I don't give out many really high scores on the Runs Like a Gay Excitometer, I generally like to keep it quite low, after all there have been over 300 releases so far this year and choices have to be make, so the median average score for this year is currently 3, with only one in nine releases getting over 5, and so far only four getting a coveted 9 blobs. They were Oscar candidates The Descendants and Carnage and comic book behemoth The Dark Knight Rises all arriving with plenty of fanfare and international expectation. This week sees a very different film hitting that similar highpoint, indeed it's rather snuck up on me too. With a bevvy of high quality reviews and a strong cast breaking from their comfort zone it hard to not get excited and Canadian actress cum director Sarah Polley second feature, following the devastating Away from Her, simply has to be seen, gaining the runs like a gay film of the week approval it's Take this Waltz.
I think Seth MacFarlane probably really dislikes me, for two weeks in a row I have highly underestimated the box office potential of Ted and it second week drop was indeed less steep than The Dark Knight Rises leaving Mark Wahlberg and his belching toy still on the top of the charts. Sorry Seth, won't happen again. Meanwhile dance movie Step Up: Miami Heat was the highest new entry at 3, but it's performance was spectacularly bad, 60% less tickets than the previous entry in the body popping franchise, stand by for straight of DVD follow-ups. This week sees 2, potentially 3, US chart toppers battling it out in UK cinemas. I imagine Expendables 2 will end in clear third, mainly because of the certificate and the cheating previews of Brave and Bourne Legacy both of whom opened Monday. I suspect Pixar, will ultimately take the crown with it's savvy holiday opening strategy, but this could be an exciting weekend to follow.
Take this Waltz
Michelle Williams stars in this low-key modern tale of temptation and fidelity, whether she leaves her loving but staid husband (Seth Rogen in a piece of genius casting) for hunky rickshaw driver Luke Kirby is the central plot but if Polley brings half of the resonance of her last film then it will be about so much more. Unmissable indie drama.
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Admittedly it has indie written all over it, but I do wonder how it all ends which is a great start for this type of movie.
Brave
As ever with Pixar the animation looks sumptious and genre changing, with Merida's hair in particular bouncing out of the screen in the feminist fairy tale. Although the first tendrils of Disney involvement, there's more than a touch of Mulan in the plot and Pixar first female protagonist could definitely sit in the feminist end of Disney Princesses. The fine Brit cast includes Kelly MacDonald in the lead, Billy Connelly, Emma Thompson and Julie Walters.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●●○○○○
The Bourne Legacy
I've already caught up with the latest Bourne movie, hopefully I'll get the review out in the next few days, and you pretty much get what everyone was expecting. An average action adventure with Jeremy Renner and Tony Gilroy merely keeping the seats warm for Damon and Greengrass. The trailers seem to have worked though, it shot straight to the top last weekend in the US.
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The Bird
It's time for a bit of French existentialism in Yves Caumon's Venice hit. A secretive kitchen worker learns to open up her life to the possibility of romance and friendship after finding a pigeon trapped in her apartment.
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Expendables 2
Sylvester Stallone assembles an even batshit crazier band of 80's rejects for the follow-up to his 2010 hit. Jean Claude Van Damme shows up as villain Vilain and chuck Norris is on fine form to save a few asses. That said it still looks utterly forgettable pulp and the jokes drop like lead balloons over the trailer.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
The Wedding Video
Pretty much relying on the Peep Show audience to turn up in droves this nice looking Brit comedy will probably fall between the cracks before a decent run on DVD sales. Robert Webb is the groom, Lucy Punch the Bride and Rufus Hound the best man employing a professional film crew to follow the wedding preparations.
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The Devil's Business
Reviews of Sean Hogan's low budget horror have rated it reasonably highly, even if it owes a massive debt to last years Kill List. Two hitmen are despatched to dispose a particular thorn in a local crime bosses plan, only when they find a Satanist alter in his garage the job turns out to be more complex than was originally conceived.
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Ek The Tiger
Globe-trotting Bollywood espionage actioner with significant funding from the US, should do well across the international markets thanks to it cross-appeal trailer and stars Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif. Tiger is Khan's undercover codename.
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Saturday, 18 August 2012
Dancing to it's own tune (Out this week - 18/08/12)
Friday, 15 July 2011
Bring me Harry Potter (Out this week - 15/07/11)
Let's not pretend anything here. There is only one movie that's even vaguely hitting the headlines this week and as much as I'd like to support the Spanish prison dramas or independent grindhouse spin-offs there's no denying the pull of J K Rowling's literary behemoth. So it is with no shock the runs like a gay film of the week is the final battle between good and evil, it's Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallow Part II.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallow Part II
As the British film industry grinds to a halt following the closure of the Potter franchise (although you have to wonder if the Potterverse project will lead to some future spin-offs) lets look forward to seeing the lengthy awards calibre supporting cast list (in this film there are 19 acting nominations, 4 wins, from 7 performers - see the labels below - and how many casts can claim that?) doing more serious work over the next couple of years.
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Cell 211
Popular Spanish thriller following a rookie prison screw on his first day who gets caught a riot and becomes chummy with the criminal leading the revolt, and finds his loyalties deeply questioned. The US remake is already being written.
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Bal (Honey)
The third in a loose trilogy of films focussing on the lives of working class Turks from Semih Kaplanoglu. Naturalistic and unsentimental the movie reflects a way of life slowly coming to an end.
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Hobo with a Shotgun
The second fake trailer from Tarantino and Rodriguez's Grindhouse experiment to be made into a full scale movie looks more promising than Machete in that it keeps it's lo-fi premise and ultra-violent concept and save Rutger Hauer as our shotgun wielding hero doesn't overfill the cast with unnecessary cameos. That said it may not be to everyone's taste.
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Treacle Jr.
Independent British movie starring the ubiquitous Aiden Gillen (honestly he seems to be everywhere over here at the moment) and Tom Fisher as two middle aged men unable to conform within modern society, it might be an interesting dissection of modern attitudes to mental health but the trailer isn't making that too clear.
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Zindagi Na Milenge Dobara
Possible the only Bollywood release this week - I say possible as the twice delayed Deiva Thirumagal is also supposedly hitting cinemas this weekend - is a drama about three friends turning their fantasy vacation into reality following one of them getting engaged. No, I don't understand how that serves as a plot synopsis either.
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Saturday, 12 February 2011
The clue's in the eyepatch (Out this week - 11/02/11)
I can't quite believe it's happening, but after two and a half years of previewing the weekly releases I'm coming to a major milestone - it's the first movie to get a perfect score. The reviews have been cracking, it's from a director(s) and cast that I truly admire, it's picked up awards and nominations from major organisations - whilst I have had my doubts frankly it's hard to ignore it even if it didn't actually make my countdown for most anticipated film for 2010! So later today I will go to see , this weeks film of the week True Grit. 
True Grit
Without doubt this is the most exciting Western proposition in nearly 20 years. The Coen brothers returning to Charles Portis' novel for this exciting tale about redemption and loyalty all seen through the eyes of a 13 year old girl. By the way the talk that this is not a remake of the earlier movie is slightly undermined by the eyepatch, which was an invention of the first film.
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Gnomeo and Juliet
Smart looking children's adaptation of Shakespeare most famous romantic tragedy set to the music of Elton John. The changing of the characters to Gnome's is odd but is at least understandable for the kids. The eclectic cast backing James McAvoy and Emily Blunt in the leads ranges from the highbrow Michael Caine, Maggie Smith and Julie Walters to the bizarre trilogy of Ozzy Osbourne, Jason Statham and Hulk Hogan!
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Never Let me Go
Kazuo Ishiguro's subtly sci-fi love triangle set in an alternative 1970's UK somehow never managed to capture the pre-screening buzz it elicited. Nevertheless the melancholic style and triumphant central performances by Carey Mulligan, Keira Knightley and Andrew Garfield makes this an interesing proposition.
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Just Go with It
Dreadful looking Adam Sandler vehicle where he somehow manages to drag Jennifer Aniston and Nicole Kidman into the mess with him. Plot seems to revolve around Sandler pretending Aniston is his wife in order to attract another (younger) woman.
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Nothing to Declare
French Buddy Cop Comedy (be warned) about the closing of the French-Belgian border in the ninety's. Plenty of national stereotypes abound. Should appeal to the Top Gear crowd - if it weren't actually in French.
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Patiala House
Akshay Kumar headlines this UK set Bollywood movie about a second generation Sikh, the central question is whether supporting your family or following your dreams is more important or whether you should have to choose.
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Son of Babylon
Iraqi drama about a 12 year-old boy Ahmed and his Grandmother crossing the country to find Ahmed's missing father who might have been released after the fall of Saddam Hussein.
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Yogi Bear
The questionable regurgitation of 1960's cartoons reaches a new low with Hanna-Barbera's most famous Bear, most famous for it's "Best things come in Bears" first poster. You can understand why Dan Aykroyd desperately needs the work but Justin Timberlake has no excuse fr this boo boo.
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Bizarrely missed from 04/02/11
New York, I Love You
Not sure how I missed the release of this themed collection of shorts in the same vein as Paris Je t'aime. I've already got the DVD and will review - as part of my normal film reviews - in a few weeks.
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Saturday, 20 November 2010
He who must not be named gets the upper hand (Out this week - 19/11/10)
I'm writing this in advance, so some of the excitometer scores are yet to be confirmed, but saying that I'm still taking a punt on the film of the week. I would love to pick out the Cuban romantic animation Chico and Rita, but frankly unless the reviews are dreadful the box office champ and my own personal film of the week is Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1.
Adrift
No, it's not the Open Water sequel, but instead a Brazilian drama about a 14 year girl old on holiday discoveries her fathers (Vincent Cassel) infidelities and developing a burgeoning romance of her own.
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Broken Sun
Australian drama set during the second World War charting the shifting relationship between a suicidal veteran and an escaped Japanese POW as the former returns him to the camp across the outback as each discover how war impacts the soul of a soldier.
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Chico and Rita
Adult animation, partly hand drawn, partly CGI, about a Cuban couple (a singer and a pianist) who love each other too much for the relationship to last longer than thier international tour.
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Dream Home
Satire on the housing crisis and the desire for a better home with Josie Ho running amock on her would be neighbours after a housepurchase falls through. Some inventive deaths look inevitable.
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Guzaarish
I'm curious to see what the tone of this Bollywood drama starring Aishwarya Rai will be. The plot concerns a magician fighting for euthanasia following a major accident.
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Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1
And so it begins, the (first half of the) final chapter of J K Rowling's wizard franchise. I expect Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) will appear to gain the upper hand at the end of this installment with Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) and chums looking like their beaten. The massive Brit cast includes (deep breath) Helena Bonham Carter, John Hurt, Miranda Richardson, Imelda Staunton, Julie Walters and Alan Rickman.
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Life Goes On
British drama, set among the Indian community, about a husband and father, leaning to cope following the sudden passing of the wife he idolised.
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Silent Army
Drama about child soldiers in South Africa, as told through the eyes of a white reastauranteur who searching for his neighbours kidnapped son. Surprisingly this was the Dutch submission for last years Foreign Language Oscars.
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Uncle Boonmee who Can Recall his past Lives
The least likely Palm D'Or winner in years directed by Thai auteur Apichatpong Weerasethakul looks at the final hours of the titular character as he remembers his life. Lyrical, spirtiual and in some places quite surreal. A beautiful but enigmatic experience.
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Monday, 22 February 2010
Julie Walters
Happy Birthday to
Julie Walters
60 today
British comic actress Julie is most certainly the best thing ever to come out of Smethwick (I've worked there - I know). Since then she's sparkled on TV working with Victoria Wood and notched up 2 Academy Award nominations. Her meal ticket of late has been with Harry Potter, but with that coming to an end soon I guess she'll be thinking about the next stage of her career.
