HOME VIDEO SPOTLIGHT: Black Swan, Tangled, and Fair Game

Brief capsules  of  new  DVDs worth renting.

By  R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

BLACK SWAN

One of the quintessential films of 2010, Darren Aronofsky's wild psychodrama "Black Swan" is a movie to talk  about, a movie to happily obsess over, and definitely a movie to watch more than once. By turns gorgeous and  grotesue, seedy and sophisticated, it's a  mad hybrid of art forms and genres. It features last year's best  female  performance, which rightfully won an  Oscar for star  Natalie Portman. Still haven't seen  "Black Swan?" Get  on it, and see what  everyone's  been talking about. (Available March 29)








TANGLED

Bless "Toy Story 3's" big,  big  heart, but this  Disney  princess throwback gets my vote for best animated film  of  2010. Pixar's Oscar winner may  have found a way to evoke everyone's  childhoods (a grand  achievement, to be  sure),  but  "Tangled" felt very  personally, very specifically  evocative of mine. It's a classic adventure tale, complete with memorable  songs and a true diva of a Disney villain. Not to mention,  it boasts one of last year's most breathtaking scenes,  and  anyone who's seen it knows  precisely which I mean. Don't miss this beaut. (Available March 29)








FAIR GAME

Just when you thought you've vented out all the distaste  you can muster for  the Bush administration,  this bold indictment of a political  thriller  comes along to  air the story behind the outing of CIA agent Valerie Plame (Naomi Watts), whose husband's NY Times editorial about a lack of WMDs ruffled the wrong feathers. The film's acting and domestic scenario have their weaknesses, but its political intrigue and infuriating implications are terribly engrossing. (Available March 29)

Philadelphia Cinefest announces film lineup, award recognition and fest highlights

This year's Philadelphia Cinefest, scheduled to take place from April 7 -- 14, will feature more than 60 films from 17 countries. Guests and honorees will include "Super Size Me" director Morgan Spurlock and horror maestro John Carpenter.

Compiled by R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

FROM CINEFEST REPRESENTATIVES: Boasting a wide-ranging slate of documentaries, features and shorts guaranteed to appeal to film-lovers. The Philadelphia Cinema Alliance is excited to announce the full film lineup for CineFest 2011 - running Thursday, April 7 – Thursday, April 14 - along with opening night highlights, special award recognition to famed horror film director John Carpenter and the reintroduction of Action Asia.

As previously announced, this year’s festival lineup is bookended by comedic films lauded by attendees at Sundance, SXSW, and the Austin Film Festival, to name a few. Kicking off this year’s festival as part of our first ever, opening night double feature is the entirely dynamic and irreverent film The Catechism Cataclysm, from bad boy independent director/screenwriter Todd Rohal. Direct from Sundance, The Catechism Cataclysm is a film about Father Billy, who goes on a camping trip with his high school pal. It’s far from your usual bible story or, for that matter, a film about discovering the great outdoors; but festival goers will be pleased to be among the first to view this weird, hilarious and shocking crowd pleaser that’s sure to become an instant cult classic. As CineFest Managing Director Josh Goldbloom says, “If Satan rolled a joint, this is what it would taste like.”

Rohal’s Slamdance-winning feature debut The Guatemalan Handshake established the director as someone with a unique vision and a keen eye for the strange, drawing comparisons to the early works of Richard Linklater, Harmony Korine and David Lynch. Named as one of the “25 new faces of independent cinema” by Filmmaker Magazine, Rohal continues to push boundaries with this follow-up film - and first effort from Danny McBride, Jody Hill and David Gordon Green’s Rough House Pictures.

Screening on Thursday, April 7 at 9:00pm at the Ritz East, Rohal will introduce The Catechism Cataclysm and participate in a revealing question and answer period after the premiere with cast members Steve Little, Robert Longstreet and producer Megan Griffiths.

For the earlier opening night crowd, “Everybody Loves Raymond” creator Phil Rosenthal will take festival goers on an unforgettably hilarious, sometimes frustrating, trip to Moscow as he works on creating the Russian version of his hit TV show, in his film Exporting Raymond. Screening at 6:30pm at the Ritz East, Rosenthal will introduce his film and participate in an entertaining question and answer period after the premiere.

Following the screening, festival goers will celebrate the start of CineFest 2011 with an evening under the stars at the marvelous Independence Visitor Center. With breathtaking views from the Liberty View Ballroom and Terrace on the historic Independence Mall, attendees will dance and celebrate the night away with a live deejay while enjoying the generously stocked bar, from 9:30pm-1:00am.

Mid-way through the 8-day festival, CineFest will honor John Carpenter with the Phantasmagoria Award. For many individuals, Carpenter represents one of the most vital, distinctive and exciting links between the “New Hollywood” film school generation of the 1970s, and the classical cinematic storytelling of figures like Hawks and Ford. He is an American original, seemingly as comfortable thriving within the studio system as toiling independently in the low-budget arena, and he has given contemporary American cinema some of its most enduring archetypes: Snake Plissken, Michael Myers, and Napoleon Wilson.

Carpenter transformed the cinematic landscape with the enormously influential horror film Halloween in 1978, a masterfully crafted exercise in suspense that remains effective even after decades of sequels, remakes and imitations. This classic of the genre was actually Carpenter’s third feature, following his counter-culture science fiction parody Dark Star (1974) and the extraordinary police action thriller Assault on Precinct 13 (1976). Assault would initiate several recurring Carpenter trademarks: an overpowering sense of fate bordering on doom; an expert use of the 2.35:1 Panavision widescreen frame; Carpenter’s own composition of the music score; and the ability to shift themes and relationships more traditionally associated with the western, into other genres.

Following the success of Halloween, Carpenter delivered two more independent genre films, the underrated and understated The Fog (1980) and the enormously crowd-pleasing futuristic action favorite Escape from New York (1981), before moving into big-budget studio filmmaking with a new version of The Thing in 1982. Amongst his credits are the wonderfully acted and affecting Starman (1984) and the anarchic, genre-bending comedy Big Trouble in Little China (1986); science-fiction/horror films with an apocalyptic edge, Prince of Darkness (1987) and the marvelous They Live (1988), an allegorical satire of Reagan-era America that was also remarkably prophetic.

Carpenter will be awarded the Phantasmagoria Award on Monday, April 11, 8:00pm at The Trocadero. Carpenter’s newest film The Ward will screen during CineFest on Friday, April 8 at 10:00pm and Saturday, April 9 at midnight, at the Ritz East.

Moving from horror to supreme fighter-action, CineFest brings back fest genre Action Asia, after a ten year absence. Action Asia celebrates genre cinema from Asia - intoxicatingly enthralling films brimming with non-stop action, bone-crunching fight scenes, gravity-defying kung-fu and enough operatic violence to keep any fan satiated. Programming standouts include Bodyguards and Assassins, two hours of non-stop action in a hyperventilating tale set in a politically violent turn-of-the-century Hong Kong (which, by film’s end, is nearly destroyed!); and Fire of Conscience, a dazzling and stylish police thriller from director Dante Lam set on the streets of Hong Kong where robbers and gunrunners battle with cops. Loud, violent and furiously paced.

Taking Action Asia beyond the walls of the screening venues, festival goers will head to The Piazza at Schmidt's on Sunday, April 10 for an all day martial arts mini-fest, celebrating the greatest action star you've probably never heard of, Tony Jaa! In an hour and a half Tony Jaa movie, the survival rate for everyone also drops to zero. Punches, kicks, spinning backfists, and mid-air elbow strikes. A down roundhouse kick, sideways foot thrust, double elbow to head chop, and Flying knee bomb. If you’re a bad dude in a Tony Jaa movie, so long sucka!

And so we begin Tony Jaa Fest. Not a one-off or an impulsive “fanboy” display of affection. This is the first of what we hope to be many. It is CineFest’s way of celebrating our favorite martial arts superstar, a man who has made far too few films, yet inspired us through his sheer audacity and bewildering display of badassery.

Screening all 3 of his ONG BAK films, and featuring martial arts demonstrations all day, CineFest will be turning the entire Piazza into a giant marketplace.

With 60+ films assembled from over 17 countries, and showcasing 2 World Premieres, 1 USA Premiere, and 7 East Coast Premieres, CineFest has returned with more thrills, more comedy, more action, and a wider range of films, highlighted by highly anticipated new works from festival and independent favorites

CineFest screening locations will include the Ritz East One and Two, the Painted Bride and the legendary Trocadero. Tickets go on sale to Philadelphia Cinema Alliance and Philadelphia Film Society members Monday, March 21 - Wednesday, March 23, by phone only; and go on sale to the general public via phone, online and in all TLA stores on Thursday, March 24.

For more information, visit www.phillycinefest.com or call 267-765-9800 ext. 4; and follow the festival on Twitter: @CinefestPhilly and Facebook: www.facebook.com/phillycinefest

The full festival lineup is as follows:

OPENING NIGHT

The Catechism Cataclysm
(USA, 2011, 81 mins, Dir: Todd Rohal)
If Satan rolled a joint, this is what it would taste like. The new comedy from Executice Producers, Danny McBride, Jody Hill, and David Gordon Green. Starring Steve Little (Eastbound & Down).
Director Todd Rohal, Steve Little, and Robert Longstreet in attendance, as well as other special guests!

Exporting Raymond
(USA, 2010, 86 mins, Dir: Philip Rosenthal)
An often hilarious documentary about Phillip Rosenthal, creator of the hit TV show "Everybody Loves Raymond" and his calamitous adventures when he goes to Russia to work on their version of the show. Phillip Rosenthal will be in attendance.

CLOSING NIGHT

POM Wonderful Presents the Greatest Movie Ever Sold
(USA, 2011, 90 mins, Dir: Morgan Spurlock)
Morgan Spurlock (Super Size Me) sets his subversive wit on branding, advertising and product placement by creating an expose on the subject that itself is financed by brands, advertising and product placement. Morgan Spurlock in attendance.

CENTERPIECE SCREENINGS

The Interrupters
(USA, 2011, 140 mins, Dir: Steve James)
Filmed over a year in the mean streets of Chicago, this unforgettable documentary by Steve James tells the inspiring story of a group of former gang members who now work at diffusing the violence that grips their neighborhood.

Lapland Odyssey
(Finland, Sweden, Ireland, 2010, 90 mins, Dir: Dome Karukoski)
Ulysses' challenges in his Odyssey will seem like a walk through the park in comparison to what faces Janne, a young man who goes on a rollercoaster ride of bizarre encounters while in his search for a cable box. A hilarious Finnish comedy.

The One
(USA, 2011, 90 mins, Dir: Caytha Jentis)

SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS

Fubar: Balls to the Walls
(Canada, 2010, 85 mins, Dir: Michael Dowse)
Director Michael Dowse appeals to the wild and fun side in everyone in this hilarious adventure of a film filled with lovable characters and a comedic plotline.

Heavy Metal karaoke to follow as well as a headbanger costume party.

Score: A Hockey Musical - Presented by Philadelphia Sports Cineseries
(Canada, 2010, 92 mins, Dir: Michael McGowan)
Combine the exuberant vocals and dancing of "Glee" with the cross-checking ferocity of Slap Shot (Paul Newman, 1976) and you get this irresistibly charming coming-of-age tale from our friends in the frozen north.

WORLD FOCUS

Potiche
(France, 2010, 103 mins, Dir: François Ozon)
Three powerhouses of French Cinema: Francois Ozon, Catherine Deneuve, and Gérard Depardieu combine their talents in this delightfully frothy battle of the sexes and classes.

Beloved Berlin Wall
(Germany, 2010, 103 mins, Dir: Peter Timm)
An East Berlin board guard falls in love with a young woman from the West, which attracts the attentions of the feared Stasi, in this seductively romantic story of forbidden love.

Brother and Sister
(Argentina, 2010, 105 mins, Dir: Daniel Burman)
A brother and sister -- both in their 60s, but complete opposites -- are bound together in a love-hate relationship in this affecting and at times funny family drama directed by Daniel Burman.

Caterpillar
(Japan, 2010, 85 mins, Dir: Kôji Wakamatsu)
Set in 1940, a severely mutilated soldier returns from war, honored by the Japanese Imperialist government as a hero. But his horrified wife needs to attend to him, something she is reluctant to do - a startling family drama and anti-war film.

The High Cost of Living
(Canada, 2010, 92 mins, Dir: Deborah Chow)
Zach Braff (Garden State, “Scrubs”) stars as a sleazy drug dealer who hits a pregnant woman with his car. The two lost souls form an unlikely friendship as both attempt to reconcile their lives after the accident.

The Human Resources Manager
(Israel, 2010, 103 mins, Dir: Eran Riklis)
Filled with memorable characters and unpredictability, this Israeli road movie travels from Jerusalem to Bulgaria as an HR manager is forced to accompany the body of a dead co-worker to her isolated village.

Incendies
(Canada, France, 2010, 130 mins, Dir: Denis Villeneuve)
An Academy Award Nominee (Best Foreign Language Film) Incendies tells the powerful and moving tale of two young adults' voyage to the core of deep-rooted hatred, never-ending wars and enduring love. An original and powerful political film.

Julia's Eyes
(Spain, 2010, 112 mins, Dir: Guillem Morales)
Guillermo del Toro presents this excitingly tense thriller about a woman, slowly going blind, who begins a dangerous investigation into her sister's mysterious suicide.

Kinyarwanda
(France, USA, 2011, 100 mins, Dir: Alrick Brown)
A harrowing but life-affirming drama set in 1994 when the bloody civil war between the Hutus and Tutsis threatened the lives of countless innocent people. A 2011 Sundance Audience Award Winner.

Living on Love Alone
(France, 2010, 90 mins, Dir: Isabelle Czajka)
Numbed by a series of unsatisfying jobs, a 23-year-old woman becomes dangerously involved with a petty thief in this fast-paced drama by exciting new director Isabelle Czajka.

My Joy
(Ukraine, Germany, Netherlands, 2010, 127 mins, Dir: Sergei Loznitsa)
A truck driver, lost in the back roads of rural Russia, descends into a violent, horrific world. An unsettling parable of contemporary Russia, vividly filmed.

Old Cats
(Chile, USA, 2010, 88 mins, Dir: Pedro Peirano, Sebastián Silva)
Chilean directors Pedro Peirano and Sebastián Silva, who previously collaborated on the acerbic drama The Maid, have crafted a richly textured portrait of an aging actress’ descent into a frightening and fantastical world of dementia.

Viva Riva!
(Democratic Republic of Congo, 2010, 96 mins, Dir: Djo Tunda Wa Munga)
A hyperventilating Congolese gangster movie...you heard right. Viva Riva!, winner of Best Feature Film Award at the Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles, is an action-packed thriller about oil, money, sex and greed. A perfect film for our last

THE DOCUMENTARY TRADITION

Project Nim
(UK, 2011, 93 mins, Dir: James Marsh)
This disturbing documentary from the acclaimed director of Man on a Wire shows what happens when a group of social scientists decides to perform an experiment on an unsuspecting baby chimpanzee and raise him in a glitzy Upper West Side home just li

American: The Bill Hicks Story
(USA, 2009, 102 mins, Dir: Matt Harlock, Paul Thomas)
I just have one of those faces. People come up to me and say, "What's wrong?" Nothing. "Well, it takes more energy to frown than it does to smile." Yeah, you know it takes more energy to point that out than it does to leave me alone?
Live standup comedy provided by 24/7 Comedy before and after the screening.

Bhopali
(USA, India, 2011, 83 mins, Dir: Van Maximilian Carlson)
A stirring documentary on the people of the central Indian city of Bhopal and their lives still affected by the horrific gas leakage in 1984 - the worst industrial accident ever and one that killed and sickened hundreds of thousands of people.

Beauty Day
(Canada, 2010, 91 mins, Dir: Jay Cheel)
Before there was Jackass…before there was Tom Green…there was Ralph Zavadil, Niagara Falls cable access daredevil, Cap’n Video.

Complexo: Parallel Universe
(Portugal, 2011, 80 mins, Dir: Mário Patrocínio)
A startling documentary set in the incredibly poor and often violent favelas of Rio de Janeiro. One gets to see what it is like to live in this different reality, a universe on the margin of the conventional civilized world, an inside out vision.

Everyday Sunshine: The Story Of Fishbone
(USA, 2010, 103 mins, Dir: Lev Anderson, Chris Metzler)
Iconic film star Laurence Fishburne narrates this uncompromising look into the tumultuous personal and professional lives of the pioneering African American rock band, Fishbone

Square Grouper: The Godfathers of Ganja
(USA, 2011, 96 mins, Dir: Billy Corben)
This wildly entertaining documentary looks at the wild days of pot smuggling in 1970s South Florida. Directed by Billy Corben and Alfred Spellman, the filmmakers behind the popular "Cocaine Cowboys" series and ESPN’s "The U".

AMERICAN INDEPENDENTS

Ceremony
(USA, 2010, 89 mins, Dir: Max Winkler)
An irreverent, wacky comedy which marks the directorial debut of Max Winkler (son of Henry). A loose narrative, witty dialogue and a will-she-or-won't-she dilemma for Uma Thurman.

Bellflower
(USA, 2010, 105 mins, Dir: Evan Glodell)
Bellflower follows two friends who spend their time building fire-breathing building muscle cars and other weapons of mass destruction, as they prepare for the impending global apocalypse.

Hamill
(USA, 2010, 108 mins, Dir: Oren Kaplan)
A true story, based on the life of deaf UFC fighter Matt “The Hammer” Hamill, this inspiring film shows what it takes to be a champion, on and off the mat.
Director Oren Kaplan in attendance.

Terri
(USA, 2011, 101 mins, Dir: Azazel Jacobs)
A moving and often darkly funny film about a big kid in a small town that doesn’t seem to have room for anyone who is different. That is, until he strikes up an unlikely friendship with his school's vice principal (John C. Reilly).

Two Gates of Sleep
(USA, 2010, 78 mins, Dir: Alistair Banks Griffin)
One of the most visually striking independent films of the decade, reminiscent of the work by the great Terrance Malick, Two Gates of Sleep is an American independent masterpiece.
Cast & Crew in attendance.

Vampire
(USA, Canada, 2010, 120 mins, Dir: Iwai Shunji)
The first English-language film from acclaimed Japanese director Shunji Iwai, this haunting portrait of melancholia and loneliness finds his unique style intact.

Wuss
(USA, 2011, 96 mins, Dir: Clay Liford)
A timid teacher plots revenge against students who ridicule and abuse him in this pitch black comedy set in Texas.

FESTIVAL OF INDEPENDENTS

Good Day for It
(USA, 2011, 93 mins, Dir: Nick Stagliano)
Robert Patrick (Terminator 2) plays a man making a long overdue trip home who crosses the scary backwoods where he encounters two sociopathic thugs, (Lance Henriksen & Robert Englund at their grimiest), who've been waiting eagerly for him.

Calendar Girl
(USA, 2011, 99 mins, Dir: Derek Lindeman)
This dark romantic comedy follows Ari, a young woman whose poor taste in men may be the death of her when she tries to find love with her would-be killer.

Cost of a Soul
(USA, 2010, 105 mins, Dir: Sean Kirkpatrick)
A gritty story of two veterans who return home from Iraq only to find themselves trapped in the same North Philadelphia slums they joined the military to escape. Their lives collide as their own families become entangled in a web of crime and corruption.

The Legend Of Sofa Kingdom
(USA, 2010, 96 mins, Dir: Steve Kearney)
It's all about Quizzo, Philadelphia’s pub quiz game. Local teams (Sofa Kingdom) and celebrities (Johnny Goodtimes, the Bob Barker of Quizzo hosts) involved with it are showcased in this entertaining documentary.

ACTION ASIA

Bodyguards and Assassins
(China (Hong Kong), 2009, 139 mins, Dir: Teddy Chan)
Prepare yourself for over two hours of non-stop action in this hyperventilating tale set in a politically violent turn-of-the-century Hong Kong (which, by film’s end, is nearly destroyed!). Wildly entertaining.

Fire of Conscience
(China (Hong Kong), 2010, 106 mins, Dir: Dante Lam)
A dazzling and stylish police thriller from director Dante Lam set on the streets of Hong Kong where robbers and gunrunners battle with cops. Loud, violent and furiously paced.

Ip Man 2: Legend of the Grandmaster
(China (Hong Kong), 2010, 108 mins, Dir: Wilson Yip)
International megastar Donnie Yen reprises his iconic role as the real-life kung fu grandmaster Ip Man in this martial arts spectacular.

Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen
(China (Hong Kong), 2010, 105 mins, Dir: Andrew Lau Wai-Keung)
From Andrew Lau, director of the Infernal Affairs films, comes this bone crunching, high impact martial arts spectacular. It combines superhero intrigue with the classic spy thrillers of the past (and a healthy dose of film noir).

DANGER AFTER DARK

The Ward
(USA, 2010, 88 mins, Dir: John Carpenter)
John Carpenter, one of the architects of contemporary American horror, returns with this chilling, atmospheric yarn about a group of institutionalized young women haunted by the ghost of a former patient.

Cold Fish
(Japan, 2010, 144 mins, Dir: Shion Sono)
Danger After Dark luminary Sion Sono (Suicide Club) returns with a hyper-gory and complex “true crime” serial killer shocker.

Endhiran
(India, 2010, 155 mins, Dir: S. Shankar)
Spectacular special effects drive this lavish Indian science fiction/musical epic about mad robot love.

Stake Land
(USA, 2010, 95 mins, Dir: Jim Mickle)
A post-apocalyptic vampire road movie, the award-winning fest favorite Stake Land combines bloody mayhem with sharp social commentary.

The Troll Hunter
(Norway, 2010, 90 mins, Dir: André Øvredal)
A group of students investigate a series of mysterious bear killings, but learns that there are much more dangerous things going on. They start to follow a mysterious stranger, who is on the hunt for giant trolls. You’ll believe it when you see it!

The Woman
(USA, 2010, 102 mins, Dir: Lucky McKee)
Director Lucky McKee’s unflinchingly brutal shocker about a feral woman, “tamed” by a crazed family man, arrives with a rather notorious festival reputation. Prepare to be shocked.
Director Lucky McKee in attendance.

Womb
(Germany, Hungary, France, 2010, 107 mins, Dir: Benedek Fliegauf)
Science Fiction fans rejoice, you have found your must see film of this year’s festival. If this is the future, prepare yourself for some super weird and creepy situations.

SPECIAL EVENT!!

Tony Jaa Fest: Ong Bak 1-3

“On a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero.” – Fight Club

In an hour and a half Tony Jaa movie, the survival rate for everyone also drops to zero. Punches, kicks, spinning backfists, and mid-air elbow strikes. A down roundhouse kick, sideways foot thrust, double elbow to head chop, and Flying knee bomb. If you’re a bad dude in a Tony Jaa movie, so long sucka!

And so we begin Tony Jaa Fest. Not a one-off or an impulsive “fanboy” display of affection. This is the first of what we hope to be many. It’s our way of celebrating our favorite martial arts superstar, a man who has made far too few films, yet inspired us through his sheer audacity and bewildering display of badassery.

Jaa Panom, or as we know him – Tony Jaa, was born February 5th, 1976 in a rural area of the Surin Province of Thailand. Practicing in his father’s rice paddy at a young age, Jaa would mimic his favorite martial artists, including: Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, & Jet Li. He would also fashion his technique by somersaulting off the top of his family’s elephants. Later in ONG BAK 2, he would actually run on top of a stampeding herd. In TOM-YUM-GOONG or THE PROTECTOR, he would developed his own style of Muy Thai to imitate elephants.

Jaa’s first hit film was 2003’s ONG BAK: THE THAI WARRIOR, premiering as the closing night film of the Bangkok International Film Festival. It went on to be an international martial arts classic with the New York Daily News claiming “It’s not so often that you witness the creation of a star, so grab the chance now”.
We want you to know Tony Jaa. If you do know him, I’m quite sure you’ll join us in his celebration. If you do not know him, we’d love to give you a proper introduction.

Unfortunately, Tony Jaa, at the young age of 35, has retired from filmmaking. After a rough production on Ong Bak 2, which was split into two parts shaping Ong Bak 3, and sickened by the Hollywood methods of control, he rode an Elephant to a monastery, and gave up his career to be a Buddhist Monk.
But, we want him back.

So we ask you to join us in our jubilation, a triumph for the powerful, a ceremony for the man who has always protected the weak. Let him be unleashed again, fighting his way 14 flights of stairs, beating the piss out of dirty scum bad guys who abuse their elephants. Let him soar through the mean streets of martial arts movies again, with his spinning heel kicks, and straight knee strikes, pummeling the masses with reverse foot thrusts & evasive body redirection. We want you back Tony Jaa, And if we can’t have that, well…..we’ll just throw a party in your name, instead.

All 3 Ong Bak movies will be screened for free, outdoors, with martial arts demos all day long.

STAR TO WATCH: Mila Kunis

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic

I made much of my disdain for Mila Kunis's shot at an Oscar nomination for her work in "Black Swan," thinking it an unfair diss to more deserving supporting actresses. But never did I mean to wish any ill will upon Kunis herself, as the black-haired stunner has a natural talent and a natural inclination for holding the camera's attention. In truth, she really didn't need that Oscar nod; her turn in "Swan" has catapulted her to the A-List. She's graced more magazine covers, made more TV appearances, turned more heads and sealed more deals in the past few months than she has in her entire career.

Known, of course, for her TV stints on "That '70's Show" and "Family Guy," Kunis, 27, has long been focused on comedy. Her first big film role beyond bit parts and straight-to-DVD fare came in 2008, when she starred opposite Jason Segel and Kristen Bell in "Forgetting Sarah Marshall." She followed that with "Extract," Mike Judge's 2009 follow-up to "Idiocracy," continuing to play the busty babe in a male-dominated universe. In 2010, she aimed for more serious projects with "The Book of Eli," a post-apocalyptic actioner with Denzel Washington, and "Swan." By year's end, she was a red carpet MVP and a Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild nominee.

This year, Kunis will star opposite Justin Timberlake in "Friends with Benefits," the latest from director Will Gluck ("Easy A"). Much like "Swan" co-star Natalie Portman's recently released "No Strings Attached," "Friends with Benefits" is about...friends with benefits. It co-stars Woody Harrelson, Richard Jenkins and returning "Easy A" actresses Emma Stone and Patricia Clarkson. Kunis plays Jamie, who winds up torn between Timberlake's character and another man. The film isn't set to open until July, but if you can't wait that long for more Kunis, no worries -- just grab the latest issue of W magazine.

TRAILER PARK: Meek's Cutoff, Source Code, Apollo 18

Behold! The latest trailers for some of the most noteworthy upcoming flicks.

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic


MEEK'S CUTOFF

The highly anticipated new film from rightfully acclaimed writer/director Kelly Reichardt ("Old Joy," "Wendy and Lucy"), "Meek's Cutoff" is an expansive, 1845-set western about a family on a wagon path that branched off the Oregon Trail. Looking to be a little bit "Days of Heaven" and a little bit "Stagecoach" (a fine pair of references if ever there was one), the film reunites Reichardt with her do-no-wrong "Wendy and Lucy" star, Michelle Williams, who leads a cast that also includes Paul Dano, Zoe Kazan, Shirley Henderson, Will Patton and Bruce Greenwood. Reichardt has already shown what wonders she can create with very little. It'll be well worth it to see where she can go with a larger budget and an epic scope.




SOURCE CODE

I just recently was able to finally catch up with "Moon," the 2009 Sam Rockwell vehicle that marked the directorial debut of Duncan Jones, son of David Bowie. It's a promising debut, to be sure, possibly indicative of a new sci-fi auteur in the making. A bit unfortunate, then, that his follow-up, the tech-thriller "Source Code," reeks of Hollywood product, however intriguing its premise may be. It's about a man (Jake Gyllenhaal) who can enter the bodies of other, soon-to-be-dead men via a computer program in order to solve crimes. The trailer suggests an appropriately stylish look, and the supporting cast (Jeffrey Wright, Vera Farmiga, Michelle Monaghan) is choice, but the whole predictable, easy-to-swallow arc is also staring you square in the face, especially since this is one of those spew-out-the-entire-plot trailers. I'll see it, of course, but I don't think it's what anyone wanted to see next from Jones.




APOLLO 18

A moon movie not directed by Duncan Jones, "Apollo 18" is the latest low-budget horror flick to cash in on the found-footage, this-is-real phenomenon. In a recent interview, Bob Weinstein, head of distributing studio Dimension Films, insisted that not a moment of footage was shot, and all of it truly was found. Tip: Don't trust Bob Weinstein. Portions of this trailer are effectively designed to look dog-eared and decades-old, and maybe some of the footage actually is, but there's no mistaking that most of the stuff with the "astronauts" has CONTRIVED scrawled all over it. For those who love the jump-out-at-you scares (I don't really count myself among that set), "Apollo 18" is probably plenty of fun, but I find the insistence that it's all real more than a little insulting, especially in an era when the Elaborate Hoax is a quick and easy way to make bank.

STUDIO NEWS: DisneyToon Studios announces 'Planes'

For the straight-to-DVD release, the studio promises "an all-new, high-flying, feature-length comedy adventure with a fleet of fun new characters."

Compiled by R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic


PLANES: Comin' at ya in 2013.

The sky’s the limit as DisneyToon Studios proudly announces PLANES – a spectacular, full-length CG animated comedy action adventure movie for everyone set high above the world of CARS. PLANES will introduce an entirely original and hilarious crew of daredevils from every corner of the globe and draws inspiration from the immensely popular Disney•Pixar’s CARS world. PLANES will arrive on Blu-ray™ and DVD in Spring 2013.


CARS 2, in theaters this summer.

 “We had such a great time exploring the world of ‘Cars’ over the course of two films, so it seemed only natural for us to see where our imaginations would take us in a film where planes were the main characters. By expanding the Cars world, ‘Planes’ gave us a whole new set of fun-filled situations and a great opportunity to introduce some fantastic new characters,” commented John Lasseter, Chief Creative Officer, Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios. “The team at DisneyToon Studios has done such an amazing job creating a heartfelt story filled with great comedy, adventure, and emotion. I know audiences are going to love taking off into the wild blue yonder with these daredevil characters, as they experience a whole new kind of animated adventure.”

PLANES takes off with an international cast of the fastest air racers around, in a comedy packed with action and adventure starring Dusty, a small town dreamer who longs to enter the most epic around-the-world air race … despite his fear of heights. With the help and support of a fleet of new and hilarious characters, Dusty wings his way into the biggest challenge of his life.

Fasten your seatbelt as more information on PLANES will be arriving shortly.

ABOUT THE WALT DISNEY STUDIOS

For more than 85 years, The Walt Disney Studios has been the foundation on which The Walt Disney Company (DIS: NYSE) was built. Today, the Studio brings quality movies, music and stage plays to consumers throughout the world. Feature films are released under four banners: Walt Disney Pictures, which includes Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios; Disneynature; Touchstone Pictures; and Marvel. Through the Home Entertainment division, innovative distribution methods provide access to creative content across multiple platforms. Original music and motion-picture soundtracks are produced under Walt Disney Records and Hollywood Records, while Disney Theatrical Group produces and licenses live events, including Broadway theatrical productions, Disney on Ice and Disney LIVE! For more information, visit www.disney.com.

HOME VIDEO SPOTLIGHT: For Colored Girls, 127 Hours, Burlesque

Brief capsules of new movies worth renting.

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic


FOR COLORED GIRLS

Critics didn't get behind this Tyler Perry adaptation of Ntozake Shange's famous choreopoem, which is unfortunate, especially in light of all the recent "Hollywood Whiteout" talk. Perry may not be the cleanest storyteller, and he surely isn't the most subtle, but he draws an amazing collection of searing performances from his remarkable cast, which includes Kerry Washington, Loretta Devine, Phylicia Rashad, Anika Noni Rose and the especially brilliant Kimberly Elise. Had the movie been better received, Oscar could have filled his Supporting Actress category with girls from "Girls." Any actress lover shouldn't dare miss it. (Avaialble Now)




127 HOURS

Oscar nominee and Oscar host delivers his very best performance in the now well-known dramatization of climber Aron Ralston's harrowing, limb-severing Utah-ravine ordeal. Franco gets to show off his equally formidable comedic and dramatic skills, but the talent who's showcased the most is director and co-writer Danny Boyle, who takes a lean and intensely isolated tale and expands it into a colorful and thrilling adventure. It's one of the year's more noteworthy filmmaking feats, and one that puts you acutely in tune with all that its hero experiences. (Available March 1)





BURLESQUE

Shame on the haters who bashed this hugely entertaining musical, which is well worth your time for the rousing numbers and pop-icon starpower alone. Cher and Christina Aquilera sadly never share a duet, but their sharing of the screen creates a whole lot of glittery, carefree, pseudo-campy sparks. Sure, Cher is more set decoration than actorly substance, and the plot and characterizations are bottom of the barrel, but the music and amusement are top-notch. (Available March 1)

TRAILER PARK: Bridesmaids, Win Win, X-Men: First Class

The latest trailers for some of the most noteworthy upcoming flicks.

By R. Kurt Osenlund, The Good Life film critic


BRIDESMAIDS
The latest Judd Apatow-produced romp promises to be a female answer to "The Hangover," with a raunchy bachelorette party that unfolds in va-va-va-Vegas. The biggest draw here is of course the cast, which is led by awkward-deadpan queen Kristen Wiig, and also features Rose Byrne, Maya Rudolph, Wendi McLendon-Covey ("Reno 911!"), Ellie Kemper ("The Office") and Melissa McCarthy ("Mike and Molly"). Wiig's reaction shots in the trailer are as priceless as ever, but much of this looks like the same old broad drivel, and it hardly seems like the treat that female comedy fans have been waiting for. Movies aren't often well-represented by their previews; let's hope this one has something else tucked under its pink ruffles.




WIN WIN
I'm so terribly smitten with the work of writer/director Tom McCarthy ("The Station Agent," "The Visitor"), that I'd get in line for his latest, "Win Win," sight unseen. I'm pleased to say that the film's trailer, though clearly made conventionally so as to pull in the largest possible audience, only strengthens my anticipation. McCarthy has again assembled an ace cast, with Paul Giamatti, Amy Ryan, Melanie Lynskey and "Station" star Bobby Cannavale in this story of a broody attorney and part-time wrestling coach (Giamatti) who discovers and mentors a star athlete. Looks to be a toned-down sports movie with an indie slant, built up by McCarthy's ever-sharp human observations.




X-MEN: FIRST CLASS
Speaking of being smitten, I'm a bona-fide X-geek and have been since childhood, so any X-movie reels me in no matter how badly burned I've been by the franchise's lousy installments.This prequel from director Matthew Vaughn ("Kick-Ass") and producer/story developer Bryan Singer ("X-Men," "X2") looks primed to reinvogorate the X-universe on screen, returning it to a level of plausible, worldly authenticity, and bringing in the talented likes of actors James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jennifer Lawrence (to name a few) as younger versions of Professor X, Magneto and Mystique, respectively. This is definitely one of the more promising summer releases, even if its villains, Emma Frost (January Jones) and Sebastian Shaw (Kevin Bacon) seem a little snooze-worthy.