The Sunday Drive: 8/21/11

3. The Help
We don't get to see movie like The Help much anymore. At least not ones done right. A moving, heartfelt period piece set in the heart of racist 1960s Mississippi, this could very easily be one of those movies that tiptoes around the issues it claims to confront. Wisely not presenting a world where all the whites are evil and all the African-Americans virtuous, first-time director Tate Taylor has found an entertaining and classy way to approach the touchy subject of race relations.

2. Fright Night
The 1985 original Fright Night is an undeserved cult favorite in my opinion, but Craig Gillespie's sequel is one of the most inspired remakes we've seen in years. From Buffy the Vampire Slayer series writer Marti Noxon, the irreverent sense of humor will remind fans of that great show, but the violence and horror has been amped up thanks to Colin Farrell's snakey performance as Jerry the Vampire.
1. Attack the Block
The freshest man vs. alien movie you'll see all year, Attack the Block springs from the fertile imagination of writer/director Joe Cornish. A perfect mix of fresh faced stars led by John Boyega as gang leader Moses, and established comedy vets like Nick Frost, lend authenticity to the story of a group of young thugs defending their South London 'hood from invading extraterrestrials.

DVD Pick of the Week: Jane Eyre
Count me as somebody who could do with less of these Victorian period pieces, especially the ones we've seen brought to the big screen a billion times already. Jane Eyre is probably the most egregiously overused novel, with a new adaptation coming out once a year or so. Cary Fukunaga, fresh off his powerful directorial debut Sin Nombre, seems to recognize this and has given the classic Charlotte Bronte story a style and fire we've not yet seen. Mia Wasikowska plays the confident and feisty heroine, Jane Eyre, with the always charismatic Michael Fassbender as the brooding Edward Rochester. Their courtship is contentious at first, before smoothly easing into a playful respect and ultimately love. Fukunaga plays up some of the darker, Gothic elements of the story, bordering on horror in terms of visual style, making for a unique and I think superior interpretation.