Review: William Eggleston In The Real World (B)

William Eggleston In The Real World (2005)
Directed by Michael Almereyda
Starring William Eggleston
MPAA: UR
Grade: B

Review by Sebastian Francis Kennedy

An unusual photographer to say the least, William Eggleston brings a unique perspective to photography. Eggleston photographs the seemingly mundane, the simple and the most obvious items and locations around us. However, his detached, mysterious style is haunting and at times inviting. The documentary William Eggleston In The Real World does a fair job of illuminating the work of this esteemed artist.

Directed by Michael Almereyda, the slow moving documentary William Eggleston In The Real World mimicks the dry, subtle style of it's subject. Unfortunately, this manner does not lend itself as well to film as it does photography. While the film is engaging as a whole, there are large chunks of the film that leave one wondering "Is this going anywhere?". The narrative is a tad pretentious and yet the film still succeeds in it's goal: at the end of the documentary, you can't help but want to see more.

William Eggleston In The Real World is a good documentary about a very strange, yet talented photographer. If you are a student of photography or enjoy offbeat artists, then this is a must see.

Movie Buzz - Dead Man's Shoes

DVD Confidential is always looking for interesting independent films, and we've stumbled onto one that looks great. It's called Dead Man's Shoes. Here is the information, direct from Magnolia Pictures:

Richard (Paddy Considine) has always protected his simple-minded little brother Anthony (Toby Kebbell). When Richard leaves the rural village where they have grown up to join the army, Anthony is taken in by Sonny (Gary Stretch), a controlling and vicious local drug dealer and his gang of lads. Anthony becomes the gang’s pet and plaything. Seven years later, Richard returns to settle the score. One by one, he hunts down each member of the gang and executes them in increasingly elaborate ways as flashbacks reveal the extent to which his brother suffered at their hands. Dead Man's Shoes is a genre-defying film blending horror, supernatural elements, comedy, and social realism. Set in a Midlands village, it explores the underbelly of contemporary rural Britain in communities where crime is unchecked and drugs, intimidation, and power games are blandly accepted as the fabric of daily life.

Dead Man's Shoes opens in theaters in New York on May 12th and in LA on May 26th. It opens in additional theaters through out June and July.

Review: NBT: Never Been Thawed (B-)

NBT: Never Been Thawed (2005)
Directed by Sean Anders
Starring Sean Anders, Shelly Frasier, Allen Zwolle, Mike Gordon and John Morris
MPAA: R
Grade: B-

Review by Sebastian Francis Kennedy

In the tradition of Spinal Tap and A Mighty Wind, Never Been Thawed is a very interesting "mockumentary" that holds up well to multiple screenings. The director (and star) Sean Anders does a wonderful job of bringing the ensemble cast together and presenting a cohesive, witty and at times thought provoking comedy to the big screen.

Sean Anders plays Shawn Anderson, the head of the Mesa Frozen Entrees Enthusiasts, a group that collects frozen entrees. The members collect old tv dinners just as other would stamps, coins, baseball cards and the like. The members are all strange and have bizarre eccentricities, bringing depth to the story of the club and it's first ever convention. An interesting back story is of Sean's Christian Rock band the Christers, an unsuccessful punk band that switches to Christian Rock in order to be popular. Strangely enough, it works.

NBT: Never Been Thawed is funny at times, but the production values are a bit low. However, Mr. Anders obviously has serious talent and is someone to watch. NBT Never Been Thawed is an interesting comedy and it is certainly worthy of a rental.

Movie Buzz - Leonard Cohen On The Big Screen

Songwriter. Poet. Counter-culture icon. Consummate ladies’ man. DVD Confidential has the info on Leonard Cohen I'm Your Man, a remarkable new film from Lionsgate. Here is the scoop, direct from the studio:

Since bursting onto the scene in 1967, Leonard Cohen has inspired generations with his unique personality and haunting music, becoming one of the most original and enduring artists to emerge from the 1960s. Now, Lions Gate is proud to celebrate Cohen’s legacy with director Lian Lunson’s Leonard Cohen I'm Your Man, an intimate look at the songs, poetry and life of one of music’s most celebrated and influential troubadours.

In January, 2005, Lunson traveled to Sydney to film the historic “Came So Far For Beauty” show, a tribute to Leonard Cohen at the Sydney Opera House organized by famed music producer Hal Willner. Leonard Cohen I'm Your Man includes behind-the-scenes interviews and live performances from this event by Nick Cave, Rufus Wainwright, Kate & Anna McGarrigle, Martha Wainwright, Beth Orton, Linda Thompson, Teddy Thompson, Jarvis Cocker, The Handsome Family, Julie Christensen and Perla Battala, as well as a special performance of “Tower of Song” by Cohen and U2. And in a series of candid interviews, Cohen himself reveals his trademark wry humor and soulful intensity, using his own artwork, poetry and personal collection of photographs to reflect upon his colorful past and his creative process.

Sure to please both diehard Cohen fans and the newly initiated, Lunson’s film is a beautiful record of captivating music, and an intimate portrait of a truly singular artist. Leonard Cohen I'm Your Man is directed and produced by Lian Lunson, and executive produced by Mel Gibson, Erik Nelson, Kevin Beggs and Sandra Stern.

Leonard Cohen I'm Your Man Trailer

Leonard Cohen I'm Your Man Web Site

Video Game Buzz - Marc Ecko's Getting Up

Marc Ecko's Getting Up Video Game
Format: Playstation 2

Review by Bobby Nashville

Video games continue to look more and more like movies. The stories, the visuals, the camera movements - it's clear that video games are becoming more immersive and more cinematic. Marc Ecko's Getting Up is the latest in this trend and for fans of interactive entertainment, it's a sure bet.

The story behind Getting Up seems influenced by the legendary hip hop film Wild Style, directed by Charlie Ahearn. In fact, the game utilizes music from the Wild Style soundtrack. In the game, you are a graffiti writer that uses the art form to dave a neighborhood from an opressive government. The voice of Trane (the main character) comes from Talib Kweli, a renowned hip hop artist. As you explore the game, you fight rivals, post up your own tags and spread your message throughout the city. The fighting is a new twist to the proven "explore the city" mode that has proven so successful in the Grand Theft Auto franchise.

Getting Up is an excellent video game that is a hell of a lot of fun. The visuals are devent, the soundtrack is off the hook and the game play is solid. Kudos to Marc Ecko for a solid hip hop based video game.

Review: Black Crowes: Freak N' Roll Into The Fog (B)

Black Crowes: Freak N' Roll Into The Fog (2005)
Directed by Mark Lucas
Starring The Black Crowes
MPAA: UR
Grade: B

Review by Bobby Nashville

Hell yes! It's hard not to love the Black Crowes, a band that brought good old fashioned boogie back into rock and roll. Back when the Stones got boring (and bitter), Aerosmith went commercial and Guns N Roses went awol, true fans of get down rock and roll were looking for some kick ass rock and roll. Enter the Black Crowes.

Freak N Roll Into the Fog isn't a very well named concert film, but who cares? The performance here (live from the legendary Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco) is damn good. Led by the charismatic Chris Robinson, the boys rips into 17 songs in this dynamic concert. Standout performances include Jealous Again, She Talks To Angels and of course, one of the best covers of all time, Hard to Handle. The final song of the night, The Night They Drove O' Dixie Down, is a hell raiser that is worth the cost of the DVD alone.

Freak N Roll Into The Fog contains an excellent behind the scenes short film and it's a nice extra. A great concert caught on film, it's hard to beat this dynamite performance, especially if you are a Black Crowes fan. Highly recommended.

Buy Black Crowes: Freak N' Roll Into The Fog From DVD Empire

King King Prize Pack Winner

Congratulations to Denis, the winner of our King Kong DVD Confidential Prize Pack, courtesy of Universal Pictures. Denis will be receiving a cool King Kong t-shirt, baseball cap and a copy of the film on DVD!

Want to be entered to win cool Hollywood schwag? Sign up for our Monthy Newsletter. You'll be eligible for our giveaway contests and you'll get our best reviews in your in-box once a month.

Review: Ellie Parker (B-)

Ellie Parker (2005)
Directed by Scott Coffey
Starring Naomi Watts, Chevy Chase, Rebecca Rigg, Keanu Reeves and Mark Pellegrino
MPAA: R
Grade: B-

Review by Scott Standish

I have to admit it. The first time I watched Ellie Parker, I stopped it 20 minutes through. The director's hand held style camerawork and overbearing editing made it hard to watch. I pulled the DVD and kept my distance.

About a week later, I decided to give Ellie Parker another chance and this time, I made it all the way through. So here's the deal on Ellie Parker, an official selection of the Sundance Film Festival last year. It's silly at times, annoying (especially in the first act) and a little amateurish in terms of the camera style. However, Naomi Watts (King Kong, The Ring, Mulholland Drive) acts her heart out in this one and she obviously took a huge gamble even taking the role of Ellie Parker, a struggling young actress that can't catch a break. Chevy Chase is well cast as her strangely vegged out agent, and he brings a little depth to the film. Keanu Reeves and his band Dogstar make a short appearance, but the Matrix star really doesn't play a major role in the film.

With it's MTV style documentary look and fast paced, screwball comedy style, Ellie Parker is not for everybody. In fact, as I stated earlier, you have to be in the mood for this type of film, or it's not going to work for you. Watts and Chase do the best they can with a mediocre script and poor production, but Ellie Parker never really takes flight.

Buy Ellie Parker On DVD

Movie Buzz - Trailers For Hard Candy & Peaceful Warrior

Two highly anticipated new films, Hard Candy and Peaceful Warrior, have just released new trailers online. Hard Candy is a powerful film about internet predators. Peaceful Warrior is based on the semi-autobiographical book "Way of the Peaceful Warrior" by Dan Millman. Peaceful Warrior stars Nick Nolte.

Hard Candy is hitting theaters on April 14th and Peaceful Warrior comes to the big screen on June 2nd.

Peaceful Warrior Trailer (Windows Media)
Hard Candy Trailer (Windows Media)

Movie Buzz - The Sentinel

Looks like Eva Longoria is making the jump to the big screen in Michael Douglas' new thriller The Sentinel. She's a decent comedic actress on Desperate Housewives, but frankly, I wonder whether she has been typecast. Can she erase the pre-conceived notions that people have of her from the TV show? It will be interesting to see.

The Sentinel stars Douglas, Kiefer Sutherland and of course, Eva Longoria. The political thriller tells the story of a highly decorated Secret Service agent that is wrongly suspected of plotting to kill the president. The film is directed by Clark Johnson and it hits theaters April 21st.

Official The Sentinel Web Site

Coming To DVD: Who Gets To Call It Art?

We love documentaries, especially documentaries about artists. So we are very pleased to hear about a film called Who Gets To Call It Art. The documentary is coming to DVD on May 23, 2006. The bold film takes an unprecedented look at the 1960's New York Art scene. Here is the information on Who Gets To Call It Art, direct from the studio:

"Arthouse Films, a label of Palm Pictures, presents a fascinating look at the 1960's New York art scene with the release of Who Gets to Call It Art? coming to DVD on May 23, 2006. Featuring never-before-seen footage of legendary artists, exclusive interviews and an elite variety of the ‘Who’s Who’ New York entertainment scene, the film explores one of the most creatively fertile periods of American Art, profiling Andy Warhol, Jasper Johns, Roy Lichtenstein, Frank Stella, David Hockney, and James Rosenquist … pioneers of the New York Pop Art scene, who shocked the world with their amazing talent and ability to capture inner beauty while redefining the meaning of art."

"Director Peter Rosen provides a glimpse into the world of Henry Geldzahler – considered to be the man most responsible for popularizing modern American art. “Who Gets To Call It Art?” beautifully captures the exhilaration of a decade in which the conventions of art were tested and transformed."

"Henry Geldzahler acted as a visionary having the ability to recognize the non-traditional raw talent at the forefront of the New York pop art movement. He reveled in the hip and debaucherous parties that marked the downtown artists' community, never missing an event that promised to draw only the biggest and brightest stars of art and music. Not only was Henry a curator to the artists whose work he championed, he was also accepted as one of their own. He had an unsurpassed eye for identifying talent and was single-handedly responsible for curating the largest and most controversial exhibit of modern art ever shown at the Metropolitan Museum: New York Painting and Sculpture 1940-1970."

"With extraordinary music from the period, including The Velvet Underground, CAN, Eric Dolphy, and the Monks, Who Gets to Call It Art? shares a vibrant look at ten amazing years when American artists challenged all conventions and forever changed the world of art."

"Artists featured on the documentary include: David Hockney, Larry Poons, Frank Stella, James Rosenquist, Mark di Suvero, Francesco Clemente, John Chamberlain, Ivan Karp, Calvin Tompkins, George Lois, Ellsworth Kelly, Jonas Mekas, Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenburg, Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, Willem deKooning, David Smith, Franz Kline, and Jackson Pollack."

“This is one of the greatest art documentaries ever made”
--Film Threat

“Entertaining!”
-- New York Magazine

“Thrilling”
-- LA Weekly

Review: Be Here to Love Me: A Film About Townes Van Zandt (B+)

Be Here to Love Me: A Film About Townes Van Zandt (B+)
Directed by Margaret Brown
Starring Townes Van Zandt, Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, Steve Earle & Emmylou Harris
MPAA: UR
Grade: B+

Review by Bobby Nashville

I am sure glad I stumbled upon Be Here to Love Me: A Film About Townes Van Zandt. This dynamite documentary about a legendary songwriter and performer completely came out of left field for me. I had never even heard of this guy before this indie feature - now I am a huge fan and I am eager to search out and purchase some music by Townes Van Zandt.

Townes was a magical songwriter that wrote blues inspired folk songs (or were they folk inspired country songs) that were recorded and turned into top hits by Willie Nelson and Emmylou Harris. Townes lived the life of a rambler, driving from show to show and partying with hippies, folk singers and roadies. His life was on the road and many of his songs were about how sad life really can be.

Be Here to Love Me features interviews with superstar friends of Townes Van Zandt, including Steve Earle, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson and more. If you are a fan of Van Zandt, this is a must own DVD featuring a rare glimpse into a true artist's life. If you have never heard the music of Townes Van Zandt, I highly recommend you seek this DVD out for rental.

Review: Barry Manilow - Music & Passion (Live From Las Vegas) (B)

Barry Manilow - Music & Passion (Live From Las Vegas) (2006)
Starring Barry Manilow
Directed by David Mallet
MPAA: UR
Grade: B

Review by Sebastian Francis Kennedy

As a young man, my first two record albums were Endless Summer by the Beach Boys and Trying To Get The Feeling Again by Barry Manilow. I played both albums until my parents realized that they simply had to buy me some new records or risk go insane. Over the years, I retained my love for the Beach Boys (Pet Sounds changed my life) but I left my Manilow behind. And judging from the performance in Music and Passion, that's a shame.

Music and Passion captures a brilliant performance by Barry Manilow at the Las Vegas Hilton. Manilow is an incredible songwriter and his array of hits is enormous. The fabulous performance captured on DVD here showcases just how well Manilow has it down as an entertainer. He wows the audience with his showmanship and his flare. Manilow is truly entertaining and he puts on a fantastic show. Music and Passion is excellent.

Barry Manilow - Music and Passion is a very well done DVD from all angles. The performance is fantastic and the production values are top rate. This DVD is highly recommended.

Sneak Peek: Andy Garcia, Dustin Hoffman, Bill Murray In Lost City

Andy Garcia is one of those actors that we appreciate more and more over the years. He's done some excellent work in several big motion pictures and although he is well respected in the industry, he may be a little underrated to film audiences in general. It's nice to see Garcia step into the director's chair with his new film Lost City.

According to the press release, the film is set to premiere in New York, LA and Miami on the 28th of this month. DVD Confidential favorite Bill Murray also stars in the film and Dustin Hoffman rounds out the cast. Nice.

Here is the official information on Lost City, direct from Magnolia Pictures:

"Andy Garcia (Modigliani) stars and makes his directorial debut in a passionate and historical tribute to his native Cuba. Havana in 1958 is a place of pleasure for many, but others are not happy under the rule of dictator Fulgencio Batista. As the revolutionary forces of Fidel Castro and Ernesto “Che” Guevara prepare to move on the city, Fico Fellove (Garcia)—owner of the city’s classiest music nightclub, El Tropico—struggles to hold together his family and the love of a woman (Inés Sastre), not knowing that his club will become more than just a stage for popular entertainment. Observing all is The Writer (Bill Murray) an ex-patriot American who sees Fico being drawn into events as the revolution changes everything. Though Fico watches a culture vanish and a people transformed, it is his love of Cuban music that keeps his memories alive. Co-starring Dustin Hoffman and Steven Bauer. Written by Cuban novelist Guillermo Cabrera Infante."

Official Trailer for Lost City (Quicktime)

Review: Steve Hostetter - Cure For The Cable Guy

Steve Hostetter - Cure For The Cable Guy
(CD with Bonus DVD)
Starring Steve Hostetter
MPAA: UR
Grade: B-

Review by Scott Standish

Stand up comedy seems to be in a funk these days. Jerry Seinfeld grabbed his cash years ago and has been laying low as of late. Chris Rock peaked out a couple years back. The best comedians (Jon Stewart and Wanda Sykes) are raking in the cash on cable TV.

The best news is that there are some new comedians on the scene that are finally getting some good word of mouth. Dane Cook has been rocking audiences around the U.S. and we all know about the insane comedy that Dave Attell has been bringing to the stage. A lesser known comedian is Steve Hostetter but he's been ripping it up on the college circuit as of late.

Hostetter works on familiar themes and his content won't be freaking anybody out anytime soon, but his latest CD/DVD "Cure For The Cable Guy" proves that he has the chops to move onto the national stage. Hostetter's wit and timing is excellent and he works an audience like an old pro. Best of all, he's pretty damn funny.

Steve Hostetter's CD/DVD entitled Cure For The Cable Guy is a rock solid effort and yes, he does make fun of Larry the Cable Guy. Not that poking fun at that guy is very hard. But, all things considered, this is a hilarious performance and it's definitely worth checking out.

Review: Suburbia (B-)

Suburbia (1984)
Directed by Penelope Spheeris
Starring Bill Coyne, Chris Pederson, Flea, Jennifer Clay and Timothy O'Brien
MPAA: R
Grade: B-

Review by Scott Standish

This punk rock angst-fest was produced by the incredible Roger Corman and its just about what you would expect from a Roger Corman/Penelope Spheeris production. Lots of kids rebelling against authority, some great music, a lot of bad acting, and a film that somehow pulls it together in the end. For fans of either auteur, Suburbia is well worth seeking out.

Evan is an emotionally abused teen in LA, alienated from his family and friends. He joins up with a group of similarly mistreated teens that have morphed into a punk rock gang, squatting in a house set for demolition. This rag tag crew of kids find acceptance among each other, something they could not find back at home. A very young Flea (from the Red Hot Chili Peppers) stars as Razzle, an energetic punker that always has a rat crawling all over him. Sheila (played by Jennifer Clay) has escaped the sexual and physical abuse from her father by banding together with the punkers, who call themselves "The Rejects".

Suburbia is very well written and the direction, editing and sound are quite good, something that you don't really expect from a Roger Corman "B" movie. The problem with Suburbia is that Spheeris chose to cast real punk rock kids to star in the film instead of trained actors. The results are mixed: at times the acting is noticeably bad, distracting from the tight script, but there is also a great sense of authenticity to Suburbia that could never have been faked by Hollywood actors.

Despite my positive opinions about Suburbia, I feel compelled to note a couple objections. First, there are several scenes featuring cruelty to animals, and indeed, on the director's commentary of the DVD, Spheeris herself raises objections to this. She does point out that the animals in the movie were not harmed on the set, but frankly, given what shows up on film, I find it a little hard to believe that the animals enjoyed going through what they did. Secondly, there are several moments of homophobic and racist bigotry in the movie. To be fair to the movie, these kids are severely alienated punk rockers with extreme prejudices against society in general, so these feelings are not just thrown out there for no reason - they fit the characters portrayed on screen.

Suburbia is a tightly written, well directed film by a budding young director just hitting her stride. It "gets" the LA punk rock scene better than just about any movie I have seen. Although there are several scenes of cruelty and intolerance, the film's overall power is unmistakable. It's hard to believe that this was the same director that brought us The Beverly Hillbillies, but hey, that's Hollywood for you.

Buy Suburbia On DVD From Amazon.com

Review: Caged Heat (C+)

Caged Heat (1974)
Directed by Jonathan Demme
Starring Juanita Brown, Roberta Collins, Donald Heitzer and Erica Gavin
MPAA: R
Grade: C+

Review by Mark Focus

Roger Corman has launched the careers of several top directors, including Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorcese and Jonathan Demme. Demme directed Caged Heat for Corman and while the film has it's fans, I found it a little tiresome. Sure, there are some interesting facets to this "girls behind bars" fable. However in the end, one can't help but wonder if Caged Heat might have been better served if it was a tad more over the top.

Caged Heat tells the story of Maggie, a gal that gets caught in a drug bust and ends up in an all female prison. The prison environment is typical of what you would expect from a Corman film - lesbians, tough gals that want to strike up a battle at the drop of a hat, evil prison wardens and sexy girls that miss the touch of a man. Jonathan Demme keeps the tone of the film serious and gritty, and it's clear in this first effort that Demme has an artistic style right from the start.

The problem with Caged Heat is that it's a film that doesn't have a clear cut path. It obviously flirts with exploitation but it doesn't venture deep enough into those waters to satisfy the expectations set by the movie's racy poster. The acting is decent, but the film doesn't work well enough to be a bona fide dramatic success. Caged Heat is interesting for Demme and Corman fans and it's certainly worthy of a rental on a lazy afternoon.

Review: Godzilla: Final Wars (A-)

Godzilla: Final Wars (2004)
Directed by Ryuhei Kitamura
Starring Masahiro Matsuoka, Rei Kikukawa, Kazuki Kitamura, Masami Nagasawa, Chihiro Ôtsuka, and Don Frye
MPAA: PG-13
Grade: A-

Review by Bobby Nashville

Man, I love this movie. Any film that features Godzilla, the Mothra Girls AND over a dozen classic movie monsters from Godzilla's past is going to get a good review from me. That's guaranteed. Full of action, humor and cheesy monster mayhem, Godzilla: Final Wars is the Godzilla film that many of us have been waiting for.

The "updated" Godzilla presented to America in 1998 by Roland Emmerich was nothing more than computer generated trickery. The monster looked almost exactly like the T-Rex from Jurassic Park, and it had none of the Godzilla camp. Basically they missed what the entire Godzilla franchise is all about. Forget the special effects, I want the old school Godzilla - a guy walking around in a suit, stepping on fake trains and smashing models of buildings. Godzilla: Final Wars has all of this and more.

Godzilla: Final Wars features appearances by almost the entire Destroy All Monsters cast. It has bizarre Matrix style fighting sequences and lots of camp dialogue. Look for baby Godzilla from Godzilla's Revenge and a special appearance by the Mothra Girls (my favorites). Godzilla: Final Wars rules and if you are a Godzilla fan, you owe it to yourself to add this one to your collection. Godzilla: Final Wars is highly recommended.

Sneak Peak: Nick Nolte's Peaceful Warrior

DVD Confidential has learned of an interesting new film starring Nick Nolte. According to Lionsgate Films, Peaceful Warrior is an "eclectic and spiritually awakening new film". Peaceful Warrior is in theaters June 2nd, 2006. Here is the official information, direct from the studio:

Dan Millman (Scott Mechlowicz) is a gifted young athlete bound for Olympic gold who will do anything to be the best. Driven by success, Dan has got it all: trophies, fast motorcycles, fast girls, and wild parties. But Dan's world is turned upside down when he meets a mysterious stranger in a gas station (Nick Nolte) who holds the power to tap into new worlds of strength and understanding. The young man discovers that he has much to learn and even more to leave behind in order to master this new vision of greatness in this moving tale about the power of human will. Based on the semi-autobiographical book loved by millions, “Way of the Peaceful Warrior” by Dan Millman.

Peaceful Warrior stars Nick Nolte (48 Hours, The Good Thief, Hotel Rwanda, The Hulk), Scott Mechlowicz (Eurotrip, Mean Creek), Amy Smart (Just Friends, The Butterfly Effect), and Ashton Holmes (History Of Violence). Written and directed by Victor Salva, based on “Way of the Peaceful Warrior” by Dan Millman, the screenplay is written by Kevin Bernhardt. Peaceful Warrior is produced by Mark Amin, Cami Winikoff, Robin Schorr and David Welch.

Peaceful Warrior Official Site