Posted in: No Huddle Reviews by Jeremy Butler on December 9th, 2013
“WARNING: The following program contains scenes of graphic stupidity among four friends who compete to embarrass each other…”
Pranking…the bedrock of any friendship; I don’t know about you, but I don’t really consider myself friends with anyone until one of us pulls a prank on the other one. Don’t misunderstand, I in no way condone harmful pranks (unless they’re funny, just joking) but there is absolutely nothing wrong with a little good-natured ribbing between close friends. After all, if your friends can’t embarrass you, who can?
Posted in: No Huddle Reviews by Archive Authors on December 9th, 2013
Women Without Men is a unique film. It is not a perfect one. It is full of divided loyalties between people and cultures. It mixes reality, dreams and magic. It is mundane and beautiful. It is full of resentment, pain and hatred, but it strives for freedom and happiness. The filmmaker Shirin Neshat has been exiled from Iran for many years and has lived in many places including New York City. Neshat left Iran in 1979 when the Islamic revolution overthrew the government of the Shah. As an artist critical of the Iranian government, Neshat has been banned from returning to her homeland since 1996.
The film takes place in 1953 (a few years before Neshat was born) and details a climate of oppression that has existed in Iran for as long as many can remember. The film ends with the epitaph, “dedicated to the memory of those who lost their lives in the struggle for freedom and democracy in Iran from the Constitutional Revolution of 1906 to the Green Movement of 2009”.
Posted in: The Reel World by Brent Lorentson on December 6th, 2013
Director Scott Cooper made his directorial debut with the much critically acclaimed film Crazy Heart. It was an impressive first film that managed to get Jeff Bridges an academy award. With Out of the Furnace, Cooper again has a film on his hands that may gain some award recognition due to the many great performances sprinkled throughout the film. But aside from the great performances, how does the actual film hold up? It’s something I’ve been pondering for a bit. The film wastes no time showing us its dark side right from the start. Harlan DeGroat (Woody Harrelson) is out on a date and heaving outside his car at a drive-in theater. This isn’t the Woody Harrelson we’re used to. He’s rough-cut and mean. When his date talks back him, not only does he seem to enjoy degrading her, but like a vicious dog he snaps and attacks her. When an on looker walks over to help, you already know this won’t end well for the man who simply wants to do the right thing and help a woman in distress. This scene plays out as one of my favorite introductions to a film’s villain in quite some time.
As for the star of the film, Christian Bale, he plays Russell Baze, a working-class man who works at the town steel mill barely making ends meet, but he’s content. The same cannot be said about Russell’s little brother Rodney (Casey Affleck); he’s a veteran who is back from Iraq and is struggling to get back on his feet. He doesn’t want a life in the mill but the town has little to nothing to offer which leaves Rodney with little choice but to spend what little he has (and borrows) on gambling. Russell wants to help his brother, but Rodney, whether through pride or stupidity, simply won’t take help when it’s offered regardless of the circumstances.
Posted in: Holiday Gift Guides by Gino Sassani on December 6th, 2013
I think I see your problem. You have this list. It's a list of people you need/want to buy a Christmas gift for. The trouble is that they're into home theatre, and you don't know Star Trek from Star Wars. You couldn't tell a Wolf Man from a Wolverine. And you always thought that Paranormal Activity was something too kinky to talk about. Fortunately, Upcomingdiscs has come to the rescue every Christmas with our Gift Guide Spotlights. This time we turn our attention to Paramount/CBS.
"You think you’re safe. You are not. Is there anything you would not do for your family?”
Posted in: Holiday Gift Guides by Gino Sassani on December 5th, 2013
Warner has put out a few solid films and television shows on home video this year. There are a few of them that would make fine gifts for the home theatre fan on your Christmas list. From superheroes to hobbits and vampires, there's something in this list for everyone. Wouldn't hurt to snag a little something for yourself, now would it?
Films:
Posted in: Disc Reviews by J C on December 5th, 2013
People have used a lot of different words to describe Michael Bay and his films: “loud”, “blockbusters”, “mindless”, “soulless”, “Hitler” and, of course, “awesome.” One of the words you don’t normally associate with Bay’s undeniably successful output is “clever.” I daresay Pain & Gain is the most interesting movie the action auteur has ever made; the film is both seriously silly and surprisingly smart in how it presents its stupid characters.
“Unfortunately, this is a true story.”
Posted in: Disc Reviews by J C on December 4th, 2013
We’re about 50 years removed from the Beatles taking the entire world by storm, so you’d be forgiven for thinking that everything anyone could possibly say about the Fab Four has already been said. Fortunately, the success of Good Ol’ Freda — a Beatles documentary that doubles as a loving tribute to its subject and the famous band she adored — doesn’t hinge on any heretofore unknown/shocking revelations. In other words, the film’s charm doesn’t so much come from what Freda Kelly says; instead, it comes from the delighted, no-fuss way she recounts her time with, arguably, the most famous band of all time.
“Who would want to hear the secretary’s story?”
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on December 4th, 2013
Galactic Adventures from Image Entertainment is a nifty little collection of two Solar System IMAX films both running just under a half hour. The two short documentaries off a 3D ride to both the Sun and Mars. The films were produced in 2007 with 3D Sun opening at The Smithsonian's Air & Space Museum. Both films have made the circuit of science museums throughout the country and come to you now through the modern milestone of home 3D for the first time ever.
3D Sun:
Posted in: Holiday Gift Guides by Gino Sassani on December 2nd, 2013
Everyone has one on their Christmas list. It's the guy who already has everything on home video. He's a classic television fan, and you just don't know what to get. For years you've been counting on us for advice. We aren't about to let you down this year. Image Entertainment has two awesome classic television sets out just in time for Christmas. If your list has a classic cop show fan, then it's Naked City. If they're a war series nut, you just gotta get them Combat. If you really, really like them, how about getting them both?
"Ladies and gentlemen. You are about to see the Naked City. I'm Bert Leonard, the producer. As you can see we're flying over an island, a city, a particular city...and this is the story of a number of people, a story also of the city itself. It was not photographed in the studio. Quite the contrary. The actors played out their roles in the streets and the buildings of New York itself."
Posted in: No Huddle Reviews by Brent Lorentson on November 29th, 2013
Everyone knows the name Bill Cosby, and if you’re an 80’s kid like me then you most likely know him as one of TV’s most likeable dads, Mr. Huxtable. Cosby has been the comedian who’s managed to succeed for decades by keeping his comedy routine clean and family-friendly. From his animated series Fat Albert and his numerous other television projects and the Jell-O pudding pop ads, we all seemed to just feel this was a guy we all let into our homes through the television where we all felt we knew him as a part of our extended family. But following the tragic death of his son, something changed, and for a while I was starting to think we might never get back the man with the uncanny ability to make people of all ages and ethnicities laugh.
In the new 90-minute comedy special I’m happy to say that Cosby is back to form and delivers a special that not only is filled with laughs but also plenty of advice for young men out there ready to take the plunge into marriage. Cosby takes all his years of marriage and delivers a performance that is honest, effortless and relatable for those who have already been married for some time now. He makes it clear how in the start of all relationships, men feel like they are doing the right thing when they find their perfect woman and make her the “girlfriend”. But Cosby is here to warn us how that all changes once we make a fool of ourselves and ask these girlfriends to spend the rest of their lives with us.
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