Meskada – Jonathan On The Internets

It looks like Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis will be in my near future with Black Swan. Probably could have seen it during the AFI Fest if I had REALLY concentrated hard enough, but I decided against it and saw a whole lot more throughout the festival. There are a few other films out this weekend that might be worth checking into, but I’m not sure if they’re “must-see” or even “must-see this week.”

*mimics Geoffrey Rush* Films. Damn.

	Warrior’s Way Directed By: Sngmoo Lee Written By: Sngmoo Lee Starring: Kate Bosworth, Danny Huston, Geoffrey Rush Release Date: December 3, 2010 (1,500 screens) Synopsis: A warrior-assassin is forced to hide in a small town in the American Badlands after refusing a mission. Thoughts: This is the type of film that will be so bad it’s good, be Netflix Party fodder and yadda-yadda Diagnosis: Definitely a rental!
	All Good Things Director: Andrew Jarecki Written By: Marcus Hinchey and Marc Smerling Starring: Ryan Gosling, Kirsten Dunst, Frank Langella Release Date: December 3, 2010 Synopsis: All Good Things is a love story and murder mystery based on the most notorious unsolved murder case in New York history. The original screenplay uses newly discovered facts, court records and speculation as the foundation for an imaginative spellbinding story of family, obsession, love and loss. Thoughts: Looks like an interesting enough film. Just not my cup of tea. I’d rather see Blue Valentine, instead. Diagnosis: Right actor, wrong film!
	Bhutto Director: Duane Baughman, Johnny O’Hara Release Date: December 3, 2010 (2 screens) Synopsis: A riveting documentary of the recently assassinated Benazir Bhutto, a polarizing figure in the Muslim world. Following in her father’s footsteps as a pillar for democracy, Bhutto was expected to dominate Pakistan’s 2008 elections but the assassination sent Pakistan politics into turmoil. This major event sent shock waves throughout the world and transformed her from political messiah into a martyr for the common man. Thoughts: This could be an interesting documentary, actually. Diagnosis: Curious.
	Black Swan Director: Darren Aronofsky Written By: Mark Heyman and Andres Heinz Starring: Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel Release Date: December 3, 2010 (19 screens) Synopsis: A thriller that zeros in on the relationship between a veteran ballet dancer and a rival. Thoughts: Yeah. This. Definitely going to see this. Diagnosis: Yeah. This.
	Dead Awake Director: Omar Naim Written By: Johnny Harrington and Justin Urich Starring: Rose McGowan, Amy Smart, Nick Stahl Release Date: December 3, 2010 (50-75 screen) Synopsis: Dylan, a young man working at a funeral parlor, is trying to unravel a mystery that shattered his life ten years earlier. After faking his own funeral to see who will show up, he befriends a mysterious street junkie and is reunited with an old love from his past. The lives of these three characters are transformed by supernatural forces as Dylan discovers that no one is who they seem to be. Thoughts: The synopsis alone…… Diagnosis: I got nothing.
	I Love You, Phillip Morris Director: Glenn Ficarra, John Requa Written By: John Requa and Glenn Ficarra Starring: Jim Carrey, Ewan McGregor, Leslie Mann Release Date: December 3, 2010 (6 screens) Synopsis: Incarcerated at the state penitentiary, con artist Steven Russell (Carrey) meets the love of his life: Phillip Morris (McGregor). As a free man, his passion results in a series of improbable cons to bust Phillip from jail and build the perfect life together. Thoughts: Normally I’d pass up a Jim Carrey film for…a better one. This one seems like it might be a better one, actually. Diagnosis: Curious.
	Meskada Director: Josh Sternfeld Written By: Josh Sternfeld Starring: Nick Stahl, Rachel Nichols, Kellan Lutz Release Date: December 3, 2010 Synopsis: Small-town detective Noah Cordin is called to solve a juvenile homicide that occurred during a home burglary in his affluent town of Hilliard. The dead boy’s mother, Allison Connor, is a member of the Meskada County Board of Commissioners, and a powerful woman in Hilliard; and the entire township rallies together in solidarity – to support her and Detective Cordin’s efforts to find the killers. Thoughts: Another film with Nick Stahl in it. Kind of a big weekend if you are a fan. Diagnosis: Pass.
	Night Catches Us Director: Tanya Hamilton Written By: Tanya Hamilton Starring: Kerry Washington, Anthony Mackie, Wendell Pierce Release Date: December 3, 2010 Synopsis: In 1976, complex political and emotional forces are set in motion when a young man returns to the race-torn Philadelphia neighborhood where he came of age during the Black Power movement. Thoughts: This seems like a pretty straight-forward film about the time. I’d like to see this if I can. Diagnosis: Want to see.
	Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale Director: Jalmari Helander Written By: Jalmari Helander Starring: Per Christian Ellefsen, Peeter Jakobi, Tommi Korpela Release Date: December 3, 2010 Synopsis: In the depths of the Korvatunturi mountains, 486 metres deep, lies the closest ever guarded secret of Christmas. The time has come to dig it up! This Christmas everyone will believe in Santa Claus. Thoughts: Hot damn! I want to see this. Had a chance earlier, but another awesome show conflicted. Guess I’ll have to see this ASAP. Diagnosis: Must see!