Bigger, Stronger, Faster* - Poster, Stills, Trailer

This documentary takes a look at the world of steroids and its affects on athletics and the athletes who take them. The trailer makes it seem very similar to Supersize Me in terms of a humorous approach to a serious issue. I'm interested in seeing it, plus the writer/director/star is from my town. Below check out the trailer, poster, and stills.

DVD Review: A Perfect Place

A Perfect Place is a 25 minute long short written, directed, edited, and produced by Derrick Scocchera, co-founder of Fantoma films. Fantoma Films is an independent label that has specialized in rare and cult titles prior to this release. A Perfect Place marks their first entry into the original film market. It is a modest production that uses it's low budget roots to craft an interesting short involving accidental murder, old ladies, beat up cars, and unexpected results.

Mark Boone, Jr. (Batman Begins, 30 Days of Night) is Tom, a strange and quiet man who we first meet holding a bass guitar over the fallen body of a friend. Standing next to him is the tightly wound Eddie, played by Bill Moseley (The Devil's Rejects, Carnivale). Eddie is incredulous over what he has just witnessed. They look at the prone body of their friend. The man lies dead on the floor as Eddie and Tom talk about what they are supposed to do next. Well, the obvious answer is get rid of the body, but where and how?

Eddie knows what to do; he has "a perfect place." However, before they can jet off, they must obtain transportation. I would love to say more, but being a short film, I would not be able to go very much further without giving everything away.

There is not much to the movie, but it is easy to slip into the situation. It almost feels as if one sequence was taken out of a larger work, giving us a glimpse into the results of the first act, while leaving us out of the consequences in the third act. Still, it works perfectly well as a short film unto itself.

The acting is spot on. Mark Boone, Jr. is rather creepy and unsettling. He doesn't say or do all that much, but he comes across as someone who could snap at any moment. Meanwhile, Bill Moseley brings a touch of the frantic to Eddie, sort of like his Otis character from The Devil's Rejects if he was on the receiving end rather than the giving. The two work well together, and the sequence with the old woman (Isabelle Maynard) is quite humorous.

Writer/Director Derrick Scocchera has written a fun, simple story that is none too complicated, yet does offer a little bit of depth, thanks to his words in conjunction with the lead performances. He also brings a nice, noirish look to the film, working with director of photography Hiro Narita. The black and white project, shot on 35mm film, has a nice feel to it. The film is not too crowded, and makes nice use of shadow.

The DVD is nicely presented, although I did notice some edge enhancement, in 2.35:1 widescreen. Audio is Dolby Digital 5.1 and there are no subtitles. The lone extra is a trailer for the feature.

An interesting thing to note is that this film is not being marketed as such; rather, it is being marketed as Mike Patton's first film score, as it is being released as a special edition digipak that includes both the score album, which runs longer than the film itself, and the DVD of the film. This would presumable be because, in addition to the difficulties of marketing an independently produced short film without a strong advertising campaign, Mike Patton's name is much more well known and will appeal to his fanbase. In this way they are killing two birds with one stone, getting fans more Patton created music and gaining exposure for this well-made short film.

Bottomline. This is a good short. It may not be terribly deep or have much in the way of subtext, but it is an interesting journey into the misadventures of these two men. We are given just enough to tell this particular section of the story, while the groundwork is laid to let the viewer fill in the blanks with their own versions of the story regarding what led to this point and what could possibly happen in its aftermath.

Recommended.

CD Review: Mike Patton - A Perfect Place

Mike Patton is a fascinating artist. He burst onto the scene after joining the band Faith No More for their sophomore outing, The Real Thing. He would later start up a side project called Mr. Bungle. Following the dissolution of Faith No More, he would go on to have, and continue to have, a number of bands including Fantomas, Tomahawk, Peeping Tom, Mondo Cane, and probably many others that I have never heard of. The man is always busy with something. With his breadth of experience, would you believe that A Perfect Place is the first time he has ever scored a film? Well, it is. With this interesting work under his belt, I would love to see him do more in the world of film scoring.

This Mike Patton composed score is quite an interesting listen all on its own, even without knowing the movie. It is distinctly broken down into a number of tracks, making it feel more like an album and less of a score, though the styles of the various tracks fit in nicely with the film. The score runs 35 minutes, ten minutes longer than the film, which does not have music for its entire runtime.

The music contained is fascinating, as it contains cues and motifs that should be familiar to anyone with any experience to Patton's always expanding body of work. However, that is not what it is all about, at least not entirely. Working with someone else's vision is something new to Patton, as he has always been about going in his own direction, even when collaborating on some of his numerous bands. Here, he had to work towards the goal of backing Derrick Scocchera's vision for what A Perfect Place was meant to be. That said, this is quite a focused work that features some dark ambiance blended with tracks that would be right at home in a 40's or 50's era noir.

Even more impressive is the fact that Patton not only wrote the music, he also performed all of the instruments, save for some percussion on "Main Title" and "Batucada." The man truly is a musical wonder. His work here is focused, mature, and ever present within the fabric of the film. Whether it be jazz, experimental rock, or pure experiment, this work features a focused Patton whose work is mature, interesting, and just plain different.

While music is not always playing, there are a variety of interesting ways in which the sounds are introduced. While it is technically a score, neither Patton nor Scocchera approach its use in the typical way. Sounds are sometimes introduced as a score overlay, other times through the radio, or the old woman's Victrola, sometimes through the changing of the dial on an old car radio. The use of music is never typical, but always effective at furthering the mood.

The score album is being released as a special edition digipak containing both the CD as well as a DVD of the film. It is being marketed as a Mike Patton album, delivering more music into the hands of Patton fans, as well as spreading the word of the film.

Recommended.


Track List:
01. Main Title 3:15
02. A Perfect Place 3:30
03. Car Radio (AM) 1:01
04. A Perfect Twist (Vocal) 2:44
05. A Little Poker Tomorrow Night? 3:10
06. Seriously Disturbed 1:18
07. A Dream of Roses 2:34
08. A Perfect Place/Main Title (Reprise) 2:45
09. Batucada 2:18
10. Another Perfect Place 1:42
11. Car Radio (FM) 1:55
12. Swinging the Body 1:57
13. Catholic Tribe 2:28
14. Il Cupo Dolore 2:06
15. A Perfect End 2:46

Bangkok Dangerous - Poster

The Nicolas Cage action-remake has a new poster. It's better than the original close-up of Cage's face, but not by much.

Mamma Mia - Poster, Stills, Trailer

Are you ready for the next musical to hit the big screen? Sure you are. The question is: should it be Mamma Mia? I am not sure I can answer. The film certainly has its fans, and I am sure they are really looking forward to this as they argue over casting decisions. On the other hand, I cannot say that this trailer looks all that good. I fear it will be more Rent and less Across the Universe, as fas as musicals go. Anyway, here is some promo material:

New Movies and Box Office Predictions: Speed Racer, What Happens in Vegas, Redbelt

Last weekend saw the summer season get off to a hot start with the potent offering of Iron Man. Besides doing well at the box office, the movie is actually really good. So, if you have not seen it, make sure you do. As for this week's top release, it has an uphill battle if it wants to overtake the comic book hero. It has a pedigree steeped in animation with a dosing of cult favorite, while its live-action counterpart has a strong dose of oddness in the promotion. Anyway, it's another week and another chance to see something on the big screen. Make sure you make the most of every opportunity.

Speed Racer. (2008, 135 minutes, PG, sci-fi/action, trailer) This movie looks weird. I cannot think of any other way to describe it. I am aware of the cartoon, although I am not terribly familiar with it. This live action version stars Emile Hirsch as the title character, with Susan Sarandon and John Goodman as his parents, and Matthew Fox as Racer X. Speed only wants to race, but when he turns down a big money deal he uncovers something much bigger that he needs to stop. This also marks the first film directed by the Wachowski Brothers since The Matrix Revolutions in 2003.

What Happens in Vegas. (2008, 99 minutes, PG-13, romantic comedy, trailer) Tell me, honestly, how bad does this movie look? It looks really, really bad. The sad thing is that I have a feeling that I will be front and center taking the bullet. The problems started with the first trailer, especially the part when Ashton Kutcher reveals the toilet seat. Just who is he showing it to? It is obvious it is for the camera, but it breaks the fourth wall in a bad way. Anyway, the story centers on Kutcher and Cameron Diaz, a couple that get married in a drunken night of partying, but before they can divorce they win $3 million from a slot machine, now they are battling over who gets the money. Ugh.

Redbelt. (2008, 99 minutes, R, drama, trailer) I have not seen that many of David Mamet's films, but they tend to be very well written, hopefully Redbelt will be no different. This film takes us inside the world of MMA (Mixed Martial Arts), movie making, and tough decisions. On the surface, I would say it looks like a mature version of Never Back Down from earlier this year. The movie opened last week and is expanding into wider release this weekend.

Also opening this week, but not near me:

• Noise

Box Office Predictions
Yes, this week's premiere release is Speed Racer, and it will definitely do well, but it is also going to be a harder sell than Iron Man was last weekend. This will translate to Speed Racer coming in second to Iron Man, which will handily retain the top spot this weekend. The middle of the order will be a battle of comedies with the next five films, with David Mamet's Redbelt anchoring the latter portions.

Here is how I think the top ten field will play out:

Rank	Title	Box Office
1	Iron Man	$54 million
2	Speed Racer	$39 million
3	What Happens in Vegas	$17 million
4	Made of Honor	$8 million
5	Baby Mama	$6 million
6	Forgetting Sarah Marshall	$4.5 million
7	Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay	$3 million
8	The Forbidden Kingdom	$2.5 million
9	Redbelt	$2 million
10	Nim's Island	$1.5 million

The Accidental Husband - Posters, Trailer

As romantic comedies go, there have not been many surprises to be had in recent entries. It is all about how the story is told, how the cliches are used, how the performers are used, you know, the things needed to make a good movie. The Accidental Husband does not look awful, but I cannot say it is going to great either. I like the cast, with Uma Thurman and Jeffrey Dean Morgan, so I will be willing to give it a shot. It can't be worse than Made of Honor, can it?

CD Review: Children of Bodom - Blooddrunk

Children of Bodom released their first album way back in 1997, it was called Something Wild and proved to be a pretty big hit. It was not until 2005's Are You Dead Yet?, their fifth album, that the band began to make any serious in-roads in North America. But it is only now, with their sixth release, that I have had an formal introduction to them. Children of Bodom is a band whose name I have seen appearing more frequently around my haunts, and I cannot say why I never listened to them prior to this. Better late than never, right? Also, continuing their higher profile North American presence, they are part of the latest Gigantour incarnation with Megadeth, also featuring In Flames, High on Fire, and Job for a Cowboy. As for Blooddrunk? It is nothing if a very satisfying chunk of genre crossing metal.

The first intriguing aspect of Children of Bodom is their name. I was curious as to where it came from. So, a little research later I have found that it is derived from a notorious murder that took place in their native country of Finland. In 1960, four teens were brutally attacked, three killed, while camping at Lake Bodom. Reading the few details I found, it looks like, on the surface, a close relative to the Zodiac murders in San Francisco. Those murders are not quite an exact match, but they both went unsolved, although there was a confession to the Bodom murders in 1997, although it does not seem to be believed. In any case, it is definitely a dark source to draw a band name from.

The Children of Bodom sound is a mash-up of multiple genres, most notably melodic death and thrash metal. Looking over their history, the band has had plenty of genre tags laid upon them, from those I mentioned to power metal, speed metal, and neo-classical metal. Looking at the combination of genres, it begins to make the idea of taking labels this deep just a little bit ridiculous. Would it not be easier to just call them metal? Sure, it encompasses a lot, but so does the band. One listen to Blooddrunk and you will sneer, put your horns up, and hear nothing but metal, pure, simple, intoxicating metal.

I have not heard any of their other releases for comparison, but there is something that just draws me into this release. It is a wild combination of technical skills with raw energy that just works really well. I do not think this is a great album by any stretch, but it is eminently listenable. A good example would be the opening track, "Hellhounds on My Trail," which is easily one of the better tracks. It opens with an insanely fast guitar riff that takes you from 0 to 60 in about two seconds flat, before settling into a technically sound riff that surges forward with the help of driving drums, solid bass, atmospheric keyboards, and the blood-curdling vocals, not to mention the underlying melodic nature of the music. As if that forward surge was not enough, toss in guitar and keyboard solos and you get a package that is well worth your time and is sure to get the adrenaline flowing.

There are a number of tracks to focus on when giving this your first listen. The title track begins with a nice keyboard line that adds a melodic undercurrent to the pure thrash guitars. "One Day You Will Cry" has a great riff to lead you through a song that alternates the thrash with strong melodic portions. "Tie My Rope" has an old school thrash (with keyboards) feel that is sure to get your head banging. Now, I just love the guitars in "Done with Everything, Die for Nothing," besides having a great title.

The version of the album I received also includes a hidden track, a cover of Stan Jones' "Ghostriders in the Sky." Considering it's country music roots, it is interesting to hear this metal version. I am pleased to report that it works, it is pretty wild too.

Children of Bodom have crafted a fascinating collision of American inspired thrash with more European sensibilities involving black metal and melody. The sound defies classification by feeling at home in a few different areas, but in the end, the music itself, and not the labels, is what counts. There is a vibe reminiscent of 80's era thrash that makes the music seem familiar, while all of the other influences update it for the world stage, giving it stronger relevance in the modern scene.

The band is led by Alexi Laiho on lead guitar and vocals, not to mention primary songwriter. His leads are wild affairs, blended with complex rhythms, and tight work with keyboardist Janne Warman, while rhythm guitarist Roope Latvala gives the sound a fuller stage. At the same time, drummer Jaska Raatikainen and bassist Henkka Seppälä lay down a solid rhythmic bed. As for Laiho's vocals? Well, I cannot say they are my favorite, but they are pretty good, although I swear that he must be spitting up blood when he's done a set. His raw growl sounds as if his throat is being shredded.

Bottomline. Blooddrunk is a solid outing from a band I need to investigate more. The blend of American and European styles creates a potent sound that is easy to get into, exciting, and just a lot of fun to listen to. I am sure fans will want to add this to their collection, while newbies such as myself can get an adrenaline rush along with their introduction.

Recommended.


Track List:
01. Hellhounds On My Trail
02. Blooddrunk
03. LoBodomy
04. One Day You Will Cry
05. Smile Pretty For The Devil
06. Tie My Rope
07. Done With Everything, Die For Nothing
08. Banned From Heaven
09. Roadkill Morning
Bonus:
10. Ghostriders in the Sky (Stan Jones cover)

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor - Poster, Stills

Are you ready for the next entry in the The Mummy series? I cannot say I am terribly excited for it, but I did enjoy the first two films, and even the Scorpion King spin-off. This new outing transplants our hero, still played by Brendan Fraser, to the Orient where he will face off with an Asian mummy played by none other than Jet Li. Interesting choice. I have not seen any footage, but I like those two leads and have no doubt that it will not be a good film, but will certainly be a fun one. Joining Fraser and Li are Maria Bello (replacing Rachel Weisz), Luke Ford, and Michelle Yeoh. Rob Cohen is directing, and that does not instill a lot of confidence, as his track record includes the likes of Stealth and The Skulls. The screenplay was delivered by Miles Millar and Alfred Gough, most famous for Smallville. Take a look at the teaser:

Terra - Poster

This is a pretty snazzy looking poster that is a definite tease. Anyone know what it is about? No, I haven't done any research on it. The poster really catches the eye. It also looks like it has an interesting cast, including: Evan Rachel Wood, Brian Cox, James Garner, Chris Evans, Danny Glover, Amanda Peet, David Cross, Dennis Quaid, and Luke Wilson. With all those names, I wonder if this is an animated flick?

Stuck - Poster, Trailer

You can't make stuff like this up. Do you remember the story about that woman who hit a guy who got stuck in her windshield, and she drove home and put the car away? Yes? No? Maybe? Well, that is the basis for this movie starring Mena Suvari and Stephen Rea. It looks pretty good to me, although this copy of the trailer looks kind of dark. The poster is pretty cool, trading on the tabloid style cover. Stuart Gordon (From Beyond) is at the helm.

CD Review: Frank Sinatra - Sinatra at the Movies

Recently, I had the opportunity to review the intriguing, experimental Bob Dylan biopic I'm Not There. Heading into the experience I knew I was going to be at a disadvantage. Why? Because, while I am familiar with a little bit of Dylan's music, I am very much ignorant when it comes to his life. The movie took a very different approach to the material, presenting us a Dylan that was broken down into six different incarnations, with none bearing the name of Bob Dylan! It was lyrical in execution, if a little tough to crack considering my lack of knowledge in the area. What does this have to do with Sinatra at the Movies? Do you really need to ask? Sinatra is another one of those artists with whom I have had very little exposure. When I got into music, I was fed a steady streak of Def Leppard, Nirvana, and Metallica, nary a Sinatra, a Martin, or a Crosby in sight.

The same could be said about my exposure to Sinatra's films. I have seen The Manchurian Candidate, and I am sure I saw From Here to Eternity at some point, but that is about it, so I don't even have that to fall back on as I listen to this collection. Kind of makes me a less than ideal choice to be reviewing it right? Well, yes and no. If you are looking for a new take on Sinatra using plenty of examples from his songbook, you'd best look elsewhere. However, what I can bring to the table is a perspective from a newbie, someone who is getting a fresh listen with ears that are open to a new experience. In fact, I had been meaning to get some Sinatra in my collection for some time (my Nana would be proud).

I will say that Sinatra at the Movies is not exactly the best place to start for newbies, myself included. Why not? For one thing, it is not really a hits collection. For someone like Sinatra, I think it would be best to start with the hits and then expand into the catalog. So, perhaps this would be better as a second or third step rather than the first. Still, when it comes to Sinatra, it becomes apparent early on that it is hard to end up mired in a bad chunk of tunes. Seriously, his voice is absolutely amazing, so much so that it is hard to go wrong.

This collection centers on songs that Sinatra sang for films in which he appeared, with a further focus on the 50's era tracks during his run with Capitol Records. It should be noted that, as good as these songs are and how great Frank's voice sounds, these are not the recordings that appeared in their respective films, rather they are the arrangements found from other collections (I have not found out the origins of these versions).

All of that said, this collection is chock full of great sounding tunes. While there are a few that seem to be a notch or two below classic status, you can pretty much start this up anywhere and find something to like.

I loved the way the album gets off to a quick start with the upbeat, catchy "(Love is) The Tender Trap" from The Tender Trap. There is just something about the snappy way that Frank sounds that is absolutely infectious, helping set the tone even for a newbie, such as myself.

Other highlights that jumped out at me include: "Young at Heart" from Young at Heart, "All of Me" from Meet Danny Wilson, "The Lady is a Tramp" from Pal Joey, "Chicago" from The Joker is Wild, and "I Couldn't Sleep a Wink Last Night" from Higher and Higher. At the other end of the spectrum, I did not particularly care for "High Hopes" from A Hole in the Head, I think it is the backing singers that grate on me.

Who this is targeted at, I am not sure. For the most part, you can find these songs on countless other collections, meaning that if you are a fan, you probably have all of these songs already. The newbie? Not likely, as newcomers would be more likely be attracted to the words "Best" and "of." I guess the target would be me, the newbie with a cinematic addiction, luring me away from the greatest hits collections with the use of the word "movies."

Bottomline. In conclusion, this is a good collection, no matter how you want to slice it. I still think I would have been better served starting with a hits collection before moving onto this, but there is no denying the quality of the songs as well as listening to that superb voice. I have to recommend this collection, pick it up in conjunction with a hits collection and spend an evening with one the all-time greats.

Recommended.


Track List:
01. (Love Is) The Tender Trap From the Tender Trap 2:58
02. From Here to Eternity From from Here to Eternity 2:59
03. I Love Paris From Can-can 1:50
04. How Deep Is the Ocean From Meet Danny Wilson 3:14
05. I Could Write a Book From Pal Joey 3:53
06. All the Way From the Joker Is Wild 2:52
07. Young at Heart From Young at Heart 2:50
08. Not as a Stranger from Not as a Stranger 2:46
09. All of Me From Meet Danny Wilson 2:08
10. High Hopes / Eddie Hodges From a Hole in the Head 2:42
11. The Lady Is a Tramp From Pal Joey 3:15
12. Monique From King's Go Forth 3:18
13. Chicago From the Joker Is Wild 2:12
14. Three Coins in the Fountain From Three Coins in the Fountain 3:06
15. I Believe From It Happened in Brooklyn 2:31
16. Wait for Me (Johnny Concho Theme) From Johnny Concho 2:51
17. C'est Magnifique From Can-can 2:01
18. I Couldn't Sleep a Wink Last Night From Higher and Higher 3:25
19. Just One of Those Things From Young at Heart 3:15
20. To Love and Be Loved From Some Came Running 2:55

The Incredible Hulk - Stills, Trailer

I have to say that I am looking forward to this new take on the Hulk. I enjoyed the Ang Lee Hulk from a few years back. Save for the weird ending, the movie was a well written and executed science fiction film that had the misfortune of being marketed as a big action flick. However, that movie did not go over well and we are set to get this redux, The Incredible Hulk. Edward Norton stars as Banner with Tim Roth as his opposition, the Abomination. Joining them are William Hurt and Liv Tyler. Transporter's Louis Leterrier is at the helm. Below I have a bunch of stills and the recently released second trailer.