 Alongside the likes of Entertainment Weekly, The Huffington Post, and a host of other news outlets, I was lucky enough to be invited earlier this week to represent The Awards Circuit and cover the New York based Press Conference for ‘To Rome With Love’, the new Woody Allen film. Sitting next to my friend and colleague Jessie Heyman of Moviefone, we had the opportunity to be a part of the question and answer session. Representing the film was Woody Allen himself (and don’t think this wasn’t a big deal to a lifelong fan like myself), along with cast members Alec Baldwin, Penelope Cruz, Greta Gerwig, Alessandra Mastronardi, and Ellen Page (Jesse Eisenberg was originally scheduled as well, but he couldn’t make it as he was currently shooting a film in England). What follows is a short write-up of the event but first I’ll share a quick story from the afternoon. After the press conference was over, I was milling about in the hotel lobby after the cast left and the press was bid farewell to, when Woody himself walked out into the little area with fruit and beverages. He wasn’t immediately ushered anywhere, and seemed to be real excited to see someone. That person turned out to be actress Kay Ballard, and I got to witness a side of Allen that not everyone sees. He was warm and friendly, everything the stories have always suggested he’s not. It was a real nice moment. Anyway, I know you all want to know the juicy tidbits, so I’ll get on with that now. Check out the best moments from the press conference below!
Read more on ‘To Rome With Love’ Press Conference!…
 The first time that I saw ‘Taken’, I was amused by Liam Neeson as a bad ass killing machine and didn’t think much of the rest of the silly flick. Subsequent viewings have made this a real guilty pleasure of mine (though still just as silly), and I won’t lie…I’m excited for the sequel. Well, today we can bring you the Trailer for ‘Taken 2′, and it looks like more of the same (which is either a good or a bad thing, depending on who you are). You can take a look at the flick after the jump, and get set for the film to come out in October. I know that I’ll be there…will you? Decide for yourself below…
Read more on Liam Neeson still has a very special set of skills in the ‘Taken 2′ Trailer!…
 As the city of London gears up for its hosting gig at the 2012 Olympic games, people the world over seem to be donning their home colours and preparing for a summer of flag waving, false starts and phenomenal feats of athleticism. So what better way for movie studios to cash in on Olympic-fever than to slap the same old underdog sports movie formula onto a scantily clad women’s relay team?
Fast Girls follows the ups and downs of the British women’s sprint relay team, as they struggle to overcome their personal differences in order to beat their global rivals and win gold at the World Athletics Championships. Shania (Lenora Crichlow), a tough but hardworking girl from one of London’s roughest estates is the newest member of the team, but her presence is resented by privileged Lisa (Lily James) whose father, a former gold-medallist himself, controls the team with an iron fist.
Read more on Fast Girls (***)…
It seems odd to type or say the name Meryl Streep without inserting “The Great” before (or after) her name. The finest actress of this era (or perhaps ever) turns 63 this week. Mary Louise Streep was born June 22, 1949, in Summit, New Jersey, the daughter of an artist and a pharmaceutical executive. She achieved her B.A. in Drama at Vassar College, receiving brief tutelage from actress Jean Arthur (Shane), as well as her M.F.A. from the Yale School of Drama. From there she would perform in New York and New Jersey theatre productions, where she met and began a relationship with actor John Cazale (The Godfather).
Read more on Meryl Streep after the jump…
Read more on Circuit 3: Meryl Streep…
Batman Forever is the third film in the Batman series that was originally based on the vision of Tim Burton, but the first that he did not direct (nor envision, for the most part). Instead, Joel Schumacher took over the reigns with Burton moving solely to a producer role. Along with a new director, Batman Forever delivered a new star in the lead role, as Val Kilmer stepped in for Michael Keaton.
The story revolves around Batman once again trying to keep the people of Gotham City safe from its evil criminals, as Two-Face (Tommy Lee Jones) and The Riddler (Jim Carrey) are the latest dastardly villains plotting mayhem and destruction. Their plan is to drain information from the brains of all the citizens of Gotham via their television sets in order to finally expose who Batman is, and eventually kill him off. But Batman saves the day as always, this time with the help of new sidekick Dick Grayson, aka Robin (Chris O’Donnell), and new love interest, psychiatrist Chase Meridian (Nicole Kidman).
Read more on Batman Forever after the jump…
Read more on Historical Circuit: Batman Forever (1995) (*½)…
 If there’s one sure way to ruin a film for me, it’s to knowingly base the entire plot around a contrivance that exists only because there’d be no movie without it. ‘People Like Us’ is the latest flick to fall into that category, and it’s a shame since this drama about family is otherwise well acted and suggests that co-writer/director Alex Kurtzman and his writing partner Roberto Orci can do more than just pen loud summer blockbusters. They’re not quite there yet though, as Kurtzman’s direction has a few issues and this film all too often plays like a soap opera. Like I said, the acting is strong, particularly Elizabeth Banks’ supporting turn (though Chris Pine and Michelle Pfeiffer are good too), but it’s in the service of an inferior product. The flick threatens to overcome its mediocrity on a few occasions, but it can never get over the hump, and I was left feeling rather disappointed when the lights came up. I will grant you that the film ends on a touching note, but it’s made hollow when you realize how out of place it is, considering the character it’s trying to redeem. The ending wasn’t earned in my eyes, so I couldn’t quite forgive the movie. It’s not a bad flick, but it’s not exactly a good one either. You can decide for yourself when the film opens next week, but I’m not recommending it.
Read more on People Like Us (**)…
Categories: Film Reviews Tags: Chris Pine, Early Review, Elizabeth Banks, Jon Favreau, Mark Duplass, michael hall d'addario, Michelle Pfeiffer, Olivia Wilde, People Like Us, Philip Baker Hall, Roberto Orci
Another day, another concession-spent dollar! Hah! Although that popcorn they sell at the concession stands sure is tasty, the real fun lay in the trio of films I was fortunate enough to see yesterday. I like days where each screening I see is completely different from one another. Some days, it”ll tend to all blend in, but thankfully last night’s screening events were each their own individual specimen. So which films did I end up screening on my sixth day at the Los Angeles Film Festival™? Find out after the jump…
Read more on Los Angeles Film Festival Diaries: Day Six…
 One of the more interesting projects out there to me has to be ‘Promised Land’, a supposedly Capra-esque drama that Matt Damon and John Krasinski wrote with Dave Eggers (and originally was going to mark Damon’s directorial debut). It’s got something to do with the controversial practice of fracking, and could be an awards player if done right. The director’s chair was filled by Gus Van Sant, and according to The Film Stage here, the movie has actually already been completed, and could even be coming out at some point in 2012. After the jump I’ll share the plot with you, but I’m very much looking forward to this one…
Read more on Has Gus Van Sant already shot his new film with Damon and Krasinski?…
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Alongside the likes of Entertainment Weekly, The Huffington Post, and a host of other news outlets, I was lucky enough to be invited earlier this week to represent The Awards Circuit and cover the New York based Press Conference for ‘To Rome With Love’, the new Woody Allen film. Sitting next to my friend and colleague Jessie Heyman of Moviefone, we had the opportunity to be a part of the question and answer session. Representing the film was Woody Allen himself (and don’t think this wasn’t a big deal to a lifelong fan like myself), along with cast members Alec Baldwin, Penelope Cruz, Greta Gerwig, Alessandra Mastronardi, and Ellen Page (Jesse Eisenberg was originally scheduled as well, but he couldn’t make it as he was currently shooting a film in England). What follows is a short write-up of the event but first I’ll share a quick story from the afternoon. After the press conference was over, I was milling about in the hotel lobby after the cast left and the press was bid farewell to, when Woody himself walked out into the little area with fruit and beverages. He wasn’t immediately ushered anywhere, and seemed to be real excited to see someone. That person turned out to be actress Kay Ballard, and I got to witness a side of Allen that not everyone sees. He was warm and friendly, everything the stories have always suggested he’s not. It was a real nice moment. Anyway, I know you all want to know the juicy tidbits, so I’ll get on with that now. Check out the best moments from the press conference below!
