New Film Releases:10/7/05 - Featuring: Waiting

Back again with this week's cinematic treats, or is that tricks? Time will tell, but perhaps the critics will first. Enough rambling, let's see what we have to work with.

In Her Shoes. A tale of two sisters, neither of whom can get along with the other attempt to find common ground, beyond their same shoe sizes. It was directed by Curtis Hanson, who also helmed 8 Mile and LA Confidential. I have heard that this was very good, but it doesn't call out to me as a must see, despite the talent within. It stars Cameron Diaz, Toni Collette, and Shirley Maclaine.

Two for the Money. This looks to be rather shallow on the story end, although I may be surprised, but could find buoyancy in it's stars Al Pacino and Matthew McConaughey. It is the story of a sports handicapper who is taken under the wing of a top bookie, something happens and he has to get away. Pacino looks to be having fun chewing the scenery, so that could be a plus. It was directed by DJ Caruso, who also directed the excellent Salton Sea.

Waiting. This is the one I have been looking for. It looks to be low brow comedy that may owe more than a passing semblance to the likes of Clerks and Office Space, only this time it is set in a Shenanigans restaurant. It stars Ryan Reynolds, Anna Farris, Luis Guzman, and Dane Cook as the employees of this fine eating establishment. It appears to have been made at least a year or two ago, Reynolds looks young and noticeably smaller than he does now. I am looking forward to catching this.

Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit. The claymation legends are coming to the big screen. I am not terribly familiar with them, but this movie looks like it could be a lot of fun for the whole family. It's also nice to see more animation than CG hit the screen, it has been a good few weeks for the lesser common theatrical animation forms, with this and Corpse Bride. Looking forward to it!

Separate Lies. This could be interesting. A tale of lies and deceit, death and infidelity in a British manor. It stars Tom Wilkinson, Emily Watson, and Rupert Everett.

Weapons of Mass Deception. Here for one show only, and featuring a Q&A session with the director, comes this documentary which takes a look the complacency of TV news coverage of Iraq.

Also opening this week, but not near me:

• The Gospel
• Before the Fall
• The Confederate States of America
• Dandelion
• Good Night and Good Luck
• The Overture
• The Squid and the Whale

That's it for this week, hopefully some good will come of it.