50/50 – An eOne Films’ Release http://www.50-50themovie.com/ Release Date: September 30th, 2011 Rated 14A for mature theme, coarse language and substance abuse Running time: 99 minutes Jonathan Levine (dir.) Will Reiser (writer) Michael Giacchino (music) Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Adam Seth Rogen as Kyle Anna Kendrick as Katherine Bryce Dallas Howard as Rachael Anjelica Huston as Diane… Read More Movie Review: 50/50
Transformers: Dark of the Moon – A Paramount Pictures’ Release http://www.transformersmovie.com/ DVD Release Date: September 30th, 2011 Rated PG for violence, coarse language, not for young children Running time: 154 minutes Michael Bay (dir.) Ehren Kruger (writer) Steve Jablonsky (music) Shia LaBeouf as Sam Witwicky Rosie Huntington-Whiteley as Carly Spencer Patrick Dempsey as Dylan Peter… Read More DVD Review: Transformers: Dark of the Moon
By Erin V. One of the best films of the year so far, The Help will be remembered for it’s soundtrack – that is the songs, and in particular, The Living Proof by Mary J. Blige – rather than the score. But that’s ok. This is a brief review of the score which was released… Read More Score Soundtrack Review: The Help
In honour of the remake opening on October 14th, Paramount Home Entertainment is releasing the original 1984 Footloose on Blu-ray today. The film stars Kevin Bacon as Ren McCormack, a teenager stuck in the town of Bomont where public dancing and rock music have been banned. Determined to make a difference, he stands up to their… Read More Blu-ray Release: Footloose
On September 20th, Universal Home Entertainment released Bridesmaids on DVD & Blu-ray. With several standout sequences of comedic gold, this is a frequently hilarious and suitably heartfelt film with a breakout role from the comically brilliant Kristen Wiig. We reviewed the film when it opened in theatres on May 13th, our overall consensus was: “Fronted by… Read More DVD/Blu-ray Release: Bridesmaids
By John C. After a successful run at the Toronto International Film Festival, director Bennet Miller’s ‘based on a true story’ drama Moneyball opened over the weekend. As this is a movie about numbers it only seems appropriate to note that the film came in second at the box office, with estimated totals of $20.6 million.… Read More Brad Pitt Hits a Home Run with “Moneyball”
Dolphin Tale – A Warner Bros. Pictures’ Release http://dolphintalemovie.com Release Date: September 23rd, 2011 Rated G for some mild thematic elements Running time: 112 minutes Charles Martin Smith (dir.) Karen Janszen (writer) Noam Dromi (writer) Mark Isham (music) Harry Connick Jr. as Dr. Clay Haskett Ashley Judd as Lorraine Nelson Nathan Gamble as Sawyer Nelson Kris… Read More Movie Review: Dolphin Tale
By John C. On September 19th, I had the pleasure of interviewing Robert Guillaume on his memories of voicing the wise and insightful Rafiki in The Lion King. Although we only spoke on the phone for just under ten minutes, his warmth and aspects of the character always managed to shine through. A close transcript of… Read More Interview: Robert Guillaume – Voice of Rafiki in “The Lion King”
By John C. The Canadian premiere of Real Steel was held tonight at Toronto’s Scotiabank Theatre. But more importantly, lead actor Hugh Jackman, Toronto’s own Dakota Goyo, Thunder Bay’s Kevin Durand and Montreal-born director Shawn Levy were all in attendance. We were also invited by Disney to screen the film, and took numerous pictures as… Read More Canadian Premiere of “Real Steel”
Today, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment is releasing the beloved classic Dumbo for the first time on Blu-ray. Originally released in 1941 and now celebrating its 70th anniversary, this is the story of a little elephant born with big ears and an even bigger heart. With a simplistic storyline and delightfully short running time of… Read More Blu-ray Release: Dumbo
Today, Paramount Home Entertainment is releasing a 50th anniversary edition of Breakfast at Tiffany’s on Blu-ray. Based on a novel by Truman Capote and directed by Blake Edwards, the classic 1961 film stars Audrey Hepburn as the iconic Holly Golightly, a carefree woman with a mysterious past who spends her days in Manhattan searching for… Read More Blu-ray Release: Breakfast at Tiffany’s
Today, eOne Films is releasing The Kennedys on DVD. An eight part miniseries about the life of one of the most infamous families in American political history, this was one of the biggest television events of the past several months that garnered as much acclaim as it did controversy. With an all-star cast that includes… Read More DVD Release: The Kennedys
By John C. From the many great films screened and numerous celebrity sightings, right through to small pleasures like the promotional bottle openers and free pizza handed out at the 50/50 world premiere, the 36th annual Toronto International Film Festival was a success on pretty much all accounts. After eleven days, it has come to a… Read More TIFF 2011: Concluding Thoughts on the Festival and People’s Choice Winner
The Lion King 3D – A Walt Disney Pictures’ Release http://disney.go.com/lionking/ 3D Release Date: September 16th, 2011 Original Release Date: June 24th, 1994 Rated G for some scary scenes Running time: 89 minutes Roger Allers (dir.) Rob Minkoff (dir.) Irene Mecchi (screenplay) Jonathan Roberts (screenplay) Linda Woolverton (screenplay) Hans Zimmer (music) Matthew Broderick as Adult Simba… Read More Movie Review: The Lion King 3D
By John C. As we are exactly a week into the 36th annual Toronto International Film Festival and nearing the final weekend, it seems like the perfect time to publish another very diverse set of five capsule reviews. In my last round I wrote about the tense thriller Drive, recommended Sarah Polley’s Take This Waltz, called Lucky… Read More TIFF 2011: Five Capsule Reviews, including “Edwin Boyd”
Released September 2011 Page count: 230 pages Size: 6” x 9” The Film Director’s Bag of Tricks: Get What You Want From Writers and Actors Mark W. Travis Published By Michael Wiese Publications http://www.mwp.com/ ________________________________________________ The Film Director’s Bag of Tricks Review By Erin V. Author of The Director’s Journey [1999], and Directing Feature Films… Read More Book Review: The Film Director’s Bag of Tricks – Get What You Want From Writers and Actors
Thor – A Paramount Pictures’ Release http://thor.marvel.com/ DVD Release Date: September 13th, 2011 Rated PG for violence, frightening scenes, not recommended for young children Running time: 114 minutes Kenneth Branagh (dir.) Ashley Edward Miller (screenplay) Zack Stentz (screenplay) Don Payne (screenplay) Patrick Doyle (music) Chris Hemsworth as Thor Natalie Portman as Jane Foster Tom Hiddleston… Read More DVD Review: Thor
The Trip – An Alliance Films’ Release http://www.ifcfilms.com/films/the-trip DVD Release Date: September 13th, 2011 Rated 14A for coarse language and substance abuse Running time: 112 minutes Michael Winterbottom (dir.) Michael Nyman (music) Steve Coogan as Steve Rob Brydon as Rob Margo Stilley as Mischa Rebecca Johnson as Sally Our reviews below: _______________________________________________ The Trip DVD… Read More DVD Review: The Trip
Incendies – An eOne Films’ Release http://www.sonyclassics.com/incendies/ DVD Release Date: September 13th, 2011 Rated 14A for violence and disturbing content Running time: 130 minutes Denis Villeneuve (dir.) Denis Villeneuve (writer) Valérie Beaugrand-Champagne (script consultant) Based on a play by Wadji Mouawad Grégoire Hetzel (music) Lubna Azabal as Nawal Marwan Mélissa Désormeaux-Poulin as Jeanne Marwan Maxim… Read More DVD Review: Incendies
By John C. Unlike Sundance or Cannes, the Toronto International Film Festival does not have a juried award. But for 33 of the last 36 years that the Festival of Festivals has taken over the city with movies and parties, the best of fest has been chosen by the people who attend the screenings. Starting… Read More TIFF 2011: What Will the People Choose?
The Joy of Movies 