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WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN
 Well, yes, WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN and overall, not in a good way. This is another example of why we constantly question the making of certain films and monetary expenditures, asking "who" or "why" would anyone invest in a project. WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN is one such film. Extremely disturbing, both visually and emotionally, disbelievable in context and torturous to sit through, by films end it seems clear that writer/director Lynne Ramsay couldnt decide whether to do a remake of The Demon Seed, The Innocents or The Good Son or a poor mans version of Parenthood but with a very disturbing and dysfunctional family. (Yes, theres that word - disturbing - again.) And while I dont believe it was Ramsays intention to make a "horror" film, WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN is a horror on several levels. The one place where it shines, though, is with Ezra Miller who is is flawless malevolence as Kevin. |
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IN THE LAND OF BLOOD AND HONEY
 I never thought I would ever be writing these words: I am beyond impressed with Angelina Jolie as a storyteller and director. Marking her debut as writer and director with IN THE LAND OF BLOOD AND HONEY, Jolie takes us behind the lines of the Bosnian war that ravaged Europe in the 1990's. The bloodiest and deadliest European war since WWII, much of the world turned its back on the savagery and war crimes as it happened. Many of those crimes involved genocide and sexual violence to the women of the region. Set against the backdrop of the war, violent and graphic and made with no apologies, IN THE LAND OF BLOOD AND HONEY, is the story of love, conflict and the emotional, ethical, physical and moral toll it takes not only on individuals, but on people as a whole. . .With a clear, compassionate and concise voice Angelina Jolie speaks loudly for the world to hear. |
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EXCLUSIVE 1:1 - MICHEL HAZANAVICIUS Talking the Movie Magic of
THE ARTIST - GOLDEN GLOBE WINNER - OSCAR NOMINEE
.jpg) Written and directed by Michel Hazanavicius, THE ARTIST celebrates not just the timeless beauty and creativity of the silent movie, but the magic of the movies in general. Shot in true black and white (no conversion), THE ARTIST takes a loving and comedic look at the days when talkies invaded Hollywood. The time is 1927 and George Valentin is the king of movies. Looking a lot like Erroll Flynn or Douglas Fairbanks, he makes women swoon both on and off screen. And one of those swooners is the young and naive Peppy Miller. A wannabe actress, Peppy is plucked from obscurity and quickly finds herself skyrocketing to fame and fortune in all singing, all dancing movies. But while Peppyfs star rises, Georgefs falls as he refuses to make the move to talkies.
Moved by the pleasure that silent movies have given him throughout his lifetime, writer/director Michel Hazanavicius sat down with me for an intimate 1:1 and talked about creating the movie magic that is THE ARTIST.
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FOREVERLAND
 Currently making its way through the film festival circuit is FOREVERLAND. A beautiful film to watch, both visually and emotionally, FOREVERLAND is filled with an emotional honesty that radiates through the story and the performances. Written and directed by Max McGuire, FOREVERLAND draws on McGuire's own story and experiences as a man living with cystic fibrosis, watching the clock of life rapidly tick down on a shortened time table. Contemplative. Reflective. Thoughtful. FOREVERLAND finds its footing early on and never slips. . .With an ethereal quality brimming with lightness and brightness that serves as a beautiful contrast to a dark subject which never feels dark or somber thanks to the visuals and the chemistry between Max Thieriot and Laurence Leboeuf, FOREVERLAND eloquently shows us that from death comes life and darn it all....live life while you can.
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EXCLUSIVE 1:1 - ANTHONY MACKIE: Talking MAN ON A LEDGE,
Channing Tatum, Abraham Lincoln and Blockbusters
 It's never a dull day when I hang out with "my man" Anthony Mackie. Between interviews, red carpets and just bumping into each other around town over the years, we have a fun and entertaining rapport which bodes well for open, casual and high spirited hijinks and conversation (not to mention a few "I told you so's" from me when it comes to The Hurt Locker). With Anthony in the thick of things right now with the upcoming Spirit Awards, the much anticipated Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter set for release this summer and the exciting caper thriller MAN ON A LEDGE opening January 27, not to mention the buzz with The Artist and Anthony's own experience playing Buddy Bolden in two silent films, and a myriad of other films releasing, there's a lot to talk about and catch up on. We recently had a chance to sit down and cover the gamut, particularly Man On A Ledge, of course while imbuing everything with laughter, much of which we owe to Anthony's Ten Year co-star, Channing Tatum, who I happened to speak with earlier that same morning. And while we talked about a myriad of subjects, the crux of the conversation revolved around MAN ON A LEDGE and Anthony's indelible performance as Mike Ackerman, cop and best friend to Sam Worthington's Nick Cassidy, a man, on a ledge.
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THE DIVIDE
 It didnt take long for my Worst Films of 2012 list to get started thanks to director Xavier Gens and THE DIVIDE. In what is described by the filmmakers as a "graphic and violent, post-apocalyptic thriller", nine strangers, whose only prior commonality was being a resident in the same apartment building, are trapped underground in the apartment buildings bunker-like basement following a nuclear attack. Sounds like it has potential, right? I thought so and was anxious to see it. But after trying to erase the films memory from my eyeballs, my one lament is that the film itself wasnt destroyed by a nuclear bomb. . . So many holes. So many problems. However, there is one valuable lesson gleaned from THE DIVIDE - a multitude of new uses for duct tape, one of which should be sealing the film canisters of THE DIVIDE shut to save you from seeing it. |
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HAYWIRE
 Steven Soderbergh - you are forgiven. After The Girlfriend Experience starring porn star turned wannabe actress, Sasha Grey, I didnt think I would ever watch another Soderbergh film. . .I was saddened wondering where was the Steven Soderbergh of old? . . .Thankfully, the "real" Steven Soderbergh is back with guns a blazin with HAYWIRE - a film I affectionately and truthfully refer to as Ocean's Fourteen. With one of the hottest casts to grace the silver screen since, well, Ocean's Thirteen, Soderbergh brings together the hottest and best of the best with McGregor, Fassbender, Banderas, Tatum, Paxton and Douglas, along with newcomer and MMA superstar, Gina Carano, for a mind-blowing trip around the world filled with espionage, intrigue, a fantastic score, hot looking guys and one kick ass heroine, not to mention, a perfect set-up for a sequel. HAYWIRE kicks ass - literally and figuratively. |
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MAN ON A LEDGE
 You wont be fooled by the title of MAN ON A LEDGE for as you will quickly see, we really do have a "man on a ledge" and its that man and that ledge that set the creative wheels in motion for this emotionally charged, vertigo-infused, entertaining, roller coaster ride of a thrill into play. A cleverly told and intelligently crafted story with a colorful cast and rock solid performances, MAN ON A LEDGE gives us Sam Worthington as the man 220 feet up in the air on the ledge of the famed Roosevelt Hotel in New York. . . Beyond entertaining, MAN ON A LEDGE will get your adrenalin pumping and have you walking the ledge of suspense, thrills, fun and yes, even laughter. |
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ABOUT moviesharkdeblore...
debbie lynn elias brings a wealth of education and experience to her work as film critic. A published journalist for over 36 years, she has written everything from hard news to public service announcements, travel pieces, celebrity interviews and profiles, book-theater-restaurant reviews, legal briefs, informational news stories, and for the past 19+ years, film reviews. She also served as a managing editor and author for a national legal magazine for 3 years and is the author of the children's book, 'Narcissa Cooks the Kitchen'. Combining her love of film with her journalistic expertise and years of education, experience and connections in television and film production, she brings unique and interesting perspectives to her film reviews. A member of the prestigious Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia, debbie is one of the few film critics in the country to have worked in both the technical and creative ends of the tv and film industry. The depth and familiarity of her reviews makes her one of the most sought after critics by filmmakers looking for an honest evaluation and review of their work. With her movie reviews carried in over 136 print and entertainment sites worldwide with over 1 million weekly readers, she is a fan favorite thanks to her keen insight, evocative interviews and detailed oriented styling. A frequent guest on local talk shows, debbie not only serves as a consultant to first-time and independent filmmakers but remains hands-on with production, most notably as Executive Producer of the award-winning web series, Co-Op of the Damned. |
