This Film Has Not Yet Been Rated: September's Movie Picks What to watch and why to care. September marks the end of the big summer blockbusters and the beginning of 'prestige time', that golden glow when studios release the kind of pictures you want to go see while wearing a burberry sweater. Please note, this is not a comprehensive film list, as there are plenty of those out there already, but a selection of movies that look personally appealing to me and/or may get overlooked in the Swimfan, Stealing Harvard ( Can we all agree that seeing Tom Green in a preview garauntees will we never, never see the film?) and Sweet Home Alabama crunch. City by the Sea The Players: Robert DeNiro, James Franco, Frances McDormand,Patti Lupone The Pitch: Based on a September 1997 Esquire article by the late Mike McAlary, 'City by the Sea' tells the true story of Vincent Lamarca, an NYPD cop (DeNiro) who's son (Franco) is the prime suspect in the murder case he's investigating. Why you should shell out 10 bux: DeNiro and Franco. While DeNiro is a hit and miss actor (like his doppleganger, Al Pacino, he has the bad habit of phoning in performances), he usually puts his all when working with hot young actors (see Ben Stiller) and Franco is the real deal. Critically aclaimed for his performance as James Dean in the TNT miniseries as well as the most likely candidate for next Spiderman villain, Franco is one of those actors just waiting to break out into super-stardom. Will "City..." canonball him? Script reviews are mixed and the film may be eclipsed by the controversy surrounding how little the film is based on the facts, but throw Frances McDormand in the mix and you've got a compelling family crime drama worth checking out. Dropping: September 6th The Four Feathers The Players: Heath Ledger, Shekhar Kapur (Director, "Elizabeth"), Kate Hudson, Wes Bentley The Pitch: Based on the novel by A.E.W. Mason, this is the fifth version of the movie, the most famous being a 1939 adaptation by Zoltan Korda. The year is 1898. The place: Sudan. When British officer Harry Faversham (Ledger) resigns his post right before a battle between the British and the rebels, his fiance (Hudson) and three friends each give him a white feather to symbolize his cowardice. Of course, our boy is no coward, he's just going undercover, but his actions weave vast consequences for them all. Worth 10 bux?: One word: 'Elizabeth'. Kapur is a master at combining visual excitement with subtle interior intrigue. Paramount is marketing 'Four Feathers' as a big budget action flick, but expect the drama to eclipse the sweeping spectacle. Dropping: September 20th 8 Women The Players:Catherine Deneuve, Fanny Ardant, Emmanuelle Beart, Isabelle Huppert The Pitch: A rich family gathers for Christmas in the late 1950's. Soon, Dad is dead and a farcical whodunit ensues with each of the eight women in his life a suspect with a motive...for murder. Farcical wacky murder! Worth 10 bux?: Look at the primary players again. If you know who they are, your question is answered. If you don't, what better way to get to know France's leading ladies than through this film, already released in France and winner of the Silver Bear at the Berlin Film Festival? Possibly this years "One Foriegn Film Americans Will See" (see Life is Beautiful, Amelie, ad naseum...) Dropping: September 20th Top Pick: The Trials of Henry Kissinger The Players: Eugene Jarecki, Christopher Hitchens, Alexander Haig, Brent Scowcroft, William Safire, Seymour Hersh, William Shawcross..and of course, Kissenger himself. The Pitch: In many ways a response to Hitchens book, 'The Trial of Henry Kissinger', the movie explores the allegations made in the book, namely that Kissengir was involved, orchestrated and is ultimately responsible for the toppeling of Allende in Chile, the massacres by the Suharto in East Timor and the lengthening of the War in Vietnam. Kissinger's supporters (there are many, including our current President) and his detractors get equal share of the time. Five seperate nations seek to depose Kissenger and the ultimate question of the movie is, 'Are war criminals only tried when it suits our own interests?' Worth 10 bux?: Yes. This is my first 'must see' movie of the Fall. It will be running at the Film Forum for two weeks starting September 5th, but will probably get picked up nationwide soon enough. Topical and timely, this movie may shed light on the question many Americans are asking themselves, 'Why do they hate us so much?' Go see it. Dropping: NYC: September 25th Elsewhere: TBA

posted by Japhy at 9/05/2002 10:09:00 AM || #