“Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori” – Horace “It is sweet and right to die for one’s country”. Most famously, and aptly, used by the World War I era poet Wilfred Owen in his poem, “Dulce Et Decorum Est-,” about knock kneed soldiers slogging through dirt and grime within dangerous trenches on the European front. The quote is haunting in both Owen’s and Horace’s context, even if it also belies a satirical edge.
The newest film written and directed by The Wachowskis, Jupiter Ascending, is a return to science fiction and action in a universe more accessible than our own where interplanetary shipping is business as usual and the Earth is but a chess piece on a planetary chess board. Channing Tatum is Caine Wise, a genetically engineered hunter sent to Earth to find Jupiter Jones, played by Mila Kunis. Jupiter’s fate is much grander than her station in life would lead her to believe and the powers that be get nervous when she starts to learn her destiny.
Fading Gigolo is the comedy written and directed by John Turturro, who also plays the lead role of gigolo Fioravante. Woody Allen plays Fioravante’s pimp, Murray. Both men are in need of cash as their flower and book stores aren’t doing so well.
Chef Carl Casper (Jon Favreau) suddenly quits his job at a prominent Los Angeles restaurant after refusing to compromise his creative integrity for its controlling owner (Dustin Hoffman). He is left to figure out what’s next. Finding himself in Miami, he teams up with his ex-wife, his friend and his son to launch a food truck.
Christopher Nolan, Wally Pfister, Johnny Depp, Morgan Freeman… The big names attached to this film as well as the potentially great story all promised a pretty awesome movie. The movie, however, did not live up to the promise, at all. Transcendence tells the story of the great, famous computer scientist Will Caster (Johnny Depp) and his wife, Evelyn Caster (Rebecca Hall).
This post first appeared on CinemaAxis.com – David & Me will be screened at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival that takes place between April 24 and May 4, 2014. David & Me is a documentary created Ray Klonsky and Marc Lamy – the former also being the “me” in the title.
Hey everyone! I’m pretty tired after this long, irregular week and could use a red wine to cool down, and where better than in a beautiful cinema? Let’s go to the UK this week.
When I saw the first preview of this film, it appealed to me as a sci-fi thriller fan. I had every intention of going to the theaters to see it, but alas, I waited too long. Meanwhile, Gravity won several Academy Awards including Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Visual Effects, and Best Original Score.
A well-executed horror film is quite possibly the most pure and affecting of all cinematic experiences. A horror film can be the ultimate ‘pop-corn’ movie – a work that draws you into its world, gnaws on your emotions and intellect, and finally spits you back into your seat, thrilled and grateful and dripping with adrenaline. It makes sense that horror films illicit a strong response – after all, we are naturally hard-wired to fear.
Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues, a misnomer because the comedy was sloppy. It was nine long minutes before my first laugh.
Fading Gigolo: directed by, written and starring John Turturro. This movie tells the story of a florist, Fioravante, who is convinced by his elderly friend Murray (Woody Allen) to get into the gigolo business.
Last night I attended the Australian premiere of The Amazing Spider-Man 2, and because it won’t be released in the US for another two weeks, I had to hand in my phone. My phone’s my only way of telling the time, and during the movie, I constantly felt like grabbing for my phone to check how late it was. The movie felt like it was taking forever.
Last week, I got to interview Lorna Suzuki for FilmInquiry. Lorna is the author of the Imago Chronicles, a fantasy series, and recently got her books optioned for a film adaptation by a pretty grand film production team. This is especially exciting because Lorna is an indie author – the Imago Chronicles are self-published.
This week I mentioned the Luna Leederville Cinema, where I went to see Only Lovers Left Alive. It’s a classic, art deco cinema here in Perth, and this week, they’re doing something rather awesome. They “turned” it into The Grand Budapest Hotel for the movie premiere.
The Quiet Ones documents a university professor and his team of students in 1974 as they attempt an “experiment” on a young psychiatric patient, which uncovers dark and dangerous forces. Claiming to be inspired by true events, the movie revolves around the hypothesis that the supernatural is a “manifestation of what’s already in the mind” and by using the scientific method to provide evidence, the patient can be cured. Starring in this film are Jared Harris and Sam Clafin, both of whom are notable British actors.