Concerned that the weather this weekend may force you to stay indoors? There's nothing worse than the fear of being dorm-bound with nothing to do after a long week of classes. Fear not - the movie scene is a happening place that is sure to keep you entertained. With the fall movie season already in full swing, there are enough movie openings this weekend to please even the most finicky of film-goers.
Those who appreciate '70s rock culture should head straight for Almost Famous. Cameron Crowe of Jerry Maguire and Say Anything fame directs this semi-autobiographical film. It chronicles the adventures of William (Patrick Fugit), a young journalist with Rolling Stone Magazine who is assigned to cover the Almost Famous tour of Stillwater, a young and struggling American rock band. Such big names as Philip Seymour Hoffman (Magnolia, Happiness), Anna Paquin (X-Men), and Frances McDormand (Fargo) lend some clout to Crowe's first film in four years. His movies rarely flop and Almost Famous should be no exception to this rule. Crowe should find a suitable audience for Almost Famous, given the success of his 1992 hit Singles, which showed his knack for writing and directing films about the small-music scene (albeit the early '90s music scene).
If action and adventure are more your speed, Bait is certainly a movie that will be right up your alley. Under the directionof The Replacement Killers' Antoine Fuqua, Jamie foxx plays a convist released from prison to help the Feds trap a dangerous criminal trying to steel gold from the US Treasury. The film reunites David Morse and Doug Hutchinson from last year's The Green Mile, though in far less serious roles. Even for those of us typically less interested in action films, Bait is a suitable distraction from the drudgery of Sunday afternoon homework, thanks to the comedic twists to the film's typical crime-drama plot. Sure, no one watches The Jamie Foxx Show, but he's still a funny guy.
If you're looking for something a little lighter (or you played out your tape of Shakespeare In Love one too many times), you might find Duets to be worth a trip to the theater. The premise of this romantic comedy is the exciting world of karoake singing contests - who knew? The group of singers, which includes Gwyneth Paltrow and Scott Speedman, is traveling across the United States in hopes of making it to the national karoake championships in Omaha. The film has also got Huey Lewis and Andre Braugher. However, since it is directed by Bruce Paltrow (best known as Gwyneths' father), one can only wonder which contestant is going to win.
An Affair of Love, which was first released in the United States in August, will finally make its way to Boston theaters this weekend. A French film with English subtitles, Affair is perhaps the most serious of the films opening on the 15th. Directed by Fr?©d?©ric Fonteyne and shot in documentary style, the movie consists of interviews with a man ("Him") and a woman ("Her") who begin an erotic affair after meeting through a newspaper advertisement.
From action to romance, this weekend's openings have a little something for everyone. With such a wide array of movies, you're bound to find something to suit your cinematic needs.
