Opening This Week: June 29th, 2007

By Christopher Bonet

IFC News

[Photo: "Evening," Focus Features, 2007]

A round-up of the best (or worst) $10 you'll spend this week.

"Dr. Bronner's Magic Soapbox"

Documentarian Sara Lamm's debut feature follows the story of Dr. Emanuel Bronner, a master soapmaker, mental institution escapee and self-proclaimed rabbi who preached an ever-evolving set of teachings set on each bottle of his popular peppermint soap, which you can still find in health food stores today. Lamm's film follows the story of an incredibly complicated family legacy behind the counterculture's most popular cleaning product.

Opens in New York (official site).

"Evening"

While this film sounds a little like "Fried Green Tomatoes" meets "The Notebook" (but with more dying!), it may be the ideal movie if you want to escape the usual summer flick explosions. Director Lajos Koltai previously served up some heavy drama with 2005's "Fateless" and here employs Toni Collette and Natasha Richardson to get all weepy as they play the daughters of dying matriarch Vanessa Redgrave. To further improve its pedigree, we should point out that the film is based on a novel by Susan Minot and is adapted by "The Hours" writer Michael Cunningham.

Opens wide (official site).

"Falling"

Four high school friends get together at a funeral and decide to make the best of it by traversing the local countryside in search of parties, alcohol and men in this black comedy from "Free Radicals" director Barbara Albert. The film premiered at last year's Venice Film Festival.

Opens in New York (official site).

"Ghosts of Cité Soleil"

Like a true life "City of God," Asger Leth's documentary follows the lives of rival gang leaders in the Haitian slum of Cité Soleil, deemed by the United Nations the most dangerous place on earth. Leth's documentary (executive produced and with music by Wyclef Jean) was filmed prior to the overthrow of former president Jean-Bertrand Aristide, who is said to have employed the gang members to silence his opponents.

Opens in limited release (official site).

"In Between Days"

A lonely and isolated Korean teenage, new to America, falls in love with her only friend in So Yong Kim's debut film, which finally arrives in theaters after attracting acclaim on the festival circuit.

Opens in New York (official site).

"Live Free or Die Hard"

Considering we're in the Season of Revisited 80s Action Franchises (Michael Bay's "Transformers" is being released next month and Stallone's bloodthirsty "John Rambo" will drop next summer), it's no surprise that this long-rumored, then long-anticipated fourth entry in the John McClane series finally finds its release this week. With a storyline pretty much lifted from a, well, Bruce Willis thriller, the film finds McClane tackling an internet-based terrorist organization planning on shutting down the country. Car into helicopter = badass. CGI car wrecks = lame. "Deadwood"'s Sheriff Bullock (Timothy Olyphant) as the baddie = awesome. The Mac Guy (Justin Long) as comic relief = seriously lame.

Opens wide (official site).

"One to Another"

Jean-Marc Barr and Pascal Arnold's drama follows a 20-year-old brother and sister who share an intimate relationship with each other and a group of friends until the brother is found brutally murdered (with sexy results!). The sister then goes in search of finding out who her brother's real killer is (with sexy results!). The film premiered at last year's Toronto Film Festival (with sexy results!).

Opens in New York and San Francisco (official site).

"Ratatouille"

We may be a little bothered by the fact that the Parisian rodent of Pixar's latest feature doesn't sound like he's French, but we're willing to bite the bullet for anything directed by Brad Bird ("The Incredibles" and "The Iron Giant"). Comedian Patton Oswalt voices Remy, the Parisian rat who dreams of becoming a great chef. The buzz on this seems pretty high — here's hoping it's better than "Cars."

Opens wide (official site).

"Sicko"

High five for controversy! Nearly three years after the monumental success that was "Fahrenheit 9/11," award-winning "documentarian"/essayist Michael Moore returns with a scathing look at the health care system in a nation in which Moore claims nearly 45 million people are left without health care — ours. The usual criticism is already abounding, with conservative political commentator Sean Hannity claiming Moore is "anti-American" and the American government investigating Moore as a communist sympathizer, but reviews since "Sicko"'s standing ovation at its Cannes premiere have been solid. Red states vs. blue states again? It's on!

Opens wide (official site).

"Vitus"

Director Fredi M. Murer's latest drama finds a young, gifted boy rebelling against his controlling parents, preferring to neglect his pianist skills in favor of flying lessons from his grandfather, played by Hitler himself, "Downfall"'s Bruno Ganz.

Opens in limited release (official site).

By Christopher Bonet in news | Link | 0 Comments | Recommended (0)