365 Movies Day #203 "Scanners"

So here's some more Cronenberg for you. I started out awhile back talking about "EASTERN PROMISES" and just finished writing about "VIDEODROME" so how could I not cover "Scanners". I recently tracked this film down because a friend said a script I am working on reminded him of the film. Now that I watched it, I can't say that I had ever seen it before, so here is is in the blog! Oh, and it is similar to the script I am working on, but different enough where both can exist comfortably...so carrying on.

"Scanners" is basically about a government sponsored project to weaponize psy. However, one of the top psions or SCANNERS in the world has turned against the program in the form of Darryl Revok portrayed by cult film legend Michael Ironside. I first remember Ironside from the original "V" series. He was truly badass in "EXTREME PREJUDICE", "Total Recall" and "Starship Troopers" and was also featured in the blog for "THE MACHINIST". Ironside is a gifted actor and knocks out a badass performance as Revok. The hero of our story is played by Stephen Lack who hasn't done much else since film-wise. The film also features the lovely Jennifer O'Neill and the late Patrick McGoohan. Though made in 1980, the film does an excellent job of holding up. It still features one of the coolest head explosions ever captured on camera. Some great plot twists and an interesting take on the psychic phenomenon make it even more fun to watch. Classic sci fi and a must see for anyone who calls themself a fan of the genre.

SCANNERS ON IMDB

365 Movies Day #202 "Videodrome"

Just started getting more exposed to Cronenberg's older work and loving it! His last film I covered on the blog was one of his newest with "EASTERN PROMISES". "Videodrome" may be one of the trippiest films I have ever seen and the effects are golden and hold up though the film was made in 1983! James Woods stars as a partner in a controversial cable network looking to push the envelope on sex and violence. When he discovers a show called "Videodrome" by happenstance that entails torture and other madness, he becomes hooked...and it becomes his undoing on a journey into madness. It's also part of the Criterion collection.

I've been a fan of Woods for years. Some of my favorite films of his are "Cat's Eye", "Vampires" and "Casino". He's definitely one of those actors that brings his own flare to a film. The film also features Debbie Harry who is better known for her extensive music career. She's great here and fans may want to know that she is rather exposed in a few scenes.

Again, this is a trippy encounter with weaponized television, madness, creppy effects work and some truly surreal stuff. Cronenberg delivers on this flick and I was so surprised at how well it holds up. It's one of the few that I recommend a very careful remake of since technology has come so far since then. Might be an adventure to bring it back. Perhaps they could get Woods to take the O'Blivion role in a newer version.

VIDEODROME ON IMDB

365 Movies Day #201 "Tucker and Dale Vs. Evil"

I've wanted to see this since it came out and guess what just hit Netflix instant. Not exactly what I was expecting, but in that regard so much better! Basically the film is a giant misunderstanding that pits a group of college kids against two friendly hillbillies. What follows is extreme comic violence and accidental deaths of a graphic nature that will keep you in stitches. Yep, funny gore!

Our two hillbilly heroes are played by Tyler Labine ("Invasion", "Reaper") and the amazing Alan Tudyk. Yes I'm a browncoat and Tudyk will always be Wash to me...well that and Tucker. Katrina Bowden of "30 Rock" plays one of the kids who causes all of the confusion when she gets injured in a tragic skinny dipping accident. Horror vet Jesse Moss is also fun to watch.

A truly funny film with great suspension of disbelief and Tudyk and Labine are both charmingly innocent. Very excited to see Eli Craig do more stuff. He's like a Sam Raimi but with more conventional comedy tempering his violence. Classic horror comedy destined to become a cult classic.

TUCKER AND DALE VS EVIL ON IMDB

My Top Films of 2011

Well, if you've been paying attention to the blog then you may actually care what I rank as the top films of the year. Granted this is limited to what I have actually seen this year, which rules out most anything that's in theaters right now. But, I still managed to put together a list of 10 films that I think you should see from 2011.

THOR
I broke down and watched "Thor" in support of "The Avengers" movie that's coming out (not soon enough). I've never been what I consider a Thor fan, but I really like Branagh's films to include his take on "Frankenstein" and some of his other films that I've covered in the blog like "OTHELLO", "MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING" and "DEAD AGAIN". The only thing I had really seen Hemsworth in was the new "Star Trek" film and I've always been a fan of Portman (grr). I was very surprised by how much I loved the film. I think I enjoyed it more than any of the other Avengers installments and that's saying something! It's big, it's fun and Hemsworth's take on the God of Thunder is refreshing and fun. Nods as well to Hopkins, Skarsgard, Hiddleston, and Clark Gregg! Gregg has become one of my favorite things about the Avengers films!!!

THE BEAVER
I have always loved Gibson and I respect the fact that he is an emotionally troubled man who has made some serious mistakes in judgement. The sad thing is that if his infractions would have just included overdosing on perscription meds we would be arguing over whether it was right to make a film about his life right now instead of lining up to crucify him. Come on people! He's an actor! He's supposed to be an emotional basketcase. Now, what I liked about this movie is that it could have easily just been Gibson playing himself a la Van Damme in "JCVD". He plays it with such a raw intensity that it's almost like a confession. Jody Foster as director and actress in the film doesn't hurt at all either and Anton Yeltchin is a GENIUS in front of the camera. I think he may be one of the greatest actors out ther working today. So if you're in the mood to forgive Gibson, this is a definite must see form 2011.

THE MECHANIC
When I saw "Faster" in 2010 I was blown away. I think it was one of Johnson's best characters and one of the best vengeance films I have ever seen (and I LOVE vengeance films). I was intrigued that the same production folks at CBS films were following it with a Bronson remake in the form of "The Mechanic". Thanks to the folks at Bigfanboy.com, I got to see an early release of the film and was incredibly impressed. The film stars Jason Statham as one of the world's greatest hitmen or "Mechanics" as they are called. When things go south, he is forced to take on his boss's (Donald Sutherland) somewhat shiftless son as a protege. Ben Foster does an OUTSTANDING job (as usual) as Statham's star pupil. Tony Goldwyn ("Ghost") does an amazing job playing a company goon. Some of the best action sequences I've seen on camera. Very gritty and Statham at his finest. This is what the "Transporter" films should have been. Statham needs more films like this.

HOBO WITH A SHOTGUN
Rutger Hauer has been hit or miss over the years. But with brilliant performances in films like "Blade Runner", "Ladyhawke", "The Hitcher", "SPLIT SECOND", "Surviving the Game" and so many others, he's so easy to love. "Hobo" makes it easy in this case. If you'll remember, we talked about "Hobo" awhile back HERE and I had the pleasure of meeting director Jason Eisner at Texas Frightmare Weekend this year. Originally conceived as a fake trailer for the Grindhouse films by Rodriguez and Tarantino, "Hobo actually achieves what both of the other films fell somewhat short of. It is a ruthless gore fest and a celebration of exploitation films while still being fun and exciting to watch. One of my favorite films period, though not for the feint of heart. This is a great one for 2011.

I SAW THE DEVIL
Here is an exceprt from the blog I posted awhile back on "I SAW THE DEVIL":
Korean cinema has a fantastic way of using incredibly graphic violence in conjunction with a powerful story. Directed by Jee-woon Kim (who we'll be talking about in future posts) this is the ultimate tale of vengeance in a way that American cinema can't seem to tap in recent years (with few exceptions).

The film stars Byung-hun Lee (who my film geeks will recognize as Storm Shadow from the recent GI Joe film...that I was also in) as a special agent who's fiancee is brutally murdered by psychopath Kyung-chul (played by Min-sik Choi of "Oldboy" fame). In response he sets out on a dangerous game to torture the man responsible that leads him down a road to damnation.

The compelling parts of the film are the mix of graphic violence (I physically cringed three times) and very human characters to produce a wonderful film that deals with the psychological side of vengeance. I kept thinking of Shakespeare's "Hamlet" as the lead puts off what needs to be done until it's too late to make it out in tact. I would also compare it with Fincher's "Seven".

Min-sik Choi's performance rivals Javier Bardem in "No Country for Old Men" as a truly twisted villain. Granted his character in "I Saw the Devil" is a bit more insane, but the portrayal of the madness was flawless. One of the best performances I've seen in years. Reminded me of Tucci in "The Lovely Bones" as well. Hats off to Choi.

KILL THE IRISHMAN
Here is an excerpt from my blog on "KILL THE IRISHMAN":
Jonathan Hensleigh, the man that gave us the 2004 Punisher flick, which aside from being set (for some damned reason unbeknownst to me) was a great film with a very cool Punisher in Thomas Jane. Ray Stevenson is a wonderfully underrated actor who is best known for his work on the TV series "Rome", but also knocked out some wonderful performances in "King Arthur", "Book of Eli" and previously mentioned "OUTPOST". He does wonders as Danny Greene, "The Irishman" in this flick (an coincidentally replaced Jane in "Punisher: War Zone" which was abysmal despite Ray being a cool Frank Castle). So, why the heck did this film sneak by the theaters with barely a whisper? It deserved a lot more.

"Kill the Irishman" is a fabulous mob biopic of the charismatic, real life Danny Greene. It covers his rise and fall in a compelling story and the mix of news reel footage in with the film is a great touch. Hensleigh is proving he belongs listed among names like Walter Hill. The cast he pulled together for this one is fantastic.

For starters, Christopher Walken, who's filmography needs no telling here (though he was in previously mentioned "THINGS TO DO IN DENVER WHEN YOU'RE DEAD" back on day 6!). Walken covers all his typical bases as a dangerous yet friendly mobster who tells great stories in typical Walken fashion. Vincent D'Onofrio gives one of his best performances in years as a mob smartguy and best friend to Greene, though he also proves to have a killer's hands. Val Kilmer is underused as Detective Joe Manditski, but not nearly as much as Vinnie Jones (the Juggernaut bitch!), who appears in a very small cameo role as one of Greene's toughs. Mobster staples like Robert Davi (best known for his role in "Goonies"), Paul Sorvino ("THE ROCKETEER" and Mike Starr ("BLACK DYNAMITE" make appearances as well.

If you like true mob stories or seeing a grown man slap the crap out of someone, or if you just want to hear some of the hilariously witty things that come out of Stevenson's mouth during the film, or if you just want to watch Hensleigh pull off a star-filled period mob piece with only a $4million budget, you definitely need to check this out on DVD. Maybe then you can be equally stunned at it's tiny theatrical release.

SOURCE CODE
This one was surprisingly brilliant. Jake Gyllenhall gives a wonderfully impressive performance and is joined by acting talents such as Vera Farmiga ("Up in the Air", "The Departed", "Orphan" and "RUNNING SCARED"), Michelle Monaghan ("Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang", "Gone Baby Gone") and Jeffery Wright (Bond's latest Felix Leiter). A wonderful film about time, dimensional travel, government experimentation and hope, this is one of the bright shining stars of 2011. Directed by Duncan Jones, the genius that gave us "Moon"

WRECKED
Here is an excerpt from my blog on "WRECKED":
Adrien Brody ("The Brothers Bloom")stars in this "BURIED"-like film called "Wrecked". This first feature from Canadian director Michael Greenspan is a pretty solid twister. Basically, Brody plays our "hero". He wakes up trapped in a car that has crashed in the middle of the forest with no recollection of who he is or how he got there. I say it's like "Buried" because nearly all of the film takes place right around the car and there are only 1-2 other characters in the film with any real screen time. It's primarily about one guy stuck in one location and trying to puzzle out what's happening. Also, like "Buried", it's driven by an incredibly talented actor who will keep you glued to the screen.

As you can tell from the blog, I am always excited by films who can use limited cast, locations and effects to produce a compelling story. Hats off to Greenspan for pulling it off with "Wrecked". Also a shout out to Brody's co-stars Caroline Dhavernas ("DEVIL" and who worked with Brody prior to this film on "Hollywoodland") and Ryan Robbins (Raiden from the new "Mortal Kombat: Legacy" webseries and Charlie Connor from "Battlestar Galactica")

HANNA
I love films with badass chicks. This has become one of my favorites. Here is an excerpt from my blog about "HANNA":
Director Joe Wright did so much right with this it's unreal. Honestly I felt his "The Soloist" was trying too hard to shoot for an Oscar nod. THIS is the kind of film I expect from the director of "Atonement".

Basically, the plot is a young girl, raised in the wilds of Finland to be a perfect killing machine by her former CIA father finally comes into the real world to seek vengeance for the murder of her mother. Saoirse Ronan plays the title character. She also worked for Wright on "Atonement" but this is sure to be a breakout role for her. She is spectacular. Similar to the chops he showed in "CHOPPER" (pun intended), Eric Bana is phenomenal as Hanna's father, while Cate Blanchett (probably the greatest living actress and the female Gary Oldman) kicks serious ass as the film's villain.

Kudos to anyone who recognizes Blanchett's sadistic Aryan henchman Issacs as Cutler Beckett from the "Pirates of the Caribbean" films. Tom Hollander plays a decidedly less refined role in this flick. It also had a hard time placing Olivia Williams, though I knew her from something. She was the female lead in "The Postman" (one of my favorite Costner flicks) and "The Sixth Sense". Jason Flemyng plays her husband in the movie and has been in so many of my favorite flicks. He is a Ritchie staple from "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels", "Snatch" and he was Azazel in "X-Men: First Class" (WHAT?!). You might also recognize him as Calibos from the newer "Clash of the Titans" film.

Besides the badass fight sequences (knife work is beautiful), this film also sports a wonderful immersion into culture. A globe-hopping adventure, Wright does a great job of dragging you into the culture and helping you lose yourself in the film. You feel like you are wherever Hanna is. Also, the soundtrack by the Chemical Brothers is seemlessly integrated into the experience. The haunting, throbbing, industrial tones definitely are a strong contributor to the film's badassery.

Probably the best assassin film I've seen since "The Professional".

RED STATE
I've been wanting Kevin Smith to direct something serious ever since I read his run on Daredevil several years ago. "Red State" delivers in spades. A great film about a Westboro-like religious group that becomes violent and the Waco-esque way in which the government attempts to cover it up are masterfully handled by Smith and his cast. Stand-out cast include Melissa Leo ("The Fighter") and Michael Parks ("Kill Bill", "Smokin Aces 2", "Death Proof") as the core of the religious nuts and John Goodman ("MOTHER NIGHT" and so many others).

365 Movies Day #200 "What if..."

So it's Christmas time and what better time to talk about an amazing faith-based film than today! How about one staring Hercules, Buffy and Cliff Claven? What about one that's actually a GOOD movie?! If there is one thing I've learned about faith-based film is that much like horror films, they tend to be truly bad films that still appeal to a niche market. "What If..." and director Dallas Jenkins (son of "Left Behind" author Jerry B. Jenkins) other fantastic faith-based film and blog feature "MIDNIGHT CLEAR" are examples of films that bridge the gap.

Basically, Kevin Sorbo plays a wealthy business mogul who is successful in every sense of the word. One day, he wakes up to find he is a small town minister, married to Kristy Swanson (so far so good) and a father. It's everything counter to what he is after in life! Yeah, it's a lot like Nicholas Cage's "Family Man", which I also enjoyed, but with enough interesting twists to make it a great watch. John Ratzenberger makes an appearance as an angelic tow truck driver who helps Sorbo figure out his destiny a la "It's a Wonderful Life". The thing that makes the film great is it's subtle use of faith to drive the film, it's high entertainment value, a great cast and a fun story. It's good from beginning to end (no cheating at the end) and will leave you feeling blessed...unless you're a soulless monster (I won't tell if you cry).

Some trivia you may not know, but Ratzenberger has been quite busy since "Cheers" and his brief appearance in "Empire Strikes Back" (finally got an action figure for it awhile back). As a voice actor, you've heard him in "Cars", "Up", "Ratatouille", "Wall-E", "The Incredibles", "Finding Nemo", "Monsters Inc.", "Captain Planet", "A Bug's Life" and of course as Hamm in all the "Toy Story" films. Pretty much every great animated film of the new millennium. Impressive. Swanson has appeared on the blog before in "SOUL ASSASSIN" and this is Sorbo's first time on the blog.

WHAT IF... ON IMDB

365 Movies Day #199 "CA$H"

So this is one of those netflix films that loomed on my queue for a long time. Sean Bean, as badass as he is doesn't necessarily equal a great film, but the presence of Chris Hemsworth finally convinced me to give it a chance. What followed was probably the most compelling performance and character arc I have EVER seen Bean do. His chilling portrayal of numbers obsessed Pyke Kubric (as well as his twin brother Reese) may be one of the coolest villains I've ever seen in a film.

The story is fairly simple. A couple criminals ditch a case of cash while running from the cops. The case falls on the hood of a normal, everyday guy's car (Hemsworth) and he and his wife find themselves suddenly blessed with mana from heaven. In the meantime, Bean comes in to track down the money and what follows is a very interesting take on a crime drama full of characterization, references to Stockholm Syndrome and, as I said, a FANTASTIC performance by Bean.

I definitely want to see more from writer/director Stephen Milburn Anderson after seeing this (hasn't done another film since this 2010 flick). Bean has been on the blog before with "EQUILIBRIUM". This is Hemsworth's first time and though I raved about Bean, Chris totally delivers here too, as does Victoria Profeta who plays his wife. This should have been a breakthrough role or her. She deserves more work based on what I saw here. Mike Starr, veteran character actor, is here too and we've talked about him before with "KILL THE IRISHMAN", "BLACK DYNAMITE" and "THE LAST DRAGON".

If you want to see a smart crime film with a great cast, then this is the flick for you!

CA$H ON IMDB

The Other Side of the Casting Process

Had a fantastic experience recently as a First Assistant Director to Mr. Brian Jaynes on his latest film "Patient Zero". He was also gracious enough to let me do some acting work as well. One of the most eye-opening experiences for me came when we were looking at video auditions for a key role for the film.

Now I have always held to the notion that casting is a very interesting process where the CD is faced with multiple videos of great folks and one of them just leaps out among the others for whatever reason. In other words, you come in with your game face on as an actor, give your all and still don't get the role, but not for anything you did wrong.

I got to see it first hand and was amazed. Two of the videos were from people I have worked with and greatly respect as actors. One delivered a great read. It wasn't in line with the sinister nature we were looking for as the character, but the read was interesting enough that the role could have been redefined. The other read was wonderful, with some great moments. Finally, there was a read from the guy. I mean, he was the character we were looking for. After that, I personally didn't even bother to finish videos from other actors. Everyone got compared to how perfect this guy was for the role. In the end, he booked it.

The most important thing I learned was how important the slate is. Especially, if it's the first thing on the video. You need to look like the character, talk like him and give the CD/Director that punch immediately. The guy in question nailed it from the beginning and even the way he said the character's name in the slate screamed "I AM THE GUY!". Sometimes the slate is all you get before the CD skips to the next one. It's important that they see the character right away.

365 Movies Day #198 "A Perfect World"

I'm a Kevin Costner fan, so I'm going to do a quick 3 part Costner flick marathon starting with one of my favorites. IN "A Perfect World", Costner plays an escaped convict who kidnaps a little boy to aid in his running from the law. What follows is a surprisingly touching, though disturbing at times, flick that is one of Costner's best performances of all time.

Costner is assisted in this piece of cinematic genius by Clint Eastwood, who plays the law man tracking Costner (Butch) down. Not only does Eastwood star, but also directs and he has proven himself a directorial genius over the years. This film is no exception. The film also features Laura Dern ("Jurassic Park"), Bradley Whitford ("The Good Guys" and "West Wing") and Ray McKinnon ("The Blind Side", "O Brother Where Art Thou", "Sons of Anarchy" and the new "Footloose").

Costner is really good at playing a troubled anti-hero. As good as he is playing a character with childlike innocence in films like "Silverado" and "The Postman". He really nails it here.

A PERFECT WORLD ON IMDB

365 Movies Day #197 "Millennium"

I remember seeing this film YEARS ago and being enthralled with it. Over time, I had forgotten nearly everything about it, except that it was good. Luckily, while browsing through netflix instant the other day, I happened to stumble upon it. Upon re-watching it, it's actually even better than I remember.

Kris Kristofferson stars as an airline crash investigator who stumbles into some weird happenings during the course of his job. It seems people from a near apocalyptic future have been coming back in time to steal doomed passengers from crashing planes in order to repopulate their world. Cheryl Ladd is one hot future commando.

What ensues through the film, is not an action-packed romp, but a rather heady look at the paradoxes involved in time travel. Director Michael Anderson, better known for "Logan's Run", really knocks it out of the park with this one. The future he creates is just creepy at some points and even looks like something Clive Barker would have concocted.

Some other talent featured in the film include folks like Robert Joy, who plays a wise-ass version of C-3PO in the form of Sherman. Joy plays Dr. Sid Hammerback on "CSI:NY", Col Stevens in "AvP: Requiem" and one of the mutants in the "Hills Have Eyes" remake. Legendary character actor Maury Chaykin makes an appearance as well. He is known for his work on films like "Dances with Wolves", "BLINDNESS", "WarGames" and a host of television appearances. Chaykin passed away last year.

MILLENNIUM ON IMDB

"I'm a hunter and I'll be damned if I em ever going to be the hunted" HUMANS VS ZOMBIES The Movie (Meet the cast & crew) | jess2theE - 102.1 THE EDGE - KDGE

"I'm a hunter and I'll be damned if I em ever going to be the hunted" HUMANS VS ZOMBIES The Movie (Meet the cast & crew) | jess2theE - 102.1 THE EDGE - KDGE

365 Movies Day #196 "Session 9"

One of the fun things about this blog is how it leads me to new films when I journey back through a favorite director's career. Brad Anderson deeply impressed me with "THE MACHINIST" and I have heard so much about "Transsiberian" that I was compelled to watch one of his earliest flicks in the form of "Session 9". Once again, I am glad I made the journey.

"Session 9" is a mind-bending tale (much like "The Machinist") about an independent HAZMAT team and their mission to clean up an old mental institution. Of course, things go horribly wrong as secrets are uncovered, tensions run high, and madness spreads. An especially wonderful performance by Peter Mullan ("Trainspotting"). Also an early spotting for Brendan Sexton III ("The Killing" and another "Black Hawk Down" veteran). Taking a minute to talk about Mullan's partner David Caruso and his film career. Many people recognize him from "NYPD Blue" or his return to TV in his long stint on "CSI: Miami", but did you realize he served about equal time on its 80's predecessor "Hill Street Blues" or did you recognize him from the first Rambo flick? What about from Bruce Willis' notoriously crappy "Hudson Hawk"? Talk about some crazy career points! Also, this is a relatively early film for Josh Lucas ("The Lincoln Lawyer", "A Beautiful Mind", "Glory Road").

One of the great things about Anderson's film is the gradual way he eases you into madness like you were edging into a cold swimming pool. He masterfully controls and creates suspense and tension and uses some interesting choices in shooting and characterization that assist in heightening the creep factor. Definitely a must see!

SESSION 9 ON IMDB

365 Movies Day #195 "Rubber"

Why is this film on the list? No reason. But seriously, Scott Meeker suggested this to me and I was SO not disappointed watching it. It starts out completely slapping your brain around in what can only be described as a David Lynch comedy. This film is madness and surrealism defined to a point where you expect to hear someone announce "Oh, fishy, fishy, fishy, fish".

The film is about a mass-murdering tire who kills his victims by exploding them with his mind, his quest for love, and the other players attempts to destroy the audience to avoid an endless loop of insanity. Yep, it's an intellectual kick in the ass. The film features the talents of Wings Hauser (father of Cole Hauser from "THE HIT LIST", "Tears of the Sun" and "Pitch Black"), Ethan Cohn ("Gilmore Girls"), a top-notch hilarious performance from Stephen Spinella ("RAVENOUS"), Jack Plotnick ("Reno 911", "Drawn Together") and Roxane Mesquida of "Gossip Girl"...oh, and a brandless tire.

Director/writer Quentin Dupieux has established himself as the master of absurd. Don't try to make sense of it, just sit back and be amazed!!!

RUBBER ON IMDB

365 Movies Day #194 "The Big Bang"

This one kind of sneaked out of nowhere and clubbed me over the back of the head. The box art looked promising, but being that it was an Antonio Banderas film I had heard almost NOTHING about, I was skeptical. What I got was a film that combined some of the best elements of several genres and films that I love into a whacky ride that is filled with madness...in a cool way.

Antonio Banderas plays a film noir detective, with a gift for witticism and barbed comments only outmatched by his knowledge of the obscure. The film is a cast of crazy characters played by some of my favorite actors in the industry that continue to compound the insanity. The film is wrapped up nicely despite all the chaos and left me hoping for more.

So what other films/sources does this remind me of. Well, it's everything I hoped "Give Em Hell Malone" might deliver, but didn't. In fact, I could have easily seen Thomas Jane in the Banderas role in this. It's also very reminiscent of Warren Ellis' insanely crude, psychotic and enjoyable noir detective novel about a PI who is a magnet for all things demented. While his book, "Crooked Little Vein" is a whole lot more disturbing, "The Big Bang" definitely captures some of it's feel. Ellis is more well known for his work on adult oriented comics like "Transmetropolitan" and "Hellblazer". Finally, the film ties in elements from another Thomas Jane flick and one we've talked about before in the form of "DARK COUNTRY". The visual effects and cinematography are incredibly similar and it definitely has that "Twilight Zone" feel to it, though "Dark Country" is definitely more on the serious/surreal side of the house.

As far as cast, Sam Elliot gives one of his most original performances as, basically a mad scientist hippie. Sienna Guillory plays the incredibly alluring portion of Banderas' quest for answers. She was last mentioned on here for her role as the female lead in "KISS, KISS, BANG, BANG". Autumn Reeser is hotter than a firecracker in this one with an incredibly steamy and intellectual love seen with Banderas. You may remember her as Lizzy Grant from "Entourage", Taylor Townsend from "The O.C." or Kaitlyn Tremor from "Smoking Aces 2".

The film opens with Banderas at the mercy of three rather formidable cops. All of which you should recognize. William Fitchner has been on the blog before with "FIRST SNOW", and "EQUILIBRIUM". He also deserves a mention for stuff like "Drive Angry" where he was the one redeeming part of the film, his roles on "Entourage" and "Prison Break" and "Invasion". This won't be the last time you hear about Fitchner. The ringleader of Fitchner's group is played by Thomas Kretschmann (Cross from action epic "Wanted" and also known for "Blade II", "Transsiberian" and "Valkyrie") while Delroy Lindo ("Domino", "Ransom", Ciderhouese Rules") rounds out the team. As for Banderas's "complications", he meets some crazy characters along the way. "Dawson's Creek"'s James Van Der Beek has a VERY memorable cameo. Veritable giant Robert Maillet ("Sherlock Holmes", "300", WWE's Kurrgan) acts as the catalyst for the whole story. Snoop Dogg is a porn director. Bill Duke ("Predator", "Battlestar Galactica", "Payback") provides some leads in typical badass Bill Duke fashion. Finally, Jimmi Simpson gives a brief but fantastic performance as Sam Elliot's brilliant, yet troubled assistant.

While director Tony Krantz is better known for his work as producer, of his 3 directorial efforts, this is his SECOND to appear on the blog. We first talked about Mr. Krantz for his film "SUBLIME" back on day 32.

THE BIG BANG ON IMDB

365 Movies Day #193 "Lo"

Care to check out a charming, heart-warming tale of love...and DEMONS?! Also want to see a fine example of stretching your film-making dollar, by telling a fun compelling story that has the feel of a stage-play while still making sense and captivating your viewers? You DEFINITELY need to check out "Lo". Director Travis Betx proves himself as a visionary indy filmmaker by thinking totally outside the box to create this flick. A very small cast, driven primarily by three actors, very little in the way of sets and some cool make-up effects and it delivers!

The cast is pretty solid, made up of Ward Roberts, who plays a man so in love that he is willing to tangle with the forces of darkness to rescue the object of his affection. His Juliet is played by Sarah Lassez (who also teamed up with Betz on their recent endeavor "The Dead Inside" and the demon that holds her captive is played by Jeremiah Birkett.

Again, the story is great with some interesting twists and turns. It's a very personal movie and surprising funny and totally wonderful. Thanks to writer pal Sean Poindexter for pointing this one out to me!

LO ON IMDB

365 Movies Day #192 "Soul Assassin"

Trailer provided by Video Detective

This one definitely falls into the category of "WHY THE HELL WASN'T THIS FILM MORE TALKED ABOUT?". It's every bit as cool as films like "Equilibrium" and definitely deserves the attention. It's a sci-fi film 'cyber-punkish' jaunt all about the potential evil of corporate greed (99% anyone?). Anyone who ever played the roleplaying game SHADOWRUN should love this flick.

Skeet Ulrich, who got his start in flicks like "The Craft" and "Scream", headlines as our show's hero. He's an up-and-coming exec type working in corporate security, but when he gets his break, he finds himself in WAY over his head in a conspiracy that will shake him and the entire globe to their very core. You may also remember Ulrich from his small, but memorable role in "As Good as it Gets" and his starring roles in two short-lived, but supercool series "Jericho" and "Miracles". Recently, he's been a lead on one of the new "Law and Order" shows.

The rest of the cast is made up of some familiar and talented faces like Kristy Swanson (the ORIGINAL "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" ), the amazing Rena Owen ("ONCE WERE WARRIORS" and Dutch actor Antonie Kamerling who had a small role in recently featured "MINDHUNTERS" and committed suicide in 2006.

0 It's just come to my attention that I haven't seen all of director Laurence Malkin's work, which as director only consists of two films. I will have to correct that post haste. If you dig sci-fi cyberpunk like "Blade Runner" and "The Matrix", DEFINITELY check this film out.

SOUL ASSASSIN ON IMDB

365 Movies Day #191 "13 Seconds"

For my low, LOW budget horror fans out there, this one is definitely for you! By the way, I'm playing catch up on the blog. By my count, with all the chaos in my life, I believe I have fallen behind by 24 films!!! I deeply apologize to those actually paying attention. This will be rectified shortly. That said, expect multiple posts per day for a bit. Anyway, back to "13 Seconds". It doesn't really star anyone who's done much of anything else and the director hasn't gone on to do anything really. Truthfully, it's not surprising. The acting and production value are bearable at best. Where the film comes in as a recommended view is in it's surprise story angle.

Normally with low budget horror of this caliber, it's just a chance to make fun of horrid effects and subpar filmmaking, BUT with this film, the story is surprisingly well developed. I suppose the lack of other positive qualities makes the twists that much better. You expect a let down and get a kick in the gut instead. Hats off to these guys for making a film with no money and no real production quality that still got my attention that I remember it 9 years later! Huge budget Hollywood flicks don't always stick with me like that.

13 SECONDS ON IMDB

@JesseRossF and @dossfa light the way on Twitpic

@JesseRossF and @dossfa light the way on Twitpic

365 Movies Day #190 "Soul Survivors"

Looking back, this was a surprisingly good movie, for what looked like on the surface to be another dumb teenage horror flick. I started thinking about it the other day when my wife and I watched "After.Life". The cast is nothing to sneeze at either and a very early flick for Casey Affleck (Ben's little brother and star of "Assassination of Jesse James" and "Gone Baby Gone").

Like "After.Life", "Soul Survivors" is a creepy tale where you can't tell what exactly is real. Both of the films deal with oddities surrounding death and the preciousness of life. Both have surprisingly good casts and stories and are very disturbing.

The films stars Melissa Sagemiller (recently in the limelight for her role as A.D.A. Gillian Hardwicke on "Law and Order: SVU") as a young girl who gets caught up in some supernatural chaos with a group of her closest friends. Affleck, Wes Bentley ("American Beauty") and Eliza Dushku ("Buffy", "Angel" and "Dollhouse") play her friends. Local young priest, Luke Wilson ("IDIOCRACY" attempts to help Melissa's character find her way through all the madness. The film also features lovely blog vet Angela Featherstone from ""BENEATH THE DARK" and "ZERO EFFECT".I really don't get the 3.7 review at imdb. I found it to be a witty and surprisingly solid flick.

SOUL SURVIVORS AT IMDB

Alien Bee: Movie Review: HUMANS VERSUS ZOMBIES

Alien Bee: Movie Review: HUMANS VERSUS ZOMBIES

365 Movies Day #189 "Adventures of Power"

Yesterday I introduced some of you to Ari Gold with his recently released to youtube short, "HELICOPTER". Well, his first feature is "Adventures of Power" and it is delightfully quirky and totally loveable.

Ari himself stars as the lead, Power, a sweet young man who is driven by his passion for air-drumming. Yep, that's right, playing drums without the drums. Throughout the film, he is pulled into the underbelly of the air-drumming community where he fights to find hope and meaning in his life and salvation for his friends and family back home. You can't get much more original than that!

The film sports the talents of folks like Adrian Grenier ("Entourage") as closet air-drummer and country superstar Dallas Houston. Also, Jane Lynch of "Glee", Michael McKean ("Laverne and Shirley", "This is Spinal Tap" and so many others), the lovely Shoshannah Stern ("Jericho", "Weeds"), Chi Ling Chiu ("KUNG FU HUSTLE") and Richard Fancy ("MIDNIGHT CLEAR") help to bring this one to life. Oh and a quick shout out to Steven Williams (Mr X. from "The X-Files) for his thoroughly entertaining role as air-drum guru Carlos.

I love movies like this that can be so absurd, but so moving at the same time. It's reminiscent of a more left field approach to "Napolean Dynamite" with a distinct indy charm story about a cultural underdog who must find his way surrounded by the one's he loves. If you dig films like "DEFENDOR", "Juno" or "NEO NED", I think you'll dig this as well.

ADVENTURES OF POWER ON IMDB

365 Movies Day #188 "Helicopter"

For those of you who don't know of Ari Gold's work, you are missing out on something special. His short film, "Helicopter" is an Oscar award winning short with such heart that you can't help but be moved. Based on the true and tragic death of his mother in a helicopter accident, the film follows Ari, his brother Ethan and his sister Nina as they cope with their loss and the media circus that surrounded her passing. As a gift to us, in memory of his mother on the anniversary of her death, Ari has released the full short on youtube. Please go watch it and give it a thumbs up. A very special film from a man full of heart.
HELICOPTER ON IMDB

Marketing Via Twitter

Joel Comm has written a wonderful book full of resources to help you navigate and take advantage of all Twitter has to offer. What does that have to do with acting? Well, in the entertainment industry, YOU are your product. Joel's advice can help you reach the right people, send the right message, create interesting content to keep people caring about YOU and even how to check your metrics to see where your successes are in spreading the word.

Of course, this book also applies to any number of businesses from etsy shops to large corporations for how to harness twitter in spreading the word. I learned so much from the book and haven't done much with my twitter account over the years. Working on an overhaul right now, as well as taking the lead on a few other twitter accounts to spread the word. DEFINITELY CHECK OUT THIS BOOK!!!

Italian Spiderman is No More

Hey kids, just received this email about "ITALIAN SPIDERMAN". Sad news, but some hope for the future. Also, all those wondering about the true identity of the actor who plays "Italian Spiderman" can be put to rest here. Plus news on DINOSAUR (basically the folks from Alrugo under a different flag) and their new offering, "Danger 5". Check it out:

Greetings friends,

For a number of reasons, mostly evil ones, there will be no more Italian Spiderman. May his legacy live on forever in the ageless capsule of hyperspace.

With him, also, dies Alrugo.

Thank you for all the love you have sent towards the hero in the red turtleneck. We are deeply sorry that we cannot bring you any more of his antics, however we assure you, by no means have we stopped creating.

After a tumultuous journey, we, Dario Russo (Director of Italian Spiderman) and David Ashby (Italian Spiderman himself) have formed a new company, named:

DINOSAUR

We apologise for the long, long radio silence, but we felt it would be wrong to make any false promises and or presentations until we had a new a worthy product to bestow upon you, so with great fanfare, we present for your titillation, the first title under the DINOSAUR banner:

“DANGER 5”

Watch the trailer here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Z09bNgSeMI And we welcome you to visit Dinosaur’s homestead on the Interweb:

www.dinosaurworldwide.com

It has been far too long dear friends. We hope you enjoy the new and exotic stones of entertainment that we have harvested from the earth and painstakingly refined for your pleasure, and it is a joy to return to your company amongst the bosom of the information superhighway. You’ll be hearing more from us.

Stay posted.

Yours truly,

DINOSAUR

www.dinosaurworldwide.com

365 Movies Day #187 "Neo Ned"

An endearingly sweet, down-to-earth film about a neo nazi who falls in love with a black woman in a mental institution. What?! This delightfully touching 2005 flick features Jeremy Renner ("The Avengers", "Hurt Locker", "28 Weeks Later", "The Town") in the title role as the most loveable skinhead ever captured on film. Renner's talent really shines here and it's a relatively early film for him. He definitely deserves all the attention he's getting. The target of his affection is played by Gabrielle Union, whose character also thinks she is the host for the soul of Hitler. She's fantastic.

Again, one of the things that impresses me so much about this film is the fact that it's handled in such a wonderful manner. Director Van Fischer (who really needs to do more work) takes a story that could easily be ruined with too much camp or grit and gives us something real.

The cast is rounded out by veteran character actor, Richard Riehle ("Office Space", "MIDNIGHT CLEAR", "Glory"), Cary Elwes (of "Saw" and "Princess Bride" fame) and Steve Railsback (star of "LIFEFORCE"). Definitely a great flick. Not surprised to see it was a Tribeca selection. The most heart-warming Neo Nazi film since "Adam's Apples"

NEO NED ON IMDB

365 Movies Day #186 "The Perfect Host"

When I first saw the trailer for this film I was hooked. I finally got a chance to check it out the other day and was not disappointed. Basically, a con-man attempts, through deception to hide out with a local suburbanite who is preparing to host a dinner party. He quickly finds himself over his head as his host turns out to be a psychopath. What makes it even better is the fact that the psycho yuppie is played by David Hyde Pierce, better known as Dr. Niles Crane from TV's "Frasier". Clayne Crawford gives a great performance as his "guest" and is known for his work on shows like "Jericho" and "24".

At first glance, it appears to be a film where everything is not revealed in the trailer, but mark my words, there are a few sucker punches you don't see coming. Some interesting plot points and character development make it a solid piece of fiction. In addition to Pierce and Crawford, film freaks may recognize Nathaniel Parker (Branagh's Cassio in his version of "OTHELLO") and Tyrees Allen (Starkweather from "RoboCop").

This is a feature debut for writer/director Nick Tomnay..

THE PERFECT HOST ON IMDB

365 Movies Day #185 "Gleaming the Cube"

When I was a kid, Christian Slater was my freaking hero. I still hold a lot of respect for the man as one of the suavest actors around. So far he hit the blog in the other day's "MINDHUNTERS", but it was films like "Gleaming the Cube", "Heathers" and "Pump Up the Volume" that made him so awesome to me.

I was a skateboard punk when I was younger. So much so that I never learned to ride a bicycle. So "Gleaming the Cube" was like an anthem to me. In the story, Slater's adopted brother stumbles upon something he shouldn't have and is murdered. It falls to Slater and his skate rat buddies to circumvent the system and avenge his brother's death.

Veteran actors like Steven Bauer("The Beast", "Scarface", "Primal Fear") and Charles Cyphers ("Halloween", "Escape from New York" and even "Methodic" with my buddy BRANDON SLAGLE) round out a decent cast that also boasts skate legends like Tommy Guerrero and uber-famous skate icon Tony Hawk.

GLEAMING THE CUBE ON IMDB

365 Movies Day #184 "Art of the Saber"

What happens when a couple of brothers get together for fun and film a short film that is primarily a lightsaber fight? Probably the best damn lightsaber fight of all time! I've been a Star Wars nut for years. Calvin and Clarence Ho give Lucas a run for his money on this one and this was made before the prequels were complete.

365 Movies Day #183 "Mindhunters"

This one was surprising in that on the surface it looked like a crappy straight to DVD film, but it actually has some amazing talent, a plot that will keep you engaged and some pretty freaky moments of horror/gore. The film is about an FBI profile training course that is incredibly intensive and unconventional where the trainees are submerged in highly realistic mock scenarios. On one such scenario, everything starts to go wrong as the profilers are being eliminated one by one by the killer.

In hindsight, it's not so surprising I liked it. Finnish director Renny Harlin was also behind the films "Die Hard 2" and "Long Kiss Goodnight", "The Adventures of Ford Fairlane" and "Deep Blue Sea" (though he loses some cool points for "12 Rounds" and "Cutthroat Island"). His talent pool on this one was fabulous with Val Kilmer ("KISS, KISS, BANG, BANG", "KILL THE IRISHMAN") as the head of the training program for the criminal profiler team consisting of team lead Christian Slater (one of my favorite smooth guy actors of all time), Johnny Lee Miller ("Dracula 2000", "Hackers", "Trainspotting"), Clifton Collins Jr. (another of my favorites..."SUNSHINE CLEANING", "Boondock Saints: All Saints Day" and a cameo in previously featured "ONE TOUGH BASTARD"), Eion Bailey (Pvt Webster from "Band of Brothers"), Patricia Velasquez ("The Mummy" and "The Mummy Returns" and Kathryn Morris of TV's "Cold Case". Also, who can forget L.L. Cool J as the mysterious last minute addition to the team.

What impressed me the most about the film besides having a laundry list of some of my favorite actors (Slater, Collins and Miller in particular) was the thought provoking edge of your seat "Saw" like plot. Lots of twists and turns and they definitely don't follow the horror movie rules.

I expected dumb and got some serious entertainment instead. Always a fun time!

MINDHUNTERS ON IMDB

365 Movies Day #182 "Red State"

Since I read his run on "Daredevil", I have been saying that I want to see Kevin Smith doe something on a more serious bent. "Red State" is that film and it delivered exactly what I expected and then some. Filled with twists and turns, some remarkable performances and what feels like a real attempt to understand what goes on inside the head of folks like Fred Phelps and David Koresh.

A brief run-down of the film so I don't spoil it for you...3 high school boys find a craigslist-like site and hook up to have group sex with an older woman. When they get there, they find themselves in the grips of a Phelps like Christian Cult group who believe sexual immorality is the bane of existence and must be destroyed. From there, everything REALLY goes to hell.

Of the three teens, you might recognize Michael Angarano of "Forbidden Kingdom" with Jet Li and Jackie Chan. Of the off-the-wall cult members, you might not realize that that is Melissa Leo of "The Fighter". Michael Parks plays the Phelps role with chilling charisma. Parks is one of my favorite actors right now for what he brings to each of his roles. I loved him in "Kill Bill" as both the sheriff and Estaban. He was also fantastic in his cameo in "Grindhouse" (as the same sheriff) and probably the best thing about the "Smoking Aces" sequel as the Tremor patriarch. And yes, his son James is in this film as he has been in all of Tarantino's flicks. Of the ATF folks, John Goodman (previously on the blog for "MOTHER NIGHT"gives a knockout performance as the head agent and who doesn't love Kevin Pollak ("Willow", "The Usual Suspects")? Also, one of the lead agents was the yuppie husband from "IDIOCRACY" and a veteran LOST regular as Phil.

A great cast and a chilling and relevant story with some serious what the hell moments. It almost reminded me of Uwe Boll's "RAMPAGE". Hats off to Kevin Smith for finally breaking out of the comedy mold and giving me what I hoped for!!!

RED STATE ON IMDB

365 Movies Day #181 "Wrecked"

More Adrien Brody ("The Brothers Bloom")action with this "BURIED"-like film called "Wrecked". This first feature from Canadian director Michael Greenspan is a pretty solid twister. Basically, Brody plays our "hero". He wakes up trapped in a car that has crashed in the middle of the forest with no recollection of who he is or how he got there. I say it's like "Buried" because nearly all of the film takes place right around the car and there are only 1-2 other characters in the film with any real screen time. It's primarily about one guy stuck in one location and trying to puzzle out what's happening. Also, like "Buried", it's driven by an incredibly talented actor who will keep you glued to the screen.

As you can tell from the blog, I am always excited by films who can use limited cast, locations and effects to produce a compelling story. Hats off to Greenspan for pulling it off with "Wrecked". Also a shout out to Brody's co-stars Caroline Dhavernas ("DEVIL" and who worked with Brody prior to this film on "Hollywoodland") and Ryan Robbins (Raiden from the new "Mortal Kombat: Legacy" webseries and Charlie Connor from "Battlestar Galactica")

WRECKED ON IMDB

365 Movies Day #180 "The Brothers Bloom"

Before Adrien Brody was stomping mudholes in Predator ass and before Mark Ruffalo was the big green behemoth of "The Avengers", they were the Brothers Bloom. Ruffalo and Brody play con artist brothers with the aid of their explosives happy assistant Boom Boom, played by Rinko Kikuchi ("Babel"). The film also features the talents of Maximilian Schell as Diamond Dog (the pinnacle of con-men and former mentor to the brothers), better known for his role as Dr. Reihnhardt in "The Black Hole", Robbie Coltrane (Hagrid from "Harry Potter") and Rachel Weisz ("The Mummy").

This is Rian Johnson's first film in the blog, but he is better known for indy masterpiece "Brick" which we will be talking about later. "The Brothers Bloom" is part campy adventure film and part hardline drama. There are some pretty intense moments in the plot that can tug at the heart strings as well as harrowing scenes of imminent danger. It's definitely a very interesting take on the crime caper and something you would expect Brody to be a part of.

I suppose I should also give a shout out to Ruffalo for his role in "BLINDNESS", which we covered earlier and take a moment to say I LOVED Brody in "Predators" and totally bought him as a badass (and I didn't expect to).

Definitely check out "The Brothers Bloom". It's brilliant.

THE BROTHERS BLOOM ON IMDB

365 Movies Day #179 "Cube"

About 10 years before directing "Splice" Vincenzo Natali gave us this cool little sci-fi horror flick and somewhat of a predecessor to films like "SAW". Basically, several unconnected folks wake up in a giant nasty cube and must overcome various traps to survive. It's part mystery, part adventure, part psychological thriller...and all fun.

The cast is small and dynamic, featuring Wayne Robson (who passed this year and is better known by my daughter as Mr. Mantis from "Miss Spider's Sunny Patch Friends"), Julian Richings (Death from "Supernatural" and a brief role in "MIMIC"), Andrew Miller, Nicky Guadagni ("LARS AND THE REAL GIRL"), cutey Nicole de Boer (one of the groupies from "BRAIN CANDY", Lieutenant Ezri Dax from "Deep Space Nine" and Sarah Bannerman from "Dead Zone"), Maurice Dean Wint (somewhat of a ringer for Dwayne Johnson) and David Hewlett (Stargate's Dr. Rodney McKay).

Very intense with a wonderfully cool set. I was on the edge of my seat more than a few times. Also reminded me a bit of the opening of "Predators". This is a smart horror flick and that is always refreshing.

CUBE ON IMDB

365 Movies Day #178 "Hanna"

Wow...I disappeared there for a bit. Lots of chaos in the real world right now. I'm back though and with a vengeance. This film is freaking amazing. Director Joe Wright did so much right with this it's unreal. Honestly I felt his "The Soloist" was trying too hard to shoot for an Oscar nod. THIS is the kind of film I expect from the director of "Atonement".

Basically, the plot is a young girl, raised in the wilds of Finland to be a perfect killing machine by her former CIA father finally comes into the real world to seek vengeance for the murder of her mother. Saoirse Ronan plays the title character. She also worked for Wright on "Atonement" but this is sure to be a breakout role for her. She is spectacular. Similar to the chops he showed in "CHOPPER" (pun intended), Eric Bana is phenomenal as Hanna's father, while Cate Blanchett (probably the greatest living actress and the female Gary Oldman) kicks serious ass as the film's villain.

Kudos to anyone who recognizes Blanchett's sadistic Aryan henchman Issacs as Cutler Beckett from the "Pirates of the Caribbean" films. Tom Hollander plays a decidedly less refined role in this flick. I also had a hard time placing Olivia Williams, though I knew her from something. She was the female lead in "The Postman" (one of my favorite Costner flicks) and "The Sixth Sense". Jason Flemyng plays her husband in the movie and has been in so many of my favorite flicks. He is a Ritchie staple from "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels", "Snatch" and he was Azazel in "X-Men: First Class" (WHAT?!). You might also recognize him as Calibos from the newer "Clash of the Titans" film.

Besides the badass fight sequences (knife work is beautiful), this film also sports a wonderful immersion into culture. A globe-hopping adventure, Wright does a great job of dragging you into the culture and helping you lose yourself in the film. You feel like you are wherever Hanna is. Also, the soundtrack by the Chemical Brothers is seemlessly integrated into the experience. The haunting, throbbing, industrial tones definitely are a strong contributor to the film's badassery.

Probably the best assassin film I've seen since "The Professional".

HANNA ON IMDB

365 Movies #177 "Running Scared"

What looks on the surface to be another low rent, straight to DVD crime action flick is actually a wild ride with a wonderful performance from Paul Walker. I really wasn't a fan of his before I saw this, but he rocks here. Walker is most famous for the "Fast and Furious" franchise, but this film is so much better.

Walker plays a low level thug named Joey who happens to be a devoted husband and father doing what he can to get by. When he is tasked to get rid of a gun that killed a dirty cop. When he hides the gun in his house instead of ditching it, events unfold that put himself and his family in grave danger.

This film has some really gritty moments (which we all know I like) and some truly stunning visuals. I love the feel of the film from beginning to end. A great supporting cast consisting of Cameron Bright (Joey's son's best friend Oleg), Vera Farmiga (Joey's wife), Chazz Palminteri, Ivana Milicevic, Karel Roden and Michael Cudlitz. Who are all these people? Well, Bright has gone on to work on the "Twilight" series as Alec and was in "Ultraviolet", "Thank You for Smoking", "X-Men: Last Stand" and "Juno". Talk about a busy young actor. Farmiga is best known for "Up in The Air" and "The Departed". Palminteri is a mob film staple known for "The Usual Suspects", "Mulholland Falls" and "A Bronx Tale" and also played a dayplayer thug in the 80s classic "THE LAST DRAGON". Hotty Milicevic, has made the rounds as a Bond girl in "Casino Royale" and worked on one of Tom Cruise's better films in "Vanilla Sky". I will always remember Michael Cudlitz asking John Cusack if he wanted to "do some blow" after reading him a poem in "Grosse Pointe Blank" though he's worked on other projects like "Lost", "24" and a wonderful role on "Band of Brothers" as Sgt. Denver 'Bull' Randleman. Karel Roden has done "RockNRolla", "The Bourne Supremacy", "Hellboy" and even "Orphan" with Farmiga.

I almost forgot John Noble of "Fringe" fame, who was also Denethor in "The Lord of the Rings" and David Warshofsky from "THE MINUS MAN" , "There Will Be Blood" and "Taken".

I am definitely going to have to go back and check out director Wayne Kramer's other stuff. I truly enjoyed his "The Cooler" and look forward to exploring the rest of his work.

RUNNING SCARED ON IMDB