2012. Dir: Stephen Frears. Starring: Rebecca Hall, Bruce Willis, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Vince Vaughn and Joshua Jackson. ●○○○○
We've had a couple of bad movies this year, there was the coy and cowardly J. Edgar and the babbling and barmy Dark Shadows, but both of those had some redeemable factors, sure they were failures but you could see the intention of the film-making and in both cases there was a stand-out performance or design element. Lay the Favourite has nothing, limp and irrelevant it has all the dramatic tension and artistry of a made for TV piece about a stripper made good. Except we see supporting character tits and there are a couple of actors who should know better.
Rebecca Hall is Beth Raymer, the stripper-cum-bookie-cum-Columbia graduated writer, on whose autobiography this is based. After a pre-credits encounter with a gun-toting client she's hot-footing it to Las Vegas to get into a safer line, cocktail waitressing in a casino. Not that the audience care - there was no threat in the gun scene and no ambition in the move. Oh well, maybe it will pick up when after a couple of unrelated conversations she walks into the office of Dink, Inc looking for a job. Bruce Willis is Dink, the professional gambler with an opening for a um, well a er, no I don't know why he hired her. To carry money and remember messages apparently. Essentially Dink works the margins in spread betting, employing the algorithms that will pay out regardless of the result. Only that's not interesting so mainly we see large bets on winners and basketball games outcomes because they're easier for an audience to comprehend.
Beth quickly shows Dink she is gifted in understanding the odds by repeating him exactly and being able to sort letters alphabetically in her head. Amazingly we're supposed to believe she's bright too, but we never see any sign of it, especially given the screeching and ditzy performance that suggests you'd tip her as a Waitress but only to get her to leave you alone. After half the movie spent in Vegas where Willis gets in a good mood than loses his temper, rinse and repeat, because of bad results. Not that there's any feeling of risk. Nothing changes; a run of good luck is followed by a run of bad luck and back again. If Dink wins he goes back to his lovely house and demanding wife (Catherine Zeta-Jones in a thankless role) and if he loses he goes back to his lovely house and demanding wife.
Even the romantic elements have no depth to them. Beth and Dink nearly have an affair, but there's no chemistry there. Dink returns to his wife because he really loves her. I guess he does because that's what he says. Not sure why, mind. Maybe because she needs him more than he needs her, or some such rubbish. Beth runs to New York with Pacey from Dawson's Creek. They find happiness. We know this because when she arrives Pacey kisses her on the stairs saying we'll have a wonderful time, and next time they're on screen she's about to go to the Caribbean (to work for a bit with Vince Vaughn) and Pacey asks why she's going when they've had such a wonderful time. Must be the kissing on stairs that's so wonderful.
Talking about Pacey (I know Joshua Jackson wasn't playing Pacey but for all anyone seemed to care about the character he may as well have been) he's filled out a bit and is looking exceptionally cute. So at least I have a new crush as a result of seeing this dire piece of crud.
Where was I? Oh yes, the plot... If you've lost track of what's going on it doesn't matter, there's nothing to miss because there are no stakes. There's a suggestion of the FBI and people going to gaol but nobody was taking it seriously apart from Pacey so it clearly didn't really matter. Finally they all watch a high-stakes basketball game and dance in a New Jersey bar. And it ends.
The performances are either forgettable or irritating, when Vince Vaughn as a loud mouth bookie is best in show you know you have problems. Furthermore there are no technical achievements worth a second glance, maybe a nice line in cheap clothes from Christopher Peterson and Laura Prepon had a striking handbag but that's not enough.
It's dreadful, badly paced, slow-witted and dull. Stephen Frears has hit a new career low and everyone involved should be ashamed of themselves. Avoid avoid avoid.
Wednesday, 27 June 2012
Lay the Favourite
Saturday, 23 June 2012
Keeping the old traditions Alive (Out this week - 22/06/12)
At the time of writing England are still clinging on in the Euros, although we'll see how they fare against Italy tomorrow evening. So therefore in this nation addicted to the Beautiful game it's natural for studios to release high volumes of uninspiring counter programming to entice the odd soccer-phobe. This week is no exception with romantic comedies and sub-standard horror vying for our attention. Personally I'm punting on a sports related medium sized release, however if I had to choose a film to recommend - and naturally I do - the film of the week is Russian art-house project Silent Souls.
Last week I was right to trust Prometheus would hang on as Box Office champion for another week and whilst Rock of Ages struggled to find a substantial it did have the highest take for a new release. This weekend my crystal ball is a more murky. With four wide releases you'd think one of them might stand a chance with Scott's terraforming blockbuster now in it's fourth week. However each of those four has big problems. I'm going to be brave though and guess the critically derided Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter will sneak into the lead thanks to it's genre trappings and mid week release strategy.
Silent Souls
You'd be forgiven for having missed the buzz on Aleksei Fedorchenko's third feature because there has hardly been any. It's only major festival showing was 2010's Venice where it was passed over for Sofia Coppola's Somewhere for the Golden Lion but won the FIPRESCI proze as a consolation. But that being awarded by international critics should have been a clue that this is more art than movie and critics have fallen in love with it everywhere else. Following a Merjan funeral on the border or Russia and Finland it looks like an elegant and emotive meditation on life, death and sex.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●○○○○○
Read on for much delayed weddings, spread betting and obscure history as well as all of this weeks releases and trailers.
There's some gorgeous cinematography in the Silent Souls trailer - but also some explicit shots too, so probably nsfw.
Five Year Engagement
Billed as the romantic comedy it's OK to love it's slightly surprising that the winning combination of Emily Blunt and Jason Segal didn't do better in the States than it did (sitting at a disappointing $29m). That said they do look like a lovely couple, even if you know from the title exactly how the plot will develop. Jacki Weaver and David Paymer are among the supporting cast (Emily's mother and Jason's father).
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●○○○○○
Lay the Favourite
I've already seen Stephen Frears latest, and I'm in a charitable mood right now so all I'll say is the combination of the cast and director, based on the memoirs by Beth Rayner seemed like a good enough bet. I was wrong. Should have believed the reviews out of sundance. Well gloves of on Wednesday - come back for my smackdown.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●○○○○○
Think like a Man
It's unlikely that the tongue in cheek adaptation of Steve Harley's "Act like a Lady, Think like a Man" self help book will do as well over here as it did in the US, where it led the charts two weeks in a row, partly because the African American cast aren't household names (even rap star Chris Brown, Oscar nominee Taraji P. Henson and likeable character actor Michael Ealy), but it's getting some the best reviews in it's irrelevant sub-genre.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Where do we Go Now
Surprising everyone by winning the audience prize at Toronto last year this Lebanese musical from Nadine Labaki (Caramel) will probably suffer in comparison with the recent similar Source which also mixed song, desire and weighty themes. But where that looked at the rise of gender equality here the women aim to prevent the Muslim and Christian men of the village turning on each other.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Cloclo
Jeremie Renier has been on the fringe of breaking out internationally for years(he himself is Belgian) in spite of a highly satisfying working relationship with the Dardennes. Hopefully this biopic of Claude Francois, the writer of cabaret standard "My Way", will illuminate a few more casual film goers of his talent.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Grand Master
Extremely limited release - hello Birmingham - for this Mayamalan entry about a ruthless serial killer and the chess-obsessed detective out to stop him.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Teri Meri Kahani
Hard to get hold of a synopsis for this Bollywood release but looking at the trailer it appears to be three loves stories set in 1910, 1960 and 2012 all starring the same two actors. Whether that's a comment on their being always in love and finding each other in every reincarnation (I hope so) or just an excuse to wear hsitorical costumes and fill the 2 hour running time is difficult to assess.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
With Every Heartbeat
Does the thought of a Swedish Lesbian drama instantly want to make you head to the local multiplex? If so, I'm truly sorry as this broken family feature - a newly engaged girl falls for her step-sister - has already skipped town having had a couple of brief showings in the week. Not to worry perverts, it's available to order here.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter
More likely to bore history fanatacists than enrage them this presidential mash-up seems to be committing the cardinals sin of plodding plot and unengaging CGI. That said I still feel it will do surprisingly well as audiences flock to see any derivative rubbish with the undead attached.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Chernobyl Diaries
Suspiciously long trailer for this shaky cam holiday horror from Oren Peli - producer of Paranormal Activity. It failed to get the following of his earlier success in the States and I expect it's fate here will be similarly uninspiring. Still it should last longer than most of the disposable characters.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Rise and Fall of a White Collar Hooligan
The British fans heading to Ukraine for the football have acquitted themselves incredibly with the only violent outbursts seeming to come from the local extremists, however back in cinemas the lure of hard-nut supporters never wanes. There's a couple of I know you TV faces but in the main this tired story has the exposure it deserves.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Saguni
Look out for the poor sound quality in this Tamil trailer - for which I can only apologise and grovel it's not my fault - concerning a village boy caught up in politics when he moves to the big city.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Victim
Coming so soon after Ill Manors seems like a poor release strategy for this more conventional gangsters from the estates, urban crime drama. Ashley Chin is the hero looking to go straight but can't kick the life of crime he's become addicted to.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Sunday, 25 September 2011
Catherine Zeta-Jones
Happy Birthday to
Catherine Zeta-Jones
42 today
It's been a tough couple of years for the gorgeous Welsh star as both her and husband Michael Douglas have suffered from health problems, however the good news is Catherine's back with three big releases coming in 2012. Of those I'm very interested in seeing her cougar soccer mom in Playing the Field and a high-stakes gambler in Lay the Favourite.
Of course I couldn't let her birthday go by without just a little tango to celebrate:
Sunday, 14 November 2010
Unusual method for an Alien Invasion (Film News - 13/11/10)
Stand by for a stream of conciousness - I am literally writing this on the hoof. One window with the news on and one window writing it up. It's going to be very quick, very unstructured and may even border on plaguarism. All I know is that I will ignore any casting rumours and stick only to the big stuff - new projects on the go. As I don't have access to my own 'pooter for two more weeks this is may be an interesting news style. Hopefullly it won't be horribly disappointing for you!!!
Under the Skin
I have to say the concept of Scarlett Johannson's latest project so shlocky and exploitative I almost just jumped ahead to the next story. In the movie, based on the novel by Michel Faber, she will star as an alien invader who uses her powers of seduction to lure men to their deaths - which allows them to be packaged off as haute cuisine on her home planet.
There are two interesting twists though. The first is plot related and involves her allegiances to her job and to her prey - is that spoiler free enough? - and the other is that Jonathan Glazer (Sexy Beast, Birth) is set to direct. In his two previous films Glazer proved he could mix potentially distasteful subject matter with classy production standards. I'm very interested to see how he works with this sort of material, though.
Third Person
I meant to mention this last week - not sure why I didn't - but it looks like Paul Haggis might be returning to the Crash hyperlink formula with his next movie. Tracing three couples across the globe as their lives intersect and affect each other. He intends it to be "very, very dark". I just hope it's not very, very simplistic...
Robbing the Grave
You might have thought that the poor performance of Burke & Hare on this side of the Atlantic in spite of it's fine cast would put studios off the concept of grave robbing. Apparently not as the heist drama written by Karl Gajdusek and Michael Finch is looking like it's going into production with Gregory Hoblit at the helm. For the record I don't think there is any actual graverobbing in the plot, I just didn't know how to start this piece.
Electric Boy Genius
Doing everything it says on the tin - EBG is a true life story about a child prodigy who could rewire a TV remote control before being able to say the alphabet (or somesuch hyperbolic parental statement). Why anyone other than the parents being interested in the extradinary abilities of young Derek I have no idea. Be honest how many readers have been told by a friend/relative about the development of their offspring without stifling a yawn?
Untitled Paul Potts movie
Before SuBo Britain's Got Talent's most bizarre contestant was Paul Potts, an unassuming travel agent with a voice from the heavens. Movie is still on it's way. David (The Devil Wears Prada) Frankel is set to direct - shudder. I'd just let the voice speak for itself.
Lay the Favourite
Gambling should be exciting. It is in real life. You go to the dogs, or casino, put a twenty on zero or on the nose and get really tense when the trpas are released/wheel spins. Unfortunately films that focus on gambling often fall short of that excitement - it's only movies where it's a scene within the film that really make it work. Anyhoo, Bruce Willis and Rebecca Hall are cicling this latest stab at high stakes film making based on Beth Raymer's memoir about beating the Las Vegas sports book system. Does the thought of Willis making out with Brit beauty Rebecca disgust you too?
Timeless
I don't know if this is the same Timeless I mentioned a few weeks ago - that one was set to be directed by Robert Zemeckis and had no plot details other than it was based on time travel. This has Philip Noyce attached and is about a husband who loses his wife and builds a time machine to see her one more time.
I guess only time will tell if they are the same projects. Sorry.
And that's it. Come back next week for more badly puntuated pithy comments.
