Now You See Me

New Release Review

Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Dave Franco, Isla Fisher, Woody Harrelson, Mark Ruffalo, and Morgan Freeman

Director: Louis Leterrier

Now You See Me is the story of four solo illusionists (Eisenberg, Franco, Fisher, and Harrelson) who form a super-group called The Four Horsemen at the request of a mysterious and unknown person. Fast forward one year and they're at the height of their careers with a stage show in Las Vegas where the Horsement rob a bank in Paris and give the money to the audience. FBI Agent Rhodes (Ruffalo) tracks the group with the help of Interpol Agent Dray (Mélanie Laurent, Inglourious Basterds) in an attempt to understand how they pulled off such a heist. 

Now You See Me is 115 minutes long and I enjoyed the first 85 of those minutes. As the audience we're following Agent Rhodes so as he's investigating how the illusion was performed, we're also trying to figure out how the bank was robbed. This leads to a lot of fun guessing on our part and I think that's what keeps our attention focused on the story. We know it's a trick so we're paying attention to everything, hoping for a clue, so we can solve the mystery. The story itself isn't that strong and there are a lot of holes but as you're watching, you're too distracted by the illusions to really notice (or care). 

The major problem I had with this movie is that it didn't know where to stop. I won't spoil the ending, but there is a little bit of a twist, which would have made for a very strong ending that left most of the interpretation up to the audience. Some people say that type of ending is a cop-out because trying to be all things to all people often ends up being very little to very few. Yet I feel it's a very strong way to end a movie that's all about illusion and perception because as we've been told throughout the movie, the closer you think you are, the less you actually see. But by showing us so much at the end the illusion is lost; the game is over. It's the equivalent of turning on the lights before the movie is over. The world that was created on the screen and in our minds is now not a magical place but just like the world outside. Ultimately, Now You See Me leaves you feeling very unsatisfied and disappointed, which is a shame because the majority of the movie was so entertaining. 

Verdict? See it, but know you're going to find the epilogue section very unsatisfying. It's a lot of fun and a much needed break from the summer superhero and robot blockbusters. 

IMDB
Rotten Tomatoes

Trailer Tuesday - Thor: The Dark World

We are due for another year chop full of superhero films! Check out the first trailer for November's Thor: The Dark World:

This is one superhero film I am really excited to see. Not a huge fan of Thor, I found myself really enjoying the first film. And not solely because they chose the best actor to portray the title character. The story was really well done. And it also helped that Kenneth Branagh was in the director's chair. Unknown director Alan Taylor has replaced Branagh which could go either way: could be good because he isn't influenced by big budget action/sets/props like some hollywood directors (Michael Bay, I'm looking at you) or it could be bad because he really has no clue what to do with a film of this size. I'm hoping it's the former and he will have a "Joss Whedon" moment with this film.

Unlike a lot of superhero films, a sequel to 2011's Thor makes sense. There were a lot of questions left unanswered with the previous film (and subsequently 2012's epic superhero mash-up The Avengers) and a lot of story left to tell. And with a dynamic villain such as Loki (portrayed by the brilliant Tom Hiddleston), there's no telling where what we will see in this upcoming film.

The trailer doesn't follow the typical superhero film trailer format. Instead of focusing on the big fight and action scenes, we see more about the characters and the story behind them. We get to see a further look into the world of Asgard (and the worlds surrounding it) that we only caught a glimpse of in the first film. We also get to see that Thor has completely embraced his "hero" fate.

The sequel sees returns from actors Chris Hemsworth (in the title role), Hiddleston, Natalie Portman, Kat Denning, Stellan Skarsgard, and Anthony Hopkins as Thor's father and King of Asgard. New to the franchise is Christopher Eccelston, who will be taking on the role of the main antagonist in this film, Malekith. I'm excited to see what he will bring to this role as he is a great actor who can take on any role.

The film is set to be released on November 8, 2013 and will unfortunately be converted to 3D post-production. Oh joy. (Have you seen Clash of the Titans? Check out our review of that mess here). 

For more information on the upcoming film, check out the official page here or the Wikipedia page and be sure to check Don't Sit Next To Us for updates!

Trailer Tuesday - The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

The first teaser trailer for the second installment in The Hunger Games trilogy has been released! Check it out:

The sequel to the hugely successful first film, entitled The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, picks up directly where we left off in the 2012 film with Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) having outsmarted the Capitol alongside Peeta Mallerk (Josh Hutchison) and winning the Hunger Games. The pair must now embark on a "Victor's Tour" of the other districts and Katniss begins to sense that a rebellion is brewing amongst the poorer districts. The Capitol, however, is still very much in control, and preparing for the 75th Annual Hunger Games, which will incorporate a twist that changes everything for the pair and Panem.

It goes without saying that this film will be successful. The series has gained a huge following before it was even brought to the big screen. Fans of the novel series rushed to the theatres to see the first film, allowing it to earn a very substantial amount at the box office. However, the film itself was well received by critics. Director Gary Ross created a very believable version of Suzanne Collins' novel which was well liked by fans and critics, something that doesn't always happen.

For the second film, Ross left the director role and Francis Lawrence (who's films include I Am Legend, Constantine, and Water For Elephants) was brought on to direct. Lawrence will also be directing the final two installments (which is a two part film adaptation of the third novel in the series, Mocking Jay) of the film series.

The trailer. Wow. What a great first glimpse at the dystopian future that Collins' envisioned. This is what a trailer should look like. It was great from start to finish. We see Katniss and Peeta being welcomed by one of the districts while on the "Victor's Tour", which should be a joyous occasion but is anything but. Something has changed in the public and The Capitol is ready to snuff out this "hope" before it creates an uprising. That means Katniss has become public enemy number 1 in their eyes.

And what a cast! Along with Lawrence (who just picked up an Oscar for her role in Silver Linings Playbook) and Hutchison, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Lenny Kravitz, Elizabeth Banks, Stanley Tucci and Donald Sutherland all return to reprise their roles. Joining them are Jena Malone and Phillip Seymour Hoffman. That scene shown in the trailer with Sutherland and Hoffman is dynamic and I can't wait to see more!

I'm not going to talk too much more about this trailer as I will save my thoughts for our review when the film is released.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is set to be released on November 22, 2013.

For more information on the upcoming film, check out the Wikipedia page or the official page.

Trailer Tuesday - Elysium

Looks like we are in for a summer of sci-fi movies and I couldn't be happier! Check out this trailer for Elysium:

Wow! That was my first thought after seeing this trailer. Just WOW.

Elysium is director Neill Blomkamp's first film since 2009's game-changer District 9. We see Blomkamp once again team up with Sharlto Copley (the two previously worked together in District 9 and Alive in Joburg) and also stars Matt Damon, Jodie Foster, William Fichtner, and Diego Luna.

In the distant future, the wealthy and elite live on Elysium, a man-made space station in Earth's orbit, and the rest of the population live on what's left of Earth. The elite enforce anti-immigration laws in order to preserve the luxurious lifestyle of those living on Elysium while the people on Earth continue to fight to get into the station. Max (Damon), whose health is deteriating, agrees to take on a dangerous mission that sees him take on the ones in power on Elysium and could not only save his life, but also bring peace and equality to these two worlds.

What really stood out for me after seeing this trailer were the effects. Blomkamp has a knack for creating realistic, sci-fi scenes, props and creatures. He steps outside of the box and does not do what you expect of a sci-fi film director and I believe that is what makes his films come together so well. If this film is anywhere near what he accomplished with District 9 (which was one of the best films of 2009), we are in for a treat!

The film is set to be released on August 9, 2013. 

For more information on the upcoming sci-fi flick, check out the Wikipedia page here and stay tuned to Don't Sit Next To Us for the latest updates. 

G.I. Joe: Retaliation AKA G.I. Joe CRAP Retaliation

G.I. Joe: Retaliation
Director: Jon Chu
Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Channing Tatum, and Bruce Willis
New Release Review

I can't believe we saw this in theatre. We were desperate to see something and March had been a month with little to offer in terms of decent movies. It was the last weekend of the month and there we were, stuck with nothing on our Spring 2013 Movie List and an incredible need to just be in the theatre, not caring what we were going to see.

This "sequel" starts with the G.I. Joes being framed for stealing nuclear warheads from Pakistan by Zartan who, as seen in the finale of the first film, is impersonating the American President. The team is attacked and eliminated, including Duke (Tatum), with Roadblock (Johnson), Flint (D.J. Cotrona) and Lady Jaye (Adrianne Palicki) as the only survivors.

Storm Shadow (Byung-hun Lee) and Firefly (Ray Stevenson) attempt to rescue Cobra Commander (who is NOT being played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt) from a futuristic prison in Germany. In a very random and unorganized scene, Storm Shadow is captured, to almost immediately after, break out and manage to rescue Cobra Commander. He is injured in the escape and heads, again randomly, to the Himalayas to recover. And then we are introduced to the Blind Master (RZA), the leader of the Arashikage Clan (the clan that Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow grew up and studied in), sends Snake Eyes (Ray Park) and his apprentice Jinx (Elodie Yung) to capture Storm Shadow so that he can answer for the murder of the Hard Master (who we saw in a flash back in the first film, murdered by what was assumed to be a young Storm Shadow).

Branded as traitors and Enemies of the State, Roadblock, Flint and Lady Jaye return to the USA where they set up base in Roadblock's home town and plan to take down Zartan and the Cobra. Battles continue, cheesy lines are abundant and the already messy storyline continues until it's lame ending.

Can you tell that I did not enjoy this film in the slightest? Okay, maybe I am being too harsh. But it was awful. Bad acting. Bad writing. Bad fight scenes. Bad graphics. Bad everything!

Where the previous film (see our Throwback review here) tried to become more futuristic, this film tried to revert back to the original tactics that we all knew and loved from the G.l. Joe franchise. However, it failed miserably. The story had to be the worst part of the film. It jumped all over the place, never quite finding its way. Everything seemed to happen at random. There was no explanation (not that we always need one but is appreciated when new things seemingly "pop" up out of nowhere) as to why things were happening. They just did. It's almost like the writers had a free-for-all and took whatever ideas they all had, and mashed them up into one big, giant pile of crap.

The other major issue with this film is that it did not follow ANY of the storylines that were previously created in the first film. There was no mention of former Joe team members. They simply just weren't there. Sure, Tatum was included in the cast. But was killed off within the first 15 minutes of the film (which apparently was an extended appearance by Tatum than was originally planned).  Never mind references the events that took place in the 2009 film.

The acting was so bad, it's not even worth mentioning. Don't be fooled: despite what the promotional material for this film showed, Willis is BARELY in the film. But I will give him this: the scenes he was in, were the best ones. 

And why was this film in 3D? It definitely did not warrant a 3D conversion. From the 2D version that we saw, there was no point in having this film featured in 3D. Not one thing flew out at the screen. And there was nothing worth enhancing in terms of graphics. Enhancing them would only magnify this monstrosity.

Final Verdict: Skip it. Do I need to explain any further why? Simply a waste of time. Did the people behind this film spend the entire budget on converting it to 3D and securing action stars Willis and Johnson? Well, it wasn't worth it. And the comedic relief? Sure, we laughed. We laughed at how pathetic this latest Hasbro film was. Now YOU know, and knowing is half the battle.

Oz the Great and Powerful OR Oz the Good and Able

Oz the Great and Powerful
Director: Sam Raimi
Starring: James Franco, Mila Kunis, Michelle Williams, and Rachel Weisz
New Release Review

Well it's been almost four weeks since these Movie Geeks have been to the movies. A travesty, I know. The lack of decent films being released on top of being a busy month, March has not been kind to Don't Sit Next To Us. But, don't fret! We are back! And here is your first new release review: Oz the Great and Powerful.

Oz takes place twenty years prior to the events that take place in The Wizard of Oz where we first meet Oscar "Oz" Diggs (Franco) who is working as a small-time traveling magician. Escaping a confrontation with the circus strongman, Oscar takes off in a hot air balloon and is sucked into a tornado that takes him to the Land of Oz. After his crash landing, Oscar meets a witch named Theodora (Kunis) who believes Oscar is the wizard prophesied to overthrow the Wicked Witch who killed her father, the king of Oz. The two begin the journey towards Emerald City after Oscar jumps at the notion that he will be the new king of Oz. They share a flirtatious moment and Theodora quickly falls for Oscar, hoping that she will be his queen.
Along the way, they encounter a flying monkey named Finley (Zach Braff) who Oscar saves from a lion. Finley pledges a life debt to Oscar and becomes a trusted companion for the wizard.

When he arrives at Emerald City, Oscar meets Evanora (Weisz), Theodora's sister, who tells him that the Wicked Witch resides in the Dark Forest and can be killed by destroying her wand. Oscar and Finley go on a mission to destroy the witch so that Oscar can become King of Oz. Instead of meeting the Wicked Witch, Oscar discovers that it is Glinda the Good Witch who he was sent to kill and that Evanora is the true Wicked Witch. Reluctantly, Oscar joins forces with Glinda to stop Evanora and reclaim Oz.

I was rather indifferent about seeing this film in theatre. The storyline and the graphics definitely had me intrigued, but not enough to run to the theatre during opening weekend to see it. I happened to see it randomly and was happy with the outcome. It was enjoyable. It was a decent story with top notch 3D graphics. If it weren't for those graphics, the film would not be as fun.

This is what a 3D film should be - it enhanced the overall look of the film and it added depth, literally and figuratively. It made the audience feel like they were in the film. There are a lot of films out there that simply add the 3D effect in order to earn more revenue but definitely don't need it. This was not one of those films.

The acting was okay. Not what I expected from this cast. Franco wasn't anything special as the title character. He provided a few laughs but that's about it. It seemed like he was going through the motions with this film. But it also looked like he wasn't given much in terms of character development and depth.

The three witches (Kunis, Weisz and Williams) were very bland. Which was extremely surprising to me as all three are talented (in different ways) actresses. When they were evil, they weren't evil enough. And the film incorporates one of the most iconic evil characters in film/literature history. It definitely didn't feel that way with this portrayal of the character. Basically, I was bored while watching these characters.

Braff as the flying monkey, Finley, was decent. However, he reminded me a lot of Billy Crystal. His voice, his comedic timing, all things that Crystal has done in the past (think Monsters Inc.). Though his character was welcomed as he provided the majority of the comedy in this film.

Final Verdict: See it. It's a decent family/adventure film. It's from Disney, so you know right off the bat that it will be good to see. However, this re-imagining of the classic story of Oz is not where it should be. It is nowhere near the masterpiece that Tim Burton created with 2010's Alice in Wonderland (check out our review here). But it is an acceptable March release. Perhaps Franco's other March release, Spring Breakers provides him with a character that is more in his league and he can do more with.

Rotten Tomatoes

Trailer Tuesday - The Wolverine

For all you Marvel geeks out their, check out the teaser trailer for The Wolverine:

Looks like we are in for another summer of superhero films!

Everyone's favourite anti-hero is back in this second installment in the Wolverine and X-Men series. But this isn't your typical sequel. Because Marvel likes to make the X-Men series complicated, The Wolverine takes place after the events of the third X-Men film, X-Men: The Last Stand. For those that remember, X-Men Origins: Wolverine took place before Wolverine joined the X-Men in the first film (X-Men). AND it is the sixth installment in the series, that also includes: X2: X-Men United and X-Men: First Class. The seventh installment, X-Men: Days of Future Past is already slated to be released in 2014.

Okay, now that we got that crazy background out of the way, let's discuss this week's trailer.

Hugh Jackman is back as the title character and is more disgruntled than ever. Still dealing with the fallout of the events in The Last Stand, Wolverine (Logan) is brought to Japan to meet with a mysterious man who he had once saved. The man, who is now on his death bed, presents Logan with a way to end his eternal life. Having struggled with his fate and what he has become for years, Logan is thrown into a state of vulnerability that he hasn't seen since he was a child. 

There is no doubt that this film will be successful. Jackman has proven several times over that he has become the character of Wolverine. He has also proven that he can carry his own film featuring this fan-favourite X-Men character. This film also features another fan-favourite, this time in the form of the storyline which is based on the highly regarded comic book arc of the same name.  

The last Wolverine film did not fare too well against critics so the team behind this second Jackman film decided to do something different. From a fan of the television series, I hope we get to see a few of our favourite and more well known X-Men characters which was something the previous film did. I'm still waiting for a bigger part for Gambit.

The latest in the X-Men series is set to be released on July 26, 2013. And yes, it will be in 3D. Because what isn't these days?

For more information on the upcoming Marvel film, check out the Wikipedia page or the film's official page.

Trailer Tuesday - The Bling Ring

This week's edition of Trailer Tuesday features the latest film by writer/director Sofia Coppola. Check out the trailer for The Bling Ring:

Looks like Emma Watson (aka Hermione Granger) is making a clear break from the more family-friendly character we watched her grow up as in the Harry Potter series. She is one younger female actress that I believe will be able to have a successful career post kid/teen franchise. We saw her tackle a serious, darker role in last year's The Perks of Being A Wallflower (read our review here), and I am looking forward to see what she does in this new film.

Inspired by actual events, The Bling Ring is based on a group of fame-obsessed teenagers who use the internet to track celebrities' whereabouts in order to rob their homes. Real-life victim Paris Hilton will be making a cameo which could be a good or bad thing. I am hoping for good. I doubt Coppola would include Hilton in the film if it wasn't going to be in good taste.

We only get a glimpse of what Coppola has created with her latest teen drama film in this teaser trailer, but from what is shown, it looks like we are in store for another game-changer ala Coppola's The Virgin Suicides. That film showed us the darker side of teenage life and it looks like this film will do the same, albeit in an updated format. Coppola also found a muse in Kirsten Dunst after working with the actress in The Virgin Suicides (the two worked together again in Coppola's 2006 film, Marie Antoinette). Perhaps she will find another one in Watson. 

The Bling Ring, which marks Coppola's first film since 2010's Somewhere, is set to be released on June 14, 2013.

For more information on the upcoming teen crime drama, check out the Wikipedia page here and be sure to check Don't Sit Next To Us for the latest updates on the film.

Trailer Tuesday - Much Ado About Nothing

 Joss Whedon really can do it all. This week on Trailer Tuesday, we catch a glimpse of what's in store for Whedon fans this summer with his take on the Shakespeare classic, Much Ado About Nothing. Check out the trailer here:

Here's the amazing thing about Whedon: he goes from directing and writing the big blockbuster action film The Avengers last summer to creating something much more subdued with this summer's Much Ado About Nothing. It's what makes him so unique and also so appealing to the general public and critics alike.

Whedon takes on a journey through one of Shakespeare's most well-known plays in a unique way - the entire film was shot at his personal residence in California, in a matter of weeks. And in true Whedon fashion, the cast is made up of some of his regular collaborative partners including: Amy Acker (Angel, Dollhouse), Alexis Denisof (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel), Nathan Fillion (Firefly, Buffy the Vampire Slayer), and Fran Kanz (The Cabin in the Woods, Dollhouse). Anthony Head (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) was originally slated to be part of this ensemble cast, but was unable to commit so Clark Gregg (The Avengers) was cast.

I'm interested to see how this film turns out. The trailer is very intriguing as it is so different than anything else that is out there these days. Critics are already praising this film, as it was screened at the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival. It's being hailed as the best contemporary Shakespeare film since Baz Lurhman's Romeo and Juilet.

Perhaps the best one sentence review of the film comes from Christopher Schobert of IndieWire who wrote, "The result is an utter joy, Whedon's most emotionally resonant and fully realized feature film to date. And I say that as one who is not a devoted member of the Whedon army".

I am a devoted member of the Whedon army but that's not the only reason why I can't wait to see this film. It truly looks interesting and refreshing. A filmmaker's film, as Abed Nadir from Community would say.

For more information on the upcoming film, check out the Wikipedia page here.

Identity Thief AKA Everyday I'm Hustlin'

Identity Thief
Director: Seth Gordon
Starring: Jason Bateman, Melissa McCarthy, and John Cho
New Release Review

I'm just going to flat out say it: I really enjoyed this film! I found it to be the perfect February comedy. February and March are tough months for films in general, with the Oscars and upcoming summer blockbusters taking most of the hype for movie news. A successful movie during these months doesn't need to be the best in it's genre; it just needs to be decent. Carry out your plot well, have a few memorable moments, and be somewhat plausible and you have a recipe for a perfect film during the "winter-blahs" months.

Identity Thief stars Jason Bateman as Sandy Patterson, who unknowingly (and quite idiotically) gives out his personal information (name, date of birth, and social security) over the phone to a woman who claims to work for one of his credit card companies. The woman, Diana (McCarthy), prints out credit cards and begins a spending spree maxing out several cards in Sandy's name.

Sandy finds out that his boss (Jon Favreau) has decided to make cuts on bonuses for his firm, but is still claiming a bonus for himself. Along with several other irate colleagues, Sandy and his co-worker Daniel (Cho), make plans to start their own firm. Sandy learns of his credit problems when his card is declined at a gas station. He is later arrested for missing a court date in Florida for assault and at the police station, he finds out that Diana (after seeing her mug shot) has stolen his identity. The police confirm that they are unable to do anything unless the identity thief is in their state, Sandy takes it upon himself to locate her and bring her back to the city to clear his name.

I am not sure why critics are judging this film so harshly. It was enjoyable. It had laughs, it had heart. I had a lot of fun watching it. Sure, the plotline isn't the most original, but Bateman and McCarthy make it so worthwhile. Their hard work in this film does not go unnoticed. The duo carries the film from start to finish with their remarkable chemistry and comedic teamwork. They balance each other with their polar opposite approaches to comedy: McCarthy is in-your-face while Bateman is relaxed and deadpan.
Yes, a lot of the laughs were showcased in the trailers, but there's definitely more laughs in this film than there were in 2012's Ted (check out our review of that film here). The music included in the film helps to make the experience that much more enjoyable, providing some good comedic moments like the scene with McCarthy and Bateman in the car going through the various radio stations where McCarthy's character sings along with every song that comes on, annoying Bateman's character.

I'm not sure why people are so quick to condemn this film. Remember movie fans: you can't judge all movies the same! You have to take them for what they are. Not every movie is going to be a blockbuster or Academy favourite. Films, for the most part, are meant to be an escape from reality; a chance to get lost in a fictional story for an hour or two. Think about your favourite movie and I guarantee the majority of you are thinking of a film that wasn't necessarily loved by all, but you still enjoy it.

Final Verdict: See it. It's worth it to see Bateman and McCarthy work so well together. It's also great to see McCarthy in one of her first starring roles in a film. Go in with an open mind and be ready to laugh at some silly scenes and you'll enjoy this film. And please don't compare it to Planes, Trains, and Autombiles (check out our review of that film here). Just because it has a road trip with unlikely partners element, doesn't mean it's a rip off of the John Hughes film. Even if it was, you can't compare anything to that 80s gem because nothing else will measure up (i.e. 2010's Due Date).

Rotten Tomatoes

Harrison Ford Joins the Cast of Anchorman: The Legend Continues

Rumours have been circulating for quite some time that Harrison Ford would be joining the cast of Anchorman: The Legend Continues and early last week, photos of the veteran actor on set with Will Ferrell began to surface. I guess it's safe to say that Ford will be involved in the upcoming sequel to the 2004 hit comedy.

Looks like Ford is slated to play a veteran news anchor similar to Tom Brokaw in this 70s era film.

Little is being shared about the film, that is set to be released in December of this year. What we do know is as followings:

• the original cast including Ferrell, Steve Carrell, Paul Rudd, Christina Applegate, and David Koechner are all returning
• new cast members include: Kristen Wiig and Meagan Good
• the film will take place in New York instead of San Diego
• Wiig will be portraying Carrell's love interest
• Ferrell will once again create the script with McKay
• laughter is almost guaranteed

If Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy has taught us anything, it's that Adam McKay knows how to utilize cameo appearances by some great actors who can some times steal the show.

Remember this epic battle from the original film?

Check out the E! Online article here on Ford being spotted on set.

Check out the Wikipedia page here or the official page here for more information on the upcoming film.

Trailer Tuesday - The Hangover Part III

Last week, I saw this poster on the Warner Bros. Canada Facebook page and could not stop laughing.

This is why I love Warner Bros. What a clever way to promote this upcoming film by utilizing another successful Warner Bros. film's poster (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2). Check out that poster here.

Check out the latest trailer for The Hangover Part III: 

                                      

Even before the second film in the series was released, there were plans to create a third film. Director/writer Todd Phillips struck gold with The Hangover and in turn, the cast have become A-list comedic stars. 

The film is touted as "Alan's story" and will centre around the character's life crisis after suffering the loss of his father. Not much else has been mentioned on the film's plot but we will see the return of some actors from the first film including Heather Graham, Mike Epps, as well as Ken Jeong who's character's popularity has made him the "fifth" Wolfpack member (in terms of stardom in this film). New additions to the cast include Melissa McCarthy (though only in a small role) and John Goodman, who is slated to be an antagonist in the film ala Paul Giamatti's character in the second film. 

The trailer opens with Zach Galifianakis' character, Alan, beautifully singing Ava Maria. This is one of three clear scenes we are shown; the other two being Alan and Stu (Ed Helms) talking on the side of the rode and Alan driving with a Giraffe in his car. Other than those scenes, we are only shown quick glimpses into what we are in store for with this film. But we can say, without a doubt, we are in for quite the final ride with the Wolfpack!

Regardless of the credibility of the plot, the film will be a success. I am grateful that Phillips has created this film to be a finale of the series which means we should not see anymore Hangover films.

For more information on the upcoming comedy, check out the Wikipedia page here or the official page here.

Trailer Tuesday - The Internship

Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson are back in this summer's comedy The Internship. The pair, who previously starred together in 2005's hit Wedding Crashers, are looking for another comedic hit after a string of lackluster comedy films recently added to each of their resumes.

This time, we see the hilarious duo as Billy (Vaughn) and Nick (Wilson) as two salesmen who have lost their jobs due to the success of technology. Having what looks like no knowledge of computers or technology in general, the pair talk their way into an internship at Google and find themselves competing for the coveted position against some brilliant college students.

This film looks like an extension of Old School. Instead of faking a fraternity, the main characters are faking their resumes. As long as they can create a decent story with this concept, I won't complain: comedic films are not suppose to be the most thought-provoking stories. They are meant to make you laugh, and if the creators behind The Internship can do that, I will be happy and the film will surely be successful.

It will be hard for Vaughn and Wilson to top the success of Wedding Crashers but I'm interested and excited to see them try.

The film, which was written by Vaughn and directed by Shawn Levy (Night at the Museum, Date Night), is set to be released on June 7, 2013 - and will be a great light addition to the Summer Movie List. 

For more information on the upcoming film, check out the Wikipedia page or the official movie page.

Trailer Tuesday - Scary Movie 5

Last weekend at the theatre, we were treated to this trailer. I thought it was a joke. But no one was laughing and it turned out to be real.

Check out the trailer for Scary Movie 5 (yes, you read right: FIVE!):

I don't even know where to begin with this one.

Let's start with the casting as I feel it's pretty obvious who is missing from this film. This is the first Scary Movie film to not feature Anna Faris and Regina Hall (Cindy and Brenda) who appeared in the first four films. That should be the first red flag for the production company and now audiences that this film is not going to be good. Though the series hasn't had a good installment since the second film, and even that one wasn't that good!

So let's take a look at who will be in the film: Ashley Tisdale and Simon Rex will star as a married couple who started to experience strange activity when they bring their newborn baby home. And then the parodies begin. Other stars include: Molly Shannon, Heather Locklear, Jerry O'Connell, and Jasmine Guy. All actors that used to be popular and this is the only film they can book nowadays. Then we have cameos from the bottom of the A-List barrel: Charlie Sheen, Lindsay Lohan, and Mike Tyson.

I'm not going to go too much further into this trailer because honestly, it's a waste of time.

If for some reason you are interested in learning more about this crapfest of a film, check out the wikipedia page here.

Oscars 2013

Last night was the big night for the film industry. The 85th Academy Awards were held and numerous actors, films and the ones who helped create them, were honoured.

Let's get one thing out of the way first: the Oscars have their own distinctive criteria for what constitutes a "good" film. Sometimes that coincides with the general public's likes, but most times it does not. Though The Academy has become more accepting of some of the more popular films released over the years, they still generally favour the lesser known, more artistic films in the industry.

Here at Don't Sit Next To Us, we have our own ideas of what are good and bad films. And although we have our favourites for each category, we wanted to give you our reaction to the winners of last night's awards show.

Best Supporting Actor

Winner: Christoph Waltz
Who Should Have Won: Christoph Waltz

It's unusual for a past winner, who has recently picked up the same award less than five years prior, to walk away the winner again. Especially when the category is made up of well-deserving actors. However, Christoph Waltz struck gold once again with the role of Dr. King Schultz in Quentin Tarantino's masterpiece, Django Unchained. He has seemed to find his lucky charm in Tarantino, previously winning the Oscar for his role in Inglorious Basterds. Like that role, Waltz took a supporting character and somehow made them the most captivating part of the film without over-taking the entire story.

Arlaine

Check out our review for Django Unchained here.


Best Supporting Actress

Winner: Anne Hathaway
Who Should Have Won: Sally Field

From the announcement of the nominees, it was clear that Anne Hathaway would be crowned the winner in this category. Her performance as the destitute and desperate Fantine in Les Miserables was heartbreaking and heartwarming all at the same time. Add in the fact that she had to sing live during filming and you have a recipe for an Oscar win. It was a great performance, but we felt that it wasn't deserving of the award; at least not this year.

Sally Field, who was nominated for her portrayal of Mary Todd Lincoln in Lincoln, was utterly breathtaking. She was strong, yet fragile. Dominate, yet shy. She held her own against the incomparable Daniel Day-Lewis and helped carry a film that was centered around the president. Like The King's Speech, Lincoln featured scenes with only the actors demonstrating their abilities, and Field did this in spades.

Arlaine

Check out our review of Les Miserables here and the Lincoln review here.

Best Actress

Winner: Jennifer Lawrence
Who Should Have Won: Jennifer Lawrence and Jessica Chastain

This one was really only ever between Lawrence and Jessica Chastain, in my opinion. With both the oldest and the youngest ever nominees in the category competing in the same year, it seems to me they were being honoured through the nominations rather than with a real shot at the award. Jessica Chastain gave an incredible performance in Zero Dark Thirty as Maya, the American federal agent who devoted herself to finding Bin Laden but as Americans I imagine that the voting Academy had a much different relationship to this movie than we did here at Don't Sit Next to Us. Lawrence's somewhat unusual romantic role of Tiffany Silver Linings Playbook is a much safer option for the Academy to single out as the winner. And did she ever deserve it - I know I was taken by surprise at just how connected I felt to the characters in this movie.

Christine

Check out our review of Silver Linings Playbook here and stay tuned for our Zero Dark Thirty review.

Best Actor

Winner: Daniel Day-Lewis
Who Should Have Won: Daniel Day-Lewis

We called the winner back in our review of Lincoln and we weren't alone. Daniel Day-Lewis has made history with his third win for Best Actor and we believe he's earned it. Having seen four of the five films from which this year's nominees were drawn I think we can safely say that while Day-Lewis took home the award, Denzel Washington and Bradley Cooper gave fabulous performances but weren't likely winners. (The Master, with Joaquin Phoenix, was not released in theatres in our area so I can only trust the Academy nominators recognized an excellent performance from him as well). Both Washington's character in Flight and Cooper's character in Silver Linings Playbook were the flawed anti-hero who has to deal with unwanted fame and attention. Yet Day-Lewis' portrayal of President Lincoln presented audiences with a man who was trying to achieve greatness for his country by reuniting it, stopping the war, and fighting for equality. In comparison with Zero Dark Thirty, Lincoln is a positively cheerful feel-good movie and Day-Lewis' performance was one that Academy voters and audiences could support.

Christine

Best Director

Winner: Ang Lee (Life of Pi)
Who Should Have Won: Steven Spielberg (Lincoln)

I don't get it. I really don't. It's like James Cameron being nominated best director for Avatar. Sure, it's amazing and beautiful what Ang Lee helped create with Life of Pi. But can you really compare to the work Steven Spielberg did with Lincoln? Or to be honest, any of the other directors nominated? But perhaps the Academy is making up for snubbing Cameron in the same category in 2010. (Kathryn Bigelow took home the award for directing The Hurt Locker). Though the majority of the praise for Lincoln was given to its actors, the work that Spielberg put into this film should not go unnoticed. In development since the early 2000s, Lincoln has been without a doubt, the best film that Spielberg has put out in almost 10 years. That being said, Spielberg has a long list of work that should have helped sway the Academy in his direction. But sometimes the Academy just gets it wrong and there's not much we can do about it.

Arlaine

Best Picture

Winner: Argo
Who Should Have: Argo

He wasn't nominated for the directing category. We've all heard the jokes. But Ben Affleck did get to take home the award for Best Picture which is arguably the biggest award of the night.This was a tough category, and one that could not have been more diverse. Each film on the list was outstanding in it's own way. This was one of our most successful years here at Don't Sit Next To Us in terms of being able to see the majority of the films nominated in this category (six out of nine) and we enjoyed every one we saw. What made Argo stand out just a little bit ahead of the others was it's simplicity. It didn't have to rely on CGI to create its background and characters. It didn't have to have an elaborate script. It didn't have to be based on a historic character. It was a good story about something that really happened but wasn't overdone or told. I think it also had a "wow" factor in the sense that the majority of audiences probably did not expect the film to be as good as it was. As well, Affleck starring in the film was a risk but it paid off as he was pretty decent in the role. (He's not critically successful with the majority of his acting roles - and let's please remember that he is an Academy Award winner...FOR WRITING! - Good Will Hunting).

This isn't Affleck's first great turn at directing (Gone Baby Gone and the The Town were fantastic) and it won`t be his last.

Arlaine

Did you watch the Oscars this year?

What were your thoughts on the night's big winners? 

Safe Haven Or Sleeping With The Enemy: The Remake

Safe Haven
Director: Lasse Hallstrom
Starring: Josh Duhamel, Julianne Hough, and Colbie Smulders
New Release Review

Last Thursday was Valentine's Day so what does that mean for the film industry? It's time to adapt another Nicholas Sparks novel! This year that adaptation was Safe Haven. *Side note: this was the best way to spend Gal-entine's Day with some excellent company - thanks girls!*

In this latest Sparks adaptation, the focus is on a young woman named Katie (Hough) who has escaped her troubled past to wind up in a small North Carolina town where she meets Alex (Duhamel), the manager of the local general store. At first Katie is guarded, refusing to allow any one to get to know her. She slowly opens up to her neighbour Jo (Smulders) and eventually Alex who is a widow with two children. As Katie starts to put roots down in the small town and begin a romantic relationship with Alex, her past catches up with her.

Not much to this predictable love story. We've seen this story time and time again (most notably, this film resembles Julia Robert's 1991 film, Sleeping With the Enemy) and unfortunately, not much has changed in this version. Director Lasse Hallstrom (who has directed critically acclaimed films What's Eating Gilbert Grape, The Cider House Rules, and most recently Salmon Fishing in the Yemen), takes on his second Sparks' film (the first being Dear John). Not much different from his previous work with Sparks. Still as pleasantly appealing, visually, however, with the smart choice of not telling the audience the whole truth behind Katie's past. This leaves the audience guessing a little and allows the film to not be a "one-trick pony". It's not a lot of thinking, but it's thinking nonetheless.

The story is your typical Sparks' romance, where two strangers, (who seem destined to be together) meet and fall in love. Something happens in their pasts that stop them from living happily ever after right away (whether it's a death, illness, bad previous relationship, etc.), but they end up together in the end. No spoilers here - just plain, predictable storylines.

There was a slight twist in this film that is a little different from Sparks' previous film adaptations and I guess that was a nice change. But again, it was predictable.

Hough was all right in her first non-singing/dancing role. She was likable as the troubled Katie and had a decent amount of chemistry with Duhamel. The only issue I had with her performance was the lack of emotional depth. The tears, anguish and heartache you would expect from a character such as hers, was not there.

Duhamel was fine. And by fine I mean FINE! But all jokes aside, he was okay in this role. Not much to work with in terms of showing acting range. He was believable as the small town father of two. And he definitely appeals to the female audience. All in all, a great casting choice.

Final Verdict: Skip it. If you are in the mood for a good romance film from Nicholas Sparks, check out The Notebook or A Walk to Remember. Not his finest story, and not the greatest film, it accomplishes exactly what it sets out to be - a romance film to appeal to the masses on Valentine's Day. It was a light (in terms of story depth), cheesy, romantic, pretty film. It put a smile on my face (mainly from the two young actors who played the children of Duhamel's character) and it made me want to go to North Carolina. Not worth running to the theatre to see. 

Rotten Tomatoes

Trailer Tuesday - The Great Gatsby

The newest trailer for this summer's sure-to-be-blockbuster The Great Gatsby has made me want to see this film even more than I did before (if that was even possible). Check it out and see what I mean:

WOW! What a beautifully made trailer! Even if you weren't interested in this film before, you can't deny that this trailer makes you more intrigued with the film.

The first trailer gave us a mere glimpse of what director Baz Luhrmann has in store for us this May. The newest trailer shows us that he is pulling out all the stops to bring the classic tale of the mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby to the big screen. We've already seen what he can do with a classic tale (William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet) and a story of his own creation (Moulin Rouge!) so it's safe to say we are in for quite the ride with Luhrmann's latest work.

The trailer depicts a bright and colourful world where the wealthy live a glamourous life but have some serious secrets to bare. The film takes place during the roaring 20s so the costumes, props and sets are going to be spectacular. And what this trailer solidifies for the audience is that the soundtrack is going to be fantastic. It's a 3D movie that really shouldn't be one but I actually can't wait to see it in this format.

Luhrmann has a very unique way of telling a story through film. And one of the tools he uses to tell his story is through music. Like fellow director Quentin Tarantino, Luhrmann ensures that each song used in his films help to set the tone of the story and aid to the overall depiction of each scene. In this trailer, like the one before it, we are treated to several great song choices: "No Church in the Wild" by Jay Z, Kanye West and Frank Ocean, "Bedroom Hymns" by Florence and the Machine, and the eerie rendition of "So Happy Together" by Filter. This cover of a light, happy song, by Filter is the perfect fit for this trailer and I hope it is setting up for the tone of the film. It is quite possibly the best song choice for a trailer I have seen lately (just narrowly beating Jay Z's Brooklyn We Go Hard used in the trailer for 42 - check out that trailer review here).

For those of you who question Luhrmann's song choices for the upcoming Gatsby, let me remind you of his two films that were mentioned earlier in this post. Luhrmann has a knack for incorporating modern music into his films that generally take place in a time before the songs (or even their genres) were created. Trust his instincts as they are usually bang on. And if you need further proof, check out this clip from Moulin Rouge!:

The Great Gatsby, pushed back from it's original December 2012 release, is set to hit the big screen on May 10, 2013.

For more information on the film, check out the wikipedia page or the film's official page.

Trailer Tuesday - Fast and Furious 6

It's finally here! Yes I've been waiting for this trailer ever since they announced there would be a sixth installment in the franchise! And now I am as giddy as a school girl over the anticipation of seeing it on the big screen!

Check out the trailer for Fast and Furious 6:

I am the first to admit that I never expected this series to reach a sixth installment. To be honest, I was shocked it made it past the third. But man am I happy it did!

The fourth film totally rejuvenated the franchise and the fifth changed the game. The franchise that was once about illegal street racing has now successfully transitioned to a "heist" theme. Now we get to see Dom (Vin Diesel) and his gang team up to take down bad guys instead of racing against each other for pink slips. This turn of events means more action and bigger car racing/chasing scenes.

The best part about this trailer is that we are guaranteed to see every big character that has been in the franchise (save Lucas Black's character Sean from the third film as his film doesn't happen until after these recent installments chronologically in the Fast and Furious timeline). And Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) is back!! It will be interesting to see how the "OMG" moment from the last film is carried out.

Even if you're not a fan of the franchise, you can't deny that the release of this film will definitely guarantee big box office results. And there's no doubt that it is a great way to kick off the summer of big blockbuster films.

Check out the film's official page and the Wikipedia page for more information.

Warm Bodies or Dial "Z" for Zombies

Warm Bodies
Director: Jonathan Levine
Starring: Nicholas Hoult, Teresa Palmer, and John Malkovich
New Release Review

First, I must be completely honest: I wasn't interested in seeing this film in theatre. I saw the trailer a couple of times and it just didn't resonate with me. I appreciated the idea of the film but was not nearly impressed enough to add it to the movie list. I saw the film on a fluke (the film I wanted to see was sold out) so from the beginning I was indifferent on the film and the situation.

Warm Bodies is a post-apocalyptic love story with a twist: the couple at the forefront of the story is an extreme case of "star-crossed" lovers, with one half of the couple being a zombie. Meet "R" - a zombie who is different from the rest of his undead kind. He has thoughts - which uniquely narrate this film. He longs for something more than the life of a zombie, wondering what life used to be like and how people used to connect with each other. Now, his life consists of moaning, stumbling around, occassionally sharing moans with his "best friend" M which somewhat resembles a human relationship, and on top of everything - craving human flesh and brains. Feeding on brains gives "R" a chance to "feel alive" as it allows him to absorb the memories of the human. On a routine attack, "R" sees Julie (Palmer) for the first time and instantly falls in love with her (though he doesn't understand how to act and deal with these new feelings). "R" kills Julie's boyfriend and feasts on his brains, absorbing his memories of Julie, making his feelings for her stronger. He rescues Julie from the rest of the pack of zombies and takes her back to his home to keep her safe. There, the two get to know each other, while "R" begins to slowly change and become more "alive" through his feelings for Julie.

Yes, this story does sound a little ridiculous, doesn't it? But here's the thing - it was better than expected. I went in thinking that it was going to be another one of the many irritating teen-supernatural type films that have come out in the past few years. But I was pleasantly surprised. It was light (with the ocassional dark moment, but that can't be avoided as it is a movie about undead creatures killing humans) and it was funny. Not laugh-out-loud funny. More chuckle-and-make-you-smile funny.

It was fairly clever - a nice twist on a (excuse the pun) beaten to death concept of zombies. We are most often shown a darker, more intense storyline when dealing with the zombie subject (save Shaun of the Dead and arguably the Dawn of the Dead remake). It was nice to see a different take on the zombie genre.It had a over-arching, Romeo & Juliet type vibe, and it worked. Don't get me wrong; it was corny. But it worked.

My only negatives were the underdeveloped "Bonies" who looked more cartoonish than scary and the lack of Malkovich. He was definitely underused but in this type of film, any more use of Malkovich would most likely deteer from the tone of the film. Though he was alotted one great moment to showcase his chops, even if it was brief. I wouldn't want to piss him off!

Final Verdict: See it. Based on the novel by Isaac Marian and directed by Levine (50/50), Warm Bodies isn't perfect but it doesn't need to be. It's got charm, laughs and a refreshing take on a overused topic.

Rotten Tomatoes

PS the title of this post comes from a classic Simpsons Treehouse of Horror episode where the Simpsons family faces off against zombies. Check out this clip here:

Trailer Tuesday - 42

This week's edition of Trailer Tuesday features a baseball movie! Yay! I first saw this trailer in September, strategically placed amongst the trailers previewed before Trouble With the Curve.

Check out the trailer for the upcoming biopic, 42:

I have seen this trailer twice more since that first night in September and it still looks awesome! Yes, I may be a little biased as I love baseball films (as most of you probably already know from my post last summer about my Top 10 Baseball Films) but you can't deny the impact a film like this will have on the world.

The film is a biopic of the baseball star Jackie Robinson, who was the first black player in the MLB. Written and directed by Brian Helgeland (LA Confidential, Mystic River, Man on Fire, Salt), the film will undoubtedly have a strong storyline and will likely bring out the best of its cast.

Robinson is being portrayed by a relatively unknown actor named Chadwick Boseman. This is a good move by the producers and people behind the film, as it's hard to have a well-known actor portray an iconic person in film. You don't want the actor's previous works overshadow the current role. Harrison Ford will portray Branch Rickey, the man that signed Robinson. Chris Meloni (Law and Order: SVU) will portray Leo Durocher, manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers, the team that Robinson first played on.

What really sold me on this well-made trailer (kudos to you, Warner Bros.) was the music. Can't go wrong with a good Jay Z tune (Brooklyn We Go Hard)! Seriously, how can you not get goosebumps when you hear the rapper say "I Jack, I Rob, I Sin". What a clever play on the name! Such a poignant statement.

Not going to say much more as this one is clearly on the Spring 2013 movie list. I'll let the trailer speak for itself.

For more information on the upcoming film, check out the wikipedia page or the film's official page.