September Movies

September is shaping up to be the best month for new releases this year, with new films from two of my favourite directors, a remake of an old favourite, and something that was filmed near my work.

I loved Bad Education, so I have high hopes for Pedro Almodovar's new film, Volver. Trailer is here.

Whenever I'm asked to nominate my favourite director, I usually defer to naming anywhere between six and ten directors that I love... but if I was asked to pick just one name from that list, then I would say that the director whose work I enjoy the most, would have to be Brian De Palma. His new film, based on an unsolved murder, and a James Ellroy novel, is The Black Dahlia. Trailer is here.

The little-seen 1973 cult film The Wicker Man is a personal favourite of mine for its quirkiness and shock ending. That film starred Christopher Lee, Edward Woodward, and Diane Cilento,... but the real star is screenwriter Anthony Shaffer, whose work I adore (eg Sleuth, Death on the Nile). Neil La Bute's remake stars Nicolas Cage and Ellen Burstyn. The action is relocated from Scotland to Maine. Trailer is here.

Late last year I blogged about the adaptation of P.D. James' novel "The Children of Men", and how it was filmed on Fleet Street, just near The Firm's offices. Children of Men stars Julianne Moore and Clive Owen. The trailer is up, and can be viewed at the movie's website. The film looks great, but I was particularly pleased by the inclusion of the Fleet Street scenes in the trailer, especially one that replicates my favourite view of St Paul's. During a lunch break last week, I snapped a few photos so you can see a fictional and real comparison. If you're interested, check out all three comparison photographs on Flickr.