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| EFC STATS |
| Movies Listed: |
26028 |
| Total Ratings: |
246271 |
| Total Reviews: |
26348 |
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| 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE |
"Dulce et decorum est, indeed."
Brett Gallman says... "Like its predecessor, “300: Rise of an Empire” deserves credit for taking unseemly material (the glorification of war, macho posturing, xenophobia) and wrapping it up in such an enthralling package that the bad taste hardly registers." (more)
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| 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE |
"An Empire Among Other Things. . ."
Peter Sobczynski says... "The original 2007 "300" was, at least to these eyes, a perfect example of a good news/bad news situation. The bad news was that the movie, an adaptation of the celebrated Frank Miller graphic novel of the same name, was utter garbage--an idiotic hodgepodge of flying limbs, spurting blood, superfluous nipples and even more superfluous plotting staged by uber-hack director Zack Snyder in an increasingly monotonous visual style that attempted to approximate the unique look of the source material but wound up looking more like an uninspired video game from start to finish. The good news is that even though the film's inexplicable box-office success allowed Snyder to go on to screw up such once-promising projects as "Watchmen" and "Man of Steel" while publicly talking shit about Terry Gilliam, a director whose weakest work blows any of Snyder's efforts out of the water without breaking a sweat, it seemed that since it ended with virtually all the key characters dead and a now-unified Greek army marching off to decimate the remaining Persian troops, the chances that there would one day be a sequel that I would one day have to endure seemed impossibly low." (more)
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| MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN |
"This May Not Be Something That You'll Really Like"
Peter Sobczynski says... "Like many of my generation, I was an avid viewer of the old "Rocky & Bullwinkle" show and was therefore also a big fan of the "Peabody's Improbable Adventures" feature that was an occasional component. For those too young to recall, Peabody--Mr. Peabody to you--was a brilliant and erudite dog who invented a time machine--the WABAC Machine to you--and, accompanied by his boy, Sherman, would travel through the ages in order to help key historical developments occur as planned and, perhaps more importantly, conclude each adventure with a pun of astoundingly groan-worthy proportions. I must say, however, that in all my years of watching and rewatching their antics, I never really gave much of a thought as to the emotional underpinnings of the Peabody-Sherman relationship. Did Peabody feel that he was being a good and nurturing father to his adopted son? Did Sherman face any problems as the result of having the world's smartest dog as his adopted father? Were there folks out there who thought that it was unwise for a dog to adopt a boy? Hell, under what possible circumstances was it possible for a dog, no matter how intelligent and literate, to adopt a human child in the first place?" (more)
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| NON-STOP |
"Amusing, but no "Con-Air""
Daniel Kelly says... "I’ve met alcoholics from Ballymena, and they’re not traditionally the sort to come in handy during an international terrorist threat. They’re phenomenal at occupying an adjacent barstool and slurring an assortment of politically incorrect anecdotes; but resourceful men of action? Not really. Still, accepting one of these jovial inebriates as a hero is the least demanding act of suspension “Non-Stop” requests of its audience, the film barrelling from one outlandish scenario to the next. It’s a preposterous helping of genre cheese, but with Liam Neeson in the lead and energy levels cranked up to a roar, director Jaume Collet-Serra just about lurches proceedings over the finish line before the unending silliness becomes all-consuming." (more)
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| FORGOTTEN KINGDOM, THE |
"Not a bad job of getting in touch with one's roots."
Jay Seaver says... "Anybody who has ever owned a globe or a world map has probably found himself or herself curious about Lesotho; the small landlocked kingdom in the middle of South Africa is one of only two or three nations in the world to be completely encircled by another. And while director Andrew Mudge's new film set there doesn't necessarily give much insight on how that geography affects life there, it's still a fine, intimate story set in a place many in the audience haven't even visited cinematically before." (more)
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| STALINGRAD |
"Big and loud are its good points."
Jay Seaver says... "Columbia Pictures is releasing Russian blockbuster "Stalingrad" almost entirely in 3D on Imax screens, and I only include that "almost" just to cover all bases. This is not a bad strategy, as this is the sort of film where projection onto a screen the size of a medium-sized office building does not particularly magnify its many flaws, but certainly does highlight the big, loud spectacle of the thing. If you'r going to see this movie at all, that's the way to do it." (more)
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| NON-STOP |
"No, Lupita!"
Peter Sobczynski says... "Every once in a while, a film comes along with the kind of premise that is so instantly catchy and irresistible on the most basic and fundamental of levels that you have to wonder why no one ever thought to make them into movies before. Every once in a while, you get films that takes such premises and works them out in smart, inventive and endlessly entertaining ways, as in the cases of such instant classics as "Speed" or "Seven." Too often, however, you get films that quickly demonstrate why no one tried to bring them to the big screen before--because while the premises in question may sound appealing at first blush, they contain so many inherent logical flaws that it is virtually impossible to spin them out into a full story without descending into total incoherence and utter silliness." (more)
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| STALINGRAD |
"How Do You Say "Pearl Harbor" In Russian?"
Peter Sobczynski says... "Produced in both 3-D and IMAX, the new Russian war epic "Stalingrad" is said to be the most financially successful film in its nation's history and if this is true, it suggests that Russians have a taste for low-grade cheese to go along with their well-known penchant for vodka." (more)
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SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST 2014 INTERVIEW – STARRY EYES DIRECTOR DENNIS WIDMYER
by Jason Whyte |
| "“STARRY EYES tells the story of Sarah Walker, a determined and desperate actor who would do anything to land her first big role. Unfortunately this leaves her prey to a satanic cult who has been operating as Hollywood’s gatekeepers since the Golden Age. What follows is an occult tale of paranoia and possession that explores themes of transformation, body horror and a woman going through a psychotic breakdown. It’s Ira Levin meets David Cronenberg.” Director Dennis Widmyer (who co-directed with Kevin Kolsch ) on STARRY EYES which screens at this year's South By Southwest Film Festival." (more) |
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SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST 2014 INTERVIEW – FORT TILDEN DIRECTORS SARAH-VIOLET BLISS & CHARLES ROGERS
by Jason Whyte |
| "“Okay so, like, it’s a comedy about two twenty-something Brooklynites who hold themselves in high regard but have a really bad day when they try to get to the beach. It’s kind of an obstacle course, you know? But like really intelligent. Super fun, I think you’d really love it. You’re handsome.” Directors Sarah-Violet Bliss and Charles Rogers on FORT TILDEN which screens at this year's South By Southwest Film Festival." (more) |
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SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST 2014 INTERVIEW – THE 78 PROJECT MOVIE: ALEX STEYERMARK & LAVINIA JONES WRIGHT
by Jason Whyte |
| "“The 78 Project Movie is about two people driving across the country to record contemporary musicians on a 1930’s Presto direct-to-disc recorder. The musicians get one microphone and one blank disk to cut a 78rpm record of an old song in one 3-minute take anywhere they choose. The adventure of capturing these intimate musical performances on film reveals the shared cultural connections of people from seemingly disparate backgrounds.” Director Alex Steyermark on THE 78 PROJECT MOVIE which screens at the 2014 South By Southwest Film Festival. Producer and Presto Recordist Lavinia Jones Wright also joins us to talk about the movie." (more) |
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SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST 2014 INTERVIEW – YAKONA DIRECTORS ANLO SEPULVEDA & PAUL COLLINS
by Jason Whyte |
| "“Yakona is film shot from the perspective if a river’s memories and dreams. A visual journey from the spring fed source of the San Marcos river to the sea. The reveals the river’s interactions with man and the natural world throughout history. Will human destroy this natural wonder or become its protector?” Director Anlo Sepulveda on YAKONA which screens at this year's South By Southwest Film. Co-director Paul Collins also joins us to talk about the film." (more) |
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SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST 2014 INTERVIEW: SONG FROM THE FOREST DIRECTOR MICHAEL OBERT
by Jason Whyte |
| "“WHAT ABOUT THE MUSIC? American Louis Sarno has been living with the Bayaka pygmies, a tribe of hunters and gatherers, in the the Central African rainforest for more than twenty-five years. When his son Samedi, a pygmy boy, was a baby, he became seriously ill. Louis feared for his life and made him a promise: “If you get through this, one day I’ll show you the world I come from.” Time has come to fulfill his promise, and father and son travel from the African rainforest to New York City.” Director Michael Obert on SONG FROM THE FOREST which screens at this year's South By Southwest Film Festival." (more) |
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SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST 2014 INTERVIEW – PULP DIRECTOR FLORIAN HABICHT
by Jason Whyte |
| "“PULP find fame on the world stage in the 1990’s with anthems including ‘Common People’ and ‘Disco 2000’. 25 years and 10 million album sales later, they return to Sheffield for their last UK concert. Giving a career best performance exclusive to the film, the band share their thoughts on fame, love, mortality - & car maintenance. PULP is a music-film like no other; by turns funny, moving, life-affirming & (occasionally) bewildering.” Director Florian Habicht on PULP which screens at this year's South By Southwest Film Festival." (more) |
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SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST 2014 INTERVIEW – I BELIEVE IN UNICORNS DIRECTOR LEAH MEYERHOFF
by Jason Whyte |
| "“Davina is an imaginative and strong-willed teenage girl who escapes often into a beautifully twisted fantasy life. Having grown up quickly as the sole caretaker of her disabled mother, she looks for salvation in a new relationship with an older boy. She is swept into a whirlwind of romance and adventure, until the volatile side of his personality begins to emerge. “I Believe in Unicorns” takes us on a road trip through the stunning and complex landscape of troubled young love.” Director Leah Meyerhoff on I BELIEVE IN UNICORNS which screens at this year's South By Southwest Film Festival." (more) |
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SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST 2014 INTERVIEW – MATEO DIRECTOR AARON I. NAAR
by Jason Whyte |
| "“An idiosyncratic, middle-aged caucasian man from New Hampshire with the "voice of an angel" goes to great lengths to record an original album of incredible music in Havana, Cuba. Imagine R. Crumb as the lead member of Buena Vista Social Club.” Director Aaron I. Naar on MATEO which screens at the 2014 South By Southwest Film Festival." (more) |
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SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST 2014 INTERVIEW -- FOR THOSE ABOUT TO ROCK DIRECTOR RODRIGO SáNCHEZ
by Jason Whyte |
| "“Rodrigo and Gabriela, two young Mexicans who decided to do what they love the most, and against all odds could make their wildest dreams come true. They decided to try luck in Europe, changed their electric guitars for acoustic ones to travel lightly. They had performed for Barack Obama, TV shows hosted by Craig Ferguson, Jools Holland and Jay Leno to name some. And created music for TV shows and soundtracks like Breaking Dan, Pirates of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, among others. Consider famous international Mexican artists…but unpopular in their own country of Mexico.” Director Rodrigo Sánchez on For Those About To Rock. The story of Rodrigo y Gabriela which screens at this year's South By Southwest Film Festival." (more) |
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SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST 2014 INTERVIEW – PRINT THE LEGEND DIRECTORS LUIS LOPEZ & CLAY TWEEL
by Jason Whyte |
| "“PRINT THE LEGEND is a time capsule of the exponentially growing 3D printing marketplace, capturing companies growing from garages to high rises in just a few years. But at its heart, the film is an examination of the compromises and challenges inherent to growing any business.” Directors Luis Lopez & Clay Tweel on their film PRINT THE LEGEND which screens at the South By Southwest Film Festival." (more) |
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SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST 2014 INTERVIEW – MANNY DIRECTOR RYAN MOORE
by Jason Whyte |
| "“”Manny” is the untold story of Manny Pacquiao, one of the most celebrated boxers to ever enter the ring since Muhammad Ali. His life is a true definition of a Cinderella-Man story. From growing up in the slums of the Philippines fighting to feed his family to now carrying the hopes of a 100 million people on his back as he enters the ring, Manny Pacquiao has become a symbol of hope to millions all over the world. To top it off, when he’s not boxing, he’s serving his people as an active Congressman.” Director Ryan Moore on MANNY which screens at this year's South By Southwest Film Festival." (more) |
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SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST 2014 INTERVIEW – WICKER KITTENS PRODUCER MIKE SCHOLTZ
by Jason Whyte |
| "“If you were looking for the definitive documentary about competitive jigsaw puzzling, this is it. We follow all the top teams as they prepare for the biggest jigsaw puzzle contest in the country. And SXSW programmed it as a sports film. So you know it’s got to be exciting.” Producer Mike Scholtz on WICKER KITTENS which screens at this year's South By Southwest Film Festival." (more) |
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SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST 2014 INTERVIEW – THE HEART MACHINE DIRECTOR ZACHARY WIGON
by Jason Whyte |
| "“THE HEART MACHINE follows a young couple, Cody (John Gallagher Jr from SxSW entry SHORT TERM 12) and Virginia (Kate Lyn Sheil from HOUSE OF CARDS) who met online and are in a long distance relationship. They're happy together, except they've never really met in person. Cody begins to question Virginia's life abroad, leading him to doubt that she's there at all. The film follows their parallel journeys, and explores how digital mediation complicates modern love.” Director Zachary Wigon on THE HEART MACHINE which screens at this year's South By Southwest Film Festival." (more) |
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SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST 2014 INTERVIEW – I'M NOT SORRY DIRECTOR RUSSELL COSTANZO
by Jason Whyte |
| "“My film is about a disturbed guy who is lonely and wants to fit in but is just incapable of it, so he catfishes someone online into going out with him and has a really unexpected time with her. It’s really a story about wanting to be something you’re not.” Director Russell Costanzo on “I'M NOT SORRY” which screens at this year's South By Southwest Film Festival." (more) |
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SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST 2014 INTERVIEW – PREMATURE DIRECTOR DAN BEERS
by Jason Whyte |
| "Website/Social Media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram): Facebook: PrematuretheMovie
“It’s a comedy about a young man in high school who has to relive his failed first time at having sex over and over again until he gets it right. Think GROUNDHOG DAY, but with orgasms.” Director Dan Beers on his film PREMATURE which screens at this year's South By Southwest Film Festival." (more) |
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SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST 2014 INTERVIEW – EVOLUTION OF A CRIMINAL DIRECTOR DARIUS CLARK MONROE
by Jason Whyte |
| "“I foolishly robbed a bank at 16 years old and decided to make an autobiographical film exploring the reasons why. Come check out the movie. We premiere this Saturday, March 8th, at 7pm. I promise you a great experience and a cool Q&A.” Director Darius Clark Monroe on “Evolution of a Criminal” which screens at this year's South By Southwest Film Festival." (more) |
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SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST 2014 INTERVIEW – BORN TO FLY DIRECTOR CATHERINE GUND
by Jason Whyte |
| "“Elizabeth Streb is a quirky, cool, 64-year-old action hero who walks down skyscrapers in golden boots and persuades her dancers to bungee jump off bridges with no rehearsal. She pushes herself and her and those around her to the very edge, and this film is constructed to make viewers feel the same way, pushed to the limit, going up, going down, sweating and laughing, terrified and passionate. Streb’s mind and her drawings wrought with the music, photography, history, personalities and questions about power and trust make Born to Fly more of an event than a movie. Try this at home!” Director Catherine Gund on BORN TO FLY which screens at this year's South By Southwest Film Festival." (more) |
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SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST 2014 INTERVIEW – THE CASE OF THE THREE SIDED DREAM DIRECTOR ADAM KAHAN
by Jason Whyte |
| "“This film is about Rahsaan Roland Kirk. He was a windmill slayer, a fighter who faced many obstacles in his life and overcame each of them. And if there weren’t enough obstacles in front of him, he’d create some just to knock them down. Rahsaan’s main legacy was music, and therefore this is a music documentary. But he also did so much more; he started a political movement, was outspoken on race and living with handicaps, and he was blind; though he wouldn’t call it a handicap, he’d just say “I don’t see too well”. At the height of his career, he suffered a massive stroke which left him half paralyzed. But that didn’t stop him. He got back up on stage, and continued to record and play music, rage and tour (with the use of only one hand until the day he died leaving a gig in Indiana in 1977. He was 42 years old.” Director Adam Kahan on THE CASE OF THE THREE SIDED dream which screens at the South By Southwest Film Festival." (more) |
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SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST 2014 INTERVIEW – BUZZARD DIRECTOR JOEL POTRYKUS
by Jason Whyte |
| "“If you dig on junk food, heavy metal, and angry young men, then come party with Buzzard. It’s an art film disguised as a violent slacker black comedy nightmare. Anti-mumblecore.” Director Joel Potrykus on his film BUZZARD which screens at the 2014 South By Southwest Film Festival." (more) |
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BOX-OFFICE UPDATE: NEESON GIVES CHRIST A WHOOPIN'
by Daniel Kelly |
| "Back in 2008 a little film called “Taken” turned respected Irish actor Liam Neeson into a surprise action star, and almost 6-years later his credibility in the genre hasn’t much waned. His latest success, the airborne mystery “Non-Stop” topped the Box-Office with $30 million over the weekend. This places it behind 2012’s “Taken 2” (which totalled $50 million on its autumnal bow) but it’s still a big opening for this time of year. Clearly audiences want more of Neeson landing blows on bad guys, even if critics were sniffy. In fact Neeson is so beloved that this weekend he bested Christ himself, with the biblically oriented “Son of God” arriving in 2nd place, albeit posting a pretty respectable $26.5 million. The movie tracked well with Christian demographics before release, which coupled with weak reviews probably mean it’s very front-loaded. Still, while the numbers aren't godly, they hold up." (more) |
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'I'M THE GUY WHO'S TELLING YOU THE WAY IT IS.'
- Chili Palmer, Get Shorty
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