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Coming attractions

A look at the films of 2008
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By Steffen Silvis
Staff Writer, The Prague Post
January 3rd, 2008 issue

Any true cineaste living in Prague knows how frustating it is to read about interesting films being made in the English-speaking world, and knowing that you may never get a chance to see them here. Other than periodic dashes to London that allow me to catch up, I am fairly well resigned to doing without.
COURTESY PHOTO
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COURTESY PHOTO
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That said, those same tasteless Czech distributors that foist such drek as Knocked Up, Ghost Rider and The Reaping on us do occasionally, accidentally, I’m sure, get it right. The following are films that have been slotted in for Prague screenings in the next two months that are probably worth catching.
—Michael Clayton (due Jan. 17). Tony Gilroy’s film is about an attorney whose job it is to clean up all of the dirty work that his firm specializes in, until he reaches a point that he cannot morally justify doing so. To make matters more complicated, the mob is after him over a loan. George Clooney plays Clayton, and the cast is backed up with Tilda Swinton, Tom Wilkinson and Sydney Pollack.
—The Darjeeling Limited (due Jan. 24). Director Wes Anderson got much flack for The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, some of it just. But even Anderson’s failures are worth savoring, as the man dares to be intelligent, which is almost a crime in his homeland. The Darjeeling Limited unites a number of Anderson regulars, including Anjelica Huston, Bill Murray and Owen Wilson, who could really use a good film at the moment. The rest of the cast include Adrien Brody and Jason Schwartzman, who play Wilson’s brothers, and Natalie Portman. No word on whether Anderson’s short, Hotel Chevalier, which introduces Schwartzman and Portman’s characters, will be shown. Don’t count on it.
—Atonement (due Jan. 31) His Pride and Prejudice was overheated, but director Joe Wright seems to be getting good notices for this adaptation of Ian McEwan’s critically-acclaimed novel. Wright’s P and P star, Keira Knightley, is on hand, as is Brenda Blethyn, Harriet Walter and the excellent James McAvoy from The Last King of Scotland. The screenplay is by Christopher Hampton.
—I Am Legend (due Jan. 31) The fourth version from Richard Matheson’s novel of the same name, though the two most famous adaptations were The Last Man on Earth with Vincent Price, and Omega Man with Charlton Heston (part of that great Heston/sci-fi trilogy that includes Planet of the Apes and Soylent Green). This time Will Smith is the last man standing in an almost abandoned Manhattan. Almost, except for those living dead.
—Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (due Feb. 7) The worst pies in London have found the perfect chef. The combination of Tim Burton and Stephen Sondheim’s bloody terrific musical sounds too good to be true. The proof will be in the pudding, of course. Johnny Depp is Sweeney and Helena Bonham-Carter is Mrs. Lovett, with Alan Rickman and Sacha Baron Cohen dropping in for a close shave.
—We Own the Night (due Feb. 7) Waiting for a film by James Gray is like waiting on Terrence Malick (whose The New World never made Prague) or Bob Rafelson to make a movie. Nine years after his The Yards, Gray is back with a new gangland tale with his stars from The Yards, Mark Wahlberg and Joaquin Phoenix. As in his  film, Little Odessa (1994), the director will again be dealing with a tale entwined with the Russian mob. Robert Duvall and Eva Mendes complete the cast.
—No Country for Old Men (due Feb. 28) Joe Wright and Ian McEwan, Tim Burton and Stephen Sondheim; what about the Coen Brothers and Cormac McCarthy? Perhaps the most anticipated film in this line-up. McCarthy’s novel hits the screen with Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Woody Harrelson and the great Beth Grant.
Among films in other languages, there’s Julian Schnabel’s The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, which is in French, due Feb. 7, with Mathieu Amalric, Emmanuelle Seigner, Jean-Pierre Cassel, Max von Sydow and Emma de Caunes. Also Ang Lee’s Lust, Caution, due Jan. 31, which has some English, though it is mostly in Chinese and Japanese. Tony Leung and Joan Chen (Twin Peaks) star.
    

Steffen Silvis can be reached at ssilvis@praguepost.com


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