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Cop Out! 

Yeah this post is a cop out but I ain’t apologising for it:

- Sin City’s Australian cinema release date has changed from early May to August 11th 2005. Fuck off! Something tells me a ‘certain-final-chapter-in-a-geeky-saga-of-films-that-we-all-hope-doesn’t-suck-ass’ is to blame. But the delay in the release has caused a number of anxious people to download it instead. I’m going to wait for this one on the big screen though because (a) the reviews have been really positive and (b) it needs to be seen on a huge cinema with the sound bursting your eardrums.

- New singles from The Whites Stripes, Oasis, Audioslave and Coldplay have surfaced, with albums in the release window within the next couple of months. The most interesting of these singles is The White Stripes single ‘Wild Orchid’ which has a great guitar riff and a driving beat. Not as memorable as ‘Seven Nation Army’ but still catchy as hell. The singles from Oasis and Audioslave should keep fans happy as they’re not much different from their previous work. The Coldplay single ‘Speed of Sound’ (which premiered on radio around the world this week) is like a minor version of ‘Clocks’ but more atmospheric. VH1 got their hands on the final album with this to say: “It’s an organic electronica album. A minimalist, experimental disc with a whole bunch of power chords”. Can’t wait! Right now though? For pure rocking out, I’m loving Kaiser Chief’s ‘Employment’. Also loving Bloc Party’s ‘Silent Alarm’. They’re playing Byron Bay too. Anyone know if they’re playing a solo gig in Melbourne? Missed out on tickets to the Wolfmother gig at the Corner tomorrow night. Dammit you gotta be quick!

- I’m addicted to the new TV series Lost but even at the end of episode 15, we still don’t have any substantial answers to any of the questions raised within the first 14 episodes. Lots and lots of revelations throughout though. Something tells me the 3-part finale will tie up most of the loose ends. Otherwise I’m not sure if I can sit through another season.

- Filming of the Nicholas Cage superhero flick Ghost Rider has been going full steam right here in Melbourne over the Yarra, especially over the past three days. I went down there last night and saw helicopters and Americanised police cars. Stupid me forgot to take the camera but here’s some set pictures from someone who go in close to the action. Theory has it they finish up filming in the city on Thursday but most of the action scenes have already been shot.

- David Fincher is back and guess what he’s directing? A new serial-killer thriller entitled Zodiac with Donnie Darko himself Jake Gyllenhaal starring alongside Mark Ruffalo and Robert Downey Jnr. The film is based on the true-crime book sharing the same name. Put it on your must-see list for 2006.

- This has been loooooooooong overdue but here are some films I’ve seen over the past couple of months (including the Oscar contenders) that finally get my praises or otherwise:

Million Dollar Baby - People who loved it up until the point where it deals with the major accident miss the point of the entire movie. It’s not really about boxing!

Closer - Vicious, in-your-face dialogue and I like it! They’re not really a likable bunch but it’s handled well. Clive Owen and Natalie Portman deserve juicer roles.

Sideways - The best Hollywood-produced film I’ve seen this year even though it came out in 2004. Giamatti should be cast in every movie. And by the looks of his imdb profile, he will be!

The Avaitor - Better than Scorcese’s Gangs of New York and Cate Blanchett is the real star here but it loses steam towards the end. DiCaprio overacts at times but aside from that, it’s a slick production with one of the best airplane crashes ever filmed.

Ocean’s Twelve - Loved the first flick, and like most people, didn\rquote t enjoy this one as much. Where was the snappy pace that made the original so fun Soderberg?

Coffee and Cigarettes - The best segment was the Cate Blanchett one although I am partial to Alfred Molina and Steve Coogan’s encounter. Seeing Iggy Pop and Tom Waits trying to forge a conversation was pretty cool too.

The Village - Okay now you have to applaud Mr Night for going against the grain with this one but ultimately it was disappointing. It’s sort of like going to a professional hooker and being in good hands only to find it being a bit of a letdown.

Sommersault - The 2004 AFI winner for Best Film (amongst other awards) gets too bogged down in looking at pretty pictures which is a shame because had it featured a better screenplay, it could have been that Australian film to make the world sit up and take notice. Nice performances though and great score from Australia outfit Decoder Ring. Did anyone watch Who Wants to Be A Millionaire with a question asking which film won the best AFI film for 2004 and the contestant got it wrong? That’s not what saddened me. It was the fact the studio audience were convinced it was Tom White! Shows how much shit the Aussie film industry is in right now :(

Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle - I expected this to be a piece of shit but I have a soft spot for crappy teen flicks and this one proved to be a winner overall. Good enough to warrant a sequel anyway.

Rosemary’s Baby - Polanski and Mia Farrow make a good combination. It’s all in the build up and the payoff is satisfying enough if a little daggy for modern day audiences. Read the trivia section over at imdb for some interesting facts on the production. Some of it is truly scary!

Saw - Okay not great by any means but made on a $1 million budget, this thriller from Melbourne filmmakers Leigh Whannell and James Wan has lots of twists and turns for fans and looks like a multi-million dollar production. The acting leaves a lot to be desired but the ending is great. Kudos to the duo I say!

Dazed and Confused - I first saw this when I was 16 and it was A LOT better back then. Then again, it should have been. It’s still good for a laugh and spotting who’s who but there’s not much to it in the end. Watch it with a bud.

Exorcist: The Beginning - I fucking told you this would be a pile of shit as soon as Renny jumped aboard! The man has no concept of restraint and with his MTV-style editing, he totally screwed the pooch with this crapfest. But karma has a funny way of biting the producers in the ass when Schrader’s original version premieres in Brussels with good reviews and is now set for a limited theatrical release in the US!

Done? I need a drink.