Well, it’s off to Texas for the weekend for me. Thought about doing an “Opening in Dallas” this weekend, just for old time’s sake, but then I remembered that I couldn’t care less what’s going on in Dallas.
The Girl from Monaco (trailer)
Director: Anne Fontaine
Meant to see this back in March, when it was playing during the EU Film Festival, but missed it. I think it won the Audience Award then, though I may be mistaken on that. Aside from the most annoying voiceover since Vicky Cristina Barcelona, the trailer is light and appealing. Basically, it looks like one of those airy French things that you can’t remember ten minutes after watching it but it’s enjoyable nonetheless.
Metacritic: 53
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (trailer)
Director: Carlos Saldana (Ice Age: The Meltdown)
Pass.
Metacritic: 51
I Hate Valentine’s Day (trailer)
Director: Nia Vardalos
I’ve asked this before, but why do so many romantic comedies have such stupid premises? This one’s about a woman who always ends relationships after five dates. What kind of idiocy is that? Who lives like that? I should try getting rich by writing asinine shit like this.
Metacritic: 25
Julia
Director: Erick Zonca (The Dreamlife of Angels, The Little Thief)
I had never heard of this (nice work, Magnolia Pictures!) until Ebert come strong with the four-star review this morning, praising Tilda Swinton’s performance to the skies. I should probably go see it. Wish it was playing somewhere other than the aggressively uncomfortable Facets Cinematheque.
Metacritic: 54
Public Enemies (trailer)
Director: Michael Mann (The Last of the Mohicans, Heat, The Insider, Miami Vice)
Already seen it, and I wanted to write a review of this before I left but I’m just not going to have the time. I liked it, and think that it’s undeniably a visionary film. At the same time, though, it’s a challenging work in some ways (hello muddy digital photography – filmman was right) and it’s hard for me to be super-enthusiastic about it. I do think time will be kind to it.
Metacritic: 71
Hope you guys didn’t get caught in that mess at O’Hare yesterday.
I plan on seeing Public Enemies on Saturday, so I’ll review the thing if no one else does.
Someone PLEASE review Public Enemies…
Ah…just noticed…that’s what I was wondering. It really is baffling his insistence on using a format he isn’t forced to use. So interesting from the viewpoint of…why, Mann? Why?
JS – we’re leaving tonight and it looks like everything is back to normal. But I typically have problems flying out of O’Hare, so we’ll see.
Since Brian didn’t have time to write his review on Public Enemies, I would like to post my brief comments here before I leave.
I found the cinematography distracting. I think the idea was to make the audience feel like they’re in the action. But the handheld camera movements reminded me a bit of The Blair Witch Project. I know I didn’t notice the digital as much as Brian did, but I’m nearly blind as a bat.
It was fun to see old Chicago, especially the Biograph were we got to walk around the set. I think the locations distracted me enough that I should really see the film again. Overall, I was a little underwhelmed. But I like it enough.
If you watch the making-of…they were using Canon Mini-dv for some of the handheld car action stuff!!!
They’re good optics, but come on!
Obviously this troubles me greatly. It’s the only reason I haven’t yet gone to the theater.
Baffled…
Saw Public Enemies today. Started very slowly, and I was ready to give it a thumbs down, but it picked up steam and ended very handsomely. The hand-held stuff has to go, though. As Manohla Dargis said to directors in her manifesto, “The tripod is your friend.” Full review tomorrow.