And we're back. An all new style of presenting the out this week column, with trailers attached. Note that I watch all the trailers, and I fully encourage taking a look at some if they are films you're not immediately interested in seeing. Luckily I'm also back in time for one of the most controversial releases in some time, dividing the friends and enemies of the former Prime Minister at the centre of the piece in loving and loathing this big screen adaptation of her life, and not always in ways you expect. Film is the week is unsurprisingly The Iron Lady.
Of the new releases there's no doubt that Meryl Streep's uncanny impersonation will lead the field in terms of box office clout, although I suspect Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol will remain the box office champion when all is counted up.
The Iron Lady
Hagiography or hatchet job, that might depend on your opinion of Thatcherism, the defining economic policy of the 80's. Personally I approve of some aspects of small Government and de-regulated industry, even if I disagree with the pursuit of low inflation at the cost of employment or most of the bleak social policies of the period and I am generally confused with the persistent hatred of Margaret by modern-day freedom movement protesters who weren't even born during her tenure. By all accounts though the movie soft-pedals the politics of the Tory Government and dovetails key points in her life (with little or no context) with a frail old woman struggling to buy milk. Distasteful and irrelevant I refuse to see this film in cinemas - although it's possible I'll pick it up later in the year and review then.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●●●●○○
Mother and Child
What I will be seeing is Rodrigo Garcia's family melodrama starring Annette Bening, Naomi Watts and Kerry Washington as three women affected by adoption trying to make sense of their lives.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●●○○○○
Players
The first of our Bollywood releases for the week is this Hindi thriller about an accountant who leads a double life as a master criminal about to commit the biggest Gold heist of all time. It certainly looks like they're not holding back with the action.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Goon
Seann William Scott's career has been on a surprise downward trajectory for some time, following the breakout success in American Pie many people thought he was going places, however the momentum has stuttered to a halt until he finds himself in this sports comedy (always the last refuge of a failing actor) actually the TV spots and reviews paint it as sweeter and funnier than I'm ranking it but this trailer does no good at all.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Uchithanai Muharnthaal
Tamil movie which confronts the widespread brutalisation of Sri Lankan women during the civil war and the continued mistrust of immigrants into India. Although oddly all I could think of watching the trailer is whether the distracting movement of the frame was deliberate.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Saturday, 7 January 2012
The Blogger's not for Turning (Out this week - 06/01/11)
Friday, 11 November 2011
Next stop, Gonzo (Out this week - 11/11/11)
Weirdly, in spite of the fairly OK mix of movies out this weekend all I want to do since I wrote the title of this post is stare at the palindromic date. I hope I don't glance at the clock just after ten past eleven for fear of my head exploding. Of course this weirdness may be due to the stonking amount of alcohol I've had to drink in readiness for our film of the week: 
The Rum Diary
Johnny Depp isn't quite Hunter S. Thompson in this adaptation of his earliest, yet latest to be published novel about a journalist heading to Puerto Rico and finding nothing but booze and money laundering. Co-starring Richard Jenkins (wearing the best syrup in 2012) and written and directed by Withnail & I helmer Bruce Robinson, this has to be better than it's paltry US box office implies.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●●○○○○
Arthur Christmas
I really don't like the over-commodification of Christmas, and I say that as an Atheist, however I believe the celebration should be reflective of it's religious roots and not just an excuse to flog toys for two months. Yes, this is an Aardman animation so it's probably OK but you won't catch me near it. James McAvoy stars with Jim Broadbent, Imelda Staunton and Hugh Laurie.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●○○○○○
Trespass
Joel Schumacher directed the worst movie I have ever seen in a cinema, no not Batman & Robin which was at least campy and bright but the utterly charmless action flick Bad Company yet I still return time and time again to see if he can top that. Nic's Cage and Kidman look like their having cheesy fun in this hostage in your own home flick so it might just be watchable.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●○○○○○
Immortals
Tarsem Singh directs this latest foray into Greek Mythology, with the help of the producers of 300. Plenty of flesh in the trailer and an extraordinary visual aesthetic make this one to watch even if we expect the narrative to fall down in the same way Tarsem's previous outings have down. All eyes will be on future Superman Henry Cavill, but the brilliant supporting cast includes famous faces like Mickey Rourke and John Hurt.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Awakening
Nothing to do with Sleeping sickness this homegrown horror flick seems to have been trailering for months, and inspite of it's ubiquity I can safely say I have no intention of watching this derivative nonsense - with Rebecca Hall and Imelda Staunton - in a cinema.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Rockstar
This Bollywood rom-dram hasn't done much to conceal it's major plot in the title. Unless it turns out to be about India's most famous diamond cutter? I haven't seen the trailer yet so I'm on the edge of my seat about this...
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Wuthering Heights
Andrea Arnold has taken an awful lots of risks in her unique adaptation of the classic Emily Bronte gothic romance, with the casting of a black actor as Heathcliffe, anachronistic dialogue and a foreboding sense of doom creeping across the moors throughout this won't selling to the bonnet and bodice crowd, but it will make for a fascinating look at the novels themes.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Black Pond
British comedy that's getting a very limited release, possibly due to the dark nature of the concept - upper middle class family have to deal with an unexpected corpse - the surrealist trailer - or the not quite interesting enough cast list of Simon Amstell and Chris Langham.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Kill Keith
But hey that's pure genius compared to this utter dross of a sort of Tarantino parody (although really only in the title) which mixes pointless celebrity cameos and on the cheap special effects with jokes that feel old and tired in the trailer let alone in real life.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Friday, 15 July 2011
Bring me Harry Potter (Out this week - 15/07/11)
Let's not pretend anything here. There is only one movie that's even vaguely hitting the headlines this week and as much as I'd like to support the Spanish prison dramas or independent grindhouse spin-offs there's no denying the pull of J K Rowling's literary behemoth. So it is with no shock the runs like a gay film of the week is the final battle between good and evil, it's Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallow Part II.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallow Part II
As the British film industry grinds to a halt following the closure of the Potter franchise (although you have to wonder if the Potterverse project will lead to some future spin-offs) lets look forward to seeing the lengthy awards calibre supporting cast list (in this film there are 19 acting nominations, 4 wins, from 7 performers - see the labels below - and how many casts can claim that?) doing more serious work over the next couple of years.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●●●○○○
Cell 211
Popular Spanish thriller following a rookie prison screw on his first day who gets caught a riot and becomes chummy with the criminal leading the revolt, and finds his loyalties deeply questioned. The US remake is already being written.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●○○○○○
Bal (Honey)
The third in a loose trilogy of films focussing on the lives of working class Turks from Semih Kaplanoglu. Naturalistic and unsentimental the movie reflects a way of life slowly coming to an end.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Hobo with a Shotgun
The second fake trailer from Tarantino and Rodriguez's Grindhouse experiment to be made into a full scale movie looks more promising than Machete in that it keeps it's lo-fi premise and ultra-violent concept and save Rutger Hauer as our shotgun wielding hero doesn't overfill the cast with unnecessary cameos. That said it may not be to everyone's taste.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Treacle Jr.
Independent British movie starring the ubiquitous Aiden Gillen (honestly he seems to be everywhere over here at the moment) and Tom Fisher as two middle aged men unable to conform within modern society, it might be an interesting dissection of modern attitudes to mental health but the trailer isn't making that too clear.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Zindagi Na Milenge Dobara
Possible the only Bollywood release this week - I say possible as the twice delayed Deiva Thirumagal is also supposedly hitting cinemas this weekend - is a drama about three friends turning their fantasy vacation into reality following one of them getting engaged. No, I don't understand how that serves as a plot synopsis either.
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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: ●●●●○○○○○○
Wednesday, 10 November 2010
Another Year
2010. Dir: Mie Leigh. Starring: Jim Broadbent, Lesley Manville, Ruth Sheen, Oliver Maltman and Peter Wight. ●●●○○
Mike Leigh's process is often as fascinating as the final product. His modus operandi involving months of improvisation and character building with the actors before a full structure is agreed upon. This normally results in a slice of life that occurs over a very short time period, maybe a few weeks or months. In Another Year the timescale of the piece is extended so we see the relationships subtly develop through four seasons.
The films opens, naturally in Spring, with an introduction to our central couple within their individual workplaces. Geologist Tom (Broadbent) gets excited about mud and sand in a vast warehouse of samples, Counsellor Gerri (Sheen) attempts to help insomniac Imelda Staunton (in a very brief role). Like Leigh's previous Happy-Go-Lucky the positivity of these characters dovetails nicely with the downbeat nature of most of their friends, indicating this film may also be a lovesong to happiness.
Their closest friend is Lesley Manville's Mary, a ditzy secretary who works with Gerri with borderline alcoholism and a desperate crush on Tom and Gerri's (sorry,I'll try not to do that too often) 30 year old son Joe (Maltman). The film mainly charts the friendship between the central couple and Mary as the year progresses.
The relationship between Gerri and Tom is nicely drawn, as much unspoken as spoken, with the occasional tough word between them fitting naturally with the ease in which they cuddle and gossip at the end of each day. Mary is a grotesque creature which Lesley Manville does well to tame, her performance showing the softness within, the scene where she meets Joe's girlfriend is a masterclass and deserves award consideration on it's own. Although I would argue that the drunk scenes are largely overplayed with almost sit com level wobbling around.
Away from the characterisations though the film falls apart. Why would Gerri and Tom even try to maintain a friendship with the montrous Mary? How come everyone in their universe is either perpetually drunk or cracking open a bottle of wine (I lost count of the drinks for any of the major characters)? Does the happiness of the central coupling mean the peripheral characters must balance karma with their depression and loss?
Worst of all is the heavy handed symbolism of the piece. In each season we return to the allotment of Gerri and Tom, the seasonal themes of planting, growth, harvest and death are mirrored exactly in the action, and even in the production design. There's little chance of missing what Leigh is trying to state in these sections, and yet I was still left at the end wondering what the point of it all was.
Ultimatly I couldn't connect with Mike Leigh's latest slice of miserablism.
Sunday, 4 April 2010
Out These Weeks (19/03/10 - 02/04/10)
Yes, I have been away, which means I have missed out on previewing a good three weeks of films (whther that's three weeks of good films is perhaps more relevant). To tell you the truth I have been deliberately lazy with this. I could have popped into an internet cafe during both of the last couple of weekends, but I just couldn't face it. The overall quality of releases has been so poor I haven't wanted to make the effort to make it to a cinema. Nevertheless I feel I must catch up and tell you my picks for the film of the week, so in reverse order:
Released on 02 April 2010:
Kick-Ass
Released on 26 March 2010:
The Blind Side
Released on 19 March 2010:
I Love You, Philip Morris
Read on for the film synopsis' which I will try to kep within one sentence - now there's a challenge.
02 April 2010
Arjunan Kadhali
Hindi love film.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
City of War
Or the story of John Rabe who ensured the survival of 250,000 Chinese peasants during the Japanese attack on Nanking in 1937-8.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Clash of the Titans
On of Antiquities more exciting tales adapted again for the big screen with Perseus slaying Medusa and the Kraken. Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes and Pete Postlethwaite turn up as Shiny Gods playing with us mortals.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Double Take
Rare documentary making it onto my list, as Alfred Hitchcock's obsession with doubles is deconstructions through clips and some fake reconstructions.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
How to train your Dragon
Laugh out loud cartoon from Dreamworks with a nerdy viking making friends with an injured dragon which leads to a massive culture clash.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Kakera: A Piece of our Life
Lesbian dabblings at university in this Japanese drama.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Kick-Ass
The superhero genre gets deconstructed in this tale of a adolescent who puts on a cape to fight some bad guys, the 12 year old fould mouthed violent Hit Girl is bringing the publicity, Nicolas Cage has actually picked a decent project this time.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●●○○○○
Paiyaa
The usual mix of action and love story in this import. I'm sorry I can't be bothered with anything I'm not already interested in.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Remember Me
For the Twilight fans R Pattz tries something different. I expect someone major in the plot dies horrifically hence the title. Chris Cooper and Lena Olin have supporting roles.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Sadiyaan
Based on actual events during the partition of India and Pakistan. Still involves singing and dancing.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Samson and Delilah
Lyrical account of a developing romance between two aboriginal teenagers. Critically lauded.
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26 March 2010
Angardi Theru
Moved back again, look through previous posts to see if I had anything interesting to say last time...
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The Blind Side
Sandra Bullock's Oscar winning performance as a uptight stinking rich white woman who adopts a homeless black teen - based on a true story. Kathy Bates co-stars.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●●●○○○
Cok Filim Hereketler Bunlar
Turkish version of Valentine's Day - I think it's a big screen spin-off of a popular TV series in Turkey (not completely sure).
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Hum, Tum Aur Ghost
Love story played between two people with opposing views on nearly every subject. Ho hum.
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I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell
I think they call this a comedy, about a best man whose antics at the stag do are so notorious he's disinvited to the wedding.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●●●○○○
Lad Gaya Pecha
Man falls in love wit a ghost - not your typical love story from the sub-continent.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Lion's Den
Brizilian Women's prison drama with no cliche left unturned as we are invited to watch children taken from their mother, guard brutality and incidental lesbianism.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Lourdes
Medidation on the ideas of faith and miracles that follows when a paralysed atheist is cured on a pilgrimage.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●○○○○○
Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang
All star sequel (Emma Thompson, Ralph Fiennes, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Maggie Smith) to the hit anti-Mary Poppins children's film. The whole cast are clearly having a ball whilst keeping a stiff upper lip in the war years.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●○○○○○
Nightwatching
Peter Greenaway direct Martin Freeman's cock in this dramatisation of Rembrandt's life around the time he was painting The Night Watch.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
No One Knows about Persian Cats
The Persian Cats are an Iranian pop group trying to maintain their identity and the band where the idea of Western inspired music is considered sacriligious.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Not the Messiah (He's a very Naughty Boy)
Concert film of the oratoria based on Monty Python's Life of Brian as performed in the Royal Albert Hall in 2009. Probably not as good as the orginal film.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Perrier's Bounty
Cillian Murphy is on the run from loan shark gangster Brendan Gleason, accompanied by his coffee guzzling father Jim Broadbent and romantic interest Jodie Whittaker - better than your average gangster pic.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Romantik Komedi
If you couldn't guess from the title it's Turkish, and if I hadn't already described another film above as the Turkish Valentine's Day I'd be using that line here - so now I'm stumped.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Shank
No, not the gay happy slappers film which came out last year, but a completely unrelated movie about teenage gangs in a apocalptic vision of a future Britain.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Storm
An attempt to dramatise the legalistic procedures and diplomatic pressures when trying a mass murderer through the European Courts.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
19 March 2010
Bounty Hunter
Gerard Butler and Jennifer Aniston both demonstrate how unfair the Hollywood system is that let's talentless shmucks like them headline. And they drag Cathy Moriaty down with them.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Ditching
More post-apocalyptic angst, this time set in Northern Ireland.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Dorothy
Irish suspense movie involving psychiatrists and ghosts and false allegations of child abuse.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Happy Ever Afters
Delayed comedy about mix-ups at two weddings taking place in the same venue.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
House of the Devil
Now that irony is dead teenagers can once again babysit in scary houses and get picked on by malevolent spirits.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
I Love You, Philip Morris
Jim Carrey goes gay and falls in love with his cell mate Ewan MacGregor in this ribald comedy from the writing team behind Bad Santa.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
My Last Five Girlfriends
We are treated to a parade of the last five girlfriends of our protagonist as he tries to figure what he's doing wrong. The clue's in the title.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Old Dogs
John Travolta and Robin Williams together at last. Naturally the film is a pile of rotting flesh which no amount of cameos with Ann-Margret and Matt Dillon can save.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Salvage
British suspense actioner as a contained is washed up in a sleepy cul-de-sac making the hitherto quiet neighbours a violent and distustful mob.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Scouting Book for Boys
Thomas Turgoose continues to shine in this film about a teenager falling in love with his best friend as he hides her from here distructive family.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
The Spy Next Door
Or Jackie Chan babysitting in this kids comedy. Given the righ audience I expect this will do well.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Staten Island
Ethan Hawke, Vincent D'Onofrio and Seymour Cassell play a septic tank cleaner, a deaf mute and a mob boss in the titular New York suburb. I don't know which is which.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Zonad
A rehab escapee manages to persuade a naive Irish Community that he's a visitor from outer space.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
And two films missed from 12 March 2010
The Ape
Norwegian film about a man waking up to find his entire life has been erased.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Ay Lav Yu
Amazingly this is a Turkish film that manages to cast Steve Guttenburg and Mariel Hemingway as a visiting US coupl. I didn't even know Steve was still alive.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Monday, 4 January 2010
20 for 2010 - Number 14 (Untitled)
If you thought yesterdays preview was short on substance then you'll hate number 14, the untitled Mike Liegh project.
Leigh has directed some of the most insightful movies of the last 30 years, showing a real reflection of UK society with it's fussy middle classes and downtrodden working class. His last 2 productions (Vera Drake and Happy-go-Lucky) have garnered acclaim and award hauls for thier central performances, even though you could not imagine characters any further apart emotionally.
With this project he's reuniting with some of his most accomplished stars, including Imelda Staunton, Jim Broadbent and Lesley Manville.
As yet there are no details available with regards to the plot - Leigh's signature style of developing the characters and story thorugh improvisation and discussion means there probably wasn't a story until the cameras started rolling - but I'm sure we'll hear more as it rolls into cinemas towards the end of the year.
Sunday, 24 May 2009
Jim Broadbent
Happy Birthday to
Jim Broadbent
60 today
The hilarious and versatile thesp Jim Broadbent is hitting a major milestone this year, just in time for him to reach a whole new set of fans with the next Harry Potter film. Personally I'm more stoked about his involvement in Mike Leigh's next project, due out next year.
