Hitting movie theaters this weekend:
Bridesmaids – Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne
Priest – Paul Bettany, Cam Gigandet, Maggie Q
Movie of the Week
Priest
The Stars: Paul Bettany, Cam Gigandet, Maggie Q
The Plot: A priest (Bettany) disobeys church law in order to track down the vampires who kidnapped his niece.
The Buzz: I’ve got to be honest, I think this film looks horrible. It’s ‘Movie of the Week’ strictly as a path of least resistance. If I happen to have any regular readers out there, they’re certain to know that I’m not going anywhere near Bridesmaids, not even with a blindfold, and so Priest suddenly shines with promise — relatively speaking of course.
Priest continues director Scott Charles Stewart’s working affair with Paul Bettany (whom last teamed together on the unimpressive Legion). Bettany bugs me a bunch, anyone else? I’ve just never taken him well,...
Bridesmaids – Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne
Priest – Paul Bettany, Cam Gigandet, Maggie Q
Movie of the Week
Priest
The Stars: Paul Bettany, Cam Gigandet, Maggie Q
The Plot: A priest (Bettany) disobeys church law in order to track down the vampires who kidnapped his niece.
The Buzz: I’ve got to be honest, I think this film looks horrible. It’s ‘Movie of the Week’ strictly as a path of least resistance. If I happen to have any regular readers out there, they’re certain to know that I’m not going anywhere near Bridesmaids, not even with a blindfold, and so Priest suddenly shines with promise — relatively speaking of course.
Priest continues director Scott Charles Stewart’s working affair with Paul Bettany (whom last teamed together on the unimpressive Legion). Bettany bugs me a bunch, anyone else? I’ve just never taken him well,...
- 5/11/2011
- by Aaron Ruffcorn
- The Scorecard Review
Originally written by the late French actor/director Jaques Tati in 1956 in an attempt to reconcile with his daughter, The Illusionist (2010) had lain dormant for almost fifty years before eventually finding its way to director Sylvian Chomet’s desk following the release of Belleville Rendezvous (2003).
Although Chomet kept in close contact with Tati’s caretakers, the film has his very distinctive style stamped all over it. Like Belleville Rendezvous there is very little dialogue, Chomet choosing for his characters to express themselves visually and this allows the viewer to take pleasure in the film’s wonderful animation. Combined with a simple but heartfelt soundtrack, The Illusionist is an honest account of the importance of companionship during the darker times of one’s life. The result is a beautiful and poignant film of which Tati would have been proud.
Starting in Paris in the late 1950s, the story follows Tatischeff (Jean-Claude Donda...
Although Chomet kept in close contact with Tati’s caretakers, the film has his very distinctive style stamped all over it. Like Belleville Rendezvous there is very little dialogue, Chomet choosing for his characters to express themselves visually and this allows the viewer to take pleasure in the film’s wonderful animation. Combined with a simple but heartfelt soundtrack, The Illusionist is an honest account of the importance of companionship during the darker times of one’s life. The result is a beautiful and poignant film of which Tati would have been proud.
Starting in Paris in the late 1950s, the story follows Tatischeff (Jean-Claude Donda...
- 2/14/2011
- by Daniel Green
- CineVue
Sad and beautiful, that's The Illusionist in a nutshell. This animated movie is not geared toward small children -- it's from the same filmmaker who brought us The Triplets of Belleville, Sylvain Chomet. But where his previous film was riotous and joyful and just plain insane at times, The Illusionist is quieter, more structured and not afraid to venture into melodrama. It may not be upbeat, but that doesn't mean it was disappointing, at all.
The Illusionist originates from a script by the late French actor/filmmaker Jacques Tati. If you've seen The Triplets of Belleville, you know Chomet is a big fan of Tati -- there are a few Tati references sprinkled throughout the film, and the humor matches some of Tati's more chaotic comedy. But Tati's standard "M. Hulot" character also had a more dramatic side, which prevails in this movie.
Dialogue is minimal, the characters barely have names,...
The Illusionist originates from a script by the late French actor/filmmaker Jacques Tati. If you've seen The Triplets of Belleville, you know Chomet is a big fan of Tati -- there are a few Tati references sprinkled throughout the film, and the humor matches some of Tati's more chaotic comedy. But Tati's standard "M. Hulot" character also had a more dramatic side, which prevails in this movie.
Dialogue is minimal, the characters barely have names,...
- 2/11/2011
- by Jette Kernion
- Slackerwood
Title: The Illusionist (2011) Director: Sylvain Chomet Starring: Jean-Claude Donda (voice), Eilidh Rankin (voice) Oscar nominee, “The Illusionist,” is a delightfully somber 80 minutes. It may be the saddest story seen in the last six months. And Fyi, this guy has seen “Blue Valentine,” “Biutiful” and “Another Year.” The old-school hand drawn animation was the perfect platform for this tale. Using modern CGI and/or live performers would have completely missed the intended tone this flick was shooting for. Our story is simple. Set in the time of the late ‘50 and early 60’s in Europe, a traveling stage performer - a magician - is always on [...]...
- 2/10/2011
- by joe
- ShockYa
Quickcard Review
The Illusionist
Directed by: Sylvain Chomet
Cast: Jean-Claude Donda, Eilidh Rankin
Running Time: 1 hr 20 mins
Rating: PG
Release Date: January 14, 2011 (Chicago)
Plot: A talented magician (Donda) struggles to find work while becoming friends with a young girl (Rankin) who snuck away from her village.
Who’S It For? Fans of Jacques Tati will be delighted to see his original story brought to life, but those who can get lost in animation that doesn’t have spunky characters or even dialogue for that matter will enjoy themselves.
Overall
The Illusionist is a piece of art hand-drawn with undeniable charm from the unique style of director Sylvain Chomet, but its a movie truly made by the man given an “Original Story” credit – Jacques Tati. The classic French director’s original concept does more than just provide the tale with a course of events, it provides the soul that Chomet’s...
The Illusionist
Directed by: Sylvain Chomet
Cast: Jean-Claude Donda, Eilidh Rankin
Running Time: 1 hr 20 mins
Rating: PG
Release Date: January 14, 2011 (Chicago)
Plot: A talented magician (Donda) struggles to find work while becoming friends with a young girl (Rankin) who snuck away from her village.
Who’S It For? Fans of Jacques Tati will be delighted to see his original story brought to life, but those who can get lost in animation that doesn’t have spunky characters or even dialogue for that matter will enjoy themselves.
Overall
The Illusionist is a piece of art hand-drawn with undeniable charm from the unique style of director Sylvain Chomet, but its a movie truly made by the man given an “Original Story” credit – Jacques Tati. The classic French director’s original concept does more than just provide the tale with a course of events, it provides the soul that Chomet’s...
- 1/14/2011
- by Nick Allen
- The Scorecard Review
Title: The Illusionist Directed By: Sylvain Chomet Voice Cast: Jean-Claude Donda, Eilidh Rankin It’s nice to find a filmmaker with good intentions, but there’s just so far the intent alone can get you. Writer-director Sylvain Chomet aims to conjure up quite a degree of emotion in his nearly dialogue-less, animated 80 minute film, and while he comes close to making a powerful impact, winds up falling flat thanks to a key facet missing from his movie - entertainment. Life is rough for The Illusionist in Paris in 1956. Nothing he pulls out of his sleeve or his hat can draw a crowd quite like the rising rock bands. The theater is packed [...]...
- 12/24/2010
- by Perri Nemiroff
- ShockYa
See 6 new clips from Sony Pictures Classics' animated foreign film "The Illusionist" (a.k.a. "L'illusionniste"). Sylvain Chomet directs as well as writing the adaptation, from the original screenplay by Jacques Tati. The film opens on December 25th and features the voice talents of Jean-Claude Donda, Edith Rankin, Jil Aigrot, Didier Gustin, Frédéric Lebon and Tom Urie. "The Illusionist" is one of a dying breed of stage entertainers. With emerging rock stars stealing his thunder in the late 1950s, he is forced to accept increasingly obscure assignments in fringe theatres, at garden parties and in bars and cafés. Then, while performing in a village pub off the west coast of Scotland, he encounters Alice, an innocent young girl, who will change his life forever...
- 9/3/2010
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Mother (15)
(Bong Joon-ho, 2009, S Korea) Kim Hye-ja, Won Bin, Jin Ku, Yoon Jae-Moon. 130 mins
After his mutant tadpole movie The Host, Bong brings us another Korean monster: a middle-aged herbalist with a will of steel and some serious overprotection issues. Her simple-minded son has been fitted up for a schoolgirl's murder, and in a society of inept cops, exploitative lawyers and generally corrupt townsfolk, only mommie dearest believes he's innocent – and sets out to prove it. It's a mystery thriller to make Hitchcock proud, and a delectably warped parable of blood running thicker than water.
The Expendables (15)
(Sylvester Stallone, 2010, Us) Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, Jet Li. 104 mins
Now that the 80s beefcake reunion has actually happened, does anyone care? Probably enough to make this a guilty-pleasure night out, and that's all it really asks for. With a last surge of testosterone coursing through their wrinkled physiques, our senior...
(Bong Joon-ho, 2009, S Korea) Kim Hye-ja, Won Bin, Jin Ku, Yoon Jae-Moon. 130 mins
After his mutant tadpole movie The Host, Bong brings us another Korean monster: a middle-aged herbalist with a will of steel and some serious overprotection issues. Her simple-minded son has been fitted up for a schoolgirl's murder, and in a society of inept cops, exploitative lawyers and generally corrupt townsfolk, only mommie dearest believes he's innocent – and sets out to prove it. It's a mystery thriller to make Hitchcock proud, and a delectably warped parable of blood running thicker than water.
The Expendables (15)
(Sylvester Stallone, 2010, Us) Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, Jet Li. 104 mins
Now that the 80s beefcake reunion has actually happened, does anyone care? Probably enough to make this a guilty-pleasure night out, and that's all it really asks for. With a last surge of testosterone coursing through their wrinkled physiques, our senior...
- 8/20/2010
- by The guide
- The Guardian - Film News
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