Summer is here. The temperature has been beginning to lift, the mornings are lighter and the first of the big summer tentpoles is opening this week. Like everyone else out there I am excited about the big box office returns and the 3 month whirl of red carpet premieres and relentless marketing campaigns. Away from the big lights though there are some nice foreign language choices, but the film of the week remains Iron Man 2. 
A Boy Called Dad
As the lurid headlines of our tabloid culture focus more and more on the exceptional cases of underage parents we tend to forget the personal impact of having children. This film aims to reverse that trend taking a good look at the way a 14 year old life is turned upside down, and how he learns to cope.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
The Disappearance of Alice Creed
Gemma Arterton begins her make or break career year with a standard kidnap drama - will her captors renege on their promise to deliver her back safely? Will she seduce them to ensure her rescue? Watch the trailer to find out.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Gentleman Broncos
Jared Hess's latest may not have the cult appeal of his 2004 hit Napoleon Dynamite but it's concept of blatant plagurism in the sci-fi fantasy subculture and it's class supporting turn from Jermaine Clement should get some fans.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Housefull
Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar takes the lead in this comedy about guy with three girls on the go whose life is just about to get really complicated.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Iron Man 2
2008's surprise comic book hit (did you really think it would take off in the way it did for essentially a minor Marvel creation) gets it's inevitable remake. Robert Downey Jr. and Gwynneth Paltrow are back, Don Cheadle gets a choice replacement role, Mickey Rourke gets villian roles and Samuel L. Jackson may get a slightly bigger cameo. Expect this to be the biggest money spinner this year.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●●○○○○
The Last Song
Another Nicolas Sparks novel gets a big screen adaptation, following Dear John just a couple of weeks ago, with Miley Cyrus trying to break out as a real actress and Greg Kinnear adding a little class as her dad.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
The Milk of Sorrow
Peruvian drama - we don't get many of those - about a girl coming to terms with her childhood and her fears following the death of her mother.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Revanche
Oscar nominated Austrian film about fate and revenge. I hear it's long two hours, but worth it for those with the persistence.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Sura
Feel good entertainer, with a poster that looks like a mob drama, and an audi in the background. What can you say.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
24 City
Chinese drama following all sectors of society as a Chengdu factory is closed to make apartments, and the way this effects our characters, their family and the wider impact on society.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Valhalla Rising
An art film about a viking pyschopath? You'd better believe in the latest feature from Nicolas Winding Refn with the mute one-eyed hero finding the secrets behind his origins and the origin of his almost supernatural strength.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
And missed from last week, as you know there would be some...
The Calling
What starts as a comedy, with a vivacious student abandoning her planned career to join a nunnery meeting a bunch of comedy staples (including Susannah York's overbearing Mother Superior and the militant Brenda Blethyn), slowly develops into a fair reflection of the imporatnce of faith and community. Looks like a very good bet if you get the chance.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●○○○○○
Esrefpasalilar - Eshref Pasha
Turkish comedy drama - naturally. I have no idea what it's about so feel free to tell me if you know.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
The Oscar Shortlists for the 97th Academy Awards
9 hours ago
2 comments:
You're not very exciteable, are you?
Also, Alice Creed below the Last Song?
Otherwise, alright.
I try not to be.
There have been 180 releases in the UK and Ireland so far this year, and to keep the excitemeter relevant I have to reserve the higher scores for exceptional films.
I generally think 1,2 and 3 scorers (102 this year) probably aren't worth seeing, 4's (46) are for if you like that sort of thing but the 5's (32) and above are where you need to go. In 17 months of this system I've yet to score a 10.
(Although Robin Hood, Wall Street 2and Love and Other Drugs are all possibilites for that score later in the year).
Frankly I'm unlikely to watch either Alice Creed or the Last Song, but I do hear what you're saying.
Post a Comment