Out this week (13/11/09)

Oh, the rigors of touring continue with virtually no respite or opportunity to use a computer - except for this evening (night before the 13th, where I shall have to do some catching up. I have amended last weeks scores for the now reviewed films but only in the comments - not that The Men who Stare at Goats remained the recommended film of the week. I did miss 3 (yes that's 3) releases from the sub-continent which I've included this week for the sake of completeness, but none of them are ticking my fancy. This weeks film to watch is a tough question to ask, many of the releases look like high quality product but it's Taking Woodstock by a minor acid trip.



Amelia

The Amelia Earhart story has fascinated filmmakers for over 70 years - the woman who broke conventions to become a pilot and achieve notoriety in her lifetime for a laissez faire attitude and then a tragic final chapter. This latest version has Oscar written all over it, even if it looks like it may have missed it's target.

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


Cold Souls

Existential and angsty - it's a comedy about taking your soul into storage if it's getting too much for you. Starring Paul Giamatti as Paul Giamatti and with a cracking supporting cast - could be brilliant.

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

Harry Brown

Would Get Carter by any other name still be as good? Michal Caine is about to find out in this OAP takes on hoodies vigilante picture. I suspect this movie is a damaging as last weeks 1 day, but as it has Sir Maurice in the lead we'll give it some slack.

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

Heer Ranjha

Oft told Indian legend about 2 lovers destined to meet each other and be together in this lifetime or the next. I know I should be positive as the story isn't even vaguely knocked off Hollywood, however there's so many films out this week and some must do badly on my scores...

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

Lala Pipo

Wacky Japanese comedy about the sex lives of a "lotta People" in Tokyo. Director Masayuki Miyano cleverly interweaves stories about the lost, desperate, horny and repressed - PR notes not my words. Reviews aren't damning.

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

The Magic Hour

It's clearly a key week for Jaapanese comedies with 2 being released. This second one is set in the seedy world of underground casinos and burlesque dancers, like an Oriental Bugsy Malone but with adults and no splurge guns.

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

Pyaar Impossible

Unofficially a Hindi remake of Notting Hill. It's like they actually don't want people to go and see it.

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

Taking Woodstock

Compared to some of the other films released this week Ang Lee's latest has not had terribly glowing reviews - in fact since it's Cannes debut earlier this year the movie has been regulary referred to as lightweight. Still it's a gay cominh out story agianst the backdrop of the biggest music festival of the flower power generation. I'm so very there.

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

Tulpan

Kazakh cinema has had to expand exponentially since 2005's Borat spoof, partly to disprove any notions that he was a real character. Fortunately there is an enormous amount of talent and quality product coming. This comedy about a potential bride groom with big ears won un certain regard at Cannes in 2008.

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

Tum Mile

It's another Bollywood film about star-crossed lovers. Naturally they haven't been together for 8 years then meet up unexpectedly during the Mumbai floods. Probably ends up well for them, if not so well for hordes of extras.

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

2012

Roland Emmerich is back again to destroy major tourist attractions and put lesser known character actors in extreme jeopardy. This time he's destroying all of civilisation, which seems like a pretty big deal.

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

The White Ribbon

Director Michael Haneke is a true auteur, one whose films have both a clearly identifiable style as well as a streak of extreme meanness. His latest has passionate support from the Palme D'Or as well as the German entry for this years foreign language Oscar race. The film concerns the seeds of fascism being sown as German slip inexorably towards the first Great war.

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

So last week I missed the release of

Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani ●●●○○○○○○○, Harishchandra Chi Factory ●●●●○○○○○○ and Jail ●●●○○○○○○○.

I'm feeling kinda sorry for these releases because I missed them out last week, but also because they've actually been reviewed around the net and I'm liking what I read. They are, respectively, a romantic comedy, an account of the birth of the Indian film industry and realistic look at the justice system and the prisons.