Solitary Man

And Then Came Lola

A nice comedy for those that like American dryish humor. Me I don't. So, no surprise, I didn't enjoyed much this Ellen Seidler and Megan Siler film that was inspired in one film that definitively I liked a lot Run Lola Run.

Tells about photographer Lola and a series of fortuitous incidents that doesn't allow her to reach her destination on time to give her girlfriend some photos. The story is told several times changing the situations in the fortuitous incidents, until the last one that has a happy ending.

I had no expectations for this film and even when I knew was inspired in excellent Run Lola Run, I was not expecting the film to be alike and well, it's not. I watched the film for two known to me actresses and well they did perform as always, meaning I saw Jill Bennett and Cathy DeBuono and not their characters.

But, I know that many liked and will like the film as an escape moment with a nice American dryish humor comedy, unfortunately I'm not one of them. Can't recommend the film but I know that many will watch as is a comedy with a well-known cast in the lesbian interest genre.

Sigh.

Watch trailer @ Movie On Companion

Carlos

Many times having expectations is not really wise as it's almost impossible than a movie made-for-TV could satisfied them, much less if is a miniseries in three installments not shown one day after another but one week after another. Still, I really appreciate and are grateful to my friends from France for allowing me to watch my first Cannes 2010 film. No, Carlos was not what I expected, as a very long biopic I find it acceptable and definitively has its moments but they are not many.

The story smartly skips his youth and the first part has Carlos in Paris starting to be active in his maybe then revolutionary quest and goes up to days before the OPEC incident. Starts slowly and not very interesting to follow, but suddenly it becomes really intense! I got so excited with the first part that got my expectations even higher.

Part two, starts with OPEC incident which was not that exciting especially after the buildup of part one. Continues with him being kicked-out of the PFLP and forming his own group. By now he's a media icon and a well-known -I should say- 'mercenary' that will work for many that opposes imperialism. Perhaps the last part of the story of this second installment was lesser known to me, so I got interested in learning how and why he ended up working for Syria.

Part three is his slow decline up to his arrest in Sudan which as a story is less interesting, but has its moments when the group goes violent in Paris trying to liberate their imprisoned colleagues.

My take away from what I saw in the story is that Carlos became a 'mercenary', but truth or not, what impresses is how he was able to do everything he did -most of which today is impossible- and who backed up him in the different decades. As a movie has top notch production values, good slow pace at times and fast action pace at the adequate moments; performances are above average for main characters and the many other actors with secondary roles. No complaining at all with the film tech specs that are well above for a film made for television.

So what exactly was missing for me? A more compelling and engaging storytelling, both visually as well as narrative. But definitively has its moments when is intense, compelling and engages you with whatever is happening.

When I finished watching the last installment my honest thought was that the two Mesrine films were a lot more compelling and engaging. Surely Mesrine does not have all the important characters Carlos has, but the style was more exciting to watch with a roller-coaster of contradictory emotions felt for the main character and everything they show. Except for the last half of the first part, Carlos was flat and didn't engage me with feeling any kind of emotions for the main character, other characters, situations or the story in general. It was like watching a impassive factual series of -real- events film.

I strongly suggest to see this film with no expectations and if you are lucky enough not to know Carlos story I imagine you will enjoy more this vision by Olivier Assayas. Right now I do not think I'll watch the shorter 2 1/2 version, but maybe I will when it comes to cable. By the way I saw the French dubbed version, which maybe it didn't help much to engage me as dubbing is always bad; consequently I strongly suggest you to watch Carlos in the original languages with subtitles in the language of your choice, perhaps this way will be a little bit more engaging.

My 2010 Cannes experience does not start well, but I hope two or three films will change my experience for the more positive.

Enjoy.

Watch trailer @ Movie On Companion

New GREEN LANTERN Poster!

Hey guys - here is the new GREEN LANTERN poster from Warner Bros. (consumer products division).

Anyone getting amped about this movie or what??

via Slashfilm

Escape to the Movies: "Splice"

Short version: GO SEE IT.



Also, the film's director Vincenzo Natali gets interviewed in this week's "Intermisson": http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/columns/moviebob/7636-Nice-Splice

Relativity Media's Modern Take On SNOW WHITE To Be Made In 3D!!

Looks like Relativity Media has picked up the rights to Melisa Wallack's script for THE BROTHERS GRIMM: SNOW WHITE and they plan on giving the classic children's tale a modern spin and produce it in 3D.

Relativity's Tucker Tooley is executive producing along with Bernie Goldmann, Brett Ratner and Ryan Kavanaugh in the producer's role.

"Talent and directors of the highest level have already responded to the new, edgier concept, and to Melissa's script," Goldmann said. "While retaining the elements of the beloved Brothers Grimm tale, this is certainly not your mother's Snow White."

Sounds intriguing! Kind of like Disney's modern live action take on Cinderella I would wager. Looks like we will be in for a few movies in this new paradigm.

Source: Variety

3D Sports Set To Explode On June 11!!

Have you got your S3DHD TV yet? Well in case you haven't and you are wondering what kind of broadcast content will be available before you buy, try this on for size: The 2010 FIFA World Cup Soccer games will start airing in 40 million homes on June 11 in stunning 3D through ESPN 3D. The insanely popular tournament will be aired through Comcast, DirecTV and other distribution channels.

Not only will the sports be in S3D, but so will the commercials! ESPN is ONLY taking 3D commercials for the games and Sony has already agreed to be one of the first to air a 3D commercial for their products.

As far as the World Cup goes, ESPN 3D has actually increased the number of events being covered from 85 to about 100.

So if you want to see the games in 3D - check out the various solutions available at your nearest electronics store. I was in BestBuy yesterday and loved their Samsung set up which was showing MONSTERS VS. ALIENS. Solutions are also available through Amazon.com.