Sorry in advance, you guys—I’m fighting an out-of-nowhere, nasty cold (of course I’d get sick when it’s 90 degrees in the Valley!), so this will be a slightly quicker run-through than usual. That said, we have four big releases this weekend (one of which looks amazing), and one smaller film that could be worth finding if you’re in the LA area (or New York). Let’s see what we have…
1. “Where the Wild Things Are” - I love everything I’ve seen from this film, and the many positive reviews are all the more encouraging. From director Spike Jonze and adapted from Maurice Sendak’s beloved children’s book, this is the story of the misbehaving Max, and his great journey to the land of the Wild Things. From what I hear, children will probably not embrace it (as much as they would something like, say, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs), but adults and kids-at-heart will eat it up, especially its mature themes of growing up and facing the world. I’m not quite sure if there’s enough story here for 90 minutes, but all of the released materials suggest something truly special (with a big emotional punch too). A very big must-see for me—I can’t wait to see how it’ll turn out.
2. “The Stepfather” - Quick confession: I obsessively watched the first 2 seasons of Gossip Girl (even as it started slipping in quality), and Stepfather star Penn Badgley was a consistent highlight (although the show’s true secret weapons are Leighton Meester and Ed Westwick, both of whom are destined for bigger, better things). I like Badgley; I just wish his first big movie was something I wanted to see more. This is a remake of an 80’s slasher (that starred LOST’s Terry O’ Quinn a.k.a. John Locke!), all about a seemingly perfect dad who turns out to be a serial killer. It looks like the original’s more outright horror elements were toned down, and now transformed into a more psychological, killer-in-your-neighborhood thriller like Disturbia. It might be a good premise, but the trailer and all the TV spots make it look like a generic horror/thriller remake in the vein of Prom Night, The Hitcher, and many others that open up around this time. And, frankly, Paranormal Activity (which opens wide this week) is dominating the pre-Halloween buzz—that looks like the best movie for some good, old-fashioned scares. Nip/Tuck’s Dylan Walsh plays the psycho Pop, and the gorgeous and talented Amber Heard (from Pineapple Express and next year’s Johnny Depp drama, The Rum Diary) gets stuck with the supportive girlfriend/eye candy role. It didn’t screen for critics (never a good sign), and the few reviews we have are quite negative. Maybe I’m wrong, and it’ll actually turn out entertaining…but I wouldn’t rush out to see this.
3. “Law Abiding Citizen” - I could see this being a guilty-pleasure sort of thriller—something like Taken or the first Transporter movie—not the highest quality, but some likable stars in a pretty entertaining ride. Supposedly, the story has some good twists in store, so here’s the basic premise: Gerard Butler’s family is murdered, and Jamie Foxx’s (crooked?) DA lets the killers off on too light a deal. But, in a turn of the tables, Butler turns out to be a criminal mastermind, and starts crafting his revenge in a series of perfectly-orchestrated kills, all while seemingly locked up in his cell. I love a good cat-and-mouse game, and Butler and Foxx, two smart actors (who often rise above the material they’re given), look like solid opponents—it’ll be interesting to watch them play off one another. I think I’ll check this one out in theaters; then again, the reviews are mostly negative (although my favorite critic, Roger Ebert, actually liked it), so take my recommendation (and my love of over-the-top action films) with a big grain of salt.
4. “New York, I Love You” - I highlighted the trailer to this one a while back, and it all just looks lovely. From the people who gave us Paris, Je t’aime, this short-film anthology focuses on love stories in the Big Apple, a city made for cinematic romances. Lots of talent (Bradley Cooper, Orlando Bloom, Shia LaBoeuf, Anton Yelchin, Robin Wright, Eli Wallach, Natalie Portman, and many more), and lots of interesting choices behind the camera (the contributing directors include Mira Nair, Allen Hughes, and Natalie Portman again, this time in her directing debut). It’s opening in both New York (naturally) and LA, so seek it out if you’re in the area—it looks like the kind of quiet, intelligent, beautifully-made film that’s well worth catching.…and, finally, while, this one already came out a few weeks ago, Paranormal Activity is finally opening nationwide this weekend. Riding waves of positive buzz from its midnight screenings, this is gaining the reputation as one of the scariest films of all time. Could be—I’m looking forward to finally seeing this, especially closer to the end of the month. Also, it should be a great alternative to the awful Saw series, which looks like it will be around every Halloween now (really, they made six of them already?!)…
5. "Paranormal Activity" - This is actually one of the best-reviewed movies of the year—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 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. It already has big fans like Steven Spielberg (whose creative suggestion to director Oren Peli resulted in a new ending), and it's poised to become an even bigger breakout hit if it catches on with more people, especially as we move closer to Halloween.And that’s all we have for this weekend.
Wat do you guys think? Any one (or more) of these films catching your eye?
As for me, if I shake off this ridiculous flu, I want to check out almost every one of these new films, with Where the Wild Things Are being my most anticipated.
Images courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures, Screen Gems, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Overture Films, Vivendi Entertainment, Paramount Pictures, and Dreamworks SKG.
Clips courtesy of Trailer Addict.
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