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The Gushing Cinephile: September 16, 2013

Well, it’s been quite a while since I’ve done The Gushing Cinephile, let’s see if I remember how to do it. Usually I’d start off with a meaningless introduction, but I think I might just skip that this week and jump right in. I’ve got a lot of news to get you all caught up on so its probably best if we get to it! Oh, and I know I might be a little late divulging this information, but give me a break…I’ve been busy.

CASTING NEWS:

Matt Damon added to “Interstellar”

As if Christopher Nolan’s hotly anticipated next project “Interstellar” didn’t have enough high-profile talent. The sci-fi epic added Matt Damon in a limited role. The film already stars Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Casey Affleck, Michael Caine, and John Lithgow. Set for release on November 7, 2014, the film will follow a group of explores who make use of a recently found wormhole to travel vast distances across space.

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James Spader is Ultron

When news broke at Comic-Con that the title of Joss Whedon’s sequel to the overwhelmingly successful blockbuster “The Avengers” would be The Avengers: Age of Ultron.” Speculation was never in short supply as to who would voice the menacing robot. Well, we finally have our answer. James Spader will be dismantling the Avengers on May 1, 2015.

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno - Season 21

Tom Hiddleston Replaces Benedict Cumberbatch in “Crimson Peak”

Tom Hiddleston will be stepping in for fellow Brit Benedict Cumberbatch in Guillermo Del Toro’s upcoming gothic horror “Crimson Peak.” The film already stars Jessica Chastain, Mia Wasikowska, and Charlie Hunnam. The film is set to begin shooting February 2014 in Toronto for a 2015 release date.

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Cumberbatch Joins “The Lost City of Z”

Is there a hotter commodity than Benedict Cumberbatch as of the moment? According to Brad Pitt, there isn’t. Cumberbatch is set to star as Percy Fawcett, an explorer trekking through the Amazon Jungle during 1925 who claims to have discovered a lost, mythical city. The film is spearheaded by Brad Pitt’s production company Plan B and is yet to set a release date.

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Michael Shannon in “99 Homes”

Shannon has officially signed on to star opposite Andrew Garfield in the upcoming drama, “99 Homes.” The film centres around a young man who is in severe debt and has his home foreclosed. In order to get his life back, he takes a job with the real estate broker who took away his home in the first place. The film does not have a release date.

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POSTERS:

What was arguably the sleeper hit of the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival for me personally. Ti West’s “The Sacrament” officially has a poster, check it out below. I’ll have my review for the film up as soon as I can.

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TRAILERS:

Check out the first trailer for the cannibal horror “We Are What We Are.”

“The Last Days On Mars” might appear a bit generic through this first trailer, but still looks like so much fun.

Another sleeper hit of TIFF 2013 was “Under the Skin” starring Scarlett Johansson. Check out a brief teaser below. I will be posting my review as soon as possible.

CLIPS:

Ridley Scott’s “The Counselor” has released a couple of new, incredible clips. Check them out below.

DIRECTING NEWS:

In some positive news regarding “Snowpiercer,” Joon Ho-Bong edited the American release. It still sucks that the film will be edited at all for North American viewers, but it’s not as bad as it could have been.

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Derek Cianfrance, director of “Blue Valentine” and “The Place Beyond the Pines” is set to direct the film adaptation of “The Light Between Oceans.” The film is based around a man who takes his young wife to live on a secluded island as a lighthouse keeper. After several miscarriages and a still-birth, the woman hears a baby’s cries on the wind. Soon, they find a shipwreck with a living baby inside.

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Ben Wheatley will direct the adaptation of “High Rise.” A story about the denizens of a luxury high-tech tower who descend willingly into a murderous melee of chaos and destruction.

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NEW J.K ROWLING SERIES

J.K Rowling and Warner Bros announced that they will adapt the author’s Hogwarts textbook “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” into a full length feature about the book’s scribe Newt Scamander.

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HOME VIDEO

“Pacific Rim” will be hitting home video on October 15, 2013.

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“The Conjuring” will be getting its home release on October 22, 2013.

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JURASSIC PARK 4 GETS A RELEASE DATE AND TITLE

Jurassic Park 4 gets an official title and release date. Set for release now on June 12, 2013, the newly titled “Jurassic World” is no longer hopelessly delayed!

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

The Gushing Cinephile: August 12, 2013

This will be a rather brief edition of The Gushing Cinephile. That being said, it’s all about quality not quantity and the contents of this post is as juicy as any other! So let’s get started…

reddit

I can’t tell you how many times I read articles written by my fellow bloggers that don’t get the recognition or traffic they deserve. So, this weekend, I created a reddit account with the sole purpose of generating recognition and traffic for these very posts. For those not familiar with reddit, it is a social interaction website where one simply posts a link for others to stumble upon (ha) and enjoy. So, with your permission granted in the comment section below, please allow me to share your genius :) .

TIFF

In case you missed it, the Toronto International Film Festival announced another slew of films set to debut at the festival, with a little twist. All the films announced last week were created by Canadian filmmakers! You can check out the whole list of the films released last week by clicking here. And if that happens to catch your attention, by clicking on the TIFF button at the top of this page, you can check out every single film announced thus far. The Cinema Monster will be covering the entire festival so be sure to follow me on Twitter (@cinema_monster) and Facebook for up the minute news, reviews, and Q and A’s.

The Counselor Clips and New Trailer

Ridley Scott’s “The Counselor” released three clips and new trailer this past week. You can check them all out below.

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Trailer #2

Thor: The Dark World trailer #2

Thor: The Dark World” unleashed a new trailer upon us which you can watch below. People can claim that Thor is the man all the want, but I’ll take Tom Hiddleston’s Lotki any day.

Her trailer #1

Now, for a film that has skyrocketed to the top of my most anticipated list, Spike Jones “Her,” which released its first trailer this past week. Starring Joaquin Phoenix, Rooney Mara, Scarlett Johansson, Olivia Wilde, Amy Adams, and Chris Pratt. “Her” looks to be a quirky rom-com with no shortage of talent and bizarre android love.

Kill Your Darlings teaser

TIFF film”Kill Your Darlings” released its first teaser trailer. The film focuses on a murder that unites the most famous poets from the beat generation.

Philomena trailer #1

Finally, yet another film set to premiere at TIFF unveiled its first trailer this past week, “Philomena.” Starring Steve Coogan and Judi Dench, “Philomena” has all the makings of a sleeper hit at this years festivities.

That’ll do it for this week’s edition of The Gushing Cinephile. Make sure to keep an eye out for my “Elysium” review sometime this week and be sure to check out last week’s top 10, it’s a good one. Everyone have a great week!

Fish Tank (2009)

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Anchored by a couple of tremendous performances from its two outstanding leads and an honest, gripping script. Fish Tank may not be the typical coming-of-age story we’re all used to. Nonetheless, it’s a more authentic, albeit darker take on growth and the vulnerability that encompasses it. Although its characters run about gritty neighbourhoods and struggle to find their place. Writer and director Andrea Arnold has a firm hold on Fish Tank and its seemingly reckless rawness is more of a guided chaos. Fish Tank is a highly vivid film with socio-political motivations and realism. More than a few will likely be turned off by its stark, brash, and paced simplicity. However, any blemishes one is inevitably going to stumble upon are easily rubbed out by infallible performances from the entire cast and visually harsh, yet stunning realities.

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Mia (Jarvis) is an angry and isolated 15-year-old. She lives in East London with her mother and younger sister. Mia is an aspiring hip-hop dancer and will do anything to achieve her dream. Seemingly, Mia had a falling out with one of her close friends and now antagonizes her and other kids her age. Walking home one day, Mia spots a weak and weary horse tethered in a parking lot. When Mia tries to free the horse, she is attacked by two young men, but eventually saved by another. Mia’s mother’s new boyfriend Connor (Fassbender) begins hanging around the house more frequently. As he becomes closer to the family, the more Mia becomes infatuated with him. What follows is an obscure tale about growing up and the consequences of youth.

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Be forewarned that watching Fish Tank does come with a few challenges. Every so often there is a scene dealing with relatively subtle disturbances and unsettling content. At moments, it isn’t even the material that gets under your skin. The portrayals by Fish Tank’s ensemble are so real, it’s easy to forget that you’re watching a film. Regardless, without these bold, at times unpleasant sequences, Fish Tank’s unflinching gaze into adolescence would be rendered useless. Besides, the reward heavily outweighs any disgust one might feel while experiencing Arnold’s Fish Tank. When agreeing to succumb to the uninhibited, effervescence of youth, you’re accepting both ends of the spectrum, you can’t have the good without the bad. In the end, Fish Tank is the winner of the Cannes jury prize for a reason.

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If you’re unable to find value in Arnold’s story of a broken family struggling to find an identity together and individually. At least take solace in the immaculate performances, you’ll find it very easy. Featuring Michael Fassbender, Kierston Wareing, and newcomer Katie Jarvis. Fish Tank has the investment of the collective to match its undying spirit and emotional complexity. Wareing, despite being hardly used, manages to steal every shot she is in. Jarvis, who makes her cinematic debut in Fish Tank, is astounding. Capturing the angst, defencelessness, and infatuation that swims through youthful veins. Jarvis shows remarkable range and persistence for someone with little-to-no experience and undoubtedly gives the best performance in the film.

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The only other performance worth discussing, besides the stunningly accurate and haunting portrayal by Katie Jarvis belongs to Michael Fassbender. Since Fish Tank, he has absolutely skyrocketed to stardom with high-profile performances in such films as Quentin Tarantino’s Inglorious Basterds, Steve McQueen’s Shame, and Ridley Scott’s Prometheus. Yet, oddly enough, Fish Tank contains one of Fassbender’s best, most polarizing performances and still remains sparsely seen. Throughout Fish Tank, it becomes apparent that one can’t quite get a read on his character, this isn’t by accident. Fassbender beautifully exudes the questionable ambitions and lulling safety needed to lure in the wounded and vulnerable. Ultimately, Fassbender continually reminds us that he always had the talent and still does. Earning his status of one the most sought after actors in the business currently and why he is one of my favourite actors of all time.

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Sinister, endearing, and utterly entrancing. Fish Tank is a unique story about one girl’s struggle to cope with growing up.

Fish Tank: 8.5 out of 10.

Prometheus (2012)

Michael Fassbender in Ridley Scott's Prometheus

Part of Ridley Scott’s prequel series to the widely successful “Alien” franchise. Prometheus may not provide answers to all of its promised questions, but it certainly set the stage for them. A supposed sequel in the mix which was apparently the plan all along, Prometheus, regardless of a follow up is able to stand on its own. Scott reminds us that science fiction is his genre wheelhouse and he’s returned to set the curve once again. Giving a sense of wonder and amazement to our existence, Prometheus and its intergalactic, cosmic journey is spellbinding. A formidable cast led by Michael Fassbender (Shame), Guy Pearce (Memento), Noomi Rapace (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), Charlize Theron (The Italian Job), and Idris Elba (28 Weeks Later), Prometheus is definitively original and visually baffling. Do not expect to be swept up in the search for our creators, Prometheus is a tough blow of  what could possibly be reality.

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A group of scientists and astronauts travel through space on an unknown mission. Upon being woken from their sleep pods, the group is informed of their mission. Their goal is to investigate ancient markings found on Earth that could lead to the discovery of humanities existence. Following the markings, they arrive at a planet numerous light years away from Earth. They discover signs of a distant civilization and investigate. During the search, they encounter artefacts believed to be linked to humanity and our beginnings. Soon, their breakthrough turns violent and the planet becomes hostile. What follows is a dark descent into the search for humanities existence.

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Before it completely rips apart the very fabric of humanities hopes, beliefs, and purpose, Prometheus is actually quite enthralling. Vast landscapes and oceanic skylines backdrop the birth of our world as we know it. A beautifully baron spaceship zooms across light years passing cosmic materials as its crew sleeps soundly. Scott and company once again flawlessly design awe and wonderment while conversely depicting dread and horror. Fassbender, as a robot, is the performance to look out for in Prometheus. Seemingly malicious and corrupt while contradicting these traits with a caring face and helpful acts, Fassbender expectedly delivers. Followed by Rapace and Pearce who, despite butting heads have similar motives and values. Their collective disappointments and optimisms echo throughout their performances and ring out to the viewers and pluck at our sympathy. Prometheus is smartly written and visually stunning. A welcome return to the genre for Scott and leaves us begging for a sequel.

Prometheus: 8.5 out of 10.

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