[Film News] - 29th March 2012

Click on the title to be taken to the source:

1) Confirmed - Scarlett Johansson to appear in 'Iron Man 3'
Apparently Black Widow will be getting a much bigger part in 'Iron Man 3', as some of the films plot points begin to circulate.

2) Confirmed - Chucky to return for round five
As we approach the 25th anniversary of 'Childs Play' it seems only logical that the studio would throw Chucky back into production. Brad Dourif says: 'we may get a fifth sequel in 'Revenge Of Chucky', or we might be taking the remake route'

3) Confirmed - David Yates to direct Emma Watson in 'Your Voice In My Head'
Harry Potter's director and star team up again for 'Your Voice In My Head', a film about a troubled, quirky British journalist living in New York 


4) Confirmed - 'Anchorman 2' gets the green light
A good thing? hmmm, I will let you decide - but never the less its happening, and i'm sure avid Will Ferrell fans out their will be delighted. 

5) Confirmed - David Katzenberg to direct 'The Waiting'
Warner Brothers sign David Katzenberg to direct their new horror 'The Waiting'


6) Confirmed - Soundgarden record first new song in fifteen years for 'The Avengers'
The band had been apart for fifteen years before the calling of 'The Avengers' reunited them


7) Unconfirmed - Owen Wilson & Zach Galifianakis in talks for 'Are You Here'
Two of the biggest comedy names might be uniting for 'Are You Here' - A good combination? We will wait and see. The film follows two childhood friends going on a road trip funded by Galifianakis's inheritance.


8) Confirmed - Justin Lin's 'Lone Wolf & Cub' get's writers
'Fast Five' director has managed to attract some writers for his project 'Lone Wolf & Cub', a film based on an acclaimed Samurai manga of the same name. 


9) Confirmed - New Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film to be simply titled 'Ninja Turtles'
Producer Michael Bay confirms the name of the film

10) Unconfirmed - Kenneth Branagh to direct the new Jack Ryan film
The 'Thor' director is apparently in talks with Paramount to direct the new untitled Jack Ryan picture


11) Confirmed - Stanley Tucci joins the cast of 'Your Voice In My Head'
David Yates and Emma Watson get the helping hand of Stanley Tucci


12) Confirmed - 'Kick-Ass 2' plot details hinted
Apparently this time there is going to be more of a focus on villains, as Mark Millar continues to release small teasing insights into the sequel's plot. 

13) Unconfirmed - Rebel Wilson joins the cast of 'Pain & Gain'
The 'Bridesmaids' star continues to sweep up works as she joins the cast of Michael Bay's 'Pain & Gain'


14) Unconfirmed - Zooey Deschanel to star in 'About Time'
Richard Curtis's low budget comedy 'About Time' as struck gold if he can secure Zooey Deschanel. 


15) Unconfirmed - Chloe Moretz to star in 'Carrie' remake
Not surprised to see one of Stephen King's most popular stories remade for a modern audience, lets hope we're not 'all going to laugh' at it. 

Blog Update

I am going to be implementing some changes to my blog layout and posts, thought I should let you know the specifics:

1) Film News: I have decided to revert back to the way in which I initially posted film news. I will be posting the updates on my main blog, and have deleted the FilmDebate News blog.

2) Video Page: I have deleted the video page that was initially on the blog. I have decided that all videos will be displayed on my YouTube channel, as well as using them in various blog posts.

3) Layout: I have implemented some small changes to the layout of the blog, you may notice them. The feeds that where originally on my film news blog have been moved to this main one, subsequently meaning I have moved my mine navigation links to the right of the page. I have also added a search bar to my blog, using it you can find any post in my blog, as well as things the blog is linked to.

I am aware that my blog has been quite inactive over the last few months. Certain things in my personal life as rendered it hard to keep consistently active. However, I am now back to my original blogging level, with these changes implemented.

Thanks, Adam Snowden
FilmDebate

[New Trailers] - 6th February 2012

Click the links for the trailers, if you know of any other recent film trailers leave a comment and I will add it to the list:


New Teasers:
-
The Avengers
The Dictator


New Trailers:
-
The Hunger Games
Get The Gringo
Lockout
Mirror Mirror
Prometheus
21 Jump Street
Hunky Dory
The Dictator

2012 Oscars

Once again the Academy Awards roll round another year, and as always, the speculation begins  - who will be the winners?

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Martin Scorsese's 'Hugo' tops the list of nominations, sweeping an impressive eleven in total. 'The Artist' follows closely behind, sitting comfortably in second place with ten. 'Moneyball' and 'War Horse' tie third place with six nominations each, while a further five went to 'The Descendants' and 'The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo' - A successful, multi-talented list that provides a real edge of competitiveness.

Awards seem to come naturally to the first lady of film, as Meryl Streep receives her seventeenth nomination for her performance in 'The Iron Lady' - Streep has managed to accrue the most Oscar nominations in the history of film. 

The 2012 Oscars also reflects a successful year for Brad Pitt, as he receives his third performance and first production nomination for 'Moneyball'. Could this year be the year he wins?

No stranger to the Oscars, George Clooney again finds himself nominated twice, Once for his performance in 'The Descendants', and once for his writing efforts in 'The Ides Of March'. 

John Williams has received a total of forty-seven Oscar nominations for music, in both original song and original score. He was first nominated in 1967, and here we are again today seeing him in 2012, nominated twice for 'The Adventures Of Tintin' and 'War Horse'. 

The 84th Annual Academy Awards will take place on the 26th of february 2012.

The Full List:

Best Picture
The Artist
The Descendants
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
The Help
Hugo
Midnight In Paris
Moneyball
The Tree Of Life
War Horse
.
Best Director
Michel Hazanavicius - The Artist
Alexander Payne - The Descendants
Martin Scorsese - Hugo
Woody Allen - Midnight In Paris
Terrence Malick - The Tree Of Life
.
Actor in a Leading Role
Demián Bichir - A Better Life
George Clooney - The Descendants
Jean Dujardin - The Artist
Gary Oldman - Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Brad Pitt - Moneyball
.
Actress in a Leading Role
Glenn Close - Albert Nobbs
Viola Davis - The Help
Rooney Mara - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Meryl Streep - The Iron Lady
Michelle Williams - My Week with Marilyn
.
Actor in a Supporting Role
Kenneth Branagh - My Week with Marilyn
Jonah Hill - Moneyball
Nick Nolte - Warrior
Christopher Plummer - Beginners
Max von Sydow - Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
.
Actress in a Supporting Role
Bérénice Bejo - The Artist
Jessica Chastain - The Help
Melissa McCarthy - Bridesmaids
Janet McTeer - Albert Nobbs
Octavia Spencer - The Help
.
Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
The Descendants - Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon & Jim Rash
Hugo -  John Logan
The Ides of March - George Clooney, Grant Heslov & Beau Willimon
Moneyball - Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin 
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy - Bridget O'Connor & Peter Straughan
.
Writing (Original Screenplay)
The Artist - Michel Hazanavicius
Bridesmaids - Annie Mumolo & Kristen Wiig
Margin Call - J.C. Chandor
Midnight in Paris - Woody Allen
A Separation - Asghar Farhadi
.
Foreign Language Film
Bullhead - Belgium
Footnote - Israel
In Darkness - Poland
Monsieur Lazhar - Canada
A Separation - Iran
.
Animated Feature Film
A Cat in Paris 
Chico & Rita 
Kung Fu Panda 2 
Puss In Boots 
Rango
.
Art Direction

The Artist
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2
Hugo
Midnight in Paris
War Horse

.
Cinematography

The Artist
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Hugo
The Tree of Life
War Horse
.

Costume Design

Anonymous
The Artist
Hugo
Jane Eyre
W.E.

.
Film Editing

The Artist
The Descendants
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Hugo
Moneyball

.

Documentary (Feature)

Hell and Back Again
If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front
Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory 
Pina
Undefeated
.

Makeup

Albert Nobbs
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2
The Iron Lady
.

Music (Original Score)

John Williams - The Adventures of Tintin
Ludovic Bource - The Artist
Howard Shore - Hugo
Alberto Iglesias - Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
John Williams - War Horse
.

Music (Original Song)

"Man or Muppet" - The Muppets
"Real in Rio" - Rio

.

Sound Mixing

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Hugo
Moneyball
Transformers: Dark of the Moon
War Horse
.

Sound Editing

Drive
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Hugo
Transformers: Dark of the Moon
War Horse

.

Visual Effects

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2
Hugo

Real Steel
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Transformers: Dark of the Moon

[New Trailers] - 22st December 2011

Click the links for the trailers, if you know of any other recent film trailers leave a comment and I will add it to the list.


New Teasers:
-
Prometheus
Case De Mi Padre


New Trailers:
-
The Hobbit
The Dark Knight Rises
Men In Black III
This Must Be The Place
Wrath Of The Titans
21 Jump Street
Salmon Fishing In The Yemen
Jack The Giant Killer

Golden Globe Nominations 2012

They Are In!

The 2012 Golden Globe nominations have been announced, and it seems the year is proving as competitive as predicted. Considered to be an indicator to the Academy Awards, the Golden Globes have always provided a great amount of 'pre-award-season' hype - enough to get anyone excited for the stream of award ceremonies that follow:

Michel Hazanavicius's 'The Artist' is leading the charge - taking a total of six nominations, while Alexander Payne's 'The Descendants' follows closely behind with five. 'The Ide Of March' and 'Moneyball' are both tied at four nominations, whilst rather unexpectedly, Martin Scorsese's 'Hugo' and Tate Taylor's 'The Help' stand on three. 

As predicted, George Clooney has once again appeared in the lime light, being the star in two of the highest nominated films, and of course, it would not be a nomination list without Meryl Streep's name presenting itself - this time, for her depiction of Margret Tatcher in 'The Iron Lady'. However, there are some new names to the world of prestigious award ceremonies, with Michael Fassbender, Rooney Mara and Jean Dujardin all enjoying their first top three nomination.  

The Full List: 

Best Drama

The Descendants
The Help
Hugo
The Ides Of March
Moneyball
War Horse

Actor (Drama)

George Clooney - The Descendants
Leonardo DiCaprio - J. Edgar
Michael Fassbender - Shame
Ryan Gosling - The Ides Of March
Brad Pitt - Moneyball

Actress (Drama)

Glenn Close - Albert Nobbs
Viola Davis - The Help
Rooney Mara - The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
Meryl Streep - The Iron Lady
Tilda Swinton - We Need To Talk About Kevin

Best Musical Or Comedy

50/50
The Artist
Bridesmaids
Midnight In Paris
My Week With Marilyn

Actor (Musical / Comedy)

Jean Dujardin - The Artist
Brendan Gleeson - The Guard
Joseph Gordon-Levitt - 50/50
Ryan Gosling - Crazy, Stupid, Love
Owen Wilson - Midnight In Paris

Actress (Musical / Comedy)

Jodie Foster - Carnage
Charlize Theron - Young Adult
Kristin Wiig - Bridesmaids
Michelle Williams - My Week with Marilyn
Kate Winslet - Carnage

Foreign Language Film

The Flowers Of War (China) - Zhang Yimou
In The Land Of Blood And Honey (Bosnia) - Angelina Jolie
The Kid With A Bike (France) - Jean-Pierre & Luc Dardenne
A Separation (Iran) - Asghar Farhadi
The Skin I Live In (Spain) - Pedro Almodóvar

Animated Film

The Adventures Of Tintin
Arthur Christmas
Cars 2
Puss In Boots
Rango

Supporting Actor

Kenneth Branagh - My Week With Marilyn
Albert Brooks - Drive
Jonah Hill - Moneyball
Viggo Mortensen - A Dangerous Method
Christopher Plummer - Beginners

Supporting Actress

Bérénice Bejo - The Artist
Jessica Chastain - The Help
Janet McTeer - Albert Nobbs
Octavia Spencer - The Help
Shailene Woodley - The Descendants

Director

Woody Allen - Midnight In Paris
George Clooney - The Ides Of March
Michel Hazanavicius - The Artist
Alexander Payne - The Descendants
Martin Scorsese - Hugo

Screenplay

Michel Hazanavicius - The Artist
Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon & Jim Rash - The Descendants
George Clooney, Grant Heslov & Beau Willimon - The Ides Of March
Woody Allen - Midnight In Paris
Aaron Sorkin & Steven Zaillian - Moneyball

Original Score

Ludovic Bource - The Artist
Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross - The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
Howard Shore - Hugo
John Williams - War Horse
Abel Korzeniowski - W.E.

Original Song

"Lay Your Head Down" - Albert Nobbs
"Hello Hello" - Gnomeo And Juliet
"The Living Proof" - The Help
"The Keeper" - Machine Gun Preacher
"Masterpiece" - W.E.

[Review] Paranormal Activity 3 - 6th December 2011

★

★

★

★

 - Leaves A Lot To Be Desired [For rating system, see information tab at top of blog]

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Release Date: 21st October 2011
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Director:  Henry Joost - Ariel Schulman
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Writer: Christopher Landon [screenplay] - Oren Peli [Story]
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Cast: Chloe Csengery - Jessica Tyler Brown - Christopher Nicholas Smith

Review

Lets go back to the beginning shall we? ‘Paranormal Activity’ – not one of the best films I have ever seen, but still a fairly original idea that provided the necessary tension and fear in parts, a successful film when you consider the budget it was made on. However in my view ‘Paranormal Activity 2’ – was far less impressive than its predecessor. The film did introduce some new elements, a baby and a dog for example, but it was basically a copy of the first, making it highly predictable, and therefore not as frightening as it might have been.

Now we have been presented with ‘Paranormal Activity 3', and I’m afraid it is not possible to have anything more positive to say about the third installment.

‘Paranormal Activity 3’ is a prequel to the stories of Katie and Kristi, the sisters who where the main characters in the previous two ‘Paranormal Activity’ films. This time, we are taken back to their childhood to see where the various supernatural hauntings of their families began.

The main problem with ‘Paranormal Activity 3’ is, like the second, that it is just far too predictable. Though the narrative and setting are slightly different, the techniques used to generate fear and suspense throughout the film are identical to its predecessors. As a viewer, you have an awareness of when you are supposed to be frightened, thus making the suspense scenes less effective.

However, for me the feature that makes ‘Paranormal Activity 3’ the worst of the trilogy is the unintentional comical elements. Throughout the film I found myself laughing at scenes that where supposed to create suspense – the complete adverse effect a horror is supposed to have on a viewer.

Several of the key scenes were dominated by unrealistic, amateurish performances and special effects resulting in the viewer feeling uncomfortably keen to see the end of such offerings, and not the intended prescribed fear.  If the way the film is created stops narrative from generating escapism, particularly in horror, then the film will ultimately be unsuccessful.

A final thought about 'Paranormal Activity 3' involves its marketing: I initially decided to go and see the film because of its trailer. However, after seeing the film, it was obvious that the trailer included scenes that were not in the film - this frustrated me, as it was these scenes that initially persuaded me to go and see the picture. To not include them in this context is a poor marketing strategy.  

‘Paranormal Activity 3’ – a substandard film that I would not recommend on many levels.