Surprisingly, this film is on no one’s radar right now. And it has all the makings of being one of the front runners come Academy Awards time. Pull out your calendar. On November 5th, write the words “See 127 Hours.” On November 6th write, “Thank Film Savior.”

The 2010 Telluride Film Festival just ended and had a screening of Danny Boyle’s 127 Hours. Boyle was at the same festival two years ago to reveal his almost straight to DVD film Slumdog Millionaire. We all know how that worked out. A few days ago, he unspooled his most recent film. I’ll let the folks who were lucky enough to see it give you a blurb:

The L.A. Times says the film cuts an impressive swath. “Many tears were shed at the world premiere screening of “127 Hours” at the Telluride Film Festival on Saturday afternoon. But few in the audience of some 500 cried harder than Aron Ralston, the hiker who famously cut off his right forearm and is the subject of director Danny Boyle’s new movie.”

Deadline’s Peter Hammond says the film is definitely an Awards hopeful, calling out Franco’s performance in particular. “It’s a tour-de-force for Franco, virtually never off screen in the same way Spencer Tracy triumphed in the similarly spare The Old Man And The Sea (1958). Franco’s performance could put him in contention for a best actor Oscar nod just as Tracy’s did over 50 years ago.”

The NY Times “His experience is disconcerting enough just to think about, and to see it recreated, in Mr. Boyle’s characteristically fast-moving, immersive style, is jarring, thrilling and weirdly funny. At a question-and-answer session after the first screening on Saturday afternoon, Mr. Boyle — director of “Trainspotting,” “28 Days Later” and of course “Slumdog Millionaire,” which snuck into Telluride two years ago — described himself as a thoroughly “urban” type with no great love for or interest in nature. And the jangly, jumpy energy he brings to a story of silence, solitude and confinement gives the film an irreverent kick that deepens and sharpens its emotional and spiritual insights.”

Variety also loved the film, exclaiming, “Danny Boyle has taken us to the surface of the sun (“Sunshine”) and the end of the world as we know it (“28 Days Later”), testing the limits of human endurance with each radically different project. “127 Hours” takes the adrenaline rush one step further, pitting man against nature in the most elemental of struggles as Boyle compresses the true story of rock-climbing junkie Aron Ralston, who spent five days wrestling with a boulder after a rockslide pinned his arm against a canyon wall, into an intense 93 minutes.”

I was skeptical at the idea at first. But from the sound of things, it seems like Boyle might have yet another masterpiece on his hands. And it’s about time James Franco gets his due. I’m just sayin’.

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“Stuck between a rock and a hard place.”

It seems like yesterday when Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire owned the Academy Awards season. 8 Oscars and heaping praise were handed to the film, including Best Director for Boyle. Now comes a teaser trailer for his new film, 127 Hours, which I’m really intrigued by.  Let me say one thing: Don’t be fooled by this trailer.

“This fall,” the preview happily exclaims, Boyle “takes us on a ride beyond our imagination — and it’s true.”

Yes, it’s true. And it’s a horrific truth. It follows Aron Ralston (played by James Franco), the mountain climber who infamously got trapped under a boulder in Utah in 2003 and was forced to cut part of his arm off with a dull blade to escape a near-death situation. If you ever have the chance, check out Ralston’s Dateline NBC 2 hour walk through of his journey.  It will have you at the edge of your seat. Amazing story.

Back to this trailer.  I’m not entirely sure why they took this approach at the first look at the film. I get that they are showing that he is an adventurous, free spirited guy — but the tone almost seems too light for the subject matter. Maybe Franco has done so many comic roles lately and it’s hard to take him seriously (he’s one of my favorite actors, btw). All I know is, for 127 hours (and over an hour of this film), he is going to be stuck under a rock. He is going to go from hopeful, to helpless, to life ending, to last ditch attempt.  The film will become dark and dig deep into Ralston’s mind. This will be a great chance to see James Franco as a serious actor again.  Not that General Hospital stuff.

I trust Danny Boyle to make this work.

Release Date:  November 5th, 2010

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I know what you’re thinking. Why hasn’t Hollywood starting churning out ballet movies like they have with the comic books. Nothing says “must see film” like ballet slippers and a tutu. Guess what?  I’ll give you 5 reasons you want to go rush to the movie theater to see a movie about competing ballet dancers.

1. Darren Aronofsky. Director of Requiem for a Dream and The Wrestler.  Do I seriously have to explain more?

2. Clint Mansell. There’s a reason Clint Mansell is my favorite Pandora station while writing.  He brings pure emotion out of his haunting scores. Check out the main theme from Requiem HERE. How many times have you heard this score stolen in various films? 6 to be exact: The Da Vinci Code, Sunshine, I Am Legend, Babylon AD, Zathura, and Lord of the Rings.  Quite simply, Mansell is the mayor of Awesometown.

3. Early buzz has compared the tone to Roman Polanski’s classic thrillers, such as Rosemary’s Baby and The Tenant (please check for the sad irony on The Tenant poster).

4. As I continue to pretend the Star Wars prequels don’t exist, Natalie Portman is a much watch in whatever she is in. Except, ahem, Star Wars 1-3.

5. The freaky mirror image from the film below.

Synopsis:

Nina (Portman) is a ballerina in a New York City ballet company whose life, like all those in her profession, is completely consumed with dance. She lives with her obsessive former ballerina mother Erica (Hershey) who exerts a suffocating control over her. When artistic director Thomas Leroy (Cassel) decides to replace prima ballerina Beth MacIntyre (Ryder) for the opening production of their new season, Swan Lake, Nina is his first choice. But Nina has competition: a new dancer, Lily (Kunis), who impresses Leroy as well. Swan Lake requires a dancer who can play both the White Swan with innocence and grace, and the Black Swan, who represents guile and sensuality. Nina fits the White Swan role perfectly but Lily is the personification of the Black Swan. As the two young dancers expand their rivalry into a twisted friendship, Nina begins to get more in touch with her dark side – a recklessness that threatens to destroy her.

Release Date: December 1, 2010

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The most recent trailer mashup craze has been for Inception. Mashups of Inception are popping up with every film on the planet. Most are terrible.  I’ve actually been surprised at how good a few of these actually are (especially my #1 choice).  It proves how powerful a piece of music can actually be. Play it with anything…and I mean ANYTHING, and you’ll feel the emotion. You’ll want to revisit Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure. You’ll feel the pain of Lloyd Christmas. After the jump, enjoy the best of Inception Trailer Mashup goodness.

But first, please click HERE. (I promise it’s not spam…it’s to help you thru your Friday)

#5 Total Recall Inception

#4 Empire Strikes Back Inception

#3 Toy Story 3 Inception

#2 Bill and Ted’s Excellent Inception

#1 Dumb and Dumber

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I’m not cool. I’m not tough. I am afraid of the dark. Especially after seeing this trailer

Synopsis:

A young girl sent to live with her father and his new girlfriend discovers creatures in her new home who want to claim her as one of their own.

Release Date: January 21, 2011

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*UPDATED* 8.5.10

There are two types of people: Those who love Jackass movies and those who have never seen them. What side are you on? Here is the first look at the Jackass 3D Trailer.  It’s going to be some kind of amazing. 

You know you want to look. Below is the first photo from the highly anticipated, Oscar baiting, vomit inducing third film from the Jackass series: Jackass 3D.

If you’re looking for a plot synopsis, you’ve come to the wrong movie post. Let’s just use the announcement quote from Johnny Knoxville:

“We’re going to take the same 3D technology James Cameron used in AVATAR and stick it up Steve O’s butt. We’re taking stupid to a whole new dimension.”

I’m not joking when I tell you this is one of my most anticipated movies of the year. Mock me, laugh at me, silently judge me — I’ve never laughed as hard in the theater as I did in the first two movies. This is going to mock everything I hate about the 3D craze while placing images in my head I will never be able to lose. 8 minutes of footage was screened at Comic-Con…there was nothing but enthusiastic reviews coming out of it. Wait and see. This film is going to be a massive box office hit as well as make me smile.

See Johnny flying through the air on a jet ski. See me laugh.

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If you look through my “Obsessions” tab, read anything I’ve written on this site, or know me on a personal level — it’s safe to say this movie is not targeted to to me. True – I’ve always held strong on my opinion that Christina was better than Britney even in their heyday. True – I saw Coyote Ugly in the movie theater with my girlfriend (who would later become my wife).  True – I’ve always wanted to sport a bowler hat, silk vest, and cane and dance the night away in a top secret smoked filled club. Ummm.

Here is the Burlesque trailer. Say what you will about it – it’s going to make a killing at the box office. Practically every movie being released is targeted to  young males. Finally, the women have something made specifically for them outside of Sex and the City. Sadly, this trailer is awful. And looking eerily like Coyote Ugly (shudder).

Burlesque is an upcoming musical film starring Christina Aguilera, Cher and Stanley Tucci. Christina Aguilera will make her theatrical film and musical debut as the leading character, a “small-town girl with a big voice”, who finds work at a Los Angeles neo-burlesque club, inspired by Bob Fosse’s Cabaret. The film also marks the first starring role in a decade and first musical film for Cher. She plays Tess, a former dancer who struggles to keep the nightclub open and serves as a mentor to Christina Aguilera’s character, Ali. Aguilera’s love interest will be played by Cam Gigandet and Stanley Tucci has been cast as the nightclub’s manager.

Release Date: November 24th, 2010

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Whoa.

What does this mean? My brain just melted. But maybe it further layers the “dream within a dream.” As time slows down — so would the music. Right?

BAHHM. BAAAHMM BAHHMM phrrrt.

Oh yeah, have you ever heard of or seen the movie La Vie en Rose? You may have noticed Marion Cotillard won the Best Actress Academy Award for her portrayal of…wait for it…EDITH PIAF.

Whoa.

The below was confirmed by the man himself, Hans Zimmer.

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Instead of boring you with a ton of new footage that rolled out from Comic-Con, let’s just get it all out of the way in one swoop. And let’s do it quickly. Below are the three announcements/peeks that actually have me intrigued. Subtle nerdgasms below.

Sucker Punch

Directed by: Zack Snyder (Watchmen, 300)

Starring: Emily Browning, Jena Malone, Vanessa Hudgens, Jamie Chung, Abbie Cornish,  Carla Gugino, and Jon “Sergio” Hamm.

Synopsis: Sucker Punch is a movie about little girl who is trying to hide from the pain caused by her evil stepfather and lobotomy. She ends up in mental institution and while there she starts to imagine alternative reality. She plans to escape from that imaginary world but to do that she needs to steal five objects before she is caught by a vile man. Story is set in 1950’s.

Why it might be kinda amazing: Say what you will about 300 or Watchmen. They were both beautifully shot, totally ridiculous, and intriguing at once. Sucker Punch has been described as “Alice in Wonderland with machine guns.” Take that description and watch the trailer below. See if you can withstand the powers of Snyder. It looks like a ton of fun.

Drive Angry

Directed by: Patrick Lussier

Starring: Nicolas Cage, Amber Heard, William Fichtner, Katy Mixon, and David Morse

Synopsis: A vengeful father chases after the men who killed his daughter

Why it might be kinda amazing: It’s called Drive Angry. And crazy Nic Cage is in it. The only thing that would make this better is an appearance of Mel Gibson taking a leisurely drive through South Central. Now THAT would be some angry driving.

Battle: Los Angeles

Directed by: Jonathan Liebesman

Starring: Michelle Rodriguez, Aaron Eckhart, Michael Pena

Synopsis: A Marine platoon faces off against an alien invasion in Los Angeles (Get it? Battle: Los Angeles)

Why it might be kinda amazing: Described as Black Hawk Down meets Alien. And because 4 seconds of footage (below) has me hot and bothered.

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On Cinco De Mayo, we showed you the sneak peek of the Machete trailer from Robert Rodriguez. Now comes the most violent, ridiculous, and intestine grabbing trailer you’ll probably ever see.

After watching the trailer, check out the equally amazing character posters after the jump. Don Johnson + Robert De Niro + Steven Seagal = My money towards opening weekend box office. I’m not ashamed. This trailer will slap your girlfriend and make love to all 6 of your sisters.

Is this going to be good? Doubtful. Will this be so over the top that it must be seen to be believed? Of course. And the most important question: Did he really just pull the intestines out of a man to swing himself out the window and crash through another one? Really? It’s fairly obvious that this trailer is NSFW and not for the feint of heart. For everyone else….enjoy (and you’re welcome).

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Want to see a CGI’d version of Jeff Bridges as a 35 year old again? Want to see another glimpse into something that could potentially blow your mind on December 17th, 2010 (on IMAX 3D, of course)?

Behold the latest Tron:Legacy trailer. With more bright and shiny lights!

Sam Flynn, the tech-savvy 27-year-old son of Kevin Flynn, looks into his father’s disappearance and finds himself pulled into the same world of fierce programs and gladiatorial games where his father has been living for 25 years. Along with Kevin’s loyal confidant, father and son embark on a life-and-death journey across a visually-stunning cyber universe that has become far more advanced and exceedingly dangerous.

Yeah, whatever. Just show me the flashing lights in 3D.

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That being said, Comic-Con 2010 is upon us which means big reveals. After the jump you’ll see really great concept art for two films I have minimal interest in seeing. If the live action can live up to this artwork, I’ll be there opening weekend. It looks that cool.  For now, I’m refusing to buy into the hype.

If anyone from Marvel is reading, I’ve got the perfect hero song for each character.

Captain America’s Theme Song: HERE

Thor’s Theme Song: HERE

Release Dates

Thor – May 6, 2011

Captain America – July 22, 2011

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