Film
Christian Bale Leads An All-Star Cast In “American Hustle” (Trailer)
David O. Russell (famed director of “Silver Linings Playbook”) is bringing “American Hustle” to eager audiences this December. It’s the story of Irving Rosenfield, a con artist (Christian Bale) who worked with the FBI on a big sting operation (called ‘Abscam’) back in the 1970′s. Co-stars include Bradley Cooper, Robert De Niro, and comedian Louis C.K. Looks like a good ticket to buy. Check out the trailer and judge for yourself.
Academy Award Winner Jennifer Hudson to Star in ‘Winnie Mandela’ (Video)
So there is a Winnie Mandela film coming. Jennifer Hudson is playing Winnie… and playing her husband Nelson… NOT Idris Elba (who stars in ‘Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom’ – which we posted on here a while ago). In ‘Winnie Mandela,’ Nelson Mandela will be played by Terrence Howard. Winnie is set for U.S. release on September 6, 2013. The film originally premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in 2011 and was released in Canada October 2012 (with little fanfare). This time, around the same time as ‘Long Walk To Freedom,’ the ‘Winnie Mandela’ release will hopefully do better.
Forget the X-Men: Trask Industries Has Been Protecting Mankind for 50 Years (Video)
Trask Industries has spent the last 50 years insuring your piece of mind. Incredible concept ad promoting the next X-Men movie from a unique angle. Check out the video above. Don’t you feel safer now that Trask Industries is working tirelessly to fend off the mutant threat (e.g. like The Wolverine and all those folks in those X-Men movies we love)?
Learn more about research and development in the interest of preserving humanity at the Trask Industries website.
After the jump: Some cool shots of Trask Industries’ Sentinnel robots!
Spike Lee Vs. CNBC Analyst (Video)
‘Maybe you should stick to finance and not cinema.’
– Spike Lee to CNBC Analyst
Pow! Watch your mouth…sir. Spike goes on CNBC to talk about raising funds for his next project (which we posted on earlier here). In the clip above, he proclaims that movie fundraising is still a struggle for him. Always has been.
‘I was doing Kickstarter before there was Kickstarter… there was no Internet… Social media was me writing letters, getting on the phone…’
Dice Raw Documentary: “Jimmies Back” (Video)
“The war on drugs is not a war on drugs. It’s a war on thugs.”
Words from Dice Raw, who is providing some of the ‘thug combatants’ from his hometown (Philly) a tool and a platform with and from which they can counterattack – a LP and documentary. Shout to OK Player for bringing this important work from this down-for-the-cause artist to light. Check out the documentary short above and how you can get involved. Check out the wisdom from OKP, too:
1. Stay out of prison – Crime never pays–and street life will eventually catch up with you.
47 Ronin (Trailer)
The Matrix Trilogy was good stuff. But how about a movie where the martial arts fighting fits the timeframe of the story? Hollywood’s got you this Christmas. “47 Ronin” looks to be the gift for the [Samurai] action-starved masses who love against-all-odds plots.
‘Their army is infinite… We are 47… If we do this, there is NO COMING BACK!’
Yeah. Keanu Reeves is bringing that to big screens this December.
Spike Lee Speaks On His New Kickstarter Project, Gentrification In Brooklyn, & School Daze 2 (Video)
Got three clips’ worth of good watching on vanguard filmmaker Spike Lee. In the first clip, above, Vibe interviews Spike on the challenges of fundraising for filmmaking via his Kickstarter campaign for his next film and the criticism it will bring. Innovative approach though: Spike invites all levels of participation (from even 5 bucks to those that can chip in $10,000)… and offers some interesting prizes can win (including signed Nikes, dinner with Spike and courtside seats at a Knicks game).
See two more clips after the jump: on his views regarding gentrification of his hood and on revisiting a classic.
Everybody Street (Trailer) [NSFW]
‘A slice of a moment. A thousandth of a second of recognition. All I wanna do is take pictures.’
This is a slice of Americana served RAW. The shots the photographers share – some surreal, all for real – were bundled with their commentary on the human condition through their lenses to create this “Everybody Street” film. Interesting to say the least!
Warning: Not Safe For Work! The trailer contains brief nudity & displays graphic drug use.
‘Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom’ Starring Idris Elba (Long Trailer)
We posted the UK trailer for the coming ‘Mandela’ movie earlier on here. Needless to say it was an incredibly short teaser of what’s to come. The film currently slated to be released November 29th seeks to chronicle Mandela’s life from his childhood in a rural village to his eventually ascent as the first democratically elected President of South Africa. Early rumors about the screenplay have the focus of the film to be on on Mandela’s younger days in South Africa. Nelson Mandela recently turned 95 after suffering a few life threatening health related issues so hopefully he will be with us when the world celebrates as the film hits theaters. Of course we posted the short version earlier, but now take a peek at the official ‘Long Version’ of the movie trailer.
12 Years A Slave (Movie Trailer)
‘“12 Years a Slave” is based on an incredible true story of one man’s fight for survival and freedom. In the pre-Civil War United States, Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery. Facing cruelty (personified by a malevolent slave owner, portrayed by Michael Fassbender), as well as unexpected kindnesses, Solomon struggles not only to stay alive, but to retain his dignity. In the twelfth year of his unforgettable odyssey, Solomon’s chance meeting with a Canadian abolitionist (Brad Pitt) will forever alter his life.’
– Movie Clips COMING SOON
Read the rest of this entry »
The Tragic Story of Oscar Grant: ‘Fruitvale Station’ (Trailer)
‘The true story of Oscar [Grant], a 22-year-old Bay Area resident, who crosses paths with friends, enemies, family, and strangers on the last day of 2008.’
– VISO Trailers
‘Why don’t you take the train out there? That way you guys can hang out and not have to worry about anything’ would end up being tragic fateful last words to Grant (played by Michael B. Jordan) December 31, 2008; tragically shot to death by BART officers in cold blood. By the way, there have been several posts related to the Oscar Grant tragedy on here. You can check them out, too.
SEE EARLIER POSTS RELATED TO OSCAR GRANT AND HIS TRAGIC DEATH
CHECK THE LISTINGS BELOW TO FIND OUT WHERE THE FILM IS SHOWING IN YOUR CITY….
‘Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom’ Starring Idris Elba (UK Trailer)
‘People learn to hate. They can be taught to love.’
Looks like this will be a great tribute film to a great man beloved by lovers of freedom the world over, Nelson Mandela. Scheduled for release January 3, 2014.
Short Film: ‘The Smile Man’ Starring Willem Dafoe (Video)
Jameson Irish Whiskey has enlisted some of the premier film actors of our time to bring short films developed by its “First Shot” contestants to life on the company’s YouTube Channel. This is “The Smile Man” starring Willem Dafoe.
‘…giving people a ‘first shot’ in the film industry by having their short film produced by Trigger Street Productions and giving them the chance to direct Willem Dafoe in the leading role.’
Entrants from South Africa, Russia, and the US were invited to write a script of no more than 7 pages based on one of three themes – ‘Legendary’ or ‘Humorous’ or a ‘Very Tall Tale.’
– @ojones1
The Best Man Holiday (Trailer)
Sequel to “The Best Man.” After nearly 15 years apart, college friends finally reunite over the Christmas holidays. They will discover just how easy it is for long-forgotten rivalries and romances to be ignited.
Starring: Taye Diggs, Nia Long, Morris Chestnut, Harold Perrineau, Terrence Howard, Sanaa Lathan, Monica Calhoun, Melissa De Sousa and Regina Hall.
A Spike Lee Joint: “OldBoy” (Explicit Red Band Trailer)
‘Nothing is more twisted than the truth.’
True indeed. And nothing, in recent times, is more twisted than this movie from Spike Lee. His version of “OldBoy” is an interpretation of the original Korean flick by the same name. Here’s a Wikipedia passage on it:
‘The film follows the story of one Oh Dae-su, who is locked in a hotel room for 15 years without knowing his captor’s motives. When he is finally released, Dae-su finds himself still trapped in a web of conspiracy and violence. His own quest for vengeance becomes tied in with romance when he falls for an attractive sushi chef.’
The core of the story was maintained in the Spike Lee joint, with Josh Brolin as the imprisoned lead. So was the gore (the trailer hints at some of it). Yeah. Spike went there with this one.
Starring: Josh Brolin, Samuel L. Jackson, Elizabeth Olsen (twins Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen’s younger sister), James Ransone (from Spike’s “Red Hook Summer”), Sharlto Copley (the dude that played ‘Murdock’ in the “A-Team” movie).
“Citizen Koch” Is the Film Billionaire David Koch Doesn’t Want You To See (Documentary Trailer)
If you know your Tea Party politics, then you have heard of Charles and David Koch (b.k.a. The Koch Brothers). But this time David crossed a line. Here’s your chance to take a stand with documentary filmmakers Carl Deal and Tia Lessin (video of them explaining their “Citizen Koch” initiative above).
We believe that your voice can be louder than David Koch’s money.
We are very grateful for any amount you can give.’
These rich Republicans play dirty! Now, they are trying to control what PUBLIC television airs… in addition to the politicians that ultimately run the United States. Don’t let this happen! Help however you can. Suggestion: Donate to the Kickstarter Campaign to put “Citizen Koch” out to the masses. See the official trailer after the jump.
How To Throw A Bachelor Party (Short Film)
A crazy group of friends orchestrated a last wild ride for their bro (starting with his kidnapping) – who was about to leave the single life for married bliss. This will tickle your funny bone and pull on your heartstrings. Expertly edited, narrated by Dan Riordan and Ethan Vincze, this is a great short film you’ll watch now and probably watch again with your own crazy group of friends.
Janelle Monáe – “Dance Apocalyptic” (Video)
You already know the very capable dance floor flow of one Janelle Monáe. Incredible! But this video Emotion Picture stars the chocolate R&B knockout turning it loose. Doing her “Dance Apocalyptic” like she’s doing it for TV (per the vision of director Wendy Morgan). You can get “Dance Apocalyptic” and pre-order “The Electric Lady” album on iTunes.
(Oh… by the way… Breaking News: There are zombies in Atlanta! And now, back to our off the chain show!)
JANELLE MONAE – DANCE APOCALYPTIC | THE ELECTRIC LADY (ALBUM)
Iceberg Slim: Portrait of a Pimp (Trailer)
‘A lot of people think pimps are dummies. That’s not true. They’re just perverted.’
– Iceberg Slim
Executive Producer Ice-T presents “Iceberg Slim: Portrait of a Pimp,” an examination of ‘the tumultuous life of legendary Chicago pimp Iceberg Slim (1918-1992) and how he reinvented himself from pimp to author of 7 groundbreaking books. These books were the birth of Street Lit and explored the world of the ghetto in gritty and poetic detail and have made him a cultural icon.’
The Wolf of Wall Street (Trailer)
Academy Award winning director Martin Scorsese sets the pace in this upcoming film starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Matthew McConaughey, & Jonah Hill. The biographical film is a dark comedy-crime drama based on the memoirs of Jordan Belfort, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, who is a New York stockbroker that refuses to cooperate in a large securities fraud case & corruption in corporate banking world in addition to the heavy mob infiltration of it all.  The trailer also prominently features Kanye West’s controversial new song “Black Skinhead” within the film trailer. The feature film is tentatively scheduled to be released in November of this year.

