Chilly, sarcastic, over-the-top: all the usual adjectives used to describe a Quentin Tarantino film can also be attributed to “Arkansas.” The directorial debut of comedic actor Clark Duke, “Arkansas” is more an homage to Tarantino’s ’90s run (“True Romance,” “Pulp Fiction,” Reservoir Dogs”) than a celebration for a new voice. There are drug deals gone wrong, obscure ’70s rock, and oddballs trying to shoot their way out of impossible odds.

Continue reading ‘Arkansas’: Clark Duke’s Directorial Debut Is An Unoriginal, Quirky Crime Comedy [Review] at The Playlist.

There’s a long list of films that attempt to show how criminal enterprises aren’t always run by the mob, cartels, or rogue terrorist groups. This other type of thriller shows that sometimes criminal activity is carried out by some of the weirdest, ill-equipped people you can imagine. Hell, filmmakers like the Coen Brothers have pretty much given the blueprint on how to do these types of movies the right way. Hopefully, Clark Duke followed the Coen’s lead in the new film “Arkansas.”

As seen in the trailer, “Arkansas” follows the drug trafficking activity of a group of Southern folks (in this case, a few oddball rednecks), as they attempt to evade the law, other criminals, and early death.

Continue reading ‘Arkansas’ Trailer: Liam Hemsworth, Vince Vaughn & John Malkovich Star In This Comedic Crime Thriller at The Playlist.

When is a movie from tastemakers A24 not a movie from A24? When it’s conspicuously absent from their own website. Yep, “The Last Movie Star” isn’t rubbing elbows with Oscar contender “Lady Bird” or festival faves “Lean On Pete” and “Hereditary.” But reassured, this movie is from the studio, who have partnered with DirecTV to bring it into the world.

Continue reading ‘The Last Movie Star’ Trailer: Burt Reynolds Takes A Victory Lap at The Playlist.

It’s a cliché, albeit a tragic one at this point, to suggest that comedy and depression go hand-in-hand. As chronicled by Dick Cavett in connection with CNN’s recent series on “The History Of Comedy,” the late Robin Williams would aim to keep audiences laughing only to walk backstage and say, “Why can’t I be that happy?” The story of the stand-up comic has been documented in many forms, and the song is usually the same in terms of both clinical diagnosis and the hunt to be the next great success story.

Continue reading A Great Ensemble Offers A Serious History Lesson In Comedy In Showtime’s ‘I’m Dying Up Here’ [SXSW Review] at The Playlist.

Review: 'Hot Tub Time Machine 2' Starring Rob Corddry, Craig Robinson, Adam Scott and Clark Duke

Continue reading Review: ‘Hot Tub Time Machine 2’ Starring Rob Corddry, Craig Robinson, Adam Scott and Clark Duke at The Playlist.

Watch: Boobs And The Beatles In New NSFW Trailer For 'Hot Tube Time Machine 2'

Continue reading Watch: B–bs And The Beatles In New NSFW Trailer For ‘Hot Tube Time Machine 2’ at The Playlist.

Watch: First Trailer For 'Hot Tub Time Machine 2' Goes Into The Future

Continue reading Watch: First Trailer For ‘Hot Tub Time Machine 2’ Goes Into The Future at The Playlist.

Watch: Robin Williams Tries To Save The Holidays In Trailer For 'A Merry Friggin' Christmas'

Continue reading Watch: Robin Williams Tries To Save The Holidays In Trailer For ‘A Merry Friggin’ Christmas’ at The Playlist.

Watch: Most Of The Gang Is Back In First Red-Band Trailer For ‘Hot Tub Time Machine 2’

Continue reading Watch: Most Of The Gang Is Back In First Red-Band Trailer For ‘Hot Tub Time Machine 2’ at The Playlist.

Review: 'A.C.O.D.' Starring Adam Scott, Amy Poehler, Richard Jenkins & Catherine O'Hara

Continue reading Review: ‘A.C.O.D.’ Starring Adam Scott, Amy Poehler, Richard Jenkins & Catherine O’Hara at The Playlist.

Watch: First Trailer For Divorce Comedy 'A.C.O.D.' Starring Adam Scott, Amy Poehler, Jessica Alba & More

Continue reading Watch: First Trailer For Divorce Comedy ‘A.C.O.D.’ Starring Adam Scott, Amy Poehler, Jessica Alba & More at The Playlist.

Watch: 2 New Clips From 'Kick-Ass 2' Plus New Pics From The Superhero Flick

Continue reading Watch: 2 New Clips From ‘Kick-Ass 2’ Plus New Pics From The Superhero Flick at The Playlist.

Continue reading Set Pics Of Chloe Moretz As Hit Girl, Donald Faison As Dr. Gravity & Clark Duke As Battle Guy In ‘Kick-Ass 2’ at The Playlist.

Clark Duke Headed To 'The Office'; Mark Pellington Directing ABC Pilot 'Red Widow'

Continue reading Clark Duke Headed To ‘The Office’; Mark Pellington Directing ABC Pilot ‘Red Widow’ at The Playlist.

Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Clark Duke and Kid Cudi dress up as The Jimi Hendrix Experience in the rapper’s video For “Erase Me.” Oh yeah, Kanye West shows up to drop verse too. The song is actually pretty terrible — a half-assed attempt at a half-assed Weezer-type song — and the video is not much to write home about either unless you find glitter and wigs utterly hilarious.

Continue reading Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Clark Duke & Kid Cudi Are The Jimi Hendrix Experience In Video For “Erase Me” at The Playlist.

And it turns out this disdain for the picture is both warranted and yet, unwarranted. While largely juvenile and incredibly geared towards an adolescent and tumescent manchild/fanboy audience, the stylish, loud and dynamic picture is undeniably entertaining in spots and even occasionally amusing.

Continue reading SXSW Review: ‘Kick Ass’ Actually Does at The Playlist.

One of the first out the gate is “Hot Tub Time Machine,” from “Accepted” director Steve Pink (don’t run immediately, he also co-wrote the great “Grosse Pointe Blank”), which stars John Cusack, Rob Corddry, Craig Robinson and Clark Duke as four friends — well, to be accurate, one guy, his two best friends and his little brother (Duke) — who are accidentally transported back to 1986 by the titular fourth dimensional jacuzzi.

Continue reading New Red-Band ‘Hot Tub Time Machine’ Features Dick Jokes, Dick Jokes, And Also Some Dick Jokes at The Playlist.

Swords-and-sandals re-make “Clash of the Titans” has a second, longer trailer (although the middle section is pretty much the teaser in its entirety), and gives a little context to the action.

Continue reading Clash of the Trailers: ‘Titans’ Vs. ‘Hot Tub Time Machine’ at The Playlist.

OK, one more. Oscar Ratings were up about 6% (not a ton), but still much lower compared to previous years. Last year’s rating were the lowest ever. [AP] Wait, AwardsDaily is now saying it’s 13%

– OK, another Oscar-related story.

Continue reading Daily Playlist Linkage – 02.23.09 at The Playlist.