Tag: Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Encrypt Your Phones While You Check Out The Trailer For ‘Snowden’

by Shane O'Hare

We live in strange times. Strange times indeed.

Snowden is the stylized, “Hollywood” take on the Edward Snowden story. EX-CIA contractor who leaked documents detailing a global surveillance program perpetrated by the NSA. It was such a perverse invasion of privacy that it spurred countless investigations into the US Government, many of which are still going on today.

TL;DR NSA has your dick pics. Seriously.

Check out the trailer for Snowden.

I really don’t feel too “right” about this movie. Joseph Gordon Levitt does a TERRIBLE job impersonating Edward Snowden, and Zachary Quinto as Glenn Greenwald?

This is going to attempt to distill a very important story down into a 2 hour drama. Why all the sex? Why all the weird “hacking” graphics? I feel like director Oliver Stone was attempting to recreate the famous Hack The Gibson scene from Hackers.

https://youtu.be/8wXBe2jTdx4

It’s the Julian Assange story all over again.

Snowden hits theaters September 16th. Do yourself a favor and see Citizenfour first.

Geekscape Movie Reviews: The Walk

by MCDave

Although his name isn’t stained in the fabric of our society like Steven Spielberg or James Cameron, director Robert Zemeckis is a legend of Hollywood in his own right. As an Academy Award winning filmmaker who graced us with one of the most notable cinematic achievements of all-time, Forrest Gump, Zemeckis knows what it takes to captivate an audience. He returns this weekend to movie theaters all across the country with a soaring spectacle unlike anything we’ve ever seen. Alongside his show-stealing lead actor, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, The Walk unfolds as yet another winning effort from the iconic filmmaker.

As a young child growing up in France, Philippe Petit’s (Gordon-Levitt) interest in magic and juggling culminates into something much more daring, a passion for tightrope walking. And in 1974 after Philippe hones his skill-set under the tutelage of a circus professional named Papa Rudy (Ben Kinglsey), he sets his sights on a higher and more death-defying target, an unharnessed walk between the world’s new tallest buildings in New York City. Petit ventures to the Big Apple and, with his team of accomplices, pulls off the greatest artistic crime the world has ever witnessed.

walk

One of my favorite revelations surrounding Robert Zemeckis’ historical retelling, The Walk, is the surprising tone of the film. Sporting a more playful vibe rather than intense melodrama, the movie peels back layers of famed wire-walker Philippe Petit. And by taking the audience back to his childhood where the central figure’s passion and appreciation for performing began, we’re given a clear understanding of the fearless (and arguably insane) psyche of Petit. Joseph Gordon-Levitt continues to deliver fine performances adding his portrayal of Petit to an already long list of quality work. While Gordon-Levitt is given almost the entirety of the screen time, he makes the most of his opportunity and shines in the role. Sprinkling in a pleasant collection of well-timed humor and an outstanding score from Alan Silvestri (who also composed the music for Forrest Gump), The Walk equates to far more than just a visual masterpiece.

walk2

Despite all of the film’s impressive attributes, there are a few facets in which the movie is mishandled. Throughout Petit’s criminal plot to set up a wire between New York City’s Twin Towers prior to his dangerous tightrope walk (which he always refers to as “le coup”), we’re introduced to the members of his team who help make the event possible. However, such little devotion is given to these side characters that the dramatic moments surrounding them all as the big day approaches end up falling flat. Even the relationship between Petit and his girlfriend throughout the film, Annie (played by Charlotte Le Bon), is widely underdeveloped. Furthermore, the visual returns to Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s narration is oddly placed. It comes and goes throughout the film, but it never feels necessary or even warranted. Although The Walk fails to utilize its side characters appropriately and it relies on a poorly executed narration tactic, Zemeckis and company succeed in countless other areas that help dwarf these miscues by comparison.

I typically avoid any 3D showing of a film when possible. I tend to find the technique distracting and less enjoyable. However, The Walk does such a superb job of incorporating the I-MAX 3D into the film that I believe it actually enhances the experience. All of its breathtaking visuals are absolutely stunning and give the film a truly unique feel. Yet, while I wouldn’t declare The Walk as a “must-see” feature, it certainly doesn’t disappoint.

Grade: 3.5/5

Check out more from MCDAVE at his host site

Check Out “The Night Before” Red Band Trailer

by Bigyanks

From the guys who brought you ‘This Is The End’, ‘Neighbors’, and almost ‘The Interview’ comes ‘The Night Before’. The Story follows Ethan (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), Isaac (Seth Rogen) and Chris (Anthony Mackie) who have been friends since childhood, and for a decade, their yearly Christmas Eve reunion has been an annual night of debauchery and hilarity. Now that they’re entering adulthood, the tradition is coming to an end, and to make it as memorable as possible, they set out to find the Nutcracka Ball – the Holy Grail of Christmas parties.

Seriously what could go wrong with this movie? ‘The Night Before’ hits theaters on Nov. 25

Geekscape Reviews: Sin City: A Dame to Kill For

by S.J. Borger

Sin City: A Dame to Kill For, is the sequel to the gritty, perverse, irreverent and occasionally funny Sin City, created by the iconic graphic novelist Frank Miller (300, The Spirit) and directed by Robert Rodriguez. Both movies live in the black-and-white, highly stylized, extremely violent oeuvre both Miller and Rodriguez are known for, but unlike it’s predecessor, Sin City: A Dame to Kill For is all about the style, with no room for story or substance.

Bruce Willis and Jessica Alba in Sin City: A Dame to Kill For
Bruce Willis and Jessica Alba in Sin City: A Dame to Kill For

Senator Rourke (Powers Boothe) returns as the ultimate bad-guy, but the role, which was the underpinning to the Hartigan (Bruce Willis)/Nancy (Jessica Alba) story that drove the first movie, is two-dimensional here. He is a bad guy because he is a bad guy–all sense that the power he holds has perverted his greatest strengths to his most horrible vices is gone. It is especially clear in his interactions with Johnny (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a story which seems to exist in the movie solely to show that (a) Gordon-Levitt looks very good in a tight suit and a smirk, and (b) that Rourke is a terrible person. Which we already knew.

A Dame To Kill For suffers from these issues through out. The main story–about Dwight (Josh Brolin here, Clive Owen in Sin City), and his one-true-love/femme fatale Ava Lord (Eva Green, playing the cat eyed, sullen, secretive part we’ve seen her do before, only this time with a LOT more nudity–seriously, we now know more about Green’s body then we ever really wanted to)–feels forced and falls flat of the deep, haunting, resonating love story between the doomed Hartigan and Nancy we saw in the first movie.

Josh Brolin and Eva Green as Dwight and Ava in Sin City: A Dame to Kill For
Josh Brolin and Eva Green as Dwight and Ava in Sin City: A Dame to Kill For

The subtle and clever interweaving of individual story and plot that made Sin City more than just a comic-book movie, and vaulted it into cult-status, is missing completely here. While there are multiple viewpoints and stories being told, including an intro by Marv (Mickey Rourke, unrecognizable in Elephant-man style make-up), each story stands by itself, touching against the others only by chance at Kadie’s Bar, where Alba’s Nancy performs a series of increasingly embarrassing strip-teases. Nancy is watched over by Marv (for some unknown reason), except when he is manipulated by one of the other characters to go off and get involved in murder and mayhem. This lack of coherence and depth, despite the solid performances by the entire cast, makes A Dame To Kill For merely all right–occasionally funny, and sometimes cringe-inducing, but never riveting.

The largely black-and-white film uses sharp, evocative jabs of color (red blood, green eyes, a sudden flash of strawberry blonde hair) as not-subtle-at-all indicators of characterization or an attempt-at-wry commentary (Ava’s eyes go green when her true character is revealed). Characters leap out of the black-and-white world of Miller’s Sin City, capturing the essence of the visual work extraordinarily well. We saw it 3D, which added nothing except a vague headache caused by the glasses.

Overall, the film is visually stunning, well acted, but unable to drive its story across numerous characters and plot lines.

Sin City: A Dame to Kill For is open at a theatre near you.

What do you think? Seen it? Won’t see it? Can’t hardly wait to see it? Watch the trailer below and let us know in the comments!

Geekscape Rates: 2.5/5 Stars

Matt Gerald Set To Play An ‘Ant-Man’ Villain

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: The cast of Edgar Wright’s Ant-Man has grown once more.

Following Patrick Wilson joining the cast back in February, Deadline has reported that Escape Plan and G.I. Joe: Retaliation star Matt Gerald has joined the film in a “villainous” role.

No other information on who Gerald will play was revealed, but we’ll be sure to fill you in as we learn more. Are you looking forward to Ant-Man? Sound out below!

Gerald

Joseph Gordon-Levitt Does A Fantastic ‘David After Dentist’ Impression

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: This was just too funny not to share.

Jimmy Kimmel and HitRecordTV today released the FULL video of Joseph Gordon-Levitt performing a remake or the classic YouTube video, David After Dentist.

The video is hilarious enough, but it’s the description that really takes it to the next level:

For our annual After the Oscars special, we took famous YouTube videos and made big-budget Hollywood films out of them. One of them was “David After Dentist,” starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt as David. Most actors would have shown up, buzzed through the lines and be done with it. But Joseph memorized the entire David After Dentist video – for no reason. We didn’t ask him to and most of it wasn’t in the script. This was shot without any assistance from cue cards, he wasn’t watching along with the video to get the timing right, and somehow he managed to duplicate the video of this kid coming home from the dentist perfectly.

Take a look at the video below, and let us know just how hilarious it was.

And here’s the original in case you’ve forgotten… it did come out five years ago, after all:

Patrick Wilson Joins Edgar Wright’s ‘Ant-Man’

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: There’s no word on who he’ll be playing, but Deadline has just reported that Patrick Wilson (Hard Candy, Watchmen) has joined the cast of Edgar Wright’s Ant-Man.

Wilson joins Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas, and maybe even Evangeline Lilly in the July 17th, 2015 release. Be sure to let us know who you’d like to see Wilson play in the comments below!

Wilsom

Source: Deadline

Rumor: ‘Lost’s Evangeline Lilly In Talks To Join ‘Ant-Man’

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: We’ve got Paul Rudd as Scott Lang, we’ve got Michael Douglas as Hank Pym, and now Evangeline Lilly is allegedly in talks for the film’s female lead.

Plot details for the film are still unknown, but according to Variety (who first reported the news), Lilly could play the daughter of Lang and Pym’s love interest.

Ant-Man recently took the now-delayed Man of Steel sequel’s original date of July 17th, 2015. Are you looking forward to the film? Who would you like to see Lilly play? Sound out below!

Lilly

Source: Variety

Edgar Wright’s ‘Ant-Man’ Moved Forward Again!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: The wait for Edgar Wright’s Ant-Man and the start of Marvel’s Phase Three just shrunk again!

The film was originally scheduled to hit theatres on November 6th, 2015, but was moved up four months to July 31st, 2015 back in September. Now, since DC’s Man of Steel sequel has been pushed to 2016, Ant-Man has moved into the film’s July 17th release date.

Here’s the official announcement, straight from Marvel:

The wait for Marvel’s “Ant-Man” just got two weeks shorter!

 

Marvel’s “mite”-iest hero will now hit theaters July 17, 2015 courtesy of director Edgar Wright, two weeks earlier than the previously announced date of July 31.

 

Ant-Man fans have had quite a few reasons to rejoice lately, with the casting of Paul Rudd as Scott Lang/Ant-Man and Michael Douglas as Hank Pym as we get ready to start production on the highly-anticipated film later this year!

Are you looking forward to the film? How about the latest casting news? Sound out below!

ant-man-movie-logo

Michael Douglas Is Hank Pym In Edgar Wright’s ‘Ant-Man’!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Just one day after winning the Golden Globe for his performance in Behind the Candelabra, Michael Douglas has been cast in a big role in an upcoming Marvel film.

The actor will portray Hank Pym in Edgar Wright’s Ant-Man.

Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige stated that “With Hank Pym’s rich history in the Marvel Universe, we knew we needed an actor capable of bringing the weight and stature to the role that the character deserves. We felt incredibly relieved when Michael Douglas agreed to step into the part with the charm and fortitude he brings to every character he inhabits, and couldn’t be more excited to see what he will do to bring Hank Pym to life.”

This means that we also know just which Ant-Man Paul Rudd will be playing in the film, Scott Lang.

What do you think of Douglas in the role? Is there another actor you’d have preferred? Sound out below!

Gordon Gekko back for the global recession

Source: Variety

Watch The Full Premiere Of ‘HitRecord On TV’!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: HitRecord on TV is finally here! And nearly two weeks before its premiere on regular ol’ television.

HitRecord creator Joseph Gordon-Levitt has taken to YouTube to premiere the pilot episode, which you can view in its entirety below. The pilot features content from more than 426 contributors, which is absolutely incredible for a 23 minute episode. Here’s what Gordon-Levitt had to say about the release:

Ladies and gentlemen, I am beside myself with joy and anticipation :oD It is my sincere pleasure to present the very first episode of HITRECORD ON TV! Watch the entire first episode here before it premieres on television.

 

Everything you’re gonna see on this show was made collaboratively on our site — hitRECord.org — and the work of 426 Contributing Artists is featured in this particular episode. There’s gonna be 8 episodes this season, each revolving around a different theme, like RE: Space, RE: The Other Side, and RE: Money. And since this is our first ever episode, I figured the theme of this one would be RE: The Number One. HITRECORD ON TV will be coming out on January 18th on a new cable channel called Pivot.

 

I’m deeply proud of this show, and I think you’re realllllly gonna like it. Honestly, making this thing together with all the artists from around the world in our hitRECord community has been one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of my life so far. So, without any further ado, enjoy the show!

Check out the episode below, and let us know if you’re excited to see the rest of the season! Hitrecord on TV premieres on Pivot on January 18th! While we’re on the topic of JGL, how about his Sandman adaptation?

Paul Rudd Is Ant-Man, Marvel Confirms

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: We learned only yesterday that Paul Rudd had entered negotiations with Marvel to play Ant-Man in the upcoming Edgar Wright film.

Now, Marvel has officially announced that Rudd has signed on for the film.

In a post of Marvel.com, producer Kevin Feige stated that “When Edgar Wright came to us with the idea of Paul Rudd, we felt a huge sense of relief because the first step in creating any Marvel Studios film is finding the right star. We knew early on that we had found the right person in Paul. When he not only agreed to do it but became as enthusiastic as any actor we’d ever met with about doing the work, we knew we’d found the right guy. We couldn’t be more excited for our audiences to see what he’s going to do to bring Ant-Man to life.”

Ant-Man hits theatres on July 31st, 2015. Do you think that Rudd is the right choice for the part? Or would you rather have seen another actor in the role? Sound out below!

PaulRudd

Paul Rudd In Negotiations For Edgar Wright’s ‘Ant-Man’!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Edgar Wright may have found his Hank Pym.

Back in October it was rumoured that both Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Paul Rudd were on the short list to play the character in Wright’s next film, Ant-Man.

Now that JGL has moved on to Sandman, it seems as though Marvel has shifted its focus towards Rudd, who The Wrap today confirmed has landed the role and is now in early negotiations with the studio.

We’ll be sure to keep you up-to-date on the situation, as well as let you know when the official announcement is made. Are you looking forward to the film? Are you happy with the casting? Sound out below!

PaulRudd

Joseph Gordon-Levitt To Direct, Produce, And Star In ‘Sandman’ Adaptation?

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Could a film adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s Sandman finally be happening?

Deadline has reported that Joseph Gordon-Levitt is in final talks, not only to produce, but to potentially direct and star in Warner Bros. adaptation of the revered comic series. The film would be based on a script by The Dark Knight screenwriter David Goyer, who has apparently finally cracked the code to get the film out of development hell.

Gordon-Levitt later tweeted the following, confirming that the film is indeed happening, and that he is indeed attached to it in some way:

We’ll be sure to let you know when we hear more on this one. Are you keen with the idea of an adaptation? Do you think that Gordon-Levitt has the skills to pull it off? Sound out below!

sandman

 

Source: Deadline

In Case You Missed It – December 2013

by MCDave

While November brought very little in the form of worthwhile newly released DVDs, it’s a typical expectation as the calm before the Christmas storm. However, as it stands now, December isn’t shaping up to be a particularly great month of releases itself. While I was less than impressed with big-named titles like  Prisoners (12/17),  Elysium  (12/17), and the critically-loved indies Drinking Buddies (12/3) and Ain’t Them Bodies Saints (12/17), all of these films will be reaching the shelves just in time for the holiday season. But outside of those offerings, here are my DVD selections for the month of December.

#1. Shameless (The Series)

Episode 302

Last month I had no other choice but to praise the completion of my favorite television drama of all-time, Breaking Bad. Now this month, due to a week offering by the DVD-release gods, I’m sticking with what works and recommending my new favorite show on TV, Showtime’s Shameless. This holiday season is as good a time as any to start from the beginning and catch up on an extremely underrated series. Admittedly, the first season is a little strange and peculiar, but stay strong, because season two and three offer some of the best laughs and drama you’ll see anywhere on television. The Gallagher family is both lovable and despicable all at the same time. There’s no shortage of fantastic character development and you’ll be hooked, guaranteed! (December 17th)

#2. Despicable Me 2

Despicable

I’m going out on a limb here and giving a blind recommendation for Despicable Me 2. If you’re sitting around this Christmas and looking for the type of movie the entire family can enjoy, why not take a chance with Despicable Me 2? It’s first installment offered plenty of laugh-out-loud hilarity, and I’ve heard that the sequel keeps up with a healthy dose of comedy itself. (December 10th)

#3. Don Jon

don-jon

Although I ultimately gave it a completely mediocre review, a lackluster crop to choose from is forcing me to throw Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s Don Jon into the ring. He delivers the triple threat as the writer, director and star of his own passion project about a porn-addict who’s been discovered by his new girlfriend (Scarlett Johansson). Despite being a heart-warming tale of self discovery and maturation, Don Jon suffers from a cyclic (albeit intended) approach that repeats itself over and over again, to the point of ad nauseam. I was extremely conflicted on this indie, which was fresh out of the Sundance Film Festival, and saw it twice before I could make a final decision. Perhaps you’ll find a little more enjoyment in Don Jon than I did. (December 31st)

Honorable Mention: Despite missing out on all of them myself, action fans may want to take a chance on any of The Wolverine (12/3), Fast & Furious 6 (12/10), The Lone Ranger (12/17) or Kick-Ass 2 (12/17). As a huge horror buff, I definitely plan on catching the sequel Insidious: Chapter 2 (12/24) even though I was underwhelmed with the ending of the original. And finally, one of the most raved about foreign films of the year is The Hunt (12/10), I hear it’s a must see. Until next month, have a wonderful holiday season!

Paul Rudd, Joseph Gordon-Levitt On Marvel’s ‘Ant-Man’ Short List!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Earlier this month, Ant-Man director Edgar Wright tweeted a behind-the-scenes costume test for the anticipated film. Today, the world learned just who’s on Marvel’s short list to star.

This guy:

PaulRudd

And this guy:

JGL

Yep, that’s Paul Rudd and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Variety states that another potential actor could emerge before negotiations are finished, but that it’s unlikely at this point.

Who would you rather see in the role? I have to cast my vote on Gordon-Levitt, as I’ve been a major fan of his for years, but that’s just me. Sound out below, and let us know if you’re looking forward to Ant-Man! The film hits theatres on July 31st, 2015!

Source: Variety

Geekscape Movie Reviews: Don Jon

by MCDave

Joseph Gordon-Levitt is far from a new face in Hollywood. His time in the industry dates back to the early 1990s, most prominently with his first real breakthrough role in the family film Angels in the Outfield. Almost two decades later and the gifted actor has decided to expand his artistic ability. Gordon-Levitt tackles his first attempt behind the camera with his directorial debut, Don Jon.

Jon (played by Gordon-Levitt) is a smooth-talking, physically fit bartender whose weekend streak of pulling “randoms” has landed him the nickname “Don Jon”. But despite the confident young man’s success with the ladies, Jon has a secret obsession with porn. Therefore, when he falls head-over-heels for a demanding woman named Barbara (Scarlett Johansson), Jon’s secret becomes too difficult to hide.

DON JON

Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s Don Jon is a big-hearted comedy that ultimately falls victim to a cyclic and monotonous approach. Underneath all of the recurring trips to the gym, Sunday confessionals and family dinners, resides a deeply dramatic story that’s worthy of acknowledgment. However, Gordon-Levitt bogs down the most notable aspect of his film with redundant scenes that we’re forced to sit through over and over (and over …) again. Throughout all of this repetition very little is actually gained or lost, making Don Jon‘s mere 90 minute running time feel more like an eternity. In fact, the feature’s most interesting character, Esther (who is brilliantly portrayed by Julianne Moore), fails to play a significant role in the film until it’s already too late. While Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s directorial debut offers a meaningful story that culminates quite well, Don Jon gets lost in a tiresome cycle of ineffective moments.

don jon2

Although the movie suffers from its shortcomings, there are plenty of hilarious scenes and a strong uplifting moral to the story. Don Jon‘s side characters develop a winning sense of charm and charisma. The star’s onscreen friends are full of silly one-liners and outlandish behavior that help keep the jokes coming. They prove to be a breath of fresh air as you wade through the slower-paced moments of the film. But despite the fine work from Don Jon‘s entire supporting cast, an over-embellished vibe and an unchanging delivery are too much to overcome.

I’ve been a longtime fan of Joseph Gordon-Levitt for many years now. He can be found all over my home collection of DVDs. And although Don Jon is a missed attempt, there’s still a commendable heart and soul to the feature that the budding filmmaker can clearly build on for the future. I wouldn’t count him out just yet. But in the meantime, you won’t miss much by avoiding the new comedy, Don Jon.

GRADE: 2.5/5

Waste your day checking out other work from MCDAVE at his home site by clicking HERE

First Trailer For Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s Directorial Debut, ‘Don Jon’

by Derek Kraneveldt

Relativity Media has just released the first trailer for Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s directorial debut, Don Jon. The film was a hit at the 2013 Sundance Festival (read our review here), and after watching this first preview, I can see why. The trailer is well cut, and the feature looks hilarious.

Don Jon stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Scarlet Johansson, Julianne Moore, Tony Danza, and more, and will hit theatres on October 18th! Watch the first trailer below, and let us know what you think!

Jon Martello (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is a strong, handsome, good old-fashioned guy. His buddies call him Don Jon due to his ability to “pull” a different woman every weekend, but even the finest fling doesn’t compare to the bliss he finds alone in front of the computer watching pornography. Barbara Sugarman (Scarlett Johansson) is a bright, beautiful, good old-fashioned girl. Raised on romantic Hollywood movies, she’s determined to find her Prince Charming and ride off into the sunset. Wrestling with good old-fashioned expectations of the opposite sex, Jon and Barbara struggle against a media culture full of false fantasies to try and find true intimacy in this unexpected comedy written and directed by Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

Geekscape’s Sundance 2013 Review: ‘Don Jon’s Addiction’

by Anna Agadjanyan

Joseph Gordon-Levitt made a raw, funny, memorable, and very commercial comedy about a very little addressed issue: a guy’s addiction to pornography.  He wrote, directed, and stars in this film about a young NJ male, Jon Martello, who gets the “Don” nickname from his friends for his ability to bring home “10s” every time he goes to a nightclub. Don Jon’s issue is that even after he sleeps with these hotties, he is still left unsatisfied emotionally and needs to use his laptop to get a healthy dose of porn.  Like women, Don Jon objectifies everything in his life including his body, his religion, his apartment, his car, and his family.

It takes a perfect 10, Barbara, played by Scarlett Johansson, to shakes things up when she is not willing to sleep with Jon after dancing the night away in the club.  Luckily, his streak is upheld as he quickly finds another target, but he just can’t get Barbara out of his mind.  He start to properly date and court her, but unknowingly becomes completely whipped to her every wish, but one.  It’s the one promise that he doesn’t uphold, that leads to a real shake-up in his life, when Don Jon meets Esther, Julian Moore’s character.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Julianne more on the set of 'Don Jon's Addiction'
Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Julianne more on the set of ‘Don Jon’s Addiction’

In his feature directorial debut, Gordon-Levitt does a ton of things excellently. The NJ characters are so well portrayed that they feel like some NJ residents I know from college. The characters are real, endearing, yet also super funny.  All the scenes in the nightclub are hilarious. Additionally, Tony Danza, as Jon’s dad is so great that he gives Robert DeNiro a run for his money on his Silver Linings Oscar nomination.  At the same time, he also balances the montages of Don Jon’s pornography with really clever and tight narration that advances the story while also drawing the viewer into why Don Jon really likes porn.  The porn scenes are all real and many contain recognizable faces, but were re-framed in post production to maintain an R rating.  However, several female audience members still felt it was a little more than they would have liked to see.

The always lovely Scarlett Johansson as Barbara
The always lovely Scarlett Johansson as Barbara

During the Q&A, Gordon-Levitt laid out the bigger theme that he targets in the film – the influence on today’s youth from the skewed messages they get in both mainstream media and pornography.  The film contrasts Don Jon’s stilted perceptions on life and women he gets from porn with the absurd messages about love and relationships that Barbara takes from the numerous Hollywood romance movies she is constantly watching.  Adding in the layers of family pressures, religious conventions, and peer pressure he makes a strong case for what a crazy world we live in.  The silver lining is that this film is so entertaining that a bunch of people will watch it and hopefully fuel some open discussion on this otherwise hushed topic. One final benefit is that finally some of Jenna Haze and Alexis Texas’ best work will be coming to a big screen near you.

Cast and Credits

Director: Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Screenwriter: Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Executive Producer: Nicolas Chartier

Producer: Ram Bergman

Cinematographer: Thomas Kloss

Editor: Lauren Zuckerman

Production Designer: Meghan C. Rogers

Composer: Nathan Johnson

Principal Cast: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Scarlett Johansson, Julianne Moore, Tony Danza, Glenne Headly, Rob Brown

Check out Anna’s other reviews from Sundance 2013 here!

Joseph Gordon-Levitt Signs On For Lead Role In ‘Sin City: A Dame To Kill For’

by Shawn Madden

Deadline has just broken news that Joseph Gordon-Levitt has signed on to star in Frank Miller and Robert Rodrigueze’s Sin City: A Dame To Kill For. Levitt will play the role of ‘Johnny’, a part that was actually at one point offered to Johnny Depp.

Levitt will be joining the returning cast from the first film as well as newcomers which may include Josh Brolin (Gangster Squad). Brolin is among a list of actors that the studio is courting for “tough guy” roles in the sequel.

The site also goes on to reveal that Levitt has ended talks with Marvel Studios regarding the role of Peter Quill aka Star-Lord in Guardians Of The Galaxy and that the studio will now be looking at other candidates. So, scratch one name off the not-so-short list of candidates for the role.

New York, NY January 7, 2013 – Dimension Films announced today that Joseph Gordon-Levitt (LOOPER, THE DARK KNIGHT RISES) is joining the all-star cast as one of the lead characters in the highly anticipated SIN CITY: A DAME TO KILL FOR. The film is the follow up to co-directors Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller’s 2005 visually groundbreaking film, FRANK MILLER’S SIN CITY. Other major casting announcements will continue to follow.

Gordon-Levitt will play “Johnny,” a cocky gambler who disguises a darker mission to destroy his most foul enemy at his best game.

“Johnny is a new character in the Sin City world and we are excited for what Joseph will bring to the role,” said Rodriguez and Miller.

Gordon-Levitt most recently wrote, directed and stars in DON JON’S ADDICTION which will premiere this month at Sundance and also stars Scarlett Johansson and Julianne Moore.

SIN CITY: A DAME TO KILL FOR weaves together two of Miller’s classic stories with new tales in which the town’s most hard boiled citizens cross paths with some of its more repulsive inhabitants.

The ensemble includes already announced original cast members Academy Award® nominee Mickey Rourke as “Marv,” Jessica Alba as “Nancy,” Rosario Dawson as “Gail,” and Jaime King as “Goldie/Wendy” with new cast members Dennis Haysbert as “Manute,” and Jamie Chung as “Miho”. Production is underway at Rodriguez’s Troublemaker Studios in Austin, Texas.

The original SIN CITY broke new ground with its iconic stylish look. SIN CITY: A DAME TO KILL FOR will not only bring fans back to the world that Miller and Rodriguez created, but also add a new dimension by bringing their unique visual style to life in 3D.

SIN CITY: A DAME TO KILL FOR was developed by Frank Miller based upon his graphic novel, with a screenplay by Miller and Academy Award® winner William Monahan (The Departed). The film will be released by Dimension Films in the US and Canada on October 4, 2013 and is produced by Robert Rodriguez’s Quick Draw Productions, Aldamisa, AR Films, Miramax and Solipsist.

Source: Deadline

Joseph Gordon-Levitt Latest Candidate For Star-Lord In Marvel’s ‘Guardians Of The Galaxy’

by Shawn Madden

It appears that the list of actors up for the role of Peter Quill aka Star Lord in Marvel Studios Guardians Of The Galaxy just got a bit more interesting. Before Christmas it was revealed that among the shortlist that was already revealed, both Zachary Levi (Thor: The Dark World) and an unnamed actor were also up for the role.

Well, it appears that Joseph Gordon-Levitt (The Dark Knight Rises, Looper) is the latest candidate for the role in the James Gunn directed space epic.  While it is unclear if Gordon-Levitt has been offered the role, his name is definitely in the mix over at Marvel Studios. After his performances in Looper and The Dark Knight Rises this year, Levitt is definitely a great candidate for the role. With production set to begin in a few months an official announcement regarding who lands the role should be expected soon.

Guardians Of The Galaxy is set to hit theaters August 1st, 2014.

Source: Deadline

Geekscape Movie Reviews: Looper

by Shawn Madden

I can honestly say that if I don’t see another movie this year after Looper, I would be fine with that. There have been few truly great movies that have done what Looper has done. Rather than giving us an adaptation of something we have already seen, writer/director Rian Johnson delivers us an original story and does it brilliantly. Trust me, when I say that you are going to be seeing Rian Johnson’s name around a lot more after this film.

Sure, time travel is nothing new in science fiction films, but Johnson brings us a fresh idea on the subject. And if you think you know what is going on in this movie based on the trailers, I am here to tell you that you don’t. This movie is definitely more cerebral and complex than you expect it to be and you’re hooked on the plot from the very beginning. This is not a date night movie by any means because Johnson intends to blow your mind here and accomplishes the feat.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s Joe lives in 2042. He’s a Looper, a hired assassin for the mob (but the mob of 2072). Loopers are given contracts that tell them to be at certain places at certain times in order to perform hits sent from the future. At the exact time stated in the contract, a tied up and hooded target pops into 2042 and in an instant are killed and their bodies destroyed.

Loopers make a good living off this. A mafia that exists in both times run things and Jeff Daniels plays Abe, who is from the future and coordinates the contracts in the past. A mad man is taking over the business in 2072 and for unknown reasons is terminating the contracts of the Loopers. At the time of your contract being terminated you are to kill yourself and cash in heavily, also known as a “loop”. That’s where Willis, who plays Joe from 2072, comes into play. Willis presence in the past is no mere coincidence, but rather the start of a much larger mission to alter the future.

Not only is this movie very smart but it is also quite funny and full of action packed sequences. The shots are beautiful and the visuals are amazing. The film is crisp and quite stylish and the cgi feels very natural and quite real. It also accomplishes the feat of creating a believable future without overdoing it.

Looper is a film that is less concerned with the sci-fi elements than it is with the development of its central characters. Sure, this isn’t done perfectly but it done very well. Now, while all of the performances are great, it’s really Joseph Gordon-Levitt that shines in this film. Levitt has prosthetic attached to his face so he would look more like younger Bruce Willis, and once you get past that you know it’s there, you really get lost in how much he looks and acts like Willis.

Levitt definitely gives this film his all and it clearly shows. Willis gives a very emotional performance as future Joe and Jeff Daniels and Emily Blunt are also great in this film. But child actor Pierce Gagnon gives the most unexpected and fantastic performance in the film. I can’t tell too much about his role without revealing anything about the plot but he’s definitely one of the highlights of the film. When this loop comes full circle you will definitely not expect it.

Looper, without a doubt, is definitely one of the best films to come out this year. The story is going to throw you through a “loop” that will having you walking out of the theater and instantly begin discussing the themes of the movie with the people you saw it with.  Time travel has not yet been invented but you do have the ability to relive these two hours over again and you are going to want to.

Rating: 5/5

Check Out A Cool Animated Trailer For ‘Looper’

by Derek Kraneveldt

Looper hits theatres this Friday, and I couldn’t be more excited. The movie looks fantastic, and ever since Brick was released in 2005 I’ve been wanting another collaboration between Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Rian Johnson. Today, a third official trailer for the film was released, in a very different style than past iterations. Check it out below!

Here’s a synopsis, right from Johnson himself:

“Looper is a time travel movie, set in a near future where time travel doesn’t exist but will be invented in a few decades. It’s pretty dark in tone, much different from Bloom, and involves a group of killers (called Loopers) who work for a crime syndicate in the future.

Their bosses send their targets hogtied and blindfolded back in time to the Loopers, and their job is to simply shoot them in the head and dispose of the body. So the target vanishes from the future and the Loopers dispose of a corpse that doesn’t technically exist, a very clean system.

Complications set in from there.”

It sounds extremely intriguing, it looks fantastic, and this close to release is still a very mysterious title. I know I’ll be lining up on Friday, how about you?

‘Looper’: The 16-Bit Trailer!

by Shawn Madden

Who doesn’t like seeing stuff that they love reinterpreted in 8-bit and 16-bit form? Well, how about something that we don’t love yet but I am pretty sure we are going to? Take a look at what Looper would look like if it was still the 90’s and we were getting movie adaptations for our Super Nintendo. This fan made trailer for the upcoming movie is pretty damn awesome and I would totally play the hell out of this game.

In the futuristic action thriller Looper, time travel will be invented – but it will be illegal and only available on the black market. When the mob wants to get rid of someone, they will send their target 30 years into the past, where a “looper” – a hired gun, like Joe (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) – is waiting to mop up. Joe is getting rich and life is good… until the day the mob decides to “close the loop,” sending back Joe’s future self (Bruce Willis) for assassination. The film is written and directed by Rian Johnson and also stars Emily Blunt, Paul Dano, and Jeff Daniels. Ram Bergman and James D. Stern produce.

Looper hits theaters September 28th!

Source: Slash Film

Geekscape Movie Reviews: Premium Rush

by Derek Kraneveldt

When email won’t cut it, Fedex is too slow, you can’t deliver it yourself, and you really, really need something delivered, a bike messenger is your only option.

These guys are crazy. Weaving in and out of traffic, through busy intersections, seemingly without a care in the world. This is what Wilee (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) lives and breathes for. The adrenaline, the split second decisions, the race against the clock and the race against himself as he speeds towards his destination.

Then someone wants to take his package away.

What a premise! I first heard about Premium Rush a few months back and immediately kept it on my radar. It looked like a ton of fun, and a fantastic, fast-paced action thriller on the streets of NYC. Our hero speeds through the city on a bike with no gears, and insanely, no brakes. Wow.

Also, Joseph Gordon-Levitt! I love this guy. Since the days of Mysterious Skin or Brick, I knew there was something special about him. He has absolutely blown up in the last few years, so I apparently wasn’t alone in that.

JGL

So we’ve got a chase through New York City, and we have Joseph Gordon-Levitt on a bike with no brakes. What could go wrong?

Apparently, a lot.

The film starts strongly. A slow motion shot of Wilee flying through the air before crashing hard into the pavement below. A crowd begins to gather. He isn’t getting up. He isn’t even moving.

A big digital clock fades into view before rewinding 90 minutes. I’m in. I’m engaged. What happened to him? Is he dead? Was he successful?

Wilee careens though busy streets, in and out of extremely dangerous situations as fast as you can blink, while explaining why he does what he does, and why he wouldn’t give it up for anything. He’s relatable, he’s likable, he’s dangerous. Everybody wins!

Then things started turning sour for me. After the first five minutes (which was essentially what I explained above) everything seemed to slow to a crawl.

The plot should be established, he should have his MacGuffin and people need to be chasing him already. He should be doing cool bike tricks. Instead we spend ten minutes witnessing his girl troubles (are they together? are they not? were they ever? why did that other bike messenger just kiss her? I don’t care!).

Wilee gets sent to pick up a package. Here we go! Back on track! Wait… he’s calling her. More girl troubles. I sigh.

We finally get back to the action. He’s got his package, and some guy wants it. What is the package? Who is this guy? Why does he want it?

It’s in the answers to these questions that Premium Rush completely loses me. In pursuit of our romantically challenged hero is Bobby Monday (Michael Shannon), an upper-level NYPD officer with money troubles and a stupid name. He’s learned that Wilee’s package is worth a sizable quantity of money. Enough to pay off his debts with some to spare.

Bobby Monday

This pursuit, this movie, is happening because an asshole cop has a gambling problem. A freaking gambling problem. Nobody could have come up with a better reason than that? The character is made further unlikable by the way that he yells “I’m a cop! You can’t touch me!” seemingly to everyone that crosses him.

The chase continues. Wilee constantly escapes (a joke is made that he can never seem to catch what he’s after a la Wile E Coyote, which has to be an allusion to the fact that he is more of a Road Runner here). Throughout all of this, it seems like Bobby Monday is never more than a moment away.

This really breaks the realism. Wilee is on a bike, weaving through traffic and squeezing through tight spaces that aren’t even on roads. Yet the man in the car seems to always know where he is, and is constantly popping up behind him.

Things pick up for the third act. The action becomes more interesting and varied. The plot actually develops further and explains the purpose of the package. Bobby Monday is defeated while yelling “I’m a cop!”. The pace really picks up here and it’s exponentially more enjoyable than the rest of the film.

Overall, I really didn’t feel the rush I had been expecting. More often than not the film falls flat with inconsistencies and uninteresting dialogue. I loved pieces of the experience (there are some great video game-esque scenes: time slows as Wilee gauges his options: what direction to go, what might the outcome be, before finally choosing the best course of action), and Gordon-Levitts performance was strong as always.

The parts I loved didn’t make it worth the price of admission for me. The oft repeated “Brakes are death” mantra however, was worth that cost, and it is now how I’ll be living my life.

If your expectations are low or you’re simply buying tickets for a movie you know nothing about, you may be pleasantly surprised. Otherwise, I wouldn’t rush into this one.

Score: 2/5

Premium Rush

Joseph Gordon-Levitt Talks About The End Of ‘The Dark Knight Rises’

by Shawn Madden

Last night Joseph Gordon-Levitt appeared on Jimmy Kimmel’s talk show and the actor discussed the ending of The Dark Knight Rises. This included him discussing if he has any interest in returning for a sequel…if that somehow ever happened. If you haven’t seen the movie by now you probably shouldn’t be reading this or watching the video below. Just saying.


The ‘Looper’ Viral Campaign Has Begun!

by Shawn Madden

Sometime around March director Rian Johnson had announced that they were planning a viral campaign for the upcoming Looper. Well, it’s started guys and they’re inviting YOU to be a looper. All you have to do is head over to Looper Network and sign up but there’s a catch. There’s always a catch right?

There’s a stipulation in every Looper’s contract that he may someday be required to hunt down his future self, thus closing the contract, getting a huge pay-off and erasing any trace of the very illegal arrangement with his or her future employer.  This is called Closing Your Loop.  Cash out, get paid.  Live those 30 years like only a Looper can.

Well, this also reveals a little bit more about just what is happening in the movie. You guys better hurry up and sign up now because the first mission is scheduled to go down August 22nd! But you can pick up your gear now.

And a few of the propaganda images from the site:

Looper is in theaters September 28th.

Let The Games Begin! A Review Of ‘The Dark Knight Rises’

by Shawn Madden

Prepare to have all your expectations met and more. Much like I stated in my piece that took a look back at the other films… some had their doubts about The Dark Knight Rises‘ casting. I am here to say have no worries. This is Christian Bales finest performance as Bruce Wayne/Batman. Forget about Heath Ledger as The Joker and do not try to compare  that performance to Tom Hardy’s Bane. This is an entirely different beast and Bane is both menacing and vicious. The muzzled voice due to the mask makes the character all the more real and for me made him even more threatening. Anne Hathaway is great as Selina Kyle and pulls the role off quite well. The standout performance to me, thought, is Joseph Gordon-Levitt as John Blake. Going in, I underestimated the importance of the character. He brings humanity, decency, and probably a bit more physicality than you might be expecting to the story. The only person I expected more from would be Marion Cotillard, but I am going to avoid spoiler territory here. She is good but I expected a bit more from her.

Is the movie better than The Dark Knight? In some ways… yes it is. There definitely is more action in this one. That’s for damn sure. Some of the interaction between characters is really touching, especially between Wayne and Alfred. It’s really hard to compare the two because they truly are two different films that are going to be incredibly hard for many to pick between as the best chapter of the trilogy. It is a satisfying ending that lives up to all expectations. Whoever makes a Bat-film after Nolan is going to have their work cut out. That ending alone is going to be talked about for weeks on end. Whether it be praise of the whining of the internet purists who are never happy with anything. I hope they realize that this is an interpretation just like the many we have seen in the comics over the years and a damn good one. We can’t see the same stories and endings we already know because as cool as it would be…they’d grow stale and boring. I already expect that there are some out there cracking their fingers getting ready to type angrily. But let us move on past that and to the end here.

I cannot comment too much on the ending because I refuse to spoil anything. The last fifteen or so minutes of the movie are phenomenal. There was a really short period where I was almost angry at Nolan until the first plot twist eased my worries. You will get it when you see it. I am still thinking about it right now as I write this. Some have even gone on to state “Holy fuck!” after. No, really. The person that I went to the theater with absolutely did.

This movie goes out with the appropriate bang that was needed to conclude Nolan’s trilogy. I agree with those praising it and stating that this could be the first comic book movie to win an Oscar. Between the writing, the performances and the incredible visuals, the movie is on par with anything we can expect to see come Awards Season. So, why are you still reading this? Stop reading reviews (and definitely avoid spoilers) and just go see the damn movie, already!

5/5. Hands down. Bravo, Nolan and Company.

New Trailer For ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ Revisits The Journey

by Shawn Madden

Revisit the entire journey up until ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ with this new trailer. The trailer reminds us that there really isn’t anything out there quite like Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Saga.

The saga ends with ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ in theaters July 20th.

The Netflix Instant You Might Have Missed: ‘Brick’

by Shawn Madden

Now, while I am sure most of you have seen this movie there are plenty of people out there that I talk to that have not. Many of you by now know Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s name but do not realize that he did indeed do movies in between ’10 Things I Hate About You’ and some of his more recent well known movies. The name you may not know here is Rian Johnson. But it sounds familiar right? Well, that’s because he is also the director of ‘The Brothers Bloom’ and the upcoming ‘Looper’. You know…that awesome looking film where he once again collaborates with Joseph Gordon-Levitt and also Bruce Willis. If somehow you’ve been living in a cave you can see the trailer here. But back to the matter at hand. ‘Brick’ isn’t going to be for everyone but everyone should check it out especially if you’re planning on seeing ‘Looper’. Rian Johsnon is a great director and his first at bat is a knock out of the park. If you’re looking for something different to add to your instant queue this weekend…’Brick’ is a great choice.

When a secret crush turns up dead and the murderer is anyone’s guess, teenage loner Brendan Fry (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is forced to navigate his school’s social network through intense interactions with thespians, band geeks and druggies (including a grown-up Lukas Haas). This unconventional film noir marked a promising debut for writer-director Rian Johnson, picking up a Special Jury Prize at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival.