There is a LOT going on in “Avengers: Age of Ultron”, the latest in the ongoing saga of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. That works both for and against the film, but overall, in the hands of Joss Whedon, it’s never dull.
Showcast Episode 98: Adam’s in heaven as the only movie really worth talking about this week is “The Avengers: Age of Ultron”. Stand-up comic and RiffTrax writer Joseph Scrimshaw sits in, so The Movie Guys try their own hand at riffing to “Jurassic World”, “M:I 5” & “Furious 7”. Plus, a word from The Movie Guys’ latest sponsor, Kellogg’s Avengers: Age of Ultron Sweetened Cereal with Avengers Team Marshmallows!
Bathsheba has a strong head about her that reminds me of Black Widow, who outsmarts her opponents long before she dismantles them with fighting technique.
Writer/director and actress Kathleen Davison has a haunting tale to tell, and it was told well as the closing night film for the NoHo Cinefest.
“Unfriended” is an interesting horror film in that the characters are so shallow, obnoxious and unlikable that I think it’s a pretty accurate portrayal of entitled, tech-addicted youths and there’s great reward in watching them get offed.
Showcast Episode 97: Impressionist and stand-up comic Melissa Villaseñor joins The Movie Guys for previews of new films “The Age of Adaline”, “The Water Diviner” & “Little Boy”. Plus, a trailer for the new, all-female “Avengers” movie and rousing rounds of “What Did You See This Week?” and Karen’s Birthdays.
First and foremost you should know that “Furious 7” is a bunch of bullshit. Once you get beyond knowing that it’s just not a story of this Earth, you can have a fun time!
Ray Schillaci recommends four exceptional short films: “The Apple Tree”, “Tomgirl”, “Moving On” and “A Tricky Treat”.
“Alex of Venice” brings with it all the best elements you’ve come to want in an indie film: drama, humor, romance and an overall welcome effort to keep it simple.
Showcast Episode 96: The Movie Guys reach once again towards The Guinness World Record for most movies previewed in one Showcast as they take on “Unfriended”, “Disneynature Monkey Kingdom”, “Child 44”, “True Story” and “Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2”. Also, Paul interviews writer/actress Katie Nehra about her new film “Alex of Venice”, also in theaters April 17th.
Showcast Episode 95: It’s an Indiana Jones LOVEFEST as Chris Strompolos of “Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation” hits The Admiral’s Club with updates on the greatest fan film ever made (for the uninitiated, it was shot over thirty-two years – suck it, “Boyhood”!). He talks about the film, the book and the new documentary that captures the making of the remake. Plus, a preview of the Scott Eastwood’s abs-a-thon known as “The Longest Ride” and an Indy-themed Karen’s Birthdays.
Ray Schillaci recaps more of the best of the fest from The 2015 Phoenix Film Festival, including “Slow West”, “Exeter” and “White God”.
According to many attending the festival, filmmakers and moviegoers alike, this was one of the best years yet.
I’m of the opinion that the least effective way to send people out of your film is not allowing the music that carried the film to finish the job.
Showcast Episode 94: Movie geekery runs amok as IMDB over-achiever Glenn Morshower joins The Movie Guys in studio for great stories about “Star Trek: Generations”, “Transformers”, “Black Hawk Down” and more, including his stint as the great Aaron Pierce on the TV show “24”. There’s also roundtable talk of his new film “Flutter”, opening on V.O.D. April 7th. Plus, “Furious 7”, the weekend’s sole major release, gets a thorough once-over.
“The Gunman” is the perfect vehicle for Sean Penn to pull a Liam Neeson and do a late-career swing into action
Showcast Episode 93: You might think you’ve tuned into The T.V. Guys at the top of this show, as The Movie Guys and special guest Ricky Carmona (“Tosh.0”) stroll down T.V. Theme Song Memory Lane. Then the movie talk erupts – movie music, prison movies and, of course, movie previews, including “Home”, “Get Hard” and “While We’re Young”. Also, Bart launches his recurring segment, “Cruise News”, where he pretty much makes love to Tom Cruise every week.
New movie trailers include “Aloha”, “Crimson Peak”, “Hot Pursuit”, Inside Out”, “Maggie”, “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.”, “Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation”, “Paper Towns”, “Pixels”, “San Andreas”, “Southpaw”, “Spectre”, “Straight Outta Compton” and “Trainwreck”.
Showcast Episode 92: New weekend, new movies, as “The Divergent Series: Insurgent” and “The Gunman” get a full once-over. Then special guest filmmaker Scott Storm hits The Admiral’s Club to talk about his career as a filmmaker, his new animated short film “The Apple Tree” and his job cutting movie trailers. Also, fired-up rounds of Retractions, “What Did You See This Week?” and Karen’s Birthdays.
Showcast Episode 91: Star of stage and “Scream” Jamie Kennedy joins The Movie Guys in The Admiral’s Club to promote his new indie thriller “Buddy Hutchins” and rail against show scripts during previews of “Run All Night” and “Cinderella”. There are great on-set stories and talk of the hidden gem “The Specials”, plus vocal coach to the stars Chet Loudly returns to teach everyone how to act with a more gravelly, Neeson-esque voice.
Aided by a complex story, interesting characters and tight direction, the Spierigs deliver a powerful punch that has you talking about the film long after it is over
“The Duff” knows its ancestry – John Hughes movies – and the film wisely embraces the best qualities of that genre without ripping it off.
Here is an independent genre film that operates high on all cylinders and delivers the goods promised.
Showcast Episode 90: Squeezing coverage of the long and varied career of Beth Grant into a hundred minutes proves no easy task for The Movie Guys as “The Mindy Project” regular is this week’s guest, sharing stories of working with industry giants like Clint Eastwood, Tom Cruise, Billy Crystal, Sandra Bullock and, if time remaining, Michael Bay. Plus, she sits in to help preview this weekend’s new releases “Chappie”, “The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” and “Unfinished Business”.
This is a refrain heard every year, it seems, just after The Academy Awards broadcast. People sharpen their swords to slice through everything that was wrong with that year’s ceremony.
The exploits of con men crossing and double-crossing each other are told through the filter of beautiful people in “Focus”
After watching the Oscar telecast for so many years, one cannot help but wonder this year, what the hell happened?
SPOILERS AHEAD: If you have not seen “Birdman”, and do not wish the ending to be ruined, then do not keep reading (that being said, most people didn’t understand the ending, so even if you read this, it’s probably not that big of a deal).
It’s Oscar Sunday, and with The Oscar Rant out there, more opinions have popped up about the ten best films of 2014.
If it’s Oscar season, it must be time for mock controversy!
Paul Preston’s annual, exhaustive, no-stone-left-unturned once over of all the nominees. All of them.
Showcast Episode 88: The Oscars are February 22nd and The Movie Guys are live from the red carpet on Hollywood Blvd…on February 18th. Despite Oscar-fever, the studios are releasing “Hot Tub Time Machine 2”, “The Duff” and “McFarland USA”, which all get the preview treatment. Also, Paul, Karen, Bart & Adam give up their Top Five films of 2014 and special guest actor Ayman Samman talks about working on Oscar nominee “American Sniper”.
Showcast Episode 87: After six weeks of January movies, the 2015 film season really kicks off with “Kingsman: The Secret Service” and “Fifty Shades of Grey”, both of which get thoroughly previewed by The Movie Guys. Then, guest Becca Battoe talks about her experience as the audiobook narrator for “Fifty Shades” and gets coaxed to sex up other books in the process.
WHIPLASH is a story about the pursuit of excellence. To me, it was the best picture I saw all of last year.
Is it manipulating? At times, it attempts to be. Does it accomplish everything it set out to do? Perhaps. Do we end up caring? Depends on the audience.
The title suggests that the creative minds responsible for this fascinating film don’t mind if you refer to it by either of the titles listed above. There really are two stories happening at the same time, though it does appear to be just one.
New movie trailers include “Ant-Man”, “Dragon Blade”, “Entourage”, “Fantastic Four”, “Furious 7”, “In the Heart of the Sea”, “Insurgent”, “Jurassic World”, “Magic Mike XXL”, “Marvel’s The Avengers: Age of Ultron”, “Minions”, “Pitch Perfect 2”, “Poltergeist”, “San Andreas”, “Spy”, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”, “Ted 2”, “Terminator Genisys”, “Tomorrowland” and “True Story”
Showcast Episode 86: The February movies are here, and they look a lot like the January movies, as two calendar-displaced sci-fi fantasy films finally come out – “Seventh Son” and “Jupiter Ascending”. The Movie Guys give ’em both the preview treatment along with “SpongeBob: Sponge Out of Water”. Also, The Oscar Doctors try to spruce up these films’ awards chances and there’s a rousing round of “Name That Jeff Bridges Movie”. All this with special guest Mark Povinelli!
Historical Spoilers Ahead! If you do NOT KNOW WORLD HISTORY, or do NOT WANT TO KNOW ABOUT WORLD HISTORY, then DO NOT KEEP READING!
For all who are uninitiated, “Selma” is not just about Martin Luther King Jr, although he is a key player in its history. Just as fascinating are all the supporting players that were integral to the historical events that took place in Selma, Alabama.