Friday, May 23, 2008
Thursday, May 22, 2008
PILOT REVIEW: FRINGE (**1/2)
I expected more from FRINGE (**1/2), the latest big-budget TV series from LOST and ALIAS mastermind J.J. Abrams, who developed the series and wrote the pilot script with TRANSFORMERS writers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman for FOX. Directed by TV vet Alex Graves (THE NINE, WEST WING, SPORTS NIGHT, JOURNEYMAN), this extended episode (82 minutes) felt less like a true pilot and more of a middle-of-the-season-episode. The series revolves around a cute, blonde FBI agent named Olivia (Anna Torv) who is forced to work with a supposedly insane scientist named Bishop (John Noble) and his genius son Peter (Joshua Jackson) in order to solve weird and strange crimes that go beyond the normal call of duty. Basically, it's a new attempt at an X-FILES-ish type procedural with a paranomal twist. It's just that most of it felt stale and tired. The opening 10 minutes were the best. A plane full of people are going through a severe electical storm at 35,000 feet. One of the passengers looks extremely sick and starts moving around the shaking plane cabin. All of a sudden, his skin begins melting right off his body and before long, he's infected everyone on the plane; everyone is melting and falling apart. It's all fairly gross and pretty exciting. Thanks to the plane's newly installed "automatic landing system," the plane lands in Boston and the Feds are called in. What happened? Was it bio-terrorism? Or something else? It's a nice set-up but sadly, the show went nowhere exciting. There is a late-in-the-episode twist and one or two surprises along the way but most of FRINGE felt routine and pedestrian. The dialogue is average and the pacing was a bit lethargic; they should cut this down to a brisk hour instead of running it as a "two-hour special event," as FOX will no doubt bill it as. There was a nice, movie-style car-flip during a climactic chase which was nice to see in a television show. And the "super-titles" that tell the viewer where the action is taking place (i.e. Boston, MA or airport or stock yard) are extremely stylish. It adds nothing to the story but they are cool to look at nonetheless. But you never really got to know the characters so you're rooting for them out of the normal desire to root for the heroes. And on TV, it's all about the characters. Sadly, these people are no Mulder and Scully. Far from it. Also, it must be pointed out that the show's creators totally stole a major plot device from the movie THE CELL for FRINGE; if you've seen THE CELL you will laugh out loud when a certain plot device is introduced in FRINGE. CBS has a similarily themed show coming out this fall called 11th HOUR, which was produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, and based on a hit British show about paranormal investigations. Hopefully that one turns out better than FRINGE did. I might check out the second and third episodes of FRINGE later this fall, but it's off my radar as "appointment TV."
RANDOM BITS
INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL opened in theaters today. It's so cool just saying that. It's been met with generally positive critical notices (81% overall at Rottentomatoes with a 66% cream of the crop rating). But honestly -- reviews schmeviews on this one. I could care-fucking-less what critics have to say about the latest Indiana Jones adventure. I loved, loved, loved all three of the previous films without any reservations. They're all action-adventure masterpieces as far as I'm concerned. I will be seeing INDY 4 this weekend and I can't wait to report back with my thoughts.
Jake Gyllenhaal has climbed aboard Jerry Bruckheimer's mega-budget PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE SANDS OF TIME, a LOTR-type fantasy actioner which is based on a popular video game series. Mike Newell, a director with an eclectic resume (DONNIE BRASCO, HARRY POTTER & THE GOBLET OF FIRE, PUSHING TIN), is helming from a script by the team of Jordan Mechner (the game's creator) and Jeffrey Nachmanoff (THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW). However, knowing what I know about the Bruck, there have been (and will be) tons of rewrites with everyone in town taking a stab and getting some dollars. Future Bond-girl Gemma Arterton is also starring as Gyllenhaal's love interest. The film has something to do with a prince who has to fight some bad guys with his sword and rescue a princess and blah-blah-blah. To be honest, these type of fantasy action flicks (LOTS, NARNIA, ERAGON, etc) don't do anything for me. I am a big fan of Bruckheimer so hopefully this is closer to the PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN franchise than that of the Hobbits.
Richard Dreyfuss, who's friends probably get to call him "Dick," has signed on to play another Dick of sorts -- Dick Cheney in Oliver Stone's upcoming George Bush biopic W. He joins Josh Brolin (Bush), Elizabeth Banks (Laura Bush), Ioan Gruffudd (Tony Blair), Thandie Newton (Condoleeza Rice), Rob Corddry (Ari Fleischer), Scott Glenn (Donald Rumsfeld), Ellen Burstyn (Barbara Bush), George Comwell (George Bush Sr.), Jeffrey Wright (Colin Powell), and Toby Jones (Karl Rove). That's ONE HELLUVA CAST. I have been a massive Oliver Stone fan for years so I am eagerly anticipating this film. Stone co-wrote the script with his WALL STREET co-scenarist Stanley Weiser. The great Phedon Papamichael is the cinematographer; he shot 3:10 TO YUMA, WALK THE LINE, THE WEATHER MAN, and SIDEWAYS.
The Cannes Film Festival has been happening this past week and lots of big news is coming out of the screenings. Steven Soderbergh screened a 4 hour 20 minute cut of his film CHE, which stars Benicio Del Toro as the Cuban revolutionary. Apparently, CHE is really two different films; one called GUERILLA once called THE ARGENTINE. The original plan was to release the two films separately. Critical reaction has been wildly mixed; some are calling it a masterpiece and others have been panning it. From what I have read, it sounds like Soderbergh has made a deliberately non-commercial and non-traditional biopic in a Terrence Malick-esque style. Personally, I can't wait to see this film(s) whenever they get released. Also recently screened at Cannes was the latest from Clint Eastwood -- CHANGELING. It's a kidnapped-child drama starring Angelina Jolie and taking place in Los Angeles during the 1920's. Reviews have been ecstatic, with many predicting that the film could win best picture and/or best director. Jolie has also received strong reviews for her performance. Todd McCarthy, the lead critic at Variety, said that CHANGELING is in the same class as other L.A. crime noirs as CHINATOWN and L.A. CONFIDENTIAL. That's very, very promising...
There's a slick and spiffy new teaser trailer out for EAGLE EYE, a big-budget political action thriller from director DJ Caruso (DISTURBIA) and starring Shia LeBeouf, Billy Bob Thorton, and Michelle Monaghan. Here's the link: http://www.eagleeyemovie.com/
Christian Bale has signed up for three new TERMINATOR movies; he'll be playing the role of John Connor. Production on the first film has begun and it's slated for release next year. McG (CHARLIE'S ANGELS) is directing from a script by John Brancato and Mike Ferris (TERMINATOR 3, David Fincher's THE GAME). I detest the fact that the producers have wimped out and softened this R-rated franchise with PG-13 ratings for each of the new films. I love Bale but I am personally shocked that he's agreed to do another franchise (he is Batman, after all). But they probably dangled a hefty pay check in front of his face...
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
FIRST PHOTO: THE ROAD
While reading some stuff over at http://www.joblo.com/ I followed a link to http://www.rowthree.com/?s=The+Road which had the first shot (above) from John Hillcoat's THE ROAD, based on the novel by Cormac McCarthy (NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN). Hillcoat, who previously directed the unflinchingly dark and completely brilliant Australian western THE PROPOSITION, is a surpremely talented director and I'm very excited for this new film. THE PROPOSITION is a true ass-kicker of a movie, and the story of THE ROAD, one of a post-apocalyptic future with a father and son on the run from deranged mutants, is loaded with potential. Add to that the casting of Viggo Mortensen (above), Charlize Theron, and Guy Pearce and the film is looking even better. Joe Penall, who wrote the diabolical screenplay for ENDURING LOVE, is credited with the adaptation. Nick Cave and Warren Ellis, who both collaborated on the musical scores to THE PROPOSITION and THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES BY THE COWARD ROBERT FORD, are composing the music. THE ROAD is scheduled for release on November 26, 2008.
Monday, May 19, 2008
GERMAN POSTER: THE HAPPENING
I am hearing a lot of mixed buzz on M. Night's latest, THE HAPPENING, which hits theaters on Friday, June 13th (ha-ha). This is the first M. Night thriller to get an R-rating. I've been a fan ever since THE SIXTH SENSE. My favorite film of his is still UNBREAKABLE. I liked SIGNS a lot as well. THE VILLAGE was clever but flawed. LADY IN THE WATER was one of the worst movies I've seen this decade (possibly ever). I'm hoping that THE HAPPENING is a nasty thriller that delivers the goods...we'll see...but I do like this German poster quite a bit.
