The Search For Tarzan

Who will don the notorious leopard skinned loin cloth? I have always found it interesting when the names of actors who audition for certain parts are leaked. Usually, it's very hush hush except when it's a part that a lot of people are vying for (and the search for Christian Grey continues...)

With that being said I was rather surprised by the shortlist of actors who could possibly play Tarzan. Charlie Hunnam, Tom Hardy, Alexander Skarsgard, and Henry Cavill, were named as the top casting choices for the jungle man and according to Anne Thompson of IndieWire, director David Yates is already meeting with Hunnam, Skarsgard, and Cavill while Warner Brothers is eyeing Hardy.

Now I am fond of Skarsgard, Hunnam, and Hardy as public figures while I feel that Cavill has potential to be a great leading man (waiting for 'Man of Steel' to see how he does. I hear some say he's great while others have called his performances 'wooden'.) Since I am more familiar with 3 out of the 4 actors, I have my own personal opinions on who I think could benefit and pull off this role. David Yates is best known for directing the past 4 Harry Potter films so the guy knows his stuff. I don't think this is going to be some cheesy melodrama with a beefcake leading man with a waxed chest and oiled pecs. I can see a darker Tarzan. More rugged and less kitchy. I mean when you have Tom Hardy as your top choice you know this isn't going to be a Jungle version of Nicholas Sparks.

Let me just start off and say what I think about the possible candidates:

Hunnam: Yes.
Hardy: No.
Skarsgard: No.
Cavill: Yes.

Whew. That was easy.

Hunnam: I started catching up on Sons of Anarchy this summer and I was immediately hooked. The quasi-Hamlet driven plot line has so much blood and action it's downright twisted. However, the show's success can also be pinpointed to the show's lead Charlie Hunnam whose deep guttural voice (which tries-sometimes in vain-to hide an accent that can only be described as 'one of a kind') and intense glares has won over a sub-section of fans (mostly women.) You see Hunnam is a rare bird. If you read his interviews throughout his career he seems to be all too aware of the dark side of the entertainment industry and it's 'bullshit'. He's an artist. He's not in it for the fame. He aspires to be low key like Daniel Day Lewis (don't we all wish we could be like Daniel Day Lewis, sweetie?) He's the type of actor who could've been big by now, but has chosen his roles with the utmost procession (in other words he didn't choose every script that has been thrown at him.)  He's got the physicality and the emotional depth to play the part. He keeps in shape and would probably have no problem doing his own stunts. He also is a good actor. Despite his ever changing accent on Sons of Anarchy he can be mincing and dangerous one minute and bring on the water works the next minute. If given the part I can see Charlie definitely making the character his own. VERDICT: YES.

Hardy: Oh how I adore Hardy. Handsome, insightful, talented, recovering from a dark past, and a sense of humor which reaches the epitome of British wit. The man rocks. Which is why I'm not surprised that Warner is itching for him to take the role. His career is hot right now and you can't blame the company for wanting a piece of the action. Hardy has one thing that the other 3 don't have. He is appealing to both men (gay and straight) and women. He's a guy who isn't afraid to show his sensitive side but will curb stomp you to the ground if you act up and push his buttons (Hardy is a total hood by the way.) He hasn't had a leading man role yet (this will change when Mad Max comes out....or at least manages to finish filming on time.) However, out of all the guys Hardy is probably the safest bet on box office success. The guy is always trying something new and I could totally see him as Tarzan. However, the guy is BUSY. Super busy. Like every 2 weeks he's attached to some kind of project. Something tells me that he isn't going to try and open his schedule to make way for a Tarzan remake. Also, I just can't see him wanting to do it. This role totally seems like a role for an up and comer and not an established A-lister like Hardy. Maybe a few years ago when he was just breaking out, but now he has joined the big leagues. VERDICT: NO.

Skarsgard: I watch True Blood for Alexander Skarsgard. If the show had killed him off I would've been out by now. He is the sexy blonde viking which has millions of women watching every week in the summer. Being the oldest offspring of Stellan Skarsgard, he has made a solid name for himself in the entertainment community. With one quasi-high profile relationship and a big blockbuster under his belt he is still climbing the ladder. Alex has all the fixings of a Hollywood golden boy. Tall (so tall), handsome, blonde, charismatic, and a goofy, but charming smile. It's all there. However, in my opinion, he has yet to shine or showcase what he can really do outside of True Blood. Something physical like Tarzan could do the trick, but I just can't see it. Maybe, because he's getting up there in age or maybe it's because of something else I can't pinpoint, but when I see Alex, I don't see him as 'wild' like Hardy or Hunnam. Even when he's scruffy, he still seems so clean cut and, dare I say it, a tad generic to me. I really do like Alex and I am excited to see what he does after True Blood ends, but I personally don't think Tarzan is it. VERDICT: NO.

Cavill: Now here is a name that I can definitely go with. British export Henry Cavill who will being making a big debut in 'Man of Steel' has already started some chatter in the film community. I don't  know much about him, but I do sense that he is so fresh on the scene that it may be good for him. He's a blank slate. This could give him a chance to broaden his target audience and launch his career. He is the youngest of the bunch which I think gives him a slight advantage (again they may want a fresh, new face) and if 'Man of Steel' takes off then the studio would've hit the jackpot with him. Also, he is extremely handsome w/wo facial hair so playing a jungle man will def. bring out the women at the very least. Not sure about the men, but I think Cavill has a very masculine air about him which I think will draw men as well. VERDICT: YES.

What do you think?

Drive By Reviews- 11/3/12 "Drive" "South Park: Bigger, Longer, & Uncut," "Heathers"

3.5/5- Giggled a lot and enjoyed the songs (which is why Trey Parker and Matt Stone should write more musicals. Book of Mormon is a revelation.)

3.5/5- Can see why this is a cult classic but I thought it was decent. Enjoyed the 80's fashion and its always nice to see Winona Ryder in her prime.

4.5/5- The visuals, the camera shots, the action, the suspense (which totally reminded me of 'No Country For Old Men'), and the acting. I loved it all. I get the Gosling hype. I finally get it. Of course the director is the same person who directed one of my favorite films "Bronson." Tres Bien.

W./E. Film Review

The story is about the passionate love affair of American-born Wallis Simpson and King Edward VIII. As history goes when forced to choose between his throne or Wallis, Edward (we're going to be calling him David since that's his nickname in the film) gives up his title and his future just to be with her (and may I say thank you because we wouldn't have Prince Harry naked pictures if it wasn't for that.) The film's other storyline is based in modern day where we have our lead Wally Winthrop who is married to a super rich British psychiatrist. Wally is having her own issues due to her struggle to have a baby and her husband's wandering eye. As the film goes on we are given an insight into both Wally and Wallis Simpson's life and how they endure their individual obstacles.

The main issues I had with the film stems mostly from the modern day storyline. With 50 Shades of Grey styled dialogue we are introduced to Wally's sad, pitiful life. We see these exaggerated yuppies come up to her, telling her how lucky she is to have a husband like hers who is so successful, handsome, and British (all this while he's practically mouth groping some blonde's ear.) Wally plays the dutiful wife ignoring his indiscretions and pumps herself up with hormone shots to increase her chances of pregnancy. All this would be fine and dandy if the lead actress played by Abbie Cornish wasn't so bad. I want to believe it’s the dialogue she's been given but she just comes off as a dead fish, flat lining most of her lines. You can play aloof and closed off without being a sopping wet blanket. Also Wally seems to have a thing for touching 18th century items in museums (something that is brushed aside because apparently it is totally okay to take off an antique dress worn by one of the most famous people in history and have NO ONE stop you or arrest you.)

The film itself is all over the place. Extremely inconsistent and no sense of flow whatsoever.

Maybe it’s due to Madonna's musical prowess but W./E. tends to play like a chic music video. It’s trying to be innovative and edgy with close up and out of focus shots. I found some of the transitions to be extremely uneven. 

This is definitely a vanity project for the Queen of Pop. See! Look what  I can do with a camera. Aren’t I amazing with my minimal, black and white styling? Huh? HUH? Can you believe this is my first time making a film? Yes, Madonna I can tell this is your first crack at film making. And I am totally cool with artist trying out different outlets and the film is decent for a first time.  I'm just saying that there is a reason why this didn't sweep the Oscars and The Kings Speech did.

The film is very disjointed as it flips back and forth from 1930's Wallis Simpson and modern day Wally. First it’s about her having a baby, then it’s about her obsession with Simpson and David, then it’s her husband who is probably cheating, and the list goes on. And I could care less. I wanted more Wallis and David. It was their love story after all. The film was trying so hard to pull a “Julie and Julia” and failed miserably.

I LOVED Andrea Riseborough who played the role of Wallis Simpson (which is funny because she stars in one of my least favorite films Angel.) I don't know much about Simpson but Riseborough totally portrayed the character as a strong female who I was rooting for the entire time. When she and Cornish were together it was like day and night. Which is why I scoff whenever they tried to parallel the two stories. Of course you feel sympathy for Wally when she is being physically and verbally abused by her husband but I have the distinct feeling that the real Wallis Simpson would roll her eyes at her. As Wally lives vicariously through Simpson the film makes her seem pathetic and a tad obsessive. They try to throw a weak reason onto why she is so invested in the story (she was named after Wallis Simpson, I guess) but that alone doesn't support some of her actions. How can Wallis be compared to this limp bag of potatoes Wally who slaps on Chanel and some Black House White Market clothes and think she's emulating Simpson. Not even! In one scene which has Wally magically transported (in her mind) to the 1930’s Wallis tells her to “Get a life." Wow, some ones actually telling this girl what she needs to hear.

The thing that I did enjoy about this film was definitely the style (because I feel that the movie focused more on looks then actual content.) The cinematography is stunning and the set pieces and costumes were gorgeous. Also there were times when the camerawork was very interesting (but like this movie it was inconsistent and was all over the place after awhile.) Another little touch that I enjoyed were some of the song choices. Madonna tries to incorporate different genre of songs into the film to give it a certain edge. One song in particular called "Love, Love Alone" by Blind Blake is used very cleverly. Listen:

The song is great. However, it is used at the worst place in the film. Their are even times when dramatic scenes are accompanied with peppy upbeats that belittle and dilute the drama. It's like she had a bunch of songs that she desperately wanted to use and tried to crow bar them into scenes where it was not needed.

The story of Wallis Simpson and King Edward is very interesting. Being a history buff myself, I was so intrigued. I wanted more information. When did they start falling in love? How did Wallis meet her second husband? What was David’s relationship like with his brother (this was shown unsuccessfully by a random spurt of the two playing together, once again, at the worst possible time in the film) and etc. I was hungry for this information and when it started getting interesting it would flip back to modern day, to Wally, who I could give two flying flips about.

Now I do have to give Madonna credit. The movie was not a failure by any means. If this was directed by anyone else I’m sure the reviews would’ve been a tad kinder. I think the style of the film was beautiful. Some of the shots were very lovely and it was a very interesting way to tell a story so aged. However, her inconsistencies come through. Their was one scene which involved booze, drugs, and the Sex Pistols, but the film doesn’t know whether to be edgy (kind of what Coppola did with Marie Antoinette) or stay classic, sophisticated, and chic. It jumps back and forth and their seems to be no clear vision.  

The film could've been so much more.  If only they had nixed the modern day storyline and kept with Wallis and David's story (or at least focus more on them and less on Wally's story.) The style alone is one of the films few saving graces but it can't hide the flat story being told. The film is beautiful on the outside but hollow on the inside. No depth whatsoever and left me feeling disenchanted. C-

 

One Man's Pain Is Another Man's On Camera Treasure- 3,2,1...Frankie Go Boom Review

3,2,1...Frankie Go Boom can be summed up in one German defenition.

Schadenfreude: enjoyment obtained from the troubles of others 

You see, you have Bruce, a recovering drug addict, who is obsessed with making films. Not just any films. Films that involve real life situations involving the people close to him. That's where Frank comes in. Frankie is Bruce's youngest brother who has secluded himself in, of all places, Death Valley, California. Since they were kids Bruce has always documented Frank's most embarrassing moments (sometimes caused by Bruce, himself. There is a scene in the beginning involving a picnic blanket which is priceless.) Thinking that Bruce has changed his ways, Frankie meets a girl (more like runs into) named Lassie played by Lizzy Kaplan (not to be confused by the 1950's heroic collie.) One thing leads to another and they eventually hook up, but not before Frank experiences a humiliating moment of impotence. Later on, Bruce reveals that he recorded their entire night on film and gave it to his drugged up, producer friend Jack. This poses an issues since Jack is Lassie's father. The video circulates around and soon Bruce and Frank are racing to get the video before it reaches Lassie and potentially ruin Frank's relationship with her.

I have been this film's cheerleader for awhile now, because I am a fan of most of the actors in this film (plus I love when small movies do well.) I even made a post on why I was excited for 'Frankie' (check it out HERE.)

When you first watch this, you can tell that this was film with a low budget. However, the level of name actors tied to this is not only astonishing, but pretty damn impressive. You've got Chris O'Dowd who has been getting a steady stream of work in the US thanks to the success of Bridesmaids. Then there is Charlie Hunnam who is probably best known for his role as Jackson Teller on Sons of Anarchy (he looks surprisingly baby faced when you take the facial hair away.) Then you have Lizzy Kaplan who once again uses her brilliant comedic talents to make a nice addition to an already eclectic ensemble. And then you have Ron Perlman in a dress.....yeah no need to say anything on that one. You just have to experience it for yourself.

The stand out by far is Chris Noth who just completely rips off his Mr. Big persona, throws it on the ground, kicks it, shoots it, and tosses it into the trash. The man is hysterically, whacked out of his mind and he plays skeezy so well. In my opinion, he was hands down the best part of the film.

It was extremly refreshing to see Hunnam  play such an innocent character. Watching him portray such an average Joe riddled by past humiliation and grief was great. His accent did slip in and out at some points, but overall it was a solid job. You truly felt for Frank and really wanted him to come out on top. Hunnam is also great in his comedic moments. When he is with O'Dowd he just gets in the zone and together they bounce of each other. The bickering between the two, ecspecially had me in fits of giggles. They really convinced you that they were brothers. I loved the actors who played their parents. Every moment they had on screen was golden and I wished they had more camera time.

The great thing about 'Frankie' is that amongst all the craziness that the story provides their is still a very touching story that follows a long. I plan on seeing this again when it hits theaters. Watching it with a full audience and not a dimly lit dorm room, will def. give me a new prospective of the film. In my opinion, is you enjoy raunchy humor with some heart then go check out this film. 3 1/2 out of 5 BONERS!!!

Something Boozy, Something Bloody, and Lots of Coke-Bachelorette Review

Riding high from predecessor films such as Bridesmaids and The Hangover, Bachelorette has the sort of unabashed, witty, humor that has made this specific subgenre so popular. In the movie you have 3 best friends (each one representing a specific high school stereotype) who all reunite for their best friend's wedding. You have Regan (Kirsten Dunst), the super assertive, maid of honor and wedding planner, who is in turmoil over not being the first of the friends to wed. Gena (Lizzy Kaplan), the drug addled, hot mess, who must comes to terms with her past when she sees her ex-boyfriend Adam Scott (who I love.) Katie (Isla Fisher), the super perky, bubbly, hopped up, ginger whose main goal in the film is to stay sober for more than a minute and not get herself killed. And then there is the bride, Becky, (played by the hilarious Rebel Wilson) who deals with her own emotional issues before the big day. The night before the wedding, chaos ensues when the three bridesmaids get wasted on booze and take some specially prepared coke from Gena. In their dazed stupor they decided to mess with Becky's wedding dress, completely ripping it from the side. In compete hysteria, the girls race around to find the means to fix it. However, not before dealing with some of their own personal issues, too. It's a race against the clock to get the dressed fixed, washed, and back before Becky realizes what's going on.

Off the bat, I was immediately drawn to the characters. To me their interactions felt very authentic and each one had their own little quirk that made them stand out. Granted, Isla Fisher, is sort of playing the same ditzy character she did in The Wedding Crasher, but she is just so good at it that you don't even mind. Lizzy Caplan's humor is, as usual, on point. However, she really held her own when it came to the more dramatic scenes. In fact, I was really surprised by how heavy her storyline got with Adam Scott (which I think sort of separates Bachelorette from The Hangover, more or less, and veers straight into Bridesmaids territory.) The good thing is the dramatic moments didn't feel crow barred or forced. Even Dunst does great when paired up with comedic actresses like Fisher, Kaplan, and Wilson. Her Tour-de-Force of "No, bullshit" completely moved this film along for me and ended in a way that I felt was appropriate for this kind of story. The movie is not long, and I appreciated the fact that they didn't stretch it out and fill it with silly, unrealistic adventures to reach their goal.

You will see a lot of recognizable faces in this film. You have James Marsden, Andrew Rannells (Book of Mormon), Kyler Bornheimer, and Hayes MacArthuhur. Rebel Wilson fans don't expect to see a lot of her. She makes an appearance in the first and last 20 minutes of the movie. I loved that the film had Rebel being the one getting married to the rich, handsome guy. Sure, the film has her doubting her self worth and wondering if she's good enough, but the film ends on a very positive note.

I love this cast. I love this sort of comedy. Even the parts that I thought were a tad cheesy didn't bother me at all. This is a fun film to watch in a mixed group of men and women (I'm sure it will spur some interesting discussion topics.) Was it perfect? No. But it did surpass my expectations. B+

My Guilty Pleasure: Awful, Cheesy, Elvis Movies

In honor of the 35th anniversary of Elvis's death I have compiled a list of my favorite Presley movies. Now, if you have never seen an Elvis Presley film then I must warn you-- most of them are bad. Like REALLY bad. His films followed a specific formula. Elvis is always the dashing hero in some way shape or form, who happens to sing (crow baring at least several songs), surround himself with half naked girls gyrating around, and in the end saves the day. Top this with a paper thin plot and you have a typical Presley movie. These films are the equivalent of our Step Up movies. No one really cares about the story, they just want to see the dancing (or in this case, Elvis's singing.) Since, Elvis was under contract with MGM at the time, he had no real say on the type of films he was given (mix that with a slew of other things that were going on in his life and you have a reluctant Elvis practically sleep walking through half  his films.)  Elvis hated the roles he was being offered and around the end of the 60's it showed. However, the man was extremely good looking and believe it or not was a good actor when given the right material. If he had, had the chance to take on roles that would've strengthen his creativity (he was offered the role of Tony in West Side Story and opposite Barbra Streisand in A Star is Born) who knows what he could've done.

However it wasn't all bad films. Presley made some solid films in his career. Here is the list of my top Elvis films (cheese and all.)

Love Me Tender (1956)

Jailhouse Rock (1957)

Follow That Dream ( 1962)

It Happened at the World's Fair (1963)

Viva Las Vegas (1964)

Double Trouble (1967)

Change of Habit (1969) 

Something To Brighten Your Day...

These never get old.

Coming Soon- August 8, 2012

3, 2, 1...Frankie Go Boom- Not going to lie, I was at a Starbucks when I watched this trailer and by the end I was chuckling like a moron. I give in, I'm hooked. You can learn more about the film in this weeks post.

Nobody Walks- Proof, that Lena Dunham isn't a one hit wonder (GIRLS)

Craigslist Joe- Craigslist has always skeeved me out a bit. I dunno, maybe it's the multitude of creeps looking for some freaky fun involving weird fetishes and what not. However, my mom used it all the time when we were trying to get rid of excess junk and it worked out really well. We met some very interesting people and our house was completely d-cluttered. I do want to see how this guy manages to live off of only Craigslist.

The Master- Welcome back, Joaquin. PTA, you're going to blow us away, again, aren't you?

A Royal Affair- I love a good period piece. As long as the creative liberties don't get in the way of historical accuracy (I mean, don't go crazy and completely re-write history) then I'm good to go. This looks like some Anna Karenina kind of goodness (who doesn't love a good scandal?) So, I'll keep my eye on this one.

Chasing Mavericks- Blue Crush minus the estrogen and annoying Kate Bosworth. I'm not sure this is right up my alley, but it's nice to see Gerard Butler not playing a misogynist cad.

2013 Tribeca Film Festival Dates Announced

If you have read my past posts you know that I had a blast at Tribeca this year. My first experience was extremely memorable to say the least. The new festival dates have been announced including a new program to support and spotlight transmedia creators.

The Tribeca Film Festival (TFF), presented by founding sponsor American Express, announced today that the 12th annual Tribeca Film Festival will be held April 17– April 28, 2013 in New York City. Tribeca’s programming team, led by Geoffrey Gilmore, Chief Creative Officer of Tribeca Enterprises, Artistic Director Frédéric Boyer, who joined TFF last year, Director of Programming Genna Terranova, Programmer Cara Cusumano, and Shorts Programmer Sharon Badal, also announced a call for submissions for narrative and documentary features, and short film entries.

In addition, the Festival and BOMBAY SAPPHIRE gin today announced a new transmedia program with an award launching at the 2013 Festival that will celebrate new trends in digital media and recognize these transmedia creators who employ an innovative, interactive, web-based or multi-platform approach to story creation. Through open submissions, selections will be presented to the public at the 2013 Tribeca Film Festival. Ingrid Kopp, Director of Digital Initiatives for the Tribeca Film Institute, the year-round not-for-profit affiliate of Tribeca Enterprises, joins the Tribeca Film Festival programming team to collaborate on the initiative.

Deadlines to submit U.S. and International films for the 2013 Tribeca Film Festival are as follows:

September 17, 2012 – SUBMISSIONS OPEN

October 19, 2012 –      EARLY DEADLINE: FEATURES, SHORTS AND TRANSMEDIA PROJECTS

November 30, 2012 – OFFICIAL DEADLINE, ALL FEATURES, SHORTS AND TRANSMEDIA PROJECTS

December 28, 2012 – LATE DEADLINE, AVAILABLE TO FEATURE LENGTH FILMS ONLY

Starting September 17, 2012, submission forms and complete information regarding eligibility for the 2013 Tribeca Film Festival will be available at www.tribecafilm.com/festival  Questions regarding submissions may be directed to entries@tribecafilmfestival.org or by calling 212-941-2305.

20 Director's Give Their Top Ten Films From Sight & Sound

Along with announcing Vertigo as the "Greatest Film of All Time," Sight & Sound magazine has compiled a list of directors and their top 10 films. I took the liberty of highlighting the films that show up more than once because I feel that these titles in particular are universally respected and loved in the film community (18 out of the 20 directors have at least one mutual film with each other. That says something.) Take a gander at some of the films, IMDB the ones you've never heard before, and start stocking up your Netflix queue with these titles.

*Excuse the ones I missed

Woody Allen

• Bicycle Thieves (1948, dir. Vittorio De Sica)
• The Seventh Seal (1957, dir. Ingmar Bergman)
• Citizen Kane (1941, dir. Orson Welles)
• Amarcord (1973, dir. Federico Fellini)
• 8 1/2 (1963, dir. Federico Fellini) 
• The 400 Blows (1959, dir. Francois Truffaut)
• Rashomon (1950, dir. Akira Kurosawa)
• La Grande Illusion (1937, dir. Jean Renoir)
• The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (1972, dir. Luis Bunuel)
• Paths of Glory (1957, dir. Stanley Kubrick)

Richard Ayoade (Submarine)

• Persona (1966, dir. Ingmar Bergman)
• Le Mepris (1963, dir. Jean-Luc Godard)
• Raging Bull (1980, dir. Martin Scorsese)
• Ordet (1955, dir. Carl theodor Dreyer)
• Barry Lyndon (1975, dir. Stanley Kubrick)
• Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989, dir. Woody Allen)
• The Apartment (1960, dir. Billy Wilder)
• Tokyo Story (1953, dir. Yasujiro Ozu)
• Make Way For Tomorrow (1937, dir. Leo McCarey)
• Badlands (1973, dir. Terrence Malick)

Bong Joon-Ho

• A City of Sadness (1989, dir. Hou Hsiao-hsien)
• Cure (1997, dir. Kiyoshi Kurosawa)
• The Housemaid (1960, dir. Kim Ki-young)
• Fargo (1996, dir. the Coen Brothers)
• Psycho (1960, dir. Alfred Hitchcock)
• Raging Bull (1980, dir. Martin Scorsese)
• Touch of Evil (1958, dir. Orson Welles)
• Vengeance Is Mine (1973, dir. Shohei Imamura)
• The Wages of Fear (1953, dir. Henri-Georges Clouzot)
• Zodiac (2007, dir. David Fincher)

Francis Ford Coppola

• Ashes and Diamonds (1958, dir. Andrzej Wajda)
• The Best Years of Our Lives (1946, dir William Wyler)
• I Vitteloni (1953, dir. Federico Fellini)
• The Bad Sleep Well (1960, dir. Akira Kurosawa)
• Yojimbo (1961, dir. Akira Kurosawa)
• Singin’ in the Rain (1952, dir. Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly)
• The King of Comedy (1983, dir Martin Scorsese)
• Raging Bull (1980, dir. Martin Scorsese)
• The Apartment (1960s, dir. Billy Wilder)
• Sunrise (1927, dir. F.W. Murnau)

Guillermo Del Toro

• Frankenstein (1931, dir. James Whale)
• Freaks (1932, dir. Todd Browning)
• Shadow of a Doubt (1943, dir. Alfred Hitchcock)
• Greed (1925, dir. Erich Von Stroheim)
• Modern Times (1936, dir. Charlie Chaplin)
• La Belle Et La Bete (1946, dir. Jean Cocteau)
• Goodfellas (1990, dir. Martin Scorsese)
• Los Olvidados (1950, dir. Luis Bunuel)
• Nosferatu (1922, dir. F.W. Murnau)
• 8 1/2 (1963, dir. Federico Fellini)

Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne (The Kid with a Bike)

• Accatone (1961, dir. Pier Paolo Pasolini)
• The Big Heat (1953, dir. Fritz Lang)
• Dodes’ka-den (1970, dir. Akira Kurosawa)
• Germany Year Zero (1948, dir. Roberto Rossellini)
• Loulou (1980, dir. Maurice Pialat)
• Modern Times (1936, dir. Charlie Chaplin)
• The Searchers (1956, dir. John Ford)
• Shoah (1985, dir. Claude Lanzmann)
• Street of Shame (1956, dir. Kenji Mizoguchi)
• Sunrise (1927, dir. F.W. Murnau)

Sean Durkin (Martha Marcy May Marlene)

• The Shining (1980, dir. Stanley Kubrick)
• Rosemary’s Baby (1968, dir. Roman Polanski)
• Jaws (1975, dir. Steven Spielberg)
• 3 Women (1977, dir. Robert Altman)
• The Birds (1963, dir. Alfred Hitchcock)
• The Goonies (1985, dir. Richard Donner)
• The Piano Teacher (2001, dir. Michael Haneke)
• Persona (1966, dir. Ingmar Bergman)
• The Panic in Needle Park (1971, dir. Jerry Schatzberg)
• The Conformist (1970, dir. Bernardo Bertolucci)

Asghar Farhadi (A Separation)

• Rashomon (1950, dir. Akira Kurosawa)
• La Strada (1954, dir. Federico Fellini)
• The Godfather (1972, dir. Francis Ford Coppola)
• Tokyo Story (1953, dir. Yasujiro Ozu)
• The Apartment (1960, dir. Billy Wilder)
• Three Colors Red (1994, dir. Krzysztof Kieslowski)
• Take the Money and Run (1969, dir. Woody Allen)
• Scenes From a Marriage (1973, dir. Ingmar Bergman)
• Taxi Driver (1976, dir. Martin Scorsese)
• Modern Times (1936, dir. Charlie Chaplin)

Michel Hazavanicius (The Artist)

• City Girl (1930, dir. F.W. Murnau)
• City Lights (1931, dir. Charlie Chaplin)
• To Be Or Not To Be (1942, dir. Ernst Lubitsch)
• Citizen Kane (1941, dir. Orson Welles)
• The Apartment (1960, dir. Billy Wilder)
• The Shining (1980, dir. Stanley Kubrick)
• North By Northwest (1959, dir. Alfred Hitchcock)
• The Third Man (1949, dir. Carol Reed)
• Raging Bull (1980, dir. Martin Scorsese)
• Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937, dir. Walt Disney)

Miranda July (Me and You and Everyone We Know)

• Blind (1987, dir. Frederick Wiseman)
• Smooth Talk (1985, dir. Joyce Chopra)
• Vertigo (1958, dir. Alfred Hitchcock)
• After Life (1998, dir. Hirokazu Koreeda)
• Somewhere in Time (1980, dir. Jeannot Szwarc)
• Cheese (2007, dir. Mika Rottenberg)
• Punch Drunk Love (2002, dir. Paul Thomas Anderson)
• The Red Balloon (1956, dir. Albert Lamorisse)
• A Room With a View (1985, dir. James Ivory)
• Fish Tank (2009, dir. Andrea Arnold)

Mike Leigh

• American Madness (1932, dir. Frank Capra)
• Andrei Rublev (1966, dir. Andrei Tarkovsky)
• I Am Cuba (1964, dir. Mikhai Kalatozov)
• The Emigrants (1971, dir. Jan Troell)
• How a Mosquito Operates (1912, dir. Winsor McCay)
• Jules Et Jim (1962, dir. Francois Truffaut)
• Radio Days (1987, dir. Woody Allen)
• Songs From the Second Floor (2000, dir. Roy Andersson)
• Tokyo Story (1953, dir. Yasujiro Ozu)

Michael Mann

• Apocalypse Now (1979, dir. Francis Ford Coppola)
• Battleship Potemkin (1925, dir. Sergei Eisenstein)
• Citizen Kane (1941, dir. Orson Welles)
• Avatar (2009, dir. James Cameron)
• Dr. Strangelove (1964, dir. Stanley Kubrick)
• Biutiful (2010, dir. Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu)
• My Darling Clementine (1946, dir. John Ford)
• The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928, dir. Carl theodor Dreyer)
• Raging Bull (1980, dir. Martin Scorsese)
• The Wild Bunch (1969, dir. Sam Peckinpah)

Steve McQueen (Shame)

• The Battle of Algiers (1966, dir. Gillo Pontecorvo)
• Zero de Conduite (1933, dir. Jean Vigo)
• La Regle du Jeu (1939, dir. Jean Renoir)
• Tokyo Story (1953, dir. Yasujiro Ozu)
• Couch (1964, dir. Andy Warhol)
• Le Mepris (1963, dir. Jean-Luc Godard)
• Beau Travail (1998, dir. Claire Denis)
• Once Upon a Time in America (1984, dir. Sergio Leone)
• The Wages of Fear (1953, dir. Henri-Georges Clouzot)
• Do the Right Thing (1989, dir. Spike Lee)

Jeff Nichols (Take Shelter)

• Cool Hand Luke (1967, dir. Stuart Rosenberg)
• Badlands (1973, dir. Terrence Malick)
• Hud (1963, dir. Martin Ritt)
• The Hustler (1961, dir. Robert Rossen)
• Lawrence of Arabia (1962, dir. David Lean)
• Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969, dir. George Roy Hill)
• Jaws (1975, dir. Steven Spielberg)
• North By Northwest (1959, dir. Alfred Hitchcock)
• Stagecoach (1939, dir. John Ford)
• Fletch (1985, dir. Michael Ritchie)

David O. Russell

• It’s a Wonderful Life (1946, dir. Frank Capra)
• Chinatown (1974, dir. Roman Polanski)
• Goodfellas (1990, dir. Martin Scorsese)
• Vertigo (1958, dir. Alfred Hitchcock)
• Pulp Fiction (1994, dir. Quentin Tarantino)
• Raging Bull (1980, dir. Martin Scorsese)
• Young Frankenstein (1974, dir. Mel Brooks)
• The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (1972, dir. Luis Bunuel)
• The Godfather (1972, dir. Francis Ford Coppola)
• Blue Velvet (1986, dir. David Lynch)
• Groundhog Day (1993, dir. Harold Ramis)

Martin Scorsese

• 8 1/2 (1963, dir. Federico Fellini)
• 2001: a Space Odyssey (1968, dir. Stanley Kubrick)
• Ashes and Diamonds (1958, dir. Andrzej Wajda)
• Citizen Kane (1941, dir. Orson Welles)
• The Leopard (1963, dir. Luchino Visconti)
• Palsa (1946, dir. Roberto Rossellini)
• The Red Shoes (1948, dir. Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger)
• The River (1951, dir. Jean Renoir)
• Salvatore Giuliano (1962, dir. Francesco Rosi)
• The Searchers (1956, dir. John Ford)
• Ugetsu Monogatari (1953, dir. Kenji Mizoguchi)
• Vertigo (1958, dir. Alfred Hitchcock)

Quentin Tarantino

• The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966, dir. Sergio Leone)
• Apocalypse Now (1979, dir. Francis Ford Coppola)
• The Bad News Bears (1976, dir. Michael Ritchie)
• Carrie (1976, dir. Brian DePalma)
• Dazed and Confused (1993, dir. Richard Linklater)
• The Great Escape (1963, dir. John Sturges)
• His Girl Friday (1940, dir. Howard Hawks)
• Jaws (1975, dir. Steven Spielberg)
• Pretty Maids All in a Row (1971, dir. Roger Vadim)
• Rolling Thunder (1977, dir. John Flynn)
• Sorcerer (1977, dir. William Friedkin)
• Taxi Driver (1976, dir. Martin Scorsese)

Bela Tarr (The Turin Horse)

• Man With a Movie Camera (1929, dir. Dziga Vertov)
• The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928, dir. Carl theodor Dreyer)
• Alexander Nevsky (1938, dir. Sergei Eisenstein)
• M (1931, dir. Fritz Lang)
• Au hasard Balthazar (1966, dir. Robert Bresson)
• Vivre sa vie (1962, dir. Jean-Luc Godard)
• Frenzy (1972, dir. Alfred Hitchcock)
• Tokyo Story (1953, dir. Yasujiro Ozu)
• The Round-Up (1965, dir. Miklos Jancso)
• Berlin Alexanderplatz (1980, dir. Rainer Werner Fassbinder)

Edgar Wright

• 2001: a Space Odyssey (1968, dir. Stanley Kubrick)
• An American Werewolf in London (1981, dir. John Landis)
• Carrie (1976, dir. Brian DePalma)
• Dames (1934, dir. Ray Enright and Busby Berkeley)
• Don’t Look Now (1973, dir. Nicolas Roeg)
• Duck Soup (1933, dir. Leo McCarey)
• Psycho (1960, dir. Alfred Hitchcock)
• Raising Arizona (1987, dir. the Coen Brothers)
• Taxi Driver (1976, dir. Martin Scorsese)
• The Wild Bunch (1969, dir. Sam Peckinpah)

Apichatpong Weerasethakul (Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives)

• Goodbye Dragon Inn (2003, dir. Ming-liang Tsai)
• A Brighter Summer Day (1991, dir. Edward Yang)
• Rain (1929, dir. Joris Ivens)
• Empire (1964, dir. Andy Warhol)
• Valentin de la Sierras (1971, dir. Bruce Baillie)
• The Conversation (1974, dir. Francis Ford Coppola)
• Full Metal Jacket (1987, dir. Stanley Kubrick)
• The Eighties (1983, dir. Chantal Akerman)
• The General (1926, dir. Buster Keaton)
• Satantango (1994, dir. Bela Tarr) 

Source

50 Years Ago Today....

“Please don’t make me a joke. End the interview with what I believe. I don’t mind making jokes, but I don’t want to look like one. I want to be an artist, an actress with integrity.”

My Most Anticipated: 3,2,1...Frankie Go Boom

There is something to be said when you have 2 of TV's biggest bad asses (Ron Perlman & Charlie Hunnam's Jax & Clay, hailing from the land of bikes, leather, and complete chaos*) in a film where one is an emasculated victim while the other is a pot smoking transvestite whose bold candor is both amusing and off putting. I heard about this film from a friend who saw this at SXSW and have been monitoring it's progression ever since.

*Sons of Anarchy

The story centers on two brothers, Frankie and Bruce. Frankie (Hunnam) is trying to live down the disgrace of not only finding out that his fiancee had been cheating on him as their wedding was underway, but also that his brother Bruce (O'Dowd) posted a video of his subsequent meltdown on the Internet. Bruce is struggling to overcome addiction issues and reenters Frankie's life just as Frankie is meeting a woman (Caplan) he might have a real chance with. When Bruce uploads another video and complications ensue.- LA Times

 

Who’s In It?

 Sam Anderson … Chris
  Lizzy Caplan … Lassie
  Whitney Cummings … Claudia
  Justin Dray … Jogger
  Nora Dunn … Karen
  Charlie Hunnam … Frankie
  Leonard Kelly-Young … Arthur
  Kate Luyben … Donna
  David Marciano … David
  Chris Noth … Jack
  Chris O’Dowd … Bruce
  Adam Pally … Brian
  Ron Perlman … Phyllis
  Sarah Rush … Natalie

The film is directed by screenwriter of March of the Penguins, Jordan Roberts. At a screening he describes the film as"..a comedy about second chance, in love, second chance in whatever the thing you got slapped down at, and I was fascinated by humiliation and challenging humiliation." Hopefully, more information will come out before it's VOD September 10/ Theatrical October 12 release. What I find most impressive about this film is the caliber of actors attached to what seems to be a pretty low budget film. I don't know too much about the film a part from the given synopsis, however, I am intrigued by this funny, quirky film.

Perlman and Hunnam briefly discuss their roles in 'Frankie'

 

Pictures courtesy of Variance Films