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Film Review: Attack The Block

Christian Allaire — Fri, 27 May 2011 01:28:37 +0000

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From the producers of ‘Shaun of the Dead’ and ‘Hot Fuzz’ comes the film ‘Attack the Block,’ a film about a gang of tough city kids who must defend their block by fighting off savage aliens invading earth.

Set in a South London complex, the film is written and directed by Joe Cornish and produced by James Wilson and Nira Park, who is also the master producer behind indie favourite ‘Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World.’

The film has a lot of british charm. The characters all seem to capture an offbeat british sense of humour, and the banter between gang members is what makes the film really enjoyable. Unlike other horror movies where you want the characters to die, you feel for these characters. You’re cheering them on.

As you gathered from the plot, the movie could easily turn cheesy but doesn’t for several reasons. As mentioned above, the clever dialogue and characters keeps the film dimensional. No stock characters here. Each gang member has a specific style and personality, causing you to connect and feel for each one of them.

The film is more comedy than horror, really. Sure, there are sharp-fanged aliens out to get them, but the film seems to knowingly use its genre to sort of make fun of itself. Let’s just say at one point there is two 9 year olds who defeat an alien with a water gun. Exaggerated, yes, but a funny little scene and duo.

My only complaint for the film is the un-scaryness of the aliens. I’m sure they made the monsters extra cheesy for a reason (they are ape-like, with fangs) but the movie would be that extra more compelling if the aliens were, say, terrifying. Maybe nothing scares me anymore, I don’t know. But there are a lot of fun jumpy scenes to make up for it.

Of course, it is also noteworthy to say that Nick Frost’s character makes the film. A comedic genius he is.

The film has no release date as of yet, but I give the film a 3.5 out of 5 stars. Don’t take it too seriously – just enjoy the ride, the humour, and the scares.

Tupac’s Only Screenplay To Be Made Into a Film

Christian Allaire — Fri, 06 May 2011 17:24:46 +0000

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Rapper Tupac Shakur’s only screenplay ever made will be turned into a film, reports MTV News.

A notorious double threat, Tupac produced platinum albums and singles and also earned notices for his acting in films such as “Juice” and “Poetic Justice.”

But the notorious rapper, who studied acting, poetry, jazz and ballet while performing in Shakespearean plays at the Baltimore School for the Arts as a teenager, not only acted in plays and movies, he also apparently wrote them.

Now, the rights to the only full screenplay Shakur wrote while he was in jail, titled “Live 2 Tell,” have been acquired by a production company that plans to start filming the movie next year.

One of the producers Preston Holmes has collaborated with Shakur’s mother, Afeni, on the 2003 documentary “Tupac: Resurrection” and Afeni will be an executive producer on the $11 million project as well.

The script is described as the story of a teenage drug dealer and his struggles to leave a life of crime. It was written by Shakur while he served an 11-month sentence on sexual assault charges.

“This kid was a genius, and the net of it is, he was from this community, he knew the struggles these young people were dealing with,” said Ivan Juzang, whose NStar Studios was behind the acquisition of the screenplay. “And he’s able to talk to young people in 2011, 2012, the same way he was able to talk to young people in 1995.” Holmes had originally contacted Shakur about the script when the rapper was still behind bars.

“We think that the name we need is the name we have, which is Tupac Shakur,” Holmes said.

This is the second attempt at making the film. The script was first optioned more than five years ago by the Insomnia Media Group and was slated to start production in March 2006. No casting for that version was ever confirmed.

I think this is a nice ode to Tupac’s work – the man had some serious talent, and it’s nice to be shared.

Jersey Shore to Become The Miami Shore?

Graham Slaughter — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 02:56:12 +0000

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Watch out Florida – here comes a new breed of orange.

Jersey Shore producers have been eyeing the white sandy beaches of Miami to shoot scenes for the show’s confirmed season two, reports TMZ.

In a letter that TMZ apparently discovered, producers of the MTV hit asked the owner of Mynt Lounge, a hot Miami nightclub, if they could shoot scenes for the upcoming season in March and April.

In the seized letter, producers wrote that they are “currently researching Miami Beach as a possible location,” and that they would need to check out “the hottest clubs” before confirming a spot.

However, no definitive answer has come up yet; Jersey Shore still has its scope set on 9 other cities both in and out of the U.S..

Hawaii? Australia? Fiji? No one is safe.

Canadian Indie Awards to Honour Film Producers

andPOP Staff — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 04:11:24 +0000

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Not many Canadian producers will be honoured with Oscar nods today, but they do have reason to celebrate: a new award created just for them at the Canadian Indie Awards.

The Canadian Film and Television Production Association announced yesterday that the Best Feature Film category will be added to the awards list. The award will be given to the producer of the best film. The CFTPA also announced all their nominees for the best in Canadian independent film, television and new media.

Those nominated include Robert Lontos (Eastern Promises); Daniel Iron, Jennifer Weiss and Simone Urdle (Away From Her); Bruce McDonald, Sarah Timmins and Paul Barkin (The Tracey Fragments).