Soundtrack: "Emotional Champ" by New Buffalo

Gardens of the Night deals with a dark subject: kidnapping. But if you make it to the end of the film you get rewarded with this beautiful song by New Buffalo (Sally Seltmann):

Official Site: www.sallyseltmann.com & MySpace

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Beastly

Beastly looks interesting but their "beast" version kind of creeps me out (but that's probably what they're aiming for). What do you think?

It's a modern-day take on the Beauty and the Beast tale where a New York teen is transformed into a hideous monster in order to find true love.

Here's the teaser trailer:

In theaters July 2010.

[H/T Rama's Screen]

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Where the Heart Is

Set in a small town full of quirky locals Where the Heart Is offers a simple character-driven story about the meaning of home, love and true friendship.

A pregnant 17-year-old rebuilds her life after being abandoned by her boyfriend at a Wal-Mart in Sequoyah, Oklahoma.

Natalie Portman is a great actress and here she offers a delightful performance. So if you're looking for a movie to watch over the Thanksgiving weekend try this one.

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Twilight: New Moon (A Review) - Or Why Women Like Creatures of the Night

I was excited to see New Moon for various reasons: vampires, werewolves, forbidden romance, Native American actors and a cool soundtrack. The Twilight Saga appeals to the teenage girl in me, pure and simple. Men are allowed to connect with their inner fanboy so why shouldn't women be able to connect with their inner fangirl? I'm not saying that New Moon was brilliant but it was fun! Some lines were uber cheesy, but even those were enjoyable laugh out loud moments. 

Clara of JustChickFlicks.com asked me why women/girls are captivated by vampire stories and I'll include aliens to that list (Smallville, Roswell). So why? Probably because these "friendly" creatures of the night are super sensitive, they have special powers to "look inside your soul" and come with promises to "always protect." In real-life that would be creepy but in a fantasy that works. I think it's the instant deep connection with another person that draws girls and women. They're romanticized as poets with fangs.

I wouldn't mind seeing a rise of nerdy/awkward vampires though (think Michael Cera). Just imagine Nick & Norah's Infinite Vampire Playlist! 

For more discussion on women and vampirism check out "Why Are Women So Fascinated by Vampires?" and "Women Writers Talk New Moon" 

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Love Potion #9

Love Potion #9 is vintage Sandra Bullock. Even back in 1992 she made a great romantic comedy lead. I'm surprised that they haven't remade this movie already but I'm sure at some point they probably will.

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LA Skins Fest

Over the weekend I had the chance to catch some short films at the 3rd Annual LA Skins Fest. Here are my favorites:

Crazy Ind'n The Sequel offers outlandish humor i.e. Robot Chicken. It's refreshing to see Native American filmmakers pushing the limits using traditional "stereotypes" and giving them artistic freedom.

A Return Home is a documentary that deals with the bittersweet story of a Navajo artist who returns to the reservation of her birth. After being away for several years B. Emerson Kitsman contemplates her self-identity in a place that sees her as a "stranger." If you're a fan of sunset paintings then you'll find Kitsman's work impressive. Especially the big canvas piece she worked on with the red rocks in the background. Stunning!

Spout is perhaps my favorite of them all. It's an offbeat story about psuedo-vampirism, but not the friendly kind. These people suck blood in an unusual but entertaining way. The cast is multicultural, the colors vibrant, the plot quirky and the characters fun!

Overall, The LA Skins Fest is a hidden gem. It felt like going to an indie rock concert that only a few people know about where everyone senses that it will morph into something big down the line.

Official Site: www.laskinsfest.com

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Dogfight

Dogfight is an obscure 90s movie about a soldier and a shy girl. River Phoenix and Lili Taylor conjure up some awkwardly cute chemistry, everything about this movie is simple and sweet. It's not brilliant but it's definitely worth a watch on Netflix.

For fans of... Napoleon Dynamite and She's All That.

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Alex Meraz at the Red Nation Film Festival

Last night I snapped these photos of Alex Meraz on the red carpet for the Red Nation Film Festival. Meraz and other members of the "Wolfpack" were there for the closing night gala screening of Twilight: New Moon.

Signing an autograph for a fan.

Red Nation spotlights Native American filmmakers and launched American Indian Heritage Month in Los Angeles. And just in case you didn't know November is the national American Indian Heritage Month so be sure to check out the Native American film section on ReelArtsy.com to add some movies to your Netflix queue.

Official Site: www.rednationfilmfestival.com

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Keeping Up Appearances

Hyacinth Bucket is the epitome of pretentious and it's oh so funny.

She goes to the extreme (and drags her docile husband along) as she comes up with all kinds of wacky schemes to become the wealthy woman she tries to make everyone see her as. It's hilarious! Even though it came out in the 90s it's the best British sitcom I've seen.

Keeping Up Appearances is available on Netflix and comes on PBS in the States.

Here's a couple clips:

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Date Night

This movie is going to be epic...Tina Fey and Steve Carell!

In New York City, a case of mistaken identity turns a bored married couple's attempt at a glamorous and romantic evening into something more thrilling and dangerous.

The supporting cast only adds to the awesome, to name a few: James Franco, Mila Kunis, Kristen Wiig, Mark Wahlberg and even G4TV's Olivia Munn is part of the mix! Prepare to be amazed.

In theaters April 2010.

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Priceless (Hors de prix)

Priceless is an adorable romantic comedy starring Audrey Tautou (Amélie) and Gad Elmaleh (The Valet). If you're familiar with their previous work then you'll understand why they make a fitting onscreen couple. This movie is cute, sweet and full of charming scenes.

Through a set of wacky circumstances, a young gold digger mistakenly woos a mild-mannered bartender thinking he's a wealthy suitor.

Official Site: www.pricelessthemovie.com

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Pirate Radio

Pirate Radio is what I call an uber buddy comedy. Camaraderie and rock n' roll are the main ingredients in this film, and that's a good thing. I've never been a fan of Kenneth Branagh but in his role as the suit-wearing antagonist, he's hilarious! Does this movie have its flaws? Yes. It's not Almost Famous good but it pulls off a nice blend of quirky and fun.

Now in theaters.

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Dare

I'm pro Zach Gilford and Emmy Rossum as a movie couple. Is it wrong to say that I want them typecasted? Not really, but I enjoy seeing them play the "nice guy" and "the-girl-next-door." Gilford is seriously adorable on Friday Night Lights and they just look so cute together.

Dare is a drama centered around three high school seniors - an aspiring actress, her misfit best friend, and a loner - who become engaged in an intimate and complicated relationship.

The film seems to edge them toward the dark side but that's okay, I hope they get more starring roles!


In theaters November 13th

Official Site: www.darethemovie.com

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Interview with Heather Ann Davis

Heather Ann Davis is part model, part fangirl and a self proclaimed music nerd. She played Olivia, the lead character, in the TheWB.com web series The Lake.

The following are snippets from our conversation about the show, acting and Jason Priestley. I hope you have as much fun reading the interview as I did conducting it.

On getting into acting:

I always grew up wanting to be an entertainer. I first started out wanting to be Reba McEntire but when that didn’t work out I had to find something else. [laughs] I ended up modeling when I quit my day job like four years ago and I had nothing else to do and that sort of got me into acting as well.

Favorite music?

I am such a music nerd so this question could take forever. [laughs] I’ll try to not do that. I think different things sort of end up hitting me in different ways or finding me in different points of my life. In Rainbows, RadioHead’s new album is without a question one of the most beautifully composed pieces I’ve ever heard in my life. That would definitely be a creative catalyst for me.

What parts of Olivia remind you of yourself?

I think she’s pretty much exactly what I was when I was fifteen. [laughs] I definitely indentify with her. I feel like she’s got a lot of strong confident ideas within herself but there’s sort of a lack of ability to translate that, so she ends up sort of insecure and awkward. Kind of falls in love with every boy a little bit. I definitely had that problem. I didn’t know what to do with them when they showed up. Yeah. [laughs] I think she’s sort of quiet and perhaps more introspective and I was definitely that way when I was a teenager. Much more goofy now. [laughs] It’s just a lot of her lack of self-assuredness that I identify with a lot.

On preparing for the role:

I went back and walked around my old high school. [laughs] It was fun to get that feeling, which is weird. And I did some diary entries, like I kind of spent a whole night journaling as her…cause I was definitely a journaler when I was 15 and I think she would be too. It made it feel more natural, easy, second nature I guess.

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Patzer

In the mood for an uber indie film? Here's an offbeat short from some filmmakers out of Michigan. 

Patzer tells the story of Max, a college student who cannot seem to shake off a bad day.

I know a couple people from the film but I think it's cute nonetheless. It definitely fits the quirky, multicultural vibe that I like so much and it even has a dash of awkwardly cute. Check it out...

Official Facebook: StarWater Productions 

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Fish Tank

Fish Tank looks like a British version of Thirteen. I'm sure the storylines are different but judging from the trailer it has a similar vibe. They both center on the the gritty tales of teenage life. Fish Tank has been relieving positive buzz on the festival circuit but no word on when it will get limited or wide release in the States. Hopefully sooner than later.

Official Site: www.fishtankmovie.com

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Salt

Angelina Jolie kicks some government butt in Salt, an action thriller about a CIA agent who may or may not be a double spy. A couple noteworthy supporting cast members include Gaius Charles (Friday Night Lights) and Zoe Lister Jones (Breaking Upwards, Arranged). Hopefully they get some quality screen time. Anyhow, here's the much anticipated trailer...

In theaters July 21, 2010

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Fans of "The Fempire"

Remember that article the NY Times wrote earlier this year about The Fempire? You know, the one about Diablo Cody and her screenwriting buddies Dana Fox, Liz Meriwether and Lorene Scafaria.

So what are they up to now?

Let's go down the list...

Dana Fox (What Happens in Vegas) - was a co-writer on Couples Retreat alongside Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau. I had no idea that she was part of the mix until I did a quick Google search. She also co-wrote a script called Knight & Day that is is currently being filmed starring Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz. She has some other scripts in development including How to Get Divorced by 30.

Diablo Cody (Juno, Jennifer's Body) - she's the head writer for The United States of Tara (Toni Collette won an Emmy for the role) and she'll be doing a film adpatation of Francine Pascal's Sweet Valley High.

Liz Meriwether (she's the newbie of the group) - she made Variety's list of "10 Screenwriters to Watch." Her script Fuck Buddies has Natalie Portman attached and she has an action movie in development with Paramount that is set to center on not one but TWO female leads.

"People want to put women in one box and I'm interested in how women can be everything at once. She can be a slut who wants to fall in love, or she can party too much, but she's still very smart. I want to expand the vocabulary."

Lorene Scafaria (Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist) - not only does she write, she sings. She had a song play during the end credits of Whip It called "28" - you can check her music at www.myspace.com/listentolorene but back to screenwriting...according to IMDb she has four projects in development including Seeking a Friend for the End of the World that has her attached as director.

Now onto more geeky things...who wants to start a fansite for the Fempire? The whole concept of writers banding together to have fun and encourage each other is pretty neat, especially female screenwriters because it seems like there are so few.

I know that there are some of you who have wicked good fandom skills that could go all Twilight-Mom crazy on a subject. So create a Facebook group or something!

I can't be the only one eagerly awaiting their next projects. So if you already know of a fansite or if you create one I'll link it on here.

UPDATE 2/2/10 - I found a Fempire Fansite called www.writelikecody.com 
UPDATE 3/14/11 -WriteLikeCody.com is now called www.fempirefandom.com

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Everybody's Fine

Everybody's Fine isn't your typical "holiday" film and that's a good thing. It digs a little deeper, shows a little more melancholy and you're rewarded with some laughs along the way.

In this fictional family Robert De Niro is father to Sam Rockwell, Drew Barrymore and Kate Beckinsale's characters. At first glance it may seem like an odd sibling pairing, but it works. I actually wish they had more scenes together.

And De Niro...his performance is a real treat.  

In theaters December 4th. 

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The Lovers on the Bridge (Les amants du Pont-Neuf)

The Lovers on the Bridge is a disturbingly beautiful film.

I saw it back in high school and it really impressed me. Its dark moments and its incredibly light-hearted scenes combined to make a magical piece of cinema. Juliette Binoche is a big part of its charm leading us through a different perspective of the City of Lights.

Set against Paris' oldest bridge, the Pont Neuf, while it was closed for repairs, this film is a love story between two young vagrants.

I haven't seen The Lovers on the Bridge in a long time but the thing about great movies is that it's a pleasure to watch them again...

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Castro

Castro is full of strange moments and quirky scenes that will leave you with more questions than answers.

Four characters are looking for a man called Castro, but we don't know why.

I'm not familiar with Argentine cinema but I'm glad that the AFI Fest included this film in their program because it was something fresh and different, diverse, and it makes me want to seek out more films from Argentine filmmakers.

If you're more well-versed in Argentine cinema who are some of your favorites?

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