This Week in Independent Film

/ / Film News & Trailers

Writer/director Guy Richie‘s (Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels) latest flick involves a card shark (Jason Stratham) who agrees to help taked down the gangster (Ray Liotta) who sent him to prison.  Andre Benjamin, Vincent Pastore, Francesca Annis, and Anjela Lauren Smith also star.  Check out the official site.  The film opens in limited release in select cities on Friday.  Larger trailer available in the Full Diagnosis.

Revolver
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Why I Hate Weddings

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: Margot at the Wedding
  • IMDb: link

You know I can handle a chick flick, but Margot at the Wedding is a chick flick on speed, (and not that good of one).

The film is centered on Margot (Nicole Kidman) an overbearing and smothering loudmouth who drags her child (Zane Pais) to her sister Pauline’s (Jennifer Jason Leigh) wedding, not to celebrate to to break it up and find some time cheat on her husband (John Turturro) to bone an old school chum (Ciarán Hinds).

Subplots of the film include the averageness of Pauline’s fiancé Malcolm (Jack Black), the cute and seductive neighborhood girl (Halley Feiffer), suggestions of child abuse and incest, and the increasingly odd and crazy argument with the neighbors over the fate of the family’s favorite tree.

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Why I Hate WeddingsRead More »

Why I Hate Weddings Read More »

A ‘Wedding’ Worth Attending

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: Margot at the Wedding
  • Rating: 4.5 Stars
  • IMDB: link

The best dramas are the ones that make you fall for the characters, and because of this Margot at the Wedding is one of the best dramas of the year.  Sweet and funny in even some of its darkest moments, it’s a movie that fully exploits character developments and relationships without ever hinting at becoming sappy.

The plot is simple enough – Margot (Nicole Kidman) ventures back home from the big city for the wedding of her sister Pauline (Jennifer Jason Leigh) to the sporadically depressed but endearing Malcolm (Jack Black).  It might sound like a joyous occasion, but it’s anything but, thanks to the inability of Margot to just shut up and love her family.  Never content with herself or her surroundings, she constantly criticizing everyone within eyeshot, descending from her high throne of a New York socialite, a writer who spends more time analyzing the world than she ought to.  Blithely and sneeringly, she can put down her sister’s confidence, fiancé and pregnancy inside of a single breath.  She’s really a disgusting person, but it’s clear that she’s aware and haunted by her repulsive behavior.

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A ‘Wedding’ Worth AttendingRead More »

A ‘Wedding’ Worth Attending Read More »

Behind the Scenes

/ / Film News & Trailers

Here’s a couple quick looks behind the scenes of The Savages starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Laura Linney, and Philip Bosco.  Up first is this clip from the Q&A session from this year’s Sundance Film Festival.  Larger version available inside the Full Diagnosis along with an interview from writer/director Tamara Jenkins.  And if you haven’t checked out our review for the film yet, take a moment to give it a looksee.

The Savages
4 Stars

Sundance Q&A

 

Interview with director Tamara Jenkins

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Where Does He Get Those Wonderful Toys

/ / Uncategorized

From time to time we give you the heads up on some serious nerd merchandise, and Holy Moley do we have something for you today!  DC Direct is shooting out a ton of new Shazam! related toys hitting comic shops as we speak.  The new action figures include a new Captain Marvel, Billy Batson, Hoppy the Marvel Bunny, Dr. Sivana (with Mr. Mind), and two different Mary Marvel figures (personally I like the white variant version taken from Formerly Known as the Justice League).  The figures range in size from 6.75” (Big Red Cheese) to 6.15” (Billy).  All should be available now, or real soon, from your local comic book shops.  Larger pics of each figure inside the Full Diagnosis.

Shazam!
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Captain Marvel

 

Billy and Hoppy 2-Pack

 

Dr. Sivana (with Mr. Mind)

 

Mary Marvel

 

Marvel Marvel variant (from Formerly Known as the Justice League)

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