The Weigh In 69

We all survived. Last weekend was officially the end of the summer movie season. The fun of really bad big budget movies is about to give way to mediocre big budget films that weren’t good enough to market in the summer, low budget films that may be better than anything you’ll find in January through March, along with the occasional Oscar contender. That’s right, folks, we are about to run full force into what is affectionately called: The fall, pre-Oscar movie season. This usually runs from the beginning of September to right around the beginning of November. This week I wanted to take a look at some of the films you want to catch before they pass you by.

Please note that I didn’t list the release dates because most of these will be limited and are subject to change, so please keep checking imdb.com as these specific release dates are set in stone.

September
Idiocracy: This film was actually released unceremoniously in select cities on September 1st but will be available for wide release on the 8th, maybe. Who knows? Fox has kept this film under wraps and is apparently looking to dump it anywhere it can, eventually releasing it on DVD. The story? Luke Wilson is a guinea pig for an army experiment that accidentally warps him into the future 1000 years. Although not very bright, he learns that he is the smartest man on earth and can easily manipulate those around him. This film by Mike Judge, creator of Office Space, and King of the Hill, has been rumored to be in the works for some time now and was just recently supposed to be shelved indefinitely. Although Judge really has no negative track record, this one will probably see better days on DVD.

Gridiron Gang: Starring the Rock, you can actually see my review of it here.

The Black Dahlia: Starring Josh Hartnett and Scarlett Johansson, this Brian De Plama film is the story of the mysterious murder of a young starlet in early 40s Hollywood. Its Brian De Palma in what could be a very Untouchables looking film. Plus there is a rumor going around that even if you don’t like the film a particularly intense sex scene involving Scarlett Johansson makes it worth the price of admission.

The Science of Sleep: This film from the director of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Michel Gondry is without Charlie Kaufman, but if it is half as good as his previous film this could very easily be on everyone’s must see list.

Jackass 2: It’s Jackass 2, do I really need to say anything about it? Anyone interested in this film probably already has a big skull marked on his calendar for this one.

Fearless: Touted as Jet Li’s last epic film, and directed by Ronny Yu, can anyone who was a fan of Bride of Chucky, or Freddy vs… wait a minute. What I really mean is that this is Jet Li’s last action film. Until Rogue with Jason Statham comes out next year. But who knows, Rogue could very well be a romantic comedy or something.

Feast (only being showed during midnight showings on Sept 22 and 23rd): Project Greenlight’s third season film will probably only garner buzz because no one was even sure it was going to be released. Looking behind the scenes at how this supposed train wreck ever got put together has people aching to see what the hubbub is all about. If you like horror films you have to be at least a little interested, right?

October
The Departed: Ok, does a film starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, and Alec Baldwin based on a Hong Kong Action flick sound pretty good to ya? Martin Scorsese directed it. Yeah, my mouth is watering too.

Sunshine: It’s Danny Boyle, director of Shallow Grave and 28 Days Later, with his first science fiction film about a group of astronauts who set out to reignite a dying sun. They are the B team. The A team attempted the mission and never came back. Danny Boyle has a way of turning some of the most mundane sounding films into edge of your seat nail-biters. Hopefully, this will be more of the same.

Man of the Year: A semi serious film starring Robin Williams and directed by Barry Levinson about a talk show host who loses his job and decides to run for President. Barry Levinson does satire well and some of my favorite Robin Williams involves his more subversive humor. This movie reminds me a lot of Toys and Wag the Dog. Two great films that had a lot more going on than was apparent onscreen.

Infamous: This is the only film on this list I think you shouldn’t see. Reading about it just made me laugh and hopefully you will too. Infamous is the story of Truman Capote as he is researching his book “In Cold Blood” and his relationship with one of the killers. Sound familiar. It is the EXACT SAME FILM as the Academy award winner starring Philip Seymour Hoffman and Katherine Keener that was released a year ago. This one has star power like Daniel Craig and Sandra Bullock though.

Flags of Our Fathers: Directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Barry Pepper (the sniper in Saving Private Ryan) and Ryan Phillipe, this is the story of men who raised the flag at Iwo Jimo. If we know anything about old Clint, he sure does take his homages to America’s triumphs seriously.

The Prestige: This film starring Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman is about two illusionists in the 18th century that try to one-up each other with more daring illusions until one of them does something that seems almost supernatural. The other risks life and limb to try and find the secret to this ultimate trick. Directed by Christopher Nolan (Momento, Batman Begins) who at this point can really do no wrong in my book.

The Nightmare Before Christmas: But this was released like decades ago wasn’t it Dana? What are you trying to pull? Why would we watch this old movie huh? Well… It has been modified into a 3-D film. One of the coolest films ever made is being released in 3-D. A gimmick to revitalize an old movie and to make more money for the studios? Probably, but I’ll be the first in line.

Babel: No one really knows what this movie is about because they are keeping pretty much everything about it a secret. I do know that it is a thriller starring Brad Pitt. And while I am not “gay” for Brad Pitt as they say, I do like me some Brad Pitt. Um… that was really supposed to be less gay than it sounded.


This weekend at your local multiplex (9/8/2006)
Hollywoodland: Mystery/Thriller
Adrien Brody, Diane Lane, Ben Affleck, Bob Hoskins, Robin Tunney
Plot: After the apparent suicide of George Reeves, his mother has a different idea of what happened and hires a bottom of the barrel detective to try and find answers that the LAPD won’t look for.
Buzz: (see review)

The Protector: Action/Martial Arts
Tony Jaa, Mum Jokmok, Xing Jing
Plot: After his father is murdered and the village’s prize elephant is kidnapped, a young Thai man (Jaa) must go to Sydney, Australia and take down a crime syndicate to bring his friend back.
Buzz: (see review)

The Covenant: Action/Horror
Plot: Four students at Ipswitch Academy share a heritage with the original ancestors of the town that give them special powers. They use their powers to rule the school until an outsider with the same mysterious powers arrives to challenge them.
Buzz: Renny Harlin movies are usually really good or really bad. Read the plot synopsis above and let’s take a guess at which one this will be.


This week on DVD (9/5/2006)
Jackass: The Movie (se)
Brazil (3 disk box set)
United 93
B13
Blade Runner (se)
Ace Ventura 2-pack
Lost (season 2)
OZ (season 6)
Jim Henson’s Fantasy Film Collection
Kinky Boots
Supernatural (season 1)
The Flintstones (season 6)
Hustle (season 1)
Dorm Daze 2
Escape from Witch Mountain/Return to Witch Mountain
Commander in Chief (part 2)
Fraggle Rock (season 2)
Silk Stalkings (season 5)
OZ (season 1-6 box set)
The Bob Newhart Show (season 4)
Clive Barker: The Plague
The Complete Toxic Avenger Box Set
Shock Treatment (se)
Unknown White Male
Gojira (se)


As always, please send your fan mail and death threats to DPlace76@yahoo.com. You can check out my random musings at http://bigdpimpin.livejournal.com/. Check out all of the new events we have going on at the studio at www.myspace.com/stumblebumstudios.