalistically told to great effect, and boasts topical immigration metaphors to boot. McNairy delivers an authentic, understated performance, which was good enough to nab him a British Independent Film Award nomination for Best Actor ("Monsters" received a total of six nominations, including Best Picture).

In addition to his projects as producer, McNairy now has at least five films on the horizon in which he'll be appearing on-screen, including "The Off Hours," "Everything Will Happen Before You Die," "Angry White Man," "The Listening Party" and "A Night in the Woods." True to the actor's pursuits, every film is an independent.

Trailer for "Monsters," which opens in Philadelphia today:

Trailer Park: SCREAM 4, RABBIT HOLE and GULLIVER'S TRAVELS

2010-11-03T16:55:00.001-04:00

The newest trailers for some of the most noteworthy upcoming flicks.

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

SCREAM 4

It's been 14 years since the original "Scream" movie became a massive self-aware sensation, lampooning other films in the horror genre and laughing all the way to the bank. I can still remember rallying a troop of friends and sneaking into the very R-rated thriller, one of my favorites. Two inferior sequels, varying levels of fame and a break-up or two later, we've got the much-awaited fourth installment, which revamps the "rules" for a new decade. Stars David Arquette, Neve Campbell and Courteney Cox return, along with Hayden Planetarium, Emma Roberts, Kieran Culkin and more. Take a look:

RABBIT HOLE

Nicole Kidman shoots for the awards traction she had in the early 2000s in this screen adaptation of the stage play about a couple grieving the loss of their young son. Kidman plays the mother, Aaron Eckhart plays the father, and Dianne Wiest plays Kidman's own mom, herself having dealt with the death of a son. In the director's chair is John Cameron Mitchell, the highly talented New Yorker who delivered back-to-back triumphs with "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" and "Shortbus." "Rabbit Hole" is one of my most anticipated films yet to be released in 2010.

GULLIVER'S TRAVELS

Jack Black is back in this modern-day retelling of Jonathan Swift's 18th century novel. Directed by Rob Letterman ("Shark Tale," "Monsters vs. Aliens") "Gulliver's" looks obnoxious as all get out, but it also seems to boast some coolly diverting funhouse efects. Starring alongside Black are Amanda Peet, Emily Blunt, Jason Segel and Billy Connolly. The film focuses on an underachieving mailroom worker (Black) who's swept away to a magical world full of action-figure-sized folk. It's set for release this Christmas.

Studio News: Ang Lee casts lead in LIFE OF PI

2010-10-27T09:39:00.001-04:00

Oscar-winning director casts newcomer Suraj Sharma as beloved tale's young hero in the upcoming film based on the international bestseller; "Life of Pi" commences 3D photography January 2011 in India and Taiwan for a Dec. 14, 2012 release.

Compiled by R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

FROM 20th CENTURY FOX: After a worldwide talent search, Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Ang Lee (“Brokeback Mountain”) has cast newcomer Suraj Sharma in the iconic title role in LIFE OF PI. Fox 2000 Pictures president Elizabeth Gabler made the announcement today. Lee, whose many other honors include an Oscar nomination for his direction of “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” and whose “Sense and Sensibility” was a Best Picture nominee, will shoot LIFE OF PI in 3D, utilizing groundbreaking techniques to capture the story’s epic scope. The film is based on Yann Martel’s beloved book, one of the biggest publishing events of the past decade. The book has sold over seven million copies worldwide (and continues to sell over 1,000 copies per week), won the prestigious Mann Booker Prize, and was a New York Times bestseller for over a year.

Commented Yann Martel: "I'm thrilled that Ang is adapting LIFE OF PI to film. He's a brilliant, versatile director, with a stunning visual sensibility. He can capture the most intimate emotion as well as the most dynamic action. He's the perfect filmmaker to bring Pi’s epic journey to the screen”

Since Ang Lee came aboard the project at the end of 2008, he has worked to create a singular vision of Martel’s unforgettable tale. The all-audience experiential movie event will take us through a young man’s incredible adventure – at turns thrilling and spiritual; joyous and harrowing; humorous and tragic. Audiences will follow Pi Patel as he travels from an exotic zoo in India on a voyage across the Pacific, where he survives a shipwreck and is cast adrift in a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger as his only company. Adrift in an endess expanse of ocean, Pi struggles to survive and train his companion, landing on a magical island that offers the two their only respite on their desperate journey.

Suraj Sharma, 17, is a student who lives with his mathematician parents in Delhi, India. He has no previous acting experience and was cast following an extensive, months-long search. Over 3000 young men auditioned for the part.

LIFE OF PI begins production in January in India and Taiwan. Twentieth Century Fox releases the film December 14, 2012.
David Magee (“Finding Neverland”) adapted Martel’s book. Gil Netter (“Marley & Me,” “The Blind Side”) is producing. The director of photography is Claudio Miranda, who collaborated with David Fincher on several films, including “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.” Miranda recently shot “Tron: Legacy” in 3D. Avy Kaufman is the casting director.

Commented Ang Lee: “It has been a daunting and exciting process to develop a motion picture that brings Yann Martel’s fascinating, mind-boggling story to the big screen. Casting the sixteen-year old Pi was particularly challenging. We searched throughout India for a young man who had the innocence to capture our attention, the depth of character to break our hearts, and the physicality needed to embody Pi on his journey.

“Suraj is Pi,” Lee continued. “During his audition, he filled the room with emotion, much of which he conveyed simply through his eyes. His natural ability to believe and stay in the world of the story is a rare treasure.”

Elizabeth Gabler stated: “It has been an honor and a privilege to work alongside Ang Lee as he and his team brings this amazing film to life. We believe that LIFE OF PI, with its tremendous scope, groundbreaking visuals, and a story that embraces the triumph of the human spirit will be a cinematic event for audiences of all ages, all over the world.”

One of the world’s largest producers and distributors of motion pictures, Fox Filmed Entertainment produces, acquires and distributes motion pictures throughout the world. These motion pictures are produced or acquired by the following units of FFE: Twentieth Century Fox, Fox 2000 Pictures, Fox Searchlight Pictures, Fox International, and Twentieth Century Fox Animation.

Home Video Spotlight: I AM LOVE, WINTER'S BONE and HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON

2010-10-22T10:16:00.001-04:00

Brief capsules on new movies worth renting, including two of the year's best.

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

I AM LOVE

Italian filmmaker Luca Gadagnino directs Tilda Swinton in this sumptuous melodrama set in the tight-knit world of a wealthy Milanese textile dynasty. Playing a Russin immigrant who's adapted to Italian life, Swinton is a multicultural marvel, broadening her range and brightening her already-gleaming resume. Using Swinton's character's primal infidelity as its earth-shaking turning point, "I Am Love" takes every opportunity to arouse your senses, and succeeds wonderfully, emerging as one the year's best movies. (Now Available)

WINTER'S BONE

And speaking of year's best, writer/director Debra Granik's Sundance hit "Winter's Bone" is among the finest American films you'll see this year, with a breakthrough, Oscar-worthy performance from rising star Jennifer Lawrence. Lawrence plays Ree, a strong-willed teen who must seek answers in her dangerous Ozark Mountains community in order to salvage her family's livelihood. Granik's story is rich and unique, creating an enormously suspenseful sense of dread and sidestepping sentimentality while also stressing the importance of family. "Winter's Bone" is a must-see gem. (Available Oct. 26)

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON

Worthy of being dubbed a new kids' classic, the high-flying adventure "How to Train Your Dragon" is never better than when it's evoking old school dragon flicks like "Pete's Dragon" and "The Neverending Story." Like those movies, this Nordic tale of young a Viking named Hiccup (Jay Baruchel) and his pet fire-breather, Toothless, has an endearing boy-and-his-dog charm, and lifts your spirits as the chummy pair take to the skies. Cliches abound, but so does the fun. (Now Available)

Art House Salad: NEVER LET ME GO

2010-10-14T14:19:00.001-04:00

Movie Review: “Never Let Me Go”
4 stars (out of 5)
By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

Death has bothered me greatly since childhood. I prefer not to think about it much, let alone write about it. Yet, here we are. “Never Let Me Go” is a movie about lifespan relativity – a spooky, subtly sci-fi reminder that all of us, whether we be organ donors fated to perish in our 20s or lingerers bound for 100, will reach our expiration date, or, as the film calls it, “completion.” The universal notion of having to accept this fact regardless of your circumstances or allotted time on Earth resonates long before a key character finally acknowledges it out loud, and it's what gives the otherwise dispassionate proceedings an unsentimental humanity and sense of purpose.

I'm going to keep plot details to a minimum, not so much to avoid spoilers (it's rather easy gather what's happening and what's going to happen), but to preserve the austere, yet elegant, manner in which things are explained. Movie fans will get all the gist they need when I say that “Never Let Me Go” is the highbrow, art-house answer to Michael Bay's “The Island.” Based on the highly acclaimed 2005 novel by Kazuo Ishiguro (“The Remains of the Day”), it features three principal characters, Kathy (Carey Mulligan), Tommy (Andrew Garfield) and Ruth (Keira Knightley), who grow up together at Hailsham, an English boarding school that shelters its students in a sort of Ivy League bubble for reasons beyond their initial comprehension. As time passes, feeling and truths emerge for the lead trio, but we never really leave their microcosm; it simply expands.

The film's most haunting aspect is how willfully the characters accept their collective destiny, as they know of nothing else. With his story, Ishiguro doesn't take an explicitly supernatural approach the way another writer might have. He highlights how humans are raised to accept what they are taught, and seems to ask, when you are what you are, what else can you be? Again – relativity. Though born into what most will immediately see as a horrific situation, Kathy, Ruth and Tommy, we come to realize, aren't so unlike the rest of us.

Unfortunately, although it is chiefly responsible for the film's ability to burrow under your skin, the overall passivity and somberness of the characters and tone hamper how it's received. Director Mark Romanek (“One Hour Photo”) finds a sophisticated, frozen-in-time aesthetic for this British drama (it's set in a nondescript, alt version of the '70s, '80s and '90s), and the three young actors each duly deliver what's asked of them, but from the muted palette to the emotional squelching, “Never Let Me Go” leaves you feeling no intense reaction beyond the inevitable identification with its mortal ponderings. And the insular world of the film, while also lending itself to the characters' eerie lack of existential objections, forbids the possibility of say, a different perspective, even the slight presence of which could have provided the kind of dramatic gut-punch that never comes. The movie tiptoes to its own inevitable completion, and it's a poetic one, but the experience feels nevertheless incomplete.

*“Never Let Me Go” is now playing at the County Theater in Doylestown.

Studio News: Emma Stone cast in new 'Spider-Man'

2010-10-06T15:43:00.000-04:00

In the latest news regarding Sony's superhero reboot, the "Easy A" star has been cast as Gwen Stacy, the golden-locked character previously played by Bryce Dallas Howard in "Spider-Man 3."

Compiled by R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

Emma Stone in "Easy A," now playing.

From Sony Pictures Entertainment: Emma Stone has been cast as the female lead in the upcoming "Spider-Man" film from Columbia Pictures and Marvel Studios, it was announced today by Amy Pascal, co-chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment and Matt Tolmach, president of Columbia Pictures. Stone has been tapped for the role of Gwen Stacy opposite Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker. The film, to be directed by Marc Webb from a screenplay by James Vanderbilt and produced by Avi Arad and Laura Ziskin, will begin production in December and will be released in theaters nationwide in 3D on July 3, 2012.

The casting continues an association between Sony Pictures Entertainment and the actress, who previously starred in "Superbad," "The House Bunny," and "Zombieland," all for Columbia Pictures; she may currently be seen in Screen Gems’ hit comedy "Easy A," and takes a cameo role in Screen Gems’ upcoming "Friends with Benefits."

Commenting on the announcement, Tolmach said, “It’s been an incredible journey for us to watch Emma’s star rise as an actress. She is extraordinarily talented and has a very special on-screen spark that is perfect for this role. Given her history with the studio, casting her in one of our most important franchises is a real thrill.”

Webb added, “The chemistry between Andrew and Emma was stunning and made Emma the clear choice. At the heart of the story of Peter Parker is not only the amazing Spider-Man, but also an ordinary teenager who is wondering what he has to do to get the girl. Andrew and Emma will bring everything audiences expect to these roles, but also make them their own. Much to my surprise, it was fun to find out that our choice for Gwen (Emma) is also a natural blonde.”

Emma Stone can currently be seen starring in Screen Gems’ hit comedy "Easy A." Next year, she will star in Warner Bros.’ "Crazy, Stupid, Love" opposite Steve Carell and Ryan Gosling and in "The Help," the adaptation of Kathryn Stockett’s bestselling novel; she also takes a cameo role in Screen Gems’ "Friends with Benefits" and will voice a role in DreamWorks Animation’s comedy "The Croods." Stone’s recent credits include "Paperman," "Zombieland," "Ghosts of Girlfriends Past," "The House Bunny," "The Rocker," and "Superbad."

Trailer Park: TRUE GRIT, THE KING'S SPEECH and THE FIGHTER

2010-09-30T15:05:00.000-04:00

Behold! Some of the newest trailers for some of the most noteworthy upcoming flicks.

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

TRUE GRITThe Coen Brothers return with this highly anticipated remake of the 1969 John Wayne Western, based on the novel by Charles Portis. Reuniting the Coens with their "Big Lebowski" star, Jeff Bridges, and featuring supporting performances from Josh Brolin, Matt Damon and newcomer Hailee Steinfeld, "Grit" arrives in December.

THE KING'S SPEECH
A big winner at this year's Toronto Film Festival, Tom Hooper's "The King's Speech" stars 2009 Oscar nominee Colin Firth as King George VI, who had to overcome a stammer in order to deliver a crucial address. Heralded as a major awards contender, the royalty drama co-stars Geoffrey Rush, Michael Gambon, Guy Pearce and Helena Bonham Carter.

THE FIGHTER
Another baity awards title, "The Fighter" follows in the path of "The Wrestler," with Mark Wahlberg as a professional boxer seeking a comeback. Putting his body through the wringer once again, a frail Christian Bale stars as Wahlberg's character's older brother, while a (finally!) unsweetened Amy Adams appears as the requisite love interest. I'd yawn, but "The Fighter" is helmed by David O. Russell, who's pulled great performances from Wahlberg in "Three Kings" and "I Heart Huckabees."

Home Video Spotlight: ROBIN HOOD, THE KARATE KID and THE HUMAN CENTIPEDE

2010-09-24T19:06:00.006-04:00

Brief capsules on new movies worth renting.

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

ROBIN HOOD

After making four films together, director Ridley Scott and his muse, Russell Crowe, reteam to retell the story of Robin Hood in the same epic style that served the pair so well in "Gladiator." Many a critic threw his arms up at "Robin Hood's" lack of adherence to the comfy tale of the merry man we all know and love, but I found this origin story to be a more-than-welcome addition to a long line of tradition-bound pictures. To boot, Scott brings his usual mastery of atmosphere, giving his film a sweep that greatly elevates the adventure and successfully distracts from Crowe's miscasting.

THE KARATE KID

While it's only natural to try to compare the two, whether or not the new "Karate Kid" measures up to the beloved 80s original really doesn't matter at all. The rousing action, graceful storytelling and emotional truth of this unattractive-from-afar remake are more than enough to make it a stand-alone triumph. Throw in a star-making performance from fresh-prince-of-Hollywood Jaden Smith, who meets every demand of a very demanding role, and you've got what emerged as the best surprise of the summer.

THE HUMAN CENTIPEDE

I'll admit I haven't seen this controversial shocker, but how can anyone resist checking out something so wildly and outrageously perverse? The gist: A crazy German doctor kidnaps two female American tourists and gives them their just rewards for poking around in a foreign land (a la "Hostel") by making them two-thirds of his human centipede -- a working, living unit comprised of humans surgically fused together via their gastric systems. Grossed out? Me too. Now excuse me while I go find myself a copy.

Star to Watch: RYAN REYNOLDS

2010-09-15T10:00:00.003-04:00

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

Ryan Reynolds has made a career out of repeatedly playing a wise-ass class clown who just happens to have the body of an Olympian. It all started with 2002's "Van Wilder," a rude college comedy whose titular party boy has been evoked in so many of Reynolds' subsequent films ("Blade: Trinity," "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," "Waiting..."). However, newly determined to transcend that persona (and, presumably, to avoid more fowl projects like "Definitely, Maybe" or "The Amityville Horror), Mr. Scarlett Johannson is thinking big...and small.

Reynolds, 33, followed up his surprisingly thoughtful turn in last year's mega-hit "The Proposal" with a small role as a studly superhero in "Paper Man," a little-seen, but well-received, indie. The performance was a precursor to what's undoubtedly the biggest role of Reynolds's career: the lead in next summer's comic-book blockbuster "Green Lantern." (He'll also revive the comic book character he played in "Wolverine" in the spin-off "Deadpool," slated for 2012.)

In the meantime, Reynolds also has his eye on the arthouse, appearing this month in the low-budget Sundance selection "Buried." An experimental piece about a U.S. truck driver who winds up trapped in a coffin in Iraq with only a lighter and a cellphone, the film takes place almost entirely in a single tight space, and will test Reynolds's acting chops like nothing he's done before. If he nails the performance, it will introduce a whole new facet of ability, and may finally allow him to leave Van Wilder in his rearview.

First look at "Buried":

Trailer Park: FAIR GAME, ENTER THE VOID and CASE 39

2010-09-09T13:20:00.004-04:00

Behold! The latest trailers for some of the most noteworthy upcoming flicks.

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

FAIR GAME
Not to be confused with the 1995 action flick with Cindy Crawford and Billy Baldwin (which just happens to be one of my favorite guilty pleasures), this fact-based thriller about outed CIA agent Valerie Plame stars Naomi Watts and Sean Penn -- two actors of just slightly greater reverence. Directed by Doug Liman (who needs a success after "Jumper"), "Game" was vying for the Palme d'Or at Cannes, and is being touted as an Oscar hopeful. The trailer is rather routine stuff, and I don't find Watts nearly as exciting as I did in the early '00s, but the other two times she and Penn teamed up, we got "21 Grams" and "The Assassination of Richard Nixon." Not a bad track record.

ENTER THE VOID
From French filmmaker Gaspar Noe comes this trippy, sleeper sensation, which recently played at Philadelphia's Danger After Dark Film Festival. Set in Tokyo and dubbed a "psychedelic melodrama" by the writer/director, the ultra-colorful, experimental-style film also debuted at Cannes, and, as you'll see in the trailer, it's drawing some highly impassioned reactions from major critics. Remarkably appetite-whetting, "Void," which centers on two siblings who vow to never leave each other following the death of their parents, looks like some seriously bold drug-cinema, perhaps the next "Requiem for a Dream."

CASE 39
Bad sign: Shot in 2006, the horror-thriller "Case 39" has been on the shelf for nearly half a decade.
Worse sign: The most press this film is generating is about the on-set coupling of stars Renee Zellweger and Bradley Cooper.
Hopefully, the Halloween timing will mean good things for "39," the latest from Christian Alvart ("Pandorum"). It concerns a social worker (Zellweger), who adopts an apparently abused girl (Jodelle Ferland), who's actually the one to fear, as demons follow her wherever she goes.
Worst sign: "Case 39" is the 947th movie about a creepy little girl. Did I mention I'm dreading it?

Studio News: Universal Pictures' Fall Slate

2010-09-08T16:35:00.002-04:00

Just in time for Halloween, a batch of thrillers await adrenaline-junkie filmgoers, all courtesy of Universal Pictures.

Compiled by R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

Devil
Release date: September 17, 2010
Genre: Supernatural thriller
Cast: Chris Messina, Logan Marshall-Green, Geoffrey Arend, Bojana Novakovic, Jenny O'Hara, Bokeem Woodbine, Jacob Vargas
Directed by: John Erick Dowdle
Screenplay by: Brian Nelson
Story by: M. Night Shyamalan
Produced by: M. Night Shyamalan, Sam Mercer
Executive Producers: Drew Dowdle, Trish Hofmann

Welcome to Universal Pictures' supernatural thriller with M. Night Shyamalan's (The Sixth Sense, Signs) signature touch, Devil. Directed by John Erick Dowdle (Quarantine, The Poughkeepsie Tapes) from a screenplay by Brian Nelson (Hard Candy, 30 Days of Night) and a story by Shyamalan, Devil stars Chris Messina (Julie & Julia), Logan Marshall-Green (Brooklyn's Finest), Geoffrey Arend (500 Days of Summer), Bojana Novakovic (Drag Me to Hell), Jenny O'Hara (Mystic River), Bokeem Woodbine (The Last Sentinel) and Jacob Vargas (Death Race).

In the film, a group of people is trapped in the elevator, and one of them is the devil. Devil is produced by Shyamalan and Sam Mercer (The Sixth Sense) and executive produced by Drew Dowdle (Quarantine) and Trish Hofmann (The Ruins). http://www.thenightchronicles.com/devil

Catfish
ROGUE PICTURES
Release date: September 17, 2010 (Limited)
Genre: Reality thriller
Cast: Nev Schulman, Ariel Schulman, Henry Joost
Directed by: Ariel Schulman & Henry Joost
Produced by: Andrew Jarecki, Marc Smerling, Henry Joost, Ariel Schulman
Executive Producers: Ryan Kavanaugh, Brett Ratner, Tucker Tooley

In late 2007, filmmakers Ariel Schulman and Henry Joost sensed a story unfolding as they began to film the life of Ariel's brother, Nev. They had no idea that their project would lead to the most exhilarating and unsettling months of their lives. A reality thriller that is a shocking product of our times, Catfish is a riveting story of love, deception and grace within a labyrinth of online intrigue.

My Soul To Take
Release date: October 29, 2010
Genre: 3-D Suspense thriller
Cast: Max Thieriot, John Magaro, Emily Meade, Nick Lashaway, Denzel Whitaker, Shareeka Epps, Paulina Olszyinski, Raúl Esparza
Written and Directed by: Wes Craven
Produced by: Wes Craven, Iya Labunka, Anthony Katagas

From writer/director Wes Craven comes My Soul to Take, a suspense thriller that warns us evil is working 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. And if you have any chance at beating it, you'll have to fight for your life 25/8. In the sleepy town of Riverton, legend tells of a serial killer who swore he would return to murder the seven children born the night he died. Now, 16 years later, people are disappearing again. Has the psychopath been reincarnated as one of the seven teens, or did he survive the night he was left for dead? Only one of the kids knows the answer.

Adam "Bug" Heller (Max Thieriot) was supposed to die on the bloody night his father went insane. Unaware of his dad's terrifying crimes, he has been plagued by nightmares since he was a baby. But if Bug hopes to save his friends from the monster that's returned, he must face an evil that won't rest...until it finishes the job it began the day he was born.

Skyline
Release date: November 12, 2010
Director: Greg Strause, Colin Strause
Screenwriter: Joshua Cordes, Liam O'Donnell
Starring: Eric Balfour, Donald Faison, Scottie Thompson, Brittany Daniel

After a late night party, a group of friends are awoken in the dead of the night by an eerie light beaming through the window. Like moths to a flame, the light source is drawing people outside before they suddenly vanish into the air. They soon discover an other-worldly force is swallowing the entire human population off the face of the earth. Now our band of survivors must fight for their lives as the world unravels around them.

Home Video Spotlight: MACGRUBER, SOLITARY MAN and LETTERS TO JULIET

2010-09-01T09:58:00.004-04:00

Brief capsules on new movies worth renting.

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

MACGRUBER

Based on the popular SNL skit, "MacGruber" is the kind of stupid, bad-taste comedy that every ounce of my being tells me not to like. But, dammit, it's one funny retro-raunch adventure, positioning the hapless MacGyver doppelganger (played, hilariously, by character-originator Will Forte) as a mullet-and-tape-deck era Austin Powers. Kristen Wiig is his Farrah-Fawcett-coiffed squeeze, Ryan Phillipe is his strait-laced sidekick, and Val Kilmer is his slithery nemesis, Dieter Von Cunth. (Available Sept. 7)

SOLITARY MAN

If Michael Douglas is as good as expected in the upcoming "Wall Street" sequel, he'll have logged two stellar performances in 2010. In "Solitary Man," the ailing actor is slick and superb as Ben, a self-destructive ex-car salesman whose adherence to his wild past is shattering his now-gloomy present. A sort of latter-day reconfiguring of "Death of a Salesman," the film co-stars Susan Sarandon, Jenna Fischer, Danny DeVito, Jesse Eisenberg, Mary Louise Parker and Imogen Poots. (Available Sept. 7)

LETTERS TO JULIET

Like "MacGruber," "Letters to Juliet" is a movie that, upon first glance, sends the red flags flying. A schmaltzy, formulaic romance, right? Correctamundo. But there are pleasantries aplenty to distract from this film's unlovely tale of young love, such as the sunny vistas of Italy, the ever-blossoming chops of Amanda Seyfried, and a luminous supporting performance from the great Vanessa Redgrave. Playing opposite each other exquisitely (as the American girl who travels to Verona, and the aged letter-writer who must track down a long-lost Romeo), Seyfried and Redgrave share the spotlight as two screen queens at opposite ends of their careers. (Available Sept. 14)

Star to Watch: EMMA STONE

2010-08-25T10:24:00.004-04:00

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

Since making her spot-on debut as a well-behaved party girl in 2007's smash-hit comedy "Superbad," actress Emma Stone has continued to show both promise and presence, flaunting her comedic skills and red-headed-girl-next-door looks in flicks like "The House Bunny" and "Zombieland." The 21-year-old also appeared in last year's indie comedy "Paper Man" alongside Ryan Reynolds and Jeff Daniels, and lent her voice to this year's "Marmaduke."

Next month, Stone will tackle her first leading role in "Easy A," a high school comedy that's already being compared to "Mean Girls" and "The Breakfast Club." In the film, Stone portrays Olive, a not-so-popular chick who gets more adolescent fame than she bargained for when she pretends to sleep with guys to help their reputations. Written by Bert V. Royal and directed by Will Gluck ("Fired Up!"), "Easy A" pits Stone with an enviable mix of co-stars, including Penn Badgeley, Amanda Bynes, Lisa Kudrow, Patricia Clarkson, Thomas Haden Church, Cam Gigandet and Stanley Tucci.

Already named by magazines like Vanity Fair as one of Hollywood's hottest rising female stars, the husky-voiced, crimson-haired Stone has the career prospects once boasted by look-alike Lindsay Lohan. Let's hope the only substance she strives for is in her work.

"Easy A" trailer:

Trailer Park: BLACK SWAN, BURLESQUE and LOVE AND OTHER DRUGS

2010-08-18T15:25:00.002-04:00

The latest trailers for some of the most noteworthy upcoming flicks.

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

BLACK SWAN
One of the best trailers of the year has arrived, hopefully advertising one of the year's best movies. The lovely, ever-ripening Natalie Portman (and I mean ripe in an artistic sense, of course) stars alongside Vincent Cassel, Mila Kunis and Barbara Hershey in this dark and creepy ballerina fantasy from Darren Aronofsky ("The Wrestler," "Requiem for a Dream"). Looks to be plenty of room for chilling drama, and great promise for a best-ever perf. from Portman. Keep an eye out for the last shot -- it's a killer.

BURLESQUE
Oh, puh-leeeaze. "Burlesque," the latest chase-your-dreams fairy tale about a wide-eyed girl ready to make it in the big city, looks as gum-on-your-shoe disposable as a Top 40 pop song. It's no wonder they nabbed Christina Aguilera and Cher to tackle the lead roles. That said, I'm eagerly looking forward to the glittery drama, which is worth seeing if only to find out if Aguilera can hold the screen and handle a monologue. Stanley Tucci is the co-star, which certainly doesn't hurt.

LOVE AND OTHER DRUGS
By the exceptionally average looks of this movie (a romantic comedy about a ladykilling pharmaceutical rep who starts pushing a hot new drug called Viagra), I don't quite understand the considerable Oscar buzz surrounding it. I know it has Oscar-friendly names attached like Jake Gyllenhaal, Anne Hathaway and director Edward Zwick, but everything from the slow ease into tough emotions to the wiseass, ugly, advice-giving sidekick looks as if it could have sprung from any other rom com...from any time...of any year. What do you think?

Studio News: Daniel Craig, Rooney Mara cast in 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo'

2010-08-17T15:56:00.003-04:00

The blonde James Bond and the relatively unknown starlet have been officially cast in the American film adaptation of Stieg Larsson's blockbuster book trilogy.

Compiled by R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara have been cast in the lead roles of Columbia Pictures’ three-picture adaptation of Stieg Larsson’s literary blockbuster The Millennium Trilogy under the direction of David Fincher.

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo – the first film of the series, which also includes The Girl Who Played With Fire and The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet’s Nest – begins shooting next month in Sweden. The screenplay is written by Steve Zaillian and the film is being produced by Scott Rudin, Cean Chaffin, Ole Sondberg and Søren Stærmose. Mikael Wallen and Anni Fernandez are executive producers. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo is set for worldwide release December 21, 2011.

The Millennium Trilogy by Stieg Larsson has been published in 44 countries and has sold more than 40 million copies worldwide thus far. In the U.S. alone, the series has sold over 10 million copies, and the sales were recently calculated at the remarkable rate of one book per second. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo has broken sales records in virtually every country in which it has been published. It has sold over 5 million copies in the U.S. and has out-sold any other e-book in that rapidly expanding market.

A literary phenomenon, all three books currently sit atop the New York Times Best Seller lists. In describing the scale of Larsson’s achievement, The Economist said: “Stieg Larsson’s vivid characters, the depth of the detail across the three books, the powerfully imaginative plot, and the sheer verve of the writing make the trilogy a masterpiece of its genre.” Michiko Kakutani, of The New York Times, described the Lisbeth character: “Lisbeth Salander, Stieg Larsson’s fierce pixie of a heroine, is one of the most original characters in a thriller to come along in a while – a gamin, Audrey Hepburn look-alike but with tattoos and piercings, the take-no-prisoners attitude of Lara Croft and the cool, unsentimental intellect of Mr. Spock. She is the vulnerable victim turned vigilante; a willfully antisocial girl . . . who has proved herself to be as incandescently proficient as any video game warrior.” The three novels have all become #1 worldwide bestsellers, an achievement unrivaled in trade book publishing.

DAVID FINCHER most recently directed this fall’s much-anticipated The Social Network for Columbia Pictures, which opens in the U.S. on October 1. DANIEL CRAIG recently starred in the two highest-grossing films in the James Bond franchise, Quantum of Solace and Casino Royale. His earlier film roles include Munich, Enduring Love, Layer Cake, The Mother, Road to Perdition, and Some Voices. He has also recently completed filming on Jim Sheridan’s Dream House, Steven Spielberg’s The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn, and Jon Favreau’s Cowboys & Aliens. ROONEY MARA will appear this fall in David Fincher’s The Social Network.

Studio News: Walt Disney Studios announces fall slate

2010-08-12T01:57:00.002-04:00

Looking ahead to the major films to come this fall and early winter from Disney.

Compiled by R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

YOU AGAIN
TOUCHSTONE PICTURES
Website: YouAgain-TheMovie.com
Release Date: September 24, 2010
Cast: Kristen Bell, Jamie Lee Curtis, Sigourney Weaver, Odette Yustman, Kristin Chenoweth, Victor Garber and Betty White.
Director: Andy Fickman

Successful PR pro Marni (Kristen Bell) heads home for her older brother’s (Jimmy Wolk) wedding and discovers that he’s marrying her high school arch nemesis (Odette Yustman), who’s conveniently forgotten their problematic past. Then the bride’s jet-setting aunt (Sigourney Weaver) bursts in and Marni’s not-so-jet-setting mom (Jamie Lee Curtis) comes face to face with her own high school rival. The claws come out and old wounds are opened in this crazy comedy that proves that not all rivalries are forever.

Notes:
Kristen Bell reteams with Director Andy Fickman—they previously worked together in New York in theater and later on the cult film and Emmy Award®-winning “Reefer Madness,” which premiered at Sundance, debuted on Showtime and won the Deauville Film Festival’s Audience Jury Award. Film veterans Jamie Lee Curtis (“Halloween” 1978) and Sigourney Weaver (“Alien” 1979) got their breakout movie roles within six months of each other. They have never worked together until now. Producer John J. Strauss penned the hit comedy “Something About Mary.”
Kristin Chenoweth recently won her first Emmy Award® for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy (“Pushing Daisies”).

SECRETARIAT
WALT DISNEY PICTURES
Website and Mobile Site: Disney.com/Secretariat
Release Date: October 8, 2010
Cast: Diane Lane, John Malkovich, Dylan Walsh, James Cromwell, Kevin Connolly, Nelsan Ellis, Dylan Baker, Margo Martindale, Otto Thorwarth, Fred Thompson, AJ Michalka and Scott Glenn Director: Director: Randall Wallace

Based on the remarkable true story, “Secretariat” chronicles the spectacular journey of the 1973 Triple Crown winner. Housewife and mother Penny Chenery (Diane Lane) agrees to take over her ailing father’s Virginia-based Meadow Stables, despite her lack of horse-racing knowledge. Against all odds, Chenery—with the help of veteran trainer Lucien Laurin (John Malkovich)—manages to navigate the male-dominated business, ultimately fostering the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years and what may be the greatest racehorse of all time.

Notes:
In 1973, Secretariat became the first U.S. Triple Crown champion in 25 years, setting race records that still stand today in the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes.
Penny Chenery, now 87, is an integral resource in the making of the film. She also appears as an extra in one of the film’s scenes. In 1973, Secretariat graced the covers of three magazines the same week: Time, Newsweek and Sports Illustrated. Director Randall Wallace, whose directorial credits include “We Were Soldiers,” is the Oscar®- and Golden Globe®-nominated screenwriter of “Braveheart.” In 1999, the U.S. Postal Service unveiled a 33-cent postage stamp with Secretariat’s image.

TANGLED
WALT DISNEY PICTURES
Website: Disney.com/Tangled
Genre: Animation
Release Date: November 24, 2010
Voice Cast: Mandy Moore, Zachary Levi, Donna Murphy, Ron Perlman, M.C. Gainey, Jeffrey Tambor, Brad Garrett, Paul F. Tompkins

Walt Disney Pictures presents “Tangled,” one of the most hilarious, hair-raising tales ever told. When the kingdom’s most wanted—and most charming—bandit Flynn Rider (voice of Zachary Levi) hides out in a mysterious tower, he’s taken hostage by Rapunzel (voice of Mandy Moore), a beautiful and feisty tower-bound teen with 70 feet of magical, golden hair. Flynn’s curious captor, who’s looking for her ticket out of the tower where she’s been locked away for years, strikes a deal with the handsome thief and the unlikely duo sets off on an action-packed escapade, complete with a super-cop horse, an over-protective chameleon and a gruff gang of pub thugs. In theaters this holiday season in Disney Digital 3D™, “Tangled” is a story of adventure, heart, humor and hair—lots of hair.

Notes:
“Tangled” marks Walt Disney Pictures’ 50th full-length animated feature.
Byron Howard directed Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Bolt,” the 2008 animated comedy adventure that grossed more than $300 million worldwide and earned two Golden Globe® nominations (Best Animated Film and Best Original Song), and an Oscar® nomination for Best Animated Feature. Nathan Greno, a 14-year Disney animation veteran, served as head of story on “Bolt,” and has animation and/or story credits on such other animated features as “Mulan,” “Brother Bear,” and “Meet the Robinsons.” “Tangled” features new songs and a score by eight-time Oscar®-winning composer/songwriter Alan Menken “The Little Mermaid,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Aladdin,” “Pocahontas,” and, most recently, “Enchanted.” Lyrics are by Glenn Slater, a 2008 Tony® and Grammy® nominee for his work on “The Little Mermaid.”

TRON: LEGACY
WALT DISNEY PICTURES
Website: Disney.com/TRON
Release Date: December 17, 2010
Cast: Jeff Bridges, Garrett Hedlund, Olivia Wilde, Bruce Boxleitner, James Frain, Beau Garrett and Michael Sheen

“TRON: Legacy” is a 3D high-tech adventure set in a digital world that’s unlike anything ever captured on the big screen. Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund), a rebellious 27-year-old, is haunted by the mysterious disappearance of his father Kevin Flynn (Oscar®- and Golden Globe®-winner Jeff Bridges), a man once known as the world’s leading video-game developer. When Sam investigates a strange signal sent from the old Flynn’s Arcade—a signal that could only come from his father—he finds himself pulled into a digital world where Kevin has been trapped for 20 years. With the help of the fearless warrior Quorra (Olivia Wilde), father and son embark on a life-or-death journey across a visually-stunning cyber universe—a universe created by Kevin himself that has become far more advanced with never-before-imagined vehicles, weapons, landscapes and a ruthless villain who will stop at nothing to prevent their escape. Presented in Disney Digital 3D™ and scored by Grammy Award®-winning electronic music duo Daft Punk, “TRON: Legacy” hits U.S. theaters on Dec. 17, 2010 in Disney Digital 3D™ and IMAX® 3D.

Notes:
Producer Steve Lisberger co-wrote and directed the original “TRON” (1982).
Jeff Bridges, winner of both the Oscar® and Golden Globe® for his role in “Crazy Heart,” reprises the role of Kevin Flynn, which he originated in “TRON” (1982). Bruce Boxleitner reprises the roles of Alan Bradley and Tron, which he originated in “TRON” (1982). Grammy Award®-winning Daft Punk is composing the music for “TRON: Legacy.” “TRON: Legacy” truly embraces today’s available technology. Among other firsts, it is the first 3D movie to integrate a fully digital head and body based upon an existing actor, creating the younger version of Jeff Bridges' character; it’s the first movie to make extensive use self-illuminated costumes; it’s the first movie to create molded costumes using digital sculpture exclusively, creating molds directly from computer files using CNC (Computer Numerical Cutting) technology; it’s the first 3D movie shot with 35mm lenses and full-35mm chip cameras; and it’s the first movie to record uncompressed HD Video to Hard Drive.

THE TEMPEST
TOUCHSTONE PICTURES/MIRAMAX FILMS
Release Date: December 17, 2010 (expansion)
Cast: Helen Mirren, Russell Brand, Alfred Molina, Djimon Hounsou, David Strathairn, Chris Cooper, Alan Cumming, Ben Whishaw, Reeve Carney, Felicity Jones, Tom Conti
Director: Julie Taymor

In her big-screen adaptation of Shakespeare's mystical thriller “The Tempest,” Academy Award®–nominated Julie Taymor (“Across the Universe,” “Frida,” “Titus”) brings an original dynamic to the story by changing the gender of the sorcerer Prospero into the sorceress Prospera, portrayed by Oscar® winner Helen Mirren (“The Queen”). Prospera’s journey spirals through vengeance to forgiveness as she reigns over a magical island, cares for her young daughter, Miranda, and unleashes her powers against shipwrecked enemies in this exciting, masterly mix of romance, tragicomedy and the supernatural.

Notes: Julie Taymor is an Academy Award®–nominated and Tony Award®–winning director. She won Tony Awards for Best Director and Costume Design for the Broadway version of “The Lion King.” “The Tempest” is Julie Taymor’s second big-screen Shakespeare film adaptation. “Titus Andronicus” was her first, which became her 1999 film “Titus,” starring Anthony Hopkins. Academy Award®–winner Helen Mirren is no stranger to Shakespearean film adaptations, having starred in many for both film and television, but, thanks to Julie Taymor’s vision, this is the first time Mirren will play a lead character whose gender was changed from the original play, allowing her to define the classic role from a whole new perspective.
2010 marks the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s “The Tempest.”

THE DEBT
MIRAMAX FILMS
Website and Mobile site: thedebtmovie.com
Release Date: December 29, 2010
Cast: Helen Mirren, Sam Worthington, Jessica Chastain, Jesper Christensen, Marton Csokas, with Ciaran Hinds and Tom Wilkinson
Director: John Madden

Helen Mirren and Sam Worthington star in “The Debt,” the powerful story of Rachel Singer, a former Mossad agent who endeavored to capture and bring to trial a notorious Nazi war criminal—the Surgeon of Birkenau—in a secret Israeli mission that ended with his death on the streets of East Berlin. Now, 30 years later, a man claiming to be the doctor has surfaced, and Rachel must go back to Eastern Europe to uncover the truth. Overwhelmed by haunting memories of her younger self and her two fellow agents, the still-celebrated heroine must relive the trauma of those events and confront the debt she has incurred.

Notes:
“The Debt” is based on the 2007 Israeli film “Ha-Hov”. Actress Helen Mirren has received four Academy Award® nominations, winning the Oscar® for her performance in the 2006 film “The Queen.” For the same role, Mirren also won a Golden Globe®, BAFTA, Critic’s Choice Award and Screen Actors Guild Award®. Actor Sam Worthington portrays one of the agents at the time of the mission. Worthington’s recent credits include “Clash of the Titans” and “Avatar.”
Director John Madden’s credits include the Oscar®-winning “Shakespeare in Love,” as well as “Proof” and “Captain Corelli’s Mandolin.”

Home Video Spotlight: A PROPHET, DATE NIGHT and KICK-ASS

2010-08-04T22:42:00.006-04:00

Brief capsules on new movies worth renting, NetFlixing or illegally downloading (though we don't condone the latter).

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

A PROPHET

In this brilliant, sprawling, unflinching 2009 Oscar nominee*, rising star Tahar Rahim plays a French teen who winds up in maximum security prison, only to climb the ranks as a gangster after serving the mob from behind bars. The patient development of Rahim's forced-into-it aspiring thug is some of the finest characterization you'll see this year. And, in general, "A Prophet" is one of the year's best. (Now available)

*Best Foreign Language Film

DATE NIGHT

Steve Carrell and Tina Fey make a perfect team as a suburban couple in big-city trouble in "Date Night," an amusing action comedy that isn't short on laughs, but works best as a tender valentine to commitment and long-term relationships. Mark Wahlberg, Mos Def, James Franco, Mila Kunis and Taraji Henson co-star, and the movie gets a lot of giggle mileage out of the lead duo's cute in-jokes and domestic ignorance.

KICK-ASS

If you're bothered by pre-teen girls who dismember people (or by profane titles, for that matter), then the unapologetic comic-book movie "Kick-Ass" probably isn't for you. And, coolness be damned, shield your young ones from it. But if you're down for a colorful, caution-to-the-wind, exceedingly well-made good time, saddle up with this rare superior superhero film. It's a bloody blast for those who can handle it.

Studio News: Weinstein Co. and Dimension Films 2010 Fall Preview

2010-07-30T16:28:00.002-04:00

The Weinstein Company and Dimension Films announce the complete slate of films set to be released throughout the latter half of the year.

Compiled by R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

NOWHERE BOY
October 8, 2010—limited
Directed by: Sam Taylor-Wood
Starring: Aaron Johnson, Anne-Marie Duff, Kristin Scott-Thomas, David Morrissey, David Threlfall, Thomas Brodie Sangster, Josh Bolt, Sam Bell, Ophelia Lovibond

Imagine… John Lennon's childhood. Liverpool 1955: a smart and troubled fifteen-year-old is hungry for experience. In a family full of secrets, two incredible women clash over John (Aaron Johnson, star of “Kick Ass”): Mimi (Kristin Scott Thomas), the buttoned-up Aunt who raised him, and Julia (Anne-Marie Duff), the prodigal mother. Yearning for a normal family, John escapes into the new and exciting world of rock n' roll where his fledgling genius finds a kindred spirit in the teenage Paul McCartney (Thomas Brodie Sangster). Just as John begins his new life, tragedy strikes. But a resilient young man finds his voice—and an icon explodes into the world.

**BAFTA NOMINEE**
Outstanding British Film
Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer
Best Supporting Actress (Kristin Scott Thomas)
Best Supporting Actress (Anne-Marie Duff)

THE COMPANY MEN
Opening: October 22, 2010 – NY/LA
October 29, 2010 - Expanding
Writer/Director: John Wells
Cast: Ben Affleck, Tommy Lee Jones, Chris Cooper, Kevin Costner, Rosemarie DeWitt, Maria Bello, Craig T. Nelson

Bobby Walker (Ben Affleck) is living the American dream: great job, beautiful family, shiny Porsche in the garage. When corporate downsizing leaves him and co-workers Phil Woodward (Chris Cooper) and Gene McClary (Tommy Lee Jones) jobless, the three men are forced to re-define their lives as men, husbands, and fathers.
Bobby soon finds himself enduring enthusiastic life coaching, a job building houses for his brother-in-law (Kevin Costner) which does not play to his executive skill set, and perhaps the realization that there is more to life than chasing the bigger, better deal. With humor, pathos, and keen observation, writer-director John Wells (the creator of "ER") introduces us to the new realities of American life. THE COMPANY MEN debuted at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival.

THE KING’S SPEECH
November 24, 2010 – Limited
Directed by: Tom Hooper
Starring: Colin Firth, Helena Bonham Carter, Geoffrey Rush, Guy Pearce, Timothy Spall

Based on the true story of the Queen of England's father and his remarkable friendship with maverick Australian speech therapist Lionel Logue THE KING’S SPEECH stars Academy Award nominee Colin Firth (A Single Man) as King George VI, who unexpectedly becomes King when his brother Edward abdicates the throne. Academy Award Winner Geoffrey Rush (Shine) stars as Logue, the man who helps the King find a voice with which to lead the nation into war. The multi-award-winning cast includes Helena Bonham Carter (Alice In Wonderland) as Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, Guy Pearce (The Hurt Locker), Derek Jacobi (The Golden Compass), Timothy Spall (The Damned United) and Michael Gambon (Harry Potter).

MIRAL
Opening: December 3, 2010 - Limited
Director: Julian Schnabel
Writer: Rula Jebreal (based on her novel)
Cast: Frieda Pinto, Hiam Abbass, Willem Defoe, Vanessa Redgrave

From Julian Schnabel, director of The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, Before Night Falls and Basquiat, comes MIRAL, the visceral, first-person diary of a young girl growing up in East Jerusalem as she confronts the effects of occupation and war in every corner of her life. Schnabel pieces together momentary fragments of Miral’s world – how she was formed, who influenced her, all that she experiences in her tumultuous early years – to create a raw, moving, poetic portrait of a woman whose small, personal story is inextricably woven into the bigger history unfolding all around her.

BLUE VALENTINE
December 31, 2010 – Limited
Directed by: Derek Cianfrance
Starring: Ryan Gosling, Michelle Williams, Mike Vogel, John Doman, Faith Wladyka

BLUE VALENTINE is the story of love found and love lost told in past and present moments in time. Flooded with romantic memories of their courtship, Dean (Ryan Gosling) and Cindy (Michelle Williams) use one night to try and save their marriage. BLUE VALENTINE debuted at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival.

EASY MONEY (SNABBA CASH)
Opening: TBD 2010
Directed by: Daniél Espinosa
Writer: Maria Karlsson

JW is a poor student who lives a double life within the wealthy Stockholm elite. He falls in love with an upper class girl and is soon lured into a world of crime. Jorge is a fugitive on the run from the police and the Yugoslavian mafia. His plan: import a massive cargo of coke and then disappear for good. Yugoslavian hitman Mrado is trying hard to find Jorge but his criminal life takes a turn when he is forced to take care of his young daughter. While JW starts a journey into the dark world of organized crime, he brings together the fate of all to a struggle of life and death. Easy Money is a Swedish crime thriller based on the International best-selling book Snabba Cash by Jens Lapidus. The book is the first installment in Jens Lapidus’ Stockholm Noir Trilogy.

REIGN OF ASSASSINS
Opening: TBD 2010
Directed by: Chao-Bin Su
John Woo
Writer: Chao-Bin Su

A skilled assassin finds herself on a quest to carry the mystical remnants of a Buddhist monk through China. A team of deadly assassins follow her, placing her in a fight for her life as she attempts to put the power-wielding secret of the monk to rest.

Trailer Park: SOMEWHERE, SUCKER PUNCH and THE SOCIAL NETWORK

2010-07-28T11:27:00.004-04:00

The newest trailers for some of the most noteworthy upcoming flicks.

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

SOMEWHERE
Sofia Coppola, who before Kathryn Bigelow was the first American woman to receive Best Picture and Best Director Oscar nods (for "Lost in Translation"), follows up her 2006 confection "Marie Antoinette" with another stylish drama, about a Hollywood actor (Stephen Dorff) and his relationship with his daughter (Elle Fanning).

I like Coppola's offbeat casting (Who even thinks about Stephen Dorff anymore?), and I love her imagery and worldliness. Much of "Somewhere" takes place at West Hollywood's Chateua Marmont, which the director makes appear as if it's in another country, expanding her cool instinct for enticing locales. This looks to be an intimate, artful story, and Coppola has more than announced herself as a filmmaker whose every project, for cinephiles anyway, is an event.

SUCKER PUNCH
Speaking of directors whose films are events, green-screen king Zack Snyder ("300," "Watchmen") will return in March with "Sucker Punch," an all-girl ass-kicking fantasy that continues our current fascination with alternate, dream-based realities. The first trailer debuted at this year's San Diego Comic-Con:

I hated "300," but I loved "Watchmen," as well as Snyder's freshman effort, "Dawn of the Dead." He's a superb stylist. With Abbie Cornish, Jena Malone, and that chick from "Lemony Snicket," "Sucker Punch" looks like it will be among Snyder's better titles, with the limits nowhere in sight given the dreamscape setting. What's it all about? I'm not entirely sure. But it looks pretty damn cool.

THE SOCIAL NETWORK
The Facebook movie, directed by David Fincher.

I think this is really exciting. Set to open the New York Film Festival, "The Social Network" is so terribly current; it stimulates you not because it's about a hot-button topic, but a topic that's an integral part of the everyday lives of most people. At this point, it's like making a film about lunch, or peeing -- everybody does it, yesterday, today, tomorrow. Only lunch and peeing aren't nearly as fascinating or fun.

Star to Watch: JOSEPH GORDON-LEVITT

2010-07-21T09:18:00.004-04:00

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

Joseph Gordon-Levitt (center) in "Inception."

When referring to the lean, dark-featured actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt, many people will still remind you, "he's that kid from '3rd Rock from the Sun'!" Don't ever ask those people for film recommendations. Gordon-Levitt has done a great many things since leaving NBC's interstellar comedy, including taking time off to feed his thinker at Columbia University, and subsequently building an extremely impressive indie resume.

Gordon-Levitt's enduringly boyish looks are often misleading, suggesting he wouldn't be able to carry off serious drama, but the 29-year-old has repeatedly proven himself a true artiste with award-worthy turns in such excellent indies as "Mysterious Skin," in which he portrayed a gay hustler, "Brick," a modern noir that cast him as a young Bogart-type, and "The Lookout," a heist film to which he brought vulnerability and gravitas.

Not that he can't lighten up. Last year, Gordon-Levitt charmed the pants off of audiences (and co-star Zooey Deschanel) in "(500) Days of Summer," an uncommonly zestful romantic comedy that displayed the actor's better-than-ever instincts for comedic timing and dramatic weight. The role earned him Best Actor nominations at the Golden Globe Awards and the Independent Spirit Awards.

Now, of course, Gordon-Levitt can be seen in Christopher Nolan's dreamscape thriller "Inception," one of the year's best films. Opposite lead star Leonardo DiCaprio, Gordon-Levitt portrays Arthur, a savvy henchman skilled in the art of navigating dreams to obtain valuable secrets. If Gordon-Levitt was once an indie king, it now seems he's also a blockbuster prince, channeling that attractive charm and dramatic instinct into what amounts to an invaluable screen presence. In "Inception," he's terrific in both physicality and acting ability, and he's a standout in a remarkable cast.

Watch the trailer for "Inception," and by God, go see it...

Home Video Spotlight: A SINGLE MAN, THE RUNAWAYS and THE ART OF THE STEAL

2010-07-15T12:02:00.010-04:00

Brief capsules on new movies worth renting.

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

A SINGLE MAN

Academy Award nominee Colin Firth gives the performance of his career in this stylish, widely acclaimed directorial debut of famed fashion designer Tom Ford. Set in Los Angeles in 1962 (and draped in the fab styles of the era), the film depicts a single day in the crushed life of George (Firth), a gay British professor considereing suicide after the death of his lover. In her Golden Globe-nominated performance, Julianne Moore portrays George's longtime bestie, Charley, an aging socialite clinging to her decadent past. (Available Now)

THE RUNAWAYS

Fans were so enamored with the blasted "Twilight Saga" that many of them missed the much better film to come out this year starring Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning. Stewart is Joan Jett and Fanning is Cherie Currie in this behind-the-music rock drama about the rise of the titular 1970s girl group, which was groundbreaking in its day. Fanning handily steals the show with the best performance of her still-blooming career, and Oscar nominee Michael Shannon ("Revolutionary Road") practically breathes fire as the band's volatile manager. Music video vet Floria Sigismondi directs with a stylish, fiercely feminine POV. (Available July 20)

THE ART OF THE STEAL

Philly native Don Argott daringly casts a dark cloud over his hometown with "The Art of the Steal," the gifted documentarian's illuminating assessment of the battle over the world-renowned Barnes Foundation art, which is set to be moved to a spot on the Ben Franklin Parkway in 2012. Framed like a heist movie, the suspenseful doc points the finger at a handful of Philly power players, indicting them for breaking founder Dr. Albert Barnes's will and turning his institution into just another money-hungry tourist attraction. The result is as fascinating as it is infuriating. (Available July 27)

Trailer Park: PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 2, LITTLE FOCKERS and HARRY POTTER 7

2010-07-07T13:55:00.003-04:00

Behold! The latest trailers for some of the most noteworthy upcoming flicks.

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 2
More shaky-cam spooks from the folks who brought you last year's viral, night-vision phenomenon.

Meh. I suppose a sequel to this movie was inevitable (and I'll admit that "Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2," a similar inevitability, is one of my fave guilty pleasures), but you know the phenomena of the original simply cannot be replicated, so it's a disappointment from the get-go. The teaser proves this baby is still in pre-pre-production stages, since all we get are a few generic still shots. Keep an eye out for more trailers, which I'm sure promise more static, more night vision and more ominous sounds.

LITTLE FOCKERS
Greg (Ben Stiller), Jack (Robert DeNiro) and the rest of the fam are back, this time with wee ones.

I find it funny (and maybe a little sad) that what I guess we can now call the "Focker" franchise is, or at least considers itself, such a prominent and important part of the showbiz universe. After repeat viweings, "Meet the Parents" finally grew on me, but in general, these films are rather obnoxious, and what they really represent is the strange trip south DeNiro's career has taken. But anyway, about the trailer -- how does it correspond with the title? Simply because Greg and Pam had children? We only see them once. These movies are about Greg and Jack. Why not stick them on a desert island and see what happens? Wait, no, don't do that.

HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS
Everyone's favorite boy wizard faces down Lord Voldemort once and for all in the two-part conclusion of this modest little franchise. ;-)

It took last year's dark and beautiful "Half-Blood Prince" to really get me excited for this "movie event of a generation." As part of my need to be hip to all things pop culture, I made a friend explain to me the entire ending when J.K. Rowling's seventh and final "HP" tome hit shelves a few years back. My first response was, "sounds like it will make a great movie." Though I find the trailer to be a little dialed-down (impress me! impress me!), after watching it, I still hold to that sentiment.

Studio News: Andrew Garfield cast as Peter Parker in new 'Spider-Man'

2010-07-02T17:52:00.003-04:00

Columbia Pictures announces the rising star will don the Spidey suit for the popular franchise's latest installment, slated for summer 2012.

Compiled by R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

FROM COLUMBIA PICTURES: After a comprehensive worldwide casting search, Andrew Garfield has been chosen to portray Peter Parker when Spider-Man swings back onto the screen in 3D on July 3, 2012. The new film will begin production in early December directed by Marc Webb from a screenplay by James Vanderbilt. Laura Ziskin and Avi Arad will produce the film from Columbia Pictures and Marvel Studios.

Today’s confirmation culminates what has been one of the most eagerly anticipated casting announcements in recent memory. Bloggers, pop culture speculators, and everyday fans have pored over and analyzed every conceivable online rumor in an attempt to discover the identity of the next actor to play Peter Parker. Garfield will immediately begin preparing for the coveted role.

The Spider-Man franchise is one of the most successful in film history and the three previous motion pictures have collectively grossed more than $2.5 billion in worldwide box office.

On selecting Garfield, director Marc Webb said, “Though his name may be new to many, those who know this young actor’s work understand his extraordinary talents. He has a rare combination of intelligence, wit, and humanity. Mark my words, you will love Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker.”

Commenting on the announcement, Amy Pascal, co-chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment, and Matt Tolmach, President of Columbia Pictures said, “Spider-Man is a classic superhero -- a young man who balances his responsibility to serve humanity and crush evil with the shyness and normalcy of someone struggling to find himself. The role demands an extraordinary actor. You need someone who can magically transform himself from Peter Parker into Spider-Man. An actor who will depict the vulnerability of youth and the strength and confidence of a legendary figure at the same moment. We have found that actor in Andrew Garfield. From the first time we saw him in the upcoming film The Social Network, to his glorious screen test, which floored all of us, we knew that we had found our new Peter Parker.”

Producer Avi Arad added, “I’m incredibly excited about Andrew Garfield. In the Spider-Man tradition, we were looking for a smart, sensitive, and cool new Peter Parker who can inspire us and make us laugh, cry, and cheer. We believe we have found the perfect choice to take on this role and lead us into the future.”

Producer Laura Ziskin said, “We are thrilled to have Andrew Garfield for this new incarnation of Spider-Man under Marc Webb’s direction. We were fortunate enough to meet with a group of fantastically talented young men. In the end, we all agreed that in addition to being an extraordinary actor, Andrew had the right mix of humor, youth, and pathos, along with an underlying sense of strength and power necessary to bring Peter Parker and Spider-Man to life on screen.”

The selection of Garfield was revealed at a press event in Cancun, Mexico for international journalists attending a media tour promoting upcoming films from Sony Pictures Entertainment. B-roll footage of the announcement will be available via satellite later this evening -- see uplink times coordinate information below.

Garfield is fast becoming one of the most respected and sought-after young actors working in the industry today. In a short career, spanning only five years, he has already been directed by, and starred alongside, some of the greatest names and received a BAFTA for a role that won him international praise.

Garfield most recently worked with director David Fincher on the upcoming film The Social Network. He previously starred for Spike Jonze on his robot love story I’m Here, which premiered at Sundance this year. He plays the lead male opposite Keira Knightley and Carey Mulligan in Mark Romanek’s Never Let Me Go, due for release later this year.

Other notable screen credits include Terry Gilliam's The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus playing opposite Christopher Plummer, Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell, Jude Law and the late Heath Ledger, Robert Redford’s Lions For Lambs, where he starred alongside Redford, Tom Cruise and Meryl Streep; Revolution Films’ “Red Riding Trilogy – 1974” directed by Julian Jarrold, where he lead a stellar cast including Rebecca Hall and David Morrissey, and his unforgettable portrayal of a young ex-con in John Crowley’s “Boy A,” for which he earned the best actor BAFTA in 2008.

Garfield’s career began in theatre and in 2006 his performances in “Beautiful Thing” (Sound Space/Kit Productions), “The Overwhelming,” and “Burn / Chatroom / Citizenship” (Royal National Theatre) won him the Milton Shulman Award for Outstanding Newcomer at the Evening Standard awards and the Jack Tinker Award for Most Promising Newcomer at the Critics Circle Theatre Awards. Other notable theatre credits include “Romeo and Juliet” (Manchester Royal Exchange) and “Kes” (Manchester Royal Exchange), for which he received the Most Promising Newcomer Award at the Manchester Evening News Awards 2004.

Star to Watch: JADEN SMITH

2010-06-26T00:36:00.003-04:00

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

Even when they're quite good, I'm not often one to heavily applaud child actors. People always want to lavish praise on little tikes who share the screen with big stars, as if the fact that they even remembered their lines makes them Hollywood savants.

My favorite overrated kid performance to complain about is Jaden Smith's in "The Pursuit of Happyness," the fact-based 2006 drama that earned Jaden's on- and off-screen dad, Will, an Oscar nomination. Some felt Jaden deserved a Supporting nod. Others, like myself, felt that to sheer insanity. I mean, the kid played dress-up with his daddy. How hard could it have been?

I don't think I'll be telling that story again. If "The Karate Kid" is any indication, Jaden is going to be a major star just like his papa, continuing to hone his craft and put naysayers like me in their places. The lead role of this surprisingly superb remake is physically, emotionally and technically demanding, and Jaden ably carries the film on his 11-year-old shoulders. He's got natural charisma and real presence and an instinct for performance that goes beyond the typical overrated youngster turn. I guess it just took his dad getting out the way for me to see it.

What's more, Jaden is poised to repeat his dad's entertainment double-dipping, pairing what looks like a budding music career with his acting gig. For the "Karate Kid" soundtrack, Jaden lent some solid raps to the track "Never Say Never" by the inescapable Justin Bieber (you know you have the fever, too). Whether he makes his next project an album or a blockbuster, this little dude seems destined for success...and happyness.

Video for "Never Say Never," by Justin Bieber featuring Jaden Smith:

Home Video Spotlight: June 17 - 24

2010-06-16T16:28:00.009-04:00

Brief capsules on new movies worth renting.

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

SHUTTER ISLAND

Leonardo DiCaprio gets in front of the camera once again for director Martin Scorsese, who turns this typically twisty thriller into a creepy work of art. Beautiful to watch and fun to follow, "Shutter Island" boasts an incredible supporting cast, with terrific turns from Michelle Williams, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Max von Sydow and the great Patricia Clarkson. (Available now)

THE LAST STATION

Esteemed thesps Helen Mirren and Christopher Plummer both received Oscar nominations for their work in this classy account of the tumultuous final years in the life of Leo Tolstoy. Directed by Michael Hoffman, "The Last Station" is both dramatic and humorous, with supporting performances from James McAvoy, Paul Giamatti and Kerry Condon. (Available June 22

HOT TUB TIME MACHINE

Four guys (John Cusack, Rob Corddry, Craig Robinson and Clark Duke) attempt a fun weekend at a run-down mountaintop hot spot, only to wind up back in the 1980s. Shrewdly written and assuredly directed by Steve Pink, "Hot Tub" is a blast of a high-concept comedy, with plenty of retro style and LOL moments. Look for cameos from 80s icons like Crispin Clover, Chevy Chase and the blonde bully from "The Karate Kid." (Available June 29)

Trailer Park: CYRUS, THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU and MORNING GLORY

2010-06-09T16:32:00.003-04:00

Behold! The latest trailers for some of the most noteworthy films in the pipe.

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

CYRUS
Filmmakers Jay and Mark Duplass, the guys behind the indie darling "The Puffy Chair," return with a comedy about a middle-aged, Below-Average Joe (John C. Reilly) who catches the eye of a pretty woman (Marisa Tomei), but soon locks horns with her grown son (Jonah Hill).

Turn-ons: The cast. Of Reilly, Tomei, Hill and Catherine Keener (playing Reilly's character's ex-wife), Hill is the only one who isn't a deserved Oscar nominee (or, in Tomei's case, winner). It's a nice foursome to toss into an adult comedy; however, little about this film looks "adult" beyond its premise.
Turn-offs: Simply because a movie has independent roots (the Duplass boys are Sundance faves, and Cyrus was selected for this year's fest) doesn't mean it's anything special. Watching this trailer, I see little difference between "Cyrus" and the latest dumb Hollywood comedy.

THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU
Matt Damon and Emily Blunt star as lovers who were never meant to be in this adaptation of the Philip K. Dick short story. Damon stars as a politician who learns his every move is being controlled, and getting cozy with Blunt's character isn't part of the master plan.

Turn-ons: Philip K. Dick adaptations are notoriously hit or miss. Sometimes, you get "Blade Runner." Other times, you get "Paycheck." This looks to be one of the better of the bunch, with a classy noir look and two appealing lead stars.
Turn-offs: A forbidden romance between two strangers doesn't sound very high-stakes to me, and I doubt there'll be much time to develop the love with all the cloak-and-dagger explaining to do.

MORNING GLORY
Rachel McAdams stars as a desperate career girl who takes a low-paying gig as the producer of a morning show. Trouble and comedy ensue when she hooks up with a co-worker (Patrick Wilson) and brings in an industry vet (Harrison Ford) to co-host with a woman he detests (Diane Keaton).

Turn-ons: Now, this is what I'm talking about. Like 2007's "The TV Set," "Morning Glory" looks to be a wickedly funny broadcasting satire. The pairing of Keaton and Ford is very comedically promising, and lest we forget one of McAdams's breakout roles was in the highly hilarious "Mean Girls."
Turn-offs: The end of the trailer suggests things might turn safe and cuddly, a problem that plagued another recent satire, "The Joneses." Here's hoping the film will skewer the biz, not stoop to become one of its dime-a-dozen products.

Star to Watch: GEMMA ARTERTON

2010-06-02T17:30:00.006-04:00

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

She hasn't exactly starred in the year's best films, but 24-year-old English actress Gemma Arterton has certainly broadened her rep as a bona fide screen siren since her appearance as a Bond girl in 2008's "Quantum of Solace." Born in Kent and trained at London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Arterton recently brought her enchanting presence to the fantasy flicks "Clash of the Titans" and "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time," making her 2010's go-to gal for swords-and-sandals swashbucklers.

I griped that Arterton's roles in the two films were too similar (which they are), and every actor should strive to avoid typecasting. But there's no denying this brunette beauty's suitability for the fantasy genre, her gorgeous voice designed for mystical narration and her exotic looks just begging to be complimented by flowy period garb.

Arterton's work in "Clash" is more indicative of her talents than her performance in "Prince of Persia," partly because the stakes are higher in "Clash" and it is, however slightly, a better film than Disney's artificial video game adaptation. In both, Arterton portrays the hunky hero's crush/confidant who is instrumental in his triumph given her magical link to the gods.

Next up, Arterton plays the lead in "Tamara Drewe," a drama that premiered at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival and is directed by Academy Award nominee Stephen Frears ("The Queen"). The film is an adaptation of a graphic novel by Posy Simmonds, which itself is an update of the 1874 novel "Far From the Maddening Crowd" by Thomas Hardy. Incidentally, Arterton's breakthrough role was in the BBC miniseries "Tess of the D'Urbervilles," also adapted from a Hardy book.

Studio News: Focus Features announces 2011 slate

2010-05-27T14:20:00.005-04:00

Compiled by R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

Focus Features today announced the first wave of its domestic theatrical release slate for calendar year 2011.

"The Eagle of the Ninth" will open nationwide on Friday, February 25, 2011. The Roman epic adventure, currently in post-production, is directed by Academy Award winner Kevin Macdonald and produced by Academy Award and Golden Globe Award nominee Duncan Kenworthy. Jeremy Brock, BAFTA Award-winning screenwriter of Mr. Macdonald’s 2006 film "The Last King of Scotland," has adapted the screenplay from Rosemary Sutcliff’s classic novel of the same name. "The Eagle of the Ninth" is set in the dangerous world of second-century Britain. In 140 AD, twenty years after the unexplained disappearance of the entire Ninth Legion in the mountains of Scotland, young centurion Marcus Aquila (played by Channing Tatum) arrives from Rome to solve the mystery and restore the reputation of his father, the commander of the Ninth. Accompanied only by his British slave Esca (Jamie Bell), Marcus sets out across Hadrian’s Wall into the uncharted highlands of Caledonia – to confront its savage tribes, make peace with his father’s memory, and retrieve the lost legion’s golden emblem, the Eagle of the Ninth. The movie also stars Donald Sutherland (pictured, with Tatum), Mark Strong, and Tahar Rahim.

"Jane Eyre" will begin its platform release in selected cities on Friday, March, 2011. The film based on Charlotte Brontë’s classic novel just wrapped principal photography and is directed by Cary Fukunaga, whose debut feature was Focus’ award-winning "Sin Nombre." Mia Wasikowska, Michael Fassbender, Jamie Bell, Juid Dench, Sally Hawkins, Tamzin Merchant, and Imogen Poots star in the romantic drama. In the story, Jane Eyre (Ms. Wasikowska) flees Thornfield House, where she works as a governess for wealthy Edward Rochester (Mr. Fassbender). The isolated and imposing residence – and Mr. Rochester’s coldness – have sorely tested the young woman’s resilience, forged years earlier when she was orphaned. As Jane reflects upon her past and recovers her natural curiosity, she will return to Mr. Rochester – and the terrible secret that he is hiding. The screenplay adaptation is by Moira Buffini; Ruby Films’ Alison Owen, an Academy Award nominee for "Elizabeth," and Paul Trijbits are producing "Jane Eyre." Christine Langan, Creative Director of BBC Films, is executive-producing for the BBC.

"Hanna" will open nationwide on Friday, April 8, 2011, and wraps production next month on location in Europe. BAFTA Award winner Joe Wright, whose films include Focus’ "Atonement" and "Pride & Prejudice," is directing the movie. "Hanna" stars Academy Award nominee Saoirse Ronan, Academy Award winner Cate Blanchett (left), and Eric Bana. Hanna (Ms. Ronan) is a teenage girl. Uniquely, she has the strength, the stamina, and the smarts of a solider; these come from being raised by her father (Mr. Bana), an ex-CIA man, in the wilds of Finland. Living a life unlike any other teenager, her upbringing and training have been one and the same, all geared to making her the perfect assassin. The turning point in her adolescence is a sharp one; sent into the world by her father on a mission, Hanna journeys stealthily across Europe while eluding agents dispatched after her by a ruthless intelligence operative with secrets of her own (Ms. Blanchett). As she nears her ultimate target, Hanna faces startling revelations about her existence and unexpected questions about her humanity. Hanna also stars Jason Flemyng, Tom Hollander, Olivia Williams, and Martin Wuttke. Seth Lochhead wrote the initial screenplay and has written subsequent drafts, as have David Farr, Joe Penhall, and Mr. Wright. Academy Award nominee Leslie Holleran ("Chocolat") is producing "Hanna" with the team of Marty Adelstein and Scott Nemes.

"One Day" will open in the third quarter of 2011, and will star Academy Award nominee Anne Hathaway (right, in "The Devil Wears Prada"). Production on the movie will commence in July, under the direction of Lone Scherfig, who most recently helmed the Best Picture Academy Award nominee "An Education." David Nicholls has completed adapting the screenplay, based on his acclaimed novel of the same name. Emma (Ms. Hathaway) and Dexter meet on the night of their graduation – July 15th, 1988. She is a working-class girl of principle and ambition who dreams of making the world a better place. He is a wealthy charmer who dreams that the world will be his playground. But where will they be on this day next year, and the year after that? Over 20 years, we check in on Emma and Dexter every July 15th, and watch as their friendship ebbs and flows with the passing of the years. Through love and loss, heartbreak and success, hopes fulfilled and dreams shattered, these two souls experience the sometimes wonderful, sometimes tragic, often hysterical but always moving, grandeur of life. Somewhere along their journey, they realize that sometimes what you are looking for has been right there in front of you all along.

Current and upcoming 2010 Focus Features releases include the unique nonfiction feature "Babies," directed by Thomas Balmès; Anton Corbijn’s suspense thriller "The American," starring George Clooney; writer/directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck’s "It’s Kind of a Funny Story"; Academy Award-winning writer/director Sofia Coppola’s "Somewhere"; and Lisa Cholodenko’s "The Kids Are All Right," starring Annette Bening, Julianne Moore, and Mark Ruffalo.

Focus Features and Focus Features International are part of NBC Universal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks.

Home Video Spotlight: May 20 - 27

2010-05-22T10:09:00.004-04:00

Brief capsules on recently released movies worth renting.

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

EDGE OF DARKNESS

Mel Gibson makes a ferocious comeback in this gritty, largely uncompromising revenge thriller co-written by William Monahan ("The Departed") and directed by Martin Campbell ("GoldenEye"). Based on the 1985 BBC series of the same name, "Edge" follows Boston cop Thomas Craven (Gibson) as he initiates a vigilante mission to avenge the death of his daughter, a whistle-blower with ties to a corrupt weapons company. The script is intelligent, as is the pacing, delaying the brutal bursts of action to the breaking point. (Now available)

THE ROAD

Director John Hillcoat ("The Proposition") translates Cormac McCarthy's masterful post-apocalyptic novel "The Road" with eerie authenticity in this long-delayed film version, which stars Viggo Mortensen as a father who must protect his son (Kodi Smit-McPhee) amidst a scorched, treacherous landscape. Preachy voiceovers hamper the movie's grace, and the book is far superior in terms of emotional heft, but the story is gripping all the same. First-rate actors like Robert Duvall and Charlize Theron turn up to endow the subplots with considerable impact. (Now available)

Trailer Park: INCEPTION, SPLICE and JONAH HEX

2010-05-12T17:31:00.005-04:00

Behold! Some of the newest trailers for some of the most noteworthy upcoming releases.

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

INCEPTION
Writer/director Christopher Nolan ("The Dark Knight") returns with this sci-fi psychological thriller about dreams and the theft of secrets and other fun cloak-and-dagger, sci-fi psychological stuff. The cast? Oh, Leonardo DiCaprio, Michael Caine, Ellen Page, Joseph Gordon Levitt, Marion Cotillard, Cillian Murphy and more.

Turn-ons: Too many to mention. This is THE event movie of the summer as far as I'm concerned, and possibly one of the better films of the year. (I hope I don't find myself eating those words.) Nolan's third Batman film was recently given a summer 2012 release date, but until then, "Inception" looks to be an excellent stand-in to sate the filmmaker's fans.
Turn-offs: None to mention, really. If I must pick nits, the trailer makers should be ashamed for insisting on throwing in that obligatory, last-second bit of comic relief. Admittedly, it's classier than most, and doesn't affect my anticipation, but must every trailer include those annoying parting shots?

SPLICE
Two doctors (played by Adrien Brody and Sarah Polley) break the rules and use human DNA to create something new and scary. Things, of course, go terribly wrong.

Turn-ons: "Splice" comes from writer/director Vincenzo Natali, a cult visionary with bold ideas who gained notoriety with the home video hit "Cube," then thought way outside the box to deliver the conceptually intriguing "Nothing." It will be interesting to see what he does with more money in his pocket. And Sarah Polley is always welcome, be it in front of the camera or behind it.
Turn-offs: This trailer is jam-packed with scare tactics and plot points so recycled, it's nearly laughable. I should hope Natali's most mainstream work isn't simply a tepid mash-up of "Alien" and "Species."

JONAH HEX
Josh Brolin steps into the spurred boots of this supernatural comic book character, brought back to life to seek revenge and woo Megan Fox, all while sporting one nasty burn scar on his face.

Turn-ons: "Jonah Hex" boasts a fun cast, with Brolin and Fox backed up by John Malkovich and the terrific Michael Fassbender as the film's odious villains. In the director's chair is Jimmy Hayward, who helmed the charming and great-looking "Horton Hears a Who!" Let's see if he can't make the most of Brolin's considerable skills in the down-home-bad-boy arena.
Turn-offs: What was I saying about those last-second bits of comic relief? Really, though, this looks dangerously close to being the "Wild Wild West" of the superhero genre, and we all know how bad that Will Smith vehicle stunk.

Star to Watch: COMMON

2010-05-06T12:00:00.004-04:00

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

In my teens, I listened to a lot of hip hop, and I still have at least three urban stations programmed on my car stereo. All along, I've responded most to artists with more gritty, poetic styles -- The Roots, Talib Kweli, Erykah Badu and Common, an elegant rapper who, like his more popular peer, Ludacris, has made a rather smooth transition into acting. Cool and casual, he's no scene-stealer, but this 38-year-old performer (born Lonnie Rashied Lynn Jr.) compliments the films he appears in, and he's about to tackle his biggest role yet.

In the romantic comedy "Just Wright," Common portrays a basketball star who falls for his trainer, played by Queen Latifah. The film, opening May 14, marks Common's first gig as the male lead. Previously, Common was seen primarily in action films, including "Smokin' Aces," "American Gangster," "Street Kings," "Wanted" and "Terminator Salvation." More recently, he co-starred in the Steve Carrell/Tina Fey action-comedy, "Date Night," as a corrupt cop.

Co-starring Paula Patton ("Precious") and directed by Sanaa Hamri, "Just Wright," which features Common shooting most of his own hoops alongside NBA pro Dwight Howard, isn't the only career highlight on the way for this Grammy nominee. His latest album, "The Believer," drops in the fall. I may just wind up playing it in my car.

Watch the trailer for "Just Wright":

Home Video Spotlight: April 29 - May 5

2010-04-29T13:38:00.009-04:00

Brief capsules on recently released movies worth renting.

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

AVATAR

"The biggest adventure of all time," reads the synopsis on the back of the "Avatar" DVD. On paper, yes. At the box office? Indisputably. But without its massive popularity and multi-billion-dollar haul? I'm not so sure about that. But, whatever. You'd better believe I already bought my copy of this sweeping eye-candy extravaganza, which makes up for in technical wizardry what it lacks in screenwriting panache. Director James Cameron didn't opt for the typical jump-out-at-you, dog-and-pony tricks when revolutionizing the world of 3-D viewing, so the artistry of "Avatar" remains well intact without the aid of special glasses. And the film's pacing is so swift, its two-plus hours whiz by like a Pandoran banshee.

CRAZY HEART

Jeff Bridges didn't snag 2009's Best Actor Oscar for nothing. In "Crazy Heart," his vividly realistic turn as alcoholic country crooner Bad Blake is one of those performances where you can't tell where the actor ends and the character begins. The circumstances surrounding Blake's romance with a vulnerable reporter (Oscar nominee Maggie Gyllenhaal) never quite jive, but as a performance showcase and tuneful reflection of real-world musicians, this tiny film is effective, engrossing and authentic. The Oscar-winning music by T-Bone Burnett has the lived-in comfort of classic country.

IT'S COMPLICATED

You've seen Meryl Streep play Jewish, Australian, Irish, Polish, Italian, gay, even male, but you've never seen her quite the way you will in chick-flick-auteuress Nancy Meyers' freewheeling romp, "It's Complicated." Checking her inhibitions at the door, Streep revels in the role of a resaturateur with an empty nest who strikes up a love triangle with her horny ex-husband (Alec Bladwin) and timid architect (Steve Martin). Diving head first into some good, clean raunch and devilishly funny irresponsible behavior, the refreshingly not-under-30-or-pencil-thin Streep makes the flawed "Complicated" a true laugh-out-loud affair.

Trailer Park: THE SQUARE, ONDINE and EAT, PRAY, LOVE

2010-04-21T15:27:00.004-04:00

Behold! Some of the newest trailers for some of the most noteworthy upcoming releases.

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

THE SQUARE
Modern noir thriller from Australia about an adulterous couple who find themselves wrapped up in a high-stakes robbery. Written by actor-turned-screenwriter Joel Edgerton and directed by his brother, Nash.

Turn-ons: Locally, I've heard plenty of good buzz about this tiny film, which is set to open in Philadelphia this weekend. There's not much to declare after watching this run-of-the-mill trailer, but the color palette and the shadowy, craggy faces of what appear to be carefully selected actors suggest the Edgertons have a strong sense of what they're putting up on the screen.
Turn-offs: If there is something particularly exceptional about this film, the trailer doesn't convey it. Also, the only critical praise comes from CitySearch (which I've never heard of), OK! Magazine (a gossip rag) and Harry Knowles (the Web's preeminent geek reviewer), implying that the makers were scrounging for good ink.
--

ONDINE
Fantasy-drama about an Irish fisherman (Colin Farrell) who discovers a mysterious woman (Alicja Bachleda) in his net and believes she may me a water nymph. Based on the Ondine legend, the film is written and directed by Neil Jordan ("The Crying Game").

Turn-ons: As was recently pointed out by a publication I can't remember (probably Entertainment Weekly), Farrell is currently doing the best work of his career, and this brief glimpse suggests "Ondine" will attest to that. Jordan is, generally, a smart and provocative filmmaker, and he may just bring a dark and distinct point of view to what on the surface seems like a typical fairy tale. (The scenery doesn't hurt, either.)
Turn-offs: On the other hand, things could easily take the cute-and-cuddly family film road, with predictability, treacly morals and wise-kid cliches in tow.
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EAT, PRAY, LOVE
Julia Roberts stars in the big-screen adaptation of Elizabeth Gilbert's bestselling 2006 memoir about finding oneself on the other side of the world. Slated for a summer release, the film is directed and co-written by Ryan Murphy, the guy behind TV's "Nip/Tuck" and "Glee," and another memoir adaptation, "Running with Scissors."

Turn-ons: Any movie watcher who tells you he's not excited about Roberts' first marquee-dominating role since "Mona Lisa Smile" is lying to you. Also, the stunning locales of Italy, India and Bali promise to be easy on the eyes, especially given what seems to be a fondness for ethereal, feathery lighting. Top that with an embarrassment of strong supporting actors, including Viola Davis, James Franco, Javier Bardem and Richard Jenkins.
Turn-offs: Murphy didn't exactly do a bang-up job translating Augusten Burroughs' "Scissors," and while having another go at the same type of project is admirable, it simply might not be his forte. In addition, though "Eat, Pray, Love" addresses universal themes and was embraced by millions, it does have a certain air of upper-class entitlement, making a heroine out of a well-to-do woman who runs away from troubles that, compared to those of others, don't seem all that troublesome to begin with.

Star to Watch: ZOE SALDANA

2010-04-14T16:33:00.006-04:00

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

Zoe Saldana in last year's "Star Trek."

As the 2009 Oscar race was hitting its peak, and "Avatar" was emerging as not just a Best Picture frontrunner, but also the all-time box office champ it ultimately became, word began to spread that Zoe Saldana, the smooth-skinned, cat-eyed American beauty who portrayed the blue-skinned, cat-eyed Pandoran princess Neytiri in the sci-fi saga, had a legitimate shot of landing a Best Actress nomination. Many dismissed such a notion as mere talk -- just another strand of the "Avatar" mania that was sweeping the world -- and that the Academy would never (or, at least, not yet) go for a performance that was essentially born out of a computer.

And, as it turns out, they didn't. But that talk came from a real place, as did Saldana's surprisingly dimensional turn in James Cameron's gargantuan epic. What we saw on screen may have been finalized by a tireless team of animators, but what we felt, such as the sense that the passionate Neytiri was very much a part of the lush, distant moon she called home, was largely Saldana's doing. The essentials of it called to mind many things, but a computer wasn't one of them.

It says a lot when an actor's presence on screen is so captivating that even millions of dollars of spectacle and CGI can't get in its way. It also proves Saldana, 31, is more than just an (extraordinarily) pretty face. Breaking through in teen-friendly, early 2000s hits like "Center Stage" and "Drumline," Saldana could have easily vanished into the homogeneous mix of young, indistinguishable stars. But in choosing the right projects and the right collaborators, she's inched her way ever closer to household-name status, something she may finally achieve this year if she hasn't already.

Following up 2009's mega-hits "Avatar" and "Star Trek" (both of which have sequels in the works), Saldana will be appearing in two films this month: the comedy-remake "Death at a Funeral," which casts her as part of a dysfunctional family and the girlfriend of a tripped-out James Marsden, and "The Losers," a comic-book adaptation that returns her to the action genre as part of an elite Special Forces team. In August, she'll appear in "Takers," a crime thriller in which she'll star alongside Matt Dillon, Paul Walker, Hayden Christensen, Michael Ealy and Jay Hernandez.

Though she gravitates toward more popular, popcorn fare, Saldana shows the tenacity and talent of an actress capable of tackling a variety of genres and characters. With her career still taking off, she has the potential to dig in to some really juicy roles and grow even more as a performer. Assuming she does, it's quite possible she'll find herself in the Oscar conversation once more, and, next time, chances are few will see it as just talk.

Studio Film Preview: Summer 2010 and Beyond

2010-04-07T15:10:00.007-04:00

Direct from the studios, here's a sneek peak at some of the major releases of the summer, as well as other films set to open throughout 2010. All release dates are subject to change.

Compiled by R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

LIONSGATE FILMS:

KICK-ASS
Release Date: April 16, 2010
Starring: Aaron Johnson, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Mark Strong, Chloë Grace Moretz, and Nicolas Cage
Directed by: Matthew Vaughn
Screenplay by: Jane Goldman & Matthew Vaughn
Based on the Comic Book Written by: Mark Millar and John S. Romita JR

“How come nobody’s ever tried to be a superhero?” When Dave Lizewski – ordinary New York teenager and rabid comic-book geek dons a green-and-yellow internet-bought wetsuit to become the no-nonsense vigilante, Kick-Ass, he soon finds an answer to his own question: because it hurts. But, overcoming all the odds, the eager yet inexperienced Dave quickly becomes a phenomenon, capturing the imagination of the public. However, he’s not the only superhero out there – the fearless and highly-trained father-daughter crime-fighting duo, Big Daddy and Hit Girl have been slowly but surely taking down the criminal empire of local Mafioso, Frank D’Amico. And, as Kick-Ass gets drawn into their no-holds-barred world of bullets and bloodletting with Frank’s son, Chris, now reborn as Kick-Ass’s arch-nemesis, Red Mist - the stage is set for a final showdown between the forces of good and evil - in which the DIY hero will have to live up to his name. Or die trying…

Directed by Matthew Vaughn, from a screenplay by Jane Goldman & Matthew Vaughn, and based on the comic written by Mark Millar and John S. Romita JR. Lionsgate and MARV present a MARV Films / Plan B production.

KILLERS
Release Date: June 4, 2010
Starring: Ashton Kutcher, Katherine Heigl, Tom Selleck, Catherine O’Hara, Katheryn Winnick, Kevin Sussman, Lisa Ann Walter, Casey Wilson, Rob Riggle, Martin Mull, Alex Borstein
Directed by: Robert Luketic
Screenplay by: Bob DeRosa and Ted Griffin
Story by: Bob DeRosa

Trying to recover from a sudden break-up, Jen Kornfeldt (Katherine Heigl) believes she’ll never fall in love again. But when she reluctantly joins her parents on a trip to the French Riviera, Jen happens to meet the man of her dreams, the dashing, handsome Spencer Aimes (Ashton Kutcher). Three years later, her seemingly impossible wish has come true: she and Spencer are newlyweds living the ideal suburban life – that is, until the morning after Spencer’s 30th birthday when bullets start flying. Literally.

It turns out Spencer never bothered to tell Jen he’s also an international super-spy, and now Jen's perfect world has been turned upside down. Faced with the fact that her husband is a hit man, Jen is determined to discover what other secrets Spencer might be keeping – all the while trying to dodge bullets, keep up neighborly appearances, manage the in-laws…and work out some major trust issues. And you thought suburban life was easy.

Starring Katherine Heigl and Ashton Kutcher, directed by Robert Luketic from a screenplay by Bob DeRosa and Ted Griffin and story by Bob DeRosa, Lionsgate’s KILLERS is a hilarious, unpredictable action comedy about love, marriage and serious firepower.

THE EXPENDABLES

Release Date: August 13, 2010
Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, and Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Eric Roberts, Randy Couture, Steve Austin, David Zayas, Giselle Itie, Charisma Carpenter, Gary Daniels, with Terry Crews, and Mickey Rourke
Directed by: Sylvester Stallone
Screenplay by: David Callaham and Sylvester Stallone
Story by: David Callaham
Expendable: capable of being sacrificed in order to accomplish a military objective.

THE EXPENDABLES is a hard-hitting action/thriller about a group of mercenaries hired to infiltrate a South American country and overthrow its ruthless dictator. Once the mission begins, the men realize things aren’t quite as they appear, finding themselves caught in a dangerous web of deceit and betrayal. With their mission thwarted and an innocent life in danger, the men struggle with an even tougher challenge – one that threatens to destroy this band of brothers.

Barney Ross (Sylvester Stallone) is a man with nothing to lose. Fearless and void of emotion, he is the leader, the sage and the strategist of this tight-knit band of men who live on the fringe. His only attachment is to his pickup truck, his seaplane and his team of loyal modern-day warriors. His is a true cynic who describes what he does as “removing those hard to get at stains.” The team behind him is made up of Lee Christmas (Jason Statham), former SAS and a savant with anything that has a blade; Yin Yang (Jet Li), a master at close-quarter combat; Hale Caesar (Terry Crews), who has known Barney for ten years and is a long-barrel weapons specialist; Toll Road (Randy Couture), a skilled demolitions expert and considered the intellect of the group; and Gunnar Jensen (Dolph Lundgren), a combat veteran and an expert in precision sniping who struggles with his own demons.

When the mysterious Church offers Barney a job no one else would take, Barney and his team embark on what appears to be a routine mission: overthrow General Gaza (David Zayas), the murderous dictator of the small island country of Vilena and end the years of death and destruction inflicted on its people. On a reconnaissance mission to Vilena, Barney and Christmas meet their contact Sandra (Giselle Itie), a local freedom-fighter with a dark secret. They also come to learn who their true enemy is: rogue ex-CIA operative James Monroe (Eric Roberts) and his henchman Paine (Steve Austin). When things go terribly wrong, Barney and Christmas are forced to leave Sandra behind, essentially giving her a death sentence. Haunted by this failure, Barney convinces the team to return to Vilena to rescue the hostage and finish the job he started. And to perhaps save a soul: his own.

Lionsgate and Millennium present a Nu Image production.

THE LAST EXORCISM
Release Date: August 27, 2010
Starring: Patrick Fabian, Ashley Bell
Produced by: Eric Newman, Eli Roth, Marc Abraham and Thomas Bliss
Directed by: Daniel Stamm
Screenplay by: Huck Botko & Andrew Gurland

After a career spent helping the devout through prayer and trickery, Reverend Cotton Marcus (Patrick Fabian) invites a film crew to document his final fraudulent days as an exorcist. Soon his faith is truly tested when a desperate plea from the father of a possessed girl (Ashley Bell) brings him face to face with evil itself.

WARRIOR
Release Date: September 17, 2010
Starring: Joel Edgerton, Tom Hardy, Jennifer Morrison, and Nick Nolte
Directed by: Gavin O’Connor
Screenplay by: Gavin O’Connor & Anthony Tambakis & Cliff Dorfman
Story by: Gavin O’Connor & Cliff Dorfman

Two brothers face the fight of a lifetime – and the wreckage of their broken family – within the brutal, high-stakes world of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighting in Lionsgate’s action/drama, WARRIOR.

An ex-Marine haunted by a tragic past, Tommy Riordan returns to his hometown of Pittsburgh and enlists his father, a recovered alcoholic and his former coach, to train him for an MMA tournament awarding the biggest purse in the history of the sport. As Tommy blazes a violent path towards the title prize, his brother, Brendan, a former MMA fighter unable to make ends meet as a public school teacher, returns to the amateur ring to provide for his family. Even though years have passed, recriminations and past betrayals keep Brendan bitterly estranged from both Tommy and his father.

But when Brendan’s unlikely rise as an underdog sets him on a collision course with Tommy, the two brothers must finally confront the forces that tore them apart, all the while waging the most intense, winner-takes-all battle of their lives.

Lionsgate presents A Lionsgate, Solaris Entertainment and Filmtribe production.

BURIED
Release Date: September 24, 2010 (Limited), October 8, 2010 (Wide)
Starring: Ryan Reynolds
Directed by: Rodrigo Cortés
Written by: Chris Sparling

Paul Conroy (Ryan Reynolds), truck driver and family man, wakes up buried alive in an old wooden coffin. Not knowing who might have put him there or why, his only chance to escape from this nightmare is a mysterious cell phone. Poor reception, low battery and lack of oxygen are his worst enemies in a race against time: Paul has only 90 minutes to be rescued.

ALPHA AND OMEGA
Release Date: October 1, 2010
Featuring the voices of: Justin Long, Hayden Panettiere, Dennis Hopper, Danny Glover, Larry Miller, Eric Price, Vicki Lewis, Chris Carmack, Kevin Sussman, Brian Donovan, and Christina Ricci
Directed by: Anthony Bell and Ben Gluck
Screenplay by: Chris Denk and Steve Moore
Based on a Story by: Steve Moore

What makes for the ultimate road trip? Hitchhiking, truck stops, angry bears, prickly porcupines and a golfing goose with a duck caddy. Just ask Kate and Humphrey, two wolves who are trying to get home after being taken by park rangers and shipped halfway across the country. Humphrey is an Omega wolf, whose days are about quick wit, snappy one-liners and hanging with his motley crew of fun-loving wolves and video-gaming squirrels. Kate is an Alpha: duty, discipline and sleek Lara Croft eye-popping moves fuel her fire. Humphrey’s motto – make ‘em laugh. Kate’s motto – I’m the boss. And they have a thousand miles to go.

Back home rival wolf packs are on the march and conflict is brewing. Only Kate and Humphrey can restore the peace. But first, they have to survive each other.

SAW VII 3D
Release Date: October 22, 2010
Starring: TBD
Directed by: Kevin Greutert
Screenplay by: Patrick Melton & Marcus Dunstan

A Lionsgate release; Twisted Pictures presents a Burg/Koules/Hoffman production.

THE NEXT THREE DAYS
Release Date: November 19, 2010
Starring: Russell Crowe, Elizabeth Banks, Brian Dennehy and Liam Neeson
Directed by: Paul Haggis
Screenplay by: Paul Haggis

Life seems perfect for John Brennan (Russell Crowe) until his wife, Lara (Elizabeth Banks), is arrested for a gruesome murder she says she didn't commit. Three years into her sentence, John is struggling to hold his family together, raising their son and teaching at college while he pursues every means available to prove her innocence. With the rejection of their final appeal, Lara becomes suicidal and John decides there is only one possible, bearable solution: to break his wife out of prison. Refusing to be deterred by impossible odds or his own inexperience, John devises an elaborate escape plot and plunges into a dangerous and unfamiliar world, ultimately risking everything for the woman he loves.

Lionsgate presents A Highway 61 Films and Lionsgate production.

COLUMBIA PICTURES:

6/11/10 KARATE KID
http://www.karatekid-themovie.com/
In Columbia Pictures' The Karate Kid, 12-year-old Dre Parker (Jaden Smith) could've been the most popular kid in Detroit, but his mother's (Taraji P. Henson) latest career move has landed him in China. Dre immediately falls for his classmate Mei Ying—and the feeling is mutual—but cultural differences make such a friendship impossible. Even worse, Dre's feelings make an enemy of the class bully, Cheng. In the land of kung fu, Dre knows only a little karate, and Cheng puts “the karate kid” on the floor with ease. With no friends in a strange land, Dre has nowhere to turn but maintenance man Mr. Han (Jackie Chan), who is secretly a master of kung fu. As Han teaches Dre that kung fu is not about punches and parries, but maturity and calm, Dre realizes that facing down the bullies will be the fight of his life.

6/25/10 GROWN UPS
http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/grownups
Grown Ups, starring Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, Rob Schneider, and David Spade, is a comedy about five friends and former teammates who reunite years later to honor the passing of their childhood basketball coach. With their wives (Salma Hayek, Maria Bello, Maya Rudolph) and kids in tow, they spend the Fourth of July holiday weekend together at the lake house where they celebrated their championship years earlier. Picking up where they left off, they discover why growing older doesn't mean growing up.

7/23/10 SALT

http://www.whoissalt.com/
Angelina Jolie stars in Salt, a contemporary action thriller from Columbia Pictures. As a CIA officer, Evelyn Salt (Jolie) swore an oath to duty, honor and country. Her loyalty will be tested when a defector accuses her of being a Russian spy. Salt goes on the run, using all her skills and years of experience as a covert operative to elude capture. Salt's efforts to prove her innocence only serve to cast doubt on her motives, as the hunt to uncover the truth behind her identity continues and the question remains: "Who Is Salt?"

8/6/10 THE OTHER GUYS
Set in New York City, The Other Guys follows Detective Allen Gamble (Will Ferrell), a forensic accountant who's more interested in paperwork than hitting the streets, and Detective Terry Hoitz (Mark Wahlberg), a tough guy who has been stuck with Allen as his partner ever since an unfortunate run-in with Derek Jeter. Allen and Terry idolize the city's top cops, Danson and Highsmith (Dwayne Johnson and Samuel L. Jackson), but when an opportunity arises for the Other Guys to step up, things don't quite go as planned.

8/13/10 EAT PRAY LOVE
Liz Gilbert (Julia Roberts) had everything a modern woman is supposed to dream of having - a husband, a house, a successful career - yet like so many others, she found herself lost, confused, and searching for what she really wanted in life. Newly divorced and at a crossroads, Gilbert steps out of her comfort zone, risking everything to change her life, embarking on a journey around the world that becomes a quest for self-discovery. In her travels, she discovers the true pleasure of nourishment by eating in Italy; the power of prayer in India, and, finally and unexpectedly, the inner peace and balance of true love in Bali. Based upon the bestselling memoir by Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat Pray Love proves that there really is more than one way to let yourself go and see the world.

20th CENTURY FOX:

MARMADUKE

Family Comedy Event
Release: June 4, 2010
Director: Tom Dey
Written by: Tim Rasmussen and Vince DiMeglio, based on the comic strip created by Brad Anderson and Phil Leeming
Producer: John Davis
Cast: Owen Wilson as the voice of Marmaduke, Lee Pace, Judy Greer, and William H. Macy, plus the voices of: Kiefer Sutherland, George Lopez, Stacy Ferguson, Emma Stone, Damon Wayans, Marlon Wayans, Christopher Mintz-Plasse

Marmaduke, the world’s most lovable Great Dane, leaps from comic strip fame (appearing in 600 newspapers in over 20 countries) to big screen stardom. In this family comedy event, the “Duke” is living large in Orange County, California. But fitting in with his new four-legged friends – and a potential romantic interest -- isn’t always easy for a super-sized teenage dog.

THE A-TEAM
Action-Adventure
Release: June 11, 2010
Director: Joe Carnahan
Screenplay: Skip Woods and Joe Carnahan & Brian Bloom (screenplay credit not yet final), based on the television series “The A-Team” created by Frank Lupo & Stephen J. Cannell
Producers: Stephen J. Cannell, Spike Seldin, Jules Daly, Ridley Scott, Tony Scott, Iain Smith
Cast: Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Sharlto Copley, Jessica Biel, Patrick Wilson, Gerald McRaney

THE A-TEAM follows the exciting and daring exploits of a colorful team of former Special Forces soldiers who were set up for a crime they did not commit. Going “rogue,” they utilize their unique talents to try and clear their names and find the true culprit. Liam Neeson (“Taken”), Bradley Cooper (“The Hangover”), mixed martial arts champ Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, and “District 9” sensation Sharlto Copley, are “The A-Team.”

KNIGHT AND DAY
Action Comedy
Release Date: June 25, 2010
Director: James Mangold
Screenplay by: Patrick O’Neill and James Mangold; story by Patrick O’Neill (writing credit not final)
Producers: Cathy Konrad, Steve Pink, Todd Garner
Cast: Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz, Peter Sarsgaard, Viola Davis, Paul Dano, Maggie Grace, Marc Blucas

Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz star in this sexy action comedy, in which a chance encounter thrusts a woman and a charming but lethal operative into a series of adventures across the globe. As if dodging assassins and uncovering world-changing secrets weren’t enough, she must now figure out if he is a good guy, a traitor – or just plain crazy.

PREDATORS
Action-Adventure
Release: July 9, 2010
Director: Nimrod Antal
Written by: Alex Litvak & Michael Finch, based upon characters created by Jim Thomas & John Thomas.
Producers: Robert Rodriguez, Elizabeth Avellàn
Cast: Adrien Brody, Topher Grace, Alice Braga, Walton Goggins, and Laurence Fishburne

PREDATORS, a bold new chapter in the Predator universe, shot under the creative auspices of Robert Rodriguez, stars Adrien Brody as Royce, a mercenary who reluctantly leads a group of elite warriors who come to realize they’ve been brought together on an alien planet… as prey. With the notable exception of a disgraced physician, they are all cold-blooded killers – mercenaries, Yakuza, convicts, death squad members – human “predators” that are now being systemically hunted and eliminated by a new breed of alien Predators.

RAMONA AND BEEZUS
Comedy
Release: July 23, 2010
Director: Elizabeth Allen
Screenplay by: Laurie Craig and Nick Pustay, based on the novels by Beverly Cleary
Producers: Denise Di Novi, Alison Greenspan
Cast: Selena Gomez, Joey King, John Corbett, Bridget Moynahan, Ginnifer Goodwin, Josh Duhamel, Sandra Oh

The adventures of young Ramona Quimby (newcomer Joey King) and her big sister Beezus (Selena Gomez) come to life in this all new film based on the best-selling books (over 30 million…and counting) by Beverly Cleary. Ramona’s vivid imagination, boundless energy, and accident-prone antics keep everyone she meets on their toes. But her irrepressible sense of fun, adventure and mischief come in handy when she puts her mind to helping save her family’s home.

WALT DISNEY PICTURES:

PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE SANDS OF TIME

WALT DISNEY PICTURES and JERRY BRUCKHEIMER FILMS
Website: www.disney.com/PrinceOfPersia
Genre: Action/Adventure
Rating: PG-13
U.S. Release Date: May 28, 2010
Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Ben Kingsley, Gemma Arterton, Alfred Molina
Director: Mike Newell
Producer: Jerry Bruckheimer

From the team that brought the “Pirates of the Caribbean” trilogy to the big screen, Walt Disney Pictures and Jerry Bruckheimer Films present PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE SANDS OF TIME, an epic action-adventure set in the mystical lands of Persia. A rogue prince (JAKE GYLLENHAAL) reluctantly joins forces with a mysterious princess (GEMMA ARTERTON) and together, they race against dark forces to safeguard an ancient dagger capable of releasing the Sands of Time—a gift from the gods that can reverse time and allow its possessor to rule the world.

Directed by Mike Newell (“Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire”) with a cast that includes SIR BEN KINGSLEY and ALFRED MOLINA, and a screenplay by Doug Miro & Carlo Bernard from a screen story by Jordan Mechner and Boaz Yakin, PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE SANDS OF TIME hits theaters Memorial Day Weekend, 2010.

TOY STORY 3 (In Disney Digital 3D™ and IMAX® 3D)
Disney•Pixar
Website: Disney.com/TOYSTORY
Genre: Animation/Comedy/Adventure
Rating: TBD
U.S. Release Date: June 18, 2010
Voice Talent: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Don Rickles, Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenberger, Estelle Harris, John Morris, Laurie Metcalf, R. Lee Ermey, Jodi Benson, Ned Beatty, Bonnie Hunt, Timothy Dalton, Jeff Garlin, Whoopi Goldberg and Michael Keaton

The creators of the beloved “Toy Story” films re-open the toy box and bring moviegoers back to the delightful world of our favorite gang of toy characters in TOY STORY 3. As Andy prepares to depart for college, Buzz, Woody and the rest of his loyal toys are troubled about their uncertain future. Directed by Lee Unkrich (co-director of “Toy Story 2” and “Finding Nemo”), TOY STORY 3 is a comical new adventure in Disney Digital 3D™ that lands the toys in a room full untamed tots who can’t wait to get their sticky little fingers on these “new” toys. It’s pandemonium as they try to stay together, ensuring “no toy gets left behind.” Meanwhile, Barbie comes face to plastic face with Ken (yes, that Ken). Pixar veteran Darla K. Anderson ("Cars," "Monsters, Inc.") produces, while Michael Arndt, Academy Award®-winning screenwriter of “Little Miss Sunshine,” brings his unique talents and comedic sensibilities.

THE SORCERER’S APPRENTICE
WALT DISNEY PICTURES and JERRY BRUCKHEIMER FILMS
Website: www.Disney.com/Sorcerer
Genre: Comedy Adventure
Rating: TBD
U.S. Release Date: July 16, 2010
Cast: Nicolas Cage, Jay Baruchel, Alfred Molina, Teresa Palmer, Monica Bellucci, Toby Kebbell
Director: Jon Turteltaub
Producer: Jerry Bruckheimer

Walt Disney Studios, producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Jon Turteltaub, the creators of the “National Treasure” franchise, present THE SORCERER'S APPRENTICE -- an innovative and epic comedy adventure about a sorcerer and his hapless apprentice who are swept into the center of an ancient conflict between good and evil.

Balthazar Blake (NICOLAS CAGE) is a master sorcerer in modern-day Manhattan trying to defend the city from his arch-nemesis, Maxim Horvath (ALFRED MOLINA). Balthazar can't do it alone, so he recruits Dave Stutler (JAY BARUCHEL), a seemingly average guy who demonstrates hidden potential, as his reluctant protégé. The sorcerer gives his unwilling accomplice a crash course in the art and science of magic, and together, these unlikely partners work to stop the forces of darkness. It'll take all the courage Dave can muster to survive his training, save the city and get the girl as he becomes THE SORCERER'S APPRENTICE. The screenplay is by Matt Lopez and Doug Miro & Carlo Bernard from a screen story by Matt Lopez and Larry Konner & Mark Rosenthal.

STEP UP 3D
TOUCHSTONE PICTURES
Genre: Dance Drama
Rating: TBD
U.S. Release Date: August 6, 2010
Cast: Adam Sevani, Alyson Stoner, Rick Malambri, Sharni Vinson, Keith “Remedy” Stallworth, Kendra Andrews, Stephen “Twitch” Boss, Joe Slaughter
Director: Jon M. Chu
Producers: Patrick Wachsberger, Erik Feig Adam Shankman, Jennifer Gibgot
Executive Producers: Bob Hayward, David Nicksay, Meredith Milton
Written by: Amy Andelson & Emily Meyer
Based on characters created by: Duane Adler

New York’s intense street dancing underground comes alive in eye-popping Digital 3D in the third installment of the STEP UP franchise as the raw, passion-fueled culture goes global. A tight-knit group of street dancers, including Luke (RICK MALAMBRI) and Natalie (SHARNI VINSON), team up with NYU freshman Moose (ADAM SEVANI), and find themselves pitted against the world’s best hip hop dancers in a high-stakes showdown that will change their lives forever.

DVD Spotlight - April 1 - April 7

2010-04-02T18:59:00.002-04:00

Brief capsules on new DVDs worth renting.

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

AN EDUCATION

Academy Award nominee Carey Mulligan blooms before your eyes in this eloquent, sophisticated coming-of-age import based on the autobiographical memoir by British journalist Lynn Barber. The solid-across-the-board supporting cast includes Emma Thompson, Peter Sarsgaard, Dominic Cooper, Rosamund Pike and Alfred Molina, who was robbed of an Oscar nomination. Novelist-turned-screenwriter Nick Hornby's script is way too safe and tidy, but director Lone Scherfig greatly conveys an intoxicating world of posh excitement, and Mulligan is a wonder to behold. (Now available)

SHERLOCK HOLMES

Guy Ritchie's first big Hollywood outing, and his most entertaining film since "Snatch," "Sherlock Holmes" puts a stylized spin on the tale of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's iconic detective, and sees superstar Robert Downey Jr. ham it up perfectly in the lead role. The Golden Globe winner raises his already substantial likability, sporting a Brit accent with ease, spinning gold out of campy lines, and making the most of his bromantic rapport with co-star Jude Law, who portrays sidekick Dr. Watson. The Dan-Brown-esque storyline is less than engaging, but it's the game, not its object, that makes this modern adventure a rollicking entertainment. Mark Strong and Rachel McAdams co-star. (Now Available)

Trailer Park

2010-03-24T22:37:00.002-04:00

Behold! Some of the newest trailers for some of the most noteworthy upcoming releases.

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

PREDATORS
No more Schwarzenegger. No more Danny Glover. No more Alien collaborations (well, actually, there probably will be more of those). For this new incarnation of the popular sci-fi series, 20th Century Fox has gone the route of its face-hugger franchise by simply pluralizing the title to let you know there are a lot more nasties to contend with. Set on the Predators' planet (I'm assuming), "Predators" stars actual actors like Adrien Brody and Laurence Fishburne, which is a very good sign. Another good sign: it returns the series to the jungle, where it began and where it certainly thrived best. Not such a good sign: looks like it's one of those humans-as-live-bait-reality-show movies. Did we learn nothing from "The Condemned?"

THE JONESES
Demi Moore and David Duchovny lead a family that's...not really a family. In "The Joneses," a faux family "unit" is paid big bucks by big businesses to tout products to their high-society friends and neighbors. They've got the home, they've got the cars, they've got the goods, they just don't have the blood ties. Cool idea for a comedy, and I love the under-the-radar indie work Demi Moore's been doing lately (see: "Happy Tears"). Amber Heard and Ben Hollingsworth co-star as the lead couple's fake children.

THE COMPANY MEN
The Weinstien Company recently acquired this corporate-downsizing drama, directed by John Wells. Slated for release in late summer or early fall, the film stars Ben Affleck, Tommy Lee Jones, Chris Cooper, Kevin Costner, Maria Bello and Rosemarie DeWitt. And you know what? Since the trailer bravely and elegantly goes out of its way to sell you on images alone, those are the only details I'm divulging. See what you make of it -- I think it's best trailer I've seen in months.

Star to Watch

2010-03-24T12:53:00.003-04:00

KELLAN LUTZ

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

Whether appearing in Calvin Klein's latest underwear ad campaign or starring alongside fellow pretty boys Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner in a modest little franchise known as "The Twilight Saga," 25-year-old actor and model Kellan Lutz's star seems to be ascending higher with every passing day. Now, I can't very well speak for the North Dakota native's acting ability (his role in the "Twilight" films is the sidelined vampire-of-few-words Emmett Cullen), but there's no denying the guy's got serious screen presence.

And his presence on screen is only set to gain prominence in the coming year. After making a small name for himself by appearing on such TV shows as "CSI," "Heroes" and the newfangled "90210," and movies like "Stick It," "Accepted" and "Prom Night," Lutz, whose involvement in "Twilight" indisputably opened many doors, will be appearing in the remake of "A Nightmare on Elm Street," "Warrior" with Cary Elwes and "Twilight" co-star Ashley Greene, "Love, Wedding, Marriage" with Mandy Moore and "Dawn of War," Tarsem Singh's Greek saga that casts him as sea god Poseidon.

And, of course, Lutz is set to reprise his role of Emmett Cullen in the forthcoming "Twilight" sequels "Eclipse" and "Breaking Dawn," the latter of which will be split into two parts, a la "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows." Lutz is reportedly quite close with his "Twilight" cast mates, especially Greene, whom he calls a good friend. Good to know he'll have some arm candy for all the red carpets he's bound to be hitting.

Kellan Lutz and Nikki Reed promoting "New Moon" on "The Today Show":

DVD Spotlight - March 16

2010-03-17T16:12:00.002-04:00

Brief capsules on new DVDs worth renting.

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL 'PUSH' BY SAPPHIRE

What impressed me most about "Precious," aside from the astounding, Oscar-winning performance from Mo'Nique and the transformative, Oscar-nominated lead turn from debut talent Gabourey Sidibe, was the manner in which director and West Philly native Lee Daniels (also an Oscar nominee) chose to visualize Oscar winner Geoffrey Fletcher's bold adaptation of Sapphire's groundbreaking novel. One walks into this movie expecting to be shaken (the tremendous buzz took care of that over a year ago), but the rich texture of Daniels' accomplished filmmaking style -- the urban grit, the imaginative transitions, Precious's vivid fantasies -- make it a truly distinct and absorbing work. Daniels's artisitic point of view positions him as quite possibly the most noteworthy black American auteur since Spike Lee. (Now available)

FANTASTIC MR. FOX

At last, the oft-ingratiating Wes Anderson takes a break from fashioning live-action narratives into pretentious, hipper-than-thou, wannabe cartoons, and simply jumps right in and makes an animated film -- an excellent one, no less. Featuring the voices of George Clooney, Meryl Streep and Anderson regulars Bill Murray and Jason Schwartzman, "Fox," like "Precious," has an extraordinary texture -- this one so tactile you may find yourself compelled to reach out and touch the screen (take that, 3-D!). Made in a furry, herky-jerky stop-motion style, and bolstered by additional old-school creative touches like an ant-farm perspective, this weird and exceedingly whimsical adaptation of Roald Dahl's children's novel is a loopy laugh riot, eliciting the feeling of being drunk on harebrained joy. Well done, Mr. Anderson. (Available March 23)

UP IN THE AIR

Though it walked away empty-handed at the Academy Awards, writer/director Jason Reitman's beautifully mature and delectably witty adult dramedy "Up in the Air" is my favorite film of 2009. Featuring perfect perfomances from Oscar nominees George Clooney, Anna Kendrick and Vera Farmiga, this tragicomedy about a corporate axeman with no ties except the ones he wears while firing underlings across the country has unmatched relevance, but never shoves it down your gullet. I remember trying my hardest to keep up with the movie's brilliant wit in my notes, but was firmly defeated, so relentless is the greatness of its scenes. Few people realize how difficult it is to craft a film that so accurately and directly speaks to the time in which it's made, and fewer still, it seems, recognize how rare it is for an American comedy to lack a single dumb joke. With "Up in the Air," Reitman shows us how it's done. (Now Available)

Trailer Park

2010-03-03T14:17:00.003-05:00

Behold! Some of the newest trailers for some of the most noteworthy upcoming releases.

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

WALL STREET: MONEY NEVER SLEEPS
Over two decades after Oliver Stone's "Wall Street" comes this absurdly titled but undeniably intriguing sequel, the first Stone has ever directed. Aiming for timeliness, the movie focuses on the 2008 stock market crash, and the relationship between young trader Jacob (Shia LaBeouf) and his soon-to-be father-in-law, the famous Gorden Gekko (Michael Douglas, reprising his role). Co-stars include Oscar favorites Susan Sarandon, Josh Brolin, Frank Langella and Carey Mulligan, LaBeaouf's real-life squeeze. (April 21)

CHLOE
Directed by Atom Egoyan, the erotic thriller "Chloe" is a remake of the 2004 French film "Nathalie...," written and directed by Anne Fontaine. "Chloe" stars Amanda Seyfried as the title character, an escort who comes between husband and wife Catherine (Julianne Moore) and David (Liam Neeson). Seyfried has been on the rise for some time now, and this movie looks to be one that will truly display her range. (March 26)

DIARY OF A WIMPY KID
Based on the first volume of the best-selling book series by Jeff Kinney, "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" looks screamingly funny while still being kid-friendly -- a rare feat in modern cinema. Highlighting the misadventures of middle school student Gregg Heffley (Zachary Gordon), the movie, directed by Thor Freudenthal (how's that for a name?), also stars Robert Capron, Rachael Harris, Steve Zahn and Chloe Moretz. Try not to smile while watching this trailer. (March 19)

Star to Watch

2010-02-25T15:47:00.003-05:00

MIA WASIKOWSKA

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

Australian actress Mia Wasikowska caught the eye of critics and audiences with her performance as a troubled teen in the acclaimed HBO series "In Treatment," which features Gabriel Byrne as a psychotherapist. Soon, the 20-year-old blonde was landing bit parts in major films like "Defiance" and "Amelia," and smaller projects like "That Evening Sun" with Hal Holbrook.

Wasikowska also caught the eye of director Tim Burton, who cast her as the lead in his hotly anticipated rendition of "Alice in Wonderland," a wild, colorful marriage of live action and 3-D animation. Touted by Walt Disney Pictures for months, "Alice in Wonderland," which opens March 5, co-stars Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter, Helena Bonham Carter as the Red Queen and Anne Hathaway as the White Queen.

Wasikowska's star is quickly rising. She'll also be appearing in "The Kids are Alright," a Sundance hit from director Lisa Cholodenko starring Julianne Moore and Annette Bening as a lesbian couple. Wasikowska plays their daughter, on the hunt for her biological father (Mark Ruffalo). She'll also star in "Restless," the latest from "Milk" director Gus Van Sant, and "Jane Eyre," portraying the title heroine alongside Michael Fassbender.

Another sign Wasikowska is a bona-fide star to watch? She graces the cover of this month's Vanity Fair, as one of a handful of young actresses exemplifying "The New Hollywood." Check out the trailer for "Alice in Wonderland":

DVD Spotlight: Feb. 18 - Feb. 24

2010-02-17T16:56:00.007-05:00

Brief capsules on new DVDs worth renting.

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

THE INFORMANT!

The humor in director Steven Soderbergh's ironic, fact-based caper comedy "The Informant!" is so interminably dry, it's difficult to fully enjoy the experience. Like the Coen Brothers' "A Serious Man," it's much more frustrating than fun. But there's a great deal of enjoyment to be found in the craftsmanship of the film, which is set in the '90s but evokes the '70s. As the deluded title character, Matt Damon gives a performance as notable for its verbal dexterity as its physical sluggishness. The circus-like score by Marvin Hamlisch is one of last year's best. (Available Feb. 23)

THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE

Frequently labeled with the simplification, "The real 'Devil Wears Prada'," this delicious documentary from director R. J. Cutler is far more fascinating and sophisticated than one might think, which is precisely what it aims to reveal about the fashion industry. Opening the doors to the oft-veiled world of American Vogue editor Anna Wintour, the film boasts unprecedented access, showing the inner workings of the magazine, specifically the production of the hefty, record-breaking September 2007 issue. Emerging as the movie's unlikely heroine is Grace Coddington, Vogue's artistic director who's been lovingly locking horns with Wintour for two decades. (Available Feb. 23)

EVERYBODY'S FINE

This holiday-timed dramedy, a remake of an Italian film of the same name, took a whipping from most reviewers, dubbed a tasteless, tepid tearjerker. While it has its share of hokum, and some flashback/imaginary scenes that should have stayed on the cutting room floor, I beg to differ with the critical consensus: In the hands of director Kirk Jones, "Everybody's Fine" is much more graceful and skillfully constructed than it needed to be, and it hits you with some genuinely emotional moments involving divorcee Frank (Robert DeNiro) and his estranged grown children. A not-great, but surprisingly good movie unfairly derided. (Available Feb. 23)

Trailer Park

2010-02-10T16:28:00.002-05:00

Behold! Some of the newest trailers for some of the most noteworthy upcoming releases.

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

THE RUNAWAYS
One of the most talked-about films at Sundance, "The Runaways" tells of the formative days of the famed '70s girl group of the title, with Kristen Stewart as Joan Jett and Dakota Fanning as Cheri Currie. Early word is that the two young leads really bring it, adding some street cred to their ever-growing careers. Floria Sigismundi directs and Academy Award nominee Michael Shannon ("Revolutionary Road") co-stars. (March 19)

HOT TUB TIME MACHINE
Best title since "Snakes on a Plane?" Well, I certainly don't need to tell you what it's about. John Cusack, Rob Cordry, and that funny dude from "Pineapple Express" star, with a cameo by Chevy Chase. Much of the film takes place in the '80s -- a big plus if you ask me. Most of the jokes in this trailer are lame, but the bits about changing the main characters' futures are intriguing. "Mom?!?" (March 26)

THE GHOST WRITER
The latest movie from controversial master filmmaker Roman Polanski, "The Ghost Writer" stars Ewan McGregor as a young British writer hired to complete the memoir of a former prime minister (Pierece Brosnan) who, naturally, isn't what he seems. Based on the Thomas Harris novel, "The Ghost," "The Ghost Writer" is the film Polanski was working on when he was arrested in September 2009 while en route to the Zurich Film Festival. The director completed the project under house arrest. Kim Cattrall, taking a crack at a British accent, co-stars. (Feb. 19)

Star to Watch

2010-02-03T16:54:00.004-05:00

SANDRA BULLOCK

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

There's no question about it: Sandra Bullock just had the best year of her career. Not even when her breakout turn in "Speed" got her heaps of work in the mid- to late- '90s did Bullock experience the kind of popularity and success she garnered in 2009. In July, Bullock starred opposite Ryan Reynolds in "The Proposal," a charming if not entirely laudable flick that saw the 45-year-old return to her romantic comedy roots. The movie went on to gross a whopping $314 million worldwide, making it Bullock's biggest box office hit. It also landed her a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress (Comedy/Musical).

But, surely, the recent Bullock film that really got everyone talking was "The Blind Side," a fact-based football drama about the unlikely upbringing of defensive lineman Michael Oher. Bullock portrays Oher's adoptive mother, Leigh Anne Touhy, a real-life Southern belle with a pampered, polished lifestyle and fierce maternal instincts. Mildly moving but more than a little patronizing, "The Blind Side" proved very popular with audiences, grossing over $200 million to become the most successful sports-related drama of all time.

"The Blind Side" also landed Bullock a heap of awards recognition, including a Golden Globe for Best Actress (Drama), a SAG award for Best Actress and an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. Many believe her to be the favorite to win the Oscar, or, at least, the only contender who stands a chance against Meryl Streep, a nominee for "Julie & Julia."

All this amidst starring in what many to believe to be one of the very worst movies of last year, "All About Steve," for which Bullock received a Razzie nomination for Worst Actress not one day before the Oscar nominations were announced. Like it or not (as much as I adore Bullock, I feel the Oscar recognition is undeserved), hers is the most fascinating story of the awards season, especially since her climb to the top coincided with almost universal jeers for a major dud. Another factor that's pulled Bullock through is her sheer likability, which, although it doesn't really warrant award wins, sure makes for some entertaining acceptance speeches.

DVD Spotlight: Jan. 28 - Feb. 3

2010-01-27T14:10:00.002-05:00

Brief capsules on new DVDs worth renting.

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

MICHAEL JACKSON'S THIS IS IT

While there's not much to write home about in terms of filmmaking craft, this commemorative doc. collage is nevertheless terrific entertainment, celebrating -- and not eulogizing -- the art, moves and enduring genius of arguably the greatest pop star of all time. It's amazing to see just how much Jackson still had it right up until his death, and to marvel at how music truly was his first language. (Now available)

BRIGHT STAR

Writer/director Jane Campion translates the work, love and tragically short life of English poet John Keats to the screen, creating her own kind of poetry in the process. Ben Whishaw is beguiling as Keats, and Abbie Cornish is exquisite as Keats's fashionista muse, Fanny Brawne. Named after Keats's famous poem to Fanny, "Bright Star" is one of 2009's best films, and certainly its most beautiful. (Now available)

COLD SOULS

Everyone's favorite everyman schlub actor, Paul Giamatti, plays himself (very well) in this surrealist comedy about a company that offers the ultimate cure for chemical imbalances: soul extraction. Giamatti opts for the procedure, reconsiders, then is forced to hunt down his soul, which ends up in the body of someone else. Though it doesn't always feel wholly original, this slightly tragic, very dry and technically accomplished comedy is a promising debut for filmmaker Sophie Barthes. (Available Feb. 2)

Trailer Park

2010-01-23T18:28:00.002-05:00

Behold! Some of the newest trailers for some of the most noteworthy upcoming releases.

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

ROBIN HOOD
I personally don't see why we need another Robin Hood movie, but if there must be one, I suppose the "Gladiator" duo of director Ridley Scott and star Russell Crowe is as good a team as any to deliver it. This new film focuses on the famous bandit's return from the Third Crusade, and his mission to save his homeland and its people from the Sherrif of Nottingham (Matthew MacFadyen). In other words, it's essentially about what every other Robin Hood flick is about. Cate Blanchett co-stars as Lady Marion.

THE A-TEAM
Speaking of things we don't need, here's another Hollywood remake of a popular TV show. Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson and Sharlto Copley of "District 9" portray the beloved quartet, while Jessica Biel and Patrick Wilson co-star. Looks to be plenty of fun, for sure, but also formulaic and hectically edited.

KNIGHT & DAY
Tom Cruise returns to the screen in this romantic comedy/spy thriller (doesn't every Tom Cruise film feel like it's "the return of Tom Cruise?"). Cameron Diaz co-stars as a woman who keeps finding herself caught up in the mishaps of Cruise's reckless secret agent. Unlike most, I enjoyed "Vanilla Sky," the last movie that saw these two stars share the screen. Their reunion could be just a "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" wannabe, or it could be one satisfying action-comedy cocktail.

Star to Watch

2010-01-15T13:55:00.005-05:00

MICHAEL FASSBENDER

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

For my money, German-born Irish actor Michael Fassbender is one of the most exciting screen stars working today. Since he appeared in the award-winning HBO miniseries "Band of Brothers" in the early 2000s, the hunky 32-year-old starred in a host of BBC shows until finally making himself known to American filmgoers by playing the warrior Stelios in Zack Snyder's green-screened swords-and-sandals epic, "300," in 2006. Since then, Fassbender's career choices have been challenging, artful and consistently intriguing -- so much so that, at this point, if Fassbender's name is in the cast list, chances are the movie is something special and unique.

Just look at three of Fassbender's most recent projects. In "Hunger," one of the very best films of 2009, Fassbender wowed in the leading role of Bobby Sands, a resolute martyr and the initiator of the Irish Hunger Strike that took place inside the walls of Northern Ireland's Maze Prison. The performance required Fassbender to lose a dramaic amount of weight, but even more affecting is the emotional intensity and gravitas of the gifted actor's work. In Quentin Tarantino's "Inglourious Basterds," another standout picture from last year, Fassbender appeared as a cheeky film critic/spy, and handily rounded out QT's international cast with wit and style.

Now, Fassbender delivers a wholly realistic supporting performance in "Fish Tank," writer/director Andrea Arnold's candid Cannes Jury Prize winner about an underpriveleged 15-year-old girl coping with the pains of adolescence. The UK's answer to "Precious," and the grittiest interpretation of teenage female angst since Catherine Hardwicke's "Thirteen," "Fish Tank" is painfully, unapologetically honest, and much of that honesty stems from the unvarnished turns by lead star Katie Jarvis and Fassbender, who portrays the older fellow who brings both pleasure and pain into the young girl's life. Even with relatively minimal screen time, Fassbender grabs the viewer once again, and once again displays his value as a character actor inside the body of a movie star. ("Fish Tank" opens at the Ritz Theatres in Philadelphia in February.)

"Fish Tank" trailer:

DVD Spotlight - Jan. 6 - Jan. 13

2010-01-06T11:48:00.007-05:00

Brief capsules on new DVDs worth renting

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

PARANORMAL ACTIVITY
Dir. Oren Peli
The makers of the do-it-yourself phenomenon "Paranormal Activity" are wisely using the "watch it at home...if you dare" slant to promote the movie's DVD release. Indeed, one of the few elements that makes this $15,000 thriller more unsettling than its obvious inspiration, "The Blair Witch Project," is its setting: the San Diego home of a young couple (Micah Sloat and Katie Featherston), or, more specifically, their bedroom. The "Blair Witch" kids may have been hopelessly lost, and there's certainly a major creep factor to being stalked in the woods, but being denied even the dream of hiding under your covers because that's essentially where the terror lies is arguably even worse. In the theater, "Paranormal Activity" created the kind of anticipatory suspense for which the term "nail-biting" was coined. At home, chances are that effect will hit even harder.

THE HURT LOCKER
Dir. Kathryn Bigelow
And speaking of "nail-biting," not since 2007's "No Country for Old Men" and "There Will Be Blood" has a film been more excuriatingly intense than Kathryn Bigelow's masterful Iraq War drama and Oscar front-runner, "The Hurt Locker." Read more about this indispensable, must-see movie in my 2009 Top Ten List.

OUTRAGE
Dir. Kirby Dick
From the director of the controversial "This Film is Not Yet Rated," comes this extremely revealing documentary about closeted gay politicians who lobby for anti-gay legislation. The film looks into the way the media plays an integral part in supporting said politicians' contradictory lifestyles, and how it's affected the lives of millions of Americans. Among the film's subjects are Idaho Senator Larry Craig and Florida Governor Charlie Crist, both of whom have been found, or are presumed, to lead gay lifestyles, while adamantly opposing gay rights.

Trailer Park

2009-12-29T13:16:00.003-05:00

Behold! Some of the newest trailers for some of the most noteworthy upcoming releases.

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

SEX AND THE CITY 2
Okay, the fan in me really wants to be super-excited for this movie, which reunites the fab foursome for yet another couture-filled soiree. But the critic in me sees a lot of problems here: 1. Do we really need another outing with Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda? I'm not gonna pull the age card, but I will say that one movie was a nice enough capper to an iconic series. Dragging out the story may well tarnish its history. 2. Could Carrie's stock narration sound any more desperate? Here's what I heard: "Sorry, we really don't have anything left to say, but please come see our movie anyway." 3. Finally, the most obvious complaint: What's with the desert? As a century of cinema has proven, New York is rich enough for thousands of stories, and it's the cornerstone of "SATC." No need to shuffle the ladies off to the Sahara, where broad comedy will undoubtedly ensue. Also, there's no one more qualified to strut across sand dunes in designer clothes than these girls, but that doesn't mean it doesn't look ridiculous.

IRON MAN 2
Another sequel, and more skepticism for yours truly. Believe me, I adored the first "Iron Man" film, calling it one of the best superhero flicks to ever be churned out of Hollywood. But this follow-up looks to be even more cocky than Tony Stark, the metal-clad millionaire played by Robert Downey Jr. There's potential for a lot of broad humor here as well, as evidenced by jokes that may be too lame for even the great Downey Jr. to sell (in my opinion, "You complete me" is never, ever okay). Mickey Rourke is an exciting addition, but unless his Whiplash has more tricks up his sleave, he doesn't seem to be a very formidable villain. In case you missed her few seconds of screen time, Scarlett Johansson also appears as The Black Cat.

CREATION
A prestige film stripped of its prestigious, Oscar-qualifying, late-2009 release date, "Creation" spent a long time searching for a U.S. distributor following its premiere at September's Toronto International Film Festival. Apparently, American audiences are especially sensitive to the Charles Darwin biopic's theme of Creationism versus evolution. The movie has since been picked up by Newmarket Films, and will open at the end of January. However good it turns out to be, the unfortunate truth is that its early-in-the-year showing will probably adversely effect its chances in the 2010 awards season. Still, it will no doubt benefit from having two terrific lead actors on board: Paul Bettany as Darwin and Jennifer Connelly, Bettany's real-life wife, as Mrs. Darwin.

Star to Watch

2009-12-23T18:17:00.005-05:00

SAM WORTHINGTON

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

Forget Vin Diesel. Forget The Rock. Hollywood's hottest new action star is 33-year-old Australian actor Sam Worthington, who's attached to a string of major blockbusters and shows no signs of slowing down. Once a candidate to fill Pierce Brosnan's shoes in the role of James Bond (a gig that ultimately went to Daniel Craig), Worthington starred opposite Christian Bale in May's "Terminator Salvation," which didn't fare well with critics but performed fairly well in overall box-office. Worthington portrayed a cyborg in the film, the fourth installment in the popular sci-fi franchise.

By far the most crucial moment in Worthington's career came when director James Cameron tapped the gruff-looking former bricklayer to play the lead in "Avatar," Cameron's astonishing sci-fi extravaganza that's become an international phenomenon. In the landmark movie, which stretches the limits of make-believe and special effects technology, Worthington plays Jake Sully, a paraplegic war veteran who signs up for a truly out-of-body experience on a distant moon. In a performance that is both flesh and blood and enhanced via motion-capture methods and computer-generated imagery, Worthington brings a good-old-boy familiarity to the John Smith-like protagonist without sacrificing sophistication. Despite allowing tinges of Aussie to slip into his American accent, he proves himself fully capable of carrying a major film.

He'll get his chance again this March, playing the lead role of Perseus in director Louis Leterrier's remake of the Greek-myth saga "Clash of the Titans." Co-starring Liam Neeson as Zeus and Ralph Fiennes as Hades, the fantasy flick looks to be an impressive follow-up to "Avatar," which is easily one of the best films of 2009. Also in the works for Worthington is "The Debt," a dramatic thriller about a Nazi war criminal directed by John Madden ("Shakespeare in Love") and co-starring revered thesps Helen Mirren, Tom Wilkinson and Ciaran Hinds. What can't be far behind is an "Avatar" sequel, which has been hinted at by Cameron and is likely all but confirmed given the introductory installment's enormous success.

Sam Worthington discusses "Avatar":

DVD Spotlight - Dec. 17 - 23

2009-12-16T11:21:00.006-05:00

Brief capsules on new DVDs worth renting.

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS
Dir. Quentin Tarantino

At long last, Tarantino returns with a vengeance -- or, at least, with a vengeance-fueled, darkly comic head trip of a war movie that reimagines the outcome of WWII with reckless abandon and bold, wild imagination. Experiencing the thrilling bursts of action and brilliant stretches of dialogue in this highly original film is realizing just how much of an asset Tarantino is to the world of cinema. Few movies this year were executed with such assured vision and passion. (Available now.)

(500) DAYS OF SUMMER
Dir. Marc Webb

Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel make one of the best screen couples I've ever seen as Tom and Summer, two lovebirds whose relationship is doomed from the start, despite hopeless romantic Tom's firm belief in the contrary. Clever humor mixes with adorable, perfectly pitched whimsy in this irresistible film, a rare rom-com that avoids most of the predictable traps of the genre. The screenplay by young buddies Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber announces two exciting new talents to watch. (Available Dec. 22.)

DISTRICT 9
Dir. Neill Blomkamp

A science fiction film for the ages, "District 9" is an awesome achievement for newcomer Blomkamp, who used the financial support of executive producer Peter Jackson to craft something truly transcendent. Introducing aliens on Earth not as hostile invaders, but as vulnerable refugees, "District 9" works as a fascinating faux documentary, a gripping suspense thriller, an explosive action film and a sharp social commentary. One of the best movies of the year. (Available Dec. 22.)

Art House Salad

2009-12-09T16:11:00.007-05:00

Catching up with an alternative flick that was recently tossed around in limited release. (I intended to review this film just prior to the Thanksgiving holiday, but life -- and turkey -- intervened.)

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

OH MY GOD?
Dir. Peter Rodger
Gussi S.A. / Mitropoulos Films
98 min. Not Rated

I suppose a movie about the meaning of God doesn't need to be a sober, introspective therapy session, but it most certainly didn't need to be the pretentious, obtuse, hyperactive mess that is "Oh My God?," British photographer Peter Rodger's globetrotting documentary in which he asks a bunch of random people what they think about the man -- or woman, or whatever -- upstairs.

It's nice that Rodger took the initiative to travel the world with little more than a camera and a question, and he sure did capture some pretty scenery, but did he have to show us every last frame of his footage? The opening of this film is an unbearably lengthy montage of shots that have absolutely no context other than the depiction of people, places and things on God's green Earth and the stinking pride of the director. It's a good warning of what's to come, as "Oh My God?" is basically an aimless string of uninteresting psychobabble and ADD-style editing.

I don't even think "The Bourne Ultimatum" had as many cuts as this movie, which abandons every image for another so quickly and frequently, the topic at hand becomes immaterial and the film becomes almost unwatchable. By comparison, a therapy session would be a godsend, for at least then we'd be able to look in the eyes of an interviewee long enough to process his or her remarks.

Not that the remarks are all that thought-provoking anyway. "Oh My God?" boasts the presence of a handful of famous and non-famous individuals who, like the opening images, apparently have nothing to do with one another aside from living on Earth and appearing in this movie. Seal. Ringo Starr. David Copperfield. Sir Bob Geldof. Hugh Jackman and his "Australia director, Baz Luhrmann (both of whom Rodger fortuitously bumped into while they were on location filming their 2008 epic). Do you care a smidge about these folks' opinions about God, anymore than you would your next-door neighbor's? Me neither. And maybe that's the point, but hell if Rodger communicates it, or any other objective in this insight-free, film student-quality exercise. OMG, did I hate it.

1 star (out of 5)

"Oh My God?" saw a limited release in Philadelphia in November, is now playing in St. Louis and Chicago, and should soon be arriving on DVD. Avoid it.

Trailer Park

2009-12-09T14:08:00.003-05:00

Behold! Some of the newest trailers for some of the most noteworthy films in the pipe.

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

THE SORCERER'S APPRENTICE
It would appear that Nicolas Cage's foray into more credible, interesting work -- i.e. his unwound, much-lauded performance in Werner Herzog's "Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans -- was very short-lived. This spring, he reunites with his "National Treasure" director, Jon Turtletaub, and producer, Jerry Bruckheimer, for "The Sorcerer's Apprentice," a mega-budget Hollywood take on the classic tale of wizard and wizard wannabe. With the whole "Treasure" team on board (as well as actors Jay Baruchel and Alfred Molina), chances are this is going to be some highly conventional fare. Still (and I've said this before only to kick myself later), the effects look fun.

SALT
Now, this is the version of Angelina Jolie I like to see. Not the one who screams about losing her son and then lands an undeserved Oscar nomination, but the one who really kicks ass. Action is the arena in which Jolie excels. See: "Wanted," "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" and "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider." "Salt," Jolie's latest pulse-pounder, casts her as a CIA officer who's forced to become a fugitive after accusations fly that she's a spy for the Russians. The role was originally written for a man until Jolie, one of the few female actors who can carry a film, stepped in.

THE LAST STATION
A prestigious cast leads this period film about the final year in the life of famed Russian writer and philosopher Leo Tolstoy (Christopher Plummer). Directed by Michael Hoffman, the movie recently earned an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Picture. Additional cast members include James McAvoy and Helen Mirren, who's expected to find herself among this year's Best Actress Academy Award nominees. "The Last Station" is playing in very limited release.

Star to Watch

2009-12-02T12:05:00.006-05:00

ANNA KENDRICK

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

Twenty-four-year-old actress Anna Kendrick made her film debut in the 2003 comedy "Camp," which garnered a miniature cult following, but was largely ignored by the populace. She followed that with a role in the 2007 indie "Rocket Science," which, despite nominations from both Sundance and the Independent Spirit Awards (including a Supporting Actress nom for Kendrick), also failed to find a substantial audience.

Things have since changed for this funny and fiery performer, who appears in two of 2009's most talked-about movies: "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" and "Up in the Air," director Jason Reitman's follow-up to his 2007 hit, "Juno."

In "New Moon," Kendrick portrays lovestruck heroine Bella Swan's (Kristen Stewart) outspoken gal pal, Jessica, providing some much-needed comic relief from the silly blockbuster's syrupy melodrama.

In "Up in the Air" (which, in this reviewer's opinion, may just be the best film of the year), Kendrick breaks through as Natalie, the ambitious, yet naive foil to George Clooney's seasoned corporate axe man. Fully personifying a wonderfully written role (which Reitman wrote specifically for her), Kendrick makes Natalie a highly believable hybrid of maturity, responsibility, immaturity and ignorance -- an apt description of an early twentysomething breaking into the business world.

Practically every scene in Reitman's endlessly witty comedy-drama is a joy, but the ones with Kendrick are especially winning. And speaking of winning, awards buzz indicates that Kendrick will likely earn a deserved Supporting Actress Oscar nomination for her portrayal of Natalie, presumably pinning her against "Precious" standout Mo'Nique.

Anna Kendrick talks about her role in "Up in the Air":

DVD Spotlight: Nov. 26 - Dec. 2

2009-11-24T14:25:00.004-05:00

Brief capsules on new DVDs worth renting.

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE
Dir. David Yates

In this sixth installment of the enormously popular fantasy saga, there's nary a trace of the pixie-dust kid stuff that appeared in earlier chapters like Chris Columbus's "Sorcerer's Stone" and "Chamber of Secrets." "Half-Blood Prince" is a mature, dark and sometimes seriously scary epic, approached by the cast and crew with the utmost artistic integrity. Undoubtedly caused by a desire to please "Potter" devotees, the film lags a bit as it places too much emphasis on the teen romances brewing in the halls of Hogwarts school. Still, it is a magical, extremely impressive achievement, standing as the best "Potter" flick since "Prisoner of Azkaban." (Available Dec. 8.)

JULIE & JULIA
Dir. Nora Ephron

In what will surely land her a 16th career Oscar nomination, Meryl Streep is delectable as Julia Child in this imperfect but irresistible dramedy from writer/director Nora Ephron. Apated from the book by blogger Julie Powell, "Julie & Julia" is a breezy, largely delightful experience, even if the half with Julie (Streep's "Doubt" costar Amy Adams) pales in comparison to the Paris-set bliss of Julia's portion. It's a credit to Ephron's skill and determination that the dual-biopic approach worked at all, and strong -- albeit, sidelined -- turns from Chris Messina and the wonderful Stanley Tucci are icing on the cake. (Available Dec. 8.)

BRUNO
Dir. Larry Charles

British envelope-pusher Sacha Baron Cohen outdoes himself with "Bruno," the shocking and side-splittingly hilarious follow-up to his 2006 hit, "Borat." Plenty of scenes in this film left my face covered in tears of laughter, as Cohen proves how fearless a guerilla comedian he truly is. Certainly not for everyone (and definitely not for children), "Bruno" earns every inch of its R rating. It's also the funniest movie of the year. (Now available.)

Trailer Park

2009-11-18T12:57:00.002-05:00

Behold! Some of the newest trailers for some of the most noteworthy films in the pipe.

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

CRAZY HEART
From Fox Searchlight Pictures, the studio behind "Juno" and "Slumdog Millionaire," comes this drama about a broken-down country singer (Jeff Bridges). The film looks to be this year's "The Wrestler" (also from Fox Searchlight), featuring a lead performance that sets up four-time Oscar nominee Bridges as a last-minute Best Actor contender. Co-starring Robert Duvall and Maggie Gyllenhaal, "Crazy Heart" marks the directorial debut of Scott Cooper, who also wrote the screenplay.

THE WHITE RIBBON
Winner of the coveted Palme D'or, or Best Picture, at this year's Cannes Film Festival, "The White Ribbon" is the latest film from Austrian auteur Michael Haneke ("Cache'"). Centered around a children's choir in a northern German village just before World War I, the German-language film was shot in crisp black and white and is said to be a "masterwork" (Sight and Sound). It opens in limited release this December.

BROTHERS
From acclaimed director Jim Sheridan ("In America," "My Left Foot"), this love triangle drama, about a soldier in the Iraq war and the family he left behind, boasts the trifecta of Tobey Maguire, Natalie Portman and Jake Gyllenhaal. Maguire is the soldier who's presumed dead, Portman is his young wife, and Gyllenhaal is his brother, who carries on an affair with Portman's character in her husband's absence. While "Brothers" looks as though it could be disappoitningly conventional, the level of talent in front of and behind the camera is hard to resist.

Star to Watch

2009-11-11T14:39:00.003-05:00

SAORSIE RONAN

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

In 2007, at the age of 13, American-born Irish actress Saorsie Ronan became the 11th youngest actor in history to be nominated for an Oscar, for her supporting work as young Briony Tallis in the epic romance "Atonement."

In addition to the Academy, Ronan's performance got her the attention of a host of film critics societies, as well as Peter Jackson, director of "King Kong" and the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy. Jackson, who's known to have a keen eye for casting (he launched the career of Orlando Bloom), chose Ronan to play the lead in his next project, a big-screen adaptation of the bestselling novel "The Lovely Bones" by Alice Sebold.

In the film, which opens this December, Ronan plays Susie Salmon, a young girl who's raped and murdered in the beginning of the story, and then watches her family -- and her killer -- from heaven. Jackson has said that Ronan reminded him of a young Cate Blanchett, which is an extreme compliment seeing as Blanchett is one of our greatest living actors.

With her piercing blue eyes and cryptic, Mona Lisa-like smile, Ronan possesses a fascinating screen presence, and exudes a maturity and natural talent that's well beyond her years (it's not for nothing she was the only actor in "Atonement" to receive an Oscar nod). In "Bones," Ronan stars alongside fellow Academy Award nominee Mark Wahlberg, Academy Award winners Rachel Weisz and Susan Sarandon, Michael Imperioli and Stanley Tucci, who plays Susie's murderer.

That's a mighty group of actors with whom to share the spotlight, but don't think young Ronan isn't capable of stealing the show. . . it wouldn't be the first time.

To watch the trailer for "The Lovely Bones," CLICK HERE.

DVD Spotlight: Nov. 5 - Nov. 11

2009-11-04T13:31:00.004-05:00

Brief capsules on new DVDs worth renting.

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

Dir. Pete Docter

Starring the voices of Ed Asner, Jordan Nagai, Christopher Plummer

An old man ties thousands of helium balloons to his house and flies away on an amazing adventure in this equally amazing animated triumph from the ever-reliable dream-makers at Pixar. As moving and intelligent as it is colorful and funny, this for-all-ages flick is one of the year's best.

FOOD, INC.
Dir. Robert Kenner

"Super Size Me" may have exposed the dangers of fast food restaurants, but Kenner digs even deeper, showing us the ugly truths behind something much more sacred: our precious supermarkets. Focusing on the monopolizing, unhealthy and unethical practices of major agricultural companies, this frightening and fascinating documentary may just change the way you look at everything you eat.

STAR TREK
Dir. J.J. Abrams

Starring Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana

Director and TV vet Abrams proves himself a world-class action moviemaker with this exhilirating franchise reboot, a fast-paced, great-looking blockbuster that's both intelligent and fun. The cast is dynamite, especially Quinto, who gives one of 2009's most assured supporting performances as the famous Mr. Spock.

Trailer Park

2009-10-28T14:23:00.003-04:00

Behold! Some of the newest trailers for some of the most noteworthy films in the pipe.

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

INVICTUS
Can't-miss director Clint Eastwood presents this presumably Oscar-bound drama about the life of Nelson Mandela during the 1995 Rugby World Cup in South Africa. Morgan Freeman, who previously worked with Eastwood on "Unforgiven" and "Million Dollar Baby," plays the venerable South African president, while Matt Damon, who's arguably experiencing the best year of his career, plays Francois Pineaar, captain of the South African team. Formerly dubbed "The Human Factor," the film is based on author John Carlin's book, "Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Changed a Nation."

THE IMAGINARIUM OF DR. PARNASSUS
This fantasy film, directed and co-written by the visionary Terry Gilliam, features the final performance of Heath Ledger, who passed away when the movie was still being filmed. Ledger's part -- a mysterious drifter named Tony -- was altered to be a transformative character, with Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell stepping in to complete Ledger's scenes. Focusing on a traveling theatre troupe whose leader (Parnassus) makes a deal with the devil, the film also stars Tom Waits, Verne Troyer and Christopher Plummer in the title role.

THE WOLFMAN
Benicio Del Toro stars as the titular monster in this remake of the 1941 horror classic. Slated for February 2010, the film is directed by Joe Johnston, who previously helmed such movies as "Jumanji" and "Jurassic Park III." Released by the original monster factory, Universal Pictures, "Wolfman" boasts a supporting cast that includes Emily Blunt, Hugo Weaving, Art Malik and Anthony Hopkins.

Art House Salad

2009-10-22T18:31:00.003-04:00

Dishing on the latest blend of alternative flicks being tossed around in limited release.
By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

AN EDUCATION
Dir. Lone Scherfig
Sony Pictures Classics
95 min. PG-13

Can an extraordinary performance lift a slightly-too-ordinary movie to the height of greatness? In the case of breakout star Carey Mulligan in director Lone Scherfig's coming-of-age tale, “An Education,” the answer is...almost. Mulligan, 24, whose previous film credits include 2005's “Pride & Prejudice” and not much else, is luminous and unforgettable, and she'll almost certainly find herself in the company of such young and relatively inexperienced actresses as Jennifer Hudson, Amy Adams and Catalina Sandino Moreno, whose similarly revelatory work landed them in Oscar's good graces. And this film, set in 1960s London and based on the autobiographical memoir by British journalist Lynn Barber, is eloquent, attractive and oh-so-classy. But there is a vexing, underlying familiarity to it that even Mulligan's magnetism can't hide, and that's both a surprise and a disappointment given the resoundingly positive post-Sundance reviews. “An Education” is often a joy to watch, but it's not quite as special as the early buzz suggests.

Mulligan plays Jenny, a super-achieving, virginal 16-year-old whose entire life has been steering her down one predetermined path: she will study her butt off, get into Oxford, study her butt off some more, and then...what? Jenny's father (Alfred Molina, also Oscar-worthy) is loving, but overprotective and obsessed with status and success. Opting not to bank on the archaic notion that Jenny will simply marry into wealth and be provided for, he's always told his daughter that she must follow aforementioned path to make it in the world. Jenny's mother (a warmly charming Cara Seymour) dutifully stands by her husband's plans with very few objections. The teachers at Jenny's all-girls high school perpetually drive the same way of thinking into her head: “get to university, get to university.” But no one has ever really explained to Jenny what enjoyable benefits will be waiting at the end of the path, and keeping her nose forever buried in books has left her culturally squelched. As she confides to her friends, what she really wants to do is listen to French music, travel to beautiful places, smoke, dance and converse with interesting people. She gets all that and more when she meets David (the invaluable Peter Sarsgaard), a dashing, 35-year-old bon vivant who seduces not only Jenny, but her parents as well. Wining and dining her in Paris and beyond, David gives Jenny the worldly escapades she's been craving, but, of course, there's more to this mystery man than meets the starry eye.

The script by novelist-turned-screenwriter Nick Hornby (“High Fidelity,” “About A Boy”) has a wonderful ear for sharp, witty and refined dialogue, never better exemplified than in a few deliciously dramatic exchanges between Jenny and her stern headmistress (the great Emma Thompson), who spar over the value of the education system after word of Jenny's extracurricular activities begins to circulate. But the developments of the plot are too schematic for such a seemingly high-caliber project, to the extent that, eventually, I knew it was high time for things to reach their inevitable, all-is-lost climactic peak, and such a moment arrived within seconds. Though dressed up beautifully (Odile Dicks-Mireaux's costume design, Paul Englishby's music, and John de Borman's cinematography – especially in Paris – are all exquisite), the path of the film is one we've all traveled before, and its tidy conclusion is très typical.

And still, it is a film I really enjoyed. Mulligan, who has rightfully earned a slew of Audrey Hepburn comparisons, is so splendid as Jenny, her presence alone is worth the price of multiple admissions. It's not often you see a breakthrough performance in which the actor is so utterly comfortable and confident on camera. And as Jenny learns from her adventures, the performance evolves as well. Mulligan seems to be growing with her character, and the best thing about this movie is that it invites us to watch her bloom. Scherfig also succeeds in conveying the seductiveness of David, his posh friends (Dominic Cooper and Rosamund Pike) and their lavish lifestyle, which is as beguiling to the audience as it is to Jenny.

Fulfilling the film's theme of “action is character,” Jenny's experiences make her a richer, better person. The experience of “An Education” isn't that powerful, but, more often than not, it comes close.
****
4 stars (out of 5)

"An Education" opens Nov. 23 at the Ritz Five in Philadelphia.

Star to Watch

2009-10-21T13:30:00.002-04:00

MO'NIQUE

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

Of all the performances I've seen this year, only one left me firmly convinced that it already has the Oscar in the bag. I'm talking about comedienne-turned-dramatic-actress Mo'Nique's devastating and much buzzed-about work in Philly native Lee Daniels' festival fave, "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire."

Perhaps burdened a bit by such relentless advance hype, "Precious" doesn't always come through in providing the emotional wallop it promises. But it's a unique and powerful film nonetheless, and, wow, does Mo'Nique deliver. As the unbelievably monstrous mother of the horribly abused title character, Mo'Nique is absolutely astounding. From her fierce verbal assault on her daughter in an early scene to her blubbering breakdown in the film's conclusion, hers is a performance of such power that it completely consumes you. When Mo'Nique is on screen, she is all you see and hear.

Never before has this well-known funny girl attempted such a role, making it all the more outstanding. There've been some rumors that there's a bit of bad blood between Mo'Nique and the filmmakers regarding some financial issues. It's my hope that such politics won't interfere with the actress' Oscar chances. Because, at this point, the 2009 Best Supporting Actress Academy Award is hers to lose, and she deserves it.

Here's a new trailer for "Precious," in theaters Nov. 6 :

DVD Spotlight: Oct. 15 - Oct. 21

2009-10-14T13:49:00.003-04:00

Brief capsules on recently released DVDs worth renting.

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

ADVENTURELAND

Dir. Greg Mottola
Starring Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Ryan Reynolds

In this down-to-earth, coming-of-age comedy, Mottola ("Superbad") draws fine performances from a hot, in-demand cast and authentically evokes 1980s adolescence. Set amidst the backdrop of a zany theme park, the film boasts a youthful accuracy and honesty -- as well as a killer soundtrack -- that's inspired well-deserved comparisons to "Dazed and Confused." The down side? It's only mildly funny.

SIN NOMBRE
Dir. Cary Joji Fukunaga
Starring Paulina Gaitan, Diana Garcia

Attempting to flee to America with her father and uncle, a young Latin American girl faces danger and emotional turmoil when she becomes involved with an on-the-run gang member. The story is absorbing and the photography is wonderfully atmospheric, with much of the action taking place on a moving train.

DRAG ME TO HELL

Dir. Sam Raimi

Starring Alison Lohman

Director Raimi returns to form with this thrill-a-second fun ride, a devilish blend of genuine scares, shocks and laughs. In the tradition of "Scream" and Raimi's own "Evil Dead" trilogy, it's a horror flick that delivers the goods but never takes itself too seriously. Lohman is dead-on as the cursed heroine.

Trailer Park

2009-10-07T15:42:00.001-04:00

Behold! Some of the newest trailers for some of the most noteworthy films in the pipe.

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life fim critic

DISNEY'S A CHRISTMAS CAROL
Director Robert Zemeckis returns to the performance capture animation style he employed in "The Polar Express" and "Beowulf" with this bold re-imagining of Charles Dickens' classic holiday tale. Attempting to silence the detractors of his previous performance capture efforts (namely critics who specifically commented on the characters appearing lifeless), Zemeckis has said that he and his team of effects wizards have refined the technology, which involves filming actors covered in motion-detecting sensors, and then digitally recreating everything from basic forms to facial expressions. Jim Carrey is the guy wearing the sensors this time out, portraying Scrooge as well as the three ghosts who visit him.

2012
Blockbuster kingpin Roland Emmerich ("Independence Day," "The Day After Tomorrow") is a hit-or-miss filmmaker. Usually miss. "Tomorrow" was ludicrous, as was Emmerich's last movie, "10,000 B.C." At this point, no moviegoer worth his or her salt enters this guy's films expecting a plausible, compelling storyline. But where Emmerich excels is in the area of special effects -- he always seems to be pushing the limits of visual pow and grandeur. His latest spectacle is "2012," another entry in the apocalypse genre inspired by the ancient Mayan prophecy that claims Earth will expire three years from now. Based on the look of this trailer, "2012" is primed to be Emmerich's most eye-popping picture to date.

A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET
This 2010 remake of Wes Craven's immortal 1984 slasher flick has Michael Bay as a producer, which doesn't exactly bode well in terms of quality. In fact, given the track record of recent horror movie recycle projects, there isn't much of anything here that shows a lot of promise. Except, that is, for the presence of Oscar nominee and comeback kid Jackie Earle Haley ("Little Children," "Watchmen"), who'll be stepping into Robert Englund's shoes as the notorious Freddie Krueger. Haley, who's created a bevy of interesting characters in the past few years, is reason enough to spark my interest in this otherwise (seemingly) uninteresting movie.

Star to Watch

2009-09-30T13:55:00.004-04:00

RICKY GERVAIS

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

Well known for his early work on the U.K. version of the television comedy, "The Office," and HBO's improv-driven series "Extras," funnyman Ricky Gervais has made an impressively smooth transition to the big screen. Last year, he lended his dry delivery and brash British wit to the amusing and disarming -- if not wholly successful -- comedy film "Ghost Town."

(More recently, Gervais made a memorable appearance at the Primetime Emmy Awards, where he characteristically insulted a handful of people while still remaining completely likable.)

This week marks the release of Gervais' directorial debut, "The Invention of Lying," another (somewhat) supernatural laugh-fest in which Gervais stars as a man who learns how to lie in a world where no one else can. Co-starring Jennifer Garner, Jonah Hill and Louis C.K., the movie reportedly has shades of religious controversy -- none of the characters have any knowledge of God -- that the studios strategically kept out of its promotional material (trailers, etc.).

I've not yet seen the film (which opens Oct. 2), but the faith aspect certainly makes it seem more intriguing, and it speaks of Gervais' much-appreciated willingness and ability to nudge the envelope in a mainstream climate that, too often, plays it safe.

You can catch my review of "Ghost Town" here, as well as watch the preview for "The Invention of Lying" below.

Art House Salad

2009-09-25T01:29:00.003-04:00

Dishing on the latest blend of alternative flicks being tossed around in limited release

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

STILL WALKING
Dir. Hirokazu Kore-eda
IFC Films. 114 min. Not rated.

“Still Walking,” the exceptionally intimate and solemn new film from Japanese minimalist Hirokazu Kore-eda (“Nobody Knows”), takes place almost entirely inside of a house – a hilltop cottage in Japan owned by an old couple with grown children. And in that house, the key location is the kitchen, where food is prepared and eaten by the matriarch and her family throughout the one day that makes up most of the movie's running time. Early on, as I watched the mother and her daughter peel carrots and salt soybeans before the other family members arrived, I realized that I'd never really seen Asian cooking in a domestic setting – or, at least, not with such prominence. The universality of food is what Kore-eda uses, not only to seduce the viewer, but to give his characters common ground. In its soft-spoken way, “Still Walking” is the Japanese answer to “Soul Food”: no matter what kind of bloodline drama is going down, everyone can at least agree that the corn bread – or, in this case, corn cake – tastes great.

Not that the drama is ever explicitly dramatic, and not at all that this movie is simply about sushi and tempura (though both traditional Japanese dishes are eaten – and, even more deliciously, discussed in depth – before the aforementioned day is out). The family has gathered for their annual commemoration of the death of Junpei, the eldest son who drowned 12 years ago while rescuing a neighborhood kid. The father (Yoshio Harada), a retired physician, is cantankerous and anti-social: while others gather in the kitchen, he retreats to his office or outdoors, and Kore-eda repeatedly makes the distance palpable by filming him from inside the home looking out. The mother (Kirin Kiki), however, seems chipper and content, for she is a woman who knows her role and knows when and how to conceal her pain. The surviving son, Ryota (Hiroshi Abe), is dreading the event: he doesn't get along with his father, who doesn't approve of Ryota's employment choices, or of his new wife, a widow with a little boy. There's also Ryota's sister, the most neutral member of the family who's sentimental, but takes things in stride.

As the movie progresses (which is a slow and steady process, to be sure), it becomes increasingly more interesting, as layers are peeled back and truths are revealed with a clever nonchalance. In a fine, unpredictable performance by Kiki, the mother, specifically, is fascinating: she is wholly devoted as a wife, yet she is not above indirectly airing out her husband's mistakes in the presence of guests. And her instincts and devotions as a mother – perhaps the most personal things a woman can have – are revealed to be quite fierce, indeed. Such is one of the better pleasures of “Still Walking”: you think you have all of these characters pegged, then some of them pull the rug out from under you. And there is the conveyance of a deep, believable understanding among these people. I'm having a hard time ignoring my thought that some of the dialogue and delivery was a touch contrived, but the characters certainly have the worn-in feel of family. The warmth of their relationships – even the one between Ryota and his father – enhances Kore-eda's tone, which I'll describe as comfortably claustrophobic. We are packed tightly in this home with these people and their troubles, and we rarely ever leave, but, eventually, we find that we don't want to.

Which may account for why the few departures from the house are so striking and vivid. The images of beaches, and trains, and roads, and buildings, and cemeteries are made remarkable because they're rare. (Also rare is composer Gonchichi's simple string soundtrack, which tends to be reserved for the outdoor portions.) Kore-eda manages to create a comfort zone so comfortable that even the sky feels new again when we exit. There's one scene set in a room with a large open window, through which we are given our first glimpse of the home's beautiful view from the hilltop. In that moment – which is early, long before the film nears its melancholic, but pretty, conclusion – a small part of me hoped that the camera would go out and explore what was beyond. But, then, dinner had not yet been served, and there was no way I was going to miss that.
***
4 stars (out of 5)

"Still Walking" is now playing at the Ritz at the Bourse in Philadelphia and is also available via Cable OnDemand.

DVD Spotlight: Sept. 24 - Sept. 30

2009-09-23T15:15:00.003-04:00

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

As I was discussing with a colleague just yesterday, newer doesn't necessarily mean better, and this is especially true in the world of cinema. However, within this blog, and within the "DVD Spotlight" feature, specifically, I do try to keep readers abreast of the latest films that are available to them on video. But finding worthwhile titles can be a bit of a challenge.

The words "NEW RELEASE" certainly look flashy above the Blockbuster rack -- until you pick up "Ghosts of Girlfriends Past," take it home, watch it, and then get that icky feeling of renter's remorse. "Ghosts of Girlfriends Past" was released on DVD this week; however, you surely won't find it recommended in this post. What you will find are some healthy, thought-provoking alternatives that qualify as both new and worthwhile... and I promise they won't leave you feeling icky.

LYMELIFE

Dir. Derick Martini
Starring Kieran Culkin, Alec Baldwin and Cynthia Nixon

In the vein of "American Beauty," this domestic dramedy about seedy truths simmering beneath the surface has the type of sly power that can make you wary of your neighbors. Set in a Long Island suburb in the 1970s, it combines familial angst with the paranoia of a Lyme disease outbreak, which may or may not explain some characters' strange behavior. The movie boasts period production design that oozes with authenticity, as well as fine performances from Culkin, his brother Rory, Timothy Hutton, and especially Julia Roberts' niece, Emma Roberts.

STATE OF PLAY
Dir. Kevin MacDonald
Starring Russel Crowe, Helen Mirren, Ben Affleck

Adapted from the highly-celebrated BBC miniseries, this involved, star-studded journalistic thriller contains too many layers and twists, but its affectionate nod to the newspaper biz is an interesting and enduring strength. Crowe plays an old school reporter put on the case of a congressman's murdered girlfriend, and he's teamed up with Rachel McAdams' plucky, new school blogger. The movie is perhaps the first since the economic downturn to pointedly address the changing state of news media. A subplot involving the reporter and the congressman's wife is nicely and delicately underplayed by Crowe and co-star Robin Wright Penn.

THE GIRLFRIEND EXPERIENCE
Dir. Steven Soderbergh
Starring Sasha Grey

Soderbergh's "The Informant!" is currently playing in theaters, but movie buffs shouldn't forget about the other title that the Oscar-winning filmmaker released in 2009: this risque' drama about a high-priced Manhattan prostitute (Grey) who offers more than just sex to her clients. A testament to Soderbergh's indefinable nature and continually experimental movie-making practices, "Girlfriend Experience" fascinates and features a surprisingly strong mainstream debut from porn star Grey.

Trailer Park

2009-09-16T15:08:00.003-04:00

Behold! Some of the newest trailers for some of the most noteworthy films in the pipe.

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

UP IN THE AIR
"Juno" director Jason Reitman's genre-defying new film, which stars George Clooney as a corporate axeman who spends most of his life on airplanes, has been gaining incredible buzz since pleasing crowds and critics at the Toronto Film Festival. The trailer, a series of scenes dubbed over with a throught-provoking monologue by Clooney's character, is highly intriguing and compounds what everyone seems to already be saying: "Up in the Air" is a must-see.

A SINGLE MAN
Renowned designer and entrepreneur Tom Ford has already left an indelible mark on the worlds of fashion and publishing. Now, with his first feature film, he's attempting to do the same in the similarly glitzy world of Hollywood. The preview for "A Single Man," Ford's erotic thriller starring Colin Firth and Julianne Moore, is beautifully put together, using only imagery and haunting music to tantalize viewers. The movie has already claimed two prizes at the Venice Film Festival (including a Best Actor trophy for Firth), and was recently picked up for distribution by The Weinstein Company. It's set to be released late in the year.

CAPITALISM: A LOVE STORY
Controversial documentarian Michael Moore returns with a movie that begs -- or, rather, demands -- the question: "where is all our money?" Pointedly addressing the current state of the economy and the reasons for its downturn, Moore continues to shakes things up in ways few other filmmakers dare. Brazenly topical, "Capitalism: A Love Story" has some people whispering: "Best Picture contender. "

Star to Watch

2009-09-09T14:33:00.003-04:00

MATT DAMON

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film crtic

When discussing a star of Matt Damon's stature, there's little need for an introduction, so I'll keep it brief. Since he and pal Ben Affleck nabbed an Oscar for their "Good Will Hunting" script in 1997, the boyish, yet commanding actor has ascended into the top tier of Hollywood's leading men. A renaissance performer, he's proven equally adept at portraying dramatic ("Syriana," "The Departed"), comedic ("Dogma," the "Ocean's" films) and heroic (the "Bourne" franchise) characters, and continues to work with some of the most acclaimed directors in the business.

2009 is a big year for Damon, who stars in two upcoming, highly-anticipated prestige pictures. The first, the fact-based dark comedy "The Informant!," reunites Damon with his "Ocean's" director, Steven Soderbergh. The film, which marks the sixth collaboration between director and star, is an adaptation of the 2000 non fiction book of the same name by journalist Kurt Eichenwald. It follows Mark Whitacre, an Ivy League Ph.D. who blows the whistle on a corrupt company and also suffers from bipolar disorder. Co-starring Melanie Lynskey, Scott Bakula and "The Soup" talk show host, Joel McHale, the movie -- which opens Sept. 18 -- is said to be fiercely funny and a showcase for Damon.

Later in the year (Dec. 11), Damon will appear opposite Morgan Freeman in "Invictus," director Clint Eastwood's much-heralded drama about Nelson Madela (Freeman) and his life during the 1995 Rugby world Cup in South Africa. Damon portrays South African team captain Francois Pienaar in the film, which is already gaining serious Oscar buzz. If both films perform as well as expected, Damon may find himself on the shortlists for both the Best Actor and Best Suppoting Actor categories.

DVD Spotlight: Sept. 3 - Sept. 9

2009-09-02T13:42:00.005-04:00

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

Take my word for it, reader: with the only major releases being "All About Steve," "Gamer," "Carriers" and Mike Judge's disposable "Extract," this is NOT a great week for cinema. Put your time and your would-be box-office cash to better use by catching up on these films, released earlier in the year and now available on DVD:

DUPLICITY

Dir. Tony Gilroy
Starring Julia Roberts, Clive Owen
PG-13

Writer/director Tony Gilroy follows his Oscar-nominated "Michael Clayton" with this clever and witty spy thriller, which incorporates comedy and romance and evokes the fast-talking films of yesteryear ("His Girl Friday" comes to mind). As they did in Mike Nichols' "Closer," Roberts and Owen have killer chemistry, and Paul Giamatti and Tom Wilkinson score as two feuding corporate heads.

EARTH
Dir. Alastair Fothergill
Narrated by James Earl Jones
G

Compiled from portions of the BBC's epic miniseries, "Planet Earth," this first feature from Disney's newly-formed subdivision Disney Nature certainly boasts some of the year's most breathtaking imagery, filling the screen with patterns and vistas from across the globe. The stories of three "families" -- polar bears, whales and elephants -- is a bit forced, trying hard to fulfill the narrative structure established in better movies like "March of the Penguins," but the cinematography alone makes for an enjoyable experience, showing certain corners of the world as they've rarely -- or, perhaps, never -- been seen before.

SUGAR
Dir. Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck
Starring Algenis Perez Soto, Rayniel Rufino
PG-13

Boden and Fleck, who already scored a home run with 2006's "Half Nelson" (the film that landed star Ryan Gosling a Best Actor Oscar nomination), return with this unconventional sports drama about a pitcher from the Dominican Republic who travels to the U.S. to play in the minor leagues. Employing themes of culture shock and familial responsibility, "Sugar" features strong performances from a batch of unknown actors and turns the familiar baseball-film formula on its head.

Art House Salad

2009-08-28T00:56:00.004-04:00

Dishing on the latest blend of alternative flicks being tossed around in limited release

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

COLD SOULS
Dir. Sophie Barthes
Samuel Goldwyn Films
101 min. PG-13

When Prozac and Zoloft just won't cut it, the chemically imbalanced (or simply unsatisfied) folks in first-time feature filmmaker Sophie Barthes' surrealist comedy “Cold Souls” turn to a company that offers them the ultimate cure: soul extraction, which, as described by the company's president, makes “everything more functional and purposeful.” Paul Giamatti, who plays himself in the film, lands in an emotionally crippling creative slump while rehearsing his role in a production of Chekhov's “Uncle Vanya.” After reading about said company in The New Yorker, the tormented actor elects to undergo said procedure, which involves lying inside a sleek device that looks like an MRI machine manufactured by Apple. Once removed, Giamatti's soul – much to his dismay – is revealed to be a dead ringer for a chick pea, and is placed in cold storage until further notice. Relieved of irksome human burdens like melancholy, remorse and self-doubt, Giamatti feels “hollow” and “lighter,” even though his famously average outward appearance looks droopier than ever.

It doesn't take long for complications to ensue. His droopiness is soon coupled with loopiness, and – much to his wife's and director's dismay – he begins to lose control of his inner monologue, among other things. Once he has the soul of a Russian poet implanted (the feed works both ways, and the business has a shady international market), he does nail his stage performance, but his chick pea winds up in St. Petersburg, transferred into the body of a talentless soap star who's husband dictates the Russian soul trade.

Giamatti – who really let himself go for the role, his facial hair so overgrown it seems to curl over his teeth – has a ball with the waggish self-parody, and once again captures the frustations of a poor schlub who's as real as any guy you'd pass on the street. When Barthes follows him (which is through about 90 percent of the movie), her handheld camera is loose and shaky – in sync with his precarious state of being. Her somber, gray palette, accented with fuzzy wisps of light, is a good match for the film's deadpan humor, and strongly conveys the adrift tone of Giamatti's literal soul search (especially when that search takes him to the appropriately gloomy landscapes of Russia).

Of course, Barthes' script owes much of its inspiration to Charlie Kaufman, whose similar “Being John Malkovich” and “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” were never far from my thoughts throughout “Cold Souls.” However, the cinema certainly has room for more quirky, existential explorers, and the ideas presented in this reasonably impressive debut suggest that Barthes is a talent to watch. Surprisingly, one of the areas in which her movie falls short is the development/treatment of the female characters. It's Giamatti's journey, yes, but the dynamite talents of Emily Watson are wasted in the thankless role of Giamatti's little-seen wife; and Dina Korzun, who's soul-trafficking Russian mule is without question the most interesting part of the story, is a little short-changed by a screenplay that doesn't care enough about her character.

The film isn't howlingly funny, but then, it doesn't mean to be. Its jokes are nicely understated, and the most unsubtle is a well-played sight gag of a salad covered in garbanzo beans. I enjoyed the tone, which is at once light and heavy. There's a fun yet tragic fascination to this odd little yarn. Still, I can't get past the feeling that it's a bit of trifle – a here today, gone tomorrow title. The company president, played with poker-faced precision by David Strathairn, says that he and his colleagues don't know if souls are immortal. I don't believe “Cold Souls” is, but here, today, I think of it fondly and recommend it especially to the chemically imbalanced.
***
3.5 stars (out of 5)

Trailer Park

2009-08-26T12:25:00.003-04:00

Behold! Some of the newest trailers for some of the most noteworthy films in the pipe.

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

AVATAR
Arguably the most widely-anticipated film of 2009, James Cameron's sci-fi epic "Avatar" is the director's first film since "Titanic," the highest-grossing blockbuster of all time. I have to be honest, this teaser, which debuted on Aug. 21 after much promotional hullabaloo, isn't as impressive as I had hoped. The motion-capture effects fail to amaze and the fiercely-, forcefully-edited action eclipses a clear storyline. But the environments look mighty intriguing, and I refuse to believe that such a prolific filmmaker would deliver something of poor quality. Don't let me down, Mr. Cameron.

THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE
You've seen "The Devil Wears Prada." Now, with unprecedented access, acclaimed documentarian R.J. Cutler immerses you in the professional lives of the real people who loosely inspired the Meryl Streep comedy, following Vogue editor Anna Wintour and her devoted team as they produce the massive Sept. 2007 issue of the fashion bible. Having already seen the film (twice, in fact), I can tell you that it's well worth the ticket price. Fun, flirty and fascinating, it boasts the attributes of both a couture cocktail dress and an avant-garde gown. (And you thought I only knew about movies.)

INCEPTION
Not much to report here, since the teaser for writer/director Christopher Nolan's "Dark Knight" follow-up is carefully, wonderfully mysterious. Here's what we know: Leonardo DiCaprio stars in the sci-fi thriller, which Warner Bros. execs describe as "a contemporary actioner set in the architecture of the mind." You'll have to just chew on that for a while. A long while, actually -- the movie won't be released until the summer of 2010.

Star to Watch

2009-08-19T13:08:00.003-04:00

SHARLTO COPLEY

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

"District 9," one of the few 2009 titles to receive a five-star rating from yours truly, has only one famous name attached to it: Peter Jackson, who produced the sci-fi stunner after his adaptation of the video game "Halo" was shelved by studio backers Fox and Universal. The other two earthlings with key roles in the project are unknowns: writer/director Neill Blomkamp and lead star Sharlto Copley, who all but carries the film on his increasingly scaly back.

A lifelong friend of Blomkamp's, Copley hails from South Africa, the sun-drenched locale in which "District 9" takes place. His background includes the direction of short films and music videos, talent agency management, and some improvisational performing. The inexperienced but inherently gifted actor landed the part of dimwitted bureacrat Wikus van de Merwe after wowing his director/pal in a test footage audition. Now his face is gracing the cover of magazines and both his and his character's tongue-twister names have become parts of the moviegoing public's vocabulary.

Copley deserves the attention he's receiving. His performance as Wikus has everything that this radical yet incredibly realistic movie needs: strength, subtlety, humor and heart. It's not necessarily the kind of work that wins Oscars (since that's not necessarily what "District 9" is about), but it is indeed a star-making turn. Sympathetic and ultimately heroic but certainly not without flaws, Wikus is the only human character with whom the audience can connect -- a tall order that Copley skillfully and successfully tackles.

Blomkamp has expressed an interest in pursuing a "District 9" sequel, and depending on the way the story develops, Copley may also be back for a second go-round. Aside from that, the buzzworthy 35-year-old doesn't seem to be attached to any other upcoming projects. Having recently wrapped his first film's promotional tour, he's presumably quite busy reveling in his newfound notoriety -- and taking a lot of phone calls.

DVD Spotlight: Aug. 13 - Aug. 19

2009-08-12T15:17:00.002-04:00

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

Since summer cinema is much more about theatrical blockbusters than home video hits, the selection of new DVD releases in the months of July and August isn't so hot. I've already dished on "Watchmen," "Coraline" and "Two Lovers," which all but covers the bases in terms of recent, recommended DVD titles. But, fear not, reader. I've managed to dig up three more newly available films to help you pass the time while beating the heat in your air-conditioned living room.

THE CLASS
Dir. Laurent Cantet
2008, 128 min.
Winner of the coveted Palme d'Or at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival and nominated for the 2008 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, "The Class," a French flick written by and starring Francois Begaudeau, dramatizes Begaudeau's real-life experiences as a literature teacher in inner-city Paris. Though I've not yet seen this movie, its reputation precedes it: I've essentially heard nothing but glowing acclaim. The most common adjective used to describe it? "Inspiring."

SURVEILLANCE
Dir. Jennifer Lynch
2009, 98 min.
"Surveillance," directed by eccentric wizard David Lynch's daughter, Jennifer, is funny enough to keep you giggling and, ultimately, disturbing enough to keep you up nights. Though not for everyone, this creepy little thriller is surprisingly unique, twisting in ways you don't expect and starring a motley crew of actors that, somewhow, create a rather strong ensemble (Bill Pullman, Julia Ormond and French Stewart are among the unlikely co-stars).

I LOVE YOU, MAN
Dir. John Hamburg
2009, 105 min.
In this silly-smart bromance, Paul Rudd and Jason Segel star as a groom-to-be and his best man-for-hire, respectively. A gigglefest from a handful of guys who've recently rose to superstardom courtesy of Judd Apatow, "I Love You, Man" co-stars Rashida Jones, Jaime Pressly, Andy Samberg and J.K. Simmons. Astutely funny, it doesn't disappoint.

Trailer Park

2009-08-05T13:16:00.003-04:00

Behold! Some of the newest trailers for some of the most exciting films in the pipe.

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

TRON: LEGACY
Twenty-seven years after the first "Tron" film (which has since become a cult classic of modern science fiction), Disney is unveiling the second chapter of the high-tech tale about gladiatorial-like games set in an electronic world. First shown at Comic-Con in San Diego, this thrilling teaser plays like a movie in itself. If you have headphones, do use them so you can fully appreciate the exquisite sound design. And keep an eye out for "Tron: Legacy" when it hits theaters in 2010.

ALICE IN WONDERLAND
Highly publicized, though not arriving in theaters until March of next year, director Tim Burton's twisted take on the immortal Lewis Caroll story reunites him with muse Johnny Depp, and co-stars Helena Bonham Carter (Burton's real life squeeze), Anne Hathaway, and relative newcomer Mia Wasikowska as Alice. Featuring live action, stop-motion animation and motion capture effects, Burton's "Alice" should, at the very least, be one delicious feast for the eyes.

THE LOVELY BONES
Alice Sebold's best-selling first novel, "The Lovely Bones," didn't exactly grip me (too much fluffy, soccer mom-friendly domestic B.S.), but the film version, scheduled for release this December, is directed by Peter Jackson -- the imaginative mastermind behind "The Lord of the Rings." Therefore, I am incredibly interested. This hot-out-of-the-cutting-room first trailer isn't great, but neither are most previews for major releases. Just drink in the aesthetics: period production design, handsome cinematography, intriguing visual effects. Mr. Jackson knows how to put on one helluva show.

Star to Watch

2009-07-29T11:03:00.006-04:00

CAREY MULLIGAN

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

Twenty four-year-old British actress Carey Mulligan's resume is a quick read. The year of her earliest film credit is 2005, when she appeared opposite Keira Knightley in director Joe Wright's treatment of Jane Austen's "Pride & Prejudice." That same year, she also starred in the BBC's award-winning production of Charles Dickens' "Bleak House." Her only notable work of late is a bit part in Michael Mann's "Public Enemies." It's safe to assume that if you were to pass this innocent-looking brunette on the street, thoughts of "OMG, that's her!" wouldn't even cross your mind.

That is, until "An Education," an intelligent coming-of-age drama in which Mulligan portrays a free-thinking teen in love with an older man, opens October 9. At this point, Mulligan, resume be damned, is the front-runner for this year's Best Actress Academy Award. Since "An Education" made its debut at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival, bloggers, journalists and awards pundits have been abuzz about the young Brit's Oscar chances. No need for me to keep on babbling, watch this girl in action for yourself. She's the real deal and she may just be the next big thing.

Trailer for "An Education":

DVD Spotlight - Cinema Classics Edition

2009-07-22T13:36:00.004-04:00

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

For this week's edition of DVD Spotlight, we're turning back the clock and taking a look at some beloved, time-tested silver screen classics. A biting comedy, a bubbly romance and an epic Western, each of these titles has carved a place in Hollywood history, and each is well worth your time.

ALL ABOUT EVE
Dir. Joseph L. Mankiewicz

1950

One of my personal favorites, "All About Eve" still feels fresh after over five decades of subsequent screen dramedies. Virtually unmatched in wit and acidic humor, this scathing meditation on Broadway starlets and their fight for fame is as culturally relevant as it is blisteringly funny. Great supporting cast includes Anne Baxter, Celeste Holm and George Sanders, but the indisputable "stahh" is Ms. Bette Davis, who gives her finest performance.

MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS
Dir. Vincente Minnelli
1944

Perfect for summer, this breezy and colorful down-home romance has the joyful uplift of a spirited ferris wheel ride. Leading up to the arrival of the World's Fair in the titular town in 1904, Minnelli's tale of three sisters is like a Jane Austen novel adapted for the American South. Star Judy Garland -- who wed her director -- glows in a truly radiant performance, never more so than when singing "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" in one of the film's most memorable scenes.

STAGECOACH
Dir. John Ford
1939

Arguably the best movie to star All-American cowboy John Wayne, John Ford's picturesque Western is a revolutionary title of the genre, featuring inventive action cinematography that was well ahead of its time. The scenario at play -- a handful of diverse characters forced to band together under tight, tumultuous circumstances -- undoubtedly influenced the premises of countless titles that followed, from Hitchcock's "Lifeboat" to "Speed." Shot under the blazing sun along the Arizona-Utah border, it's another warm-weather-appropriate flick.

Trailer Park

2009-07-15T13:41:00.004-04:00

Behold! Some of the newest trailers for some of the most exciting films in the pipe.

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

JENNIFER'S BODY
Megan Fox ("Transformers") plays a high school cheerleader from hell in Oscar-winning screenwriter Diablo Cody's teenage horror-comedy. Amanda Seyfried ("Mamma Mia!") co-stars as Fox's character's good-hearted BFF. I'm curious, but undoubtedly less curious than the legion of testosterone-pumped fellas who can't wait to see a bit more of Fox's "body" on the big screen.

BIG FAN
Stocky comedian Patton Oswalt reportedly gives a winning performance in this indie drama about a parking garage attendant whose obsession with the New York Giants leads to severe, life-changing events. A festival favorite, this sports-movie-with-a-twist may just become a sleeper hit.

THE LAST AIRBENDER
After a string of disappointments, Philly-born filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan is finally adapting someone else's material instead of forcing us to withstand another self-serving trifle born from his increasingly uninspired mind. This time out, Shyamalan is adding his strong visual talents to a story that originated as an animated Manga series on Nickelodeon. Here's hoping this change of pace breaks Shyamalan's losing streak.

Art House Salad

2009-07-10T17:24:00.004-04:00

Dishing on the latest blend of alternative flicks being tossed around in limited release
By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

HUMPDAY
Dir. Lynn Shelton
Magnolia Pictures
94 min. R

At the “Humpday” screening I attended, writer/director Lynn Shelton (“My Effortless Brilliance”) appeared for a post-film Q and A. One audience member asked her if her latest feature – a made-on-a-dime indie comedy about a pair of straight buddies who decide to have sex on camera – was a low-budget, artistic response to the recent influx of Hollywood bromances. Shelton replied that the timing was purely coincidental. She wasn't just trying to preserve her street cred. “Humpday” is not a film that's out to follow trends, but one that attempts to carve out something fresh and honest. It mostly succeeds.

The beauty of the movie is that it never condescends to the lowbrow level of something like “I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry.” In fact, I think I only heard the word “gay” uttered once in its entire duration. A loose behavioral study, it's more interested in humanity than humor, and yet, it certainly isn't short on laughs. It pins its focus on the longtime friendship of Ben (Mark Duplass of “The Puffy Chair”) and Andrew (Joshua Leonard of “The Blair Witch Project”), two guy's guys who headed in drastically different directions after college. Ben's now married to Anna (unknown actress Alycia Delmore), and leading a seemingly peachy domestic life in Seattle. Andrew's a drifting artist who's been searching for his soul from Chiapas to Cambodia. When Andrew comes knocking on Ben's door in the wee hours of the night, a hug-filled reunion leads to substance-filled hippie party, which in turn leads to the spontaneous idea of submitting a film to a local, amateur porn festival – a film that would feature Ben and Andrew doing the nasty...with each other.

Shelton – who also appears in her movie as a swinging bohemian – said she shot the film in just 10 days and wrote the script as a rough outline, allowing the actors to fill in the dialogue. Though it feels inarguably organic, the result is a mixed bag of authentic and inauthentic scenes: some seem fly-on-the-wall real, while others seem staged. Specifically, the exchanges between Ben and Anna, while never prototypical, ring a bit false because the actors – especially Delmore – fail to fully sell the relationship. And many of the point-exhausting conversations between Ben and Andrew reach a level of tedium, causing you to question Shelton's editorial eye (i.e., know when to say “cut”). Conversely, though, there are some profound and wonderfully truthful moments of revelation that expose the strengths and weaknesses of each character. It is in these moments that we're given the plausible motives we need to accept these people's actions as sincere.

Leonard, an actor who's all but mastered the art of improvisational realism, is the standout – there's never a second we don't believe his Andrew is flesh and blood. Duplass – who, with a big handful of small films, has established a niche for himself in the indie market – nearly matches his co-star, but at times comes off as though he's acting instead of reacting, like he's got the low-budget leading man role rehearsed. The high point for both leads and for Shelton is the big finish – the final scene in which we discover whether or not the two bros will follow through with their radical scheme. The actors and the director hold the audience in a hilarious, anticipatory state of “will they or won't they” tension, and they end the film on a warm note that, in many ways, encapsulates the entire project. Despite its flaws, this is a surprisingly commendable and respectable movie, one that finds an unusual and entertaining way to evaluate modern male relationships. The fact that it was made by a woman is not only interesting, but kind of amazing.
3.5 stars (out of 5)
--

THE STONING OF SOROYA M.
Dir. Cyrus Nowrasteh
Roadside Attractions
116 min. R

It's ironic that one of the stars of “The Stoning of Soroya M.” is Jim Caviezel, the actor who so famously took great pains to portray Jesus in 2004's “The Passion of the Christ.” Why? Because this deeply devastating, fact-based drama features the most vividly brutal scenes of primitive, ritualistic capital punishment since Mel Gibson's controversial epic. Caviezel plays Freidoune Sahebjam, the French-Iranian journalist whose 1994 non-fiction book inspired the film. Set in 1986 in the small, sun-soaked Iranian village of Kupayeh, “Stoning” opens with Sahebjam's car breaking down. The writer pays the town's mechanic to fix his vehicle and, in the interim, he meets Zahra (an excellent-as-usual Shoreh Aghdashloo), a clearly distraught local woman with an incredible story to tell. Concealed within the walls of her hilltop villa, Zahra asks Sahebjam to tape-record her first-hand account of a horrific event that took place just a day before: the unbelievable and unjust public stoning of her niece, Soroya (Mozhan Marnò of “Traitor”). The movie then proceeds in flashback, and leads to one of the most shocking climaxes of this or any year.

That “Stoning” achieves such a primal suspense is a testament to director Cyrus Nowrasteh's craft. After all, all one needs is the title to know where things are headed. But the film is mounted with great skill and efficiency, drawing us into Soroya's life while breathlessly advancing the plot. We learn that Soroya, a young mother of four, was a pitiful victim of domestic abuse – the wife of a truly evil man who wanted her out of the picture so he could pursue a relationship with his 14-year-old (!) mistress. As the story goes, the husband, Ali (an appropriately frightening Navid Negahban), found a way to accuse Soroya of adultery, an offense that, in that culture, was – and, apparently, still is – punishable by death. Sparking rumors that quickly fanned out like a brush fire, Ali managed to convince the mayor, the townspeople, even Soroya's sons and father (!!), that his wife was guilty of a crime she didn't commit. Only Zahra – who's shown to have considerable clout given her age and history with the town's mafia-like leaders – stood by the accused; however, it wasn't enough to sway opinions, since Zahra, like Soroya, is still just a woman.

Nowrasteh deserves praise for creating a film with such a strong feminine perspective. Watching “Stoning,” we not only sympathize with Soroya, but with every woman trapped within the tyrannical, male-dominated customs of Islam. “The voices of women do not matter here,” Zahra tells Sahebjam. “I want you to take my voice with you.” Nowrasteh gives those restrictions an infuriating, even asphyxiating palpability. He backs you into the hopeless corner that countless Middle Eastern women know all too well. He depicts young boys being trained from the get-go to harbor contempt for women (in one of the many horrors of the film's final act, it is the boys who happily gather the stones that will bring about Soroya's end). The aching desperation of Marnò's performance makes us feel for her character. The broad-minded sensibilities of Nowrasteh's approach make us feel for an entire demographic.

If there's fault to be found, it's with Nowrasteh's overly emphatic finishing touches. He gets a little heavy with the visual metaphors, particularly in how he presents Soroya as a fallen angel of fairy princess-type innocence (we could have gathered that ourselves without the birds, flowery fields and gleaming white burial gown). And the tacked-on, post-execution ending contains melodrama that's way too Hollywood for something so painfully real. Still, by the time these elements register as flaws, the gut-wrenching impact of the film has already sent your jaw to the floor. Nothing can prepare you for what Nowrasteh is willing to show. I suppose there's a question of taste to be considered for just how much carnage is put on display, but “Stoning” means to astonish you and does. Though it becomes increasingly difficult to watch, it is a movie you will never forget.
4 stars (out of 5)

Star to Watch

2009-07-08T12:43:00.002-04:00

JEREMY RENNER

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

Before this year, 38-year-old Jeremy Renner's most noteworthy performance was his Independent Spirit Award-nominated turn as the titular flesh-eater in 2003's low budget and little-seen "Dahmer." You might also remember him as the resident sleazeball in the down-home drama "North Country," or as the unkempt cowboy Wood Hite in the "Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford." By the end of 2009, however, chances are you'll know him well as Staff Sergeant William James, the straight-shooting soldier he portrays in director Kathryn Bigelow's widely-lauded Iraq war drama, "The Hurt Locker."

Renner as Sgt. James is one of the few '09 performances to already be building some serious Oscar buzz. The American actor is reportedly revelatory in the role, which has him defusing bombs amidst the chaos of battle while coping with the emotional conflicts of war. The film -- written by freelance writer Mark Boal, who spent a great deal of time overseas with an actual bomb squad -- is one of the best reviewed of the year, and it's the first title in the recent wave of War-On-Terror movies to receive nearly unanimous acclaim.

Renner has also been appearing as one of the lead characters on the ABC series "The Unusuals," a comedy/drama that follows a group of New York detectives as they attempt to solve some unconventional cases. Though the show was well-received, ABC announced in May that it would not be returning for a second season. Still, the multi-format exposure can't hurt Renner's career, which, after years of stage work and supporting roles, may finally be hitting the fast track it deserves.

"The Hurt Locker" is currently playing in limited release. It opens July 10 at Philadelphia's Ritz Five theater.

DVD Spotlight (July 1 - July 8)

2009-07-01T11:21:00.006-04:00

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

Three of the best films of the year thus far are now arriving on DVD, and since the biggest movie in theatrical release -- "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" -- is a major bust, it's better to hang in and experience something of quality. These titles couldn't be more different -- an animated fantasy, a gritty comic book picture, a moody romantic drama -- but what they have in common is the foundational element of engaging cinema: great storytelling.

CORALINE
Dir. Henry Selick
Starring the voices of Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher
101 min. PG

Based on the book by Neil Gaiman, "Coraline" is a visionary fantasy film from Henry Selick, the director of "The Nightmare Before Christmas." Created in Selick's signature, painstaking style of stop-motion animation, the movie took years to complete, and the result is wondrous. Eye-popping and imaginative, "Coraline" -- about a young girl who enters an alternate, dream-like version of her own world -- is at once kid- and adult-friendly. (Available July 21)

WATCHMEN
Dir. Zack Snyder
Starring Patrick Wilson, Jackie Earle Haley, Malin Akerman and Jeffrey Dean Morgan
163 min. R

Though overly long, "Watchmen," the highly anticipated adaptation of the groundbreaking graphic novel, is a slick, beautiful and bad-ass bit of cinema. It marries the post-"Matrix" stylistics of films like "Wanted" and "V for Vendetta" with the unflinching worldview of pics like "The Dark Knight" to become one of the best comic book films ever made. "Who watches the Watchmen?" the film's tagline asks. I say, you should. (Available July 21)

TWO LOVERS
Dir. James Gray
Starring Joaquin Phoenix, Gwyneth Paltrow, Vinessa Shaw and Isabella Rossellini
110 min. R

Shades of Joaquin Phoenix's recent bizarre behavior spill into his lead performance in this love-triangle drama, and for that director James Gray should be most thankful. As man-child Leonard, Phoenix is loose, lively, unpredictable and fearlessly unbound. He's supported by an almost gleaming Gwyneth Paltrow and a wonderfully subtle Vinessa Shaw (an underrated actress who doesn't work enough). The story is smart, the character development is strong and the film entire is suck-you-in good. (Now available)

Trailer Park

2009-06-24T12:51:00.007-04:00

Behold! Some of the newest trailers for some of the most exciting films in the pipe.

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

THE TIME TRAVELER'S WIFE
There are some serious problems with this preview. In roughly three minutes, it seems to reveal the entire plot of director Robert Schwentke's treatment of Audrey Niffenegger's 2003 romantic novel (about a woman who has the perfect husband, aside from the fact that he vanishes into alternate eras at the drop of a hat). Such a show-it-all approach will have many viewers thinking, "why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free?", but I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to see what the lovely Rachel McAdams does with her role.

SHUTTER ISLAND
No gangsters. No aviators. This time out, Marty Scorsese and his new muse, Leo DiCaprio, go for primal fear with this creepy, beautiful-looking screen translation of the 2003 novel by Dennis Lehane ("Mystic River"). DiCaprio stars as a federal marshal investigating an escaped inmate case at a secluded insane asylum. The dynamite supporting cast includes Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Patricia Clarkson, Michelle Williams, Max Von Sydow and Emily Mortimer.

DISTRICT 9
From executive producer Peter Jackson ("The Lord of the Rings" trilogy) comes this chilling, documentary-like science fiction thriller about an alien race living as refugees on Earth. Set in South Africa, the movie is the feature debut of director Neil Blomkamp, who expands his own short. The cast is comprised primarily of unknowns, facilitating the true-to-life tone. The trailer exhibits great promise, suggesting a scary, smart and subtle entry in a genre that's too often bang-you-on-the-head predictable.

Star to Watch

2009-06-17T11:10:00.003-04:00

MEGAN FOX

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

I chose this week's Star to Watch subject with a lot of hesitation. After all, what is Megan Fox but a sexy pin-up and a hot-button media target? She certainly hasn't done anything in her brief acting career to warrant the massive amount of attention she's receiving. But then I submitted: If everyone else is talking about this outspoken wild child, why shouldn't I?

The photo above is from Michael Bay's first "Transformers" film -- the movie that made Megan a mega-star. It's the only picture I'm including in this post because said blockbuster is basically the only noteworthy credit for the "actress" prior to "Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen," which arrives in theaters June 24. (She did appear in last year's "How to Lose Friends and Alienate People," but nobody saw that, so let's leave it out.)

What Megan is more known for are her scantily-clad Maxim covers and her scathingly candid interviews, wherein she's quick to talk about everything from the pedophilic undertones of "High School Musical" to her disdain for the use of 10-dollar words by peers like Scarlett Johansson. Megan is a prime example of the weightlessness of modern mainstream consumer culture: she's hot, she's controversial and she's hurled herself into the public eye, therefore she's interesting. The fact that she's been in a few movies is secondary.

One of Megan's more redemptive qualities is that she seems fully aware of the absurdity of her fame. In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, she remarked that she doesn't believe she's done enough professionally to earn her celestial level of stardom. I've got to give the girl some credit: she took the words right out of my mouth.

No one expects anything Oscar-worthy to come from Megan in the "Transformers" sequel, and only time will tell if she's truly to be taken seriously as an actress. For now, though, we'll take the uncensored Q & As and the smoking photos. Because, like it or not, Megan Fox is a star to watch.

DVD Spotlight (June 11 - June 17)

2009-06-10T16:04:00.007-04:00

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

Not in the mood for a "Hangover"? Fed up with "Up"? Thinking, to hell with "Drag Me to Hell"? First of all, shame on you. We're actually knee-deep in a surprisingly good summer season, give or take a few lousy Wolverines and Terminators. But, if you must stay in, cozy up with these noteworthy films, now available on DVD.

REVOLUTIONARY ROAD
Dir. Sam Mendes
Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Michael Shannon
119 min. R

One of the finest films of 2008, "Revolutionary Road" reunites everyone's favorite "Titanic" couple, although this time it's the insults, not the sparks, that go flying. Searingly written, painstakingly directed and brilliantly played by both lead actors, this watch-and-watch-again adaptation of Richard Yates's 1950s suburbia-as-hell novel is a must for drama fans.

THE READER
Dir. Stephen Daldry
Starring Kate Winslet, Ralph Fiennes, David Kross
123 min. R

Though "The Reader" surely isn't one of my favorites (the seen-it-before melodrama is as sticky as the May-December sex scenes), it'd be in poor taste to not acknowledge the film that finally landed Ms. Winslet an Oscar. The actress' challenging, fascinating performance is reason enough to catch this otherwise average, Nazi-themed Best Picture nominee (the cinematography from Chris Menges and the peerless Roger Deakins doesn't hurt, either).

GRAN TORINO
Dir. Clint Eastwood
Starring Clint Eastwood, Geraldine Hughes, Bee Vang
116 min. R

While it was the biggest box-office hit of Clint Eastwood's career, this racially-charged drama was entirely ignored by the Academy. Don't you do the same. Directed by and starring Eastwood, "Gran Torino" is surprisingly powerful, and sees the Hollywood heavyweight in top form in what's rumored to be his last on-screen role.

Art House Salad

2009-06-03T22:14:00.005-04:00

Dishing on the latest blend of alternative flicks being tossed around in limited release

By R. Kurt Osenlund
film critic and correspondent

SUMMER HOURS
Dir. Olivier Assayas
IFC Films

103 min. NR

There used to be a family-owned restaurant and ice cream shop about three miles from my childhood home. Passed down through generations, it had long been a local landmark by the time I was old enough to pay my first visit. But a few years ago, the newest generation decided that they couldn't be bothered with the business, and sold it off to some developers who have since turned it into a strip mall.

A similar scenario is explored in “Summer Hours,” the quietly involving new drama from writer/director Olivier Assayas (“Clean,” “Demonlover”). When Hélène, a 75-year-old French heiress and art enthusiast, dies, her three grown children – Adrienne, a New York designer played by Juliette Binoche; Jérémie, a running shoe exec working out of China, played by Jérémie Renier; and Frédéric, an economist and professor and the only sibling left in France, played by Charles Berling – must decide what to do with all that she's left behind, including her memory-filled, garden-covered estate and the marvelous collection of art and antiques inside of it.

Hélène knew her end was near. In the film's beautifully bittersweet opening act (a tone that's echoed in its final scenes), she prophecizes her demise during the family's annual summer reunion, frantically informing Frédéric (the eldest sibling) of what she hopes will become of all her belongings. It's a sort of verbal last will and testament that the son respectfully regards as unnecessary. But roughly a year later, Hélène is indeed gone, and the aftermath is as she feared, albeit suspected: Adrienne and Jérémie have little interest in the house or the treasures, while Frédéric suffers silent anguish, knowing the fate of the family's heirlooms isn't in synch with his late mother's wishes.

“Summer Hours” slyly and naturally draws you into its story. Aside from prolific D.P. Eric Gautier's vibrant visuals (the picturesque family property and Binoche's crayon-box wardrobe really pop), the movie is very subdued; its appeal lies in the nuances of the narrative, the believable character dynamics (the whole cast is sublime), and the uncommon amount of attention paid to the pieces in Hélène's stunning collection (much of which came from an artist uncle who also hands down some whispered-at intrigue). I don't recall ever seeing a film with such a boundless love for antiques, or one that gives said objects such fascinating significance. The approach adds a sentimental profundity to the decisions made by the siblings, who, of course, discover some things about themselves and each other in the process.

Watching this film, I kept thinking about that eatery/ice cream shop, and just how much – if at all – the kids who sold it off have disappointed their Hélène. Are they pleased with their decisions? Do they have regrets? Are they designer and shoe exec-types too busy to care about sentimentality? And when they made said decisions, did they double-back on their pasts and reassess themselves and one another? Questions like these are ones that Assayas eloquently answers, making “Summer Hours” a sumptuous treat amidst a noisy summer season. 4.5 stars (out of 5).

Trailer Park: Critic's Most Wanted

2009-05-20T17:00:00.003-04:00

Check out these just-released trailers for some of my most anticipated 2009 films.

By R. Kurt Osenlund, film critic and correspondent

TAKING WOODSTOCK
Dir. Ang Lee
Starring Emile Hirsch, Liev Schreiber, Imelda Staunton, Demetry Martin and Eugene Levy.
August 14

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE
Dir. Spike Jonze
Starring Catherine Keener, James Gandolfini, Forest Whitaker, Mark Ruffalo and Max Records.
October 16

THE ROAD
Dir. John Hillcoat
Starring Viggo Mortensen, Jodi Smit-McPhee and Charlize Theron
October 16

PRECIOUS
Dir. Lee Daniels
Starring Mo'Nique, Lenny Kravitz, Mariah Carey and Gaboure Sidibe
November 6

NINE
Dir. Rob Marshall
Starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Nicole Kidman, Penelope Cruz, Marion Cotillard, Judi Dench, Sophia Loren, Kate Hudson and Sarah "Fergie" Ferguson.
November 25

SHERLOCK HOLMES
Dir. Guy Ritchie
Starring Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law and Rachel McAdams
December 25

*BONUS: Sigourney Weaver talks "Avatar"
Listen to the actress discuss her role in "Avatar," James Cameron's top-secret, long-awaited feature follow-up to "Titanic." (December 25)

*Read more about these films in the May 28 issue of The Good Life.

Star to Watch

2009-05-14T00:59:00.003-04:00

ZACHARY QUINTO

By R. Kurt Osenlund, film critic and correspondent

If you haven't seen "Star Trek," J.J. Abrams's action-packed reboot of Gene Roddenberry's classic franchise, not only are you missing out on what may just be the movie of the summer, but you're also a stranger to one of 2009's most inspired performances thus far. Zachary Quinto, a 31-year-old TV star who was practically unknown a few years ago, was chosen for the role of the virtuous Vulcan Spock because he bears an uncanny resemblance to a young Leonard Nimoy. But watching him in action, all strong focus and and calculated control, the fortunate likeness almost immediately takes the back burner. What roars to the forefront is an immensely entertaining and intelligent star turn, one that all but confirms a long and bright future for this dynamic and dedicated actor.

Before he was donning prosthetic pointy ears and northward-darting fake eyebrows, Quinto was already winning fans as the villainous Sylar on NBC's hit drama "Heroes." The role earned him critical acclaim (and a TV Land award that he shared with his fellow cast members), but perhaps the greatest benefit Quinto's "Heroes" work reaped was a "Star Trek" casting call, wherein Abrams says that the dark-haired, dark-eyed performer simply "was" the iconic character.

Such a claim certainly registers on the screen. Quinto delivers Spock's famously intricate, geek-scientific discourse with thrilling articulation, taking ownership of every word gifted to him by savvy screenwriters Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman. The other actors in the film -- Chris Pine, Zoe Saldana and, rather surprisingly, "Lord of the Rings" star Karl Urban -- also aim high and score big with their performances, but Quinto is a show-stealer. He puts his own permanent stamp on Spock and makes you yearn for his return every time he leaves a scene. You can't take your eyes off this guy, and since work this good is bound to steadily increase his visibility, soon, you truly won't be able to.

Art House Salad

2009-05-12T19:50:00.011-04:00

Dishing on the latest blend of alternative flicks being tossed around in limited release

By R. Kurt Osenlund
Film critic and correspondent

IN A DREAM

Dir. Jeremiah Zagar
HBO Documentary Films

80 min. NR

Jeremiah Zagar's "In a Dream" incorporates fanciful footage of South Philadelphia, talking-head confessionals, vintage photography, hundreds of original drawings and paintings and whimsical animation to tell the life/love story of the director's father, renowned Philadelphia mosaic muralist Isaiah Zagar, and mother, Julia Zagar. Exposing the high times and hardships of the artist (Isaiah reveals a dark history of mental illness), the couple (Jeremiah opts to document his parents' painful separation) and their family (Jeremiah's in-recovery brother, Ezekiel, also appears), the film isn't so much a family portrait, as many will call it, but a whole scrapbook of mixed media, new and old.

Jeremiah, who also co-edited, is a masterful manipulator of his medium of choice. Like his father but with a greater degree of control, he favors bold, vibrant colors and takes advantage of interesting architectural spaces. His curious cameras, deftly handled by cinematographers Erik Messerschmidt and Mark Stetz, are constantly moving through space, scanning Isaiah's indoor and outdoor creations with an affectionate, even loving gaze.
"Don't just give them eye candy," Isaiah says at one point in the movie, "give them something else to chew on." Jeremiah gives us something else, alright -- too much, perhaps. Just as Isaiah often straddles the line between fascinating eccentric visionary and plain-old weirdo (attempted self-castration in psych ward? Compelling! Handling feces and contemplating its beauty? Not!), Jeremiah continuously dances on the border of exploitation territory, showing us deeply personal moments we don't feel entitled to see. The director's daring to ask the tough questions is commendable, but it sometimes registers as an invasion of privacy for the sake of drama.
When the murals and their hard-at-work maker are are at center screen, though, one art form beautifully melds with another, and the divine synthesis frequently makes us feel as though we are -- you got it -- in a dream.
4 stars (out of 5).

GOODBYE SOLO
Dir. Ramin Bahrani
Roadside Attractions
91 min. NR

Ramin Bahrani, that 34-year-old minimalist who won the hearts of critics with his dressed-down features "Man Push Cart" (2005) and "Chop Shop" (2007), proves himself a consistently skillful American auteur with "Goodbye Solo," a surprisingly unique friendship tale that exudes a great deal of power without the slightest hint of force.
It's rather astonishing that Souleymane Sy Savane, the actor from Africa's Ivory Coast who plays the sanguine Winston-Salem, N.C. cabbie Solo, has no previous film credits. In a performance of equal parts subtlety and vitality, Savane fleshes out a cheer-worthy modern protagonist who seems more heroic amidst his daily tasks than many Superheroes do whilst saving the world. Solo is the very antithesis of William, the crotchety white fare who pays his driver $1,000 to take him to a windy mountaintop for undisclosed reasons. William is portrayed without pretense by Red West, a weather-worn veteran with plenty of film credits (as well as a former gig as Elvis's bodyguard). Though the film's trailers may imply otherwise, don't think for a moment that Bahrani would condescend to go the white-man-in-distress-consults-the-magical-Negro-route, for "Goodbye Solo" soars beyond petty genre conventions.
Bahrani, whose fondness for smart and simplistic American character studies makes him a gritty kindred spirit to actor-turned-filmmaker Thomas McCarthy ("The Station Agent," "The Visitor"), worked with his two leads for months, allowing both men to understand both characters and cultivate their rapport. We, the audience, reap the benefits of this prep process -- Solo and William don't have a single false exchange.
The ending of "Goodbye Solo" approaches with a palpable potency, like a wave waiting to crash. Though largely unspoken, the outcome is an inevitable and predictable one; however, Bahrani is too good a storyteller to allow that to subtract from the drama. There's still a graceful mystery hanging in the air when the movie reaches its final moments, wherein we reflect on the journey we've just seen -- one of two men at opposite ends of the human experience.
4.5 stars (out of 5).

Trailer Park

2009-05-06T21:06:00.002-04:00

By R. Kurt Osenlund, film critic and correspondent

Behold -- some of the newest trailers for some of the most exciting films in the pipe.

ADAM
Hugh Dancy ("Evening") and Rose Byrne (FX's "Damages") star in this touching New York story from debut writer/director Max Mayer. Adam (Dancy) has the socially debilitating Asperger's Syndrome, but that won't stop him from trying to win Beth's (Byrne) heart. Nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival and winner of the festival's Alfred P. Sloan award, "Adam" opens July 29.

DRAG ME TO HELL
For his first film since the disappointing "Spider-Man 3," prolific genre director Sam Raimi returns to what he does best: smart horror that truly entertains. Starring Alison Lohman ("Matchstick Men") as a young woman with a wicked curse that may just send her to the underworld, "Drag Me to Hell" may not sound like much, but give this preview a whirl and you'll be convinced: this ain't your average scary thriller.

JULIE & JULIA
2008 Academy Award nominess Amy Adams and Meryl Streep ("Doubt") reunite for this ladies' antidote to the testosterone-fueled summer blockbusters. Directed by Nora Ephron ("Bewitched"), the empowerment comedy sees Adams's character, Julie, attempt to cook a big bundle of Julia Child's (Streep) most famous recipes and redefine herself in the process.

DVD Spotlight: April 29 - May 6

2009-04-29T15:35:00.008-04:00

By R. Kurt Osenlund, film critic and correspondent

The swine flu may be keeping folks from crossing over borders, but there's no reason you can't still enjoy a taste of foreign cultures. After you get your shots and stock up on hand sanitizer, sit down with these foreign language favorites to ease your influenza worries.

VOLVER (Spain)

Penelope Cruz received her first Oscar nomination for her sultry leading role in this sumptuous drama from renowned Spanish dream maker Pedro Almodovar. The 2004 film marked the third collaboration between the director and his slinky muse, and it's a great way to prepare for their fourth, "Broken Embraces," coming soon to theaters.

THE BARBARIAN INVASIONS (Canada)

A 2003 Oscar winner for Best Foreign Language Film, this profoundly bittersweet ensemble piece from French director Denys Arcand is a veritable feast for drama lovers. As a dying man surrounded by his quirky friends and family members, Remy Girard is charming and heartbreaking, as are all of the supporting cast members.

CITY OF GOD (Brazil)

Before there was "Slumdog Millionaire," there was this 2003 stunner that put maverick director Fernando Meirelles ("The Constant Gardener") on the map. Following a young Brazilian photographer who uses art to get out of the violent ghetto, and following bullets as they whiz through the streets of the slums, this gritty masterpiece lingers in the memory.