Are you sick of comic book flicks? I’m not. And Kick-Ass aims to turn them all on their heads.

Plot Synopsis:

Kick-Ass tells the story of average teenager Dave Lizewski (Johnson), a comic-book fanboy who decides to take his obsession as inspiration to become a real-life superhero. As any good superhero would, he chooses a new name — Kick-Ass — assembles a suit and mask to wear, and gets to work fighting crime. There’s only one problem standing in his way: Kick-Ass has absolutely no superpowers.

His life is forever changed as he inspires a subculture of copy cats, is hunted by assorted violent and unpleasant characters, and meets up with a pair of crazed vigilantes, including an 11-year-old sword-wielding dynamo, Hit Girl (Moretz) and her father, Big Daddy (Cage).

FINALLY. We have the first trailer for John Hillcoat’s The Road. They’re playing up the action and intensity here. Don’t be fooled by the tone on display here, I’m sure this still is going to be faithful to Cormac McCarthy’s bleak and deliberately paced novel.

Nothing moves in the ravaged landscape save the ash on the wind. It is cold enough to crack stones, and when the snow falls it is gray. The sky is dark. Their destination is the coast, although they don’t know what, if anything, awaits them there. They have nothing; just a pistol to defend themselves against the lawless bands that stalk the road, the clothes they are wearing, a cart of scavenged food—and each other. [Excerpt from Cormac McCarthy's Novel, The Road]

Plot Synopsis:

The Road tells the story of a man (Viggo Mortensen) and his young son (Kodi Smit McPhee) traveling through a desperate, post-apocalyptic world. The film co-stars Robert Duvall and Charlize Theron, and Guy Pearce.

Watch the trailer in High Definition on Yahoo. The Road will hit theaters on October 16th, 2009.

[Source: First Showing, SlashFilm]

JCVD

Rating: ★★★★½ 

Directed By: Mabrouk El Mechri

Starring: Jean-Claude Van Damme

Plot Synopsis:

Between his tax problems and his legal battle with his wife for the custody of his daughter, these are hard times for the action movie star who finds that even Steven Seagal has pinched a role from him! In JCVD, Jean-Claude Van Damme returns to the country of his birth to seek the peace and tranquility he can no longer enjoy in the United States.

Review:

Can a movie change your perception of an aging actor? Bruce Campbell gave us fans an homage movie with My Name Is Bruce.  Stallone brought back Rambo and Rocky Balboa.  Mickey Rourke turned in a heart felt and amazing performance with The Wrestler.  Who’s next? Schwartzenegger? Seagal? Nope.  It’s Jean-Claude Van Damme.  And he’s turned in the performance of a lifetime with JCVD.

I’m actually in shock with how much I loved this film.  The timing was perfect with me viewing JCVD.  The weekend before I had just viewed Timecop and Hard Target.  I even blogged about the mullets in both films.  From Dolph Lungren to Steven Seagal, I think Jean-Claude Van Damme‘s films are the funnest to revisit.  Why? You ask.  Because he’s freaking awesome! If you put  him in the room with Lungren, Seagal, Schwartzenegger and Stallone, I would wager that Jean-Claude Van Damme would kick all their asses.  He’s the best athelete and more highly trained in martial arts that those meatheads put together.  Don’t get me wrong, I have a soft spot for all those 80′s action stars.  Jean-Claude Van Damme just kicks ass ok? Even with a mullet, so get off my back.

Anyway, on to the review.  Jean-Claude Van Damme pours his heart out with his performance in JCVD.  It’s absolutely amazing how much he emotes here. Sure, the guy can kick ass when needed, but he’s no thesbian.  JCVD gives Van Damme a chance to act in his native tongue, French.  He seems to be free here, more comfortable than I’ve ever seen him.

The concept is interesting.  This is a highly stylized film (not over done) and very meta.  Jean-Claude Van Damme plays himself, kind of an alternate reality self.  He’s struggling to pay the bills, going through a bitter custody battle for his daughter, and can’t seem to catch a break.  Near the beginning of the movie, he gets involved with a robbery and that’s where this movie gets going.  I don’t want to spoil anything, because JCVD is a film that works best when you’re suprised at each turn.  The film has a sense of humor, yet is extremely sincere in what it’s trying to do.

The supporting cast is great.  No “known names” are involved and that really helps ground this film in its “pseudo” reality.  The color pallet of the film is very much subdued, a lot of greys and browns.  There are some instances where it feels like a black and white film.  I really love the look of the film and am glad they keep it consistant here.

I really don’t have a lot to gripe about.  The only criticisms I have are an over abundance of jump-cuts.  This is due to the stylized aspect to the film, but I have a video production back ground, and maybe that’s why it grates on me.  Jump cuts are a “no no”! However in context, I think it works.  Also, JCVD plays on the fact that the viewer has seen a majority of Jean-Claude Van Damme movies.  The good and the bad.  If you’re a Jean-Claude Van Damme virgin, you may be at a dis-advantage.  Although, not as bad as My Name is Bruce.  Finally, the “4th Wall” is broken and is a bit jarring at first.  However, this is probably the best use of the “4th Wall” I’ve ever seen in a film.  It works, but briefly took me out of the film until I understood what was going on.

JCVD come highly recommended.  Jean-Claude Van Damme is a revalation here.  It’s remarkable to see a “B” level actor be so good.  It’s a shame that his performance was over shadowed by Mickey Rourke.  I think Jean-Claude Van Damme could have been an easy contendor for Best Actor in many Awards Shows.

Trailer:

Stills:

George Lucas‘ much discussed project Red Tails finally has a director and cast.  The LucasFilm produced movie about the Tuskegee Airmen (the first all-black, elite corps of fighter pilotes that flew for the US Air Corps in WWII).

The film will be directed by Anthony Hemingway (known so far for directing episodes of True Blood, Heroes, Battlestar Galactica, The Wire) and will star Cuba Gooding Jr., Terrence Howard and Bryan Cranston.

The official Plot Synopsis has been released as well:

I’ll be interested to see this as it progresses.  As long as George Lucas doesn’t incorporate aliens, I think this has a lot of potential.

[Source: Collider]

Powder Blue: Feature Trailer
music by Didier Lean Rachou

Powder Blue: Teaser Trailer
music by The Soul’s Release (Dripping Whispers)

[UPDATED] Credits for the music used in each trailer added.  This film’s going to have a great soundtrack (Thanks to post commentators James McKee and serpico).

There were rumblings that Powder Blue was the “Jessica Biel plays a stripper and gets naked” movie.  However, looking at the trailer, it looks like there’s something more substantial here.

Plot Synopsis after the jump (it’s a bit of a read):

A city of ten million people, Los Angeles is built on dreams of fame where glitz and glamour dominate the topical landscape. But beneath the tabloid headlines and the flashing cameras lies a city whose people are desperate for an identity, a connection, and a reason to hope…

Charlie Bishop is a former priest who has lost his faith. He finds himself on a mission to free himself struggling with his former religious beliefs and ethics. He loads two bullets into a gun and with fifty thousand dollars in the trunk of his car he roams the streets searching for someone desperate enough to pull the trigger in exchange for the money. Charlie soon learns that his mission may not be so easily fulfilled, even desperate people value life.

On the other side of town, a former hit-man drifts in an out of consciousness on a city bus. Jack Doheny recently released from a twenty-five year stint in prison has just been diagnosed with terminal cancer. In a morphine induced haze he finds comfort and solitude in the freezing waters of the Pacific Ocean before settling a score with an old friend. Knowing that any breath could be his last he sets out to find redemption in an unknown world where the only familiar things are faded mementos of a past love found through a young woman named Rose-Johnny.

Rose-Johnny is a single mother who recently moved to Los Angels with dreams of becoming a star, yet her vision is compromised when her son is seriously injured in an accident. She lives alone in a motel and dances at a gentleman’s club to cover the enormous hospital bills. Her only prayer is that her son will wake up from his coma, and her only comfort is her beloved dog Rudy. One night after another awkward and unsuccessful date, she returns to the motel to find her dog missing. Grief stricken and panicked she roams the streets searching fruitlessly.

Meanwhile, Charlie has moved into the same hotel.  One night he encounters Qwerty Doolittle, an eccentric mortician who spends his days helping the less fortunate in times of need. His empathy and charitable tendencies have put him in serious debt and in grave danger of losing his business. With Charlie’s money and gun, Qwerty has a decision to make. But like others before him, Qwerty turns down Charlie’s offer.

Fate will cause these four strangers to cross paths through extraordinary and serendipitous circumstances. Epiphany’s will be had, truths will be revealed, some hearts will shatter and others will heal. Fear will be overcome by courage, and ultimately in one way or the other, love will be found. [TrailerAddict]

Release date and distributor are currently unknown.

The Fall

Rating: ★★★★★ 

Directed By: Tarsem Singh

Starring: Catinca Untaru, Lee Pace

Plot Synopsis:

Los Angeles, circa 1920‘s, a little immigrant girl (Catinca Untaru) finds herself in a hospital recovering from a fall. She strikes up a friendship with a bedridden man (Lee Pace) who captivates her with a whimsical story that removes her far from the hospital doldrums into the exotic landscapes of her imagination.

Making sure he keeps the girl interested in the story he interweaves her family and people she likes from the hospital into his tale. Produced and directed by Tarsem with a screenplay by Dan Gilroy, Nico Soultanakis and Tarsem. Starring Lee Pace and Catina Untaru.

Review:

I have never seen anything like Tarsem‘s The Fall.  His last movie, The Cell, was visually stunning, but lacked a compelling story.  The Fall combines incredible visuals with an extremely moving and memorable story.  I can honestly say this was the most beautiful film experience I’ve ever had.

The Fall is like a piece of art.  There are scenes that I wish I could just frame and hang up in my house.  Visually, this is the most stunning film I have ever seen.  See this on Blu-Ray.  That format is around for movies like this.  Absolutely stunning.

The story and performances are just as memorable as the visuals.  Written by by Dan Gilroy , Nico Soultanakis and Tarsem, the story centers around a 6 year old girl (Catinca Untaru) who is stuck in a 1920s hospital recovering from a broken arm.  She befriends a paralized ex-stuntman (Lee Pace) who befriends her and begins telling her a fantasical story.  Every day Alexandria is compelled to visit and hear more of the story, but is unknowingly being used by Roy to help him commit suicide.  That’s all the plot I want to go into.

Let’s start with Catinca Untaru‘s performance as Alexandria.  She is simply a joy to watch.  Somehow, Tarsem was able to capture a true 6-year-old on film.  This isn’t some mature-for-her-age child actor.  Catinca Untaru is adorably awkward and enchanting to watch.  She stumbles over her words, is caught up in the story being told, and it 100% in the moment in every scene.  I have never seen such compelling truth on screen.  Catinca Untaru is absolutely the best thing about this movie.  Absolutely amazing.

Lee Pace is also extremely compelling as the paralized ex-stuntman Roy Walker.  It is revealed that he is suicidal and has alternative motives for befriending Alexandria.  His sweetness and hidden motives are captured with precision in The Fall.  You feel sorry for Roy, yet also are slightly uneasy about him.

All the other supporting characters are wonderful as well.  Their roles are not as meaty as the two leads, but all are on the same level.  Tarsem has shown that he is a director and storyteller that can get the best performances from all his actors, from the leads to the extras.

The Fall is one of the most moving and visually stunning movies I have ever seen.  This somehow fell under the radar and hasn’t gained as much recognition as it should.  If your a fan of film, creativity, beauty or a great story, The Fall is a must see.  A brilliant, beautiful, emotional and moving film that is truly unforgettable.

Rated R for some violent images.

Johnny Depp and Christian Bale in the Michael Mann directed Depression Era gangster flick, Public Enemies.  I’m there.

Plot Synopsis:

In the action-thriller Public Enemies, acclaimed filmmaker Michael Mann directs Johnny Depp, Christian Bale and Academy Award® winner Marion Cotillard in the incredible and true story of legendary Depression-era bank robber John Dillinger (Depp)the charismatic bank robber whose lightning raids made him the number one target of J. Edgar Hoovers fledgling FBI and its top agent, Melvin Purvis (Bale), and a folk hero to much of the downtrodden public. No one could stop Dillinger. No jail could hold him. His charm and audacious jailbreaks endeared him to almost everyonefrom his girlfriend Billie Frechette (Cotillard) to an American public who had no sympathy for the banks that had plunged the country into the Depression.

But while the adventures of Dillinger’s ganglater including the sociopathic Baby Face Nelson (Stephen Graham)thrilled many, Hoover (Billy Crudup) hit on the idea of exploiting the outlaw’s capture as a way to elevate his Bureau of Investigation into the national police force that became the FBI. He made Dillinger America’s first Public Enemy Number One. Hoover sent in Purvis, the dashing “Clark Gable of the FBI”. However, Dillinger and his gang outwitted and outgunned Purvis’ men in wild chases and shootouts. Only after importing a crew of Western ex-lawmen (newly baptized as agents) who were real gunfighters and orchestrating epic betrayals from the infamous “Lady in Red” to the Chicago crime boss Frank Nittiwere Purvis and the FBI able to close in on Dillinger.

Source: Trailer Addict

Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist

Rating: ★★★☆☆ 

Directed By: Peter Sollett

Starring: Michael Cera, Kat Dennings

Plot Synopsis:

Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist is a comedy about two people thrust together for one hilarious, sleepless night of adventure in a world of mix tapes, late-night living, and, live, loud music. Nick (Michael Cera) frequents New York’s indie rock scene nursing a broken heart and a vague ability to play the bass.

Norah (Kat Dennings) is questioning pretty much all of her assumptions about the world. Though they have nothing in common except for their taste in music, their chance encounter leads to an all-night quest to find a legendary band’s secret show and ends up becoming the first date in a romance that could change both their lives.(Amazon)

Review:

Teen comedies are really hit or miss for me these days.  Some are smart and funny (Superbad) while others leave me scratching my head with how out of touch with reality they are (High School Musical).  Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist does a great job of being mostly rooted in reality with a believable (enough) love story.  What it does right is make me miss the days when I used to go to shows and stay out all night with no real responsibilities.  Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist is a smart, funny and sweet little movie.

For the most part, I really enjoyed this movie.  Michael Cera is perfectly cast for the awkward musician suffering from the heartbreak of being dumped by his girlfriend.  He is awesome here, unfortunately I don’t know how much longer he can play the goofy teenager.  He has to be nearing is Twenties by now and may not have much longevity as an actor.  I can’t imagine him as a 30 year old playing a serious role, and the roles he’s playing now won’t translate well to a 30 year old.  We’ll see what the future brings.

Playing opposite Michael Cera is Kat Dennings.  She is pretty great here as well.  It’s great seeing a normal looking girl playing the romantic interest.  So often the female role in these movies is played by a malnourished bombshell.  Kat Dennings plays her character with a sarcasm and awkwardness that is believable, but also is someone you can see Michael Cera’s character being attracted to.

There were a couple things that prevented me from loving this movie.  The supporting characters, while somewhat funny, were very one dimensional.  I wish they were a bit more fleshed out.  Also, there’s a whole “orgasm” subplot and an awkward and unbelievable love scene that wasn’t romantic nor did it add anything the plot.  I’m not against these types of scenes if they add something to the story, however here it just falls flat.

As a whole, Nick and Nora’s Infinite Playlist is a sweet love story, with solid performances from the leads and a great soundtrack.  I felt drawn into the world with these characters and found myself wanting to head up to the city and see some live bands play.  While there are moments that don’t live up to their potential, I can recommend Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist as a rental.

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material including teen drinking, sexuality, language and crude behavior.

Slumdog Millionaire

Rating: ★★★★★ 

Directed By: Danny Boyle

Starring: Dev Patel, Anil Kapoor

Plot Synopsis:

Slumdog Millionaire is the story of Jamal Malik, an 18 year-old orphan from the slums of Mumbai, who is about to experience the biggest day of his life. With the whole nation watching, he is just one question away from winning a staggering 20 million rupees on India’s “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?”

But when the show breaks for the night, police arrest him on suspicion of cheating; how could a street kid know so much? Desperate to prove his innocence, Jamal tells the story of his life in the slum where he and his brother grew up, of their adventures together on the road, of vicious encounters with local gangs, and of Latika, the girl he loved and lost. Each chapter of his story reveals the key to the answer to one of the game show’s questions.

Intrigued by Jamal’s story, the jaded Police Inspector begins to wonder what a young man with no apparent desire for riches is really doing on this game show?

When the new day dawns and Jamal returns to answer the final question, the Inspector and sixty million viewers are about to find out… (Trailer Addict)

Review:

It’s not every day a movie with no stars and small budget has the success that Danny Boyle’s newest movie Slumdog Millionaire has had.  This film came out of nowhere, with very little marketing and is now winner of the coveted Best Picture Oscar (along with numerous more Oscars including Best Director for Danny Boyle).  Slumdog Millionare is one of the most memorable, beautiful and affecting movies I’ve seen in a long time.

The plot is a simple one: boy from the slums of India finds success on a game show and pursues the love of his life.  It’s Danny Boyle’s execution that makes this picture so stirring.  Telling this story through flashbacks was a brave choice and it makes Slumdog Millionaire much more interesting than what it sounds like on paper.  Honestly, when I read the synopsis I wasn’t running out to purchase a ticket.  But sitting in the theater, my jaw was on the floor.

Slumdog Millionaire has absolutely no stars.  No one we’re familiar with seeing in the hundreds of American movies that come out each year.  Because of this, we’re drawn into the story and become more invested in the characters.  Believe me, if Tom Cruise or Brad Pitt were cast in this movie, it would be a staggeringly different film.  All the performances are amazing.  Even the child actors are breathtaking.

Danny Boyle is showing some incredible chops as a director.  The variety he brings to each picture is refreshing.  He’s done a dark comedy (Trainspotting), a zombie movie (28 Days Later…), a family movie (Millions), compelling sci-fi (Sunshine), and now a stirring and uplifting drama with Slumdog Millionaire.  Movies like this don’t come along very often.  This is finally a Best Picture winner we’ll be remembering many years down the line.

Rated R for some violence, disturbing images and brief language.