Opening this weekend...
TWILIGHT, written by Melissa Rosenberg, dir. by Catherine Hardwicke
Premise: A teenage girl risks everything when she falls in love with a vampire.
Playing at: Everywhere.
The summary for the film reads just like a screenplay logline. It helps that it's based on a wildly popular YA novel (that's what I read - I'm not really "hip" with the "kiddos" these days) but the premise is one of those ones that you read and immediately see dollar signs.
BOLT, written by Dan Fogelman and Chris Williams, dir. by Byron Howard and Chris Williams
Premise: The canine star of a fictional sci-fi/action show that believes his powers are real embarks on a cross country trek to save his co-star from a threat he believes is just as real.
Playing: All over.
This looks like Pixar... but it's not. I won't be tricked.
SPECIAL, written and directed by Hal Haberman and Jeremy Passmore
Premise: A lonely metermaid has a psychotic reaction to his medication and becomes convinced he's a superhero. A very select group of people in life are truly gifted. Special is a movie about everyone else.
Playing at: Landmark Sunshine
I love seeing so many writing teams this week. The description above is a little misleading - the movie sounds like it's a bit of a downer. However, if the film is taking the superhero idea seriously, that makes me more interested. And I like Michael Rapaport.
LAKE CITY, written and directed by Hunter Hill and Perry Moore
Premise: In this searing Southern drama, a mother and son reunite under desperate circumstances years after a family tragedy drove them far apart.
Playing at: Quad Cinemas
From the Time Out New York review:
Most independent movies model themselves on a Sundance-approved template: the rural miserablist parable, the heal-thyselves family tragedy, the gritty crime flick. Hunter Hill and Perry Moore’s drama, however, shoots for the moon; the directors have seemingly crammed the festival’s annual lineup into 92 minutes. For those viewers who don’t have two weeks to spare in Park City, the mix-and-match sensibility might seem like a valuable time-saver. Anyone who wants a little quality with their quantity, however, will curse the fact that an hour and a half of their lives is gone for good.Ouch.
What are you doing/seeing this weekend?
