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News on the March!

Eastern Promises Sequel

For those that have not seen Eastern Promises; see it!! Now! For a sequel is on the way. I may be over-reaching a little based on recent reports but, dammit, I really want to see this happen! Cronenberg created such a rich, atmospheric, world in the first one, with an astonishing turn by Viggo Mortensen, that another trip into the Russian underworld would be most welcome!

Small disclaimer: the film is quite brutal, in an honest, non-titillating way; but brutal none-the-less. You have been warned.... but, seriously, still see it!

Raiders of the Lost Titans

The Hollywood remake machine keeps on chugging. This time it has it's eyes set on the Harry Hamlin (yes, the guy from L.A. Law) starring Clash of the Titans. I cannot comment on the original as I have never seen it; so, fan-boy hissy-fits of ruining the original film can apply elsewhere.

It could be a disaster in the making but it has a good cast lining up; Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, Mads Mikkelson (After the Wedding, Casino Royale), and man of 2009 Sam Worthington (trust me, this guy is going to go all Leo on it once Avatar opens!)

The highlight is a script by Lawrence Kasdan; aka, the man that should have written the Star Wars prequels (yes, I am still sore about it!) With classic blockbusters such as Raiders and Empire under his belt, not to mention his own acclaimed dramas (The Accidental Tourist and Body Heat) this could really be something!

Trailer Round-up

The first Public Enemies trailer left me, frankly, a little concerned. Yes, yes, in context it isn't as great a concern as poverty or war, but fanboys are in need of a good Michael Mann hit. The synopsis promised Heat in prohibition times and the trailer promised a failure in the use of digital filmmaking to do period. Well, the second trailer is much better; with greater atmosphere and sense of character; and the use of digital cameras appears to give the period an immediacy that has never been seen before.

Fans of Office Space may have been a little disappointed with Mike Judge's follow-up, Idiocracy. While it did have some highlights, particularly the opening fertility sequence, it never reached the giddy zeitgeist of Office Space.

His next film, Extract, has a comedy cast to die for (well, maybe that is going too far; maybe a nasty paper cut with lemon juice, yeah, lots of lemon juice). Let's just hope it gets the advertising support it needs to get bums on seats come opening weekend; this guy really deserves a hit.

Moon

I love intelligent sci-fi; particularly if it has a mean streak. Unfortunately, good sci-fi is particularly hard to find, so, it is with delight that I stumbled across the trailer for Moon!

Featuring the irresistible Sam Rockwell, as a lone astronaut on a 3 year mission to mine a precious energy source on the moon, it promises intelligent sci-fi oozing with menace. But don't take my word for it; check it out yourself:

Stop-Loss

Opening with an impressive action sequence, Stop-Loss tells the tale of 3 childhood friends returning home from the Iraq War to try and resume a normal life. When complications ensue it pushes their friendships to breaking point.

Following up her 1999 film, Boys Don't Cry, Kimberley Pierce presents a well researched film that, on appearances, presents an honest look at the effect the Iraq War, together with the prevous US Administration, had/has on the boys sent to fight. Her use of hand-held cameras to evoke the home videos the soldiers shoot on tour gives the film a raw, immediate, aesthetic.

The cast is lead by an excellent Ryan Phillippe whose character, King, is haunted by the decisions he made in combat. A once by-the-book soldier he begins to question the system and the reason to fight. Rounding out the cast is Abbie Cornish, Tatum Channing, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

Levitt is quickly becoming one of the more interesting actors of his generation. After a career-starting role in Third Rock from the Sun, he branched out into more challenging roles in such indie films as Mysterious Skin, Brick, and The Lookout; all strongly recommended. His turn in Stop-Loss continues his winning streak and his next film, 500 Days of Summer, could, if it hits, launch his career into another level.

Stop-Loss is a tight, focussed, film that comes highly recommended.

Star Trek reviews flood the internet...

... and early word is very positive! And if the trekkies like it so much then the rest of us stand a chance as well.

It sounds like the most accessible Trek to date with a focus on action and emotion over sci-fi. No complaints here. We can find out how good it is for ourselves when the film hits Stardate 07/05/09.