A-LISTS film by david vera
The phrase “fresh new start” usually also implies “out with the old.” This month offers a great as-
sortment of classic themes with a refreshing take on each. Since our winters don’t offer the splendor
promised in most snowy getaway brochures, what better way for us to spend the overcast season
than a mini-excursion to “anywhere but here?”
JANUARY JITTERS
January 8: They’re tragically beautiful and irresistibly suave. But one thing that those sexy Anne Rice-
era vamps are certainly not is scary. It’s about time we got back to basics, Nosferatu-style. Writers/directors
Michael and Peter Spierig bring us a true dose of fanged horror in the latest from Lionsgate: Daybreakers. In
the year 2019, a grotesque plague has mutated mankind into a legion of vampires. As the human popula-
tion nears extinction, vampires must capture and farm every remaining human, or develop a substitute for
blood before their living supply runs out. Ethan Hawke plays Edward Dalton, a researcher bent on achieving
the impossible—joined by Willem Dafoe, Isabel Lucas and the devilish Sam Neill. But if horror and science
aren’t your match made in hell, try a bit of existential fantasy with a demonic twist.
January 22: Writer/Director Scott Stewart present Legion, a classic good vs. evil saga starring the hand-
some Paul Bettany. This screen gem is good for a blast of jump-at-you scares and strangely cool special
effects. Ceiling-treading demon-grannies are only the beginning!
WINTER WINNERS
January 8 shows us a Wonderful World. Well...not that wonderful. Ben Singer (Matthew Broderick) has
failed at every career move he’s made. A less-than-perfect weekend dad and an avid pot-head, he’s also the
most negative man alive. His only comfort comes from regular chess games with his roommate Ibou...who
has just fallen ill. When an insensitive world fails to adequately address the emergency, Ben’s pessimistic
outlook solidifies and his only choice is to pursue a frivolous lawsuit against the city for “depraved indif-
ference.” This Magnolia Pictures drama also stars Sanaa Lathan and Phillip Baker Hall. While on the topic of
extraordinary measures...
January 22: Extraordinary Measures introduces us to John Crowley (Brendan Fraser), a hard-working fam-
ily man who’s finally begun to taste corporate success until he is forced to walk away from it all when two of
his children are diagnosed with a fatal disease. With his wife by his side Crowley teams up with a brilliant, but
unconventional scientist, Dr. Robert Stonehill (Harrison Ford). Together they form a bio-tech company with
the hope of developing a life-saving drug. But will both men see eye to eye on ever business decision?
LOOKING TO “LOL?”
January 15: Four years and no marriage proposal? You’d go mad at Leap Year too. After this mile-
stone in her relationship with handsome boyfriend Jeremy (Adam Scott), Anna (Amy Adams) decides
to take matters into her own hands. Riding on an Irish tradition that allows women to propose to
men on February 29th, Anna follows her husband-to-be to Dublin to get down on one knee herself.
But fate leaves Anna stranded on the other side of Ireland and she must make use of the sexy Declan
(Matthew Goode) to get her across the country. Bickering along the way, these two discover much
more than just the scenic roads.
Try a more local love setting in Youth in Revolt. Nick Twisp (Michael Cera) leads a dull life with his
raging-cougar mother, Estelle (Jean Smart), and her clumsy boar of a boyfriend, Jerry. When Jerry
sells a group of young sailors a car on its last gasps, they come in search of retribution. Forced to hide
out in a trailer park with his family until the coast is clear, Nick feels out of place...until he meets Sheeni
(Portia Doubleday), his precocious neighbor. It’s love at first sight when Sheeni shows him her worldly
side...but neglects to mention her wickedly good-looking beau, Trent (Jonathan B. Wright). Going to
hilarious lengths to secure Sheeni’s love, Nick soon forgets the shame of his surroundings and falls in
the ecstacy of the chase.
January 15 also teaches us that you don’t need to look very far in order to find top-secret informa-
tion. In The Spy Next Door, a mild-mannered man finds himself regretting his decision to babysit his
neighbor’s children—having to fight off secret agents after one of the kids inadvertently downloads
sensitive materials that someone doesn’t want them to know. Starring Jackie Chan, Amber Valetta,
George Lopez and Billy Ray Cyrus.
14 RAGE monthly | january 2010
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