A glimpse inside the mind of our film editor.
By Doug Nayler
The period between Victoria Day Weekend (or “Memorial Day Weekend” as it’s known in the US) and Labour Day Weekend (“Labor Day Weekend,” respectively) is very important for the people who fund movies; this is the time they look forward to all year, their palms slick with sweat and their mouths tacky in anticipation. Because this is when the big money gets made. This is when all the other failures, bombs, coke-fueled jet trips, and useless vanity projects get paid off. It’s the Shreks and the Evan Almightys of the world that pay the bills, and puts all of Los Angeles back into the black.
However, the summer leaves a big vacuum in the life of a lot of people. People who invest a lot of their identity in movies. People who rely upon obscure, inaccessible, subtitled films to feel more cultured, intelligent, and insightful than their fellow man. With all the multiplexes clogged up with 14 screens of Pirates of the Carribean, is there any hope for the insecurely intellectual? Well, come along with me, and let’s find out what nobody will be seeing this summer. Disclaimer: Since these are limited release films it is notoriously hard to predict when they’ll be opening in what city, so take all release dates with a very large grain of salt.
Red Road
Directed by Andrea Arnold
Release Date: June 29th, 2007
Arriving in North America armed with a shitload of international awards (including the Jury Prize from Cannes 2006), Andrea Arnold’s feature debut is being billed as a gritty, street level portrait à la Ken Loach crossed with a paranoid psychological thriller incorporating a variety of security camera footage.
Rescue Dawn
Directed by Werner Herzog
Release Date: July 4th, 2007
Pushed back from an original release date in May (always a surefire sign that the distributor has no idea how the hell to market it), Werner Herzog revisits his 1997 documentary Little Deiter Needs to Fly in scripted adaptation form. Watch Christian Bale starve and trudge through the Laos as he escapes a prison camp. Wonder once again whether Herzog is a genius, or completely batshit crazy. Find absolutely no answer to that question.
Sunshine
Directed by Danny Boyle
Release Date: July 20th, 2007
Ready for the most ridiculous premise you’ve ever heard? The sun is going to explode, so a bunch of people get on a spaceship to go and fix it. Somehow. So, why is it in here? Because this film is the work of Danny Boyle, famous for Trainspotting and more pertinently, 28 Days Later. Can he do the same to revitalize sci-fi the way he did horror? Only one way to find out.
Superbad
Directed by Greg Mottola
Release Date: August 17th, 2007
Knocked Up may be getting all the attention and all the box office revenue, but it’s little brother Superbad is shaping up to be pretty hilarious. The film was written by Seth Rogan, produced by Judd Apatow, and starring Jonah Hill from Knocked Up. Plus, there’s the excellent addition of Michael Cera and director Greg Mottola, both veterans of Arrested Development. Really only good things can come of this.
With these films out there on the market, how can one not eschew the masses and feel superior? Good luck, and may you look down on everyone you meet.
