Poster - The Loss Of A Teardrop Diamond

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The Loss Of A Teardrop Diamond is a new drama based on a recently rediscovered original screenplay by legendary writer Tennessee Williams. Starring Bryce Dallas Howard and Chris Evans, the Paladin release will open in New York and Los Angeles in late December, with expansion to major markets following in early 2010. Academy Award-winner Ellen Burstyn, Academy Award-nominee Ann-Margret, Mamie Gummer, and Will Patton co-star in the film which was directed by award-winning short filmmaker and actress Jodie Markell, in her feature film debut.

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A Woman is a Woman (Une femme est une femme)

If you enjoyed 500 Days of Summer then you'll probably like Jean-Luc Godard's classic French film A Woman is a Woman. Pay special attention to the clothes, in some scenes it looks like Anna Karina rummaged through Zooey Deschanel's closet, or vice versa. They definitely share a similar style:

If you look real close you can see how Godard paved the way for director's like Marc Webb.

Angela, a striptease artist, wants to have a baby and tries to persuade her boyfriend Emile to go along with the idea.

The trailer doesn't nearly do justice to how good this film is...

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Chuck video contest

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Notable New Releases

Jennifer's Body
I really liked this film, which unfortunately bombed at the box office despite its initial buzz. Diablo Cody's sophomore script is funny, smart, and creepy. The actors all do a great job delivering her trademark clever dialogue. Megan Fox actually acts. I swear. Also, its parody of indie bands is hilarious and spot-on. If you're into 80s style horror-comedies, you will love it.

Extras include:

• Audio Commentary with Director Karyn Kusama and Writer Diablo Cody (Theatrical Version)
• Audio Commentary with Director Karyn Kusama (Extended Version)
• Deleted Scenes (Blu-ray Exclusive)
• Gag Reel (Blu-ray Exclusive)
• Jennifer's Body: The Dead Pool (Blu-ray Exclusive)
• Video Diaries (Blu-ray Exclusive)
• Megan Fox is HOT (Blu-ray Exclusive)
• Megan Fox 'Peer Pressure' PSA (Blu-ray Exclusive)
• Fox Movie Channel Presents 'Life After Film School' with Writer Diablo Cody (Blu-ray Exclusive)

Paranormal Activity
Missed it in theaters but have heard great things about this handmade ghost story. From a filmmaking perspective its great to see such an inspiring success story. Also, they wanted to thank all the online fans who helped get them a wide release by putting them on the DVD/Blu-ray, so look for my name in the special thanks credits!

Extras include:

• Unrated version with alternate ending

[READ MORE...]

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2009 Movie Montage

Really well done montage that it sure to leave a big fat smile on your face. Can't wait for next year!

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Top 3 Movies of 2009 (Karen's List)

Watching these movies make you feel like it's the so-called "Golden Age" in Hollywood again. I've seen the majority of the Oscar-contenders but these films top my list. All three are beautiful snapshots of human connection...

1. 500 Days of Summer - Refreshing, innovative and sweet! Marc Webb crafted a film that conveys the complexity of love and memory. Zooey Deschanel was perfectly cast as Summer, the object of Tom's affection and Joesph Gordon-Levitt (Tom) is the doe-eyed protagonist that you can't help fall in love with as he falls in love with Summer. It's the standout movie of the year!

2. Up in the Air - George Clooney exudes a Cary Grant kind of charm. Up in the Air brings out Clooney's magnetic leading man capabilities in full speed. Jason Reitman directs this masterpiece, sleek but full of heart. The dialogue is extremely clever and some of the scenes in the airport are undeniably impressive. Yet the film's strength rests with its supporting cast, without Vera Farmiga and Anna Kendrick in their award-worthy performances Up in the Air wouldn't be as poignant.

3. Treeless Mountain - It's the best movie that you probably haven't seen! So Yong Kim showcases a brilliant story about two sisters lost without their mother in Korea. The acting is raw, poetic and a little too real at times - how Kim captured those performances, those nuances is pure movie magic and the mark of a great director. Treeless Mountain played at several film festivals this year and is currently available on Netflix instant watch. It belongs on the top of your queue!

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Poster - Repo Men

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The Quest for Indie Christmas Movies

'Tis the season for sappy movies...fa la la la la, la la la la.

Christmas may be the one time of year where it's okay to watch overly sappy feel-good movies. You have free time and suddenly stuff on the Hallmark channel starts looking good.

I've been trying to put together a list of indie Christmas movies but not much comes to mind. I did get Sarah's Choice in the mail, and for the Christmas season it works. It's about a woman who has an unexpected pregnancy and gets three visions Scrooge style to help her make a decision.

Follow the jump for trailers...

What are some of your favorite Christmas movies? 

[READ MORE...]

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Christmas TV Moment: Madison Pettis & The Big Surprise

On the Bonnie Hunt Show she surprised tween actress Madison Pettis (The Game Plan) with an early Christmas gift. It's a beautiful moment, it really is!

[via Jared Jr.]

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The Runaways

I saw Joan Jett in concert earlier this year and she still rocks! I can't wait to see how Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning bring The Runaways to life. Here's the teaser trailer:

In theaters Spring 2010.

Official Site: www.runawaysmovie.com

[photo via Just Jared]

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Notable New Releases

District 9
One of the most original movies of the year. It completely surprises you with its unpredictability. It's smart sci-fi that's also great entertainment. First time writer/director Neill Blomkamp did an amazing job creating this alternate world and taking us along a memorable journey. It's also great to see a South African movie with all unknowns do so well.

Extras include:

• Commentary
  
• Deleted Scenes
• The Alien Agenda: A Filmmaker's Log
• Metamorphosis: The Transformation of Wikus
• Innovation: The Acting and Improvisation of District 9
• Conception and Design: Creating the World of District 9
• Alien Generation: The Visual Effects of District 9

(500) Days of Summer
Former music video director Marc Webb knocked it out the park with his directorial debut. Its equal parts sweet, heartbreaking, and creative. What I liked is that despite using every cinematic trick in the book, the film miraculously manages not to be pretentious. There is an honesty to the characters and writing that makes it sincere.

Extras include:

• Commentary
• Deleted Scenes
• Audition tapes (Blu-ray Exclusive)
• Storyboards (Blu-ray Exclusive)
• Not a Love Story: Making (500) Days of Summer (Blu-ray Exclusive)
• Summer at Sundance (Blu-ray Exclusive)
• Six Conversations with Zooey and Joseph (Blu-ray Exclusive)
• Filmmaking Specials (Blu-ray Exclusive)
• Webb's Bank Dance short film (Blu-ray Exclusive)
• Cinemash Video: Sid and Nancy (Blu-ray Exclusive)
• Temper Trap's Sweet Disposition music video (Blu-ray Exclusive)

[READ MORE...]

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Trailer - Greenberg

Writer/director Noah Baumbach's new film stars Ben Stiller and indie favorite Greta Gerwig. It also features a score by James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem!

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HBO Sale At Best Buy

Best Buy is holding a special sale this week on all HBO series for 50% off MSRP, such as The Wire: The Complete Series for $89.99 and Eastbound & Down for $13.49. The sale also includes Blu-rays such as True Blood for $32.49. The HBO sets are notoriously pricey and hardly ever go on sale, so take advantage. This promotion runs from December 20 - December 26.

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Sebastian's Voodoo

Sebastian's Voodoo is an example of a great short. It has a drama, suspense and heart. And the animation is quite impressive, especially for an indie student film!

A voodoo doll must find the courage to save his friends from being pinned to death.

Official Site: www.pixelnitrate.com

[H/T Doreen]

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Avatar Review

I was one of the lucky few to catch the James Cameron flick Avatar late last night.  I didn't come laden with huge expectations, nor armed with film reviews or analysis of the flick. I did hear that there was an Indigenous element to the film and that it was  in 3D and sci fi, and well of course involved avatars, and I was sold.

The theater was packed with geeks young college boys who looked like they could be gamers. A loud, excited chatter built up to the film as we waited the half hour for the film to start. Once it did, the whole audience quieted down to complete silence for the entire film (with the exception of suggested on-screen sex, then everyone tittered).

I was hooked on the film within the first 15 minutes, as we got right into the action of the Na'vi world. I was drawn into the graphics, the 3D effects, and the fantasy elements. The story revolves around one character, Jack Sully (Sam Worthington), a wheelchair-bound ex-marine who gets put into an avatar operation to interact with the Na'vi people and learn their ways so that the corporations can begin to extract their resources.

[READ MORE...]

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Free Films: The Lonely Guy

Steve Martin's underrated 1984 comedy about loneliness is one of my favorites. Martin plays a greeting card writer trying to cope with the single life after being dumped (referenced in 500 Days of Summer). The great Charles Grodin plays his sad-sack best friend. He steals every scene and their conversations are priceless. It also has a nice low-key score by composer Jerry Goldsmith. If you're feeling lonely and like zany 80s comedies, check it out. "I am becoming somewhat of an expert on poop."

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Alice in Wonderland Full Trailer

The movie Tim Burton was born to make. Looks like a crazy-kooky-trippy good time...

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Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment (CAPE)

Our photo contributor Wilki W.K. Tom snapped these photos at last week's CAPE event. Several Asian American actors showed up for the casino night holiday party in Hollywood.

James Kyson Lee (Heroes)

Patrick Gallagher (Glee)

[READ MORE...]

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Forever Beautiful

Dreamers stars, Eva Green & Luois Garrel. Movie star crushes.

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Criterion Collection Announces March Titles

If you love DVDs then you know the Criterion Collection by name. They have been committed to releasing important films in the best possible editions since 1984. They have also started re-releasing certain titles on Blu-ray. This March, they offer a slew of selections for film buffs.

The Criterion Collection announced they will release Marco Ferreri's Dillinger Is Dead on March 16th. It will feature a new, restored high-definition digital transfer, supervised and approved by director of photography Mario Vulpiani.

Special features include:

• New video interviews with actor Michel Piccoli and Italian film historian Adriano Aprà

• Excerpts from a 1997 roundtable discussion about director Marco Ferreri, with filmmakers Bernardo Bertolucci and Francesco Rosi and film historian Aldo Tassone, including clips of interviews with Ferreri

• Theatrical trailer

• New and improved subtitle translation

• PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by film critic Michael Joshua Rowin and a selection of reprinted interviews with Ferreri

[READ MORE...]

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Notable New Releases

Inglourious Basterds
Tarantino's minor masterpiece isn't so much a war movie as it is a tribute to war movies. The trailers marketed it as an English-language exploitation movie with Brad Pitt, when that is actually only 1/3 of the story. The rest of the movie filters the best of German drama and French romance through Tarantino's blood-soaked style. It is pure cinematic bliss from beginning to end. It's also got one of the best movie villains of the decade. Can we just give Waltz the Oscar now?


Extras include:

• Extended and Alternate Scenes
• Roundtable Discussion
• Nation's Pride Film
• The Making of Nation's Pride
  
• A Conversation with Rod Taylor
• The Original Inglorious Bastards
  
• Rod Taylor on Victoria Bitter
• Quentin Tarantino's Camera Angel 
• Hi Sallys 
• Film Poster Gallery Tour 
• Killin' Nazis Trivia Challenge
• Poster Gallery

The Hangover
This movie wisely casts a trio of talented character actors and lets them roam through Vegas. Anything with Zach Galifianakis is worth a watch and here he's allowed to display his unique comedic style.

Extras include:

• Commentary
• Gag Reel
• The Madness of Ken Jeong
• Action Mash-Up
• Three Best Friends Song
• The Dan Band!
• 'More Pictures From The Missing Camera' Photo Gallery

Taking Woodstock
Missed this one in theaters, but the unlikely pairing of director Ang Lee and comedian Demetri Martin make it a must see.

Extras include:

• Commentary
• Deleted Scenes
• Peace, Love, and Cinema
• No Audience Required: The Earthlight Players

Star Trek: The Original Series, Season 3 Blu-ray
The final season of the original show is a must have for sci-fi fans. This set includes the remastered versions and the originals for purists, with the ability to toggle between them at any time.

Extras include:

• Life Beyond 'Trek:' Walter Koenig 
• Chief Engineer's Log 
• Memoir From Mr. Sulu
• Captain's Log: Bob Justman 
• "Rare and Unaired Alternate Version" of "Where No Man Has Gone Before"; the episode is preceded by a scrolling text introduction to the episode's history.
• David Gerrold Hosts '2009 Convention Coverage'
• The Anthropology of 'Star Trek' Comic-Con Panel 2009
• 'The World of Rod Roddenberry' Comic-Con 2009 
• Billy Blackburn's Treasure Chest: Rare Home Movies and Special Memories
• 'To Boldly Go...' Season Three
• Collectible 'Trek'
• Star Trek's Impact

[READ MORE...]

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2D Triumphs

In 2004, Disney decided to shut down its iconic animation studio in favor of making strictly CG films. Many of the loyal crew were fired and it was a dark chapter in animation history. Their new films lacked the story elements that made them such an important studio in the first place. Thankfully when Disney acquired Pixar in 2006, Pixar's John Lasseter became creative director of Disney and rehired many of the animators, stating that he would like to see the company return to its 2D roots in addition to making CG films. Then, Disney announced that their return to hand-drawn animation would be a New Orleans set fairytale featuring the first African-American princess and directed by their primary filmmakers Ron Clements and John Musker (Hercules, Aladdin, The Little Mermaid). Originally titled The Frog Princess, the project initially got some bad buzz for its racial stereotypes. It was rewritten and gained the support of Oprah, who took a role in the film.

The Princess and the Frog has been getting good word of mouth and after a two week limited run, opened wide this past Friday. In its nationwide debut, it made a solid $25 million taking the number one spot at the box office. It marks the highest-grossing start ever for an animated movie in December. Hopefully it will continue to grow in popularity over the holiday season. Its success could mean a revival of this lost art. This has been an amazing year for animation in general, with every style getting a chance to be showcased. I look forward to more diverse and unique approaches to animation in 2010.

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According to Greta

The Hilary Duff and Evan Ross movie I wrote about here and here finally opens in theaters this weekend. It's on a limited showcase in Los Angeles but hopefully it will roll out on more screens. The supporting cast features Ellen Burstyn and Melissa Leo.

A young suicidal and rebellious teen gets sent to her grandparents for the summer where life takes an unexpected turn.

Official Site: www.gretathemovie.com

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Introducing Joshua dos Santos

Meet our newest contributor...

Joshua dos Santos is currently located in Los Angeles but originally from the Bay Area. He's a writer, editor, and animator and loves all things related to film. His favorites range from Citizen Kane to Pootie Tang. He'll be blogging on latest Blu-ray & DVD releases and adding his unique knowledge of film to Reel Artsy.

Favorite Quote: "If it can be written, or thought, it can be filmed."- Stanley Kubrick

Welcome to the team!

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Notable New Releases This Week

A bit late, this column will usually run on Tuesdays.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
The only movie series in history that actually gets better as it continues. As the story has progressed the films have become much darker and the dramatic stakes have been raised considerably. With these last two films, director David Yates has done a great job of keeping the series emotionally grounded in the midst of the stellar visual effects. If you have been watching these characters from the beginning, this film will definitely break your heart.

World's Greatest Dad
One of my favorite surprises of the year. It's hilariously wrong, incredibly filthy, and unexpectedly emotional. Robin Williams gives his best performance in years. Amazing soundtrack as well.

Public Enemies
This isn't the in depth portrayal of Dillinger I was expecting from Michael Mann. It plays more like a TV pilot version of the story, giving you only the broad strokes of all the characters they set up. It is still worth watching for the great performances by Johnny Depp and Marion Cotillard.

[READ MORE...]

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Classic laugh attack moment

"Milk was a bad choice!"
Anchorman

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Delirious

Steve Buscemi is perfect for the role of a know-it-all paparazzi. In Delirious he shows a wannabe actor the underbelly of tabloid "journalism" - if you're a fan of Buscemi's offbeat characters then you'll find this a pleasant addition to your DVD collection.

Official Site: www.deliriousthemovie.com

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Serious Moonlight

Serious Moonlight is reminscent of Meg Ryan's reign of 90s rom-coms. But unlike her previous films she's not the object of the man's affection and the story isn't about two strangers getting together in the end. It's a little more complex, a little more fragile, a little more disillusioned and seeing Ryan on the fringe of her "traditional role" is a nice fit.

A high-powered attorney duct tapes her adulterous husband to the toilet ... right before their home is invaded by burglars.

Now in theaters.

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Artivist Film Festival - Children of War + pics

 

The Artivist Film Fest wrapped over the weekend and Children of War, a documentary about Ugandan child soldiers, was one of the winners.

Olivia Wilde (House) was honored for her work with PowerUp Gambia.

 [READ MORE...]

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Up in the Air

Up in the Air is one of the best movies of the year! Jason Reitman directs this film in near perfect form, no scene is wasted and even the opening credits serve a purpose, they too feel like a well-crafted character quickly and efficiently setting the tone. George Clooney leads this brilliant cast giving a charming yet melancholic performance as Ryan Bingham, a businessman who enjoys his life on the road.  

Up in the Air belongs on the shelf next to Juno and Lars and the Real Girl, poignant, witty and sweet.

Now in select theaters, opens wide on Dec. 25th.

Film Girl Force reviews:

• Kelly Monster
• Film Gurl
  

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Artivist Film Festival - Shooting Beauty + Love and Documents

The Artivist Film Fest has a cool concept: showcasing films that spotlight the combination of art and activism. Yesterday I was able to catch a couple films...

Shooting Beauty is one of the most touching documentaries that I've ever seen! It mixes heart-felt drama with the right amount of uplifting humor. It's the kind of film that makes you smile at the beauty of human nature.

Official Site: www.everyonedeservesashot.com

Love and Documents is a refreshingly inventive documentary that "brings the current debates around immigration into focus." For a six-minute short it quickly grabs your attention and leaves you wanting more at the end (and that's a good thing).

For more info on the 6th Annual Artivist Film Fest visit www.artivists.org

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The Way We Get By

I really like the title of this film, it's telling of the human condition: when life gets hard we all seek ways to cope. The Way We Get By is a documentary that captures the journey home for soldiers and the people who are there to greet them with a simple hug, handshake and smile.

On call 24/7 for the past six years, three senior citizens have made history by greeting nearly one million U.S. troops at a tiny airport in Maine.

Official Site: www.thewaywegetbymovie.com

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East of Sunset

East of Sunset is a documentary that covers indie rock in Silver Lake. I stumbled upon the trailer while looking for something else, it's one of those random but good finds.

After the demise of the hair-metal days of the Sunset Strip, an alternative music scene began forming on the eastside of Los Angeles in Silver Lake & Echo Park. Drawn by the unique locale, cheap rent and supportive venues, many artists began moving to the area. A club called Spaceland became the premiere venue that supported music that wasn’t mainstream and wasn’t being played on the Sunset Strip. The area soon became an early home for such acts as Beck and Elliot Smith.

The last update on the film's website says it's in post-production (with no release date in sight). So for now, it's just something to put on your radar. 

Official Site: www.eastofsunsetfilm.com

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