If you've been paying attention to the entertainment news lately*, you've noticed I missed a pretty important December film- Paul Thomas Anderson's "There Will Be Blood" starring Daniel Day Lewis in another "who knew he had that kind of performance in him**" role. Anderson, after finishing the much-maligned*** "Punch Drunk Love", decided to try and adapt a chapter of Upton Sinclair's "Oil!" as a writing exercise, but then ended up adapting about half the book and shooting it. What looks like a complete departure from his usual Southern California-as-microcosm storytelling and major Oscar bait for Lewis. Again.
Now, for some January movies of note... Michel ("Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind", "The Science of Sleep") Gondry's new film "Be Kind Rewind" stars Jack Black and Mos (I have questions about the moon landing) Def and revisits Gondry's view of a whimsical, romantic fantasy world. Black plays a man who's brain gets magnetized at a power plant and accidentally erases all of the tapes at his friend's (Def) video store. They spend the rest of the movie re-shooting and reenacting films like "Ghostbusters" and "Driving Miss Daisy". As high concept as it sounds, Gondry is a very unique filmmaker and his stuff is always worth checking out.
Coming out January 18th, "Fanboys"**** tells the epic story of a group of friends (Dan "Balls Of Fury" Fogler... and the rest) in the year 1999 who take their dying friend to Skywalker Ranch in order to break in and see "Star Wars Episode One: The Phantom Menace" before it's released, as the friend may not make it. Kristin "Veronica Mars" Bell also stars as well as a ton of cameos including Shatner. That's right, Shatner. So, I'm thinking must see, right?
On the same day as "Fanboys", J.J. Abrams unleashes "Cloverfield", directed by Matt "F.O.A."***** Reeves and written by Drew "F.O.A."****** Goddard, this film looks basically to be a Godzilla movie from the point of view of potential crushees. What's interesting is the POV is established from the run-awayer'stm cell phones and digital cameras giving this film a potential Val Lewton-ish "don't show the whole monster- makes it scarier" feelComing up, more about my son and Christmas, plus I talk about what is problematic with "Enchanted"... the answer may surprise you!
Oh, who am I kidding? Besides you of course.
No, not you- behind you. Yeah, you.
*And I refuse to believe I'm the only one. After all, I lived in LA.
**see "Gangs Of New York".
***okay, this was just some reviews and Jeff Garlin. But I tend to go for the dramatic. And you can stop the smirking now.
****Produced by Kevin Spacey, who I'll now forgive for "Pay It Forward".
*****Friend Of Abrams- Reeves co-created with Abrams and directed/co-wrote/wrote/produced numerous episodes of "Felicity"
******Friend Of Abrams- After making his name in the Joss Whedonverse of "Buffy..." and "Angel", Goddard joined Abramsworld with "Alias" and "Lost".
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