It’s that time again for TGITDNMAR, which (obviously) stands for Thank God It’s The Day New Movies Are Released.
I Don’t Know How She Does It
It’s wildly en vogue to hate on Sarah Jessica Parker. Much of it is probably deserved, as Sex and the City 2 is purportedly an abomination (an opinion I can surely buy) and it’s not as if her big screen choices post-SATC have been all that stellar. Perhaps even more so, people think she’s got a horse face and/or is trying to be decades younger than she appears, etc., etc. But I don’t believe I’m going to jump on the bandwagon this time.
I had a crush on SJP from the moment I first saw her. It wasn’t in the theater, but it couldn’t have been much later than 1987 the first time I saw Flight of the Navigator. She was the hot, older woman to the film’s protagonist (his character was about 12 and hers was probably 17), and he liked her just the same as I did. Her film career was up and down after that – great in L.A. Story, alright in Striking Distance, pretty good in Honeymoon in Vegas (from what little I recall), and probably good in Ed Wood (never saw it). SATC came along, though, and she went from being the “kinda cute, kinda butterfaced-girl with the nice boobs” to being “CARRIE! BRADSHAW!”
Over the next decade or so, that character went from being a charming journalist who wrote frankly about the sexcapades of her friends and herself to a vapid, materialist wench that nobody liked anymore, and who could blame them? That mentality seemed to transfer from Carrie to Sarah, and doesn’t seem to have gone away since.
Look, I don’t really have an interest in this flick, either, but I saw the trailer and (despite the pounding it’s getting critically thus far), I applaud the fact that it appears to be about real people with real problems…and c’mon, look at that supporting cast (Kinnear, Brosnan, Christina Hendricks, Kelsey Grammer, Jane Curtin, Seth Meyers, etc.). Maybe one day, for the memory of the Navigator, I’ll give it a shot.
Ok, probably not. But that sounded nice, right?
Dylan’s Chance of Viewing (in the theater): 13%
Drive
Speaking of that title above, I keep thinking to myself that the title of this film should be “I Don’t Know How He Does It,” with the “he” in question being, I don’t know, director Nicholas Winding Refn. It doesn’t matter who the he is; my point is, how did this flick get a wide release? With 2,886 theaters (according to Box Office Mojo), it’s the third widest release of the weekend.
Did someone not get the memo that this is an art film? Yes, action art film but an art film nonetheless.
In fact, I shouldn’t be nearly so surprised. Its mood, theater count and even production budget are all strikingly similar to last year’s The American, which had a budget of $20 million (vs. $13 million for Drive) and went on to make $35 million domestically. Even better for Drive, it looks to be heavier on the action and lighter on the art house – the chief complaint from audiences expecting The Bourne Identity out of The American. Throw in a younger star (who, wildly coincidentally will be seen next with Clooney himself in The Ides of March) and you may have the recipe for an even bigger hit.
Oh, and by the way, I think it looks kickass and is currently #1 on my “films I must see” list, which ought to give you a good guesstimate as to what the percentage below will be.
Dylan’s Chance of Viewing (in the theater): 100%
Straw Dogs
I pretty much already made this rant on a recent LAMBcast, so I’m sorry if you’re hearing this for the second time (or will be in the future):
Although I’m perfectly fine with studios remaking films, the poster for this film really bothers me. Films are remade for any number of reasons (mostly financial), but I don’t think too many of us see them as duplicates of their predecessors. For whatever reason the film was remade, the creative forces behind the remake are usually trying to do their own thing, to put a stamp on the story that rings true to them or the times or whatever. They are not, unless their name is Gus van Sant and this is Psycho, attempting shot-for-shot remakes. So what’s with the downright theft of the original’s poster concept?
Would it have been that hard to come up with something new?
Dylan’s Chance of Viewing (in the theater): 3%
Wayne (8)
Andrew (6)
Josh (6)
John (5)
Steve (5)
Dave Enkosky (4)
Justin (4)
Lauren (3)
Nick (3)
3guys1movie (2)
I had a big crush on SJP in Hocus Pocus (despite the fact she was super daft in that movie).
I still don’t understand all the #1 most anticipated film of the year with Drive. I think it looks cool and hope that it’s good and all… but the trailer doesn’t scream “OMG BEST THING EVER MADE” to me. And I know I’m not alone on that. I’m still gonna see it, though.
I need to see the original Straw Dogs, but I am anticipating this one, as well… mostly for 2 reasons. I love movies where the weakling dork becomes a badass (like the last 20 minutes of the Hills Have Eyes remake). And Alexander Skarsgard is in this.
I went to see Drive on Friday. It’s totally awesome. Everyone needs to check it out.
Twitter: joelburman
September 17, 2011 11:20 am
I really try to avoid the trailer, I’ve heard its spoily!
Twitter: manilovefilms
September 17, 2011 10:40 pm
I’m not quite there with you, but it’s pretty damn cool. The slowness and quietness of some of the scenes was killing me. I understand why it was that way, but it was almost painful during a few scenes between Gosling and Mulligan.
Twitter: manilovefilms
September 17, 2011 10:38 pm
I saw Drive tonight. No, it’s not the best thing ever made, but I think you’re missing the point. How many action flicks are out there that don’t continually bang your head with the dum-dum stick? This is essentially exactly what we thought it was: The Transporter With a Brain, or at least not so silly. Some people prefer The Transporter, others will prefer this. I compare it above to The American, and think the comparison is pretty apt. I heard people muttering after the movie tonight about it (they were not fans), and I can virtually guarantee they’re the same people that were bitching about The American being “the most boring movie ever” after walking out of that one.
I think you might hear more overhyping of Drive because of the movie blogosphere – we (collectively) are more prone to being hip to this than most action flicks.
I’d say Haywire is probably in this ballpark, too, or at least close to it.
Daft. You Brit.
This is a heyday for me in commenting on others’ sites; one of the blessings of my first vacation in a year.
SJC is a weird case – it’s not because of age, because I thought she was gorgeous in L.A.S, but she was barely older for the wretched Striking Distance, and she looked positively horse-faced there.
I’m also on-board with your description of Sex & The City. HBO shows in particular have this weird disease where they get successful and lose all sight of their premise and get their heads stuck up their own asses. Like The Sopranos and Entourage, SATC started out as a new and interesting story that devolved into un-ironic lifestyle porn. I don’t have any issues with her or her looks (that’s cheap), but I’d need a better incentive than the trailer to see her movies. You’re right, she makes bad decisions.
A Straw Dogs remake, with promos that sound like The Baptism of Emily Rose or Paranormal Activity? Ugh. You’ve neatly described the two schools of thought in the latest remakes. Sometimes, it’s an artistic endeavor or update, other times… Nightmare On Elm Street.
Driver has a solid rep and looks great. It’s the only new release that’s got a chance of getting me in the theater.
Twitter: manilovefilms
September 17, 2011 10:42 pm
Un-ironic lifestyle porn. I like that.
Indeed, I stopped watching Entourage a few years ago, just like I stopped watching SATC a year or two before it stopped as well. I’m gonna say stopped one more time before I stop.
Drive is indeed worth your money.
The “horse face” thing annoys me. Let’s face it, if we knew her in everyday life SJP would be a perfectly normal looking reasonably attractive woman. But because she deviates faintly from the idealised norm she’s constantly ridiculed about her looks.
It’s very sexist. It doest happen with Nic Cage, who’s similarly odd looking.
It totally does, as it does with Buscemi. But some people will kiss anybody’s ass because they’re famous (and/or talented, sigh)… You just actually hear it a lot more in regards to SJC…
Twitter: manilovefilms
September 17, 2011 10:42 pm
Allow me to just say that Nic Cage is one ugly motherfucker. I think “hangdog” is the proper term. Buscemi looks like a weasel.
Yay Dan!
Twitter: ftstweets
September 19, 2011 1:36 pm
I don’t have as big of a SJP hate as most. I particularly liked her in The Family Stone which might be underrated (or not?). But IDKHSDI (whew) does not strike me as a movie about /real/ people with /real/ problems. I mean yeah really rich people are real, but not so much as a single mother working three part time jobs to try to stay above water. Those are reaaaaal problems. Not so much missing your kids while they’re with their nanny. Still, I will probably watch at least some of this movie when it hits premium cable.
Drive was pretty kickass but definitely not for everyone. A lot of laughs were heard in the theater during the serious/artsy scenes. I LOLed at your “I Don’t Know How He Does It” though and totally see a parallel between Clooney and Gosling.
Dustin Hoffman > James Marsden.
-Jess