The Cameraman: Buster Keaton – Silent Cinema’s Most Sophisticated Filmmaker

                Pulitzer Prize winning novelist and screenwriter James Agee calls the silent period of the Twenties “Comedy’s Golden Era.” Indeed it is difficult to argue with Agee, as he cites some of film history’s greatest comedic figures, such as Harold Lloyd and Charlie Chaplin. Buster Keaton, however, is a filmmaker that absorbs himself within the actual medium of film to an infinitely greater degree than his contemporaries. As seen in The Cameraman (1928), a film Keaton starred in and unofficially co-directed he places a greater importance on cinematographic properties such as the mise-en-scene and camera movement than his fellow filmmakers. Keaton also weaves his slapstick and sight gags into the narrative of the film to create complex and thematic works. Keaton is, in fact, the most sophisticated overall filmmaker working in the genre of silent comedy.

                

This Summer's Gonna Belong to the Cowboys and the Aliens

Another trailer for this summer's Cowboys & Aliens has just debuted. I love the way this film is being marketed. Every trailer just teases the concept and piques curiosity without giving away much of the story. I doubt we've even seen any footage past the second act of the film. Anyways, I'll be first in line for this one and you should take a look at the trailer after the jump.

Thoughts on the Rise of the Planet of the Apes Trailer

Caesar, the CGI star of Rise of the Planet of the Apes, was created by the folks at Weta Workshop.

The first trailer for this summer's reimagining of the Planet of the Apes story, entitled Rise of the Planet of the Apes, hit the web early this morning. I was looking forward to this trailer. I think this film is the summer's real wild card. It's hard to say how well this film is going to do. That being said, there was a lot in the trailer that I enjoyed. Visually, it looks stunning. The special effects are being done by Weta Workshop. That's the special effects house that worked on The Lord of the Rings trilogy, King Kong, and Avatar. Using the same motion capture technology used on Avatar, Weta created the film's apes differently than past iterations in the franchise. The performance capture technology applies a real physical performance completely to a digital creation. Although the makeup work in these films has always been topnotch, even in Tim Burton's remake, I feel like this digital work looks fantastic. It will be the first time the apes look photo-realistic. It's no wonder that the name Weta is featured so prominently in the trailer.

Sidney Lumet has Passed Away

Acclaimed director Sidney Lumet has passed away. He died this morning from lymphoma at the age of 86. Lumet is widely recognized as one of the greatest directors in cinema, having directed such classics as 12 Angry Men, Network and Dog Day Afternoon, among others. His last film was 2007's Before the Devil Knows You're Dead. Although his film have been nominated for Academy Awards many times, he never won an Oscar. In 2005, he was given an honorary Oscar. He was one of the finest filmmakers to have graced the world of cinema and he will be greatly missed.

Crazy, Stupid, Love starring Steve Carell

Steve Carell and Ryan Gosling star in Crazy, Stupid, Love

I don't normally get excited for new comedies, but this trailer for Crazy, Stupid, Love has done just that. It looks like a great balance of comedy and drama, and plays to Steve Carell's strengths. He's funniest when playing it straight. I hope this film turns out as well as Date Night did last year.

Anyway, here's the trailer:

3D Movies

"Jake Sully, this 3D movie is giving me a headache."
"Outstanding."

Which Characters Would You Want on Your Side in a Bar Fight?

Here’s my pick for the best movie characters to have my back in a bar brawl.

Maximus (Gladiator, 2000)

"You spilled my brewski!"

Gladiator is the story of a husband and father seeking revenge for the death of those he loved. That makes a very dangerous guy. Maximus has nothing to lose and all the skills of a seasoned warrior. He’s deadlier than any of the gladiators he faced in the coliseum, not to mention a tiger. He’s just as comfortable fighting hand-to-hand as with a sword, even against an armed opponent. The attitude. The skills. This guy is a pure badass (who’s not afraid to cry) and not the kind of guy you’d want to upset in a dark bar.

What's Wrong with the Hangover Part II Trailer?

The Hangover Part II is one of 2011's most anticipated films and last week's recently released trailer has me thinking this sequel might be worth the price of admission. Why then, with anticipation for the film on the rise, is the MPAA forcing Warner Bros. to remove the trailer from theaters?

The Governator's Back

Looks like Arnold Schwarzenegger is back is Show Business and his new project sounds pretty cool. He's going to be voicing a character based on himself in a cartoon called "The Governator." I love that he's embracing the jokes people have been making about him and I think this show has the potential to have a wicked sense of humor.

Schindler's List

Schindler’s List is a force of nature. It is a film that transcends the screen to become an experience. It is a perfect storm of filmmaking and emotion that sweeps us up and stays with us long after the final credits roll. Few films can be called perfect; Schindler’s List is one of them. It takes us on a journey that frightens us, angers us, horrifies us and shames us, but also instils us with hope.

The film is biographical account of the life of Oskar Schindler, played superbly by Liam Neeson, during the Second World War.  Schindler is a German business man seeking to turn a profit during the war. He begins as an unapologetic war profiteer, coldly suggesting that the only thing missing from prior failed businesses was war. With the help of a Jewish accountant, Itshak Stern, Schindler opens an enamelware factory and employs Jewish workers. Slowly, and at first without his full knowledge, Schindler’s factory becomes a haven for those who have been persecuted.

Freak Hollywood Disaster!

Watch the First Six Minutes of Sucker Punch Because the Rest Sucked

Warner Bros. has just released the opening scene to Zack Snyder's Sucker Punch. It's a good thing too. It's the the best six minutes of the movie.

Despite the poor reviews of the film, I made it out to catch this flick this past weekend. The trailer had made the film one of my most anticipated films of 2011 and Zack Snyder`s name only sweetened the deal. His adaptation of 300 was one of the most testosterone filled, satisfying "guy" films in a long time. Watchmen only furthered his pedigree. That was a true filmic experience. How could his first original story possibly go wrong?

The King's Speech Re-Rated PG 13: What's the Point?

I must confess, I have yet to see this year's Best Picture winner The King's Speech. During Oscar season, I bet the farm on The Social Network. I would have been satisfied with Black Swan, too. I just had little interest in The King's Speech. And after the awards, I made a decision to prove myself wrong, and check it out on DVD when it arrived.

I haven't changed my mind about that, but I am a bit puzzled by the recent re-cut of the film. It was originally rated R, for what I understand to be the prolific use of the f-word, and the new cut of the film is rated PG-13, and exists as such sans four letter expletives.

My question is: why?

From Page to Screen: Comic Book Adaptations in 2011

I love comic book movies. I always have. I’ve never really been a comic book reader, but I stand by my stance that they can be great source material for blockbusters. I was in elementary school when Bryan Singer’s first X-Men movie came out, and I was completely awe-struck. The atmosphere, the characters, the visuals; these were characters I was familiar with but had never even imagined in that light. They seemed real. Needless to say, there is a certain nostalgia that overtakes me to this day when I think about that film. And so each year I look forward to the next crop of comic book superhero films.

Great superhero films have entertained many of us over the last ten or so years. Longer, even, if you want to include Tim Burton’s Batman and Richard Donner’s Superman: The Movie. Filmmakers consistently prove that comic books provide a wealth of potential for great films. However, like in any genre of film, there are successes and failures. And boy does the comic book genre have some stinkers. For every X-Men, there’s a Fantastic 4. For every Batman Begins there’s an Elektra. For every Spider-man 2 there’s a Spider-man 3. Every year I become more discerning about the comic book adaptations coming out. Every year I feel like I’m better able to judge them more on their merits as films and be less blinded by seeing childhood icons in live-action.

This summer there is a barrage of comic book adaptations on the release schedule. Some may call it overloaded, but really as a film goer I feel like I benefit. There is a lot of potential for each adaptation to entertain me. But I fear that not all of these films will. Some are bound to disappoint. The nature of this crowded market is that not all of these films will be made with passion and care. And now that I’ve seen trailers for the summer’s major releases, I’ve developed my expectations on which films I think are most likely to succeed. Expectations may in the end bias me, or hinder my enjoyment of them due to overhype, but nonetheless I have them and feel compelled to share.

View my thoughts on this year's super hero film trailers after the jump.

Why I love Batman & Robin

I have a confession, a deep, dark secret that I've never told a single soul. The truth is, I love Joel Schumacher's Batman & Robin. I hope before I'm lynched, I have a chance to explain myself. Maybe I'll even convert you.

Ridley Scott’s Robin Hood: Is just good, good enough?

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The summer months are the most crowded movie season. Every weekend ushers the release of a new, multi-million dollar blockbuster. It’s easy to get lost in the onslaught of tent poles and inevitably some will fall through the cracks and be missed. The summer of 2010 was no exception. Although Ridley Scott has long been one of my favorite directors, his reimagining of Robin Hood was one of the films I missed this summer. It’s not that I wasn’t anticipating the film. I closely follow all of Scott’s projects. It just got lost in summer shuffle, largely due to less than stellar reviews.

I was actually rather disappointed in myself that it had taken me so long to see the film. After all, I went to see Scott’s underperforming Body of Lies on opening night. But thankfully, I managed to pick up a copy of the Unrated Director’s Cut. I put almost blind faith in Scott’s various director’s cuts, especially after the magnificent Kingdom of Heaven revamp. So naturally I was ready to completely deny all the negative reviews and blindly defend Scott.

My verdict of the film: it was good.

Of all the blogs in all the world, you had to walk onto mine...

Hi,

If you're reading this, then I have to assume you and I have one thing in common: a love of all things film. I'm not a filmmaker, or a film professor, or any sort of professional. I'm just a guy who watches movies, who loves watching movies. I try to watch as many movies as I can, but as many of you will agree, it takes a lifetime to see all there is to see in the world of film.

I live for those moments that make my heart race, or my eyes weep, or my sides split from laughter. Indiana Jones climbing underneath the truck to reclaim the lost Ark of the Covenant. Brad Pitt's character in Se7en begging to know the contents of the box. King Kong plummeting from the top of the world. These are moments, among many, that I have made a personal connection to.

And so I decided to start this blog so that I could share my thoughts, comments and feelings about film with the world. So if you're reading this, please leave a comment; tell me about your favorite film moments

Regards,

Anthony