Independent film allows for new filmmakers to arrive with a bang. With “Bellflower,” the debut of Evan Glodell, there really existed the opportunity to have that bang given all the flashy pyrotechnics his film had to offer. Yet in spite of all the noise, the movie heralds the arrival of a new voice … and it arrives with a thud.
The movie proves that it’s going to take a long time for a mumblecore action movie to work. The new film movement, one that glorifies the DIY, cinema verite styles that have propelled a generation of attention-craving opportunists with cameras to fame via YouTube, is still in its infancy. It doesn’t know what it is. It doesn’t know what it can be.
But you know what, good for Glodell for taking the risk. But for the sake of my eyes and ears, he was the wrong person to take it. If anyone is going to combine one of the least mainstream movements in film with the most formulaic, adrenaline-pumped genre today, let it be the Duplass brothers. With “Cyrus,” they proved that their style of comedy can be a modern, stammering, meandering answer to the über-literate that dominate the substantive ranks of the genre (I’m talking Woody Allen, Alexander Payne, and company.)
Glodell and pals can’t even figure out how to reproduce even the slightest authenticity in human conversation. Every interaction between characters always ends with a shouting match of who can scream the F-bomb the loudest. If you’ve lived a second in the real world, you know that’s just not how it goes.
I could care less about whatever the characters had to say, so naturally I couldn’t be bothered to care about what they do. Their dialogue doesn’t articulate what they want, and the actors don’t bring any revelations to light. And if it’s all just about style, about cool shots and explosions, then the mumblecore movement may have just found its answer to Michael Bay. I don’t care if he’s on the totally opposite side of the spectrum; anyone that crazy needs to be kept far away from a camera. D /
Hard to believe we can see the light at the end of the tunnel that is summer 2011. So, here’s what to look forward to – or not – in the month of August.
August 5
“The Change-Up” – it’s “Freaky Friday,” but rated R and starring two dudes. We’ll see how this goes.
Meanwhile, I’m still trying to figure out why on earth James Franco is doing “Rise of the Planet of the Apes.” Between getting two doctorate degrees and just receiving an Oscar nomination, you would think he would have the smarts and the options to avoid making a movie like this for money or for résumé. Then again, everyone nowadays has to go to drastic measures to pay for higher education in this country.
I feel like I have to embed the trailer for “Bellflower” rather than just link to it, simply because I can tell it isn’t trying to be like some other movie just to sell tickets.
Being a fan of both the novel and the film “One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest,” I have to see “Magic Trip,” Alex Gibney’s latest documentary which spotlights the book’s author Ken Kesey and his band of Merry Pranksters in the 1960s.
August 10/12
Getting a head start on the weekend by opening on Wednesday is “The Help,” which looks to be a late-summer sleeper, hoping to please the oft-neglected female crowd by adapting a best-selling book. But with this one looking to be less geared towards one gender and even a potential awards play, this could outgross “Green Lantern” or other summer flops.
The premise of “30 Minutes or Less” feels, quite frankly, a little recycled. But since it boasts the comedic talents of Aziz Ansari (the funniest part of “Parks & Recreation”), Danny McBride (the best part of “Pineapple Express“), and Jesse Eisenberg being reteamed with the director of the hilariously awesome “Zombieland,” it may end up being pretty good.
And because “THE Final Destination” wasn’t final enough, there’s “Final Destination 5,” which is shot in 3D. Too bad the title “the 3D event of the summer” was already taken – and I don’t think they could stretch it into 5 dimensions quite yet. There’s also a “Glee” concert movie in 3D in case you haven’t spent enough buying their singles on iTunes.
August 19
Is it just me, or does “Fright Night” = “Disturbia” + zombies? Also, Anton Yelchin is keeping crazy busy. He beat unemployment.
As for a last big summer action movie, count me out for “Conan the Barbarian.” You can even count me out for the inevitable Arnold Schwarzenegger classics marathon that will be running all weekend on Spike. I think I’ll pass on the latest “Spy Kids” movie as well, which is a TOTAL sell-out of a series that I actually loved when I was 8. Aroma-scope? Gross.
August 26
I will see ANY movie with Paul Rudd, so “Our Idiot Brother” is a must-see for me. It’s only made better by the fact that it played at Sundance to a great deal of acclaim. Huzzah!
There is no trailer available yet for “Higher Ground” (grr!), but I think this may be my must-see movie of August … because I probably won’t get to see it until December. Vera Farmiga’s directorial debut, a religious movie, just Vera Farmiga in general – sign me up!
In other indie news, the 2010 TIFF debut “Brighton Rock,” Rowan Joffe’s remake of the old British film, finally sees release in America. “Chasing Madoff” looks like a sleek documentary, but I’m wondering what will distinguish it from the perfectly good “Frontline” special on PBS that unfurled his whole story. “Circumstance” brings Iranian youth to the screen, and again I have to wonder what makes this any different than a live action version of “Persepolis” set in the present day.
I wasn’t the biggest “Pan’s Labyrinth” enthusiast, so Guillermo del Toro’s “Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark” isn’t necessarily high on my list for the weekend. Nor is “Colombiana,” the Zoe Saldana-starrer which looks like a carbon copy of Luc Besson’s “The Professional.” Oh, it’s also directed by him … coincidence? I think NOT!
So, what do you think will please crowds in August? Are you looking for one last bang from the summer – or for it to just end already? Sound off in the comments AND take the poll!
Marshall and the Movies 
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