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| EFC STATS |
| Movies Listed: |
26037 |
| Total Ratings: |
246323 |
| Total Reviews: |
26356 |
![[123859518 Hits]](/cgi-bin/gd.cgi?123859518)
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| GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL, THE |
"Grand isn't the word I'd use"
Daniel Kelly says... "2012’s “Moonrise Kingdom” gave me hope that Wes Anderson had finally shaped his unique corner of American cinema into something universally agreeable. The film preserved the stylised artifice and editorial beats that define the author’s brand, but also brought a tender and honest coming of age story to a rewarding lather; peppered with stellar performances from a mixture of newbies and veterans. “Moonrise Kingdom” felt like something other than the noodling of a man-child with a penchant for art deco furnishing, and as a result was handily the film-maker’s most satisfying work to date. It’s a shame that “The Grand Budapest Hotel” should throw those less predisposed to Anderson’s quirks back in the deep-end, the movie far more committed to gimmicky visual quirks and jarring oddball behaviour than enriching character study or storytelling panache. It’s utter anti-plotting from start to finish, coated in a varnish that underlines Anderson’s cine-literacy at the expense of engaging narrative." (more)
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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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SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST 2014 INTERVIEW – LEAVE THE WORLD BEHIND DIRECTOR CHRISTIAN LARSON
by Jason Whyte |
| "“LEAVE THE WORLD BEHIND is a documentary about three DJ’s and best friends who became a global music phenomenon and sold out arenas around the world. Then, at the height of their success, they decided to break up. How do you deal with friendships when things change and what ties you together comes to an end? Also, it shows the colorful crowds of people dancing and screaming to house music around the world.” Director Christian Larson on “Leave The World Behind” which screens at this year's South By Southwest Film Festival." (more) |
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SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST 2014 INTERVIEW – TAKE ME TO THE RIVER DIRECTOR MARTIN SHORE
by Jason Whyte |
| "“Take Me to the River is an inspired adventure to where your music came from. What inspired and influenced the world's popular music. It all came from one place. A place of origin. Memphis and the Mississippi delta. Where the spirit of American music was born and still lives. Come find out why you should be proud to be an American and how we gave the world one of it's most precious cultural gems, popular music.” Director Martin Shore on TAKE ME TO THE RIVER which screens at this year's South By Southwest Film Festival." (more) |
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SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST 2014 INTERVIEW – MAY THE BEST MAN WIN DIRECTOR ANDREW O'CONNOR
by Jason Whyte |
| "“Whit and Drew, film raunchy pranks and stick them online. To try and attract more views they recruit a girl, Rosa, to appear in their videos. They BOTH fall for her and begin a series of insanely embarrassing and outrageous head to head challenges to try and impress her.” Director Andrew O'Connor on MAY THE BEST MAN WIN which screens at the 2014 South By Southwest Film Festival." (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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'WELL, THE ISSUE IS SHALL WE KILL HOWARD BEALE, OR NOT? I'D LIKE TO GET SOME MORE OPINIONS ON THAT.'
- Hackett, Network
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