Friday 9 September 2011

Autopsy of History (Out this week - 09/09/11)

Things are looking pretty grim in cinemas here in the UK, and I don't just mean the subject matter of the few films that come close to getting me into cinemas. I'm not sure why it is but the first couple of weeks of September have been pretty poor the last couple of years, I imagine that the end of the summer holidays (and here it really feels like summer has ended ended) means that the kids quadrant won't be watching new movies but it's too soon for the serious awards fare. Of course there's bonnets and brides which should get a few punters in but for me the film of the week is Post Mortem.




Post Mortem

Most South American film industries have a proud heritage of looking back at the darkest periods of their history so it's no surprise that Chile wants to address the 1973 Coup against Salvador Allende. Taking the unusual route of charting the furtive relationship between a shy morgue worker and a burlesque dancer who goes disappears in the aftermath, this film illustrates the parallels between assessing the bodies and the broken state.

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



Jane Eyre

If this latest adaptation of Charlotte Bronte's classic gothic novel breaks out then expect the arthouse cinemas to have the twinset and tweed crowds queuing round the block for that nice Judi Dench and a few period costumes. I probably sound cynical as news from the US is that Cary Fukunaga's film with Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbender is a superb retelling that could even reap some awards notice.

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

Troll Hunter

If you're getting fed up with found footage horror movies then stand by for a shot of adrenalin from this Scandinavian monster mash with a bunch of students coming across a troll hunt and getting up close and personal with the grotesque beasties.

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

Friends with Benefits

You have to wonder if Mila Kunis talked to Natalie Portman during the making of Black Swan, or whether they took the professional rivalry to heart, whatever happened Kunis seems to have drawn the longer straw on the shagging mates stories, coupled with Justin Timberlake and supported by the extremely talented Richard Jenkins, Woody Harrelson and Patricia Clarkson. Some of the trailer looks quite funny too.

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

Lonely Place to Die

There are two Brit thrillers out this week, of which this Scottish set kidnap drama looks slightly more efficient and terrifying with a quintet of mountaineers rescuing a trapped girl, but finding a whole lot of trouble from shady underworld types. Shame the trailer gives away each of the deaths.

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

Mere Brother ki Dulham

It's a well worn story in this bright and fast moving Bollywood release with a downtrodden brother desperately trying to arrange a marriage for his superstar sibling. Naturally when he finally finds a suitable match they end up falling for each other. Utter hokum of course, but fun looking hokum at least, with a surprisingly feminist leading lady.

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

Teja Bhai and Family

Malayalam gangster comedy about a notorious con trying to go straight for love. The trailer looks as complex and incomprehensible as you can imagine.

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


Colombiana

The first of the American big releases to get squashed by The Help's fantastic box office run shares a common heritage with many of Luc Besson's feminist heroes but it seems Zoe Saldana drug cartel orphan doesn't has the emotional heft of Leon or Nikita.

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

Holding

More homegrown violence set against the very best of Britain's National Parks with this "heart-pounding suspense thriller set on a farm in England's beautiful rugged Peak district". Not too far from where I live then.

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

2 comments:

TomS said...

Yes, it is a weak week in September for films... And then...SOCKO! We'll get too many to keep up with in October and November. At least that's something to look forward to...

Nice synopses, Ben...probably better than most of the movies merit!

Runs Like A Gay said...

Thanks, Tom. I try with the synopses.

Really wish I could afford the time and money to go to many more of the movies than I go to. Whilst I didn't attend that week I think Post Mortem, Jane Eyre, Troll Hunter and even Friends with Benefits probably all had some merit in them.

That said it gets crazy over the next couple of months. I don't know about you but between 16 September and 30 December I plan to see 23 movies, that's one every 4 days!