The five best films that didn’t play in the Twin Cities in 2012—including three that will play in 2013

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Looking over every film released in the Twin Cities in 2012 is exhausting research—it makes my head spin to think of how many were released, but it is even more mind-blowing how many films opened in New York City in 2012.Mike D’Angelo’s brilliant and intense film website, “The Man Who Viewed Too Much,” which I have been following for a few years now (and is a complete time-suck) covers everything he has seen, everything released in NYC, and all of his reviews since 1995. It is a hoot to find out what films he has walked out of or turned off, and to track the shifts in his two top ten lists, the “Pure” and “Polls” lists (they differ by featuring films released in theaters versus films that D’Angeol saw on the festival circuit but that will not be in theaters in 2012), and his Movie Nerd Discussion Groups. I enjoy reading D’Angelo’s work, but this got me thinking about all the films I have seen in 2012, before my Top Ten is revealed, that have not been released in the Twin Cities this past year and should have been.There are plenty of films that never see the light of day in Minnesota theaters—some for good reason, but others that leave me perplexed as to why theaters in the Twin Cities do not give smaller films, both narratives and documentaries, a chance to shine. There are some theaters (Walker Art Center, Trylon, MSP Film Society, and Landmark, most notably) that from time to time find room for more avant-garde, niche, challenging, and off-the-beaten path titles; however, many films bypass the Twin Cities and will eventually find a home on smaller screens (VOD, DVD, Netflix, etc.).There are many variables involved in the question as to why some smaller films do not grace the big screens in town: Will they draw an audience? How do we market a small foreign film? Continue Reading

Twin Cities movie highlights of 2012: An MSPIFF to remember, new Uptown and Walker theaters, and more

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With only a few days left in 2012, it goes without saying I’ve watch a ton of films, probably an unhealthy amount. Maybe not as many as some critics or movie lovers in town, but enough to qualify as someone who takes their movie watching “very seriously.” I have been told by friends that I do not need to critique every single film, frame, performance, and word of dialogue—but at times it becomes hard to turn that part of my brain off, as I could be writing about everything I see for the Daily Planet. So I am always thinking about what I would write or say about everything I see and over this past year. There were plenty of moments that gave me hope as a film reviewer, and other times I felt defeated.Going through all my blog entries of 2012, it was hard to believe I had covered so much in so little time. I covered various film festivals in the Twin Cities, Wisconsin, and Utah; all varied in different programming and objectives, but all were successful in my eyes. Continue Reading

Ted Kotcheff’s “Wake in Fright,” a lost Australian classic, comes to the Edina Cinema

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Opening this Friday, December 14, at the Edina Cinema is what was believed to be a lost Australian classic from 1971: Ted Kotcheff’s Wake in Fright.Probably best known for directing North Dallas Forty (1979) and First Blood (1982), Kotcheff premiered his film at the 1971 Cannes Film Festival; it was thought to be lost for years, as the negative film print could not be located anywhere. After a two-year search for the film, it was discovered in 2004 in a Pittsburgh warehouse (!) in a box marked “For Destruction”; it reappeared at the 2009 Cannes and Toronto International Film Festivals.The negative was digitally restored and has been screening across the U.S., thanks to the fine folks at Drafthouse Films, who picked up the film. Wake in Fright (released originally under its international title, Outback) has been receiving accolades from film scholars, critics, and audiences since its “second” release of sorts.Based on the novel by Kenneth Cook, Wake in Fright features magnificent cinematography from Brian West and terrific supporting turns from Donald Pleasence (perhaps best known as Dr. Sam Loomis in the Halloween saga) and Australian actor Jack Thompson—but the film really belongs to Gary Bond, who delivers an honest and terrifying performance as a man looking for a peaceful break in his daily routine and ends up discoveing the true nature of evil under his own skin.From a picturesque opening in the Australian outback, the camera spins around in a circle, setting us up for the sideways story about to begin. We see children sitting in a rural classroom waiting patiently, and then we first get a glimpse of their schoolteacher John Grant (brilliantly played by UK stage actor Bond, looking like a cross between a young Peter O’Toole and present day Ryan Reynolds), who finally lets the children out of the classroom; this could be his last bit of silence. He is about to venture from his small community of Tiboondi to Sydney for a summer vacation, where he formerly taught and where he will possibly visit a former love. Continue Reading

Are movies getting too long?

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Maybe I am just speaking for myself, but these days I value my time more than just about anything else. These past few months I have had more time than usual and believe it or not, I have found numerous things to keep me plenty busy; one of those activities has been catching up and enjoying going to the movies. I’ve taken in everything from Oscar hopefuls, entertaining action-packed explosive set pieces and soft-spoken Foreign language films. Some have been dazzling; others have been a complete waste of time. I have been averaging about a film a day for the past two months and now that December has hit, it could very well grow to two a day, as I catch up on films that I missed throughout 2012 and others now being released in theaters.When I think about how much time I actually spent watching film after film this year, the hours certainly add up. Looking back, of course there were instances where I wished I would have done something else—other than watching, say, Lee Daniels’s Southern gothic debacle, The Paperboy, that came and went quicker than Brandon Roy’s Timberwolves career. Continue Reading

Thanksgiving movie preview: “Life of Pi,” “Silver Linings Playbook,” “Red Dawn,” “Rise of the Guardians,” and “Anna Karenina”

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This past weekend at Twin Cities area theaters, the final Twilight film, Breaking Dawn: Part 2, was released—so now we can all rest easy that the final Twilight film is out in the theaters, grossing an astounding $141 million at the box office this past weekend in the U.S. alone. The timing of the film seemed perfect, as it got a jump on other releases opening this Wednesday, November 21 at local theaters and there will sure to be repeat ticket buyers for Breaking Dawn: Part 2, throughout the week and into the Thanksgiving weekend. There are five other films opening around the Twin Cities on Wednesday, but none will challenge the make-believe vampire fantasy juggernaut for the top box office spot. In fact, even if Skyfall were opening on Wednesday, it probably would still not surpass those two heartbroken kids for the top spot.Among the five films opening, there seems to be something for everyone this week. I have seen three of them: Joe Wright’s Anna Karenina, David O. Russell’s Silver Linings Playbook, and Ang Lee’s Life of Pi. I chose not to see the advance screenings of he other two: Red Dawn and Rise of the Guardians. Continue Reading

Author Matthew Quick on David O. Russell’s “Silver Linings Playbook”: “A f*#ked-up fairy tale”

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One of the surefire Oscar contenders opening this holiday season is Silver Linings Playbook, written and directed by David O. Russell (Flirting With Disaster, Three Kings, The Fighter) and based on acclaimed novelist Matthew Quick’s dramedy. Silver Linings Playbook won the Audience Award at the Toronto International Film Festival this past September; many past Audience Award winners—including Slumdog Millionaire and The King’s Speech—have gone on to Oscar glory. Opening in limited release this weekend in New York and L.A. and opening locally next Wednesday, November 21, the film has already been lining up certain nomination “locks” in Oscar pools for categories including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor and Actress and Best Adapted Screenplay. When Pat (Bradley Cooper) returns home from his stay at a state institution for eight months on a plea bargain, he has basically lost everything. His wife has left him, he’s lost his job and his home, and he’s picked up by his mother (Jackie Weaver) to go and stay with his folks, including his Philadelphia-Eagles-obsessed father (Robert DeNiro). Continue Reading

With “Skyfall,” James Bond is still going strong after 50 years

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Opening this Friday, November 9 at local theaters is the 23rd James Bond film, Skyfall, and the franchise is also celebrating 50 years since the first release of its first Bond film, Dr. No. The tuxedo-wearing super stud Bond character is based on the novels of English author Ian Fleming, wrote his first Bond novel in 1952 with Casino Royale and died shortly after the second film, 1963’s From Russia With Love, was made. A few of his Bond novels were published after his death and were turned into films. The Bond franchise has since gone on to become the second highest-grossing film series—only behind the Harry Potter franchise. Since the 1960s, the franchise has grossed over $5 billion in the U.S. alone. The Bond character has become a worldwide iconic character ever since his first screen moments played by the direct and suave Scotsman Sean Connery, who went on to star in six films, has probably appeared in the strongest films in the bunch and I would argue that he has been the best Bond, for my money. He had everything you wanted in a superspy: good looks, intelligence, strong will, muscles, and a way with the ladies that upped his cool factor beyond that of any action hero today. Continue Reading

Flyway Film Festival 2012: Why to go and what to see

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It was right around this time last year that I was heading down to the picturesque Flyway Film Festival in Pepin and Stockholm, Wisconsin as a juror. I’ll be heading down there this weekend, October 18-21, not as a juror this year, but as one of the programmers for the festival. Flyway—now in its fifth year—may be tucked away in the two small towns, but once you arrive, you feel at home and welcomed to their wonderful safe haven. Continue Reading

Kevin James and Bas Rutten of “Here Comes the Boom” talk about UFC, mat burns, and Henry Winkler

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Comedian/actor Kevin James started doing stand-up comedy in 1989 and made many appearances on late night talk shows (David Letterman, Jay Leno, Conan O’Brien). He made a few guest appearances on Ray Romano’s sitcom, Everyone Loves Raymond; those spots led James to start his own CBS show, The King of Queens, which lasted nine seasons. The popularity of the show (and James’s performance, which landed him a prime time Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series in 2006) opened a few more doors in Hollywood, leading to his breakout role starring opposite Will Smith in the 2005 romantic comedy Hitch. Continue Reading