I just love September. .After the rush of summer blockbuster films the month of September becomes a sort of cooling off period and the studios seem to decide to take a chance on movie with a little more substance. Maybe it’s because they perceive the kids are back in school or whatever, but it’s usually a relief to any fan of film. I haven’t actually seen any of the movies I mention here but they’re on my to see list.
In theaters now is Lord of War which is being given mixed reviews on the Tomato Meter rating a mere 51%. It looks like an ambitious effort and a nice try on the part of Andrew Niccol who wrote and directed this one. Niccol also did The Terminal, Truman Show and Gattaca and seems at home with social commentary. I will definitely put this one on my to see list critical acclaim or not. I like the writer/director and the content seems interesting.
Just Like Heaven also opens in theaters today and stars two up and coming actors I happen to like in Mark Ruffalo and Reese Witherspoon. However given the subject matter (Ghost style romance) and the mediocre reviews with a tomato meter rating of only 54% I think this one can wait to show up on cable TV. In a year when it shows up on cable I will have completely forgotten about it and will probably ignore it unless I bother to read the description and notice whose in it, this is one of those movies I’d actually commit the time just to see the actors, which is rare.
Recently released to video is Crash a film I’ve been meaning to get out there and rent based on the momentum of the rumors that this is a sleeper hit. I don’t even remember this one making its way through theaters but apparently it’s quite good. They say the characters are realistic, not one dimensional plastic being that usually inhabit the kinds of movies that take a look at social issues and race relations. I don’t know much about this movie really, I’ve purposely not had any plot points spoiled for me and refuse to look at anything that describes it. I just understand that an incident happens that involves different sorts of people and their reactions and dialogues are realistic. There are a lot of good actors in this one too, Don Cheatle, Matt Dillion (I never would have thought I’d see these two guys in the same movie) and funny hot chick Sandra Bullock is in it too just to confuse me.
That’s my rental for the weekend; there is a newly restored version of Coal Miner’s Daughter out there as well. This one isn’t a priority but I’ve never seen the movie and I like both Sissy Spacek and Tommy Lee Jones. Being that I know nothing about and have little interest in the music of Loretta Lyn or country in general makes the prospect of seeing this movie all the more interesting.
