By Michael Knox, mknox@modernfilmzine.com
GRADE: A+
One of the best parts about “Splice” is its pacing. This is a movie that quickly establishes itself inside of 15 minutes and then continually cranks up the heat. Just when you think things can’t get any weirder, the wacky meter gets turned up another notch.
…continue reading “Splice” delivers strong story with good heart and elements of horror
By Michael Knox, director of “Tearing Down the Tent“
I am currently planning on a self distribution project for “Tearing Down the Tent” and plan to use Modern Film Fest/Modern Film Productions as a “front” for being a distributer of the movie to theaters. …continue reading “Tearing Down the Tent” promotional road trip/theatrical “run”
GRADE: B+
By Michael Knox
Mknox@modernfilmzine.com
From the word go, “The Losers” sets itself up as an over the top film, filled with wildly eccentric characters that chew up the scenery with wonderfully weird dialogue.
The opening shot of the film has a set of shadows – of what wind up being sticks- being played with by one of the characters, who is imagining the sticks as Godzilla and another character.
“Come one baby, just relax and let Godzilla do everything,” which is voiced over by Chris Evans, before we see him playing with the sticks.
…continue reading You got nothing to lose with “The Losers” — pure fun
By Ben McNeely
bmcneely@modernfilmfest.net
Neal Hutcheson went into the woods around Maggie Valley and found Popcorn Sutton.
The ornery mountain man made no bones about what he was: A hillbilly, through and through.
And Popcorn Sutton could make moonshine, Hutcheson said, in the old ways people have been making moonshine in the Appalachian Mountains for generations.
“It really was a superior product,” he said. “He was always improving his process, inventing new techniques.”
Hutcheson met Popcorn for a documentary called “Mountain Talk,” which explores the dialects heard in the Appalachians. Hutcheson works for the Linguistics program at N.C. State University and with its director, Walt Wolfram.
Hutcheson befriended Popcorn, who wanted to shoot a how-to film on making homemade liquor. …continue reading Modern Film Society presents “The Last One” — Popcorn Sutton and his “likker”
Modern Film Fest continues to receive submissions for this year’s festival, with a total of 16 submissions received. In the next few weeks a screening committee will begin to view the movies, currently consisting of nine narrative films and seven documentaries, to determine which films will make the cut for the festival, which is being held Oct. 1-3, at the historic Gem Theatre in Kannapolis, N.C.
Return for more updates on movies Modern Film Fest recruiters receive for the festival.
For now, here is a round up of some of the movies we’ve collected for the screening committee: …continue reading Modern Film Fest collects 16 movie submissions — first round up of titles
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.
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 Ben McNeely | bmcneely@modernfilmzine.com
At some point, we’re going to have to get over this religion vs. science thing. It just keeps creeping into our entertainment.
And really, folks, who needs all this existential dilemmas in our movie theaters right at the beginning of summertime?
We’re in an economic crisis as it is, isn’t that enough?
Well OK, guess not, because Ron Howard brings us the next installment of the Robert Langdon series, ‘Angels & Demons’ by the irascible pop author Dan Brown.
Brown, who makes a killing off weaving suspense thrillers from ancient conspiracy theories and mumbo-jumbo, sends his agnostic professor off to Rome on another quest to bring down the Catholic Church … in order to save it.
…continue reading Singing with the ‘Angels’, Hangin’ with the ‘Demons’
