Weekend Forecast: 1/8/09
Carlos Reygadas’ Silent Light opens in New York
Welcome to the slowest time of year for new movie releases. This week’s calendar looks pretty bleak, but personally I’m a little worn out and glad for the break. On the other hand, there are a couple of interesting expansions of films that had previously only opened in a few theaters and there are always a handful of interesting indies and foreign films that crop up this time of year.
Open wide and say “yawn”
- Bride Wars. Two lifelong best friends (Anne Hathaway, Kate Hudson) dream of having their weddings at New York’s Plaza Hotel, but somehow their big days are set on the same date. The horror! I hope Anne Hathaway makes a pile of dough for this thing, but I hope she doesn’t end up following Kate Hudson’s career path littered with insipid comedies, flaccid romances and insipo-flaccid romantic comedies.
- Not Easily Broken. Televangelist T.D. Jakes has written 30 books. Here’s one adapted to the big screen starring Morris Chestnut and Taraji P. Henson. Look for church groups and “action squads” to elevate Not Easily Broken onto the box office charts like the one a while back with Kirk Cameron as the least convincing fire fighter ever putting out the flames of hell for all us sinners.
- The Unborn. David S. Goyer, the screenwriter of the Blade Trilogy (and WGA nominee for the Dark Knight screen story) sits in the feature director’s chair for the fourth time with this supernatural thriller about a young woman haunted by a demonic spirit. Gary Oldman collects a paycheck as a “spiritual advisor.” Winter is a fine time for fans of middling genre pictures and here’s this year’s opening salvo.
Opening in limited release
- Yonkers Joe. Chazz Palminteri and Christine Lahti star in this con film family drama hybrid about a dice hustler whose plans at one last Vegas score are upset when his developmentally disabled son turns up. LiC contributor Sam Kressner tells me he’s working on a review of this one and he doesn’t sound impressed. He liked the cast, but the genre mix fell flat.
New York
- Silent Light (Wed. 1/7) Carlos Reygadas’ story of a spiritual and moral crisis in a Mennonite community in Mexico has been compared to the work of Carl Theodor Dreyer. Though it got some great reviews on the festival circuit (winning the Cannes Jury Prize in 2007), there was some question whether it would ever get released. It finally opened in New York on Wednesday, but I can’t find any information on additional cities. Nick Plowman sang Silent Light’s praises months ago. Check out his 4-star review.
- Just Another Love Story. I bet it’s not. How’s that for irony? A married father of two is involved in a traffic collision with a beautiful young woman sending her to the hospital in a coma. When he goes to visit her in the hospital, her family mistakes him for the new boyfriend she recently met while traveling in Asia. He finds himself returning to visit the woman every day and slowly falling in love with her. When she awakes with memory loss, he sees an opportunity to escape from his boring life. Since this is a crime thriller, I’m guessing the plan is compromised and the crap hits the fan.
Expanding
- Gran Torino. Recommended.
- Last Chance Harvey
- The Reader. Recommended.
- Revolutionary Road. Recommended with reservations.
This edition of the Weekend Forecast is brought to you by a Clash song that was sampled for an M.I.A. track called Paper Planes. Even if you’re not up on current music, you may remember Paper Planes from one of the Pineapple Express trailers (was it actually in the movie?) and from Slumdog Millionaire. Here’s Straight to Hell:
Filed under: Weekend Forecast
It sounds like Hollywood has taken Daniel’s advice and given us all an off-season! Yay.
You would think those Batman and Harry Potter paychecks would suffice for Gary Oldman, but no… I may check it out; it does have Carla Gugino, Jane Alexander and Idris Elba, too.
OMG SILENT LIGHT!!!!!!!
*ahem*
I find it very odd that most films take ages and ages to get to SA, while Silent Light has been on DVD since June of last year. Very odd, but I am glad more people can finally get to see it and if it does well in New York, it will hopefully expand. So Sam, take your entire family and all your friends ;)
I’ll probably see Bride Wars someday, which is embarrassing to admit, but its Annie. I do love my Annie. I pray for Kate Hudson sometimes. Well, all the time. I had high hopes for her after Almost Famous. *le sigh*
Taraji P. Henson, whatever that movie there is, one day I will see it for her.
I have to admit, the Bride Wars trailers may have worked on me and I might need to see it. Only after I’ve gotten to Che, Frost/Nixon, Slumdog, Rev Road, Bashir, and Silent Light (!).
As for The Unborn, I think I’ll save my money for My Bloody Valentine, which looks more appealingly cheesy (a good thing for this type of movie).
There is an advantage to living in a backwater like the Netherlands: January and Febuary are pretty awesome months here (I just handed in my Dutch top 10 of 2008, and the top 5 consisted entirely of 2007 U.S. releases released here in January and February last year). The Visitor just came out, Frost/Nixon is due next week, the week after that will be impossible what with the IFFR and the release of Milk, Revolutionary Road and Zach and Miri make a porno (I know the latter’s not exactly an awards contender, but I’m curious about it), and Benjamin Button following the next week. I’ll try to get all of those in before the Muriels, but alas, that still leaves out Slumdog Millionaire, Doubt, The Wrestler and Gran Torino, all of which come out in February. So does Synecdoche, NY, but I saw that at a press screening two months ago. That one’ll certainly make an appearance on my list, incidentally.
So much movie watching, so little time… but at least with my salary, I can now afford to go see all the above without having to eat Ramen.
OK, I can’t believe I’m admitting to this in a public forum, but boy…that “Bride Wars” look funny!!! Silly? Yes! But funny? I think so. There, I said it. It feels good!
Yes, it does feel good, Dorothy. There’s something about Hathaway that’s so appealing in a light sort of way, yet she has demonstrated a talent for darker characters, as well. A winning combo, if you ask me.
Maybe I’ll take my girlfriend to Bride Wars this weekend to cheer her up (having an awful week). It does look kinda funny…and better than Seven Pounds, the other movie I was considering.
Really want to see Silent Light. Maybe it will show up at PIFF next month. Crossing fingers. Funny that it’s been on DVD for months in SA, Nick, because I’ve had it in my Netflix queue for a year now. No dice here in the US of A.
Otherwise, we’ve got Rev Road and Gran Torino opening here this weekend and I have no interest in running out to see either right now. I’m just kinda burned out on December releases at the moment.
Hedwig, I hear you on the flurry of films, especially of the Oscar bait variety, that open even in SA in January and February, its insane.
And suddenly I don’t feel so bad about wanting to see Bride Wars.
Dorothy, I’m not a guy who’ll deny a girl (or guy) her (or his) entertainment. I hope BW is exactly what you’re counting on.
I don’t remember my response to the trailer beyond “Uh oh, another Kate Hudson movie” and that the concept kinda bugged me…but then there’s Anne Hathaway…
Silent Light played the festival circuit in 2007 where it was snapped up by foreign distributors, but there were no takers in the US I believe. Up until recently it was uncertain to ever find a US release, so that why we’re the last ones on planet earth to get it legitimately.
Distribution is a funny business, no?
I don’t know, this could turn out to be the 3rd weekend in a row with nothing for me to talk about at the Watercooler. LA is definitely experiencing Daniel’s movie off season. I know other parts of the country have the same bounty as Nick and Hedwig though.
joel, for the love of all that’s sacred, stay away from “Seven Pounds”! Not only is it depressing, it’s preposterous!
And my dear Pierre and Craig, I’m in full agreement about Hathaway. She’s the main reason I find the film appealing. Will I shed actual $$ to see it? Only time (and whichever mood I’m in) will tell.
Q: How much does a steaming cinematic turd weigh?
A: Seven Pounds
(full disclosure…didn’t see the movie)
If all the cool kids are gonna see Bride Wars, I might have a sneak-in at my friendly local multiplex if there’s anything else there worth paying for.
Q: How much does a steaming cinematic turd weigh?
A: Seven Pounds
OK, I haven’t seen the movie either, but I laughed.
Haha. Funny Q&A, Craig.
Now I know why my rental outlet doesn’t have Silent Light. Fortunately, I am receiving a copy of the film in the mail. Whoohoo!
I have to admit, when I saw the Bride Wars trailer in front of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, I almost halfway smiled once or twice. The Hathaway factor seems to point to it as a tolerable date film.
Craig made a funny — I like it! And do I sense a consensus here about Hathaway? I love it!
I’ll have to wait until the 17th to catch Silent Light when it screens for the Spirit Awards.
Dorothy, I can think of one regular LiC commenter who hates Ms. Hathawy, but I shall let her speak for herself…for now though, yeah, consensus!
Sometimes we have to sacrifice ourselves to make those we care about happy. In my case, my girlfriend likes Will Smith so I usually end up seeing his movies (even though we both agreed Pursuit of Happyness was too obnoxious looking to bother with).
But thanks for the advice. Always good to have expectations lowered.
Look on the bright side: maybe it’ll cure her of Will Smith movies!
If only that were true, Alexander, but I guess this is as close as I’ll get to an off-season. Jan/Feb/March brings only about one notable release per week, but the local spots here make up for it with a bunch of festivals and series, so I’m still impeded from ever taking a break and checking out DVDs. Hard to complain, though.
Anyway, I’ll hope to see The Wrestler as it opens this week. I saw Gran Torino before it opens tomorrow and loved it, so that’s one checked off. Then I have to go to screenings on Saturday and Monday to review Hotel for Dogs and Paul Blart for the paper. That’ll possibly ruin my week.
The good news is that I bugged the local critic again and he came through with the screeners to Silent Light and Trouble the Water, both of which I hope to squeeze in sometime in the next week, just in time.
I keep hearing great things about Cadillac Records, too, so I’m now wondering if I should make an effort for it. Plus I haven’t seen A Christmas Tale yet.
So yeah, no off-season just yet.
Heck, I still hope to see….Seven Pounds…
Daniel, I’m not sure I can take the pain of you seeing A Christmas Tale and hating it along with just about everyone else.
Well you weren’t the only one to include it on your Top 10 list, and I’ve been impressed with the French all year (Priceless, Tell No One, The Grocer’s Son). But I do know Miranda and others couldn’t stand it. Either way it feels kind of weird watching it after Christmas.
Though I’m not considering A Christmas Carol for my Top Ten and I don’t love it like Craig does, I found it to be rather solid, and well-acted. At 2-1/2 hours, though, I must confess it was rather exhausting, too.
As per comment #16, Mr. Kennedy…
Now, who would that be…?
*shakes blonde mane*
There goes the consensus. I’m just a fiery Irish rebel at the end of the day…
Some late week humor. Tell me you’re not going to miss these: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7809160.stm
whoops, meant to put this in the Watercooler…
It’s easy to look back and laugh NOW, Daniel…
Miranda, you’re girl with her own opinions and you’re entitled to them.
House Next Door has a pretty sharp appreciation of A Christmas Tale http://www.thehousenextdooronline.com/2008/11/its-clarity-christmas-tale.html
And the reviewer had it as his #1 film of the year.
http://www.thehousenextdooronline.com/2009/01/top-10-films-of-2008.html
I wish I’d reviewed it but it was a tough nut to crack. Even Rizov seemed to sort of throw up his hands, but in an appreciative way.
Daniel, that would be funnier had he not been re-elected.
Craig, I hope you like “Silent Light.”
I didn’t name it the best film of 2008 for nothing. :-)
I’m trying to keep my expectations in check, but I hope I like it too. I’ve avoided reading reviews and have only skimmed opinions, but on the surface it sounds like difficult material.
Not that that’s a bad thing, but I have to prepare for it. Make sure I’m not tired.
Thanks for the link Daniel. Makes me want to sing – ‘don’t want to be an American Idiot’.
It also underscores the contrast between what was and what will shortly be.
Oh god, can you imagine if Palin was going to be the VP? It would be 4 more years of anti-intellectual bullshit. (shiver)
Palin’s not going anywhere, unfortunately. She keeps herself in the news.
Yeah as a soap opera. She’s the Paris Hilton of politics, I don’t think anyone will take her seriously anymore by 2012.
LOL on the recent Palin strain here!
Conservative talking heads would have you believe liberal intellectual types just don’t understand Palin’s appeal to ‘regular folks’, but I think most of those people wised up in the last 8 years.