Friday, August 26, 2011

Fantastic Short Film Friday - The Bloody Olive (live-action)
















And we are back with another installment in our Fantastic Short Film Friday series, as we continue to showcase films released in the "lesser" known form of cinema- the short film.

This week we have for you a darkly humorous look at love and backstabbing, of double, triple, and quadruple crosses coming from everywhere that will leave head spinning with laughter. Here is a 10-minute Belgium film noir comedic short called, The Bloody Olive from filmmaker, Vincent Bal. What I find so amazing about this short is its ability to mix darkly film noir aesthetics, cliches and conventions and just exasperating them so much so that in the end the short becomes a comedy.

It's a Christmas celebration as a man and his wife sit down to have a lovely Christmas dinner. There's a ring of the doorbell and in walks a man who accuses the husband of embezzling from his company. Shorts are fired, knives are pulled out, as the three characters keeping getting killed over and over only to rise from the dead in twist after twist. This is the short M. Night Shyamalan would have made if he went crazy with his love of twists. Deeply and darkly funny, this short from Belgium will keep you guessing right up until the end. It's a set piece with only three actors, but there are so many twists and turns that in the end you're still left wondering, who's the real victim? The laughs here are hard won and of the slapstick variety, and those that both love film noirs and comedies will find a brilliantly executed marriage of the two genres.

Check this out if you're in the mood to have some dark laughs coupled with wonderful displays of mayhem and film noir violence. Seriously, the filmmakers somehow make this actually really funny. Enjoy this weeks dose of short form goodness in, The Bloody Olive.

Friday, August 19, 2011

Fantastic Short Film Friday - Hello (animated)
















And we are back with another installment in our Fantastic Short Film Friday series, as we continue to showcase films released in the "lesser" known form of cinema- the short film.

This week we have for you a wonderfully animated look at love and self-expression in its many forms, a look at how finding the right words to say can be the hardest thing imaginable. Here is a 6-minute romantic animated short called, Hello from filmmaker, Jonathan Nix. What I find so amazing about this short is its ability to convey so much heartfelt emotion from characters who can't speak or talk for themselves.

Imagine a world where everyone's head is a boombox, and the only way anyone can talk is by placing mixtapes into their boombox and play pre-recorded songs. Enter a young man who falls in love with his lovely and hip neighbor, but everytime he tries to say something he can't find the right tape to convey his feelings in their brief encounters. Through perseverance he finally finds the right song for the right moment. This is the kind of animated feast for the eyes that also has a story to make you fall in love with it over and over again. The animation style is unique, breathing life to a world of boombox heads and mixtape hearts and is the perfect compliment to an amazingly well crafted narrative, that may seem simple at first since no one actually talks, but it belies some truly hidden joy and warmth. It's a well understood premise. Before the advent of mp3's, I grew up making mixtapes, and there was no higher calling for a high school student, no other self assured reason, then creating a mixtape for the girl you liked. This brings back those memories, makes a world of those memories and I couldn't help but smile from beginning to end.

Check this out if you're in the mood to see some fantastic animation filled with heartfelt emotions. The music is just so right, the story is just so on-key, that it's a wonderful reminder of simpler and more innocent days. Enjoy this weeks dose of short form goodness in, Hello.


Thursday, August 18, 2011

Trailer Talkback Thursday - John Carter

Welcome to another Trailer Talkback Thursday here at the Cinema Cafe Podcast. Today we look at a trailer which, even though brief, has me personally very excited, Disney's John Carter.



In my household, the name Edgar Rice Burroughs is very well known and the John Carter series is definitely no exception. It's been a while since I've read these, but when I was younger there were always some of my favorite stories to read. So when I heard that Disney & Pixar were going to make a movie based on them, I got excited.

Mind you, I was a little skeptical when I heard Pixar was going to make a live-action version, but judging from the trailer it looks like they've done a good job so far in capturing Barsoom. The trailer itself is pretty well done, both with the excellent sequences and the great choice of music. All I know is that 2012 is shaping up to be one of the best years of cinema I might possibly ever see.

-Greg

Friday, August 12, 2011

Fantastic Short Film Friday - Brink (live-action)
















And we are back with another installment in our Fantastic Short Film Friday series, as we continue to showcase films released in the "lesser" known form of cinema- the short film.

This week we have for you a beautifully shot piece, one that looks unbelievably sleek, a short that says more about longing and loss, of friendship and fulfillment through adversary than any rom-com. Here is a 9-minute sci-fi romantic drama called, Brink from filmmaker, Shawn Christensen. What I find so amazing about this short is that its ability to convey its entire narrative by directly immersing the viewer into its world purely through visuals and music.

The is the story of a man named Jeremy who is in love with his best friend Evelyn. As the world slowly collapses around them he decides to finally put his feelings for her into a letter, but there is a strong chance with the world coming to pieces that she may never get a chance to read it. It's a simple synopsis with very little dialogue, but the music and looks from the actors say more than any dialogue could. I'm really impressed by the special effects which are simple yet add a lot of weight (or is that weight-lessness) to the story and the music, well its just fantastic.

Check this out if you're in the mood to see some lovingly shot scenes of the simple aspects of love at the end of the world. The cinematography is exquisite and its a true lo-fi sci-fi treat. Enjoy this weeks dose of short form goodness in, Brink.


Thursday, August 11, 2011

Trailer Talkback Thursday - The Amazing Spider-Man

Welcome to another Trailer Talkback Thursday, in which I take a look at a trailer and give my thoughts about it. For today's Trailer Talkback Thursday, lets take a look at the trailer for The Amazing Spider-Man.



I saw this again when I took my Dad to see Captain America earlier this week, and he had the exact same reaction that I've seen a lot of people have when viewing this trailer, that being that they're doing his origin story again. If anything, judging by this trailer, it seems that the movie focuses heavily on his origin, which in all honesty kind of worries me. A lot of people have voiced the same concern about them doing the origin story again, as the last Spider-Man movies are still fresh in their mind.

Don't get me wrong, I think the casting of this movie looks pretty phenomenal. I like the fact that it looks like he has his web shooters back. The new take on the suit looks interesting, but I have to see more of it before I can judge it further. Personally, I hope that our Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man jokes more and delivers more quips when fighting the forces of evil. I understand that Sony wants to keep the movie license, and I think they've done more justice to Spidey than say Fox has with the FF, however I just hope they don't just phone this movie's story in for a quick buck. Either way, next year we'll be web swinging along once again.

-Greg

Monday, August 8, 2011

Episode 72: Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Cowboys and Aliens and Crazy Stupid Love

Hello there and welcome to the 72nd episode of the Cinema Cafe Podcast, the bi-weekly, twice monthly film podcast by the fans, for the fans. Join us each week as we review new movies releases, look at some dvd's, talk some film news and share our general love for all things cinema. The main goal is to have some fun and hopefully provide the listener with some helpful insight. We are back and the podcasting world is alight once again.

We are finally back with recharged batteries and are ready once again to bring our loyal listeners some brand new bi-weekly content. Thanks for your patience and it feels so good to be back!!

This week we take a look at 3 movies that have been recently released and also of a few that are currently on dvd. With that said here's a look at what we discuss on this weeks podcast:

* Crazy Stupid Love
* Cowboys and Aliens
* Rise of the Planet of the Apes
* Upcoming movie releases for the weekend of 8.12.11 and 8.19.11

Also, film news and more, only on the Cinema Cafe Podcast. We hope you enjoy and happy movie watching.

Thanks as always to all our loyal listeners for sharing the ride with us as we've once again started producing the show. It's all due to your support that we have kept things going and we hope you continue to share the ride with us in the coming months.

We're also on Itunes so head over there and subscribe to the Cinema Cafe Podcast and don't forget to post a review! Thanks!!

Friday, August 5, 2011

Fantastic Short Film Friday - Lifeline (animated)
















And we are back with another installment in our Fantastic Short Film Friday series, as we continue to showcase films released in the "lesser" known form of cinema- the short film.

This week we have for you a beautifully animated piece, a short that says more about longing and loss, of deep held desires and the eternal pursuit for the one who got away then most long-form works of cinema. Here is a 6-minute animated drama called, Lifeline from filmmaker, Andreas Salaff. This short utilizes stunning hand-drawn animation that reminds me of many of the classic Czech poster works of the 60's and 70's who's style is so prevalent in French animated cinema today and of course of American animator Bill Plympton.

The film follows a lonely elderly scientist who uses one of his inventions to search through various times (dimensions, worlds?) for his long lost love. It’s set in a dystopian 70′s-era future and what makes this short really work is that there’s a bittersweet ending that leaves more questions than answers on the final shot.

Check this out if you're in the mood to see some high quality animated short film making that will leave you thinking for days to come. It's somber, beautiful, uplifting and heartbreaking all at the same time. This is some stunning work that needs to be seen. Enjoy this weeks dose of short form goodness in, Lifeline.

Lifeline from Andres Salaff on Vimeo.

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Trailer Talkback Thursday - Footloose

Today marks the first day of what I like to call Trailer Talkback Thursday, just a small showing of a movie trailer that I will discuss my feelings about. For the debut of Trailer Talkback Thursday, I have chosen the trailer for the upcoming remake of Footloose.



Words really do escape me as I view this trailer, and not in the good way. I really don't know who was calling for a remake of Footloose, especially a Kevin Bacon-less remake at that, but this looks simply dreadful. Because teens die in what looks like a car accident, public dancing is banned. I need to repeat this in case you didn't read it correctly, but a car accident leads to public dancing being banned in a town. Again, I'm speechless. How does that even happen? How can this kind of law be enforced?

I don't even feel a need to go into how predictable this movie looks based on the trailer alone, but what I find sad about it is that from what I can see, the only reason it is even called Footloose to begin with is just to attach the name to it for sheer marketing purposes. Something tells me Kevin Bacon will make an appearance somewhere, but I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't. I guess what truly scares me above all else with this trailer is that the movie looks so insane, so ridiculously bad, that I might want to see it based on that alone. Sometimes I hate my Mystery Science Theater 3000 upbringing.

-Greg

Monday, August 1, 2011

Episode 71: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, Captain America The First Avenger and Friends with Benefits

Hello there and welcome to the 71st episode of the Cinema Cafe Podcast, the bi-weekly, twice monthly film podcast by the fans, for the fans. Join us each week as we review new movies releases, look at some dvd's, talk some film news and share our general love for all things cinema. The main goal is to have some fun and hopefully provide the listener with some helpful insight. We are back and the podcasting world is alight once again.

We are finally back with recharged batteries and are ready once again to bring our loyal listeners some brand new bi-weekly content. Thanks for your patience and it feels so good to be back!!

This week we take a look at 3 movies that have been recently released and also of a few that are currently on dvd. With that said here's a look at what we discuss on this weeks podcast:

* Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
* Captain America: The First Avenger
* Friends with Benefits
* Upcoming movie releases for the weekend of 7.29.11 and 8.05.11

Also, film news and more, only on the Cinema Cafe Podcast. We hope you enjoy and happy movie watching.

Thanks as always to all our loyal listeners for sharing the ride with us as we've once again started producing the show. It's all due to your support that we have kept things going and we hope you continue to share the ride with us in the coming months.

We're also on Itunes so head over there and subscribe to the Cinema Cafe Podcast and don't forget to post a review! Thanks!!