On the off chance you're a regular reader of my running posts you will know that 5 weeks ago today I was due to complete the Nottingham Marathon, the culmination of over 30 weeks of training. You will also have spotted that I hadn't shared my results. I kept quiet because, frankly, I was a touch ashamed. After 14 miles my knee gave out and I had to retire from the race. Now after a few days on crutches and a few physiotherapy sessions, not to mention a four week rest, I've started back on an easy routine. There's ache, but not the pain there was, but I'm not feeling 100% yet. Anyway this week:
5 runs
12.9 miles
1 hours 43 minutes
So that's an average speed of 7.50 mph
Sunday, 16 October 2011
Running (16/10/11)
Fernanda Montenegro
Happy Birthday to
Fernanda Montenegro
82 today
I usually pick generic publicity or red carpet shots to celebrate birthdays, but I just love this Luiz Garrido portrait of the Brazillian screen star. Bursting onto the international stage following her Oscar nominated turn in Central Station, a film I love. Next up is A Igreja do Diabo for the sprightly 102 year old director Manoel de Oliveira.
Saturday, 15 October 2011
The Real Computer Genius - (Film News - 15/10/11)
Difficult to get a handle on the headlines this week, especially with the leading story as there are two vastly different points I want to make about the forthcoming Alan Turing biopic. Of course overall I welcome the increased pace of news this week, with three completely new stories coming our way as well as a flurry of castings it feels like a proper week again.
Imitation Game
Leonardo DiCaprio wants an Oscar, his yearning has become obvious, as reports of his J. Edgar indicate it's fairly missable, he's already lining up his next biopic, a biopic that has all the hallmarks of Academy Award bait. He'll play mathematical genius, suicidally tortured homosexual and renowned stutterer Alan Turing.
Don't get me wrong with 2012 seeing the centennial of Turing's birth the list of his achievements should be sung from the rafters. Here is a man who virtually invented the modern computer, and whose work on the German Enigma device in the second World War won the war in the Atlantic. I wish that Hugh Whitemore's 1986 play "Breaking the Code" with it's award winning performance by Derek Jacobi at the core had a more significant part to play in Turing's fame. It's an incredible play that really gets to grips with Turing's work and personal dilemmas.
It's interesting timing for this news in a couple of ways, partly because of the J. Edgar connection, but partly because of the perceived connection between Turing (above) and Apple computers whose founder Steve Jobs passed away last week. Turing committed suicide in response to chemical castration following a conviction for homosexual activity (illegal in 1952 Britain) by taking a bite from a cyanide laden apple. When the epithet genius has been bandied about far too much in the last couple of weeks to describe branding maestro Jobs, it's time to remember the man who may (or may not) have inspired the Apple logo and who truly deserves the tag of genius.
In many ways I want DiCaprio to pass on the role, and as much as I want to see this film made I would rather the part went to an unknown (obviously I'm prepared to put myself up for the role) and the film garnered a less obvious but still committed audience. After all this story doesn't need awards it just needs to be told.
Read on for New York shenanigans, a time-travel twist on Pride and Prejudice and some casting stories.
The Emperor's Children
Scott Cooper has taken over the helm for the adaptation of Claire Messud's novel, taking over from Noah Baumbach. The novel revolves around the romantic and platonic relationships between four New Yorkers about to hit the big 3-0. Michelle Williams was attached for a while, but the latest press release says nothing about the actors so it could be that she's moved on. Either way this looks like it could have some curious performances from some up and coming actors.
Lost in Austen
Nora Ephron is set to make her first sci-fi movie, albeit one which won't alienate her core fans. Adapted from an ITV mini-series the film centres around a modern New Yorker - shifted from London - whose romantic life is further complicated when she finds herself implanted in Jane Austen's seminal novel "Pride and Prejudice", hijinks involving the novel's plot strands falling apart and the headstrong Elizabeth Bennett making the most of her New York adventure will no doubt make an excellent fish out of the water comedy. Ephron will probably use her Julie & Julia template of jumping between the stories much more than the ITV production which stayed firmly with our heroine. Expect two big names to sign up soon, as well as another iconic Mr. Darcy.
A book cover of Jane Austen's classic, I expect the book itself will feature heavily as a prop.
Casting News
We've had some odd rumours with regards to bills over the last week, none more so than the Avatar 2 saga with Sigourney Weaver and James Cameron both weighing in over the Alien star's potential to return to the franchise. Whilst currently denying it Cameron made a point about non-linear storytelling which could indicate that we could go back to Grace's early work on Pandora. Not to mention the spiritual world-building could bring in some surprising facts about the afterlife. I'm sure this story will go on and on either way. Liam Hemsworth, the brother of Thor with the least interesting CV, has signed up for time-travel romance Timeless, I normally wouldn't care but he's only 21 - how can we justify giving the role about a man inventing a time machine to see his dead wife just once more to a child? Alexander Payne has a long list of veterans he's approaching for his alcoholic old man road trip, including Robert Forster, Jack Nicholson, Robert Duvall and, most intriguingly given he's retired, Gene Hackman. If he can persuade Hackman to make a comeback then you know this will be something special. Finally the cast for Robert Redford's Company you Keep keeps on getting better and better with the latest additions of Anna Kendrick and Terrence Howard, look out for this to be in my top 20 for 2012!
Can Payne persuade the legendary Hackman to come out of retirement for one last role? I hope so.
Friday, 14 October 2011
Time for a quick nap (Out this week - 14/10/11)
It's an admittedly facetious title this week, which in part relates to the Cannes nominated film that takes the top slot this week, but it also indicates that there's not much really jumping out to me. If you slept through the weekend would you honestly miss anything worth seeing? Personally I very much doubt it, there may be some OK releases out of 14 new movies (the highest number we've had out in a particular week) including 2 US chart toppers but I doubt anything's going to end up on anyone's top ten lists. Film of the week is Sleeping Beauty.
Sleeping Beauty
This film divided audiences in Cannes where critics fought over whether the central character played by Emily Browning is empowered or subjugated by her job as an unconscious prostitute, and you can be sure Julia Leigh's debut gets the same response in it's UK release.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●○○○○○
Dolphin Tale
I don't think anyone had this true-life inspirational fable of a dolphin that loses it's tail and the boy who fights for a prosthetic replacement on their radar at the beginning of the year, sure it may have Morgan Freeman tottering on the edge of the storyline, but no-one expected it to take the $50m it's just passed at the US box office. So it must have something heart-warming in it.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Footloose
Remake of the classic 80's dance drama with Kenny Wormald taking the Kevin Bacon part and bringing rock and roll to the small town where dancing has been banned and bringing the kids to their rebellious feet. I may go and see this...
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Three Musketeers
Each generation gets the Dumas adaptation it deserves, so whilst I grew up with the comic swash-buckler starring Michael York, now we have Paul W.S. Anderson's steampunk visualisation with Logan Lerman (who at least I've never heard of), Christoph Waltz provides bad guy swagger and Milla Jovovich is badass in a corset.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Aazaan
Bollywood movie that explores the boundaries between loyalty to family and to Mother India, as the titular half-Afghan hero must prevent the terrorist plot led by his brother.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Albatross
Low budget British indie with an interesting cast, led by Julia Ormond and Felicity Jones, that explores an unconventional love triangle with one of two friends falling for the others father.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Everything must Go
I'm not completely sure why this Will Ferrell vehicle has completely passed me by until it's UK opening. It could be because it's his reach for dramatic credibility as his relapsing alcoholic loses his family and decides to sell all his stuff in order to move on. Rebecca Hall and Laura Dern support.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Khushiyaan
The Bollywood movie industry is at least in part built on the dramatic tension between family and career, and here the theme is built upon with an architect and his New York based wife and child returning to the Punjab village where he grew up and reuniting with his ailing father.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Real Steel
Rocky with Robots? It swept to the top of the US charts last weekend, and should almost certainly do the same on this side of the pond, with it's ubiquitous bus advertising campaign, but I've yet to hear anything about the movie that makes it seem unmissable. Although Hugh Jackman doing Sugar Ray Leonard's fight choreography might be worth it.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Retreat
It's another entry in the mankind falls apart after a virus begins to wipe people out sub-genre, joining last week's Perfect Sense and the upcoming Contagion, only this time we have sweaty trio of Brit thesps Thandie Newton, Jamie Bell and Cillian Murphy fighting in a small island retreat.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Texas Killing Fields
I'm not sure why but earlier in the year this swampland cop drama was picking up awards buzz, possibly because it's the sophomore directorial effort of Michael Mann's daughter Ami Canaan or the appearance of the ubiquitous Jessica Chastain with Sam Worthington among those chasing the local serial killer with a taste for small girls.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
First Night
Odd little mix of Country house romantic shenanigans and opera as a bunch of industrialists with more time than sense decide to put on an amateur performance of Mozart's Cosi Fan Tutti. The music is, of course, fantastic, but the soap level histrionics look utterly missable.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Snehaveedu
Finally Mayamalan Comic drama also sees a wandering character returning home to his small village, this time the prodigal is the father who must get to know the son he left behind.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Wednesday, 12 October 2011
Midnight in Paris
2011. Dir: Woody Allen. Starring: Owen Wilson, Marion Cotillard, Rachel McAdams, Michael Sheen and Corey Stoll. ●●●●○
Long time readers will know I have a masochistic relationship with Woody Allen, the sort of loyal passion to his work that brings me out to see all his releases, no matter how critically reviled. I have seen a number of truly awful films but every now and then he surprises and whilst his latest movie Midnight in Paris doesn't reach the heady heights of his 1970's-80's heyday, nor does it quite top his most recent return to form Vicky Cristina Barcelona however it is a delightful oddity that will be an enjoyable night out for any pseudo-intellectual or nostalgist.
Allen chooses to open with a jazz-scored montage of postcard scenes of modern Paris, it's bustling and beautiful and whilst the devise drags a little it's clear he's aim is to set up the romanticism of the city, a parade of lovers walking in the rain, scuttling boulevards with tiny cafes, a city of culture, architecture and wistful yearning. The extent of Allen's idolatry is to underline how his vision of Paris varies from other cities; this isn't the noisy, mishmash of Manhattan or the grimy morally complex London, instead it's a clear-cut city of Romance, a place where art can transport reality and magic might just come true.
We are then introduced to Luke Wilson's Gil Pender, a California hack visiting Paris with fiancee Inez (Rachel McAdams) and finding inspiration for his novel from the Parisien vibe and Monet's Water Lily's. Slipping away from the stifling company of his future-in-laws and hectoring friends, he is picked up by an out of place 1920's Peugeot at the stroke of midnight and transported to a party filled with snazzily dressed gents and flappers. But appearances, or at least perceptions of appearances, cannot be trusted. This is no costume party with cigarette paper games but a time travel mystery, Pender has slipped back in time and is now hobnobbing with Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, being crooned at by Cole Porter and receiving literary advice from Hemingway and Gertrude Stein.
In the hands of a less self-assured writer the mechanics of the sci-fi premise may be explored and investigated, but the physics of this don't matter to Allen, even surrogate Pender is only mildly flabbergasted, stuttering and confused but not beyond asking Hemingway to read his manuscript. Instead his main concern is the feeling of escape inherent in the concept, Pender is obsessed with the past, his novel is set in a nostalgia shop, he yearns openly to have experienced the roaring 20's. His obsession comes from a need to escape the present, whether it's the vague distrust of modern US politics or the insufferable circumstances of his life, and it's no wonder that he seeks to escape.
In his trips to the past he falls for the luminous Marion Cotillard, shot in the style of romantic Hollywood, lit perfectly with soft focus she bursts from the screen, an untouchable beauty. But secretly she yearns to be equally transported back, wishing to revisit the Belle Epoque, Allen wants us to know that wishing for the past is fine, but there too nostalgia for bygone eras is rife and inescapable.
The film soars in it's time bending passages, whether it's Corey Stoll's machismo laden line-readings as Hemingway, or the farcical discussion between Pender and the Surrealists, with Adrien Brody squeezing every syllable of rhinocerous to great comic effect, or the gorgeous costuming and the plaintive musical cues, however in the modern world the movie misfires. McAdams' shrill performance, backed by her grotesquely rich republican parents and pedantic college alumni Michael Sheen, makes you wonder why the outwardly personable Pender would associate with any of these people let alone consider marrying them. Inez is the kind of horrific stereotype that lurches from blatant mistrust of the working classes to open disloyalty about her partner's work. The resolution of that aspect of the the story seems false and rushed, which perhaps might have worked better if Inez was a more sympathetic character.
I also find Allen's recent tendency to judge his characters and his non-audiences off-putting. It's fine to describe the Tea Party as crypto-fascist zombies, I may even agree with that assessment, but it's no way to win an argument against their policies. Equally Sheen is loathed for his pseudo-intellectual oratory, the low-point being when he tries to correct Carla Bruni's tour guide, but the audience cheer when Pender uses the same trick in giving background to a Picasso, quoting Kathy Bates' Gertrude Stein as if that's the only opinion that matters and smacking down Sheen with a description of it's lineage. If it's not about the rudeness of the act then it must be about the accuracy of the opinion, therefore it's fine to be a prick if you're right and you share the intellectual insight of Stein.
I disagree with Allen, to value one artistic interpretation over another is unbearably snobbish, the appreciation of art is purely subjective and whilst understanding the background and influences may aid in the discussion of form and content the feelings inspired are equally valid whether the audience is aware or not.
That probably sounds like a rant, and possibly that's undeserved. I really liked Woody Allen's latest, and I would recommend it to anyone, it's a lovely little piece that will transport you back to a gentler time, but I doubt it's anything more than that.
Tuesday, 11 October 2011
Tuesday Trailers - Machine Gun Preacher
It's hard to second guess what the studio's plan is with the biopic of Hell's Angel turned Evangelist turned campaigner against child soldiers in Eastern Africa. On the one had you hand a juicy life story that could have made an awards play, the release date itself is an indication that was considered, but on the other you have Gerard Butler in the role with this action-heavy trailer. Could still be worth catching up with.
Machine Gun Preacher is released on 04 November 2011.
Joan Cusack
Happy Birthday to
Joan Cusack
49 today
From juicy supporting turns to the 80's - whether for her brother or when sporting big corporate hairstyles - to mainly voice and TV work recently Joan's career has followed a strong if predictable path. Of course I'd prefer her to be do some serious comedy turns but I guess we'll just have to hold on to the memories.
Saturday, 8 October 2011
Bzzzzzzzzz (Film News - 08/10/11)
I thought we might be back to decent levels of news with last week's onslaught of great projects, however I was clearly mistaken as this week we drift back to virtually nothing taking my fancy. Admittedly the sad passing of Apple founder Steve Jobs has dominated the headlines, and apart from a brief flurry of biopic rumours most of Hollywood has been respectful in it's simple response. A couple of potential stories had surfaced over last weekend though, and these form the backbone of this weeks breakdown.
The Fly 2
Back in October 2009 I first reported that David Cronenberg was interested in revisiting his classic 80's creature-feature The Fly updating it with the best of modern special effects techniques. Two years on and David's now on post for his Robert Pattinson in a limo movie and is talking up the possibility again. Only now with a completed script it's looking much more like a sequel, a continuation of the original's story.
The script is apparently sitting with Fox right now, awaiting for either the green light or whatever else studios do with screenplays these days. Great news for anyone who's missed the King of Venereal Horror's most excessive flights of fantasy, although I have to admit I have my doubts whether Fox are prepared to go with it and wouldn't be surprised if we get a complete re-boot first.
The final stage of Goldblum's evolution gets it's own back on Cronenberg.
Casting News
And that's pretty much it, with the main news, although there are a couple of casting coups that may be curious. First up is the news that Halle Berry doesn't care what films she makes as long as she's working, as proved by her signing up for Joel Schumacher's The Hive as a emergency phone operator who answers a call that connects her to a murderer in her past. I also read that Schumacher might squeeze in an indie before filming starts in February, although the fact that I'm not headlining with that is somewhat telling. The surfing biopic Of Men and Mavericks has expanded it's cast by adding Abigail Spencer and Elisabeth Shue as subject Jay Moriaty's mother. Finally the cast of Ron Howard's Formula 1 movie Rush is picking up players, tracing the legendary on-track rivalry between Niki Lauder and James Hunt as well as the personal tribulations of the drivers whose personas were on the opposite end of the scale. Hunt, pictured below, was the rock star of the sport, making the celebrity headlines as much as the sports pages, Chris Hemsworth has been set for a while to play Hunt and now Olivia Wilde looks close to signing on as his supermodel wife Suzy Miller and Russell Crowe may cameo as Hollywood icon Richard Burton, who stole Suzy away from Hunt. 
Matt Damon
Happy Birthday to
Matt Damon
41 today
Damon is one of the most exciting actors working in mainstream Hollywood from his preening lisping LaBoeuf in True Grit to the downbeat medium in Hereafter he is able to fit snugly in a variety of roles. Coming soon is a huge list of great looking movies including bird-flu thriller Contagion, animated cameos in Happy Feet 2, family friendly We Bought a Zoo and the long delayed Margaret (no sign of a UK release for that though). Looking even further in the future I'm really interested in seeing how he'll play lover and chauffeur Scott Thornson in Soderbergh's Liberace.
Friday, 7 October 2011
The City of Nostalgia (Out this week - 07/10/11)
There are two films that look like they might be worth catching at multiplexes this week. On the one hand you've got a brutal British kitchen sink drama that marks the directorial debut of a cult UK actor and on the other you have a comedic master who's found new inspiration in the city of light. Meanwhile expect a cut-price secret agent to continue his international trend of capturing the box office lead. Film of the week, obviously, goes to Midnight in Paris.
Midnight in Paris
It's being universally heralded as Woody Allen's best film in years and it's US box office take has eclipsed his entire back catalogue (ignoring inflation) and with Owen Wilson's surrogate role slipping back in time to the 1920's what's not to love about Allen's delightful confection.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●●●●●○
Tyrannosaur
Paddy Considine steps behind the camera for the first time, dissecting the harrowing lives of council estate alcoholics and Christian housewives unable to escape the downward spiral of domestic violence. Compared favourably to Leigh and Loach this debut shows promise of immense talent, as well as showcasing some high calibre performances from Olivia Colman and Peter Mullan.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●○○○○○
Battle of Warsaw: 1920
Poland doesn't have a rich history of defensive successes (no offence) so it's a bit of a surprise to hear how rarely their decisive victory over the invading Bolsheviks has made it to the big screen. I can't see this breaking out of the homegrown market though.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Don't be Afraid of the Dark
It's oversold the produced by Guillermo del Toro tag which may have even caused this Katie Holmes/Guy Pearce starring remake to lose a little sheen. Certainly I've heard only vague notions of disappointment, but if you like this sort of thing then you probably like this sort of thing.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Irvine Welsh's Ecstasy
Somewhat less iconic than his genre breaking drugs novel Trainspotting, this similarly veined drugs are hell but cold turkey can be worse missive at least stars a hobbit in a supporting role.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Perfect Sense
David MacKenzie's second film in three weeks, following the music festival romance You Instead, has a much more bittersweet romance with Ewan MacGregor falling for Eva Green as the human race succumb to a mysterious illness robbing us of our senses. It's probably a metaphor.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Rascals
It's a quite humourous trailer for this Bollywood con-men movie which stars Ajay Devgan and Sanjay Dutt as competing tricksters pulling more and more convoluted jobs on each other.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Johnny English Reborn
It's already taken over $35m in Overseas revenues and stolen the top spot in Russia and South East Asia, so look our for Rowan Atkinson's credit card spin-off to do much the same on home turf.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Vedi
New Tamil picture, I don't know much about it. Now that's honesty for you.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Yaar Annmulle
Three hours plus for this punjabi musical, that's an hour each for the student protagonists (all of whom look far too old) each of whom try to outdo each other in the romantic complication stakes. Only for hardcore fans I suspect
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
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