Our Month of Coens was, I think, a modest success. Thanks to all of the contributors who took the time and effort to turn in such well written articles and features on the brothers auteur. Your participation is what made it such darn fun. You can find a handy-dandy list of all the articles and reviews below in case you may have missed anything.

In lieu of planning another themed month here at MZ (which is coming as soon as we recover from this one), we have a number of new columns and features in the pipeline, so keep your eyes peeled (what does that mean, excatly? Has anyone ever stopped to think what a horrible prospect it would be to actually peel one’s eyes?).

MZ is in its infancy, and we are (hopefully) ever evolving into a better, more streamlined destination for all things film.

Hit the jump for the list of articles and reviews.
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A bunch of releases this week you’ve never heard of, but that is why I tirelessly scavenge the dark corners of IMDB, to inform and enlighten. Why, without me, you might have inadvertently rented The Hottie and the Nottie, permanently damaging your retinas in the process. There are some things that can’t be unseen and, unsurprisingly, almost all of them involve Paris Hilton.

Bella
For all the conservatives who bemoan Hollywood’s lack of family values, there have been a surprising number of pro-life leaning films in the past few years. While Waitress, Knocked Up, and Juno were not explicitly anti-abortion, they all featured characters who chose to keep their babies. Bella, though not a Hollywood vehicle, continues that trend with a simple, touching story that takes place over the course of a single day. A cook and a waitress connect when one of them discovers something they’re unprepared for, although I probably shouldn’t waste my time attempting to be spoiler free (hint hint, SHE’S PREGNANT!). Well received critically, it is more of an art house creature than the aforementioned crowd pleasers, but still worth a look.

Recommended if you liked Waitress, of if you wished Juno had been less funny (there may be one of you out there)

P.S. I Love You
Based on a best selling novel (aren’t they all?), this romantic comedy attempts to buck the trend by having one of its characters dead the entire time, and not in the “oh-death-is-so-romantic” Ghost vein. Hilary Swank is the woman who’s lost her husband to a terrible illness, but who discovers life again when she starts receiving notes and videos from him posthumously. King Leonidas, I mean Gerard Butler, plays the dead husband, who closes every letter with “P.S. I Love You.” If the woman in your life forces you to watch this, entertain yourself by shouting the title of the film with the same inflection as “THIS…..IS……SPARTA!” every time someone says it on screen. Go on, try it now. See how much fun that is?

Recommended if you liked The Lakehouse or Just Like Heaven

I’m Not There
The musical biopic is one of my least favorite genres, and watching Ray and Walk the Line felt a lot like mowing the lawn: I didn’t really want to do it, but I knew I should. So here comes one on Bob Dylan, with the clever twist being that 7 different actors play the beatnik who could, and one of them is Cate Blanchett! A woman! The cinematic gods are clearly shocked by the riskiness of it all. I apologize if my sarcasm drips, but I cannot muster a single ounce of enthusiasm for this film, no matter how many critical accolades it received. For the consummate Dylanite, however, consider it required viewing.

Recommended if you’re either a Dylan fan or liked Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters, and if you don’t know what that movie is, then you won’t like this one

The Hottie and the Nottie
This one has the distinction of currently holding the #4 spot on IMDB’s 100 worst films list. It proves, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that Paris Hilton is nothing if not willing to stoop ever lower. Her next film will undoubtedly feature her eating pieces of moldy bark in exchange for candy. Which may or may not be an improvement. The one silver lining is that the film grossed a total of $27,696 dollars at the box office. Seeing as it opened in 111 theaters, those of you with mad math skillz will have already figured out that that equals a per theater average of $249, which may be the all time lowest record. It spent a grand total of 3 days at the multiplex, proving that American audiences are not nearly as stupid as I thought they were.

Recommended if you’ve already lit your head on fire and need something more painful to top it with

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The divide between Christian film and films that deal with issues of faith on a spiritual level is very easy to spot. Where one often stoops to a proselytizing form of propaganda, the other contemplates earnestly, often not presenting an easy answer. Carl Dreyer, Ingmar Bergman, and Robert Bresson each made films that can be associated with the latter and while Dreyer and Bergman were more directly influenced by Lutheranism, Bresson was a Roman Catholic. His films deal with spirituality in the same vein as Dreyer and Bergman and Diary of a Country Priest is widely considered his most transparently religious film.
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This week we get a whopping two releases. But, on the bright side, one will undoubtedly be showing on at least two screens at your favorite mulitplex. So you can go see it twice, if you want. Also, let it be known that The Visitor (which I made a plug for in my previous post) adds another hundred screens this week…so if you’re not into mech suits and explosions, you should check that one out. And now, the summer begins…

Iron Man
Personally, I’m rooting for this little independent drama. The touching story of a young man who dreams of competing in the Ironman Triathlon…wait, what? That’s not what this movie is about? Oh. Okay. So it’s about what, now? Robert Downey Jr. in a robot outfit blowing stuff up? Oh. Huh. Go figure, I guess. (Really though, all you need to know about this one is available here.)

Recommended if you want to know any of the following: (1) Has he lost his mind? (2) Can he see, or is he blind? (3) Can he walk at all? (4) Or if he moves, will he fall? (Wow, what awful lyrics. Hopefully, Ozzy didn’t write the script for this one.)

Made of Honor
Actually, I’m writing a short play about this one. Tell me what you think:
White Male in Suit #1: Iron Man is coming out May 2nd. Somebody come up with something to compete with it.
White Male in Suit # 2: Well, sir, how about something with talking CG animals? Those always seem to make loads of money!
White Male in Suit # 3: Or something from Tyler Perry! He’s only making six films this year! He can probably fit one more into his schedule!
#1: No, you morons! You’re just repeating my ideas back to me! What am I paying you bozos for, anyway?
#3: I thought it was because I was your nephew, sir.
#1: Shut up! Come on guys, think! We know all the males will be busy watching Iron Man…
#2: Because all males are stupid monkeys who come running whenever you promise them explosions…
#1: Right! So we make something for the women. Now what do women like?
#3: I think they like good movies with nuanced characters and compelling storylines, sir.
#1: Wrong answer! Clean out your desk. What do you think, #2?
#2: Well sir, I guess women like inane, derivative romantic comedies that star generic male leads who essentially consist solely of a tuxedo and some stubble.
#1: I taught you well, Junior! Now throw together a rip-off of My Best Friend’s Wedding. And get that guy who directed Leonard, Part 6 to do it. I kinda liked that one.
#2: Yes sir.
#1: Oh, and one more thing: Put a lame pun in the title. Something like Maid in Manhattan, but not quite as godawful.
#2: How about Made of Honor, sir?
#1: Gah-hah-hah! Hah-hah-hah-hah! “Made of Honor.” Hah! Priceless. The women of America will be in awe of how clever we are.
Curtain.

Recommended if you don’t have a chance to see The Visitor, but still need an excuse to munch popcorn