Friday 7 October 2011

The City of Nostalgia (Out this week - 07/10/11)

There are two films that look like they might be worth catching at multiplexes this week. On the one hand you've got a brutal British kitchen sink drama that marks the directorial debut of a cult UK actor and on the other you have a comedic master who's found new inspiration in the city of light. Meanwhile expect a cut-price secret agent to continue his international trend of capturing the box office lead. Film of the week, obviously, goes to Midnight in Paris.



Midnight in Paris

It's being universally heralded as Woody Allen's best film in years and it's US box office take has eclipsed his entire back catalogue (ignoring inflation) and with Owen Wilson's surrogate role slipping back in time to the 1920's what's not to love about Allen's delightful confection.

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



Tyrannosaur

Paddy Considine steps behind the camera for the first time, dissecting the harrowing lives of council estate alcoholics and Christian housewives unable to escape the downward spiral of domestic violence. Compared favourably to Leigh and Loach this debut shows promise of immense talent, as well as showcasing some high calibre performances from Olivia Colman and Peter Mullan.

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

Battle of Warsaw: 1920

Poland doesn't have a rich history of defensive successes (no offence) so it's a bit of a surprise to hear how rarely their decisive victory over the invading Bolsheviks has made it to the big screen. I can't see this breaking out of the homegrown market though.

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

Don't be Afraid of the Dark

It's oversold the produced by Guillermo del Toro tag which may have even caused this Katie Holmes/Guy Pearce starring remake to lose a little sheen. Certainly I've heard only vague notions of disappointment, but if you like this sort of thing then you probably like this sort of thing.

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

Irvine Welsh's Ecstasy

Somewhat less iconic than his genre breaking drugs novel Trainspotting, this similarly veined drugs are hell but cold turkey can be worse missive at least stars a hobbit in a supporting role.

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

Perfect Sense

David MacKenzie's second film in three weeks, following the music festival romance You Instead, has a much more bittersweet romance with Ewan MacGregor falling for Eva Green as the human race succumb to a mysterious illness robbing us of our senses. It's probably a metaphor.

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

Rascals

It's a quite humourous trailer for this Bollywood con-men movie which stars Ajay Devgan and Sanjay Dutt as competing tricksters pulling more and more convoluted jobs on each other.

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

Johnny English Reborn

It's already taken over $35m in Overseas revenues and stolen the top spot in Russia and South East Asia, so look our for Rowan Atkinson's credit card spin-off to do much the same on home turf.

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

Vedi

New Tamil picture, I don't know much about it. Now that's honesty for you.

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

Yaar Annmulle

Three hours plus for this punjabi musical, that's an hour each for the student protagonists (all of whom look far too old) each of whom try to outdo each other in the romantic complication stakes. Only for hardcore fans I suspect

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

2 comments:

Andrew K. said...

I am very curious to see what you think of Midnight in Paris. I love Woody, and I like the film but I find it a bit like cotton candy. Sweet to taste, awkward after being ingested too long...but, I shan't say too much - I want to hear what you think, when you see it.

Runs Like A Gay said...

Review's up Andrew, time to compare notes.