November releases to watch out for.

Since I am in a hurry, I will merely post my picks and update later with comments as in the October post. Well, here they are.

November 3rd

Volver, directed by Pedro Almodovar. Winner of two awards at Cannes. best screenplay and best actress which was paradoxically awarded to the entire female cast (one of which is Almodovar's past muse, Penelope Cruz). The film is about the return of a dead mother to her home town as a ghost to resolve the problems she could not solve while alive. After her arrival, her invisible presence becomes a comfort to her remaining daughters in the community. I really don't have much to say about this film because the name Almodovar (one of the greatest directors living) should be enough to entice you into seeing it.

Borat-Larry Charles. Having never seen Da Ali G show or any of Sacha Baron Cohen, I don't know what to expect. However, if this mockumentary actually manages to satirize the stereotypical and naive American perception of individuals from the Middle East, in this case, Kazakhstan, then the film may be worth watching. However, if the film's comedy reinforces these already present stereotypes and does not mock them, then I may be inclined to avoid it. I might as well be watching an American action or war film with stereotypical Middle Eastern characters.

Flushed Away-I chose this film mainly since it is a product of the Aardman Animation (Wallace and Gromit among other stop motion short films) and they have yet to let me down. However, I should probably stress that this film is in CG, but a CG which mirrors their past stop motion work (strange, but true).

November 10

An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus -directed by Steven Shainberg and starring Nicole Kidman and Robert Downey Jr. (for some unknown reason, I like this actor). This film is premiering at the Rome festival which will begin shortly and is competing for attention with the Venice film festival. The biopic of the famous photographer Diane Arbus has recently been renamed "Fur" (what a drastic name change, if I ever saw one). Since it wil be released soon at the festival, we will have to wait to gauge its quality, although I am hopeful.

November 17

-The Aura, directed by Fabián Bielinsky (Nine Queens). This is an obscure film with an odd premise. The film revolves around a lonely taxidermist (a rare profession in film) who, through some fateful accident, is allowed to fulfill his dream: to commit the perfect crime. The positive responses to this film are already enough to lure me into seeing it.

November 24

The Fountain - directed by Darren Aranofsky (Requiem for a Dream, Pi) and starring Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz (loved her in The Constant Gardener). I almost see no need to write a synopsis for this film, considering that I have been harping about it for quite awhile and the hype behind it will eventually reach your deaf ears. In short, this may be one of the most interesting science fiction films to be released this year outside Danny Boyle's Sunshine. Positive test screenings already promise, at the very least, a competent film, although there is still the possibility that the film will turn out to be an ambitious failure. Because I am lazy, here is an incredibly vague synopsis from imdb.com : "As a 16th-century conquistador, Tom (Jackman) discovers the Tree of Life. He spends the next 1,000 years searching for a way to save his love, Izzi (Weisz), as he begins to develop an understanding of the mysteries that have plagued him for centuries." The film itself is divided into three time periods in which Jackman's character will travel.

For Your Consideration - directed by Christopher Guest. It is another Christopher Guest mockumentary. What more could you ask for? The film is oddly about the creation of a film named "Home for Purim" and the three actors who perform within it as the film is already garnering some awards season hype. Guest's film captures the rising hype and excitement caused by the fictional film's production.

Bobby - Emilio Estevez (it's exactly who you are thinking of). This is a historical/fictional film about the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy. Although I have my extreme doubts about Emilio Estevez taking a shot at directing, I'll admit that he has obtained an interesting and oddly ecletic cast which includes Anthony Hopkins (one of my favourite actors), Laurence Fishburne, Demi Moore (?), Martin Sheen, and William H. Macy. On a negative note, the cast also features Lindsey Lohan, Ashton Kutcher, (in a drama!!! A sign of the apocalypse) and a few other odd casting choices. However, the good actors and actresses may compensate for the bad and thus create a competent film. At least, I hope that's what happens.

The History Boys - directed by Nicholas Hytner. A film adaptation of a famous broadway play about reckless and "unruly" students (as a synopsis reads) being taught history at a grammar school in the 1980s by diverse teachers with unique teaching styles. I mention this film because the play on which it is based is very popular (apparently) and they might just be able to pull off whatever attracted individuals to the play in this adaptation. Well, maybe, although adaptations of famous broadway plays are often cursed.

May have a brief 250 word film review of Little Miss Sunshine posted soon.