All Things: Directors

Watch: Darren Aronofsky's 'Dog Vs. Monkey' Wrestling Video

Chatting with Vulture, the director, who was recently honored by the Humane Society for not using real animals in "Noah," revealed the story of his wildlife special (of sorts). "I posted only one video in my life on YouTube," he explained. "When I was in India, I saw a dog and a monkey wrestling. I thought it was cool, just amazing. I had never seen a dog and a monkey wrestle, and they were playing, it was totally fun. What happens is the monkey suddenly flies back and bumps into my camera, hits my camera, right into the lens, then sort of reached around and felt the camera, then got back into the fight."

 
THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES Review

Read more at http://collider.com/the-hobbit-the-battle-of-the-five-armies-review/#3zSX7X8eSqA6SbfS.99

When The Hobbit movies finally got a green light with Jackson returning to direct, I was so happy to return to Middle-earth. Even in the weakest moments of An Unexpected Journey, I felt like I had traveled to a land I had desperately missed. And in The Desolation of Smaug, I felt like the world had expanded and introduced new, exciting elements. With The Battle of the Five Armies, the journey has come to a crushingly disappointing conclusion where Middle-earth feels small and pointless. Peter Jackson’s battle to return to the glory of The Lord of the Rings trilogy has ended in defeat.
Rating: D

Read more at http://collider.com/the-hobbit-the-battle-of-the-five-armies-review/#3zSX7X8eSqA6SbfS.99
 
David Fincher’s HBO Series With James Ellroy Titled SHAKEDOWN; Will Also Direct LIVING ON NOISE for the Network
Read more at http://collider.com/david-fincher-shakedown/#JVrM2YF28MAi32SV.99

Back in September we reported that David Fincher and James Ellroy were collaborating on a Los Angeles-set 1950s crime noir series for HBO and now that show has a title, Shakedown. Remember when Fincher had those five fallow years between Panic Room and Zodiac? Boy am I glad he’s not repeating that, he’s one of our master filmmakers so I’ll take pretty much whatever he’s serving up.

Fincher will also direct another pilot for HBO called Living On Noise. That series will reportedly center around the director’s involvement in the 1980′s music video scene (you probably already know that he shot videos for Paula Abdul, Madonna, Nine Inch Nails, and Aerosmith back in the day). Hit the jump for more on David Fincher’s involvement in Shakedown and Living On Noise.

Per Deadline, Shakedown is “set in the tabloid world and the underbelly of Los Angeles in the 1950s and centers on a real-life private detective.” It is said to be drawn from the accounts of famous 50′s Hollywood police officer turned P.I. Fred Otash. Since Ellroy was the guy behind L.A. Confidential I have no doubts that Fincher has all of the creative tools he needs for this one.

The same goes for Living On Noise, which The Wrap says will be a half-hour show focussing on music video production in the 80′s. The show is said to center around the crew members of these video shoots. Not much more is known, but any Fincher is good Fincher. Even if some of our best filmmakers are running to TV.

Read more at http://collider.com/david-fincher-shakedown/#JVrM2YF28MAi32SV.99
 
Just came home from The Hobbit 3, they had problems with the high frame-rate gear and the screening was cancelled. **** me. They refunded the tickets but I don't care about that, I just wasted a Friday night. Oh and they showed the first 30 minutes in choppy, cross-eyed vision before they finally stopped it, then we waited for another 30 for them to fix it and when they turned it back on it was still screwed up. Unfortunately one of the culminations of the trilogy happens in that time frame, not very happy about experiencing that during a migraine-inducing flickering. Balls.
 
Suddenly, Peter Jackson Says He Hates Bloated Franchises
http://uproxx.com/gammasquad/2014/12/suddenly-peter-jackson-says-he-hates-bloated-franchises/



Wait...WHAT????

C'mon, Peter! What's happened to you?

I saw The Hobbit on Sunday and while it definitely had it's moments, there were SO MANY times when what was going on felt like filler. Goddamn it, Peter Jackson. We don't need all this **** with Saruman and Galadriel to tie this film into Lord Of The Rings. Bilbo and Gandalf already do that just fine!!! I can't believe I'm complaining about a director finding an excuse to put Christopher Lee and Cate Blanchette in a movie, but GODDAMN IT. The whole thing is so bloated. It makes me sad.
 


New Trailer for Ron Howard’s IN THE HEART OF THE SEA Teases a Gorgeous, Terrifying Ocean-Set Adventure
Read more at http://collider.com/in-the-heart-of-the-sea-trailer-chris-hemsworth/#eRStzSzpMQrAgK78.99

Here’s the official synopsis for In the Heart of the Sea:

In the winter of 1820, the New England whaling ship Essex was assaulted by something no one could believe: a whale of mammoth size and will, and an almost human sense of vengeance. The real-life maritime disaster would inspire Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick. But that told only half the story. “Heart of the Sea” reveals the encounter’s harrowing aftermath, as the ship’s surviving crew is pushed to their limits and forced to do the unthinkable to stay alive. Braving storms, starvation, panic and despair, the men will call into question their deepest beliefs, from the value of their lives to the morality of their trade, as their captain searches for direction on the open sea and his first mate still seeks to bring the great whale down.


Read more at http://collider.com/in-the-heart-of-the-sea-trailer-chris-hemsworth/#eRStzSzpMQrAgK78.99
 
So I got to see the final Hobbit movie, no hiccups this time. My expectations were pretty low based on the initial reactions I had heard and read. My initial reaction is that it's bloated and dumb but it moves along at a brisk pace and is action packed. I simply didn't have time to be bored by it. I'd say it's maybe the best of the three? Though not by much, lord knows they all have their flaws, this one is not any different in that regard but at least it's more consistent tonally than the first two which helps a lot. I still think the best part of the whole trilogy is once they get to Smaug in the second movie, that stuff is great. I think your opinion of the third movie will be based on how much enjoyment you get out of watching war scenes in a fantasy setting. Turns out I enjoy it a great deal so for me I was having a good time watching elves and dwarves do what they do in formation. The plot is not very strong though... it's as basic as it gets and some things are just too convenient... but that's more on the book than anything else (I read it in my late teens and from what I can remember it wasn't very good). So yeah, it's not a bad popcorn flick. Turn off your brain and enjoy a near endless stream of orc decapitations.

Like others have said, looking forward to a fan edit of the whole thing.
 
BLACKHAT Featurette Highlights the Very Real Threat of Cyber Hacking; Plus 7 New Images

Didn't you USED to be Michael Mann. His last few have been thuds and this one looks no different. The release date is especially damning as the first quarter of the new year is generally a dumping ground. I don't even think Thor can carry this one, after all...as much as folks like Hemsworth, he hasn't exactly been a box office draw in anything made by anyone other than Marvel. Sad. Maybe Tarentino has something about retiring. Mann was at SDCC along with Hemsworth and even he didn't seem to have any energy for promoting this. Shame really because I just saw Thief for like the gazillionth time and Mann had a helluva touch when he was at the height of his powers. Granted, his style always seemed to be a hair away from being dated. Maybe trying to distance himself from the 'Tangerine Dream' era has shown him as a guy who is only good at one type of movie.

And wouldn't a uber hacker look a lot more like...I dunno, someone who ate a lot o cheesy poofs?
 
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