I'm not a huge fan of Kirsten Dunst, so Marie Antoinette has kind of snuck up on me. I suppose i should be focusing on the fact that it's directed by Sofia Coppola, who also created the mesmerizing Lost in Translation and The Virgin Suicides. My first viewing of the trailer caught me unaware, as i was surprised to find scenes of French aristocrats set to New Order's "Ceremony". The rest of the soundtrack is an interesting blend of post-punk, neo-shoegazing, and classical sounds. The graphic art for the production seems rooted in the Malcolm McLaren/Sex Pistols aesthetic. And you know what? It all seems to mesh beautifully. I've gone from totally disinterested to anxiously awaiting the film's October 20 release.

I'm also interested in the documentary The U.S. Vs. John Lennon, describing the government's investigation of the former Beatle while he used his status to campaign against the Vietnam war. And Martin Scorsese's latest gangster tale The Departed. I wouldn't mind seeing the U.S. punk documentary American Hardcore, although that's one i'd have to guess i won't make it out to see. Jet Li's final martial arts epic Fearless looks good, but given my latter-day consumption of movies at the theater, i'll have to keep an eye out for it on cable in 9-12 months. Idiocracy, Mike Judge's science fiction depiction of a future society based entirely on popular culture, looks to be a worthy successor to Office Space, but i have no idea where that's even playing near me.

The take-home message is that i have to ration my theater visits these days, and push for going to see films that 1) Veronica won't veto outright, 2) are playing at a reasonably convenient location so i won't have to orchestrate a field trip to go see it, and 3) i won't get to see unless i go to the theater.