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Tag Archives: billy crudup

Review: ‘Alien: Covenant’

Posted on May 18, 2017 by Michael Petrelli — Leave a reply

For those keeping score, I was not one of the people who hated Prometheus, in fact, I rather liked it a lot. Anytime a film delves into the mythology of a storied franchise there’s always a risk to alienate parts of a fan base, but what I thought director Ridley Scott set out to achieve was something bigger, he was trying to expand the mythology in ways that transformed the way you looked at his original films and therein lies the dilemma. Alien: Covenant looks to continue that mythological backstory and add another piece in to the Alien franchise puzzle.

It’s the year 2104, the crew of the colony ship Covenant is bound for a remote planet, Origae-6, with thousands of colonists in stow. All are deep in hypersleep being watched over by Walter (Michael Fassbender), a synthetic charged with piloting the ship during travel. When an unexpected burst hits the ship, the crew are awoken to assess the damage and help reset the ship for the rest of it’s journey. During the repairs, they intercept a human radio transmission from a nearby unknown planet and acting crew chief Christopher Oram (Billy Crudup) makes the call to set a course for the planet. Daniels (Katherine Waterston) exercises her opinion as first mate against the move, electing to continue on to Origae-6, but reluctantly agrees to be part of a landing party to inspect the planet.

Upon landing, the team splits off to explore the new world while the core team searches for the signal to the transmission. Ultimately, they track the signal to a crashed Engineer ship and more questions than answers. Two crew members are mysteriously infected with an alien spore and the team is forced to defend itself against the unknown foe. Unable to contact the Covenant, Daniels and the remaining survivors must rely on the help of a stranger to lead them to safety and help them understand the impending threat. What will be unearthed will be like nothing this crew has ever faced. One thing’s for sure, for Daniels, the protection of the Covenant and its passengers must be protected at all cost.

Ridley Scott’s vision for the Alien franchise has turned a necessary corner here in Alien: Covenant. The film that bridges the gap between Prometheus and what’s to come in the original film is shocking in it’s telling, it’ll take some time to process, but it will leave you with anticipation for the next chapter in this saga. Michael Fassbender is chilling in his duel roles. He has morphed from secondary character into the true face of the prequel franchise. Katherine Waterston is tremendous as the reluctant heroine and provides a compelling, emotional story arc. Waterston’s rational portrayal provides remnants of Ripley but not overpowering to the point of redundancy.

Overall, Alien: Covenant is slow out of the gate, but gets moving pretty fast. A lot more action and gore this time around, electing for more shock than story. It’ll be a film that Alien fans will be debating for quite some time.

Stars:

3 out of 5

After credit scene?

None

Trailer:

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Posted in Reviews, Top Rated | Tagged Alexander England, ALIEN: COVENANT, Amy Seimetz, Benjamin Rigby, billy crudup, Callie Hernandez, Carmen Ejogo, danny mcbride, Demian Bichir, Guy Pearce, James Franco, Jussie Smollett, katherine waterston, Lorelei King, Michael, michael fassbender, Nathaniel Dean, noomi rapace, ridley scott, Tess Haubrich, Uli Latukefu | Leave a reply

20th Century Fox has debuted a NEW trailer for ‘ALIEN: COVENANT’!

Posted on March 1, 2017 by Michael Petrelli — Leave a reply

20th Century Fox has debuted a NEW trailer for ALIEN: COVENANT! Ridley Scott returns to the universe he created with a new chapter in his groundbreaking ALIEN franchise. Watch the new trailer below!

The crew of the colony ship Covenant, bound for a remote planet on the far side of the galaxy, discovers what they think is an uncharted paradise, but is actually a dark, dangerous world.  When they uncover a threat beyond their imagination, they must attempt a harrowing escape.

The movie stars Michael Fassbender, Katherine Waterston, Billy Crudup, Danny McBride, Demián Bichir, Carmen Ejogo, Amy Seimetz, Jussie Smollett, Callie Hernandez, Nathaniel Dean, Alexander England and Benjamin Rigby.

ALIEN: COVENANT hits theaters everywhere on May 19, 2017.

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Posted in News, Trailer | Tagged 20th century fox, Alexander England, ALIEN: COVENANT, Amy Seimetz, Benjamin Rigby, billy crudup, Callie Hernandez, Carmen Ejogo, danny mcbride, Demian Bichir, Jussie Smollett, katherine waterston, michael fassbender, Nathaniel Dean, ridley scott | Leave a reply

20th Century Fox has released the first trailer for ALIEN: COVENANT!

Posted on December 25, 2016 by Michael Petrelli — Leave a reply
20th Century Fox has released the first trailer for ALIEN: COVENANT! Ridley Scott returns to the universe he created, with ALIEN: COVENANT, a new chapter in his groundbreaking ALIEN franchise. The crew of the colony ship Covenant, bound for a remote planet on the far side of the galaxy, discovers what they think is an uncharted paradise, but is actually a dark, dangerous world.  When they uncover a threat beyond their imagination, they must attempt a harrowing escape. Check out the trailer and film stills below!
The movie stars Michael Fassbender, Katherine Waterston, Billy Crudup, Danny McBride, Demián Bichir, Carmen Ejogo, Amy Seimetz, Jussie Smollett, Callie Hernandez, Nathaniel Dean, Alexander England andBenjamin Rigby.
ALIEN: COVENANT hits theaters everywhere on May 19, 2017



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Posted in News, Trailer | Tagged Alexander England, ALIEN: COVENANT, Amy Seimetz, Benjamin Rigby, billy crudup, Callie Hernandez, Carmen Ejogo, danny mcbride, Demian Bichir, Jussie Smollett, katherine waterston, michael fassbender, Nathaniel Dean, ridley scott | Leave a reply

NYFF54 Review: ’20th CENTURY WOMEN’, the ladies have it.

Posted on October 20, 2016 by Liz Whittemore — Leave a reply

nyff54-banner

20th CENTURY WOMEN20th-century-women-poster

  • Mike Mills
  • 2016
  • USA
  • 118 minutes

Mike Mills’s texturally and behaviorally rich new comedy seems to keep redefining itself as it goes along, creating a moving group portrait of particular people in a particular place (Santa Barbara) at a particular moment in the 20th century (1979), one lovingly attended detail at a time. The great Annette Bening, in one of her very best performances, is Dorothea, a single mother raising her teenage son, Jamie (Lucas Jade Zumann), in a sprawling bohemian house, which is shared by an itinerant carpenter (Billy Crudup) and a punk artist with a Bowie haircut (Greta Gerwig) and frequented by Jamie’s rebellious friend Julie (Elle Fanning). 20th Century Women is warm, funny, and a work of passionate artistry. An A24 release.

nyff54-20th-century-women-2cw-final-originalWriter/Director Mike Mills knows women. He appreciates the ins and outs, the nuances of age and stage and the humor in everyday life. Annette Bening asks one of her tenants Abbie, and son’s high school aged best friend, Julie to teach him how to be a food man. Since his father is out of the picture and mother Dorothea has trouble keeping an age appropriate man around for long, she had enlisted help. thankfully she has been thus far successful in raising an open-minded and perfectly curious boy. His inspiration for exploring the world is only enhanced by the eclectic females he is surrounded by. The film is funny and sweet. It’s a bit if a time capsule and yet somehow remains timeless in the theme of self discovery. The transitions are like colorful music videos mixed with punk  music from Talking Heads and Black Flag.

The cast is a dream. Billy Crudup is masculine but sensitive and thoughtful. Elle Fanning plays boy crazy, rebellion Julie with a wonderful mix of overconfidence and softness to remind us all of our teenage years. Lucas Jade Zumann is the anchor of this film in plot and reality. His innocence on-screen is wildly refreshing. Greta Gerwig is as strong and wonderful as always. Her vulnerability is unsurpassed as a punk artist and cancer survivor dealing with societal expectations of healing. Annette Bening, as bohemian mother Dorothea, owns the screen. She is pure magic in presence and delivery. I’m pulling for a nomination for Gerwig and Bening this year as I think they both at least deserve the nod.  20th Century Women is ensemble casting perfection. Without a doubt you are watching a real family on the screen. With Mike Mills‘ screenplay so full of insight, I vote they show kids this film in school and throw out those laughably outdated sex ed videos. You can catch the film when it opens this Christmas.

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Posted in Events, New York City, New York City, News, Poster, Release, Reviews, Trailer, Woman Lead, Women in Film | Tagged 20th Century Women, a24, Annette Bening, billy crudup, Black Flag, Elle Fanning, family, feminism, FilmFestival, Great Gerwig, Liz, lucas jade zumann, mike mills, New York Film Festival, nyff, nyff liz, nyff2016, punk music, Talking Heads, time capsule | Leave a reply

New York Film Festival announces Mike Mill’s ’20th Century Women’ as centerpiece

Posted on July 27, 2016 by Melissa Hanson — Leave a reply

NYFF 54 Header

NYFF54 Centerpiece 20th Century Women courtesy A24

The Film Society of Lincoln Center announces the selection of 20th Century Women, written and directed by Mike Mills (Beginners), as the Centerpiece of the 54th New York Film Festival (September 30 – October 16). The gala screening on Saturday, October 8, will be the film’s World Premiere.

Available on Netflix

Mills’s texturally and behaviorally rich new comedy keeps redefining itself as it goes along, creating a moving group portrait of particular people in a particular place (Santa Barbara) at a particular moment in the 20th century (1979), one lovingly attended detail at a time. The great Annette Bening, in one of her very best performances, is a single mother raising her teenage son (newcomer Lucas Jade Zumann) in a sprawling bohemian house, shared by an itinerant carpenter (Billy Crudup) and a punk artist with a Bowie haircut (Greta Gerwig), and frequented by her son’s rebellious friend (Elle Fanning). 20th Century Women is warm, funny, and a work of passionate artistry.

New York Film Festival Director and Selection Committee Chair Kent Jones said, “I was taken aback by 20th Century Women. It’s made with an extraordinarily unusual level of craft and attention to detail, human and visual, which is now all but extinct. As someone who actually lived through 1979 in middle-class America, I will testify to the fact that Mike Mills and his remarkable cast approach the level of the uncanny. I felt like I was back there, with all the shared behaviors and worries, the divisions, the look and feel and smell of the world as it was.”

“Everyone who worked on this film is so honored we’re a part of NYFF,” said Mills. “It’s very exciting for me to premiere my film in the city where I discovered I wanted to be a writer and director, and at the film festival where I saw so many films that inspired me and truly showed me the way. My first film school was a combination of Kim’s Video on Avenue A, Theatre 80 St Marks, and all the innovations I saw at NYFF—so beginning this film’s public life here is especially meaningful to me.”

20th Century Women will be released by A24 in December. The film is produced by Megan Ellison of Annapurna Pictures, Anne Carey of Archer Gray, and Youree Henley.

The 17-day New York Film Festival highlights the best in world cinema, featuring works from celebrated filmmakers as well as fresh new talent. The selection committee, chaired by Jones, also includes Dennis Lim, FSLC Director of Programming; Florence Almozini, FSLC Associate Director of Programming; Amy Taubin, Contributing Editor, Film Comment and Sight & Sound; and Gavin Smith, who serves as a consultant.

Earlier this month, NYFF announced Ava DuVernay’s documentary The 13th as the Opening Night selection, the first-ever nonfiction work to open the festival.

Tickets for the 54th New York Film Festival will go on sale September 11. Becoming a Film Society Member at the Film Buff Level or above provides early ticket access to festival screenings and events ahead of the general public, along with the exclusive member ticket discount. Learn more at filmlinc.org/membership.

For even more access, VIP passes and subscription packages offer one of the earliest opportunities to purchase tickets and secure seats at some of the festival’s biggest events including Opening, Centerpiece, and Closing Nights. VIP passes also provide access to many exciting events, including the invitation-only Opening Night party, “An Evening With…” dinner, Filmmaker Brunch, and VIP Lounge. Benefits vary based on the pass or package type purchased. VIP passes and subscription packages are on sale now. Learn more at filmlinc.org/NYFF.

FILM SOCIETY OF LINCOLN CENTER
The Film Society of Lincoln Center is devoted to supporting the art and elevating the craft of cinema. The only branch of the world-renowned arts complex Lincoln Center to shine a light on the everlasting yet evolving importance of the moving image, this nonprofit organization was founded in 1969 to celebrate American and international film. Via year-round programming and discussions; its annual New York Film Festival; and its publications, including Film Comment, the U.S.’s premier magazine about films and film culture, the Film Society endeavors to make the discussion and appreciation of cinema accessible to a broader audience, as well as to ensure that it will remain an essential art form for years to come.

The Film Society receives generous, year-round support from American Airlines, The New York Times, HBO, The Kobal Collection, Variety, Loews Regency Hotel, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the New York State Council on the Arts.

Support for the New York Film Festival is also generously provided by Jaeger-LeCoultre.

For more information about the New York Film Festival, visit filmlinc.org/NYFF. For the latest news, subscribe to the festival’s newsletter, follow the festival on Facebook and Twitter, and use the hashtag: #NYFF.

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Posted in Film Festival, New York Film Festival | Tagged 20th Century Women, Annette Bening, billy crudup, Elle Fanning, Film Society of Lincoln Center, greta gerwig, lucas jade zumann, mike mills, New York Film Festival, nyff, nyff54, nyff54melissa | Leave a reply

Airsoft

Posted on October 25, 2014 by Liz Whittemore — Leave a reply

Airsoft is a skirmish sport that originated in Japan. It is a combat style game in which individuals or teams compete to eliminate their opponent with non-metallic pellets loaded in guns. Standard Airsoft guns are typically replica firearms having a mechanism for shooting projectiles 6-8 mm in diameter. As per operating principles, airsoft guns are classified as spring loaded guns, battery powered electric guns and gas-powered guns.

In the late 1980s, this sport spread to the UK and until the mid-1980s when more and more upper parts for AR-15 rifles started to emerge. The sport has been adapted as a purely recreational activity in many countries.

This skirmish sport is also used in the United States by numerous law enforcement agencies for force-on-force training drills in varying organized scenarios.

golfer driving the ball off a teeAirsoft with a replica weapon

Guns tend to run at 350fps-500fps or higher depending on the gun and the manufacturer. All guns are legally liable to comply with the “orange tip” muzzle requirement in order to distinguish them from real live fire ammunition fire arms. Check TheEliteDrone’s airsoft sniper guide

Because our field is close quarter urban combat, we require that all guns playing in our arena are shooting at or below 330fps for safety and have technicians on site to do any alterations necessary to allow players to use their personal weapons in our arena.

All in all, remember that Airsoft is played to have fun. This seems like a no-brainer but I’ve seen many players get caught up in the moment as well as fights breaking out. Try to avoid anything that might spark a conflict because no one wants to be banned from their local field.

Airsoft Laws

gogglepic-hn frincon

Due to the nature of the sport, Airsoft has specific laws made for it so it can help prevent any sort of confusion. Airsoft contains many realistic themes of the military which can cause problems if you don’t know what your country allows. In this section, we’ll cover the basic Airsoft laws that exist in the USA together with our brothers in Canada.

Airsoft Equipment

Airsoft equipment can be a very broad topic. In our case, I am referring to the gear you are bringing into the field. First and foremost, you’ll need a tactical military vest to hold your magazines and grenades. Depending on your field, you should find the appropriate camouflage and the number of pockets. Make sure you have enough pockets to store your magazines as well as quick and easy access to whatever equipped. After the vest, I wouldn’t worry too much about your pants unless you’d want to match the camouflage of your torso. Later on in this mega-article, we cover game-changing attachments that can give you pinpoint accuracy. But for now, explore and see what type of clothing you’d like to wear. Check out Eagle Six Gear for the best military apparel.

The BBs used are primarily 6mm size ball made of plastic. They come in different weights and brands as well as BioDegradable or Tracer style. Here at VIP Airsoft, we have our BBs custom created for used specifically within our arena. They are made of high quality plastic and are a custom color to help identify ours from others. This difference allows our players the opportunity to bring any unused BBs to later sessions. A HUGE advantage for our players!

Many players have compared getting hit by a BB as being snapped by a rubberband. This sensation can be lessened by the amount of layers being worn, safety protection and the fabrics. So dress accordingly and be prepared to get hit. While the FPS we run in our arena will not cause blood draw, it may leave marks that last about an hour. Again, the better prepared you come with what you’re wearing, the better off you’ll be and the better the experience you’ll have.

Other Skirmish Sports

  • Laser Tag — a skirmish sport in which players attempt to score points by tagging targets, typically with a hand-held infrared-emitting targeting device.
  • Paintball — a skirmish sport in which players compete to eliminate opponents by tagging them with capsules containing water soluble dye propelled from paintball guns.

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Posted in Features, Go To The Movies, in theaters, Poster, Release, Reviews, Streaming, Trailer, What To Watch This Week | Tagged Almost Famous, Anton Yelchin, billy crudup, drama, Felicity Huffman, Frank, Garden State, Laurence Fishburne, Liz, October release, Rudderless, soundtrack, william h macy | Leave a reply

Jeremy’s Review: Peter Glanz’s ‘The Longest Week’ Is What Happens When Wes Anderson and Woody Allen Films Mate…But Is That a Good Thing?

Posted on September 8, 2014 by Jeremy Harmon — Leave a reply

The Longest Week - PosterFresh with master shots, sly camera movements and clever inserts of nostalgic items such as record players flush with witty conversations on the meaning of life, sex and relationships, Peter Glanz‘s The Longest Week wears its influences on its sleeve – Wes Anderson and Woody Allen are everywhere in this film. The economic status of the characters could easily lead us to the New York comedies of Whit Stillman (Metropolitan in particular – the Jane Austen chatter alone pushes this). With all that cinematic genius being channeled, as the title of this article asks, is this a good thing? Maybe, maybe not. Read More →

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Posted in Features, in theaters | Tagged anna karina, band of outsiders, billy crudup, bottle rocket, edith wharton, f. scott fitzgerald, jane austen, jason bateman, Jean-Luc Godard, jenny slate, juno, lonest week, meteropolitan, obvious child, Olivia Wilde, peter glanz, quentin tarantino, wes anderson, whit stillman, woody allen | Leave a reply

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