Sundance Films Available for Free

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Independent

For most of us, getting tickets to Sundance screenings is just as hard as getting access to Barack Obama’s inauguration. Fortunately, we can set aside the Uggs and watch several of this year’s films from the comfort of our warm homes.

Late last week, a list of entries from the 2009 festival were made available as free downloads. The ten short films - “representing a variety of countries, styles, genres, and stories” - can all be accessed through iTunes.

Act quick! The titles will only be offered through January 25th.

Read More | MTV Movies

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A Christmas Carol Medley: The Many Ways You Can Enjoy Dickens

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Adaptation, Animation, Short Films, Drama, Family, Musicals, Period, Comedy

It’s that time of year when it’s unsafe to enter a department store, when televised specials are vying to offer you the biggest stars and most touching moments. When ancient movies get dredged up for our entertainment. There is one holiday-themed tale which is so predominant, no winter season would be complete without it. This only begs one question: which version will you watch?

A Christmas Carol is one of the most re-made movies in cinematic history - even Disney is in on the action. But the story itself is even older than Hollywood. A Christmas Carol was originally written by Charles Dickens, and first hit the scene way back in 1843. More than one hundred years later, it’s still one of the most widely-recognized holiday stories in history.

And if you want to enjoy this time-honored tale of redemption, you’ll have more than your fair share of opportunity. How many ways can you enjoy Dickens this year?

Click to continue reading A Christmas Carol Medley: The Many Ways You Can Enjoy Dickens

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Burton To Direct Disney Films

Posted by David Onda Categories: Disney, Animation, Short Films, Family, Musicals, Comedy, Filmmaking, Rumors, Scripts, Upcoming Releases

Tim Burton will direct a pair of 3-D films for Disney: Alice in Wonderland and Frankenweenie.

First, Burton will direct Alice, which will be filmed using a mixture of performance-capture imagery and live action footage, a la this weekends #1 film, Beowulf. Next, Burton will helm Frankenweenie, based on his 1984 short film (of the same name) about a dog who gets run over by a car and is brought back to life by his owner. ’Weenie will be filmed using stop-motion animation and shown in digital 3-D.

The original Frankenweenie had an odd cast, which included Daniel Stern (as the owner), Shelley Duvall, Sofia Coppola and The Wonder Years’ Jason Hervey. No word if any of the actors will return for this version.

Read More | Variety

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Wes Anderson’s ‘Hotel Chevalier’ Free on iTunes

Posted by Johnny Mercedes Categories: Fox Searchlight, Short Films, Drama, Independent, Romance, Comedy, Distribution, New Releases

A 13-minute prequel to Wes Anderson’s new film, The Darjeeling Limited, has just become available as a free download on iTunes. The short film, entitled Hotel Chevalier, has been released over the internet in what seems to be a cross-promotional move by Anderson, who screened the short on the festival circuit but will not include it with the theatrical release. It appears to be a precursor to the situation which Jason Schwartzman’s character finds himself in at the beginning of Darjeeling. Knowing Wes Anderson, however, the two could have little to no relation at all.

The short involves Schwartzman and Natalie Portman as two former lovers in an uncomfortable first encounter after an apparent falling-out. As an added bonus, the two share a steamy moment in which Portman removes all of her clothes and mounts Schwartzman on a hotel bed; sadly, to the chagrin of many a fanboy, the sly camera work leaves much to the imagination. But Hotel Chevalier is classic Anderson—humorous, charming and unabashedly awkward. Look for The Darjeeling Limited in limited release this weekend—if you can bear to watch a post-trauma Owen Wilson, that is.

Read More | Cinematical

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