Review: Young@Heart

Since 1982, the Young@Heart chorus, with members averaging an age of eighty, has wowed audiences with unique and entertaining interpretations of classic punk and rock songs.

Director Stephen Walker follows the geriatric troupe as they prepare for one of their biggest and most challenging undertakings: the Alive and Well tour. The film delves into the personal lives of key chorus members, spotlights group leader Bob Cilman, and attempts to explain the appeal of watching elderly people singing your favorite songs. The appeal doesn’t need much explaining, however—Young@Heart touts some of the most fascinating people you’re likely to find, and, if you have any doubts as to whether you’ll enjoy the film (like I did), by the end you’ll be wondering why you’ve never heard of these idiosyncratic octogenarians.

Read the full review after the jump.

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Interview With Martin McDonagh and Colin Farrell of ‘In Bruges’

Last week, FilmCrunch had the opportunity to interview Martin McDonagh and Colin Farrell, director and star of the upcoming film In Bruges.

Ray (Colin Farrell) and Ken (Brendan Gleeson) are two hitmen sent to the Belgian city of Bruges after a botched job in London. They’ve been told by their boss, Harry (Ralph Fiennes), to do some sight-seeing, lie low and await further instruction. But the city, full of ancient architecture and historical landmarks, can’t satiate Ray and his need for distraction. The men venture out and soon discover that beneath the city’s quaint exterior lies a strange and disturbing underbelly, a surreal setting that causes them to begin to question life and death, right and wrong, and the purpose behind their little “vacation.”

For more about the film, visit the official site or read the FilmCrunch review.

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Review: In Bruges

I love when I come into a film having preconceptions, and they are totally obliterated and replaced with the feeling that I’ve found something unique, something I was unable to foresee. That may seem a bit dramatic—In Bruges is, after all, a fairly linear story. But writer/director Martin McDonagh injects a dark, reflective tone into what could’ve easily been a talk-’em-up, shoot-’em-up Guy Ritchie film; those who’ve seen the trailer know what I mean. And while Ritchie films are appealing in their own right, In Bruges deviates significantly, exhibiting characters who somehow transcend their quick wit and hardened exteriors to reveal—much like the city itself—great history and depth.

Ray (Colin Farrell) and Ken (Brendan Gleeson) are two hitmen sent to the Belgian city of Bruges after a botched job in London. They’ve been told by their boss, Harry (Ralph Fiennes), to do some sight-seeing, lie low and await further instruction. But the city, full of ancient architecture and historical landmarks, can’t satiate Ray and his need for distraction. The job-gone-wrong had been Ray’s first assignment as hitman, but the unspeakable mess left in London is but a slight snag for long-timer Ken, numb to the violence of his profession.

Check out the FilmCrunch interview with Martin McDonagh and Colin Farrell.

Click to continue reading Review: In Bruges

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This Week on HD DVD and Blu-ray: January 15, 2008

Alright, yes—this article should have been written yesterday. But despite my lack of punctuality, I’ve decided to go ahead and post it anyway as part of a New Year’s resolution to write more. And this is a slow time for film in general, so I think I deserve a reprieve.

To be perfectly honest, little jumps out at me this week. We have the hilarious, slightly esoteric The Ten, helmed by some The State alumni and starring, well, just about everyone. Is there anything else worth mentioning? Could Girls Gone Wild: Baby Bash—Live and Uncensored be the best Blu-ray title this week? That seems a bit sad, doesn’t it? Don’t worry, HD DVD patrons—if you were looking for some girl-on-girl action, hold out until February 12th when it releases in your format.

I can’t wait for these sluggish few weeks to pass.

Check out the full list of high-def releases after the jump.

Click to continue reading This Week on HD DVD and Blu-ray: January 15, 2008

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This Week on HD DVD and Blu-ray: October 30, 2007

This past fortnight, the HD DVD release of Transformers made high-definition history with over 100,000 units sold in the first day—a record that supplanted day-one sales across both formats. But this week Sony will inevitably pull the warring robots off their high horses—likely with a quick tug on some carefully aimed webbing.

The hugely profitable but ambivalently received Spider-Man 3 releases Tuesday and will undoubtedly be a smash hit for Blu-ray. And for those who can’t justify said purchase, the film will also release in a high-def trilogy.

Universal and Warner also have some decent contributions this week, but the real content explosion comes from DVD International and their HDScape series. Finally, I can sit in my tiny condominium and watch a high-definition fireplace, an exotic aquarium, or the slow but steady thaw of Antarctica.

Check the full list of high-def releases after the jump. 

Click to continue reading This Week on HD DVD and Blu-ray: October 30, 2007

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The Preview Review: Be Kind Rewind, Lars and the Real Girl, Good Luck Chuck

Welcome to an exciting August edition of The Preview Review, where the newest trailers get a second glance.

This time, we turn a scrutinizing eye on three upcoming films about bumbling, unlucky men struggling to overcome ineptitude and find happiness, fall in love, or replace hundreds of erased VHS tapes with homemade film homages.  I’ll explain after the jump.

Click to continue reading The Preview Review: Be Kind Rewind, Lars and the Real Girl, Good Luck Chuck

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REVIEW: I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry

When Larry Valentine (Kevin James), an NYPD fireman and father of two, discovers his children will no longer be pension beneficiaries after the death of his wife, he must find a way to protect them should something happen to him.  After saving the life of his longtime friend and co-worker Chuck Levine (Adam Sandler), Larry hatches a plan and convinces Chuck to become his domestic partner – much to Chuck’s chagrin.  Everything seems easy at first, but soon the men are challenged by the city of New York and must go to extreme lengths to keep up the charade.  Sexy lawyer Alex McDonough (Jessica Biel) steps in to help the gentlemen, but Chuck has a hard time keeping his eyes (and hands) off of the only person with the ability to help them refute the skepticism.

Although Chuck and Larry attempts to show the difficulties homosexuals still have being accepted in society, the themes are contradicted by numerous (and horribly dated) gay jokes and derogatory terms audiences will first find mildly amusing, then awkward and discomforting.

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The Preview Review: You Kill Me, Hot Rod, I Am Legend

The Preview Review is a weekly exposé that looks at the newest movie trailers and, using the age-old concept of cause and effect (i.e., good trailer causes me to see bad movie), attempts to pinpoint those elements that lead to another two hours of wasted life.

This week we’ll take a look at two summer comedies and a big December blockbuster*.

*possibly lackluster

Click to continue reading The Preview Review: You Kill Me, Hot Rod, I Am Legend

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The Preview Review: May 28 – June 1, 2007

This is the very first edition of The Preview Review.  Here at FilmCrunch, we are tired of being deceived by flawless movie trailers for films that, in the end, are better left out of theaters and away from audiences.  In other words, the best-looking trailers often beget the worst-made films.  This weekly exposé will attempt to flush out those elements that make good previews go bad, and hopefully we’ll uncover a few coming attractions worth a second look.

See the newest trailer reviews after the jump.

Click to continue reading The Preview Review: May 28 – June 1, 2007

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Monster House DVD Review

Monster House is the computer animated tale of an awkward young boy, DJ, and his friends Chowder and Jenny, as they investigate the spooky house across the street and the evil old man (Mr. Nebbercracker) residing within.  When Nebbercracker is suddenly injured and hospitalized, the three decide to take a closer look, discovering, to their horror, that the house itself is actually alive, its intentions quite malicious.  With Halloween soon approaching, the children must destroy the horrible home before unsuspecting trick-or-treaters are caught in its insatiable grasp.  While it may be a bit scary for your preschooler, Monster House is a unique film full of slow, concentrated intensity in a genre often geared toward fidgety children and their fleeting attention spans. 

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