It’s been too long since I had a chance to bash a Hans selection, but alas, having recently seen the trailers for Drag Me To Hell in between NBA Playoffs action has given me an opportunity. Unless Sam Raimi can get back some of his pre-Spidey 3 magic, Drag Me To Hell looks like another made for an opening weekend #1 cash grab, generic teen horror flick. I will be passing, as I also have not seen a genuine horror masterpiece since…since…I can’t even remember. Hopefully Midnight Meat Train fits the bill when I watch it soon.
For my #3, I pick another big name director who has fallen off his game a bit recently, with Michael Mann’s Public Enemies.
Michael Mann's Public Enemies
Title: Public Enemies
Synopsis: A crime spree during the Great Depression leads to the birth of the FBI.
Cast: Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, Marion Cotillard, Channing Tatum, Giovanni Ribisi, Billy Crudup
Why you should be excited too: Aside from seeing Johnny Depp vs Christian Bale with tommy guns? How about the fact that we get to see a Michael Mann story of crime in America, one of our finest directors in that genre? Mann may have definitely dropped the ball with Miami Vice, but if Public Enemies is anywhere close to some of his other works (Thief, Manhunter, The Last of the Mohicans, Heat, The Insider, Collateral), then we will soon have a crime classic on our hands.
Based on Bryan Burrough’s non-fiction book of the same name, Public Enemies will showcase Depp’s John Dillinger being chased by Bale’s Melvin Purvis. The film will not be 100% historically accurate, but according to Burrough, will be as close as Hollywood will be able to make. I am looking forward to what should be a well acted American gangster epic, with tommy gun shootouts. Public Enemies will be released on July 1, 2009, in the thick of the summer movie season.
I don’t know what else I can say about Sulmoney’s #3 most anticipated pick of Sherlock Holmes, except that his massive mancrush on writer-director Guy Ritchie is reaching the point of self-parody. I’m not really sure what the discussion in the studio’s conference room sounded like when they decided to hand Ritchie the reigns to a Sherlock Holmes movie, but I’d imagine it went something like this.
“Ok a new Sherlock Holmes movie. Who’s gonna direct it?”
“Well, Sherlock’s British, so we should probably get a British guy.”
Synopsis: A loan officer ordered to evict an old woman from her home finds herself the recipient of a supernatural curse, which turns her life into a living hell. Desperate, she turns to a seer to try and save her soul, while evil forces work to push her to a breaking point.
Directed By: Sam Raimi (The Evil Dead Trilogy, Spider-Man Franchise)
Starring: Alison Lohman, Justin Long (the obnoxious “I’m a Mac” guy)
It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a horror flick that really pushed my buttons. Actually, the last horror movie I remember thoroughly enjoying was probably 2002’s The Ring, and I’ve been desperate to rediscover that magic ever since. There’s nothing quite like the feeling of sitting in a dark, densely-packed room full of people who are on the edge of their seats with suspense one moment, jerking their faces away from the screen in terror the next and then finally breaking into nervous laughter when the dramatic release lands at exactly the right beat.
Horror isn’t the most respected genre among pretentious film buffs (they tend to prefer the watered-down and more socially acceptable “thriller” genre – see Sulsnobby’s #8 of 2008 pick, Tell No One), but the craft of building and balancing suspense with moments of levity and humor is a delicate art that requires a skilled hand. Although Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man films never completely won me over, the best part of those movies was always the slightly-campy, old-timey throwback style Raimi brought to the table, which was the exact reason his Evil Dead horror-comedies remain cult classics. I can’t wait to see him bring the genre back to its old-school roots with a somewhat high-profile thrill ride that will put the Hostel/Turistas/Saw torture porn flavor of modern horror to shame, and if the early buzz on this movie is any indication, that’s exactly what Mr. Raimi has done.
Also, this is a movie about an old demon lady who curses a young banker for denying her a loan extension, and it features a sequence where the old demon lady loses her denchers and gnaws on Alison Lohman’s chin with her bare gums. That’s worth 8 dollars.
There are times when I remember why Hans and I decided to start this blog up together, instead of as independent ventures. We both have an admiration for well crafted works, and his praise for Rome echoes my sentiments of the show exactly, and shows the power of a mini-series when there is enough support behind it from the people who want to make it. I am a sucker for the so called “swords and sandals epics”, (even Troy) (the director’s cut especially) (and if we are talking about director’s cuts, Kingdom of Heaven, totally different movie) (but definitely not Alexander), and am looking forward to Agora as well now, as it mixes in another favorite topic of mine, religion.
One thing though that I do not admire Hans for is his dislike of Guy Ritchie. Come on! He is a fun director (sometimes)! And guess what, I got another Guy Ritchie film to write about, just for the reading pleasure of my partner in blogging.
Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes
Title: Sherlock Holmes
Synopsis: Sherlock Holmes and Watson battle an enemy back from the dead who plans to bring about the end of England.
Director: Guy Ritchie
Cast: Robert Downey Jr, Jude Law, Rachel McAdams, Mark Strong, Eddie Marsan
Why you should be excited too: Besides it being Guy Ritchie’s next film? I kid. Not really. Putting my admiration for a well done Guy Ritchie film aside (he has put up some atrocities), we are being promised a totally different take on the Sherlock Holmes stories we read, heard, or watched while growing up. Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes is being billed as the Batman Begins of Sherlock Holmes, and promises to show us not the elderly Sherlock and the butler like Watson, but an ass kicking, glass shattering Sherlock and war veteran Watson. In the eponymous role, we have my current favorite actor at the moment, Robert Downey Jr., a man who will be able to bring much charisma and energy to the role. While I am not a fan of Jude Law, he should be an interesting Watson, while Rachel McAdams plays a femme fatale, and the under appreciated Eddie Marsan help to fill out the cast. Playing the leader of a cult and England’s villain, Mark Strong will hopefully carry over some of his energy from RocknRolla and pose an intimidating threat. There is still much work to be done on this film, and Sherlock Holmes has a tentative release date of December 25, 2009, but the payoff will be worth the wait. A potential entry for me top 10 of 2009? Elementary my dear Hans.
I gotta say, I’m a little shocked by Sulmoney’s #5 pick with The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. Director Terry Gilliam is known for creating some of the most thoughtful and intelligent movies around, so what about this flick could possibly appeal to the guy who crafted a makeshift shrine to Madonna’s boy toy? Wait, what’s that? It stars not just one but FOUR of the biggest heartthrobs for teenage girls everywhere? Ah, that explains it. Speaking of intelligent movies, here’s my #4:
Agora
Synopsis: A historical drama set in Roman Egypt, concerning a slave who turns to the rising tide of Christianity in the hopes of pursuing freedom while also falling in love with his master, the famous female philosophy professor and atheist Hypatia of Alexandria.
Directed By: Alejandro Amenábar (The Others, The Sea Inside)
Starring: Rachel Weisz, Max Minghella, Oscar Isaac
I’m such a sucker for Spanish-speaking (Spancophone?) directors. Guillermo Del Toro (Pan’s Labyrinth, Hellboy I and II), Alejandro González Iñárritu (Babel, 21 Grams), Pedro Almodóvar (Volver, Hable con Ella) Alfonso Cuarón (Y tu mamá también, Children of Men) and most recently Juan Antonio Bayona (The Orphanage) are some of the most promising directors in showbusiness, and not a single one of them has even peaked yet (except maybe Almodóvar). Amenábar’s heritage alone would have been enough to sell me on this movie, but I’ve actually had the privilege of reading the screenplay, and I can report that its depiction of the timeless struggle between science and religion is almost pitch perfect (Bill Maher could learn a thing or two for his next documentary). As the trailer makes abundantly clear, it’s also going to be one of the grandest and most meticulously crafted ancient Roman period pieces since HBO’s “Rome,”which just happens to be one of my all-time favorite TV series. Forget CGI visual effects, these sets are very real, and in the age of Transformers it’s easy to forget how much this kind of pain-staking attention to detail can help to immerse viewers in the fiction. My only worry is that this story is almost too intelligent to appeal to broader audiences, hence the lack of any dialogue in the teaser trailer, but as long as I can see this thing fully realized in fall 2009, I don’t care what everyone else thinks.
Leave it to Hans to select proper adult and mind challenging films such as those based on a Roald Dahl novel. Alas, he is going for something that someone with his 5th grade reading level will enjoy. But in all seriousness, I am also a huge fan of Wes Anderson, and he has reached automatic watch level. I am in the minority however, as I count The Life Aquatic as one of my favorite movies ever; it’s irreverent humor just struck such a chord with me, and the island assault scene is easily one of my favorite film sequences of all time. But moving on to my #5, I present what will most likely be one of the most bittersweet films of 2009…
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
Title: The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
Synopsis: The leader of a traveling theatre troupe takes audience members through a magical mirror to explore their imaginations, all under the auspice of the cliche deal with the Devil.
Director: Terry Gilliam
Cast: Christopher Plummer, Heath Ledger, Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell, Jude Law, Tom Waits
Why you should be excited too: A Terry Gilliam film is usually a must see, but in this case, we will witness the last recorded performance by the late Oscar winner, Heath Ledger. When Ledger died during the filming of this flick, there was no shortage of people who chalked it up under the multitude of misfortunes that Terry Gilliam has had during his tenure in Hollywood. However, when the film was made salvageable by the plot device of using three different actors to play Ledger while in different parts of the film, and that the three would be Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell (I can hear the thuds of the women of the world feinting to the floor now), and that each of these movie stars would be donating their salaries to Ledger’s daughter Matilda, it made my interest in what Gilliam’s fantastic imagination would be bringing to the screen all the greater. I eagerly await the work of some of the finest actors in the business under the direction of one of the business’ most creative, coming out as of now, on September 24, 2009.
With Watchmen finally here, the 2009 movie season is just reaching full swing, and we thought we’d save you the trouble of wading through the sea of schlock that’s hitting screens this year by preaching our top 5 most anticipated movies of 2009. To keep things interesting, we thought we’d start by counting down some movies that you haven’t seen in Superbowl spots or plastered all over billboards or the side of a bus. So if you’re looking for a list of 2009’s biggest blockbusters, hang tight, and we’ll get there. But for now let’s kick it off with my #5:
Fantastic Mr. Fox
Synopsis: Angry farmers, tired of sharing their chickens with a sly fox, look to get rid of their opponent and his family.
Directed By: Wes Anderson
Starring: Cate Blanchett, George Clooney, Bill Murray, Jason Schwartzman, and Anjelica Huston
Simply put, I’ll watch anything Wes Anderson touches (even when he’s just trying to sell me something). Although The Life Aquatic disappointed me and The Darjeeling Limited was only a moderate improvement, I keep holding on to hope that Mr. Anderson will knock me off my feet with another modern classic like The Royal Tenenbaums, or at least another witty comedy on the level of Rushmore. Fantastic Mr. Fox has the potential to deliver on that promise more than either of his past two efforts for two big reasons: 1) Wes Anderson didn’t write the story. 2) He’s making it with stop-motion animation.
Based on the children’s novel by Roald Dahl (the man who gave us Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach and Matilda), Fantastic Mr. Fox could very well be the first movie from Wes Anderson that sidesteps the overwhelming feelings of loneliness and abandon that plague so many of his characters, and consequently the movies about them. Although I haven’t read the book, the premise sounds a great deal more upbeat and energetic than the emotional/family dramas Anderson’s used to. This is a good thing because in my mind, Anderson’s always been a better visual director than writer. It’s true that he was a co-writer with Owen Wilson on both The Royal Tenenbaums and Rushmore, but after seeing his more recent solo writing efforts, I’m starting to wonder how much of the magic came from Mr. Wilson’s pen and not his own. I’m excited to see how he adapts his carefully composed but vibrantly colorful style to the fancy of a children’s tale through the use of stop-motion animation, an art form that’s always beautiful to watch. Then of course there’s the cast, which is as great as all of his movies, with the promising addition of George Clooney to the gang of regulars.
And even if the movie sucks, I know I’ll love the soundtrack if it includes more of his trademark offbeat hipster gems like this one.
Ooh, I get to write a post on Hans’ behalf. What kind of shenanigans can I pull? None, ugh. Here are Hans’ Oscar predictions, with his comments on each where applicable…
Best Adapted Screenplay – Slumdog Millionaire
Best Original Screenplay – Milk
Best Supporting Actress – Penelope Cruz
Best Supporting Actor – Heath Ledger (of course)
Best Actress – Kate Winslet (’nuff said)
Best Actor – Sean Penn. I am banking on Hollywood expressing its disgust for Prop 8 through him, even though I think he is the underdog against Mickey Rourke.
There is no stopping the Slumdog Millionaire train. Ever since steamrolling through the rest of the awards seasons, we have finally come to one of the most anti-climactic and suspense free Best Picture categories in years. As our readers will recollect, none of us will beg to differ with this decision, and we will both be more than placated. This the year of Slumdog Millionaire. Jai ho.
Who Should Win
Slumdog Millionaire
Slumdog Millonaire. It was written. But second place goes to this one, definitely a must see.
Milk
The best picture in almost any other year, Milk is a true gem of a motion picture, and is a testament to the power of the movies. I will be honest, I had never heard of Harvey Milk before sitting down to see the movie. Two hours later, I was convinced that this was a man that should be regarded in the same light as individuals such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Martin Luther King Jr.
Who Was Snubbed
The Dark Knight
The Dark Knight is far from a perfect film, but then again, which of the other nominees are? Which of the other other nominees captured the attention of the entire world? Did any of the other nominees gross $1 billion? It is inconceivable how The Dark Knight was overlooked this year, as it was a perfect opportunity to recognize a film that was universally loved by critics and audiences, and a way for the Academy to shed their image of rewarding artsy, never seen films and overlooking the people’s choices.
Another day, another prediction, another jab at Hans. Ok, today I will be nice, as I am sure Hans would like nothing more to add his one cent to the final two predictions, Best Director and Best Picture. The nominees in Best Director are David Fincher (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button), Ron Howard (Frost/Nixon), Gus Van Sant (Milk), Stephen Daldry (The Reader), and Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire).
Who Will Win
Danny Boyle for Slumdog Millionaire
By now, it is a mere formality for Danny Boyle to accept his Academy Award, as he has been cleaning house during this award season, and rightly so. His work in bringing the wonderful Slumdog Millionaire to the silver screen is laudable, and he will be rewarded tomorrow night. Every part of the film, including directing 3 sets of actors playing the same characters, was spot on, and Boyle’s time has come to join Hollywood’s elite.
Who Should Win
Danny Boyle for Slumdog Millionaire
Boyle. No doubt. But, whenever my “Should” agrees with my “Will”, my second place choice is offered. In this case, I give you this man.
Gus Van Sant for Milk
Gus Van Sant’s work on Milk is quite astonishing. His perfect usage of archival footage adds greatly to the film, and reminds us that we are seeing the life and times of a man who the history books hid from us. Contrasting this with an excruciatingly painful attempt to recreate archival footage by Ron Howard in Frost/Nixon, we are reminded that seeing the real deal is mightier than faking it. All of this is backed by an Award worthy performance from an actor at the top of his craft, and spectacular supporting work from a wide ensemble cast.
Who Was Snubbed
Christopher Nolan for The Dark Knight
While The Dark Knight snub from Best Picture is more debatable, Christopher Nolan’s exclusion from this group of nominees is not. As Hans pointed out in his piece on The Dark Knight quite perfectly, Nolan’s ability to keep all aspects of this sprawling epic so well put together is quite remarkable. There has not been a fumble from the Academy like this snub for a long time. Here is to hoping that the Academy voters get it right when Nolan’s inevitable 3rd Batman film comes out, and will hopefully be just as great as the last one.
Hans got a compliment from his training teacher; he was commended on his ability to read. High five!
From a two woman race in the Best Actress category, we move on to a two man race for Best Actor. From a career resurrection, to another fine performance in his resume, the other nominees need not come Sunday night. The nominees include Richard Jenkins (The Visitor), Frank Langella (Frost/Nixon), Sean Penn (Milk), Brad Pitt (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button), and Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler). (Full disclosure: I still need to see The Visitor, don’t judge me!)
Who Will Win
Mickey Rourke in The Wrestler
Hollywood loves a redemption story, and there is none hotter right now than Mickey Rourke’s. Poised to be the biggest Hollywood star of the 80s and 90s, Rourke took a well documented detour and became Hollywood poison. Slowly working his way back into everyone’s good graces, Rourke completed his comeback with perhaps his finest and most authentic performance to date as a broken down, aging wrestler out for one last hurrah, a role that critics point out was not hard for him to pull off as it is his story. Nonetheless, it was the best performance of the year by anyone, and one that will studied for years.
Who Should Win
Mickey Rourke in The Wrestler
Mickey has this on lock. I hope. If it is not going to be Mickey Rourke though, it will be this guy…
Sean Penn in Milk
Sean Penn gives another amazing performance as Harvey Milk, and is just as deserving as Mickey Rourke for the grand prize. As awful as it may sound to say it, I feel that there may be some sort of homophobic backlash against Penn’s performance, and it may have rubbed some of the voters the wrong way, similar to how Brokeback Mountain and Heath Ledger were seemingly locks a few years back but came away empty handed, save for Ang Lee’s win. Penn is deserving of it, and becomes Harvey Milk, and it is another iconic performance.
Who Was Snubbed
Colin Farrell in In Bruges
Anybody who has followed this blog knows my love and admiration for In Bruges, and at the core of this great picture is a performance from Colin Farrell that will change his career. He earned a Golden Globe for it, and he was an outside shot at getting the nomination, but fans of the film will be rooting for Martin McDonagh in the Original Screenplay category. If you still have not seen this gem, definitely make the effort to see it, and treasure the performance by not only Colin Farrell, but also Bredan Gleeson and Ralph Fiennes.
The Feature Preachers 