The Notable Films of 2011: Part Three

Catch .44
Opens: 2011
Cast: Forest Whitaker, Bruce Willis, Malin Akerman, Nikki Reed, Deborah Ann Woll
Director: Aaron Harvey

Summary: The story focuses on three women being thrust into an extraordinary situation involving a psychopathic hitman, a grizzled trucker and a delusional line cook.

Analysis: Oddly little is known about this indie crime comedy aside from the three lead female roles have gone through more than a couple of rounds of casting musical chairs. The likes of Maggie Grace, Kate Mara, Laura Ramsey, Sarah Roemer, Lizzy Caplan and Lauren German were all attached at one point or another before the final trio of Malin Akerman ("Watchmen"), Nikki Reed ("Twilight") and Deborah Ann Woll ("True Blood") were settled on.

Bruce Willis, Forest Whitaker, Michael Rosenbaum and Brad Dourif also star with Willis as a crime boss behind everything that happens and Whitaker as a dangerously unstable assassin. Aaron Harvey, who last directed the little seen "The Evil Woods", helms the project which was shot in Louisiana this past summer.

More than seventeen producers are credited on this which seems a little drastic for such a relatively modest revenge meets exploitation flick. With fewer action films offering leading roles to women these days though (let alone having multiple lead female roles), best to enjoy them where you can.

Ceremony
Opens: April 8th 2011
Cast: Michael Angarano, Uma Thurman, Lee Pace, Jake M. Johnson, Rebecca Mader
Director: Max Winkler

Summary: A young man falls hard for an older woman about to be married. The infatuation prompts him to take along his unwitting friend to a beach town in an effort to break up the wedding. Upon arriving, the young men quickly realize just how out of place they are among the stately British groom-to-be and his guests.

Analysis: Another film which premiered in Toronto this year, this indie coming-of-age laugher from first-time filmmaker Max Winkler had solid reviews and was quickly picked up by Magnolia Pictures for distribution. Angarano's performance as the fast-talking guy infatuated with an older woman is praised, as is Winkler's assured direction and early pacing. The lack of a cohesive story, underdeveloped supporting characters and little chemistry between the leads however were singled out - three things crucial to any rom-com.

Certainly it's difficult to sympathise with an arrogant and delusional young man attempting to win the love of the object of his affection by disrupting her wedding. "Pushing Daisies" actor Lee Pace stars as the groom, a documentary filmmaker said to behave like a blend of Jacques Costeau and Steve Irwin, while Jake M. Johnson plays an overly earnest sibling pulled along for the trip. Both are caricatures through and through, yet certainly sound more interesting than anything else going on in the film. What is nice to see though is Thurman getting to play a more mature and classier romantic female lead than she has had the opportunity to play in recent years.

darkhorizons for the rest
xoxo
Carrie