You can just about count on Woody Allen to always make a comeback, or if not a comeback, then a streak of four or five good movies, before funking out, only to come back with a really good one. Through the course of his rather extraordinary career which has seen him average a film a year since 1970, sometimes two, he seems to have a streak where he makes one masterpiece after another, then makes a series of average to very weak films, leaving us just about to write him off, only to have him roar back with an excellent film that reminds us of the great director-writer he is. He has not enjoyed a period like the late seventies and mid-eighties for quite some time, but still seems able to come back when we think he might be done. Last year I was thrilled to have Allen back with his lovely film Midnight in Paris (2011), a superb time travel comedy-fantasy beautifully written, directed and acted, which landed the film in the Oscar race, earning Allen his third Academy Award for Best Screenplay. Read more on To Rome, With Love (*½)…
Once the credits roll on ‘The Dark Knight Rises’, Christopher Nolan will have completed his journey with the Batman franchise. 3 films (and 2 side projects) later, it’s all over for him and the caped crusader. Now, with the release of this final film less than 2 weeks away at this point, what better time is there to take a look back at Nolan’s path with the franchise? I’ll be looking at the past, the present, and the future here, trying to paint a portrait of what this era actually was like for the filmmaker, if that makes any sense. I think Nolan evolved both as a writer and a director while working on the franchise, most notably in terms of scale and what he was willing to do on the big screen. I’ll start with his entrance into the world of Batman and then conclude with where his career might go now that he’s come to a close in this particular type of job. Christopher Nolan has walked a very interesting path while making ‘Batman Begins’, ‘The Dark Knight’, and ‘The Dark Knight Returns’, and I’m going to try and follow in his footsteps while telling this story. Let’s dive right in and get started, shall we?
Another week has gone by at The Awards Circuit, and we draw closer and closer to that all-important awards season. Having been pleased with the recent string of quality summer films, my “Spidey” sense is tingling that 2012 is going to be a great year for film overall. Getting an exclusive sneak peek at some of the more anticipated films down the line, as well as having the opportunity to get the scoop on television’s hottest shows, is Terence Johnson, who’ll be attending the 2012 Comic-Con International in San Diego in a few short days. Check out his full schedule here, and also be sure to look at what 5 things Terence is most excited to see/cover at the world’s biggest pop culture playground. Read more on Circuit Round-Up (Week Ending 7/8)…
I feel as though something significant has happened to director Fernando Meirelles and screenwriter Peter Morgan. Simply put, both are in ruts and are so much better than this. ’360′ is a mediocre relationship drama, a multi-character flick that never finds a focus or, ultimately, a point. The film once or twice threatens to get interesting, but never rises above its contrived plot. Each and every character is a plot device, not a person, so you never care what happens to any of them. Meirelles and Morgan have been on a bit of downward trend, and this does nothing to make me think they can right the ship anytime soon. I hope that I’m wrong, but all evidence to the contrary here, especially coming off of ‘Blindness’ for the former and ‘Hereafter’ for the latter. The cast is fine, but none of them are able to elevate the material and make their parts memorable. This adaptation of the Arthur Schnitzler play ‘Reigen’ just never manages to satisfy in any real way. A year ago, this was pegged as a potential Oscar player. Now, after a lengthy delay, it’s easy to see why the film skipped the awards season last year. It’s simply just not up to snuff, and a real disappointment…
Box Office
