She Likes to Watch

Hollywood must have a vindictive streak.

After weeks of dull, unimaginative fare, the powers that be have flooded the Central Coast with several fascinating movies – forcing filmgoers to spend the next couple weeks in dark, sticky-floored theaters.

It’s one of the disadvantages of living in a smaller movie market.
While New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago get to spread out their Oscar-season offerings, the little guys (read: San Luis Obispo County) have to wait.

When they’re handing out Golden Globe nominations, we’re scratching our heads. “There Will Be Blood?” “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly?” Those won’t be here for weeks!

Meanwhile, great films like Todd Hayne’s brilliant Bob Dylan biography, “I’m Not There,” get shoved out the door before their time.

I know I’m silly to complain. Too many good movies are better than too few, right?
Right?

Either way, I’ll spend my holidays wandering from Downtown Centre to the Fremont to the Palm in a sleep-deprived daze, subsisting on Junior Mints and jumbo tubs of popcorn.
If you see my pale, listless face, take pity, ticket-takers.
I’ve got too many movies to watch.

Here’s a list of new films I’m dying to see:

“Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”
Director Tim Burton and his darkly dreamy cast bring new blood (pun intended) to this classic musical. From all accounts, it’s a Gothic masterpiece – equal parts “Sleepy Hollow” and “Les Miserables.”

“Atonement”
Get out those hankies. When lovely Keira Knightley falls for a housekeeper’s son (Britain’s newest hunk, James McAvoy), the result is romantic and catastrophic.

“I Am Legend”
I’m told that the ending of this Will Smith blockbuster departs greatly from the 1954 novel. Oh well. Who wouldn’t watch the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air battle blood-sucking monsters?!

“Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story”
I’m so happy to see John C. Reilly, the reliable, potato-faced character actor, get a starring role that I’ll give this goofy spoof a shot.

“Juno”
Director Jason Reitman’s “Thank You For Smoking” was one of the slickest, sharpest comedies of 2005. “Juno,” about a smart teen (Ellen Page) pregnant by her best friend (Michael Cera), looks smart, quirky and sweet.

– Sarah L.

*** Photo courtesy of Movieweb.