I won't be going to the cinema this weekend, frankly I'm exhausted it's been a heck of a week what with rehearsing, classes and the 24/7 fringe festival. Not to mention having to do "real work" during the day. However if I were to go the decision might be a tough one, there's a couple of interesting looking foreign language releases and a new Superhero is coming to town, but in the end I'd have to choose, as the RLAG film of the week, Arrietty.
Arrietty
Studio Ghibli take the unusual step of adapting an existing, European story (Mary Norton's "The Borrowers") then still imbue the film with a unique Japanese feel and the traditional acceptance of the absurd. Saoirse Ronan and Mark Strong lead the voice cast as daughter and father in a family of miniature people living behind the skirting board.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●●○○○○
Captain America: The First Avenger
I have heard some great things about Joe Johnston's contribution to the pre-Avengers story, with many US critics calling it the best superhero movie of the summer. Chris Evans certainly looks hot in the trailers, and backed with a serious and exciting cast that includes Tommy Lee Jones, Stanley Tucci and Samuel L. Jackson what's not to like.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●○○○○○
Light Thief
A rare example of Krggyzstani cinema that examines the stature of ordinary technicians who restore electricity in the turmoil since the break-up of the Soviet Union. It helps that the main character seems a bit of a happy go lucky type.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●○○○○○
Poetry
Low-key existential Japanese movie about an old woman contemplating the meaning of life as she comes wearily to the end of hers. Heartbreaking and ultra-real this may still test the patience of most casual cinema-goers.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●○○○○○
Better Life
Slightly buzzed about immigration drama following an illegal gardener, Damien Bichir, in East L.A. trying to do right by his son whilst avoiding the criminal gangs and the authorities. Looks promising, but not exceptional.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Zookeeper
Given it's poor pedigree and mediocre box office performance in the US it's hard to see why this Kevin James vehicle deserves 4 blobs. To be frank it probably doesn't however it does boast Nick Nolte as a gorilla as well as Sylvester Stallone and Cher as a pair of Lions. Sounds like prime crap at least.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Horrid Henry: The Movie
There's clearly a market for this big screen translation of the very British kids stories, and no doubt it will clear up during the school holidays, but I don't think it's for me. What persuaded Anjelica Huston to play the stern headmistress I'll never know.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Our Day will Come
Bonkers looking French pic starring Vincent Cassell as a ginger therapist who runs away with one of his patients (mmm ethical issues there) to find freedom in Ireland - the land of the red heads.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Jihne Mera Dil Luteya
Bollywood love triangle with two best friends falling for the same girl at Patiala University. Cue comedy hijinks and much singing and dancing.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Friday, 29 July 2011
It's a Big World out There (Out this week - 29/07/11)
Friday, 20 May 2011
Cher
Happy Birthday to
Cher
65 today
Like many megastars Cher has managed to reinvent her persona many times over the past 50 years, from the delicate singer dueting with Sonny Bono to the powerful dramatic actress to the glossy songstress we probably all know and love. Here she is warbling her most prescient tune from last years Burlesque.
Saturday, 18 December 2010
Ooh la la - (Out this week - 17/12/10)
It's a quiet week with only seven major releases - a couple of which you can very easily discount as being utter trash (seriously this is the first time I've had to dish out 2 one blob marks in the same week). Although it's trash that wins the day in the end, narrowly pipping Facebook romance documntary Catfish and proving my sexuality once and for all, the film of the week is Burlesque.
Animals United
Slightly preachy looking European animation, with the voices recast for a British audience (James Corden and Stephen Fry become the headliners, Vanessa Redgrave and Jim Broadbent add some class). It's all about wild beasts grouping together to protest against man's destruction of their habitats - and for kids.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Burlesque
It may not live up to the glorious heights of it's obvious predecessor Showgirls, and it probably insults anyone who actually works in the industry with it coyness, but it does have Christina Aguilera belting out the tunes, Stanley Tucci doling out advice and Cher as a trump card.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●○○○○○
Catfish
In a year of divisive and questionable documentaries this almost fly-on-the-wall experience from Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman has led the discussions. Whatever your thoughts on that question the high praises remain - certainly one to watch.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Cuckoo
Very poorly reviewed British thriller/horror about a student hearing voices in her head at night and getting very anxious about it. Richard E. Grant should know better than star in this sort of crud.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●○○○○○○○○○
Fred: The Movie
You wait for two months for a one-blob movie then 2 come at once. Lucas Crikshank extends his youtube success in a feature length high pitch rant spent chasing Pixie Lott. In America you are lucky enough for this to have bypassed cinemas before going to TV. Here this is filling up the multiplex screens!
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●○○○○○○○○○
Loose Cannons
Italian comedy about a young gay man trying to come out to his homophobic comedy. I hear the film exposes Catholic hypocrisy about sexual proclivities whilst at the same time enjoying the camp best friends of our hero. Trailer looks like a lot of fun.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Tron Legacy
It's not the Christmas turkey you've probably been led to believe it is, but then neither does it look to be greats shakes in the scripting and acting department (Jeff Bridges aside, obviously). Definitely worth buying the Daft Punk soundtrack.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Thursday, 20 May 2010
Cher
Happy Birthday to
Cher
64 today
Is Cher on the verge of a major comeback? That might be an odd thing to say when most of us think she never left, but it's worth noting that she's currently in post production for 2 films (that's the same as she had previously made in 13 years...). Not that I am particularly expectant about either of her upcoming projects (Burlesque and The Zookeeper) but these could easily be the first steps back towards the glittering acting career (and costumes) she had in the 1980s.
