Fantastic Fest 2015 Review: HIGH-RISE

High-Rise.

Director: Ben Wheatley

Writer: Amy Jump, based on the novel by J.G. Ballard

Actors: Tom Hiddleston, Luke Evans, Elizabeth Moss, Sienna Miller, Jeremy Irons.

Ben Wheatley is one of best genre directors. His movie Kill List is still regarded as one of the best horror movies of the new century and most recently he blew everyone's mind with the pychedelic Field In England. But those have all been pretty low-key and low-budget affairs with mostly unknown actors.

But now Mr. Wheatley is stepping up his game and recruiting A-list actors like Tom Hiddleston, Luke Evans, Jeremy Irons and Elizabeth Moss while adapting J.G. Ballard allegorical novel, High-Rise. 

Set in an a vague 1970's England, the movie follows Hiddleston's Dr. Robert Laing as he movies into a self-contained high rise apartment building. Meant to be the first of five buildings, it truly has everything from a grocery store, pool, gyms, gardens. Among the residents are the anarchic documentarian Richard Wilder (Evans), his neglected wife, Helen (Moss), and socialite, Charlotte Mellville.

Despite being plagued by structural issues, the community of the apartment is already well established. There are very specific rules to follow and not unsurprisingly, people have quickly started making cliques based on what floor you live in. As it stands, the poorer residents are in the lower levels while the richest, including the architect Thomas Royal (Irons) have extreme luxury such as a well-manicured garden and even a horse.

The movie mainly follows the decay of this micro society as a tragic death brings to light the disproportionate power structure within the apartment building. Seemingly over night, the apartment devolves into a Lord of the Flies-esque with resources becoming scarce and people turning violent on each other.

In the wake of the years-long economic crisis we have been in, the Occupy Wall Street movement and the disappearance of the middle class this feels like a very contemporary movie and the allegory really works. There are literal class wars after everything goes to hell in the apartment building. And while the movie's dialogue gets a little too on the nose about its themes, there's some truly horrifying scenes that show just how easy it is for society to go down hill when there's no order. There's even some very trippy scenes when things get to their lowest that show the mental toll

And while this movie is billed a Tom Hiddleston movie, this is through and through Luke Evans' movie. The man is a powerhouse as the slightly unhinged Wilder. He is charming as hell and the way he takes command of the room is impressive. He is one of the people that lives in the lower floors and so always has a chip on his shoulder and doesn't want to obey the rules and becomes a source of trouble for the ever-crumbling society.

With this bigger budget, Wheatley's direction is in top form here. He takes from everything that he's done up to this point and combines horror, comedy and psychedlia seamlessly to create this mindbending tale.
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THE HOBBIT THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES - Javi's Take

THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES

Director: Peter Jackson.

Writers: Fran Walsh, Philipa Boyens, Peter Jackson & Guillermo Del Toro, based on the novel by J.R.R.Tolkien.

Cast: Martin Freeman, Sir Ian McKellan, Richard Armitrage, Cate Blanchett, Luke Evans, Orlando Bloom, Evangeline Lilly, Lee Pace, Hugo Weaving, and Christoper Lee.
Synopsis: In the epic conclusion of the most unnecessary trilogies in recent history, CGI characters clash and fight for 2 hours.

THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG Trailer Needs More Smaug

It's nearing December, and you know what that means? Another Hobbit film. These along with the Lord of the Rings series have become almost staples to the Holiday season. Last year, we overall enjoyed the first installment of the Hobbit series, even if it felt a tad long and more set up than actual story. My cohort was able to check it out in the sweet 48 fps, and based on talking to him, I will not be missing out on the 48 fps this time around.

While THE UNEXPECTED JOURNEY felt like a lot of set up, THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG will be the meat of the book. It already looks more action packed and seems to have some better character development than the first film. Also, how can you not love all the scenery Cumberbatch will chew up and sit out as the voice of Smaug!?

Check out the trailer after the break.

THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG Trailer: More Action But Not Enough Cumberbatch

I still stand by that THE HOBBIT should have been two movies and not three. There's enough in the book to create two tight, action packed films, but three films feels a little excessive. The first one, which made a pretty penny this past winter, was fun thanks to Martin Freeman's performance as Bilbo, but overall felt a little dull.

Now we have our first look at the second installment which will be out this winter, THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG. With the first being more about getting on the road, the second seems to focus more on action, which will be very much welcomed. We also get our first look at Evangeline Lilly kicking some ass.

Check the trailer after the break.

FAST & FURIOUS 6 Trailer Wants You to Forget Everything You Learned in Physics Class

They made a sixth movie?! I can remember back when TOKYO DRIFT happened and hearing all the mummers and disgruntled reactions, I was sure the series would die or be sanctioned to direct-to-DVD releases. But leave it to this balls out, fast, crazy, action film to keep on going.

After the crazy success of FAST FIVE, it seemed the series was revitalized. Now, the gang is back for FAST & FURIOUS 6, and don't you worry your little heads, it seems that the seventh film is already in the works for next summer.

Here's a synopsis:

After the events of FAST FIVE, professional criminal Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) and his crew are wealthy, but their criminal records prevent them from returning to their home country. Following his attempts to apprehend them, Diplomatic Security Services (DSS) agent Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) is forced to offer the crew a deal; he will give them all full pardons for their crimes if they will help him take down a lethally skilled mercenary organization led by a former British special forces officer turned criminal mastermind Owen Shaw and his ruthless second-in-command, Dominic's thought-dead lover, Letty Ortiz (Michelle Rodriguez).

Check the trailer after the break

Sportsball Bowl Trailer Watch: FAST SIX has planes and automobiles but is sadly missing trains

I'm not going to lie, I've actually disliked most of the FAST & FURIOUS franchise up until FAST FIVE. But 2011's FAST FIVE was such a cool thematic reboot of the series and it was probably one of my favorite movies of the year. It's no surprise that the Rock was called to GI JOE to revitalize the franchise since he was able to do so for with this franchise. Now, thanks to Hulu, we have the new trailer of director Justin Lin's FAST & FURIOUS SIX or as the COOL kids call it, FAST SIX. Check out the trailer as well as the movie's synopsis below.

Trailer for THE RAVEN starring John Cusack

Ask me who my favorite actor is and it will always be the same answer, John Cusack. Sometimes regrettably because I will see any movie he is in, which is why I'm always delighted when something he is working on looks promising! Being the horror fan I am, it's also a given that I have a soft spot for Edgar Allen Poe. The sheer fact that Cusack will be starring as the dark poet himself has my heart pounding from under the floorboards for THE RAVEN.

THE RAVEN, directed by James McTeigue (V FOR VENDETTA), creates a fictional account of Poe's last days in which he is after a serial killer who happens to be using Poe's own stories for his murders. It also stars Luke Evans, Alice Eve, and Brendan Gleeson alongside Cusack. The trailer has hit the web and if you're into Poe, dark thrillers, and maybe goatees, you'll be as pleased as I am. It will be in theaters sometime in 2012 and you can watch the trailer below.

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