by Grace Suh, Mar 25 2013 // 1:00 PM

Fans of Korean cinema had very high hopes for Stoker, Park Chan-Wook’s English language debut. Thanks to his reputation on the international film festival circuit, in particular with his cult Vengeance Trilogy (Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, Oldboy and Sympathy for Lady Vengeance), Park had seeming first choice of talent and assembled a stellar cast in Mia Wasikowska, Matthew Goode and Nicole Kidman. (Interestingly, none of the three principals is an American.)
True to form for Park, Stoker is both visually stunning and psychologically and physically brutal. The cinematography is painterly and the framing sculptural. Every frame merits notice and every still a work of art. In fact it’s safe to say that Stoker is Park’s most strictly art-produced film. Every color and detail bears evidence of obsessive attention, from the color of characters’ hair to the color of the walls, from the stitching on a collar to the scuffing on a shoe.
In large part this magnification of detail effectively reflects the psychological and somatic experience of India Stoker (Wasikowska), whose hypersensitive observations of the world make ordinary life an ordeal for her. On the day India turns eighteen her father Richard dies in a horrific accident. We see her first at his funeral. Relations between her parents have evidently been strained for some time. Her mother, Evelyn Stoker, seems hardly bereaved, nor does she attempt to comfort her shattered daughter.
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Posted in: Movies · Reviews
Tagged: Matthew Goode, Mia Wasikowska, Nicole Kidman, Park Chan-Wook, Reviews, Stoker
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by Nat Almirall, Mar 15 2013 // 4:30 PM

Stoker is a film at odds with itself. On paper, it’s a slick piece of neo-gothic thrills, parading its Jane-Eyre/Mysteries of Udolpho (and more) influences, with red rooms, sinister-seeming relatives, fogged-out basements, and driblets of blood.
More plot-fully speaking, you have the mysterious death of a loved one, in this case the father Richard Stoker (Dermot Mulroney), who leaves his immense estate to his wife Evelyn (Nicole Kidman) and daughter India (Mia Wasikowska). Soon after, Richard’s estranged brother Charlie (Matthew Goode) shows up, taking a break from one of his frequent trips around the world. Charlie tries to reconnect with his brother’s family, seeming to seduce Evelyn but eliciting only hesitation and curious dread from India.
All three play their roles well, with Kidman wandering through her lines as in a daze, transfixed by the appearance of a younger, sleeker version of her husband. Mia is exactly the opposite, dissociated from everything and body. But the clear standout is Goode, who finally has found a role that utterly suits him — however specialized it may be. Kind and pleasant with a chilling, menacing undertone, you’re just waiting for him to explode.
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Posted in: Fox Searchlight · Horror · Movies · Reviews
Tagged: Alden Eherneich, Dermot Mulroney, Gothic horror, Jacki Weaver, Judith Godreche, Lucas Till, Matthew Goode, Mia Wasikowska, Nicole Kidman, Park Chan-Wook, Phyllis Somerville, Ralph Brown, Stoker, Wentworth Miller
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by Joe Gillis, Sep 26 2012 // 2:00 PM

If director Park Chan-Wook never did another movie besides Oldboy, he would still be regarded as a masterful filmmaker. Oldboy is just that good.
Fortunately, he isn’t resting on the laurels of that excellent movie. He’s doing more. In fact, he’s about to make his English language debut.
For this, a film called Stoker, he’s got Mia Wasikowska, Dermot Mulroney and Nicole Kidman to work with. The story, as we know it so far, is as follows:
After India’s father dies, her Uncle Charlie, who she never knew existed, comes to live with her and her unstable mother. She comes to suspect this mysterious, charming man has ulterior motives and becomes increasingly infatuated with him.
Sounds cool. Let’s just hope nothing happens to anyone’s tounge in this one. We’re not sure we could go through that again.
Check out the trailer for Stoker after the break.
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Posted in: Movies · News · Trailers
Tagged: Dermot Mulroney, Mia Wasikowska, Movies, Nicole Kidman, Oldboy, Park Chan-Wook, Stoker, The Vengeance Trilogy, Trailers, Wentworth Miller
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by Sebastian Suchecki, Feb 28 2012 // 7:30 AM

With the Academy Awards still fresh in our minds, we can think of all the great films 20111 brought us. It is easy to forget that year also had tons of stinkers and flops, but the Razzie Awards are here to remind us.
The Razzie Award nominees have been announced, and their aren’t too many surprises. Adam Sandler has a record 11 nominations, and that’s not including nominations that are tied to his Happy Madison productions. Three films by the production company, Buck Larsen: Born to be a Star, Just Go With It, and Jack & Jill, all have multiple nominations each.
The Razzies, or Golden Raspberry awards, were created in 1980 as an antidote to the Oscars. They are usually held on the eve of the Academy Awards, but this year are moving to 1 April. Traditionally, stars do not turn up to collect their awards, but good sports over the years have included Paul Verhoeven in 1996 (worst director and worst picture for Showgirls), Halle Berry for 2005’s Catwoman and Sandra Bullock for 2010’s All About Steve.
Check out the nominations after the jump, and be sure to keep an eye out for these “winners” when they are announced on April 1.
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Posted in: Announcements · Awards · Comedy · Movies · News
Tagged: 'Just Go With It', abduction, Academy Awards, Adam Sandler, Al Pacino, All About Steve, Arthur, Big Mommas: Like Father Like Son, Bill Condon, brandon t jackson, Brooklyn Decker, Buck Larsen: Born to be a Star, Catwoman, David Spade, Dennis Dugan, Drive Angry, Garry Marshall, Golden Raspberry, Halle Berry, Happy Madison, I Don't Know How She Does It, Jack & Jill, James Franco, Jennifer Aniston, Katie Holmes, Ken Jeong, Kristen Stewart, Martin Lawrence, Michael Bay, New Year's Eve, Nicholas cage, Nick Swardson, Nicole Kidman, Patrick Dempsey, Paul Verhoeven, Razzie Awards, Razzies, Robert Pattinson, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Russell Brand, Sandra Bullock, Sarah Jessica Parker, Sarah Palin, Season of the Witch, Shia LaBeouf, Showgirls, Taylor Lautner, The Hangover 2, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Tom Brady, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Trespass, Undefeated, Your Highness
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by Sebastian Suchecki, Aug 18 2011 // 7:00 AM
Just when you thought every possible Hollywood on-screen couple has been put together, another that totally takes us for a loop comes along. Hitting theaters in October, you can see Trespass starring both Nicole Kidman and Nicolas Cage. What?
That’s right, Ghost Rider and Satine from Moulin Rouge are joining forces to bring you Trespass, a Joel Shumacher film. We couldn’t make this stuff up if we tried. Here’s the film’s synopsis.
In a private, wealthy community, priority is placed on security and no exception is made for the Miller family’s estate. Behind their pristine walls and manicured gardens, Kyle (Nicolas Cage), a fast-talking businessman, has entrusted the mansion’s renovation to his stunning wife, Sarah (Nicole Kidman).
But between making those big decisions and keeping tabs on their defiant teenage daughter (Liana Liberato), Sarah often finds herself distracted by a young, handsome worker (Cam Gigandet) at their home. Nothing is what it seems, and it will take a group of cold-blooded criminals led by Elias (Ben Mendelsohn), who have been planning a vicious home invasion for months, to bring the Miller family together. When they storm the manor, everyone is tangled up in betrayal, deception, temptation and scheming. Kyle, Sarah and Avery will take the ultimate risk to make it out with their lives – and their family – intact.
Think of it as Dog Days of Summer meets The Strangers with the simple twist of being a Schumacher film. Check out the trailer after the jump and catch the film in theaters and VOD on October 14th.
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Posted in: Action · Drama · Movies · News · Trailers · Video
Tagged: Ben Mendelsohn, Cam Gigandet, Dash Mihok, Emily Meade, Jordana Spiro, Liana Liberato, Nicolas Cage, Nicole Kidman
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by The Flickcast, Feb 24 2011 // 3:00 PM
This may be the biggest year for the Academy Awards, as some major Hollywood players are going up against some fresh newcomers. Eyeballs everywhere will be glued to ABC on Sunday, February 27th at 8PM E/5PM P when the awards show goes live. But before that, we decided to do some picking of our own with the staff’s predictions for each award.
For a full list of the nominees, check out our previous article on the subject. Now, on to the predictions.
Best Picture
Shannon Hood-The Social Network. It had early and consistent momentum all year, and the Academy appears to be trying to shake up their stodgy image. This would be the perfect film to put their money where their mouth is.
Matt Raub – True Grit. Not only are the Coens a regular in the “I Have an Oscar” club, but this testament to classic western films is definitely one for record books, between its all-star cast and gritty (no pun intended) visual style, this one definitely deserves the golden statue.
Chris Ullrich – True Grit. Even though this was a pretty great year for movies and there are many excellent choices in this category, True Grit stands on its own as my pick. As an example of pure movie storytelling, this Coen Brothers masterpiece excels on every level and delivers a pure entertainment experience you will want to revisit many more times in the future.
Cortney Zamm – The Social Network. There’s a lot of great films in this category, some of them from my favorite directors and starring my favorite people. But the one that combined all of the essential elements of filmmaking into a truly gorgeous, compelling, and memorable film was The Social Network.
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Posted in: Academy Awards · Awards · Drama · Events · Exclusive · Features · Flickcast Picks · Flickcast Presents · Movies
Tagged: 127 Hours, Aaron Sorkin, Academy Awards, Alice in Wonderland, Amy Adams, Annette Bening, Another Year, Atticus Ross, Barney's Version, Biutiful, Black Swan, Christian Bale, Colin Firth, Country Strong, Darren Arronofsky, David Fincher, David O Russell, Day & Night, Ethan Coen, Exit Through the Gift Shop, Flickcast Picks, Geoffrey Rush, God of Love, hailee steinfeld, Harry Potter, Helena Bonham Carter, Hereafter, How to Train Your Dragon, I Am Love, Incendies, Inception, Iron Man 2, Jacki Weaver, James Franco, Javier Bardem, Jeff Bridges, Jennifer Lawrence, Jeremy Renner, jesse eisenberg, Joel Coen, John Hawkes, Let's Pollute, mark ruffalo, Melissa Leo, Michelle Williams, Na Wewe, Natalie Portman, Nicole Kidman, Oscars, Salt, Tangled, The Confession, The Crush, The Fighter, The Gruffalo, The Illusionist, The Kids Are All Right, The King's Speech, The Lost Thing, The Social Network, The Tempest, The Way Back, The Wolfman, Tom Hooper, Toy Story 3, Trent Reznor, Tron Legacy, true grit, Unstoppable, Winter's Bone, Wish 143
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by Shannon Hood, Jan 25 2011 // 7:00 AM
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the nominees for the 83rd annual award ceremony this morning. The King’s Speech was the front-runner with 12 nominations. Overall, there weren’t too many surprises.
Many were disappointed that Christopher Nolan did not receive a best director nod, but as a consolation prize, Inception was nominated as a contender for best picture.
True Grit did quite well, with Hailee Steinfeld nabbing a best supporting actress nod, and nominations for best picture, best director(s), best actor, and best adapted screenplay. Winter’s Bone was recognized for best actress, best picture, and best adapted screenplay. Dogtooth, Jackie Weaver, and Javier Bardem were nice surprises.
Here are the nominees in the order that they were announced.
Best Supporting Actress
Amy Adams The Fighter
Helena Bonham Carter The King’s Speech
Melissa Leo The Fighter
Hailee Steinfeld True Grit
Jackie Weaver Animal Kingdom
Best Supporting Actor
Christian Bale The Fighter
John Hawkes Winter’s Bone
Jeremy Renner The Town
Mark Ruffalo The Kids Are All Right
Jeffrey Rush The King’s Speech
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Posted in: Academy Awards · Awards · Movies · News
Tagged: 127 Hours, Academy Awards, Amy Adams, Annette Bening, Black Swan, Christian Bale, Colin Firth, Darren Aronofsky, David Fincher, David O Russell, hailee steinfeld, Helena Bonham Carter, Inception, Jackie Weaver, James Franco, Javier Bardem, Jeff Bridges, Jeffrey Rush, Jennifer Lawrence, Jeremy Renner, jesse eisenberg, Joel and Ethan Coen, John Hawkes, mark ruffalo, Melissa Leo, Michelle Williams, Natalie Portman, Nicole Kidman, Oscars, The Fighter, The Kids Are All Right, The King's Speech, The Social Network, Tom Hooper, Toy Story 3, true grit, Winter's Bone
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by Shannon Hood, Jan 5 2011 // 9:00 AM
I was surprised at how much trouble I had narrowing down my top ten movies this year. My top 20 were all very close, but here are the movies that I ultimately enjoyed the most. I readily admit that I did not see near as many foreign films as I would have liked, but by the time I cover most of the mainstream fare, there is simply no time left.
Honorable Mentions: Fair Game, Tiny Furniture, Greenberg, Cyrus, The Tillman Story, The American, Mother and Child, Scott Pilgrim.
10. Waiting for Superman
This Documentary was equal parts frustrating, inspirational, and heartbreaking. Director Davis Guggenheim (No End in Sight) sheds light on the dismal state of our public school system. He follows the plight of several children who live in various geographic regions who are placing all of their hope for an decent education into lottery systems for charter or private schools. Guggenheim relies on their compelling stories for a narrative, while interspersing lots of graphics and cartoons illuminating some pretty harrowing statistics.
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Posted in: Best of 2010 · Exclusive · Features · Flickcast Presents · Movies
Tagged: 127 Hours, Aaron Eckhart, Aaron Sorkin, Amy Adams, Annette Bening, Aron Ralston, Ballet, Barbara Hershey, Ben Affleck, Blue Valentine, Chris Cooper, Christian Bale, Danny Boyle, Darren Aronofsky, David Fincher, Davis Guggenheim, Debra Granik, Facebook, hailee steinfeld, James Cameron Mitchell, James Franco, Jeff Bridges, Jennifer Lawrence, jesse eisenberg, Julianne Moore, Justin TImberlake, Lisa Cholodenko, Maria Bello, mark ruffalo, Mark Wahlberg, Matt Damon, Melissa Leo, Michelle Williams, Natalie Portman, Nicole Kidman, Rabbit Hole, Revenge Movies, Rosemarie DeWittBlack Swan, Ryan Gosling, Swan Lake, the Coen brothers, The Company Men, The Fighter, The Kids Are All Right, The Social Network, Tommy Lee Jones, Trent Reznor, true grit, Waiting for "Superman", Westerns, Winter's Bone
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by Shannon Hood, Dec 16 2010 // 11:00 AM
The Screen Actor’s Guild has announced their nominees for best in film and television for 2110. Since these awards are voted on by other actors, they usually carry a certain prestige. Rosario Dawson and Angie Harmon announced the guild’s nominees this morning in Los Angeles.
For those keeping score, The King’s Speech leads the film pack with four nominations, along with Black Swan. On the TV side, Modern Family came in with 4 awards, followed by Dexter, Glee, and Mad Men with three nominations each.
The awards will be given on Sunday, January 30th on TBS. For a complete list of nominees, visit the official SAG website.
FILM
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
JEFF BRIDGES / Rooster Cogburn – TRUE GRIT
ROBERT DUVALL / Felix Bush – GET LOW
JESSE EISENBERG / Mark Zuckerberg -THE SOCIAL NETWORK
COLIN FIRTH / King George VI – THE KING’S SPEECH
JAMES FRANCO / Aron Ralston – 127 HOURS
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
ANNETTE BENING / Nic – THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT
NICOLE KIDMAN / Becca – RABBIT HOLE
JENNIFER LAWRENCE / Ree Dolly – WINTER’S BONE
NATALIE PORTMAN / Nina Sayers – BLACK SWAN
HILARY SWANK / Betty Anne Waters – CONVICTION
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Posted in: Announcements · Awards · Movies · News · TBS
Tagged: Al Pacino, Awards, Black Swan, Colin Firth, Hilary Swank, James Franco, Jeff Bridges, Jennifer Lawrence, jesse eisenberg, John Goodman, Jon Hamm, Natalie Portman, Nicole Kidman, SAG award nominees, Screen Actor's Guild, Steve Buscemi, TBS, The Fighter, The King's Speech, The Social Network
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by Shannon Hood, Dec 15 2010 // 12:00 PM
Rabbit Hole is a gut churning look at the aftermath one couple is left with after losing their four-year old son. Stark, raw, and devastating, the movie delivers a voyeuristic look into the life of Becca and Howie, who are struggling day to day eight months after the death of their son.
You always hear how common it is for couples to split up after the death of a child, and it is easy to understand why. This movie shows us the dissolution of Becca and Howie’s marriage in a unflinching, yet nuanced way.
Becca (Nicole Kidman) and Howie (Aaron Eckhart) handle their grief in drastically different ways. Howie openly weeps while watching home videos of his son every night, while Becca takes a more pragmatic approach to her grief.
Howie prefers to leave every trace of their son intact-the fingerprints on doorknobs, the bedroom left precisely as it was before his death. Becca wants to move out of the house that harbors far too many painful memories for her to bear.
He sees these things as memories that keep his son alive, she is haunted by those very same memories. Where is the middle ground? No one is really wrong here.
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Posted in: Adaptation · Movies · Reviews
Tagged: Aaron Eckhart, Dianne Wiest, John Cameron Mitchell, Nicole Kidman, Rabbit Hole
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by Sebastian Suchecki, Aug 3 2010 // 10:00 AM
Just two weeks before filming was to begin, Nicholas Cage has pulled out of Joel Schumacher’s Trespass. According to reports, Cage is on vacation and will stay in the Bahamas.
Rather than waiting for the star, the studio plans to keep the film on schedule and will move forward without Cage. The studio is currently scrambling for a replacement. The rumored forerunner for the role is Liev Schreiber.
In the film, Cage was set to play opposite Nicole Kidman as a husband who is kidnapped with his wife by a group of thugs looking for ransom. The problems began when Cage decided that he rather play one of the kidnappers instead of the lead male role.
One thing is for sure, Cage isn’t known for pulling out of projects or turning down roles. Even with a recent streak of wins such as Knowing and Kick-Ass, Cage has taken on some horrible roles in films like The Wicker Man, Next, Ghost Rider, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Astro Boy, Bangkok Dangerous and the upcoming Season of the Witch.
How bad could a role be that the man who was the “star” of The Wicker Man remake decided to drop out? Could it be that Schumacher is past his prime and is making a film that even Cage knows is horrible? Or is it another bad move by Cage who may end up regretting it? Only time will tell.
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Posted in: Casting · Movies · News · Rumor · Thriller
Tagged: Astro Boy, Bangkok Dangerous, Ghost Rider, Joel Schumacher, Kick-Ass, Knowing, Liev Schreiber, Next, Nicholas cage, Nicole Kidman, Season of the Witch, The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call - New Orleans, The Sorcerer's Apprentice, The Wicker Man, Trespass
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by Sebastian Suchecki, Apr 21 2010 // 1:00 PM
While director Rob Marshall is curruntly donning his tri-corner hat and swashbuckling pants for Pirate of the Caribbean 4: On Stranger Tides, he’s still doing some press for his film Nine, which hits DVD and Blu-ray on May 4th.
Marshall’s Nine made a few splashes last year, getting nominated for four Academy Awards and winning a few Satellite Awards. Marshall managed to take the excitement and aesthetic of 2002’s Chicago and put it into the setting of Italian cinema in the late 1960s.
The film also spared no expense on cast with names like Daniel Day-Lewis, Penélope Cruz, Fergie, Kate Hudson, Nicole Kidman, and Judi Dench. We’ll be bringing you more features from the DVD release as we draw closer to the date, so stay tuned. Meanwhile, check out a look at director Rob Marshall after the jump.
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Posted in: Blu-Ray · Casting · Comedy · Drama · DVD · Movies · Music · Musicals · News · Video
Tagged: Academy Awards, Daniel Day Lewis, Fergie, Judi Dench, Kate Hudson, Nicole Kidman, Nine, Penelope Cruz, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Rob Marshall, Sophia Loren
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