Directed by Luc Besson (The Professional, The Fifth Element, La Femme Nikita), Lucy stars Scarlett Johansson as a drug mule who gains super powers. Morgan Freeman co-stars. Everything about this project just screams “awesome!”
The Screen Life
Film, TV, and the Internet
Author Archives: Alftuba
APRIL FOOLS!!!… Or Was It?
OK, lots of you were either too savvy or too cynical to be taken in by yesterday’s fake April Fools Day announcement. However, just in case I succeeding in duping any of you, let me set the record straight:
No. The Screen Life was not bought out by, nor made any deal whatsoever with, The Huffington Post. It was a mere pipe dream. While most of the changes I listed actually are long term plans – increased content, ad revenue, etc. – it probably unlikely any of those will happen in the near future.
However, there was one bit of truth hidden in the mix… THE NEW WEB ADDRESS!!!
Going forward, you can access this blog directly at thescreenlife.com. (You can still use the old WordPress address too, but it’s not necessary.) So, I meant it when I told you to make sure to update your bookmarks and RSS feeders!
But yeah, the rest was all fake. Gotcha!
(This is a real movie from 1985. Look it up. No foolin’!)
The Screen Life Acquired By Huffington Post
This has been brewing for a couple weeks, and a few of you already know some of the details, but today I can officially announce it:
The Screen Life has been acquired by The Huffington Post!
What began just 3 months ago as a small, free WordPress blog has since blossomed into a destination for thousands of screen-savvy readers. Realizing a smart (if I do say so myself) investment when they see it, the web’s largest content aggregator has seen fit to bring us under it’s umbrella.
This is an exciting announcement for us, mostly for the blog itself, but also for the history being made. The dollar amount of this deal is an unprecedented one for a blog of this size and youth. I feel it’s a bit gauche to talk specifics of money, but well, I’m just too damn excited to not say something! It’s public record now anyway, so feel free to look it up yourself if you want. Still, I’ll let the financial mags wrestle over the economic significance. Over here, we’re all confetti and cake!
How will The Screen Life change?
For the most part we’ll keep doing what we do best: screen-related news, reviews, and op-eds you’ve already come to know and enjoy. I will remain chief editor and continue to produce over 90% of the content. But there will be a few changes – all good things, we hope! I’ll have more details as we make the transition over the next few days, but for now here’s a glimpse of the improvements you can expect:
- Our new web address – thescreenlife.com – is already live! (Make sure to update your bookmarks and RSS readers!)
- During the transition, and likely a while after that, you can still use the same WordPress URL. (We’re hoping to keep that permanent.)
- You can also find us at www.huffingtonpost.com/thescreenlife. (It may take another day or so before this URL is active.)
- We’ll have access to HuffPo resources for more breaking news and exclusive stories and interviews, as well as the assistance of a great team of producers experienced in running a popular website.
- We’ll also feature regular posts from contributing writers from HuffPo staff and elsewhere.
- Not to get too personal, but part of the deal with HuffPo included a large enough share of ad revenue to support a salary for myself. I mention this because it affects the blog in two ways…
- I will now be able to devote all my energy and focus on this blog. There will be a lot more content published, including several posts every day.
- Unfortunately, this does mean there will be a few banner ads. Yeah, I know ads are annoying, but they are the best way to fund a high quality blog.
- This I promise: I will never let our stories and opinions be influenced by our advertisers. I have assurances from the HuffPo team that this is a promise we can and will keep!
Going forward, we expect The Screen Life to continue its meteoric rise, and we likely make further changes as necessary to keep pace. Please leave us feedback in the contents, either positive or negative. As we grow, we want to make sure your voices are heard. You, the reader, are the reason we’ve come this far, and the reason we will now have this wonderful opportunity.
Thank you for reading!
– Aaron L. Fram
Mark Ruffalo, Keira Knightly Harmonize in Begin Again (Trailer)
John Carney’s follow-up to the fantastic indie-musical Once premeired in Toronto last fall under the name Can a Song Save Your Life? The Weinstein Company, apparently feeling that title was unable to save an already difficult marketing campaign, has changed the name to Begin Again.
Personally I don’t think the new moniker is any better, but no matter. The film it self looks intriguing. Carney continues his infatuation with down-and-out musicians. Mark Ruffalo and Keira Knightly star, alongside Hailee Steinfeld, Catherine Keener, Ceelo Green, and Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine in his first movie role.
Watch out for another Best Song contender with this one. Even unheard, the pedigree is too strong to ignore.
GrabBag – “Happy” Covers, and the Onion Takes On Divergent
It’s Friday, folks, and you know what that means… GrabBag!!!
- I know I have a
badhabit of posting a lot of “Let It Go” covers here. Well to change things up a bit, here’s a couple versions of Pharrell Williams’ “Happy,” which very nearly stole the Oscar win out from under the Disney anthem. Up first we have Stewie and other Family Guy characters…
- And then there’s this absolutely stunning looped-trombone version you just have to hear to believe…
- Smosh brings us 22 Hilariously Blatant Uses of Product Placement.
- On the subject of marketing, ever notice how so many ads for large corporations look just the same? Yeah you’re not the only one.
- IO9 compiled this list of upcoming genre movies that aren’t sequels, remakes, or reboots. It’s a long list, but there’s a few interesting gems in there…
- This is cool: a collection of audition clips for some very recognizable actors and roles. (The “before they were famous” part is a bit of a stretch, though. Plenty of these actors were famous before the auditions in this video.)
- Graph TV lets you chart the ratings (critical, not viewership) of any TV show you want, episode-by-episode. Try it out on your favorite show! It’s fun to see trends throughout a series’ entire run.
- And finally, the Onion’s ever-poignant (read: hilarious) film reviewer set’s his sights on the new film Divergent.
That’s all for this week. Have a great weekend, and tune in next Friday for another GrabBag!
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014) – First Trailer
And then there’s this. Michael Bay’s new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie has a shiny new trailer just released today. With with explosions galore and Megan Fox as April, it sounds like Bay to a T(MNT), so you might be surprised to learn he’s only producing. The director is Jonathan Liebesman, of such brainless actioners as Battle Los Angeles and Wrath of the Titans.
The only thing that sounds the least bit redeeming is the wonderful William Fichtner as the villainous Shredder. I might just watch it for that reason alone.
The movie is expected to hit theaters in August.
Jupiter Ascending – New Trailer and Posters
I want Jupiter Ascending to be a good movie, but I have reservations. The Wachowskis are talented filmmakers who can be counted on for stunning visuals. But their style of storytelling has always been an acquired taste, and I’m not sure I’ve ever fully acquired it. Their last film, Cloud Atlas, had the odd ability to come across as both amazing and overbearing almost simultaneously.
Also, is it just me, or does the name Jupiter Ascending sound designed to be reworked into a whole series… Jupiter Evolving, Jupiter Passing, Jupiter Reviving, etc. etc. I barely know the premise, and I feel we’re in for several more years of these films. So they better be good!
When True Detective meets Game of Thrones [SPOILERS]
—SPOILER WARNING—
This may go without saying, but if you aren’t caught up on either Game of Thrones or True Detective, stop reading now and go finish them. Seriously, what are you waiting for? DO IT!!! You’ll thank me.
* * *
Now, for the rest of us… We don’t get to see much of that video Rust Cohle shows to Marty Hart in the storage unit, but based on his horrified reactions we know it must be pretty gruesome. Well now we know: it was the Red Wedding…
The Screen Life 