03.27.08
Weekend Attractions (28 – 30 March ‘08)
Grace is Gone is my pick for the best of the weekend….
This is a pretty lame weekend for movies if you ask me, but you can’t have it all every weekend, now can you? No, because we South Africans are not greedy little bitches…
Films opening in South Africa this weekend:
1. Grace is Gone:
There is simply no way I am missing this one. Remember when John Cusack was getting Oscar buzz for this film? Ah, the good old days…Anyway, the film is yet another American effort where the aftermath of Iraq war is explored, but is explored on a much smaller scale than most of the others, it focuses on a small little family. The film is about Stanley, played by John Cusack, who has to deal with the pain of loosing his wife, a soldier in the war, and he also has to tell his two daughters. There is not much more I can say, but I think the film will be different from the others because it seems to be delicate in expressing the grief of this ordinary family, instead of, I don’t know, hitting us over the head with all the messages and opinions possible, and the film could achieve great emotional power because of it.
Director: James C. Strouse
Cast: John Cusack, Shelan O’Keefe, Grace Bednarczyk, Alessandro Nivola.
Age Restriction: PG L
Running Time: 92 minutes
2. The Nanny Diaries:
Based on the novel by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus, the film stars Scarlett Johansson as Annie Braddock, a beautiful college graduate with little career direction. Her new anthropology degree is put to use in the wilds of New York City when a posh Upper East Side family recruits her to care for their 4-year old son. Though she may be more inclined to study in the Amazon or Africa, Annie learns that her new environment has its own unique social patterns and practices. Hilarious {perhaps cheesy} circumstances ensue as she comes to grips with her new surroundings, falls for a wealthy native boy, and tries to teach her young charge about the happiness money can’t buy. I say, it cannot be all that bad, it also stars Laura Linney, always a bonus.
Director: Robert Pulcini & Shari Springer Berman
Cast: Scarlett Johansson, Luara Linney, Chris Evans, Paul Giamatti and Alicia Keys.
Age Restriction: PG
Running Time: 103 minutes
3. Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears A Who:
The first sign that this won’t be great is the title. Firstly, Dr. Seuss’s genius can never be adapted, it just cannot. The film will attempt to present an imaginative elephant named Horton (Carrey) who hears a faint cry for help coming from a tiny speck of dust floating through the air. Although Horton doesn’t know it yet, that speck houses an entire city named Who-ville, inhabited by the microscopic Whos, led by the Mayor (Carell). Despite being ridiculed and threatened by his neighbors, who think he has lost his mind, Horton is determined to save the particle…because “a person’s a person, no matter how small.” “A nice idea can be a crap film, even if it is adapted from a Dr. Seuss’ book….” I have heard it isn’t that bad, just enjoy it for what it is and nothing more. No expectations allowed.
Director: Jimmy Hayward
Vocal Cast: Jim Carrey, Steve Carell, Isla Fisher, Seth Rogen, Amy Poehler, Will Arnett and Carol Burnett
Age Restriction: All Ages
Running Time: 85 minutes
4. Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story
I had no idea this was opening this weekend, it would have been higher had I known it was opening. The Judd Apatow-produced film is about, well, Dewey Cox, a larger than life musician who is fast becoming a legend. With the fame and the glory, he spirals down and picks himself up again, as rock ‘n’ roll stars do. It is apparently pretty funny, and is a parody of musical biopics like my one true love, Walk the Line. Starring the always-great John C. Reilly as Dewey, I think it could be good fun. Nothing more, perhaps less.
Director: Jake Kasdan
Cast: John C. Reilly, Jenna Fischer, Raymond J. Barry, Margo Martindale
Age Restriction: 16 SLN
Running Time: 94 minutes
To Book:
What will you be seeing this weekend?
Least importantly, besides trying to see those three films this weekend, tomorrow I am going to that “Shine A Light” screening I have been rambling about, and thanks to a certain someone, I will be seeing Gus van Sant’s “Paranoid Park” as well. Oh, and this just in, thanks to a different certain someone, I will probably be seeing “My Blueberry Nights” too.
Brian Tristam Williams said,
March 27, 2008 at 4:56 pm
Who’s your ‘certain someone’ :-)
Nick Plowman said,
March 27, 2008 at 5:03 pm
Ryan Adams…I am sure he does not like it when I throw his name around, but he stalks me, and then helps me see the films I am dying to see that will not be released in SA like, ever. Or really late.
Chuck said,
March 27, 2008 at 6:04 pm
I never saw THE NANNY DIARIES, though I’ve been tempted to because it’s directed by the team who gave us the marvelous AMERICAN SPLENDOR. I think the word was that DIARIES just like every other movie like that, but I can’t remember.
Nick Plowman said,
March 27, 2008 at 6:14 pm
I remember it being spoken about, and most were saying that it was really mediocre. I have no doubt that it could be like every other movie, and I will really only see it if I have absolutely nothing to do.
Brian Tristam Williams said,
March 27, 2008 at 8:11 pm
I’ve heard from inside sources that Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story is crap. But it’s a parody on Walk the Line, which was great, plus the trailer’s hilarious. Don’t know if you’ve seen the trailer – I put it up on our Facebook page. Gonna watch that this weekend.
Nick Plowman said,
March 27, 2008 at 8:15 pm
Is it opening commercially this weekend? I know it was meant to, but have heard nothing. I downloaded the trailer a while ago, but have not seen it in cinemas.
Yeah, Walk the Line is now one of my all time bests, so I am in for Walk Hard. John C. Reilly is always good.
Brian Tristam Williams said,
March 27, 2008 at 8:34 pm
If our Facebook page says it’s opening this weekend, it’s opening this weekend ;)
Only one catch – it’s only opening at Nu Metro Montecasino. I guess the distributors aren’t expecting it to do very well.
However, they do have something real exciting in the works – Be Kind Rewind – Jack Black in a Michael Gondry film? Hell yeah.
Nick Plowman said,
March 27, 2008 at 8:41 pm
Awesome, that’s cool, it’s just that I get an email from the PR Manager of Nu Metro detailing all the releases, and there was no word about Walk Hard, I thought the release date changed or something. I am glad it is opening, I don’t mind having to go to Monte to see it. I think Walk Hard will do better than Nanny Diaries.
I was invited to a, sorry, Ster Kinekor screening of Be Kind Rewind on the 5th of Feb, but couldn’t go because I had a science project due the next day. A FREAKIN’ SCIENCE PROJECT. So I am pissed about that. I cannot wait to see it though.
I am going to the Nu Metro screening of Shine A Light tomorrow, so no worries ;)
Brian Tristam Williams said,
March 27, 2008 at 8:57 pm
Well, just remember that there are various divisions in any company. The ‘PR Manager’ you refer to probably deals with the distribution of film, so she would not mention SK’s films. But in the Cinema division, all the films are mentioned, because they will be played in the cinemas. So the Nu Metro website or Facebook page is the most accurate list of our releases. Enjoy Shine a Light – I think you’re too young to be a Stones fan :) My mother will enjoy that tho…
Nick Plowman said,
March 27, 2008 at 10:16 pm
I know, I know. I will keep a closer watch on the Facebook page ;)
I think you would be surprised at how much of a Stones fan I am. I have not been a fan as long as your mother/or mine, but I have been brought up in a house where the Stones music is the soundtrack of my childhood. I am second-hand fan, but a fan nonetheless.
Rick said,
March 28, 2008 at 2:54 am
“My Blueberry Nights” ? I wanna see “My Blueberry Nights” . . . would your different certain someone help me see it?
soundtrackgeek said,
March 28, 2008 at 4:02 am
I want to see Grace is Gone. I’ve only heard the soundtrack and it’s great. Horton is a must-see. Just pure fun. Walk Hard… I’ve been meaning to see it, but maybe I should see Walk The Line first.
Daniel said,
March 28, 2008 at 4:07 am
I’ll mix things up a bit here and say that I didn’t like Walk Hard – like not at all. And I enjoy all of the actors and Apatow on a regular day. This one just didn’t click for me, though lots of people love it so it’s probably worth your time.
J.D. said,
March 28, 2008 at 5:02 am
I really, really enjoyed The Nanny Diaries. Sure, it’s trying way too hard to be in the vein of The Devil Wears Prada even though it knows very well it’s not, and that sort of makes it awkward at times, and Alicia Keys is in it… but Laura Linney is fantastic! But then again, when is she not?
*silence*
I thought so. ;)
Nick Plowman said,
March 28, 2008 at 7:10 am
Rick, I am not sure :) As soon as he helps me, I will be very glad you try and help you.
But thanks for stopping by!
soundtrackgeek, I also heard the soundtrack {snap…} and it is great. I can’t wait to see it, and if it is any good, I will tell you.
I do recommend Walk the Line though…I may see Horton if anyone I know wants to go with me, same goes for Walk Hard.
Dan, I have a feeling I won’t like it much either. The trailer looks funny enough, but not that good. I don’t know, it is an awful long drive for me to get to where it is showing ~ maybe it just isn’t worth it.
Nick Plowman said,
March 28, 2008 at 7:13 am
J.D, I remember you posting something when you saw it, and you said Laura Linney was like a God, and I fully agreed, and I would love to see her in it. Scarlett is gorgeous and talented, and it has Alicia Keys! Yeah, I am more in for Nanny Diaries than I am Walk Hard.
Nick Plowman said,
March 28, 2008 at 10:03 am
Random newsflash: I may not be able to see “Shine A Light” after all today :(