tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38740104222187447912024-03-13T05:29:09.199+00:00Framerate: Movie News, Reviews & moreFrameratehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01921357292998632635noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874010422218744791.post-1414429117236481242010-08-24T20:07:00.001+01:002010-08-24T20:10:26.559+01:00Framerate Show 19 - August 24thOn this week's show we get super geeky (in a good way) with '<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0446029/">Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World</a>' and super manly (in a less good way) with Sly Stallone and '<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1320253/">The Expendables</a>'.<br /><br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2Fframerate%2Fframerate-show-19&secret_url=false"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2Fframerate%2Fframerate-show-19&secret_url=false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/framerate/framerate-show-19">Framerate Show 19</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/framerate">Framerate</a></span>Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271664126917349174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874010422218744791.post-16723353081528778442010-08-23T15:46:00.008+01:002010-08-23T16:03:13.439+01:00In Defence of... Big Trouble in Little China<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF7vAstDD3IZRgQf0llJfXfj4p720Q-SSlFTVTM28iDgk9mzc9kApd2uE5crExwdususuo_0rNEvcAnmgGERAghiNO-S1N2UNdCVbzmUVWwYhNx0Gsg9FtmrB-Q20YVXZfMpSjq3j5PcI/s1600/Big-trouble-in-little-China.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 281px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF7vAstDD3IZRgQf0llJfXfj4p720Q-SSlFTVTM28iDgk9mzc9kApd2uE5crExwdususuo_0rNEvcAnmgGERAghiNO-S1N2UNdCVbzmUVWwYhNx0Gsg9FtmrB-Q20YVXZfMpSjq3j5PcI/s400/Big-trouble-in-little-China.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508618490495325858" /></a><br /><br />When myself and Barry first came up with the idea of doing this strand – defending movies that we like that others, well, probably don’t –there was one film that jumped to the top of the list and that was John Carpenter’s cult classic <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090728/">Big Trouble in Little China</a>. Now, it has to be said that I’m an unabashed Carpenter fan-boy, I love his sense of framing, particularly his Hitchcock-like approach to widescreen material as seen in (arguably his best film) <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084787/">The Thing</a>. But it’s this curious little film that I keep coming back to. Big Trouble tanked at the box office when it originally came out in 1986, though it quickly found an audience in the burgeoning home video market. And that’s where I first discovered it. I have fond memories of watching that old VHS to the point where it had warped beyond the point of watch-ability when I was a kid.<br /><br />Read the rest after the jump<br /><br /><a name='more'></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Big Trouble</span> tells the tale of a centuries-old war between two Chinese gangs on the streets of San Francisco. Things come to a head when the villainous Wing-Kong and their leader, the undying sorcerer Lo-Pan, kidnap the fiancé of a young Chinese man in order to break an ancient curse visited upon their ancient magician. And all-American hero of the day Jack Burton (Kurt Russell) is stuck right-smack in the middle of it all. Cue some Chinese black magic, a demi-god with the ability to blow himself up like a balloon, a floating head-monster with an eye for a tongue and an awful lot of talk about the power of green-eyed women. The story - as I’m sure you can guess by now - is pure unadulterated pulp. And gloriously so. <br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Big Trouble</span> sees Carpenter reunite with his favourite leading man, Kurt Russell. Though Kurt’s most memorable role will always be monocular badass Snake Plisskin in <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082340/">Escape from New York</a> (another favourite of course), for my money the knife wielding, smart–ass trucker Jack Burton is a damn close second. Russell delivers his frequently ridiculous lines with confidence, charisma and humour; his own brand of cocky charm fits the part perfectly. A mention must also be made of the memorable performance from veteran actor James Hong who plays sorcerer Lo Pan. It’s a brilliantly over the top performance that has cemented Lo-Pan as one the all time great cinematic villains.<br />The film is joyously silly, revelling in the pure schlock of the 1920s serials it takes its inspiration from. It has all the elements of a Boys Own adventure story - a reluctant hero, magic & mysticism, a feisty reporter in over her head (played by a typically wooden Kim Catrall) and a healthy dosage of Kung-Fu. It’s the best B-movie you’ve never seen. The fight scenes and monster effects are memorable, the dialogue is (for the most part) just the right mix of cheesy and quotable, and to top it all off Carpenter’s synth heavy score is pure 80s gold.<br /><br />If you’re a fan of the ridiculous and the pleasantly cheesy, chances are I’m preaching to the choir and you already have the deluxe 2 disc box set and the limited edition lunch-box - if not, and if what I’ve said to you sounds like your cup of tea, then I Implore you to check it out post-haste. <br /><br />I’ll leave you now with the one thing that I really can’t defend about this film, and that’s the truly, truly awful title song. It’s performed by Carpenter’s band (yes, really) <span style="font-style:italic;">The Coup de Villes</span>. FYI, the keyboardist played Michael ‘The Shape’ Myers in <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077651/">Halloween</a>. Um, so enjoy I guess. If anyone can actually track down an album of theirs, please let us know…<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/D03E9kUTTtQ?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/D03E9kUTTtQ?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271664126917349174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874010422218744791.post-31280811237985858332010-08-17T14:52:00.003+01:002010-08-17T15:11:56.648+01:00Framerate Show 18 - August 17thOn this week's show we come face to face with bending elements and Russian spies in M.Night Shayamalan's '<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0938283/">The Last Airbender</a>' and the Angelina Jolie vehicle '<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0944835/">Salt</a>'.<br /><br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2Fframerate%2Fframerate-show-18&secret_url=false"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2Fframerate%2Fframerate-show-18&secret_url=false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/framerate/framerate-show-18">Framerate Show 18</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/framerate">Framerate</a></span>Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271664126917349174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874010422218744791.post-27426813021024973812010-08-11T07:57:00.003+01:002010-08-11T08:04:15.602+01:00Framerate Show 17 - August 10thThis week Barry subjects himself to a double helping of films of incredibly questionable value in <span style="font-weight:bold;">THREE DIMENSIONS</span>!!!! Yes thats right, it's '<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1193631/">Step Up 3D</a>' and '<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1287468/">Cats and Dogs: the Revenge of Kitty Galore 3D</a>'. Also reviewed this week is Disney's latest action adventure, '<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0963966/">The Sorcerers Apprentice</a>'.<br /><br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2Fframerate%2Fframerate-show-17&secret_url=false"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2Fframerate%2Fframerate-show-17&secret_url=false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/framerate/framerate-show-17">Framerate Show 17</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/framerate">Framerate</a></span>Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271664126917349174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874010422218744791.post-49662190237653327862010-08-09T22:56:00.004+01:002010-08-09T23:28:34.842+01:00Framerate Show 16 - 3rd AugustThis week we take a look at a couple of bumper box-office vehicles. Following the recent release of the rather awful Karate Kid, the 80s is remade again in <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0429493/">The A-Team</a> with Messrs Neeson, Cooper, Coply and, er, "Rampage" Jackson at the helm, ably abetted by Ms Biel (lest we forget). That and the inevitable paring of marquee names Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz in the action comedy <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1013743/">Knight and Day</a>.<br /><br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2Fframerate%2Fframerate-16&secret_url=false"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2Fframerate%2Fframerate-16&secret_url=false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/framerate/framerate-16">Framerate 16</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/framerate">Framerate</a></span>Barry Brackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10865529943113885041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874010422218744791.post-76524291453984782302010-08-09T17:14:00.009+01:002010-08-09T23:25:41.060+01:00Anatomy Of...His & Hers.<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTfr8OKQJhejh4srle2uMS4LvzRQ_knsjGaFWhiXbRt_4FlClNVWv4VaW7RAGiDJjn3SbI0QsQqAzfU6FXXaep_UehCBmTJ_BHuODGQ1xqjqGWv6xNdedokkoumrbduCWPHKQWh45ePF3o/s1600/MV5BMTAzNzI1MTQwODleQTJeQWpwZ15BbWU3MDE2MDQ2MTM@._V1._SX600_SY398_.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTfr8OKQJhejh4srle2uMS4LvzRQ_knsjGaFWhiXbRt_4FlClNVWv4VaW7RAGiDJjn3SbI0QsQqAzfU6FXXaep_UehCBmTJ_BHuODGQ1xqjqGWv6xNdedokkoumrbduCWPHKQWh45ePF3o/s400/MV5BMTAzNzI1MTQwODleQTJeQWpwZ15BbWU3MDE2MDQ2MTM@._V1._SX600_SY398_.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503536387489552514" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Michael <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Lavell</span> accepting The World Cinematography Award for His and Hers at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Sundance</span> 2010</span><br /></span></div><br />In the first of a series designed to take you behind the films we all watch, Cinematographer and award winning short film-maker <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1737155/">Michael <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Lavelle</span></a> gives us an insight into the shoot of this year's Irish hit <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1550533/">His and Hers</a>. Michael was joint Cinematographer with Kate <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1737412/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">McCullogh</span></a> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">on</span> the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">project. We</span> gave it an assured 3 <span style="font-size:85%;">1/2</span> stars back in June, check out the review <a href="http://www.rte.ie/podcasts/2010/pc/pod-v-frameratereviewhisnhers.mp3">here</a>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Anatomy of His & Hers, By Michale Lavelle</span><br /></div><br />While shooting His & Hers was an exciting venture it was also a daunting prospect for a cinematographer. One of our greatest fears was that as a film featuring the voices of 70 women it would become a series of talking heads. Another was that it would feel like a string of 70 short films back to back.<br /><br />Very early in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">preplanning</span> stage the director (Ken <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Wardrop</span>) and the 2 directors of photography (Kate McCullough and myself) had a number of brainstorming sessions on how to overcome these potential pitfalls.<br /><br />We knew that the heartbeat of the film would be the women themselves so it was important to frame them in a way that was as non-restrictive as possible. Aesthetically Ken was intent on the idea that the film would feel very natural. We used minimal lighting and any time a light came out of the van it really had to be justified. On ‘soft’ Irish days we often got a beautiful quality of light from the windows.<br /><br />To sidestep the ‘talking heads’ issue we felt that by searching for interesting frames on the interviews and breaking with some standard conventions of interview framing we would be able to maintain an intriguing visual.<br /><br />To unify the separate vignettes we established a series of formal conventions and used them like recurring motifs to bridge the narratives. The takes are quite long and it gives the audience time to absorb the space. The camera is inside for the whole film except at the very end where we step outside for the first time. Characters seen outside are always framed through windows.<br />We shot over a period of about 3 months, shooting 2 characters a day in a four hour window. One of the enormous <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">priveleges</span> was to shoot a documentary on film. Following tests we oped for Kodak Vision 3 (500T) which provided good possibilities for shooting in available light combined with a relatively fine grain structure.<br /><br />We shot roughly one can of 16mm film per interviewee. Ken sat with a remote under his arm during the interviews and had the unenviable task of having to select the precise moment to roll the Arri SR3 camera. Ken had only about 7 minutes of film per interview. The remaining 3½ minutes of footage was subsequently used for the cutaways.<br /><br />Kate and I swapped lighting and camera roles every week and if the lighting conditions were variable one of us would crouch under the camera and pull the aperture during the interview.<br />It was a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">privelege</span> to work on such a challenging film and it’s immensely rewarding to see the Irish cinema going public taking it into their hearts.Frameratehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01921357292998632635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874010422218744791.post-80188988588885991742010-07-27T20:31:00.009+01:002010-07-28T01:11:48.919+01:00Framerate Show 15 - July 27thThis week we look at <a href="http://www.karatekid-themovie.com/">The Karate Kid</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1017460/">Splice</a>, and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1081935/">Baaria</a>. So that's undramatic Hollywood remake, post-traumatic genetic meddling, and melodramatic Sicilian historical drama in precisely in that order!<br /><br /><object width="100%" height="81"> <param name="movie" value="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2Fframerate%2Fframerate-15-1"> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" src="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2Fframerate%2Fframerate-15-1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%" height="81"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/framerate/framerate-15-1">Framerate 15</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/framerate">Framerate</a></span>Barry Brackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10865529943113885041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874010422218744791.post-6528156235043873692010-07-26T23:56:00.005+01:002010-07-27T00:44:19.655+01:00Who Like Short Shorts? July 2010Welcome to another new feature we hope to continue here on the blog over the next few months. Every month we'll be compiling a series of shorts that have caught our eye. On this, our inaugural posting, we see 35 films condensed to their bare essentials in the 2 minute animation in '35mm', we get a look at what a Wes Anderson directed adaptation of video game 'God of War' might look like, Joseph Gordon-Levitt goes on a date to the zoo in 'Morgan and Destiny’s Eleventeeth Date' and Irish director/animator Gavin Kelly interviews several World of Warcraft players about their obsession with the ubiquitous game in 'Avatar Days'.<br /><br />Vids are embedded after the jump.<br /><br /><a name='more'></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">35mm</span><br /><object width="400" height="300"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=13340102&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1"><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=13340102&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="300"></embed></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/13340102">35mm</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/pmonaco">Pascal Monaco</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</p><br />Side note: If you can get all of the films above (without cheating), then I tip my virtual hat to you. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">God of War Trailer</span><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/rylS-X0s-KM&hl=en_US&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/rylS-X0s-KM&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Morgan and Destiny’s Eleventeeth Date</span><br /><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" width="437" height="288" id="viddler"><param name="movie" value="http://www.viddler.com/player/6abb602b/"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="flashvars" value="fake=1"><embed src="http://www.viddler.com/player/6abb602b/" width="437" height="288" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="fake=1" name="viddler"></embed></object><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Avatar Days</span><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/d9TEdGbvtnc&hl=en_US&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/d9TEdGbvtnc&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />Who likes Short shorts? Framerate likes short shorts!Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271664126917349174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874010422218744791.post-81086738226085849962010-07-20T16:26:00.002+01:002010-07-20T16:29:48.697+01:00Frame Show 14 - 20 July 2010This week Barry takes a look at <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1320082/">The Concert</a>, the little foreign film that dares goes against the combined might of the other big, big releases we review this week; Christopher Nolan's <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1375666/">Inception</a> and Pixar's <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0435761/">Toy Story 3</a>.<br /><br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2Fframerate%2Fframerate-show-14"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2Fframerate%2Fframerate-show-14" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/framerate/framerate-show-14">Framerate Show 14</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/framerate">Framerate</a></span>Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271664126917349174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874010422218744791.post-87876904560974194092010-07-20T00:10:00.004+01:002010-07-20T00:28:25.392+01:00In Defence Of...Minority Report.<i>In Defence Of...</i> is the first of various new weekly strands designed to bring you closer to the films we love, the people who make them and the stars who front them. Barry kicks off a series defending the overrated, unloved or just plain misunderstood movies that for we think need to be stood up for by championing Stephen Spielberg's early noughties sci-fi flick Minority Report. Question is...do you agree?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOhCb36ZsI4_4AfcIcM_nmdFAMzIrK70cXChb06t5ZMrV2ELvKPejc0NKe-14yNkCzOgvhdSX-Q5k7uyg6mVESjNB30DxjL9kDqso1ck0jjra-uC0DT11aZxIkRiKQO4Fhz46q_4At_2s/s1600/minority-report.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOhCb36ZsI4_4AfcIcM_nmdFAMzIrK70cXChb06t5ZMrV2ELvKPejc0NKe-14yNkCzOgvhdSX-Q5k7uyg6mVESjNB30DxjL9kDqso1ck0jjra-uC0DT11aZxIkRiKQO4Fhz46q_4At_2s/s400/minority-report.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0181689/">Minority Report</a> is a movie that doesn’t need a defence. It portrays a not too distant future with plausible accuracy and just the right amount of realism. Its world is totally inhabitable and instantly believable. The film’s reality isn’t that far removed from our own and there is enough integrated futurist technology that all the best sci-fi since Blade Runner has borrowed. It doesn’t just feel real, for all intents and purposes it is real. Dystopia with a box-office sheen. Noir with a Spielberg twist. The washed out, beautifully realised visual style perfectly complements the atmosphere. We buy into this world. Immediately. How can we not when it looks this good.<br />
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What tickled me about Minority Report was the slow realisation (on perhaps my third viewing) that I actually really – no really – liked it. Having seeing it on initial release I brushed it off as a watchable, entertaining slice of Spielberg effortlessness – much like his other 2002 effort <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0264464/">Catch Me If You Can</a>. I could not have been more off the mark – credit where due – this is a substantial slice of modern Hollywood box-office. Perhaps one of the best of it’s kind in recent years.<br />
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Colin Farrell goes toe-to-toe with Tom Cruise in screen performances that (once you get over the fact that you’re too cool to admit it) are actually very good. Tom manages to subdue his, well, overt “Tomness” – even if it surfaces occasionally throughout. Farrell does the young pup to a tee, Max Von Dydow is gleefully malevolent and Lois Smith has a wonderful turn as Dr Iris Hineman, a retired pioneer of the Pre Crime Program.<br />
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Above all, the involving, satisfyingly complex story is absorbing and, although it flags a little towards the end, the pace is cracking throughout. <br />
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Spielberg’s status and iconic early output will always leave his most recent efforts wide open to backlash, but with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Munich_%28film%29">Munich</a> and Minority Report (and to a lesser extent the underrated <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0407304/">War of The Worlds</a>) he has crafted a fine body of later period work. Here, he is firing on all cylinders. It is undoubtedly his best cinematic exercise of the last decade and is his most fully realised vision since Saving Private Ryan. As such I find myself in the odd position of championing a Tom Cruise fronted blockbuster. But ask yourself this – if all blockbusters were as big, clever and involving as this would any of us care who fronted what? Of course not.Frameratehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01921357292998632635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874010422218744791.post-44378583809216559902010-07-13T15:45:00.001+01:002010-07-13T15:47:52.894+01:00Frame Show 13 - 13 July 2010Can Chris Rock decipher the mystery of '<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1213585/">Good Hair</a>'? Can the unfortunately named director Nimrod Antal breathe some life into the long suffering '<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1424381/">Predators</a>' franchise? And more importantly, do you want to know how you too can smell like Bruce Willis? The answers to all this and more await in this week's Framerate...<br /><br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2Fframerate%2Fframerate-show-13"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2Fframerate%2Fframerate-show-13" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/framerate/framerate-show-13">Framerate Show 13</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/framerate">Framerate</a></span>Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271664126917349174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874010422218744791.post-57587374408247627572010-07-06T22:12:00.002+01:002010-07-07T16:13:37.566+01:00Framerate Mid Year ReviewHi Folks<br /><br />Yes it's our Summer Solstice as such. We look back on the best and worst of the year's films to date and cast our eyes forward to recommend the best of those yet to come. Not only that, Kate McEvoy joined us in studio for a half-hour special - enjoy!<br /><br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2Fframerate%2Fframerate-mid-year-special"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2Fframerate%2Fframerate-mid-year-special" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/framerate/framerate-mid-year-special">Framerate Mid Year Special</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/framerate">Framerate</a></span>Frameratehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01921357292998632635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874010422218744791.post-71030872473265252112010-06-29T20:18:00.002+01:002010-06-29T20:24:37.615+01:00Framerate Show 11 - 29th June 2010On this week's show we bid a not so fond farewell to the big green guy in '<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0892791/">Shrek Forever After</a>' and see if Woody Allen has finally returned to form with his latest, '<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1178663/">Whatever Works</a>'.<br /><br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2Fframerate%2Fframerate-show-11"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2Fframerate%2Fframerate-show-11" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/framerate/framerate-show-11">Framerate Show 11</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/framerate">Framerate</a></span>Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271664126917349174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874010422218744791.post-65925670394288697842010-06-25T01:17:00.004+01:002010-06-25T10:59:42.906+01:00Framerate Show 10 - 22nd June 2010On this week's show it's very much a case of two turkey's and a semi-decent comedy. Peter fails to recognise <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0844479/">The Collector</a> as a piece of cinema let alone a watchable movie, Barry doesn't quite get the post-modern pastiche of <a href="http://www.zonad.ie/">Zonad </a>and both of them agree <a href="http://www.gethimtothegreek.net/">Get Him To The Greek</a> is funny but somewhere between Knocked up and Pineapple Express on the scale of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judd_Apatow">Apatow</a> comedy's.<br /><br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2Fframerate%2Fframerate-show-10"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2Fframerate%2Fframerate-show-10" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/framerate/framerate-show-10">Framerate Show 10</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/framerate">Framerate</a></span>Barry Brackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10865529943113885041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874010422218744791.post-81036086037588042062010-06-15T14:44:00.004+01:002010-06-15T23:38:31.828+01:00Framerate Show 9 - 15th June 2010Now a whole 2 minutes longer! In this week's show Ken Wardrop's debut feature <a href="http://www.hisandhers.ie/">'His & Hers'</a> comes under scrutiny as it gets it's general release... Also up this week - Barry gets a pleasant surprise in the form of '<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0878835/">Please Give</a>' while Peter gets a somewhat less pleasant surprise in the form of rom-com '<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1305583/">Our Family Wedding</a>' .<br />
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<object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2Fframerate%2Fframerate-show-9"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2Fframerate%2Fframerate-show-9" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/framerate/framerate-show-9">Framerate Show 9</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/framerate">Framerate</a></span>Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271664126917349174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874010422218744791.post-7038606729112687252010-06-08T14:11:00.005+01:002010-06-15T23:37:42.259+01:00Framerate Show 8 - 8th June 2010This week Barry sees if '<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1210042/">Brooklyn's Finest</a>' are really all that, while Peter bangs his head against the rosy coloured wall that is '<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0892318/">Letters to Juliet</a>'. And finally, we see if director Rian Johnson's eagerly awaited '<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0844286/">The Brothers Bloom</a>' was worth the wait.<br />
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<object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2Fframerate%2Fframerate-show-8"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2Fframerate%2Fframerate-show-8" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/framerate/framerate-show-8">Framerate Show 8</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/framerate">Framerate</a></span>Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271664126917349174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874010422218744791.post-85130416696005890702010-06-02T12:46:00.005+01:002010-06-02T12:52:47.951+01:00Framerate Show 7 - 1st June 2010<meta charset="utf-8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; font-family:'Lucida Grande', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:12px;">In this week's installment, Peter weighs in on Michael Winterbottom's <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0954947/">The Killer Inside Me</a> while Barry gets a pleasant surprise from rom-com <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0815236/">She's Out of My League</a>. And to cap it all off, we see how recent remake <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1321509/">Death at a Funeral</a> holds up against the original.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; font-family:'Lucida Grande', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:12px;">
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Lucida Grande', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:100%;color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 17px;font-size:12px;"><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2Fframerate%2Fframerate-show-7"> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2Fframerate%2Fframerate-show-7" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/framerate/framerate-show-7">Framerate Show 7</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/framerate">Framerate</a></span> </span></span></div>Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271664126917349174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874010422218744791.post-7727878681756238252010-05-25T14:49:00.002+01:002010-05-25T14:58:58.204+01:00Framerate Show 6 - 25th May 2010On this week's show Peter comes face to face with the Spanish undead in the POV zombie sequel <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1245112/">Rec 2</a>, Barry wonders how Kevin Smith can so consistently get things wrong with his latest comedy <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1385867/">Cop Out</a>, and last but not least we see if <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0480255/">The Losers</a> is worth a look in before the very similar 'A-Team' rolls out next month...<div><br /><div><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2Fframerate%2Fframerate-show-6"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2Fframerate%2Fframerate-show-6" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/framerate/framerate-show-6">Framerate Show 6</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/framerate">Framerate</a></span> </div></div>Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271664126917349174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874010422218744791.post-92029881695433748282010-05-17T21:06:00.001+01:002010-05-18T15:58:38.857+01:00Framerate Show 5 - 18th May 2010On this week's Framerate we both take a look at the biggest release of the week, Ridley & Russell's peculiar stab at the <a href="http://www.robinhoodthemovie.com/">Robin Hood</a> legend. Peter grapples valiantly with the weirdness that is Werner Herzog's <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1095217/">Bad Lieutenant</a> and Barry very much likes <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nowhere_Boy">Nowhere Boy</a>, the British drama about the early years of a certain John Lennon.<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2Fframerate%2Fframerate-show-5"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2Fframerate%2Fframerate-show-5" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/framerate/framerate-show-5">Framerate Show 5</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/framerate">Framerate</a></span> </div>Frameratehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01921357292998632635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874010422218744791.post-29542895813564478922010-05-10T20:48:00.002+01:002010-05-11T12:49:42.589+01:00Framerate Show 4 - 11th May 2010This week on Framerate: Peter assesses the merits and (significant) demerits of Jennifer Lopez's latest rom-com <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1212436/">The Back Up Plan</a>, Barry checks out <a href="http://www.americanthemovie.com/">American: The Bill Hicks Story</a>, a brand new and rather unique documentary on the late great comic and we both take a look at animated feature <a href="http://www.thesecretofkells.com/">The Secret Of Kells</a> - Ireland's surprise 2010 Oscar nominee - as it's re-released on DVD.<div><br /></div><div><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2Fframerate%2Fframerate-show-4"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2Fframerate%2Fframerate-show-4" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/framerate/framerate-show-4">Framerate Show 4</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/framerate">Framerate</a></span> </div>Frameratehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01921357292998632635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874010422218744791.post-39724288194855833622010-05-04T20:18:00.000+01:002010-05-08T14:27:26.598+01:00Framerate Show 3 - 4th May 2010On this week's Framerate Barry discovers the difference between a hot-tub and a jacuzzi, time-traveling and, well, not. Peter tries not to fall asleep as Freddy Krueger gets busy and we both tackle the first of the Summer's blockbusters. <br /><br />Ladies and gentlemen we proffer <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1231587/">Hot Tub Time Machine</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1179056/">A Nightmare On Elm Street (2010)</a> and <a href="http://ironmanmovie.marvel.com/">Iron Man 2</a> for your listening pleasure.<br /><br /><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2Fframerate%2Fframerate-show-3"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2Fframerate%2Fframerate-show-3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/framerate/framerate-show-3">Framerate Show 3</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/framerate">Framerate</a></span>Frameratehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01921357292998632635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874010422218744791.post-57619958762270411182010-04-27T20:43:00.000+01:002010-04-27T20:58:26.978+01:00Framerate Show 2 - 27th April 2010This week we review Mike Judge's <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1225822/">Extract</a>, Michael Fassbender and Olga Kurylenko get bloody (and we mean bloody) in Neil Marshall's Roman action epic <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1020558/">Centurion</a>, and finally we look at <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1341167/">Four Lions</a>, the debut feature from Chis Morris of <span style="font-style: italic;">Brass Eye</span> infamy.<br /><br /><object width="100%" height="81"> <param name="movie" value="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2Fframerate%2Fframerate-show-ii"> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" src="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2Fframerate%2Fframerate-show-ii" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%" height="81"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/framerate/framerate-show-ii">Framerate Show Two</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/framerate">Framerate</a></span>Frameratehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01921357292998632635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874010422218744791.post-13472079063070088702010-04-21T22:43:00.001+01:002010-04-27T20:41:40.668+01:00Framerate Show 1 - 20th April 2010Hello and welcome to the first ever <a href="http://www.rte.ie/digitalradio/choice/">Framerate</a>.<br /><br />Yes RTE Digital Radio has gone and got itself a dedicated film news and review show. So join Barry Bracken and Peter Grogan every Tuesday on RTE Choice from 11.45am. If you miss us we're repeated Saturday at 5pm and, of course, this here blog will have all our past shows archived for your listening pleasure. <br /><br />To start us off we review <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1279935/">Date Night</a>, <a href="http://www.thejonesesmovie.com/">The Joneses</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It%27s_a_Wonderful_Afterlife">It's A Wonderful Afterlife</a>.<br /><br /><object width="100%" height="81"> <param name="movie" value="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2Fframerate%2Fframerate-show-1"> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" src="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2Fframerate%2Fframerate-show-1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%" height="81"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/framerate/framerate-show-1">Framerate Show 1</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/framerate">Framerate</a></span>Frameratehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01921357292998632635noreply@blogger.com0