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Transpotting 2 is now officially official - it'll shoot next year, for release in 2017.

The mooted sequel to Trainspotting is now official - even if it's going to arrive a year later than intended.

Director Danny Boyle had been talking about getting Trainspotting 2 into cinemas in 2016, in line with the 20th anniversary of the original film. Yet it's now been confirmed that the film - which will be based on Irvine Welsh's book, Porno - is now set to land in cinemas in 2017.

John Hodge is returning to pen the screenplay for the new movie, and production is set to commence in April. That allows the film to work around the schedule of Johnny Lee Miller in particular, whose schedule is the least flexible given his commitments to making the hit TV show Elementary.

Also set to return are Ewan McGregor, Ewen Bremner and Robert Carlyle. Sony,...

Danny Boyle's breakout film Trainspotting (1996), based on Irvine Welsh's novel about a coterie of drug-loving wankers, is a revered cult classic—take the best orgasm you've ever had, multiply it by a thousand, and you're still nowhere near it—and now a sequel is on the way. The original gave us the indelible image of Ewan McGregor diving into a squalid toilet on a heroin high and jump-started the careers of both Boyle and McGregor. It looks like McGregor will dive back in: Deadline reports that, along with Boyle (who had previously promised us that the sequel will be worth the wait) and screenwriter John Hodge, the principal cast of McGregor, Johnny Lee Miller, Ewen Bremner, and Robert Carlyle will return for more drug-addled adventures in the long-gestating sequel, based on Welsh's Porno. Plans for the film fell apart (like the lives of the film's characters, you might...

Choose life. Choose a job. Choose Trainspotting 2? Perhaps that’s not exactly how it unfolded, but over the weekend Deadline brought word that after work on his anticipated Steve Jobs biopic wraps up, Danny Boyle will delve back into the oft-impenetrable syntax of Irvine Welsh’s literary work for the long-gestating sequel.

In the director’s own words, it appears as though Trainspotting 2 is closer to production than ever before, and it’s now “only a matter of getting all their schedules together which is complicated by two of them doing American TV series.” Out of the four delinquents that toplined the 1996 classic, Johnny Lee Miller (Sick Boy) is toiling away on Elementary, while Robert Carlyle (Begbie) remains a series regular on ABC’s Once Upon A Time. Nevertheless, Boyle did note that all four actors – Ewan McGregor and Ewen Bremner complete the quartet – are on board for the follow-up,...

Summer 2015 had a lot to offer, a lot to lose sleep over, and a lot to learn from. It gave us hope that the next summer could be even better, and that Hollywood blockbusters still have some life in them yet. Before back to school this month, here are nine lessons we took away from this summer at the movies.

Lesson #1: Mad Max: Fury Road reset the bar for action movies – Zach Dennis

In a summer overrun by dinosaurs and emotive minds, the real kings of the season busted through the Australian apocalypse on top of supercharged cars with a chrome-infused vengeance. In a summer where nostalgia boomed, a new film that will influence the future was born — and it was born on the Fury Road.

Good movies are invigorating, and nothing awoke everyone’s passion like Mad Max: Fury Road did. It wasn’t just classic fun tied...

Director: Bill Condon; Screenwriter: Jeffrey Hatcher; Starring: Ian McKellen, Laura Linney, Milo Parker, Roger Allam, Frances de la Tour; Running time: 104 mins; Certificate: PG

Sherlock Holmes has never been more popular, what with Robert Downey Jr, Benedict Cumberbatch and Johnny Lee Miller all putting their stamp on the character in a big-budget movie franchise and concurrent TV series respectively. With low-key drama Mr Holmes, director Bill Condon goes farther out into imagined realms, casting Ian McKellen as the Baker Street detective at 93, when that famous intellect is beginning to fail, leading him on a fascinating, quite poignant search of his own soul.

Mitch Cullin's source novel A Slight Trick of the Mind takes a mischievous leap by crediting the work of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to the recently deceased Dr Watson. These books are an endless source of bemusement for Holmes who, in 1947, is retired and living in the Sussex countryside,...

The thought of snapping your fingers to the tunes of your favorite fictional bands in film seems rather unreal. After all these movie music-makers seem like the “reel” deal in terms of their celluloid artistry and sense of colorful on-screen showmanship.

However, some of the fictional bands or musical acts we know very well and consider so fondly actually morph into real-life acts. Also, there are real-life bands that share a “fictionalized existence” on screen as well (for instance one can try and divide the musical phenomenon of The Beatles as treasured pop cultural entities from the mop top maniacs they portrayed on the big screen in A Hard’s Day Night or Help. Some may argue they were the one in the same in front of and away from the rolling cameras).

Whatever your definition of what constitutes a favorable fictional band in film at the present moment just...

Benedict Cumberbatch is everywhere. He's got no fewer than three films coming out between now and the end of the year, with Oscar-tipped biopic The Imitation Game in cinemas now, and The Penguins of Madagascar and The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies imminent.

After months of speculation surrounding the casting of Marvel's next superhero Doctor Strange, fresh reports have emerged linking Cumberbatch to the coveted role, although nothing has yet been confirmed. There's also the small matter of his recent engagement, which was announced in a characteristically classy manner earlier this month.

It would be easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of Cumberexposure. But fear not – Digital Spy's handy A-z guide is here to fill in the gaps in your knowledge.

A is for Alan Turing

In what's being widely heralded as the performance that will earn him his first Oscar nomination come January, Cumberbatch...

Benedict Cumberbatch is everywhere. He's got no fewer than three films coming out between now and the end of the year, with Oscar-tipped biopic The Imitation Game in cinemas now, and The Penguins of Madagascar and The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies imminent.

After months of speculation surrounding the casting of Marvel's next superhero Doctor Strange, fresh reports have emerged linking Cumberbatch to the coveted role, although nothing has yet been confirmed. There's also the small matter of his recent engagement, which was announced in a characteristically classy manner earlier this month.

It would be easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of Cumberexposure. But fear not – Digital Spy's handy A-z guide is here to fill in the gaps in your knowledge.

A is for Alan Turing

In what's being widely heralded as the performance that will earn him his first Oscar nomination come January, Cumberbatch...

The ‘Sherlock’ star is nearly unrecognizable as Frankenstein's monster in this West End stage production.

It's alive!!!!!

Benedict Cumberbatch, usually the picture of class and sophistication, is nearly unrecognizable as Frankenstein's monster in a West End production of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.

Behind-the-scenes photographs reveal the intense process in which the 38-year-old Sherlock star ghoulishly transformed into "the Creature" for a stage adaptation at London's National Theatre.

Video: Aaron Eckhart Details His 'Frankenstein' Makeover

Cumberbatch alternated the role of Dr. Victor Frankenstein and the Creature with Elementary star Johnny Lee Miller. Both actors underwent more than two-and-a half hours in the makeup chair.

Slumdog Millionaire’s Oscar-winning director Danny Boyle directed the stage play, which originally ran in London in 2011. The National Theatre Live has re-released a broadcast of Frankenstein to cinemas worldwide for a limited run. It's the third time the popular production has been shown in theaters.

News: Can You...

Title: Werewolf Rising Image Entertainment / Rlj Director: BC Furtney Writer: BC Furtney Cast: Bill Oberst Jr., Melissa Carnell, Matt Copko, Brian Berry Danielle Lozeau Running Time: 80 minutes, Not Rated Special Features: None Emma (Melissa Carnell) has moved back home to the Arkansas mountains, and she is battling with her sobriety. She just needs to get away from the pressures from the big city. Being the only single woman in the area, she catches the eye from Wayne (Brian Berry), an old friend of her dad’s whom is more like a father to her and Johnny Lee (Matt Copko) an overly friendly escaped convict that is squatting in a [ Read More ]

The post Werewolf Rising DVD Review appeared first on Shockya.com.

Every year, one event rocks New York to its very core in a way that is so profound and so special that it grows in audience attendance every fall when it rolls along. That event, of course, is the hugely popular New York Comic Con and thousands of faithful pop culture fans and cosplayers flock to the Big Apple to partake in the annual celebration. It is an event that draws in crowds from all over the world and features many individuals and companies showing off their latest products in the hopes that those who come to the convention will purchase whatever they’re selling. But Nycc isn’t just about pushing merchandise and entertainment, it is about togetherness and every October, geeks come to New York and they conquer.

If you are unfamiliar with Nycc, then it’s pretty simple. It is a comic book, movie, TV, video game...

Here's another Dracula story you'll wish was untold… Dracula 2000 (2000) Director: Patrick Lussier Stars: Gerard Butler, Christopher Plummer, Johnny Lee Miller A group of dim-witted thieves accidentally unleash Dracula from his coffin prison and the bloodsucking vamp immediately sets out to get revenge on Van Helsing by boning his daughter. Despite the sci-fi suggesting title, Dracula 2000 is simply another modern day retelling of Bram...

Not every fairy tale in Hollywood has a happy ending.

In Hollywood some marriages start and end in the blink of an eye – and no one knows this better than these starlets. Here's a look at the forgotten first husbands of some very famous women.

1. Damon Thomas (Kim Kardashian)

Before her lavish wedding extravaganza to Kanye West this past May and Kris Humphries in 2012, music producer Damon Thomas was the first to put a ring on it. Kardashian was only 19 years old when she wed Thomas in 2000. They divorced three years later.

2. Ojani Noa (Jennifer Lopez)

Jenny from the block has had her fair share of J.Lovers but Ojani Noa was the lucky lad who first walked Lopez down the aisle in 1997. Their marriage was short lived, however, and they divorced 11 months later. She was later married to Cris Judd from 2001-2002 and Marc Anthony from 2004-2014 (they separated in 2011).

Video- J.Lo on Running...

The fall TV season is just kicking off and it’s time to begin crafting a weekly TV-viewing schedule that fits your needs, genre preferences, and tastes, and that hopefully includes something old, something new, and something that’s been around for a while that you’ve been meaning to check out. Following up on Sound on Sight’s coverage of the fall’s new network series, contributor Claire Hellar will be recommending her top choices, by genre, of the networks’ returning shows.

As a general rule, the procedural is a TV genre in which there are too many rather than too few to choose from, though that doesn’t imply an embarrassment of riches. Middling, perfectly competent procedural series abound and differences in quality spring not so much from what certain shows do differently, but rather how they deliver the same set of elements. It’s nearly impossible to choose between mid-line series,...

Stars: Melissa Carnell, Brian Berry, Matt Copko, Taylor Horneman, Danielle Lozeau, Irena Murphy, Bill Oberst Jr. | Written and Directed by BC Furtney

There werewolf is one of the monsters that seems to be building in popularity right now, especially with Hemlock Grove and Teen Wolf gaining fans in the teen market. In movies there are plenty of classics to pick your favourite from, mine would be American Werewolf in London. With films like Dog Soldiers and now WolfCop, the werewolf is back to being fun. Now with the release of low-budget Werewolf Rising, is this another win for fans of the lycanthropic ones?

When Emma (Melissa Carnell) returns to her country home after spending years in the big city she soon catches the unwanted attention of old family friend Wayne Dobbs (Brian Berry) and his nephew Johnny Lee (Matt Copko). When Johnny Lee is attacked by a wolf it’s...

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie were married in Chateau Miraval, France on Saturday after a two-year engagement.

Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie Tie The Knot

Pitt and Jolie wed in a private ceremony attended by the couple's family and close friends, reported USA Today. Each of the couple’s six children participated in the ceremony. Their eldest sons – Maddox, 13, and Pax, 10 – walked Jolie down the aisle. Daughters Zahara, 9, and Vivienne, 6, served as flower girls, while Vivienne’s twin Knox, 6, and Shiloh, 8, were the ring bearers. The nuptials were presided over by a California judge.

Earlier this year, Jolie hinted that the wedding was approaching and that her children would be involved. "I think the important thing is that whenever we do it, that the kids do have a great time," she said on Good Morning America. "And we all take seriously the love and the connection between all of us. But...

The hit Broadway production of Of Mice and Men is galloping to a close this Sunday. But the very idea of James Franco and Chris O’Dowd playing iconic ranchhands George and Lennie will live on forever, as National Theatre Live has announced plans to film and internationally broadcast the Anna D. Shapiro-directed revival.

Of Mice and Men—which also stars Gossip Girl alum Leighton Meester, True Blood alum Jim Parrack, and stage veteran Jim Norton—will be the first Broadway show filmed by the company. Screening dates will be announced later this year.

National Theatre Live’s M.O.

The hit Broadway production of Of Mice and Men is galloping to a close this Sunday. But the very idea of James Franco and Chris O’Dowd playing iconic ranchhands George and Lennie will live on forever, as National Theatre Live has announced plans to film and internationally broadcast the Anna D. Shapiro-directed revival.

Of Mice and Men—which also stars Gossip Girl alum Leighton Meester, True Blood alum Jim Parrack, and stage veteran Jim Norton—will be the first Broadway show filmed by the company. Screening dates will be announced later this year.

National Theatre Live’s M.O.

There are a lot of "what ifs" in the movie business. There are so many options when it comes to casting actors to play characters in movies. Superhero films are huge right now, and I love most of the actors that studios have cast to play these badass characters. Christian Bale as Batman, Andrew Garfield aa Spider-Man, Henry Cavill as Superman, Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, and Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man are just a few of many. But these characters could have easily been played by other actors. It's hard to imagine that now since we're already invested in what's in front of our eyes.

I've come up with a list of actors who almost played some of these superheroes. You may already know about some of the close calls on the list, you may not, but when I was researching for this article there were a few things I didn't know before,...

So this movie stars one of the people from Agents of Shield, a show I hate, and a brunette I’ve never seen before in my life as a young couple on their way to a music festival who end up caught in some kind of forest maze, tracked by a psychopath who preys upon their fears. Or something. This whole movie is over if someone has a Gps.

I tried desperately to get into this movie, especially with the high praise on the box, but honestly, it was weak. With the exception of Alice Englert’s shrieking and overacting, there are no cues that would indicate that this movie is meant to be scary. If there was some kind of supernatural element or world-building that happened over the course of the film’s 80+ minutes, we’d all be better off. There is none. Just two semi-obnoxious folks stuck in...

In the recent interview with Buzzfeed, the Oscar winner beauty that her 1993 sci-fi film Cyborg 2 in which she portrayed a robot assassin who learns human emotions, made her sick to her stomach!

"Oh, I threw up," Jolie said of her reaction when she watched it. "I did. I saw it and I threw up. Just nausea. But the kickboxing was fun. It was the first time I was sent to do kickboxing. But I was 17 and I think I thought I was making a real movie, which is odd, since there's a scene when I'm decapitated and talking...as one does. But, yeah, I saw it and got really sick. I just remember my brother Jamie holding me and saying, .It's going to be all right.'"

Jolie also spoke good things about her ex-husband Johnny Lee Miller who she acted with in 1995's Hackers. "Well, oddly, love," Brad Pitt...

In the recent interview with Buzzfeed, the Oscar winner beauty that her 1993 sci-fi film Cyborg 2 in which she portrayed a robot assassin who learns human emotions, made her sick to her stomach!

"Oh, I threw up," Jolie said of her reaction when she watched it. "I did. I saw it and I threw up. Just nausea. But the kickboxing was fun. It was the first time I was sent to do kickboxing. But I was 17 and I think I thought I was making a real movie, which is odd, since there's a scene when I'm decapitated and talking...as one does. But, yeah, I saw it and got really sick. I just remember my brother Jamie holding me and saying, .It's going to be all right.'"

Jolie also spoke good things about her ex-husband Johnny Lee Miller who she acted with in 1995's Hackers. "Well, oddly, love," Brad Pitt...

Elementary, Season 2: Episode 12 – “The Diabolical Kind”

Written by Robert Doherty and Craig Sweeny

Directed by Larry Teng

Airs Thursday nights at 10 on CBS

“You look a bit tired.”

“You look a bit evil.”

“The Diabolical Kind” begins like any other episode of Elementary might. Watson walks down the stairs, notices Sherlock sitting in his beekeeping outfit, makes a sarcastic comment about his laundry and exits the brownstone. What follows – a sequence narrated by Johnny Lee Miller, which we find out is from a correspondence with Moriarty – is “The Diabolical Kind” announcing itself as anything other than a typical episode of Elementary. It struck me when Moriarty (Natalie Dormer, just one of many TV actresses who had a fantastic 2013) is speaking with Watson at the crime scene that I was watching something heightened. Elementary, at times, has the literally awesome capability of not being a CBS procedural. That moment is...

Elementary, Season 2, Episode 3, “We Are Everyone”

Written by Craig Sweeny

Directed by Michael Pressman

Airs Thursdays at 10pm Est on CBS

This week, on Elementary: Joan tries out a dating site, Sherlock puts a shoe on his head, and they both get hacked

“We Are Everyone” continues Elementary’s strong start to its second season, with a fun case of the week and interesting character moments for both Joan and Sherlock. It’s been interesting seeing such a minimized role for the NYPD characters, with Gregson and Bell only appearing significantly in one of the first three this season, but their slack is more than made up for this week by the examination of Joan and Sherlock’s lives, friendships, or lack thereof, and choices. Elementary doesn’t often rip from the headlines, Law & Order style, so their take on Anonymous and a Snowden-like figure is a fun change of pace.

Each week, you lot send in your taxing TV-related posers and each week, Tube Talk assembles telly scoop - like a particularly perplexing puzzle - from phone calls, e-mails and letters delivered by carrier pigeon.

We're a regular bunch of amateur Sherlock Holmeses, so it's rather fitting that this week we have insider info on Elementary... plus The Blacklist, Him & Her, Franklin & Bash and more!

Any news on the second series of Elementary?

Johnny Lee Miller's Sherlock and Lucy Liu's Watson will be back on Sky Living in the next month or so - and season two opens with Holmes taking a trip to his old stomping grounds of London, where he not only encounters his ally Lestrade (played by the legendary Sean Pertwee) but also his brother Mycroft, brought to life by none other than Rhys Ifans...

Sounds like a real treat to us, and if you want...

There is a scene in Byzantium which features the starlings gathering late in the day, before they roost and fly across the sky as a CGI army of birds. As they dart through the air, they create a number of intimidating shapes and murmurations, terrorising the film.s stars and audiences alike. Starring Saoirse Ronan, Gemma Arterton and Johnny Lee Miller, Byzantium tells the story of two mysterious women who seek refuge in a run-down coastal resort. Clara (Atherton) meets lonely Noel (Daniel Mays), who provides shelter in his deserted guesthouse, Byzantium. Schoolgirl Eleanor (Ronan) befriends Frank (Caleb Landry Jones) and tells him their lethal secret - they were born 200 years ago and survive on human blood (although they are very different kinds of vampires, called soucriants, who can survive in the sunshine and are selective over who they kill). As knowledge of their secret spreads, their past catches up on them,...

Nominations for the 2013 Emmy Awards are in and, along with them, the usual outrage over those left off the list.

No love (again!) for Sons of Anarchy or Justified? Bad news for The Good Wife? And don't even get us started on Tatiana Maslany...

Scroll down to find out which actors and actresses would have been included on the lists of a few TV Fanatic staff members and then vote on your biggest Emmy snub.

Matt Richenthal: It's unfortunate that Emmy voters do not get FX, but that's been the case for years so it feels like a waste to even mentions the lack of acting nods for anyone on SoA or Justified. But assuming they do get basic network television channels, the lack of Nick Offerman and Parks and Recreation in general is baffling.

Steve Marsi: Jake Johnson. But at least this will give Nick another reason to be...

Exclusive: Blonde to Black Pictures kicks off with psychological drama Buttercup Bill.

Sadie Frost and Emma Comley are launching London-based production outfit Blonde to Black Pictures.

The company’s first feature will be micro-budget psychological thriller Buttercup Bill, which will start shooting on location in New Orleans later this month.

Emilie Richard-Froozan and Remy Bennett (Tony Bennett’s granddaughter) wrote the screenplay and will share directing duties. Bennett will also star as Pernilla, a young woman who learns shocking news about a girl she grew up with, and starts seeing visions of her imaginary friend, mischievous cowboy Buttercup Bill.

The company’s second feature, to be announced later this summer, will shoot in London.

A further five features are in development with new talent.

The pair are working with Andrew Green and Ben White of White and Company to raise finance for the first two low-budget films, which will include Eis financing. Buttercup Bill will...

Gemma Arterton has discussed her role in Byzantium.

The British actress stars in Neil Jordan's vampire thriller as prostitute-turned-vampire Clara, whose surrogate mother-daughter relationship with Saoirse Ronan's Eleanor forms the film's emotional core.

Speaking to Digital Spy, Arterton discusses why Byzantium is a "feminine" film rather than a feminist one, and also speaks about the difficulties of finding financing for female-led movies.

She also touches on her work in upcoming psychological thriller The Voices, which stars Ryan Reynolds as a mentally unstable factory worker.

Sam Riley, Johnny Lee Miller, Danny Mays and Tom Hollander are among the supporting cast of the film, which was written by Moira Buffini.

Byzantium is out in UK cinemas now.

Watch a trailer for the movie below:...

Throughout Elementary Season 1 we dove into a new case almost every week and met many people who Sherlock believed to be Moriarty.

We also watched as Joan became an investigator, while Sherlock dealt with his past addictions and the loss of Irene Adler. It all led up to the most shocking revelation of the season: Irene Adler is Moriarty.

Read on to find out what we thought of Elementary Season 1 in this TV Fanatic Report Card and then hand out a grade yourself to the CBS drama...

Best Episode: The two hour finale of "The Woman; Heroine", obviously. I mean, let's all be real honest the reveal of Irene being Moriarty was a Huge jaw-dropper. On top of all of the Moriarty/Irene business we had so much come from Joan, she solved Moriarty when Sherlock never could. In the first part we were shown the past between Irene and Sherlock,...

"The Women; Heroine" was hands down, the best episode of Elementary Season 1, if not the best finale I have seen this season on television. It featured all of the twists and endings that season enders should possess.

If there was a way I could rate this a 10 out 5, I would. I am just so completely satisfied with this finale and with this whole season. What a joy it has been to have been apart of it and to share it all with TV Fanatic.

Last week, we were taken aback by the the major plot twist that Irene Adler is indeed alive. How could the possibly top such a reveal? Easy:

Irene Adler is indeed Moriarty.

My jaw is still in pain from hitting the floor so hard. The fact that Moriarty used Irene Adler against Sherlock to break his heart, put him into a drug stint, force him to...

"Risk Management" contained one of the a plot twist that I Did Not see coming. At. All.

In my short review of this episode, I'm going to attempt to contain my excitement, shock and fangirlishness. Hats off to the writers, though. I mean, they know what they're doing.

First off, What The Heck! I am so floored right now that I cannot grasp what I just saw. Let me give you a quick recap: Moriarty directs Holmes and Watson to an old home where they walk through, room by room, and follow the music and find a woman painting.

Who was this mysterious woman? Irene Adler!

I did Not expect the twist of Irene being alive and in New York. Now I have all of these questions and theories about the life and alleged death of Irene. This is how you do plot twists and make good TV. I'm so impressed right now.

The summertime, downtown set, glitzy yet ‘cashz’ La Film Festival, presented by Film Independent has announced their film lineup today. The verdict on the Latino rep? Compared to the last three festivals I’ve examined this year, Sundance, SXSW and Tribeca, La Film Festival comes through with arguably the most valuable representation; there are three films representing American Latino in the narrative competition and one in documentary competition.

The lineup consists of a handful of new American indies mixed in with many favorited international films from last year’s Toronto, Venice, London and Berlin film festivals, and seven Sundance films screening out of competition including Ryan Coogler’s Fruitvale Station, which won both the Audience and Jury Awards in Park City. Starring Boricua Melonie Diaz as Oakland police murder victim Oscar Grant’s girlfriend, Fruitvale will be given the gala treatment (like last year’s Sundance awarded, Black film, Middle of Nowhere), alongside the direct-from-Cannes, Only God Forgives, the reteaming of director Nicolas Winding Refyn and GQ sensitive alpha hero Ryan Gosling (Drive).

But I’m not here to comb and recycle through the ‘high profile’ films that come armed with buzz. As always I’m spotlighting U.S. films in which the writer/director/cast are native born whose ethnic/cultural roots originates from Mexico, Central or South America. In addition, films by filmmakers who may not be Latino, but whose narratives explore and relate to the relevant bi-cultural experience/subjects. And finally I also like to mention the Latin films (international).

While I’m happy to acknowledge and give it up for La, it’s still painful for this blogger/programmer to know there are so many more fresh American Latino films out there ready to be discovered. Game-changing films offering such fresh and original perspectives, which have by and large been dismissed by most of the major Us Film Festivals. With the futures of the two highest profile Latino niche festivals in limbo, The Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival and HBO’s NY International Latino Film Festival, it’s especially crushing to know that these films might also be robbed of their only community platform. It’s cause for alarm and high time to address this void. But wait, lets save that for another post. For now, lets get back to the Latino stories coming at you at this year’s La Film Festival. For official synopsis and pics check the Film Guide here.

Narrative Competition – Notably 9 of the 12 are Us, hopefully giving the scrappy indies a better chance to compete and win the cash prize against the healthy subsidized production value of foreign movies. Five are first features and only one female narrative director.

40 Years From Yesterday written and directed by Rodrigo Ojeda-Beck and Robert Machoian

This is the first feature from the writing/directing team who got a lot of attention with their 2010 short Charlie and The Rabbit. Ojeda-Beck (whose parents are from Peru) and Machoian who is from the heavily Mexican populated King City, met at Cal State, Monterey Bay where they forged a tight artistic collaboration. Forty Years from Yesterday is described as Machoian’s imagination of how his mother’s death would unfold for his own family, capturing the loss his siblings would feel in losing a parent and his father’s pain in facing the death of his partner.

The duo have their way with documentary, fiction and experimental form, instilling an aura of temporality in an anchored realism. This unique evocative alchemy is found in Machoian’s doc short, Movies Made from Home #16, a 4 minute existential moment which screened at Sundance this year. The cosmic life themes they tend to broach are treated in such a down to earth and sensitive way, which is further made relatable by the natural non-pro performances they employ. Robert’s father, Bill Graham has starred in a few of his films and in Forty Years from Yesterday, both Robert’s parents and siblings play themselves. See this endearing behind the scenes clip of the making of the film:

The House That Jack Built written by Joseph B. Vasquez and directed by Henry Barrial

Written by the late Joseph B. Vasquez (d 1995) whose 1991 movie, Hanging with the Homeboys, was a groundbreaking urban comedy when it came out, now very much a classic albeit sadly forgotten gem. The only one of Vasquez’s five movies that was distributed (by New Line), Hanging with the Homeboys was shot in the South Bronx where he was born and raised. About four homeys, two Puerto Rican (one of them played by a baby-faced Johnny Leguizamo) and two Black, the movie, available on dvd from Amazon (or, I found it in 6 parts on Youtube) screened at the Sundance Film Festival at its indie darling peak. Its good-natured humor is derived from neighborhood beefs, trying to rap to ladies, and the racial tensions of the day delivered with unapologetic commentary. An overall glimpse into a day in the barrio slice life, the film is clearly an early influence for the Ice Cube Friday series.

The House that Jack Built similarly has that raw and authentic Nuyorican energy but pushed into a rollercoaster of a dysfunctional family drama with warmth, affection and intensity. The director, born from Cuban parents and raised in Washington Heights, Henry Barrial, is also an alumni of Sundance (Somebody 2001). The film stars E.J. Bonilla as the hot-blooded self-imposed king of his family who buys an apartment building to keep his family close, only to start dictating everybody’s life since he’s letting them live rent free. Bonilla is a fiercely charismatic up and coming actor who was last at the festival with the film Mamitas in 2011 and was also in Don’t Let Me Drown (Sundance 2010). An uproarious and high-edged Harlem set chamber piece, the heavy conflict of gravity that besets Jack is from being pulled in opposite directions by his street values on one side and deeply rooted family values on the other. See the trailer on their Kickstarter page.

My Sister’S Quinceanera written and directed by Aaron Douglas Johnston

This was reportedly one of the most talked about American films in the experimental leaning Rotterdam Film Festival this year. The filmmaker who was born and raised in Iowa, Aaron Douglas Johnston, has an impressive academic pedigree having attended world prestigious universities, Oxford and Yale. His first feature, the small town, gay life set, Bumblefuck, USA screened at Outfest 2011. In My Sister’s Quinceanera, he uses the local Mexican-American Iowa residents as his non-pro actors with whom he collaborated with on the story. It’s a gentle and earnest portrayal of a young man named Silas who is convinced he has to leave town to become independent and start his life but must first see his sister’s Quinceanera take place.

Workers written and directed by Jose Luis Valle (Mexico/Germany) - A quietly simmering artful drama about a retiring factory worker and housemaid in Tijuana circumstantially reunited and trying to compensate for their spent lives. An accomplished and arresting feature debut, the film premiered at the Berlin Film Festival’s Panorama section and won Best Mexican Film at the Guadalajara film Festival. A full investment into the contemplative tone and rhythm yields an appreciation for the film’s visceral and dry humor undertones. Born in El Salvador, Jose Luis Valle previously made a documentary short called Milagro del Papa.

Documentary Competition: 7 out 10 are Us, 4 first features, six female directors (incl. 2 co-directors)

Tapia directed by Eddie Alcazar

The 5 time world boxing champion and emotionally damaged blue-eyed Chicano from the 505, Johnny Lee Tapia, survived a series of near deaths before his turbulent life ended at the young age of 45 last year. The sheer volume of tragedy and coping afflictions Johnny endured in his Vida Loca, as he openly shares in his autobiography, includes the scarring experience of seeing his mother’s kidnapping and violent murder at the tender age of eight. Tapia funneled his heartbreaking life to fuel a successful professional boxing career. Tapia’s confrontation to such tumult is so impressive, it’s no wonder that former EA video game designer Eddie Alcazar decided to both dramatize and document his harrowing real life story. Originally announced as a biopic, subsequently the documentary was born of it, in which Eddie captures final interviews and archival footage with the haunted boxer. Remarkably, watching the clip below, a slight zeal and spirit, however low key and worn, emanates from the towering rumble of his battered lifetime – unquestionably his refusal to be knocked out. This is actually the first feature out of the gate for filmmaker Eddie Alcazar whose radical sci-fi film 0000 has been curiously tracked as in production for a couple years now. The ambitious looking trailer only piqued mad interest when it was released last year.

Purgatorio directed by Rodrigo Reyes (Mexico) - An elegiac and cinematically shot poem filled with emotional narration and iconography, this border film is told by way of a tapestry of stories that culminates into a strong cry for human compassion. Imagining the border as if purgatory, where migrants must suffer in order to get through to the other side, the dangerous plight in crossing the Us/Mexico border is viewed outside political context but rather a metaphysical prism. This is the fourth film from Reyes, a talented young documentarian from Mexico.

International Showcase

Europa Report directed by Sebastian Cordero and written by Philip Gelatt - From award winning Ecuador born filmmaker Sebastian Cordero (Rabia, Cronicas, Pescador) Europa Report marks his first film in English. Somewhat shrouded in mystery, the story is written by Philip Gelatt, an adult comic book author, and is set aboard the first manned mission to Jupiter’s moon Europa. The genre bending sounding sci-fi thriller was recently picked up by Magnolia’s Magnet division and will go straight to VOD on June 27 after its La Film Festival premiere. Cordero, who is a UCLA grad, has a well-controlled gritty realism to his aesthetic, which might inhabit and distinguish this deep space thriller among the genre’s canon.

Crystal Fairy written and directed by Sebastian Silva (Chile) - From the crafty young Chilean filmmaker whose first first film, The Maid put him on the international map, this is one of two films he screened at Sundance this year. A road trip of self-discovery featuring the charming free spirited Gaby Hoffman pitted against a smarmy American tourist Michael Cera in the long and vast Chilean coast side, the film explores their unusual and fluid character dynamic and opposing auras.

The Women And The Passenger directed by Valentina Mac-Pherson, Patricia Correra (Chile) - A 45 minute version of this screened at the prestigious documentary film festival in Amsterdam Idfa. An unobtrusive camera follows four maids as they clean the rooms of one of those clandestine by-the-hour motels. Amid the moans behind doors and bed aftermaths of torrid love affairs, the women reveal their own perspectives about life, love and sex in some kind of visual love letter to the special place. I don’t believe the title is translated to interpret its full meaning, its more like, “The Transients’ women”.

Shorts

I Was Born In Mexico But…. written and directed by Corey OHama - 12min (Us) - Per the IMDb description, “using found footage to tell the story of an undocumented young woman who grew up thinking she was American, only to find out as a teenager that she didn’t have papers because she was brought to the U.S. as a young child. “ Sounds like the thousands of Dreamers plights whose stories are being suppressed.

Misterio written and directed by Chema Garcia Ibarra (Spain) 12min - So even though this is from Spain (not the Americas), I mention it if because I’m a huge fan of Chema’s shorts, Protoparticles and The Attack of the Robots from Nebula-5. I have no doubt this will share that similar strange, whimsical vibe.

Al Lado De Norma written and directed by Camila Luna, Gabriela Maturana 14min (Chile) - 49 year-old Jorge is a silent, tired man, whose life seems to revolve around Norma, his elderly mother who has Alzheimer’s. But Antonio, who rents a small room in their home, will provide him with the chance to examine himself and question his monotonous life, which might just make for a radical change.

Papel Picado – written and directed by Javier Barboza - From a 2007 Cal Arts Alumnus, and independent animation teacher and filmmaker, this looks wild! Check out his vimeo works here.

Saint John, The Longest Night, written and directed by Claudia Huaiquimilla (Chile) 18 min - The filmmaker is of the indigenous Mapuche tribe of Southern Chile. Set amid the happy Saints celebration of June 24, a young boy must wrestle with the reappearance of his violent father.

Too Much Water (Demasiada Agua) written and directed by Nicolas Botana, Gonzalo Torrens (Uruguay) 14 min - A young woman fills her backyard pool every night and finds it empty in the morning. Strange neighbors and even stranger circumstances stir her paranoia.

Lastly, I have to mention dance beat rapper Kid Cudi’s feature film acting debut in Goodbye World directed by Denis Hennelly (Rock the Bells doc about Wu Tang Clan) and written by Sarah Adina Smith. Essentially, the film is about a group of friends hanging out when some kind of apocalypse hits. Hijinks ensue. (There’s a trend here after It’s A Disaster and the upcoming “look-we’re-so-cool-celebs partying of This is The End). Although it’s a small role, it is the first of a number of films Kid Cudi is in that are coming through the pipelines. Born Scott Ramon Seguro Mescudi in Cleveland Ohio, he is a beautiful brown blend of African American on his mother’s side and Native/Mexican mix on his father’s side.

The La Film Festival kicks off with Pedro Almodovar’s, I’m So Excited on June 13 and runs until the 23. Tickets and info here.

"Dead Man's Switch" revolved around a disturbing case of rape.

But despite the subject matter, this was an enjoyable episode of Elementary due to twists of the case and the backstory of Sherlock and his true sobriety. Obviously, the best aspect was the return of Alfredo and his significant role.

I'll talk about the case first: frightening. Gregson came into the conference room in the beginning to meet with Sherlock and his reaction was perfect. He was pissed and disgusted by the video of the young girl being raped. It was played so well and it made me feel the intensity of the case. This wasn't just a murder, it was revolving around three gruesome acts.

Like Sherlock, I enjoyed seeing the rapist beat to hell in jail. Who wouldn't have?!?

While waiting to figure out the identity of the accomplice, I was on the edge of my seat trying...

Director/Producer Ramin Naimi’s new feature documentary opens Friday April 5 at Laemmle Santa Monica with live blues performances also every night after the screenings in the cinema. This is the story of L.A.'s legendary L.A. blues club Babe and Ricky’s Inn.

The film won the Programmers Award at the Pan African Film Festival in L.A. in February where it was the Centerpiece Gala presentation on Valentine's day with a concert and party and that it was picked up for all digital rights and TV by New Video/ Cinedigm. The film will be released around the country theatrically in other blues loving cities and in connection with Blues Festivals, live performances and even blues cruises and it will be released on premium VOD April 9 on iTunes, Amazon, Vudu, Youtube, Playstation, XBox, CinemaNow.

It will be an unusual and fun week of events at Laemmle particularly because of the live blues music performances incorporated into the screenings. Ramin has done a lot of radio for the release such as an hour and a half show playing music from the film and talking about the film with Ann the Raven on the Cal State Northridge radio (the one Nic Harcourt works for now) last Sunday with a ticket giveaway. He will have two interviews with Kpfk this week and he had two other radio interviews last week . Kcet is looking at coverage also. The trailer is at the website www.babesandrickysinn.com

It is getting good press thanks to the Laemmle publicist who sent it to be reviewed by some of the outlets including the L.A. Times , L.A. Weekly, Hollywood Reporter etc.

I can't wait to see the film and hear Mama Laura’s story.

Here are the details of the La screenings and a ‘pitch letter‘ from Ramin re the film below:

Friday, April 5 – Thursday April 11, 2013

At Laemmle Monica 4-Plex,1332 2nd Street, Santa Monica 90401

(310) 478-3836.

Tickets: www.laemmle.com

Daily Screenings: 1pm ● 4pm ● 7pm ● 10pm

A live blues performance and Q&A will follow each 7 pm evening screening Friday, April 5 to Thursday, April 11 inclusive (and also 4 pm screenings on Saturday, April 6 and Sunday, April 7). No additional charge for live music!

The current line up for live shows as part of the screenings of the film at the times listed below:

Ray Bailey Friday 4/5 (7pm); Gregg Wright Saturday 4/6 (4pm); Dennis Jones Saturday 4/6 (7pm); Deacon Jones Sunday 4 /7 (4pm and 7pm), Southsideslim Monday 4/8 (7pm); George Dez Tuesday 4/9 (7pm); Richard Martin-Ross Wednesday 4/10 (7pm), Suzanne Thomas Thursday 4/11 (7pm).

The director Ramin writes to us:

I am the director and producer of the upcoming film Babe’s and Ricky’s Inn, a feature-length documentary. For more than three years, I gathered the stories of the legendary L.A. blues club Babe and Ricky’s Inn, its owner Laura Mae Gross (“Mama Laura”) and its amazing collection of musicians. As an Iranian-American filmmaker (who along with along with my co-producer Behrouz Arshadi came to be known as the “Iranian Blues Brothers”), I take particular pride in having earned the trust of the community in South Central to document this important piece of L.A. blues and music history.

For fifty-three years, Mama Laura, a woman from Mississippi, brought well-known and up-and-coming musicians together, regardless of race, age, or gender. Babe’s and Ricky’s Inn was originally located on legendary Central Ave, in South Central La. drew world-famous musicians like Johnny Lee Hooker, B.B. King and Albert King, who often dropped in to the club and jam with best of La blues artists, Guitar Shorty, Keb’ Mo’, Zac Harmon, Deacon Jones and Ray Bailey. The film features original music by some of the most important blues artists alive. Stunning guitar performances and personal stories about the hard blues life come together in a film about what it means to devote your life to music. I feel privileged to have captured the unique sounds, atmosphere and people of this gem of a blues club in its last days.

Babe’s and Ricky’s Inn premiered as the centerpiece of the Pan African Film Festival in La last month and took home the Festival’s Programmer’s Award. The theatrical premiere run will be at the Laemmle Monica 4-plex in La commencing Friday, April 5th. It will have a one-week engagement, and will feature live blues performances and a Q&A each weeknight and twice a day on the weekend. Further theatrical dates follow around the country including at blues focused events and venues. The digital release of the film is being facilitated by Cinedigm and it will be released on VOD on April 9th on iTunes Premium, Amazon, YouTube and others.

And visit our website for more info: http://babesandrickysinn.com

By the way, I’m also in the process of finishing my new upcoming feature film Shirin in Love, a romantic comedy set in world of “Tehrangeles”, the Iranian American community in Los Angeles.

Beverly Hills - Danny Boyle has spent the last few weeks on a transatlantic publicity tour for his new thriller "Trance." The picture is a return to Boyle's earlier darker works such as "Shallow Grave," "Trainspotting" and, arguably, even "A Life Less Ordinary."  Surprisingly, he's taken the opportunity of this pr binge to discuss a planned "Trainspotting" sequel. The 1996 Oscar-nominated drama found Ewan McGregor as a young Edinburgh man trying to escape the city's drug scene. It also featured up and coming actors such as Robert Carlyle (pre-"Full Monty"), Kelly Macdonald, Kevin McKidd and Johnny Lee Miller. More importantly, it...