Review: Seeking a Friend For The End of The World

Originally posted on www.moviemuser.co.uk

What would you do if you knew the world was going to end in three weeks? Maybe you'd carry on with your day-to-day life, go crazy and do all the things you'd always wanted to but just hadn't had time for yet, or maybe you simply just don't know.

These are the things that Lorene Scafaria sets out to explore in this touchingly sweet, sad and laugh out loud look at the end of the world. Where as apocalyptic films in the past have looked at how the human race can save the day and prevent the world from being smashed to pieces, this uniquely original film looks at it from the everyday person's perspective as they casually live out their last days.

Top marks have to be given to Scafaria, as the film itself is incredibly well written, with doses of ironic humour set against the near apocalyptic backdrop that will have you laughing one minute, feeling touched the next and finally have you almost balling your eyes out. It does all this whilst also sending you a clear message about everyday values and life in general, where you begin to think about what you want your life to be.

The performances from Keira Knightly (Penny) and Steve Carrell (Dodge) are both impeccable as they bring their characters to life and make them so believable that you really feel for them. Not being a massive fan of Knightley's in the past, I have to say that here she is both hilarious and touching in her performance and I can truly say she has finally won me over. Carrell is also great as the awkward background person who just plods through life not really living, a role that he has played in the past but when he does it so well you can't fault the man.

Another highlight has to be the soundtrack to the film. The music used really drives the story forward and helps reflect the tone of what the film is trying to convey as it makes the movie light hearted yet serious, funny but sad and overall very very touching.

The film is a brilliant comedic take on the traditional apocalyptic movie that still gives you the dramatic, sad and touching feelings of all the others but in a much more heart warming way, and with an ending that will hit you like a ton of bricks it also shows us that life and love know no boundaries, time or age.

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Originally posted on www.thefancarpet.com

Kline Joins Frank or Francis

Actor Kevin Kline has signed on to star in Frank or Francis, in not one but two roles.

Kline will be staring alongside Nicholas Cage, Jack Black and Steve Carell in Charlie Kaufman’s musical satire of Hollywood.

The film itself will see Black star as a blogger who continually undermines Frank, played by Carell, a film making cheat. Hmmm does Black sound a little like a certain well-known Internet blogger?

Kline will be playing the character Richard Weller, who is a screenwriter and the brother to Jonathan Waller, who is yet to cast, but has been described as the most successful filmmaker of all time. However for his second character he will be playing Richard’s head, a disembodied animatronic head that helps Jonathan make films. Sounds a little bizarre if you ask me.

Nicholas Cage will be playing the role of Emcee, described as a famous actor.

Shooting for the film will begin in January.

Foundation Gets a New Writer

Roland Emmerich’s adaptation of Issac Asimov’s Foundation has got itself a new writer, in the shape of Dante Harper.

Harper will be taking over from Robert Rodat, who recently passed up the opportunity to write the film.

The books that the film will based on focuses on mathematician Hari Seldon as he works out the future through the use of some extremely complex mathematical formulas, and finds that the outcome doesn’t look too great. Basically he predicts the fall of the Galactic Empire and begins to set up a plan for prevention.

The sci-fi series itself is made up of seven volumes, and contains quite a few themes so Harper definitely has his work cut out for him. Harper is already quite well known after writing Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters and All You Need is Kill.

So we just have to sit back and wait and hope that he turns this into something special.

Dolphin Tale Dethrones Lion King

True life story Dolphin Tale has topped the US box office, knocking Disney’s The Lion King off the top spot.

The film that stars Harry Connick Jr and Morgan Freeman and Winter the Dolphin, in a tale about a Dolphin who is rescued and looses her tail, soared into the number one spot taking $14.2 million over the weekend, after coming in third place last weekend.

Moneyball, staring Brad Pitt, stayed in the number two spot this week, it seems Mr Pitt just can’t catch a break against adorable animals, real and animated. The film took $12.5 million.

Last week’s number one The Lion King fell into third place with $11 million, still not bad for a film that was originally released 17 years ago.

Coming in fourth place was new cancer comedy 50/50 which took $8.9 million this weekend and rolling in at fifth place was the Christian drama Courageous taking $8.9 million. Quite a poor showing from the new release this week it seems.