Notable in 2010 pt2

A while back i brought you a post with Notable films to look forward to in 2010.  The list was not complete, it was just parts 1-8, now we have parts 9-11.  To refresh your mind about the first one click here.  Now for the rest of the list of movies that involve our favorite cast.  There are a lot of good movies on this list, you should check the whole thing out (yes all 11 parts)

Skateland
Opens: 2010
Cast: Ashley Greene, Taylor Handley, Brett Cullen, Haley Ramm, A.J. Buckley
Director: Anthony Burns

Summary: In the early 1980s, in small-town Texas, dramatic events force a 19-year-old skating rink manager to look at his life in a very new way.

Analysis: Little is known about Anthony Burns' directorial debut set to have its world premiere in Dramatic Competition at Sundance. The early 80's East Texas setting should mean an interesting soundtrack and some beautiful landscapes, while the family infighting influenced by standard coming of age tropes and Bible belt rebellion will hopefully have more weight and gravitas than your regular sports drama. Yet the failure of the more commercially-friendly roller rink-themed "Whip It" a few months ago doesn't hold out much hope for this indie's future, even if a rave response is forthcoming from Park City.

The Special Relationship
Opens: 2010
Cast: Dennis Quaid, Michael Sheen, Hope Davis, Helen McCory
Director: Richard Loncraine

Summary: Follows the unique and sometimes turbulent political relationship between newly installed British Prime Minister Tony Blair and U.S. President Bill Clinton in the late 1990s.

Analysis: The third film in Peter Morgan's 'Blair' trilogy which started with 2003's TV movie "The Deal" and 2006's Oscar-winning "The Queen", 'Relationship' once again sees Michael Sheen playing former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair in this HBO Films/BBC Films co-production.

'Queen' stars Helen McCrory and Mark Bazeley will reprise their roles as Cherie Blair and Alastair Campbell respectively, though Chris Wilson will take over for David Morrissey as Gordon Brown. Morgan ("Frost/Nixon," "Last King of Scotland") once again penned the script, but when previous director Stephen Frears opted out, Morgan was slated to make his directorial debut on the film. He later also opted out, the job ultimately going to Richard Loncraine ("Firewall," "Richard III").

The surprise here is that the relationship in question deals with the generally friendly Blair and Clinton, not the Blair and Bush relationship which historically is much more dramatic territory. No doubt if a fourth film gets made, it'll likely deal with that subject and how it contributed to Blair's downfall. Political subject matter aside, Morgan and Sheen's pairings have always yielded gold so far and there's little doubt the same will apply here.

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse
Opens: June 30th 2010
Cast: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Ashley Greene, Billy Burke
Director: David Slade

Summary: As Seattle is ravaged by a string of mysterious killings, Bella is forced to choose between her love for Edward and her friendship with Jacob — knowing that her decision has the potential to ignite the ageless struggle between vampire and werewolf.

Analysis: Everyone subscribes to at least one kind of fandom - a show, film, genre or filmmaker where they really respond to and relish in the little details of the work presented. It's an interesting phenomenon because its entirely subjective, others will look at the same work and might even like it but simply don't share the same zealotry admiration that you may have. What seems exciting to you is tired or silly to them, it's not a matter of "not getting it" but rather a mix of taste, experience and often indefiniable qualities completely different to each individual.

Certain fandoms though pull in a large consensus of like minded people, usually of the same demographic. "Twilight" is one such case, fuelled almost entirely by a massive fanbase of women who have normally not associated themselves with vampire-related subject matter in the past and thus the work feels fresh to them. Men on the other hand are usually well-associated with vampire films/shows and, combined with the admittedly overcooked romance angle, find the whole craze tedious.

Critical dismissals are no surprise as it's a male-dominated occupation and the few females who do it full time tend to be older. Money however can't be dismissed and with the record-shattering opening of "New Moon", anyone who simply ignores this phenomenon does so at their own peril. An article on CHUD the other month which essentially cut and pasted the "Breaking Dawn" wikipedia synopsis and added a few snarky comments became an online sensation, which goes to show you the power that just the "Twilight" name itself has.

'Eclipse' in many ways marks the most interesting test for this franchise. It's the most action heavy of the four and from anecdotal reports and comments it seems to be the one voted the 'best' of the books by fans even if the first or fourth book are their personal favourites. Story wise it certainly sounds the strongest of the four, while the inclusion of the truly edgy and potent director David Slade ("30 Days of Night," "Hard Candy") actually has some outside of the franchise's fanbase at least somewhat curious.

The leak the other week of the script online means nothing, only fans will read it and the only thing spoiled are the changes made to the film from the book which no doubt someone will go into extensively on a blog somewhere. Nothing and no-one will stop this film from destroying records next year, with the "Iron Man" and "Harry Potter" sequels will prove its only serious challenges for box-office domination. Get ready for more Team Edward/Jacob merchandise everywhere and whinging guys bitching about how these books and films are the main cause for the decline of Western civilisation.

Unthinkable
Opens: 2010
Cast: Samuel L. Jackson, Carrie-Anne Moss, Michael Sheen, Brandon Routh, Martin Donovan
Director: Gregor Jordan

Summary: Somewhere in the US, three nuclear weapons are about to detonate. Younger has hidden the devices and the authorities lead by FBI agent Brody with the help of "H", an interrogation specialist, must find them before time runs out. How far will they go to get the information?

Analysis: Originally showing such great promise with Heath Ledger-led "Two Hands" and the army-set black comedy "Buffalo Soldiers", Australian film director Gregor Jordan had far less success with his follow-up features. In fact last year's Bret Easton Ellis adaptation "The Informers" topped many a critic's list of 'Worst Films of the Year'.

Thus this $15 million suspense thriller stands at a crossroads, it could either cement the notion his best work is behind him, or prove a dynamic resurgence from an admittedly strong talent if the material is right. Jordan says that on the surface it might resemble a "Tom Clancy international thriller", but "it quickly turns into something else" and cites the script as one of the best he's ever read. We'll see.

Originally slated to be released through the now defunct Senator Distribution, the project went on the block at the AFM in November. Several international territories are set, but the film has yet to be picked up for US distribution inspite of the involvement of the likes of Sheen and Jackson.

Valentine's Day
Opens: February 12th 2010
Cast: Julia Roberts, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Alba, Jessica Biel, Jennifer Garner, Shirley MacLaine, Bradley Cooper, Ashton Kutcher, Jamie Foxx, Queen Latifah
Director: Garry Marshall

Summary: A comedy about intertwining couples and singles in Los Angeles who break-up and make-up based on the pressures and expectations of Valentine's Day. As these ten people's lives intersect on the romantic holiday, things will never be the same again for any of them.

Analysis: After the success of the generally panned "He's Just Not That Into You" in February this year for New Line, the former studio turned Warner label realised it had found a hell of a niche and so raced into production on 'Day' in the hopes of having it out in time for the titular holiday weekend.

While not a direct sequel as such, it may as well be as the formula is almost a carbon copy, just with some extra padding this time around. 'You' scribes Marc Silverstein and Abby Kohn penned the film's story which "Army Wives" creator Katherine Fugate polished. 'You' director Ken Kwapis ("License to Wed," "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants") has been upgraded to Garry Marshall ("The Princess Diaries," "Runaway Bride").

The ensemble is even more star powered than before with almost every major Hollywood female talent (and quite a few famous male ones too) who didn't appear in 'You' turning up here, alongside man of the moment Bradley Cooper who stars in both films - albeit this time playing a gay man who gets it on with McSteamy from "Grey's Anatomy". The story revolves around the romantic holiday but otherwise is pretty much the same standalone subplots that occasionally cross over formula, which means some will prove decent while others will simply drag.

These kinds of films adore reinforcing the idea that all couples are flawlessly happy and all singles are desperately lonely train wrecks, something made all the more unbelievable here as Jessica Biel and Jessica Alba are portrayed as desperate loners. As this is a film targeted entirely at women it sends a message almost every bit as bad as the "Twilight" films that they are nothing without a man. Nevertheless the formula works for the Carrie Bradshaw-wannabes of this world and you can't really blame them seeing as little to no other films that really cater to them for the rest of the month.

Welcome to the Rileys
Opens: 2010
Cast: Kristen Stewart, James Gandolfini, Melissa Leo, David Jensen
Director: Jake Scott

Summary: Set in New Orleans, the story follows a couple driven apart by grief after losing their daughter. A troubled 16-year-old stripper becomes a pseudo-surrogate daughter for the pair, but she soon rebels against their misdirected affection.

Analysis: No matter their pedigree, some festival films are labeled by a single sentence, "Hounddog" was 'the Dakota Fanning rape movie' for example. Now, whether it likes it or not, 'Rileys' has become known as the 'Bella stripper movie' named after Stewart's "Twilight" character. It's understandable, the promise of Stewart getting some of her gear off will likely bring in an audience who otherwise wouldn't be caught dead seeing this kind of low-budget indie drama.

Despite plenty of music video experience, director Jake Scott's sole feature film credit is 1999's Brit highwayman cult effort "Plunkett and Macleane" which has generally disappeared off the radar in ensuing years. Ken Hixon's script has scored solid reviews, especially for the character dynamics between the father and stripper, but has been criticised for a somewhat too tidy last act. Five screenings at the upcoming Sundance Film Festival for the film, where it is in competition, have all sold out which is certainly a good sign for its profitability if not for its critical prospects.

Wonderful World
Opens: January 8th 2010
Cast: Matthew Broderick, Sanaa Lathan, Jodelle Ferland, Philip Baker Hall
Director: Josh Goldin

Summary: A failed children's folk singer and pothead is also the most negative man alive. When his Senegalese roommate is suddenly struck ill, Ben's pessimistic worldview seems unequivocally confirmed. His only recourse is to pour his energies into a frivolous lawsuit against the city for depraved indifference and he soon finds that cynicism may be all a matter of perspective.

Analysis: Opening this past Friday to generally mixed or negative reviews and a miserable $1,146 per screen average in limited release, Magnolia essentially dumped this Louisiana-shot tale of a cynic finding his inner optimist. The script was dismissed as trite and cliched, a kind of lesser version of 2008's Oscar-nominated effort "The Visitor". Performances however were generally good, the cast credited for improving on what little material they had. Will disappear from many's memory by the end of the month.

The Yellow Handkerchief
Opens: February 12th 2010
Cast: William Hurt, Maria Bello, Kristen Stewart, Eddie Redmayne
Director: Udayan Prasad

Summary: A man dealing with a painful past crosses paths with a troubled teenager and her new 'ride'. The trio embark on a road trip through post Katrina Louisiana, each motivated by their own reasons. Along the way, relationships forge and change in a myriad of ways, leading to the possibility of second chances at life and love.

Analysis: Finally getting a theatrical release in the US next month, this $15 million indie road movie remakes the Japanese 1977 original and transports the setting to post-Katrina Louisiana. Playing festivals in 2008 and released in several international territories last year, reviews were generally good with performances from William Hurt and Eddie Redmayne in particular scoring good notices.

Indian helmer Udayan Prasad ("Opa!," "Gabriel and Me") directs the film which is very much an indie arthouse work - little in the way of plot, long poignant moments and plenty of time spent just letting the actors play out scenes as their apparently quite fleshed out characters. The drawn out tone and glacial pacing scored the most criticism and will likely keep most mainstream audiences away. Sounds like a DVD rental for a lazy afternoon.

Source for other movies
xoxo
Carrie