A poetic road trip through Pulitzer prize-winning CK Williams' life.
Black SwanFeverish worlds such as espionage and warfare have nothing on the hothouse realm of ballet, as director Darren Aronofsky makes clear in Black Swan, his over-the-top delve into a particularly fraught production of Swan Lake. At the very moment hard-working ballerina Nina (Natalie Portman) lands the plum role of the White Swan, her company director (Vincent Cassel) informs her that she'll also play the Black Swan--and while Nina's precise, almost virginal technique will serve her well in the former role, the latter will require a looser, lustier attack. The strain of reaching within herself for these feelings, along with nattering comments from her mother (Barbara Hershey) and the perceived rivalry from a new dancer (Mila Kunis), are enough to make anybody crack and tracing out the fault lines of Nina's breakdown is right in Aronofsky's wheelhouse. Those cracks are broad indeed, as Nina's psychological instability is telegraphed with blunt-force emphasis in this neurotic roller-coaster ride. The characters are stick figures--literally, in the case of the dancers, but also as single-note stereotypes in the horror show: witchy bad mummy, sexually intimidating male boss, wacko diva (Winona Ryder, as the prima ballerina Nina is replacing). Yet the film does work up some crazed momentum (and undeniably earned its share of critical raves), and the final sequence is one juicy curtain-dropper. A good part of the reason for this is the superbly all-or-nothing performance by Natalie Portman, who packs an enormous amount of ferocity into her small body. Kudos, too, to Tchaikovsky's incredibly durable music, which has meshed well with psychological horror at least since being excerpted for the memorably moody opening credits of the 1931 Dracula, another pirouette through the dark side. --Robert Horton The FountainScience fiction and romance collide in The Fountain, the ambitious third feature from director Darren Aronofsky (Pi, Requiem for a Dream), who laboured for four years to complete this epic-sized love story that stretches across centuries and galaxies. Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz play lovers in each of the film's three settings--16th century Europe and America (Jackman is a Spanish explorer searching for Incan magic), the present day (Jackman is a doctor attempting to cure his dying wife), and the 26th century (Jackman is a space traveller seeking a gateway to the afterlife)-who struggle mightily to stay united, only to lose each other time and again. Aronofsky may not have chosen the easiest presentation for audiences to absorb his theories on the lasting qualities of life and the transformative powers of death-the final sequence, in particular, with a bald Jackman floating through space in a bubble, harks back uncomfortably to "head movies" of the late '60s-but his leads have considerable chemistry (and look terrific to boot), which goes a long way towards securing viewers' hopes for a happy ending. Critical reception for The Fountain has been nothing short of bloodthirsty, with Cannes audiences booing, but there are elements to enjoy here, even if the premise throws one for a loop. Ellen Burstyn (who earned an Oscar nomination for Requiem for a Dream) delivers a typically solid performance as Jackman's boss in the present day sequence, and special effects (most done without the benefit of CGI) are also impressive given the film's low budget (spurred by a mid-production shutdown after original stars Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett ankled the picture). And science-fiction fans whose tastes run towards the metaphysical (Asimov, Le Guin) will appreciate the attempt to present the genre in a serious light. -- Paul Gaita
Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane brings his boundary-pushing brand of humor to the big screen for the first time as writer, director and voice star of Ted. In the live action/CG-animated comedy, he tells the story of John Bennett (Mark Wahlberg), a grown man who must deal with the cherished teddy bear who came to life as the result of a childhood wish... and has refused to leave his side ever since. Special Features: The Making of: A Guy, A Girl and a Teddy Bear Doing it Live A MacFarlane Set Alternate Takes Teddy Bear Scuffle Deleted Scenes Gag Reel Theatrical Feature Commentary with Seth MacFarlane, Alec Sulkin and Mark Wahlberg
The Family Guy Collection is a nine-disc set containing all 50 episodes from the show's three seasons, plus two bonus discs of additional material including commentaries, deleted scenes and featurettes. Creator Seth MacFarlane drew on his own New England upbringing to create the dysfunctional Griffin family and the other less-than-endearing inhabitants of Quahog, Rhode Island. In addition to animating the original concept, MacFarlane also voices the show's three most indelible characters: recklessly stupid paterfamilias Peter Griffin, sophisticated pooch Brian and Stewie, the one-year-old obsessed with world domination. Though comparisons are inevitable, from the outset Family Guy established itself as no mere Simpsons clone. Quahog is both a more realistic and far less cuddly place than Springfield. The Griffins and their neighbours inhabit a town where both random acts of violence and virulent verbal abuse are doled out on a regular basis; they indulge in copious (albeit mild) swearing; and the mocking of minorities, PC attitudes and pretty much anyone and anything else, is delightfully commonplace. Most joyfully distinctive of all, though, are the flashbacks, surreal episodes and sundry other non sequiturs that continually interrupt the Griffins' daily lives. The show is also characterised by a plethora of pop-culture references, many of which will fall flat for a non-US audience. But the scattershot approach to jokes--they just keep coming and coming--ensures that for every one you don't get, there will be three that will have you in stitches. Rumours abound of a potential fourth season and even a movie; but for now this is the definitive collection. On the DVD: The Family Guy Collection presents the episodes on discs as they appeared in the original three box sets, with no extra features nor anything as useful as a "Play All" facility. Two bonus discs contain all the additional material: here 14 episodes have optional chatty, laid-back commentaries from MacFarlane and other members of the creative team. MacFarlane also appears in the short featurettes, talking about the show's creation and its interminable censorship problems. The rough-and-ready original pilot is also here, as well as animatic storyboards for selected scenes and seven TV promo spots. While the extra features alone are unlikely to tempt anyone who already has the series box sets, those who have only sampled Family Guy so far will not want to miss this opportunity to own every joyous episode. --Mark Walker
In "Extract," writer/director Mike Judge returns to the fertile territory of the American workplace and looks at a blue collar boss - a small business owner - who employs an odd cast of losers, loners and misfits in his flavor extract factory.
In Season 11, Peter befriends Ryan Reynolds (guest-voicing as himself), the Griffins struggle to stay grounded after winning the lottery, Meg falls for an Amish boy and Stewie gets behind the wheel to take the family car for a spin. Then, on Meg's 18th birthday, Quagmire moves in for the kill, and Peter tries to put an end to the relationship. Finally, Brian and Stewie travel back in time to the very first episode of the series.Family Guy Season 11 delivers more of the rude, crude, and over-the-top humour that fans have grown to love and comes loaded with exclusive, never-before-seen VAM, including extra rude extended episodes, hilarious deleted scenes, and clips to go!Episodes Comprise:Halloween on Spooner StreetBaby, You Knock Me OutBrian Writes a BestsellerRoad to the North Pole (2 part episode)New Kidney in TownAnd I'm Joyce KinneyFriends of Peter G.German GuyThe Hand That Rocks the WheelchairTrading PlacesTiegs For TwoBrothers and SistersThe Big Bang TheoryForeign Affairs
Anyone who's watched Family Guy knows that its creator Seth MacFarlane has a lot of hang-ups. As outrageous as many of them are in their animated TV show forum, they get a real rundown in Ted, MacFarlane's multi-hyphenate debut in feature films. As the director, producer, cowriter, and voice artist behind the title character, MacFarlane riffs on pop culture, drug culture, religion, sex, bodily functions, and all things '80s with the kind of abandon that borders on offensive to pretty much anyone--if only it all weren't so spot-on funny. Ted is an utterly believable CGI teddy bear who comes to life in the arms of a friendless 8-year-old boy named John, who quickly grows up to be Mark Wahlberg. John has made a wish that the pudgy plush be a friend for forever, a deal that they both hold on to with genuine poignancy as the years roll by. Ted grows right along with John in voice, manner, attitude, and bad habits until they're both unmotivated layabouts who would rather do nothing more than swill beer, smoke dope, and watch the absurdly iconic '80s movie Flash Gordon over and over again to the exclusion of most everything else in life. John has managed to pick up a girlfriend named Lori (Mila Kunis), who somehow tolerates the pair of them--at least for a little while. Eventually she's annoyed enough with John for not putting away his childish things, thoughts, and behaviours that she demands Ted move out and let them move on as adults. Among all the conceits that Ted embraces is the fact that this fully anthropomorphized stuffed bear started life as a global celebrity sensation before everyone forgot about him. Now he's just a blue-collar Boston nobody who sucks on a bong, chases women, and makes dirty jokes at every opportunity while nobody pays attention. This could have been a generic lowbrow buddy movie in the Judd Apatow mold, which might have been a little funny with a human slob in the Ted role. But MacFarlane brings to the remarkably expressive CGI creation an astonishing and often shocking dynamic with his voice characterization and the consistently clever situations, which whiz by in a structure that's pretty similar to an episode of Family Guy. There are frequent non sequitur digressions and offhanded one-liners that MacFarlane could never get away with on TV. But in the raunchy, anything-goes world of Ted it's all fair game. In addition to farts, drugs, bodily functions, and all manner of sexual vulgarity, it's the slams or homages to the 1980s that are the butt of many of the best zingers or recurring jokes. There are several cameo appearances that may make for delighted double takes. And Sam Jones, the star of the ill-fated Flash Gordon, plays a version of himself that makes a running gag all the more ingenious and demonstrates how far MacFarlane will go to bring comedy down to his level of hilarity. Mark Wahlberg should be commended for being game enough to participate and absolutely shows the comedy chops to make his scenes with Ted come alive. Technically the movie is a wonder as the two-foot Ted blends into the real world with complete believability even as he spouts some of the most outrageous dialogue this side of The Hangover. Ted may be an acquired taste for those who have a dislike for MacFarlane's comic sensibility--and there are a lot of people who do. But as a laughable lowbrow adventure that delivers virtually nonstop unexpected laughs with a little heart to back it up, Ted is a surprising comic novelty that may even win over some of the most vituperative MacFarlane haters. --Ted Fry
A group of troubled teens including Sophie Bauer (Mila Kunis) are abducted and brought to Camp Serenity which they think is a rehab program on Fiji. The young men and women soon find themselves at the mercy of the camp's deranged administrators who subject them to solitary confinement and psychological torture of every kind. As Sophie and her boyfriend struggle to escape she fights for her sanity 'and her life' in this white-knuckle thriller that proves paradise can be deadly. Based on actual events.
Blue Harvest is the season premiere of the sixth season of Family Guy and features the Griffin family in a retelling of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope recasting the show's characters into Star Wars roles!
Funny People: Adam Sandler Seth Rogen and Leslie Mann star in this seriously funny film from writer-director Judd Apatow (The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Knocked Up). When famous comedian George Simmons (Sandler) is given a second chance at a new beginning he and his assistant a struggling comedian Ira (Rogen) return to the places and people that matter most... including the stand-up spots that gave him his start and the girl that got away (Mann). Co-starring Jonah Hill Eric Bana and Jason Schwartzman it's the film that critics have hailed as uproariously funny. Superbad: Two socially inept teenage boys are about to graduate high school. Evan (Michael Cera) is sweet smart and generally terrified. Seth (Jonah Hill) is foul mouthed volatile and all-consumed with the topic of human sexuality. Seth and Evan want nothing more than to lose their virginity before they head off to college. To do that though they need to get liquor for the big party that night. With the help of their friend Fogell a.k.a. McLovin (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) and his fake I.D. the three of them go on a hilarious chase for that elusive booze dodging incompetent cops (Knocked Up's Seth Rogen and Saturday Night Live's Bill Hader) angry neighbors and jealous boyfriends! Forgetting Sarah Marshall: Struggling musician Peter Bretter (Jason Segel) has spent six years idolizing his girlfriend television star Sarah Marshall (Kristen Bell). He's the guy left holding her purse in paparazzi photos and accidentally omitted from acceptance award speeches. But his world is rocked when she dumps him and Peter finds himself alone. After an unsuccessful bout of womanizing and an on-the-job nervous breakdown he sees that not having Sarah may just ruin his life.
Get Him to the GreekForgetting Sarah MarshallPeter (Jason Segal) a successful composer is heart-broken and devastated when his girlfriend of five years Sarah Marshall (Kristen Bell) the famous star of a popular crime show splits up with him. Peter is even more devastated at the fact that she has left him to be with renowned rock star Aldous Snow (Russell Brand).Peter soon goes into turmoil and becomes a recluse until his step brother convinces him to take a much needed vacation. Peter agrees and goes to Hawaii but when checking in at his hotel he comes across Sarah and her new lover Aldous. But Peter refuses to leave and so does Sarah.Will Peter be able to forget about Sarah Marshall despite being on the same island as her and has he possibly found a new love in hotel receptionist Rachel (Mila Kunis)?
Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008): Struggling musician Peter Bretter (Jason Segel) has spent six years idolizing his girlfriend television star Sarah Marshall (Kristen Bell). He's the guy left holding her purse in paparazzi photos and accidentally omitted from acceptance award speeches. But his world is rocked when she dumps him and Peter finds himself alone. After an unsuccessful bout of womanizing and an on-the-job nervous breakdown he sees that not having Sarah may just ruin his life. To clear his head Peter takes an impulsive trip to Hawaii where he is confronted by his worst nightmare: his ex and her tragically hip new British-rocker boyfriend Aldous (Russell Brand) are sharing his hotel. But as he torments himself with the reality of Sarah's new life he finds relief in a flirtation with Rachel (Mila Kunis) a beautiful resort employee whose laid-back approach tempts him to rejoin the world. He also finds relief in several hundred embarrassing fruity cocktails. Knocked Up (2008): Allison Scott (Katherine Heigl) is an up-and-coming entertainment journalist whose 24-year-old life is on the fast track. But it gets seriously derailed when a drunken one-nighter with slacker Ben Stone (Seth Rogen) results in an unwanted pregnancy. Faced with the prospect of going it alone or getting to know the baby's father Allison decides to give the lovable doof a chance. An overgrown kid who has no desire to settle down Ben learns that he has a big decision to make with his kid's mom-to-be: will he hit the road or stay in the picture? Courting a woman you've just Knocked Up however proves to be a little difficult when the two try their hands at dating. As they discover more about one another it becomes painfully obvious that they're not the soul mates they'd hoped they might be! You Me & Dupree (2006): Two's company. Dupree's a crowd. For newlyweds Carl (Matt Dillon) and Molly Peterson (Kate Hudson) life can't get any sweeter as they begin anew to settle down into married life. With a nice house and established careers in tow nothing seems to get in their way. However Carl is about find out just how much friendship means when Randy Dupree (Owen Wilson) his best friend has been displaced from his home and fired from his job because of attending their wedding. Taking his friend in what Carl and Molly are about to experience is that the fine line between a few days and whatever else after can be a lot more than they bargained for!
Cancelled? Who said anything about cancelled? Back due to overwhelming popular demand, it's the complete fourth series of freakin' sweet adventures with the Griffin family! Featuring 13 animated episodes of pure, unadulterated comedy! Manly Meg, bumbling Chris, and the rest of the family are their usual offensive selves in this fourth season. 'In Fast Times at Buddy Ciani Jr. High' Chris fall in love with his substitute teacher and is drawn into a plot to murder her husband. 'Brian ...
The most hilarious animated sit-com since The Simpsons Family Guy revolves around the Griffin family and their madcap adventures. The Griffin household includes two teenagers a cynical dog who is smarter than everyone else and a megalomaniacal mutant baby who makes numerous attempts to eradicate his parents and siblings. Heading up this eclectic household is Peter Griffin. Peter does his best to do what's right for the family but along the way he makes mistakes that are the stuff of legend.
Titles Comprise:Friends With Benefits: Dylan (Justin Timberlake) is done with relationships. Jamie (Mila Kunis) decides to stop buying into the Hollywood clichs of true love. When the two become friends they decide to try something new and take advantage of their mutual attraction - but without any emotional attachment. Physical pleasure without the entanglements. Sounds easy enough for two logical adults, right? Not so much. They soon realise romantic comedy stereotypes might exist for a reason.The Social Network: David Fincher's The Social Network is the stunning tale of a new breed of cultural insurgent: a punk genius who sparked a revolution and changed the face of human interaction for a generation, and perhaps forever. Shot through with emotional brutality and unexpected humour, this superbly crafted film chronicles the formation of Facebook and the battles over ownership that followed upon the website's unfathomable success. With a complex, incisive screenplay by Aaron Sorkin and a brilliant cast including Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield and Justin Timberlake, The Social Network bears witness to the birth of an idea that rewove the fabric of society even as it unravelled the friendship of its creators.Bad Teacher: Some teachers just don't give an F. For example, there's Elizabeth (Cameron Diaz).She's foul-mouthed, ruthless, and inappropriate. She drinks, she gets high, and she can't wait to marry her meal ticket and get out of her bogus day job. When she's dumped by her fiance, she sets her plan in motion to win over a rich, handsome subsititute (Justin Timberlake) - competing for his affections with an overly energetic colleague, Amy (Lucy Punch).When Elizabeth also finds herself fighting of the advances of a sarcastic, irreverent gym teacher (Jason Segel), the consequences of her wild and outrageous schemes give her students, her coworkers, and even herself an education like no other.
Series 1-8 of hit US animated comedy Family Guy.
Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane brings his boundary-pushing brand of humour to his first ever feature film , Ted.Ted tells the story of John Bennett (Mark Wahlberg) a grown man who must deal with the cherished teddy bear who came to life as the result of a childhood wish and has refused to leave his side ever since!
The most hilarious animated sit-com since The Simpsons Family Guy revolves around the Griffin family and their madcap adventures. The Griffin household includes two teenagers a cynical dog who is smarter than everyone else and a megalomaniacal mutant baby who makes numerous attempts to eradicate his parents and siblings. Heading up this eclectic household is Peter Griffin. Peter does his best to do what's right for the family but along the way he makes mistakes that are the stuff of legend. Includes every hilarious episode from Seasons 1-7!
New York 1974. Fifty-year-old Chris (Clive Owen; Children of Men) has just been released from prison on good behaviour several years after he was involved in a gangland murder. Waiting for him reluctantly outside the prison gates is his younger brother Frank (Billy Crudup; Watchmen) a cop with a bright future. Hoping that Chris has changed Frank is willing to give his brother a chance; he shares his home finds him a job and helps him reconnect with his children and his ex-wife (Marion Cotillard; The Dark Knight Rises). But Chris’ past quickly begins to catch up with him and his descent back into a life of crime becomes inevitable. For Frank it’s the last in a long line of betrayals and he banishes him from his life. But it’s already too late; the brothers’ destiny will be bounded forever. Blood ties are the ones that bind. Also starring; Mila Kunis (Black Swan) Zoe Saldana (Guardians of the Galaxy) Matthias Schoenaerts (Rust & Bone) and James Caan (The Godfather) Special Features: 'Behind the scenes'
Family Guy revolves around the Griffin family and their madcap adventures. The Griffin household includes two teenagers, a cynical dog who is smarter than everyone else, and a megalomaniacal mutant baby who makes numerous attempts to eradicate his parents and siblings. Heading up this eclectic household is Peter Griffin. Peter does his best to do what's right for the family, but along the way, he makes mistakes that are the stuff of legend...
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