Admittedly, it's been a long while since I posted anything on this blog. Why? Well, there's lots of reasons. I would be lying if I didn't put general laziness at the top of that list, but honestly, it wasn't the only reason. Between work, preparing for film school (yay), moving house and raising five kittens, I genuinely could not fit in regular blogging. Oh, and my 5-year old laptop finally called it a day. And I wasn't about to handwrite this thing. As for using the city library to do some writing in, well, you try and tell a 'Jeremy Kyle' to piss off Bejewelled.
So, I'm back. This time on a Mac. And there's no room for slack, at least that's what my course leader tells me. My quest through the realms of film school has officially begun. And you know what? I'm not even the oldest person on my degree. Jurassic Park.
The year has brought many a cinematic treat thus far. And with awards season quickly approaching, 2011 as a whole is only going to get stronger with the cream of the crop still yet to be released. So far, Terrence Malik has asked the big questions in 'Tree of Life', Bradley Cooper squared off against Bobby D in 'Limitless', Jake Gyllenhaal entered the Duncan Jones-iverse in 'Source Code', Ladies owned some gentlemen comics in 'Bridesmaids' and JJ Abrams continued to impress with his latest sci-fi offering, 'Super 8'. With 'Super 8' though, came an unwelcome barrage of star vehicle blockbuster fodder. 'Transformers 3' was pleasant enough to look at, but was inherently flat. 'The Green Hornet' and 'The Green Lantern' have ruined that colour for the time being, at least until it's saviour returns to our screens next year alongside Jason Segal and Amy Adams. Sequels and prequels littered our screens in the form of the uncomfortably rushed 'The Hangover: Part II', the kiddy-friendly 'X-Men: First Class', and the horrific 'Pirates 4'. Even Pixar failed to impress this year in the form of 'Cars 2'. It's not all doom and gloom though (although 'Apollo 18' nearly made me give up watching movies all together), as the small studios capitalised on this lacklustre summer and provided some of the finest films of recent years with 'Tree of Life' and 'The Guard' (to name a few) showcasing just how strong Fox Searchlight and Sony Pictures Classics have come to be by subsidiary standards.
There were some big screen joys though, let's not be too negative about the classic popcorn movie. I thoroughly enjoyed 'Rise of the Planet of the Apes', and would rank it in my Top 10 of the year (probably). And although it reflects poorly on me, 'Final Destination 5' was the most fun I've had at the cinema all year. I shit you not.
All of these films though, have been and gone. There's nothing we can do about it now. We all paid our eight pounds and were either blown away or grossly disappointed. But that's films for you! I will of course cover awards season with rigorous vigour, so allow me to return to 2011 as a whole at a later date. Today on this particular November evening, I want to look forward to the Christmas Season and the first six months of 2012, and share with you just some of my thoughts about what I think will be the ten (or fifteen) strongest films of the next eight months or so. So sit back, enjoy some trailers, and allow me to offer you substantial entertainment to tide you over until 'The Dark Knight Rises' becomes the best film that anyone has ever made.
Starting us off with a bang is a film that looks truly incredible, and I don't use that word lightly. Michael Shannon has long been an under appreciated favourite of mine, and when I heard of a middle-American psycho-drama that coupled him with the more recently impressive Jessica Chastain, I figured I was in for a strong feature. Then, I watched the trailer. Now, I can say with absolute certainty that Jeff Nichols' 'Take Shelter' is going to be one of those American indies that will stay with you for a long, long time. Shannon worked with Nichols previously on 2007's 'Shotgun Stories', and is currently filming Nichols' follow up to this film. That in mind, let's just assume for the sake of argument that Nichols' gets the best out of the now Oscar-nominated Shannon with each role he casts him in. Early reviews rave Shannon's performance, exclaiming that it is his finest yet.
For emotional support and strain, we have Jessica Chastain who is easily independent cinema's lady of the moment. Something about this coupling and it's mergence with the mid-Western setting and religious/apocalyptic themes just rustles something inside of me. It's a feeling though, that I don't think I will be able to fully understand until I see the full film. For now, the spectacularly uncomfortable trailer speaks for itself.
Before we venture into anything remotely lighthearted, one film I feel entirely compelled to push upon you is Justin Kurzel's debut feature 'Snowtown'. Personally, I have a massive soft spot for independent Australian drama, with last year's 'Animal Kingdom' being the most recent evidence of just what a bold nation of filmmakers Australia is. 'Snowtown' in no way takes it's foot off the gas either. What transpires is the story of an uneasy friendship between a 16-year old and an extremely charismatic father figure. The father figure though, turns out to be Australia's most notorious serial killer, John Bunting.
Fans of Shane Meadows will lap this up for sure. For me however, it looks seven shades darker than anything British cinema would be able to conceive. Maybe it's something to do with all of that wide open, unknown space that Australia possesses that simply unsettles me a little deeper. I can't be sure. As far as the way unnerving suspense, uncompromising evil, and gritty authenticity goes, what I am sure of is that this is about as gut-wrenching as you can possibly get. Look forward to brutally honest performances and the inability to look away, but be prepared to write off any chance of a possible repeat viewing.
Brutal.
Moving swiftly on to a film that looks delightfully charming and relentless fully due in no small part to it's source material, legendary director and powerful quartet of acting talent. Based on Yasmina Reza's stage play, Roman Polanski directs this 'comedy of manners' as two couples meet in an upmarket New York townhouse to discuss a schoolyard brawl that occurred between their respective sons. The hosting couple played by Jodie Foster and John C. Reilly gleefully square up against Kate Winslet and (Uncle) Christoph Waltz in 'Carnage', a film that is sure to garner acting and screenplay recognition across the board.
It would be easy indeed for me to assume that this will be Waltz' film. Fanboy though I am, I'm going to hold back on making that assumption based on the fact that every cast member looks be absolutely and absurdly hilarious throughout. From the looks of things, the casting is bang on and we can look forward to strong, grown-up comedic showings from all four Award-winning actors. Like a single-set, high budget, less crass, full length Curb Your Enthusiasm-eque powerhouse, 'Carnage' is right at the top of my list of films I 'must see as soon as tickets are available for me to buy'. I would say I hope you all enjoy the trailer, but it's an inevitability.
Onto something completely different, and we find Ralph Fiennes making a strong British case in the wake of the UK Film Council with his long overdue directorial debut. A modern take on Shakespeare's 'Coriolanus', the film of the same name promises to be a dramatic offering that will appeal to the Shakespearians and COD-heads alike with it's appearingly seamless blend of effortless thespian dialogue and modern warfare. Fiennes looks to shine in the lead role, but a striking supporting cast consisting of Gerard Butler (being Scottish good-and-proper for once), Brian Cox, Vanessa Redgrave, James Nesbitt and (of course) Jessica Chastain mean that this will be anything but a one man show. Toss in what one assumes will be a powerful adapted screenplay courtesy of John Logan (The Aviator, Gladiator, The Last Samurai; not to mention Scorcese's 'Hugo' and even further down the line Spielberg's 'Lincoln') and I feel pretty safe in shelling out my eight pounds one what may well be one of the strongest British films of the year.
An interesting choice, next. Interesting because I feel like this is not a movie I should trust for a few reasons. Firstly, it is the third feature from a director who up until this point has predominantly directed music videos and concert docs. Instantly, one thinks of Michael Bay and we all know how that ends. Saying that, Mark Pellington did direct 'Arlington Road' which to be fair wasn't all bad, forgettable though it was. 'I Melt With You' looks like a completely different monster, like if 'The Hangover' had been written by Hunter S. Thompson which, to me, doesn't sound like a bad thing at all. Our fearless foursome consists of Christian 'Orson Welles' McKay who needs to seriously be in more movies; Rob Lowe, who it is refreshing to see in something other than television; Jeremy Piven (oh yes) and finally the only potentially weak link in the form of Thomas Jane. Using the trailer for evidence however, Jane looks like he could fit into this quartet of talent quite nicely.
The film centres around four grown men who meet up once a year to catch up and get wasted. Some seem to be more grown up than others it seems, and the relationships seemed to have strained with time. To me, it looks like a movie that could be an interesting insight into male camaraderie and the desire to cling to youth. Maybe that's just me. In the back of my mind I feel like it may be total trash, but on the other hand I want to give it a big ol' chance.
Next is a biggie. An indie blockbuster by all accounts. I mean, you don't get much bigger than Hanks and Bullock. See? I don't even have to tell you their first names. Unless of course you instantly thought of Colin Hanks. In which case, go you!
'Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close' looks to be a touching and memorable piece of work from Stephen Daldry, whose last film finally brought an Oscar Kate Winslet's way (no easy feat according to the Academy). This fact alone makes me hopeful for a powerfully acted film. Not that I was worried about Hanks and Bullock, obviously. What worried me ever so slightly was the casting of first-timer Thomas Horn in the lead role as Oskar. I'm always a bit reluctant when it comes to child actors anyway, but then Daldry did introduce the world to Jamie Bell all those years ago so I suppose we should all trust him in that respect.
The film looks set to tug on similar heartstrings to Spike Jonze's 'Where The Wild Things Are' whereby the innocence of the child lead simplifies the emotionality (thanks, RDJ) of the story, and in turn makes it more emotionally accessible to a wider audience spectrum. If this is indeed the case, then this film could be even better than I already anticipate it to be. The only thing that could hold it back, as I've mentioned already, is the unknown child lead. Should Horn prove to be on a Max Records talent level though, I've no doubt that praise will once again be heaped on Stephen Daldry and Oscar-winning screenwriter Eric Roth (Forrest Gump, The Insider, Munich, Benjamin Button). Finally, here's hoping flashbacks provide ample screen time for Hanks who has been sorely missed on the big screen, playing to his strengths.
And oh yeah, it also stars Viola Davis, Max von Sydow, Jeffrey Wright, James Gandolfini and John damn Goodman.
So, it can be a pretty ugly world we live in. The newspapers, the television, all spewing stories of lies, money and death. We all search for something uplifting in every day that we wake up to. Amongst the sordid politicians and Z-list gutter trash though, there lies the true unsung heroes of modern media. People that positively affect people's lives every day they go to work, and don't ask for anything in return. No money for a transcribed tale of dieting woe or destructive relationships or stories of a 8-month coke binge. Some people in the entertainment industry, believe it or not, are purely in it for the joyous thrill of putting a genuine smile on a persons face. Instilling joy, can you imagine being blessed with such a respectable talent?
'Being Elmo' tells the fascinating story of Kevin Clash, the man who has single-handedly (literally!) 'been' Elmo for the last few decades. As Elmo's popularity skyrocketed, Clash's schedule greatened. When offered assistance from other puppeteers, he politely declined. Why? Because his personality encompasses Elmo. Not convinced? Watch the trailer, and then look forward to a film that will almost certainly challenge for Documentary Feature awards all through the upcoming season.
On that much lighter note, Part One of my lengthy look ahead concludes. Part Two will surface sooner rather than later, but for now I must dedicate my concentrations elsewhere within our wonderful world of film. Do bear with me, but believe I am back for you to read.
Mx
