I have very little option this week with the film of the week, obviously I expect the underperforming US genre mash to take the box office top spot, although the two TV spin-offs hitting cinemas this weekend will want a slice of the action, however the most intriguing movie with several weeks of success in the Irish cinemas and therefore film of the week is The Guard.
The Guard
It's easy to be blasé about John Michael McDonagh's indie mismatched cop story, but it has all the hall-marks of a classic of the genre. With Brendan Gleeson and Don Cheadle perfectly matched to rub each other up the wrong way. The most interesting off screen connection to note is McDonagh's brother Martin directed In Bruges also starring Gleeson.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●●●○○○
Cowboys & Aliens
Oh dear, the fallout from this expensive flop (apparently $200m was spent on the a movie that's only going to make $96m domestically) is quite broad ranging, from the closedown of The Lone Ranger to the panic over the box office draw of it's leading men Harrison Ford and Daniel Craig. That's what happens when you use a randomly generated selection of buzzwords to create a film, I guess.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●○○○○○
In a Better World
Susanne Bier's relationship drama may cover themes she's been to time and time again but who can dissect modern Danish families better, also this controversially won the Best Foreign Language film Oscar earlier this year. However in spite of all that pedigree the trailer looks a little overwrought.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
The Inbetweeners Movie
Aimed squarely at the fans of the BBC2 comedy series, and using the classic characters go on holiday tactic of opening the action to a 90 minutes session, there's certainly a market for this not-quite-cool boys on holiday lark. Not sure it's me though.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Villain
Fascinating looking Japanese drama about guilt and redemption and the aftermath of a senseless, almost inadvertent murder, the two main suspects and what it means to love and sacrifice for someone. Could well be worth a second look.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Glee! Live in 3D!
I was in two minds about even including this concert documentary, after all it doesn't appear to conform to my rules for inclusion in the breakdown of releases (no docs, no live shows, no re-releases etc) however after bombing in the States where it didn't even make it to the top ten in it's week of release and with the actors (including Gwynneth Paltrow but not Jane Lynch or Matthew Morrison) appearing as the characters they play in the TV series I felt it wouldn't hurt. No-one's going to see it anyway.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Spy Kids: All the time in the World in 4D
I'm assuming the 4D element of this totally unnecessary kiddies sequel is time, in that it drags on and on and on. Plot appears to revolve around a magical sapphire that stops time and some drivel about step-mothers being spies. Charmless.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Friday, 19 August 2011
Of the Peace of Ireland (Out this week - 19/08/11)
Monday, 29 November 2010
Don Cheadle
Happy Birthday to
Don Cheadle
46 today
Cheadle first came to my attention as the scene-stealing Mouse in 1995's The Devil in a Blue Dress but he had been working steadily on TV and in films for over 10 years before that knockout performance. Short of his Mockney in the Ocean's movies he is always putting in considered and solid performances.
Wednesday, 16 June 2010
Brooklyn's Finest
2009. Dir: Antoine Fuqua. Starring: Richard Gere, Don Cheadle, Ethan Hawke, Wesley Snipes and Vincent D'Onofrio. ●●●○○
Solidly gripping Brooklyn's Finest is a clear film de Antoine Fuqua displaying all the macho posturing, bling and shots of the sun that you expect from him. However it comes short of the sum of it's parts and the chain of coincidences seems forced and - just a little - incoherent.
We start with three convenient cliched cop characters; a disolusioned alcoholic bobby-on-the-beat about to retire (Gere), a family man being dragged into corruption to have a chance to support his brood (Hawke) and an undercover agent who's so far in his loyalties are in question (Cheadle). By using these familiar settings Fuqua is trying to both shortcut the introduction to these stereotypes and introduce an overriding operatic arch to their variations.
That it doesn't work is perhaps because whilst we know every beat of the characters he still feels the need to introduce routin and charcter for the first half of the film, thereby rushing the drag toward the climax. In this way we believe the motivations of the lead trio because they tell us that it's so and not because we've organically come to understand their feelings.
Of the three storylines the one that suffers the most is loner Richard Gere who doesn't quite have the gravitas to fill the role, and we are left slightly confused as to why after dodging the police work for many years he gets involved with the final crescendo of violence. Don Cheadle does an excellent job in his third, ably matched by Wesley Snipes as the drug dealer he can't allow himself to betray.
But it's Ethan Hawke who does the best in his role, reunited with his Training Day director, essentially playing the moment between when that character tips into Denzel Washington's and lets the desperation and catholic guilt flow through him. There's a very nicely shot scene in a confessional (it's in the trailer and works better in context) with Hawke railing against God's impotence.
Brian F O'Byrne (Million Dollar Baby, Before the Devil Knows You're Dead) is also convincing as Hawke's conscience, a fellow drugs officer trying to keep him on the straight and narrow.
You'll notice we've only mentioned the male actors, this is because Fuqua can only direct women in how they are connected to the men, as wives and whores. Even Ellen Barkin as Cheadle FBI superior is really just a man with a skirt, with every edge of femininity erased from her - either by the job or by the screenwriters. The message of this is clear; out on the streets women either need rescuing or protecting or they're not really women.
The technical aspects are fine, and Fuqua is obviously comfortable with the hip hop and drug ridden streets that he invokes with the movie.
Overall I would say this picture over does the exposition and rushes into the climax, it's fairly watchable but definitely worth waiting until it comes out on DVD for a beer and a pizza on a quiet Friday night.
Friday, 30 April 2010
Out this week (30/04/2010)
Summer is here. The temperature has been beginning to lift, the mornings are lighter and the first of the big summer tentpoles is opening this week. Like everyone else out there I am excited about the big box office returns and the 3 month whirl of red carpet premieres and relentless marketing campaigns. Away from the big lights though there are some nice foreign language choices, but the film of the week remains Iron Man 2. 
A Boy Called Dad
As the lurid headlines of our tabloid culture focus more and more on the exceptional cases of underage parents we tend to forget the personal impact of having children. This film aims to reverse that trend taking a good look at the way a 14 year old life is turned upside down, and how he learns to cope.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
The Disappearance of Alice Creed
Gemma Arterton begins her make or break career year with a standard kidnap drama - will her captors renege on their promise to deliver her back safely? Will she seduce them to ensure her rescue? Watch the trailer to find out.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Gentleman Broncos
Jared Hess's latest may not have the cult appeal of his 2004 hit Napoleon Dynamite but it's concept of blatant plagurism in the sci-fi fantasy subculture and it's class supporting turn from Jermaine Clement should get some fans.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Housefull
Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar takes the lead in this comedy about guy with three girls on the go whose life is just about to get really complicated.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Iron Man 2
2008's surprise comic book hit (did you really think it would take off in the way it did for essentially a minor Marvel creation) gets it's inevitable remake. Robert Downey Jr. and Gwynneth Paltrow are back, Don Cheadle gets a choice replacement role, Mickey Rourke gets villian roles and Samuel L. Jackson may get a slightly bigger cameo. Expect this to be the biggest money spinner this year.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●●○○○○
The Last Song
Another Nicolas Sparks novel gets a big screen adaptation, following Dear John just a couple of weeks ago, with Miley Cyrus trying to break out as a real actress and Greg Kinnear adding a little class as her dad.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
The Milk of Sorrow
Peruvian drama - we don't get many of those - about a girl coming to terms with her childhood and her fears following the death of her mother.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Revanche
Oscar nominated Austrian film about fate and revenge. I hear it's long two hours, but worth it for those with the persistence.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Sura
Feel good entertainer, with a poster that looks like a mob drama, and an audi in the background. What can you say.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
24 City
Chinese drama following all sectors of society as a Chengdu factory is closed to make apartments, and the way this effects our characters, their family and the wider impact on society.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Valhalla Rising
An art film about a viking pyschopath? You'd better believe in the latest feature from Nicolas Winding Refn with the mute one-eyed hero finding the secrets behind his origins and the origin of his almost supernatural strength.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
And missed from last week, as you know there would be some...
The Calling
What starts as a comedy, with a vivacious student abandoning her planned career to join a nunnery meeting a bunch of comedy staples (including Susannah York's overbearing Mother Superior and the militant Brenda Blethyn), slowly develops into a fair reflection of the imporatnce of faith and community. Looks like a very good bet if you get the chance.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●○○○○○
Esrefpasalilar - Eshref Pasha
Turkish comedy drama - naturally. I have no idea what it's about so feel free to tell me if you know.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
