I won't be going to the cinema this weekend, frankly I'm exhausted it's been a heck of a week what with rehearsing, classes and the 24/7 fringe festival. Not to mention having to do "real work" during the day. However if I were to go the decision might be a tough one, there's a couple of interesting looking foreign language releases and a new Superhero is coming to town, but in the end I'd have to choose, as the RLAG film of the week, Arrietty.
Arrietty
Studio Ghibli take the unusual step of adapting an existing, European story (Mary Norton's "The Borrowers") then still imbue the film with a unique Japanese feel and the traditional acceptance of the absurd. Saoirse Ronan and Mark Strong lead the voice cast as daughter and father in a family of miniature people living behind the skirting board.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●●○○○○
Captain America: The First Avenger
I have heard some great things about Joe Johnston's contribution to the pre-Avengers story, with many US critics calling it the best superhero movie of the summer. Chris Evans certainly looks hot in the trailers, and backed with a serious and exciting cast that includes Tommy Lee Jones, Stanley Tucci and Samuel L. Jackson what's not to like.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●○○○○○
Light Thief
A rare example of Krggyzstani cinema that examines the stature of ordinary technicians who restore electricity in the turmoil since the break-up of the Soviet Union. It helps that the main character seems a bit of a happy go lucky type.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●○○○○○
Poetry
Low-key existential Japanese movie about an old woman contemplating the meaning of life as she comes wearily to the end of hers. Heartbreaking and ultra-real this may still test the patience of most casual cinema-goers.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●○○○○○
Better Life
Slightly buzzed about immigration drama following an illegal gardener, Damien Bichir, in East L.A. trying to do right by his son whilst avoiding the criminal gangs and the authorities. Looks promising, but not exceptional.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Zookeeper
Given it's poor pedigree and mediocre box office performance in the US it's hard to see why this Kevin James vehicle deserves 4 blobs. To be frank it probably doesn't however it does boast Nick Nolte as a gorilla as well as Sylvester Stallone and Cher as a pair of Lions. Sounds like prime crap at least.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Horrid Henry: The Movie
There's clearly a market for this big screen translation of the very British kids stories, and no doubt it will clear up during the school holidays, but I don't think it's for me. What persuaded Anjelica Huston to play the stern headmistress I'll never know.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Our Day will Come
Bonkers looking French pic starring Vincent Cassell as a ginger therapist who runs away with one of his patients (mmm ethical issues there) to find freedom in Ireland - the land of the red heads.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Jihne Mera Dil Luteya
Bollywood love triangle with two best friends falling for the same girl at Patiala University. Cue comedy hijinks and much singing and dancing.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Friday, 29 July 2011
It's a Big World out There (Out this week - 29/07/11)
Thursday, 13 January 2011
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.
Thursday, 8 July 2010
Anjelica Huston
Happy Birthday to
Anjelica Huston
59 today
Anjelica had one of the greatest starts in show business that you could imagine, the daughter of the legendary director John Huston and granddaughter of Walter Huston. Yet she chose very much to go it alone, minor roles and walk-ons filled her early years slowly building her own reputation, eventually picking up an oscar for Prizzi's Honor. I'm still pretty unsure about the twitcher movie The Big Year coming next year, but I am a little more interested knowing she's in it.
Friday, 25 June 2010
The Old Masters return (out this week - 25/06/10)
It's another weak week of film releases as the World Cup continues for England (just about), and congratulations to the U.S. readers for also surviving the Group stages. I have no doubts that Russell Brand will propel him movie to the top of the box office charts, and I only hope he's a less irritating actor than he is a TV presenter/stand-up comic. On the more arty front there are two auteur's synonymous with the 70's who are battling for my endorsement, even though a blogger I trust has panned them both in the comments here, I'm going to pick Tetro as the film of the week.
The Collector
When watching Home Alone I expect you thought that the scenes of slapstick violence meted on the burglars was both justified and hilarious. This film riffs on those elements only using the medium of horror. From the writers (hmm) of Saw IV, V, VI and VII.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Get Him to the Greek
I have a small problem in recommending this film, partly because Brand irritates me and partly because I haven't seen Forgetting Sarah Marshall, from which the character is spun. Mostly it's because I've heard the majority of the trailer isn't in the film.... I mean really what is the point of a trailer if it doesn't show you stuff from the film. Big mistake.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Tetro
Francis Ford Coppola's second personal project, the first being 2007's Youth without Youth which in turn was preceded by a 7 year hiatus, follows two brothers (Vincent Gallo and Alden Ehrenreich) coming to terms with their destructive relationship with their conductor father (Klaus Maria Brandauer).
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●○○○○○
Villa Amalia
Isabelle Huppert reunites with director Benoît Jacquot for the fifth time, in this story of a pianist (careful) who abandons her life after her partner kisses another woman.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Whatever Works
Woody Allens output continues to be only sporadically entertaining with his first New York movie for 5 years. Larry David fills the Woody role, Evan Rachel Wood (40 years his junior) plays the love interest and the cast is filled by the usual group of stereotypical New Yorkers.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●○○○○○
When in Rome
I actually quite like the look of this rom-com. Sure I suspect it'll be cheesy and forgettable but the premise of boys being put under a spell when their coins are taken from the Fountain of Love is quite cut, especially when they get as smitten as they are in the trailer, and when one of them is Danny DeVito. Anjelica Huston also gets a role as Kristen Bell's boss so there's a reason for going.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Saturday, 13 March 2010
Out This Week (12/03/10)
Only 5 films out this week. But what a selection of 5 films. Even the one I'm least likely to support would be a contender for being the film of the week in a normal period. I would even go as far to say if I had a lot more money and a lot more time I'd be camping out at the cinema this weekend in order to see all 5 of them. Nevertheless a choice has to be made and, perhaps inevitably, my film of the week is Martin Scorsese's Shutter Island.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
It is extremely rare for a foreign language film to pick up 5 blobs on the excitometer so listen up. This is the first part of the cinematic adaptation of Steig Larsson's acclaimed thriller trilogy, which sees washed up journo working with enigmatic hacker to solve a 40 year old disappearance. The visuals look breathtaking and it's getting fantastic reviews. Worth a watch.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●○○○○○
Green Zone
Matt Damon is a bomb hunter sent into Iraq following the 2003 invasion to hunt for WMD, the lack of evidence found leads him to investigate a shadowy conspiracy which bureaucrat Greg Kinnear may just want covered up. This could be the unofficial Bourne 4 due to the reteaming of Damon with Paul Greengrass, as well as a repeat of the techniques and feel to those film. Amy Ryan, Jason Isaacs and Brendan Gleeson co-star.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●○○○○○
Hachi: A Dog's Story
If you can buy Richard gere as a maths professor then you can probably also believe the central conceit of this loyal doggie tale. Lasse Hallstrom directs a film designed purely to have you reach for the tissues when the later montages kick in.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●●○○○○
The Kreutzner Sonata
Danny Huston, who I persoanlly beleive is one of the most underrated actors of his generation, reteams with Ivansetc director Bernard Rose for another modern re-telling of a Tolstoy classic. As with all the works of the Russian great it concerns failed ambitions and covert affairs, but given the female lead is a pianist (and the title is also a major clue) there will be some stunning music. Danny's sister Anjelica gets a supporting role.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Shutter Island
Scorsese's true pulp movie (based on the very pulpy Dennis Lehane novel) has divided critics, with many saying great directors should only concentrate on making great films and not the disposable trash like this. I am still on the edge of my seat with anticipation. After all who else can ratchet up so much tension with an acute camera angle and gothic score. Leonardo DiCaprio leads an all-star cast.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●○○○○○
Tuesday, 8 July 2008
Anjelica Huston
Happy Birthday to
Anjelica Huston
57 today
It's always a pleasure to say Happy Birthday to a member of such a prestigious Hollywood family, even if Anjelica may be the last person you'd want in your family - Crimes and Misdemeanors, Grifters, Prizzi's Honor, always her loved ones getting a raw deal.
