He who must not be named gets the upper hand (Out this week - 19/11/10)

I'm writing this in advance, so some of the excitometer scores are yet to be confirmed, but saying that I'm still taking a punt on the film of the week. I would love to pick out the Cuban romantic animation Chico and Rita, but frankly unless the reviews are dreadful the box office champ and my own personal film of the week is Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1.



Adrift

No, it's not the Open Water sequel, but instead a Brazilian drama about a 14 year girl old on holiday discoveries her fathers (Vincent Cassel) infidelities and developing a burgeoning romance of her own.

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



Broken Sun

Australian drama set during the second World War charting the shifting relationship between a suicidal veteran and an escaped Japanese POW as the former returns him to the camp across the outback as each discover how war impacts the soul of a soldier.

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

Chico and Rita

Adult animation, partly hand drawn, partly CGI, about a Cuban couple (a singer and a pianist) who love each other too much for the relationship to last longer than thier international tour.

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

Dream Home

Satire on the housing crisis and the desire for a better home with Josie Ho running amock on her would be neighbours after a housepurchase falls through. Some inventive deaths look inevitable.

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

Guzaarish

I'm curious to see what the tone of this Bollywood drama starring Aishwarya Rai will be. The plot concerns a magician fighting for euthanasia following a major accident.

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

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1

And so it begins, the (first half of the) final chapter of J K Rowling's wizard franchise. I expect Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) will appear to gain the upper hand at the end of this installment with Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) and chums looking like their beaten. The massive Brit cast includes (deep breath) Helena Bonham Carter, John Hurt, Miranda Richardson, Imelda Staunton, Julie Walters and Alan Rickman.

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

Life Goes On

British drama, set among the Indian community, about a husband and father, leaning to cope following the sudden passing of the wife he idolised.

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

Silent Army

Drama about child soldiers in South Africa, as told through the eyes of a white reastauranteur who searching for his neighbours kidnapped son. Surprisingly this was the Dutch submission for last years Foreign Language Oscars.

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

Uncle Boonmee who Can Recall his past Lives

The least likely Palm D'Or winner in years directed by Thai auteur Apichatpong Weerasethakul looks at the final hours of the titular character as he remembers his life. Lyrical, spirtiual and in some places quite surreal. A beautiful but enigmatic experience.

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