Friday November 13, 2009

What a fantastic idea it was for Wes Anderson to adapt Roald Dahl's Fantastic Mr. Fox. Anderson and his co-conspirator Noah Baumbach holed away in Dahl's cottage in England to write the screenplay, fleshing out the classic children's story into an animated feature length-film. While the result may certainly please kids (though in some instances there is cause for genuine alarm), it's cinema-candy for grown-ups. I left the screening room thinking, I want to see this movie again.
The fantastic cast of voices includes George Clooney, Meryl Streep, and Wes Anderson regulars Bill Murray, Owen Wilson and Jason Schwartzman.
Fantastic Mr. Fox opens today in New York and Los Angeles, before going wide on November 25. Read Marcy's review.
Wednesday November 4, 2009

The title might make you think you're in for something raunchy, but Josiane Balasko's bittersweet film is anything but. The always wonderful Nathalie Baye stars as Judith, an independent woman who is pragmatic about the difference between love and sex and willing to pay to fulfill her desire. Eric Caravaca co-stars as Marco, a hard working professional caught between the needs of young wife and his favorite client.
A French Gigolo was a box office hit in its native France and debuted at the Sundance Film Festival. In the U.S., the film will make a modest debut as part of the IFC Festival Direct program. It's available for download beginning today.
Friday October 30, 2009

Set during World War II in Tunis, Karin Albou's The Wedding Song is the story of a friendship between adolescent girls tested by drastic circumstances. The second film by the director of the award-winning Little Jerusalem, starring Olympe Borval and Lizzie Brochere, opens today in New York.
Read Marcy's review.
Thursday October 22, 2009
Roger Ebert started the Oscar campaign for Michelle Monaghan, championing her in the indie drama Trucker. "Her performance clearly deserves an Oscar nomination," he wrote. You can't be much more direct than that. Marcy is not so sure. Read her review.
Trucker, the first film by writer-director James Mottern, premiered at Sundance and is currently in theaters.