Weekend Movie Forecast: Cars Vs. Earth Liberation Front
10 photos
<p>The cars go abroad in Pixar's second installment of what we imagine will at least become a <em>Cars</em> trilogy. Coming to theaters (in 3-D!) this weekend, <em>Cars 2</em> takes its rowdy, good-natured, good ol' American automobiles to Europe and Japan, where they find themselves caught up in a case of mistaken identity and espionage. Reviews have been weak, with a particularly disappointed one coming from Joe <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303339904576403323317657598.html?mod=WSJ_LifeStyle_Lifestyle_6">Morgenstern </a>at The Wall Street Journal: "...In this one, cars seem unconstrained by the laws of physics and writers seemed unconcerned with developing character, as opposed to belaboring it. For Pixar's sake, and for ours, let's hope that the fast track of <em>Cars 2</em> is a temporary detour."</p>
<p>In 1992, the Earth Liberation Front (ELF) was founded in the United Kingdom by anarchist environmentalists. In 2001, the group was classified as a domestic terrorist threat by the United States government. Over the past twenty years, ELF has carried out demonstrations and covert attacks, targeting threats against nature and the health of humans and animals. <em>If A Tree Falls</em>, appearing at the IFC Film Center this weekend, documents the guerrilla movement and the devastating consequences some of its most active members have had to face. Stephen Holden of <a href="http://movies.nytimes.com/2011/06/22/movies/if-a-tree-falls-documentary-on-earth-liberation-front.html">The New York Times</a> reviewed the film in January, noting, "The filmâs sobriety and carefully balanced arguments make it an exemplary piece of reporting, although its emotional heat rarely rises to a boil."</p>
<p>A slapstick comedy that makes light of our nation's dire educational straits, <em>Bad Teacher</em> follows Cameron Diaz's drunk, disheveled, foul-mouthed protagonist Elizabeth. As she hatches ploy after ploy to land herself a sugardaddy, Elizabeth's students find themselves a means to an end at every turn. Peter Bradshaw at <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2011/jun/16/bad-teacher-film-review">The Guardian UK </a>shrugs, "There's plenty of good stuff here, although it's nowhere near as brilliantly brutal as Alexander Payne's Election and the jury's out on exactly how funny Diaz really is. She gives the part everything she's got; she's good, and really no other casting was possible, but somehow I'm not sure she's a comedy natural."</p>
<p>Nature documentaries narrated by Brits could constitute a genre unto themselves. <em>Turtle: The Incredible Journey</em> is the latest addition, chronicling the evolution of these ancient, resilient reptiles. A visually elegant film that sometimes borders on eco-porn, <em>Turtle</em> has received slightly ambiguous reviews, with one coming from Kirk Honeycult at <a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/turtle-incredible-journey-film-review-203864">The Hollywood Reporter</a>: "So the film features amazing cinematography both underwater and on the ocean surface. But it does suffer from a treacly narration and overly dramatic music that pitch the movie more to young school children than interested adults." </p>
<em>Raw Faith</em> follows devout minister Marilyn Sewell as she revisits past traumas, falls in love, and leaves her vocation as a spiritual leader. The film looks to be a radical exposition of belief, humanity and divine aspiration, in both the personal and universal sense. You can catch this introspective film at Quad Cinemas starting this weekend. Neil Genzlinger at <a href="http://movies.nytimes.com/2011/06/24/movies/raw-faith-review.html">The New York Times</a> writes, "Thereâs nothing particularly flashy about the tale, and it has its share of moments when viewers might well be asking, âWhy exactly was this a worthy subject for a documentary?â...Despite these flaws, itâs refreshing to see a documentary about a normal grown-up who is struggling with problems of life and love, just as so many invisible others do."
<p>Opening at Cinema Village this weekend, <em>Leap Year</em> is director Michael Rowe's first feature film, and it seems he has already made quite a name for himself. A Mexican-born Australian, Rowe crafts a psychologically and sexually complex story about Laura, a lustful writer living alone (yet trying to avoid <em>sleeping</em> alone) in Mexico City. The film is receiving true praise, with Salon's <a href="http://www.salon.com/entertainment/movies/andrew_ohehir/2011/06/23/leap_year">Andrew OâHehir </a>saying, "...It's a gripping, mysterious use of no-budget cinema at its finest, and an intimate character study with surprising emotional power." </p>
<p>Director Kim Tae-Yong brings American audiences a beautiful remake of Man-hui Lee's 1966 film <em>Late Autumn</em> about a woman who has been given a two-day release from prison, where she is serving out a sentence for killing her abusive husband. In transit, she stumbles upon a potential love affair with a young man, and the tender, melancholy drama unfurls from there.<br/><br/> This praiseworthy work from South Korean cinema will begin playing at the AMC Empire 25 this weekend. Jake Jacobson at <a href="http://www.indiewire.com/film/late_autumn_man_chu/">IndieWire</a> writes, "Filled with whimsy, pathos and beauty, "Late Autumn" is simultaneously delightful and sobering. Wei Tang is entrancing as Anna, appearing as a woman who was emotionally and physically wounded, apprehensively learning to love again. Bin Hyeon is charming as Hoon, a man with a shady past who makes a once-in-a-lifetime connection. Delightful and heart-warming, "Late Autumn" is an accomplished film by a talented director."</p>
<p>The daily plight of the illegal immigrant in America comes to the fore in <em>A Better Life</em>, a thought-provoking film directed by Chris Weitz. Carlos and his son Luis are struggling to establish a sense of home, security and identity in a world of hostility, rejection and uncertainty. Reviews have been positive, with <a href="http://www.npr.org/2011/06/24/137317620/among-illegals-a-poignant-struggle-for-life">NPR's Jeannette Catsoulis</a> remarking, "Unfolding exclusively from the perspective of illegal immigrants, <em>A Better Life</em> is a dignified, decent film. Neither hopeful nor hopeless, the story is about embracing heritage while striving for more, all the while trying not to step on the neck of your brother." Catch it at Landmark Cinemas starting this weekend.</p>
<p>This weekend, Film Forum brings <a href="http://gothamist.com/2007/09/07/john_turturro_d.php">John Turturro</a>'s sensual tour through Italy, <em>Passione</em>, to NYC audiences. A celebration of the Old Country, <em>Passione</em> focuses on the singers, musicians and street performers of Naples. Doris Toumarkine of <a href="http://www.filmjournal.com/filmjournal/content_display/reviews/specialty-releases/e3iec29733f62d07fba4f030d4743e430cb">Film Journal International</a> seems to applaud it, saying, "Beyond any cultural or language divide, <em>Passione</em> makes clear that Turturroâs heart is here. His intense commitment should prove irresistible to all world citizens with heartbeats and render the filmâs somewhat arbitrary subtitling and shots that betray microphones dipping into scenes irrelevant."</p>
This week in throwback cinema, here's one the kids can enjoy, too, should they refuse to Go the Fuck to Sleep. Muppet Treasure Island is screening this weekend at midnight at The Sunshine. Released in 1996, it's a loose adaptation of the Robert Louis Stevenson story. But just because it's at midnight and it's got Tim Curry as Long John Silver, though, doesn't mean you get to throw popcorn at the screen.
Rachel Pincus