E: Ah, October. The leaves change color, and the serious movies come out – along with a few would be nightmares. There are more than a few offerings this month to keep you warm on a chilly fall evening – or to keep you jumping out of your seat. Enjoy!
October 7th
Real Steel
E: Starring Hugh Jackman and Evangeline Lilly, the story of a boy and his Dad and their over-sized metal Rock’em Sock’em Robots.
M: Okay, so, I know this will probably be pretty bad, but I’m interested. I like the look of it, like the two main stars, and heard the director and writer saying that they wanted the robot boxing part to be interchangeable with any sport, like ping pong or something, because they wanted the movie to really be about the story of the father and son. If they pull that off and the Rock’em Sock’em Robots are cool? Smells like a good flick.
C: I’m sure that, for what it’s trying to be, it has the capacity to be quite good. The inspirational sports movie is a genre that many, many people love. I’ll catch it on DVD.
E: Apparently Sugar Ray Leonard taught Jackman how to box, and that’s cool, at least.
M: Speaking as a total Boston homer… it would have been cooler if it had been Marvelous Marvin Hagler, but I suppose Leonard is an acceptable replacement if Hagler wasn’t available or willing. :)
The Ides of March
E: I’m so thrilled about this thriller. It’s got a stellar cast: George Clooney, Ryan Gosling, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Giamatti, Evan Rachel Wood, Jennifer Ehle, Marissa Tomei and Jeffrey Wright. And intrigue during political campaigns – that’s always got my attention.
C: Written and directed by George Clooney, too. I enjoy his last directorial foray, the underrated Leatherheads, and love his other writing/directing outing, Good Night and Good Luck. So that bodes well…
M: I am inherently dubious of most political movies Hollywood puts out (since there is basically one political point of view in Hollywood) and am highly skeptical about anything political involving George Clooney specifically. HOWEVER, this looks like it could be really, really good, and looks like they are not trying to just make one political side look good, and in fact are looking at the whole system and the moral fiber of any individual in it, which is a great topic no matter the side of the aisle the person is on. Gosling has serious Oscar buzz around his performance, and with the exception of Hoffman (who just annoys the crap out of me in everything I’ve ever seen him in) I like everyone on that list, especially Giamatti. Here’s hoping this one succeeds!
