It’s almost the end of 2008, with only seven more weekends on which movies will open, and I feel a certain emptiness in my movie-loving soul. I feel November and December yawning ahead of me, with very few films to get excited about. Everyone’s talking about what a poor Christmas this is going to be, what with nobody having any money to spend on presents, but we gave up exchanging useless trinkets years ago in my family, so that’ll be the same again this year. But no movies to look forward to, or not many, anyway? That’s going to be sad.
Yes, I’m very psyched for Quantum of Solace (now playing in the U.K.; opens wide in the U.S. on November 14), which I’ll see tomorrow night (and maybe get a review up right away afterward, if I can). But I’m more intriguied that psyched for Frost/Nixon (opens limited in the U.S. on December 5; opens in the U.K. on January 9, 2009), which I’ll see tonight: I wasn’t crazy about the play it’s based on, and I’m a tad concerned as to how it’s going to translate to film.
But that’s it for this week. Except for the piles of DVDs already here, and the awards screeners starting to come in. But there’s not much among them that I’ve really thrilled about, either…
MaryAnn – Not movies, and I don’t know how far your remit stretches (or if indeed you wish to add to your DVD stacks) but I wondered if you’ve come across the following two comedy shows in your forays into R2 DVDs? Both are being developed for US re-makes (eep!)
BAFTA-winning “Peep Show” is about two flat mates Mark and Jeremy and has every shot from the point of view of a character (or eg convenient passing dog.) We also get to hear their internal monologues. Contains lots of swearing, drug use, sex. It isn’t for everyone, and I was doubtful when I first came across it, but I was won over by the end of the first episode, if not before. It is also a most quotable show. I do wonder how this will translate to a US version. Available in R2 as separate series or as a box set of 5 Series. (Series 1 is also available for R1.)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_d_h_?url=search-alias%3Ddvd&field-keywords=peep+show
The other one is “Outnumbered” which is centred on the chaos of normal family life. The adults are given scripts but the three (brilliant!) kids are just given an outline to work to, and the result is naturalistic and funny. The first series is out on R2 DVD on 17 November, and Series 2 starts on British BBC1 TV next Saturday.
This is an article by one of its creators, Andy Hamilton, about its premise.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2008/nov/10/outnumbered-kids-animals-film
(No, I don’t work for amazon or the BBC or anything like that! I just enjoy these shows and was moved by your movie blues :-) )
I’m sick and tired of James Bond. was years ago. Caught part of the first Craig Bond on TV a year or so ago and was bored out of my mind.
My husband and daughter, however, will go see it this weekend. *sigh*
I hope Synecdoche, NY gets here soon. I might drive across town to go see Rachel at the Wedding. Otherwise, since The Road’s been pushed off, there’s nothing coming out anytime soon that interests me.