SIN NOMBRE

Written & Directed By: Cary Fukunaga
Cinematography By: Adriano Goldman
Editor: Luis Carballar & Craig Mckay

One of the problems with being a film fan is that you have seen a lot of films so you begin to see films influenced or downright steal scenes, plots and characters from other films you see twists coming a mile away you can predict where a story is going to go. So when a film is labeled as original you go into it already with a skewed mindset. You watch it waiting for something original, something that everyone else who has raved about it saw and loved, something you haven’t seen to come on the screen or at least something to dazzle you and if it doesn’t appear you are ready to pounce.

SWEENY TODD

Cast: Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Sacha Baron Cohen, Alan Rickman, Timothy Spall, Anthony Head

Directed By: Tim Burton
Written By: John Logan
Based On The Musical by: Stephen Sondheim & Hugh Wheeler
Musical Adaptation By: Christopher Bond
Cinematography By: Dariusz Wolski
Editor: Chris Lebenzon
Production Design: Dante Ferreti
Costume Design: Colleen Atwood


For a film that had been in development for almost 25 years ever since the broadway show premiered I was expecting a spectacle. I was not disappointed. I really wanted to love this the sixth collaboration between Director tim burton and Johnny depp. With the added bonus after a candy colored kids of them going back to a bleek story a musical none the less. I don’t even care that it’s a musical. I’m not a musical hater far from it. But I am also not a musical lover it depends on my mood. But generally I’m indifferent all that matters is that it is done well.

MAN BITES DOG

Directed By: Remy Belvaux & Andre Bonzel & Benoit Poelvoorde
Written By: Remy Belvaux & Andre Bonzel & Benoit Poelvoorde & Vincent Tavier
Cinematography By: Andre Bonzel
Editor: Remy Belvaux & Eric Dardill

CAST: Benoit Poelvoorde

This film is a masterpiece or at least so close to being one then in one simple scene one simple act it passes the point of no return that at least in my mind ruined the movie for me. Was it intentional?

The CineFiles Capsule Review -- DISTRICT 9

Check out our first ever capsule review on DISTRICT 9!

If you want to be in my gang ...

This is the first line of the song "We Can't Be Beaten" by Australian 80's metalheads, Rose Tattoo.  This also happens to be the rockin' song that leads the rockin' documentary that I saw called NOT QUITE HOLLYWOOD.

The song and the first lyric sum up the feel of this film from the get go. Filmmaker Mark Hartley brings us into the world of Ozsploitation and doesn't let us up for one second, not even to breathe. I'm telling you, it was like some wild amusement park ride you DO NOT want to get off. Little did many people outside of the film geek society know there were such riches coming out of Australia that filled up drive-in and video store shelves for years. And, in my case, fed my eyes and imagination from the late night cable menu (Thank you, Showtime & Cinemax!).Now, when you watch this, you're going to get a lot of talking heads thrown at you. And you probably won't know what the hell they did. But this film EDUCATES you in the ways of these trash auteurs like not many docs on filmmaking have in the past. 

Late 20th Century Period Piece: AFTER HOURS directed by Martin Scorsese

I revisted Scorcese's AFTER HOURS recently after having not seen it for a very long time. I initially remembered liking it a lot, thinking it was far better than the "meh" response it was given by critics at the time (Vincent Canby, in his 1985 New York Times review of the film wrote that it was "at best, an entertaining tease" which will "leave you feeling somewhat conned"). Apparently Scorsese took on AFTER HOURS after his first failed attempt to get LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST off the ground. It was his bid to do something, anything, that would take him away from the nightmares of big studio pre-production politics and return him to his independent roots.

THE CINEFILES: DRUG FLICKS!

Tapping a vein... taping a vein... tap, tap, tap... the merry flicksters get their afternoon high discussing MAN WITH THE GOLDEN ARM, PANIC IN NEEDLE PARK, DRUGSTORE COWBOYS, SWEETS AND DUSTY MCGEE among others. And it's another episode taped at Manhattan's Lower East Side bar Nurse Bettie.

PRECIOUS: Based on the novel push by sapphire (2009)

Directed By: Lee Daniels
Written By: Geoffrey Fletcher

CAST: Gabourey Sibibe, Monique, Paula Patton, Sherri Sheperd, Lenny Kravitz, Mariah Carey

Yes that is truly the whole film title.

The film is a emotional rollercoaster. While not as depressing as I thought it would be. It is a truly dark film.

THE CINEFILES: BOOZE FLICKS

Check out our latest episode: BOOZE FLICKS. Just the thing to cure that weekend hangover. Taped at Nurse Bettie, a pin-up themed bar on Manhattan's Lower East Side. In this installment we discuss THE LOST WEEKEND, DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES, BARFLY, FACTOTUM, COCTAIL and BAD SANTA. And Edwin proves he can't bartend worth @##$$!