21 and Over and Warm Bodies Trailers

Who didn't love The Hangover? Even if you were one of the last people on earth to catch the massively hyped and highly touted blackout comedy, chances are you still laughed the whole way through. Therefore, it's no surprise when a film can name drop anything that relates back to The Hangover. But there's something about Jon Lucas and Scott Moore's 21 and Over that feels eerily similar to the pair of writers' claim to fame. Jeff Chang is a straight-A college student with an important medical school interview at 8 am the next morning. When his two best friends surprisingly show up for his 21st birthday, what's meant to be a "quick beer" turns into a night of mayhem and debauchery. Check out the trailer for 21 and Over  below.




While zombie's are clearly sweeping the nation as "the latest craze" (zombies are the new vampires), we should expect Hollywood to try and take the idea in a completely different directions. 50/50 director Jonathan Levine brings us a creative look at the flesh eating monsters with his newest film Warm Bodies. After a zombie falls in love with the former girlfriend of one of his victims, their romance sparks a startling discovery that may completely change the undead futuristic world. Although Warm Bodies has a premise that sounds a little (or maybe a lot) strange, it looks as though Jonathan Levine could really pull this off. Intriguing to say the least, check out the trailer for Warm Bodies below.

DVD Outlook: November 2012

If you're from the Philadelphia area like me, chances are your ritualistic Sundays have become a lot less meaningful due to the lack of success from our Philadelphia Eagles. Therefore, maybe you're spending your Sunday afternoon (or any day and time for that matter) looking for a cheap movie to rent at Blockbuster (yes, Ridley's still got one) or Red Box. Well here's a couple of great titles available for rent and definitely worth checking out:





Safety Not Guaranteed - 3.5 stars out of 4 (read my review here)

Safety Not Guaranteed is a refreshing and original comedy/drama. It's characters are rare gems with sincerity and authenticity spilling from every word and action they display on screen. Darius (played by Aubrey Plaza) is an intern working for a Seattle magazine. When her boss Jeff decides to write an article about a random classified ad seeking a partner for time travel, Darius is needed to infiltrate the situation. Inevitably, the author of the classified ad, Kenneth (played by Mark Duplass), lets Darius into his somewhat crazed world filled with ideas of time travel and redemption. Even though the film incorporates a blanketed sci-fi backdrop to an otherwise fabulous tale of romance and despair, Safety Not Guaranteed is as real as it gets. Clearly one of 2012's finest pieces of work, take a chance and check out Safety Not Guaranteed.





Ruby Sparks - 3.5 stars out of 4 (read my review here)

It's a rare treat these days when Hollywood serves up an imaginative and creative idea such as Ruby Sparks. As the anticipated follow up to directors Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris' debut Little Miss Sunshine, Ruby Sparks follows a struggling writer named Calvin (played by Paul Dano) who falls in love with his made up female character Ruby Sparks (played by Zoe Kazan). No big deal, right? Until Calvin wakes up to find Ruby, alive and real, inside of his house. On the surface, Ruby Sparks appears to be like any other romantic comedy you've seen. But after watching the film, you will gain a much deeper and darker appreciation for the manner in which Ruby Sparks addresses relationships.





Moonrise Kingdom - 3 stars out of 4 (read its shortened review here)

Director Wes Anderson (The Royal Tenenbaums and Rushmore) is a man who needs no introduction. His comedic mastery is a forgone conclusion at this point. But perhaps Anderson's 2012 effort, Moonrise Kingdom, is his best work yet. Sam (played by Jared Gilman) and Suzy (played by Kara Hayward) are a pair of (really) young lovers who meet one summer and become pen pals. Throughout the course of the year they devise a plan to run away from their boring and depressing lives together. But when Sam disappears from his boy scout troop and Suzy from her home, police officer Captain Sharp (played by Bruce Willis) vows to safely return the pair of misfit lovers. Moonrise Kingdom is hilarious, crafty and extremely well written. There's never a dull moment and the movie's youthful look at romance is both eye opening and charming on so many levels.

World War Z and Movie 43 Trailers

There have been two recent trailers released for some big time 2013 movies, the zombie thriller World War Z and the star-filled comedy Movie 43. With World War Z Brad Pitt stars as U.N. employee Gerry Lane who travels the world to try and stop a zombie pandemic. The trailer depicts a wonderfully shot film backed by a talented mega star. With zombies recently overthrowing the vampire craze that swept the globe, World War Z couldn't have planned for a better release date. Check out the trailer below.

Also released was the R-Rated Red Band trailer for the upcoming comedy Movie 43. Although the vulgar comedy seemingly offers no plot, rumors circulating the internet claim that the movie is about two teenager stoners and their 11 year old computer whiz brother. Together, the three youngsters attempt scour the internet to find Movie 43, the most banned movie in the world. While breaking into banned website after banned website, they come across all different kinds of banned movies (which are the multiple stories you see throughout the trailer). In between some of these short movies, Movie 43 returns to its central characters along their internet journey. Check out the highly offensive and outrageous Red Band trailer for Movie 43 by clicking below. Be warned, thematerial may be offensive to some.

Silver Linings Playbook

Film: Silver Linings Playbook

Starring: Bradley Cooper (The Hangover), Jennifer Lawrence (The Hunger Games) and Robert De Niro (Limitless)

Director: David O. Russell (The Fighter)

U.S. Release: November 21st, 2012 (Rated R)

Genre: Comedy/Drama

Runtime: 120 minutes


This year's Philadelphia Film Festival couldn't have lined up a better Opening Night Film. David O. Russell's latest work, Silver Linings Playbook, truly embodies the City of Brotherly Love. Everything about the film looks, sounds and feels like Philadelphia. From the carefully selected suburban neighborhoods that appear throughout the movie to our beloved football team, the Philadelphia Eagles, it's clear that David O. Russell "gets" this often misunderstood city. The director creates a strong and unbreakable kind of bond that's sure to last a lifetime ... especially around here.

Bradley Cooper stars as Pat Solitano, a former high school teacher doing a stint in a mental facility after coming home to his wife having an affair and then severely beating her lover. It's safe to say that Pat has some issues with anger management and certain "triggers", like his tainted wedding song that's guaranteed to set him off on a rampage. On the other hand there's Tiffany (played by Jennifer Lawrence), a recent widow whose self loathing and erratic antics help support the fact that she's clearly off her rocker too. But when the pair of crazies decide to help one another out with some sizable favors, they soon discover the best way to help make sense of this screwed up world.

David O. Russell's Silver Linings Playbook is a surprisingly upbeat and off-the-wall examination of mental health disorders. Way funnier than I anticipated it to be, the director chooses to approach this serious issue with a delicate sense of humor. What could have easily been sold as a dark comedy with a completely different tone, Silver Linings Playbook stays light and refreshing throughout its two hour running time. Perhaps most impressive about David O. Russell's latest work is the script's ability to generate a fluent tempo. The character development and plot are frequently progressing, giving Silver Linings Playbook a perfectly suited pace. Never lethargic or lifeless, the film has a pair of tremendously talented stars to thank for such an excellent result. Bradley Cooper continues to elevate his work and a performance such as this one should clearly put him on the Oscar's radar. But for as phenomenal as Cooper is throughout the film, his counterpart, Jennifer Lawrence, still tends to overshadow his efforts. Lawrence, who has already landed a Best Actress Nomination for her work in the indie hit Winter's Bone, uses this role to stamp her claim as one of Hollywood's fastest rising female stars. There's no limit to what the future has in store for her. Although the two leads steal the film, the quality of the cast doesn't stop there. Robert De Niro's name is already floating around the Best Supporting Actor race for his portrayal of Pat's football crazed father, Pat Sr. Even though I can agree with the praise being thrown De Niro's way, I was almost equally impressed by Chris Tucker's character. Completely outside of his normal loud-mouthed range, Tucker demonstrates a more mature style of acting which shouldn't be ignored. Once again, writer/director David O. Russell assembles a fantastic collection of talent and uses their glowing performances to constantly elevate his work.

Despite all of its commendable aspects, there are a few fair complaints with Silver Linings Playbook. Most notable is an uncomfortable and awkward feel surrounding the character Jake Solitano (played by Boardwalk Empire's Shea Whigham). As Pat's older brother, Jake never finds his niche in the story and it results in plenty of stumbling scenes. Knowing that Silver Linings Playbook is based on Matthew Quick's novel of the same name, maybe Jake's character serves a more purposeful role in that platform. Yet, here he does nothing but detract from the otherwise smooth flowing pace of the film. Another small blemish with the feature is some inconsistencies revolving around the final scenes. The audience, like Pat, is force fed a dose of reality that his ex-wife is no longer interested in talking to him. As if her restraining order against him isn't proof enough. Therefore, when she comes back into the story at the movie's conclusion, it feels like a bloated Hollywood-esque move on behalf of the writer and director David O. Russell. While none of its faults are detrimental to the success of the film, Silver Linings Playbook easily moves past these flaws and remains one of the year's best pictures.

With an early head of steam in the race to the Oscar's, David O. Russell's Silver Linings Playbook is a serious contender. Finding a large amount of solace in its surprisingly original comedic tone, this Oscar hopeful is in a league of its own. Because of a dazzling ensemble and a lovable pair of crazed characters, Silver Linings Playbook clearly stands out among its Oscar competitors. Due out around Thanksgiving, Silver Linings Playbook is the type of fun and energetic film you make it a point to see. Heed my advice and mark your calendars.


Stars: Three and a half stars out of four.

Grade: A-

October 2012 Poll Recap

After the undeniable success of actor and director Ben Affleck's third film, Argo, I posed the question asking how you would rate Affleck as a director in Hollywood. The possible answers were "Awful, Average, Very Good and Elite". Unfortunately, my host website had an issue with the polling and shut down last month's poll after only 10 votes had been registered early in the month. The overwhelming majority of the small sample size of voters claimed Affleck to be a "very good" director (60% of the votes). Tying for second place were "average" and "elite", both of which registered 20% of the total votes. Leaving the final option of "awful" with zero votes. I'm glad we can all agree that Affleck helms some enjoyable films, and that the director's future looks mightily promising.

As we get closer and closer to the end of the year, many Oscar hopefuls will begin to find their theatrical release. This month's poll question asks, "Which November release are you most excited to see"? Be sure to cast a vote by selecting an answer in the upper right hand corner of the page. Here's to hoping that November's poll question doesn't experience any issues.

The Sessions

Film: The Sessions

Starring: John Hawkes (Winter's Bone), Helen Hunt (Cast Away) and William H. Macy (The Lincoln Lawyer)

Director: Ben Lewin

U.S. Release: October 19th, 2012 (Limited - Rated R)

Genre: Drama

Runtime: 95 minutes


I've said it before and I'll say it again, 2012's Sundance Film Festival must have been one for the ages. The large crop of impressive films to come out of this year's indie competition has been nothing short of remarkable. One of the two biggest winners at the festival comes in the form of Ben Lewin's The Sessions (the other being Beasts of the Southern Wild). It's a welcome back to writer and director Ben Lewin, who finds himself in the driver's seat of his first feature length film in almost 20 years. Lucky for us, Lewin's triumphant return to the director's chair is nothing short of spectacular.

The Sessions tells the real life story of a polio stricken poet named Mark O'Brien (played by John Hawkes), a remarkable man who refused to be defined by his condition. With the virus weakening his muscles and lungs, O'Brien spent much of his life confined to an iron lung. Able to survive outside of his iron box for only a few hours at a time, the religious 38 year old O'Brien finds himself at church talking to Father Brendan (played by William H. Macy) about a troubling issue. Concerned that his life clock is running out and desperately wanting to experience sexual ecstasy, O'Brien asks the priest if god would forgive his pursuit of sex outside of marriage. Somewhat baffled by the question, Father Brendan mulls over the idea and finally gives Mark his blessing. O'Brien then seeks out a sex therapist (played by Helen Hunt) to accommodate his delicate set of circumstances and guide him through his first sexual experience.

With a premise so wacky it could only be true, The Sessions finds itself as one of the most heartfelt and emotionally attachable films in recent memory. Writer and director Ben Lewin hits all the right notes and delivers one of the year's finest scripts and finished products. The Sessions is clearly intended to be a sentimental drama, yet Lewin's comedic style of writing adds a lighter side to the film that forces the audience to connect with its characters. And with a script in the mold of this one, it's essential to back up the writing with a gifted cast. Lewin goes above and beyond anyone's expectations with the casting decision of John Hawkes as his leading star. Not only did Hawkes receive lengthy standing ovations after The Sessions premiered at Sundance, his performance undoubtedly warrants a Best Actor Nomination from the Academy. Hawkes crafts one of the most endearing and likable characters in cinema history. O'Brien's lovable demeanor will bring laughs and tears to nearly everyone in the audience, proving that Hawkes is well deserving of the abundant praise he is sure to receive throughout his awards season run. As if Hawkes' portrayal isn't enough, Lewin conjures up an unforgettable supporting cast which will almost certainly find an additional nomination or two at the 2013 Oscars. Most likely is supporting actress Helen Hunt who proves to be very secure in her body throughout many of the racy sex scenes. Hunt offers her finest role in over a decade, one that is sure to help resurrect her career. It's also worth noting the fine onscreen effort given by William H. Macy as O'Brien's priest, friend and confidant. All in all, The Sessions is an extremely uplifting and multifaceted piece of filmmaking.

There's many obstacles when branding a feature that revolves around the idea of sex. It's a somewhat taboo element often very difficult to pull off. Lewin addresses the topic with such humility and wholesomeness that it's hard to not fall in love with The Sessions. Having written the script, helped with casting, and directed the feature, Ben Lewin is clearly the man behind the curtain. His phenomenal vision helped transform this amazing true story into a brilliant cinematic creation. And if all of these glowing attributes aren't enough to peek your interest, let it be known that The Sessions' modest 95 minute runtime breezes by with ease. Every second of the film helps to build up to a gigantic emotional conclusion that both satisfies the audience and puts a beautiful bow on the end of the story. Without a flaw in sight, The Sessions is undoubtedly one of 2012's greatest offerings.

As the brightest spot of the 21st annual Philadelphia Film Festival which also included big name features like Silver Linings Playbook, Flight and Cloud Atlas, The Sessions proved to be the most honest and touching finished product in the bunch. Genuine and sincere, the movie never attempts to be something larger than it truly is. There's a special vibe flowing throughout The Sessions that sets it apart from other awards season contenders. The picture is much funnier than you'd imagine and even more heartfelt than you'd expect. While The Sessions finds itself in the midst of a limited release, I expect it to reach theatres everywhere as the Oscars draw near. Either go out of your way to see the film now or remember to keep an eye out for its expanded theatrical release. The Sessions is definitely one of the "must see" movies of 2012, you can't miss it.


Stars: Four stars out of four

Grade: A