Do you like Jack Black? Do you like Jack Black as an enormous person in a land of small folk? Well Atomic Popcorn has the privilege of giving passes to those of you who do!

Jack Black, Jason Segel, Emily Blunt, Amanda Peet, Billy Connolly star in this upcoming adventure-comedy from 20^th Century Fox.

Synopsis:

In a contemporary re-imagining of the classic tale, Jack Black stars as Gulliver, a big-talking mailroom clerk who, after he’s mistakenly assigned a travel piece on the Bermuda Triangle, suddenly finds himself a giant among men when he washes ashore on the hidden island of Lilliput, home to a population of very tiny people.  At first enslaved by the diminutive and industrious Lilliputians, and later declared their hero, Gulliver comes to learn that it’s how big you are on the inside that counts.

Trailer:

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Now this is interesting news. Just last week when Matt covered the best fights of movie history, he cited the battle between Norris and Bruce Lee from ‘Way of the Dragon’. It’s a cool movie. Maybe not the best of Lee’s output, but a martial arts fan must give it due respect. As they also must Stephen Chow. This guy has been churning out spoofy, high-camp antics for decades and he’s a spirited and canny director to boot. Kung-Fu Hustle is one of the best comedies of the last ten years and some of his older work, including The Mad Monk, is just pure, joyful zaniness.

When we last heard, Chow was signed on for The Green Hornet, and when that fell apart, he has jumped onto directing ‘Tai-Chi’, a film based off of Lee’s Way of the Dragon. The word is that Jack Black and Anne Hathaway are also on-board for it, and since Chow is helming, expect it to not be a straight remake, but possess plenty of charm and insanity.

Chow will also play the starring role, which in the original film was a dishwasher who also moonlighted as a Tai Chi Master, bringing his skills to bear when a gang starts terrorizing the town. Yea, I know, sounds like every other martial arts movie from the time period. But Way was all down to the style and execution, and if it’s one that Chow has going for him, it’s style.

Consider me excited for this one. What do you think? Need a reminder to the awesome of Kung-Fu Hustle? Behold!

Year One wants it’s audience to believe it’s Agent Sands at the end of Once Upon A Time In Mexico. The film blindly fires it’s comedy at us, hoping things will hit us and evoke mountains of laughter. Why shouldn’t it? It’s directed by Harold “Egon” Ramis who’s done some decent comedy directing and is responsible for Ghostbusters and Caddyshack. The movie’s headlined by timid nerd Michael Cera, whom everyone adores, and Jack Black, who can be great when he wants to be. The talent is certainly there to make a fun, if useless, summer comedy. Yet like the aforementioned Sands, Year One misses just about every shot of comedy it unleashes.

Year One is terribly constructed together to the point where Ramis should feel ashamed he took part in it. Scenes start, climax, and then cut to the next scene without finishing the previous joke or giving us a clue as to what occurred. Picture sleeping with the chubby and ugly cheerleader and she leaves right before you both finish. Other, better films are guilty of this as well but they at least have the decency to mention what happened the next scene later. It leads into a point about the editing in this film, which is absolutely atrocious. Pieces are just slopped together, often times without any consistency. For instance, why does Jack Black’s hair change from black to blonde over the course of a scene? Editors Craig Herring and Steve Welch should do community service for what a sloppy job they do on this picture.

Nice, but mine are bigger.

Sloppy though, seems to be the keyword for this picture. The script by Ramis, Gene Stupnitsky, and Lee Eisenberg is full of half-assed ideas that come from a History of the World Part I/Life of Brian double feature. Unlike those films, theirs lacks the consistency both comedy and filmmaking wise to be anything remotely decent. Perhaps they chose to set the film in a prehistoric age because that’s how all of their jokes feel. All of the “laughs” rely on dick and fart jokes which is going to appeal to anyone ten and under. Certainly the film gave me this vibe it was trying to appeal to a young audience but even then, the jokes are almost twenty years too late. Ramis’ direction, unfortunately, doesn’t do anything to elevate the material either. Presumably, he shot what was on page and did simple pointing and shooting. To paraphrase, the man did a lazy job with a sloppy script.

Jack Black and Michael Cera do make for a solid team though and play off of the other well. Likely it’s due to the fact both men are essentially playing themselves in caveman’s clothing. The flick does absolutely nothing to make you accept these two are playing different people other than dress them differently. Black though, seems to be doing a parody of his Po from Kung Fu Panda as he proclaims “I’m the chosen one!” His typical shtick is at play here though, so those turned off by him will find nothing to accept here. Cera tries with his timid nerd act that does work in spots. Seemingly, he’s the only one doing something in favor of the film rather than taking a meh attitude toward it. His low-key take is refreshing when you consider what everyone else in the film is doing.

The biggest of these offenders is not Hank Azaria but Oliver Platt as the High Priest. Normally Platt is enjoyable but here he’s repulsive, and not because his character calls for it. Platt’s character is implied to be gay, since apparently all priests in comedies have to be. Trouble is, it’s annoying, unfunny, and should make said homosexual priests feel ashamed. Azaria’s a different matter, as he interpreted his role of Abraham as Cap’n Abraham of the S.S. Choppin’ Skin. Every line is muttered like a drunken pirate leading one to think Azaria was a Captain Sparrow reject. Unlike his other recent history adventure, Azaria doesn’t bring the film down and does have the best line in the whole film. Christopher Mintz-Plasse is his son Isaac and while it’s impossibly hard to hate the kid, he’s essentially McLovin in different clothes. Vinnie Jones is Vinnie Jones, and Olivia Wilde makes for some really nice eye candy. David Cross portrays Cain and seems to pop in and out when the script needs him, while Paul Rudd feels all but wasted as Abel.

Year One is lazy, unprofessional filmmaking. Ramis is better than this, Apatow is better than this, even Jack Black is better than this. I keep reassuring myself the only reason Ramis did this was so we could get Ghostbusters 3. At the same time, he shouldn’t have succumbed to such a stupid, idiotic and retarded monstrosity of film. Much like it’s premise, Year One should be buried, ancient history when it’s all said and done.

Rating: ★☆☆☆☆ 

The Category is Summer Movies

Answer: “Year One”

The Question: Name the movie that is written and directed by Harold Ramis (of “Ghostbusters” and “Stripes” fame), co-produced by Judd Apatow (of “40 Year-old Virgin” and “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” fame), and stars Jack Black, Michael Cera, Oliver Platt, David Cross, and Hank Azaria.

With talent such as the names I listed above you’d expect “Year One” to be a very funny comedy with non-stop laughs and gut splitting moments. The sad truth is you get a movie that has zero potential, characters we’ve seen before in other movies, and one long running flat joke that never gets any life. I don’t care what other say, I’m going on record as saying that “Year One” is a very lose and poor remake of Mel Brooks 1981 movie entitled “History of the World: Part I”.  Where Mel Brooks was able to have top talent (for that time) and a good script, Ramis and Apatow manage to fall flat on their faces with poor casting and a poor script to work with.  “Year One” is a poor excuse of a movie that never delivers any sort of plot as you are constantly reminded of other movies while watching this one.

Lets start with the two main stars of “Year One.”

Jack Black plays Zed who is an overweight, whimsical, can’t do anything right, kind of guy. He’s doing a job that he isn’t cut out for, that job is being a Hunter for the tribe he is part of, and would rather be off doing greater things. He eats from the Tree of Knowledge, is banned from the village, and goes on to become the chosen one.  Through the whole movie you watch as Zed bumbles his way from one situation to another and manages to get out of said situation by being clumsy or happened to be in the right place at the right time.  Does this character sound like one we saw last Summer? It should as Zed is a live action Kung Fu Panda and both Zed and Panda have similar situations that make them the chose one and help them out at the end. All that was missing was Zed grabbing the main bad guy’s finger and saying “Kadoosh”.

Michael Cera plays Oh who is a skinny, shy, and is not appreciated by the tribe. He likes Zed’s sister Emma (played by the very cute Juno Temple) who doesn’t even acknowledged him when he speaks to her.  Sad to say that Oh is the comic relief to Zed and all the bad things happen to Oh while Zed stands by.  Does this character sound like one we’ve seen before? It should as Oh is Evan from “Superbad” and just like Evan, he has no balls and is a whinny, wimpy guy that gets pushed over by everyone.

Now onto some of the secondary cast. Oliver Platt plays the High Priest who is the mystical predictor for the King played by Xander Berkley. The High Priest is nowhere as funny as Dom DeLuise’s Emperor Nero in “History of the Wold.” But they are basically the same character. Vinnie Jones plays Sargon, the captain of the Roman Guards. The problem here is that it looks as if they really wanted Clive Owens to play this role as Vinnie is  made up to look like Clive Owens. Don’t even get me started on Issac, son of Abraham, being played by Christopher Mintz-Plasse better known as McLovin from “Superbad.” In this movie Issac is McLovin or McLovin is Issac…again it is an actor playing the same character from another movie but with a different set of clothes.

The plot, if you call it that as I sure can’t, is simple…Zed and Oh get forced out of their village because Zed ate from the Tree of Knowledge which is forbidden. During their journey they run into historical biblical figures such as Cain and Able, Abraham and his son Issac, and visit the city of Sodomon. One running joke is that Cain is one step ahead of them after killing his brother Able and both Zed and Oh keep running into him at every stop along the way.

The funniest part of “Year One” didn’t happen anywhere in the movie.  It was the bloopers shown at the start of the credits that most of the audience was laughing at. All this talent and we get a movie that falls flat on its face fast.

Rating: ½☆☆☆☆ 

Need to get yourself a fix of the painfully awkwardly sweet and charming Michael Cera, or the loud and loveable Jack Black? Well your in luck, because these two guys are running out in about during the dawn of time in director and writer Harold Ramis’ latest adventure-comedy romp, Year One.

When a couple of lazy hunter-gatherers are banished from their primitive village, they set off on an epic journey through the ancient world. Hand in hand with Columbia Pictures and Apatow Productions, the early man flick comes out on June 19th, tucking itself away for us all for some summer movie goodness. Check it out:

Keep yourself right here on Atomic Popcorn for more little goodies on this upcoming release and more, you know you want to.

Year One Trailer

Harold Ramis has a hit on his hands with his latest film Year One. Year One stars the ever lovable Michael Cera, and the ever crazy Jack Black. The two team up with Ramis to create the first years of life on earth. From what I have seen so far its pretty darn funny. Cain and Able star, the Romans etc. It looks pretty solid.

When a couple of lazy hunter-gatherers named Zed and Oh (played by Jack Black and Michael Cera) are banished from their primitive village, they set off on an epic journey through the ancient world.

Enjoy the trailer below and let me know what you think.

Columbia Pictures is debuting Year One in theaters everywhere on June 19th.

It’s no mystery that many found 2008 to be a relatively lackluster year, with the majority of the films released receiving mediocre reviews at best.  So, whenever a really good or truly great movie came along, it was a real delight.  Such movies included titles like Iron Man and of course, The Dark Knight.  But most of the best from 2008 weren’t all mainstream blockbusters; they included small films, under-appreciated ones and some Oscar bait.

What follows is my personal, and this time I emphasize PERSONAL, list of the year’s ten best films.  Yet again, if any of you have quibbles with my choices, I’m more than willing to back myself up.

Australia

10. Australia - Perhaps the most under appreciated movie of the year, Baz Luhrmann’s near three hour epic really surprised me in terms of how much I enjoyed it.  “Australia” sports terrific scenery, an adventurous spirit, and a scope that is undeniably magnificent.  Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman are the two leads, starring in the story of two people brought together on an adventure across the landscape of Australia to herd cattle and outsmart greedy land developers and other shady figures.  Amidst all this, the two fall in love and stay that way, even when World War II threatens to tear them apart.  “Australia” essentially combines three separate genres into one film; it’s a romance, a western and a war story all put together very well.  Perhaps my favorite portion of “Australia”  was the war sequence, i.e. the last part.  This is where the film draws the majority of its emotion and at the same time, it’s pretty thrilling.  On top of that, the film’s cinematography is gorgeous.  I’m disappointed it didn’t get a nomination in that category, because the film was simply a wonder to look at on many occasions.  I’m sad to know that more people weren’t willing to take a chance on it, but the film hits DVD on March 3rd, so many of you will get your chance then.

Seven Pounds

9. Seven Pounds - I find it disappointing that not many people were willing to take a chance on the latest Will Smith vehicle Seven Pounds, which is more meditative than most of the star’s previous movies.   But, I could understand most audiences’ hesitation primarily because the trailers and commercials for Seven Pounds refuse to reveal too much about the plot and I’ll try to do the same here.  Smith plays an IRS agent on a mission to drastically alter the lives of seven complete strangers.  He does so by tracking them down and questioning them in order to determine whether or not they are worthy of what he plans on giving them.  The mere fact that very little is told about the story right away shrouds the film in a blanket of enticing mystery that compels us to pay attention and ultimately awards our interest with the payoff we’ve patiently been waiting for.  Will Smith turns in a performance that is muted, enigmatic and emotionally scarred; Ben Thomas is a man still reeling from a personal tragedy in his life, and he finds himself falling irrevocably and hesitantly in love with Emily Posa (Rosario Dawson), one of the seven people he has devoted himself to helping.  Dawson gives a very fine performance, bringing alive both a sadness that compares with Ben’s emotional detachment and also a bright loveliness that contrasts with it at the same time.  Thankfully, Seven Pounds never manipulates our emotions like director Gabrielle Muccino’s previous film The Pursuit of Happyness did.  Instead, whenever the movie hits its emotional points, it feels natural and not like the product of the film beating us over the head with endless manipulations of the characters’ situations.  When the film moves us emotionally, it’s because it has earned the right to.

Body of Lies

8. Body of Lies – People are getting tired of the war on terror, but apparently someone hasn’t told that to Hollywood.  I do admit that I’m growing tired of it functioning as the basis for some of today’s dramas or thrillers, but in the case of Body of Lies, I certainly had no objection to it.  Easily the best spy-related movie since The Bourne Ultimatum, the real strength of director Ridley Scott’s “Body of Lies” is how honest it is.  The film excellently portrays the world of CIA operatives and the dealings of the business and never glamorizes the brutal reality of these situations.  This really did feel like a real-world thriller, one where the heroes never drive cars through buildings or crash them at high-speed and don’t wind up with a single bruise.  Continuing his string of really strong performances, Leonardo DiCaprio stars as Roger Ferris, a CIA agent stationed in the Middle East and tasked with the assignment of gaining useful information which could be used against an elusive terrorist known as Al-Saleem.  Russell Crowe also stars as Ed Hoffman, Ferris’s handler who’s back in Washington giving orders in an impassive drawl and watches from the sidelines as Ferris handles the hard part.  Body of Lies is adapted from a novel of the same name by David Ignatius, which I read before seeing the film and I was grateful to see that most of the source material remained intact.  But what really helps sell this movie is DiCaprio, who once again is a powerful force whenever he’s on-screen.  Mark Strong is also great as Hani Salaam, a contact in the Middle East who possesses considerable leeway over the politics in the region.  Body of Lies is that Hollywood thriller that comes along every once in a while that doesn’t feel like your usual Hollywood thriller; it’s more about the inner politics and complications that arise in such a mission and how they affect the characters rather than the explosions and gunfights.  Not to mention it has an interesting story to back it up.

Wall-E

7. WALL-E – When it comes to the genre of animated films, nobody does it better than Pixar.  If their worst day manufactures the 2 1/2 -star “Cars”, then on their best day, they produce such 4-star masterpieces like “Ratatouille” and last year’s “WALL-E”.  The studio’s first venture into sci-fi surprised and delighted me, as well as millions of other people, and it marked a new milestone for animated films.  “WALL-E” takes place many years in the future and centers around a small robot of the same name whose sole function in life is to clean up the massive piles of garbage left behind by the human race so that one day we may return to Earth.  But over the years, WALL-E has developed a heart and yearns to know what lies beyond the impenetrable cloud of smog encasing the planet.  One day, he gets the opportunity when another robot, this one female, arrives on Earth with a mission and befriends WALL-E in the process.  And before they know it, both robots are whisked away on an adventure into space, where the human race has been relocated.  Now, the views on the ecosystem that are subtly expressed through the setup of the plot personally didn’t bother me, because mainly I refuse to bring politics into the theater and enjoy a film based on its own merits.  That being said, “WALL-E” is a touching romance wrapped in an astounding adventure, one that’s just as exciting for all ages.  WALL-E himself is without a doubt one of Pixar’s most lovable characters and because of that, it’s very easy for us to root for him.  As a matter of fact, I don’t think I’ve cared this much for an animated character since the first “Shrek” back in 2001.  One of the reasons “WALL-E” is one of the best movies of 2008 is because it just makes you feel great after you watch it.  This is definitely the feel-good movie of the year, and the mere fact that I’m using that phrase surprises me because I rarely try to use it.  However, there’s no denying how good I felt after seeing “WALL-E” for the first time I saw it.

Revolutionary Road

6. Revolutionary Road - It’s simply ridiculous how the Academy overlooked this tremendous film when handing out nominations, because not only do its two leads deliver unbelievably great performances, the film itself is also a powerhouse of emotion that’s pretty unforgettable.  This movie especially demonstrates how Leonardo DiCaprio is unequivocally the best actor of his generation.  His performance here carries a sadness, frustration and desperation that only heightens the power of the performance.  How he did NOT get a Best Actor nomination is beyond my realm of logic because this may well be the best performance of his career.  “Revolutionary Road” can be considered an Actor’s movie, and in that sense, it’s extraordinary.  Watch the big fight that he and Kate Winslet have towards the end of the film and you’ll see what I mean.  DiCaprio and Winslet play Frank and April Wheeler, a married couple living life in the suburbs during the 50′s who are going through really rough times.  They discover that the happiness that most other couples share is really an illusion that couples like them hide behind in order to escape the grim truth.  Director Sam Mendes captures this feel of suburban life impeccably, with the themes that accompany this lifestyle playing an important role in the story and where it goes.  There is not one false moment in this entire film; it really does play out like real life.  “Revolutionary Road” can get pretty tough to watch at times due to the realism of what we’re seeing and the tension-filled arguments, especially the ending and what it involves.  Many will find this ending disturbing, but in retrospect, it’s an ending that does make sense.  “Revolutionary Road” is a reminder of just how good DiCaprio and Winslet are together; here’s hoping it doesn’t take 11 years for them to team up again.

Slumdog Millionaire

5. Slumdog Millionaire – Every year, there seems to be an Indie darkhorse that seemingly materializes out of thin air towards the end of the year and takes everyone by surprise as well as sweeping through multiple awards programs.  In 2006, it was “Little Miss Sunshine,” 2007 had “Juno” and in 2008, we got “Slumdog Millionaire”.  Many have claimed this to be the Feel-Good Movie of the year, but I don’t really see why.  This is certainly a great film and the ending is especially uplifting, but the majority of “Slumdog Millionaire” involves material that certainly warrants its R rating.  But that’s not to say that all the praise in general isn’t warranted, because it is.  No other movie in the past few years has gotten me engrossed in everything quite like “Slumdog Millionaire”; this underdog story about a teenager from the slums of Mumbai who goes on the Indian version of “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire” is made all the more gripping by Danny Boyle’s fantastic direction and the exceedingly well-written screenplay by Simon Beaufoy which sequences the events of the story very well.  The reason you care about the outcome of this story is because you’re able to identify with Jamal (Dev Patel), an extremely likable “slumdog” from Mumbai who draws the answer to each question from his past, which in turn causes many to question this, including the police.  As far as underdog stories go, they don’t get much better than this.  Plus, the ending is much more gripping than most climaxes in thrillers these days, again thanks in part to Boyle, whose sense of editing heightens the suspense.  So, would I give the Best Picture award to “Slumdog Millionaire”?  No, because I believe there to be a more deserving candidate in the race this year, but more on that later.  Bottom line, “Slumdog Millionaire” is a must-see film.

Frost Nixon

4. Frost/Nixon – Director Ron Howard has made some really great films; “Apollo 13″, “A Beautiful Mind” and “Cinderella Man” to name a few.  His latest, “Frost/Nixon” is a fine addition to his list and is a movie that proves just how gripping a conversation can be.  “Frost/Nixon” centers around the series of interviews that took place between disgraced former President Richard Nixon (Frank Langella in an Oscar-nominated role) and British T.V. ham David Frost (Michael Sheen).  Here’s the setup: after the Watergate Scandal in the early 70′s, Richard Nixon resigns as President and subsequently suffers a medical emergency which in turn grants him a pardon, therefore leaving the American citizens without answers to the questions surrounding the Scandal.  Much later, British talk-show host gets the idea to interview Nixon, figuring that it’d be a really great idea to pull in ratings.  At first, everyone’s fears of Frost not being a “worthy opponent” seem to be confirmed, but by the final interview, Frost is able to prove that even someone like him can get under the skin of a former President.  “Frost/Nixon” is ripe with excellent performances by not only its two main leads, but also the supporting actors which include Kevin Bacon, Sam Rockwell and Oliver Platt.  Throughout the film, Howard injects clips from single “interviews” with the characters about what happened behind the scenes of the Frost-Nixon interviews; it’s an interesting technique and it works especially well here.  And in addition, you can’t help but be mesmerized by Frank Langella, whose work here is simply outstanding.  Though I think Michael Sheen hasn’t been given enough credit; he’s definitely able to hold his own against Langella.  Chalk another one up for Ron Howard.  Hard to believe these movies came from the man formerly known as Opie.

In Bruges

3. In Bruges – If a movie released all the way back in February can still be as strong and enjoyable in quality as it was the first time around, then you know it has to be something special.  “In Bruges”, (pronouced ‘broozh’)the biggest and best surprise of 2008, is a character piece before it’s a thriller, one with very interesting and very round characters as well as a resonant commentary on the principles one must abide by in their line of work, even when those principles involve dark consequences.  The film also paints a more rounded portrait of the hitman, showing that hitmen can be conflicted and deeply hurt whenever a hit goes wrong; despite their profession, hitmen are still human beings.  “In Bruges” is a compelling combination of thriller, dark comedy and character study featuring comedic dialogue so sharp and smart, you’d think the actors were delivering their lines while performing a magic trick; you’re riveted by what’s transpiring and can’t wait to see what happens next.  Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson star as Ray and Ken, two hitmen sent to the town of Bruges in Belgium by their employer Harry (Ralph Fiennes) after a hit goes tragically wrong.  Farrell gives the performance of his career as Ray, a man wallowing in grief and is forced to confront those painful feelings while staying in Bruges.  Add on top of that Harry himself eventually swinging by to take care of “loose ends”, and you’ve got a satisfyingly simple story that drives a great film.  “In Bruges” was written and directed by Martin McDonagh, and he brings humanity to the script.  “In Bruges” is the little movie from 2008 that could.  Had it not been for the next two movies on my list, “In Bruges” would have been my favorite film of the year.

The Dark Knight

2. The Dark Knight – I know what all you fanboys are thinking: how could “The Dark Knight” NOT be number one on this list?  Well, that’s because it was beaten out by a little movie called “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”.  But more on that soon.  Now…where do we begin?  Well, director Christopher Nolan did an impeccable job of capturing the spirit of Batman yet again amidst an epic crime story that was more than worthy of a Best Picture nomination.  Academy, you sure missed the boat this time.  “The Dark Knight” is yet another milestone, as it marks the new standard that’s been set for the Superhero genre.  Writer/director Nolan has crafted what can be called a masterpiece in its own way; he not only settles for telling a straight-up superhero story, as he and co-writer/brother Jonathan Nolan injects themes of righteousness, morality, succumbing to inner demons and being pushed to the limit that propel everything to a whole different level that a superhero film has never been on before.  Of course, I can’t talk about this film without mentioning the late, great Heath Ledger for his haunting and menacing turn as the villainous Joker.  Ledger is sure to win a posthumous Oscar for his performance here, and it’s well-deserved; he creates a Joker so cruel and sadistic, he makes Jack Nicholson look like Ceasar Romero.  But let’s not discredit another strong supporting performance, this one more subtle and restrained: Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent/Two-Face.  This ain’t the Tommy Lee Jones version, either.  Keeping in line with Ledger, Eckhart brings a dark realism to the film when the transformation is made, and we’re able to sympathize with Dent and feel his pain as Two-Face.  Plus, the film has incredibly entertaining and engrossing action sequences to boot; the armored car chase is sure to be remembered as one of the most memorable action sequences in years.  If Christopher Nolan does decide to make a third film, I trust him enough to make sure that it’ll be as great as it can be.  Superhero movies just don’t get much better than this.

Benjamin Button

1. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – Here it is: the crowning achievement of 2008.  “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” is a mesmerizing movie; filled with emotion, wonder and a moving sadness.  The film reminded me of old-fashioned moviemaking, where the characters and the journeys they take being the main focus.  No other movie this year, not even “The Dark Knight”, had me as invested as this one.  Director David Fincher creates a world you want to get lost in; it’s so vividly realized and flawlessly handled, you’d think the movie was a documentary.  The movie is adapted from a short story authored by F. Scott Fitzgerald which was apparently around 25 pages in length and the fact that the film is 165 minutes long says something about how devoted to the project Fincher and the rest of the crew were throughout production.  And that right there is another reason why “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” succeeds so well: because just by watching it, you can tell that it was a passion project.  And that passion translates into some very fine filmmaking.  Brad Pitt’s performance is marvelous, with his Oscar nomination being both inevitable and very well-deserved.  In addition, Cate Blanchett continues her string of fantastic performances here as Daisy, Benjamin’s lifelong friend and love interest.  We all know how this story has to end, but that doesn’t stop us from becoming emotionally invested in their love story and rooting for them.  But another thing Fincher seems to be really experienced at is editing.  There’s one sequence in particular that involves Daisy in the 2nd hour that is brilliantly pieced together and shows just how deserving of the Best Director Oscar David Fincher really is.  “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” has amassed 13 nominations in all, and I hope it wins most, if not all of them.

Do let us know what you thought of the list!!

So, if you are one of the many who enjoyed the comedy hit “Tropic Thunder”, then here’s some interesting news.  A documentary entitled “Rain of Madness”, which details the making of the movie-within-a-movie “Tropic Thunder” will be made available on iTunes for download.

Here’s the official press release:

“Rain of Madness,” starring Jay Baruchel, Jack Black, Steve Coogan, Robert Downey Jr., Bill Hader, Nick Nolte and Ben Stiller is a companion piece to the hit comedy “Tropic Thunder,” which debuted in theaters nationwide on August 13, and serves as a documentary of the making-of the feature film.  It was shot on location in Hawaii , at the same locations used in the feature film, and details the demise of the fictitious cast & crew of “Tropic Thunder”, as they struggle to finish shooting their film despite numerous shooting, budgeting and casting problems.

“We wanted to do a fake documentary about the making of the movie within the movie which is called “Tropic Thunder” — not the actual movie “Tropic Thunder”. The fake documentary focuses on the real movie’s fake director, and what happens to the fake cast before they go into the real jungle. It’s pretty straightforward”, says Ben Stiller, one of the stars of the documentary and the director/star/producer and co-writer of “Tropic Thunder.”

“Original material for web consumption is a growing area for us, and ‘Rain of Madness,’ dovetails perfectly with the theatrical release of ‘Tropic Thunder.’  They complement and reinforce one another, while staying true to the comedic sensibility that Ben and his team brought to ‘Tropic Thunder’.  We hope fans will appreciate this exclusive digital content and continue the experience at www.rainofmadness.com” says Amy Powell, Senior Vice President, Interactive Marketing, Paramount Pictures.