Here’s a trailer for “The Good Heart,” which is being released by Magnolia Pictures: A friendless bar owner (Brian Cox) with a bad heart takes in a young homeless man (Paul Dano) to teach him how to take over his bar when he is gone. Cox is known for his roles in “X-Men 2,” “Super Troopers,” and “The Bourne Supremacy.” Dano is known for his roles in “Little Miss Sunshine” and “Gigantic.”
Check out the trailer for the documentary “Being the Diablo.”
The documentary tells the story of Mickey Mahaffey’s search for himself, which could not be derailed by what people thought of him.
The path went from preacher, to living homeless, to being committed to a mental institution, to finally dancing with Tarahumara Indians at the bottom of a remote canyon in Mexico’s Sierra Madre.
His Daughter Stephanie has spent most of her life defending and justifying her father’s choices. His quest for a deeper, yet more simple, spiritual life was constantly at odds with what Stephanie’s family and friends expected from a father.
By Michael Knox
Mknox@modernfilmzine.com
John Hurt will join the cast of Greek gods in “Immortals,” taking on the role of Zeus, according to a news release.
“Immortals” follows the mythological tale of the young warrior Theseus, who leads his men into battle with the immortal Greek gods to defeat evil and the powerful elder gods of the Titans in order to save mankind, according to the news release. Tarsem Singh directs the film that began shooting in Montreal this week.
Singh previously directed, “The Cell,” and “The Fall.”
Hurt, known for his roles in “Hellboy,” “V for Vendetta” and “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” as well as his upcoming role as Mr. Ollivander in the last two “Harry Potter” movies, will portray the earthly manifestation of the god Zeus.
Hurt’s character acts as a mentor and teacher to the young warrior Theseus. It was also announced this week, that Isabel Lucas (“Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” and “Daybreakers”) was brought onto “Immortals” as Athena, the daughter of Zeus who finds her loyalty tested as the war between the gods and Titans looms.
The two join Henry Cavill who plays the young warrior, Theseus, and plays the character Charles Brandon on “The Tudors.”
Stephen Dorff (“Blade”) plays Stavros with Mickey Rourke (“Sin City” and “The Wrestler”) playing King Hyperion.
“Immortals” was previously titled, ‘War of the Gods,” according to the news release.
Distributed by Universal Pictures, “Immortals” will be produced by “300” producing partners Gianni Nunnari of Hollywood Gang Productions, Mark Canton of Atmosphere Entertainment MM. Ryan Kavanaugh, CEO of Relativity Media, will also produce on “Immortals.”
By Michael Knox
Mknox@modernfilmzine.com
Sid Haig, known for his role as “Captain Spaulding” in Rob Zombie’s “House of 1000 Corpses” and “The Devil’s Rejects,“ will join “A Clockwork Orange” star Malcolm McDowell in the zombie comedy “First Platoon,” according to a press release.
Director Chris Gabriel will be shooting his original screenplay for the project. Filming in Albuquerque, New Mexico this spring and summer, “First Platoon” is slated for release in December 2010, according to a news release.
Las Vegas, NV production companies, First Earth Films and Laughing Jack Entertainment will produce the film.
“First Platoon” is an homage to a genre virtually created by George Romero, and stays true to the classic zombie lore that diehard fans revere, according to the press release. A post apolyptic zombie comedy, “First Platoon,” will also feature Aaron Shiver (“3:10 to Yuma,” “The Book of Eli” and “The Men Who Stare at Goats.”
Shiver is joined by John Kassir (“Reefer Madness – The Musical” and “Race to Witch Mountain.”
Gabriel has previously teamed up with First Earth Films on “S4,” an ultra low budget 1950’s style sci-fi comedy, and will also direct “Raggedy Anne,” an action/comedy, in late 2010.
Danny Trejo (“From Dusk Till Dawn,” “Once Upon a Time in Mexico” and “Con Air”) is rumored to play the character of a gun shop owner in “Raggedy Anne,” according to the Internet Movie Database.
With the relaunch of ModernFilmZine, we look to change the format of the film orientated Web site. With interviews from celebrities and directors as before, we look to add trailers and short films from MFZ readers.
As filmmakers we want to see work from other filmmakers. MFZ is designed to talk about the big movies, such as “Terminator: Salvation,” and “Star Trek,” but also focus on the side of cinema that often gets overlooked.
We also look to promote the mircobudget movies, since that is what we at MFZ are involved in as filmmakers ourselves.
If you are interested in having your short film or trailer posted on MFZ please e-mail mknox@modernfilmzine.com with a link to the footage as well as contact information and a write up of the project and creative team.
By Michael Knox
Mknox@modernfilmzine.com
Fans of Gregory Itzen’s evil President Charles Logan character on “24” will get a chance to see to actor take on a lighter role in the comedy-drama“Float,” which is set to be released on April 6.
The movie will also have other familiar faces from “24” and feature actors from “Heroes” and “Supernatural,“ featured in the Seminal Films picture.
Ray Fulton (Gregory Itzen of TV’s “24”), the work-aholic owner of a Glendale ice cream parlor, is abandoned by his neglected wife (Cristine Rose of TV’s “Heroes”). Itzen appeared in 44 episodes of “24” as the traitorous President Charles Logan, according to the Internet Movie Database. Rose has appeared in 53 episodes of “Heroes” as the character Angela Petrelli, according to the Internet Movie Database
The story of “Float” has Ray face a mid-life crisis forcing him to move into the bachelor pad of his two twenty-something employees (Hrach Titizian of TV’s “24” and one of the kidnappers in “The Men Who Stare at Goats“) and Johnny Asuncion, who also directs the film. As Ray tries to adjust to single life, he receives a surprise visit from his estranged daughter (Lauren Cohan of TV’s “Supernatural”).
The Armenian Weekly state that the movie is “on the list of best Indie comedies your friends have never heard of but need to be shown.”
The film won the Audience Award at the Dances With Films Festival, Best Screenplay at the ARPA International Fest, and Best Film at the Fil-Am Fest.
“Float” is produced by Zenith Films and Hrach Titizian, of “24.”
By Michael Knox
My apologies to any readers who have visited this site waiting for new content. The past nine months have been devoted to launching Modern Film Fest, plus planning a new festival, Ricochet Film Fest, as well as directing my second feature length movie, a documentary on the Blue Ridge Rollergirls.
That being said, I will be back writing for this site and hope to have other writers contributing in the next few months, supplying film festival coverage, actor and director interviews as well as reviews of new films. Along the way I will also be writing more personal blogs about trying to find distribution for the circus documentary I directed, “Tearing Down the Tent,” as well as continue a production log on the curretly untitled roller derby documentary.
I will also keep readers updated on movies being submitted to both Ricochet Film Fest and Modern Film Fest, letting readers know what’s been submitted as well as what we are looking to run in each festival.
As a return to this site I am happy to be writing a review of the new Jude Law film, “Repo Men.” It was pretty much what I expected and I am glad I went to see it. Take care and thank you for everyone who has read my stories in the past.
By Michael Knox, mknox@modernfilmzine.com
The cackling screams of agony and carnage that ripple across the speakers
when the “H.P. Lovecraft Radio Hour” plays is a highlight for the show's narrator, Ryan Haggerty.
…continue reading H.P. Lovecraft influencing a new generation of movie makers, capturing new fans
Three movies are already set to screen including the circus documentary, “Tearing Down the Tent,” with the popular film festival movies “Sita Sings the Blues” and “Official Rejection.”
Tickets look to cost $4 each, with the Independent Tribune newspaper as a sponsor working with the Cabarrus County Chamber of Commerce. We also look to approach the N.C. Research Campus for help.
We look to collect 12 or more movies to play at the theatre over the three day period.
By Ben McNeely, bmcneely@modernfilmzine.com
The problem with “Star Trek” is that it jumped the shark 15 years ago when producers Ron Moore and Brannon Braga created “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.”
It stopped being an allegory about the human condition and start getting into hardcore canon mythology storytelling.
