Cockneys Rule and Zombies Drool: Director Matthias Hoene talks ‘Cockneys Vs Zombies’
Opening in select Cineplex theaters across Canada for two shows only, as part of Cineplex’s ‘Great Digital Film Festival’ starting this Friday Feb 1, 2013, is the horror comedy that made a huge splash at last year’s Toronto After Dark Film Festival:Cockneys vs Zombies. The Movie Junkie was able to sit down with director Matthias Hoene to talk about his film, his influences and whether the Cockneys will make a return to the big screen.
Movie Junkie (MJ) – Hello Matthias, I must say I really enjoyed your film. Can you tell us about some of your biggest influences in putting the film together?
Matthias Hoene (MH) – Well the journey started when a friend of mine slipped me a grubby, slightly dodgy copy, of Peter Jackson’s Braindead. (more…)
Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters Review
Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters
Starring: Jeremy Renner, Gemma Arterton, Famke Janssen, Pihla Viitala, Derek Mears, Thomas Mann, Rainer Bock and Peter Stormare
Written by D.W. Harper and Tommy Wirkola
Directed by Tommy Wirkola
New in theaters this week is the first big budget Hollywood production from the Norwegian director of the horror comedy Dead Snow, Tommy Wirkola: the horror/fairy tale reinvention Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters. Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton star as the legendary siblings. In this version of the story the two have become full blown witch hunters after disposing of the witch in the candy house of the original fairy tale. But can Hansel and Gretel match the absurdly fun Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, from last year, on the enjoyment scale?
After getting a taste for blood as children, Hansel (Renner) and Gretel (Arterton) have devoted their lives on their hell bent retribution against all witches. Now, unbeknownst to them, Hansel and Gretel have become the hunted, and must face (more…)
‘Tatsumi’ animates the TIFF Bell Lightbox starting Jan 25 (review)
Starting on Jan 25, the TIFF Bell Lightbox will host an exclusive run of the animated tribute/biography of Yoshihiro Tastsumi that was a giant hit at this year’s Toronto Reel Asian Film Festival simply titled Tatsumi. The gloriously hand rendered 2D animated film tells the story of the master animator’s early life up to his founding and establishing of the ‘Gekiga Manifesto’ launching the Gekiga movement in Manga writing which adapted a more realistic and adult style of writing and animating. Along the way it adapts 5 of Tatsumi’s works into animated tales, showing the progression of his stories and the reason why creating a place for a more realistic style was needed.
Tatsumi
Directed by Eric Khoo
Tatsumi adapts five of the artist’s short stories (Hell, Beloved Monkey, Just a Man, Occupied and Good-Bye) and intersperses them throughout the adaptation of his manga memoir (more…)
Stephen Dorff is a ‘Officer Down’ in a new police thriller
New this week on DVD and Blu-Ray from Anchor Bay Entertainment is the crime drama/thriller “Officer Down”. The story of a once corrupt cop now trying to walk the straight and narrow path packs a stellar cast for director Miller, a veteran of the direct to DVD action scene, led by Stephen Dorff and James Woods.
Officer Down Blu-Ray Review
Starring: Stephen Dorff, Dominic Purcell, David Boreanaz, Stephen Lang, Walton Goggins, Tommy Flanagan, AnnaLynne McCord, Laura Harris, Elisabeth Rohm and James Woods.
Written by John Chase
Directed by Brian A. Miller
The story of “Officer Down” begins a year prior, when a boozy, cocaine addicted dirty cop, David ‘Cal’ Callahan (Dorff), was shot in a shakedown gone wrong. (more…)
Explore the ‘Method to the Madness of Jerry Lewis’ on DVD today (review)
New to DVD on Jan 22, from Anchor Bay Entertainment, is the Starz Encore Originals presentation of “Method to the Madness of Jerry Lewis”. The documentary features interviews with a multitude of famous actors and directors who all talk about Jerry’s influence in their careers and on show business in general. Director Barson covers the entire gamut of Lewis’ career, interspersing classic footage from Jerry’s past with the interviews and new footage of Jerry on the road still touring in his 80’s. Whether you know Jerry as the ‘muscular dystrophy’ guy, one half of Martin and Lewis or for his own multitude of films, “Method to the Madness” provides a fascinating portrait of the man known worldwide for his comedy.
Method to the Madness of Jerry Lewis DVD Review
Starring Jerry Lewis
Directed by Gregg Barson
The son of a famous Vaudeville performer, Jerry’s first exposure to the spotlight came as an 8 year (more…)
‘Life’s Too Short’ for Warwick Davis on DVD (review)
Life’s Too Short Season 1 DVD Review
Starring Warwick Davis, Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Rosamund Hanson, Steve Brody and Jo Enright
Series created by Warwick Davis, Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant
Written and Directed by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant
The team behind The Office and Extras, Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, are back with another HBO/BBC co-production: Life’s Too Short, now available on DVD from HBO Home Entertainment. Life’s Too Short stars Warwick Davis, star of Willow and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, as he plays an egotistical and self centered version of himself. Returning to the faux documentary style with great success in the Office, the question remains will that style work for them a second time in Life’s Too Short?
The seven episode series centres on Warwick Davis, or a fictional version of him, who is one of Britain’s preeminent dwarf actors, or at least (more…)
TIFF celebrates the films of Japan in their winter schedule
TIFF celebrates the films of Japan in their winter schedule
Starting Jan 19, as part of the city wide Toronto ‘Spotlight Japan’ celebration, theTIFF Bell Lightbox begins a 3 month celebration of Japanese cinema also entitled ‘Spotlight Japan’. The collection includes 3 series and some other individual titles that spotlight classic and contemporary Japanese cinema. Running through April 17, TIFF will show individuals screenings of classic Japanese cinema broken into three series:
Tokyo Drifters: 100 Years of Nikkatsu
Celebrating the history of the legendary (more…)
‘The Bastard Sings the Sweetest Song’ at the royal this week
This week, at Toronto’s Royal Cinema, sees an exclusive engagement of the acclaimed documentary “The Bastard Sings the Sweetest Song” begin, starting Jan18. The documentary, filmed in Georgetown, Guyana, introduces us to Muscle and his mother Mary. The pair are both struggling to break free off their circumstances, which manages to bring them constantly into conflict with each other. Mary (74), when she leaves their house, wanders on the road begging for money to get drunk from passing cars and neighbors and sometimes falls down and hurts herself. Unable to convince Mary that she is only harming herself and her family, her son Muscle (43) decides that the only way to prevent her drunken excursions is to keep her locked up in her small, dark room.
The Bastard Sings the Sweetest Song
Directed by Christy Garland
Muscle ekes out a living raising fighting cocks and songbirds, but yearns and longs for a better house and situation for his family. Mary drinks to forget though (more…)
‘Beware of Mr. Baker’ thunderously drums it’s way to the bloor cinema
Starting an exclusive run this Friday Jan 18 at the Bloor Hot Docs Cinema is the new rock documentary of one of the true ‘wild men’ of rock, “Beware of Mr Baker”. “Beware of Mr Baker” opens with the man himself, Ginger Baker, approaching a parked car in which the filmmakers are sitting. Moments later Baker has his cane inside the window attacking and beating the director and crew with it. Very few films can say their opening scene involves the main character breaking the director’s nose, but as this film’s title suggests Ginger Baker is a man to approach with caution. Featuring interviews with his ex-wives, his children and many of the greatest living musicians who know him (including Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, Charlie Watts, Mickey Hart, Carlos Santana, Femi Kuti, Neil Peart and Marky Ramone) this is a look back at a tumultuous career through explosive interviews with one of rock’s greatest characters.
Beware of Mr Baker Official Trailer
Beware of Mr. Baker
Starring: Ginger Baker, Eric Clapton, Charlie Watts, Steve Winwood, Mickey Hart, Carlos Santana and Neil Peart
Written and Directed by Jay Bulger
A madman and a genius best known for his work with Cream and Blind Faith, (more…)
‘Quartet’ features one excellent supporting performance
With over 70 acting credits under his belt, according to IMDB, Dustin Hoffman makes his directorial debut with “Quartet”, opening in theaters nationwide from Alliance Films Jan 15. The story of a retirement home for musicians and the reluctant star moving in that changes everything has been adapted for the screen by Ronald Harwood from his own stage play. So has all the films that Dustin Hoffman appeared in prepared him to step behind the camera?
Quartet Review
Starring: Maggie Smith, Tom Courtenay,Billy Connolly, Pauline Collins, Sheridan Smith and Michael Gambon
Written by Ronald Harwood
Beecham House for retired musicians is buzzing ever since the rumors have started circling that the home is soon to play host to a new resident, and word is it’s a major star. (more…)
Arnold Schwarzenegger makes his ‘Last Stand’
The Last Stand (2013)
Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Forest Whitaker, Eduardo Noriega, Rodrigo Santoro, Johnny Knoxville, Jaimie Alexander, Luis Guzmán, Peter Stormare and Genesis Rodriguez
Written by Andrew Knauer, Jeffrey Nachmanoff and Goergeo Nolfi
Directed by Jee-Woon Kim
Making his first starring bow since leaving his office as Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger returns this week with his new film: The Last Stand. The film also marks the English language debut of Korean director Jee-woon Kim, the director of atmospheric thriller “I Saw the Devil” and the western homage “The Good, The Bad and the Weird”. But will Jee-woon’s frenetic style mesh with the action veteran Schwarzenegger’s own signature style?
Sheriff Ray Owens (Schwarzenegger) moved out of Los Angeles and settled into a life fighting what little crime takes place in the sleepy border town (more…)
Found footage horror gets parodied with ’30 Nights of Paranormal Activity’ (review)
Veteran of two other straight to DVD parody films, Writer/Director Craig Moss brings us his third parody film with 30 Nights of Paranormal Activity with the Devil Inside the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (for the rest of this article known as 30 Nights for the sake of brevity). 30 nights is a take on the recent found footage horror craze, as well as some other current films. So how does 30 Nights compare to other parody films?
30 Nights of Paranormal Activity with the Devil Inside the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo DVD Review
Starring: Kathryn Fiore, Flip Schultz, Olivia Alexander, Danny Woodburn andFrench Stewart.
Written and Directed by Craig Moss
30 Nights is the tale of the Galen family. Parents Dana (Fiore) and Aaron (Schultz), aping Katie and Micah from Paranormal Activity, along with their teenaged daughter Liz, looking exactly like Rooney Mara (more…)
‘Lightning Bug’ illuminates on blu-ray (review)
Making its debut on Blu-Ray this week from Anchor Bay Entertainment is the 2004 filmLightning Bug. The story of a young special effects wizard in a small town, Lightning Bug has been out on DVD for years, but Anchor Bay has now gone back and remastered the film to reissue it on Blu-ray. Based on the true story of writer/director Robert Hall’s own life, the make-up effects master behind almost 90 different projects according to IMDB, the real question is how does the now 8 year old film hold up to a Blu-ray transfer and is the film any good?
Lightning Bug Blu-Ray Review
Starring: Bret Harrison, Laura Prepon, Kevin Gage, Ashley Laurence and Lucas Till.
Written and directed by Robert Hall.
Green Graves (Harrison) is a frustrated teen, with a gift for creating grisly monsters, who dreams of one day escaping his miserable life in a small Alabama town for a special effects make-up job in Hollywood. His dreams may soon be in reach (more…)
Maggie Gyllenhaal and Viola Davis ‘Won’t Back Down’ on blu-ray (review)
New this week on DVD and Blu-Ray from Fox Home Entertainment comes the ‘Inspired by a true story’ of rebellion and revolution in the US school system “Won’t Back Down”. The story of two mother’s fight for a better education for their children seems to be ripped straight from the headlines and fodder for a splashy cable television movie. So was “Won’t Back Down” worth the theatrical release and Blu-Ray release it has gotten?
Won’t Back Down Blu-Ray Review
Starring: Maggie Gyllenhaal, Viola Davis, Oscar Issac, Rosie Perez, Emily Alyn Lloyd, Dante Brown, Lance Reddick, Ving Rhames and Holly Hunter.
Written by Brin Hill and Daniel Barnz
Hard working single mom Jamie Fitzpatrick (Gyllenhaal) is concerned that John Adams Elementary is letting her daughter Malia (Lloyd) down. Teaming with a caring teacher (Davis) who wants the best future for her own son Cody (more…)
Spend some time in ‘The Waiting Room’ (review)
The Waiting Room
Directed by Peter Nicks
Today (Friday, Jan 18), the Bloor Hot Docs Cinema begins an exclusive run of another of its 2012 festival favorites, The Waiting Room. When the shortlist of documentaries up for nomination for this year’s Academy Awards was released back in early December, director Peter Nicks found his film among the contenders. And even though it did not make the cut the film was in the mix for a reason, the day in the life of a U.S. hospital is an impactful and insightful piece of film making.
The Waiting Room is a riveting day in the life of an Oakland, California, public hospital’s overtaxed emergency room. The purely observational character-driven documentary expertly weaves the stories of several patients, most of them are uninsured, and who come to the inner-city facility because they have nowhere else to go. (more…)
Taken 2 fights it way onto blu-ray (review)
Taken 2 Blu-Ray Review
Starring Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Famke Janssen, Leeland Orser, Luke Grimes and Rade Sherbedgia
Written by Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen
Directed by Olivier Megaton
New to Blu-Ray and DVD this week from Fox Home Entertainment is the sequel to the surprise smash hit from 2008, Taken 2. Returning as retired CIA operative Bryan Mills, Liam Neeson is back in action, but this time around HE’S getting taken. Writer/Producer Luc Besson brings aboard protege Olivier Megaton to direct, taking over from Taken director Pierre Morel, but is Megaton able to deliver the goods?
As a retired CIA agent with a very particular set of skills, Bryan Mills (Neeson) stopped at nothing to save his daughter Kim (Grace) from Albanian kidnappers in the original Taken. Now two years later, the father of one of the (more…)
`Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days` fails to rouse from mediocrity on blu-ray
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days Blu-Ray
Starring Zachary Gordon, Robert Capron, Devon Bostick, Peyton List, Grayson Russell, Laine MacNeil, Rachael Harris and Steve Zahn
Written by Maya Forbes and Wallace Wolodarsky
Directed by David Bowers
Back for their third outing are Greg, Rowley, Fregley, Greg’s brother Rodrick and the rest of the family for Dairy of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days. The new release from Fox Home Entertainment is aimed squarely at the teen and preteen set, focusing on physical humor and teaching a lesson or two. But is there enough in the film for the entire family?
School’s out and Greg (Gordon) is looking forward to enjoying the best summer of all time. But when his dad (Zahn) decides that some father-son bonding is in order, directly opposing Greg’s plans for video games and hanging (more…)
`Zero Dark Thirty` brings us behind the enemy lines of Al Qaeda (Review)
Zero Dark Thirty (2013)
Starring: Jessica Chastain, Joel Edgerton, Jason Clarke, Kyle Chandler,Jennifer Ehle, Mark Strong, Edgar Ramirez, Chris Pratt and James Gandolfini
Written by Mark Boal
Directed by Kathryn Bigelow
Returning to the big screen for the first time in four years, Academy Award winning director Kathryn Bigelow goes back behind enemy lines to bring us Zero Dark Thirty. Zero Dark Thirty is the tale of the hunt and eventual termination of the world’s most wanted terrorist: Osama Bin Laden. The real question is can Kathryn Bigelow deliver a film based on the saga of the hunt for Bin Laden that is as gripping and thought provoking as The Hurt Locker?
Starting from the attacks of September 11 2001, exhibited here as only sounds over a pitch black screen, we follow the career of CIA operative Maya (Chastain) as she starts her decade long obsession into finding Osama Bin Laden (more…)
An overview of what to expect in theaters for 2013, part 2 (July-Dec)
An overview of what to expect in theaters for 2013, part 2 (July-Dec)
Now that the calendar has officially changed over to 2013, it’s time to take a look ahead at some the more intriguing films slated for release this year. As always (G.I. Joe and Gatsby can attest to this) release dates are subject to change and some most definitely will, some may have even changed before you read this. But as of Jan 3 these are the films and dates that have sparked some interest, listed by month. Part 1 looked at the months of Jan-June, now we look at the last 6 months of the year.
July
The Canada Day/Memorial Day long weekend this year kicks off with the “Lone Ranger” with “Social Network” star Armie Hammer as the man behind the mask. He’s joined by Johnny Depp as Tonto, under the direction of Depp’s “Pirates of the Caribbean” director Gore Verbinski. July 12 marks the arrival of Guillermo Del Toro’s monster robot epic “Pacific Rim”. (more…)
An overview of what to expect in theaters for 2013, part 1 (Jan-June)
An overview of what to expect in theaters for 2013, part 1 (Jan-June)
Now that the calendar has officially changed over to 2013, it’s time to take a look ahead at some the more intriguing films slated for release this year. As always (G.I. Joe and Gatsby can attest to this) release dates are subject to change and some most definitely will, some may have even changed before you read this. But as of Jan 3 these are the films and dates that have sparked some interest, listed by month.
January
This month brings us the star studded mobster flick “Gangster Squad” with Josh Brolin, Sean Penn, Ryan Gosling and many more. On Jan 25“Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters”, with Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton from the director of the campy “Dead Snow” Tommy Wirkola, finally arrives in multiplexes.
February (more…)
Top 20… err 23 movies of 2012 part 4 (the top 5!- Examiner)
Top 20… err 23 movies of 2012 part 4 (the top 5!)
#’s 5 through 1
Having previously published the # 21 –16th ,# 15-11th and # 10 -6 ranked movies, we have finally arrived at the top 5 films of 2012, as ranked by yours truly. The list will be made up of films seen in the calendar year of 2012, whether during a regular theatrical release or the film festival circuit.
Just a quick preface, there will be a handful of films that will not appear on this list simply due to the lack of being able to see them before this list was made. These include critical favorites Argo, The Imposter, Lincoln, Life of Pi and The Impossible. And now to finish off the list of this year’s best.
One of the most disturbing and unrelenting tales of deceit and revenge seen in theaters this year, Killer Joe will be too much for some with its graphic content. (more…)
Top 20… err 23 movies of 2012 part 3 (Examiner)
Top 20… err 23 movies of 2012 part 3
#’s 10-6
Starting with the # 21 –16th and # 15-11thranked movies published recently, we are counting down the top films of 2012, as ranked by yours truly. The list will be made up of films seen in the calendar year of 2012, whether during a regular theatrical release or the film festival circuit.
Just a quick preface, there will be a handful of films that will not appear on this list simply due to the lack of being able to see them before this list was made. These include critical favorites Argo, The Imposter, Lincoln, Life of Pi and The Impossible. Now to continue with the list.
#10 – Cabin in the Woods
Top 20… err 23 movies of 2012 part 1 (Examiner)
Top 20… err 23 movies of 2012 part 1
#’s 21-16
As the year comes to a close the steady stream of “best of the year” lists have already started and will continue well into the first part of 2013. We in the film criticism business are not exempt in this practice; in fact a lot of the most read and regarded critics will be adding their opinion to the arena or already have. While this critic is still relatively new to the game and hardly expecting to battle it out with the heavy weights, my opinion is humbly offered regardless. The list will be made up of films seen in the calendar year of 2012, whether during a regular theatrical release or the film festival circuit.
Just a quick preface, there will be a handful of films that will not appear on this list simply due to the lack of being able to see them before this list was made. These include critical favorites Argo, The Imposter, Lincoln, Life of Pi and The Impossible. Now on to the list.
#21 – [Tie] My Father and the Man in Black and Ping Pong (more…)
Top 20… err 23 movies of 2012 part 2 (Examiner)
Top 20… err 23 movies of 2012 part 2
#’s 15-11
Starting with the # 21 –16th ranked movies published recently, we are counting down the top films of 2012, as ranked by yours truly. The list will be made up of films seen in the calendar year of 2012, whether during a regular theatrical release or the film festival circuit.
Just a quick preface, there will be a handful of films that will not appear on this list simply due to the lack of being able to see them before this list was made. These include critical favorites Argo, The Imposter, Lincoln, Life of Pi and The Impossible. Now to continue with the list.
# – 15 [Tie] Pitch Perfect and 21 Jump Street (more…)
MOVIE JUNKIE TO'S Entertainment Fix 