CITY Issue 52

BEOWULF Epic Poem by Anonymous Film directed by Robert Zemeckis, adapted screenplay by Neil Gaiman and Roger Avary, starring Ray Winstone, Anthony Hopkins, Angelina Jolie, Robin Wright Penn, John Malkovich, and Crispin Glover; opens November 16. THE STORY: The epic scourge of British boarding school students makes its way to the big MORE ADAPTATIONS, A FEW ORIGINAL IDEAS, AND OTHER OSCAR BAIT AMERICAN GANGSTER: Russell Crowe takes down heroin kingpin Denzel Washington, then enlists his help. LIONS FOR LAMBS: screen … again. Since you probably read the Cliffnotes version the first time around, here’s the short synopsis: Beowulf battles Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and later, when he’s become king, a dragon—who kills him. THE CHALLENGE: Strangely, 8th-century medieval poets weren’t that concerned about shaping their vision for the big screen. Still, modern cinema apes classic structure, so everything could work out. THE CHARACTERS: While their involvement might not take on the traditional form (the characters are all depicted in a new form of 3-D animation), Zemeckis’s A-list cast can certainly deliver a line. Sir Hopkins, Malkovich, and Winstone are good, but Glover as Grendel and Jolie as Grendel’s Mother are better. THE TALENT: Zemeckis has built his career on technical innovation, and after the harmless but forgettable Polar Express, he’s trying his hand at telling one of history’s greatest stories using his digitally enhanced live action capture technique. (Let’s go back to real flesh and blood next time, okay, Bob?) Comic-geek idol Gaiman steps to the plate for the adaptation, and is joined by Tarantino collaborator Avary. THE BUZZ: Since critical reception should be middling to fair, Sony’s strategy with this release seems more geared at snapping up some of that massive holiday box office rather than positioning the film for any non-technical award buzz. Robert Redford directs Tom Cruise, Meryl Streep, and himself in a political drama. MARGOT AT THE WEDDING: Nicole Kidman goes indie in Noah (Squid and the Whale) Baumbach’s latest. I’M NOT THERE: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Richard Gere, and, yes, Cate Blanchett (along with two others) all portray Bob Dylan. LEATHERHEADS: George Clooney straps on the leather helmet for this ‘20s football flick. GRACE IS GONE: John Cusack copes with the death of his wife in Iraq in this Sundance favorite. I AM LEGEND: Richard Matheson’s vampire novel now stars Will Smith as Earth’s last living man. JUNO: Look for a quirky teenager’s pregnancy to be hailed as the quirky comedy of the fall. CASSANDRA’S DREAM: Woody Allen stays in London with Ewan McGregor and Colin Farrell as brothers who turn to crime for a woman’s love. YOUTH WITHOUT YOUTH: Francis Ford Coppola and Tim Roth take on the Nazis and immortality. SWEENEY TODD : Tim Burton and Johnny Depp team up again for Sondheim’s demon barber classic—but will it match the brilliance of the most recent Broadway revival? REDACTED: Will director Robert Zemekis’ live action capture technique work better for Beowulf than it did for Polar Express? You be the judge. The Iraq war—and the media that covers it—is examined. Turn to page 21 for more. THE BUCKET LIST: LIST B E O W U L F : P H OTO G R A P H S C O U RT E S Y PA R A M O U N T P I C T U R E S . Terminally ill Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman decide to take one last road trip. THERE WILL BE BLOOD: Paul Thomas Anderson directs Daniel Day Lewis in an Upton Sinclair adaptation. THE SAVAGES: Laura Linney and Philip Seymour Hoffman as siblings caring for their father. CHARLIE WILSON’S WAR: Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, and Mike Nichols recall the CIA’s role in Afghanistan. CITY 65

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of CITY Issue 52

CITY Issue 52 Contents Letter from CITY Our Friends Action Wanted City Moment In Rogue Fit The Amused Bouche Fast Food Must Haves Hot Wheels Idol Handlers Design Public Affairs Pluck of the Draw Novel Ideas Monster's Belle Not Guilty The Understudies The Hunger Elastique Where to Buy It Socials Icon

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