Trailer Tuesday (08-31-10)
The teaser trailer for Oscar-winning director, Danny Boyle’s new film hit last week. While it’s difficult to pinpoint the tone he is taking here, it does fit Boyle’s track record of filmography diversity. With the energy seen here and the inclusion of composer A. R. Rahman (who scored “Slumdog Millionaire”) one similar this will be to his last film. The ending confirms that this is indeed inspired by the true story of canyoneer, Aron Ralston (played here by James Franco), who had to off his arm with a dull knife after being stuck between two boulders for a certain amount of time….hint hint (refer to film’s title). Although we know what happens to Ralston and the audience will be spending a good amount of time with a trapped Franco, I believe in Boyle and look forward to his approach to this harrowing story. The film will screen at this year’s London Film Festival and Toronto International Film Festival. Check it out in limited release on November 5th.
Barney’s Version
Based on Mordecai Richler’s prize-winning comic novel. Barney Panofsky (Paul Giamatti) is a seemingly ordinary man who lives an extraordinary life. Barney‟s candid confessional spans four decades and two continents, and includes three wives (Rosamund Pike, Minnie Driver and Rachelle Lefevre), one outrageous father (Dustin Hoffman) and a charmingly dissolute best friend (Scott Speedman). The cast also includes Bruce Greenwood, Saul Rubinek, and the late Maury Chaykin and cameos by: David Cronenberg, Atom Egoyan, and Paul Gross. I must day, seeing Giamatti and Hoffman as father and son could be great! Release date is sketchy but it should hit around September 12th.
Another Year
The latest from British director Mike Leigh (“Happy-go-Lucky”, “Secrets & Lies”) finds a happily married, middle-aged couple visited by a number of unhappy and lonely friends who see them as confidantes. They watch as an unmarried friend falls for their young son. The film stars Jim Broadbent, Lesley Manville, Ruth Sheen, Peter Wight, Oliver Maltman, David Bradley, Karina Fernandez and Martin Savage. Looks like Leigh is once again giving us what he does best, focusing on giving a good examination of great characterization. At this time, release date in the U.S. is set for December 29, 2010.
Biutiful
Mexican Director Alejandro González Iñárritu (“Babel”) returns to his native language with a film made in Spain starring Javier Bardem. It’s the story of a man (Bardem) involved in illegal activity who is confronted by an old childhood friend, who is now a police officer. The film was nominated for the coveted Palme d’Or at Cannes Film Festival, where Bardem left with a win for Best Actor. Look for it to hit in limited release around December 17, 2010
The Illusionist
No, this is not a remake of that Edward Norton flick. This is the return of director, Sylvain Chomet, who brought us the lively Oscar-nominated animated feature “The Triplets of Bellville”. Working from a never-produced script written by Jacques Tati for his daughter, Chomet tells the story of a magician who was pushed aside by rock and roll, yet finds one young girl who appreciates his magic. The film stars Jean-Claude Donda and Eilidh Rankin. It should get released on December 25, 2010.
Next week, we’ll post more trailers for films that will premiere at TIFF!
