I meant to get this up the week after the Austin Film
Festival came to a close, but a crazy schedule prevented me
from doing so. Anyhow, here’s a quick rundown of what I saw
at the AFF:
Precious: Easily one of the year’s best films. Not
necessarily easy to watch (nor is it a movie you’ll want to
view repeatedly), but the story is full of life and
possibility, which makes for something that’s easy to love.
With the extra Best Picture nomination slots this year I
expect to see this put into the running.
Calvin Marshall: Pretty much your standard coming of age
story where a guy lives in a world of false confidence,
meets a girl, has a falling out with said girl and then
comes to a self realization and heads off into what you
assume will be a bright future. With that being said, I
thought the film had a lot of charm and laughs. Also, Steve
Zahn is great in it.
The Messenger: One hell of an emotional film about officers
for the military that notify people about family members who
have been killed in action overseas. Woody Harrelson is
absolutely fantastic (I thought Oscar-worthy) as a grizzled
notification veteran, and Ben Foster is solid as the
conflicted new recruit. Not a movie I’m too interested in
seeing again though.
Red Cliff: This movie made me laugh. Not due to it being
bad or anything, but simply because John Woo’s take on
Ancient China is one of over the top Hollywood action pieces
and characters that can only be described as badasses.
Honestly can’t wait to have fun with this one again.
La Mission: This turned out to be something that was
clearly a made for TV movie starring Benjamin Bratt. If you
want something that seems incredibly dated and racially
stereotypical then keep an eye out for it.
The Road: Quite possibly my top film of the year, and one I
expect to get a Best Picture nod. Emotionally powerful and
moving. Viggo Mortensen is a powerhouse as the Man, and I’d
be surprised if he didn’t get an Oscar nomination. Warning:
do not go into it thinking that it’s an action flick. It
isn’t. At all. Expect a very dense tale of a father
readying his son to be on his own.
- The Rundown -
Roland Emmerich would like to do two sequels to
Independence Day. Unsurprisingly, this silly idea also
comes with the possible title of ID4-Ever.
JJ Abrams has come out and said that he is no longer
adapting Stephen King’s
Dark Tower
series.
Sylvester Stallone made a point recently to say that the
next Rambo film won’t see him facing off against a
genetically engineered soldier. Instead the character will
supposedly head across the border.
Robert Zemeckis will supposedly round out his Christmas
trilogy with his version of The Nutcracker. And yes,
it will be CG and in 3D.
Ridley Scott’s Monopoly movie will supposedly follow
a guy who wakes up and realizes that he is now in a world
based on the game.
David Fincher is said to be working on a remake of The
Reincarnation Of Peter Proud, which follows a college
professor who begins having flashes of a past life.
Steven Spielberg and Will Smith’s proposed remake of
Oldboy is officially dead.
Rachel McAdams is said to be close to being cast as Black
Cat in the next Spider-Man movie.
Broken Lizard have said they’re working on a Super
Troopers sequel.
Danny Boyle’s next film is 127 hours, which details
the true story of Aron Ralston – a hiker who cut off his own
arm after it got pinned beneath a boulder.
Harvey Keitel has joined the cast of Little Fockers.
Duncan Jones’ next effort will reportedly be a flick called
Source Code. No word on the plot yet.
For some reason a live action/CG Yogi Bear movie is
going to be made. Dan Akroyd will voice Yogi, Justin
Timberlake will voice Boo-Boo and Anna Faris will play a
reporter shooting a documentary on Jellystone.
- John Laird
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