Out this week (17/07/09)

What an amazing week. Honestly I don't we've had such a good selection of films since January and the "prestige" season, there are 5 films that could in other weeks have come out as pick of the week. Including this weeks big cinematic release (something to do with a boy wizard), however I'm going for Frozen River as the top choice.



Frozen River

We've waited a year for this kitchen sink drama to make it over to the UK cinemas. Starring Melissa Leo and Misty Upham as two women forced to get involved with illegal immigration in order to support their families, it had lots of critical support back in 2008. Spain is the only other major territory to have waited so long to see it.

Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●●●●○○



Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

I expect you've heard about this one. Jim Broadbent joins the cast of outstanding Brit thesps in episode 6 of the Harry Potter franchise. Expect it to be both darker and funnier as our heroes struggle with their hormones and another major character bites the dust.

Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●●○○○○


The Informers

It disappeared in a limited release in the states, but this multi charcter drama from the pen of Bret Easton Ellis (American Psycho) looks quite interesting. With characters as diverse as Newscasters, ex-cons, party girls and vampires it could be a fascinating mix.

Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●○○○○○

Jashnn

There's laughs a-plenty in this romantic comedy from India about a young singer finding his distinctive voice, falling in love and rescuing his sister's honour. What a man.

Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○

Kissan

The second of this weeks Bollywood releases is harder to find a synopsis. Essentially it's about two brothers who grow up following very different paths. And it stars Jackie Shroff (presumably as their father) who also had a major role in the massively popular Devdas.

Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○

Kisses

Irish drama about two teenagers running away from home and finding magic and terror in the streets of Dublin with the margins of society. Bizarrely it's set during Christmas so I'm not completely sure why it's being released in July.

Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●○○○○○

Moon

Duncan Jones reinvigorates the sci-fi format with this thinkpiece set on the Moon. Sam Rockwell gives a bravura performance as the lone astronaut/miner on the base slowly getting to grips with issues such as isolation, cloning and what it is to be human.

Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●●○○○○


Wide Open Spaces

If you had ever wondered what had happened to Ardal O'Hanlon (Father Dougal in the superb Channel 4 comedy Father Ted) then look no further than this comedy about two slackers building a potato famine theme park in a remote part of Ireland. Of course it's possible that this is a documentary showing how low some actors have to go when the parts dry up.

Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○