New Moon is like that wash-up Uncle who can’t stop getting drunk and telling you how much he loves life, but deep inside he’s beating himself up for cheating on the prom queen back in high school, who now owns a laundromat in Denton, TX.
Cheesy, over-dramatic, some times hilariously embarrassing, dumbed down, and in the end…just something you have to see because your girlfriend (or in the case with your Uncle, your parents) makes you see once a year.
Overall: D-
Well, hello Mr. Fancy Pants. I got news for you, pal. Right now you aint leadin’ but two things: jack & shit. And jack left town.
Pretty cool little short film by a Danish filmmaker I believe. I think he was a scientist before becoming a filmmaker, which is always cool. He took a workshop and this was the project he made for the workshop. I read that his phone is supposedly ringing off the hook now from Hollywood. Rags to riches!
An escalator can never break: it can only become stairs. You should never see an Escalator Temporarily Out Of Order sign, just Escalator Temporarily Stairs. Sorry for the convenience.
If you’re in the mood for a good horror flick check out Dog Soldiers.
It takes place in the Scottish highlands during a routine training mission from some British soldiers. Things go wrong when creatures in the woods start picking off soldiers. Oh no!
This was Neil Marshall’s first film. You might remember him from directing The Descent, which is worth your time as well. Marshall also did Doomsday, which is sad, but he’s about to come out with a film called Centurion with Michael Fassbender, where a group of Roman soldiers have to fight behind enemy lines…or something. All I needed to hear was Michael Fassbender and Roman soldiers and I’m in on that.
Dog Soldiers is solid, not great but solid. There’s a horribly cheesy score that sounds like it was the rejected soundtrack to Cliffhanger. There are some cheesy lines but that’s easily overlooked because it’s a horror film…although if that damn Captain who’s tied up most of the film would have said one more cryptically snide remark I would have walked. So look out for that.
The best part are the creatures. Just like The Descent. Which I’m thinking is what Neil Marshall is really good at. There’s one shot in particular that looks like a still frame from a nightmare any child would have where the boogy man is creeping out of the closet and you open your eyes and he’s standing over you bed. That shot alone was worth the film for me.
Rent it. Have fun.
Overall: B
Count me out on Where the Wild Things Are. Maybe it was just my overwhelming love of the book as a child that did me in…and I guess I was expecting something else.
Let’s get this straight right up front. It’s amazing that this film ever got made in the first place. It’s a feat. And I hear there’s a cut floating around out there that was Spike Jonze’s original cut before the studio spent 50 million dollars to make it less dark. So, maybe there’s a better film out there. But the one I watched had no plot whatsoever.
I don’t know what I was expecting coming from a children’s book with something like 12 sentences and trying to make feature length story out of it. But what ends up happening is that the movie stalls and becomes boring. Yeah, it’s cool to watch the “Wild Things”…and they are amazing. But after 15 minutes of that you want a story and there never is one.
What is good about this film are the themes and the layers of how the Wild Things world becomes a metaphorical mirror of Max’s real world. But you can’t have a film rely completely on subtextual layers of your protagonists internal struggle.
Overal: C-
Losing Control
I’ve just started work on the feature Losing Control, directed by Valerie Weiss. It’s a comedy and that’s probably all I’m allowed to say.
I will say the cast is chocked full of talented actors all over the spectrum. I’ve started getting dailies and there is some awesome footage!
Also, the film stars one of the best character actresses that you’ve ever seen Lin Shaye! I’m a super big fan of her work. You might remember her from Dumb & Dumber, There’s Something About Mary, Detroit Rock City or my personal favorite…Kingpin! She’s a hilarious actress and making working on this project a blast!
AFI Dallas
Got word that Obselidia, the feature that I’ve just finished cutting has been accepted to the AFI Dallas International Film Festival.
Also, Seth Rogen liked the idea, Robert Rodriguez is going to watch it and supposedly Quentin Tarantino is set to screen it. Who knows if they’ll like it but it’s cool to have my work seen by people who matter.
Inglorious Basterds
All around fun. Easily my favorite Tarantino since Pulp Fiction. The best part is that this film manages to balance comedy and suspense at the same time. The opening sequence is, in my opinion, my favorite sequence in any Tarantino film. The performances are all around worthy of praise.
Go see it.
I'm back from outerspace, yo!
It’s been so long I don’t even know what to say. I’ve been very busy lately. I’m working on two features at the moment…Cool Dog for Nu Image in the evenings…and Obselidia for Humble Productions days. It’s been crazy. Here’s a list of things (In no particular order) that have happened in my life since I last posted and a brief thought…
San Francisco: Good food, cool people, awesome abandoned prison system…what’s not to love!
Away We Go: Made me smile in a sad way. I loved it.
Up: My second favorite Pixar movie next to The Incredibles.
Terminator Salvation: Wait, so if his father is a kid in the future how did he have John Connor in the late 70’s…ah hell who cares. Good action…no plot.
Star Trek: Best summer blockbuster I’ve seen in years.
The Hangover: Brilliantly irreverent!!!
The Wrestler (2nd Viewing): Not as solid as the first showing I saw in theaters. I noticed some flaws this time around but overall I still think it should have been nominated for Best Picture.
Traitor: This movie was not bad. It wasn’t amazing but for a political thriller it was decent.
Red Revolver Productions: Oh yeah, I started my own production company. Our offices are located at Santa Monica Studios in the same boutique as Schtung Music. Details to come.
Asia lost her job: EMI let Asia go after about 2 years of employment. It’s been rough lately but she’s on the prowl for new digs.
Houston, Texas: I lived in Texas but never went to Houston. Asia grew up there and has always preached about how horrible it is there. Diagnosis - Asia was right.
Weddings: I witnessed a preacher physically try to smelt two rings together with his bare hands in the name of Christ. When it didn’t happen I kind of felt bad for him and had hoped he hadn’t lost faith in his god or anything…but it was still kind of awesome!
Obselidia: So as of today we’ve finished the 1st cut of Obselidia. It’s an indie drama about a guy (George) obsessed with things becoming obsolete. We’re locking picture 1st week of July and sending it off to Sundance in August.
Cool Dog: Cool Dog is locked. We’re in the middle of the DI and ADR at the moment. Soon to come is the mix but as I’m only assisting on this film I’m sure that’s when I will bow out. Look for it on DVD in 2010.
Conan the Barbarian: Nu Image is remaking Conan and Danny Lerner, the director of Cool Dog, is one of the producers. I’m going to beg to be on the project. Keep your fingers crossed!
My Mother retired: After nearly 40 years in the Little Rock School District my mother has decided to hang up the ruler. Wow. Is it weird that I don’t feel like she’s old but somehow her retiring makes me feel older? Weird.
Doubt: Meryl Streep and Phillip Hoffmann are awesome. Feels like a stage-play adapted to screen…because it is. Deserved the recognition it got.
The Reader: 2nd and 3rd act were great. 1st act was slow. Renter all the way.
When Money Grew on Trees: This story is too weird that it needs its own post. Suffice to say that I’m trying to option the rights of a novel called When Money Grew on Trees. I’ll tease it a little by saying that in the midst of negotiating someone dies…and it wasn’t me.
About Me
My name is John-Michael Powell. I'm an editor based out of Santa Monica, CA. Check out my work below.
