Adventureland

Blu-Ray Review: Great Coming-of-Age Story in ‘Adventureland’

BrianTT — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 11:19:29 -0600

CHICAGO – Jesse Eisenberg (“The Squid and the Whale”) and Kristen Stewart (“The Twilight Saga: New Moon”) star in the delightful and expertly written “Adventureland,” a slice of ’80s coming-of-age that truly delivers with clever dialogue, well-rounded characters, and excellent performances. One of the best comedies of the year is now available on Blu-Ray.

Blu-Ray Rating: 4.5/5.0

Eisenberg stars as James Brennan, a guy stuck in that period between college graduation and adulthood. When the money falls through for a planned European vacation, he finds himself at the only job in his hometown, working games at the local theme park called Adventureland. It seems like a dead-end job, but he meets the people who will push him into the next phase of his life - the lovely-but-damaged Em (Kristen Stewart), good friend Joel (Martin Starr), and the kinda sleazy Connell (Ryan Reynolds).

Adventureland will be released on DVD and Blu-Ray on August 25th, 2009.
Photo credit: Buena Vista Home Video

“Adventureland” is a film that could have easily been a cavalcade of small-town caricatures (and managers Bill Hader & Kristen Wiig sometimes approach that) but what separates the film is how lovingly and thoroughly writer/director Greg Mottola (“Superbad”) has drawn these characters. It’s easy to completely believe James, Em, Joel, and Connell, and those of you of the right age to appreciate the killer ’80s soundtrack and fashion will likely see some of your own young-adulthood in the emotional rollercoaster of “Adventureland”.

Adventureland will be released on DVD and Blu-Ray on August 25th, 2009.
Photo credit: Buena Vista Home Video

To be blunt, I could have spent hours with the characters of “Adventureland” (a feeling enhanced by the best soundtrack of the year and a great score from the excellent Yo La Tengo). Eisenberg is good but Stewart gives the best performance of her career (sorry “Twilight” fans) as a girl who feels both like an archetype but also completely realized. We all knew an “Em”. And we all knew a “Connell,” the older guy who hangs out and claims to have “jammed” with a famous musician just to get in girl’s pants.

“Adventureland” works because it feels both believable and yet also completely familiar. There are millions of people having summers of weed, sex, and drama like the one in “Adventureland,” and yet Mottola’s excellent script never feels generic. It feels real.

It doesn’t hurt that Miramax has released a perfect Blu-Ray edition of the film with excellent technical specs and a wealth of special features.

“Adventureland” is pristinely presented in 1080p High Definition with a 1.85:1 aspect ratio and accompanied by an English 5.1 DTS-HD track. The audio is good but the video is truly remarkable with one of the most expertly balanced HD pictures of the season.

The copious special features on both the Blu-Ray and DVD include a commentary by Mottola and Eisenberg, a digital copy, “Picture Music Selection” (which allows the viewer to jump to their favorite song in the film), “Just My Life: The Making of Adventureland,” and deleted scenes. Blu-Ray exclusive features include “Frigo’s Taps - A Satiric “How To” On Inflicting Unexpected Pain,” “Lisa P’S Guide to Style,” and “Welcome to Adventureland - Adventureland Commercials, Orientation Training Video, Drug Policy”.

“Adventureland” had a very disappointing take in theaters (just over $16 million domestically) but I have rarely been more confident about how a film will be viewed in years to come than I am about this underrated gem. It’s one of the best coming-of-age films in years and will become a word-of-mouth hit on the home market. Don’t miss it.

‘Adventureland’ is released by Buena Vista Home Video and stars Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Martin Starr, Bill Hader, Kristen Wiig, Margarita Levieva, and Ryan Reynolds. It was written and directed by Greg Mottola. The Blu-Ray and DVD will be released on August 25th, 2009. It is rated R.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 30 Admit-Two Passes to Chicago Screening of ‘Adventureland’ From ‘Superbad’ Director

HollywoodChicago.com — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 14:16:26 -0600

CHICAGO – In our latest edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 30 admit-two passes up for grabs to the Chicago screening of “Adventureland,” which stars Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart (from “Twilight” and the “New Moon” sequel “The Twilight Saga’s New Moon”), Kristen Wiig, Bill Hader, Wendie Malick, Kelsey Ford, Michael Zegen and Matt Bush from “Superbad” director Greg Mottola. Sidney Kimmel is a producer.

To win your free pass to the advance screening of “Adventureland” in Chicago courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, all you need to do is be one of the first 30 people to submit a comment in this HollywoodChicago.com Hookup. That’s it!

The screening will be held on April 1, 2009 at 7 p.m. in downtown Chicago. Directions to enter this HollywoodChicago.com Hookup and immediately win can be found beneath the graphic below.

The poster for “Adventureland” from the director of “Superbad”.
Image credit: Miramax Films

Here is the “Adventureland” plot description:

It’s the summer of 1987 and James Brennan (Jesse Eisenberg) – an uptight recent college graduate – can’t wait to embark on his dream tour of Europe.

But when his parents (Wendie Malick and Jack Gilpin) say they can no longer subsidize his trip, James has little choice but to take a lowly job at a local amusement park.

Forget about German beer, world-famous museums and cute French girls. James’ summer will now be populated by belligerent dads, stuffed pandas and screaming kids high on cotton candy.

Lucky for James, what should have been his worst summer ever turns into quite an adventure as he discovers love in the most unlikely place with his captivating co-worker, Em (Kristen Stewart), and learns to loosen up.

Greg Mottola – fresh off the hit film “Superbad” – is directing his script drawn from his own job-from-hell experience.

Ted Hope and Anne Carey of This is that corporation (“The Savages,” “Nothing is Private”) are producing along with Sidney Kimmel of Sidney Kimmel Entertainment. Executive producers are William Horberg and Bruce Toll.

To secure your free tickets now, make sure you’re logged into your HollywoodChicago.com account. If you don’t yet have one, you can quickly register here. Having an account with a valid e-mail address is required. Then, simply add a new comment in the form below. In your comment, include an answer to this simple question:

What is your ultimate 1980s movie or musical playlist?

Like all Hookups here, this HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film is simple: The first 30 people to comment below win! We will be in touch with the 30 winners to distribute your passes.

“Adventureland” with Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Kristen Wiig, Bill Hader, Wendie Malick, Kelsey Ford, Michael Zegen and Matt Bush from “Superbad” director Greg Mottola opens nationwide on April 3, 2009. The film’s Web site can be found here.

By ADAM FENDELMAN
Editor-in-Chief
HollywoodChicago.com
adam@hollywoodchicago.com

The 10 Most Anticipated Movies of Early 2009

BrianTT — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 17:58:10 -0700

CHICAGO – Believe it or not, there are movies worth marking your calendar for between Oscar season and the big summer blockbusters of 2009.

Over the next few months, the buzz for films like “X-Men Origins: Wolverine,” “Star Trek,” “Angels & Demons,” “Terminator: Salvation,” “Night at the Museum 2,” “Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs,” “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen,” “Public Enemies,” “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,” “New Moon,” and Pixar’s “Up” is going to become absolutely deafening, but there are well over a hundred flicks hitting the multiplex before those box office juggernauts take center stage and, believe it or not, a handful are actually worth your time.

The first third of 2008 produced quality films in “Cloverfield,” “In Bruges,” “The Visitor,” “George A. Romero’s Diary of the Dead,” “Snow Angels,” “Redbelt,” and “Paranoid Park”. Which, granted, was not an overwhelming display of memorable filmmaking, but the point is that even in a weak season like the one we were about to start at this point last year, there were still a few gems. So, the question is - what will the early season gems be in 2009?

Looking into our movie-loving crystal ball, we’ve tried to target the ten films from January to April 2009 that we might conceivably still be talking about twelve months from now. While we recognize that there are audiences out there with countdown clocks for the release of “Jonas Brothers: The 3-D Concert Experience” and “Hannah Montana: The Movie,” we are not members of that audience. And movies like “Crank 2: High Voltage”, “The Pink Panther 2,” and “The Fast and Furious” clearly have loyal fan followings but, if those sequels are even halfway decent, we’ll be surprised and satisfied. No, the idea was to try and find the 5-star films based on pedigree, plot, previews, potential, and assuming that a certain legal battle surrounding “Watchmen” goes the way that we think it will. So, without further ado…

The Soloist, from Paramount Pictures, opens on April 24th, 2009.
Photo credit: Paramount Pictures

10. “The Soloist”
Release Date: April 24th
Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Jamie Foxx, Catherine Keener, Stephen Root, and Tom Hollander
Writer: Susannah Grant
Director: Joe Wright

Plot: The comeback kid of 2008, Robert Downey Jr., plays Steve Lopez, an LA Times journalist who discovers a former classical music prodigy living on the streets. Based on the true story, “The Soloist” details Lopez’s attempts at bringing the talented musician, played by Jamie Foxx, back to his feet.

Reason To Get Excited: Hanging onto the top ten by its dirty fingernails, “The Soloist” would have ranked a lot higher on this list if it hadn’t been bumped from the 2008 Oscar season for undisclosed reasons. That’s usually a bad sign. In fact, nearly everyone involved with making this drama seems to be distancing themselves from it, with Downey getting more press for his work on “Sherlock Holmes” and barely anyone talking about “The Soloist”. But there’s too much potential in that cast, the Oscar-nominated writer of “Erin Brokovich,” and the talented director of “Pride and Prejudice” and “Atonement” to completely dismiss this project sight unseen. Even the gorgeous score on the official site hints at a project that definitely should work. Yes, this could be the misstep in the Downey comeback and Foxx hasn’t really been stellar since he won his Oscar, but we’re not ready to give up on “The Soloist” yet.

The International, from Sony Pictures, opens on February 13th, 2009.
Photo credit: Sony Pictures

9. “The International”
Release Date: February 13th
Cast: Clive Owen, Naomi Watts, Armin Mueller-Stahl, Ulrich Thomasen, Jack McGee, and Brian F. O’Byrne
Writer: Eric Singer
Director: Tom Tykwer

Plot: Clive Owen plays an Interpol agent working with a Manhattan Assistant District Attorney (Naomi Watts) in an effort to bring down one of the world’s most powerful banks. International espionage, worldwide cover-ups, and war-profiteering serve as the backdrop for what could be the action thriller of the winter.

Reason To Get Excited: Three words - Tykwer, Watts, Owen. The director of “Run Lola Run” and the stars of “Children of Men” and “Eastern Promises”. These names should give everyone reason to get excited. Why not higher on the list? Well, the preview looks a little goofy and early February is not often known for stellar action. Case in point - this weekend last year saw the release of the horrible “Jumper”. It seems unlikely that Owen, Watts, and Tykwer would make something that disposable with “The International,” but we’ll keep our fingers crossed that this will be the perfect Valentine’s Day alternative to “He’s Just Not That Into You” that we think it will be.

Adventureland, from Miramax Films, opens on March 27th, 2009.
Photo credit: Miramax Films

8. “Adventureland”
Release Date: March 27th
Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Martin Starr, Bill Hader, Kristen Wiig, Margarita Levieva, and Ryan Reynolds
Writer/Director: Greg Mottola

Plot: In the summer of 1987, a recent college grad (Jesse Eisenberg) takes a useless job at a local amusement park as he prepares for the real world.

Reason To Get Excited: Most people still think that Judd Apatow directed “Superbad,” but it was actually the talented Greg Mottola who helmed that hilarious flick and his comic follow-up looks like it has a similar charm. Eisenberg was great in “The Squid and the Whale,” Kristen Stewart has always hinted at potential better than the movies she chooses, and Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig are currently the most talented male and female comedian on “Saturday Night Live”. There are several promising comedies in early 2009, but “Adventureland” is one of the most appealing.

Anna Faris as Brandi and Seth Rogen as Ronnie in Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures’ comedy “Observe and Report,” distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.
Photo credit: Peter Sorel

7. “Observe and Report”
Release Date: April 10th
Cast: Anna Faris, Seth Rogen, Ray Liotta, Patton Oswalt, and Michael Pena
Writer/Director: Jody Hill

Plot: Rogen plays the bi-polar mall security guard Ronnie Barnhardt, who’s called in to stop a flasher from destroying his mall, but he needs the help of a surly detective, played by the often-funny and usually surly Ray Liotta. Also, the great Patton Oswalt plays a character named “Cinnabon Man”. ‘Nuff said.

Reason To Get Excited: Seth Rogen and Anna Faris are two of the most reliably effective comedians working today. Don’t get me wrong. Faris has made some BAD career choices. But the same can’t be said for Rogen, who gave two of the best performances of his career last year in “Pineapple Express” and “Zack and Miri Make a Porno”. And the great concept sounds like “Paul Blart: Mall Cop,” but, you know, funny. We’re choosing to ignore that writer/director Jody Hill made the buzzed-about, though ultimately disappointing “The Foot Fist Way”. Everyone needs to start somewhere.