Gary turned me on to a slew of upcoming films . . . that may . . or may not . .. offer some quality viewing.
Never Let Me Go (2010)
Of these films Never Let Me Go has the most names in it’s cast: Sally Hawkins, Charlotte Rampling, Carey Mulligan, Keira Knightley. As children, Ruth, Kathy and Tommy, spend their childhood at a seemingly idyllic English boarding school. As they grow into young adults, they find that they have to come to terms with the strength of the love they feel for each other, while preparing themselves for the haunting reality that awaits them. Story written by the Remains Of The Day guy Kazuo Ishiguro. [ trailer ]
Pelican Blood (2010)
Pelican Blood tells the story of Nikko, a funny but left-of-center young man living in London. Following a disastrous break up with his girlfriend, Stevie, he’s taking life one day at a time, throwing all his energy into his hobby: bird spotting Just as life becomes bearable, Stevie arrives back on the scene, causing a rift between Nikko and all his friends, who warn him she will destroy him. They are fully aware of how the couple first met: on a suicide website, pledging they will ‘end it all together’. As their intense, disturbing and highly sexual connection resumes, the relationship between Nikko, Stevie, his friends and his hobby are thrown into questionable chaos. Pelican Blood appears to be funny and passionate look at the things that make us tick, and the things we tick off the list. [ trailer ]
Mr. Nobody (2009)
One of the strangest premises: Nemo Nobody leads an ordinary existence at his wife’s side, Elise, and their 3 children until the day when reality skids and he wakes up as an old man in the year 2092. At 120, Mr. Nobody is both the oldest man in the world and the last mortal of a new mankind where nobody dies anymore. But that doesn’t seem to interest or bother him very much. The only questions that preoccupy him in the present is whether he lived the right life for himself, loved the woman whom he was supposed to love, and had the children whom he was meant to have . . . now his purpose is to find the right answer. [ trailer ]
Hotel Atlântico (2009)
A road movie that follows a solitary man as he sets of on a journey to the south of Brazil. The strange characters and absurd situations he encounters along the way present an extraordinary portrait of human relations. Looks like an amusing dark comedy. I didn’t recognize any of the actors. [ trailer ]
Mr. Nice (2010)
The life story of Howard Marks, an elite British drug smuggler. Looks a tad like a Guy Ritchie creation (but isn’t) with one of my favorite British actors (Rhys Ifans) and one of my favorite American actress (Chloë Sevigny). As of now it’s on my must see list. [ trailer ]
American Grindhouse (2010 documentary)
This documentary explores the hidden history of the American Exploitation Film. The movie digs deep into this often overlooked category of U.S. cinema and unearths the shameless and occasionally shocking origins of this popular entertainment. Probably only of interest to Quentin Tarantino and other film historians/buffs. [ preview ]
Skeletons (2010)
Played at the recent Seattle International Film Festival. Two exorcists literally remove the skeletons from the cupboards from people’s homes. Some fairly embarrassing secrets are revealed along the way. A case where the skeletons have hidden themselves turns the lives of all those involved. [ trailer ]
