Best Intentions (Din dragoste cu cele mai bune intentii)

A Hi Film, Cor Leonis Films, 4Proof Film production, in association with Movie Partners in Motion. (International sales: Films Boutique, Berlin.) Produced by Ada Solomon. Co-producers, Emoke Vagasi, Monica Lazurean-Gorgan. Directed, written by Adrian Sitaru.With: Bogdan Dumitrache, Natasa Raab, Aline Grigore, Marian Ralea, Adrian Titieni, Clara Voda, Gelu Colceag, Tibi Dina, Isabela Neamtu, Vasilica-Ana Dogaru, Aura Calarasu, Gabriela Popescu, Mirela Tugui, Iulian Postelnicu, Adina Lucaciu, Vlad Oancea, Delia Goia, Remusz Szikszai, Orsolya Toth. (Romanian dialogue)A mother's mild stroke brings out the control freak lurking inside many an Everyman frightened by the vulnerability of loved ones in Adrian Sitaru's sophomore feature, "Best Intentions." A more personal work than the helmer-scripter's previous "Hooked," not only because it's based on Sitaru's own experiences but thanks to the situation's inherent universality, the pic is a slice of life instantly recognizable to auds regardless of nationality. Best appreciated by admirers of Romanian cinema's exacting verisimilitude and confident filmmaking, "Best Intentions" is a fest-circuit shoe-in, but only careful handling can lead it toward limited arthouse play. Alex (Bogdan Dumitrache) is a real guy's guy, the kind who hangs on to tattered underwear and gets annoyed when g.f. Delia (Aline Grigore, in an underwritten role) throws it out. When his father (Marian Ralea) calls to say his mom (Natasa Raab, pitch-perfect) is in the hospital following a stroke, Alex hightails it to the train station with a head full of anxieties. The ensuing days (delineated via titles) are filled with helpful strangers and friends whose unsolicited advice about where best to have her treated, accompanied by horror stories of similar cases, further unsettles Alex, who's incapable of recognizing how feelings of helplessness have compromised his judgment and made him insufferably controlling. Constantly second-guessing his parents' choices despite their confidence in the doctor (Adrian Titieni), Alex is sucked into a nightmare world of his own creation: he's desperate to make the right decisions, yet his limited medical knowledge means worry is offset by a very masculine need for domination. Sitaru's script is so authentic, it feels like it's been copied from some hidden recording device. Though Delia could use filling out, the rest of the characters accurately populate that semi-surreal limbo of all hospital visits, where strangers become all-important guardians and friends are too free with their counsel. Alex's passive-aggressive behavior makes him irritating yet understandable as the possibility of his mother's mortality exposes a deeper level of immaturity hinted at earlier in the film. Where "Hooked" was all p.o.v. shots, here Sitaru adopts a more equitable lensing style, mixing subjective perspectives with standard viewpoints. There's no apparent rhyme or reason for when the camera switches to p.o.v., which seems to be passed around like a contagious virus; only Alex never gets the bug. Rather than lending immediacy or naturalism to the scenario, the device calls attention to itself by its very randomness and, much as in "Hooked," plays like a gimmick without deepening a sense of character or the act of spectatorship. Otherwise, visuals are carefully constructed, often involving satisfying long takes during which the camera appears to gently float in mid-air. The style suits the tense atmosphere, carefully contained so as to remain consistently real; the choice of widescreen allows the hospital room to feel at once like its own vast world and a constricted place where neuroses can breed unchecked.Camera (color, widescreen, HD-to-35mm), Adrian Silisteanu; editor, Andrei Gorgan; production designer, Monica Lazurean-Gorgan; costume designer, Malina Ionescu; sound (DTS), Tamas Zanyi; associate producers, Marie-Pierre Macia, Juliette Lepoutre; line producer, Valentino Rudolf. Reviewed at Locarno Film Festival (competing), Aug. 4, 2011. Running time: 104 MIN. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Box Office Report: 'The Help' On a powerful Begin in Midweek Bow

Tate Taylor's large-screen adaptation from the Helpis on a remarkable start in the domestic box office, with early estimations recommending a $5 million gross during the day.our editor recommends'The Help' Author Responds to Suit By Maid Who States Book Is dependant on Her'The Help' Begins Honours Season about the Eve of Theatrical Debut PHOTOS: 'The Help's' Retro, Southern Style DreamWorks and Disney made the decision to spread out the film midweek to construct buzz starting the weekend. The move seems to become having to pay off, with fans of Kathryn Stockett's novel turning in pressure, together with moviegoers simply interested in the film's story and enormous female cast, brought by Emma Stone, Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer and Bryce Dallas Howard. STORY: 'The Help's' Emma Stone: What Experts Say of Her Performance As a means of comparison, The Assistance is maintaining to date with Julie & Julia, another femme-fueled film that opened up last August. But because Julie & Julia opened up on the Friday, it had the benefit of more powerful night time traffic and made $6.4 million during the day. Rival galleries were astounded by the company The Assistance was doing. "That's a good number," one executive at another studio stated. Occur the first sixties in Jackson, Miss., The Assistance explores the complicated associations between whitened ladies and their service personnel, and what goes on whenever a youthful whitened journalist exposes the way the service personnel are treated. FILM REVIEW: 'The Help' DreamWorks and Participant Media co-funded the $25 million the film, that was created by Chris Columbus and Mike Barnathan's1492 Pictures. The film has already been drawing honours buzz because of its performances. The Helpis forecasted to gross $20 million during the period of its five-day debut. A survey of just one,000 moviegoers by online ticketing service Fandango discovered that 77% of individuals thinking about seeing The Assistance had browse the book, while 95% reported the film's surprising comic relief means they are interested in seeing the film. And nearly 70% stated these were searching toward visiting a summer time movie with substance. Related Subjects Viola Davis Box Office Emma Stone The Assistance

Gerard Butler Is 'The Bricklayer,' Seth Rogen Drafted By 'The League'

Gerard Butler is returning to the good side of the law in Millennium Films' latest acquisition, "The Bricklayer." The Hollywood Reporter has the news that the "Law Abiding Citizen" star has been brought on board to play former FBI agent Noah Boyd in the book adaptation. Boyd is working as a Chicago bricklayer when he is called in to stop a criminal organization demanding multimillion-dollar ransom payments. "Enigma" scribe Hanna Weg is writing the screenplay. Check out the rest of today's casting news after the jump! Brit Marling Potentially One Of "The Company You Keep" "Another Earth" star Brit Marling is circling Robert Redford's latest movie "The Company You Keep," Variety is reporting. The flick is an adaptation of the Neil Gordon novel of the same name, and is being adapted by Lem Dobbs. Redford is directing and starring in the movie alongside Shia LaBeouf. Tyler Posey Gets A "Taco Shop" Variety has the scoop that "Teen Wolf" star Tyler Posey is going to be starring in the indie comedy, "Taco Shop." He stars as a man who leaves his job at a taco joint to open his own, but ends up finding himself in the middle of a taco war when a gourmet taco truck parks itself across the street. Joaquin Perea is directing the flick, and Carlos Alazraqui, Eric Roberts, Felipe Esparza, Laura Harring, Paula Jai Parker, and Parvesh Cheena round out the cast. Seth Rogen To Guest On "The League" Seth Rogen is returning to his television roots to make a guest appearance on FX's comedy, "The League." Vulture is reporting that he will be playing Dirty Randy, a friend of Jason Mantzoukas' character, in the upcoming third season. So far there's no word yet on when Rogen's episode will air. Stars Flock To "Sesame Street" PBS's "Sesame Street" is bringing in the celebrities for its 42nd season, which kicks off September 26. The Hollywood Reporter has learned Emma Stone, Andy Samberg, Seth Rogen, Robin Williams, Amy Adams, Nicole Kidman, Mark Ruffalo, Mila Kunis and Sofia Vergara will all be appearing, among others. We can only imagine the types of skits these talents will have on the children's show. Tell us your thoughts on today's Casting Call in the comments section below or on Twitter!