Sofia Coppola gave us The Virgin Suicides and Lost in Translation. This Friday she brings her latest film, re-teaming with Kirsten Dunst, in Marie Antoinette. Over the week we’ll be taking a look at Coppola’s first two films as well as a gander at a few of Miss Dunst’s as well. And of course we’ll have our reviews for her new flick on Friday.
But that’s not the only film opening this week. The list includes Flags of Our Fathers, the first of two films to be released from director Clint Eastwood examining the Battle of Iwo-Jima, as well as obsessed dueling magicians Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman in The Prestige, a new 3-D version of Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, Terry Gilliam falling further into the abyss with a film that makes his last (The Brothers Grimm) appear to be a classic, another horsey movie with a young girl learning about life, and the star-studded cast of the Augusten Burroughs biopic Running With Scissors.
All that and more; take a peek inside for the full list.
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Sofia Coppola brings Marie Antoinette to the screen, in the guise of Kirsten Dunst, for her third film. All this week we’ll take a look some of the previous films of Coppola and Dunst as we begin Marie Antoinette Week here at RazorFine.
But that’s not all that’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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For her third film Sophia Coppola decided to adapt Lady Antonia Fraser’s The Journey which takes a sympathetic look at the figure of Marie Antoinette. For her star Coppola called on Kirsten Dunst (the two worked on Coppola’s first film The Virgin Suicides) as well as Judy Davis, Jason Schwartzman, and Rip Torn. The film received a mixed reaction at the Cannes Film Festival (as any pro-Antoinette film would) but also earned one award and a nomination for the Golden Palm. The rock trailer, the intriguing cast, and the lush photography make this look like a film worthy of viewing and discussion. How worthy? Well check back Friday for our reviews!
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In the first of two films dealing with the Battle of Iwo Jima (Eastwood also directed Letters from Iwo Jima, presented from the Japanese point of view) Clint Eastwood gives us Ryan Phillippe, Jesse Bradford, and Adam Beach as the surviving members of the most famous photograph from WWII. The film follows the stories of all six men, their families, the raising of the flag at Iwo Jima, how it changed the lives of the three men who made it home, and how the U.S. Government used the event to help jumpstart the war effort. The script was penned by Oscar winner Paul Haggis (Crash). Make sure you check back Friday for our review.
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Batman vs. Wolverine. Christain Bale and Hugh Jackman play competing Victorian Age magicians obsessed with outdoing each other and being proclaimed the best magician in London. Christopher Nolan (Memento, Batman Begins) directs this journey of pride and obsession that will make everyone quickly forget that other regrettable magic film from ealier this fall. It also stars Scarlett Johansson, Michael Caine, Piper Perabo, Rebecca Hall and David Bowie (yes, THAT David Bowie) as Nikola Tesla. Check back Friday for our full review.
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Are you Flickin’ kidding me? Another horsey movie? Based on the novel My Friend Flicka by Mary O’Hara (made into a film in 1943 with Roddy McDowall) follows the story of a young teenager girl (Alison Lohman) claiming a wild horse as her own to prove to her father she could one day run the ranch. This version also stars country music star Tim McGraw and Maria Bello as the parents (how freakin’ lucky is McGraw, he gets to pretend to be Bello’s husband on-screen and go home to Faith Hill at night)! With Bello’s involvement you’d expect the film to be more than what it seems.
The Nightmare Before Christmas 3-D
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Tim Burton’s tale of Jack Skellington (Chris Sarandon) leaving Halloween Town for Christmas Town with a well-intentioned, but woefully inept, plan to play Santa Claus (Edward Ivory) gets a remake in 3-D for Halloween (and you only had to wait 13 years). The remastered digital 3-D prints include Lucas-like “improvements” included a revamped soundtrack. For those of you who don’t remember the voice actors include Catherine O’Hara, Paul Reubens, Greg Proops, William Hickey, and the music and singing (he does the singing voice of Jack) of Danny Elfman. I guess this animated 3-D flick craze is here to stay (Monster House).
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In a film based off of Augusten Burroughs’ memoir, Augusten (Joseph Cross) dealing with an alocholic father (Alec Baldwin) and unstable mother (Annette Bening) as he spends his young years with his mother’s therapist (Brian Cox) and his extended family. The first rate cast also includes Evan Rachel Wood, Gwyneth Paltrow, Gabrielle Union, and Joseph Fiennes. Burroughs’ family wasted no time in suing Augusten so you can bet there’s some juicy tidbits to be enjoyed. For you Nip/Tuck fans – the film is directed by the series head staff writer and executive producer Ryan Murphy. The film opens Friday in limited release.
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Writtnen and directed by Bob Goldthait (yeah, THAT Bob Goldthwait) this dark comedy asks the question “Is honesty always the best policy?” After Amy (Melinda Page Hamilton) shares a sexual indiscretion from her past with her current fiance (Bryce Johnson) she struggles with the consequences. Both the film earned a Grand Jury Prize nomination at Sundance. I have to say I’m more than a little curious at just what craziness Goldthwait’s brain unleashes here. The film also stars Geoffrey Pierson, Jack Plotnick, Brain Posehn, Morgan Murphy, Steve Agee, and Bonita Friedericy. It upens exclusively Los Angeles and New York on Friday.
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Terry Gilliam doesn’t play it safe, he reaches for the moon with his own brand of madness. Whe he succeeds he gives us Time Bandits, The Fisher King, and Twelve Monkeys. We he fails however we get films like Tideland. The movie follows the odd little Jeliza-Rose (Jodelle Ferland) who finds herself in an abandoned country farmhouse with her inattentive druggie father (Jeff Bridges) after her mother (Jennifer Tilly) dies of a heroin overdose. She lives in a bizarre fantasy world which includes the heads of dolls and the retarded neighbor. Just how bad is Tideland? Check back Friday for my review to find out.