'THE JUDGE' CASTING EXTRAS MAY 18TH IN THE BOSTON AREA...SEE INFO BELOW!Get this Widget

Saturday, March 31, 2012

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Possible new film for Vincent D'Onofrio...THE TOMB...

THE TRACKING BOARD

You’re reading that right… “director” Joseph Gordon-Levitt is one of the three directors approving offers to talent today for their upcoming flicks. He joins Steven Soderbergh and Mikael Hafstrom in the hunt for new stars! Gordon-Levitt approved an offer to Julianne Moore for his still unnamed upcoming feature directing debut, the UNTITLED JOSEPH GORDON-LEVITT COMEDY PROJECT. The film, which is also set to star JGL and Scarlett Johansson, centers on a modern-day Don Juan, as he strives to change his ways. Moore was most recently scene in the record-breaking HBO Films debut “Game Change”.

Soderbergh, meanwhile has approved early talks to bring aboard on-the-rise star Vinessa Shaw for his once upon a time titled “The Bitter Pill” which is now going by the title THE SIDE EFFECTS. Shaw would join a cast already set to star (though all of these names could not be confirmed before this piece) Channing Tatum, Jude Law, Liv Tyler, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Rooney Mara. Our sources tell us Shaw may be stepping in to the role of ‘Emily Hawkins’ that was previously set to star Mara – who may now be unavailable. Shaw, who was most recently seen in the horribly retitled Drew Barrymore, John Krasinski film “Big Miracle”.

And lastly, Hafstrom has seen the list of potential stars grow for his prison action film THE TOMB, with Summit inviting early talks with star Vincent D’Onofrio. D’Onofrio would join the current cast of Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jim Caviezel in this prison-designer goes to jail actioner. D’Onofrio was last seen in the indie flick “Kill the Irishman”.

 Moore is repped by CAA and Management 360, Shaw is repped by ICM and Thruline Entertainment and D’Onofrio is repped by UTA and The Collective.

EMPIRE

Now that The Tomb is gearing up with Mikael Hafstrom directing, the power combo/hospital buddy duo of Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger needed an adversary to fight against.

Now it looks like they’ve found a bad guy in Jim Caviezel. You may recall that the movie has been through a few casting hoops, but has now settled with Sly playing Ray Breslin, the world’s top authority on structural security and a man who designs prisons for a living. Things take a turn for the difficult when he’s framed for a crime and locked up in one of the facilities he helped make escape-proof. Now he has to go up against his own design, with the help of Schwarzenegger’s fellow inmate Church.

Producer Mark Canton went on the Matthew Aaron show for a chat (picked up by JoBlo) and revealed that Caviezel has signed on to play the warden of the prison, who will no doubt make plenty of trouble for our muscular heroes.

The Tomb should kick off shooting this year, ready for a release in 2013. Caviezel has been spending most of his recent time working on US TV drama Person Of Interest.

DINE WITH VINCENT D'ONOFRIO FOR A GREAT CAUSE



Wednesday, March 28, 2012

'Funkoars won't pull punches'

Kate Kingsmill March 29, 2012 THE CANBERRA TIMES
The Funkoars have no plans for getting any legal advice. If Vincent D'Onofrio finds out that they are using his face to promote their latest tour, they will ''just send Vincent grovelling emails telling him how great he is'', MC Sesta says.

Such is this Adelaide hip-hop band's respect for the Law and Order actor that on their latest album, 2011's The Quickening, they named one of the tracks Being Vincent D'Onofrio. ''If it was up to us we would have named the album that, but we thought we'd call our tour that, and that gave us the chance to superimpose Vincent D'Onofrio's face onto all of our faces on the tour posters. Personally it's my favourite tour poster, and most people can't even pronounce it so it's a win-win situation.''

 Sesta is clearly unconcerned with any legal ramifications from the band's use of the actor's likeness. ''If anything does arise from it, well, we'd just be flattered that he even knows about it, so that's cool. He seems like a pretty laid-back guy.''

Which is just how the Funkoars roll. Like on a recent tour of far north Queensland when their rental car broke down in the middle of nowhere, and they were stranded for hours together in the melting Queensland heat. ''It was alright at first,'' Sesta says. ''We laughed and saw the brighter side of it. But then an hour later we were sitting in the car, just not speaking to each other. But then we made some videos and acted like dickheads. So we survived.''

The Funkoars have carved a successful career out of acting like that. Their lyrical content runs the gamut from booze-fuelled shenanigans to gambling failures and back again because, Sesta says: ''They're easy things to undertake. It's the only thing we really know anything about. So you may as well just get intricate within the things that you know a lot about, rather than trying to act clever like everybody else. Just talk really skilfully about one or two things in particular and just shut your mouth about the other things. It just so happened that we know a lot about rude things, things that make us laugh.''

But there is a little-known serious side to the band. MC Trials is, Sesta says, ''a hard worker who spends a lot of time making beats. That's where he shines, when he gets together with someone in the studio''. Trials has produced albums for Vents, Hilltops and another old mate, Drapht. ''We were friends with Drapht from the beginning and I think now everyone's stepped up their game and getting a lot more professional, we're all reaping the benefits of these long-term relationships and knowing and working with these people for so long.''

Last year the Funkoars signed to the Hilltop Hoods' fledgling record label, Golden Era, a move which was ''kind of just inevitable, really'', Sesta says. ''We've always had a pretty close relationship with them, we've always done music together, we're just a big circle of friends. So it's their fault. They're going to make a record label, we're going to join up whether they like it or not. We've kicked in the door and we're sitting on the couch eating all their Doritos.''

But seriously, he says, ''they look after us and while there's the inevitable business side of things, it's as much as humanly possible still a friendship-based thing. We have a healthy friendship behind it all which is a luxury that almost nobody gets to have. So we're pretty lucky in that way''.

The Funkoars
WITH: Raw City Rukus, Old School Al and Mattrix
WHEN: Tomorrow
WHERE: The Greenroom @ The Tradies Club
TICKETS: $25 + BF from Moshtix

■ Kate Kingsmill is a music lover, writer and radio broadcaster

RIDE FOR A HERO WITH VINCENT D'ONOFRIO...

Here it is! Fresh off the presses from Toni. Looks like Vincent will be at Rib City Grill to sign autographs and take pictures on Thursday, May 17TH from 6-8 P.M. and again Friday morning at Timpanogos Harley-Davidson from 10-11 A.M. I haven't heard if he will be at the actual event on the 19TH. Please make your arrangements accordingly.


Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Auction for Acting Lessons With Vincent D'Onofrio now closed...

Wow, it was a fast and furious last hour but the final bid was $5250! I was tweeting like a mad man until the very last minute. What an outstanding winning bid when the estimated value was put at $3500! Congratulations to 'Forever Family' for their generous bid and donation to NLEOMF! Enjoy the acting lessons!

VINNIE VIDI VICI ‏ @Nantzee Reply Delete Favorite · Open
FINAL BID $5250 GOES TO 'FOREVER FAMILY'! THANK YOU FOR THE OUTSTANDING BID AND SUPPORT OF NLEOMF! ENJOY YOUR LESSONS W/VINCENT D'ONOFRIO!

18m VINNIE VIDI VICI ‏ @Nantzee Reply Delete Favorite · Open
2 MINUTES! TICK, TICK, TICK! HURRY AND GET YOUR BID IN NOW! ACTING LESSONS WITH THE GREAT VINCENT D'ONOFRIO! http://www.charitybuzz.com/catalog_items/299305

20m VINNIE VIDI VICI ‏ @Nantzee Reply Delete Favorite · Open
5 MINUTES! THIS IS IT, FOLKS! NO TIME FOR THINKING! BID NOW FOR YOUR CHANCE TO HAVE ACTING LESSONS W/VINCENT D'ONOFRIO! http://www.charitybuzz.com/catalog_items/299305

22m VINNIE VIDI VICI ‏ @Nantzee Reply Delete Favorite · Open
$5250! WOW! THANK YOU SO MUCH! 6 MINUTES TO GET YOUR LAST BID IN TO WIN ACTING LESSONS WITH VINCENT D'ONOFRIO! http://www.charitybuzz.com/catalog_items/299305

24m VINNIE VIDI VICI ‏ @Nantzee Reply Delete Favorite · Open
7 MINUTES! LAST CHANCE TO BID ON ACTING LESSONS WITH VINCENT D'ONOFRIO! SUPPORT NLEOMF! http://www.charitybuzz.com/catalog_items/299305

26m VINNIE VIDI VICI ‏ @Nantzee Reply Delete Favorite · Open
$4750 BID! THANK YOU 'FOREVER FAMILY'! LESS THAN 10 MINUTES TO BID ON ACTING LESSONS WITH VINCENT D'ONOFRIO! http://www.charitybuzz.com/catalog_items/299305

28m VINNIE VIDI VICI ‏ @Nantzee Reply Delete Favorite · Open
$4250 BID! THANK YOU! HURRY TO GET IN YOUR BID FOR ACTING LESSONS WITH VINCENT D'ONOFRIO! http://www.charitybuzz.com/catalog_items/299305

30m VINNIE VIDI VICI ‏ @Nantzee Reply Delete Favorite · Open
HERE'S YOUR ULTIMATE BUCKET LIST ITEM, ACTING LESSONS WITH VINCENT D'ONOFRIO! OVER 50 FILMS TO HIS CREDIT! http://www.charitybuzz.com/catalog_items/299305

33m VINNIE VIDI VICI ‏ @Nantzee Reply Delete Favorite · Open
15 MINUTES! FAIR WARNING! GET YOUR 15 MINUTES OF FAME AND BID FOR ACTING LESSONS WITH VINCENT D'ONOFRIO! http://www.charitybuzz.com/catalog_items/299305

35m VINNIE VIDI VICI ‏ @Nantzee Reply Delete Favorite · Open
TIME IS FLEETING! BID NOW FOR 3 ONE ON ONE ACTING LESSONS WITH VINCENT D'ONOFRIO AND HELP NLEOMF AT THE SAME TIME! http://www.charitybuzz.com/catalog_items/299305

38m VINNIE VIDI VICI ‏ @Nantzee Reply Delete Favorite · Open
20 MINUTES LEFT TO BID! HELP TO BUILD A MEMORIAL FOR FALLEN OFFICERS AND GET ACTING LESSONS W/VINCENT D'ONOFRIO! http://www.charitybuzz.com/catalog_items/299305

40m VINNIE VIDI VICI ‏ @Nantzee Reply Delete Favorite · Open
25 MINUTES LEFT TO BID! AHHH! DON'T LET THIS ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY PASS BY! LESSONS W/VINCENT D'ONOFRIO! http://www.charitybuzz.com/catalog_items/299305

43m VINNIE VIDI VICI ‏ @Nantzee Reply Delete Favorite · Open
LESS THAN 30 MINUTES TO BID! LESSONS WITH THE BEST! VINCENT D'ONOFRIO! SUPPORT NLEOMF AND RECEIVE A GREAT GIFT! http://www.charitybuzz.com/catalog_items/299305

46m VINNIE VIDI VICI ‏ @Nantzee Reply Delete Favorite · Open
WHERE'S ALL THE BOBBY GOREN FANS? ONE ON ONE LESSONS WITH VINCENT D'ONOFRIO! WOW! HELP NLEOMF WITH MEMORIAL MUSEUM http://www.charitybuzz.com/catalog_items/299305

48m VINNIE VIDI VICI ‏ @Nantzee Reply Delete Favorite · Open
HALF AN HOUR AND YOUR CHANCE TO HAVE ACTING LESSONS WITH THE VERY BEST W/VINCENT D'ONOFRIO! BID NOW AND DON'T BE SORRY! http://www.charitybuzz.com/catalog_items/299305

52m VINNIE VIDI VICI ‏ @Nantzee Reply Delete Favorite · Open
OH NO, 33 MINUTES TO BID ON THE CHANCE OF A LIFETIME TO HAVE 3 ACTING LESSONS WITH THE GREAT VINCENT D'ONOFRIO! http://www.charitybuzz.com/catalog_items/299305

54m VINNIE VIDI VICI ‏ @Nantzee Reply Delete Favorite · Open
HELP TO FUND A BEAUTIFUL MEMORIAL FOR FALLEN OFFICERS AND GET ACTING LESSONS WITH VINCENT D'ONOFRIO! WIN-WIN! http://www.charitybuzz.com/catalog_items/299305

56m VINNIE VIDI VICI ‏ @Nantzee Reply Delete Favorite · Open
39 MINUTES LEFT! LESSONS W/VINCENT D'ONOFRIO! YES! THAT'S HIM IN 'FULL METAL JACKET' AND 'ADVENTURES IN BABYSITTING'! http://www.charitybuzz.com/catalog_items/299305

58m VINNIE VIDI VICI ‏ @Nantzee Reply Delete Favorite · Open
KNOW AN OFFICER THAT HAS DIED IN THE LINE OF DUTY? ARE YOU AN INSPIRING ACTOR? BID FOR LESSONS W/VINCENT D'ONOFRIO! http://www.charitybuzz.com/catalog_items/299305

1h VINNIE VIDI VICI ‏ @Nantzee Reply Delete Favorite · Open
45 MINUTES LEFT! 3 DAYS OF ACTING LESSONS FROM ONE OF OUR GREATEST ACTORS..VINCENT D'ONOFRIO! PRICELESS! HELP NLEOMF! http://www.charitybuzz.com/catalog_items/299305

1h VINNIE VIDI VICI ‏ @Nantzee Reply Delete Favorite · Open
48 MINUTES LEFT AND YOUR CHANCE IS GONE! ACTING LESSONS W/VINCENT D'ONOFRIO! SUPPORT NLEOMF WITH A BID OF $4000! http://www.charitybuzz.com/catalog_items/299305

1h VINNIE VIDI VICI ‏ @Nantzee Reply Delete Favorite · Open
$4000 BID NEEDED! ACTING LESSONS WITH VINCENT D'ONOFRIO! C'MON FOLKS, THIS IS FOR CHARITY TO REMEMBER FALLEN OFFICERS http://www.charitybuzz.com/catalog_items/299305

1h VINNIE VIDI VICI ‏ @Nantzee Reply Delete Favorite · Open
52 MINUTES LEFT TO BID FOR THE BEST OPPORTUNITY FOR ACTING LESSONS FROM THE BEST...VINCENT D'ONOFRIO! http://www.charitybuzz.com/catalog_items/299305

1h VINNIE VIDI VICI ‏ @Nantzee Reply Delete Favorite · Open
THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE TO HAVE ONE ON ONE ACTING LESSONS WITH VINCENT D'ONOFRIO! LESS THAN 1 HOUR REMAINING.BID NOW! http://www.charitybuzz.com/catalog_items/299305

1h VINNIE VIDI VICI ‏ @Nantzee Reply Delete Favorite · Open
Learn from the Best with Acting Lessons from Vincent D’Onofrio ONE HOUR LEFT! BID NOW FOR 3 DAYS OF LESSONS!


Sorry, guys, missed this one.

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

VINCENT D'ONOFRIO TO ATTEND NLEOMF'S HONOR AT THE CASTLE GALA

SPOT ON LONG ISLAND


Time : 6:00 pm to 10:00 am
Location :
135 West Gate Drive Huntington, NY 11743

Phone : 5164553179

Description

Over 400 guests are anticipated to attend Honor at the Castle including men and women in law enforcement, members of Congress, CEO’s, corporate benefactors, etc. There will be a BLUE carpet for all of those in attendance, including confirmed CELEBRITY guests: Honoree Richard Belzer of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Emcee Mark Feuerstein of Royal Pains, Vincent D'Onofrio of Law & Order: Criminal Intent, and many more. (List in Formation).

Honor at the Castle will pay tribute to and recognize men and women within law enforcement throughout New York, New Jersey and Connecticut who keep our communities safe. A special tribute will be made to those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice.

Honor at the Castle is made possible by The National Law Enforcement Memorial Fund’s Long Island business partner, The Zellman Group. They feel strongly about honoring the men and women who provide homeland security right here and have agreed to host the event.

The Honor at the Castle Gala includes: a VIP Reception, Cocktail Reception, Formal Sit-down Dinner, Program, and incredible entertainment.

TO PURCHASE TABLES & TICKETS:  CLICK HERE

OHEKA CASTLE  (THANKS, MARIAN!)








The Business of Giving: Vincent D'Onofrio of "Criminal Intent" to Auction Acting Lessons for a Great Cause

By Michael Erb Mar 20, 2012 12:40 pm
MINYANVILLE

After years of working on "Law & Order," the TV star has come to understand that real-life cops "are not the type of people to ask for help."


Actor Vincent D’Onofrio has played a troubled marine trainee in Full Metal Jacket and a marauding alien bug in Men in Black. These days he's best recognized for his role as Detective Robert Goren on Law & Order: Criminal Intent. And now, he’s offering acting lessons for a good cause.

Mr. D’Onofrio is working with the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, taking part in a Charity Buzz auction that ends tomorrow. The highest bidder gets three acting sessions with D’Onofrio, a graduate of the famed Actors Studio and the American Stanislavski Theatre.

The NLEOMF is dedicated to honoring law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty and inform the public about the dangers police face every day. The charity has built a memorial to fallen officers of every branch, located in the Judiciary Square section of Washington DC. Now the fund is building a museum to open near the current memorial. The National Law Enforcement Memorial Museum is slated to open in 2014.

According to D’Onofrio, it will be quite the sight.

“One of the most incredible things about the museum is that there’s going to be a glass bridge that stretches across the main entrance of the museum," D'Onofrio explains in a phone call from his home in New York. "And inside the glass bridge, there's going to be a thin blue line. That line is going to be made up of all the fallen officers up to that point, and names added to it all the time. It’s going to be an incredible thing."

THE BLUE LINE

 

Line begins on the glass railings that extend from the elevator in the east pavilion, across the bridge and terminates by the elevator in the west pavilion

Opportunity to be part of the limited number of names on the Thin Blue Line

Names can be read from the glass bridge, but from the exhibit floor below they will appear as a continuous ‘Thin Blue Line’

A donor kiosk will contain a searchable listing and locations of all the names inscribed


According to NLEOMF statistics, there's an officer killed every 53 hours in the US. Their new preliminary data for 2011 calculates 173 police men and women died in the line of duty last year. The data also shows that deaths of officers have gone up 13% since 2010, and 42% since 2009.

“I’ve been involved in law enforcement stuff for years now,” D’Onofrio told me. His work on Law & Order compelled him to help law enforcement officers in any way he could. “I think that because I ended up meeting so many law enforcers -- local, all over the country, all over the world actually -- I started to know a lot about the behind the scenes kind of stuff with their jobs. They're not the type of people to ask for help.

“I just think it’s important that we do this for everybody and try to help out,” he adds.

If you wish to take part in the auction, you can bid here. Head to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, to make a direct donation.


Read more: http://www.minyanville.com/business-news/editors-pick/articles/Vincent-D2527Onofrio-charity-buzz-national-law/3/20/2012/id/39980#ixzz1pg5DF467

Saturday, March 17, 2012

"SIX DEGREES OF VINCENT D'ONOFRIO" GAME...EDDIE FOY, SR....


WIKIPEDIA

Edwin Fitzgerald 'Eddie Foy, Sr.' was born March 9, 1856 in Greenwich Village, New York City. Eddie's parents immigrated to the US from Ireland in 1855 and settled into Greenwich Village where he came to be born. His father passed away in an insane asylum in 1862 from syphilis-induced dementia and his mother took Eddie and his three siblings to go live in Chicago. Eddie started performing in the Chicagoan streets at age six and at age 15 changed his name to Foy. He worked as a supernumerary in theatrical productions and was introduced into the theatre as a result. In 1979, Eddie married Rose Howland, one of the singling Howland sisters, and both traveled with a troupe before settling in Philadelphia. That same year, Rose died in childbirth as did the child she was delivering. Eddie stayed with the troupe for two more years before quitting and going on the road to perform all over the United States. In 1888, Foy returned to Chicago as the star comedian in his own company. In 1896, Eddie married his third wife...his 2ND marriage cannot be verified...who bore him 11 children of whom 7 survived. On December 30, 1903, Eddie was on tour with 'Mr. Bluebeard' at Chicago's Iroquois Theatre where a malfunctioning spotlight set fire to scenery backstage. Not wanting the crowd to panic, Eddie stayed onstage until the very last minute and was able to escape through a sewer. 600 people lost their lives due to lax safety measures and locked doors. Eddie formed a family vaudeville act with his 7 children called 'Eddie Foy and The Seven Little Foys' famously recreated in film by Bob Hope and James Cagney. Each of the 7 Foys left to pursue their own careers and did very well. He passed away in 1928 doing what he loved. A heart attack while headlining in the hit Broadway comedy 'The Fallen Star'. Find the connection!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Thursday, March 15, 2012

RIDE FOR A HERO EVENT IN MAY...

The latest details are that an event dinner will be hosted by Rib City Grill on the 17TH that Vincent will attend. Something is being planned for the 18TH via Rib City Grill. It is not positive that Vincent will attend the 'Ride For A Hero' ride on the 19TH. I will keep you all posted as I know some are in the midst of making arrangements.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

'Event of the week'..'Hunt No More' fashion label launch

08 Mar 2012
RAGTRADER

A host of well-known names and faces turned out for the official launch of the Hunt No More label this week.

As-well-as representatives from David Jones and Vogue, screen and theatre stars also popped along to the home-grown brand's exclusive night.

Held at the Since I Left You bar, which is nestled along a cobbled alley in Kent Street, attendees mingled in the bar's outside brick-walled courtyard which was sprinkled with rustic lanterns and candlelit tables.

The label was filtered into David Jones stores earlier this year, with many items selling out due to its success.

Among the well-heeled revellers was the daughter of Greta Scacci, and Law & Order star Vincent D’Onofrio, Leila George, actresses Celia Massingham and Elizabeth Blackmore, and Black Balloon director Elissa Down.


Guests enjoyed canopies and an exclusively designed cocktail, The Dagger, which is soon to become a staple on the Since I Left You menu, after its stellar success with the events attendees.

Visitors at the New York style inner city bar were shown the label's short film, which showcased the brand's 'edgy and mysterious' style, and this was projected onto an exposed brick wall.
The launch was also well attended by representatives from The Sunday Telegraph, Vogue, InStyle, Oyster, David Jones, Who, and of course, Ragtrader.

Beautiful daughter of Vincent D'Onofrio attends HP Envy¹⁴ Spectre Ultrabook™ Launch Party

THE TELEGRAPH


Vincent D'Onofrio confirmed for Heroes Health Project fundraiser in Utah...

RECENT TWEET:

Antoinette ‏ @tonikj
@mehammster no concert still working on everything VD coming may 17 th


EVENT IS ON MAY 19, 2012 AS I HAD REPORTED BEFORE. STAY TUNED FOR MORE DETAILS AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE.

'THE YOUNG ONES: Australia's new breed of filmmakers speak out'

Tuesday, March 13, 2012
ED GIBBS

For someone who excelled at sport, representing her country in indoor soccer in both Europe and North America, Gracie Otto admits she still isn't sure how she wound up in an industry that's notoriously fickle and, for women, ageist and sexist. "I'd seen what it's like to be in the film industry and not work, as an actor, from my family," she says, of her parents Barry Otto and Susan Hill, and older half-sister Miranda. "I didn't really know what I wanted to do when I was playing soccer. I wanted to travel – which we didn't do as a family – but that was about it."

(excerpted)

THREE TO WATCH IN 2012

Alexandra Schepisi

Daughter of legendary filmmaker Fred Schepisi, the Melbourne-based actor, who gave an AACTA-nominated performance in her father's THE EYE OF THE STORM, also directs. Her second short film, LOIS, starring Jacki Weaver, is currently in post-production.

Alice Englert

The actor daughter of Oscar-winning director Jane Campion is now shooting the Sally Potter film BOMB with Elle Fanning in London. She has three other films in the pipeline, including BEAUTIFUL CREATURES – the first adaptation of Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl's Caster Chronicles books.




Leila George

The Australian-born, English-raised daughter of actor Greta Scaachi and LAW & ORDER star Vincent D'Onofrio heads to New York in May to try her hand at acting, having studied filmmaking in Sydney in 2011. Mum and Dad are, she says, "really excited".

Sunday, March 11, 2012

JOSHUA REVIEWS SCOTT DERRICKSON’S SINISTER [SXSW 2012]

SPOILER ALERT

BY JOSHUA BRUNSTING ON MARCH 11, 2012 AT 10:00 AM
CRITERIONCAST.COM


2012 is going to be a great year for horror films. And we may have just seen the best one yet.

During any given film festival, a cavalcade of films will come along, making their world premiere. However, occasionally, festivals will be privy to something a little different. That was the case for this year’s SXSW Film Festival, and their “Super Secret Screening.” Despite being spoiled by an outlet that shall not be named, very little could have ended up preparing the viewing public for what is now known rather lovingly (at least based on the general reaction to this utter gem), Scott Derrickson’s Sinister.

Just one of a handful of fantastic upcoming horror features that will make their way out during 2012, this film may sound like just another horror film, but it’s far from it. Penned by Ain’t It Cool Newser C. Robert Cargill, the film is a broodingly dark and darkly brooding blend of crime tale obsession and haunted house creeps. And what a wonderful concoction that makes.

Sinister weaves a rather simplistic web. The film follows the story of a novelist who, after failing to make good on the promise of a past best seller, takes his financially hindered family to a new home, hoping to dig up the case of a lifetime. However, when they move into the very home where the horror took place, things change entirely, putting more than his story in danger. A brutal blend of Seven style thrills and Insidious style chills, Sinister is a film that feels wholly unlike anything we’ve seen in quite some time. And it’s creepy as all hell, to boot.

The true star of this film is the collective that is Derrickson and Cargill. Taking a rather straight-forward haunted house narrative, and tossing in the added aspect of found footage taking a major part of the narrative, the duo are able to craft a film that is both genuinely intriguing as a crime story, as well as creepy and visceral as a haunted house horror film. Our lead, played wonderfully by a convincing Ethan Hawke, stumbles upon a collection of home movies, which portray the murders that he is trying to connect, and this, stylistically and narratively, adds such a strong sense of depth and realism to the film. Vincent D’Onofrio shows up, and is a welcome addition to the cast, as is Juliet Rylance, the beautiful Tracy, wife to our lead. The cast, top to bottom, are on their A-game, bringing with it the ability to make this super natural story seem not all that impossible. This sense of dread guides the film, and makes it the must see gem of a horror film that it truly is.

Script wise, the film is top notch. Giving the viewer a great deal of information without forcing the film to drag itself through the mud of exposition, the film is also able to bring some lighter moments out, making the terror all the more impactful. Derrickson, best known for The Exorcism of Emily Rose, is at the top of his game here, seemingly inspired by Fincher’s aforementioned masterpiece, Seven, in both structure as well as style. The editing is noticeable, adding a great deal of suspense to the film, as does the score, from iconic horror composer Christopher Young. Young’s score is a menacing bit of electronic music, punctuating each set piece without playing too much for jump scares.

And truthfully, that is this film’s strongest suit. Hell bent on really avoiding going solely for jump scares, the film has such an intensely strong sense of mood and atmosphere, that the film is an uncomfortable one to watch. Toss in the night terror inducing home video footage central to the plot, and you have a film that you won’t soon be forgetting. Sure, it does feel slightly over long and a bit meandering in moments, but with great performances from all involved, and some of the best horror craft work in years, Sinister is a must see film that you will never be able to forget. With an October release date looming, Summit has something truly special on their hands. Hopefully, I’ll be able to fall back asleep by then.

SXSW REVIEW: 'Sinister' Is a Familiar Haunted House Movie, But That's What Makes It Work

SPOILER ALERT

MARCH 11, 2012 | BY ERIC KOHN
INDIE WIRE

"Sinister." A dark and stormy horror movie of the Stephen King variety, "Sinister" steps carefully through familiar territory. Anchored by a moody Ethan Hawke performance and classically unsettling scare tactics, this icy supernatural thriller from director Scott Derrickson ("The Exorcism of Emily Rose") and co-written by Ain't It Cool News contributor C. Robert Cargill (aka "Massawyrm") delivers on the promise of its title by boiling down its appeal to pure atmosphere.

The movie makes up for uneven dialogue and pacing issues through sheer horrific imagery, starting with the first shot, a grainy Super-8 of a family hanging from a tree playing in reverse. That's one of several morbid death scenes discovered by true crime novelist Ellison (Hawke), a man on a vain mission to regain his popularity 10 years after his last hit.

Uprooting his family for the umpteenth time to a small town where mysterious murders have taken place, Ellison moves his brood to the exact spot of the aforementioned family slaughter. He wants answers so badly that he even lies to his concerned wife (Juliet Rylance) about the nature of his motives; exactly the kind of misdeed that this sort of formulaic exercise establishes so there's just reason to punish its misguided anti-hero.

Although the dyspeptic local sheriff drops by to offer his disdain for Hawke's depiction of the police force, "Sinister" remains almost exclusively within the confines of the writer's new home. Armed with a boxful of Super 8 movies detailing brutal murders seemingly connected to the one that brought him this far, Ellison spends late nights playing the material on loop until he starts to see a ghastly figure in the background. And is it staring back at him?

It's here that "Sinister" resorts to drab scenes of Ellison roaming the abode after dark searching for the sources of bumps in the night. Every time it starts to sag, however, Derrickson injects a fresh scare, owing much to the unexplored terrain of a child with night terrors. That would be Trevor (Michael Hall D'Addario), Ellison's adolescent son, whose creepy somnambulistic tendencies find him popping up in dark places each time Ellison thinks he's about to discover something else -- until, of course, he discovers something else.

Derrickson leads his lambs to slaughter with ample skill, if not innovation. Relying too often on things that go bump in the night, "Sinister" has its fair share of clunky moments, particularly in its depiction of the marital drama used to flesh out the toll that Ellison's careerist obsession has caused. ("This could be my 'In Cold Blood'!" he barks at her when she complains.) With a standard shrieking score and the usual jumps, "Sinister" sometimes plays like a cheap, unimaginative formulaic indulgence. Outsourcing the explanation for everything to a bland professorial type (Vincent D'Onofrio), the movie lacks the ambition to tell a unique story.

But the scaled down nature of the production is impressively old school. (Producer Val Lewton, who invented this game in the forties with low budget studio efforts like "Cat People," would have loved it.) The ghostly visuals creeping into the plot retain an especially chilling value for the lack of information accompanying them, and the supernatural figures are among the scariest to appear in an American horror movie since "The Grudge."

Derrickson uses shadows and hyperbolic flashes of lightening with a powerful command over their implications. "You can never explain something like this," the sheriff warns Ellis, and he's exactly right: Menacing forces don't need a raison d'être in order to legitimize their menacing qualities. Concluding the experience with a frightening climax that neatly caps the morbid feel, "Sinister" doesn't break any rules, but excels at following the spookiest of them.

Criticwire grade: B

HOW WILL IT PLAY? Summit doesn't plan to open the movie until October, but its "secret" preview at SXSW played nicely with the festival's midnight crowd, boding well for its box office success during Halloween movie season later this year.

'Velocity of Gary' Full Movie

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THANX, CAROL!

Early buzz of SUPER SECRET SCREENING of 'Sinister' is positive...





RECENT TWEETS:

SINISTER is the most serious, intelligent and adult horror I've ever seen, and also the scariest. WELL DONE,  



Dug SINISTER. Good, genuine scares make for great fun. Sound design paired with story telling makes it one not to miss & hard to shake.



I'm still buzzing about Sinister. Shaking. Crime film with horror tinges. Putting on the coffee now, going to be a long sleepless night.



SINISTER: I applaud effort to make something different than usual usual horror fare. Didn't get under my skin, but it sure tried hard.



SINISTER is white knuckle terror.



It's official: "Sinister" is perfectly-titled! Now to sleep, perchance to...nightmare? Damn.  



 secret screening was Sinister and it was so fucking scary. Amazing film! Everyone is in for a treat come October



Sinister went over really well. An actually clever deviation on haunted house movies. Will make some noise in October.



Just wait for "Sinister" to come out America!! It's truly the best horror movie I've seen in years. Congrats !!



Sinister is going to kill next fall - no pun intended. If you like thrillers, go. I may have nightmares for life.



SINISTER stars Ethan Hawke, was written by  and, was directed by Derrickson, retards my sleep forever. 



SINISTER was pretty scary. Lots of great, creepy imagery. 




Sinister is going to kill in October. Seriously, this movie is a genuinely great thriller. CREEPIEST film I've seen in a while



SINISTER OH YEAH 



Was SINISTER scary? I don't know, why don't you ask all the pee in my pants?? Holy crap. People are gonna go *insane* for this. 



Sinister is an amazingly well made film. Great job ! Thx 4 letting me b a part of ur special night



Really dug Sinister. Something new with haunting visuals & genuine chills. Bravo  & team! 



Pretty sure I jumped on top of  5 times duringSINISTER. My nerves are completely wrecked.



SINISTER is the creepiest movie I've seen since INSIDIOUS. Holy crap, this is going to be a great Halloween release. Not sleeping tonight.



Jesus Christ, SINISTER is unbelievably scary. My heart is still aflutter.



SINISTER is another brick establishing 2012 as a landmark year for horror. Congrats  



Just saw SINISTER. Never. Fucking. Sleeping. Again.



Summit has something really special with Sinister. Bloody, brooding and aggressively creepy. Loved it times ten.



SINISTER starts w/ an unforgettably haunting image & ramps up the tension to near unbearable levels. It's original & terrifying.