Over the Christmas holidays, we’ve all been counting down the days till we get our final gift from the other guy in a red suit and that day is finally here. Deadpool is actually set for a February release, but 20th Century Fox has been taking full advantage of the Christmas season with the 12 Days of Deadpool marketing campaign. The 12 Days of Deadpool is two weeks of themed treats culminating in a brand new full-length trailer for the movie.
Deadpool stars Ryan Reynolds in the title role as Wade Wilson, a man who undergoes some very unsafe experiments to try and save himself from the cancer that’s eating at his body.Wade emerges from the experiment in bad shape but on the bright side now his healing abilities have made him almost indestructible. He immediately adopts the superhero moniker Deadpool and sets out on a mission to beat up bad guys Ajax and Angel Dust. The second red band trailer has now landed, with lots of new action, comedy, and of course gratuitous butt and crotch shots of our hero. Check out the Trailer !
Based upon Marvel Comics’ most unconventional anti-hero, Deadpool tells the origin story of former Special Forces operative turned mercenary Wade Wilson, who after being subjected to a rogue experiment that leaves him with accelerated healing powers, adopts the alter ego. Armed with his new abilities and a dark, twisted sense of humor, Wade Wilson hunts down the man who nearly destroyed his life. Deadpool is directed by Tim Miller, starring Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin, T.J. Miller, Gina Carano, Ed Skrein, and Brianna Hildebrand. Deadpool will be in theaters on February 12, 2016.
With the likes of Superman and Captain America taking over the screens next year, along with many other superheroes and comic characters, it could seem like there’s no space for smaller and/or non-franchise films. Fortunately, 2016 promises that it will have a little something for everyone. Although (many of) these movies may not have the promise of big bucks and sequels, or characters that we already know, they do have the hope of making 2016 a great year for film.
1. Hail Caesar! (February 5)
The Coens are back in this comedy romp that pays homage and parodies Hollywood’s Golden Age. With a great cast and a mixture of their Barton Fink, The Hudsucker Proxy, O Brother Where Art Thou sensibilities, this has potential to be the first great film of 2016.
Terrence Malick has taken us from the birth of the Universe to the New World, and now he takes us to Hollywood in what promises to be a trippy and spiritual ride. Love him or hate him, there’s no doubt that Malick’s films are unique and must be seen on the big screen.
Working alongside his father in Gravity, Jonás Cuarón has proven himself to be a very talented partner. But with Año Uña and his short films and music videos, he’s proven to be very talented on his own right. If this movie is anything like its trailer, we’re in for a very intense time at the movies.
Richard Linklater has described this as a spiritual sequel to Dazed and Confused, and if the trailer is any indication, he’s kept his word. Save for that “new movie” look, it looks like Linklater has matched his style of his 1993 classic ensemble comedy. If the characters and story live up to Linklater’s standards, we could have a classic for the people who went to college in the 80s and for those people in college now who long for a time gone by, or who realize that things aren’t so different after all.
Spielberg goes back to his family adventure roots, along with the last script by E.T.’s Melissa Mathison, adapted from a book by Roald Dahl. Has there ever been a more perfect unit to craft what could be a great family film?
Damien Chazelle’s musical follow-up to Whiplash has a great cast, so now it’s a matter of seeing if it lives up or surpasses Chazelle’s acclaimed last movie.
Although Gore Verbinski is known for his blockbusters and animated films, it’ll be nice to see him go back to a genre film that promises the same sort of eerie visuals and atmosphere we got with The Ring.
13. A Monster Calls (October 14)
Juan Antonio Bayona always delivers as a director. And with a script from the great Patrick Ness, and with that cast, it’s difficult to see how it could not deliver as a film.
Not a remake of the Anne Hathaway thriller from many years ago, this Sci-Fi thriller has long been in the making. Its screenplay has been called one of the best unproduced scripts in Hollywood, and with The Imitation Game director Morten Tyldum, and Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt as leads, we may be getting one of the best Sci-Fi thrillers in years.
For more information on 2016 films and their release dates, check out Box Office Mojo.
After a two and a half season run, Clara Oswald has left The Doctor – which means our time-travelling hero is in need of a new travel companion to explore the universe with. The Doctor’s Companion is one of the coveted roles on British television and Billie Piper and Karen Gillan have gone on to roles in Penny Dreadful and Guardians of the Galaxy respectively, using Doctor Who as a gateway to bigger roles and greater recognition. The Doctor’s Companion is a great role for an emerging actress and there are many talented actresses in the UK, so let’s look at some thespians who can combine a companion’s mental strengths and weaknesses and the necessary dramatic and comedic abilities.
Kae Alexander
Born in Kobe, Japan and raised in Yokohama, Hong Kong and London Kae Alexander is a young actress best known for being a regular cast member on the BBC Three sitcom Bad Education(not to be confused with the Pedro Almodóvar movie). She started as Jing Hua, a British-Chinese student with the gags revolving around her character being a lot smarter than her teacher – played by Jack Whitehall. When she was insulted by the teacher, Jing would scold him in Cantonese. On Bad Education Alexander’s character started as a girl with a prim and proper dress sense and smug, superior attitude and evolved into a more arty type by the end of the third series.
Alexander has obvious comedic timing, which any companion would require, and she easily can have the intelligence and wit to keep up with The Doctor. Due to Alexander’s heritage she has played British, Japanese and Chinese characters, which would give the writers and producers plenty of options when creating a character.
Alexander could play a Chinese or a British-Chinese under-graduate or post-graduate physics student – whose mind is blown when she is given the chance to explore the universe and be able to keep up with The Doctor intelligently. It would be a great way to have an Osgood type character travel with The Doctor.
Jessica Barden
Hailing from Yorkshire and starting her career on the soap Coronation Street, Jessica Barden is an actress with a growing reputation. To American audience, Barden is best known for a supporting role in the cult action movie Hannaas Hanna’s first real friend. Barden has shown her range in smaller British movies – she was the funniest character in Tamara Drewe, playing a bored teenager in a small English village, causing havoc with Charlotte Christie and she won a lot of praise for her performance as a grief-stricken teenager in the drama In the Dark Half– even though the rest of the movie was mediocre. Both are good qualities for any actress to play The Doctor’s Companion and she could easily play an original young woman thrust into The Doctor’s adventures.
Rosie Day
At 20-years-old Rosie Day is talented, an emerging actress in the UK, and becoming more of a presence in the British acting scene. She has made appearances in shows like Doctors, Misfits and Cuffs – all part of the course for any actor in Britain – and she has had leading roles in short and feature films. She is best known for starring in the horror-thriller The Seasoning House as a deaf-mute girl forced to be a maid in a brothel in a war-torn Eastern European nation, where she tries to escape her captures. Day won a lot of praise for her performance. Day has shown her range with her performances, in her one-off performance in the comedy show Siblings, she played a nerdy suck-up and in the horror movie Howlplayed a mouthy, annoying teenager.
Day would be the youngest companion to The Doctor in the rebooted series and, because of her youthful looks, she could play a teenager. Her role could be a street urchin in Georgian or Victorian London, an Oliver Twist type who had to beg, cheat and steal to survive and The Doctor could take her away to the world of grinding poverty and see the wonders of the universe. It would make a change from having a companion from contemporary Britain.
Rose Leslie
Rose Leslie is often seen as a potential companion for the Doctor, so it is impossible to ignore her for this list. Leslie is best known for playing Ygritte in Game of Thrones, the wildling spearwife who captures Jon Snow and says ‘You know nothing, Jon Snow’. Her star is rising in the UK, appearing in Downton Abbey, The Great Fire and the fourth season Luther.
But Leslie is also starting to appear in more American movies, she recently appeared in The Last Witch Hunter with Vin Diesel and she is set to star in the drama Sticky Notes with Ray Liotta and in the Kate Mara, Paul Giamatti led sci-fi movie Morgan. Leslie is also a redheaded Scot which would automatically rekindle thoughts of Karen Gillan.
Hannah Murray
The teen drama Skins has been a breeding ground for young British actors, helping star the careers of Nicholas Hoult, Dev Patel and Kaya Scodelario. Hannah Murray was also a part of the first generation of Skins actors and currently plays Gilly in Game of Thrones.
Murray has a sweet and innocent look to her and she could play an excited companion who enjoys the prospect of exploring time and space. Yet many of her characters have demons – in Skins her character was eccentric yet suffered from an eating disorder and suicidal tendencies. Murray recently won the Best Actress Award at the Tribeca Film Festival for the Danish suicide drama Bridgend. Murray’s companion could be a kind young woman who harbor a deep dark secret.
Murray, also from Bristol, which is less than an hour away from Cardiff where a lot of Doctor Who is mostly filmed.
Nora-Jane Noone
Irish actress Nora-Jane Noone is someone who should have a bigger reputation then she already has. Noone is best known for her roles in the hard-hitting historical drama The Magdalene Sistersand the Neil Marshall horror movie The Descent. Since those roles Noone has mainly appeared in independent movies and occasional TV appearances in the UK and Ireland. She deserves better and being The Doctor’s Companion would be a great way to achieve a prominent role.
In The Magdalene Sisters, Noone played Bernadette, a young orphan who is sent to the Magdalene Laundry after flirting with a teenage boy and she showed plenty of determination and resistance against her captors. This fiery attitude and independent streak would make for a strong-willed companion, who refuses to be ordered about and stand her ground against any monster or alien threatening her, The Doctor or the human race.
Sacha Parkinson
Like Jessica Barden, Sacha Parkinson started her career on Coronation Street as a teenage character and is seen as an emerging actress in the UK. In Coronation Street she played a teenager who ends up in a relationship with her best friend and since leaving the show Parkinson has had a roles in the historical drama The Mill, the BBC mini-series The Driver and the third season of Mr Selfridge.
Parkinson has a growing reputation and she has shown to have a strong aptitude for accents: she has a natural Manchurian accent and she has performed with Liverpudlian and London accents in pervious roles. Many of Parkinson’s previous roles have been in dramas and she certainly has the dramatic weight needed to play The Doctor’s companion, but it yet to be seen if she has comedic ability.
Katie Redford
The rebooted version of Doctor Who has thrown us curveballs over the years – who would have guessed relative unknowns like Matt Smith and Karen Gillan leading the show’s fifth season? So let’s include Katie Redford as a wildcard entry.
Born and raised in Nottingham, Redford is an actress who has appeared in short films and commercials in the UK as well as some TV appearances. She had a three episode run in the comedy-soap Mount Pleasureas a ditzy school drop-out and aspiring model who gives up on the profession after finding out she is being used.
Redford has also led the comedy web-series 2 Girls, 1 Flat with Sarah Dyas as one half of a London based flat-share. Redford played the smarter, straight-laced one having to deal with her dim-witted, sloppily roommate and Redford reacting with bewilderment to her antics. A useful skill when The Doctor speaks a load of techno-babble
Redford is currently contracted to the BBC Radio Drama Company, performing in radio plays with actors like Daniel Mays and Shelia Hancock.
Emma Rigby
The Doctor has seen three Londoners, a Scot and a Lancashire lass be his companion, so why not a Scouser? That is what we could get with Emma Rigby. Rigby started her career on the teen soap Hollyoaks, a programme that is often derided for its poor writing and acting, but Rigby did excel with an anorexia storyline. Since leaving the soap, she has been appearing in more television shows like Prisoner’s Wives and Once Upon a Time in Wonderland.
Rigby is known as a sex symbol in the UK so she could replicate an Amy Pond style companion and like Jenna Coleman Rigby started her career in a soap. Rigby can clearly bring a lot emotional weight to Doctor Who and the show could play up her Liverpudlian background for comedy – similar to what happened with Karen Gillan being Scottish. Though Rigby is perfectly capable of performing a standard Southern English accent, if the showrunners want to play it safe.
Isy Suttie
Isy Suttie is a musician, a comedian and an actor, best known to audiences in the UK as Dobby from the cult sitcom Peep Show. As Dobby, it is easy to describe Suttie as adorkable, a woman who enjoyed video games and LARPing and seemed to be a perfect match for Mark Corrigan: yet Dobby had a fiery anger to her – she gives an extremely funny rant in the Peep Show episode “Seasonal Beating”. She has also appeared in shows like Shameless and Skins and she plays the guitar as part of her stand-up routine.
Sutttie could play a slightly geeky, socially awkward woman (maybe a science teacher) who has her world blown when she encounters The Doctor and becomes an avid fangirl very quickly – evolving into someone who has to become resourceful. At 37-years of age, Suttie would be older than the usual 20-something actress that plays The Doctor’s companion. Though she does have a very youthful look.
In now her third film with writer/director David O. Russell, Jennifer Lawrence takes the lead and commands every scene in Joy, a film inspired by real-life stories of strong-willed, innovative, and entrepreneurial women who fight through every conceivable obstacle and setback to make their singular visions into remarkable realities. Visually inventive, emotionally raw, and like most films by Russell, populated by complex, sometimes paradoxical characters, the film never fails to enthrall and entertain, while also delivering a powerful message about love, perseverance, and the importance of remaining true to one’s self, even when beset with the worst of life’s difficulties.
Lawrence plays the titular character, Joy Mangano, who in her early 20’s finds herself already divorced, raising her two children virtually on her own while her ex-husband, Tony (Edgar Ramirez) continues to live in her basement and chase his dreams of being a musician. She’s also forced to tend day and night to her agoraphobic, soap-opera addicted mother Terry (Virginia Madsen) and temperamental father Rudy (Robert De Niro), who at the outset of the film gets kicked out by his second wife and moves back into Joy’s house. Seemingly stuck in a dead-end, thankless job as an airline reservation attendant, and faced with stress and drama not only in her waking hours but also in her dreams, which take the form and expression of the daytime soaps Terry can’t tear herself away from, Joy sees the younger version of herself, the girl who used to spend her days envisioning and inventing things, slipping away entirely in the face of all her familial and practical obligations, and feels powerless to do anything about it.
The one voice in Joy’s life constantly reminding her to not let go of her true self and her dreams is Mimi (Diane Ladd), her maternal grandmother, who also lives in the Mangano home and sees all that Joy tries to keep up with at the cost of her own goals and aspirations. Joy also has in her corner her childhood friend Jackie (Dascha Polanco), who serves as a confidante and somewhat objective perspective, being on the outside of the Mangano family drama.
When Joy finally reaches her tipping point and resolves to take control of her life by attempting to make one of her inventive, problem-solving visions a reality, it’s Mimi, Jackie, and a surprisingly supportive Tony who prove to be her strongest supporters and advocates. The invention, a self-wringing mop meant to revolutionize kitchen cleaning and housework, faces its fair share of skeptics: Rudy, his new girlfriend Trudy (Isabella Rosellini) whose inheritance from her late husband Joy comes to count on for launching the new product, and Peggy (Elisabeth Röhm), Joy’s half-sister, who questions not only the vision behind the product but also Joy’s worthiness of being trusted with Trudy’s money or anything business-related. Despite the doubts of those around her, her ongoing responsibilities as a mom to her children, and the many problems that pop up once she actually gets her mop manufactured and must find a way to market it to retail stores and the public, Joy pushes forward. Just how she manages to turn an invention almost no one believed in into the launching point for a business empire, as depicted here, is quite simply the stuff American dreams are made of.
In many ways, Joy proves to be the ultimate vehicle for Jennifer Lawrence to showcase her versatility and talent as a performer. Russell’s script demands that Lawrence portray Joy across a span of decades and through a range of emotional extremes as she faces test after test of her vision and resolve, many of which come from within her own family, where one would think would be a source of support, not constant trial and stress. Not surprisingly for one of today’s most acclaimed actresses, Lawrence proves up to the challenge, projecting in her every scene, her every word and gesture, authentic and relatable emotion. There isn’t a moment in the film that you’re not rooting for Joy, and you may, depending on just how emotional you get in dramatic films, just find yourself sharing her tears as well as rejoicing at her triumphs. For the film to work, beyond any of Russell and director of photography Linus Sandgren’s innovative lighting and staging of particular scenes, especially the dream sequences set in a soap-opera-esque world, beyond the fine work of anyone else in the cast, audiences have to buy into Joy herself — her love for her family, as difficult as they make it for her at times, her determination, her heartbreak, her toughness in getting back up after each setback or betrayal. Thanks to Lawrence, buying in should not be a problem.
Speaking of supporting performances in Joy, there isn’t a single weak link in the chain as far as the cast arrayed here, but there are a few that really come off as memorable. De Niro is a welcome presence in David O. Russell’s films, whether the roles are large or small (he’s appeared in each one since Silver Linings Playbook, along with Lawrence and Bradley Cooper), and this time out is no exception, as he’s asked to play the sometimes lovable, sometimes horrible Rudy. While there really are no “one-note” characters in any of Russell’s previous work and certainly not in this film, De Niro’s task in bringing Rudy to life is significant considering he’s playing a father who really does think he’s a good guy and a good dad, when most of the time that just really isn’t the case. The veteran actor makes it look effortless; thus, Rudy’s interactions with Joy are among the film’s most emotional and difficult to watch. Elisabeth Röhm’s work also stands out here in a role that anyone who grew up with a sibling considered to be brighter or more talented and thus treated differently can relate to, while Virginia Madsen is almost unrecognizable in the best possible way as the fearful, virtually shut-in Terry, who can barely tear herself away from her room and her shows to go to the bathroom. It may sound comical, but the root of her fear, the motivation behind her retreat into a world of superficially-heightened drama, is all too understandable once it’s revealed, and Madsen delivers it all fearlessly.
It is important to note again that while the film story for Joy is mostly drawn from events in the life of the real Joy Mangano, it really is a composite of the experiences of a number of women who fought to make their inventive and entrepreneurial dreams into realities, which should only add to just how inspirational a film this could be for anyone, man or woman, watching who has dreams of their own, but finds them seemingly always out of reach thanks to the intrusions of “real life.” In that way, arguably it’s an excellent choice of film to enjoy at Christmas time, a time when love, faith, and family should be at the forefront of celebrations, no matter how challenging those values may be at times. But that’s just one reason to see it, one among many. See it if you’re a fan of Russell’s previous films, or you’re a fan of powerful, character-driven storytelling and film in general. See it if you’re a fan of the cast, particularly Jennifer Lawrence. Just see it — yes, it’s not as flashy and sexy as American Hustle or as traditionally romantic as Silver Linings Playbook, but in its own way it’s every bit as satisfying in terms of entertainment, and so it’s very unlikely you’ll be disappointed.
Joy
Starring Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Edgar Ramirez, Diane Ladd, Virginia Madsen, Isabella Rossellini, Elisabeth Röhm and Bradley Cooper. Directed by David O. Russell.
Running Time: 109 minutes
Rated PG-13 for brief strong language.
Ryan Reynolds is probably having more fun promoting Deadpool than should be allowed. This month we’ve all been highly enjoying his antics during The 12 Days of Deadpool (A 12 day promotional blitz centered around the release of a brand new Deadpool trailer on Christmas Day). The bad news is that the 12 days of craziness are about over as we’ve reach Day 11. Tommorow we all get a new trailer for the film, as a christmas present from a different guy in a red suit. Over the span of The 12 Days Of Deadpool, We’ve been treated to a variety of gifts that center around the upcoming film. Some of the gifts have included teaser trailers and exclusive IMAX posters promoting the films release. Well, on the 11th day of Deadpool we were treated to this.
Hugh Jackman posted Deadpool’s Xmas Eve(which they are are calling trailer eve because a newDeadpool trailer drops tomorrow) trailer and it’s all sorts of awesome. Check it out!
Based upon Marvel Comics’ most unconventional anti-hero, Deadpool tells the origin story of former Special Forces operative turned mercenary Wade Wilson, who after being subjected to a rogue experiment that leaves him with accelerated healing powers, adopts the alter ego Deadpool. Armed with his new abilities and a dark, twisted sense of humor, Wade Wilson hunts down the man who nearly destroyed his life.
Deadpool is directed by Tim Miller, starring Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin, T.J. Miller, Gina Carano, Ed Skrein, and Brianna Hildebrand. Deadpool will be in theaters on February 12, 2016.
Summary: With Masaomi’s help, the rest of the Commoner Club members arrive at the Arisugawa estate to break off Reiko’s engagement. Kimito makes an impassioned plea, but ends up saying more than he intends.
Called it! So called it! Despite the chaos and detrimental effects it would have normally, Reiko’s marriage is called off with no overall repercussions even though Kimito’s plea sounded like a proposal and her family now thinks they are engaged. Hurray for the status quo and no changes occurring at all.
Though the story doesn’t change, the comedy for this episode is over the top. Karen has moves to rival Kenshin Himura from Rurouni Kenshin and fights a giant robot. Hakua hacks the Matrix (seriously, the control panel she goes to has the falling letters as its background), and there are references to both Dragonball Z and Yu Yu Hakusho. Where were these jokes when the series felt stagnant in the middle? If there was more humor like this every episode, the series would have been one of the greatest shows of the year.
Sadly, the ending is very open and the manga is still being published. A sequel is no doubt inevitable. No word of a second season yet but give it some time. If a harem show makes money, the studio will milk it for all its worth. Yippie.
Tarantino’s back with more blood, more swearing, more scene-chewing opportunities for his favorite Hollywood performers plus a few new ones, and yet another homage to his favorite kinds of films and film making techniques. But is The Hateful Eight, his eighth film as both writer and director, up to the standards he has established for his own work with the critical and commercial success of the Kill Bill films, Inglourious Basterds, and Django Unchained?
No, but it comes pretty close, and by the end of its 3 hour and 2 minute running time, it does give audiences a great deal of what they come to theaters to see in a Quentin Tarantino film. If you’re a fan, you should come away happy.
Set a few years after the end of the American Civil War, the film follows the meeting of the titular “Hateful Eight” as they find themselves snowed in at Minnie’s Haberdashery, a rest stop/trading post in the frigid mountains of Wyoming on the way to the town of Red Rock. Each of them has their own reasons for being there. Bounty hunter John Ruth (Kurt Russell), known as “The Hangman” in that part of the country, intends to claim the large bounty on the prisoner literally chained to his wrist, Daisy Domergue (Jennifer Jason Leigh) by delivering her to Red Rock’s sheriff. Major Marquis Warren (Samuel L. Jackson), another bounty hunter who still wears the uniform and livery of the Union Calvary he served during the “War of Northern Aggression”, has his own charges he intends to claim bounties for in Red Rock, only his are already dead, and thus much easier to manage transporting. On the way to Minnie’s, John Ruth, Daisy, and the Major come upon Chris Mannix (Walter Goggins), a troublemaker from down south who claims to be en route to Red Rock to take over as the town’s new Sheriff. The cheerful and loquacious Oswaldo Mobray (Tim Roth) meets them once the four reach Minnie’s, and introduces himself as Red Rock’s hangman, while “cowpuncher” Joe Gage (Michael Madsen) chooses to keep his reasons for being there to himself. The eldest of the “eight”, Sanford Smithers (Bruce Dern), a retired Confederate General, sits by the large fireplace at the Haberdashery and rebuffs most efforts at conversation. And finally, there’s Bob (Demian Bishir), currently looking after Minnie’s while she’s off visiting family.
This “colorful” group, trapped by a blizzard at Minnie’s and forced to deal with and get to know one another over the course of days until they can continue on their way to Red Rock, soon find themselves at each other’s throats as reputations and past histories are revealed, old scores in need of settling come to the fore, and well-laid plans by those with hidden agendas slowly and deliberately play themselves out. Not everyone who arrived at Minnie’s during that blizzard will leave alive once the storm is gone, and once the bloody ball gets rolling, the possibility that none of them, in fact, will ever make it to Red Rock grows with each passing minute.
From Tarantino’s choice to film in “glorious Ultra Panavision 70”, utilizing anamorphic camera lenses of a design not used in Hollywood films in almost 40 years, to the film being preceded by an overture composed by iconic spaghetti western score composer Ennio Morricone (who also composed the score for the entire film), to its lengthy running time necessitating an intermission at around the 90 minute mark, The Hateful Eight is top to bottom a testament to the growing eccentricity of its director. A man of immense talent, vision, and capacity for creative use of profanity and carnage in cinema, Tarantino as the years pass seems more and more inclined to make films with only himself and like-minded individuals as the target audience, with little to no heed to the fact that the casual movie goer doesn’t care a whit for technical details such as what kind of camera lenses were used to make the film, or what combination of films and genres’ ideas and themes were used to synthesize whatever he creates.
Luckily, what he creates for the most part is still enjoyable even without a film degree and exhaustive knowledge of all the films and TV Tarantino’s seen in his life, thanks to his ear for memorable and impactful dialogue, the caliber of performers he’s able to recruit time and again, and all that blood and violence, which, let’s face it, people look forward to seeing in his movies. The Hateful Eight is certainly no exception in regards to those qualities. Yes, the somewhat stiff, exposition-laden dialogue of the film’s early chapters, as well as the outlandish characterizations of some of the principals, takes some getting used to, but in addition to serving the purpose of seeding information that will be important later in the film, that style of writing was a feature of the films Tarantino seeks to emulate and honor with his work here. For the genre he’s working in, it’s appropriate, if a bit hard on the ear.
And yes, when it comes to the choice of using the Ultra Panavision 70 lenses to capture both the sight and spectacle of the snow-capped mountains and frozen landscape through which the characters travel to get to Minnie’s, or conversely to deliver the right sense of claustrophobia once all those characters are contained within that very small space with tension mounting and the threat of violence growing with every word spoken, the man ain’t wrong. The film at all times looks absolutely gorgeous, the effect of the widescreen format very reminiscent of the grand cinematic adventures shot in the 60’s using the very same equipment, films like Ben-Hur, Mutiny on the Bounty, and Battle of the Bulge.
https://youtu.be/6_UI1GzaWv0
As for the performers themselves in The Hateful Eight, they deliver exactly what you’d expect them to. Each character is given a moment of vulnerability as well as a moment to show just how ornery they really are, and the actors make the most of those opportunities, with some performances standing out more than others. If you’re a fan of Tombstone, then you’ll absolutely love what Kurt Russell delivers here, and similarly, if you’re fan of Walter Goggins’ work on FX’s “Justified” series, his every minute of over-the-top scene chewing will be a delight. Tim Roth, on the other hand, while no stranger to Tarantino fare himself, looks and feels like he’s standing in for Christoph Waltz, who won Oscars playing characters similar to Roth’s Oswaldo Mobray in both Inglourious Basterds and Django Unchained. As for Samuel L. Jackson, well, he ALWAYS gets to have fun when working with Tarantino, and that fun translates into bringing to life characters you either love or love to hate. Here, it’s most likely the former, though he brings some serious nastiness in one of the film’s most memorable scenes, one that more or less kicks off the film’s considerable mayhem.
But the real standout performer in The Hateful Eight is Jennifer Jason Leigh. Always a fearless performer throughout the length of her acclaimed career, Leigh brings just as much if not more grit and toughness to her turn as Daisy Domergue as her fellow castmates do to their roles. She’s the newcomer to Tarantino films here, along with Demian Bishir, and that certainly adds to her on-screen allure, as unlike Jackson or Russell, who have delivered Tarantino’s dialogue before, you don’t know going in just how all that colorful language is going to sound coming from the newbie. Without a doubt, Leigh rewards your attention with a performance that’s at different times disgusting, terrifying, and hilarious in the most vicious manner imaginable. She simply owns it, and in doing so makes such a lasting impression that it’s difficult to imagine anyone else in the role once you’ve seen it.
So with all that said, is The Hateful Eight worth that considerable time investment come Christmas Day when it opens in select theaters across the country, or on December 31st when it opens everywhere? Yes, especially if you’re a fan of the director and/or the stars here, and if you’re a fan of westerns. Again, it isn’t AS good a film as Tarantino’s last two, particularly in terms of pacing and the inescapable sense that you’ve seen him do everything he does here in earlier films, but it’s still pretty darned good. If you do go see it, try to see it on the big screen at one of the select locations during its initial run, as those theaters actually have the equipment to show the film in its intended format, rather than digitally. After all, if you’re giving up that much time to see it, you might as well see it in all its glory.
The Hateful Eight
Starring Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Walter Coggins, Demian Bechir, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, Bruce Dern, James Parks, and Channing Tatum. Directed by Quentin Tarantino.
Running Time: 182 minutes
Rated R for strong bloody violence, a scene of violent sexual content, language and some graphic nudity.
Okay, we’ve already gone over what went right and what went wrong in 2015, it’s now time to discuss what’s coming up in 2016. The slate of films in 2016 promises to be as unique a year as we have ever had at the movies. DC Comics is set to jump in the superhero film phenomenon, Bill Pullman, and Jeff Goldblum are once again leading the fight for our independence, one of Marvel’s most popular characters is set to get the treatment he deserves, The Avengers are about to throw down, and Jon Favreau is set to tackle one of Disney’s most iconic properties – those are just some of the most anticipated projects on tap for 2016. So in keeping with the new year… let’s look at the 16 most anticipated films in 2016. To start off … let’s look at our honorable mention.
Honorable Mention – Doctor Strange
Benedict Cumberbatch and Rachel McAdams round out a strong cast as Cumberbatch takes on the title role of the disgraced surgeon who gets a new lease on life when a sorcerer takes him under his wing.
16. Ghostbusters
This movie hasn’t even released its first trailer and I can’t think of a movie that has received more heat. What’s infuriating about this is that most of the criticism centers around the cast being all female rather than all male (the way it was in the original film). Before we sit here and condemn this film, we need to give this film a chance and judge it on its merit. Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Leslie Jones, and Kate McKinnon are great actresses and could very well redefine the Ghostbusters brand (in a good way).
15. Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them
This prequel to the Harry Potter Series, starring Eddie Redmayne as a Magizoologist has muggles everywhere counting the days until November.
14. The Girl On The Train
Based on the 2015 Paul Hawkins best seller, has the potential to be a smash hit, in the same way, Gone Girl was. Emily Blunt, Rebecca Ferguson, and Justin Theroux are set to star.
13. Moana
Coming out in November, it stars newcomer Auili’i Cravalho playing a teenage Polynesian princess in search of a fabled Island.
12. Finding Dory
Disney/Pixar’s most forgetful fish returns in this sequel to the 2003 Finding Nemo.
11. Independence Day: Resurgence
Twenty years after the humans narrowly escaping destruction by Aliens, they have to do it all over again.
10. Star Trek: Beyond
I’m a huge fan of Star Trek but to say that I’m a little nervous about Justin Lin taking over for J.J. Abrams as director for this 3rd installment in the rebooted franchise would be an understatement.
9. X-Men: Apocalypse
Apocalypse (Oscar Issac) is pretty intent on destroying the world and a band of mutants unite to stop him.
8. Warcraft
The fact that I’m going to have to watch this film actually causes me to dry heave, but there is no denying just how big this movie is going to be with gamers.
7. Zoolander 2
It’s been 15 years and Derek Zoolander and Hansel McDonald are back and the mission, this time around is to prevent the assassination of music’s brightest stars.
6. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
In light of recent events, I feel like I might have this film a little too low but none the less it is a spinoff that takes place between Episode III and IV. It’s story of a band of resistance fighters as they fight to get the plans to the Death Star.
5. Jungle Book
A live action adaption of the 1894 Rudyard Kipling story directed by Jon Favreau and starring Bill Murray as the voice of Baloo … I’m in!
4. Captain America: Civil War
I’m probably going to catch some heat for ranking this film this low in the Top 16 but it’s warranted. The Marvel films have become a tad cookie cutter, thus taking away that edginess that we love about Comic Book Films. This film should be massive and maybe the Russo Brothers can do something that will get me jazzed again about Marvel films.
3. Deadpool
Truth be told, I could have easily put this film as number one overall but three actually fits for Deadpool. This is the 8th installment of an X-Men type film and it promises to be the raunchiest as Ryan Reynolds is set to portray a super hero that we have quite frankly never seen before on the big screen.
2. Suicide Squad
2016 could very well be the year of DC Comics; as not only will we be treated to the introduction of Justice League (in Batman v Superman) but we are going to be see the most unique concept ever done in the Comic Book Genre. A band of villains brought together to accomplish a mission and to top it all off .. we have Jared Leto portraying Joker. If you aren’t excited about that, then you must be dead inside.
1. Batman v Superman
Picking this film as the most anticipated film of 2016 was the easiest part of this article. Batman v Superman has so much riding on its success (basically the whole DC Film brand hinges on this film) that Zack Snyder has to produce a hit (much in the way that J.J. Abrams had to for Star Wars). Lucky for all of us, we won’t have to wait too much longer to see whether or not the DC universe is set to explode on screen.
Happy Holidays dear readers. The time has come to go over the releases coming to Netflix in January 2016. There are a plethora of great series and movies coming for you viewing pleasure so let’s get to it. 1. 2 Fast 2 Furious (January 1st)
With the seventh installment of the series fresh out this year, why not take the time to go back and see some of the earlier installments. This one is bit weaker but at least it’s not Tokyo Drift.
2. Angry Birds Toons (January 1st)
Everyone loves Angry Birds. It’s so beloved a movie based on the game will be coming out next year. Until then why not watch this series of shorts to tide you over until it is out.
3. Catwoman (January 1st)
Called one of the worst comic adaptations ever. Is it true? Yes, but if you are in the mood for a terrible film you can mock with a bunch of friends, this will not disappoint.
4. Constantine (January 1st)
Not a great adaptation but not a bad one either. With the Constantine show no longer around, fans will be able to enjoy this movie and watch Keenu Reeves as John Constantine getting caught in a war between Angels and Demons.
5. Training Day (January 4th)
One of the best cop movies ever made. Denzel Washington plays Detective Alonzo Harris, a corrupt cop who takes a rookie through his first day of what it takes to be a cop in the city. Definitely, not your typical first day at work.
6. Always Sunny in Philadelphia: Season 10 (January 5)
Another season from the show which gave us Kitten Mittens, the Nightman, and Green man. This time around the gang take a flight, go on a group date, and join a cult, all with chaotic and hilarious results. If you haven’t taken the time to watch this show you should really binge on it over a weekend.
7. Dragons: Race to the edge: Season 2 (January. 8th)
If you can’t get enough of Dreamworks: How to train your dragon, Netflix has provided another season of their own series based on the popular franchise. Watch Hiccup and Toothless have more adventure and torch anything which tries to keep them down.
8. Park and Recreation: Season 7 (January 13)
The fantastic comedy starring Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman comes to an end but has us laughing the entire time. This time the season picks up three years later but despite how much the characters grow they still come back to the town of Pawnee.
9. Z: Nation: Season 2 (January 17)
A show about trying to survive in a zombie apocalypse? Yes please. If you need a zombie fix with Walking Dead on its mid season break, this show will satisfy your need for flesh craving zombie action.
10. Sharknado 3 (January 22)
A movie so bad it’s incredible. This third installment involves sharks being dropped on the Daytona 500, sharks in space, and an energy chainsaw. Also there is apparently going to be a fourth one, so make sure to watch this one or you won’t be able to follow the intricate storytelling.
His father John Landis is an icon in the directing world with too many films to list, but below are the ‘must watch.’ The elder Landis made some duds in the 90s, but his early work is untouchable. Also, he was producing shows on HBO 20 years before it was cool.
Quintessential John Landis
1990-1996 Dream On
1988 Coming to America
1986 ¡Three Amigos!
1985 Spies Like Us
1983 Michael Jackson: Thriller
1983 Twilight Zone: The Movie (prologue & segment 1)
1983 Trading Places
1981 An American Werewolf in London
1980 The Blues Brothers
1978 Animal House
1977 The Kentucky Fried Movie
Enter in 30-year-old Landis who is coming off a terrible year in the film world with America Ultra and Victor Frankenstein. The writer claims America Ultra is this generation’s True Romance. One thing is for sure, Landis has become more infamous for his social media rants than his film work. His latest rant involves dislike for Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
I’m not sure how Hollywood works, but you’re sure as heck don’t want to piss-off J.J. Abrams, Lucasfilm, and Disney if you want to make action / science fiction films. Oh, that’s right! None of them can hear Landis because they are swimming in money like Scrooge McDuck!
Landis in his video below comes off as a spoiled little brat and the epitome of what people consider a millennial to act like. Breaking news for you Max Landis, you haven’t earned anything yet! Shut up and get to work, because you have talent. Don’t waste it worrying about everything and everyone else.
