Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Back to the Future Part II

1989 science fiction comedy film

Director: Robert Zemeckis

Writer: Bob Gale

Cinematographer: Dean Cundey

Running time: 108 minutes

Country: United States

Cast:
Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly, Marty McFly Jr. and Marlene McFly
Christopher Lloyd as Dr. Emmett Brown
Thomas F. Wilson as Biff Tannen and Griff Tannen
Lea Thompson as Lorraine Baines McFly
Elisabeth Shue as Jennifer Parker
James Tolkan as Mr. Strickland
Jeffrey Weissman as George McFly (body actor)
Crispin Glover as George McFly (archive footage)
Flea as Needles
Mary Ellen Trainor as Officer Resse (uncredited)
Elijah Wood as Video Game Boy

Plot
After visiting 2015, Marty McFly must repeat his visit to 1955 to prevent disastrous changes to 1985...without interfering with his first trip.

Awards
  1. Saturn Award- Best Special Effects Ken Ralston- Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA
  2. BAFTA Film Award- Best Special Effects Ken Ralston, Michael Lantieri, John Bell& Steve Gawley- BAFTA Awards
  3. BMI Film Music Award- Alan Silvestri- BMI Film & TV Awards
  4. AOL Movies DVD Premiere Award- Best Special Edition of the Year /Classic Movie- DVD Exclusive Awards
  5. Golden Screen- (UIP (distributor) ).- Golden Screen, Germany
  6. Blimp Award- Favorite Movie Actor Michael J. Fox- Kids' Choice Awards, USA
  7. Blimp Award- Favorite Movie Actress Lea Thompson- Kids' Choice Awards, USA
  8. Young Artist Award- Best Family Motion Picture - Musical or Fantasy- Young Artist Awards

Trivia
Renowned scientist Carl Sagan considered this the greatest time travel movie ever made. He praised the accuracy in handling the multiple time lines as what would really happen if time travel were possible.

Buy

4 stars out of 5 stars

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Back to the Future

1985 science-fiction adventure film

Director: Robert Zemeckis

Writer: Robert Zemeckis & Bob Gale

Cinematographer: Dean Cundey

Running time: 116 minutes

Country: United States

Cast:
Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly
Christopher Lloyd as Dr. Emmett Brown
Lea Thompson as Lorraine Baines
Crispin Glover as George McFly
Thomas F. Wilson as Biff Tannen
Claudia Wells as Jennifer Parker
Marc McClure as Dave McFly
Wendie Jo Sperber as Linda McFly
George DiCenzo as Sam Baines
Frances Lee McCain as Stella Baines
James Tolkan as Mr. Strickland
J.J. Cohen as Skinhead
Casey Siemaszko as 3-D
Billy Zane as Match

Plot
In 1985, Doc Brown invents time travel; in 1955, Marty McFly accidentally prevents his parents from meeting, putting his own existence at stake.

Awards
  1. Oscar- Best Effects, Sound Effects Editing Charles L. Campbell Robert R. Rutledge- Academy Awards, USA
  2. Saturn Award- Best Actor Michael J. Fox- Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA
  3. Saturn Award- Best Science Fiction Film- Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA
  4. Saturn Award- Best Special Effects Kevin Pike- Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA
  5. Award of the Japanese Academy- Best Foreign Language Film- Awards of the Japanese Academy
  6. AOL Movies DVD Premiere Award- Best Special Edition of the Year - Classic Movie- DVD Exclusive Awards
  7. David- Best Producer - Foreign Film (Migliore Produttore Straniero) Steven Spielberg- David di Donatello Awards
  8. David- Best Screenplay - Foreign Film (Autore della Migliore Sceneggiatura Straniera)Robert Zemeckis Bob Gale- David di Donatello Awards
  9. Golden Screen- (UIP (distributor) ).- Golden Screen, Germany
  10. Hugo- Best Dramatic Presentation- Hugo Awards
  11. National Film Registry- National Film Preservation Board, USA
  12. People's Choice Award- Favorite Motion Picture- People's Choice Awards, USA
  13. Young Venice Award /Special Mention- Robert Zemeckis- Venice Film Festival
  14. Young Artist Award- Best Family Motion Picture /Adventure- Young Artist Awards
Trivia
Universal Pictures head Sid Sheinberg did not like the title "Back to the Future", insisting that nobody would see a movie with "future" in the title. In a memo to Robert Zemeckis, he said that the title should be changed to "Spaceman from Pluto", tying in with the Marty-as-alien jokes in the film, and also suggested further changes like replacing the "I'm Darth Vader from planet Vulcan" line with "I am a spaceman from Pluto!" Sheinberg was persuaded to change his mind by a response memo from Steven Spielberg, which thanked him for sending a wonderful "joke memo", and that everyone got a kick out of it. Sheinberg, too proud to admit he was serious, gave in to letting the film retain its title.

Buy

5 stars out of 5 stars
 
 
 

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

About Schmidt

2002 comedy-drama film

Director: Alexander Payne

Writer: Alexander Payne & Jim Taylor

Cinematographer: James Glennon

Running time: 125 minutes

Country: United States


Cast:
Jack Nicholson as Warren R. Schmidt
Kathy Bates as Roberta Hertzel
Hope Davis as Jeannie Schmidt
Dermot Mulroney as Randall Hertzel
June Squibb as Helen Schmidt
Howard Hesseman as Larry Hertzel
Harry Groener as John Rusk
Connie Ray as Vicki Rusk
Len Cariou as Ray Nichols



Plot
A man upon retirement embarks on a journey to his estranged daughter's wedding only to discover more about his self and life than he ever expected.

Awards
  1. Critics Choice Award- Best Actor Jack Nicholson- Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards
  2. Artios- Best Casting for Feature Film, Comedy Lisa Beach Sarah Katzman John Jackson- Casting Society of America, USA
  3. CDG Award- Excellence in Costume Design for Film – Contemporary Wendy Chuck- Costume Designers Guild Awards
  4. DFWFCA Award- Best Actor Jack Nicholson- Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards
  5. DFWFCA Award- Best Supporting Actress Kathy Bates- Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards
  6. Golden Globe- Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama Jack Nicholson- Golden Globes, USA
  7. Golden Globe- Best Screenplay - Motion Picture Alexander Payne Jim Taylor- Golden Globes, USA
  8. Golden Trailer- Best Comedy (Mark Woollen & Associates [us]). For the teaser. - Golden Trailer Awards
  9. Golden Trailer- Best Music (Mark Woollen & Associates [us]). For the teaser. - Golden Trailer Awards
  10. Golden Trailer- Best Voice Over (Mark Woollen & Associates [us]). For the teaser. - Golden Trailer Awards
  11. Golden Trailer- Best of Show (Mark Woollen & Associates [us]). For the teaser. - Golden Trailer Awards
  12. KCFCC Award- Best Film- Kansas City Film
  13. Critics Circle Awards ALFS Award- Film of the Year- London Critics Circle Film Awards
  14. LAFCA Award- Best Actor-Jack Nicholson- Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards
  15. LAFCA Award- Best Picture- Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards
  16. LAFCA Award- Best Screenplay Alexander Payne Jim Taylor- Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards
  17. NBR Award- Best Supporting Actress Kathy Bates- National Board of Review, USA
  18. WAFCA Award- Best Actor Jack Nicholson- Washington DC Area Film Critics Association Awards
  19. WAFCA Award- Best Supporting Actress Kathy Bates- Washington DC Area Film Critics Association Awards

Trivia
When Jack Nicholson met Alexander Payne to discuss his role, Payne had a one-sentence directive for him; it was "Jack, I want you to play a small man."

Buy

5 stars out of 5 stars

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

11:14


2003 film

Director: Greg Marcks

Writer: Greg Marcks

Cinematographer: Shane Hurlbut

Running time: 86 minutes

Country: Canada & United States

Cast:

Henry Thomas as Jack
Barbara Hershey as Norma
Clark Gregg as Officer Hannagan
Shawn Hatosy as Duffy
Hilary Swank as Buzzy
Patrick Swayze as Frank
Rachael Leigh Cook as Cheri
Stark Sands as Tim
Colin Hanks as Mark
Ben Foster as Eddie
Jason Segel as Leon
Rick Gomez as Kevin
Blake Heron as Aaron

Plot
The events leading up to an 11:14 PM car crash, from five very different perspectives.

Awards
DVDX Award- Best Supporting Actress (in a DVD Premiere Movie) Barbara Hershey- DVD Exclusive Awards

Trivia
The character of Buzzy was originally written as a man. When Hilary Swank read the script, it was the character that "spoke to" her the most, and she asked writer/director Greg Marcks to rewrite the role as a woman so that she could play it, and he agreed.

Buy

5 stars out of 5 stars

Monday, November 21, 2011

Freddy vs. Jason

2003 American slasher film

Director: Ronny Yu

Writer: Damian Shannon & Mark Swift

Cinematographer: Fred Murphy

Running time: 97 min

Country: United States & Canada

Cast:

Robert Englund - Freddy Krueger
Ken Kirzinger - Jason Voorhees
Monica Keena - Lori Campbell
Jason Ritter - Will Rollins
Kelly Rowland - Kia Waterson
Chris Marquette - Charlie Linderman
Brendan Fletcher - Mark Davis
Lochlyn Munro - Deputy Scott Stubbs
Katharine Isabelle - Gibb Smith
Kyle Labine - Bill Freeburg
Tom Butler - Dr. Campbell
Zack Ward - Bobby Davis
Gary Chalk - Sheriff Williams
Jesse Hutch - Trey
David Kopp - Blake
Odessa Munroe - Heather
Chris Gauthier - Shack
Paula Shaw - Pamela Voorhees
Sharon Peters - Mrs. Campbell

Plot
Freddy Krueger and Jason Voorhees return to terrorize the teenage population. Except this time, they're out to get each other, too.

Awards
BMI Film Music Award- Graeme Revell- BMI Film & TV Awards
Chainsaw Award- Best Makeup/Creature FX Bill Terezakis- Fangoria Chainsaw Awards

Trivia
Rob Zombie was offered to direct, but turned it down to work on his pet project House of 1000 Corpses.

Buy

5 stars out of 5 stars
 

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Wes Craven's New Nightmare

1994 horror metafilm

Director: Wes Craven

Writer: Wes Craven

Cinematographer: Mark Irwin

Running time: 112 min

Country: United States

Cast:
Heather Langenkamp as Herself/Nancy Thompson 
Robert Englund as Himself/Freddy Krueger
Miko Hughes as Dylan Porter
Tracy Middendorf as Julie
David Newsom as Chase Porter
Fran Bennett as Dr. Christine Heffner
John Saxon as Himself / Lt. Donald Thompson
Wes Craven as Himself


      Plot
A demonic force has chosen Freddy Krueger as its portal to the real world. Can Heather play the part of Nancy one last time and trap the evil trying to enter our world?

Awards 
International Fantasy Film Award- Best Screenplay Wes Craven-Fantasporto

Trivia
There was a scene in the script that depicted a Robert Englund Freddy nightmare. The nightmare had Robert stuck in a spider-like web and the new "DEMON" Freddy was a giant spider. This was dropped because it didn't fit with the film's overall tone.

Buy

5 stars out of 5 stars




 

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare

1991 American slasher film

Director: Rachel Talalay

Writer: Michael DeLuca

Cinematographer: Declan Quinn
 
Running time: 89 minutes

Country: United States


Cast:
Lisa Zane as Maggie Burroughs
Robert Englund as Freddy Krueger
Shon Greenblatt as John Doe 
Lezlie Deane as Tracy
Breckin Meyer as Spencer
Ricky Dean Logan as Carlos
Lisa Wilcox as Alice Johnson (archive footage)
Yaphet Kotto as Doc
Tobe Sexton as Teenage Freddy Krueger
Lindsey Fields as Loretta Krueger (as Lyndsey Fields)  
Johnny Depp as Guy on TV (as Oprah Noodlemantra)
Tom Arnold as Childless Man (as Mr. Tom Arnold)
Alice Cooper as Freddy's Father (uncredited)

 Plot
Freddy Krueger returns once again to haunt both the dreams of his daughter and Springwood's last surviving teenager.

Awards
None

Trivia
Peter Jackson's original screenplay for Freddy's Dead saw Freddy aging and growing                       
weak within the dream world. The teens of Springwood would have drug-fuelled   
slumber parties for kicks, and enter the dream world to beat him up.

Buy

5 stars out of 5 stars

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child


1989 American slasher film

Director: Stephen Hopkins

Writer: Leslie Bohem

Cinematographer: Peter Levy

Running time: 89 minutes

Country: United States

Cast:
Lisa Wilcox as Alice Johnson
Danny Hassel as Dan Jordan
Robert Englund as Freddy Krueger   
Beatrice Boepple as Amanda Krueger
Whit Hertford as Jacob Johnson
Kelly Jo Minter as Yvonne
Erika Anderson as Greta Gibson
Nicholas Mele as Dennis Johnson
Joe Seely as Mark Grey
Valorie Armstrong as Doris Jordan
Burr DeBenning as Mr. Jordan
Clarence Felder as Edmund A. Gray

Plot:
Alice, having survived the previous installment of the Nightmare series, finds the deadly dreams of Freddy Krueger starting once again. This time, the taunting murderer is striking through the sleeping mind of Alice's unborn child. His intention is to be "born again" into the real world. The only one who can stop Freddy is his dead mother, but can Alice free her spirit in time to save her own son?

Awards: 
Critics' Award- Stephen Hopkins- Fantasporto
Worst Original Song- Bruce Dickinson (Bring Your Daughter to the Slaughter".)- Razzie Awards
Best Young Actor Supporting Role in a Motion Picture-Whit Hertford- Young Artist Award     

Trivia:
The horror author Stephen King and comic book writer Frank Miller were offered the job of writing and directing this movie.    

Buy:

Rating: 5 stars out of 5 stars
 
 

Monday, November 14, 2011

A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master


1988 American slasher film

Director: Renny Harlin

Writer: Brian Helgeland & Scott Pierce

Cinematographer: Steven Fierberg

Running time: 93 minutes

Country: United States

Cast:                                                                                 
Lisa Wilcox as Alice Johnson
Danny Hassel as Dan Jordan
Brooke Theiss as Debbie Stevens
Andras Jones as Rick Johnson
Tuesday Knight as Kristen Parker
Toy Newkirk as Sheila Kopecky
Rodney Eastman as Joey Peterson
Ken Sagoes as Roland Kincaid
Nicholas Mele as Mr. Dennis Johnson
Brooke Bundy as Elaine Parker
Robert Englund as Freddy Krueger          

                                                                                    
                     Plot:
   
Freddy Krueger returns once again to terrorize the dreams of the remaining Dream Warriors, as well as those of a young woman who may know the way to defeat him for good.

 
Awards:  Young Artist Award- Teenage Choice for Best Horror Motion Picture- Young Artist   Awards                                                                                
Best Special Effects- Sitges Catalonian International Film Festival  

  
Trivia:  The highest grossing horror film of its year and the highest grossing film for
New Line.

Buy:



Rating: 5 stars out of 5 stars