<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<rss version="2.0"
	xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
	xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/"
	xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
	xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
	>


<channel>
	<title>Film Junk &#187; Thriller</title>
	<atom:link href="http://www.filmjunk.com/category/movies/thriller/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://www.filmjunk.com</link>
	<description>Blog and Podcast</description>
	<pubDate>Thu, 09 Feb 2012 22:09:56 +0000</pubDate>
	<generator>http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2</generator>
	<language>en</language>
		
	<item>
		<title>Philip Seymour Hoffman to Star in John Le Carré&#8217;s A Most Wanted Man</title>
		<link>http://www.filmjunk.com/2012/02/09/philip-seymour-hoffman-to-star-in-john-le-carres-a-most-wanted-man/</link>
		<comments>http://www.filmjunk.com/2012/02/09/philip-seymour-hoffman-to-star-in-john-le-carres-a-most-wanted-man/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:53:45 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Sean</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Books/Comics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Thriller]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.filmjunk.com/?p=70870</guid>
		
	

                <description><![CDATA[<img src="http://www.filmjunk.com/images/weblog/2012/02/pshmostwantedman.jpg" alt="" title="pshmostwantedman" width="500" height="333" class="centered" />

Although <em>Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy</em> didn't exactly light up the box office, it did make its $21 million budget back and also earned Gary Oldman his first ever Oscar nomination, which is certainly a worthwhile accomplishment if ever there was one. The other indirect result of the film's critical acclaim is that it has brought the works of veteran spy novelist John Le Carré back into the spotlight. An adaptation of one of his more recent books is slowly taking shape over at FilmNation Entertainment with Anton Corbijn (<em>Control</em>, <em>The American</em>) in the director's chair. Now this week they've announced that Philip Seymour Hoffman is in final negotiations to play the lead role of Gunther Bachmann, the head of a German spy unit. Sounds pretty awesome if you ask me! Producer Gail Egan had this to say about the announcement:

<span id="more-70870"></span><blockquote>"We are completely thrilled at the prospect of Philip Seymour Hoffman playing Bachmann in Andrew Bovell's brilliant adaptation of this very modern thriller by John le Carré. We will start shooting in Hamburg in September and are delighted to be working with Anton Corbijn on this film. His unique vision for le Carré's complex and stylish story is very contemporary, very real, very human."</blockquote>

Unlike Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, this will not be a period piece, and the plot revolves around a half-Chechen, half-Russian ex-prisoner who turns up in Hamburg looking to recover his father's fortune from a private bank. Something about him doesn't add up, however, and spies from three different countries watch over him, suspecting him of being a terrorist. The script was written by Andrew Bovell (<em>Edge of Darkness</em>).

Although I wasn't a big fan of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy personally, I am always interested in spy movies and I'm very interested to see Philip Seymour Hoffman take on a potentially George Smiley-esque role. I also thoroughly enjoyed Anton Corbijn's The American, so this is definitely a project that I will be keeping a close eye on. Are you looking forward to A Most Wanted Man? Check out a promotional trailer for the book embedded below.

<iframe class="centered" width="500" height="281" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/To32Cd9ul1k" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><p>FOR MORE DAILY MOVIE GOODNESS, VISIT <a href="http://www.filmjunk.com">FILMJUNK.COM</a>!</p>]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img src="http://www.filmjunk.com/images/weblog/2012/02/pshmostwantedman.jpg" alt="" title="pshmostwantedman" width="500" height="333" class="centered" />

Although <em>Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy</em> didn't exactly light up the box office, it did make its $21 million budget back and also earned Gary Oldman his first ever Oscar nomination, which is certainly a worthwhile accomplishment if ever there was one. The other indirect result of the film's critical acclaim is that it has brought the works of veteran spy novelist John Le Carré back into the spotlight. An adaptation of one of his more recent books is slowly taking shape over at FilmNation Entertainment with Anton Corbijn (<em>Control</em>, <em>The American</em>) in the director's chair. Now this week they've announced that Philip Seymour Hoffman is in final negotiations to play the lead role of Gunther Bachmann, the head of a German spy unit. Sounds pretty awesome if you ask me! Producer Gail Egan had this to say about the announcement:

<span id="more-70870"></span><blockquote>"We are completely thrilled at the prospect of Philip Seymour Hoffman playing Bachmann in Andrew Bovell's brilliant adaptation of this very modern thriller by John le Carré. We will start shooting in Hamburg in September and are delighted to be working with Anton Corbijn on this film. His unique vision for le Carré's complex and stylish story is very contemporary, very real, very human."</blockquote>

Unlike Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, this will not be a period piece, and the plot revolves around a half-Chechen, half-Russian ex-prisoner who turns up in Hamburg looking to recover his father's fortune from a private bank. Something about him doesn't add up, however, and spies from three different countries watch over him, suspecting him of being a terrorist. The script was written by Andrew Bovell (<em>Edge of Darkness</em>).

Although I wasn't a big fan of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy personally, I am always interested in spy movies and I'm very interested to see Philip Seymour Hoffman take on a potentially George Smiley-esque role. I also thoroughly enjoyed Anton Corbijn's The American, so this is definitely a project that I will be keeping a close eye on. Are you looking forward to A Most Wanted Man? Check out a promotional trailer for the book embedded below.

<iframe class="centered" width="500" height="281" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/To32Cd9ul1k" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><p>FOR MORE DAILY MOVIE GOODNESS, VISIT <a href="http://www.filmjunk.com">FILMJUNK.COM</a>!</p>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.filmjunk.com/2012/02/09/philip-seymour-hoffman-to-star-in-john-le-carres-a-most-wanted-man/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		</item>

	
	<item>
		<title>Brian De Palma to Direct Heat Remake Starring Jason Statham</title>
		<link>http://www.filmjunk.com/2012/02/09/brian-de-palma-to-direct-heat-remake-starring-jason-statham/</link>
		<comments>http://www.filmjunk.com/2012/02/09/brian-de-palma-to-direct-heat-remake-starring-jason-statham/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:42:39 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Sean</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Action]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Remakes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Thriller]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.filmjunk.com/?p=70934</guid>
		
	

                <description><![CDATA[<img src="http://www.filmjunk.com/images/weblog/2012/02/heatremake.jpg" alt="" title="heatremake" width="300" height="458" class="centered" />

Alright, alright... don't get your panties in a bunch. It's not Michael Mann's <em>Heat</em> that's about to get the remake treatment, but rather the 1986 Burt Reynolds vehicle of the same name (apparently there are quite a few movies called Heat). Directed by Dick Richards (<em>Farewell, My Lovely</em>), the original film starred Reynolds as a former gambling addict who now makes a living as a Las Vegas bodyguard. When a female friend gets savagely beaten, he helps her exact revenge on the mobsters who are responsible. The movie was based on a book by William Goldman (<em>Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid</em>, <em>The Princess Bride</em>), who also wrote the script. Now Brian De Palma has signed on to helm a new version with Jason Statham in the lead role.

<span id="more-70934"></span>A remake like this should be an ideal fit for Jason Statham, and will probably be fairly similar to <em>The Mechanic</em> remake that he starred in last year. However, it's a bit more surprising for Brian De Palma, who hasn't really done anything of note in quite some time. It's not that he hasn't directed remakes before (<em>Blow Out</em> is a loose remake of Michelangelo Antonioni's <em>Blow-Up</em>) but he isn't really known for straight up action flicks. Still, technically it also qualifies as a crime thriller, which tends to be his specialty. What do you think? Are you looking forward to seeing Brian De Palma team up with Jason Statham and is this version of Heat worth remaking?<p>FOR MORE DAILY MOVIE GOODNESS, VISIT <a href="http://www.filmjunk.com">FILMJUNK.COM</a>!</p>]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img src="http://www.filmjunk.com/images/weblog/2012/02/heatremake.jpg" alt="" title="heatremake" width="300" height="458" class="centered" />

Alright, alright... don't get your panties in a bunch. It's not Michael Mann's <em>Heat</em> that's about to get the remake treatment, but rather the 1986 Burt Reynolds vehicle of the same name (apparently there are quite a few movies called Heat). Directed by Dick Richards (<em>Farewell, My Lovely</em>), the original film starred Reynolds as a former gambling addict who now makes a living as a Las Vegas bodyguard. When a female friend gets savagely beaten, he helps her exact revenge on the mobsters who are responsible. The movie was based on a book by William Goldman (<em>Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid</em>, <em>The Princess Bride</em>), who also wrote the script. Now Brian De Palma has signed on to helm a new version with Jason Statham in the lead role.

<span id="more-70934"></span>A remake like this should be an ideal fit for Jason Statham, and will probably be fairly similar to <em>The Mechanic</em> remake that he starred in last year. However, it's a bit more surprising for Brian De Palma, who hasn't really done anything of note in quite some time. It's not that he hasn't directed remakes before (<em>Blow Out</em> is a loose remake of Michelangelo Antonioni's <em>Blow-Up</em>) but he isn't really known for straight up action flicks. Still, technically it also qualifies as a crime thriller, which tends to be his specialty. What do you think? Are you looking forward to seeing Brian De Palma team up with Jason Statham and is this version of Heat worth remaking?<p>FOR MORE DAILY MOVIE GOODNESS, VISIT <a href="http://www.filmjunk.com">FILMJUNK.COM</a>!</p>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.filmjunk.com/2012/02/09/brian-de-palma-to-direct-heat-remake-starring-jason-statham/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		</item>

	
	<item>
		<title>The Bourne Legacy Trailer Starring Jeremy Renner</title>
		<link>http://www.filmjunk.com/2012/02/08/the-bourne-legacy-trailer-starring-jeremy-renner/</link>
		<comments>http://www.filmjunk.com/2012/02/08/the-bourne-legacy-trailer-starring-jeremy-renner/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:28:01 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Sean</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Action]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Thriller]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Trailers]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.filmjunk.com/?p=70894</guid>
		
	

                <description><![CDATA[<img src="http://www.filmjunk.com/images/weblog/2012/02/bournelegacytrailer.jpg" alt="" title="bournelegacytrailer" width="500" height="329" class="centered" />

In the lead up to Super Bowl weekend, I was thinking about the few big 2012 summer blockbusters that we have yet to see a trailer for, and <em>The Bourne Legacy</em> stood out as the biggest of the bunch. This week Universal has finally debuted the trailer, but just like Sony did with <em>The Amazing Spider-Man</em>, they decided to unveil it online instead of dropping a few million dollars on a 30 second TV spot that could easily be missed. The question is, will anyone care about a new Bourne movie without Jason Bourne?

As previously announced, The Bourne Legacy does not star Matt Damon but rather Jeremy Renner in the lead role, playing a new member of Operation Treadstone named Aaron Cross. Renner is a capable actor, but something tells me this could easily blur together with his recent role in <em>Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol</em>. It's unclear what Aaron Cross' story will be (aside from the fact that he can also kick all kinds of ass), but Edward Norton apparently plays the film's villain. Director Tony Gilroy wrote the screenplays for the previous three films and also directed <em>Michael Clayton</em>, so the movie seems to be in good hands, and yet it's hard not to see this as an extraneous spin-off from an already solid standalone trilogy. The Bourne Legacy hits theatres on August 3rd; check out the trailer after the jump and see what you think.

<span id="more-70894"></span><iframe class="centered" width="500" height="281" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/paVLyvA5S1g" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><p>FOR MORE DAILY MOVIE GOODNESS, VISIT <a href="http://www.filmjunk.com">FILMJUNK.COM</a>!</p>]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img src="http://www.filmjunk.com/images/weblog/2012/02/bournelegacytrailer.jpg" alt="" title="bournelegacytrailer" width="500" height="329" class="centered" />

In the lead up to Super Bowl weekend, I was thinking about the few big 2012 summer blockbusters that we have yet to see a trailer for, and <em>The Bourne Legacy</em> stood out as the biggest of the bunch. This week Universal has finally debuted the trailer, but just like Sony did with <em>The Amazing Spider-Man</em>, they decided to unveil it online instead of dropping a few million dollars on a 30 second TV spot that could easily be missed. The question is, will anyone care about a new Bourne movie without Jason Bourne?

As previously announced, The Bourne Legacy does not star Matt Damon but rather Jeremy Renner in the lead role, playing a new member of Operation Treadstone named Aaron Cross. Renner is a capable actor, but something tells me this could easily blur together with his recent role in <em>Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol</em>. It's unclear what Aaron Cross' story will be (aside from the fact that he can also kick all kinds of ass), but Edward Norton apparently plays the film's villain. Director Tony Gilroy wrote the screenplays for the previous three films and also directed <em>Michael Clayton</em>, so the movie seems to be in good hands, and yet it's hard not to see this as an extraneous spin-off from an already solid standalone trilogy. The Bourne Legacy hits theatres on August 3rd; check out the trailer after the jump and see what you think.

<span id="more-70894"></span><iframe class="centered" width="500" height="281" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/paVLyvA5S1g" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><p>FOR MORE DAILY MOVIE GOODNESS, VISIT <a href="http://www.filmjunk.com">FILMJUNK.COM</a>!</p>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.filmjunk.com/2012/02/08/the-bourne-legacy-trailer-starring-jeremy-renner/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		</item>

	
	<item>
		<title>John Hawkes Signs on for Jackie Brown Prequel</title>
		<link>http://www.filmjunk.com/2012/02/02/john-hawkes-signs-on-for-jackie-brown-prequel/</link>
		<comments>http://www.filmjunk.com/2012/02/02/john-hawkes-signs-on-for-jackie-brown-prequel/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:17:11 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Sean</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Books/Comics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Drama]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Thriller]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.filmjunk.com/?p=70542</guid>
		
	

                <description><![CDATA[<img src="http://www.filmjunk.com/images/weblog/2012/02/johnhawkesjackiebrown.jpg" alt="" title="johnhawkesjackiebrown" width="500" height="319" class="centered" />

Does John Hawkes look like a young Robert DeNiro? Writer-director Dan Schechter seems to think there is a resemblance of some sort, as he has just cast him to play a younger version of DeNiro's character from Quentin Tarantino's 1997 film <em>Jackie Brown</em>. A few years back, Schechter wrote a spec script for an adaptation of Elmore Leonard's novel <em>The Switch</em>, a prequel that takes place 15 years before <em>Rum Punch</em>, the book that Jackie Brown was based on. Leonard ended up liking it so much that he granted him the rights to make the movie and also signed on as a producer. Now Schechter is also directing the movie, and Yasiin Bey (the actor formerly known as Mos Def) has also signed on to play Samuel L. Jackson's former role. The plot synopsis is as follows:

<span id="more-70542"></span><blockquote>"Ordell Robbie and Louis Gara hit it off in prison, where they were both doing time for grand theft auto. Now that they're out, they're joining forces for one big score. The plan is to kidnap the wife of a wealthy Detroit developer and hold her for ransom. But they didn't figure the lowlife husband wouldn't want his lady back. So it's time for Plan B and the opportunity to make a real killing -- with the unlikely help of a beautiful, ticked-off housewife who's hungry for a large helping of sweet revenge."</blockquote>

My first thought after hearing about a <a href="http://www.filmjunk.com/2010/05/25/jackie-brown-prequel-in-development/">Jackie Brown prequel</a> is that it would like be nothing more than direct-to-video fodder, especially without the involvement of Quentin Tarantino. Dan Schechter has only two films under his belt, neither of which I have heard of previously (<em>Goodbye Baby</em>, <em>Supporting Characters</em>), and that doesn't seem particularly reassuring. However, they've now got two solid actors in Hawkes and Bey, and the fact that Elmore Leonard has given it his blessing should mean something as well... right? Are you interested in seeing a Jackie Brown prequel?<p>FOR MORE DAILY MOVIE GOODNESS, VISIT <a href="http://www.filmjunk.com">FILMJUNK.COM</a>!</p>]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img src="http://www.filmjunk.com/images/weblog/2012/02/johnhawkesjackiebrown.jpg" alt="" title="johnhawkesjackiebrown" width="500" height="319" class="centered" />

Does John Hawkes look like a young Robert DeNiro? Writer-director Dan Schechter seems to think there is a resemblance of some sort, as he has just cast him to play a younger version of DeNiro's character from Quentin Tarantino's 1997 film <em>Jackie Brown</em>. A few years back, Schechter wrote a spec script for an adaptation of Elmore Leonard's novel <em>The Switch</em>, a prequel that takes place 15 years before <em>Rum Punch</em>, the book that Jackie Brown was based on. Leonard ended up liking it so much that he granted him the rights to make the movie and also signed on as a producer. Now Schechter is also directing the movie, and Yasiin Bey (the actor formerly known as Mos Def) has also signed on to play Samuel L. Jackson's former role. The plot synopsis is as follows:

<span id="more-70542"></span><blockquote>"Ordell Robbie and Louis Gara hit it off in prison, where they were both doing time for grand theft auto. Now that they're out, they're joining forces for one big score. The plan is to kidnap the wife of a wealthy Detroit developer and hold her for ransom. But they didn't figure the lowlife husband wouldn't want his lady back. So it's time for Plan B and the opportunity to make a real killing -- with the unlikely help of a beautiful, ticked-off housewife who's hungry for a large helping of sweet revenge."</blockquote>

My first thought after hearing about a <a href="http://www.filmjunk.com/2010/05/25/jackie-brown-prequel-in-development/">Jackie Brown prequel</a> is that it would like be nothing more than direct-to-video fodder, especially without the involvement of Quentin Tarantino. Dan Schechter has only two films under his belt, neither of which I have heard of previously (<em>Goodbye Baby</em>, <em>Supporting Characters</em>), and that doesn't seem particularly reassuring. However, they've now got two solid actors in Hawkes and Bey, and the fact that Elmore Leonard has given it his blessing should mean something as well... right? Are you interested in seeing a Jackie Brown prequel?<p>FOR MORE DAILY MOVIE GOODNESS, VISIT <a href="http://www.filmjunk.com">FILMJUNK.COM</a>!</p>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.filmjunk.com/2012/02/02/john-hawkes-signs-on-for-jackie-brown-prequel/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		</item>

	
	<item>
		<title>Get the Gringo Trailer Starring Mel Gibson</title>
		<link>http://www.filmjunk.com/2012/01/31/get-the-gringo-trailer-starring-mel-gibson/</link>
		<comments>http://www.filmjunk.com/2012/01/31/get-the-gringo-trailer-starring-mel-gibson/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 31 Jan 2012 22:22:03 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Sean</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Action]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Comedy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Thriller]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Trailers]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.filmjunk.com/?p=70434</guid>
		
	

                <description><![CDATA[<img src="http://www.filmjunk.com/images/weblog/2012/01/getthegringo.jpg" alt="" title="getthegringo" width="500" height="308" class="centered" />

Ladies and gentlemen, the Gibber is back! Even P.R. blunders and underperforming Jodie Foster movies can't possibly keep this guy down. His new movie looks like an R-rated action / thriller / comedy in the same vein as the ones he used to make back in the '80s and '90s. It's called <em>Get the Gringo</em> (previously it went under the working title <em>How I Spent My Summer Vacation</em>), and it revolves around a career criminal who gets nabbed by the U.S. Border Patrol and ends up in Mexican prison, only to learn the ropes from a 10-year-old kid. It is co-written and directed by Adrian Grunberg, who was also the second unit director on Gibson's <em>Apocalypto</em>.

Now before you get too excited, it's worth noting that the movie will apparently forgo a traditional theatrical release and will <a href="http://www.deadline.com/2012/01/mel-gibson-get-the-gringo-directtv-vod-fox-video-on-demand-release/" target="_blank">debut on DirecTV instead</a>, followed by a DVD and Blu-ray release later in the year. Is this an indication that the movie is sub-par or is it a bold new distribution move? That remains to be seen. According to Harry Knowles, who is hosting a special premiere screening of the film in Austin, Mel Gibson "once again challenges the status quo by bringing this authentic Peckinpah-ian pulpy tale directly to fans." That sounds like something Harry Knowles would say. Get the Gringo will hit DirecTV on May 1st at a cost of $10.99 per home viewing. Will this be a day one rental for you? Check out the trailer after the jump and see what you think.

<span id="more-70434"></span><object class="centered" id="fstg008_bedfdbb49ce11d7a4fbd7a586d72d128" class="SpringboardPlayer" width="500" height="310" class="centered" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000">
 <param name="movie" value="http://www.springboardplatform.com/mediaplayer/springboard/video/fstg008/673/431635/"></param>
 <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param>
 <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param>
 <param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param>
 <embed class="centered" src="http://www.springboardplatform.com/mediaplayer/springboard/video/fstg008/673/431635/" width="500" height="310" class="centered" name="fstg008_bedfdbb49ce11d7a4fbd7a586d72d128" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent"></embed>
</object><p>FOR MORE DAILY MOVIE GOODNESS, VISIT <a href="http://www.filmjunk.com">FILMJUNK.COM</a>!</p>]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img src="http://www.filmjunk.com/images/weblog/2012/01/getthegringo.jpg" alt="" title="getthegringo" width="500" height="308" class="centered" />

Ladies and gentlemen, the Gibber is back! Even P.R. blunders and underperforming Jodie Foster movies can't possibly keep this guy down. His new movie looks like an R-rated action / thriller / comedy in the same vein as the ones he used to make back in the '80s and '90s. It's called <em>Get the Gringo</em> (previously it went under the working title <em>How I Spent My Summer Vacation</em>), and it revolves around a career criminal who gets nabbed by the U.S. Border Patrol and ends up in Mexican prison, only to learn the ropes from a 10-year-old kid. It is co-written and directed by Adrian Grunberg, who was also the second unit director on Gibson's <em>Apocalypto</em>.

Now before you get too excited, it's worth noting that the movie will apparently forgo a traditional theatrical release and will <a href="http://www.deadline.com/2012/01/mel-gibson-get-the-gringo-directtv-vod-fox-video-on-demand-release/" target="_blank">debut on DirecTV instead</a>, followed by a DVD and Blu-ray release later in the year. Is this an indication that the movie is sub-par or is it a bold new distribution move? That remains to be seen. According to Harry Knowles, who is hosting a special premiere screening of the film in Austin, Mel Gibson "once again challenges the status quo by bringing this authentic Peckinpah-ian pulpy tale directly to fans." That sounds like something Harry Knowles would say. Get the Gringo will hit DirecTV on May 1st at a cost of $10.99 per home viewing. Will this be a day one rental for you? Check out the trailer after the jump and see what you think.

<span id="more-70434"></span><object class="centered" id="fstg008_bedfdbb49ce11d7a4fbd7a586d72d128" class="SpringboardPlayer" width="500" height="310" class="centered" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000">
 <param name="movie" value="http://www.springboardplatform.com/mediaplayer/springboard/video/fstg008/673/431635/"></param>
 <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param>
 <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param>
 <param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param>
 <embed class="centered" src="http://www.springboardplatform.com/mediaplayer/springboard/video/fstg008/673/431635/" width="500" height="310" class="centered" name="fstg008_bedfdbb49ce11d7a4fbd7a586d72d128" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent"></embed>
</object><p>FOR MORE DAILY MOVIE GOODNESS, VISIT <a href="http://www.filmjunk.com">FILMJUNK.COM</a>!</p>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.filmjunk.com/2012/01/31/get-the-gringo-trailer-starring-mel-gibson/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		</item>

	
	<item>
		<title>The Cold Light of Day Trailer Starring Henry Cavill and Bruce Willis</title>
		<link>http://www.filmjunk.com/2012/01/31/the-cold-light-of-day-trailer-starring-henry-cavill-and-bruce-willis/</link>
		<comments>http://www.filmjunk.com/2012/01/31/the-cold-light-of-day-trailer-starring-henry-cavill-and-bruce-willis/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:14:27 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Sean</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Action]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Thriller]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Trailers]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.filmjunk.com/?p=70410</guid>
		
	

                <description><![CDATA[<img src="http://www.filmjunk.com/images/weblog/2012/01/coldlightofday.jpg" alt="" title="coldlightofday" width="500" height="326" class="centered" />

Well what do you know? It's yet another Bourne imitation, this time starring the new Superman, Henry Cavill, with a little Bruce Willis and Sigourney Weaver thrown in for good measure. Cavill plays a Wall Street trader whose family is kidnapped while they are on vacation in Spain. It turns out his dad (played by Bruce Willis) is not the mild-mannered business consultant that he claims to be... he is actually a C.I.A. agent! Crazy, I know. Now Cavill must learn the family business if they are going to get out of the situation alive.

The movie is directed by Mabrouk El Mechri, and while you might not recognize the name, you've probably at least heard of his last film, <em>JCVD</em>... starring JCVD. This is his Hollywood debut, but unfortunately it looks a little too generic for my tastes (the script was co-written by Scott Wiper, who previously did <em>The Condemned</em> starring "Stone Cold" Steve Austin). That being said, I could still see it drawing a crowd, especially with Willis on board. The Cold Light of Day hits theatres on April 6th; check out the trailer after the jump and see what you think.

<span id="more-70410"></span><iframe frameborder="0" class="centered" width="500" height="281" src="http://d.yimg.com/nl/movies/site/player.html#startScreenCarouselUI=hide&vid=28081185&repeat=0&shareUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fmovies.yahoo.com%2Fmovie%2Fcold-light-of-day-2%2Ftrailers%2Fcold-light-of-day-theatrical-trailer-28081185.html&browseCarouselUI=hide"></iframe><p>FOR MORE DAILY MOVIE GOODNESS, VISIT <a href="http://www.filmjunk.com">FILMJUNK.COM</a>!</p>]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img src="http://www.filmjunk.com/images/weblog/2012/01/coldlightofday.jpg" alt="" title="coldlightofday" width="500" height="326" class="centered" />

Well what do you know? It's yet another Bourne imitation, this time starring the new Superman, Henry Cavill, with a little Bruce Willis and Sigourney Weaver thrown in for good measure. Cavill plays a Wall Street trader whose family is kidnapped while they are on vacation in Spain. It turns out his dad (played by Bruce Willis) is not the mild-mannered business consultant that he claims to be... he is actually a C.I.A. agent! Crazy, I know. Now Cavill must learn the family business if they are going to get out of the situation alive.

The movie is directed by Mabrouk El Mechri, and while you might not recognize the name, you've probably at least heard of his last film, <em>JCVD</em>... starring JCVD. This is his Hollywood debut, but unfortunately it looks a little too generic for my tastes (the script was co-written by Scott Wiper, who previously did <em>The Condemned</em> starring "Stone Cold" Steve Austin). That being said, I could still see it drawing a crowd, especially with Willis on board. The Cold Light of Day hits theatres on April 6th; check out the trailer after the jump and see what you think.

<span id="more-70410"></span><iframe frameborder="0" class="centered" width="500" height="281" src="http://d.yimg.com/nl/movies/site/player.html#startScreenCarouselUI=hide&vid=28081185&repeat=0&shareUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fmovies.yahoo.com%2Fmovie%2Fcold-light-of-day-2%2Ftrailers%2Fcold-light-of-day-theatrical-trailer-28081185.html&browseCarouselUI=hide"></iframe><p>FOR MORE DAILY MOVIE GOODNESS, VISIT <a href="http://www.filmjunk.com">FILMJUNK.COM</a>!</p>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.filmjunk.com/2012/01/31/the-cold-light-of-day-trailer-starring-henry-cavill-and-bruce-willis/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		</item>

	
	<item>
		<title>The Grey Review (Colin&#8217;s Take)</title>
		<link>http://www.filmjunk.com/2012/01/27/the-grey-review-colins-take/</link>
		<comments>http://www.filmjunk.com/2012/01/27/the-grey-review-colins-take/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 27 Jan 2012 22:39:11 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Colin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Action]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Drama]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Movie Review]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Thriller]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.filmjunk.com/?p=70285</guid>
		
	

                <description><![CDATA[The Grey
Directed by: Joe Carnahan
Written by: Joe Carnahan &amp; Ian Mackenzie Jeffers
Starring: Liam Neeson, Durmont Mulroney, Frank Grillo

<img class="centered" title="2012_the_grey_007_big" src="http://www.filmjunk.com/images/weblog/2012/01/2012_the_grey_007_big.jpeg" alt="" width="500" height="297" />

So it's come to this: Liam Neeson, a pack of wolves, and a filmmaker with delusions of grandeur. <em>The Grey</em> might have passed as merely a second-rate survival flick had it laid off the pseudo-intellectual grandstanding and quickened the glacial pace. Unfortunately, its shepherd, Joe Carnahan, knows no such restraint. Bloated, juvenile, and absurd, the movie attempts to pass off a few cheap thrills as an ode to humanity. Oh, and according to Carnahan, it may return to theaters to make an Oscar run in October. Give me a break.

Neeson plays Ottway, a professional wolf hunter with a penchant for internally reciting corny poems written by his deceased daddy. "Once more into the fray/ Into the last good fight I'll ever know/ To live and die on this day," he rasps. Hey, how that's poetry elective going? It might seem profound as a beer hall anthem to rally spirits in the fourth quarter, but it's embarrassingly maudlin as the emotional crux of a movie. But enough about poetry — let's talk about wolves.

<span id="more-70285"></span>A plane crash strands about half a dozen men in The Middle of Nowhere, Alaska. Hounded by a pack of edgy predators, the crew must literally fight for their survival. Never mind the practical how-tos like sustaining an expedition without potable water — they've got man-hungry wolves on their tail! The biggest, nastiest wolves special effects can conjure, though they're mostly relegated to chasing everyone from one tired setpiece to the next.

<img class="centered" title="2012_the_grey_008" src="http://www.filmjunk.com/images/weblog/2012/01/2012_the_grey_008.jpeg" alt="" width="500" height="296" />

Here's the problem — with riveting wilderness docs like <em>Touching the Void</em> and <em>Encounters at the End of the World</em> streaming online, there's no excuse to settle for such a stagey drama. But Werner Herzog is obviously beyond these morons; someone in <em>The Grey</em> paraphrases <em>Grizzly Man </em>as that movie about "The fag and the bears." Are these guys from Alaska or a college fraternity?

I don't demand that any character be likeable — but I ask that they be interesting. Not a one in Ottway's ragtag group of "fugitives, drifters, and assholes" brings a single compelling trait to the table. Ottway wins the likability contest by default, even though his character might as well be the Wikipedia page on wolves for all he contributes to the conversation.

And it's a shame we're stuck with such shallow people, because their trek is often atmospheric, and the many perils they face might mean something if we actually cared about who they are. Writer/director Joe Carnahan can get by on keen visuals, but he writes like an emotionally stunted 19-year-old. His ceaselessly abrasive, hollow characters engage in dialogue with all the wisdom and wit of a whirring garbage disposal. Their pointless, profanity-laden bickering and eventual, manufactured camaraderie play stilted, not uplifting. Just die already.

<em>The Grey</em> is a mangy, flea-bitten excuse for an epic with an obnoxiously inflated self-image. Nowhere in its unwarranted 117 minutes does it possess a shred of the intellectuality it pompously aspires to, nor does it achieve a badass nirvana despite its consistent, cocksure projection of masculinity. Carnahan succeeds in scoring a few cheap thrills, but he ought to leave the philosophizing to the artists. End rant. — Colin

<em>For another take on The Grey, check out <a href="http://www.filmjunk.com/2012/01/27/the-grey-review-shannons-take/">Shannon's review</a>.</em><p>FOR MORE DAILY MOVIE GOODNESS, VISIT <a href="http://www.filmjunk.com">FILMJUNK.COM</a>!</p>]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[The Grey
Directed by: Joe Carnahan
Written by: Joe Carnahan &amp; Ian Mackenzie Jeffers
Starring: Liam Neeson, Durmont Mulroney, Frank Grillo

<img class="centered" title="2012_the_grey_007_big" src="http://www.filmjunk.com/images/weblog/2012/01/2012_the_grey_007_big.jpeg" alt="" width="500" height="297" />

So it's come to this: Liam Neeson, a pack of wolves, and a filmmaker with delusions of grandeur. <em>The Grey</em> might have passed as merely a second-rate survival flick had it laid off the pseudo-intellectual grandstanding and quickened the glacial pace. Unfortunately, its shepherd, Joe Carnahan, knows no such restraint. Bloated, juvenile, and absurd, the movie attempts to pass off a few cheap thrills as an ode to humanity. Oh, and according to Carnahan, it may return to theaters to make an Oscar run in October. Give me a break.

Neeson plays Ottway, a professional wolf hunter with a penchant for internally reciting corny poems written by his deceased daddy. "Once more into the fray/ Into the last good fight I'll ever know/ To live and die on this day," he rasps. Hey, how that's poetry elective going? It might seem profound as a beer hall anthem to rally spirits in the fourth quarter, but it's embarrassingly maudlin as the emotional crux of a movie. But enough about poetry — let's talk about wolves.

<span id="more-70285"></span>A plane crash strands about half a dozen men in The Middle of Nowhere, Alaska. Hounded by a pack of edgy predators, the crew must literally fight for their survival. Never mind the practical how-tos like sustaining an expedition without potable water — they've got man-hungry wolves on their tail! The biggest, nastiest wolves special effects can conjure, though they're mostly relegated to chasing everyone from one tired setpiece to the next.

<img class="centered" title="2012_the_grey_008" src="http://www.filmjunk.com/images/weblog/2012/01/2012_the_grey_008.jpeg" alt="" width="500" height="296" />

Here's the problem — with riveting wilderness docs like <em>Touching the Void</em> and <em>Encounters at the End of the World</em> streaming online, there's no excuse to settle for such a stagey drama. But Werner Herzog is obviously beyond these morons; someone in <em>The Grey</em> paraphrases <em>Grizzly Man </em>as that movie about "The fag and the bears." Are these guys from Alaska or a college fraternity?

I don't demand that any character be likeable — but I ask that they be interesting. Not a one in Ottway's ragtag group of "fugitives, drifters, and assholes" brings a single compelling trait to the table. Ottway wins the likability contest by default, even though his character might as well be the Wikipedia page on wolves for all he contributes to the conversation.

And it's a shame we're stuck with such shallow people, because their trek is often atmospheric, and the many perils they face might mean something if we actually cared about who they are. Writer/director Joe Carnahan can get by on keen visuals, but he writes like an emotionally stunted 19-year-old. His ceaselessly abrasive, hollow characters engage in dialogue with all the wisdom and wit of a whirring garbage disposal. Their pointless, profanity-laden bickering and eventual, manufactured camaraderie play stilted, not uplifting. Just die already.

<em>The Grey</em> is a mangy, flea-bitten excuse for an epic with an obnoxiously inflated self-image. Nowhere in its unwarranted 117 minutes does it possess a shred of the intellectuality it pompously aspires to, nor does it achieve a badass nirvana despite its consistent, cocksure projection of masculinity. Carnahan succeeds in scoring a few cheap thrills, but he ought to leave the philosophizing to the artists. End rant. — Colin

<em>For another take on The Grey, check out <a href="http://www.filmjunk.com/2012/01/27/the-grey-review-shannons-take/">Shannon's review</a>.</em><p>FOR MORE DAILY MOVIE GOODNESS, VISIT <a href="http://www.filmjunk.com">FILMJUNK.COM</a>!</p>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.filmjunk.com/2012/01/27/the-grey-review-colins-take/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		</item>

	
	<item>
		<title>The Grey Review (Shannon&#8217;s Take)</title>
		<link>http://www.filmjunk.com/2012/01/27/the-grey-review-shannons-take/</link>
		<comments>http://www.filmjunk.com/2012/01/27/the-grey-review-shannons-take/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 27 Jan 2012 22:39:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Shannon</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Action]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Drama]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Movie Review]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Thriller]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.filmjunk.com/?p=70098</guid>
		
	

                <description><![CDATA[The Grey
Directed by: Joe Carnahan
Written by: Joe Carnahan and Ian Mackenzie Jeffers
Starring: Liam Neeson, Dermot Mulroney, Dallas Roberts and Frank Grillo

<img src="http://www.filmjunk.com/images/weblog/2012/01/thegrey1.jpg" alt="" title="thegrey1" width="500" height="333" class="centered" />

January is usually known as an arid wasteland for new film releases. Studios dump all the films that weren’t good enough for awards consideration, and the results are not pretty. My expectations for <em>The Grey</em> were tempered accordingly. I expected a campy creature-feature, nothing more. What I got instead was a complex, touching and intelligent tale of survival. Solid acting, breathtaking set pieces and thoughtful ruminations on faith and spirituality elevate <em>The Grey</em> from the typical ranks of action-adventure movies.

A group of oil company workers described as “unfit for mankind” depart on a small plane bound for Anchorage, which crashes in the middle of the frozen tundra somewhere in Alaska. Only seven of the passengers survive, but the crash becomes the least of their worries. The small band of men must face hunger, fatigue, freezing temperatures and a large population of territorial wolves. Ottway (a terrific Liam Neeson) instantly becomes the de facto leader when he takes charge in the chaos and panic following the crash. While others are dazed, terrified and in shock, Ottway is calm, collected and practical. A particularly poignant scene establishes his strength of character as he gently helps ease a dying man into death. That’s the exact moment that I knew the film was going to be special.  Neeson is so poised and graceful in the scene; I completely believed in his character from that moment on.

<span id="more-70098"></span>The film feels very much like <em>Jaws</em> meets <em>Deliverance</em>. The rough and tumble men bond over their shared sense of peril while they are picked off one by one by either the wolves or the elements. The great injustice of surviving the harrowing plane crash only to succumb to these forces is frustrating to watch. You truly want these men to survive because they deserve to. Which brings me to the faith aspect of the film. Many of the men have strong faith, or believe that there must be some pre-destined reason that they were the only survivors. But how do you hold on to those beliefs when you see your numbers dwindle? Why would you be put through all of this only to be ripped apart by wolves?

Ottway is a complicated character. Ironically, he was employed by the company as a sniper who protected the base from wolves and bears, giving him some inside information on wolf behavior.  He was dangerously close to committing suicide on the evening the plane departed, but after the crash he arises a new man, determined to survive the ordeal. He is the heart and soul of the group, at times appearing to will them to live. Late in the movie, he shouts a phrase of dialogue that gave me goose bumps. He looks up in the sky, tired, alone, and scared and screams, “F*** faith, EARN IT” to whoever or whatever is out there. It kind of blew me away, because by that point you completely understand why he says it. How many tests can one man take?

<img src="http://www.filmjunk.com/images/weblog/2012/01/thegrey2.jpg" alt="" title="thegrey2" width="500" height="320" class="centered" />

Neeson is fantastic as Ottway, and without him, this is an entirely different film. Bradley Cooper was originally slated to play the role, and the movie would have been laughable if that were the case. Neeson has an air of melancholy and a sense of authority about him that is perfectly suited to Ottway. It’s no secret that Neeson tragically lost his wife a few years back, and he clearly draws on that in this role. As for the hand wringers who worry that Neeson is now stereotyped as these badass action heroes, who cares? He’s damn good at it. Though Neeson carries the movie, the supporting actors are very good: namely Dermot Mulroney and Frank Grillo.

Director Joe Carnahan (<em>The A-Team</em>, <em>Narc</em>) missteps a bit with the pacing of the film, but for the most part, he does an admirable job with the material. The plane crash scene was as scary as any I’ve seen, and the disarray and shock following the wreck was completely harrowing. Carnahan had the benefit of filming in Vancouver, and the cold and the wind are palpable. The biggest disappointment is the CGI wolves. For reasons I can’t ascertain, no one has been able to render a convincing CGI wolf to this day. They always seem a bit off, so be prepared for that. Thankfully their appearance is kept to a minimum. Lots of the tension arises from simply <em>hearing</em> them.

The action set pieces are thrilling, but it’s the humanization of the characters where he really excels. This is the type of movie we would usually find disposable characters. You might know their name, but nothing else before they get picked off. Here we get to know each of the men - how many kids they have, if they are married, etc. A few scenes that take place over a campfire reminded me of the close intimacy that the men in <em>Jaws</em> developed while on the boat. In both cases the men are scared out of their minds, and quickly build meaningful relationships. In <em>The Grey</em>, it takes a while for a few of the men peel away their false bravado and lower their defenses toward one another. It’s only after Ottway posits that it is okay to admit you are scared shitless that the men become a more cohesive unit.

<em>The Grey</em> features a lot of elements from horror, action, adventure, survival and drama to create a wonderful hybrid film. It’s a welcome January surprise that skews toward a male audience, but I think women can appreciate the humanistic component of the film. It should be a crowd pleaser, though audiences will be frustrated with the ending. (Hint: Be sure to wait through the credits for a final shot.) - Shannon

<em>For another take on The Grey, check out <a href="http://www.filmjunk.com/2012/01/27/the-grey-review-colins-take/">Colin's review</a>.</em><p>FOR MORE DAILY MOVIE GOODNESS, VISIT <a href="http://www.filmjunk.com">FILMJUNK.COM</a>!</p>]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[The Grey
Directed by: Joe Carnahan
Written by: Joe Carnahan and Ian Mackenzie Jeffers
Starring: Liam Neeson, Dermot Mulroney, Dallas Roberts and Frank Grillo

<img src="http://www.filmjunk.com/images/weblog/2012/01/thegrey1.jpg" alt="" title="thegrey1" width="500" height="333" class="centered" />

January is usually known as an arid wasteland for new film releases. Studios dump all the films that weren’t good enough for awards consideration, and the results are not pretty. My expectations for <em>The Grey</em> were tempered accordingly. I expected a campy creature-feature, nothing more. What I got instead was a complex, touching and intelligent tale of survival. Solid acting, breathtaking set pieces and thoughtful ruminations on faith and spirituality elevate <em>The Grey</em> from the typical ranks of action-adventure movies.

A group of oil company workers described as “unfit for mankind” depart on a small plane bound for Anchorage, which crashes in the middle of the frozen tundra somewhere in Alaska. Only seven of the passengers survive, but the crash becomes the least of their worries. The small band of men must face hunger, fatigue, freezing temperatures and a large population of territorial wolves. Ottway (a terrific Liam Neeson) instantly becomes the de facto leader when he takes charge in the chaos and panic following the crash. While others are dazed, terrified and in shock, Ottway is calm, collected and practical. A particularly poignant scene establishes his strength of character as he gently helps ease a dying man into death. That’s the exact moment that I knew the film was going to be special.  Neeson is so poised and graceful in the scene; I completely believed in his character from that moment on.

<span id="more-70098"></span>The film feels very much like <em>Jaws</em> meets <em>Deliverance</em>. The rough and tumble men bond over their shared sense of peril while they are picked off one by one by either the wolves or the elements. The great injustice of surviving the harrowing plane crash only to succumb to these forces is frustrating to watch. You truly want these men to survive because they deserve to. Which brings me to the faith aspect of the film. Many of the men have strong faith, or believe that there must be some pre-destined reason that they were the only survivors. But how do you hold on to those beliefs when you see your numbers dwindle? Why would you be put through all of this only to be ripped apart by wolves?

Ottway is a complicated character. Ironically, he was employed by the company as a sniper who protected the base from wolves and bears, giving him some inside information on wolf behavior.  He was dangerously close to committing suicide on the evening the plane departed, but after the crash he arises a new man, determined to survive the ordeal. He is the heart and soul of the group, at times appearing to will them to live. Late in the movie, he shouts a phrase of dialogue that gave me goose bumps. He looks up in the sky, tired, alone, and scared and screams, “F*** faith, EARN IT” to whoever or whatever is out there. It kind of blew me away, because by that point you completely understand why he says it. How many tests can one man take?

<img src="http://www.filmjunk.com/images/weblog/2012/01/thegrey2.jpg" alt="" title="thegrey2" width="500" height="320" class="centered" />

Neeson is fantastic as Ottway, and without him, this is an entirely different film. Bradley Cooper was originally slated to play the role, and the movie would have been laughable if that were the case. Neeson has an air of melancholy and a sense of authority about him that is perfectly suited to Ottway. It’s no secret that Neeson tragically lost his wife a few years back, and he clearly draws on that in this role. As for the hand wringers who worry that Neeson is now stereotyped as these badass action heroes, who cares? He’s damn good at it. Though Neeson carries the movie, the supporting actors are very good: namely Dermot Mulroney and Frank Grillo.

Director Joe Carnahan (<em>The A-Team</em>, <em>Narc</em>) missteps a bit with the pacing of the film, but for the most part, he does an admirable job with the material. The plane crash scene was as scary as any I’ve seen, and the disarray and shock following the wreck was completely harrowing. Carnahan had the benefit of filming in Vancouver, and the cold and the wind are palpable. The biggest disappointment is the CGI wolves. For reasons I can’t ascertain, no one has been able to render a convincing CGI wolf to this day. They always seem a bit off, so be prepared for that. Thankfully their appearance is kept to a minimum. Lots of the tension arises from simply <em>hearing</em> them.

The action set pieces are thrilling, but it’s the humanization of the characters where he really excels. This is the type of movie we would usually find disposable characters. You might know their name, but nothing else before they get picked off. Here we get to know each of the men - how many kids they have, if they are married, etc. A few scenes that take place over a campfire reminded me of the close intimacy that the men in <em>Jaws</em> developed while on the boat. In both cases the men are scared out of their minds, and quickly build meaningful relationships. In <em>The Grey</em>, it takes a while for a few of the men peel away their false bravado and lower their defenses toward one another. It’s only after Ottway posits that it is okay to admit you are scared shitless that the men become a more cohesive unit.

<em>The Grey</em> features a lot of elements from horror, action, adventure, survival and drama to create a wonderful hybrid film. It’s a welcome January surprise that skews toward a male audience, but I think women can appreciate the humanistic component of the film. It should be a crowd pleaser, though audiences will be frustrated with the ending. (Hint: Be sure to wait through the credits for a final shot.) - Shannon

<em>For another take on The Grey, check out <a href="http://www.filmjunk.com/2012/01/27/the-grey-review-colins-take/">Colin's review</a>.</em><p>FOR MORE DAILY MOVIE GOODNESS, VISIT <a href="http://www.filmjunk.com">FILMJUNK.COM</a>!</p>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.filmjunk.com/2012/01/27/the-grey-review-shannons-take/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		</item>

	
	<item>
		<title>Brake Trailer Starring Stephen Dorff</title>
		<link>http://www.filmjunk.com/2012/01/27/brake-trailer-starring-stephen-dorff/</link>
		<comments>http://www.filmjunk.com/2012/01/27/brake-trailer-starring-stephen-dorff/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:47:15 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Sean</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Thriller]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Trailers]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.filmjunk.com/?p=70212</guid>
		
	

                <description><![CDATA[<img src="http://www.filmjunk.com/images/weblog/2012/01/braketrailer.jpg" alt="" title="braketrailer" width="500" height="313" class="centered" />

With Sofia Coppola's <em>Somewhere</em> and Tarsem's <em>Immortals</em>, it looked like Stephen Dorff was starting to work his way back into the spotlight after years of bit parts and roles in direct-to-video productions. That being said, he is still continuing to take on roles in some low brow genre stuff that seems like it could go either way. Case in point: <em>Brake</em>, a low budget thriller that doesn't try to hide the fact that it's a direct rip-off of the Ryan Reynolds trapped-in-a-coffin movie <em>Buried</em>.

Stephen Dorff plays a Secret Service Agent who wakes up in the back of a trunk with a digital clock slowly counting down. It soon becomes clear that he is being held by a group of terrorists who are trying to extract information from him. The movie is directed by Gabe Torres and written by Timothy Mannion, both of whom come from a TV background with few recognizable credits. It looks pretty mediocre if you ask me, but who knows... perhaps it will contain an interesting twist or two. IFC will release Brake via video on demand on Feb. 17th and in select theatres on March 23rd; check out the trailer after the jump and see what you think.

<span id="more-70212"></span><iframe class="centered" width="500" height="281" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/yKwzLJXHsxw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><p>FOR MORE DAILY MOVIE GOODNESS, VISIT <a href="http://www.filmjunk.com">FILMJUNK.COM</a>!</p>]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img src="http://www.filmjunk.com/images/weblog/2012/01/braketrailer.jpg" alt="" title="braketrailer" width="500" height="313" class="centered" />

With Sofia Coppola's <em>Somewhere</em> and Tarsem's <em>Immortals</em>, it looked like Stephen Dorff was starting to work his way back into the spotlight after years of bit parts and roles in direct-to-video productions. That being said, he is still continuing to take on roles in some low brow genre stuff that seems like it could go either way. Case in point: <em>Brake</em>, a low budget thriller that doesn't try to hide the fact that it's a direct rip-off of the Ryan Reynolds trapped-in-a-coffin movie <em>Buried</em>.

Stephen Dorff plays a Secret Service Agent who wakes up in the back of a trunk with a digital clock slowly counting down. It soon becomes clear that he is being held by a group of terrorists who are trying to extract information from him. The movie is directed by Gabe Torres and written by Timothy Mannion, both of whom come from a TV background with few recognizable credits. It looks pretty mediocre if you ask me, but who knows... perhaps it will contain an interesting twist or two. IFC will release Brake via video on demand on Feb. 17th and in select theatres on March 23rd; check out the trailer after the jump and see what you think.

<span id="more-70212"></span><iframe class="centered" width="500" height="281" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/yKwzLJXHsxw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><p>FOR MORE DAILY MOVIE GOODNESS, VISIT <a href="http://www.filmjunk.com">FILMJUNK.COM</a>!</p>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.filmjunk.com/2012/01/27/brake-trailer-starring-stephen-dorff/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		</item>

	
	<item>
		<title>Punished DVD Review</title>
		<link>http://www.filmjunk.com/2012/01/23/punished-dvd-review/</link>
		<comments>http://www.filmjunk.com/2012/01/23/punished-dvd-review/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:00:30 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Reed</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[DVD Review]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Drama]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[International]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Movie Review]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Thriller]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.filmjunk.com/?p=69903</guid>
		
	

                <description><![CDATA[Punished
Directed by: Law Wing Cheong
Written by: Chi Keung Fung 
Starring: Anthony Wong, Richie Jen, Janice Man, Maggie Cheung Ho Yee

<img src="http://www.filmjunk.com/images/weblog/2012/01/punished1.jpg" alt="" title="punished1" width="500" height="322" class="centered" />

<em>Punished</em> is another entry in the revenge genre that continues in its ongoing popularity. A kidnapping occurs with the film non-linearly unraveling the mystery of who is involved. Although there are a few depictions of brutal violence, this film concerns itself mainly with the psychological toll on the perpetrator of revenge. An interesting change is that the physical revenge is performed by a hired-hand of the victim's father. 

Some people expecting an action film will likely find the character scenes rather bland, but I thought they were interesting in the context of the mystery of revealing who was involved in the kidnapping. The violence is not stylized at all. There are rough and tumble fights rather than wire-work martial arts. And the gunfights are straight ahead "keep shooting until you get shot" matches. No slow motion or doves here.

<span id="more-69903"></span>A real estate tycoon Wong Ho-Chiu (Anthony Wong) lives with his rebellious daughter Daisy (Janice Man), dutiful son, and compassionate wife (Maggie Cheung), who is the mother-in-law of the children. He has two bodyguards. He browbeats a meek man in charge of a real-estate deal currently in trouble. When his daughter is kidnapped, he enlists one of his bodyguards Chor (Richie Jen), who has a previous criminal background, to find the perpetrators.

What is interesting about the introduction of all these characters is that the audience can immediately suspect any one of them to be the mastermind of the kidnapping. Even the benign characters can be suspected of having a motive against the tycoon. There are various natural character pair interactions that keep you guessing which characters are being honest or deceptive. Chor is also dealing with his own disinterested son from a failed marriage.

Depending on how you feel about the tycoon by the end of the film, you might have a problem with what happens near the ending. He did not show compassion towards the common people who were affected by his business deals, but was he really ruthless with people? Sympathies for the tycoon will no doubt vary. Did the tycoon deserve having to deal with this kidnapping ordeal? One aspect that is not explored in the tycoon's mental deterioration is paranoia although he does initially suspect his daughter arranged her own kidnapping. Some people will probably have a problem reconciling the brutal killer and tolerant father aspects of Chor. I think it acknowledges the idea that your nice neighbour next door could be a killer.

<img src="http://www.filmjunk.com/images/weblog/2012/01/punished2.jpg" alt="" title="punished2" width="500" height="307" class="centered" />

Anthony Wong has a long and much rewarded career in Hong Kong cinema. I really enjoyed his performance in this film. (On a whim, I decided to check out the English dubbing on the DVD. As expected, the choice of voice actor for Anthony Wong was horrible.) It's interesting that his real-life son plays his son in this film.

Although having directed seven films (one of them being <em>2 Become 1</em>, a comedy/drama in 2007 for which he was nominated as Best New Director at the Hong Kong Film Awards), director Law Wing Cheong is probably best known for being an assistant director on popular Johnnie To films like <em>Election</em> and <em>Exiled</em>. I thought he did a nice job keeping the tension with subtle camera framing movements.

One thing I like about foreign films is that they often show you cultural details that are different than what you are familiar with. In this film, there is an outdoor racing track for large remote-controlled cars. This was an interesting setting to use for an interaction between Chor and his son.

The press release for the DVD of this film from Indomina Releasing contains a factual error with regards to the actress Maggie Cheung Ho Yee in this film. The press release confuses her with Maggie Cheung of <em>Hero</em> and <em>In the Mood for Love</em> fame. Also I don't think the plot synopsis is correct with regards to several details, but to point them out here would be providing spoilers.

Don't expect an action-packed revenge film like <em>Taken</em> with Liam Neeson. This is a more contemplative take on the effects of taking revenge, with circumstances affecting decisions and determining outcomes. The title "Punished" can refer to both the external physical violence and internal mental disturbance that come with revenge. -- Reed
<p>FOR MORE DAILY MOVIE GOODNESS, VISIT <a href="http://www.filmjunk.com">FILMJUNK.COM</a>!</p>]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[Punished
Directed by: Law Wing Cheong
Written by: Chi Keung Fung 
Starring: Anthony Wong, Richie Jen, Janice Man, Maggie Cheung Ho Yee

<img src="http://www.filmjunk.com/images/weblog/2012/01/punished1.jpg" alt="" title="punished1" width="500" height="322" class="centered" />

<em>Punished</em> is another entry in the revenge genre that continues in its ongoing popularity. A kidnapping occurs with the film non-linearly unraveling the mystery of who is involved. Although there are a few depictions of brutal violence, this film concerns itself mainly with the psychological toll on the perpetrator of revenge. An interesting change is that the physical revenge is performed by a hired-hand of the victim's father. 

Some people expecting an action film will likely find the character scenes rather bland, but I thought they were interesting in the context of the mystery of revealing who was involved in the kidnapping. The violence is not stylized at all. There are rough and tumble fights rather than wire-work martial arts. And the gunfights are straight ahead "keep shooting until you get shot" matches. No slow motion or doves here.

<span id="more-69903"></span>A real estate tycoon Wong Ho-Chiu (Anthony Wong) lives with his rebellious daughter Daisy (Janice Man), dutiful son, and compassionate wife (Maggie Cheung), who is the mother-in-law of the children. He has two bodyguards. He browbeats a meek man in charge of a real-estate deal currently in trouble. When his daughter is kidnapped, he enlists one of his bodyguards Chor (Richie Jen), who has a previous criminal background, to find the perpetrators.

What is interesting about the introduction of all these characters is that the audience can immediately suspect any one of them to be the mastermind of the kidnapping. Even the benign characters can be suspected of having a motive against the tycoon. There are various natural character pair interactions that keep you guessing which characters are being honest or deceptive. Chor is also dealing with his own disinterested son from a failed marriage.

Depending on how you feel about the tycoon by the end of the film, you might have a problem with what happens near the ending. He did not show compassion towards the common people who were affected by his business deals, but was he really ruthless with people? Sympathies for the tycoon will no doubt vary. Did the tycoon deserve having to deal with this kidnapping ordeal? One aspect that is not explored in the tycoon's mental deterioration is paranoia although he does initially suspect his daughter arranged her own kidnapping. Some people will probably have a problem reconciling the brutal killer and tolerant father aspects of Chor. I think it acknowledges the idea that your nice neighbour next door could be a killer.

<img src="http://www.filmjunk.com/images/weblog/2012/01/punished2.jpg" alt="" title="punished2" width="500" height="307" class="centered" />

Anthony Wong has a long and much rewarded career in Hong Kong cinema. I really enjoyed his performance in this film. (On a whim, I decided to check out the English dubbing on the DVD. As expected, the choice of voice actor for Anthony Wong was horrible.) It's interesting that his real-life son plays his son in this film.

Although having directed seven films (one of them being <em>2 Become 1</em>, a comedy/drama in 2007 for which he was nominated as Best New Director at the Hong Kong Film Awards), director Law Wing Cheong is probably best known for being an assistant director on popular Johnnie To films like <em>Election</em> and <em>Exiled</em>. I thought he did a nice job keeping the tension with subtle camera framing movements.

One thing I like about foreign films is that they often show you cultural details that are different than what you are familiar with. In this film, there is an outdoor racing track for large remote-controlled cars. This was an interesting setting to use for an interaction between Chor and his son.

The press release for the DVD of this film from Indomina Releasing contains a factual error with regards to the actress Maggie Cheung Ho Yee in this film. The press release confuses her with Maggie Cheung of <em>Hero</em> and <em>In the Mood for Love</em> fame. Also I don't think the plot synopsis is correct with regards to several details, but to point them out here would be providing spoilers.

Don't expect an action-packed revenge film like <em>Taken</em> with Liam Neeson. This is a more contemplative take on the effects of taking revenge, with circumstances affecting decisions and determining outcomes. The title "Punished" can refer to both the external physical violence and internal mental disturbance that come with revenge. -- Reed
<p>FOR MORE DAILY MOVIE GOODNESS, VISIT <a href="http://www.filmjunk.com">FILMJUNK.COM</a>!</p>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.filmjunk.com/2012/01/23/punished-dvd-review/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		</item>

	
	<item>
		<title>Haywire Review</title>
		<link>http://www.filmjunk.com/2012/01/22/haywire-review/</link>
		<comments>http://www.filmjunk.com/2012/01/22/haywire-review/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 22 Jan 2012 19:07:54 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Colin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Action]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Movie Review]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Thriller]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.filmjunk.com/?p=69877</guid>
		
	

                <description><![CDATA[Haywire
Directed by: Steven Soderbergh
Written by: Lem Dobbs
Starring: Gina Carano, Ewan McGregor, Michael Fassbender, Michael Douglas, Bill Paxton, Antonio Banderas, Channing Tatum, Michael Angarano

<img class="centered" title="Haywire" src="http://www.filmjunk.com/images/weblog/2012/01/2011_haywire_029.jpeg" alt="" />

<em>Haywire</em> is a lot like last year's <em>Drive</em>. What both lack in substance, they make up for in style. Likewise, both could be dismissed as pulp dreck if their respective directors hadn't classed up the material. <em>Haywire</em> isn't as riveting as last year's sleeper hit, but the way Steven Soderbergh stages and choreographs the action elevates it from generic genre fare; especially apparent in contrast to its opening weekend competition: <em>Underworld Awakening</em>.

Punctuated by terse life-or-death scuffles between a badass black ops agent and her would-be assassins, it's no wonder Soderbergh hired martial artist slash actress Gina Carano (not to be confused with Carla Gugino). Of her handful of big screen credits, <em>Haywire</em> is by far the biggest deal; her casting is a move reminiscent of another recent Soderbergh flick — <em>The Girlfriend Experience</em>, which marked the dramatic debut of porn star Sasha Grey.

<span id="more-69877"></span>Both actresses fit well in the roles Soderbergh picks for them, but I question how well either would come off when working with a director less versed in coaching non-actors. Perhaps the most impressive thing about Carano's performance is that she holds her own in such formidable company: Ewan McGregor, Michael Fassbender, Michael Douglas, Bill Paxton, Antonio Banderas, etc. Channing Tatum. The list goes on.

<img class="centered" title="Haywire" src="http://www.filmjunk.com/images/weblog/2012/01/2011_haywire_024.jpeg" alt="" />

Their collective effort is in large part what makes <em>Haywire</em> such a breezy watch. 93 minutes soaking wet, the film flashes backwards and forwards in its narrative to keep the momentum from faltering (and also, I reckon, to gussy up a simplistic espionage tale). The IMDB synopsis says it all: "A black ops super soldier seeks payback after she is betrayed during a mission." The film's final moment perfectly reflects the entirety: cheesy, cheeky, fun, and ultimately, forgettable.

Famous for his Hollywood haggling to get passion projects off the ground ("One for me, one for you"), Soderbergh is blurring the line between his studio pictures and personal films. With <em>Haywire</em>, the lack of marketing oomph and no-name lead suggest it might fall into the "One for me" category, especially after his crowd-pleasing <em>Contagion</em>. But if the audience I saw it with was any indication, <em>Haywire</em> is no less accessible.

Nor does it feel as obligatory as, say, an <em>Oceans</em> sequel. For the most part, Soderbergh brings his A-game, although I do take issue with the cheapo aesthetic. The harsh digital look he seems fond of works in low-key experiments like <em>Bubble</em>, but feels out of place in a fast-paced action flick. Dim, bland interiors with overblown light sources lend to the film's overall disposable vibe.

But while it lasts, <em>Haywire</em> is an enjoyable January actioner. Though it pales in comparison to Nicolas Winding Refn's excellent <em>Drive</em>, they have a lot in common: a bare bones story spearheaded by a brutal and ruthless protagonist, and a director who knows how to play them to maximum effect. <em>Drive</em> skews operatic while <em>Haywire</em> skews goofy, but both provide more compelling action sequences than any of last summer's blockbusters, <em>Contagion</em> included.

Plus, this time of year empirically means slim pickings for the discerning cinephile. It's either this or <em>Underworld</em>, folks. I'll give you a minute to decide. — Colin
<p>FOR MORE DAILY MOVIE GOODNESS, VISIT <a href="http://www.filmjunk.com">FILMJUNK.COM</a>!</p>]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[Haywire
Directed by: Steven Soderbergh
Written by: Lem Dobbs
Starring: Gina Carano, Ewan McGregor, Michael Fassbender, Michael Douglas, Bill Paxton, Antonio Banderas, Channing Tatum, Michael Angarano

<img class="centered" title="Haywire" src="http://www.filmjunk.com/images/weblog/2012/01/2011_haywire_029.jpeg" alt="" />

<em>Haywire</em> is a lot like last year's <em>Drive</em>. What both lack in substance, they make up for in style. Likewise, both could be dismissed as pulp dreck if their respective directors hadn't classed up the material. <em>Haywire</em> isn't as riveting as last year's sleeper hit, but the way Steven Soderbergh stages and choreographs the action elevates it from generic genre fare; especially apparent in contrast to its opening weekend competition: <em>Underworld Awakening</em>.

Punctuated by terse life-or-death scuffles between a badass black ops agent and her would-be assassins, it's no wonder Soderbergh hired martial artist slash actress Gina Carano (not to be confused with Carla Gugino). Of her handful of big screen credits, <em>Haywire</em> is by far the biggest deal; her casting is a move reminiscent of another recent Soderbergh flick — <em>The Girlfriend Experience</em>, which marked the dramatic debut of porn star Sasha Grey.

<span id="more-69877"></span>Both actresses fit well in the roles Soderbergh picks for them, but I question how well either would come off when working with a director less versed in coaching non-actors. Perhaps the most impressive thing about Carano's performance is that she holds her own in such formidable company: Ewan McGregor, Michael Fassbender, Michael Douglas, Bill Paxton, Antonio Banderas, etc. Channing Tatum. The list goes on.

<img class="centered" title="Haywire" src="http://www.filmjunk.com/images/weblog/2012/01/2011_haywire_024.jpeg" alt="" />

Their collective effort is in large part what makes <em>Haywire</em> such a breezy watch. 93 minutes soaking wet, the film flashes backwards and forwards in its narrative to keep the momentum from faltering (and also, I reckon, to gussy up a simplistic espionage tale). The IMDB synopsis says it all: "A black ops super soldier seeks payback after she is betrayed during a mission." The film's final moment perfectly reflects the entirety: cheesy, cheeky, fun, and ultimately, forgettable.

Famous for his Hollywood haggling to get passion projects off the ground ("One for me, one for you"), Soderbergh is blurring the line between his studio pictures and personal films. With <em>Haywire</em>, the lack of marketing oomph and no-name lead suggest it might fall into the "One for me" category, especially after his crowd-pleasing <em>Contagion</em>. But if the audience I saw it with was any indication, <em>Haywire</em> is no less accessible.

Nor does it feel as obligatory as, say, an <em>Oceans</em> sequel. For the most part, Soderbergh brings his A-game, although I do take issue with the cheapo aesthetic. The harsh digital look he seems fond of works in low-key experiments like <em>Bubble</em>, but feels out of place in a fast-paced action flick. Dim, bland interiors with overblown light sources lend to the film's overall disposable vibe.

But while it lasts, <em>Haywire</em> is an enjoyable January actioner. Though it pales in comparison to Nicolas Winding Refn's excellent <em>Drive</em>, they have a lot in common: a bare bones story spearheaded by a brutal and ruthless protagonist, and a director who knows how to play them to maximum effect. <em>Drive</em> skews operatic while <em>Haywire</em> skews goofy, but both provide more compelling action sequences than any of last summer's blockbusters, <em>Contagion</em> included.

Plus, this time of year empirically means slim pickings for the discerning cinephile. It's either this or <em>Underworld</em>, folks. I'll give you a minute to decide. — Colin
<p>FOR MORE DAILY MOVIE GOODNESS, VISIT <a href="http://www.filmjunk.com">FILMJUNK.COM</a>!</p>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.filmjunk.com/2012/01/22/haywire-review/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		</item>

	
	<item>
		<title>Liv Tyler to Star in Ti West&#8217;s New Sci-Fi/Thriller The Side Effect</title>
		<link>http://www.filmjunk.com/2012/01/18/liv-tyler-to-star-in-ti-wests-new-sci-fithriller-the-side-effect/</link>
		<comments>http://www.filmjunk.com/2012/01/18/liv-tyler-to-star-in-ti-wests-new-sci-fithriller-the-side-effect/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 19 Jan 2012 04:59:17 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Aaron</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Horror]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sci-fi]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Thriller]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.filmjunk.com/?p=69745</guid>
		
	

                <description><![CDATA[<img src="http://www.filmjunk.com/images/weblog/2012/01/livtylersideeffects.jpg" alt="" title="livtylersideeffects" width="500" height="335" class="centered" />

While currently earning some praise for his most recent film <em>The Innkeepers</em>, director Ti West has already begun work on his next effort, a sci-fi thriller called <em>The Side Effect</em>.  Liv Tyler has just been announced as the lead, playing a woman who "spends several months alone in space as an experimental subject for a global pharmaceutical company, and finds herself inexplicably pregnant."  Her paranoia grows as the cause of conception becomes more elusive.  Described as more psychological than his previous efforts, West maintained that the film doesn't abandon his genre roots, commenting that "it is still somewhat of a horror film."  Sounds like a cross between <em>Moon</em> and <em>Rosemary's Baby</em>.  

<span id="more-69745"></span><em>The Side Effect</em> marks a return to thriller territory for Tyler who starred in 2008's <em>The Strangers</em>.  While some may voice concern over Tyler's ability to carry a film, I think West's ability to create and manipulate tone will stand as a better marker for the movie's effectiveness.  He's certainly shown his skills in that department thus far and watching him tackle material that aims to be more psychological in nature should make for an interesting film.  Both Tyler and West will be attending Sundance later this month to promote separate films (she has <em>Robot And Frank</em>, he has <em>V/H/S</em>), so perhaps we will hear more details on <em>The Side Effect</em> then.  Are you excited that Ti West's latest falls into the sci-fi genre?  What do you think of Liv Tyler as the lead? <p>FOR MORE DAILY MOVIE GOODNESS, VISIT <a href="http://www.filmjunk.com">FILMJUNK.COM</a>!</p>]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img src="http://www.filmjunk.com/images/weblog/2012/01/livtylersideeffects.jpg" alt="" title="livtylersideeffects" width="500" height="335" class="centered" />

While currently earning some praise for his most recent film <em>The Innkeepers</em>, director Ti West has already begun work on his next effort, a sci-fi thriller called <em>The Side Effect</em>.  Liv Tyler has just been announced as the lead, playing a woman who "spends several months alone in space as an experimental subject for a global pharmaceutical company, and finds herself inexplicably pregnant."  Her paranoia grows as the cause of conception becomes more elusive.  Described as more psychological than his previous efforts, West maintained that the film doesn't abandon his genre roots, commenting that "it is still somewhat of a horror film."  Sounds like a cross between <em>Moon</em> and <em>Rosemary's Baby</em>.  

<span id="more-69745"></span><em>The Side Effect</em> marks a return to thriller territory for Tyler who starred in 2008's <em>The Strangers</em>.  While some may voice concern over Tyler's ability to carry a film, I think West's ability to create and manipulate tone will stand as a better marker for the movie's effectiveness.  He's certainly shown his skills in that department thus far and watching him tackle material that aims to be more psychological in nature should make for an interesting film.  Both Tyler and West will be attending Sundance later this month to promote separate films (she has <em>Robot And Frank</em>, he has <em>V/H/S</em>), so perhaps we will hear more details on <em>The Side Effect</em> then.  Are you excited that Ti West's latest falls into the sci-fi genre?  What do you think of Liv Tyler as the lead? <p>FOR MORE DAILY MOVIE GOODNESS, VISIT <a href="http://www.filmjunk.com">FILMJUNK.COM</a>!</p>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.filmjunk.com/2012/01/18/liv-tyler-to-star-in-ti-wests-new-sci-fithriller-the-side-effect/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		</item>

	</channel>
</rss>

<!-- Performance optimized by W3 Total Cache. Learn more: http://www.w3-edge.com/wordpress-plugins/

Minified using disk
Page Caching using disk (enhanced) (User agent is rejected)

Served from: www.filmjunk.com @ 2012-02-10 05:41:27 -->
