Behind the scenes of Tony Scott’s ‘Unstoppable’ runaway train
Go behind the scenes of director Tony Scott's new movie 'Unstoppable'. Considered a no-holds-barred kind of fillmaker, he is known for his hyperkinetic style of filmmaking with destarurated colors and fast cuts. A story about a runaway train on a collision course with up to two men to stop it, one being Denzel Washington.
When it comes to old-fashioned CGI-free special effects, no one does it better than Tony Scott. Which begs the question, how does he do it? Thankfully, Twentieth Century Fox has given Little Gold Men this exclusive video about the making of the most impressive sequences in the film—where a conductor tries to slow down the runaway freight-train by pushing it in the opposite direction with another engine, only to get derailed and go up in flames. After you watch it, read on because we talked to two of Tony’s partners-in-train-wreckage, line producer Eric McLeod and editor Chris Lebenzon, to find out how you construct a pitch-perfect train wreck.
Director Danny Boyle turns new movie into action mode
Danny Boyle blusters along verbally the same way his films move: forcefully and urgently to a headlong finish. Known as a versatile director, from horror (the zombie thriller 28 Days Later) to romance (the Oscar-winning Slumdog Millionaire), Boyle believes that all of his films share an essential ingredient.
"Every movie I make, no matter what it's about, I try to turn into an action movie," he says by phone in his thick Manchester accent. "A lot of people say, 'Oh, your work is so varied, you go between all these different genres.' On one level I try to do that, but I also try to make every movie as visceral as possible and as much like an action movie as possible."
How's this for his next action movie? An outdoorsman (James Franco) slips in a canyon, gets his arm pinned under a boulder and stays there. And stays there. For a long time. 127 Hours sure doesn't sound like an action movie, but Boyle turns inertia into a dynamic journey.
Watch Action And Horror Movies Online Through Streaming
Today, it is easier than ever to catch up on the movies you have missed. There are new movies available in the theaters almost every week. Christmas and summer blockbusters give extra incentives to get out and catch a movie. New horror movies are being produced, redone and offered all the time. Because of modern technology, it is possible to stay inside your home and watch some of the best horror movies online just by searching the internet.
Online streaming is perfect for people who cannot get out of their homes for entertainment due to illness or injury. Laptops with wireless modems are used for this purpose by invalids around the world. Many people choose to watch their favorite television shows by streaming them on their computer.
Paying and watching for free are two of the ways that people have been streaming shows and movies to their computer. Both are methods that let the customer choose what they want to download and watch. There may be commercials but some programs do not come with commercials and pay sites usually offer most movies without them. Some movies are too recent to be able to download for viewing instantly. This usually just requires some patience, since movies become available after some time has passed.
Some allow anyone to upload streamed movies or video. Because of this fact, it may be necessary to view a portion of the desired film before downloading it. Many videos are uploaded with bad results, poor video quality or damaged sound. These websites also put the computer at risk of catching a virus from a program someone has uploaded.
Some websites are free, so anyone can search for and view the programs, videos and movies that are available. Other sites remain very popular but come with a monthly fee that is inexpensive and well worth it if you enjoy being able to watch movies online. The list of movies and television shows from these sites is usually broad and chances are good that the desired movie is there to watch. Some of the movies from this company are not available to watch instantly. Instant movies, however, are never out of stock. If the one you want to watch is offered, you can point and click and be watching immediately.
Parents should be aware of the availability of these shows and movies and keep a good watch on what their children are viewing. Very young children are knowledgeable in modern technology and can program a VCR before their parents, in some cases. Adventure, horror and cartoons are only a few of the things that people are putting online for everyone to see. Young people should be shielded from potentially damaging or scarring movies.
Since online streaming has become popular, physical stores are closing down. This means the chances of finding the desired movie online are greater than actually leaving to go to a store and find it.
Some of the more popular horror movies online, like the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise, are easy to find in their entirety. Even some of the oldest movies, like 1941s the Wolfman have become available to the public for instant viewing.
When searching online for the largest selection of scary movies be sure to visit Frightflicks.com - providing a massive selection of the best vampire movies, and zombie movies.
Sunset Blvd Is A Fabulous Film Classic
Sunset Blvd is a classic American film noir filmed in 1950 and a lesson in what refusing to grow old gracefully can result in.
The movie was directed by Billy Wilder also responsible for classic films like Some Like it Hot and it received three oscars. It takes its title name from the boulevard running through Beverley Hills in Los Angeles. An area synonymous with the rich and famous.
The movie stars William Holden as screenplay and down on his luck bum and Gloria Swanson is the faded, glamorous Norma Desmond who used to be a big star in the silent movie industry.
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Iron Chef Invades America
The concept of the show is right out of professional wrestling, but there it is in living color every week on 'The Food Network'. Prominent chefs from all over the world go 'mano a mano' in judged cooking competitions. That's the premise of 'Iron Chef' which is easily the most entertaining cooking show in television history. Even non-foodies will enjoy the competition and the nearly inscrutable strangeness of the show.
The story behind the show goes something like this--there's this rich dude, MC Kaga who summons the finest chefs in Japan to do battle in his kitchen stadium. Needless to say, a TV studio wouldn't suffice for such a production: the kitchen stadium is in Kaga's castle. Also in residence are three Iron Chefs, each representing a different type of cuisine (Chinese, French and Japanese). The summoned culinary challenger picks which Iron Chef he wants to take a crack at and the contest begins. The show was originally created by the Fuji TV network in the Japan, and the original Japanese title translates literally to The Iron Men of Cooking.
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Resident Evil: Afterlife
If you want to see one of the top fall movies of the 2010 season, Resident Evil: Afterlife is at the top of the list. The imaginative crew of the Screen Gems writing team bring forth a suspenseful 3D sci-fi film for fans everywhere. In fact, it is considered by many as one of the top movie releases during the 2010 season. One of the biggest reasons is the addition of video game elements that were integrated into the movie.
The story's main character is none other than Alice played by Milla Jovovich. Her self-imposed journey to find those without the virus infection is still ongoing, and the major roles are pretty much the same. You have Umbrella Corporation CEO Albert Wesker, and Alice's allies Claire and Chris Redfield, as well as Jill Valentine.
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Hollywood studios struggle with release dates on DVD and digital downloads
For consumers already confused about when a movie goes on sale on DVD and Blu-ray versus its availability on video on demand, digital download, Netflix and Redbox rental and Netflix online streaming, life could get even more complicated.
On Tuesday at Blu-Con, a conference focused on the Blu-ray market, the presidents of home entertainment from five studios -- 20th Century Fox, Lionsgate, Sony Pictures, Universal Pictures and Warner Bros. -- gathered for a panel to discuss the state of their businesses.The Beverly Hills conference comes as studios are searching for new ways to boost revenue in the face of a slowly shrinking DVD market in which consumers are increasingly opting for inexpensive rentals instead of higher-priced purchases. Blu-ray sales and digital downloads are not growing enough to make up the difference.
The executives said the biggest issue they face is sorting through a proliferating array of distribution platforms and figuring out when and where to release their movies and at what price in order to maximize profits. Such staggered release strategies are known in Hollywood parlance as "windows."
"The most difficult conversations and the biggest meetings I have been involved in at the studio have been on this subject," said Universal's Craig Kornblau.
The creative brains behind DreamWorks 3-D animated film ‘Megamind’
Ben Stiller has made a career of playing lovable losers. So he didn't need much convincing when two unknown screenwriters pitched a story about a failed villain who faces a midlife crisis after accidentally defeating his nemesis.
"I just thought it was funny to see this super villain have this existential sort of quandary about what his life is all about," Stiller said about Megamind — the blue-headed bad guy at the center of DreamWorks Animation new 3-D film opening Friday. "He's just like a guy who has never stopped asking, 'Why am I doing this? Why am I running on this treadmill?'"
Stiller has only a small role in "Megamind" — giving voice to an archivist named Bernard whose form Megamind assumes to woo a Lois Lane-type reporter ( Tina Fey). But he played a big part in getting the project launched.
A Synopsis Of The Movie Brooklyn’s Finest
Brooklyn's Finest was released March 2010, but has become a fan favorite due to its all-star cast, intriguing story line, and direction by Antoine Fugua. The story is based on the personal experiences of writer Michael C. Martin which focuses on the violent and rough neighborhoods watched over by the 65th precinct of the New York Police Department. The story unfolds as three veteran police officers survive the daily demands of life on the streets only to wind up together on a single night in the Van Dyke Housing Projects in Brooklyn.
One of the main strengths of this film is in the top ranked stars that chose to participate. Many personalities such as Ethan Hawke, Richard Gere, Ellen Barkin, Wesley Snipes, Lili Taylor, Don Cheadle, and many more fill the screen with talent and dedication while paying tribute to some of the hardest working men and women in the world today. We follow the lives, stories, and career paths of three officers played by Gere, Hawke, and Cheadle who end up coming together at the end of the show in a single location, but for very different reasons. The result is a night filled with terror and intrigue as the lifestyle of the area is revealed in its true form.
Although the movie is primarily based in Brooklyn, filming was also completed throughout the New York area including Queens, Manhattan, and Brooklyn itself. Through the eyes of the three principal police officers, the worst and best an urban city has to offer is presented and interwoven with complications in their daily lives which often influence decisions. The action and intrigue begin in the opening scene where a thug is shot and robbed which conversing in a car with another man. We later find out that the shooter was himself a cop.
In every profession there is often a fine line between right and wrong, but in no other career field is the impact of that concept more important. When adding the pressures of outside influences, life and death can hang in the balance. The many factors that can force decisions differently between people are the same kind that affect everyone, but nowhere is it revealed more clearly than in this film where law enforcement and personal lives must find a way to coexist. Whether one is suffering from financial worries, how to survive until retirement, or the complexities and pressures associated with undercover work, personal problems often affect decision making, but this takes on an especially important role in police work.
Michale Martin grew up in the Brooklyn area where the story is based. Therefore, much of what is seen in the film is a direct reflection of personal experiences. This provides viewers with the "reality" aspect so popular today. Although the movie was made on a modest budget, the star-quality cast agreed to lesser pay in order to see it completed as it carries an important message about the challenges police officers working in this are face.
It was first viewed at the Sundance 2009 Film Festival as well as in September of the same year at the Venice Film Festival. It was here that it was picked up for distribution, but financial problems with the company delayed the release. It was only after it was acquired by Overture Films for $3 million dollars did it finally hit the big screen and what an acquisition it was. The critics found it predictable, but mass audiences seemed to disagree due to excellence in acting by the cast.
Despite the reviews, in March 2010 the film opened in the #2 position grossing over $13 million dollars. To date that has increased to over $27 million in the US with an additional $34 million earned in the international market ranking it at #11 in the "Dirty Copy" movie field which covers all movies from 1973 to the present.
For those wanting to see what all the hype is about and why it's #1 in DVD sales, it should be noted that Brookylns Finest is rated R because of drug content, violence, nudity, and sexual overtones. Despite what the critics have said it is a fast-paced, action-packed, thrill ride that will satisfy even the most discerning tastes for a real life drama.
Check out Brooklyn's Finest at DVD Special Features for bonus extras.
Michael Caine interview Q&A
It’s hard to believe but actor Michael Caine has been in the movie business for 50 years now. He has comfortably slipped from a movie actor into a character actor over the last 20 years or so and has been doing rather well. From muscular roles in the Batman movies to Inception, Caine is having quite a resurgence as an actor. Recently, he talked to about some of his view and opnions about acting, the movie business and making movie:
On his distinct accent:
I had to make Cockney understandable to Americans. One of the main things about Cockney is, you speak at twice the speed as Americans. Americans speak very slow.
On missing the Oscars when he won because he was making Jaws
They said, "We're making this film about Jaws, will you do seven days on that?" [The Oscars] came out of the blue; I was astonished that I was nominated. I went to Universal and said, "Can you change the schedule?" and they said no: "We can't, because we're stuck with the boats and the traps." And so I had to be there, and so I missed it.
On making crappy movies
The extenuating circumstance there was I was a young actor from England in Hollywood, and one of the biggest producers there asked me to play the lead in a movie. And it was going to be a special-effects film, all the bees would be swarming and killing everybody. And I said, "Yeah, that would be fantastic!" I didn't realize that if you make a special-effects film, and the special effects don't work, you're in a little bit of trouble.