It's All About the Benjamins, Baby: The First Trailer for THE WOLF OF WALL STREET Emerges

Don't you just love when Leonardo DiCaprio plays an arrogant prick? I know I do.

Even better, he's re-teamed with his cinematic godfather, director Martin Scorsese, in THE WOLF OF WALL STREET, a film that emphasizes the age-old mantra of "greed is good." Or so it seems.

More on the film below:

A New York stockbroker refuses to cooperate in a large securities fraud case involving corruption on Wall Street, corporate banking world and mob infiltration.

DiCaprio plays the aforementioned stockbroker who in the new trailer is seen chilling on a boat, throwing lobster at his foes (or just for fun?), and imitating monkey sounds at a fancy restaurant with Matthew McConaughey. 

It sounds kind of ridiculous, but it's Scorsese, so I'm sure some heads will be bashed in and there will be blood. 

The movie was inspired by Jordan Belfort's (played by DiCaprio in the movie) book of the same title. Anyone here read it? It's been on my to-read list for a while. Screenwriter Terrence Winter, who's mostly known for his Emmy-winning TV work on "The Sopranos" and "Boardwalk Empire," penned the script.

Jon Favreau, Spike Jonze, Rob Reiner and Jon Bernthal (who you may know from TV's "The Walking Dead") are also in the film. Oh, and Jonah Hill, whose surprising ascent up the Hollywood ladder has him now starring in Scorsese films (how did this happen?). 

Check out the trailer for the film, and share your thoughts in the comments below.



I still can't quite figure out whether the movie is a comedy or a drama, based on this trailer alone. But this should be entertaining, if anything. THE WOLF OF WALL STREET hits theaters November 15th.

If I Say I Don't Hate 'Oz The Great And Powerful', Would You Revoke My Female Privileges?

James Franco as Oz

I'll explain.

Remember that The Wizard of Oz prequel, OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFUL, that was released in theaters a few months ago and was subsequently lambasted by many feminist critics? I recently saw it on DVD and....I kinda liked it.

Note, it's not one of those movies that rocked my world or even made me want to re-watch it. But I did enjoy the time I spent on it. It's gorgeously shot and the story moves fast enough for you to quite literally get swept up in it.

But, from what I gather, folks were hypercritical about the concept of the somewhat doofy male character, Oz (James Franco), being the only one who could rescue a fairyland filled with female witches (of both the good and bad variety). That without him, they were nothing.

That last bit is a slightly hyperbolic sentiment of an already fantastical premise. If you remember from the original film, Oz was always regarded as the savior of man(and creature)kind, the one who can heal them of straw brains and oil-less tin men. If anything, the character could be criticized as being too Christlike. But  calling him a misogynist? That just seems unjustified. He certainly thinks he could seduce any woman with his crooked smile and makeshift hocus pocus, but he soon learns that it takes much more than that to gain even false respect.

(L to R) Evanora and Theodora (Rachel Weisz and MIla Kunis)

While Oz is regarded very highly, the women in the film are no shrinking violets. Rachel Weisz plays lawless vixen, Evanora, whose penchant for intimidation only matches her severe beauty. Her sister, Theodora (played by Mila Kunis), is also stunning in a role that is more compelling than meets the eye (plus, Kunis proves that her impressive Black Swan performance wasn't a fluke with this portrayal).

Even Glinda the Good Witch (Michelle Williams), while at times disgustingly pure and precious, is not lacking in wits. Franco pretty much epitomizes the mystical oaf, and Glinda sees right through it and decides to still find something good within him. It's a family movie, like its inspiration. What more can you expect from it?

What I got from the film is its idea of the gap between magic and our beliefs, what is truly good versus what is truly evil. Themes that are borrowed from the 1939 classic that are diluted but still present in this film.

This isn't to say that OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFUL is on the same level as The Wizard of Oz, of course. But it is fascinating to compare how some of the same morals have been adapted for a new audience.

Glinda (Michelle Williams)

This isn't the movie that I'd think would stir any souls or rile any rebel riots. Not one that has a green-faced witch and a talking monkey in it. But I do wonder if The Wizard of Oz came out today, for the first time ever, would audiences embrace it as much as they did over 70 years ago? I'm not so sure.

It's no secret that films of yesteryear often depicted the unjust values we still fight to overcome today. So the idea of, say, a woman in an inferior position looking to a man for help or even validation didn't cause as much of an uprising as it would today. But in 2013? It becomes a real bra-burning moment.

While a mediocre film in and of itself, OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFUL at least does a fair job interpreting its female characters. They are all stand alone interesting to watch, even if none are thoroughly developed. Ultimately, they are all wiser than the shady male protagonist, even when he thinks he's one-upped them (once they open their eyes, they all know better than than that). By the latter half of the film, they all come off capable and think for themselves, which is a lot more than some romantic comedies today can claim.

But the title of the movie should suggest that it's really not about them anyway. It was about the rather elusive wizard who we knew little about in the original film. It illuminates his story, for better or worse.

OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFUL is now on DVD and Blu-Ray.

See 10 New Images from DESPICABLE ME 2

I can hardly retain my excitement over this movie. Like, I anticipate it more than any person over the age of 12 should. But I am so here for DESPICABLE ME 2.

If you don't remember the wickedly charming 2010 film, starring Steve Carrell as a reluctantly lovable ogre who takes in a couple of wily kids, here's a reminder:

That gif never gets old. Ever. Gru (Carrell) returns for another round of shenanigans with youngsters in the sequel. More on the upcoming film after the jump (from Collider):

Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment’s worldwide blockbuster, Despicable Me, delighted audiences around the globe in 2010, grossing more than $540 million and becoming the 10th-biggest animated motion picture in U.S. history. In Summer 2013, get ready for more minion madness in Despicable Me 2. Chris Meledandri and his acclaimed filmmaking team create an all-new comedy animated adventure featuring the return of Gru (Steve Carell), the girls, the unpredictably hilarious minions…and a host of new and outrageously funny characters.

The all-star cast, including Keon Jeong, Kristen Wiig, Russell Brand, return to round out the rest of the wild characters in the movie. The precocious little kids, played by Miranda Cosgrove, Elside Fisher, and Dana Gaier also reprise their roles. Despicable Me directors Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud also came back for the project, as did writers Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio.

Two new faces to the franchise are "Saturday Night Live" comedienne Nasim Pedrad and Benjamin Bratt, who provide the voices of Jillian and Eduardo. 

And who could forget the little yellow thingamabobs affectionately known as troublemakers the minions?

Universal Pictures just released a batch of images from the movie to hold you over until it releases in theaters. Check 'em out:

DESPICABLE ME 2 heads to theaters July 3rd. Who's with me?

Watch Naomi Watts Put On Her Best Royal Face In The First Trailer For 'DIANA'

Naomi as Princess Diana

So I'm one of those people who has absolutely no interest in the royal family, what they're wearing, who they're dating, and at what time they're having their babies. It just doesn't interest me.

But Naomi Watts (The Impossible, 21 Grams) as the late Princess Diana? Give it to me. Not only do I think Watts has the chops for the role (and also looks a bit like her), but I am hoping Hollywood will spice up the drama (simply titled, DIANA) in the story and make it more interesting to watch than tabloid fodder. From what I hear, the movie will focus on the last two years of Princess Diana's life: her campaign against land mines and her relationship with surgeon surgeon Dr Hasnat Khan played by Naveen Andrews (TV's "Lost," Grindhouse: Planet Terror).

The project was directed by German filmmaker Oliver Hirschbiegel and written by Stephen Jeffreys. Neither of whom have any credits I'm familiar with (this is only Jeffrey's second screenplay, but Hirschbiegel has been helming projects for over 20 years). So we'll have to wait and see.

A teaser trailer for the film has recently debuted. Check it:





Thoughts? 

DIANA will be released U.K. theaters September 20th. A U.S. release date has yet to be determined (according to IMDB).

'THE PURGE', Tonight's Tonys, "Game of Thrones", And Are 40+ Actresses Now in Vogue? (Cinema In Noir)

Happy Sunday! Cinema in Noir returned with a jam packed show this evening. We start off with our review of the #1 movie in America, The Purge, which is similar to my review in an earlier post. It seems to be a consensus that, while the movie succeeds as a home invasion thriller, it fails to live up to its potential as a vehicle for socio-political commentary. 

Earlier last week The Hollywood Reporter ran a piece suggesting that actresses, ahem, of a certain age (apparently that certain age is 40+) are taking over Hollywood. So, of course we at CIN had to share our thoughts on it, especially since many of the actresses mentioned aren't of color (with the exception of Halle Berry and Penélope Cruz). 

While we are thrilled to see Hollywood embrace the more mature actress, the industry is still avoiding such greats as Phylicia Rashad and even Cicely Tyson (who have both carved out booming stage careers). What do you think? Is the 40+ actress having the best year(s) ever?

And speaking of the stage, in honor of tonight's Tony Awards at 8pm on CBS, we offer our favorite talent

from the list of nominees. With the plethora of nods given to talent of color, it is fair to suggest that Broadway  a more diverse range of talent than, say, Hollywood? 

Are you a "Game of Thrones" fan? If you are, you won't want to miss our special segment recapping the recent episodes and reacting to its jaw-dropping moments, moderated by our resident watcher, Rebecca Theodore-Vachon. Note: I have never seen an episode of the show, but I know my Twitter feed ERUPTS when it's on. So, this segment is for you. 

Lastly, a recent New York Times piece about the "new renaissance" of black film and filmmakers has garnered a variety of reactions across the web. With Fruitvale Station, The Butler and Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain soon to be theaters this year, is this the year of the black film? You be the judge.

Missed the show? Catch a recap here. 

Review: THE PURGE Isn't The Conversation You Seek, But It Does Manage To Provoke Thought

Ethan Hawke's new film, THE PURGE, may not be the film you think it is. If you've read about its provocative concept, a legalized night of slaughter and mayhem in effort to eliminate the weak and poor, you at least raise an eyebrow in interest. But while that idea of the film is sadly not explored as much as it should be, you won't want to demand a refund for your viewing.

That's because, though the film struggles to flesh out this rather Dystopian concept (something nearly every futuristic film has these days), it succeeds in its gripping suspense and romantic eye for violence. The latter is really the conversation you'll leave the theater having, not its much more politically driven nutshell described above.

The film is set in the year 2022, and stars Hawke as James Sandin, devoted husband to Mary (Lena Headey) and father to Charlie (Max Burkholder) and Zoey (Adelaide Kane). On the surface, they're the stereotypical suburban family living in a gigantic house with two hard-headed teens and a passive housewife. This setup is perfect for what the film essentially becomes--a rather vapid yet gripping horror film.

James is the head of an über lucrative security company that protects rich people like his clan from the hungry perpetrators that blanket the night of the Purge, a 12-hour shift where no crime has any legal consequence. In other words, an otherwise sane set of people are totally free to run amok at their own free will. It is the citizen's job to try to stay alive and intact by dawn. Because, what this film thinly states is that most will use this opportunity to act out any pent up thirst for bloodshed. Presumably any other crime is a waste of time? Or should we believe that only the poor and seemingly uninvolved would engage in petty blue collar crimes, leaving them also to be victims for the angsty affluent crowd? In either case, crime is down to 1% across the country, so whatever the means, it's doing something right.

Normally, the Sandins are unaffected by this night of horrors, since they've got the money and wherewithal to purchase James's heavy duty security system for their own castle. They usually sit out the frightfest in the safety of their own home like it was any other day, negating their "natural rights at citizens" to abandon their morals and participate in the madness. Given that they live in a flourishing neighborhood, their neighbors also go unscathed.

All is status quo until the family winds up involuntarily harboring a homeless stranger (Edwin Hodge) from the streets seeking refuge. Having aggravated a group of overly enthusiastic perpetrators of the upper class variety (led by a maniacal Rhys Wakefield) earlier in the evening, this unnamed man is pursued all the way to his unlikely stop at the Sandins' residence. Such begins the worst night of their lives as the Sandins are forced to determined what they want to do with him.

This man, who essentially becomes a pawn for however either party wants to use him, presents another entry point for the film to delve into socio-economic commentary, especially with Headey and Hawke's characters. But writer/director James DeMonaco scarcely clips the surface to eagerly head back to horror film territory.

Although THE PURGE is genuinely terrifying at times, even with its basic genre tricks like turning off the lights and freaky face masks, it effectively leaves you asking yourself the all-valid question, what would you do in this situation? Would you sacrifice your life for another, or vice versa? This is where the film succeeds. It isn't the conversation that it should be on its own, but it encourages you as the moviegoer to start this kind of conversation on your own.

As you watch the film and cheer as the protagonists (Done well, that role would have blurred. But here it's the Sandins) fight to protect their family and themselves from these deranged culprits, another question arises:  have we as the audience now become the accomplice in The Purge, a silent member of the group? There's no wrong answer here, but that in and of itself makes you think.

The underlying commentary within THE PURGE, the smaller annotations that you least expect, makes the film worth seeing.

Rating: B- (*** out of *****)

THE PURGE is in theaters Friday.

Patrick Wilson And Rose Byrne Are Haunted Once More In INSIDIOUS: CHAPTER 2 (Trailer)

For those of you who didn't watch the 2010 horror film, Insidious, you missed out on something pretty decent. Not great (despite the massive acclaim it received), but still an engaging contribution to the whole independent horror movement (i.e. Paranormal Activity, etc). It was a fresh twist on the basic haunted house theme, starring Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne as the ill-fated homeowners, Josh and Renai Lambert.

After stunning the box office with a fairly amazing gross (over $54 million), it should come as no surprise that it's getting a sequel. INSIDIOUS: CHAPTER 2 reunites the entire cast, including Ty Simkins as Dalton, the couple's possessed son, and Barbara Hershey and Josh's mom.

Here's the official synopsis (from Collider):

The famed horror team of director James Wan and writer Leigh Whannell reunite with the original cast of Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne, Lin Shaye, Barbara Hershey and Ty Simpkins in INSIDIOUS: CHAPTER 2, a terrifying sequel to the acclaimed horror film, which follows the haunted Lambert family as they seek to uncover the mysterious childhood secret that has left them dangerously connected to the spirit world.
Director James Wan and writer Leigh Whannell also returned for the second installment, which hopefully means that it will be at least as good as the first film.

You be the judge. Check out the first trailer after the jump:



INSIDIOUS: CHAPTER 2 heads to theaters Friday, September 13th.