So what’s out there this week? Well today we’ll take a look at the films scheduled to be released on Friday. They include James Franco, Jean Reno and David Ellison in Flyboys, Sean Penn takes a turn as a southern govener in All the King’s Men, Jet Li in perhaps his last ever action flick, Johnny Knoxville and his idiot friends prove they really are jackasses, and Feast, the final Project Greenlight film finally finds itself in a theater..
We’ll also give you the scoop on films out this week in limited release including the reality bending The Science of Sleep, a documentary on the American hardcore punk movement of the 1980’s, and an animated action flick starring the newest James Bond.
All that and more; 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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Before America entered WWI a small group of American pilots volunteered to serve in the French military air force known as Lafayette Escadrille. The film focuses on a small group of Americans that journeyed overseas for different reasons and became fighter pilots in the war against Germany. The film stars James Franco, Philip Winchester, Abdul Salis, Tyler Labine, David Ellison, and Jean Reno. Aside from a few problems, like having all the subtlety of a Michael Bay film and the complete absence of dust, dirt, or wear on clothing, or anything, the film is worth seeing for the acting and some good dogfight sequences. Check back Friday for the review.
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A stellar cast (Sean Penn, Anthony Hopkins, Jude Law, Kate Winslet, Patricia Clarkson, James Gandolfini) under the direction of Steven Zaillian (A Civil Action and the under-appreciated Searching for Bobby Fischer) are on hand for this adaption of Robert Penn Warren’s novel about the populist Southern Governer Willie Stark which was loosely based on the political career of Gov. Huey Long of Louisiana. Sony’s pushing this one hard for award season, and the talented cast make it a must see, but has anyone else been left cold by the trailer? That and the fact the film was delayed due to re-editing and you have to wonder… Check back Friday for the review.
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Jet Li stars and Martial Arts master Huo Yuanjia, the founder of the Jin Wu Sports Federation and the most famous Chinese fighter at the turn of the 20th Century. Rumors have run rampant that this would be Li’s last action film and that alone should flock his fans to the theaters. The film also stars Nathan Jones, Shido Nakamura, Brandon Rhea, Nan Sun, and Michelle Yeoh (who’s role was severly shredded in the editing room). Directed by Ronny Yu (Freddy vs. Jason, Bride of Chucky,
, Wu Lin sheng dou shi) who left that project with Samuel L. Jackson, and those M*@F%#ing airborne snakes, for this one.
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The third, and final, Project Greenlight movie. The film that chose the oddest cat to direct, and an average horror script to produce, and all manner of lunacy ensued. The director tried to push his friends into the starring roles, the casting director went behind the director and producers to get her friend a role, and the producers went crazy with worry. Remember? Well now you get to see it! The film will open midnight Thursday and only play through Saturday, hoping to market the DVD release in October. Well you know I’ll be there! The cast includes Krista Allen, Balthazar Getty, Navi Rawat, Jenny Wade, and Henry Rollins. Check back for our review.
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And in a film destined to make Feast look Oscar worthy, Johnny Knoxville and gang return to make a sequel to 2002’s Jackass: the Movie which was based of the bottom of the barrel exploitative short-lived MTV “reality” show which was little more than idiot stunts mixed with America’s Funniest Home Videos. Why, oh why, do we need a sequel? Four words – The Dukes of Hazard. Knoxville’s career’s in the toilet and the rest of the gang has blissfully faded into oblivion, so why not dig deep in the trash for one last attempt at mediocre glory. The film opens Friday, but you’ll have to do without a review for this one folks.
The Science of Sleep (Science des reves, La)
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As the lights came up I sat in the theater trying to put my experience of watching this film into words. What I came up was simply this – bizarrely fascinating. The film centers around a man (Gael Garcia Bernal) who lacks the ability to separate his dream world from reality, with dizzying results, and his love for his new neighbor (Charlotte Gainsboroug). Nowhere near conventional, the film reminds me of Terry Gilliam’s early work (before he went crazy and started making “films” like Tideland and The Brothers Grimm). It will be released in select cities on Friday so check to see if it’s showing at your local art house, and come back on Friday for our review.
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Director Paul Rachman and American punk historian Steven Blush come together in this new documentary, based of Blush’s book American Hardcore: A Tribal History, that focuses on America’s hardcore punk movement of he early to mid-eighties. The documentary is packed with never before seen footage and interviews from those involved in the scene, including Henry Rollins, and music from the likes of Green Gang, SS Decontrol, Circle Jerks, Jerry’s Kids and more. It’s been the year for the documentary so will see if American Hardcore can measure up. The film opens in limited release in select cities on Friday.
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The man who would be James Bond (Daniel Craig) stars as cop in a futuristic Paris (think Alan Moore’s V for Vendetta with pastries) where a woman (Cahterine McCormack) searches for her kidnapped sister (Romola Garai). The film is animated in black and white and the style, not to mention the tone, of the story will surely bring about Sin City references and comparisons. If it’s half that good I’ll be satisfied; it will face tougher competition at the box office, being released this late in the year. The film also stars the voices of Jonathan Pryce, and Ian Holm. An ambitious undertaking for second time director Christain Volck (Maaz). It opens in select cities on Friday.