WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE - Trailer

One of the hugely anticipated films of this Fall is WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE. I have ambivalent feelings about this film. I did not read the book as child, so the nostalgia factor is zilch. The trailer is heavy on the Hipster aspects which is not a good thing for me. I liked Spike Jone previous work, but I am not falling down in love with them the way some seem to be. The trailer makes the imaginary world of this boy look pretty dull and dirty. I don't know. I'll see it because it is too important not too, but I am wary. I'm also Thing 2.

CIRQUE DU FREAK: THE VAMPIRE'S ASSISTANT - Trailer

John C. Reilly..... NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

WHIP IT - Trailer

Is the world really waiting for Drew Barrymore's directorial debut? Probably not. But by the looks of it she has picked a project that fits right in her wheelhouse. Quirky female empowerment. I find the resurgence of female Roller Derby to be utterly baffling, but that is beside the point. What does interest me is the return of Ellen Page in a role that has many surface resemblances to her break JUNO. I am totally fine with that. I have many a friend who finds that film to be grating and incredibly stupid about the real problems of teenage pregnancy. I roll my eyes and tell them teen pregnancy is the last thing JUNO is about. WHIP IT looks to be a lot of charming silly fun.

THE MEN WHO STARE AT GOATS - Trailer

Thing 2 here. Could this movie have a better cast? Clooney. Love him. Ewan. Love him. Jeff Bridges ditto. Kevin Spacey. Well poor decision as of late, but still a good actor. The farcical take on what is likely a pretty true story of American Armed forced looks like a lot of fun. Equal part American patriotism and hubris. More than anything the film looks to be taking a lot of chances. That the trailer does not scream 'Love me' works in its favor. Plus who does not love early 80's musical geniuses Boston! 

BRIGHT STAR - Trailer

I don't have much affection for the work of Jane Campion. I like the THE PIANO fine, but have had no reason to watch it again since I saw it in the theater. PORTRAIT OF LADY, her follow up, was the last of her work I watched. It was beyond awful. I am attracted to BRIGHT STAR for nostalgic reason. It is so reminiscent of the Miramax films of the mid-90's. All of those painterly high-brow films that poured from Miramax of that period were a golden age of Art House Cinema. I miss it. This is Thing 2.

BROKEN EMBRACES - Trailer

ALMODOVAR! In what is an admittedly week Fall/Winter lineup. BROKEN EMBRACES may be the biggest film for me. Almodovar may just be my favorite director, foreign or domestic. Ms. Cruz is luminous now that she is not forced to speak English. In America she had a vacuous quality, but in here native Spain she can be a exactly who she is a wonderfully talented actress.

NINE - Trailer

Who wants to see 8 1/2 remade as a musical by the guy who did CHICAGO? This screams bad idea, but then Daniel Day-Lewis shows up as the Marcello Mastroianni role and I am almost 'in.

THE ROAD - Trailer

Oh, THE ROAD. I think this film wrapped production about 2 years ago. It was scheduled for release Winter 2008, but that came and went. Perhaps the studio was trying to convince the Director to go happier? The usual Cormac McCarthy tropes are all here, and it is a movie I am pretty excited about. Director Hillcoat made THE PROPOSITION a few years back. Many people praised the Australian Western as one of the best since UNFORGIVEN. I was not one of them, but I did appreciate the effort. Biggest problem maybe the inevitably of Nick Cave who never really does much for me.... singing or acting wise. Although I can't say for sure that he will pop up here. This minor worry aside, post-apocalyptic survival stories freaturing Viggo Mortensen sound nothing but awesome.

THE LOVELY BONES - Review

You might remember Peter Jackson for his seminal LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy. I prefer to remember him from HEAVENLY CREATURES. I don't think time is going to do the RINGS movies any favors. i think eventually they will be remember as a fine achievement, but the gushing praise for these movies will be left to the fan-boys. It is hard not to be critical particularly after the disaster of KING KONG. It was an overlong turgid affair. THE LOVELY BONES will, hopefully for me, return to the more intimate drama of HEAVENLY CREATURES. Which in case you are not sure is Peter Jackson's masterpiece, with FORGOTTEN SILVER a close second. I'm Thing 2.

A SERIOUS MAN - Trailer

Thing 2 here. I have a difficult relationship with the Coen Bros. I think they are undeniably gifted filmmakers to the extent that they are finest of this generation of filmmakers. However I find there oh-so precious snobbery to be wilting. Virtually everyone of their films leaves the audience on the outside. We are never apart of their world and worse I often feel the Coen's are laughing at us... not with us. This looks to be an improvement over last year's dreadful BURN AFTER READING.

Brothers - Trailer

Thing 2 here. Smell that? Yep. Oscar bait. It is an intriguing trailer. The old chestnut of 'My husband is dead so I'm going to sleep with brother unaware that my husband is not dead' rears its head. Poor Toby Maguire looks cartoonish in this trailer. Frankenstein hair cut and scars. Yikes. Most unbelievable are those kids. Come'on I know this is the 21st century but those kids are so blase they seem more adult than the adults. Director Jim Sheridan is a pretty earnest guy, hopefully that doesn't sink the film.

The Invention of Lying - Trailer

Thing 2 here. Other than his terrible stand-up at Madison Square Garden. Mr Gervais can do no wrong. This looks pretty amusing if still a little beneath his talents. Great cast. Tina Fey and Louis C.K are amazing comedians. I have slightly higher hopes than I did for the surprisingly unfunny Ghost Town from last year.