Monthly Archives: July 2011

TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

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The TIFF just announced its lineup for the annual cinematic spectacular. Unless a miracle happens, I’ll be unable to attend once again, forcing me (and others) to sit idly by and wait for the films theatrical release date.

As usual, the program is impeccable with directors David Cronenberg, George Clooney, Luc Besson, Sarah Polley, Fernando Meirelles, Alexander Payne, and William Friedkin among others, unveiling brand new product.

The dates for this year’s festival, its 36th, are September 8 – 18. If you’re anywhere close to Toronto during these times, there’s only one place you should be.

See all of the TIFF’s films and their synopses after the break.

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MARGIN CALL

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It was only a matter of time before a film was released that chronicled the economic downfall in 2008; it’s actually somewhat surprising that it’s taken this long. Zachary Quinto (Star Trek) takes his first foray in producing, while also headlining quite the impressive cast.

Kevin Spacey, Paul Bettany, Demi Moore, Jeremy Irons (awesome), Stanley Tucci, Simon Baker and Penn Badgley join the not-so-fun as we all look back at the financial watershed that caused countless numbers to lose countless funds.

The film premiered at this year’s Sundance to decent reviews. Margin Call can be seen nationwide October 21, 2011. The first trailer is after the break.

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SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN

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Believe it or not, there’s actually two Snow White films in production. Huntsman stars Twilight alum Kristen Stewart as Miss White who is the fairest of them all, which pisses of Charlize Theron, who plays the evil Queen. Chris Hemsworth keeps his hair long to portray the Huntsman, while Sam Claflin (Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides) is some sort of Prince.

This has obvious differences from the well-known animated tale from 1937; thankfully, the seven dwarves are still around. No images of them yet, but they’re played by Ian McShane, Toby Jones, Ray Winstone, Nick Frost, Eddie Marsan, Bob Hoskins and Stephen Graham.

Snow White and the Huntsman hits theatres June 1, 2012. See the other three character shots after the break.

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THE AVENGERS

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We’ll have to wait a good ten months to see what Joss Whedon and his cast have in store for us when Earth’s Mightiest Heroes arrive in theatres. Over at Comic-Con in San Diego, some character one-sheets have been unveiled, when but together, form a pretty impressive banner (see above).

From left to right: Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Captain America (Chris Evans), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson).

The Avengers arrives May 4, 2012. See the individual posters after the break.

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GREETINGS FROM JEFF BUCKLEY

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One of two Buckley tributes in the pipeline, Greetings stars Penn Badgley (television’s Gossip Girl. Oi.) as the ill-fated crooner in an abbreviated look that peaks at Buckley’s 1991 tribute concert, in remembrance of his father Tim. While there, Buckley runs into a young woman (Imogen Poots) and the two share a four-day getaway where they’ll presumably reflect on love and life, and sing.

Poots, the oddly named, attractive, young Londoner has had bit parts in V for Vendetta, 28 Weeks Later, and Solitary Man. Greetings will allow her and the unproven Badgley their moment in the sun so to speak; a chance to carry a film. Fingers crossed that they use Buckley’s actual voice, and Badgley does a helluva job lip-synching.

Greetings from Jeff Buckley starts shooting in August. Check out a pic of Imogen Poots after the break.

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BLU-RAY RELEASE OF THE WEEK

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A little late on this one, but this week’s pick is Neil Burger’s fantastic Limitless.

Bradley Cooper plays Eddie, a down-on-his-luck author, with a too-good-for-him girlfriend, Lindy (Abbie Cornish). While moping down the street, Eddie runs into Lindy’s brother, who ultimately hands over a nondescript, see through pill: NZT-48, or “the Clear,” as it’s called on the streets. What the Clear does is turn on every facet of the brain. All the time. Instantly, you can recall the faintest memory, or learn a language in mere hours. After taking his first dose, Eddie finishes the first draft of his manuscript and sleeps with his landlord’s wife. It’s all about priorities.

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THE AVENGERS

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With the release of Captain America: The First Avenger, all the pieces have been laid out for next summer’s Avengers flick. Directed by Joss Whedon (Serenity), Avengers combines the considerable powers of Cap (Chris Evans), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), as they take their orders from the one-eyed wonder Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson).

You’d think with all those good looks, muscles and special effects, we get a more interesting first look (the above picture is not it), but instead we’re treated to a gigantic, metallic ‘A,’ along with the familiar tag-line ‘Assemble.’

The Avengers doesn’t come out until May 4, 2012. Until more is released, check out the one-sheet below.

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DRIVE

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If you were in Cannes in May (I hate you), hopefully you were one of the privileged few who was able to catch a screening of Nicolas Winding Refn’s newest feature Drive. Refn, who previously helmed Bronson, and Valhalla Rising, won the director’s award for his latest while at the famed film festival, and here we have the first poster and trailer.

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HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART II

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I’m still young enough to remember my teenage years quite clearly, and while I had to deal with calculus exams and English papers, Harry Potter has battled dragons and giant serpents, ogres and werewolves. And of course, his eternal nemesis Lord Voldemort. All the promos have been tagged with ‘It All Ends,’ which of course is true in more than one sense. After ten years and eight films, the boy wizard’s saga is over.

In November 2001, The Philosopher’s Stone (In the States, it was Sorcerer’s) came into theatres with little fanfare compared to the juggernaut it is now. After Steven Spielberg was (thankfully) turned down to adapt author J.K. Rowling’s works (Spielberg’s first and only choice for Harry was Haley Joel Osment, from The Sixth Sense fame), the first film and the others that followed became a completely British affair, with practically every Briton actor known to man signing on for one role or another. Richard Harris, Michael Gambon, Ralph Fiennes, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, Gary Oldman, Brendan Gleeson, David Thewlis, Robbie Coltrane, Imelda Staunton, Emma Thompson, John Hurt, Kenneth Branagh. If you liked tea and crumpets, you were involved somehow.

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THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN

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Right on cue with its introduction at the San Diego Comic-Con, Marc Webb’s ((500) Days of Summer) Spider-Man teaser has hit the world wide internets. It was only ten years ago when Sam Raimi gave us his Spider-Man trilogy, so the need for a reboot seems a tad overkill. That being said, the three previous films made about 2.5 billion dollars at the box-office, and in this business money talks.

Andrew Garfield (Never Let Me Go) plays Peter Parker/the titular wall-crawler, and we’re shown (once again) about how he became endowed with the proportional strength (among other things) of a spider. Emma Stone co-stars as Gwen Stacey, Peter’s first love. Everything looks appropriately high-school, although from what I remember, Peter was more nerd than emo, angst-ridden teen.

A couple of things: Peter’s parents (Cambell Scott, Julianne Nicholson) are featured for the first time on screen. In the comics they were actually double agents who worked for S.H.I.E.L.D. and ran into Wolverine a few times, before dying in a sabotaged airplane. And the POV shot of Spider-Man running around Manhattan just seems weird and video-gamey. (Anyone ever play Mirror’s Edge?) I hope this was just used as a promotional gimmick, because it’s gonna get old real fast.

The Amazing Spider-Man swings into theatres July 3, 2012.