The Slate: White vs. Hoberman, The Addams Family, The Runaways

The high point of Armond White’s Greenberg-iad is also the one statement that approaches actual criticism: “I liked Harris Savides’ image of Stiller barely swimming across a pool—possibly an homage to my joke that Baumbach was the rat at the bottom of Margot at the Wedding’s pool.” This man walks among us. (NY Press)

… and J. Hoberman shrugs the whole tirade off. Is this still fun? (VV)

In related news: “The abiding joy [of writing film criticism] comes of saying what you’ve experienced so truthfully and so well that strangers get your meaning whether they agree or not.” It’s an elusive joy, trust us. (Scanners)

The Great SXSW 2010 Preview Dump: Headliners

Why not wait until 48 hours before the SXSW Film Festival kicks off to post our preview? That’s a question that will haunt Squally until we crawl into our premature grave. While nobler movie bloggers pack their bags for Austin–visions of Harry Knowles smeared with BBQ dancing in their heads—here’s a humble look at what’s screening over the next nine days. First up: a rattle bag of marquee fodder which includes the Duplasses’ venture into the mainstream, Robert Duvall facing off against Bill Murray, Rhys Ifans as a stoner hero and the triumphant return of Jean-Pierre Jeunet. Click on the titles to watch trailers.

Read the first part of our SXSW Spotlight Premieres preview.
Read the second part of our SXSW Spotlight Premieres preview.

Cyrus

The Duplass Brothers do a David Gordon Green, moving to a bigger budget and familiar faces, while mining a familiar seam of discomfort that doesn’t seem so radical in hindsight. Things look like they’re turning around for loser John C. Reilly when he meets the hot Marisa Tomei. The problem is she has a stay-at-home son played by Jonah Hill. That means he’s going to be plenty gross and creepy.

Four Lions

Fresh from Sundance, where it failed to raise hackles, comes British satirist Chris Morris’s terrorist comedy. A quartet of hapless Sheffield Muslims cook up a suicide bomber plot that, in the best tradition of Anglo-cringe comedy, comes undone through their own stupidity. The point is that while fundamentalism and dimwittedness go hand-in-hand, the results are no laughing matter. Feel-badness all ‘round, then.

Must See Movies: March

Spring is busting out all over, even if Squally is currently looking out at several inches of snow at this writing. While the past few months have offered slim pickings for cineastes on a budget, March comes in with returning masters and new discoveries. So many, in fact, that we’ve extended our usual handful to a mighty six. Among the delights in store: Zoe Kazan, fascist mistresses, Lolitas in platforms, and Ben Stiller turning his neuroses up to 11. Sorry funseekers, no Hot Tub Time Machine. Click on the titles for trailers and more.

The Exploding Girl
Release date: March 12
The pitch: Ivy (Zoe Kazan) juggles a distant boyfriend and a close pal while taking a break from college.
Fun fact: Writer-director Bradley Rust Gray is married to Treeless Mountain helmer So Yong Kim!
Why it could be great: Zoe Kazan’s had us since her delicate turn in Me and Orson Welles. And who doesn’t like a summer-set mood piece released in the middle of March?
Why it could suck: Oh.

Green Zone
Release date: March 12
The pitch: Matt Damon reunites with director Paul Greengrass to fight the war in Iraq. Based on the acclaimed book Imperial Life in the Emerald City by Rajiv Chandrasekaran.
Fun fact: Greengrass collaborated with onetime M15 agent Peter Wright on Spycatcher, a 1987 bestseller which lifted the lid on Britain’s Secret Service.
Why it could be great: Damon and Greengrass’s Bourne films made palm’s sweat glands work overtime.
Why it could suck: Iraq? Again?

Sundance 2010 Preview: Etc.

After a hard day watching documentaries about globalisation and touching dramas about growing up in a gentrified Echo Park, what’s a still fiending film fan to do? The answer is head for Sundance’s fringe events. This year, Park City at Midnight serves up a helping of Canadian revenge, a Guillermo del Toro-endorsed horror film, and the wackiest ski thriller since Hot Dog. Also pulling in the A-list names to Utah are two premieres celebrating the great American traditions of hot rock chicks and dying slowly in Texas.

Click here to read our U.S. Documentary Competition Preview
Click here to read our U.S. Dramatic Competition Preview
Click here to read our International Documentary Competition Preview
Click here to read our International Dramatic Competition Preview

Premieres

The Killer Inside Me

Jim Thompson’s bone-dry noir novels of dice ‘n’ deceit have inspired plenty of cinematic adaptations, ranging from Steve McQueen in The Getaway to John Cusack palming twenties in The Grifters. Bringing his 1952 masterpiece to the screen is director Michael Winterbottom, more used to guerilla filmmaking like In This World. The dream cast includes Casey Affleck as a sociopathic Texas sheriff and Jessica Alba and Kate Hudson as his itchy women. Don’t worry about the plot, because Thompson never did. Just groove on the fetid funereal atmosphere.

The Runaways

In the late ‘70s, the all-girl band The Runaways were fun, flirty, and just a little bit jailbait. After lighting up the charts with “Cherry Bomb,” guitarist Joan Jett hearted rock ‘n’ roll, lead guitarist Lita Ford kissed me deadly and singer Cherie Currie fell off the charts into addiction. Her memoir is the basis for this biopic, whose kiss between leads Dakota Fanning and Kristen Stewart has fuelled at least fanboy fantasy. Michael Shannon plays Kim Fowley, the scariest Svengali in rock ‘n’ roll.

Trailerama: The Runaways

Ch-ch-ch-cherry bomb! Based on vocalist Cherie Currie’s memoirs, this biopic tells the low down and dirty story of all-girl glamsters The Runaways. The Twilight brigade will be mushy about Kristen Stewart as Joan Jett, but it’s the prospect of Michael Shannon as Kim Fowley—the man who put the “ego” in Svengali—which floats our butterfly collar. Director Floria Sigismondi may be best known for the award-winning video to Sigur Ros’s “Untitled,” which can be seen below.

The Slate: Who’s Doing What to Whom and For How Much

A round-up of what the trades are tittering about:

• Universal Pictures is circling around Sean Penn to bust the heads of a Mexican cartel in, er, Cartel. Ghosts of Cite Soleil director Asger Leth dips into the Third World muck again. Cartel‘s being described as an “action vehicle for Penn.” Here’s hoping it’s the BIGGEST, GAYEST action vehicle ever (that will make you stand up and cheer!). (Variety)
• Checks are being waved in front of Milla Jovovich to star in Mile Zero. If Milla’s desperate enough, she will play a woman who goes to work on an oil derrick in an effort to clear her father’s name. Please god let there be zombies. (Hollywood Reporter)
• Joss Whedon has written a horror spin called The Cabin in the Woods. Those fighting for the top bunk (and presumably also fighting an unmentionable evil and/or power tool) are Richard Jenkins, Bradley Whitford, Kristen Connolly, Chris Hemsworth, Anna Hutchison, Fran Kranz, and Jesse Williams. Should hit screens on Feb. 5, 2010. (Hollywood Reporter)
• The short, sordid story of ’70s jailbait rockers The Runaways is being made into a film called, er, The Runaways, and based on the memoirs of lead singer Cherie Currie. Drug abuse, alcohol abuse, Joan Jett sapphism and 15-year-olds yelling “Cherry B-b-b-b-bomb!” are assured. The prospect of Dakota Fanning as Currie? Well, we can dream. White Stripes associate Floria Sigismondi writes and directs. (Variety)
• Diane Keaton is likely to join Harrison Ford and Rachel McAdams in the comedy Morning Glory. Harrison is a cranky TV anchor involved in the morning talk show wars. Directed by Roger Michell, whose The Mother is worth seeking out for its young Daniel Craig and geriatric sex. (Production Weekly)
• Nuri Bilge Ceylan‘s Three Monkeys has changed hands following New Yorker Films going bust. Zeitgeist Films will now distribute the Cannes prize-winner. Expect it to bow in New York in April, with hopefully dates elsewhere thereafter. (Indiewire)
• Kevin Smith has changed the title of A Couple of Dicks to A Couple of Cops. He also is offering a reward for his missing balls. Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan will play two detectives on the trail of a 1952 baseball card when not asking themselves, “Whatever happened to Kevin Smith’s balls?” (Variety)