Happy Birthday to
Lynn Carlin
73 today
Little remembered TV actress from the 70's who broke out in John Cassevetes 1968's Faces and garnered an Oscar nomination in the process. She only tried acting after an unhappy stint as Robert Altman's secretary came to a premature end.
Monday, 31 January 2011
Lynn Carlin
Sunday, 30 January 2011
20 for 2011: 1 - Contagion
Finally we reach my top pick for 2011, the film I'm most looking forward to seeing is...
Steven Soderbergh's Contagion.
Steven Soderbergh, that former darling of the American indie scene, is a cinematic chameleon, his back catalogue encompasses the full gamut of genres from biopics (Che) to star laden comedy (The Ocean's trilogy) to experimental art (Bubble). Even his misfires are generally considered to be worth watching, as they exhibit an understanding of form and content almost unparallelled in modern cinema.
For Contagion he reunites with The Informant writer Scott Z. Burns for what is described on imdb as "An action-thriller centered on the threat posed by a deadly disease and an international team of doctors contracted by the CDC to deal with the outbreak." That's just the tip of the iceberg, as the hyperlink movie will take in a variety of stories including familial sacrifice, panic-stirring bloggers, the collapse of Governments as well as the race to find a cure.
Originally planned to be shot in 3D, the latest I've heard is that has been quietly dropped as Soderbergh wasn't happy with the results, proof that he is serious about this multi-character drama. Indeed it seems to indicate the sort of serious mind he brought to Traffic, his superb take on the war on drugs.
Like that previous picture the cast is huge, and hugely talented, including Marion Cotillard, Matt Damon, Lawrence Fishburne, Elliott Gould, Jude Law, Gwynneth Paltrow, Kate Winslet and John Hawkes (recent Academy Award nominee for Winter's Bone). In case you weren't aware that little lot have 3 acting Oscars and a further 12 nominations between them, it's the sort of cast list you didn't think you'd see anymore and the sort of cast that wouldn't just sign on to anything.
In short this is a fascinating prospect, a director whosework I trust and have a long time affection for, working within a curious and underused genre with a castlist out of this world. How could anyone not be excited by this.
But has it been worth the wait? (Film News - 29/01/11)
This weeks news has been dominated by the Oscar nominations on Tuesday morning, althugh a few other stories caught my eye. More on which later. With regards to the Academy as always we can bemoan and criticise their choices, there was an odd omission in the director category and a surprise inclusion in both foreign language and Documentary (Banksy for the Oscar!) but on the whole I think they did very well this year. In all of the categories there is a general level of quality, indeed I haven't spotted a single nomination that I disagree with (even though there are some I think we're better there's nothing bad in there). This probably speaks to the quality of films and work going into them that we've seen in the last 12 months.
I repeat what I said on Tuesday and congratulate the first time nominees (I'd especially like to congratulate Christian Bale and John Hawkes both of whom will get two mentions on the blog today), and I very much hope that the added exposure from gaining a nod helps you find more rewarding and enjoyable work in the future.
Right now though, it's back to the real news...
The Other Side of the Wind
Moves occasionally disappear in a mire of post-production woes, it's a sad fact of life that money, time and talent all run out and whn then do it often leaves the central piece in limbo. Many never complete filming (The Man who Killed Don Quixote, Nailed), some disappear in endless editing (Margaret) and still more get blocked by legal bickering and money men (La Mula). Most of these are forgotten with time, but some become legendary and so it is with Orson Welles (below) last directorial job. Locked in an French vault in the early 1970's the John Huston and Jeanne Moreau starrer has languished whilst various parties sort out the rights, but now seems to be edging closer to a cinematic release.
LA lawyer Kenneth Sidle told the Observer: “We are in negotiations for the picture, which would lead to the finishing and public exhibition. Hopefully within the next few weeks we will know.”
All of which we've heard before a number of times, but you can guarantee that if Wind does get a release I'll be right at the front of the queue.
Read on for a possible Poe trend, erotic thrillers, some unsurprising casting news and the latest release schedule changes.
Christian Bale
Happy Birthday to
Christian Bale
37 today
And a very hearty congratulations on your Academy Award nomination in the best supporting actor category for The Fighter. I expect it's a well earned nom for an actor who always gives his all to a role. Of course the film we're all looking forward to seeing Bale in next is The Dark Knight Rises.
Saturday, 29 January 2011
I see Dead people (Out this week - 28/01/11)
In three weeks time we'll be out of the Oscar season and the quality of films will drop ac down to it's usual level of mediocrity. In the meantime we have another week with four movies that could easily have come top of the heap, and a quality animation for the kids as well (which might actually be the film to knock The King's Speech off the top of the charts). Of course a winner has to be chosen so for now film of the week is Biutiful. 
Biutiful
Picking up a surprise (ish) nod for Javier Bardem this week in the Academy Awards, Aleandro Gonzalez Inarritu's first self-penned movie has divided critics since it's Cannes bow with relentless misery. That said it looks gorgeous in the trailer.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●●●●●○
20 for 2011: 2 - Dream House
Straining the credibility of my countdown at number 2 is Dream House.
I've been very lucky with the timing as the first shot of Dream House was released just this week, don't Daniel and Rachel look awfully vexed to you? I'm quite partial to high quality drama based direcors slumming it, and after the excellent Brothers I think this is Jim Sheridan's chance to have a bit of genre fun.
The premise involves stars Craig and Weisz moving into their dream property only to find out from the neighbours (Naomi Watts and Martin Csokas) that the previous tenants went on a Manson like killing spree. Oh, and there's a group of cult supporters of the imprisoned mass murderer who keep turning up. Cue some dramatic changes of character and nice jump cuts.
I'm hoping that the mix of Sheridan and thi fine cast indicate there's a quality script from David Loucka underneath the tired cliches of a plot. (Although frankly without this could still be a couple of hours of hokum and fun.)
Oprah Winfrey
Happy Birthday to
Oprah Winfrey
57 today
Now that Mississippi native Winfrey is no longer on Television is she still the most powerful woman in America (calm down Hilary I'm talking n terms of influencing people's opinions)? Given that the fawning Piers Moron chose her as the first guest on his new nightly show one can only imagine that she is seen with due reverence. Personally I just want her to use the new found freedom and make some films.
Friday, 28 January 2011
20 for 2011: 3 - Twixt now and Sunrise
We're settling into the horror zone with number 3 Twixt now and Sunrise.
Bizarrely the director who's benefitted most from appearing in my top ten from 2010 is the one who should need it least: The Godfather and Apocalypse Now helmer Francis Ford Coppola. Watching Tetro was a reminder of the talent that Coppola used to be, before he wasted it on inferior studio fare in the 90's and a decade of wine production. Sure the story was pure soap opera but the look and feel of the film transcended it's origins.
This Val Kilmer starring horror may suffer from the same cliches as any number of Stephen King minor adaptations (see The Dark Half) as a writer blurs the line between fantasy and reality in his latest gothic masterpiece, but I thoroughly believe that Coppola can keep the suspense, beautiful film the sequences and, ultimately, give us enough to be able to ignore the histrionics.
Alan Alda
Happy Birthday to
Alan Alda
75 today
Born Alphonso D'Abruzzo in New York three quarters of a century ago, Alda has been constantly in demand as an actor and director since his TV debut in The Phil Silvers Show, but of curse he's best remembered for his role as Captain Pierce in TV's M*A*S*H. He's got a couple of big films coming this year, Tower Heist and Wanderlust, but I can't say I'm relishing the thought of them.
Thursday, 27 January 2011
John Carpenter's The Ward
2010. Dir: John Carpenter. Starring: Amber Heard, Lyndsy Fonseca, Mamie Gummer, Danielle Panabaker and Jared Harris. ●●●○○
Yesterday I fell head over heels for cinem that pushes boundaries, today, alas it's back to the grind with John Carpenter's The Ward, a movie that is no doubt proud of it's crass commercialism. Neither a leading piece in it's field of ghost stories nor a woefully dull failure John Carpenter's return to the genre is best defined as a steaming pile of averageness.
20 fr 2011: 4 - Rampart
Setting number 4 in it's targets is rengade cop thriller Rampart.
Over the last couple of weeks I have finally caught up wit 2009's The Messenger from director Oren Moverman and I confess to being utterly captivated by the calm sincerity of the piece. Ben Foster and Woody Harrelson both give superb performances as soldiers tasked with passing on the terrible news of the death of a loved one.
With that in mind I'm glad I'd already put this semi-true story so high on the list of forthcoming releases. The Rampart division was a department of the LAPD set up as a first response to high level drug crime and it's associated violence. Unfortunately it very soon became a nest of corruption. This film follows one of the last renegade cops, played by Harrelson, as he takes care of his family and fights for survival.
Oddly Ben Foster has recently been saying this is unlikely to ht the festival circuit until 2012, which given it's already in post-production seems awfully negative, but we'll keep our fingers crossed for a 2011 release.
Wednesday, 26 January 2011
Black Swan
2010. Dir: Darren Aronofsky. Starring: Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel, Barbara Hershey and Winona Ryder. ●●●●●
It's all too easy to forget that cinema is an art form, we tend to imagine the studios heads sitting in overlit offices with fawning assistants, counting the box office receipts of whatever Transformer shaped dreck they've unleased to the public as a coked-out pimp would guard his wares. Even those of us who profess a love of arthouse cinema, with our badly subtitled Albanian propaganda that quietly destroys beourgeois family values whilst simultaneously propping up our intellectually elitist worldview, have been fooled by false prophets of the human spirit. But this study of artistic desire, this interlude in the mind of performer, this screeching, screaming "were-swan" pushes past the boundaries of the screen, boldly pronouncing "I AM ART"! Black Swan is the first film I've seen for a long time that cannot be judged against normal rules; it's as much an installation as a movie.
20 for 2011: 5 - Young Adult
Kicking off the top five is a unlikely non-romance Young Adult.
It's extremely difficult to imagine a world where Charlize Theron can't just click her fingers and get any man she wants, but in the latest collaboration between director Jason Reitman and writer Diablo Cody we are expected to do just that. The last time the two joined forces they createdthe critical and commercial smash hit Juno and whilst the dialogue will probably be less self-conciously hip this time around we can still expect some classy zingers and real understanding of how people work.
Theron plays an author of "young adult" fiction who moves back to her midwest hometown to reconnect with old flame Patrick Wilson, who's now married to Elizabeth Reaser (Esme Cullen in the Twilight movies so no stunt casting there). Lessons will probably be learnt about being yourself and accepting other people for who they are - I don't mean to be trite I am looking forward to this.
David Strathairn
Happy Birthday to
David Strathairn
62 today
The consummate character actor, David has been bolstering ensembles for over 30 years, but did you know one of his first jobs following graduation was as a clown in a travelling circus? Coming soon is his role as King Alonso, Helen Mirren usurper in The Tempest.
Tuesday, 25 January 2011
Tuesday Trailers - How do You Know?
I'm so far behind on the trailers now I'm previewing films that will open in just 3 days time, which is not a good place to be in. As I believe I've said before I love January and the rush of quality movies, but it can be one hell of a struggle watching them all. Not that James L. Brooks' latest comedy has anything but the stench of box office failure around it. Not that you'd guess from the trailer which indicates a standard, if uninteresting, romcom.
How do you Know is released on Friday 28 January 2011.
Oscar Nominations
About now the nominations for the 2011 Academy Awards are being announced. For the first time in years I won't be able to see it, and won't have the opportunity to comment until the weekend, however I would like to send a hearty congratulations to all the nominees, especially to any first time nominees. I hope for them this day marks a new era in their careers.
Monday, 24 January 2011
20 for 2011: Competition
Every year I like to offer a sall prize for anyone guessing my most anticipated movie for the forthcoming cinematic year. We're down to just 5 films on the countdown so I wold love to hear your guesses (and your own opinions).
There's no set prize this year, so when you enter please tell me what you want as a prize (please be reasonable), last year I sent chocolates so that's more of less what we're looking at.
The winner will be the first person to guess the top film, or if no-one gets it the highest placing film not already mentioned (so if you guess today and get number 5 that will win it if no-one does any better).
As a clue I have mentioned the top film 6 times in the blog already, 3 times on news (although one of those was just casting) and 3 times in birthdays.
The countdown will resume on Wednesday, so get guessing.
Sunday, 23 January 2011
Never marry an aspiring star (Film News - 22/01/11)
We're definitely back in the throes of real news now, with more stories hitting the headlines than can be comfortably described, although let's face I'm going to try. And that's not to mention the continuation of the awards season stories like the Golden Globes results and Ricky Gervais's career changing performance.
A Star is Born
It's a timeless story of changing fortunes in the world of entertainment that's been memorably played out on three occasions on the big screen (with countless others that use it as a starting point) and a tidy reminder that in la-la-land there can only be a limited number of stars, for every on that rises to the top another must make way for the to shine. It's no surprise to anyone that a new incarnation is on it's way, and Beyonce has been set to take the title role for several months, and whilst Russell Crowe was considered as the alcoholic has-been who marries and then is surpassed by his latest find the latest reports don't mention Crowe so I suppose he's out.
This week we also learnt that Clint Eastwood is set to direct the latest version. This seems like a bizarre choice, mainly because I would've thought they wanted a studio hack to take the reins. No offence to whoever does direct the piece, but A Star is Born, or at least both the 1954 and 1976 versions, were star vehicles designed to highlight the prespective talents of Judy Garland and Barbra Streisand. Eastwood, as a director, has shown little interest in allowing his leading actresses room to manouvre themselves into the spotlight, and how will this fit into his overarching themes of natural justice and redemption unless this version focuses more on the waning talent. 
Judy is surprised as I am by Eastwood's news.
There's a touch of sceptism about this news for another reason: Eastwood is not a young man anymore. Does he need to be making films unless he really believes in them? What do you think?
Read on for title changes, Italian Singers, underused States and Darren Aronofsky's very big plans.
20 for 2011: 6 - Pirates of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
Sailing into number 6 on the countdown is Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
Proving I'm as vacuous and empty-headed as most movie goers, like a pre-programmed automaton I will flock to see the fourth peaen to commercialism that is the Pirates series of films. It's hard to imagine any of these years crop of releases claiming the box office crown of 2011, only the new Transformers film has any remote chance (Pixar have only a sequel to a middling performer, the coic book releases are minor characters and Potter and Twilight never seem to be able to make that final leap to the top).
That won't be the only reason to watch, from the trailer there looks to be a scenery chewing competition between Rush and Ian McShane as Blackbeard, not to mention Johnny Depp coming back to do a caricature of his previous performances of Jack Sparrow. It'll be interesting to see if Rob Marshall can carry off action scenes with the same talent he displays with his musicals (all cuts and close-ups, with most of it happening in the characters heads).
I expect my comments come across as cynical, given my thoughts why would this juggernaut appear so high on the countdown? Does the relentless selling of the movie compensate for my fear of it's history? Apparantly so. And to be honest I'll probably leave my brain at the door and just have bit of fun watching it.
Saturday, 22 January 2011
20 for 2011: 7 - War Horse and The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn
I'm cheating here at number 7 and calling it a draw between The Adventures of Tintin and War Horse, it's a Steven Spielberg double bill.
It's not the first time Spielberg has released two films in the same year, in 2005 we had War of the Worlds and Munich, in 1993 it was Jurassic Park and Schindler's List and similar pairings happened in 1989, 1997 and 2002. In each case there was a popcorn film and one with more personal themes. This year looks set to be the same with Tintin pushing the boundaries of motion capture and the adaptation of Michael Morpurgo's horse and his boy novel.
All in all I think we can expect to see Steven both reaching the top of the box office charts as well as critics top tens in the coming year.
What happened to my sweet sweet girl? (Out this week - 21/01/11)
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: ●●●●●●●●○○
Seymour Cassel
Happy Birthday to
Seymour Cassell
76 today
Veteran actor Cassell's most memorable roles come from his frequent partnership with John Cassevetes including Faces and Love Streams. Not that he's been resting on his laurels for the last 20 years he's a committed and vocal member of SAG tirelessly promoting actors rights and he starred in 5 films last year alone.
Friday, 21 January 2011
20 for 2011: 8 - A Dangerous Method
No need to analyse why A Dangerous Method is in at number 8.
David Cronenberg reteams with Viggo Mortensen for the third consecutive film only this time we're in a period setting and there's likely to be less little Viggo than we saw in Eastern Promises. Or will there?
Based on Christopher Hampton (Dangerous Liaisons) award winning play about the birth of pschoanalysis and the two schools of though posed by Sigmund Freud (Mortensen) and Carl Jung (Michael Fassbender) above. The film also dramatises the relationships the men had with patient, and later pioneer herself, Sabina Spielrein (Keira Knightley).
That's a powerhouse cast and enough reason in itself to watch the film, but with Cronenberg delving into the inner workings of the mind expect some dream sequences less coherent than Inception dared to show us.
Geena Davis
Happy Birthday to
Geena Davis
55 today
Geena burst onto our screens, siren-like, in 1982's Tootsie as Dustin Hoffman's often scantily clad co-star. This led to more projects (with clothes this time) including The Fly and Beetlejuice although sadly she's been MIA from cinemas for some time. After three unsuccessful attempts she is now hapily married to husband number 4, the surgeon Dr. Reza Jerrahy.
Thursday, 20 January 2011
20 for 2011: 9 - Peace, Love and Misunderstanding
Standing up to the man at number 9 is Peace, Love and Misunderstanding.
I have a soft spot for the big stars of the 60's and 70's returning to our screen after an absense and whilst this is the third film from Jane Fonda in 6 years there was a 16 year gap prior to that so I'm still rooting for her. Sounding almost like an inverse Georgia Rules, PL&M sees a conservative lawyer (Catherine Keener) return to her hippy mother (Fonda) following a painful divorce complete with kids in tow.
This is not a synopsis that screams great drama and director Bruce Beresford (Driving Miss Daisy) is unlikely to push any boundaries with the mother/daughter relationship set-up, however it'll be great to see the interaction between Fonda and Keener both of whom bring magic to the screen at their best.
Wednesday, 19 January 2011
The Green Hornet
2011. Dir: Michel Gondry. Starring: Seth Rogen, Jay Chou, Cameron Diaz, Christoph Waltz and Tom Wilkinson. ●●●○○
Is the lure of a large budget just too much for some of cinemas most idiosyncratic directors? Do these often visionary and talented helmers think they will be the one to tame the studio system and allow their ideas shine? How else can you explain Michel Gondry signing for The Green Hornet, the latest in a long line of comic book style superheroes brought to the big screen? Gondry's done what he could with the material, but it's still a mishmash of styles and themes with an inescapable feeling the writers, director and producer all had different ideas of what the final product should be like.
20 for 2011: 10 - One Day
Moving into our top ten we have literary adaptation One Day.
After the critical and commercial set back that was Love and Other Drugs Anne Hathaway is in dire need of a rom com success story, and this could just be it. Set over a period of 20 years David Nicholl's self adapted screenplay follows Emma (Hathaway) and Dexter (Jim Sturgess) on every St. Swinthins day as their lives intertwine and the romance they should have had drifts apart and together again. It's a delicious concept about fate and patience and making the best of what you have - both of them get involved in hideously inappropriate relationships along the way.
Unfortunately I recently read the novel and by the end I simply couldn't care about the characters. The traits Nicholl gives them to make them rounded or more realistic are just about enough to ensure both of the leads are irritating. Hopefully the screen version has managed to tidy this up - I hope so for Anne sake.
To my shame this is the only film in the 20 most anticipated directed by a woman, An Education helmer Lone Scherfig. Sarah Polley's Take this Waltz and Catherine Hardwicke's Red Riding Hood just missed the cut. Should I have included anything else?
Tuesday, 18 January 2011
Tuesday Trailers - Hereafter and Biutiful
There are still three more trailers I want to show for January films (it's madness Januray here, it really is) and given there's only to more weeks I'm having to double up this week. Actually it makes a little sense doubling up on these anyway, both of the films were in my top 20 most anticipated for 2010 and both films appear to discuss the issue of death in one way or another, with Clint Eastwood's latest looking at grief whilst Aleandro Gonzalez Inarrittu ponders the imminence of death.
If I had to choose between these two meditations on the afterlife which should I see?
Both Hereafter (above) and Biutiful (below) open on 28 January 2011.
20 for 2011: 11 - Midnight in Paris
Holding steady at number 11 is Woody Allen with this years entry of Midnight in Paris.
I'm like a puppy, I keep returning to my master even though he ignores me and gives me rubbish to eat. Every time Woody makes an appalling film I give him the benefit of the doubt and think the next one will be a return to form. So whilst Whatever Works was one of the biggest disappointments of 2010 and with You will meet a Tall dark Stranger getting warm but not effusive reviews I look to his next film as being the next great one.
Like most of Allen's work the premise is both simple and surprisingly complex. In this case we have a romantic comedy set within a group of tourists in Paris, where one engaged couple will have their eyes opened to new ways of experiencing happiness in a relationship. Allen's had a few open relationships in his moves recently so I wonder if that's where it's going.
As always he's managed to net a great cast including Marion Cotillard (pictured above), Michael Sheen, Rachel McAdams, Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody and Kathy Bates, so all in all I think I'm ready to forgive him once again.
Monday, 17 January 2011
20 for 2011: 12 - Hugo Cabret
A surprising choice from Martin Scorsese jumps out of the screen at Number 12: Hugo Cabret.
Martin Scorsese has dipped his toe in different genre's before, he done period, musical and "women's" pictures (The Age of Innocence, New York, New York and Alice doesn't live here Anymore respectively); and yet we were all surprised when he annouced this project a children's film to be made in 3D. Should we have been shocked?
Whilst it may be a departure there are plenty of signs that Scorsese would want to make a film like this. Primarily the film is set in Paris in the 1930's, a world in which Society was changing rapidly with the old class structures disappearing. There will alo be plenty of opportunity to ape the styles of his heroes Powell and Pressburger with garish and striking colour palettes, and using stories within stories in the structure. Finally the mysteries in the book revolve around the cinema legend Georges Melieres, pioneer of early animation techniques, and we all know how much Scorsese likes to preserve old films. In many ways this is a culmination of all his hobbies.
With the recent re-release of Peeping Tom Thelma Schoonmacher has been making the rounds and in interviews she has often brought up the sheer mass of detail Scorsese is working on, you can guarantee he's taking the 3D filming process seriously. You add to that a cast led by Ben Kingsley, Jude Law and Asa Butterfield (The Boy in the Striped Pajamas) as Hugo then this is virtually unmissable.
James Earl Jones
Happy Birthday to
James Earl Jones
80 today
It was recently leaked that James Earl Jones received just $7,000 for his Darth Vadar voicework. Given it's now one of the most famous voices in cinematic history you rather hope he's got a little more for the later movies.
Sunday, 16 January 2011
20 for 2011: 13 - The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
The retirement home beckons with The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel at 13.
Sensing a gap in the market Dr Ravi Kapoor, a South London casualty consultant, enlists his cousin Sonny (played by Dev Patel) to open a Mumbai based Old People home for his more complicated patients. When those patients include Maggie Smith (picture with Dev above), Judi Dench, Tom Wilkinson and Bill Nighy you just know there'll be sparks flying and some serious fish out of water gags.
It's going to be tough to balance the tone for this, is it a comedy or will we mainly be learning lessons about the fragility of life? If I were to guess which of the films in the top 20 is most likely to be delayed until 2012 I would probably choose this one. Sorry.
Unreasonable punishment (Film News - 15/01/11)
Movie news isn't quite back to full throttle following the New Year break, but some interesting side stories are beginning to come out as well as fevered rumour mongering over the stars in big ticket films due to come out in 2012. Let's dive straight in.
Prometheus
For months we've thought Ridley Scott was wog primarily on a prequel to his highly successful 1979 haunted house in space flick Alien but it seems the scrpt has taken a numbef unusual turns and is now so far apart from the original concept it can no longer carry the Alien moniker in the title. He's settled for Noomi "Dragon Tattoo" Rapace in the lead role with Charlize Theron (or maybe Anjelina Jolie) supporting.
Of course we don't know how close to what we've already heard this film will be now there's no xenomorph, clearly the space jockey will be out but what of the rumoured mind controlling sex-obsessed Aliens or the bio-weapon cautionary tale that featured in some script versions?
The title may shed some clues, in classical mythology The Titan Prometheus (which literaly translates to Forethought) stole fire from Zeus and gave it to mankind, he was then punished by being chained to a rock where an eagle would eat his liver every day (being a deity it regrew overnight). Prometheus has been famously painted over the years, including the below by Jacob Jordaens. Mankind were punished too, as a direct result they were give women, in the form of Pandora who came with an ominous box. Whether Scott plans to riff on any section of the mythology or simply nod to the translation that could be an interesting premise for a sci-fi epic. 
Read on for in-your-face orgies and more hopeless selling out from Hollywood.
Saturday, 15 January 2011
20 for 2011: 14 - Hanna
Purely popcorn entertainment at 14 with Joe Wright's Hanna.
I'm afraid you can't persuade me that Joe Wright is trying for anything other than bums on seats with his latest movie, especially after the iffy box office performance of The Soloist. Saoirse Ronan stars as the 14 year old killing machine brought up by her spy father Eric Bana purely to kill Cate Blanchett (at least that's how it ooks in the trailer). In many ways Hanna may be a slightly more realistic version of Hit Girl from Kick-Ass, although I expect there's still plenty of suspension of disbelief to be done.
Most of the plot may be obvious from watching the recent trailer but that won't stop us from watching many of the big blockbusters, so why should it stop you for this fight fest, and you never know Wright might turn out to be a surprisingly efficient action director.
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: ●●●●●●○○○○
Friday, 14 January 2011
20 for 2011: 15 - Win Win
The only Sundance entry on my list is number 15 Win Win.
It's difficult to know what to expect with this one. Thomas McCarthy's last two directorial outings have been the small scale dramas The Visitor and The Station Agent, both of which received plaudits for the initimacy of the vision, themes of lonliness and the performances he elicits from the cast. We should expect all of these comments to continue with Paul Giamatti taking the lead role of a disillusioned attorney/high school wrestling coach who lucks onto a major case which then gets a lot more complex than he first imagined.
It should be a meaty role for Giamatti, the sort of thing he does as bread and butter work, and for him alone I would probably recommend this one. I expect we'll hear more from Sundance soon.
Faye Dunaway
Happy Birthday to
Faye Dunaway
70 today
Faye is an interesting example of how women in Hollywood hit a certain age thenvirtaully disappear. In the 1960's and 70's she could do no wrong and was constantly appearing in critical and commercial successes. Then when she hit 40 in 1981 the parts just dried up, and it doesn't look like she'll ever recover from that slump.
Thursday, 13 January 2011
It's a Kind of Funny Story
2010. Dir: Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck. Starring: Keir Gilchrist, Zach Galifiankis, Emma Roberts, Lauren Graham and Viola Davis. 4/5 
Auteur theory posits that the director is the primary author of a film and therefore the style reflects his or her personal creative vision. Following the theory to it's natural conclusions you can identify the director from the choices within the film and any film they make should be reviewed as part of an ongoing series of productions. I'm not sure whether Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck hold to the auteur theory, or even if they're output is consistent with it (you can check my review on Sugar using the labels below) however they're certainly willing to push the boundaries of the theory with their third feature It's a Kind of Funny Story.
Half Nelson tackled drug culture in public schools, Sugar was a baseball biopic in Spanish, so it's surprisingly been followed up with an adpatation of a young adult novel by Ned Vizzini about teenage mental health issues with shades of whimsy.
20 for 2011: 16 - The Big Year
Number 16 on our countdown is twitching comedy The Big Year.
We all know that I don't really "do" comedy. Generally I try to avoid that sort of thing as what makes us laugh as individuals is so distinct that few people can agree on any fram of reference. Nevertheless I am curious about this bird-watching caper, hoping it may tend towards farce in a easy to enjoy way.
Among the twitchers are Jack Black, Owen Wilson and Steve Martin, and although we're a long way past his heyday I believe a return to form must be on it's way eventually. Plus the supporting cast is excellent including Anjelica Huston, Dianne Wiest and Rosamund Pike. It's a light choice in the countdown but I'm sure it'll fit in fine.
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