MANLINESS PERSONIFIED

I fucking loved GRAN TORINO (****). It's blunt. It's direct. It's on the nose. It's racist and judgemental about every race and creed. But all in a great way. Eastwood's direction is, as usual, perfect. GRAN TORINO wears its emotions on its sleeve, which is a quality I'm usually resistant too in movies, but here, it really works. The dialogue in this film is so damn funny, so quotable, so truthful, that the film makes you chuckle at its perceptive qualities. Eastwood, in one of the best performances of the year, really delivers in the lead role. It's one for the ages. Full review coming up soon.

WILD THINGS

I know I am going to love what Spike Jonze is cooking up with this film.

FIRST QUARTER OF 2009

The first four months of the year are some of the most desolate movie-going months of the year. The studios tend to mostly release their crap films during these winter months. That said, here's a look at what I'm most excited for during the first four months of 2009:

JANUARY

Nothing. No new major releases excite me, with the possible exception of the Bollywood flick CHANDI CHOWK TO CHINA, but I'll probably end up waiting for the DVD. Same with the Liam Neeson actioner TAKEN. If it was rated R I'd check it out in the theater; since it's PG-13 I'll wait till DVD. I will spend the next few weeks catching up with the remaining 2008 releases and turning out my end-of-the-year accolades.

FEBRUARY

On 2/6, CORALINE, a bizarre looking 3-D claymation flick from Henry Selick (THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS) hits theaters. The trailer is beyond strange. I have some interest. Also on 2/6 is PUSH, which looks like a low-rent X-MEN but in a good way. It might be decent; consider me curious.

On 2/13 arrives THE INTERNATIONAL, a slick-looking political thriller from RUN LOLA RUN and PERFUME director Tom Twyker and starring the eternally cool Clive Owen and Naomi Watts. Definitely interested. Also coming out for Valentines weekend is the romantic drama TWO LOVERS, with Joaquin Phoenix, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Vinessa Shaw, which was written and directed by James Gray (THE YARDS, WE OWN THE NIGHT). Love the trailer and love the players involved; definitely seeing this one.

MARCH

On 3/6 is the highly anticipated WATCHMEN, from 300 director Zack Snyder. The film looks fucking incredible. I cannot wait to see it. It'll be released in standard format and in IMAX format. It looks like a complete acid trip.

On 3/20 comes three releases that hold some interest for me. DUPLICITY, from writer/director Tony Gilroy (MICHAEL CLAYTON) and starring Clive Owen (busy in '09), Julia Roberts, Tom Wilkinson, and Paul Giamatti, looks like a fizzy romp. I hope it's cool. The Alex Proyas thriller KNOWING with Nic Cage has some potential based on it's freak-out trailer; Proyas directed one of my favorite films of all time -- DARK CITY -- so I'll always be interested in this filmmaker's output. Also released that day is I LOVE YOU, MAN, a new comedy with Paul Rudd and Jason Segel, which sounds like it could bring the funny.

On 3/27 is the CGI 3-D release MONSTERS VS. ALIENS which might be neat. We'll see...

On 3/29 is ADVENTURELAND, from SUPERBAD director Gregg Mottola. The film has a funny trailer and has a large supporting cast. Could be fun.

APRIL

On 4/3 comes FAST & FURIOUS, the fourth installment of the franchise. I liked the first one, tolerated the sequel, but thought the third entry was crap on wheels. This new one looks pretty solid for what it is but I don't have any major expectations. Still, it might deliver on a visceral action level. Maybe. Also on 4/3 is the R-rated rom-com THE UGLY TRUTH, which stars Katherine Heigel (mmmm) and Gerry Butler. The trailer is actually decent for this sort of disposable entertainment. It might be a surprise.

On 4/10 comes OBSERVE & REPORT, a reportedly extra-raunchy Seth Rogen/Anna Faris comedy directed by THE FIST FOOT WAY's Jody Hill. I have read some amazing test screening reviews for this film. Very anxious to check this one out.

On 4/17 is STATE OF PLAY, a good-looking political thriller with an amazing cast (Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck, Helen Mirren, Rachel McAdams) and a fine filmmaker at the helm (Kevin McDonald, THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND and TOUCHING THE VOID). Also released that day is the insane looking sequel to CRANK (one of my favorite guilty pleasures), CRANK 2: HIGH VOLTAGE. Yes, it looks like trash, but gloriously offensive trash. I loved the first flick so I'm expecting to really dig this new effort from Neveldine/Taylor and the always watchable Jason Statham.

On 4/22 is the glorious looking documentary EARTH, which brings a tear to my eye every time I see the trailer.

On 4/24 is the long-delayed THE SOLOIST, with Robert Downey Jr. and Jamie Foxx, from ATONEMENT director Joe Wright. I love the trailer. Yes, it looks like a schmaltz fest, but for some reason, I am very interested in it. I am normally resistant to obvious "pull-at-your-heartstrings" movies like this but I love the look and feel of the movie just from the trailers.

So, there's a snapshot of the first four months of 2009. I can easily say that WATCHMEN is the one film I'm most interested in seeing. Happy viewing!

MOVIES FOR THE WEEKEND

Clint Eastwood's GRAN TORINO on Saturday.

Ed Zwick's DEFIANCE on Sunday.

DVD REVIEW: APPALOOSA (***1/2)

I love westerns. I really do. From the classics (THE SEARCHERS, RED RIVER, WINCHESTER '73) to modern efforts (UNFORGIVEN, JESSE JAMES, 3:10 TO YUMA), it's a genre that never fails to intrigue me. I was obsessed with HBO's brilliant show DEADWOOD and I still lament the early cancellation that that show received; it was as bold and unique as anything that has ever been aired on television. APPALOOSA (***1/2), which was co-written and directed by Ed Harris and released last fall, is an extremely solid genre entry for anyone who's a fan of this milieu. Harris stars as Virgil Cole, a gun/sherrif for hire who rides into the dusty town of Appaloosa with his shotgun-toting sidekick Everett Hitch (Viggo Mortensen, one of my favorite actors), looking to find work. They are hired by the town organizers to take out the human trash that has been infecting the area, chiefly, Randall Bragg (a sneering Jeremy Irons) and his gang of thieves and murderers. The set-up is perfect: two men who are quick with guns are assigned to take care of business. But a wrench is thrown into their plan with the arrival of the saucy Allison French (Renee Zellweger), a seemingly dignified woman who comes to town looking to start her live over after her husband's recent death. Cole falls in love with French almost immediately. He's a man who has spent his life frequenting brothels rather than looking for a wife. Cole and Hitch are best friends and APPALOOSA, at its heart, is a buddy movie, much like most westerns tend to be. Without divulging too much of the plot, the film revolves around Cole and Hitch's efforts to bring down Bragg and his men and retain peace throughout Appaloosa. There are some nice shoot-outs but this isn't an modern day action movie spiced up by western locales like last year's 3:10 TO YUMA. APPALOOSA is more of a character piece, taking its time to explore the friendship between Cole and Hitch. All of the bullets fired in this film count (and hurt), much like they did in Kevin Costner's underrated OPEN RANGE from a few years ago. The dialogue between Cole and Hitch has a witty, crackling quality and all of the performances are top-notch, even from Zellweger, who hasn't been utilized to great effect in recent years. The film looks nice but isn't overly pretty; the cinematography by Dean Selmer (WE WERE SOLDIERS, DANCES WITH WOLVES, APOCALYPTO) is simple but effective. Harris, as always, is intense and focused, and Mortensen, who was brilliant in 2007's EASTERN PROMISES, downplays his role as Hitch, bring a level of mystery to his character. APPALOOSA is solid in every respect and extremely enjoyable in an old-fashioned way.

THE BEST IS BACK

Tonight marks the network return of television's best program -- FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS. Along with MAD MEN, I feel that FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS has set the bar very high for scripted dramas on television. The show has been running on Directv for the last few months but tonight, at 9pm on NBC, the third season kicks off for everyone who isn't a Directv subscriber. I absolutely cannot wait. This is appointment television.

DIDN'T GET TO 'EM

Every year there are always a bunch of movies that slip under the radar and I'm not able to see before it's time to call the movie-watching year over. I have three major films left from 2008 to see: GRAN TORINO (this weekend), DEFIANCE (this weekend), and THE WRESTLER (next weekend). I'd also like to sneak in LAST CHANCE HARVEY. Here's a list of the major films that I sadly missed in theaters from 2008 and which are either not available yet on DVD for me to view or have just been released (or will be released within the next few weeks).


BLINDNESS (really bummed I missed this one as Fernando Meirelles is a master filmmaker)
TELL NO ONE (I heard nothing but amazing stuff about this twisty French thriller)
FLASH OF GENIUS (coming soon on DVD)
FROZEN RIVER (I should have made the time to check out this highly acclaimed indie)
VICKY CHRISTINA BARCELONA (hits DVD on 1/27; can't wait)
PRIDE & GLORY (hits DVD on 1/27; can't wait)
ROCK 'N ROLLA (hits DVD on 1/27; looking forward to the supposed "return" of Guy Ritchie)
RIGHETOUS KILL (it's out on DVD but I have read nothing but horrendous stuff...)
BATTLE FOR HADITHA (out on DVD, really anxious to check it out)
BOY A (read lots of great reviews...out on DVD...will check it out soon)
MAX PAYNE (out on DVD next week...I expect nothing great...but the visuals looked neat)
THE DUCHESS (out on DVD now...I love Keira Knightley...)
NOISE (heard lots of interesting stuff about this Tim Robbins/vigilante flick)
CHOKE (huge Sam Rockwell fan...I should've made the time...)
RELIGULOUS (how I missed this still baffles me...)
WHAT JUST HAPPENED? (despite the mixed reviews, I love Hollywood satires)
ELEGY (bummed I missed this supposedly erotic drama with Cruz and Kingsley)
I'VE LOVED YOU SO LONG (I am an asshole for not making the time to check this out)
TRANSPORTER 3 (I heard it sucked so I decided to wait for DVD...still...could be brainless fun)
A CHRISTMAS TALE (wanted to see it...need to find the time...)
BALLAST (never opened in a theater near me)
CHE (want to see it in its full four-hour glory and that cut never opened near me)
GOMORRAH (very anxious to see this; it opens theatrically in 2009)
HUNGER (this is a must-see; it opens theatrically in 2009)
JCVD (very curious about this supposedly artsy Van Damme flick)
MIRACLE AT ST. ANNA (reviews were mostly terrible but still interested)
TROUBLE THE WATER (sounds like imperative viewing)
WALTZ WITH BASHIR (really psyched to see this acclaimed animated doc)
NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH (never got a theatrical release)
WHAT DOESN'T KILL YOU (never got a theatrical release)

I am sure if I looked even harder, there would be more notable 2008 releases that I missed. As these get released on DVD, I will check 'em out, and post reactions for all.

My hope is to have a final "best-of-the-year" list out by the end of January, before the Oscars. I will also be posting an article called "If I Had An Academy Ballot" which will contain my personal favorite picks in all of the Oscar categories.