LIFE ITSELF
Release Date: July 4, 2014
What it’s about: A documentary on the life of film critic Roger Ebert.
What it’s got working for it: As someone who grew up watching Siskel & Ebert, I’m interested.
What’s it’s got going against it: Those unfamiliar with his work may not be quite as intrigued.
*
ROAD TO PALOMA
Release Date: July 11, 2014
What it’s about: A Native-American faces a journey of redemption after seeking revenge for his mother’s death.
What it’s got working for it: Jason Momoa’s directorial debut.
What’s it’s got going against it: Hopefully the murky trailer isn’t indicative of the film’s quality.
*
WISH I WAS HERE
Release Date: July 18, 2014
What it’s about: A 35 year old man examines his life, career, and family.
What it’s got working for it: The positive vibes of the kickstarter campaign that funded it.
What’s it’s got going against it: It looks maudlin and cliche. Must every “feel good” movie include a shot of people driving in a convertible, smiling, arms outstretched to the wind?
*
A MOST WANTED MAN
Release Date: July 25, 2014
What it’s about: A Chechen ex-prisoner arrives in Hamburg’s Islamic community, seeking to reclaim his father’s ill-gotten fortune.
What it’s got working for it: Philip Seymour Hoffman’s last film, based on a novel by John le Carré.
What’s it’s got going against it: Some early reviews criticize its style over substance.
*
GOOD PEOPLE
Release Date: July 25, 2014
What it’s about: A young couple’s decision to help themselves to a dead neighbor’s cash results in dark consequences.
What it’s got working for it: Omar Sy makes an unnervingly convincing bad guy.
What’s it’s got going against it: Unlike everyone else in Hollywood, I don’t buy James Franco.
*
MAGIC IN THE MOONLIGHT
What it’s about: An Englishman attempts to unmask a con artist in 1920’s southern France.
What it’s got working for it: The trailer looks promising. Woody Allen has made some great movies (Annie Hall, Bananas, Sleeper).
What’s it’s got going against it: And some not so great ones (Celebrity, Shadows and Fog, The Curse of the Jade Scorpion).
Don’t forget the Purple Rose of Cairo.
I’m extremely grumpy. I slaved away all day on a wedding cake, ran out at three to grab lunch, came home no less than 20 minutes later and my ac isn’t working. It’s 81 in the house. I swear on all that is holy if this cake melts before the bride gets it I’m murdering the next fifty Mondays. As it is the ac unit is frozen over and can’t be looked at until tomorrow.
And Jeremy is conveniently working late.
Purple Rose of Cairo…yeah, had moments of being hokey and over the top, but I enjoyed the escapism that it portrayed and made available to me.
Let’s not forget that if the convertible top is down, you must also hold up a scarf and release it into the wind. Thereby losing said scarf and blinding the driver behind you
Hold it!! Stop right there!…
ROAD TO PALOMA – Greatest movie ever!!! I’m sure. I haven’t seen it, but if Jason is in it, I will be able to watch it again and again and again. And again.
I’m a little confused about what day it is. Not sure if it’s the wreck i just had in my car (got rear-ended) or the dates of your blog entries. It may be both.
Joe how are you feeling? All better now??
whoviantrish: Good luck with your a/c! You live in Florida right?
James Franco was pretty good in Spiderman but did you see Oz the Great and Powerful? Terrible!
The only people I know with convertibles get the tops slashed. I live near Memphis. 😉 Plus, it gets too hot here to drive without a/c. Even going at a high speeds, it would just blow hot air in your face. I would never own a convertible here.
Melinda Ward: 😆
@ Sylvia yeah.. just the ending was.. Blergh as well as it being hokey and such
@Tam Dixon Florida aka the seventh level of hell 😛 It’s now 83 in the house. Ugh
life itself seems like it would be kind of sad too.
i think james franco is overrated. except for the spiderman movies.
I’ll give Jason the benefit of the doubt. The scenery looks beautiful! Will be interesting to see how Colin does in a Woody movie. I don’t buy Franco either. He seems like a poser to me.
Joe, I sent you an email.
I am very tolerant of most movies. I enjoy most of them unless they are especially gory or vulgar. I guess I’m just oblivious when it comes to plot holes.
i think MAGIC IN THE MOONLIGHT will be interesting,for Colin i wait for this:
“Unlike everyone else in Hollywood, I don’t buy James Franco.”
It makes me so happy to know I’m not alone in this! I just don’t know what it is about him and a few other actors, I just can’t get into ANY role they play. I just see them and not their character. The biggest one of those for me is Leonardo DiCaprio. Sorry Hollywood and 98% of America, I just don’t get it.
Actually, I do get it. Well, I get why I can’t accept them as good actors. It’s because they’re not. And yet, they’ve achieved a greater standing than those that are truly wonderful actors. Sad.
-Mike A.
Why is that Road to Paloma trailer so damn dark? I don’t mean dark as in serious and film-noire-y. I mean dark as in lacking light. If it weren’t shot on video, I’d say the film was underexposed. Given that it IS shot on video, I have no idea why it all looks so poorly lit. Very strange.
Wish I Was Here, aside from being poor grammar, looks very dull.
Good People looks like it could be good. I don’t have any strong feelings about Franco. He’s just there. I don’t understand why he’s a star, but the fact that he is doesn’t offend me.
Magic in the Moonlight seems like romantic fluff, lacking substance. Like a Shakespearean romantic comedy — the kind where nothing much happens and all’s well that ends well. Not enough substance to justify paying theatre-ticket-prices to see it, but I would watch it on cable maybe.
Road to Paloma has quite a decent cast, not bad for a movie with a reported budget of $600,000. Notable cast members being Sarah Shahl(Person of Interest), Michael Raymond-James(Once Upon a Time). And then of course you have Momoa, aka Ronon Dex, 🙂
I’ll probably check out Jason Momoa’s film because it is him. Probably not likely have time for any of the others.