From here on out, when I see a movie and can’t quit thinking about it one week after my initial viewing I’m going to refer to it as the Martha Marcy May Marlene effect. I was uncertain how I felt about it while watching. Flash-forward one week later and I’m still uncertain. Combine some great performances from Elizabeth Olsen and John Hawkes, reserved but effective cinematography, sparse dialogue and even fewer musical cues and what I got was one of the most paranoia-filled movie experiences I’ve ever had. While that may sound like a backhanded compliment, if writer/director Sean Durkin was trying to evoke the type of emotions I think he was with Martha, it may be the highest compliment I can pay him.
In this, the St. Patty’s edition of the “Top 5?, you can find 21 Jump Street interviews with Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, Ice Cube and more, The Avengers bits in which Joss Whedon discusses the pic, its current runtime, The Avengers 2, etc., Casa de mi Padre interviews with Will Ferrell, Nick Offerman and more, the first trailer and poster for Tim Burton‘s Dark Shadows, and all of our SXSW 2012 coverage. A brief recap and link to each ensue after the jump.
1. 21 JUMP STREET Interviews with Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, Ice Cube and More
To be honest, I’m past the point of needing to be convinced to watch 21 Jump Street. While I’m in the Windy City this weekend for some St. Patty’s festivities, numero uno on the list for next weekend’s plans is catching this pic in my local theater. No if’s, and’s, or but’s. If you’re still on the fence about paying to see it yourself, this finger-blasting PSA should remove all doubt. If more convincing is what you require, check out these video interviews with Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum, Rob Riggle, co-directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller, and the one and only Ice Cube.
2. Joss Whedon Talks THE AVENGERS & THE AVENGERS 2
When Joss Whedon premiered he and director Drew Goddard’s The Cabin in the Woods at SXSW 2012 people were excited. When he used some of that time to discuss The Avengers and The Avengers 2 people became more excited. In short, excitement abounds at SXSW 2012 (something we’ll discuss more below in #5). If Whedon discussing things like current Avengers runtime, Easter eggs, DVD extras, etc. isn’t enough, this week also brought us a considerable amount of new footage via this Japanese trailer.
3. CASA DE MI PADRE Interviews Will Ferrell, Nick Offerman and More
I remain skeptical about Will Ferrell’s Casa de mi Padre. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy Ferrell’s considerable talents as much as the next 25 year-old who doesn’t dislike him just for the sake of being difficult. That said, I’m weary that Ferrell’s over-the-top nature may be turned up to 12 in Padre (which is about two notches above my over-the-top comfort level). All of this in mind, I encourage you to check out Matt’s review and all of our video interviews with Ferrell, Nick Offerman, Diego Luna, and the lovely Genesis Rodriguez in the spirit of developing your own Padre expectations.
4. First Trailer and Poster for DARK SHADOWS
I’m going to rely on our readers for this one because my knowledge of the ABC’s original Dark Shadows soap opera is ultra-limited. Am I supposed to think that Tim Burton’s Dark Shadows adaptation is the lovechild of The Addams Family and Sweeney Todd? Because the film’s first poster and trailer makes me think exactly that. I hope that I turn out to be very wrong, but for right now Tim Burton/Johnny Depp fatigue has set in. Yawn.
5. SXSW 2012 Coverage
In all honesty, my time with Collider has allowed me to take part in some very cool events and I’m thankful for that. And that’s about where my perspective ends and my envy of Matt and Scott for being in Austin at SXSW begins. In case you’ve missed any of the plethora of film reviews that those two have provided from the festival, be sure to click here for all of our SXSW 2012 coverage. And, while I’m here, kudos to the guys for churning that coverage out. I’ll only hold it against you for getting to see The Cabin in the Woods before me for seven years tops.
