Tagged: James Marsden

15May

X-Men: Days Of Future Past (2014)

Posted in Action, Adventure, Film, Film Genre, Home Page, Sci-Fi / Fantasy | Leave a comment

Summary: The X-Men send Wolverine to the past in a desperate effort to change history and prevent an event that results in doom for both humans and mutants.

Year: 2014

Australian Cinema Release Date: 22nd May, 2014

Australian DVD Release Date: TBA

Country: USA, UK

Director: Bryan Singer

Screenwriter: Simon Kinberg, Jane Goldman (story), Matthew Vaughn (story)

Cast: Andreas Apergis (Col. Sanders), Shawn Ashmore (Bobby/Iceman), Halle Berry (Storm), Mark Camacho (President Nixon), Massimo Cannistraro (Ramone), Adan Canto (Sunspot), Chris Claremont (Congressman Parker), Daniel Cudmore (Colossus), Larry Day (General Caris), Peter Dinklage (Dr. Bolivar Trask), Bingbing Fan (Blink), Michael Fassbender (Erik Lehnsherr), Jan Gerste (Gwen), Josh Helman (Maj. Bill Stryker), Gregor Hlady (General Petrov), Nicholas Hoult (Hank/Beast), Hugh Jackman (Logan/Wolverine), Famke Janssen (Jean Grey), Evan Jonigkeit (Toad), Jennifer Lawrence (Raven/Mystique), Thai-Hoa Le (General Nhuan), Michael Lerner (Senator Brickman), Zehra Leverman (Ms. Maximoff), Morgan Lily (Young Raven), Gregg Lowe (Ink), James Marsden (Scott Summers), James McAvoy (Charles Xavier), Ian McKellan (Magneto), Francois Paquette (Congressman McCarter), Ellen Page (Kitty Pryde), Anna Paquin (Rogue), Evan Peters (Peter/Quicksilver), Booboo Stewart (Warpath), Patrick Stewart (Professor X), Omar Sy (Bishop). Lucas Till (Havok), Len Wein (Congressman Davis)

Runtime: 131 mins

Classification: CTC

OUR X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST REVIEWS & RATINGS:

Adam Ross: You can check out Adam’s X-Men: Days Of Future Past review on The Good The Bad The Ugly Film Show Ep #80

Greg King: You can check out Greg’s X-Men: Days Of Future Past review on www.filmreviews.net.au

Nick Gardener: You can check out Nick’s X-Men: Days Of Future Past review on The Good The Bad The Ugly Film Show Ep #80

David Griffiths:

It’s not exaggerating to suggest that X-Men: Days Of Future Past is one of the biggest projects ever attempted by Marvel. The idea of bringing together the casts of the original X-Men franchise and X-Men: First Class is enough to make comic book fan begin drooling, actually delivering it to the screen though was something that could have gone horribly wrong. Luckily though director Bryan Singer (Jack The Giant Slayer, Valkyrie) was up to the task and what has been delivered is a visually spectacular comic book film that doesn’t forget about the fact that characterization is something that shouldn’t be left out of a screenplay.

Like most of the films in the X-Men series X-Men: Days OF Future Past is set in the not too distant future. But the world is a very different place. Large robotic creatures known as Sentinels have scoured the Earth killing off any mutants that they have come across while doing the same to any human they find that has the potential of passing down the Mutant X gene to other generations.

A small group of mutants made up of Kitty Pryde (Ellen Page – The East, Touchy Feely), Iceman (Shawn Ashmore – Breaking The Girls, The Barrens) plus others have managed to use Kitty’s time travel skills to escape the Sentinels but even that means living on the run. When they are found by Professor Xavier (Patrick Stewart – Match, Hunting Elephants), Magneto (Sir Ian McKellan – Miss In Her Teens, The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug), Storm (Halle Berry – The Call, Movie 43) and Wolverine (Hugh Jackman – Prisoners, The Wolverine) it is quickly decided that something must be done or soon they will soon be facing their deaths as well.

When it is realised that the whole Sentinel program got off the ground when the world panicked after Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence – American Hustle, The Devil You Know) killed a leading scientist named Dr. Bolivar Trask (Peter Dinklage – Low Down, The Angriest Man In Brooklyn) it is decided that Kitty must pull off the dangerous procedure of shifting the modern day Logan back into his 1970s body so he can stop Mystique in her tracks.

The task doesn’t only pose physical risks to Logan but also means that he is going to have to convince the younger Charles Xavier (James McAvoy – Muppets Most Wanted, Her), Erik Lehnsherr (Michael Fassbender – The Counselor, 12 Years A Slave) and Hank (Nicholas Hoult – Young Ones, Jack The Giant Slayer) that he is who he says he is and that he needs there help.

The massive amount of characters from the X-Men universe that feature in this film could have really caused some problems in the script. But luckily the screenwriting team was up to the task. It doesn’t feel like any character gets left out of the action and to that team’s credit there are some seriously touching moments throughout the film and that all comes down to the characterization of the characters and the relationships between them.

One of the things that will shock fans this time around though is the way that Singer establishes early on that nobody is safe in this film. An early mutant massacre seems some franchise favorites get killed and as a result of that the audience sits on the edge of their seat throughout wondering who may not actually make it to the end credits. By the time Magneto is picking up a whole sports stadium and dumping it down where Hank, Wolverine and Xavier are you can only wonder if any of them will make it out of there alive.

The well written screenplay also means that some of the actors can really bring their A-Game to this film. James McAvoy is a standout as he portrays the young Charles Xavier as a battling ‘drug addict’ who must either choose between his mutant abilities or being able to walk again. Nicholas Hault again takes a massive step in his career and carries on his good work from Warm Bodies while it seems that the likes of Jackman, Page, Lawrence and co are simply in cruise control but still deliver good performances.

With X-Men: Days Of Future Past is seems that Bryan Singer has brought everything, a great screenplay and amazing special effects to create one of the best films of this franchise. The film also closes with a finale that would have been the perfect way to close off this franchise but the after credit teaser suggests that it will continue on. Still this is a great film that certainly won’t leave fans of the series disappointed. At last one of the blockbusters of 2014 lives up to its hype.

Average Subculture Rating (out of 5):

IMDB Rating:

Other Subculture Media Reviews of ‘X-Men: Days Of Future Past′: For our full X-Men: Days Of Future Past review please check The Good The Bad The Ugly Film Show Ep #80

Trailer:

19Dec

Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (2013)

Posted in Comedy, Film, Film Genre | Leave a comment

Summary: With the 70’s behind him, San Diego’s top rated newsman, Ron Burgundy, returns to take New York’s first 24-hour news channel by storm.

Year: 2013

Australian Cinema Release Date: 19th December, 2013

Australian DVD Release Date: TBA

Country: USA

Director: Adam McKay

Screenwriter: Will Ferrell, Adam McKay

Cast: Christina Applegate (Veronica Corningstone), Dylan Baker (Freddie Shapp), Steve Carell (Brick Tamland), Jim Carrey (CBC News Anchor), Tom Clark (Curtis Knightfish), Sacha Baron Cohen (cameo), Marion Cotillard (CBS News Anchor), Kirsten Dunst (Alterius: Maiden Of The Clouds), Lori Beth Edgeman (Tina), Will Ferrell (Ron Burgundy), Tina Fey (Entertainment Tonight Reporter), Wilbur Fitzgerald (Dr. Brangley), Harrison Ford (Mack Tannen), Meagan Good (Linda Jackson), Jennifer Gullick (Diane Yahwea), Greg Kinnear (Gary), David Koechner (Champ Kind), Josh Lawson (Kench Allenby), James Marsden (Jack Lime), Zoe Myers (Sam), Liam Neeson (History Channel Host), Judah Nelson (Walter Burgundy), Dave Pileggi (Donna), Amy Poehler (cameo), John C. Reilly (The Ghost Of Stonewall Jackson), Paul Rudd (Brian Fantana), Clark Sarullo (Jessica), Will Smith (Sports Broadcaster), Vince Vaughn (Wes Mantooth), Kanye West (cameo), Kristen Wiig (Chani), Fred Willard (Ed Harken)

Runtime: 119 mins

Classification:M

OUR ANCHORMAN 2: THE LEGEND CONTINUES REVIEWS & RATINGS:

Adam Ross:

Please check Adam’s review of ‘Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues’ that is available on The Good The Bad The Ugly Film Show Ep 63

Greg King:

Please check Greg’s review of ‘Philomena’ that is available on www.filmreviews.net.au

Nick Gardner:

Please check Nick’s review of ‘Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues’ that is available on Southern FM

David Griffiths:

It was the sequel we were threatened with (er… I mean promised) for years, the sequel to “Anchorman” that would see the legendary Ron Burgundy (arguably Will Ferrell’s most famous character) return to the big screen. Now it’s happened and sadly you get the feeling that true fans of the franchise may be a little disappointed with “Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues.”

The film begins with Ron working in New York alongside his wife Veronica Corningstone (Christina Appelgate). In Ron’s mind everything is going well, he’s flying with his news reading and the homefront is happy as he and Veronica look after their son, Walter (Judah Nelson). But then comes the crash when veteran newsreader Mack Tannen (Harrison Ford) announces his retirement. Ron and Veronica are sure they have the job but then Mack surprises everybody and hires Veronica and fires Ron. Suddenly things are no longer pretty, not on the work front or the home front.

Then comes a life-line for Ron. The chance to headline a news team at a newly founded 24 hour news station created by Australian media magnate Kench Allenby (Josh Lawson). For that to happen though Ron first of all has to put together his old team. He soon finds that Champ Kind (David Koechner) is running a fast food restaurant with a difference, that Brian Fantana (Paul Rudd) is the world’s leading cat photographer and that Brick Tamland (Steve Carell) is farewelling himself at his own funeral.

But that is only the start of the hijinx as the boys soon find out they have a new enemy in the form of the smooth Jack Lime (James Marsden), that their new boss, Linda Jackson (Meagan Good) is.. well… black and that they are hosting the graveyard shift.

Now I’m sure in the back of director and co-screenwriter Adam McKay’s mind “Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues” is a well thought out satire of the news industry. But it’s not, actually it falls well short if you think back to the comedy gold that was “Frontline”, a television show that was like an early version of “The Office” set amongst a news team.

“Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues” cruises for the first half. The film provides the odd laugh here and there but never really reaches the heights it should with such a formidable comedic acting line-up, then comes the difficult second half. Here the film flounders as much as the shark that Ron tries to nurse back to the health. Excuse the pun but the film well and truly jumps the shark (and this time just like “Happy Days” a real shark is involved) with stupid and unnecessary storylines such as Ron’s blindness, shark nursing and a finale that seems to rip off events of the first film and just become a vessel to introduce a few cameos. Credit where credit is due though the cameos are pretty impressive.

One of the big let downs of “Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues” is the acting. With the likes of Ferrell, Carell and Rudd it’s like the filmmakers have got together some comedy dream team but sadly the script lets them down. They only get to deliver a couple of real laughs each and the second half really becomes the Will Ferrell Show with the others pushed firmly into the background. Even the likes of some heavyweights like Harrison Ford and Liam Neeson being around doesn’t life the film because they are hugely under used.

“Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues” is a real let down that deserves to be mentioned alongside some of the ordinary stuff that Adam Sandler has released over the last few years.

Average Subculture Rating (out of 5):

IMDB Rating:

Other Subculture Media Reviews of ‘Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues′: Please check our Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues review on The Good The Bad The Ugly Film Show Ep 63.

Trailer:

13Dec

2013 SAG Awards Nominations

Posted in Film, Film News, News | Leave a comment

The 2013 SAG Awards nominations are now in. Here they are:

FEATURE FILMS

Outstanding Performance By A Male Actor In A Leading Role

Bruce Dern (Nebraska)
Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years A Slave)
Tom Hanks (Captain Phillips)
Matthew McConaughey (Dallas Buyers Club)
Forest Whitaker (Lee Daniels’ The Butler)

Outstanding Performance By A Female Actor In A Leading Role

Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine)
Sandra Bullock (Gravity)
Judi Dench (Philomena)
Meryl Streep (August: Osage County)
Emma Thompson (Saving Mr. Banks)

Outstanding Performance By A Male Actor In A Supporting Role

Barkhad Abdi (Captain Phillips)
Daniel Bruhl (Rush)
Michael Fassbender (12 Years A Slave)
James Gandolfini (Enough Said)
Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club)

Outstanding Performance By A Female Actor In A Supporting Role

Jennifer Lawrence (American Hustle)
Lupita Nyong’o (12 Years A Slave)
Julia Roberts (August: Osange County)
June Squibb (Nebraska)
Oprah Winfrey (Lee Daniels’ The Butler)

Outstanding Performance By A Cast In A Motion Picture

12 Years A Slave – Bendict Cumberbatch, Paul Dano, Garrett Dillahunt, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Paul Giamatti, Scoot McNairy, Lupita Nyong’o, Adepero Oduye, Sarah Paulson, Brad Pitt, Michael Kenneth Williams, Alfre Woodward
American Hustle – Amy Adams, Christian Bale, Louis C.K., Bradley Cooper, Paul Herman, Jack Huston, Jennifer Lawrence, Alessandro Nivola, Michael Pena, Jeremy Renner, Elisabeth Rohm, Shea Whigham
August: Osange County – Abigail Breslin, Chris Cooper, Benedict Cumberbatch, Juliette Lewis, Margo Martindale, Ewan McGregor, Dermot Mulroney, Julianne Nicholson, Julia Roberts, Sam Shepard, Meryl Streep, Misty Upham
Dallas Buyers Club – Jennifer Garner, Matthew McConaughey, Jared Leto, Denis O’Hare, Dallas Roberts, Steve Zahn
Lee Daniels’ The Butler – Mariah Carey, John Cusack, Jane Fonda, Cuba Gooding Jnr., Terrence Howard, Lenny Kravitz, James Marsden, David Oyelowo, Alex Pettyfer, Vanessa Redgrave, Alan Rickman, Liev Schreiber, Forest Whitaker, Robin Williams, Oprah Winfrey

TELEVISION PROGRAMS

Outstanding Performance By A Male Actor In A Television Movie or Mini-Series

Matt Damon (Behind The Candelabra)
Michael Douglas (Behind The Candelabra)
Jeremy Irons (The Hollow Crown)
Rob Lowe (Killing Kennedy)
Al Pacino (Phil Spector)

Outstanding Performance By A Female Actor In A Television Movie or Mini-Series

Angela Bassett (Betty & Coretta)
Helena Bonham Carter (Burton And Taylor)
Holly Hunter (Top Of The Lake)
Helen Mirren (Phil Spector)
Elisabeth Moss (Top Of The Lake)

Outstanding Performance By A Male Actor In A Drama Series

Steve Buscemi (Boardwalk Empire)
Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad)
Jeff Daniels (The Newsroom)
Peter Dinklage (Game Of Thrones)
Kevin Spacey (House of Cards)

Outstanding Performance By A Female Actor In A Drama Series

Claire Danes (Homeland)
Anna Gunn (Breaking Bad)
Jessica Lange (American Horror Story: Coven)
Maggie Smith (Downton Abbey)
Kerrry Washington (Scandal)

Outstanding Performance By A Male Actor In A Comedy Series

Alec Baldwin (30 Rock)
Jason Bateman (Arrested Development)
Ty Burrell (Modern Family)
Don Cheadle (House Of Lies)
Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory)

Outstanding Performance By A Female Actor In A Comedy Series

Mayim Bialik (The Big Bang Theory)
Julie Bowen (Modern Family)
Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie)
Tina Fey (30 Rock)
Julia-Louis Dreyfus (Veep)

Outstanding Performance By An Ensemble In A Drama Series

Boardwalk Empire – Patricia Arquette, Margot Bignham, Steve Buscemi, Brian Geraghty, Stephen Graham, Erik La Ray Harvey, Jack Huston, Ron Livingstone, Domenick Lombardozzi, Gretchen Mol, Ben Rosenfield, Michael Stuhlbarg, Jacob Ware, Shea Whigham, Michael Kenneth Williams, Jeffrey Wright
Breaking Bad – Michael Bowen, Betsy Brandt, Bryan Cranston, Lavell Crawford, Tait Fletcher, Laura Fraser, Anna Gunn, Matthew T. Metzler, RJ Mitte, Dean Norris, Bob Odenkirk, Aaron Paul, Jesse Plemons, Steven Michael Quezada, Kevin Rankin, Patrick Sane
Downton Abbey – Hugh Bonneville, Laura Carmichael, Jim Carter, Brendan Coyle, Michelle Dockery, Kevin Doyle, Jessica Brown Findlay, Siobhan Finneran, Joanne Froggatt, Rob James-Collier, Allen Leach, Phyllis Logan, Elizabeth McGovern, Sophie McShera, Matt Milne, Lesley Nicol, Amy Nuttall, David Robb, Maggie Smith, Ed Speleers, Dan Stevens, Cara Theobold, Penelope Wilton
Game Of Thrones – Alfie Allen, John Bradley, Oona Chaplin, Gwendoline Christie, Emilia Clarke, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Mackenzie Crook, Charles Dance, Joe Dempsie, Peter Dinklage, Natalie Dormer, Nathalie Emmanuel, Michelle Fairley, Jack Gleeson, Iain Glenn, Kit Harington, Lena Headey, Isaac Hempstead Wright, Kristofer Hivju, Paul Kaye, Sibel Kekilli, Rose Leslie, Richard Madden, Rory McCann, Michael McElhatton, Ian McElhinney, Philip McGinley, Hannah Murray, Iwan Rehon, Sophie Turner, Carice Van Houten, Maisie Williams
Homeland – F. Murray Abraham, Sarita Choudhury, Claire Danes, Rupert Friend, Tracy Letts, Damian Lewis, Mandy Patinkin, Morgan Saylor

Outstanding Performance By An Ensemble In A Comedy Series

30Rock – Scott Adsit, Alec Baldwin, Katrina Bowden, Kevin Brown, Grizz Chapman, Tina Fey, Judah Friedlander, Jane Krakowski, John Lutz, James Marsden, Jack McBrayer, Tracey Morgan, Keith Powell
Arrested Development – Will Arnett, Jason Bateman, John Beard, Michael Cera, David Cross, Portia De Rossi, Isla Fisher, Tony Hale, Ron Howard, Liza Minnelli, Alia Shawkat, Jeffrey Tambor, Jessica Walter, Henry Winkler
The Big Bang Theory – Mayim Bialik, Kaley Cuoco, Johnny Galecki, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar, Jim Parsons, Melissa Rauch
Modern Family – Julie Bowen, Ty Burrell, Aubrey Anderson Emmons, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Nolan Gould, Sarah Hyland, Ed O’Neill, Rico Rodriguez, Eric Stonestreet, Sofia Vergara, Ariel Winter
Veep – Sufe Bradshaw, Anna Chlumsky, Gary Cole, Kevin Dunn, Tony Hale, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Reid Scott, Timothy Simons, Matt Walsh

STUNT ENSEMBLE HONORS

Outstanding Action Performance By A Stunt Ensemble In A Motion Picture

All Is Lost
Fast & Furious 6
Lone Survivor
Rush
The Wolverine

Outstanding Action Performance By A Stunt Ensemble In A Comedy or Drama Series

Boardwalk Empire
Breaking Bad
Game Of Thrones
Homeland
The Walking Dead

26Jul

2 Guns – Featurette

Posted in Film, Film News | Leave a comment

A new featurette has just been released for the forthcoming ‘2 Guns’ – check it out below.

A DEA agent and an undercover Naval Intelligence officer who have been tasked with investigating one another find they have been set up by the mob — the very organization the two men believe they have been stealing money from.

Cast:
Mark Wahlberg, Paula Patton, Denzel Washington, James Marsden, Bill Paxton, Fred Ward, Patrick Fischler

Director:
Baltasar Kormákur

20Nov

Robot & Frank (2012)

Posted in Comedy, Drama, Film, Film Genre, Home Page, Sci-Fi / Fantasy | Leave a comment

Summary: Set in the near future, Frank, a retired cat burglar, has two grown kids who are concerned he can no longer live alone. They are tempted to place him in a nursing home until Frank’s son chooses a different option: against the old man’s wishes, he buys Frank a walking, talking humanoid robot programmed to improve his physical and mental health. What follows is an often hilarious and somewhat heartbreaking story about finding friends and family in the most unexpected places.

Year: 2012

Australian Cinema Release Date: 15th November 2012

Australian DVD Release Date: TBA

Country: USA

Director: Jack Schreier

Screenwriter: Christopher D. Ford

Cast: Bonnie Bentley (Ava), Frank Langella (Frank), Rachel Ma (Robot), James Marsden (Hunter), Susan Sarandon (Jennifer), Peter Sarsgaard (Robot (voice)), Jeremy Sisto (Sheriff Rowlings), Jeremy Strong (Jake), Liv Tyler (Madison)

Runtime: 89 mins

Classification: M

Dave Griffiths’s ‘Robot & Frank’ Review:

Take a quick look at the poster for Robot & Frank and you could be excused for thinking that you are about to head into a film that is so low on the budget that they have used a dodgy robot left over from the Pixar design team. If that makes you turn around and leave the cinema though it means you’ll be missing out on seeing one of the films of the year… because Robot & Frank is an absolute gem.

Frank (Frank Langella – Unknown, The Time Being) is a former prisoner who even is his old age is finding it hard to give up the habit of having to steal every now and then. He lives a very lonely life, he’s been divorced for thirty years and his son Hunter (James Marsden – Bachelorette, TV’S 30 Rock) visits when he can and his daughter Madison (Liv Tyler – The Ledge, Super) phones in quick thirty second video calls from wherever her travels have taken her this week.

Although he would never admit it Frank does struggle with life, things like household chores become too much for him and his only escape from his life is to go to the library and visit Jennifer (Susan Sarandon – That’s My Boy, The Company You Keep) whom he has a crush on. However things are about to get a lot better for Frank when Hunter buys Frank a Robot (voiced by Peter Sarsgaard – Green Lantern, Knight & Day) that is supposed to make life easier for Frank… he just has to accept that.

Together director, Jake Schreier (Christopher Ford Sees A Film) and screenwriter, Christopher D. Ford (Eugene!, The Fuzz) have created a very special film indeed. Despite the fact Frank is a criminal you can’t help but feel for him, especially when you realise that he is a very lonely man indeed. The fact that you find yourself relating to him means that whether the threat is coming from the police or from the ‘evil’ Jake (Jeremy Strong – Lincoln, See Girl Run) you want to see Frank and Robot outsmart them.

The other big win that Schreier and Ford can celebrate is the fact that despite his plain look and monotone voice the character of Robot also becomes quite likable, so much so that you realise aside from its science fiction based plot this is ultimately a ‘buddy’ film… and a very good one at that.

Frank & Robot is so good that it shouldn’t be completely dismissed that Frank Langella’s name could come to the fore during Awards season. Langella puts in a truly remarkable performance that really allows him to shine as his co-stars, including Susan Sarandon, Liv Tyler and James Marsden are all given limited screen time.

This little indie classic will warm the hearts of even the hardened cinema fan and don’t be surprised if it doesn’t earn itself a couple of Awards.

Other “Robot & Frank’ Reviews By Dave Griffiths: http://www.helium.com/items/2390485-robot-frank-review

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

IMDB Rating: