mommas man Tagged Articles at Cinematical
Spin-ematical: New on DVD for 5/5
Filed under: Action », Classics », Comedy », Drama », Foreign Language », Independent », Music & Musicals », Mystery & Suspense », New on DVD », Home Entertainment », Cinematical Indie »
No skipping this week! Bump a couple of these up to "buy" if your budget allows.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
F. Scott Fitzgerald's short story of a man who ages backwards becomes a staggering, three-hour demonstration of superb make-up and seamless computer effects under the direction of David Fincher. Despite the length, only one note is played -- everyone else's pity for "poor Benjamin" -- while the man himself (Brad Pitt) remains a frustrating cipher. With Cate Blanchett and Taraji P. Henson. Also on Blu-ray. Rent it.
Add to Netflix queue | Buy at Amazon
Last Chance Harvey
While in London for his daughter's wedding, New York jingle-writer Dustin Hoffman romances Emma Thompson. "A movie for grown-ups, but not in that clammy, Oscar-craving way that would make it untenable; it's a movie about people that takes place in the real world," said James Rocchi in his review for Cinematical. Directed by Joel Hopkins. Also on Blu-ray. Rent it.
Add to Netflix queue | Buy at Amazon
Wendy and Lucy
Michelle Williams stars as "a down-on-her-luck girl who's hoping to turn things around for herself with a summer job at a fishing cannery in Alaska," wrote Kim Voynar in her Cinematical review. When her car breaks down and her beloved dog goes missing in a small town in Oregon, she is "forced to make a series of increasingly difficult choices, and to rely upon the kindness (or not) of strangers to resolve her plight." Directed by Kelly Reichardt (the superb Old Joy), who "excels at capturing these small, very human moments in the overall stories of her characters' lives." Rent it.
Add to Netflix queue | Buy at Amazon
After the jump: Indies on DVD, Blu-ray, and Collector's Corner!
Indie Spotlight: New Releases for August 22
Filed under: Documentary », Horror », Independent », New Releases », Cinematical Indie », Indie Spotlight »
These are the times (i.e., late August) that try movie-lovers' souls. But if this week's multiplex offerings are lackluster, don't forget about the art houses! The Indie Spotlight is here every Friday to let you know what's opening in "select cities," keeping you informed so you know which titles to look out for when you're in the mood for something different. This week's indie releases, in alphabetical order, are: Cthulhu, I.O.U.S.A., Momma's Man, and Trouble the Water. Here's the scoop on each of them:
I.O.U.S.A.
What it is: A documentary about America's debt crisis, from the director of the crossword puzzle documentary Wordplay.
What they're saying: All the reviews at Rotten Tomatoes so far are positive, praising it for making a dull subject lively and for getting its point across effectively.
Where it's playing: About 20 theaters in and around New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Dallas, Miami, Kansas City, Omaha, Chicago, and Washington D.C.
Official site: You owe it to yourself.
'Momma's Man' Won't Bite the THINKFilm Dust
Filed under: Comedy », Drama », Independent », Deals », Distribution », Cinematical Indie »
There seems to be no end to THINKFilm's monetary problems, which have plagued not only the company, but also the productions that have been picked up by the ailing business. But at least one of them has found a way out.The Hollywood Reporter posts that Momma's Man has received a handy life preserver from the likes of Kino International, an independent film distributor. The film, which was acquired by THINKFilm back in March (an acquisition announcement was made, but producers say that negotiations were ongoing), had premiered at Sundance this year.
Momma's Man, which sounds reminiscent of Full Grown Men, focuses on a man (Matt Boren) who decides to escape from his life. During a business trip to New York, the guy visits his parents, "and decides to stay, leaving his wife and child behind." Filmmaker Azazel Jacobs even cast his own parents in the film -- underground filmmaker Ken Jacobs and Flo Jacobs.
The film will get a limited release in New York on August 22, and LA on September 5, before a DVD release in early 2009.* Now I can only hope the rest of the pictures find similar luck. The company might be in trouble monetarily, but they know how to pick interesting features.
*Assumed 2009, as THR says "early 2008 DVD release."
Sundance Review: Momma's Man
Filed under: Independent », Sundance », Theatrical Reviews », Cinematical Indie »
For the first half or so of Momma's Man, I wasn't sure I was going to like the film all that much. It is about a guy named Mikey, who, while on a holiday trip to visit his parents in New York, decides not to return home to his wife and infant daughter. Admittedly, my tolerance for watching another "man who can't or won't grow up" film is fairly low, but I'd heard such good things about this film that I decided to stick it out, and I'm glad I did.
Mikey (Matt Boren) goes home to NYC to visit his parents, but when it's time to go, he inexplicably turns around on his way to the airport and returns to his parents' apartment. He tells his folks and his wife that there were issues with his flight, and settles back in, saying he just wants to stay another day, maybe two. And then the days stretch out, and Mikey makes more and more excuses for not going home.
Jeremy Renner Wants To Be An Avenger
Directors We Love: Jim Jarmusch
Indie Roundup: 'Sweetgrass,' 'Clarkworld,' 'Broken Embraces'
Shelf Life: Fight Club_thumbnail.jpg)
Watch: Famous 'Matrix' Scene Re-Created with LEGOs
_thumbnail.jpg)
