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Babel

Babel

Release Date: October 27, 2006
I walked into the theaters to see Babel not knowing anything about the indie film. I only knew that it starred Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett and Gael Garcia Bernal, but knew nothing of the plot. So that you have a better idea about this amazing and emotional film, I’ll do my [...]

By Tara Settembre on October 31, 2006 | Comments

Online Film Review: <i>Tinseltown</i>

Online Film Review: Tinseltown

One of our own Rejects has created a short and displayed it on YouTube. In an effort to give the guy a helping hand we’ve decided to review it here, but as per Robert’s request, we need to be honest and treat it like any other film. Fortunately, I don’t have to be [...]

By Matthew Alexander on October 31, 2006 | Comments

Mission Impossible III

Mission Impossible III

Release Date: October 30, 2006
Mission: Impossible III was a disappointment at the box office, failing to reach the level of either of the two prior entries. The DVD release looks to rectify the monetary situation. I wish that the movie had done better, it is actually quite good.
The movie opens with such [...]

By Chris Beaumont on October 31, 2006 | Comments

DVD Pick of the Week: <i>Cannibal Ferox</i>

DVD Pick of the Week: Cannibal Ferox

This Halloween is not offering up much in the way of killer releases. I can’t say that anything looks like an absolute must have, but every week offers up something that will be worth looking into. I was a little hesitant about selecting this week’s pick, but I have ended up probably [...]

By Chris Beaumont on October 31, 2006 | Comments

Box Office Update 10/27-10/29: <i>Saw III Slices the Through Competition</i>

Box Office Update 10/27-10/29: Saw III Slices the Through Competition

Saw III was the biggest movie of the weekend, trapping the young within its bloody grip. After the breakout hit that was the original film, the Saw franchise is turning into an October tradition. I wonder if they will be able to churn one out for next year to keep the trend [...]

By Chris Beaumont on October 31, 2006 | Comments

Austin Film Festival Diary – Day 4: <i>A Moment of Silence</i>

Austin Film Festival Diary – Day 4: A Moment of Silence

Last night I had the privilege of attending the Barbecue the festival puts on that’s notorious for its great food and free-flowing beer/wine/spirits (a common theme, no?). It’s one the few outdoor events, and it was nice to get outside before soldiering through day four indoors with panels and films.
So far I’ve been fairly lucky [...]

By Dr. Cole Abaius on October 31, 2006 | Comments

Flags of our Fathers

Flags of our Fathers

Release Date: October 20, 2006
Clint Eastwood, at age 76, may be in the middle of the high period of his career. His splendid Mystic River was followed up by the Oscar winning Million Dollar Baby, and several others of his recent films have been quite good as well as varied in genre and style. [...]

By Matthew Alexander on October 30, 2006 | Comments

The Best Horror Movies for Halloween

The Best Horror Movies for Halloween

The horror genre is similar to comedy in at least one important respect: what appeals to one viewer another may find boring. There are different styles of horror, just like there are different styles of comedy, and the horror film was never made that could successfully terrorize any audience. Some are frightened by [...]

By Matthew Alexander on October 30, 2006 | Comments

Catch a Fire

Catch a Fire

Release Date: October 27, 2006
Catch a Fire is a real life story of standing up for what is right, even if the cost is great. It is a brave film in this day and age, especially in America. It is a story that, while aimed directly at doing the right thing no matter he cost, [...]

By Chris Beaumont on October 29, 2006 | Comments

A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints (Austin Film Festival ‘06)

A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints (Austin Film Festival ‘06)

Release Date: October 13, 2006
This directorial debut from Dito Montiel, AGTRYS as its come to be known in our short-attention spanned culture, is two movies slammed into one. The first is the early life of Dito (Shia LeBeouf) as he grows up on the mean streets of Astoria in the 1980’s. The second is a [...]

By Dr. Cole Abaius on October 29, 2006 | Comments

Payback – Straight Up (Austin Film Festival ‘06)

Payback – Straight Up (Austin Film Festival ‘06)

Release Date: TBA
If it looks like this review belongs in the vault or merits mention on an episode of “I Love the 90’s”, trust me, it doesn’t. The general populous is well aware of Payback, the black and blue Mel Gibson film that gave everyone something to see him in before Lethal Weapon 19 came [...]

By Dr. Cole Abaius on October 28, 2006 | Comments

Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (Austin Film Festival ‘06)

Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (Austin Film Festival ‘06)

Release Date: January 5, 2007
Dustin Hoffman. Alan Rickman. Have I sold you on the movie yet? As if going to see two brilliant actors together in one movie isn’t enough incentive, throw in the fact that it’s directed by Tom Tykwer (Run, Lola, Run) and has a cast of capable, rising stars telling the story [...]

By Dr. Cole Abaius on October 28, 2006 | Comments

Saw III

Saw III

Release Date: October 27, 2006
As soon as the first one was a hit, a sequel was fast tracked. A year later the sequel opened and was an even bigger hit, and a third was immediately set into motion. Here we are, three years, three Saw movies. Arguably the father of the current [...]

By Chris Beaumont on October 28, 2006 | Comments

The Queen

The Queen

Release Date: October 6, 2006
Ask me about English royalty and you will get a blank look from me. Ask me what I know about Queen Elizabeth II, or Prince Charles, or the late Princess Diana, or Tony Blair and you will likely get a shoulder shrug and a mumbled ” I dunno” [...]

By Chris Beaumont on October 28, 2006 | Comments

Marie Antoinette

Marie Antoinette

Release Date: October 20, 2006
Is Marie Antoinette a train wreck or a misunderstood classic? Or perhaps it is something altogether different. Time will tell just where in film history this will fit, even if it is allowed entry. I wasn’t sure what to expect, actually, I expected the worst based on the [...]

By Chris Beaumont on October 26, 2006 | Comments

New Movies and Box Office Predictions: <i>Saw III, Catch a Fire, Death of a President</i>

New Movies and Box Office Predictions: Saw III, Catch a Fire, Death of a President

Halloween is nearly upon us, which means it is Hollywood’s last chance to get a scary movie into theaters before the big day. This weekend brings what may be, arguably, the biggest scary movie of the year, hopefully it will deliver the goods. That is the only big release of the week. [...]

By Chris Beaumont on October 26, 2006 | Comments

Weekly Over/Under: <i>The “What happened last week?” Edition</i>

Weekly Over/Under: The “What happened last week?” Edition

Last week’s Over/Under was… non-existent. Alright, so I took an impromptu vacation from the Weekly Over/Under. My apologies.
But even though we did not officially post an Over/Under last week, I know that you all participated in spirit. This week I am back like Die Hard – with a Vengence – and I am ready to [...]

By Neil Miller on October 26, 2006 | Comments

Austin Film Festival Diary – Day 3: <i>Still Mostly Conscious</i>

Austin Film Festival Diary – Day 3: Still Mostly Conscious

The thing that won’t be advertised on the Austin Film Festival website is how much you have to gear up for the entire event if you plan to make it out alive. For some, it will be a fun trip to one or two movies; for others it will be a constant flow of panels, [...]

By Dr. Cole Abaius on October 26, 2006 | Comments

Meet the Film School Rejects

Meet the Film School Rejects

Do you ever wonder who the heck all of these writers are that grace the fair pages of Film School Rejects? Alright, well maybe you don’t, but we are sure that some people actually do – therefore we have put together our brand new Author Profiles page!

By Neil Miller on October 26, 2006 | Comments

Flags of Our Fathers

Flags of Our Fathers

That Clint Eastwood, he’s like Stephen Spielberg, but with a gun.
Eastwood’s journey in Hollywood has taken him from a six-shooter toting, all star actor to a Director who always draws the quickest come Oscar time. Over the past few years he has unleashed such wonders as Mystic River, Million Dollar Baby and this years Blockbuster [...]

By Neil Miller on October 25, 2006 | Comments

The Nightmare Before Christmas 3-D

The Nightmare Before Christmas 3-D

Way back in the early 1990s, Tim Burton was working on an animated film populated with the denizens of his dark imagination. He took a love for Halloween and turned and was turning it into an animated musical for the big screen. It was directed by Henry Selick, based on those Burton brain drippings. The end result is nothing short of magic.

By Chris Beaumont on October 25, 2006 | Comments

Waist Deep

Waist Deep

Films like Waist Deep are pure moneymakers without substance. Provided with an extremely simple screenplay and a cast of Tyrese, this film could have only been made for one purpose: make more money than the production budget.

By Brian C. Gibson on October 25, 2006 | Comments

The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift

The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift

Any great movie has to eventually become a trilogy, or even have a trilogy of prequels. Well, sometimes not so great movies become trilogies too.

By Brian C. Gibson on October 25, 2006 | Comments

Flags of Our Fathers

Flags of Our Fathers

Release Date: October 20, 2006
Clint Eastwood’s latest project is a film of epic scope and personal implications. It is one thats is sure to stir memories in many people. It is a story that is too big for one movie. The movie that is now gracing the big screen tells one side [...]

By Chris Beaumont on October 25, 2006 | Comments

The Prestige

The Prestige

Release Date: October 20, 2006
The Prestige is movie magic. This is one of the reasons that people go to the movies. Christopher Nolan has crafted an intricate mystery that has a story that is involving, a cast that is highly talented, and an ending that is satisfying, yet leaves you thinking about [...]

By Chris Beaumont on October 25, 2006 | Comments

The Departed

The Departed

Release Date: October 6, 2006
It’s been a long wait, but apparently we are not to be entirely deprived of good cinema this year. True to recent trends, the best movies of the year have been saved for the end in an attempt, misguided or not, to increase the chances of an Oscar nomination. [...]

By Matthew Alexander on October 24, 2006 | Comments

Austin Film Festival Diary – <i>Trapped in Austin</i> – Day 2?

Austin Film Festival Diary – Trapped in Austin – Day 2?

So you say I haven’t been updating? Good eye, friend, but please let me explain. First of all, it wasn’t my fault. Second of all, it, in fact, probably was completely my fault.
The problem with the festival is that it’s dutifully sponsored by two alcohol companies that make sure everyone has a copious amount of [...]

By Dr. Cole Abaius on October 24, 2006 | Comments

Pirate Radio USA (Austin Film Festival ‘06)

Pirate Radio USA (Austin Film Festival ‘06)

Release Date: TBA
Normally I write movie reviews for this website, but I consider this piece to be more of a public service announcement. If you see Pirate Radio USA, you will want to go to Radio Shack, drop a hundred bucks and start broadcasting from your basement tonight. Consider this your only warning.
This documentary, directed [...]

By Dr. Cole Abaius on October 24, 2006 | Comments

The TV Set (Austin Film Festival ‘06)

The TV Set (Austin Film Festival ‘06)

The Opening Night film of the festival, The TV Set, is a satirical look at the world of television production from the mewling and puking of the show concept, through the pilot taping, straight on to the network picking it up for the new Fall line up. It’s a tale of butting heads – creativity vs. marketability – offered from Jake Kasdan, the director of Orange County.

By Dr. Cole Abaius on October 24, 2006 | Comments

Box Office Update 10/20-10/22: <i>The Prestige</i> Appears Magically on Top

Box Office Update 10/20-10/22: The Prestige Appears Magically on Top

Christopher Nolan’s latest reached number one this week, and based on anecdotal evidence from a few forums, it comes as quite the surprise. Not to this guy! I had a feeling that it would open well, based on the strength of the cast and the incessant advertising. I am not trying to make myself seem [...]

By Chris Beaumont on October 24, 2006 | Comments