TGITDNMAR (12/7/07)

It's that time again for TGITDNMAR, which (obviously) stands for Thank God It's The Day New Movies Are Released.

Finally! After a few weeks of notably un-notable films being released (I'm looking at you, Awake), December brings us a few worth talking about, and maybe worth seeing. And so, TGITDNMAR returns as well, with a preview of four films hitting theaters Friday. Still, the big week comes next Friday, with I am Legend, Juno, and...uh...Alvin and the Chipmunks. Well, they can't all be winners, I guess.

The Golden Compass
The Catholic League does not want you or your children to see this film. As discussed here previously, The Golden Compass has brought on all sorts of contrived controversy, in the form of some overzealous people with nothing better to do attempting to launch a massive boycott, all stemming from fears that kids will read the books from which the film(s) are based. How dare an atheist write a book denouncing/attacking Christianity!

As might be expected, the "boycott" has had the opposite effect on me, turning a movie that I cared little about seeing into one that I feel I must see. Then again, I'm a heathen who thinks it's pretty hypocritical to denounce this but not overtly religious films - what's wrong with the kids hearing the counterpoint every now and then? What are you afraid of, Catholic League?
Fletch’s Chance of Viewing (in the theater): 81%

Grace is Gone
I can't say that I've heard a lot of buzz either way regarding this drama starring John Cusack, but seeing as how it's a drama about a husband whose wife was killed in the Iraq war, this may be the first time in a long time where we really, truly see Cusack stretching himself and stepping out of his comfort zone. That's reason enough for some intrigue. While Cusack has never been an "Oscar-caliber" actor (or at least, he hasn't shown us that potential), it's probably safe to say that most Gen X-ers see him as an extension of themselves, growing up with him and graduating from Better Off Dead to Say Anything... to High Fidelity and so on. "Serious actor" just may be that next progression.

PS - this film ought to make for a great double-feature alongside the Adam Sandler-Don Cheadle buddy downer pic Reign on Me, about a man (Sandler) whose family was killed in the 9/11 attacks. Belly laughs all around from the funny men!
Fletch’s Chance of Viewing: 44%

Atonement
Though it will earn me the ire of a fellow movie blogger (http://joesmoviecorner.blogspot.com/ - who I think has been touting this film since 1998), I can't say that Atonement looks all that interesting or good to me. Keira Knightley remains an underwhelming actress, yet she's asked to do some heavy lifting here, in a period romance co-starring James McAvoy (The Last King of Scotland, and now seemingly everywhere - if you have yet to see the trailer for the Angelina co-starring Wanted, consider yourself lucky).

Anyway, this looks like Love in the Time of Cholera with some crimes and misdemeanors mixed in, but it's getting great reviews and has a lot of Oscar buzz. We'll see if it lasts. I say "meh."
Fletch’s Chance of Viewing: 16%

Revolver
What's this? A Guy Ritchie sighting? Inexplicably, this generically titled follow-up to 2000's Snatch by Madonna's husband (2002's Swept Away didn't happen, if you ask me) has been sitting on the shelf (at least in the US) for two years. It stars Ritchie's go-to guy even, in the person of Jason Statham, and co-stars Ray Liotta, Andre Benjamin (Outkast) and The Sopranos Vincent Pastore. The plot centers around a card shark who gets into some trouble with...ah, who cares - I'll see it regardless.
Fletch’s Chance of Viewing: 69%