Wanna fight? Knuckle to hit the US

Set to hit US theaters on December 9th is Knuckle, which looks to be a real bruiser of a documentary. Directed by Ian Palmer it takes a look into the world of the Irish traveler and bare knuckle fighting. Check out the trailer below.

An epic 12-year journey into in the world of an Irish Traveller community, KNUCKLE takes us inside their brutal, secretive and exhilarating bare-knuckle fighting lives. Chronicling a history of violent feuding between rival families, the story focuses on two brothers as they fight for their reputations and the honour of their family name.

Bellflower - Original Trailer Debuts

Bellflower has just hit Blu-ray and DVD through Oscilloscope (and I highly recommend you check it out), and to coincide with this director Evan Glodell has decided to release the original trailer, which was up until now previously unreleased. Here it is for you all to check out, along with an written introduction from Glodell.

This is the original trailer i wrote for Bellflower in 2003 before the first draft of the script was even finished. When Bellflower sold earlier this year we got the script back out and decided to make it. We all liked it, but it made me so uncomfortable that i buried it.

Time has gone by, our theatrical release is almost over and everyone still seems to like the film which i think has taken a lot of stress off me. The DVD came out yesterday so this is the last chance for this trailer to have any purpose. I feel like it was our best attempt to make something that truly represented the movie and as odd and uncomfortable as it makes me feel, I have decided to post in on here for whoever cares to see it. 

Hope you enjoy.

-Evan

Time to get filthy with Dirty Girl: Blu-ray and DVD details

I've always dug movies like Cry Baby and The Breakfast Club, so when I read that a movie is described as part John Waters and part John Hughes it has my immediate attention. Such is the case with Dirty Girl, which hits Blu-ray and DVD on January 17th from Anchor Bay. It features a solid looking cast and judging from the trailer, which I've linked below for your viewing pleasure, as well as a few stills, this looks like it could be good fun. 

ANCHOR BAY ENTERTAINMENT AND THE WEINSTEIN COMPANY PRESENT THE AUDIENCE FAVORITE

DIRTY GIRL ON DVD

Full Of Humor And Wit, Dirty Girl Heads To Retail On January 17, 2012

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – Anchor Bay Entertainment and The Weinstein Company announced today the DVD release of the “hilarious” (Ariana Anderson, BUST) comedy, DIRTY GIRL, from first time writer-director Abe Sylvia.  DIRTY GIRL, which won the HBO Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature at the 2011 Provincetown International Film Festival, features a top-notch cast that includes Juno Temple (ATONEMENT) in the title role, Milla Jovovich (STONE), William H. Macy (BART GOT A ROOM), Mary Steenburgen (THE PROPOSAL), Dwight Yoakam (PANIC ROOM), and newcomer Jeremy Dozier.  In the same vein as such audience favorites as JUNO and LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE, DIRTY GIRL heads to retail on January 17, 2012 for an SRP of $29.98 for the DVD.

In his review for The Hollywood Reporter, film critic Michael Rechtshaffen called DIRTY GIRL “a genuine crowd-pleaser.”  Hellin Kay of The Huffington Post described the film as “A pitch-perfect comedy!  Part John Hughes, part John Waters, and completely unique.”  Wrote BUST magazine’s Ariana Anderson, “DIRTY GIRL will melt even the coldest of hearts.”

DIRTY GIRL is the story of Danielle (Juno Temple), the dirty girl of Norman High School in Norman, Oklahoma, circa 1987.  Her reputation takes an unexpected hit when her misbehavior gets her banished to a remedial class, where she is paired on a parenting project with Clarke (Jeremy Dozier), an innocent closet-case with no friends.  When her mother (Milla Jovovich) announces her engagement to her family-minded boyfriend (William H. Macy), mortified Danielle vows to get to California to find the father she’s never met!  Clarke is desperate to escape being sent to military school by his homophobic dad (Dwight Yoakam) and repressed mom (Mary Steenburgen), prompting the two mismatched misfits to make their getaway: on a cross-country road trip that leads to an unexpected and serendipitous friendship.

The DIRTY GIRL DVD bonus features include an audio commentary with writer-director Abe Sylvia, as well as deleted and extended scenes.  Note: Special features are subject to change.

Straw Dogs remake Blu-ray and DVD details

Rod Lurie's version of Straw Dogs hits Blu-ray and DVD on December 20th, just in time for Chrimbo, from Sony Home Entertainment. I've yet to see it myself, although it doesn't appear to have received the lambasting I was expecting prior to its theatrical release. Anyway, I'll be checking it out, seeing as I did want to catch it on the big screen. Caught Drive instead.

Special Features: 

Commentary with Writer/Director Rod Lurie

Courting Controversy: Remaking a Classic

The Dynamics of Power: The Ensemble

Inside the Siege: The Ultimate Showdown

Creating the Sumner House: The Production Design

A young couple (James Marsden and Kate Bosworth) moves to a quaint southern town. Soon their perfect getaway turns out to become a living hell when dark secrets and lethal passions spiral out of control. Trapped by a pack of depraved locals led by a ruthless predator (Alexander Skarsgard, TV’s “True Blood”), they face a night of agonizing suffering and endless bloodshed. Now their only hope for survival is to become more savage than their merciless torturers. Also starring two-time Academy Award® Nominee James Woods.

Everyone's a winner baby

It's always nice to change it up a little, so here's a short break from news and reviews. The rather charming award you see above was kindly bestowed upon me from the rather charming rapscalion Fred the Wolf. He writes the quite excellent Full Moon Reviews, and has done for a few years now. Always a good read, and always worth your time.

Now, there's some rules for excepting this award. Remember kids, you gotta have rules...

Here are the blog award rules: 1 ) Gratefully accept this award. 2 ) Link to the person you received it from. 3 ) Post 3 interesting facts about yourself. 4 ) Pass this award around to at least 5 blogs you dig. 5 ) Notify them.

THREE INTERESTING FACTS

1. The first movie I saw on the big screen was Star Wars: A New Hope, way back in 1977. 
2. I've been to two concerts to see Hatebreed and missed them both times.
3. I loathe Fish, Weetabix (google it) and Beetroot. Aside from that I will eat pretty much anything. Maybe not Olives, because they are boring.

FIVE BLOGS I DIG

1. Dr TeRRoR's BLoG oF HoRRoRs - Absolutely cracking blog with some of the most original and refreshing articles about horror I have read. James does not do things by half. Check this out!

2. The Conduit Speaks - The Conduit covers the films that you need to see, yet quite possibly haven't yet heard of. Insightful and very well written.

3. Horror 101 with Dr AC - Another Doctor, and another great blog. Aaron's not afraid to mix it up with his viewing and isn't afraid to share it with you either. Your bound to find at least one movie you want to check out after reading this.

4. Silver Ferox Designs - You like movie posters? You do? Then you'll love this blog. Terrific artwork for movies you know and love, and some you might not have heard of.

5. The Bloody Iris - Giallo and slasher flicks are shown big love here on Jenny's blog, and always make for a great read.

Paul Rudd is Our Idiot Brother

I'm sure I am not alone in thinking this, but I think Paul Rudd is one of the funniest actors working today. More often than not we see him in a supporting role, yet he still manages to steal the movie. With Our Idiot Brother though Rudd is the star and it's set to hit Blu-ray and DVD on November 29th from Anchor Bay Entertainment. I shall be slapping my bass in anticipation!

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – Anchor Bay Entertainment and The Weinstein Company announced today the Blu-ray™ and DVD release of the “outrageous” (David Walters, Details) comedy, OUR IDIOT BROTHER, from the producers behind Little Miss Sunshine.  Starring Paul Rudd (I Love You, Man) in the title role, OUR IDIOT BROTHER is a comedy about an idealist who barges into the lives of his three sisters, played by Elizabeth Banks (W.), Rashida Jones (TV’s “The Office”), Zooey Deschanel ((500) Days of Summer) and Emily Mortimer (City Island), along with Rashida Jones (TV’s “The Office”), and funnyman Steve Coogan (Tropic Thunder).  Directed by Jesse Peretz, with screenplay by Evgenia Peretz and David Schisgall (story by Evgenia Perez and David Schisgall and Jesse Peretz), OUR IDIOT BROTHER heads to retail on November 29, 2011 for an SRP of $39.99 for the Blu-ray™and $29.98 for the DVD.

In her review for Entertainment Weekly, film critic Lisa Schwarzbaum wrote OUR IDIOT BROTHER is “a bouncy, bighearted comedy!”  Newsday’s Rafer Guzman described the film as “genuinely irresistible!”  People magazine film critic, Alynda Wheat, proclaims “Paul Rudd is so funny you’ll leave feeling high on humanity.”

Paul Rudd stars in this witty and highly relatable comedy, OUR IDIOT BROTHER, about that one family member who is always just a little bit behind the curve.  For sisters Miranda (Elizabeth Banks), Natalie (Zooey Deschanel) and Liz (Emily Mortimer), that person is their upbeat brother Ned, an organic farmer, whose willingness to trust humankind allows for an oddly trouble-free existence.  Ned may be utterly lacking in common sense, but he is their brother, and after his girlfriend dumps him and boots him off the farm, his sisters must once again come to his rescue.  As Miranda, Natalie and Liz each take turns at housing Ned, their brother's unfailing commitment to honesty creates more than a few messes in their comfortable routines.  But after seeing life through Ned’s optimistic perspective, his family comes to realize that maybe Ned isn't such an idiot after all.

The OUR IDIOT BROTHER Blu-ray™ and DVD bonus features include an audio commentary with director Jesse Peretz; a “The Making of Our Idiot Brother” featurette; and deleted and extended scenes.  Note: Special features are subject to change.

Renny Harlin unleashes 5 Days of War

Director Renny Harlin is back on the scene. The director of such gems as Prison and A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master, or more famously Die Hard 2 and Cliffhanger, is now tackling the Russian/Georgia conflict from 2008. It is set to hit DVD and Blu-ray on November 29th through Anchor Bay and I have posted the official trailer below. Special features on the discs will include deleted scenes and a commentary from Renny Harlin.

5 Days of War is an intensely human portrayal of courage under fire, combining heart-pounding action with real human drama. Inspired by the real events of the swift—but devastating—five-day war between Russia and Georgia in 2008, this action-packed international thriller centers around an American journalist (Rupert Friend) and his cameraman (Richard Coyle) caught in the combat zone during the first Russian airstrikes against Georgia. Rescuing Tatia (Emmanuelle Chriqui), a young Georgian schoolteacher from the attack, the two reporters agree to help reunite her with her family when she loses them in the chaos in exchange for serving as their interpreter. As the three attempt to escape to safety, they witness—and document—the devastation from the full-scale crossfire and cold-blooded murder of innocent civilians.

They desperately attempt to broadcast the footage they’ve captured while under attack from the Russian soldiers and local mercenaries, but are met with resistance from American and international networks either shorthanded from covering the Beijing Olympics or simply fatigued by war news. The trio realizes their survival is paramount, so they can live to broadcast the truth.

From writers Mikko Alanne and David Battle, 5 DAYS OF WAR features an all-star cast including Rupert Friend (Young Victoria, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas), Emmanuelle Chriqui (HBO’s “Entourage,” You Don’t Mess With The Zohan), Richard Coyle (Prince of Persia), Andy Garcia (City Island, Oceans 12), Val Kilmer (Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Batman Forever), and proves director Harlin to still be the master of the high-octane action genre. 

Act of Valor - New Trailer

I previously covered the upcoming Act of Valor, which hits theaters February 7th, here. Now I have a new trailer to share with you, which you can check out below.

An unprecedented blend of real-life heroism and original filmmaking, "Act of Valor" stars a group of active-duty Navy SEALs in a powerful story of contemporary global anti-terrorism. Inspired by true events, the film combines stunning combat sequences, up-to-the minute battlefield technology and heart-pumping emotion for the ultimate action adventure.

"Act of Valor" takes audiences deep into the secretive world of the most elite, highly trained group of warriors in the modern world. When the rescue of a kidnapped CIA operative leads to the discovery of a deadly terrorist plot against the U.S., a team of SEALs is dispatched on a worldwide manhunt. As the valiant men of Bandito Platoon race to stop a coordinated attack that could kill and wound thousands of American civilians, they must balance their commitment to country, team and their families back home.

Each time they accomplish their mission, a new piece of intelligence reveals another shocking twist to the deadly terror plot, which stretches from Chechnya to the Philippines and from Ukraine to Somalia. The widening operation sends the SEALs across the globe as they track the terrorist ring to the U.S.-Mexico border, where they engage in an epic firefight with an outcome that has potentially unimaginable consequences for the future of America.

Filthy Review - Wrong Turn 4: Bloody Beginnings Unrated

Wrong Turn 4: Bloody Beginnings (2011)

Review by Jude Felton

As I have always stated, I am not a prejudicial reviewer. I honestly don’t care as to whether a movie is independent or from the big studios. On the same note I am not going to review movies solely because they are seen as important, or indeed cool to like. Highbrow or lowbrow means nothing to me, it all comes down to whether I garner enjoyment from the movie as to whether it gets the thumbs up or down, so to speak.

The Wrong Turn franchise started off with a good old-fashioned argument for me. I caught the first movie on the big screen back in England, and afterwards headed to the bar. I made mention of the fact that I enjoyed the Hell out of it, and I still do, and ended up getting in a heated discussion with a friend who saw it as nothing more than a rip-off. Hey, that made be as so, but it had inbreds, some great kills and Eliza Dushka in it. I shall repeat that, it had the Dush in it. Case closed, decision for the defendant.

Anyway, moving forward, I probably enjoyed Wrong Turn 2: Dead End even more that the first movie. Joe Lynch amped up the gore, gave us what is probably Henry Rollins’ best movie role yet and still featured a bevvy of fine looking ladies. It’s a bloody fun movie that I have watched many times.

Wrong Turn 3: Left for Dead I gave a swerve around. A friend, and critic, I respect ripped it a new ass and that was good enough for me. I have so many movies I have to watch, I am not going to waste my time on something that I expect I will not enjoy. That didn’t mean I was willing to forego watching this 4^th movie in the franchise. Sure, it is directed by Declan O’Brien, who also gave us the third movie, but it is also a prequel so I had no concerns about missing any plot elements that might have arisen in the third movie. Anyone notice that prequels are really popular right now? Hmm. Oh, and the prospect of moving the inbreds into a new environment was quite appealing to me.

The new environment is a great big old psychiatric hospital, once again in West Virginia, that houses Saw-Tooth, Three-Finger and One-Eye, our illustrious trio of wilderness-dwelling cannibals before they were let loose.

The plot itself is basic, and let’s face we don’t need more, and shows how our trio break free of their captors and then, years later, play hunt the annoying college student in the now abandoned hospital. It’s a simple plot, yet it is still one riddled with gaping bloody great holes in it. But, and there is always a but, are you really going to go into a movie like this worrying about plot details? Hell no baby, I wanted to see crazy hillbilly action and copious amounts of blood, guts and gore. And that is exactly what I got. Wrong Turn 4 is a wonderfully gory movie, so much so that my wife could not watch one quite protracted death scene. It’s gore lovers delight I tell thee.

The plot, as mentioned, is wafer thin, riddled with holes and will have you screaming at the screen in disgust at some of the students (lack of) decision making skills. The acting is borderline terrible, and the script even throws in a “he took a wrong turn” as if we didn’t know. Yet, despite all this, I had a freaking blast with this movie. In turn infuriating and pure blissful cheesy goretastic fun, Wrong Turn 4: Bloody Beginnings is perfect party fodder. It ain’t going to test your grey matter, and it probably won’t be remembered as fondly as the first two movies, but it is fun.

If you aren’t a fan of the franchise I really see nothing here that will change your opinion. If however you are a fan I believe you will at least have some fun with this movie, I know I did. There is a little CGI going on, from what I could tell, in some of the death scenes, but the blood sprays good and wide and you’ll get a new appreciation for fondue after watching this.

Turn on, tune out and lap up the claret my friends.

Wrong Turn 4: Bloody Beginnings is available on DVD and Blu-ray now from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment

Filthy Review - Prick

Prick (2011)

Review by Jude Felton

I’m positive someone is putting something in the water up in Canada. Our Northern neighbors are up there busy scheming and plotting and creating some damned fine cinema in the process. This year alone I have seen both feature length movies and short movies that have done nothing less than impress the Hell out of me. On top of that I know there is more to come next year.

This in turn brings me to Prick. This wonderfully named short movie is the directorial debut of Colin C. Berry, who has also worked on another Canadian movie I am excited about, that being Exit Humanity. Prick’s running time is just over nine minutes, but will stick in your mind far longer than that I can assure you.

The movie follows Leonard Knack, a mild mannered pleasant sort of fellow on first glance, as he goes about his day to day business. His day to day business happens to be that he is a serial killer.

Shot with no dialogue, Prick is a mesmerizing movie to watch. It manages to pack in so much in its short running time yet never feels forced or crowded whilst viewing it. The soundtrack serves only to emphasize what is going on onscreen and the emotions the film manages to stir up is quite extraordinary. At times scary, sad and even funny yet the whole time quite disturbing, it always manages to provoke some sort of reaction.

The cast is small, with good solid performances throughout, but the focus is without a doubt Ian Batt as Leonard. He conveys all that is needed in order to get this story across and packs a variety of emotions into his role. He is by all accounts quite excellent in his role.

If this nine minutes is anything to go by, and I suggest you watch it at your earliest convenience, then I have no doubt that Berry has a very bright future ahead of him. I’ve seen quite a few quite excellent short movies this year, from all corners of the Globe (yeah, I know that makes no sense), and I can say without hesitation that this is already one of my favorites.

Prick goes to show that you don’t need flashy effects, or gore, or any other gimmick in order to make a top quality film. Hell, you don’t even need dialogue! Those do work when it is required to have them but this story didn’t require any of the aforementioned.

Scary, disturbing and quite excellent. Highly recommended.

For more information on Prick visit its Facebook page.

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

It seems a lot of folk had a problem with Guy Ritchie's vision of Sherlock Holmes, in his 2009 movie. It wasn't faithful to the original character, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle would be turning in his grave, blah, blah, blah. Well, I wasn't one of those. I've read some of the original books and I grew up watching the Basil Rathbone flicks, and I loved the 2009 movie. After all, Holmes is a character and how Ritchie interpreted that character was up to him. So, I personally cannot wait until December 16th, when A Game of Shadows open at theaters. Back for more is Ritchie at the helm again, with Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law once again filling the shoes of Holmes and Dr. Watson. The fact that Stephen Fry is in this one should be enough in itself to warrant a viewing!

Sherlock Holmes and his sidekick Dr. Watson join forces to outwit and bring down their fiercest adversary, Professor Moriarty.