TIFF darling and award-winner “Picture Day” is now out on DVD and VOD. The film is directed by Kate Melville and stars “Orphan Black” star Tatiana Maslany along with Spencer Van Wyck and Steven McCarthy. The film takes a look at a girl named Claire (Maslany), who is forced to repeat her senior year in high school. At night, she indulges in a relationship with rocker Jim (McCarthy), but during the day, she bonds with freshman Henry (Van Wyck), a boy she used to babysit. ShockYa was happy to be able to speak with Maslany about playing Claire, a role that she said offers a unique perspective on sexuality and  [ Read More ]

Most sequels are born of financial consequence, Hollywood studio calculation/desperation, movie star/producer hubris, or some combination thereof. That’s certainly not the case with “Before Midnight,” which again, like its predecessor, ranks as one of the more charming, and unlikely, cinematic follow-ups of the modern era. In 1995′s “Before Sunrise,” director Richard Linklater cast Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy as Jesse and Celine, a pair of young kids who cross paths on a European train and decide to kill 14 hours in Vienna before the former is due to catch a plane back home. He’s American, she’s French, and their cross-cultural, philosophically-tinged, flirty back-and-forth served as a heady cinematic stand-in for  [ Read More ]

The rare sort of actor who can swing between Harold Hill-type independent film character work and credible, B-list leading man action hero, Aaron Eckhart has, in his latter incarnation, matched wits with aliens, terrorists and the disastrous effects of climate change. So it makes perfect sense that he’d want to tackle a chance to go full-on Jason Bourne. In “Erased,” he plays ex-CIA agent Ben Logan, who discovers that his high-tech security job in Brussels has been a sham. Marked for termination, Ben escapes with his teenage daughter Amy (Liana Liberato), and tries to stay one step ahead of his dangerous adversaries while also unraveling a wide-ranging international conspiracy that  [ Read More ]

Some actresses work their way into the public consciousness as much through tabloid shenanigans as any of their actual on-screen performances. Only 17 years old, Liana Liberato is opting for hard work, thank you very much. In director David Schwimmer’s underrated “Trust,” she delivered a stunning turn as an innocent 14-year-old suburban girl lured into a sexual liaison via online chatting — an act with ruinous consequences for her and her parents (Clive Owen and Catherine Keener). In her new film, the “Bourne”-inflected “Erased,” she stars as Amy, the crafty daughter of ex-CIA agent Ben Logan (Aaron Eckhart); the two try to escape a contract rub-out and outsmart their hunters  [ Read More ]

Adelaide Clemens has been gaining a fair amount of attention this year, first for her role in “Generation Um…” and now with the new horror/thriller “No One Lives.” The Australian actress has been steadily on the rise in the past couple of years, popping up in pictures like “Silent Hill: Revelation.” The actress recently has been bobbing and forth between independent and mainstream movies, making her face known to the general public. In “No One Lives” it she plays one of the killer’s victims who’s desperately trying to run away from the man who’s kept her in hiding for the past year. Now she’s found herself trapped in a house  [ Read More ]

Even though we’re already neck deep in the summer movie season, there’s always the time and often the desire to take a break from superheroes and blockbusters, and this weekend, Pauline Chan’s “33 Postcards” could be that source of relief. The film stars newcomer Zhu Lin as Mei Mei, a Chinese orphan who’s been sponsored by an Australian man (Guy Pearce) for years. When Mei Mei finally gets the opportunity to travel to Australia she’s determined to meet him, dreaming that he might make her part of his family, but is shocked to discover that he isn’t really the man he wrote about in his postcards. A script from the  [ Read More ]

‘American Idol’ has broken several records during its current 12th season. Not only has the hit FOX singing competition made headlines for the fighting between new judges Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj, but the sole remaining original judge, Randy Jackson, also recently announced that he won’t be returning for next year’s 13th season. The current season is also the first one in which all of one gender’s finalist were eliminated before any of the opposite gender’s finalist, making it the first season to have an all-female Top 5. Last Thursday night, Angie Miller was the eighth contestant to be eliminated from Season 12′s Top 10 finalists, after singing three songs-Jimmy  [ Read More ]

The most successful romantic pieces of literature often contend with themes of self-discovery and how characters can transform themselves to become better people. Chronicling that journey of going from endless hope to failure to redemption, told in a funny and endearing way, is the main driving force of conflict in the new comedy-drama, ‘The English Teacher,’ which was directed by Craig Zisk. The often relatable characters show courage as they struggle to follow their dreams, while also finding a way to embrace their fears. As the characters explore their flaws and desires, they find their unique value and purpose in life, as well as their strengths and greatest attributes. ‘The  [ Read More ]

People often do whatever it takes to stand out and be remembered, both in their professional and personal lives. That’s certainly the case with the lead character, Scat, in the new independent romance-comedy-drama, ‘Syrup,’ which is now available on iTunes and On Demand, and will open in select theaters on June 7. The movie is based on the 1999 debut novel of the same name by Max Berry, who co-wrote the script with director Aram Rappaport. Like the book, the movie, which stars Shiloh Fernandez and Kellan Lutz, satirizes the extreme lengths people will go to in order to impress their boss in the advertising world, but also the people  [ Read More ]

When you put Eli Roth’s name on a film, you know what you’re getting, but only to a degree. There are just no bounds to how far this guy will go to tear helpless victims apart in the most gruesome ways possible and in this case, that means flying down to Chile to shoot a post-earthquake bloodbath. Roth both produced and stars in the film as Gringo, an American divorcee looking to let loose and have a good time with his buddy Ariel (Ariel Levy), and Ariel’s lifelong friend, Pollo (Nicholás Martínez). While the guys are soaking up the Chile nightlife with their new lady friends Monica, Kylie, and Irina  [ Read More ]

People contending with the continued stress of even a few personal and professional mishaps, especially if they turn out to be life-altering misfortunes, can often lead those feeling vulnerable to take drastic measures to improve their lives. That’s especially the case in director Uwe Boll’s new independent thriller, ‘Assault on Wall Street,’ which is set to be released tomorrow in select theaters and on-demand nationwide. The lead character in the film, Jim, is confronted by the realization that, after being abused and exploited by financial institutions for far too long, his only option is to finally take matters into his own hands. He isn’t afraid to make those who took  [ Read More ]

Some of the most regular, unassuming people that you meet could have a completely different life going on behind the scenes. For all you know the friendly man that you met at a restaurant could be hiding a couple of women that have been missing for months. When a couple roll into a small town for the night, some of the local gang of robbers and killers decide to kidnap and torture them in order to get their money. Unfortunately for them, the minute they lay a hand on his girlfriend, the quiet wealthy man shows his true colors and turns out to be a complete psychopath. From that point  [ Read More ]

With a record breaking box office already in tow, Iron Man 3 is proving to be the success that Disney and Marvel thought it would be. What is surprising is how strongly critics and audiences alike are loving the movie, something neither side could do for the previous installment. But it’s true, Iron Man 3 is the best of the trilogy (and for my money, a cut above The Avengers) and a big reason for that is writer/director Shane Black. Black gave the series a much needed shot in the arm, while capturing the bright aspects of what made the first two entries work. “I can only imagine that having worked previously with  [ Read More ]

Maintaining the perfect public image, particularly with long-term friends who believe you have the perfect life, is an important goal many people set to maintain. Often times it takes a life altering, catastrophe event that forces people to publicly face the inevitable and admit their mistakes and shortcomings. Struggling to cope with such an sudden and unexpected change is the emotional conflict in the new comedy ‘It’s a Disaster.’ The characters in writer-director Todd Berger’s film are shocked to learn of the sudden impending nuclear Apocalypse that’s initiated during one of their routine gatherings. Facing their inevitable deaths is the main thing that truly makes them question their past actions  [ Read More ]

Alki David’s action film “Guido,” starring David as well as Gary Busey, Lupe Ontiveros, Billy Zane and Armand Assante, will soon be out on DVD this month! The film will also make its premiere on David’s FilmOn.com. ShockYa was happy to get the chance to speak with Assante about his role in the film, working with the cast and the film’s online presence. ——— Armand Assante: I did this film over three years ago, and what I can remember about it is that it was a very smart, exceptionally clever little script…What impressed me very much was how Alki had kind-of written a wonderful little film noir adventure of this  [ Read More ]