Film School Rejects » Bradley Kreft

Tarantino to do What He Does Best at Cannes, Talk About Himself

Bradley Kreft — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 17:21:00 +0000

The man’s formative years were spent flinging his extensive film knowledge in the general direction of willing and unwilling ears and his movies are laced with comments on films, past and present. So who better to stand in front of a room full of attentive film lovers and natter to his heart’s content?

By man, of course, I refer to Quentin Tarantino and by natter I mean speak intelligently- and that he will when he addresses the Cinema Masterclass at the upcoming 2008 Cannes Film Festival. Tarantino is set to speak of his experiences in the film industry from directing both big and small budget features to his much-acclaimed screenwriting prowess.

The one-time Jury President and Palme d-Or winner will follow in the rather sizable footsteps of 2007 orator Martin Scorsese when he takes the stage during the Festival in the south of France, which runs from the 14th – 25th of May. Tarantino, whose Death Proof was entered in the festival last year, was an eager listener when Scorsese gave his inspirational lecture on his extensive career in the business.

Source: Variety.com

Pen Hits Paper for High School Musical 4

Bradley Kreft — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 16:54:08 +0000

The all-singing all-dancing teen phenomenon that is High School Musical is showing no signs of disappearing any time soon with the announcement of a fourth installment of the franchise currently being written.

With number 3 barely out of production, the makers of the hit Disney Channel movies are already hyping for the next feature which is rumored to head straight to the box, despite the theatrical release of the third. However the issue of the cast is another matter, with Disney Channel President Rich Ross speaking of the possibility of a fresh class of teenage entertainers: “Are we going to have the all the cast back? Probably not. Will we have some of them? I hope so.”

If this is true then what does this mean for the graduating darlings of New Mexico, will they move on to bigger and better things? Will Vanessa Hudgens take a shot at “serious acting”? Will Zac Efron finally come out?

Source: Yahoo Movies

Movie Review: Run Fatboy Run

Bradley Kreft — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 18:55:51 +0000

Following Simon Pegg’s super-cool performance in the live-wire Brit-cop parody that was last year’s Hot Fuzz, the pressure was on to follow up in his next project with the same writing prowess that made that film so freakin’ good. The resulting film is Run Fatboy Run, a humorous, compact little flick which possesses a slightly different overall style than that of his previous works.

The narrative is based around Dennis’s (Simon Pegg) fear and insufficiency in the areas of commitment and responsibility and basically the fact that he runs away from any challenge he is ever faced with in his life. Run Fatboy Run is kicked off by his panicked dash from the altar, where he was set to marry his pregnant bride Libby (Thandie Newton), after suffering from a severe case of cold feet. Several years down the track, Dennis finds himself a sad and lonely man. Working as a security guard at a woman’s clothing store and living in a cramped basement unit of an apartment block, he is clearly regretting the decision he made to escape from a marriage to the women he genuinely loved. Upon learning of the new man in his ex-fiancé’s life, Whit (played perfectly by Hank Azaria), Dennis vows to turn his life around and win back his girl by proving his worth in the most obvious of ways: by running a marathon. The challenge is laid down for Whit and Dennis to duke it out on the cold, hard streets of London.

Pegg’s Dennis is the likable loser, stumbling along through life post-Libby, trying to be a good father to his young son Jake, but tripping over himself in the process. The direct opposite is Azaria’s Whit, who along with his swanky job, buff physique and nice-guy persona is also a great step-dad to Jake. The film benefits immensely from the humorous banter between the two characters, with Dennis’s contempt for Whit being an evident source of the tension between them. Dennis dishes out the quick one-liners as an immature attempt to undermine Whit, and he comes up with some beauties. The small supporting cast adds a little something to the film also, with the standout being Dylan Moran as Dennis’s spaced out best friend, Gordon. Look out for the cameo role from The Office co-creator Stephen Merchant.

Don’t go into this one expecting the same caliber of comedy which characterized the likes of Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead as this film doesn’t quite possess the same level of humor which made those so successful. Without doubt there are touches of the Pegg that had you rolling in the aisles during Hot Fuzz last year, but as a complete package, Run Fatboy Run isn’t quite in the same stead. The strong influence that Ricky Gervais has had on British comedy in the past 5 or so years is very easy to see in this film, with much of the humor coming from very David Brent-style lines and delivery. This isn’t to say that this film is simply an attempt to recycle the dry style of Gervais. I merely point to the influence as a point of reference.

One thing I noticed about the film that wasn’t apparent in the trailer is its tendency to align more with the romantic comedy genre than with the straight-out comedy. There isn’t the constant assault of one-liners and slapstick moments that would tend to over-balance the film into the cheap comedy genre; it maintains a balance and flow which suits the rather light plot. The shift from a more overpowering and crude style of ‘male’ humor, I believe, opens the film up to a broader audience, but at the risk of it slipping a little into the ‘date movie’ category. Director David Schwimmer also keeps the distinctly British feel to the film which is, of course, one of its main attractions in the first place.

All-in-all, Run Fatboy Run was a nice little film that had me laughing, but more than anything it left me longing for another Simon Pegg-Edgar Wright collaboration.

The Upside: Simon Pegg. Enough said.

The Downside: The fact that Hot Fuzz tended to raise our expectations for this film.

On the Side: This is David Schwimmer’s (yes, Ross from Friends) motion picture directing debut.

Fast and the Furious 4: Sexy Cars On Set

Bradley Kreft — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 21:58:11 +0000

While the Fast and the Furious franchise is preparing to give birth to number 4, one sneaky car enthusiast has been busy playing secret squirrel and has managed to snap a bunch of photos of the hot new cars which are to be featured in the 2009 film.

Car Domain is boasting of one its members (whose own car is to be part of the film) cleverly avoiding detection and discretely snapping many of the cars on set during a supposed scene outside a nightclub. And as you would expect from the franchise many of the cars featured look as though they have been assaulted by a rainbow, but nonetheless they still look pretty sweet. And fast. Really fast.

As announced earlier, number 4 marks the return of the majority of the original cast from the first flick back in 2001. Paul Walker, Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, and Jordana Brewster will once again take the wheels of these supped-up speed machines and hopefully deliver another good old fashioned adrenalin fix.

Take a look at the array of cars and trucks below:

The currently Untitled Fast and the Furious Sequel is being directed by Justin Lin, who directed the third installment, Tokyo Drift. It is currently set to be released on June 5, 2009.

Here is the currently released synopsis for the film: Brian help the feds stop a heroin importer known as Braga. With the help of an informant named James Park, Brian – and ultimately Dominic Toretto – wins a place on the criminal’s team, where he – and his flashy Nissan – plan to catch the man red-handed.

Photos Courtesy of Car Domain

American Gangster Tops the High-Def Disc Sales Chart

Bradley Kreft — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 01:01:51 +0000

Following the recent decision of Toshiba to end its support of HD DVD, the battle of the high-def formats has taken a considerable turn in Blu-ray’s favour. Yet Universal’s HD release of American Gangster has proved to be a plucky wee fighter in this fight for supremacy, blowing away its Blu-ray rivals in the sales charts.

American Gangster came out guns blazing in its first week, leading VideoScan’s Weekly High-Def Disc Sales Chart for the week ending 24 February. HighDefDigest reports that Ridley Scott’s crime epic, which was incidentally released on the same day as the Toshiba announcement, sold almost twice the amount of units as the leading Blu-ray runner Michael Clayton. Not bad for a format that looks to be on the decline.

However before you HD fans out there get too excited, it must be pointed out that the remaining nine titles on VideoScan’s chart were all Blu-ray releases. This just further emphasizes the well-known fact that Blu-ray is very much in control of the high-def market, despite the best efforts of American Gangster.

VideoScan’s complete list of the ten top-selling high-def releases for the week ending 24 February 2008:

1. American Gangster (HD DVD); INDEX: 100
2. Michael Clayton (Blu-ray); INDEX: 62.24
3. The Rock (Blu-ray); INDEX: 27.26
4. Cars (Blu-ray); INDEX: 26.18
5. We Own the Night (Blu-ray); INDEX: 24.29
6. Planet Earth (Blu-ray); INDEX: 22.69
7. Con Air (Blu-ray); INDEX: 21.37
8. Gone Baby Gone (Blu-ray); INDEX: 19.89
9. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (Blu-ray); INDEX: 19.26
10. Crimson Tide (Blu-ray); INDEX: 18.28

‘Quantum of Solace’ Has Even Paul Haggis Confused

Bradley Kreft — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 01:53:09 +0000

Quantum of Solace. That gathering of words right there has become one of the most misunderstood and misinterpreted phrases since its much anticipated reveal early this year. No doubt a large majority of the fans eagerly-awaiting the naming of Bond 22 wore an expression of bafflement just after the announcement was made, and I have no shame in admitting that I was among them. But now I feel slightly better in knowing that one of the film’s screenwriters is sharing in our rather comical bewilderment.

Digitalspy is stating that upon being asked by MTV to explain the meaning of this mysterious phrase, Paul Haggis simply replied: “I have no idea. It’s not my title.”

So surely now we can rid ourselves of any shame or embarrassment that arose upon our seeking of a dictionary post-announcement, as even some of those close to the film are a little unsure of the exact meaning.

There is one man however, who will never be beaten when faced with a challenge. Whether that challenge comes in the form of powerful global terrorist organizations or in this case a teasingly ambiguous film title, Bond will always come out victorious. Daniel Craig describes with confidence the intent of the Ian Fleming phrase: “It comes from the idea that in a relationship, if you don’t have a quantum of solace left in your relationship, then give up.”

He has also dropped hints that the statement is integral to the plot of the new 007 feature.

Whichever way you look at it, this intriguingly exotic name will only add to Bond’s allure and the hype surrounding this new installment, making it a must-see come November this year.

1-18-08/Cloverfield Will Soon Have a New Name and Trailer

Bradley Kreft — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 03:48:27 +0000

Finally it is getting a name. Yes, a proper name. Very soon the top-secret J.J. Abrams project commonly referred to as â€œ1-18-08â€ or â€œCloverfieldâ€ will be christened with its official title.

Coming Soon has revealed that the name of the highly-anticipated film will be released along with a brand new trailer on November 16 prior to the opening screenings of Robert Zemeckis’ fantasy adventure Beowulf. So we can all rejoice in the fact that we will no longer have to pore over the original trailer, searching in vain for any small detail that may hint to the identity of the mysterious creature terrorizing New York.

The original trailer, first released during the opening Transformers screenings back in June, has created a hive of activity across the internet, with swarms of bloggers and crazed Lost fans uncontrollably hyping the film up to event status, in much the same way as the release of The Blair Witch Project back in ‘99.

So far very little has officially (and truthfully) been released about the project, temporarily named on IMDb as â€œUntitled J.J. Abrams Projectâ€, apart from the rather ambiguous but super-cool photo website (www.1-18-08.com). Confirmed for sure are the director (Matt Reeves) and writer (Drew Goddard), as well as several key stars, Michael Stahl-David, Odet Jasmin, Mike Vogel, Lizzy Kaplan, and Jessica Lucas.

November 16. Write it down. Remember this date, because it is the glorious day when we will finally be released from our bubble of confusion and freed into the wonderful land of knowledge.

Scorsese and DiCaprio Go to Shutter Island

Bradley Kreft — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 10:54:00 +0000

Word is out that one of the unofficial dream teams of modern cinema will reunite once again for the screen adaptation of Dennis Lehane’s novel Shutter Island. First Showing reported yesterday that director Martin Scorsese and actor Leonardo DiCaprio will combine for the fourth time in six years to bring this dark, thriller to the screen with the backing of co-producers Paramount and Columbia.

The pair has prioritized the project ahead of others they had lined up for early next year, as apparently the script instantly stood out to both men as one they wanted to pursue. The script is complements of Laeta Kalogridis, whose previous writing credits include Alexander and James Cameron’s 2009 project Battle Angel.

Shutter Island will be the third of Lehane’s novels to be adapted for the screen, following the Clint Eastwood directed Mystic River in 2003 and the newly-released adaptation of Gone Baby Gone directed by Ben Affleck.

True to form, Lehane’s Shutter Island is another shady crime thriller/mystery, with word going around that it is even darker and more gripping that the likes of Mystic River. The story is set in the 1950’s; with DiCaprio almost certain to play the role of a U.S. Marshal called Teddy Daniels. Daniels is investigating the disappearance of a murderess who has escaped from a hospital for the criminally insane, with Shutter Island being the presumed location she is hiding.

Possible locations for the shooting of the film have been acknowledged as Massachusetts, Connecticut, or Nova Scotia, and production is likely to commence in March of next year.

The cinematic combination of Scorsese and DiCaprio has been highly effective in the new millennium, with their three films, Gangs of New York, The Aviator, and The Departed, bringing home a wealth of Oscar and Golden Globe wins and nominations. So if their previous efforts are anything to go by; we may well have ourselves another work of genius in the making. I’m sure you are all with me in looking forward to hearing more about this one.

Damon Leaves Bourne Door Slightly Ajar

Bradley Kreft — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 10:21:35 +0000

Matt Damon has delivered a nice little early Christmas present to movie fans worldwide recently, by making it known that he may be interested in a fourth installment of the Bourne franchise.

Yahoo is reporting that the 37 year-old actor has said he is open to the idea of starring in another film as Jason Bourne, if his director is keen for the project too.

He says: “If Paul Greengrass, maybe years down the road, was interested in doing another one, then I would do it too.”

Adding: “I don’t think either of us completely put the character to bed yet.”

Damon attributes much of his recent career success to the Bourne character, claiming it allowed him more choice in the type of movies he wanted to make- no doubt referring to his committal to the likes of The Departed and The Good Shepherd as well as continuing his Oceans account in this year’s third installment. He adds that the Bourne character means a lot to him â€œpersonallyâ€.

Director Greengrass himself has been very careful in discussing the prospects of continuing the franchise, leaving fans wondering whether or not they have seen the last of the amnesiac assassin on the big screen. The novels of course have continued for two more titles after Ultimatum, The Bourne Legacy and The Bourne Betrayal, but this matters little in the scheme of things however, as the books and films share little in terms of story.

Damon has also quashed the rather ridiculous idea of a trans-Atlantic film battle against British hero James Bond. He has politely ruled-out any kind of fight between the two JBs, stating â€œHe keeps himself in very good shape. I would like to avoid any confrontation with Daniel Craig if I can.”

‘Jimmy vs. Jason’ just doesn’t have the same ring to it now does it?

Zodiac Laced With CGI Backdrops

Bradley Kreft — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 15:05:47 +0000

It’s obviously no secret that a large amount of films these days are flooded with computer-generated imagery which aid in certain aspects of the film; whether it’s creating specific looks, certain events to occur, or just making our favorite superheroes buzz through the sky. It is however, surprising to find out after watching such a realistic film like Zodiac that a large amount of what you just witnessed was played out in front of a blue-screen.

Filmstalker has found a very interesting behind-the-scenes clip from visual effects studio Digital Domain which reveals aspects of Zodiac which have been computer-generated. It is surprising to discover the extent of the CGI elements, as the film has such a realistic look and feel which doesn’t come across as being digitally created.

It is a very cool clip which shows you exactly where Fincher used visual effects to enhance the look of his scenes.

Enjoy.

[youtube width="425" height="335"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tiN7BWakII[/youtube]

300

Bradley Kreft — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 02:34:02 +0000

I’ve never seen a movie screen take such a battering before as it did when it was showing 300 – this film was relentless in its assault on the cinema, bringing wave after wave of brutal violence and deafening war cries to your senses as you sit comfortably in your chair soaking in this expressive visual experience. Gerard Butler’s cries of â€œSPARTA!â€ were ringing in my ears for days after. And now, you can go through it all again at home- scaring the hell out of the cat while you do it.

300 is out now on DVD and with it comes over 90 minutes of additional footage, so there’s plenty more opportunities to watch Gerry walk round in his undies. But if that’s not exactly what you’re in to then you won’t exactly be disappointed, as the special features include a huge array of informative and interesting segments.

Because 300 is built predominantly around its stunning visual style, it’s no secret that this film swims at the shallow end of the narrative pool, so therefore I’m not going to spend too much time in this review looking at the story aspect of the film; instead I’m concentrating more on the style and additional features of the disc. But for those of you who need a plot refresher – 300 is the film adaptation of Frank Miller’s graphic novel based on the epic historical battle between the vast Persian army and 300 Spartan warriors at Thermopylae. King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) leads his buffed-up combatants into battle to defend his nation and its freedom against Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro) and his Persian army which number in the thousands.

It is important to remember that this film is adapted from Miller’s graphic novel, as this comic is the source of the incredibly striking landscapes and environments with which director Zack Snyder has placed so much emphasis on in the film. Snyder wanted to stay as close to the comic as possible in terms of imagery (also in story for that matter) in order to stay true to the author’s vision (it also helps with Miller being the executive producer). The result is a film shot entirely in front of blue screens leading to spectacular computer generated landscapes which have a strong mythical feel to them- perfect for a film of this subject.

This historic battle story is told in way that elevates the Spartans to legendary status, foregrounding their courage and bravery in the face of certain defeat. The film in its entirety works to emphasize the incredible lives that Spartans lived, and not just their warriors- but also their women and children as well. Scenes early on in 300 show, without restraint, the tough, brutal training and testing which every boy is required to undergo in order for him to grow into a highly-skilled killing machine, much like his father. Queen Gorgo played by Lena Headey embodies the Spartan woman; a strong, beautiful, physically fit woman who can well-and-truly hold her own and who is extremely proud of who she is and where she is from. As for the Spartan warrior, there is no greater honor that to fight and die for his city. This is the ultimate mark of distinction for all men who are raised in Sparta, and throughout the film this point is never forgotten.

I don’t quite know where to start in terms of reviewing the special features, as the list of interviews, mini-documentaries, and additional footage is endless (you definitely get your moneys worth if you decide to buy this one). Extensive interviews with Snyder and Miller provide insight into the vision behind the 300 graphic novel and film, and they describe the ways that Miller’s story varies from the actual historical event. Equally informative is a small doc on the real life Spartans, which provides you with a solid history lesson. A surprisingly hefty number of webisodes feature large amounts of behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with crew members and actors Gerard Butler, Lena Headey, and Rodrigo Santoro about their roles. The actor’s grueling physical training for their roles is covered also, as well as features on costumes, sets, and CGI elements.

Despite lacking in plot depth, 300 is still a highly impressive film. Fashioning a uniquely stylized look and backed by its unwaveringly brutal battle scenes, 300 is an onslaught of testosterone which leaves you all amped up and ready to break some shit. This DVD is definitely one for the collectors.

Hot Fuzz

Bradley Kreft — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 10:24:33 +0000

Edgar Wright’s cult smash of ‘07 has finally hit the shelves and if you haven’t already seen this dynamite piece of Brit comedy, I suggest you hurry your ass down to your local DVD store and rent or buy it- pronto. Oh- and while you’re down there, rent Wright’s Shaun of the Dead as well and watch them back-to-back, I guarantee it will be the funniest double-feature you will ever see.

Basically, Hot Fuzz is an action movie on a sugar-high. The film is a hilarious homage to the classic action movies and cop flicks we all know, while at the same time fashioning its own brand of humor and action. The film begins with Officer Nicholas Angel (Simon Pegg), an overachieving cop who is transferred from his post in London to the small country town of Sandford because he is so efficient at his job that he makes those officers around him look bad. On his first night in town, Angel encounters the drunken Danny Butterman (Nick Frost) in the pub who turns out to be his new partner. The paring of hard-ass big city Angel and oafish action movie-loving Butterman set to work solving numerous petty crimes around town, the most pressing of which being the disappearance of a local swan. However the seemingly quiet town soon gets shaken from its slumber as several murders take place. Angel struggles to convince the rest of the fuzz that there is something sinister going on, as they all believe these deaths are nothing more than a series of unfortunate accidents.

Shot in an energetic fast-paced style and with plenty of witty dialogue to go around, Hot Fuzz is a superb follow up to Shaun of the Dead from writers Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg. The film features a truckload of references to other films (as the feature commentaries explain), and both embraces and mocks the typical clich©d action movie themes. When you delve into the extra goodies of the DVD you can see how much fun these guys must have had making this film. The outtakes reel is one of the best I’ve seen, it is lengthy and incredibly entertaining- Pegg and Frost are just naturally funny men and watching them screw up their lines had me in hysterics. Equally entertaining and also highly informative is the commentary by writers Pegg and Wright, which is one of four feature commentaries on the disc. I’m not normally a fan of the commentaries on DVDs but this one I found to be well worth the watch. They also poke a bit of fun at television censorship by including a short reel of segments from the ‘clean’ version of the film where certain four letter words have been replaced with â€œsiltâ€ and â€œfunkâ€, and my personal favorite, â€œmotherhuggerâ€. There are numerous other short features included, from the obvious trailers to another of Frost’s cartoon flick-books.

Overall, Hot Fuzz is a solid DVD package. There are plenty of laughs in the film itself and the extras, as well as a whole lot of action to back it up. It is the type of film which is definitely suited for multiple viewings and you will not get sick of it easily – it’s well worth the price.

Check out Hot Fuzz on DVD and HD-DVD from Amazon.com:

Transformers

Bradley Kreft — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 10:48:10 +0000

To be honest, I was never really into Transformers toys when I was a kid, I didn’t watch the TV show or read the comics either, they just weren’t my thing. So I wasn’t exactly one of the thousands who were counting down the days until the film about these unique creature-machines hit the screens. What I was interested in though, was going along to view one of the biggest film events of the year. I walked into the cinema knowing and caring very little about Transformers, but walked out a converted man.

As far as film spectacles go, they don’t get much better than Transformers. Don’t bother wearing your socks, because this film will knock them right off. The CGI alone is reason enough to go along and watch; the graphics are so freakishly realistic that you really start to marvel at how amazing mans relationship with computer is. These computer-generated machines do not at all look out of place sharing the big screen with the more warm-blooded creatures we are used to.

The film is based around the Allspark (the object that brings mechanical objects to life) and the Autobot’s quest to keep this powerful cube from the hands of the Decepticons. Although, of course, the Transformers are the subjects of the film, emphasis is placed on humans to provide more depth to the narrative. Teenager Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) plays an integral part as the ‘human lead’, shall we say. His unknowing acquisition of a transforming car propels him into the conflict, while Defense Secretary John Keller (Jon Voight) leads the military’s journey of discovery. Numerous other characters are thrown into the mix, from hard-ass army officers (Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson) to equally hard-ass, but extremely feminine, females (Megan Fox, Rachael Taylor).

What you will experience during Transformers is a 144-minute explosion of mind-blowing filmmaking. I will struggle to provide adequate superlatives to describe how good the experience is. You’re definitely in for a ride with this film, whether you like it or not. The film exceeded all my expectations in terms of a realistic correlation between the human actors and the machines, you never feel as though there is gap between the two. An amazing job has been done also, in weaving the computer-generated machines into the environments, they look completely at home. But all this would mean nothing, if the actual act of transforming wasn’t presented as a masterfully choreographed display of power, speed, and agility, because that’s what we’re all going there to see right? Fortunately, the robot’s transformations from various vehicles and aircraft to giant metal beasts have been captured with staggering creativity and grandeur- you will not be disappointed. I sat there like a 3 year-old boy, gazing at the screen, mesmerized by the moving robotic shapes.

Stealing the spotlight from the likes of Optimus Prime and Megatron would be an impossible task for any actor placed on the same strip of film as these two figures, but LaBeouf’s intense performance is definitely worth a mention- he really stepped up among heavyweights of both the human and machine kind. Also, the gorgeous up-and-comer Megan Fox is worth the admission price alone, playing the girl Sam is attempting to score throughout the film. Simply eye-candy for the guys you might be saying? Possibly, but her tough, feisty character lends more to the film than just her looks.

Director Michael Bay has succeeded in bringing these beloved machines to the big screen in a way that everyone can understand and enjoy. You have to admit, this film is funny. Transformers features enough snappy one-liners to fuel a sit-com for weeks. I’m not a long-time fan, but I’m sure I loved this film as much as the guy with the entire collection of toys, comics, and VHS’s.

In the past, I guess, those people still interested in Transformers well into their teens may have been seen as a little geeky? Well now its official, Transformers are cool again.

The Upside: Transformers transforming. Enough said.

The Downside: A little cheesy at times, but I guess that is all part of the Hollywood blockbuster experience.

On the Side: Sam’s eBay name ‘LadiesMan217′ refers to Michael Bay’s birthday: February 17th.

The Simpsons Movie

Bradley Kreft — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 10:41:31 +0000

So, it’s finally here. Amidst a huge storm of hype and excitement, the Simpsons finally hit the big screen in all their yellowy goodness. So why should we pay money to go see them at the cinema when we can watch them on TV for free? Because it’s the Simpsonsâ€¦â€¦â€¦in a movieâ€¦â€¦â€¦why the hell not?!

So I gathered in line on the second day of its release among a massive gaggle of eager followers, waiting excitedly for the usher to swing open the theatre doors and send us flooding into one of the most anticipated movie events of the year. I was already laughing by the time the Twentieth Century Fox intro appeared, and I didn’t stop until the end.

I don’t know how Groening and Brooks have kept up the humor over the entire 18 seasons of the show’s existence, but they have. The movie is no different; the classic Simpsons brand of comedy is well and truly alive and kicking up on the big screen. You’ve got to love it when a hugely anticipated film like this one actually lives up to the hype surrounding it. Quite often a book/TV show conversion to feature film is a bit of a let down (Miami Vice I’m looking in your direction), but no- The Simpsons Movie well and truly delivers.

So what’s the plot, you may be wondering. Well without giving too much away, the film centers on a major environmental issue affecting Springfield, with numerous other side stories for each of the main characters. Homer gets a pet pig, Lisa finds the boy of her dreams, and Bart becomes close to the Flanders. In a very Simpsons-like manner, the film takes humorous little stabs at several things along the way- the US Government being an easy target. The Simpsons Movie is like an extended episode of the show on TV. The director David Silverman has not gone overboard or tried anything tricky, simply delivering everything we love about the show, on a larger screen. The characters are all there- from the crazy cat lady to our favorite hick, Cledis, with several new ones tossed into the mix- Tom Hanks, Green Day, and Homer’s â€œspider-pigâ€ to name a few. It is the subtle little details which really make this film; it is full of random little sequences that will have you rolling in the aisles. Also the film never strays far from its television origin, with a surprise intermission and advertisement mid-film.

The movie contains plenty of pivotal scenes you wouldn’t want to miss out on- from Maggie’s first word to Bart skateboarding naked through the streets- and yes, you see his little yellow thing while he’s doing it. There is also a death of a well-known character. Stay for the credits, they are as funny as the film itself.

It goes without saying that if you are a fan of The Simpsons you should definitely go watch this film, but even if you’ve been hiding under a rock for the past few decades and have no idea who they are (yeah right), I still highly recommend you see this. It is a fantastic film that will definitely go down as one of the best of the year. You will not stop laughing so I suggest you take along a change of pants, because things might get a little wet down below.

Film School Rejects » Bradley Kreft

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