Marion Cotillard stars as Edith Piaf who rose from poverty through her beautiful voice and passionate romances only to end her life as tragically as it began. Sylvie Testud, Pascal Greggory, Gerard Depardieu and Emmanuelle Seigner also star. Check out the film’s official site. The film opens in limited release on Friday.
La Vie en Rose
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Writer/director Eli Roth returns with this sequel to 2006’s Hostel. Once again a trio of buff and toned Americans (well, at least they’re female this time) meet up with a beautiful model (Vera Joranova) and head of the hedonistic pleasure only to find horror in a Slovakian hostel. The film stars Lauren German, Heather Matarazzo and Bijou Phillips. Here’s a HD trailer if you prefer, and you can also check out the official site. The film scares itself into theaters on Friday.
Hostel Part II
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This animated mockumentary, a mix of Happy Feet and Blue Crush, centers around the world of competitive penguin surfing. There’s a lost legend, the current champ, and the wide-eyed dreamer who wants to make it big. Featuring the voice talents of Shia LaBeouf, Zooey Deschanel, James Woods, Jon Heder, and Jeff Bridges. Here’s a HD trailer if you prefer and you can check out the official site. We’ve seen it, and trust us – it’s better than it sounds, and we’ll have the review for you when the movie surfs into theaters everywhere on Friday.
Surf’s UP
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This Week in Animated Film Read More »
It’s been awhile since we’ve had something to shout about, but this is certainly deserving. Recently I attended an early screening of Freedom Writers, a terrific new film starring Hillary Swank as a teacher of at-risk-students. It’s based on the real story of Erin Gruell and her experiences as a first year teacher in Long Beach, CA. It’s a remarkably engaging and moving film that breaks from the mold of so many recent films about teachers and provides an emotional punch that will take your breath away. The film won’t be released until next year (January 12), so it’s sadly not in the running for our top ten lists and award consideration, but it is definitely worth shouting about. So here’s a RazorFine Shout Out to the first great film of 2007, Freedom Writers!
Freedom Writers
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It’s been awhile since we’ve had something to shout about, but this is certainly deserving. Recently I attended an early screening of Freedom Writers, a terrific new film starring Hillary Swank as a teacher of at-risk-students. It’s based on the real story of Erin Gruell and her experiences as a first year teacher in Long Beach, CA. It’s a remarkably engaging and moving film that breaks from the mold of so many recent films about teachers and provides an emotional punch that will take your breath away. The film won’t be released until next year (January 12), so it’s sadly not in the running for our top ten lists and award consideration, but it is definitely worth shouting about. So here’s a RazorFine Shout Out to the first great film of 2007, Freedom Writers!
So what’s out there this week? Well today we’ll take a look at the films scheduled to be released which include Will Farrell being controlled by a narator who wants him dead, Sarah Michelle Gellar taking on monsters, Russell Crowe re-teaming with director Ridley Scott, Nicole Kidman and Robert Downey Jr. in an “imaginary” biopic and another with Ed Harris and Diane Kruger, a documentary about a naughty word, and Joey Lauren Adams writes and directs her first film.
All that and more, so c’mon in and let us get you ready for the week!
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Here’s what’s scheduled to hit theaters this week. Want to know more? Just click on the title for film info including a full cast list. Want a closer look? Just click on the poster to watch the trailer.
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Harold Crick (Will Ferrell) is the character in the latest novel from author Kay Eiffel (Emma Thompson), but he’s a real person who must stop this unseen narrator before she sets in motion events that will lead to his death. Should be one of the more interesting and original films of the year. The film was directed by Marc Forester who gave us Monster’s Ball and Finding Neverland but also is responsible for last year’s atrocity Stay (check out that review, if you dare). The strong supporting cast includes Dustin Hoffman, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Queen Latifah, and Arrested Development‘s Tony Hale. Come back Friday for our review.
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Christain Bale, in his second film of the fall, plays a Gulf War vet, unable to find employment and fighting delusions, who reunites with a childhood friend (Freddy Rodriguez) for a joyride of booze, drugs, babes, and danger around the streets of L.A. Writer David Ayer (Training Day, The Fast and the Furious, S.W.A.T.) pens the script and takes his first stint behind the camera as director, so expect fast cars and fast women – Eva Longoria, Tamy Trull, Adriana Millan, Samantha Esteban and Tania Verafield. Paul Renteria, Emilio Rivera, Noel Gugliemi, Terry Crews, Randy Tobin, and J.K. Simmons also star.
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Russell Crowe plays an Englishman who inherits a vineyard from a dying uncle (Albert Finney), but the arrival of the dead man’s sexy and spunky daughter (Abbie Cornish) from California, who claims the land his hers, complicates matters. Seriously, is that the lamest poster ever? Anyway… Ridley Scott reconnects with his Gladiator star, but odds are less dead bodies here (unless audiences start to commit suicide). It seems an odd project for both and an obvious ploy to help Crowe’s poor public image. Archie Panjabi, Ali Rhodes, Tom Hollander, Richard Coyle, Rafe Spall, Patrick Kennedy, and Daniel Mays also star.
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Sarah Michelle Gellar seems to be entrenched as the horror industry’s new scream queen. The brunette Gellar plays a young businesswoman dealing with her nightmares about a murder of a woman she’s never met which cause her to investigate the crimes only to discover she’s a vampire slayer, um, something scary? The deep voice on the trailers promises a “psychological thriller,” but why do the ads all look like your average ghost and gore flick? Well, at least it’s original and not adapted from a Japanese film this time. Adam Scott, Kate Beahan, Erinn Allison, and Peter O’Brien also star.
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Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Adriana Barraza, Rinko Kikuchi, and others star in this wide-ranging, and long-winded, tale of children and parents spanning four families, three countries, and two continents. I wanted to like Babel, but when I wasn’t bored out of my skull I found myself bewildered by the odd make-up of the film and bizarre choices of its characters. It wants so badly to be important, but lacks the detail necessary, instead providing us with a glut of stories and characters, that neither explored nor developed, which never come together. The film is currently in limited release. You can read the rest of my review here.
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Director Steve Anderson (The Big Empty) gives us a documentary on everyone’s favorite curse word. The film looks at the orgin of the word, the reasons behind it’s offensive meaning, and what can be gained from its use. The film has had some trouble being marketed, since you can’t use the name of the film on a movie poster, but word of mouth and a cast of comedians (and porn stars?), including Billy Connolly, Bill Maher, Jeneane Garofalo, Kevin Smith, Tera Patrick, and Ron Jeremy, discussing it all (think last year’s dirty but delicious The Aristocrats). It opens exclusively in New York and L.A. on Friday.
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Unable to find any good roles, actress Joey Lauren Adams (Chasing Amy, A Cool, Dry Place, Big Daddy) decided to take a page from former boyfriend Kevin Smith and write and direct her own film. The story follows a hard-drinkin’, hard-workin’, hard playin’ southern gal (Ashley Judd) who begins to confront her lifestyle and turn her life around when she meets the new guy in town (Jeffrey Donovan). Fans of That 70’s Show can tune in for Laura Prepon playing Judd’s daughter. Early reaction has been positive, especially for Judd’s perfromance and for Adams who won a nomination at Cannes for her direction.
Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus
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The latest from director Steven Shainberg (Secretary) follows wealthy aristocrat Diane Arbus (Nicole Kidman) who turns her back on her family in favor of her mentor (Robert Downey Jr.) who opens up a world to her allowing her to become one of the most revered photographers of the twentieth century. The film also stars Ty Burrell, Jane Alexander, Emmy Clarke, Genevieve McCarthy, Emily Bergl, Gwendolyn Bucci, and Krista Coyle. Should be an art house hit if the early buzz for Kidman’s performance is true, but will in connect with mainstream viewers? It opens in select cities in limited release on Friday.
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Ed Harris as Ludwig van Beethoven? Yep. Harris plays the famous composer in his late years struggling with the Ninth Symphony with the help of the lovely Diane Kruger (National Treasure, Troy). The film won the CEC Award for Best Film at the San Bebastian International Film Festival. The cast also includes Matthew Goode, Joe Anderson, Nicholas Jones, Viktoria Dihen, and Phylida Law. Well, it can’t be worse than Harris’ last project (though mine wasn’t the only opinion), and the lovely Ms Kruger can make anything more enjoyable. It opens in select cities in limited release on Friday.
