Things are hotting up in British cinemas this weekend, as we try to push through all the awards bait pictures before the BAFTA deadline, so this weekend there's FBI agents vs. Roman Generals vs. headline grabbing Royals. In terms of my most anticipated of these I will confess the poor reviews for Clint Eastwood's biopic have not significantly dampened my enthusiasm so film of the week is J. Edgar.
In terms of box office Haywire has the most screens this side of the pond, but I suspect that franchise familiarity may just help Kate Beckinsale and her lycanthropic frenemies will take the top spot.
J. Edgar
A couple of weeks ago the Margaret Thatcher biopic managed to squeak it's way to the top of my highly anticipated pile, even though it appeared to whitewash history, and suddenly here we are again with exactly the same thing only centred around the FBI's most notorious and mendacious head of. Still the performances by Leo DiCaprio and Armie Hammer (as his almost lover Clyde Tolson) sound like they could elevate the movie.
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Coriolanus
Big screen Shakespeare is often a hit and miss affair, especially when bringing his work into modern dress (in spite of the tremendous success of modern design on stage), so there has been a noticeable trepidation from purists about Ralph Fiennes' update of the lesser known piece. That said the Chechnya like setting appears to work exceptionally well with Vanessa Redgrave and Jessica Chastain both receiving high praise in supporting roles.
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Haywire
Steven Soderbergh exercises his action itch allowing MMA fighter Gina Carano her moment in the sun as nearly super-heroic Mallory Kane figuring out who double crossed her whilst fighting Channing Tatum, Michael Fassbender and Michael Douglas.
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Nine Muses
I wasn't sure about including this as it's more documentary than narrative, indeed it started as a exhibit at the BFI. John Akomfrah's experimental film juxtaposes a retelling of Homer's Odyssey - using the UK immigrant experience in the 1960's - with images of an Alaskan winter. Beguiling trailer.
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Red Light Revolution
Billed as China's first and only sex shop comedy (unsurprising given the limited scope of the sub-genre) the trailer links together the kind of jokes you'd expect from any sexual aid romp regardless of it's national origin, including some stunts I'm sure we'd all do if we were locked into Anne Summers overnight!
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W.E.
Did you think, whilst watching last years terrific King's Speech that what the world really needed was a sympathetic look at Wallace and Edward in the months leading towards the UK's only abdication. (I actually thought last year's movie was fairly even-handed about Wallace, highlighting the snobbery from certain corners of the Family). Apparently Madonna wanted more so we get more in the shape of this hagiography of the central relationship and endless shots of gaudy jewels.
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Sitter
If Jonah Hill picks up and Oscar nod next week for his supporting turn in Moneyball it'll be dreck like this unoriginal comedy from David Gordon Green that prevents him from winning the prize. Certainly avoidable.
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Underworld: Awakening
It's not a critically lauded franchise, however the series has always produced decent returns and with Kate Beckinsale returning from her third movie hiatus this should clean up in the multiplexes. Stephen Rea sits on the didelines of the eternal battle between werewolves and vampires.
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X: Night of Vengeance
Oz-sploitation thriller about two hookers caught up in a very unlikely mystery. Just listened to a review online that plainly stated most plot moving conversations co-incidently take place in bra and panties or even less. I'm sure it's fine if you like that sort of thing.
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Saturday, 21 January 2012
Who Watches the Watchman (Out this week - 20/01/12)
Friday, 28 October 2011
Cowards die many times before their deaths (Out this week - 28/10/11)
It's an interesting week for film releases with two Oscar players hitting British cinemas, but neither of them have received the kind of outstanding reviews that would guarantee box office hit status, not that we need to worry about ticket sales as Spielberg and Herge will be claiming the top spot. There's an interesting selection of Bollywood releases too, as a post Diwali celebration, not that I'm going there for film of the week, which has to be Ides of March.
Ides of March
George Clooney's throwback political thriller, with it's roots in 70's cinema - albeit reflected in todays celebrity obsessed politics and 24 hour news footage - looks set to peel the facade away from the business of spin and is another chance to see Ryan Gosling's star ascending (gotta be worth it for that alone).
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The Help
The astonishing success of Tate Taylor's directorial debut ($166m domestic and counting) has once again proven there's a significant market for films that are made for an adult audience, although being adapted from a New York Times bestseller certainly helps. Although whether the Civil Rights theme will translate to British audiences remains to be seen.
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The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn
It's taken a surprisingly long for Hollywood to pick up on the best selling Belgian journalist/detective, possibly because whilst the character is wildly popular this side of the Atlantic he's barely dented the US market. Of course if anyone can change the opinions of the US public it's Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson.
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Miss Bala
Mexico's submission for the Foreign Language Oscar is an unlikely account of the drug cartels as seen through the eyes of an aspiring beauty queen.
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Anonymous
World wrecker Roland Emmerich is taking a break from destroying mankind by indulging in one of the more fanciful Shakespeare conspiracies, calling the authorship of the plays into questions, although frankly it hardly matters giving the quality of the work. Somehow he drags Rhys Ifans, Vanessa Redgrave and Derek Jacobi into the mix.
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Seventh Sense
Jumping straight past the sixth one, presumably because that involves seeing ghosts, this Tamil feature mixes elements of global arms races, genetic technology and a big song and dance number naturally.
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Silence
European crime thriller with the central abduction of a 13 year old girl offering eerie parallels to a 23 year old cold case the original investigators must work together to prevent another murder. Sounds awfully TV to me.
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Sket
Gender equality is a good thing, of that I'm sure there's no question, however the sight of a gang warfare movie focussed on a half dozen of teenage girls chasing down the drug dealer who hospitalized one of their brothers does feel like a step too far.
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Velayudham
Bollywood option number 2 could be about journalistic integrity with a columnist basing their copy on the experiences of an unwitting postman. But it'll probably be about an unconventional romance - do tell me if I'm guessing this wrong.
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Demons Never Die
Lo-fi British horror which starts with a terrific premise - teenagers enter into a suicide pact only to be brutally murdered if they fail to enact their plans - but swiftly turns into an unnecessarily derivative stalker pic.
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RA. One
For Random Access, this 3D superhero movie is reported the most expensive Bollywood movie of all time with a rumoured budget of $50m. Huge pressure then for megastar Shah Rukh Khan to deliver the audiences.
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Friday, 22 July 2011
Starting Over Again (Out this week - 22/07/11)
Considering the date there's a surprisingly few releases this week. What's the date I hear you ask? It's the first weekend of the school summer holidays - the traffic forecasters are predicting hell on Earth on the motorways that roughly head toward the beach so what better way to spend the evening than going to the cinema. For the kiddies there's Potter week 2 or a sub-standard Pixar, but if I had to choose - and of course I do - I'd pick, as film of the week, gay dad romance Beginners.
Beginners
I'm probably not as keen on this quirky relationship drama as I'm making out, but I hear Christopher Plummers performance as an Octogenarian coming out for the first time is exquisite and MacGregor and Laurent make a lovely couple so I'll give it a try.
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Big Picture
If you fancy a thriller this week your only option is this French effort starring Romain Duris as a lawyer who kills his wife's lover in a fit of rage (I thought that was fine in France) then runs away to start a new life. Catherine Deneuve also stars.
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Cars 2
After last years critical and commercial super success with Toy Story 3 it can probably be said that Pixar are coasting with the return to the merchandise friendly automobile franchise. Oddly this is also an example of stunt casting with Owen Wilson and Larry the Cable Guy joined by Michael Caine, Vanessa Redgrave (as the Queen) and Lewis Hamilton. Or you could watch the German Grand Prix on Sunday!
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Horrible Bosses
So so looking comedy that will probably play well to fans of the central conceit - it's OK to slaughter your boss if they're despicable human beings. Kevin Spacey, Jennifer Aniston and Colin Farrell gleefully ham it up as the worst practitioners of management skills with Jamie Foxx as hit man Motherf**ker Jones - probably the best joke in the movie.
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Singham
Our lone Bollywood release this week is hard to get a handle on the plot, other than it's a Hindi action drama and appears to have been in post production for years (I'm sure I've seen that title before). Good early buzz on IMDb.
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Break my Fall
Very low budget British LGBT interest indie, following a young Lesbian couple as they negotiate their hedonistic lifestyle (they appear to be in a band) ans decide what it is they really want out of their relationship. Heavily influenced by the mumblecore movement.
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Violent Kind
Tired looking yokels gone crazy US horror with the usual cut-out characters being scared witless and panicking in uninventive ways. Don't worry this is getting the tiniest of releases.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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Wednesday, 15 December 2010
Miral
2010. Dir: Julian Schnabel. Starring: Hiam Abbass, Freida Pinto, Omar Metwally, Alexander Siddig and Ruba Blal. ●●●○○
Over the years cinema has been littered with personal filmaking, statements from writers, directors or actors with which they intend to pass on their wisdom and change the way we, as an audience, view the world. On rare occasions these efforts are memorable, often they are risible, but mostly they are worthy but oh so very dull. Unfortunately Miral, the fourth biopic directed by former New York artist Julian Schnabel, falls distinctly into that third category.
The story is essentially about the eponymous Miral (played with monotonous solidity by Freida Pinto of Slumdog fame) and the complexity of her political and emotional journey through the Palestinian Intifida of 1987 onwards. It also concenrs the three women who most shape her life: Her Teacher, the real-life Hind Husseni (Hiam Abbas, fine) whose work and death bookend the movie; her mother (Yasmine Elmasri, the best of the women) an abused Palestinian giurl who sinks into prostitution and alcoholism and her aunt (an underused Ruba Blal) who was radicalised, dynamited an Isreali cinema (during Polanski's Repulison no less) and was subsequently incarcerated following the 7 day war in 1967. Each of these women present different choices that Miral has to make - in the face of the Isreali occupation should she show caring stoicism, desperation or merciless revenge.
The film breaks into chapters for each of the women, ending with Miral, and this episodic structure becomes the movies biggest failing. Each of the first sections seems rushed and incomplete - of course they can only be complete if Miral chooses to follow their example - and the film as a whole seems to lck the focus necessary for Schnabel to make his grand statement.
I suspect, as with Miral, Schnabel and Rula Jebreal the novelist and scriptwriter wish to present Hind Husseni as the ideal. A woman who dedicated her life to educations orphans of the occupation, positive that education is the only way out of poverty and out of repression. Miral Iman father, a superb Alexander Siddig, also believes in the path of passive resistance, sure that there is a way forward through dialogue rather than through the instruments of terrorism.
Perhaps the closest character to the minds of the production team is Omar Metwally as Hani the Hamas activist Miral falls for. Whilst a charismatic on-screen presence Metwally is saddled with some of the most expositional dialogue as to render his performance unnecessary. Two scenes in particulary - a day time picnic and a midnight assignation as meant to be signs of their buidding romance but his earnest monlogues about the future of a two state solution seem horrendously out of place.
There is plenty on the sidelines to enjoy though. You could start with the celebrity cameos; lefties Vanessa Redgrave and Willem Dafoe turn up to secure funding and to bring in a US/Brit audience and not much else...
Seriously, my favourite section was where Miral stayed with her aunt and cousin recouperating from an injury. Her cousin has struck a relationship with a young Jewish girl and the humourous and conflicting reactions from eacdh family is a delight. Especially Miral aunt who turns the Palestinian mother up to 11 (talking fast is Arabic, wearing traditional attire she usually shuns) when her potentially daughter in law comes over for the first time. These comic vignettes could form the basis of a delicious film about inter-religious acceptance and abstract prejudice - but alas we were up for a much more plodding sermon about politics in the Middle East.
Cinematography comes courtesy of Eric Gautier (Motorcycle Diaries, Into the Wild) and you can recognise his lensing style, with many of the more experimental florishes of Schnabel's previous films put aside.
Overall I would say I wanted this film to be so much more than it was. The Palestinian/Isreali conflict deserves a film that truly illuminates the conflict in totality. This filmed failed to do so without it turning into a lecture. That is a very great shame.
Friday, 11 June 2010
Doomed Cop Sweepstakes (Out this week 11/06/10)
That's right, I have changed the name of the Friday post, for the time-being I will be trying to make jokey titles that relate to the top film with the main aim of making my blogs more exciting - I'm always the first to admit I stick to formula too much here. What do you think - will it work or will I be back to "Out this Week" by the end of July? Talking about exciting most people here in the UK will be spending the weekend anticipating England's first World Cup match - will the US audience be as involved, do you know? Therefore this weeks slate isn't particularly rich, instead concentrating on mid chart players who were never going to set the box office alight. That said film of the week is Brooklyn's Finest.
Black Death
Nine years ago Sean Bean (should that be pronounced Shawn Born or Seen Been?) had the biggest hit with his career with Lord of the Rings, well he's back in medieval armour on a quest, this time to find out how a village is avoiding the bubonic plague. I'm doubting it will be as successful.
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Brooklyn's Finest
To explain the post title - Brooklyn's Finest brings together a large cast of great character actors (Cheadle, Gere, Snipes, Hawkes, D'Onofrio, Patton, Barkin...) in a Antoine Fuqua directed piece about corrupt, suicidal and undercover cops. Not all of them will make it to the end credits. I'm just trying to guess who.
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Greenberg
Noah Baumbach's last two films (The Squid and the Whale, Margot at the Wedding) have involved self obsessed characters dealing with difficult but commonplace situations, and don't expect his latest to be much different. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't go for it, and Greta Gerwig is supposed to be brilliant.
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Letters to Juliet
Whilst this film may have massive plot holes, who could possibly leave Gael Garcia Bernal for Christopher Egan, but it's done surprisingly well in the States will atypically low drop off rates. Frankly Vanessa Redgrave's the only draw for me, but you could do worse given the genre.
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Panjaban
Delayed from two weeks ago this was my blurb then, and it hasn't changed: No link on imdb for this Punjab romantic comedy with two sisters learning about life and love in different ways. I don't know it's a romantic comedy, but there's lots of pretty eyes in the trailer and some scenes that must be shot as comedy.
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Women without Men
Shirin Neshat's slow exquisite drama about four diverse Iranian women finding solace and companionship against the backdrop of 1953's CIA backed coup was not only highly praised on the festival circuit last year, but also acts as a timely reminder of the artistry that has traditionally flourished in the region, and we hope that whatever the long term effects of the recent sanctions from the UN that peace and the freedom to make art will be respected in Iran.
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Friday, 30 January 2009
Vanessa Redgrave
Happy Birthday to
Vanessa Redgrave
72 today
This Goddess of British cinema appears suddenly every couple of years and once again knocks the socks off the audience. She's currently rumoured to star in Ridley Scott's Nottigham, should the leaves ever be the right colour, I'm not sure who she'll be playing but it will certainly be an interesting portrayal.
