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: 10/26/2009 12:00 AM UTC

  Saw VI, Astro Boy, Cirque du Freak the Vampire's Assistant, Amelia, Ong Bak 2

  Trick or treat, film geeks! Halloween weekend brings us a few new movies to take a look at.
  
  
  
  Used to be there were a ton of horror movies for the Halloween season. But these days, the holiday belongs to SAW. The latest installment, SAW VI, finds Jigsaw's heir apparent trapping another group of thankless people in fatal tests. Also, lots more info on the insanely complex back story.
  
  ASTRO BOY is based on the classic anime series which many credit with revolutionizing the art form. This one features the voice "talent" of Nicolas Cage, because he just can't leave a comic property alone. It's a big CG-animated film that tries to bring in the young boys who didn't get what they wanted from the Wild Things.
  
  CIRQUE DU FREAK: THE VAMPIRE'S ASSISTANT will also be competing for the kids. It's based on the rather gruesome series of young adult novels by Darren Shan. But unless the trailers are completely misleading (possible), this one has a bit of comedy in it as well.
  
  The first salvo in the race for Oscar glory has been thrown and it is AMELIA. Two-time Academy Award winner Hillary Swank plays famed aviator Amelia Earheart in what looks to be another fantastic performance. This one probably won't get a lot of bucks, but it might get a lot of acclaim. Richard Gere and Ewan MacGregor co-star.
  
  Finally, Tony Jaa returns in ONG BAK 2: THE BEGINNING to make us all feel like giant wussies as we watch his amazing martial arts prowess. This one doesn't look like it's really a sequel, but it's done by the same folks and that's good enough for us.
  
  All this plus film news and our DVD Picks of the Week.
  
  Hope to see you there, Film Geeks!
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  • Tags:
  • Saw VI
  • horror
  • Halloween
  • Cirque du Freak
  • film
  Comments (1)

• Date / Time: 10/24/2009 2:16 PM UTC

  SAW VI, ASTRO BOY, CIRQUE DU FREAK: THE VAMPIRE'S ASSISTANT, AMELIA, ONG BAK 2

  
  
  We're the coolest show in the pumpkin patch. This week, Film Geek Central takes on five new films being released in the weekend before Halloween.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  First up is SAW VI. Now, used to be Halloween gave us two or three R-rated horror films to devour. These days, the holiday belongs to SAW. Not a bad accomplishment for a series that began with a single $1 million film five years ago. This latest installment adds a topical nature to the series as Jigsaw sets his sights on the insurance industry! Also, we get more about the ongoing story of Hoffman (Costas Mandylor) and the ex-wife of Jigsaw (Betsy Russell). This one might make an interesting double feature with Michael Moore's SICKO.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Next up is an ambitious film adaptation of one of the original and most influential animes ever, ASTRO BOY. Astro is created by a grieving scientist and finds himself fighting evil in a futuristic society where robots live as indentured servants. This big CG animated films is trying to attract both fans of comic books as well as the young boys who might not have gotten their rocks off with the Wild Things.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  CIRQUE DU FREAK: THE VAMPIRE'S ASSISTANT aims to be the first in a series of new films based on the young adult novels by Darren Shan. This one wraps up a bunch of the early books in one film as young Darren (the novels go with the conceit that they are Shan telling his unbelievable life story) and his friend Steve explore the world's most amazing freak show. One thing leads to another, and Darren is forced to give up his life and become a vampire's assistant. Amongst the film's huge supporting cast is John C. Reilly (STEP BROTHERS, CHICAGO), Ken Watanabe (LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA, THE LAST SAMURAI), Salma Hayek, Orlando Jones, Patrick Fugit (SAVED, ALMOST FAMOUS), Jane Krakowski (30 ROCK), Ray Stevenson (PUNISHER: WAR ZONE) and Willem Dafoe.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  AMELIA is the long-awaited biopic of Amelia Earhart. Playing the famed aviatrix is two-time Academy Award winner Hillary Swank. We love saying that. Since she didn't get the parts she deserved after BOYS DON'T CRY, we're happy she came back with MILLION DOLLAR BABY to prove once and for all she is a talent to to be reckoned with. The film, which chronicles the period from her first trip across the Atlantic up to her disappearance co-stars Richard Gere, Ewan McGregor and Christopher Eccelston.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  When ONG BAK came out a few years back, it was a revelation. Shamelessly avoiding any wire work or digital effects, it introduced international audiences to an amazing talent in Tony Jaa. It also single-handedly established Thailand's crop of action films in the western market. Tony Jaa returns in ONG BAK 2. The film proports to be a prequel to the original, though if there is a connection we can't see it right now. Nevertheless, it's done by the same people and that's good enough for us. This one is an epic adventure taking place in the 1400s.
  
  All of this plus film news and our DVD Picks of the Week.
  
  The whole thing happens this Sunday at 8:00 PM Eastern/7:00 PM Central at Film Geek Central.
  
  You can also stream or download the ep any time after it airs or if you want to be absolutely sure to get your weekly dose of Film Geek goodness, just subscribe to our show via iTunes.
  
  Also, be sure to check out our very active MySpace and Twitter pages.
  
  Hope to see you there, Film Geeks!
  • Tags:
  • Saw VI
  • horror
  • Halloween
  • film
  • Astro Boy
  No Comments

• Original Air Date: 10/19/2009 12:00 AM UTC

  Paranormal Activity, Where the Wild Things Are, Law Abiding Citizen, Couples Retreat, The Stepfather

  I hate these hiatuses. So, Film Geek Central comes back with five exciting new films to review!
  
  
  
  PARANORMAL ACTIVITY is the scariest movie of the year, or at least that's what all the hype is saying. This modest $15,000 film has sold out everywhere its played in its limited engagement and now expands nationwide thanks to an enormous groundswell of internet support. Is this the film that will make us cry for mommy and never sleep in the dark again?
  
  Of course the big one this weekend will be Spike Jonze's WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE. Based on the classic children's book, this highly inventive film has been on our "must see" list for some time.
  
  In the surprise hit, LAW ABIDING CITIZEN, Gerard Butler plays a resourceful man who takes matters into his own hands after a lawyer (Jamie Foxx) makes a plea bargain with the man who killed Butler's family.
  
  We didn't do a show last week, so you will have to tune in this week to see what we think of COUPLES RETREAT. Vince Vaughn, John Favreau, Jason Bateman, Malin Akerman, Kristen Bell, Kristen Davis and Faizon Love are just some of the people in this all-star romantic comedy, which was directed by former child star Peter Billingsley.
  
  Finally, THE STEPFATHER remake is from the same guy that put extra stink on PROM NIGHT a couple years back. Be sure to check out the fireworks on this one.
  
  All this plus film news and our DVD Picks of the Week!
  NOTE: There were a couple audio drop-outs during this episode. It lasted for roughly a minute around the 63:30 mark and roughly 40 seconds around the 96:20 mark. We do come back though. Listen until the end of the show or you don't get a cupcake later.
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  • Tags:
  • Paranormal Activity
  • Where the Wild Things Are
  • Halloween
  • film
  • horror
  No Comments

• Date / Time: 10/18/2009 1:18 AM UTC

  PARANORMAL ACTIVITY, WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE, LAW ABIDING CITIZEN, COUPLES RETREAT, THE STEPFATHER

  
  
  
  
  LET THE WILD RUMPUS START!!! Film Geek Central returns with five new reviews of big fall movies.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  First up is the little film that could. Is PARANORMAL ACTIVITY one of the classic horror films of all time? That's what the hype would have you believe. Everything about this is unprecedented. An $11,000 film picked up for distribution by a major, begrudgingly put in a few midnight showings. Then, it grew... and grew and grew and grew. Last week, it broke the top five while playing in 1/20 the theatres as the number one film in the country. So, after one million people demanded it, PARANORMAL ACTIVITY goes nationwide. We'll tell you if this is overrated or truly one of the scariest films ever made. Don't worry, the trailer we chose to embed is not the spoiler-heavy one that has been making the rounds recently.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Regardless of what happens, WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE will most definitely take first place this weekend. It's a completely different kind of family film from Spike Jonze (ADAPTATION, BEING JOHN MALKOVICH) and based on the classic children's book. Naturally, being expanded to feature length, the film is different from the book, though not necessarily in spirit. The effects for this film were achieved by having people in creature costumes whose faces were then animated with CGI. James Gandolfini (THE SOPRANOS), Forest Whitaker, Catherine O'Hara and Lauren Ambrose (SIX FEET UNDER) are among those providing voices for the creatures while Max Records and Catherine Keener star as the non-wild things.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  We didn't do a show last week, hence this week will finally see our review of COUPLES RETREAT. This all-star comedy make look like all fun and games from the trailer, but also has a bit to say about romantic relationships and their ability to endure hardships. The all-star cast includes Vince Vaughn, Jason Bateman, Jon Favreau, Malin Akerman (WATCHMEN, THE PROPOSAL), Faizon Love, Kristen Bell (VERONICA MARS), Kristen Davis (SEX AND THE CITY) and Jean Reno (LEON).
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Only in a week this awesome could a film starring Jamie Foxx and Gerard Butler be considered a dark horse. But LAW ABIDING CITIZEN is a dark horse, albeit an intriguing one. Butler plays a man whose family is murdered. He is enraged to see a high-profile D.A. (Foxx) make a deal with the killers. Butler then uses his vast knowledge from his government work to eliminate anyone who profited from the crime, including the law. The film is directed by F. Gary Gray who has a track record of both very skilled and very mediocre films. We'll see where this one falls.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Finally, let's just say it. We're not looking forward to THE STEPFATHER. This is the 327th horror remake this year, this one based on the 1980s film starring Terry O'Quinn and Jill Schoelen. In this one, Dylan Walsh (NIP/TUCK) plays a man who goes from family to family trying to find the perfect American home. When they disappoint him, he murders them and moves on. The teenage son of his newest conquest (changed from a daughter in the original) thinks something is up with his new stepfather which causes all sorts of problems. This is directed from the same guy who heaped extra stink on the already rank PROM NIGHT property a couple years back.
  
  All this plus movie news and our DVD Picks of the Week.
  
  The whole thing happens on Sunday at 8:00 PM Eastern/7:00 PM Central at Film Geek Central.
  
  If you miss it live, you can stream or download the show during the week. Or, to make things even easier, subscribe to the show on iTunes and get us in your ear buds every week.
  
  Also, don't forget to check out our active pages on MySpace and Twitter.
  
  Should be a good one. Hope to see you there, Film Geeks!
  • Tags:
  • Paranormal Activity
  • Where the Wild Thing
  • horror
  • cult
  • indie
  No Comments

• Original Air Date: 10/5/2009 12:00 AM UTC

  Zombieland, Whip It, Capitalism: a Love Story, The Invention of Lying, The Burning Plain

  After a short absence, Film Geek Central rises from the grave with five new reviews this week.
  
  
  
  We start out with ZOMBIELAND, which we expect to do well at least for a couple weeks. Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin star in this film which features a roving band of people who survive by hunting down the zombies that have now taken over much of the world. This one is a comedy in the same spirit of SHAUN OF THE DEAD.
  
  Drew Barrymore makes her directorial debut with WHIP IT, a film we're excited about even if we think the title sounds too generic. Ellen Page makes a triumphant return to the big screen as a young woman who realizes her own self worth as she becomes immersed in the culture of women's roller derby. Early word on this is that it's great, so hopefully this will be the roller derby film we've been waiting for since Racquel Welsh played the KANSAS CITY BOMBER.
  
  Michael Moore. You'll either be interested in what he says or the very mention of his name will make you froth at the mouth. His newest, CAPITALISM: A LOVE STORY looks at corporate crime. Moore looks at the current recession, what caused it, and how banks exploited it and used their government bailout money.
  
  Ricky Gervais is a brilliant comedian and his first directing gig sounds like its exactly his type of concept. In a world where everyone can only tell the truth, Gervais is the first one to come up with concept of lying. In turn, he liberates himself and much of society.
  
  Finally, THE BURNING PLAIN stars Charlize Theron and Kim Basinger in a film about a mother and daughter who try to reconnect after the daughter's traumatic childhood.
  
  Hope to see you there, Film Geeks!
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  • Tags:
  • Zombieland
  • Whip It
  • Capitalism a Love Story
  • Michael Moore
  • film
  No Comments

• Date / Time: 10/3/2009 4:43 AM UTC

  ZOMBIELAND, WHIP IT, CAPITALISM: A LOVE STORY, THE INVENTION OF LYING, THE BURNING PLAIN

  At long last, Film Geek Central rises from the grave! Okay, so we were only gone one week, but I know that it felt like years without our loyal audience. You guys felt the same way... uh, didn't you?
  
  
  
  
  We've got five new films for you this week that run the gamut between zombie apocalypse, global recession, coming of age stories and more. So, let's get geekin'!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  First up is ZOMBIELAND, a gory horror comedy we expect to do very well for a couple weeks at least. After a zombie apocalypse, Woody Harrelson and Jesse Eisenberg (ADVENTURELAND) must find a way to survive by being smarter and tougher than the undead who are always hungry for a snack. Emma Stone (GHOSTS OF GIRLFRIENDS PAST, THE HOUSE BUNNY) and Abigail Breslin (LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE) co-star as sisters who meet up with the duo. Will this be another SHAUN OF THE DEAD? We'll see.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Drew Barrymore has been in the movie business for 28 years, so it's a surprise she hasn't felt the bug to direct until now. WHIP IT is her first stint behind the camera. It stars Ellen Page (JUNO) as a young woman who has no real place in the world but discovers a liberating existence in the world of women's roller derby. We hate the title of this one, since it looks like it's trying to be more than a cheap women's sports movie. We are however really excited to see if the film can deliver on the promise offered by the awesome trailer. This could be the film we've been waiting for since Racquel Welch played the KANSAS CITY BOMBER.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Michael Moore - face it, you're either going to be interested in what he has to say or you're going to froth at the mouth over the mere mention of his name. His latest, CAPITALISM: A LOVE STORY does not single out Republicans or Democrats but instead goes in search of what caused the economic recession, with an eye fixed directly on banking institutions. He goes over the causes of the meltdown, the effect its having on the country and asks what is being done with the government bailout money. He also examines the nature of capitalism itself.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Ricky Gervais is a genius. If you haven't seen EXTRAS, the original OFFICE or his brilliant stand-up concerts, just trust us on this one - Ricky Gervais is a genius. So, a one joke comedy like THE INVENTION OF LYING might not work in anyone else's hands but his. Taking place in a world where everyone always tells the truth, Gervais plays the first man to ever come up with the novel idea of lying. Gervais also makes his feature film directorial debut here, sharing the job with another first-timer Matthew Robinson. Jennifer Garner, Rob Lowe, Tina Fey and Louis CK co-star.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  We may have messed up during our Fall Movie Preview and said THE BURNING PLAIN was from the director of 21 GRAMS and BABEL. In fact, it's the directorial debut of the writer of those films. Let's hope he doesn't go overboard on the non-chronological stuff. Charlize Theron and Kim Basinger star in this story of three generations of screwed up people.
  
  All this plus the latest film news and our DVD Picks of the Week.
  
  The whole thing happens Sunday at 8:00 PM Eastern/7:00 PM Central at Film Geek Central.
  
  You can also stream or download episodes at any time during the show page. Or, if you want to be completely up to date, subscribe to our show on iTunes.
  
  Also, don't forget to visit our active pages on MySpace and Twitter.
  
  Hope to see you there, Film Geeks!
  • Tags:
  • Zombieland
  • zombie
  • Michael Moore
  • Woody Harrelson
  • Jesse Eisenberg
  No Comments

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