Just three days after the Oscar nominations it's no surprise that this weeks top film managed to pick up some attention, even if it missed out on the big prize. More complex is the battle for audiences with 2 animated features both opening this week - I suspect Disney to take the box office crown. We also have a bit of a cathch up session as 4 films were quietly released last week without me spotting them - so if you're interested in Turkish cinema then skip to the end. Nevertheless ehe film of the week is still Invictus.
Asal
Effectively looking Bollywood actioner with Ajith Kumar as a one man army fighting to get to Sameera Reddy. Some nice stuntwork in the trailer but it may be one for the fans.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Astro Boy
Middling animated fabtasy about aelectronic boy with exception firepower created in the image of a scientist's lost son. A tiny bit like Pinnochio then. Personally I'm not sure why you'd give a replacement for your son laser vision and rocket launchers, but there you go. Starry voice cast (including Nic Cage, Charlize Theron and Samuel L. Jackson) is all it has to recommend it.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Holy Water
Irish comedy about a skiffle band who steal a bus load of viagra's. Much hilarity then ensues - not that you'd guess from the trailer which has it's fair share of silly car chases and jokes about middle aged couples refinding their sex drive.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Invictus
It may have missed out on a best picture nomination this week, to Sandra Bullock vehicle The Blind Side, but Clint Eastwood's recreation of the infamous Sprinbok Rugby World Cup win and it's South African political ramifications still look like a worthy film to view.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●●●○○○
The Island
Set within a remote monastic community Pavel Lounguine's sophomore picture shines a light on a dying religion (in this case the Russian Othodox Church) and how this can be shaken as one priest offers a faith-healing. It comes with fine pedigree 6 wins at the 2007 Nika Awards.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Malice in Wonderland
It's our first Danny Dyer movie of 2010 - there will be a few, don't worry. In this twisted version of Lewis Carroll's famous story he plays a Whitey, a taxi driver obsessed with being late. There are some nice touches - Tweedledum and Tweedledee are doormen and Wonderland is a big nightclub, but I'm personally waiting for Burton's take on it.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
The Princess and The Frog
Disney return to hand-drawn animation with this 20th century fairytale, set during the Jazz age in Louisiana. It's not as starry as this week Astro Boy - Anika Noni-Rose is the lead with Terrence Howard and Oprah Winfrey the only other names I really recognise - but the songs are great and the trailer mixes a family comic feel with suitably scary villians.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●○○○○○
Psych 9
Cliche filled thriller about a girl who (trailer voice) must confront her past to prevent a murder... Set in an abandoned insane Asylum with Cary Elwes as her shrink (so clearly he's also the killer). Avoid.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Tony
Tony (Frank Boyce) is a lonely mild mannered guy you could easier miss as you walk past him in central London. Unemployed, and largely unemployable he spends his days wanering through the markets and chatting to hookers. Until he flips and becomes a serial killer. Darkly comic this British film may be worth making the effort.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Youth in Revolt
It's box office performance in the States may have been abysmal but I really enjoyed the trailer for this Michael Cera vehicle. He stars as a late teen inventing a new persona in order to sleep with the girl of his dreams. Unfortunatly his imaginery doppelganger is both more irresistible and irresponsible than he is.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
And missed off from last week (29 January 2010):
A Bit of Tom Jones
Star-free Welsh comedy which seems to be developing as a cult hit according to imdb.com. The plot, such as it is, revolves around Tom Jones' stolen member and the apparent market for celebrity willies. So bizarre it might be worth a look.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Edjer Kapani
Turkish suspense thriller about a serial killer targeting peadophiles and the police who must stop him. The trailer looks more like a extended episode of CSI: Ankara but with an interesting plot and a couple of car chases.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Kutsal Damacana 2
Did anyone see Kutsal Damacana 1? I didn't think so... It's a comedy along the lines of a parody of Buffy the Vampire slayer with a highly trained group of priests (and nuns) fighting demons.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Yahsi Bati
And our final Turkish film - was there a festival or something?- is a comic western examining the culture clashes betwen to Turkish embassy officials towards the end of the last century and the wild west communities they encounter as they cross the states.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Oh, and to celebrate another Danny Dyer release here's my traditional semi naked picture of him:
Friday, 5 February 2010
Out this week (05/02/10)
Tuesday, 5 January 2010
Tuesday Trailers - Invictus
I'll admit that Clint Eastwood's Nelson mandela biopic (of sorts) is looking as stodgy as hell, and the word from the US is that it manages to take one of the most inspirational figures of the 20th century and sucks the life out of them. Nevertheless it is required viewing, if only to see 20 minutes of Matt Damon hugging other guys legs...
Invictus opens on 05 February 2010.
Saturday, 6 June 2009
Film News (06/06/09)
Theres a trio writer directors making the headlines this week. Um, and a couple of other stories that I can't fit into a single witty headline.
How do you Know
Writer-director James L. Brooks has recruited his old buddy Jack Nicholson to join the supporting cast of this Reese Witherspoon vehicle set to start lensing next month. Nicholson's replacing the notoriously diffident Bill Murray, who forgot to checks hi messages, or something. Jack has won 2 Oscars whilst working for Brooks in the past, so hopefully there'll be some good things coming. The film only has How do you Know as a working title, but I prefer that to the untitled blah blah blah...
When Jack and James last worked together they made the world fall in love with Helen Hunt, and this yappy dog.
Creed of Violence
Writer-Director Todd Field (I'm determined to make that link work) has been hired as a writer to adapt Boston Teran's latest novel (it's due to be published later this year). Field only usually writes when he's going to direct as well, so I can almost get away with the opening words. Plot revolves around a desperado and a Government agent halting an arms smuggling operation in 1910.
Hamlet
It's been a couple of years since the last Hamlet adaptation, so we're due another. This time brought to the 21st century and starring an "age-appropriate" Emile Hirsch. I've seen some snark about this project, but I'm sure Hirsch has the acting chops to be able to carry the role. His work in Into the Wild was incredible, and Hamlet's similar just with an even weirder family.
Invictus
Kris Tapley over at Incontention had the scoop on the title for Eastwood's Mandela biopic, so I'll just link to that. The title comes from a poam by William Earnest Henley, that was a favourite of Mandela's during his time in prison.
Next Three Days
Yesterday the French Film Anything for Her came out in the UK, so this week the US remake has been announced. Writer-Director Paul Haggis (we're back with that ridiculous link) will be finding ways to make a film with little commercial appeal, yet strangely award magnety.
The French Film Poster.
Monday, 1 June 2009
Morgan Freeman
Happy Birthday to
Morgan Freeman
72 today
Hot of the heels of his Human Factor directors birthday yeaterday is soon to be multiple Oscar Winner Morgan Freeman. Let's be hones playing Nelson Mandela can't fail to win some shiny statues.
Sunday, 31 May 2009
Clint Eastwood
Happy Birthday to
Clint Eastwood
79 today
The multi-hypenate Eastwood passes another birthday and still doesn't seem to be slowing down at all. His 2009 film, possibly titled The Human Factor, will focus on Nelson Mandela (Morgan Freeman) and his efforts to unite South Africa following his election. It's hard to imagine that it won't be a successful film, even if I doubt Eastwood will fully convey the post-apartheid mindset or make good rugby. Of course, I'll still be there on opening night.
