I’d like to start off this edition of The Gushing Cinephile with a non-film related topic. As most of you know, the next-gen console war officially got underway with the releases of Playstation 4 and Xbox One this month. Personally, I stood in line this past Thursday evening for quite some time to ensure that I obtained my next-gen gaming system, the Xbox One…which I’m loving to death by the way! That being said, I’m rather curious as to what you, my fellow bloggers and readers, think of the newest consoles, their capabilities, and video-gaming in general. This affects movie lovers as well, considering that you can watch Netflix and rent or buy movies on them, in addition to utilizing the consoles as Bluray/DVD players. So please respond to the poll below and drop a comment regarding anything to do with gaming.

POSTER:

First up, a badass poster from one of the best films 2013 has to offer, “Big Bad Wolves.” You can check out our review of the flick by clicking here and the poster below!

HOME VIDEO:

Homage to giallo “Berberian Sound Studio” will be hitting home video December 10, 2013.

One of my favourites from TIFF 2012, “Sightseers” will finally be coming to Bluray in North America on December 10, 2013. You can check out our review here!

What I’m sure will be nominated in the foreign Oscar category, “The Hunt” starring Mads Mikkelsen will be invading your personal lives on December 10, 2013. Check out our review here!

TRAILERS:

With a star-studded cast and disturbing content, “Devil’s Knot” has got my attention…

The latest release from Joe Swanberg (Drinking Buddies) unveiled a trailer this past week? The film is entitled “All the Light In the Sky” and has got its hooks in me.

Darren Aronofsky’s biblical epic “Noah” unleashed its first trailer. Maybe it’s just me, but I was a little let down. Don’t get me wrong though, still looking forward to it!

Now we’re talking! Lars Von Trier’s sex addiction epic “Nymphomaniac” finally released a full-length trailer. Be aware, it is a red-band trailer containing graphic nudity, so people 18 and over only!

James Franco and Jessica Chastain! Count me in! This is the trailer for “Tar!”

I think that I’ve finally decided that I’d travel to see Jason Clarke in a film. “Swerve” is his newest outing and I can’t wait to catch it!

It may be short, it may not contain a lot of actual content, but this teaser for “Sherlock: Season 3″ has done its job.

That’ll do it for this week’s edition of The Gushing Cinephile. I hope you enjoyed it!

Recently, I was fortunate enough to have a conversation with filmmaker Jeremiah Kipp. You might be familiar with Kipp’s work and not even know it. Having lent his expertise to such films as “I Sell the Dead” and “Somewhere Tonight,” in addition to having directed a plethora of critically acclaimed short films. Kipp is no stranger to the big screen and is currently completing his first-full length feature behind the camera entitled “The Sadist.” Kipp is well-known for his strict attention to structural detail, staggering visuals, and his ability to work extremely well with his actors. Speaking of which, Kipp has worked with tons of high-profile talent such as Ron Perlman, Dominic Monaghan, John Turturro, and Melissa Leo to name a few. Having several of his films screened at numerous festivals, including Cannes, and receiving rave reviews for his short film “The Christmas Party,” Kipp is one of the few directors to watch out for.

You can check out Jeremiah’s website here and his IMDB page here.

Now, Jeremiah has been gracious enough to provide me with several of his short films for my viewing pleasure. So, in my way of returning his generousity, below you will find my brief thoughts on these short, yet vastly entertaining vignettes.

Contact: 8 out of 10.

This Tense, unflinching, and brutal short, shot completely in black and white, is sure to catch you off guard. Right from the start, a wave of incessant uneasiness leaves a feeling of breathlessness and utter stillness. Eventually winding its way to a parallel tangent, “Contact” begins to unravel into a grim, decidedly honest story of addiction. Dotted with some violent gore and tasteful nudity, “Contact” isn’t merely appealing mentally and cinematically, but is also visually stimulating. Kipp does a sublime job using the story’s exhaustive power to full effectiveness and although at times it might not always be easy to watch. If you can stick it out, “Contact” is a very rewarding short.

The Days God Slept: 8.5 out of 10.

Hallucinogenic, disturbing, and thought-provoking. Kipp’s brilliant sense of direction keeps this complex short from straying too far from relevance and descending into chaos. Starring Lauren Fox, best known for her role in Darren Aronofsky’s “Pi,” containing a musical score written by Harry Manfredini, who you might know as the composer of the “Friday the 13th” soundtrack, and then toss in Kipp behind the camera, it’s easy to see that “The Days God Slept” is a hidden gem. While it might not be for everyone. If you’re looking for a superbly thought-out, intricate, and controversial experience, this might be for you. Sure to stir the pot and send you into an uneasiness that’s not easy to shake, give “The Days God Slept” a watch, but be forewarned, you’re in for a shock.

Drool: 7.5 out of 10.

At first glance, “Drool” might appear a little bizarre and monotonous. And the reason for this overwhelming feeling of simplicity and oddness is due to its intentional placement. With “Drool,” Kipp knows full well how to handle the apparent tediousness of this short’s premise and utilizes it as a lulling agent, then occasionally striking when the viewer is most vulnerable. Although it is not Kipp’s strongest short, the argument could be made that “Drool” holds more insight and underlying themes than some full-length features. Again, shot entirely in black and white. “Drool” offers a lot of the same shadiness and bleakness as Kipp’s other short, “Contact.” That being said, its distinguishability is unprecedented and is a must see for anyone looking to discover something out of the ordinary.

If you feel like checking out any of Jeremiah Kipp’s films, head over to his website (linked above) for information or links on how and where to watch. I’d like to thank Jeremiah for allowing me to watch and review a few films from his repertoire. Look him up, you won’t be disappointed.

Yes, that’s Benedict Cumberbatch leading off this week’s edition of The Gushing Cinephile, just for a good laugh. Well, welcome back! I’ll try to keep the dialogue to a minimum, as it is a long weekend here in Canada and I’m assuming those living here are a bit hungover. First off, let’s pretend you all noticed that I did not post this weekend. The reason being is my, let’s call it, trimming of daily posting. It has become apparent that creating quality, meaningful posts each day is wearing me thin. So, taking out weekends, at least for now, allows me time to recuperate and scribe better posts. Not a big deal, thought I’d just let you all know. Let’s get started, shall we?

I’d like to reiterate that The Cinema Monster is finally on Twitter and Facebook! If you can follow @cinema_monster, that would be extremely helpful. I personally added and tweeted at everyone on my blogroll so please follow back :). You can also like the Facebook page through the link below. Or, if you so choose, can like both accounts on the right side of the website.

https://www.facebook.com/thecinemamonster

All right, first up, a plethora of images, albeit somewhat promotional, of Darren Aronofsky’s “Noah.” The pictures star Russell Crowe, Emma Watson, Logan Lerman, Jennifer Connelly, Anthony Hopkins, and Ray Winestone. The film is a dramatic retelling of the Biblical tale of Noah. Check out the pics below.

Okay, next up, the first teaser trailer for Ridley Scott’s highly anticipated “The Counselor.” The Film stars Brad Pitt, Michael Fassbender, Javier Bardem, and other big-name stars, as you’ll figure out from the trailer.

Following that, the first trailer for “Breathe In” starring Guy Pearce and the radiant Felicity Jones. Directed by Drake Doremus, who also stood behind the camera for the 2011 hit “Like Crazy.” However, it does seem like he is taking a much darker, cynical path with this effort. Still, looks fantastic.

Finally, the first clip was released this past week for Lars Von Trier’s next outing, “Nymphomaniac.” The title speaks for itself, if not, the clip will.

That’ll do it for this week’s news wrap-up. If you have any comments or questions, please post them below. Also, don’t forget to follow The Cinema Monster on Facebook and Twitter, it’ll really help me out. Okay all, have a great week!