The CW just provided IR with this still for the new action spy series “Nikita” starring Maggie Q. The show premieres in September.
Archive | July, 2010
First Look: LOONEY TUNES 3D SHORTS – WB
30 Jul
Warner Brothers just provided IR with this still from the new Wile E. Coyote/Road Runner 3D Shorts releasing in congruence with their large scale animation releases Summer and Fall 2010 like “Cats & Dogs 2″ and “Yogi Bear”.
Stark Raving Black – DVD Review
26 Jul
Having only seen Lewis Black live recently, the aspect of his comedy becomes an edge of spite. His angles require an adjustment of sorts because beneath the rapid outbursts is an interesting texture political subtext. Not that he needs it. Black knows his audience and tries to manufacture on his end a sense of knowing in how the common man thinks. As his Epix concert “Stark Raving Black”, now being released on DVD by Comedy Central, illustrates, the connection to his parents and his idea of “paying dues” reflects a man who made his way through the comedic jungle. While most comics crave the next step of motion pictures, Black himself started late within the thought process so to speak because he spent many years working the comedy club circuit like most talent trying to make it. Now over the age of 60, he has attained an enlightenment but has lost none of his rage yet a softer edge protrudes making him applicable for the edgy twenty-something kids but also for their parents. He shows his disdain for new technology but also the aspect that his generation never quite did it right. He takes real world ideas like a story of him playing a benefit where he performed after Vince Gill which made him feel jokingly like “a despicable piece of shit” because Gill and his wife Amy Grant (a Christian singer of note) were so perfect. These perceptions make him accessible to the audience. Granted, like Kevin Smith at times, Black’s ideas and anecdotes can become too “inside” for the audience but it doesn’t seem to have hurt him. While the economy does come into play, it is interesting though that Black doesn’t specifically address the location of Detroit [where the concert took place] more unilaterally during the special beyond a quip of the end that shows his opener John Bowman playing for nickels in an abandoned field outside the city.
The documentary included on the disc brings the idea of Black a little closer to the forefront showing his beginnings with his buddies in a comedy club where he wrote a musical called “Czar Of Rock N’ Roll”. It definitely is a little film schoolish but navigates around what motivated this man in the first place. Comedy as a form of stand up seemed to not be the primary focus initially of his life but seemingly became where his energy eventually was placed. Earlier comedy tape from the 80s and into the 90s showed a younger Black who, while angry, didn’t support the life experience per se in terms of glancing. He actually needed to get into his late 50s and 60s before he became like the teacher you both like and you could learn from. This is reflected in a small but slightly odd piece off-the-cuff that shows him performing in Amsterdam and acting as mentor to some up-and-coming comics over there. While it provides the balance which leads to a small resurrection of his “Czar” play Off Broadway in NYC, the docu seems more chronological in many ways including his current tour which perhaps might be what fans want to see but it lacks a succinct through-line.
“Stark Raving Black” gives a view of the man and the current idealization that defines his act. While inclusive and showing of his focus and beliefs, some of the comedy comes off more inside when not pinpointed which was more apparent at his performance live at Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal. This might simply dictate the way the special was edited since it was done over two nights but perhaps not. The docu is interesting mainly for some of the older tape on Black which shows the evolution of his act from the VHS days on. Out of 5, I give the DVD a 2.
Diverse Culture & Simple Thrills: The 2010 Inaugural Aruba International Film Festival – Feature
25 Jul
Crystal clear waters begin to glisten and pulsate against the towering buildings along the crescent coastline. The Atlantic is welcoming to guests and residents of nearly forty cultures. It is a diverse and beautiful island so it is of no surprise that Aruba is hosting its first ever International Film Festival.
When Aruba decided to peruse the notion of a festival, they decided on recruiting Claudio Mazzenga, a charismatic man whom has helped oversee such esteemed festivals as the Venice and Rome Film Festivals. To make a successful festival, the industry veteran knew that the journey would include choosing the right films and most importantly bringing Hollywood with the local community, which similarly minded celebrities, like his long time friend Richard Gere.
During a local open discussion entitled “In Conversation With..” which highlights an artist’s body of work and interaction with the festival, Gere appeared very humble taking in the amount of appreciation the mainly Dutch population had for him. Gere addressed questions about his humanitarian efforts and the daunting challenge of being a first time producer for “Hachiko: A Dog’s Tale”, the Opening Night film. His attendance helped propel the festival in the right direction. Afterwards drinks were poured and bare feet danced as the eagerly awaited film festival showed a strong start.
After experiencing the rich nightlife, the island’s tropical lushness always helps weary travelers rejuvenate for their next experience. The Hyatt Regency Aruba rests on a exclusive part of the island, right where the beach begins to crescent westward. This curve makes the waters calm and generally untouched by weather. The Atlantic Ocean’s color pulsates with blue and greens, and the finely grained sand is a welcome feeling to the skin.
Not to be unmatched, the Hyatt’s elaborate pool area boasted enough amenities such as bar cabanas, poolside dining, a twisting waterside, and sunbathed mermaids that this traveler could hardly decide where to spend many mornings. Lost between the pleasures of each, the sun begins to settle as the festival comes into full swing.
Crowds of Arubans turned up for the nightly red carpet events located at the Paseo Herencia Cinema positioned across from the resorts. Local news and radio personalities hosted the event and constantly switched between English and Spanish. Applause filled the area as festival goers welcomed the cast of “Venezzia,” a love story centered during the country’s involvement in World War II. The island of Aruba related to the story, since the oil used during the war by the Venezuelans were drilled off the coast only a few miles away. The cast included Latin TV star Ruddy Rodriguez, who shared in the belief that a festival in Aruba can help bridge the gap between Hollywood and Latin America. His hope is that the commanding beauty and adventure here will bring visitors, and hopefully will expose them to diverse cultures of the surrounding countries; including Venezuela.
The positive vibe of the locals and incumbent travelers echoed during the film’s screening and continued next door to Mr. Jazz, where moviegoers were treated to luscious mojitos and salsa dancing. The encompassing themed night showed just a taste of how, with each day, the festival would embrace a different aspect of the island; whether it be Island Chic or American influence.
Five miles south of the premiere resort area rests a secluded cove that offers hands-on experience with aquatic life for novice mariners. De Palm Island offers snorkeling through vibrant reefs, thrilling banana boat rides, and a very unique attraction; the Sea Trek underwater walk. New to many weary outsiders the walk utilizes snuba: a variation of scuba diving where a helmet piped to the surface allows one to walk on the ocean floor 25 feet below. Underneath the diver feels a sense of slow-motion weightless as snapper and rainbow fish approach unafraid. The experience takes some getting used to, but with trained divers escorting guests through the maze and simultaneously photographing the whole event in front of real wreckage, this excursion would be a highlight for any thrill enthusiast.
Before returning to the film festival. patrons congregated in the beautiful open air hotel lobby of the Hyatt to embark on a De Palm off-road safari. The first thought inclined that this would be a gentle excursion along the beaches mainly because anyone was allowed to drive. Waivers were signed, and the visitors boarded five yellow and black-striped Land Rovers. What was to followed threw all previous expectations out the window.
After a quick drive over the asphalt jungle of the upscale resort area, the rovers embarked into the rocky desolate desert terrain located on the northern part of the island. The strong easterly winds prevent architects from building alongside the picturesque oceanside vistas, which include natural bridges, veering rock formations, and towering cacti.
The 4 1/2 hour drive included more turns and bumps that rivaled any American theme park ride, and with the added flavor of the local tour guide that pitched us information with humorous undertones, the eventual consensus among the riders was that this safari was a not-to-miss attraction. The final uphill trek atop a lone mountain peppered with lizards and local goats ended with a much deserved dip in Aruba’s captivating natural pool. Looking at the diversity of Aruba’s terrain one could imagine how it would influence local and international filmmakers to shoot there.
That evening, the festival event is shrouded in black ties and flowing dresses. An orange glow pulsates throughout Paseo Herencia as writer/director Guillermo Arriaga takes the stage. The Oscar lauded writer of “21 Grams” and “Babel” attended to host a screening of “The Burning Plain,” his directorial debut starring Charlize Theron. The film revolves around the themes of regret, escape and infidelity using a non-linear structure that links all three storylines together. As a Mexican writer, Arriaga is no stranger to the clashing of American influence on foreign culture. He seemed very pleased by the the large turnout for a culture as diverse as Aruba.
The final night, marking the end of the first half of the festival, encompasses belly dancers, fine champagne and a rich view of the pristine star filled sky that only an island paradise can offer. An inaugural festival is always a tricky feat to attempt but the eagerness and the sheer exhilaration of all who attended the 1st Annual Aruba International Film Festival show its definitive potential to make it work in the long run.
By Paul Wassberg
The 14 Amazons – DVD Review
20 Jul
The continuing element of the Shaw Brothers releases on DVD shows a protraction of image with the inset of “The 14 Amazons”. Unlike many aspects before where testosterone fully encapsulated the structure of the narrative in terms of its progression, here the estrogen fueled revenge of the House Of Ping proves verifiable from all different angles. This specific outing is significant in its use of historical and blood quotient reference. While other instances including “Invincible Shaolin” used aspects of honor, there seems to be alot more at stake within this story giving it more of an epic feel than others viewed. The sequence of the human bridge specifically sticks out in terms of its plausibility but also interest level because it is quite ingenious (besides being a nod to “Temple Of Doom”). Another paradoxical angle is the fact that the entire cast is led by women who are safeguarding the heir to the family: a male. What moves against it is that the young man is played by a girl pouting and fighting the entire way through the proceedings. The action and anger is palpable especially when the opposing Western Asia oppressors begin slaughtering their slaves, specifically the women loyal to the Ping’s cause. The beheadings come rampantly which again is much more visceral in the overall run especially when the gender equation figures in.
The final battle which is balanced with the breaking of a dam which undeniably reveals the film’s budget lessens a little bit of the blood-soaked endurance of the final moments which oddly bring to mind the multi-level structure of the last act of “Willow”. The use of still frames even as the too-red blood paint splotches the screen does enhance the viewing experience despite its obvious pandering. The English dub versus Mandarin subtitles again betray the more sardonic translation references with the Mandarin being more subtle and respectful in terms of honor and use of drink while the English translation is given to aspects of tomfoolery and below-the-belt jokes. The trailers like those on earlier Shaw films seem to stem within certain genres with “Oshi” (with its epic and archetypal scenes) and “Mushi” (with its paranormal bent) being the most intensive. “The 14 Amazons” approaches the genre with much more possibility in terms of true filmmaking versus a genre standard which elevates the brand while making the politics and structure of the timeframe captured seem all the more real. Out of 5, I give it a 2 1/2.
