Film Geek Central  

Show Notes

Every week, Scott Davis and Austin Kennedy check out the latest, but not always the greatest films in the multiplexes. Everything from the biggest blockbusters, to the smallest indie films to the latest foreign films. Scott and Austin are film geeks by birth, keeping a critical eye on things, but bringing a lot of humor and energy to the proceedings as well. They don't always agree, but it's always entertaining.

• Upcoming Episodes

  Ninja Assassin, Old Dogs, Fantastic Mr. Fox, House of the Devil, Coco Before Chanel

  Film Geek Central

  Date / Time: 11/30/2009 1:00 AM UTC

  Category: Film

  Call-in Number: (718) 508-9349

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  Our kung fu is strong here at Film Geek Central!
  
  
  First up, Disney has been plugging the comedy OLD DOGS for months now. Obviously, this is their big post-Thanksgiving release. Robin Williams and John Travolta who play middle-aged bachelors who suddenly have to care for the twins Williams didn't know he had. This is from the same director as WILD HOGS, so we're expecting family-friendly comedy here.
  
  Next up is NINJA ASSASSIN. See, back in the 1980s, ninjas were everywhere. Ninjas and cocaine. We're fine without the cocaine but the ninjas we miss. The director of V FOR VENDETTA brings us a modern-day ninja epic. Some are wondering if this is going to be a real ninja movie. We will be happy if it recreates the magic of those cheesy Cannon films from the 1980s. Paging Michael Dudikoff...
  
  THE FANTASTIC MR. FOX seems to be an indie film masquerading as a big family blockbuster. Done in the style of vintage stop-motion animation, it recreates a Roald Dahl story about a fox who wants to settle in his dream home, despite the nasty farmers lurking about. Wes Anderson, who gave us RUSHMORE and THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS did this one, so we're not expecting ICE AGE material here.
  
  We've pushed back THE HOUSE OF THE DEVIL twice already. No more! This episode, we promise we will deliver a review of Ti West's horror shocker which has a retro-80s film to it and boasts cult favorites Tom Noonan and Mary Woronov in its cast.
  
  We're also finally able to review COCO BEFORE CHANEL, the story of the famous fashion designer long before she was famous. Audrey Tatou (AMELIE) stars in this award-winning film.
  
  All this plus film news and our DVD Picks of the Week.
  Hope to see you there, Film Geeks!

• Featured Episode

  The Twilight Saga: New Moon, Planet 51, Blind Side, Black Dynamite, An Education, House of the Devil

  Film Geek Central

  Date / Time: 11/23/2009 1:00 AM UTC

  Category: Film

  
  

  This week, Film Geek Central sucks!
  
  
  
  THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON has the enviable pop culture hype usually reserved for films with three times its budget. Honestly, we're not TWILIGHT haters here at FGC. Both of us thought the original film was decent and could certainly see why it appealed to its target audience. Truth be told, we're sort of curious to see where this series goes with the second installment.
  
  PLANET 51 is supposed to be the next big CG-animated film, but will it have what it takes to work in such a crowded market? In it, a conceited American astronaut lands on a planet that turns out to be home to a domesticated alien species.
  
  THE BLIND SIDE is the type of film designed to get Oscar buzz. Sandra Bullock plays a well-off southern woman who takes in a large, shy teenager with a mysterious and tragic past.
  
  AN EDUCATION is the bittersweet story of a sheltered girl in 1960s London who falls for a man twice her age. Star Carey Mulligan is being tipped as someone to watch.
  
  THE HOUSE OF THE DEVIL is a chilling horror film from Ti West. A woman agrees to house-sit for an evening, only to become increasingly on edge due to the strange events around her. Genre greats, Tom Noonan, Mary Woronov and Dee Wallace show up in supporting roles.
  
  BLACK DYNAMITE was Austin's pick for his most awaited film of 2009 and its easy to see why. It's a spoof/throwback to 1970s blaxspoloitation films whose trailer has been getting people excited ever since it appeared on the net early this year.
  
  All this plus film news and our DVD Picks of the Week. Hope to see you there, Film Geeks!

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• On Demand Episodes           45024          

  Original Air Date: 6/1/2009 12:00 AM UTC

  Up, Drag Me to Hell, Powder Blue, Tyson

  This week, Scott and Austin look at Pixar's latest film UP. Sam Raimi returns to horror with DRAG ME TO HELL. Jessica Biel leads an all-star cast in POWEDER BLUE. And finally, James Toback takes an unflinching look at the rise, fall and possible rise again of TYSON. You should know by now that there is even more to come on top of that.
  <embed src="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/BTRPlayer.swf?displayheight=&file=http://www.blogtalkradio.com%2ffilmgeekcentral%2fplay_list.xml?show_id=540942&autostart=false&shuffle=false&volume=80&corner=rounded&callback=http://www.blogtalkradio.com/FlashPlayerCallback.aspx&width=215&height=108" width="215" height="108" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" quality="high" wmode="transparent" menu="false"></embed>
  • Tags:
  • Pixar
  • Disney
  • Sam Raimi
  • Jessica Biel
  Comments (1)

• Date / Time: 5/31/2009 7:32 AM UTC

  GOING UP, GOING DOWN

  
  
  Another week and the summer movie season is in full swing. This week, Film Geek Central brings you animated family fare, gory horror, celebrated athletes and an ensemble cast in a continuous state of ennui.
  
  

  
  

  
  Scott and Austin will of course be looking at Pixar's latest offering, UP. Then, Sam Raimi returns to horror after more than a decade with DRAG ME TO HELL. Mike Tyson sets the record straight in Jame Toback's documentary, TYSON. And Scott takes a solo look at the ensemble drama POWDER BLUE starring Jessica Biel, Ray Liotta and Forest Whitaker.
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  Also, we'll look at the DVD of NEW IN TOWN, which shares the same plot and writer as SWEET HOME ALABAMA.
  
  

  
  

  
  Huh.
  
  The show goes live Sunday night at 8PM Eastern/7 PM Central at Film Geek Central.
  
  You can also subscribe to our show every week on iTunes. And if you'd like to reach us, e-mail us at filmgeekcentral@gmail.com
  
  Hope to see you there, Film Geeks!
  • Tags:
  • Up
  • Disney
  • Pixar
  • Jessical Biel
  • Powder Blue
  No Comments

• Date / Time: 5/28/2009 1:17 PM UTC

  BUFFY MINUS TALENT

  Good news and bad news. The good news is one of the most iconic heroines of recent years may be returning to the big screen. The bad news is that it will be without any input by that person's creator. But I'm going to make a case that while that's a bad idea, the people who do want to take charge make the prospect even worse.
  
  Back in the early 1990s, a little film seemed to escape from the ether and into summer movie houses. It was called BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER and I couldn't wait. Everything from the jazzy trailer to the teaser poster featuring a cheerleader's legs as she held her pom-poms in one hand and a stake in the other, said this would be all sorts of awesome. True, the film proudly proclaimed it co-starred then-current reigning douchebag Luke Perry, but hey two out of three.
  
  
  

   
  

  
  
  Then, the movie came out. It was one of those "coulda been" films I still like to visit. It was far from perfect, but it "coulda been." It was charming, funny, entertaining and had an energy most films didn't. The problem came that most people didn't take the premise that seriously. And to be fair, with the title like BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER, it's a miracle anyone did. But there were a lot of changes made to the film from the writing stage. Then a novice in Hollywood, writer Joss Whedon invisioned a humorous table-turning on the horror films of old. Where the blonde wouldn't get slaughtered but would take back the night. That sort of showed through in the film, but mostly not. Reportedly, co-star Donald Sutherland asked for a few changes, probably to beef up his supporting role. But the main departure came from director Fran Rubel Kazui and her whipped producer hubby Kaz Kazui. Like many producer-director teams, they sought to make BUFFY their own. Even the trailers pimp their names despite no one outside the Kazui household knowing who the hell they were.
  
  The film failed at the box office. Fox's gamble unfortunately did not pay off. But it did garner a small following once it hit VHS.
  
  Flash-forward to five years later and one of the most open-minded gambles and successful turnarounds in the history of filmed media. Whedon, then hot after his script for TOY STORY became a phenomenon, pitches a continuation of the BUFFY saga, this time under his guidance, to the "fifth network," the WB. Fox would make the show, everything would be recast and it would pick up a few months to a year after the film ended (or more accurately, Joss' version of the screenplay). It was picked up as a mid-season replacement and no one outisde the production was taking it seriously. Lead actress Sarah-Michelle Gellar famously enthused to her friends about her new leading role, only to be reassured, "Oh that's okay dear, maybe you'll get a pilot next year." Still, both Fox and the WB put their money behind it and big ads featuring a more world-wise Buffy, stake in hand, promising to take the world by storm.
  
  
  

   
  

  
  
  Amazingly, by the time the show aired, it looked as if she might do just that. Critic and fan response was immediate - this was far more witty, original and exciting than just about anything else on television and worthy of a chance. It grew slowly, but by the end of the second season, it was apparant that BUFFY was a force to be reckoned with. The show was a watershed moment in television history, all under the guidance of Whedon's Mutant Enemy production company. Here was a heroine for the modern age. Smart, perky, tough but human enough so that the viewers could relate. Amazingly, all this was accomplished without making Buffy into some mutant sex bomb. Not that some folks in advertising didn't try.
  
  
  

   
  

  
  
  So, why were the names Fran Rubel Kazui and Kaz Kazui still in the credits? And why was Kazui Enterprises still listed before Mutant Enemy? In one of the many books released about the making of the show, the answer was given bluntly. The Kazuis names were on the show because they produced the movie and had some contract provision which insured them credit and a cut of the profits, even though they had nothing to do with the series. Did you hear that? They had nothing to do with the series. It's sort of like when Yes did that song "Three Percent for Nothing." Same principle.
  
  After seven seasons, BUFFY folded, more because Joss and company were done with that story and went onto other things. The story has continued in a fantastic comic book offering, codenamed BUFFY: SEASON EIGHT, which Whedon oversees.
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  Now comes word that Vertigo Entertainment wants to get a new BUFFY feature film going... without Joss Whedon. To quote Eric McCormick in FREE ENTERPRISE, "It could be the worst idea since New Coke." For those who aren't invested in the Buffyverse, l tried to think of various "what if" scenarios for other properties. Unfortunately, many of these have already come true, none of which with successful results.
  
  Let's just say, reaction to the prospect of a Whedon-less BUFFY are a bit passionate. You need only check out rhe reaction on the net. True, fanboy reaction is typically extreme in one way or the other. But here, the geeks have a point. Even those who claim to look forward and defend the psospect have a reacion of, "still, no Joss."
  
  Why is this such a big deal? Because every good thing to come under the heading of BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER for more than ten years has been under his guidance, and every bad thing has been under the guidance of the Kazuis. Fran Rubel Kazui has not directed a single film after BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER. The Kazuis are listed as producers on TELLING LIES IN AMERICA and ORGAZMO, two films which also didn't have good marketing behind them.
  
  And then there's Roy Lee.
  
  Every now and then, one can look at current trends in pop culture and trace the root to one offending party. For instance, we could trace the glut of bands like N'Sync, Backstreet Boys and their ilk to now-disgraced mogul Lou Pearlman. This works for Hollywood too and a guy named Roy Lee, the head of Vertigo Entertainment. You haven't heard of him, but I guarantee he's pissed you off.
  
  In 2002, Lee bet everything he had on a remake of a Japanese horror film. The result was the American version of THE RING, a film many people (not me) love, some moreso than the original. In classic Hollywood fashion, rather than use the clout to do something right (like Whedon did on BUFFY those many years ago), he drove the premise into the ground. If you're upset over the constant barrage of horror remakes, many of them of Asian properties, you can blame Roy Lee. The Hollywood remakes THE GRUDGE, DARK WATER, THE LAKE HOUSE, THE INVASION, THE EYE, SHUTTER, THE STRANGERS, QUARANTINE and THE UNINVITED all came directly from Roy Lee. He currently has over forty other productions either completed or in the works, almost all of them either sequels or remakes. And this, with the aid of the Kazuis, is who wants to do the new BUFFY movie.
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  It won't happen. I'm going to say that now. There's too much negative press already. Only once in a blue moon does someone ride the negative press all the way to a theatrical release (Gus Van Sant's PSYCHO for instance). Even more rare is the possibility that the end product turns out to be not so bad (I'll begrudgingly site Zack Snyder's DAWN OF THE DEAD).
  
  Still, I want to show that it isn't just an oath of fealty to Joss Whedon that makes the new BUFFY film such a horrible idea. It's that the people in charge are the producers and hangers-on who leech creativity from everything they touch. These are the people to be wary of. These are the hacks who ruin everything.
  • Tags:
  • Buffy the Vampire Sl
  • Joss Whedon
  • Firefly
  • Serenity
  • Sarah Michelle Gella
  No Comments

• Original Air Date: 5/25/2009 12:00 AM UTC

  Terminator: Salvation, Night at the Museum 2, Angels & Demons, Dance Flick, Girlfriend Experience

  Memorial Day weekend, and the big summer movies hit hard and fast. This week, Scott and Austin check out TERMINATOR: SALVATION and NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: BATTLE AT THE SMITHSONIAN. Also, Tom Hanks fights off ANGELS & DEMONS, the Wayans Bros. knock down another genre with DANCE FLICK and Sasha Grey makes her mainstream debut in Steven Soderbergh's THE GIRLFRIEND EXPERIENCE. Also, DVD reviews of PAUL BLART: MALL COP, MY BLOODY VALENTINE 3-D, UNDERWORLD: RISE OF THE LYCANS and FANBOYS.
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  • Tags:
  • Terminator
  • Christian Bale
  • summer movie
  • Sasha Grey
  • Tom Hanks
  No Comments

• Date / Time: 5/24/2009 4:49 PM UTC

  MEMORIAL DAY MOVIE MELTDOWN!

  
  
  Hello, pod people! A big week this week as Memorial Day brings in more big players for the summer movie season.
  
  
  
  First up, Christian Bale does his raspy voice thing in TERMINATOR: SALVATION. Ben Stiller runs around with historical figures in NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: BATTLE OF THE SMITHSONIAN. The Wayans Bros. insist they are still relevant with DANCE FLICK. Tom Hanks puzzles over an ancient conspiracy in ANGELS & DEMONS, and adult star Sasha Grey makes her mainstream debut in Steven Soderbergh's THE GIRLFRIEND EXPERIENCE.
  
  
  
  Also, we'll take a look at the DVD releases of MY BLOODY VALENTINE 3-D, PAUL BLART: MALL COP, UNDERWORLD: RISE OF THE LYCANS, VALKYRIE and FANBOYS.
  
  Hmmm, a lot of colons this episode.
  
  The show is Sunday at 8:00 PM Eastern/7:00 Central and you can check it all out at Film Geek Central. If you miss the show, you can stream it at a later date or better yet, download it right to your hard drive.
  
  Also, remember you can check us out on iTunes as well.
  
  And while we're on the subject, don't forget to check out our MySpace and Twitter pages.
  
  Hope to see you there, film geeks!
  • Tags:
  • Terminator: Salvatio
  • Night at the Museum
  • Angels & Demons
  • Sasha Grey
  • Grilfriend Experienc
  No Comments

• Date / Time: 5/23/2009 5:42 AM UTC

  THE LAST COMIC BOOK MOVIE YOU EVER WANTED TO SEE!

  What is the last comic hero you would ever expect to get the big screen Hollywood treatment? Ant-Man? Apache Chief? Wrong on both counts, although Ant-Man has been in the works for some time.
  
  How about Bazooka Joe?
  
  Who?
  
  
  

  
  

  
  That's who.
  
  Seriously, it's all here in the Hollywood Reporter.
  
  "Michael Eisner and his Tornante Co. have tapped newcomer Mark Hammer to pen a feature adaptation of "Bazooka Joe," the comic strip that comes with Bazooka bubble gum.
  

  
  Hammer, who this weekend is attending the graduation ceremony at Orange County's Chapman University, where he studied film, wrote a spec titled "Sonny Takes to Peru," which made the studio rounds but ultimately did not sell.
  
  That spec, however, turned into a strong writing sample that got him into meetings as well as representation at management outfit the Safran Co. Execs at Tornante, seeking to fill their open writing assignment,liked the spec and brought in Hammer, who gave them his winning take.
  
  "Bazooka Joe" has been a comic strip used as an advertising device for the gum since the 1950s. Joe, who wears an eye patch for reasons never explained, has child-friendly misadventures, sometime joined by a host of friends with the names Pesty, Mort (always with a turtleneck sweater pulled up over his mouth), Toughie, Hungry Herman, love interest Jane and a dog named Walkie Talkie.
  
  Bazooka, the gum and the comic, are part of trading card company Topps' stable. Eisner purchased the company in 2007 for $380 million with a mandate to rejuvenate the brand."
  
  
  This will be the second film to feature the credit "A Topps Chewing Gum Production." The first was 1987's head-scratchingly awful The Garbage Pail Kids Movie, a.k.a. The Film That Hates You.
  
  Just want to clear this up for everybody. Everybody makes fun of Aquaman, but Bazooka Joe is getting the big-screen treatment before him.
  
  • Tags:
  • Bazooka Joe
  • comic strip
  • chewing gum
  • collectors
  • wtf
  No Comments

• Date / Time: 5/22/2009 5:31 AM UTC

  NICK NOLTE! MARILYN MANSON! ASIA ARGENTO!... NEW JODOROWSKY FILM READY TO ROLL?

  In many ways, Alejandro Jodorowsky is what daring filmmaking is all about. Not always successful, but always transcendant. After you've seen one of his films, you never forget it. And those who have been touched by films like EL TOPO, THE HOLY MOUNTAIN and SANTA SANGRE (like me) are forever thankful.
  
  When you're as nonconventional and, let's just say it, controversial as Jodorowsky, it's not always easy to get your latets project off the ground. Hence, if Jodorowsky does indeed helm KILL FISH this year, it will be his first film in twenty years. This from Screen Daily:
  
  

  "UJ Budapest FilmStudio’s Laszlo Kantor has revealed further details of one of the more colourful projects currently being hatched in the market, Alejandro Jodorowsky’s King Shot.

  Financing is nearing completion on the $7.4m (€5.5m) film, first announced in Cannes last year and billed as a “metaphysical spaghetti western.” An Italian partner is poised to board the film and shooting has now been set for early October in Spain

  Kantor is co-producing alongside an array of partners, among them David Lynch, whose outfit Absurda is handling world sales. Paris-based Hungarian Simon Shandor of Clavis Film is the lead producer.

  The project stars Nick Nolte, Cannes jury member Asia Argento, Udo Kier and Marilyn Manson. Vilmos Zsigmond has now been brought on board as cinematographer.

  The film marks the maverick Jodorowsky’s return to directing after a 20 year break. His earlier works, including Santa Sangre, El Topo and The Holy Mountain, have made the Chilean auteur a cult figure.

  King Shot is one of the many co-productions in which the prolific Kantor is involved. He was the Hungarian co-producer on Caroline Strubbe’s Critics’ Week entry Lost Persons Area (sold by UMedia.) Kantor is also due to start work on director Dimitar Mitovski’s black comedy, Mission London, a Bulgarian-Hungarian co-production."

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  
  • Tags:
  • Alejandro Jodorowsky
  • Asia Argento
  • Nick Nolte
  • Marilyn Manson
  • El Topo
  No Comments

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