House of Sand and Fog (2003) or, The Erroneous Eviction Blues

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Two great dramatic star actors look stern on this foreboding and mysterious poster for Vadim Perelman's House of Sand and Fog

A divorced woman mistakenly has her home auctioned off to an Iranian refugee family, who hope to sell it on with a profit.

 

House of Sand and Fog is written by Shawn Lawrence Otto and co-writer/co-producer/director, debuting Vadim Perelman (The Missing (2021, miniseries)), adapting the same-titled 1999 novel by Andre Dubus III (Bluesman (1993)).

The unfortunate affair becomes complicated - and tragic. House of Sand and Fog is like a Greek tragedy, wherein the involved fates become unhappier scene by scene. It is a commendably assembled, respectable drama, although what it finally is supposed to tell us I am not sure. In this respect the characters', - and to some degree the audiences', - sufferings may feel somewhat pointless.

Jennifer Connelly (Mulholland Falls (1996)) is frightening as a woman in free fall (again), and Ben Kingsley (Sexy Beast (2000)) gives a bravado performance, which makes the Iranian ex-colonel that he portrays both human and sympathetic, SPOILER as well as, in the film's climax, devastating. Shohreh Aghdashloo (Silk (2013, short)) as his wife and Jonathan Ahdout (American Gun (2005)) as his son are also outstanding.

 

Watch a trailer for the film here

 

Cost: 16.5 mil. $

Box office: 16.7 mil. $

= Huge flop (returned 1.01 times its cost)

[House of Sand and Fog was released 19 December (USA) and runs 124 minutes. Shooting took place around October 2002 in California, including in Los Angeles and San Francisco. The film opened #43 to a 45k $ first weekend in 2 theaters in North America, where it peaked at #13 and in 598 theaters (different weeks), grossing 13 mil. $ (77.8 % of the total gross). The 2nd and 3rd biggest markets were Italy with 753k $ (4.5 %) and Australia with 721k $ (4.3 %). The film was nominated for 3 Oscars, winning none. It lost Best Actor (Kingsley) to Sean Penn in Mystic River, Supporting Actress (Aghdashloo) to Renée Zellweger in Cold Mountain, and Score (James Horner (Iris (2001))) to Howard Shore for The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. It also won 1/3 Independent Spirit awards, was nominated for a Golden Globe and won 2 National Board of Review awards, among many other honors. Roger Ebert gave it a 4/4 star review, translating to 2 notches over this one. Perelman returned with Kelly Clarkson: Because of You (2005, music video) and theatrically with The Life Before Her Eyes (2007). Connelly returned in Dark Water (2005); Kingsley in Thunderbirds (2004). House of Sand and Fog is certified fresh at 74 % with a 7.10/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of House of Sand and Fog?

Henry V (1989) - Conviction hits home in Branagh's Shakespearean debut

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Several men celebrate their king before a fiery inferno on this poster for Kenneth Branagh's Henry V

In the days of King Henry V, a disdainful letter is received from the king of France, and soon the grand European powers are at the cusp of war.

 

Henry V is written and directed by Irish master filmmaker, debuting Kenneth Branagh (Hamlet (1996)), who also co-stars in it as the titular king. It is an adaptation of the same-titled 1599 play by William Shakespeare (A Midsummer Night's Dream (1595/96)).

Henry V is not among the bard's best in my book; the king is a sleek and pompous guy, and the story is so overly dense with words. Branagh nevertheless overcomes this with enthusiasm and magnetic conviction.

So despite there being no real wisdom to be gained from Henry V, which is a chronicle of war and hardly more, there are dashing scenes, - especially during and after the battle, - and belief in the film.

 

Related posts:

Kenneth Branagh: Belfast (2021) - Fond childhood memories become a fabulous film

Tenet (2020) - Nolan blows smoke up your ass (actor)

Murder on the Orient Express (2017) - Branagh's star-studded Christie match is auspicious (director/co-star)

2017 in films - according to Film Excess [UPDATED I]
Dunkirk (2017) - Nolan champions cinema with masterful war movie (actor)
My Week with Marilyn (2011) or, The Prince, the Showgirl and Me (actor)

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002) - Potter and Co. return for handsome if overlong first sequel (co-star)
Celebrity (1998) or, Stars in New York (actor) 

 

 

Branagh gives a longer interview about the making of the film here

 

Cost: 9 mil. $

Box office: In excess of 10.9 mil. $ (North America and the UK only); projected 15-20 mil. $ world gross

= Uncertain but likely a big flop or a flop (projected return of 1.66 - 2.22 times its cost)

[Henry V premiered 6 October (London) and runs 137 minutes. Shooting took place from October - December 1988 in England. The film opened #19 to a 64k $ first weekend in 3 theaters in North America, where it grossed 10.1 mil. $. It reportedly made 652k £, approximately 812k $, in the UK, but numbers from its many other markets are regrettably not public online. A final gross in the area of 15-20 mil. $, (which is likely setting it high), would rank the film as either a 'big flop' or a 'flop' with a return of 1.66-2.22 times its cost. The film was nominated for 3 Oscars, winning 1, for Best Costumes. It lost Best Director to Oliver Stone for Born of the Fourth of July and Actor (also Branagh) to Daniel Day-Lewis for My Left Foot. It also won 1/6 BAFTA nominations, won 2 European Film awards and 2 National Board of Review awards, among other honors. Roger Ebert gave it a 3.5/4 star review, translating to a notch higher than this one. Branagh returned with Dead Again (1991) as a director and in Look Back in Anger (1989, TV movie) first as an actor, before also co-starring in Dead Again. Henry V is certified fresh at 100 % with an 8.20/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

 

What do you think of Henry V?

Top 10: Best Twentieth Century Fox titles

 

1. The Grapes of Wrath (1940) - John Ford

 

 

2. Alien (1979) - Ridley Scott

 

3. The Fly (1958) - Kurt Neumann  

 

 

4. Hot Shots! Part Deux (1993) - Jim Abrahams

 

 

5. Home Alone (1990) - Chris Columbus 

 

6. From Hell (2001) - The Hughes Brothers

 

 7. 24 - season 3 (2003) - Robert Cochran, Joel Surnow

 

 

8. The Greatest Showman (2017) - Michael Gracey  

 

 

9. The Happening (2008) - M. Night Shyamalan

10. Judy (2019) - Rupert Goold

 

Selected from 55 titles labeled 'Fox'

 

Previous Top 10 lists:

Best action movies reviewed by Film Excess to date
Best adapted movies reviewed by Film Excess to date
Best adventure movies reviewed by Film Excess to date
Best big flop movies reviewed by Film Excess to date
Best B/W movies reviewed by Film Excess to date
Best true story movies reviewed by Film Excess to date
Best big hit movies reviewed by Film Excess to date
Best biopic movies reviewed by Film Excess to date
Best 'box office success' movies reviewed by Film Excess to date
Best car chases in movies reviewed by Film Excess to date
Best comedies reviewed by Film Excess to date
Best cop movies reviewed by Film Excess to date        
Best crime movies reviewed by Film Excess to date         
Best debut movies reviewed by Film Excess to date     
Best Danish movies reviewed by Film Excess to date
Best Disney movies reviewed by Film Excess to date     
Best documentaries reviewed by Film Excess to date  
Best dramas reviewed by Film Excess to date  
Best drama-thrillers reviewed by Film Excess to date 
Best dramedies reviewed by Film Excess to date

Best drug-themed movies reviewed by Film Excess to date 

Best UK movies reviewed by Film Excess to date

Best epic movies reviewed by Film Excess to date  

Best erotic movies reviewed by Film Excess to date 

Best family movies reviewed by Film Excess to date 

Best fantasy movies reviewed by Film Excess to date 

Best films about filmmaking 

Best first-of-franchise movies 

Top 10: Best 'flop' rank movies  

What do you think of the list?
Which Twentieth Century Fox titles would make your personal Top 10?

The Hitcher (1986) - Hauer is the Bad Stranger in hard-pumped debut

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A suspicious, dark figure hitchhikes on this highly ominous poster for Robert Harmon's The Hitcher

A young man driving his car through the desert towards San Diego decides to pick up a hitchhiker, against his mother's advice. - He really should have listened to his mother!

The Hitcher is written by Eric Red (Blue Steel (1990)) and directed by debuting Robert Harmon (Highwaymen (2004)).

Rutger Hauer (Il Futuro (2013)) is intense as the barbarian title character, who chases the young man around for the rest of the film. The photography (by John Seale (Mad Max: Fury Road (2015))) is cool and stylish, and the action elements and car stunts are well-made, so that one hangs onto this entertaining car horror, even though it stretches its plot elements beyond credibility sometimes.

Watch a 3-minute scene of Hauer's villainous mastery in the film here

Cost: 6-7.9 mil. $ (different accounts)

Box office: 5.8 mil. $ (North America alone)

= Uncertain but likely a big flop (projected return of 1.26-1.66 times the cost)

[The Hitcher premiered 17 January (Victoria, Texas) and runs 97 minutes. Shooting took place from February - April 1985 in California, including in Los Angeles. The film opened #8 to a 2.1 mil. $ first weekend in 794 theaters in North America, where it grossed 5.8 mil. $. It was released in many other markets, but the gross details are regrettably not available. If figuring on a 10 mil. $ final gross, the film would rank as a big flop with a cost return of 1.26-1.66, depending on the budget size. Roger Ebert gave the film a 0/4 star review, translating to 3 notches under this one. A 2002 sequel and a 2007 same-titled remake followed. Harmon returned with Eyes of an Angel (1991). Hauer returned in Wanted: Dead or Alive (1986). The Hitcher is fresh at 62 % with a 6/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of The Hitcher?

Happy-Go-Lucky (2008) - Leigh celebrates Poppy the optimist

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+ Best English Movie of the Year + Breakthrough Actress of the Year: Sally Hawkins 

 

Co-star Sally Hawkins flashes pearly whites and lovely hair on this brightly colored poster for Mike Leigh's Happy-Go-Lucky

Poppy is a primary school teacher, who attends flamenco lessons, lives with a good friend and also takes driving lessons with a driving instructor with anger issues. Poppy, on the other hand, is an optimist and a humorist.

 

Happy-Go-Lucky is written and directed by great English filmmaker Mike Leigh (Bleak Moments (1971)). 

When one gets past the very silly and a bit annoying elements of Poppy's persona, she also turns out to be a very charming, thoughtful, intelligent and sympathetic acquaintance, and Sally Hawkins (An Education (2009)) has a star-making turn in the part. Eddie Marsan (A Kind of Murder (2016)) is also extraordinary as the driving instructor. 

Leigh interweaves lots of colors here, - especially hopeful green, - into a refreshing, plot-neglecting, episodic film, which is a kind of person type portrait more than anything else. Happy-Go-Lucky also has a terrific scene with a schizophrenic

 

Related posts:

Mike Leigh:  Another Year (2010) or, Life in England

2008 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED III] 

2002 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess 

All or Nothing (2002) - Leigh wrangles more working class destinies with great performances 

 

Watch a trailer for the movie here

 

Cost: Unknown, projected at 4 mil. $

Box office: 18.6 mil. $

= Uncertain, but likely a big hit (projected return of 4.65 times its cost)

[Happy-Go-Lucky premiered 12 February (Berlin International Film Festival) and runs 118 minutes. The UK Film Council supported the production with 1.41 mil. £ (approximately 1.82 mil. $). Shooting took place in England, including in London. The film opened #40 to a 73k $ first weekend in 4 theaters in North America, where it peaked at #19 and in 202 theaters, grossing 3.5 mil. $ (18.8 % of the total gross). The 2nd and 3rd biggest markets were the UK with 3.1 mil. $ (16.7 %) and France with 2.9 mil. $ (15.6 %). If made on a realistic 4 mil. $ budget, the film would rank as a big hit. It was nominated for the Best Original Screenplay Oscar, lost to Dustin Lance Black for Milk. It also won 2/3 British Independent Film award nominations, was nominated for 2 European Film awards and won 1/2 Golden Globe nominations, among many other honors. Roger Ebert gave the film a 4/4 star review, translating to 2 notches over this one. Leigh returned with Another Year (2010). Hawkins returned in An Education (2009); Marsan in Hancock (2008); and Alexis Zegerman (Albatross (2011)) in Storm (2009). Happy-Go-Lucky is certified fresh at 93 % with a 7.70/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of Happy-Go-Lucky?

The Hidden Fortress/隠し砦の三悪人 (Kakushi toride no san akunin) (1958) - Kurosawa's spectacular jidaigeki adventure

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Toshiro Mifune looks fierce on a horseback in a dramatic mountain landscape on this text-filled painted poster for Akira Kurosawa's The Hidden Fortress

A pair of fools crossing a mountain ridge find a bit of gold and are joined by a general who, without their knowing it, use them to help him get his princess to safety.

 

The Hidden Fortress is written by Shinobu Hashimoto (The Murderer Must Die (1959)), Hideo Oguni (Edokko matsuri (1958)), Ryûzô Kikushima (Shag/Inubue (1978)) and Japanese master filmmaker, co-writer/co-producer/director/editor Akira Kurosawa (Sanshiro Sugata/Sugata Sanshirô (1943)). It was his 19th feature. The original title translates to, 'the three villains of the hidden fortress'.

It is a curious mix of suspense, drama and fun, personified in the two very lively and foolish characters who lead the story. Toshirô Mifune (Winter Kills (1979)) seems natural as the strong and pompous general. Visually resplendent, The Hidden Fortress is a true adventure pictorially speaking, (Kurosawa's first use of widescreen Tohoscope with cinematography by Kazuo Yamazaki (Botchan (1953))) packed with mountains, landscapes, gardens, showdowns, big scenes with many extras and so on. 

Fans of Japanese cinema will especially cherish this wonderful film, which nevertheless does become a bit long towards the end.

 

Watch a modern-made trailer for the film here

 

Cost: Unknown

Box office: Unknown

= Uncertain

[The Hidden Fortress was released 28 December (Japan) and runs 139 minutes. Shooting took place from May - December 1958 in Japan, including in Tokyo. Toho were so frustrated with Kurosawa's slow shooting pace that he subsequently formed his own production company, (but continued distributing his films through Toho.) The film was Toho's biggest hit of the year and the 4th highest-grossing in Japan over-all for the year. It was also Kurosawa's highest-grossing film until Yojimbo (1961). In North America, the film was unsuccessful, reportedly grossing 46k $. It was also released in many other markets, but gross numbers are regrettably not reported online, and without cost and gross numbers the film's theatrical success status cannot be determined. George Lucas has openly admitted that the plot of The Hidden Fortress inspired Star Wars (1977). Kurosawa returned with The Bad Sleep Well/Warui yatsu hodo yoku nemuru (1960). Mifune returned in Ankokugai no kaoyaku (1959); Misa Uehara (Storm Over the Pacific/Hawai Middowei daikaikûsen: Taiheiyô no arashi (1960)) in Daigaku no nijuhachin (1959). The Hidden Fortress is fresh at 97 % with an 8.50/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of The Hidden Fortress?

Hawaii, Oslo (2004) or, Turkeyville, Oslo

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A man is trapped in a kaleidoscopic image on this poster for Erik Poppe's Hawaii, Oslo

A series of destinies are intertwined in Oslo: A woman who is attempting suicide. Two orphan boys. A mentally disabled man. A mentally ill man. A couple with a baby that's dying. But really we focus on two 25 year-olds, who meet again after 10 years, because they agreed as teenagers to marry ten years into the future.

 

Hawaii, Oslo is written by Harald Rosenløw-Eeg (The Wave/Bølgen (2015)), with story contribution from co-writer/director Erik Poppe (Schpaaa (2005)).

Aside from the improbabilities this unromantic, unfunny and depressing film offers a slow and pretentious narrative without a single appealing character in it. Hawaii, Oslo is a multi-plot, fate-crossing turkey of a rare Norwegian breed.

 

Poppe gives an interview about his next film in this video

 

Cost: Est. 20 mil. NOK, or approximately 2.2 mil. $

Box office: 2 mil. $

=  Huge flop (returned 0.90 times its cost)

[Hawaii, Oslo premiered 26 August (Norwegian International Film Festival) and runs 125 minutes. Shooting took place in Oslo, Norway. The film was quite successful in Norway, where it sold 168k tickets. In Denmark it sold just 811. 98.3 % of the film's recorded gross is from Norway, with the remainder coming from the Netherlands. It won 2/4 Amanda awards. Poppe returned with Troubled Water/deUsynlige (2008). 4.8k+ IMDb users have given Hawaii, Oslo a 7.0/10 average rating.]

 

What do you think of Hawaii, Oslo? 

Harlem Nights (1989) - Murphy in over his head as writer/director/co-star

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The two stars in contrasting suits are "up to something big" on this stylish poster for Eddie Murphy's Harlem Nights

A guy, who as a boy becomes a murderer for gambling nightclub owner Ray, as an adult works as his right-hand man, as a white man moves in to try to take their 'cake' away from them.

 

Harlem Nights is written and directed by debuting Eddie Murphy (Beverly Hills Cop II (1987, story)), who also co-stars as said right-hand man.

Harlem Nights is dead on arrival, an incredible bore and very long to sit through. The tone and genre is hard to define, - the public at the time would also likely have been confused by the poster above, which seems to recall such fare as George Roy Hill's masterpiece The Sting (1973) instead of anything resembling the comedies hitherto connected to Murphy's 1980s super-star status. In any case Harlem Nights is neither funny, touching nor exciting. Not Murphy, not Richard Pryor (Wild in the Streets (1968)), not Danny Aiello (Wilbur Falls (1998)) - nor any of the other stars in it raise matters.

Furthermore the language is extremely filthy and there are plenty of noisy but uninteresting shooting scenes. Just about the only quality to attribute Harlem Nights is the colorful visuals and the exterior street scenes, which have some nice visual texture to them.

 

Related posts:

 

Eddie Murphy: Tower Heist (2011) - Ratner's so-so financial crisis comedy (co-star) 

Shrek the Third (2007) - Declined quality but still loads of fun to be had with third Shrek (voice co-star)

Dreamgirls (2006) - Rousing star turns in unreal and sentimental musical (co-star)

Shrek 2 (2004) - Fun and adventure reign supreme in tremendous family animation romp (voice co-star)

Nutty Professor II: The Klumps (2000) - Murphy brings down the house (star)

Bowfinger (1999) or, Making Chubby Rain (co-star) 

Mulan (1998) - Another fine Disney animation (voice co-star)

Another 48 Hrs. (1990) - More of the same from your buddies Hill, Murphy & Nolte (co-writer/co-star) 

Coming to America (1988) - Landis and Murphy's second, amusing but less well-constructed collaboration (star/story) 

The Golden Child (1986) - Get silly with this! (star)

48 Hrs. (1982) or, Reluctant Partners! (co-star)

 

Watch a TV spot for the film here

 

Cost: 30 mil. $

Box office: 95 mil. $

= Box office success (returned 3.16 times its cost)

[Harlem Nights was released 17 November (USA) and runs 116 minutes. Shooting took place from April - July in California, including in Los Angeles. The film opened #1 to a 16 mil. $ first weekend in North America, where it spent another 2 weekends (#2-#3) in the top 5 and grossed 60.8 mil. $ (64 % of the total gross). It was nominated for the Best Costumes Oscar, lost to Henry V. Roger Ebert gave the film a 2/4 star review, translating to a notch over this one. Murphy said about the experience in 1990: "It wasn’t a pleasurable experience. I just wanted to direct—just to see if I can do it. And I found out that I can’t, and I won’t do it anymore. And the biggest thing is I didn’t enjoy doing it. The problem with Harlem Nights wasn’t the directing as much as it was the writing of it. It was just written fucked up, and that’s because I threw it together real quick. And then it was disappointing because Richard wasn’t the way I thought Richard was gonna be. I thought it would be like a collaborative thing where I would get to work with my idol, and then it would be like, “This is great.” But Richard would come to the set, say his line and leave, it wasn't like a collaborative thing." Pryor talked highly of Murphy around the time of the film's release but later in his autobiography stated: "People talked about how my work had influenced Eddie, and perhaps it did. But I always thought Eddie's comedy was mean. I used to say, "Eddie, be a little nice" and that would piss him off. I finished Harlem Nights thinking that Eddie didn't like me." Murphy never directed again but returned as a star in Another 48 Hrs. (1990). Pryor returned in Another You (1991). Harlem Nights is rotten at 23 % with a 3.90/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

 

What do you think of Harlem Nights?

High Heels/Tacones Lejanos (1991) - Superficially worthwhile Almodóvar crime melodrama

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A sexy leather stiletto blends into a revolver on this tomato-red-and-black poster for Pedro Almodóvar's High Heels

A young, beautiful news anchor reconnects with her beloved but selfish mother, who had abandoned her in favor of a pop star career for a number of years. Now the daughter murders her husband.

 

High Heels is written and directed by Spanish master filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar (Folle... Folle... Fólleme Tim! (1978)), whose 10th feature it is. The original title translates to 'distant heels'.

It is an unfocused, woman-adoring, stylized, minor Almodóvar picture, complete with drag appearances, drag sex, a women's prison and two well-acting, emotionally gushing women in the leads: Victoria Abril (Libertarias (1996)) and Marisa Paredes (Salvajes (2001)), and a young Javier Bardem (The Counselor (2013)) in a supporting role.

High Heels isn't terribly original nor successful and is rather soap opera-like but still worthwhile due to Almodóvar's flourishes and vivid ideas.

 

Related posts:

Pedro Almodóvar: 2019 in films - according to Film Excess  

Pain and Glory/Dolor y Gloria (2019) - Almodóvar's 8½ 
The Skin I Live In/La Piel que Habito (2011) or, Almodóvar's Extreme Make-Over
Broken Embraces/Los Abrazos Rotos (2009) or, Mysteries in Love and Life

Talk to Her/Hable con Ella (2002) - Almodóvar's beautiful coma love drama 
Live Flesh/Carne Trémula (1997) or, A Spanish Fix
Labyrinth of Passion/Laberinto de Pasiones (1982) - Sexual mix-ups in screwball Madrileña style 

 

Watch a 3-minute clip from the film here

 

Cost: Unknown

Box office: In excess of 7.7 mil. $ (North America and projected Spain gross only)

= Uncertain - but likely a huge hit

[High Heels was released 23 October (Spain) and runs 112 minutes. Shooting took place from April - July 1991 in Spain, including in Madrid. The film opened #13 to a 74k $ first weekend in North America in 13 theaters, where it went on to gross 1.7 mil. $. It was a big hit in Spain, where it reportedly sold 1.5 mil. tickets, coming to 6 mil. $ if projected at a low 4 $ average prize. It was reportedly also popular in Italy, but gross numbers are regrettably kept secret. It was released in many markets, almost all Western. If made on a realistic 1-2 mil. $ budget, the film would likely rank as a huge hit. It won a César award, was nominated for a Golden Globe and 5 Goya awards, among other honors. Roger Ebert gave it a 3/4 star review, translating to a notch over this one. Almodóvar returned with Kika (1993). Abril returned in Demasiado Corazón (1992); Paredes in Golem, l'Esprit de l'Exil (1992) and Migual Bosé (Oui (1996)) in La Nuit Sacrée (1993). High Heels is rotten at 53 % with a 5.60/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of High Heels?