Three Kansas City Chiefs fans, David Harrington, Clayton McGeeney and Ricky Johnson, were found dead at a friend’s, Jordan Willis, home on January 9.
The three men were first discovered by April Mahoney, fiancée of McGeeney. The men first came to Willis’ home on January 7 to watch a Chiefs game. Reports say Mahoney went to Willis’ residence to search for McGeeney after not hearing from him in those two days.
After banging on the front door for ten minutes with no answer, Mahoney broke into the home. From an upstairs window, she saw the frozen body of Harrington seated in a chair and called the police. When police arrived, Willis answered the door in his underwear and holding a glass of wine.
According to a medical examiner’s report, traces of cocaine and fentanyl were found in all three men, leading to their deaths. Willis, an HIV research scientist, claimed...
The three men were first discovered by April Mahoney, fiancée of McGeeney. The men first came to Willis’ home on January 7 to watch a Chiefs game. Reports say Mahoney went to Willis’ residence to search for McGeeney after not hearing from him in those two days.
After banging on the front door for ten minutes with no answer, Mahoney broke into the home. From an upstairs window, she saw the frozen body of Harrington seated in a chair and called the police. When police arrived, Willis answered the door in his underwear and holding a glass of wine.
According to a medical examiner’s report, traces of cocaine and fentanyl were found in all three men, leading to their deaths. Willis, an HIV research scientist, claimed...
- 2/5/2024
- by Ann Hoang
- Uinterview
Nothing can prepare you for Darren Aronofsky’s Noah. We saw the film a few weeks back and trust us when we say that this is not at all what you’re expecting. That’s not necessarily a bad thing though, as what the director has accomplished here is actually quite impressive, it’s just very different than the version of the Biblical story that you’re used to. We should have a full review for you this Friday but until then, here’s some more marketing material to tide you over.
First up is a new clip. In it, we get a glimpse of the animals heading over to Noah’s ark right before the flood arrives. “It begins” says Russell Crowe, as Aronofsky shows us hundreds, if not thousands of animals, heading to the vessel that’s going to protect them from God’s wrath.
The next thing...
First up is a new clip. In it, we get a glimpse of the animals heading over to Noah’s ark right before the flood arrives. “It begins” says Russell Crowe, as Aronofsky shows us hundreds, if not thousands of animals, heading to the vessel that’s going to protect them from God’s wrath.
The next thing...
- 3/19/2014
- by Matt Joseph
- We Got This Covered
Nothing about the forthcoming "Noah" will remind you of Sunday School except that it rains and there's an ark. With Darren Aronofsky spinning an environmental tale with fantasy elements, he brings a new but still Biblically-sound take on the story, one that forgoes the sunnier version you might have heard. So when it was announced that rock icon Patti Smith was working on a song for the tune, it kind of made sense. "She wrote this incredible lullaby that Russell Crowe sings to Emma Watson in the movie. It's really touching and beautiful," the director told Rolling Stone last month. And well, you can hear it for yourself, as the track recently premiered on the BBC, and was promptly ripped by those eager to hear the collaboration between Smith, Clint Mansell and Kronos Quartet. Hot damn. Before that is a new clip from "Noah," with animals headed in pairs to Russell Crowe's waiting ark.
- 3/19/2014
- by Kevin Jagernauth
- The Playlist
A 30 second snippet of Patti Smith's "Mercy Is", featuring the Kronos Quartet, from Darren Aronofsky's Noah has premiered online (via BBC) and can be listened to in the player below. Aronofsky first revealed Smith's involvement to Rolling Stone saying: I've been friends with Patti for a long time, and I needed a lullaby for the movie because it's a big part of the story. I was telling Patti about my struggles, and it turns out she's studied lullabies and writes a lot of them. She was like, "Can I please write it for youc" And I said, "You're asking me that questionc" Laughs I said "absolutely" with as much of a poker face as possible. She wrote this incredible lullaby that Russell Crowe sings to Emma Watson in the movie. It's really touching and beautiful. I expect Smith's version will play over the end credits, give the sampling...
- 3/16/2014
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
A storm is coming. We’ve known this day would come for a couple of years now and have been bracing ourselves ever since. Darren Aronofsky’s “Noah” finally makes its way to theaters worldwide on March 28th, and if there’s already some controversy surrounding the director’s interpretation of the Biblical story, you know those dissenters will only get louder in the coming weeks. In the meantime, if you’re a big fan of the director then you most likely can’t wait to hear the soundtrack from frequent collaborator Clint Mansell. The composer has worked on all six of Aronofsky’s films thus far and this time he’s received the help of the Kronos Quartet with his score. Thanks to Nonesuch Records, you can get your hands on the soundtrack on March 25th, three days before the movie comes out. Also included on the soundtrack is...
- 3/14/2014
- by Ken Guidry
- The Playlist
The official site for Darren Aronofsky's Noah has been updated to include some new bits of audio, part of it is 32 seconds of background music, which Aronofsky has confirmed on Twitter is a taste of Clint Mansell's score for the film. Listen directly below. Your browser does not support the audio element. For the score, Mansell reteamed with the Kronos Quartet, whom he worked with on Aronofsky's The Fountain and Requiem for a Dream. As far as I can tell there still isn't a release date for the score announced, but the film will be hitting theaters on March 28. Noah is a close adaptation of the Biblical story of Noah's Ark. In a world ravaged by human sin, Noah (Russell Crowe) is given a divine mission: to build an Ark to save creation from the coming flood. The screenplay was written by Aronofsky and Ari Handel and revised...
- 2/27/2014
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
New Character Posters For Darren Aronofsky's 'Noah,' Patti Smith Contributing Song To The Soundtrack
"Noah" is coming with all of God's watery fury next month, and we presume the floodgates of images and clips will soon be opening up too. But until then, it's still small servings as Darren Aronofsky puts the finishing touches on the film. And one of those final details is the soundtrack, which we already know will feature longtime collaborator Clint Mansell, with contributions from Kronos Quartet. And another big talent is joining their ranks, with the legendary Patti Smith writing a key song for the film. "I've been friends with Patti for a long time, and I needed a lullaby for the movie because it's a big part of the story. I was telling Patti about my struggles, and it turns out she's studied lullabies and writes a lot of them," the director told Rolling Stone. "She was like, 'Can I please write it for you?' And I said,...
- 2/11/2014
- by Kevin Jagernauth
- The Playlist
He's tackled washed-up pro wrestlers, mentally unstable ballerinas, paranoid mathematicians, time-traveling surgeons and hopeless junkies, but director Darren Aronofsky's biggest challenge to date is a man and his boat.
How the Academy Snubbed Springsteen for The Wrestler
Due in theaters on March 28th, Noah is the highest-profile effort yet from the man behind Black Swan, Pi and Requiem for a Dream – and given the source material, that's to be expected. With a cast that boasts Russell Crowe in the title role and a family that includes Jennifer Connelly, Emma Watson and Anthony Hopkins,...
How the Academy Snubbed Springsteen for The Wrestler
Due in theaters on March 28th, Noah is the highest-profile effort yet from the man behind Black Swan, Pi and Requiem for a Dream – and given the source material, that's to be expected. With a cast that boasts Russell Crowe in the title role and a family that includes Jennifer Connelly, Emma Watson and Anthony Hopkins,...
- 2/10/2014
- Rollingstone.com
We're now only two months away from the long-awaited release of Darren Aronofsky's new movie, Noah, starring Russell Crowe as Noah of the biblical Noah's Ark story. Yahoo has debuted another new IMAX poster for Noah, featuring Crowe standing tall as the rain falls around. And that's about it. At least he has a hatchet in his hand. Is that Biblically accurate? It doesn't really matter. In related news, Aronofsky has been working on recording the score for Noah with his long-time collaborator Clint Mansell. The two have been sharing photos on their respective Twitter accounts of the work going into this, including a shot of them collaborating again with the Kronos Quartet from The Fountain score. Just another latest update for now. Up first, here's the new poster for Aronofsky's Noah, originally from Yahoo. This is being released in IMAX. Here are photos as tweeted by Aronofsky showing...
- 1/29/2014
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
I can't help but believe everything we see from the studio won't be representative of what the final product will be when it comes to Darren Aronofsky's Noah (3/28), because if this latest poster is any indication Noah appears as if he's just another character from Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Rises. In other news, Aronofsky recently took to Twitter to confirm the Grammy Award-winning string quartet Kronos Quartet is reuniting with composer Clint Mansell. Previous teamings included Aronofsky's The Fountain and Requiem for a Dream. Noah stars Russell Crowe, Logan Lerman, Douglas Booth, Emma Watson, Jennifer Connelly, Anthony Hopkins, Ray Winstone, Dakota Goyo, Kevin Durand, Marton Csokas, Finn Wittrock and Nick Nolte and is an adaptation of the Biblical story of Noah's Ark. In a world ravaged by human sin, Noah (Crowe) is given a divine mission: to build an Ark to save creation from the coming flood.
- 1/28/2014
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
Despite the likes of Trent Reznor and Arcade Fire getting into the film scoring game, many film composers are often classically trained and more than a few have migrated from the contemporary/modern classical field. One of the most famous working in that field is Kronos Quartet and while they haven’t performed or composed a soundtrack in quite some time, it appears that they’ve heard the siren call of the silver screen. Exclaim (via a tweet by Darren Aronofsky) reports that the iconic string quartet are once again collaborating with Clint Mansell for Aronofsky’s biblical epic “Noah.” This would mark their third collaboration following “Requiem For A Dream” and “The Fountain” — which was the last feature-length score the string quartet worked on and one that also featured the stylings of post-rock band Mogwai. Based on their past work together, we’re pretty excited to hear what Mansell...
- 1/27/2014
- by Cain Rodriguez
- The Playlist
Fela Kuti, the Nigerian musician who defined Afrobeat, influenced everyone from Paul McCartney to Michael Jackson. Now, with Finding Fela, Academy Award-winning documentarian Alex Gibney (The Armstrong Lie) sheds new light on the politically fiery artist with never before seen footage and documents, including Kuti's report card (there's a reason he wasn't a doctor like his brothers). By framing the biography of the musician (Kuti who died from AIDS-related complications in 1997) through rehearsals for Bill T. Jones' Tony-winning musical Fela!, Gibney presents two stories in one – the staging of...
- 1/24/2014
- Rollingstone.com
I expect political documentaries to be one-sided and they almost always are, but the sign of a good one is that it makes me care enough about the subject to research the other side of the story. Reporter Jeremy Scahill, who muckrakes for The Nation, is the writer, narrator, and on-screen host of director Richard Rowley’s sobering Dirty Wars. He questions whether American citizens should be assassinated for committing crimes against the U.S. without being brought to trial and is concerned about “Collateral damage”, the military term for civilian casualties. The doc opens with accounts of U.S. raids in Yemen and Afghanistan and that both resulted in large amounts of civilian casualties including pregnant women but, according to Scahill, few, if any, dead terrorists. Dirty Wars blows the lid off the Pentagon’s Joint Special Operations Command (Jsoc), a shadowy outfit empowered by the Obama administration to...
- 6/28/2013
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Park Chan-wook's Stoker is another showcase for the former grebo-rocker turned moody soundtrack specialist
Hollywood discovered Clint Mansell in 2010, the year he turned 47. Black Swan, director Darren Aronofsky's psychodrama of a ballerina driven to the brink of sanity, was every bit the outlier its title suggested, vaulting its $13m budget to take more than $300m worldwide. Key to the film's ratcheting tension was Mansell's score, which radically reworked Tchaikovsky's famous ballet. "Motörhead," wrote the Guardian's Peter Bradshaw, "could not have played the Swan Lake theme any louder than this." Mansell received a Grammy nomination for Best Film Score, only to lose out to The King's Speech.
Mansell and Aronofsky have shared a fruitful creative relationship since the latter's directorial debut, 1996's Pi, but Black Swan's startling numbers meant that suddenly, all sorts of offers were on the table. It was then that Clint Mansell decided to take a bit of time off.
Hollywood discovered Clint Mansell in 2010, the year he turned 47. Black Swan, director Darren Aronofsky's psychodrama of a ballerina driven to the brink of sanity, was every bit the outlier its title suggested, vaulting its $13m budget to take more than $300m worldwide. Key to the film's ratcheting tension was Mansell's score, which radically reworked Tchaikovsky's famous ballet. "Motörhead," wrote the Guardian's Peter Bradshaw, "could not have played the Swan Lake theme any louder than this." Mansell received a Grammy nomination for Best Film Score, only to lose out to The King's Speech.
Mansell and Aronofsky have shared a fruitful creative relationship since the latter's directorial debut, 1996's Pi, but Black Swan's startling numbers meant that suddenly, all sorts of offers were on the table. It was then that Clint Mansell decided to take a bit of time off.
- 2/23/2013
- by Louis Pattison
- The Guardian - Film News
One thing we always make time for here at Dread Central is honoring the masters, and we wanted to take a moment to point out our recent review of Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection on Blu-ray along with the overflowing image gallery Universal provided to us as a supplement.
Click Here to read our review of Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection (as you can imagine, it earned pretty high marks), and enjoy perusing the exclusive photos below.
From the Prior Press Release:
Digitally restored from high resolution film elements in perfect high-definition picture and perfect high-definition sound for the first time ever, Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection brings together the very best of Universal’s legendary monsters—imaginative and technically groundbreaking tales of terror that launched a uniquely American movie genre. This definitive collection features eight films on Blu-ray, a collectible 48-page book featuring behind-the-scenes photographs, original posters,...
Click Here to read our review of Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection (as you can imagine, it earned pretty high marks), and enjoy perusing the exclusive photos below.
From the Prior Press Release:
Digitally restored from high resolution film elements in perfect high-definition picture and perfect high-definition sound for the first time ever, Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection brings together the very best of Universal’s legendary monsters—imaginative and technically groundbreaking tales of terror that launched a uniquely American movie genre. This definitive collection features eight films on Blu-ray, a collectible 48-page book featuring behind-the-scenes photographs, original posters,...
- 11/6/2012
- by The Woman In Black
- DreadCentral.com
By now the word is out and the monsters have exited their graves in search of your Blu Ray player. Have you seen the new Universal Classic Monsters Essenstial Collection and bright shiny new Blu Ray in the ultra cool box set with the handy collector’s edition book? While it doesn’t necessarily come cheap, retailing just over $100, it contains eight movies, bonus features out the wazzooo (and I’ll even include the press release below so you know what those are) and, as previously stated, some literature that will be perfect for the monster maniac on your Halloween chopping list. Never forget that this would make the ideal Christmas present for the holiday horror fiend in your home. Also don’t forget that I, as a horror fiend, am telling you that it’s on my wish list. When I pick it up, you’ll get a review,...
- 10/5/2012
- by Jimmy Terror
- The Liberal Dead
Today's the day that Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection debuts on Blu-ray, and in honor of the occasion, Universal has released a trailer for the collection. See Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff, Lon Chaney, Jr., Claude Rains, and Elsa Lanchester in the roles that made them famous!
From the Press Release:
Digitally restored from high resolution film elements in perfect high-definition picture and perfect high-definition sound for the first time ever, Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection brings together the very best of Universal’s legendary monsters—imaginative and technically groundbreaking tales of terror that launched a uniquely American movie genre. This definitive collection features eight films on Blu-ray, a collectible 48-page book featuring behind-the-scenes photographs, original posters, correspondence, and much more.
Each iconic film is accompanied by an array of bonus features that tell the fascinating story of its creation and history, including behind-the-scenes documentaries, filmmaker commentaries, interviews, storyboards,...
From the Press Release:
Digitally restored from high resolution film elements in perfect high-definition picture and perfect high-definition sound for the first time ever, Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection brings together the very best of Universal’s legendary monsters—imaginative and technically groundbreaking tales of terror that launched a uniquely American movie genre. This definitive collection features eight films on Blu-ray, a collectible 48-page book featuring behind-the-scenes photographs, original posters, correspondence, and much more.
Each iconic film is accompanied by an array of bonus features that tell the fascinating story of its creation and history, including behind-the-scenes documentaries, filmmaker commentaries, interviews, storyboards,...
- 10/2/2012
- by The Woman In Black
- DreadCentral.com
One of the biggest Blu-ray releases of the year is now available and Universal has shared a new trailer that shows off their updated classics. For those that missed our previous story, we’ve included details on the Universal Classic Monsters Blu-ray collection and another video that shows the restoration work done on Dracula:
For the first time ever, eight of the most iconic cinematic masterpieces of the horror genre are available together on Blu-ray as Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection debuts on October 2, 2012 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. Digitally restored from high resolution film elements in perfect high-definition picture and perfect high-definition sound for the first time ever, Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection brings together the very best of Universal’s legendary monsters—imaginative and technically groundbreaking tales of terror that launched a uniquely American movie genre. This definitive collection features eight films on Blu-ray, a...
For the first time ever, eight of the most iconic cinematic masterpieces of the horror genre are available together on Blu-ray as Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection debuts on October 2, 2012 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. Digitally restored from high resolution film elements in perfect high-definition picture and perfect high-definition sound for the first time ever, Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection brings together the very best of Universal’s legendary monsters—imaginative and technically groundbreaking tales of terror that launched a uniquely American movie genre. This definitive collection features eight films on Blu-ray, a...
- 10/2/2012
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
In celebration of the October 2nd Blu-ray release of the Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection from Universal Studios Home Entertainment, veteran horror historian Scott Essman has prepared a truly monstrous trip back through time for you classic horror fans!
It’s a quiet dusty morning in the summer of 1916 and all but a small eastern region of the San Fernando Valley is largely undeveloped, to say nothing of unpopulated. For the past year, inside of an unassuming front gate just over the hill from Los Angeles proper, two men are trying to forge their path in the fledgling motion picture business: Lon Chaney and Jack Pierce. Nascent actors Chaney, 33, and Pierce, 27, were completely unknown, but each had an angle; they could both work magic out of a simple makeup case, fully transforming their faces and even parts of their bodies to put themselves into a better position to be cast in a role.
It’s a quiet dusty morning in the summer of 1916 and all but a small eastern region of the San Fernando Valley is largely undeveloped, to say nothing of unpopulated. For the past year, inside of an unassuming front gate just over the hill from Los Angeles proper, two men are trying to forge their path in the fledgling motion picture business: Lon Chaney and Jack Pierce. Nascent actors Chaney, 33, and Pierce, 27, were completely unknown, but each had an angle; they could both work magic out of a simple makeup case, fully transforming their faces and even parts of their bodies to put themselves into a better position to be cast in a role.
- 9/25/2012
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
By Michael Juvinall, MoreHorror.com
Universal classic monster fans can now officially rejoice as the studio announced today they will be bringing their highly regarded classic monsters to blu-ray in a massive Essential collection on October 2nd.
As part of their 100th anniversary celebration, Universal Studios will release eight chilling classics from the studio that pioneered the horror genre, digitally restored and released on Blu-ray™ for the first time ever.
The ultimate box set includes 8 classic films from the Universal vault of spine-tingling terror with over 12 hours of bonus features just in time for Halloween.
From the Press Release:
For the first time ever, eight of the most iconic cinematic masterpieces of the horror genre are available together on Blu-rayTM as Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection debuts on October 2, 2012 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. Digitally restored from high resolution film elements in perfect high-definition picture and perfect high-definition sound for the first time ever,...
Universal classic monster fans can now officially rejoice as the studio announced today they will be bringing their highly regarded classic monsters to blu-ray in a massive Essential collection on October 2nd.
As part of their 100th anniversary celebration, Universal Studios will release eight chilling classics from the studio that pioneered the horror genre, digitally restored and released on Blu-ray™ for the first time ever.
The ultimate box set includes 8 classic films from the Universal vault of spine-tingling terror with over 12 hours of bonus features just in time for Halloween.
From the Press Release:
For the first time ever, eight of the most iconic cinematic masterpieces of the horror genre are available together on Blu-rayTM as Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection debuts on October 2, 2012 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. Digitally restored from high resolution film elements in perfect high-definition picture and perfect high-definition sound for the first time ever,...
- 6/29/2012
- by admin
- MoreHorror
For the first time ever, eight of the most iconic cinematic masterpieces of the horror genre are available together on Blu-rayTM as Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection debuts on October 2, 2012 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. Digitally restored from high resolution film elements in perfect high-definition picture and perfect high-definition sound for the first time ever, Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection brings together the very best of Universal.s legendary monsters.imaginative and technically groundbreaking tales of terror that launched a uniquely American movie genre. This definitive collection features eight films on Blu-rayM, a collectible 48-page book featuring behind-the-scenes photographs, original posters, correspondence and much more. Each iconic film is accompanied by an array of bonus features that tell the fascinating story of its creation and history, including behind-the-scenes documentaries, filmmaker commentaries, interviews, storyboards, photo galleries, and trailers. Especially appealing for fans are a never-before-seen featurette about the restoration...
- 6/28/2012
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
For the first time ever eight of the most iconic cinematic masterpieces of the horror genre are available together on Blu-ray as Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection debuts on October 2, 2012, from Universal Studios Home Entertainment.
From the Press Release:
Digitally restored from high resolution film elements in perfect high-definition picture and perfect high-definition sound for the first time ever, Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection brings together the very best of Universal’s legendary monsters—imaginative and technically groundbreaking tales of terror that launched a uniquely American movie genre. This definitive collection features eight films on Blu-ray, a collectible 48-page book featuring behind-the-scenes photographs, original posters, correspondence, and much more. Each iconic film is accompanied by an array of bonus features that tell the fascinating story of its creation and history, including behind-the-scenes documentaries, filmmaker commentaries, interviews, storyboards, photo galleries, and trailers. Especially appealing for fans are a never-before-seen...
From the Press Release:
Digitally restored from high resolution film elements in perfect high-definition picture and perfect high-definition sound for the first time ever, Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection brings together the very best of Universal’s legendary monsters—imaginative and technically groundbreaking tales of terror that launched a uniquely American movie genre. This definitive collection features eight films on Blu-ray, a collectible 48-page book featuring behind-the-scenes photographs, original posters, correspondence, and much more. Each iconic film is accompanied by an array of bonus features that tell the fascinating story of its creation and history, including behind-the-scenes documentaries, filmmaker commentaries, interviews, storyboards, photo galleries, and trailers. Especially appealing for fans are a never-before-seen...
- 6/28/2012
- by The Woman In Black
- DreadCentral.com
About time! Time to stop working and focus on something that Really matters. After a lot of hemming and hawing, Universal is bringing all of our favorite famous monsters of filmland (hey…) to Blu-Ray in a massive collection featuring eight movies and eight monsters (Dracula, Frankenstein, The Mummy, Creature From The Black Lagoon, The Wolf Man, Phantom Of The Opera, The Invisible Man and The Bride Of Frankenstein) jam-packed with awesome special features. The Creature will even be in 3-D, if your TV allows such a wondrous thing. I could go on and on about this, but I think what you really want to read is the press release (complete with titles and special features) from Universal. Give it a read and when it’s available for pre-order (the collection is released October 2nd), we will put up a link immediately.
For the first time ever, eight of the most...
For the first time ever, eight of the most...
- 6/28/2012
- by Andy Greene
- FamousMonsters of Filmland
We knew that Universal was working on a Blu-ray collection containing some of their classic horror films and we now have all the details. Titled Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection, the release includes digitally restored versions of Dracula, Frankenstein, The Mummy, The Invisible Man, Bride of Frankenstein, The Wolf Man, The Phantom of the Opera, and Creature from the Black Lagoon.
Continue reading for the official press release, a list of bonus features for each film, box art, and a video clip showing the restoration of Dracula:
Press Release: Universal City, California, June 28, 2012—For the first time ever, eight of the most iconic cinematic masterpieces of the horror genre are available together on Blu-ray as Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection debuts on October 2, 2012 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. Digitally restored from high resolution film elements in perfect high-definition picture and perfect high-definition sound for the first time ever,...
Continue reading for the official press release, a list of bonus features for each film, box art, and a video clip showing the restoration of Dracula:
Press Release: Universal City, California, June 28, 2012—For the first time ever, eight of the most iconic cinematic masterpieces of the horror genre are available together on Blu-ray as Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection debuts on October 2, 2012 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. Digitally restored from high resolution film elements in perfect high-definition picture and perfect high-definition sound for the first time ever,...
- 6/28/2012
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
Our critics' picks of this week's openings, plus your last chance to see and what to book now
• Which cultural events are in your diary this week? Tell us in the comments below
Opening this weekTheatre
Wah! Wah! Girls
British musical meets Bollywood in new love-against-the-odds show set in the East End of London with a cast of 14, almost all British Asians and a Polish handyman. Peacock,London, Thursday to 23 June.
Posh
Laura Wade has updated her Royal Court hit to point the spotlight once again on the Oxbridge dining clubs that spawned the posh boys currently in power. Duke of Yorks theatre, London, until 4 August.
Betrayal
John Simm stars in Harold Pinter's semi-autobiographical play about an adulterous love affair. The power of the piece is that it works backwards from its bitter end to the moment the affair first sparked. Crucible, Sheffield, until 9 June.
Film
The Raid (dir.
• Which cultural events are in your diary this week? Tell us in the comments below
Opening this weekTheatre
Wah! Wah! Girls
British musical meets Bollywood in new love-against-the-odds show set in the East End of London with a cast of 14, almost all British Asians and a Polish handyman. Peacock,London, Thursday to 23 June.
Posh
Laura Wade has updated her Royal Court hit to point the spotlight once again on the Oxbridge dining clubs that spawned the posh boys currently in power. Duke of Yorks theatre, London, until 4 August.
Betrayal
John Simm stars in Harold Pinter's semi-autobiographical play about an adulterous love affair. The power of the piece is that it works backwards from its bitter end to the moment the affair first sparked. Crucible, Sheffield, until 9 June.
Film
The Raid (dir.
- 5/20/2012
- The Guardian - Film News
Bertrand Chamayou Liszt: Anneés de Pèlerinage (Naïve)
The musical harvest of last year’s Liszt bicentennial continues even now; this young French pianist (who already, six years ago, gave us an excellent cycle of the Transcendental Etudes) celebrated it by presenting this mighty collection, which amounts to three cycles, in single concerts and then recording this three-cd set. For decades Lazar Berman’s set for Deutsche Grammophon has set the standard in this repertoire for an integral set, but Chamayou equals it.
Berman’s primary assets, besides his sterling technical skills, are the fiery drama and monumental breadth with which he infused these mighty works. His total time for all three cycles is nearly 26 minutes longer than Chamayou's. The Frenchman by contrast leans towards the music's poetic side and plays with a lighter touch, though when the occasion demands power (the climaxes of "Sposalizio" and "Apres une lecture du Dante...
The musical harvest of last year’s Liszt bicentennial continues even now; this young French pianist (who already, six years ago, gave us an excellent cycle of the Transcendental Etudes) celebrated it by presenting this mighty collection, which amounts to three cycles, in single concerts and then recording this three-cd set. For decades Lazar Berman’s set for Deutsche Grammophon has set the standard in this repertoire for an integral set, but Chamayou equals it.
Berman’s primary assets, besides his sterling technical skills, are the fiery drama and monumental breadth with which he infused these mighty works. His total time for all three cycles is nearly 26 minutes longer than Chamayou's. The Frenchman by contrast leans towards the music's poetic side and plays with a lighter touch, though when the occasion demands power (the climaxes of "Sposalizio" and "Apres une lecture du Dante...
- 4/23/2012
- by SteveHoltje
- www.culturecatch.com
The National have been confirmed as the curators of this year's All Tomorrow's Parties festival in December. The band will play their only UK show of the year at the 5,500-capacity event, which takes place at Butlins Holiday Centre, Minehead from December 7-9. Other acts confirmed for the event include Kronos Quartet, The Antlers, Owen Pallett, Boris, Tim Hecker, Sharon Van Etten, My Brightest Diamond, Wye Oak, Lower Dens, Megafaun, Suuns, Dark Dark Dark, Buke and Gase. The full lineup will feature 40 live acts across three indoor stages, as well as DJs, cinema and books curated by The National and more. Tickets, (more)...
- 1/18/2012
- by By Mayer Nissim
- Digital Spy
Dear Sos reader/listenership:
With Christmas approaching, and with Sound on Sight turning three years old (and yes, I know Iceage are pictured above holding four candles – deal with it), I thought it appropriate to create a “present” of sorts to thank everyone for their support, attention, and feedback. Earlier this year, partially thanks to my involvement with Sos (and the associated time commitments), I decided I had to step down from my volunteer position at Cjlo 1690Am here in Montreal, where I had been maintaining a weekly music show for several years – but that doesn’t mean I’ve stopped keeping tabs on what I consider to be the best music of the year. So, in order to keep one foot in the music world, I started keeping a longlist of my favorite new tracks, with the ultimate goal of making a kickass year-end mix for you all.
Which I’ve now done!
With Christmas approaching, and with Sound on Sight turning three years old (and yes, I know Iceage are pictured above holding four candles – deal with it), I thought it appropriate to create a “present” of sorts to thank everyone for their support, attention, and feedback. Earlier this year, partially thanks to my involvement with Sos (and the associated time commitments), I decided I had to step down from my volunteer position at Cjlo 1690Am here in Montreal, where I had been maintaining a weekly music show for several years – but that doesn’t mean I’ve stopped keeping tabs on what I consider to be the best music of the year. So, in order to keep one foot in the music world, I started keeping a longlist of my favorite new tracks, with the ultimate goal of making a kickass year-end mix for you all.
Which I’ve now done!
- 12/11/2011
- by Simon Howell
- SoundOnSight
While Miley Cyrus isn't the first person to come to mind when making a wishlist of artists to cover Bob Dylan songs, we have to admit -- we're really looking forward to this album.
Miley and a host of her contemporaries have joined forces to pay tribute to both Bob Dylan and Amnesty International with a new cover album. The record, titled "Chimes of Freedom," features a huge variety of artists -- from Pete Seeger to Ke$ha.
"Glee" star Darren Criss even makes a contribution to the four-disc compilation, covering New Morning with his brother, Chuck Criss, and his band the Freelance Whales. The jam-packed album, which "salutes Amnesty International's 50th anniversary and life-saving human rights work," is set for a January 24 release. Check out the list of songs and artists below to see which classic your favorite singer will be covering.
Disc 1
Raphael Saadiq Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat
Patti Smith...
Miley and a host of her contemporaries have joined forces to pay tribute to both Bob Dylan and Amnesty International with a new cover album. The record, titled "Chimes of Freedom," features a huge variety of artists -- from Pete Seeger to Ke$ha.
"Glee" star Darren Criss even makes a contribution to the four-disc compilation, covering New Morning with his brother, Chuck Criss, and his band the Freelance Whales. The jam-packed album, which "salutes Amnesty International's 50th anniversary and life-saving human rights work," is set for a January 24 release. Check out the list of songs and artists below to see which classic your favorite singer will be covering.
Disc 1
Raphael Saadiq Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat
Patti Smith...
- 11/23/2011
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Pop2it
Requiem for a Dream is a visual assault from its opening frames. Darren Aronofsky likes to scoop out your eyes and piss on your brains. Seriously. But he does it in a good way! The Wrestler is obviously the film for which he broke the surface and came to the attention of everyone … But Requiem is the film that made film-fans and film-makers alike sit up and take notice. Find out why by watching the new Blu-ray release.
Requiem for a Dream is an extraordinarily confident piece of work, given that it’s only Aronofsky’s second film, and it proved that π was no fluke – he really is a talented and deeply introspective film-maker! He makes ‘subjective’ films that are seen through the perceptions of their main characters … So, in the case of this film, the split-screens, jump-cut editing, distorting fish-eye lenses, flickering neons and restless music all contribute...
Requiem for a Dream is an extraordinarily confident piece of work, given that it’s only Aronofsky’s second film, and it proved that π was no fluke – he really is a talented and deeply introspective film-maker! He makes ‘subjective’ films that are seen through the perceptions of their main characters … So, in the case of this film, the split-screens, jump-cut editing, distorting fish-eye lenses, flickering neons and restless music all contribute...
- 10/28/2011
- by John Ashbrook
- Obsessed with Film
Cate Blanchett is scheduled to appear at an Australian music and arts festival. The Earth Station, which was announced four years ago and is a spin-off of the Womadelaide music festival, will take place in Long Gully at Belair National Park in the Adelaide Hills this weekend. According to The ABC, The Kronos Quartet from the United States are scheduled to start the festival with their performance of a Nasa-commissioned piece called 'Sun Rings'. The event's director Ian Scobie said: "It's this really strongly meditative piece about the scale of the universe and man's really insignificant role within it and yet the fragility of the Earth, so it's (more)...
- 10/21/2011
- by By Rebecca Davies
- Digital Spy
New York -- Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Steve Reich (ryk) is picking another image for his album dedicated to 9/11 after the original photo – of the twin towers under attack – was met with protest.
Reich's "Wtc 9/11" is out Sept. 20, nine days after the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks. The Kronos Quartet performs the music, and the piece includes prerecorded voices from air traffic controllers, firefighters and others.
The initial image shows one tower in flames after the first plane hit and another jet about to hit the second tower. Since the music included documentary material from the attacks, Reich says he wanted the album art to do the same. But after some criticism, he agreed to choose another image, though he hasn't selected one yet.
___
Online:...
Reich's "Wtc 9/11" is out Sept. 20, nine days after the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks. The Kronos Quartet performs the music, and the piece includes prerecorded voices from air traffic controllers, firefighters and others.
The initial image shows one tower in flames after the first plane hit and another jet about to hit the second tower. Since the music included documentary material from the attacks, Reich says he wanted the album art to do the same. But after some criticism, he agreed to choose another image, though he hasn't selected one yet.
___
Online:...
- 8/17/2011
- by AP
- Huffington Post
Tania Stavreva Rhythmic Movement: A Modern View of the Classical Music Recital in the 21st Century The Metropolitan Room, July 27, 2011
Whither the classical recital in our multi-media/attention deficit disorder age? Will kids nowadays sit in a dark room (worship at a temple of music, as they say) to concentrate only on a lone figure onstage playing non-rock music? Well, it helps to have a drink in hand, as the success of Le Poisson Rouge has shown over the past few years; classical music in a bar with table service is apparently worth the trade-off of the sounds of the music mixing with clinking glasses, the whine of credit card receipts printing, etc. But what else can be added? Well, visuals -- and not just the sight of good-looking people playing the instruments. Kronos Quartet has done this quite successfully with film and even a projection of the printed music...
Whither the classical recital in our multi-media/attention deficit disorder age? Will kids nowadays sit in a dark room (worship at a temple of music, as they say) to concentrate only on a lone figure onstage playing non-rock music? Well, it helps to have a drink in hand, as the success of Le Poisson Rouge has shown over the past few years; classical music in a bar with table service is apparently worth the trade-off of the sounds of the music mixing with clinking glasses, the whine of credit card receipts printing, etc. But what else can be added? Well, visuals -- and not just the sight of good-looking people playing the instruments. Kronos Quartet has done this quite successfully with film and even a projection of the printed music...
- 7/30/2011
- by SteveHoltje
- www.culturecatch.com
Nonesuch The cover of Steve Reich’s “Wtc 9/11,” performed by Kronos Quartet.
The Nonesuch record label is releasing a recording of Steve Reich’s commemorative piece “Wtc 9/11″ on September 6, 2011. The piece is written for three string quartets, and is performed on the recording by the Kronos Quartet (making use of multiple tracking). It also features recorded voices—of air-traffic controllers, witnesses, mourners, and others.
But what’s making waves in the classical community is the album’s cover art, which...
The Nonesuch record label is releasing a recording of Steve Reich’s commemorative piece “Wtc 9/11″ on September 6, 2011. The piece is written for three string quartets, and is performed on the recording by the Kronos Quartet (making use of multiple tracking). It also features recorded voices—of air-traffic controllers, witnesses, mourners, and others.
But what’s making waves in the classical community is the album’s cover art, which...
- 7/21/2011
- by WSJ Staff
- Speakeasy/Wall Street Journal
Programme includes theatre productions starring Juliette Binoche and Cate Blanchett, and major Bauhaus exhibition
The Barbican arts centre in London will celebrate next year's Olympics with an "unparalleled" lineup of international stars, including the actors Juliette Binoche and Cate Blanchett; stage directors Yukio Ninagawa and Peter Sellars; and the first UK performance of Einstein on the Beach, the opera that four decades ago made the reputations of Philip Glass and Robert Wilson.
The centre will host the biggest exhibition in the UK for 40 years on the Bauhaus design school, which flourished in the 1920s and early 30s.
"In 2012, London welcomes the world for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and the Barbican will be at the forefront of that international moment with an extraordinary range of cultural experiences for all," said Barbican director Sir Nicholas Kenyon.
He predicted that London will "punch above its weight" in the arts festival, and promised...
The Barbican arts centre in London will celebrate next year's Olympics with an "unparalleled" lineup of international stars, including the actors Juliette Binoche and Cate Blanchett; stage directors Yukio Ninagawa and Peter Sellars; and the first UK performance of Einstein on the Beach, the opera that four decades ago made the reputations of Philip Glass and Robert Wilson.
The centre will host the biggest exhibition in the UK for 40 years on the Bauhaus design school, which flourished in the 1920s and early 30s.
"In 2012, London welcomes the world for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and the Barbican will be at the forefront of that international moment with an extraordinary range of cultural experiences for all," said Barbican director Sir Nicholas Kenyon.
He predicted that London will "punch above its weight" in the arts festival, and promised...
- 5/24/2011
- by Maev Kennedy
- The Guardian - Film News
Coliseum; Barbican; Linbury Studio; Queen Elizabeth Hall, all London
Based on column inches and lurid images alone, never mind the incalculable online torrent, the big event this week was Berlioz's The Damnation of Faust at English National Opera. After squawks over the company's recent choice of directors from outside opera, it was a pleasure to witness a superbly staged, ingenious production from opera novice Terry Gilliam, best known as a Hollywood director and genius ex-Python animator. If you want to use film in opera, and most now do, Gilliam shows you how.
Musical standards, with Edward Gardner in the pit, were secure though not vintage, and Berlioz's infinitely delicate score survived just about intact despite being zipped into an all-in-one concept and tumbling out wittily for a choreographic Treaty of Versailles and a dance of the gas masks. The iconography – the 1936 Olympics, Kristallnacht, a glimpse of the Obersalzberg – pinned us...
Based on column inches and lurid images alone, never mind the incalculable online torrent, the big event this week was Berlioz's The Damnation of Faust at English National Opera. After squawks over the company's recent choice of directors from outside opera, it was a pleasure to witness a superbly staged, ingenious production from opera novice Terry Gilliam, best known as a Hollywood director and genius ex-Python animator. If you want to use film in opera, and most now do, Gilliam shows you how.
Musical standards, with Edward Gardner in the pit, were secure though not vintage, and Berlioz's infinitely delicate score survived just about intact despite being zipped into an all-in-one concept and tumbling out wittily for a choreographic Treaty of Versailles and a dance of the gas masks. The iconography – the 1936 Olympics, Kristallnacht, a glimpse of the Obersalzberg – pinned us...
- 5/14/2011
- by Fiona Maddocks
- The Guardian - Film News
Patti Smith has been announced as a recipient of the 2011 Polar Music Prize. The award, given by the Royal Swedish Academy of Music, will be bestowed upon the 'Gloria' singer and classic string group Kronos Quartet by Swedish monarch King Carl XVI Gustaf in a ceremony to be held on August 30. "Patti Smith has demonstrated how much rock'n'roll there is in poetry and how much poetry there is in rock'n'roll," the Academy said in a statement. "She has transformed the way an entire generation looks, (more)...
- 5/4/2011
- by By Jennifer Still
- Digital Spy
Patti Smith will share the honor, which is handed out by the Royal Swedish Academy of Music, with the Kronos Quartet.
The prize committee which selected Smith insisted that "by devoting her life to art in all its forms, Patti Smith has demonstrated how much rock 'n' roll there is in poetry and how much poetry there is in rock 'n' roll".
The judges added that the 64 year old "has transformed the way an entire generation looks, thinks, and dreams".
Both Smith and the string quartet will be invited to a ceremony in Stockholm later this year to accept the prize of one million kronor ($166,000/GBP103,000).
The Polar Music Prize, which was founded by Abba's former manager Stig Anderson in 1989, is shared annually by a pop artist and a classical musician. Last year, it was awarded to Icelandic singer Bjork and Italian composer Ennio Morricone.
The prize committee which selected Smith insisted that "by devoting her life to art in all its forms, Patti Smith has demonstrated how much rock 'n' roll there is in poetry and how much poetry there is in rock 'n' roll".
The judges added that the 64 year old "has transformed the way an entire generation looks, thinks, and dreams".
Both Smith and the string quartet will be invited to a ceremony in Stockholm later this year to accept the prize of one million kronor ($166,000/GBP103,000).
The Polar Music Prize, which was founded by Abba's former manager Stig Anderson in 1989, is shared annually by a pop artist and a classical musician. Last year, it was awarded to Icelandic singer Bjork and Italian composer Ennio Morricone.
- 5/3/2011
- by AceShowbiz.com
- Aceshowbiz
Our critics pick the season's highlights: From Lady Gaga to Harry Potter, Coppélia to Tony Cragg, this summer has something for all
May
4 Film The Tree of Life
The much-delayed fifth feature from director Terrence Malick, snapped up by Icon for UK release ahead of its Cannes showing, is a multi-generational drama featuring Brad Pitt, Sean Penn – and, reportedly, dinosaurs.
5 Classical From the House of the Dead
Opera North's production of Janáek's final work, directed by John Fulljames and conducted by Richard Farnes. Stars Jeffrey Lloyd-Roberts, Alan Oke and Roderick Williams. Leeds and touring
Dance By Singing Light/Romance Inverse
National Dance Company of Wales bring Stephen Petronio and Itzik Galili's arresting double bill to Dance City in Newcastle, with the former set to the poetry of Dylan Thomas.
6 Theatre Shrek
Nigel Lindsay plays the lime-coloured, lovelorn ogre, with Amanda Holden as Princess Fiona and Nigel Harman as Lord Farquaad,...
May
4 Film The Tree of Life
The much-delayed fifth feature from director Terrence Malick, snapped up by Icon for UK release ahead of its Cannes showing, is a multi-generational drama featuring Brad Pitt, Sean Penn – and, reportedly, dinosaurs.
5 Classical From the House of the Dead
Opera North's production of Janáek's final work, directed by John Fulljames and conducted by Richard Farnes. Stars Jeffrey Lloyd-Roberts, Alan Oke and Roderick Williams. Leeds and touring
Dance By Singing Light/Romance Inverse
National Dance Company of Wales bring Stephen Petronio and Itzik Galili's arresting double bill to Dance City in Newcastle, with the former set to the poetry of Dylan Thomas.
6 Theatre Shrek
Nigel Lindsay plays the lime-coloured, lovelorn ogre, with Amanda Holden as Princess Fiona and Nigel Harman as Lord Farquaad,...
- 4/30/2011
- The Guardian - Film News
She is the legend who has sung in hundreds of Hindi films, worked with Michael Stipe and Robbie Williams, and been immortalised on a UK No 1 record. Rob Fitzpatrick talks to Asha Bhosle
'In the old days all the movie songs were recorded right there on set," remembers Asha Bhosle, the quintessential Bollywood singer. Now 77, Bhosle was just 11 when she performed her first song on a movie soundtrack, Chala Chala Nav Bala from Majha Bal in 1943. In the 68 years since, she has provided the on-screen singing voice for generations of actresses unable to capture and deliver a song as brilliantly as she could, singing around 20,000 tunes in 14 languages, as well as recording with Robbie Williams, Michael Stipe and the Kronos Quartet, and lending her name to Cornershop's Brimful of Asha, one of the landmark No 1 hits of the 1990s.
"My son Anand first heard that song in San Francisco and told me all about it,...
'In the old days all the movie songs were recorded right there on set," remembers Asha Bhosle, the quintessential Bollywood singer. Now 77, Bhosle was just 11 when she performed her first song on a movie soundtrack, Chala Chala Nav Bala from Majha Bal in 1943. In the 68 years since, she has provided the on-screen singing voice for generations of actresses unable to capture and deliver a song as brilliantly as she could, singing around 20,000 tunes in 14 languages, as well as recording with Robbie Williams, Michael Stipe and the Kronos Quartet, and lending her name to Cornershop's Brimful of Asha, one of the landmark No 1 hits of the 1990s.
"My son Anand first heard that song in San Francisco and told me all about it,...
- 3/15/2011
- by Rob Fitzpatrick
- The Guardian - Film News
The latest Music in the Movies column celebrates the work of Elliot Goldenthal, whose compositions have graced such films as Alien 3, Interview With The Vampire and Heat…
Like previous Music in the Movies subject, Elmer Bernstein, Elliot Goldenthal was a student of the legendary Aaron Copland. Whilst Goldenthal isn't the most prolific of film composers, his distinct sound has accompanied some great films over the years and earned him three Oscar nominations and one win. A reason why Goldenthal hasn't got the number of credits his contemporaries boast? He often alternates between film scoring and stage productions.
I haven't included his Oscar winning score for Frida in the article, as I'm not a huge fan of it and there are other titles below that fit better with the rest of the series.
So, here are what I consider to be the most notable scores of Goldenthal's career:
Alien 3...
Like previous Music in the Movies subject, Elmer Bernstein, Elliot Goldenthal was a student of the legendary Aaron Copland. Whilst Goldenthal isn't the most prolific of film composers, his distinct sound has accompanied some great films over the years and earned him three Oscar nominations and one win. A reason why Goldenthal hasn't got the number of credits his contemporaries boast? He often alternates between film scoring and stage productions.
I haven't included his Oscar winning score for Frida in the article, as I'm not a huge fan of it and there are other titles below that fit better with the rest of the series.
So, here are what I consider to be the most notable scores of Goldenthal's career:
Alien 3...
- 12/14/2010
- Den of Geek
A bonafide musical genius, Raymond Scott was something of an overnight success with his quintet back in the ’40s. And while many out there might not recognize the name today, if you’ve ever watched any of the classic Warner Bros Looney Tunes cartoons you know the music: jazzy, swinging and slightly off-kilter.
Scott also pioneered some of the earliest electronic music — not just composing it, but actually inventing and building the gadgets to do it. But despite his brilliant trailblazing and sizeable body of work, Scott spent the later years of his life poor and in relative obscurity. In the past few decades, however, his music has been re-discovered, praised, covered, and sampled by artists including the Kronos Quartet, Gorillaz, They Might Be Giants, and Soul Coughing just to name a few.
“Raymond Scott isn’t a fascinating figure to tech heads and crate diggers alone — to this day,...
Scott also pioneered some of the earliest electronic music — not just composing it, but actually inventing and building the gadgets to do it. But despite his brilliant trailblazing and sizeable body of work, Scott spent the later years of his life poor and in relative obscurity. In the past few decades, however, his music has been re-discovered, praised, covered, and sampled by artists including the Kronos Quartet, Gorillaz, They Might Be Giants, and Soul Coughing just to name a few.
“Raymond Scott isn’t a fascinating figure to tech heads and crate diggers alone — to this day,...
- 12/10/2010
- by George Bragdon
- OriginalAlamo.com
As Vincent Cassel's ballet director Thomas Leroy paces a rehearsal space filled with dozens of dancers, stretching and unsure whether to be overjoyed or fearful of a tap on the shoulder, he announces to his company his choice of what they will soon be performing: "'Swan Lake' - done to death, I know. But not like this." A guiding principle for Darren Aronofsky's "Black Swan," a complete reinvention of Tchaikovsky's famed ballet was assured when the director hired the New York City Ballet's Benjamin Millepied as his choreographer. A sample is here:
"Dance films don't come around that often and they're not usually that good," admitted Millepied, which is probably just as well since he hasn't had much time to spare since studying under Jerome Robbins in his teens to gone on to become one of the world's most prolific and accomplished dancers. However, as a fan of...
"Dance films don't come around that often and they're not usually that good," admitted Millepied, which is probably just as well since he hasn't had much time to spare since studying under Jerome Robbins in his teens to gone on to become one of the world's most prolific and accomplished dancers. However, as a fan of...
- 12/7/2010
- by Stephen Saito
- ifc.com
Years before capturing fanboy hearts with Hellboy and Blade II (and auteurist minds with Pan's Labyrinth and The Devil's Backbone), Mexican filmmaker Guillermo del Toro first found his international audience with 1993's Cronos, released today on DVD and a gorgeous Blu-ray from the Criterion Collection:
Guillermo del Toro made an auspicious and audacious feature debut with Cronos, a highly unorthodox tale about the seductiveness of the idea of immortality. Kindly antiques dealer Jesús Gris (Federico Luppi) happens upon an ancient golden device in the shape of a scarab, and soon finds himself the possessor and victim of its sinister, addictive powers, as well as the target of a mysterious American named Angel (a delightfully crude and deranged Ron Perlman). Featuring marvelous special makeup effects and the haunting imagery for which del Toro has become world-renowned, Cronos is a dark, visually rich, and emotionally captivating fantasy.
Discussing the creative path that led to making Cronos,...
Guillermo del Toro made an auspicious and audacious feature debut with Cronos, a highly unorthodox tale about the seductiveness of the idea of immortality. Kindly antiques dealer Jesús Gris (Federico Luppi) happens upon an ancient golden device in the shape of a scarab, and soon finds himself the possessor and victim of its sinister, addictive powers, as well as the target of a mysterious American named Angel (a delightfully crude and deranged Ron Perlman). Featuring marvelous special makeup effects and the haunting imagery for which del Toro has become world-renowned, Cronos is a dark, visually rich, and emotionally captivating fantasy.
Discussing the creative path that led to making Cronos,...
- 12/7/2010
- GreenCine Daily
For “Black Swan,” director Darren Aronofsky trusted longtime collaborator Clint Mansell to fill out the whole soundtrack. The upcoming film “Blue Valentine,” meanwhile, is scored entirely by indie rock band Grizzly Bear.
And then, of course, there’s Daft Punk‘s creation for the upcoming “Tron: Legacy.”
But these defy movie soundtrack conventions. The majority of the great ones are more like mixtapes (yeah, we’re referencing you, Zach Braff), made by director for his girlfriend film. It is sweet, but impersonal.
So when a director collaborates with only one musician to build the soundtrack, it’s like a boyfriend writing and recording an entire album for and inspired by his girlfriend. With that in mind, here are our 13 favorite single-artist soundtracks.
13. ‘Where The Wild Things Are’ (2009)
Artist: Karen O
Standout Track: “All Is Love”
The Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ sexy vixen Karen O showed her more innocent side with her first film soundtrack.
And then, of course, there’s Daft Punk‘s creation for the upcoming “Tron: Legacy.”
But these defy movie soundtrack conventions. The majority of the great ones are more like mixtapes (yeah, we’re referencing you, Zach Braff), made by director for his girlfriend film. It is sweet, but impersonal.
So when a director collaborates with only one musician to build the soundtrack, it’s like a boyfriend writing and recording an entire album for and inspired by his girlfriend. With that in mind, here are our 13 favorite single-artist soundtracks.
13. ‘Where The Wild Things Are’ (2009)
Artist: Karen O
Standout Track: “All Is Love”
The Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ sexy vixen Karen O showed her more innocent side with her first film soundtrack.
- 12/3/2010
- by Ryan McKee
- NextMovie
Requiem for a Dream
Directed by Darren Aronofsky
Written by Hubert Selby Jr.
2000, USA
The apotheosis of Add. MTV-era filmmaking, Requiem for a Dream is designed to divide. Its mathematically precise editing and histrionic message-driving makes it perhaps the shrillest anti-drug movie of any age, yet its hyperbolic sense of terror and frenetic rhythms manage not to obscure its less obvious gifts. It announces its creator as a force to be reckoned with, even if some will rightly take issue with the film’s combustible content.
Presenting the addict’s progression as a seasonal process, Requiem is divided into “Spring,” “Summer,” “Fall,” and “Winter,” with each segment more perilous than the last. Our victims are young, handsome Harry Goldfarb (Jared Leto); his jittery mother Sara (a devastating Ellen Burstyn); his best friend Tyrone (Marlon Wayans in a rare dramatic role) and his loving girlfriend Marion (Jennifer Connelly). Harry and Tyrone...
Directed by Darren Aronofsky
Written by Hubert Selby Jr.
2000, USA
The apotheosis of Add. MTV-era filmmaking, Requiem for a Dream is designed to divide. Its mathematically precise editing and histrionic message-driving makes it perhaps the shrillest anti-drug movie of any age, yet its hyperbolic sense of terror and frenetic rhythms manage not to obscure its less obvious gifts. It announces its creator as a force to be reckoned with, even if some will rightly take issue with the film’s combustible content.
Presenting the addict’s progression as a seasonal process, Requiem is divided into “Spring,” “Summer,” “Fall,” and “Winter,” with each segment more perilous than the last. Our victims are young, handsome Harry Goldfarb (Jared Leto); his jittery mother Sara (a devastating Ellen Burstyn); his best friend Tyrone (Marlon Wayans in a rare dramatic role) and his loving girlfriend Marion (Jennifer Connelly). Harry and Tyrone...
- 12/1/2010
- by Simon Howell
- SoundOnSight
We tour the amazing scoring and recording facilities at Skywalker Ranch, the terrestrial home of Star Wars...
Set amid the rolling hills and lush forests or Marin County, about an hour outside of San Francisco, Skywalker Ranch is the spiritual home of Star Wars. Built and extended throughout the eighties, it's where George Lucas has his production company and where Skywalker Sound, the legendary audio facility originally known as Sprocket Systems, is based. "George planned Skywalker Ranch as a Mecca for filmmakers and creative artists of all kinds to come and make movies in Northern California," says our tour guide for today, David Collins, LucasArts' lead sound designer and voice director. "That was his dream, and Star Wars afforded him that dream…"
And true enough, the main building, a gleaming white architectural confection constructed in the style of a late-nineteenth century ranch house, is out of bounds today: a writer's workshop is being held there.
Set amid the rolling hills and lush forests or Marin County, about an hour outside of San Francisco, Skywalker Ranch is the spiritual home of Star Wars. Built and extended throughout the eighties, it's where George Lucas has his production company and where Skywalker Sound, the legendary audio facility originally known as Sprocket Systems, is based. "George planned Skywalker Ranch as a Mecca for filmmakers and creative artists of all kinds to come and make movies in Northern California," says our tour guide for today, David Collins, LucasArts' lead sound designer and voice director. "That was his dream, and Star Wars afforded him that dream…"
And true enough, the main building, a gleaming white architectural confection constructed in the style of a late-nineteenth century ranch house, is out of bounds today: a writer's workshop is being held there.
- 10/28/2010
- by Keith Stuart
- The Guardian - Film News
Hackney Empire, London
"No, it wasn't scary at all," the girl said as she chatted to her friend on her mobile. "The old horror films are so funny." Much of the packed house at Hackney Empire thought the same of Tod Browning's 1931 movie Dracula, screened to a live performance by the Kronos Quartet of Philip Glass's score. There were no gasps of shock or horror (though one can imagine a 1930s audience recoiling at the more gruesome implications), only knowing chuckles and the occasional laugh out loud.
Vampire films, through countless reincarnations right up to the current Twilight craze, have made the conventions of the Dracula legend – crucifixes, mirror tricks and stakes through the heart – all too familiar.
But that becomes irrelevant when you experience this Dracula, an early talkie with no music, with Philip Glass's score. The live soundtrack gives the movie, nicely projected on a big screen above the musicians,...
"No, it wasn't scary at all," the girl said as she chatted to her friend on her mobile. "The old horror films are so funny." Much of the packed house at Hackney Empire thought the same of Tod Browning's 1931 movie Dracula, screened to a live performance by the Kronos Quartet of Philip Glass's score. There were no gasps of shock or horror (though one can imagine a 1930s audience recoiling at the more gruesome implications), only knowing chuckles and the occasional laugh out loud.
Vampire films, through countless reincarnations right up to the current Twilight craze, have made the conventions of the Dracula legend – crucifixes, mirror tricks and stakes through the heart – all too familiar.
But that becomes irrelevant when you experience this Dracula, an early talkie with no music, with Philip Glass's score. The live soundtrack gives the movie, nicely projected on a big screen above the musicians,...
- 7/26/2010
- by John L Walters
- The Guardian - Film News
In the Indian music tradition, each rag was written to be played during a certain time of day. To this day traditionalists stick to that format. The idea is that this captures the essence of nature's movement in song; it also attunes the musicians and listeners with the melodies of earth. This philosophy creates the foundation of all ten musicians who performed on the third night of Kronos Quartet's four-night stand at Carnegie Hall's Zankel Hall on March 13. The evening, entitled "Tundra Songs," was a tribute to the heritage and future of Nordic and Shamanic music. It was a fitting evening many ways. New York City was pounded by sleet and forty-mile-an-hour winds. The nature both inside the venue and out merged, and we islanders had our own taste of the Arctic. Kronos has become an institution in classical music,...
- 3/14/2010
- by Derek Beres
- Huffington Post
Some of the most exciting musical collaborations are happening between jazz, classical and world musicians these days. Musicians have always fed off interaction with other players, but the sheer variety of music that is available coupled with access to international players has led to some truly exquisite sounds. In the classical world the work of Yo Yo Ma's Silk Road Ensemble and its spinoff collaborations between Kayhan Kalhor and Brooklyn Rider come to mind and of course, the by now venerable Kronos Quartet and maverick violinist Giles Apap. In the jazz world the same foment is apparent (the kora seeming to be the instrument of choice these days, appearing alongside jazz heavies) and when the world music extravaganza of GlobalFEST blew into the Apple in January, it brought Nguyen Le's "Saiyuki" with it. The Fest took place at Webster Hall,...
- 3/3/2010
- by Michal Shapiro
- Huffington Post
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