2008 Woodie Awards
2005: Year of the Cool
Paul Adam looks at this year's upcoming films
Paul Meyer Adam
Issue date: 3/8/05 Section: Arts & Culture
- Page 1 of 3 next >
Like the Chinese calendar, movie years turn in cycles. As February approached, we bid adieu to not only the year of the monkey, but also the year of the realist movie. With a few notable exceptions, (Kill Bill v.2, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Hero) 2004 will be remembered as a year in which the best movies strove to portray life as it is, without whether that meant humor (Sideways), tragedy (Million Dollar Baby) or romance (Before Sunset).
Well, goodbye to all of that. So far, many highly anticipated films of 2005 promise to put real life on the backburner and turn to intense visuals and intriguing concepts to pack seats, rather than acting and writing prowess alone. 2005 may be as good a year as any for the Academy Awards to finally begin giving awards to movies that take risks. Here, to whet your appetite, is The Commentator's five picks from a year full of giddily cool cinema.
Sin City
(April 1st, 2005)
This movie is being billed as the next Pulp Fiction, and with good reason. Robert Rodriguez, who blew Quentin Tarantino's mind with his $7000 directorial debut El Mariachi is one of the most talented action/fantasy directors today. The movie is based on a series of critically acclaimed comic books of the same name. The interwoven stories depict a noir-style metropolis consumed by corruption and populated by shady characters. The author, Frank Miller, has helped Rodriguez with the screenplay and direction. The film is shot in rich and moody black and white, with some digital color for added effect. The top notch script and directing has attracted a cast for the ages: Bruce Willis, Mickey Rourke, Jessica Alba, Benicio Del Toro, Clive Owen, Rosario Dawson and Elijah Wood are highlights, but practically every role is played by a major actor. Sin City has the makings of a major blockbuster and cult classic. Stoke yourself even more by checking out the website: sincitythemovie.com
Kung Fu Hustle
(April 8th, 2005)
The only things more shamelessly fun than kung-fu movies are slapstick chop-socky comic sendups that turn kung-fu on its head. Enter Kung-Fu hustle, a comedic musical about two wannabe gangsters in 1940's Hong Kong. The movie combines over-the-top stunts and loopy special effects that cut up the recent trend towards fight-by-wire martial arts fantasy epics. The action oscillates between dizzying "fights" and Bollywood-style street filling musical numbers, which will also involve some fighting for good measure. Early press has been positive and the movie has enthralled audiences in Asia already. We will await this new challenger eagerly, sensei.
Well, goodbye to all of that. So far, many highly anticipated films of 2005 promise to put real life on the backburner and turn to intense visuals and intriguing concepts to pack seats, rather than acting and writing prowess alone. 2005 may be as good a year as any for the Academy Awards to finally begin giving awards to movies that take risks. Here, to whet your appetite, is The Commentator's five picks from a year full of giddily cool cinema.
Sin City
(April 1st, 2005)
This movie is being billed as the next Pulp Fiction, and with good reason. Robert Rodriguez, who blew Quentin Tarantino's mind with his $7000 directorial debut El Mariachi is one of the most talented action/fantasy directors today. The movie is based on a series of critically acclaimed comic books of the same name. The interwoven stories depict a noir-style metropolis consumed by corruption and populated by shady characters. The author, Frank Miller, has helped Rodriguez with the screenplay and direction. The film is shot in rich and moody black and white, with some digital color for added effect. The top notch script and directing has attracted a cast for the ages: Bruce Willis, Mickey Rourke, Jessica Alba, Benicio Del Toro, Clive Owen, Rosario Dawson and Elijah Wood are highlights, but practically every role is played by a major actor. Sin City has the makings of a major blockbuster and cult classic. Stoke yourself even more by checking out the website: sincitythemovie.com
Kung Fu Hustle
(April 8th, 2005)
The only things more shamelessly fun than kung-fu movies are slapstick chop-socky comic sendups that turn kung-fu on its head. Enter Kung-Fu hustle, a comedic musical about two wannabe gangsters in 1940's Hong Kong. The movie combines over-the-top stunts and loopy special effects that cut up the recent trend towards fight-by-wire martial arts fantasy epics. The action oscillates between dizzying "fights" and Bollywood-style street filling musical numbers, which will also involve some fighting for good measure. Early press has been positive and the movie has enthralled audiences in Asia already. We will await this new challenger eagerly, sensei.