Weekend Forecast: 8/8/08
By Craig Kennedy - August 7th, 2008; 12:01 am
This week’s Forecast starts off with a film that has already been released. Why? Because it’s one of the best movies of the year so far and it’s finally expanding from the two theaters in which it opened. If you’re wondering when I’m going to shut up about Man on Wire, the answer is: don’t hold your breath.
- Man on Wire. In 1974, Frenchman Philippe Petit and a band of accomplices strung a cable between the tops of the unopened towers of New York’s World Trade Center. Petit then proceeded to walk across the cable 8 times over the course of 45 minutes. In the process, he turned two unattractive and unpopular buildings into a momentary work of art. In the end, the question is not why he did it; it’s why it means so much. Click here for the first LiC 5-star review of 2008, or just take my word for it and go get your Tickets
Both wide releases opened on Wednesday this week for some reason. Apparently the studios want to get a jump on the Olympics or something. Really? Is that true? Anyway, on with it.
- Pineapple Express (Wed. 8/6). A stoner buddies-on-the-run action comedy from the Apatow crowd directed by David Gordon Green (Snow Angels, All the Real Girls). Think Midnight Run with munchies. Seth Rogen is a pot smoking process server. James Franco is his dealer. Rogen witnesses a murder involving some mobsters and a crooked cop. R-rated shenanigans ensue when the bad guys discover there was a witness to their crime. Internet buzz about this one has been mainly positive, but as I’ve said before, a large chunk of the Internet is in the tank for Apatow. Tickets
- The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 (Wed. 8/6). You won’t be surprised to learn I didn’t see the original Sisterhood which centered on four teen girls, lifelong friends who are separated for the first time yet joined by a pair of magical pants that seem to fit each one of them. They lost me at the “magical pants” part, but you have to like the TV-familiar cast of Alexis Bledel (Gilmore Girls), America Ferrera (Ugly Betty), Blake Lively (Gossip Girl) and Amber Tamblyn (Joan of Arcadia). This time the cast is back and on the eve of college when, once again, they’re separated. Will those magic pants still fit? I’ll give you a dollar if they don’t. Sure, this one is an easy target for fanboys who would only see it if it was an entry in the Where The Boys Aren’t series, but I’ve got no problem with a halfway decent movie that is well cast and delivers a positive message to an underserved movie demographic. Since it’s not my demographic, the odds of me catching this one are, shall we say, highly unlikely. Tickets
Don’t see anything you like in the wide releases? Think I’m shitting you about Man on Wire? Try these other limited releases on for size:
- Bottle Shock (Wed. 8/6). Bill Pullman stars in this film based on the true story of Jim Barrett whose California chardonnay beat prestigious French wines in a tasting competition in 1976, thus putting California wine on the map. Alan Rickman plays the British wine merchant who sponsored the competition. Dennis Farina, Eliza Dushku and Bradley Whitford also star. Hmmm. Yeah. I don’t know. I someone fell in love with Sideways and thought this would be a great idea. Likeable B+ level cast though, right? Tickets
- Beer for My Horses. In the proud tradition of lame films inspired by the titles of cheesy yet iconic country songs like Take This Job and Shove It and Harper Valley PTA comes this Toby Keith penned adventure-comedy epic (and certifiable crapfest, sight unseen) starring himself, Claire “Remember when you thought I was hot in Mallrats?” Forlani, Ted “Wang Dang Sweet Poontang” Nugent, Barry “When is the Northern Exposure reunion movie and what the hell was my character talking about in No Country For Old Men?” Corbin, Tom “A) When will they make M*A*S*H 2, B) will they ever ask me to be grand marshal of the Seattle Seafair parade again, and C) did I mention I saw Drew Barrymore’s body double naked one time?” Skerrit, Rodney “Who are you again?” Carrington and Willie “I have no joke here because Willie owns” Nelson. Keith and his pal Rodney are small town deputies. When Keith’s wife is kidnapped by a revenge seeking drug lord, they set off to find her. Tickets
- Elegy. Based on the Pulitzer Prize winning short novel The Dying Animal by Philip Roth and directed by Isabel Coixet, Elegy stars Sir Ben Kingsley as an older college professor who beds his female students, but doesn’t let them get under his skin…until Penelope Cruz walks into his classroom. Dennis Hopper and Patricia Clarkson also star. This one first popped onto LiC radar when it played the Berlin International Film Festival in February. I’m sold based on the cast alone. Tickets
- Hell Ride. The story goes that Quentin Tarantino invited AIP genre star Larry Bishop (son of Joey) over to watch a print of Bishop’s 1968 biker film Savage Seven. Lamenting there hadn’t been a real biker picture in ages, the two called up Bob Weinstein to produce one. Bishop directs the tale of biker revenge starring himself and Michael Madsen. The ensemble cast is filled out with Dennis Hopper, Vinnie Jones and David Carradine. Sound like good dirty fun on paper, but whether or not it can execute is another story. If I was a betting man, I’d go with not. Tickets
- Red. Co-directed by Lucky McKee (May) and Trygve Allister Diesen from a novel by Jack Ketchum (The Girl Next Door), this thriller tells the story of an old recluse (played by Brian Cox) and his dog (played by a dog). When the dog Red is murdered by three teenagers, the old man goes to extreme measures to find justice. Tickets
Opening in New York:
- Beautiful Losers. Documentary about a group of artists rooted in hip hop, graffiti, punk, skateboard and surfing subcultures who gravitated toward a small storefront art gallery in NY in the 1990s. None of them are household names, but they all left their mark. Tickets
- Patti Smith: Dream of Life (Wed. 8/6) 12 years in the making, Steven Sebring’s documentary takes a stream of consciousness look at the rock star, poet, painter and icon. LiC favorite Nick Plowman has seen it and gives it 4.5 stars. Tickets
- What We Do is Secret. The Germs were at ground zero of the late 70’s LA punk scene though, perhaps by design, they only lasted a brief time before creative force Darby Crash killed himself by heroin overdose in 1980. They only recorded one official album and one posthumous EP, but their impact on the music endures. Guitarist Pat Smear would of course go on to play with Nirvana and Foo Fighters. As I said after seeing it at the 2007 LAFF, What We Do is Secret is a nice and earnest blast of punk vitality, but it feels a little too polished and squeaky clean to convey the raw energy of the music and milieu. There’s a missing element of danger. Shane West was good as Crash while Rick Gonzalez and Bijou Philips were even better as Pat Smear and bassist Lorna Doom respectively, but if you want the real deal, just watch Penelope Spheeris’ excellent documentary of the time, The Decline of Western Civilization. Tickets
Filed under: Weekend Forecast
Tags: Alexis Bledel, Amber Tamblyn, America Ferrera, Barry Corbin, Beautiful Losers, Beer for My Horses, Ben Kingsley, Bijou Phillips, Bill Pullman, Blake Lively, Bottle Shock, Bradley Whitford, Claire Forlani, David Carradine, David Gordon Green, Dennis Farina, Dennis Hopper, Elegy, Eliza Dushku, Hell Ride, Isabel Coixet, Jack Ketchum, James Franco, Larry Bishop, Lucky McKee, Man on Wire, Michael Madsen, Patricia Clarkson, Patti Smith, Patti Smith: Dream of Life, Penelope Cruz, Philip Roth, Philippe Petit, Pineapple Express, Quentin Tarantino, Red, Rick Gonzalez, Rodney Nelson, Seth Rogen, Shane West, Steven Sebring, Ted Nugent, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2, Toby Keith, Tom Skerrit, Trygve Allister Diesen, Vinnie Jones, What We Do Is Secret
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I can’t wait to see Man on Wire. I’m hoping my schedule opens up for Friday.
Elegy and Red to varying degrees have my interest.
Pineapple Express… I’ll probably catch it, but for some reason I don’t feel the need to rush down and see it.
Actually saw a trailer for BOTTLE SHOCK (in front of my first screening of BRIDESHEAD REVISITED) and it looked rather entertaining.
But then ALAN RICKMAN always makes me laugh.
Hate to get up on my soapbox about RED. But I don’t consider films where animals or children are killed/tortured/placed in jeopardy a form of entertainment - and I don’t give a flying F that BRIAN COX is in it. Brilliant as he is.
Why do they still crank out garbage like this? I’m always afraid that some unbalanced loser will get ideas from these stupid films.
Sorry, Craig. You know that I adore you and I’m especially grateful that I can hang out at LiC.
But it just happens to be a pet peeve of mine.
I’ll get to see Man on Wire a couple of weekends from now when it comes to the one theatre in Arkansas that plays these sorts of films. Luckily, I was already planning on being in Little Rock then, so it works out splendidly. Can’t wait.
The poster of Beer for My Horses looks gawd-awful. My grandad, an occasional minor film actor, was in a B-movie in the 80s called And Pass the Ammunition, and it reminds me of that. But then, with the phrase “Toby Keith penned” in your description, it’s gotta be bad. Love your snarky names for the cast. But leave Barry Corbin alone. I like him right good.
I’d definitely like to see Elegy and the Patti Smith doc.
Sam’s review of Man On Wire is going up later today at MZ, and after reading it and your review, I am supremely stoked to see the film. I love masterful docs. Chills down my spine.
Pineapple Express is a definite shoulder-shrug film. You won’t be disappointed, but you won’t be overwhelmed. Unless you’re firmly in Apatow’s camp, which in that case you will likely enjoy it a great deal. I’d say it’s a definite DVD rental, though.
And I actually agreed to review a screener copy of Beer For My Horses (don’t ask - it was a weak moment). I’ve watched about 20 minutes of it so far and I can say that…it’s not as bad as I thought it would be. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not great, but I have to admit that Toby Keith has this really fun self-deprecating charisma to him that I kind of enjoy. He doesn’t take himself seriously - at all - and I can really, really appreciate that.
Pineapple Express was funny for about 35 minutes. Fans of Rogen will probably get a kick out of it. I was never annoyed and didn’t hate it, but it definitely runs out of gas early.
As I’ve said before, I fear overhyping MOW, but screw it, people should see it. If it doesn’t butter their toast, I’ll make it up to them.
Miranda, no need to apologize, I didn’t make the movie.
JB, I went easy on Barry because I like him too. Mostly I was making fun of No Country for Old Men. It sucks you have to wait on MoW, but I’m glad you’re going to get a chance to see it. I wonder if it will be Oscar eligible.
Evan. TK not taking himself seriously would go a long way to me not hating this movie, though it still sounds like the kind of thing that should be a TNT movie of the week or something. I’m sure it’ll make his fans happy.
Thanks Evan for that boost.
I saw PATTI SMITH last night at 10:00 P.M. at the Film Forum. I am still processing it, and there is much to celebrate here, but I’m not so sure I would go as high with it as Nick did, even though Nick’s review was terrific, his passion saluted and his comany in the professional ranks well noted.
I am not sure what the weekend lineup (for me) will be, but ELEGY is possible. Our local arts house multiplex in Montclair, N. J. may be a place for a second viewing of MAN ON WIRE, but I am afraid of heights, and those shots of Petit crossing that thin rope up in the clouds brings on vertigo in its most extreme incarnation. But one of the greatest docs of recent years, Craig is right to pound this one home over and over.
At that same arts house cinema is a film I saw last week, the inde IN SEARCH OF MIDNIGHT KISS, which is top-drawer. I plan on writing a review of this today. I may see it again too.
I reviewed PATTI SMITH about a week ago, and it’s my #2 film of the year so far. Amazing stuff. http://fromthefrontrow.blogspot.com/2008/07/review-patti-smith-dream-of-life.html
I enjoyed PINEAPPLE EXPRESS quite a bit more than I expected to. I didn’t care much for the trailer, but I probably laughed more during that film than I have at anything in a long time.
Still haven’t seen MAN ON WIRE, can’t wait though. I’m hoping it comes around here soon.
Sam I was going to take a stab at a proper Midnight Kiss review, but I saw it back in November so I don’t think I could do it justice. Glad you liked it though.
Matthew, did you like PE the whole way through or did it start to drag near the end? Just curious. I know comedy is subjective so I won’t be surprised to learn people liked the end better than me.
It may have been a little overlong in the final sequence, but I liked how ridiculously over the top it was. I thought it was a pretty gutsy move for a comedy to get so brutally violent, but it worked. The scene in the restaurant at the end seemed a but superfluous though.
I’ll probably see Pineapple Express because everyone else is, but any laughs it provides will be despite it being an Apatow production. I’m Apatow-weary already. The only thing that appeal to me about this movie is seeing James Franco do a comedic role.
There’s a lot of speculation that Dark Knight will still be the top movie of the weekend, but I’m betting this one comes in first. Oops, forgot about the LiC no box office talk rule. My apologies.
Kris Tapley is saying on his site that Pineapple Express is the best movie of the year. So there.
I’ve been breaking that rule a lot lately JB. Sometimes it’s appropriate, you know? In this case if TDK beats PE in it’s 4th week out….that’s news, right?
James Franco does not disappoint. He’s actually a high point of the movie for me.
Ryan, you’ve changed my mind.
“Kris Tapley is saying on his site that PINEAPPLE EXPRESS is the best movie of the year.”
I will withold my comments on this, but to fair I haven’t see iit yet–will do so over the weekend, one way or the other.
I love the Olympics and will be watching much of the coverage, which is fine because as it turns out, I might not see anything in the theater AGAIN this weekend. We only get MoW and The Edge of Heaven, both of which I’ve already seen. I’m checking out a preview of Tropic Thunder tonight, though.
Wow, well I believe I’ve still been the most negative on PE from anybody in our little group, even though Evan was also very lukewarm on it. Nobody can deny it will be a smash hit, though.
I still have to write something on MoW, even though I saw it like two weeks ago. It will come to me though. I haven’t been able to read Craig’s or Sam’s review in the meantime - sorry! Certainly one of the most recommended of the year.
Like you say, Craig, Elegy could be about anything I’d be interested by the cast alone. Bottle Shock also jumped way high on my list after I saw a bit of the trailer and cast, including Mr. Rickman.
In other news, I met and chatted with Barack Obama for a few minutes this morning in St. Paul. He said movies like Pineapple Express are “just what America needs at this time”. No, but seriously, he’s as nice of a guy as he seems.
And yes, Craig, I admit I fell head over heels for MIDNIGHT KISS, but take a look at the reviews it has received at the sites. Superlative across the board. Well deserved, methinks. 4/5 for me, easily.
Cool you got to meet Obama.
I can see why you were negative on PE. Had I been in a different mood I could’ve gone the other way. Comedy can be pretty touchy and everyone laughs at different things. The audience I saw it with enjoyed it and it was a helluva lot better than Step Brothers.
Dan, I am floored by that statement about chatting with Obama this morning. Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Interesting what he says there aboyt PE! LOL!!!!
I have Obama envy, too, Daniel. Neato.
I only have a few friends in high places, so I try to take advantage of the opportunities like this that come around. This was just an “unannounced” visit (to the public) to a greasy spoon that I had to pretend like I would otherwise be at on a random Thursday morning.
Totally off-topic, but I have to say there’s something weird about Netflix’s recommendations system; based on my enjoyment of Shotgun Stories, the two recommendations they have for me are Manhattan and Welcome to the Dollhouse…? I guess I mixed the effite Manhattenite ennui subtext of Shotgun Stories, as well as the subtle influences of Todd Solondz on the narrative thread.
Danny, that’s quite the name to drop in the middle of a Thursday morning.
(Well, it’s still morning up here…)
Good for you, honey.
That’s funny Jennybee. Netflix makes me scratch my head sometimes, though I have to admit they’re usually right on with their recommendations…in terms of them being things I like anyway. I mean, I don’t ever get movies just because they tell me to, but they’ve never recommended a movie I already know I didn’t like….if that makes a lick of sense, I’ll give you a dollar.
Don’t you have to be like totally baked to really love PE?
Probably, though I have to say I was surprised at how un-stoned the movie was…if that makes any sense.
Pot was just the thing that got the movie going, and once it was rolling it took a backseat. Maybe one of the things I didn’t like about the latter half.
I’ll have to find out fer meself…definitely my friends didn’t like the third act. but they loved franco.
This is one of those weekends where I think, I see and review a couple films per week, and I still don’t get to enough. I like Rickman enough to see Bottle Shock. Elegy sounds interesting, beyond whether Penelope Cruz is young enough to play a student. I am drawn to the idea of seeing Man on Wire again. Don’t quite know what to do.
This weekend I am seeing….. [NOTHING]
But that’s cool. Well, not really, but still. I am still waiting for “Man on Wire.”
And yeah, I loved Patti Smith, but I know it is not for everyone.
I caught Man on Wire Friday evening and I think it’s excellent. Very masterful compilation of different elements, including the music, to maximize entertainment value and emotional impact (drama, suspense and humor). And Sam, for those of you with height phobias, let me report that I survived the screening (in the balcony, no less) with only a few butterflies in my gut despite my Vertigo-like vertigo condition.
I’ll be heading out to Pineapple Express someday soon — simply can’t resist a stoner movie with James Franco in a comedic role.
Pierre, that is a wonderful assessment that I’m sure will warm Craig’s heart as it does mine. I braved a second viewing last night with some friends who had not yet seen it, and if it’s possible it was even better. Best of all is that you got away with only a few butterflies! LOL!!!
Glad you’re on board the train to MoW-town Pierre.
Out of curiousity Sam, have all the people you’ve dragged to the movie liked it as well?
Craig: I am most most happy to report that the film has earned unanimous praise from those I’ve escorted to the theatre, and this is highly unusual, as we rarely avert some friendly row in the car or a restaurant afterwards.
MAN ON WIRE seems to be that rare instance where everyone is fully on the same page. Amazing! And last night one of my good friends was going on about the deft use of the Satie piece. But the conversation was enlightening and went in many directions, including even the experiences of two of them visiting the top of the WTC years back.
I’m almost on board the train to MoW-town, just waiting for my VIP ticket to arrive. It should be here in the next few days or so.