While the mainstream releases this week are relatively lackluster, being led by the remake The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 will do that, their is some interesting Indie fare showing around town. The Oak Street and the Mall of America theatre are showing Valentino: The Last Emperor, Departures opens at the Edina and the documentary Enlighten Up! opens at the Lagoon. But the movie that intrigues me the most is opening at The Uptown, and that is Away We Go. Directed by Sam Mendes, written by Dave Eggers and his wife Vendela Vida, and starring John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph. Now while I’m not a huge Mendes fan, I am a big fan of Dave Eggers, so this movie should be, relatively, right in my wheelhouse. The problem is, the marketing for this film is freaking terrible. Especially that damned trailer, which might as well be nails on chalkboard. But I’m doing my best to ignore the “quirky” marketing materials and instead simply judge the film on its own merits. Hopefully you will as well.

As for DVD releases, wow, what a pile. Seriously. When your big release is a relatively awful Friday the 13th reboot, you know you have a weak release week. But their is a film that I know next to nothing about, but thanks to a brilliant viral marketing campaign, which includes a video of Gary Oldman, Bas Rutten and Bono trashing the film, has me interested in watching it. That film being The Perfect Sleep.

As always trailers are after the break!
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I’ve only met Matt once in my life. It was four years ago at a bar in Florida. Though I’m not legally allowed to discuss the details of that ill-fated evening, I can disclose that there was a lot of beer, awkward silences and a giraffe (that poor creature never had a chance). I must have made quite an impression on him, however, as Matt has asked me to write a column here at Where the Long Tail Ends.

Though this is my third contribution, I suppose now is as good as any time to explain what TOO SOON will be about. For those of you who’ve asked what the title means, I really can’t say; it just amuses me for some reason, and it’s vague enough of a title to represent a column that will inevitably be many things.

As of now, TOO SOON will focus on my re-watching horror movies I haven’t seen in years to see if they still hold up (like Alone in the Dark), as well as watching movies I’ve always wanted to see but never got around to (such as Blast of Silence). Plus, since my love of movies is often eclipsed by my love of books, I’d like to go through my library and share not only what I feel the best books are, but the books that altered my DNA and completely changed who I was as a person – you know, those books. In fact, I’m finishing up a piece on Mark Z. Danielewski’s House of Leaves to get us started. (more…)

Huge thanks to Zombie vs Shark for finding this little slice of fried gold.

Arsenio vs Jason