The Oscars - What I Meant To Say Was...

If anything was proven at last night's Academy Award ceremony it's that I've clearly got an appalling taste in movies, because virtually none of the awards I thought were 'dead certs' went to the people I thought they would. Read my recap of the ceremony, next...

Slacker Cinema's Oscar Predictions

You know when people thrust their opinions on you because they think they know better than you, and you should really be sharing their viewpoint if you want to get anywhere in life? Well here's my list of Oscar predictions, every one of them a guaranteed winner... hopefully.

SCREAM 4 - Still Sticking To That Same Old Formula

Just arriving on the interwebs, this should be the last poster released for Scream 4, as it's a few mere weeks away from release. It's the first one to feature any of the cast members, both new and returning, and even Ghostface gets a character shot elevated above the newbies. They've been a bit heavy with the airbrush on David Arquette's face (he looks like a pewter figurine), and they've done that annoying thing of using photos of the cast looking nothing like they do in the actual film.

 

Once again there's some actors on the poster that may not feature too heavily in the film (I didn't even know Adam Brody was in this one), and I'll take a guess that at least one of these people will be dead before the opening credits start. It's a potential spoiler that may not be accurate (I'm totally guessing), but why is Emma Roberts billed before Hayden Panettiere in an otherwise alphabetical cast list? Perhaps Ms. Panettiere doesn't feature that heavily?


I might be right about that, and I might be wrong. It's a real shame they've not chosen to do anything different with the marketing campaign for this new installment, as I think it reflects poorly on the film. Yes it ties it all in with the original trilogy of films, but if this was supposed to breathe new life into the franchise it's going about it the wrong way.


It's a worldwide release so at least we get to find out how dies first at the same time the Yanks do. Roll on April 15th.

ANIMAL KINGDOM review

Out now in cinemas is this new Australian crime thriller. Watch the trailer and read my review, next...

NO STRINGS ATTACHED - It's Got Something To Do With Fluids

Seeing as it was released in cinemas today, I thought I'd give the trailer for the Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher rom-com No Strings Attached another look.

Just one question... Why so thirsty?

OPERATION: ENDGAME DVD review

Now out on DVD and Blu-Ray is this new action "comedy" starring a bunch of people you'll recognise from other stuff. Watch the trailer and read my review, next...

POSTER DESIGN HAS COME SUCH A LONG WAY IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS

It's Like Paranormal Activity, But...

CYRUS DVD review

Out now on DVD and Blu-Ray is the new offering from the kings of mumblecore, the Duplass Brothers. Watch the trailer and read my review, next...

BURKE AND HARE DVD review

Out now on DVD and Blu-Ray is John Landis' newest film. Read on to see if it was a successful return to the director's chair...

Obscurity Files #42 - Three O'Clock High

What's Three O'Clock High you say? It's a film that not many modern audiences will have seen or even heard of, but it's a lost 80's classic of sorts. Here, let me try and persuade you...

John Hughes: The Posters

On what would have been his 61st birthday (and on what is Molly Ringwald's 43rd birthday), let's take a look at the posters of the quintessentially 80's genius that was John Hughes. Check them out next...

Obscurity Files #41 - Airheads

Seeing as we did a Jennifer Aniston post the other day to tie in with Just Go With It, it seemed only fair that we dug into Adam Sandler's back catalogue too.

Let's take a look at Airheads...

Asterisks and The Lesson In Over Censorship

I'm pretty sure we're all aware of which naughty word they've purposely censored in the tagline for Cyrus, and frankly, it's some good advice. But were the asterisks really so ineffective that they needed to soften the naughty word AND keep the asterisks for the DVD cover?

It's perhaps a slightly overzealous change when they clearly don't have a problem with Jonah Hill waving his fist at John C Reilly with the international sign language for wanker.


Maybe they just like f**king around with stuff. Kn*bheads.

VAMPIRES SUCK DVD review

For some godforsaken reason I subjected my eyes to this monstrosity.

If you dare, check out the trailer and read my review, next...

"Cause You're Amazing, Just The Way You Are"

Filming is now well under way on the new Spider-Man film, so Sony have been nice by giving us some more info and releasing a new image of Andrew Garfield in full costume as everyone's favourite arachnid based Superhero. Check it out, next...

Obscurity Files #40 - Leprechaun

Seeing as she's currently invading our multiplexes with Just Go With It, let's take a look at Jennifer Aniston's big screen debut.

Today, let's all say hello to the Leprechaun...

NEVER LET ME GO review

Out now in cinemas is this adaption of Kazuo Ishiguro's novel.

Although I have tried to steer clear of specifics, it's impossible to talk about this film without revealing what could be deemed as spoilers. If you're willing to continue, you can watch the trailer and read my review, next...

INAPPROPRIATE SILHOUETTE OF THE WEEK

If Chalet Girl didn't look shit enough already, this new German poster makes a couple of unfortunate changes to the UK poster. Firstly, I'm not so sure lead actress Felicity Jones knew she was signing up for a film called 'Powder Girl', which sounds like street slang for 'raging coke fiend'.


Secondly, although the silhouette is supposed to show Felicity Jones riding a snowboard, it sure looks like something else to me. At best you could say she's riding a cannon, at worst she's massaging a giant cock 'n' balls.


You decide.

X-MEN FIRST CLASS trailer breakdown

The first official look at the new installment in the X-Men franchise has just been released.

Check it out and read my breakdown of what it reveals, next...

BRIGHTON ROCK review

Out now in cinemas in this re-adaptation of Graham Greene's novel.

Watch the trailer and read my review, next...

THE RUNAWAYS DVD review

Based on the lives of the original all girl rock rock group, this Dakota Fanning/Kristen Stewart starring biopic in now out on DVD.

Watch the trailer and read my review after the jump...

DIARY OF A WIMPY KID DVD review

Out now on DVD and Blu-Ray is this charming comedy. Yeah, it's a kid's film, so what?

Check out the trailer and read my review, next...

SUBMARINE trailer review

In an incredible piece of counter programming, Warp Films have chosen today to release the trailer for Richard Ayoade's directorial debut, Submarine. Who needs the Superbowl ads? This is where the cool kids are.


UPDATED: Whereas earlier the trailer was only available via 'liking' the film's facebook page, it's now been made freely available via YouTube. Here it is for your enjoyment.

Firstly, I am a fan of Richard Ayoade, both as an actor and a director. Submarine may be his first big screen outing, but he's directed some interesting television work, including the modern Christmas classic, AD/BC: The Rock Opera. Working here from Joe Dunthorne's novel, Ayoade's sense of humour isn't immediately noticeable, and Submarine appears much more melancholic and romantic than you'd first expect. Through its stylings, setting and costuming, it appears to me to be a cross between Harold and Maude and Gregory's Girl, and clearly holds the troubled romances of the French New Wave in some reverence.


For me the trailer shows everything I'd been hoping for, and I can't wait to see how Paddy Considine's mystical rocker fits into this tale of youthful woes and burgeoning romance. Oliver Tate may appear to be a slightly Max Fischer-ish character, but he also appears to have a equally dry sense of humour. This looks like a properly cool piece of British Cinema, and I can't wait.


Due March 18th
Anticipation Level

I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE DVD review

This remake of the notorious video nasty is now out on DVD and Blu-Ray.

Watch the trailer and read my review, next...

NEW YORK, I LOVE YOU DVD review

The follow up to Paris, Je T'aime is out now on DVD.

Watch the trailer and read my review, next...

Obscurity Files #39 - I ♥ Huckabees

With David O. Russell's The Fighter now in cinemas, let's take a gander at his comedy about a young man going through an existential crisis.

Today it's I ♥ Huckabees...

Dazed & Confused and Bemused & Enthused

In what skirts dangerously close to destroying the film I sometimes cite as my favourite one ever, some dangerous young rapper has chosen to recount the entire plot of Dazed and Confused in under two minutes... in rap form.

Ordinarily that would be one culture clash too far for me, but god damn it, it works a treat. Perhaps it's the use of Low Rider as the backing track, or the freeze framed snap shots taken from the film; or maybe it's just the impressive feat of describing a coherent and entertaining plot synopsis at breakneck speed. I do absolutely love Dazed and Confused, and don't think it gets shown enough appreciation these days, so it's nice to see it being held in some reverence.


If you're impressed by the rapping in the video, this is the work of YouTube user Mac Lethal, and I recommend checking out his YouTube page to see what else he can do.


AIR RAID YOU FRESHMAN BITCHES!

DRIVE ANGRY - For Your Consideration

You've got to love this new trailer for Drive Angry 3D. It just stops short of Nicolas Cage literally picking up his well earned Best Actor Oscar and throwing it back in the Academy's faces. Yeah, I know it's just a joke to go with the movie, but it's a reminder of how far (or how low) Nicolas Cage has gone since Leaving Las Vegas.


We've got to wait until February 25th to find out if the film's any good or not, but surely it's worth seeing for some over the top action from William Fichtner's bad ass, not to mention the worst hair I've seen on Nicolas Cage since he sold his own in a deal with the Devil.


Or at least I think that's what happened.

WIN WIN trailer review

A film about a high school wrestling team from the director of The Station Agent and The Visitor?

Here's the trailer for Thomas McCarthy's new film, Win Win.

UNKNOWN trailer review

Who doesn't love Liam Neeson? I know I do.

Check out the trailer for his upcoming thriller, Unknown, next...