Dominic Sena's computer hacker thriller "Swordfish" was not particularly well-received when it was released in June of 2001, and currently holds a mere 25% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Indeed, the film's villain, a pageboy-cut-sporting John Travolta, was even nominated for a Razzie Award for his performance. The film was about a hip young hacker named Stanley (Hugh Jackman), on the outs with his wife and recovering from alcoholism, who is forcibly recruited by a supercriminal named Gabriel Shear (Travolta) to hack into the government and steal billions worth of slush fund money. Gabriel's ultimate plot is massively complicated, and he may actually be usurping another man's identity to commit even more horrendous crimes. Halle Berry plays fellow hacker Ginger, who is actually an undercover DEA agent, and who requires Stanley's help in apprehending Gabriel. Ginger is a classic femme fatale, and spends a great deal of "Swordfish" seducing Stanley.
"Swordfish" is unnecessarily convoluted,...
"Swordfish" is unnecessarily convoluted,...
- 3/23/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Tech giant Microsoft has explained why playing the mega-hit music video for popular US-based singer, songwriter, actress, and dancer Janet Jackson’s “Rhythm Nation” would crash certain models of laptops.
According to Raymond Chen, Senior Software Engineer, they discovered something bizarre. Playing the music video on one laptop caused a laptop sitting nearby to crash, even though that other laptop was not playing the video.
“It turns out that the song contained one of the natural resonant frequencies for the model of 5400 rpm laptop hard drives that they and other manufacturers used,” Chen said.
“The manufacturer worked around the problem by adding a custom filter in the audio pipeline that detected and removed the offending frequencies during audio playback,” he added.
Chen mentioned that he is sure “they put a digital version of a ‘Do not remove’ sticker on that audio filter.
The mega-hit “Rhythm Nation” was released as the...
According to Raymond Chen, Senior Software Engineer, they discovered something bizarre. Playing the music video on one laptop caused a laptop sitting nearby to crash, even though that other laptop was not playing the video.
“It turns out that the song contained one of the natural resonant frequencies for the model of 5400 rpm laptop hard drives that they and other manufacturers used,” Chen said.
“The manufacturer worked around the problem by adding a custom filter in the audio pipeline that detected and removed the offending frequencies during audio playback,” he added.
Chen mentioned that he is sure “they put a digital version of a ‘Do not remove’ sticker on that audio filter.
The mega-hit “Rhythm Nation” was released as the...
- 8/21/2022
- by Glamsham Bureau
- GlamSham
GLAAD Award-winning comic book writer Greg Rucka has a new Netflix movie on the way in July. The Wonder Woman scribe has adapted his own series, The Old Guard, for Skydance and the streaming service, and Gina Prince-Blythewood (Marvel‘s Cloak & Dagger) has directed the project.
Teased by the tagline “forever is harder than it looks”, The Old Guard follows a group of soldiers who are led by Charlize Theron‘s Andy. The pack are immortal mercenaries who have seen a lot of shit over the centuries, and now they’re pretty bored with life in general. Things start to get interesting again when they discover that a new immortal is serving in the Us Marines, but when their undying existence is captured on camera by a murky organization, events start to spiral out of control.
Theron stars alongside Chiwetel Ejiofor, Marwan Kenzari, Kiki Layne, Matthias Schoenaerts, Luca Marinelli,...
Teased by the tagline “forever is harder than it looks”, The Old Guard follows a group of soldiers who are led by Charlize Theron‘s Andy. The pack are immortal mercenaries who have seen a lot of shit over the centuries, and now they’re pretty bored with life in general. Things start to get interesting again when they discover that a new immortal is serving in the Us Marines, but when their undying existence is captured on camera by a murky organization, events start to spiral out of control.
Theron stars alongside Chiwetel Ejiofor, Marwan Kenzari, Kiki Layne, Matthias Schoenaerts, Luca Marinelli,...
- 5/21/2020
- by Kirsten Howard
- Den of Geek
Directed by Dominic Sena and written by Tim Metcalfe with Stephen Levy, Kalifornia is essentially a snapshot of the early 1990s. The film centers on a cute creative couple that feel something is missing in their lives, and so wish to go to California to liven up their work lives. Carrie, played by Michelle Forbes is a photographer who specializes in edgy black-and-white nudes and fetish shots, is the type of strong, take-no-shit woman who embodies the cultural shift that '90s ladies did --- a precursor to the Riot Grrls in black leather boots and red lipstick with an empowered view. Her boyfriend Brian, played...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 3/1/2019
- Screen Anarchy
Shout! Select Presents Kalifornia Starring Brad Pitt, Juliette Lewis, David Duchovny, and Michelle Forbes Collector’S Edition Blu-ray™ Arrives March 5, 2019 From Shout! Select Excitement, adventure and unimaginable terror await on the road to Kalifornia, a film directed by Dominic Sena. “Brad Pitt is outstanding” (Rolling Stone) and “Juliette Lewis …
The post Kalifornia Collector’s Edition arrives March 5 from Shout! Select. appeared first on Hnn | Horrornews.net.
The post Kalifornia Collector’s Edition arrives March 5 from Shout! Select. appeared first on Hnn | Horrornews.net.
- 2/4/2019
- by Adrian Halen
- Horror News
Simon Brew Oct 10, 2017
In the era of fast computers and fast internet, how can the techno thriller cope?
This article contains a spoiler for Mission: Impossible.
There’s a moment in the midst of Brian De Palma’s terrific Mission: Impossible film – the best one of the series still for me – where Tom Cruise’s Ethan Hunt has fished a floppy disk out of a bin. It’s been dumped there by Jean Reno’s duplicitous character, believed it not to contain the missing half of the Noc list. The Noc list that’s the MacGuffin for the movie, that Hunt and his Imf team are trying to stop falling into the wrong hands.
As it happens, it’s an old-fashioned switcheroo that’s been done, and the disk in the bin does contain the Noc list information. And whilst I didn’t appreciate it at the time, I do wonder if Mission: Impossible sat,...
In the era of fast computers and fast internet, how can the techno thriller cope?
This article contains a spoiler for Mission: Impossible.
There’s a moment in the midst of Brian De Palma’s terrific Mission: Impossible film – the best one of the series still for me – where Tom Cruise’s Ethan Hunt has fished a floppy disk out of a bin. It’s been dumped there by Jean Reno’s duplicitous character, believed it not to contain the missing half of the Noc list. The Noc list that’s the MacGuffin for the movie, that Hunt and his Imf team are trying to stop falling into the wrong hands.
As it happens, it’s an old-fashioned switcheroo that’s been done, and the disk in the bin does contain the Noc list information. And whilst I didn’t appreciate it at the time, I do wonder if Mission: Impossible sat,...
- 10/4/2017
- Den of Geek
After naming Alfonso Cuarón the best director of the 21st century, Metacritic has gone ahead and averaged out filmmakers’ Metascores to name the worst directors since 2000. As with the first list, filmmakers must have made at least four movies in the last 17 years to be eligible — meaning that Tom Six (“The Human Centipede”) and Dinesh D’Souza (“Hillary’s America”) don’t qualify despite the fact that they’re far from critical darlings.
Read MoreAlfonso Cuarón Is the Best Director of the 21st Century, According to Metacritic — See the Top 25
Uwe Boll, known for his oft-panned video-game adaptations, comes in at #2; the dubious honor of defeating him goes to Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer, whose average Metascore of 14.5 comes from directing spoofs like “Meet the Spartans,” “Date Movie,” and “Epic Movie.”
You might not be familiar with some of the other names to be found here, in part because directing...
Read MoreAlfonso Cuarón Is the Best Director of the 21st Century, According to Metacritic — See the Top 25
Uwe Boll, known for his oft-panned video-game adaptations, comes in at #2; the dubious honor of defeating him goes to Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer, whose average Metascore of 14.5 comes from directing spoofs like “Meet the Spartans,” “Date Movie,” and “Epic Movie.”
You might not be familiar with some of the other names to be found here, in part because directing...
- 7/28/2017
- by Michael Nordine
- Indiewire
As we gear up for The F8 Of The Furious next week, let's look at another car-centric movie that's all about family. Gone in 60 Seconds (2000) Director: Dominic Sena Stars: Nicolas Cage, Angelina Jolie, Robert Duvall Nicolas Cage must save Giovanni Ribisi's life, which is apparently worth exactly 50 high-end vehicles. In the pantheon of Nicolas Cage films, Gone In 60 Seconds falls somewhere... Read More...
- 4/5/2017
- by Jason Adams
- JoBlo.com
At the top of a definite genre shortlist is William Wesley’s 1988 title Scarecrows, a little horror flick about the eponymous objects used to frighten birds away from crops. Unfortunately, to use a cheap analogy, their use as frightful entities on film is parallel to their safeguarding of crops, effective only to the cognitive capabilities of smaller creatures. While Wesley maintains an effective command of ambience throughout this nocturnal jaunt through the vegetation, a bounty of budgetary restraints, strained performances and belabored writing seemingly brought on by a limited concept mark the film as fodder for the Mystery Science Theater 3000 experience.
A band of ex-military criminals heist the Camp Pendleton payroll, take a pilot and his daughter hostage, and make a mad dash through Mexico. However, one of their crew members double crosses them, attempting to murder his cohorts and escape with all the money for himself. This leads...
A band of ex-military criminals heist the Camp Pendleton payroll, take a pilot and his daughter hostage, and make a mad dash through Mexico. However, one of their crew members double crosses them, attempting to murder his cohorts and escape with all the money for himself. This leads...
- 6/9/2015
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
Feature Simon Brew 7 Mar 2014 - 06:13
We take a close look at 2001's Swordfish, and pinpoint the crucial lessons that wannabe computer programmers can take from it.
What follows gets quite geeky at times. We should point out that this is very much a tongue in cheek look at the film, rather than a desire to see filmmakers correct programming errors!
In fairness to him, John Travolta warns you at the start of Swordfish, in a gift to movie critics and writers of tired retrospective articles, that Hollywood "makes shit". He is not incorrect.
The first few minutes of Swordfish, once Travolta has hit us with this revelation, proceed to dissect the all-time classic Dog Day Afternoon, whilst Travolta chomps on a cigar and looks pleased with the arrangement of his facial hair. There's not much of it, but it's still a point of pride to the man.
As for the film itself?...
We take a close look at 2001's Swordfish, and pinpoint the crucial lessons that wannabe computer programmers can take from it.
What follows gets quite geeky at times. We should point out that this is very much a tongue in cheek look at the film, rather than a desire to see filmmakers correct programming errors!
In fairness to him, John Travolta warns you at the start of Swordfish, in a gift to movie critics and writers of tired retrospective articles, that Hollywood "makes shit". He is not incorrect.
The first few minutes of Swordfish, once Travolta has hit us with this revelation, proceed to dissect the all-time classic Dog Day Afternoon, whilst Travolta chomps on a cigar and looks pleased with the arrangement of his facial hair. There's not much of it, but it's still a point of pride to the man.
As for the film itself?...
- 3/6/2014
- by simonbrew
- Den of Geek
Pulsating action thriller starring Hugh Jackman as a computer hacker who's forced into helping patriotic psycho John Travolta steal billions in government cash to fund his doolally anti-terror plot. Aided by the techno-wizards behind The Matrix and Face/Off, Gone in Sixty Seconds director Dominic Sena serves up a bone-rattling bonanza of stunts, chases and sweaty-palmed suspense, while throwing in Halle Berry as a topless femme fatale and kicking it all off with an awesome 360-degree explosion. But take care - it moves so fast you could choke on your popcorn.
- 2/27/2014
- Sky Movies
By Melissa Thompson and Michelle McCue
First man ever to be named “Sexiest Man Alive” twice by People Magazine (1994 and 2000), thrice nominated for acting Oscars for Moneyball, The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button and Twelve Monkeys, producer of The Tree Of Life and The Departed, and family man to the children he shares with actress Angelina Jolie, versatile actor Brad Pitt latest endeavor is this week’s wildly anticipated World War Z.
Starring in, as well as producing Wwz, Pitt’s other starring vehicles have ranged from Greek hero Achilles in Wolfgang Petersen’s Troy to George Clooney’s forever-eating friend Rusty Ryan in Steven Soderbergh’s Ocean’S 11, as well as superhero “Metro Man” in the animated Megamind and Death in Meet Joe Black.
Gee-whiz, we even have a soft spot for his dead-beat – “Don’t condescend me, man” – Floyd in True Romance.
Presently Pitt is working on his next project,...
First man ever to be named “Sexiest Man Alive” twice by People Magazine (1994 and 2000), thrice nominated for acting Oscars for Moneyball, The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button and Twelve Monkeys, producer of The Tree Of Life and The Departed, and family man to the children he shares with actress Angelina Jolie, versatile actor Brad Pitt latest endeavor is this week’s wildly anticipated World War Z.
Starring in, as well as producing Wwz, Pitt’s other starring vehicles have ranged from Greek hero Achilles in Wolfgang Petersen’s Troy to George Clooney’s forever-eating friend Rusty Ryan in Steven Soderbergh’s Ocean’S 11, as well as superhero “Metro Man” in the animated Megamind and Death in Meet Joe Black.
Gee-whiz, we even have a soft spot for his dead-beat – “Don’t condescend me, man” – Floyd in True Romance.
Presently Pitt is working on his next project,...
- 6/18/2013
- by Movie Geeks
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
As all lovers of crime, suspense thriller, war, western, horror and science fiction films know, creating a truly great cinematic villain is no easy task. When it happens, it’s virtually impossible to forget that character.
We’ll now take a look at the greatest film villains of the 1980’s.
The criteria for this article is the same as my previous article Cinema’s Greatest Villains: The 1970’s: the villains must be from live-action films-no animated features-and must pose some type of direct or indirect lethal threat. The villains can be either individuals or small groups that act as one unit.
The villains must be human or human in appearance, so no shape-shifting alien from John Carpenter’s amazing 1982 The Thing, no Aliens from James Cameron’s classic 1986 sequel and no Predator from John McTiernan’s beloved 1987 film of the same name.
Also, individuals that are the central protagonists/antiheroes...
We’ll now take a look at the greatest film villains of the 1980’s.
The criteria for this article is the same as my previous article Cinema’s Greatest Villains: The 1970’s: the villains must be from live-action films-no animated features-and must pose some type of direct or indirect lethal threat. The villains can be either individuals or small groups that act as one unit.
The villains must be human or human in appearance, so no shape-shifting alien from John Carpenter’s amazing 1982 The Thing, no Aliens from James Cameron’s classic 1986 sequel and no Predator from John McTiernan’s beloved 1987 film of the same name.
Also, individuals that are the central protagonists/antiheroes...
- 6/12/2013
- by Terek Puckett
- SoundOnSight
Tom Noonan as Francis Dollarhyde in Manhunter (Michael Mann, 1986, USA):
Noonan is absolutely incredible as a serial murderer in this underrated adaptation of Thomas Harris’ novel Red Dragon. With all respect to the talented but miscast actors involved in Brett Ratner’s 2002 adaptation Red Dragon (USA), with the exception of Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter, the acting in this earlier, superior version of the book exists on a much higher level. Most notably, there’s nothing resembling a comparison between Noonan’s Francis Dollarhyde and Ralph Fiennes’ interpretation. This role is by far Noonan’s finest film work to date and should not be missed.
Other notable Tom Noonan performances: Phoenix (Danny Cannon, 1998, USA).
Christopher Walken as Brad Whitewood Sr.in At Close Range (James Foley, 1986, USA):
Having once described his role in this film as “the hillbilly Lucifer”, Walken is incredible as a rural crime boss bringing his son,...
Noonan is absolutely incredible as a serial murderer in this underrated adaptation of Thomas Harris’ novel Red Dragon. With all respect to the talented but miscast actors involved in Brett Ratner’s 2002 adaptation Red Dragon (USA), with the exception of Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter, the acting in this earlier, superior version of the book exists on a much higher level. Most notably, there’s nothing resembling a comparison between Noonan’s Francis Dollarhyde and Ralph Fiennes’ interpretation. This role is by far Noonan’s finest film work to date and should not be missed.
Other notable Tom Noonan performances: Phoenix (Danny Cannon, 1998, USA).
Christopher Walken as Brad Whitewood Sr.in At Close Range (James Foley, 1986, USA):
Having once described his role in this film as “the hillbilly Lucifer”, Walken is incredible as a rural crime boss bringing his son,...
- 5/27/2012
- by Terek Puckett
- SoundOnSight
DC Comics' unpublished Kalifornia adaptation has been revealed. The publisher intended to release the comic through its Vertigo imprint but the project was eventually shelved. Writer Chuck Dixon (Expendables) and artist Duncan Fegredo (Hellboy) collaborated on the one-shot. The 1993 movie starred Brad Pitt, Juliette Lewis and David Duchovny and was the directorial debut of Dominic Sena (Season of the Witch). It featured Duchovny as a journalist on a cross-country trip to research serial killers, unaware that his (more)...
- 1/2/2012
- by By Hugh Armitage
- Digital Spy
My memories of 1993's Kalifornia are vague, but I recall liking it at the time. Co-star David Duchovny was a big deal because of The X-Files, you had Juliette Lewis playing the lover of a maniac one year before audiences saw her in Natural Born Killers and then there was Brad Pitt, bringing his charisma and weird tics to the role of Early Grayce. It was also Dominic Sena's feature debut; he later went on to helm Gone in Sixty Seconds, Swordfish and last year's dud Season of the Witch.
For the release of Kalifornia, DC/Vertigo Comics was planning to publish an adaptation of this R-rated thriller. Duncan Fegredo and Chuck Dixon were involved and, last night, former DC/Vertigo employee Tim Pilcher ran all 32 pages of the Kalifornia unpublished adaptation on his blog.
Read more...
For the release of Kalifornia, DC/Vertigo Comics was planning to publish an adaptation of this R-rated thriller. Duncan Fegredo and Chuck Dixon were involved and, last night, former DC/Vertigo employee Tim Pilcher ran all 32 pages of the Kalifornia unpublished adaptation on his blog.
Read more...
- 1/1/2012
- by ryanrotten@shocktillyoudrop.com (Ryan Turek)
- shocktillyoudrop.com
Having spent the last year sat in screening rooms and cinemas watching over 200 of 2011′s cinematic offerings, it stands to reason that I’m going to have to sit through a fair share of duds. As I had seen the vast majority of the key Oscar plays before November, I spent the latter part of the year dedicating myself to seeking out the worst, most lowest common denominator fare ripe for a skewering, and with these twenty dreadful pictures, we have what are, in my opinion, the 20 biggest train wrecks of 2011. Note that Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star is still awaiting worldwide DVD release and didn’t get distribution in the U.K., so that’s one that I was forced to avoid, but I’m assured that it’s irredeemably horrible nevertheless. Anyway, on with the list…
20. Shark Night 3D
(David R. Ellis / Tomatometer: 16%)
Director David R. Ellis...
20. Shark Night 3D
(David R. Ellis / Tomatometer: 16%)
Director David R. Ellis...
- 12/31/2011
- by Shaun Munro
- Obsessed with Film
Director: Dominic Sena.
Writer: Bragi F. Schut.
Cast: Nicolas Cage, Ron Perlman and Claire Foy.
Nicolas Cage's Season of the Witch began the 2011 year with what many critics have called a lackluster product. It is a supernatural thriller and period drama that did not evolve beyond what the movie's central themes tried to play up. When the tale is about Behman von Bleibruck's (Cage) loss of faith with the church, perhaps the direction it should have gone towards is the depravity of everything Bleibruck witnessed. This look could have also included the hypocrisy that he saw existing within the Church.
Instead the film heads towards another direction. The opening act of witches being hanged and the departure of Bleibruck and Felson (Ron Perlman) from the knighthood are tied together when they venture through Styria.
They are identified by the people living there as traitors to the cause, but they...
Writer: Bragi F. Schut.
Cast: Nicolas Cage, Ron Perlman and Claire Foy.
Nicolas Cage's Season of the Witch began the 2011 year with what many critics have called a lackluster product. It is a supernatural thriller and period drama that did not evolve beyond what the movie's central themes tried to play up. When the tale is about Behman von Bleibruck's (Cage) loss of faith with the church, perhaps the direction it should have gone towards is the depravity of everything Bleibruck witnessed. This look could have also included the hypocrisy that he saw existing within the Church.
Instead the film heads towards another direction. The opening act of witches being hanged and the departure of Bleibruck and Felson (Ron Perlman) from the knighthood are tied together when they venture through Styria.
They are identified by the people living there as traitors to the cause, but they...
- 11/25/2011
- by noreply@blogger.com (Ed Sum)
- 28 Days Later Analysis
Tarsem, or to give him his full name (the director seems to have abandoned his mononame pretensions of late), Tarsem Singh, has had a mixed week. On the plus side, his latest film, swords & sorcery actioner "Immortals," opened to a healthy box office haul of $32 million, despite some poisonous reviews, exceeding most expectations, and likely planting the director firmly on the A-list. On the minus, the trailer for his next film, Snow White tale "Mirror Mirror," debuted to almost universal derision, seeming to immediately undo any suggestion that the commercials veteran, who won acclaim with passion project "The Fall," might become the next Zack Snyder. Or even the next Dominic Sena.
- 11/17/2011
- The Playlist
Here’s the Movies That Became Available to Stream on Netflix Over the Past Week: Season of the Witch (PG13 | 2011)
Flickchart Ranking: #6384
Times Ranked: 2564
Win Percentage: 37%
How Many Top-20′s: 11 Users
________________________________________________
Directed By:Dominic Sena
Starring: Nicolas Cage • Ron Perlman
Genres: Action • Action Thriller • Supernatural Thriller • Thriller • Witchcraft
• • • • • • • •
Jesus Christ Superstar (G | 1973)
Flickchart Ranking: #2053
Times Ranked: 7192
Win Percentage: 35%
How Many Top-20′s: 10 Users
________________________________________________
Directed By:Norman Jewison
Starring: Ted Neeley • Barry Dennen • Bob Bingham • Leeyan Granger • Carl Anderson
Genres: Based-on-Theatre • Drama • Musical • Musical Drama • Religious Drama • Rock Musical
• • • • • • • •
Scared Shrekless (Nr | 2010)
Flickchart Ranking: #6557
Times Ranked: 564
Win Percentage: 34%
How Many Top-20′s: 4 Users
________________________________________________
Other entries available in the “Dreamworks Spooky Stories” series are:” Monsters vs. Aliens: Mutant Pumpkins from Outer Space” and “The Ghost of Lord Farquaad”
• • • • • • • •
The Warrior’s Way (R | 2010)
Flickchart Ranking: #6457
Times Ranked: 1057
Win Percentage: 42%
How Many Top-20′s: 3 Users
________________________________________________
Directed By:Sngmoo Lee
Starring: Kate Bosworth • Geoffrey Rush...
Flickchart Ranking: #6384
Times Ranked: 2564
Win Percentage: 37%
How Many Top-20′s: 11 Users
________________________________________________
Directed By:Dominic Sena
Starring: Nicolas Cage • Ron Perlman
Genres: Action • Action Thriller • Supernatural Thriller • Thriller • Witchcraft
• • • • • • • •
Jesus Christ Superstar (G | 1973)
Flickchart Ranking: #2053
Times Ranked: 7192
Win Percentage: 35%
How Many Top-20′s: 10 Users
________________________________________________
Directed By:Norman Jewison
Starring: Ted Neeley • Barry Dennen • Bob Bingham • Leeyan Granger • Carl Anderson
Genres: Based-on-Theatre • Drama • Musical • Musical Drama • Religious Drama • Rock Musical
• • • • • • • •
Scared Shrekless (Nr | 2010)
Flickchart Ranking: #6557
Times Ranked: 564
Win Percentage: 34%
How Many Top-20′s: 4 Users
________________________________________________
Other entries available in the “Dreamworks Spooky Stories” series are:” Monsters vs. Aliens: Mutant Pumpkins from Outer Space” and “The Ghost of Lord Farquaad”
• • • • • • • •
The Warrior’s Way (R | 2010)
Flickchart Ranking: #6457
Times Ranked: 1057
Win Percentage: 42%
How Many Top-20′s: 3 Users
________________________________________________
Directed By:Sngmoo Lee
Starring: Kate Bosworth • Geoffrey Rush...
- 10/31/2011
- by Daniel Rohr
- Flickchart
Amy Heckerling: Amy Heckerling directed the starting point for a generation of brilliant high-school films, Fast Times at Ridgemont High before moving on to the stellar European Vacation. In 1989 and 1990, she hit a creative stumbling block, directing the successful but excruciating Look Who's Talking films before bouncing back in 1996 with Clueless. Unfortunately, it was soon after that success that she crapped out, directing Night at the Roxbury, Loser, and most recently, the straight-to-dvd clunker, I Could Never Be Your Woman, with Paul Rudd and Michelle Pfeiffer. She does have another film in the works, Vamps, with Alicia Silverstone and Krysten Ritter, but the movie (pictured below) seems unlikely to save her directing career.
John Landis: One of the very best comedic directors of the 1980s, Landis hit an unprecedented successful streak, starting with Animal House and ending with Coming to America. In between, there was Spies Like Us,...
John Landis: One of the very best comedic directors of the 1980s, Landis hit an unprecedented successful streak, starting with Animal House and ending with Coming to America. In between, there was Spies Like Us,...
- 7/27/2011
- by Dustin Rowles
Blu-ray Review
Season of the Witch
Directed by: Dominic Sena
Cast: Nicolas Cage, Ron Perlman, Stephen Campbell Monroe, Claire Foy
Running Time: 1 hr 35 mins
Rating: PG-13
Due Out: June 28, 2011
Plot: A group of master soldiers (Cage, Perlman) from the Crusades are assigned to transport a woman (Foy) accused of witchcraft to a sacred monastery.
Who’S It For? Fans of Nicolas Cage might be the easiest sells for this movie, as they should be aware of the cheesy potential considering his named attached. Action movie fans should be warned this isn’t The Seventh Seal with swords.
Movie:
There’s nothing too nightmarish about Season of the Witch (in a bad movie sense, of course).
This stance feels like a fair way to start assessing this flick for two reasons: its theatrical release was delayed for almost a year, and it stars Nicolas Cage wearing another mop on his head.
Season of the Witch
Directed by: Dominic Sena
Cast: Nicolas Cage, Ron Perlman, Stephen Campbell Monroe, Claire Foy
Running Time: 1 hr 35 mins
Rating: PG-13
Due Out: June 28, 2011
Plot: A group of master soldiers (Cage, Perlman) from the Crusades are assigned to transport a woman (Foy) accused of witchcraft to a sacred monastery.
Who’S It For? Fans of Nicolas Cage might be the easiest sells for this movie, as they should be aware of the cheesy potential considering his named attached. Action movie fans should be warned this isn’t The Seventh Seal with swords.
Movie:
There’s nothing too nightmarish about Season of the Witch (in a bad movie sense, of course).
This stance feels like a fair way to start assessing this flick for two reasons: its theatrical release was delayed for almost a year, and it stars Nicolas Cage wearing another mop on his head.
- 7/13/2011
- by Nick Allen
- The Scorecard Review
Chicago – Dominic Sena’s “Season of the Witch” is one of the most bizarrely dull films made in a very long time. It doesn’t work even as escapist trash because the typically over-the-top Nicolas Cage can’t even bring his manic energy to the piece, choosing to sleep-walk through it instead. I was ready for a cheesy piece of period action but stunned at the tedious dialogue, boring action, and nonsensical plot. This thing is a mess and not even a fun one at that.
Blu-Ray Rating: 1.0/5.0
Cage and Ron Perlman play Teutonic Knights, men returned from the brutality of the Crusades to a land devastated by plague. As is common throughout history, the men in power blame the women who are not for the devastation. The film opens with the hanging of three witches, leading one to think that perhaps this is a feminist tale of the falsely accused,...
Blu-Ray Rating: 1.0/5.0
Cage and Ron Perlman play Teutonic Knights, men returned from the brutality of the Crusades to a land devastated by plague. As is common throughout history, the men in power blame the women who are not for the devastation. The film opens with the hanging of three witches, leading one to think that perhaps this is a feminist tale of the falsely accused,...
- 7/12/2011
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Director: Dominic Sena. Review: Adam Wing. The last few years have been kind to Nicolas Cage. Admittedly, The Wicker Man left the hive with about as much sting as a flutter of butterflies, but since then we have been treated to the likes of Bad Lieutenant and Kick-Ass. The Sorceress Apprentice was underrated, frothy escapism, and all in all, Nicolas Cage has been having one hell of a hair day. Season of the Witch sounds like it should be a lot of fun - teaming Ghost Rider with Hellboy is a match made in heaven - but Dominic Sena (Gone in 60 Seconds) has mistaken his latest fantasy flick with a documentary for The History Channel. Perhaps the joke was lost on me, but even the line “We’re going to need more Holy Water” is delivered with po-faced sincerity. Not even a horde (I’m going with horde) of...
- 7/8/2011
- 24framespersecond.net
Films as bad as Season of the Witch just don’t happen by accident. It’s not like you can coincidentally assemble two actors known for appearing in subpar material, a script as stodgy and shallow as Hugh Hefner, and a director (Dominic Sena) who delivers mediocre films without fail. You have to be aiming for that. You need to be shooting for low B-movie status from the get go. There’s no other explanation for Season of the Witch other than a few people looking to make some money quickly and easily while putting forth as little effort as possible. Season of the Witch is unapologetically horrible and it passes from “so bad it’s good” in the first 7 minutes once you realize there’s 88 minutes left of Nicolas Cage and Ron Perlman stumbling through a script attempting to balance Dark Ages speech patterns, levity, and a story about supernatural superstitions.
- 7/3/2011
- by Lex Walker
- JustPressPlay.net
Season Of The Witch Blu-Ray 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment 2011/Rated PG-13/Running Time 95 mins List Price: $39.98 – Available June 28, 2011I can't honestly say I know what goes on in the head of Nicolas Cage, one of Hollywood's zaniest actors when he chooses a film, but it sure has been one hell of a ride. Cage earned respectability in Tinseltown by demonstrating an unwavering commitment to immersing himself in virtually any role, eventually earning an Oscar fifteen years ago for his work in Mike Figgis' Leaving Las Vegas. Three months later, Cage turned himself into an action star with the arrival of Michael Bay's The Rock in the summer of '96 and things have never been the same.There was a time when I didn't mind Cage making soulless action-adventure films because their success gave him the breathing room to take risks with small wonderful dramas like Ridley Scott's Matchstick Men,...
- 7/1/2011
- LRMonline.com
Rank the week of June 28th’s Blu-ray and DVD new releases against the best films of all-time:new Releasesthe Warrior’S Way
(Blu-ray and DVD | R | 2010)
Flickchart Ranking: #8698
Times Ranked: 631
Win Percentage: 39%
Top-20 Rankings: 0
Directed By: Sngmoo Lee
Starring: Kate Bosworth • Geoffrey Rush • Danny Huston • Tony Cox • Dong-gun Jang
Genres: Action • Fantasy • Martial Arts • Western
Rank This Movie
Sucker Punch
(Blu-ray and DVD | PG13 | 2011)
Flickchart Ranking: #2081
Times Ranked: 4896
Win Percentage: 44%
Top-20 Rankings: 19
Directed By: Zack Snyder
Starring: Emily Browning • Abbie Cornish • Jena Malone • Vanessa Hudgens • Carla Gugino
Genres: Action • Adventure • Drama • Fantasy • Fantasy Adventure • Girls-with-Guns • Psychological Drama • Thriller
Rank This Movie
Season Of The Witch
(Blu-ray and DVD | PG13 | 2011)
Flickchart Ranking: #9846
Times Ranked: 1288
Win Percentage: 36%
Top-20 Rankings: 4
Directed By: Dominic Sena
Starring: Nicolas Cage • Ron Perlman • Stephen Campbell Moore • Stephen Graham • Ulrich Thomsen
Genres: Action • Action Thriller • Adventure • Adventure Drama • Drama • Fantasy • Fantasy Adventure • Supernatural Thriller • Thriller • Witchcraft
Rank This...
(Blu-ray and DVD | R | 2010)
Flickchart Ranking: #8698
Times Ranked: 631
Win Percentage: 39%
Top-20 Rankings: 0
Directed By: Sngmoo Lee
Starring: Kate Bosworth • Geoffrey Rush • Danny Huston • Tony Cox • Dong-gun Jang
Genres: Action • Fantasy • Martial Arts • Western
Rank This Movie
Sucker Punch
(Blu-ray and DVD | PG13 | 2011)
Flickchart Ranking: #2081
Times Ranked: 4896
Win Percentage: 44%
Top-20 Rankings: 19
Directed By: Zack Snyder
Starring: Emily Browning • Abbie Cornish • Jena Malone • Vanessa Hudgens • Carla Gugino
Genres: Action • Adventure • Drama • Fantasy • Fantasy Adventure • Girls-with-Guns • Psychological Drama • Thriller
Rank This Movie
Season Of The Witch
(Blu-ray and DVD | PG13 | 2011)
Flickchart Ranking: #9846
Times Ranked: 1288
Win Percentage: 36%
Top-20 Rankings: 4
Directed By: Dominic Sena
Starring: Nicolas Cage • Ron Perlman • Stephen Campbell Moore • Stephen Graham • Ulrich Thomsen
Genres: Action • Action Thriller • Adventure • Adventure Drama • Drama • Fantasy • Fantasy Adventure • Supernatural Thriller • Thriller • Witchcraft
Rank This...
- 6/28/2011
- by Jonathan Hardesty
- Flickchart
Your Weekly Source for the Newest Releases to Blu-Ray Tuesday, June 28th, 2011
Black Moon: The Criterion Collection (1975)
Directed by: Louis Malle
Starring: Cathryn Harrison, Therese Giehse
Criterion.com Synopsis: Louis Malle meets Lewis Carroll in this bizarre and bewitching trip down the rabbit hole. After skirting the horrors of a mysterious war being waged in the countryside, beautiful young Lily (Cathryn Harrison) takes refuge in a remote farmhouse, where she becomes embroiled in the surreal domestic life of an extremely unconventional family. Evocatively shot by cinematographer Sven Nykvist, Black Moon is a Freudian tale of adolescent sexuality set in a post-apocalyptic world of shifting identities and talking animals. It is one of Malle’s most experimental films and a cinematic daydream like no other.
Camille 2000: Extended Version (1969)
Directed by: Radley Metzger
Starring: Daniel Gaubert, Nino Castelnuovo
IMDb.com Synopsis: Marguerite, a beautiful woman of affairs, falls for the young and promising Armand,...
Black Moon: The Criterion Collection (1975)
Directed by: Louis Malle
Starring: Cathryn Harrison, Therese Giehse
Criterion.com Synopsis: Louis Malle meets Lewis Carroll in this bizarre and bewitching trip down the rabbit hole. After skirting the horrors of a mysterious war being waged in the countryside, beautiful young Lily (Cathryn Harrison) takes refuge in a remote farmhouse, where she becomes embroiled in the surreal domestic life of an extremely unconventional family. Evocatively shot by cinematographer Sven Nykvist, Black Moon is a Freudian tale of adolescent sexuality set in a post-apocalyptic world of shifting identities and talking animals. It is one of Malle’s most experimental films and a cinematic daydream like no other.
Camille 2000: Extended Version (1969)
Directed by: Radley Metzger
Starring: Daniel Gaubert, Nino Castelnuovo
IMDb.com Synopsis: Marguerite, a beautiful woman of affairs, falls for the young and promising Armand,...
- 6/27/2011
- by Travis Keune
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Season Of The Witch
Stars: Nicolas Cage, Ron Pearlman, Claire Foy, Stephen Graham, Robert Sheehan, Christopher Lee | Written by Bragi F. Schut | Directed by Dominic Sena
As an unashamed Nicolas Cage fan, it was heartening to witness the star’s run of form in 2010. Excellent turns in Kick-Ass and Bad Lieutenant (one of my films of 2010) proved Cage to be the go-to-guy for unbridled dementia. The damp squib that was The Sorcerer’s Apprentice may not have achieved such heights, but as a 300 pound Texan once said, two out of three ain’t bad. Hopes were high then, that Cage would continue to impress with Season of the Witch.
The film stars Cage and Hellboy himself, Ron Pearlman, as medieval crusaders, who part ways with their comrades after becoming disillusioned by killing in the name of a supposedly benevolent god. They return to a country non-specific, which they find ravaged by plague.
Stars: Nicolas Cage, Ron Pearlman, Claire Foy, Stephen Graham, Robert Sheehan, Christopher Lee | Written by Bragi F. Schut | Directed by Dominic Sena
As an unashamed Nicolas Cage fan, it was heartening to witness the star’s run of form in 2010. Excellent turns in Kick-Ass and Bad Lieutenant (one of my films of 2010) proved Cage to be the go-to-guy for unbridled dementia. The damp squib that was The Sorcerer’s Apprentice may not have achieved such heights, but as a 300 pound Texan once said, two out of three ain’t bad. Hopes were high then, that Cage would continue to impress with Season of the Witch.
The film stars Cage and Hellboy himself, Ron Pearlman, as medieval crusaders, who part ways with their comrades after becoming disillusioned by killing in the name of a supposedly benevolent god. They return to a country non-specific, which they find ravaged by plague.
- 6/25/2011
- by Jack Kirby
- Nerdly
We're just a week away from Nicolas Cage and his hair hitting home video in Dominic Sena's Season of the Witch and to celebrate this auspicious occasion, Fox has released a new TV spot! Dig it!
Synopsis: Supernatural thriller Season of the Witch stars Nicolas Cage as medieval knight Behmen, who undertakes a mission pitting him against a devious witch and making him the last hope for the world against an ancient and dark force. His faith broken by years of battle as a crusader, Behmen returns to central Europe to find his homeland decimated by the Black Plague. While searching for food and supplies at the Palace at Marburg, Behmen and his trusted companion, Felson (Ron Perlman), are apprehended and ordered by the dying Cardinal to deliver a young peasant girl believed to be the witch responsible for the Plague to a remote abbey where her powers can be destroyed.
Synopsis: Supernatural thriller Season of the Witch stars Nicolas Cage as medieval knight Behmen, who undertakes a mission pitting him against a devious witch and making him the last hope for the world against an ancient and dark force. His faith broken by years of battle as a crusader, Behmen returns to central Europe to find his homeland decimated by the Black Plague. While searching for food and supplies at the Palace at Marburg, Behmen and his trusted companion, Felson (Ron Perlman), are apprehended and ordered by the dying Cardinal to deliver a young peasant girl believed to be the witch responsible for the Plague to a remote abbey where her powers can be destroyed.
- 6/20/2011
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
Nicolas Cage and Ron Perlman face off against evil in the supernatural action thriller Season of the Witch on DVD June 28th from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. M&C is getting in on the scares by giving away two copies of the DVD! Season of the Witch follows heroic knight Behmen (Cage) and his fellow soldier Felson (Perlman) who return from the Crusades and are forced to transport a woman accused of being a witch to a remote monastery. The arduous journey across perilous terrain tests their strength and courage as they discover the girl's secret and find themselves battling a terrifyingly powerful force that will determine the fate of the world. Directed by Dominic Sena (Gone in...
- 6/14/2011
- by Patrick Luce
- Monsters and Critics
Director Dominic Sena's Season of the Witch is coming to Blu-ray and DVD on June 28th from 20th Century Fox, and in honor of the occasion they've released a new trailer geared specifically toward the home video release. Dig it!
Synopsis: Supernatural thriller Season of the Witch stars Nicolas Cage as medieval knight Behmen, who undertakes a mission pitting him against a devious witch and making him the last hope for the world against an ancient and dark force. His faith broken by years of battle as a crusader, Behmen returns to central Europe to find his homeland decimated by the Black Plague. While searching for food and supplies at the Palace at Marburg, Behmen and his trusted companion, Felson (Ron Perlman), are apprehended and ordered by the dying Cardinal to deliver a young peasant girl believed to be the witch responsible for the Plague to a remote abbey...
Synopsis: Supernatural thriller Season of the Witch stars Nicolas Cage as medieval knight Behmen, who undertakes a mission pitting him against a devious witch and making him the last hope for the world against an ancient and dark force. His faith broken by years of battle as a crusader, Behmen returns to central Europe to find his homeland decimated by the Black Plague. While searching for food and supplies at the Palace at Marburg, Behmen and his trusted companion, Felson (Ron Perlman), are apprehended and ordered by the dying Cardinal to deliver a young peasant girl believed to be the witch responsible for the Plague to a remote abbey...
- 6/6/2011
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
Enter for a Chance to Win a DVD Copy of This Haunting Tale Arriving June 28
Oscar© winner Nicolas Cage (National Treasure, Best Actor, Leaving Las Vegas) and Ron Perlman (Hellboy’, TV’s Sons of Anarchy) star in Season Of The Witch, a supernatural action adventure about a heroic Crusader, Knight Behmen (Cage) and his fellow soldier, Felson (Perlman) who must transport a woman accused of being a witch to a remote monastery. The arduous journey across perilous terrain tests their strength and courage as they discover the
girl’s secret and find themselves battling a terrifyingly powerful force that will determine the fate of the world.
Directed by Dominic Sena (Gone in Sixty Seconds, Swordfish), Season Of The Witch comes to Blu-ray and DVD June 28 from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment and includes a shocking alternate ending, deleted scenes, behind-the-scenes featurettes, commentaries (Blu-ray only) and more.
Season Of The Witch...
Oscar© winner Nicolas Cage (National Treasure, Best Actor, Leaving Las Vegas) and Ron Perlman (Hellboy’, TV’s Sons of Anarchy) star in Season Of The Witch, a supernatural action adventure about a heroic Crusader, Knight Behmen (Cage) and his fellow soldier, Felson (Perlman) who must transport a woman accused of being a witch to a remote monastery. The arduous journey across perilous terrain tests their strength and courage as they discover the
girl’s secret and find themselves battling a terrifyingly powerful force that will determine the fate of the world.
Directed by Dominic Sena (Gone in Sixty Seconds, Swordfish), Season Of The Witch comes to Blu-ray and DVD June 28 from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment and includes a shocking alternate ending, deleted scenes, behind-the-scenes featurettes, commentaries (Blu-ray only) and more.
Season Of The Witch...
- 6/6/2011
- by Melissa Howland
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Netflix has revolutionized the home movie experience for fans of film with its instant streaming technology. Netflix Nuggets is my way of spreading the word about independent, classic and foreign films made available by Netflix for instant streaming.
Sorry, folks… there are simply too many great films streaming this week to post an image for them all, but that’s a good thing, eh? You’ve got your movie watching work cut out for you, due in great part to Miramax releasing damn near their entire catalog of films on one day!
B. Monkey (1999)
Streaming Available: 05/01/2011
Director: Michael Radford
Synopsis: Good-hearted schoolteacher Alan Furnace (Jared Harris) desperately wants some excitement in his life — and he may just get some. One lonely night at a London bar, Alan spies the raven-haired beauty Beatrice (Asia Argento) arguing with two friends, Paul (Rupert Everett) and Bruno (Jonathan Rhys-Meyers). Beatrice quickly befriends Alan and...
Sorry, folks… there are simply too many great films streaming this week to post an image for them all, but that’s a good thing, eh? You’ve got your movie watching work cut out for you, due in great part to Miramax releasing damn near their entire catalog of films on one day!
B. Monkey (1999)
Streaming Available: 05/01/2011
Director: Michael Radford
Synopsis: Good-hearted schoolteacher Alan Furnace (Jared Harris) desperately wants some excitement in his life — and he may just get some. One lonely night at a London bar, Alan spies the raven-haired beauty Beatrice (Asia Argento) arguing with two friends, Paul (Rupert Everett) and Bruno (Jonathan Rhys-Meyers). Beatrice quickly befriends Alan and...
- 4/29/2011
- by Travis Keune
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Oscar Winner© Nicolas Cage Stars In The Supernatural Action-adventure Arrives on Blu-ray and DVD June 28
Oscar© winner Nicolas Cage (‘National Treasure’, Best Actor, .Leaving Las Vegas.) and Ron Perlman (‘Hellboy’, TV.s .Sons of Anarchy.) star in Season Of The Witch, a supernatural action adventure about a heroic Crusader, Knight Behmen (Cage) and his fellow soldier, Felson (Perlman) who must transport a woman accused of being a witch to a remote monastery. The arduous journey across perilous terrain tests their strength and courage as they discover the girl’s secret and find themselves battling a terrifyingly powerful force that will determine the fate of the world.
Directed by Dominic Sena (Gone in Sixty Seconds, Swordfish), Season Of The Witch comes to Blu-ray and DVD June 28 from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment and includes a shocking alternate ending, deleted scenes, behind-the-scenes featurettes, commentaries (Blu-ray only) and more.
Season Of The Witch...
Oscar© winner Nicolas Cage (‘National Treasure’, Best Actor, .Leaving Las Vegas.) and Ron Perlman (‘Hellboy’, TV.s .Sons of Anarchy.) star in Season Of The Witch, a supernatural action adventure about a heroic Crusader, Knight Behmen (Cage) and his fellow soldier, Felson (Perlman) who must transport a woman accused of being a witch to a remote monastery. The arduous journey across perilous terrain tests their strength and courage as they discover the girl’s secret and find themselves battling a terrifyingly powerful force that will determine the fate of the world.
Directed by Dominic Sena (Gone in Sixty Seconds, Swordfish), Season Of The Witch comes to Blu-ray and DVD June 28 from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment and includes a shocking alternate ending, deleted scenes, behind-the-scenes featurettes, commentaries (Blu-ray only) and more.
Season Of The Witch...
- 4/28/2011
- by Melissa Howland
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Oh, the spectacle that is Dominic Sena's Season of the Witch! If you missed it in theatres it's coming home along with Nicolas Cage's hair this June. Glory be!
Look for the DVD and Blu-ray from 20th Century Fox on June 28th! The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a DTS-hd Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements will include a feature commentary, deleted scenes, Becoming the Demon, On a Crusade, alternate ending, and theatrical trailer.
Synopsis
Supernatural thriller Season of the Witch stars Nicolas Cage as medieval knight Behmen, who undertakes a mission pitting him against a devious witch and making him the last hope for the world against an ancient and dark force. His faith broken by years of battle as a crusader, Behmen returns to central Europe to find his homeland decimated by the Black Plague. While searching for food and supplies at the Palace at Marburg, Behmen and his trusted companion,...
Look for the DVD and Blu-ray from 20th Century Fox on June 28th! The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a DTS-hd Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements will include a feature commentary, deleted scenes, Becoming the Demon, On a Crusade, alternate ending, and theatrical trailer.
Synopsis
Supernatural thriller Season of the Witch stars Nicolas Cage as medieval knight Behmen, who undertakes a mission pitting him against a devious witch and making him the last hope for the world against an ancient and dark force. His faith broken by years of battle as a crusader, Behmen returns to central Europe to find his homeland decimated by the Black Plague. While searching for food and supplies at the Palace at Marburg, Behmen and his trusted companion,...
- 4/27/2011
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
Another bumper edition- I hereby pledge never to write several 2000 word reviews a week while neglecting this beautiful little column- with three weeks worth of viewing listed below.
An added element to the Film Diary this time around is the sub-challenge A Disney A Day, instigated at the behest of my girlfriend, who discovered that between us we now own every Disney home release- except the somewhat controversial Song of the South (which, despite featuring one of Disney’s most released soundtrack songs, is yet to see a DVD release)- and has decided that it would be a missed opportunity not to watch all of them as quickly as possible. Seems my spirit may have rubbed off there a little…
The count so far: 101 Films
Anyway, into three figures now, and catching up to the 1 film a day rate (though that’s slow for me). Read on, lovely Diary...
An added element to the Film Diary this time around is the sub-challenge A Disney A Day, instigated at the behest of my girlfriend, who discovered that between us we now own every Disney home release- except the somewhat controversial Song of the South (which, despite featuring one of Disney’s most released soundtrack songs, is yet to see a DVD release)- and has decided that it would be a missed opportunity not to watch all of them as quickly as possible. Seems my spirit may have rubbed off there a little…
The count so far: 101 Films
Anyway, into three figures now, and catching up to the 1 film a day rate (though that’s slow for me). Read on, lovely Diary...
- 4/17/2011
- by Simon Gallagher
- Obsessed with Film
The more I look at that picture above, the more I think it is a shame that Liam Neeson has never played Dracula.
Anyway- here we go with the latest update of my Owf Film Diary- almost at the end of the third month and creeping towards three figures slowly but surely, and with the viewing schedule I have planned in the next few weeks I should be at 100 and beyond before we know it.
I’m not sure I’ve ever had a reviewing schedule like this one- most of these titles, you’ll notice were for reviews within a week- but I wouldn’t change it for the world! As long as I’m immersing myself in film universes, what’s to complain about?
For anyone who missed it, here’s the skinny. Basically, what I’m presenting here is my attempt to chart a whole year’s...
Anyway- here we go with the latest update of my Owf Film Diary- almost at the end of the third month and creeping towards three figures slowly but surely, and with the viewing schedule I have planned in the next few weeks I should be at 100 and beyond before we know it.
I’m not sure I’ve ever had a reviewing schedule like this one- most of these titles, you’ll notice were for reviews within a week- but I wouldn’t change it for the world! As long as I’m immersing myself in film universes, what’s to complain about?
For anyone who missed it, here’s the skinny. Basically, what I’m presenting here is my attempt to chart a whole year’s...
- 3/25/2011
- by Simon Gallagher
- Obsessed with Film
Here's a sneak peek at what's opening this weekend, including the action flick "The Mechanic," starring Jason Statham and the exorcism thriller "The Rite," starring Anthony Hopkins.
In Theaters Now (January)'The Mechanic' (Jan. 28)
Who: Jason Statham, Ben Foster, Donald Sutherland; directed by Simon West What: This action flick follows an elite hit man (Statham) as he teaches his trade to an apprentice (Foster) who has a connection to one of his previous victims.
In Theaters Now (January)'The Mechanic' (Jan. 28)
Who: Jason Statham, Ben Foster, Donald Sutherland; directed by Simon West What: This action flick follows an elite hit man (Statham) as he teaches his trade to an apprentice (Foster) who has a connection to one of his previous victims.
- 1/28/2011
- Extra
Multivision Multimedia India is all set to release supernatural thriller Season of the Witch (Sotw) directed by Dominic Sena on 21 January,2011.Set in the 14th century, Sotw is produced by Charles Roven and Alex Gartner with screenplay by Bragi Schut. The film stars Nicolas Cage , Ron Perlman, Stephen Campbell Moore, Claire Foy, Stephen Graham, Ulrich Thomsen, Robert Sheehan and Christopher Lee.The film is releasing in India with 250 plus screens in English,Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.Season of the Witch is a researched and ...
- 1/15/2011
- BusinessofCinema
Summary: A clumsy, clunky medieval monster mash that fails to achieve anything.
The world has been waiting with bated breath for Dominic Sena and Nicolas Cage, the director and star of 2000's Gone in 60 Seconds, to reunite. Ten years later, that dream is finally a reality, and that film is the period actioner Season of the Witch. Read on... if you dare.
Screen Frontpage
read more...
The world has been waiting with bated breath for Dominic Sena and Nicolas Cage, the director and star of 2000's Gone in 60 Seconds, to reunite. Ten years later, that dream is finally a reality, and that film is the period actioner Season of the Witch. Read on... if you dare.
Screen Frontpage
read more...
- 1/15/2011
- by Benny Gammerman
- Filmology
Though the Nicolas Cage medieval horror flick Season Of The Witch failed to work box-office (black) magic last weekend, the film at least spotlighted some snazzy CGI FX gags by Tippett Studio (the Twilight and Jurassic Park films, Piranha 3D, Drag Me To Hell, etc.), including (Spoiler Alert!) the heroes’ climactic battle with a winged demon. The Oscar-winning company shared some exclusive Season Of The Witch creature photos with Fango (see below the jump), and members of the Tippett FX team answered a few questions about the shop’s infernal contributions to the Dominic Sena-directed movie.
- 1/14/2011
- by samueldzimmerman@gmail.com (Tony Timpone)
- Fangoria
Ron Perlman, Nicolas Cage in Dominic Sena's Season of the Witch Joel Coen and Ethan Coen's True Grit remained on the no. 1 spot at the North American box office on Wednesday, Jan. 12, according to Box Office Mojo. Starring Jeff Bridges, Hailee Steinfeld, Matt Damon, and Josh Brolin, True Grit took in $1.3m. At no. 2 for the third day in a row, Darren Aronofsky-Natalie Portman's Black Swan pulled in $923k. The psychological drama co-stars Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel, Barbara Hershey, and Winona Ryder. At no. 3, Little Fockers collected $844k. Directed by Paul Weitz, Little Fockers stars Robert De Niro, Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Barbra Streisand, Dustin Hoffman, Teri Polo, Blythe Danner, and Jessica Alba. The widely panned comedy was followed by Joseph Kosinski's Tron: Legacy, starring Jeff Bridges, Garrett Hedlund and Olivia Wilde, with $756k, up one spot at no. 4. Next in line were Mark Wahlberg...
- 1/14/2011
- by Zac Gille
- Alt Film Guide
Gwyneth Paltrow, Tim McGraw in Shana Feste's Country Strong Every movie on the Us/Canada box-office chart was up on Tuesday, Jan. 11; all but one — Nicolas Cage's Season of the Witch — posted double-digit gains. Joel Coen and Ethan Coen's True Grit remained the top movie according to Box Office Mojo. Starring Jeff Bridges, Hailee Steinfeld, Matt Damon, and Josh Brolin, True Grit took in $1.38m. Holding steady at no. 2, Darren Aronofsky-Natalie Portman's Black Swan pulled in $954k. The psychological drama co-stars Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel, Barbara Hershey, and Winona Ryder. At no. 3, Little Fockers collected $918k. Directed by Paul Weitz, Little Fockers stars Robert De Niro, Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Barbra Streisand, Dustin Hoffman, Teri Polo, Blythe Danner, and Jessica Alba. At no. 4, Dominic Sena's Nicolas Cage vehicle Season of the Witch drew $816k. The widely panned period adventure fantasy was followed by Joseph Kosinski's Tron: Legacy,...
- 1/13/2011
- by Zac Gille
- Alt Film Guide
Death, plague, Nicolas Cage - what could possibly unite such an unholy trilogy. Could it be... witchcraft? Dominic Sena's plumping for a big fat yes with his ridiculous titled effort Season of the Witch (2010) (not to be confused with the 70's Romero shocker of the same name). Even more ridiculous is the film itself, which is as dumb as it is grimy.
After a spot of good old-fashioned witch hanging, we cut to a scene from the Crusades, where Nicolas Cage's heroic knight Behmen appears, kitted out in the latest in shiny armour and blonde wigs (truly, he's never looked more like Carrie Bradshaw in his entire life). Some swordplay later and "Hex and the City" is in full swing, but when Behmen et al. come across a mysterious girl (Claire Foy) locked up behind bars for apparent witchcraft, the knight's tale takes a turn for the worst.
After a spot of good old-fashioned witch hanging, we cut to a scene from the Crusades, where Nicolas Cage's heroic knight Behmen appears, kitted out in the latest in shiny armour and blonde wigs (truly, he's never looked more like Carrie Bradshaw in his entire life). Some swordplay later and "Hex and the City" is in full swing, but when Behmen et al. come across a mysterious girl (Claire Foy) locked up behind bars for apparent witchcraft, the knight's tale takes a turn for the worst.
- 1/12/2011
- by Daniel Green
- CineVue
There's always the temptation to stay inside during the winter, made even more compelling by the wide array of films you can watch at home. But that would be ignoring the 89 reasons why the only place more inviting than a couch near the fireplace is a seat at your local arthouse where the options range from the ancient Roman war epic "The Eagle" with Channing Tatum and Jamie Bell to the fantastical Palme d'Or-winning elegy "Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives" from Apichatpong Weerasethakul. Many awards contenders will expand across the country while those sick of such serious fare can fall back on revenge-themed thrillers with Jason Statham, Nicolas Cage or the deadly Korean twosome of "The Housemaid" and "I Saw the Devil," the action stylings of Donnie Yen ("IP Man 2") and Tony Jaa ("Ong Bak 3"), or the comedies of John C. Reilly and Ed Helms ("Cedar Rapids...
- 1/11/2011
- by Stephen Saito
- ifc.com
Gwyneth Paltrow in Shana Feste's Country Strong Joel Coen and Ethan Coen's True Grit — though down 40% — did indeed top the North American weekend box-office chart for the first time thanks to Little Fockers' -48% drop-off rate. True Grit, starring Jeff Bridges, Hailee Steinfeld, Matt Damon, and Josh Brolin, took in $14.6m according to actuals found at Box Office Mojo. Starring Robert De Niro, Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Barbra Streisand, Dustin Hoffman, Teri Polo, Blythe Danner, and Jessica Alba, Little Fockers collected $13.48m. Directed by Dominic Sena, the much-panned Nicolas Cage vehicle Season of the Witch was no. 3 with $10.61m — or $3,769 per theater. At no. 4, Tron: Legacy took in $10.09m. Joseph Kosinski's sci-fier stars Jeff Bridges, Garrett Hedlund and Olivia Wilde. At no. 5, Darren Aronofsky-Natalie Portman's Black Swan pulled in $8.11m, down a mere -9%. It was followed by Shana Feste's Country Strong,...
- 1/11/2011
- by Zac Gille
- Alt Film Guide
Season of the Witch was a movie that didn’t quite hit the mark though it had its moments. The concept for the film is pretty cool. I mean, what is not to like about a medieval supernatural flick complete with knights, a witch, demons and possession, and a journey that you know will be fraught with danger around every turn? And though I’m down for a movie of this nature, excited (as a matter of fact) about the blending of medieval times and the paranormal, with this movie I felt that less would have definitely been more.
Season of the Witch (2010) - Disillusioned knights.
The Set Up
Season of the Witch is set in a medieval world where absolution is gained through violence, and the church and the Black Plague has the land well within its powerful grip. Superstition is the order of the day and innocent women...
Season of the Witch (2010) - Disillusioned knights.
The Set Up
Season of the Witch is set in a medieval world where absolution is gained through violence, and the church and the Black Plague has the land well within its powerful grip. Superstition is the order of the day and innocent women...
- 1/10/2011
- Cinelinx
Idle hands are notoriously the Devil's play things. Idle films can be something just as sad. Take Season of the Witch for instance. It's not particularly a horrible movie. It's focused. Dominic Sena shoots each scene with adequate measure even if the Gone in 60 Seconds director still has little to say with his technique. The acting is less than par even for Nicolas Cage, but there are fun turns by Ron Perlman and the rest of the cast. Unfortunately, for long stretches of this horror thriller, the energy has been completely cast out, and the film seems to want to just sit there. Kind of like a "is she or isn't she" witch who spends much of the film's runtime just sitting in a wheeled cage. It's not exciting. It's never scary. Unfortunately, when the best thing you can say about a film is it isn't that bad, you...
- 1/10/2011
- by Jeremy Kirk
- firstshowing.net
Leighton Meester, Garrett Hedlund in Shana Feste's Country Strong Jeff Bridges-Matt Damon's True Grit Tops Box Office; Little Fockers $200m+ Worldwide Following True Grit and Little Fockers this weekend was the Nicolas Cage vehicle Season of the Witch, the latest Cage clunker. A clunker, however, that took in $10.72m domestically — $3,809 per theater — as per studio estimates found at Box Office Mojo. Although that figure suggests Relativity's $40m period adventure is underperforming (relative to its cost), it also suggests that there are lots of people in North America willing to shell out $12 to sit through two hours of one more trashy Nicolas Cage release. That says a whole lot about the general movie culture — or lack thereof. Directed by Dominic Sena, Season of the Witch wasn't screened for critics, but it currently has a hardly bewitching 4% approval rating among Rotten Tomatoes' "overall" critics (apparently people who paid...
- 1/10/2011
- by Zac Gille
- Alt Film Guide
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