Another really crowded this week, but where there is a fundamental difference between last week huge selection of mid-level players fighting for attention and the box office giant hogging the screen this weekend. Indeed the other 11 new releases combined are in around a third the number of cinemas that this weeks comic geek mastubatory fantasy inhabits (that's an unfair comment as I hear the film is very good but the number are extremely shocking when you sit back and consider them). And as well as being the official start to the blockbuster season (the hors d'ouevres of John Carter, Hunger Games and Battleship not really counting) we also see the official end to 2011 Oscar season with the last mainstream feature nominee (excluding Foreign language and documentaries) getting it's UK release. Naturally the contest for the RLAG film of the week lies between these two extremes - the box office behemoth and the art-house breakout - but in the end a man can't change who he is so I opt for Albert Nobbs as the top choice.
It comes as no surprise that my box office predictions will go the other way, with Avengers Assemble likely to sweep everything else out of it's way at the multiplexes, indeed it's first day take on Thursday was larger than Battleship last week so were pretty much guaranteed a win there. The only questions is how the property will fare in the longer term, in the UK The Hunger Games has just past a gross of $35m which is slightly above the historic ceiling for comic book adaptations so it will be interesting to see if Joss Whedon can steer his superhero troupe ahead of Katniss in the next few weeks. Last weekend the aforementioned board-game adaptation just about stayed afloat at the top of the charts with Salmon Fishing nipping at it's heels. Needless to say I was smug about that prediction for days.
Albert Nobbs
Glenn Close's passion project has been waiting for funding for about 20 years as she reprises her acclaimed stage role of a 19th century cross dresser trying to make a living in hypocritical Dublin society. Justifiably picking up three Academy award nominations (Close, Janet McTeer and makeup) but drawing severe criticism for the pace it'll be interesting to see if it can get an audience.
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Read on for invulnerable tag teams, worthless horses and the return of an American Indie treasure, as well as all of this weeks trailers in just one post!
Hands up if you think the loud American voiceover in this trailer actually makes the film less appealing.
Avengers Assemble
Renamed in the UK so we don't go in looking for Steed and Diana Rigg, this is the much anticipated Marvel hero mash-up bringing together the subplots of every one of their releases over the last few years, with the other films effectively acting as trailers for this one. It'll be very interesting to see whether the combination of the stars and characters makes for a substantially bigger box office return. The all star cast includes Robert Downey Jnr. (Iron Man), Mark Ruffalo (Hulk), Chris Evans (Captain America), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Samuel L. Jackson, Jeremy Renner and Gwynneth Paltrow. Phew!
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Damsels in Distress
There are many critics who point at Whit Stillman and laud him as one of the most influential American Indie directors of the last 20 years, yet I have never seen any of his movies. I doubt that will change soon judging on the divided critical reception to this college comedy, his first in 13 years.
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Le Moine
Vincent Cassell is the not altogether sane monk at the centre of this Middle Ages set French/Spanish co-production about a renowned and popular man of God confronting temptation. Cassell's always worth the money and I here he brings everything he's got to the role in the third act.
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The Assault
Based on the true story of the 1994 Air France hijack this multi-narrative piece replays the chain of events through the eyes of the kidnapper, the emergency command HQ and the captain of the assault team sent in to rescue the hostages.
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Ee Adutha Kaalathu
The first in our trio of Bollywood releases this week utterly baffles me with is tagline "Reality is a movie... Starring only you...". Does that mean no-one else is in my reality. Someone get me a philosopher my brain is hurting.
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Hans Kloss Stawka wieksza nic smierc
Exciting looking Polish WW2 movie that sees the hero Hans Kloss going behind enemy lines to prevent some Nazi plot (forgive me my Polish is rusty) and cause general mayhem. Lots of action, sex and violence that should do well in it's limited release.
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Mithevedi
Translated as Minefields, this Tamil movie explores the continued presence of Landmines in Sri Lanka which sounds like a worthy and fascinating topic, however the acting style will still alienate many Western cinema goers.
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Outside Bet
There's a whole host of British stars who really should know better including Bob Hoskins, Adam Deacon and Jenny Agutter in this low-rent comedy about a bunch of working class heroes and that horse that makes their fortune. Probably not worth putting a punt on it, though.
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388 Arletta Avenue
Canadian stalker thriller that proves Nick Stahl is still alive even if his career seems to have taken a turn for the worse, completely filmed with 'hidden cameras' I think we can all guess where the plot goes.
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Strippers vs. Werewolves
You know there's something about this campy, poorly produced 'B'-movie trailer that actually works for me, it's as if the team behind it almost knew from the get-go that they wanted to make something crass and cheap for a Friday night beer and movie marathon. But there's nothing that will persuade me to spend £8 on it.
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Tezz
You won't believe the central conceit of this Anglo-Indian co-production, there's a bomb on a London to Glasgow train speeding up the country (Yes, it's speeding which shocked me) whilst a collection of only Hindi speaking police must catch the man responsible before it's too late.
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Last week I, unfortunately missed out
Grave Encounters
yet another found footage horror briefly visiting a tiny number of screens before making it's DVD debut. Not that you can blame me, it manages to look both derivative and dull in two minutes.
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Sunday, 29 April 2012
It's a Man's World (Out this week - 27/04/12)
Monday, 4 April 2011
Robert Downey Jr.
Happy Birthday to
Robert Downey Jr.
46 today
Even now Robert's career surprises me, but with two franchises on the go and a second Oscar nod in 2008 for a comic supporting role you have to admit he's got it right at the moment. Not that his forthcoming appearances are doing anything to interest me right now.
Saturday, 6 November 2010
How Time Passes (Out this week - 05/11/10)
Happy Diwali (apologies for the delay), for those of you celebrating the festival of light and anyone Bollywood curious you do have a fine selection however there isn't really a competition for this weeks most anticipated film, every time Mike Leigh makes another picture it's an event. That said I believe the Robert Downey Jr. comedy vehicle will take the box office championship - personally I'd rather steam clean the cinema seats than watch that! Film of the week is Another Year.
Another Year
Following a normal happy middle class couple (played by Jim Broadbent and Ruth Sheen) over the course of one year, and a number of Sunday lunches, Leigh's latest looks at the varyiong fortunes of their friends and relatives. Lesley Manville and Imelda Stanton are among the supporting cast.
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Chikku Bukku
The first of the Bollywood offerings is a little hard to track down, no IMDB listing as yet, and the details on pearl and dean are pretty vague. We do know it's a love story and stars Preeta Roa, sister of Amrita Rao, in her film debut.
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Due Date
It's not a remake of Plane, Trains and Automobiles, really it isn't. It just looks and feels like a leaner meaner version with Robert Downey Jr. and Zach Galifianakis taking the Martin and Candy roles. I expect they fall a long way short. Jamie Foxx and Juliette Lewis take supporting roles.
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Fit
Well meaning Brit film about homophobia in schools. The trailer makes it seem like a filmed TIE performance. I want to support it, but what can you do?
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Golmaal 3
Not only am I not interested in this Bollywood sequel but I would go as far as complaining about the promotion of this film which claims it's the first threequel from India. The marketing team blatantly ignoring Satyajit Ray's Apu trilogy. Boo.
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Let Me In
Superior looking US horror remake (as in superior for remakes, not superior than the original) based on the award winning Swedish vampire film. Chloe Moretz and Kodi Smit-McPhee play the pre-teen protagonists (bearing in mind one of them may be older than he/she appears) but it's Richard Jenkins who's getting the lions share of acting plaudits.
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Mammoth
Lukas Moodysson's English language debut takes the template of Babel and looks at three interconnected storylines from across the globe. Gael Garcia Bernal and Michelle Williams are the middle class New Yorkers at the heart of the plot.
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Red and White
Indonesian cinema looks at the pivotal period of postwar history where they fought for indepedence from the Dutch colonialists. It's an interesting stor which probably deserves to be told, but the cliches look to come thick and fast in this stodgy movie.
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Uthama Puthiran
Finally we have another Eastern Import with few background details, other than it's a Tamil remake of the Teluga hit Ready.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Revanche
Oscar nominated Austrian film about fate and revenge. I hear it's long two hours, but worth it for those with the persistence.
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Sura
Feel good entertainer, with a poster that looks like a mob drama, and an audi in the background. What can you say.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Esrefpasalilar - Eshref Pasha
Turkish comedy drama - naturally. I have no idea what it's about so feel free to tell me if you know.
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Thursday, 12 November 2009
The Soloist
2009. Dir: Joe Wright. Starring: Jamie Foxx, Robert Downey Jr., Catherine Keener, Tom Hollander and Lisa Gay Hamilton. ●●○○○
After a couple of false starts - one cancelled night out and a trip to see Dorian Gray - I managed to persuade the rest of the cast to see The Soloist. With the benefit of hindsight I wish I hadn't bothered. It's not that it's a bad film, not really really bad, indeed there is much to commend it. More than that it's deeply disappointing, the combination of talent should havr combined to a much greater whole than witnessed here.
The film charts the relationship between Steve Lopez - columnist for the L.A. Times - and Nathaniel Ayers former Julliard prodigy now homeless and, possibly, pyschizophrenic played by Robert Downey Jr. and Jamie Foxx respectively. In the main the film plays from Lopez's perspective as he builds the story from a chance encounter during lunch break and realises that the adoration he inspires in Ayers is a front for deeper personal and societal problems. It is Lopez's story in that he is the character we follow home to his raccoon infestation and failed marriage. Occasionally we get extended flashbacks to Ayer's youth or bizarre glimpses into his subconcious.
Strangely this concept felt like the best way of adapting this story - tellingly Lopez is a columnist not a journalist - he is his own story. This distances Foxx's character to such an extent that we feel short changed on his performance and when Wright looks at his mental processes creatively (such as an extended light display during a concert rehearsal) it seems like only half the story; like the creative team didn't have the courage to finish what they started.
This confused tone is symptomatic of the issues I had with this movie. Both Donwey Jr. and Foxx are clearly putting in terrific performances but their either too smug or held at arms length to such an extent that I felt nothing for them.
Technically the film was merely proficient, but I would like to commend Jacqueline Durrand's costuming (Atonement, Vera Drake), especially for Foxx's variety of idiosyncratic regalia which must have been both a nightmare to organise, as well as being a pleasureable challenge.
Ultimately less than the sum of it's parts my overall impression was that all concerned could and should do so much better.
Saturday, 4 April 2009
Robert Downey Jr
Happy Birthday to
Robert Downey Jr.
44 today
Robert currently riding high on his success in 2008 (Iron Man and Tropic Thunder), both commercially sound and picking up an oscar nod for the second. Over the next year he's got The Soloist (meh comments from Showest) and Sherlock Holmes coming up. That should keep him in the spotlight for at least next couple of years.
