Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie, Paul Bettany, Timothy Dalton, Steven Berkoff, Rufus Sewell. Dir. Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck (The Lives of Others). Writers: Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, Christopher MacQuarrie (Valkyrie, The Way of the Gun, The Usual Suspects), Julian Fellowes (The Young Victoria, Vanity Fair, Gosford Park), adapted from the French film Anthony Zimmer, written and directed by Jérôme Salle.
So according to imdb.com The Tourist revolves around Frank (Depp, natch), an American tourist visiting Italy to mend his broken heart, when extraordinary woman Elise (Jolie, presumably) deliberately crosses his path. Who wrote that? It's terrible. Who could possibly want to see such a film? Compare that to the blurb for Anthony Zimmer (click the link, there's too much of it to reproduce it here... actually, don't, the French film plot summary may give away crucial information and constitute a spoiler for The Tourist. Jesus Christ this is complicated.) upon which The Tourist is based. I'd see the French film first, me.
But then let's examine the form. Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck made The Lives of Others, one of the best films of the last ten years, an accomplished, extraordinary piece of work (if you haven't seen it, do - even I've seen it. In a cinema and everything.) There's a really odd writing mix of the director, along with Christopher MacQuarrie, who's reliable, even if he has never really reached the heights of The Usual Suspects (Valkyrie was okay, but the script was really rather good), and Julian Fellowes, who wrote the rather wonderful Gosford Park. Johnny Depp makes really interesting choices, Angelina is usually good value, and there's a heavy-weight Brit-actor supporting cast too. The only worry is that I've never heard of Anthony Zimmer, and it was released there two weeks before I went to live in Paris. That's a minor worry though - many great films have been made from adaptations of mediocre predecessors. Ocean's Eleven for example.
The The Tourist trailer looks pretty good.
D'you know, I might actually go see this.
Like that's going to happen.
Oh well, I'll download it from iTunes in a couple months' time.
But I'll look forward to it.
Tuesday, 30 November 2010
Monday, 29 November 2010
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
Ben Barnes, Skandar Keynes, Georgie Henley, Tilda Swinton, and the voices of Liam Neeson and Simon Pegg. Dir. Michael Apted (Rome (TV), The World Is Not Enough, Gorillas in the Mist, Gorky Park, The Coal Miner's Daughter). Writers: Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely (both previous Narnia films, You Kill Me, The Life & Death of Peter Sellers), Michael Petroni (Queen of the Damned).
The two remaining Pevensie kids still under contract find themselves catapulted from wartime England into Narnia, this time fetching up aboard Prince Caspian's royal ship The Dawn Treader. From imdb.com: "Along the way they encounter dragons, dwarves, merfolk, and a band of lost warriors before reaching the edge of the world." Doesn't sound very good, does it?
I loved the books as a kid, and was really hoping for masterpieces, especially in the wake of the triumph that was the hitherto unfilmable Lord of the Rings trilogy. What we got in the first film was at times brilliant, at times desperately tedious and overall very uneven, and the second film was completely forgettable. This one doesn't look any better, I'm afraid. Given the choice I'd see Harry Potter. Not that I'm being given that choice.
I do love the transition scenes though, the wardrobe in the first one was cool, and train station in the second one quiet exciting, but the flooding painting thing looks amazing. Like. That bit. The rest? Not so good, I suspect.
But then who am I to say? All I've seen is the trailer.
ADDENDUM: Thanks to Daniel and his comment below, we have an updated trailer. He's right, it is better. I'm still not sold, but Daniel, I like your enthusiasm.
The two remaining Pevensie kids still under contract find themselves catapulted from wartime England into Narnia, this time fetching up aboard Prince Caspian's royal ship The Dawn Treader. From imdb.com: "Along the way they encounter dragons, dwarves, merfolk, and a band of lost warriors before reaching the edge of the world." Doesn't sound very good, does it?
I loved the books as a kid, and was really hoping for masterpieces, especially in the wake of the triumph that was the hitherto unfilmable Lord of the Rings trilogy. What we got in the first film was at times brilliant, at times desperately tedious and overall very uneven, and the second film was completely forgettable. This one doesn't look any better, I'm afraid. Given the choice I'd see Harry Potter. Not that I'm being given that choice.
I do love the transition scenes though, the wardrobe in the first one was cool, and train station in the second one quiet exciting, but the flooding painting thing looks amazing. Like. That bit. The rest? Not so good, I suspect.
But then who am I to say? All I've seen is the trailer.
ADDENDUM: Thanks to Daniel and his comment below, we have an updated trailer. He's right, it is better. I'm still not sold, but Daniel, I like your enthusiasm.
Black Swan
Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel. Dir. Darren Aronofsky (Pi, Requiem for a Dream, The Fountain, The Wrestler). Writers: Mark Heyman, Andres Heinz, John McLaughlin (Man of the House - ?!)
I really want this to be good. Requiem for a Dream still stands as a masterpiece, and while I believe The Wrestler was rather good (guess what, I haven't seen it) The Fountain was horrible with the odd good bit.
The writers here have one previous credit between three of them, and that for a seriously crappy-looking Tommy Lee Jones comedy that I didn't see, and never will. But this might be a good thing. Fresh talent and all that.
The fantastic Natalie Portman plays a ballerina, with the fantastic Vincent Cassel as her Svengali-type-bloke, who gets into a f***ed-up dangerous relationship with understudy Mila Kunis, who is also fantastic. You'd think anything with those three in it would be eminently watchable, but I thought that about The Fountain with Rachel Weisz and Huge Jackman, and oh my God was I wrong? Yes, I was. Very wrong indeed.
I'd love to be wrong about Black Swan, but from the trailer I fear I am not.
Not that I'd go see it either way or anything.
I really want this to be good. Requiem for a Dream still stands as a masterpiece, and while I believe The Wrestler was rather good (guess what, I haven't seen it) The Fountain was horrible with the odd good bit.
The writers here have one previous credit between three of them, and that for a seriously crappy-looking Tommy Lee Jones comedy that I didn't see, and never will. But this might be a good thing. Fresh talent and all that.
The fantastic Natalie Portman plays a ballerina, with the fantastic Vincent Cassel as her Svengali-type-bloke, who gets into a f***ed-up dangerous relationship with understudy Mila Kunis, who is also fantastic. You'd think anything with those three in it would be eminently watchable, but I thought that about The Fountain with Rachel Weisz and Huge Jackman, and oh my God was I wrong? Yes, I was. Very wrong indeed.
I'd love to be wrong about Black Swan, but from the trailer I fear I am not.
Not that I'd go see it either way or anything.
I Love You Philip Morris
Jim Carrey, Ewan McGregor, Leslie Mann. Written and directed by John Requa and Glenn Ficarra (writers but not directors of Cats and Dogs, Bad Santa, Bad News Bears) from the book by Steve McVicker.
After a road accident married cop Jim Carrey re-evaluates and decides to live life to the fullest, which for him consists of coming out of the closet and also becoming a con-man. This ends him up in prison (I'm using horrible sentence structure there deliberately because I like the rhythm, before you judge) where he falls in love with mild-mannered Ewan McGregor (Philip Morris) and sets out to break him out of prison at any cost.
Weeeeeeeeel. Cats and Dogs I turned off after fifteen minutes it stank so high. Predictably I haven't seen Bad Santa, but I heard it did well. I did shudder at the idea of a writing team directing, but then Paul Haggis used to write for Walker: Texas Ranger, so clearly that's no guide. Carrey and McGregor are always good value, and when the Rubber-faced Man tones it down a bit and gets serious he's really quite something - as likeable as Sandra Bullock. Well, that's pretty goddamned likeable, because Sandra Bullock is really, really likeable. You'd like to have her as your neighbour because you know she'd offer to drive the kids to school or whatever, or at least she would if she wasn't famous.
But I digress.
The trailer looks good, despite the film seeming to have seventeen inciting incidents when most films only need one. My non-extensive research suggests that this is a film of a book based on true events, so maybe that's why the structure is a little loose. I like that.
Let's remember, folks, it's refreshing to see an A-lister like Carrey take on such a whole-heartedly gay role, particularly in a mainstream comedy, and for that reason alone, I suggest you go see it.
Not me, however. I'll rent it in a year's time. Maybe. I don't get out enough.
After a road accident married cop Jim Carrey re-evaluates and decides to live life to the fullest, which for him consists of coming out of the closet and also becoming a con-man. This ends him up in prison (I'm using horrible sentence structure there deliberately because I like the rhythm, before you judge) where he falls in love with mild-mannered Ewan McGregor (Philip Morris) and sets out to break him out of prison at any cost.
Weeeeeeeeel. Cats and Dogs I turned off after fifteen minutes it stank so high. Predictably I haven't seen Bad Santa, but I heard it did well. I did shudder at the idea of a writing team directing, but then Paul Haggis used to write for Walker: Texas Ranger, so clearly that's no guide. Carrey and McGregor are always good value, and when the Rubber-faced Man tones it down a bit and gets serious he's really quite something - as likeable as Sandra Bullock. Well, that's pretty goddamned likeable, because Sandra Bullock is really, really likeable. You'd like to have her as your neighbour because you know she'd offer to drive the kids to school or whatever, or at least she would if she wasn't famous.
But I digress.
The trailer looks good, despite the film seeming to have seventeen inciting incidents when most films only need one. My non-extensive research suggests that this is a film of a book based on true events, so maybe that's why the structure is a little loose. I like that.
Let's remember, folks, it's refreshing to see an A-lister like Carrey take on such a whole-heartedly gay role, particularly in a mainstream comedy, and for that reason alone, I suggest you go see it.
Not me, however. I'll rent it in a year's time. Maybe. I don't get out enough.
Sunday, 28 November 2010
Tangled
Voices of Mandy Moore, Zach Levi, Donna Murphy, Ron Perlman, Paul F. Tompkins. Dir. Nathan Greno, Byron Howard (Bolt). Writers: Dan Fogelman (Bolt, Cars), the Grimm Brothers (Hansel and Gretel, Snow White, etc., you know, half the fairy tales there are).
It's a new version of the Rapunzel fairy tale. Just what the world needed. Okay, clearly I'm coming into this with a bad attitude, so I'll stop that now and try again.
It's a new version of the Rapunzel fairy tale. Fascinating!
God help me, I just can't do it.
Anyway, I don't know anything about any of these people, apart from the Grimms, obviously. And I did see Cars, which was okay. But I didn't see Bolt, surprise, surprise, despite having a little one who loves dogs or "daws" as she insists on calling them, completely incorrectly.
So, Tangled. The first trailer is a little uninspiring, isn't it? The second one is... well, it reminds me of the studio-imposed voiceover in Bladerunner (they were afraid the audience wouldn't know what was going on).
Anyway, this looks kinda nice, but I'm betting (a) it isn't as sharp as it thinks it is and (b) the horse is the best thing in it. My two-year-old will probably love it though.
If I want to watch a cartoon thing with a horse in it I'll watch Ponyo. And of course if you've seen Ponyo you may be able to correct me on there being a horse in it, because I haven't seen it, either.
It's a new version of the Rapunzel fairy tale. Just what the world needed. Okay, clearly I'm coming into this with a bad attitude, so I'll stop that now and try again.
It's a new version of the Rapunzel fairy tale. Fascinating!
God help me, I just can't do it.
Anyway, I don't know anything about any of these people, apart from the Grimms, obviously. And I did see Cars, which was okay. But I didn't see Bolt, surprise, surprise, despite having a little one who loves dogs or "daws" as she insists on calling them, completely incorrectly.
So, Tangled. The first trailer is a little uninspiring, isn't it? The second one is... well, it reminds me of the studio-imposed voiceover in Bladerunner (they were afraid the audience wouldn't know what was going on).
Anyway, this looks kinda nice, but I'm betting (a) it isn't as sharp as it thinks it is and (b) the horse is the best thing in it. My two-year-old will probably love it though.
If I want to watch a cartoon thing with a horse in it I'll watch Ponyo. And of course if you've seen Ponyo you may be able to correct me on there being a horse in it, because I haven't seen it, either.
Thursday, 25 November 2010
The King's Speech
Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter, Derek Jacobi. Dir. Tom Hooper (The Damned United). Writer: David Seidler (various TV movies).
The story of King George VI of Britain, his impromptu ascent to the throne, and the speech therapist who makes sure he can talk to his subjects.
If you can set aside the odium of having a monarchy in the first place, which is difficult enough at the moment given the recent announcement of the biggest royal wedding in thirty years, which coincided with the announcement of swingeing cuts to welfare and public services in the UK, presumably to help pay for the wedding... do you know, I'm not sure I can? Didn't take my chill pills today, obviously. Oh look, if I was able to do it for The Queen (the film, not the old parasite) I can do it for this, but really, what are we thinking? A monarch? In this day and age? It's ludicrous.
Anyway.
So, this looks pretty good, as these things go. The cast are wonderful, and it's probably worth watching just for them. I suppose if you take it down to the level of three people trying to step up and do the job in front of them it becomes watchable, and no doubt we will identify with these likeable human beings and their struggle to make their way in the world. But really, isn't it time someone made an anti-monarchy film? Isn't it? Maybe that's the old bomb-thrower in my genes talking.
So if you're into all that royal crap go see it. It'd only make me angry so I won't. I'll watch Michael Collins instead.
The story of King George VI of Britain, his impromptu ascent to the throne, and the speech therapist who makes sure he can talk to his subjects.
If you can set aside the odium of having a monarchy in the first place, which is difficult enough at the moment given the recent announcement of the biggest royal wedding in thirty years, which coincided with the announcement of swingeing cuts to welfare and public services in the UK, presumably to help pay for the wedding... do you know, I'm not sure I can? Didn't take my chill pills today, obviously. Oh look, if I was able to do it for The Queen (the film, not the old parasite) I can do it for this, but really, what are we thinking? A monarch? In this day and age? It's ludicrous.
Anyway.
So, this looks pretty good, as these things go. The cast are wonderful, and it's probably worth watching just for them. I suppose if you take it down to the level of three people trying to step up and do the job in front of them it becomes watchable, and no doubt we will identify with these likeable human beings and their struggle to make their way in the world. But really, isn't it time someone made an anti-monarchy film? Isn't it? Maybe that's the old bomb-thrower in my genes talking.
So if you're into all that royal crap go see it. It'd only make me angry so I won't. I'll watch Michael Collins instead.
Faster
Duane Johnson, Billy Bob Thornton, Maggie Grace. Dir. George Tillman Jr (Notorious, Men of Honor, Soul Food). Writers: Tony (Bulletproof) and Joe (The Salton Sea) Gayton.
Ex-con sets out to avenge brother's death after heist double-cross years ago, tracked by veteran cop (Thornton) and an egocentric hit-man (Oliver Jackson-Cohen, possibly, hard to tell from the trailer). So far, so ho-hum.
I'm sure it's fine. Duane Johnson is a better actor than he's given credit for, and it might be interesting to see if Maggie Grace can grow into something better than her average-if-promising turns as Shannon in Lost and Liam Neeson's daughter-under-the-bed-who-will-be-taken in, um, Taken. (Some day I will write a sentence that's completely hyphenated).
I'm not bothered seeing this. It's sunny out. If I'm ever on a plane and it's on, then maybe. Otherwise no.
Ex-con sets out to avenge brother's death after heist double-cross years ago, tracked by veteran cop (Thornton) and an egocentric hit-man (Oliver Jackson-Cohen, possibly, hard to tell from the trailer). So far, so ho-hum.
I'm sure it's fine. Duane Johnson is a better actor than he's given credit for, and it might be interesting to see if Maggie Grace can grow into something better than her average-if-promising turns as Shannon in Lost and Liam Neeson's daughter-under-the-bed-who-will-be-taken in, um, Taken. (Some day I will write a sentence that's completely hyphenated).
I'm not bothered seeing this. It's sunny out. If I'm ever on a plane and it's on, then maybe. Otherwise no.
Love and Other Drugs
Jake Gyllenhaal, Anne Hathaway, Oliver Platt. Dir. Edward Zwick (Defiance, Blood Diamond, The Last Samurai, Courage Under Fire, Legends of the Fall, Glory, About Last Night). Writer: Charles Randolph (The Interpreter, The Life of David Gale).
Alluring free spirit Hathaway won't be tied down, til charming pharmaceutical salesman Gyllenhall shows up. Then he gets the gig selling Viagra. Or something. I can't figure it out. Which might be a good thing. Trailer's a bit of a mess though.
Nah, you know what? I'm not buying this, despite the likeability of everyone involved. Looks like a mildly diverting way to waste an hour and a half, and my life is more valuable than that.
Open to correction as always, especially by someone who's actually seen it. But come on, you have to see a LOT of movies for this to be high on your list, right? Right?
Alluring free spirit Hathaway won't be tied down, til charming pharmaceutical salesman Gyllenhall shows up. Then he gets the gig selling Viagra. Or something. I can't figure it out. Which might be a good thing. Trailer's a bit of a mess though.
Nah, you know what? I'm not buying this, despite the likeability of everyone involved. Looks like a mildly diverting way to waste an hour and a half, and my life is more valuable than that.
Open to correction as always, especially by someone who's actually seen it. But come on, you have to see a LOT of movies for this to be high on your list, right? Right?
Burlesque
Cher, Christina Aguilera. Dir. Steve Antin. Writer: Steve Antin.
Small-town girl arrives in LA, works in burlesque club run by former dancer.
Now there's a logline just brimming over with dramatic tension.
My prediction: Complete bilge with lots of reasonably well-produced dancy-singy numbers. An extended Aguilera video, basically.
Who goes to see this rubbish? Not I, that's for sure. I couldn't even get through the trailer.
[Old fogey alert - not that I'm old] Don't bother with this. Check out Cyd Charisse and Gene Kelly's Broadway Melody number from Singin' in the Rain instead.
Small-town girl arrives in LA, works in burlesque club run by former dancer.
Now there's a logline just brimming over with dramatic tension.
My prediction: Complete bilge with lots of reasonably well-produced dancy-singy numbers. An extended Aguilera video, basically.
Who goes to see this rubbish? Not I, that's for sure. I couldn't even get through the trailer.
[Old fogey alert - not that I'm old] Don't bother with this. Check out Cyd Charisse and Gene Kelly's Broadway Melody number from Singin' in the Rain instead.
The Next Three Days
Russell Crowe, Elizabeth Banks, Liam Neeson. Dir. Paul Haggis (In the Valley of Elah, Crash). Writer: Paul Haggis, adapting the French film Anything for Her (Pour elle) by Fred Cavayé and Guillaume Lemans.
Lots of good things to be said for this movie. Neither Russell Crowe nor Liam Neeson say yes unless they're convinced the script is completely fucking awesome, and while Rusty also delivers I have the suspicion that Liam Neeson's entire appearance may be in the trailer (this is because he plays Basil Exposition). The story's a bit far-fetched, but so what? Movies are supposed to be far-fetched sometimes.
Anyway, Crash was great, and while I haven't seen In the Valley of Elah (since I married a Frenchwoman I've seen very few Tommy Lee Jones movies as she can't understand his mumbling), I trust Paul Haggis, Quantum of Solace aside (although he just did tweaks on that one, it wasn't his baby like this one is). Anyway, this looks like it could be pretty good, if it doesn't take itself too seriously.
Not that I'll find out any time soon, of course.
Contrast and compare.
Horrible plinky piano music aside, isn't it interesting how different the trailers are? In Pour elle, it's very difficult to tell what the hell the story is about. Not saying this is a bad thing, necessarily. Maybe their Basil Exposition isn't famous enough.
Lots of good things to be said for this movie. Neither Russell Crowe nor Liam Neeson say yes unless they're convinced the script is completely fucking awesome, and while Rusty also delivers I have the suspicion that Liam Neeson's entire appearance may be in the trailer (this is because he plays Basil Exposition). The story's a bit far-fetched, but so what? Movies are supposed to be far-fetched sometimes.
Anyway, Crash was great, and while I haven't seen In the Valley of Elah (since I married a Frenchwoman I've seen very few Tommy Lee Jones movies as she can't understand his mumbling), I trust Paul Haggis, Quantum of Solace aside (although he just did tweaks on that one, it wasn't his baby like this one is). Anyway, this looks like it could be pretty good, if it doesn't take itself too seriously.
Not that I'll find out any time soon, of course.
Contrast and compare.
Horrible plinky piano music aside, isn't it interesting how different the trailers are? In Pour elle, it's very difficult to tell what the hell the story is about. Not saying this is a bad thing, necessarily. Maybe their Basil Exposition isn't famous enough.
Due Date
Robert Downey Jr., Zach Galifianakis and Michelle Monaghan. Dir: Todd Phillips (The Hangover, Old School, Road Trip). Writers: Alan R. Cohen and Alan Freedland (both American Dad! and King of the Hill), (screenplay), Adam Sztykiel (Made of Honour), Todd Phillips.
The same team as made The Hangover, plus writers from American Dad and King of the Hill, which can only be good, directing the fat stoner guy from The Hangover with one of the great comedic actors of our times, in a Planes Trains and Automobiles-stylee thing where Downey must get to LA before blah blah blah who cares about the plot?
Can Phillips do it again? The Hangover was, to my very great surprise, absolutely brilliant. And I hate all that booze-and-drug-culture crap. Didn't like the Mike Tyson bit though. Anyway. I don't think Phillips can do it again. I think he might have something quite different here. Possibly even better than the Hangover.
Look, it's one of those things - it looks funny, both characters look interesting, the dialogue is really, really good, but it might be one of those films where if you've seen the trailer you've seen all the best bits.
Let me know which, if you do go see it. I bet it's really rather good, right? I'll keep an eye out for it on free-to-air TV in about 18 months' time, I promise.
Big recommendation, by the way - Tropic Thunder on DVD/Blu-ray with the cast commentary. Downey Jr does his in character. Both characters. It's fantastic. Better than the film itself, even.
The same team as made The Hangover, plus writers from American Dad and King of the Hill, which can only be good, directing the fat stoner guy from The Hangover with one of the great comedic actors of our times, in a Planes Trains and Automobiles-stylee thing where Downey must get to LA before blah blah blah who cares about the plot?
Can Phillips do it again? The Hangover was, to my very great surprise, absolutely brilliant. And I hate all that booze-and-drug-culture crap. Didn't like the Mike Tyson bit though. Anyway. I don't think Phillips can do it again. I think he might have something quite different here. Possibly even better than the Hangover.
Look, it's one of those things - it looks funny, both characters look interesting, the dialogue is really, really good, but it might be one of those films where if you've seen the trailer you've seen all the best bits.
Let me know which, if you do go see it. I bet it's really rather good, right? I'll keep an eye out for it on free-to-air TV in about 18 months' time, I promise.
Big recommendation, by the way - Tropic Thunder on DVD/Blu-ray with the cast commentary. Downey Jr does his in character. Both characters. It's fantastic. Better than the film itself, even.
Unstoppable
Denzel Washington, Chris Pine, Rosario Dawson. Dir. Tony Scott (The Taking of Pelham 123, Déja-vu, Domino, Man on Fire, Spy Game, Enemy of the State, Crimson Tide, True Romance, Top Gun). Writer Mark Bomback (Race to Witch Mountain, Die Hard 4.0).
A veteran engineer (Denzel, presumably) and a young conductor (Pine, ditto) race to avert disaster as a huge un-manned runaway freight train piles towards a city.
Tony Scott, eh? Eh? Yes. The less-sainted brother is hugely reliable - you know for sure you're getting a work with pace, suspense, great visuals and movement, decent performances... and probably a slightly cheesy Hollywood ending-with-an-edge. Hard cheese, perhaps?
If I was out on a Friday night and this was on, I'd consider it. Not that that's about to happen.
I can't resist it, I'm sorry...
Training Day?
A veteran engineer (Denzel, presumably) and a young conductor (Pine, ditto) race to avert disaster as a huge un-manned runaway freight train piles towards a city.
Tony Scott, eh? Eh? Yes. The less-sainted brother is hugely reliable - you know for sure you're getting a work with pace, suspense, great visuals and movement, decent performances... and probably a slightly cheesy Hollywood ending-with-an-edge. Hard cheese, perhaps?
If I was out on a Friday night and this was on, I'd consider it. Not that that's about to happen.
I can't resist it, I'm sorry...
Training Day?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)