There have been some unfortunate rumours circulating from Telluride about CCoBB - a bit underwhelming and all that. I'm refusing to believe it; what's been shown is really just an extended trailer not the final vision.
Here then, is the trailer.
Another long run today, although no where near as long as Friday.
17.4 km in 1 hour 42 minutes, which is an average of 10.2 kmph or 6.4 mph. Still need to work on that speed.
I'm out until late today so I thought I'd drop the trailer early.
What a trailer - sweeping doesn't even begin to cover Luhrman's latest opus. And if Nicole and Hugh don't win themselves oscar noms I think I may cry. (I'll almost certainly cry when I watch it...)
Happy Birthday to
David Paymer
54 today
You probably recognise David as being Billy Cristal's straight guy in Mr. Saturday Night, but he's actually quite a versatile actor with many good credits to his name. Next up is Drag me to Hell, Sam Raimi's reurn to horror; I don't expect David's character to still be standing at the end credits.
With all the toing anf froing the release dates for Valkyrie have been doing it's easy to forget this is directed by the brilliant Bryan Singer and features an all star British supporting cast (as well as the Cruisemeister).
I'm a forgiving man so I'll certainly be first in the queue to see it.
Thought I'd go out after work and really push myself.
I was right; I have really pushed myself probably too much.
21.1 km in 2 hours 10 minutes. That's almost a half marathon distance, so at least I know what I need to do (shave at least 10 minutes off my time).
I think I'll take a well earned rest tomorrow.
I want you to know that by having Step Brothers as the recommended film this week does not mean that I endorse the film or guarantee the quality. Please don't sue me if you go to see it and think it's rubbish.
Angel
I made the first of my silly little errors when I looked up this costumer drama. It's written by Elizabeth Taylor, but I hate to disappoint you as it's not that Elizabeth Taylor. Romola Garai looks pretty, imagines a better life and has a brother and sister both fall in love with her.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Babylon A.D.
There was a time when everyonr thought that Vin Diesel only ever dated in Europe because he enjoyed his privacy (Closer style euphemism there), however recently he and his girlfriend have had a baby. I'm not going now.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Ben X
Autistic teenager plays online role-playing games to help him cope with being bullied. Did well on the festival circuit.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Sakuran
It's taken 2 years for this Japanese brothel set drama to make it to the UK. The photo's I've seen look absolutely gorgeous, as do the cast. But I was burnt by Memoirs of a Geisha.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Step Brothers
Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly are both still living with their respective parents who marry each other forcing the "boys" to live in the same house. No doubt a lot of fun can be found in watching 2 forty somethings acting in the way nine year olds would in this situation. Don't expect subtlety.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●○○○○○
The Strangers
Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman are attacked by people wearing paper bags. The trailer is better than the film (apparantly).
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Times and Winds
Tale of adolescent angst in remote Turkish village. Wonders how children and their different expectations will change to communities with their differing outlooks on life.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Triangle
This is not a big screen adaptation of the early 80's soap opera based on a north sea ferry. Instead it's a crime drama told from three different points of view. I would've preferred the adaptation.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
The Wackness
Ben Kingsley returns (is this the third time this summer?) for this tale of a dope dealing student and his crazy psychiatrist. The period (90's) detail is excellent and Josh Peck does a fine job in the lead, but Sir Ben is married to Famke Janssen and snogs an Olsen and both of those thoughts are really quite icky.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
In the 80's everyone thought the Western was dead. Then Dances with Wolves and Unforgiven came along.
Then no-one bothered making them because no-one thought they could better that - that's true but last year a semi-resurgence started with Jesse James and 3:10 to Yuma. Now it's Ed Harris's turn to keep the momentum going.
It's been a quiet week since I last updated any coming soon news but these two stories have interested me a little.
Tintin
There've been a number of rumours about uber-director Steven Spielberg, and his projects, over recent weeks.
First The Trial of the Chicago 7 changed director to Paul Greengrass, although now there appears to be no name attached to it at all. Then Herge announced Tintin was to be directed by Peter Jackson, who's currently attached to the sequels, although this has been denied. Spielberg is apparantly still in the chair. That's good, but I'd rather see him challenge himself with some meaty films.
Up in the Air
George Clooney has igned up to Jason "Juno" Reitman's next project: Up in the Air. It's about a guy trying to collect one million air miles - so far so loopy.
I tried fartlek training this morning. It's really tough. 15 minutes at normal pace, followed by 8 sets of 1 minute fast followed by 2 minutes slow.
Then a slow crawl back home...
Overall 9.8 km in 56 minutes. Which is 10.5 kmph or 6.6 mph.
Day off tomorrow then a long couple of runs over the weekend.
Here's another one without a UK release date. Grumble grumble.
Jonathan Demme returns to the (or his) early 80's with a bittersweet comedy about family. It's on at Venice and Toronto and is currently generating some minor oscar buzz from the performances by Anne Hathaway, Rosemarie DeWitt, Bill Irwin and Debra Winger.
Enjoy
I know, I know, I haven't been out for a week. I overslept last Thursday and had a cold over the weekend and basically have no excuse for yesterday.
All in all I was expecting this morning to be really tough, especially as I wasn't on my usual route (I needed to go to the train station to pick up the boyfriends car - long story).
Anyway I managed 4.7 km in 28 minutes. Which works out as 10 kmph or 6.3 mph. Ouch.
Happy Birthday to
Diana Scarwid
53 today
For a brief moment in the early 80's it looked like Diana, fresh from Inside Moves and Mommie Dearest, was going to be a huge movie star. It didn't happen. But she did get a part in "Pushing Daisies" so it's not all bad.
Can someone explain why there is a difference in release dates in different countries. No actually that's too simplistic; what I need to know is why release dates are so random. Why in the UK do we get Iron Man, The Women and Elegy on the same day as in the US, whereas we wait 1 week for the Dark Night, 5 weeks for Burn after Reading and 10 weeks for the British film Brideshead Revisited.
Not to mention why have you been able to see Vicky Cristina Barcelona for 2 weeks and we don't even have a release date yet?
I'm going to hold my hands up and apologise. When I last posted about the Toronto Film Festival I indicated that the festival is terribly important when it comes to the oscar race. I still submit it is relevant but it's not as vital as I may have led you to believe. Yes, in 2007 four of the eventual Best Pic nominees showed at Toronto, but in the five years previous to that there hadn't been more than 2.
This year I wouldn't be surprised if just one of the eventual nominees came from Toronto. If we were to look at the films most prognoticators are bigging up right now they are mostly notable by their absence from the festival circuit; Australia, Body of Lies, Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Defiance, Doubt, Frost/Nixon, Gran Torino, Milk, Revolutionary Road, The Road, The Soloist,The Changeling - although this is showing at New York and Venice. The Dark Knight and Wall-E have both already been released. It's only Miracle at St. Anna and the extreme longshot Blindness that have Toronto showings.
I guess we should make a space in our predictions for Spike Lee's latest joint.
Let me know what you think - will there be any Oscar noms coming from Toronto? Or is it almost an irrelevance.
Have i missed any major contenders (either showing at Toronto or not)?
It's time for a war themed trailer today - and in keeping with Sir Seans birthday I've gone for one starring his major competition. Apparently he was sent by God to save us.
2003. Dir: Peter Hedges. Starring: Katie Holmes, Patricia Clarkson, Derek Luke, Sean Hayes and Oliver Platt. ●●●○○
Pieces of April has a relatively simple premise. April Burns (Holmes) prepares a thanksgiving meal for her family and things don't go entirely to plan. There are comic situations arising from April's broken oven, and pitch balck performances from the family from hell on their way to see her.
Indeed as a comedy it works, there are a lot of laughs to be had watching April trying to prepare the food or in Joy's (Clarkson) asides. When she asks her daughter to stop singing you really don't know whether to laugh or to want to give her a slap.
One of the main problems with the film is that very few of the characters come across as sympathetic or rounded. Only Oliver Platt delivers anything beyond a braod caricature as he tries to keep the family together.
Indeed some of the supporting characters seem to be completely irredeemable - yes, Sean Hayes we're looking at your bizarre performance, and Alison Pill as April's sister is given nothing positive to say in the entire film. Also I find it extremely difficult to believe that Aprils knows as little as she does about cooking - her appaling attempts to peel an onion are one thing but surely no-one would be stupid enough to attempt to mash uncooked potatoes for as long as she keeps it up.
Even the set decoration doesn't make much sense - the claustrophobia and student kitsch appeal of the main apartment work well, but the other apartments almost appear to be in different areas of the city, with vastly different sized flats. I just can't imagine that the Sean Hayes character would spend that much money on a new oven and yet stay in that block.
Tami Reiker's handheld camerawork gives a nice lo-fi feel to the proceedings and Laura Cunningham's costumes and the hair an make-up team make each character feel more lived in than some of the performances do.
Overall I would say Pieces of April is a pleasant little comedy with unpleasant characters. Fairly enjoyable fluff but not enough to go out a buy it.
I didn't know whether to do Frost/Nixon today or hold off until tomorrow (I've still got 4 war films to trailer and I did want to mix them up) however I thought the links to yesterday were too good to ignore.
You see yesterday we had the trailer for W., which is directed by Oliver Stone, who made Nixon in 1995. And Toby Jones pops up in both (as Karl Rove and Swifty Lazar).
Happy Birthday to
Marlee Matlin
43 today
You may remember Marlee making a big splash in her debut film Children of a Lesser God, and winning an oscar for her work. Since then there hasn't been a great deal, although regular TV work including recurring roles in West Wing and L Word have kept her on the periphery of fame. I would like to see her in more films though, and maybe some where her deafness is merly an aspect of her charcter not a definition.
I realise that's probably a facile title but I have been noticing him quite a bit over the last 3 months.
Tilda Swinton is scheduled to take the role of Lady Macbeth in Come Like Shadows, there's an all star cast gathering for King Lear including Anthony Hopkins, Naomi Watts and Keira Knightley. Just this week James McAvoy and Emily Blunt have been outed as the star-crossed lovers in the bizarre sounding Gnomeo and Juliet. Finally I also spotted on imdb that Julie Taymor will be returning to the bard for The Tempest.
Now I don't know about you but I've not seen such a glut of Shakesperean adaptations in a long while, probably not since he fell in love with Gwynneth Paltrow (who's also in King Lear). Of course I had to check this theory and naturally I was proved wrong.
If we take a look at imdb the cinematic Shakespearean releases have been increased each decade since the 70s by about 45%. And if we look on a closer scale we can see that over the noughties adaptations have been slowing down with just 3 in 2008 against 9 in 2004. What has changed is the newsworthyness of the talent involved. As strange as this may seem Keira Knightley is a bigger box office draw than Al Pacino (who portrayed Shylock in 2004).
Perhaps the statistics are showing the turning of the tide and the growth is indeed coming to a close. If so these starry versions must be the last hurrah before a period of decline. Maybe Marlowe or Jonson will come back into fashion. I expect it's more likely to be a short term blip. Shakespeare wrote in such a way that generation after generation are captivated by the insights he had into human interactions and situations. The writing is so powerful that directors and actors will always want to present new ideas and interpretations.
Not to mention Branagh still has loads of them to make.
I expect I'll go to see at least 2 of the films I listed, but I think I will also be looking out for the more obscure adapatations. I wouldn't want to miss anything great just because it doesn't have a marquee name.
What do you think? What is the future for Shakespeare? Will the trend for more adaptations continue or are we about to hit an Elizabethan recession? Feel free to comment.
There are some films that I want to see because I think they're going to be really good. Others strike me like a train wreck in the making.
At the moment I'm leaning towards the latter as far as W is concerned. It's probably too close to be able to objectively look at the legacy and life of George W Bush, we're still all blinkered with our recent experiences to be able to amke sound judgement, and Oliver Stone could well be one of the worst people to give a balanced story anyway.
I'll let the trailer do the rest of the talking, though:
Aaargh, aaarch, aaargh.
Screeeeeeaaaaammmmm.*
*I'm not really sure what all the fuss is about but this could be the buffy fix I'm after.
We have a tie for first place in this weeks new releases. Personally neither is really rocking my boat, but if I had to choose I'd go to Hellboy (hence the picture) but knock yourselves out and see what you want.
Get Smart
This remake of the classic 70s TV serial, from the director of some of the most predictable comedies of last last 15 years, is getting some fair reviews. That is to say significantly better than the other big comedies of 2008. Plus it has some interesting cameos.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●○○○○○
Hellboy II: The golden army
None of the publicity posters show anything like a golden army, although I have seen repeated shots of Bros. in depressing make-up. Should be great for fans of the original - a bit baffling for the rest of us.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●○○○○○
Somers Town
It's probably the "best" of the 3 films out this week; Shane Meadows directing a coming of age tale against the grafters of North London, in black and white. But it's August and I think people want some escapism.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
By now you will all have read the list of films playing at the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival. By now you will also know which films you want to get some positive buzz and which you want to sink without trace. You may even be a bit of an oscar watcher and will be waiting for those first reviews to change your predictions.
Because, as sad as this is to admit, Toronto is the unofficial start of the awards season - of the 249 features showing at the festival at least 30-40 will have hopes of getting some traction going for the all important golden man.
Some of them will succeed - last year Michael Clayton, Atonement, No Country for Old Men and Juno played there - that is not to say that without Toronto a film can't succeed merely that it can help. Toronto is unlikely to make or break a campaign but it can be a major positive or negative step.
I won't bore you will my predictions of which films will be in those final ballots but I would like to draw attention to two films premiering at Toronto that are unlikely to get much further but may still be worth a peek. I have selected these films because they were oringinally on my radar for 2009 but have moved up to 2008, it's a brave move and I wish them well.
Who do you Love is the story of Leonard Chess who's record company popularised Blues in the 50's and 60's with a roster of acts that include the great Muddy Waters. New York, I Love You is the US answer to Paris, je t'aime comprising of 13 shorts celebrating the different aspects of life in the Big Apple, with a collection of actors to make your brain pop.
These two films probably couldn't be more tonally apart but it's thanks to TIFF that someone be able to watch them both within 5 days of each other. How fantastic is that.
This is, perhaps, one of the more contentious entries in my list of exciting upcoming films. Delayed a few times with the are they hot or not actors Ed Norton and Colin Farrell Pride & Glory may be a great crime pic or it might just be a bomb.
Either way it's a mustsee combo.
Happy Birthday to
Amy Adams
33 today
Amy first burst on my radar with Junebug back in 2005 and since then even in poor films she's been a ray of sunshine. Coming next is a novice in Doubt which should be an acting fest to look forward to.
I know today is day 18, but this is yesterday's run posted late. I'm not going out today because I'm full of sniffles so hopefully we'll all catch up properly tomorrow.
Anyway yesterday it was 9.2 km in 52 minutes. That's 10.7 km ph or 6.7 mph (I'm forgiving myself because I had a cold coming on).
It ain't gonna win any Oscars, it ain't gonna change anyone's life, it ain't gonna be at the top of the box office for weeks, but that puppy sure looks purty.
Here is the Spansih trailer for Che/The Argentine/Guerilla. Personally I would rather see the pair together as one film, but that will depend on how it's distributed here in the UK, if at all.
So many question marks over seeing this film - even when everything about it gets me tingling.
All the news that's fit to take a slight interest in.
Sex and Sylvia Plath
The buzzed script from newbie writer Jennifer O'Kieffe has been picked up by WAM films. The story is based on a 16 year old teenager who obsesses on death and shares a lover with her mother. Sounds like a laugh riot to me. It's got good pedigree, though - nominated for the Sanuel Goldwyn award and on last years Black List of unproduced screenplays.
Untitled Nancy Meyers Flick
Yes Nancy Meyers is responsible for formulaic romantic comedies like The Holiday and Something's Gotta Give but it has to be said she can get decent performances from the genre. Her latest, currently plotless, has Meryl Streep and Alec Baldwin signing on so it might be worth a gander.
Serious Man
The Coen brother's have decided on their next project. A Serious Man has beaten back Surbicon and Hail Ceasar (honestly the one I'm more interested in based on the imdb synopsis). It's about a man who's life is falling apart around him when his wife leaves and his brother doesn't. It's too soon to tell if it's No Country or Burn After Reading type Coen.
A slight improvement on Sunday, but not as good as I would have liked.
7.4 km in 41 minutes, which is an average speed of 11 kmph or 6.9 mph. Will need to get back over 7 mph before I'm back on track though.
I have not based the book on which this film is based so all I have is the talent and the trailer for this one. And inspite of the frosty reception at Cannes I am really excited about Blindness.
Just watch the trailer and you'll be mesmerised by the beauty in the cinematography.
1995. Dir: Mike Figgis. Starring: Nicolas Cage, Elisabeth Shue, Julian Sands, Richard Lewis and Steven Weber. ●●●●○
Leaving Las Vegas is not a film for the light hearted. It contains very frank and explicit scenes of alcoholism and prostition, without the Hollywood sugar coating. For those who are able to make it through the tough exterior they will find a glorious film inside.
The plot can be summarised in one matchbox sized sentence: Drunk moves to Las Vegas to die and meets tart with a heart. Indeed when you boil it down there isn't much more to the story than that.
Nicolas Cage, as Ben Sanderson, is an alcoholic in Hollywood who, on losing his job, decides to end his life by drinking himself to death in Las Vegas, the city where the bars never close. Elisabeth Shue is Sera the prostitute who's pimp, Julian Sands, is just letting her go (partly due to his paranoia and partly to protect her from the Russian mafia out to get him). Ben and Sera meet up and an unusual and close bond is formed between them. A bond that exists on one proviso, that Sear allows Ben to drink and Ben does not attack Sera's way of life.
Thinsg do not go completely to play. Suffice to say the ending is pretty tragic, however the acceptance and forgiveness that the odd couple display towards each up to that point is very touching.
In my last random review (Long days Journey into Night) nearly all of the cast had to display various levels of drunkeness and drug taking. Here Cage does not merely portray the effects of having a drink, but also the long term physiological changes. He sweats, vomits and shakes in almost every scene - his behaviour is erratic and uncontrolled and he shows huge swings in confidence and understanding of his situation. It's a masterful performance which rightly earned Cage the Best Actor Oscar.
Shue does not has the tics and traits of alcoholism to hide behind, yet in my mind she gives a superior performance. Deep in her eyes you can see her shifting perceptions of Ben, Yuri and her clients, and you can really understand when and why she asks Ben to see a doctor and the hurt she feels when he betrays her.
Figgis and cinematographer Declan Quinn do a fine job of the look and feel of the film, shooting in 16mm, generally with long takes and a moving camera. As a result the film has a spontaneous and documentary feel to it.
The main issue I would say that the film has is the misogynism apparent in the script, and it's something that reoccurs in most of Figgis's work. It is not enough that Sera is gang-raped, but it has to be an anal rape scene, and all of the supporting female roles are either sexual objects or shrews.
Happy Birthday to
Edward Norton
39 today
Happy Birthday Edward (or Ed, which ever you prefer). I have to say you do worry me, there are few actors of your generation who have such an electric screen presence. Even in Kingdom of Heaven where you wore a mask thoughout every eye was on your performance. Even so your projects are few and far in between and I often feel we're missing the best of you. Looking forward to Pride and Glory, though.
With Harry Potter shifting their release date into summer 2009 there is really only one film that's guaranteed to fill auditoriums later this year. Altogether now: Da dum da da, da da-dum, da dum de da daa...
Happy Birthday to
Robert De Niro
65 today
Yes Robert, we are talking to you when we say happy brithday to a screen legend. Why not celebrate with Bob by watching the trailers for his upcoming films Righteous Kill or What Just Happened?. Or better still look yourself in a room with the Scorcese/De Niro films and watch them to remind yourself of how good an actor he really is.
I think I must be regressing. This morning I went a little bit further than usual but my overall pace was appalling.
I ran 12.4km in 1hour 10 minutes. That's 10.6 kmph or 6.6 mph.
This is especially rubbish if you consider that as I was running Constantina Tomescu completed the Women's Marathom Olympic event in 2 hours and 26 minutes, which is an average speed of 17.3 kmph.
I am looking forward to this more than any other film coming in 2008.
Watch the trailer and you'll be able to see why.
I especially like Brad dancing to his iPod.
Summer has officially ended. When I went out this morning it was all dark and horrible. Humph.
Anyway it was a rather mediocre 7.2km in 41 minutes. That's 10.6 kmph or 6.6 mph. Boo hiss.
Feel free to berate me in the comments.
Happy Birthday to
Angela Bassett
50 today
Yes, everyone's favourite Tina Turner impressionist hits the big five-oh today. Angela's talent is far bigger than her resume seems to suggest and I only hope that she manages to get some good parts in the future. Next up is a plum supporting role in the journalist won't rat on their sources drama: "Nothing but the Truth".
This man wants to take your picture.
Or to be more accurate Mike Figgis is being paid by Sony Ericsson to make a short film based on your ideas as a competition prize. All you have to do is take 5 photo's on your camera including a self-portrait and submit them onto their website and Mike will take the images he feels tell the best story and turn that into a short film.
As an added bonus there will be gala presentation, with film stars, red carpets and everything where your film (or at least Mike's film based on your idea) will be shown.
I think it's a great idea, and a sure way to sell phone's with a 5 megapixel, antiblur, autofocusing camera. Did I really just write that? What I'm not sure is whether I'd want Mike Figgis messing around with my life. The Mike Figgis who conceived Leaving Las Vegas, Hotel and the shocking Cold Ceek Manor. I'd hate my dogs to come across as alcoholic whores in four screens at once.
So, would any of you enter this competition, or would you prefer another director - feel free to name drop in the comments.
Oh, and here's a potential series of entries. A Mars bar will be sent to the first person to name which films these shots come from:
1.
2. 
3. 
4. 
5. 
In the UK What Just Happened? opens on the same weekend as Body of Lies. Strangely enough though I actually want to see both. In fact I'm curious to see whether this Player lite manages to make Hollywood talent agents as sympathetic as sports agents were after Jerry Maguire.
I'm still smarting about not seeing Death Defying Acts on Wednesday so I guess I'll be avoiding the cinema this week, there's at least one film that looks watchable if you're off out though.
Banishment
I'm flying a bit blind this week as I haven't had a chance to read the film synopsis, however this appears to be a Russian drama/horror movie with dark sinister secrets revealed on a trip to the country.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Miss Pettigrew Live for a Day
Unemployed governess Frances McDormand gets caught up with Amy Adam's starlet and her extraordinary lifestyle, including multiple lovers, career choices and (I expect) champagne cocktails. Film of the week.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●●○○○○
Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Ten years ago I would have been one of the first in line to see this animated version of the fabled clone wars in that galaxy far far away. But then George Lucas stabbed me in the back. Three times.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Wild Child
Rich American girl is shipped to posh UK girls school, there's bitchiness, hijinks and lessons learnt. I don't think I'm the target audience.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
You don't Mess with the Zohan
The latest Adam Sandler vehicle involves a retired Mossad agent working as a hairdreser in New York. It's close to hitting $100m in US revenue, better than the Love Guru, not as good as Get Smart. I'm not going.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Happy Birthday to
Tess Harper
58 today
Tess was Tommy Lee Jones' wife in No Country for Old Men. That's it really - I can't think of anything else worth saying. Have a good day.
I would like to point out that I had already decided it would be the Body of Lies trailer today and was going to use the teaser before the new trailer was released, but now like the flighty teenage girl that I am at heart I'm moving to the new one.
It is slightly better - opening up the story element of the film and giving us more of a glimpse into the characters for DiCaprio and Crowe. Anyway, watch, enjoy, and leave a comment if you feel the urge.
Over the weekend I trawled the internet looking for a local cinema showing Death Defying Acts and amazingly it was showing at Star City, Birmingham. I called up a few friends and we agreed to meet at the cinema for an evening of Guy and Catherine.
Imagine our dismay when the screening had been cancelled. Of course I went to have a word with the manager - apparently the reel was damaged so they were unable to show the film. Luckily the manager was a friendly sort and he offered us 4 complimentary tickets to anything we wanted. (We plumped for a second viewing of the Dark Knight.)
I was amazed at how willing the team at the cinema were to apologise and help us to enjoy the evening and I look forward to hearing from them once they've got hold of an alternative copy of the film.
Anyone else had similar incidents in the cinema?
It wasn't good this morning. I could come up with dozens of excuses like I was up late last night or my legs weren't properly warmed up, but ultimately I just wasn't putting in the effort that I needed to do.
5.7 km in 30 minutes. That's 11.2 kmph or 7mph, which isn't as bad as I thought it was.
Happy Birthday to
Marcia Gay Harden
49 today
I like Marcia. If you remember from my The Mist review I was in awe of her performance. Saying that she does do over-exposure. Last year she was in 6 films released in the States, this year there are at least 3 projects due for completion.
Now this is a film which I've said I'm interested in a number of times, and I have to admit it's more from the buzz and talent involved (including this years best actress winner from Cannes) than the trailer.
I hope your Portuguese is better than mine.
George Clooney's Smoke House production company has picked up the rights to Jonathan Mahler's legal thriller left. 
It's not much to say about this mornings run, other than I'm fairly happy with the 8.4 km in 45 minutes.
That's an average speed of 11.1 kmph or 6.9 mph.
By the way, if anyone has any advice about the running please feel free to say - I'd love to get your feedback.
Did you know that Robert De Niro is 64 and Al Pacino is 68. Now I don't know much about the NYPD but I'm sure most cops retire before then. Apart from this being the reteam of two of the greatest screen actors of all time the only reason I want to see this is to watch Al complaining about his hernia and Bob using his bus pass to get around the city.
Happy Birthday to
Casey Affleck
33 today
I confess I nearly missed Casey's celebrations, which would've been a real shame as he's quite a stunner. He had a superb 2007 with the one two punch of The Assassination of Jesse James and Gone Baby Gone but since then all's been a bit quiet with nothing on the horizon. I expect something will turn up and I'll certainly be looking forward to it.
Almost terrential rain this morning - had to wring the water out of my shirt when I got in.
I ran 6.5 km in 35 minutes. That's an average 11 kmph or 6.9 mph.
It has occoured to me that each week I let you know what's coming out and rate my excitement but I've never really said what it is that excites me.
There are many things it could be. The talent, source material, buzz and early reviews all feed into my opinions (I freely admit I read reviews before seeing films). One important aspect is the trailer; and I've been unfairly neglecting the trailers here. I've linked to other sites and sometimes just mentioned their up but that's not really good enough so starting today for the next few weeks I will endeavour to spotlight new trailers that have caught my eye, and as new ones come along I'll add them into the mix.
I'm starting with The Boy in Striped Pajamas. It's out in the UK in September and will be the first of a long list of WW2 related films coming out over the next 12 months. I know this sort of thing never really goes out of fashion but we have Valkyrie, Australia, Defiance, Miracle at St. Anna, The Reader, Inglorious Bastards all on thier way.
Striped Pajamas takes the holocaust as the basis for the story, but shows it from a boy's perspective. Take a look at the traler below and let me know what you think.
It's time to do a quick catch-up of the latest rumours and news that have hit my interest.
Inglorious Bastards 
The casting of Quentin's new flick carries on with Brad Pitt, Eli Roth and B.J. Novak all signing on the dotted line. I'm still pretty ambivalent about this at the moment (although Brad is making me change my mind). Satying that if the promises of a completed film for Cannes next year are kept to than I'll have to see it just to see how the project comes across.
Don Quixote
Terry Gilliam is taling about resurrcting his Don Quixote. Originally planned in 2001 the adaptation of Cervantes' novel was due to star Johnny Depp and Jean Rochefort and was beset by as many disasters as the titular hero. It's a perfect fit for Gilliam's style and way of thinking and Lost in La Mancha 2 would be fantastic.
Antichrist
Lars von Trier has secured funding for his Antichrist project. It's a horror film. From the director of Dogville and Dancer in the Dark. How can you not want to see it?
Scared Straight 
Nicolas Cage. In a prison. There's a riot. He has to rescue people from the really baad men. Is this Con Air, without the Air?
Finally Bioshock
I wouldn't normally look twice at a videogame adaptation (luddite snob that I am) but as this is being developed by Gore Verbinski whose Pirates movies, or at least the first one, showed that he's capable of making something from the most unlikely sources then my interest is piqued. The game seems to be an underwater Doom of sorts (feel free to correct me in the comments) so there could be some opportunities for suspense and less chance of multiple unnecessary double crosses. 
As surprising as this may sound but I have actually been working this week.
On Monday I was filming Fleeced, which is an actual feature film produced by Azra Productions. I say feature, at the moment it's really only a trailer. We've filmed rough cuts of the key scenes with the aim of flogging it to some studios and getting some names attached to the main parts. Of course there is a risk that once it goes to the nxt stage and once there are salaries that a name will steal my role, however I have quite a inconsequential part so maybe I'm safe.
It's a comic spin on films such as Reservoir Dogs and Lock, Stock and 2 Smoking Barrels which involves a bank heist from the most unlikely group of criminals; the lead is trying to go straight his best friend is a psychopath and their joined by an undercover cop, a Priest, a TV reporter, a sex fiend and a guy who drssed up like the Pink Pnather. The script is very very funny with a mix of Zucker brothers' slapstick and Alfie alike asides to the camera.
On Friday I recorded a Radio Play for the South Birmingham Community Radio - it wasn't paid but it was a lot of fun. The radio station can be found here, and it promises to be a really exciting venture for South Brum.
When it's finished airing (this afternoon) Post It will be available in the archives. For the record I play the welsh copper (although if the accent is rubbish that's not me at all).
Finally I also got a copy of Everything is OK, a short MA project I was involved in earlier this year. Once I've worked out how I'll try and get a copy online.
Happy Birthday to
Martha Hyer
84 today
Martha didn't have the most illustrious film career, outside of Some Came Running and a minor role in Sabrina I'm not sure there's anything of note. She sure looks gorgeous, though.
Overdid it again this morning. Not that it was my fault this time. About the 10 minute mark 2 other joggers appeared so I had to try to keep up with them - other joggers will know what I mean. It didn't work - soon after all I could see is their footprints in the mud and I was seriously knackered.
So today I ran 11.4km in 1hour and 3 minutes. That's an average 10.9 kmph or 6.8 mph.
I was out late last night and grabbed a kebab on the way home (the shame), so I thought this morning was going to be a bit of a waste of time. I should have been more confident though (or maybe I should eat kebabs more often).
I managed 5.7 km in 30 minutes. That's 11.3 kmph or 7.1 mph which is a major breakthrough. I'm off to have a long soak to congratulate myself.
Happy Birthday to
Melanie Griffiths
51 today
For those of you under 30 Melanie has a 'head for business and a bod for sin'. Although her agent appears to have no use whatsoever. It's been over 10 years since she's made something in any way watchable and there's nothing on the horizon. Luckily Antonio is bringing in a pay packet.
It's a significantly better week than last, however there's still little to make me want to go to the cinema. Catherine Zeta-Jones is trying to point to a cinema where Death Defying Acts is showing, maybe if I find it I'll see it.
Death Defying Acts
The film of the week has to be this Houdini biopic, of sorts. Concentrating on a fictional relationship between a con-artist medium and the famous escapologist the film delves into the tricks that psychics do to fool their punters.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●●○○○○
Elegy
More from Sir Ben Kingsley, that bastion of quality control, although this time he's backed up by an interesting supporting cast including Penelope Cruz, Patricia Clarkson and Peter Sarsgaard. Still the films from a book by Philip Roth and he's responsible of The Human Stain, one of the worst film experiences of my life so it loses a point there.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●○○○○○
Elite Squad
Brazilian Police Drama involving two friends vying for the top job in a ultra tough anti-drug squad. Apparently there's corruption and needless bureaucracy in the Brazillian Police - I expect that would be the same in any contry only without the favellas
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
The Fox and the Child
Part natural history documentary, part kiddie drama, part pants looking. The reviews say the fox is the better actor.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Make it Happen
Jumping on the dance movie craze this middling effort from Darren Grant (I don't know why I put that I don't know any of his previous films). If you were excited as a kid by Flashdance and Footloose avoid this dull retread.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Empire
Or The Proof: Law of Dimishing Returns. Not even the thought of seeing Bredan Fraser running around makes me want to see this. Am I getting old or is he?
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
5.5 km in 30 minutes this morning, that's 10.8kmph or 6.8 mph.
Not a lot else to say, really. It was perfect jogging weather this morning - cool but not raining.
Happy Birthday to
Charlize Theron
33 today
The walking clothes horse that is Charlize Theron is celebrating another birthday - amazingly she looks as gorgeous now as much as she's ever been. She's a fascinating actress as well, with projects from auteurs like Arriaga and Hillcoat coming up.
Contrary to popular beleif I do take this running thing quit seriously. If I don't get round the Birmingham half in under 2 hours 15 minutes I'll be extremely disappointed as I have said I will beat that here.
Anyhow this mornign I did 7.3 km in 40 minutes. That's 10.8 kmph or 6.8 mph, which is surprisingly slow compared with my last run. Still it's not going too badly, mustn't grumble.
Happy Birthday to
Frank Finlay
82 today
Another bizarre confession but Porthos, the vain comic one, was my favourite of the musketeers. So well done Frank for that. And still working in your eighties is something to be proud of.
Well Phase 2 has begun. Unfortunately I was so excited about that that I rather put too much effort in the beginning of thios morning jaunt and was then playing catch-up for the rest of the run.
It paid off though. 5.6km in 31 minutes. That's (near enough) 11 kmph or 6.9 mph. If I can keep that up as an average pace then I'm doing very well indeed.
Next run is 40 minutes long on Wednesday.
1962. Dir: Sidney Lumet. Starring: Katherine Hepburn, Ralph Richardson, Jason Robards, Dean Stockwell and Jeanne Barr. ●●●○○
Written by Eugene O'Neill in the 1940's, this semi-autobiographical play was first released and produced following his death in 1953. The play was a huge hit and it often regarded as his finest work - praise indeed for the writer of The Iceman Cometh.
The plot, or what there is of one, follows the Tyrone's over the course of the day as they fight and pick at each other and turn to their own habits and rituals for comfort.
There are some additional issues for a transfer from stage to screen tat you don't have with other films, especially when the action all takes place in a single set. In some adaptations there will be additional characters, in other the action moves to different locations. In Night Sidney Lumet merely opens up the house - we see the garden and the dining room, but other than that it's purely as the play is presented.
It's a brave decision, and I think the right one. The spare room and the Doctor's office are described almost as other worlds so it would have been a let down to actually see them. On the other hand this decision makes the film feel very stagey. There's even one device at the end where the camera pans out to reveal the set as a faraway stage. This whole staginess makes the film more boring than it has any right to be.
If Boris Kaufman (cinematographer of such masterpieces as On the Waterfront and 12 Angry Men) had been given more rein to have fun like the point when the camera follows Katherine Hepburn around as she circles the room then the whole film would be improved. Perhaps if the set was interesting this could have helped, but, as Hepburn's character repeats many times it's not a home and it certainly gives no clues to indicate the places is lived in and enjoyed.
All the performances hit the right notes. Katherine Hepburn milks the slow descent into morphine induced madness but only in keeping with the charcter and Ralph Richardson makes a superb hammy miser in a performance that may just be a touch close to home. Making a huge impression as the youngest son with Consumption, and the character that stands in for Eugene himself, is Dean Stockwell.
Stockwell had been a child actor who was now graduating to adult parts, and his performance here is superb as his watches the rest of his family get drunk or high and desperately try to avoid talking about what's really wrong with themselves by blaming everyone else around them. It's certainly a wonder why Stockwell didn't get more film work, looking at his CV it seems TV was a greater calling so a potential matinee idol was lost there.
To conclude I would say that the dialoigue is riveting, the performances good and the haunting piano score of Andre Previn effectively evocative, but Long Day's Journey into Night fails to escape from it's stage past and the overall package is less than the sum of it's parts.
Back when I started this blog I a put together a loose training schedule for preparing for next years London Marathon. Yesterday I completed Phase 1. In phase 1 I was aiming to get myself into the routine of running 3-4 times per week and up to 1 hour at a time.
I have pretty much achieved that. This week I ran 4 times and yesterday it was for an hour. Over the full 6 weeks I have run over 100 km, and over 15 times. However there wasn't any consistency - I had a couple of weeks off in the middle and have only gone for an hour once.
Phase 2 has a much more specific goal. Over the next 12 weeks I will be training for the EDF Energy Birmingham Half Marathon. I have booked my place and I am aiming to complete it in under 2 hours.
My first phase 2 run is tomorrow - 30 minutes. Wish me luck.
BAD NEWS - The Prince of Persia has ben pushed back until 2010 to complete post production.
Don't get me wrong. I'm under no illusions that PoP will be a good film. I don't rate Mike Newell as an action director, I mean really don't the producers look at his previous films? And Ben Kingsley has a supporting role so we can't guarantee any quality there.
In spite of all this, and my complete lack of knowledge about the source game, I am very keen. mainly because I have imagined the entire film involves Jake Gyllenhaal running around dressed like Aladdin in short trousers and an open waist coat.
Mmmmm, Jake.
More gratuitous Jake shots after the jump.
