May 2006

Disaster of a Film

/ / Movie Reviews

Poseidon is a tepid, detached, derivative, boring, silly, banal, unimaginative, stupid little film.  It will probably make $160 million by the end of the summer.  The movie feels more like a made-for-TV Sci-fi Channel disaster flick like Deep Shock or Descent than an actual theatrical film.

Poseidon
1 & 1/2 Stars

rogue wave – relatively large and spontaneous ocean surface waves which can sink even large ships and ocean liners; they are more concisely defined as waves that are more than double the significant wave heigh, which is itself defined as the mean of the largest third of waves in a wave record.  Once thought to be only legendary, they are now known to be a natural (although relatively rare – except in Hollywood) ocean phenomenon.  (Wikipedia)

They couldn’t even get the poster right side up.
  That’s a clue.

On a perfect night at sea a rogue wave hits the unsuspecting luxury ocean liner capsizing it without warning (no change in wind, weather, or radar).  Well…there is a slight warning in the deck officer’s declaration, “Listen.  Do you feel that?” in the paraphrasing of the classic Ghostbusters line.  As the ship overturns and slowly (and I mean slooooowly) begins to sink the Captain (Andre Braugher) tries to keep those passengers in lounge together to wait it out until they are rescued.  Well, where’s the fun in that?

A group led by former firefighter and politician Robert Ramsey (Kurt Russell dusting off his role from Backdraft) and the MacGyver-ish poker shark Dylan Johns (Josh Lucas) decide to go and find Ramsey’s cute, spunky, and irascible daughter (Emmy Rossum who already survived The Day After Tomorrow so what’s a little water compared to that?) and her meat-head fiance (Mike Vogel) and try to make it to the surface. 

Also tagging along are a stowaway (Mia Maestro), a mother (Jacinda Barrett) and her young son (Jimmy Bennett), an asshole (Kevin Dillon doing a dead-on impersonation of his brother’s role in There’s Something About Mary for reasons that are never entirely clear), and an elderly gay architect (Richard Dreyfuss, who has survived aliens, giant sharks, gunmen, and Another Stakeout and this is his reward?).

Where, oh where, to begin?  The entire “adventure” of this odd group climbing up an overturned ship is about as interesting as watching paint dry.  There’s no excitement or thrills here and to call the writing bad doesn’t do justice to the word.  It’s so mind-numbingly boring that in less than twenty minutes you’re rooting for the ship to sink to kill everyone. 

Not to mention the fact that when the ship finally does start to sink and stern of the boat goes into the air the group continues to move forward (after a few falling chairs and moving furniture and water) in the exact same path as they were moving before.  See the problem the makers of the film obviously missed?  Think about it like this: walk around your house and imagine if you could tilt it 90 degrees in the air.  After that could you still walk down the hallway or would you have to, I don’t know, CLIMB?!!!!

As for the characters they are simply dreadful.  Let’s start out with the mother who thinks it a good idea to take her young son around a sinking ship into flooding compartments and flash fires.  Yeah… she must have seen too many Julianne Moore films.  And somebody tell me why we need a kid in a disaster film anyway?  When he starts connecting with the adults and offering all kinds of cute little remarks I was just begging for the little shit to drown.

So the characters are insipid, the dialogue is awful, and the story elements are ripped-off from every B-movie you can think of (did I mention it steals the ending from Armageddon).  But wait there are some stunts.  Nope, those are bad too.  The problem is everything is so CGI in the film nothing is or looks real and even the big disaster scene at the beginning looks more like a video game than something you are supposed to accept as actually happening to these characters.  As I pointed out last year in my review of Dark Water, water just isn’t scary.  Nor is climbing around a boat for two hours as fascinating as director Wolfgang Petersen would lead you to believe.

No one comes off well here except for maybe Stacy Fergson (Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas) who proves she might have the chops to make it as a lounge singer on a cruise ship.  Even for a remake this film lacks anything resembling originality (or talent).  Go rent any one of the many movies this one “borrows” from rather than paying to see this disaster of a film.

Disaster of a Film Read More »

The Notorious Bettie Page

/ / Movie Reviews

This was one of the harder films for me to review; there is so much I enjoyed about the film and yet so much more that I found fault with.  In the end The Notorious Bettie Page is a very good film that had a chance to be truly great.  The film has been playing for a couple of weeks in limited release and tomorrow gets pushed into wide release; we’ve got the review…

The Notorious Bettie Page
3 & 1/2 Stars

For those of us too young to remember Bettie Page was the pin-up girl of a generation whose popularity rivaled (and in many circles eclipsed) that of movie icon Marilyn Monroe.  For many she was the icon of her age.  The new film tries to capture snapshots of her life dealing mostly with her career in front of the camera and takes a look at the young southern gal who would become The Notorious Bettie Page.

Bettie Page (played as an adult by Gretchen Mol) is a nice religious girl who survived some horrific incidents in her early life including sexual abuse by her father, a sexual attack by a group of strangers, and an abusive husband.  Somehow Bettie survives and keeps that upper lip and spirit high.  After leaving her husband she finds some work modeling and quickly becomes the pin-up girl for a generation.  She also begins posing for a series of bondage photos and films which become the focus of a Senate Subcommittee on Juvenile Delinquency (which includes David Strathairn in an interesting casting move considering his last film).

I loved Gretchen Mol’s performance of Bettie and if there’s any justice in this world she’ll be making the award circuit at the end of the year.  She infuses Bettie a vulnerability and strong character that allow you to care what happens to this woman.  From her first to last moment on screen she owns the role and this film.  The film is also filled with good supporting performances from Chris Bauer and Lili Taylor as bondage photographers Irving and Paula Klaw, and Sarah Paulson as then unknown photographer Bunny Yeager.

The choice writer/director Mary Harron (American Psycho) makes is to present Bettie’s life rather than judge it.  The awful events of her youth are hinted at but not shown, and the effects of them do not seem to linger on our protagonist.  This Bettie Page is just looking for fun and enjoys being playful in front of the camera with what are “just pictures” after all.  It paints no one as a hero or as a villain instead choosing to present a portrait of her life.  This allows a film that deals with both pornography and reborn Christianity to not be preachy, but at the same time misses moments, effects, and consequences that should be explored further.

Sadly Harron makes some mistakes that do detract from the film.  The first is the switch from the beautiful black and white to color in scenes which take place in Miami or in the woods during photo shoots.  There are not timed well (it’s nearly an hour into the film first occurs) and the effect removes your attention from the story to focus on the reasons for this radical shift.  Because of this in the end we are left with a film that doesn’t quite match.  More of a problem are the many odd tonal shifts of the film.  Overall the film is upbeat, yet you get scenes that hint at real darkness and issues that should scar or even destroy a person yet the next scene is back to the merriment of life again.  The choice of cramming most of Bettie’s life into the film creates problems as there isn’t time enough to deal with the effects of those darker days in her past and so they are all simply shown, glossed over, and we move onto what comes next.

At the same however she finds just the right way to recreate the look of the time period and the vintage shots and films Bettie Page was so much a part of.  There are many clever devices used during the film including some moving covers of Bettie’s photo shoots.  The loving way in which they are reproduced and obvious joy of Bettie in those situations may turn off some viewers who have strong moral objections to pornography.  If the film has any one message it would be pornography (like firearms) isn’t good or evil though it can be misused.

There is much to celebrate here including an award caliber performance by Gretchen Mol.  The faults of the film, all of which can be laid at the feet of director Mary Harron and editor Tricia Cooke, deflate the movie and hold it back from what appears to be a film that everything it needed to be great.  In the end we know a little more about Bettie Page’s life but not that much more about the woman herself and how the events of her life touched her and changed her – which for a biopic film is inexcusable.  Yet even with such issues the film is still worth taking a look at and enjoying for what it is; I just wish it had been more.

The Notorious Bettie Page Read More »

Summer Popcorn Flick Preview

/ / Uncategorized

Our summer preview starts today as we look at the big name films (Superman Returns, Miami Vice), the sequels (Mission: Impossible III, X-Men: The Last Stand, Clerks 2, Pirates of the Carribean: Dead Man’s Chest), the remakes (Poseidon, The Omen), and those with big name stars set to hit theaters this summer (Snakes on a Plane, The Break-Up, The Da Vinci Code).  We’ll give you the scope on the big films of the summer and a few reasons to go to the theater or stay at home and watch Deal or No Deal.  So sit back and enjoy…

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Here’s a look at the big films out this summer fighting for your movie dollar.

May

Mission: Impossible III
When? – Opened May 5th (read the review)
What’s the story? – Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) goes nose after a dangerous arms dealer (Philip Seymour Hoffman)who escapes and kidnaps his girlfriend (Michelle Monaghan).
Who’s in it? – Ving Rhames return for the third go-round.  Also signed up for this one are Laurence Fishburne, Billy Crudup, Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, Keri Russell, and Maggie Q.
Why see it? – The franchise finally accepts the IMF team concept and Cruise performs some ‘mazing stunts.
Why stay away? – You think Cruise is a crazy person (still… crazy people are pretty entertainin’).

Poseidon
When? – May 12th
What’s the story? – Huge Titanic-like boat goes down from a massive tidal wave sinking the ship as the passengers struggle to stay alive.
Who’s in it? – Kurt Russell, Josh Lucas, Richard Dreyfuss, Emmy Rossum, Jacinda Barrett, and Mike Vogel.
Why see it? – You enjoyed the original 1972 film (The Poseidon Adventure), you love Titanic, or you’re a fan of director Wolfgang Peterson (Troy, A Perfect Storm, Air Force One).
Why stay away? – If the list above scares the hell out of you.

The Da Vinci Code
When? – May 19th
What’s the story? – Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) finds himself pulled into a world of secrecy and death when he bcomes the suspect in the murder of a man he never met and with the help of a French cryptographer (Audrey Tautou) tries to find the Holy Grail.
Who’s in it? – Ian McKellen, Alfred Molina, Paul Bettany, and Jean Reno.
Why see it? – You loved the book, like Tom Hanks, or are ready for another Ron Howard film
Why stay away? – If you’ve seen the trailer you know who the bad guy is, what the secret is and where it is “buried”, and how the film ends.

X-Men: The Last Stand
When? – May 26th
What’s the story? – A “cure” for mutation is created to deal with the Pheonix’s (Famke Jensen) unlimited and dangerous powers and Magneto (Ian McKellen) and his Brotherhood of Evil Mutants square of against Professor X (Patrick Stewart) and his X-Men.
Who’s in it? – Every freakin’ X-Men character ever!  Aside from the returning core group of Cyclops (James Marsden), Wolverine (Hugh Jackman), Rogue (Anna Paquin), Storm (Halle Berry), Iceman (Shawn Ashmore), we also get the Beast (Kelsey Grammer), Angel (Ben Foster), Kitty Pryde (Ellen Page), Colossus (Daniel Cudmore), and Jubille (Kea Wong) not to mention the Juggernaut (Vinnie Jones), Psylocke (Mei Melancon), Leech (Cameron Bright), and Dr. Moria MacTaggart (Olivia Williams).
Why see it? – Even if it’s a complete trainwreck with this many characters the fights/effects/stunts should look pretty cool.
Why stay away? – Is Brett Ratner really the right guy to give control of the franchise to?

June

The Break-Up
When? – June 2nd
What’s the story? – A couple (Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn) break-up only to find neither one is willing to move out and decide to try and force each other to leave.
Who’s in it? – Aside from the two stars you get Joey Lauren Adams, Jason Bateman, Jon Favreau, Peter Billingsly, and Ann Margaret.
Why see it? – Could be this year’s Wedding Crashers.
Why stay away? – Sounds a little too much like War of the Roses-lite.

The Omen
When? – June 6th
What’s the story? – Remake of the 1976 original about a young boy (Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick) who just might turn out to be (gasp) the devil!
Who’s in it? – Liev Schrieber, Julia Styles, David Thewlis, Mia Farrow,
Why see it? – If you’ve never seen the original or wish to compare it with this version.  Or you just really love Julia Styles (I’ve got a number for a helpline if that’s the case.  Don’t be shy folks; get the help you need).
Why stay away? – Many, many reasons.

Cars
When? – June 9th
What’s the story? – Pixar’s last big picture while not under Mickey’s thumb tells the tale of a cocky sportscar (Owen Wilson) on the way to a big race who finds himself in the boondock down of Radiator Spring where he falls in love.
Who’s in it? – Voices of George Carlin, Katherine Helmond, Bob Costas, Bonnie Hunt, Paul Dooley, Paul Newman and Cheech Marin.
Why see it? – Last Pixar film before the Disney starts messin’ with the company and the recent run of disappointing animated flicks make us hope this one is as good as their last (The Incredibles).
Why stay away? – It is talking cars afterall.

Click
When? – June 23rd
What’s the story? – Adam Sandler finds a universal remote that allows him to effect and control time and reality.
Who’s in it? – Kate “Underworld” Beckinsale, Sean Astin, Jenniver Coolidge, and Christopher Walken.
Why see it? – You think Adam Sandler is awesome!
Why stay away? – You aren’t mentally retarded (like those who think Adam Sandler is awesome).

Superman Retuns
When? – June 30th
What’s the story? – The Man of Tomorrow (Brandon Routh) returns to Earth after a lengthy absence (somehow they didn’t notice Clark disappeared too??) only to find Lois Lane (Kate Bosworth) has moved on and Lex Luthor (Kevin Spacey) has corrupted Kryptonian technology from the Fortress of Solitude.
Who’s in it? – Frank Langella, James Marsden, Eva Marie Saint, and Parker Posey.
Why see it? – This one’s got trainwreck written all over and you don’t want to miss that do you?  C’mon!
Why stay away? – From the trailers maybe they should have called it “Superman Comes Out.”

July

Pirates of the Carribean: Dead Man’s Chest
When? – July 7th
What’s the story? – A past debt comes due for Cap’n Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) as Davy Jones (not from the Monkees) wants his soul.
Who’s in it? – Depp, Orlando Bloom, and Keira Knightly all return.  Also with Bill Nighy, Stellan Skarsgaard, Naomie Harris, and Jonathan Pryce.
Why see it? – Did you see the first one?
Why stay away? – Sequels are tricky business; can director and cast recapture the magic?

A Scanner Darkly
When? – July 7th
What’s the story? – Richard Linklater takes on Philip K. Dick in this rotoscoping (he first used it in 2001’s Waking Life) adaption of his work.  (Rotoscoping involves artists drawing over movement frame by frame creating an animated image over that of the film).
Who’s in it? – Keanu Reeves, Robert Downey Jr, Woody Harrelson, Winona Ryder, and Prince.
Why see it? – Can Linklater go right where other good directors (Speilberg, John Woo) have gone wrong in adapting Dick’s work to the screen?  The rotoscoping technique just might be the perfect way to look at Dick’s odd world.
Why stay away? – While Waking Life was visually impressive it didn’t capture either the attention or money of audiences.

Monster House
When? – July 21st
What’s the story? – A trio of kids take on a haunted house in this animated adventure.
Who’s in it? – Mitchel Musso, Sam Lerner, Spencer Locke, Steve Buscemi, and Maggie Gyllenhaal.
Why see it? – Looks like it should be fun for young kids.
Why stay away? – You are older than 14 years-old.

Miami Vice
When? – July 28th
What’s the story? – Vice cops Crockett (Colin Farrell) and Tubbs (Jamie Foxx) take on the drug dealers of Miami.
Who’s in it? – Naomie Harris, Li Gong, Luis Tosar, John Ortiz,
Why see it? – If there’s anyone who knows how to do this it’s director Michael Mann who acted as executive producer onthe 80’s TV show.
Why stay away? – Can the style of an 80’s TV cop show translate well on the big screen in 2006?

August

Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
When? – August 4th
What’s the story? – Rebel NASCAR drivers Ricky Bobby (Will Ferrell) and Cal Naughton (John C. Reilly) face new competition from French Formula One Racing’s Jean Girard (Sasha Baron Cohen).
Who’s in it? – Also showing up on this one are Gary Cole, Michael Clarke Duncan, and Ian Roberts.
Why see it? – Ferrell made a believer out of me that he can carry a movie with a good script and this looks just enough like Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgandy that it might work.
Why stay away? – No Steve Carrell or Paul Rudd to help carry the film this time which could easily lead to diaster.

World Trade Center
When? – August 9th
What’s the story? – Oliver Stone’s tale of two port authority officers trapped under the rubble of the World Trade Center on 9/11.
Who’s in it? – Dara Coleman, Tom Wright, Maria Bello, and Maggie Gyllenhaal.
Why see it? – A more personal and focused look than United 93.
Why stay away? – It is Oliver Stone so there’s always a chance (even given the imposed limits and serious subject matter) this could end up in wackocrazytown.

Clerks 2
When? – August 19th
What’s the story? – Kevin Smith returns to where it all began by examing the lives of Dante (Brain O’Halloran) and Randall (Jeff Anderson) a decade later who end up working at a Mooby’s fast food restaurant.
Who’s in it? – Kevin Smith, Jason Mewes, Rosario Dawson, Jason Lee, Walter Flanagan, Scott Mosier, and Wanda Sykes.
Why see it? – Interesting to see how Kevin Smith looks at these same characters after so much time has passed.
Why stay away? – Your name is Aaron Weber.

Snakes on a Plane
When? – August 19th
What’s the story? – An assassin unleashes snakes onboard a plane in order to kill a witness in protective custody.
Who’s in it? – Samuel L. Jackson
Why see it? – It’s Samuel L. Jackson and a plane full of snakes, why not!?!
Why stay away? – Can the movie live up to the tremendous Internet buzz that’s been building since it was announced?

Summer Popcorn Flick Preview Read More »

New on DVD

/ / Home Video News 

We’re here to let you know what’s out there for your entertainment dollar.  Every week a new batch of DVD’s gets shipped out and thrown onto the shelves.  This week we’ve got a movie that Aaron and I both agree is one of the best of 2005, disaster in both a building and a ship, Jennifer Aniston discovering the rumor might be true, season sets of That ‘70’s Show, Scrubs, The West Wing, The Facts of Life and more.  Take a peek inside for the full list.

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Here’s what is getting released today on DVD:

Film:

Munich – Steven Spielberg’s gripping tale of the fallout from the murders at the 1972 Olympics follows the Israeli team put together to hunt down those responsible.  The DVD comes in a regular one-disc edition with an introduction by Spielberg and a two-disc limited editon also including featurettes on the impact of the real events, the movie’s 70’s style, a behind the scenes look, and the music, cast, editing, and sound of the film.  Aaron immediately dubbed it his best film of 2005 (see his list) and it found it’s way to #2 on my list.  Read the original reviews here, and here.

Rumor Has It – Sarah Huttinger (Jennifer Aniston) life is shaken when she discovers her mother and grandmother (Shirley MacLaine) were the inspiration for The Graduate.  A clever and amusing film that sadly is only available in a barebones DVD with the theatrical trailer as the only extra.  Read my original review.

Nanny McPhee – Emma Thompson as a kind of anti-Mary Poppins who serves as a governess of seven unruly children.  The DVD contains commentary by director Kirk Jones and the children of the film, and another track with Emma Thompson and producer Lindsay Doran, featurettes on the children, creating the character, the making of the film, a gag reel, deleted scenes, and an alternate ending.  Check out the original review.

The New World – Terrance Malick’s retells the story of John Smith (Colin Farrell) and Pocahantos (Q’Orianka Kilcher).  The DVD contains a 60 minute documentary on the making of the film.

Big Momma’s House 2 – Martin Lawrence returns as a cop who likes to dress up in fat women’s clothing.  The DVD includes commentary from director John Whitesell, producer David T. Friendly and Zachary Levi, deleted and extended scenes, and a behind the scenes featurette.

Special Editions:

The Poseidon Adventure (Special Edition) – The original film (check back for my review of the remake this Friday) of where a ship capsizes at sea and a group of passengers struggle to survive.  This two-disc collection includes a commentary track with director Ronald Neame and a second with Pamela Sue Martin, Stella Stevens and Carol Lynely, nine new featurettes including a look back by the cast, the fans of the film, the effects and more.  Also included are storyboard comparisons, original trailers and promos, an article from the “American Cinematographer”, and still galleries.

The Towering Inferno (Special Edition) – A massive fire erupts in an enormous office building as those trapped struggle to stay alive and find a way out.  The special edition includes commentary by film historian F.X. Feeney, nine new featurettes on Irwin Allen, the art, direcing, and effects of the film and more, storyboard comparisons, three articles form “American Cinematographer,” an interview with Irwin Allen, still galleries, and the original trailer and promos.

Grandma’s Boy (Unrated) – A 35 year-old video game tester moves in with his grandma and a lack of anything resembling hilarity soon ensues.  The DVD includes features on both versions of the film, commentary by Allen Covert, Nick Swardson, Peter Dante, and director Nicholus Goosen, a collection of featurette, deleted scenes, and a music video.

Family/Animated:

Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist – Season 1 – All six episodes of comedian Jonathan Katz as an animated therapist dealing with his friends, family and patients (voiced by other stand-up comedians).  Included are commentary by Katz, Dave Attell, J. Jon Benjamin, Ray Ramano, and Tom Snyner, a biography of the doctor, and original shorts.

TV:

The West Wing – The Complete Sixth Season – The race for the White House begins with the addition of Alan Alda and Jimmy Smits to the cast.  The set includes all 22 episodes with commentary on two episodes from the executive producers, a featurette on C.J. Cregg, and an easter egg interview with John Spencer.

Scrubs – The Complete Third Season – All 22 episodes of season three in Sacred Heart Hospital with extras that include commentary on two episodes from writer Mark Stegmann, creator Randall Winston, Donald Faison, and Judy Reyes, a cast and crew featurette, behind the scenes of this season, deleted scenes, a gag reel, and alternate lines.

That ‘70’s Show – Season 4 – All 27 episodes from the fourth season with commentary on select episodes, a featurette on the season, a flashback, and a featurette on director David Trainer.

The Andy Griffith Show – The Complete Sixth Season – 30 more episodes of Andy and the Mayberry gang that includes the first episode of the series broadcast in color.

Everybody Loves Raymond – The Complete Sixth Season – All 24 episodes of the season featuring Ray Ramano and his TV family are included with commentary for six episodes by Romano, creator Phil Rosenthal, Doris Roberts, and writers Tucker Cawley, Mike Royce, Lew Schneider, and Steve Skrovan, bloopers, deleted scenes, and a retrospective on the first six seasons.

The Golden Girls – Season Five – All 26 episodes from the blue-haired foursome.  Extras include cast commentary on selected episdoes.

The Facts of Life – The Complete First and Second Seasons – All 29 episodes of he first two seasons of the Diff’rent Strokes spin-off involving Mrs. Garrett, blair, Natalie, and of course Tootie.  Also included are featurettes on the cast’s memories and life after the show.

New on DVD Read More »

This Week

/ / Film News & Trailers

So what’s out there this week.  Well today we’ll take a look at the films scheduled to be released this Friday including a sinking boat (nope, not Titanic), Lindsey Lohan’s latest (why?), a film about soccer (sadly without Keira Knightly), a documentary on Frank Gehry, and a new flick with Eward Notron, David Morse and Evan Rachel Wood.  All that and more; read on…

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Here’s what’s scheduled to hit theaters this week.  Want to know more, just click on the title for film info including a full cast list.  Want a closer look, just click on the poster to watch the trailer.

Poseidon

A luxury liner filled with beautiful people sinks when it hits an iceberg is capsized by a tidal wave.  As the ship sinks the passengers struggle to stay alive and come up with a plan to save themselves from a watery grave.  The latest from director Wolfgang Petersen (Troy, Air Force One, In the Line of Fire) includes quite a cast with Kurt Russell, Richard Dreyfuss, Josh Lucas, Mia Maestro, and Jacinda Barrett.  The film is a remake of 1972’s The Poseidon Adventure with Gene Hackman, Ernest Borgnine, Roddy McDowall, and Shelly Winters. 

Just My Luck

Lindsay Lohan plays the lucky Ashley Albright whose luck changes when her fate is switched with that of an rather unlucky young man (Chris Pine) when they kiss.  Other cast members include Bree Turner, Missi Pyle, Faizon Love, and Samare Armstong.  Sounds like another insipid romantic comedy from director Donald Pertie (How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Welcome to Mooseport, Mystic Pizza).  Looks like another moderate hit in the making for Lohan (Herbie:Fully Loaded, Mean Girls, Freaky Friday);someone please explain to me her appeal to me.  Seriously, I’m not joking.

Down in the Valley (limited release)

A young suburban teenager (Evan Rachel Wood) develops a crush on a recently arrived cowboy (Edward Norton) who seems out of place in sunny L.A.  Despite the reservations of her father the girl persues a relationship with a man who is both more and less than he seems.  The latest from writer director David Jacobson (Dahmer) who doesn’t shy away from tough subject matter.  The supporting cast includes Bruce Dern, Rory Culkin, and Ellen Burstyn.  Wood prove she could hold her own with actors twice her age in last year’s The Upside of Anger and this steamy role should help her breakthrough into more adult roles.

Keeping Up with the Steins (limited release)

In competing against other parents Hollywood agent Adam Fiedler (Jeremy Piven) decides to throw the most extravagant Bar Mitzvah for his son (Daryl Sabara) who hopes to use the opportunity to try and reconcile his separated parents.  Rounding out the cast are Cheryl Hines, Daryl Hannah, Miranda Cosgrove, Doris Roberts, and Bill O’Reilly.  The film is the first for director Scott Marshall (son of Gary Marshall, who has a role in the film) and early reviews have been positive (it won the audience award at the US Comedy Arts Festival) though it has taken shots for what some are calling its anti-semitic humor.

Goal! (limited release)

A Mexican immigrant to Los Angeles (Kuno Becker) tries to make his dreams of playing professional soccer come true by earning a tryout for Newcastle United.  The film also stars Tony Plana, Miriam Colon, Anna Friel, Stephen Dillane, Cassandra Bell and soccer stars David Beckham, Alan Shearer, and Brian Johnson.  Directed by Danny Cannon (I Still Know What You Did Last Summer) after Michael Winterbottom (Wonderland) left the project when FIFA demanded script approval for the right to use real teams, locations and players. Will this film Bend it Like Beckham?

Wah-Wah (limited release)

The film tells the story of the independence of the Kingdom of Swaziland from Great Britain in the mid-60’s through the eyes of a young boy (Zac Fox).  The semi-autobiographical piece was written and directed by first-timer Richard E. Grant about his own childhood during that period in history and includes Gabriel Byrne, Miranda Richardson, Emily Watson, Nicholas Hoult, Ian Roberts, Julian Wadham, and Celia Imrie.  Completed in 2005 the film hit the festival circuit and won nominations at the British Independent Film Awards (for Watson and Grant) and the IFTA Awards (for Byrne).

Dead Man’s Shoes (limited release)

Paddy Considine, who also co-wrote the film with director Shane Meadows (The Stairwell, Once Upon a Time in the Midlands), plays a soldier who returns home taking what he has learned and applies it in order to exact vengeance from a group of gang members who brutalized his mentally-challenged brother (Tob Kebbell) some years ago.  The 2004 British film was well received in its home country and won Meadows awards at the Dinard British Film Festival and the Director’s Guild of Great Britain.  Considine pulled in Best Actor awards from the Empire Awards (UK) and the Evening Standard British Film Awards.

Sketches of Frank Gehry (New York and Los Angeles only)

Director Sydney Pollack (Tootsie, The Interpreter, Three Days of the Condor) tackles this documentary on his friend the renown architect that includes interviews with Gehry, his friends, associates, and therapists in an attempt to understand Gehry’s creative ambition and artistic process.  Included are Michael Eisner, Bob Gelof, and Dennis Hopper.  Pollack spent five years working on the project that delves deep into Gehry’s personal life but stays away from his private family life. 

This Week Read More »