MovieSet brings you the another “Best of the Best” with a couple “Need to Watch” videos from Drag me to Hell and Land of the Lost.

Drag Me to Hell is gaining rave reviews since screening at Cannes. Here’s the synopsis:

DRAG ME TO HELL tells the story of Christine Brown (Alison Lohman), an ambitious L.A. loan officer with a charming boyfriend, Professor Clay Dalton (Justin Long). Life is good until the mysterious Mrs. Ganush (Lorna Raver) enters their lives…and everything begins to unravel. When her loan is denied and she loses her house, the shamed Mrs. Ganush places the powerful curse of the Lamia on Christine, transforming her life into a living hell.

Here’s writer/director Sam Raimi discussing the Drag me to Hell story – there are 10 more behind the scenes videos for the film:

And here’s “cinema icon” Will Ferrell with a preview of Land of the Lost – with time travel, dinosaurs, a giant crab and lizard people! One of 16 Land of the Lost videos on MovieSet. Don’t Forget to enter our Land of the Lost Sweepstakes below to win prizes from the zany Will Ferrell movie based on the Syd and Marty Croft classic TV series.

Land of the Lost Sweepstakes!

Having fun on the run has never been this easy! As we celebrate the arrival of the incomparable Will Ferrell in the the highly anticipated ‘Land of the Lost’ movie in theaters June 5, 2009, we thought we’d give you some gear to have some fun in the summer sun! Take ‘Land of the Lost’ with you into the woods and zip up in your own private tent to watch the entire classic TV series on your own portable DVD player. You’ll also get a theatrical release one-sheet for your pad. Runner up prizes include the entire classic TV series of Land of the Lost and theatrical one sheets as well. Don’t get lost, enter now!

Dates: May 21, 2009 – June 14, 2009  – Enter for a chance to win!

Shaun and Eric, hosts of the Behind the Scenes show, ask, “What did you like at Cannes?” Let us know and we’ll send you a official gift from the festival – just add a link to the Cannes 2009 sitelet.

To get your hands on our Cannes souvenirs, simply let us know what Cannes movies and coverage you enjoyed with a link to the Cannes 2009 sitelet in a blog post, Twitter update, Facebook mention, MySpace blurb, comment, whatever … Just make sure you point back to the Cannes 2009 sitelet so we can say thank you with an official Cannes poster, Cannes watch, Cannes backpack or Cannes film slate photo frame to remember the 62nd edition of this classic festival.

Some of the Cannes Movies we covered:

• Drag Me to Hell
• Hump Day
• Taking Woodstock,
• A Christmas Carol
• Agora
• I Love You Philip Morris
• Inglourious Basterds
• UP
• Bright Star

The MovieSet Cannes team is back and brought a suitcase of souvenirs for fans of the film festival and we wanna share the stash with you! Indeed, We Like to Be Seen so are asking you, “What did you like at Cannes?”

To get your hands on our Cannes souvenirs, simply let us know what Cannes movies and coverage you enjoyed with a link to the Cannes 2009 sitelet in a blog post, Twitter update, Facebook mention, MySpace blurb, comment, whatever … Just make sure you point back to the Cannes 2009 sitelet so we can say thank you with an official Cannes poster, Cannes watch, Cannes backpack or Cannes film slate photo frame to remember the 62nd edition of this classic festival.

Write about any movie we covered, a Behind the Scenes episode or share a photo – whatever you liked best.

Here’s a recap of Cannes Highlights and Films to get you started:

Cannes Round-ups

MovieSet’s Ultimate Cannes Round-Up!

And the winners are at the Cannes Film Festival…

Top Directors at Cannes

Starlets out and about in Cannes

On the Red Carpet at Cannes (preview)

Cannes Movies

Drag Me to Hell

Hump Day

Taking Woodstock,

A Christmas Carol

Agora

I Love You Philip Morris

Inglourious Basterds

UP

Bright Star

Collections

Stills

News

As we come to the end of the Cannes Film Festival, we are gonna do a quick re-cap on the top stories we covered at the Festival.

For those that missed the great coverage, check out this post to see the progress of the festival, as well as the awards and winners.

Our team at Cannes is very proud to captured some amazing footage of one of the best film festivals in the world!

The full list of winners follows. You can log on to Official Cannes Festival site to watch the press conference and photo call following the closing ceremony festivities in Cannes.

To check out exactly what each prize means, and more info about the festival itself, check out The Substream Filmlabs’ Cannes Video.

• Palme d’Or (Golden Palm): “The White Ribbon,” by Michael Haneke (Austria)
• Grand Prize: “A Prophet,” by Jacques Audiard (France)
• Jury Prize: “Fish Tank,” by Andrea Arnold (Britain) and “Thirst,” By Park Chan-wook (South Korea).
• Special Prize: Alain Resnais
• Best Director: Brillante Mendoza, “Kinatay” (The Philippines)
• Best Actor: Christoph Waltz, “Inglourious Basterds” (United States)
• Best Actress: Charlotte Gainsbourg, “Antichrist” (Denmark)
• Best Screenplay: Feng Mei, “Spring Fever” (China)
• Camera d’Or (first-time director): “Samson and Delilah,” by Warwick Thornton (Australia)
• Best short film: “Arena,” by Joao Salaviza (Portugal)

Here’s an introduction to the films we had an opportunity to cover, including press conferences and interviews with filmmakers and actors.

1) The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

The ‘Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus‘ is a fantastical morality tale, set in the present-day. Dr. Parnassus with his extraordinary traveling show “The Imaginarium” offers to members of the audience an irresistible opportunity to enter their universe of imaginations and wonders, by passing through a magical mirror. But Dr. Parnassus is cursed with a dark secret. An inveterate gambler, thousands of years ago he made a bet with the devil, Mr. Nick, in which he won immortality.

Centuries later, on meeting his one true love, Dr. Parnassus made another deal with the devil, trading his immortality for youth, on condition that when his daughter reached her 16th birthday, she would become the property of Mr. Nick. Now it is time to pay the price…

Watch the Press Conference with Terry Gilliam and Actors.

2) I Love you Phillip Morris

The true story of an ex-cop, ex-husband, ex-insurance swindler, ex-model prisoner and eternal lover of cellmate Philip Morris (Ewan McGregor). Steven Russell (Jim Carrey) will do anything to avoid being separated from the man of his dreams. Which means not rotting away in prison.

How far can one go for love? Quite far if you believe the incredible story of Steven Russell, an escape artist whose romanticism gets the better of him. Based on the book by Steven McVicker, this jail-house, dark romantic comedy.

Read the Ultimate Review by Phillip Nakov

3) Agora

As the Roman Empire declines, philosopher and astromomer Hypatia struggles to preserve scientific knowledge amid the clash of zealots in Alexandria, whose rising Christian population grows increasingly militant toward Jews and worshipers of the Egyptian gods.

Check out the Press Conference with Rachel Weisz and Director Alejandro Amenabar

4) Disney’s A Christmas Carol

Charles Dickens’ timeless tale of an old miser who must face Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet-to-Come, as they help to bring kindness to his otherwise cold heart. The Ghosts remind him of the man he used to be, the hard truth of what the world is today, and what will happen if he does not strive to be a better man.

Jim Carrey plays four separate roles in this updated version of A Christmas Carol. Carrey portrays Scrooge, as well as the three ghosts (Past, Present, and Yet-to-Come). His dynamic character roles keep the four characters as diverse as being played by four actors. Robert Zemeckis (Back to the Future trilogy) has his chance to dabble in telling a story through the windows of time, as he directs the long-awaited remake. In theaters Nov. 6, 2009.

Check out this sneak peak teaser footage of the movie, showing off some of the CGI and the Press Conference with Jim Carrey and Robert Zemeckis and some Stills of the Premiere.

5) Bright Star

“Bright Star”. The movie stars Australian Actress Abbie Cornish, Thomas Sangster and Paul Schneider. Not much is know about the movie yet, but you can check out some stuff at the Official Page.

London 1818 is the year, a secret love affair begins between 23 year old English poet, John Keats, and the girl next door, Fanny Brawne, an outspoken student of fashion. This unlikely pair started at odds; he thinking her a stylish minx, she unimpressed by literature in general. It was the illness of Keats’s younger brother that drew them together. Keats was touched by Fanny’s efforts to help and agreed to teach her poetry. By the time Fanny’s alarmed mother and Keats’s best friend Brown realised their attachment, the relationship had an unstoppable momentum. Intensely and helplessly absorbed in each other, the young lovers were swept into powerful new sensations, “I have the feeling as if I were dissolving”, Keats wrote to her. Together they rode a wave of romantic obsession that deepened as their troubles mounted. Only Keats’s illness proved insurmountable.

Take a look at this clip from the Press Conference in Cannes.

For everything Cannes Remember to check out the Cannes 2009 Sitelet!

Au revoir !

From Phillip, our man on the Crossiette ….

And that wraps it up for us and the whole MovieSet.com crew from here in the south of France. It has been a terrific, fast-paced and exciting two weeks. We’ve seen so many great movies, some not so great and some that we just wondered how they ever got made. There is no other festival like it in the world.

We thank the Festival de Cannes press accreditation committee for welcoming MovieSet.com so graciously at this year’s festival. We hope you have enjoyed our coverage of the 62^nd Annual Festival de Cannes (Cannes Film Festival) as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you.  The response has been tremendous from around the world and so till next year.

After nine-years on the shelf, Terry Gilliam’s epic misadventure, The Man Who Killed Don Quixote, will resume filming again in 2010, but there’s no word yet on whether Johnny Depp will once more saddle up in the re-imagined role of Sancho Panza.

Speaking to the press at the Cannes Film Festival Thursday about his latest film, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, Gilliam would only confirm the resurection of his project.

“Don Quixote rides again,” Gilliam said. “We’ve re-written the script and finally got the script back from the lawyers… and the plan is to begin shooting next springtime.”

Heavyweight producer Jeremy Thomas, whose 1986 epic, The Last Emperor, went on to win nine Accademy Awards, is attached to the project, Gilliam said.

“I don’t have anything else to say about it, except that we’re at that beginning stage: get the money, get the bodies and let’s go.”

Reporters were blocked from asking any further questions as the moderator then abruptly ended the press conference.

In 2000, The Man Who Killed Don Quixote was the biggest-budgeted feature film to use only European financing. However, for all Gilliam’s creativity, the film was plagued with an improbable series of disasters, ranging from scheduling conflicts, budget cuts, studio and location problems, among others, that eventually killed production within one week.

A behind-the-scenes film of Gilliam’s failure, Lost in La Mancha, went on to become a rare, theatrical success for a documentary, as the director’s struggle and unwavering belief, much like Quixote’s, proved only an elaborate delusion against unconquerable odds.

In it’s first incarnation, Gilliam’s script combined the literary world of Miguel Cervantes with 21st century satire. An advertising executive, previously played by Depp, finds himself unstuck in time, unwittingly traveling between modern day London and 17th century La Mancha. He participates in the adventures of Don Quixote, played in 2000 by Jean Rochefort, who mistakes him for Sancho Panza.

Straight from Cannes is a video of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie being the sensation that they are. Thousands of fans crowd around the Inglorious Basterds Premiere to try to get some footage of the Dazzling couple.

Check it out Below.

Join us here at the Cannes Sitelet as we cover the remaining days of the festival and stay tuned to our Blog for the latest!

By Phillip Nakov

Synopsis: The true story of an ex-cop, ex-husband, ex-insurance swindler, ex-model prisoner and eternal lover of cellmate Philip Morris (Ewan McGregor). Steven Russell (Jim Carey) will do anything to avoid being separated from the man of his dreams. Which means not rotting away in prison. How far can one go for love? Quite far if you believe the incredible story of Steven Russell, an escape artist whose romanticism gets the better of him. Based on the book by Steven McVicker, this jail-house, dark romantic comedy is sure to raise some eyebrows.

Stars: Jim Carey, Ewan McGregor,

Written and Directed by: Glenn Ficarra & John Requa

Produced by: Andrew Lazar, Far Shariat

Executive Prodcuer: Luc Beson

Distributed by: Consolidated Pictures Group (US)

Release Date: Feb. 2010

EXPECTATIONS

What I’d Seen – A cheery, bright poster depicting a smiling Jim Carey as well as some photos of an amorous couple about to kiss… that couple being Jim Carey and Ewan McGregor. As well I saw that photo of a brightly dressed Jim Carey walking down the street with a bare-chested Rodrigo Santoro (Xerxes in ‘300′) that was leaked online last year. Aside from that nothing else prepared me for what I was about to see.

What I’d Heard – Before sitting down I heard that there was to be an over the top Jim Carey sex scene as well as some very edgy material one would not expect to see from this comic funny man. Lastly I had heard that this film had screened at Sundance and was well received except that it has trouble finding a distributor at the festival. As of May 12, 2009, Variety reports that the pic was picked up for US distribution by Consolidated Pictures Group for a Valentine’s Release in 2010.

What I Wanted – A fun, engaging and unusual story that would both inspire both disbelief and wonder. I love true stories so the fact that this was based on a true story of a con man that escaped form jail not once, but five times made it even that more compelling.

EXPERIENCE

What Turned Me On -

The fact that both Jim Carey and Ewan McGregor signed on with first-time directors Glenn Ficarra and John Requa to star in a low budget gay -themed dark comedy was striking enough. However, the fact that Jim Carey submitted to engaging in simulated sex scenes with another guy was show stopping. Certainly this is not the first time scenes of gay sex have been portrayed on the big screen, but the inclusion of an internationally known mega-star like Jim Carey made for even greater curiosity and upped the shock value. Though there is no nudity to speak of, the simulated manner of the sex is still amusing and almost cringe-worthy.

What Turned Me Off -

I asked the directors in a sit-down chat with them the day after the screening if they had a gay consultant on the project? The directors assured me that they had the advice and consulation of their fashion stylist on the set who consulted in the areas of style, dress, movement and attitude. Nonetheless, some of the gay-mannerisms and gay fashion styles were, in my estimation, somewhat over the top and contrived. It felt that they were going for the most common denominator when it came to the transformation from a hetero Jim Carey to the gay Jim Carey about 20 minutes into the movie. Stereotypes abound and though they may bring some comic relief, at the same time this to me cheapens the story. It’s as if the directors were afraid that the only way an audience would accept Jim Carey as a gay character was if he played it up and dressed like a queen.

AFTERMATH

I Left Thinking – Wow. Jim Carey and Ewan McGregor are a gay couple in this dark comedy and make it work. I actually believed Ewan McGregor’s character of Phillip Morris far more than Jim’s Steve Russell. Ewan played it much more tame and reserved. He did not feel compelled to play it over the top nor camp up the role. Jim Carrey was, for the most part, over-the-top and campy when playing it gay. Except for when he was dressed a serious lawyer or playing the part of the CFO of a company, he was a goof. He was playing Jim Carey and the Jim Carey everyone expects.

I Left Saying – How on earth will US audiences react to seeing Jim Carey engaged in gay sex and making out with Ewan McGregor? This will be a hard sell and certainly will need a brilliantly executed marketing campaign to expand this pic’s appeal from the niche gay audience. This movie can play out like a “Birdcage” did some years back. Gay audiences will undoubtedly flock to see this when it opens. But where the movie will make most of its money is from the malls and theater chains big cities nationwide.

Expiry Date – This will be entirely dependent on the film’s marketing campaign. If they are successful at making this a break out pic for mainstream audiences, this pic may have the chance. Otherwise this pic will see a quick limited release run and then head to DVD where it will be discovered by a wider audience on Netflix and in home rental video aisles.

Last thoughts – I was very encouraged upon learning that Jim Carey had signed on to play such a unprecedented role as gay con-artist. I was especially intrigued that Ewan McGregor was playing opposite him and both of them were open to exploring a relationship as a gay couple in jail. These types of roles come along once in a long while. Though a strong effort was made to make a movie that treated the story faithfully and honestly, it unforneately is all over the place not sure what type of movie they exactly wanted to make. Neither broad comedy nor a direct biographical  story, it’s that funny sort of hybrid of a movie that borders on the edge without taking the plunge in either pool.

Synopsis: Christine Brown (Lohman) is a bank loan officer up for a big promotion from her strict boss (Paymer). To prove she can make the tough decisions, she denies a loan extension to an old lady (Raver) and the woman places a curse on the girl that will have her haunted by a powerful demon intent on dragging Christine Brown into the depths of hell.

Stars: Alison Lohman, Justin Long, Lorna Raver, David Paymer, Dileep Rao, Adrianna Barraza

Written by: Sam Raimi and Ivan Raimi

Directed by: Sam Raimi

Distributed by: Universal Pictures

Opening on: May 29th, wide

EXPECTATIONS

What I’d Seen – Fun, over-the-top trailers and a day spent on set put my hopes high, although I was thinking this might be more along the lines of Raimi’s The Gift rather than the beloved Evil Dead series.

What I’d Heard – This is Sam Raimi’s long-awaited return to horror after years away directing blockbuster material. Although, with a PG-13 rating, I wondered whether the talented director would be restrained from delivering the kinds of no-holds-barred material fans loved so much in the Evil Dead trilogy.

What I Wanted – Something to wash the bitter taste of Spider-Man 3 from my mouth once and for all.

EXPERIENCE

What Turned Me On -

When Sam Raimi first told us about his Ghost House production banner, it sounded like a great idea. Fun house horror movies along the lines of classic material by the likes of William Castle and Mario Bava. Unfortunately, what followed were a series of lifeless throwaway horror material like The Grudge and Boogeyman series. 30 Days of Night was good, but still didn’t feel true to the spirit of Ghost House’s kitschy horror promises.

Drag Me to Hell should serve as the blueprint for what a Ghost House Picture is supposed to be. Near-perfect in execution, Drag Me is a thrilling, gross-out, goosebump-inducing ride through the fun house from start to finish. It is an absolute blast and, believe me, they didn’t give away all the best bits in the trailer. Not by a long shot.

What Turned Me Off -

In all honesty, I have almost no complaints about Drag Me to Hell. It’s exactly what I wanted. If I had to criticize anything, it would be that this serves as yet another example of the MPAA’s consistent inconsistency in their ratings tactics. Personally, I probably wouldn’t let my 13-year-old see this and I consider myself pretty lenient.

AFTERMATH

I Left Thinking – That was so much fun that I can’t wait to see it again, and I never see anything more than once these days. Raimi may have been away from the horror genre for a long time, but he got back on that horse without so much as a hiccup anywhere in site. He can still turn stomachs and make audiences jump with the best of them.

I Left Saying – Does Raimi really have to go back and do another frickin’ Spider-Man movie after this? Does anyone really want that? Sure, the first two movies were good, but been there, done that. Lots of people are doing comic movies. What the fans really want is more films like Drag Me to Hell. The horror genre needs you, Mr. Raimi. Don’t make us wait to long before you come back again and show everyone else how it’s done.

Expiry Date – Drag Me to Hell should hold up quite well to multiple viewings and a long shelf life on home video. Now let’s just hope mainstream America comes out and supports one of summer’s few examples of original material.

First off we are in Cannes for the premiere of ‘UP‘, correspondent Phillip Nakov was AT the premiere! Its the first time an animated movie has opened the festival and its gotten pretty good reviews.

Its the movie about Carl Fredricksen. He spent his entire life dreaming of exploring the globe and experiencing life to its fullest. But at age 78, life seems to have passed him by, until a twist of fate (and a persistent 8-year old Junior Wilderness Explorer named Russell) gives him a new lease on life.

Next we have ‘Iron Sky’. This one is a bit of an enigma because its still in pre-production without funding! But it looks HILARIOUS so we’ll give it a shot!

Towards the end of World War II the staff of SS officer Hans Kammler made a significant breakthrough in anti-gravity.

From a secret base built in the Antarctic, the first Nazi spaceships were launched in late ‘45 to found the military base Schwarze Sonne (Black Sun) on the dark side of the Moon. This base was to build a powerful invasion fleet and return to take over the Earth once the time was right.

Now it’s 2018, the Nazi invasion is on its way and the world is goose-stepping towards its doom.

Finally we end the episode with ‘Wrong Side of Town‘ which is a movie that MovieSet has Exclusive access to the set.  Check out all our videos of behind the scenes footage and the teaser trailer.

Ex-Navy Seal Bobby Kalinkowski lives apeaceful life as a landscape architect in an LA suburb with his wife Dawn and 16 year old daughter Brianna. On a night out with his wife Dawn is accosted a club owner, Ethan Bordas. When Bobby intervenes and accidentally kills Ethan defending his wife, his enraged older brother, Seth, puts a bounty on his head. Now Bobby must escape LA while being pursued by every criminal, wise guy and thug in the city.

By Phillip Nakov

Inglourious Basterds

Synopsis: The movie opens in on a farm in German-occupied France, where Shosanna Dreyfus (Mélanie Laurent) witnesses the execution of her family at the hand of Nazi Colonel Hans Landa (Christoph Waltz). Shosanna narrowly escapes and flees to Paris, where she forges a new identity as the owner and operator of a cinema. Elsewhere in Europe, Lieutenant Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt) organizes a group of Jewish soldiers to engage in targeted acts of retribution. Known to their enemy as “The Basterds,” Raine’s squad joins German actress and undercover agent Bridget Von Hammersmark (Diane Kruger) on a mission to take down the leaders of The Third Reich. Fates converge under a cinema marquee, where Shosanna is poised to carry out a revenge plan of her own.

Stars: Brad Pitt, Melanie Laurent, Christoph Waltz, Eli Roth, Michael Fassbender, Diane Kruger, D.J. Novak.

Written and Directed by: Quentin Tarantino

Produced by: Lawrence Bender

Distributed by: Universal & The Weinstein Company

Opening: August 21, 2009

EXPECTATIONS

What I’d Seen – A short, pointed yet remarkable introduction to the world of ‘Inglourious Basterds’ with Brad Pitt as Lt. Aldo Raine giving a small group fo eight Jewish American soldiers about to embark on a mission to hunt down and scalp Nazi solderis in German Occupied France. The tone and outrageous nature of the plot is both darkly comedic and classic Tarantino. I had also seen the poster, giant character banners on the front of the Carlton hotel and a few stills from the production all which promised a richly styled World War II era film with comedy, drama and violence.

What I’d Heard – That this was to be a departure from Tarnatino’s previous efforts but how much and in what way was to be discovered. I had read that the script was completed on July 2, 2008 and that once completed they had to immediately move into pre-production as Tarantino intended the movie to be ready for the 2009 Cannes Film Festival. That meant a vastly accelerated 14-week pre-production schedule and shooting in sequence in locations in France and Germany with an international cast.

What I Wanted – The energy, story complexity and character diversity of a true Tarantino masterpiece. I wanted to see a cool, new world reinterpreted by a directorial genius. I was looking forward to seeing Brad Pitt acting alongside a large group of international stars.

EXPERIENCE

What Turned Me On -

So much to recall! The locations, the costumes, the attention to detail, the advertisements and art on the walls, the characters and the way Tarantino seamlessly blends real historic people with fictional ones to create alternate endings to history. It’s both vividly amusing and disturbing at the same time. The richness of the Third Reich with its sumptuous use of red and black to mark its territory is both visually inspired and striking.
What Turned Me Off -

Much of the movie is not in English. Yes, it is very realistic to have Germans speaking German and French speaking French, bravo! But for following the story line in a two hour, thirty-two minute movie, it’s somewhat distracting and hard to understand all of the plot twists and character nuances. Luckily I speak French fluently so was able to follow a great part of the film without reading, except that there are subtitles running constantly which distracts one from the action on screen. Tarantino seemingly plays with us in the first scene of the movie where an encounter with a French farmer and a German colonel. The Colonel asks if it would be okay if they switched from French and spoke in English. This caused the audience to erupt in laughter. A nod to the audience by the director indeed! Except, moments later the characters are back to French and German!

For this being a war movie there is very little fighting or actual action. Save for a black and white film that was created especially for the movie and features vidily depicted war sequences, this movie does not weigh in heavily as a fighting war movie.

AFTERMATH

I Left Thinking – That ‘Inglorious Basterds’ is a pretty well-paced Tarantino pic. It did feel like it dragged in some places especially when groups of German soldiers would assemble together and just talk. It felt as if we were just witnessing a lot of extra plot lines being laid out to be completed later, although not as expertly as I would have hoped. There could have been some additional character development, especially of some of the more secondary characters.

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I Left Saying – Most of Tarantino’s fans will show up to see this… although some may end up staying away because of the somewhat stunted use of foreign language to drive the story in the film. I wish there was a greater number of pay-offs versus one event that everyone is working towards resolving. I can’t imagine too many of the die-hard Tarantino fans either checking this film out more than once. Though it is well-made, repeat business will most likely end up being far less significant than on his previous works.

Expiry Date – This movie will have an expiry date somewhere after the award season. It was made for entry into this year’s Cannes film festival. Its US release will be in August, just shy of the obvious start of award season yet close enough to be considered for all categories.  Although the DVD should feature a rich selection of behind the scenes footage and making of segments, only the really true Tarantino fan will buy the disc instead of just renting it.

Last thoughts – Overall I did like the movie and felt transported to the world of WWII France. However, the overuse of native languages and subtitles when it would have been so easy have to have the actors all speak in English or at least more than 50% of the time made for some hard work! Though a great work with some amazing performances, ultimately this movie will not reach the sort of mass audiences sees with past Tarantino offerings.

The story covers a lot of ground in its run time but it could still have been tightened up in certain places and we would not have missed a thing.

Screened at the Director’s Fortnight 2009 – Cannes, France

By Phillip Nakov

Synopsis: It’s been a decade since Ben (Duplass) and Andrew (Leonard) were the bad boys of their college campus. Ben has settled down and found a job, wife, and home. Andrew took the alternate route as a vagabond artist, skipping the globe from Chiapas to Cambodia. When Andrew shows up unannounced on Ben’s doorstep, they easily fall back into their old dynamic of macho one-upmanship.

Late into the night at a wild party, the two find themselves locked in a mutual dare: to enter an amateur porn contest together. But what kind of boundary-breaking, envelope pushing porn can two straight dudes make? After the booze and “big talk” run out, only one idea remains-they will have sex together…on camera. It’s not gay; it’s beyond gay. It’s not porn; it’s art. But how exactly will it work? And more importantly, who will tell Anna (Delmore), Ben’s wife?

Stars: Mark Duplass, Joshua Leonard, Alycia Delmore

Written and Directed by: Lynn Shelton

Opening: July 2009

Reviewed at the Director’s Fortnight in Cannes 2009

EXPECTATIONS

What I’d Seen – A hilarious poster of out of two out of shape guys, in boxers, against a white background, eyeing each other with less than amorous expressions on their eyes. The poster alone made me wonder what the hell is this about?

What I’d Heard – Absolutely nothing… which is the best way, in my opinion to see certain films. I entered with no preconceived notions, ideas or expectations. I sat down with a blank mind, ready to be entertained.

What I Wanted – A laugh-out-loud movie about two straight guys who aim to make a porn for the sake of art… seriously? The plot line alone seemed too good to be true. A story right out to left field which was at the same time charming as it was somewhat risqué.

EXPERIENCE

What Turned Me On -

The gritty, almost documentary style look and feel of the movie made me feel like I was hanging out with the characters in the movie and experiencing the events with them as they were happening. The movie felt very much like reality-movie with the characters relating to each other and talking like real people talk, not actors. The fact that neither of the lead characters are especially good looking or fall into the stereotypical category of ‘good looking’ lead actors in a film was refreshing and added to the comedy.

What Turned Me Off -

Though the realness and grittiness of the film was appealing, I felt as if some of the scenes were compromised to some degree for lack of a bigger budget. Though both of our leads are interesting and compelling to watch, we never go too far beyond their worlds. I would have loved to have seen more interaction with characters and perhaps have met some additional characters that would have helped broaden their  relationship.

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AFTERMATH

I Left Thinking - Wow… what a terrific plot… what fun characters… what a great way to start off the day. I saw this at a 9 AM screening and was laughing out loud with the audience. I wished I could start everyday with such a pick me up.

I Left Saying – This movie is going to get people in and will get them laughing. It is not your traditional big-budget comedy with broad situational slapstick. Hump Day is more of a character study featuring some truly amazing people who we get to know and begin to understand but who just happen to be fascinatingly funny.

Expiry Date – Hump Day will certainly please a certain segment of the movie-going audience. It certainly isn’t for everyone since it does deal with some rather serious issues and touches on the subject of gay porn. However, the topics and issues raised will have a shelf life well beyond 2009 and will certainly live on the shelves of many rental houses for years to come. It will be remembered as the straight guys who want to make a porno movie with each other movie. That poster is also unforgettable.

Hump Day opens in theaters nationwide July 17, 2009.

Oscar-winning director for Brokeback Mountain, Ang Lee, was tongue-lashed in Cannes Saturday by a Brazilian reporter who decried the homosexual themes in Lee’s films.

During a press conference for the director’s latest comedy-drama, Taking Woodstock, a story about the legendary music festival which features a closet homosexual in the lead role, the reporter derailed the conference with a minutes-long diatribe of how Brazilians, he said, find the gay-themes repulsive.

The moderator eventually cut him off then offered Lee the chance to respond: “Mr. Lee, the gentleman seems to detect a threat of homosexuality.”

The soft-spoken Lee, almost on cue from the laughter of many among the hundreds of journalists, said accepting other people’s homosexuality is simply like the era portrayed in his film. “You just have to go with the flow,” he said.

“I think we [human beings] are composed with many elements inside. Everybody is very complicated.

“I’m fascinated by great stories — these just happen to revolve around homosexuality… I hate being categorized as a certain genre of filmmaker. I want to be seen as complicated.”

Asked later by Movieset if his remarks were intended to be hostile, the reporter brushed off the incident, saying he was joking with Lee, that his comments were designed simply to amuse his conservative viewers.

Taking Woodstock tells the true story of Elliot Tiber, played by Demetri Martin, a down-on-his-luck interior designer in New York. His homosexuality however is not central to the plot. He lands a deal to hold a small concert next to his parents’ property in order to save their farm from foreclosure. Three weeks later, half a million people arrive in White Lake, New York, and Tiber finds himself swept up in a generation-defining experience that would change his life, and American culture, forever.

Lee described Taking Woodstock as “a small film around the edges of a big event.”

“Woodstock is an iconic symbol. It’s been romanticized. It was dirty and it was filthy, but you have to give those kids credit. They had three days of peace and music. I don’t think you could do that today.”

MovieSet correspondent Phillipe (feeel-eep) Nakov was AT the premiere in Cannes and got a chance to talk to the films director Pete Docter and the executive producer  of ‘Up‘, chief creative officer of Pixar himself – John Lassester.

Enjoy this video of the interview and be sure to visit the Cannes 2009 Sitelet for more.

The gist of the movie is … By tying thousands of balloon to his home, 78-year-old Carl Fredricksen sets out to fulfill his lifelong dream to see the wilds of South America. Right after lifting off, however, he learns he isn’t alone on his journey, since Russell, a wilderness explorer 70 years his junior, has inadvertently become a stowaway on the trip.

Don’t forget to check out our continuous 24/7 Cannes Coverage at the sitelet, with tons of new content being updated as-it-happens throughout the festival.

The Starlets! The Stories! The Champagne! And the Cinema!

Is Cannes the best film festival in the world?

Mais bien sur!

Bonjour MovieSetters! MovieSet is going ALL OUT at the 62nd Cannes International Film Festival from May 13 to the 24th in the south of France.

Follow us in this extraordinary eco-system, an intense dreamscape populated by a medley of money-men, hustlers, hacks and extra-terrestrial stars.

Our festival team will be producing exclusive still photos, videos, interviews, and blog content daily and on the MovieSet Cannes 2009 Sitelet

We’ll be keeping an eye on these films – Any others we gotta catch? Leave us a Comment

- Inglourious Basterds
- Taking Woodstock
- Up!
- AntiChrist (Lars Von Trier)
- Drag Me to Hell
- Imaginarium of Dr. Panassus

Behind the Scenes at Cannes

The Festival de Cannes has always been the reflection of its era: a centre for all cultures and hopes, a spring of effervescence and, above all, transmission. Join Shaun and Eric as they lead you behind-the-scenes on the latest at Cannes with a kick off episode of the vidcast featuring UP!, Taking Woodstock and Dr. Parnassus.

Like this episode? Check out More of Eric and Shaun on their BTS Sitelet

Canne’s do!

Looking for some more Info about the Festival?

Give the Official Cannes Film Festival Site a whirl, they have a great selection of information and history about the Festival, including:

- The Official Selection (full list of movies in screening in Cannes)

- The Juries (Judging the Festival, Who?)

Follow along on Twitter!

- Festival Cannes on Twitter

- 2009 Cannes Festival on Twitter

- Tagged posts: #Cannes09 Or #Cannes

- And of course MovieSet on Twitter

Come say hello to the MovieSet crew on the Palais

Meet Ryan, Phillipe, Massoud and the rest of the MovieSet team on the Palais throughout the festival at Stand # 26.03. They are assisting producers to set up promotional Sitelets and giving away MovieSet branded 1GB Flashdrives.

MovieSet is an official sponsor of the PRODUCER NETWORK and will be hosting the HAPPY HOUR on Sunday May 17th from 5 PM to 7 PM at the Producers Club (Village International – Pantiero, pavilion 210).

Au-revoir!

MovieSet is an official sponsor of the PRODUCERS NETWORK and will be hosting the HAPPY HOUR on Sunday May 17th from 5 PM to 7 PM at the Producers Club (Village International – Pantiero, pavilion 210).

First off are photos from the premiere of Disney/Pixar’s animated movie UP! which flies into theaters on May 29th.

The Carlton Pier has a special visitor as the house from UP! settles down for a short visit. UP opened the 62nd Annual Cannes Film festival marking the first time an animated feature opened this prestigious international event.

Among the honored attendees of the UP! premiere was Charles Aznavour who caused a media frenzy as he walks the pier at the Carlton in Cannes. This was the beginning of a staged photo opportunity for the Disney-Pixar animated comedy adventure for which M. Aznavour provided voice-over talents for the Franco-version.

Every film tries to grab some of the attention at Cannes with huge and creative advertising campaigns – Sacha Baron Cohen’s newest film Bruno is a great example of the huge artwork created to garner eyeball time. No doubt Mr. S.B.C. has little trouble gaining attention since the Borat juggernaut gathered so much buzz (and money!).

The MovieSet away-team will be sending video and stills to share with movie fans throughout the festival. Check out the Behind the Scenes show for the Cannes kick off episode with Inglourious Basterds and Taking Woodstock along with UP!.

Meanwhile in Cannes … Phillipe stands his ground as the MovieSet team chase down the latest news and photos from the 62nd Annual Cannes Film Festival.

Anything you need Phillipe to chase down for you? Any films you are eager to learn more about? Ask in the comments and he’ll do your bidding.