Screenhead

Ahh, 2007 is almost over, and what it year it was, from disappearing British children to protesting Monks, from Greek and California fires to Sarkozky to the 7 New Wonders of the World, it’s been a blast. But what about the year in film? Personally, I’ve been gently disappointed in that no single film has blown me way (unlike last year’s Pan’s Labyrinth, United 93, Borat, etc), although it has been a consistently good year. Below of five of the films I consider to be the best, although bear in mind that over here in Ireland we’re yet to receive Award favourites such as No Country For Old Men, There Will Be Blood, and so on. And since I’m a wannabe critic (a job which requires 50% analysis, and 50% bitterness), I also included the 3 biggest let-downs of the year. Enjoy!

FIVE OF THE BEST

Knocked Up

Judd Apatow came from nowhere to astound me with The 40-Year Old Virgin, an endearing and hilarious film which had a quality joke per scene, which very few films can boast. His follow-up is this rom-com about a young, directionless, man who has a one-night stand with a confident, sexy career gal. While not all jokes work, Seth Rogan and Katherine Heigl are real yet adorable enough to sympathise with both sides, while getting a few good gags on the side. And like Apatow’s previous movie, I suspect Knocked Up will warrant repeated viewing.

Zodiac

David Fincher’s return to cinema has been widely anticipated, but the wait was worth it. Zodiac is more than a serial-killer flick. Instead, Fincher turns into a drama about the obsession with mystery. Jake Gyllenhaal is excellent as the newspaper illustrator who cracks one of the codes left by the San Francisco based murderer, and when everyone else gave up, he became the authority on the topic. The film perfectly captures the frenzy and armchair excitement that all of us experience when we get sucked in by an unsolved issue. Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 3% [?]

The London Critics Circle gave eight nominations each to two British films: “Atonement” and “Control.” Although I have heard lots about “Atonement,” I have not heard much about “Control.” Variety says “Control” is a “biopic of Joy Division singer Ian Curtis, from his teenage years through the rise of the influential band to his suicide on the verge of Joy Division’s first American tour.”

I am more inclined to stick with “Atonement.” It’s hard for me to watch films that lead to the ultimate suicide. But, don’t get me wrong. I am sure “Control” is a great film, well deserved of a nominee.

In looking over the list of winners, I noticed that the London Critics did not nominate these two films for best picture. However, they are nominated for Attenborough Award for British Film of the Year. It’s funny how that works some times.

The hopefuls for best film are “The Assassination of Jesse James by Coward Robert Ford,” “Zodiac,” “No Country for Old Men,” “There Will Be Blood” and “The Bourne Ultimatum.”

The London Critics award ceremony is February 8, 2008. Here are some nominees. I’d love your feedback.

FILM OF THE YEAR

“No Country for Old Men”

“The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford”

“There Will Be Blood”

“Zodiac”

“The Bourne Ultimatum”

ATTENBOROUGH AWARD FOR BRITISH FILM OF THE YEAR

“Once”

“Control”

“Atonement”

“Eastern Promises”

“This Is England”

Popularity: 1% [?]

The complete list of films playing at the Toronto International Film Festival can be clicked on here. While the Telluride Film Festival takes place this weekend, it is the Toronto festival that is usually considered the launching pad for the award worthy films released this Fall and Winter. Among the more famed films introduced in Toronto were American Beauty and Brokeback Mountain.

Just the first day alone features Persepolis, Neil Jordan’s The Brave One starring Jodie Foster, Carlos Saura’s Fados and Dario Argento’s Mother of Tears. French New Wave veterans Eric Rohmer and Jacques Rivette have new films almost fifty years after leaving film criticism for filmmaking. The Coen Brothers’ No Country for Old Men and David Cronenberg’s Eastern Promises are also scheduled. Among the classic films to be screened are The Flower Drum Song and Jean Renoir’s Grand Illusion. Many of the films will get regular theatrical releases soon, but other films may be harder to see, either to be seen at art and indie theaters, DVD, or only on the film festival circuit. We will keep Screenhead readers informed about the hits and misses coming out of Toronto. The festival begins September 6.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Batman and Robin did more than stink at the box office. It blow the super-bubble. Every in-production superhero movie came to a crashing halt, as the rise of the supes sustained by the first Batman flick by Tim Burton suddenly and completely lost its footing.

For the past couple of years, I’ve been second-guessing myself as to just when that will happen for the current crop of super-flicks. And all my guestimations have passed by the wayside. I first thought Catwoman - a movie which far surpassed Batman and Robin in terms of  sheer gawdiness and took a far worse box office crunch (making only 40 million to its 100 million dollar production budget domestically). Surprisingly, they kept coming – I believe because of Troy, which skyrocketed the average budget and made 100 million dollars look like chump change.

In the wake of the box office record and predictions more sequels and three-quels are on the way, I have to question – if comic book flicks aren’t the fad, are franchises?

Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 2% [?]