Opening this weekend...
JCVD, written by Mabrouk El Mechri and Frédéric Bénudis, dir. by Mabrouk El Mechri
Premise: Between his tax problems and his legal battle with his wife for the custody of his daughter, these are hard times for the action movie star who finds that even Steven Seagal has pinched a role from him! In JCVD, Jean-Claude Van Damme returns to the country of his birth to seek the peace and tranquility he can no longer enjoy in the United States.
Playing at: Angelika, BAM, Landmark Sunshine
It's Jean Claude Van F'in Damme, people. And I've read it's actually good, even beyond all the awesome kicking. Onyx and I are heading to a screening after work tomorrow - you'll be hearing about this one, no doubt.
OTTO; OR UP WITH DEAD PEOPLE, written by Bruce LaBruce, dir. by Bruce LaBruce
Premise: A young zombie named Otto appears on a remote highway. He has no idea where he came from or where he is going. After hitching a ride to Berlin and nesting in an abandoned amusement park, he begins to explore the city. Soon he is discovered by underground filmmaker Medea Yarn, who begins to make a documentary about him with the support of her girlfriend, Hella Bent, and her brother Adolf, who operates the camera. Meanwhile, Medea is still trying to finish Up with Dead People, the epic political-porno-zombie movie that she has been working on for years. She convinces its star, Fritz Fritze, to allow the vulnerable Otto to stay in his guest bedroom. When Otto discovers that he has a wallet that contains information about his past, before he was dead, he begins to remember details about his ex-boyfriend, Rudolf. He arranges to meet him at the schoolyard where they met, with devastating results.
Playing at: IFC Center
Just when you think every subgenre of zombie movie has been done, here comes a gay zombie movie! Points for trying something new.
REPO! THE GENETIC OPERA, written by Darren Smith and Terrance Zdunich, dir. by Darren Lynn Bousman
Premise: A worldwide epidemic encourages a biotech company to launch an organ-financing program similar in nature to a standard car loan. The repossession clause is a killer, however.
Playing at: Angelika
Just look at that screencap up above. And can we mention this is a musical? I'm intrigued. Correct me if I'm wrong, but we haven't had a real cult musical since Hedwig, right? (Only big ones that come to mind are Cannibal!, Saddest Music in the World and Moulin Rouge, but none of those really hit the midnight movie crowds...)
THE GUITAR, written by Amos Poe and Gillian Horvat, directed by Amy Redford
Premise: The life of a woman is transformed after she is diagnosed with a terminal disease, fired from her job and abandoned by her boyfriend. Given two months to live, she throws caution to the wind to pursue her dreams.
Playing at: Landmark Sunshine
ROLE MODELS, written by Paul Rudd and David Wain, dir. by David Wain
Premise: Wild behavior forces a pair of energy drink reps to enroll in a Big Brother program.
Playing: All over.
Had to put something at least semi-mainstream up here. I've always liked Paul Rudd - and the cast is pretty good here. I've never been a fan of the nutty-children genre, though.
What are you doing/seeing this weekend?
1 comment:
It's hard for me to express how excited I am for JCVD. He was probably my favorite action star as a kid and I'll always be interested in what he's doing.
In previous conversations I've been laughed at for saying that Van Damme is one of the actors I'd like to work with down the road. I just think the guy could make a good, gritty, French character once you remove him from all of the spin kicks and explosions.
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