ScreenShotgun : The Avengers

I went through the trailer for The Avengers and pulled out a whole bunch of screenshots. Enjoy.

Agent Coulson

Nick Fury

Black Widow

Hawkeye

Thor

Captain America

Iron Man

The Hulk

Loki

Click on any image to view full size. 

Trailer Hitch : HUGO

"This is a treacherous place. Do you understand?"

This week's Trailer Hitch is for Martin Scorsese's upcoming film, Hugo. The first trailer below is the first full-length trailer and it came out some time ago. Many people found that this trailer didn't get them excited for the film as much as they would have liked. I have a feeling that one of the reasons this might be is due to the fact that the trailer doesn't play up the emotional connections that the film's many relationships bring to the big picture of what kind of film this is and I also believe, after seeing the second trailer (also below), that this first trailer doesn't play up how much of a visual feast this film might prove to be. When I first saw this trailer I was beside myself in anticipation, but in retrospect I can see that perhaps what a lot of people might have felt was missing was a general communication of the film's plot.

Now here's the second trailer. After watching this one, it felt like the first one seems to rely on some imaginary existing belief that the movie is going to be really good. By that I mean, the emphasis of the first trailer doesn't seem to show a really all-encompassing look at the film; it's plot, the numerous characters, or even showcasing more than a couple settings. The second trailer does give us a bit more (in less time). After picking these apart, I realized that they use a lot of the same clips, which is fine, but then they add snippets of a few pretty cool looking scenes. The most obvious difference is the addition of the trailer narrator. It's funny how silly that voice sounds after watching a trailer that doesn't use one. It's purpose is clear though. We now know something about the film's plot and we really didn't get that from the other. The first trailer felt as though it was saying, "This film is coming," while the second says, "This is what this film is." I also think it's a smart move to add more emphasis on the film's adult costars (Jude Law, Ben Kingsley) and especially the film's director.

There are a couple of aspects of this film that I haven't had or taken the opportunity to talk about. Firstly, of course these trailers don't give us any indication as to the 3D quality of the film. I've heard the 3D is amazing, but we'll have to see. I do think it's cool Scorsese shot this in 3D and as much as I've loathed much of the 3D I've wasted my money on, I'm sure this won't be an addition to that group of films. Lastly, I'm so glad the writers of this movie have really upped the role of the station inspector and that the part was subsequently offered and accepted by the one and only Sacha Baron Cohen. Every time I see him in these trailers, I can't help but think of Peter Sellars. If these trailers are any indication, his performance will aid this film on its way to becoming as much of a classic as we would all like it to be.

Tomatometer Watch : Tower Heist

"What's up?"

This week, I'm keeping my eye on Tower Heist's Tomatometer. Right now, it's sitting at 75% with twenty-eight votes. That's not so bad. At least we know critics are getting to see it. There are parts of me that would like and expect this movie to fail (as a comedy and as a box office draw). However, there are more parts of me that hope it's good. First, let's look at the bad. We all love Ferris, but seriously, Matthew Broderick kind of sucks. Anyone should feel free to argue with me on this point, but I stand by it. Good luck trying to change my mind. Now, if we turn our attention to the real bad and the reason I wouldn't mind this movie sucking is that the one and only Brett Ratner is in the director's chair. I know it's been a long time since X3, but I still can't let it go. He's the kind of director you hope will make enough stinkers to just go away because every one is sick and tired of his crap. 

Here's the deal, though. Despite Broderick sucking and Ratner blowing, I hope this movie is good. The first reason I want this movie to be good is because I am going to watch it and I generally don't enjoy crappy movies (generally). Secondly, I like Ben Stiller. I know I'm not alone in this, but I also know some people don't like him. I for one am proud to say I didn't waste time on Little Fockers, but it's not because I don't like Ben Stiller. It's because I want to keep liking him. The biggest reason I want this movie to be good is because I want Eddie Murphy to be in good movies. It seems like most of the world has washed their hands of him, but I've always held on to the hope that he will start being hilarious for adults again. I know this movie won't bring back the Eddie we all miss so much, but hopefully he'll get some chances to get me laughing again (in a role other than Donkey). We'll see if it happens when the film opens this Friday, November the 4th. 

If you'd like to check on the score, head over to Tower Heist on Rotten Tomatoes.

The Movie Book : The Invention of Hugo Cabret

"If you lose your purpose...It's like you're broken."

Sometimes I am inspired to read a book because it is being turned into a film. I can't help it. Usually, it works out in my favor. I'm not picking up Nicholas Sparks novels or anything, so most of the time I like what I read. Often, I will end up feeling a closer connection to the adaptation than I would have otherwise. I'd never read Watchmen until I heard Zack Snyder was helming the big screen version. When I heard Moneyball was something of a passion project for Brad Pitt, I listened to the audiobook. The newest addition to this list is Brian Selznick's The Invention of Hugo Cabret. With Martin Scorsese's adaptation headed to the multiplex this month, I finally picked this one up.

For those who haven't read the book and/or want to see the film without much or any prior knowledge, I won't say much. A vague synopsis is available from the trailer(s): a little boy lives in a train station and has some adventures. For those who don't know about the book, I would like to let you know that the book interestingly intertwines narrative fiction with pencil illustrations as well as old photographs, so despite the book's size (it is thick), it is a really quick read. The approach to telling the story feels classic and new simultaneously, and Selznik's tale provides plenty of surface level message while providing enough meaning below the surface to give the story some literary weight.

I enjoyed the book for a number of reasons, and one of the biggest reasons was because I could not help but  imagine what Martin Scorsese might do with the material. After having watched the trailer (and the superior second trailer), I would catch myself visualizing how the page might look on the screen. By the time I reached a little over the half way point of the book,  I started to understand why he would really want to make this into a film, and that discovery got me even more excited for the movie (opening November 28th). 

A Day Late and a Penny Short : Moneyball Review

So I titled this post as such because I know there is no use reviewing a movie that has been in theaters as long this one has, but I would like to use this as an experiment for a new review format. I don't particularly like to formally review films, but I think I should try in some way to express my feelings in a way I find interesting. Let me introduce you to the One Sentence Review for Moneyball.

"Are those my only options?"

Moneyball provides the viewer a chance to see the in's and out's of a past time they might have absolutely no interest in, and while the direction appears to be more interested in setting and maintaining a realistic tone and a steady pace than making a strong emotional connection with the audience, there are luckily a few choice moments where the film makers don't completely squander the talents of a fantastic cast (though they do that quite a bit, Phillip Seymour Hoffman).

You Know Who's Awesome? Rebecca Hall

"You can't hunt what doesn't exist."

I hope "You Know Who's Awesome?" becomes a regular thing. This first one is in honor of Rebecca Hall. I've only seen her in a few movies but she is a really talented actress and those few performances are fantastic. The first film I recall seeing her in was Christopher Nolan's The Prestige. I have to admit that I am a big fan of this movie and perhaps I have a biased appreciation of its stars. Then again, Rebecca Hall's performance was arguably the most impressive in the film, or at least a close second to Christian Bale.

The next film is Woody Allen's Vicky Christina Barcelona. This is the second movie where she stars or costars with Scarlett Johansson and, once again, Rebecca Hall proves the victor in the acting department. Maybe she's lacking the star power and whatever that means, but in this film, I think she really steals the show. Even with all of Penelope Cruz's "I'm a crazy Latina" shtick, Hall shines brightest, or at least as much as Javier Bardem. 

The third and final movie is Ben Affleck's The Town. I really wanted this movie to be good and it really was. Part of that goodness, you might guess, is the presence of, yes, Rebecca Hall. She is so good in this movie. She is the kind of good that it will slip right past you if you don't stop to recognize it. In this film, she finally gets the chance to be the primary female lead and she doesn't waste the opportunity. True to form, she turns in a solid performance worthy of notice and aids Affleck in telling an okay story really well. Her and Jeremy Renner are seriously neck and neck here.

Next month, she stars in The Awakening. Despite a boring title and a tired premise, I am glad she is getting the chance to carry a film. If her work thus far is any indication, and I'm sure that it is, she will be turning in a noteworthy performance. My hope is that this film is a nice stepping stone towards her future as an Academy Award Winner. Seriously, I feel like they give those statues to actresses who aren't half this good almost every year. 

The Awakening opens November 11, 2011

Trailer Hitch : The Avengers

"No offense but I don't play well with others."

It is here. The first full length trailer for The Avengers. I'm so excited my stomach hurts.

The good? Pretty much everything about it, really. The really good? Well, firstly Robert Downey Jr. is in the movie as Tony Stark/Iron Man. We all know he is but let's not pretend like that isn't awesome. Secondly, Hawkeye's bow is super cool. Next, Mark Ruffalo is Bruce Banner. He is going to kill it. I'm also into Cap and Tony not getting along. The bad? I don't know. Scarlett Johanson kind of looks silly in that fake ass pose she has going on there. Who cares though? This trailer is awesome and I should be allowed to just be pumped about it. Check out the screenshot below. That Hulk looks just like Mark Ruffalo. Nails.

Review : 50/50

"No one wants to f*@# me. I look like Voldemort."

I would like to let everyone know that I am behind. Usually, I am all up in the theater, but right now I'm a little behind. This weekend I started to play some catch up. The choices for the movies I would be seeing sooner than later were as follows: Moneyball, Drive, and 50/50. My lovely wife and I went to see the latter. I ended up choosing this one because, of the three, I recognized that this film was a safe bet in the "take your wife to a movie she will like" category (she still gives me a hard time about taking her to see Ninja Assassin), and I was not wrong. She enjoyed the movie very much as did I. After seeing the film I realized that what I enjoyed most was the funny, well-intentioned screenplay and some truly honest performances.

The performances in this movie are so right on. Joseph Gordon-Levitt continues on a path of becoming one of my favorite actors. After 500 Days of Summer and Inception, I look forward to seeing almost all of his films, and this one does not disappoint. He plays his character's rollercoaster with such cool subtlety that when the severity of his plight really sets in, the emotional impact is devastating. Seth Rogen, true to form, turns in a fantastic performance. What I really like about his character is that it is obviously tailor made for him. Though we get just what one might expect, his particular and almost always entertaining brand of pothead, gross out humor does not carry the film, it just makes it more awesome by adding some much needed humor to the weighty subject matter. Anna Kendrik also turns in a stellar performance here as well, and the moments of awkward self-awareness she delivers make for some of the film's best moments. Furthermore, the supporting cast, led by Bryce Dallas Howard and the always amazing Angelica Houston, is fantastic as well.

Will Reiser's screenplay and Jonathan Levine's direction deliver a simple story that is concise and heartfelt. The film really succeeds in giving us a look into the life of someone going through something horrible without succumbing to the melodramatic and thank goodness for that. I'm not suggesting that films regarding chronic illnesses shouldn't be dramatic. I'm just saying that this break is well-received. The film keeps reminding us that sometimes we all need a laugh and I like that about it. While some of the humor might be a bit lowbrow for some (the old ladies sitting next to me), for others (me) it is just what the doctor ordered. Seriously, if I get cancer please try to keep me laughing.

Trailer Hitch: Being Elmo

"If life is fair why does roses have thorns?" - Elmo

I'm happy to report that the trailer for the upcoming documentary, Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey (http://beingelmo.com), is the subject of this, my first ever Trailer Hitch. While I will always look forward to dissecting and discussing trailers for big tent pole features, I am also excited to share trailers for smaller films that may not be on the public radar. This is a trailer I would really just like to shine a little light upon. There isn't a whole lot to discuss except to say that the trailer does a good job of getting me excited for the film and inspiring me to share it here. I do love Jim Henson and I really look forward to an inside look at Sesame Street. Though I've never been a big fan of Elmo and his horrible grammar, I can't deny the connection between the character and the kids who love him. His popularity sparked a bit after my time, but I am definitely open to gaining a greater appreciation for one of human kind's cutest creations. 

Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey opens in limited release on October 21.

Tomatometer Watch : Real Steel

Once a week (I'm thinking every Wednesday), I will be posting a Tomatometer Watch for one film opening that weekend. I am a big fan of what Rotten Tomatoes does and I'd like to share that enthusiasm with all of you on a regular basis, so here is this week's watch:

"The human body can only take so much, but the steel never stops."

This week, as the title indicates, I am most interested in Real Steel. Don't make fun of me. For anyone who had a Rock Em Sock Em Robots or can't turn Sunday afternoon showings of even the worst of Rocky movies (III and V), there has to be some part of you that is thinking, "Shit, I kind of want this to be good." For the rest of you, maybe you're a Lost fan like me and you can look forward to seeing Evangeline Lilly at the multiplex sometime before the first Hobbit premieres. Perhaps, like me, you understand that, for better or for worse, Hugh Jackman has been known to show up in some good movies from time to time. The Prestige, anyone? As lame as it may sound, I also have to admit that I'm always ready for some melodramatic father/son bonding, not to mention I have an acute inability to stay away from sentimental sports movies. Throw in some science fiction and I'm almost beside myself.

Now let's look at the bad. Hugh Jackman was in Wolverine. Of course he would be but I still haven't forgiven him for that debacle. I'd also like to note that Evangeline Lilly can sure pull off annoying like it comes natural to her. Most people might say that Shawn Levy directing is the worst news, and I can understand that for a number of reasons. He did direct a movie starring Ashton Kutcher and Brittany Murphy.  If one were to look at his credits though, they may notice that his films seem to be getting better (especially if you flip the first Museum with the second). Date Night was fine and I read that he landed the directing chair for Fox's upcoming adaptation of Frankenstein. All the same, this is a Disney movie with a director who is known for family films and those facts may fail to excite some of us.

As of now, the film sits at 65% on the Tomatometer (or, for the uninitiated, 65% of all the critics you have seen it gave it some sort of positive review). There are only twenty reviews right now, so we'll have to see how the film does over the next day and a half. This is just the kind of movie critics generally don't like. When a film couples heavy sentimentality and heavy effects, it kind of stacks the deck against garnering favorable reviews. Of course, this isn't a rule, but truth as I've experienced it. I do have to say there are plenty of good movies critics don't like. It's all subjective and we all know that. I am hoping that this is a movie I enjoy despite my prediction of an underwhelming reaction from critics. 

     

If you'd like to check up on the score, head over to Real Steel on Rotten Tomatoes. 

New Suit Riot: Whedon Gives Cap a Makeover

"I've been around a few years. Surely you must have heard of me."

I keep up with all news concerning The Avengers. No matter how much I would love to be surprised, I can't keep myself from clicking on every spy shot I see. After reading through some of the comments on any page that shows a new costume for a forthcoming super hero movie, it is almost impossible not to recognize that when it comes to this kind of movie, everyone is ready and waiting to complain about the costumes. True to form, I've read comments from a lot of people stating with varying levels of severity that they do not like Captain America's new suit. 

In a recent interview Chris Evans had this to say, "Joss [Whedon] just had a certain vision in his mind about what he wanted Cap to look like. That's what he wanted to see. It's so nice working on these movies and the director's a fan. He's the dude at Comic-Con that we're terrified of pissing off. If Joss is happy, I'm happy." This is something of an appeal to authority, but I like it nonetheless. Mr. Evans is trying to let everyone know that The Avengers is in good hands and no one needs to worry. I, too, have faith that Whedon will not let us down, and I think these new hi-res images do show the new suit in a better light.

Like most fans, I really like the World War II Captain America suit. It was fantastic, and there is surely an argument to be made that Whedon and company could have just updated that costume for this film. While this may be true, I do think this production deserves to have its own take on the material despite the close and purposeful connection with The First Avenger. Most of the pictures of the new suit seem like they take place when it is brand new and it does look kind of silly. I imagine this fact isn't overlooked in the narrative. None of the Marvel Studios films have been overly self-serious and I'm sure this new suit garners some comedic attention when its introduced all spiffy and new. It the picture above, we see a dirty and broken in suit that I think looks pretty damn cool. It certainly doesn't look any more ridiculous than Thor's getup (which I also like).

I think we all need to remind ourselves from time to time that comic book costumes don't always translate that well to the screen and it takes a lot of work to interpret these suits in a way that won't make an audience laugh (accidentally). Captain America's new suit is not laughable. If nothing else, I'm just glad he looks like Captain America. I'm still waiting to see Wolverine onscreen in his damn suit. What is there to really complain about? It's bright and a little silly, and that is exactly what the suit is supposed to look like. It's not as bad as giving Spiderman yellow eyes, is it?