January Movies: Red Tails, Haywire, Contraband, and....

[Mark Vader]

As the critics awards, SAG's & Golden Globes get handed out, the movies are preening for those soon to be announced Oscar nominations. In the meantime a new year has begun and with it comes the infamous Garbage Season of movies. Studios release their not-so-exciting, not very good films at this time of year in hopes that they can make some kind of profit. Still, for those seeking some escapist entertainment so as to get a break from all the upper crust awards contenders. Also if you are a fan of action, you'll have plenty to choose from.

 

A movie produced and financed by George Lucas, and it's not called "Star Wars"?! You read that right. "Red Tails" is the story of a crew of African American pilots in the Tuskegee training program. Having faced segregation while kept mostly on the ground during World War II, they are called into duty under the guidance of Col. A.J. Bullard. This has been a project of Lucas' for 20+ years, and some of the action sequences do have a "Star Wars" feel to it. Let's see if the historical tale, one that is not very well known by many people today, pays off in box office receipts. Starring Cuba Gooding, Jr., Terrence Howard, Nate Parker, David Oyelowo & Ne-Yo.

 

Gina Carano headlines the Steven Soderbergh directed "Haywire". A black ops super soldier seeks payback after she is betrayed and set up during a mission. What was originally slated to be a holiday season movie has become an early 2012 movie, uh-oh. Still the action sequences with the former American Gladiator/MMA fighter look great, and the cast is quite good too. Also starring Ewan McGregor, Michael Fassbender, Antonio Banderas, Channing Tatum, Bill Paxton & Michael Douglas.

 

Mark Wahlberg stars in "Contraband". To protect his brother-in-law from a drug lord, a former smuggler heads to Panama to score millions of dollars in counterfeit bills. Also starring Giovanni Ribisi, Ben Foster & Kate Beckinsale.

 

Speaking of Kate Beckinsale. Our favorite latex & leather wearing vampire returns in "Underworld: Awakening". When human forces discover the existence of the Vampire and Lycan clans, a war to eradicate both species commences. The vampire warrioress Selene leads the battle against humankind. Also starring Michael Ealy, India Eisley & Charles Dance.

 

Liam Neeson stars in, "The Grey". In Alaska, an oil drilling team struggle to survive after a plane crash strands them in the wild. Hunting the humans are a pack of wolves who see them as intruders. Also starring Dermot Mulroney, Frank Grillo & James Badge Dale.

 

In "Man on a Ledge", As a police psychologist works to talk down an ex-con who is threatening to jump from a Manhattan hotel rooftop, the biggest diamond heist ever committed is in motion. Starring Sam Worthington, Edward Burns, Jamie Bell, Anthony Mackie, Elizabeth Banks, Genesis Rodriguez, Kyra Sedgwick & Ed Harris.

 

In "One For the Money", Unemployed and newly-divorced Stephanie Plum lands a job at her cousin's bail-bond business, where her first assignment puts her on the trail of a wanted local cop from her romantic past. Starring Katherine Heigl, Jason O'Mara, Daniel Sunjata, John Leguizamo & Debbie Reynolds.

 

In "Joyful Noise", Two choir members have differing opinions on how to win the national choir competition. Starring Dolly Parton, Queen Latifah, Keke Palmer, Jeremy Jordan & Kris Kristofferson.

 

In "Loosies", A young pickpocket in the New York subways, living a fast, free, lifestyle is confronted by a woman with whom he had a one night affair. Starring Peter Facinelli, Jaimie Alexander, Michael Madsen, Vincent Gallo, William Forsythe & Joe Pantoliano.

 

In "The Divide", Survivors of a nuclear attack are grouped together for days in the basement of their apartment building, where fear and dwindling supplies wear away at their dynamic. Starring Lauren German, Jennifer Blanc, Michael Biehn, Milo Ventimiglia, Rosanna Arquette & Courtney B. Vance.

 

In "The Devil Inside", In Italy, a woman becomes involved in a series of unauthorized exorcisms during her mission to discover what happened to her mother, who allegedly murdered three people during her own exorcism. Starring Fernanda Andrade, Simon Quarterman, Evan Helmuth & Ionut Grama.

 

Finally, Disney re-releases their 1991 best picture nominated animated feature, "Beauty & The Beast", now getting the 3D treatment. Belle, whose father is imprisoned by the Beast, offers herself instead and discovers her captor to be an enchanted prince. Starring the voice talents of Paige O'Hara, Robbie Benson, Richard White & Jerry Orbach.

 

Calendar with trailers.

 

1/6

"The Devil Inside": http://www.devilinsidemovie.com/

 

1/11

"Loosies": http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi1308859929/

 

1/13

"Contraband": http://www.contrabandmovie.net/

 

"Joyful Noise": http://joyfulnoisemovie.warnerbros.com/index.html

 

"Beauty & the Beast": http://disney.go.com/beauty-and-the-beast/

 

"The Divide": http://www.thedividethemovie.com/

 

1/20

"Underworld: Awakening": http://www.entertheunderworld.com/

 

"Haywire": http://haywiremovie.com/

 

"Red Tails": http://www.redtails2012.com/

 

1/27

"The Grey": http://www.thegreythemovie.com/

 

"One for the Money": http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi2461703961/

 

"Man on a Ledge": http://www.manonaledge.com/

 

That's all for now. Independent Films will be posted later. Enjoy!

[KD in CA]

We saw The Descendants last night, which I think you included in a prior thread. Good, offbeat movie. Clooney will probably get an Oscar nomination.

[Mark Vader]

We saw The Descendants last night, which I think you included in a prior thread. Good, offbeat movie. Clooney will probably get an Oscar nomination.

Yes I posted that movie in my December Movies preview. Clooney will get nominated easily. A lot of people are raving about him.

 

It looks like the Best Actor race will come down to Clooney, Brad Pitt for Moneyball & Jean Dejardin for The Artist.

[UConn James]

I've gotta admit that I'm far from an action-movie junkie, but "Haywire" --- from the spots at least --- looks interesting. Gina Carano. I wouldn't have expected such a supporting cast to be around someone who's not an established star. Surprisingly, she doesn't appear to be out of her league in what I've seen.

 

Saw Tinker Tailor Solider Spy last night. As I wrote, I'm far from an action-movie junkie. If that's what you go in to TTSS, you're going to be seriously disappointed. But this is the spy world much closer to what it actually was/is. I'm a huge fan of PBS Masterpiece and so, many of these actors are familiar and so is the level of drama as the means to propel the story. Gotta say that it was hard to follow in spots. Definitely a movie I'm going to have to see again when it comes out on release. Oldman was really good in this.

[Mark Vader]

I've gotta admit that I'm far from an action-movie junkie, but "Haywire" --- from the spots at least --- looks interesting. Gina Carano. I wouldn't have expected such a supporting cast to be around someone who's not an established star. Surprisingly, she doesn't appear to be out of her league in what I've seen.

 

Saw Tinker Tailor Solider Spy last night. As I wrote, I'm far from an action-movie junkie. If that's what you go in to TTSS, you're going to be seriously disappointed. But this is the spy world much closer to what it actually was/is. I'm a huge fan of PBS Masterpiece and so, many of these actors are familiar and so is the level of drama as the means to propel the story. Gotta say that it was hard to follow in spots. Definitely a movie I'm going to have to see again when it comes out on release. Oldman was really good in this.

"Haywire" has a very impressive cast, and Carano is the headliner, not to mention Steven Soderbergh is the director. My concern is that originally they were going to release this movie in November, and now it's in January, and usually that is not a good sign.

 

I agree with you about "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy". This is not a James Bond movie, which is all for the better. While the movie is slow and can be somewhat confusing, everything in the end makes sense. While I do not see the Academy giving it a Best Picture nod, I am really hoping that Gary Oldman gets a Best Actor nomination.

[UConn James]

"Haywire" has a very impressive cast, and Carano is the headliner, not to mention Steven Soderbergh is the director. My concern is that originally they were going to release this movie in November, and now it's in January, and usually that is not a good sign.

 

I agree with you about "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy". This is not a James Bond movie, which is all for the better. While the movie is slow and can be somewhat confusing, everything in the end makes sense. While I do not see the Academy giving it a Best Picture nod, I am really hoping that Gary Oldman gets a Best Actor nomination.

 

Some things in it, tho... (white-fonted for spoilers)

 

The guy living in the gypsy wagon in the school parking lot. I don't get how that would be any kind of allowable... even in the '80s... even in England. I get its use as a device. He's required to stay mobile, but he's seriously screwed up.

 

I don't know if I paid as close attention to the Christmas party flashbacks as it demanded. I think I missed something there... especially the late one just before Tailor (Firth) was shot by the gypsy wagon guy. I get why he shot him. I think. Someone gets betrayed and subjected to all that torture and having someone executed in front of you because of your answer.... But in that party scene was there the hint of, how do you say, gay undertones? There was just a look there. Firth's was the character that f--ked everything that moved, as spy plots go. I don't understand why George Smiley took being cuckolded like someone slipped him a sedative. Also need to follow the description of the meeting where his lighter was taken by the Soviet spymaster... and then when they caught Tailor, why this guy wasn't taken too; in fact he was allowed to just walk away. Like I said, this is one I'll have to re-watch to get a better understanding.

 

I also don't quite get why Smiley was in essence above suspicion. Smiley was the Spy of the title, tho he's not mentioned as the possible mole. Even Control had his picture taped to a chess piece... a case of Control distrusting/suspecting everyone but not telling them to their face. It did give a sense of the ultimate paranoia that has to exist at that level and in that circumstance.

Edited January 8, 2012 by UConn James

[erynthered]

Thanks Mark!!

[Mark Vader]

Thanks Mark!!

Your welcome eryn.

 

Also I saw " A Dangerous Method" today. I don't know much about Carl Jung & Sigmund Freud, so I will let those of you who have more knowledge on these two individuals to decide how accurate this story is.

 

Having said that, I thought it was a good, not great movie, but the acting was superb. I also must give David Cronenberg for pulling off a period piece like this. Michael Fassbender excels as Jung and you can see why Fassbender is quickly becoming one of top new talents in the acting world today. Keira Knightly does a very good job as Sabina Spielrein, and Viggo Mortensen as freud shows how good of an actor he can be even in a more subdued role. This is definitely an "arthouse" movie as their is no thrilling action or excitement.

 

The subject matter in this movie is definitely not for everyone as we get into certain areas that many people would rather not talk about. Still it is a very intriguing study of both Jung & Freud. Also the cinematography is outstanding with some very beautiful shots of Vienna. This movie is not for everyone, but I do recommend it.

[UConn James]

There's a small piece on "Haywire" that says Gina Carano's voice was digitally altered by Soderburgh, who wanted it deeper for the part, and as a way to differentiate her from "Gina Carano, the fighter."

 

Link

 

Gotta say, from what I've seen in the trailer and in pictures where she's done up, I hope she gets more into the acting side of things and stops getting punched in the face. Because, to borrow from North By Northwest, "It's a nice face."

 

Can a woman be a major action-film star?

[BuffaloBill]

Thanks for the information Mark. The wifey wants to see The Devil Inside but it is getting trashed on flickster and rotten tomatoes. I've tried to discourage it but shame still seems intent on watching it.

[Mark Vader]

Here are this month's Independent Films.

 

Ralph Fiennes stars and makes his directorial debut in "Coriolanus". Based on Shakespeare's play, a banished hero of Rome allies with a sworn enemy to take his revenge on the city. Also starring Gerard Butler, Vanessa Redgrave, Jessica Chastain & Brian Cox.

 

Christian Bale stars in the Chinese made film, "The Flowers of War". A Westerner finds refuge with a group of women in a church during Japan's rape of Nanking in 1937. Posing as a priest, he attempts to lead the women to safety.

 

In "The Divide", Survivors of a nuclear attack are grouped together for days in the basement of their apartment building, where fear and dwindling supplies wear away at their dynamic. Starring Lauren German, Michael Biehn & Milo Ventimiglia.

 

In "Albatross", Beth, a bookish teenager, befriends Emilia, an aspiring novelist who has just arrived in town. Emilia soon begins an affair with Beth's father that threatens to have devastating consequences. Starring Felicity Jones, Jessica Brown Findlay, Sebastian Koch & Julia Ormond.

 

In "Watching TV with the Red Chinese", In New York City in 1980, Dexter Mitchell plays half-willing big brother to his neighbors, a trio of exchange students from the People's Republic of China. Starring Ryan O'Nan, Leonardo Nam & Gillian Jacobs.

 

Finally from Mexico comes "Miss Bala". The story of a young woman clinging on to her dream to become a beauty contest queen in a Mexico dominated by organized crime. Starring Stephanie Sigman, Noe Hernandez & Irene Azuela.

 

Calendar with Trailers. Note: These dates are for exclusive or limited release. These films may appear in your area at a later date.

 

1/13

"The Divide": http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi401841689/

 

"Albatross": http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi1897176601/

 

1/20

"Coriolanus": http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi3941768729/

 

"The Flowers of War": http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi3344277017/

 

"Miss Bala": http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi2474876441/

 

"Watching TV with the Red Chinese": http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi854630681/

 

That's all for now I will have the February movies posted soon and since we had fun with it last year I will once again make a Summer movie preview. Enjoy!