Movie Reviews and Ratings

EXCLUSIVE! Robert Rodriguez’s ‘Machete’ comic cover unveiled!

2010/07/21 at 12:00am

EXCLUSIVE! Robert Rodriguez’s ‘Machete’ comic cover unveiled!

07.21.2010 | By Jack Rico |

Breaking news! Director Robert Rodriguez in conjunction with publisher IDW has teamed up with über comic artist Juan Doe to execute the covers for the new Machete comic based on the “Mexploitation” film of the same name.

The first Machete comic, issue #0, will be released in September, with issues 1-5 breaking in December.

Robert Rodriguez and his long time producer Aaron Kaufman wrote the story with Stuart Sager handling the artwork and Zach Howard doing coloring.

Enter Juan Doe. A renowned comic artist, he has drawn a variety of high-profile projects, including the first bilingual Marvel comic in history (Fantastic Four: Isla de la Muerte!), as well as works for DC (Batman: The Joker’s Asylum Part IV: Scarecrow) and Image (24/7, Popgun Volume #3).

Aside from the Machete covers, he is also working on a spate of projects, including the third groundbreaking installment of “Fantastic Four in Puerto Rico“, a series of Iron Man Legacy covers and a top secret project that will be unveiled at the NYC Comic Con in Oct. Talk about busy! Stay tuned for the ShowBizCafe in-depth interview with Juan Doe himself!

So for all you Juan Doe fans, feast your eyes on the first official comic cover of Machete below!

Let us know what you think in the comment section below or on Twitter!

Gael Garcia Bernal is on ‘The Loneliest Planet’

By Jack Rico

2010/07/21 at 12:00am

Movies

Gael Garcia Bernal is on ‘The Loneliest Planet’

07.21.2010 | By Jack Rico |

Deadline.com is reporting that Gael Garcia Bernal, the Mexican-born star of Y Tu Mama Tambien and Amores Perros, will star with Hani Furstenberg in The Loneliest Planet, an independently financed thriller that will be directed by Julia Loktev.

According to the site, shooting will begin July 26 in the Republic of Georgia.

The synopsis of the film centers around a young couple backpacking through some mountains in Europe. Their relationships is tested when they hire a local guide to to get them through the wild landscapes of nature.

Gael Garcia Bernal will next be seen starring in a comedy with Kate Hudson, Whoopi Goldberg, Peter Dinklage and Kathy Bates in Earthbound, about an ill woman who finds out she’s dying of cancer, but when she meets her soulmate, the threat of falling in love is scarier than death. He’s also casted to star in Even the Rain, Pedro Paramo and untitled Cesar Chavez project.

By Karen Posada

2010/07/21 at 12:00am

Reviews

Salt

07.21.2010 | By Karen Posada |

Salt is THE summer’s action flick. No other actress can do an action film like Angelina Jolie, she gives an amazing performance in this one. We haven’t seen a movie by her since Wanted and that was pretty much a preview to what you can expect from her in Salt. The script was made originally for a male lead, it is rumored that Tom Cruise turned it down, which is a good thing because I doubt a male lead would have made it as successful. The movie will keep you guessing the entire running time up to the end. The one question running through your mind at every turn of the movie is: how will she get out of this one?

Since the beginning we realize that CIA officer Evelyn Salt (Jolie) is a tough female, the movie begins with her capture by the North Korean government, they try to beat the loyalty out of her, but can’t. We shortly meet Ted Winter (Liev Schreiber)her boss at the CIA and friend, he’s along on her side throughout most of the movie trying to help her. After we get a brief backstory on Salt’s life both the private and professional sides of it, we are in Washington D.C. in CIA headquarters where we meet Peabody (Chiwetel Ejiofor). As a CIA counter-intelligence agent he is not sympathetic to anyone specially to Salt after she is accused of being a sleeper Russian spy and she runs away to avoid being captured. This is when the action begins and where we are left to wonder: ‘who is Salt?’

Salt is married to an entomologist who is fully aware of her career path and the risks that are involved. He is one of the few reasons we ever see this character be soft, the rest of it is all tough CIA training from the fights to her assertive actions.In fact, this female character is the one that carries all the action of the movie, the other two secondary characters Winter and Peabody do very little physical work. Salt’s independence and kick-ass attitude is what keeps her going.

Jolie prepared for this character by talking to former CIA agents such as Melissa Boyle Mahle who worked for the force for 16 years. She spoke of Jolie’s relentlessness of getting every aspect of the character right, asking her how she felt and what she went through; she learned how spies live. Although Mahle says Jolie in the film makes it look way more fun and glamours than it really is. Oleg Kalugin a former KGB member and spy said Salt is very real, and she is tough like a Russian spy. Tom Ridge former Secretary of Homeland security spoke of the realities of the film as seen by current events and how the government has dealt with it since the Cold-War.

If you are into action films this one is for you, it is pure entertainment. There’s bits and pieces of romance in the way but it doesn’t disrupt the action. You can compare it to current events but remember this is hollywood, which means that nothing is to be taken to heart. The main subject here is loyalty, towards family, country, beliefs etc; which is what keeps the movie going and will keep you wondering.

By Karen Posada

2010/07/20 at 12:00am

DVD Reviews Reviews

Entre Nos

07.20.2010 | By Karen Posada |

Rating: 2.0

Rated: Not available
Release Date: 2009-04-25
Starring: Gloria La Morte, Paola Mendoza
Director(s):
Distributor:
Film Genre:
Country:USA
Official Website: http://www.entrenosfilm.com/

Go to our film page

If this moving story would have been more developed and the ending wouldn’t have been rushed it would be worth watching. When the filmmaker Paola Mendoza told us that the movie was made in only 18 days this explained why it was so short and felt so rushed. The emotional connection is very strong, this could have taken it farther and it would be a better film that I could recommend.

The protagonist and producer Paola Mendoza plays a convincing role, she is a woman who suffers a lot because she is married to a man that’s worthless, he can’t settle anywhere. They’ve lived in Bogotá, Medellín, the coast of Colombia, and after only living two weeks in New York City he decides to move to Miami and leave his family behind. Mariana (Mendoza) tries all sorts of things for her family to have a good future and to follow her husband to Miami, she tries selling empanadas, washing dishes, but nothing works as well as recycling cans; this is the only way she can work and be with her children at the same time. Her children Gabriel (Sebastian Villada) 10 years old and Andrea (Laura Montana) 6 years old, take their mother’s work as a game and have fun recycling. Thanks to her children Mariana is able to surpass some of the hardest moments of her life. They are her strength. Gabriel understands a lot of what’s going on and when they are kicked out of her apartment for not paying the rent he goes and works recycling by himself when he’s able, to help his mom; as a kid sometimes he’s rebellious and gives her headaches but he has good intentions.

Some of the strongest points in this movie is the family connection, it shows how far we can get if we have the support of our family even if it’s only made up of three people. Gabriel’s behavior melts anyone’s heart, although he wants to study and play he understands that helping his mom is more important. The kindness of strangers is another strong point that is shown, a woman who rents out rooms (Sarita Coudhury) who feels pity for Mariana offers her friendship and support to her when she needs it the most.

Since this story is based in Paola Mendoza’s mom real life and her own it has a lot of real elements. These elements work well and create an honest environment full of harshness with which many can identify with. Unfortunately these elements are not squeezed to its greatest to create a movie that leaves you with something. As the other producer said Gloria La Morte, they wanted to make a film that would show the real side of New York City, that wouldn’t glamorize the american dream. This was accomplished until a certain point. The rushed ending ruins the rhythm of the movie and it’s essence in itself, because suddenly it becomes a fairy tale and from one moment to the next everything is ok and they are not poor anymore and we suddenly arrive to a summery of their lives up to adulthood without a warning.

By Jack Rico

2010/07/20 at 12:00am

DVD Reviews Reviews

The Losers

07.20.2010 | By Jack Rico |

Rating: 3.0

Rated: PG-13 for sequences of intense action and violence, a scene of sensuality and language.
Release Date: 2010-04-23
Starring: Peter Berg, James Vanderbilt
Director(s):
Distributor:
Film Genre:
Country:USA
Official Website: http://www.the-losers.com/

Go to our film page

An action film with some heart, family values and a Latino flair is the way I would describe WB’s new film ‘The Losers’. The genres, though, do not necessarily fit well together. It’s a fun movie, but somewhere along the way it goes through a bit of an identity crisis. Does it want to be an action film or a family film? The producers seem to think both.

Based on the 1970 comic book of the same name, The Losers is about 5 members of a CIA black ops team who are betrayed and left for dead. Their mission now is to find out who wanted them killed.

This revenge film means well. It has a cast of characters comprised of a diverse and simpatico bunch (Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Zoe Saldana, Chris Evans, Idris Elba, Columbus Short, Óscar Jaenada and Jason Patric) that draws you into them and their plights. What most vexed me was their jobs – they’re killers for the government who have hearts of gold? Not sure verisimilitude played a role there, or at least, I don’t think director Sylvain White pulled it off well. You hate to be gripped into a storyline to then detour somewhere opposite. It’s not good storytelling and it’s what happened here. In the end, The Losers is hit and miss and it has more hits than the latter. You can forgive some of its deficiencies for some laughs and charm and some old PG-13 action.

On a side note, just like Fast and Furious, this movie has a very big Latin American feel to it that begins with the opening credits in Bolivia and lasts throughout the ending. Most of the film was shot in Puerto Rico, which we hope they film there much more. Stay for the closing credits, there some funny sketches that belong to the storyline of the movie.

To follow Jack Rico’s film review check him out on Twitter at @jackricofficial

By Jack Rico

2010/07/19 at 12:00am

Movies

Free tickets to see ‘Salt’ in NYC!

07.19.2010 | By Jack Rico |

ShowBizCafe.com invites you to see an advanced screening of the action film ‘SALT’ starring Angelina Jolie on July 22nd at 7:30PM at an undisclosed theater in Manhattan. Just watch the Salt trailer by clicking on the poster below and tell us how long the trailer lasts on the comments section below. If you’re correct, we’ll send you an e-ticket of the movie to the first 100 respondents with a guest!

Synopsis: When CIA officer Evelyn Salt is outed as a Russian sleeper spy, she evades capture by those who are convinced she’s aiming to assassinate the president.

Again, we will send a confirmation of your invitation via email before the screening. Hope to see you at the movies Thursday, July 22!

Opens nationwide in theatres on July 23rd, 2010. All winners will be notified by e-mail.

Good luck!

Tickets are limited and are allocated to a random sampling of respondents. Limit two (Admit-Two) pass per person. Seating is first come, first served. No purchase necessary. While supplies last.

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action.

No one under 13 will be admitted.

The theatrical release will be July 23rd.

http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/salt/

Daniel Radcliffe set to star in ‘The Woman in Black’

By Jack Rico

2010/07/19 at 12:00am

Movies

Daniel Radcliffe set to star in ‘The Woman in Black’

07.19.2010 | By Jack Rico |

Mr. Daniel Radcliffe, a.k.a Harry Potter, is leaving his wand at home in exchange for professional growth. He has just been chosen to star in a new movie called THE WOMAN IN BLACK about a young lawyer and some secrets involving a ghost. Read up on the press release sent to us this morning…

“Daniel Radcliffe will take the lead in The Woman in Black, Hammer Films and Alliance Films hotly anticipated adaptation of Susan Hill’s best-selling novel, it was announced today by Simon Oakes, and Nigel Sinclair of Exclusive and Hammer.

To be directed by James Watkins (Eden Lake) and written by Jane Goldman (Kick Ass, The Debt) The Woman in Black follows a young lawyer, Arthur Kipps (Radcliffe), who is ordered to travel to a remote corner of the UK and sort out a recently deceased client’s papers. As he works alone in an old and isolated house, Kipps begins to uncover its tragic secrets, and his unease grows when he discovers that the local village is held hostage by the ghost of a scorned woman set on vengeance. Production is expected to begin in the Fall of 2010.

Exclusive and Alliance Films will co-finance the film. Alliance Films will also distribute the film in the United Kingdom (Momentum), Spain (Aurum) and Canada (Alliance Films). Exclusive Films International, headed by Chairman Guy East and President of International Sales and Distribution Alex Walton, is handling worldwide sales.

Daniel Radcliffe is of course, best known for his portrayal of the bespectacled wizard Harry Potter, in the hugely successful series of feature films based on J. K. Rowling’s publishing phenomenon. He has starred in all eight films and collaborated with respected directors Chris Columbus, Alfonso Cuaron, Mike Newell and David Yates. He also starred in Brian Kirk’s My Boy Jack (written by and also co-starring David Haig), playing the role of Rudyard Kipling’s tragic 17 year old son who went off to fight in the First World War. Most recently Radcliffe has proved him self an accomplished stage actor, receiving tremendous reviews and acclaim for his portrayal of Alan Strang in Peter Shaffer’s Equus in the West End and on Broadway. Radcliffe will return to Broadway next Spring to star in the musical How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.

“’When I met Dan, it was quite uncanny how closely our thoughts on the story mirrored each other: I can’t wait to get down to work with him to fashion a compelling character and a classy ghost story that tugs at the heart and chills to the bone,” says James Watkins.

Simon Oakes continues, “We’re thrilled to have Daniel on board, I can think of no better actor to play the role of Arthur Kipps. I’m confident that under the direction of James Watkins, he’ll take Jane Goldman’s script and deliver an utterly intense and compelling performance.”

Daniel Radcliffe said, “I am incredibly excited to be part of The Woman In Black. Jane Goldman’s script is beautifully written – both tender and terrifying in equal measure. It is thrilling to be working with James Watkins. From his brilliant work on Eden Lake and also having met him and heard his vision for the film, I know he will make a fantastic film.”

The Woman in Black is produced by Simon Oakes for Exclusive’s Hammer Films label and Richard Jackson at Talisman Films. Exclusive’s Nigel Sinclair and Guy East are serving as Executive Producers, along with Roy Lee for Vertigo Entertainment (The Ring). Jane Goldman (Kick-Ass) is adapting the screenplay, based on Susan Hill’s best-selling novel.

Susan Hill’s novel has become a modern classic, appearing on the national curriculum in the United Kingdom. The Woman in Black was also adapted into a stage play by Stephen Mallatratt, first performed at the Theatre-By-The-Sea in Scarborough, UK in 1987. It moved to the Fortune Theatre in London’s West End in 1989, where it still successfully runs today, over twenty years later, and has been performed the world over.

Exclusive is currently in post-production on three films: Matt Reeves’ Let Me In starring Kodi Smit-McPhee, Chloe Moretz, Elias Koteas and Richard Jenkins (produced through its Hammer Films label, Overture Films will release the film in October 2010); Antti Jokinen’s The Resident starring Hilary Swank, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Lee Pace and Christopher Lee (produced through Hammer Films); and Peter Weir’s The Way Back starring Ed Harris, Jim Sturgess, Saoirse Ronan, Mark Strong and Colin Farrell. The company recently premiered Spitfire Pictures’ The Last Play at Shea, about Billy Joel and his last performance at Shea Stadium, at the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival and is currently in production on the authorised history of Formula 1.”

Inception

By Jack Rico

2010/07/16 at 12:00am

Reviews

Inception (Movie Review)

07.16.2010 | By Jack Rico |

What is undoubtedly one of the top 3 films of the year, Inception is a visual and production achievement infused with entertaining CGI and action sequences all while engaging you intellectually… characteristics that I wish every movie would set out to do. The premise is not a simple one to follow and it demands more focused attention from you than 90% of the films out there, but the payoff will be one of the great cinematic experiences of 2010 and perhaps the past decade.

Inception, in dictionary terms, means the beginning of something. In Christopher Nolan’s new film it is defined as the implanting of an idea through the dreams of a subject. That is what Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) sets out to do for the very first time in this story. He is a skilled thief, the best in the dangerous art of extraction: stealing valuable secrets from deep within the subconscious during the dream state when the mind is at its most vulnerable. Cobb’s rare ability has made him a coveted player in this treacherous new world of corporate espionage, but it has also made him an international fugitive and cost him everything he has ever loved. Now Cobb is being offered a chance at redemption. One last job could give him his life back but only if he can accomplish the impossible–inception. Instead of the perfect heist, Cobb and his team of specialists have to pull off the reverse; their task is not to steal an idea but to plant one.

You’d have to go back to the The Matrix movies to even remotely experience anything like ‘Inception’. Director Christopher Nolan has perfected the craft of the cavernously dark, cerebral, tension filled films which have now become his stylistic stamp. His films such as The Following, Memento, The Prestige, amongst others, all carry the singularities and traits that have build up to ‘Inception’.

The assembled cast (Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ellen Page, Tom Hardy, Ken Watanabe, Dileep Rao, Cillian Murphy, Tom Berenger, Marion Cotillard, Pete Posthethwaite, Michael Caine), many from The Dark Knight project, is top notch. Dicaprio, the star of the film, is intense, affecting, and captivating. I do think though, his best performance was captured by Martin Scorsese in this year’s Shutter Island. In regards to the CGI, it functions as a compliment to the plotline instead of overwhelming it. Make sure you await with anticipation the hallway fight scene which seemed extremely hard to shoot and produce. That scene alone is worth the price of admission.

If you are looking for an action/adventure film that is layered with puzzles and mysteries, then you are going to love Inception, but remember, in order to fully enjoy it, your trip to the concession stand or the bathroom will have to wait. Don’t look at that text or that guy that’s gasping too loud in amazement. Just focus, just enjoy.

Exclusive! 6 questions with Angelina Jolie

Angelina Jolie in ‘Salt’

By Karen Posada

2010/07/15 at 12:00am

Interviews Movies

Exclusive! 6 questions with Angelina Jolie

07.15.2010 | By Karen Posada |

ShowBizCafe.com obtained a very exclusive interview with the multiple award winner and humanitarian actress, Angelina Jolie about her upcoming action film Salt opening July 23rd nationwide. She cleared up some rumors and spoke of her motivation as well as her ideas of new projects.

ShowBizCafe: At this point in your career what validates your work? Is it what critics say? Or?…

Angelina Jolie: I never read what critics say, I think it’s healthy. (laughs) I like the process of making a film, when we’ve worked really hard in making a good film I feel satisfied. I like the team of other actors, and the crew, the director; I just love the family and if we feel we’ve done our best I feel happy. The best obviously is when an audience responds and enjoys the film and people tell you they’ve had a good time, or they’ve learned something, it’s the greatest.

SBC: Do you think the length of 90 minutes works and helps this film?

AJ: I don’t have the longest attention span, so I think it depends on the film. This one is kind of relentless from start to finish, that’s what we tried to do. I don’t think you can handle that for too long.

SBC: Since you did your own stunts, what were your days like? Were you exhausted?

AJ: It seems like so much but it was spread out and I was exhausted. But the kids would come and we would have lunch and I was home by the time the sun went down. There are much harder jobs (laughs).

SBC: Vanity Fair reported you saying that you’d give up acting at some point, is that true?

AJ: Not that I’d give up acting, I think I would just do less at some point. I have a few more stories that I’d like to tell but I can imagine that I’ll just do less and less as my kids grow up. I’d like to do other things before my life is over.

SBC: Cinematically what things do you feel you haven’t done?

AJ: Well there’s been talk about Cleopatra, I haven’t done a historical epic of that nature and she’s always been fascinating to me. I feel that as much as her story [has been done so many times] it’s never been done accurately. Not that any movie can get history perfectly right. There’s no universal truth to history in film but you can get closer and I feel that there’s a lot that hasn’t been explored about her. Theres a lot that would have to come together for that to work.

SBC: Finally, what was your reaction when you first heard about the alleged Russian spies that were recently arrested?

AJ: It was the day before we started press so at first I didn’t believe it. It was bizarre. It was two-fold. The part of me that’s interested in politics felt ‘ I hope this doesn’t affect our relationship with Russia and our relationship with moving forward and [with] Afghanistan and Iran. And all these things and I don’t know what this means.’ The other part of me, that does films thought ‘ what extraordinary timing’ and this is because all through the making of this film we would question: Is this possible? are we bringing back Cold-War propaganda that’s unnecessary? and [is this]something we should leave alone? With no intention on doing anything like that. It just felt true to the story and when I [Evelyn Salt] would have been young that would have been the war so it would make sense to do that sleeper. It was just bizarre when we read it and we have been following it, it’s extraordinary how it’s unfolding

By Namreta Kumar

2010/07/13 at 12:00am

DVD Reviews Reviews

The Greatest

07.13.2010 | By Namreta Kumar |

Rating: 2.5

Rated: R for language, some sexual content and drug use.
Release Date: 2010-04-02
Starring: Shana Feste
Director(s):
Distributor:
Film Genre:
Country:USA
Official Website: http://www.thegreatestthemovie.com/

Â Go to our film page

The best parts of â€œThe Greatestâ€ are also its worst. Unfortunately, Shana Feste has created a film about spectacular moments but she failed to connect them.

This family drama is all about life and death. It is about loss and strength. Allen (Pierce Brosnan) and Grace Brewter (Susan Sarandon) are faced with the death of their son, Bennett. At that moment walks in Rose (Carey Mulligan), pregnant with Bennettâ€™s child.

What stays with me after the end of the film are some very distinct moments. The honesty with which Shana Feste crafts her scenes is remarkable and is the high point in the drama. Each character has their own catharsis, distinct of the rest. For a second it seems to fool you into thinking that you are with them. However, as you move to the next scene that link is broken. The overall film suffers from this disconnect.

The most powerful connection the audience does make is between Allen and Rose when Rose takes Allen to a â€œWouldnâ€™t Be Caught Dead Inâ€ party. This is one particular moment to watch out for Brosnan and Mulliganâ€™s performance and the layers that Feste has created in this moment of joint abreaction. Another powerful moment of association to watch out for is between Brosnan and Sarandon at the beach.

The greatest moments of the film are the ones that bring more than one plot in face of another, and unfortunately the lack of those moments leaves to many holes in the film. Unlike films like Crash and Babel, that have multiple stories that connect to some end, this film has a constant connection that does not justify parallel plots.

« Previous 1 … 135 136 137 138 139 … 218 Next »

Movie Reviews and Ratings

Latest Podcasts

Follow SBC

Film Reviews

The Best From The SBC Archive

Film

TV

Broadway Music

Music

Food

Podcasts