Art-House Dramas:
Summary:
A dramatic interweaving of intersecting relationships between people from
disparate social backgrounds. Filmmakers:
Director Fernando Meirelles was once one of the most promising auteur
filmmakers, starting his international career with two wonderful films (City of God and The Constant Gardener), but his
recent films have not lived up to expectations (Blindness and this). He is
working with very good cinematographer Adriano Goldman (Jane
Eyre) and production designer John
Paul Kelly (The Guard). Cast: The film has a good cast featuring Rachel Weisz, Jude Law, Jamel Debbouze, Ben Foster, and Anthony Hopkins among others. Expectations: With Fernando Meirelles directing,
there is certainly a chance for 360 to be a very good drama, or at the very
least have an interesting visual style. That said, the film was not well
received on the festival circuit, playing mostly to negative and moderate
reviews. From what I have seen, I think that this may be worth a rental for
fans of interweaving character dramas. Trailer:
Here.
Summary:
Eric Packer is a 28-year-old billionaire asset manager. One day he takes a limo
trip across New York City that devolves into an odyssey as the world begins to
fall apart. Filmmakers: Writer-director
David Cronenberg is known for his eccentric and highly stylized work (most fans
cite The Fly, A History of Violence and Easter Promises as his best
work, but personally I really liked A
Dangerous Method). He is working with frequent collaborators composer Howard Shore (The
Lord of the Rings) and cinematographer Peter Suschitzky (The
Empire Strikes Back), while production designer Arvinder Grewal (Resident Evil: Afterlife) is
new to the team. Cast: The film stars Robert Pattinson, and features Juliette Binoche, Sarah Gadon, Mathieu Amalric, Jay Baruchel, Kevin Durand, K’Naan, Emily Hampshire, Samantha Morton, and Paul Giamatti in support. Expectations: Cosmopolis looks like a very
ambitious film from Cronenberg, which means that it will either be incredible
or fail utterly. There does not look like there is much middle ground based on
what I have seen. Personally, I think it looks brilliant. But, critics have not
been kind to it during its festival screenings. While I am not a fan of
Pattinson and do not see him as a great leading man, the supporting cast
features a few fantastic actors (Binoche, Gadon, Amalric, Baruchel, and
Giamatti). I am looking forward to seeing this, but again I think it will be a
very polarizing film. Trailer: Here.
Summary:
Based on true events – a prank caller poising as the police convinces a fast
food manager interrogate an innocent young employee. Filmmakers:
Writer-director Craig Zobell is back with his second feature film (his first
was Great World of Sound –
yup, I have never heard of it either). He is working with first-time composer Heather McIntosh,
cinematographer Adam Stone (Take
Shelter) and production designer Matthew Munn (art director on Adventureland). Cast: The cast features Ann Dowd, Dreama Walker and Pat Healy. Expectations: Compliance has played to mostly
positive reviews on the festival circuit (though has also been a little
critically mixed too). However, some viewers have found it so disturbing that
they have walked out, as the film is creepy. There is a lot of psychological
violence. It is worth checking out for those who like inventive low budget
thrillers. Trailer: Here.
Summary:
Frank is an ex-jewel thief who is resolved to live out the rest of his
life in miserable isolation. However, to keep him company, his son buys him a
robot butler. Soon, the two become companions and try their luck as a heist
team. Filmmakers: Director Jake Schreier
makes his directorial debut with the film. He is working with composer Francis Farewell Starlite (also
a newcomer, he is the front man for Francis and the Lights), cinematographer Matthew Lloyd and production
designer Sharon Lomofsky (A Love Song for Bobby Long). Cast: Frank
Langella stars with James
Marsden, Liv Tyler, Susan Sarandon, and Peter Sarsgaard’s voice (as the
robot) in support. Expectations: Robot and
Frank looks nicely different and refreshing (in a world in which most films are
just the same thing over and over again). It is playing to positive reviews
during its festival run winning a film prize at the 2012 Sundance Film
Festival, and could even be a surprise Oscar contender (most likely for Langella).
I am looking forward to seeing the film. Trailer:
Here.
Art-House Comedies:
Summary:
Celeste and Jesse are best friends who also happen to be married – a happily
ever after story right? Nope. Something just did not work and they get
divorced. Now, they try to remain friends as they seek out new relationships. Filmmakers: Director Lee Toland Krieger returns
for his third feature (but this is his first to see a theatrical release). He
is working with a crew of newcomers including composers Zach Cowie and Sunny Levine, cinematographer David Lanzenberg and production
designer Ian Phillips (though
he works on Parks and Recreation).
Cast: The cast is made up of a great comedic
mix. Rashida Jones (who also
co-wrote the film) and Andy
Samberg star, while Elijah
Wood, Emma Roberts, Ari Graynor, Eric Christian Olsen, Chris Messina, and Rich Sommer feature in support. Expectations: Celeste and Jesse Forever had
positive buzz coming out of Sundance, but has not received the best critical
reviews from other advanced screenings. Based on what I have seen however, it
looks like a great indie dramedy mixing very funny comedy with drama that
resonates. I also really like the cast. I am excited to see it. Trailer: Here.
Summary:
Tommy is not able to get his wife Audrey pregnant, and so they must use donor
sperm. But wait! He remembers that years ago he made a deposit to a sperm bank.
Recruiting his pals, Tommy comes up with a plan to steal back his sperm. Filmmakers: Director Jay Chandrasekhar has a great
background in comedy, directing most of the Broken Lizard films and working on
a number of good comedy TV series (like Arrested Development, Happy Endings and Community). He is working with
cinematographer Frank DeMarco
(Beerfest) and production
designer Katie Byron (Like
Crazy). Cast: Paul Schneider and Olivia Munn star with Aisha Tyler, Kevin Heffernan, Chandrasekhar, Collette Wolfe, M.C. Gainey, Nat Faxon, and Jenica Bergere in support. Expectations: As a fan of most of Broken Lizard’s
stuff, I am looking forward to The Babymakers (though it is not really a Broken
Lizard film, it is directed by Chandrasekhar, has many of the same actors
showing up in it and has the same wacky tone). Everyday Joes turning to crime
is usually a comedy concept that produces funny stuff, and hopefully this is no
different. Trailer: Here.
Summary:
In college Lauren and Katie were enemies, but when a nice Gramercy Park
apartment opens up in NYC they must form an unlikely partnership to afford the
rent – they start a phone sex line together. Filmmakers:
Director Jamie Travis makes his directorial debut. He is working with
composer John Swihart (How I Met Your Mother),
cinematographer James Laxton
(Adult World) and newcomer
production designer Sue Tebbutt.
Cast: It stars Ari Graynor and Lauren Miller (who co-wrote the
script), and features Seth Rogen,
Mimi Rogers, Justin Long, Nia Vardalos, and Mark Webber in support. Expectations: For a Good Time, Call… is another
comedy to have a lot of buzz at Sundance, but has not played to great reviews
since. It looks funny, but not really anything more than a rental. Lauren
Miller is potentially a new comedic writing and acting talent and this is her
first project of note which could dictate whether or not she makes it (though
she does have Seth Rogen’s backing, and he has been very successful producing, writing
and acting). Trailer: Here.
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