Terry Gilliam throws us a few bones regarding ‘The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus’.

 

 

I just had to stop everything I was doing and write something after salivating over the piece below, a “first look” at Gilliam’s 2009 film (and Heath Ledger’s last), ‘The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus‘. The teaser reminded me of what a brilliant and visionary mind Terry Gilliam has. Sure, he has gone super “loco” on us a couple of times, but when he strucks on gold, oh boy…he elevates himself to demi-God status. ‘Brazil’ and ‘12 Monkeys’ prove this. It’s sad that I still day-dream about his cursed ‘Don Quijote’ project, though.

So, what will you see here? Apart from a few ridiculously impressive selections of painted and moving concept artwork, you will watch and listen to the man himself declaring that this might be one of the best things he’s worked on. I can’t say I disagree with him on that statement. The story sounds unconventional enough and fueled by powerful imagination, and the troupe of actors and actresses is a dream, the likes of Johnny Depp and Jude Law included…all of which bodes well for the prospect of this film being a return to form for the legendary director.

Take a look at the footage below. The film’s got a website, too, although it is pretty much barebones right now (but worth a visit just for the giant-sized production image: perfect wallpaper!). Gilliam’s “next” will be in theatre’s next year. Thanks for reading. : )

 

A forthright critique of ‘Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog’.

Hello, readers! What follows is an honest look at my experience watching ‘Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog’. If you haven’t watched it yet, be aware of minor spoilers ahead. You can take a look at it for free here before you read this, in case you want to remain free of any expectations. 

 

 

So I finally spared forty five minutes of my life to watch Joss Whedon’s cute little web-exclusive (for now) musical about the aspirations of a second-rate comic booky ”villain”, the girl he’s been eyeing for himself and his arch-nemesis, an arrogant “hero” played by fan-favorite Nathan Fillion. The piece took the entertainment world by surprise when it suddenly went up during mid-July, providing us mortals with a quality musical short for free (a spoil of the writers war strike). Everybody has been showing their love to it since it went live, but I have to be frank here: it wasn’t love at first sight for me, and I love, love musicals.

It has a steep involvement curve, that’s for sure…unless you’re Whedon’s biggest fan and/or love the cast unconditionally, you won’t get all the hoopla that has been surrounding this piece inmediately. It begins with our titular character rambling for about 3 minutes on his “vlog” (short for “video blog”), reading mail from his “viewers” while giving us a few snippets of exposition about himself, a frustrated, run-of-the-mill villain performed exquisitely by Neil Patrick Harris. 

After that slow introduction (which I had to repeat a couple of times due to its inability of keeping me greatly interested), the piece gives way naturally to its first musical number: a deep look at his obsession with the girl he’s secretly in love with (played by the charming Felicia Day). It’s that first musical number that injects some likeability to the characters, finally establishing a way for the viewers to connect with them in an emotional plane. From there on, I liked it. Bittersweet situations that gave way to clever lyrics and songs, camera pans used to display rhythm within some musical sequences, and Nathan Fillion being great as the hatable “Captain Hammer” (which has some of the best lines in the short) were a few of the things that stood out for me as positives.

 

Neil Patrick Harris as "Dr. Horrible".

 

Despite that, it never found “greatness” for me. Yes, it’s a good effort from all the parts involved, but it’s not something I’d love to repeat. The music, while good in its own terms, was not incredible either. I didn’t find myself humming the songs nor wanting to hear them again after it was finished. A shame, really. And, of course, the ending…why so tragic? I get it was trying to bang you over the head with a message, but c’mon! Hope, people!

Now, I admit I’m in the minority here, judging by the enourmous support and praise people has given to this piece over the past month or so since it went up. It just didn’t “grab me” as much as I would’ve liked, but that’s fine. I’m happy it served as an introduction to musicals for people who are usually not into them. And it is great seeing a great writer/director like Joss Whedon using the web to spread free artful entertainment, much needed in these days of climbing gas prices and global warming.

As always, thanks for reading! : )

‘Burn After Reading’ looks like my kind of comedy thriller.

 

 

Shown yesterday for the first time at a packed theatre as part of the annual ‘Toronto International Film Festival’ (where directors and producers parade their films as an attempt to gain recognition and word of mouth, not to mention money), ‘Burn After Reading’ is the next creation by Joel and Ethan Coen, winners of last year’s “Best Direction of a Motion Picture” Academy Award for their outstanding work on ‘No Country For Old Men‘ (which I still haven’t seen…yet). 

In their new thriller, a disk containing the memoirs of a “retiring” CIA agent ends up in the wrong hands: the ones of two shady gym employees, who then attempt to sell it by fucking that same CIA agent’s life in the process. Heh, sounds crazy as hell…just as ‘Fargo’ was. Oh, and that’s a great thing, in case you were wondering. : )

 

Gotta' love that duo: Pitt and McDormand as the "unscrupulous" gym employees in 'Burn After Reading'.

 

The Coens make great films…some of the best we’ve had in the last decade, in fact (‘The Big Lebowski’, ‘O Brother, Where Art Thou?), so I don’t find crazy at all to think that this one is going to be another runaway success for them. And with a terrific cast like the one they’ve got for this piece (Brad Pitt, George Clooney, John Malkovich & Frances McDormand, to name a few), it’s retardedly easy to be excited. It’s also been getting some great reviews, already.

Watch the trailer below, and don’t forget to leave me your thoughts on it. Thanks for reading. : )

 

“I’ve just agreed to write a movie for Sony and producer Scott Rudin about how Facebook was invented.” Uhuh.

“I figured a good first step in my preparation would be finding out what Facebook is, so I’ve started this page. (Actually it was started by my researcher, Ian Reichbach, because my grandmother has more Internet savvy than I do and she’s been dead for 33 years)”

Ok, so let’s put this into a coherent post that doesn’t sound funny: Aaron Sorkin, playwright for two Broadway pieces and writer of five feature films (including last year’s acclaimed ‘Charlie Wilson’s War’), is going to be plotting a *gulp* film based on the creation of Facebook. I..I…I am lost for words. Just breathe…

 

'Facebook' CEO Mark Zuckerberg

 

WHAT?!

 

It sounds ridiculous, I know. I gotta’ say, I was surpr…wait, no, dumbfounded when I read about this just now. This post is not meant to be disrespectful towards Aaron Sorkin, he’s a great writer…I’m just in shock by the decision from all the parts involved to move into something like this, and really hope that they remain artistically motivated throughout all of this. I mean, he didn’t even know what ‘Facebook’ was before accepting the deal. Needless to say, it’s going to be interesting to follow the development of this project from idea to film.

For now, I’ll remain neutral. 

Are you feeling better, Hollywood?

Yes, Hollywood, I’m talking to you! 

I can’t believe I’m writing this, but you did it! You f***ing (omg) did it! You entertained us, left and right, last summer! What? You don’t know of what I’m talking about? I’m referring to your glorious output of quality films during the hottest season of the year. You know, only the most important movie-going season for you and us (although our motives for that may differ greatly). After two dreadful back-to-back summers, I was starting to think you’d never wake out of that coma…yet you did, remarkably!

In commemoration of that I’ve decided to honor you, oh mighty Hollywood, with a special list (I know you guys love these too ). It’s a pleasure to present you, my picks for Best Films of the Summer ‘08! First up is:

 

 

Wonderful creatures and fantastic locations galore, and the freaks finally take center stage. Unquestionably a better-paced, more polished piece than the original. It’s Guillermo Del Toro, doing what he loves to do. What else do you need to know about it? Nothing, that’s right! You already know it’s great! Next up is…

 

Not my favorite Pixar film, but certainly their best (weird how things work out, huh?). It’s biggest success is the titular character itself, which is quite possibly the most adorable thing ever. I think everybody in the world knows about my artistic fixation with Pixar Animation Studios, so I won’t say more. If you didn’t, well read this: I have an altar for all things Lassetter, Docter and Stanton in my closet, photos and all. No joke. Uh…next!

 

Robert Downey Jr. That’s all I have to say about this…ok, ok, I’ll add more! Geez. Great origin story. Great production values. Weak climax. Even weaker villain. Favreu’s direction was on-point, yet I didn’t get out of it completely satisfied. Don’t quote me on that or the “Iron Man Defense Force” might get me. Or maybe because I liked the following film better: 

 

No, you’re not seeing things: that is really the ‘Speed Racer’ logo up there. Think what you want about it, but this piece is flat-out amazing if you just let it enter your heart. Visually stunning, incredibly well-edited and well-plotted (not to mention, beautifully scored by Michael Giacchino), this film is a blast. The characters are solidly realized and extremely likeable, and the last climactic sequence blew my mind with its awesome over-the-topness: I literally had to inhale and exhale after seeing that shit. Wachowskis for the win. Finally…

 

The big “duh” of this list. You’ve already read my review of it on this very blog, and you know what I think about it. Let me reaffirm my statement once again: It’s the best film I’ve seen all year, and a crime drama for the ages. It is vital that Warner Bros. secures Christopher Nolan’s skillful direction and elegant vision for the imminent third entry. I highly doubt that we’ll see a film of this caliber, of this scope, grace the silver screen again in what remains of the year. Hopefully I’m wrong, because I’m longing for a piece following this type of grand filmmaking.

 An honorable mention goes to ‘Kung Fu Panda’, Dreamworks’ best animated film since the original ‘Shrek’. Seriously. 

So there you have it! What do you think about this list? Leave your thoughts by commenting below. Thanks for reading! : )

‘Young People F***ing’

 

Har har.

 

That’s exactly what this film is all about, judging by its candid trailer. Do I like it? I adore it! ’Young People F***ing’! How could another ‘romantic/sex flick’ ever top that title? I love how they’re not trying to hide it either, those crazy Canadians. As with ‘Hamlet 2′, I doubt this will ever touch Puertorrican shores, sadly. It would’ve been fun as f*** (hey!) to watch this inside a room full of spicy latinos like myself. 

The film debuted last year at the Toronto International Film Festival where it garnered hefty praise from critics and public alike. It also had a very limited run on theatres across North America during the summer. If somebody catched this on the big screen, please delight us with your own impressions by commenting below! I’ll definitely be following the home release for this unique piece very closely. For now, watch the cute trailer after the break. As always, thanks for reading! : )

 

Computer-generated artistry at its very best.

 

 

That’s what this new Cinematic Introduction to the expansion of Blizzard’s enormously popular “Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game” (MMORPG), ‘World of Warcraft’ had me thinking after watching it. Seriously, these people never cease to amaze me when it comes to creating these fantastic sequences, showcasing the impressive depth and backstory they’ve created for Azeroth, the rich make-believe world the game takes place in. The tasteful mix of serious dialogue, impressive musical compositions and even more impressive visual artistry makes my jaw drop in delight. If only the proposed ‘World of Warcraft’ film would play half as good as these pieces do…

Warner Bros. and Legendary Films: take note. The only way to success is by treating this material (as with every piece that’s based on something as iconic) with respect, taste and ambition. Coming off the sublime ‘The Dark Knight’, I can only have faith. Faith in that studio executives have finally come to understand what makes a genre film, truly great. And no, it’s not only gloom themes and dark character explorations. 

Watch the piece after the break. If you like what you see, be sure to watch Blizzard’s previous CG work, which is equally impressive stuff. As always, feedback is greatly appreciated. Thanks for reading! : )

 

“Rock me, Rock me, Rock me sexy Jesus!”

Believe it:

 

“Sometimes, you just have to turn off your brain and allow yourself to laugh.” Never more appropiate. I gotta’ say, I love irreverent pieces when they’re done for good fun. They may offend some people, but when they hit the spot they hit it good, if you follow me. Not a fan of them? Open up a little and you may find yourself enjoying all types of films in no time. That’s key in enjoying all kinds of artistic expression.

‘Hamlet 2′ opens in theaters all over the United States on August 29. I’m already anticipating the home release, since I highly doubt this’ll get a theatre release (not even a limited one) here in Puerto Rico. : ( As always, feel free to comment with your own ideas on the matter. Thanks for reading!

If you still haven’t seen ‘Maldeamores’, now would be a damn good time to do it.

 

My favorite theatrical one-sheet for 'Maldeamores'.

 

“Maldeamores” is the real deal. I’d been waiting for a movie like this to come out from this island for quite some time. Dozens of failed attempts aside, it finally happened…and the results speak for themselves: the general public here in the island has really accepted this picture, and that alone is something to celebrate. But its success hasn’t stopped here: it has been shown as “official selection” in a variety of film festivals around the world, including the already-famous romp up in Tribeca, NY, instigating great word of mouth from all who watched it. It even won a couple of months ago some of the highest accolades (including Best Picture and Best Screenplay) at Cartagena, too.

All this makes me really happy. You see, Puerto Rico isn’t exactly famed for producing motion pictures, and I’m speaking more in terms of quantity than in quality. Yes, the quality hasn’t been there most of the time, but we do have the capacity to churn out some Grade-A product thanks to great writers and competent direction. The problem is that, as in everything, sadly, monetary support is key. Without it, the shit could get *really* difficult. Now that the government has been more flexible in founding the local film industry, we’re looking at the results. In the past two years alone, more than five films have been made of varying quality, ranging from “passable” to “good” to even “great”. This contrasts heavily with the lack of activity in the film industry in this island, say, five to ten years back, when not one film was being produced.

 

'Maldeamores' shows many facets of Puertorrican society.

 

It also speaks for the new crop of filmmakers that are beginning to stretch their legs, achieving greatness in the process. I really hope this film shows the world that we can make quality cinema for all to enjoy and ponder on. To conclude, I leave you with a short critical piece I wrote when I first saw it a few months back on another website. It’s concise, but covers every base I wanted to touch upon. 

“The film presents you with three totally disconnected stories about love…or a lack thereof. It is a very, very Puertorrican film and that’s what I liked the best: no filters, just pure unaltered situations that are lived everyday in this piece of soil that I call home. It’s also full of humor and *heart*, so it’s not all tears and heartbreaks. The film is beautifully shot and presents a very classic vision of Puerto Rico: that is, nothing of the colonial-influence (well, maybe a word or two) and/or modernism (one storyline takes place inside a commuter bus in San Juan, but the film was shot in a way that you don’t get to see much of the *present* day). Instead, beautiful rural vistas, a classic “casona” and a vintage-looking suburb add to the strong visual style in ways I could’ve never imagined. The sound deserves to be commended, too. And, of course, all the great puertorrican actors that delight us with careful, on-the-point acting and sensibility. All in all, great direction by Carlos Ruiz Ruiz. To say that I’m proud of this film is an understatement. 9/10″

There’s a trailer for the film below in case you haven’t gotten the opportunity of grabbing a taste of this great film. The bar has certainly been raised for local filmmaking: I’ll expect greatness from now on. Thanks for reading!

 

Talk about living life on a tightrope…

 

 

I love documentaries. They’re the kind of feature that makes us wonder at the awe-inspiring achievements of mankind; that reminds us that we are, indeed, powerful, and very much capable of executing anything that we propose to. And when they’re brought to the silver screen they transcend any kind of social barrier, making themselves available for everyone and anyone who wishes to partake in its sharing of knowledge and clever entertainment. We don’t get to watch these pieces much often, but when we do, we take away from them every piece of information, and inspiration (in some cases) that we can. Case in point: ‘Man on wire’.

 

Theatrical Poster for 'Man on wire'.

 

‘Man on wire’ is the story of a young frenchman named Philippe Petit, and how he committed “the artistic crime of the century” by walking on a wire, illegally rigged between the Twin Towers of New York’s World Trade Center. It was screened for the first time at Sundance Film Festival, where it competed in the “World Cinema Documentary Competition” and won the ‘Grand Jury Prize: World Cinema Documentary’ and the ‘World Cinema Audience Award: Documentary’, both incredibly prestigious awards in their respective categories. It has also won numerous others, and a 100% fresh status on Rotten Tomatoes.

To say I really want to watch this is an understatement. It is still without a firm release date for North America and Puerto Rico. Watch the trailer below. After seeing it, don’t forget to leave some feedback, which is always greatly appreciated. Thanks for reading!