Month: October 2016

Movie Review: THE TRAP (2016)

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MOVIE POSTERTHE TRAP, 16min, Canada, Crime/Thriller
Directed by Adam Estey

When a young woman has had enough of her abusive, low-life criminal husband, she devises a vengeful escape plan to save her life and ruin his.

Played at the October 2016 ACTION/CRIME Short Film Festival

Review by Kierston Drier

Sexy and suspenseful, The Trap is a proudly Canadian short by director Adam Estey. The story follows Audrey, and her escape from her rich, dangerous and abusive criminal boyfriend.

The audience is taken on a ride through dark and sinister twists and turns, as a deadly cat-and-mouse is played out between the furious spurned lover, and his crafty ex.

Subtle and steamy, with mounting tension in every scene, The Trap is a suspense film, turned mystery film, turned action film. Cleverly designed with red-herrings and hidden details, there must be a special nod of appreciation to the film’s editor.

The sleek, highly polished look and feel of the film establishes the setting and story as one of cold and calculating life and death drama, which adds to the glossy appeal of the films’ cinematic value.

A film with a true handle of building complex and compelling story in a very short sixteen minutes, The Trap is a film to see. It’s an alluring look of what happens when burning love runs cold, and two criminals fight fire with fire.

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Movie Review: MOTEL MOTEL (2016)

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MOVIE POSTERMOTEL MOTEL, 20min., Belgium, Crime/Mystery
Directed by Ellen J. Babeliowsky

When Hjalmar inspects his room in an old, worn-out motel, he discovers a severed ear in the deep-pile carpet. During his search for the origin of the ear, he stumbles from one strange occurrence into the next. The mystery of the ear ultimately gets him into a surreal situation, of which he is both the victim and the spectator.

Played at the October 2016 ACTION/CRIME Short Film Festival

Review by Kierston Drier

Rich in symbology and complex layering, Motel Motel this crime mystery film by Belgian director Ellen J. Babeliowsky. It follows our hero, Hjalmar, finds himself sharing an old motel room with an unpleasant partner- a severed human ear. This ear disturbs him, erodes him, and ultimately drives him to act by reaching the motel’s owner to change his room. Curiously, no one believes his story- that his room is occupied by a human ear. Yet his consciousness becomes plagued with eerie visions, hallucinations and jarring revelations that upset and torment him. His actions become increasingly desperate and disorganized as he falls into a supernatural state of reality while ambling through the motel. Whether his experience are the result of some supernatural power, some fragmenting sense of reality, or the delusions of a mad man, the audience is left to wonder what came first- the madness or the mayhem?

This film makes nods to several well established cult classics, such as Pulp Fiction to name one of many. The unreliable narrator, the highly subjective non-lateral plot and the avant-garde supernatural air, make the film a cultural cinematic work of art. Think Wes Anderson, if Wes Anderson was dark and perturbed and less whimsical.

Undoubtedly beautiful, with spectacular imagery and stunning composition, this film has sumptuous tones and high production value. The story may be too allegorical and metaphorical for a viewer looking for a conventional short. However, a viewer will be engaged with the idea of a hero, slowly losing his mind, fighting a battle only they seem to understand. And the supernatural twist at the end will tie together the details strung throughout the piece. A deep, dark, thought provoking film chronically the descent into madness…or maybe, something more.

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Movie Review: THE APOLOGY (2016)

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MOVIE POSTERTHE APOLOGY, 7min, UK, Mystery/Crime
Directed by Patrik Bergh

In this dark comedy we find an old man sitting alone in a roadside diner nervously waiting for the moment that will finally seal his fate. With the other man finally showing up, the story takes a sinister turn sinister when he decides to teach the old man a lesson.

Played at the October 2016 ACTION/CRIME Short Film Festival

Review by Kierston Drier

A dark comedy with a heart of gold The Apology will make you laugh while sending a shiver down your spine. Hailing from the UK and directed by Patrik Berg, this short finds our hero, clearly wound up in some sort of shady mafia dealing, repaying his debt to a dangerous mobster. The mobster, in turn, is unhappy with what he feels is an inauthentic apology. What follows is a Abbott-and-Costello style scene that will leave the audience snickering.

Awkward and uncomfortable, while still engaging and endearing, this film should be commended for its excellent casting. Each character is knowable almost immediately. The performances are strong and incite empathy, even pity, as well as humor for our lead.

Also commendable is the films’ utter simplicity. It has one scene, one setting, only two characters, and the whole story is told in seven minutes. Yet a full and rich relationship is built between our two characters and an emotional impact felt between both them for each other, and for the audience to them. The result is that the twist at the end (and boy, what a twist!) leaves the audience cheering for our underdog.

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Film Review: INFERNO (Da Vinci Code 3!)

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inferno_poster.jpgDirector: Ron Howard

Writers: Dan Brown (based on the novel by), David Koepp (screenplay)

Stars: Tom Hanks, Felicity Jones, Irrfan Khan

Review by Gilbert Seah

Warning: It is best not to see the trailer before the film as all the best and most important parts are shown, leaving the film to be a bit….boring!

In a few years time, you can argue, no one will even remember Ron Howard’s INFERNO, based on Dan Brown’s 2013 novel of the same name. It will open around the world, make a little money for the studios and talent, and then it will just disappear.

The film begins with a chase that results in the suicide of Bertrand Zobrist (Ben Foster), a transhumanist scientist who is intent on solving the world’s overpopulation problem before jumping from a bell tower. (This scene is also seen in the trailer. ) The film switches to Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) awakening in a hospital room in Florence, Italy, with no memory of what has transpired over the last few days. He suddenly finds himself, once again, the target of a major manhunt. With the help of Dr. Sienna Brooks (Felicity Jones) and his knowledge of symbology, Langdon tries to regain his freedom and lost memories, all while solving the most intricate riddle he has ever faced.

The script by David Koepp (JURASSIC PARK) is a simple story laced with too many subplots that adds confusion. Every subplot does makes sense in the whole realm of the story, but the audience is not given much time to digest to the details.

The climatic sequence when all the characters converge to save the world (in their own way) is a total confusion of bad editing. The audience is uncertain how the virus might be or might not be released in a container that is immersed in a water system. The knife fight that involves a victorious Sienna feels like something out of a horror film where the slasher always appears for one last scare.

If there is one saving grace of the film, it is the performance of “Sidse Babett Knudsen” as Elizabeth Sinskey, head of the the World Health Organization. One of Denmark’s best actresses, she makes the most of what would otherwise be an underwritten role. Her presence gives a new definition to screen presence. “Irfan Khan” and “Omar Sy” (UNTOUCHABLES) are both not bad as the polished no-nonsense Harry Sims and Christoph Brüder, head of the SRS team respectively.

The film is shot in a few exotic locations such as Florence, Venice and Istanbul that should provide a few bright moments.

What is most puzzling is the supposedly surprise ending with Dr. Langdon and the Dante’s mask (it is already shown in the trailer so the twist isn’t really a twist!).

The link to the trailer is provided below. See it, if you must, but after watching the film, again, only if you must.

Watch Trailer

Venezia, 29/04/15 – Set del Film “Headache” (Inferno).Felicity Jones. ©Marco Sabadin/Vision – Set del Film “Headache” (Inferno).Felicity Jones. – fotografo: ©Marco Sabadin/Vision

Deadline October 31st

TV CONTESTSUBMIT your TV PILOT or TV SPEC Script
Voted #1 TV Contest in North America.		 FILM CONTESTSUBMIT your SHORT Film
Get it showcased at the FEEDBACK Festival
writing CONTEST1st CHAPTER or FULL NOVEL CONTEST
Get full feedback! Winners get their novel made into a video!		 SCREENPLAY CONTESTSUBMIT your FEATURE Script
FULL FEEDBACK on all entries. Get your script performed

Happy Birthday: David Walton

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davidwalton.jpgDavid Walton

 Born: October 27, 1978 in Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Married to: Majandra Delfino (18 March 2011 – present) (2 children)

That’s what I like about acting. You don’t know where you’ll be in year.

My family took me to church when I was like 4 years old, and I had to be in a pageant, and I was playing Jesus.

I grew up around a lot of feminine energy.

 

Deadline October 31st

TV CONTESTSUBMIT your TV PILOT or TV SPEC Script
Voted #1 TV Contest in North America.		FILM CONTESTSUBMIT your SHORT Film
Get it showcased at the FEEDBACK Festival
writing CONTEST1st CHAPTER or FULL NOVEL CONTEST
Get full feedback! Winners get their novel made into a video!		SCREENPLAY CONTESTSUBMIT your FEATURE Script
FULL FEEDBACK on all entries. Get your script performed

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Happy Birthday: Troy Gentile

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troygentile.jpgTroy Gentile

Born: October 27, 1993

[observation, 2014] I’m trying to establish myself as a young adult now. I’m no longer the chubby kid in the wheelchair [Bad News Bears (2005)] or the young Jack Black [Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny (2006)]. I’ve seen how you can hit rock bottom in this industry, and you need to have something to fall back on. Right now, being an actor is on my plate, but I was going to community college before I got The Goldbergs (2013). All of a sudden, life’s a trip. So now I’m like, okay, I guess this is my craft.

THE GOLDBERGS TV SHOW PILOT
2013
Creators: Adam F. Goldberg
Drillbit Taylor
Directed by Steven Brill
Starring
Wilson
Nate Hartley
Troy Gentile
MOVIE POSTERBAD NEWS BEARS
2005
dir. Richard Linklater
Stars:
Billy Bob Thornton
Greg Kinnear

Good LuckGood Luck Chuck
Directed by Mark Helfrich
Starring Cook
Jessica…

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Happy Birthday: Patrick Fugit

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patrickfugit.jpgPatrick Fugit

Born: October 27, 1982 in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

There are these girls who live in Maryland: they’re the Patrick Super Fan Club Association of America. They’ve sent me videotapes of themselves just eating and talking about Hanson, and a loaf of bread that was really moldy by the time it got here.

Oh, I’m quite the impulse buyer. Most of what I buy is stuff for my Jeep, ’cause it breaks down a lot.

HORSEMEN
2009
dir. Jonas Akerlund
Starring:
Dennis Quaid
Ziyi Zhang
SwingersAlmost Famous
2000
dir. Crowe
starring
Billy Crudup
Kate Hudson
Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant Movie PosterCirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant
dir. Paul Weitz
Stars:
Chris Massoglia
Reilly
MOVIE POSTERWE BOUGHT A ZOO
dir. Cameron Crowe
Stars:
Matt Damon
Scarlett Johansson

Deadline October 31st

TV CONTESTSUBMIT your TV PILOT or TV SPEC Script
Voted #1 TV Contest in North America.		FILM CONTESTSUBMIT your SHORT Film
Get it showcased at the…

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Happy Birthday: John Cleese

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johncleese.jpgJohn Cleese

Born: October 27, 1939 in Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset, England, UK

I think marriage should be like dog licences. I think you should have to renew marriage licences every five years, unless you have children. And I think before you have children you should have to go and pass various tests and get a licence to have a child. Because it’s the most transformative and difficult thing of your life. Far more important [than work]. People don’t understand this, and some people who are highly motivated by work, but when I worked I was always motivated, funnily enough, by the fear of being bad. Because it is so humiliating to make a joke and have no one laugh.

And Now For Something Completely Different
1971
dir. Ian MacNaughton		MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAILMonty Python and the Holy Grail
1975
dir. Terry Gilliam
Terry Jones
LIFE OF BRIANLife of Brian
1979
dir. Terry Jones
Starring
Graham Chapman

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Happy Birthday: Peter Firth

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peterfirth.jpgPeter Firth

Born: October 27, 1953 in Bradford, Yorkshire, England, UK

I didn’t really capitalise on that early success because I had high artistic ideals and they didn’t involve commercial cinema. That said, becoming an international film star takes its toll – there’s a price to be paid for being recognised all the time, so I’m quite happy not to be.

When you’ve had an Academy Award nomination for the film Equus (1977), the work comes rolling in. So I had my chance to be a film star, but I resisted fame. I had peculiar high artistic ideals in those days. There is some regret about turning down Hollywood style-fame now, but only really financially.

THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER
1990
dir. John McTiernan
Stars:
Sean Connery
Alec Baldwin
MOVIE POSTERAMISTAD
1997
dir. Steven Spielberg
Stars:
Anthony Hopkins
Matthew McConoughey

PEARL HARBORPearl Harbor
2001
dir. Bay
starring
Ben Affleck
Josh Hartnett

Deadline…

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Happy Birthday: Robert Picardo

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robertpicardo.jpgRobert Picardo

Born: October 27, 1953 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

His thoughts on Star Trek: I came to the Star Trek franchise a little late. I got into it, I married a woman who’s a big Star Trek fan, so, even though I was not into it when I was a kid, in order to court my wife I had to go to Star Trek movies. You know, I think she had a thing for Captain Kirk, right when she was hitting puberty — which is really when they get you! And, uh, I really grew to understand and appreciate the quality of Star Trek storytelling. And then, when I joined the Voyager franchise, and really became knowledgeable about Star Trek — and watched more and more of the other shows, that preceded us — I think that I became a Star Trek fan in my own right, as well…

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