10 April, 2013

DJ B-Clear's April Movie Preview

Some of the films that will be coming out this month. April has a tendency to be a staging ground for the Summer Blockbuster season. Back in 1999, The Matrix had an April release and was a sensational box office smash. Let's have a look...

April 5th


  • The Brass Teapot: Directed by , this films stars and as two down on their luck lovers looking to escape their nowhere lives. They stumble across a brass teapot (hence the title of the film) which is actually an ancient magical Hebrew artifact that can make you rich when the owner is caused physical pain. The opreview has the couple enduring assaults, car crashes and other assorted beat downs while the pot produces cash like the Federal Reserve. Eventually a team of Hasidic Jews (or what I am to believe are Hasidic Jews) are dispatched to retrieve the artifact as the couple are using it recklessly. I liked Juno Temple in Killer Joe last year but I'm not too sure about this one. It got a low rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
  • 6 Souls: This film was originally released internationally in 2010 under the name Shelter and by internationally I mean not in the U.S. So it sat on the shelves for 3 years before getting a U.S. release date and a new title. This is usually enough for me to steer clear of a film. It stars as a forensic psychologist who is treating a patient with multiple personalities, enter . Moore comes to find out that Meyer's personalities are in fat murder victims which sets her on a quest to find out the truth. Which as we know in this genre of film can lead to bad things.
  • The Company You Keep: returns to the directors chair to helm a film about a fledgling investigative reporter () trying to get a scoop on the events of a bank robbery gone wrong 30 years ago in which one of the suspects, , was finally arrested. Sarandon's arrest starts a chain of events that lead us to Redford an accomplice of the crime, an unexpected result of the robbery was the death of a cop, who's now a lawyer single father who's been living under a false identity for over 30 years. LaBeouf uses his skills to uncover his identity and try to find him, which of course turns into a big manhunt. Redford is a very good director with a keen eye for detail. I'm on record as not being a big LaBeouf fan but he does have talent and this looks like a really interesting film.
  •  Simon Killer: stars as Simon an American college student in Paris just looking to have a good time (translation: score French babes). He stumbles into a seedy club (what other kinds are there in Paris?) and meets up with the sultry Victoria (she's a prostitute and all French prostitutes are sultry. It's a per-requisite), played by . Simon falls for Victoria and the town hatch a blackmail scheme that gets them more than they bargained for, or did it? Director looks to put a lot of twists & turns together in this thriller (based on the trailers). I'm not sure how wide a release this will get but it might be worth checking out.
  • Evil Dead (2013): A remake of the 1981 cult classic directed by and starring . The film is directed by and Raimi is getting a producer's credit as the story gets a reboot with updated characters and modern story. Not sure what kind of role the Necronomicon plays but early indications are its still pretty creepy. Normally I would question why remake a film that got it right 30 years ago but I'm a closeted Evil Dead fan so I will make an effort to see this film. During the day of course.
  • Trance: directs this caper thriller with an all-star cast that consists of , and . Thankfully the trailer doesn't reveal much but it does pique your interest. McAvoy plays a fine art auctioneer who steals a Goya painting but a blow to the head causes a flare up of CRS disease (Can't Remember Shit). Cassel enlists the aid of hypnotist Dawson to attempt to unlock the location of the stolen goods. What we get is a trip through McAvoy's subconscious where things are a bit murky. Boyle is an excellent director who is probably up there in the "must see" category. I've got to find a way to see this film.


April 12th 

 

  • 42: Academy Award Winner directs this Jackie Robinson biopic. Spike Lee was rumored to try and brings Robinson's life to the big screen for years but could never get funding. stars as the iconic Robinson and plays Branch Rickey, the man who brought Robinson into Major League Baseball 1947 and breaking the color barrier. The film deals with the trials and tribulations of Robinson's first season as the only Black player in the MLB. Helgeland is a standout director, very capable of telling a phenomenal story. My only hesitation is the Robinson lead such a heroic life in those days that it would seem that his actions don't need to be "Hollywood-ized." Plus there seems to be a modern hip-hop soundtrack for the film which is understandable since there aren't that many moviegoers around who can identify with a 1940's type soundtrack. However, Robinson is such an amazing figure that it shouldn't matter about the soundtrack.
  • To The Wonder: The latest film from legendary director stars (fresh off his Oscar win for Argo), , and . Affleck is in Paris and falls for single mother Kurylenko. They have a whirlwind romance and Affleck has Kurylenko and her daughter move with him to Oklahoma where he's an environmental inspector (lets be honest, going from Paris to Oklahoma is not a good decision and I've had a lot of laughs in OKC). At first the relationship is great but after awhile things cool down. Affleck drifts towards former lover McAdams and Kurylenko meets ups with Bardem who's a priest in a local parish (wtf?). The trailer gives you nothing so what I just described is a combination of different synopsis. This being a Malick film I will see it but be advised...Malick is not for everyone and I suspect there will be plot points that will fly right over my head much like 2011's Tree of Life.
  • Disconnect: plays a concerned parent (in a rare non-sarcastic father figure role) in an ensemble cast about the dangers of internet. The ensemble cast includes the likes of , , and in this drama/thriller directed by . The different characters have their different stories and the internet is the device that ties everyone together. The trailer is very interesting and I will be keeping my eye out for this as I enjoy films where the unrelated characters are all tied together a la .
  • It's a Disaster: This film is set in suburbia during a couples brunch. brings new boyfriend, , to her friend's place for a couples brunch but oblivious to the guests, a dirty bomb was set-off and impending doom is on its way. A black comedy where the guest will air their grievances with each other in a "we're all gonna die anyway so what does it matter" attitude. The trailer gives you pieces of scenes that appear humorous but they could've cut it that way. David Cross is funny as the "fish out of water" new boyfriend put in an unthinkable situation. Writer/director , has several screenwriting credits and has directed 3 feature films but most are titles that I've never heard of. Very independent film so it may not get a wide release or even a lengthy one. If you want to see this film then you may have to hunt for it.
  • Into the White: A WWII period piece that stars Harry Potter sidekick . Shotdown over a Norwegian wilderness the crew members from a downed German bomber and an RAF aircraft meet up at a cabin under brutal winter conditions. Supplies are low and the crews try to survive despite the fact the their countries are at war. Lots of "cabin fever" type suspense while the German crew tries to treat the Brits as POWs since they have the numbers and the gun.
  • Which Way Is the Front Line from Here? The Life and Times of Tim Hetherington: This film is a documentary about the work of photojournalist/director Tim Hetherington. Hetherington spent most of his career in hot spots like Sierra Leone, Libya and the Korangal Valley or places most people would avoid like the plague. I mention this film because Hetherington and Sebastian Junger brought us the 2010 documentary Restrepo. Hetherington was killed by mortar fire in Libya about 6 months after the release of Restrepo. It would be worth watching to see the story of someone who fearlessly looked to bring the lives of those living/working in conditions most of us couldn't imagine.


April 19th


  • Scary Movie V: Just when you thought they milked every last cent out of this franchise, out comes another installment. I gave the 1st two films my time but they turn out the same tired jokes much like they turn out the same tired films that this franchise has spoofed for well over a decade. The spoof films no longer do it for me. Despite the fact that Charlie Sheen takes a shot to his nether region. Lindsey Lohan managed to film her scene with Sheen in between her court appearances and there's even a Honey Boo Boo reference. Complete dreck.
  • Oblivion: There was a time when I felt pretty good about Earth's chances with Tom Cruise was the hero. Now...not so much. directs a solid cast in this sc-fi thriller that takes place on Earth after an alien invasion forces an evacuation of the planet. Cruise is part drone repair team, his dispatcher is , that keeps the scanning/attack drones working. However Tom is the nostalgic type with a curiosity streak. There isn't supposed to be human life on Earth but he runs into a group of underground dwellers led by . Freeman convinces Cruise that there are people still on Earth and that his corporate masters have been lying to him. Forcing Cruise to choose which side to fight for. The beautiful shows up as a survivor in a life pod who naturally has a past with Cruise. This is Kosinki's first major feature, my faith in Cruise has been on the wane for some time and after Jack Reacher, I'm inclined to let this one slip through the cracks.
  • jOBS: Is Ashton Kutcher really talented? Most of the characters he's played have all been some variation of Kelso from That 70's Show. Kutcher and Apple Co-founders Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak in this biopic about the iconic Apple founder. The film traces Jobs' early career from guy with a dream to corporate overlord. This is director 3rd feature film and I've never heard of the other two. This could be a really good film but if I'm going to see it I want to see some buzz first. The release is a few weeks away and I haven't seen a whole lot of trailers for it. The trailer on Rotten Tomatoes is just a a clip from 1 scene. Perhaps there's something I missed about the film but I'm not holding my breath regardless of when it comes out.
  • The Lords of Salem: The producers of Insidious and Paranormal Activity team up with writer/director to bring a tale of weird, creepy evil. Zombie's wife , plays a DJ in Salem, MA who becomes the object of an evil cabal that look to set her up as a sacrifice to the dark lord himself but first they're amp up the insanity in her life. Fans of Zombie's films will probably dig this but I really haven't been into his films since The Devil's Rejects. It's Zombie so much as I just think I'm not into the genre. Who knows I may end up seeing it though.
  • Love Sick Love: I couldn't find a trailer for this film in the usual spots but I've read it that it's a about two good looking serial daters who get together and it doesn't quite go they way one of them wants it. Dori, played by , gets together with Norman, played by and takes him to a secluded cabin in order to experience all of the holidays in 1 horror filled weekend. Could be sick & twisted or just stupid. I will try to reserve judgement until I see a trailer.

April 26th


  • The Big Wedding: An ensemble cast too numerous to mention in a comedy that has a little Something's Got To Give and The Bird Cage. Bobby DeNiro plays the patriarch who's sleeping with Susan Sarandon the former best friend of his ex-wife, Diane Keaton. They're all gathered together for their adopted son's wedding. The adopted son () was given up by his Colombian mother but now she's coming back for the wedding and she's real religious. That means DeNiro & Keaton have to pretend they're married. Throw in Katherine Heigl and Topher Grace as siblings, Robin Williams as the priest and the laughs just spill forth. Sorry but I'm not buying it. The trailer possessed very little in originality. I will avoid this title.
  • Pain & Gain: directs this comedic heist film starring as an ex-con and as the "mastermind" of a kidnapping of a local gangster played by . Johnson & Wahlberg are 2 weightlifters whose caper goes awry leading to the death of their victim. The premise of the film seems interesting and its a solid cast but it will boil down to whether or not you like Michael Bay. I'm on the fence about this one.
  • Mud: In his 4th feature, writer/director , tells the story of Mud (), a down on his luck guy living in an abandon boat that's in a tree (left there from Katrina maybe?). He's there for a reason and befriends 2 boys ( & ) who think he's a cool, far out dude. Let's just say that the boys are in for a letdown when they find out their hero is wanted for murder. Rounding out a very solid cast is , and . The trailer is really interesting and McConaghey dropped a lot of weight to get Mud's look. I will try to see this film as I think McConaghey is very talented but seems to do cruddy films a lot. Though I can't help but sense that Mud is how Wooderson would turn out if things went bad for him.
  • At Any Price: Normally a director of documentaries, , oversees a strong cast in this father/son drama. plays the father, a farmer who buys up other farms or something to that effect and he's got a lot of land. plays the son who Quaid wants to pass on the farming heritage to. Efron being probably the best looking dude in the county wants nothing to do with the family trade and wants to race cars! It turns out that Quaid isn't so squeaky clean and Efron seems to be throwing stuff around during the trailer's emotional scenes in an effort to show how deep he is. It does look like Efron comes back to help his old man when things get tough but I suspect most people can see that coming. Not for me.
  • The Reluctant Fundamentalist: directs an international thriller that sees , an Ivy League educated Pakistani, caught between his heritage and the country that made him a rich man (he's a financial genius). Then 9/11 happens and things begin to change as he gets "profiled" as a terrorist. The film boast a solid cast that includes , and (I still hold out hope for her as she has talent but wastes it on stupid rom-coms). Nair has got an impressive resume as a very good director and solid storyteller. This could be worth watching.
  • The Numbers Station: and star in a spy thriller about a broadcast code that sends secret agents on their mission. Cusack is the Jason Bourne type and he's sent to protect Akerman. Suffice to say things go wrong and the two are sent on the run avoiding assassination. The trailer for this is pretty cool but there's a lot of elements from 2012's Safehouse. This could be hit or miss perhaps even direct to DVD.



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