Out this week (16/04/2010)

It's not a classic week of releases, but it's safe to say that a number of the films coming out are generally looking good. There's also a "twin" theme which I'm very pleased to see. I'm personally going to be checking out the thinly veiled Blair film (only 3 weeks until the election) and Channing Tatum's abs, but I think the top film of the week, and this is based purely on the very high standard of reviews, will be Cemetery Junction.



Beeswax

Our first twin film, from the mumblecore movement, has identical sisters Jeannie and Lauren face major decisions in the way they go forward in their lives. It's low-key approach and lack of plot direction may turn off some viewers.

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


Boogie Woogie

A satire of the London Art circle, that neither appears to be funny nor terribly satirical. Probably best to go back to the Banksy doc from a few weeks ago.

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

Cemetery Junction

Slice of life comedrama from Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, follows three friends in Reading as they face the transition into the patterns that may will set the rest of their life. Christian Cooke is the lead character (getting a job selling insurance) but it's Ralph Fiennes as his boss and Emily Watson that are the draws for me.

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

City of Life and Death

The siege of Nanjing is in vogue these days, with John Rabe coming out a couple of weeks ago. This Chinese film is certainly getting the better notices and would certainly be a great choice for anyone interested in that period of the 20th century.

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

Crying with Laughter

It's the dark side of Facebook as stand-up Stephen McCole falls in with a sinister ex-classmate in Edinburgh. This is a drama, not a comedy mind, as the plot revolves heavily around sexual abuse.

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

Dear John

Amanda Seyfried falls in love with Channing Tatum's abs in this weepie from Nicolas Sparks (The Notebook). Did well in the States, should do well here, but won't be box office champ.

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

The Ghost

Pierce Brosnan plays ex-Prime Minister Adam Lang (not Tony Blair) and Ewan MacGregor his unnamed ghost writer in this thriller adapted from the Richard Harris novel and directed by Roman Polanski. Should be right up his street.

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

Give me your Hand

Our second film about twins, this time boys, has a very different tone as the 18 year olds hitchhike to their mothers funeral and have romantic and sexual encounters on the way (note gay interest here...)

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

The Heavy

Good timing for this British thriller about a Prime Ministerial candidate whose brother has shady links with the underworld. Oddball cast include Vinnie Jones, Stephen Rea and Christopher Lee.

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

Paathshala

This weeks obiligatory Bollywood entry. The not-so-promising tagline: "Teaching is a noble profession".

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

Repo Men

Forest Whitaker and Jude Law play repossion men in the future, only they're not here to take your TV, they're here to take your kidney. I don't like the future.

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

Veda AtatUrk Farewell

Turkish biopic of the soldier and master politician who unified the Ottoman Empire. Probably no a hatchet job.

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