NOVEMBER FILMS WORTH SEEING

A healthy mix of wide and limited films highlight the penultimate month of 2010; there's really something for everyone. As well, some award season contenders in the acting categories will flex their muscles.

November 5th
Megamind
Will Ferrell hasn't had a hit in a while (no, The Other Guys was terrible), but everything I've seen from Paramount's animated superhero tale makes me smile. Ferrell is the titular Megamind, an orphaned, blue-skinned alien (think Superman, but with a head the size of a small planetoid). He becomes rivals with Metro-Man (Brad Pitt), while matching witticisms with Roxanne Ritchi (Tina Fey). Pixar hit the superhero film out of the park with 2004's The Incredibles, but Megamind seems to be a little sillier which should put people in seats. Jonah Hill also stars. I saw Hill at a bar a few weeks ago and he looks like the Penguin from Batman lore. And yes, he was scoring with chicks.



More after the break.



Due Date
Director Todd Phillips' latest which re-teams him with Hangover star, and flavour of the month Zach Galifianakis, along with Robert Downey Jr. Downey's character's wife is pregnant and due any day. For comedy's sake, he is unable to fly home: enter the bearded one as a cross country comrade. Galifianakis took some heat recently for quashing a potential cameo for Mel Gibson in the Hangover sequel due to his verbal bashing of his ex-girlfriend, African Americans, Jews, and probably puppies and kittens. Regardless, Phillips knows comedy, and Due Date should be no different. Galifianakis' permed hair is enough for entry fee alone.



127 Hours
James Franco is getting considerable buzz for his portrayal of Aron Ralston, an American mountain climber who was trapped underneath a boulder for five days in Robbers Roost, Utah. To escape, Ralston amputated his own arm. Then he ascended a 65-foot wall. Then he hiked eight miles before finally being rescued and receiving medical attention. I threw up in my mouth just typing this paragraph.

Some great looking ladies in this one: Kate Mara (Tadpole), Clémence Poésy (In Bruges), Lizzy Caplan (Cloverfield).



For Colored Girls
Never been a fan of Tyler Perry's work, but Girls might be the exception. It's been received fairly well and looks to have on point performances from Thandie Newton, Phylicia Rashad, Kerry Washington and Whoopi Goldberg. In truth, it's hard to find what the big deal is with Perry's films. His first feature, Diary of a Mad Black Woman, putting it nicely, left much to be desired.



November 12th
Morning Glory
From the outside, Morning looks like a reheated romantic comedy where Girl falls for Boy all the while overcoming personal problems/demons to succeed in a male driven society. I have a thing for Rachel McAdams though and the trailer actually made me laugh. It's nice to see crusty Harrison Ford in front of the camera again. Diane Keaton always plays the same character: a quirky, lovable lady. Roger Michell directed the equally idiosyncratic Notting Hill.

McAdams plays a young producer hired to a morning show hosted by Keaton and Ford. Her likely love interest is Patrick Wilson, who starred in the recent Barry Munday (which everyone should see).



November 26th
The King's Speech
At the moment, the Best Actor Academy Award is between James Franco from the aforementioned 127 Hours, and Colin Firth as King George VI. His Royalness had a pretty severe speech impediment. Firth has had a long and respected career, first in the United Kingdom, and on our side of the Atlantic now too. Past Oscar winner Geoffrey Rush (Shine) looks to have a hilarious turn as King George's speech therapist Lionel Logue. This motion picture has some serious tones with the backdrop of the war, yet also some real moments of levity, mostly through the relationship of Logue and the King.