Feb 12 2009
Movies Opening February 13
I believe when My Bloody Valentine came out, there were plenty of people that did not realize it was a remake so they were willing to go watch it as a new horror movie. I am not sure what the allure would be of watching a remake of Friday the 13th when it doesn’t appear to look any different than the original. Is the first one that dated? Critics think that Confessions of a Shopaholic has very bad timing in our poor economy and The International not only suffers from a boring non-descript name but is way too complicated for its outrageous plot.
Nationwide Releases
Friday the 13th
Confessions of a Shopaholic
International
Friday the 13th
Directed: Marcus Nispel
Starring: Amanda Righetti, Jared Padelecki, Jonathan Sadowski, Aaron Woo, Travis Van Winkle
Trailer
Synopsis: Even though I do believe every sequel was a basic retelling of the original, this is an actual remake of the original.
My Take: I saw two minutes of one of the sequels before where he picked up a teenager in a sleeping bag and slammed them into a tree. I found it hilarious and determined that nothing could top that so no use watching any more.
RT Score: 27%
RT Consensus: Though technically well-constructed, Friday the 13th is a series rehash that features little to distinguish it from its predecessors.
Confessions of a Shopaholic
Directed: P.J. Hogan
Starring: Isla Fisher, Hugh Dancy, Joan Cusack, John Goodman, John Lithgow
Trailer
Synopsis: To pay off her credit card debt from being a shopaholic, a girl gets a job as an advice columnist at a financial magazine.
My Take: Mindless fluff, perfect for a Saturday morning movie on cable.
RT Score: 21%
RT Consensus: This middling romantic comedy underutilizes a talented cast and delivers muddled messages on materialism and conspicuous consumption.
International
Directed: Tom Tykwer
Starring: Clive Owen, Naomi Watts, Armin Mueller-Stahl, Brian F. O’Byrne
Trailer
Synopsis: An Interpol agent and New York District Attorney find a bank using people’s money to murder, execute and do general corrupt things.
My Take: The big bad guy behind a conspiracy is a bank? Not even Clive Own can make that seem interesting.
RT Score: 58%
RT Consensus: The International boasts some electric action sequences and picturesque locales, but is undone by its preposterous plot.
Limited Releases
Gomorrah
Under the Sea 3D
Two Lovers
The Caller
Gomorrah
Directed: Matteo Garrone
Starring: Toni Servillo, Gianfelice Imparato, Maria Nazionale, Salvatore Cantalupo, Gigio Morra
Trailer
Synopsis: A modern-day mafia story set in Naples, Italy.
My Take: Something might have been lost in the translation since it did not appear to be that compelling.
RT Score: 85%
RT Consensus: Portraying organised crime with an unflinching realism, this gritty and searing Italian crime masterpiece pulls no punches.
Under the Sea 3D
Directed: Howard Hall
Starring: Jim Carrey
Trailer
Synopsis: Jim Carrey narrates a typical IMAX movie about the creatures found in the ocean.
My Take: I think I saw cooler stuff in Planet Earth.
RT Score: 94%
Two Lovers
Directed: James Gray
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Gwyneth Paltrow, Vinessa Shaw, Isabella Rossellini
Trailer
Synopsis: A guy falls in love with two women at the same time.
My Take: Oh, if only everyone had his problems.
RT Score: 80%
The Caller
Directed: Richard Ledes
Starring: Frank Langella, Elliot Gould, Laura Harring
Trailer
Synopsis: An anonymous caller hires a private investigator to follow some well-connected guy who turns out to be the guy that hired the private investigator.
My Take: The plot makes no sense.
RT Score: 10%
