Honeydripper (2007) - Sayles' warm Alabama blues yarn

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Warm images of vivacious actors and the musical theme are front and center on this poster for John Sayles' Honeydripper

Pine Top Purvis' Alabama bar is on the downturn in competition with a more popular newer establishment circa 1950, when a young man rides in to town on the train, bringing with him a gift for a different type of guitar-playing.

 

Honeydripper is written, directed and edited by great New-Yorker filmmaker John Sayles (Return of the Secaucus Seven (1980)).

Sayles' fiery lines and some warm, dedicated performances from Danny Glover (Lethal Weapon 4 (1998)), Charles S. Dutton (Android Cop (2014)), LisaGay Hamilton (The Blacklist (2019, TV-series)), young Gary Clark, Jr. (Elvis (2022)) and Yaya DaCosta (The Nice Guys (2016)) as China Doll, who have great chemistry, and Stacy Keach (Tokyo Trial (2017)) as the bastard local sheriff, all help make this slowly paced yarn worthwhile. Along the way you may think to yourself that, for the kind of story this is, it really isn't that great of a tale. But the aforementioned qualities make it work fine nonetheless, up until the film's marvelously rocking culmination. Sayles chooses to hold back in terms of violence and pathos, and his ode to early rock also works without these popular spices.

 

Related posts:

 

John Sayles: 2003 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED II] 

2003 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED I]

Casa de los Babys (2003) - Sayles' great adoption drama 

The Howling (1981) - Colorful escapade from Dante, Sayles et al. (co-writer)

 

 

Watch a trailer for the film here

 

Cost: Estimated 5 mil. $

Box office: 544k $

= Box office disaster (returned 0.10 times its cost)

[Honeydripper premiered 10 September (Toronto International Film Festival) and runs 123 minutes. Shooting took place from September 2006 - ? in Alabama. The film opened #61 to a 9k $ weekend in 4 theaters in North America, where it peaked at #55 and in 26 theaters (different weeks), grossing 267k $ (49.1 % of the total gross). The 2nd and 3rd biggest markets were the UK with 168k $ (30.9 %) and Spain with 85k $ (15.6 %). The film won a National Board of Review award, among other honors. Roger Ebert gave it a 3.5/4 star review, translating to 2 notches over this one. Sayles returned with Amigo (2010). Glover returned in Be Kind Rewind (2008); Hamilton in Deception (2008); and Dutton in The Third Nail (2007). Honeydripper is fresh at 69 % with a 6.50/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of Honeydripper?

Popular Music/Populärmusik från Vittula (2004) - Wild coming-of-age in country-side Sweden

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Two boys in various outdoor situations make up this unclear poster for Reza Bagher's Popular Music

Two boys in a small corner of Sweden near the Finnish border become friends and later start a rock band in their homestead, which is eating into them.

 

Popular Music is written by Erik Norberg (Iskungen (2001, short)) and co-writer/director Reza Bagher (Vingar av Glas (2000)), adapting the same-titled 2000 novel by Mikael Niemi (Astrotruckers/Svålhålet (2004)). The original Swedish title translates to 'popular music from Vittula'.

It is a high-energy coming-of-age drama (think C.R.A.Z.Y. (2005)) with many funny scenes (the asphalt scene and the church scene are especially memorable.) And four sweet lads at the front, playing Matti and Niila at ages 7 and 15, respectively.

But the narrative is also a jumbled affair, devil-may-care and dynamic, which at times almost seems to forget the boys in order to relate something amusing about fringe area Swedes and Finlanders. We suddenly leave Matti and Niila as boys to find them again almost ten years later with no explanation or clear understanding of who is who. (They have changed an incredible lot.)

There is plenty of fun in Popular Music, but the direction is unclear. It becomes very dark and dramatic in periods after excessive abandon, which also demands more of the average viewer than can be expected.

 

Watch a 1-minute clip from the film here, uploaded by the actor in the clip who gets hit by a bus in the clip, without it being planned, and who calls director Bagher a 'demon' in the caption, claiming that extreme working hours and stress led to accidents and lax safety during production

 

Cost: Reportedly 2.224 mil. €, approximately 2.37 mil. $

Box office: Uncertain - but at least 1.52 mil. $

= Uncertain; projected huge flop (projected return of 0.64 times its cost)

[Popular Music premiered 19 September (Sweden) and runs 105 minutes. Shooting took place from August - October 2003 in Sweden. The film has two markets listed on its Box Office Mojo: Finland (932k $) and Norway with 416k $. Sweden is missing, and so is Denmark, where 11k bought admission (approximately 123k $). Iranian-born Bagher never returned as a filmmaker after the film's release. 5.5k IMDb members have given Popular Music a 6.5/10 average rating.]

What do you think of Popular Music?

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994) - The outback gets a festive make-over

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The three stars in gorgeous costumes have their backs turned to us on the open road under a sweltering sky on this poster for Stephan Elliott's The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert

Two drag queens and one more or less honorable, aging transsexual decide to head way inland in Australia to stage shows, and they buy an old bus they name Priscilla for the occasion, which is regrettably not always trustworthy...

 

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert is written and directed by Stephan Elliott (Frauds (1993)).

The three leads: Hugo Weaving (We're All Going to Die (2017, short)), Guy Pearce (Without Remorse (2021)) and (especially fabulous) Terence Stamp (Bitter Harvest (2017)), - as the three eternally bitching 'disco age' cliche gays are all in high-spirited form and give lots of life to their characters. Bill Hunter (Australia (2008)) is also outstanding as the gentleman Bob, who decides to join the trio on their adventures. 

Whether the film is as funny and good as its similarly long-titled To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar (1995) and also content-wise very similar American film that was made apparently coincidentally (incredible as it may seem) at the same time, is up to each audience member's individual taste. (Mine lead me in favor of the American saga.) In any case: Whoa, is Pearce in strapping form here!

Priscilla both shows a bright corner of an easier, less judgmental future while also brimming with the unbeatable spirit of the LGBT world. It gives a damn about realism in favor of concept and world-class glitzy costumes, wigs and makeup that is out of this world. It is a very gay-positive cult movie that wins on heart and good moments of which it has many.

 

 

Watch a trailer for the film here

 

Cost: 2 mil. $

Box office: 29.7 mil. $

= Mega-hit (returned 14.85 times its cost)

[The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert was released 30 January (Spain) and runs 103 minutes. Shooting took place from September - October 1993 in Australia. The film opened #14 to a 219k $ first weekend in 7 theaters in North America, where it grossed 11.2 mil. $ (37.7 % of the total gross). It earned 16.4 mil. $ (55.2 %) in Australia. The box office record is likely missing information, and the world gross is likely higher than reported here. The film won the Best Costumes Oscar. It also won 2/7 BAFTA awards, was nominated for 2 Golden Globes, among other honors. Roger Ebert gave it a 2.5/4 star review, translating to a notch under this one. Elliott returned with Welcome to Woop Woop (1997). Weaving returned in Exile (1994); Pearce in Dating the Enemy (1996) and Stamp in Mindbender (1996, TV movie) and theatrically in Tiré à Part (1996). The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert is certified fresh at 94 % with a 7.30/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert? 

Pootie Tang (2001) - C.K.'s off-beat sketch character mega-flop

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A painted caricature of the protagonist makes up this poster for Louic C.K.'s Pootie Tang

Hiphop star PT (Pootie Tang) is respected and loved by all, but his lyrics about abstinence from harmful products earn him an enemy in the shape of the country's worst company ...

Pootie Tang is written and directed by Louis C.K. (Tomorrow Night (1998)). It is based on a sketch from The Chris Rock Show, which C.K. wrote for from 1997-99.

It is a totally ludicrous movie that parodies gangsta rap hiphop and the black pimp style following the hit-and-miss principle. A lot misses the mark, and the plot is paper thin to the point of being almost transparent. But a part of the film is also rather funny. Not so much co-star/co-producer Chris Rock (Spiral (2019)), - and Jennifer Coolidge (American Reunion (2012)) deserves pity for the ungrateful role she covers here, but Lance Crouther (Class Act (1992)) as Pootie Tang and J.B. Smoove (Woke (2020-22)) are pretty funny.

Pootie Tang seems to be designed for watching over a blunt with a homie or three.

Watch a 2-minute clip from the film here

 

Cost: 7 mil. $

Box office: 3.3 mil. $

= Mega-flop (returned 0.47 times its cost)

[Pootie Tang was released 29 June (North America) and runs 81 minutes. Shooting took place in New Jersey and New York. C.K. has said that he was fired during the film's post production phase and has distanced himself from the film. It opened #12 to a 1.5 mil. $ first weekend in North America, where it diminished from then, grossing 3.3 mil. $. The film was not released in other markets. Roger Ebert gave it a 0.5/4 star rating, translating to a notch under this one. C.K. returned with 14 short and TV credits prior to his theatrical return I Love You, Daddy (2017). Rock returned with a voice performance in Osmosis Jones (2001) and physically in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001); Crouther in 2 TV credits but never again in a feature, - he has instead kept busy as a comedy writer; and Wanda Sykes (The Good Fight (2021, TV-series)) in 4 TV credits prior to her theatrical return in Monster-in-Law (2005). Pootie Tang is rotten at 27 % with a 3.70/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of Pootie Tang?

The Piano (1993) - Campion's enthralling Maori period romance

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+ Best $ Return of the Year: 20 times the cost + Best Erotic Movie of the Year + Best New Zealand Movie of the Year + Best On-screen Couple of the Year: Holly Hunter & Harvey Keitel + Best Romance of the Year

 

A striking, almost ethereal still from the film makes up this poster for Jane Campion's The Piano

A mute woman from Scotland arrives to New Zealand with her daughter and her piano, as she has been married off to a frontier man there, who is a stranger to her. Gradually, however, she falls in love with another man of the new land, who lives in the forest with the native Maori people.

 

The Piano is written and directed by New Zealander master filmmaker Jane Campion (Sweetie (1989)), whose 3rd feature it is.

It is a highly esteemed film about love with beautiful long takes - that are never too long still, (cinematography by Stuart Dryburgh (Gifted (2017))), fabulous nature and music (score by Michael Nyman (Everyday (2012))). 

The actors are also eminent: Anna Paquin (The Irishman (2019)) as the young daughter is brilliant; Holly Hunter (Succession (2019, TV-series)) and Harvey Keitel (Saturn 3 (1980)) as the odd couple are the same. SPOILER A devastatingly tragic ending is averted, (Campion has later divulged that this ending was her original choice), and instead The Piano ends on a life-affirming note.  

 

Related post:

 

Jane Campion: 1993 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess

 

 

Watch a trailer for the film here

 

Cost: 7 mil. $

Box office: Reportedly 140 mil. $

= Mega-hit (returned 20 times its cost)

[The Piano premiered 15 May (Cannes Film Festival, main competition) and runs 117 minutes. Shooting took place from May - July 1992 in New Zealand. The film opened #18 to a 151k $ first weekend in 4 theaters in North America, where it peaked at #7 and in 671 theaters (different weeks), grossing 40.1 mil. $ (28.6 % of the total gross). The film won the Palme d'Or at Cannes (shared with Chen Kaige's Farewell My Concubine), making Campion the first female recipient in history. It was also nominated for 8 Oscars, winning for Best Actress (Hunter), Supporting Actress (Paquin) and Script. It lost Best Cinematography to Janusz Kaminski for Schindler's List, Costumes to The Age of Innocence, Director to Steven Spielberg for Schindler's List, Picture to Schindler's List and Editing also to Schindler's List. It also won 3/10 BAFTA nominations, 1/6 Golden Globe nominations, a César award, was nominated for a David di Donatello award, won 2 National Board of Review awards and the Best Actress award at Cannes (Hunter), among scores of other honors. Roger Ebert gave the film a 3.5/4 star review, equal in rating to this one. Campion returned with The Portrait of a Lady (1996). Hunter returned in The Firm (1993); Keitel in Rising Sun (1993); and Sam Neill (Rams (2020)) in The Rainbow Warrior (1993, TV movie) and theatrically in Jurassic Park (1993). The Piano is certified fresh at 90 % with an 8.50/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of The Piano?

Bamse (2022) - Genz, Berthelsen, Hansen and Co. triumph with terrific, heartwarming biopic

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Recalling the nationally beloved late singer with a large closeup of star Anders W. Berthelsen in character, the poster for Henrik Ruben Genz's Bamse

Flemming 'Bamse' Jørgensen and his band Bamses Venner [Teddy Bear's Friends] experience wild national popularity and a real low with international defeat over the course of several decades, while Bamse comes to terms with his own heritage.

 

Bamse is written by Bo Hr. Hansen (The Art of Crying/Kunsten at Græde i Kor (2006)) and co-writer/director, great Danish filmmaker Henrik Ruben Genz (Someone Like Hodder/En Som Hodder (2003)). The Danish title translates to 'teddy bear', the stage name for real-life singer/entertainer Flemming Jørgensen.

Hansen and Genz have a great grip on the story, SPOILER which is framed as one part a portrait of the musical life with its ups and downs and creations of songs that became major hits in Denmark, (humorous, happy songs of a sensual woman (Vimmersvej [Vimmer's Way]), a married woman seeking more excitement in life (Går Louise til Bal [Does Louise Go to the Ball]), and life and freedom (I en Lille Båd der Gynger [In a Little Boat that Rocks]), and one part a personal quest for paternal recognition and enlightenment as to Jørgensen's parentage as adopted from a poor family to that of a well-to-do company-owner's home as a small boy.

The simple story is told through strong characterizations, first of all from Anders W. Berthelsen (Italian for Beginners/Italiensk for Begyndere (2000)) in a career-best turn as Bamse. The physical transformation, achieved both through Berthelsen's weight-gain and acting and top-notch wig and prosthetics jobs, is incredible. Berthelsen acts with conviction, tremendous singing and the necessary, huge humanity that characterized the lovable teddy bear himself. Johanne Louise Schmidt (DNA (2019, TV-series)) is great as his loyal and loving home backbone, wife Käte; Henrik Birch (Grand Danois (2016, TV-series)) is spot on as Jørgensen's disapproving father; Signe Egholm Olsen (Into the Wild (2007)) is strong as one of Jørgensen's biological siblings; Lars Ranthe (A Funny Man/Dirch (2011)) is wonderful and very funny as the frank manager. And Anna Kristine Kulmback Prahl and Folke Olav Schriver give esteemed performances as Jørgensen's daughter Tine and as Jørgensen as a boy.

Well-produced and very well-told, the story gleams and shines with many very amusing lines and situations and as many or more that are deeply moving, as the film essentially portrays a decent, good man with a lovely family, as he becomes a great man and overcomes difficulties in his background. Don't miss Bamse!

 

Related post:

 

Henrik Ruben Genz: Terribly Happy/Frygtelig Lykkelig (2008) or, A Fix in Southern Jutland

 

 

Watch a trailer for the film here

 

Cost: Unknown, projected 30 mil. DKK, approximately 3.92 mil. $

Box office: Projected 37.3 mil. DKK and counting, approximately 4.87 mil. $ and counting

= Uncertain bit likely a big flop (projected current return of 1.24 times its cost)

[Bamse was released 25 August (Denmark) and runs 92 minutes. The budget is regrettably not made public but is projected at 30 mil. DKK. The film opened #1 in Denmark, where it was #1 for 5 straight weeks, selling 429,496 tickets to date. As the film plays in Biografklub Denmark ['cinema club Denmark'], where the approximately 200,000 members pay only half prize, around 180,000 tickets are projected at a low 55 DKK cost prize, with the rest at 110 DKK, coming to 37.3 mil. DKK gross currently, ranking the film a big flop. The film is not set to release in other markets currently. Genz does not have his next film announced yet. Berthelsen returns in Dansegarderoben (2023, TV-series) and does not have his next theatrical role announced yet. 302 IMDb users have given Bamse a 7.7/10 average rating.]

What do you think of Bamse?

One Chance (2013) - Cynics not allowed for this lovable underdog winner

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+ Best Feel-Good Movie of the Year + Best Huge Flop Movie of the Year

 

 

With a chipped front tooth and a lovable grin, co-star James Corden invites on this poster for David Frankel's One Chance

In the heavy mining environment of Wales, Paul Potts grows up an overweight boy with a heart that beats strongly for opera. Despite setbacks Potts breaks through.

 

One Chance is written by Justin Zackham (The Bucket List (2007)) and directed by New-Yorker master filmmaker David Frankel (Miami Rhapsody (1995)), whose 6th feature it is. It is the real-life story of Britain's Got Talent singer sensation Paul Potts.

It is a classical underdog story, served with British humor and sweet romance on the side. James Corden (Cats (2019)) is impossible not to like, despite his character's periodic self-pity, and he beats the basically formulaic film into the ventricles of the heart. He gets good support from Alexandra Roach (The Kid Who Would Be King (2019)) as his good girlfriend and later wife and Mackenzie Crook (Ironclad (2011)) as his mobile salesman manager/friend. Julie Walters' (Calendar Girls (2003)) co-starring turn brings back memories of her performance in the fantastic Billy Elliott (2000), a film whose heights One Chance never gets near to matching.

Colm Meaney (Alan Partridge (2013)) is fair as Potts' opponent father. One Chance is full-throttle sentimental feel-good.

 

Related posts:

Dave Frankel: 2013 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED VI]

2012 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED V] 

2012 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED IV]

2012 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED III]

2012 in films and TV-series - according to Film Exces [UPDATED II]
2012 in films - according to Film Excess [UPDATED I] 
2012 in films - according to Film Excess  

Hope Springs (2012) - Making an old marriage work, peppered with Streep at her best and top-grade talent all-around

The Devil Wears Prada (2006) - Frankel's crowd-pleasing fashion romcom 

 

 

Watch a trailer for the film here

 

Cost: 12 mil. $

Box office: 10.9 mil. $

= Huge flop (returned 0.90 times its cost)

[One Chance premiered 9 September (Toronto International Film Festival) and runs 103 minutes. Frankel reportedly took a diminished salary (1.2 mil. $ reduced from 6 mil. $) in return for a profit participation percentage. Shooting took place around October 2012 in Wales and England, including London, and in Italy. The film opened #55 to a 33k $ first weekend in 43 theaters in North America, where it peaked at #46 the following week in the same amount of theaters and grossed 101k $ (0.9 % of the total gross). The film's biggest markets were the UK with 3.8 mil. $ (34.9 %), Australia with 1.8 mil. $ (16.5 %) and Denmark with 614k $ (5.6 %). The film was nominated for a Golden Globe, among other honors. Frankel returned with The King of 7B (2015, TV movie), OneRepublic: Let's Hurt Tonight (2016, music video) and theatrically with Collateral Beauty (2016). Corden returned in a music video, a short and a TV movie prior to his theatrical return in Into the Woods (2014); Walters with a voice performance in Justin and the Knights of Valour (2013) and physically in The Harry Hill Movie (2013). One Chance is fresh at 63 % with a 5.50/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of One Chance?

O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000) - Much to love in fabulous Coen music yarn

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Three convicts flee a chain gang with part of the chain still attached on this neat poster for Ethan and Joel Coen's O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Three escaped convicts in Mississippi in 1937 venture out on an adventure after a buried treasure, which will soon get flooded, and they record a country single on their way.

 

O Brother, Where Art Thou? is written and directed by Minnesotan master filmmakers, brothers Ethan and Joel Coen (Blood Simple (1984)). Ethan Coen also produced the film. It is a very loose adaptation of Homer's epic poem the Odyssey (8th/7th century BC).

It is an enthusiastic yarn full of fun, speed, visual panache (cinematography by Roger Deakins (Shadey (1985))), a delicious color scheme, - and energetic actors: Tim Blake Nelson (Dallas & Robo (2018, TV-series)) especially as the simple-minded Delmar, and George Clooney (Red Surf (1989)) as vain idiot Ulysses McGill are terrific.

Clan members and politics get mixed into the bargain, and towards the end things get a bit thick and contrived. But O Brother, Where Art Thou? is still a good and fun film that could only have come from the inimitable Coen brothers.

 

Related posts:

Ethan and Joel Coen: Hail, Caesar! (2016) - The Coen brothers serve a whimsical, flashy letdown
Unbroken (2014) - Despite good elements, Jolie's Grand WWII Biopic is mostly distant and weak (co-writers)

2013 in films - according to Film Excess [UPDATED V] 
2013 in films - according to Film Excess [UPDATED IV]
2013 in films - according to Film Excess [UPDATED III]
2013 in films - according to Film Excess [UPDATED II]
2013 in films - according to Film Excess [UPDATED I]
Inside Llewyn Davis (2013) or, The Man Who Wasn't Dylan  
True Grit (2010) - The Coens' grand western present

Top 10: Best dramedies reviewed by Film Excess to date 

2009 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED III] 

2009 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED II] 
2009 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED I] 
2009 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess
A Serious Man (2009) - One of the Coens' best; a philo-religious serio-comedy
Burn After Reading (2008) or, Idiocy 2008

No Country for Old Men (2007) - Undigestible McCarthy adaptation lets you hang in midair 
Top 10: Best comedies reviewed by Film Excess to date
Top 10: The best big hit movies reviewed by Film Excess to date 
The Big Lebowski (1998) - The stoner comedy to reign over all

1996 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess 

Top 10: Best crime movies reviewed by Film Excess to date 

Fargo (1996) - The Coen brothers make movie magic with dark-humored crime thriller 

Top 10: Best films about filmmaking 
Barton Fink (1991) or, The Writer's Hell

 

 

Watch a trailer for the film here

 

Cost: 26 mil. $

Box office: 71.8 mil. $

= Box office success (returned 2.76 times its cost)

[O Brother, Where Art Thou? premiered 13 May (Cannes Film Festival, main competition) and runs 107 minutes. Neither of the Coens have ever read the Odyssey. The title of the film is a reference to Preston Sturges' Sullivan's Travels (1941). Clooney was paid 1 mil. $ for his performance in the film. Shooting took place from June - August 1999 in Mississippi and California, including in Los Angeles. The film opened #27 to a 195k $ first weekend in 5 theaters in North America, where it peaked at #9 and in 847 theaters (different weeks), grossing 45.5 mil. $ (63.4 % of the total gross). The film was nominated for 2 Oscars: Best Adapted Screenplay, lost to Stephen Gaghan for Traffic, and Cinematography, lost to Peter Pau for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. It was also nominated for 4 BAFTAs, a European Film award, won 1/2 Golden Globe nominations and 2 Grammys, among other honors. Roger Ebert gave the film a 2.5/4 star review, translating to a notch under this one. The Coen brothers returned with The Man Who Wasn't There (2001). Clooney returned in The Perfect Storm (2000); John Turturro (Somewhere Tonight (2011)) in Two Thousand and None (2000); Nelson in The Good Girl (2002); and John Goodman (In the Electric Mist (2009)) in The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle (2000). O Brother, Where Art Thou? is certified fresh at 79 % with a 7.20/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of O Brother, Where Art Thou??