Sifting through the new movies coming to Macon this week (the best part of my job), I noticed there was a surprise (at least to me) among the usual March misery.
I have to confess the name Scott Frank didn't mean anything to me at first glance, but it turns out he wrote the script for "Out of Sight," possibly the coolest movie of all time. I'm sure that can be debated, but if you add up J-Lo and Clooney flirting, Don Cheadle as a prison boxer who throws all his fights, Steve Zahn in his funniest role and Albert Brooks as the target of their heist, it all just works perfectly for me.
Along with "Out of Sight," he also was a writer for the Karen Sisco TV spinoff starring Carla Gugino that unfortunately didn't go anywhere. Now, with "The Lookout," he makes his directorial debut this Friday.
The story sounds pretty straightforward. According to the IMDB, "Chris (Joseph Gordon-Levitt, the least annoying person on the very annoying "Third Rock from the Sun") is a once-promising high school athlete whose life is turned upside down following a tragic accident. As he tries to maintain a normal life, he takes a job as a janitor at a bank, where he ultimately finds himself caught up in a planned heist.
Frank also wrote the script for this one, which also stars Jeff Daniels and Carla Gugino (who I'll gladly watch do just about anything.) Besides, what else is there to watch this weekend in wide-release land? "Blades of Glory"? I'll wait for DVD. "Meet the Robinsons"? Ditto. "Peaceful Warrior"? I think I have the strength to just say no.
But with "The Lookout," we should get a one-week respite from this sea of mediocrity. Don't get too comfortable, though. The only movie in wide release next week? Ice Cube does home improvement. Sheesh.
Spinal Tap tonight in Macon
One of our Web gurus, Ryan Gilchrest, turned to me the other day and said, "I assume you'll be going to see this, right?" Well, if I can get out of The Telegraph by 7, and that's a big if, I indeed will be there for this rare appearance of "This is Spinal Tap" on a big screen.
It's hard to tell from the Cox Capital Theatre site exactly what time it starts, but if you get there by 7 you should be fine. Belgian beer, great pizza and one of the funniest movies ever made? I'm there, and if you live in Macon, you should be too.
"28 Weeks Later" trailer
When I heard they were gonna make a sequel to "28 Days Later" without Danny Boyle as the director I had strong doubts, but I've decided to give in to hope that this won't just suck. Besides, I love zombie movies, and Boyle's still on board in some capacity. Plus you get Robert Carlyle and Harold Perrineau, and in the trailer, the carnage is unleashed with the line "We've lost control. Kill them all." Enjoy the trailer, and have an entirely bearable Wednesday.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Be on "The Lookout" for this one
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17 comments:
I'm gonna give The Lookout a shot. Mainly because of Joseph Gordon Levitt. His turn in Mysterious Skin was, for my money, the best performance of last year--er, two years ago. And Out of Sight is one of my favorites--it never fails to entertain.
As for 28 Weeks Later, I liked the original, but I think I'll be skipping the sequel.
''Out of Sight," possibly the coolest movie of all time.''
I am also in the same boat as you, I have always loved 'Out of sight' but have often had people look at me funny when I admit it!
I loved everything about it! The cast, the script, the soundtrack. I have three of the tunes, the David Holmes made 'Tub scene', 'No more time outs' and 'Trunk scene' on my 'atmospheric' play list, very funky stuff.
I don't know why I love the movie as much as I do though, maybe there is an 'Out of sight' support group out there for this??
There must be, eklof, because this movie brings out more fans with its mere mention than almost any other I can think of
I hadn't heard of Mysterious Skin until now, Jeremy, but I'm gonna see about Netflixing it .. thanks for the heads up
Adore Out of Sight. Adore 28 Days Later. Adore Robert Carlyle. Maybe this sequel accidentally has a shot. I mean, there have been great sequels that work the "bigger, faster, more monsters" quite well. Aliens, T2.... others.
Judging from the trailer, Carrie, that's definitely what they're going for with the sequel, so I hope it somehow all works out, against stiff odds
Gugino........Hawt!
Big fan of 28 DL and can only hope that a sequel won't dissappoint.....
Scott Frank is one of the best writers out there. Besides "Out of Sight," he also wrote the scripts for "Dead Again," "Minority Report," and "Get Shorty." He's also got some criminally underrated gems with "Malice" (The stupidity of it is just brilliant), "Flight of the Phoenix," and 1988's detective comedy, "Plain Clothes." So, that alone will get me in the theater.
Then on top of that you've got the hotness factor, Carla Gugino and Isla Fisher. Plus Joseph Gordon Levitt who with "Mysterious Skin" and one of last year's best, "Brick," is ranking up as one of our better young leading actors. With all of this coolness involved, the only problem is how can this thing go anywhere but down? Let's hope not.
"Peaceful Warrior"? I think I have the strength to just say no.
It's an okay movie. I reviewed it last summer, and for whatever reason it was delayed. If anyone is interested, see it for free this weekend anywhere it's being shown by going here. No joke.
I'm not sure a free ticket is gonna be enough to entice me, Neel ... Just the idea of Nick Nolte as some kind of scruffy mystic who has wisdom to share is too unbelievable to swallow
I'm looking forward to "The Lookout".
Not sure if you've heard it but the guys over at posted an interview with the director and some of the cast in last week's podcast.
As for Mysterious Skin, it was good but difficult to watch in some scenes.
Sorry for the long link. I managed to forget to close the tag.
oops
No need to apologize, Marina ... I'll definitely check out the podcast when I get a chance .. thanks for the link
The Lookout is near the top of my list for anticipated movies of '07. After Brick being my favorite movie of last year, I can't wait to see Gordon-Levitt in another noir/crime caper. Wouldn't have thought it coming from '3rd Rock', but this guy can act.
And I'm a big fan of Out of Sight as well. Cool flick, and one where everything just works.
I thought "The Lookout" was great. Terrific performances by everyone, including Gordon-Levitt, who I think is up there with Ryan Gosling as one of the most arresting and talented young actors working today. I hope you saw "Brick." And I would also recommend "Manic," along with the very disturbing "Mysterious Skin."
In "The Lookout," Matthew Goode is also sensationally feral, and Isla (from "The Wedding Crashers" and engaged to Sasha Baron Cohen) Fisher and Jeff Daniels are also terrific. First-time director Frank does a great job with his own smart and tightly structured script.
As for "Peaceful Warrior," I thought it was just awful. You can see here my "against" argument when it was nominated for a Beliefnet award.
I have seen Brick, Nell, and it is indeed a nearly perfect flick ... It's always great to see a kid who can survive the often ridiculous world of sitcom TV to become a real actor, so I'm definitely psyched to see this Saturday morning ..
Out of Sight is one of my all-time top 10 faves. I've made it my personal mission in life to champion this film and help people see past the poor packaging and marketing it was released with.
I have to admit to selling the screenwriter short, attributing most of the magic to the director, the source material and one of the best casts ever assembled. If ever there were a case to be made for an ensemble acting Oscar, this is it, IMO.
In any case, I'm definitely rooting for Scott Frank and look forward to seeing The Lookout.
i really liked 'out of sight'. i am a j-lo fan, (yes, even the stuff like 'maid in manhattan'!) and have 'an unfinished life' upstairs to watch when i get a chance. i liked the series that came from 'out of sight' and watched it until it went away, so maybe i will give 'the lookout' a shot too. glad to hear there is a '28 days later' sequel! i like those zombies too!
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