Park Row (Masters Of Cinema) DVD Review

Park Row is a key film in Samuel Fuller’s always captivating and idiosyncratic career. It’s always one of his very best up they’re with such classics as Shock Corridor, The Big Red One and The Naked Kiss. It’s one of his earliest films which was made after a succession of War films and a couple westerns such as his extremely successful The Steel Helmet and it’s companion film Fixed Bayonets! and the still radical interpretation of the Jesse James story I Shot Jesse James.

Sam said his favourite of all of films he made was Park Row. It was a passion project and a very nostalgic look at the time of headline grabbing journalism. Sam was a journalist himself in the 1920s and 1930s (a copyboy at the age of 12) till he joined the army during WW2. It was a truly independent film which Sam financed sorely by himself, it was roughly $200,000 + his $1000 fee which was for liquor and fine cigars. He was offered a big budget film, which Gregory Peck after the success of The Steel Helmet but turned it down in favour of his own project.

The film is set in 1886 and it’s about a reporter Phineas Mitchell (Gene Evans) who is fired from his job at newspaper The Star. He goes to a bar to drown his sorrows but a man called Steve Brodie rushes in claiming to have jumped off the Brooklyn Bridge. Phineas tells him he has lost his job. A friend of Phineas called Charles A. Leach (Forrest Taylor) also in the bar tells him his dreams of starting his own newspaper.

They decided to start the newspaper that night and Charles has the printing press, offices and money necessary to do so. They hire all their newspaper pals in the bar on the spot. A policeman comes into the bar to find Steve Brodie for jumping off the bridge and now they have a FRONT PAGE STORY for the first issue of their paper The Globe. The Globe becomes a sensation, which it’s headlines and it’s multiple daily copies with only the front page changed! Phineas’ ex boss (of newspaper The Star) the femme fatale like Charity Hackett (Mary Welch) is getting jealous of the success of the paper and her superior decide to kill The Globe with many tactics including stopping supplies of ink and paper and later violence.

The film has wonderful cast full of bit players who only got their due in this probably due to the film’s budgetary constraints. It’s was all filmed on one set for similar reasons. It’s wonderfully written almost screwbally at times which reminds me of the legendary script of His Girl Friday. However it’s not a comedy but more in the way of the dialogue in spoken, it’s stylistic. It is also a very contemporary film a way cause it’s partly about the corporate money coming into journalism, which diminished the type of journalism Fuller loved. It’s a remarkable 8 reeler, which should be rediscovered over and over again.

Ian Schultz 

★★★★★

Rating:12A
UK Re-Release Date: 22nd October 2012
Directed By: Samuel Fuller
Cast: Gene Evans, Mary Welch , Bela Kovacs
Buy:PARK ROW (Masters of Cinema) (DVD) [1952]

Monstro! DVD Review

Rarely do we get a chance to see shameless grind-house features hell bent on fast paced schlock and rip-roaring fun, and it’s on those grounds that Australian independent flick Monstro! delivers. Written and directed by Stuart Simpson and put together Guerrilla-style by a small crew of obviously dedicated individuals this is probably the underdog Indy cult event of the year.

              
Three deranged killers, Beretta, Blondie, and Snowball, hole up in a small beachside community after their murderous actions attract the wrong kind of attention. But not all is as it seems in this small town. A few of the locals try desperately to warn them of the dangers of going into the water but the crazy vixens listen to no one. However, their seaside frolic awakens a horrifying beast from the depths of the ocean and it isn’t long before the girls are hip-deep in trouble, facing the fight of their lives against the terrifying Kraken.

              

The story is put together with a loving knowledge of all things exploitation, think Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kill! with Evil Dead gore and a monster reminiscent of Ray Harryhausen. It ventures back in time to explore what’s so wonderful about the female exploitation genre; proving we don’t need good girls, Hell we don’t even need bad girls, as long as they’re able to fight a sea monster they can make gripping viewing. The three vixens that parade the screen-time are endearing to watch, beautiful yet no-nonsense, OTT and bound together by a hatred of conventional life, rebels and patriots to their own dastardly cause. Simpson has done a great job of replicating a 60s and 70s-esque trio of terrible sirens, and the girls have done a great job at embodying them.

             
 For a film of its ilk, Monstro! is surprisingly well put together, the camera work and editing jump miles ahead of many other films with a significantly bigger budget, but that’s the brilliant thing about cult films, you can get away with some really outlandish finishing touches. Some scenes prove over-stylised, detracting from the flow of the narrative, but a sometimes brilliant (often cheesy) self-referential angle indulges the cult quality to the point of decadence. And there’s nothing more enjoyable than pure decadence, even if it sometimes strays the mark. The soundtrack too is perfect and strides hand-in-hand with the style of the film, a sexy sassy Tarantino sound that brings the film a classy aspect it does its utmost to dodge through visuals.

              
Sure, the film’s not perfect. This grindhouse feature loses itself at points through taking its foot off the peddle to expand a narrative that doesn’t really need too much depth. And sure there’s some hefty bits of overacting but that can be ignored when considered as part of a film whose sole purpose is to show off the reckless and outrageous charm of B-movies. Movies like this have to be gauged in terms of their niche

              
A film for cult fans made by cult fans; dripping with love, elbow-grease, sex-appeal, and gore. Exploitation at its filthy best and an impressive second feature-length film, Monstro! is a must in this year’s top B-movies for sheer balls and total immersion, extra credit is most definitely awarded for fantastic monster-effects. Besides it’s probably the best “Outlaw Babes vs. Sea Monster” flick you’ll see this year. Probably.

SCOTT CLARK

★★★★☆

UK Rating:18
DVD Release Date: 22nd October 2012
Director: Stuart Simpson
Cast: Norman Yemm, Nelli Scarlet, Kyrie Capri 
Buy:MONSTRO! (Monster Pictures) (DVD)

Win We Are The Night, Apartment 143 & Woman In Black Goodies

All this cool stuff could be yours!

Celebrate this Halloween with an amazing supply of horror goodies including three fantastic Momentum Pictures films: The Woman In Black, Apartment 143 and We are the Night!

You can watch all these great films complete with your own Woman in Black T-shirt, mug and torch (for when you're hiding under the covers!

We are the Night and Apartment 143 come to DVD from 15th October.

We Are The Night:When she unknowingly picks the pocket of a man one night on the streets of Berlin, small-time crook Lena attracts the unwanted attention of Inspector Tom Serner, a young police detective involved in ongoing investigations into Lena’s victim, a known Russian mobster. Although she manages to escape Tom’s clutches, Lena’s personal situation becomes even more complicated when she later visits an underground nightclub and meets Louise, the club’s owner and the leader of a trio of female vampires that also includes “young” party girl and DJ Nora and former 1920s silent film star Charlotte. Louise immediately falls in love with Lena and decides to transform her, introducing her to a glamorous existence of non-stop partying, fast cars, limitless night-time shopping sprees and eternal life. But it all comes at a price. As Lena struggles to come to terms with the endless killings and attempts to fend off Louise’s Sapphic advances, the bloodthirsty quartet’s murderous activities draw Tom and his police colleagues ever closer.

Apartment 143:Following the tragic death of his wife, Alan White and his two children find themselves plagued by a series of inexplicable events that eventually force them to leave their home and move into an apartment building in the city. Worryingly, within a week of moving, they once again begin to experience the strange phenomena that threaten to tear apart what is left of their family.Desperate for answers and, hopefully, a release from what he is beginning to believe is a haunting, Alan requests the help of a small team of parapsychologists experienced in investigating and explaining such incidents. Armed with an arsenal of state-of-the-art technology, the team members set up their equipment and begin a vigil during which they will attempt to solve the mystery. But what they uncover proves to be unlike anything they have ever encountered before.

Woman In Black:Based on the classic ghost story, THE WOMAN IN BLACK tells the tale of Arthur Kipps (Daniel Radcliffe), a lawyer who is forced to leave his young son and travel to a remote village to attend to the affairs of the recently deceased owner of Eel Marsh House.Working alone in the old mansion, Kipps begins to uncover the town’s tragic and tortured secrets and his fears escalate when he discovers that local children have been disappearing under mysterious circumstances. When those closest to him become threatened by the vengeful woman in black, Kipps must find a way to break the cycle of terror.
To win The Spooktastic prize please answer the following question:

Q.Recently The Woman In Black sequel was given its official title, what is that title?

a.The Woman In Black:Angel Of The North

b. The Woman In Black :Angel Of Death

c.The Woman In Black:Angel Of Doom

Deadline is 4th November 2012 (2359hrs), Must 15 years or older to enter
To enter send your answer, name, address, postcode only to winatcinehouseuk@gmail.com
Label emails 'We are the night'

Terms & Conditions:1.This prize is non transferable.No cash alternatives apply.UK & Irish entries only.2.The Peoples Movies, Cinehouse and Momentum Pictures have the right to alter, delay or cancel this competition without any notice3.The competition is not opened to employees, family, friends of The Peoples Movies, Cinehouse,Momentum Pictures employees 4.This competition is promoted on behalf of Momentum Pictures 5. If this prize becomes unavailable we have the right to offer an alternative prize instead 6.To enter this competition you must send in your answer, name, address only, Deadline November 4th, 2012 (2359hrs)7.Will only accept entries sent to the correct email (winatcinehouseuk@gmail.com), any other entry via any other email will be void.8.If the above form fails please send the information required from the form email it to winatcinehouseuk@gmail.com  (label we are the night) If any info required from the form is not sent in the email your entry will be void9.automated entries are not allowed and will be disqualified, which could result you been banned.10.The Peoples Movies, Cinehouse takes no responsibility for delayed, lost, stolen prizes 11.Prizes may take from days to a few months for delivery which is out of our control 12.The competition is opened to Aged 15  and over.13. Majority of the prizes on offer will come from representatives of the distributor, no The People’s Movies &Cinehouse, when we do have the prizes we will inform you.14. Unless Stated Please  Do Not Include Telephone Numbers, we don’t need them and if you include your telephone number Cinehouse and The People’s Movies are not responsible for the security of the number15.The winning entries will be picked at random and contacted by email or announced via facebook, sometimes we are unable to confirm winners.16.This competition is bound by the rules of Scotland,England & Wales, Northern Ireland, Ireland.17.By sending your entry for this competition you are confirming you have read and agreed to these Terms & Conditions.
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MARTIN KEMP STALKS HORROR CHANNEL

Martin Kemp, the famed actor/musician has turned his hand to horror, bringing us his impressive directorial debut STALKER.  It’s not often that a woman stalks another woman in this genre and here Jane March, who found fame in ‘The Lover’, plays the part of a psychotic female to chilling perfection.

Kemp talks about being a horror fan, why he prefers directing to acting and compares his experience in the Celebrity Big Brother House to ‘The Thing’.

You wrote the screenplay for Stalker, where did the inspiration for the story come from?

Jonathan Sothcott, the producer, came to me asking me to rewrite the seventies movie ‘The House On Straw Hill’, but after looking at it I decided to just take a seed from it and send it on to a different journey, but the basic principle is still there. 

Are you a big horror fan?

Love horror, from the moment I saw Boris Karloff in the Mummy, to The Omen... They keep me on the edge of my seat.

How did you go about casting the movie or did you have people in mind whilst writing?

Casting was easy as we always knew we wanted Jane March and it was a matter of fitting the other parts around her.

Did you have a large budget to play with?

LARGE! I wish. This was tiny even compared to tiny budgets.....but we made the most of what we had.

The film has a gothic chill to it and a bloody climax, are you happy the way the film turned out? 

As happy as you can be! always when you make anything you wished you could go back and shoot it again, or paint or make it again...its only natural!

Did you have to cut any scenes due to time or budget restrictions?

We cut the most expensive scene as it goes because it ended up looking to Dr Who rather than gothic horror!

What was the atmosphere like on set?

The atmosphere was great, but it has to be on low budget, everyone has to chip in....it’s the only way!

Stalker is getting its UK TV premiere on the Horror Channel, how do you feel about that?

Thrilled it’s on the Horror Channel....it’s the home of all great horrors!

Where are you at your happiest when working? Is it acting, playing on stage, writing or directing?

I am by far at my happiest directing....it encompasses everything I love...Music, drama, photography and people!

If you were given the chance would you like to tackle a remake of a classic horror? If so which one would you choose and why?

A remake of a classic Horror...I would love to make ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame’ – a great mix of horror and romance.

Will you be directing more horror movies in the future and what projects are you working on at the moment?

There is a fantastic project I’m working on at the moment, but you know what it’s like ....I will tell you about it when it’s signed and sealed

You’ve recently come out of the Big Brother house, that must have been a bizarre experience? Did this give you any inspiration for a movie?

A couple of times it was like being on the set of The Thing..... it was fun.

Martin Kemp, thank you

A pleasure.

Stalker premieres on the Horror Channel Oct 19 at 10.55pm

We Are The Night DVD Review

German Vampire flick ‘We are the Night’ does exactly what is says on the tin. In an era where vampire movies are a dime a dozen, it’s difficult to supply something original to the genre, and unfortunately director Dennis Gansel’s take on the creatures is nothing but another high action, gluttonous movie to add to the pile.

That’s not to say it’s not enjoyable, however. It’s shot well, it’s got enough fight scenes, special effects and fake blood to satisfy and action fan - with particular reference to the final sequence involving two very attractive woman and a lot of bending the rules of physics - and there’s plenty of typical vampire behavior to keep the lifestyle enviable. However, the problem is that this is the perfect word to describe the movie itself - typical.

Telling the tale of young criminal Lena (Karoline Herfurth) as she unwittingly falls into the hands of long time vampire lesbian Louise (Nina Hoss) and her band of vampire babes - party girl Nora (Anna Fischer) and 1920’s silent film star Charlotte (Jennifer Ulrich). Naturally there’s a handsome hero, coming in the form of police inspector Tom Serner (played by Max Riemelt - who looks suspiciously like a German Garret Hedlung) and it all follows a likely story arc; there’s some vampire fun - shopping, partying etc. - before our heroine has trouble coming to terms with all the murder and bloodshed, and her hero gets caught up in the whole bloody mess.

To hold your attention, there are car chases, aeroplane crashes, bikini-wearing-blood-soaked-females, some high budget special effects, and an attractive cast for you to oggle, just don’t expect to have your perspective on the age old monster completely re-vamped (pardon the pun).

The special features offer up some nice additional content, with your usual behind the scenes and VFX features. Also worth a watch are the additional scenes and alternate endings - just as well, as the final edit has an ending which feels lacking.

In summation, it’s nothing groundbreaking. It’s exactly the type of vampire movie you’d expect for a True Blood generation, which is fine… if you’re into that kind of thing.

Jo Heinemeier 

★★1/2☆☆

Certificate: 15
Release Date: 15th October 2012
Director: Dennis Gansel
Starring: Karoline Herfurth, Nina Hoss, Jennifer Ulrich, Anna Fischer, Max Riemelt

Watch The Teaser & Full Trailer For Confession Of Murder

Meeting someone face to face who says he's the killer of the unsolved murders who where investigating many years ago is someone you want to meet at a police station not at a book signing. In Jeong Byeong-gil  Confession Of Murder Jung Jae-young  plays an hardened cop Choi who comes face to face with a baby faced suave 'killer' Lee (played by Park Shi-hoo)who claims to be the killer of those unsolved murders 17 years previously, they meet each other at the book signing of 'I Am The Killer'. Thanks to a rule of the statute of limitations Choi cannot not touch Lee but is determined this time he'll get his killer.

Been an avid fan of Korean thrillers anything remotely dark, twisted even intense I'm a sucker for them and Confession of Murder certainly looks to have the credentials to be at least intense. Park Shi-Hoo looks creepy and his sinister smile/stare does suggest behind the babyface there's something ice cold evil behind it.

Confession of Murder is released in Korea November, check out the official teaser and full trailers below.

Confession of Murder - Teaser Eng Subbed

Director Jeong Byeong-gil made his debut with action documentary "Action Boys" (2008), a film about stunt men who dream of becoming action stars. He is now moving onto feature films for the first time. This action thriller, with his stable performance, Jeong Jae- yeong takes on the roll of detective Choi Hyung-gu and popular TV drama star Park Si-hoo plays Lee Du-seok. After the statute of limitation expires on the murders he has committed, Lee Du-seok publishes an autobiography describing all his murders in great detail. Detective Choi, who investigated Lee's murders 15 years ago starts the chase once again and Han Ji-soo, who lost her daughter to Lee, pledges vengeance. Meanwhile, another killer appears, casting doubt to whether Lee is the real serial killer. The key here is how well the story juggles the truth and how solid the description of the characters' tangled relationships is. The film began production in January, and is scheduled to be released during the second half of the year.

source: Hancinema / Film Smash

Watch The Awesome Stephan Zlotescu's True Skin Short

Who said short film makers don't have talent? I've heard a few people say that in the past however quite a few feature films  of the past 20 plus years have stemmed from an short film idea and Stephan Zlotescu's True Skin could be the next short film to get the feature length treatment. The film has sparked a bidding war from the studios for the rights the full 6 minute short has been released online for your full enjoyment before one of the big studios destroy thr film integrity with a mediocrity version.

TRUE SKIN from H1 on Vimeo.


True Skin is set in a future where augmented humans and robots co-exist together with humans. Kaye buys a prototype robot that not only sees him fighting his own humanity but also something much larger. Incredible looking stuff a big Blade Runner feels to the film which was shot in Bangkok Thailand.

Source :FirstShowing

Uwe Boll's Zombie Massacre Trailer

He's the filmmaker many love to hate and for numerous reasons you can see why they hate him but whatever you think he has a cult following and as long that fanbase is around Uwe Boll will keep making those films.  His latest film though this time only as producer Zombie Massacre a full trailer has landed online with Eaters duo Marco Ristori and Luca Boni directing. Based on a 1998 video game which has similarities to Doom but with the undead roaming the lands which look like the same location as Eaters but this Italian duo are experts at low budget flicks so absorb your resources!

It's bog standard stuff however with so many zombie films on the market now we can easily say Zombie Massacre looks like one of the better ones which has Uwe Boll even starring in it as the President of United States!!! No word on the UK&Irish release date just yet but expect it either before the end of this year early next year. Zombie Massacre also stars Tara Cardinal, Mike Mitchell, Jon Campling, Christian Boeving, Gerry Shanahan, Daniel Vivian and Carl Wharton.

A bacteriological weapon developed by the US Government to create a super soldier - spreads an epidemic in a quiet little town in the middle of Eastern Europe. All citizens have been turned into infected zombies. The plan is to bring an atomic bomb into the city's nuclear plant to pretend a terrible accident occurred. No one has to know the truth. A team of mercenaries is hired to complete the mission. The battle is on. Hordes of monsters against the team.

source: DreadCentral

Yasujirō Ozu's Floating Weeds Getting Masters Of Cinema Treatment

FLOATING WEEDS [UKIGUSA] will be released in DUAL FORMAT (BLU-RAY & DVD) & DVD editions as part of the Masters of Cinema Series on 3 December 2012.

Eureka Entertainment have announced that they will be releasing a gorgeous new HD restoration (undertaken exclusively for this release) of  FLOATING WEEDS [UKIGUSA], one of the most acclaimed films by Japanese legend Yasujirō Ozu (Tokyo Story; Late Spring; Early Summer; An Autumn Afternoon; Good Morning). Starring iconic Japanese actors Chishū Ryū (Tokyo Story; Red Beard), Machiko Kyō (Ugetsu monogatari; Gate of Hell), and Haruko Sugimura (Kwaidan; Late Spring), the Dual Format (Blu-ray + DVD) edition, available on Blu-ray for the very first time anywhere in the world, will be released alongside a DVD-only edition on 3 December 2012.

“A thoroughly absorbing affair” – Total Film

“Ozu's familiar combination of melancholy regret and buoyant comic gaiety is beguilingly in evidence.” – Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian

“A poignant tale of everyday folk; their lives, loves and losses, rendered with exquisite care, compassion and no small measure of humanity by one of the masters of Japanese cinema.” – Film 4

“Floating Weeds'' (1959) is like a familiar piece of music that I can turn to for reassurance and consolation. It is so atmospheric--so evocative of a quiet fishing village during a hot and muggy summer--that it envelops me.” - Roger Ebert

Towards the end of his career, Japanese master Yasujirō Ozu (Tokyo Story; Late Spring; Early Summer; An Autumn Afternoon; Good Morning) returned to a story he had made some 25 years earlier as a silent, Ukigusa monogatari [A Story of Floating Weeds], for a magnificent colour reworking, photographed by legendary cinematographer Kazuo Miyagawa (Rashomon, Ugetsu monogatari).

When a travelling theatre troupe brings their show to a seaside port, Komajurō (Ganjirō Nakamura), an ageing actor, is reunited with his former lover, sake bar owner Oyoshi (Haruko Sugimura), and his illegitimate son Kiyoshi (Hiroshi Kawaguchi), to the distress of his current mistress Sumiko (Machiko Kyō).

From this simple scenario, Ozu builds, one exquisite image at a time, a saga of profound humanity and rich understanding. Encompassing a novelistic range of emotions and tones with the utmost delicacy, Floating Weeds stands tall even amidst a body of work as extraordinary as Ozu's. Making its worldwide Blu-ray debut, The Masters of Cinema Series is proud to present Floating Weeds in a beautiful new high-definition restoration, released as a Dual Format (DVD & Blu-ray) edition and a DVD edition on 3 December 2012.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

• Exclusively restored high-definition master presented in the film's original aspect ratio, in 1080p on the Blu-ray

• Newly translated optional English subtitles

• Original Japanese theatrical trailer

• Illustrated booklet featuring the words of Ozu, rare archival imagery, and more

• Further details to be announced nearer the release date!
Pre-Order/Buy:FLOATING WEEDS [UKIGUSA](Masters of Cinema) (DVD) [1959] / DVD (&BLU-RAY DUAL FORMAT)

Liff 2012:New Rust And Bone Clip Is All 'For Fun'

Jacques Audiard's Rust and Bone starring Oscar award winning actress Marion Cotillard which has been win critic and fans praise at every festival it's played at since this years Cannes Film Festival. The film is due to play at the London Film Festival before it's limited release in UK&Ireland next month and Studiocanal have sent us a new clip from the film entitled 'For Fun', check it out below.

Jacques Audiard, acclaimed director of A Prophet and The Beat That My Heart Skipped, returns with this powerful, tender romantic drama about two people from very different worlds seeking redemption in each other. Marion Cotillard (La Vie En Rose, Inception) stars as Stephanie, a killer whale trainer who late one night meets Alain (Matthias Schoenaerts, Bullhead) in a fracas at the nightclub where he works as a bouncer. Put in charge of his young son, Alain has come from Belgium to Antibes to live with his sister and her husband as a family. Alain’s bond with Stephanie grows deeper after she suffers a horrible accident, bringing the two together once more.

Audiard has been making big marks on the French and World Cinema the past few years with his last film A Prophet especially which won Grand Prix at Cannes and nomination for Best Foreign film at 2009 Oscars. Expect Rust And Bone to win plenty nominations in the awards season  with Marion Cotillard challenging for best female category.

Rust and Bone is released in cinemas on 2nd November 2012.