Weekend Movie Releases
Katie Meyer
Issue date: 9/20/06 Section: Arts & Entertainment
The leaves are changing color and the air is remarkably cooler, yet the fall movie season is just heating up. This week a handful of promising films open.
All the Kings Men, starring Jude Law, Sean Penn, and Patricia Clarkson and directed by Steven Zallian, opens nationwide on Friday. The film is a remake of the 1949 Oscar winner, and tells the story of southern populist Willie Stark (Penn). With an all-star cast and a veteran director, a strong box-office debut is expected. The real question on everyone's mind, however, is if the film has the potential and longevity to be a strong Oscar contender this winter.
The Science of Sleep, starring Gael Garcia Bernal, is Michel Gondry's newest project. The film revolves around Stéphane's (Garcia Bernal) inability to separate his dreams from reality. Thanks to his stunning performance in The Motorcycle Diaries, Garcia Bernal is often credited as the best actor of his generation. Similarly, Gondry has quickly become one of independent film's golden boys after his brilliant direction in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. With a killer cast and an imaginative director, Sleep could take art-house theaters by storm and become the fall's first and biggest sleeper hit.
American Hardcore directed by Paul Rachman is a documentary that examines the Punk rock movement from 1980-1986. While the film might not be number one at the box-office, it could be the season's choice documentary because of Rachman's stellar resume and the American public's fascination with the dead subculture.
Renaissance is a French thriller about a woman (Catherine McCormack) determined to find her missing sister. The film is being revered for its stunning black and white animation. Although the critical buzz is strong, movie analysts are not expecting a strong box-office run. Its studio is hoping to gain most of its profits from the DVD sales, which suggests that this film has the potential to be one of American cinema's many cult classics.
Jackass: Number Two, a sequel to 2002's Jackass and a spin-off of the MTV television series, stars Johnny Knoxville. The film, in hopes of cashing in on the franchise, returns one more time with new sidesplitting and dangerous stunts. Chances are the movie wont be taking home any Oscars, but it should be popular amongst the male teenage demographic.
All the Kings Men, starring Jude Law, Sean Penn, and Patricia Clarkson and directed by Steven Zallian, opens nationwide on Friday. The film is a remake of the 1949 Oscar winner, and tells the story of southern populist Willie Stark (Penn). With an all-star cast and a veteran director, a strong box-office debut is expected. The real question on everyone's mind, however, is if the film has the potential and longevity to be a strong Oscar contender this winter.
The Science of Sleep, starring Gael Garcia Bernal, is Michel Gondry's newest project. The film revolves around Stéphane's (Garcia Bernal) inability to separate his dreams from reality. Thanks to his stunning performance in The Motorcycle Diaries, Garcia Bernal is often credited as the best actor of his generation. Similarly, Gondry has quickly become one of independent film's golden boys after his brilliant direction in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. With a killer cast and an imaginative director, Sleep could take art-house theaters by storm and become the fall's first and biggest sleeper hit.
American Hardcore directed by Paul Rachman is a documentary that examines the Punk rock movement from 1980-1986. While the film might not be number one at the box-office, it could be the season's choice documentary because of Rachman's stellar resume and the American public's fascination with the dead subculture.
Renaissance is a French thriller about a woman (Catherine McCormack) determined to find her missing sister. The film is being revered for its stunning black and white animation. Although the critical buzz is strong, movie analysts are not expecting a strong box-office run. Its studio is hoping to gain most of its profits from the DVD sales, which suggests that this film has the potential to be one of American cinema's many cult classics.
Jackass: Number Two, a sequel to 2002's Jackass and a spin-off of the MTV television series, stars Johnny Knoxville. The film, in hopes of cashing in on the franchise, returns one more time with new sidesplitting and dangerous stunts. Chances are the movie wont be taking home any Oscars, but it should be popular amongst the male teenage demographic.