Screenhead

I find this very interesting that Nicole Holofcener is directing an adaptation of a novel, “I am With Cancer” by Will Reiser.  To date, Holofcener has directed from her own work, so it’s an interesting movie on her part.  Reiser wrote the script for the yet-to-be-titled film; Holofcener will start shooting in January. Holofcener’s first independent, Talking and Walking, is a wonderful film where you see Catherine Keener and Anne Heche grow as actors.

In Holofcener’s next project, James McAvoy is set to star with Seth Rogen, who is also producing.

The comedy is about a 25-year-old (McAvoy) who learns he has cancer and successfully battles the disease over several years.  The character is based on the real experiences of screenwriter Will Reiser, who won his own fight with cancer in his mid-20s.  There is not mention of Rogen’s character in Variety.

Popularity: unranked [?]

The Flemish film in English subtitles starts out with Matty, a mother of three whose emotional tone is down in the green, murky part of life, clearly she is not a happy mother. We later find out why. But first, in her route to leave the supermarket she reverses her car into an 18-wheeler. Here comes Johnny the trucker, who is angry and yells at Matty. Now, this raises Matty to anger as well and she gets to fight back with even sharper words.  Sparks appear between Matty and Johnny and a love story pursues with Johnny age 29 calling after Matty age 43 later that day.

Couple of days later Johnny is at her door bell to fix the dent in her car.  In no time, Johnny is having dinner with Matty and the kids, who notice sparkles between the two, but Johnny is so much younger.

In the background is Matty’s almost ex-husband Werner, who is having an affair with a 22-year-old. He finds out about the younger truck driver. Now, he is jealous and brings alarming report to Matty that Johnny has a criminal record; he beat up his former wife only 18 months ago. Werner wants to come back home.

With sparks still burning between Matty and Johnny, she is obviously happier to the degree she and Johnny are rocking his truck in the sleeper cab.

Other mishaps occur while misguided characters come into Matty’s life.  

How will Matty come to terms with life in Moscow, Belgium?

The film is billed a dramatic-comedy, some laughs in the film, but it leans more toward drama. The director, Christophe Van Rompaey, keeps the story tight and smooth as he aptly captures how two grumpy people can raise each other emotions in a disagreeable manner.

Popularity: 1% [?]