Interview - Patrick Brice

Patrick Brice wrote and directed the new adult comedy The Overnight. I had a chance to chat with him about the film, dealing with the subject matter, and more.

Interview contains some mature content.

SYNOPSIS:

Alex, Emily, and their son, RJ, have recently moved to Los Angeles’ Eastside from Seattle. Feeling lost in a new city, they are desperate to find their first new friends. After a chance meeting with Kurt at the neighborhood park, they gladly agree to join family pizza night at the home. But as it gets later and the kids go to bed, the family “playdate” becomes increasingly more revealing and bizarre as the couples begin to open up. Writer/director Patrick Brice’s second feature is a painfully funny take on thirty something sexual frustration and parenthood. Featuring memorable lead performances by Taylor Schilling, Adam Scott, Jason Schwartzman, and Judith Godrèche, each actor nimbly balances the script’s sudden emotional turns from surprising honesty to complete embarrassment. Produced by Gettin' Rad and the Duplass Brothers, THE OVERNIGHT tells a complex story of universal inadequacies.

MPAA Rating: R
Runtime: 80 min

Win a copy of Kill Me Three Times

Synopsis
The double crosses pile up in this comedic thriller starring Simon Pegg as a jaded hit man on a seemingly routine job. The assassin finds himself in the center of three tales of murder, mayhem, blackmail and revenge intertwine when a gambling addict, a small town “Lady Macbeth,” a club owner, a policeman and a lover all converge on the same mark.

Bonus Features
Behind the Scenes • AXS TV: A Look At Kill Me Three Times  • Theatrical Trailer

For your chance to win a copy simply email giveaway@mungleshow.com with "PEGG" in the subject line. Include your correct name and mailing address as well. Thanks for entering and good luck!

NO PHONE CALLS, PLEASE. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED OR RESTRICTED BY LAW. All federal, state and local regulations apply.  Winners will be randomly selected and notified by email. One prize per person per household. Employees of all promotional partners and their agencies are not eligible. The MungleShow, Salem Radio Network, The Doug and Jaci Morning Show, and their affiliates accept no responsibility or liability in connection with any loss or accident incurred in connection with use of a prize. A recipient of prizes assumes any and all risks related to use of prize and accepts any restrictions required by prize provider. Prizes cannot be exchanged, transferred or redeemed for cash, in whole or in part.

Self/less - Review

PG-13 | 116 min | Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Review - Kathryn Waite for The MungleShow

**IN THEATERS JULY 10th**

Synopsis: In this provocative psychological science fiction thriller, an extremely wealthy man (Academy Award® Winner Ben Kingsley) dying from cancer undergoes a radical medical procedure that transfers his consciousness into the body of a healthy young man (Ryan Reynolds). But all is not as it seems when he starts to uncover the mystery of the body’s origin and the organization that will kill to protect its cause.

Review: What would you do with the chance to be young and beautiful again? That is the question posed in the summer flick Self/less. From partying to women to fast cars, the sky is the limit if you have the chance to do it all again with the knowledge you have gained in life already. A new life, a new body, a fresh start is just a procedure (and a small fortune) away.  But what is the price for such a once-in-a-lifetime offer? While this sci-fi thriller seeks to answer these questions, it stays just below the marking of a becoming a great movie.

                The wealthy and powerful business man Damian (Ben Kingsley) has everything one could want, except more time. After being diagnosed with a form of terminal cancer, Damian decides to undergo a radical and extremely secretive procedure to place his consciousness into the body of a genetically composed specimen (which is a pretty accurate way to describe hunky Ryan Reynolds). With the procedure being a success, Damian starts to live the high life in his new body… until he begins to see strange things. The head scientist of the company, Dr. Albright (Matthew Goode) never gives Damian a straight answer on any of his concerns. Once Damian discovers the shocking truth about where his new body came from, he begins a mission that could put himself and those he cares about into great trouble.

                This film has a great premise. It is slightly reminiscent of an episode of The Blacklist season 1, mixed with a Twilight Zone feel, and the chases of a Transporter movie. Self/less makes a passable movie cocktail. The main downside however, it the overall lack of focus on the science fiction of the premise which is a shame considering how intriguing it is. The story loses the plot substance for action and mystery. Damian has a daughter named Claire (The sublime Michelle Dockery) but their relationship from what we are shown is the stereotypical “Dad was more focused on business and money than on me, so I’m a bitter and distant daughter”. The film would have benefitted from focusing more on that relationship instead of only giving them two paltry scenes together.

                There are some positives to the movie. While the story did not have much depth, the cast certainly worked very well with what they were given. I thoroughly enjoyed Victor Garber’s supporting role as Damian’s longtime friend Martin. He portrays a wide range of emotion throughout the film, but does not stand out too much to take away from Kingsley or Reynolds. The lighting and mood setting were expertly executed. From lush country fields to urban jungles, the cinematography definitely gets praise.

                The movie is rated PG-13 for sequences of violence, some sexuality, and language. The rating is very fair for the content of the film. The sexuality is only for a brief scene where young Damian is enjoying the clothed company of a woman. The violence and language are not overused. I do not think anyone under 13 would care to see this movie anyway. This is a good early-bird special kind of flick, but not worth paying full evening price for.

                I give Self/less a two and a half out of five red pills. Much like the film’s storyline, the concept is cool and interesting on the surface but once dug into, it is easy to spot issues or places where your questions don’t get answers.

Strangerland - Review

R  |  112 min  |  Drama, Thriller
Review - Matt Mungle

**IN THEATERS AND VOD ON JULY 10th**

Synopsis: When Catherine (Nicole Kidman) and Matthew Parker’s (Joseph Fiennes) two teenage children suddenly vanish in a dust storm, the couple’s relationship is pushed to the brink as they confront the mystery of their children’s disappearance in the soaring desert heat. Also stars Hugo Weaving.

Review: STRANGERLAND starts off steeped in palpable tension. There is a sense of foreboding that engulfs the film and immediately puts the viewer on edge. The soundtrack helps ground the eeriness as well. These elements are vital for setting the stage early on. The characters are at obvious odds as they are introduced in a shroud of mystery. 

If this had been a horror film it could not have raised the hair on the back of your neck any quicker. But it isn't a horror film. In fact it is a solid drama that is intelligent in its writing and style. Kidman and Fiennes are a quality pairing. They are a couple straining at the seams to get away from their past and start anew. Under the surface you get the sense that they at a breaking point and worried at any minute things are going to go bad again. They almost expect it. Real people wear stress on their faces and both actors don it like a second skin. 

Hugo Weaving is the local detective brought in to investigate the missing children. He is thorough, smart, and fits in to the hot dusty landscape perfectly. He asks the hard questions and takes his job seriously. His character is written with broad strokes allowing Weaving to interpret and breath soul into it.

It is soon apparent that much of the families issues revolve around the 15 year old daughter Lilly (Maddison Brown). She is troubled and promiscuous which is a deadly combination in a bored sleepy town. Brown makes her film debut in this one and immediately captures the essence of Lilly. She plays her bravely and un-apologetically. This allows Kidman another range of emotion as the troubled mother watching her daughter spiral out of control. It is a heartbreaking situation.

This is a far from perfect film though and there are many instances when the characters opt for odd choices and make decisions that are Hollywood predictable. Especially Catherine. If this were a book then possibly we could get more into her thought process and understand the conclusions she draws upon. But in the time restraints of a film we lose the purpose and are only left with action. Also many may find the final payoff a tad disappointing

STRANGERLAND is rated R for language, some sexuality and brief graphic nudity. It is a very adult film in language, content, and themes; often dark, heavy, and smothering. It is well crafted and expertly acted. Some people prefer their cinematic outings to be a bit lighter and uplifting. Those who want unrelenting drama will appreciate this one. I give it 3.75 out of 5 dust storms. You can't make a steady diet of these type films but they are good to partake of from time to time.

New Blu-ray and DVD Releases - Tuesday July 07, 2015

FEATURED

SYNOPSIS: Maggie and her father hoped to escape the worst of the zombie apocalypse. They hoped that their rural home on their farm would keep them safe from the rampaging hoards in the cities. However, that hope comes crashing down as Maggie manages to get infected by the disease that started the out break in the first place. Racing against time, Maggie's father tries to keep his daughter safe and find some way to keep her from becoming part of one the mindless zombie hoards.

REVIEW: Zombie's have a strong selling point when it comes to TV and movies. The walking dead are both intriguing and terrifying. The thought of something turning you or your loved one into an unstoppable monster that must be destroyed is scary. They still resemble the person you once knew but gone is any sense of human understanding and connection.  That is what Wade and Maggie are facing. Once she starts to show signs of turning it is just a matter of time. How do you spend the last days? At what point do you give your child over to a government that is going to show no sort of compassion? As a child what do you expect your parents to do? So many questions are faced in a film that is more emotional and intellectual than it is horror driven. READ MORE

ALSO RELEASING THIS WEEK

For reviews of these titles and more visit our main site

SIREN hits DVD and Digital August 18

Writer-director Jesse Peyronel's SIREN, starring Rob Krazinsky (PACIFIC RIM, THE FRANKENSTEIN CODE) and Vinessa Shaw (EYES WIDE SHUT, AFTER THE FALL), hits DVD and Digital August 18 from Osiris Entertainment.

The dark modern fairy tale tells of a woman who has the uncanny ability to appear to each man as his heart's desire.

Gemma Bovery - Review

R  |  99 min  |  Comedy, Drama, Romance
Review - Matt Mungle

Opens Friday, June 26 in select theaters including Angelika Dallas & Angelika Plano

Synopsis: In this vibrant seriocomic re-imagining of Flaubert’s literary classic Madame Bovary, life imitates art in uncanny ways when earthy British beauty Gemma Bovery (Gemma Arterton) and her furniture restorer husband Charles (Jason Flemyng) move to a charming ramshackle old farmhouse in the very same Norman village where the novel was written a century earlier.  Their welcoming neighbor, local baker and Flaubert expert Martin Joubert (Fabrice Luchini), becomes entranced with Gemma and sets out to be her guide and mentor to her new surroundings. It doesn't take long before he is drawing parallels between the literary and real life woman, while he insinuates himself into her life.


Review: This is a very whimsical tale portrayed in true French fashion. Martin is a quiet man with a very passionate imagination. His fascination with Flaubert's novel catapults him in to this belief that he is seeing Madam Bovary playing out right in front of him. It is true that Gemma has many of the same qualities and makes many of the same poor judgments. This only helps to meld the two stories quite nicely. 

Arterton is perfect in the role and has a captivating spirit about her. She is naturally sensual and  simplistic in her beauty. These traits not only help convey the character of Gemma but also reflect those of Flaubert's character. She has many diverse roles but seemed very much at home in this one. 

The film is in French/English with English subtitles. The French countryside and way of life breath a gentle, relaxed atmosphere to the film. There is no hurry to get through it and it is enjoyable to see the story unfold organically. Joubert is passionate not only about literature but his homeland as well. The dialogue and discussions also ground it to the region. 

It is a lighthearted film but also one sprinkled with romantic drama. As in Madame Bovary the central character has a heart that is easily swayed and her lack of contentment pulls her from lover to lover. Unlike Emma though Gemma is not looking for position but something to stir her soul. 

GEMMA BOVARY is rated R for sexuality/nudity and language. It is an adult film and intended for mature audiences. It is not gratuitous or flagrant with the content but rather, well, very French. It is a seductive and flirty film that tells a fun and fanciful story. I give it 3.5 out of 5 begets. Mainly due to the spirit Gemma brings to the character and the passion of Joubert.

PAPER TOWNS: “Night on the Towns”

20TH CENTURY FOX ANNOUNCES “NIGHT ON THE TOWNS” EVENT

FANS WILL BE THE FIRST TO SEE PAPER TOWNS AND BE A PART OF A
VERY SPECIAL LIVE SIMULCAST EVENT AND Q&A WITH THE FILM’S CAST, FILMMAKERS AND BEST-SELLING AUTHOR JOHN GREEN

LOS ANGELES, June 24, 2015 – Twentieth Century Fox today announced a very special event for its upcoming PAPER TOWNS:  “Night on the Towns,” where fans will be the first to see the film and be included in a live simulcast experience of an exclusive Q&A with PAPER TOWNS stars Nat Wolff, Cara Delevingne, Halston Sage, Justice Smith and Jaz Sinclair; author John Green, upon whose bestseller the film is based; director Jake Schreier; and producer Wyck Godfrey.

There will also be acoustic performances by Saint Motel and Nat & Alex Wolff, plus a few surprises to be unveiled that evening.

This very memorable evening will unfold on hundreds of movie screens across the U.S. and Canada.  Attendees will also receive a beautiful commemorative locket and an exclusive poster from the film.

“Night On The Towns” will take place on July 23rd, 8:30pm Eastern / 7:30pm Central / 6:30pm Mountain / 5:30pm Pacific, ahead of the film’s opening in theaters everywhere on July 24th.
Premium ticket sales for the event begin today, June 24th, at 9am EDT.   General advance tickets go on sale Wednesday, July 1st.  Please visit PaperTownsMovie.com for more information.