Grand Readership,
As you probably noticed, I took last week off from the REVIEW column - but am back fresh with this week's PREVIEW WEEKLY! It's finally here; the much anticipated kickoff to the summer of blockbusters. Strangely enough, the weather is a big story-line this weekend, and should inform -at least to some degree- how many people make the choice to go to the theaters. Last weekend would have been a tough sell (as displayed by my lack of REVIEW) as the east coast was treated to a scorcher as APRIL goes. Stay tuned in the next couple days for a surprise, GUEST REVIEW of THIS AMERICAN LIFE - LIVE! Enjoy!
WOLVERINE (DIR. GAVIN HOOD)Director GAVIN HOOD gave us the forgettable bomb, RENDITION in 2007 (but did nab an Oscar for TSOTSI in 2006) - and while WOLVERINE won't bomb by any means, it will certainly be forgettable (or at least I hope we can all forget this). If you've followed any of the previews, you'll no doubt remember an image of WOLVERINE flying off the roof of an exploding jeep and onto an out of control helicopter... and while I'm sure FOX wanted jaws to drop, instead, heads were scratched. When you take a mutant and you make him indestructible, essentially unstoppable - what story is there left to tell? None, I suspect and I wouldn't trust 20TH CENTURY FOX as far as I could see them having given us the butchery of X3 and FANTASTIC FOUR. Don't get me wrong, I'll be there opening night... but this is going to be flat out rotten.
THE LIMITS OF CONTROL (DIR. JIM JARMUSCH)Director JIM JARMUSCH has no doubt established his own storytelling style (STRANGER THAN PARADISE, DEAD MAN, BROKEN FLOWERS) and doesn't seem interested in pandering to the masses. Sometimes this works, other times (COFFEE AND CIGARETTES) not so much. LIMITS OF CONTROL boasts an impressive cast of TILDA SWINTON, GAEL GARCIA BERNAL (AMORES PERROS, THE MOTORCYCLE DIARIES) and BILL MURRAY - and seems to be a breakout role for ISAACH DE BANKOLE - who's mostly stuck to TV roles thus far. LIMITS OF CONTROL's premise seems interesting enough, which follows a mysterious work for hire criminal. Suspecting that this earns three stars may be much considering JARMUSCH doesn't have universal appeal - but it will be a treat to catch in theaters.
GHOSTS OF GIRLFRIENDS PAST (DIR. MARK WATERS)If we've learned anything this year, its that you cannot write off a picture based on its packaging (i.e. FAST AND FURIOUS, 17 AGAIN). But make no mistake, GHOSTS OF GIRLFRIENDS PAST is NOT that kind of picture. This is absolute garbage, displayed perfectly the doofy smile of MCCONAUGHEY on the teaser images that more or less says, "Hey... watch me make out with another Hollywood hottie... all right." This Hollywood hottie? JENNIFER GARNER... who has yet to impress anyone and sadly seems only able to furrow a brow now and then. Director MARK WATERS did give us MEAN GIRLS - but let's face it, that picture was held up by LINDSAY LOHAN'S star appeal and a near perfect screenplay by TINA FEY. GHOSTS will get a sizable box office - all those disappointed that their WOLVERINE screening was sold out - or those who placed a perilous bet in which they wagered their happiness at the theater this weekend and lost. Don't worry though, this will go away as quickly as it came.
