Sucker Punch
Starring: Emily Browning, Abbie Cornish, Jena Malone, Vanessa Hugens, Jamie Chung, Carla Gugion and Oscar Isaac
Director: Zack Snyder
Rated: PG-13

 

A Young woman is sent to a mental institution and scheduled for a lobotomy, planning an escape; every instance of the plan is enacted in her mind as a fantastic battle.

Trying to be clever without succeeding Sucker Punch takes place in the 60’s upon entering the asylum “Baby Doll” (Emily Browning) creates a more glamorous version of reality, turning the dank and dingy asylum into an over stylized cabaret theater.

Alongside more characters with equally ridiculous names Sweet Pea (Abbie Cornish), Rocket (Jena Malone) Blondie (Vanessa Hudgens) and Amber (Jamie Chung)
perform in a dance show/brothel. When Baby Doll is put on the spot to dance in front of everyone, she sways back and forth like an idiot, quickly we zoom into her eyes and are soon transported into a dream world where elaborate green screen action sequences are utilized in place of the real mundane tasks of her plan such as getting a map or acquiring a lighter. The problem with this concept is with no real antagonist you could care less about these mindless action sequences. Furthermore every action scene feels like a music video as cover versions of songs such as Where is my mind? , Sweet Dreams or White Rabbit are played over said action sequences. There is absolutely no emotional connection to the characters as they run amok killing faceless enemies Ad nauseum. We are constantly told about the Raw dancing of Baby Doll that no man can resist and rather than show an ounce of it we get her swaying like a drunk with a head rush.

Snyder tries to be clever with a reality a sub reality and a dream world, clearly to get some form of comparison to inception, which would be completely without merit.
At least Snyder does a 180 on the homoeroticism that he embraced in 300 and now rather than bare chested Spartans we are given young woman dressed up like porn stars at a Halloween party.

Let me be clear Zack Snyder creates movies for the sole purpose of the visual medium, he has no concept of character or story, he feels that if you throw a character in a slutty outfit in front of a green screen, add in some cgi mix it all together that you will have a masterpiece. I am sure Snyder would be concerned with characters and story if those things could look cool but since that isn’t possible he wastes no time or effort on them. What Snyder creates can only be classified as avisual porn not a traditional film. Just because it looks good doesn’t mean it is good. Sucker Punch is a polished turd that can swing a sword and fire a gun at the same time while doing acrobatics in slow motion, but it’s still a turd nonetheless.

Grade-62

TRIBECA (ONLINE) FILM FESTIVAL CREATES INNOVATIVE FESTIVAL EXPERIENCE ONLINE

Tribeca (Online) Film Festival to Host Digital Environment with Free Exclusive Premium Content Including Six Feature Length Festival Films, Past Festival Favorite Films, Interactive Filmmaker Q&A’s
and Live, Interactive Conversation

New York, NY [March 21, 2011] – The 2011 Tribeca Film Festival (TFF) today unveiled the Tribeca (Online) Film Festival supported by founding partner American Express. The pioneering digital initiative will allow domestic audiences to view feature and short films for free and worldwide audiences to engage with filmmakers and industry experts as TFF’s 10th edition runs concurrently in lower Manhattan from April 20 to May 1.

The debut of the 2011 Tribeca (Online) Film Festival offers film enthusiasts nationwide new avenues to experience a film festival. Tribeca (Online) is employing the latest digital video and web technology to deliver an immersive, interactive experience unlike any other, re-contextualizing Festival content and presentation.

The multi-dimensional experience features five areas: Festival Streaming Room, Live From…, Tribeca Q&A, Filmmaker Feed, and the Future of Film blog.

· The Streaming Room will host six feature films from the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival, including two that are making their world premieres at TFF, and 18 short films, four of which are world premieres, and 9 of which retrospective short films from past Tribeca Film Festivals. Each film will have three to five 24-hour screening windows, during which there will be a select number of “seats” available. Using an innovative digital reservation system, viewers can reserve “seats” at www.tribecaonline.com. Reservations begin on April 12 for American Express Cardmembers and April 18 for general public. Online viewers will be able to vote for the Best Tribeca Online Feature Film, a prize of $25,000, sponsored by American Express, and Best Tribeca Online Short Film, a prize of $5,000, sponsored by Accenture.

· In Live From….online audiences across the globe will have the ability to watch live streams of Festival events, including the opening press conference, red carpet premieres, and the award show. Viewers will also have the opportunity to engage with other audience members and onsite participants.

· Tribeca Q&A, which launches today, will offer the online audience the opportunity to engage with the larger online community, one another, and experts by submitting questions to a pool of 20-25 exciting film and new media experts from Tribeca’s Jane Rosenthal, Geoff Gilmore, and Nancy Schafer, to Whoopi Goldberg, and Brian Williams, and filmmakers David Gordon Green, and Zach Braff, plus a host of participating Tribeca (Online) filmmakers, programmers, actors, jurors, film experts, and more. Community members will vote on individual questions, and top-rated queries will be submitted for official response, made available to the public.

· The Filmmaker Feed contains aggregated information on all Tribeca (Online) Film Festival filmmakers, each of whom will have a custom page on the feed, with a biography, interviews, favorite links, social media feeds (Twitter/Facebook), blog posts, vide updates, and more;

· The Future of Film blog, brings together experts from the worlds of film and technology to comment on the ever-changing media environment in featured posts. Participants will be announced early April;

The selected feature films each explore poignantly relevant social themes – from the effect of forbidden love to the strength of community, to the power of social networking. The complete list of feature films streamed on the Tribeca (Online) Film Festival is as follows:

· Donor Unknown, directed by Jerry Rothwell. (UK) – North American Premiere, Documentary. JoEllen Marsh grew up knowing her father only as Donor 150. As one of the first generation of “test-tube babies,” she yearns for connection with potential siblings, and turns to the Internet to track them down. As JoEllen slowly broadens her family tree, in the process she forges a fascinatingly modern model of family. After connecting with dozens of siblings across the country, JoEllen decides it’s finally time to seek out Donor 150.

· Flowers of Evil (Fleurs du Mal), directed by David Dusa, written by David Dusa, Raphaëlle Maes, and Louise MolieÌre. (France) – North American Premiere, Narrative. Paris-Tehran. A rootless story of young love between Gecko, an Algerian-French hotel bellman and parkourer, and Anahita, an Iranian student forced to leave her country for her own safety after the controversial elections in 2009. Obsessed with tracking the political movement, Anahita’s friends broadcast through YouTube and coordinate via Twitter. Romance and the Internet become the ground to explore histories lost and identity yet to be found. In French, Farsi with English subtitles.

· My Last Round (Mi Último Round), directed and written by Julio Jorquera. (Chile, Argentina) – North American Premiere, Narrative. When successful boxer Octavio falls in love with kitchen hand Hugo, they move from their small-town homes in the south of Chile to capital city Santiago to protect their taboo relationship. But when Hugo feels unexpected desire for co-worker Jennifer, Octavio is left heartbroken and throws himself into a high-stakes boxing match against all odds. A handsome cast and evocative cinematography offer a sexy, subtle film that evokes hits like The Wrestler and Brokeback Mountain. In Spanish with English subtitles.

Neon Flesh (Carne de Neon), directed and written by Paco Cabezas. (Spain, Argentina, Sweden) – North American Premiere. Young hustler Ricky was left to a life on the streets at the age of 12 when his hooker mother got sent to the can, but upon learning she’ll soon be released, Ricky enlists a couple of good-for-nothing buddies to help him open a whorehouse as a tribute to Mom. This stylish, edgy crime flick plunges headlong into the fringe world of pimps and junkies where succeeding in business can cost your life…. In Spanish with English subtitles

New York Says Thank You, directed by Scott Rettberg. (USA) – World Premiere, Documentary. New York Says Thank You is an epic story following the journey of New Yorkers whose lives were touched by September 11 as they travel the country helping communities rebuild after disasters. Along the way, they face their emotions and ultimately triumph over tragedy through an idea that evolved from a five-year-old New York City boy.

Rabies (Kalevet), directed and written by Aharon Keshales and Navot Papushado. (Israel) – North American Premiere. A psychotic serial killer on the loose in the woods crosses paths with a group of unsuspecting teenagers. Soon people are dying one by one… but the bad guy isn’t who you think. Turning genre conventions on their head with a smart script and plenty of unexpected scares, Rabies is a surprising debut worthy of its mantle as Israel’s first-ever slasher horror film. In Hebrew with English subtitles.

The short films streaming on Tribeca (Online) are:

Crash&Burn, (USA), World Premiere, directed and written by Rick Rodgers. Two-man rock duo Crash&Burn is turned upside down when Burn decides to have transgender surgery.

The Dungeon Master, (USA), New York Premiere, directed and written by Rider Strong and Shiloh Strong. Shane and his friends thought it would be fun to recapture their geeky youth until The Dungeon Master arrived.

The Kiss, (Australia), North American Premiere, directed and written by Ashlee Page. Fueled by alcohol and hormones, Aimee and Steph take a swim on a hot summer night in The Kiss.

Mr. Stache, (USA), World Premiere, directed and written by Jac Schaeffer. Experience the awesome adventures of a man and his mustache in Mr. Stache.

The Ride, (UK), World Premiere, directed and written by Marion Pilowsky. A student accepts a lift from a stranger but The Ride leads to unexpected consequences.

Rooms, (USA), World Premiere, directed by Joanna Jurewicz, written by Joanna Jurewicz and Adam Walsh. A hotel housekeeper dreams of home in Rooms.

Summer Snapshot, (USA), New York Premiere, directed by Ian McCluskey. In Summer Snapshot a group of friends reflect on a special sun-kissed day.

The Terms, (UK), New York Premiere, directed and written by Jason LaMotte. A father and son face off in The Terms.

Year Zero, (USA), World Premiere, directed and written by Richard Cunningham III. In Year Zero a sole survivor battles the zombie apocalypse in New York City

Retrospective shorts will also be available, as the Tribeca (Online) Film Festival takes a look back at award-winning and audience-approved films from the past nine years of the Festival:

All of these films will be available for free at the Tribeca Online Film Festival.

The Wormhole, (USA), Narrative, directed by Jessica Sharzer (2002). Winner of 6 awards including the 2002 Gold Medal Student Academy Award®. Wally decides to search for a wormhole that he believes will lead him back to his kidnapped brother.

Off Duty, (USA), Narrative, directed by Buboo Kakati (2003). Buboo Kakati is a three-time Emmy® Award Winner and a 23-time Emmy® Award Nominee for her work in Writing, Producing, Direction, Editing, and Post Production. The teenage son of a New York City cab driver dreams only of gaining his father’s love and approval as he balances school and a job as a delivery boy.

Gowanus Brooklyn, (USA), Narrative, directed by Ryan Fleck (2004). Recipient of the Boston Independent Film Festival Special Jury Prize and Sundance Film Festival Short Filmmaking Award. A tomboy discovers her teacher smoking crack and experiences a newfound fascination with the complicated adult world in the short that inspired the feature film Half Nelson

Dance Mania Fantastic, (USA), Narrative, directed by Sasie Sealy (2005). Recipient of the Best Student Film Award at the 2005 Tribeca Film Festival. Out of work and unable to tell his family he’s been fired, a young New Yorker of Japanese descent finds utopian escapism by spending his days and weeks at the local arcade.

The Tribe, (USA), Documentary, directed by Tiffany Shlain (2006). Recipient of 15 awards including IndieWire’s Sundance Critics’ Choice Award in 2006. Barbie dolls and the history of Jewish people actually have quite a lot in common according to this documentary short.

Clear Cut, Simple, (USA), Narrative, directed by Vineet Dewan (2007). Winner of 8 awards including Best Short at BAFTA/LA Student Film Awards. An American soldier in Iraq is torn between his duty to the military and his friendship with his Iraqi interpreter, based on a true story.

New Boy, (Ireland), Narrative, directed by Steph Green (2008). Recipient of 10 awards and nomination for 2009 Best Short Film Academy Award®. Based on a true story, New Boy captures the experience of being the new kid in school through the eyes of a nine year-old African boy.

Confession, (Ireland), Narrative, directed by Thomas Hefferon (2009). Official selection of over 30 film festivals, receiving runner-up awards at both the Rhode Island International Film Festival and the Filmstock Film Festival. An Irish lad seeks solace from a priest.

some boys don’t leave, (USA), Narrative, directed by Maggie Kiley (2010). Maggie Kiley is the recipient of several awards, including the Student Visionary Award at the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival.The breakup happens but the break does not.

Starting today, the Tribeca Film Festival screening schedule for 2011 TFF will be live on www.tribecafilm.com; additional programs will be added upon announcement.

To keep up with all Tribeca initiatives, visit the Tribeca Film Festival website at www.tribecafilm.com, and join the My Tribeca community at http://www.tribecafilm.com/register/, where you can also subscribe to the Tribeca Newsletter.

Like the Tribeca Film Festival Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/TribecaFilm. To join the conversation on Twitter, follow @TribecaFilmFest and use the hashtag #tribecafest.

Tickets for 2011 Festival

Tickets for the Festival will be $16.00 for evening and weekend screenings, and $8.00 for daytime weekday and late night screenings.

Advance selection ticket packages and passes go on sale today, Monday, March 14 for the general public. All advance packages and passes can be purchased online at www.tribecafilm.com, or by telephone, toll free, at (866) 941-FEST (3378).

Single ticket and discounted ticket package sales begin for American Express Cardmembers on Tuesday, April 12, 2011, for downtown residents on Sunday, April 17, 2011, and for the general public on Monday, April 18, 2011. Single tickets can be purchased online, by telephone, or at one of the Ticket Outlets, with locations at Tribeca Cinemas at 54 Varick Street, Chelsea Clearview Cinemas at 260 W. 23rd Street, and AMC Village VII at 66 3rd Avenue. The 2011 Festival will continue ticket discounts for evening and weekend screenings for students, seniors and select downtown Manhattan residents. Discounted tickets are available at Ticket Outlet locations only. Discounted ticket packages can only be purchased online and by phone. Additional information and further details on the Festival can be found at www.tribecafilm.com.

About the Tribeca Film Festival:

The Tribeca Film Festival helps filmmakers reach the broadest possible audience, enable the international film community and general public to experience the power of cinema, and promote New York City as a major filmmaking center. It is well known for being a diverse international film festival that supports emerging and established directors.

Founded by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff in 2001 following the attacks on the World Trade Center, to spur the economic and cultural revitalization of the lower Manhattan district through an annual celebration of film, music and culture, the Festival brings the industry and community together around storytelling.

The Tribeca Film Festival has screened more than 1,100 films from more than 80 countries since its first edition in 2002. Since inception, it has attracted an international audience of more than 3 million attendees and has generated an estimated $600 million in economic activity for New York City.

About the 2011 Festival Sponsors:

As Founding Sponsor of the Tribeca Film Festival, American Express is committed to supporting the Festival and the art of film making, bringing business and energy to New York City and offering Cardmembers and festival-goers the opportunity to enjoy the best of storytelling through film.

The Festival is pleased to announce the return of its Signature Sponsors: Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Apple, Bloomberg, Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC), Brookfield, Caesars Atlantic City, Heineken USA, LG Electronics USA, NBC 4 New York, NCM Media Networks, New York Nonstop, RR Donnelley, Stolichnaya Vodka, The New York Times, Time Warner Cable, and Vanity Fair. The Tribeca Film Festival is also honored to welcome the following new Signature Sponsors: Accenture, Bing, JetBlue Airways, Doha Film Institute and Magnum Ice Cream.

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Limitless

Starring: Bradley Cooper, Abbie Cornish and Robert Deniro

Director: Neil Burger

Rated: PG-13

A down on his luck writer is offered a pill that will allow him to utilize 100% of his brains capabilities

Limitless isn’t a bad movie it just doesn’t quite live up to its potential. Bradley Cooper proves that he can handle the leading man role as Eddie the disheveled writer who cant sustain a relationship or write one word of his book. When he bumps into his ex brother in law Vernon (Johnny Whitworth oozing of sleaze) who gives him a pill that will unlock his brains true potential. Eddies discovery of his newfound potential is the highlight of the film, seeing how a random piece of knowledge from his past, long forgotten could be implemented in a clever way is when Limitless shines.

Soon Eddie begins to utilize his new gifts for financial profit and this is where the movie loses its footing and starts to go downhill. For being a genius Eddie is really stupid, he is able to write his novel almost instantly and successfully dabbles in day trading, when he realizes that he needs more capital to make any real money he doesn’t even attempt to  go to his publisher who he dazzled with his book and ask for an advance on his next project, rather he borrows 100k from Gennady (Andrew Howard) an eastern European mobster. There is no real plausible reason as to why Eddie needed to get the money right away rather grind away for a couple of weeks, just that he needed the money now and the most logical step would be to get it from a criminal you don’t know.

Eddie is so smart that he can comprehend impossible text and can even learn new languages by half listening to a language lesson while jogging. With the pill Eddie is able to learn multiple languages, write novels master the financial world and at no point in his mind does he think to pick up a chemistry book. Knowing he has a limited supply of the drug and this newfound knowledge only stick’s with him when he is on the pill, one would think that safeguarding his supply while trying to get more would be of the utmost priority. Being that he is now a genius one would also think that this would be the logical next step; instead he decides to up his dose and starts to have lapses in time that he can’t account for. Along the way he gets connected to Carl Van Loon (Robert De Niro) and becomes his right hand man in a giant merger if he can maintain his pill supply. Eventually we have one scene where he goes to a lab and speaks with a guy about duplicating the pills, Given that anyone on the pills becomes a genius particularly if they are already smart the fewer the people in possession to these pills the better unless your Eddie who not only gives them to the chemist but is now supplying them to Gennady. It’s amazing that a guy who can outthink some pretty smart people and says he can be 50 steps ahead of the next person can’t seem to come up with a plan to get Gennady off his back.

There is also a scene where Eddie fights off multiple assailants in a subway terminal, utilizing knowledge he picked up from Bruce Lee movies. With this info he is able to singlehandedly take on 5 guys, yet later he is being chased by one person and he runs. For being so smart Eddie’s biggest problems are not Carl Van Loon or Gennady it’s himself, the guy can’t seem to take a proper dosage or learn the chemistry he needs. Eddie could have saved himself a lot of problems if he used his power to just create a controlled release pill.

Grade-81

In honor of St Patricks day take a look at this Irish film. Looks pretty good.

Trailer: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150421488490307

WIN WIN
Starring: Paul Giamatti, Amy Ryan, Bobby Cannavale, Jeffrey Tambor, Burt Young and Alex Shaffer
Director: Thomas McCarthy
Rated: R

 

 

Mike Flaherty a struggling lawyer and high school wrestling coach comes across a wrestling prodigy, just as things start to go his way the boys mother comes to town and tries to derail everything.

Paul Giamatti is back in fine form as Mike Flaherty a Lawyer who is running dry on money and prone to panic attacks, desperate for another source of income he takes on guardianship of Leo (Burt Young) an older man in the beginning stages of dementia, with the sole purpose of receiving the monthly commission it brings. Soon Leo’s grandson Kyle (Alex Shaffer) enters the picture and joins Mikes floundering wrestling team, all is going well for Mike he is supporting his family, his wrestling teams starts winning and then Kyle’s mom fresh out of rehab comes to town looking for a payday, Quickly everything Mike has been working on starts to unravel.

It’s nice to see Giamatti back in form, nobody can play the unremarkable schlub like he can and as Mike he is spot on. This is the small type of film where his talents truly shine, you feel for Mike, although he has the best of intentions he is put into a tough situation and enters a moral gray area too provide for his family. As strong is Giamatti is newcomer Alex Shaffer is the real star of the film as the young wrestler who’s deadpan demeanor is played great for laughs yet at the same time lets you know that he is a good kid who has gone through some tough times. I was surprised primarily by the comedy in the film Stephen (Jeffrey Tambor) and Terry (Bobby Cannavale) both bring a strong dose of reality based humor to their supporting roles. While Jackie (Amy Ryan) brings the emotional heart of the story to the forefront with her mothering skills.

What makes Win Win work is the total plausibility of the story, everything is based in a reality that allows you to believe in the characters. It is easy to see why Win Win was snatched up so quickly at Sundance. It’s that quirky film that is easily relatable and highly enjoyable.

Grade-89

Battle: Los Angeles

Starring: Aaron Echkhart, Ne-Yo, Ramon Rodgriguez, Michelle Rodriguez

Director: Jonathan Liebesman

Rated: PG-13

A marine platoon gets deployed to Santa Monica to rescue survivors of an Alien Invasion and try to do their part to stop the onslaught.

Battle LA is basically a less hokey version of Independence Day. Some extra terrestrials come down on all the major ports in the world and then decide to wipe out and colonize earth. Our only hope is Staff Seargeant Michael Nantz(Aaron Eckhart) a marine who’s last tour went horribly wrong. All he wants is to get out of the marines but the invasion pulls him back in.

Within minutes utilizing the power of the internet the human race is able to figure out that we are being invaded for  our water. Our Oceans water source can be used by Aliens to power their vehicles; in essence the earth being over 70% water becomes a giant intergalactic gas station.

What is really beyond belief is why the aliens come to land and fight the puny earthlings when they could just as easily harvest our water from the middle of the ocean without having to deal with the pesky human menace.  The aliens themselves are standard fare for some reason all aliens are bipeds, must they always walk upright on their hind legs? They are virtually bullet proof getting shot a million times and not being hurt until Staff Seargant Nanze finds where there alien heart is. Hint its right next to where a human heart would be. Now even though these aliens have been shot in the middle of the chest over and over again we all know a Marines accuracy is without fail, until they were told to move over just a skoche all the firepower in the world would not produce the desired results. These aliens were indestructible with the new found adjustment these E.T’s are just a regular bad guy.

Eckhart does a great job in his role giving a strongly dramatic performance, the same can’t be said for the bain of my existence Michelle Rodriguez, her character is credited as Tsqt. Elena Santos which anyone who has seen her previous “work” would know is completely inaccurate; Rodriguez plays one character and one character alone and that character is Michelle Rodriguez. The entire cast plays the film straight and she still has to deploy lame one liner’s while shooting at the Aliens.  A message to Hollywood if you feel that your film requires the spicy heat that only having Michelle Rodriguez in your project can bring, You must follow the blueprint of the few that have gotten it right Avatar, Fast&Furious, Resident Evil etc.. These movies all have one thing in common they knew enough to kill her off her character. Doing so will give you a strong chance of being successful. If you let her live your odds of a huge RORI (Return on Rodriguez investment) will be minimal.

The Camera work is nausea inducing trying to make the “Film authentic” we are given extreme close-ups and enough shaking to wish you took a pre film Dramamine. There is absolutely no use for this overused style save it for the Cloverfields and Blare Witches when trying to create a great SciFi flick stick with the steadycam or at the very least hit the button for image stabilization. People don’t like feeling sick. It’s not a good thing.

Battle LA is both predictable and at times entertaining but has far too many holes in its game to recommend.

Grade-71