FILM SPOTTING: October 2009 in Polish cinemas

{FILM SPOTTING}

The Accidental Husband (UK/USA, 2008)

Release Date (Poland): 2nd October 2009 (Kino Świat)
Release Date (worldwide): 13th February 2008
Runtime: 90′
Director: Griffin Dunne
Cast: Uma Thurman, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Colin Firth, Isabella Rossellini
Production House: Blumhouse Productions, Team Todd, Yari Film Group (YFG)
Plot: (from imdb)

When talk radio host Emma Lloyd advises one of her listeners to break up with her boyfriend, the jilted ex sets about getting his revenge.

Trailer

The sceptical part of me thinks that…
This is going to be just another, relatively dull romantic comedy (not that I don’t like to watch romantic comedies, but there are good ones and bad ones - this sounds to me like the latter ;-P).

The excited part of me thinks that…
Colin Firth, especially at this time, is a very enticing factor ;) And generally speaking Uma Thurman and Colin Firth seem like a slightly odd pairing and I’m quite curious to see that (though it looks like Colin Firth is going to be the third person in the triangle rather than the main love interest).
The other thing that arouses my curiosity a little bit is that it’s not a studio pic - no major company in the credits there and we’re getting it 20 months after the worldwide premiere here in Poland, which also suggests that this is no Hollywood movie. So appearances might be deceiving (as in they might be promoting it as something slightly different than it is, though of course it might be exactly what it looks like ;) ).

My Winnipeg (Canada, 2007)

Release Date (Poland): 2nd October 2009 (Gutek Film)
Release Date (worldwide): 7th September 2007
Runtime: 80′
Director: Guy Maddin
Production House: Buffalo Gal Pictures, Documentary Channel, Everyday Pictures
Plot: (from imdb)

A personal portrait of filmmaker Guy Maddin’s hometown of Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Trailer

The sceptical part of me thinks that…
Well, this is a film I’ve already seen ;) So lets say I’m a bit sceptical about going to see it again, especially when time is scarce. Then again I would like to :) (and it’s ages since I last saw it)

The excited part of me thinks that…
Well, I loved it the previous time and it’s a film that I think probably watches a lot better on the big screen. I think it would be odd seeing it on DVD (but then I haven’t tried).
It’s the first time any Guy Maddin film has been released in Poland in general distribution and I really recommend people check him out. This is a very good film to start with.
Actually, I just got an e-mail about it today - promotional material from the distributor. One of their lines to get people to see it is:

Filmu takiego jak “Moje Winnipeg” nie wymarzyliby sobie nawet w najśmielszych snach ani Tim Burton, ani Terry Gilliam.

The translation: Tim Burton or Terry Gilliam would not dream something like this up even in their boldest fantasies.
And it’s not a bad comparison ;) They do have a bit in common - Guy Maddin is also someone who delves very deeply into the world of fantasy. The difference is that indeed Guy Maddin is in some ways bolder and crazier. His films are true art house fare (forget about having a comprehensible plot), whereas Tim Burton and Terry Gilliam usually balance somewhere in between the art house stuff and the commercial stuff. But I think that for any fans of Tim Burton and/or Terry Gilliam, Guy Maddin is really worth checking out - just keep in mind that this is art house cinema at its most art house ;)

District 9 (USA/New Zealand, 2009)

Release Date (Poland): 9th October 2009 (ITI)
Release Date (worldwide): 13th August 2009
Runtime: 112′
Director: Neill Blomkamp
Production House: Key Creatives, QED International, WingNut Films
Plot: (from imdb)

An extraterrestrial race forced to live in slum-like conditions on Earth suddenly finds a kindred spirit in a government agent that is exposed to their biotechnology.

Trailer
You can see it here.

The sceptical part of me thinks that…
I’m not into aliens and explosions and that sort of stuff…

The excited part of me thinks that…
It looks so weird :] Parts of the trailer seem stylized to look like a documentary. And just the idea that aliens come to Earth and then end up living in the slums and are treated like illegal emigrants is intriguing. Depending on how far they go down that route it could be quite interesting.

Séraphine (France/Belgium, 2008)

Release Date (Poland): 23rd October 2009 (Gutek Film)
Release Date (worldwide): 7th September 2008
Runtime: 125′
Director: Martin Provost
Production House: TS Productions
Plot: (from imdb)

Based on the life of French painter Séraphine de Senlis.

Trailer

The sceptical part of me thinks that…
It might just be your average costume drama…

The excited part of me thinks that…
I kind of like the trailer and it was chosen to close the ENH festival in July, so maybe it’s a bit more than average…

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