Geek For E!

Geek For E!

Creators of the TwitView! Reviews in 140 characters or less.

FantasticFest film Besties comes to VOD in January: wanna see some pics?

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In a better, more hipper life, I attend the Alamo Cinema & Drafthouse all the time.  But in reality I just read about it.  So when I heard the buzz about the Alamo’s FantasticFest-screened high-school thriller Besties, I was intrigued.  But figured I’d never get a chance to see it until about three years from now, when I stumbled on it via Netflix.  Surprise!  It’ll be hitting Video-on-Demand next month.  Right during prime awards season, so we can all discuss it to death with the rest of the ac-tor films we’ve seen lately.

And since it’s hitting VOD, there’s the usual snippet of the film to be had, and a slew of promo stills.  But first, the synopsis:

Hoping to forge a friendship with the most popular girl in school, Sandy arranges to be left at home under Ashley’s supervision while her father goes out of town. Little does Sandy know that an unexpected visitor from Ashley’s past will leave the awkward freshman and her idol tangled up in a manipulative and deadly friendship.

The film stars Olivia Crocicchia, Madison Riley, Bobby Soto, Chris Backus, and Corin Nemec (The Stand).

Folks that have already seen the film at FF praise the performances of the young stars.  I’m a fan of Corin Nemec — hey, Parker Lewis Can’t Lose, amirite folks? — so with those two things going for Besties, I’m ready to check it out.

‘Til the film hits a TV near you?  Check out these stills….  Y’know, after the jump.

 

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Movie Review — Mandela: The Long Walk To Freedom

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“You alone are small.  Your people are mighty.”

 

There’s no doubt that Nelson Mandela’s life was large enough to put up on the big screen.  But Mandela: The Long Walk To Freedom (based on Mandela’s memoir of the same name) feels more like a Greatest Hits album instead of a solid hit song.  There’s a whole lot to love in this film, with many top-notch performances.  But the story shoots by at light speed, stopping on nothing long enough to truly get an in-depth look at the man.  That said, it gets bonus points for not skipping over the parts of his life that were less than heroic, like his womanizing.  Mandela: The Long Walk To Freedom may not give viewers deeper insight into the man that delivered South Africa from Apartheid, but it is an extensive and fascinating look at his life, and the events that swirled around him.

For those that only know Apartheid as a word in the dictionary, Mandela is an eye-opener.  Director Justin Chadwick (The Other Boleyn Girl, Bleak House) takes the ugly bits of South Africa’s past and puts them up on screen.  There’s some bright, happy times too; black areas of Johannesburg are shown filled with good people, good music and at first the idea of separation seems like nothing more than an inconvenience for Mandela and the rest of black South Africa.  Then the reality kicks in, as a man is mercilessly beaten to death in the street.  His crime?  Being black and a little bit tipsy.  Not bellierent, not loud, not even unkempt.  Just a man that happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.  (Which was the way it was for any black person in South Africa at that time.)  The scene is shocking and jolts you out of the pleasant earlier scenes, where Mandela the ladykiller tries — and succeeds — in wooing a woman on the dance floor.  Idris Elba (Luther, Thor) is able to shift from charming cad to heartbroken, angry friend, all the while taking you with him in every twist and turn of the world he had to navigate.

 Idris is Mandela [Read more…]

Movie Review: The Wolf of Wall Street

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Coke!  Ludes!  Booze!  No, it’s not the yearly Geek for e holiday party.  It’s a slice of the 90s stockbroker lifestyle highlighted in The Wolf of Wall Street, and it’s it’s tacky, glorious excess carries on for almost three hours of hyperactive money-binging and awe-inspiring overindulgence.  The Wolf of Wall Street, with it’s beautiful views and addictive storyline will make you sad that you missed the party, and truly happy that you did.  Because really, unless Martin Scorsese is directing your life as brilliantly as he does this film — and you’ve got a guy editing the crap parts out — anyone who really lived like that back then?  Has great stories no doubt, but probably no longer has the use of all his/her faculties.  Hey, you give some you get some I guess.  But it’s a better idea to simply watch this stunner of a film and leave the real excess to folks that don’t mind the body busting (and jail time.)

The one thing you’ll need to know before, during and after this film?  That this story is true.  The details?  Maybe a little fudged, a bit blown up for Hollywood.  But Jordan Belfort , his partner Danny Porush and their “firm” Stratton Oakmont are all the real deal.  Remember the 1987 film Wall Street?  This real-life story makes Gordon Gekko and his cronies look like altar boys.  No wonder Leonardo “King of the World” DiCaprio wanted to play Belfort.  It’s a role any actor wanting to go a little crazy would kill to play.

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Let’s get ready to rumble – passes to the Baltimore screening of Grudge Match!

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grudge-match-poster

This movie is either gonna be awesome or so awesomely campy that you’re gonna wanna see it anyway.  (I’m hoping that De Niro will be brilliant, and that this isn’t just the beginning of an Al Pacino-esque flameout….)

Anyway, Grudge Match!  Old dudes getting their fight on, and a funny, two-finger salute to everyone who has ever made fun of Sly for continuing to crank out the testosterone films.  Here’s the synopsis:

Award-winning movie legends Oscar® winner Robert De Niro (“Raging Bull,” “Silver Linings Playbook”) and Oscar® nominee Sylvester Stallone (the “Rocky” films, “The Expendables”) star as old boxing rivals who come out of retirement for one final match. De Niro and Stallone play Billy “The Kid” McDonnen and Henry “Razor” Sharp, two local Pittsburgh fighters whose fierce rivalry put them in the national spotlight.  Each had scored a victory against the other during their heyday, but in 1983, on the eve of their decisive third match, Razor suddenly announced his retirement, refusing to explain why but effectively delivering a knock-out punch to both their careers.  Thirty years later, boxing promoter Dante Slate Jr., seeing big dollar signs, makes them an offer they can’t refuse: to re-enter the ring and settle the score once and for all.  But they may not have to wait that long: on their first encounter in decades, their long-festering feud erupts into an unintentionally hilarious melee that instantly goes viral.  The sudden social media frenzy transforms their local grudge match into a must-see HBO event.  Now, if they can just survive the training, they may actually live to fight again.

The film has been rated PG-13 for sports action violence, sexual content and language.

So, want passes?  Here’s the deets:

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Baltimore Area screening of Walking With Dinosaurs: want passes?

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Already sick of the malls after Black Friday?  Well, how about free movie passes to tempt you back?  Wanna see Walking With Dinosaurs?  A 3D screening of Walking With Dinosaurs?  Yeah you do.  Here’s the 411 from the lovely and wonderful PR folks:

Synopsis:

For the first time in movie history, audiences will truly see and feel what it was like when dinosaurs ruled the Earth.  Recent discoveries and a breakthrough in technology will introduce new and unique dinosaurs that are more real than ever before and put moviegoers in the middle of a thrilling prehistoric adventure, where an underdog dinosaur triumphs against all odds to become a hero for the ages.

C’mon, like that doesn’t scream adorable.  Like Land Before Time, but more kewl, and less cutesie for cutesie’s sake.

Here’s the deets for the screening….

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The Book Thief: BALTIMORE SCREENING DATE CHANGE!

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Hi everyone!  The studio has switched the date of the Baltimore screening of The Book Thief: it was scheduled for 11/14, but now it’s Monday, 11/19.

What’s more, the 11/14 passes WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED on the 19th.  So…here’s a link for new passes:  http://l.gofobo.us/1F7mQ4d2

 

I wish there was a way to guarantee that folks that already have passes would automatically get passes for the 19th.  But unfortunately, that’s not so.

Good luck everyone, and sorry for the mix-up!

THE BOOK THIEF Advance Screening

Baltimore Screening; The Book Thief — we’ve got passes!

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Movies are comin’ at’cha fast & furious!  Wanna catch the latest, The Book Thief?  “But Denise, I don’t know what it’s about!”  No problem.  I got you, darlin’.

Take it away, Sexy Librarians of PR!

Synopsis

Based on the beloved bestselling book, THE BOOK THIEF tells the inspirational story of a spirited and courageous young girl who transforms the lives of everyone around her when she is sent to live with a foster family in World War II Germany.

Release: November 15, 2013

Rating: PG-13

Director: Brian Percival

Screenplay by: Michael Petroni, based upon the novel by Markus Zusak

Cast: Geoffrey Rush, Emily Watson, Sophie Nélisse

Ahh.  So NOW you wanna go?  Okay.  So read on for how to get your hands on a pair of passes!

THE BOOK THIEF Advance Screening

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Elf, the musical? A ticket giveaway? But of course!

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I love Chrismukwanzulekkah!  It’s an awesome time to drag out the festive stuff, spend way too much money on your loved ones (because they deserve it after putting up with me all year), and eat a boatload of candy.

You know who else loves candy?  Buddy the elf.  Yeah, you know he does.  Because he’s awesome.  And he’s coming to Baltimore!  And we have not only discount tickets available, but we’re giving away a pair!  Yeah, I know!

Here’s the 411 on America’s Favorite Elf:

The New York Times says that ELF is

“SPLASH, PEPPY, SUGAR-SPRINKLED HOLIDAY ENTERTAINMENT!”

Got the holiday spirit?  Save 25% on tickets to see ELF the Musical!

Experience the hilarious tale of Buddy, a young orphan who mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and is transported the North Pole.  Unaware that he is actually human, his enormous size and poor toy-making abilities eventually cause Buddy to face the truth.  Find out what happens when Buddy travels to New York City to find his birth father and show everyone the true meaning of Christmas.  Fun for the whole family, ELF the Musical comes to Baltimore’s Lyric Opera House November 22 – 24. 

Use code SANTA to save 25% off Friday & Sunday evening performances!

Tickets on sale now at www.lyricoperahouse.com.

 

elfthemusical 

So, wanna go? Well, here’s how….

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