We get the first look at The Road.

Wow, this was a great weak for new trailers. Peeks at what looks like a powerful lineup of forthcoming films. We finally get looks at some potential Oscar contenders. There’s a horror film I don’t know yet if it’s going to be great or total trash. Disney’s return to handdrawn animation. And some interesting indies.
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While it’s not as preposterous as its predecessor, THE DA VINCI CODE, ANGELS & DEMONS waits until the end to loose its credibility instead of doing it at the end of the first act. Like DA VINCI, it’s not the absurd premise that necessarily ruins the film. It’s in how the plot is executed and how it leaves its one-dimensional characters flailing in a fountain of exposition.

This is another treasure hunt plot where Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks, APOLLO 13) is called upon to help Vatican investigators stop the ancient secret science-based organization called the Illuminati from wiping out Vatican City with stolen antimatter. Landon, this time teamed with the beautiful physicist Vittoria Vetra (Ayelet Zurer, MUNICH), races from clue to clue to find where four kidnapped priests will be murdered. As the plot thickens like a good gravy, we learn that the pope might have been murdered, which puts many insiders into suspicion.
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Rian Johnson’s BRICK is one of the most creative films of the new century. So my anticipation for Johnson’s follow-up film, THE BROTHERS BLOOM, was quite high. While it isn’t as fresh as his previous genre-bending high-school-set noir, this con man tale is just as entertaining and even more charming. This is mainly due to a sweet double love story at its core. One between a man and a woman and the other between brothers.

Stephen (Mark Ruffalo, YOU CAN COUNT ON ME) and Bloom (Adrien Brody, THE DARJEELING LIMITED) moved from foster home to foster home throughout their childhood. Bloom was a shy kid who wished he could interact with the other children better. So Stephen writes a con for Bloom to act out and Bloom blooms. However, after years of living a lie, Bloom wants something real. Yet he has a hard time refusing his brother who lures him back into one last job — conning the rich, eccentric heiress Penelope Stamp (Rachel Weisz, THE CONSTANT GARDENER).
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To fill the post STAR TREK fix, This Weekend’s Film Festival is celebrating sci-fi comedies this week. STAR TREK spoofs, alien threats, Frankensteined babes, and a double shot of time travel. You’ll be thrilled. You will laugh. Without further ado, let’s start the countdown.
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The key to a great spoof is to understand what you are spoofing and love it. Screenwriters David Howard and Robert Green must love STAR TREK, because they nail every aspect of this send-up of the classic sci-fi TV series. This always felt like a film made by fans for fans.

“Galaxy Quest” the TV series has been off the air for some time now, but the fan base is still avid. The cast makes the rounds at conventions, most of them wishing they were doing something else. Jason Nesmith (Tim Allen, THE SANTA CLAUSE) was the star, playing Kirk-like Capt. Taggart. Sir Alexander Dane (Alan Rickman, ROBIN HOOD: PRINCE OF THIEVES) was a Shakespearian actor before landing the role of the alien Dr. Lazarus. He has come to loathe his most famous line, “By Grabthar’s hammer, by the suns of Warvan, you shall be avenged!” Gwen DeMarco (Sigourney Weaver, ALIEN) played Lt. Tawny Madison, who was best know for her low-cut uniform than anything else. Fred Kwan (Tony Shalhoub, TV’s MONK) played Tech Sgt. Chen and takes everything in stride. Tommy Webber (Daryl Mitchell, 10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU) was a kid when he was on the show playing pilot wunderkind Lt. Laredo, now he can’t get acting work. The supporting cast resents Nesmith’s diva attitude and his rapport with the fans.
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This John Hughes film takes his signature outsider coming-of-age story and adds a sci-fi twist. Most people probably view the film as a comedy first, but it is strongly rooted in fantasy. It’s very much a wish-fulfillment fantasy for awkward young boys. While it allows two nerds to get one up on their tormentors, it’s surprisingly not a revenge fantasy. This element is key to why the film is a cut above so many imitators.

Gary (Anthony Michael Hall, SIXTEEN CANDLES) and Wyatt (Ilan Mitchell-Smith, THE CHOCOLATE WAR) are humiliated on a constant basis by the cool kids, Ian (Robert Downey Jr., IRON MAN) and Max (Robert Rusler, TV’s BABYLON 5). Wyatt goes home to be tormented some more by his rock-headed older brother Chet (Bill Paxton, ALIENS). They have eyes for Deb (Suzanne Snyder, KILLER KLOWNS FROM OUTER SPACE) and Hilly (Judie Aronson, HANNIBAL), but the girls are too socially conscience to want better than popular jerks. So Gary convinces Wyatt to use his computer to make them a woman (so they can ask it advice). The experiment is a major success. Their creation Lisa (Kelly LeBrock, THE WOMAN IN RED) is a knockout.
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Whatever Works brings Woody Allen back to NYC.

Save the introduction this week. What’s the word?
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Different people will be coming at this film from different perspectives. I come at it as a fan of the original series. To call myself a Trekkie might not be accurate, but to deny you’re a Trekkie always makes people convinced that you are a Trekkie so what is the point. Live long and prosper. I’ve seen all the STAR TREK feature films featuring the full original cast. I have never seen an episode of any of the spinoff series or the features based on the NEXT GENERATION. I was always more of a STAR WARS geek. So that’s my point of view. I thoroughly enjoyed what J.J. Abrams has created with this prequel, sequel, reboot of the franchise. He’s taken the characters from STAR TREK and added in the grandness of STAR WARS.

A giant Romulan spaceship attacks a federation ship. It’s captain, Nero (Eric Bana, HULK), is looking for Spock. But Spock is a child at this time. Nero is from the future — a time where he blames an elderly Spock (Leonard Nimoy) for the destruction of his home planet of Romulus. In the battle between Nero and the federation ship, George Kirk (Chris Hemsworth, TV’s HOME AND AWAY) saves hundreds of lives including those of his wife and newborn son James T. Kirk. Years later Kirk (Chris Pine, THE PRINCESS DIARIES 2) is a troublemaker in Iowa, getting in fights with Starfleet cadets. Capt. Christopher Pike (Bruce Greenwood, CAPOTE) challenges him to do better.
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I had planned to do this lineup in conjunction with the home entertainment release of THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON for some time. It seems fitting that in the same week Roger Ebert posts a poignant blog entry on mortality. Aging is a curious thing, and each of us handles it in different ways. Certainly circumstance plays a roll in how we will view the closing of our lives, but perspective is very important. “You’re only as old as you think you are” is a very true statement… most of the time. In This Weekend’s Film Festival, some age differently then others. Some age bitterly. Some forget who they were and don’t see who they have become. Some forget about limitations and embrace an innocent love of life. Some simply find a new lease on life when the days are most precious. I hope you enjoy this contemplative and entertaining lineup that contains thrills, thoughts and ends with passion.
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District 9 has arrived!

A bunch of good trailers hit the web this week as well as some release date news. New trailers for G.I. JOE, TRANSFORMERS. See what makes the lists and what gets the cold shoulder this week.

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