With the release of Terrence Malick’s The Tree of Life rapidly approaching, 2011 seems to be quickly becoming a year for the existential-meets-apocolyptic-nature film.  There are two definite points of interest with this new release: the films brilliant yet controversial director, Lars von Trier, and the random yet perfect choices in casting.

First you must start off with the von Trier’s body of work.  While eclectic, one must always start with one of his most famous pieces of work, Dogville, for a beginner course in the work of the Danish filmmaker.  Staring Nicole Kidman and Paul Bettany, this unusual film feels more like a play than anything.  To read the screenplay, one would be unexpectedly surprised how normal it would read; your typical dysfunctional small-town drama.

What is unique is von Trier’s realization of the script, in that the whole setting takes place on a blank black stage with no set pieces, rather just tape on the ground marking off roads and buildings.  This creates interested effects.  You may be watching a simple dialogue between two people in a house, but since there is no real wall the audience is left to see other townspeople walking in the street and even into other houses while the scene takes place.  Point being, not your average direction.

While the cast of Melancholia may feel like a bad game of “6 Degrees of Separation”, upon further thought actually seems like a carefully planned out ensemble.  First there is Kirsten Dunst, who most people have assumed has a slowly dwindling career after being killed off the Spiderman franchise, is actually perfectly poised to redeem herself in the right role.  Remember, she was surprisingly decent in Eternal Sunshine.

Then there is Charlotte Gainsbourg, who despite currently having a larger music resume than film reel actually is quite a decent and natural actress, as evident in Michel Gondry’s The Science of Sleep.  Then of course you have Kiefer Sutherland, who I’m still not sure how he convinced his agent to let him do a real film, but who I do trust to give a decent performance under the right direction.

So far, the only disappointing aspect of his film is that it has no release date except a screening at Cannes.  Until then, watch the trailer again.  It’s worth it. Check it out after the break.

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It’s a grab bag of items on the radar this week. Wolverine and Sabretooth have dinner together, Bruno himself could be the next Man in Black, and in honor of The Flickcast crew attending SXSW some Predators love (of which they may get a taste).

Predators get dark and scary…finally!

Robert Rodriquez‘s Predator reboot, Predators, is starting to get some buzz.  While the first film of the series was a great sci-fi/action hybrid subsequent films have been less than stellar.  Predators star, Alice Braga talked a little about the new film and what we can expect:

“The new Predators are dark. They are really, really scary. So I think the fans are really going to be happy with it. I hope so. The director Nimród Antal, he’s a fan of the Predator films. So it’s like a fan directing this, [it was] like a kid on set, and having that energy was very special. I wish I could tell you more.”

Here’s hoping “dark” and “scary” means an R-rated film and not a watered down PG-13 movie.

Conan will square off against Avatar villain

As an update to our last ‘On The Radar’ article, it has now been confirmed that actor Stephen Lang will indeed play Conan’s villain, Khalar Singh.  Speaking with MTV, Lang stated:

“I have no idea how I’m going to do it,” Lang laughed. “First I’m going to find out how I’m going to sound. I’m going to get back on a Mongolian pony and ride like the wind. I’m going to flash my scimitar. I’m going to cut the nuts off Conan and his father.”

That last threat may seem really out there, but after seeing Lang’s bad ass side in Avatar I have no doubt he can make good on it.

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Last week, Fox aired a special 2-night, four hour premiere of the eighth season of 24 to record ratings, and a groundbreaking plot that will keep us enthralled for most of this season. Now it seems things are heating up even more for for Jack Bauer and the CTU team.

Tonight will be hours 8PM to 9PM, which is already the fifth episode of the season. Now that Jack and CTU are based in New York City, things are already getting intense for the East coast. From Fox:

Four explosive hours after being unwillingly drawn back into action, Jack Bauer reteams with a risky Renee Walker to track some very dangerous leads. Meanwhile, back at CTU, a desperate Dana Walsh faces tense and untimely circumstances, and emotions escalate when President Taylor learns of a larger looming threat that jeopardizes the peace accord with President Hassan.

Check out four brand new clips from tonight’s episode, and be sure to catch the episode “8:00pm-9:00pm” of 24, tonight on Fox.

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