Paperjam

Time for some good films, please.

Film // Jim // 11th October 2007

To kind-of paraphrase Kevin Spacey at the end of Se7en, “Only in a world this sick could you say that 2007 has been a good year for films”. There has been the occasional gem here and there, I enjoyed Sunshine, laughed at The Simpsons, German stasi drama The Lives Of Others was rather good and The Family Friend was exceptional.

Generally it’s been a load of old tat; The big summer films were mostly dull with Spiderman 3 deserving special mention for being particularly awful. There have also been a few real disappointments like Knocked Up, which was just really dull and Hot Fuzz which despite having a few good bits paled badly in comparison to Shaun Of The Dead. Then there have been the real dogs like Superbad (left the cinema with about 20 minutes left), Rocky Balboa (just shit in virtually every way) and The Kingdom (dreary, corny and a terribly simplistic attempt at some kind of political message).

Still things might be looking up over the next few months as this lot wings its promising way to UK (well, London) cinema screens:

No Country For Old Men First up, the latest film from the Coen brothers, probably the film I am most eager to go and see. Looks to be harking back to their brutal early classic Blood Simple. A hunter absconds with a load of money left at the scene of a drug deal gone very bad and is hunted by a completely psycho Javier Bardem who decides on whether to kill by flipping coins. Looks Ace. Trailer plus there are also some more clips

The Darjeeling Limited The new Wes Anderson film. It is being previewed at the London Film Festival. I would probably sleep with (or alternatively promise not to sleep with) anyone who can get me a ticket. Looks to be as quirky and slightly un-real as usual. Trailer

Thirty Days Of Night Vampire, survivalist nastiness including that bird who used to be in Home and Away. Looks a bit on the visceral side. Trailer

The Last Winter More snowbound horror with this Thing-esque thriller. Does look quite unsettling. Trailer

Be Kind, Rewind Jack Black and Mos Def have to make zero-budget versions of famous films when they blank all the tapes at the video rental store where they work. Latest from Gallic genius Michel Gondry. Trailer

Southland Tales Second film from the bloke who made Donnie Darko, got slated in a really long version at Cannes and is reported to be as mad as a box of frogs. Bit apocalyptic, again. Is that the Joy Zipper cover of the Pixies in the trailer? Trailer

Margot At The Wedding Have you seen The Squid And The Whale? if not you should do. This has the same sense of cynicism about people and how they relate to each other. Jack Black turns up again but seems fairly restrained. Nicole Kidman and Jennifer Jason Leigh are in charge. Trailer

I’m Not There Got very little idea about this but it seems to be getting a lot of coverage at film festivals, a whole bunch of actors play Bob Dylan in different eras. Apparently the best one is Cate Blanchette. Trailer

There Will Be Blood Historical oil rights drama from PT Anderson and starring a brooding and bitter Daniel Day Lewis. Cutting to the chase: Looks fucking intense. Trailer