20th Century Fox has been at best the laughing stock of fan boys, as producers and executives have a reputation for interfering with their major projects, resulting in disappointing box-office returns. But Fox has finally got the message in 2011 that people want intelligence in their blockbusters
There is no official term to
describe typecasting for directors but you know it’s done. It is in
that spirit that we ponder directors like Martin Scorsese — director of this weekend’s “family” film Hugo — who wandered outside of their
“comfort zones” to positive results.
Cinematically speaking, there’s a whole lot to be thankful for this year, but there’s perhaps nothing in the movie realm more stellar than Viola Davis in The Help.
It’s not exactly an easy task to stand out in The Help, as we have tons of great actresses lighting up the silver screen. Easy A’s Emma Stone makes good on her promise from last year and churns out an appropriately nuanced dramatic performance; Octavia Spencer adds emotional depth to a role that could have easily been one-note; Jessica Chastain hits a homerun with the typical dumb blonde role.
And that’s just scratching the surface. Sissy Spacek, Cicely Tyson, and Bryce Dallas Howard all give commendable performances as well, but it’s Davis that makes the movie her own and gives it a heart, turning The Help from Lifetime’s special movie event of the week into a cinematic triumph.
John, Simon and Kieran go either Team Edward or Team Jacob, as in addition to a review of “Breaking Dawn – Part I”, we look at why the series has become so popular. We also have an early review of Arthur Christmas and will analyze the trailer for Mirror, Mirror, peek at some very odd adaptations including a Lego movie and dive into some developments in the David Fincher-directed 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Check it all out free on iTunes or our streaming podcast page www.playeraffinity.com/podcast
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It’s time to play that music and light those lights. After 11 years, the Muppets are back on the big screen today in The Muppets.Jim Henson’s creations, said to be a combination of “marionettes” and “puppets,” first emerged on the children’s show Sesame Street beginning in 1969
Welcome to Box Office Wizard, Player Affinity’s Movie Box Office Prediction Contest. Just read through this post and tell us your top five box office predicted finishers for this weekend. Finish out 2011 on top and you will win something COOL.
Simon, Sam and Steven get in the holiday spirit as we look forward to the remaining releases of 2011 and dissect which have Oscar potential and which just look like a good time. Speaking of the Academy Awards, we talk about a change of producer and host and also spout our opinions on two hot new trailers including Snow White and the Huntsman and The Hunger Games. Last off, we have some early reviews of some Oscar hopefuls and the controversial Human Centipede II (Full Sequence). Check it all out free on iTunes or our streaming podcast page www.playeraffinity.com/podcast
Be sure to follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook! Leave your comments or questions or critiques and we will work them into an upcoming episode.
Snow White and the Huntsman starring Twilight’s Kristen Stewart and Thor himself, Chris Hemsworth, squares off against Mirror, Mirror, a more family-friendly charmer from Immortals director Tarsem Singh. Which of these fairytale reimagining’s will be the fairest of them all come 2012? Let’s take a look – it’s Trailer Tracker.
As we’ve done the last several movie seasons now, each of the writers on the PAM staff submitted his list of Top 10 most anticipated films between now and Jan. 1. We then came up with our collective Top 10, and each of us supplemented it with a film not on that list that we’re excited about, which we’ve dubbed Critic’s Picks. There are other movies coming out this Holiday Season, but you probably shouldn’t care.
Director Tarsem Singh aims to carve out his own gory slice of guilty-pleasure pie with the god-versus-men epic Immortals which hits screens this Friday. The trailers alone recall the 2007 breakout success that was Zach Snyder’s 300, not to mention the blunt comparison boasted in trailer voiceovers. Since
