Movies: Bana Disappears, Kutcher Spreads, and Hitchcock Terrorizes
Nathaniel Rogers would live inside a movie theater but for the poor internet reception. He blogs daily at the Film Experience.
Your Feature Presentations
There's quite a variety of new product at the multiplexes. Let's start with the romantic drama, THE TIME TRAVELER'S WIFE in which Eric Bana keeps disappearing and reappearing in Rachel McAdams life. Wait, is he playing Ryan Gosling?!? This vanishing / reappearing act is probably a great metaphor of some sort for romance, though I haven't read the bestseller so I've no idea if the concept is executed well. The faithful are angry that they've changed it to something sunnier. Hollywood is so terrified of sad endings, even in tearjerkers which are supposed to make you cry.
Ashton Kutcher's new film SPREAD features Mr. Demi Moore in frequent stages of undress seducing women poolside, including the ever watchable Anne Heche. Who cares if she's crazy when she can act circles around a lot of overemployed actors. But if Ashton's going to be bedding older women onscreen, shouldn't he and Demi be making movies together by now?
The trailer does beg the following question: Does Kutcher's co-star Sebastian Stan (one of the warlocks in that awful supernatural man candy flick The Covenant) have a CGI tongue?
MORE, AFTER THE JUMP...
That must be computer generated. He's showing that off in a movie called Spread? The MPAA must have missed that when they gave this an "R". Next up for Sebastian: the Gene Simmons biopic!
Two enticing genre films are also here. Animation master Hayao Miyazaki's latest PONYO has also arrived. If you've ever seen the Oscar winning Spirited Away or the moving Princess Mononoke you'll want a ticket. There's more to animated films than Pixar's boys and Disney's princesses. Peter Jackson (The Lord of the Rings) produced DISTRICT 9,
an alien invasion action movie. It's set in modern day Johannesburg and
though it's a little messy with ideas and stylistic choices (the faux
documentary device is overplayed), the central image of an alien
spaceship hovering over the post Apartheid city like a dark
cloud is marvelously effective. It's very bloody and full of tense
inspired moments and jaw dropping special effects. Action, sci-fi and
horror fans will love it... if they buy a ticket. Without stars or childhood toy tie-ins, who knows how well it will sell.
The Classics It's Alfred Hitchcock's 110th birthday today. He's been in the grave for nearly 30 years but Hitchcock would love to know that he's still terrorizing movie lovers into the 21st century. Terrorizing them in their homes no less. Few auteurs boast a filmography as overflowing with classics. One of my sentimental favorites --though it's hardly sentimental-- is the Leopold & Loeb style experiment Rope (1948). Here's an excerpt of something I wrote on it:
"Though this thriller was made in 1948, it could only read gayer if the men were shirtless or wearing leather harnesses. This, for instance, is how the opening post murder scene plays out...Two men, having just done the dirty deed, argue. The more aggressive man, Brandon, complains that they couldn't do it with the lights on, in the sunshine. His partner in crime, Phillip, has instant regrets. He could only do it in the dark. A cigarette is lit. More small talk and then they stand uncomfortably close together popping the cork (yes, really) on a bottle of champagne.
Phillip: [guilt-ridden] Brandon, how did you feel?
Brandon: When?
Phillip: During it.
Brandon: I don't know really... I don't remember feeling much of anything. [suddenly excited] Until his body went limp and I knew it was over!
Phillip: [trembling] And then...
Brandon: And then I felt...tremendously exhilarated. [Pause]H-h-how did you feel?
Dirty. Hitchcock, the mainstream's most reliably twisted auteur, clearly intends for this post-murder dialogue to double as post-coitus chatter. [read the rest]"
Hitchcock was pathologizing the homosexual but I'm forgiving because he pathologized everything. He was an equal opportunity provocateur. He even curdled Jimmy Stewart's everyman milk. How sick is Jimmy in Vertigo (1958) anyway? Major reparative therapy --no, not that kind -- is required.
What's your favorite Hitchcock film? If you've seen Rope, 'h-h-how did you feel' about it?
I knew you were going to relegate District 9 to the "also playing" bin.
District 9, which looks to be one of the most compelling releases of the year AND is getting phenomenal buzz, is apparently an allegory for apartheid... but I'm sure gay audiences won't relate to that at all.
Posted by: crispy | Aug 13, 2009 5:14:47 PM
i love hitchcock. i'm disappointed more people aren't into his movies anymore. my 3 favorites are rear window (it lulls you with the snappy dialogue and before you realize it, there is more going on than you realized), vertigo (a haunting, psychological thriller/love story) and either shadow of a doubt (be careful who you trust), or lifeboat (claustrophic.)
i found rope (like dial m for murder) kind of boring. the kind of story that looks good on paper, but doesn't really hold up on screen. nothing wrong with it, but nothing really exceptional either. can't wait for the north by northwest blu-ray in november. that's a movie i have only recently started to appreciate.
Posted by: macguffin54 | Aug 13, 2009 5:20:50 PM
Rear Window is my fav. Hitchcock.
Posted by: vinny C | Aug 13, 2009 5:27:40 PM
Hitchcock's Rope is fascinating because it's easily Hitchcock's most experimental film; each shot ran continuously for up to ten minutes without interruption and the editing is sparse, to say nothing of the special set built. Sure the characters are gay but so much more Nietzschean than say, homosexual? Not so out of the ordinary for Hitchcock to use the idea that polished and charming characters often have a deceptive side while exploring the superficial appearance of decency and moral health. That said, North by Northwest is his real triumph.
Posted by: Jocko | Aug 13, 2009 5:31:23 PM
I love "Strangers on a Train", another with Farley Granger; and "The Man Who New Too Much" with Jimmy Stewart and Doris Day. Both involve the transference of guilt (as does "North By Northwest"). There are definately queer overtones to "Strangers" and even a bit of Norman Bates hanging around. I thought "Rope" was OK. The thought of appearing to hold the scene unbroken was supposed to have heighten the tension. But the need to move the camera in, desolve, and then back out for each fil reel broke the tension and became grating for me. Jimmy Stewart was totally mis-cast, while the two "boys" were terrific.
Posted by: Bufordog | Aug 13, 2009 6:02:41 PM
Hitchcok is genius - even his "failures" like "Marnie" are worth watching.
Posted by: jaragon | Aug 13, 2009 6:04:25 PM
i think most of hitchcock's films were experimental to some degree, not the least of which is psycho, where he not only experimented with the look and feel of cheap black and white b-movies, but he broke conventions for his decision to kill off the main character and her storyline and, virtually, start the movie all over again with a completely new plot. the thing that impresses me most about him, however, is he consistency. the last time i checked, he had 10 entries in the top 200 movies on imdb's website. and he has so many other films that are worthy of that list. who else has a track record like that?
Posted by: macguffin54 | Aug 13, 2009 6:27:17 PM
oh, and i love marnie. i'm not sure why, but i do.
Posted by: macguffin54 | Aug 13, 2009 6:28:31 PM
Hitchcock is one of the ten directors whose output I'm working on watching. So far I've only seen Psycho and The Birds (both excellent) but I'm planning on renting The 39 Steps soon. Rope sounds more interesting now. :)
Can't wait for District 9, should be coming to my neck of the woods in a few weeks.
Posted by: Wayne B. | Aug 13, 2009 7:01:17 PM
I for one am a fan of the novel The Time Travelers Wife, and though I will see the film I think choosing Eric Bana to play Henry completely wrong. Then, I don't find Eric Bana the right choice for most of the roles for which he is chosen. I do think I will enjoy a more upbeat ending change though.
I will probably watch spread on television one day. District 9 looks amazing!
I love almost all Hitchcock films, but I love The Trouble With Harry! It was probably Hitchcock's least successful film and a huge departure from his other films, but I think it is just brilliant.
Posted by: Critifur | Aug 13, 2009 7:14:54 PM
"Next up for Sebastian: the Gene Simmons biopic!"
Nah, we've got Hal Sparks for that.
http://tinyurl.com/4wvhdv
http://tinyurl.com/m9ojst
Posted by: Tilly | Aug 13, 2009 7:31:04 PM
I have to agree with Critifur...The Trouble with Harry was the most surprising and disarming Hitchcock I've seen yet, and I've been systematically recording all the offerings on TCM over the last six months. I love the famous ones like Rear Window, The Man Who Knew Too Much (Stewart/Day version) and North by Northwest, was struck by the real darkness of Rope, but nothing yet has been as surprising to me as the matter-of-factness in the way those Vermonters deal with the discovery of a dead body. And they did it with humor. AMAZING.
I'll probably get a lot of flack for this, but The Birds and Vertigo were, for me, stinkers. I didn't enjoy them as much as the others I've named at all. I'm about to watch Notorious...in my TiVo right now!
Posted by: A | Aug 13, 2009 8:43:13 PM
Sebastian Stan was in NBC's "Kings" -- an awesome show that was just too good for network TV, really belonging on HBO or Showtime. It was a fantastic show, with Stan really surprising me in his portrayal of a closeted, overly ambitious prince.
(The Covenant is easily one of the worst movies I've ever seen in my life.... epically bad... I made my friends go see it in the theaters when it first came out and, yes later, I *still* get flack for it when picking out movies).
Posted by: Ryan | Aug 14, 2009 12:21:02 AM
I LOVE Notorious for a great Hitchcock. Its amazingly romantic and thrilling at the same time, and I think its one of his best looking movies. Bergman, Grant and Raines all are at their best.
My second choice is probably Shadow of a Doubt (Cotton is really frightening, and Hitchcock's use of the 'double/twin' theme is really fun.) Followed by Strangers on a Train for third place...the tennis match 'heads' shot is CLASSIC!
Posted by: princely54 | Aug 14, 2009 12:58:19 AM
Cast decide between Vertigo or North by NorthWest for fave Hitchcock film.
Posted by: Hank | Aug 14, 2009 7:01:17 AM
I love much of Hitchcock, but "The Birds" draws me in every time.
"District 9" seems like it should be intriguing - Peter Jackson, and I love sci fi - but for some reason it feels like this season's overhyped film. You know, the one critics adore and is mentioned EVERYWHERE, and then when you see it, you say, "meh." It's being touted as a little movie that just might break into the big time - but for heaven's sake, it's on the cover of EW this week - how little can it be?
Posted by: TonyG | Aug 14, 2009 8:26:13 AM
It's so hard to pick a FAVORITE Hitchcock film. But, I'd have to say North by Northwest is my personal fave followed closely by Rear Window.
You have to love Marnie and The Birds for the campiness. If you try to take them seriously, they lose all entertainment.
Posted by: A.J. | Aug 14, 2009 9:51:40 AM
Oh...Family Plot. Hitchcock's last with Bruce Dern: A camp Classic. Much maligned when it was released, has upon a reivived viewing, revealed it'self to be Hitchcock poking fun at Hitchcock.
The sets, costumes and hair alone make it worth a viewing!
District 9 caught my attention from the first half of the trailer. Then the transformer Robots showed up and I thought:
'Jeebus...can't Studio executive leave gifted filmmakers alone???? Not every film has to be a rip-off of another film!"
Posted by: roger ramjet | Aug 14, 2009 12:53:19 PM
"Psycho" is the sui generis Hitchcock film for me. (I think it's #15 on the AFI list.) There is no other horror film--not "Halloween," not "The Exorcist," nothing--that matches it. I saw it at 16 alone downstairs until 1 in the morning, and was so terrified I could barely climb the stairs (into darkness) to go to bed.
Having said that, "Strangers on a Train" "Rear Window" "Vertigo" "Rebecca" "North By Northwest" "The Birds" "Notorious" "Suspicion" "The Lady Vanishes" "To Catch a Thief" and "The 39 Steps" are all classics. I need to see "Shadow of a Doubt" "Marnie" and "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" at some point, as well as early classics like "The Lodger." Lots of people think "M" was a Hitchcock film--it wasn't, but it's almost the next best thing.
Posted by: Dback | Aug 14, 2009 1:26:37 PM
@tonyg
District 9 is NOT being overhyped. I saw a screening of it on Tuesday in Hollywood and its phenomenal.
Its what science fiction should be. Smart, cynical, and a brutal examination of humanity.
And the lead, Sharlto Copley, is a revelation and grounds the film in a way that an established actor would never be able to do.
I agree that the documentary style was a tad over done, but that is such a small criticism of a film that exceeded my expectations on every level.
Posted by: Scott | Aug 14, 2009 2:42:01 PM
@scott
I don't mean overpraised, I mean over-marketed. Sorta like Twin Peaks was back in the day. I have no doubt that's it's well-done, and probably very good. But the marketing is annoying me; like I said, EW gives it the cover, and then treats it like a little indie breakthrough.
Posted by: TonyG | Aug 14, 2009 4:09:46 PM
Why smear Anne Heche with the crazy label? The woman had a breakdown because she had been raped repeatedly as a child and it finally overcame her.
Get over it! Mental illness is not a sin. Nor is it a label to slap on someone who suffers from a debilitating condition as a scarlet letter.
Posted by: Bob | Aug 14, 2009 5:42:42 PM
From a gay perspective the other must see Hicthcock is "Strangers on a Train".
Posted by: jaragon | Aug 14, 2009 5:53:17 PM
"Notorious" is the perfect Hitchcock film -- suspense without violence, startling depth of character, sensuality without anything overt, romance with a brutal twist, a villain who's more sympathetic than the hero and heroine even when he's trying to kill one of them, psychological intensity, great shots, brilliant camerawork, perfect editing, sharp dialog that STILL holds up. Seriously, has anyone ever seen a film where the simple act of a man caught walking up the steps can cause members of an audience to scream (as they did in a screening I went to of the film in LA)? This is a film where everything fits together perfectly and with such absolute necessity, you can't imagine anything about it being left out.
Posted by: kyle michel sullivan | Aug 14, 2009 6:13:07 PM
@tonyg
Welcome to Hollywood, where a film produced by Peter Jackson can get an indy label to give the media a hook without anyone laughing out loud.
Yeah, its clearly not an indy film, but annoying marketing shouldn't scare you away from an important movie.
Posted by: Scott | Aug 14, 2009 6:21:46 PM