New in the Theaters July 10^th 2009

Not since May 29^th have we had such a good day for film releases. Four must see films open and/or expand with one being a true Oscar contender. We also have a bad ass samurai flick; a Sundance hit and even a rom-com for the teenie boppers that you can’t take to Bruno. A lot to see and so little time. I love weekends like this where there is something for everyone!! Which films are you most excited about?

Opening Wide

I Love You Beth Cooper: Just when I was starting to like director Chris Columbus (Rent) he decides to revert back to his teenage comedy ways. Why is it when Hayden Panettiere (TV’s Heroes) puts on a cheerleader outfit, all the guys fall head over heals? Must be a guy thing.

Bruno: While buzz about Sacha Baron Cohen’s follow-up to Borat (2006) has been extremely positive, I have read one interesting complaint. Sometimes it is obviously that the person has recognized Cohen, in some scenes, starts playing along. It makes this new film about a Gay European Fashion Reporter a little less spontaneous than his last film. However despite this complaint, there is still plenty of cringe worthy laugh out loud moments. While I know that Cohen is fine, I was actually scared for him when I heard he was taking Bruno to the road. Being a gay man in the homophobic parts of the south is far more dangerous that being a Naïve Kazakhstan Bigot. I was so concerned for his safety and still worry about blow back. However he has triumphed with what will possibly be the funniest film and most wince inducing of the summer. I also love that he deliberately put as much explicit vulgarity as he could and forced the MPAA to watch that first initial cut knowing full well it would not pass. He probably was laughing his ass off at the so called “controversy” he was causing. This is one of my most anticipated films of the year. I am so there and so will be many of you—I hope. This will probably be his last feature stealth comedy film

Opening Limited

Blood: The Last Vampire: This samurai fantasy is based on the awesome and very successful manga and anime series. This is directed by Chris Nahon who also directed the Jet Li Film Kiss of the Dragon (2001) so it does have potential. It will be interesting to see if the “16 year old” Halfling Saya will translate to live action. Opens with a midnight screening on Thursday in many cities across the US.

Humpday: Who ever thought of releasing this film the same day as Bruno is either misguided or an evil genius? Mark Duplass (The Puffy Chair) stars in a film where two straight guys are “forced” to have sex in a movie for a local film festival. This was a surprise hit at Sundance this year and receive one of the first distribution deals of the festival. Opens in Seattle and NYC only.

Soul Power: When Jeffery Levy-Hinte was editing Leon Gast’s wonderful documentary about the 1974 boxing match “Rumble in the Jungle” (When We Were Kings, Oscar winner 1996) he lamented about the footage that would never be seen. About six week before the famous Ali vs. Foremen boxing match, The Godfather of Soul, James Brown, headlined a three-day concert with B.B. King and many others in Zaire. Unlike Kings Levy-Hinte keeps this film almost completely verite’ editing down over 125 hours of raw footage. He lets the concert speak for itself and what we get is probably on the best concert documentaries I have seen in years. This riveting and exciting film is an instant classic and will have you dancing in your chair for the entire run of the film. The only complaint I have is its 93 minutes runtime. I could have easily watched another twenty minutes thinking all through the film “I cannot wait for the deleted scenes.” However this is a small complaint because the experience of watching this film in the theaters is nothing but pure joy. If you miss this film in theaters you are doing yourself a disservice because despite my complaint of the short runtime the sound design is so outstanding that it feels like you are right there with the front row audience in 1974. It won the special Jury prize at SilverDocs and deservedly so. This film opens in select theaters today in The LA Area and NYC only. But then slowly rolls out to a  wider limited release until August. This film is a great as The Last Waltz, Woodstock, and Gimme Shelter, maybe even better. After a year of disappointing movies, I am so glad I have seen my first film this year that reminded me why I love films in the first place. OUTSTANDING! A+

Expanding

The Hurt Locker: Female action director Kathryn Bigelow (Point Break) filmed on location in Jordan to make this film about an elite bomb-defusing unit in the Iraq War as realistic as possible. Can she break the Iraq War movie curse? Jeremy Renner (28 Weeks Later) stars. So far this one of the few films that will definitely be on someone’s top ten list.

Moon: Sam Rockwell (recently going crazy in Choke) goes over the edge again while he living on the moon and talking to a robot/computer played by Kevin Spacey (Recount). Think of this as a version of Solaris (2002) that is even more psychedelic. Buzz has been great. This film will also be on someone’s top ten list.