Winter Preview

One of the perks of work experience at a film magazine is that I have the luxury of spending hours researching up and coming releases. Here are just a handful of what I’m looking forward to…

Liberal Arts

Players: Josh Radnor, Elizabeth Olsen, Zac Efron, Richard Jenkins, Alison Janney

It’s official. I have a major girl crush on Elizabeth Olsen. She is fast becoming one of my favourite actresses; with just 4 releases to her name, her performances are assured, beguiling and charming. Liberal Arts is to be her 5^th credit, helmed by the equally lovely Josh Radnor. Proving his comedy chops in ‘How I Met Your Mother’ and his subtle directorial prowess in ‘Happythankyoumoreplease’, this follow-up should tick the same easy-going, heart-warming and witty box as its predecessor.

ETA 5 October

Ruby Sparks

 Players: Jonathan Dayton, Valerie Faris (DIRs), Zoe Kazan, Paul Dano, Annette Bening, Antonio Banderas

With several supporting turns to her name in films such as ‘In The Valley of Elah’, ‘Revolutionary Road ‘The Private Lives of Pippa Lee’ and ‘It’s Complicated’, Zoe Kazan is no stranger to Hollywood, not least because she’s the grand-daughter of the great Elia Kazan. It’s fantastic then to see her finally getting a starring role, both as actress and screenwriter, in the up and coming ‘Ruby Sparks’: a rom-com of sorts, which sees a novelist will his fictitious female protagonist into existence. A charming premise with real-life couple Kazan and Dano playing the leads (sparks will no doubt fly), I’m expecting good things.

ETA 12 October

The Sapphires

Players: Wayne Blair (DIR), Chris O’Dowd, Deborah Mailman, Jessica Mauboy

Dubbed the Australian ‘Dreamgirls’, this soulful drama recaptures the spirit of 1968 as an aboriginal girl group entertain US troops in Vietnam. With IT Crowd fave O’Dowd providing laughs this could be the feel-good surprise of the year.

ETA 2 November

Rust and Bone

Players: Jacques Audiard (DIR), Marion Cotillard, Matthias Schoenaerts, Armand Verdure

Cotillard looks to be back on Oscar-winning form as a killer whale trainer who connects with a stranger after a horrible accident. With a director known for intense and riveting dramas, (The Prophet, The Beat That My Heart Skipped) one thing’s for sure this is no Free Willy.

ETA 2 November

Silver Linings Playbook

Players: David O’Russell (DIR), Bradley Cooper, Robert De Niro, Jennifer Lawrence

Fresh from the boxing ring O’Russell serves up a dramedy that sees the romantic entanglement of Cooper and Lawrence; two complicated souls whom strike up a deal. Slated to be an intense but funny exploration of mental illness this also sees the return of Julia Stiles to the big screen.

  

ETA 21 November

Trouble With The Curve 

Players: Clint Eastwood, Amy Adams, Justin Timberlake

After slightly mediocre fare with J.Edgar and Hereafter, hopefully Eastwood can score a homerun with this baseball family drama, which sees him playing an ailing baseball scout who takes his daughter Adams on one last recruiting trip.

It’s certainly tried and tested material; a sports movie with plenty of heart, but Eastwood has proven more than adept at avoiding the saccharine where others might struggle (Bridges of Madison County) as well as helming an emotionally powerful sports film (Million Dollar Baby), so this should be an enjoyable walk in the park for both him and us.

ETA 30 November

The Oranges

Players: Julian Farino (DIR), Hugh Laurie, Catherine Keener, Leighton Meester, Oliver Platt, Alison Janney

That awkward moment your Dad falls for his best friend’s daughter. So goes the plot of ‘The Oranges’ a modern day Romeo and Juliet if you will, which sees two neighbouring families having to deal with the romantic entanglement of Laurie and Meester. Offering up strong comedic talent and a script drenched in wit (based on an early draft I managed to read), I’m most looking forward to appearances from Alia Shawkat (the best friend in ‘Whip It’) and Adam Brody (Seth from ‘The O.C’) who will hopefully be at their sarcastic, socially awkward best.

ETA 7 December

The Words

Players: Brian Klugman, Lee Sternthal (DIRs), Bradley Cooper, Dennis Quaid, Olivia Wilde, Zoe Saldana, Jeremy Irons

Having premiered at Sundance 2012 we should expect a UK cinematic release sometime soon. Good news indeed as this multi-layered narrative, moving backwards and forwards in time looks to be an intense and thought-provoking film. Featuring some delectable acting talent and a literary narrative basis about a writer who must pay the price for plagiarising, I am already hooked. Shame about the title though.

Zero Dark Thirty

Players: Kathryn Bigelow (DIR), Joel Edgerton, Jessica Chastain, Mark Strong

Directorial goddess Bigelow follows up The Hurt Locker with equally powerful and political material chronicling the decade-long hunt for Bin Laden after 9/11. Starring man and woman of the moment, Edgerton and Chastain, respectively. Should be explosive.

ETA 25 January

Elysium

Players: Neil Blomkamp (DIR), Matt Damon, Jodie Foster, Sharlto Copley,

Undoubtedly one of the most hotly anticipated films of 2013, Neil Blomkamp’s District 9 follow-up looks set to be a blistering sci-fi action movie. Unflinching graphics, profound morals and a killer cast. Roll on March.

ETA 1 March

Robot And Frank

  

Players: Jake Schreier (DIR), Frank Langella, James Marsden, Susan Sarandon, Liv Tyler, Peter Sarsgaard (voice)

In a world overrun by technology an ex-jewel thief and his robotic butler buddy up to pull off a heist. The trailer looks adorable; think ‘Moon’ crossed with ‘The Sting’, with an added dose of light-hearted fun.

  

ETA 8 March

Now You See Me 

Players: Louis Letterier (DIR), Morgan Freeman, Mark Ruffalo, Jesse Eisenberg, Michael Caine, Melanie Laurent

If you ignore the previous credits of director Letterier (The Transporter 1 & 2, Clash Of The Titans, The Incredible Hulk) and instead focus on the stellar cast, intriguing premise and potential magic of this heist-thriller about FBI agents tracking a team of bank robbing illusionists then you can understand my anticipation.

ETA 27 March

The Place Beyond The Pines

Players: Derek Cianfrance (DIR), Ryan Gosling, Bradley Cooper, Rose Byrne, Eva Mendes, Ray Liotta

In a year Ryan Gosling brought us Drive, Crazy Stupid Love and The Ides of March, whatever his next move, it was clearly going to be hotly anticipated. Reuniting with the director of ‘Blue Valentine’, ‘Pines’ tells the story of a motorcycle stunt rider whom in order to provide for his wife and child toys with committing a crime that puts him on a collision course with a cop-turned-politician. With a cast that also includes Bradley Cooper, Rose Byrne and Eva Mendes, I predict that this will be one helluva sexy film.

Also in an interview with screenwriter Ben Coccio he revealed that he “suggested that the movie be set in the kind of town I grew up in, Schenectady, New York. [Derek] told me his wife was from Schenectady. So, in looking for a title, I found out what ‘Schenectady’ means. It’s a dutch derivation of an Iroquois phrase which means, ‘The Place Beyond the Pines.’ It’s already too cool for its own good.

  

The Company You Keep

Players: Robert Redford (DIR), Shia LaBeouf, Julie Christie, Richard Jenkins, Brendan Gleeson, Anna Kendrick, Stanley Tucci

After Redford’s last directorial effort, the rather disappointingly lacklustre Lincoln-assasination movie ‘The Conspirator’, slipped under the radar, I’m really hoping his next project sees him back on form. This thriller wrapped filming in November 2011 and is due out sometime next year.

Just like ‘The Conspirator’ it features an unbelievably high calibre cast; not surprising for someone whose many years in the business must no doubt have acquired a reputation that’s like ‘bees to a honey-pot’ for actors. Screen veterans Susan Sarandon, Chris Cooper, Stanley Tucci and Richard Jenkins, as well as Redford himself should all add a touch of class to this thriller, which is centered on a former Weather Underground activist who goes on the run from a journalist who has discovered his identity.

The young’uns of the cast consist of LaBeouf and Kendrick, who can both be magnetic and charismatic under good direction, whilst indie darling Brit Marling ups the hype factor for this one massively. An intriguing film indeed, which will hopefully keep the likes of ‘Ordinary People’ and ‘The Horse Whisperer’ company on Redford’s success record.

The Big Five.

Whether it’s the Olympic-inspired girl power that’s pumping through my veins or merely a hope to emulate their success in my own career I thought I would dedicate a post to my 5 favourite female directors working today. Who doesn’t love a little bit of feminism? Samantha Brick I hope you’re reading.

5. Sarah Polley

A Canadian filmmaker who started off in acting, her directorial debut ‘Away From Her’ (2008) saw her produce a sensitive, if overwhelmingly sombre portrait of Alzheimer’s disease. She handled her narrative with grace and realism, something which earned her a Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar nom. Her second film, ‘Take This Waltz’, starring Michelle Williams and Seth Rogen is to be released shortly and will no doubt be another perceptive and heart-rending demonstration of her skill as a director.

Suggested Viewing: Away From Her, Take This Waltz

4. Kimberley Peirce

Her debut feature-film was the blisteringly powerful ‘Boys Don’t Cry’ (1999), which bravely explored the topic of gender and sexual identity. Whilst her second critical success came in 2005 with ‘Stop-Loss’ based on soldier’s experiences of coming home after fighting in the Iraq war. Her films don’t make for easy viewing, often featuring disturbing or violent scenes; something which perhaps makes her the perfect director to be at the helm of the ‘Carrie’ remake. However she produces challenging and thoughtful material that forces the viewer to confront culturally important topics, for which she deserves massive kudos.

Suggested Viewing: Boys Don’t Cry, Stop-Loss,

3. Debra Granik

Another independent filmmaker with an eye for fantastic visuals, her second feature film ‘Winter’s Bone’ (2010) raised her profile enormously. And deservedly so. A stark, searing film of will-power, retribution and violence, it depicted a part of America not often shown. I am eagerly anticipating what she delivers next.

Suggested Viewing: Down to the Bone, Winter’s Bone

2. Kathryn Bigelow           

Easily the most famous of the bunch, Bigelow made history when she became the first female ever to win a Best Director Academy Award. Perhaps because she makes the kind of films you expect men to make; full of testosterone, action and brutality. Her films often gain cult status because of her ability to twist genre conventions using experimental storytelling without compromising thrill, tension or visual spectacle. Bigelow’s film are distinctly hers; strange, provocative and adrenaline-pumping; she has become a master of her craft.

Suggested Viewing: Point Break, The Hurt Locker

1. Nicole Holofcener

She of course scores brownie points for sharing my name. But more importantly she consistently produces intimate, independent feature films that portray the lives of ordinary women. There is something organic and resonant to her filmmaking, wherein she is able to balance the absurdity and beauty of everyday life with insight, wit, poignancy and hilarity. Holofcener generates an exquisite subtlety and without sounding pretentious, but what feels like truth, from her casts, something which has most recently earned her a Robert Altman Award at the Independent Spirit Awards.

Suggested viewing: Please Give, Lovely and Amazing

Mirror, Mirror

(DIR. Tarsem Singh, Relativity Media, US, 2012)

For those unaware or unfamiliar with the story of Snow White, Julia Roberts’ narration opens the film recounting the traditional tale of a young girl abandoned in the forest by her wicked stepmother and adopted by a troop of dwarves. However, if you’re expecting a saccharine, family-friendly, ‘love conquers all evil’ type film…then hang in there because despite its aims to undo cliche and stereotype, this is after all a fairtytale.

That’s to not to say this isn’t a thoroughly enjoyable film. Julia Robert’s as the evil stepmother running the kingdom into ruin with her decadence, greed and vanity relishes each snide remark she delivers with bite. Whilst Lily Collins as the innocent Snow White serves more than adequately as the beautiful young Princess, this time with a bit more feist and teenage angst. Though she can never match the acting prowess of her co-star, both are utterly believable in their roles.

Set with the task of finding another rich suitor to avoid financial despair, the evil Queen focuses her attentions on the charming, affluent and might I add, often shirtless, Prince of Valencia, played by Armie Hammer (of ‘The Social Network’ fame). But as luck and tradition would have it he fancies the virginal Snow White. The fact that he looks about 30 and Collins about 17 is a tad unnerving. However in an attempt to rework convention and perhaps liberate the stereotype of the Princess being the damsel-in-distress, it is often she that must save him rather than the other way around. The seven dwarves are this time around thieving bandits who fancy their chances with Snow and teach her how to fight, not very well though it must be said.

The narrative itself isn’t particularly strong, with many plot-holes forming along the way, however the perfomances, along with some stunning costumes and set-pieces make this a sumptuous, rollicking comedy, if a little style-over-substance. The quips come frequently and are more hit than miss and I’ll admit to laughing out loud on more than one occasion. The third act does however falter slightly with an added dose of ridiculousness including Hammer being turned into a puppy and the running time starting to feel somewhat lengthy.

Although the ending reverts back to tradition with startling conformity, you can’t help but admire the film’s delight in its own silliness. The final scene take on a Slumdog Millionaire-esque tone with out of place dance moves and almost too cheest for words techno-pop song. But whether you groan at its awkwardness or smile at the sheer gaiety of it all, it must be said this is a film that will leave you smiling.

Verdict: Not as revolutionary or refreshing as it would like to be, but consummate performances from a delightful ensemble cast and amusement galore make this deliciously camp fun.