You can tell that summer is over. None of this week's openings have had a heck of a lot of promotion, and none have the high hopes of being a blockbuster. This is a good time of year to trot out those films which have the potential of being a sleeper hit without the pressure of a big budget picture breathing down its neck. The new offerings this weekend feature vigilante justice, fantastic creatures tearing up Los Angeles, and a sadistic gym teacher. Could be fun!
The Brave One. (2007, 122 minutes, R, thriller, trailer) Hot on the heels of Death Sentence comes another film centering on revenge. This time its Jodie Foster at the center of the action. A brutal attack leaves her wounded and her fiancee (Naveen Andrews) dead. Following this life-altering event, Foster takes to the dark streets in search of those responsible. This looks good, and Foster has the power to open a movie, but is this too close in theme to the box office disappointment of Death Sentence? Neil Jordan directs; his last film was Breakfast on Pluto although he is probably best known for The Crying Game and Interview with the Vampire.
Dragon Wars. (2007, 107 minutes, PG-13, science fiction, trailer) A Korean production that is clearly aimed at the international, mainly American market, brings a Korean legend of creatures fated to wreak havoc. The trailer looks like a load of cheesy fun. I can only hope that is right. Seriously, it could go either way and while neither option seems to point towards a good film, there is a definite possibility of fun. If I recall correctly, this film has been in production for a number of years with a stop and start production schedule. Jason Behr of Roswell fame stars.
Mr. Woodcock. (2006, 87 minutes, PG-13, comedy, trailer) Here is another film with a troubled production schedule that began life a few years ago. Word has it that the studio was not happy with the resulting film and ordered extensive rewrites that resulted in months of re-shoots. While Craig Gillespie is credited as director, little of the final product is actually his. Anyway, it stars Seann William Scott, who was tormented by Billy Bob Thornton as a young boy. The torture forged him into a best-selling author of self help books. He returns home to find his old nemesis engaged to his mother, played by Susan Sarandon. I don't know whether to laugh or to cry.
Article comments
1 - Chris Beaumont
I have a strong feeling my Dragon Wars guesstimate will be way high. This is based on the anecdotal evodence that I saw it opening night with three other people in the theater. It may even fail to crack top ten....