christopher nolan

Showing 13 posts tagged christopher nolan

“Man of Steel”

The newest update to the Superman film mythos from director Zack Snyder and producer Christopher Nolan.

The interweb was ablaze yesterday. Why? Because of the release of the latest trailer for Man of Steel, the newest Superman movie that was unfortunately beginning to fly under usual summer blockbuster comic book movie expectations (pun intended). I don’t know why but the new concept wasn’t grabbing hold of the masses. Okay, maybe the past subpar iterations had something to do with that (I’m looking at you, Brandon Routh). I for one was onboard when they started touting Henry Cavill (the man of my dreams from his brilliant work on The Tutors) around in blue tights. Well, I think everything is all about to change with this latest trailer that is.. in a word… utterly FANTASTIC. Suck it, haters. 

Here are some of my favorite moments from the trailer and some of my commentary along the way:

1. The score had me at the first note (0:01)
2. “Kal-El, I am your father” - Russell Crowe (0:10)
3. It’s the simple things in love; love the snapshots of those Americana moments (0:39)
4. As it is always portrayed, Clark just can’t help being a hero (0:54)
5. ”Clark, I am your father” - Kevin Costner (1:06)
6. The words to define a true legend (1:27)
7. Love the preparation for flight (1:55)… wait for it… and the actually flight (2:00)
8. Michael Shannon as General Zod was a brilliant casting move; we WILL see him angry (2:15)
9. Umm, a female Jimmy Olsen, perhaps? (2:27) 
10. Are we ever going to hear the word “Superman” spoken out loud? (2:45)

Predictions for the ending: This story is all pre-Daily Planet. After Superman is accepted by society as a superhero to watch over them, Clark will suddenly “show up”, glasses and all, and work at the Daily Planet. 

Man of Steel is scheduled for theatrical release on June 14th. I’ll be there at midnight… the night before. 

“Man of Steel”

[The newest update to the Superman film mythos from director Zack Snyder and producer Christopher Nolan.]

I’m quite partial to superhero movies, and I’m loving this new turn into comic worlds where these superheros are more real and character-driven yet still embodies the larger-than-life personas that made them so famous (think Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy). This trailer suggests more of the same with a more introspective look at the super-man who could quite easily take over the world but chooses to stand with humanity. The emphasis on this aspect is great as well as the questions of whether to hide his abilities in light of people’s suffering around him (and isn’t the clip of him taking off for flight awesome?). I have been digging on this movie ever since Henry Cavill from The Tutors landed the role of Superman as he has such a commanding presence.  Man of Steel also stars Amy Adams (Lois Lane), Michael Shannon (Zod), Kevin Costner (Papa Kent), and Diane Lane (Mama Kent) and will hit theaters mid-2013.

Movies On Repeat

Taking a page from Vern’s playbook, I wanted to put together a list of five movies that I could watch over and over and never get bored. Trust me, I know because I have. Some of them may not be the best films around, but they are ones that forever make me laugh, smile, and cry over and over again. They forever entertain me. Enjoy:
 

Momento: I have to start of with my favorite movie of all time. Give it up to Christopher and Jonathan Nolan, they have contributed greatly to independent film with this movie. Starring Guy Pierce as a man with a memory disorder that leaves him with only the ability to process new memories, the structure of the story reflects his conditions. We are given bits of the story in short increments that build the story backwards as well as thrilling black-and-white moments throughout that are moving forwards, culminating to the end of the movie that is really the middle of the story. Follow me? What could of have been gimmicky adequately reflects the confusion that clouds the life of this man, his difficulty in connecting with people, and his misguided quest to find his wife’s killer. This is a thinking man’s movie, and one of the best there is.


(500) Days of Summer: You only appreciate the sweetness, funny one-liners, little moments of romance, and innovation of this film the more you watch it. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is the quintessential good guy who gets with the girl of his dreams but is ultimately burned. Set to one of the best movie soundtracks, we root for him though in this brilliantly done, out-of-order romantic comedy and feel for him through instances of heartbreak, fallen expectation, learning and accepting that the girl he thought was “the one” isn’t. 


Before Sunrise/Before Sunset: I contend that Before Sunset is one of the best contemporary independent films ever, even more so than the first film Before Sunrise (how many times is the sequel better than the original?) But I just can’t watch one without watching the other. These two films stand as some of the most romantic film experiences ever captured. We follow these two people as they wander through the streets of beautiful European cities (Vienna and Paris, respectively) and learn of their hopes, fears, desires, and love for each other that stands over time. In Before Sunrise they meet, and in Before Sunset, they meet again nine years later. Between these two films we get to see how they characters have changed, grown, evolved, and affect one another. It’s not for those who crave action but more so for those who craves beautiful moments of intense connection between two people. 


Happythankyoumoreplease: It all starts with a lost little boy on a NYC subway train who is found. We are then brought into a world that writer/director Josh Radnor creates with three interacting stories of 20-somethings who are trying to build their lives and find their happiness - a struggling writer who has been jumping from one woman to another, an alopecia patient searching for someone to love her, and a couple who are hesitant to leave what they know. We care about these characters even when they go down the wrong paths. And just like these characters, we learn alittle bit about what truly makes us happy as we watch. 


Bright Star: This has to be one of the most beautiful movies made in the last decade. It’s literally poetry in sight and sound. Based on the true story of the poet John Keats and the love of his life who inspired some of his famous work, we watch as love and tragedy befalls the last few years of his life. I’m drawn to watch this again and again to hear the words of Keats and that beautiful musical composition.  

What are your five movies on repeat?

Film Review: “The Dark Knight Rises”

There were many reasons I was looking so forward to seeing The Dark Knight Rises that I purchased a ticket to a midnight showing for the opening of the film to the public and dared any rowdy teenager (as their were many of them there ‘cuz yeah, it’s unfortunately summertime and they don’t have anywhere to go in the morning) to ruin my movie watching experience. One, Chris Nolan - I’m a dedicated, hardcore fan of his (if you know me well enough, you know that Memento is my favorite movie of all time). Two me, he’s a very exciting, introspective, intriguing writer/filmmaker who often captivates me in one way or the other. I have been really enjoying he’s take on Batman and what he has brought to comic book film history. It’s Chris Nolan’s world and I’m just living in it, folks. Two, Joseph Gordon-Levitt - I love him, pure and simple. It may be corny but there is a sort of joy that he brings to his acting that always makes me care out his characters and connects with me as a viewer. Also, there was much speculation on his role in the movie, and I was excited to see how he was really going to fit into the Batman universe (John Blake, rookie cop, my ass). Three, the cast. Except for Anne Hathaway (really?), everyone just made sense in their supporting roles when the cast was announced. Ahem, and I would like to note that I may from here on in refer to this movie as the unofficial Inception reunion (five, count ‘em, five actors + director in common). Tom Hardy especially made sense as he has been so great in transformative roles that I couldn’t help be into him as Bane. Four, last but not least, the story. I was alittle sad to learn that this would be the last of Nolan’s Batman (I actually think he won’t do any more of them and move on, which I actually think he should), but I wanted to see how it would wrap up. I was interested to see how the symbol of Batman stands and survives in the post-Dent world. As I had shared with a friend of mine, Batman has always been my favorite comic book hero and resonated with me because he’s imperfect, moody, and valiant; he represents the best and worst of us much more than any other superhero. I’m glad to say that I really enjoyed and applaud The Dark Knight Rises in so many respects. I didn’t feel it was an amazing movie or even one of Nolan’s best, but what it does do was present another consistent and interesting layer to the Batman mythos and remind us of things we can strive for in our own lives. I clapped at the end of the movie; I teared up alittle. It is more than a movie, that is worthy of attending. My Grade: B+

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Must Watch List (Summer)

I have to say I have only seen one maybe two movies in the theaters in the last two months or so, an absolute rarity for me. It have been pretty much due to the lack of new movies I have been interested in enough to see. Well that is all about to change next month with the slew of summer releases that are on the horizon and I couldn’t be happier. Actually, I’m ecstatic. Thanks to the good people over at EW who continue to publish awesome movie calendars so people like me can plan their theater outings. With almost 15 movies between May and August, this will be my busiest summer yet:

May 4

The Avengers: Yep, I’m planning to assemble with some friends and see this. I will just miss seeing it at Tribeca and will but in Europe on opening weekend but I’m rushing back to see this. If you are like me and missed some of the origin movies like Thor, AMC theaters are running a Marvel movie marathon on May 3rd!


June 1

Killer Joe: When a debt puts a young man (Emile Hirsch)’s life in danger, he decides to hire a contract killer, Killer Joe Cooper (Matthew McConaughey), to kill his evil mother in order to collect the insurance money. No trailer yet but this dark indie comedy premiered at the 2011 Toronto Film Festival to good reviews, and I think it would be worth seeing.


June 8

Safety Not Guaranteed: This is my sweet and genuine comedy pick of the summer. The film is actually inspired by a real internet meme of a newspaper classified ad by a person seeking a companion for time travel (so how can this NOT be funny?). In this, three magazine employees head out on an assignment to interview a guy who placed this classified ad. One of my favorite up-and-coming actors Mark Jake Johnson (New Girl) stars.


June 22

To Rome With Love: The next Woody Allen movie focusing on people’s experiences in Rome starring Jesse Eisenberg, Ellen Page, Penelope Cruz, and Alec Baldwin.


June 27

Beasts of the Southern Wild: A magical story of a 6-year old girl who lives with her father in a southern Delta community at the edge of the world. When her father contracts a mysterious illness which threatens the balances of nature, Hushpuppy goes on a quest to find her mother. This was not a film on my radar at this year’s Sundance as I usually avoid anything remotely close to fantasy films but after it won the big prize there, I have to check it out.

Update (5/5): The trailer is here, and its beautiful fantasy film indeed:

June 29

People Like Us: A brother and sister meet for the first time in this upcoming Chris Pine/Elizabeth Banks movie.

Magic Mike: Male strippers without shirts but with plenty of dreams in Steven Soderbergh’s latest starring Channing Tatum, Alex Pettyfer, and Matthew McConaughey


July 3

The Amazing Spiderman: I still think its too early for a spiderman reboot (or is this a prequel? really?) but I can’t fault them. They had my money at Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone.


July 6

Savages: I think Oliver Stone is on the right track with this new crime drama starring Blake Lively, Taylor Kitsch, John Travolta, Salma Hayek, and Benicio del Toro.


July 20

The Dark Knight Rises: I have to see the next and last entry in the Christopher Nolan Batman franchise. It doesn’t hurt that Inception castmates Tom Hardy and Joseph Gordon-Levitt co-stars. Am I the only one still not 100% sure of Anne Hathaway at Catwoman? Watch the official trailer or see a (much better, in my opinion) fan-made trailer. A new official trailer is suppose to premiere before The Avengers so keep an eye out for it!


August 3

The Bourne Legacy: In this 4th Bourne film, there is more to the Treadstone project: Jeremy Renner!


August 15

The Odd Life of Timothy Green: This is my family film pick of the summer. A childless couple bury a box in their backyard, containing all of their wishes for an infant. This characteristics are personified with the appearance of Timothy Green, but all is not as it appears. I’m curious to see the gentler side of Joel Edgerton (have you seen some of his past films?).


August 24

Premium Rush: A NYC bike messenger picks up an envelope that attracts the interest of a dirty cop, who pursues the cyclist throughout the city. I actually don’t think this is going to be anything more than just a cool looking action movie on a bike but Joseph Gordon-Levitt is in it… so… you know… gonna go see it. I actually stumbled across the film set last year so curious to see what they do with it to give it some substance.


August 31

Lawless (formerly The Wettest County): Three brothers (two of which are played by Shia LaBeouf and Tom Hardy) find their bootlegging business under threat in Prohibition-era Franklin County, Virginia. No trailer yet but I’m already pulled in by the cast which also includes Guy Pearce and Jessica Chastain.

Update (4/24): The trailer has just been released and it looks pretty damn good. I barely recognized Guy Pearce. Anyone thinks like I do that Shia LaBoeuf was born to play an outlaw?