Weekend Forecast: Seriously
Michael Stuhlbarg is A Serious Man
For me, this week is all about Joel and Ethan Coen’s A Serious Man opening in limited release, but Ricky Gervais in The Invention of Lying and Ellen Page in Whip It also show promise. If you’re a teacher, student or parent living in Los Angeles, give the inspirational documentary The Providence Effect at Laemmle’s Monica and AMC’s Magic Johnson a shot. Special Note: Filmmaker Rollin Binzer, St. Mel’s founder Paul Adams and principal Jeanette DiBella will be doing a couple of Q&As in LA this weekend for Providence. Chat with them following the Friday 7:05 show at AMC’s Magic Johnson and Saturday following the 7:30 Laemmle’s Monica show.
Opening in wide release:
- The Invention of Lying. In an alternate reality where everyone always tells the truth, Ricky Gervais learns the value of lying. It’s a golden premise perfectly suited to Gervais’ particular humor so I’m willing to forget the fact that the laugh-free trailer and the bland, conventional marketing make it look like a major disappointment. Jennifer Garner, Jonah Hill, Louis C.K., Jeffrey Tambor, Fionnula Flanagan and Rob Lowe co-star.
- Toy Story/Toy Story 2 in 3D. Pixar can pretty much do no wrong in my book, but this blatant cash grab is a little bit dispiriting. At the same time, it’ll be nice to see these on a big screen again. It’s reasonable to assume that if the technology had been viable when the films came out, Toy Story 1 and 2 probably would’ve taken advantage of 3D, but the gambit today still feels like a gimmick – necessary only as an excuse to charge a few more dollars for tickets or convince a handful of folks that the movies are worth paying to see in a theater again even though well worn DVD copies sit on a shelf at home.
- Whip It. Drew Barrymore’s directorial debut starring Ellen Page as a former small town beauty pageant contestant aspiring to become a roller derby queen premiered to mostly solid notices at Toronto. Here’s hoping it delivers on its promise.
- Zombieland. Like the undead themselves, the zombie genre keeps stumbling along inexorably. Just when you think it’s down, it springs back up and bites your face off. This one takes a comic tack and it stars Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin.
Opening in limited release:
- A Serious Man. Joel and Ethan Coen present a film. What’s it about? I don’t know. Who’s in it? I don’t remember. What do the critics say? I have no idea. Welcome to the world of complete cinema ignorance. It is bliss. If you don’t know me you might not think this would be my most anticipated film of the year, but you’d be wrong.
- More Than a Game. This documentary follows the high school days of 5 basketball players including future NBA superstar LeBron James. Sports docs hold little appeal for me, but James fans will probably want to have a look.
Opening in New York:
- Afterschool. Newcomer Antonio Campos directs this thriller set at a New York prep school where the death of two popular sisters is captured on video. It premiered as part of the Un Certain Regard program at Cannes, hit IFC OnDenand on September 30 and is now opening in New York. Early trade reviews were middling, but the UK press latched onto it pretty well with comparisons to Michael Haneke’s Caché and Gus Van Sant’s Elephant.
- Chelsea on the Rocks. Abel (Bad Lieutenant) Ferrara’s documentary charts the history of Manhattan’s famed Chelsea Hotel, home to the likes of Charles Bukowski, Bob Dylan, Patti Smith, Mark Twain, Andy Warhol, Tennesee Williams and Ferrara himself. New management is running out the riff raff and threatening to extinguish the hotel’s unique character and this is Ferrara’s attempt to preserve it.
Opening in Los Angeles:
- The Providence Effect. This documentary about a once-failing inner city Chicago high school that now regularly sends 100% of its students to college is an uplifting tale and inspiring, but as a private school it seems to have few answers for the sorry plight of the millions of students enrolled in public schools all over the country. As I said when the film premiered in New York and Chicago however, it’s a must-see for teachers, students and parents. See the note above for LA area Q&As this weekend.
This week’s musical sponsor: Stan Getz, Joao Gilberto and Astrud Gilberto with Corcovado. It’s Bossa Nova, baby.
Filed under: Weekend Forecast
I’ll be at the nearest cinema which receives A Serious Man in a 100-mile radius, SWAT battering ram at the ready.
Sadly Alexander, this weekend you might have to travel a might farther than 100 miles unless you’re in Minneapolis, NY or LA. It’s only opening in 6 theaters.
I’m not shocked it’s a limited release considering it has no stars and the Coens mostly have a cult audience…but 6 theaters? Seems to me like they’d be wanting to capitalize on what I hear is strong buzz out of Toronto…but then it’s well established I know bupkis.
Oh to be near one of those six theaters. I’d happily accompany you to it, Craig, you lucky dog.
I’d still like to see The Informant. Have a friend trying to get me to go see the Toy Story/TS2 3D double feature. Haven’t seen those since they were in the theater.
Likely, though, I’ll be home and maybe watch something on DVD. Spent a terrible night last night ridding myself of a Kidney Stone of Unmitigated Evil, and now I’m behind on work and recuperating still.
But I’d drag myself to a showing of the Coens movie if there were any way.
Also: Never heard Corcovado before, but that was lovely. Beautiful lyrics too.
Ow – jennybee, I’m so sorry. I hope you feel better soon.
Stan Getz, Joao Gilberto, Astrud Gilberto, each one individually = awesome. The 3 together = perfection. That’s a lovely rendition of Corcovado. I got to see Astrud Gilberto live at S.O.B.’s in NYC several years ago. That was a great night.
I’m not sure if I’ll go to the movies this weekend. I do still have La Règle du Jeu from Netflix and I’ll be receiving The Virgin Spring tomorrow. Also, I just received Love Letter, a Japanese film from the mid-90’s that I decided to buy cheaply on Amazon since it isn’t available on Netflix. The premise sounded intriguing.
So I’ve got those 3 DVD’s to watch, and that may be the limit of my movie-watching.
A Simple Man is opening wide (or at least wider) on the 16th. Just try not to think about it or read reviews until then. Ha.
Kidney stones? I’m agin’ ‘em.
Thanks. Also, Zombieland looks like a paint-by-numbers zombie comedy. There’s a place for that, but not from my wallet. Whip It’s offical blurbage I swear makes it sound like an afterschool special in the vein of Quarterback Princess.
I’ll give Lying a spin because of Gervais and how much better Ghost Town was than I expected. I’ll likely see it on DVD or a sneak-in (seems appropriate, doesn’t it?).
Aye, kidney stones sound like hell. I always think of that Seinfeld episode.
There’s been a big red circle around today’s date for the last 6 months or so, yet in all that time to plan I still don’t know what I’m going to do with ASM this weekend. I’m allergic to standing in line and I don’t like to see (specifically) Coen movies with a packed audience that laughs at all the wrong moments. Instead of opening night I think I’m going to try for 11:30 AM tomorrow and hope for the best, because I just can’t wait any longer.
Some social obligations and wedding planning stuff will unfortunately prevent me from seeing much else this weekend, but boy am I behind. The Informant, Whip It, Zombieland, 9, Paris, It Might Get Loud, Bright Star, No Impact Man and The Invention of Lying all interest me to some extent.
I just posted some thoughts on Capitalism and I’ll be interested to see how it does at the box-office. I don’t think it will win, but Moore is really, really banking on it. If he loses it this week he has no chance against Couples Retreat and Where the Wild Things Are on the next two Fridays.
I’d like to see More Than a Game because I kind of followed LeBron’s career since he was in high school. The Providence Effect also appeals to me based on my prior work teaching in inner-city schools. Maybe I’ll request a screener of that one.
In other news, the big Olympic vote is this weekend! I’m in the extreme minority of people who actually care, I know, but it’s still exciting to consider – Chicago or Rio? Maybe the Gilbertos can perform at the opening ceremonies.
Daniel, I don’t think the crossover factor is high for the audience for Capitalism versus Couples Retreat, so if the latter does well I don’t necessarily think it will hurt the former. I could be wrong though, since I’m no master of BO or AUD reaction (queue my disdain for Variety-speak).
Great analysis by Daniel on his Getafilm blog. Y’all head over there and check it out. I love that he asked Moore a tough question, even if Moore’s self-insulation of hearing what he wants to hear deflected it.
That’s cute that you’re following the Olympics vote, too, Daniel. Sorta the way all my sports friends think it’s cute that I get me and my spreadsheet up to hear the Oscars announcement. Is it bad I want to root for Rio?
Also, Daniel, in view of my recent kidney stone tribulations, I had to laugh when I saw your review of “P-Star Rising.” Know nothing about the film yet, but the title made me giggle.
Good point, Joel – we’ll see how “pic” does next week. ;-P
Thanks, JB. I didn’t necessarily expect Moore to directly answer my question, but I figured what the heck, I’ve been watching this guy’s movies for 20 years ago and I always feel like his movies have big “Yeah, but” question hanging over them.
And yes, I’m obsessed with Olympics. Every now and then there’s a dud (Nagano ‘98, SLC ‘02), but generally I get completely caught up in the pomp and “global goodwill” of the whole thing, beyond even the athletic competition. I’m already looking forward to Vancouver in February. The Rio/Chicago pick is a really tough one. Chicago apparently has the logistical, financial and technological edge, but Rio is the sentimental and exotic choice, and of course it would be the first ever South American host city. Word is that Chicago will win the day and Rio will be in line to host after they prove they can handle the 2014 World Cup.
ANYWAY, yes, P-Star Rising thankfully has nothing to do with the human body!
Holy crap, Rio just won the bid!
Obama just keeps losing on all fronts.
I’m now circling October 16th for A Serious Man. Dying to see this. (No solid food or sleep for two more weeks!)
Just got back from a 12:15 P.M. showing of THE INVENTION OF LYING at my local Edgewater multiplex, which I was able to do today due to a rare free Friday afternoon at school. I am planning to see both WHIP IT and ZOMBIELAND in succession with the family, beginning at around 5:00 P.M. And at midnight tonight I will be seeing A SERIOUS MAN. Tomorrow I have Michael Moore lined up.
I didn’t enjoy the Gervais film as much as I did GHOST TOWN, as narratively it’s rather underwritten and at times hokey, but it wasn’t such a bad way to spend a free afternoon, and as always Gervais is charming. I see some reviews have been brutal, while still others overstate its worth.
I’ll be nice and go with *** 1/2.
Wow, Sam. You do cram a lot of movies and stuff into your weekends. I need to take lessons from you and Alexander on how to manage my time.
Alison, thanks, but I don’t think I’ll ever again puil off what I am planning to do today again this year. Everything just fell into place. And all I needed was to have someone from my school system notice my car parked in the multiplex lot, and I’d better be ready with a good exuse! LOL!!!!
Peeing boulders is for the birds. Never done it, but I can imagine it. Not a fan. Sorry to hear of your troubles JB. Come to LA, I’ll take you to A Serious Man (at my fav theater no less!) Methinks you’ll like it.
Seriously though…is this the quietest Coen release for some time?
As far as Corcovado…Jennifer I’m going to recommend you run out and buy Getz/Gilberto or buy it from Amazon or download it from iTunes or whatever the kids are doing these days:
http://www.amazon.com/Getz-Gilberto-Stan/dp/B0000047CX
Superb record. Yes it’s a record, not a CD or an MP3 or whateverthefuck. The Girl From Ipanema is my favorite cocktail drinking song.
Alison, if you watch Rules of the Game you’re automatically in the running for Watercooler prize. I’m still looking for proof that that movie officially inspired Shampoo but I haven’t found it yet.
Jesus Sam, you’re seeing all the movies I’ve been meaning to see yet can’t tear myself away from Mad Men on Blu-ray. The irony is that it’s a good show, but not great so far.
Daniel, I have a sneaking suspicion you’ll like Providence Effect. Personally, I enjoyed it. It was uplifting. but it didn’t have much to offer in terms of solutions. Being a private school (or maybe it was a charter school) it doesn’t offer a lot of hope for good old fashioned public education. On the other hand, it shows how a group of motivated people can beat the odds with a bit of hard work and that appeals to me and it’s a good message.
Thanks, Craig. Advice taken. I now own Gilberto/Getz. You’ve made the world a better place today.
I own The Rules of the Game, but was sorta underwhelmed the first time I saw it. I think I didn’t know what to expect. I’m sure I should see it again sometime. Maybe I should watch it with Shampoo, since I haven’t seen that yet, either.
I hope you love it as much as I do Jennybee. May I recommend you play it the next time you’re sitting around fixing cocktails?
As for Rules…if it makes you feel any better, I also struggled with it the first time I saw it. I’ve warmed up to it, but it still doesn’t hit me on a deeply personal level the way some of my genuine favorite films do.