What's on the Menu: 9/25 - 9/27

- Posted by Rusty


A huge amount of stuff is opening this weekend—there are two big releases, but a few of the smaller films might be worth checking out. Let's see what looks good...



1. “Surrogates” - I like the concept, and I’m a big fan of Willis and the supporting cast (which includes Ving Rhames, James Cromwell, and Radha Mitchell)…but something about this movie is just not clicking with me. Based on a respected graphic novel, this takes place in the not-too-distant future where human beings interact solely through robot avatars, all controlled from the safety and comfort of their own homes. But, then, a mysterious murder occurs, and it’s up to Bruce Willis (both the young-looking avatar and the real-life model) to get to the bottom of it. So, yeah, we get shades of The Matrix and I, Robot, all put together in a shiny, conspiracy-thriller package by director Jonathan Mostow and his Terminator 3 screenwriters. I think Terminator 3 is unfairly hated—I know it’s the weakest in the series, but its goofy charm made it pretty fun to watch, and Mostow certainly knows how to up the energy and explosions. The posters for this one are also pretty clever (showing beautiful models with robotic parts), and I think there are some good ideas in the premise, especially our complete obsession with technology. But, all in all, the trailers and the late-September release date suggest a pretty mediocre, generic sci-fi movie to me—something along the lines of Schwarzenegger’s action-heavy The 6th Day, and a more self-serious (and thus less fun) film than Mostow’s Terminator 3. I hope I’m wrong, but I think I’ll catch this one when it hits DVD.


2. “Fame” - I have a soft spot for these inspirational, follow-your-heart dance flicks (ie, Take the Lead, Step Up 2—they always remind me of Jon Heder’s “If you can dream it, you can do it!” pep-talk voicemail in Blades of Glory), but I think they’re best saved for catching on cable over paying 12 bucks to see in theaters. This is based on the beloved 1980 film of the same name, as well as the long-running TV show (with a killer, catchy theme song!) starring Debbie Allen, who cameos here as a principal. The plot’s a blended version of many other dance movies—we got a special Performing Arts school, kids with undiscovered talent, stubborn parents who just don’t believe in their kids, snotty, rich people who need to learn humility, you name it. I have a feeling it’ll still be entertaining, and the dancing and singing will be quite impressive—overall, it just looks like clean, harmless entertainment to tide audiences over until the bigger releases in October. The reviews are mostly average, and I’m guessing the final film will be just that.



3. “Brief Interviews with Hideous Men” - I’d see this just to support John Krasinksi, so good as the loveable Jim Halpert every week on The Office. This is Krasinski’s writing/directing debut, and it’s based on a collection of essays by the late David Foster Wallace. I saw an interview with Krasinksi a while back, and he seemed so passionate about Wallace and his work—it looks like he earnestly tried to make a film that honored the material and the late author. I didn’t read the book (although I’m planning on catching up on Wallace one of these days), but I wish Krasinki well—he seems like a great guy, and I’m rooting for him to have a strong behind-the-camera debut. Brief Interviews is basically what the title says—after a surprise breakup, one grad student (Julianne Nicholson) interviews a bunch of men, including Krasinki, Will Arnett, Timothy Hutton, and SNL’s Will Forte, on relationships, life, and everything in between. The trailer’s pretty fun, and props to Krasinki for choosing some offbeat, tricky material to adapt. However, the reviews are pretty mixed, and I think the extra-talky subject matter has a risk of coming across as flat and uncinematic—I could see it going either way, but, at the very least, it will be an interesting first directing effort. It’s opening in limited release and might be worth checking out, especially if you’re looking for something that skews a bit different and edgier.



4. “The Boys Are Back” - This is high on my must-see list. It’s another limited release, but, like last week’s Bright Star, it sounds like it’s worth tracking down. Inspired by a best-selling memoir, this is the story of Clive Owen’s widower father, and how he and his boys cope with the loss of their mother. Luke and Ace make fun of me, since I seem to be a fan of almost every handsome Brit…but they tend to be dependably good, and Owen is no exception. Clive Owen could probably read me a pizza menu, and it’ll still come out with his patented brand of Intense—he’s the King of Unshaven Cool, and lately he’s perfected his image as the all-purpose, scruffy, brooding badass. That’s why this is such a great change of pace for him—a welcome return to straight-up, emotional drama, and I think he’ll deliver a very wining performance. The movie’s already attracting Oscar buzz for Owen, and this sounds like powerful, very moving material if done right. It’s from the director of Shine (a heartbreaking, beautiful film that won Geoffrey Rush a Best Actor Oscar), the reviews are strong (although they're more enthusiastic about the acting than the script), and, as a fan, it’s good to see Owen flex some different acting muscles—I have very high hopes for this one.



5. “Pandorum” - I saw the trailer for this a while back, and it doesn’t look half bad. It won’t touch the likes of Alien, but it might just be an entertaining, semi-smart sci-fi/horror flick. Dennis Quaid and Ben Foster play two astronauts, who suddenly find themselves on a spaceship with no recollection of who they are…or what’s on board with them. What was their original mission? What’s the secret to their being there? Interesting questions, and there’s good stuff to be mined from this premise. I love claustrophobic suspense films (The Descent, Alien, Pitch Black), where it’s all about the acting and the escalating tension—could be an under-the-radar, pleasant genre surprise. Then again, the mostly negative reviews suggest it falls apart by the third act, by which point it turns into your run-of-the-mill monster-attack movie. It still looks more promising than Surrogates to me…but I’m also the guy who sees every Resident Evil movie in theaters, so take my view with a slight grain of salt.



6. “Paranormal Activity” - This is actually the best-reviewed movie this week—a tiny-budget, haunted-house movie that’s getting favorable comparisons to The Blair Witch Project and Cloverfield (it uses the similar device of the entire movie being “found footage”). The premise is simple: a couple keep having strange disturbances in their house, so the husband installs some hidden cameras…and creepy chaos ensues. I like moody horror films, those all about atmosphere, subtle scares, and believable characters (and not hot people that get naked…and then die) much more than the gory, slasher kind. This could be something interesting—the cast is full of unknowns (which could help sell the “authenticity” of the premise), and the fake “true story” angle worked wonders for Blair Witch—could be a breakout hit if it catches on with people, especially as we move closer to Halloween.



7. “Coco Before Chanel” - An import from France, this one’s also getting a limited release before it slowly rolls out to more cities. Starring the luminous Audrey Tautou (The Da Vinci Code, Amelie), it’s the biography of fashion icon Coco Chanel, and her rise from humble obscurity to worldwide recognition. It’s a good subject, and I’m sure it’s a sumptuously filmed, well-acted biopic—it’s just not something I’m particularly jumping to see. I can picture this getting Oscar love for its costumes, and Audrey Tautou lights up the screen in any movie she’s in, so maybe this will get her some awards recognition too. Looks like a good movie—it's well-reviewed, and while it’s not something that interests me directly, it looks like a quality film worth catching, especially if the subject matter strikes your fancy.



8. “Capitalism: A Love Story” - I’m not a fan of Michael Moore (Bowling for Columbine, Fahrenheit 9/11), but I have to give him credit: he brings up good points, and he definitely gets people talking. With this movie, Moore tackles the current economic crisis, from both the business and everyday-person side. I’m sure it’ll have lots of over-the-top moments, but this is important subject matter (stuff like the AIG bonus-checks incidents and our country’s unemployment rate) and the reviews are mostly positive. So, if you’re in the mood for a topical, (more or less) informative documentary, this will do the trick nicely.

And that's it for this week's new releases. What do you guys think? Do any of these sound interesting, or like something worth seeing this weekend?

Me? I think “The Boys Are Back” looks like the best new movie, but I have a sneaky feeling I’ll end up seeing “Pandorum” one of these days (and sadly might just enjoy it).

-- And on a quick side note: I’m also really curious to see Megan Fox host SNL this weekend (11:30 pm, Saturday on NBC). I know “Jennifer’s Body” underperformed, but I still think she’s more talented than it seems—this could be a great chance for her to show some range, and prove once and for all if there’s more to her than just amazing looks (just look at Justin Timberlake’s now-classic SNL stints…although I don’t think Megan Fox will hit the genius heights of “Motherlover”!).

Images courtesy of Touchstone Pictures, MGM/United Artists, IFC Films, Salty Pictures, BBC Films, Miramax Films, Overture Films, Paramount Pictures, Dreamworks SKG, Haut et court, Warner Bros., Sony Pictures Classics, Dog Eat Dog Films, Paramount Vantage, and the Weinstein Company.