After last weeks explosive start to the blockbuster season we're now taking a less studio-based version with art-house versions of action movies likely to dominate the box office, and some exciting animated and foreign language selections. It's a bit of an interesting time for Christopher Plummer fans too, but the film of the week is the thriller/fairy tale hybrid Hanna
Hanna
Joe Wright, director of high profile British costume dramas such as Atonement and Pride and Prejudice at first glance appears to be slumming it with this action thriller, however closer inspection reveals the style and substance he's brought to the film has made this project utterly unique.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●●○○○○
My Dog Tulip
Low-key animation based on J.R. Ackerley's autobiography about his friendship with a German Shepherd. Christopher Plummer, in his first role this week, is the central lead. Sadly this also has Lynn Redgrave's final performance.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●○○○○○
Outside the Law
Rachid Bouchareb's second movie looking at the relationship between France and Algeria, the countries of his birth and of his heritage, however unlike Days of Glory this painful reminder of the Algerian Independence movement, and the ultra thin line between freedom fighters and terrorism, has stirred up painful memories of the period.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●○○○○○
Water for Elephants
The second real test for proving if Robert Pattison can pull in an audience outside the Twilight franchise, although it won't take much to surpass his Remember Me. Reese Witherspoon plays the girl he falls in love with, Christoph Waltz her husband and Hal Holbrook looks back as an older version of the worst circus tragedy of all time. Expect a two hanky movie.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●○○○○○
13 Assassins
Takashi Miike, known for his more extreme revenge movies, takes a look at feudal Japan in this based on fact action adventure. The titular assassins volunteer together to defeat a sadistic lord in a virtual suicide mission (with over 30 minutes of continuous battle choreography in the final set piece).
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Engeyum Kadhal
Surprisingly delayed Tamil movie (first released in October 2010), possibly because it portrays a love story where the woman is in control and chasing her loved one.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Forget me Not
British independent love story set over 24 hours in the beauty and excitement of London's capital, the trailer recalls the lyricism and aimlessness of Richard Linklater's Before Sunrise.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
One Hundred Mornings
The most depressing plot synopsis this week comes from Ireland. Two couples hide in a isolated lakeside whilst society falls apart. The micro situation will undoubtedly reflect the micro.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Priest
Adapted from a graphic novel, from the same director-star collaborators Scott Charles Stewart and Paul Bettany, as last years apocalyptic Legion. Not expected to be any good. Brad Dourif and Christopher Plummer - yes this is the lesser of the options - take he money and run in supporting roles.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Something Borrowed
This looks so much like any other Kate Hudson rom-com that I honestly thought it had come out before. Ginnifer Goodwin is the ostensible lead, falling for her best friends (Hudson) fiance. Apparently not as bad as it might seem.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Friday, 6 May 2011
Did she turn out as you hoped? (Out this week - 06/05/11)
Saturday, 11 September 2010
Frolicking in the Countryside (Out this week - 10/09/10)
Closely fought campaign for film of the week with two big comedies slugging it out for the top spot. I'm not sure which of them will take the box office crown, or if Milla Jovovich Will steal it away from them. In the end I've plumped for the British option (got to support the local produce) and will be going to see Tamara Drewe
Alamar
Low key Mexican family drama about a five year old getting aquainted with his father whilst learning how to fish. Either mesmerising or twee depending on your tolerance for this sort of thing.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Boss Engira Bhaskaran
Standard Bollywood romantic comedy with the titular hero turning his life around on discovering love. Ahhh.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Cyrus
Just failing to make the grade this week is the latest film from the Duplass Brothers, and their first departure from their mumblecore background. John C. Reilly plays lonely divorcee falling for Marisa Tomei only to have to compete with her obsessive son Jonah Hill. Catherine Keener also stars.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●●○○○○
Going the Distance
It seems to have been previewing for months but the latest Drew Barrymore rom-com finally opens properly this weekend. Still looks saccharine and twee mind.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
My Son, My Son, What have ye Done
Warner Herzog has amassed a knock out cast (including Willem Dafoe, Brad Dourif, Chloe Sevigny and Michael Shannon) for this why dunnit murder mystery set in the quiet suburban driveways of middle America, but there seems to be little thought as to why we should watch.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●○○○○○
Resident Evil: Afterlife
Easily the most annoying trailer of the week, with director Paul WS Anderson and Milla Jovovich re-teaming for the fourth installment of zombie battles based on the superior computer games.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
The Runaways
The all-girl rock band on which this biopic is based had significantly more impact in the States than over hear, and I doubt even the presence of Twilight star Kristen Stewart can generate excitement. Michael Shannon has his second film this week and Tatum O'Neal (remember her?) gets a minor role.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Tamara Drewe
Based on Posy Simmonds comic strip, as reproduced in the Guardian, which was in turn based on Thomas Hardy's Far from the Maddening Crowd, the Stephen Frears comedy should tick all the right boxes for a pleasant night out.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Friday, 21 May 2010
Out this week (21/05/2010)
Summer defiantly continues (actually it's been pretty hot here in the real world as well as in the multiplexes) with one of those tentpoles that's had a shift forward of it's UK release in order to avoid clashing with the World Cup. Aptly, given the seasonal weather it also involves Jake Gyllenhaal bearing a lot of flesh for the Arabian suns. Not that it's the top film... Oh no, for a real quality night my pick of the week is Warner Herzog's massively gonzo Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans.
Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans
If you could imagine the most eccentric pairing of director and star working today you probably wouldn't be far off Herzog and Nicolas Cage. It's fair to say this corrupt cop drama is delightfully bizarre as a result, with copious drug taking and iguanas throughout. The excellent supporting cast includes Eva Mendes, Val Kilmer, Irma P. Hall, Brad Dourif, Michael Shannon, Fairuza Balk, Xzibit....
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●●●○○○
Cop Out
If I say anything too pro of anti Kevin Smith I am absolutely suire he'll tarack me down and take offence, as he did on his twitter account following the US release of his latest big budget comedy. But I won't go and see it either.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Heartless
Jim Sturgess wears a heart-shaped birthmark over his face in this latest British horror. Essentially a adult version of TV's recent Demon's about devilish minions in London.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Kites
It's a Bollywood movie, yet on the poster it says "Brett Ratner presents Kites". That's right the B-movie director with A-movie budgets is in someway involved with this Mexican set Hindi movie. Interesting, yes, but not really exciting.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Pimp
Since the last Danny Dyer picture he's been sacked from his "Nuts" agony column for appearing to condone spousal abuse, so I might not be posting the obligatory semi-naked pic this time. The films about a Soho pimp (natch) who's life spirals out of control. True fact - I applied for a role in this movie.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Whilst Bad Lieutenant looks like the best film coming out this week I'm still going to be first in the queue to watch Jake Gyllenhaal prancing shirtless in the desert, all buff like. Can you blame me, really?
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●○○○○○
Streetdance 3D
This will be an awful movie, of that I have no doubt, but the trailer is fantastically fun and truly this is the sort of film that deserves the 3D treatment as various well known UK dance troupes (mainly from Britain's Got Talent) jump out of the screen at you.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Oh, who am I kidding - here's Danny:
And Jake, mmm:
Wednesday, 18 March 2009
Brad Dourif
Happy Birthday to
Brad Dourif
59 today
Brad had so much promise in the early part of his career, following his rave notices for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, however he was content with gimmicky horrors and a virtual cameo in Lord of the Rings. Although he does have a couple of Herzog movies on his slate so maybe we'll once again see what he can do.
