Saw DAYBREAKERS.
Loved it.
My fondest hope is that our anthology project on TriggerStreet can produce some six-minute movie scripts that echo the same smart approach in DAYBREAKERS.
Ethan Hawke--whose judgment once again was proven sound--played a realistic vampire in a world where humans are an endangered species.
This fresh approach--this infusion of realism which dealt with modern concerns about diminishing resources--rang true and sustained its realism right up through the bloody showdown.
For anyone interested, our anthology project will be twenty six-minute movie scripts featuring vampires as the central character. It's called BLOOD and here's a link to our discussion thread:
http://bulletin.triggerstreet.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?p=737769#737769
And if you're not a member of Triggerstreet, you're missing out on a fantastic, free resource for writers.
Keep punching keys,
Paul
Monday, January 25, 2010
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Avatar, Sherlock Holmes and Crazy Heart
I was a bit shocked when I read David Denby's reviews for AVATAR and SHERLOCK HOLMES in the New Yorker. Off the top of my head, I think he started his review like this: "AVATAR is one of the most beautiful movies I've seen in a long time."
The sheer banality caught me off guard.
And then I wondered--has money been slipped under the table?
FWIW--I think Denby really did like AVATAR--and he was caught in the afterglow of a stunning 3D visual feast.
As for his praise of Sherlock Holmes--he pointed out that it was more of a start of a franchise than a movie--and raved about the chemistry between Downing and Law.
Again, I wondered, has money had been slipped under the table?
As for AVATAR--I consider it to be a 3D version of DANCES WITH WOLVES without the heart.
As for SHERLOCK HOLMES--I was even more disappointed--because a fantastic opportunity to explore Holmes's addiction to cocaine--which was tasteful done in my favorite Holmes movie--THE SEVEN PER CENT SOLUTION--was ignored.
So--Downing didn't have a chance to break our hearts as he did in LESS THAN ZERO.
And that's a shame--because the audience for SHERLOCK HOLMES, as well as the audience for AVATAR--must be the coveted 14 to 25 year-olds who ensure 100-million dollar returns for PG-13 tripe.
So, it should come as no surprise that my favorite recent movie was one made for adults: CRAZY HEART.
Although it had shades of TENDER MERCIES--it was anything but a rehash--and Jeff Bridges showed all the signs of being an "actor's actor" with a sublime, heartbreaking performance.
Best wishes to Bridges for an Oscar--I think he'll be hard to beat.
The sheer banality caught me off guard.
And then I wondered--has money been slipped under the table?
FWIW--I think Denby really did like AVATAR--and he was caught in the afterglow of a stunning 3D visual feast.
As for his praise of Sherlock Holmes--he pointed out that it was more of a start of a franchise than a movie--and raved about the chemistry between Downing and Law.
Again, I wondered, has money had been slipped under the table?
As for AVATAR--I consider it to be a 3D version of DANCES WITH WOLVES without the heart.
As for SHERLOCK HOLMES--I was even more disappointed--because a fantastic opportunity to explore Holmes's addiction to cocaine--which was tasteful done in my favorite Holmes movie--THE SEVEN PER CENT SOLUTION--was ignored.
So--Downing didn't have a chance to break our hearts as he did in LESS THAN ZERO.
And that's a shame--because the audience for SHERLOCK HOLMES, as well as the audience for AVATAR--must be the coveted 14 to 25 year-olds who ensure 100-million dollar returns for PG-13 tripe.
So, it should come as no surprise that my favorite recent movie was one made for adults: CRAZY HEART.
Although it had shades of TENDER MERCIES--it was anything but a rehash--and Jeff Bridges showed all the signs of being an "actor's actor" with a sublime, heartbreaking performance.
Best wishes to Bridges for an Oscar--I think he'll be hard to beat.
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