Hey there, kindly readers! It is I, Agent Nate, helping take over LOOKING AHEAD duties for Agent Justin this week. These are the very first movies to be released for the year 2014. Whoa! Futuristic! And as luck would have it… there are only FOUR friggin’ releases this week!
What the what?
Could it be that GONE are the days of a baker’s dozen of cinema onslaughts? Am I going to actually have time to study the trailers of each of these movies and come up with *GASP* thoughts and feelings?? Oh man, I might even go and have an insight or deep thought.
Naaaaaaw!! *burpfart*
Anyways, on to the first movie!
ALL FOUR MOVIES RELEASE ON JANUARY 03
What’s It About? As the police launch a full-scale crackdown on organized crime, it ignites a national Yakuza struggle between the Sanno of the East and Hanabishi of the West.
Nate’s Notes: Its a Yakuza gangster revenge flick. And as Budd said in Kill Bill “Those Japs really know how to hold a grudge.” (His words, not mine, please don’t yell at me). This is actually the sequel to another movie named Outrage. But here’s what you really need to dig about this here flick: Beyond Outrage was written, directed by, and starring Takeshi Kitano. This 66-year-old badass was in one of my favorite movies, Battle Royale. Now, he doesn’t show much emotion, but in a flick like this, the violence is all the emotion you’re going to get out of him. Apparently his character’s family was killed in the first movie, and since there are TWO movies, I guessing a whole lot of fools pulled that trigger. Japanese Gangster Revenge Flick. I said that already, because that’s all you need to know if you wanna see this movie. I know I wanna see it!
What’s It About? Saul Leiter could have been lauded as the great the pioneer of color photography, but was never driven by the lure of success. Instead he preferred to drink coffee and photograph in his own way, amassing an archive of beautiful work that is now piled high in his New York apartment. An intimate and personal film, In No Great Hurry follows Saul as he deals with the triple burden of clearing an apartment full of memories, becoming world famous in his 80s and fending off a pesky filmmaker.
Nate’s Notes: This is a documentary about a photographer that photographers have heard of. I don’t know of the dude, personally, but he seems like a nice guy. And what the heck, why not have a documentary about a nice guy? And from the 10 or so pictures they showed of his, I instantly liked 3 of them. That’s pretty impressive. To have a gut feeling that quickly just by glancing at a few examples of his work. I do get that weird feeling that if I were a hipster (and who am I to say that I’m not?) I should love this movie just so I can say I liked Saul Leiter’s work before it was cool.
What’s It About? A man wakes up in the wilderness, in a pit full of dead bodies, with no memory and must determine if the murderer is one of the strangers who rescued him, or if he himself is the killer.
Nate’s Notes: I’ve seen this premise for a movie before (well, except with a pit full of dead bodies). And I’ve always liked them… when they’re done WELL. Will that be Open Grave? Hopefully. Sharlto Copley is an awesome actor, and he alone makes me very hopeful for this movie. Please be good!
Which is more than I would bother to even hope for in this next and last movie for this week…
What’s It About? After being “marked,” Jesse begins to be pursued by mysterious forces while his family and friends try to save him.
Nate’s Notes: I’m… trying to write…. SOMETHING about this movie that really interests me. Huh. Um… I’m glad there’s more hispanic actors getting more work. *SIGH* If you want to see this movie, then go for it. I’ll wait till I want to watch it.
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And there you have it! The first crop of movies for 2014. Its an interesting start. The one I’m most interested in is Open Grave, followed by Beyond Outrage. Huh. Maybe I have violent resolutions for this year. Anyways, keep reading and watching, Guardians!