I'm sure it says tons about me that the film I've been dying to see most is called Antichrist, and reportedly is one of the most intense, mysogenistic, brutal films in recent memory. Consider that the opening scene is of a child falling to it's death while the parents have sex nearby. Not for the kiddies, no. At the Cannes film festival, the film was greeted with a polarizing response, as is typically the case with movies like this. But for me, I'm a devoted follower of anything Lars Von Trier does. His Breaking the Waves back in 1996 is still one of the most haunting films I've ever seen, and whether or not everything he's done since has been good(it hasn't) it's always interesting. I can't for the life of me tell you what Antichrist is about, but it does star Willem Dafoe and one of my secret crushes, Charlotte Gainsbourg. As you might expect, it ain't playin' everywhere. Right now you can find it at Landmark E Street in the DC/Metro area.
She ain't got nothin' on Amy Adams' Amelia Earhart, let's just get that outta the way right now. Hilary Swank doesn't fill out a pair of tight pants the way Adams does, so right away this movie's starting at a disadvantage. However, Swank's wind swept hair and wide crooked smile are a dead ringer for the trailblazing aviator. Not to mention the almost storybook look of the film(is there a gust of wing blowing in every panel?) can be attributed to director Mira Nair(The Namesake, Vanity Fair) who is quickly becoming one of my favorites. For a major studio effort, this is getting a pretty paltry release, set somewhere at around 800 theatres. What's up with that? Consider this the first of the real Oscar contenders to hit this year.
Considered the first real Japanese anime series, Astro Boy has been around for nearly 60 years. I've watched some of the animes, but never really got all that into it. Probably because Astro Boy has been copied by so many that I grew tired of the concept. However, this new 3-D computer animated version has been looking good since the first images released nearly a year ago. Featuring the voices of Freddie Highmore and Kristen Bell, it tells the story of a robot boy with numerous powers built by a scientist in the image of his dead son. Astro Boy, in an attempt to find real acceptance, goes out into the world in hopes of earning his "father's" respect. Pretty simple concept, gorgeous art design, and some serious voice talent should make this one of the most enjoyable "kid" films of the year. I'm not all that sold on this being a huge success financially, though.
On the other hand, Saw VI will undoubtedly reap it's usual rewards, although competition is slightly stiffer this year with Paranormal Activity freaking people out across the country. Saw usually benefits from the Halloween season to bolster it's numbers, but consider that that the franchise is less scary than it is disturbing. There are no real shocks to be found, which I think are what people look for in a Halloween season film. With that said, Saw has become such a staple of the October month that it's hard to see it faltering now. I'm on record as stating that I've hated every single Saw film with the exception of part 2 which was the last one to actually give a crap about a plot. This one is rumored to be going back to the film's roots a little bit by bringing back Cary Elwes's character, who I'm guessing hasn't won any ass kicking contests lately. What lies in store for him (friend or foe?) is anybody's guess. I'll be there to see it, though, likely hating myself the whole time.
If there's time...
It looks stupid. And the fact that it's been on the shelf so long is troubling. Also, director Paul Weitz(American Dreamz) is spotty at best when not working alongside his brother, Chris. But the cast is phenomenal, so there must be something to the material that attracted them. John C. Reilly, Salma Hayek, Willem Dafoe, Ken Watanabe...this thing is an acting Murderer's Row. The idea of vampirs, werewolves, dog faced boys, and whatever else hanging out at a traveling circus sounds dumb, but could be fun if handled right.
I balked at the opportunity to see this yesterday, worried that I'd be spending 2 crucial hours watching beautiful people angst about love in a city I can't really stand to be in. Nothing's really changed. I still have that same fear. However I did manage to sit through this film's predecessor, Paris Je'Taime, and came away mostly unscathed. Y'know what really scared me off? That one scene in the trailer with Drea De Matteo and James Caan. I'm sorry, but I find her to be the most aggravatingly unreal actress ever. It seems like any film that's shot in New York, and you need someone with an authentic Brooklyn accent(and a weird nose and slits for eyes) you turn to her. Maybe I'll use that segment of the film to take a smoke break. Crap, I don't smoke.
No...no....a thousand times no....
Maybe on any other week I could find time for a movie like this. I'm a big fan of Michael Sheen(The Queen, Frost/Nixon) and Jim Broadbent, but movies about soccer tend to bore the piss out of me. Unless they involve Elija Wood and Charlie Hunnan in brutal combat with rival football clubs(Green Street Hooligans) then I'm probably gonna keep a safe distance. Then again I did dig Bend It Like Beckham, but I don't see Keira Knightley in little soccer shorts anywhere in this film so....
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