Weekend Forecast: 10/2/08
By Craig Kennedy - October 2nd, 2008; 12:01 am
The wide releases are a mixed bag this week so let’s cut through the crap and lead off with a couple of movies that are only playing in limited release but have received the coveted LiC stamp of approval.
- Ballast Stark, minimalist and naturalistic, Ballast may not be the feel-good movie of the fall, but it’s a must-see for anyone who appreciates and supports truly independent American cinema. First time writer director Lance Hammer recruited local Mississippi non-actors to play three people who form a kind of reluctant family unit in the face of a tragedy that befalls them all. Ballast opened at New York’s Film Forum on Wednesday and it will open in select theaters on October 17. Stay tuned for a full LiC review and hopefully an interview with Mr. Hammer.
- Rachel Getting Married. Billed by some sources as a comedy drama, Jonathan Demme’s Rachel Getting Married is definitely more drama than comedy. There are laughs the way there are laughs in real life, but even calling this a black comedy would be incorrect. Anne Hathaway is Rachel, the family black sheep who gets out of rehab for her sister’s wedding. It’s a recipe for disaster of course as old wounds are reopened and a family is forced to confront past traumas all with the added pressure of a wedding. It’s heavy stuff and Hathaway’s character is a hard one to warm up to, but she’s more than just a pretty face. Debra Winger also makes a welcome return to the big screen in a terrific supporting turn as the mother.
If you can’t see one of the above this weekend, here’s what’s opening wide:
- An American Carol. I love Airplane! as much as anyone, but David Zucker’s name hasn’t been attached to a decent movie since the first Naked Gun 20 years ago and even that one was overrated. Here’s another twist on Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. This time a Michael Moore-like documentarian is instilled with love of his country by a series of patriotic ghosts. Whatever you think of Moore as a filmmaker or as a human being the argument that he doesn’t love this country twists the idea of patriotism in such a way as to make it useless. Politics aside, overt agendas are rarely funny and this sounds awful. Kelsey Grammer, Jon Voight, Leslie Nielson, James Woods and Dennis Hopper star. Smirking tool Bill O’Reilly has a cameo, which pretty much ensures I’ll never pay money to see it whatever else it might have to offer.
- Beverly Hills Chihuahua. A spoiled talking chihuahua from Beverly Hills gets lost in Mexico and must find her way back home. I hated the trailer, but then I’m not the audience for this movie. I’m not 5 years old and I don’t have any toddlers running around the house. Thank the cinema gods for that.
- Blindness. Fernando Meirelles’ psychological drama about society crumbling in the wake of an epidemic of sightlessness stars Julianne Moore and Mark Ruffalo. It got mixed reviews at Cannes but then turned up in Toronto with a new edit and without some much maligned voiceover narration. The response? Much more positive. Even before the changes, I was looking forward to it.
- Flash of Genius. Greg Kinnear stars in this true-life story of the man who invented the intermittent automobile wiper blade only to be betrayed by the auto industry. Can he fight Goliath in court without destroying his family at home? I like Little Guy vs. Big Guy stories as much as the next person, but I keep thinking “yeah, but it’s about a friggin’ windshield wiper.” Lauren Graham sweetens the deal as the wife.
- How to Lose Friends and Alienate People. What you have here is another Fish-out-of-water comedy. This one is based on a memoir by Toby Young and it stars Simon Pegg (Shaun of the Dead) as an uncouth British celebrity journalist hired by an upscale New York magazine. I like Pegg and the cast is rounded out with Gillian Anderson, Jeff Bridges, Kirsten Dunst, Megan Fox and Danny Huston.
- Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist. Accidental couple Michael Cera and Kat Dennings spend a New York night trying to find a secret show by their favorite band in this romantic comedy. I like Cera in everything he’s done starting with Arrested Development, but I’m looking for him to play someone besides the awkward sensitive guy. Based on the trailer this is not that movie, but if you’re in the mood for a 20-something romantic comedy with a hip soundtrack, it could be just the thing.
Opening in limited release:
- Religulous. Bill Maher is one of those people who irritates me even while they’re telling me what I want to hear. In an age where we have the capacity to destroy the entire planet, the concept of blind faith becomes a dangerous thing and it appears Maher has taken upon himself to take the faithful of all stripes down a few pegs.
This week’s forecast was brought to you by Duke Ellington:
Filed under: Weekend Forecast
Tags: An American Carol, Anne Hathaway, Ballast, Beverly Hills Chihuahua, Bill Maher, Bill O'Reilly, Blindness, Danny Huston, David Zucker, Debra Winger, Dennis Hopper, Fernando Meirelles, Flash of Genius, Gillian Anderson, Greg Kinnear, How to Lose Friends and Alienate People, James Woods, Jeff Bridges, Jon Voight, Jonathan Demme, Julianne Moore, Kat Dennings, Kelsey Grammer, Kirsten Dunst, Lance Hammer, Lauren Graham, Leslie Nielson, Mark Ruffalo, Megan Fox, Michael Cera, Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, Rachel Getting Married, Religulous, Simon Pegg
Related Posts: - Holiday Forecast: July 4th
- Indie Indeed
- Weekend Forecast: 6/29/07
- The Watercooler: 10/6/08
- Trailer: Ballast
I’m so jealous because I get to see none of those up there that I want to see. I get Beverly Hills Chihuahua though, yay.
Hey, Craig…
I have a little dog. Though admittedly he’s NOT a Chihuahua.
You’re really a sweet guy. What did these adorable diminitive mutts ever do to you?
Nicky boy, DON’T be jealous.
Your day is coming.
Sooner than you think….
This is just the beginning, what with Oscar season almost in full swing. Promise I wont just come here to whine about how lucky you all are and how sad it is to be me come this time of the year like I did last year, that was no fun for anyone.
I’m just going to pretend I live in NYC, and that I am older than I really am, for the sake of whatever so bare with me. So yesterday I saw Ballast and had a chat with Lance Hammer after the screening, and he was telling me how difficult it was to release his film, which is extraordinary by the way, and it really made me mad that films as good as Ballast have a hard time making it to cinemas. It confuses me to be honest. I’ve been to press screenings of Nick and Norah as well as Blindness, and both were pretty good provided you are in the mood for them, which I was, I mean how could I not be in the mood, I live in NYC damn it. I caught Religulous at Toronto, and thought it was a load of self-indulgent shite stuffed with a whole lot of rambling and shamelessly annoying commentary. I saw Rachel Getting Married last night, where it was introduced by the director, and I loved it a hell of a lot. Dug Hathaway a lot, I do hear the Oscar bells. I might take my 3 year old daughter to see Beverly Hills Chihuahua with my 2 year old niece sometime this weekend, I haven’t seen them in ages because I’ve been going to so many festivals lately. I’m a terrible father. I should never have even been a father, but there is something about NYC that makes this twenty-something forget everything he learnt in his sex ed lessons back in SA. In fact, he forgot everything he ever learnt, saw, or was told in SA. He’s grateful for that. So now I am just going to finish transcribing the 12 interviews I did over the past week, then I am going to get ready for the NYFF screenings tonight, Waltz with Bashir at the Ziegfeld as well as Summer Hours. Should be fun.
Daniel…hahahahaha.
Looking forward to Ballast, Rachel, and Blindness. Blindness is the only one I have access to of those three this weekend. Probably also catch Choke while I’m at it. I’ll have to dodge the Portland marathon on Sunday to get to the theater…pray for me.
LOL, careful what you wish for, Nick. Scary thing is that that’s probably going to be an accurate account in short time…
So I’ve incredibly seen three of these movies already. I already publicly confirmed that Flash of Genius is actually about windshield wipers. How to Lose Friends is completely formulaic but enjoyable for fans of Simon Pegg - he can’t really do much wrong these days. The rest of the cast is mostly good, though I don’t know if Megan Fox is actually a terrible actress or just supposed to be playing one. Either way I think she’s making fun of herself. I think. And Nick and Norah’s is actually much better than you might expect. In fact (forgive the plug), I’m choosing it as one of my 8 movies for the second season of the Getafilm Box Office Moguls League - all LiC folk are welcome and encouraged to play - come on over and sign up! Craig came in a respectable 4th place last season. Very savvy picks, Craig. Too bad Step Brothers and The X-Files blew it for you.
Anyway, that poster for Ballast is pretty amazing. Definitely looking forward to it and Rachel.
I’ll probably try to see Blindness at some point. We also get A Girl Cut in Two but it’s not high on my list. Also a Mike Leigh Retrospective starting and an Alain Robbe-Grillet series. Plus I still haven’t seen Choke, Trouble, King of England. And I have a conference to go all weekend.
So yeah, I’ll probably return on Monday having seen nothing.
Fargo was on IFC last night. Like other Minnesotans (though I’m not a native), I realized I’ve finally made peace with that movie.
Wait a minute, Joel…me? I’m confused!
I think Joel meant to say hahahaha to Nick! I was originally perplexed by the thread as well.
Daniel, I signed up to your league, but I honestly don’t know what to do next. I am utterly useless with these things. I know I need to do something to name eight movies, right?
By the way Nick, that satiric piece was tremendous!!! And yes, I am certain you will one day be on these shores, if that is indeed what you really want.
I look forward to that interview with Lance Hammer from Craig as well as his review of BALLAST. I will attempt to see the film over the weekend, but what with a theatrical performance of STREETCAR on Saturday evening and another trip to the New York Film Festival to see Clint Eastwood’s THE CHANGELING on Sunday morning and a promise to the kids to see BEVERLY HILLS CHIHUAHUA on Sunday afternoon, my time frame opportunities are dwindling.
I also want to see RACHEL and BLINDNESS, so I may have to bring in Friday night in a big way.
BALLAST by the way, for the New Yorkers at LIC is at the Film Forum, and Mr. Hammer will be moderating a Q and A for the audience in attendance on Fri., Sat., and Sun. I can’t make any of those shows myself.
Whatever everyone manages to see, have a wonderful time.
Well all I can say is I wish could take credit for the talented Mr. Plowman.
Sounds like another incredible weekend for you, Sam, save for perhaps the l’il dog movie. At least you can enjoy time with your kids in a theater and give them a good memory.
I’m sorry if the league registration was confusing, but I don’t yet see your name added to it. You may have signed into the website but not yet joined the specific league? Hopefully the instructions I laid out may help. Once you’re in, then yes, you choose up to 8 movies - they’re all listed for you. Feel free to shoot me an email or comment over at my place if there are still issues that could help others get in. I don’t want to hijack this thread with too much game-speak!
See Nick, you’re all prepared for when you really are older and in NY rubbing elbows with the stars. You will own us all!
Miranda, I’m more of a cat guy, but I like dogs too. I just don’t like talking animal movies.
Daniel, if Box Office Moguls had continued for another month, I WOULD’VE OWNED!!!! Just kidding, but I’m going to be more aware of the cut off date this year so watch your ass….
As for the Ballast poster, Mr. Hammer designed it himself and he also cut the trailer himself.
I just realized there is a crapload of movies playing at my favorite sneak-in multiplex so depending on timing I could really make a whole day of it: Blindness, How to Lose Friends and Alienate People, Flash of Genius, Religulous and Nick & Nora. I doubt there are enough hours in the day for all seven, but I could conceivably break off 4 if I’m in the mood.
Nick, it sounds like you’re ready to join Peter Travers and other critics who don’t bother to see the movies to give their opinions on them, haha.
Daniel, I’ll look into your game at Getafilm soon!
So, Daniel, you’re saying How to Lose Friends and Alienate People is good? I’ve seen the trailer I don’t know how many times, and I hate it, but it could be a crass misrepresentation of the movie.
In the past two weeks, I think I’ve seen a TV spot for Flash of Genius every ten minutes. The words, “To me it’s the Mona Lisa,” have become imprinted in the inner chamber of my cranium.
Thank goodness Ballast is on the way.
Having recently seen Brokeback Mountain again, I was struck by how effective Anne Hathaway was, despite her limited role. Made me look forward to Rachel Getting Married much more.
Has everyone seen Rachel except me? Torture.
The two actresses I’m completely in the tank for - Anne Hathaway and GIllian Anderson - both have stuff out this weekend. And both are drawing praise for their roles. At least they make my bias look good.
PS: By in the tank, I don’t really mean that I flush that my critical objectivity down the toilet.
“Having recently seen Brokeback Mountain again, I was struck by how effective Anne Hathaway was, despite her limited role. Made me look forward to Rachel Getting Married much more.”
At the age of 22, she effectively conveyed a woman who ages from 20 to 40ish in limited screen time. And she nails her one big scene - the phone call to Heath Ledger. As I’m fond of mentioning, :) I walked out of Brokeback thinking she would be a huge star. I mean, outside of the middle school set.
I think you’ll like her a lot in RGM. Her character isn’t very likeable (none of them are) but she somehow makes her sympathetic even when she’s being a selfish bitch.
She did a Q&A after the film and she’s more adorable in real life than on screen.
You’d have to provide evidence that I don’t have to get away with calling How to Lose Friends “good”, but I will admit that I laughed a number of times at Pegg’s lines and antics, which are about 75% as zany as the trailer implies.
Bridges does fairly well with the limited time he has, as does Gillian Anderson. You might like to see her in this, KB.
Kirsten Dunst once again did nothing for me, though I didn’t find her quite as irritating as her past roles.
As a story it really goes nowhere, and I haven’t read the memoir. I guess it’s supposed to be similar to Prada. It’s just a little bit more obnoxious overall.
Bill Maher is one of those people who irritates me even while they’re telling me what I want to hear.
Thatta boy, Craig. Couldn’t have said it better. Maher isn’t as evolved as he apparently thinks he is.
Alexander and K. Kowen: I second that emotion about Hathaway and her big Brokeback scene. I’ve been waiting for her to get another good role — dunno if Rachel is it, but hopefully she’s on her way.
“She did a Q&A after the film and she’s more adorable in real life than on screen.”
I hate you.
As always Dan, thanks for the interest in my itinerary. Much appreciated. We will be sharing e mails today on the contest specs. I did sign up, but I need to move now to the next step.
Yes, Daniel and Sam, I meant Nick. It was early when I posted that.
“You’d have to provide evidence that I don’t have to get away with calling How to Lose Friends “good”, but I will admit that I laughed a number of times at Pegg’s lines and antics, which are about 75% as zany as the trailer implies.
Bridges does fairly well with the limited time he has, as does Gillian Anderson. You might like to see her in this, KB. ”
Seen it. Writing a review as we speak.
As far as Anderson, I would say of the major film roles I’ve seen her in (House of Mirth, Last King of Scotland, The X-Files: I Want to Believe) I would actually rank this number four. But that’s more a mark of how good she is in those films. A number of early reviewers are singling her out for praise with words like “divine,” “scene-stealing,” etc. My review will refer to her as The World’s Most Famous Underused Actress. I think (painfully) that that’s a completely accurate description.
The funny thing on the screen time in this one - and to my mind this goes back to AC’s question about the accuracy of the advertisement for this film - is that I bet if we put a stopwatch to it, Danny Huston would record the third-most screen time, Megan Fox and Gillian Anderson would be about even, with Fox maybe a minute or so ahead (they’re in the same scene 85 percent of the time), and I bet Bridges would have the least. (But they’re all pretty close, I would guess).
But whose names are on the poster? Pegg, Dunst, Fox, Bridges. Because Huston and Anderson are effectively Limey bastards. I don’t think the film is anywhere near as bad as people seem to think the trailer or the poster is.
I’m looking forward to BALLAST, RACHEL GETTING MARRIED, and BLINDNESS.
They can keep AMERICAN CAROL and BEVERLY HILLS CHIHUAHUA. Both look absolutely hideous.
Luckily I’m getting APPALOOSA this weekend, so that’s what I’ll be seeing.
And THIS is why I love you, Nicky.
Danny definitely has it right: “The Talented Mr. Plowman”. I think we should start calling you that ALL THE TIME.
Such a vivid, marvelous and superlative imagination. Hell, if you can shake it up like that, you’ll definitely be going places…
Truthfully, Craig, I would never have pegged you as a cat person. But, actually looking back on the year that we’ve been friends (well, what do ya know???), it does make perfect sense.
Just be nice to my furry fluffball if you ever run across him.
Danny, I think that Megan Fox is just a bad actor. As opposed to intentionally portraying one.
To play a bad actor deliberately takes great skill. Even though some famous directors over time have said otherwise (yeah, right…), there are very few GOOD or GREAT actors that don’t possess a modicum of intelligence and perceptiveness.
With all due respect, Ms. Fox (from what I’ve seen of her away from work) does not appear to be the sharpest diamond in the jewelry store.
So it would figure……..
Zing! Well she doesn’t offer much to suggest otherwise here, but again, that’s how the character is written.
So there’s no real venue to “announce” this, but considering LiC is home to the best group of online movie fans/friends around, I thought I might share a personal success this week - my first ever published review, for Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist (at least it wasn’t Chihuahua?) can be found here: http://www.vita.mn/movies.php. Vita.mn is the Mpls Star Tribune’s weekly supplement. I think it might be in the paper tomorrow. We’ll see. Considering it might be the only time I ever get the opportunity, I’m going to milk it! I really don’t consider it one of my better reviews. I was obsessed with the word count and afterwards I wasn’t that happy with the result, but there it is.
Daniel, Congratulations!!!!!!
Just clicked an dread your cleanly-written and engaging treatment, which is a model capsule! I suspect this will lead to more opportunities for you and some terrific exposure.
It simply couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy.
And the review is way better than you give yourself credit for.
We still need to hook up on that eight movies contest!
*whistles and stamps china doll feet*
That is ABSOLUTELY fantastic, Danny. Your name is out there. You’re a full fledged critic OFF the net, too.
That’s so wonderful. I’m incredibly happy for you.
It was an excellent review as well.
“Cera has been faithfully doing his part to help Hollywood go green in recent years, having continually recycled the sarcastically sweet character he played…”
Ha ha ha ha. That’s tremendous.
WELL DONE, honey. Can’t speak for anyone else. But I’m very, VERY proud of you.
That’s cooler than hell………
hahah…and you managed to get in a swipe at Juno! You’re my hero.
Congrats on having your name in lights where it belongs. That is truly exciting.
Don’t forget about us little people when you’re huge.
Wow Danny, that is super, super cool buddy! You are the best. Wowza, this is so cool mate. You are so on your way…
You guys make my heart sing. Thank you. I know we’re prone to outrageous levels of flattery here, but I know genuine compliments when I hear them and you’ve all been more than generous. It’s a vanilla-bland review but I was happy to get the chance to do it. I think part of it was edited as well. I think I said a couple more words about Dennings, actually. Not complaining at all, though.
I’m hardly trying to become a film critic. I just started writing about movies last year and then met all of these cool people like all of you. I guess you never know what’s going to happen. Anyway, in a funny way it seems like a success for one of us here is a success for all of us. Nice group of people you’ve assembled here, Craig.
I’m off to a weekend conference right now and leaving in a cheery mood - have a great weekend everybody.
You’re an easy guy to root for, Daniel.
Congratulations Daniel! Welcome to the club!
I wish I could say it brought fortune and glory…but alas…
It’s great to see you getting your name out there. You deserve it. You’ve picked a hard field to get into and an even harder one to stay in. Best of luck to you!
Not that anyone is keeping track, but I forgot this week’s musical sponsor for the Weekend Forecast. The oversight has been corrected.
I approve of our sponsored music this week too. :-)
Debra Winger! An absolutely excellent actress who I’ve really missed.
She was terrific in RGM in a mostly non-showy part.
Awesome, Daniel, truly awesome!!
I just got home from Eagle Eye mainly by the surreptitious maneuverings of a few friends who didn’t want to see anything else. Long story short, I liked some of the touches Spielberg doubtless gave it (the best-realized being a key plot point centering on musical notes, nice), but despite a somewhat eccentric and interesting supporting cast (Rosario Dawson, Michael Chiklis, Billy Bob Thornton in particular), the film suffers because those supporting characters are more interesting than Shia and Michelle–I wanted to see a movie about those people.
That said, it was kind of amusing in that big dumb way and largely harmless. The malicious super computer was a little too much like HAL, though.
How do you make a malicious supercomputer not like HAL? Malicious super-computers have only so many possibilities. Do you want range?
And that’s a great blog post. Best malicious supercomputers. It’s mine!
Rock on, Daniel. Very impressive…and you even got to review a movie people might actually want to see (thank goodness they didn’t make you review the dog movie).
Haha, KB, you got me. At least this malicious supercomputer was a femme fatale.
HAL Fatale
Nick: Imagine how bad it would be if you weren’t in the US.
The only halfway decent thing that’s opening HERE this week is In Bruges, and I’ve already seen it (and really liked it, but that’s a different story).
But we do also get Nights in Rodanthe, Mirrors, and the Forbidden Kingdom. Oh boy.
Haha, Michael W., welcome to Living in Cinema.
Mr. Coleman whispers to the newest guest at Mr. Kennedy’s fine cinematic resort, “Nick lives in South Africa.” :-)
AH.
I assumed US, because of the Beverly Hills Chihuahua mention. Fortunately, Buenos Aires hasn’t been struck with that plague yet. :)
Hey Mike, it’s all good, I’m definitely an American at heart.
Wanna know something gross? I’ve been invited to go watch Beverly Hills Chihuahua 3 freaking times today already. I turned them all down naturally, and I am currently reassessing my friendships because anyone who would voluntarily put themselves in the position to watch such drivel is mentally unstable [unless they have kids, which my friends should not] and I don’t need that in my life.
Would now be a bad time to mention that I really enjoyed Forbidden Kingdom? I expect any time would be a bad time to mention that, but damnit it’s my guilty pleasure of 2008.
Buenos Aires? Cool. Always happy to have international visitors.
Seriously Nick, you need new friends. (I kid)
I’ll fully confess that I haven’t seen. As much as I generally love wuxia, the time travel plot and the fact I can’t remember the last decent thing Jackie Chan was in kind of scared me off. If it’s worth a couple of hours of time, I might go see if the DVD place that rents R1s has it.
It was very silly, but for some reason it appealed to me.
I wouldn’t recommend you go out of your way for it.
Every balanced cinematic diet has a little junk food in it and that was my junk food for this year.
I’m one with Craig concerning The Kingdom.
Ironically, it came out a couple of weeks before “the official” summer season started up but it seemed to have a greater sense of unironic fanciful storytelling that this past summer, while excellent in some ways, was largely lacking. It was just so sweetly jejune and agreeably charming that I found myself kind of blowing kisses in its direction. I like heartwarming, family-friendly cinema, too, when I’m not enjoying Bunuel or Pasolini.
I’m late to the party, but first:
1) Nick, you cracked me up big time. I’m not stranded across the pond, but I can definitely feel your out-of-the-cineloop pain, even though I’ve never been as witty about it. Nice fantasy life ya got there.
2) Daniel, that’s a fun break and your review is smashing. If a review can leave the reader with at least one memorable line or turn of phrase, I consider it pretty darn well-written, and yours had several. The recycling bit was classic, and I’ll probably be thinking of that one until Cera decides to change his trajectory become an action hero. If I’d written it, I bet my parents would have it on their fridge for the next 12 years.
3) I heart Duke Ellington.
4) It’s an anxiety-laden deadline weekend for me, but I expect to make it to at least one film in the theater (I’m a championship procrastinator). The choices are Appaloosa, Blindness, Ghostown and Nick and Norah. I want to see Appaloosa, friend wants to see Blindness, hubby wants to see Ghostown and Daniel’s review piqued my curiosity about N &N.
I went to see my friend Mark Brecke’s devasting doc on Darfur THEY TURNED OUR DESERT INTO FIRE at the Egyptian Theatre Artivist screening — Craig where were you? Get thee there! — and had a genuine Worst Encounter Of The Jeffrey Wells kind who insulted my friend as the first question from the audience. I (and others) eagerly flayed him, which I’ll be posting about soon. Karma.
Good times in Hollywood!
Forbidden Kingdom. As in, it’s forbidden. There!
The high of seeing There Will Be Blood for the first time negated the toxicity of my close encounter with Wells moments later. Looking forward to a full report, Christian.
Was it Wells or did a homeless person wander in off the street? They can be difficult to tell apart.
A homeless person might have had more couth.
Wells piped up with a ridiculous question after a doc I saw on Julius Shulman at LAFF. It was one of those questions that isn’t really a question but really a statement to show the audience how cultured and wise the questioner is, but it totally bombed and made him look like a complete jackass.
Wells made up for it by writing a nice post on the film but still insisted on inserting his boneheaded need for interviews with Chinese officials on a personal project that cost three grand.
Just wanted to say thanks for the kind words, Joel, Jennybee, Matthew, and Alexander. Not sure if I’ll keep it on my fridge, haha, but I certainly did make sure to buy a paper on Friday. Weird.