07/25/10
Howl (September 24) - Described as a genre-bending biopic consisting of three interwoven aspects, Howl focuses on the three common highlights of poet Allen Ginsberg's life: 1) his early life in New York City; 2) the release and reaction to his classic "Howl and Other Poems"; and 3) the obscenity trial that resulted in the publication of the then-radical "Howl." Starring James Franco in what looks to be his official turn to the big time (speaking artistically here, not commercially), Howl drips with style, mixing different cinematography and production styles with animation. Features an amazing supporting cast that includes David Strathaim, Jon Hamm, Bob Balaban, Mary-Louise Parker and Jeff Daniels. Yep, were very stoked about this amazing trailer. A+
Stone (October 8) - Starring Robert De Niro, Ed Norton, Milla Jovovich and Frances Conroy, this thriller from Overture Films is directed by John Curran, the man behind the little-seen (but great) We Don't Live Here Anymore. If the trailer is any indication, Norton is insanely miscast as a prisoner whose case is being reviewed by the soon-to-retire De Niro. Here's the twist: Norton's attractive wife, played with some serious power by Jovovich, seeks out and starts sleeping with De Niro. Could be good and definitely doesn't look bad. Things get interesting in the trailer after this series of clips: 1) Jovovich tells De Niro (seemingly after sleeping with him) that she loves him, and that she thinks her husband is playing up his intensity as some sort of mind game; 2) De Niro seems to believe her, then there's a fire and some implied action; 3) Jovovich meets Norton in prison and says "did I do good?" I can't quite get over how unconvincing Norton is in the trailer, but everything else seems just fine - though not something we're going to race out to see. C+
Waiting for Superman (September 24) - Named after the Flaming Lips second single from their 1999 album, The Soft Bulletin, this documentary from director Davis Guggenheim (known mostly for directing TV episodes of cop dramas) tackles the issue of the American education system ... which, as we all know, kinda sucks. Winner of the Audience Award for best documentary at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival, Superman looks a bit cheesy and obvious, but its heart is in the right place, as it aims to influence the powers that be by highlighting a major issue in the US right now. The filmmaking is sound, as this is obviously a documentary with a big budget (we even see Bill Gates in the trailer, if that tells you anything). Look for this film to get some solid attention come September. B-
Kisses (Already in limited release) - I clicked on the Kisses trailer because I liked the film's simple but memorable poster, simple as that. Directed by Lance Daly (The Halo Effect), Kisses tells the story of two Irish kids who run away to Dublin together in hopes of a better life. Looks like Once meets Millions meets, I don't know ... Billy Elliot and Stand By Me? Something like that. For what is clearly a film with a somewhat modest budget, Kisses appears to be beautifully acted, edited and - more than anything else - photographed. We'll be seeing this one asap with hopes that the film is even better than the trailer. B+
Town (September 17) - Whoa!! Holy hell! When did Ben Fucking Affleck become a powerhouse directer. After his promising directorial review, Gone Baby Gone, I knew I'd watch his second film no matter what. What I didn't know is that it'd be anchored by an EXCELLENT trailer starring Affleck himself in what looks like the performance of his career. The story, from what we gather, is about a heist crew leader in Boston who somehow ends up mixing his business (stealing stuff) with pleasure (a pretty lady, played with some serious soul by Rebecca Hall). One would have to think that, at Affleck's level of stardom (and following the artistic triumph that was Gone Baby Gone), he can get whatever cinematographer, editor, actor, writer, etc. that he wants. And damn if it doesn't seem as though the Affleck has some seriously nice taste. The trailer comes off like Heat's more emotional cousin, if he were fathered by an Insomnia-era Christopher Nolan. Something like that. Looks intense. Looks very, very good. Looks like a new action classic - but from Boston. Last but not least, check out this killer cast: Affleck, Hall, Blake Lively, Jon Hamm, Jeremy Renner, Chris Fucking Cooper, Pete Postlewaite and more. Dang, Affleck!! A-
Mesrine:Killer Instinct (August 13) - The first in a series of two films about outlaw Jacques Mesrine (played by Vincent Cassel in what is said to be the role of his lifetime), Mesrine tells the story of France's own Dillinger/Public Enemy No. 1. Famous for his huge personality and wild escapes from prison (as well as murders, kidnappings and more), Mesrine has long been a character that the film industry has wanted to make a movie about. Now, finally, thanks to director Jean-Francois Richet and Music Box Films, here it is. All that said, does the film look good? FUCK. YES. Looks perfectly made and acted - looks like maybe even a new classic to us. A
Life During Wartime (Already in limited release) - Director Todd Solondz - known mostly for his two 1990s films Happiness and Welcome to the Dollhouse - hasn't made a great film in a very long time. That said, this spirit sequel to 1998's still resonating Happiness (featuring a whole new cast) already looks like his best work. The official synopsis for the film reads as follows: "Friends, family and lovers struggle to find love, forgiveness and meaning in a war-torn world riddled with comedy and pathos." Stars Michael Kenneth Williams (!!!) Paul Reubens(!), Ally Sheedy, Allison Janney and more in what looks to be, by far, Solondz most visually winning production to date. The cozy/retro set pieces and spot-on cinematography, for beginners, look fantastic. According to the trailer's nicely designed title cards, Wartime is already a 2010 favorite of many key critics. We're very stoked, even if the trailer feels more like an extended teaser than a proper trailer. A-
Get Low (July 30) - I don't know. There's so much here that I really do want to love. The cast, anchored by Robert Duvall, Bill Murray, Sissy Spacek and Lucas Black, is amazing. The photography looks great and the subject matter is awesome. But damn, something just doesn't seem right. Everything just seems a little too obvious. If my hunches are correct, what a shame, considering how much this film has going for it. Oh, what's it about? Some old dude with a big beard who lives in the woods. Everyone in the nearby town tells stories about how awful he is, so he decides that, late in life, he wants to confront the town. Seems way too ... something. Fingers crossed we're wrong. C
Jack Goes Boating (September 17) - Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman's directorial debut - a drama centered around two working class NYC couples - is a film we've been reading about and anticipating for a long, long time. Hearing about how well the film was received at festivals only fueled that fire, and now, here it is, a trailer. Finally. Looks funny, sweet, simple and well made - and likely held together by what looks to be the role Hoffman has always wanted to play .From what we can tell, the story seems small and sweetly told. Great cinematography and what looks like a great supporting performance from the great Amy Ryan - who is maybe the best female actor working right now that the average movie-goer doesn't know. Looks very promising, even if the trailer doesn't do much more than tease and offer hope. B+
Rango (March 4, 2011) - We at Ze Catalist aren't as easily won over by all these new-era animated films as everyone else. We loved Wall-E and liked Toy Story 3; everything else released over the past few years is merely decent to us. Up? Yeah, it's okay. But now we have Rango, a very whimsical and stylized-looking animated film from director Gore Verbinski (The Weather Man, the Pirates movies). With lead voice talents coming from Johnny Depp and a visual style that looks as good as any I've seen from an animated production, it doesn't much matter that the details about Rango's storyline are thus far hard to find (and certainly not outlined in the excellent trailer). Looks beautiful, fun, stylish-as-hell and silly. A
Also: Be sure to check out the trailer for director Tony Goldwyn's Conviction, feating two excellent leads, Sam Rockwell and Hilary Swank. Looks promising ... but also maybe kind of overly cheesy and pedestrian.
Written by G. William Locke