Friday, February 19, 2010

Go see Shutter Island.  That's what the name of this column should be this week, because it's all I really want to say.  I wrote a huge, glowing review of the film (which you can read HERE) and it's sheer mastery still has me on fantastic high.

Aside from that I barely know what's coming out this week, so it'll be a journey of discovery that we can take together.

As always, my powerful co-writer Alex Healy will pouring arsenic in to tea and lambasting the shit out of those films she just can't stand.

Hitting Theaters This Weekend:






SHUTTER ISLAND

The Director:  Martin Scorsese (Goodfellas, Taxi Driver, etc.)

The Stars:  Leonardo Dicaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Michelle Williams

The Studio:  Paramount Pictures

The Story:  Two U.S. Marshalls (Leonardo Dicaprio and Mark Ruffalo) venture to an island-bound insane asylum to find a deranged killer (Emily Mortimer) gone missing.

My Thoughts:  Fucking brilliant.  Best Scorsese film in years.  It's horrific, it's taut, it's giant on every level and Leonardo Dicaprio just fucking nails it.  Read my full review HERE.

Alex Says:  A mind fuck. A brilliant film. I'd go again.

Rotten Tomatoes Score:  68%

THE GHOST WRITER

The Director:  Roman Polanksi

The Stars:  Ewan McGregor, Pierce Brosnan, Kim Catrall

The Studio:  Summit Distribution

The Story:  A young writer (Ewan McGregor) is asked to help write the memoirs of an influential political figure (Pierce Brosnan), but things go terribly awry.  For some reason.

The Trailer:  I'll be seeing this next week and then you'll get a full review, but the trailer, honestly, makes the film seem like a hack-job thriller, not the well-received work of one of film's great masters.  I mean, how the hell does Kim Catrall still get work?

Will I See It?:   I most certainly will, for free, next week.

Alex Says:  Samantha from Sex And The City is in it, that usually means a resounding no, but Roman fucking Polanski directed it. "two snaps in z formation!"

Rotten Tomatoes Score:  78%

HAPPY TEARS

The Director:  Mitchell Lichtenstein

The Stars:  Demi Moore, Parker Posey, Rip Torn

The Studio:  Roadside Attractions

The Story:  Two sisters (Demi Moore and Parker Posey) return to their childhood home to take care of their ailing father.  A whole lot of shit bubbles to the surface.

The Trailer:  You know, the director of this film has some chops (he made the teeth in vagina film Teeth, and hell, his father is Ray Lichtenstein) but this trailer is so goddamn schmaltzy.  It just reeks of that film about ya-ya sisterhoods or the one about traveling pants.  What I'm hoping is that in a bid to repackage the film for better audience consumption, they made this godawful trailer.  I hope.

Will I See It?:   I was offered the chance, but turned it down to see a little film called Shutter Island.

Alex Says:  Parker Posey and filial dysfunction usually peaks my interest, but something about that trailer left me with mediocrity on my tongue and "just fine" on my brain.

Rotten Tomatoes Score:  36%

THE GOOD GUY

The Director:  Julio DePietro

The Stars:  Alexis Bleidel

The Studio:  Roadside Attractions

The Story:  A romantic drama set in New York about dating.  I can't even muster the energy to say anything mean about this daddling piece 'o' shit.

My Thoughts:  I somehow stayed awake during this film, don't ask me how.  But it is awful.  Trite, boring, poorly written.  Read my Breakdown HERE.

Alex Says:  Cheese and rice! I hate a film about love triangles that have no same sex couples. This film is doing a giant disservice to New York City.  Noah, I'm glad you went on a romantic date with JonMarc on this one.

Rotten Tomatoes Score:  50%

Final Thoughts:  Go see Shutter Island.  Run to the theater right now and see it.  That is all.

Alex Says:  With the mammoth popularity of 3-D in current film, I'm hoping that's just a train stop away from silent films ! Lovely, black and white, jittery silent films.
 

- Noah Sanders - -



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