THE GOOD GERMAN
Release Date: December 15th (limited); December 22nd (wider)
MPAA Rating: R for language, violence and some sexual content
Ten Words Or Less: World War II. Noir redux. Plus hella sexy George Clooney.
Reason For Existence: Because what the world needs right now, people, is one queasily patriotic World War II epic. Or two, if you count Flags of our Fathers. Well, actually three, if you count Letters from Iwo Jima. Four, if you count Happy Feet.
Mathematical Equation: (Ocean's 11 - 10) + Serious Historical Subject Matter + black-and-white film - Good Night and Good Luck
Take A Look: Not Casablanca Exactly
Early Buzz (Good): "[Director Steven] Soderbergh couldn't bring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman back from the dead, but he did the next best thing. He hired George Clooney, who exudes a timeless star quality and plays it hard and achingly romantic....No true student of cinema will want to miss his ride back to the future. It's pure moviegoing bliss." - Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
Early Buzz (Bad): "I sat near a guy who guffawed, sucked his teeth and said 'Oh, puhleeze!' loudly enough that everyone in the auditorium could hear him." - Sheigh Crabtree, Risky Biz Blog
Oscar Locks: None
In The Running: Best Actor (Clooney) and Best Actress (Blanchett)
Long Shots: Best Director and Best Cinematography (Soderbergh)
Completely Irrelevant Best Picture Odds: 10-1
Why It's Essential: Two recent Oscar winners under the direction of another (who's due again), and it's a fascinating exercise in filmmaking.
The Achilles Heel: Just because you CAN make a movie like Von Stroheim doesn't mean you SHOULD.
The Verdict: If it's good, it's perfectly positioned to build through the critics awards. If it's not -- and the buzz is unclear so far on that point -- it will be dead in the water before New Year's Eve.
[Modern Fabulousity]
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