The Screening Log - blogging film

Seen on: August 14, 2009

The players: Director: Robert Schwentke, Writer: Bruce Joel Rubin, Cast: Rachel McAdams, Eric Bana, Ron Livingston, Jane McLean, Arliss Howard

Facts of interest: Based on the novel by Audrey Niffenegger.

The plot: The film chronicles the love story between a young woman and a man who involuntarily travels through time.

Our thoughts: Even though I really tried to make it last a bit, my interest in Robert Schwentke’s big-screen romance “The Time Traveler’s Wife” almost disappeared as quickly as Eric Bana does in the film. I know it can be tough to take a movie like this one seriously in the first place, but I definitely tried. Alas, what I got in return almost wasn’t worth my time at all…

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Tuesday

11Aug2009

This week's new movie releases - August 14, 2009

Tuesday, August 11, 2009 at 1:03AM | By

This week, we're looking at five wide releases: Neill Blomkamp's sci-fi spectacle "District 9," "Bandslam" with Vanessa Hudgens, "The Time Traveler's Wife" with Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams, "The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard" with Jeremy Piven, and Hayao Miyazaki's "Ponyo":

DISTRICT 9

Synopsis: Thirty years ago, aliens made first contact with Earth. Humans waited for the hostile attack, or the giant advances in technology. Neither came. Instead, the aliens were refugees, the last survivors of their home world.The creatures were set up in a makeshift home in South Africa's District 9 as the world's nations argued over what to do with them.

The Goods: Live Hard Sell Hard,

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Friday

31Jul2009

'Funny People' web reviews

Friday, July 31, 2009 at 8:09PM | By

"Funny People" marks Judd Apatow's third directorial effort, and it stars Seth Rogen, Adam Sandler, Eric Bana, Jonah Hill, Leslie Mann and Jason Schwartzman. Here's what some of the Web's critics have to say about the drama-comedy:

• Katey Rich @ CinemaBlend: "The best we can hope for is that Funny People is a necessary middle ground between Apatow's adolescent experiment and the more adult stories he has yet to tell."

• RopeOfSilicon's Brad Brevet: "Apatow's ability to keep me curious as to where he was going to take things next was this film's saving grace in my case."

• LatinoReview's Ron Henriques: "Though the third act is problematic, 'Funny People' works when Sandler and Rogan are either interacting humorously or discussing gag material and the nature of comedy."

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Friday

31Jul2009

Movie Review: “Funny People”

Friday, July 31, 2009 at 7:09PM | By

Seen on: July 31, 2009

The players: Director: Judd Apatow, Writer: Judd Apatow, Cast: Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen, Leslie Mann, Eric Bana, Jonah Hill, Jason Schwartzman

Facts of interest: Apatow also directed "Knocked Up" and "The 40-Year-Old Virgin."

The plot: A stand-up comedian has a near-death experience that will prompt him to change his life and look at things from a different perspective.

Our thoughts: I wouldn’t go as far and call Judd Apatow’s “Funny People” one of the year’s best, but as a dramatic comedy carefully examining the impact a near-death experience has on a desperate stand-up comedian, the film works marvelously. “People” may not be Apatow’s most entertaining project, but it sure is as sincere as his previous efforts.

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Friday

03Jul2009

Look at Eminem in Apatow's 'Funny People'

Friday, July 3, 2009 at 12:04PM | By

Judd Apatow has lined up quite the cast for his upcoming comedy "Funny People," and he even recruited some stars for some brief appearances.

As you can see in the photo (posted by MTV) above, rapper Eminem is also part of the cast. It's still unknown what role he will play exactly, but this shows he will have an encounter with the film's lead character George Simmons (Adam Sandler).

Simmons is a standup comedian whose life changes after he has a near-death experience. The cast also includes Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill, Leslie Mann, Eric Bana and Jason Schwartzman, among others.

"Funny People" looks really funny, and it will hit theaters July 31, 2009. Check out the trailer right here. Eminem's last big-screen appearance was in "8 Mile."

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Friday

12Jun2009

'The Time Traveler's Wife' trailer appears

Friday, June 12, 2009 at 10:53PM | By

Here's the trailer for Robert Schwentke's upcoming romantic drama "The Time Traveler's Wife," based on the novel by Audrey Niffenegger.

Eric Bana stars as Henry, a time traveler cursed with a rare genetic anomaly that causes him to live his life on a shifting timeline, skipping back and forth through his lifespan with no control.

Despite the fact that Henry's travels force him and his love Clare (Rachel McAdams) apart with no warning, she desperately tries to build a life with her one true love.

I haven't read the book and don't know what to expect, but the trailer does look interesting. I'm all for tearjerkers as long as they carry solid characters and a strong plot. Enjoy the preview below.

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Tuesday

19May2009

Apatow's 'Funny People' receives three TV spots

Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 11:28AM | By

Judd Apatow's third movie "Funny People" opens in theaters July 31, 2009, and I just stumbled across three new (and funny) television spots for the comedy, which stars Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill, Leslie Mann, Eric Bana and Jason Schwartzman. Check them out below, and have a good laugh.

Even though most of the footage in these spots is taken straight from the feature trailer, you'll be able to catch one or two new jokes here and there. In the film, Sandler stars as George Simmons, a standup comedian whose life changes after he has a near-death experience.

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Friday

20Feb2009

Trailer for Apatow's 'Funny People' debuts

Friday, February 20, 2009 at 9:05PM | By

The folks at Moviefone today premiered the first trailer for Judd Apatow's latest comedy "Funny People."

In the film, Adam Sandler stars as George Simmons, a standup comedian whose life changes after he has a near-death experience.

Also starring are Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill, Leslie Mann, Eric Bana and Jason Schwartzman. The film is due in theaters July 31, 2009.

Clocking in at more than three minutes, the trailer below is a little too long for my taste. I have nothing against a preview running for two minutes or so, but revealing too much of a story isn't that great either.

On the other hand, this footage really makes me want to see more. So far I've enjoyed every one of Apatow's flicks, and he's definitely somone who can take any idea and turn it into something special.

Sit back, relax, and enjoy Sandler an co. introducing "Funny People."

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Wednesday

15Oct2008

Brand-new ‘Star Trek’ pics surface on web!

Wednesday, October 15, 2008 at 9:25PM | By

Are you ready for J.J. Abrams’ “Star Trek” reboot? The film won’t open until May 8, 2009, but Paramount is continuing its early promotion by sending out a bunch of new images to several movie Web sites.

The one you can see above comes from Ain’t It cool News. The three right after jump appeared on IGN, Joblo and TrekMovie.

Chris Pine, Eric Bana, Simon Pegg, Winona Ryder, Zoe Saldana, Kalr Urban, John Cho, Anton Yelchin, Bruce Greenwood and Leonard Nimoy co-star. Enjoy the stills.

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Thursday

09Oct2008

Eric Bana set for ‘Convoyeur’ remake

Thursday, October 9, 2008 at 9:18PM | By

Eric Bana is set to star in and F. Gary Gray is in talks to direct Millenium Films’ remake of French thriller “Le Convoyeur,” according to Variety.

The project is currently titled “Armored,” which may change because of another upcoming film bearing the same title.

The trade says the film follows a man who takes a job for an armored car company and ingratiates himself with his co-workers, who trust him enough to make him part of their heist plans.

Gray would direct a script written by David Ayer (“Training Day”) and Kevin Walker. The film is set for principal photography next spring.

Bana was last seen in “The Other Boleyn Girl.” His upcoming projects include Robert Schwentke’s “The Time Traveler’s Wife” and J.J. Abrams’ anticipated “Star Trek” reboot.

Gray last directed “Be Cool.” His helming credits also include “A Man Apart” and “The Italian Job.”