Animal Kingdom (2010)

Aside from horror and sci-fi, I love modern day gritty gangster movies. And surprisingly, apart from the usual up and coming Hong Kong triad-based gang-crime movies, I'm really impressed by the Australians and their take of organized crime. They appear to be in love with the whole romantic appeal of real life gangsters and gangbangers. I've seen the awesomness of the acclaimed true accounts of gangland warfare in the leafy suburbs of Melbourne in Underbelly and I've yet to see the legendary Chopper Read on the big screen; another true account real life gangster. Solid stuffs from down under I'd say. And now, once again, they've come up with the highly acclaimed "Animal Kingdom", Sundance Film Festival award for World Cinema Grand Dramatic Jury Prize in 2010. 

The Skinny: Young J. Cody is drawn in the violent world of organized crime as he scrambles around to stay alive as his dangerous crime family spirals down to a brutal showdown with a band of renegade homicide detectives led by veteran head-kicker Guy Pearce. 

imdb.com's summary: "Welcome to the Melbourne crime underworld, where tensions are on the brink of exploding between felons and renegade cops. The Cody brothers, a gang of armed robbers, are in the process of initiating their teenage nephew Joshua 'J' into their frightening world after the death of his mother and under the watchful eye of his matriarchal grandmother, Smurf."

The Helmer: David Michod 

1. Animal Kingdom (2010)
   
2. Inside the Square (2009) (V)
3. Solo (2008/II)
4. Netherland Dwarf (2008)
5. Crossbow (2007)
6. Ezra White, LL.B. (2006)

The Casts: Ben Mendelsohn, Joel Edgerton, Guy Pearce, Luke Ford, Jacki Weaver, Sullivan Stapleton, James Frecheville

Release Date: 3rd June 2010 (Australia)

The Prediction: For this to work, Guy Pearce must be as intensed as he was in the James Ellroy inspired LA Confidential masterpiece. But having said that, I'm sure this movie can stand on its own based on the Sundance prize it won, and the from the looks of the trailer. This is definitely going to work, and if given a worldwide release, may put Australia on the map of excellent gangster movies.By the way, the movie title simply rocks!

Trailer

Official site

Wikipedia's take

Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010)

Zombie movies have so much versions to it that its become a full-fledged franchise owner all on its own. There's the sad, solemn "I'm-dead-you're-dead-lets-cry" version, theres the "holy-shit-we-need-to-get-the-hell-outta-here-before-they-eat-our-brains" version, and theres the "I-wanna-kick-some-zombie-ass" version. Its the last version which best sums up the Resident Evil series, but which does one better, by combining all the existing versions together, more or less.

The Skinny: taken from imdb.com's , movie summary:

"In a world ravaged by a virus infection, turning its victims into the Undead, Alice (Jovovich), continues on her journey to find survivors and lead them to safety. Her deadly battle with the Umbrella Corporation reaches new heights, but Alice gets some unexpected help from an old friend. A new lead that promises a safe haven from the Undead takes them to Los Angeles, but when they arrive the city is overrun by thousands of Undead - and Alice and her comrades are about to step into a deadly trap." Written by Screen Gems

Release Date:  10th September 2010 

Tagline: She's back ... and she's bringing a few of her friends.

The Helmer: Paul W.S. Anderson  - 

1. The Three Musketeers (2011) (filming)
   
2. Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010)
   ... aka "Resident Evil: Afterlife: An IMAX Experience" - USA (IMAX version)
   ... aka "Biohazard IV: Afterlife" - Japan (English title) (imdb display title)
   
3. Death Race (2008)
4. AVP: Alien vs. Predator (2004)
   ... aka "Alien vs. Predator" - Germany, USA (short title)
   ... aka "AVP" - USA (promotional abbreviation)
5. Resident Evil (2002)
   ... aka "Biohazard" - Japan (English title)
6. The Sight (2000) (TV)
   
7. Soldier (1998/I) (as Paul Anderson)
8. Event Horizon (1997) (as Paul Anderson)
9. Mortal Kombat (1995) (as Paul Anderson)
10. Mortal Kombat: Behind the Scenes (1995) (V)
11. Shopping (1994) (as Paul Anderson) 

The Casts:  Milla Jovovitch, Ali Larter, Kim Coates, Shawn Roberts , Sergio Peris-Mencheta, Spencer Locke, Boris Kodjoe

The Prediction: A helmer who specializes in slighly B-grade actioneers with a sci-fi slant, returning to the original franchise which he started, added with returning heroine who just refuses to die Jovovitch, and you have a very successful game-to-movie series which can stand on its own. I'm just wondering just how far this one can be stretched. It'd be good if it  branches off into other spin-offs both for TV and for the big screen. If its good, milk it to death. And then make comics out of them for longevity. Oh, and its in 3D. So expect rotting flesh to drop on your lap. Just waiting for smell-o-rama to include smell as well. Maybe one day ... 

Trailer

Official site 

Wikipedia has it covered