The To-Do List! 7/31/09

It's been one lazy ass week. I think I went through a bit of movie burnout the last few days, so it's fortunate that I saw everything I needed to the week before. This week things amp back up a little bit but again there ain't jack that I can get excited over. I think I'll be spending a bit more time at the American Diner checkin' out some classics. I'll be there tonight checkin' out Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds, and consuming a day's worth of calories, fat, and sugar in the process.



Would you be surprised if I told you that I'm not all that excited by Funny People? The ads portray this as Apatow's 3rd film, and that is true. This is officially his 3rd film as writer/director, although his name has been slapped across practically every successful comedy of the last couple years. Funny People stars Adam Sandler as a comedian who, when faced with a terminal illness, makes a last ditch effort to find some meaning in his life and correct past mistakes. Seth Rogen co-stars as a writer who tags alongside him. I see plenty of potential downfalls here, especially considering that the TV spots and trailers have been odd tonally. It's almost as if they aren't sure quite how to market it. Is it a comedy like Knocked Up? Or is it a dramedy? Here's hoping the film doesn't suffer from the same problem. I'll be checking this out tomorrow with the Metro/DC Movie Fans Meetup. If you'd like to tag along just let me know!



So let's say you're a robber breaking into a family's crib. You're making your way around, diggin' through drawers and maybe snatching a chicken leg out of the fridge. Then, to your shock, you discover that some psycho far crazier than you is already in the house and is holding the family hostage. What's worse, he's laid a bunch of deadly traps around the house in order to catch his prey. What do you do? Do you stay and try to help? Or do you try to escape? Either way you're risking your life. That's the brilliant premise behind The Collector, a film I should've seen last night if I wasn't busy filling my head with reality TV and pro wrestling. The Collector was originally intended to be a prequel to the Saw franchise, and it's easy to see why. I'll be seeing this today no doubt, and based off the idea alone I expect it to be my favorite film of the week. We shall see.



How many credibility points am I sacrificing by saying that I'm actually kinda lookin' forward to Aliens in the Attic? I can't explain why, it just looks like a lot of fun. Bear in mind that I always plan to see movies like this, but rarely do I ever actually attend movies like this. They end up buried on my Netflix queue, like Race to Witch Mountain is(currently 187th on my queue, wedged between I'm Reed Fish and Hounddog).



Comedies about psychiatrists with a wealth of their own problems are common in the world of indie cinema, but rarely do they come with a cast as loaded as Shrink. Kevin Spacey stars as the shrink in question, who becomes a pothead after suffering a tragedy of some sort. The film also features Keke Palmer(Akeelah and the Bee), Saffron Burrows, Dallas Roberts, Pell James, Robert Loggia. Some of my favorite actors working today. Shrink is probably getting about as wide a release as can be expected. Right now you can see it only at Landmark E Street in the DC/Metro area.

What Else is Out There?

I've pretty much knocked out everything else currently playing, but I still hope you all get out to see 3 amazing films I've mentioned a million times before on this site. Everyone owes it to themselves to see Joseph Gordon-Leavitt and Zooey Deschanel in 500 Days of Summer. If you're in the mood for some good old fashioned classic sci-fi, Moon is the best option. You will not be disappointed. And ofcourse, The Hurt Locker is still out there continuing to garner critical acclaim. Go check it out.

Good Call! Ridley Scott to Direct Alien Prequel!

Variety is reporting that Ridley Scott has indeed signed on to direct a prequel to his legendary Alien franchise, with John Spaihts to pen the script. The word that 20th Century Fox had already agreed to revive the classic about a crew that is hunted by a race of murderous aliens, has been out there for quite some time, but initially Scott had refused to return as director. Instead, Scott protege Carl Erik Rinsch was chosen to remake the original Alien. But Fox never seemed happy with that decision, and pushed openly for Scott to return behind the camera.

With this being a prequel, it's likely that the story will cover the inhabitants of the abandoned ship found in Alien, but that's obviously not been confirmed.

For me, this is an obvious good call. I have no idea who this Carl Rinsch guy is, and although I've heard he makes great commercials do I want him tackling one of the classic movie franchises? No. My only concern is whether or not Ridley still has the talent that he so deftly employed 30 years ago. His most recent films have been good, but not necessarily in the same vein as Alien. But if anything he has shown the ability to do many types of films, so I have complete confidence that he can flex the sci-fi muscles when he needs to.

'Gamer' day! More production stills from Lionsgate

Long Live the ACTION MOVIE!!!!!

These new stills from 'Gamer' have me more excited for the flick than the clip and trailer did! I'm not gonna lie that last pic of the guy with the mounted gatling gun gives me the steamies. I'm also thinking more and more that the filmmakers took alot of cues from current games as that last picture looks like a level on Call of Duty, and Butler really does look like he would be a Gears of War character. SOOOO CISED!

Oh...and I'm giving Luda a pass on this one, his acting wasn't great in 2 Fast 2 Furious but the dude has charisma and I like seeing him on screen. He seemed to have improved his skills a bit in 'Rocknrolla'

McAvoy Confirmed for Wanted 2; Twilight Watch in Jeopardy!

Famed action director Timur Bekmambetov has confirmed that Wanted 2, the sequel to the hit 2008 film starring James McAvoy and Angelina Jolie, is in pre-production and set to begin shooting in a few days. After some speculation, he also confirmed that James McAvoy would be reprising his role as Wesley Gibson, a former office employee who joins the mysterious League of Assasins. Timur didn't go so far as to confirm Jolie's return, but he did have this to say...

"We will try to wake up our fox. She is in a bath of wax."

Also apparently in a bath of wax is the third chapter to Timur's Watch trilogy. The first two installments, Night Watch and Day Watch, were set to be followed up some time this year by the third film, Twilight Watch. The films are notable for their amazing special effects and large scale fight sequences that rivaled Hollywood actioners. Day Watch went on to become the highest grossing Russian film in history.

No real word has been given as to why, but Timur went on to say during the '9' panel at Comic-Con that he does not think it will happen.

I wasn't a big fan of Wanted. I thought it was dumb, unique trash. The idea of a sequel does nothing for me, unless they are going to incorporate the stuff from the comics that were actually interesting. The news about Twilight Watch actually does piss me off, though. I loved the first two Watch films, as they show exactly why Timur was chosen to direct Wanted. His style is so chaotic, frenzied, and dynamic. While they were a bit hard to follow storywise, they are a treat to look at. Here's hoping he changes his mind.

'Gamer' all the info you need!

Above is the latest clip from Lionsgates new flick 'Gamer'. In what some might call a modern day 'The Running Man', Gerard Butler plays the lead as Kable in a world where online gaming is played through real people. Here's the synopsis from Lionsgate:

GAMER is a high-concept action thriller set in a near future when gaming and entertainment have evolved into a terrifying new hybrid. Humans control other humans in mass-scale, multi-player online games: people play people...for keeps. Mind-control technology is widespread, and at the heart of the controversial games is its creator, reclusive billionaire Ken Castle (Michael C. Hall). His latest brainchild, the first-person shooter game "Slayers," allows millions to act out their most savage fantasies online in front of a global audience, using real prisoners as avatars with whom they fight to the death.

Kable (300's Gerard Butler) is the superstar and cult hero of the ultraviolent "Slayers." Kable is controlled by Simon, a young gamer with rock star status who continues to defy all odds by guiding Kable to victory each week. Taken from his family, imprisoned and forced to fight against his will, the modern day gladiator must survive long enough to escape the game to free his family, regain his identity and to save mankind from Castle's ruthless technology.

Sounds like what, 'The Condemened' should have been. I refuse to belive that Gerard Butler would pick a bad action script and the rundown of the story sounds innovative and somewhat original, talk about being topical too! This story has been kinda sorta done in flicks like 'Brainscan' and the previously mentioned 'The Condemened' however never quiet like this. This is gonna hit with alot of 18-24 year old males due just to the content but I think from what I'm seeing that this movie is definatley going to be worth seeing. The action looks amazing and the "Game" overlay doesn't look cheesy which makes me immensely hopeful. Check out the theatrical trailer below and let me know what you think.

Trailer for the Coen Brothers' A SERIOUS MAN

The Coen Brothers have reached a point where the release of one of their films has turned into an event. While most of their films have dealt with the corrupting influence of money, their latest film A Serious Man seems to be something of a departure. It's the story of a regular guy in the late 1960s who's life is crumbling all around him. His wife is leaving him for a schmuck colleague; his daughter is robbing him blind so she can get a nosejob; his son is a pain; his brother sleeps on the couch; oh, and one of his students is trying to blackmail him into giving a passing grade. So what's his only course of action? He goes seeking advice from three very different rabbis.

The trailer is short, but I'm digging the premise already. The Coens excel at making movies about desperate people forced to do things they aren't accustomed to, and there seems to be an element of that here.

A Serious Man is set to release October 2, 2009.

A better look at Jackie Earle Haley's Freddy Krueger

Thanks to /Film we have this HQ brightened copy of the earlier released promo pic of the new Freddy Krueger. My initial reaction is "What'd they do to Freddy!!", but once I looked at it for a bit I think it will grow on me, or at least add to the creepiness factor. It seems that they took great steps to make Freddy look like a true burn victim with his lips gone, ears melted in, and nose fried up. It's definatley different and I can't wait to see how it actually plays on screen.

NINJA ASSASSIN!!!!!!!!

Holy Shuriken!!! I've heard bits about this flick for awhile now but man I'm blown away by this trailer, and I'll tell you why. Everyone loves ninja's, they're like gummi bears or Slurpees....who doesn't love em? However there's been a serious lack of real Ninja's in cinema well, forever. From the American Ninja series in the 80's to the Ninja Turtles, to Sub-Zero and Scorpion ninjas are all over pop culture but none seem to portray actual ninja's...it's either cartoonish or something totally off, they never use the right weapons or fighting styles or even show the correct costume. That being said there's also been a deficit in actual old school martial arts movies, since this is pretty much my main wheelhouse you can see where my excitement comes from. This looks freaking spectacular. Enjoy!

Miley Cyrus: Best of Bat Worlds??

Seriously? This rumor ain't true, is it? Gossip-monger site, Hollyscoop has a story from an insider stating that Miley Cyrus is somehow, in some way, up for the role of Batgirl in the next Batman flick. Say wha?? The buzz is that she showed up on the lot in a full Batgirl outfit, which immediately reminds me of Sean Young and her infamous, hilarious, disturbing attempts to win the role of Catwoman in Batman Returns.

Clearly, this can't be true. First of all, there isn't even a Robin. So why in the world would there be casting for Batgirl? Second, Christopher Nolan is busy working on other projects, so he's not even casting or writing or anything right now. And third, it's an awful idea that de-legitimizes the story. There's no need for any of the "child" characters to be included in the franchise at this point if ever, because I think it changes the entire tone. Don't read too much into this story, but it's funny to contemplate.

War Machine!!!!! (oh yeah...it's a bit out of focus)

So here's your first unofficial look at War Machine from the comic con footage of Iron Man 2. I know it's extremely blurry...but we movie nerds take what we can get. Here's my first and really only issue....it looks like he's gold and red! War Machine is silver and black! I really hope I'm just seeing it wrong, but in any event he looks like he's bulky and full of guns! Hopefully they release the con footage to the public, but I wouldn't count on it so until then enjoy!

In the Loop

Remember when Paul Rudd's I Love You, Man touted itself as the most quotable film of the year? Forget it. They've been stripped of the title. Your new and far more deserving quote champeen is In the Loop, which reels off scathing one-liners in a machine gun manner that would make Dillinger jealous. In the Loop is a pointed political satire based off a British sitcom, about a bunch of UK/US bureaucrats trying to create a case for war, with hilarious results.

While there are something upwards of a dozen integral characters, the chief focus is on Secretary of State for International Development Simon Foster(Tom Hollander), a sortof mid-level nobody politician. Foster is earnest, but not terribly savvy. Especially in front of a camera. During an interview, Foster makes the mistake of stating that "war is not unforseeable". Think about that for a second. What the hell does that even mean? With members of the US Pentagon visiting at the time, the words are interpreted to mean that war is indeed on the horizon, and everything explodes into one big cluster****, as Simon finds himself thrust in the middle of the political tug of war. One side begins to use his words as a rallying cry for war, while the others use him as a pawn to delay.

Simon is chastised and brutally ridiculed by Communications Director Malcom Tucker(Peter Capaldi). Tucker might be the most memorable character of any films since McLovin. He's a horrible, vulgar, mean-spirited ogre of a middle aged man who rips through any and everybody with his razor sharp insults. Nobody is immune to his wrath, be it the lowest level intern or a 4-star General. When Simon screws up for a second time on camera, stating that they were "climbing the mountain of conflict" in a poor attempt to eloquently back away from his previous comments, Malcolm screams "Climbing the mountain of conflict"? You sounded like a Nazi Julie Andrews!"

It's hard to top Peter Capaldi's performance, but everyone involved is just as hilarious and oftentimes just as vulgar. James Gandolfini dons the uniform of General George Miller, an old warhorse trying to kill the war effort alongside his friend Karen Clarke(Mimi Kennedy). The General is another of the film's long line of attack dogs, ripping everyone around him to shreds, including a classic face off between he and Malcolm Tucker that should've been held in a steel cage. Miller reveals off my favorite sequence of the movie, as he constantly refers to himself as the "Gore Vidal of the Pentagon". Unfortunately he doesn't realize the full extent of such a claim.

As previously noted, In the Loop is based off a sitcom, and often times it feels like an extended episode of a series. That's both to it's benefit and detriment. It's shot in a handheld style reminiscent of The Office, sortof like we are in the room with these people as they make these big decisions that in theory should impact the entire world. But that's the problem. There are no real consequences to anything here. There are literally no stakes. We're talking war, but it doesn't really feel like it. After awhile it just starts to look like a bunch of people sniping at eachother. It's hella funny, don't get me wrong, but I wouldn't have minded if it atleast seemed as if these people cared a little bit. As it stands, the only characters who seemed to be genuinely affected by anything were Simon, his thrown into the fire assistant Toby(Chris Addison), and Liza. Liza is played by Anna Chlumsky. Remember her? From My Girl with McCauley Caulkin? Yeah, she's grown up and sorta hot. Liza is Karen Clarke's assistant, who wrote a paper denouncing war that threatens to suffocate her career, which has emboldened(term used intentionally) one of her chief rivals. Who knew being a Washington intern was so competitive? Also, keep an eye out for a hilarious cameo by Steve Coogan.

While not as funny as The Hangover, both films are similar in that they rarely give you a moment to breathe in between jokes. They fly so fast and so often that it's almost a requirement to see it twice. I'm demanding that you all get off your f***ing arses and see it right now before you find yourself in some medieval war zone in the Caucasus with your arse in the air. See, quoting it already. Love it.

8/10

Punch Drunk Podcast Episode #28: Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince; The Hurt Locker

This week on the Punch Drunk Podcast...

Comic-Con? What's a Comic-Con? John and Trav dealt with enough crowds at the movie theatre alone, as they review the sixth film in the Harry Potter franchise, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.

The dynamic duo skirt the landmines in their attempt to review Kathryn Bigelow's highly acclaimed Iraq war film, The Hurt Locker.

Who needs Comic-Con? John and Trav update you on all the news that really matters on the Nightmare on Elm Street remake, Saw VI, The Green Hornet, Boondock Saints, and much more.

It's past the mid way point, which makes it the perfect time to take a look at the Top 5 Films of the Year So Far. Will it be Star Trek? Transformers? Miss March? Ok, maybe not Miss March.

All this and much more. We hope you'll join us for what is always a fun hour(or so) of movies, movies, and a crapload more movies. You can find the Punch Drunk Podcast on Itunes or anywhere podcasts are sold....er, available. Or you can subscribe directly right.....here.

Dorian Gray Trailer

I don't know why but I've always been intrigued by the story of Dorian Gray. It's a fairly simplistic story really...a guy has a magical self portrait made which ages instead of him, as long as the painting remains intact Dorian Gray is immortal. The real story arc has to come from someone trying to get ahold of the portrait and destroy it, however I don't see where they'll go with this, as far as I know Gray is a bit of a prick but he's not some evil mastermind that people will go out of their way to kill. We'll see how they play out the first of two major victorian stories this year (the other being 'Sherlock Holmes') on 9-9-09, which happens to be the same release date for a film I've been eagerly anticipating, '9'. A final note I think the casting of Dorian Gray is perfect, the actor who plays him, who also played Prince Caspian in the second Narnia movie looks perfect for the part.

The Secret's Out, Neil Burger to Direct NIMH

Experimental director Neil Burger, who helmed two of my favorite recent films in The Illusionist and The Lucky Ones, has been in talks with Paramount to adapt "Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH" for the big screen. Back in 1982, the book was adapted as The Secret of NIMH, Don Bluth's first directorial effort. Nothing as of yet on the format the film will take, but I'm willing to bet it won't be a cartoon like the original. Probably a combination of live-action and CGI.

I won't lie, The Secret of NIMH scared me as a kid. It was a particularly brutal and sad film, and they did such a good job making these mice seem human that it was too much for me at the time. Ahhh, back in the days when I was still a babyface. Anyway, as an adult I've come to appreciate NIMH for it's blend of drama and fantasy, and seeing as Neil Burger is one of my favorite directors this is a project I'm anxiously awaiting.

Kevin Feige Drops Clues on The First Avenger: Captain America

That Kevin Feige is just a fountain of information lately. It seems like he can't stop talking about all the myriad projects Marvel Studios has on their plate. In an interview with Hollywood.com, Feige lets us on the the thought process behind some of the bigger decisions made in bringing Cap's story to the big screen.

On the storyline, he had this to say...

“Captain America is really the story of Steve Rogers, like Peter Parker, like Bruce Banner, like Tony Stark. By the way, Tony Stark is about as jingoistic a guy there is. He’s always talking about America, what’s right for America, making weapons to go to war with the rest of the world with and [Iron Man] did extremely well overseas because his story was engaging. This movie is Steve Rogers’ origin story, and I think it is our burden to make Steve Rogers as appealing as any of our other characters ... he’s not just the perfect boy scout who follows order every time. He has ideals he wants to live up to.”

“Also, setting it in World War II — the Marvel version of World War II — I think is gonna open it up in another big way ... What’s funny is it will actually end up being, I think, our most diverse and our most international film, in terms of the content of the movies itself. It takes place overseas much more than any of our other films do. In terms of the cast, there’s a group that Steve works with that will have an opportunity for many more international actors than any of our other films.”

As for who Cap might be aiming his iconic shield at?

“We are gonna explore those aspects of World War II that made Cap special: the Super Soldier program, Red Skull, Hydra, all of those things that exist in the Marvel version of it. As you know if you read the comic books, the origin of Captain America is really the origin of the Marvel universe ... it’s about that time in history when the idea of the superhero began to emerge.”

I think it goes without saying that the Red Skull has to be a part of this movie. Let's just hope they don't make him Italian or whatever he was in that god-awful first Cap film.

Captain America is set to be released July 22, 2011.

Warren Ellis Re-Introduces the Knights of the Round Table

Warren Ellis is something of a pariah in the comic book world. One of the most talented writers working today, he has helmed some of the most important works in recent memory, such as Planetary; his classic run on The Authority; even venturing into the mainstream world with Astonishing X-men. His expertise, however is decidedly not mainstream. He excels and taking fresh and often dirty looks at conventional themes and ideas. Which makes this news all the more interesting to me.

On his website, Ellis revealed that he is working on a big film version of the Arthurian legend of the Knights of the Round Table. He says..

I’m writing a film treatment for Hollywood Gang, who co-produced Frank Miller’s 300. Hollywood Gang have previously optioned my graphic novel (with Chris Sprouse) OCEAN.

On my desk, the treatment is called Untitled Arthurian Project.

On their desk, the project is called EXCALIBUR.

He then goes on tell Ain't It Cool News...

'Untitled Arthurian Project,' as I call it (just so I can't feel John Boorman's EXCALIBUR looming down at me from my DVD shelf), differs from the prior 751 King Arthur movies in many ways, but perhaps most obviously in that it is very specifically about the gathering of the Knights.

I'm a sucker for anything involving King Arthur and his loyal Knights...well, I didn't really dig that King Arthur flick with Clive Owen a few years ago. That stunk. The thought of Ellis turning his evil eye towards this project gets me revved up, though, because I know it'll be unlike any King Arthur film I've seen. I used to watch Excalibur with my uncle as a kid, and I immediately fell in love with the period. I have no problem with this story focusing on the gathering of the Knights, as it's a story we've never really had a chance to see.

Roll-Call! Feige Confirms the Line Up for the Avengers Movie!

Everybody loves a good team-up, right? It doesn't matter whether it's Spider-Man and Thor, or the Hulk and Daredevil, or D-Man and Yellowjacket....well, scratch that last one. Whatever, the fact remains that we love to see the biggest, baddest superheroes joining together to take on a threat too big to handle alone. In the world of movies, superhero team ups are a rarity. What was the last one? Daredevil and Elektra? And that hardly counts. That's why it's been so cool to see the way Marvel Studios is slowly blending the film worlds of their heroes, whether it be Nick Fury appearing in The Hulk or Captain America's shield on Iron Man's desk. We've known for some time that The Avengers movie was going to happen, but now we get a bit more detail on exactly who will be included on the roster of Earth's Mightiest Heroes straight Kevin Feige, President of Production over at Marvel Studios. He says...

Kevin: I think we know. It’s going to be Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, Nick Fury. I think it’s safe to assume that there will be some members of the Hulk universe in the film as well. In terms of the additional, I think Black Widow for sure. SHIELD’s organization for sure. And, again, what’s exciting to me about the Avengers movie are seeing those four characters together and interact with each other. Anywhere from the first issue of the Avengers to Civil War, the dynamic between Steve Rogers and Tony Stark is awesome and fascinating. It brings out sides of the others that won’t be brought out in their own franchises. Throwing Thor into the mix is a whole other thing and I think that will be cool. So to pile in another ten or fifteen…or frankly even four…I think will be too many.

Is the Hulk in it?

Kevin: You know Zack Penn is outlining it as we speak so we’ll see.

I like the idea of using a smaller group for the initial movie, because it really does provide a better opportunity to develop each of these characters. However I wouldn't mind one or two more, y'know? *cough*BlackPanther*cough*

Top Shelf at the Box Office 7/27/09

Talk about a lackluster week at the movies. When the biggest release features a bunch of yappin' rodents you know the outlook is bleak. Historically, this is one of the slowest in terms of box office in recent memory. In fact, it was so bad that not even the mighty boy-wizard Harry Potter stood a chance.

1. G-Force: $32.2M

Let's keep it in perspective, folks. Yes, G-Force beat out Harry Potter, but $32M by no means qualifies as a breakout hit. I couch the victory on the simple fact that most of this film's target demographic, kiddies, already went to see Harry Potter in massive numbers last week. So G-Force was the only real choice they had. There was another major release, Orphan, starring a kid but she was more interested in bashing nuns in the head with hammers. Not exactly family friendly fodder, although that didn't stop a few too many parents from bringing their kids to the screening I went to. They should have Child Services staff posted outside the doors at some of these theatres, to be honest.

2. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince- $30M/$222M

Spiraling faster than an out of control flying broomstick, Harry Potter's sixth feature film dropped a huge 61% in it's second week. The reason for that probably centers around the rather mixed critical response this film has received, aimed primarily at it's darker tone which some say is too much for younger kids. Still, Potter continues to dominate globally, raking in over $627M worldwide to date.

3. The Ugly Truth- $27M

I'm convinced that the exact same people go to see all these generic looking romantic comedies. Why? Because they all start with the same exact opening weekend tally. All of 'em. Somewhere there are a group of poor dudes, stuck in what has to be a nighmarish relationship, knowing weeks in advance what movie they'll be dragged to on opening night. I pity them, for I have been in their shoes. Sony says that 62% of the audience was female, and 64% of them were 25 years or older, winning Sony the award for "Least Surprising News of the Day".

4. Orphan- $12.8M

I'm beginning to change my mind on Orphan. The more I think about it, the more I'm appreciating it's fun little twist. Orphan's opening weekend is pretty standard for a slasher film of this sort, just slightly below Drag Me to Hell's opening, but this film lacks the big name talents to hook in viewers. I'm predicting that relatively strong word of mouth, and continued buzz about the revelation regarding the titular killer, will push Orphan into a respectable second week.

5. Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs- $8.2M/$171M

Might be the only time dinosaurs get their collective asses kicked by a bunch of gerbils, but Ice Age thawed about 53% this week probably because G-Force stole it's core audience. G-Force also hijacked it's 3-D screens, adding to the humiliation. Ice Age continues be large globally, surpassing the $500M mark worldwide.

6. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen- $8M/$379M

Yeah...ummm, it just past Lord of the Rings: Return of the King for 10th place all-time. That kinda pisses me off, I won't lie. But it's also set to overtake Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith for 9th place, which I'm kinda ambivalent about.

7. The Hangover- $6.46M/$247M

It won't go away. This is the longest hangover ever. Hair of the dog might be necessary.

8. The Proposal- $6.42M/$140M

Last week I said the only thing I was interested in seeing this week was how The Proposal would perform against The Ugly Truth. The answer? Pretty damn well, only dropping about 23% from last week.

9. Public Enemies- $4.17M/$88.1M

At this rate, Michael Mann's Dillinger biopic will cross the $100M threshold in about 3 weeks. Still, this has to be somewhat disappointing. Not just because of the middling box office tally, but because of the way this film completely failed to latch on with the public.

10. Bruno- $2.72M/$56.5M

Also....

As predicted, 500 Days of Summer performed mightily as it expanded to 60 more theatres. The quirky romantic comedy starring Joseph Gordon-Leavitt and Zooey Deschanel charmed it's way to $1.6M for a total of $3M. I stand by the idea that this will be the highest grossing indie of the year, and considering it's high per site average I expect it will be in the Top 10 next week.

Kathryn Bigelow's highly acclaimed war film, The Hurt Locker, also did booming(no pun intended) business as it expanded this week to over 230 theatres, increasing it's total to $4M.

The best debut of the week in terms of per site average, goes to In The Loop, a British/US comedy about a botched attempt to start war in the Middle East. The film(which was brilliant, I might add. Review to come), which stars James Gandolfini and Steve Coogan amongst others, pulled in $201,000 in only 8 theatres for an average of over $25,000. Not bad. Here's hoping it expands to more sites soon.

How to improve 'Twilight' immensely!!

Thanks to The Movie Blog for posting this, I couldn't help but to repost as I was dying of laughter and full of hope after seeing it. If this is the final scene of "New Moon", then I will pay my 10 bucks happily and enjoy every second!

The Queue: Mongol(2007)

The Mongols weren't exactly the types to write stuff down. They were far too busy killing each other in a convoluted attempt to unite their tribes. But after Ghengis Khan's death, an unknown scribe took the time to write down their "secret" history, retelling the life of the great warlord from beginning to end. The film, Mongol, is a brutal epic of defiance and death. If it were an American film it'd be akin to something like Braveheart, equal parts romantic and terrifying in it's simple presentation of war as a way of everyday life.

Young Temudgin screws up pretty early on in his life. His father, Esugei, is leader of the one Mongolia's most powerful clans. The clans are all at war, and in an attempt to bring unity, Temudgin is to choose a bride from a rival clan. Instead, he chooses a bride, named Borte, from a weaker tribe. On the way home, Esugei is poisoned by one of his rivals, and Temudgin finds himself the target of both his father's enemies and his former friends looking to capitalize on the power vaccum. Temudgin escapes, vowing vengeance against those who killed his father and threatened his own life.

Temudgin's life is full of betrayals and war. His blood brother, Jamukha, who saved him from death years before turns his back on him. His wife, Borte, is kidnapped and made another man's wife. Temudgin uses these wrongs to fuel his quest for bloody vengeance.

Mongol's simple is refreshingly straight forward. Director Sergei Bodrov, crafted a masterful tale of violent retribution, based mostly on the few writings that remain of the famous leader's life. There are some serious liberties taken, as he often paints Khan with the typical heroic brush. He's a devoted, loyal family man. Strong when he must be. Soft and vulnerable when with his wife. The truth is that Khan had many wives, and was far more brutal than this film ever lets on. Still, those are minor details that don't detract from the film. Mongol lives and breathes by it's fictional flourishes, it is both a biopic and a mythological tale.

Mongol is the first installment of a proposed trilogy. The second film, titled The Great Khan, is due out some time next year. As a springboard, Mongol sets a high bar for the subsequent films to reach. Too many of these sorts of films fail to attain the scope necessary to match the greatness of their subject matter. Mongol is a sprawling, giant of a tale, exactly what Ghengis Khan deserves.

8/10


Next on the Queue: 2008's Phoebe in Wonderland

Tron Legacy test footage!

It's been 27 years since the original Tron, and in that time the computer world has gone through...well, a few changes. But how that will be reflected in the digital world of ENCOM has yet to be seen. At the San Diego Comic-Con this week, Disney unveiled footage of the sequel to their 1982 computer animated classic. Jeff Bridges is back reprising his role as Kevin Flynn. Also along for the ride are Olivia Wilde(House, Year One) and John Hurt. The film will focus on Flynn's son, Sean, who goes off in search of his missing father, eventually ending up in the same position his father was so many years ago.

I was never a big fan of Tron. I think as a kid the look of it kinda freaked me out, and as an adult it just felt dated. The look of this sequel is similar, but obviously much more advanced. The classic Light Cycle is featured prominently in the footage, but Disney says there are other more updated versions of other vehicles, including a special Cycle designed just for Kevin Flynn. Disney has stated that Tron Legacy will be presented in Digital 3-D. Forget all these damn cartoons, Tron is a movie that SHOULD be in 3-D.

Oldman Toys with People's Emotions; Batman to Begin Shooting in '10?

Gary Oldman must be crazier than an escapee from Arkham Asylum, or Warner Brothers gave him the hush hush thumbs up. The actor, who was San Diego Comic-Con promoting his upcoming film The Book of Eli alongside Denzel Washington, let slip that there might be a Dark Knight sighting sooner than people think:

"We start filming the next 'Batman' next year, which means it won't come out for another two years," he said, before adding in a sly tone, "but you didn't hear that from me."

WB decided not to comment on Oldman's coy statement, but I can't believe he let that slip without some sort of approval from upper management. Whether or not it's true is what's in question. San Diego Comic-Con is the perfect venue for keeping long gestating franchises alive. A mere mention on the big stage can keep a film's prospects alive long past it's shelf date. Not that Batman is in dire straits or anything, but there's been no public movement on the 3rd film, and last I heard Christopher Nolan was a bit unsure as to the direction it should take in the wake of Heath Ledger's death.

The To-Do List! 7/24/09

It's Friday which means it's time for the To-Do List, where I take stock of all the movies I intend to see for the week. Why do I do this? It's as much for my benefit as anybody, since it gives me the chance to structure the week's routine. I gotta find a way to wedge in enough time for video games, pro wrestling, drunken hook-ups, and the hours I spend staring blankly at my fantasy football team. Ok, that's a bit of an exaggeration. I don't play that many video games anymore.

With Comic-Con in full swing and most of the biggest movies left on the radar either screening there or previewing, precious little came out this week worth mentioning. The one major film I actually give a crud about, Orphan, I already saw. That leaves me with a couple also-rans, one hilarious looking Brit-com, and not much else. Hopefully I can make my way to a screening or two to fill-in the blanks.



From the first time I saw the extremely vulgar, star-laden trailer for In The Loop, I knew it was gonna be at the top of this list. Based on a British sitcom, The Thick of It, it's a satirical look at the attempts by the United States and the UK to manufacture a war with the Middle East. The trailer was full of whip smart dirty one-liners. If the film is half as brilliant, it's sure to be one of my favorites of the year. In The Loop stars James Gandolfini, Anna Chlumsky(from My Girl! She's all grown up and hot now!), Steve Coogan, and Tom Hollander. You can find In The Loop playing right now at Landmark E Street Cinema in the DC/Metro area.



Romantic comedies like this don't come around that often. I'd like to think my review of 500 Days of Summer says it all. I loved it. I will watch it again and again, and already have it pre-ordered on Amazon. I even got the soundtrack. Tomorrow I'll be hosting my first solo Meetup over at Regal Gallery Place in DC to see it again. If you're interested in joining us, you can do so by clicking right here.

What else is out there?



I had a lot of fun with Orphan, even though it's a fairly run-of-the-mill bad seed flick. I know a couple people who will surely dig it, and I might tag along to make sure I didn't miss anything.

Also out is Gerard Butler and Katherine Heigl hamming it up in The Ugly Truth, which to me looks like everything I resent about the modern romantic comedy. And a bunch of gerbils band together to fight evil in G-Force. No word on whether said evil can be found up Richard Gere's ass.

Alice in Wonderland teaser trailer in glorious HD!

Yeah, it was leaked out a few days ago, but all those sites got it yanked. That's why we waited. Plus we didn't want that cheap print copy that everybody was gawkin' at lookin' like it was made out of vaseline.

John and I talked about the trailer a little bit while taping the show last night, and I stand by my point that the film looks spectacular in virtually every way imaginable....except for Johnny Depp's Mad Hatter. As always when it comes to Burton and Depp, they go too far with his character. The same way Burton didn't reign Depp in during Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and the film suffered because of it. The Mad Hatter here looks like a friggin' zombie circus clown. Everybody else is so pitch perfect, from the part-CGI Elena Bonham Carter as the Queen to the terrifying smirk of the Cheshire Cat. Still, I can't wait for this. It looks like a ton of fun, just see for yourself.



Alice in Wonderland is set to release on March 5, 2010.

James Cameron to Take AVATAR on the Road!!

James Cameron is god amongst film directors, especially in the geeky circles we run in. The man has been the spearhead for arguably the greatest sci-fi works in history: Alien, Terminator, The Abyss...just to name a few. His upcoming 3-D adventure, Avatar, has sent the film world into a fever pitch. During the Avatar panel at the San Diego Comic-Con, Cameron screened roughly 20 minutes of the upcoming epic, featuring a mix of CGI, performance capture, and animation that apparently blew the audience away.

But that wasn't all. Cameron revealed that August 21st was a day he was calling Avatar Day. On that day, 15 minutes of Avatar will be screened across the world at various digital 3D and IMAX 3D theatres for free.

If it's not here in DC at the Air & Space Museum I'm gonna choke somebody out. Period. From what I've heard Avatar looks amazing, and the cast is phenomenal. I can't wait for this. More on when and how people can get into this event when it is revealed.

Avatar is set to be released December 18, 2009.

The Strangers nabs a Sequel!

One of the most surprising films of last year was The Strangers, starring Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman as a young couple terrorized by a creepy gang of masked murderers. The film only cost about $9M to produce but grossed upwards of $80M based almost entirely on word of mouth. Just deserved word of mouth, I might add. It is genuinely one of the scariest movies I've ever seen, and I don't much get scared by movies anymore.

Director Bryan Bertino is bringing the bag-headed trio of killers back for a second scare when the sequel begins filming this Fall. Bertino, who wrote and directed the first film, has already completed the script, but this time around he won't be behind the camera. Laurent Briet, a commercial and music video director, is taking the helm this time around. Briet did some effects work on The Ring, a movie which I loathe but atleast got the mood right most of the time.

To say that I'm wary of this decision is an understatement. Bertino so perfectly utilized unique camera perspective to maximize each fright. One thing I know from seeing a host of other music video directors working on big screen films is that they have a tendency to cut each scene too quickly like they would in a video. The Strangers would linger, and allow you just enough time to start worrying about what might be happening off-camera. It's psychological more than anything else. I don't know if this is a smart move, but we'll see.

The Expendables Draws Near!! Still Shots Galore!

It's been awhile since we've updated you on the greatest action film ever created, The Expendables, featuring the greatest collection of screen brawlers in the history of punching guys on celluloid. For those that somehow haven't been paying attention, The Expendables is Sylvester Stallone's homage to the classic action films of the 1980's, about a team of mercenaries hired to take down an evil dictator. Do you really need more plot than that? The mercs, known as The Expendables consist of..

Sylvester Stallone
Jet Li
Dolph Lungren
Jason Statham
Terry Crews
Randy Couture
Mickey Rourke

That's just ridiculous. I'm in movie friggin' Heaven! And I haven't even mentioned the bad guys yet, led by Eric Roberts as a crooked cop. Not to mention former WWE World Champion Stone Cold Steve Austin as a psychotic bodyguard. Oh, and let's not forget Charisma Carpenter. How in the world could I forget her??

The Expendables didn't have a presence at this year's Comic-Con, but that's actually a plus in my book. I don't wanna see too much of this thing until it's right on top of us. With that said, here a bunch of amazing looking still shots from the film. What I've learned from them is that: 1. Jason Statham can't not look cool, even when he's just ducking his head out the window. 2. I'd have given up a left nut to be a fly on the wall at some of the script readings. Must've been a damn riot. Anyway, enjoy the shots and as always let us know what you think!

1st Look at a Clip from SAW VI! Behold the Carousel of Death!

I'm not even gonna pretend to know how the hell this franchise keeps goin' on. Hasn't Jigsaw been dead for like three movies now? Whatever. Hot on the heels of that awesome motion poster we posted a couple of days ago, here we got our first look at an actual clip from Saw VI. Looks like ol' Jigga has his own health care solution to serve up, courtesy of a pretty sick carousel. Check it out and let us know what ya think!

Unfortunately, LionsGate asked us to take down this clip for now since it's not age appropriate, and we're essentially an all-ages site. They've promised us another, more suitable clip in the near future.

Halo Anime Series Unveiled at Comi-Con

343 Industries, which is within the Microsoft Game Studios, was created to oversee the entire Halo universe in the new Halo anime.  Microsoft unveiled a short anime series based on Halo this week at Comi-Con . In addition, a filing for 343 Industries was found at the United States Patent and Trademark Office, which got a lot of buzz going as to what the connection would be between the two events. 

343 Industries will be in charge of overseeing the seven-episode Halo anime series, which is being called “Halo Legends.” The Halo anime will be available to XBox Live users this fall.  Microsoft is working with Warner Bros. to bring them to DVD in early 2010.

This is an exciting move on Microsoft’s part.  They are bringing to life one of the best video games of all time, and are doing it in a pretty savvy way. 

Related articles:

• Microsoft announces Halo anime miniseries (joystiq.com)
• Video game publishers Microsoft, Ubisoft invading Hollywood's turf (latimesblogs.latimes.com)
• So, they're doing a Halo anime (destructoid.com)

A Peek at Green Hornet's Sweet Ride!

Ok, Green Hornet might end up sucking ass, but his ride The Black Beauty is a thing of...well, beauty. Now all it needs is a hotter broad than Cameron Diaz to nail in the backseat.

The Green Hornet is set to release on July 9, 2010.

JCVD Returns in The Eagle Path!

I regret not having seen JCVD yet. I tried to put it at the top of my queue, but was too late and now I'm sitting at home with Phoebe in Wonderland waiting to be watched. Jean Claude Van Damme's turn in that film has worked wonders for the Muscles from Brussels, and now he looks to cash in with his next film, The Eagle Path, which he wrote, directed, and naturally is the star of. It looks to be a typical Van Damme actioner, complete with a no-name cast of marginal talents with uncomfortably bad accents. Oh, and one hot chick ofcourse. The name of Van Damme's character in the film? Frenchy. I'm quakin' in my Chuck Taylor's already.

No firm release date has been set, but the film is set to release some time in 2009. Probably straight to your local Blockbuster or Redbox. Check out the trailer, and let us know what ya think!

Orphan

If there's one thing I've learned through years of movie watching, it's to never trust the sole surivor of any catastrophy. I don't care if it's an old dude, a chick, or in this case a little Russian girl. Unfortunately, that's exactly what happens when little Esther(Isabelle Fuhrman) is adopted by John(Peter Saarsgard) and Kate(Vera Farmiga). I'm assuming it's no coincidence that this troubled pair has the same name as another more famous troubled couple with a bunch of kids. Upon thinking on it further, they bear more of a resemblance to eachother than I thought. Including John's wandering eye and obvious boredom. John and Kate recently suffered a tragedy with the death of their unborn child, and it's ripping their family apart. Deciding that they have way too much time on their hands, they decide to adopt a child rather than spending more of that time with the two young kids they already have. One of whom, the daugher, is mostly deaf. The son is a troublemaker and something of a bully.

Shopping for a kid to adopt from a shady lookin' orphanage that looks like the rundown old home from The Cider House Rules rarely pans out. John and Kate bring home the cupie doll-lookin' Esther based off a very brief conversation with her, immediately charmed by her wide smile and penchant for art. Once they get home, things begin to take a turn for the worse. Accidents keep happening when Esther is around. A girl falls and breaks her ankle, things catch on fire, cars lose control. A few people kinda get killed, too. Kate begins to get suspicious, but Esther is a well trained manipulator and begins playing the two parents against eachother. Kate has a bit of a sordid past, and she uses this to draw out John's mistrust. There's a hint of something sexual between he and little Esther, which is both gross and...well, it's really just gross. Esther's venom seems to be aimed squarely at Kate.

Orphan is actually quite a bit of devilish fun for the first half. Esther is an evil child who toys with everyone around her. The first time she gets bullied by one of the girls in school and Esther shoots her the most evil glare, it's hard not to laugh as the once tough bully nearly pees her pants. But the most delicious stuff comes from the way she manipulates poor, beaten down Kate. Vera Farmiga can play this role with her eyes closed at this point. Whenever you need a somewhat attractive, put upon housewife who's kid is either a murderer or a suspect in a shooting, she's the one you call. Plus there seems to be some strange fetish with her getting nailed in the kitchen. I swear I've seen more of her gettin' tenderized on the countertop than a steak on the Food Network.

Where Orphan falls apart is when Esther's plot goes full-tilt, and what was once a devious game of cat and mouse turns into a standard bloodletting. Too often does director Jaume Collet-Serra(House of Wax) rely on cheap booms and clangs to elicit false scares. The movie is creepy enough without all of that, and it's like he didn't trust the material or the actors to handle their share of the burden. The second half suffers mainly because it because it just takes itself far too seriously. I think they had the balance just right. It's a film about a murderous child trying to kill her way into the family. It's beyond silly. Embrace that part of it! I will say that there is a beautiful twist to be found here. One that puts the entire film into a new perspective, and is probably the best reason to see it.

I find it hard to believe that actual adoption organizations have been in an uproar over this film because they think it depicts the adoption process as shady and evil, and adopted kids as heinous villains or something. Are they serious? I guess having roving packs of celebrities scooping up kids by the armload to use as props for their photo-ops has been a boon to the adoption business. Here's hoping none of them scrounge up one like Esther. Ok, maybe Jolie deserves an Esther.

5/10

P-p-p-please Eddie!! Bring Back Roger Rabbit!!

Ain't It Cool has a surprising interview with director Robert Zemeckis discussing his new film, A Christmas Carol, based on the classic tale of Ebeneezer Scrooge. I'll be honest, I'm not all that interested in that. It looks ok, and is a definite style improvement over The Polar Express which used the same performance-capture technique.

But what is really worth noting is this little exchange between Harry Knowles and Zemeckis regarding a certain 'toon hating gumshoe...

Harry: Did you have any discussions with him about returning as Eddie Valiant?

Zemeckis: Oh yes, he always has them with me. He loves Eddie Valiant and he would love to do it. We talk about it and it’s something we are thinking about.

F'real? Even after all these years I still get suckered into watching Roger Rabbit when it comes on TV every...single....Sunday. It's just one of those movies that never ceases to entertain me, and I still marvel at how seamless the live-action and the animation meshed together. Plus it's the only time Mickey Mouse and Bugs Bunny ever appeared on screen together, and that's just plain cool every time. This must happen. I might even drink a gallon of The Dip to see it.

Ghost in the Shell Creator Plans his Next Assault

Mamoru Oshii, the legendary Japanese filmmaker who's Ghost in the Shell was a landmark film in the anime genre, is set to begin his first live-action film in more than eight years. The film will star Rinko Kikuchi, the future ex-Mrs. Travis Hopson, and star of both Babel and The Brothers Bloom. Assault Girls will take place in a post-apocalyptic future(don't they all?), where hunters prey on large beasts known as sand whales.

Assault Girls is tentatively scheduled to release on December 19th, and I'm sure my friend Shevonne will be there on December 20th. So will I, probably.

New Iron Man 2 image

Here's the latest pic from Iron Man 2, which just wrapped principal photography this past week. Looks like Tony has had a bit of bad luck on the race track, this is undoubtley from the scene where Downey Jr's Stark meets Mickey Rourke's character. If you remember the image from a few weeks ago (which I can't find now), it showed Rourke in a pseudo-iron man suit on a race track....I'm supposing this is the aftermath.

Sneak Peek: Jackie Earle Hayle as Freddy Krueger

Here's your first official look as Jackie Earle Hayley as Freddy Krueger. Fanboys will be happy to know that the outfit remains unchanged. As you can tell not much if any of his face can be seen but I'm sure with the advancements in makeup it will be grotesque and fulfilling to all of those like me who have been waiting patiently for this one. People forget how terrifying the first NOES was, they only remember the joking, whimsical serial killer from the sequels. Of all the recent horror remakes I think this has the potential to be the outright scariest, especially with a talent like Hayley wearing the fedora. Thoughts?

Aron Johnson Kicks Ass in this Interview about Kick-Ass!

I think I've said more than enough on the subject of Kick-Ass, the ultra-violent comic by uber scribe Mark Millar that's being brought to theatres in the coming months. So let's just listen to star Aron Johnson talk about it himself in this interview with Collider!

Humpday

I'd like to think I'm as hetero as the next guy. In fact, in my mind I'm the most masculine dude on the friggin' planet. Hell, every guy thinks that way about themselves in some fashion. But has anybody ever really put that idea to the test? Just how much of a straight, All-American red blooded dude are you? Are you so straight that you could have sex with another guy and it still not be gay somehow? Are you so confident in your hetero-ness that you're not even offended by the notion? Hopefully I'll never be asked to test the limits of my own masculinity like this, but I'm more than happy to watch somebody else struggle with it.

Humpday is the story of two best friends from very different worlds. There's the seemingly straight-laced Ben. Then there's the globetrotting bachelor, Andrew, who shows up one day at Ben's doorstep and turns everything on it's ear. Ben is a happily married man, or so it seems anyway. He and his wife, Anna, are on the verge of starting a family together, but Andrew's arrival clearly sends Ben spiraling back to his old fratboy days and the freedom it provides. Invited by Andrew to a party with what is essentially a sex commune(must look those up when I get the chance), Ben and Andrew get into a drunken discussion about Humpfest, the film festival spotlighting sex in all it's myriad forms. As with most alcohol-enhanced debates of this type, it turns into a stupid game of one-upmanship, culminating in a pledge to make the first porno film starring two straight dudes. Or as Ben so bluntly puts it, "Two straight dudes. Bonin'"

What started as a drunken dare turns into a circus far too big for these two to handle, in particular Ben who has to somehow break the news to his wife. The scene where he first attempts to do so is absolutely hilarious in it's realism. Any guy who's had to break some potentially humiliating news to a woman they care about will understand him completely as he circles the drain before finally giving up on the idea of telling her at all. When she does find out, it throws their entire world off track. Her reaction to this nonsensical idea is the one issue that is played seriously for the most part, which is exactly as it should be. If this were...I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry or some other Hollywood comedy for instance, she'd do something silly like flash her breasts and hope it snaps her husband back into reality. One of the reasons this movie works so well is that the relationship between these characters is feels so natural. Ben and Andrew are a pair of overgrown fratboys at heart, and the dynamic between the two is probably the same as it was when they were in college. Every conversation is an attempt to find out which one of them has the better life; who is the better man; who is the wildest; who has the guts to do anything. I do wish they had spent a bit more time developing Andrew's character. We get some insight into his way of thinking, but it's not nearly as involving as Ben's. Perhaps that's because Ben has a wife who also figures into the equation while Andrew is shacked up with a pair of lesbians looking for a threesome. It doesn't quite go as planned, to say the least.

I can understand why some would be uncomfortable with the subject matter. Maybe it's all those years of watching Oz on HBO but it didn't bother me one bit. There were some couples who left the theatre once the plot became obvious. Some people aren't capable of dealing with gay sex in a fairly straight forward manner like this film does. They prefer it be played up as a farce like in Bruno or in the aforementioned Chuck & Larry. To be clear, there is no actual sex between these dudes on screen. The only bangin' goin' on is a hilarious scene where Ben is unexpectedly mounted like a horse by his wife. To the film's credit, the prospect of sex between these two best friends is a secondary issue and it would've been just as entertaining if the dare was to bungee jump off the Eiffel Tower or something. It's about these two very competitive friends and whether or not their friendship can survive not only their different lifestyles, but their constant need to outdo the other.

Writer/director/co-star Lynn Shelton did a masterful job evoking a sense of realism out of these pretty unknown actors. Although at a few points their inexperience did peek through. She used a form of inprovised dialogue that gave the actors the freedom to ad-lib each scene, even going so far as to let them shoot long uninterrupted sequences which were then edited down. For the most part it works, and the interchanges flow naturally and are often downright hilarious. Shelton also managed to do something I wish more directors would do, which is make the friggin' party scene look like a real party! Most parties I've been to at someone's house don't look like a scene out of House Party. It's a bunch of people sittin' around shootin' the shit while drinking. She uses the handheld cam to it's full potential, as it's best suited for a small slice-of-life film of this nature and not a big budget action romp(hello Michael Mann).

I wouldn't recommend Humpday for everyone. Clearly. But for people interested in seeing something that's as funny as any Apatow film without the benefit of big names, then this is the way to go. If you're worried about the subject matter, chill out. It ain't that damn serious. Just laugh and enjoy the show.

7/10