FRIDAY, 25 JANUARY 2008
MyMovies.Net Update
Hi there, and welcome back to the MyMovies blog (what?! what do you mean this is your first visit?! For shame!!!), my weekly take on this week's latest cinematic releases and my two-cents on the films you should be checking out (I know, my filmic fascism knows no bounds!).

Of course, and I'm sure you won't need reminding, the number one film this week is Tim Burton's gruesomly gothic take on "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street". Now, I'm not much for musicals I grant you - the idea of singing propelling the story along makes my skin crawl more than usual - but anything that Tim Burton touches usually turns to gothic gold (although, we shall not mention "Planet of the Apes"...Ever!). And "Sweeney Todd" is no exception. This one may see Johnny Depp applying a Dick Van Dycke-esque mock-en-ney accent but there's enought claret on show to keep even the most diehard horror fan happy. And surprisingly, for a film delivered through the medium of song, there are plenty of scares along the way. Well worth a watch. We popped down to the "Sweeney Todd" press conference to hear what the cast had to say for themselves (click on the picture to your right to access said conference).

"Singing's for losers! Give me a hard-hitting thriller any day!" - if this is your war cry of choice then you may be better off checking out "In the Valley of Elah". This taut little offering features Tommy Lee Jones as a grizzled (does he play any other kind?!) father out to discover the truth behind his son's murder after he returns home from Iraq. "In the Valley of Elah" is certainly worth a watch if only for Jones' Oscar nominated performance, the rest of the film is certainly watchable and it will leaving you guessing right until the end but it never really threatens the 'exceptional bracket'. A surprise considering it was helmed by Acadmey Award-winning writer/director Paul Haggis. And I, well not 'I' per se...I have other minions for that kind of work, was lucky enough to put some questions to him about his latest venture (found via the pic to your left).

Speaking of directors, I (and I really mean 'I' this time) managed to get some face-time with indie helmer Tamara Jenkins to discuss her work on "The Savages" a fairly effective little drama starring Laura Linney and Phillip Seymour Hoffman. And speaking of speaking...here she is now doing just that!

Pick of the Week

Ah yes, it's time for me to quietly slink away in to the night and prepare for a weekend of more films and pretending that my opinion actually matters! But before I go I shall lavish (yes, that's right I said 'lavish' - want to fight about it?) you with a troika of new trailers that suitably cooked my kipper. Until next week folks...

FRIDAY, 18 JANUARY 2008
MyMovies.Net Update
Hi there, and welcome once more to the MyMovies Update - my weekly diatribe of cinematic goodness spoon feeding you a diet of trailers and features from all the latest releases.

And first up, it's "Aliens Vs. Predator: Requiem" - the next monster mash up in the "AvP" canon that's come under attack from the critics. OK, so it's not exactly "Citizen Kane" but for what it is - essentailly a 'no brainer' with two of cinema's finest going toe-to-mandible - "AvP:R" delivers on the action stakes and it even finds room for some nice little design additions to the "Aliens" and "Predator" gospel. In particular the fan favourite PredAlien, as seen ripping out of a poorly Predator in Paul W.S. Anderson's "AvP" (2004), adds a nice little twist on the traditional Giger Alien design (even if its method of 'birthing' errs a little on the side of the ridiculous!). But for fans of the games and graphic novels this will be the film that keeps on giving - for everyone else I'd recommend "No Country for Old Men". And to quench the fans' Alien bloodlust, there's a little sneak peak behind the scenes of this battle royale which can be found by clicking the above image.

Of course, not everyone is going to watch "AvP:R" (I know, I know not everyone is as geeky or socially stunted as I?!) but fear not my cinema-going friends for there are alternatives and to name but one - there's the Coen Brothers' return with "No Country for Old Men". Horray for the Brothers are grim again! "No Country for Old Men" marks a return to form for cinema's favourite siblings and is propelled along by some of the best dialogue since forever and a supporting role by Javier Bardem that is little short of jaw-dropping (seriously, the guy's a shoe-in for the Oscar). And we managed to catch up with Bardem to discuss his latest pyschotic creation - Anton Chigurh (same drill as before folks...just click on the image on the right here).

Also out this week is the comedic smorgasbord that is "Walk Hard" and "The Good Night". The former being a music biog spoof from the guy that brought you "Superbad" and "Knocked Up" i.e. Judd Apatow. Starring John C. Reilly as Country legend Dewey Cox, this one looks set to continue Apatow's mirth inducing reign of terror. While "The Good Night" is a somewhat more sombre offering yet with some laugh-out-loud moments courtesy of Brit funnymen Martin Freeman and Simon Pegg. Below you can find a clip from "Walk Hard" as well as an interview with Mr. Freeman discussing his rather strange working relationship with Simon Pegg.
  

Pick of the Week

Well, that's your lot for this week I'm afraid but as ever I shall bid you adieu in the time-honoured tradition of this blog and leave you with my pick of this week's trailers/clips...