Prince Avalanche
Release Date: August 9 Oscar Prospects: Slight Director David Gordon Green has had an interesting career thus far. He came onto the scene in the early 2000's as an acclaimed director of indie films. His debut feature, George Washington, about a group of young teenagers in a small, depressed North Carolina town, was critically acclaimed and praised (with the late critic Roger Ebert being a particularly vocal fan). He followed up George Washington with three more films of the same ilk, All the Real Girls, Undertow, and Snow Angels, which were all fairly well received by varying degrees. Then Green took the critics community by surprise when he went mainstream with the stoner comedy Pineapple Express. The film proved to be quite popular with audiences, and considering the genre, was tepidly embraced by critics too. After Pineapple Express, Green continued to direct mainstream, R-rated comedies, but to a much less successful response. Your Highness was a total flop, both critically and commercially, and his last feature, The Sitter, didn't do so well either (although his work on the critically undervalued TV show Eastbound and Down was quite good). It appears after this temporary foray into the mainstream, Green wants to go back to his indie roots, which is apparently exactly what he does with Prince Avalanche. A remake of a 2011 Swedish film by the name of Either Way, Prince Avalanche is about two highway workers (Paul Rudd and Emile Hirsch) in the summer of 1988 who discuss their lives, particularly their relationships with their girlfriends, as they slowly pave the road. The premise is definitely that of an indie film and promises to be heavily conversational, which is absolutely fine by me, but will guarantee it a small gross. While Green has a solid base of fans and devotees, he hasn't exactly reached the level of prestige of say even a Richard Linklater, so I don't expect Prince Avalanche to have much hope at any Oscar attention. If there is one indie film about two people talking that is going to receive some Oscar recognition at year's end, it will almost certainly be the aforementioned Linklater's Before Midnight. Nevertheless, Prince Avalanche is a film I am looking forward to and will make an effort to see, regardless of its awards season status. Possible nominations: Best Adapted Screenplay (David Gordon Green)