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.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower OR We Are Infinite

The Perks of Being A Wallflower
Director: Stephen Chbosky
Starring: Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, Ezra Miller
Box Office: $17,738,570 (USA)
DVD Review

I wanted to see this film when it was released in theatres. But it had a short and limited release and we couldn't fit it into our movie schedule.

The Perks of Being A Wallflower is a novel written by Chbosky, who adapted and directed the film. A rarity for films adapted or based on novels and a risk that was well worth taking by Mr. Mudd Productions - a producing team that includes actor John Malkovich and who were behind the 2007 hit Juno.

The film stars Lerman as Charlie, a nervous and shy teenager who is about to begin his freshman year of high school. He finds it difficult to make friends, only making a connection with his English teacher, Mr. Anderson (Paul Rudd). He is introduced to an extroverted senior, Patrick (Miller), in his shop class, and later befriends both Patrick and his stepsister Sam (Watson). Charlie, along with his two new friends, become close and start to go through the highs and lows of growing up.

The film touches on several hard-hitting topics including: suicide, depression, homophobia, and drug abuse. And the story and topics are brought forth convincingly through strong performances from the film`s young cast. Thought the supporting cast, which includes: Rudd, Dylan McDermott, Kate Walsh, and Joan Cusack, provide a talented balance to the younger cast`s main storyline, it`s the three young stars who shine the brightest in their complex and troubled characters.

Lerman, who is best known for his role as the title character in Percy Jackson and the Olympians: Lightning Thief, portrays the character of Charlie with such poise and conviction, you forget at times that he is still only in his early twenties. He is likeable as the main character, but still able to provide depth and emotion to a character who has a certain amount of darkness in him.

Watson quickly sheds her "Hermione Granger" image with a character so uniquely different from the female leads in teen films today. She's fragile, yet strong. Full of angst, yet full of hope. It's great to see a young female actor tap into the emotion of a character that makes her so relatable and likeable to people of all ages, especially teen girls. (Unlike Kristen Stewart who can't seem to produce a genuine emotion, even if her life depended on it).

It was so refreshing to see a coming-of-age film that was different. We are inundated with cookie-cutter teen films and rarely get to see a movie that has profound messages and a sense of redemption and hope for teens and essentially, people in general.

Within the first 15 minutes of the movie, I felt like I was watching a John Hughes' film. Not in a way that Chbosky was trying to emulate Hughes; it was a more respectful, "your views on the teen genre were accurate and real", type of way. There hasn't been a film like this that speaks so fluently to its generation since The Breakfast Club. We can only hope that 20 years from now, teens are still being shown this film and realizing the importance of its message. 

Final Verdict: See it. Don't be turned off by the teen aspect of this film; it is a film that all audiences can enjoy. A great story, an honest approach to it's direction, a talented young cast and a stellar soundtrack create the perfect ingredients for a successful film. One of the best of 2012, it's heartfelt, funny and true and will have you believing that "we are infinite".

Rotten Tomatoes

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:

Throwback Thursdays - Sixteen Candles

Welcome back to Throwback Thursdays!

I have been asked a few times lately what my favourite movie is. As I have stated before, I a huge fan of movies, so narrowing it down to a singular favourite is a little hard for me. But, ever since I was younger, I have always loved Dirty Dancing and Sixteen Candles. So in honour of this question being asked, this week's throwback review features the John Hughes teen classic, Sixteen Candles.

Sixteen Candles
Director: John Hughes
Starring: Molly Ringwald, Anthony Michael Hall, and Michael Schoeffling
Released: 1984
Box Office Gross: $23,686,027 (USA)
Throwback Review


When people think of John Hughes, they generally remember his teen movies first. Mainly The Breakfast Club. However, before Judd Nelson was pumping his fist into the air to the closing theme of Simple Minds' Don't You (Forget About Me) and Molly Ringwald was identifying herself as a "princess", Hughes wrote and directed Sixteen Candles. Hughes' first official teen film starred Ringwald (in her first starring role) as Samantha Baker, a girl who struggles to get through the day on her 16th birthday and has to deal with the normal issues of teenage life.

To add to her struggles, Samantha's family has forgotten about her birthday because her older sister is getting married the next day. Even her visiting grandparents have forgotten this milestone birthday. She is also dealing with teenage issues that include being unpopular and infatuated with attractive senior, Jake Ryan. Her completed "sex quiz" note that was meant to be read by her friend, gets picked up by Jake. She panics as this note stated that she was saving herself for Jake. But the timing couldn't be more perfect as Jake is dealing with his own relationship issues with his popular and selfish girlfriend, Caroline.

Sub plots that truly endear the film and add to the comedic feel of the storyline are strategically placed throughout the central plot and interacts with it every so often. Long Duk Dong, a foreign exchange student who is living with one set of Sam's grandparents and is therefore staying at her house during the wedding. Sam is forced to take him along to the school's dance and Long Duk Dong quickly becomes a hit, earning the nickname "The Donger". Geeky freshman, referenced as Ted (or Farmer Ted as he is nicknamed), tries to win a bet with his friends that he will "bed" Sam, who he has a crush on. (Though he is referenced by these names in the film, his character is simply credited as "The Geek").

The film starts with Sam waking up on her 16th birthday and goes through her entire day. It spills over into the next day and her sister's wedding, but mainly takes place during the one day. The storyline is laid out fairly simply, despite the interweaving of the subplots that tends to make most films too confusing (or meta). In true John Hughes fashion, the film tackles real life problems in a unique and comedic way that makes them so appealing to the entire audience. He blends comedy and romance in a way that neither genre feels forced or cheesy. He had a keen eye for seeing what a film needed and adding all those elements to make a beautiful and classic film.

I fell in love with this film the first time I saw it. I laughed. I cried. I wanted to marry Jake Ryan. It is one of those films that I can watch over and over again and never get tired of it. 

Final Verdict: See it. Easily one of the best "coming of age" films that was ever made. One of Hughes' best creations, Sixteen Candles still warms my heart and makes me laugh. It gave us so many quotes and scenes that still resonate in today's pop culture. Remember this famous scene in the film?