Thursday, December 29, 2011

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: GHOST PROTOCOL (2011)


Directed By: Brad Bird
Written By: Josh Applebaum & Andre Nemec
Based on the television series by: Bruce Geller
Cinematography By: Robert Elswitt
Editor: Paul Hirsch

Cast: Tom Cruise, Paula Patton, Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg, Lea Seydoux, Josh Holloway, Anil Kapor, Michael Nyqvist


TANNER HALL (2009)


Written & Directed By: Francesca Gregorini & Tatiana Von Frustenberg
Cinematography By: Brian Rigney Hubbard
Editor: Michelle Botticelli, Sharon Rutter & Lauren Zuckerman

Cast: Rooney Mara, Brie Larson, Amy Ferguson, Tom Everett Scott, Chris Kattan, Amy Sedaris, Tara Subkoff


THE ORPHANAGE (2007)


Directed By: Juan Antonio Bayona
Written By: Sergio C. Sanchez
Cinematography By: Oscar Faura
Editor: Elena Ruiz

Cast: Belen Rueda, Fernando Cayo, Roger Princep, Geraldine Chaplin



Laura, a former orphan, raises her adopted son Simón together with her husband Carlos in an old house and former orphanage where she was raised. While at the orphanage Simón tells Laura that he has five invisible friends which she believes are a product of his active imagination. Laura decides to reopen the orphanage to cater for disabled children and throws a party. During the party Simón tries to persuade Laura to go and take a look at his friends cabin but she's too busy. Later on she sees a mysterious masked boy and realizes that Simón has also disappeared. Laura feels the presence of other people in the house and months later Laura invites a team of parapsychologists to try to unravel the mystery.

When it comes to films that Guillermo Del Toro has his hands in. The film seems to contain a mythology all it’s own. Which is what makes these films worthwhile and magical. They are rich with not only imagery, but also imagination. The scope may seem small, but in reality it is a wonderland that knows no limits. The film is no mere horror film. While it is scary. It is more of a adult fairy tale with suspenseful moments. It’s a dark tale with reality overtones, but at it’s heart. It is playful and has no limits.

The film continuously keeps you guessing. It’s never boring as you find yourself getting more and more enraptured by the story and you begin to identify with the characters and worry about them. The film manages to stay luscious in it’s beauty though there is mainly only one location a sprawling house and yard around it.
The film can be heartbreaking, but it is for a reason that assures you of it’s decisions. The film is a gem that can be breathtaking in it’s beauty. It’s not a simple film, but seems like it is one.

It took me awhile to finally watch this film. It was a film that came acclaimed, but also one that i knew I had to see in the right mood. I knew it was a film that I would appreciate. It’s usual style. But I really would appreciate it’s visual style, but I really wanted to pay attention to it’s other qualities. I was not disappointed in the least. The film has an iconic character who seems at first like a boogeyman that haunts the main character and the film. Until we finally understand everything.
This is a film that is best to go into blind and discover it’s pleasures.

Even my firend who usally doesn't watch foreign films. Watched thisin theaters and enjoyed it.

This is a definite addition to the film library.

GRADE: A

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

JEFF OF THE CINEFILES: HALL OF FAME: FILE #0017: TAPE (2001)


Directed By: Richard Linklater
Written By: Steven Belber (Based on his play)
Cinematography By: Maryse Alberti
Editor: Sandra Adair

Cast: Ethan Hawke, Robert Sean Leonard, Uma Thurman


RAMPART (2011)


Directed By: Oren Moverman
Written By: Oren Moverman & James Ellroy
Cinematography By: Bobby Butowski
Editor: Jay Rabinowitz

 CAST: Woody Harrelson, Robin Wright-Penn, Sigourney Weaver, Steve Buscemi, Ice Cube, Brie Larson, Anne Heche, Ben Foster, Cynthia Nixon, Ned Beatty, Jon Foster, Jon Bernthal 

SLEEPING BEAUTY (2011)



Written & Directed By: Julia Leigh
Cinematography By: Geoffrey Simpson
Editor: Nick Meyers

Cast: Emily Browning, Racheal Blake


SERAPHIM FALLS (2006)


Directed By: David Von Ancken
Written By: David Von Ancken & Abby Everett Jaques
Cinematography By: John Toll
Editor: Conrad Buff IV

Cast: Pirece Brosnan, Liam Neeson, Anjelica Huston, Michael Wincott, Ed Lauter, Xander Berkeley, Tom Noonan, Kevin J. O’Connor, Angie Harmon, Wes Studi, Jimmi Simpson




Patty Jenkins Has dropped out of Directing Thor 2. Which was an odd fit from the beginning. That gave me hope either she would make the film more dramtic and character based with ok effects or effects heavy showing that Jenkins could be more of a mianstream director. She has already Made MONSTER as a artsy independent film. That got her a foot in the door. She dropped out of this film over creative differences, But she managed to stay on good terms with the studio and saying she might direct a original superhero character film (Hawkeye???) Just not a sequel to a already started franchise shows the studio wants to keep a tone. Which would be great if thor was good or as good as Captain America movie, but the studio's winningness to hand the reigns to director's more attuned to television on one hand, Shows a willingness to give these rookie director's a step up to features a chance, but it reaks of hiring a director who is used to working fast and loose on budget if need be and will follow the studios orders and notes to a t. Afraid to lose the big break that they are getting. Not trying to make the film with their own artistic whims. Though very basically. (Working in television, You have such a short schedule to shoot and edit. You hve to do it quick and fast) and know they will get not the best quality but disposable enough to entertain and make enough money to make a sequel. Not having to endure fights with a director who has a vision and has enough clout to get what they want or won't bow down and worries about not having their vision onscreen. If jenkins would have stayed it would have been a interesting experiment. As she would have been thor's second director. Who is more well known for directing dramatic films and more actor films then film with action. Kenneth Branagh i could see why he at leat took the first film as it is filled with tons of drama as it is a story about gods and mythology. isfilled with great family dynamics and tales of drama. yet he turned out a film that while entertaining with a greatcastwas pretty basic and uninteresting. Notentirely his fault but understandable why he would choose not to return. It also seemed more interested in effects and action. Whcihnever felt special or awe inspiring. In fact it felt almost second rate.

Thursday, December 8, 2011

JEFF OF THE CINEFILES: HALL OF FAME: FILE #0016: EDWARD SCISSORHANDS (1990)


Directed By: Tim Burton
Written By: Caroline Thompson
Story By: Tim Burton & Caroline Thompson
Cinematography By: Stefan Czapsky
Editor: Richard Halsey
Production Design By: Bo Welch

Cast: Johnny Depp, Winona Ryder, Dianne Wiest, Anthony Michael Hall, Kathy Baker, Vincent Price, Alan Arkin, Conchata Ferrell, O-Lan Jones


MY LIFE AS A DOG (Mitt lliv som hund) (1985)


Directed By: Lasse Hallstrom
Written By: Lasse Hallstrom, Reidar Jonsson, Brasse Brannstrom & Per Berglund
Based on the novel by: Reidar Jonsson
Cinematography By: Jorgen Persson
Editor: Christer Furubrand & Susanne Linmann

Cast: Anton Granzelius, Tomas Von Bromssen, Melinda Kinnaman, Leif Ericsson


Sunday, December 4, 2011

NICE GUY JOHNNY (2010)



Written & Directed By: Ed Burns
Cinematography By: William Rexer
Editor: Janet Gaynor

Cast: Matt Bush, Ed Burns, Kerry Bishe, Callie Thorne, Jay Patterson


FORMULA 51 (2001)



Directed By: Ronny Yu
Written By: Stel Pavlou
Cinematography By: Hang-Sang Poon
Editor: David Wu

Cast: Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Carlyle, Emily Mortimer, Meatloaf, Rhys Ifans, Ade, Sean Pertwee


Sunday, November 27, 2011

ZOMBIE STRIPPERS (2008)


Written, Directed, Edited and Cinematography By: Jay Lee

Cast: Robert Englund, Jenna Jameson, Roxy Saint, Penny Drake, Whitney Anderson, Jennifer Holland


Saturday, November 26, 2011

THE DOOM GENERATION (1995)1995,


Written & Directed By: Greg Araki
Cinematography By: Jim Fealy
Editor: Greg Araki & Kate McGowan

Cast: Rose McGowan, James Duval, Johnathon Schaech, Cress Williams, Nicky Katt, Skinny Puppy, Margaret Cho, Dustin Nguyen, Amanda Bearse, Christopher Knight, Perry
Farrell, Heidi Fleiss, Parker Posey

Thursday, November 24, 2011

CAN'T HARDLY WAIT (1998)



Written & Directed By: Deborah Kaplan & Harry Elfont
Cinematography By: Lloyd Ahern II
Editor: Michael Jablow

Cast: Jennifer Love Hewitt, Ethan Embry, Seth Green, Lauren Ambrose, Charlie Korsmo, Peter Fancinelli, Marisol Nichols, Clea Duvall, Sean Patrick Thomas, Erik Palladino, Freddy Rodriguez, Jamie Pressly, Donald Faison, Breckin Meyer, Tamala Jones, Chris Owen, Jason Segel, Paige Moss, Liz Stauber, Nicole Bilderback, Sara Rue, Selma Blair, Leslie Grossman, Victor Togunde


Wednesday, November 23, 2011

BABE: PIG INTHE CITY (1998)



Directed By: George Miller
Written By: George Miller, Judy Morris & Mark Lamprell
Based On Characters Created By: Dick King-Smith
Cinematography By: Andrew Lesnie
Editor: Jay Friedkin & Margaret Sixel

Cast: James Cromwell, Magda Szubanski, Mickey Rooney, Mary Stein (With the voices of) E.G. Daily, Steven Wright, Miriam Margolyes, Adam Goldberg, Roscoe Lee Browne, Glenne Headly, Danny Mann


Friday, November 18, 2011

ESCAPE FROM L.A. (1996)


Directed By: John Carpenter
Written By: John Carpenter, Debra Hill & Kurt Russell
Based On Characters Written By: John Carpenter & Nick Castle
Cinematography By: Gary B. Kibbe
Editor: Edward A. Warschilka

Cast: Kurt Russell, Cliff Robertson, Stacy Keach, Steve Buscemi, A.J. Langer, Pam Grier, Bruce Campbell, Valeria Golino, Peter Fonda, Michelle Forbes, Breckin Meyer, Robert Carradine, Leland Orser


PRINCE OF BROADWAY (2008)


Directed, Edited and Cinematography By: Sean Baker
Written By: Sean Baker & Darren Dean

Cast: Prince Adu, Kat Sanchez, Karren Karagulian, Aiden Noesi, Keyali Mayaga, Victoria Tate


Sunday, November 13, 2011

BROKEN ARROW (1996)


Directed By: John Woo
Written By: Graham Yost
Cinematography By: Peter Levy
Editor: John Wright, Steve Mirkovich & Joe Hutshing

Cast: John Travolta, Christian Slater, Howie Long, Samantha Mathis, Delroy Lindo, Frank Whaley, Bob Gunton, Vondie-Curtis Hall, Jack Thompson


SOO (THE ART OF REVENGE) (2007)


Directed By: Yoichi Sai
Written By: Yoichi Sai, Joon-il Lee & Seung-Hwan Lee
Cinematography By: Seong-kun Mun

Cast: Jin-Hee Ji, Seong-Yeon Kang, Man-Soek Oh


Thursday, November 10, 2011

HOW DO YOU KNOW? (2010)


Written & Directed By: James L. Brooks
Cinematography By: Janusz Kaminski
Editor: Richard Marks & Tracey Wadmore-Smith

Cast: Reese Witherspoon, Paul Rudd, Owen Wilson, Jack Nicholson, Mark Linn Baker, Dominick Lombardozzi, Tony Shalhoub, Kathryn Hahn, Molly Price, Lenny Venito, Tara Subkoff


THE ICE STORM (1997)



Directed By: Ang Lee
Written By: James Schamus
Based on the book By: Rick Moody
Cinematography By: Frederick Elmes
Editor: Tim Squyres

Cast: Kevin Kline, Joan Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Jamey Sheridan, Christina Ricci, Elijah Wood, Henry Czerny, Adam Hann-Byrd, David Krumholtz, Katie Holmes, Kate Burton, Allison Janney, Colleen Camp, Courtney Peldon


Sunday, November 6, 2011

BACK TO SCHOOL (1986)




Directed By: Alan Metter
Written By: Will Poter, Harold Ramis, Steven Kampmann & Peter Torokvei
Story By: Rodney Dangerfield, Dennis Snee & Greg Fields
Cinematography By: Thomas E. Ackerman
Editor: David Rawlins

Cast: Rodney Dangerfield, Burt Young, Robert Downey Jr., Keith Gordon, William Zbaka, Ned Beatty, Sally Kellerman, Robert Picardo, Paxton Whitehead, Sam Kinison, M. Emmett Walsh, Edie McClurg, Adrienne Barbeau


Thursday, November 3, 2011

THE SKIN I LIVE IN (2011)



Written & Directed By: Pedro Almodovar
Based on the novel "Trantula" Written by: Thierry Jonquet
Cinematography By: Jose Luis Alcaine
Editor: Jose Salcedo

Cast: Antonio Banderas, Elena Ayana, Blanca Suarez, Marisa Parades, Jan Cornet, Robert Alamo, Barbara Lennie


Saturday, October 29, 2011

FRIDAY THE 13TH: PART 3 (1982)


Cast: Dana Kimmell, Larry Zerner, Nick Savage, Jeffrey Rogers

Directed By: Steve Miner
Written By: Martin Kitrosser & Carol Watson & Petru Popescu (Uncredited)Cinematography By: Gerald Feil
Editor: George Hively


Friday, October 21, 2011

ALIEN RAIDERS (2008)


Directed By: Ben Rock
Written By: Julia Fair & David Simkins
Cinematography By: Waly Lloyd
Editor: Auggie Hess

Cast: Carlos Bernard, Matthew St. Patrick, Rockmund Dunbar, Courtney Ford, Derek Basco, Bonita Firedericy


TOOLBOX MURDERS (2004)


Directed By: Tobe Hooper
Written By: Jace Anderson & Adam Gierasch
Cinematography By: Steve Yedlin
Editor: Andrew Cohen

CAST: Angela Bettis, Rance Howard, Juliet Landau, Marco Rodriguez, Sherri Moon Zombie, Adam Gierasch

Sunday, October 16, 2011

FACE/OFF (1997)


Directed By: John Woo
Written By: Mike Werb & Michael Colleary
Cinematography By: Oliver Wood
Editor: Steven Kemper & Christian Wagner

Cast: John Travolta, Nicholas Cage, Joan Allen, Alessandro Nivola, Nick Cassavetes, Gina Gershon, Robert Wisdom, Dominique Swain, Harve Presnell, Colm Foere, CCH Pounder, John Caroll Lynch, Danny Masterson, Margaret Cho, Thomas Jane, Kirk Baltz, Lisa Boyle


Monday, October 10, 2011

DOGHOUSE (2009)


Directed By: Jake West
Written By: Dan Schaffer
Cinematography By: Ali Asad
Editor: Jake West, Will Gilbey & Julian Gilbey
Production Design: Matthew Button

Cast: Stephen Graham, Noel Clarke, Danny Dyer, Christina Cole, Lee Ingleby

Sunday, October 9, 2011

MAD MAX BEYOND THUNDERDOME (1985)


Directed By: George Miller & George Ogilve
Written By: Terry Hayes & George Miller
Cinematography By: Dean Semler
Editor: Richard Francis-Bruce

CAST: Mel Gibson, Tina Turner, Bruce Spence


Thursday, September 29, 2011

A HORRIBLE WAY TO DIE (2011)


Directed & Edited By: Adam Wingard
Written By: Simon Barett
Cinematography By: Chris Hilleke & Mark Shelhorse

Cast: Amy Seimetz, A.J. Bowen, Joe Swanberg, Whitney Moore


Sunday, September 25, 2011

JEFF OF THE CINEFILES: HALL OF FAME: FILE #0015: PUNCH-DRUNK LOVE (2002)


Written & Directed By: Paul Thomas Anderson
Cinematography By: Roger Elswit
Editor: Leslie Jones

Cast: Adam Sandler, Emily Watson, Luis Guzman, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Mary Lynn Raskjub, Robert Smeigel

DRIVE (2011)


Directed By: Nicolas Winding Refn
Written By: Hossein Amini
Based On The Novel By: Jamie Sallis
Cinematography By: Newtom Thomas Sigel
Editor: Matthew Newman

CAST: Ryan Gosling, Bryan Cranston, Carey Mulligan, Albert Brooks, Ron Perlman, Oscar Issac, Christina Hendricks, Russ Tamblyn

U-TURN (1997)


Directed By: Oliver Stone
Written By: John Ridley; Based on his book “Stray Dogs”
Cinematography By: Robert Richardson
Editor: Hank Corwin & Thomas J. Nordberg

Cast: Sean Penn, Jennifer Lopez, Nick Nolte, Billy Bob Thornton, Claire Danes, Powers Boothe, Joaquin Phoenix, Julie Hagerty, Jon Voight, Brent Briscoe, Liv Tyler, Abraham Benrubi

Saturday, September 10, 2011



Directed By: Clint Eastwood
Written By: Brian Helgeland
Based On The Novel By: Dennis Lehane
Cinematography By: Tom Stern
Editor: Joel Cox

Cast: Sean Penn, Kevin Bacon, Tim Robbins, Laurence Fishburne, Laura Linney, Marcia Gay Harden, Tom Guiry, Emmy Rossum, Spencer Treat Clark, Ari Graynor


Thursday, September 1, 2011

Offspring (2009)




Directed By: Andrew Van Den Houten
Written By: Jack Ketchum
Based on the Novel by: Jack Ketchum
Cinematography By: William M. Miller
Editor: Douglas Buck

Cast: Pollyanna McIntosh, Amy Hargreaves, Art Hindle, Ahna Tessler, Erick Kastel

Monday, August 29, 2011

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER (1992)



Directed By: Fran Rubel Kuzui
Written By: Joss Whedon
Cinematography By: James Hayman
Editor: Jill Savitt & Camilla Toniolo

Cast: Kristy Swanson, Luke Perry, Rugter Hauer, Paul Ruebens, Donald Sutherland, Hillary Swank, Natasha Gregson Wagner, David Arquette, Stephen Root, Andrew Lowery, Thomas Jane, Ben Affleck, Candy Clark, Mark DeCarlo, Alexis Arquette, Ricki Lake

THE WARD (2010)



Directed By: John Carpenter
Written By: Michael Ramussen & Shawn Ramussen
Cinematography By: Yaron Orbach
Editor: Patrick McMahon

Cast: Amber Heard, Jared Harris, Mika Boorem, Danielle Pannabaker, Maime Gummer, Laura-Leigh, Lyndsey Fonesca


Monday, August 22, 2011

THE LAST DAYS OF DISCO (1998)



Written & Directed By: Whit Stillman
Cinematography By: John Thomas
Editor: Andrew Hafitz & Jay Pires

Cast: Kate Beckinsale, Chloe Sevingy, Robert Sean Leonard, Chris Eigeman, Mackenzie Astin, Jennifer Beals, Matt Kesslar, David Thornton, Tara Subkoff, Burr Steers, Jaid Barrymore, Michael Weatherly

54 (1998)



Written & Directed By: Michael Christopher
Cinematography By: Alexander Gruszynski
Editor: Lee Percy

Cast: Ryan Phillipe, Salma Hayek, Breckin Meyer, Mike Myers, Sherry Stringfield, Neve Campbell, Sela Ward, Erika Alexander, Mark Ruffalo, Lauren Hutton, Heather Matarazzo, Michael York, Skip Sudduth, Ron Jeremy, Michael Pitt,Justin Bartha


Thursday, August 18, 2011

THE TRIP (2011)



Directed By: Michael Winterbottom
Cinematography By: Ben Smithard
Editor: Dan Coles & Sion Penny

Cast: Steve Coogan, Rob Brydon, Margo Stilley

Friday, August 12, 2011

SUNSHINE (2007)



Cast: Cillian Murphy, Michelle Yeoh, Chris Evans, Rose Byrne, Cliff Curtis, Troy Garity, Benedict Wong, Mark Strong

Directed by: Danny Boyle
Written By: Alex Garland
Produced By: Andrew McDonald
Cinematography By: Alwin Kuchler
Editor: Chris Gill


Wednesday, August 10, 2011

MEET DAVE (2008)



Directed By: Brian Robbins
Written By: Ron Greenberg & Bill Corbett
Cinematography By: Clark Mathis
Editor: Ned Bastille

CAST: Eddie Murphy, Gabrielle Union, Ed Helms, Elizabeth Banks, Scott Caan, Kevin Hart, Mike O'Malley, Pat Kilbane, Judah Friedlander, Marc Blucas, Migeul A Nunez Jr.

INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE (1994)



Directed By: Neil Jordan
Written By: Anne Rice (Based On her Novel)
Cinematography By: Philippe Rousselot
Editor: Mick Audsley & Joke Van Wijk

Cast: Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, Kirsten Dunst, Thandie Newton, Antonio Banderas, Stephen Rea, Christian Slater


ISN'T SHE GREAT (2000)



Directed By: Andrew Bergman
Written By: Paul Rudnick
Cinematography By: Karl Winter Lindenlaub
Editor: Barry Malkin


Cast: Bette Midler, Nathan Lane, Stockard Channing, David Hyde Pierce, Amanda Peet, John Cleese, John Larroquette, Jeffrey Ross, Christopher McDonald, Frank Vincent

Friday, August 5, 2011

PRICELESS (2008)



Written, Edited & Directed By: Andre Joseph
Cinematography By: Woodly Aurelus

Cast: Andre Joseph, Tasha Perri, Shelby Reitman Reneee, Anthony Mangano, Aesha Waks


...AROUND (2008)



Written, Edited & Directed By: David Spaltro
Cinematography by: David A. Barkan

Cast: Robert W. Evans, Molly Ryman, Ron Brice, Marcel Torres

Thursday, August 4, 2011

CHEATS (2002)



Written & Directed By: Andrew Gurland
Cinematography By: Fred Murphy
Editor: Troy Takaki

Cast: Trevor Fehrman, Matthew Lawrence, Elden Henson, Martin Starr, Maggie Lawson, Jewel Statie, David Krumholtz, Griffin Dunne, Mary Tyler Moore


CHEATERS (2000)



Written & Directed By: John Stockwell
Cinematography By: David Hennings
Editor: Eric A. Sears & Scott K. Wallace

Cast: Jeff Daniels, Jena Malone, Luke Edwards, Blake Heron, Paul Sorovino


Sunday, July 31, 2011

THE FULL MONTY (1997)



Directed By: Peter Cattaneo
Written By: Simon Beaufoy
Cinematography By: John De borman
Editor: David Freeman & Nick Moore

Cast: Robert Carlyle, Mark Addy, Tom Wilkinson, Emily Woof, Tom Speer