Films, films, films...
A grand total of 6 new movies open in South Africa today, some in more widespread release than others. Unfortunately, not a single one of them piques my interest. There's a whole other set of movies out at the moment that I'm dying to see, though, but more about that in a moment...
Here's a brief rundown of this weekend's new releases, nationwide:
Fighting - Channing Tatum and Terrence Howard star in this action-drama about a young man who finds himself involved in New York's brutal bare-knuckle street fighting scene. 41% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.
Management - A quirky romantic comedy meets road trip movie, starring Steve Zahn and Jennifer Aniston. They play a mismatched couple who discover their unexpected relationship is worth fighting for. 45% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.
I Love You, Beth Cooper - One for the teens, this comedy stars everyone's favourite indestructible cheerleader, Hayden Panettiere. After a geeky guy declares his love for the most popular girl at his high school, she decides to show him a wild time. 13% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.
Adopted - Remember love-him-or-hate-him comedian Pauly Shore? Well he's back in this Bruno-esque, politically incorrect mockumentary in which he travels to Africa to follow in the footsteps of Angelina and Madonna, and boost his image by adopting several orphans. Mostly filmed in South Africa.
The Human Contract - A dark, sexually charged drama that marks the directorial debut of Jada Pinkett Smith, who also wrote the script. Starring a cast of mostly unknowns, the film centres on an unhappy businessman who is drawn into a reckless existence by a sultry free spirit.
The Audition - A feature length documentary with an operatic focus. The film looks at the challenges facing a group of young singers as they compete against one other during the career-launching National Council Auditions, held at New York's world famous Metropolitan Opera. 80% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.
Luck - A Bollywood thriller (and musical, of course!) centred on gangsters and their bid to control the betting industry. The film stars Imran Khan, Sanjay Dutt and Shruti Hassan.
-------------------
As I was saying earlier in this post, as unexciting as the films above sound, there's a whole other set of movies out at the moment for my delectation - for the next week and a bit, in fact.
You see, the Durban International Film Festival, now in its 30th year, kicked off yesterday. And for a change they're actually showing a good handful of films I'm keen to see... having been alerted to them by some of my favourite movie bloggers, as well as general online response when they screened at Cannes and other major film festivals.
I'm not going to profile every feature film, short, documentary and seminar movie showing, largely because the vast majority have zero interest for me whatsoever. Besides, if you are a movie lover in Durban over the next 9 or so days, and you really want the thorough festival line-up, just visit the (frustrating to navigate!) website or pick up a brochure from a participating venue.
This year will be my first time going to a film festival. I'm looking forward to it.
Anyway, here are the feature length movies that caught my attention, be it because of subject matter, filmmakers and cast involved, or a combination of both:
ANTICHRIST
Director: Lars von Trier
Starring: Willem Defoe, Charlotte Gainsbourg
Showing: 25 July, Sneddon 22h15; 27 July, Suncoast A 22h30.
The most controversial film at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, and definitely not for sensitive viewers due to its sexually explicit and graphically violent nature (genital mutilation anyone?). Having lost their son, a grieving couple retreat to an isolated cabin in the woods, where they hope to repair their broken hearts. But strange, terrible things start happening. Gainsbourg won the Best Actress prize at Cannes for her performance here.
CHE (PART 1): THE ARGENTINE
Director: Steven Soderbergh
Starring: Benicio Del Toro
Showing: 25 July, Nouveau 18h15; 02 August, Sneddon 12h00
From acclaimed director Steven (Traffic; Sex, Lies & Videotape) Soderbergh comes an epic look at the life of the iconic Argentine revolutionary, starring Benicio Del Toro in the title role. Because the film is so long (over 4 hours), it's actually been split into 2 screenings, with an interval in between. CHE (PART 2): THE GUERRILLA runs directly after Part 1 at the above venues, with the following screening details:
25 July, Nouveau 21h00; 02 August, Sneddon 15h00
COCO BEFORE CHANEL (COCO AVANT CHANEL)
Director: Anne Fontaine
Starring: Audrey Tautou
Showing: 31 July, Suncoast A 20h15; 01 August, Sneddon 20h15
This French language biopic chronicles the life of one of the most influential fashion designers of the 20th Century - more specifically the struggles of Chanel's early years as she overcame her mother's death and father's abandonment, and discovered her true vocation. Tautou is a fantastic actress, and apart from looking the part, I expect her to give a stunning performance here as well.
THE COUNTESS
Director: Julie Delpy
Starring: Julie Delpy, William Hurt
Showing: 29 July, Suncoast A 22h30; 31 July, Suncoast A 22h15; 01 August, Sneddon 22h30
Written by, directed by and starring French actress Julie Delpy, this gothic horror-drama recounts the historical narrative of Erzebet Bathory, a Hungarian noblewoman who killed hundreds of virgins in the 16th Century to bath in their blood, believing it would prevent her beauty fading. Despite being probably the greatest female serial killer of all time, and a major inspiration for Bram Stoker's Dracula, Bathory has received very little cinema love until now. Delpy's film apparently focuses more on the events that contributed to Bathory's twisted psychology.
DISGRACE
Director: Steve Jacobs
Starring: John Malkovich
Showing: 29 July, Sneddon 20h30; 01 August, Nouveau 18h00
An Australian/South African collaboration, Disgrace is based on JM Coetzee’s award-winning novel about a middle-aged South African academic who flees sexual assault allegations by retreating to his daughter's farm in the Eastern Cape... where they are in turn subjected to a brutal attack. I'm sure the film is excellent but the book was a harrowing experience - all too realistic in terms of the violent, heartless SA it depicts - and I'm not going through that trauma again.
HUNGER
Director: Steve McQueen
Starring: Michael Fassbender
Showing: 25 July, Suncoast A 22h30; 29 July, Nouveau 20h30
A multi-award winning drama, written and directed by acclaimed artist Steve McQueen. Hunger tells the true story of a 1981 IRA hunger strike which took place in a bid to earn its strikers recognition as political prisoners and not common criminals. The film centres almost exclusively on the experience of hunger striker Bobby Sands, and the inhuman treatment he was subjected to. Supposedly brilliant in all respects.
LET THE RIGHT ONE IN (LÅT DEN RÄTTE KOMMA IN)
Director: Tomas Alfredson
Starring: Kåre Hedebrant, Lina Leandersson
Showing: 24 July, Musgrave 22h15; 25 July, Suncoast A 14h00; 01 August, Musgrave 22h30
You know a foreign language film is good when Hollywood fast-tracks its own remake. This Swedish horror-romance, based on a 2004 novel, focuses on a frequently bullied 11-year old who strikes up a close friendship with the mysterious young girl who moves in next door. Thing is, she's a centuries' old vampire... I've heard only good things about this film, and I'm off to see it this evening.
Here's a brief rundown of this weekend's new releases, nationwide:
Fighting - Channing Tatum and Terrence Howard star in this action-drama about a young man who finds himself involved in New York's brutal bare-knuckle street fighting scene. 41% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.
Management - A quirky romantic comedy meets road trip movie, starring Steve Zahn and Jennifer Aniston. They play a mismatched couple who discover their unexpected relationship is worth fighting for. 45% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.
I Love You, Beth Cooper - One for the teens, this comedy stars everyone's favourite indestructible cheerleader, Hayden Panettiere. After a geeky guy declares his love for the most popular girl at his high school, she decides to show him a wild time. 13% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.
Adopted - Remember love-him-or-hate-him comedian Pauly Shore? Well he's back in this Bruno-esque, politically incorrect mockumentary in which he travels to Africa to follow in the footsteps of Angelina and Madonna, and boost his image by adopting several orphans. Mostly filmed in South Africa.
The Human Contract - A dark, sexually charged drama that marks the directorial debut of Jada Pinkett Smith, who also wrote the script. Starring a cast of mostly unknowns, the film centres on an unhappy businessman who is drawn into a reckless existence by a sultry free spirit.
The Audition - A feature length documentary with an operatic focus. The film looks at the challenges facing a group of young singers as they compete against one other during the career-launching National Council Auditions, held at New York's world famous Metropolitan Opera. 80% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.
Luck - A Bollywood thriller (and musical, of course!) centred on gangsters and their bid to control the betting industry. The film stars Imran Khan, Sanjay Dutt and Shruti Hassan.
-------------------
As I was saying earlier in this post, as unexciting as the films above sound, there's a whole other set of movies out at the moment for my delectation - for the next week and a bit, in fact.
You see, the Durban International Film Festival, now in its 30th year, kicked off yesterday. And for a change they're actually showing a good handful of films I'm keen to see... having been alerted to them by some of my favourite movie bloggers, as well as general online response when they screened at Cannes and other major film festivals.
I'm not going to profile every feature film, short, documentary and seminar movie showing, largely because the vast majority have zero interest for me whatsoever. Besides, if you are a movie lover in Durban over the next 9 or so days, and you really want the thorough festival line-up, just visit the (frustrating to navigate!) website or pick up a brochure from a participating venue.
This year will be my first time going to a film festival. I'm looking forward to it.
Anyway, here are the feature length movies that caught my attention, be it because of subject matter, filmmakers and cast involved, or a combination of both:
ANTICHRIST
Director: Lars von Trier
Starring: Willem Defoe, Charlotte Gainsbourg
Showing: 25 July, Sneddon 22h15; 27 July, Suncoast A 22h30.
The most controversial film at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, and definitely not for sensitive viewers due to its sexually explicit and graphically violent nature (genital mutilation anyone?). Having lost their son, a grieving couple retreat to an isolated cabin in the woods, where they hope to repair their broken hearts. But strange, terrible things start happening. Gainsbourg won the Best Actress prize at Cannes for her performance here.
CHE (PART 1): THE ARGENTINE
Director: Steven Soderbergh
Starring: Benicio Del Toro
Showing: 25 July, Nouveau 18h15; 02 August, Sneddon 12h00
From acclaimed director Steven (Traffic; Sex, Lies & Videotape) Soderbergh comes an epic look at the life of the iconic Argentine revolutionary, starring Benicio Del Toro in the title role. Because the film is so long (over 4 hours), it's actually been split into 2 screenings, with an interval in between. CHE (PART 2): THE GUERRILLA runs directly after Part 1 at the above venues, with the following screening details:
25 July, Nouveau 21h00; 02 August, Sneddon 15h00
COCO BEFORE CHANEL (COCO AVANT CHANEL)
Director: Anne Fontaine
Starring: Audrey Tautou
Showing: 31 July, Suncoast A 20h15; 01 August, Sneddon 20h15
This French language biopic chronicles the life of one of the most influential fashion designers of the 20th Century - more specifically the struggles of Chanel's early years as she overcame her mother's death and father's abandonment, and discovered her true vocation. Tautou is a fantastic actress, and apart from looking the part, I expect her to give a stunning performance here as well.
THE COUNTESS
Director: Julie Delpy
Starring: Julie Delpy, William Hurt
Showing: 29 July, Suncoast A 22h30; 31 July, Suncoast A 22h15; 01 August, Sneddon 22h30
Written by, directed by and starring French actress Julie Delpy, this gothic horror-drama recounts the historical narrative of Erzebet Bathory, a Hungarian noblewoman who killed hundreds of virgins in the 16th Century to bath in their blood, believing it would prevent her beauty fading. Despite being probably the greatest female serial killer of all time, and a major inspiration for Bram Stoker's Dracula, Bathory has received very little cinema love until now. Delpy's film apparently focuses more on the events that contributed to Bathory's twisted psychology.
DISGRACE
Director: Steve Jacobs
Starring: John Malkovich
Showing: 29 July, Sneddon 20h30; 01 August, Nouveau 18h00
An Australian/South African collaboration, Disgrace is based on JM Coetzee’s award-winning novel about a middle-aged South African academic who flees sexual assault allegations by retreating to his daughter's farm in the Eastern Cape... where they are in turn subjected to a brutal attack. I'm sure the film is excellent but the book was a harrowing experience - all too realistic in terms of the violent, heartless SA it depicts - and I'm not going through that trauma again.
HUNGER
Director: Steve McQueen
Starring: Michael Fassbender
Showing: 25 July, Suncoast A 22h30; 29 July, Nouveau 20h30
A multi-award winning drama, written and directed by acclaimed artist Steve McQueen. Hunger tells the true story of a 1981 IRA hunger strike which took place in a bid to earn its strikers recognition as political prisoners and not common criminals. The film centres almost exclusively on the experience of hunger striker Bobby Sands, and the inhuman treatment he was subjected to. Supposedly brilliant in all respects.
LET THE RIGHT ONE IN (LÅT DEN RÄTTE KOMMA IN)
Director: Tomas Alfredson
Starring: Kåre Hedebrant, Lina Leandersson
Showing: 24 July, Musgrave 22h15; 25 July, Suncoast A 14h00; 01 August, Musgrave 22h30
You know a foreign language film is good when Hollywood fast-tracks its own remake. This Swedish horror-romance, based on a 2004 novel, focuses on a frequently bullied 11-year old who strikes up a close friendship with the mysterious young girl who moves in next door. Thing is, she's a centuries' old vampire... I've heard only good things about this film, and I'm off to see it this evening.
Comments
I'm actually not that familiar with Charlotte Gainsbourg's work although Antichrist proved her to be an amazing actress, and I'm definitely going to keep an eye open for her films in future. I do remember seeing her in an adaptation of Jane Eyre a few years back though. As for Julie Delpy I'm very impressed with what she's been accomplishing as an actress and film maker these past few years.
MJenks, ah, thanks for that piece of info. I didn't know that. The only Bathory film appearances I knew of were an old Hammer horror film from the 1970s, the video game flick Stay Alive, and Hostel 2, where there's a female murderess called Mrs Bathory who likes to bath in blood.