Cabin Fever 2: Spring Fever

2009 Horror Comedy Film

Director: Ti West

Writer: Joshua Malkin

Cinematography: Eliot Rockett

Running time: 86 minutes

Country: United States

Tagline: This time it's spreading

Cast:

Noah Segan as John

Rusty Kelley as Alex

Alexi Wasser as Cassie

Giuseppe Andrews as Winston

Regan Deal as Liz Grillington

Marc Senter as Marc

Michael Bowen as Principal Sinclair

Lindsey Axelsson as Sandy

Angela Oberer as Ms. Hawker

Amanda Jelks as Frederica

Judah Friedlander as Toby

Alexander Isaiah Thomas as Dane

Patrick Durham as Banker Lucas

Mark Borchardt as Herman

Larry Fessenden as Bill

Lisa H. Sackerman as Sores Girl/Prom Goer

Rider Strong as Paul (cameo)

Plot

A high school prom faces a deadly threat: a flesh-eating virus that spreads via a popular brand of bottled water.

Awards: None

Trivia

After extensive re-editing and re-shooting by the producers, writer/director West requested to have his name removed from the film and replaced with the popular pseudonym Alan Smithee. Since he was not a member of the DGA his request was denied by the producers and he remains credited as the film's director. West has since disowned the final product claiming that it is more a product of the producers and executives than that of his own. It is unknown if there will ever be a "directors cut" released featuring West's original vision. 

Buy

http://www.amazon.com/Cabin-Fever-2-Spring/dp/B002YI9304/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1328000978&sr=8-1

4 stars out of 5 stars

Cabin Fever

2002 Horror Comedy Film

Director: Eli Roth

Writer: Eli Roth & Randy Pearlstein

Cinematography: Scott Kevan

Running time: 92 minutes

Country: United States

Tagline: Cabin Fever... catch it.

Cast:

Rider Strong as Paul

James DeBello as Bert

Jordan Ladd as Karen

Cerina Vincent as Marcy

Joey Kern as Jeff

Arie Verveen as Henry "The Hermit"

Giuseppe Andrews as Deputy Winston Olsen

Matthew Helms as Dennis

Eli Roth as Justin "Grim"

Hal Courtney as Tommy

Robert Harris as Old Man Cadwell

Richard Boone as Fenster

Tim Parati as Andy

Brandon Johnson as Ray Shawn

Plot

A group of five college graduates rent a cabin in the woods and begin to fall victim to a horrifying flesh-eating virus, which attracts the unwanted attention of the homicidal locals.

Awards:

1. Best Make-Up- Howard Berger, Robert Kurtzman & Gregory Nicotero- Sitges  Catalonian International Film Festival 

Trivia

Director Eli Roth originally got the idea for this movie while working in Iceland on a horse farm. He got such a bad skin infection from the rotting hay in the barn that his face broke out in sores, bled and peeled off when he shaved. 

Buy

http://www.amazon.com/Cabin-Fever-Unrated-Directors-Cut/dp/B0027VT9ES/ref=sr_1_2?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1327912807&sr=1-2

4 stars out of 5 stars

Babel

2006 International Drama Film

Director: Alejandro González Iñárritu

Writer: Guillermo Arriaga & Alejandro González Iñárritu

Cinematography: Rodrigo Prieto

Running time: 143 minutes

Country: United States, Mexico & France

Tagline: If you want to be understood...Listen

Cast:

Brad Pitt as Richard Jones

Cate Blanchett as Susan Jones

Mohamed Akhzam as Anwar

Peter Wight as Tom

Harriet Walter as Lilly

Michael Maloney as James

Driss Roukhe as Alarid

Boubker Ait El Caid as Yussef

Said Tarchani as Ahmed

Mustapha Rachidi as Abdullah

Abdelkader Bara as Hassan

Wahiba Sahmi as Zohra

Robert Fyfe as Tourist Number 14

Adriana Barraza as Amelia

Gael García Bernal as Santiago

Elle Fanning as Debbie Jones

Nathan Gamble as Mike Jones

Clifton Collins Jr. as Police Officer at Mexican border

Michael Pena as Officer John

Rinko Kikuchi as Chieko Wataya

Kōji Yakusho as Yasujiro Wataya

Satoshi Nikaido as Detective Kenji Mamiya

Yuko Murata as Mitsu

Shigemitsu Ogi as Dentist Chieko attempts to seduce

Plot

Tragedy strikes a married couple on vacation in the Moroccan desert, touching off an interlocking story involving four different families.

Awards:

1. ACCEC Award- Best Foreign Film (Millor película estrangera) Alejandro González Iñárritu- ACCEC Awards
2. AFI Film Award- AFI Movie of the Year Jon Kilik, Steve Golin & Alejandro González Iñárritu- ALMA Awards
3. ALMA Award- Outstanding Actress - Motion Picture Adriana Barraza- ALMA Awards
4. ALMA Award- Outstanding Director - Motion Picture Alejandro González Iñárritu - ALMA Awards
5. ALMA Award- Outstanding Motion Picture- ALMA Awards
6. ALMA Award- Outstanding Screenplay - Motion Picture Guillermo Arriaga-ALMA Awards 
7. Oscar-Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score
   Gustavo Santaolalla- Academy Awards, USA
8. Eddie-Best Edited Feature Film – Dramatic Stephen Mirrione & Douglas Crise-American Cinema Editors, USA
9. Austin Film Critics Award-Best Supporting Actress Rinko Kikuchi-Austin Film Critics Association 
10. Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music-Gustavo Santaolalla-BAFTA Awards
11. Bodil-Best American Film (Bedste amerikanske film) Alejandro González Iñárritu- Bodil Awards
12. Best Director-Alejandro González Iñárritu- Cannes Film Festival
13. Prize of the Ecumenical Jury-Alejandro González Iñárritu-Cannes Film Festival
14. Technical Grand Prize-Stephen Mirrione-Cannes Film Festival
15. Capri Exploit Award-Rinko Kikuchi- Capri, Hollywood
16. CFCA Award-Best Supporting Actress Rinko Kikuchi- Chicago Film Critics Association Awards
17. David-Best Foreign Film (Miglior Film Straniero) Alejandro González Iñárritu-David di Donatello Awards
18. Fotogramas de Plata-Best Foreign Film (Mejor Película Extranjera) Alejandro González Iñárritu- Fotogramas de Plata
19. Golden Globe-Best Motion Picture – Drama-Golden Globes, USA
20. Best Ensemble Cast-Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Gael García Bernal, Kôji Yakusho, Adriana Barraza, Rinko Kikuchi, Said Tarchani & Boubker Ait El Caid-Gotham Awards
21. Breakthrough Award-Rinko Kikuchi-Gotham Awards
22. NBR Award-Breakthrough Performance – Female Rinko Kikuchi-National Board of Review, USA
23. NBR Award-Top Ten Films-National Board of Review, USA
24. Director of the Year Award-Alejandro González Iñárritu-Palm Springs International Film Festival
25. Ensemble Cast Award-Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Adriana Barraza, Rinko Kikuchi, Gael García Bernal, Kôji Yakusho, Said Tarchani & Boubker Ait El Caid-Palm Springs International Film Festival
26. Robert-Best American Film (Årets amerikanske film) Alejandro González Iñárritu-Robert Festival
27. SDFCS Award-Best Ensemble Performance- Rinko Kikuchi, Cate Blanchett, 
    Brad Pitt, Kôji Yakusho, Gael García Bernal & Adriana Barraza-San Diego Film Critics Society Awards
28. SDFCS Award-Best Score Gustavo Santaolalla-San Diego Film Critics Society Awards
29. SFFCC Award-Best Supporting Actress Adriana Barraza-San Francisco Film Critics Circle 
30. Audience Award-Best Foreign Film (Mejor Película Extranjera) Alejandro González Iñárritu-Sant Jordi Awards
31. Satellite Award-Best Original Score Gustavo Santaolalla-Satellite Awards 

Trivia

The scene where Chieko (Rinko Kikuchi) and her father are in the car together was shot without filming permission from the city due to slow Japanese bureaucratic procedures. The crew created "man-made" busy traffic, and began shooting the scene. Later the police started chasing them while still shooting the scene. 

Buy

http://www.amazon.com/Babel-Blu-ray-Brad-Pitt/dp/B000MCH5TK/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1327663465&sr=8-3

4 stars out of 5 stars

Above the Law

1988 Action Film

Director: Andrew Davis

Writer: Steven Pressfield, Ronald Shusett & Andrew Davis

Cinematography: Robert Steadman

Running time: 99 minutes

Country: United States & Hong Kong

Tagline: He's a cop who believes no one is above the law.

Cast:

Steven Seagal as Det. Sgt. Nico Toscani

Sharon Stone as Sara Toscani

Pam Grier as Det. Delores “Jacks” Jackson

Henry Silva as Kurt Zagon

Ron Dean as Det. Lukich

Daniel Faraldo as Tony Salvano

Miguel Nino as Chi Chi Ramon

Nicholas Kusenko as FBI Agent Neeley

Joe Greco as Father Joseph Gennaro (as Joe V. Greco)

Chelcie Ross as Nelson Fox

Michael Rooker as Man in Bar #1

Dale Payne as Man in Bar #2

Joe D. Lauck as Senator Ernest Harrison

Henry Godinez as Father Tomasino

Plot

Nico Toscani, an ex-CIA policeman now working for the local police department, while doing an investigation discovers the existence of a big weapon trade. Nico finally reaches Zagon and Salvano, two corrupted American secret service members.

Awards: None

Trivia

Steven Seagal personally selected every weapon seen in the film.

Buy

http://www.amazon.com/Above-Law-Blu-ray-Steven-Seagal/dp/B001O7JHS4/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1327569068&sr=8-3

4 stars out of 5 stars

8½

1963 Italian Fantasy Film

Director: Federico Fellini

Writer: Federico Fellini, Ennio Flaiano, Tullio Pinelli & Brunello Rondi

Cinematography: Gianni Di Venanzo

Running time: 138 minutes

Country: Italy

Tagline: A picture that goes beyond what men think about - because no man ever thought about it in quite this way!

Cast:

Marcello Mastroianni as Guido Anselmi, a film director

Anouk Aimée as Luisa Anselmi, Guido's wife

Rossella Falk as Rossella, Luisa's best friend and Guido's confidante

Sandra Milo as Carla, Guido's mistress

Claudia Cardinale as Claudia, a movie star Guido casts as his Ideal Woman

Guido Alberti as Pace, a film producer

Mario Conocchia as Mario Conocchia, Guido's production assistant

Bruno Agostini as Bruno Agostini, the production director

Cesarino Miceli Picardi as Cesarino, the production supervisor

Jean Rougeul as Carini Daumier, a film critic

Mario Pisu as Mario Mezzabotta, Guido's friend

Barbara Steele as Gloria Morin, Mezzabotta's new young girlfriend

Madeleine LeBeau as Madeleine, a French actress

Caterina Boratto as a mysterious lady in the hotel

Eddra Gale as La Saraghina, a prostitute

Eugene Walter as an American journalist

Plot

A harried movie director retreats into his memories and fantasies.

Awards:

1. Oscar- Best Costume Design, Black-and-White Piero Gherardi- Academy Awards, USA
2. Oscar- Best Foreign Language Film Italy- Academy Awards, USA
3. Bodil- Best European Film (Bedste europæiske film) Federico Fellini (director)-Bodil Awards
4. Silver Ribbon- Best Cinematography, B/W (Migliore Fotografia in Bianco e Nero) Gianni Di Venanzo-Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists
5. Silver Ribbon- Best Director (Regista del Miglior Film) Federico Fellini-Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists
6. Silver Ribbon- Best Original Story (Migliore Soggetto Originale) Federico Fellini & Ennio Flaiano-Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists
7. Silver Ribbon- Best Producer (Migliore Produttore) Angelo Rizzoli-Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists
8. Silver Ribbon- Best Score (Migliore Musica) Nino Rota- Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists
9. Silver Ribbon- Best Screenplay (Migliore Sceneggiatura) Federico Fellini,
   Brunello Rondi, Tullio Pinelli & Ennio Flaiano- Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists
10. Silver Ribbon- Best Supporting Actress (Migliore Attrice Non Protagonista)Sandra Milo- Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists
11. Kinema Junpo Award-Best Foreign Language Film Federico Fellini-Kinema Junpo Awards
12. Kinema Junpo Award- Best Foreign Language Film Director Federico Fellini-Kinema Junpo Awards
13. Grand Prix-Federico Fellini-Moscow International Film Festival
14. NBR Award-Best Foreign Language Film Italy-National Board of Review, USA
15. NYFCC Award- Best Foreign Language Film Italy- New York Film
    Critics Circle
    Awards

Trivia

In 2002, named by "Positif" (France) as one of the 50 best films of the last 50 years (critics' choice: #3)

Buy

http://www.amazon.com/Criterion-Collection-Blu-ray-Marcello-Mastroianni/dp/B002U6DVQM/ref=sr_1_2?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1327487832&sr=1-2

4 stars out of 5 stars

Zack and Miri Make a Porno

2008 Romantic Comedy Film

Director: Kevin Smith

Writer: Kevin Smith

Cinematography: Dave Klein

Running time: 101 minutes

Country: United States

Tagline: What would you do to get out of debt?

Cast:

Seth Rogen as Zack Brown

Elizabeth Banks as Miriam "Miri" Linky

Craig Robinson as Delaney

Jason Mewes as Lester

Traci Lords as Bubbles

Jeff Anderson as Deacon

Katie Morgan as Stacey

Ricky Mabe as Barry

Justin Long as Brandon St. Randy

Brandon Routh as Bobby Long

Tyler Labine as Drunk Customer

Tisha Campbell-Martin as Delaney's wife

Tom Savini as Jenkins

Jennifer Schwalbach as Betsy

Gerry Bednob as Mr. Surya

Kenny Hotz as Zack II

Plot

Lifelong platonic friends Zack and Miri look to solve their respective cash-flow problems by making an adult film together. As the cameras roll, however, the duo begins to sense that they may have more feelings for each other than they previously thought.

Awards: None

Trivia

A portion of the plot is based on director Kevin Smith's experience making Clerks: a very low budget, working only with friends, using a hockey stick as a boom microphone pole, and shooting the movie at his job (the Quick Stop/RST Video in Clerks, and the Bean 'N' Gone coffee shop in this film).

Buy

http://www.amazon.com/Zack-Miri-Make-Porno-Blu-ray/dp/B001MEJYB4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1327398318&sr=8-2

5 stars out of 5 stars

Young Guns II

1990 Action Western Film

Director: Geoff Murphy

Writer: John Fusco

Cinematography: Dean Semler

Running time: 104 minutes

Country: United States

Tagline: Yoo-Hoo, I'll make ya famous!

Cast:

Emilio Estevez as William H. "Billy the Kid" Bonney

Kiefer Sutherland as Josiah Gordon "Doc" Scurlock

Lou Diamond Phillips as Jose Chavez y Chavez

Christian Slater as "Arkansas" Dave Rudabaugh

William Petersen as Patrick Floyd "Pat" Garrett

Alan Ruck as Hendry William French

R. D. Call as D.A. Rynerson

James Coburn as John Chisum

Balthazar Getty as Tom O'Folliard

Jack Kehoe as Ashmun Upson

Robert Knepper as Deputy Carlyle

Tom Kurlander as J. W. Bell

Viggo Mortensen as John W. Poe

Leon Rippy as Robert "Bob" Ollinger

Tracey Walter as Beever Smith

Bradley Whitford as Charles Phalen

Scott Wilson as Governor Lew Wallace

Jenny Wright as Jane Greathouse

John Hammil as Pendleton

Howie Young as Poe Posse

Mike Diamente as Brunello

Jerry Gardner as Sheriff Kimbel

Plot

Billy "The Kid" and his gang are wanted by the law, and when "Doc" Scurlock and Chavez are captured, Billy has to save them. They escape and set south for Mexico. "Let's hire a thief to catch one", John S. Chisum said, so he paid Pat Garrett, one of Billy's former partners, $1000 for the killing of William H. Bonney aka Billy "The Kid".

Awards:

1. ASCAP Award- Most Performed Songs from Motion Pictures
   Jon Bon Jovi (For the song "Blaze of Glory".)- ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards
2. Golden Globe- Best Original Song - Motion Picture Jon Bon Jovi (For the song "Blaze of Glory".)- Golden Globes, USA

Trivia

Emilio Estevez originally approached Jon Bon Jovi to ask him for permission to include the song "Wanted Dead or Alive" on the soundtrack. Bon Jovi didn't feel the songs lyrics were appropriate; however, he was inspired by the project and resolved to write a new song for the film that would be more in keeping with the period and setting. He quickly wrote the song "Blaze of Glory", and performed it on acoustic guitar in the New Mexico desert for Estevez and John Fusco.

Buy

http://www.amazon.com/Young-Guns-II-Emilio-Estevez/dp/B0000399WE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1327300532&sr=8-1

5 stars out of 5 stars

Young Guns

1988 Action Western Film

Director: Christopher Cain

Writer: John Fusco

Cinematography: Dean Semler

Running time: 107 minutes

Country: United States

Tagline: Don't count the odds, count the bodies.

Cast:

Emilio Estevez as Billy the Kid

Kiefer Sutherland as Doc Scurlock

Lou Diamond Phillips as Jose Chavez y Chavez

Charlie Sheen as Richard "Dick" Brewer

Dermot Mulroney as "Dirty Steve" Stephens

Casey Siemaszko as Charlie Bowdre

Terence Stamp as John Tunstall

Jack Palance as Lawrence G. Murphy

Terry O'Quinn as Alexander McSween

Sharon Thomas as Susan McSween

Geoffrey Blake as J. McCloskey

Brian Keith as Buckshot Roberts

Patrick Wayne as Pat Garrett

Plot

A group of young gunmen led by Billy the Kid, become deputies to avenge the murder of the rancher who became their benefactor. But when Billy takes their authority too far, they become the hunted.

Awards:

1.      Bronze Wrangler- Theatrical Motion Picture John Fusco (producer), Christopher Cain (producer), Lou Diamond Phillips (actor), Charlie Sheen (actor), Emilio Estevez (actor) & Kiefer Sutherland (actor)- Western Heritage Awards

Trivia

Charlie Sheen was reportedly a terrible horse rider. Throughout the shoot he couldn't keep his balance on the horse and fell off several times. After the shoot out with Henry Hill, his horse took off and he had no clue how to make it stop.

Buy

http://www.amazon.com/Young-Guns-Blu-ray-Emilio-Estevez/dp/B000H5TVL2/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1327051569&sr=8-3

5 stars out of 5 stars

The X-Files: I Want to Believe

2008 Science Fiction-Thriller Film

Director: Chris Carter

Writer: Frank Spotnitz & Chris Carter

Cinematography: Bill Roe

Running time: 104 minutes

Country: Canada & United States

Tagline: Believe Again

Cast:

David Duchovny as Fox Mulder

Gillian Anderson as Dr. Dana Scully

Billy Connolly as Joseph "Father Joe" Crissman

Amanda Peet as Agent Dakota Whitney

Alvin "Xzibit" Joiner as Agent Mosley Drummy

Mitch Pileggi as Director Walter Skinner

Callum Keith Rennie as Janke Dacyshyn

Adam Godley as Father Ybarra

Xantha Radley as Agent Monica Bannan

Fagin Woodcock as Franz Tomczeszyn

Nicki Aycox as Cheryl Cunningham

Alex Diakun as Gaunt Man

Plot

Mulder and Scully are called back to duty by the FBI when a former priest claims to be receiving psychic visions pertaining to a kidnapped agent.

Awards: None

Trivia

When Mulder and Scully first walk back into the FBI offices right before they walk into the bullpen, a female agent walks by that catches Mulder's attention and he watches her walk away. The woman is Vanessa Morley, who throughout the series played the young Samantha Mulder, and is the same Samantha in the photo Mulder has taped to the back of his home office door.

Buy

http://www.amazon.com/X-Files-I-Want-Believe-Blu-ray/dp/B001G7PSSK/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1326968719&sr=8-13

5 stars out of 5 stars

W.

2008 American Film

Director: Oliver Stone

Writer: Stanley Weiser

Cinematography: Phedon Papamichael Jr.

Running time: 129 minutes

Country: United States

Tagline: A life misunderestimated.

Cast:

Josh Brolin as George W. Bush

Elizabeth Banks as Laura Bush

James Cromwell as George H. W. Bush

Ellen Burstyn as Barbara Bush

Richard Dreyfuss as Dick Cheney

Jeffrey Wright as U.S. Secretary of State Gen. Colin Powell

Scott Glenn as U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld

Thandie Newton as U.S. National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice

Toby Jones as Deputy White House Chief of Staff Karl Rove

Bruce McGill as Central Intelligence Agency Director George Tenet

Ioan Gruffudd as British Prime Minister Tony Blair

Noah Wyle as U.S. Secretary of Commerce Donald Evans

Rob Corddry as White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer

Dennis Boutsikaris as U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz

Randall Newsome as Paul Bremer, head of the Coalition Provisional Authority

Jason Ritter as Jeb Bush

Michael Gaston as General Tommy Franks

Tom Kemp as David Kay

Paul Rae as Congressman Kent Hance

Stacy Keach as Earle Hudd, Bush's pastor and spiritual advisor

Jesse Bradford as Thatcher, Bush's college buddy

Marley Shelton as Fran, one of Bush's girlfriends

Anne Pressly as Anchorwoman

Sayed Badreya as Saddam Hussein, President of Iraq

William Chan as Hospital Doctor

Teresa Cheung as Miss China

Colin Hanks as David Frum

Bryan Massey as Skeeter

Plot

A chronicle on the life and presidency of George W. Bush

Awards:

1.      Hollywood Film Award- Actor of the Year Josh Brolin- Hollywood Film Festival

Trivia

When W. tells his father about the Yale football game over the phone, he mentions "Hill" and "Dowling." These are Yale football running back Calvin Hill and quarterback Brian Dowling, who were the stars of the undefeated 1968 Yale team. Hill, a fraternity brother of Bush's, went on to a career in professional football and now consults with several NFL teams; he married Janet Hill, who had been Hillary Rodham Clinton's college roommate. Their son, Grant Hill, is an NBA player. Dowling also had a stint in the NFL, albeit a briefer one than Hill's. Dowling is now best known as the inspiration for the "Doonesbury" comic strip character B.D., which cartoonist Garry Trudeau started while he, Dowling, and Bush were all Yale students.

Buy

http://www.amazon.com/W-Blu-ray-Josh-Brolin/dp/B001MVWFAY/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1326877671&sr=8-4

5 stars out of 5 stars