Tuesday, January 21, 2014

[DVD] Tuesdays with Mell 01/14/2014 The Butler

Image of Lee Daniels' The Butler2013 Biopic
Cecil Gaines serves eight presidents during his tenure as a butler at the White House, the civil rights movement, Vietnam, and other major events affect this man's life, family, and American society. 
Trailer: Trailer
Director: 2X Oscar nominated Lee Daniels (Precious)

Writers: 

2X Emmy winner  (Game Change (2012)  & upcoming Hunger Games: Mockingjay pt. 1 &2 based on the article by  
Stars: Oscar winner Forest Whitaker (Last Kinf og Scotland), Oscar nom Oprah Winfrey (The Color Purple), Saturn award nom John Cusack (1408), 2X Oscar winenr Jane Fonda (Coming Home) (Precious),  (Magic Mike), Oscar winner  (Julia),  ("Harry's Law "),  ("Burn Notice"), Oscar nom  (Hustle & Flow), Oscar winner  (Jerry Maguire),  (The Hunger Games: Catching Fire), Oscar winner  (Good Will Hunting), 

Filmed in: New Orleans & Houma, Louisiana w. a $30M budget


Music by Rodrigo Leão

DP: Andrew Dunn

Production Design by 
Tim Galvin
Art Direction by 
Lori Agostino, Erik Polczwartek & Jason Baldwin Stewart
Set Decoration by 
Diane Lederman Costume Design by 
Ruth E. Carter
Rating: Noteworthy
Watch with: 
The Help12 Years a SlaveThe Hunt 
Image of Enough Said2013 Rom Com
2X Indie Spirit nom: Best Supporting Male: James Gandolfini & Best Screenplay-Nicole Holofcener 
A divorced woman who decides to pursue the man she's interested in learns he's her new friend's ex-husband. 
Director: Nicole Holofcener
other crew: 
Music by-Marcelo Zarvos
Cinematography by Xavier Pérez Grobet
Production Design by Keith P. Cunningham
Art Direction by Luke Freeborn
Set Decoration by Douglas A. Mowat
Costume Design by Leah Katznelson
Makeup Department 
Bret Boreman ... key makeup artist
Cheryl Calo ... makeup artist
Gloria Conrad ... key hair stylist
Daniel Howell ... hair department head
Karen Kawahara ... makeup department head
Viola Rock ... additional key makeup artist
Art Department 
Todd Ellis ... property master
Bart C. Hubenthal ... on-set dresser
Meg Hyatt Snow ... paint supervisor
Sound Department 
Sandra Fox ... foley artist
Visual Effects by 
Phil Carbonaro ... visual effects artist
Brian Jochum ... visual effects producer (opening credits)
Review: This is the 2nd to last film by the late, great K=James Gandolfini. He has one other film called Animal Rescue that's just been completed. I love JLD, and  this plot seems very funny & interesting. I'm curious to see if she & Gandolfini have real chemistry. Reminds me a bit plot wise of the movie Prime, but I'm hoping this film will be better. 
Rating: TBD
Watch with: Prime 

Image of Riddick2013 Scifi Thriller
Left for dead on a sun-scorched planet, Riddick finds himself up against an alien race of predators. Activating an emergency beacon alerts two ships: one carrying a new breed of mercenary, the other captained by a man from Riddick's past.
Director: David Twohy
Writer:  , based on characters created by  & Ken Wheat
filming location: 
Budget: $38M
other crew: 
Music by Graeme Revell
Cinematography by David Eggby
Production Design by Joseph C. Nemec III
Art Direction by Jean-Andre Carriere ... supervising art director
Makeup Department 
Cary Ayers ... special makeup effects crew: Tinsley Studio
Marcel Banks ... special makeup effects crew: Tinsley Studio
Kevin Carter ... special effects contact lenses
Roxy D'Alonzo ... personal makeup artist: Vin Diesel
Nikolaos Dresios ... sculptor
Lee Gren ... graphic designer specialty tattoos: Tinsley Studio
Adrien Morot ... makeup department head / makeup effects designer
Kathy Tse ... special makeup effects artist
Mark Unterberger ... special makeup effects artist
Chad Waters ... special makeup effects artist
Art Department 
Annie Carpentier ... key props
Alain Giguère ... head scenic painter
Erik Gosselin ... specialty props
George Tucci ... props
Michel Verdon ... ramps and props
Sound Department 
Sandra Fox ... foley artist
Goro Koyama ... foley artist
Andy Malcolm ... foley artist
Special Effects by 
Andy Antoine ... special effects technician
Roland Blancaflor ... special effects technician
Vincent Brabant ... special effects technician
Ryal Cosgrove ... special effects supervisor
Mathieu Giguère ... model maker
The Godding Brothers ... special effects assistant
Kayla Jo Holland ... special effects crew
Julian Ledger ... creature painter
David Loveday ... special effects prop maker
Guillaume Murray ... special effects technician
Marc Reichel ... special effects
Reggie Rizzo ... fabricator
Sebastien Roussel ... special effects
Luc Therrien ... special effects technician
Michel Verdon ... fabricator/welder
Stunts 
Robert Bastens ... stunts
Felix Famelart ... stunt player
George T. Fleming ... stunts
Guillermo Grispo ... fight coordinator
Zandara Kennedy ... stunt double: Dahl
Patrick Kerton ... stunt double: Boss John
Troy Robinson ... stunt coordinator
Michael Scherer ... stunt coordinator
Martin St-Antoine ... head stunt rigger
Review: Read my full review 
Image of Fruitvale Station2013 Biopic
Winner of Cannes Film Festival Un Certain Regard - Avenir Prize
Based on the true story of Oscar Grant III, a 22-year-old Bay Area resident, who crosses paths with friends, enemies, family, and strangers on the last day of 2008.
Director: Ryan Coogler
Writer: Ryan Coogler
other crew:
Produced by 
Octavia Spencer ... co-executive producer
Harvey Weinstein ... executive producer
Forest Whitaker ... producer
Review: This movie has hits close to home for those of us in the U.S. who heard about Trayvon Martin from Florida or June Bug from Macon GA. This seems like a very interesting take on a very true story that could;ve been sensationalized. Instead this focuses on the life & humanity of a person rather than the death. At least it seems that way. Sill haven't seen it. Time will tell.  
rating: TBD
Watch with:
12 Years a SlaveThe HuntDjango UnchainedDallas Buyers Club
Image of 20 Feet from Stardom2013 Documentary
Awards:

Independent Spirit Awards nom-Best Documentary

Backup singers live in a world that lies just beyond the spotlight. Their voices bring harmony to the biggest bands in popular music, but we've had no idea who these singers are or what lives they lead, until now. 
Director: Morgan Neville

Budget: 

 $1M (estimated)
other crew
Review: As a singer I'm very intrigued by this. I've had a bit of experience as a back-up singer, but not at this level. 
rating: TBD
Watch with
Stories We TellThe Act of Killing
Image of Carrie2013 Horror
Carrie
A reimagining of the classic horror tale about Carrie White, a shy girl outcast by her peers and sheltered by her deeply religious mother, who unleashes telekinetic terror on her small town after being pushed too far at her senior prom. 
Director: Kimberly Peirce
writers:   &  based on the novel by: Stephen King
other crew
Music by 
Marco Beltrami
Cinematography by 
Steve Yedlin
Production Design by 
Carol Spier
Art Direction by 
Nigel Churcher
Costume Design by 
Luis Sequeira
Makeup Department 
Patrick Baxter ... special makeup effects artist
Teresa Buccione ... key hair stylist
Jérémy B. Caravita ... special makeup effects artist
Kevin Carter ... special effects contact lenses
Alan D'Angerio ... hairstylist: Julianne Moore
Susan Reilly LeHane ... makeup artist: Julianne Moore
Sean Sansom ... prosthetic makeup artist
Anthony Veilleux ... tattoo design
Art Department 
Timothy Peel ... graphic artist
Andra Totirescu ... set designer
Danelle Vierkant ... painter
Special Effects by 
Warren Appleby ... special effects coordinator
Cameron Patterson ... sfx rigging supervisor
Visual Effects by 
Keith Acheson ... visual effects lead
Stunts
Branko Racki ... stunt coordinator
Stephannie Hawkins ... stunt double: Judy Greer
Andrea Kinsky ... stunt double: Chloe Grace Moretz
REview: From the trailer, it seems more like a remake than a reimagining, but if anyone could fill the shoes of Spacek it's Chlose Grace Moretz. AS much as I love Julianne Moore, I hthink it wold've been cool to get SIssy to play the mom role this go-around. I semi-enjoyed the sequel for what it was. I hope this movie dying at hte box-ffoce isn't an indicator of a bad film. 
rating: TBD
Watch with
 ChronicleCarrie (1976) Poster1976
Image of The Spectacular Now2013 Drama

A hard-partying high school senior's philosophy on life changes when he meets the not-so-typical "nice girl." 
Director: James Ponsoldt
Stars: Miles TellerShailene WoodleyKyle ChandlerJennifer Jason Leigh
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REview: Honestly this movie screams pretentious, indie awards baitor to me. The only reason I'm watching it is becoase it's nominated ofr an Indie award and I always wath the onominees. 
rating: TBD
Watch with
Image of You're Next2011 Horror
When the Davison family comes under attack during their wedding anniversary getaway, the gang of mysterious killers soon learns that one of victims harbors a secret talent for fighting back. 
Director: Adam Wingard
Stars: Sharni VinsonJoe SwanbergAJ BowenNicholas Tucci
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Review: this film gives me hope that a recent horror movie I was just in, currently completed and awaiting acceptance into various Horro festivals, called The LEgend of SEven Toe Maggie, gets in own well-deserved wide release. Well, Idk how well-desrved it is for this as I have as of yet  seen it, but I love that an indie movie & horror film at that has gotten that kind of recognition. The plot seems interesting. 
rating: TBD
Watch with
Image of Short Term 122013 Drama
A 20-something supervising staff member of a foster care facility navigates the troubled waters of that world alongside her co-worker and longtime boyfriend. 
Director: Destin Cretton
Stars: Brie LarsonFrantz TurnerJohn Gallagher Jr.Kaitlyn Dever
Trailer
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Review: 
rating: TBD
Watch with
Image of Blue Caprice2013 Drama
An abandoned boy is lured to America and drawn into the shadow of a dangerous father figure. Inspired by the real life events that led to the 2002 Beltway sniper attacks. 
Director: Alexandre Moors
Stars: Isaiah WashingtonTequan RichmondTim Blake NelsonJoey Lauren Adams
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writer
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rating: TBD
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Image of Big Sur2013 Drama
A recounting of Jack Kerouac's (here known by the name of his fictional alter-ego Jack Duluoz) three sojourns to the cabin in Big Sur, owned by poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti. 
Director: Michael Polish
Stars: Jean-Marc BarrKate BosworthJosh LucasRadha Mitchell
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rating: TBD
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Image of A.C.O.D.2013 Comedy
A grown man caught in the crossfire of his parents 15-year divorce discovers he was unknowingly part of a study on divorced children and is enlisted in a follow-up years later, which wreaks new havoc on his family. 
Director: Stu Zicherman
http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2318182681/
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rating: TBD
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