Capitalism: A Love Story
Studio: Overture
Directed by: Michael Moore
Starring: Michael Moore
The plot: Documentary filmmaker Michael Moore sets out to uncover the truth behind the current economic crisis with interviews from Wall Street and government insiders.
Furious: I don't count myself among the bandwagon-jumping army of Michael Moore haters. I've always found him to be entertaining. Sometimes he goes too far and simplifies matters but he always seems keen to investigate subjects that are current and nothing is more topical than the state of world finances. Moore will probably find some very funny ways of talking about the subject matter. I look forward to seeing what he produces.
Kristopowitz: I'm a big fan of big, fat Michael Moore and am always interested to see what his next documentary is all about. This one looks great. And it'll be fun to see and hear all of the insane carrying on that will ensue from the right when a larger audience gets a chance to see it.
Gustafson: I'm trying to remember if I've ever seen a documentary in the theater? I don't think so and I'm not making this one the first. Moore is a real divider. You either love him or hate him. Funny enough, I think his stuff his heavy handed but it gets people talking and THAT'S a good thing. Pass, but will catch it on DVD, if Blockbuster is still around when it comes out.
Lealos: I like Michael Moore and am interested in seeing this documentary. If the rumors are true, and this is his last one for awhile (he wants to try fiction filmmaking) then it is well worth my time.
Archibald: So, apparently some people think I'm a "liberal". Ha. Ha. HAHAHAHA! You guys have no clue, do you? (hint: I ain't a "conservative", either) Anyways, Michael Moore is always good for some comedy and some insight. Even if he does some cherry-picking, the cherries usually taste pretty good. I'll be checking this out.
Chamberlain: "Where is our money?" "I don't know." Sounds about right. Me, I've never been into Michael Moore. Unless you count his farting contest with Peter Griffin, which had me on the edge of my seat.
Thomas: Most people either hate or love Michael Moore, often depending on what side of the political spectrum they hang from. More interestingly, most people either love or hate people who have an opinion of Michael Moore, and seem to think that if you like him you're a communist and if you don't you're a war-mongering redneck. It's as if you can't appreciate or dislike his work based on his merits as a filmmaker. I do enjoy his work, but I'm not quite in the "love" category. This does look very good, though. It's definitely his style of documentary and will give people on both sides of the aisle something to bitch about for another year or two.
Brimfield: Snore? The only memorable thing I can attributed to Moore is his berating of Charlton Heston. Give me a Nick Broomfield or a Louis Theroux any day over Moore's selfish diatribes.
A Serious Man
Studio: Focus
Directed by: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
Starring: Michael Stuhlbarg, Richard Kind, Sai Lennick
The plot: A black comedy set in 1967 and centered on Larry Gopnik (Stuhlbarg), a Midwestern professor who watches his life unravel when his wife prepares to leave him because his inept brother (Kind) won't move out of the house.
Furious: The Coens very rarely fail. If it wasn't for Barton Fink they could probably lay claims to having never made a bad movie. Burn After Reading was somewhat underwhelming but I found it quite enjoyable. Here the Coens have gone the other way; moving away from their all-star casts and making a little low budget affair. I'm sure it'll be good because it IS the Coens. I don't think it has a powerful enough cast to challenge for any major awards though.
Kristopowitz: Sounds like another Coen Brothers masterpiece. Hopefully it actually plays where I live.
Gustafson: Looks... interesting. But take off the Coen name and what do you have? Another one that gets the DVD nod from me but not for lack of trying.
Lealos: The Coen brothers can do no wrong. This trailer and synopsis reminds me of the storytelling from Barton Fink, which I love. I like that they are withdrawing to their cynical, quirky filmmaking because they are always more interesting when flying under the radar.
Archibald: It's the Coens. I'm there. Next.
Chamberlain: Never been into the Coen brothers either...
Thomas: Never bet against the Coens; that's the general rule. Sure, they don't always hit the mark - The Ladykillers wasn't very good and Intolerable Cruelty was only passingly enjoyable - but the rest is their body of work is great. The story sounds good and I appreciate their insistence on casting unknowns here. It may be somewhat worrying to Focus that they don't have anyone marketable, but the Coens have reached a point where they're marketable in their own right. I love their black comedies and so I'm very hopeful for this one.
Brimfield: This doesn't really sound like much, but I guess neither did The Man Who Wasn't There, and that turned out quite nicely. A rental for me, this.
Zombieland
Studio: Columbia
Directed by: Ruben Fleischer
Starring: Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, Abigail Breslin
The plot: In a world overrun by zombies, a guy described as "the most frightened person on Earth" (Eisenberg) musters the courage to lead a band of refugees on a cross-country pilgrimage to an amusement park where they think they'll be safe.
Furious: I like zombie pictures most of the time. I think Woody Harrelson is a good choice to play the starring role as a bad-ass zombie killer. The big problem it faces is the slew of different zombie movies that have come out in recent years. The zombie has either become more aggressive and frightening (as in REC or the Rage Virus victims of 28 Days Later) or more comical as in Shaun of the Dead. Zombieland is going to need to find an audience and if positive reviews are not forthcoming it could get lost in the mix with a lot of releases the same day.
Kristopowitz: Early reviews suggest that this is more comedy than zombie movie, but it looks great, anyway. I love the whole Woody Harrelson-Dale Earnhardt thing on the side of the truck in the preview. Will hopefully be a fun time at the movies.
Gustafson: I'm not even a zombie fan and I want to see this. Someone is doing something right. I'm hearing good things across the board and I can't wait to see the "secret-but-not-really-a-secret" cameo from... I'm not going to be the one to ruin it.
Lealos: I have seen this. Next to Inglourious Basterds, it is the most fun I have had at the movies this year. This is by far the best horror comedy since Shaun of the Dead and, thinking back, it might be one of the best of all time. Woody Harrelson owns in this movie and everything about it is great. See this movie. I can't recommend that enough.
Archibald: Woody Harrelson has been quietly gaining favor in my eyes to be a capable character actor. Sure, he had his share of blockbusters and big-name acclaim (White Men Can't Jump, The People vs. Larry Flynt) but it's in the quirkiness of the roles he is willing to play and the nuances he brings to them has become a joy to watch. I'm pretty confident that he has been very choosy with his roles and wouldn't want to be involved in something if it wasn't worth his time. This looks like it will be worth not just his, but everyone's... Well, everyone who likes flesh eating zombies.
Chamberlain: This movie looks like so much fun. Zombies are making a real come back! I'm not a fan of the real horror movies but I love to see them lampooned. Smacking zombies around with banjos, old ladies dropping pianos on the undead, rocking out to Van Halen, Woody being a badass...I want to see this ASAP.
Thomas: This just looks like a blast. I'm a sucker for a good horror comedy, and I'm a sucker for zombie films. Zombie comedies are the best of both worlds. Woody Harrelson looks to be having a lot of fun here, Jesse Eisenberg and Emma Stone are always good and Abigail Breslin looks to be much less annoying than usual. The trailers have been fantastic and I'm definitely looking forward to this one.
Brimfield: Zombies = win as a rule, and this looks like they're doing some pretty fresh things with the setup, so I'll be eagerly anticipating it even though I know there's no chance it'll be screened where I live.
Whip It
Studio: Fox Searchlight
Directed by: Drew Barrymore
Starring: Ellen Page, Drew Barrymore, Kristen Wiig
The plot: In Bodeen, Texas, indie-rock loving misfit Bliss Cavendar (Page) finds a way of dealing with her small-town misery after she discovers a roller derby league in nearby Austin.
Furious: I like Ellen Page. I think she has the makings of a star leading lady and should have a long career as a proper actress. The added presence of Drew Barrymore might well help and this should be the chick-flick amongst a sea of manly releases on my birthday. I might even be persuaded to watch it because of the Austin setting. It is, after all, one of my favourite cities.
Kristopowitz: I'm kind of mixed on this. The trailer looks great, but I'm still not sold on either Ellen Page of Kristen Wiig. What should be interesting here, though, is the presence of Daniel Stern. Where the heck has he been?
Gustafson: The plot and all that jazz don't do anything for me. I'm more curious about Barrymore's directing. I know she directed something on TV a while back but this is her big movie debut. Is this the start of a whole new phase for her?
Lealos: This movie is not very good. There are small things in it that are decent enough (Kristen Wiig, Andrew Wilson, the actual roller derby games) but overall it is a huge disappointment. I hate to say it but Drew Barrymore is not a very good director.
Archibald: Drew Barrymore's directorial debut has received rave reviews all across the board. Fellow Canuck Ellen Page is back with a performance that critics are saying will put her in the upper echelon of young talented and future Oscar-winning actors. I must support Canada – even if it takes place in the antithesis of my home country... Texas.
Chamberlain: I've kind of outgrown the celebrity crush thing, but if I still had them, I'd have a real big one on Ellen Page. She's Canadian, so that right there makes her perfect, she's a cutie and she's a great actress. That said, this movie isn't jazzing me.
Thomas: This doesn't look too bad, really. I like Ellen Page and Drew Barrymore looks pretty decent here. Sure, it has the "Oh my god, we're so indy!" feel to it and I have to wonder what's up with Page playing characters with odd names; the idea of a roller derby league sounds kind of silly too. However I'm moderately interested and will likely give it a chance.
Brimfield: I like both Page and Barrymore, but this sounds pretty low-rent and I have my doubts it'll prove a successful debut for Drew behind the cameras.
The Invention of Lying
Studio: Warner Bros.
Directed by: Ricky Gervais, Matthew Robinson
Starring: Ricky Gervais, Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman, Jonah Hill
The plot: A comedy set in a world where no one has ever lied, until a writer seizes the opportunity for personal gain.
Furious: This might be the star vehicle that Ricky Gervais has been looking for. I know he's not interested in cracking America long term, or so he says, but he sure seemed disappointed that Ghost Town didn't take much green. This should do better. It's a good concept and there are some funny people involved in it. Gervais isn't an actor I particularly enjoy watching but he has his moments and if he gets enough in here to draw an audience it could kick-start his career in Hollywood.
Kristopowitz: I loved Gervais' Ghost Town, and this looks easily as funny as that. The cast looks great (well, except Jason Bateman, more on him in a second), but I have to say that the previews have been underwhelming. Is it meant to be a comedy for the masses, or is it an "art house" thing? Look at the way the TV commercial introduces Jonah Hill. As a result of watching the commercial, I don't know if I'm smart enough to see it.
Gustafson: Call me a sucker and send me to bed but I want to see this. Pretty Ricky Gervais is ok to me. It's not his fault that Hollywood news shows pushed him as the next big thing in America. The plot is the real hook to me. This almost seems like it was made with Jim Carrey in mind, doesn't it?
Lealos: Ricky Gervais is a really funny guy. Ghost Town wasn't a great movie but he made it better than it could have been. I expect this to be really funny and can't stop comparing Rob Lowe's character here to Wayne's World. I expect this to be a good time.
Archibald: Now, this may be Ricky Gervais' breakout comedy. It has received positive buzz for the treatment of its interesting premise, has a HUGE ad campaign behind it and has some quality star power behind it. I want this to succeed so bad because we need more comedies like these – the ones that can make you laugh and think at the same time (here come the "pretentious" labels at me!).
Chamberlain: This isn't my month! Ricky Gervais, again, not my bag. Funny Jennifer Garner is playing his love interest. I remember Gervais playing a baddie on Alias, a show that gave me a GIANT Garner crush that would last for years. Interesting concept though.
Thomas: Ricky Gervais is comedic gold. Even if you don't count The Office and Extras, check out his top-notch stand-up or his work in movies like Ghost Town to see how funny he is. This is a brilliant idea for a movie and the set-ups look classic. It's the perfect vehicle for Gervais and I can totally see this expanding his awareness with it. I certainly hope he does, anyway.
Brimfield: The trailers make this look almost identical to Ghost Town - mediocre. Stick to the small screen, Ricky, it's where your talents lie.
OCTOBER 9TH
Couples Retreat
Studio: Universal
Directed by: Peter Billingsley
Starring: Vince Vaughn, Malin Akerman, Jon Favreau, Kristen Bell
The plot: Four couples settle into a tropical-island resort for a vacation. While one of the couples is there to work on their marriage, the others fail to realize that participation in the resort's therapy sessions is not optional.
Furious: Sounds lame. Vince Vaughn has been remarkably hit-and-miss throughout his career with every Swingers and Dodgeball being offset by a remake of Psycho or Fred Claus. Malin Akerman is hot coming off Watchmen even if she had a bland character in that film. Favreau is starting to be better known behind the camera but he has great chemistry with Vaughn. That didn't stop Made being mediocre. Seems off this is running unopposed after so many films opening the week before. Seems Universal are quietly confident of scoring a big hit here.
Kristopowitz: Well, here's the thing. The previews have been funny, sure, but I'm really getting tired of Jason Bateman. He clearly isn't half as interesting as directors, producers, and the internet seem to think. So, if this movie somehow tanks (I don't think it will. Vince Vaughn still has some box office clout) I want to preemptively blame it all on Bateman. It'll be time for Jason to go away.
Gustafson: Bzzz. Bzzz. Bzzz. You know what that is? It's the alarm telling us that Vince Vaughn needs a career reinvention. Any suggestions for what that could be? Man, this roundtable has me asking a lot of questions.
Lealos: Sue me, I'm a fan of the Frat Pack. I also, unlike Bryan, am a really big fan of Jason Bateman. I like when Vince Vaughn pairs up with Jon Favreau and, based on the trailers, this looks really funny. I like funny movies and this looks really funny.
Archibald: I am hoping against hope that this is more than a silly, silly cliché comedy. The first trailer looked absolutely hilarious. The trailers after that have me worried.
Chamberlain: I miss Swingers Vince and Jon. I see too much of cuddly, rom com Vince and Jon these days!
Thomas: I think that this has a lot of potential to be funny. It won't be the funniest movie of the year - that honor belongs to The Hangover and nothing I've seen makes me believe this will be near that funny. This is honestly the kind of role I don't normally like out of Vince Vaughn, but Favreau, Bateman, Bell and the rest are likely to lift things up beyond the limits of Vaughn's typical character. I think this will amuse and quickly be forgotten, and will be a success thanks to being on the one non-crowded weekend of the month.
Brimfield: Worst film title since Made of Honor? Probably. Anyway, there are some decent names in the cast here which could help to overpower the weak premise.
OCTOBER 16TH
Where the Wild Things Are
Studio: Warner Bros.
Directed by: Spike Jonze
Starring: Max Records, Catherine O'Hara, Forest Whitaker, Chris Cooper
The plot: Young, mischievous Max is sent to bed without his supper, but when his bedroom turns in to a magical jungle landscape filled with strange creatures, he embarks on a wild imaginary adventure.
Furious: This is Spike Jonze's third feature as a director. The previous two were Being John Malkovich and Adaptation. Both with Charlie Kaufman scripts. No Kaufman script but Jonze likes to think and live ‘outside the box'. So whatever he comes up with should be interesting. Of course the market for this one is kiddies but I'm fairly confident Jonze will make it worth a look see.
Kristopowitz: This is one of the month's must see movies, no question about it. It looks fabulous.
Gustafson: How long have we been anticipating this film? How long? Remember the first trailer? Remember tearing up? If you say you didn't, you're a filthy liar and should go back to reading and laughing at Flowers for Algernon, you heartless fiend.
Lealos: This has the chance to be the best movie of the final quarter of the year. Spike Jonze is a genius. Look at Being John Malkovich and Adaptation for proof of that. Hell, look at his music videos and you will understand he has more talent in his pinky finger than most directors have in their entire bodies. Every trailer has made me more and more excited about this movie. I have not been to a nice theater for a relaxing movie since my son was born. This will change when Where the Wild Things Are comes out. It is easily my most anticipated movie this month.
Archibald: Like Furious said, Jonze's two previous films were Being John Malkovich and Adaptation, one a modern day masterpiece and the other one of the best films about writers and writing in general. I have seen the trailers and some of the behind-the-scenes footage. This looks like it will keep the magic AND the danger of one of my favorite books as a kid. This may give Jonze a possibility of some hardware of the golden kind time come awards season.
Chamberlain: Wow, I read this book in kindergarten. Never in a million years thought I'd see it as a movie. Looks pretty trippy. I'll see it and probably revert into a five year old for a couple of hours.
Thomas: I've heard "Oscar contender" tossed out a lot with this one and I think that's a wee bit premature. Don't get me wrong, this should be phenomenal and I can't wait but I don't see this rocking the Academy. This has had a very troubled production, but Jonze stuck to his guns and wouldn't let Warner screw with his film. I think that's going to be for the best. The visuals look amazing and the story is an absolute classic; I expect this to be a huge hit and I think Warner will be very disappointed with anything else.
Brimfield: Sorry! I'm just not that bothered about this one. Sure, it looks pretty, and I imagine it'll turn out to be a pretty good film, but it's done precisely zero to excite me.
Law Abiding Citizen
Studio: Overture
Directed by: F. Gary Gray
Starring: Gerard Butler, Jamie Foxx, Leslie Bibb
The plot: After family man Clyde Shelton (Butler) is failed by the court system, he concocts a series of events designed to exact his revenge on the killers of his wife and daughter. And from inside his jail cell, the mastermind lures the prosecutor (Foxx) who orchestrated the unjust deal into his deadly plan.
Furious: F. Gary Gray's films have gotten progressively worse since he debuted with the entertaining low-budget LA comedy Friday. Jamie Foxx is for the most part a successful leading man while Gerard Butler has his moments. Much like every other Gray film since Friday this may be passable but nothing more. Foxx deserves better. He needs to be wary of the Cuba Gooding Jr. effect. Winning an Oscar can have a detrimental effect on your career sometimes.
Kristopowitz: This looks and sounds pretty decent, sort of a high concept revenge movie. Gerard Butler looks like he's having a ball in the trailer and commercials.
Gustafson: Gerard Butler's movie choices read like a stock market report with all the ups and downs. I'll probably catch this just for curiosity's sake.
Lealos: I'm getting a chance to see this movie this week at an advanced screening and it looks interesting. Jamie Foxx can be good and Gerard Butler is hit and miss. It looks like the kind of movie I like but I am not sure yet. I'll wait and see.
Archibald: For some reason, this film has been flying below the radar with me. It's crazy too, because at one point in their careers, F. Gary Gray, Jaime Foxx and Gerald Butler were on top of the mountain, so I figured this would get more hype. It looks tolerable as an action flick... Kind of a poor man's The Negotiator with Foxx and Butler playing the Sam Jackson and Kevin Spacey roles. Funny enough, Gray directed that one too. Oh, I also don't think Jamie Foxx needs to worry about the "Cuba Gooding Jr. Curse" - I doubt Cuba has a couple of #1 albums and singles under his belt.
Chamberlain: I haven't been a huge fan of Butler's career choices post 300. Too many touchy feely flicks. This looks sufficiently edgy though. Who can blame a dude for making his own justice when the system fails him, as it so often does those in the real world?
Thomas: Gerard Butler's getting more work than he knows what to do with lately. His last two films were atrocious, but this actually looks fun in a trashy, almost B-movie way. I think Butler will work much better as a bad guy, as he's able to exude that sort of menace as we've seen in 300. Jamie Foxx is often good - not always, but often - and the rest of the cast looks solid. I don't expect this to win any awards or clean up at the box office, but it should be an enjoyable (and then forgettable) time.
Brimfield: The premise sounds intriguing if the rest of the film can deliver, which is by no means a cert with Gray in the director's chair. Worth a rental methinks.
OCTOBER 23RD
Saw VI
Studio: Lionsgate
Directed by: Kevin Greutert
Starring: Tobin Bell, Tanedra Howard, Costas Mandylor
The plot: Special Agent Strahm is dead, and Detective Hoffman has emerged as the unchallenged successor to Jigsaw's legacy. However, when the FBI draws closer to Hoffman, he is forced to set a game into motion, and Jigsaw's grand scheme is finally understood.
Furious: Here's a franchise that's guaranteed to make money and one that is suffering badly from the law of diminishing returns. The first movie was good and the second one comparable and ever since then they've just been getting worse. V was an all time low for the series sporting the tagline "you'll never guess how it ends". Well, I did. I actually found the ‘swerve' based torture-porn to be torture to sit through just to get to a swerve that was obvious from the moment the ‘final room' was entered into. My prediction is that Saw VI will make a tonne of money, will get bad reviews, I'll hate it and Saw VII will be due out in a year.
Kristopowitz: This is easily the biggest movie of the month. Easily. How the hell can this series even continue when its main villain has been dead for three movies now? That's the real fun of the franchise, seeing how it works itself out. Just sit back, relax, and let the movie explain itself.
Gustafson: Wow, yet another chapter to a horror franchise that I've never had any interest in. Sorry guys.
Lealos: So, Jigsaw's grand scheme is finally understood three movies after he died? A movie a year is making this a more profitable franchise then the Freddy's, Jason's and Michael's of years past. I haven't seen one since the first, though.
Archibald: I saw the first three, and that was a satisfying enough conclusion in my mind. No need to see the others.
Chamberlain: Why do they keep making these movies...
Thomas: I'm a huge Saw fan, and I loved the first three films. I very much enjoyed the fourth film, though it had its flaws, and I felt that the fifth simply didn't live up to the other ones due to the inability of Costas Mandylor and Scott Patterson to carry the film. The writers have promised that this entry will answer a lot of questions finally, and I hope that's the case. One of the problems with the last couple of movies is that they keep hinting at things but never answer them. There is a Saw VII already announced so this won't be the last, much to my dismay because I don't think they can keep these as quality films. But if this is a return to form as I hope it will be, I might change my tune about that.
Brimfield: The only thing that could possibly make this worthwhile is the return of Dr. Gordon. Otherwise, this will be just as redundant as the last two films in the series. I have no idea why Bryan thinks the sixth film in an ever-diminishing horror franchise is bigger than Where the Wild Things Are, which has had a ton of hype.
The Vampire's Assistant
Studio: Universal
Directed by: Paul Weitz
Starring: Chris Massoglia, John C. Reilly, Salma Hayek
The plot: A traveling freak show's most mysterious attraction recruits teenager Darren Shan as his assistant, though the young man soon finds himself used as a pawn in a battle between vampires and their deadlier counterparts.
Furious: I bet Rob Zombie is sat around thinking "I got bumped into August to avoid this?" And still got beaten by The Final Destination. Oh the humanity. Vampire movies are traditionally bad and I see no reason why this isn't another stinker. Paul (and Chris for that matter) Weitz aren't exactly my favourite filmmakers.
Kristopowitz: I don't know much about this movie, so I have no idea. I will say this, though. It sounds pretty dang weird.
Gustafson: Can't forget about the teenage set. The rush to adapt teenage horror/supernatural/quirky books continues and this has one-and-done written all over it. Salma Hayek as the bearded lady? Get outta here.
Lealos: This looks both interesting and stupid. I like John C. Reilly. I don't know, it could go either way and the trailers don't tell me anything.
Archibald: Silly or hilarious? Could be both. Could be neither. I'm barely intrigued for some reason.
Chamberlain: So this is based on a book? I'm out of touch... vampires are still huge I see. On first blush I feel like Reilly is a bit miscast here, but I guess I'll have to see the whole movie to know for sure. It looks pretty cool.
Thomas: Okay, this might be interesting, and I must admit that the idea of Salma Hayek as a bearded lady is very interesting in a strange way. This is apparently based on a young adult book which gives me Twilight flashbacks - not a good thing, by the way. But the cast is interesting, the look is freaky enough to work and with the exception of American Dreamz, Paul Weitz hasn't let me down yet. I'll give this a shot.
Brimfield: The Darren Chan books are surprisingly successful among the youth folk, but I think this is going to be more of a Golden Compass than a Harry Potter.
Amelia
Studio: Fox Searchlight
Directed by: Mira Nair
Starring: Hilary Swank, Richard Gere, Ewan McGregor, Christopher Eccleston
The plot: A look at the life of Amelia Earhart (Swank), the American pilot who disappeared while flying over the Pacific Ocean in 1937 on her history-making flight around the world.
Furious: Hilary Swank is a fine actress but I can't stand Richard Gere. This would be Mira Nair's first attempt at something entirely non-Bollywood since 2004's Reese Witherspoon bomb Vanity Fair. I hope this does better but I'm not holding my breath considering the tough Halloween-based opposition.
Kristopowitz: I don't know about this one. The cast looks decent and the subject matter is fascinating (well, I think it's fascinating), but biopics can be real hit-and-miss and this one looks like a miss. We'll see.
Gustafson: This smells of The Aviator. Which is a good thing to me. The trailer is decent and I like the subject matter. This gets a pass from me. I like how Hollywood is finding things for Hilary Swank to do.
Lealos: Don't care. I've never cared for this type of historical biopic.
Archibald: Oscar bait? You bet. I dunno why for some reason I think this could be more epic if Martin Scorsese directed it. I will still see it anyways.
Chamberlain: This will no doubt be an interesting story of an amazing woman that helped change the world. I just won't watch it.
Thomas: And our Oscar-Bait of the Month Award goes to… yeah, this looks like it may be good, but I can't get to into it for whatever reason. Hilary Swank seems to be doing her thing nicely here, and I love the rest of the cast but this just seems to be trying too hard for Awards attention. It probably would have been better off bowing in November or December for Awards time when audiences are looking for these kinds of films. The theme is one we see again and again: ground-breaking woman fights the system. I'd say more but I don't want to spoil the ending for anyone who hasn't bothered to crack open a history book in the last eighty years.
Brimfield: Not a fan of biopics in general, and I have no knowledge about the subject matter here, so I won't be making the effort.
Antichrist
Studio: IFC
Directed by: Lars von Trier
Starring: Willem Dafoe, Charlotte Gainsbourg
The plot: A grieving couple retreats to their cabin in the woods, hoping to repair their broken hearts and troubled marriage. But nature takes its course and things go from bad to worse.
Furious: It doesn't really matter what I say about Lars von Trier's films. He'll continue to make things his own way whether people like it or not. Which is what I like about him. Von Trier making a horror movie is something that I didn't expect but in Willem Dafoe he has a capable leading man. Whether anyone will be able to take this seriously depends as to how well von Trier's style meshes with Dafoe's acting. Depending on reviews it should be an interesting effort.
Kristopowitz: This flick already has a reputation for being messed up, so right there it tells you it's a must see. Is it really that messed up? I can't wait to see and find out.
Gustafson: I like Mr. Dafoe but if this movie walked into the room I'd look up from my newspaper, shrug, and go back to reading. Pass.
Lealos: Lars is a polarizing filmmaker but I have heard this movie is the shit (in a good way). I like Willem Dafoe but this is not the kind of movie I usually seek out.
Archibald: Review will be up soon. This is considered to be the most controversial and polarizing film since Gaspar Noe unleashed Irreversible in 2005. Lars Von Trier will do whatever the hell he wants and doesn't give a flying hootenanny (did I say that?) about audience acceptance. I will say this straight up: This is NOT a horror movie, but a horrific look at two people living in a world where "chaos reigns". That's all I will say.
Chamberlain: Willem Dafoe freaks me out, man.
Thomas: Only one movie has ever earned an award of dishonor from Cannes, and this would be it. The controversy surrounding this is immense, and it's never going to be seen in more than a few theaters until it hits DVD. I'm interested to see what all the fuss is about and will be checking it out, although I'm keeping my expectations even in case this is more shock than substance.
Brimfield: Who wouldn't want to see Willem Dafoe ejaculate blood or Charlotte Gainsbourg slice up her lady parts! This has drawn some immense controversy and will be well worth watching as a curio if nothing more, much like Von Trier's other films.
OCTOBER 30TH
This Is It
Studio: Sony
Directed by: Kenny Ortega
Starring: Michael Jackson
The plot: A compilation of interviews, rehearsals and backstage footage of Michael Jackson as he prepared for his series of sold-out shows in London.
Furious: My wife will be interested and I'll be able to make good use of my time writing on the internet from across the room. No way am I sitting through this at the cinema.
Kristopowitz: Do I want to see this? Yes, in a sense. It'll be interesting to see what Jackson had in store for his farewell concert series before he died, but is this going to be a well made sort of concert documentary, or is it going to come off as a slapped together money scam?
Gustafson: Sorry, not buying it anymore. I'd rather hold onto the good and positive memories I have then these forced, manipulated ones. All that's missing is a trailer of the Jackson family asking for a donation and promoting a reunion Jackson 5 CD/DVD that uses old tracks/footage of MJ intercut with them present day. You know THAT is coming.
Lealos: Amazingly enough, this is showing here in Oklahoma. I won't see it but it should be great for Jacko fans.
Archibald: I'm a Michael Jackson nut. Will I see this, though? I dunno. Maybe. There are more anticipated films than this.
Chamberlain: Well, since this is the closest I'll ever come to seeing the late, great (yeah I said it) King of Pop perform live, you can bet I'll be checking this out. The cynic in me may want to call this a money grab, but I'm grateful for the opportunity to see a little slice of what might have been a great comeback from perhaps the most talented performer of all time.
Thomas: Eh. I'm not interested in concert films unless they're truly epic things. This doesn't look to be the case.
Brimfield: Surely most of this footage will just wind up on YouTube, where it'll be just as entertaining and less preachy?
The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day
Studio: Apparition
Directed by: Troy Duffy
Starring: Sean Patrick Flanery, Norman Reedus, Billy Connolly
The plot: The MacManus brothers, who are living a quiet life on the family farm in Ireland, return to Boston to exact their unique form of revenge on the mob forces who have framed the brothers for the murder of a local priest.
Furious: I love the first movie. I think this film will find it hard to live up to the expectations the first film will certainly have set. This was rumoured to be shot soon after The Boondock Saints but Troy Duffy's descent into madness gave us an extended break. I hope Duffy can rediscover the skills he had when he crafted The Boondock Saints and I wish him all the best. Don't screw it up this time, Troy!
Kristopowitz: Where the heck did this movie come from?
Gustafson: I have the original on VHS. I'm a fan. The sequel has my attention but is it going to be a solid extension of the first film or is this a Kyle-Come-Lately to the party, who's only purpose is to squeeze a little gravy from a cult favorite?
Lealos: Has director Troy Duffy learned from his past mistakes? He has been gone from Hollywood for a while and I wonder if he still has it in him to make something as interesting as his first movie. Is this really hitting theaters or is it a limited run and then on to DVD? With the bridges Duffy burned that would not surprise me. I'm interested, but with reservations.
Archibald: Yes. I will see this.
Chamberlain: Never seen the first one...
Thomas: Here we go. I loved Boondock Saints and I know it has it's share of haters, but I'm interested to see what they do here. Bringing back all the original cast was a must, and adding Julie Benz and Judd Nelson only makes me more interested. The trailer looks fantastic and frankly, I can't wait.
Brimfield: If this comes even close to recapturing the genius of the scene in the first film where the cat bites the dust, they have a winner on their hands.
The votes are in... Where the Wild Things Are is the 411 staff's hit of the month, while The Vampire's Assistant is our shit of the month!
That's all for now, folks. Stay tuned next month for a look at 2012, The Men Who Stare at Goats and a whole lot more!
