by The Great White Gypsy

Alice in Wonderland - Directed by Tim Burton, Written by Linda Woolverton
If Tim Burton spent the rest of his career warping Disney classics, I would still love the guy. There have been numerous remakes and interpretations, but Burton’s tale of Alice coming back to Wonderland when she’s 19 to stop the Red Queen could only be better if Depp, Carter, and Hathaway were in 3-D. Oh wait… Woolverton is no stranger to Disney (Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, Mulan) and cinematographer Dariusz Wolski (Sweeney Todd, Dark City, The Crow) is a great addition.
Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Mia Wasikowska, Crispin Glover, Anne Hathaway, Stephen Fry, Christopher Lee, Michael Sheen, Alan Rickman
March 5

Brooklyn’s Finest - Directed by Antoine Fuqua, Written by Michael C. Martin
Even though Denzel Washington’s role in Training Day was over-hyped, it was a solid film. Now, Antoine Fuqua is returning with a story about dirty cops and gangsters. Really? That doesn’t sound familiar to anyone? Fuqua proved he isn’t a one trick pony with King Arthur, and the cast in this is impressive. But can Jay Z’s Run This Town really mask the dead horse being beaten?
Richard Gere, Don Cheadle, Ethan Hawke, Wesley Snipes, Vincent D’Onofrio, Will Patton, Ellen Barkin
March 5

Green Zone - Directed by Paul Greengrass, Written by Brian Helgeland
The fact that Greengrass and Damon decided to go off the reservation and make their own “Bourne” type movie doesn’t bother me. Neither does the idea of Greg Kinnear as a bad guy. What does make me pause is writer Brian Helgeland. With titles like L.A. Confidential, Conspiracy Theory, and Man on Fire on his resume, I want to trust him. But with other titles like The Taking of Pelham 123, A Knight’s Tale, and The Postman, I’m a bit more skeptical. All in all, I’m still excited, though.
Matt Damon, Greg Kinnear, Brendan Gleeson, Jason Isaacs, Amy Ryan
March 12

Mother - Directed by Joon-ho Bong, Written by Joon-ho Bong and Eun-kyo Park
I’ve only recently been getting into Korean film. My usual rule was: “If you’re not Chan-wook Park, I don’t watch your movie.” Though a lot of them are subpar, the gems I’ve been able to find are really good. So I’m looking forward to this thriller about a middle-aged woman searching for the man who framed her son for murder. Part drama, part thriller, Asian cinema in general seems to be better at this mix than American cinema. Korea picked it for their Oscar submission, and I can’t afford to order the Blu-Ray from Korea. So I’m looking forward to this release.
Bin Won, Hye-ja Kim, Ku Jin
March 12

The Secret of Kells - Directed by Tomm Moore and Nora Twomey, Written by Tomm Moore and Fabrice Ziolkowski
As upset as I am that this under-marketed film replaced Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs at the Oscars (it should have replaced Coraline), the artwork is pretty cool. The entire movie is done like an old school Celtic sketch. The story is a little muddled and mythically esoteric, but it is a beautifully done movie. If you haven’t seen the leaked copy online yet, you should check this one out.
Brendan Gleeson
March 12

Stolen - Directed by Anders Anderson, Written by Glenn Taranto
It always amazes me when an indie film manages to have nobodies behind the camera, and a bunch of known actors (or at least recognizable faces) in front. Anderson and Taranto haven’t done anything of note; same for the cinematographer and editor. But when Jon Hamm (Mad Men), Josh Lucas (Glory Road) Rhona Mitra (Boston Legal) and James van Der Beek (Varsity Blues) sign on, it piques my interest. About a detective on the case of a murdered boy who is still coping with the disappearance of his own son years earlier.
Josh Lucas, Jon Hamm, Rhona Mitra, James Van Der Beek
March 12

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Directed by Niels Arden Oplev, Written by Nikolaj Arcel and Rasmus Heisterberg
This Swedish film is the first in what looks to be an already-completed trilogy based on the books by Stieg Larsson. This one is about the violent and secretive past of a close knit clan, and a series of murders. Granted, it won’t be Nightwatch, but the preview looks cool enough.
Michael Nyqvist, Noomi Rapace, Lena Endre
March 19

Repo Men - Directed by Miguel Sapochnik, Written by Eric Garcia and Garrett Lerner
For those of you who are still confused: This film has NOTHING to do with Emilio Estevez. At first I was angry about this film, because I thought it was just a remake (or ripoff) of Repo! The Genetic Opera. But apparently, it’s based on the book The Repossession Mambo by Eric Garcia (who also wrote Matchstick Men) which came out around late 2008/early 2009. The plot is pretty straightforward: in the future, technology allows us to buy new manufactured organs. But if someone misses a payment, Repo Men come and take the organ back. I’m still having trouble envisioning Forest Whitaker as an “action star” (Shut up, Ghost Dog does NOT count), but we’ll see. When asked about his thoughts on the the new film, Darren Lynn Bousman refused comment, claiming he wasn’t comfortable discussing it a-melodically.
Jude Law, Liev Schreiber, Forest Whitaker, Alice Braga, RZA
March 19

The Runaways - Written and Directed by Floria Sigismondi
A movie about teenage girl musicians? Britney Spears, Lindsey Lohan, Amanda Bynes, and Ashley Simpson aren’t in it at all? Holy shit, it’s a Christmas miracle! I have to believe the hardest part of making a biopic like this is the casting. Especially these days, when American Idol and High School Musicals 1-47 are making celebrities out of assholes. Sigismondi was a music video director back in the day. so this seems like her wheelhouse. Benoit Debie is also on board as cinematographer (Irreversible, Il cartaio, Day Night Day Night), and even if editor Richard Chew is a square peg (Star Wars, Waiting to Exhale, Shanghai Noon. Yeah, I’m confused too) he’s been around the block. And apparently, besides songs by The Runaways, Sex Pistols, and David Bowie, Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning are flexing the golden pipes for the soundtrack. I hope there’s a deleted scene where The Runaways beat the shit out of Josie and the Pussycats.
Kristen Stewart, Dakota Fanning, Alia Shawkat, Scout Taylor-Compton, Michael Shannon, Tatum O’Neal
March 19

Vincere - Written and Directed by Marco Bellocchio
Marco Bellocchio’s name might sound familiar, but that’s because it rhymes with “Pinocchio”. Racist. Seriously, though, his film career has been an interesting one. As an auteur and supporter of the Radical Italian Party, his tendency towards sexually charged dramas (Devil in the Flesh, The Conviction) and his affinity for religious/political films (Good Morning, Night, My Mother’s Smile) appear to have become entangled with his new project. It is about Benito Mussolini’s first wife/mistress, who fell in love with him and financed his first newspaper, only to find herself ignored and mistreated during his rise to Fascist power. Definitely look into this one.
Giovanna Mezzogiorno, Filippo Timi
March 19

Ca$h - Written and Directed by Stephen Milburn Anderson
Anderson’s only done three movies to date. One of them was South Central (OG Bobby Johnson!!!!). This one seems poorly written, right down to the character names. That being said, Hemsworth has had a good couple years, and any film Sean Bean signs on for (at least those concerning British criminals) is entertaining if nothing else. This leaked a few weeks ago, and I haven’t jumped on it yet, but consider me curious.
Sean Bean, Chris Hemsworth, Victoria Profeta
March 26

Chloe - Directed by Atom Egoyan, Written by Erin Cressida Wilson
If you’re going to remake an Anne Fontaine (Coco Before Chanel, The Girl From Monaco) film, who better to get involved with than Atom Egoyan? (Adoration, Where the Truth Lies) Moore, Neeson, and Seyfried might not be your fantasy threesome, but as far as acting talent and overall appeal, I gotta say it’s a respectable trio. Seyfried’s career has exploded in the last couple years, and she really looks creepy here. Remake of Nathalie, about a prostitute hired to seduce a husband, but then she goes all Glenn Close on everyone.
Julianne Moore, Liam Neeson, Amanda Seyfried
March 26

The Eclipse - Written and Directed by Conor McPherson
Conor McPherson’s resume is pretty short still. However, when you see the list of actors he’s worked with (Brendan Gleeson, Brian Cox, Michael Caine, Michael Gambon…) it’s interesting if not respectable. Now he can add Ciaran Hinds, who plays a widower falling for a horror novelist while dealing with the appearance of his dead wife’s ghost. More drama than horror here, but that’s usually a good thing.
Ciaran Hinds, Iben Hjejle, Aidan Quinn
March 26

Greenberg - Directed by Noah Baumbach, Written by Noah Baumbach and Jennifer Jason Leigh
Damn you Noah Baumbach. I had a good thing going: allowing myself to be entertained by Ben Stiller’s films, yet silently, passively loathing him for bullshit like Zoolander. And Dodgeball. And Starsky and Hutch. And The Heartbreak Kid. But now it looks like you’ve made a movie that’ll force me to recall his roles in Permanent Midnight, Zero Effect, and Reality Bites. Just because you made The Squid and the Whale, you think you can throw Stiller in with Mumblecore royalty like Mark Duplass (The Puffy Chair, Humpday) and Greta Gerwig (Baghead, Hannah Takes the Stairs) and I’ll watch it? You win again, Baumbach.
Ben Stiller, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Rhys Ifans, Chris Messina, Mark Duplass, Greta Gerwig
March 26

Hot Tub Time Machine - Directed by Steve Pink, Written by Josh Heald and Sean Anders
I know, I know, this looks pretty cheesy. For one thing, you probably only recognize two names in the cast. John Cusack’s career has been a tad rocky in recent years, and I’m pretty sure Chevy Chase has joined Bob Saget in the “I suck dick for crack” section of Hollywood yesteryear. Most of you probably also missed Steve Pink’s last film Accepted (which was pretty damn funny). But if you watch the preview, you can’t tell me every one of these actors hasn’t made you laugh in one film or another. And really, who wouldn’t want to jump in a hot tub and travel back to the ‘80’s?? If for no other reason than to kill Lloyd Dobler for ruining all our lives.
John Cusack, Rob Corddry, Craig Robinson, Crispin Glover, Chevy Chase
March 26

KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN

The Horseman - Written and Directed by Steven Kastrissios
Foreign films are kind of like foreign orphans. sure, everyone wants to adopt one, but few of us really do. Brangelina has the monopoly on brown babies, and Quentin Tarantino has it on Asian film. Most foreign films are not so lucky, which is why this violent revenge tale about a grieving father wreaking havoc in the Australian outback is going straight to DVD tomorrow after wowing critics and audiences down under. I’m not asking you to send Mogwai to Oxford, dude. I’m just asking you to go to Blockbuster.
Peter Marshall, Caroline Marohasy, Brad McMurray
March 1 (DVD)

Father of My Children - Written and Directed by Mia Hansen-Love
More proof I have wasted my life. Mia Hansen-Love has only made three films, one of them a short. But she made her first one when she was 23-years-old. This is why I’m so surprised that, at age 29, she’s managed to craft a film so beyond her years both technically and emotionally. This film is about a French film producer who gets into financial trouble and becomes suicidal. Even the preview looks patient and poignant. I need to get on the ball.
Louis-Do de Lencquesaing, Chiara Caselli
March 5 (UK)

City Island - Written and Directed by Raymond De Felitta
I’ve been seeing this film around the interwebs so long I thought it was already out. It is available, but if my facts are straight it’s finally getting released in select cities this month. Felitta hasn’t done much, but one look at the cast and I’m confident this comedy about deceitful family members is worth a look-see.
Andy Garcia, Alan Arkin, Juliana Margulies, Emily Mortimer, Dominik Garcia-Lorido
March 19 (New York and LA)

The Killing Jar - Written and Directed by Mark Young
Michael Madsen is a G. Seriously, go look at IMDB. The man has done 162 projects (including his own short-lived TV show) in less than 30 years. And he has 29 listed as “in production”. Sure, 21 of those are listed as having 2010 release dates, but that’s not the point. The man loves acting, and though he’s one of the most recognizable faces in cinema (second only perhaps to Danny Trejo) he chooses projects he enjoys, not the ones that’ll make him the most money. Sure this story about a madman holding a diner full of people hostage doesn’t sound original. And sure it’s going straight to DVD. But with Harold Perrineau (Lost, Felon), Trejo (every movie ever made) and Jake Busey (Starship Troopers), you can’t hate on it.
Michael Madsen, Harold Perrineau, Amber Benson, Danny Trejo, Jake Busey
March 19 (DVD)

The City of Your Final Destination - Directed by James Ivory, Written by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala
If this one totally snuck by you, don’t feel bad. It almost got past me too. It’s about a college student who receives a grant to write a biography on a Spanish author. Might sound boring, but I refuse to believe that anything with Hopkins, Linney and Gainsbourg will be less than great. Also, director James Ivory is approaching his final destination (he’s seriously 82), and after a damn good list under his belt (Howard’s End, A Room with a View, The Remains of the Day) this should be another good addition. Limited March 30 release.
Anthony Hopkins, Laura Linney, Charlotte Gainsbourg
March 30 (Limited)

Leave Comment

Name

Email

Website

Comment