Pages tagged “elizabeth banks”

Release Date: Nov. 7
Director: David Wain
Writer: Paul Rudd, David Wain, Ken Marino and Timothy Dawling (screenplay), Timothy Dawling and W. Blake Herron (story)
Cinematographer: Russ T. Alsobrook
Starring: Paul Rudd, Seann William Scott, Elizabeth Banks, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Bobb’e J. Thompson, Jane Lynch
Studio/Running Time: Universal Pictures, 99 mins.

Even though it’s rated R, Role Models could easily be mistaken as a Judd Apatow-produced attempt at a family film. The film stars Seann William Scott and frequent Apatow collaborator Paul Rudd as co-workers who, after Rudd’s character loses it from a combination of his dead-end job and a rejected marriage proposal, gets sentenced to 120 hours of community service in lieu of prison. Their service consists of a big-brother-style mentorship program, where they take troubled Augie Farks (Christopher Mintz-Plasse, AKA: McLovin) and Ronnie Shields (Bobb’e J. Thompson) under their wings.  Along the way, wacky hijinks ensue and all four realize that, despite their differences, they’ve become friends.

Release Date: Oct. 31

Director: Kevin Smith

Writer: Kevin Smith

Cinematographer: David Klein

Starring: Seth Rogen, Elizabeth Banks, Jason Mewes, Justin Long, Brandon Routh

Studio/Running Time: The Weinstein Company, 101 mins.

If writer/director Kevin Smith had called his new film Kevin Smith Makes a Porno, it might be considered autobiographical, albeit without the porn. Smith used the experiences of making his first film (Clerks) at night in the convenience store where he worked, and injected it into Zack and Miri Make a Porno, where cash-challenged roommates shoot their first adult film at night in the coffee shop where they work. Fortunately, Smith now has a budget to hire a true star (Seth Rogen), one who has become America’s greatest slacker via Knocked Up and Pineapple Express.

Release Date: Oct. 17
Director: Oliver Stone
Writers: Stanley Weiser and Oliver Stone
Cinematographer: Phedon Papamichael
Starring: Josh Brolin, Elizabeth Banks, Richard Dreyfuss
Studio/Running Time: Lions Gate Entertainment, 129 mins.

One of the unwritten rules for a biopic is that its subject's accomplishments should already be completed. Controversy has surrounded Oliver Stone’s W. ever since it was announced, due to its breach of this rule in covering the highly charged President while he’s still in power. But a point the film makes is that George W. Bush already wrote his legacy before his second term began, so this target should be fair game. Others might argue that Bush doesn't deserve a fair depiction, and along those lines, rather than a true biopic, W. is a satirical portrait of the presidency that sacrifices accuracy for visceral laughs. 

Kevin Smith's Zack and Miri Make a Porno comes out on Oct. 31, meaning that its publicity machine is getting into full swing right about now. One pretty unorthodox method of drumming up interest, though, was inviting director Tony Kaye (American History X, Lake of Fire) to make a short film about what Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks think about the simulated sex they make for the screen. Mean Magazine features this short as part of their cover story about the film. A bit reminescent of Errol Morris, Mean describes the short by saying, "Sex sells. Sex kills. Sex thrills. 'This Is Not Sex' pays homage to the subject of the upcoming Kevin Smith flick, Zach and Miri Make A Porno, whilst taking you through a ride of sexual misperception through the lens of director Tony Kaye."

Kevin Smith's Zack and Miri Make a Porno will make its premiere at this year's CMJ Music Marathon and Film Festival. CMJ announced its initial line-up today, along with their inaugural Cinemini Short Film Contest, and another first: a partnership with the Broadway rock musical Spring Awakening.

It’s been a long and hard road, but director Kevin Smith (Clerks, Dogma) will show his latest film, Zack and Miri Make a Porno, at the Fantastic Fest next month.

Finally, a porno you can go see with your parents.

Following the buzz that the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) was "gunning" for it, Kevin Smith's Zach and Miri Make a Porno (the flick about making a porno flick) has been hit with the ultimate cockblock: an NC-17 rating.