I have a sinking feeling that most critics will hate The Twilight Saga: New Moon (opening at midnight) just as hard as the teenage girls watching last night's screening loved it. Every time the shirtless, buff Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner) appeared on screen, an unnamed movie writer beside me groaned loudly and went straight for his pen and little pad o' insults, while the row of chick-lets behind me made sounds that can only be described as pre-orgasmic.


To be honest, I was a lot more annoyed by the critic. He went into a Twilight movie knowing he 1) didn't get its appeal and 2) didn't really want to. Seems like a waste of a highly coveted seat. I enjoyed the first film. Unlike so many other teen-marketed movies, it featured characters that are deeply complex and authentically awkward. And while they're not quite as awkward in New Moon, they're a hell of a lot more complicated.


For much of the latest installment, Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) is fighting severe depression after getting dumped by her vampire boyfriend Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson). He doesn't want her to lose her soul as a result of being part of his underworld. Nice of him, really, but she just sees his move as abandonment. And she doesn't deal well. She screams out during bad dreams, sits alone in the school cafeteria and puts herself in dangerous situations with the hope that the bloodsucker will suddenly appear to save her.


Her indie-music-assisted funk finally begins to fade when she asks childhood friend Jacob to help her fix up a couple of motorbikes (for another death-wish activity, no doubt). His humor and humanity are just what she needs, even if it's obvious she'll never love him the same way she loves Edward. Still, the Bella-Jacob section of the movie is the most enjoyable, not for Lautner's impressive physique, but for his easy, breezy acting style. He's a natural; it amazes me that he could've lost the part after the first film had he not bulked up.


Oh, did I mention that Jacob's a werewolf? Kidding. You've seen the trailer, where he jumps into the air and transforms in front of Bella. While he and his "wolf pack" brothers help fend off the bloodthirsty vampires who've arrived to hunt down Bella in Edward's absence, his hotblooded doggy behavior eventually complicates his relationship with her.


The movie's final section takes a sharp turn that involves Italy, a scary Dakota Fanning (the best kind of Dakota Fanning, it turns out) and the reunion of Bella and Edward. No use in revealing more. But the events of the third act definitely cement the star-crossed lovers theme, echoing the book Bella's studying at the beginning of the film, Romeo and Juliet. Her relationship with Edward (and his killer hair) is strong enough that both would rather die than live in a world without the other's existence.


New Moon is thoughtful, beautifully filmed and doesn't cut any corners in adapting its source novel. There's sly, self-deprecating humor, meticulous character development and grandiose, blockbuster special effects. It's the second entry in a romantic's equivalent of the Star Wars or Lord of the Rings series.


So, write in your little pad, unnamed critic, about all the things you find wrong with the movie. Laugh haughtily at the first hint of trite dialogue. Groan at the lingering pec shots. The girls and fantasy freaks will be over here, getting swept away for a couple of hours. And they'll have a lot more fun.

Posted by Hunter Hauk at 4:31 PM | Permalink
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Much like Isla Fisher, another flame-haired comedienne who got her first headlining role in a January rom-com, Amy Adams is hitting screens next year in Leap Year, a fizzy feature that just might have enough chutzpah to rise above expectations. I was definitely charmed by the trailer.

Adams plays a young lady expecting a bejeweled gift from her boyfriend -- and a proposal. When she instead unwraps a pair of diamond earrings, she devises a plan. Seems her boyfriend is heading to Dublin in late February. When Adams' character learns it's somewhat of an acceptable tradition there for ladies to propose to their gents, she sets out for Ireland. Problem is, inclement weather forces her plane to land in Wales. But cutie bartender Matthew Goode offers her a car ride to Dublin. One mishap after another gets the pair closer to each other, and by the time they finally reach Dublin, Adams isn't quite so certain about whom she wants.


Release date: Jan. 8

Chance of box office success: Amy Adams' bubbly personality might carry this movie, if it gets a good publicity push -- it could be the . The only real comedic competition that week is Michael Cera's first headliner, Youth in Revolt.

Should you see it?: If you're in prime, post-holiday chick-flick-y mood, then hell, yeah!

Posted by Farah Fleurima at 6:29 PM | Permalink
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Adam Goldberg could be considered the Woody Allen of his generation, having brought neuroses to the screen with greater comedic effect than most other modern actors.


He's expressed his angst-ridden need to dance in Dazed and Confused, made a failed relationship seem all too real in 2 Days in Paris and driven Chandler Bing nuts in a memorable run on Friends.


In the new indie film Untitled, Goldberg plays a classical musician whose postmodern, atonal compositions are far too abstract for most ears. Strangely, he seems to take comfort in the fact that no one understands him. His and other characters' stories work as a subtle parody of the New York art world.


We caught up with Goldberg -- who makes his own music in a project called LANDy -- on the phone from his LA home last week. Q&A after the jump.

» Continue reading "Q&A: Adam Goldberg talks 'Untitled' and more"

Posted by Hunter Hauk at 11:15 AM | Permalink
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Here's a weird bit of news. The folks at Eventful.com, which asked movie fans to "Demand It!" to bring Paranormal Activity to town, are giving fans another chance to be involved. Register your name here and your name will end up in the credits of the Paranormal DVD (which I will not be buying -- the movie was creepy enough in the theater, why would I watch it at home?!). Read the fine print before you give your name away -- the company can legally use it wherever and however they want to "in perpetuity," if they please. If you're dying to be tied to the Paranormal phenomenon forever, however, go for it.

Posted by Farah Fleurima at 6:15 PM | Permalink
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You may have read a short Q&A with actor Adam Goldberg in today's print edition of Quick. He's top-notch in the new indie film Untitled, a sharp, intelligent parody of the New York art world. But our chat didn't just consist of Untitled talk. I'll post our unabridged conversation -- which explored flu shots, old loves and more -- tomorrow. Look out for it!

Posted by Hunter Hauk at 8:25 AM | Permalink
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There was what seemed to be a real trailer for this film floating on the Innanets for weeks. It was cool to get a peek at the wondrous world that director James Cameron had created for Avatar, but there wasn't much story line to be gleaned from it. At last, a true trailer has emerged and fills in the blanks of the old clip.

A distant planet holds a mother lode of a precious and pricey resource, but the only problem with mining it is that a native race lives on the land above it. Aussie actor Sam Worthington plays Jake, a soldier who takes the form of one of the natives in order to infiltrate it and, presumably, destroy it from within and allow the precious resource to be reached. Along the way, however, Jake-as-the-native falls for a female warrior and begins to have second thoughts about eliminating the natives.

The movie, to be released in IMAX 3D, has breathtaking CGI scenery and lush cinematography and special effects. I hope Cameron, who also wrote the movie, makes the natives compelling enough to root for, because otherwise I don't know that I'd be enraptured watching these aliens defend themselves and Jake fall for the lady native. After Titanic, however, I have no problem putting my trust in Cameron.


Release date: Dec. 18

Chance of box office success: Phenomenal. It is, after all, James Cameron's first foray into drama since Titanic. Although it will face stiff holiday competition from the also-debuting Nine, Rob Marshall's first musical since a mildly successful little film called Chicago. I still predict that Cameron's CGI-heavy adventure drama will prevail over Marshall's dancing divas.

Should you see it?: Chances are you will. Why not make an afternoon of it and see it with Nine?

Posted by Farah Fleurima at 1:43 PM | Permalink
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Don't call Michael Jackson's This is It a concert film. To do so would oversell the often shaky musical rehearsals seen throughout. No, this movie's more of documentary. An unusual documentary, no doubt, but we'd expect nothing less from a project involving the late king of pop.


For those wondering how it's structured (and I've gotten this question quite a bit since Tuesday): Consider it a mostly chronological document of the making of an uber-expensive concert that never was. We see the dancer auditions, the filming of special videos to be used as backdrops, the constant practicing of the concert band to get performances up to Jackson's level of perfectionism.


And we see Michael Jackson. Not the handler-controlled, shy recluse. Not the publicity-seeking, controversy-riddled pop star who seems stuck in neverending childhood. Not even a singer and dancer who's on top of his game.


In This is It, we see a dangerously thin but focused and determined Jackson in his most grown-up state yet. He's still innocent and silly, but he's also keenly aware of the leaps and bounds he'll have to achieve to get to that first scheduled show in London. And smart, purposeful ordering of the rehearsal performances in the film shows his progression in that aspect.


At the beginning, one can't help but wince at his weakened voice and not-so-perfect dance moves while working out "Wanna Be Startin' Something." But he gets stronger throughout, and we see the guy who amazed all of us come back in fine form. Try to take your eyes off him as he performs "Billie Jean" alone on stage.


But, like I said, one shouldn't go into this film expecting the performances to be the highlight. For those who love Michael, there's much more to glean from the in-between-song scenes showing the singer interacting with his tour band and dancers.


You get the sense that he wasn't aware of cameras, for once. He's trying to get in the zone creatively, trying to relay to his band how he wants a groove played, encouraging his guitarist to go all out because it's "your moment to shine. We're all there with you."


I doubt the world's ever seen a kinder, gentler pop genius.

Posted by Hunter Hauk at 9:31 AM | Permalink
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Nicholas Sparks and Lasse Hallstrom -- two names you wouldn't expect to say in the same sentence, in terms of movies. For Sparks creates films dripping in romance, heartache and melodrama (see: The Notebook). Hallstrom is known for creating Oscar bait-y arthouse fare (see: The Cider House Rules, What's Eating Gilbert Grape). Now the two have collaborated on Dear John, whose trailer alone should have you reaching for the Kleenex.

Channing Tatum -- yeah, that tough guy from G.I. Joe -- plays a bit against type as a soldier on leave who meets the ravishing Amanda Seyfried and falls in love with her. They spend the summer exchanging wanting glances and smooching in the rain or on the beach, take your pick. Then -- ba-ba-ba-BUMMMM -- he's called back into active service and the couple begins a heartwarming correspondence, hers beginning with "dear John." Plus there's some side story regarding John's dad in the hospital and him getting all weepy at the prospect of leaving his girl. If you have tears in your eyes just reading this, go, go, GO see this movie.


Release date: Feb. 5

Chance of box office success: Might be decent -- it's up against a John Travolta action flick and a Jim Carrey film that's WAY against type for him (he plays a prisoner who falls for his cellmate -- Ewan McGregor -- and escapes from prison four times to be with him. Hmmm, let's take a look at that trailer next time, shall we?). After The Notebook, women and couples seem to know to flock to Sparks' films.

Should you see it?: If you're a Nicholas Sparks fan, sure. Otherwise, I'd wait for it on cable. Not even premium cable, just regular cable.

Posted by Farah Fleurima at 11:55 AM | Permalink
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In this week's issue of Quick, we shared 50 fabulous things to do on the town in Big D. Agree or disagree? Have some better ideas? Wanna skewer us for an omission? Let it all out and leave a comment for us. You'll feel better that you did.

Posted by Farah Fleurima at 2:30 PM | Permalink
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What if a stranger offered you $1 million dollars just for pressing a button in a box? Sweet, huh? Now what if the catch were that getting the money involved someone you don't know dropping dead? That's the dilemma that faces James Marsden and Cameron Diaz in the upcoming thriller The Box.

Compounding the couple's problem is that he's just lost his job and the family's bills are starting to pile up. So pressing the button sounds like a great idea. But then there's that pesky death to contend with. As the couple starts snooping around to learn the whereabouts of the stranger with the box, they run into all kinds of creepy figures and scary situations. And there's a deadline -- they have only 24 hours to decide whether to press the death-and-money button.

Release date: Nov. 6

Chance of box office success: Not good. The movie would probably land near the top any other week, but it's being released alongside Disney's digital version of A Christmas Carol, featuring Jim Carrey, and George Clooney's The Men Who Stare at Goats. And the following week, all of the above will likely be swept away by Roland Emmerich's end-of-the-world disaster flick, 2012.

Should you see it?: Sure, if Cameron Diaz overacting with a hokey Southern accent doesn't drive you absolutely nuts. Otherwise, I'd call it a must-rent.

Posted by Farah Fleurima at 3:34 PM | Permalink
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The five-man Broken Lizard comedy troupe has won over fans of naughty, juvenile humor with a silly-movie trifecta: Super Troopers, Club Dread and Beerfest.


Now the guys are on a comedy-show tour promoting The Slammin' Salmon (redband trailer here), their new flick about restaurant waiters competing with each other for a cash prize (it hits Dallas in December).


I got a chance to talk to cast members Kevin Heffernan (who directs the film) and Jay Chandrasekhar (who takes a break from his usual directing role) in advance of their stop Saturday at the Lakewood Theater.


Heffernan said he jumped at the chance to direct when the writers strike kept Chandrasekhar (who also helmed the film version of The Dukes of Hazzard) from doing it.


"I had always been involved in post-production and had good knowledge of how it all works," Heffernan said. "It was a pretty comfortable situation for me because it was the same family of people I've always worked with."


The family vibe is apparent on the current comedy tour.


"Our roots are in doing live sketch shows," Heffernan said. "This year we did some live interaction with the audience at South by Southwest and got the idea of doing this tour. It's original sketches, each guy's stand-up, and on top of that we do characters from the movies."


"This weekend we'll do Houston, Austin and Dallas in three days, so we'll just get a van like the old times and drive around."


TICKET GIVEAWAY: Want to be one of the audience members helping the Broken Lizard guys out on Saturday? I've got five pairs of tickets up for grabs. Be one of the first five to e-mail hhauk@quickdfw.com with the subject line "I'd like a litre of cola." Tickets are gone; thanks for playing!


And read on after the jump for my complete Q&A with Chandrasekhar, who plays a character in the new movie named Nuts.

» Continue reading "Broken Lizard show: Interview and ticket giveaway"

Posted by Hunter Hauk at 1:42 PM | Permalink
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I'm one of those freaks who never owned a copy of Maurice Sendak's short-but-brilliant book about a kid who deals with his anger by going somewhere else, somewhere wild. But I made sure I was well-versed going into Monday's preview screening of the new movie adaptation of it, helmed by, ahem, Adaptation director Spike Jonze.


There was significant hemming and hawing online and elsewhere (OK, pretty much online) about whether Jonze would alter the simple, iconic nature of Sendak's story with his quirked-out indie tendencies. Well, the cynics should rest here, because the movie stays as true to the book as it possibly can, with the understanding that a screenplay's going to have to be fleshed out.


For one, Max's mother (Catherine Keener) is a lot more sympathetic from the beginning of the story than the mother in the book. And there's more explanation as to why she and Max (played by uber-talented child actor Max Records) would have the kind of falling out that would drive him away into his own imagination.


The monsters young Max encounters in his imaginary world have names and personalities, and are voiced by a ragtag group of brilliant actors. He meets them in a tumultuous moment for their monster family: The lovable but irascible Carol (voiced by James Gandolfini) is throwing a kind-of tantrum, to the dismay of the other monsters (including a passive agressive Catherine O'Hara, a meek Paul Dano and a loyal-but-frustrated Chris Cooper). He's mad for lots of reasons, but one that immediately becomes clear is the absence of KW (voiced by Six Feet Under's Lauren Ambrose) from their group activity.

» Continue reading "Kids or no kids, see 'Where the Wild Things Are" "

Posted by Hunter Hauk at 11:21 AM | Permalink
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Dare is a teen movie that feels like it's trying really hard not to be a teen movie. It stars Emmy Rossum as a girl who appears torn between her best guy buddy (Ashley Stringer) and the campus bad boy (Zach Gilford). Problem is the best friend and the bad boy kinda start messing around, too. Awkward! This movie reminds me of that early '90s college rom-com Threesome, remember that one? In other words, we've kinda been there, done that.

Release date: Nov. 13

Chance of box office success: Not the greatest -- it's a limited-release indie with no big-name stars being released amid the crush of Oscar contenders. Methinks it'll sink faster than it swims.

Should you see it?: Eventually ... I'd call this one a must-rent.

Posted by Farah Fleurima at 6:18 PM | Permalink
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The much-hyped horror film Paranormal Activity, which I blogged about recently, opened in limited release last Friday -- but not in Dallas. Thanks to the online campaign called Demand It!, the super-low-budget movie will land in Big D theaters this Friday. Can't wait!

Critics and sneak-peekers have breathlessly described Paranormal Activity as the next Blair Witch Project, even the best scary film in the last decade or two. A young couple believes an evil force inhabits their home and does horrible things to them during the night, so they set up a camcorder in their bedroom to record any goings-on. And the horror high jinks ensue. But will it live up to the hype? We shall see ...

Posted by Farah Fleurima at 1:19 PM | Permalink
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Producer Michael Bay brings us this reboot of the Freddie Krueger franchise. This time, Jackie Earle Haley dons the crisp-faced villain's signature red-striped sweater to terrorize a new generation of idiot teenagers. Gotta say, though, this relaunch looks stylish and polished in a Dark Knight sort of way. Haley seems menacing enough in the role, but besides repeating the well-known anti-Kruger mantra "don't fall asleep," the trailer doesn't seem to hint at much of anything new in the film, except, of course, concocting new ways for teens to die horrible deaths. But if that's your thing, you're probably not looking for an Oscar-quality reboot.

Release date: April 30, 2010

Chance of box office success: For now it's the only wide release on this particular week, so it should clean up nicely ... until the next weekend when Iron Man 2 opens and obliterates everything.

Should you see it?: Yes ... if you're brave enough. You can hold my hand.

Posted by Farah Fleurima at 5:55 PM | Permalink
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Here's a trailer I've been waiting for months to see. Much-touted as Zac Efron's first "grown-up" movie, Me and Orson Welles seems as if it might live up to its early buzz. Oddly, the U.K. version of the trailer, which I've posted here, gives a much better glimpse into the film's plot.

Efron plays a teenager who wants to star in a Shakespeare adaptation directed on the stage by a young Orson Welles (Christian McKay). During the turbulent production of the play, Efron carries on a flirtation with Claire Danes, who plays some kind of stage manager. An older stage manager. Who happens to be somewhat romantically tangled with Welles. Mucho drama ensues, although so does some kissing. Throughout, Efron and his hair shine like a gem in this movie, his charm and acting talent really coming through. Here's hoping the movie lives up to the trailer's promise.

Release date: Nov. 25, in limited release

Chance of box office success: Could be fantastic. If it connects as an indie release, word-of-mouth could drive the wide release into big-hit territory.

Should you see it?: Yes, if you like a good movie. HELL, yes, if you adore Zac Efron and his hair.

Posted by Farah Fleurima at 6:09 PM | Permalink
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I don't know how this blipped on my radar only this week, but buzz is crazy strong for this "mockumentary" horror film. Paranormal Activity is a super-low budget film that wowed -- and scared the bejaysus out of -- veteran horror lovers on the movie festival circuit. It's about a couple that thinks an evil entity is haunting their home. So they decide to set up a camcorder in their bedroom to record any overnight goings-on.

Though this trailer is short, it certainly packs a wallop, in terms of creep factor. And it has the documentary look down perfect -- it should, since it only cost around $11,000 to make. Hmmm, low-budget scarefest that goes from festival circuit to the big screen? What does that remind you of? Some critics are calling Paranormal the scariest movie of the last 10 or 20 years, other say it's the scariest of all time. Whoa, now! Thank goodness the film is only a few weeks away -- we wouldn't want to get overhyped then disappointed upon viewing it, right?

On a related note, I wonder if YouTube headline above the trailer is some kind of purposeful Freudian spelling slip: It reads "Paranormal Activity: Evidence of a Hunting" instead of "haunting" ... or maybe "hunting" is correct ...?

Release date: Sept. 25

Chance of box office success: This one could go viral like Blair Witch

Should you see it?: Yes ... if you're brave enough. You can hold my hand.

Posted by Farah Fleurima at 10:16 AM | Permalink
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'Sorority Row' is one of those movies that you see when you feel like throwing every bit of your good taste out the window. Which is most days for me. Team Audrina!


Anyway, in anticipation for the sorority-prank-gone-wrong horror-thriller, we asked star Leah Pipes to give us a little celebrity playlist. She came through via e-mail with some downright mature selections, in effect rubbing her good taste in my face. Bitch.


Take it away, Leah!

Pink Floyd's "Jugband Blues" - 1st song off of A Saucerful of Secrets. Not as famous as some of their other songs, but really great nonetheless.


Led Zeppelin's "Bron-Y-Aur Stomp" - Off of Led Zeppelin 3 but if you can find the live version from How the West Was Won, do it. It's awesome!


Parliament's "Express Yourself" - If I'm having a bad day this song never fails to put me in a good mood.


Bob Dylan's "It's Alright Ma" - The song is really long and the music itself is pretty basic, but it has some of the best lyrics I've ever heard.


Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros' "Home" - A friend just burned me a CD with this song and I can't stop listening to it. It makes me want to fall in love.

Posted by Hunter Hauk at 3:16 PM | Permalink
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Now here's a film that hits close to home for me, and, I'm sure, for many other sistas (and even some brothas). Chris Rock has created a lighthearted documentary on the fixation among some black women on having "good hair." What's good hair? It's long, silky locks that don't come naturally to most black women -- hair that we see in every shampoo commercial and atop most every Hollywood starlet's head. Pretty, flowing tresses are part of the American (heck, global) gold standard of beauty, so who wouldn't want them?

And that's the tricky part. To achieve something approximating silky hair, black women have to have harsh chemical relaxer slathered onto their hair to straighten out their tiny curls -- and that stuff burns! And on top of that, some ladies get weaves braided or sewn into their natural hair -- and that stuff costs! So Rock's movie seems to explore what women do to upkeep their do's, and the comic even travels to India, the source of a lot of the human hair women use as extensions. All in all, it seems like an intriguing journey.

Release date: Oct. 9 (limited release)

Chance of box office success: Good ... on the indie level.

Should you see it?: Yes, for a fascinating and humorous glimpse into a decades-old beauty ritual.

Posted by Farah Fleurima at 10:22 PM | Permalink
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Next Wednesday, America will witness yet another Beatles invasion, with remastered versions of all the band's classic albums hitting stores for the first time in two decades, as well as the release of the long-awaited video game The Beatles: Rock Band. [Begins to hyperventilate.]


But the big bash in Dallas will occur the night before at Good Records. On Tuesday, the Lower Greenville store will host an all-out Beatles celebration, including an early performance from the Dandy Warhols (possibly covering "Blackbird," we're told) and screenings of Magical Mystery Tour and Yellow Submarine. Local Fab Four cover band A Hard Night's Day will count down the minutes to midnight with a late performance.


Good Records manager Chris Penn says there'll be beer flowing and plenty of prizes (especially for the winner of the Beatles: Rock Band tourney). And at the end of all the fun, you'll be able to buy those remastered albums (or the additional mono and stereo box sets being released).


Now that you know what Good's got planned, it'd be pretty silly to wait and grab your Beatles goods at a big-box store.

Posted by Hunter Hauk at 1:51 PM | Permalink
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Based on the Alice Sebold novel of the same name, The Lovely Bones follows Susie Salmon, a 14-year-old who is murdered in the early '70s. But is she really dead? Seems Susie is stuck in a wondrous world between this one and heaven (or hell). All seems fantastic until we see that she continues to be haunted by her murderer in her in-between state.

Meanwhile, back in the world of the totally living, Susie's family struggles to come to terms with her death while her father (Mark Wahlberg) tries to piece together clues to solve her unsolved murder. Saoirse Ronan's ditches the Brit accent as Susie and envelops us with her piercing blue eyes; Wahlberg and Rachel Weisz tear our hearts as her agonizing parents, and Stanley Tucci plays a shady neighbor who it seems may have something to hide.


Release date: Dec. 11

Chance of box office success: It has the pedigree of a critical success (Wahlberg, Weisz, Tucci; director Peter Jackson; December debut) and is the sole new release that week in December, so it should top the box office. Until James Cameron's extremely-super-highly anticipated fantasy Avatar opens the following week, that is.

Should you see it?: Yes ... just take the Oscar bait, take it.

Posted by Farah Fleurima at 5:30 PM | Permalink
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Getcha hankies ready, cuz Sandra Bullock's about to make you cry -- yes, America's Sweetheart is about to rip your heart out and dance all over it!

In The Blind Side, Bullock (at first unrecognizable as a blonde) plays the matriarch of a well-to-do Southern family. Married to Tim McGraw (totally unrecognizable without his hat and tight jeans), she seems to live a life of happy comfort in a world with few worries. That is, until she meets Mike, the big, burly (and much-feared on the playground) friend of her young son. When she learns Mike has no place to stay, she welcomes him into her home, and growing pains ensue, leading to Mike beginning to excel at school and even join the football team.

Yes, you can expect to hear the outcry about a white family "rescuing" Mike, a troubled black adolescent. But this story is adapted from the real life of former Ole Miss football player Michael Oher, so back off, haters. If there's something to complain about here, it's the sappiness that's sure to ooze out of this film, which seems to be an Oscar-bait meant to highlight Bullock's latest foray into drama. Despite the sap factor, the performances from McGraw and Bullock seem to ring true, so the film might rise above pure Kleenex drama.

Release date: Nov. 20

Chance of box office success: So-so. Wait, what am I talking about -- this movie's opening opposite the Twilight sequel, New Moon. Nice bit of counterprogramming, I suppose, for adults who aren't into the vampire craze, but Blind Side will probably be buried.

Should you see it?: Sure ... after New Moon.

Posted by Farah Fleurima at 3:07 PM | Permalink
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I had the pleasure last night of seeing Extract, Mike Judge's new film starring Jason Bateman as a downtrodden factory owner who's looking for something -- anything -- to spice up his life. Like Judge's other cult classics Office Space and Idiocracy, this one's a creeper.


Look at the actual plot of Extract, and it's kind of depressing: Bateman's character isn't getting enough nookie at home, so he and a morally ambiguous friend (a bearded, hilarious Ben Affleck) come up with a hazy plan to eliminate the guilt of cheating on his wife (Kristin Wiig), all while trying to unload his factory on a larger company despite a potentially damaging personal injury lawsuit.


Sounds complicated but it plays out quite effortlessly in an hour and a half; and in true Judge fashion, the minor characters and side conversations bring the major laughs. Supporting players Beth Grant, Clifton Collins Jr., J.K. Simmons and Dustin Milligan all deliver lines so realistically funny that they'll stay with you forever (a la "I think if I were a millionaire, I could hook that up.")


Judge was in attendance at the screening last night. The one thing that stuck out about the Q&A portion of the evening was that every guy who stood up to ask a question preceded it with the words "Hey Mike. Big fan." I could see that phrase showing up in one of Judge's future films. Other than that, his answers didn't reveal too much for those who've followed his career closely. It was pretty cool that he sounded just like Butthead. That made me happy.


Extract opens here Sept. 4. We'll have much more on it closer to that date.

Posted by Hunter Hauk at 11:30 AM | Permalink
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Relationships on the rocks are a dicey subject matter for a movie. Veer too negative (read: realistic), and you threaten to depress the movie audience. Make the breakup too amicable, and you'll have people rolling their eyes and awaiting the bow-tie happy ending.

The upcoming Hugh Grant-Sarah Jessica Parker starrer Did You Hear About the Morgans seems to strike a nice balance in portraying the crumbling marriage of the couple. Meryl and Paul Morris are well-off New Yorkers whose relationship has hit the skids. But just when they're finally about to call it quits, they both witness a murder, which eventually gets them sucked into the federal witness protection program. Their new home? A small town in Wyoming. As they're forced to adjust to their new lifestyle (fish-out-of-water high jinks should come fast and furious), Meryl and Paul slowly reconnect. No one's reinventing the rom com here, but Grant and SJP enliven things considerably. On a slightly related note, has Hugh Grant ever even ATTEMPTED an American accent?


Release date: Dec. 18

Chance of box office success: Seems like unusual holiday fodder, but I bet it opens strongly.

Should you see it?: Yes -- why not see it with someone you hate?

Posted by Farah Fleurima at 3:46 PM | Permalink
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While I'd rather see District 9, (I'm kinda excited about the movie, too, Farah! See her item below) The Time Traveler's Wife, which opens today, seems kind of interesting, too. If you like the "WTF?" sub-genre of romantic dramas.


There's no bothering to explain what the movie's about (or maybe even to see it?), since star Rachel McAdams reveals probably every plot twist on her Thursday appearance on The Daily Show. Love Jon Stewart's incredulous reactions.

Posted by Jeff Meddaugh at 3:12 PM | Permalink
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I caught the midnight screening of District 9 in the wee hours at the NorthPark AMC. I was afraid I was overhyped on the film, and I had definitely read my share of spoilers, but the movie was still a homerun to me. It helped that the audience -- which was about 94 percent male -- was pretty vocal and highly enthused about the best bits of the film. But for the most part, the place was hear-a-pin-drop silent as the tense, suspenseful film kept everyone at the edge of their seat.

Is this a movie I'd add to my DVD collection when it comes out? No -- I couldn't see myself watching it over and over again. But as great summer movies go, District 9 is up there as a top-notch flick.

Posted by Farah Fleurima at 1:19 PM | Permalink
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If you're a good girl who feels like going bad, or just an unapologetic pop-music fiend, you're probably planning on attending the sold-out Cobra Starship show Sunday at House of Blues. We asked Gabe Saporta -- the lead singer whose on-stage flamboyance appeals to fervent fans of all persuasions -- for a list of songs he's loving right now. Tunes that keep him company on the road. Here's what he sent us:


1. Sean Kingston - "Fire Burning" -- "This song seems like it's our biggest competitor against 'Good Girls' for song of the summer. But I'd be happy to lose to Sean because one of his dancers in this video is wearing a Cobra Starship T shirt! True story! (it's a blue shirt!) But here is something even crazier: Sing this out loud right now: 'Somebody call 9-1-1!' Now sing this 'I make them good girls go!' Incredible similarity! And I am in no way implying that he jacked us, or that we jacked him, but I am using this as proof of the existence of morphogenetic fields!"


2. Britney Spears - "Toxic" -- "THE song to jam to while drivin' down the highway . . . with a kid on your lap."


3. Snoop Dogg - "Beautiful" -- "This song is almost as good as his stellar performance in Girls Gone Wild. And also, I got a picture of me and Snoop throwing up our fangs."


4. Soulja Boy - "Swag On" -- "Sometimes my swag is on way too much, and I gotta turn it off. By the way, have you heard Keri Hilson's version!?!?! It's insane what singing in tune can do for a song!"


5. Stacy Q - "Two of Hearts" -- "Yo, I dated this Puerto Rican chick from Queens, and this song was always playing when I picked her up from the nail salon she worked at. Her perm was HOT! I still have the air-brushed t-shirt we got made at the mall."

Posted by Hunter Hauk at 12:37 PM | Permalink
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Lots of mischief and merriment coming to the DF-dub in the coming weeks. Chiggity-check it out ...

The virtue of Vice: Tonight, Suite nightclub welcomes Vegas-based DJ Vice (left) to the decks for their three-year anniversary party. I got a notice that the RSVPs were coming in fast and furious on Facebook, so try to squeeze yourself into this thing before tryna roll up to da club. Maybe I'll see you there ...

Ahoy, mateys: The Fairmont Dallas hotel is one of several places that does a "dive-in" movie -- where you can watch a flick from a pool -- but it's probably got the largest "theater" out of any of the others. I visited the pool, on the hotel's rooftop, recently, and it seemed to go on forever -- it's gigantic. Not your typical hotel pool, that's for sure. So jump on in -- this Friday at 9 p.m., they'll be screening Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, and you can get bevvies and snackies from the bar menu to go along with it. Next Friday, Titanic will be screened -- you may wanna bring extra floaties for that one.

Sundays at Sunset: Once you're done being Mad (see below), head on downtown for a little nightcap. Sunset Lounge (above) just kicked off their new Sundays are Fundays event, which'll just about make you forget that it's a school night. Hornitos margaritas and beer will set you back only $3 each, well drinks are $4, and pizzas are half-off. With specials like these, you may as well prolong the weekend as long as you can ...

'Mad' about you: The Angelika Dallas is kicking off a weekly Mad Men watch party this Sunday at 9 p.m. with a screening of the third season's premiere. Seating starts at 8:30, so get there to leave enough time to sip some Don Draper (right)-inspired bevs at the bar such as the Mad Men Martini, or manly classics like scotch and soda or gin and tonic. This event's free, but seating is limited.

Posted by Farah Fleurima at 6:12 PM | Permalink
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Is October too soon? We'll find out. Press release after the jump.

» Continue reading "Michael Jackson dress rehearsal coming to theaters"

Posted by Hunter Hauk at 1:23 PM | Permalink
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Much curiosity surrounds Heath Ledger's final movie, which is why Imaginarium seems a shoo-in to lead the Oct. 16 box office. But is it a good movie?

Terry Gilliam directs the flick, which looks more loopy than the Alice in Wonderland trailer that's floating around the Interwebs. With its swirling landscapes, fantastical imagery and wondrously imaginative settings, the special effects and CGI on this film must've run into the tens of millions of dollars. Apart from the gasp-inducing visuals and peeks into Ledger's performance, it's really hard to tell what this movie is about. Alas, it may not even matter to most viewers. But if this film is to sustain some success, the filmmakers should hope it does ...

Release date: Oct. 16

Chance of box office success: It'll probably open big, what with many people wanting to see Ledger's final performance. Positive or negative word of mouth will either buoy it or bury it in the following weeks.

Should you see it?: Of course, to satisfy your curiosity about Ledger's last film.

Posted by Farah Fleurima at 3:37 PM | Permalink
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That's right: We've got 10 pairs of passes to tomorrow night's NorthPark advance screening of the new Meryl Streep-Amy Adams foodie flick. All you have to do is e-mail me [hhauk (at) quickdfw.com] with "J&J" in the subject line ... Fire away!

UPDATE: Passes are all gone. Thanks for playing!

Posted by Hunter Hauk at 1:26 PM | Permalink
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A salt-and-pepper-bearded, haggard-looking Denzel Washington roams a scorched and ravaged post-apocalyptic world, wandering into dusty towns and mini-civilizations built in the ruins. In one scene, he's surrounded by a band of weapons-wielding baddies, at which point he turns from quiet old guy to a fighting machine. What the --? The situation plays itself out again and again as unsavory types keep pursuing Washington.

Turns out he's hiding something everyone else wants, something they might to kill to have ... and something he does kill to protect, in spectacular fashion. Methinks I like this street-fightin' Denzel ...

Release date: Jan. 15, 2010

Chance of box office success: The jury's out. It's got Denzel and tons of haunting images and a plot that seems exciting, but its January release date doesn't inspire confidence. I'm wondering if whatever Denzel's protecting turns out to be a bit of a letdown.

Should you see it?: I'm gonna go out on a limb and proclaim this a must-rent.

Posted by Farah Fleurima at 12:15 PM | Permalink
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Whip It marks costar Drew Barrymore's directorial debut, and the flick seems more indie-tastic than one might expect from the Charlie's Angels alum. It's about Bliss, a geeky high-schooler (Ellen Page), who, tired of competing in beauty pageants that her mom enters her in, finds a new passion in roller derby. Her teammates include SNL's Kristen Wiig, Barrymore herself, and ... is that Eve, the rapper? Anyway, Bliss' involvement with roller derby increases her coolness quotient a gazillionfold, and she finds herself, makes new friends, meets a guy ... you know, all the things that make for a happy ending.

Thankfully, Page's Bliss seems to be a bit of a departure from Juno. She seems much less self-aware and talky and doesn't appear as if she'll be prone to cutesy sarcasm and funny asides. Here's hoping the film's not overhyped to death as Juno was.

Release date: Oct. 9

Chance of box office success: Middling, because of its stiff competition. It comes out the same week as Woody Harrelson's horror-comedy Zombieland, the Matt Damon-Steven Soderburgh collabo The Informant! and the Jon Favreau- and Vince Vaughn-starring Couples Retreat.

Should you see it?: Yes, if you finally want to wash Juno out of your hair ... with another story of a high school misfit finding her way.

Posted by Farah Fleurima at 2:11 PM | Permalink
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Reading the plot blurbs written about new indie talker Humpday, you're tempted to cite both the crude-meets-cuddly formula of Kevin Smith and the recent outbreak of bromantic films from and inspired by Judd Apatow.


Cite away, but when you see the film you'll realize that Humpday director Lynn Shelton succeeds in ways that Smith and Apatow often fail: She convinces you that it's completely natural for two heterosexual best friends to decide to bone for art's sake.


The story begins when Seattle couple Ben (Mark Duplass) and Anna are paid an unexpected late-night visit by Andrew (Joshua Leonard), an old, dear friend of Ben's from college. Andrew's an artist and drifter who's in town to acquire funding for some project he's got going in Mexico. Read: He doesn't have his s--t together.


Ben's on the opposite track -- he and Anna are content with their baby-making goals and whole-grain pasta dinners and such. But it doesn't take much convincing for Andrew to pull Ben away from Anna for a night. They partake of booze, joints and enlightened conversation with some sexually ambiguous artists Andrew's befriended and, next thing you know, the two mates have agreed to have intercourse with each other for an amateur porn contest.


The contest, called Humpfest and sponsored by a local alt-newspaper, carries the purpose of reclaiming porn as an art form. The idea of having sex with each other on film for art's sake appeals to both Andrew and Ben because, in Ben's words, it's "beyond gay." They don't believe it will be pleasurable, but rather provocative and life-altering because they are embarking on the ultimate taboo. It's a way for Andrew to finally do something meaningful and for Ben to veer off his life's plotted course for a moment.


What ensue are awkward-but-authentic scenes involving Ben's wife finding out about the porn plan, the couple arguing through the logic behind the decision, the two friends attempting to psych themselves up before the deed, and finally, the climactic night of filming.

» Continue reading "Movie review: 'Humpday'"

Posted by Hunter Hauk at 8:51 AM | Permalink
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Whilst I was researching yesterday's movie trailer, I stumbled across this preview for a faux film on Funny or Die. In My Mother's Red Hat, wo BFFs, played by Alanis Morissette and Alicia Silverstone, venture on a cross-country trip after Silverstone learns of her mother's death. Made-up high jinks and many, many catchy indie music interludes ensue. None of it's laugh-out loud hilare, but the "remarks" from film critics are pretty funny, the trailer gets the chatty, goofball feel of an indie comedy down pat, and, of course, the music is fantastic. But seriously? Somebody cast Alanis in a screball comedy, stat!

Posted by Farah Fleurima at 2:54 PM | Permalink
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Park Chan-wook, the Korean director of the brilliant and disturbing Old Boy, is back with Thirst, this year's Cannes Film Festival Jury Award winner. And if you thought Old Boy was chilling (two words: tongue scene), just think about what Park will do with vampires, the center of his latest film.

In Thirst, a priest (Song Kang-ho) volunteers his body for research to help cure a debilitating disease. When he flatlines, however, he's given a blood transfusion that turns him into a vampire. From there, our man of the cloth explores the Seven Deadly Sins in the kind of vivid detail we've come to expect from Park's movies. Expect lots of blood, gore and sex ... methinks this film will be released unrated.

Release date: July 31 in major markets; Dallas opening TBD

Chance of box office success: On an indie level, it will probably be an underground hit. But considering the mix of Catholicism and vampirism, it might be too controversial to play well to middle America.

Should you see it?: Hell YES ... if you can stomach a walk through the Park.

Posted by Farah Fleurima at 2:19 PM | Permalink
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Sonic Youth at House of Blues. Leave it to Juno to point out the divisive nature of Sonic Youth. The good: Jason Bateman gushes over SY's cover of the Carpenters' "Superstar." The bad: Ellen Page later screams "It's just noise!" Ah, well, you can't please everyone. Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon's band is touring in support of its new album, The Eternal. 9 p.m., 2200 N. Lamar St. $25.50-$35. 1-800-745-3000 or ticketmaster.com.


Asia and Yes at Bass Performance Hall. 8 p.m., 4th and Calhoun streets in Fort Worth. $45 to $85. basshall.com.


Screening of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe at the UT-Arlington Planetarium. 6 p.m., 700 Planetarium Place in Arlington. $2. uta.edu/events.


Fourth Wall Comedy Night featuring Bowling For Soup's Jaret Riddick at Dan's SilverLeaf. 9 p.m., 103 Industrial St. in Denton. $5. danssilverleaf.com.


Frankie Bones and Simply Jeff at Plush. Plus resident DJs Willie Trimmer, Jeremy Word, Fabian Bates, Kelly Taylor and Jonny 5. 9 p.m. at 1400 Main St. $10 to $15. plushdallas.com or groovetickets.com.

Posted by Hunter Hauk at 8:21 AM | Permalink
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An all-star ensemble cast gathers 'round to witness the implosion of Earth as we know it in this Roland Emmerich-helmed disaster flick.

In the trailer's opening, we see John Cusack mocking the alleged and pending end of the world as he's driving his kids through a canyon. Minutes later we see 18-wheeler-sized meteors start to land all around his family's RV. Floor it!

The next few scenes show survivors of the apocalypse banding together, and cataclysmic damage to monuments around the world. Ooops, there goes the Vatican. Yikes, bridges are buckling in on themselves. Gotta say the special effects are jaw-dropping, with the best one saved for last: A ginormous freighter rolls in on a tidal wave and lands right on top of the White House. Hate when that happens ...

As for the stars, who knows why this film bothered having people in it -- in the end, aren't a lot of moviegoers gonna line up just to see the world caving in on itself in spectacular fashion?

Release date: Nov. 13 ... if the world hasn't come to an end by then.

Chance of box office success: Pretty good -- this is effects-laden stuff coming from the guy who brought us Independence Day. Get in line now. Its only other competition that week is a family film, albeit from Wes Anderson, but still.

Should you see it?: Yes, if only to revel in the effects on the big screen, where they were meant to be seen.

Posted by Farah Fleurima at 8:39 AM | Permalink
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Having attended the preview screening of Brüno the other night, I can tell you that it's just as explicit and provocative as expected. But is it offensive? Depends on the viewer, I guess.


While I had to cover my eyes to avoid moments of extreme awkwardness, I took no real issue with the stunts Sacha Baron Cohen pulls in the film, most of them part of a subversive effort to open Americans' eyes about their own perceptions of homosexuality.


Like Cohen's Borat character did before, Brüno consistently takes things too far when talking to or spending time with the "unknowing" interviewees and bystanders in the movie. But unlike Borat, Brüno seems to know he's taking things too far, and doesn't care. "Ish just vant to be a star," he'd say.


He makes Paula Abdul sit on the back of a Mexican gardener for lack of chairs. He puts a "GAYBY" shirt on his adopted African child. He and his lover/assistant call for help from hotel staff when they get, uh, stuck together. He camps out with a group of backwoods hunters and makes passes at one of them in the middle of the night. And so on.


What a lot of folks are taking offense to, one would suppose, is the way Brüno represents gay people. He's got no sexual boundaries, and he sees everything and everyone as fashion accessories to be used and abused in his quest for superstardom. He's so two-dimensional, he might as well be a cartoon character. But really, does anyone believe that all gays are like Brüno? I give Americans more credit than that -- at least the ones who aren't in the film.


And there's an argument to be made as to whether some of the film's subjects were completely clueless about what was really going on. For instance, there's a scene in which Brüno goes to a military boot camp to try to make himself straight. The two officers barking orders at him are hilarious in their sternness and the way they respond to Brüno's sarcasm. But there's no way they thought this was anything but a comedic experiment. Brüno played his part; they played theirs.

» Continue reading "The early word: 'Brüno'"

Posted by Hunter Hauk at 12:12 PM | Permalink
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The trailer for Leonardo DiCaprio's upcoming thriller Shutter Island (which was attached to chick-flicky trifle The Proposal, of all films) ends with the ominous quote, "you'll never leave this island." Fitting, since after viewing the preview, it feels like it'll never leave you.

The latest collabo between cinematic BFFs Leo and Martin Scorsese, Shutter Island stars DiCaprio and Mark Ruffalo as federal agents dispatched to an institution for the criminally insane on a murky island to investigate the disappearance of a murderess. For some reason, DiCaprio and Ruffalo go from suit-wearing G-men to scrubs-wearing patients in short order -- presumably going undercover to glean facts for their inquiry -- and Leo starts to exhibit worrisome and increasingly psychotic behavior. Between scenes of him taking mood-altering pills, hugging a disappearing Michelle Williams and seemingly trying to escape the island, we get the feeling his federal agent's stay threatens to become permanent.

Release date: Oct. 2

Chance of box office success: The Leo-Marty pairing has been potent in years past (Gangs of New York, The Departed), so I think its history and the fact that the duo is venturing into the realm of creepy psychological thrillers should have audiences curious enough to pack theaters. Only possible threat is if Fame, released the weekend before, continues to stomp the box office competition after a strong debut.

Should you see it?: Defs. I'd say this is a must-see.

Posted by Farah Fleurima at 11:06 AM | Permalink
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FRIDAY

Greenville native Ben Kweller, this week's Quick cover man (read the story here), performs at 8 p.m. at the Granada Theater, 3524 Greenville Ave. With Jones Street Station. $18. granadatheater.com. Hear some music at myspace.com/benkweller.

There aren't a lot of bands that would define their musical style as flamenco/R&B/show tunes. But Cryptacize is much mellower than you'd think. Hear lead singer Nedelle Torrisi's vocals float above distant, retro beats, and suddenly you'll feel like you're doing this weird, dreamy backstroke through time. With Fishboy and Shiny Around the Edges. 9 p.m. Rubber Gloves, 411 E. Sycamore, Denton. $8. 940-387-7781 or rubberglovesdentontx.com.

Fans of legendary Texas singer-songwriter Robert Earl Keen who've been waiting patiently for a new album -- there's good news. Robert Earl's upcoming CD is called The Rose Hotel and is slated for a fall release, according to his Web site (robertearlkeen.com). It even boasts a cameo by Billy Bob Thornton. Interesting. But give us REK all day. 7 p.m. (also Saturday at 7 p.m.) Southern Junction, 5574 Highway 276, Royce City. 972-771-2418 or southernjunctionlive.com.

Joe Rogan made contestants choke down insects and other nasties as host of Fear Factor, but Rogan's joke are (usually) more palatable. He returns to his true love of stand-up comedy, with more loud shock humor (and a hissing cockroach or two?) up his sleeve. 8 and 10:30 p.m. Addison Improv, 4980 Belt Line Road, Suite 250. $25. 972-404-8501 or improv.com.

Dallas' country crooner Travis Mitchell is back with a new album, One Step Ahead. Expect a rowdy bunch at Gilley's as he takes the stage at his release show. In a note to fans about the show, he promises "the most fun you can have legally." With opening act Chris Rivers. 8 p.m. Gilley's Dallas, 1135 S. Lamar St. $8. 214-421-2021 or gilleysdallas.com.

Pastie Party at Plush. DJ Silver spins with opening sets from Krave and Snowhite. Doors open at 9 p.m. 1400 Main St. No cover. 214-606-1203 for table reservations. plushdallas.com.

[Expletive] the VIP Party at Kinki. For one night, Kinki lounge ditches the VIP list and lets in anyone who is dressed to impress. Doors open at 9 p.m. 3606 Greenville Ave. No cover. 214-868-6943. kinkilounge.com.

The Goldfish Girls at Absinthe Lounge. The duo of 12-year-olds spins old-school hip-hop from 8:30 to 10 p.m. 1409 S. Lamar St. No cover. 214-941-9338. absinthelounge.net.

» Continue reading "Day Tripper: Best events for the weekend"

Posted by Rob Clark at 8:44 AM | Permalink
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Who didn't have a crush on Jeff Daniels after his swoon-worthy turn in The Purple Rose of Cairo? Since then, we've seen too little of the actor's romantic side, but July's The Answer Man seems to take a stab at bringing his sexy back.

In the trailer, Daniel appears to be a writer who penned a series of revolutionary Chicken Soup for the Soul-type self-help books, gaining fame and apparent fortune ... then fading into the Salinger-esque life of a recluse. The elbow-nudging reality of his life is that the man who wrote "Me and God" is actually a lonely, cantankerous, gray-haired grump whom no one much likes. When he throws his back out and must venture into the outside world for treatment, he falls instantly for the woman who sets his back right -- the luminous Lauren Graham. So he wants in on the life she shares with her young son, but his harsh demeanor turns her off and threatens the first real human contact he's had for years. Hmmm: grouchy, reclusive writer is inspired by a hotter, younger woman with a kid to become a better man. Isn't this just a mildly revised version of As Good As It Gets?!

Release date: July 24 in theaters, July 26 on digital cable video on demand

Chance of box office success: Eh, not the best -- I mean, haven't we seen this before? Plus it's opening the same weekend as Katherine Heigl's way-more-hyped romantic comedy powerhouse-to-be The Ugly Truth.

Should you see it?: If you're in a chick-flicky mood plan an Answer Man/Ugly Truth double-header. Just please pay for them both ...

Posted by Farah Fleurima at 4:40 PM | Permalink
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Check out the full theatrical trailer for Fame, out this fall. I'm most eager to see how So You Think You Can Dance alum Kherington Payne handles her first starring role. Enjoy the fabulousness ...

Posted by Farah Fleurima at 1:24 PM | Permalink
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The Veronicas successfully reinvented themselves in recent months with a more dance-friendly, electronic sound. With the Pretty Reckless and Carney. 7:30 p.m. House of Blues, 2200 N. Lamar St. $15. ticketmaster.com.

The crowd-pleasing 2008 action hit Iron Man is part of the Get Reel Summer Movie Series at Victory Park. Watch Robert Downey Jr. preen for the screen -- and smirk in that fantastic ending -- for free. 7:30 p.m. AT&T Plaza, Victory Park, 3900 Olive St. Free. victoryparktheatre.com.

I Heart Wednesday at Plush. Reid Speed is the guest DJ. Fabian Bate, Perj, Willie Trimmer and Jonny 5 also spin. Doors open at 9 p.m. 1400 Main St. $5. 888-657-5874. plushdallas.com.

Posted by Rob Clark at 7:03 AM | Permalink
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This trailer opens, forcing you to suspend a big-ass chunk of disbelief: That Eric Bana is a time-traveler who meets his soul mate, Rachel McAdams when she's a kid, then later as an adult. They fall in love, marry, have a kid, the whole shebang. Only problem is that Bana can't control where and when he disappears into the time-traveling ether. He floats off as he and his new bride are honeymooning; he misses holidays. Wifey, of course, gets understandably frustrated. This trailer is perfect because it leaves us asking, "how did this happen? How does it all end?!"

Release date: Aug. 14

Chance of box office success: Strong, I think. August tends to be the month of the unexpected sleeper hit (see: The Sixth Sense), and the chemistry between Bana and McAdams could sizzle the celluloid. The trailer certainly makes you want to fill in its plot holes -- how? Wha--? Whyeee?!

Should you see it?: Yes, as long as you bring a box of Kleenex.

Posted by Farah Fleurima at 8:21 PM | Permalink
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[A bit to tide you over until Thursday's Hot Potato Salad. Read Ben & Skin's columns here.]

Topic: Sandra Bullock gets naked

Ben: I heard that Bullock gets turbo naked in her new flick, The Proposal. Of course it's a romantic comedy. And of course Ryan Reynolds is in it. However, I'd like to go out on a limb and say that I like both of em. Not a big romantic comedy fan, but Reynolds is a funny dude and I think Bullock is vastly underrated as a hot. The other day I was watching perhaps the worst movie ever made, Demolition Man, on cable and I found her work to be wood-inducing. Of course that was 16 years ago, but if she's getting naked, I'm in.

Skin: I'm not that crazy about Bullock actually. She's clearly an attractive woman, but on the scale of Hollywood hots there are plenty more I'd rather see naked. I do feel like I'm entitled to seeing everyone naked at least once. But I won't sit through a romantic comedy with an awful premise to see two seconds of side can. Especially hers. I don't recall Demolition Man but there's no way it's as golden as Love Potion #9 which features the highly believable casting of Bullock as biochemist.

Ben: Do you realize that I just admitted to having recently watched Demolition Man and it didn't even faze you? Wow, I fear that you may have given up on me entirely. BTW, Love Potion #9 may have been Bullock's only good movie besides Crash. It actually wasn't that bad.

Skin: All her movies are great. Especially the ones where she's an FBI agent posing as a beauty pageant contestant. Now that's the kind of well thought-out storyline I can invest my time in. Plus, she's really good friends with Matthew McConaughey, so you know she's got good taste. Whoa, that came out kind of raunchy. On purpose. Yeah, ha ha -- high-five myself for being so clever. It feels weird to be typing this kind of stuff out right now. It's gotta suck to be the guy who edits this junk. Who's our editor these days? Actually this is the last entry, so nobody will respond to these questions, so I guess they're just kind of rhetorical, though not on purpose. Where is everybody? I hear an echo in my head and it sounds cold, if that makes sense. I'm going to go now. Or not. Ha ha, psyche. I'm very lonely. They played Pink Floyd on Jack FM today. I bet those guys were lonely, always singing about their mums until they just broke up and wouldn't talk to each other anymore.

Posted by Rob Clark at 4:30 PM | Permalink
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Guy Ritchie tackles the 19th-century sleuth and his sidekick Watson with the frenetic, manly gusto that's become his filmmaking calling card ... to mixed effect. Yes, it's exciting seeing Sherlock Holmes (a still-buff-from-Iron Man Robert Downey Jr.) turned into a Tyler Durden-esque meddler who uses unique methods to get his man. And it's great to see Jude Law (as Watson) in damn near anything. But watching them muscle their way through one adventure after the next feels a bit like Starsky and Hutch in the olden days. Perhaps future trailers will reveal a bit more of the plot -- alls we know now is that Sherlock and Watson aren't part of the official detective crowd AND that they're unconventional and meddlesome. Kind of like the Scooby Doo gang.

Release date: Dec. 25

Chance of box office success: Hard to say. Only the big flicks are released on Christmas Day, and Downey Jr. can command an audience ... but can anyone remember the last time Guy Ritchie created a homerun hit?

Should you see it?: I'd classify this one as a must-DVR. There will probably be some grade-A Oscar bait being released on Christmas, anyway.

Posted by Farah Fleurima at 2:59 PM | Permalink
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Tonight, tonight, it's our second-annual celebration of local music. Come see Play-N-Skillz, Dove Hunter, Damaged Good$, The O's vs. RTB2, DJ Sober and our host, Gordon Keith. The preshow starts at 7 p.m. with New Science Projects and Mount Righteous. It's only $5, and benefits the North Texas Volunteer Center. Get over to the Granada Theater at 7 for all the fun. 3524 Greenville Ave.

Some more Quick's Big Thing tidbits:

MTV followed our headliners Play-N-Skillz around Dallas earlier this year. See a clip here.

The 33 featured Mount Righteous in a Quick's Big Thing preview on Wednesday night's broadcast. See it here.

The O's offered a dis clip for their Duo Deathmatch, in which they'll face off against RTB2.

More weekend events after the jump.

» Continue reading "Day Tripper: Best events for the weekend"

Posted by Rob Clark at 7:48 AM | Permalink
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Anvil! The Story of Anvil opens today, telling the where-are-they-now tale of Canadian heavy-metal rockers Steve "Lips" Kudlow and Robb Reiner who chased their dream of being on top of the heavy-metal heap back in the '80s.

The documentary's been getting a lot of positive reviews from numerous film festivals in the past year, and here in Dallas, Kudlow and Reiner will appear to drum up some buzz by conducting a Q&A after the 7:45 p.m. showing tonight at the Magnolia Theater. And after the 9:45 p.m. show, they'll even be performing a song or two.

Posted by Jeff Meddaugh at 3:29 PM | Permalink
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FRIDAY

It's easy to mock the gaggle of retro groups performing at Lost '80s Live, but let's not forget they once had that some memorable hits, along with all that hairspray: A Flock of Seagulls' "I Ran," When in Rome's "The Promise" (above), Gene Loves Jezebel's "Desire" and Dramarama's "Anything, Anything." 8 p.m. House of Blues, 2200 N. Lamar St. $27-$50. 1-800-745-3000 or ticketmaster.com.

Dallas Black Dance Theatre pays tribute to the Majestic Theatre, the home for its shows for 25 years, with a special celebration of audience favorites. So expect to see energetic performances from "Night Run" and "Smoke," among others. 7:30 p.m. Majestic Theatre, 1925 Elm St. $10-$60. 1-800-745-3000 or ticketmaster.com.

Artfest celebrates 40 years in existence, kicking off with a wine tasting tonight. And when the main event -- featuring more than 200 artists -- starts on Saturday, pet dogs will be welcome to partake in the festivities, a first for Artfest. So grab Rover -- and the leash -- and get out there. 6 p.m. (Artfest starts Saturday and Sunday at 10 a.m.) 1121 Second Ave., Fair Park. $15 in advance, $20 door for preview party. Artfest admission is $6. 214-565-0200 or artfest500.com.

Local rock 'n' soul fans should fall in love with the Kul's doozy of a debut, Soul 4 Gold. Lead singer Johnny Lenix sports Kravitz-worthy pipes, and he knows how to use them. With Jefferson Colby, Quiver and Sidekick Mafia.
10 p.m. The Bone, 2724 Elm St. $6. myspace.com/theboneclub.

Local singer-songwriter Taylor Davis will add some power to his live act, showing off a new backing band at Double Wide, 3510 Commerce St. Time and price TBA. myspace.com/taylordavis.

Funk Dirty, a college-crowd-friendly band known for naughty lyrics and funked-up arrangements, will hit the stage as part of a bill with Dallas' Dub Assembly. Should be packed. 10 p.m. Green Elephant, 5627 Dyer St. myspace.com/funkdirty.

Dallas indie rock band Aftertraces debuts a new EP at a release show at Prophet Bar, 2548 Elm St. Doors at 8 p.m. $10. Hear new music at myspace.com/aftertraces. theprophetbar.com.

Up-and-coming Dallas band Binary Sunrise, which is releasing a new album on Good Records Recordings, falls somewhere between new wave and indie rock, with many other surprises thrown in. With RTB2 and the Polycorns. 9 p.m. City Tavern, 1402 Main St. Cover TBD. 214-745-1402. citytaverndowntown.com.

Eddie Halliwell at Plush. Halliwell was voted No. 19 in the top 100 DJs by DJ Magazine. Resident DJs Krave and Sno White spin opening sets. 9 p.m. 1400 Main St. No cover. 214-606-1203. plushdallas.com.

Music Is the Currency at Wish Ultralounge. Guest DJ crew Rock-it Scientists spin mash-ups, hip-hop and dance. 10 p.m. 3001 Knox St., Suite 201. No cover. 214-389-5723. wishultraloungedallas.com.

Reggie Zeno Memorial Party at the Lizard Lounge. DJs Jeff K, Merritt, Rob Vaughn and 12 others spin for a cause. All proceeds benefit the American Kidney Foundation. Doors at 9 p.m. 2424 Swiss Ave. No cover for ladies. $10 suggested donation. 214-826-4769. thelizardlounge.com.

The Goldfish Girls at Absinthe Lounge. The duo of 12 year-olds spins old school hip-hop from 8:30 to 10 p.m. DJ Realman spins new-school, funk, R&B and neo-soul at 10 p.m. Doors open at 4 p.m. 1409 S. Lamar St. No cover. 214-941-9338. absinthelounge.net.

Flava Friday at Sting. This week is hosted by actor Darrin Henson (Soul Food and Stomp the Yard). No cover happy hour with complimentary buffet from 6 to 9 p.m. featuring music from K104's DJ Tiger. Doors at 6 p.m. 15240 Dallas Parkway. $10-$20. 214-573-8787. flavafridays.com.

See Saturday and Sunday events, including the Octopus Project and Possessed by Paul James, after the jump.

» Continue reading "Day Tripper: Best events for the weekend"

Posted by Rob Clark at 7:53 AM | Permalink
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[A bit to tide you over until Thursday's Hot Potato Salad. Read Ben & Skin's columns here.]


TOPIC: Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus


Ben: That is the glorious title of a new movie that is headed directly to my DVD player, I poop you not. We've all wondered for years what would happen if these two ancient species were somehow unfrozen and able to square off in a salt-water war. And now, thanks to the fact that people who suck are somehow able to get the absolute bare minimum of financial backing for asshat scripts, it's going to happen for all of us. No disrespect to the octopus population, but enjoy spending eternity in a shark toilet. You're a calamari appetizer sitting in front of John Goodman. Peace out.

Skin: I'm more interested in the Octomom squaring off against the mom from Jon & Kate Plus 8. It's so weird that uterine elasticity is the new key to fame for those who don't have any perceivable skill or talent. My wife watches all these reality shows about big families, troubled dwarves with regular-sized kids and some dude who teaches dogs how to behave. Reality TV is lost on me. Are you sure Mega Shark vs Big Squid isn't just something on TLC?

Ben: It's real, dude -- Lorenzo Lamas is in it. That's just like saying it's made with real bits of panther. The screenplay for this thing makes Snakes on a Plane look like The Godfather. I love garbage like this, and even I threw up on my keyboard after watching the trailer. I think I'd rather be defiled by a gang of prison sharks while changing the movie reel than watch this movie. In fact, I'd be happy to push a chum-covered pinball machine in the ocean if it will help get this over with faster.


Skin: I swear, if I have to hear the phrase "It's real, dude -- Lorenzo Lamas is in it," one more time, I'm going to punch someone in the gonads. And then Octomom will run in, in hopes of procuring more spawn and subsequently more fame. That actually sounds like a pretty good movie. It's a shame James Bond stole the perfect "Octo" movie title.

Posted by Rob Clark at 9:54 AM | Permalink
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I'm a huge foodie (one of my Facebook photo albums is titled 'Stuff I've Eaten'), and this trailer for Meryl Streep's next flick got my mouth watering. Reuniting Doubt costars Meryl Streep and Amy Adams, the movie chronicles harried careerist Julie (Adams) as she tries to use her blog to break her cycle of being a cubicle bunny. As she vows to create over 500 Julia Child recipes in the next 365 days, we follow Child's (Streep) story of how the recipe doyenne made it big.

Release date: Aug. 7

Chance of box office success: Offered up as lighthearted counterprogramming G.I. Joe, which also opens this weekend, I think this whimsical movie will draw in ladies from far and wide -- with this acting pedigree, it should come in second behind G.I. Joe's big haul.

Should you see it?: Mais oui!

Posted by Farah Fleurima at 1:37 PM | Permalink
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Angels & Demons opened today, and I always thought Tom Hanks was an odd choice for symbologist hero Robert Langdon, who, in this prequel to The Da Vinci Code movie of three years ago, is tapped by the Roman Catholic Church to help rescue kidnapped cardinals and to stop a time-bomb hidden in the Vatican. I enjoyed the Dan Brown books and always pictured Langdon as more of a mix of Indiana Jones or James Bond with George Clooney hair. In my book, Hanks was still that boring guy in Sleepless in Seattle.

I haven't seen the movie just yet, but I'm hoping A&D is significantly better than The Da Vinci Code, which turned into a trainwreck of ... blah.

View an extended trailer here.

Posted by Jeff Meddaugh at 4:44 PM | Permalink
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FRIDAY

The annual Wildflower Arts and Music Festival kicks off tonight. Music featured over the weekend ranges from '70s dance (Kool & the Gang), to '80s retro (Night Ranger, Rick Springfield) to local heroes (the Toadies -- and yes, "Possum Kingdom" still gives us chills). Add to that the art on display and food galore, and it's a good time for all. 6 p.m. to midnight (also Saturday from 11 a.m. to midnight, Sunday from 12:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.) Galatyn Park, 2351 Performance Drive, Richardson. $7.50-$25. www.wildflowerfestival.net.

Stanley Kubrick's 1971 classic A Clockwork Orange is still unsettling, but boasts imaginative storytelling and brilliant incorporation of music. Alex, the ultra-violent teen (Malcolm McDowell), rages through a near-future Britain with his three "droogs," before getting busted and undergoing experimental treatments to re-sensitize him for society's tastes. Come and get one in the yarbles, if you have any yarbles. Midnight. Inwood Theatre, 5458 W. Lovers Lane. $10. landmarktheatres.com.

DJ Seraphin at Plush. Seraphin is a producer-remixer based out of Los Angeles. Resident DJs Krave and Sno White spin additional sets. 9 p.m. 1400 Main St. No cover. 214-606-1203. plushdallas.com.

Fischerspooner, Ssion and Organic Arma at the Granada Theater, 3524 Greenville Ave. 9 p.m., doors at 8. $20. granadatheater.com.

The Space Rockers at the Glass Cactus at the Gaylord Texan. 8 p.m. 1501 Gaylord Trail, Grapevine. $8. 817-778-2800. glasscactusnightclub.com.

Access Dallas presents Naked Fridays at Mick's Bar. No dress code, come as you are. DJ ATG spins the best in hip-hop, dance and R&B. $3 shot specials all night. 8 p.m. 2825 Greenville Ave. No cover. 214-527-6241. myspace.com/micksbar.

Couture Cocktails vodka party at the Hotel Capri. Complimentary vodka drinks made to order from 8 p.m. until 10 p.m. DJ NVS starts at 10 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m. 2020 Greenville Ave. No cover. 214-370-9944. thehotelcapri.com.

Zombie Prom at Lizard Lounge. Guests are invited to wear their best formal wear and scariest masks and makeup. Best-looking zombies will be crowned king and queen of the prom. Doors at 9 p.m. 2424 Swiss Ave. No cover for ladies. $10. 214-826-4769. thelizardlounge.com.

See Saturday and Sunday events, including TV on the Radio, after the jump.

» Continue reading "Day Tripper: Best events for the weekend"

Posted by Rob Clark at 7:29 AM | Permalink
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I was never a fan of G.I. Joe as a kid -- too busy watching funny, less battle-intensive after-school fluff -- so I was surprised to find that I thoroughly enjoyed the trailer for the upcoming action flick. But whether the actual plot stands up to the slam-bang, wow-'em action scenes is another thing. Well, isn't it always?

Some bad guy with a vaguely Eastern European accent launches warheads that destroy Parisian landmarks, sending French folks scurrying in fear. Enter an elite team of warriors whose names we never learn (bad move, movie trailer makers -- people always wanna know the heroes' names, especially when they're as badass as "Ripcord") who are fitted with special suits that allow them to perform super-human acts of running and jumping. Insert more awesome scenes of carnage, including the Eiffel Tower keeling over into the street, and the good guys dodging some missiles.

Release date: Aug. 7

Chance of box office success: Unless this is a cartoon-to-movie translation that's as overwrought as Speed Racer was, it should blow away the competition, considering that it's up against the culinary female-empowerment flick Julie & Julia (and let's explore that adorable-looking trifle soon, shall we?).

Should you see it?: I'm on the fence about this. J.J. Abrams' Star Trek has set the bar high, in terms of engaging and entertaining both fans and non-fans of the original series. It's gonna take a lot for lightning to strike twice in one summer.

Posted by Farah Fleurima at 8:03 AM | Permalink
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Taste Addison begins with every food option imaginable and a stellar lineup of area musicians who have made it big. The Old 97's and Jack Ingram headline Friday, and Bowling for Soup plays Saturday. 5 p.m. to midnight (also Saturday from noon to midnight, Sunday from noon to 6 p.m.). Addison Circle Park, 4970 Addison Circle Drive. $5-$10. addisontexas.net.

George Lopez has toured all over with his stand-up act, skewering race, politics and anything else he can dream up to get a huge laugh. His eponymous ABC comedy show continues its run in syndication. Catch him -- as well as more than a few chuckles -- on his "Tall, Dark and Chicano" tour. 8 p.m. Nokia Theatre, 1001 Performance Place, Grand Prairie. $40-$60. ticketmaster.com.

Dallas native Jeff Dunham is easily the best-known ventriloquist in the country, so much so that he's playing the AAC. And he's not just a guy who can talk without his lips moving -- he's actually funny. Say hey to his beloved characters: the goofy Peanut, crabby Walter, Jose Jalapeño on a Stick and Achmed the Dead Terrorist. 8 p.m. American Airlines Center, 2500 Victory Ave. $42.50. ticketmaster.com.

Hey, hey, hey, HEY! Remember when Anthony Michael Hall was still adorable? When Ally Sheedy was still ... around? And when a cool little teen flick made us all want to land in Saturday detention? Relive the '80s with John Hughes' angst-fueled classic The Breakfast Club. Midnight. Inwood Theatre, 5458 W. Lovers Lane. $10. 214-764-9106.


International DJ Silver and the Jackass World Tour at Plush. Resident DJs Krave and Sno White spin opening sets. 9 p.m. 1400 Main St. No cover. 214-606-1203. plushdallas.com.


DJ Class spins at Suite to celebrate the release of his album I'm the Ish. Additional sets from Joe Vega. 10 p.m. 4515 Travis St. No cover. 972-977-4045 for reservations. suitedallas.com.


Access Dallas presents Naked Fridays at Mick's Bar. No dress code. Come as you are. DJ ATG spins hip-hop, dance and R&B. $3 shot specials all night. 8 p.m. 2825 Greenville Ave. No cover. 214-527-6241. myspace.com/micksbar.


Effin Belvedere Bash at Kinki Lounge. J-Mo's birthday celebration featuring resident DJ Pyro. Doors open at 9 p.m. 3606 Greenville Ave. No cover. 214-868-6943. kinkilounge.com.


Couture Cocktails vodka party at the Hotel Capri. Complimentary vodka drinks made to order from 8 to 10 p.m. DJ NVS spins at 10. Doors open at 6. 2020 Greenville Ave. No cover. 214-370-9944. thehotelcapri.com.


Ladies Night at Lizard Lounge. Guest DJ Terravita from Boston spins drum 'n bass. DJs Titan, Phooka and the Crystal Pistol also spin. Doors open at 9 p.m. 2424 Swiss Ave. No cover for ladies. $10 for 21 and up, $15 for under 21. 214-826-4769. thelizardlounge.com.


See Saturday and Sunday events, including Edgefest 19 and Louis C.K., after the jump.

» Continue reading "Day Tripper: Best events for the weekend"

Posted by Rob Clark at 8:15 AM | Permalink
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[A bit to tide you over until Thursday's Hot Potato Salad. Read more columns here.]

TOPIC: What happened to Adam Sandler?


Ben: Did he have his funny surgically removed or did I just sober up? I used to think he was genius. Now I get him confused with Rob Schneider. He's got a new flick coming out this summer called Funny People with Seth Rogen. I hope Rogen wears an acting condom; I'll be destroyed if he catches the un-funny virus.


Skin: I didn't see the mall-cop movie Rogen was just in, so he may have already been contaminated. Isn't it possible that Sandler was a tad overrated in the first place? I can't remember the really great, funny movie he made. Was he the lead Canteen Boy in Forrest Gump?


Ben: Billy Madison and Happy Gilmore weren't terrible. I recall thinking those movies (and Waterboy) were pretty awesome back when I was a complete dumbass. I even liked The Wedding Singer a little bit. I had such high expectations for him, and now I am left with only sadness. He got paid and simply gave up. Just like Donald Hodge.


Skin: I like the movie where he has to save his grandmother's orphanage from a yuppie stereotype who's trying to get the girl who finds his Peter Pan sensibilities and mumble-kid talking crudely charming and cute. It's also the one with the Rob Schneider cameo. That's probably his best work ... to date.

Posted by Rob Clark at 5:00 PM | Permalink
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I caught this trailer attached to my Wolverine screening on Saturday, and it cast a WTF silence over the entire theater. Seriously cuh-reepy!!

The trailer starts out looking like a documentary about South Africans complaining about some pesky neighbors who've brought nothing but mayhem and turmoil to the community. Then we get a look at those neighbors, and the creepy factor kicks in. I won't spoil the surprise, but it certainly makes me want to buy an advance ticket to this movie the moment they're available. More than just relying on scares, this film seems to address deeper issues of segregation, hostility and government overregulation. Adding to the unsettling almost-reality of the film is its accompanying cluster of Web sites that further the story. Be careful: You could easily get lost in these pages for hours.

Release date: Aug. 14

Chance of box office success: Seeing as it's produced by Lord of the Rings king Peter Jackson, this flick may already have a built-in following of devotees and hobbit-lovers who watch his every move. But if the subject matter isn't handled with a perfect balance of seriousness and suspension of disbelief, what looks like a sleeper hit could turn into a laughable, dead-on-arrival flop.

Should you see it?: If you're a fan of high-concept movies and viral ad campaigns that work to blur reality and fiction, you might really love this. I'll be there!

Posted by Farah Fleurima at 12:07 PM | Permalink
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A sneak peak at movies opening this week, based solely on their commercials.


X-Men Origins: Wolverine
That song-and-dance dude who hosted the Oscars uses his computer generated claws to brutally slaughter anyone who gets between him and his frizz-free styling gel. An origin story ensues.

Ghosts of Girlfriends Past
Dazed and Confused's stoney statutory rapist Wooderson and CIA field agent Sydney Bristow star in this horrific hybrid of Dickens' A Christmas Carol and every other lame ass romantic comedy you've ever seen in your whole entire life. Uncontrollable vomiting ensues.

Battle for Terra
Famous Hollywood actors supple the voices of animated characters, putting highly-trained and talented voiceover artists out of work. A string of direct-to-DVD sequels ensues.

Posted by Geoff Johnston at 8:43 PM | Permalink
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This boys-night-out-gone-wrong adventure looks like the adult version of Superbad. OK, the more adult version of Superbad. Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and Zach Galifianakis accompany their groom-to-be buddy to Vegas for one last debaucherous fling, only to wake up in their trashed hotel room with a chicken roaming around and a baby in the closet ... and no clue as to how any of it happened. Oh, yeah -- the groom to be is nowhere to be found.

Release date: June 5

Chance of box office success: This could be a Superbad-esque hit, though, that success might be tempered by the its R rating. But ever since Judd Apatow hit the scene, has that really even been a concern lately?

Should you see it?: If you like raucous and possibly highly offensive humor as much as I do, YES!

Trekkie alert!!!
A pass for two tickets to a May 4 advance screening of Star Trek just landed on my desk. Want it? Be the first to respond to this post with your name and address, and it's yours!

Posted by Farah Fleurima at 1:39 PM | Permalink
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FRIDAY

Local country heroes Eleven Hundred Springs perform with their buddies Tejas Brothers, Deke Dickerson and Jesse Dayton at Double Wide, 3510 Commerce. Doors at 6 p.m. $15. 214-887-6510. www.double-wide.com.


Scottish rock band Franz Ferdinand made a worldwide splash with the thunderous hit "Take Me Out," off its eponymous debut album. Known for having a repertoire of inventive covers, maybe the boys from Glasgow will bust out their version of Brit Brit's "Womanizer." 7 p.m. House of Blues, 2200 N. Lamar St. $26.50-$50. 214-373-8000. ticketmaster.com.


Grab a blanket, find your spot and enjoy the Denton Arts and Jazz Festival. Headliners include Stanley Clarke, Arc Angels and Brave Combo. 5-11 p.m. (also Saturday 10 a.m.-11 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m.-9 p.m.) Quakertown Park, 321 E. McKinney St., Denton. Free. dentonjazzfest.com.

The Warriors, Walter Hill's strange little New York gang tale from 1979, is now considered a cult classic. It's not much for star power, with Michael Beck (of, um, Xanadu) leading the way. Stranger still is how the all-knowing DJ (Lynne Thigpen) could report so quickly on the night's violent events. Midnight (also Saturday at midnight). Inwood Theatre, 5458 W. Lovers Lane. $10. 214-764-9106.


If the football offseason has you depressed, buck up: The Lingerie Football League is starting its inaugural season. Our local heroines are called the Dallas Desire, and the team will meet fans and go through drills in this two-hour "minicamp" event. Alas, we won't see them in a real game until Sept. 25 against the Denver Dream, so satisfy those curiosities early. Noon-2 p.m. QuikTrip Park, 1600 Lone Star Parkway, Grand Prairie. Free. lflus.com/dallasdesire.


Camille Cortinas, the Fishing for Comets frontwoman, has gotten a lot of attention lately for her Texas Lottery commercial jingle. She opens for America's Got Talent sensation Cas Haley. With Eric Neal and Dogdander. 8 p.m. Opening Bell Mosaic, 300 N. Akard St., Suite 300. $10. openingbellcoffee.com. myspace.com/fishingforcomets.


Pop act the Secret Handshake from Dallas is enjoying the success of a catchy new single, "TGIF," and just released an album, My Name Up in Lights. See what all the fuss is about at his release show -- if you can manage to elbow your way in front of the teen girls who'll be lined up to see it. 7 p.m. The Door, 2513 Main St. $12. thedoordallas. myspace.com/thesecrethandshake.


Couture Cocktails vodka party at the Hotel Capri. Complimentary vodka drinks made to order from 8 to 10 p.m. DJ NVS starts at 10 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m. 2020 Greenville Ave. No cover. 214-370-9944. thehotelcapri.com.


Rock Candy Friday with DJ Marvel at Glo Lounge. Free champagne for the ladies until midnight. 8 p.m. 2323 N. Henderson, Suite 101. $10. 214-824-2271. glo-lounge.com.


The Church presents Funker Vogt at Lizard Lounge. Special guests Impulse Control. Doors open at 9 p.m. 2424 Swiss Ave. $15. 214-826-4769. thelizardlounge.com.


"We Rock K Wash" at Kinki Lounge. Pyro spins hip-hop and dance for Kent Washington's birthday. 10 p.m. 3606 Greenville Ave. No cover. 214-868-6943. kinkilounge.com.


Electronic guitarist Joy Basu performing mash-ups. 9 p.m. Plush, 1400 Main St. No cover. 214-606-1203 for table reservations. plushdallas.com.


Saturday and Sunday events after the jump:

» Continue reading "Day Tripper: Best events for the weekend"

Posted by Rob Clark at 8:00 AM | Permalink
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Algenis Perez Soto was plucked from obscurity to star in the indie film Sugar because his own life closely resembled his character's. Both grew up in the Dominican Republic, both dreamed of playing baseball in the U.S., and both eventually discovered that realizing the dream was more difficult than it seemed.


But if the similarities in backstory put Soto on the field, the subtle brilliance of the first-time actor's performance is his perfect game.


We exchanged e-mails with Soto -- who's still in the process of mastering English -- in advance of Sugar's opening Friday at the Dallas Angelika.


Click on the jump to check out our chat.

» Continue reading "Q&A: 'Sugar' star Algenis Perez Soto"

Posted by Hunter Hauk at 12:21 PM | Permalink
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A sneak peak at movies opening this week, based solely on their commercials.

The Soloist
Iron Man discovers Ray Charles busking on the streets of L.A. Oscar buzz ensues.

Obsessed
The pretty lady from Heroes tries to seduce the new manager of Dunder Mifflin's Scranton branch, much to the chagrin of his wife, Foxxy Cleopatra. Comparisons to Fatal Attraction ensue.

Fighting
Fighters fight. Fighting ensues.

Posted by Geoff Johnston at 12:10 PM | Permalink
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Even the most casual of film buffs will want to check out Dallas Cinemania's screening of One-Eyed Jacks tomorrow night at the Angelika.

His only excursion behind the camera, Marlon Brando starred in and directed this Wild West tale of betrayal and vengeance. This was when he was still young, handsome, and building his reputation as the greatest actor of all time; before he blossomed into a muumuu-wearing eccentric who possessed the physique and behavior of a Codeine addicted manatee.

The always awesome DJ Mr. Rid starts things off with some pre-show tunes at 7:30 p.m. and the film starts about 8:10 p.m. 5321 E. Mockingbird Ln. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased near the upstairs snack bar. Extra butter, please!

Posted by Geoff Johnston at 11:45 AM | Permalink
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FRIDAY


Fall Out Boy & 50 Cent: If it seems like an odd pairing, that's because it is. But, hey, those who live and die by Top 40 radio won't mind. Fall Out Boy's slightly humorous pop-punk has gotten increasingly political in the past year. 50 Cent may have been wounded in his record-sales battle with Kanye, but he can still pump out some highly danceable rap tracks. With opening acts Hey Monday, Cobra Starship and All Time Low. 6:30 p.m. Nokia Theatre, 1001 Performance Place in Grand Prairie. $33.75-$41. 214-373-8000 or ticketmaster.com.


'Caddyshack': The 1980 comedy classic (clip above) is a treasure chest of quotable goodness, and featured Chevy Chase and Bill Murray at their funniest. It may be the best sports movie ever. It's certainly the best one involving a gopher puppet dancing to a Kenny Loggins song. Midnight. Inwood Theatre, 5458 W. Lovers Lane. $10. 214-764-9106.


Wine in Grapevine: All aboard the Jazz Wine Train! Grapevine's Vintage Railroad will take visitors on a scenic excursion as they enjoy a wine tasting, tasty food samples and a live jazz performance. Another train ride takes off on Saturday, which is also packed with vineyard events such as a blessing of the vines and winery tours. Train boards at 6:40 p.m., departs at 7 (also Saturday). Cotton Belt Depot, 705 S. Main St. $55 per person. 1-800-457-6338 or grapevinetexasusa.com.


No Genre night at Absinthe Lounge: DJs PWR, Cygnus, and Blixaboy explore many forms of dance music. 10 p.m. 1409 S. Lamar, Suite 8. No cover. 214-941-9338. absinthelounge.net.


Rock Candy Friday with DJ Marvel at Glo Lounge: Free champagne for the ladies until midnight. 8 p.m. 2323 N. Henderson, Suite 101. $10. 214-824-2271. glo-lounge.com.


The Molly Ringwalds at the Glass Cactus: As the name would suggest, they play the best of '80s dance. 8 p.m. 1501 Gaylord Trail, Grapevine. $8. 817-778-2800. glasscactusnightclub.com.


Allen Falkner's Birthday Bash and Freak Show at Lizard Lounge: The Lizard Man will be on hand, a man who has made his body look like a snake with tattoos, brands and a split tongue. 9 p.m. 2424 Swiss Ave. $10 for under 21. $5 for 21 and up. 214-826-4769. thelizardlounge.com.



See Saturday and Sunday events after the jump.

» Continue reading "Day Tripper: Quick's picks for the weekend"

Posted by Rob Clark at 8:45 AM | Permalink
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Yes, Zac Efron's hair is a work of art, Jason Statham's pecs amaze (even with a trick heart behind them), and Russell Crowe can conquer any accent thrown at him. But that doesn't mean you should spend your movie money seeing potential blockbusters this weekend. There's plenty of time (and space on your Netflix queue) for 17 Again, State of Play and Crank High Voltage. This weekend, you need to check out Gigantic.

When I exchanged e-mails with director Matt Aselton during the AFI fest (at which the film won the top jury prize), he mentioned that the movie is more confusing than its trailer would have you believe. Well, it's definitely more layered. The trailer makes you think you're in for a sweet, subtle love story between a single guy who's obsessed with adopting a Chinese baby (Paul Dano) and a woman (Zooey Deschanel) whose quirkiness is only slightly less endearing than her puppy-dog eyes.

Sure, that's part of it, but it's only a small part.

» Continue reading "Defending the indie: 'Gigantic'"

Posted by Hunter Hauk at 2:06 PM | Permalink
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A sneak peak at movies opening this week, based solely on their commercials.

17 Again

Chandler from Friends magically turns into the dreamy dude from High School Musical then learns a life lesson or something. Heartwarming hilarity ensues.

Crank: High Voltage

The guy from The Transporter has a robot heart and has to dry hump old ladies and lick car batteries to stay alive. Jittery, migraine-inducing camerawork and generic grunt-rock theme music ensue.

State of Play

Gladiator plays an investigative journalist with Renaissance Fair hair who is trying to solve a murder or unravel a political corruption case or eat an entire box of donuts in one sitting or something. Running and yelling ensue.

Posted by Geoff Johnston at 11:30 AM | Permalink
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The documentary nerd in me got just a little twitterpated when I read recently about a new nature doc that's coming soon from the crew who brought us the fascinating Planet Earth series. Earth, from BBC and Disneynature studio, opens next Wednesday, which is no big surprise since it'll be Earth Day.

You did remember, didn't you? Is that environment-poisoning Styrofoam in your hand?

Checked out the trailer... which seemed to reveal (unfortunately) that the doc is a rehash of Planet Earth footage and re-packaged for the big screen. And you can definitely bet it doesn't get political like At the Edge of the World, a doc about environmental pirates that was screened at AFI Dallas earlier this month. Still, maybe we could take some joy from Darth Vader narrating it.

"Little orphan elephant left wandering in the Sahara... I am your father. Come to the dark siiiiiiiide."

Posted by Jeff Meddaugh at 4:01 PM | Permalink
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When we saw it: Thursday night


Stars: Sam Rockwell and the voice of Kevin Spacey


Plot: In the near future, Sam (the character) lives on the moon, manning a fuel harvesting operation. His three-year contract is nearly up, and he eagerly anticipates heading back to Earth to see his wife and young child. His lone companion in space is Gerty, a soothingly voiced HAL 9000-type computer that takes care of him.


Snap judgment: Of course, the film can't help but have its Kubrickian moments (Gerty; classical music playing as we view the moon's craggy surface from a distance), but once you get past them, Moon stands up on its own as a creepy, atmospheric space thriller. When Sam's doppelganger mysteriously shows up in the moonship, they begin to uncover a sinister plot -- and unlike in 2001: A Space Odyssey, it's not the computer's fault! Rockwell's performance is nuanced and multifaceted, as Sam's demeanor veers from optimistic to defeated and utterly spooked. An interesting twist leads to a somewhat happy conclusion.


FYI: At one point, Gerty turns its "back" on Sam, to reveal a "kick me" sign tacked onto it.


On the Web: Check out a clip from the movie here.

Posted by Farah Fleurima at 2:05 PM | Permalink
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When we saw it: Wednesday night

Stars: Mira Sorvino, Barry Pepper, Kate Levering, Cole Hauser and Maxwell Perry Cotton

Plot: Rip, an abusive husband (Pepper) is sent to the pokey for several years after hurting his wife Wendy (Sorvino) in their ramshackle house. Meanwhile, Jack and Molly, another couple, live a life of comfort in a beachside mansion with their young son Joey. When Rip and Wendy reunite after his prison stint, she confesses that she learned she was pregnant shortly after he went away and that she gave her child up for adoption. They fight to gain back custody of the boy -- who happens to be Jack and Molly's boy, Joey.

Snap judgment: Despite my affection for Barry Pepper, I couldn't bear to watch this movie, and, in fact, left shortly after the boy was delivered to Rip and Wendy. None of the adult actors garnered any kind of sympathy from me, and I wasn't sure if it was because of their performances or because of the writing. But I didn't care about either of the couples, not the rich ones when they had to give up their little boy, not the poor ones when they began to prepare for his arrival. I didn't even care for Joey! Everyone just clawed at my last nerve until I had to simply leave the screening. And my companion and I weren't the only ones who walked out early.

FYI: Barry Pepper still manages to exude hotness in this film, despite Rip's hangdog, scraggly look.

On the Web: Learn more about the film here.

Posted by Farah Fleurima at 1:10 PM | Permalink
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When we saw it: Tuesday night at North Park


Stars: Charlize Theron, Kim Basinger, Jennifer Lawrence, Jose Maria Yazpik, Joaquin de Almeida. Directed by Guillermo Arriaga (writer of Amores Perros, 21 Grams, Babel)


Plot: Much like Babel and Arriaga's other screenplays, he converges multiple storylines to tell a compelling yarn that touches on the darker sides of human nature. Plain revolves around an illicit affair between two lovers (Basinger and Almeida) who meet at a trailer in the New Mexican desert for their secret trysts. Their tragic deaths (BOOM!) tear apart and bring together their families through an unexpected connection. There's a lot of despair, a lot of secrets, a lot of running away and finally, some redemption.


Snap judgment: This was a fave of mine for its intricate weaving of different stories across different times and for excellent acting by Theron and big-screen newcomer Lawrence. There's enough intrigue to keep this dark story interesting, and Arriaga picks the right time to reveal important answers. Putting Basinger in this film almost seems so random you'll wonder when it was that you've last seen her in a movie. (As Vicki Vale in 1989's Batman, maybe?)


FYI: At the Venice Film Festival last year, Lawrence won the Marcello Mastroianni award for the best young emerging actor/actress for her role. You can see her on TV on The Bill Engvall Show.


On the Web: See the trailer here.

Posted by Jeff Meddaugh at 2:21 AM | Permalink
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Here is the e-mail that just went out. More on these (along with our staff picks) tomorrow.

----- Original Message -----
From: AFI DALLAS INternational Film Festival
To: Hauk, Hunter
Sent: Fri Apr 03 03:01:24 2009
Subject: 2009 Award Winners

Click to view this email in a browser
http://hosted.verticalresponse.com/159823/571850bd06/189000597/45ffcb5ae5/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

2009 AFI DALLAS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

FOUNDING SPONSOR VICTORY PARK,

PRESENTING SPONSOR NORTHPARK CENTER

ANNOUNCES AWARD WINNERS

WINNERS & PRESENTERS IMAGE:
http://cts.vresp.com/c/?DallasFilmSociety/571850bd06/45ffcb5ae5/09519a1ca5

"GIGANTIC" RECIEVES THE $25,000 TARGET FILMMAKER AWARD

FOR BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE

"PROM NIGHT IN MISSISSIPPI" RECIEVES THE $25,000 TARGET FILMMAKER
AWARD

FOR BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

"ST. NICK" RECIEVES $20,000 IN CASH, GOODS AND SERVICES FOR THE MPS
STUDIOS TEXAS FILMMAKER AWARD

"CRUDE" RECIEVES THE $10,000 CURRENT ENERGY FILMMAKER AWARD

"PRINCESS MARGARET BLVD.", "HUG" AND "CHICKEN COWBOY"

ARE NAMED WINNERS

FOR BEST SHORT FILM, STUDENT SHORT AND ANIMATED SHORT

AND

AUDIENCE AWARDS GO TO "SKIN" FOR NARRATIVE FEATURE, "ROCK PROPHECIES"
FOR DOCUMENTARY AND "LUCY: A PERIOD PIECE" FOR SHORT

» Continue reading "AFI: Festival awards"

Posted by Hunter Hauk at 10:05 PM | Permalink
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When we saw it: Last night


When it's playing again: 10 p.m. Wednesday at the NorthPark AMC


Stars: Creative geniuses of the modern advertising industry.


Subject matter: This documentary explores the brilliant minds behind some of the most innovative and successful advertising campaigns.


Snap judgment: Where can we sign up to be an ad copywriter? All the industry veterans in the film seemed to love their work with an intensity that jumped off the screen. Funny moments included the stories behind the hatching of ad catchphrases and ad folks talking about nervous clients who nearly squashed some of the most iconic spots in advertising. It was a joy going behind the scenes of such a creative and passionate field, though the movie could've been 20 minutes shorter.


Target audience: Anyone interested in the stories behind their favorite commercials, billboards and ads.


FYI: The advertising team behind "Got Milk?" nearly overthought the catchphrase. Somehow, "Do You Have Milk?" doesn't have the same zing.


On the Web: The film's official Web site is here.

Posted by Farah Fleurima at 5:14 PM | Permalink
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When we saw it: Last night


Stars: Crystal Chiu, Michael Chen (above), and Cindy Cheung. Directed by Tze Chun.


Plot: Struggling single mom Elaine (Cheung) tries to make a decent living but keeps getting duped in pyramid sales schemes. Living with her in an illegal apartment, her two kids are left to fend for themselves when Elaine gets ensnared in a sting operation.


Snap judgment: What should be a depressing story considering the plight of the kids is brightened by the time we get to spend watching precocious young Tina (Chiu) interact with her serious older brother Raymond (Chen). The kids are naturals at imbuing their characters with life -- Chiu in walking the fine line between curiosity and brattiness, and Chen in turning every frown into a glimpse of his young, troubled soul. Although the siblings band together to survive while their mother sits in jail, unable to reach them, their respective demeanors toward her indicate their opinion of her. Tina still has hope that Mom will save the day despite her many failures, but Raymond is starting to get wise to the fact that she never will. Searing portrayal of a family in crisis that manages to wring warmth and genuine laughs from a tough situation.


Target audience: Anyone who wants to witness a documentary of the working poor come to life as a (very timely) drama.


FYI: Chen made his acting debut on Sesame Street and has also appeared on HBO's Flight of the Conchords.


On the Web: Check out the movie's trailer and learn more about the cast and crew here.

Posted by Farah Fleurima at 4:42 PM | Permalink
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Along with the best-bet trailers and other tidbits over at the Nightlife blog, we've just posted a Q&A with smart-as-a-whip Dallas native Keven McAlester. His documentary The Dungeon Masters -- about adults who are crazy for Dungeons & Dragons -- will screen today and tomorrow at AFI. See you there?

Posted by Hunter Hauk at 12:07 PM | Permalink
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Dallas native Keven McAlester, once an editor at The Met and a co-host of KDGE's indie-rock show The Adventure Club, arrives at home this week a respected filmmaker.

His Rocky Erickson documentary, You're Gonna Miss Me, was nominated for a 2007 Independent Spirit award, and now he's on the festival circuit with The Dungeon Masters, a doc about folks who eat, sleep and breathe "Dungeons & Dragons." Well, not exactly. They also have real lives and problems, which prove just as compelling as their gaming hobby for McAlester.

He says it wasn't much of a hard sell to convince his subjects to let him follow them with his cameras.

"Gamers more than anyone understand implicitly that you need not have been a champion boxer to make Raging Bull or a pedophile to write Lolita," McAlester told us in an e-mail interview. "You only need have some emotional, intuitive, personal connection to the material and a good sense of how to tell a story. Hopefully both those things emerge in the final film."

The Dungeon Masters screens today at 4:30 p.m. and Thursday at 10:15 p.m. at the Magnolia. Here's more from McAlester (I should mention that I hate the guy for being so insanely smart):


You've said you didn't play Dungeons & Dragons growing up. How did you approach the subjects of the film in a way that showed them you were committed to learning everything you could?

I actually did the opposite; I found subjects whose knowledge I could never attain, admitted complete ignorance, and asked them to educate me. I wasn't interested in making a film about the particulars of gaming. I wanted to learn about gamers, about their fantasy lives and how those relate to their real ones; I wanted people who were passionate, articulate, and highly dedicated. They could tell me what I needed to know about the rules or whatever. I ended up playing only once--with Scott Corum, the dungeon master from Torrance. The game involved a Twinkie-throwing anthropomorphic badger and a magical refrigerator that ate my arm. The best word to describe my skills would be "hopeless." And of course the smart gamers weren't concerned with whether or not I could play; they were concerned with whether or not I could make a good film, and what kind I wanted to make.


Who were the "nerds" during your upbringing in Dallas? What were they into? Were you one of them?

The words "nerd" and "geek" mean something quite different today than when I was a kid. Today, mainstream culture IS geek culture -- computers, comics, video games -- and many former nerds are celebrities, CEOs, billionaires. The patina of geekdom has currency, in the same way that the patinas of previous marginalized subcultures (skaters, punks, men who can dance) eventually become mass-culture badges of honor.
Before I got to high school, a nerd was a socially awkward loner with esoteric science-based interests and no friends; he or she also desperately wished otherwise. By that definition, to paraphrase Louis XIV: the nerd, it's me. I have no idea what other "nerds" were doing because, until 7th grade, I was too uncool to even play D&D; I did stuff like bird-watching. As you can imagine, there was not a line of 10-year-olds in front of my house to wake up at 6 a.m. and look for the elusive Ivory-Billed Woodpecker.
I tried to mitigate this by playing sports, but my dad hates sports and I never knew any of the rules. I can remember joining an intramural football team and being asked to play defense. The ball got snapped and, seeing the entire offense run one way, I assumed this was what I should do and just ran alongside them. No tackling, no blocking. Just running.

» Continue reading "AFI Q&A: 'Dungeon Masters' director Keven McAlester"

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» Continue reading "AFI best bets: Wednesday, April 1"

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Tom Maurstad has been chatting it up with filmmakers at the fest. He interviews the director of Alien Trespass and talks fest bidness with artistic director Michael Cain. Check out more here.

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Today on the Nightlife blog, we have reviews of Say My Name, 500 Days of Summer, Hellcats and more. We talk to Tony Wann, one of the editors of the insanely compelling documentary about 1968, One Nation. And the main event? A fascinating Q&A with Doug Pray, the director of Art & Copy (which screens tonight and tomorrow). Join us!

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Documentary director Doug Pray has a wealth of experience shining the light on different subcultures. His music docs Scratch and Hype! examined turntablism and Seattle grunge, respectively. He focused on the lives of truck drivers in last year's Big Rig.

His latest fixation? The advertising industry. But we're not talking about everyone in the biz. Art & Copy, which screens tonight and tomorrow at AFI Dallas, sticks to the cream of the crop.

"My film only concerns itself with the 'best-of-the-best,'" Pray told me in an e-mail interview.

"It's not a history of advertising, it's not a social critique of its effects. It's about those people who've gone far beyond their job to just sell something, and made an ad of great beauty, or with redeeming social qualities, or that simply moves us profoundly because it tells a very human truth via humor or emotion."

Here's more from Pray:


You've taken on some diverse subjects for your films. What drew you to the advertising world for this one?

It was an opportunity, presented to me by the producers who approached me with the project -- a chance to direct a film about a dozen of the most legendary ad creatives of the last four decades. The idea that they've shaped our culture so much, but are essentially unknown to the masses, was fascinating to me. I wanted to meet them and get into their minds a bit. Kind of like being able to have coffee with the Wizard of Oz.

Obvious question: Is there an element of 'Mad Men' culture in the modern ad industry?

Not so much. That's a great show, set in an environment of advertising. It's not really about advertising, nor do the folks in my film feel that it truthfully reflects advertising back then, or today. What it might reflect is more of the "old-school," pre-1960s-creative revolution types of characters, who were more about winning business and accounts, and less about being creative.

You knew the work of the folks you'd go after for interviews in the film, but how did they surprise you in the end?

» Continue reading "AFI Q&A: 'Art & Copy' director Doug Pray"

Posted by Hunter Hauk at 11:58 AM | Permalink
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Got a few heavy-hitters on the sked tonight, folks. Enjoy.

» Continue reading "AFI best bets: Tuesday, March 31"

Posted by Hunter Hauk at 10:47 AM | Permalink
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When we saw it: Sunday night


When it's playing again: 5:30 p.m. Monday


Stars: Numerous female rappers as themselves, including pioneers Roxanne Shante and MC Lyte to current faves Jean Grae, Estelle and Dallas' Erykah Badu. Directed by Nirit Peled.


Subject matter: This documentary tells the story of female MCs not only in the depressed inner cities of the U.S., but also in London.


Snap judgment: The rappers discuss breaking into the male-dominated industry, dealing with single motherhood and getting their voices heard, among other topics. Although the variety of talent the director rounds up is impressive, there may have been a few too many talking heads; a bit of editing could've tightened up the film's message. Overall, it's fun to watch, especially when the docu focuses on young and hungry up-and-comers in the U.K. and in Detroit and Atlanta.


Target audience: Those who truly appreciate the history of hip-hop.


FYI: The title of the film refers to a rhyme by rapstress Chocolate Thai (above), not to the Destiny's Child hit.


On the Web: The film's official Web site is here.

Posted by Farah Fleurima at 3:29 PM | Permalink
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When we saw it: Sunday evening


When it's playing again: 4:30 p.m. Monday


Stars: Min-hee Kim, Mi-sook Lee, So-hee Ahn. Directed by Chil-in Kwon.


Plot: Ah-mi (Kim) is a moody screenwriter who lives with her type-A older sister Yeong-mi (Lee) and Yeong-mi's pubescent daughter, Kang-ae (Ahn). The film follows the romantic highs and lows of each woman: Yeong-mi trying to fend off the advances of a much-younger suitor; Ah-mi being torn between her cheating, no-good ex and a seemingly perfect new guy; and Kang-ae discovering blossoming feelings for her best girlfriend.


Snap judgment: This was my second-favorite film of the fest so far, right behind 500 Days of Summer. Director Kwon gives us glimpses into the tense and sometimes insane love lives of three modern Korean women, and the actresses make them jump off the screen. The story mostly centers on Ah-mi's trials and tribulations, both with her stalled career and flip-flopping between her bad-boy ex who wants her back and a gorgeous accountant who seems perfect on paper. Kim has the film on her shoulders and carries it ably, her character veering realistically from heartbroken brat to self-assured survivor. The chemistry between the always-bickering family members is a hoot to watch, too. In one scene, they turn the vitriol they usually spew at each other toward a suit who tells them to pipe down at a bar. After giving him a tongue-lashing together, each woman hooks her arm around the next in a hilarious show of unity.


Target audience: Sex and the City fans. Ah-mi's troubles will definitely have you thinking of Carrie Bradshaw.


FYI: This film was actually released in South Korea in January 2008.


On the Web: The film's entry on the Korean version of IMDB offers much more info than the American one.

Posted by Farah Fleurima at 2:57 PM | Permalink
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When we saw it: Sunday afternoon


When it's playing again: In July, at select theaters


Stars: Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel. Directed by Mark Webb.


Plot: Tom falls instantly in love with his coworker Summer, and they begin dating despite her insistence that she's not looking for a serious relationship. Things end abruptly, and Tom is left to wonder why it ended.


Snap judgment: This was my favorite movie of the festival so far. Unlike in the last relationship flick I saw, Peter and Vandy, the time shifts in 500 Days are logical and easier to follow, thanks to the film's device of numbering the scenes according to when they occurred on the 500-day timeline. The movie's pacing is perfect -- not so slow that you start wishing a scene would be over and not so fast that you can't savor every moment of Tom and Summer's relationship. Both stars give heartfelt, earnest and oftentimes hilarious performances, as do the quirky supporting characters. The chemistry between the leads is off the charts. And the inclusion of an out-of-nowhere musical number? Bonus! Actually, a lot of the old-school hits in the flick were used to great comic effect. Gordon-Levitt makes you really root for Tom in his post-breakup depressive state without veering into annoyance. And Deschanel makes what could've been an easy-to-hate character equally sympathetic. Bravos all around.


Target audience: Optimistic romantics and jaded realists alike; anyone who wants a laugh.


FYI: Fox Searchlight subjected viewers to a metal detector wand wave and demanded that they turn in their cellphones. Your girl can't live without the celly, so I stuffed it into my bra. Ha!


On the Web: Check out the movie's official Web site here.

Posted by Farah Fleurima at 2:17 PM | Permalink
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The daily coverage of AFI Dallas continues at the Nightlife blog. Today we have a Q&A with Food, Inc. director Robert Kenner, as well as reviews of Rudo y Cursi and Zombie Girl: The Movie.

Posted by Hunter Hauk at 11:35 AM | Permalink
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That said, don't expect to have to turn your head every few seconds if you are the nauseous type. The disturbing scenes are carefully selected and edited to support a narrative. In the less queasy moments, you'll see interviews with folks such as Fast Food Nation author Eric Schlosser. Kenner also uses graphics and animation to make some information, ahem, digestible.

We sent Kenner some questions in advance of his AFI screenings Monday and Tuesday at the Magnolia:

What inspired you to tackle this subject for a documentary?

I have always been curious about how our food gets to the table. ... What are the pluses and minuses of the present food system.

What was your tonal and structural approach to presenting the information you had?

Great question! Tone was very important to me. A film on food production could have been a subject that makes the viewer just want to sit there with their eyes closed. I wanted to figure out a way to add humor and surprise visually. I didn't want to make a traditional cinema verite-style doc. I decided to use animation and visual constructions to come up with images that would help add smiles and surprises. Music is also very important for creating tone. Mark Adler came up with an awesome score!

» Continue reading "AFI Q&A: 'Food, Inc.' director Robert Kenner"

Posted by Hunter Hauk at 11:13 AM | Permalink
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When we saw it: Sunday night


When you can see it: Opens May 8 in limited release.


Stars: Carlos Cuaron, the co-writer of Y Tu Mamá También, reteams with that movie's stars -- Diego Luna and Gael Garcia Bernal -- for his directorial debut.


Plot: Luna and Bernal play two brothers living in a small Mexican village. One (Luna) dreams of being a professional soccer goalie, and the other (Bernal), despite his skills on the field, wants to be a famous singer. When a soccer scout from Mexico City shows up at their game, the brothers' sibling rivalry kicks into high gear as they compete for a place on a pro team. They both end up going pro, but the rivalry keeps building and comes to a head when their teams play each other on the national stage.


Snap judgment: Sounds like a soccer movie, right? Well, it's got a few exciting soccer scenes. But you should know Luna and Bernal better than to expect them to sign up for a simple sports flick. This is a story about brothers, how they directly and indirectly motivate each other, and how they constantly get on each other's nerves. Bernal is the pretty boy with a sweet nature and Luna is the family man prone to angry outbursts. Their effortless chemistry gives life to every scene. This is one of those movies that doesn't fall into one genre. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll pick up a lot of Spanish curse words.


Target audience: Soccer fans and people with good taste who don't mind subtitles


FYI: The big guns of Mexican cinema teamed up to produce Rudo y Cursi: Alfonso Cuaron, Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu and Guillermo del Torro.


On the Web: Check out the film's official site sonyclassics.com/rudoycursi

Posted by Hunter Hauk at 10:49 AM | Permalink
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» Continue reading "AFI best bets: Monday, March 30"

Posted by Hunter Hauk at 10:16 AM | Permalink
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When we saw it: Saturday night at The Magnolia Theater


Stars: 12-year-old Emily Hagins and mom Megan Hagins, along with an assortment of slow-walking tweener zombies. Directed by Aaron Marshall, Justin Johnson and Erik Mauck.


Plot: Documentary follows Emily and her parents on her journey making her first zombie feature, Pathogen.


Snap judgment: My favorite movie of AFI so far. Budding filmmaker Emily is so unpretentious and her inexperience so apparent that she's immediately likeable, and despite the multitude of avoidable setbacks she faces in the creation of Pathogen, you're rooting for her the whole way. She and her friends provide plenty of (unintentionally) funny comments to keep you laughing, and a touching bond grows between Emily and her mother, who is helping Emily while working a full-time job. By the end, you're feeling proud of both mom and daughter for finishing the film and inspired by how humble and genuine they are.


Target audience: Everyone


On the Web: The movie's site is here, and at Emily's own site, you can order a copy of her movie Pathogen.

Posted by Jeff Meddaugh at 4:11 PM | Permalink
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Over at the Nightlife blog, we've got today's best trailers, snap judgment reviews (Hurt Locker, Alien Trespass, Grace and more) and a Q&A with the directors of the documentary short Push Button House (showing tonight and tomorrow at the Magnolia). Join us!

Posted by Hunter Hauk at 2:09 PM | Permalink
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You'll find that a lot of the filmmakers in town at AFI talk during their Q&As about how they wouldn't be here without the generosity of this sponsor or that sponsor. Yep, it takes money to make a film the way you want to make it, and corporate sponsors are often willing to step in as long as they get a little marketing love in the process.


Coffee company Illycaffé took that concept even further with the short film "Push Button House," showing tonight and tomorrow among a group of other mini-docs at the Magnolia. The company actually commissioned a film to document its collaboration with artist Adam Kalkin in creating a fully-functional house out of a standard industrial shipping container.


It's a project with incredible visual appeal, one directors Ryan Silbert and Rob Profusek were happy to take on. And, as you'll see from the e-mail exchange below, they're also thrilled with the contributions of their underwriting company. Hey, we like coffee too, so we understand:


First of all, how did you guys stumble on this particular project?

Rob: We were approached by illycaffé, the Italian luxury coffee brand to document Adam Kalkin and the creation of the Push Button House, a transformative sculpture that was commissioned by illy at the Venice Biennale.

Ryan: I have a long history with the illy brand that started four years ago with their Galleria illy installation in New York City. What some people don't realize is that since they were founded, illy has engaged artists for unique projects as well as support exhibitions around the world. The illy art collection, a limited series of espresso and cappuccino cups, have served as palettes for emerging and world famous artists such as Jeff Koons, David Byrne, Francis Ford Coppola, Federico Fellini and Julian Schnabel. Push Button House was the opportunity for illy to extend its longstanding relationship within the arts to produce a film about a commissioned piece of functional sculpture -- to literally document the process of making art - and tell part of the story of how the brand and art can support each other.

Rob: Really this film is the best kind of merger of brand and art that you can imagine and is an approach we believe there is a lot of opportunity for in the future.


What fascinated you most about this kind of art/architecture?

Ryan and Rob: First and foremost, it was an amazing opportunity to be able to work with illy. As filmmakers we have an incredible respect for their commitment to the arts and of course really good coffee, the fuel of any creative artist.

Ryan: Push Button House is a small window into Adam's amazing body of work; our hope was to be able to convey a snippet of the creative energy that he puts into every piece. Film is an incredibly collaborative art-form not unlike architecture and it was fascinating to watch the creation of the Push Button House and its similarities to film. It's a piece of art that literally dozens of craftsmen, welders, technicians, and engineers all poured their creative energies into yet is held together by Adam's unified directorial vision.

» Continue reading "AFI Q&A: 'Push Button House' directors"

Posted by Hunter Hauk at 1:32 PM | Permalink
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When we saw it: Saturday night


When you can see it: Early summer (limited release scheduled for June 26)


Stars: Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, Guy Pearce, Ralph Fiennes. Directed by Kathryn Bigelow (Point Break, Near Dark, Blue Steel).


Plot: This war thriller follows a small team of U.S. soldiers in Iraq who specialize in dismantling roadside bombs. There are plenty of nail-biting moments as we're taken through mission after mission that could end in death and disaster. Jeremy Renner plays the reckless, unpredictable team member responsible for actually walking up to the bombs and figuring out how to stop them from exploding.


Snap judgment: Don't be fooled by the slew of boring, preachy Iraq movies that have come out before this. Director Bigelow has the chops and the sensibility to lay off the soapbox moments and replace them with edge-of-your-seat action. Renner told us in an interview that he was attracted to this film because it doesn' t really take a side - instead it's about the characters and what drives them. Where has this guy been all our lives, by the way? He gives a performance that will alternately make you laugh, shake your head, and bring a lump to your throat. Mackie is powerful, too, as the guy on the team who doesn't exactly trust Renner's character's seemingly careless tactics in the field.


Target audience: Action movie buffs, acting students and people who don't have stress-related health issues.


FYI: Renner was in the audience Saturday to toast his director as the AFI Star Award recipient. When Bigelow took the podium to accept the award, she stressed how important recognition from film festivals is for younger up-and-comers. It rewards those folks "who won't take no for an answer, like me."


On the Web: No official site yet for the film, but just do a Google search and you'll find plenty of stellar reviews. We smell award season glory.

Posted by Hunter Hauk at 1:04 PM | Permalink
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» Continue reading "AFI best bets: Sunday, March 29"

Posted by Hunter Hauk at 12:29 PM | Permalink
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When we saw it: Saturday night


Stars: Jordan Ladd, Samantha Ferris, Malcolm Stewart. Directed by Paul Solet.


Plot: A young mother wills her stillborn baby to life, with sickening consequences.


Snap judgment: The premise of a woman raising demon spawn is intriguing and plenty bloody, but Ladd's wooden performance as Maddie, a young mom, weighed down the movie for me. I didn't sense her joy in motherhood at all; there seemed to be no connection between her and baby Grace. Perhaps that was the point. Although a subplot involving Maddie's mother-in-law felt distracting, the movie's tense moments surrounding Grace kept me at the edge of my seat.


Target audience: Fans of gory, bloody thrills and chills.


FYI: The ending of the film was a tad over the top. The audience snickered, even though the director was in attendance.


On the Web: Learn more deets about the movie at this AFI page.

Posted by Farah Fleurima at 2:34 AM | Permalink
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When we saw it: 5:15 Saturday at NorthPark


Stars: Eric McCormack, Robert Patrick, Jenni Baird, Jody Thompson and Dan Lauria


Plot: Weird things start happening in a small town in California after the spaceship of an intergalactic marshall named Urp crashes into the mountains. Urp's chasing a red-eyed squidlike alien called The Ghota who eats people and liquifies their remains, and Urp (who takes human form as McCormack's character) has to stop him before he multiplies and takes over the earth.


Snap judgment: An homage to campy B-movies from the 1950s (The Blob, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, etc.), Trespass remembers a cheesy world of rubber monster suits and overstated acting -- your typical low-budget drive-in movie. Lots of classic retro imagery such as the UFO that looks like a pie tin, the couple at Make-out Point and bumbling police deputies that'll make you giggle, but once you see where things are going you're suddenly a little bored with the absurdity. There are some funny moments though, and you'll never forget those comically eerie sound effects that accompany the presence of The Ghota.


FYI: Director R.W. Goodwin was co-executive producer for The X-Files.


On the Web: Go here or see the trailer a few blog entries below.

Posted by Jeff Meddaugh at 1:54 AM | Permalink
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When we saw it: Saturday night


When it's playing again: 10:30 p.m. Sunday at NorthPark AMC


Stars: Jason Ritter and Jess Weixler. Directed by Jay DiPietro.


Plot: Could easily be subtitled "Scenes from a Turbulent Relationship." The ups and downs of a happy-then-troubled couple are humorously chronicled.


Snap judgment: Ritter and Weixler infuse their characters with warmth and bluster at the same time. Theirs is not an easy union, and that's OK. The brutal honesty with which their relationship is portrayed is refreshingly realistic. In fact, I overheard a fellow viewer whisper to his friend, "this is just like my last relationship." Some might find the scattershot, time-shifting pace of the movie a tad annoying, but as holes were filled in between different scenes from different times, a satisfying whole was forged. I wasn't sure how I felt about the film once the credits started rolling, but with the distance of a few hours, the simple brilliance of the movie really hit me. My only tiny gripe was Ritter's mildly annoying, Ethan-Hawke-in-Before Sunrise-esque facial hair.


Target audience: Hopeless romantics who keep their feet firmly on the ground while their heads are in the clouds.


FYI: Jason Ritter -- a clean-shaven Jason Ritter -- attended my screening, and what a cah-yutie he is!


On the Web: Check out the movie's Web site here

Posted by Farah Fleurima at 1:33 AM | Permalink
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Head over to the Nightlife blog throughout the AFI fest for reviews, previews and interviews. Today we've got a short Q&A with Gigantic director Matt Aselton, as well as capsule reviews of Rock Prophecies, At the Edge of the World, The Missing Person, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Undead and Gigantic. Join us.

Posted by Hunter Hauk at 12:29 PM | Permalink
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AFI audiences have the chance to see the indie comedy Gigantic before it comes to the Dallas Angelika April 17. First-time feature director Matt Aselton tells the story of a mattress salesman who sets out to adopt a Chinese baby.


Aselton assembled an impressive cast for the film, including Paul Dano (Little Miss Sunshine, There Will Be Blood) in the lead role and the ever-charming Zooey Deschanel as his quirky love interest.


In a recent e-mail exchange, director Aselton gave us a warning to pass on to anyone who plans to see the film at AFI (there's a screening tonight at 8:15 at NorthPark): "I think the movie is more confusing than the trailer lets on."


Good to know. Check out what else Aselton had to say:


This is your major debut as a writer/director. In what way is this story autobiographical?


It's not really autobiographical. My younger brother did want my parents to adopt a child, but other than that it's purely fictional.


Paul Dano has made some compelling choices for his past films. What drew you to him for this character, and how did he surprise you in his performance?


I agree he makes interesting choices -- in general. I first saw him in a Michael Cuesta's film L.I.E. which was a really poignant film and a sly performance from Paul. He was very young at the time and he's done quite a bit since, but that role really stuck out to me. Paul is surprising in the best ways. He's natural and restrained and he just kind of waits for his moments. It's not something I see in a lot of young actors, I think the instinct in general is to try and overdo it, that's not Paul.


Were you nervous about the members of the ensemble cast developing a chemistry onscreen? What, if anything, did you do to facilitate that?


I suppose I was. It's hard to remember at this point. Everyone in the cast is funny both on and off screen and I think that usually bodes well for chemistry. I don't know that I did anything to facilitate anything. I just tried to make sure everyone was making the same movie.


Who are some of your filmmaking heroes, and how did their styles influence this film?


Billy Wilder, Sidney Lumet, Hal Ashby. They made funny movies that weren't necessarily supposed to be funny and I like that style.


(See Gigantic trailer after the jump.)

» Continue reading "AFI Q&A: Director Matt Aselton"

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» Continue reading "AFI best bets: Saturday, March 28"

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When we saw it: Last night at the Magnolia


When it's playing again: Saturday at 4 p.m. at the Magnolia


Stars: Legendary rock photographer Robert M. Knight, Aussie band the Sick Puppies, East Texas-raised blues prodigy Tyler Dow Bryant


What it's about: Documentary director John Chester turns the lens on Knight, who has been photographing the top bands in the world for decades. He's responsible for iconic shots of the likes of Jimi Hendrix, the Rolling Stones and ... pretty much everyone. But his favorite subject was the late Texas guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan. Knight was the only photographer at Vaughan's last gig before his untimely death in a helicopter crash, and the photographer says that eventually inspired him to search for the spirit and talent of Stevie in up-and-coming musicians. That's where the documentary finds its feet: The compelling and slightly eccentric Knight is no longer content being the quiet guy taking pictures of greats. He decides to get down and dirty, to try to help some up-and-comers find success in the music biz. That takes him on a journey that includes touring with a new Aussie group (the Sick Puppies) and knocking on the door of a young Texas guitar savant (Bryant) he stumbled upon while searching YouTube. The musical performances and road stories from Knight are enough to sustain this doc, but the director goes deeper into the persona of the photographer by exploring his family life and interviewing several of the high-profile artists he's shot over the years (Steve Vai, Slash, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, etc.).


Snap judgment: The performances and the characters make this film a wildly entertaining experience for a music-loving audience, as evidenced by the enthusiastic response last night. Knight shares the obsessive quality of all the musical greats he openly idolizes, which makes for some interesting and surprisingly tender exchanges. Interacting with musical legends vicariously through him and his lens is a major part of what makes the movie so interesting. But the most touching moments come when young Tyler Dow Bryant and his family enter the narrative. To watch a raw, amazing talent try to make sense of what he's been given when his town and his peers don't really understand him? That's the stuff of a good documentary.


Target audience: Music and photography enthusiasts, people who need people.


FYI: If you're out and about at the fest, look around for Knight (in his sharp glasses and funny hats) and his artists.


On the Web: Find out more at the film's official site or at AFI headquarters.

Posted by Hunter Hauk at 10:20 AM | Permalink
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When we saw it: 7:15 Friday at the Magnolia Theater

When it's playing again: 12:15 Saturday at the Magnolia

Stars: The rag-tag environmentalist group aboard the ship Sea Shepherd (and one really cute, lonesome penguin waddling on top of an iceberg)

Plot: Director Dan Stone and his cameramen follow the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society on a chase through the Antarctic Ocean in search of Japanese vessels harpooning helpless whales in the name of "research."

Snap judgment: You'll be in awe of the Antarctic beauty and just as surprised by this group of enviro-pirates who'll risk their lives to save a whale. They're either really brave or really reckless, and they'll do nearly anything to keep these Japanese harpooners away from the whales. The group rams the whale-hunters' vessel with its own ship, tosses smoke bombs onto their decks and uses frayed rope to disable their propeller. Even if you don't agree with the group's purpose or tactics, there's enough real-life drama aboard the Sea Shepherd to make it worth your while. I just wish there were more subtitles since there's so much yelling and grunting involved in being a pirate.

Target audience: Doc fans, ocean-going-animal lovers, hippies, environmentalists, Shamu

FYI: The movie was delayed by at least 20 minutes due to some sort of difficulty with the actual film itself, which forced the Mag to project the movie from a DVD. (And you could toooootally tell.) But they promised to have the problem fixed for the second showing on Saturday. If they haven't fixed it, threaten to harpoon. Wait. Don't.

-- Jeff Meddaugh

Posted by Hunter Hauk at 8:34 AM | Permalink
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When we saw it: 10:30 Friday at the NorthPark AMC theater


When it's playing again: 4 p.m. Saturday at NorthPark AMC


Stars: Michael Shannon (Revolutionary Road) and Amy Ryan (Gone Baby Gone). Directed by Noah Buschel.


Plot: Shannon plays a '40s-style hard-boiled gumshoe in the present day. He's charged with escorting a missing man back to his wife for a large sum of money. Ryan plays the frigid (or is she?) gal who oversees his mission.


Snap judgment: Shannon played his alcoholic P.I. with slow-burn intensity, but I kept wishing for glimpses of his snappiness he displayed in Revolutionary. Instead, his detective spends much of the movie in a drunken haze, slow-witted and slower-moving. Still, the role suits him to a T, and his flirty banter with Ryan brings some laughs. Sadly, the resolution of the movie didn't provide quite the payoff I'd expected.


Target audience: Fans of liquor-fueled-gumshoe films of yesteryear.


FYI: I spotted a continuity gaffe in the film. While eavesdropping on his mark from his neighboring hotel room, Shannon takes a swig from his glass, which looks just about empty. But a couple of scenes later, the glass is nearly halfway full. Busted!


On the Web: Check out the movie's Web site here

Posted by Farah Fleurima at 1:54 AM | Permalink
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When we saw it: 7:30 Friday at the NorthPark AMC theater


When it's playing again: 8:15 p.m. Saturday at NorthPark AMC


Stars: Paul Dano (There Will Be Blood) Zooey Deschanel (Yes Man), Ed Asner and John Goodman. Directed by Matt Aselton


Plot: Dano's Brian Weathersby has been fixated on adopting a baby from China since he was a kid. As he's waiting for the paperwork to go through, he meets Deschanel's loopy chick Happy, and an equally loopy relationship ensues.


Snap judgment: This flick moved like molasses. That look on Dano's face in the pic above? That was his only emotion!! His performance was simply D.O.A. Not even Zooey's wide-eyed precociousness could lift this meandering film -- I kept wishing she'd sing. The only bright spots were John Goodman as Happy's gruff and vulgar dad and Ed Asner as Brian's teddy bear of a father.


Target audience: Boring sadists with an hour and a half to burn.


FYI: Audience members laughed heartily at the mildly funny moments in the film. Wonder if the director's presence in the audience had anything to do with that.


On the Web: Peep the movie's Web site here

Posted by Farah Fleurima at 1:17 AM | Permalink
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What do you get when you throw Shakespeare, vampire lore and ensemble comedy into a blender? Director Jordan Galland knows, because he's done just that with Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Undead, screening tonight at AFI.


Actually, the movie's a bit more complex than the recipe above -- it centers around a young ne'er-do-well womanizer (played by Jake Hoffman) who signs on to direct an unorthodox adaptation of Hamlet. He eventually unearths a weird connection between the play, the search for the Holy Grail and an ancient ring of sexy vampires.


Along for the ride in the film's cast are Devon Aoki, Ralph Macchio, Jeremy Sisto and more. This is the first feature-length movie that Galland (in his late 20s) wrote and directed. The New Yorker has also played indie rock in the band Dopo Yume and is longtime friends with Sean Lennon, who agreed to do the musical score for Rosencrantz.


Here's our e-mail interview with the not-surprisingly funny Galland, who'll be in attendance at tonight's screening.


Lazy writers and publicists often describe new movies with the "[insert title] meets [insert title] meets [insert title]" formula. What would your formula be for "Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Undead"?

Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets Manhattan meets Shakespeare in Love. Or: Waiting for Guffman meets Interview With a Vampire meets Hudson Hawk. Or: The Hunger meets Time Bandits meets Day Trippers.


What significance does the plot of Hamlet serve in this story?

The actual plot of Hamlet has little relevance other than a few key points which ACTUALLY HAPPENED HISTORICALLY SPEAKING: Hamlet loves Ophelia, Hamlet leaves with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, Ophelia dies, and Horatio likens himself to an ancient Roman. Please see: shakespiracy.blogspot.com.


You recently screened your film at Slamdance and now you're bringing it to AFI. What do you enjoy and not enjoy about the festival process?

» Continue reading "AFI Q&A: Jordan Galland"

Posted by Hunter Hauk at 11:25 AM | Permalink
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Here's a sampling of what's showing today at AFI Dallas. Get tickets here.

» Continue reading "AFI best bets: Friday, March 27"

Posted by Hunter Hauk at 10:40 AM | Permalink
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When I saw it: It was the opening-night screening last night, preceded by red carpet appearances by star Adrien Brody and several other filmmakers with projects at AFI Dallas. Brody received the Star Award before the film, and there was a gala party in NorthPark's outdoor space after.

What was it like watching the red-carpet action? My Tweets'll tell ya.

What about the award acceptance speech? Brody spoke shortly following intro comments by a parade of AFI folks and a complimentary video montage. His best line in the acceptance speech: "There's something extra special about receiving an award during a recession. It almost feels safe to go out and shop."

And the gala party? Well-dressed folks, booze-a-flowin', mini crab cakes and jazzy big band music from local artist Hunter Sullivan. Fun while it lasted.

The movie: Oh, you want to know about the actual film? Interesting. Read on after the jump.

» Continue reading "AFI: 'The Brothers Bloom' opening-night event"

Posted by Hunter Hauk at 10:04 AM | Permalink
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Jeremy Renner is an "actor's actor." Building on a background in theater, the 38-year-old has appeared onscreen in interesting character roles in films such as Dahmer, North Country and The Assassination of Jesse James.


He's in two high-profile flicks screening this weekend at AFI Dallas: The Hurt Locker is director Kathryn Bigelow's action thriller about an elite team assigned to dismantle explosive devices in Iraq. On the lighter side, Lightbulb tells the story of an inventor who makes a killing off a silly creation.


Up next for Renner is a quirky dramedy series coming to ABC called The Unusuals. It co-stars Amber Tamblyn and Adam Goldberg.


Here's more from a recent phone chat with Renner in advance of his scheduled appearance at the festival on Saturday.


To touch first on The Hurt Locker, there've been quite a few movies about Iraq that haven't gotten great reception. What's different about this one?


I've only seen a few of them, and the ones I've seen had some sort of political agenda or opinion about the war. I think that's what separates them from this film. There's no real platform here. It focuses on the lives of these three team members in life-or-death situations. And then you have Kathryn Bigalow on it, so it's a good action film. ... I'm not one as an actor or filmmaker to be part of something with a hidden agenda. I like movies that entertain.


Your character seems to be a bit of a loose cannon, judging on the trailer. How do you connect to him?


The character is complex, and that's what attracted me to it. I still haven't figured the guy out completely. Basically he's the team leader for explosives disposal. He's done several tours, and he has respect for the bombmaker and the thing that could kill him. He's a good leader, but he can be reckless in a lot of ways. He does have a John Wayne, cowboy thing about him. But he's confident and knows what he's doing. What I learned from these guys while prepping for the role was that they're not afraid so much of what can blow them to pieces. They are afraid of being shot at.

» Continue reading "AFI Q&A: Jeremy Renner"

Posted by Hunter Hauk at 11:01 PM | Permalink
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It's opening night for the third-annual AFI International Film Festival (Pick up Quick today or click here and here to take a look at our preview package). Most of the screening and panel action kicks off tomorrow, but tonight's all about the premiere of the film The Brothers Bloom, and the red-carpet gala appearance of its star, Adrien Brody.

Brody will receive the fest's "Star Award" before the NorthPark screening of the movie, a comedy about two conmen brothers who target an heiress for their last operation. Judging by the trailer (above), it's good to see that Brody and co-star Mark Ruffalo -- two unorthodox A-list actors -- are having a little fun on screen.

For information on tickets and schedules, visit AFIDallas.com. And meet me back here tonight for coverage of the red carpet gala. Maybe Brody will randomly kiss people?

Posted by Hunter Hauk at 1:58 PM | Permalink
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