Friday 13 May 2011

I was once like you are Now (Out this week - 13/05/11)

Bonus points for anyone who can tell me what song the title is from and how it relates to two of this weeks films. It's a really odd week, sandwiched in the middle of the early onslaught of blockbusters there's very few bog explosions and superheroes to actually draw us into multiplexes this week. Even the highly acclaimed and eagerly awaited Attack the Block looks more like a niche product than a bona fide chart topper. Nevertheless there are some exciting prospects to be had out there, including film of week A Screaming Man.



A Screaming Man

Intense and satisfying Palme d'Or nominee from last years Cannes festival following the changing fortunes of a father and son who work on a hotel pool projected against the backdrop of the civil war in Chad. Youssouf Djaoro as the titular parent figure displays all the emotion internally in challenging and powerful performance.

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



Attack the Block

Exciting looking trailer for Joe Cornish's Aliens vs. Hoodies feature, produced by the team behind Shaun of the Dead - with an added Nick Frost cameo. It's had great notcies on the festival circuit, even taking into account the U.S. audience wanting subtitles, and no doubt it has a cult future ahead of it.

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

Love Like Poison

Beguiling debut feature from Katell Quillevere, taking it's original French title from a Serge Gainsbourgh song Un Poison Violent. The film focuses on 14 year-old Anna as she prepares for her confirmation into the Catholic church, deals with her parents separation and begins to experience sexual desire. Typical French movie, then.

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

Red Hill

Ozploitation that mixes the obvious ingredients of pshychotic outback communities, an Aboriginal with almost supernatural survival skills and a father-to-be fresh from "Home & Away". It won't win any awards but you know exactly what you're going to get.

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

The Way

Emilio Estevez directs his father Martin Sheen for the second time in this moving look at grief and how fathers relate to their sons, as Sheen sr takes a pilgramge along the Way of St. James following his wastrel sons demise in an attempt. For 2 hours and 8 minutes watch him walk, chat with stranger, and find a new appreciation of life.

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

Amreeka

The U.S. immigrant experience (for a middle class West Bank family in rural Illinois) gets dissected in this American/Canadian co-production, although it seems to avoid the biting satire and preaching liberalism you may expect from the premise.

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

Love U... Mr. Kalakaar

Hindi Movie with more than usually insipid plot description about a cartoonist who derives his inspiration from emotional responses to the sky, a spider's web or a scrap of paper and a female accountant. Not for the faint hearted.

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

Seniors

Our second Bollywood entry, this time in Malayamlan, concerns four 30 somethings who decide to return to university for a post-graduate Philosophy course, and for the opportunity to really turn their comfortable lives upside down.

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

Risen

Somewhat unnecessary boxing drama about 1968 World Feather weight champion Howard Winstone who took the title in spite of being really rather nice and having a unusual fighting style. Shane Ritchie and John Noble are the big names in the cast list which kind of tells you what you're up against in this lightweight Brit film.

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

Take Me Home Tonight

Totally unnecessary 80's throwback starring rolled-jacket-sleeved Topher Grace (32) as he gatecrashes to college parties in order to woo big haired Teresa Plamer (25). The on the nose soundtrack is probably the only plus.

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

4 comments:

TomS said...

Oh yes, Cat Stevens (once). "Fathers and Sons." I guess by your descriptions they relate to Screaming Man and The Way. Somehow, the song puts me in mind of Tree of Life.
The song, and his Greatest Hits Album, were everywhere in the 1970's....

Runs Like A Gay said...

Spot on, it's odd how some weeks certain themes reoccur through the releases - although it's safe to say that father/son relationships have always been a major part of cinema.

I still need to be convinced about seeing Tree of Life - the British critics were quite sniffy about it at Cannes. Although I note you have something to say about that.

TomS said...

Well, I will challenge you then!...See it only if the subject matter appeals to you, and your curiosity about its artisitc merit prompts your screening....but not just because it might happen to become an Oscar contender...
I hope you do see it, so we have something more to chat about!!

Runs Like A Gay said...

I think that's a little unfair - I don't just go to the Oscar contenders (although I confess my middlebrow tastes often coincide with theirs).

I will however take you up on the challenge. When Tree of Life is released over here I will endeavour to watch it and report back with my thoughts.