As I type this I find that words are impossible to describe the collective shock and outrage felt by cinema-goers in the wake of Thursdays horrific incidents in Aurora, Colorado. We obviously don't know James Holmes' motives or influences at this point but hopefully with his arrest a full investigation can be made and we hope to understand, if never able to forgive or forget, his actions. Ultimately to ensure this tragic, meaningless slaughter will never happen again. My thoughts are with the families of those who lost their lives and the other patrons, injured or otherwise, who survived this horrific ordeal.
The runs like a gay film of the week is, unsurprisingly, The Dark Knight Rises. 
July seems to be the easiest month of 2012 in terms of predicting box office performance, so last weekend Ice Age: Continental Drift reasserted itself at the top of the chart with Amazing Spider-Man and Magic Mike (the highest new entry) following close behind. This weekend Bruce and his dark alter ego should smash records and easily dominate the multiplexes.
The Dark Knight Rises
I have already seen Christopher Nolan's third and final instalment in the Batman franchise, and it's surprisingly difficult to maintain the levels of anticipation that I had earlier in the year. Even so the excitometer level is fixed and done well before seeing the picture, so 9 out of 10 is the joint highest for the year. Christian Bale would almost certainly growl at me if I tried to change it retrospectively.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●●●●●○
Read on for Stockholm syndrome, sex games and fisher price musical instruments as well as all of this weeks trailers.
This certainly has all the hallmarks of epic film-making, even in the comic book sphere. Tune in later this week for my review (hopefully).
In Your Hands
Kristen Scott Thomas is such a fantastic performer most of us would pay to see her read the Parisien phonebook. In this French movie from sophomore director Lola Doillon Scott Thomas stars as a gynaecologist kidnapped by a former patient (or relative of lets not try to pretend this is that weird a film) and focusing on the shifting relationship between kidnapper and nappee.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●○○○○○
Lola Versus
Greta Gerwig gets dumped, has sex with a friend as a coping mechanism then does it again, whilst at least one of her conquests feels down as a result of being used. Famously the producer had a big strop following it's US release, blaming white middle class male critics for it's poor reception and attendance, failing to note that female reviewers were equally unimpressed. Debra Winger co-stars.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●○○○○○
Brooklyn Brothers Beat the Rest
Wibbly American movie which takes a really promising sketch concept and somehow stretches it out over 90 minutes with a couple of singer song-writers putting together the bizarre combo of lead guitar and childrens toy musical instruments, which somehow breaks out with unexpected success. Ryan O'Nal and Michael Weston are the "brothers" and Melissa Leo takes a minor role.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Thattathin Marayathu
Brave Bollywood release trying desperately to find a foothold in a crowded market, although this romance between a hindu and a muslim (can you see the Romeo and Juliet comparisons) is only showing in one Birmingham cinema.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Interview with a Hitman
Luke Goss, formerly of Bros. has a really odd shaped head. I couldn't help but notice that when watching the trailer for this almost straight to DVD thriller. Goss is the titular assassin trying to eliminate his past, whilst chatting to a reporter about his job. Just look at the trailer and tell me he doesn't have an odd shaped head.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Sunday, 22 July 2012
To what end? (Out this week - 20/07/12)
Friday, 18 November 2011
Always the quiet ones (Out this week - 18/11/11)
It's all about Vampires vs. Werewolves this weekend. Actually that might be more interesting than the first half of the final chapter in the Twiglet franchise, you know the one where they get married, get preggers and mope around before the final battles commence. Not that the combined efforts of Bella, Edward and Jacob can manage to win my favour, instead film of the week goes to Aussie serial killer pic Snowtown.
Snowtown
Based on Australia's most famous serial killer case, the bodies in the barrels guy John Bunting, the film investigates the case through the eyes of his prospective step-son. This marks the second film in a growing crime renaissance in Australian cinema following Animal Kingdom earlier this year.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●○○○○○
Special Forces
French movie tackling the Afghani conflict and a journo (Diane Kruger) who gets herself kidnapped, and the elite military squad led by Djimon Houson snatching her back from the Taliban. Holding up quite well on IMDb.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 1
I don't need to explain the latest instalment of the teenage franchise, frankly it's advertising is everywhere and it's likely to take the box office crown globally this weekend. It's one of those cultural shifts that's so impossible to ignore that I may even be persuaded to see it myself.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Hero Hitler in Love
It sounds like the most distasteful Bollywood movie of all time, however I understand that's just controversy designed to build up some headlines. Oddly it's actually a love story across the Indian-Pakistani border, which may prove even more controversial in some quarters.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Justice
Nicolas Cage again, proving he's never says no to these half-arsed thrillers, getting into some double dealings with shady Guy Pearce, allowing them to bump off his wife's attacker only for his debt to be called in. Makes last weeks Trespass look like cinematic gold.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Welcome to the Rileys
Cashing in on the Twilight love out there, this American indie might actually be the more interesting of the two with James Gandolfini and Melissa Leo dealing with the death of their child in vastly different ways, the former hanging out with hooker Kristen Stewart and the latter hiding away.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
How to Stop Being a Loser
Minor British comedy with a cast full of TV personalities and semi-famous faces, with our hero making a Faustian pact in order to woo the ladies. I think it's a comedy.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Friday, 30 September 2011
It ended when you said Goodbye (Out this week - 30/09/11)
It's the second week in a row with two films vying for my attention so much that I'll have to watch them both, although unlike last week there's a large gap between the first and second choice movie - one of which is earning "masterpiece" accolades from Europhile critics (sorry to the von Trier detracters but that's what I'm hearing). Indeed the top end releases have including some incredible pieces this month, and hopefully this sort of high quality will continue into October. Elsewhere fighting to capture the top of the box office charts from that Tinker film will be the usual ragtag of low grade horror and Twiglit escaping thrillers. Unsurprisingly film of the week is Melancholia.
Melancholia
If you would choose any auteur to film the end of the world you might just ask Danish trickster Lars von Trier, as famous for his twisted worldview and headline grabbing personality as his filmmaking, he is still capable of bravura directorial choices finding beauty in the most extreme subjects. Definitely one to watch.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●●●●●○
The Debt
This remake of a critically and commercially successful Isreali film (Ha-Hov) has been delayed whilst the studio was sold under it, that said it's delicious cast, headed by Helen Mirren and Jessica Chastain, certainly look like they're worth the wait.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●●○○○○
Guilty of Romance
From Shion Sono, the director of 2008's Love Exposure comes another look at the searing passions and sensual depravity lurking under the veneer of Japanese society.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Red State
After an appalling run with the studio system it's good to see Kevin Smith return to his indie roots, even if his bizarre stunt at Sundance (read it here) was a case of biting off the hand that feeds it, with a a balanced indictment of fundamentalism on all sides of the religious debate and the seductiveness of false prophets. Melissa Leo and John Goodman are the names, Michael Parks is getting all the good ink.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Abduction
It's test time for wolf-pack alumni Taylor Lautner as he and his magnificent abs go up against a shadowy Government organisation which may have bred him as super-weapon. Like Hanna but without the style somehow Sigourney Weaver has been dragged into this mess.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Chargesheet
Silly looking Hindi crime drama with the murder of a Bollywood starlet pointing to several high profile suspects both within the industry and it's improbable mob connections.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Force
Part of the supposed new wave of Bollywood, combining traditional styles with explosive Americanized action we follow John Abraham as a cop only too willing to dish out his own form of front line justice.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Muran
It's a Tamil remake of Strangers on a Train, only they're in a car on the road to Chennai. And there will be more singing.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Red, White and Blue
American indie about confused patriotism, sexual powerplay and the wraught emotions in three seemingly disconnected Austinites. Sure to have your loyalties shifting through the running time.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Speedy Singhs
Canadian about an all Asian Ice Hockey team and the choices it's founder and star player must face up to regarding his religious beliefs and family loyalty. Vinay Virmani stars with Rob Lowe providing support.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
The Woman
As far as I can gather from the plot synopsis this is Nell where Jodie Foster turns out to be a homicidal maniac intent on destroying Liam Neeson's suburban idyll. Probably unwatchable.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Broken Lines
Some films stay on the shelf for a reason, and so it might be for this British family drama about grief and the "struggle between betraying another or oneself". Tedious trailer.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Shark Night 3D
The usual bunch of vacuous sexy teens find the lake they're partying at isn't quite as placid and gentle as they'd hoped, especially given there's a murderous bunch of locals who've stuffed the waters with hungry fishes.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
What's Your Number
The concept of this female centric rom-com should work, with the usually reliable Anna Faris going through her exes to find the one who was probably the real thing. Unfortunately a distinct lack of laughs in the trailer and the slight digs at feminism probably work against the pictures chances.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Wednesday, 14 September 2011
Melissa Leo
Happy Birthday to
Melissa Leo
51 today
It seems like only yesterday that Melissa dropped the F bomb on the Oscar podium, picking up her win for The Fighter. Now we're six months later and oddly she's still signing up for every movie offered to her as if she's still a jobbing actor. Not that any of the upcoming 7 pictures on her slate is jumping out at me.
Wednesday, 23 February 2011
The Fighter
2010. Dir: David O. Russell. Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Melissa Leo and Mickey O'Keefe. ●●●○○
Everywhere I looked in late January there were posters advertising David O. Russell's The Fighter with the strangely unambitious critical quote "The best boxing film since Rocky". It's not, far from it, but like Stallone's breakout it shares the same metaphorical use of pugilism. Rocky is at it's core a working-class love story with a boxer, The Fighter is a working class family drama with a boxer.
Showing the fall and rise of light Welterweight "Irish" Mickey Ward and his crack addicted brother Dicky Eklund (Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale respectively) the film focuses on the family dynamics between the brothers, the rest of the family - led by over-bearing mother Melissa Leo - and the more sedate influences on Mickey's life in his cop-turned trainer Mickey O'Keefe (here played by himself) and girlfriend Amy Adams.
I won't deal with too much detail of the plot, not least because as it's a biopic the whole story is largely in the public domain including the influential crack documentary about Dicky's fall from grace. Indeed the biopic structure seems awfully forced in this movie, the happy endings seem contrived even though we know that's what really happened. It's a strange feeling where reality doesn't feel real. The attention to detail even extends to the boxing scenes which were filmed in the same way the original games were shown on TV even hiring the same commentators to read over their, at the time, improvised discussion of the action unfolding. This deliberately removes the viewer from the ringside we're used to in boxing movies and back into our armchairs however it also removes the tension from the fight. I rewatched Champion and Cinderella Man in recent weeks to prepare and both had more exciting boxing even if neither seemed realistic.
The performances from the main cast are exemplary. Wahlberg and Bale play introvert and extrovert brothers perfectly, one being the yin to the other's yang, with each performance only working because of the alternative extreme of the other. It's the kind of sibling pairing we often see in real life but rarely in the movies. Don't be fooled by Bale forthcoming supporting actor Oscar his is a co-lead performance and the battles he faces are as central to the plot as Wahlberg sporting encounters.
Melissa Leo and Amy Adams add some needed character to the underwritten female roles the former especially transcending the material conveying so much with a sidewards look or a hand on the hip. On a side note the level of misogyny in this movie is shocking with every woman being presented as manipulative, cold or stupid.
The technical work is fine with some excellent make-up work being done and quality set decoration but a cliche ridden script (the scene where Wahlberg says he wants everyone to get along is particularly risible) and pedestrian direction doesn't help.
I really wanted to like this movie going in but performances aside it's the least effective of the best film nominees I've seen so far.
Saturday, 15 January 2011
Breaking up is so very hard to do (Out this week - 14/01/11)
We're still wading through prestige pictures here in the UK, with some awards calibre performances ready to shine through. Whilst I personally am checking out the low brow option at the multiplexes the other two top scorers both look interesting, with the clear film of the week being: 
Blue Valentine
Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams (both of whom are very close to oscar nods for their work) headline this make-up/break-up relationship drama from director Derek Cianfrance. The process by which they made the film is as fascinating as the story - using different film stocks for each of the time periods covered, putting up the actors together in a house so they really know each others thoughts etc.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●●○○○○
Conviction
Tony Goldwyn's true life-tale of a mother who enrols in law-school in order to begin a 18 year battle to free her wrongly convicted brother almost screams movie of the week, but it's empowering story and A-list cast (Hilary Swank, Sam Rockwell, Melissa Leo, Minnie Driver and Juliette Lewis) are enough to make it worthwhile.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●●○○○○
The Green Hornet
Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg may seem an unlikely pair of writers to embark on a superhero movie, given their last collaboration was Pineapple Express, but then the hornet is no ordinary superhero. As the deconstruction of comic book fanboy cinema continues it'll be interesting to see where this fits in the canon.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●●○○○○
Henry's Crime
Just when you thought it was safe to return to the cinema Keanu Reeves has returned with this low key crime caper (he's robbing the same bank, again) with Vera Farmiga and James Caan lending some credibility.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●○○○○○
Yamla Pagla Deewana
It's the Bollywood films that will probably benefit most from the recent changes in my grading system - whether it will be enough for any of them to be film of the week remains to be seen. This one's about a prodigal son returning to the bosum of his con-artist family.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Final Sacrifice
Also known as Last Letters from Monte Rosa it's a low budget second world war movie focussing on the relationships between German and Italian soldiers during the Allied invasion of Italy. I'm not sure about relationship between this film and Ari Taub previous war movie The Fallen is, but it looks like a very similar feel.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Travellers
It seems unlikely but this is the second week running where I've issued a one blob rating, and I fully stand by it. This dreadful looking indie brit follows a group of high flying city boys as they go into the Wilderness (of Surrey!!!) and get involved in a deadly game of cat and mouse with some Irish travellers.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●○○○○○○○○○
Tuesday, 14 September 2010
Melissa Leo
Happy Birthday to
Melissa Leo
50 today
When most actresses receive Oscar nominations you often see a slight reduction in the number of projects they get involved in as the paycheque increases and the willingness to work drops. Not so for Melissa who is still averaging over 6 film per year and most of tose still look like they should be avoided.
Saturday, 27 February 2010
Out This week (26/02/10)
You will struggle to find a good film out this week - odd after the glut of high profile releases just seven days ago. Personally I sahll be seeing Amy Adams going all blarney, but I certainly don't think I can recommend that. So I suppose the film of the week will have to be the latest embarassement in Robert De Niro's CV: Everybody's Fine.
The Crazies
Remake of George Romero horror classic sees Timothy Olyphant and his heavily pregnant wife avoiding a horde of psychotic townsfolk and a military plot to kill everyone in the town to contain the virulent cause. Hokum, which has probably lost all trace of it's paranoia roots but the trailer looks fun.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Everybody's Fine
Robert De Niro tries hard to copy Jack Nicholson's recent successes by playing a recent widower reconnecting with his children who never felt able to communicate with the old man. This ain't About Schmidt by a long stretch but with Sam Rockwell, Kate Beckinsale and Drew Barrymore as his kids there are some pretty things to look at.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Extraordinary Measures
Is Extraordinary measures, with it's medical research storyline give a reasoned arguement against a profit based medical system where orphan diseases get no funding? Or does it say that if you have the money you can cure your terminal children? Who cares when the trailer was a dull as this one?
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Freestyle
British girl has to choose between completing her studies or following her dreams to become a professional baseketball player. At the risk of being incredibly insensitive I wasn't aware women played basketball.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
From Paris With love
Pierre Morel's Taken was a surprise hit in 2008 thanks to Liam Neeson's committed performance, some chewy dialogue and quality action choreography. The follow-up has camply bearded John Travolta and bored looking Jonathan Rhys-Meyers.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Karthik calling Karthik
It's an evil doppleganger movie from Bollywood. Starring Farhan Akhtar. (Sorry I don't know anything more about this.)
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Leap Year
Absolutely rubbish looking rom-com with Amy Adams falling for Matthew Goode during an unnecessary dash across Hollywood's version of Ireland. Both Adams and Goode are riding high on other projects at the moment, and it looks like the sales weren't so bad this will destroy their careers so naturally this is the film I intend to watch this week.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Micmacs
Jean-Pierre Jeunet is one of the few international directors with a clear auterial style, and with his latest, which looks at illegal gun trading and a community based around recycling rubbish (no, not the Wombles) has many of his usual visual tics - such as a brown palette and Dominic Pinon. Well worth braving the subtitles.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
She, A Chinese
Depressing looking view of a Chinese woman who exchanges an unhappy life in China for an even more unhappy woman as a mail order Bride in Britain. See this if you think your life has too much fun in it.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Teen Patti
Hindi movie directed by Leena Yadav about a mathematical formula concerning probability and randomness that profoundly impacts the life of the mathematician who discovers it. In a casting coup Ben Kingsley plays another statistician who aims to helps publicise the formula.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa
Boring looking love story from Sri Lanka, noted lack of conflict in the trailer. I really can't imagine why anyone would want to see it.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Monday, 14 September 2009
Melissa Leo
Happy Birthday to
Melissa Leo
49 today
Melissa never stops working, in 2009 she has 8 films being released in 2008 alone. That's a new film every 6 weeks. I think she's my new hero.
Wednesday, 22 July 2009
Frozen River
2008. Dir: Courtney Hunt. Starring: Melissa Leo, Misty Upham, Charlie McDermott, Michael O'Keefe and Mark Boone Junior. ●●●○○
I look up at the rating and I now feel like I'm being unduly harsh. That the performances and the set design and the editing and even the script were so full of realistic and beautiful nuances that it deserves a 4 blob score. However I have marke dit down because as a thriller, which is what Courtney Hunt has stated it is, I feel it failed.
The story follows an unlikely alliance between two women struggling to make ends meet in upstate New York. Ray's (Leo) husband has left her and taken the deposit for a new trailer days before Christmas, Lila (Upham) is living on the margins of the Mohawk reservation desperately hoping to see her daughter again. Thrown together by circumstances the women transport illegal immigrants through the reservation from Canada to the US.
They learn to trust each other (against their own judgements) as they build up the capital to change their lives forever. The theme of what it means to be a mother and the strength of that bond is repeated during the film, including a touching moment towards the end of the second act when they help another woman look for her daughter.
Unfortunately that's not enough to stop the plot from derailing. A desperate last job, bullets whizzing, car chases over the eponymous waterways and a stand off at the edges of the reservation all feel like they've been forced into the screenplay. The tension from the relationship alone would have been enough to make it work without the levels of excess displayed.
The acting is excellent throughout, especially from the two leads who both create very believable three dimensional women. James Reilly as Ray's youngest son was also a lot of fun, performing at just the right level (many child actors would have over egged it).
The depiction of the level of income Ray has was also deftly handled, means of popcorn and Tang seemed real, the bathroom was suitably grotty and nothing within her trailer of their limited possesions seemed out of place.
Writer-director Courtney Hunt has done a good job for a first feature, and if she tightens up the next script and focuses on making a character piece rather than a thriller with characters then I expect it will be excellent.
