It's not an awfully surprising choice as the top film this week, Darren Aronofsky's latest ballet mindf**k is a cinematic must see. That said there are a lot of films out that may be worth seeing after the jump. There's also been a mini festival of Bollywood entries that I've missed off from the last couple of weeks so go through the jump to find out what you're missing. Although if you take my advice you'll just see the film of the week: Black Swan
Black Swan
I saw this last night and am now unable to gets it's imagery out of my fevered brain, plus I keep scratching at my back. When a simple movie is able to get into your subconcious in that way it is simply impossible to ignore.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●●●●○○
The Dilemma
It made it into my top 20 for 2011 with it's concept alone, the reviws have been poor and Vince Vaughn with Kevin James isn't far off from a satanic punishment. That said Channing Tatum looks hot and this is the second best Winona Ryder film of the week.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●●●○○○
Get Low
Robert Duvall gets his first starring role in over 15 years as the mysterious hermit who returns to his local town in order to arrange his funeral (which he will attend whilst still alive). Bill Murray and Sissy Spacek are among the supporting players.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●●○○○○
Morning Glory
Critics are mixed on this TV newsroom-set romcom, those that compare it to Broadcast News or who value the santity of reporting are sniffy, those who take it at face value have been quite positive. I'll have to see for myself.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●●○○○○
John Carpenter's The Ward
80's synth fans rejoice, the mast of stalker horror has returned after a ten year sabattical with a maniacal killer loose in a psychiatric ward story. Probably derivative, but with Carpenter at the helm expect some nifty scares.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Dhobi Ghatt
Lyrical looking hyperlink drama from Bollywood with four interlocking Mumbai-set stories. Trailer plays down the traditional feel with a seductive, plaintive soundtrack.
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Honeymooner
Low budget British indie from Sophomore director Col Spector, about a jilted bride groom spending the two weeks honeymoon moping around London getting over it. The sort of work that would fit in nicely at Sundance if it were set in New York.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
I Spit on your grave
Notorious video nasty and rape revenge fantasy of the early 1980's gets a twenty-first century makeover. Expect the gore to be upped and the subtext dumbed down.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Kaavalan
Tamil film, translates as The Bodyguard. The trailer is full of action scenes and comic sidekicks, but nothing that looks vaguely like a plot.
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My Soul to Take
I'm not sure whether Wes Craven's cinematic return has actually made it to cinemas. There are no reviews anywhere and it isn't showing on any listings. Given it's appalling US business that's probably a good thing.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
NEDS
Or Non-Educated Delinquents. Peter Mullan's Scottish gang coming of age drama has a lot of high profile fans, mainly because of the superb central performance of first time actor Conor McCarron. Will almost certainly be lost in the shuffle of this weeks releases.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
14 January 2011
And some Bollywood late entries that I missed out on:
Aadukalam
More Tamil action this time based against the backdrop of competitive cock-fighting. I'm not sure I can in any way support this one.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Isi Life Mein
Professional looking trailer with lots of dancing for Bollywood movie espousing living life to the full. It's a romcom about a couple from different walks of life, naturally.
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Siruthai
I can't find a synopsis anywhere for this Indian release. The trailer indicates a police corruption plotline with some pretty nifty Saw like weaponry.
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Saturday, 22 January 2011
What happened to my sweet sweet girl? (Out this week - 21/01/11)
Wednesday, 5 January 2011
Robert Duvall
Happy Birthday to
Robert Duvall
80 today
Is Robert going to receive his 7th Academy Award nomination later this month for Get Low (pictured)? If so he'll be joining a list of less than 20 actors/actresses who've maaged that feat. He's often linked to movies that I want to see but there's nothing on the horizon for this year, yet.
Friday, 8 January 2010
Out this week (08/01/2010)
You've actually got a decent chance of seeing a film worth the ticket price this week, with 5 that look just as good, if not better, than last weeks victor (there're also 3 Bollywood releases if you fancy that). Personally I'm going to be seeing Meryl Streep (I just can't help myself) but the most interesting looking project, and therefore the film of the week, is The Road.
Daybreakers
Sometime in the not too distant future a virus will come along which turns most, but not all people, into blood thirsty vampires. Faced with a limited supply of non-vampiric humans to feast upon there is a moral dilemma of whether to farm people or create a synthetic substitute - that is before it descends into a chaotic third act, probably.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Dulha Mil Gaya
The first of our Bollywood releases is a look at 4 different modern relationships and how the couples live their lives. Doesn't sound innovative or ground-breaking, but apparantly the lead has remarried to publicise the film.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Exam
A mixed bunch of job candidates have to take an exam in a closed environment, only to find the sheet has no question. Naturally the candidates turn on each other in increasingly violent ways. Taut looking Brit thriller from debut director Stuart Hazeldine.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Fireball
Have you noticed that all future set sports dramas have seen the rules relaxed so much that death is an acceptable by-product, but in reality competitive sports are getting less and less about contact? Anyway, this Thai drama sees a game where the first basket leads to a win, but that's the only rule. Immensely missable.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
It's Complicated
So, Meryl Streep used to married to Alec Baldwin, who had an affair and left her for the much younger Lake Bell. Only now he's missing what he's left behind and Alec is having an affair with Meryl. Add to this a new beau for Ms Streep in the guise of Steve Martin and we have the potential for a superb farce. We'll see.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●○○○○○
Mitti
Bollywood drama with a poster involving a large army and a set of four young men with their faces plastered at the top. The only plot outline I can find, which is about corrupt politicians, makes no sense in relation to the image. I don't know: See it, don't see it... Up to you.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Pyaar Impossible
I could have sworn this came out last year... The tagline to the Hindi version of Notting Hill is 1 beauty plus 1 geek equals Pyaar Impossible, which will probably pack them in.
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The Road
It's not really my cup of tea but it's hard to argue the raw power of Cormac McCarthy's Pulitzer prize winning novel The Road. Here John Hillcoat has tried to distill the sense of foreboding as the Man and the Boy move through the desolation of a post-apolcalyptic America. It's had mixed responses but you cannot take away the ambition of such an endeavour.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●●●○○○
Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll
It's rare that Andy Serkis plays a person, let alone a historical figure as he does in this warts and all biopic of legendary punk rocker Ian Dury. It's getting some very early buzz for next years awards season so it might sitting through it.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Treeless Mountain
Two young sisters are left to fend for themselves when their Mother goes in search of the father who abandoned them in this rich film from South Korea. It's done well on the festival circuit, winning the best film award in Dubai. Art-house certainly but well worth the trip if you want something a little different.
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Monday, 5 January 2009
Robert Duvall
Happy Birthday to
Robert Duvall
78 today
Putting it very simply Duvall is one of the best screen actors of all time. The Godfather, Apocalypse Now, M*A*S*H, Network, The Apostle - you can't tear your eyes from the screen. Coming up is The Road, among many other things. Whatever else we can expect from Hillcoat's post apocalyptic nightmare I'm sure Duvall will knock his scenes out of the park.
