Tag: Tom Hardy

The Geekscape ‘Venom’ Special With Ian Kerner!

by Jonathan

Finally! Hollywood had its way and successfully released the stand-alone ‘Venom’ movie that they’ve been trying to make for years! But… is it really a success? What can be argued against an $80 Million opening weekend? Well… a lot. This movie isn’t exactly a critical darling. From the script to the fx to the acting to the entire point of making a stand-alone Venom movie in the first place, there’s a lot that doesn’t work. So why did we still have fun watching it? Did it have anything to do with the movie? Well, it’s time to answer your questions. Does any of it work? How is there a Venom separate from the Spider-Man story? Are the action scenes exciting? Did they nail the Venom and Eddie Brock relationship? How does the villain stack up? Does anything in this movie make sense? It’s all here in this episode… so better you listen to this than watch the movie.

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‘Venom’ Solo Film: Tom Hardy Is Venom & Ruben Fleischer Will Direct.

by The_acz

Let’s end this week with some juicy movie news.

The Hollywood Reporter broke the scoop that Tom Hardy has signed on to play Venom himself in the upcoming Venom solo movie, and that Zombieland director Ruben Fleischer will direct. Don’t get too excited, though, as there are some asterisks next to this announcement. First thing to realize right off the bat is that this is a separate Spider-Man universe film not at all related to Spider-Man Homecoming or the MCU. Once again, Sony is trying to restart their half of the failed Spider-Man universe. Another problem is that while it’s exciting to see the director of Zombieland take the reigns of this project, he has also done some not-as-good films such as Gangster Squad and 30 Minutes or Less. Will Venom overcome the odds and be a decent film? Only time will tell. Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!

Geekscape Movie Reviews: The Revenant

by MCDave

Last year’s Best Picture winner, Alejandro G. Inarritu’s Birdman, amazed audiences with its single-shot appearance and paved the way for the director’s next project. Even though the Mexican filmmaker has successfully lured impressive acting talent to his highly regarded past works, The Revenant has always been different, it’s supposed to be “the one”. With the Oscar-less Leonardo DiCaprio set to star in the role of a lifetime as he rides the wave of Inarritu’s recent success, all eyes have shifted to their upcoming collaborative effort.

Set throughout a massive uncharted American wilderness during the 1820s, Leonardo DiCaprio stars as famed explorer, Hugh Glass. Following a viscous grisly bear attack that leaves him fighting for his life, Glass is abandoned and left for dead by fellow frontiersman, John Fitzgerald (Tom Hardy). Against all odds, Glass is forced to withstand blistering winter conditions as he embarks on a vengeful quest to find and kill Fitzgerald.

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The Revenant is a relentless survivor tale that motions fluidly between an intense drama and a visceral revenge thriller. Despite all the attention placed on Leonardo DiCaprio’s leading performance, it’s Inarritu’s direction that shines brightest. Unlike his fine technical achievements in Birdman, Inarritu slightly tones down his flashy filmmaking skills and utilizes them solely as a complement to Hugh Glass’ remarkable true story. This naturally brings us to DiCaprio. Although I’d argue against this being the finest work of his career, the performance still warrants global attention and I do believe that he’ll win his first statue on Oscar night in February. Sometimes the stars just need to align and DiCaprio’s exceptional turn is further elevated by surprisingly weak competition within the Best Actor race. Don’t be fooled, however, The Revenant is more than a one man show. The entire ensemble is worthy of immense praise and that includes each of Tom Hardy, Domhnall Gleeson, Will Poulter and the rest of the film’s brilliant cast.

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While The Revenant is an epic story of one man’s staunch pursuit of revenge that exceeds Inarritu’s previous Best Picture winner, it still fails to mask a few noticeable shortcomings. First, the film packs an immediate punch and culminates with a phenomenal climactic finish. Yet, the second act of Inarritu’s Oscar contender trudges along aimlessly with a Terrence Malick-like sense of artistry that keeps the plot at a standstill. Despite being existential and filled with marvelous imagery, this two and a half hour feature suffers from a sluggish midsection. Furthermore, The Revenant‘s continual reliance on violence and brutality stays loyal to the main theme of the film, but it will undoubtedly repel a large faction of moviegoers and Academy members. Therefore, I see The Revenant as a major Oscar player but an unlikely choice for back-to-back Best Picture winners from Inarritu.

As someone who enjoyed Birdman for its exquisite direction and not as much for its middling story, I had a few reservations regarding Alejandro G. Inarritu’s latest offering. However, The Revenant surpasses last year’s top-honored film in both style and substance. The feature doesn’t boast a high re-watch factor, but it still manages to set itself apart as an instant classic from one of Hollywood’s most talented visionaries. And maybe, just maybe, he’ll be able to get Leo that well-deserved Oscar win.

GRADE: 4/5

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‘The Revenant’ Is Just A Few Days Away, Watch A New Featurette!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: There’s no denying that Alejandro González Iñarritu The Revenant looks phenomenal, and it’s arguably (from the limited footage that we’ve seen thus far) the most jaw-droppingly gorgeous film that we’ll see this year.

Early buzz for the film has been unanimously spectacular, with essentially the entire internet saying that this is finallythe year that Leo gets his Oscar.

A new featurette for the film has just debuted online, which is insanely interesting, and goes deeper into some of the heavy themes from the anticipated film.

Inspired by true events, THE REVENANT is an immersive and visceral cinematic experience capturing one man’s epic adventure of survival and the extraordinary power of the human spirit. In an expedition of the uncharted American wilderness, legendary explorer Hugh Glass (Leonardo DiCaprio) is brutally attacked by a bear and left for dead by members of his own hunting team. In a quest to survive, Glass endures unimaginable grief as well as the betrayal of his confidant John Fitzgerald (Tom Hardy). Guided by sheer will and the love of his family, Glass must navigate a vicious winter in a relentless pursuit to live and find redemption. THE REVENANT is directed and co-written by renowned filmmaker, Academy Award® winner Alejandro G. Iñárritu (Birdman, Babel).

Take a look at the new featurette below, and let us know what you think! The Revenant hits (some) theatres on December 25th, and goes wide on January 8th!

The First Clip From ‘The Revenant’ Is Absolutely Stunning!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: There’s no denying that Alejandro González Iñarritu The Revenant looks phenomenal, and it’s arguably (from the limited footage that we’ve seen thus far) the most jaw-droppingly gorgeous film that we’ll see this year.

Early buzz for the film has been unanimously spectacular, with essentially the entire internet saying that this is finally the year that Leo gets his Oscar.

The very first clip from the film has made its way online, and it shows off more of the same perplexing beauty that we’ve seen from the rest of the film’s marketing. While I didn’t love Alejandro’s Birdman, the Revenant looks like something incredibly special.

Inspired by true events, THE REVENANT is an immersive and visceral cinematic experience capturing one man’s epic adventure of survival and the extraordinary power of the human spirit. In an expedition of the uncharted American wilderness, legendary explorer Hugh Glass (Leonardo DiCaprio) is brutally attacked by a bear and left for dead by members of his own hunting team. In a quest to survive, Glass endures unimaginable grief as well as the betrayal of his confidant John Fitzgerald (Tom Hardy). Guided by sheer will and the love of his family, Glass must navigate a vicious winter in a relentless pursuit to live and find redemption. THE REVENANT is directed and co-written by renowned filmmaker, Academy Award® winner Alejandro G. Iñárritu (Birdman, Babel).

Take a look at the new clip below, and let us know what you think! The Revenant hits (some) theatres on December 25th, and goes wide on January 8th!

‘The Revenant’ Gets An Insanely Beautiful TV Trailer!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: There’s no denying that Alejandro González Iñarritu The Revenant looks phenomenal, and it’s arguably (from the limited footage that we’ve seen thus far) the most jaw-droppingly gorgeous film that we’ll see this year.

Reviews for the film are non-existent at this point (embargo lifts on December 4th), but early buzz has been spectacular, with essentially the entire internet saying that this is finally the year that Leo gets his Oscar.

A new extended TV spot for the feature has just debuted online, and it shows off more of the same perplexing beauty that we’ve seen from the rest of the film’s marketing. While I didn’t love Alejandro’s Birdman, the Revenant looks like something incredibly special.

Inspired by true events, THE REVENANT is an immersive and visceral cinematic experience capturing one man’s epic adventure of survival and the extraordinary power of the human spirit. In an expedition of the uncharted American wilderness, legendary explorer Hugh Glass (Leonardo DiCaprio) is brutally attacked by a bear and left for dead by members of his own hunting team. In a quest to survive, Glass endures unimaginable grief as well as the betrayal of his confidant John Fitzgerald (Tom Hardy). Guided by sheer will and the love of his family, Glass must navigate a vicious winter in a relentless pursuit to live and find redemption. THE REVENANT is directed and co-written by renowned filmmaker, Academy Award® winner Alejandro G. Iñárritu (Birdman, Babel).

Take a look at the new spot below, and let us know what you think! The Revenant hits (some) theatres on December 25th, and goes wide on January 8th!

Tom Hardy Set To Produce and Star In “100 BULLETS” Film Adaptation

by Bigyanks

tom_hardy

The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that Tom Hardy has signed on to produce and star in the film adaptation of Vertigo Comics’ ‘100 Bullets’. ‘100 Bullets’ is an Eisner and Harvey Award-winning comic book written by Brian Azzarello and illustrated by Eduardo Risso, published by DC Comics under its Vertigo imprint and ran for 100 issues.

The comic book series follows Agent Graves, a mysterious man who presents strangers with a gun, one hundred rounds of untraceable ammunition and the identity of the person who ruined their life.

Watch ‘The Revenant’ Teaser Trailer

by Bigyanks

Inspired by the life of mythical explorer Hugh Glass, “The Revenant” focuses on one man’s (DiCaprio) adventure of survival in the early 19th century American wilderness.

The movie, which is already generating Oscar buzz, teams Leonardo DiCaprio with Oscar-winning director Alejandro G. Inarritu, who also co-wrote the film, which is based on Michael Punke’s novel of the same name. With Tom Hardy at his side, this will be Leonardo’s best chance to get the coveted Oscar. With Leo’s luck he will lose to Tom Hardy for Legends and Tom Hardy will win Best Supporting for this film.

The film opens in limited release on Christmas Day.

Who is excited for this film? let me know below!

Tom Hardy Gives Awesome Answer to Dumb ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ Question

by Eric Francisco

Mad Max: Fury Road is now everybody’s favorite action movie of the summer even though it’s not even June. Much ado has been made of its uniquely pro-women story and acclaimed female characters, but that hasn’t stopped dumb people from wondering where all the men are.

During this year’s Cannes Film Festival, Tom Hardy was asked by a journalist if he wondered why there were so many women “in a man’s movie.” Watch here at the 9:45 mark.

The Cannes Film Festival ended a few weeks back but this video is now gaining traction.

I genuinely wonder where these people are coming from. We’re at a point when geek culture is finally being more inclusionary, yet there’s pushback to keep this stuff for dudes-only. Maybe the “journalist” didn’t have ill-intentions and really wondered what the film’s star thought about the film’s characters, but what a shitty way to word it.

The Final ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ Trailer Is Even More Insane Than The Last One!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: I’m still not overly familiar with the Mad Max series, but this insanely cool final trailer for the upcoming Fury Road is making me rethink my entire life.

The film features an entirely new cast, and though the last Mad Max film came five years before I was born in 1985, Fury Road will not act as a complete reboot, and will instead be set following the events of 1981’s Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior.

In the film, “Haunted by his turbulent past, Mad Max believes the best way to survive is to wander alone. Nevertheless, he becomes swept up with a group fleeing across the Wasteland in a War Rig driven by an elite Imperator, Furiosa. They are escaping a Citadel tyrannized by the Immortan Joe, from whom something irreplaceable has been taken. Enraged, the Warlord marshals all his gangs and pursues the rebels ruthlessly in the high-octane Road War that follows.”

This trailer is gorgeous, action packed, and it instantly excited even a Mad Max virgin like myself. Take a look at the video below, and be sure to let us know if you’re excited for this one. Mad Max: Fury Road hits theatres on May 15th!

Here’s The Gorgeous Full Trailer For ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Just yesterday Warner Bros. debuted three sexy new TV spots for next month’s Mad Max: Fury Road, and today they’ve debuted an absolutely gorgeous new trailer that’s chock-full of insane looking new footage.

As I noted yesterday, to this day I’m a Mad Max virgin, but that’s a problem that I’ll definitely have solved by the time May 15th rolls around.

In the film, “Haunted by his turbulent past, Mad Max believes the best way to survive is to wander alone. Nevertheless, he becomes swept up with a group fleeing across the Wasteland in a War Rig driven by an elite Imperator, Furiosa. They are escaping a Citadel tyrannized by the Immortan Joe, from whom something irreplaceable has been taken. Enraged, the Warlord marshals all his gangs and pursues the rebels ruthlessly in the high-octane Road War that follows.”

Take a look at the trailer below, and be sure to let us know what you think!

Three New ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ TV Spots Remind Us How Incredible It Looks!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: I’m still not overly familiar with the Mad Max series, but these incredibly gorgeous spots for the upcoming Fury Road are making me rethink my entire life.

In the film, “Haunted by his turbulent past, Mad Max believes the best way to survive is to wander alone. Nevertheless, he becomes swept up with a group fleeing across the Wasteland in a War Rig driven by an elite Imperator, Furiosa. They are escaping a Citadel tyrannized by the Immortan Joe, from whom something irreplaceable has been taken. Enraged, the Warlord marshals all his gangs and pursues the rebels ruthlessly in the high-octane Road War that follows.”

The spots look insane, are action packed, and instantly excite even a Mad Max virgin like myself. Take a look at the videos below, and be sure to let us know how excited you are for this one. Mad Max: Fury Road hits theatres on May 15th!

Jake Gyllenhaal Replaces Tom Hardy in ‘Suicide Squad’ [UPDATE]

by Eric Francisco

UPDATE: It has been clarified that Jake Gyllenhaal is only in the running to replace Tom Hardy, it has not been confirmed. We apologize for the mistake.

Trying to decide if this is a good thing or a bad thing. Tom Hardy has just departed from Warner Bros.’ Suicide Squad for scheduling reasons and has been replaced by Jake Gyllenhaal.

From TheWrap:

Hardy was forced to exit the project because Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu’s “The Revenant” is going over schedule into mid-March, after which Hardy will be needed to promote WB’s “Mad Max: Fury Road,” which comes out on May 15. “Suicide Squad” is expected to start production in April, and that time crunch is why Hardy had to drop out of the film.

Let’s get the bad out of the way: No more Tom Hardy. While Margot Robbie and Jared Leto’s Harley Quinn and Joker respectively remain my number one reason to see Suicide Squad, Tom Hardy as Rick Flagg could have been a show stealer because he practically show steals every time. Even the terrible Bane from The Dark Knight Rises is a fun watch if you’re in the right headspace.

Now for the good: Jake Gyllenhaal. Gyllenhaal has always been a captivating actor, but this year’s Nightcrawler made everyone rally for him when he was curiously snubbed for an Oscar earlier today (reactions to that coming soon). His omission from the race (among others, like everyone involved with Selma) has been a point of backlash against the Academy today, and I’ve seen no shortage of outrage on behalf of Gyllenhaal on social media.

There’s cold comfort in that Tom Hardy left for the simple reason that he can’t make time for it. There was no diva breakdown or hatred or bad blood for anyone or for the superhero genre. In any case, Suicide Squad remains the DC movie to watch, and they have an incredibly solid choice in Gyllenhaal.

Suicide Squad is set for release August 5, 2016. (Holy shit, I will have seen a Power Rangers movie by then.)

 

This New Trailer For ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ Is So Freaking Bad-Ass

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: I’m still not overly familiar with the Mad Max series, but this insanely cool trailer for the upcoming Fury Road is making me rethink my entire life.

The film features an entirely new cast, and though the last Mad Max film came five years before I was born in 1985, Fury Road will not act as a complete reboot, and will instead be set following the events of 1981’s Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior.

In the film, “Haunted by his turbulent past, Mad Max believes the best way to survive is to wander alone. Nevertheless, he becomes swept up with a group fleeing across the Wasteland in a War Rig driven by an elite Imperator, Furiosa. They are escaping a Citadel tyrannized by the Immortan Joe, from whom something irreplaceable has been taken. Enraged, the Warlord marshals all his gangs and pursues the rebels ruthlessly in the high-octane Road War that follows.”

This trailer is gorgeous, action packed, and it instantly excited even a Mad Max virgin like myself. Take a look at the video below, and be sure to let us know if you’re excited for this one. Mad Max: Fury Road hits theatres on May 15th!

Warner Bros. Announces ‘Suicide Squad’ Cast!

by Eric Francisco

According to Newsarama, Warner Bros. has just announced the cast of Suicide Squad, the next entry in their line-up of DC movies after Batman v. Superman.

Ladies and gentlemen, introducing the Suicide Squad:

Jared Leto as The Joker

Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn

Will Smith as Deadshot

Tom Hardy as Rick Flag

Jai Courtney as Boomerang

Cara Delevingne as Enchantress

What a hell of a cast! If you’ve been following the rumors this list isn’t a surprise at all, rather it’s the accuracy of those rumors that have been raising eyebrows.

From Newsarama:

The movie will begin shooting in April 2015 in Toronto, and is the second film on the WB/DC mega-docket announced in October, following Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice.

“We look forward to seeing this terrific ensemble, under David Ayer’s amazing guidance, give new meaning to what it means to be a villain and what it means to be a hero,” said WB President Greg Silverman.

Ayer has previously said the film will go by the credo, “Does a movie really need good guys?”

It is not yet known who will be playing Amanda Waller, the government liaison and shot-caller of the squad. Jesse Eisenberg, who is portraying Superman villain Lex Luthor in Batman v. Superman, is also rumored to be involved with Suicide Squad in some capacity, but how much or even if at all is unknown.

Let’s get the big reveal out of the way: Jared Leto as The Joker. First, The Joker has never really been a regular on the Suicide Squad roster all that much in the comics, so his involvement with the movie is definitely Warner Bros.’/DC’s way of getting him to eventually cross with Batman. There is no question.

As great as the Oscar-winning performance Heath Ledger was when he was the Clown Prince back in 2008, that’s his performance. One actor alone cannot define a character. I always rolled my eyes when fanboys shouted that the Joker should be retired from film. Keeping other artists from contributing to the life of a character, that’s dumb. I can’t say I’m a fan of Jared Leto, but seeing how The Joker character has brought out some of the best performances from great actors in the last few decades, I look forward to seeing how Jared Leto fares.

The other big news: Will Smith as Deadshot! That’s a great choice. Yeah, he has a weird family, but that shouldn’t have any bearing on him as a performer. Furthermore, it will be interesting how he plays a cold-hearted killer when for years he’s been known as America’s best friend. The guy who wore hot pink shirts and rapped (with PG-friendly lyrics) about partying in Miami will play the deadliest assassin in comic books. I can’t wait to see him. Also, there are some very close-minded comic fans who come out every so often deriding racial casting changes of their favorite characters. So far, I haven’t heard a single peep about Will Smith as Deadshot. Why so quiet, bigots?

The rest of the cast range from solid to fascinating. Tom Hardy, playing his second DC villain, is on the verge of a cultural comeback. I love Tom Hardy as an actor, and I know it has only been two years since The Dark Knight Rises but his momentum as a Hollywood star slowed somewhat after that. He only had one movie, the critically-acclaimed Locke, in 2013 and The Drop this year. But with a slew of new movies coming up, among them Mad Max: Fury Road and now Suicide Squad, your girlfriend (or boyfriend!) will be going back to the theater more.

Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn will have an interesting shoe to fill. While Harley has never been in a movie before, she is so beloved by fans. From her debut in Batman: The Animated Series to the critically-acclaimed Batman: Arkham City, fans can’t wait to see The Joker’s paramour on screen. But with no previous shadow to step out of (unlike Leto), Robbie has a chance to cement her own legacy. She might actually be the one thing I’m looking forward to the most from this movie.

David Ayer will be helming this Expendables-esque blockbuster of super baddies and will be in theaters August 6, 2016.

How do you guys feel about the cast of Suicide Squad? Honestly, it’s still hard  for me to believe a DC Universe movie series is really happening.

Geekscape Movie Reviews: The Drop

by MCDave

Surprisingly, it’s been nearly 15 months since we lost the gifted actor James Gandolfini. And with his final onscreen performance in the upcoming crime-drama The Drop reaching theatres this weekend, for movie lovers everywhere, only now is the reality of our loss beginning to sink in. Adapted from the Dennis Lehane (author of Gone Baby Gone and Mystic River) short story titled Animal Rescue, Gandolfini’s sadly short-lived career comes full circle in this mob-centered tale.

Tom Hardy stars as Bob Saginowski, a loner bartender at his cousin Marv’s (James Gandolfini) former bar in Brooklyn. The dive-bar establishment is now owned by Chechen mobsters as a haven for funneling illegal funds. After Bob and Marv are robbed at gun point one evening just minutes after closing time, tensions start to rise as the Chechens demand repayment and local law enforcement gets involved.

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I must admit that I had wavering expectations prior to viewing Michael Roskam’s The Drop. On one hand, Dennis Lehane’s storytelling has a long history of success, yet, Roskam’s lack of experience made him feel like an unusual choice for director. Thankfully, The Drop‘s sequence of events unravels nicely and a brilliant cast, carried mostly by the work of James Gandolfini and a personal favorite of mine, Tom Hardy, helps solidify the directorial effort from a rather unknown filmmaker. As expected, Gandolfini delivers a very natural performance in his final role, one that has a chance of garnering a posthumous Oscar Nomination in the Supporting Actor category. Most impressive though is how The Drop distances itself from being a carbon copy of the mainstream gangster film mold that prides itself on drugs, violence and plenty of shoot-em-up scenes. Instead, the feature uses these essential mob-genre ingredients merely as a backdrop to an in-depth character study. And although the pacing feels sluggish at times, we’re left with a slow-mounting intensity that builds beautifully.

'The Drop' (2014) Trailer: James Gandolfini (Screengrab)

Despite the film’s unique character-driven noir-ish tone, The Drop tells a very peculiar tale, one that leads to many surprises and leaves the audience unsure of how to feel. For example, during a pivotal moment at last night’s screening, a majority of viewers erupted into laughter during an admittedly odd scene. While I highly doubt that humor was anything close to the reaction director Michael Roskam was going for during that vital moment, a strange turn in the story left moviegoers baffled at how to respond. Furthermore, The Drop closes with an almost contradictory scene that I felt the movie could have done without. However, none of these criticisms are glaring enough to tear down an otherwise fine adaptation from the entire cast and crew.

I would hardly call Michael Roskam’s The Drop a “must-see” film. However, fans of Gandolfini and Hardy are sure to find plenty of enjoyment in their latest crime-focused feature. Don’t expect anything groundbreaking here, just a stellar collection of performances and clever storytelling.

GRADE: 4/5

View plenty of other work from MCDAVE at his host site

 

SDCC 2014: Watch The Insane First Trailer For ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: I’m not overly familiar with the Mad Max series, but after seeing the first trailer for next year’s Mad Max: Fury Road, that’s something that I need to change fast.

Though the film features an entirely new cast, and though the last Mad Max film came five years before I was born in 1985, Fury Road will not act as a complete reboot, and will instead be set following the events of 1981’s Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior.

In the film, “Haunted by his turbulent past, Mad Max believes the best way to survive is to wander alone. Nevertheless, he becomes swept up with a group fleeing across the Wasteland in a War Rig driven by an elite Imperator, Furiosa. They are escaping a Citadel tyrannized by the Immortan Joe, from whom something irreplaceable has been taken. Enraged, the Warlord marshals all his gangs and pursues the rebels ruthlessly in the high-octane Road War that follows.”

The trailer is gorgeous, action packed, and it instantly excited even a Mad Max virgin like myself. You can take a look at the near 3-minute trailer below, and be sure to let us know what you think! Mad Max: Fury Road hits theatres on May 15, 2015!

“Mad Max: Fury Road”—the fourth in the franchise’s history—stars Tom Hardy (“The Dark Knight Rises”) in the title role, alongside Oscar winner Charlize Theron (“Monster,” “Prometheus”) as the Imperator, Furiosa. The film also stars Nicholas Hoult (“X-Men: Days of Future Past”) as Nux; Hugh Keays-Byrne (“Mad Max”, “Sleeping Beauty”) as Immortan Joe; and Nathan Jones (“Conan the Barbarian”) as Rictus Erectus. Collectively known as The Wives, Zoë Kravitz (“Divergent”) plays Toast, Riley Keough (“Magic Mike”) is Capable, and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley (“Transformers: Dark of the Moon”) is Splendid. They are joined by supermodel Abbey Lee as The Dag and Courtney Eaton as Fragile, both of whom are making heir big screen debuts. Also featured in the movie are Josh Helman as Slit, Jennifer Hagan as Miss Giddy, and singer/songwriter/performer iOTA as Coma-Doof Warrior. The cast is rounded out by well-known Australian actors John Howard and Richard Carter, supermodel Megan Gale, Angus Sampson, Joy Smithers, Gillian Jones, Melissa Jaffer and Melita Jurisic.

Sundance Film Festival Preview

by MCDave

Sundance is known for producing many of the year’s finest in independent cinema, and I’m thrilled to be traveling to Utah in a few short days to experience it first hand. Today I’m previewing the Sundance selections that I’m most excited to see at this year’s festival. But before we get to the top 5, here are a few honorable mention selections that also have my attention.

Honorable Mention: Hellion (starring Breaking Bad‘s Aaron Paul), Infinitely Polar Bear (starring Mark Ruffalo), Laggies (starring Keira Knightley and Sam Rockwell) and Happy Christmas (starring Anna Kendrick).

#5. God’s Pocket

god's pocket

The always great Philip Seymour Hoffman will be sporting plenty of screen-time in more than one film at Sundance this year. First up is the drama God’s Pocket, which follows a man’s who gets more than he bargained for when he attempts to cover-up his step-son’s accidental death. Also starring John Turturro, Richard Jenkins and Ray Donovan‘s Eddie Marsan, God’s Pocket has the type of cast you simply salivate over.

#4. The Skeleton Twins 

skeleton twins

You don’t always need a drama or thriller to satisfy your movie-going needs. In fact, one of Sundance’s most anticipated features is the comedy The Skeleton Twins which stars Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig as estranged twins who miraculously escape death on the same day. As a result, they decide to reconnect and confront how their lives went so wrong over the years. An 88 minute running time sounds like an appropriate length to let these hilarious comedic actors do their thing.

#3. Calvary

Calvary

I’ve become a huge fan of Brendan Gleeson’s work over the years. Recently, though, he’s make his mark as an outstanding comedic actor with hilarious turns in the massively underrated Irish-comedy, The Guard, and the better known In Bruges. With his latest work, Gleeson stars as a priest who’s life is threatened during a confessional one day. Unsure if whether the threats are true or not, this good-natured priest is forced to confront the evil that’s closing in on him. Co-starring Bridesmaids‘ Chris O’Dowd, Calvary has all the makings of another fine comedic offering from Gleeson and company. (FULL TRAILER AVAILABLE ONLINE)

#2. A Most Wanted Man

most-wanted-man

The second major Sundance title starring Philip Seymour Hoffman is an adaptation of a 2008 John le Carre espionage novel of the same name, A Man Most Wanted. Anton Corbijn directs this thriller that examines an escaped Chechen Muslim who finds his way to Hamburg, Germany. While hiding out, he becomes the center of an international war on terror. Headlined by a cast including Rush’s Daniel Bruhl, Willem Dafoe, Rachel McAdams and Robin Wright, A Man Most Wanted is certainly surrounded by a ton of intrigue.

#1. Locke

Locke

There hasn’t been much said about my most anticipated feature at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. Rising star and extraordinary talent, Tom Hardy, stars in Locke, an 85 minute thrill ride about a man whose life falls apart while in a race against time. Making its way around the European festival circuit last year, Locke has been lauded by just about everyone who’s seen the film. Hardy’s long list of impressive work makes him one of my favorite actors and I definitely can’t wait to see this latest feature.

*** Stay tuned for regular updates live from the Sundance Film Festival

First Official Look At Tom Hardy As Mad Max In ‘Fury Road’

by Shawn Madden

A signed image of Tom Hardy (The Dark Knight Rises) as “Mad” Max Rockatansky has surfaced online (via Twitter). While the image may be a bit blurry, this is the first official look at Hardy in George Miller’s Fury Road. Apparently Hardy gave these out to the crew  on the last day of shooting.

“Mad Max Fury Road” sees Mad Max (Hardy) caught up with a group of people fleeing across the Wasteland in a War Rig driven by the imperator Furiosa (Theron). A battle erupts on the road in front of them over the course of the film as they attempt to push the rig to safer terrain.

No release date has been set yet.

Eric Singer To Pen ‘Splinter Cell’ Adaptation With Tom Hardy On Board To Star

by Shawn Madden

Not long ago it was revealed that Ubisoft was planning a big screen adaptation of Splinter Cell. Now it has been revealed that Eric Singer has been hired by Ubisoft to write the screenplay for the film. Singer is best known for penning the film The International.

It has also been revealed that Tom Hardy (The Dark Knight Rises, Inception) has signed on to star as Fisher in the film. Jean-Julien Baronnet, CEO of Ubisoft Motion Pictures, released the following statement:

“Tom Hardy is currently one of the biggest talents in the film industry, and he has a phenomenal ability to take on complex and varied roles with his broad range of acting skills. His involvement in the ‘Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell’ movie is exciting news for movie and video game fans alike. Meanwhile, Eric Singer is one of the most talented writers of the moment, and … we’re confident he’ll bring a fresh approach and create a thrilling story … while still respecting all the codes and traditions of the franchise that are so important to fans.”

Wow, with talent like Hardy for Splinter Cell and Michael Fassbender for Assassin’s Creed, Ubisoft is definitely not playing around with their film adaptations of their franchises. Could  we finally see some good adaptations of video game franchises coming? Let the games begin!

Source: Variety

Set Pictures And Concept Art From ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’

by Shawn Madden

Set photos and some concept art from the upcoming Mad Max: Fury Road have made their way online. Filming on the upcoming reboot started last month in Africa. In the upcoming reboot of 1979’s Mad Max we will see the road warrior, played by Tom Hardy this time around, caught up with a group of people fleeing across the Wasteland in a War Rig driven by the Imperator Furiosa played by Charlize Theron. The film also stars Nicholas Hoult and Zoe Kravityz(X-Men: First Class), Rosie Huntington-Whiteley (Transformers: Dark Of The Moon), Nathan Jones (Fearless) and Riley Keough (Magic Mike). Check out the photos full of post-apocalyptic goodness from the set below!

Source: CineCommunity

See How Bane’s Mask Might Have Looked In The Dark Knight Rises!

by Matt Landsman

Images have surfaced from the new Complete Screenplays of The Dark Knight Trilogy book. In addition to the scripts of all three films, the book also contains storyboards with concept art. This piece of concept art from the opening plane hijacking sequence shows us how Bane might have looked in The Dark Knight Rises.


What do you think? Better or worse than the final film?

 

A Scene Featuring Bane’s Backstory Was Cut From ‘The Dark Knight Rises’

by Scott Alminiana

So we’ve all seen The Dark Knight Rises by now and sure some people have their gripes with the movie but I don’t think anyone will argue that it wasn’t a good movie. At 165 minutes the movie had just about everything you could ask for. Like most Hollywood movies though there were of course things that wound up on the cutting room floor. Now thanks to an interview in GQ with the film’s costume designer Lindy Hemming, we now know that there was supposed to be a scene showing more of Bane’s back-story.

…The other thing that you should have seen during that sequence is him(Bane) being injured in his youth. So one of the fundamental things about his costume is that he has this scar from the back injury. Even if he hasn’t got the bulletproof vest on, he still has to wear the waist belt and the braces. In that scene in the prison, where he’s learning to fight the same way Batman learned to fight, he’s wearing an early version of his waist belt. It’s showing support, but it’s not the finished one he eventually wears. He’s also wearing an early version of his gas mask, all glued together …If you look at the film, unless they’ve cut it—and I’m sure they haven’t—there’s a whole early section for Tom Hardy where he’s fighting and being taunted by people. He’s got chains on him, and he’s standing on a wooden thing while people are attacking him. And in that scene, he’s wearing a much more ragged, primitive version of the mask.

That sounds like a scene I’d like to have seen. I’ll keep my fingers crossed that Nolan includes it on the Blu-ray release!

Been Wondering Where Tom Hardy Got His Inspiration For Bane In ‘The Dark Knight Rises’?

by Scott Alminiana

Last week we showed you where Heath Ledger got his inspiration for The Joker in The Dark Knight. It only seemed fitting to follow that one up this week with one for The Dark Knight Rises.

By now most of us have all seen The Dark Knight Rises, those of you who haven’t need to stop reading right this second and go see it! Anyway, if you’ve seen it then you’ve seen Tom Hardy’s awesome take on Bane but did you wonder where he got his inspiration for the character? It would seem that he got his inspiration from one of his earlier roles actually. Back in 2002, Hardy co-starred in Star Trek: Nemesis as the villainous Praetor Shinzon, a clone of Captain Jean-Luc Picard. Check out Hardy’s audition tape and you can see the earliest glimpses of Bane in the performance.

Hardy also told Vulture at the premiere for TDKR that “It’s based on a guy named Bartley Gorman, he’s the king of the gypsies, and he’s a boxer, a bare-knuckle boxer, an Irish traveler, a gypsy.”

So there you go, Bane was essentially a mix of Patrick Stewart and the king of the gypsies in a mask and juiced up. “Let the games begin…make it so!”

Source: MTV, Vulture

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.

A Look Back At ‘Batman Begins’ And ‘The Dark Knight’

by Shawn Madden

The Dark Knight Rises hits theaters tomorrow at midnight and I thought I would take a look at Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. There is no doubt that this trilogy will go down as one of the greatest movie trilogies of all time. A main factor in this being the common theme that Christopher Nolan has always set as the heart of the stories. Rather than focusing on Batman as the superhero he focused on the man who was Batman and the symbol he created. Something that film makers that had come before failed to truly capture. As stated in Batman Begins:

People need dramatic examples to shake them out of apathy and I can’t do that as Bruce Wayne. As a man, I’m flesh and blood. I can be ignored, I can be destroyed. But as a symbol — as a symbol I can be incorruptible, I can be everlasting. – Bruce Wayne (Batman Begins)

Ever since Batman Begins hit screens movies have began taking a more realistic approach to their characters thus making them more relatable. By making a story more believable you can lose yourself in it. Batman Begins took a risk by actually being the first Batman film to be actually about Batman. The film was not about the villains who took a back seat to the exploration of Bruce Wayne’s psyche. But what really made this movie had to be the casting. Christian Bale is by far the best Bruce Wayne to date and with a supporting cast that was flawless and made this first piece to the story truly memorable and a movie that improves over time rather than one that deteriorates. We were introduced to a new Gotham unlike the ones we had seen in the past and a Bruce Wayne unlike the ones we had seen in the past. This character was real. That was the difference here. One of the most memorable scenes in being a great ending scene that would lead into one of the greatest sequels ever made.

“Well, because he thought it was good sport. Because some men aren’t looking for anything logical, like money. They can’t be bought, bullied, reasoned, or negotiated with. Some men just want to watch the world burn.” – Alfred Pennyworth (The Dark Knight)

A line from The Dark Knight that to this day is still one of the most memorable. This movie truly set the bar for comic book films if not films in general. A movie that received criticism from the masses of the internet for its casting of Heath Ledger as Batman’s greatest villain of all time…The Joker. I remember clearly reading on an internet board the numerous randoms who referred to this move as “the worst casting decision ever made” and jokes about this actors role from Brokeback Mountain that even referred to this sequel as being “Broke-Bat Mountain”. And this once again proves just how wrong we all can be. If we thought the casting in Batman Begins was brilliant we hadn’t seen anything yet.

Nolan had made his masterpiece with The Dark Knight. It was dark, intelligent, incredibly exciting and cinematically rich, while remaining utterly true to the soul of its source material. The actors were at their finest here and truly gripping performances sucked us in to a movie that will go down as one of the greatest films ever made in my opinion. Not just because it is a comic book movie but because it is a fantastic film. The bitter-sweet tragedy here is that this was Heath Ledgers finest performance but sadly his last. If any actor deserved to win the Oscar for “Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role” in 2009 it was Heath Ledger. However the movie otherwise was snubbed at the Oscars and is now why they have expanded how many movies are nominated from five to ten. The midnight screening that I attended received a standing ovation for a film that honestly deserved it but at the same time left fans sad that we would never see Heath Ledger’s portrayal of The Joker grace the screen again.

So now we approach the grand finale to the Dark Knight Trilogy. Tomorrow at midnight The Dark Knight Rises hits theaters and is already receiving praise from many. Once again some have been skeptical to casting but if history has taught us anything it is that we should have faith in Christopher Nolan here because he has not let us down before.

“If anything, it’s a tremendous responsibility and opportunity to sort of follow in the footsteps of somebody who was so brilliant. So I’m just grateful to be part of the family, actually, the Batman, Chris Nolan family. And that I got brought in to be the villain in this film.” – Tom Hardy on Heath Ledger

The Joker may be Batman’s arch-nemesis but Bane is one of the greatest enemies he has ever faced. Known best as the man who “broke the bat” we are truly in store for a completely different type of animal here. Bane is not only one of Batman’s greatest enemies physically but mentally. Tom Hardy has had his performance referred to as “powerful” and that “his simple presence intimidates anyone”. Do not compare his performance to Heath but instead remember that he is playing a completely different character and a new threat that we have not seen before. Many who have already seen the film have called this Christian Bale’s finest performance of the three and a fantastic end to the story that Nolan has set out to tell. While The Dark Knight may be a tough act to follow I have complete faith myself that we will be getting the film that we all need and deserve. There has been much talk that this could be the first comic book movie to win an Oscar and it seems quite possible that it can. Have we seen all that Nolan and company have to give?

Not everything. Not yet. – Batman (The Dark Knight Rises)

A look back at the trilogy:

 

Hot Toys Reveals The Dark Knight Rises: Bane Collectible Figure

by Shawn Madden

Can’t get enough of these Hot Toys figures? Well, I’m sure your wallet has had enough. The Dark Knight Rises hits theaters tomorrow at midnight and Hot Toys has unveiled their figure for Bane that is sure to put a Dent Act into some of our wallets. Bad pun…I know.

The Dark Knight Rises: Bane Collectible Figure – The Dark Knight Rises, the epic conclusion to filmmaker Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy, is coming in just one day! Celebrating the launch of this highly expected movie, Hot Toys is proud to present the 1/6th scale Bane Collectible Figure from this movie. The Bane collectible is highly detailed, specially crafted based on the image of Tom Hardy as Bane, highlighting the movie-accurate head sculpt with mask, detailed costume and accessories.

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.

Thirteen Minute Featurette For ‘The Dark Knight Rises’

by Shawn Madden

If you can’t wait until July 20th for the fire to rise and need something to tide you over until then check out this thirteen minute featurette that contains plenty of interviews, behind the scenes footage and much more. This video shows just how much work Christopher Nolan and everyone involved in making this movie put into it and is quite impressive.

‘The Dark Knight Rises’ hits theaters July 20th.

Source: TheMovieBox

Christopher Nolan To Join The Hollywood Walk Of Fame

by Shawn Madden

On Saturday, July 7, at 10:00 a.m. Christopher Nolan will receive a rare industry honor and be cemented into The Hollywood Walk Of Fame.

Jeff Robinov, President, Warner Bros. Pictures Group, stated, “Everyone at Warner Bros. joins me in congratulating Christopher Nolan, who has been such an integral part of our family for the past 12 years. We are extremely proud of the cinematic legacy he has given us through his films. At only 41, Christopher takes his place alongside other industry giants featured at Grauman’s, and generations of fans will remember the extraordinary impression he left on their imaginations.”

‘The Dark Knight Rises’ hits theaters on July 20th.

Source: Market Watch