A few weeks back, AATM was host to a minor row over Universal’s debut of some “artsy” The Wolfman posters. I liked the overall concept, but my esteemed colleague and others didn’t agree. I was dejected. And sad. Hopefully, Universal has redeemed itself with the newer poster at left. It’s one of a couple Universal debuted last week and if you don’t think this one is more striking, straightforward and scary-like, well, I don’t know what to tell you. Of …
Author: Dan
Totally unrelated to District 9 in any way beyond trashy slums and mean-spirited gang members, District B13 has spawned a sequel: District B13: Ultimatum. Don’t worry if you didn’t know a movie called District B13 even existed. It’s a Luc Besson (Taken, The Professional, The Transporter) production, which means it’s French and was thus hated by all red-blooded Americans when it came out circa 2004… even if it did have some pretty incredible parkour themed stunt work and saw sweet …
Up is one of the year’s best. The movie runs the smorgasbord of emotions and themes– and while I’ve heard that criticized as a soft attempt to break through the live-action Best Picture barrier while pacifying the masses with fun (IE- a movie that’s not too thought-provoking), I say stop being so cynical. Not everything has to be an exercise in existential misery wallowing. In the mean time, Pixar’s released an animated short from the world of Up. The short …
Jason Reitman, director of Thank You for Smoking and Juno, is batting 1000. If early reviews for his next (Up In The Air) hold true, that’s not about to change. Set in the world of airports and the corporate jet-setters who call them home, Up in the Air explores the life of a corporate hack-man (played by the uncannily charming George Clooney)– a guy who embodies the position based on his complete lack of roots to anything but himself and …
The Twilight Saga: New Moon killed, killed, killed at the box office this weekend with close to $141 million thanks to the deep pockets of chicks across the land. Earlier in the week, industry tracking had New Moon at a respectable $60-70 million. While we here at AATM “doubted the validity” of those numbers, I don’t think it was until the midnight premieres that there was an inkling the movie would inspire an opening that would land it THIRD ALL …
New Moon is currently basking in a pile of critical distaste. It’s currently a sad and deflated 30% on Rotten Tomatoes and has 70% of listed critics giving it stink eye. Not that critical ire matters in terms of films like these. New Moon will make its money and add further fuel to the “critics are out of touch” fire– just like Twilight’s spiritual cinematic brothers G.I. Joe and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen did this summer. Critical loathing won’t …
So now might be time to relinquish my right to continue as a bear wrestling, hairy chested, card carrying male. I unapologetically enjoyed New Moon… all in spite of itself. Qualified: “enjoyed” doesn’t mean squealing, wooing, heart-stopping delight, but rather pleasant surprise at Chris Weitz’ relatively true handle on overwrought teen angst and the brief action beats that break it up. In short, Weitz directs a film that, despite a ploddingly joyless eternal love between vampire Edward and heroine Bella …
The Blind Side, the true life story of a wandering “orphan” taken in by a wealthy Tennessee family, works on the premise of clever subterfuge. The film is being marketed as a rags-to-riches sports success tale, but ultimately, it’s not that as much as it is a dollop of inspirational suggestion on matters of humanity, economic responsibility and showing a “blind side” to race; all in a football slicked shell. Director John Lee Hancock’s (The Rookie) adaptation of the book …