Just got home from a screening of Bobcat Goldthwait’s newest film, World’s Greatest Dad, starring Robin Williams. While I really enjoyed the film, it is not without its problems. The acting, particularly from the kids playing the students, is downright awful. Some of the adult leads aren’t much better. The plot meanders for much of the first half of the film which makes it appear to be a pretty standard and dull comedy.But once a rather big plot point occurs the films truly becomes a darkly brilliant comedic film.
Williams is great, as he often is when he isn’t playing to his standard schtick, and the film played surprisingly well to the midwestern audience in attendance. Considering how racy the film can be, I found that a bit surprising, but very pleased. World’s Greatest Dad also works as a perfect compliment to a very iconic 80’s film, that shall remain nameless so as to not spoil the film.
Word of warning, the trailer for the film only draws from the first half of the film, which is both a bonus and a detriment, as it makes the film appear to be rather bland when in actuality it is both biting and inventive, as well as being incredibly dark at times. I highly recommend the film, and hopefully it will be playing somewhere near you so you get a chance to check out this fantastic dark satire.
Sadly the film has had its release here in Minneapolis pushed, so it will no longer be opening this Friday, September 4th. Hopefully on the next booking sheet it will have its new release date listed, as this movie is far too interesting to not get a release.
Few new additions to the list but a bunch of movies are shuffled around to new locations and new release dates. Their are two big additions though, The Edina’s 75th Anniversary bash just got a little bigger with a screening of The Adventures of Robin Hood scheduled for Saturday August 29th. I’m relatively certain it is going to be an early show so parents can bring their kids to see it. Word on the street is they are trying to book a show for Thursday night as well. A little birdie told me that they are pursueing a whale for that slot. Wonder what that could be? Hmm.
The other big addition is Thirst on September 4th. Chan-wook Park’s latest is scheduled to open at The Lagoon, but I wouldn’t be suprised if it eventually opens at The Uptown if it starts gaining some buzz.
*** – Denotes recommended viewing
All dates subject to change
06/26 Cheri Edina
06/26 The Country Teacher Lagoon
06/26 The Stoning of Soraya M. Uptown
07/01 Public Enemies Lagoon
07/03 MOON Uptown (NEW DATE)***
07/03 The Girl From Monaco Edina
07/03 Whatever Works Lagoon
07/10 The Hurt Locker Uptown***
07/10 Bruno Lagoon***
07/10 Jerichow Edina
07/17 Treeless Mountain Lagoon
07/17 The Merry Gentlemen Edina (tentative)
07/17 Tetro Edina (tentative) (NEW DATE)***
07/24 500 Days of Summer Uptown
07/24 Betty Blue: The Director’s Cut Lagoon***
07/24 Seraphine Edina (tentative)
07/31 In the Loop Uptown
07/31 $9.99 Lagoon ***
07/31 Soul Power Lagoon (tentative)
07/31 Shrink Lagoon/Edina
08/07 The Cove Uptown***
08/07 The End of the Line Lagoon
08/07 The Answer Man Edina
08/14 Not Quite Hollywood Lagoon***
08/21 Inglorious Bastards Lagoon (very tentative)***
08/21 Adam Edina
08/21 Lorna’s Silence Edina
08/28 Cold Souls Uptown (NEW DATE) ***
08/28 The World’s Greatest Dad Lagoon ***
08/28 Taking Woodstock Lagoon***
08/28 Yoo-Hoo, Mrs. Goldberg Edina
08/29 The Adventures of Robin Hood Edina (NEW) (One Night Only) ***
08/30 The Bride of Frankenstein Edina (One Night Only) ***
08/30 It Happened One Night Edina (One Night Only) ***
09/04 Thirst Lagoon (NEW)***
09/04 Afghan Star Lagoon
09/04 My One and Only Edina
09/11 The Baader Meinhof Complex Uptown
09/11 Captain Abu Raed Lagoon
09/18 The Beaches of Agnes Edina
09/18 Burning Plain Edina
While it has been a wasteland for new releases in recent weeks, a slow trickle of decent fair has begun to emerge. And while their is nothing really all that interesting at the multiplex, Gomorrah is getting released at places that show foreign films. It looks like a much darker and less glamorous take on the romantic mafioso film that most US theater goers would expect, but that certainly isn’t a bad thing.
DVD releases are pretty weak as well this week, which makes me wonder why some of the titles that were released last week weren’t pushed to this one so they wouldn’t have as much competition. The only recommendation I have is for Punisher: War Zone, which is by no means a good movie, but is a totally ridiculous movie that is worth a rental. Keep on the lookout for when the Punisher punches someone’s face off!
I’ve been wanting to give people a heads up on the various odd or seemingly interesting films that will be coming out in the future with out having to invest too much time in the process. While I watch as many new releases as anyone, the focus of the site is to find movies already released for people to discover. But there are always movies that might fly under the radar, so One to Watch is a simple series devoted to promoting new films that might end up at the end of the long tail.
Picking out a new DVD release was actually somewhat difficult this week, what with the seemingly universally despised Blindness coming out and me having enjoyed it quite a bit. Will I buy it? I don’t know, but I did enter a contest to win a copy of it, so there’s that. But instead of a bleak science fiction film I have gone in a different direction, choosing instead a relatively obscure Thai martial arts film. Now I know, when people think Thai martial arts they may think of Ong Bak or maybe even Tom Yum Goong, but this is a little bit different. Following a young autistic girl (Jeeja Vismistananda) who learns martial arts from watching television, and thus begins a quest of revenge. If you are a fan of as kicking women who totally kick ass, Chocolate is one you should definitely check out.
As for theatrical new releases, it is yet another week of holdovers for Oscar nominees competing against a bevy of new releases. With so many films being released week to week, I am almost under the impression that the studios don’t have much faith in any of them and are just hoping one of them sticks. Then I remember that it is February, and that means that of course studios don’t know what to do with any of these films. Thankfully, there is one film that should be must see for everyone, especially parents of small children, that movie being Coraline. Based on the fantasy book by Neil Gaiman and directed by Henry Selick (The Nightmare Before Christmas) this is the best kind of children’s film, a good one. It also has the extra added benefit of being rather scary, though while it should thrill kids it is bound to terrify parents.
But remember parents, just close your eyes and keep telling yourself, “It is only a children’s movie!”
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