The Friday Feeling – Movies out this Week

‘Twas the night before Hallowe’en and all through the house…It also happens to be FRIDAY, that most magical day of the week. So what tricks or treats can be found in your local cinema from today? Well it’s actually an odd series of weeks at the moment with movies being released midweek and on Fridays. Wednesday saw the release of a new computer animated action-adventure and a musical documentary about a pop icon. Today sees the release of only two films: a British coming-of-age drama and a British crime drama starring rapper 50 Cent.

I’ve already written quite enough on the relative merits of 9 (the computer animated post-apocalyptic rag-doll action adventure from first-time director Shane Acker) and This is It (the documentary following the rehearsals for Michael Jackson’s ill-fated concert series of the same name). Suffice to say that both are worthy of your time and attention, but for completely contrasting reasons.

Instead I will focus on the two movies out today. First up is An Education, a coming-of-age drama based on the autobiographical memoir, An Education, by British journalist Lynn Barber. It’s 1961 and London, the swinging sixties is yet to begin and Jenny is 16 years old and on the cusp of womanhood. The girl spends her days fantasising about living the good life, while smoking cigarettes. A bright young girl she sets her mind on attending Oxford University, but her path diverts when she meets David, a much older gentleman who seems to be everything she’s ever wanted. Interestingly celebrated novelist Nick Hornby is responsible for the screenplay, having based it on an essay written by Barber for Granta magazine. The full book was not published until June, 2009, when principal photography had already been completed. Three of Hornby’s own books, of course, have been adapted for screen; Fever Pitch, About a Boy, and personal fave High Fidelity. Danish director Lone Scherfig has assembled quite a cast for the film including Oscar winner Emma Thompson, Peter Sarsgaard, Dominic Cooper, Rosamund Pike, and Carey Mulligan in the lead role. Critical reception has been remarkable with the movie winning the Audience Choice award and the Cinematography award at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival. I haven’t had a chance to see this yet myself but I will definitely watch it as soon as I can.

The second, and last, film released today is Dead Man Running, a British crime drama directed by Alex De Rakoff and starring Danny Dyer and Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson. A loan shark, Mr Thigo (played by 50 Cent) gives ex-con Nick (Tamer Hassan) a period of 24 hours in order to pay back the money he owes and, just to make sure, holds Nick’s wheelchair-bound mum (Brenda Blethyn) as a hostage. Up against it, Nick involves his best mate (Danny Dyer) and girlfriend Frankie (Monet Mazur) on a sequence of scams in order to raise the cash before it’s too late for them all. The director Alex De Rakoff, who also co-wrote the script alongside John Luton, previously gave us somewhat decent mockumentary comedy The Calcium Kid, starring Orlando Bloom. However almost everybody else involved makes me not the least bit interested. 50 Cent was pretty awful in the story of his own life, while Danny Dyer always plays the same loud-mouthed London wideboy. In addition footballers Ashley Cole and Rio Ferdinand are executive producers on the movie. It might be good, it might be rubbish, I won’t be watching either way.

There’s another mid-week movie next week. Jennifer’s Body is a dark comedy and horror film written by Juno author Diablo Cody, and stars Megan Fox, Amanda Seyfried, Adam Brody and Johnny Simmons. I will be posting a review on Tuesday. (Edit: Lottie will be posting a review shortly instead)