Deep within the suburbs there are stirrings of life (Out this week - 02/09/11)

‘Eid Mubārak to all my readers celebrating the end of Ramadan. You can tell it's that time of year because some of the biggest movies out this week will be catering to their celebratory audience, indeed I suspect this weeks Pakistani release will be in the top half of the box office figures, maybe even taking the top spot against the lacklustre competition. It's a dreadful week frankly, with a massive 15 releases only getting an average of less than 3 on the excitometer. That said there is an interesting trio of top releases which may be worth looking into headed by Greek comedy Attenberg, our film of the week.



Attenberg

Curious looking dramedy about a bored young woman, repelled by the concept of sexual contact and obsessed with synth-pop band Suicide and the documentaries of David Attenborough (whose name inspires the title). It's already garnering a cult following for it's deadpan humour and playful set-pieces.

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



Fright Night

Campy horror remake with Anton Yelchin discovering his mysterious neighbour Colin Farrell is a blood-sucking, teenager-abducting vampire. The delightful supporting cast includes David Tennant, Toni Collette and Chris Sarandon.

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

Hedgehog

The title is curious enough to have me interested and the plot synopsis, about a determined and pessimistic pre-teen who's life is turned around by two bizarre characters in her apartment block, doesn't disappoint in this Franco-Italian offering.

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

Kill List

Extremely well reviewed British independent horror from Ben Wheatley, the director of Down Terrace, the plot starts as a hitman taking one last job and soon turns into something far most sinister. Expect uncompromising violence with tough to take atmosphere.

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

Anchor Baby

Depressing looking Canadian immigration drama with the pregnancy that forms the centre of the plot really anchoring the expectant mother Joyce to US soil in the pursuit of the American dream.

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

Art of Getting By

Is Freddie Highmore, the child star of Finding Neverland and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory really an adult? He must be now he's falling for Emma Roberts and trying to find his own identity threw his painting in this graduation blues romance.

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

Bodyguard

Traditional Bollywood actioner with Salman Khan as the titular assistant, which the reviews indicate fluffs the ending.

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

Bol

This will be big. A family drama set in teeming Lahore with a home full of daughters (unusual for films from Pakistan) forging the lives they want regardless of their circumstances and tribulations.

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

Mankatha

And the trio is complete with this Tamil thriller about a gangland killer who might also be an undercover cop, with a trailer that promises the necessary quota of car chases and explosions.

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

Sex and Zen: Extreme Ecstasy

It's broken records in Hong Kong, providing the 3D audiences the flying dagger and pert breasts the additional dimension has been calling out for. The trailer looks ghastly but I suspect it won't be the plot that draws the punters in.

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

Apollo 18

Found footage horror (yawn) explaining why we've never been back to the moon. It's out tomorrow and I've yet to see a single review which is probably a sign the distributers are horribly embarrassed about the quality of the picture.

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

The Dead

Enough of the low-budget zombies. It was fun to start with but I'm bored of it now, especially as each new Brit indie that focuses on the undead threat seems to have less and less originality.

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

Robotropolis

Looking like a cheap Terminator rip off, set inside a single factory where the robotic workforce unionise for better rights and begin to exterminate the support staff.

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

Self Made

Curious semi-documentary, with an interesting idea that the reviews indicate has been wasted, with a group of random Londoners attending a method acting course interlaced with the short films they then make utilising their new found skills and psychological insights.

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

Weekender

Last week we had Powder with it's po-faced look at indie miserablism, this week it's the turn of the Madchester rave scene with bezzie mates doing what it takes to keep one step ahead of the killjoy coppers and the shady drug dealers.

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