MOVIE REVUE: Man on a Ledge Needs a Little Push

The trailers and the posters both ask the same thing: how far would you go to take down a man who stole everything from you? I’m just guessing here, but chances are you would not have your brother and his girlfriend train for weeks to commit jewel theft, bust out of jail, and then tiptoe on a ledge for several hours while they break into a highly secured building. I am pretty sure I would not do that either.

Flying in the face of human logic, Nick Cassidy (Sam Worthington) does just that.

MOVIE REVUE: A Good Return on The Debt

Oftentimes when thrillers attempt to weave the realism of a historically relevant era into their plot, they get wrapped up in the mechanics of what the characters are doing instead of the characters themselves. The Debt, John Madden’s re-imagining of the 2007 Israeli thriller Ha-Hov, does precisely the opposite. Communicating its intentions through  emotional complexities, raw tension and the organic feel of its environment, The Debt accomplishes something a little different – it allows us to sympathize with the spies.

INTERVUE: Director John Madden Talks About His New Film, The Debt

For an Oscar nominated director, John Madden is a modest man. From theatre and radio to television and eventually feature films, he is also a Jury Member at Filmaka, a studio that harnesses up-and-coming talent in the filmmaking industry. Perhaps best known for directing Shakespeare in Love which won an Oscar for Best Picture in 1998, John has developed his craft through every medium imaginable. His newest film, The Debt, is an adaptation of an Israeli film that follows three Mossad agents attempting to smuggle a Nazi war criminal out of East Germany to face trial in 1965. I was able to sit down with Mr. Madden to talk about his newest project which stars Helen Mirren, Sam Worthington and Jessica Chastain. The Debt opens in theaters August 31st.

MOVIE NEWS: The Debt Arrives in Theatres August 31st

 

The espionage thriller The Debt will be distributed for Miramax by Focus Features and Universal Pictures International. Focus, starring Helen Mirren and Sam Worthington will release The Debt  on Wednesday, August 31st.

AWARD SEASON NEWS: My 2010 MTV Movie Award Predictions

 

The MTV fans have spoken! The Hangover, The Twilight Saga: New Moon and Avatar are the year’s top nominated films of the 2010 MTV Movie Awards. Last year’s megahit comedy, The Hangover, leads the way with Six Nominations while The Twilight Saga: New Moon and Avatar grabbed five nods each. Fans can expect a movie battle royale as these three heavyweights take on some stiff competition. If you want to participate in this year’s awards, voting has already started today and will continue until Saturday June 5th. You can log on to MovieAwards.MTV.com to select your favorites in the twelve categories with three brand new categories.

MOVIE REVUE: Forget the Titans, Read the Myth

 

I will say it once and I will say it again, Hollywood STOP–PLEASE STOP remaking the classic films we love and enjoy. You turned a cheesy cult classic from the year I was born and made it into a two hour snooze fest that no one would enjoy unless you have seen the original.  The original 1981 classic is remembered for three distinctive things. It featured the stop-motion monsters of legendary puppeteer Ray Harryhausen. Second, it featured a ham performance of Sir Laurence Olivier. Finally, we get to see a pre-L.A. Law Harry Hamlin as Perseus. I can enjoy the original with just the magic and the myth with a hearty chuckle. Twenty-nine years later, this remake can only make me cringe.

DVD RELEASES: December 1, 2009

Good Morning Movie Vuewers:

As you may have noticed, I have a brand new feature on TRR that I started last week that brings the latest in DVDs coming to your local store this week. Lots of my friends over the past few months have to come to ask me “What’s coming out on DVD this week? and “What do you recommend?” After much consideration, I decided that it was time to bring the DVD releases to my blog.

 Here’s what I recommend this week!

MOVIE REVUE: Terminator Salvation breathes New Life

The Terminator is Back!

Marcus Wright, a death row inmate, is about to die when he is visited by a physician dying of cancer. She offers him a second chance of life if he donates his body to science. He was skeptical at first but decides to taste death and signs his life away.