JourneywomanMovies to Look Out For This Year...
May 22nd 2007 05:09
With the upcoming weeks to be dominated at the Australian box office by major blockbuster fare such as Shrek the Third and Pirates of the Carribean: At World's End, it seems to sit back and take a look at some of the movies to hit the screen during the post May/June blockbuster season. In other words, what's likely to pay its way at the Oscars in early 2008 and what's likely to grab audiences in the September school holidays. Here's a somewhat long short list with something on it for everyone...
June 7
Hostel 2
Horror/Violence/Slasher
Cast: Does it really matter?
Given the sickening violence of the first Hostel movie the major question accompanying this venture is why??? Obviously this is Hollywood out taking advantage of the time tested formula, that if it makes money once then it's bound to do so twice. Eighty years of bad sequels and they still don't get it. Only a gem really makes it twice. So what's the story? Basically the same as Hostel the first... only this time its chicks getting slashed up. Like, wow. Why don't they just call it Hostel 2: The Slashening?
Driving Lessons
Comedy/British
Cast: Julie Walters, Rupert Grint, Laura Linney
This chestnut originally caught interest as the first non-Harry-Potter acting outing for Ron Weasley actor Rupert Grint, but it looks set to be a delightful and charming piece of cinema. Julie Walters plays a washed up actress who tricks young Rupert Grint's character into driving her to a poetry recital in Scotland, engineering a sexual awakening in him by removing him from his overprotective mother played by Laura Linney. Okay, it screams out chick flick but so far it has received excellent reviews: like a good Britcom? Then this is for you.
June 14
Ocean's Thirteen
Action/Adventure/Comedy
Cast: George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Andy Garcia, Don Cheadle, Bernie Mac, Ellen Barkin, Al Pacino, Casey Affleck, Scott Caan, Carl Reiner, Elliot Gould
Frankly when they came out with Ocean's Twelve it was surprising enough, but given how badly that film sucked is it really necessary for there to be a third adventure in the Ocean chronicles? Apparantly this time around the original crew re-unite to exact vengeance on Al Pacino's character after he double crosses one of the original eleven. Sounds slightly better yes, but where is Julia Roberts? Where is Catherine Zeta? And will Angelina Jolie be in it as rumours to the contrary refuse to abate? Now true Julia did get all hormonal on their asses during the last films production, but given that she was actually forced to play herself during the final thirty minutes can you really blame her? This will probably suck, but you never know...
I'm skipping such sucky fare as Fantastic Four 2 and Nancy Drew. Checkout www.greaterunion.com.au if you can't live without them.
June 28
Transformers
Action/Adventure/Thriller/Sci -Fi/Based on Cartoon Series
Cast: Shia LeBouf, Josh Duhammel, John Voight, other assorted eye candy
Now this really should be so so so bad! But a teaser trailer later and suddenly this is the most anticipated action movie of the year and looks set to be a truly gigantic success! Basically the teaser says it all. Various hi-tech machines land on earth set to either kill all humans and take our planet or defend all humans and stop the others from taking the planet. The effects look like something entirely special and explosions? You betcha!!!!! Action-puff yes but like we have not seen since the last awful but explosive Star Wars episode. Interesting to note that so many thrillers are based on comic book characters these days. This should be a rare and beautiful exception so enjoy it while it lasts.
Clubland
Romantic Tragi-Comedy/Britcom
Cast; Brenda Blethyn, Khan Chittendon, Emma Booth, Rebbecca Gibney, Phillip Quast
This one rehashes two old formulas. A dried up showbiz family (headed by Brenda Blethyn) held together by a single favoured son (Khan Chittendon), is threatened by his new girlfriend (Emma Booth) and so fight it out to try and push her away. Given the presence of comic genius Blethyn and a young cast of rising talent - and the presence of Australian talent Phillip Quast and Rebbecca Gibney - it should be a charmer, but not for everyone.
July 5
Black Book
Foreign Language (Dutch/German)/Drama/World War Two
Cast: Carice Van Houten, Sebastian Koch
This film has been winning raves everywhere it goes. The story of a Dutch singer (and a Jew) who narrowly survives World War Two, it's not just your average intrigue, this is a full on sophistictaed thriller with Hitchcock-esque drama and glamour and a magnificent European cast. Movies with subtitles are not for everyone, likewise WWII movies, but if you like a good war picture then this is the best 2007 has offered so far.
Knocked Up
Comedy/Romance/Mucho Mucho Drug Use and Swearing
Cast: Seth Rogen, Katherine Heigl, Paul Rudd
This was meant to be a B-picture, but the presence of Grey's Anatomy alum Katherine Heigl makes this set to be a surprise blockbuster, which has garnished a generous deal of buzz in the US. Funny, adult and unlikely, it's the story of an everyman (Seth Rogen) who "knocks up" a beautiful woman (Heigl) after a one night stand and then has to deal with the consequences. Cross-over pictures for TV stars often fall flat, but we can hope. Eitherway, Grey's Anatomy stars, start your engines!!!
July 12
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Magic/Thriller/Action/Adventu re/Dark Drama
Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Ralph Fiennes, Michael Gambon, Maggie Smith, Imelda Staunton, Richard Griffiths, Gary Oldman, Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson, Julie Walters and a patridge in a pear tree
I hate the Harry Potter films as poor carbon copies of the books obviously designed to make a buck. Clearly I'm in the minority so lets review. The fifth movie looks set to be dark. And not just Azkban dark, but DARK dark. Despite the fact that Michael Gambon sucks as Dumbledore, all the old gang are back along with some brilliant new casting choices, headed by Helena Bonham Carter as Belltrix Lestrange and Imelda Staunton as the deliciously evil Dolores Umbridge. Could be good. Obviously Potter fans everywhere are already reaching for their credit cards, especially with book seven on the way. Eitherway... schmeh.
La Vie En Rose (La Mome)
Foreign Language (French)/Drama/Tragedy/Musica l/Biopic
Cast; Marion Cotillard, Gerard Depardieu, plethora of French stars otherwise unknown to us
Now this pic has audiences all over Europe raving and fans of legendary French siner Edith Piaf salivating all accross the US, and no doubt Down Under. Marion Cotillard gives the performance of a lifetime as Piaf in a movie that from early glimpses (I have seen it!) looks to be dark, dramatic, somewhat fragmented, jumping back and forth between past and present and utterly brilliant. If it doesn't win the Best Foreign Language movie at the upcoming Oscars I will be outraged! Marion Cotillard deserves every Best Actress award under the sun. She IS Piaf to a T!!!! See this movie. It is easily one of the best of 2007 and a biopic for the ages.
Jule 19
Evening
Drama/Romatic/Ensemble Cast/Oscar Candy
Cast: Claire Danes, Toni Collette, Meryl Streep, Glenn Close, Vannessa Redgrave, Natasha Richardson, Mamie Gummer, Eileen Atkins, Patrick Wilson, Hugh Dancy
This easily looks to be the corniest romantic puff of 2007, and yet with a cast line-up like that and Meryl Streep's daughter Mamie Gummer set to play her mother's character at a young age it still holds some kind of charming thrall. It's basically the story of an old woman who looks back on her life while on her deathbed and regrets that she didn't sow wild oats with the man she loved instead of the man her family picked. It's The Bridges of Madison County meets The Hours so a Kleenex fodder chick flick. That said, there is no way it will not be brilliant and earn Meryl Streep yet another Oscar nomination for her collection.
Amazing Grace
Drama/Adventure/Historical
Cast: Ioann Grufford, Albert Finney, Michael Gambon, Rufus Sewell, Ciaran Hinds, Toby Jones
See the previous movie but with an all male cast. This is an historical english house of commons set drama about the true story of William Wilberforce and his fight to end slavery in the British Empire in the 18th century. Listen loudly enough and you can still hear the British and American audiences who avoided this snoring loudly! That said, this is meant to be a truly inspiring and passionate film and Albert Finney steals the show as John Newton, or so we hear. Still it does have a kind of a "snore" factor about it. We shall wait and see.
July 26
The Simpsons Movie
Comedy/Farce/Based on Cartoon Series/Animated
Cast: You know who plays the Simpsons by now surely?! Guest starring: Minnie Driver, Kelsey Grammar, Erin Brockovish-Ellis, Albert Brooks
Now this pic caused all sorts of excitement when it was announced, and to the producers credit, they've kept us all enthralled with a string of brilliant teaser trailers over the months that have followed. However, they are yet to overcome the notion that this movie needs to be a mega-smash to overcome the ennui presently affecting the show in the face of apparantly inferior writing - and the presence of more shocking cartoon series' such as Family Guy, American Dad and South Park. Plotline? Apparantly Homer causes a slip up at the nuclear plant and Springfield has to be covered by a dome... or something like that. Details are sketchy. But hopes are high! Come on Simpsons you can do it!!!!!
August looks particularly icky at present for film releases. Movies starring Justin Timberlake and Anthony Hopkins as the brutal slayer of his hot young wife, Bruce Willis in another uncalled for Die Hard movie, a couple of shallow comedies, a Hills Have Eyes sequel and another anomiated penguin movie all combine to the sheer blah-ness of August at the movies.
August 16
The Banquet
Action/Adventure/Fantasy/Mart ial Arts/Drama/Foreign Language
Cast: Ziyi Zhang, other Asian stars otherwise unknown
This fantasy, martial arts drama would otherwise seem to be yet another in a series of similar features - Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Hero, House of Flying Daggers, Curse of the Golden Flower etc - if it weren't loosely based on Hamlet. See Really Long Link for a full description of the plot in all its violent and corrupt grandeur. It looks to be similar to earilier fare, a top heavy, overtly deep movie which just happens to have kick-ass fight scenes. If that kind of movie is for you then The Banquet looks set to be a feast.
August 23
The Bourne Ultimatum
Action/Adventure/Thriller/Dra ma
Cast; Matt Damon, Julia Stiles, Edgar Ramirez, Joan Allen
Okay you all know this one. Both previous installments of the Bourne saga have all been very well received and this one looks set to be no less of a crowd pleaser. Amnesiac rogue super-assassin Jason Bourne is well on his way to discovering more about his past and a great deal of bullets are fired in various exotic destinations set to the music of some very powerful explosions. It's a thriller yes and the stories are as crisp as fresh snow peas but frankly I wish they'd get on with it! I want to know what happens!!! That's why people see the movies I guess.
September 6
The Invasion
Action/Adventure/Thriller/Sci -Fi
Cast: Nicole Midman, Daniel Craig, Jeremy Northam
Based on past sci-fi cult flick Invasion of the Body Snatchers and starring Aussie mega-hotties Kidman and Craig, The Invasion looks set to be something of a hit, though Nicole is still suffering from flops opf the past two years and Daniel is still yet to prove himself able to overcome the curse of the Bond stars, who so often find themselves unable to star as anything else having once donned the outfit of the super-spy. Story: Kidman is a shrink who discovers an alien virus is causing an epidemic of weird human behaviour and that her son may be the key to stopping it. With the help of Daniel Craig's character Ben they do just that - and hopefully have a few sex scenes while they're at it. Should be fun.
September 13
Hairspray
Musical/Comedy/Romantic/Farce
Cast: Nikki Blonsky, John Travolta, Queen Latifah, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken, Zac Effron, Brittany Snow, Amanda Bynes, James Marsden, Alison Janney
While musicals are only semi-back, after Dreamgirls failed to grab the Oscars attention, this prime Broadway hit looks set to have audiences rolling in the aisles. The story (set in the 60's) is about an overweight Baltimore girl from the wrong side of the tracks (newcomer Nikki Blonsky) who gets on TV, gets the hot guy (High School Musical's Zac Effron), downs the hip blonde chick (Brittany Snow... as if Hollywood needed another blonde ingenue named Brittany!) and her evil mother (Michelle Pfeiffer) and gets TV intergrated, singing her chubby guts out all the way. Now this may seem disturbing, and musicals are hardly Australia's greatest passion, but hold the fort, it's hilariously funny, and this film is scintillatingly well-cast. Go online and check out Michelle Pfeiffer's song "(The Legend of) Miss Baltimore Crabs" if you don't believe me!
September 20
December Boys
Drama/Family/Daniel Radcliffe not being Harry Potter
Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, assorted other unknown up and comers
Now after the scandal surrounding Daniel Radcliffe's raunchy stage escapades in the play Equus (a smash hit surprise surprise), Radcliffe is back again in this long overdue movie that aims to prove he can act while not being a wizard. The story is set in Adelaide (ick!) and involves the story of four orphan boys born in December who are sent to the seaside from the convent orphanage for a holiday. There they meet a young couple who would make the perfect parents, and from there on the games are on as they sabotage each others efforts to win the prize of adoption. Could be funny. The rating is PG so it clearly hasn't fallen into the trap as with so many Australian movies of relying on too much swearing, drug use and strange social dysfunctions to attract attention. Clearly Radcliffe is expected to do that Hopes are high. This may be a winner. Do I hear Oscar buzz for young Harry?
Stardust
Fantasy/Adventure/Drama
Cast: Claire Danes, Charlie Cox, Sienna Miller, Ricky Gervais, Peter O'Toole, Michelle Pfeiffer, Robert DeNiro, Rupert Everett
Now this pic looks like The Chronicles of Narnia - just as epic as just kiddy-cutesy, but we are hopeful it will prove to have substance. A young man Tristan (Charlie Cox) promises his beloved - who clearly is not interested - that he will bring her a falling star. He goes on a quest for the star and finds it transformed into a beautiful women (Claire Danes) whose life is endangered as she is also sought by the sons of a dying king (Peter O'Toole) - four living and three dead - who has promised the victor his throne, and a witch (Michelle Pfeiffer) who needs the star to regcapture her youth. Naturally Tristan ends up falling in love with the star and like that. Bit "iffy" yes, but you never know. It probably will become the next Eragon but fingers are tightly crossed.
Rush Hour 3
Adventure/Action/Thriller/Com edy
Cast; Jackie Chan/Chris Tucker/Roman Polanski
Is this going to suck or what? It's been forever since the last installment and frankly the thrill is gone. This will no doubt be a minor hit and kudos for trying... but all the same: schmeh!
October 4
The Brave One
Action/Drama/Thriller
Cast: Jodie Foster... nuff said really
Despite lesbian rumours resurfacing earlier this year when Jodes was placed on the cover of The Advocate's top 100 most powerful gay people issue (in other words, the who's who of the gay mafia) her acting ability is frankly all the matters - and she's got it!!!!! Though she has recently clung to the formula of hot-hyper-smart-Mom-kicks-ass -when-young-un-is threatened movies, she has still managed to draw the crowds and have modestly successful flicks. In this one Foster is out for revenge after a violent attack leaves her badly damaged. In other words hot-mom kicks ass! I wish she'd find some Oscar-fodder. It's about time she got some exposure again!
October 18
A Mighty Heart
Drama/Thriller
Cast: Angelina Jolie, Dan Futterman
Starring Ms. Aren't-I-Just-So-Amazingly-Ho t-and-Talented herself and Hollywood's ittiest it-girl de jour Angelina Jolie, this pic is sure to grab audiences by the bushell. Problem, it's been criticised as the character Jolie played was partially African-American and Jolie (despite laws and conventions and good taste stating otherwise) has put on black-face make-up to play the lead. This is a real life story about Marianne Pearl who fought back after the assassination of her journalist husband Daniel and wrote a crushing expose about the post 9/11 world. This film is going to be telling. Can Jolie survive alone without a powerful male co-star in a film lacking anything that even resembles sex and nudity? I think not but I will be keen to see the results.
October 18
Day Watch
Action/Adventure/Fantasy/Supe rnatural/Horror/Foreign Language (Russian)
Cast: Russian stars otherwise unknown
This is the follow up to the global semi-hit Night Watch. The story of supernatural forces and their quest to battle-on despite a centuries old truce which divided the supernatural forces into two power blocs, the guardians of day and night. Mass supernatural violence is always a good thing and lord knows the US has disappointed recently with such films as Underworld misfiring badly. If a dark megalomaniac vampire story is for you then this is the film for 2007 that you are going to love.
October 25
Resident Evil 3: Extinction
Action/Thriller/Horror/Sci-Fi
Cast: Milla Jovovich, Sienna Guillory, etc
The next in a long long long long long long long line of trilogies and sequels this year, RE:3 is for the crowds who love mucho mucho sickening violence against a futuristic backdrop and personified by the presence of various mega-hotties in very little clothing - see Milla Jovovich. The story hardly matters, they've all been much the same in this series. "OMG! We must save the world and wow how many people are going to die before we do it!"
November 15
Fred Claus
Comedy/Family/Christmas
Cast: Vince Vaughan, Paul Giamatti, Miranda Richardson, Kevin Spacey, Kathy Bates, Rachel Weisz, Ludacris
Good cast and a new spin on the Christmas movie formula have won this some attention. Judi Dench was originally in talks... what happened there? But eitherway this is the story of Santa's brother Fred (Vaughn) who is forced to move back to the North Pole but is not at all anxious to be around his celebrity bro (Giamatti) who all his life has hogged the chicks (Miranda Richardson is set to sizzle as Mrs Claus... imagine the outfits! Can you say yum!!!!!) and spotlight. This will be puff but good fun. Expect the release date to be pushed back, especially if US audiences don't like it and it becomes this years Deck the Halls.
Novermber 29
Hey, Hey, It's Esther Blueburger
Drama/Comedy
Cast: Toni Collette, Keisha Castle-Hughes, Danielle Catanzariti, assorted other Aussie talent
Can you say Oscar!!!!!!!!!!! This is THE Australian Oscar hopeful of 2007 as matters stand. Toni Collette seriously deserves a Best Actress nomination already and Keisha Castle-Hughes looks set to defy the disgustingly shallow and transparantly hypocrital Hollywood establishment who dared to diss her for having a child out of wedlock!!! "I mean we'll let our stars bed-hop as much as they like but how dare a seventeen year old have a child out of wedlock from a three year long comitted monogamous relationship?! I mean what she couldn't have adopted one? SOOOO unnatural!!!!" The story is about a 13 year old girl who struggles to fit in at both a public and a private school. Details are sketchy and no trailer as yet, but look out, this one should shine.
Beowulf
Drama/Action/Adventure/Fantasy
Cast: Angelina Jolie, Robin Wright-Penn, Anthony Hopkins, John Malkovich, Crispin Glover, Ray Winestone
This looks set to be the fantasy flick of 2007 thus far. Based on the Nordic legend of the same name, Beowulf must go on a quest to destroy the moster Grendel and then Grendel's mother after she takes exception to her little monster's death. Mucho mucho fantasy violence. Uncomfortable feelings develop when we discover that Angie Jolie is voicing Grendel's mother... this could be a huge misfire right here. Time will tell.
December 13
I Am Legend
Action/Adventure/Sci-Fi
Cast: Will Smith, assorted others
This looks very much like I Robot. Will Smith plays the last man alive who must nightly defend himself against the rest of the world, who have all become vampires and you know the code: they must have blood... or die! Hmmmm, Will Smith vs The Rest of the World? Will Smith is going to win! If he has buffed up again (as in I Robot) then he is sure to draw crowds. I smell another trilogy!
December 26
His Dark Materials: The Golden Compass
Action/Fantasy/Adventure/Drama
Cast: Nicole Kidman, Eric Bana, Daniel Craig, Eva Green, Kevin Bacon, Magda Szbanksi, Dakota Blue-Richards
Now this is the Boxing Day release par excellence - set to grab the family as a whole and have them buying movie tickets nationwide. Lyra Belacqua must journey into the arctic north of a paralell universe to try and find "Dust", a dark material that can unite universes and which is presently at the centre of a violent war between those who would use it and those who would destroy it. With Nicole Kidman and Eva Green as evil witches (SIZZLE!!!) and the WETA artists behind Lord of the Rings, to say nothing of a kick ass story, this movie if done properly should successfully launch a syndicate of films to rival Harry Potter - that's if they don't go all Disney-fied like in The Chronicles of Narnia - but this is a New Line Cinema release so... fingers crossed.
Enchanted
Fantasy/Adventure/Romantic/Co medy/Fairy Tale
Cast: Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, James Marsden, Timothy Spall, Susan Sarandon, Idina Menzel
This is kind of like the B-fantasy movie of the christmas line-up. Expect its relese date to be pushed way way way back as early reports are not good. The story is of a fairy tale princess (a la Disney) who is thrust into the real world by an evil witch (Sarandon) whose romanticised, fairy tale views on love are tested when she meets a handsome NY lawyer (McDreamy himself, Patrick Dempsey). Sounds kinda ick doesn't it? Like Kate & Leopold meets Laws of Attraction - and those movies both stank! Hopefully the presence of eternally wonderful though somewhat slipping of late Susan Sarandon as an evil witch and Tony Award winning diva Idina Menzel will spell some hope for this flick. In the meantime surely McDreamy could have picked a better flick to break into Hollywood with?!
The Kite Runner
Drama
Cast: various unknowns
This movie is leading all early early Oscar buzz for 2007/2008. Expect the release date to be pushed into January/February as there is no way this will have a Boxing Day release in this country! The story is based on a classic novel by Khaled Hosseini. Amir, who has lived in California for years, returns to his native Afghanistan to help his friend Hassan whose son is in trouble. Hyper political in content and somewhat like last years Babel, it looks set to be daring and confronting. Not for everyone but a remarkable film nevertheless.
The Spiderwick Chronicles
Adventure/Drama/Fantasy/Family
Cast: Mary-Louise Parker, Nick Nolte, Martin Short, Joan Plowright, Seth Rogen
In the tradition of the Narnia movies, this is a fantasy about a family who moves into a run down old house at which point the children find an alternate universe and blah blah blah. Dear God somebody please malke it stop!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
American Gangster
Action/Crime/Drama/Gangsta
Cast: Russell Crowe, Denzel Washington, Cuba Gooding Jnr
Okay so even though it's headed by Denzel and Big Russ this still feels somewhat The Departed redux doesn't it? Well maybe not... This is the story of a drug lord smuggling heroin into the US during the 70's by stashing the stuff in the coffins of dead servicemen returning from Vietnam. Got potential, especially with Ridley Scott at the helm. If he can pull this of we'll forgive him for Kingdom of Heaven and even A Good Year.
Bee Movie
Animated/Comedy/Family
Cast: Jerry Seinfeld, Rennee Zellewegger, Matthew Broderick, John Goodman, Chris Rock, Alan Arkin, Eddie Izzard, Rip Torn, Kathy Bates
This looks set to be the Happy Feet of 2007. Dreamworks has gone for another animal, instead of clinging to penguins as almost ever other animated-feature-starring-ani mals of the year has done - raunchy penguins after booty and a mockumentary about a penguin surfer?????? Oy Gevalt! But the story: Seinfeld voices newly graduate bee Barry B. Benson who does not want his life to be constricted to the one apparant available career - honey. So he goes outside the hive (sounds familiar?) and talks to a human who informs him that she and all other humans have been stealing the bees precious honey for centuries. Barry decides to take action and sue the human race for damages... and oh dear God that sounds cheesy! It's gonna be cute, cuddly, the humour will be predictable, but something tells me that SOMETHING in this movie will be unexpected! I mean there has to be SOMETHING right? I mean it can't just be the same old insect-animation formula can it? They're not that stupid are they surely? It's got to have a twist somewhere? Is there no hope left in the world?
Well that's the line up as matters stand. This year's releases seem to be personified by a disturbing absence of drama, arthouse and sophisticated comedy. 2007 is filled instead with epics, comic-book character movies, based on tv series movies, fantasy's and don't even say the words syndicated trilogy! Literally could their be any more sequels and trilogy movies this year?!Usual procedure is for the Indie movies to all hit the line up late this year as we start to see more and more of next year's film schedule. At present, it would seem that by the end of the year we ought to be thoroughly sick of Marvel comic characters, zombies, vampires, fantasy children movies and cheesy no-substance comedy. Hopefully thast means that 2008 should be filled with some pretty amazing dramatic work. Fingers crossed!
June 7
Hostel 2
Horror/Violence/Slasher
Cast: Does it really matter?
Given the sickening violence of the first Hostel movie the major question accompanying this venture is why??? Obviously this is Hollywood out taking advantage of the time tested formula, that if it makes money once then it's bound to do so twice. Eighty years of bad sequels and they still don't get it. Only a gem really makes it twice. So what's the story? Basically the same as Hostel the first... only this time its chicks getting slashed up. Like, wow. Why don't they just call it Hostel 2: The Slashening?
Driving Lessons
Comedy/British
Cast: Julie Walters, Rupert Grint, Laura Linney
This chestnut originally caught interest as the first non-Harry-Potter acting outing for Ron Weasley actor Rupert Grint, but it looks set to be a delightful and charming piece of cinema. Julie Walters plays a washed up actress who tricks young Rupert Grint's character into driving her to a poetry recital in Scotland, engineering a sexual awakening in him by removing him from his overprotective mother played by Laura Linney. Okay, it screams out chick flick but so far it has received excellent reviews: like a good Britcom? Then this is for you.
June 14
Ocean's Thirteen
Action/Adventure/Comedy
Cast: George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Andy Garcia, Don Cheadle, Bernie Mac, Ellen Barkin, Al Pacino, Casey Affleck, Scott Caan, Carl Reiner, Elliot Gould
Frankly when they came out with Ocean's Twelve it was surprising enough, but given how badly that film sucked is it really necessary for there to be a third adventure in the Ocean chronicles? Apparantly this time around the original crew re-unite to exact vengeance on Al Pacino's character after he double crosses one of the original eleven. Sounds slightly better yes, but where is Julia Roberts? Where is Catherine Zeta? And will Angelina Jolie be in it as rumours to the contrary refuse to abate? Now true Julia did get all hormonal on their asses during the last films production, but given that she was actually forced to play herself during the final thirty minutes can you really blame her? This will probably suck, but you never know...
I'm skipping such sucky fare as Fantastic Four 2 and Nancy Drew. Checkout www.greaterunion.com.au if you can't live without them.
June 28
Transformers
Action/Adventure/Thriller/Sci -Fi/Based on Cartoon Series
Cast: Shia LeBouf, Josh Duhammel, John Voight, other assorted eye candy
Now this really should be so so so bad! But a teaser trailer later and suddenly this is the most anticipated action movie of the year and looks set to be a truly gigantic success! Basically the teaser says it all. Various hi-tech machines land on earth set to either kill all humans and take our planet or defend all humans and stop the others from taking the planet. The effects look like something entirely special and explosions? You betcha!!!!! Action-puff yes but like we have not seen since the last awful but explosive Star Wars episode. Interesting to note that so many thrillers are based on comic book characters these days. This should be a rare and beautiful exception so enjoy it while it lasts.
Clubland
Romantic Tragi-Comedy/Britcom
Cast; Brenda Blethyn, Khan Chittendon, Emma Booth, Rebbecca Gibney, Phillip Quast
This one rehashes two old formulas. A dried up showbiz family (headed by Brenda Blethyn) held together by a single favoured son (Khan Chittendon), is threatened by his new girlfriend (Emma Booth) and so fight it out to try and push her away. Given the presence of comic genius Blethyn and a young cast of rising talent - and the presence of Australian talent Phillip Quast and Rebbecca Gibney - it should be a charmer, but not for everyone.
July 5
Black Book
Foreign Language (Dutch/German)/Drama/World War Two
Cast: Carice Van Houten, Sebastian Koch
This film has been winning raves everywhere it goes. The story of a Dutch singer (and a Jew) who narrowly survives World War Two, it's not just your average intrigue, this is a full on sophistictaed thriller with Hitchcock-esque drama and glamour and a magnificent European cast. Movies with subtitles are not for everyone, likewise WWII movies, but if you like a good war picture then this is the best 2007 has offered so far.
Knocked Up
Comedy/Romance/Mucho Mucho Drug Use and Swearing
Cast: Seth Rogen, Katherine Heigl, Paul Rudd
This was meant to be a B-picture, but the presence of Grey's Anatomy alum Katherine Heigl makes this set to be a surprise blockbuster, which has garnished a generous deal of buzz in the US. Funny, adult and unlikely, it's the story of an everyman (Seth Rogen) who "knocks up" a beautiful woman (Heigl) after a one night stand and then has to deal with the consequences. Cross-over pictures for TV stars often fall flat, but we can hope. Eitherway, Grey's Anatomy stars, start your engines!!!
July 12
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Magic/Thriller/Action/Adventu re/Dark Drama
Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Ralph Fiennes, Michael Gambon, Maggie Smith, Imelda Staunton, Richard Griffiths, Gary Oldman, Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson, Julie Walters and a patridge in a pear tree
I hate the Harry Potter films as poor carbon copies of the books obviously designed to make a buck. Clearly I'm in the minority so lets review. The fifth movie looks set to be dark. And not just Azkban dark, but DARK dark. Despite the fact that Michael Gambon sucks as Dumbledore, all the old gang are back along with some brilliant new casting choices, headed by Helena Bonham Carter as Belltrix Lestrange and Imelda Staunton as the deliciously evil Dolores Umbridge. Could be good. Obviously Potter fans everywhere are already reaching for their credit cards, especially with book seven on the way. Eitherway... schmeh.
La Vie En Rose (La Mome)
Foreign Language (French)/Drama/Tragedy/Musica l/Biopic
Cast; Marion Cotillard, Gerard Depardieu, plethora of French stars otherwise unknown to us
Now this pic has audiences all over Europe raving and fans of legendary French siner Edith Piaf salivating all accross the US, and no doubt Down Under. Marion Cotillard gives the performance of a lifetime as Piaf in a movie that from early glimpses (I have seen it!) looks to be dark, dramatic, somewhat fragmented, jumping back and forth between past and present and utterly brilliant. If it doesn't win the Best Foreign Language movie at the upcoming Oscars I will be outraged! Marion Cotillard deserves every Best Actress award under the sun. She IS Piaf to a T!!!! See this movie. It is easily one of the best of 2007 and a biopic for the ages.
Jule 19
Evening
Drama/Romatic/Ensemble Cast/Oscar Candy
Cast: Claire Danes, Toni Collette, Meryl Streep, Glenn Close, Vannessa Redgrave, Natasha Richardson, Mamie Gummer, Eileen Atkins, Patrick Wilson, Hugh Dancy
This easily looks to be the corniest romantic puff of 2007, and yet with a cast line-up like that and Meryl Streep's daughter Mamie Gummer set to play her mother's character at a young age it still holds some kind of charming thrall. It's basically the story of an old woman who looks back on her life while on her deathbed and regrets that she didn't sow wild oats with the man she loved instead of the man her family picked. It's The Bridges of Madison County meets The Hours so a Kleenex fodder chick flick. That said, there is no way it will not be brilliant and earn Meryl Streep yet another Oscar nomination for her collection.
Amazing Grace
Drama/Adventure/Historical
Cast: Ioann Grufford, Albert Finney, Michael Gambon, Rufus Sewell, Ciaran Hinds, Toby Jones
See the previous movie but with an all male cast. This is an historical english house of commons set drama about the true story of William Wilberforce and his fight to end slavery in the British Empire in the 18th century. Listen loudly enough and you can still hear the British and American audiences who avoided this snoring loudly! That said, this is meant to be a truly inspiring and passionate film and Albert Finney steals the show as John Newton, or so we hear. Still it does have a kind of a "snore" factor about it. We shall wait and see.
July 26
The Simpsons Movie
Comedy/Farce/Based on Cartoon Series/Animated
Cast: You know who plays the Simpsons by now surely?! Guest starring: Minnie Driver, Kelsey Grammar, Erin Brockovish-Ellis, Albert Brooks
Now this pic caused all sorts of excitement when it was announced, and to the producers credit, they've kept us all enthralled with a string of brilliant teaser trailers over the months that have followed. However, they are yet to overcome the notion that this movie needs to be a mega-smash to overcome the ennui presently affecting the show in the face of apparantly inferior writing - and the presence of more shocking cartoon series' such as Family Guy, American Dad and South Park. Plotline? Apparantly Homer causes a slip up at the nuclear plant and Springfield has to be covered by a dome... or something like that. Details are sketchy. But hopes are high! Come on Simpsons you can do it!!!!!
August looks particularly icky at present for film releases. Movies starring Justin Timberlake and Anthony Hopkins as the brutal slayer of his hot young wife, Bruce Willis in another uncalled for Die Hard movie, a couple of shallow comedies, a Hills Have Eyes sequel and another anomiated penguin movie all combine to the sheer blah-ness of August at the movies.
August 16
The Banquet
Action/Adventure/Fantasy/Mart ial Arts/Drama/Foreign Language
Cast: Ziyi Zhang, other Asian stars otherwise unknown
This fantasy, martial arts drama would otherwise seem to be yet another in a series of similar features - Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Hero, House of Flying Daggers, Curse of the Golden Flower etc - if it weren't loosely based on Hamlet. See Really Long Link for a full description of the plot in all its violent and corrupt grandeur. It looks to be similar to earilier fare, a top heavy, overtly deep movie which just happens to have kick-ass fight scenes. If that kind of movie is for you then The Banquet looks set to be a feast.
August 23
The Bourne Ultimatum
Action/Adventure/Thriller/Dra ma
Cast; Matt Damon, Julia Stiles, Edgar Ramirez, Joan Allen
Okay you all know this one. Both previous installments of the Bourne saga have all been very well received and this one looks set to be no less of a crowd pleaser. Amnesiac rogue super-assassin Jason Bourne is well on his way to discovering more about his past and a great deal of bullets are fired in various exotic destinations set to the music of some very powerful explosions. It's a thriller yes and the stories are as crisp as fresh snow peas but frankly I wish they'd get on with it! I want to know what happens!!! That's why people see the movies I guess.
September 6
The Invasion
Action/Adventure/Thriller/Sci -Fi
Cast: Nicole Midman, Daniel Craig, Jeremy Northam
Based on past sci-fi cult flick Invasion of the Body Snatchers and starring Aussie mega-hotties Kidman and Craig, The Invasion looks set to be something of a hit, though Nicole is still suffering from flops opf the past two years and Daniel is still yet to prove himself able to overcome the curse of the Bond stars, who so often find themselves unable to star as anything else having once donned the outfit of the super-spy. Story: Kidman is a shrink who discovers an alien virus is causing an epidemic of weird human behaviour and that her son may be the key to stopping it. With the help of Daniel Craig's character Ben they do just that - and hopefully have a few sex scenes while they're at it. Should be fun.
September 13
Hairspray
Musical/Comedy/Romantic/Farce
Cast: Nikki Blonsky, John Travolta, Queen Latifah, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken, Zac Effron, Brittany Snow, Amanda Bynes, James Marsden, Alison Janney
While musicals are only semi-back, after Dreamgirls failed to grab the Oscars attention, this prime Broadway hit looks set to have audiences rolling in the aisles. The story (set in the 60's) is about an overweight Baltimore girl from the wrong side of the tracks (newcomer Nikki Blonsky) who gets on TV, gets the hot guy (High School Musical's Zac Effron), downs the hip blonde chick (Brittany Snow... as if Hollywood needed another blonde ingenue named Brittany!) and her evil mother (Michelle Pfeiffer) and gets TV intergrated, singing her chubby guts out all the way. Now this may seem disturbing, and musicals are hardly Australia's greatest passion, but hold the fort, it's hilariously funny, and this film is scintillatingly well-cast. Go online and check out Michelle Pfeiffer's song "(The Legend of) Miss Baltimore Crabs" if you don't believe me!
September 20
December Boys
Drama/Family/Daniel Radcliffe not being Harry Potter
Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, assorted other unknown up and comers
Now after the scandal surrounding Daniel Radcliffe's raunchy stage escapades in the play Equus (a smash hit surprise surprise), Radcliffe is back again in this long overdue movie that aims to prove he can act while not being a wizard. The story is set in Adelaide (ick!) and involves the story of four orphan boys born in December who are sent to the seaside from the convent orphanage for a holiday. There they meet a young couple who would make the perfect parents, and from there on the games are on as they sabotage each others efforts to win the prize of adoption. Could be funny. The rating is PG so it clearly hasn't fallen into the trap as with so many Australian movies of relying on too much swearing, drug use and strange social dysfunctions to attract attention. Clearly Radcliffe is expected to do that Hopes are high. This may be a winner. Do I hear Oscar buzz for young Harry?
Stardust
Fantasy/Adventure/Drama
Cast: Claire Danes, Charlie Cox, Sienna Miller, Ricky Gervais, Peter O'Toole, Michelle Pfeiffer, Robert DeNiro, Rupert Everett
Now this pic looks like The Chronicles of Narnia - just as epic as just kiddy-cutesy, but we are hopeful it will prove to have substance. A young man Tristan (Charlie Cox) promises his beloved - who clearly is not interested - that he will bring her a falling star. He goes on a quest for the star and finds it transformed into a beautiful women (Claire Danes) whose life is endangered as she is also sought by the sons of a dying king (Peter O'Toole) - four living and three dead - who has promised the victor his throne, and a witch (Michelle Pfeiffer) who needs the star to regcapture her youth. Naturally Tristan ends up falling in love with the star and like that. Bit "iffy" yes, but you never know. It probably will become the next Eragon but fingers are tightly crossed.
Rush Hour 3
Adventure/Action/Thriller/Com edy
Cast; Jackie Chan/Chris Tucker/Roman Polanski
Is this going to suck or what? It's been forever since the last installment and frankly the thrill is gone. This will no doubt be a minor hit and kudos for trying... but all the same: schmeh!
October 4
The Brave One
Action/Drama/Thriller
Cast: Jodie Foster... nuff said really
Despite lesbian rumours resurfacing earlier this year when Jodes was placed on the cover of The Advocate's top 100 most powerful gay people issue (in other words, the who's who of the gay mafia) her acting ability is frankly all the matters - and she's got it!!!!! Though she has recently clung to the formula of hot-hyper-smart-Mom-kicks-ass -when-young-un-is threatened movies, she has still managed to draw the crowds and have modestly successful flicks. In this one Foster is out for revenge after a violent attack leaves her badly damaged. In other words hot-mom kicks ass! I wish she'd find some Oscar-fodder. It's about time she got some exposure again!
October 18
A Mighty Heart
Drama/Thriller
Cast: Angelina Jolie, Dan Futterman
Starring Ms. Aren't-I-Just-So-Amazingly-Ho t-and-Talented herself and Hollywood's ittiest it-girl de jour Angelina Jolie, this pic is sure to grab audiences by the bushell. Problem, it's been criticised as the character Jolie played was partially African-American and Jolie (despite laws and conventions and good taste stating otherwise) has put on black-face make-up to play the lead. This is a real life story about Marianne Pearl who fought back after the assassination of her journalist husband Daniel and wrote a crushing expose about the post 9/11 world. This film is going to be telling. Can Jolie survive alone without a powerful male co-star in a film lacking anything that even resembles sex and nudity? I think not but I will be keen to see the results.
October 18
Day Watch
Action/Adventure/Fantasy/Supe rnatural/Horror/Foreign Language (Russian)
Cast: Russian stars otherwise unknown
This is the follow up to the global semi-hit Night Watch. The story of supernatural forces and their quest to battle-on despite a centuries old truce which divided the supernatural forces into two power blocs, the guardians of day and night. Mass supernatural violence is always a good thing and lord knows the US has disappointed recently with such films as Underworld misfiring badly. If a dark megalomaniac vampire story is for you then this is the film for 2007 that you are going to love.
October 25
Resident Evil 3: Extinction
Action/Thriller/Horror/Sci-Fi
Cast: Milla Jovovich, Sienna Guillory, etc
The next in a long long long long long long long line of trilogies and sequels this year, RE:3 is for the crowds who love mucho mucho sickening violence against a futuristic backdrop and personified by the presence of various mega-hotties in very little clothing - see Milla Jovovich. The story hardly matters, they've all been much the same in this series. "OMG! We must save the world and wow how many people are going to die before we do it!"
November 15
Fred Claus
Comedy/Family/Christmas
Cast: Vince Vaughan, Paul Giamatti, Miranda Richardson, Kevin Spacey, Kathy Bates, Rachel Weisz, Ludacris
Good cast and a new spin on the Christmas movie formula have won this some attention. Judi Dench was originally in talks... what happened there? But eitherway this is the story of Santa's brother Fred (Vaughn) who is forced to move back to the North Pole but is not at all anxious to be around his celebrity bro (Giamatti) who all his life has hogged the chicks (Miranda Richardson is set to sizzle as Mrs Claus... imagine the outfits! Can you say yum!!!!!) and spotlight. This will be puff but good fun. Expect the release date to be pushed back, especially if US audiences don't like it and it becomes this years Deck the Halls.
Novermber 29
Hey, Hey, It's Esther Blueburger
Drama/Comedy
Cast: Toni Collette, Keisha Castle-Hughes, Danielle Catanzariti, assorted other Aussie talent
Can you say Oscar!!!!!!!!!!! This is THE Australian Oscar hopeful of 2007 as matters stand. Toni Collette seriously deserves a Best Actress nomination already and Keisha Castle-Hughes looks set to defy the disgustingly shallow and transparantly hypocrital Hollywood establishment who dared to diss her for having a child out of wedlock!!! "I mean we'll let our stars bed-hop as much as they like but how dare a seventeen year old have a child out of wedlock from a three year long comitted monogamous relationship?! I mean what she couldn't have adopted one? SOOOO unnatural!!!!" The story is about a 13 year old girl who struggles to fit in at both a public and a private school. Details are sketchy and no trailer as yet, but look out, this one should shine.
Beowulf
Drama/Action/Adventure/Fantasy
Cast: Angelina Jolie, Robin Wright-Penn, Anthony Hopkins, John Malkovich, Crispin Glover, Ray Winestone
This looks set to be the fantasy flick of 2007 thus far. Based on the Nordic legend of the same name, Beowulf must go on a quest to destroy the moster Grendel and then Grendel's mother after she takes exception to her little monster's death. Mucho mucho fantasy violence. Uncomfortable feelings develop when we discover that Angie Jolie is voicing Grendel's mother... this could be a huge misfire right here. Time will tell.
December 13
I Am Legend
Action/Adventure/Sci-Fi
Cast: Will Smith, assorted others
This looks very much like I Robot. Will Smith plays the last man alive who must nightly defend himself against the rest of the world, who have all become vampires and you know the code: they must have blood... or die! Hmmmm, Will Smith vs The Rest of the World? Will Smith is going to win! If he has buffed up again (as in I Robot) then he is sure to draw crowds. I smell another trilogy!
December 26
His Dark Materials: The Golden Compass
Action/Fantasy/Adventure/Drama
Cast: Nicole Kidman, Eric Bana, Daniel Craig, Eva Green, Kevin Bacon, Magda Szbanksi, Dakota Blue-Richards
Now this is the Boxing Day release par excellence - set to grab the family as a whole and have them buying movie tickets nationwide. Lyra Belacqua must journey into the arctic north of a paralell universe to try and find "Dust", a dark material that can unite universes and which is presently at the centre of a violent war between those who would use it and those who would destroy it. With Nicole Kidman and Eva Green as evil witches (SIZZLE!!!) and the WETA artists behind Lord of the Rings, to say nothing of a kick ass story, this movie if done properly should successfully launch a syndicate of films to rival Harry Potter - that's if they don't go all Disney-fied like in The Chronicles of Narnia - but this is a New Line Cinema release so... fingers crossed.
Enchanted
Fantasy/Adventure/Romantic/Co medy/Fairy Tale
Cast: Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, James Marsden, Timothy Spall, Susan Sarandon, Idina Menzel
This is kind of like the B-fantasy movie of the christmas line-up. Expect its relese date to be pushed way way way back as early reports are not good. The story is of a fairy tale princess (a la Disney) who is thrust into the real world by an evil witch (Sarandon) whose romanticised, fairy tale views on love are tested when she meets a handsome NY lawyer (McDreamy himself, Patrick Dempsey). Sounds kinda ick doesn't it? Like Kate & Leopold meets Laws of Attraction - and those movies both stank! Hopefully the presence of eternally wonderful though somewhat slipping of late Susan Sarandon as an evil witch and Tony Award winning diva Idina Menzel will spell some hope for this flick. In the meantime surely McDreamy could have picked a better flick to break into Hollywood with?!
The Kite Runner
Drama
Cast: various unknowns
This movie is leading all early early Oscar buzz for 2007/2008. Expect the release date to be pushed into January/February as there is no way this will have a Boxing Day release in this country! The story is based on a classic novel by Khaled Hosseini. Amir, who has lived in California for years, returns to his native Afghanistan to help his friend Hassan whose son is in trouble. Hyper political in content and somewhat like last years Babel, it looks set to be daring and confronting. Not for everyone but a remarkable film nevertheless.
The Spiderwick Chronicles
Adventure/Drama/Fantasy/Family
Cast: Mary-Louise Parker, Nick Nolte, Martin Short, Joan Plowright, Seth Rogen
In the tradition of the Narnia movies, this is a fantasy about a family who moves into a run down old house at which point the children find an alternate universe and blah blah blah. Dear God somebody please malke it stop!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
American Gangster
Action/Crime/Drama/Gangsta
Cast: Russell Crowe, Denzel Washington, Cuba Gooding Jnr
Okay so even though it's headed by Denzel and Big Russ this still feels somewhat The Departed redux doesn't it? Well maybe not... This is the story of a drug lord smuggling heroin into the US during the 70's by stashing the stuff in the coffins of dead servicemen returning from Vietnam. Got potential, especially with Ridley Scott at the helm. If he can pull this of we'll forgive him for Kingdom of Heaven and even A Good Year.
Bee Movie
Animated/Comedy/Family
Cast: Jerry Seinfeld, Rennee Zellewegger, Matthew Broderick, John Goodman, Chris Rock, Alan Arkin, Eddie Izzard, Rip Torn, Kathy Bates
This looks set to be the Happy Feet of 2007. Dreamworks has gone for another animal, instead of clinging to penguins as almost ever other animated-feature-starring-ani mals of the year has done - raunchy penguins after booty and a mockumentary about a penguin surfer?????? Oy Gevalt! But the story: Seinfeld voices newly graduate bee Barry B. Benson who does not want his life to be constricted to the one apparant available career - honey. So he goes outside the hive (sounds familiar?) and talks to a human who informs him that she and all other humans have been stealing the bees precious honey for centuries. Barry decides to take action and sue the human race for damages... and oh dear God that sounds cheesy! It's gonna be cute, cuddly, the humour will be predictable, but something tells me that SOMETHING in this movie will be unexpected! I mean there has to be SOMETHING right? I mean it can't just be the same old insect-animation formula can it? They're not that stupid are they surely? It's got to have a twist somewhere? Is there no hope left in the world?
Well that's the line up as matters stand. This year's releases seem to be personified by a disturbing absence of drama, arthouse and sophisticated comedy. 2007 is filled instead with epics, comic-book character movies, based on tv series movies, fantasy's and don't even say the words syndicated trilogy! Literally could their be any more sequels and trilogy movies this year?!Usual procedure is for the Indie movies to all hit the line up late this year as we start to see more and more of next year's film schedule. At present, it would seem that by the end of the year we ought to be thoroughly sick of Marvel comic characters, zombies, vampires, fantasy children movies and cheesy no-substance comedy. Hopefully thast means that 2008 should be filled with some pretty amazing dramatic work. Fingers crossed!
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