It's a plum day here by the bay, and I got to tell you, I'm
barely thinking about seeing movies. I want to be outside,
in a lake, on a boat, on my bike, just about anywhere but a
movie theater, but regardless, the incessant churn of the
Hollywood machine keeps grinding, so I, your filmic guide,
must continue his quest to pre-assess each opening weekend
release.
Also, I stumbled upon the trailer for Roland Emmerich's
2012 today - if he knows anything, that man knows how to
bring havoc down upon the fake denizens of this tiny world.
It's over at Yahoo, and I suggest, for those in love with
trashy disaster flicks like myself, you should check it out.
Onwards, in to the breach!
As always, thanks for reading.
Hitting Theaters This Weekend:
YEAR ONE
Director:
Harold Ramis
Cast:
Jack Black, Michael Cera
Summary:
It's a comic take ... on The Bible!
Thoughts:
There's parts of the trailer for this film that make me
laugh, out loud, but from everything I'm hearing this one is
a no-go. A sort of mish-mash of decades old jokes, cobbled
together in to a flick that just doesn't stand it's ground.
Movies like this used to be made all the time, shambling
messes of comic superstars notched in to some ridiculous
storyline, and even then, they weren't funny. I'm going to
be safe and believe that this one doesn't do much more.
Rotten Tomatoes Score:
20%
THE PROPOSAL
Director:
Anne Fletcher
Cast:
: Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds
Summary:
A high-up publishing executive (Sandra Bullock) forces her
dawdling assistant (Ryan Reynolds) to marry her so she won't
get shipped to Canada.
Thoughts:
Ryan Reynolds is a funny man. He really is. I'll admit to,
one drunk and hazy night, really enjoying Van Wilder
and I think, on occasion, he brings a really nice smarmy
edge that has me chuckling. Sandra Bullock, well, she's not
very funny, and I'm honestly quite shocked she's still
making movies. Regardless, Reynolds' occasional bursts of
talent combined with Sandra Bullocks glaring dearth of
talent in a romantic comedy helmed by the director of 27
Dresses and Step Up makes my skin crawl.
Rotten Tomatoes Score:
39%
WHATEVER WORKS
Director:
Woody Allen ... or some corpselike resemblance of him.
Cast:
Larry David, Evan Rachel Wood
Summary:
An old man (Larry David) falls in love with a southern belle
(Evan Rachel Wood). Kvetching ensues.
Thoughts:
Match Point
was good, the best film Woody Allen has done in years, but
I'm still only barely on the modern Woody Allen train. His
films feel superficial, like unfunny triffles, and this is
comes across even more so when you look back at his films of
the past. This is Allen's return to New York, his hallowed
ground so perhaps he's been inspired, uplifted back to
proper form. I'm skeptical though.
Rotten Tomatoes Score:
53%
LIMITED FLICK:
DEAD SNOW
Director:
Tommy Wirkola
Cast:
A bunch of people you don't know.
Final Thoughts:
This is a week of duds in a summer marred by so many. I'm
signed on for the Nazi Zombies in the snow, but the rest
might make my Netflix queue.
MIGHT.
Noah Sanders is the blog/news editor at Light In The
Attic and a contributor at Sound On The Sound and
the KEXP blog. He also has his own
Criterion-based film site, Criterion Quest.
If you'd like to contact Noah in regards to his
writings here at Side One: Track One then please do
so
here.
- Noah Sanders
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