Grand Readership,
Yeah, yeah - I know. It's Preview WEEKLY. Not MONTHLY. But in a vain attempt not to begin 2010 too far behind... you'll find a quick recap of the first three weeks in JAN 10 releases (1/1, 1/8, 1/15). Nothing too notable here - but then again...
If you haven't heard of this film, it's not your fault. The biggest promotion this picture received is that it's an adaptation of a lost TENNESSEE WILLIAMS' screenplay. Apart from that, there's not much to see. BRYCE DALLAS HOWARD doesn't seem awful - but the trailer is so gut-wrenchingly bad I can't imagine the picture being anything better. Feels like TITANIC; but the version that swept the Razzies, not the Oscars. See at your own risk.
If I've said it once, I've said it a million times: if the frackin' Cohen brothers can figure out how to credit one director, surely the throngs of underling sibling director teams can, can't they? Still, the SPIERIG brothers should be excited - DAYBREAKERS is by far their largest budgeted picture and features their biggest star vehicle in ETHAN HAWKE. How either of those occurred remains itself a mystery, but I won't go as far as to say the trailer was bad. For the vamp-thriller fans out there, it may be good popcorn flick... for the rest of us, well, one can always see AVATAR again.
One day the rest of the world will awaken to the disaster that is MICHAEL CERA. A true one-trick pony, best used meagerly in ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT and subsequently over-used in everything else he's been in. At least DAVID LETTERMAN agrees; anyone watching CERA's recent appearance could attest LETTERMAN wanted nothing to do with the little ____ .... I'll let you fill in the blank. The director, MIGUEL ARETA, has seen most of his success in television, YOUTH IN REVOLT will mark his biggest feature to date. I can't help but get the feeling this film is trying too hard - and has been for the some two years its been in post production (two years of post on a film like this is never a good a sign, by the way). See in the theaters if you're a CERA fan or particularly curious about this faux coming of age film... otherwise a better flick for home viewing.
Some will remember ANAND TUCKER directed the STEVE MARTIN written dramedy, SHOPGIRL - a simple, okay film from 2005. This time he's got the (sometimes?) amazing AMY ADAMS and the lesser known MATTHEW GOODE. LEAP YEAR is cute enough, girlfriend on roadtrip to see boyfriend when intercepted by cute-guy-and-forced-to-rethink-plan-friend. You've seen it a hundred times, so once more won't hurt. I'd watch ADAMS in about anything - and I don't get the impression it's offensively redundant. A good choice for a date flick, or if you're an ADAMS fanatic. Otherwise, wait.
Yes, the same TIM ALLEN from HOME IMPROVEMENT and all the troubled tabloid stories. CRAZY ON THE OUTSIDE marks TIM ALLEN'S directorial debut and he's pulled together quite a cast to help him along the way. Despite being armed with SIGOURNEY WEAVER, JK SIMMONS and RAY LIOTTA (among several others, I assure you) - CRAZY seems a bit boring. No one can argue ALLEN can really pull together a cast though - I'm curious to see whether he's serious about directing and refining himself behind the camera, or if this is one of those, "I told you I could direct a movie" movies. We will have to see - but not many will do so in theaters (myself included).
I am in no way surprised at this picture. JACKIE CHAN in a kid-romp-slapstick-comedy directed by a frequenter of the genre (LEVANT did such pictures as BEETHOVEN and JINGLE ALL THE WAY). I am, however, a bit surprised the studio didn't throw a holiday spin on this and cash in on the NOV/DEC crowd. Doesn't seem like it will find much of an audience considering what else is avail to the PG crowd (and considering further that most parents may stretch the limits and allow their children to see the PG13 AVATAR). If your not with persons under the age of 10, there's no reason to see this picture.
Please see above re: my thoughts on multiple directors (and that these two are actually twins infuriates me even more). But THE BOOK OF ELI has struck my curiosity. Sure, it has a lot to do with being set in a post-apocalyptic world... but also has a lot to do with having GARY OLDMAN in it. And, I'm a huge fan of the HUGHES' MENACE II SOCIETY - and thrilled that they're back behind the camera, armed with a budget and (several) stars. For those people who like this type of action/intrigue/apocalyptic crap - and for those guys out there who have the next pick in date flicks. Let me know what you think about this one - could go either way - certainly worth a trip to the big screen for the photography alone.
A highly touted British picture that comes stateside with all sorts of festival credentials. It's a coming of age story, and finally one that doesn't shy away from "reality" (although typing such an absurd sentence is rather sad). It has a sharp look and from what I can tell, some incredible performances. One of those pictures that communicates so genuinely the life of a person that moving from humor to drama is not only flawless but natural. Definitely check out if it's in your area.
That PETER JACKSON chose KING KONG to follow his epic LOTR trilogy wasn't too alarming - but deciding to helm THE LOVELY BONES next may surprise more than a few. BONES is an adaptation from ALICE SEBOLD'S critically acclaimed novel by the same name, in which a 14 yr old is raped and murdered - and as a spirit in heaven helps guide her friends in family in solving her murder mystery. To say JACKSON'S BONES hasn't been met with critical praise would be a grave understatement, and the promotions (spinning it more as a supernatural thriller than the poetic journey SEBOLD provided) don't seem to be helping. I imagine you've decided whether or not to see this one - perhaps a fan of either the book, or JACKSON you feel inclined. I certainly won't discourage, but for the rest of you, you're fine to wait for the in-home release.
