Book Review: GreenScreen Made Easy – Keying and Compositing Techniques for Indie Filmmakers

Originally released April 1st, 2009 Page count: 158 pages Size: 8.7” x 6” GreenScreen Made Easy: Keying and Compositing Techniques for Indie Filmmakers by Jeremy Hanke and Michele Yamazaki Published By Michael Wiese Productions http://www.mwp.com/ _______________________________________________________ GreenScreen Made Easy: Keying and Compositing for Indie Filmmakers Book Review By Erin V. The green screen or chromakeying… Read More Book Review: GreenScreen Made Easy – Keying and Compositing Techniques for Indie Filmmakers

July 31, 2014October 1, 2021 thejoyofmovies.caLeave a comment

Book Review: Directing Actors

Originally released July 1st, 1999 Page count: 158 pages Size: 8.2” x 6” Directing Actors by Judith Weston Published By Michael Wiese Productions http://www.mwp.com/ ____________________________________________________ Directing Actors Book Review By Erin V. Summer is the perfect time to catch up on reading and learn a thing or two in the process. So this week I… Read More Book Review: Directing Actors

July 31, 2014October 1, 2021 thejoyofmovies.caLeave a comment

Digital Release: Under the Skin

After premiering at TIFF last year and just finishing a successful run in theatres, Mongrel Media is releasing Under the Skin on all home entertainment platforms today, including iTunes. Directed by Jonathan Glazer, the film follows an alien seductress (Scarlett Johansson) who stalks men on the streets of Scotland, picking them up in her white… Read More Digital Release: Under the Skin

July 29, 2014October 1, 2021 thejoyofmovies.caLeave a comment

Blu-ray Release: Noah

Today, Paramount is releasing Darren Aronofsky’s Noah on Blu-ray. Adapted from the Book of Genesis, this version has Noah (Russell Crowe) foretold the world will be destroyed through dreams of death and rising water. Noah is chosen by the Creator to build an ark that will house two of each animal and protect his wife… Read More Blu-ray Release: Noah

July 29, 2014October 1, 2021 thejoyofmovies.caLeave a comment

Blu-ray Release: Dom Hemingway

Last week, 20th Century Fox released Dom Hemingway on Blu-ray, a film that premiered at TIFF last year. Dom Hemingway (Jude Law) is a safecracker who has just gotten out after twelve years in jail, looking for payback from his old crime boss (Demian Bichir), while struggling to reconnect with his estranged daughter (Emilia Clarke).… Read More Blu-ray Release: Dom Hemingway

July 29, 2014October 1, 2021 thejoyofmovies.caLeave a comment

Criterion Release: Pickpocket

Two weeks ago, the 1959 film Pickpocket was released on Blu-ray through the Criterion Collection. Directed by Robert Bresson, this is a quiet character study of Michel (Martin LaSalle), a lonely writer who spends his days compulsively snatching wallets throughout Paris, leading to chance encounters with Jeanne (Marika Green), a beautiful young woman who might… Read More Criterion Release: Pickpocket

July 29, 2014October 1, 2021 thejoyofmovies.caLeave a comment

Review: Begin Again

By John Corrado ★★★ (out of 4) Among my biggest regrets of last year’s TIFF was missing the appealingly titled Can a Song Save Your Life?, which Harvey Weinstein quickly acquired for a hefty price tag. Now that same film has arrived in theatres under the new name Begin Again, and I’m happy announce that… Read More Review: Begin Again

July 28, 2014October 1, 2021 thejoyofmovies.caLeave a comment

Bloor Cinema Release: Alive Inside

After picking up the Audience Award for Best Documentary at this year’s Sundance, Alive Inside is opening at the Bloor Hot Docs Cinema in Toronto this weekend, and will be playing multiple times until July 31st. Showtimes and tickets are right here. Directed by Michael Rossato-Bennett, the film follows Dan Cohen, the founder of the… Read More Bloor Cinema Release: Alive Inside

July 25, 2014October 1, 2021 thejoyofmovies.caLeave a comment

Blu-ray Review: Heaven is for Real

Heaven is for Real – A Sony Pictures Release http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/heavenisforreal/ Blu-ray Release Date: July 22nd, 2014 Rated PG for thematic material Running Time: 99 minutes Randall Wallace (director) Randall Wallace (screenplay) Christopher Parker (screenplay) Based on the book by Todd Burpo and Lynn Vincent Nick Glennie-Smith (music) Greg Kinnear as Todd Burpo Connor Corum as Colton… Read More Blu-ray Review: Heaven is for Real

July 22, 2014October 1, 2021 thejoyofmovies.caLeave a comment

Digital Release: Made in America

After premiering at TIFF last year, Phase 4 Films is releasing Made in America on all home entertainment platforms today, including video on demand. Directed by Ron Howard, the documentary follows the staging of the Made in America music festival in Philadelphia, a massive outdoor concert masterminded by iconic rapper Jay Z. The idea is… Read More Digital Release: Made in America

July 22, 2014October 1, 2021 thejoyofmovies.caLeave a comment

Review: Snowpiercer

By John Corrado ★★★★ (out of 4) When talking about the the sheer spectacle and mayhem on display in Snowpiercer, someone describes it as “a blockbuster production with a devilishly unpredictable plot,” and late in the game this becomes the perfect description of South Korean director Bong Joon Ho’s latest epic. After months of anticipation,… Read More Review: Snowpiercer

July 21, 2014October 1, 2021 thejoyofmovies.caLeave a comment

Five Views: Planes: Fire & Rescue

Planes: Fire & Rescue – A Walt Disney Pictures Release http://movies.disney.com/planes-fire-and-rescue Release Date: July 18th, 2014 Rated G for action and some peril Running time: 84 minutes Roberts Gannaway (dir.) Jeffrey M. Howard (characters) Mark Mancina (music) Dane Cook as Dusty Crophopper (voice) Ed Harris as Blade Ranger (voice) Julie Bowen as Lil’ Dipper (voice)… Read More Five Views: Planes: Fire & Rescue

July 18, 2014October 1, 2021 thejoyofmovies.caLeave a comment

Review: Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

By John Corrado ★★★½ (out of 4) A few years back in the summer of 2011, Rise of the Planet of the Apes practically came out of nowhere to become one of the best moviegoing surprises in recent memory, a briskly paced franchise reboot that was as exciting as it was smart. Now comes Dawn… Read More Review: Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

July 16, 2014October 1, 2021 thejoyofmovies.caLeave a comment

Blu-ray Release: Rio 2

Today, 20th Century Fox is releasing Rio 2 on Blu-ray & DVD. Continuing the charming adventures of Blu (Jesse Eisenberg) and Jewel (Anne Hathaway), this is a harmless and entertaining enough animated sequel that kids are going to love. We reviewed Rio 2 when the film was in theatres back in April, and our overall… Read More Blu-ray Release: Rio 2

July 15, 2014October 1, 2021 thejoyofmovies.caLeave a comment

Review: Boyhood

By John Corrado ★★★★ (out of 4) Mason (Ellar Coltrane) is lying in the grass and staring up at the blue sky, the distinctive sound of Coldplay’s “Yellow” playing on the soundtrack, as his single mother (Patricia Arquette) arrives and picks him up from school. This is the already iconic opening scene of Boyhood, a… Read More Review: Boyhood

July 14, 2014October 1, 2021 thejoyofmovies.ca2 Comments

Review: Life Itself

By John Corrado ★★★★ (out of 4) Roger Ebert is one of the main reasons why I became a writer, and like so many of us in this field, his reviews are the sole inspiration behind my choice to become a film critic. Because of this, Life Itself is somewhat ironically hard for me to… Read More Review: Life Itself

July 11, 2014October 1, 2021 thejoyofmovies.caLeave a comment

Blu-ray Review: The Lunchbox

The Lunchbox – A Sony Pictures Classics Release http://sonyclassics.com/thelunchbox/ Blu-ray Release Date: July 8th, 2014 Rated PG for thematic material Running time: 105 minutes Ritesh Batra (dir.) Ritesh Batra (screenplay) Max Richter (music) Irrfan Khan as Saajan Fernandes Nimrat Kaur as Ila Nawazuddin Siddiqui as Shaikh Nakul Vaid as Rajeev Our reviews below: _________________________________________ The Lunchbox… Read More Blu-ray Review: The Lunchbox

July 8, 2014October 1, 2021 thejoyofmovies.caLeave a comment

DVD Release: Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa .5

Today, Paramount is releasing Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa .5 on DVD & Blu-ray. A companion to last year’s admittedly amusing Bad Grandpa, this new feature takes us behind the scenes of the impressive makeup which got the film an Oscar nomination, edited together with some very funny interviews and outtakes involving Ellie (Catherine Keener) and… Read More DVD Release: Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa .5

July 8, 2014October 21, 2021 thejoyofmovies.caLeave a comment

Five Views: Words and Pictures

Words and Pictures – A D Films Release http://wordsandpicturesthemovie.com Release Date: July 4th, 2014 (Limited) Rated PG for mature themes and language Running time: 116 minutes Fred Schepisi (dir.) Gerald Di Pego (writer) Paul Grabowsky (music) Clive Owen as Jack Marcus Juliette Binoche as Dina Delsanto Valerie Tian as Emily Navid Negahban as Rashid Bruce… Read More Five Views: Words and Pictures

July 4, 2014October 21, 2021 thejoyofmovies.caLeave a comment

Criterion Release: A Hard Day’s Night

Last week, the 1964 classic A Hard Day’s Night was released on DVD & Blu-ray through the Criterion Collection. A month after The Beatles famously appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show, the film follows John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr as they let loose around London at the height of their fame,… Read More Criterion Release: A Hard Day’s Night

July 1, 2014October 21, 2021 thejoyofmovies.caLeave a comment