releasing this week: She’s Out of My League and The Killer Inside Me

Just think of this as not as late as last weeks one.

This week I am highlighting two pretty different films –She Out Of My League, which I’ve seen, and The Killer Inside Me, which I haven’t. I kinda want to highlight The Brothers Bloom too… I might just write a bit more than usual about that later. Feeling a bit indecisive today.

I start with…. um… She’s Out of My League.

This film comes to use from the comedy screenplay writing team of Sean Anders and John Morries. The pair penned Sex Drive, which, if I’m being honest, looked a bit dodgy so I skipped it, but they also wrote this year’s Hot Tub Time Machine. Great film and another that I need to write the review for – it’ll be second or third on the list when I get off my ass and start writing reviews again.

It’s about a young, sensible but average looking fellow who inadvertantly finds himself dating a much hotter woman. He’s not as wierd looking as he appears in the poster though. In fact you may remember him as the young and relatively sensible soldier in Tropic Thunder – I didn’t from this poster but rest assured it is him. I hadn’t seen the hot chick before but then I saw her twice in one week – she’s an English actress called Alice Eve and she’s in Sex and the City 2 as one of the funniest characters… not really in a good way.

It’s not like it’s an original story but it’s pretty well balanced and, for a film I expected absolutely nothing from, it made me laugh. So I’m recommending it for this long weekend. It should slot in as a great date movie, though possibly not first date. Course you could go see Prince of Persia either, I’m still recommending that as I want people to go see – I think it got hard done by with the sunny weather on it’s opening weekend… I’m serious!

I’m bowing to hype a bit by highlighting The Killer Inside Me but hell, I like Casey Affleck. I think he’s a good actor and I’d like to see him in higher profile films with wider appeal. Course he may not want to be in higher profile films with wider appeal but that’s not my problem.

The Killer Inside Me is based on the 1952 novel of the same name written by Jim Thompson, a not-particularly-popular pulp crime fiction author of the ’40s and ’50s.

… just on an aside, this is why I love writing these article, I learn about the most random stuff. I mean, apparently this guy started out as a drug dealing bell boy who had a nervous breakdown then worked in the oil field, ran off and eloped then became head of the Oklahoma Federal Writers Project. Then he was subsequently investigated for ties to the Communist party. In the meantime his father was a County Sheriff who ran for the legislature but then had to resign from the Sheriff’s office because of rumours of embezzelment… How random!…

But back to the film. Basically I want to see it because “based on a pulp fiction novel” is always a cool idea and because I like Casey Affleck. Also I keep hearing it’s controversial, personally I think this is just some kind of marketing ploy – If it was that controversial then why am I seeing and hearing it being promoted everywhere? It was the front of the Cineworld newsletter this week, it can’t be that controversial. Four Lions didn’t head up the Cineworld newsletter… now that was a controversial film. I can only come to the conclusion that it’s because the director Michael Winterbottom wrote and directed 9 Songs, a film which really did cause a stir when it came out.

For the record I gather it’s about a psychopath, which I’m sure Casey Affleck will potray excellently, and it’s quite graphic. I do, of course, reserve the right to take back this mocking if I see it and do decide it deserves the controversy.

Other films coming out this week…

The Brothers Bloom – As I mentioned earlier, I kinda wanted to highlight this one as well, so I’ll go on about it a bit. Feel free to ignore me.

I wanted to highlight this one because it’s from the writer / director Rian Johnson who wrote and directed the outstanding 2005 film Brick, a interesting and well executed update of the film noir genre. It took him 3 years to do the follow up and 2 more years for it to come out here in Ireland… and it’s only playing in 1 cinema. The IFI. Such a shame that more people won’t get a chance to see it.

For some reason The Brothers Bloom has hitherto has been overlooked in the UK & Ireland. Most countries got it at some point last year – after its debut at film festivals in 2008. What makes that really odd is that it stars Mark Ruffalo, Adrien Brody and Rachel Weisz… how could a film with a cast like that be ignored? I guess they couldn’t get a distributor or something. If anyone know better let me know.

Anyway basically it’s about two con-men brothers who find themselves on a con job that takes them around the world. Doesn’t sound madly original but with Rian Johnson at the helm, I have faith.

Death At A Funeral – US remake of the 2007 British farce of the same name. I don’t get it. Why did Hollywood feel they needed to remake an English language film from just 3 years ago?

The Infidel – I like Omid Djalili. He’s a funny guy. He’s been in loads of films but I’m fairly certain this is his first starring role. It’s about a happy go lucky Muslim whose life is turned upside down when he finds out he’s actually… Jewish! Hey I don’t know, could be great, could be awful. If you fancy finding out you can catch it in The Lighthouse, Smithfield.

4. 3. 2. 1. – Medium sized release this one, by the British actor / writer of Kidulthood and it’s follow up, Adulthood. Expect a gritty urban crime thriller comedy… yeah, apparently it’s some kind of comedy. The 4.3.2.1. refers to 4 girls, 3 days, 2 cities and 1 chance. Noel Clarke’s passed effort have so far been regarded and slightly hit and miss so I’m not sure if this one will really be worth a look. It doesn’t sound particularly interesting to me.

Raajneeti – a Bollywood political thriller. It’s been doing pretty well around the world and it had garnered a little controversy because some of its characters allegedly resemble real figures in Indian politics. Could be one to have a look at if you’re into Bollywood films. You can see it in Cineworld Dublin.

She’s Out of My League, The Killer Inside Me, The Brothers Bloom, Death at a Funeral, The Infidel, 4.3.2.1. and Raajneeti are all in Irish cinemas from Friay 4th June 2010.