A public display of grief (Out this week 06/08/10)

Tricky week to assess (and not just because I've been away from the computer for five days). I would imagine that Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz will be able to score the box office lead, but both the dance obsessed teenagers and the talking animal loving tweenies have their own counter-programming. It doesn't matter because film of the week is the limited release of Undertow.



Aisha

Quite nice looking bollywood adaptation of Jane Austen's Emma, with the social structures of medern Delhi backing the matchmaking antics of the titular heroine. As ever the lack of mainstream press support hinders my anticipation for the Bollywood product.

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



Cats and Dogs; The revenge of Kitty Galore

Sequel to the 2002 kids film where cats and dogs talk and are at continuous war. Why has it taken so long for the sequel to be made? Because it looks dreadful and no-one should go near it. Nick Nolte, Bette Midler and Michael Clarke Duncan are amongst those who should be ashamed.

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

Coco Chanel and Igor Stravinsky

I doubt you need me to tell you this but it's a biopic about the relationship between the classic fashion designer and the avant garde composer. Less starry than last years straightfoward Coco Chanel picture but should make a nice counterpoint

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

Eccentrities of a Blonde Haired girl

101 year old Portuguese director shows no sign of stopping with his latst highly regarded parable based on the 19th century short story by Eca de Queiros about a love story recounted to a fellow train passenger.

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

Knight and Day

Tom Cruise's latest bid to resurrect his action credentials has only managed middling reviews and looks eminently missable. That said I'm probably going to watch it tonight.

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

Step Up 3D

There's dancing. There's an unlikely relationship between a boy and girl from opposite sides of the tracks/different dance crews. It's in 3D. Is there anything else to say other than "Ugh" (see comments).

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

Undertow

A bisexual love triangle drives the plot forward in this latest magical-realist movie from Latin America. Moving look at the nature of love and the idea of letting go as Christian Mercado must come out to his homophobic fishing community in order to allow his deceased lover to rest in peace.

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

Wildest Dream: The Conquest of Everest

Part documentary on Conrad Anker and Leo Houlding's attempt to solve the riddle of Mallory's disappearance and part biopic on the extraordinary attempt by George Mallory to reach the summit of Everest. Totally stunning cinematography with Lima Neeson and Ralph Fiennes among the voice cast.

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