HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS

At the terrible MTV Movie Awards, Warner Bros. unearthed the first glimpse of the final chapter of Harry, Ron, Hermione and co. The first full-length trailer is now on the internet: chock-full of wizards, spells, and an especially large dragon. This looks dark, and with what's been happening in the last few installments, the series is ending the right way. The most impressive thing is that all the main cast has been stable (save for Dumbledore: Richard Harris played him for the first two films, and after his passing, Michael Gambon took over) throughout the years. The three main characters have all truly grown up in front of us. The newest trailer is underneath the posters. Click to enlarge.

THE SOCIAL NETWORK

The poster for David Fincher's latest film was released earlier in the week, and the teaser was promised soon after. The first look of The Social Network happily reveals not the actuality of Facebook itself, but the lies and insane amounts of money involved with the building of this empire.

JULY RELEASES WORTH SEEING

July 2nd
The Girl Who Played With Fire
This is the second film from "the Millennium Trilogy," based on the novels of the same name. These films have already come out in their native Sweden, and have become massive hits, financially and critically. In the first novel/film, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, a decade old cover-up was finally resolved. In Fire, the story continues with protagonists Lisbeth Salander (Noomi Rapace) and Mikael Blomkvist (Michael Nyqvist) tracking down the real culprits behind a series of murders that Salander is framed for. I've read the first two novels, and seen the first film. The adaptations are long, but extremely loyal to their original material. For those that shy away from foreign films, this is indeed in Swedish with English subtitles.



July 9th
Predators
This sequel of sorts to Predator (1987) and Predator 2 (1990) is produced by Robert Rodriguez and directed by Nimrod Antal. Adrien Brody (The Pianist, The Brothers Bloom), Laurence Fishburne (The Matrix Trilogy), Alice Braga (Red Belt, I Am Legend), Topher Grace (Traffic, Spider-Man 3) and Danny Trejo (about every film since 1985) star as various killers who are kidnapped from Earth and transported to the Predator home world, where they try to defy the odds and remain alive against insurmountable alien hordes. The first Predator was outstanding, the second was okay as well. It was only after Alien vs. Predator (2004), and AVP: Requiem (2007) when the series really shit the bed. The one saving grace is that all the films have never shied away from an 'R' rating from the MPAA, so expect plenty o' gore.



Winnebago Man
This documentary follows the search for Jack Rebney, nicknamed "The Angriest Man in the World." A few decades ago Rebney was a spokesman for a winnebago company, and through a series of profanity laced outtakes on VHS, he slowly developed a following. When the internet, and later youtube took off, his celebrity grew, except Rebney knew nothing of it, as he had exiled himself away from civilization. Director Ben Steinbauer investigates the origin of the tapes, and hopefully the reason for Rebney's celebrated rage.



The Kids Are Alright
This comedy centers around a lesbian couple Nic (Annette Bening), and Jules (Julianne Moore) with two kids conceived by artificial insemination. The children played by Mia Wasikowska (Alice in Wonderland) and Josh Hutcherson (Bridge to Terrabithia) have hopes of meeting their biological father, which brings Paul (Mark Ruffalo) into their lives. Ruffalo is one of the best character actors working at the moment, and with Bening and Moore involved, the delivery should be spot-on. From the trailer, it seems that a burgeoning relationship between Paul and Jules takes place, which will lead, I imagine, to hilarity and then sadness, then back to hilarity. Still, this idea is a modern interpretation of the romantic comedy



July 16th
Kisses
This Irish release focusses on two children, Kylie (Kellie O'Neill), and Dylan (Shane Curry) who run away from their destructive homes during Christmas and spend one night of magic and terror on the inner-city streets of Dublin, says IMDB. I saw this beautiful trailer in front of Winter's Bone last week and was entranced from the beginning.



Inception
The big one for the summer, and easily the most anticipated release of the last, and future few months. Christopher Nolan's latest is about the art of extracting information and/or secrets from people's dreams. In the film, Dominic Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) must cause an "inception" which involves the planting of an idea, instead of the removal of one. Nolan's filmography, although small, is nonetheless incredibly impressive: Memento, Insomnia, Batman Begins, The Prestige and The Dark Knight. Lately, Nolan has compiled a large, international cast, and Inception is no different. Along with DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon Levitt (500 Days of Summer), Marion Cotillard (La Vie en Rose), Cillian Murphy (Batman Begins), Ken Watanabe (The Last Samurai), Ellen Page (Juno), Tom Hardy (Bronson), Dileep Rao (Avatar) and Michael Caine (the last three Nolan pictures) all star in what will surely be the biggest blockbuster of the year. I'm sure by now you've all seen the many television spots showcasing the spectacular visuals, but what sets Nolan apart is his talent as a storyteller. The truth is, Nolan could film a room full of babies crying and I would happily watch it.



July 30th
I Love You Phillip Morris
Long struggling to find a distributor due to its explicit gay sexual content, Phillip sadly had to be re-edited before showing itself on screens. It premiered at Sundance in 2009, and has been shown in various countries to high praise. It tells the story of Steven (Jim Carrey), a seemingly happily married police officer who gets into an accident and afterwards begins to live life as his true self: a gay man. He eventually finds himself in jail, where he almost instantly falls in love with a fellow inmate, Phillip Morris (Ewan McGregor). The film is actually based on true events, chronicling the life of real life con man Steven Jay Russell. I've long been an advocate of Carrey's work, more specifically his dramatic turns. While getting his start exhibiting the crudest material imaginable; first on television's In Living Color, and later on the Ace Ventura films, The Mask, Dumb and Dumber et al. He gave underrated performances in The Man on the Moon, and The Truman Show; Phillip seems to be a combination of the two.

WINTER'S BONE

Ree Dolly doesn't wear a uniform, or own a badge. She certainly doesn't wear a cape and fly around the city saving pedestrians from imminent threats. But she is a hero in the highest sense. Ree (Jennifer Lawrence) is a seventeen year old daughter to an absentee father and a severely damaged mother. She's also the "mother" to her two younger siblings Sonny and Ashlee. Girls Ree's age are usually finishing high school, planning their prom and selecting what college to attend. Ree on the other hand has to chop the wood, teach her brother and sister to make stew, and how to shoot and skin squirrels.

Winter's Bone takes place in an unfamiliar world: a backwoods fairy tale from the Brother's Grimm. This is land filled with trailer parks and meth labs, where families have enough skeletons to fill a hundred closets. Ree is visited by Sheriff Baskin (Garrett Dillahunt) who informs her that if her father doesn't make his court date they lose their bail offered home. This sets Ree off on a discovery not only for her father's whereabouts, but also one that delves into her kins culpable pasts.

Jennifer Lawrence, for one being so young, commands attention the moment she's on screen. Her performance is one of honesty and sadness, yet also strength. The lengths she goes to save her family will not be disclosed here, but they are significant. Along her journey she reconnects with Uncle Teardrop, played by John Hawkes. Hawkes has made a history of playing sheepish characters, but here he is downright scary. His first confrontation with Ree sheds some light on their lives, as well as sets the stage for his actions in the later acts. Incredibly, Winter's Bone is director Debra Granik's second feature after 2005's Down to the Bone. In Down, it was actress Vera Farmiga who benefitted from Granik's eye and used it to springboard her career. I suspect the same will happen to Lawrence.

The most impressive trait of Ree's, is the total disregard for her own safety in her search for her father and the truth behind his disappearance. The questions she asks and the people she poses them to puts her directly in the line of fire. Either she's too naive to understand the consequences of her actions, or she simply doesn't care. She is single-minded in her endeavors to ensure the well-being of her family, but the answers she finds are perhaps even too much for her to handle.

Jennifer Lawrence is the undoubted star of the film. She is the heart and soul and John Hawkes is the pulse. I suspect Winter's Bone will remain on a limited release, but if by chance you get an opportunity to see it, do not hesitate to do so. The trials that Ree Dolly goes through are feats far beyond her years; she is someone we should all aspire to be like.

J. EDGAR HOOVER

It looks like Leonardo DiCaprio will be playing J. Edgar Hoover in Clint Eastwood's biopic of the first director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Hoover was a controversial character while holding the FBI director chair from 1935 until his death in 1972, accumulating vast data on major political figures, as well as evidence in cases by illegal means.

DiCaprio has been a mainstay Hollywood A-lister for years after getting his first big break in television, starring on Growing Pains as the troubled Luke Brower. DiCaprio has always had the uncanny ability to portray characters younger than himself due to his youthful appearance, so it will be interesting to see how he deals with an older representation.

During the period of Titanic's colossal box-office run, the world was in the midst of "Leo-mania" which was annoying for all, including DiCaprio I presume. Since The Beach in 2000 however, he has put in a remarkable run of memorable renditions, culminating in two Academy Award Best Actor nominated performances in The Aviator (2004) and Blood Diamond (2006) to add to his supporting nod from What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993).

THE KILLER INSIDE ME

Michael Winterbottom's adaptation of Jim Thompson's 1952 novel remains a polarizing discussion for critics and viewers alike. Hailed by some as a slow burning noir classic; others have literally walked out of the theatre due to queasiness from the graphic material. The film is narrated by Lou Ford (Casey Affleck), a well-respected deputy sheriff in a small Texas town. He owns a house, and a has a girlfriend--schoolteacher Amy Stanton (Kate Hudson)--with future plans of marriage. He is also a serial killer. Although Ford does his best to deflect suspicion, it is a constant struggle to battle what he calls "his sickness." Early on the audience is shown glimpses of Lou's ever present dark side: putting out a cigar on a homeless man's hand, and a sadistic first encounter with Joyce Lakeland (Jessica Alba), a local prostitute.

When commissioned to run Joyce out of town, Lou instead begins a two-week tryst filled with punishment and sexual gratification. Blaming local tycoon Chester Conway (Ned Beatty) for his brother's death years ago, Lou sets in motion a plan to exact his revenge; a plan that leaves a path of death which ultimately fuels the need to sate his appetite for murder.

This leads to the most talked about and highly discussed scene from this film, and I imagine from any in recent memory. Before killing Chester Conway's son Elmer, Lou slips on a leather glove and proceeds to mercilessly bludgeon Joyce's face into oblivion. Blow after blow, Lou's fists are relentless; only briefly pausing to speak lovingly, yet coldly to his lover. "Why baby..." she serenely replies behind broken eyes and a disfigured mouth, "I love you..."

"I love you too honey," is his response, which cues his final assault and leaves Joyce's face an unrecognizable, cavernous mess, and her body slumps to the ground. The depiction of violence against women is nothing new in cinema, but the way Winterbottom shoots this scene is so utterly personal and sickening, yet your eyes are transfixed to the screen. For Alba, it was an odd choice of roles; her being one of the romantic genre lately. At the premiere, during the scene of her beating, she reportedly walked out of her seat, presumably not able to stand the sight of her own mutilation. Although not the catalyst, this event nonetheless continues Lou Ford on a downward spiral which leads to increased self-paranoia and the supposition from others in the town about his innocence.

Although the violence is visceral, there is an intriguing narrative evident here that faithfully portrays what Thompson wrote, incredibly almost sixty years ago. The performances across the board are impressive. It's a welcome change for Kate Hudson, who inexplicably has chosen throwaway roles since turning heads in an award winning performance in Almost Famous a decade past. Elias Koteas, Simon Baker and Bill Pullman all lend a hand in limited scenes, but the film rightfully belongs to Affleck, whose chilling execution allows The Killer Inside Me to succeed.

THE SOCIAL NETWORK

A poster for David Fincher's The Social Network is making its rounds. The film is about Harvard students who founded the world wide phenomenon known as Facebook. If you've never heard of Facebook, you probably also don't know what the internet is, and this film will not be for you. Jesse Eisenberg (Zombieland) stars as Mark Zuckerberg, the website's creator. Other notables: Justin Timberlake (musican/actor double threat), Andrew Garfield (the upcoming Never Let Me Go), Rooney Mara (A Nightmare on Elm Street), Max Minghella (Agora), and Joseph Mazzello (Jurassic Park).

The Social Network was written by the ever reliable Aaron Sorkin. A teaser trailer is expected June 25, and the film will be released October 1, 2010.

SOMEWHERE

Here's a trailer for the latest from Sofia Coppola. The Academy Award winner hasn't made a feature since 2006's Marie Antoinette. In the meantime she's been making commercials for Christian Dior and having children--two with Phoenix lead singer Thomas Mars.

In Somewhere, there's some mirror imagery from Lost in Translation, the film that won her the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. Wikipedia says, "Stephen Dorff (an odd choice in my mind) plays Johnny Marco, a Hollywood bad-boy stumbling through a life of excess at the Chateau Marmont. When he receives an unexpected visit from his 11-year-old daughter, played by Elle Fanning, their meeting challenges his lifestyle and forces him to make necessary changes."

Again, that synopsis rings similar to Bill Murray's Bob Harris from Translation. Albeit, not a bad-boy but simply aging, Harris' relationship with Scarlett Johansson's Charlotte provided both with a spark that was missing in their lives. Dorff appears to need the same nudging from his daughter in Somewhere. The muted simplicity that Coppola brings to the screen allows the scenery and location--always a main character in her films--to really shine through here. I'm looking forward to this one.

Somewhere opens December 22, 2010.

NEVER LET ME GO

A trailer has finally shown up for Mark Romanek's adaptation of Never Let Me Go. This was originally a 2005 novel by Kazuo Ishiguro, which Time magazine called "the best of the decade." I recently read the book and can say that the film was cast beautifully. It's headlined by recent Academy Award nominees Carey Mulligan (An Education) and Keira Knightley (Pride & Prejudice), and supported by Charlotte Rampling (Swimming Pool) and Sally Hawkins (Happy-Go-Lucky).

Romanek, who hasn't directed a film since One Hour Photo in 2002, has at first glance seemed to nail the tone of the novel. Never Let Me Go is a very unique story combining drama and oddly sci-fi that I hope gets fully translated to the screen. The film revolves around a British boarding school called Hailsham where the children are taught and cared for. But by the end of their term, they begin to realize the truth behind their upbringing. A quick caveat: other than hinting at the excellent score, the trailer also reveals A TON of major spoilers that are crucial to the plot. Somewhat surprising actually. If you haven't read the novel, you might want to pass on the trailer until the film comes out in theatres.

Never Let Me Go was written by Alex Garland (The Beach, 28 Days Later, Sunshine) and opens October 1st, 2010.

MICMACS

Micmacs is a story of action and consequence. After the death of his father by a partially buried land mine, Bazil's (Dany Boon) life has rightfully fallen of the hinges. He is constantly chastised and reprimanded by his teachers finally leading to a stealthy escape. We catch up to Bazil years later, as he lives a life of obscurity, settling in as a lowly movie rental shop attendant. It is here where his life is forever changed a second time. While Bazil sits at work--eating cheese and lip synching the Howard Hawk's classic The Big Sleep--he catches a stray bullet right between the eyes.

From there, a series of inauspicious events inflict Bazil: the doctors leaves the bullet in which could lead to instant death at any moment; he is fired from his job, and he loses his apartment--all his possessions sold in the process. After sleeping under cardboard and peddling for loose change, he is rescued by Placard, 'Slammer' to his friends. Bazil is indoctrinated by Slammer and his band of off-the-wall misfits, whose day-to-day jobs consist of finding scrap metal to turn into reusable contraptions.

Bazil soon has an epiphany of sorts when a truck shipment of his stops directly in between the two companies that have affected him the most: an arms dealer, whose land mine killed his father, and an ammunition manufacturer, where the fateful bullet came from. This realization sets off a chain reaction to a redemption for our protagonist; one that Slammer and his merry men are more than happy to volunteer for.

Director Jean-Pierre Jeunet's most famous effort was 2001's Amelie, and with Micmacs, Jeunet has once again captured a scintillating story, one that in the wrong hands could have been a tedious affair. I suppose there could be an argument for similarities to Steven Soderbergh's Ocean's Eleven. They are revenge stories to an extent, and both offer an eclectic cast--although Eleven's is more international. I prefer Micmacs however, as it is infused with much greater heart and feeling. There's always a fear of traveling into absurdity (especially with a makeshift family living in a garbage heap), but it somehow manages beautifully. Amongst Slammer's crew are Fracasse: who briefly held the Guinness world record for distance shot in a cannon; Mama Chow: the de facto leader and resident chef; Petit Pierre: a frail old inventor with superhuman strength; Calculette: a young woman who can compute equations with the speed of a computer; and finally La Mome Caoutchouc: a contortionist who spends time relaxing in refrigerators.

Jeunet's greatest attribute is his ability to make us feel for his characters. We fell in love with Audrey Tautou's Amelie, and we care about Bazil's quest for retribution. There is a hodgepodge of humour and excitement, as well as an infusion of realism with the unfortunate actuality of illegal weapons distribution. Ultimately, what is most important for Bazil is not the search to undo the injustices to his family, but the fact that he becomes a part of a new one.

ANIMATED ROUND-UP

We live in a world dominated by Pixar, Shrek, the and the Ice Ages. Ask a child to name an animated feature and they would spout off more titles like Happy Feet, Monsters vs. Aliens and Toy Story. Personally, I miss the old days when all we had were hand drawn works to look forward to. That's not to say I'm not a fan of the computer age. In fact, Wall-E is one my favourite films of all time. The Iron Giant is brilliant and The Incredibles was just that. It's not about what we have, but what we're missing.

The first film I ever saw in theatres was Disney's 1986 picture, The Great Mouse Detective, and from the onset I was mesmerized. Sure, the talking, walking, fully clothed mice and rats had something to do with it, but more so was how grandiose this 'cartoon' was. Every subsequent year I looked forward to experiencing what new story Disney had to offer. And from The Little Mermaid, to Beauty and the Beast to Pocahontas, they hardly ever let me down. It wasn't just limited to Walt's company either. The Land Before Time and Fern Gully, anyone? Many films, like The Secret of NIMH for example, possess very dark undertones and scenes, proving that animation was not strictly for the younger generation. Nowadays, a lot of television programs are even moving in the computer generated direction, and I fear without artists like Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away, Ponyo), traditional animation will soon become a thing of the past.

On that note, here are trailers for four upcoming computer animated features:

TOY STORY 3
Toy Story was really the first film that launched the popularity of CGI's. It's actually quite incredible that the original came out in 1995. The look hasn't changed that much; I don't know if that's a good thing or not. The narratives have always been spot on, and TS3 should be no different.



DESPICABLE ME
I wasn't so sure about this one when the teaser came out, but the extended trailer has me feeling a little more positive. Steve Carell, as the lead character Gru, has a good voice for animated characters. Jason Segel plays his nemesis Vector, while the supporting cast is just as strong: Russell Brand, Julie Andrews, Will Arnett, and Kristin Wiig to name a few. The young girl I like too. When she 'wins' that stuffed unicorn (it's so FLUFFY!), for some reason it just kills me.



MEGAMIND
Another star studded cast. Will Ferrell and Brad Pitt lead the way on a story that pits rival aliens against one another. Tina Fey, Jonah Hill and Bill Hader also star. I'm a bigger fan of Pitt's when he doesn't take himself too seriously; Inglourious Basterds is one that comes to mind, and this story looks just absurd enough to work. The Incredibles from a few years ago really hit the nail on the head when it came to superhero chronicling, so hopefully Megamind has something fresh to offer.



RANGO
I always hate when you watch a trailer and by the end of it, you can already play the entire movie out through your head, simply by the images you just watched in 2 1/2 minutes. I'm a fan of keeping it a little more ambiguous. This though, is on the complete other end of the spectrum. Take a guess of what the movie is about from the trailer; it'll be as good as anyone's. The word on the street is, it's about a chameleon with an identity crisis. It stars Johnny Depp--in a rare voice role--so you know it'll put the ladies in the seats.



All of these it seems have at least something interesting to share. And Rango has certainly piqued my curiosity. But, please do me a favour and rent The Brave Little Toaster. You won't regret it.

ANTI-PROP 8

Proposition 8, or the Marriage Protection Act, was passed in November 2008. Various supporters argued that "exclusively heterosexual marriage was an essential institution of society," and "by leaving the constitution unchanged would result in public schools teaching our kids that gay marriage is okay."

Simply reading this past paragraph makes me shake my head. The fact that homosexuality is still such a taboo subject is troubling to me, as it should be to everyone. Just read what Prop 8 is called again: the Marriage Protection Act. What are we actually protecting? And from whom? This supposed sacred union is anything but, with a divorce rate still hovering around 50%.

Just last week I had a friend tell me a story from a wedding he attended. Mere hours after pledging their so-called love for one another, an argument broke out between the bride and groom that culminated in them sleeping in separate rooms. Two weeks later they were divorced. Saying gays will ruin marriage is just as sane as the church blaming them for pedophilia. Thankfully, steps are being taken to right the ship. Actors Mike White and Justin Long, along with directing collaborators Josh Gordon and Will Speck (Blades of Glory) created a short film that will hopefully shine even more light on an ever-illuminating campaign that gives everyone--gay and straight--the right for a chance at happiness. Or at least half a chance.

Watch this video, it's actually quite funny.

HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS

One of the few bright spots during last night's MTV Movie Awards was the unveiling of the first teaser of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part One. The last of the seven books has been split into two films to A) give director David Yates ample opportunity to tell author J.K. Rowling's sprawling story, and B) allow the Harry Potter gravy train to keep rolling as long as possible. I really have no qualms over either. I have yet to read any of Rowling's books--I'll be waiting until I've seen the last film to delve in--but through word of mouth, and the constant gushing from friends, I fully expect to get pulled into the magical universe that Rowling has given to the world over the last thirteen years.

If I've heard any misgivings over the films, it's that they have skipped over various, complimentary aspects of the novels. This is not an uncommon gripe when speaking of film adaptations (see: Lord of the Rings, Jurassic Park etc), therefore I think it's fitting that Hallows will be split in two. When it's all said and done, I fully expect the Harry Potter universe to go down as one of the most successful in literature and film history. Giving the fans of both mediums an all-encompassing visual ending, is something well deserved, as well as an appropriate send-off. It's also quite a brave move for both Warner Bros. and Yates. Not that I'm expecting failure--far from it, but to split a much beloved source material into two parts is a bold move and something I wish more studios and directors would step up to do.



What I've loved most during the progression of films is the continued march toward darkness. Again, I have not read the novels, but just watching the advancement from a children friendly film in the first installment to what the sixth one offered--littered with murder, I'm genuinely excited to what the finishing tale will look like on screen.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part One hits theatres November 19, 2010, while Part Two will be seen by millions and millions of people come July 15, 2011.

MTV MOVIE AWARDS

I now remember why I don't watch MTV programming. With some of the worst writing this side of the Jersey Shore, one would think it would be hard to make comedians unfunny, yet they succeeded. The MTV Twilight Saga Appreciation Movie Awards were basically a two-hour slot to showcase what American teens think passes for a film nowadays. To no one's surprise, New Moon won five of eleven "awards" including Best Movie, Best Male & Female performance for Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart, and Best Kiss by the aforementioned couple. Stewart--who should have won another award for Most Awkward Woman Alive--continues to baffle me by her general lack of ability to speak coherently.

Anna Kendrick won the award for Best Breakout performance for Up in the Air. But, she was also in Twilight--which is probably the reason she won. Best Scared-as-Shit performance went to Amanda Seyfriend for Jennifer's Body, while the Stupidest-as-Shit Award Name award went to MTV. Ken Jeong won for Best WTF Moment for his trunk escape in The Hangover. He actually had a touching acceptance speech--a rarity for these type of shows. The Biggest Badass Star award went to Korea's multi-threat Rain for Ninja Assassin. Best Villain went to Tom Felton for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. I'm curious as to how the Twilight Saga does not have a villain. It's supposedly a saga, right?

Sandra Bullock was there to let everyone know she's doing just fine after her husband had a long-standing affair with a white supremacist. She won the Generation award, which was presented by Betty White, Bradley Cooper and Scarlett Johansson. Betty White received a huge standing ovation, which is especially curious because I'm sure that 99% of the teenagers there have no idea who she is. Cooper said some nice words after he and Bullock starred in the painstakingly horrid All About Steve. Johansson was there to look pretty. No, really. Then a scripted kiss happened between her and Bullock--which I was totally okay with. Watching the montage of Bullock's past films just confirmed my still disbelief over her winning the Academy Award for Best Actress this year. From the clips however, it is evident that she is very good at running and jumping into her co-stars arms. She also received a standing ovation (really?), but to her credit, she doesn't seem to take herself too seriously.

There was an absurd amount of cursing during the broadcast (see: three categories). Most were bleeped out, some were not. I love to swear, but there is nothing lamer than doing it just for show. Fittingly, Avatar walked away with zero trophies after winning a kajillion dollars this year. On a musical note, Katy Perry cannot sing worth a damn, but looks great doing it. Christina Aguilera was decent, but seems to be channeling her inner Lady GaGa. Snoop Dogg was good, but he wore weird shorts.

Here are all the nominees with the winners in bold:

BEST MOVIE
· Alice In Wonderland - Director: Tim Burton
· Avatar - Director: James Cameron
· Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - Director: David Yates
· The Hangover - Director: Todd Phillips
· The Twilight Saga: New Moon - Director: Chris Weitz

BEST FEMALE PERFORMANCE
· Amanda Seyfried – Dear John
· Emma Watson – Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
· Kristen Stewart – The Twilight Saga: New Moon
· Sandra Bullock – The Blind Side
· Zoe Saldana – Avatar

BEST MALE PERFORMANCE
· Channing Tatum – Dear John
· Daniel Radcliffe – Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
· Robert Pattinson – The Twilight Saga: New Moon
· Taylor Lautner – The Twilight Saga: New Moon
· Zac Efron – 17 Again

BEST BREAKOUT STAR
· Anna Kendrick – Up in the Air
· Chris Pine – Star Trek
· Gabourey Sidibe – Precious
· Logan Lerman – Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief
· Quinton Aaron – The Blind Side
· Zach Galifianakis – The Hangover

BEST COMEDIC PERFORMANCE
· Ben Stiller – Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
· Bradley Cooper – The Hangover
· Ryan Reynolds – The Proposal
· Sandra Bullock – The Proposal
· Zach Galifianakis – The Hangover

BEST VILLAIN
· Christoph Waltz – Inglourious Basterds
· Helena Bonham Carter – Alice In Wonderland
· Ken Jeong – The Hangover
· Stephen Lang – Avatar
· Tom Felton – Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

BEST KISS
· Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson – The Twilight Saga: New Moon
· Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning – The Runaways
· Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds – The Proposal
· Taylor Swift and Taylor Lautner – Valentine’s Day
· Zoe Saldana and Sam Worthington – Avatar

BEST WTF MOMENT
· Betty White – The Proposal, Cops a Feel
· Bill Murray – Zombieland , Bill Murray?! A Zombie?!
· Isabel Lucas – Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Unexpected Transformation
· Ken Jeong – The Hangover , Naked Trunk Surprise
· Megan Fox – Jennifer’s Body, Vomits a Mysterious Black Ooze

GLOBAL SUPERSTAR
· Robert Pattinson
· Kristen Stewart
· Taylor Lautner
· Johnny Depp
· Daniel Radcliffe

BEST SCARED-AS-SHIT PERFORMANCE
· Alison Lohman – Drag Me To Hell
· Amanda Seyfried – Jennifer’s Body
· Jesse Eisenberg – Zombieland
· Katie Featherston – Paranormal Activity
· Sharlto Copley – District 9

BIGGEST BADASS STAR
· Rain
· Angelina Jolie
· Channing Tatum
· Sam Worthington
· Chris Pine

MTV MOVIE AWARDS

I could care less about MTV, but Aziz Ansari is hosting their yearly Movie Awards, and with him at the helm laughs should be aplenty. Ansari stars in Parks and Recreation on NBC, and is slowly building his film resume with hilarious turns in Funny People, and the recently opened Get Him to the Greek.

MTV promises a plethora of stars to help ring in their yearly celebration of cinematic achievement:

Russell Brand, Jonah Hill, Bradley Cooper, Adam Sandler, Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz, Jason Segel, Steve Carell, Paul Rudd, Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Scarlett Johansson, Jessica Alba, Samuel L. Jackson, Betty White.

Christina Aguiliera, Katy Perry, Miike Snow and Snoop Dogg will be playing some tunes.

The 2010 MTV Movie Awards will air Sunday June 6th at 9pm EST.

GET HIM TO THE GREEK

By the time the title flashes across the screen, we've already been caught up to speed to what Aldous Snow (Russell Brand) has been up to since we last saw him at the end of Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Enjoying a sober life with his girlfriend Jackie Q (a brilliant Rose Byrne), Snow has just released his latest album African Child, which critics have described as "the third worst thing to happen to Africa behind famine and war." Due to the professional backlash, Jackie expresses her displeasure and boredom live on Showbiz Tonight to Brooke Anderson, all the while doing her best Catherine Tramell impression. And with that, Snow is off the wagon and begins a tour-de-force of debauchery that only hints at what we are in store for.

Greek, along with Hot Tub Time Machine are the year's two best comedies thus far. While Time Machine plays to a slightly more subtle tune, Greek goes buck wild from the get go, and hardly ever lets up. If you've seen the trailer, you'll know that it's closing in on the ten year anniversary of Aldous Snow's most famous and lucrative concert at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles. Enter Aaron Green (Jonah Hill), an employee of Pinnacle Records, and a lifelong fan of Snow and his band Infant Sorrow. Aaron is commissioned to babysit Snow from his home in London to a stopover in New York City for a Today Show interview with Meredith Vieira, and finally on to L.A. for his reunion concert.

I can only imagine the outtakes provided by Brand and Hill when the Blu-ray comes out, in what I would guess were very improvised performances. A handful of amusing scenes from the trailer aren't even in the final cut--another reason to pick up the discs on their release. Brand is his usual chaotic self. He stole every scene he was in during the prequel of sorts in Marshall; what was only glimpsed at then, comes to a frenetic head in Greek. I laughed throughout the film and would welcome a second viewing to catch the lines I missed the first time. It's hard to select a favourite part, but the Vegas scenes rightfully stick out and prove once more that Sin City is the right location to host a gross-out comedy. Most every scene when the pace quickens is a memorable one; when it slows down and tries to get serious is when the story lags just a bit.

Hill is his usual pudgy, funny self, and his schtick isn't tiring yet, but it will be nice to see him broaden his acting horizons. The upcoming Cyrus might provide that opportunity. The highlight for me, as I suspect it will be for others, was the performance of Sean "Diddy" Combs as Aaron's boss Sergio. It's obvious to see that Combs hugely enjoyed playing this role. The fight scene between himself, Aldous' father Jonathan (Colm Meaney), and Snow, while Aaron is high after smoking a mixture of narcotics needs to be seen to be believed.

Intermixed into the story is the relationship between Aaron and his live-in girlfriend Daphne (Mad Men's Elisabeth Moss), a Gossip Girl loving doctor who is pressuring a move to Seattle. She doesn't have a lot of screen time, but plays it very well when afforded the chance. An awkward tryst between Daphne, Aaron and Snow appears near the end. I am a sucker for cameos and Greek offers many to whet the appetite. Pink, Christina Aguiliera, Dee Snider, Pharrell, economist Paul Krugman, Lars Ulrich, Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy), Rick Schroder and Kristen Bell all poke their heads in and around the film that elicited cheers throughout.

Greek won't win any major awards, but no one should expect that going in. An exemplary cast, with standout performances by Brand and Combs will fill theatres and bring audiences back for more. It's littered with ridiculously memorable moments and quotable lines, and what else can we ask for from a great comedy?

DENNIS HOPPER: 1936-2010

Every time an iconic actor passes on, there's never enough words to illustrate their impact on the film, and many times social scene. Dennis Hopper was one of those artists. After gaining fame from directing and starring in 1969's Easy Rider, Hopper went on to have an extremely successful career on the silver screen. Apocalypse Now (1979), Out of the Blue (1980 [also director]), Blue Velvet (1986), Hoosiers (1986), True Romance (1993), Super Mario Bros. (1993), Speed (1994), Waterworld (1995) among others.

Hopper was also a mainstay on television, appearing in nearly 150 episodes on various programs. In the 1990's, he regularly appeared as a crazed referee for a series of commercials for Nike.

Away from the screen, Hopper established himself as quite the credible photographer and art owner--now famously known for buying an early print of Andy Warhol's Campbell Soup Cans, purchased for only $75.

He was twice nominated for the Academy Award and the Golden Globe. Dennis Hopper died at his home in coastal Los Angeles on May 29th, due to complications from prostate cancer.

SPLICE

What's the worst that could happen? This hypothetical is posed throughout director Vincenzo Natali's Splice--a film starring Adrien Brody and Sarah Polley as Clive and Elsa: two dating, hipster scientists that aim to push the boundaries for synthetic enzyme production. In layman terms: finding cures for Parkinson's, and various cancers.

Clive and Elsa are the new breed of scientist; they listen to rock music while nosing around petrie dishes, wear patterned suits with t-shirts and plastic yellow sunglasses. They also create new species, mixing various animal DNA that eventually become Ginger and Fred: two slug-like creatures with slick tongues and a sharp tooth. When a presentation to potential buyers goes horrifically wrong, their labs are then given to different brains, ones that make their investors a profit.

In the meantime, through Elsa's incessant pushing, she and Clive incorporate human DNA with their animal hodgepodge. We all know this is wrong, but the thrill of discovery and the hope of cures outweigh the criminal and ethical implications. At one point, they have a chance to destroy the spliced composite; an incubating timer acts as a moral countdown. They of course let this pass and the aforementioned question is answered. The worst, it seems, is quite bad.

After a tumultuous "birth" in an artificial womb, Dren is born. First resembling a young kangaroo, Dren eventually grows exponentially to a statuesque woman--albeit with ostrich legs and a tail with a lethal stinger. From the onset, a family dynamic is shared between Dren and Elsa, a fact that is fully explained in the third act. Ultimately, Elsa fails as a mother as hers did before her. This history is thankfully only hinted at and some information is left to the imagination.

I have been a fan of Vincenzo Natali, since he directed 1997's now cult favourite Cube. Both Cube and Splice do a tremendous job of building tension while still developing the story and characters. Unfortunately, Natali's latest effort, after gaining so much momentum, tends to go where so many mainstream thrillers have gone before--with obligatory action. There are a few hokey moments: Clive and Elsa's place of work is the Nucleic Exchange Research Development building, and an odd dance scene come to mind. My only real complaint is that the film telegraphed itself a little too much for my liking at the end. At the same time, the fact that Natali went through with what was hinted at should be commended. With the performances from Brody and Polley (a welcome sight back in front of the camera), and the direction of Natali, Splice offers intrigue and raises interesting questions that is rare in today's films.

At the midway point, it doesn't take a scientist's intellect to see that the story will not end well. Lives are lost and lines are crossed. By the time Clive and Elsa realize the gravity of their decisions, it's far too late to step back and redeem themselves.