The Scorecard Review

Zack and Miri Make a Porno Directed by: Kevin Smith Cast: Seth Rogan, Elizabeth Banks, Craig Robinson Time: approx 1 hr, 40 mins Rating: R

Plot: Two platonic, twenty-something roommates (Rogen and Banks) emerge from their 10-year high school reunion with dead-end jobs, a stack of unpaid bills and not-so-sterling reputations as the dregs of their generation. But, in a stroke of genius, they decide to produce their very own porno flick to help get the lights and water back on. What they don't expect is that inconvenient sexual tension, stemming from feelings they've been avoiding all their lives, to come bubbling to the surface. And I wish I meant "bubbling" metaphorically.

Who’s It For? Teens will love it, if only because Rogen is the star. But it depicts a lack of post-high school career trajectory

Oct 30
Oct 30 RocknRolla

RocknRolla Directed by: Guy Ritchie Cast: Gerard Butler, Tom Wilkinson, Thandie Newton, Jeremy Piven and Ludacris Running Time: 1 hr 55 mins Rating: R

Plot: Sometimes it's easier to actually do the things happening in Guy Ritchie plots than describe them. But here goes: members from the underground and the upper class become intertwined in an intricate scheme involving millions of dollars available from a real estate scam. Problems increase when "rocknrolla" Johnny Quid (Toby Kebbell) obtains a painting that Johnny's scam-involved father, Lenny Cole (Wilkinson), is also seeking.

Who’s It For? This one goes out to anyone who likes a little substance to their gritty rock 'em sock 'ems. This isn't a Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels or a Snatch., but it will pacify Guy Ritchie fans who share his enthusiasm for anti-gangsters that

Oct 30
Oct 30 I.O.U.S.A.

Morrow McLaughlin

I.O.U.S.A Directed by: Patrick Creadon Time: 1 hour and 15 mins Rating: Documentary, unrated

I.O.U.S.A--or, as I like to call it, Saw 5 for Grownups--might just be the scariest movie I've seen in a long, long time. The documentary deconstructs and explains each little aspect of this Nation's skyrocketing debt, and it does a splendid job. Usually, one would use the word "splendid" to describe a nice picnic on a sunny day, but in this context, "splendid" signifies "I miss my ignorance." Basically, if the government doesn't figure out how to balance its checkbook sooner than later, it's all going to hell in a handbasket and our country will collapse and the next few generations will end up having to pay a 50 to 75 percent income tax...truly. Seriously about the 50 to 75

Oct 30
Oct 30 Box Office Preview - October 31, 2008

MOVIE OF THE WEEK -- Zack and Miri Make a Porno Plot: Didn’t you read the title? Two friends (Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks) are out of cash and attempt to make some money through amateur porn. Buzz: No, Judd Apatow isn’t directing. In fact, this is Kevin Smith’s chance to get back to being hip and relevant again.

Also Opening: Changeling (wide) The Haunting of Molly Hartley RocknRolla Fear(s) of the Dark Ballast Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story

The Haunting of Molly Hartley wasn't screened in Portland or Chicago, which is probably for the best. Chace Crawford can only do so much right?

More importanly, we have iterviews from the directors of ... Fear(s) of the Dark Ballast and Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story

and now it's time to play --

Simply pick the Top 5 movies at the box office this

Oct 30
Oct 30 Fear(s) of the Dark

Thomas Pardee

Fear(s) of the Dark Directed by: Blutch, Charles Burns, Marie Caillou, Pierre Di Sciullo, Lorenzo Mattotti, Richard McGuire Cast: uncredited Time: 1hr 25 mins Rating: Not yet rated

Plot:

Fear(s) of the Dark is made up of a series of black-and-white animation sequences depicting the horror of the unknown. One is about a college student whose childhood obsession with insects comes back to bite him (literally). Another short centers on a Japanese girl forced to relive her nightmares until they actually come true. The final story is about a man who stumbles on the wrong wayward house in a snowstorm, and the terrors he finds there. Each story is strung together by abstract narration, and the chilling images of a man releasing his vicious dogs to do his bidding.

Who’s It For?

It isn't a Walt Disney Pictures production, so there is virtually no appeal for children. It's also not for people who demand a clear story line. Connecting each story, and figuring out each story's layered meaning, may prove too much work for many.

Expectations:

Without looking too far into it, I expected something dark and twisted, which is usually a good thing for me. What I didn't expect was just how dense its message actually is ... allegedly. I still haven't figured it out.

Oct 30
Oct 30 Ballast

Ballast Directed by: Lance Hammer Cast: Michael J. Smith Sr., JimMyron Ross, Tarra Riggs Running Time: 1 hr 35 mins Rating: Not rated

Plot: A man's sudden suicide affects the lives of the three people whom considered him a brother, husband, and an uncle. (For those who don't know, "ballast" is defined as dead weight that provides a certain degree of steadiness).

Who’s It For? The dramatic film's pacing, abrupt editing, lack of soundtrack and general emptiness cater to the art-house crowd. Like other independent films, Ballast demands its viewers' patience and requires the watcher to voluntarily want to explore its subtexts.

Expectations: Ballast had a lot of buzz at the Chicago International Film Festival. On top of that, it has already won two awards at the Sundance Film Festival, and is up for four nominations at the Gotham Independent Film Awards ... so yes, I was exicted.

Oct 29
Oct 29 RocknRolla

CLICK HERE to read Allen's full Scorecard Review

Quickcard Review RocknRolla

Directed by: Guy Ritchie Cast: Gerald Butler, Mark Strong, Tom Wilkinson, Toby Kebbell, Idris Elba, Chris 'Ludacris' Bridges, Jeremey Piven, Thandie Newton Running Time: 1 hr 55 mins Rating: R

Plot: The underworld of London gets blown up (figuratively) in the latest Ritchie film. A huge cast of characters are looking for money, a lucky panting, and a rock star.

Who’s It For? If you check the 'yes' box next to liking Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and the film Snatch then here's another one for you. There are moments of sex and violence and tons of foul language to go along with it all. If you saw Ritchie's other films ... and enjoyed them ... sorry, I don't have any sarcastic award to

Oct 29
Oct 29 Zack and Miri Make a Porno

CLICK HERE to read Pardee's full Scorecard Review

Quickcard Review Zack and Miri Make a Porno Directed by: Kevin Smith Cast: Seth Rogen, Elizabeth Banks, Craig Robinson, Jason Mewes, Katie Morgan Running Time: 1 hr 41 mins Rating: R

Plot: Friends forever ... Zack (Rogen) and Miri (Banks) hit hard financial times and they look for any option to make money for the rent. Zack suggests they make a porn flick, and a group of friends are willing to help. But as the cameras role, the two begin to have feeling for one another and of course, that complicates things.

Who’s It For? It's easy to say this is for the younger crowd. Those under 40 seem to have a different appreciation for porn, it's something that can be talked about instead of hid in the

Oct 30
Oct 30 44th Chicago International Film Festival Wrap-Up

A wrap-up from Michael Kutza, the founder and artistic director, of the Chicago International Film Festival ....50 COUNTRIES, 175 FILMS, 100 DIRECTORS

What more can a city ask for? This year more than ever, the Chicago International Film Festival opened your eyes to things you just don’t see every day. In our 44 years, we have been committed to taking you across the globe to discover some of the most exciting cinema the world has to offer. The new voices, new ideas, new storytellers, new stars. I feel we have the perfect mix of star-studded red carpet premieres and cutting-edge world cinema for serious filmgoers.

The two weeks of the Chicago Festival are still packed full of once-in-a-lifetime events where you will see things that may never hit the Chicago screens again!

Oct 29
Oct 29 Lance Hammer - Director of Ballast

Interviews

Lance Hammer's Ballast is a docile film that has made quite a name for itself in the festival circuit. His first film uses the Mississippi Delta to explore an "underlying sadness," as he calls it, involving three human beings who are affected by a suicide. The subtle and moving film won two awards at the Sundance Film Festival, and is currently nominated four times for the Gotham Independent Film Awards.

It was an honor to discuss the film and the general process of filmmaking with Hammer in a cozy conference room on Michigan Avenue.

Though he was not particularly enthusiastic about his days working on Joel Schumacher's Batman movies, he had to discuss involving making films that are true to one's vision. If you're a fan of films that tell so

Oct 29
Oct 29 Stefan Forbes - Director of Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story

Chris De Salvo

Interviews

Stefan Forbes is a courageous documentarian that says what he believes and believes what he says. In his latest effort, Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story he sheds a microscopic light over the life of the Republican Party’s last rock star, Lee Atwater. While working on both the Reagan and Bush (the first one) campaigns, Atwater found ways to persuade an impressionable American public by using tactically fabricated realities to sway their vote. Though his methods were hardly admirable, they were powerful in the sense that the fables he concocted were not only believed by Americans, but completely accepted on a national level.

Boogie Man reveals the web of lies surrounding Atwater’s systematic stranglehold on Washington for more than a decade, right up to his shocking demise. Forbes provides us with a

Oct 27
Oct 27 Box Office Review - October 26, 2008

WEEKEND TOP 5 STUDIO ESTIMATES, OCTOBER 24-26, 2008 Rank. Movie Title (Distributor) Weekend Gross | Total Gross | Week #

1. High School Musical 3: Senior Year - $42.0 million | $42.0 million | 1

2. Saw V - $30.5 million | $30.5 million | 1

3. Max Payne - $7.6 million | $29.7 million | 2

4. Beverly Hills Chihuahua - $6.9 million | $78.1 million | 4

5. Pride & Glory - $6.3 million | $6.3 million | 1

Source: boxofficemojo.com

Just as I predicted ... almost.

These were my picks -

1. HSM 3 2. Saw 5 3. Max Payne 4. Pride & Glory 5. Beverly Hills Chihuahua

For some reason I thought Ed Norton and Colin Farrell could somehow manage to make over $7 million and beat a little dog that's been around for a month now. Next week can we

Oct 27
Oct 27 TOP 7 Dirty Cop Roles from the Past 20 Years

Top 7

We start the Top 7. You finish the Top 10. The fight for justice can sometimes be an internal struggle, thanks to the character of the dirty cop. They abuse their power while disregarding their duties to protect and serve; these crooks tend to be the worst of all criminals. In both comedic (the forgotten Blue Streak), and dramatic action forms (the totally wrong Righteous Kill), the story of the dirty cop has been told time and time again (Pride and Glory included). Films concerning such crooked bearers of the badge are scattered throughout cinema history, but the past twenty years have given us plenty to talk about.

Sometimes playing a cop, good or bad, can bring the best out of certain actors. This list is dedicated to those top (dirty) cop

Oct 24
Oct 24 Saw V

Saw V Directed by: David Hackl Cast: Tobin Bell, Costas Mandylor, Scott Patterson, Meagan Good Time: 1 hr 30 mins Rating: R

Plot: Characters and audiences alike are tortured in the fifth installment of the Saw franchise. Essentially, people die slowly. In the movie or, (for the audience), in their souls.

Who’s It For? 1. People who don't realize that these films are essentially identical to each other. 2. Gullible teenagers.

Expectations: "I have to pay $8.50 to see this?!!!"

SCORECARD (0-10)

Actors: Tobin Bell as Jigsaw: Jigsaw is a heroic villain for a dumb-blooded, naive generation who have no respect for their elders like Jason Voorhees or Mike Myers; (but fear not kiddies! Your Michael Bay-itized remake of the classic Friday the 13th is due out in February!) Jigsaw has this terrible habit of sounding like a

Oct 24
Oct 24 Gavin O'Connor - director of Pride and Glory

Chris De Salvo

Interviews

Gavin O’Connor is hardly as exhausted as I anticipate. Just as I’m being walked upstairs to talk to the critically acclaimed director, I’m told this is his last interview of the day. Not a good thing.

Despite the fear that O’Connor may be spent, I actually find him to be an engaging conversationalist, whose passion for his latest film [Pride and Glory, out tomorrow] is rivaled only by his daughter’s passion for Disney Music.

As we talk, it seems O’Connor is well prepared for the onslaught of attention he’s sure to get once Pride & Glory hits the theaters.

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Do you mind if I ask you some “ice breaker” questions so as not to lull you to sleep?

Not at all.

Okay, great. What’s dominating your ipod at the moment?

You now what’s dominating my iPod?

Oct 23
Oct 23 Opie Cunningham strikes again (Ron Howard with the Fonz and Andy)

Oct 23
Oct 23 Changeling

Changeling Directed by: Clint Eastwood Cast: Angelina Jolie, John Malkovich, Jeffrey Donovan, Jason Butler Harner Time: 2 hrs 20 mins Rating: R

Plot: In the late 1920's, a mother (Jolie) battles uphill against a manipulative Los Angeles police department when the missing son returned to her is not actually her child.

Who’s It For? Anyone familiar with recent Eastwood films like Mystic River or Letters From Iwo Jima should be aware of Changeling's oncoming sentimentality and rewarding quality. But for some, the emotional intensity of Changeling might be similar to be whipped by a wet towel that has been soaked in tears.

Expectations: Clint Eastwood. The films he has directed in the past have been as powerful as the Smith & Wesson Model 29 that he used to fire off during his Dirty Harry days.

SCORECARD (0-10)

Actors: Angelina Jolie

Oct 23
Oct 23 Happy-Go-Lucky

Happy-Go-LuckyDirected by: Mike Leigh Cast: Sally Hawkins, Eddie Marsan, Alexis Zegerman, Samuel Roukin Time: 2 hrs Rating: R

Plot: Poppy (Hawkins) is a woman who is always wearing a smile on her face. She walks through life always looking for the positive spin on things in North London with her friends.

Who’s It For? Are you convinced that sunshine always beats rain? This is a film that will test the theory. It's actually tough to say if this is for people who can't stand the annoying over-talker in the group, or for those who have no idea they are the one who just can't shut up.

Expectations: I have been a fan of Leigh but it comes down to one film: Topsy-Turvy. Otherwise Secrets & Lies and Career Girls underperformed for me.

Oct 23
Oct 23 Pride and Glory

Chris De Salvo