Mindfire Entertainment

Five Independent Dramas That Everyone Should See

admin — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Me and You and Everyone We Know
This quirky film is driven by several subplots rather that come together in the end. The story follows the life of Richard and his two sons and the people they encounter after moving into a new apartment because his wife has thrown them out.

C.R.A.Z.Y.
This Quebecois film is a coming of age story about a young gay boy. The film follows him and his family as he comes to terms with his homosexuality. The film takes place in the 1960′s and 70′s and also deals with the influence of the Catholic Church in those times.

Requiem for a Dream
This cult film explores what happens when people allow their desires and addictions to control their lives.
Based on Hubert Selby, Jr.’s novel, the movie is about the death of the American Dream.

Amores Perros
A car crash intersects the life of three strangers. This award winning Mexican film is told in three sections that explore humans capability for cruelty.

American History X
This ground breaking film stars Edward Norton and explores the thought processes and individuals involved in the neo-nazi movement. More than just a political film, the movie is also about the destruction of the relationship of two brothers.

Five Independent Comedies That Everyone Should Watch

admin — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Many independent comedies get missed in the flow of Hollywood blockbusters. Here are five films that any comedy fan should not miss!

Clerks
Kevin Smith’s humorous day-in-the-life look at a convenience store clerk and his buddy working next door at a video store morphs into a commentary on the everyday angst of modern life.

Heathers
This black comedy starring Winona Ryder and Christian Slater takes a quirky look at the alienation felt by many teenagers and the damage it can cause while managing to bring out the humor in unexpected places.

Ginger Ale Afternoon
Cracks appear in the relationship between an underemployed concrete worker and his pregnant wife while his not-so-secret affair with a neighbor fuels their barbed bickering, pushing them close to the breaking point.

Shakes the Clown
Bobcat Goldthwait takes on acting, writing and directing in this film about an alcoholic clown that battles with sobriety while his love life hits the skids.

Idiocracy
An average man and woman take part in a military experiment in suspended animation only to awaken in a future where mankind has turned into a race of imbeciles making them the smartest people on Earth.

You should definitely check out these great films!

Five Independent Horror Films That Everyone Needs To See

admin — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Independent horror films are among the best because the directors aren’t tied to any studio politics, and so they can put as much shock and, let’s be real, gore into their movies that they want. Here are five movies made independently that are guaranteed to scare the pants off you.

- Donnie Darko (2001)

A teen is told of the world’s impending doom by a hallucinatory vision of a man dressed in a rabbit costume. Need I say more?

- The Terminator (1984)

Action and horror collide as a future machine, a Terminator (Ahnold), is sent back in time to kill the mother of a human resistance leader. A sci-fi masterpiece from James Cameron, this movie has plenty of thrills and chills.

- The Evil Dead II (1987)

Bruce Campbell plays a man who fights an evil force, consisting of the grossest ghouls. It’s Sam Raimi’s comedy horror classic, and infinitely better than Spider-Man.

- Night of the Living Dead (1968)

George A. Romero’s independent classic is the penultimate zombie flick, second only to Romero’s “Dawn of the Dead” a decade later. In the original, zombies awake and start attacking people in a lone cabin. They’re in a for a long night.

- The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)

Tobe Hooper’s movie features Leatherface, a pure psycho who uses his chainsaw for its unintended purpose. A group of unlucky teenagers happen upon Leatherface and his demented family, but maybe a few have enough smarts, and luck, to survive.

Our Favorite Tribeca Film Festival Documentaries for 2011

admin — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The Tribeca Film Festival is world renowned for its indie films and searing stars and the 2011 edition was no exception. If you’re lucky you can catch special features and some of the festival’s best films through providers and websites like www.directstartv.com but if not, here’s a list of our favorite documentaries from Tribeca we think you should seek out:
The Bully Project (USA)- This doc takes on the traumatic and alarming trend of bullying in the US and gives up close and personal accounts from students and teenagers about their bullying experience. Poignant and powerful.
Jiro Dreams of Sushi (USA) – If you’re a foodie, you’re going to love this film. Following an elderly sushi master around for weeks gives producers some of the most appetizing sushi footage ever captured on tape. Eat beforehand or leave hungry.
Marathon Boy (UK, USA, India) – This documentary follows a four-year old Indian boy as he’s plucked from the slums and groomed to become a world-class marathon runner. Heartbreaking at times and uplifting at others, don’t go in without a tissue.

Out-of-this-world comedies

www.mindfireentertainment.com — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 18:49:52 +0000

While horror comedies are relatively common, true science-fiction and comedy blends are much rarer. Perhaps that’s because they’re so much more difficult to do right, requiring the audience to both buy the film’s context and have time to get the jokes. With the upcoming sci-fi film Paul (featuring the actors from horror comedy Shaun of the Dead) set to be released next year, we take a look back at what’s come before.5. Spaceballs: Young Frankenstein director Mel Brooks also took a shot at sci-fi, particularly Star Wars, and while it’s not up to the same level of quality, watching Rick Moranis as a weaselly Darth Vader pastiche is always delightful. The film also takes potshots of the postmodern variety, often referencing its own role as a movie for more laughs.4. Sleeper: Woody Allen’s single sci-fi movie is based loosely on the 1899 novel When the Sleeper Wakes. Made back when Woody Allen was basically playing himself, the film also features frequent collaborator Diane Keaton, and its story of a man from 1973 who is frozen until the 22^nd century offers plenty of room for laughs.3. Galaxy Quest: Just as Spaceballs skewered Star Wars, Galaxy Quest targets Star Trek (and its fan culture). Tim Allen stars as the leading man in a sci-fi series with legions of fans, now relegated to has-been, convention-hopping status. That is, until a race of aliens in need of a hero mistakes him for a real one.2. Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy: Douglas Adams’s classic radio show and book series was brought to the screen twice. The 1981 BBC series is more faithful to the books, but the 2005 film has an outstanding cast, including Martin Freeman, Zooey Deschanel, and Mos Def, which makes it worth a look as well.1. Back to the Future: The sci-fi here is of the more speculative kind, with a carefully-outlined time-travel plot that fits together perfectly. Michael Fox and Christopher Lloyd manage to create a unique relationship that’s seldom been replicatedexcept in the two excellent sequels, of course. All in all, this is the one that all other sci-fi comedies are compared against in some way.

Pegg and Frost set their sights on sci-fi

admin — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 18:37:37 +0000

British comedians Simon Pegg and Nick Frost have carved out a distinctive spot for themselves in the realm of cinema. The savvy duo has become known for clever genre films which lovingly spoof conventions while still delivering the thrills that audiences love. In 2004′s Shaun of the Dead, the duo channeled zombie films such as those by George A. Romero and combined them with romantic comedy. In 2007, the duo took on buddy cop/action films with Hot Fuzz. Now, the team is set to do the same to the world of sci-fi cinema with the upcoming film Paul.Written by Pegg and Frost and directed by Greg Mottola (Adventureland, Superbad), the film follows two sci-fi aficionados who take a road trip across America to historic UFO sites. At the infamous Area 51, though, they pick up an expected companion: the alien Paul (Seth Rogen), who stows away on their RV. This turn of events puts the duo in conflict with insidious government agents as Paul attempts to return to his ship, which he’s been separated from for over half a century.No trailer has been released yet, but the film’s official site shows photos from the film, including a scene set at Comic-Con. The cast has also been announced, including Jason Bateman as a government agent, comedian Neil Hamburger as himself, Jeffrey Tambor as Adam Shadowchild, and sci-fi star Sigourney Weaver as Tara. While her name doesn’t give away much, there’s sure to be some fun in the group meeting up with the star of the Alien franchise. Gilbert Gottfried has also been announced to appear.Currently, the film is set for release on March 28, 2011, but stay tuned for more information as it develops. From what we’ve seen, it looks like Paul will be another worthy entry to Pegg and Frost’s body of work.

The life and times of Bruce Campbell, horror actor extraordinaire

admin — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 18:27:19 +0000

The straight-to-video horror movie market is saturated with nameless actors who could have gone nowhere. The same fate could have awaited the group of college friends behind the 1981 horror film, The Evil Dead. However, as genre fans know, the exact opposite was the case. Star Bruce Campbell, along with director Sam Raimi, started a career that would lead to many more collaborations, much more acclaim, and more fake blood than anyone could have imagined.Bruce Campbell was born in 1958 in Royal Oak, Michigan, and met Raimi in a drama course in high school. They released the original Evil Dead independently in 1981, and while Stephen King was a fan, the rest of the world failed to take note. Luckily, the boys didn’t give up, and went on to remake the film as Evil Dead 2 in 1987. Here, Campbell embraced his love of comedy and satire, and turned the straight-forward horror of the original into something no one could have expected.Campbell reprised his role as hero Ash Williams again in 1993′s Army of Darkness, as well as in recent video games based on the series. He also expanded his oeuvre with as many B-list-or-lower horror/sci-fi movies as he could find, such as Maniac Cop 2, Waxwork II: Lost in Time, Intruder, and many more. He’s also appeared in more mainstream films like Congo (based on the Michael Crichton novel) and all three Spider-Man films directed by his friend Sam Raimi. He’s also gained acclaim on the television series Burn Notice as a spy past his prime, as well as in a recent spoof of his own checkered history: the hilarious My Name is Bruce, where he plays a satirical version of himself. If you want to see more of Bruce, you’ve definitely got a wide selection to choose fromjust be ready for the schlocky horror masterpieces which await you.

“Tucker & Dale vs Evil” hits horror where it hurts

www.mindfireentertainment.com — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 18:14:00 +0000

Whatever it is about stuck-up teenagers meeting their demise in horror films that hooks viewers, the new film Tucker & Dale vs Evil seems to have captured it and turned it up to 11. The under-promoted film currently holds a very respectable 8.7/10 on IMDBeven more when you consider that it’s only the first full-length film from writer/director Eli Craig. Morgan Jurgenson assists on the writing duties.The two title stars both have previous experience in genre titles. Tyler Labine, who plays Dale, has appeared in shows like The X-Files, Dark Angel, and Reaper. Alan Tudyk (Tucker) has drawn accolades for his role in sci-fi series Firefly and Dollhouse. Although he hadn’t attempted any horror work before, he appears to have enjoyed it, having recently signed on for the upcoming zombie-action movie First Platoon.So what exactly is this film about? The film starts in the setting that has led to so many disasters in horror films pasta cabin by the lake in the middle of the woods. Despite the match-up hinted at in the title, however, the lovable and kind-hearted Tucker and Dale are actually the villains of the filmor so the group of college kids who stumble into their neck of the woods believe. When Tucker and Dale try to rescue one of them after a lake accident, her friends get the wrong idea and attempt to get her backleading to their grisly ends in the process.These deaths are remarkably well-done for a horror movie, especially an independent one like this one. However, it’s the writing that really makes the movie shine. Whether it’s Dale awkwardly trying to hit on one of the college girls, or any of the unfortunate misunderstandings which ensue after that, the dialogue is witty, snappy, and hilarious. Do your best to track down a theater showing this near you-you won’t regret it.

Laugh so hard it hurts: the best horror-comedies

admin — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 18:07:00 +0000

While some horror films unintentionally become comedies due to poor execution, this list honors the films which manage to walk the line between gasps and guffaws. Put these on at your next scary movie night and you’re sure to get the vote of approval.10. Arachnaphobia: When you’re making a horror film, it might be cheating to pick a subject that 50 of women and 10 of men suffer from. However, when it’s as well-produced as Arachnaphobia, you won’t get any complaints from us.9. Dead End: The debut film of French writer/directors Jean-Baptiste Andrea and Fabrice Canepa create one of the most horrifying scenarios ever: a family road trip that doesn’t end. Throw in an invincible car bent on destruction and you have a winner.8. Tremors: When a film spawns a franchise like 1990′s Tremors, it can sometimes be overshadowed by the quality (or lack thereof) of its sequels. Luckily, the original still holds up, mostly due to its actors, including a hilarious performance by Michael Gross as trigger-happy Burt Gummer.7. House: This innovative haunted house film is fondly remembered for its ridiculous effects and hammy performances from William Katt and George Wendt. The original also spawned three sequels (and no relation to the Fox medical drama).6. Killer Klowns From Outer Space: Another horror comedy banking off a popular phobia, Killer Klowns is the only release by the Chiodo Brothers, but its tale of evil aliens who attempt to take over a mall town has made it a cult favorite since its release. You can still buy costumes and action figures based off the film.5. Gremlins: Despite this excellent film and its still-good-but-not-great sequels, we still think the Furby-inspiring Gizmo would make a great pet. Just make sure you follow the directions, for goodness’ sake.4. Ghostbusters: What was it about the ’80s that produced so many classic horror-comedies? With the rumored 3^rd film still in development, now’s a great time to check out the original and its fantastic ensemble cast.3. Shaun of the Dead: The Brits really showed us Yanks how its done with this pitch-perfect zombie comedy, which introduced Simon Pegg to American audiences and launched a stream of imitators.2. An American Werewolf in London: Rick Baker won the first-ever Oscar for make-up with this film. Watch it and you’ll see why.1. Young Frankenstein: This film pretty much launched the modern horror spoof genre (well, besides Abbot & Costello in the ’30s), and Mel Brooks‘ masterpiece still holds up as our favorite horror comedy of all time. Gene Wilder, Peter Boyle, and Madeline Kahn act their hearts out, making us laugh, cry, and cringesometimes at the same time.