Deciding what to watch at the cinema this weekend will be relatively easy for most people, in fact if the wind is right I can probably hear the frantic screams of Team's Edward and Jacob as they glorify their new Gods. I do mean the sarcasm, but not maliciously, the reviews are easily sighting the latest Twiglet adventure as the best of the series so far, however for the film of the week, in a very competitive middle standard week, will be the 7/7 themed picture London River. 
Frownland
If the trailer is anything to go by this American indie will have scratching your head and trying something else, but if you like your hero's babbling and leechlike then this could be for you.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Gangster's Paradise: Jerusalema
South African Gangster movie (I imagine you guessed at least part of that) cleverly highlighting the seedy underbelly of Jo'burg now the World Cup is nearly over. The trailer made me think of American Gangster so it might work.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Leaving
Kristen Scott Thomas slips into one of her French speaking roles as a middle-class wife and mother who falls for her bit-of-rough handyman. As all the relationships begin to disintegrate you'll be left wondering if there's any hope for humanity.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●○○○○○
London River
With the fifth anniversary of the London Tube bombings having passed this week you should check out Rachid Bouchareb's (Days of Glory) story of grief and coming together with two parents looking for their commuter children and expecting the worst. Brenda Blethyn and Sotigui Kouyaté's acting styles couldn't be further apart and the pair compliment each other perfectly.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●○○○○
Madrasapattinam
Watching the trailer of this I wasn't so much struck by the interracial love affair against the backdrop of India's independence so much as the appalling acting by the lead white guy. I think I should move to India, bound to get lots of work there.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Milenge Milenge
Gaudy costumes abaound in this modern Bollywood musical, with a tagline He was the wrong guy for the right girl you know how it will end. Probably servicable entertainment.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Predators
I've never seen the original so I'm not automatically this reboot is pissing on Arnie's legacy but it does look drivel. The only fun that might be had is guessing what order our ragtag bunch of ne'er'do'wells get offed. I'm guessing Adrien Brody, Laurence Fishburne and Alice Braga are the last three standing.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
The Seventh Dimension
Homegrown horror movie in which hackers break into a secret vatican computer system that holds the key to predicting the future although they prove it by finding clues to the 1929 Great Depression, so the current financial meltdown isn't good enough for you. By the way, I wonder what sort of glasses you need to watch a 7D film?
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Twilight Saga: Eclipse
EEEEEEEEEK! AAAAAAAHHHHHAAAGGGGHHHHH! EEEEEEE-EEEEEEK! etc. etc. OK, I'm not the taregt audience but the reviews are positive, it's making a mint, and as well as the three stars there's an impressive supporting cast of "I know you" young actors like Anna Kendrick, Bryce Dallas Howard, Nikki Reed, Jodelle Ferland, Cameron Bright and Dakota Fanning.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●○○○○○
Friday, 9 July 2010
Reflections on Coping (Out this week - 09/07/10)
Friday, 30 April 2010
Out this week (30/04/2010)
Summer is here. The temperature has been beginning to lift, the mornings are lighter and the first of the big summer tentpoles is opening this week. Like everyone else out there I am excited about the big box office returns and the 3 month whirl of red carpet premieres and relentless marketing campaigns. Away from the big lights though there are some nice foreign language choices, but the film of the week remains Iron Man 2. 
A Boy Called Dad
As the lurid headlines of our tabloid culture focus more and more on the exceptional cases of underage parents we tend to forget the personal impact of having children. This film aims to reverse that trend taking a good look at the way a 14 year old life is turned upside down, and how he learns to cope.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
The Disappearance of Alice Creed
Gemma Arterton begins her make or break career year with a standard kidnap drama - will her captors renege on their promise to deliver her back safely? Will she seduce them to ensure her rescue? Watch the trailer to find out.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Gentleman Broncos
Jared Hess's latest may not have the cult appeal of his 2004 hit Napoleon Dynamite but it's concept of blatant plagurism in the sci-fi fantasy subculture and it's class supporting turn from Jermaine Clement should get some fans.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Housefull
Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar takes the lead in this comedy about guy with three girls on the go whose life is just about to get really complicated.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Iron Man 2
2008's surprise comic book hit (did you really think it would take off in the way it did for essentially a minor Marvel creation) gets it's inevitable remake. Robert Downey Jr. and Gwynneth Paltrow are back, Don Cheadle gets a choice replacement role, Mickey Rourke gets villian roles and Samuel L. Jackson may get a slightly bigger cameo. Expect this to be the biggest money spinner this year.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●●○○○○
The Last Song
Another Nicolas Sparks novel gets a big screen adaptation, following Dear John just a couple of weeks ago, with Miley Cyrus trying to break out as a real actress and Greg Kinnear adding a little class as her dad.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
The Milk of Sorrow
Peruvian drama - we don't get many of those - about a girl coming to terms with her childhood and her fears following the death of her mother.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Revanche
Oscar nominated Austrian film about fate and revenge. I hear it's long two hours, but worth it for those with the persistence.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Sura
Feel good entertainer, with a poster that looks like a mob drama, and an audi in the background. What can you say.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
24 City
Chinese drama following all sectors of society as a Chengdu factory is closed to make apartments, and the way this effects our characters, their family and the wider impact on society.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Valhalla Rising
An art film about a viking pyschopath? You'd better believe in the latest feature from Nicolas Winding Refn with the mute one-eyed hero finding the secrets behind his origins and the origin of his almost supernatural strength.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
And missed from last week, as you know there would be some...
The Calling
What starts as a comedy, with a vivacious student abandoning her planned career to join a nunnery meeting a bunch of comedy staples (including Susannah York's overbearing Mother Superior and the militant Brenda Blethyn), slowly develops into a fair reflection of the imporatnce of faith and community. Looks like a very good bet if you get the chance.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●○○○○○
Esrefpasalilar - Eshref Pasha
Turkish comedy drama - naturally. I have no idea what it's about so feel free to tell me if you know.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Saturday, 20 February 2010
Brenda Blethyn
Happy Birthday to
Brenda Blethyn
64 today
Completely unafraid, Brenda excels in roles that require a little extra pizzazz. She's also a personal hero of mine, leaving a career in her late 20's and then moving into acting. She's also run the London Marathon which is quite an achievement.
