Here are descriptions and links to trailers of the films I think will be interesting at the festival this year organized by genre. Ticket prices range fromr $15-25, so start skimping on lunch...and rent.
ACTION
Rise: Blood Hunter
Director: Sebastian Gutierrez
Cast: Lucy Lui, Michael Chiklis (Fantastic Four)
"Reporter Sadie Blake awakens in a morgue and realizes she is no longer human. Trying to resist the thirst for blood, she vows to hunt down the sect responsible for her situation, and kill the vampire that changed her." Watch a sneak peek. I just love seeing Lucy Lui kick ass.
Unearthed
Director: Matthew Leutwyler
Cast: Emmanuelle Vaugier, Luke Goss, Beau Garrett
"When an archeologist obsessed with the mysterious disappearance of an ancient Native American people uncovers a subterranean lair in the New Mexico desert, a blood-thirsty creature is unleashed on a small town. In the wake of the carnage, the people's only hopes are a quick-thinking rogue sheriff and the ritual medicine of the lost tribe." It sounds like it'll be filled with campy horror fun.
West 32nd [foreign]
Director: Michael Kang
Cast: John Cho (Harold and Kumar), Jun Sung Kim, Grace Park ("Battlestar Gallactica")
"After hustling his way onto a homicide case, an ambitious young lawyer infiltrates the gritty Korean underworld of New York, searching for clues. When he meets his match in the syndicate, they'll both do anything to get to the top." Cho's been taking steps away from comedy gradually and if this film gets rave reviews, maybe his bong-wielding fan base will see his real potential through the haze.
COMEDY/ROMANTIC COMEDY
2 Days in Paris
Director: Julie Delpy
Stars: Adam Goldberg (Deja Vu) and Julie Delpy (Before Sunrise)
It's a film about an American who goes to Paris with his French girlfriend and realizes their cultural differences. The concept itself is bound to inspire a few laughs--and the fact that it's U.S. vs. France doens't hurt either.
Blue State
Director: Marshall Lewy
Stars: Breckin Meyer (Garfield) and Anna Paquin (X-Men: The Last Stand)
An American decides to marry a Candian girl to get away from our much-loved reelected Prez. When Bush was reelected, I overheard many bizarre schemes--including one where some chick wanted to move to Switzerland for free healthcare and rainbows or some shit--but this one is pretty amusing. I mean, nobody likes Canadians. The film is set on a road trip so its really dependent on its dialogue. I'm sure Lewy will squeeze in a couple jabs at our president.
The Grand
Director: Zak Penn
Cast: Woody Harrelson, Ray Romano, David Cross ("Arrested Development"), Jason Alexander
"An improvisational comedy centered around a handful of actors involved in an actual poker tournament." After "Thank God You're Here" premiered on NBC, it's become obvious that comedians are trying to get back into the swing of actually being funny. The top comedies on TV right now are headlined by women (Tina Fey and Julia Louis-Dreyfuss) and guys need a new gimic to stay in the spotlight. So, if you want to watch them improvise their way out of a buttload of money, go watch the film.
In Search of a Midnight Kiss
Director: Alex Holdrige
Star: Scoot McNairy and Sara Simmonds
A guy who’s had a horrible year is convinced by his friend to place a personal ad and meets a girl who's searching for the perfect guy to spend New Years with. It's a brash realistic view of what a Craiglist arranged date would be like with two cynics grasping at hope. It's also about trying to feel fulfilled during a holiday that's all about accomplishments.
Numb
Diretor: Harris Goldberg
Star: Matthew Perry and Lynn Collins (The Number 23)
"When Hudson, a chronically depressed love-struck screenwriter, falls for the girl of his dreams, he must put himself through every therapy imaginable to win her love." I'm not sure why, but Perry plays crazy very well. For once he's not playing a bumbling idiot, but he's still really pathetic and comes off as endearing rather than pitiful.
Purple Violets
Director: Edward Burns
Stars: Selma Blair, Patrick Wilson (Little Children), Edward Burns (Saving Private Ryan), Debra Messing
Patti Petalson (Blair) struggles with the pressure of becoming the next important American writer, when she bumps into her ex Brian (Wilson) and he sends her on a tailspin. Burns and Messing round-out the foursome of college friends reuniting after years of estrangement. I just want to see if Blair can lead a movie practically on her own. Plus, Wilson is having a good run and might steal the show.
Suburban Girl
Director: Marc Klein (directorial debut)
Stars: Sarah Michelle Gellar, Alec Baldwin
"Determined to rise through Manhattan's cutthroat literary ranks on her own, an ambitious young book editor hesitates to become involved with a high-powered publishing playboy many years her senior." I'm excited to see Gellar without creepy dead people present. And maybe if she plays her cards right, she could be on her way to being the next Reese Witherspoon or Kate Hudson. Plus, needless to say--if "30 Rock" is any proof--Baldwin will deliver.
Watching the Detectives
Director: Paul Soter (directorial debut)
Stars: Cillian Murphy, Lucy Lui
"Neil (Murphy) is a quirky cinephile who wishes his life were more like his favorite film noirs. Enter Violet (Lui), a real-life femme fatale who really does turn life into the movies. Sometimes love is stranger than fiction, and Neil is about to discover just how strange it can be." It's a bit of a weird match, but Murphy's a weird guy. He's never really amused me much, so I'm interested in seeing his comedic side. Plus, Lui has impressed me in a mystery (Lucky Number Slevin) before, so I'm almost positive she will again.
DARK COMEDY/DRAMEDY
Gardener of Eden
Director: Kevin Connolly
Cast: Lukas Haas (Material Girls), Giovanni Ribisi, Erika Christensen, Jon Abrahams (Prime)
A film produced by Leonardo DiCaprio. "In this dark comedy, Adam Harris (Lukas Haas) has an aimless life. He finds new purpose when he accidentally captures a serial rapist." This isn't something I would expect from a guy who was engaged to Nicky Hilton. But I'll give a guy involved with "The Entourage" the benefit of the doubt. He's rangled some good actors here and the concept is sure to crack a few smiles.
Live!
Director: Bill Guttentag
Cast: Eva Mendes, David Krumholtz ("Numb3rs"), Jeffrey Dean Morgan ("Grey's Anatomy"), Jay Hernandez ("Six Degrees")
"A mockumentary following an ambitious TV network executive trying to produce a controversial reality show where contestants play Russian Roulette." This kind of reminds me of David Duchovny's TV Set that's out right now. The main attraction for some ladies will be Morgan, but I'm more interested in seeing if Mendes can get passed the whole Hot Latina slot she's been filling since the beginning of her career.
Nobel Son
Director: Randall Miller
Cast: Bryan Greenberg ("October Road"), Alan Rickman, Eliza Dushku ("Tru Calling"), Danny DeVito, Ted Danson
"In this taut thriller spiked with droll humor, Ph.D. candidate Barkley is kidnapped the night before his father Eli will receive the Nobel Prize. When Eli refuses to pay a ransom equal to the $2 million prize, secrets, betrayal and revenge collide." I'm simply clocking the upward road that Greenberg's been going on since his first 30-second spot on "One Tree Hill."
Normal Adolescent Behavior
Director: Beth Schacter (directorial debut)
Cast: Amber Tamblyn
"A darkly comic look at precocious teens grappling with sex, excess and alienation. Avoiding the high school party scene and random hookups, Wendy and her friends form a clique that claims a more fluid sexuality." Tamblyn usually cracks me up.
This is England
Director: Shane Meadows
Cast: Thomas Turgoose, Stephen Graham, Joseph Gilgun, Perry Benson, Frank Harper, Jo Hartley
"It's the summer of 1983 in northern England. Punks, mods and skinheads are on the rise, but employment is not. Eleven-year-old Shaun has lost his father but seems to find a surrogate family in a band of friendly skinheads. When they're joined by the older, overtly racist Con, who's just out of prison, the tale takes a much darker turn." This is a political statement about Britain's society, but also the story of a young boy finding his mirror image in a skinhead ex-con.
You Kill Me
Director: John Dahl (Joy Ride)
Cast: Ben Kingsley, Tea Leoni, Luke Wilson
"In this smart, darkly funny drama by John Dahl about addiction and recovery, Ben Kingsley delivers a bravura performance as Frank, an alcoholic contract killer forced to go through a twelve-step program and become a funeral home assistant." This "hit-man has made some terrible mistakes and his mob needs to get him back on track. " Wilson in a mob dramedy. Gotta see it to believe it.
DRAMA
The Air I Breathe
Director: Jieho Lee
Stars: Sarah Michelle Gellar, Forest Whitaker, Brendan Fraser, Andy Garcia, Kevin Bacon, John Cho
"A drama based on an ancient Chinese proverb that breaks life down into four emotional cornerstones: happiness, pleasure, sorrow and love. A businessman (Whitaker) bets his life on a horse race; a gangster (Fraser) sees the future; a pop star (Gellar) falls prey to a crime boss (Garcia); a doctor (Bacon) must save the love of his life." I like ensemble casts and how you get to pick your favorite story line and how they all merge into a lesson that needs to be learned.
Blackout
Director: Jerry LaMothe
Stars: Zoe Saldana (Guess Who), Jeffrey Wright (Syriana)
"In summer 2003, America experienced the largest blackout in its history--widely reported as peaceful. But in Brooklyn's forgotten East Flatbush neighborhood, mayhem unfolded when the power shut down." Hey, I'm never usually up on current events, being in the movie theater all the time, but I had no idea anything crazy went down that summer. This should be an eye opener.
Black Butterfly [foreign]
Director: Francisco Lombardi
Stars: Melania Urbina, Magdyel Ugaz
"A Peruvian schoolteacher conspires with a journalist to assassinate the official responsible for her fiancé's murder." I'm still on the Pedro Almodovar/Volver high, so watching another Spaniard film with an insane plot would suit me just fine.
The Cake Eaters
Director: Mary Stuart Masterson (film directorial debut)
Cast: Kristin Stewart (The Messengers), Aaron Stanford (X-Men: The Last Stand)
"A prodigal son's return conjures up old ghosts for three generations of two different families in a small, quiet town." It sounds like it'll be bubbling over with emotion. Plus, Stewart is vying for those dramatic Lindsay Lohan leftovers and if this film does well, she'll have cinched them all and hopefully erased that wretched horror film, The Messengers, from everyone's memory.
Day Zero
Director: Bryan Gunner Cole (film directorial debut)
Cast: Elijah Wood, Chris Klein (Election), Jon Bernthal ("The Class"), Ginnifer Goodwin ("Big Love"), Ally Sheedy (Breakfast Club)
"The military draft is back. Three best friends are drafted and given 30 days to report for duty. In that time they're forced to confront everything they believe about courage, duty, love, friendship and honor." This is definitely topical and Wood knows his drama. This is really a chance for Klein and Bernthal to step it up.
Fiesta Patria [foreign]
Director: Luis R. Vera
Cast: Adela Secall, Nelson Brodt
"As two families celebrate the engagement of their children, one of the betrothed discovers the family's dark secret." Frankly, I just want to know what the secret it is.
Good Time Max
Director: James Franco
Cast: James Franco and Vince Jolivette
In Franco's 3rd round as a director, he presents "two genius brothers [who] grow up and grow apart, as one becomes a successful surgeon and the other pursues a drug-fueled high life." The burning question: Is the third time a charm? You love Franco as the villain in Spider-Man 3, but is he just as lovable as a director and screenwriter?
Take
Director: Charles Oliver (directorial debut)
Cast: Minnie Driver
"The lives of two strangers-a struggling mother and a gambling addict-converge in unspeakable tragedy. Years later, they must come to terms with themselves and one another. In a non-linear mosaic, Take offers a powerful reflection on redemption and forgiveness." Driver's been bowling me over with her new show "The Riches," so I thought I'd give her a cinematic shot.
Take the Bridge [foreign]
Director: Sergio M. Castilla
Cast: Adrian Castilla, Francisco Delgado, Ruth Sullivan, Angelica Rodriguez
"Four young strangers meet after their failed suicide attempts land each of them in the hospital on the same day. United by circumstance, they may yet discover a reason to live. This fresh, original take on city life pays tribute to the vitality and energy of the Dominican community in Washington Heights." It'll be interesting to see why they wanted to commit suicide.
Two Embraces [foreign]
Director: Enrique Begne (directorial debut)
Cast: Giovanni Florido, Alan Andree, Carmen Beato, Alan Sanchez, Emilio Caballero, Maya Zapata
"Four people forced to fend for themselves in life -- a burdened twelve-year-old boy, the cashier he has a crush on, an angry taxi driver and the estranged daughter of one of his passengers -- come together in two embraces." It's an interesting concept, worth taking a look at.
Where God Left His Shoes
Director: Salvatore Stabile
Cast: John Leguizamo, Jerry Ferrara ("The Entourage")
"Frank Diaz and his family have been living in a homeless shelter for months. But on Christmas Eve, they receive the best gift possible-the chance for an apartment. To get it, Frank needs a job, so he and his stepson go on the hunt for employment. This heartwarming tale shows the compassion of a family that comes together when all else feels lost." It kind of reminds me of Will Smith in Pursuit of Happyness. Maybe from the Hispanic perspective, it'll make more of a splash. Then again, Leguizamo never really seems to wow the critics.
Zolykha’s Secret
Director: Horace Shansab (directorial debut)
"A deeply moving account of a rural Afghan family struggling to eke out an existence during the brutal final years of Taliban rule - and the beginning of the new war that still rages." After having been attacked by the Taliban, they've become this semi-mysterious group of tyrants. We know what they've done to us; it'll be interesting to see what they've done to other people.
COMING OF AGE
Charlie Bartlett
Director: Jon Poll
Cast: Anton Yelchin (Alpha Dog), Robert Downey, Jr., Tyler Hilton ("One Tree Hill"), Hope Davis ("Six Degrees"), Kat Dennings (Big Momma's House 2)
This film is from a director who hasn't made a film in over 25 years. It's about a teenager who gets kicked out of every prestigious academy his mom could get him into and is forced to go to public school. Worried about her troubled child, she gets him his own personal psychiatrist. Charlie, that sneaky little bastard, pretends to be afflicted with countless emotional problems in order to medicate his entire high school and become the popular kid. This sounds just plain hilarious.
Chasing 3000
Director: Gregory J. Lanesey
Cast: Rory Culkin, Ray Liotta, Trevor Morgan
Two teens with learner’s permits decide to drive to Pittsburg to see Roberto Clemente get his 3,000th hit. I like baseball. It could be interesting to see that affection through younger eyes.
The Education of Charlie Banks
Director: Fred Durst (directorial debut)
Cast: Jesse Eisenberg (Cursed), Chris Marquette (Just Friends), Jason Ritter ("The Class")
A Vassar College student gets a surprise visit from the scariest kid from his old neighborhood. We've seen the bully concept a million times. But we've never seen it through the eyes of Limp Bizkit's front man and even if you're not a fan the cast will surely keep your ribs aching throughout the film.
The Final Season
Director: David M. Evans
Cast: Sean Astin (Lord of the Rings), Rachel Leigh Cook (She's All That), Michael Angarano (The Lords of Dogtown)
The government removes the only high school in the entire town and a coach is inspired to lead the school’s baseball team to its final victory. It's an inspirational tale made for baseball lovers.
Palo Alto
Director: Brad Leong
Cast: Aaron Ashmore ("Veronica Mars"), Johnny Lewis ("The O.C."), Autumn Reeser ("The O.C."), Ben Savage, Tom Arnold
"It's a bittersweet homecoming when 4 college freshmen return to their quiet northern California town for Thanksgiving." It's said to be done in the tradition of American Graffiti or even Garden State. With a usually overlooked cast it could send a minor ripple through the festival.
The Road to St. Diego
Director: Carlos Sorin
Cast: Ignacio Benitez, Carlos Wagner Messerlian La Bella
"A young Argentine backwoodsman learns that soccer star Diego Maradona is ailing in a Buenos Aires hospital, and resolves to bring him a tree root he's uncovered -- which he's certain looks just like his idol." Once again the inspirational sports drama catches my attention.
Vitus
Director: Fredi M. Murer
Cast: Bruno Ganz, Teo Gheorghiu, Fabrizio Borsani, Julika Jenkins, Urs Jucker, Eleni Haupt
"A child prodigy yearns for a 'normal' life with his parents and eccentric grandfather in this charming family drama, starring the great German actor Bruno Ganz. While his parents plan a future of piano competitions, Vitus would rather learn to fly. He just needs to find an adult who'll let him." You gotta feel sorry for the kid and be interested in seeing him climb out of oppression.
KIDS
Brave Story [animation/foreign]
Director: Kôichi Chigira
"When eleven-year-old Wataru is told he can change his destiny by entering a magic gateway into another world, he jumps at the chance. But on his quest to find the Tower of Fortune and be granted any wish, he must conjure up all his bravery to battle a world of demons, his own friends and ultimately himself." I haven't been into anime since Dragon Ball-Z, but this could hook me again.
DOCUMENTARY
Chávez [foreign]
Director: Diego Luna (directorial debut)
Luna makes his directorial debut with this boxing documentary "about the life and career of his countryman, Mexican boxer Julio César Chávez, considered one of the sport's--and Mexico's--all-time greats. Luna follows Chávez through the final bouts of his career, even as he proudly passes the torch of boxing to his son." Luna's been keeping audience's attention arrested for a while now, and it's cool to see him be passionate about something other than acting. Let's hope it translates.
Doubletime
Director: Stephanie Johnes
"If seeing is believing, watching these kids Double Dutch elicits double-takes and disbelief. Chronicling the world of competitive jump roping, this energetic documentary follows two teenage teams that combine dance and gymnastics to breathtaking effect, as they prepare and contend for the world championship at the Apollo Theater in Harlem." I've always wanted to master double dutch.
Heckler
Director: Michael Addis
Jamie Kennedy examines the relationship between the person in the spotlight and the heckler. It'll be interesting to hear Kennedy's comebacks.
Hellfighters
Director: Jon Frankel (directorial debut)
The Hellfighters are Harlem's only high school football team in this sport documentary. "The bleachers are empty, practice space scarce and the Board of Education ruthless, but under the perseverance of coach Duke Ferguson, the Hellfighters are playing their way out of the ghetto, one touchdown at a time." Oppression is an easy selling point.
I Have Never Forgotten You: The Life & Legacy of Simon Wiesenthal [foreign]
Director: Richard Trank
A documentary, narrated by Nicole Kidman, about a Nazi hunter with the mere training of an architect. That just sounds impossible.
The Man of Two Havanas
Director: Vivien Lesnik Weisman (directorial debut)
Growing up in Miami, the director witnessed drive-by shootings and death threats directed toward her father, a former friend of Fidel Castro and opponent of the embargo. It includes never-before-heard CIA audiotapes and fascinating interviews with her father. Come on. Don't tell me you won't be ordering tickets the moment you finish reading this. Excited about all that confidentiality.
Planet B-Boy
Director: Benson Lee
The documentary "looks at the history of breakdancing and its vibrant resurgence in urban cultures around the world." Watch the trailer. Trust me you'll be mesmerized by how easily break dancing translates to every culture.
The Power of the Game
Director: Michael Apted
"Six stories intertwine in this dramatic and moving examination of the social impact of soccer across the world. Juxtaposing thrilling footage from games leading to and throughout the 2006 World Cup, Apted highlights stories of triumph over adversity from around the globe and skillfully conveys the remarkable transformative power of this sport." Soccer? I'm in.
Shame
Director: Mohammed Naqvi
"In 2002, Mukhtaran Mai, a woman living in a remote Pakistani village, was publicly gang raped to atone for a crime her brother allegedly committed. Instead of killing herself, as she was expected to do, she raised an outcry that became an international cause." Powerful message.
Taxi to the Dark Side
Director: Alex Gibney
"This documentary/murder mystery examines the death of an Afghan taxi driver at Bagram Air Base from injuries inflicted by U.S. soldiers. In an unflinching look at the Bush administration's policy on torture." Could be pretty revealing.
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