It’s been a while since the last roundup and I’m sure I’m positive I’ve missed a few I wanted to share but I stumbled on a couple this morning which caught my attention.
I’ve yet to see any of Damian Harris’ other films and the title for this one didn’t do much to catch my attention but the reason for giving the trailer a few minutes of my time was the name Kevin Zegers. The Canadian actor has been popping up all over the place in small, supporting roles and he’s always a standout and the opportunity to see him in something new peaked my interest and this trailer has sold me on the film.
It’s the story of two children who, after years of horrific foster care, run away. Along with Zegers, who again seems to be playing a small role, the film stars Gillian Jacobs (who will also star in Richard Kelly’s upcoming The Box), John Malkovich as some sort of councillor and Tom Arnold as the siblings’ foster father.
My one major complaint about the trailer is that it gives away what appears to be a fairly large plot detail/twist at the end. I suggest skipping over the last 15 seconds of the trailer.
Gardens of the Night opens in New York on November 21st.
The Lodger
We seem to be suffering through an epidemic of badly titled films and here’s another one to add to the list. I skimmed over The Lodger the first time I saw it listed but when I noticed it stars Hope Davis, I had to take a second look.
Davis stars as Ellen, a woman who rents a room to a mysterious man who may be responsible for a series of murders in the neighbourhood. Along with Davis, the film also stars Simon Baker as the stranger, Alfred Molina as a detective, Rachael Leigh Cook, Philip Baker Hall and Shane West.
The film is based on the novel by Marie Belloc Lowndes which was also the basis for Alfred Hitchcock’s 1927 thriller The Lodger. I’m not willing to go on a limb to say that David Ondaatje’s first full length feature will be anywhere near Hitchcock but the trailer did catch my interest.
The Lodger seems to be bypassing the theatrical release altogether, which doesn’t suggest good things, and appearing on DVD on February 10th, 2009.
It’s been some time since I’ve seen Sissy Spacek in a memorable (probably The Straight Story though I did like her small appearance in Hot Rod) but her name still draws my attention.
Written and directed by newcomers Hunter Hill and Perry Moore, Spaceck plays a mother who is reunited with her son after years of separation. Of course, we can’t have a happy family reunion and instead, it seems as though her son, played by Troy Garity, is on the run. The film also stars Keith Carradine (who I recently enjoyed seeing on a stint on “Dexter”) and Dave Matthews (of Dave Matthews Band fame).
It’s not the best quality trailer but it did keep me interested throughout and I really want to know what the son is running from. Success!
Lake City opened in limited release on November 7th.
