Art-House Dramas:
Summary:
Based on true events: a group of fame-obsessed teens decide to go on a burglary
rampage and rob the homes of many celebrities they idolize. Filmmakers: Writer-director Sofia Coppola seems
like the perfect person to make this film (what is essentially a made-for-TV
story), as she will bring great writing and style to it like she has down with
her other female lead narratives: The
Virgin Suicides, Lost in
Translation (one of my personal favorite films), Marie Antoinette, and Somewhere.
She is working with frequent collaborations composer Brian Reitzell (Hannibal), cinematographer Harris Savides (who passed away
during production), and production designer Anne Ross. Composer Daniel Lopatin and
cinematographer Christopher
Blauvelt (who often worked with Savides as a cameraman) also contribute to
the film. Cast: It stars Katie Chang, Israel Broussard, Emma Watson, Claire Julien, Taissa Farmiga, and Georgia Rock, with Leslie Mann and Gavin Rossdale in support. A few
celebrities play themselves in cameos as well. Expectations:
The Bling Ring looks like a lot of fun. Sofia Coppola should bring a wonderful
sense of style and music to the film, while capturing the celebrity-crazed
characters well (probably with her great blend of sadness and hope). It was
accepted to the Cannes Film Festival as a film Un Certain Regard, and played to
somewhat polarizing reviews. It is a must-see for fans of Coppola’s work. Trailer: Here.
Summary:
Two mysterious women show up at a resort in a small coastal town seeking
shelter. Intrigued, the residents inquire about the women with hopes of
uncovering their secret, but are met with deadly consequences. Filmmakers: Director Neil Jordan returns to the
vampire subgenre with Byzantium hoping to recapture the same magic as his film Interview with a Vampire –
though, this has a slightly different spin on the supernatural creatures. He is
also well-known for is Oscar winning drama The Crying Game. He is working
with composer Javier Navarrete
(Pan’s Labyrinth), great
cinematographer Sean Bobbitt
(The
Place Beyond the Pines), and production designer Simon Elliott (Bleak House). Cast: It stars Saoirse Ronan and Gemma Arterton, and features a strong
supporting group, including: Warren
Brown, Caleb Landry Jones,
Daniel Mays, Sam Riley, Jonny Lee Miller, Kate Ashfield, Maria Doyle Kennedy, and Tom Hollander. Expectations: Byzantium looks like a moody fantasy
thriller and an interesting take on vampires (we need a good teen vampire drama
after the sheer awfulness that was the Twilight Saga). The
cast is also a big selling point for me. Saoirse Ronan is one of the great
young actresses right now (maybe the greatest). During its advanced screenings,
the film played to mostly critical praise. It is worth checking out for fans of
the genre. Trailer: Here.
Art-House Comedies:
Summary:
On a flight from Madrid to Mexico City, the on-board crew realizes that the
landing gear does not work and that they will need to crash land the plane.
However instead of embracing their impending anguish, the crew and passengers
engage in gleeful revelry. Filmmakers: I’m
So Excited is Spanish writer-director Pedro Almodovar’s nineteenth film. He is
considered one of Europe’s greatest current filmmakers with films such as All About My Mother, Talk to Her, and Volver. He is working with
frequent collaborations composer Alberto
Iglesias, cinematographer Jose
Luis Alcaine, and production designer Antxon Gomez. Cast: The ensemble features Blanca Suarez, Paz Vega, Cecilia Roth, Lola Duenas, Javier Camara, Hugo Silva, Antonio de la Torre, Penelope Cruz, and Antonio Banderas. Expectations: I’m So Excited looks like a very
light comedy –a bit like a 1960s satire with the bright vibrant colors and
design work. Critics have panned the film during its advanced screenings,
calling it a step backwards for Almodovar. Many compare it unfavorably to his
early work like Women on the
Verge of a Nervous Breakdown and Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! This is
probably only worth checking out for big Almodovar fans. Trailer: Here.
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