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.

• 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: 8/31/2009 12:00 AM UTC

  FALL MOVIE PREVIEW

  A special episode of Film Geek Central, it's our Fall Movie Preview!
  
  
  
  That's right. Every film to be released between now and the end of the year will be covered on our next, monster-sized episode! Scott and Austin will run down the major and minor players and tell you which ones they're looking forward to, which ones leave them cold and which ones are sending them running to the hills.
  
  Also, we'll still have reviews of the new films being released this last week of the summer movie season. Expect big reviews of Rob Zombie's HALLOWEEN II, the 3-D horror opus THE FINAL DESTINATION, Ang Lee's TAKING WOODSTOCK and the Michael Cera romantic comedy PAPER HEART.
  
  Hope to see you there, film geeks!
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  • Tags:
  • Fall Movie Preview
  • Halloween II
  • Rob Zombie
  • film
  • Taking Woodstock
  No Comments

• Date / Time: 8/29/2009 1:10 PM UTC

  FALL MOVIE PREVIEW

  Film Geek Central, the biggest film show on the net, returns this week with perhaps our biggest show yet.
  
  
  
  
  This week is our Fall Movie Preview. Really, even the title might be a little misleading. In fact, we will be going through every week for the rest of the year and telling you exactly what is due to come out. Every single movie for the rest of the year is covered as we tell you which films have us excited, which films leave us cold and which films have us dreading that trip to the multiplex. This is a massive, massive thing and will take up the bulk of the show. But first, we have some other things to take care of...
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  We still have films to review this week for starters. Fist up is HALLOWEEN II, which is the direct sequel to Rob Zombie's controversial remake of HALLOWEEN from 2007. This one picks up one year later and has a rattled Laurie Strode trying to cope with hallucinations, both before and after finding out who true lineage. And of course, Michael Myers, the mass murderer you just can't keep down, returns to Haddonfield for some unfinished business. Malcolm McDowell, Scout Taylor-Compton, Sherri Moon Zombie, Brad Dourif, Danielle Harris and Tyler Mane all return for this installment.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  It's rare to have two new horror films duke it out any week but Halloween. It's doubly-rare when they are two ongoing franchises. But that's what we have this weekend as THE FINAL DESTINATION gives Michael Myers a run for his money. This is the fourth installment in the series, but is going with this simplistic title for some reason. It's also going to do the bulk of its business in 3-D theaters. Because exploding heads are much more entertaining when it happens right in your lap.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Just a week or two late for the 40th anniversary of Woodstock, we have TAKING WOODSTOCK. It's a coming of age comedy about the people who rented out their farm and hotel to the massive festival when the hippie mecca had nowhere else to go. This one is yet another departure from Ang Lee (CROUCHING TIGER HIDDEN DRAGON, BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN), who never settles into one genre for too long. Demetri Martin from the series IMPORTANT THINGS WITH DEMETRI MARTIN leads the ensemble cast.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  We've been waiting a long time to review PAPER HEART and we're not going to wait any longer. This film fooled a lot of people, many of whom thought it was a straight documentary. For the most part at least, it is. We follow comedian/musician/performance artist Charlyne Yi as she interviews people across the country about what love is. All the while, Yi confesses that she doesn't know if she's capable of love herself. Then, she meets Michael Cera and the two kick off a relationship that she is unsure of.
  
  As of course, there's the main event, which once again is the FALL MOVIE PREVIEW! Sure hope we can fit all this into one show.
  
  It all happens Sunday night at 8:00 PM Eastern/7:00 PM Central at Film Geek Central.
  
  You can also stream or download any of our past episodes from the site. Or, because we know you want us baby, you can just subscribe to our show via iTunes.
  
  Don't forget to catch up with us during the week on MySpace and Twitter.
  
  And if you're lucky, you can even reach us by e-mail at filmgeekcentral@gmail.com
  
  Hope to see you there, film geeks!
  • Tags:
  • Fall Movie
  • film
  • Christmas
  • Avatar
  • 3-D
  No Comments

• Original Air Date: 8/24/2009 12:00 AM UTC

  Inglourious Basterds, Shorts, Post Grad, The Cove, Spread, Lorna's Silence

  Six more big movies this week as Film Geek Central dissects everything from family fare to the first genuine war film from Quentin Tarantino.
  
  
  
  Quentin Tarantino's INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS, has been simmering for a while. It's a World War II actioner, detailing the exploits of a group of Jewish-American military toughs who go throughout occupied France, torturing and killing the Nazis. Along the way, they meet up with a woman who has her own score to settle.
  
  A GRINDHOUSE reunion of sorts as Robert Rodriguez brings us his newest, SHORTS. In this family film, a group of kids find a magical rock that gives them the power to make their wishes come true. They have to band together when James Spader tries to use the rock for his own purposes.
  
  In POST GRAD, Alexis Bledel (GILMORE GIRLS, SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING PANTS) comes face to face with the cruel reality following college. Finding a job and emotional happiness is not nearly as easy or guaranteed as everyone has made it out to be.
  
  In SPREAD, Ashton Kutcher is a lothario who is thrown off his game when he meets a woman as good at emotional mind games as he is. Anne Heche, Margarita Levieva and Maria Conchita Alonso co-star.
  
  THE COVE is a documentary that begins to delve into the wonders of the undersea kingdom. It quickly turns into a modern crime story however as a group of activists expose horrible instances of animal abuse in a Japanese cove.
  
  The Dardenne Brothers (THE SON, L'ENFANT) return with LORNA'S SILENCE. In this film, a woman helps a junkie in exchange for citizenship, only to grow ever more dependent on him.
  
  All this plus news and DVD releases such as HANNAH MONTANA THE MOVIE, LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT and SURVEILLANCE.
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  • Tags:
  • Inglourious Basterds
  • Quentin Tarantino
  • World War II
  • Robert Rodriguez
  • film
  No Comments

• Date / Time: 8/22/2009 9:01 AM UTC

  Inglourious Basterds, Shorts, Post Grad, Spread, The Cove, Lorna's Silence

  We're not in the tabloid business, we're in the film geeking business. And cousin, business is a-boomin'! Six more big films this week as Film Geek Central dissects everything from family fare to the first genuine period piece from Quentin Tarantino
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Quentin Tarantino's INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS, has been simmering for a while. It's a World War II actioner, detailing the exploits of a group of Jewish-American military toughs who go throughout occupied France, torturing and killing the Nazis. But behind the scenes is another woman who has her own bone to pick with the Third Reich. This one features an international cast including Brad Pitt, Mélanie Laurent, Christoph Waltz (who won Best Actor at Cannes for this film), Eli Roth (director of HOSTEL), Michael Fassbender (300), Diane Kruger (NATIONAL TREASURE, JOYEUX NOEL), Daniel Bruhl (2 DAYS IN PARIS, GOOD BYE LENIN), Til Schweiger and B.J. Novak (THE OFFICE). Quentin Tarantino has dabbled in a few genres, but this is the first geuine feature-length period film from him. How does Tarantino's newest hold up to his earlier films?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  A GRINDHOUSE reunion of sorts as Robert Rodriguez brings us his newest, SHORTS. In this family film, a group of kids find a magical rock that gives them the power to make their wishes come true. Told in a series of "shorts," the film details what happens when different people in a state of the art neighborhood get their hands on the rock and misuse it. Unfortunately, no one mounts a machine gun on their severed leg and mows down a bunch of zombies, but maybe we can save that for the sequel. Jon Cryer, William H. Macy, Leslie Mann (FUNNY PEOPLE), Kat Dennings (NICK & NORA'S INFINITE PLAYLIST) and James Spader are the adult-sized members of this cast.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  In POST GRAD, Alexis Bledel (GILMORE GIRLS, SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING PANTS) comes face to face with the cruel reality following college. Finding a job and emotional happiness is not nearly as easy or guaranteed as everyone has made it out to be. Further causing her frustration is her strange family, led by a goofy Michael Keaton. It's the debut live-action film from Vicky Jenson, who earlier co-helmed the Dreamworks family films SHREK and SHARK TALE.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Ashton Kutcher is still relevant, just ask him. In SPREAD, Kutcher is a lothario who enjoys being kept by older women as opposed to finding a job. He is thrown off his game when he meets a woman as good at emotional mind games as he is. Anne Heche and Margarita Levieva co-star in this Brett Easton Ellis-like film from director David Mackenzie (MISTER FOE, YOUNG ADAM).
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  THE COVE is a documentary that begins to delve into the wonders of the undersea kingdom. It quickly turns into a modern crime story however as a group of activists expose horrible instances of animal abuse in a Japanese cove. Dolphins are being herded and slaughtered for entertainment and toxic meat in a region of Japan and the Japanese government does everything they can to suppress it. The team is led by Rick O'Barry who once trained Flipper and in the years since has become the world's most outspoken opponent of dolphin captivity.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  The Dardenne Brothers (THE SON, L'ENFANT) return with LORNA'S SILENCE. In this film, a woman helps a junkie in exchange for citizenship, only to grow ever more dependent on him. As her scams come to fruition, her guilt manifests itself in a surprising manner.
  
  
  
  
  As always, we'll also have a complete rundown on what's going on in the world of film. Plus quick reviews of the newest DVDs, including HANNAH MONTANA: THE MOVIE, THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT and SURVEILLANCE.
  
  The whole thing goes down Sunday at 8:00 PM Eastern / 7:00 PM Central at Film Geek Central.
  
  Remember that you can also stream or download this episode or past episodes any time during the week. Or, if you want to make us really happy, you can always subscribe to our show on iTunes.
  
  Also, don't forget to check out our active MySpace and Twitter pages.
  
  If you need to reach us by e-mail, you can get us at filmgeekcentral@gmail.com We really do check it every once in a while.
  
  Anyway, looks like another big one for us this week. Hope to see you there, film geeks!
  • Tags:
  • Inglourious Basterds
  • Quentin Tarantino
  • Brad Pitt
  • film
  • Alexis Bledel
  No Comments

• Original Air Date: 8/17/2009 12:00 AM UTC

  District 9, Time Traveler's Wife, Bandslam, The Goods, Ponyo, Not Quite Hollywood

  Huge show this week as we take a look at six new films hitting theaters.
  
  
  
  Rachel McAdams and Eric Bana share a profound but difficult relationship in THE TIME TRAVELER'S WIFE. This one is based on the bestselling novel and is one of the most awaited romantic films of the summer.
  
  Then it's time for some socially conscious sci-fi with DISTRICT 9. Peter Jackson produces this first film from Neill Blomkamp. In it, aliens have been living among us in sealed-off slums. When a government agent begins to see the light, he helps lead the aliens in a rebellion.
  
  Jeremy Piven does nothing to dispel the sleazy nature of used car salesmen in THE GOODS: LIVE HARD SELL HARD. This is a raunchy comedy for those who have already seen THE HANGOVER too many times. Ving Rhames, James Brolin, and Ed Helms co-star.
  
  A group of mismatched high school students form a rock band in order to win a competition in BANDSLAM. Disney Channel alums Vanessa Hudgens and Alyson Michalka reunite for this one.
  
  Hayayo Miyazaki, the one-man Pixar of Japan, gives us PONYO. They've gathered a bunch of American voice talent to dub this film from the man who brought us PRINCESS MONONOKE, HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE and SPIRITED AWAY.
  
  And finally, we learn about the overlooked arena of Australian exploitation films in NOT QUITE HOLLYWOOD: THE WILD UNTAMED HISTORY OF OZPLOITATION. Horror, sex, martial arts - there's some surprising pedigree from the land down under.
  
  As always, we'll also have news and the latest DVD reviews, which this week include 17 AGAIN, I LOVE YOU MAN, THE CLASS and ALIEN TRESPASS.
  
  How are we going to get all of this into one show without going crazy? Tune in to find out.
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  • Tags:
  • Time Traveler's Wife
  • District 9
  • Rachel McAdams
  • anime
  • film
  No Comments

• Date / Time: 8/15/2009 4:24 AM UTC

  DISTRICT 9, THE TIME TRAVELER'S WIFE, BANDSLAM, THE GOODS, PONYO, NOT QUITE HOLLYWOOD

  Scott Davis here, and honestly it's not even fair. This week on Film Geek Central, we've got almost too much show for our two hosts to handle. Is it the biggest film show on the net? Who knows? But what we can't accomplish in earnest, we'll gladly make up for in hyperbole.
  
  
  
  No less than six reviews this week, and that's just the stuff that's in theatres.
  
  
  
  
  DISTRICT 9 is something different - a film that aims to be a smart, socially conscious sci-fi film. Add to that the fact that it is from a first time feature film director (Neill Blomkamp, who does have some amazing shorts under his belt) and it takes place in South Africa (the story draws parallels to apartheid), and it's pretty amazing this is being released during the summer. Could it be because the film was ushered into existence by the very forward-thinking, genre-loving Peter Jackson (LORD OF THE RINGS, KING KONG)? Are you kidding?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Counter-programming seems to be the name of the game this summer. In weeks when big genre films have premiered, we've had films geared towards women, films that are in short supply throughout the year really. THE TIME TRAVELER'S WIFE blends romance and sci-fi in a story where a woman deals with her one true love, who phases in and out of time, often leaving her awaiting his return. Rachel McAdams (THE NOTEBOOK, STATE OF PLAY) and Eric Bana (in his third film of the summer) star in this one.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  It's the Disney Channel reunion no one over the age of 12 has been waiting for with BANDSLAM. Actually, the story sounds a little bit charming as a group of kids, from both the outcasts and popular crowds, get together to form a band and win a coveted competition. This one stars Alyson Michalka (COW BELLES, PHIL OF THE FUTURE), Vanessa Hudgens (HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 1-3). Now, I am just honest enough to admit that I'm so out of it, I don't know who these people are. Maybe Austin can shed some light on this one.
  
  
  
  
  
  Jeremy Piven has been nurturing an image as an egotistical, workaholic player for a few years now and it's getting hard to figure out where the characters end and the actor begins. He's back, bringing along virtually everyone who had a supporting role in THE HANGOVER and ANCHORMAN. THE GOODS: LIVE HARD SELL HARD is about used car salesmen trying desperately to get some used cars sold in a climate where no one is buying. Wait a minute, this might be the most topical film of the summer.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  How does Film Geek Central separate themselves from the flock? Well, neither of us have been overly thrilled with the work of Hayao Miyazaki, the crown jewel of anime. PONYO is the latest film being hailed as a Pixar-quality addition to the world of animation, 2-D animation no less. We have every hope in the world of falling for this one where the others have not. Disney has brought this to theatres with a bigger release than the ones given to PRINCESS MONONOKE, SPIRITED AWAY or HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE. It is in theatres with an English dub, voice acting that includes the amazing Cate Blanchett, Matt Damon, Tina Fey, Liam Neeson and.... the latest offspring from the Jonas Brothers and Billy Ray Cyrus clans. Hrm.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  There's few things I love as much as exploitation cinema, and finding new avenues of cult cinema that I may have overlooked. That's why I'm excited about the new documentary NOT QUITE HOLLYWOOD: THE WILD UNTOLD STORY OF OZPLOITATION. That's "Auzzie-ploitation" if you're going phonetically and the doc covers the rash of exploitation films to arise from Australia in the 1970s and 1980s. Sex films, horror films, car films, kung fu - all get covered here with interviewees such as Barry Humphries (a.k.a. Dame Edna), Quentin Tarantino and others. Please note that the above trailer is not work safe, nor should the kids be clicking on it. Okay, our conscience is clear.
  
  
  As always, we will also cover the DVD releases from the week, including I LOVE YOU MAN, 17 AGAIN, ALIEN TRESPASS, THE CLASS and PARIS 36. Plus, all the news that's fit to waste time on.
  
  The whole thing goes down Sunday night at 8:00 PM Eastern/7:00 PM Central at Film Geek Central.
  
  Remember that you can also download or stream the shows in the archives. Or, if you're feeling really adventurous, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes.
  
  You can also join our ever-growing fan base on MySpace and Twitter.
  
  And of course, e-mail us at filmgeekcentral@gmail.com
  • Tags:
  • District 9
  • The Time Traveler's
  • Rachel McAdams
  • Vanessa Hudgens
  • Bandslam
  No Comments

• Original Air Date: 8/10/2009 12:00 AM UTC

  G.I. Joe the Rise of Cobra, Julie & Julia, A Pefect Getaway

  Fighting for freedom wherever there's trouble, Film Geek Central has another great show for you this week.
  
  
  
  First up, Stephen Sommers brings one of the icons of our childhood to the big screen. It looks like they just decided to go all out and create a hokey, cornball epic for the summer. Will we get one, or will we wind up looking back at MEGAFORCE with fond memories?
  
  In JULIE & JULIA, we have the first major Hollywood film about a blogger. Amy Adams is a woman who, with no direction in her life, decides to tackle every recipe in Julia Child's legendary cookbook. At the same time, we flash back to the life of Julia Child (Meryl Streep), who it turns out didn't always have a great deal of direction herself. This is summer counter-programming and we'll break it down.
  
  Next, we have A PERFECT GETAWAY. This is a high-octane thriller from David Twohy, a talented director who has some really bad luck unfortunately (check out BELOW, because no one else did). Cult movie icon Milla Jovovich stars along with Timothy Olyphant, Steve Zahn and Kiele Sanchez.
  
  We'll also look at DVD releases such as OBSESSED, RACE TO WITCH MOUNTAIN, THE SOLOIST, DELGO and more. And of course, we start out with the newest news from the film industry, particularly the passing of John Hughes.
  
  Hope to see you there, film geeks!
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  • Tags:
  • G.I. Joe
  • Julie and Julia
  • John Hughes
  • Sienna Miller
  • film
  No Comments

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