A look ahead… the films of February
Posted by Patrick Hodges
February 4
Sanctum 3D (Universal) - Director: Alister Grierson; starring Rhys Wakefield, Allison Cratchley and Christopher Baker. A diving team experiences a life-threatening crisis during an expedition to an unexplored cave system.
Opinion: This based-on-true-events story is being produced by James Cameron, so you can be sure that the 3D aspect will be phenomenal. However, this ain't Avatar, and I'm wondering if the lack of recognizable names in the cast (which is comprised primarily of Australian actors) will hurt its chances.
A look ahead… the films of January 2011
Posted by Patrick Hodges
Sorry to all who frequent this site and have noticed that there have been very few additions in the last few weeks. It's been almost as long since we've posted any new trailers, so, just to catch up, I'm going to post every major film's trailer coming out in January 2011 (other months will follow).
January 7
Season of the Witch (Relativity Media) - Director: Dominic Sena; starring Nicolas Cage, Ron Perlman and Claire Foy. A 14th-century Crusader (Cage) returns to his homeland, which has been devastated by the Black Plague. To appease members of the church, he and his comrade (Perlman) look to transport an accused witch (Foy) to a remote abbey, where monks hope that a ritual will end the pestilence.
Opinion: It's January, it's Nicolas Cage, how seriously can you take it?
Trailers: The Way Back and The Illusionist
Posted by Matthew Starr
Peter Weir's The Way Back has screened at Telluride and a few times after but only in LA. I read on Hollywood Elsewhere that it will not be screened in New York until very late this year if not 2011. Kind of an odd strategy for a film that is expected to to be in play for various awards but early word has been good, if not great.
Trailers: Made in Dagenham and Rabbit Hole
Posted by Matthew Starr
Two trailers were released this week for films featuring key players in the race for best actress and supporting actress.
Nigel Cole's Made in Dagenham reflects the 1968 Ford sewing machinists strike where female workers protested against sexual harassment and for equal pay. The early indication is that Sally Hawkins, Miranda Richardson and Rosamund Pike are excellent in their respective roles. I will be seeing the film at a screening on November 1st.
Trailer: Biutiful
Posted by Matthew Starr
When I finally write up my top 50 or so films of the decade entry sometime in the coming months, Amores Perros will certainly be somewhere on that list. I was not impressed with 21 Grams despite some stellar acting and after a second viewing of Babel this past summer I grew more fondly of that film. Biutiful has played at Cannes, Telluride and Toronto and the buzz is that the highlight of the film is Bardem's performance and that he is a contender for a nomination. The film is also Mexico's entry for best foreign film.
Zuck on The Social Network
Posted by Matthew Starr
Well now we know that Mark Zuckerberg has seen The Social Network. At the Startup School conference at Stanford he spoke briefly on the film and what they got right or wrong. He says they got the details of his clothes down but was off the point thematically in revealing what sparked him to create Facebook.
Trailer: Restless
Posted by Matthew Starr
Gus Van Sant's first film since Milk is being released in January which as you can imagine is quite an odd time for a film of his to open. Usually studios leave the bottom of the barrel for January and February but between this and Soderbergh's Haywire we may actually have some decent films to fill in the months that are usually cinematic Siberia. Restless stars Mia Wasikowska as a terminally ill girl who falls in love with a boy who likes to attend funerals and is friends with the ghost of a Japanese kamikaze pilot. If anyone can pull that off, Gus Van Sant is the man.
Notable Clips
Posted by Matthew Starr
Kris Tapley at In Contention has brought to my attention that Sam Rockwell played the lead thug in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. This was one of the first films I saw in theaters actually enjoyed it. I have the urge to watch it again now knowing that Rockwell and Elias Koteas both have large roles in the film and also to see how my adult self would take to the film.
To segue to another one of my childhood favorites, Back to the Future, a clip was released this week showing actual footage of Eric Stoltz as Marty McFly. One of the great benefits of all these new blu ray releases is all extras they have been shelved for years finally making their way to us. See the clip below.
Blue Valentine Trailer and Rating
Posted by Matthew Starr
I'm not sure if this is a coincidence or what but on the day the trailer was released for the acclaimed Blue Valentine it was also hit with an NC-17 rating by the MPAA. Mike Fleming over at Deadline Daily suggests it is due to a single scene. He says,
"I'm told the rating was given for a scene in which the characters played by Gosling and Williams try to save their crumbling marriage by spending a night away in a hotel. They get drunk and their problems intensify when he wants to have sex and she doesn't, but will to get him off her back."
The film has make the rounds at the festival circuit including Sundance, Cannes and Toronto and there has been virtually nothing written about it being controversial so this rating comes as a surprise. Surely Harvey Weinstein and company will contest this odd rating and it should get knocked down to an R. Regardless I will be catching this at the soonest New York screening as the work of Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams has been championed all year.
127 Hours: Second Trailer
Posted by Matthew Starr
I thought the first trailer was a little uneven but now the second look at Danny Boyle's latest gives us a better idea of what the film will probably feel like. I can tell right off the bat that the below the line efficiency of Slumdog Millionaire will be just as brilliant here. James Franco is being considered as a primary contender for best actor at the moment for his work here.