Movies Archives - Page 74 of 218 - ShowBizCafe.com

2012/11/22 at 12:00am

Hitchcock

11.22.2012 | By Jack Rico |

Sacha Gervasiâ€™s â€˜Hitchcockâ€™ is a fun, amusing film for fans of â€œThe Master of Suspenseâ€ director Alfred Hitchcock and those familiar with his movie â€˜Psychoâ€™ in particular. Itâ€™s an enjoyable experience because we are provided so much of the movie we revere and the man we already want to know more of. That in itself makes it a success. Add memorable performances by Anthony Hopkins, Helen Mirren and James Dâ€™Arcy, some pleasing humor and enlightening facts, and you have yourself a movie worth paying to see. Now the problem would be if you never saw â€˜Psychoâ€™ and could care less about Hitchcock.Â

Contrary to what the title says, â€˜Hitchcockâ€™ is actually a complex love story, not a biopic of the life of director Alfred Hitchcock. Lurking behind Alfred Hitchcock (Anthony Hopkins), cinemaâ€™s horror iconÂ known forÂ orchestrating some ofÂ the most intense experiences of menace and intrigue audiences have ever seen, was a hidden side: his creatively and explosive romance with his supportive wife and filmmaking collaborator, Alma Reville (Helen Mirren) – many say the secret to his success. Acting as a backdrop to the Hitchcockâ€™s love life is the making of the hair-raising 1960 thriller, â€˜Psycho,â€™ which would become the directorâ€™s most controversial and legendary film. When the tumultuous, against-the-odds productionÂ was over, nothing about movies would ever be the same â€“ but few realized that it took two to pull it off.Â The story is rife with surprises, comic ironies and dark twists in the Hitchockian tradition.Â But at the heart of the film lies not only the obsessions and fears of two people but the distinctively tenacious love that drove Hitchcockâ€™s art behind the curtain.

Cinematically, Gervasi seeps the film with Hitchcockian clichÃ©s and quirks that serve as winks to fans of Hitchcock, his films and his television show. For example, the opening of the film has Hopkins giving an introduction to the movie as if it was an episode of “Alfred Hitchcock Presents.” Very clever and cool. The whole movie is sprinkled with moments like this. Gervasi also manages to provide us with an insightful look at how difficult it was to make â€˜Psycho,â€™ both financially and marketing-wise. Furthermore, the MPAA wouldnâ€™t allow it a release at first, and when it did, the editing wasnâ€™t up to par, in particular, the shower scene. Go figure.

The script by John J. McLaughlin is tight and moves quickly, but the choice of a love story, based on the book by Stephen Rebello “Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho,” isnâ€™t what I necessarily wanted to see. As much as Alma was a part of his life, she wasnâ€™t in ours, the public. More interesting are the moments that take place on the set and how the film was made. Alas, Hollywood always feels we need a love story, but I was fine without one.

The acting is superb. Anthony Hopkins nailed Hitchcock as we remember him, even if he might have been a bit cartoonish with him at times. Helen Mirren is wonderful and commands the screen as she usually does, but I thoroughly enjoyed James Dâ€™Arcy performance of actor Anthony Perkins, Norman Bates himself . Not only did he look like him, he embodied his essence. One blunder that was evident, but fortunately didnâ€™t become a detriment to the film was the miscast of Scarlett Johanssonâ€™s as Janet Leigh. She was Scarlett Johansson trying to act like someone else. The true indication of a great actor is when they can make you forget the star they are in the public eye and immerse you in the character theyâ€™re inhabiting. This was not the case for Johansson and not sure if I have ever really seen her do that in her young career.

Despite the aforementioned minor oversight, â€˜Hitchcockâ€™ is a must see movie for anyone curious in having a front row seat to the movie making process of Alfred Hitchcock, his idiosyncrasies and the type of husband he was. If none of this tickles your fancy, your best advised to invest your time and money in something more traditional and commercial.Â

2012/11/22 at 12:00am

Lincoln

11.22.2012 | By Jack Rico |

Imagine being able to travel back in time and see history unfold before your very eyes when Abraham Lincoln, arguably the best President in US history, fought to abolish slavery no matter the opposition, dirty politics or the burden of seeing thousands massacred for the cause. That is what master director Steven Spielberg has provided us in ‘Lincoln,’ a beautiful, powerful and lasting film that is the definitive Lincoln movie ever made. Daniel Day-Lewis not only plays Lincoln, it feels like he is Abraham Lincoln. It is almost eery.

If you think ‘Lincoln,’ is a movie about his life, think again. Astutely, Spielberg limits the action only to the 16th President’s tumultuous final months in office where a nation was divided by war and the strong winds of change. Due to the perpetual torment the country was going through, Lincoln was obligated to pursue a course of action designed to end the war, unite the country and abolish slavery. His choices during this critical moment is where the movie begins.

Spielberg has not lost his directorial touch at all. Even ‘War Horse,’ which was nominated Best Picture at the Oscars earlier this year, was aesthetically and expertly directed. But without doubt, ‘Lincoln’ is his best film since ‘Saving Private Ryan’. By using Tony Kushner’s adaptation of Doris Kearns Goodwin’s book, ‘Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln’ as a template, Spielberg was able to meticulously capture that period in the White House and return us to what it would have been like if we were a fly in the Oval Office. Amongst all of its virtues, the one thing that this film won’t be recognized for is for its rousing emotional fulfillment. It won’t be met with a thunderous applause or a profusion of enthusiasm the way ‘Rocky’ or even 1984’s ‘The Karate Kid’ made one feel. You’ll be a witness to history, but with mixed emotions for the way that Lincoln had to achieve the liberty of blacks.

The performances of the cast for ‘Lincoln’ are the best of the year. Expect SAG and Critics Choice awards for the ensemble. Day-Lewis is sure to win the Oscar for Best Actor, as well for other award galas, for his strong and memorable portrayal of Lincoln. Also worthy of mention is Sally Field, as Lincoln’s volatile wife, who I have not seen deliver an emotional acting punch in years, if not decades. The rest of the cast is fantastic including Tommy Lee Jones, David Strathairn, John Hawkes, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. It truly is the best ensemble cast of 2012.

There are so many ways to have wrecked a biopic of a historical figure like ‘Lincoln’. All you need as proof is Clint Eastwood’s ‘J. Edgar’. Soporific is one word to describe that film, not to mention overly-acted and melodramatic at times. We are fortunate to have seen a biopic, like this one, done the right way. I feel Lincoln himself would not have objected.

Exclusive: John Ortiz to do Ozzie Guillen biopic

2012/11/20 at 12:00am

Exclusive: John Ortiz to do Ozzie Guillen biopic

11.20.2012 | By Jack Rico |

Puerto Rican actor John Ortiz, who can currently be seen in David O. Russell’s Oscar buzz film ‘Silver Linings Playbook’ and who is known for his roles in ‘Miami Vice’ and ‘Fast and Furious,’ exclusively told ShowBizCafe.com that he is in the early stages of developing an Ozzie Guillen biopic baseball movie in the form of ‘Moneyball’. Guillen, the former Chicago White Sox manager who managed the team between 2004 to 2011, is considered one of the most controversial managers in recent baseball history.

When we asked Ortiz if he was interested in directing anytime soon, he revealed he was working on a baseball movie:

“Ozzie Guillen and I are going to meet when I’m in Chicago. I don’t want to make a straight up baseball movie, but something along the lines of “Moneyball”. It’d be a lot more than just 9 guys on the baseball diamond. I want to do something where we focus on the profession of him being a baseball manager, how complex of a man he is, the culture, immigration, Chicago, Miami, [Fidel] Castro, there is so much there. I’m fascinated with him, I think he’s such a charismatic dude and people seem to love him or hate him. So I think he’d be a great subject for a movie.”

Ortiz, who plays Ronnie, a stressed-out married man in ‘Silver Linings Playbook,’ is still unclear whether he will direct, produce or star in the film. It could be one of them or all of them, but he says he will have a better sense of his role in the movie as the project gets closer to pre-production. Ortiz would be perfect for the Guillen role since they have a similar look and Ortiz possesses the acting pedigree from the theater to give the character weight and credibility.

For those who are unfamiliar with Ozzie Guillen, he is a well-known Venezuelan baseball player since his days as a top flight shortstop for the Chicago White Sox back in the 80’s and 90’s. But later in his career, he became a controversial and larger-than-life personality as the manager for the same team he played for, including the Miami Marlins earlier this year. Amongst his polemic on various issues, he called a Chicago Sun-Times columnist a homosexual slur, said Asian players are treated better than Latino players, and was quoted as loving Communist dictator Fidel Castro, which infuriated Cubans residing in Miami. Despite his quarrels with the press, Guillen is an accomplished baseball mind. In 2005, he became the first Latino manager in major league history to win a World Series.

Ortiz made his film debut as Al Pacino’s young cousin ‘Guajiro’ in Carlito’s Way. He went on to appear in over 30 films including Pride and Glory, El Cantante, American Gangster, Before Night Falls, Amistad, Ransom, and Narc.

What other Latino baseball player do you guys think should have a movie based on their lives? Our money is on the Yankee’s Alex Rodriguez and Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson should play him. Leave us your comments below.

By Karen Posada

2012/11/20 at 12:00am

Life of Pi

11.20.2012 | By Karen Posada |

‘Life of Pi’ is one of those stories that takes us on an amazing adventure with its tale full of fantasy and spirit. The movie is based on Spanish born novelist Yann Martel’s book, with a shaky start it became a best-seller, has wan a number of literary awards and was adapted to the big screen by director Ang Lee who’s done a bunch of diverse and memorable films such as ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, ‘Hulk’ and ‘Brokeback Mountain’. With this one the director uses all of his previous background to produce a film that’s mainly all heart, full of beautiful images and a surreal story.

A young Indian boy, nicknamed Pi (Suraj Sharma) survives a shipwreck and is left with a Bengal tiger as a companion. This isn’t only a story about survival, but also self-discovery and adventure.

The story’s main drive is spirituality because Pi is a curious boy who grows up to be just as curious about everything and he finds some comfort in God, no matter which religion or form it comes to him. This might strike a cord with many believers and might be a bit annoying to non-believers, but no matter how you see it this is an extraordinary story and there’s an interesting take when speaking about the different religions. The movie has a steady pace, it does get stretched out and slowed in the middle, but it’s bearable because of the added hallucinations or florescent images we see.

I saw the film in 3D, it did have images that popped out and the colors are majestic, but I don’t deem it necessary although it’s definitely an added bonus. There are countless breathtaking shots of the ocean whether it is of its computerized creatures, freak storms or of Pi’s suffering. I’m assuming the tiger used for the film is CGI, but it looked so real that you can easily feel scared for the main character every time he’s in the tiger’s presence. Being that some of the film takes part in India, it’s interesting to see how westernized Pi’s family is because that’s not something many of us would think when we think of India and its culture. There’s a brief explanation about the India, Hinduism and its culture and Pi’s life there, which gives us a good picture of it all. The colors we think about when we think of India are all there shining brighter than ever, hypnotizing the audience in more than one scene.

19-year-old Indian actor, Suraj Sharma is amazing, he only breaks character once, but for the majority of the film he’s able to convey the struggle this boy is in not only physically but also mentally. So much so that there’s sometimes comedy in his suffering and his reflections easily can make you shed a tear. Peter Parker aka the tiger is obviously important to the story, because without him the film wouldn’t be the same; he gives a necessary dose of danger and the interesting connection between the two. Irrfan Khan who plays older Pi, narrating the story is also key because he gives us much more than a narration; he provides extra emotion to connect the public to the film.

There’s a lot of fantasy in this film and it poses a question that might make some think afterward. Every scene has stunning images that will keep your eyes glued to the screen. This can be a family film for older kids who will surely enjoy the story as well as the adults of course. The plot’s push for spiritualism or God is frustrating at points, but knowing the background of it and the connection the audience gets with Pi can help you oversee that. This is certainly a very unique film, with an exceptional story that might make you shed a tear or two but will also make you smile.

By Mack Chico

2012/11/20 at 12:00am

Nuevo cartel del remake de ‘Evil Dead’

11.20.2012 | By Mack Chico |

El primer cartel del remake de “Evil Dead” del director uruguayo Fede Alvarez ya se estrenó por la red. Por lo que parece, es más bien un cartel promocional que uno oficial.

El cartel posee un texto que lo cubre todo y que dice: “El film más aterrador que usted experimentará.” Palabras pesadas para una cinta cuya versión original no asustó tanto.

De todos modos, por lo que hemos visto del primer avance del film, no vamos a negar que la cinta tenga la capacidad de asustar.

Bruce Campbell, el protagonista de la película original, ahora es el productor de esta nueva versión y los nuevos protagonistas serán Jane Levy, Shiloh Fernández, Lou Taylor Pucci, Jessica Lucas y Elizabeth Blackmore.

“Evil Dead” se estrenará el 12 de abril de 2013.

By Karen Posada

2012/11/19 at 12:00am

Silver Linings Playbook

11.19.2012 | By Karen Posada |

â€˜Silver Linings Playbookâ€™ is an eccentric, unexpected, crazy fun experience; there are some trying moments but the â€œsilver liningsâ€ make it all worth it. This movie is certainly intense and it goes from one extreme to the next, you never quite know what to expect from the characters or situations and thatâ€™s what makes it so entertaining and unpredictable, which is the key to the whole story. Itâ€™s safe to say that most people donâ€™t know anyone like these characters, most have serious emotional damage that makes them be socially awkward, but thatâ€™s their charm and intended or unintended humor. Director David O. Russell certainly knew how to tap into the storyâ€™s potential and use it in a way to draw in the audience.

Pat Solitano (Bradley Cooper) is struggling after spending some time at a mental institution and trying to better himself in order to get back with his wife. He starts from zero moving in with his parents: Pat Sr. (Robert De Niro) and Dolores (Jacki Weaver), who are trying their best at helping him. Another challenge presents itself when Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence) a woman who has also had some rough times shows up in Patâ€™s life.

The camera work is yet another interesting thing about the film, it zooms in an out in certain scenes and it tends to sometimes do a 360 of an actor adding originality to the film. The script has different analogies and outlooks shown mainly in the form of awkward dialogues, which help explain the plot and give substance to the film while giving us something to think about. The story develops in such a fascinating way that we can easily see why Pat is the way he is, because of his unique parents and household practices as well as his friends.

Everyone is fantastic; Cooper combines his charm, good looks, humor and sometimes jerk like personality to give us a man struggling to find the right footing. Lawrence at such a young age (22) acts way beyond her years, this is definitely one of the best roles Iâ€™ve seen her in. De Niro who hasnâ€™t given much to talk about in years here is an important part of the film, as it wouldnâ€™t be the same without him, heâ€™s a combination of the psycho in his character of â€˜Meet the Fockersâ€™ with a twist of reality in a character much up to our expectations. I can sit here and describe how great Weaver, Chris Tucker, Anupam Kher, Paul Herman and Shea Whigham were; but all I will say is that each one of them truly added necessary parts to the story.

I have to talk about John Ortiz who plays Ronnie, Patâ€™s best friend and is coupled up with Julia Stiles (it was a pleasure seeing her in this film!). Despite Ortizâ€™s character being outside of the family, heâ€™s just as crucial and demented as the rest of them, maybe even more. His character gives diversity to the film and shows us the angle of a man many would think sane and normal because he has conformed to societyâ€™s standards and demands by settling down and having a baby, but he easily provides us with some more extra laughs showing us how stressful “normal” can be.Â Â Â

Sometimes thereâ€™s too much going and you just want to scream at the screen to calm everyone down, but perhaps thatâ€™s a good thing. I was left with one or two unanswered questions, which bothered me, although it didnâ€™t change how I felt about the film.

I enjoyed the strangeness, awkwardness and downright craziness of this movie; most of these people should definitely be locked up! But thatâ€™s what made them so entertaining. I have a number of favorite scenes and moments from all the ups and downs, but mainly ups the movie gives us. This certainly is a dramedy to enjoy and recommend, because no matter how sane some of us think we are thereâ€™s no such thing as a perfect person or perfect family.

‘The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn-Part 2’ is #1!

By Karen Posada

2012/11/19 at 12:00am

‘The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn-Part 2’ is #1!

11.19.2012 | By Karen Posada |

The commotion around ‘The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn-Part 2’ got it to debut at number one with $141.3 million dollars, making it the movie with the eight biggest opening weekend ever. This final chapter of the saga has received great reviews, which will surely lead it to earn more than $700 million worldwide; which is about the average each one of the series has achieved. With Thanksgiving weekend coming up, it will no doubt get there.

The latest James Bond film ‘Skyfall’ dropped to number two with $41.5 million dollars. Despite loosing a lot of steam from last weekend it still will be the highest earning Bond film.

Now that ‘Lincoln’ opened wide this past weekend it reached the third spot with $21 million dollars. There has been a lot of talk about this Steven Spielberg film being a runner up for the Oscars; the public seems to agree with all the critics’ reviews.

The Top 10 Movies in the Box Office are:

1. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 – $141.3

2. Skyfall – $41.5 mil

3. Lincoln – $21 mil

4. Wreck-It Ralph – $18.3 mil

5. Flight – $8.6 mil

6. Argo – $4.1 mil

7. Taken 2 – $2.1 mil

8. Pitch Perfect – $1.3 mil

9. Here Comes the Boom – $1.2 mil

10. Cloud Atlas – $.9 mil

Colombiana Zulay Henao joins Tyler Perry movie!

By Mack Chico

2012/11/19 at 12:00am

Colombiana Zulay Henao joins Tyler Perry movie!

11.19.2012 | By Mack Chico |

According to Blackfilm.com, Colombian actress Zulay Henao has been cast as the second of four female leads in Tyler Perry‘s next movie ‘Single Mom’s Club,’ joining Perry, Wendi McLendon-Covey, and William Levy.

In addition to writing, directing and producing, Perry is expected to star in the film, which follows a group of single mothers from different walks of life who are brought together by an incident at their children’s school. They bond and create a support group that helps them find comedy in the obstacles of life, as well as their inner strength to overcome their personal challenges.

Henao will play the role of Esperanza and paired with Levy’s character Manny.

Perry will produce along with Ozzie Areu and Matt Moore. Production will start at the end of the month in Atlanta, where Perry’s production company is based.

Henao’s film credits include ‘Hostel: Part III,’ ‘Boy Wonder,’ ‘Takers,’ ‘Illegal Tender’ and ‘Fighting’ with Channing Tatum and Terrence Howard. The Colombian native had a starring role opposite Omari Grandberry in the 2007 dance film, ‘Feel the Noise,’ which was produced by Jennifer Lopez. She recently shot ‘White Space,’ a sci-fi action-horror film starring Holt McCallany.

Lionsgate will release Tyler Perry’s Single Mom’s Club on May 9, 2014.

Peliculeando: Breaking Dawn 2, Silver Linings Playbook

2012/11/16 at 12:00am