It's not an awfully surprising choice as the top film this week, Darren Aronofsky's latest ballet mindf**k is a cinematic must see. That said there are a lot of films out that may be worth seeing after the jump. There's also been a mini festival of Bollywood entries that I've missed off from the last couple of weeks so go through the jump to find out what you're missing. Although if you take my advice you'll just see the film of the week: Black Swan
Black Swan
I saw this last night and am now unable to gets it's imagery out of my fevered brain, plus I keep scratching at my back. When a simple movie is able to get into your subconcious in that way it is simply impossible to ignore.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●●●●○○
The Dilemma
It made it into my top 20 for 2011 with it's concept alone, the reviws have been poor and Vince Vaughn with Kevin James isn't far off from a satanic punishment. That said Channing Tatum looks hot and this is the second best Winona Ryder film of the week.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●●●○○○
Get Low
Robert Duvall gets his first starring role in over 15 years as the mysterious hermit who returns to his local town in order to arrange his funeral (which he will attend whilst still alive). Bill Murray and Sissy Spacek are among the supporting players.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●●○○○○
Morning Glory
Critics are mixed on this TV newsroom-set romcom, those that compare it to Broadcast News or who value the santity of reporting are sniffy, those who take it at face value have been quite positive. I'll have to see for myself.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●●○○○○
John Carpenter's The Ward
80's synth fans rejoice, the mast of stalker horror has returned after a ten year sabattical with a maniacal killer loose in a psychiatric ward story. Probably derivative, but with Carpenter at the helm expect some nifty scares.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Dhobi Ghatt
Lyrical looking hyperlink drama from Bollywood with four interlocking Mumbai-set stories. Trailer plays down the traditional feel with a seductive, plaintive soundtrack.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Honeymooner
Low budget British indie from Sophomore director Col Spector, about a jilted bride groom spending the two weeks honeymoon moping around London getting over it. The sort of work that would fit in nicely at Sundance if it were set in New York.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
I Spit on your grave
Notorious video nasty and rape revenge fantasy of the early 1980's gets a twenty-first century makeover. Expect the gore to be upped and the subtext dumbed down.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Kaavalan
Tamil film, translates as The Bodyguard. The trailer is full of action scenes and comic sidekicks, but nothing that looks vaguely like a plot.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
My Soul to Take
I'm not sure whether Wes Craven's cinematic return has actually made it to cinemas. There are no reviews anywhere and it isn't showing on any listings. Given it's appalling US business that's probably a good thing.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
NEDS
Or Non-Educated Delinquents. Peter Mullan's Scottish gang coming of age drama has a lot of high profile fans, mainly because of the superb central performance of first time actor Conor McCarron. Will almost certainly be lost in the shuffle of this weeks releases.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
14 January 2011
And some Bollywood late entries that I missed out on:
Aadukalam
More Tamil action this time based against the backdrop of competitive cock-fighting. I'm not sure I can in any way support this one.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Isi Life Mein
Professional looking trailer with lots of dancing for Bollywood movie espousing living life to the full. It's a romcom about a couple from different walks of life, naturally.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Siruthai
I can't find a synopsis anywhere for this Indian release. The trailer indicates a police corruption plotline with some pretty nifty Saw like weaponry.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Saturday, 22 January 2011
What happened to my sweet sweet girl? (Out this week - 21/01/11)
Tuesday, 4 January 2011
Tuesday Trailers - My Soul To Take
I was hoping to have a horror trailer double bill today as we complete the long list of January 21st releases, but it seems that John Carpenter's The Ward is still a long way off from releasing any publicity - I won't be at all surprised if the release date ends up falling back. I will have to concentrate on Wes Craven's comeback film that isn't Scream 4, released in the US back in October it grossed just $14.7m domestically less than 60% of it's production budget - whilst horror generally makes it's money on DVD that figure for a known director is appalling. It's not hard to see from the trailer why, but I'm prepared to give it a chance.
My Soul to Take is released on 21 January 2011.
Saturday, 26 December 2009
Film News (26/12/09)
It's another last for 2009; the last film news report. Needless to say it's pretty dull - even Hollywood takes time off at Christmas. At first all I though I had was release date changes (I'm dumping the box office statistics) and the second story I'm running. Luckily we had a great piece of casting news on Tuesday - more of that below.
By the way, did you know I've featured 161 projects in the news over the year, that's over 3 times the number I've seen in the year. Although it's worth noting that only 40% are currently in production - the rest remain rumours and longer term developments. 15 of the films I've mentioned will turn up in my top 20 anticipated films for 2010 - countdown coming in January. I won't drop any clues as there will be a prize for guessing the top film...
The Talking Cure
Christopher Hampton knows how to write about sexual politics and intrigue; Dangerous Liaisons and Atonement being just two fine examples. His latest play to be developed into a movie is The Talking Cure. Based on the development of psychoanalysis the story revolves around a (fictional) shared patient of Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung as they form thier own ideas about therapy and the contruction of the human psyche. Keira Knightley will be playing the confused go-between and Inglorious alumni Christoph Waltz and Michael Fassbinder will step into the shoes of the pioneers of therapy.
My Soul to Take
Wes Craven's latest slasher flick revealed details of it's supernaturally powerful killer this week. I told you it washn't a great story. He had a name, and a photo and everything. I didn't make any notes.
RELEASE DATE NEWS
Leap Year - Amy Adams aims for rom-com stardom with her Ireland based road movie about a bride to be attempting to propose on 29th February. Unfortunately she's got to cross Ireland to get to him. I don't know why this film is being released in 2010. Ask your man to marry you on 26 February 2010.
Ondine - Colin Farrell finds a girl in his fishing net who may or may not be a mermaid; and has to decide what to do about it. A grown up Splash! if you will. Sing with the Merfolk on 12 March 2010.
The Ghost - Roman Polanski's latest thriller is likely to hit the headlines more because of his current house arrest and probable extradition to the States, than for the quality of this Robert Harris adaptation. Read the truth on 19 March 2010.
Dear John - The big screen adaptation of Nicolas Sparks' war torn lovers hanky fest has moved it's release date again. Judging by the trailer I doubt anyone cares. Write love letters to our boys on the front on 16 April 2010.
Prince of Persia: Sands of Time - There's always a lot of jostling over the summer release schedule, so the falling back of this video game property is hardly surprising and probably only means the studio thinks it will open better one week later. Rescue your princess on 21 May 2010.
Warrior - If the Cage-fighting movie is essentially a subset of the boxing movie do you think this will be more about the family dramas outside of the "cage" or will be just see grown men beating the crap out of each other? Watch sweaty men in shorts on 17 September 2010.
Social Network - The official facebook movie has sprung up pretty quickly, focusing on the development of the web-site the film will concentrate on young men with no social skills invent whole new ways to not take to each other. Poke your local cinema on 22 October 2010.
How do You Know? - Slight change of release date for James L. Brooks latest venture. Reese Witherspoon will have to choose between her two unlikely suiters; gien that it's a comedy I expect she'll go for the lovable schlub. Follow your heart on 21 January 2011.
Spider-Man 4 - The web-slinger will be returning to the big screens for his fourth outing in 2011. The quality of the whole production may depend on the villian casting, so lets just hope they think long and hard about it. Get caught in a web on 06 May 2011.
Thor - I'm a little behind the curve on this one, but the latest marvel to screen adaptation has been moved back to 2011 for some time, but it's only this week the UK schedules were changed. Attack like a viking on 20 May 2011.
