END OF WATCH (2012)

Written & Directed By: David Ayer Cinematography By: Roman Vasyanov Editor: Dody Dorn Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Pena, Natalie Martinez, Anna Kendrick, America Ferrera, Cody Horn, Frank Grillo, David Harbour, Kristy Wu

ZERO DARK THIRTY (2012)

Directed By: Kathryn Bigelow Written By: Mark Boal Cinematography By: Grieg Fraser Editor: Dylan Tiechnor & William Goldenberg Cast: Jessica Chastain, Jennifer Ehle, Jason Clarke, Mark Strong, Joel Edgerton, Nash Edgerton, Chris Pratt, Harold Perrneieu, Kyle Chandler, Jeremy Strong, Scott Adkins, Edgar Ramirez, James Gandolfini, Mark Duplass, Stephen Dillane, Frank Grillo

MY FRIEND STANLEY

FEMME FATALE (2002)

Written & Directed By: Brian De Palma 
Cinematography By: ‘Thierry Arbogast 
Editor: Bill Pankow 

 Cast: Rebecca Romijn, Antonio Banderas, Peter Coyote, Rie Rasmussen, Gregg Henry, Eriq Ebouaney

WALL STREET: MONEY NEVER SLEEPS (2010)

Directed By: Oliver Stone Written By: Allen Loeb & Stephen Schiff Based on Characters by: Stanley Meiser & Oliver Stone Cinematography By: Rodrigo Prieto Editor: David Brenner & Julie Monroe Cast: Shia LeBouf, Michael Douglas, Josh Brolin, Carey Mulligan, Suasn Sarandon, Austin Pendleton, Vanessa Ferlito, Frank Langella, Jason Clarke, Eli Wallach

THE FORGOTTEN (2004)

Directed By: Joseph Rueben Wriiten By: Greg DiPego Cinematography By: Anastas N. Michos Editor: Richard Francis-Bruce Cast: Julianne Moore, Anthony Edwards, Gary Sinise, Alfre Woodard, Linus Roache, Dominic West, Jessica Hecht, Robert Wisdom

HARD RAIN (1998)

Directed By: Mikael Soloman Written By: Graham Yost Cinematography By: Peter Menzies Jr. Editor: Amnon David, Paul Hirsch & Gillian L. Hutshing CAST: Christian Slater, Morgan Freeman, Minnie Driver, Randy Quaid, Edward Asner, Ricky Harris, Michael A. Goorjian, Betty White, Richard Dysart.

LIFE OF PI (2012)

Directed By: Ang Lee Written By: David Magee Based on the book by: Yann Martel Cinematography By: Claudio Miranda Editor: Tim Squyres Cast: Suraj Sharma, Irrfan Khan, Ayush Tendon, Gautam Belur, Tabu, Rafe Spall, Gerard Depardieu

8MM (2012)

Directed By: Joel Schumacher Written By: Andrew Kevin Walker Cinematography By: Robert Elswit Editor: Mark Stevens Cast: Nicholas Cage, Joaquin Phoenix, James Gandolfini, Peter Stomare, Anthony Heald, Chris Bauer, Norman Reedus, Catherine Keener Private investigator Tom Welles is hired by the recently widowed Mrs. Christian who has found a startling pornographic film in her late husband's possessions. In the film a teenage girl is apparently killed and Welles is pretty sure it's a genuine snuff film. He takes the case, first going through records of runaways finally identifying the girl and learning that she may have run off to California. There he enters the seedy underworld of pornography with the help of Max California, a porn store clerk. His principal clue is the masked man who killed the girl as he has a unique tattoo on his hand. He soon finds the culprits but there is little satisfaction in resolving the mystery. There is a really good film in here. The script is good I delves into the darkness that Screenwriter Andrew Kevin Walker (SEVEN) usually likes to explore. Though it feels like it needs a little more defined characters and refinement. It might nor actually be the fault of the writer more the Director’s interpretation of his original screenplay and not fully understanding or feeling the material. Not communicating his ideas in the way they should be to fully interpret the material. The film feels like it would be more powerful in the right hands, like David Fincher who turned down the film. The actual script by Andrew Kevin Walker was reworked by Joel Schumacher and Nicholas Kazan after Walker left the project in disagreement with the director. The film's production encountered concerns regarding the dark subject matter, and the studio asked Andrew Kevin Walker to lighten the film's tone. With Joel Schumacher as director, Walker felt a rewrite would no longer be needed. But as it turned out, Schumacher supported the studio and made changes of his own, leading to a much-publicized fallout between the two, with Walker virtually disowning the film and walking away from the set. He refused to even watch the film. The enema porno film seen at the porn swap meet is a genuine S&M film that was heavily edited for inclusion in the main movie. This is a dark detective story that I feel just fell into the wrong hands to bring it to the screen. Joel Schumacher is a good popcorn movie director. I am in the minority of film fans out there that doesn’t hate him. None of his films are begging to be put as a social change film or any greatest film list. He makes popcorn entertainment plain and simple. His films follow and jump genres and are meant to entertain that’s it.Sorry he messed up the batman series of films. He’s not a deep director nor would any person who made ST ELMO’S FIRE, But he has a stylistic eye as a former Interior Decorator. This was not the type of film for him. The plot is extremely similar to that of Hardcore in which a man (George C. Scott) hires a private detective to track down his daughter after she runs away and he sees her in a 8MM porno movie. The plot is also very similar to a book called "The Cutting Room" by Louise Welsh in which an estate auctioneer finds disturbing photos among a client's porno collection and endeavors to find out if the girl in the pictures was actually killed. This is a well structured film that involves a seedy underground world and characters. This film needed to be more mid-range budgeted and have a director who is used to material like this. Here the film tries, but comes off a little too polished and the underground here looks too mainstream. Like what a person in the suburbs would picture it with designer clothing, Especially Peter Stomare. Nicholas Cage should being his element in a film like this, but he looks constipated and bored. He gives a similar flat performance. Joaquin Phoenix in a role first offered to Mark Wahlberg seems to be at least having fun with his role, but… SPOILER When he dies. So does most of the films good graces and credibility. END SPOILER The film has some good stand alone scenes. Like the battle of Nicholas Cage Vs. The Machine. I was even intrigued by the character of the machine, but for the most part the film felt off. In full disclosure. I did read the script before seeing the film. So maybe I am bias of having a picture in my head that didn’t match what I saw on screen. The film has so much potential that you can see trying to bust out. It seems to be a matter of wasted talent. I wish someone could come along and remake it. The film is not horrible it may even be a satisfying rental for you, but to me it is a very flawed piece of work. I saw this in the movie theater for free and still felt disappointed as the film kept going. I just sank deeper and deeper in my seat. GRADE: C+

VIDEO REVIEW - THE SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK

Written & Directed By: David O. Russell Based On The Book By: Matthew Quick Cinematogrphy By: Masanobu Takayanagi Editor: Jay Cassidy & Crispin Struthers Cast: Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Jacki Weaver, Robert DeNiro, Chris Tucker, John Ortiz, Julia Stiles, Cynthia Stevenson,Dash Mihok, Anupam Kher, Shea Whigham, Brea Bee

ELEVATOR TO THE GALLOWS (1958)

Directed By: Louis Malle Written By: Louis Malle & Roger Nimier Based On the Novel By: Noel Calef Cinematography By: Henri Decae Editor: Leonide Azar Original Music By: Miles Davis Cast: Maurice Ronet, Jeanne Moreau, Georges Poujouly, Yori Bertin

OVERNIGHT DELIVERY (1998)

Directed By: Jason Bloom Written By: Steve Bloom &Marc Sedaka Cinematography By: Edward J. Pei Editor: Luis Colina Cast: Paul Rudd, Reese Witherspoon, Christine Taylor, Larry Drake, Sarah Silverman, Carl Anthony Payne II, Tamara Mello, Tobin Bell

THE FUNHOUSE (1981)

Directed By: Tobe Hopper Written By: Lawrence Block Cinematography By: Andrew Laszlo Editor: Jack Hofstra Cast: Elizabeth Berridge, Cooper Huckabee, Largo Woodruff, Miles Chapin, Kevin Conway, William Finley, Sylvia Miles

FRANKIE GO BOOM (2012)

Written & Directed By: Jordan Roberts Cinematography By: Mattias Troelstrup Editor: Michael Hofacre Cast: Charlie Hunnam, Chris O’Dowd, Lizzy Caplan, Ron Perlman, Chris Noth, Nora Dunn, Whitney Cummings, Sam Anderson, Jordan Black, Adam Pally

THE WATCH (2012)

Directed By: Akiva Schaffer Written By: Jared Stern, Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg Cinematography By: Barry Peterson Editor: Dean Zimmerman Cast: Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn, Jonah Hill, Rosemarie DeWitt, Will Forte, Richard Ayoade, Nicholas Braun, R. Lee Ermey, Doug Jones, Erin Moriarty

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS (1995)

Directed By: Jodie Foster Written By: W.D. Richter Based on a short story by: Chris Radant Cinematography By: Lajos Koltai Editor: Lynzee Klingman Cast: Holly Hunter, Anne Bancroft, Charles Durning, Robert Downey Jr., Dylan McDermott, Claire Danes, David Strathairn, Cynthia Stevenson, Amy Yasbeck, Steve Guttenberg, Austin Pendleton, Geraldine Chaplin, Shawn Hatosy

SPEED (1994)

Directed By: Jan De Bont Written By: Graham Yost Cinematography By: Andrzej Bartkowiak Editor: John Wright Cast: Keanu Reeves, Sandra Bullock, Alan Ruck, Dennis Hopper, Joe Morton, Jeff Daniels, Christopher McDonald, Glenn Plummer

BAGHEAD (2008)

Directed By: Mark Duplass & Jay Duplass Written By: Mark Duplass & Jay Duplass Created By: John E. Bryant Cinematography By: Jay Duplass Editor: Jay Deuby Cast: Steve Zissis, Ross Partridge, Greta Gerwig, Elise Muller

COMPLAINCE (2012) - VIDEO REVIEW

Written & Directed By: Craig Zobel Cinematography By: Adam Stone Editor: Jane Rizzo Cast: Ann Dowd, Pat Healy, Dreama Walker, Bill Camp

THE LIMITS OF CONTROL (2009)

Written & Directed By: Jim Jarmusch Cinematography By: Christopher Doyle Editor: Jay Rabinowitz Cast: Issach DeBankole, Paz De La Huerta, John Hurt, Alex Descas, Tilda Swinton, Youki Kudoh, Gael Garcia Bernal

THIRST (2009)

Directed By: Chan-Wook Park Written By: Chan-Wook Park & Seo-Gyeong Jeong Based on the Story Therese Raquin by Emilie Zola Cinematography By: Chung-Hoon Chung Editor: Jae-Beom Kim & Sang-Beom Kim CAST: Kang-Ho Song, Ok-bin Kim, Hae-Suk Kim

CASI DIVAS (2008)

Written & Directed By: Issa Lopez Story By: Ignacio Darnaude Cinematography By: Carlos Aguilera Editor: Jorge Garcia CAST: Daniela Schmidt, Diana Garcia, Maya Zapata, Patricia Llaca, Julio Brancho

FLIGHT (2012) VIDEO REVIEW

Directed By: Robert Zemeckis Written By: John Gatins Cinematography By: Don Burgess Editor: Jeremiah O'Driscol Cast: Denzel Washington, Bruce Greenwood, John Goodman, Don Cheadle, Nadine Velasquez, Kelly Reilly, Garcelle Beauvais, Brian Geraghty, Melissa Leo, Tamara Tunie

An overdue introduction to UNFINISHED BUSINESS presents ROUGH CUTS with Jeff Gallashaw

Just in case some of you didn't know. To catch you up to speed.

MOVIES WATCHED IN OCTOBER 2012

SKYFALL (2012)

Directed By: Sam Mendes Written By: Neal Purvis, Robert Wade & John Logan Based on Characters by: Ian Flemming Cinematography By: Roger Deakins Editor: Sturat Baird Cast: Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Javier Bardem, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, Ben Whishaw, Berenice Marlohe, Albert Finney, Rory Kinnear

HELLRAISER (1987)

Written & Directed By: Clive Barker Cinematography By: Robin Vidgeon Editor: Richard Marden & Tony Randal Cast: Andrew Robinson, Clare Higgins, Ashley Laurence, Sean Chapman, Oliver Smith, Robert Hines, Oliver Parker, Doug Bradley

SHEITAN (2006)

DIRECTED BY: KIM CHAPIRON WRITTEN BY: KIM CHAPIRON & CHRISTIAN CHAPIRON CINEMATOGRAPHY BY: ALEX LAMARQUE EDITOR: Benjamin Weill Cast: Vincent Cassel, Roxanne Mesquida, Olivier Bartholemy, Nico le Phat tan, Leila Behkti, Monica Belucci On Christmas Eve, in the Styxx Club in Paris, the troublemaker Bart and his scum friends, Thaï and Ladj, meet the bartender Yasmine and the customer Eve, and after a fight of Bart in the nightclub, Eve invites the group to go to her house in the country. While on the road near the cottage, they are introduced by Eve to the weird shepherd and housekeeper, Joseph, whose wife is pregnant. Joseph feels a sort of attraction for Bart, and during this Christmas night, Joseph discloses his real intentions. This French horror movie plays like a extended episode of TALES FROM THE CRYPT. At first the movie starts off. You think you know where it’s going there is some violence but nowhere near horror violence. We get to know the characters. Not too many are likeable. Then the sexual shenanigans begin. Before finally we get to the horror and what we have been expecting. Unfortunately in the end all of this effort and violence has been for one thing. Which is truly insignificant. I guess that is the final joke. This movie could play as a black comedy more than a horror film. If it had more jokes and wasn’t unsettling. I like how the main character in the group of friends was the character you wished to die the most. He is a jerk that you feel doesn’t deserve his fate especially when it happens during the only tie he is a decent human being. Where as they guy who earlier was the most decent ended up being the coldest. I would have liked to know what happened to a few of the characters. Roxanne MEsquada as usual is excellent as the femme fatale. As sexy as she is dangerous. Why no American filmmaker has discovered and used her in their films is a mystery. Vincent Cassel is almost unrecognizable in his role as the handyman. This is a different type of role for him that is both funny and unsettling. At least he looks like he Is really into his role. Though it borders on camp. Leila bekhti As one of the group. is so beautiful I can’t wait to see her in more films. She is definitely one to watch. Sheitan is really cool because it makes fun with two types of french people. Those who live in the city and the others that live in the far country. So you should know a little bit about France if you want to understand everything about this movie. This film is a very unsettling and disturbing. More than it ever Is scary. In fact there are very few scares GRADE: C

THE FALL (2006)

Directed By: Tarsem Singh Written By: Tarsem Singh, Dan Gilroy & Nico Soultanakis Based on The Screenplay for the film "Yo ho ho" by: Valery Petrov Cinematography By: Colin Watkinson Editor: Robert Duffy Cast: Lee Pace, Catinca Unteru, Justine Waddell

THE DIVIDE (2011)

Directed By: Xavier Gens Written By: Karl Mueller & Eron Sheean Director Of Photography: Laurent Bares Editor: Carlo Rizzo Cast: Lauren German, Michael Biehn, Courtney B. Vance, Ashton Holmes, Michael Eklund, Rosanna Arquette, Milo Ventimiglia, Jennifer Blanc

GHOST RIDER (2007)

Written & Directed By: Mark Steven Johnson Cinematography By: Russell Boyd Editor: Richard Francis-Bruce Cast: Nicholas Cage, Eva Mendes, Donal Logue, Peter Fonda, Wes Bently, Sam Elliott, Rebel Wilson

FAT KID RULES THE WORLD (2012)

Directed By: Matthew Lillard Written By: Michael M.B. Galvin & Peter Speakman Based On The Novel by: K.L. Going Cinematography By: Noah Rosenthal Editor: Michelle Witten Cast: Jacob Wysocki, Billy Campbell, Matt O'Leary, Lili Simmons, Dylan Arnold

NOBODY WALKS (2012)

Directed By: Ry Russo-Young Written By: Ry Russo-Young & Lena Dunham Cinematogeaphy by: Chris Blauvelt Editor: John W. Walter Cast: Olivia Thirlby, John Krasinski, Rosemarie DeWitt, Dylan McDermott, Justin Kirk, India Ennenga, Jane Levy

KLOWN (2010)

Directed By: Mikkel Norgaard Written BY: Mikkel Norgaard, Casper Christensen & Frank Hvam Story By: Frank Hvam & Casper Christensen Cinemantography By: Jacob Banke Olesen Editor: Morten Egholm & Martin Schade Cast: Frank Hvam, Casper Christensen, Mia Lyhne, Marcuz Jess Peterson, Iben Hjeile 

 

ONE FOR THE MONEY (2012)

Directed By: Julie Anne Robinson Written By: Stacy Sherman, Karen Ray & Liz Brixius Based On The Novel By: Janet Evanovich Cinematography By: Jim Whitaker Editor: Lisa Zeno Churgin Cast: Katherine Heigel, Jason O'Mara, Sherri Shepherd, Debbie Reynolds, Debra Monk, John Leguizamo, Daniel Sunjata, Fisher Stevens, Annie Parisse

A FEW WORDS ABOUT GUILLERMO DEL TORO

MOVIES WATCHED IN SEPTEMBER 2012

SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN (2012)

Directed By: Rupert Sanders Written By: Evan Daugherty, John Lee Hancock & Hossein Amini Screen Story By: Evan Daugherty Cinematography By: Greig Fraser Editor: Conrad Buff IV & Neil Smith Cast: Charlize Theron, Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth, Bob Hoskins, Ray Winstone, Eddie Marsan, Nick Frost, Toby Jones, Ian McShane, Lily Cole

TRUE ADOLESCENTS (2009)

Written & Directed By: Craig Johnson Cinematography By: Kathryn Westergaard Editor: Jennifer Lee Cast: Mark Duplass, Melissa Leo, Bret Loehr, Cara Dumont, Carr Thompson

THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER (2012)

Written & Directed By: Stephen Chbosky Based on the Novel By: Stephen Chbosky Cinematography By: Andrew Dunn Editor: Mary Jo Markey Cast: Emma Watson, Logan Lerman, Ezra Miller, Mae Whitman, Johnny Simmons, Nina Dobrev, Paul Rudd, Tom Savini, Dylan McDermott, KAte Walsh, Melanie Lynskey, Nicholas Braun, Joan Cusack, Reece Thompson, Landon Pigg

THE WRONG MAN (1956)

Directed By: Alfred Hitchcock Written By: Maxwell Anderson & Angus Macphail Story By: Maxwell Anderson Cinematography By: Robert Burles Editor: George Tomensini Cast: Henry Fonda, Vera Miles, Tuesday Weld, Harry Dean Stanton

PIRANHA 3DD (2012)

Directed By: John Gulager Written By: Patrick Melton & Marcus Dunstan & Joel Soisson Based On Original Characters Created By: Peter Goldfinger & Josh Stolberg Cinematography By: Alexandre Lehmann Editor: Kirk Morris, Martin Bernfield & Devin C. Lussier Cast: Danielle Panabaker, Matt Bush, Katrina Bowden, David Koechner, Chris Zylka, David Hasselhoff, Christopher Lloyd, Paul Scheer, Gary Busey, Ving Rhames, Clu Gulager

LIMELIGHT (2011)

Directed By: Billy Corben Cinemantography By: Alexa Harris, Raif Gonzalez, Trisha Solyn, Randy Valdes Editor: Sam Rega Appearances By: Moby, 50 Cent, Ed Koch, Michael Alig, Peter Gaiten,

MOVIES WATCHED IN AUGUST 2012

PROJECT X (2012)

Directed By: Nima Nourizadeh Written By: Michael Bacall & Matt Drake Story By: Michael Bacall Cinematography By: Ken Seng Editor: Jeff Groth Cast: Thomas Mann, Oliver Cooper, Jonathan Daniel Brown, Dax Flame, Miles Teller, Kirby Bliss Benton, Alexis Knapp, Nick Nervies

LBS. (2009)

Directed By: Matthew Bonifaco Written By: Matthew Bonifaco & Carmine Famigliatti Cinematography By: William M. Miller Editor: Jim Rubino Cast: Carmine Famigliatti, Michael Arnov, Miriam Shor, Sharon Angela, Lou Martini Jr.

MALIBU'S MOST WANTED (2003)

Directed By: John Whitesell Written By: Fax Bahr, Jamie Kennedy, Nick Swardson & Adam Small Cinematography By: Mark Irwin Editor: Cara Silverman Cast: Jamie Kennedy, Taye Diggs, Anthony Anderson, Damien Dante Wayans, Regina Hall, Blair Underwood, Ryan O’Neal, Bo Derek, Jeffrey Tambor, Kal Penn, Nick Swardson, Greg Grenberg, Snoop Dogg, Niecy Nash, Terry Crews, Sarah Thompson, Mike Epss, Troy Kittles

COMIC-CON EPISODE IV: A FAN'S HOPE (2012)

Directed By: Morgan Spurlock Written By: Morgan Spurlock, Joss Whedon, Jeremy Chiinick Cinematography By: Bryan O’Donnell, Nick Higgins, Ross Kauffman, Dane Leaving, Guy Mossoman, Daniel Mairacino, Jason Miller Editor: Tova Goodman & Tim K. Smith Featuring: Kevin Smith, Eli Roth, Seth Rogen, Joss Whedon, Seth Green, Stan Lee, Paul Scheer

THE VIOLENT KIND (2010)

Directed & Written By: Mitch Altieri & Phil Flores Story By: Adam Weiss, Mitch Altieri & Phil Flores Cinematography By: James Laxton Editor: Nic Hill, Jesse Spencer & Joel T, Pashby Cast: Taylor Cole, Tiffany Shepis, Cory Knauf, Nick Tagas, Bret Roberts, Joe Egander, Joseph McKelher, Samuel Child

AUTOEROTIC (2011)

Directed & Cinematography By: Joe Swanberg & Adam Wingard Written By: Joe Swanberg, Adam Winagard & Simon Benett Editor: Joe Swanberg Cast: Amy Seimetz, Joe Swanberg, Kate Lyn Sheil, Lane Hughes, Josephine Decker

DETENTION (2012)

Directed By: Joseph Kahn Written By: Joseph Kahn & Mark Palermo Cinematography By: Christopher Probst Editor: David Blackburn Cast: Josh Hutcherson, Dane Cook, Spencer Locke, Shayne Caswell, Parker Bagley

REC 2 (2009)

Directed by: Jaume Balguero & Paco Plaza Written By: Jaume Balaguero, Paco Plaza & Manu Diez Cinematography By: Pablo Rosso Editor: David Gallart Cast: Jonathan D. Mellor, Oscar Zafra, Claudia Silva, Manuela Velasco

DIARY OF A WIMPY KID 2: RODERICK RULES (2011)

Directed By: David Bowers Written By: Gabe Sachs & Jeff Judah Based on the Book & Characters by: Jeff Kinney Cinematography By: Jack N. Green Editor: Troy Takaki Cast: Zachary Gordon, Devon Bostick, Rachael Harris, Steve Zahn, Peyton List, Fran Kranz, Robert Capron

CEDAR RAPIDS (2011)

Directed By: Miguel Arteta Written By: Phil Johnston Cinematography By: Chuy Chavez Editor: Eric Kissack Cast: Ed Helms, John C. Reilly, Anne Heche, Sigourney Weaver, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Thomas Lennon, Stephen Root, Kurtwood Smith, Alia Shawkat, Mike O’Malley, Rob Corddry, Mike Birgiglia

MOVIES WATCHED IN JULY 2012

THE GIRLFRIEND EXPERIENCE (2009)

Directed, Edited & Cinematography By: Steven Soderbergh Written By: David Levian & Brain Koppelman Cinematography By: Steven Soderbergh (Under The Alias Peter Andrews) Cast: Sasha Grey, Chris Santos, Philip Etyan