Films of the near future
The Muppets characters gear up for their return to theaters this November.
- Hidden in Hugo, Martin Scorsese’s filmic allusions
- Reinventing the reboot: the requel
- The many manifestations of Don Draper
In this column, we typically highlight films that have directly or indirectly inspired the most cherished and popular movies of contemporary cinema. Instead of looking into the past, this week will look to the future. We’re doing this, in part, because this is the calm before Oscar season—and as such, the best thing out there is Jack and Jill, another sidesplitter from perennial sell-out Adam Sandler.
So, to the future! How you ask? We took H.G. Wells’ time machine back to see Marty McFly, who let us borrow his Delorean. The Delorean would’ve been fine, but it always seems to be breaking down, and we didn’t want to get stuck in some alternate universe where someone refuses to give up on Adam Sandler (oh, wait). So, we used the Delorean to track down Bill and Ted, who let us borrow their phone booth. We dialed in the digits of some highly anticipated films and decided to share some of what we saw.
Like Crazy
Limited Release Oct. 28
This is one of those movies that rely on exploring the clichés. Like Crazy is to young romance as Blue Valentine was to adult romance. It’s the story of two college kids (one American, one British) experimenting with young love (or limerence, you decide). Critics say it’s touching, but falling in love? We don’t know, doesn’t seem much like college. Again, you decide.
Don’t feel betrayed by the limited release. You can expect to see this at Railroad Square at some point, maybe around Valentine’s Day.
Hugo
3D Theatrical Release Nov. 23
At first glance, Martin Scorsese’s decision to go 3D seems like a pretty mighty reversal of film history. This is the same guy who made a black and white film in 1980 (oh, by the way, Raging Bull salvaged a coke-addled career). So, while 3D seems like a flagrant offense to film purists, Scorsese aims to lend it some legitimacy. In a New York Times article, he made it extremely clear that 3D is no new thing. In the 1950s, when Marty was just a young tyke, 3D films were his favorite.
Hugo is adapted from a novel-comic amalgam that chronicles the adventures of an orphan boy and his wind-up automaton in a Parisian railway station. It’s based on the life and films of turn of the century filmmaker-magician George Meliés—coincidentally, the filmmaker credited with bringing special effects into film.
The Muppets
Theatrical Release Nov. 23
For anyone who saw Forgetting Sarah Marshall and its magical Muppets-inspired Dracula sequence, The Muppets has been long anticipated. Starring Jason Segal and Amy Adams, this is one of those movies that’s being marketed as a family movie, but like Up or Toy Story, it’ll code wit and irony for adults amongst slapstick for the kids. From the looks of the trailer, though, the slapstick is nothing to belittle.
Mission Impossible 4: Ghost Protocol
Theatrical Release Dec. 16th
Well, the trailer is basically a montage to an Eminem song. You can’t blame the producers; most kids these days don’t know who Ethan Hunt is. Yet, the spectacular visuals and that familiar theme song at the trailer’s end are enough to remind those of us who grew up idolizing (then hating) Tom Cruise that these blockbusters deliver. M.I. 4 will be a high-octane, gripping spy movie. It boasts the addition of Hurt Locker star Jeremy Renner.
