Posts Tagged ‘Anna Kendrick’

REVIEW: 50/50

Wednesday, August 3rd, 2011

Adam is a 27 year young guy who doesn’t smoke, doesn’t drink and recycles. He even waits at the cross walk when nobody else is on the road. How could a good guy like that be diagnosed with cancer? 50/50 is a dark comedy with a ridiculously well-balanced blend of both comedy and drama…you can almost say it’s 50/50. Don’t get scared away by the subject matter; it is serious, but it’s not all depressing. Joseph Gordon-Levitt does an incredible job depicting a range of emotions and states that his character must go through. Director Jonathan Levine doesn’t shy away from anything associated with this terminal illness and pulls at every heart string you have. I loved it.


Don’t worry, I didn’t spoil the movie, you find out Adam (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) has cancer quite early in the film. The whole movie is watching him cope with it. But cancer isn’t the only thing he has to cope with, he has to deal with his relationship with girlfriend Rachael (Bryce Dallas Howard), his overprotective mom (Anjelica Huston), selfish best bud Kyle (Seth Rogen) and talks with a newbie psychiatrist Dr. McKay (Anna Kendrick) who is training to get her doctorates. It’s fascinating to see Adam’s transition as he goes through chemotherapy treatment and how people…treat him. The story is pretty straightforward but keeps you engaged the whole way. Keep your tissues close.

50/50

Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Seth Rogen in 50/50


The entire cast does an outstanding job in this picture but Joseph Gordon-Levitt is stellar. He plays Adam as a calm, collected young adult who seems to be in disbelief. How would you react if you were told you had cancer? Even though you’re seeing almost the entire movie through his perspective, you can really never tell what is actually going on in his head. The few emotional outbursts that he does have throughout the film remind you of how great an actor Gordon-Levitt is and how consistent he is from scene to scene. The make-up department also deserves a shout out because you could see Adam’s image deteriorate as the story continues. If you’ve ever experienced cancer first hand, it will be startling how realistic it feels.
50/50

I think this was the best treatment in 50/50. Fire heals all.


You may be reminded of the movie Funny People which Seth Rogen also stars in. Funny enough, Rogen pretty much plays the same exact character – the friend to the guy with cancer. To me, this was classic Seth Rogen and he killed it once again…he’s hilarious! Rogen’s character, Kyle, is a slightly obnoxious guy who only thinks of himself. He hates Adam’s girlfriend and just wants to get high or laid all the time. Who can play that part better than Seth Rogen? Anna Kendrick plays the 24 year-old psychiatrist straight out of school who tries to comfort Adam through therapy sessions. She’s completely textbook and foolishly tries to use her medical teachings on Adam. She’s naive and cute and I loved her as well. Adam also interacts with other cancer patients one of which is Philip Baker Hall who gives yet another great performance. They swap stories, advice and weed cookies.
50/50

Anna Kendrick can touch me any day


50/50 is an excellent movie and is not to be missed. If you think you’re going to cry in this movie, you will. It has some seriously emotional scenes but at the same time, has very uplifting and comical parts too. Whenever I thought they were going to take the movie in one direction, they switched it up so it wasn’t too heavy or too light. What resulted was a beautiful mix of emotions. You can’t help but empathize with Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s character, he was just an everyday you or me who suddenly met face to face with a life-changing dilemma. The film perfectly portrayed the seriousness of the issue while offering a real perspective that walked the line of funny and heartfelt. It’s not a 50/50 question of whether you’re going to like it or not…you will.



It looks like there are tons of advance screenings for 50/50…find out where to get passes here!

REVIEW: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

Friday, July 23rd, 2010

Scott Pilgrim vs. the WorldSo I was at the Scott Pilgrim vs. The World panel at Comic-Con and Edgar Wright was moderating his own film with twelve members of the cast along with the creator of story, Bryan Lee O’Malley. The panel was hilarious and they gave out these little buttons to the crowd. At the end of the panel, Edgar Wright asked if we would like it if he screened the movie to fans tonight (after he asked us if we liked chocolate). Obviously, the crowd went crazy, but only people who got white buttons could see the screening tonight. I had a white button :) .


The movie was AMAZING. It’s a fresh and different feel of film for a unique and wacky story. If you like any alternative culture like comics, video games, or rock music…you’ll love this movie. It combines all three together to make a movie that you’ve been wanting to make with your childhood friends forever. The movie where you would say, “wouldn’t it be cool if when you punched something it would show the sounds in words like in a comic,” or “when people got into a fight it would like it was a Tekken match,” or even “when i played my bass, you could see the music waves.” Well this movie has all of that fun stuff and more!

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

Scott Pilgrim dealing with one of Ramona Flowers's exs


The story follows a 22 year-old guy living in Toronto with his gay roommate. This guy has a dream about a girl and then suddenly sees his dream girl in real life. There’s one problem however…well seven problems. In order to date her, he must fight her seven evil exs. What!? Yup, that’s the storyline…and it’s AWESOME. The movie moves so fast cutting from scene to scene that you kind of feel whiplashed and that you should be confused…but it does this so well and so funny that you’re going along with it and getting all the back-story you need to understand what’s going on in the movie in record speed. When other movies would bore you with the particulars and mundane scenes like calling a girl on the phone, Scott Pilgrim mixes in outrageous humor and non-stop scene shifting to move you through the story. It’s shot as if it were a video game itself, so as Scott progresses through the exs, we’re all progressing through the levels of the movie with him…it’s brilliant!
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

The Seven Evil Exs


I mentioned the comic book pizazz, video game fights, and banging music right? The way this movie is shot makes you feel like you’re in the graphic novel without being a cheesy gimmick like we’re used to seeing. It actually creates its own medium which just hasn’t been done like this before. The fight and action scenes are spot on with great visual effects and jaw-breaking stunts. You won’t believe your eyes when you see Michael Cera do some of the things he does. Each of the 7 exs have their own fighting styles as well so you’re not bored with the same repeated fighting style. It moves from mythical bollywood, to skateboarding, to music battles, weapons (like a big ass hammer and glowing swords), and straight hand to hand combat…a little bit of everything to please your violent side.
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

Michael Cera kicking ass and taking names with a special sword


The style of writing and lingo used in the script is spot on. Anyone from middle school age to late thirties is going to be cracking up and repeating the lines for months to come. You’ll hear things like “hasbian”, “earholes”, and phrases like “you kicked my heart’s ass”, and “I lesbian you”, and stuff. The writing is just half the credit. All the actors were great in each of their roles. They not only delivered their lines but delivered on their personas. The movie is very quirky and needed quirky actors to do it justice and do it right.
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

Scott Pilgrim with some of his friends


My favorite element of the film is the sound effects. They really set each scene with the music and/or sound effects that were used. You’ll hear sound effects from video games like Tekken, Sonic, and Final Fantasy as well as a segment with the Seinfeld theme and backtrack (you know when you hear the audience laughing and clapping). There are a few running gags thrown in to make you laugh even more as well as some great cameos! This movie really does have it all and I hope you go see it because more movies like this should be made and only you purchasing a ticket will get that done!


(We’ll have more advance screenings posted closer to the film’s release date which is August 13th…you can find the Scott Pilgrim vs. the World advance screening list here!)

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Comic Con 2010 Preview!

Thursday, July 15th, 2010

advancescreenings.com is heading to San Diego for the 2010 Comic-Con! The movie schedule this year looks intense so we should have tons of stories and previews for you in the next couple of weeks. You can find the full Comic-Con schedule here. Let us know if there’s something you want us to cover in particular on Facebook or comment below! Here’s a list of panels we plan on attending:




Thursday
11:15-12:45 Walt Disney Pictures: TRON: Legacy— Returning for an unprecedented third year to the fans and convention that started it all, Walt Disney Pictures is pleased to present a special insider look at the upcoming TRON: Legacy. Panelists include filmmakers and talent from the film: director Joe Kosinski, producers Sean Bailey and Steven Lisberger, and cast members Jeff Bridges, Garrett Hedlund, Olivia Wilde, Michael Sheen, and Bruce Boxleitner. The discussion, moderated by Patton Oswalt, is set to include exclusive glimpses of the film, as well as a Q&A involving all panel participants, along with special surprise guests.


1:00-2:00 Sony Pictures Entertainment: Battle: Los Angeles and Salt— Two great new films from Sony Pictures Entertainment are showcased in this Hall H presentation!

Battle: Los Angeles — When unknown forces suddenly and mercilessly attack the City of Angels out of nowhere, it’s up to a local Marine staff sergeant (Aaron Eckhart) and a new platoon of unseasoned soldiers to meet the threat. As the invasion hits the streets of LA, these Marines become our first and last line of defense in an intense battle against an enemy unlike any they’ve ever encountered before. Appearing in person are Michelle Rodriguez, Aaron Eckhart, Neal Moritz, and director Jonathan Liebesman.


SaltSalt — Opening in theaters everywhere tomorrow, Columbia Pictures brings an exclusive and surprising look at Salt to Comic-Con today, featuring some very special guests. As a CIA officer, Evelyn Salt (Angelina Jolie) swore an oath to duty, honor and country. Her loyalty will be tested when a defector accuses her of being a Russian spy. Salt goes on the run, using all her skills and years of experience as a covert operative to elude capture, but her efforts to prove her innocence only serve to cast doubt on her motives as the hunt to uncover the truth behind her identity continues and the question remains: “Who is Salt?”



2:15-3:15 Summit Entertainment: RED— Summit Entertainment presents a sneak peek of exclusive footage from RED. They used to be the CIA’s top agents — but the secrets they know just made them the Agency’s top targets. Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich, and Helen Mirren star in RED, an explosive action-comedy based on the cult DC Comics graphic novel by Warren Ellis. Join him, director Robert Schwentke, and the film’s stars as they share footage from the film and debut the final trailer before it’s ever in theaters.


The Expendables4:45-5:45 Lionsgate: The Expendables— Prepare to have your ass kicked by The Expendables, the biggest action movie this summer! Lionsgate presents exclusive scenes and the inside scoop on every punch, kick, and bloodied lip from the most iconic cast of heroes and villains ever assembled, including the director, writer, and star Sylvester Stallone (Rambo), along with Dolph Lundgren (Universal Soldier), Steve Austin (The Condemned), Randy Couture (Scorpion King: Rise of the Warrior), and Terry Crews (Gamer).


Scott Pilgrim vs. the World6:00-7:00 Universal: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World— Genre-bending filmmaker Edgar Wright (Hot Fuzz), graphic novel author Bryan Lee O’Malley, and the cast of Universal Pictures’ Scott Pilgrim vs. the World provide a sneak peek of summer 2010′s epic of epic epicness. Joining Wright will be our hero, Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera of Superbad); Scott’s two current girlfriends, Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead of The Thing) and Knives Chau (Ellen Wong of Unnatural History); his band, SEX BOB-OMB: Kim Pine (Alison Pill of Milk) and Stephen Stills (Mark Webber of Broken Flowers); SEX BOB-OMB super-fan Young Neil (Johnny Simmons of Jennifer’s Body); Scott’s awesome roommate, Wallace Wells (Kieran Culkin of Igby Goes Down); and four of Ramona’s seven evil exes: Matthew Patel (Satya Bhabha of Fair Game), Todd Ingram (Brandon Routh of Superman Returns), Gideon Graves (Jason Schwartzman of Funny People) and Roxy Richter (Mae Whitman of Parenthood); plus Scott’s younger sister, Stacey Pilgrim (Anna Kendrick of Up in the Air), and the obnoxious Julie Powers (Aubrey Plaza of Parks and Recreation). Q&A to follow.




Friday
11:15-11:45 Summit Entertainment: Drive Angry 3D— A vengeful father hunts down the people who brutally killed his daughter and kidnapped her baby in the newest film shot in 3D from the writer and director of My Bloody Valentine 3D, starring Nicolas Cage, William Fichtner, Billy Burke, and Amber Heard. Join the cast and filmmakers as they showcase never-before-seen footage of this high-octane, blood-spattered road trip through hell!


12:00-1:00 Skyline— Universal Pictures, Relativity Media, and Rogue Pictures present an exclusive look at the sci-fi thriller Skyline, directed and produced by the Brothers Strause (Alien vs. Predator: Requiem), whose company Hydraulx has provided visual effects for Avatar, Iron Man 2, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and 300. In Skyline, strange lights descend on the city of Los Angeles, drawing people outside like moths to a flame, where an extraterrestrial force proceeds to swallow the entire human population off the face of the earth. Colin and Greg Strause unveil an exclusive Comic-Con trailer and scenes from Skyline, along with stars Donald Faison (Scrubs), Eric Balfour (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, 24), David Zayas (The Expendables, Dexter), Scottie Thompson (Star Trek), and Brittany Daniel (Club Dread). HitFix’s Drew McWeeny moderates.


1:00-2:00 Super— Writer/director James Gunn (Slither), stars Rainn Wilson (The Office), Liv Tyler (Lord of the Rings), Nathan Fillion (Firefly), and Michael Rooker (Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer), and producers Ted Hope (Adventureland) and Miranda Bailey (The Squid and the Whale) reveal footage from their latest feature production Super, including the first peek at Rainn and Ellen Page’s costume design. Super is a hyper-real and shockingly funny look at the extremely violent antics of a down-on-his-luck man as he attempts to win his wife back from a glamorous drug dealer by teaming up with a psychopathic teen to become costumed crimefighters.


2:15-3:45 Miramax Films: Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark— Producer/co-writer Guillermo del Toro and director Troy Nixey present a first look at their new film Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark, a hair-raising, spine-chilling tale of horror about a little girl (Bailee Madison) who is sent to live with her father (Guy Pearce) and his girlfriend (Katie Holmes) in the old mansion they are renovating, only to unwittingly unleash malevolent creatures bent on destroying all of them.


4:00-6:00 Sony Pictures Entertainment: The Other Guys, The Green Hornet, and Priest— Two more sneak peeks at upcoming films from Sony Pictures Entertainment!

The Other GuysThe Other Guys–NYPD Detectives Christopher Danson and P.K. Highsmith (Dwayne Johnson and Samuel L. Jackson) are the baddest and most beloved cops in New York City. Two desks over and one back, sit Detectives Allen Gamble (Will Ferrell) and Terry Hoitz (Mark Wahlberg). You’ve seen them in the background of photos of Danson and Highsmith, out of focus and eyes closed. They’re not heroes — they’re “the Other Guys.” But every cop has his day and soon Gamble and Hoitz stumble into a seemingly innocuous case no other detective wants to touch that could turn into New York City’s biggest crime. It’s the opportunity of their lives, but do these guys have the right stuff? Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Eva Mendes, and co-writer/director Adam McKay will be appearing in person.


The Green Hornet–Director Michel Gondry, who makes movies with a special, personal signature, is taking on The Green Hornet — and he’s doing it in 3D. Comic-Con audiences, prepare yourselves. In The Green Hornet, Britt Reid (Seth Rogen) is the son of L.A.’s most prominent and respected media magnate and perfectly happy to maintain a directionless existence on the party scene — until his father (Tom Wilkinson) mysteriously dies, leaving Britt his vast media empire. Striking an unlikely friendship with one of his father’s more industrious and inventive employees, Kato (Jay Chou), they see their chance to do something meaningful for the first time in their lives: fight crime. To get close to the criminals, they come up with the perfect cover: they’ll pose as criminals themselves. Protecting the law by breaking it, Britt becomes the vigilante The Green Hornet as he and Kato hit the streets. Confirmed to appear in person to unveil this early look at The Green Hornet in 3D are the Hornet himself, Seth Rogen, director Michel Gondry, writer Evan Goldberg, producer Neal Moritz, and actor Christoph Waltz.


Priest (3D) — A western-infused post-apocalyptic thriller, set in an alternate world — one ravaged by centuries of war between man and vampires. The story revolves around a legendary Warrior Priest (Paul Bettany) from the last Vampire War who now lives in obscurity among the other downtrodden human inhabitants in walled-in dystopian cities. When his niece (Lily Collins) is abducted by a murderous pack of vampires, Priest breaks his sacred vows to venture out on an obsessive quest to find her before they turn her into one of them. He is joined on his crusade by his niece’s boyfriend (Cam Gigandet), a trigger-fingered young wasteland sheriff, and a former Warrior Priestess (Maggie Q) who possesses otherworldly fighting skills. Stars Paul Bettany, Karl Urban, Maggie Q, Cam Gigandet, Stephen Moyer, and director Scott Stewart will be onstage to unveil the first 3D look at Priest.





Saturday
11:45-1:15 Warner Bros.: Green Lantern, Sucker Punch, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows— Warner Bros. showcases three eagerly awaited upcoming new films in this Hall H presentation!

Green Lantern– Get a first look at the upcoming sci-fi action adventure Green Lantern, directed by Martin Campbell. Green Lantern is an epic adventure that crosses galaxies to bring to life the legendary Silver Age superhero Hal Jordan, who is chosen by the ring itself to become the first human member of the Green Lantern Corps and take on the vast and powerful Parallax as it threatens to destroy the world. The film stars Ryan Reynolds as Hal Jordan, Blake Lively as Carol Ferris, Peter Sarsgaard as Dr. Hector Hammond, and Mark Strong as Sinestro.


Sucker Punch — Fasten your seatbelt for a sneak peek at the dark action fantasy Sucker Punch, from director Zack Snyder, who previewed his films 300 and Watchmen at past Comic-Cons. A group of young girls escape the dark reality of their lives through their vivid imagination, which takes them to various fantasy locations in different realms. The ensemble cast features Emily Browning, Abbie Cornish, Vanessa Hudgens, Carla Gugino, Jena Malone, Jamie Chung, and Jon Hamm.


Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Every saga has a final chapter. Kick off the year of Harry Potter with a first look at the coming screen adaptation of J. K. Rowling’s final book in the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, with a program created just for Comic-Con fans. One way. One hero. One destiny. Don’t miss it!



1:30-2:30 Overture: Let Me In— The cast and filmmakers of Let Me In, a haunting and provocative thriller written and directed by filmmaker Matt Reeves (Cloverfield), give the Hall H audience a sneak peek at this highly anticipated film. Let Me In is an astonishing coming-of-age story involving a young girl (Kick Ass’s Chloe Moretz) and an alienated boy (Kodi Smit-McPhee from The Road) unlike any you have seen. Based on the bestselling Swedish novel Lat den Ratte Komma (Let The Right One In) by John Ajvide Lindqvist and the highly acclaimed film of the same name, Let Me In takes audiences straight to the troubled heart of adolescent longing and loneliness. Academy Award-nominee Richard Jenkins (The Visitor) also stars in this exhilarating reboot of the beloved original.


4:00-4:45 Screen Gems: Resident Evil: Afterlife— In a world ravaged by a virus infection that turns its victims into the Undead, Alice (Milla Jovovich) continues on her journey to find survivors and lead them to safety. Her deadly battle with the Umbrella Corporation reaches new heights, but Alice gets some unexpected help from an old friend. A new lead that promises a safe haven from the Undead takes them to Los Angeles, but when they arrive the city is overrun by thousands of Undead and Alice and her comrades are about to step into a deadly trap. The fourth installment of the hugely successful Resident Evil franchise, Resident Evil: Afterlife is again based on the wildly popular video game series and this time will be shot in 3D using the same state-of-the-art cameras created for Avatar. Writer/director Paul W. S. Anderson, along with the film’s stars Milla Jovovich, Ali Larter, and Wentworth Miller, will be on hand to show you some stunning 3D sequences and answer your questions.


4:45-5:45 Universal: Paul and Cowboys & Aliens— Universal presents two upcoming films in this exclusive Hall H presentation.

Paul — Scheduled to appear for Universal Pictures’ sci-fi comedy-adventure Paul are a who’s who of film comedy. Director Greg Mottola (Superbad) will be joined by cast members Simon Pegg (Hot Fuzz), Nick Frost (Shaun of the Dead), Kristen Wiig (Date Night), Bill Hader (Forgetting Sarah Marshall), Jeffrey Tambor (The Hangover), Joe Lo Truglio (Role Models), Seth Rogen (The Green Hornet), and Sigourney Weaver (Baby Mama) as they discuss the movie about two sci-fi geeks whose pilgrimage to Comic-Con ultimately takes them to America’s UFO heartland. While there, they accidentally meet an alien who takes them on an insane road trip that alters their universe forever. Q&A session to follow.


Cowboys & Aliens — Director Jon Favreau (Iron Man series) discusses what’s happening behind the scenes of Universal Pictures and DreamWorks’ action-thriller Cowboys & Aliens, based on Platinum Studios’ graphic novel. Currently shooting in New Mexico, Cowboys & Aliens stars Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford and takes audiences into the Old West, where a lone cowboy leads an uprising against a terror from beyond our world. Q&A session to follow.



6:00-7:00 Marvel Studios: Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger— Producer Kevin Feige and special guests give you an inside look at the ever-expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe.




As you can see, that’s a lot of panels! I’m sure there will be tons of exclusive news and announcements so make sure to visit advancescreenings.com throughout next weekend and you can also follow me on twitter for real-time updates!