Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired

The new documentary Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired opens August 15 at the Reading Gaslamp Theaters. I just want to take a brief moment to say something about the change of ownership down at Gaslamp, which had been a Pacific Theater. When I asked publicist Jo Ellen Brantferger about the new owners and their seeming commitment to showing indie, foreign or art house films on at least one screen, here's the statement I got back: "Since Reading operates the Angelika Film Center in New York City, our film programmers are very familiar with the variety of art, independent, and foreign films that are available theatrically to U.S. audiences. Reading intends to continue showing first run commercial films at the Gaslamp 15, but hopes to enhance its programming with some art, independent or foreign films that otherwise might not have come to San Diego. In fact, in the next few weeks, Reading is opening both Man from Pearl and Sixty Six." That sounds like good news and the fact that they are finally bringing the Polanski documentary (which aired on HBO) to the big screen in San Diego is definitely a plus.

Directed by Marina Zenovich, Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired recounts the scandalous events of 1977 involving Roman Polanski and a 13-year-old girl who accused the famous director of giving her alcohol and Quaaludes and then raping her. All that most Americans remember about the case is that Polanski fled the U.S. to avoid punishment but the film reminds us that the circumstances of his flight were a little more complicated than that -- he actually did serve prison time and had entered into a plea bargain but fled when the judge became more interested in publicity than justice.

The Dark Knight

The Joker robs the mob while Heath Ledger steals the show in The Dark Knight (Warner Brothers)

There was a time when people thought it was crazy to try and have someone else take on the role of the Joker because no one could possibly fill Jack Nicholson's shoes. But after you see The Dark Knight (opening July 18 throughout San Diego and in IMAX at Edwards Mira Mesa Cinemas), you won't be able to think of anyone else besides Heath Ledger. Now Nicholson's Joker looks like a naughty clown while Ledger's Joker is downright nasty and disturbed (yet still oddly likable). Ledger's manically endearing performance as the unhinged psycho giving both cops and crooks nightmares is so riveting that it makes you sad for all the roles he'll never have a chance to tackle. Ledger died at the beginning of this year just after wrapping production on The Dark Knight. So this film offers his last completed performance.

Street Kings

Hugh Laurie and Forest Whitaker square off in Street Kings (Fox Searchlight)

Street Kings (opening April 11 throughout San Diego) has some impressive pedigree. It's based on a story by James Ellroy, a hardboiled writer who's been called the Demon Dog of American Crime Fiction. First time director David Ayer had previously scripted the dark cop films Training Day, Dark Blue, and Harsh Times. And the film boasts the talented Forest Whitaker and Hugh Laurie squaring off as a corrupt police captain and an Internal Affairs captain. Everything appears in place for a tough cop thriller exploring a grittier side of law enforcement.

15th Annual San Diego Latino Film Festival

Under the Same Moon kicks off the 15th San Diego Latino Film Festival (Fox Searchlight)

The San Diego Latino Film Festival celebrates its Quinceanera this year, and how wonderfully it has come of age. It has grown up into a stellar event, this year showcasing more than a hundred films with some 120 guests. That's a long way from its humble beginnings as a small student festival. The festival is sponsored by the Media Arts Center San Diego, which, through its Golden Hill home base, also provides facilities to train young people in filmmaking so that they can tell their stories. The festival kicks off tonight with the San Diego premiere of Under the Same Moon/La Misma Luna on its big Macy's screen at the Ultrastar Mission Valley Cinemas at Hazard Center). Directed by Patricia Riggen, the film concerns a young boy who comes to the U.S. from Mexico in order to find his mother after his grandma dies. This film will open theatrically in San Diego after the festival, but many of the other films playing have no U.S. release planned so this will be your only opportunity to catch some of these great movies. You will also have an opportunity to see the works of the Media Art Center's Teen Producers, who are poised to be the filmmakers of tomorrow. Listen to the festival's executive director Ethan Van Thillo and I talk about this year's event with Tom Fudge on These Days.

There Will Be Blood

There Will Be Blood (Paramount Vantage) 

There Will Be Blood (opening January 11 at AMC Mission Valley and on January 18 at Landmarks La Jolla Village Theaters) is not the film fans of Paul Thomas Anderson may be expecting but it's a film that should please them nonetheless. The filmmaker who gave us Hard Eight, Boogie Nights, Magnolia and Punch Drunk Love now turns to an 80-year-old Upton Sinclair novel called Oil! as inspiration for his epic tale of greed and ambition.

Upton Sinclair was famed for his muckraking expose The Jungle, and for the socialist agenda he often put forth in his novels. In freely adapting Oil!, Anderson leaves the socialism and muckraking behind but holds on to Sinclair's theme of the corrupting power of money and capitalism. This also marks the first time Anderson has not penned an original screenplay from which to direct.

Batman Begins

So it begins... Batman gets a reboot with Christain Bale as the latest Caped Crusader (Warner Brothers)

DC Comics' Batman franchise is given a fresh start in Batman Begins (opening June 15 throughout San Diego) courtesy of director Christopher Nolan and actor Chritian Bale. The film takes us back to the beginning to find out exactly how Bruce Wayne became the Dark Knight.

Back in 2000, there was talk of making a film called Batman Year One based on the new Batman comics co-written by Frank Miller and serving up a darker vision of the caped crusader created by Bob Kane in 1939. Miller was going to adapt his work to the screen and indie director Darren Aronofsky (Pi, Requiem for a Dream) was scheduled to helm with everyone from Brad Pitt to Ben Affleck rumored to star. Miller's script generated hope among fans that a definitive Batman movie might be in the works. But that production stalled, Miller got fed up with Hollywood abandoned the project and was convinced instead by Robert Rodriguez to adapt his solo work Sin City to the screen. But the collected comics known as Batman Year One still provide the inspiration for what transformed in Batman Begins. Although Miller probably could have penned a better script than the one delivered by director Christopher Nolan and David S. Goyer, Batman Begins does deliver the best installment of the Batman film series.