Oct 21 2008 David Gordon Green Will Give Us 'Freaks'
A movie involving freaks, directed by the talented David Gordon Green, and based on a horror comic by Steve Niles? Sure, I'll have that:
Overture Films has tapped David Gordon Green to direct the horror thriller "Freaks of the Heartland," written by freshman scribes Peter Sattler and Geoff Davey. The company recently purchased the rights to the Dark Horse graphic novel written by Steve Niles.Green and Dark Horse Entertainment president Mike Richardson are producing. Niles, who also wrote "30 Days of Night," is executive producing.
Illustrated by Greg Ruth, Niles' six-part 2004 series about the horrible secret of a rural Middle American town involves Trevor Owen's attempts to protect his "monster" of a 6-year-old younger brother and Gristlewood Valley's other "freaks" from their parents' worst instincts.
Well, looking at Amazon, supposedly this isn't that great of a comic. At least there will be some mutants, though, right? Just think of all the posts you have to look forward to once someone gets a spy shot of a mutant child on-set, and I'll be flipping out over how disgusting freaks are, and proposing extermination methods for getting rid of our current, actual freaks, and so on. Good times, ahoy-hoy!
Jul 16 2008 'Pineapple Express' TV Spots Are Effective
There are few movies in which the knowledge that I'll probably have to endure hearing stoned dudes imitate a high-pitched "who is it?" for a few months can't detract from my enthusiasm. These new TV spots for Pineapple Express have cemented it firmly among those narrow ranks. Somehow James Franco's simulated stoned mumbling paired with an overplayed M.I.A. song proves much more effective in practice than in theory. See for yourself, under the cut.
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Jul 1 2008 'Pineapple Express' Character Posters Clear Up Confusion That It's a Hawaiian Wrestling Movie
Looks like producer Judd Apatow (who I'm only familiar with as a nameless "guy" who brought me something else) is sticking with the tried and true "here's someone's head" model of poster design for Pineapple Express. Placing this side-by-side with the Knocked Up poster gives you a retrospective glance at high school, remembering the chubby, awkward kid who transformed into a complete stoner by senior year. Following this progression, I can only assume the next poster will somehow imply Seth Rogen is nearing 30 but still attending high school parties to deal drugs and attempt statutory rape.
Under the cut: stoned James Franco!
Mar 13 2008 New 'Pineapple Express' Trailer
I've already professed my unbridled enthusiasm for the Seth Rogen/James Franco action-buddy-stoner-comedy Pineapple Express, so I won't continue assaulting you with reasons this is one of the few summer films I have genuine expectations for. Suffice to say, there's a new trailer under the cut, and an official, finished version of the leaked R-rated one from last month.
Mar 3 2008 'Pineapple Express' Theme Proves Heart of Rock n Roll Still Beating
One more reason Pineapple Express is probably going to be amazing: the Huey Lewis-manufactured theme song, which director David Gordon Green describes as "like that 'other' Back to the Future Huey Lewis song. Not 'Power of Love' but 'Back in Time'." By request, it describes the plot, says the title as many times as possible, and is loaded with alto sax.
Green recited the chorus:
We got trouble, we got to get out of here. I've got you, you've got me. We are as high as we can be. That's all right. How did we get into this mess? Pineapple Express!
It's so perfectly, spectacularly stupid that it hurts my head.
Feb 13 2008 'Pineapple Express' R-Rated Trailer Good Even Non-Stoned
The stoner-buddy-action-comedy genre is not, inherently, a good one. When someone likes weed enough to write an entire movie about being stoned, there's an implication that they were most likely stoned while writing it, meaning there's a good chance the jokes are only funny when stoned. (e.g., in stoned reality, it's f***ed up how birds can fly! In reality reality, birds: not f***ed up.)
I have no evidence whether or not Superbad writers Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg were stoned while writing Pineapple Express, but after seeing this trailer, I can safely say it doesn't matter. It pretty much looks really, really good--funny, action-filled, and includes that laugh where you just make a noise. Along with producer Judd Apatow, these guys had already proven their talent, but bringing along indie-favorite David Gordon Green for directorial duties has added a level of naturalism reminiscent of vintage Ivan Reitman.
Highly recommended for viewing, and it's below the cut. (Thanks to everyone who sent this.)
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Dec 3 2007 'Pineapple Express' Preview Feels Like It's Totally Long, Man
Judd Apatow and Seth Rogen continue their tradition of making funny things to watch with Pineapple Express, a jaunt into the world of stoner buddy action comedy. This clip looks funny enough, but it seems pretty slow-paced for something being called an action comedy. Unless it's some kind of post-modern stoner thing, where the pacing is meant to replicate the sense of prolonged time when stoned, in which case it's amazing.
And can you believe this is directed by David Gordon Green? If you know who that is, you wouldn't believe it.
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