At the time of writing England are still clinging on in the Euros, although we'll see how they fare against Italy tomorrow evening. So therefore in this nation addicted to the Beautiful game it's natural for studios to release high volumes of uninspiring counter programming to entice the odd soccer-phobe. This week is no exception with romantic comedies and sub-standard horror vying for our attention. Personally I'm punting on a sports related medium sized release, however if I had to choose a film to recommend - and naturally I do - the film of the week is Russian art-house project Silent Souls.
Last week I was right to trust Prometheus would hang on as Box Office champion for another week and whilst Rock of Ages struggled to find a substantial it did have the highest take for a new release. This weekend my crystal ball is a more murky. With four wide releases you'd think one of them might stand a chance with Scott's terraforming blockbuster now in it's fourth week. However each of those four has big problems. I'm going to be brave though and guess the critically derided Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter will sneak into the lead thanks to it's genre trappings and mid week release strategy.
Silent Souls
You'd be forgiven for having missed the buzz on Aleksei Fedorchenko's third feature because there has hardly been any. It's only major festival showing was 2010's Venice where it was passed over for Sofia Coppola's Somewhere for the Golden Lion but won the FIPRESCI proze as a consolation. But that being awarded by international critics should have been a clue that this is more art than movie and critics have fallen in love with it everywhere else. Following a Merjan funeral on the border or Russia and Finland it looks like an elegant and emotive meditation on life, death and sex.
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Read on for much delayed weddings, spread betting and obscure history as well as all of this weeks releases and trailers.
There's some gorgeous cinematography in the Silent Souls trailer - but also some explicit shots too, so probably nsfw.
Five Year Engagement
Billed as the romantic comedy it's OK to love it's slightly surprising that the winning combination of Emily Blunt and Jason Segal didn't do better in the States than it did (sitting at a disappointing $29m). That said they do look like a lovely couple, even if you know from the title exactly how the plot will develop. Jacki Weaver and David Paymer are among the supporting cast (Emily's mother and Jason's father).
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Lay the Favourite
I've already seen Stephen Frears latest, and I'm in a charitable mood right now so all I'll say is the combination of the cast and director, based on the memoirs by Beth Rayner seemed like a good enough bet. I was wrong. Should have believed the reviews out of sundance. Well gloves of on Wednesday - come back for my smackdown.
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Think like a Man
It's unlikely that the tongue in cheek adaptation of Steve Harley's "Act like a Lady, Think like a Man" self help book will do as well over here as it did in the US, where it led the charts two weeks in a row, partly because the African American cast aren't household names (even rap star Chris Brown, Oscar nominee Taraji P. Henson and likeable character actor Michael Ealy), but it's getting some the best reviews in it's irrelevant sub-genre.
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Where do we Go Now
Surprising everyone by winning the audience prize at Toronto last year this Lebanese musical from Nadine Labaki (Caramel) will probably suffer in comparison with the recent similar Source which also mixed song, desire and weighty themes. But where that looked at the rise of gender equality here the women aim to prevent the Muslim and Christian men of the village turning on each other.
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Cloclo
Jeremie Renier has been on the fringe of breaking out internationally for years(he himself is Belgian) in spite of a highly satisfying working relationship with the Dardennes. Hopefully this biopic of Claude Francois, the writer of cabaret standard "My Way", will illuminate a few more casual film goers of his talent.
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Grand Master
Extremely limited release - hello Birmingham - for this Mayamalan entry about a ruthless serial killer and the chess-obsessed detective out to stop him.
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Teri Meri Kahani
Hard to get hold of a synopsis for this Bollywood release but looking at the trailer it appears to be three loves stories set in 1910, 1960 and 2012 all starring the same two actors. Whether that's a comment on their being always in love and finding each other in every reincarnation (I hope so) or just an excuse to wear hsitorical costumes and fill the 2 hour running time is difficult to assess.
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With Every Heartbeat
Does the thought of a Swedish Lesbian drama instantly want to make you head to the local multiplex? If so, I'm truly sorry as this broken family feature - a newly engaged girl falls for her step-sister - has already skipped town having had a couple of brief showings in the week. Not to worry perverts, it's available to order here.
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Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter
More likely to bore history fanatacists than enrage them this presidential mash-up seems to be committing the cardinals sin of plodding plot and unengaging CGI. That said I still feel it will do surprisingly well as audiences flock to see any derivative rubbish with the undead attached.
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Chernobyl Diaries
Suspiciously long trailer for this shaky cam holiday horror from Oren Peli - producer of Paranormal Activity. It failed to get the following of his earlier success in the States and I expect it's fate here will be similarly uninspiring. Still it should last longer than most of the disposable characters.
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Rise and Fall of a White Collar Hooligan
The British fans heading to Ukraine for the football have acquitted themselves incredibly with the only violent outbursts seeming to come from the local extremists, however back in cinemas the lure of hard-nut supporters never wanes. There's a couple of I know you TV faces but in the main this tired story has the exposure it deserves.
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Saguni
Look out for the poor sound quality in this Tamil trailer - for which I can only apologise and grovel it's not my fault - concerning a village boy caught up in politics when he moves to the big city.
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Victim
Coming so soon after Ill Manors seems like a poor release strategy for this more conventional gangsters from the estates, urban crime drama. Ashley Chin is the hero looking to go straight but can't kick the life of crime he's become addicted to.
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Saturday, 23 June 2012
Keeping the old traditions Alive (Out this week - 22/06/12)
Friday, 1 July 2011
Whispering in the Shadows - (Out this week - 01/07/11)
I feel I'm probably out of step this week, obviously not for my lack of support for the robot fest that's bound to own the weekend's box office, but for my championing of Robert Redford's latest movie, which has been derided in the press for it's po-faced sincerity. That said there really is little on this week so I'm going for The Conspirator as film of the week.
The Conspirator
Set in the immediate aftermath of Lincoln's assassination Redford's film appears to draw the parallels to the clamour for revenge with post 9/11 sensibilities and the impact of the rule of law. Hopefully he does those weighty themes justice.
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Larry Crowne
Does the thought of the worlds most successful film star - Tom Hanks - getting it on with America's Sweetheart Julia Roberts make you want to see this recession era rom-com? Oddly it doesn't for me either. Taraji P. Henson also costars.
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Separation
Highly acclaimed Iranian soap about a couple divorcing as the woman seeks independence and a better life in America. Taking in Muslim attitudes to feminism and childcare this could be worth the effort to catch.
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Bbuddah… Hoga Tera Baap
Amitabh Bachchan stars as Vijay, a retired hit man returning to India for one last job - to be followed by just about every assassin cliche you can remember. Horribly rated on IMDb.
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Delhi Belly
Hindi buddie movie that looks set to emulate the more scatological details of modern American comedies.
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Transformers: Dark of the Moon
I had heard the third of Michael Bay's oversized toy commercials may be the best of the trilogy, however that's probably not enough to make me fork out my £10. I do wonder how he persuades quality thesps like Frances McDormand and John Malkovich to star though.
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Fast Romance
I could be tempted to make some political statement about the significance of a Scottish movie that's only being released in Scottish cinemas even though the funding almost certainly came from the rest of the UK as well. The film depicts a wild night of speed dating.
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Friday, 30 July 2010
Keeping it in the family (Out this week - 30/07/10)
Fighting for the top of the box office, in a re-run of their US face off, are two major 80's properties getting dusted down for a modern reinvisioning. Whilst I'd probably be joining our American cousins and plumping for little Jaden Smith I suspect the A-Team will be victorious this side of the pond. Of course that's all academic as the film of the week is Aussie incest drama Beautiful Kate.
The A-Team
The trend for milking the nostalgia of 30 somethings continues with the return of televisions least likely quartet. The war they're veterans from has been updated but much of the plot will doubtless stay the same, with added editing and Liam Neeson taking George Peppard's shoes.
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Beautiful Kate
80's Femme Fatale of choice Rachel Ward (there had to be some connection this week) adapts and directs Newton Thornburg's novel about two non-identical twins who turn to incest in the Australian Outback. Rachel Griffiths and Bryan Brown are the 'names' that make up the rest of the family.
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Down Terrace
British Gangster movie - don't go - set in a dingy council house where a literal family of crooks argue about hiding the stash and who's turn it is to wash-up. Apparently a lot better than that last sentence made it seem.
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Frontier Blues
Debut feature director Babak Jalali may not be a household name but his groud-breaking Iranian film about the everyday frustrations and simplicity of life in small communities is making a big splash on the art-house circuit. Maybe one to watch out for in the future.
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Gainsbourg
Womanising French Crooner (is there another kind of French Crooner) behind Je t'aime, Moi Non Plus and Charlotte Gainsbourgh gets the biopic treatment with a suitably unconventional narrative structure.
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The Karate Kid
Or a Kung Fu kid if you want to be pedantic. I have a soft spot for the original film, whilst realising it's only a classic because of the timeliness of it's release and not because of the standard of filmmaking. Therefore I wish the remake, and stars Jackie Chan, Jaden Smith and Taraji P. Henson all the best.
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Once Upon a Time in Mumbai
No prizes for guessing where this Bollywood drama, based on the gangsters in one of the world's most populus cities, found inspiration for it's title. That's really quite true - there are no prizes.
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Friday, 23 April 2010
Out this Week (23/04/10)
With the summer silly season nearly upon us (Iron-Man 2 opening in 7 days) it's the last chance for the studios to give us some interesting arty fare before th multiplexes are block booked, so whilst this week is far from being classic there are some minor gems to be had. Film of the week goes to Agora, although Dogtooth runs it a very close second.
Agora
Fresh from the news she's playing Jackie Kennedy, Rachel Weisz also opens another biopic about a tragic heroine. In Agora she plays the titular Roman philosopher who is eventually assassinated for her secularism. Director Alejandro Amenábar is constantly on the verge of brilliance so this should be one to watch.
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Centurion
More Swords and Sandals as Michael Fassbender's Centurion (natch) has to run the length of Britain escaping a marauding group of Picts. From Neil Marshall so it will be bloody and repetitive, I should imagine.
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Cherrybomb
Little Ron Weasley from the Harry Potter films has all grown up, and to prove it he'll take his top off and get a bit rebellious in the Northern Ireland based teenager drama.
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Dance with Me
The coveted one star excitometer is given to this British set Revolutionary Road rip off, with a couple of unknowns giving it all screaming at each other as their relationship blows apart.
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Date Night
I really liked the trailer, for this comedy abut a middle aged couple (TV supremos Tina Fey and Steve Carell) trying to respark their relationship with it all going wrong, but apparently it's less than the sum of it's parts. Although the parts include Taraji P. Henson and lots of shirtless Mark Wahlberg so maybe it's worth seeing after all.
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Dogtooth
Very highly praised Greek film about a repressive family who have kept their children fully isolated from the outside world up until early adulthood. Explores the nature of freedom and social understanding of others.
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Extract
There was a time when people were really talking up expectations for this essence factory set black comedy with the talented Jason Bateman in the lead, but a middling US release at the end of last year has pretty much scupperd it's chances. Maybe it'll grow on DVD.
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It's a Wonderful Afterlife
Gurinder Chadha hasn't yet managed to top her achievements with the break-out multicultural hit Bend it like Beckham and it doesn't look like this is the film to do it either. A Hindu mother obsessed with marrying off her frumpy daughter starts poisoning people who get in her way of that perfect wedding.
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The Joneses
Commercial satire about a fake family who are paid to do product placements in the community. Trailer lacks some bite as the make believe world crosses over into the lives of the protagonists, but it's a nice idea that deserves some investigation.
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Life During Wartime
Todd Solondz returns to the themes and characters of his 1998 arthouse hit Happiness only with a completely different cast filling out the roles of the sisters the film revolves around. Not as uncomfortable as the original, Solondz doesnt aim the mirror right back at us this time. Bizarre cast includes Charlotte Rampling, Michael Lerner and Paul Reubens.
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Sky Crawlers
Japanese animation, from the people behind Ghost in the Shell, about a group of permanent adolescents living life to the full as they are pitted in wars as a form of entertainment. Sounds complex enough. Rinko Kituchi is one of the key voice performers.
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And missing from last weeks rundown was
In Ghost House Inn
Ashokan reprises his signature role of Thomas Kutty and buys a bungalow in Ooty; the property is believed to be haunted by the ghost of a woman who was killed 70 years before. This is a Malayaman film from India. I'd never even heard of the Malayaman language.
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Friday, 11 September 2009
Taraji P Henson
Happy Birthday to
Taraji P Henson
39 today
Hot off her Oscar nod for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and headlining a film which should be number one in the charts this weekend, you'd have thought the producers would be clamouring for Taraji. They are - but unfortunately it's for rubbish like the Karate Kid remake.
