Apr 01 2011

Movies Opening April 1

Category: 2011,Movies,Openingvelveetahead @ 1:44 am

The most interesting movie released this week is not in the wide releases, but in the limited releases. It is the horror film Rubber about a killer tire. Yes, you read that right. It is getting good reviews. Craziness!

Nationwide Releases

 Source Code
 Hop
 Insidious


Source Code
Directed
: Duncan Jones
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Monaghan, Vera Farmiga, Jeffrey Wright
Trailer

YouTube Preview Image

Synopsis: A guy relives the same 8 minutes over and over again so he can find the bomber of a commuter train.

My Take: Twisty, mind-bending stuff from an awesome director and you get to stare at Jake Gyllenhaal. Win win!

 RT Score: 92%
RT Consensus: Finding the human story amidst the action, director Duncan Jones and charming Jake Gyllenhaal craft a smart, satisfying sci-fi thriller.

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May 04 2010

Where the Wild Things Are

Category: 2009 Reviews,Movies,Reviewsvelveetahead @ 8:54 pm

I read the book when I was kid, but I don’t remember much about it beyond the pictures. That is what stuck with me over the years. I saw it with only that memory, but guessed I would enjoy it since Spike Jonze is an oddball. I wasn’t disappointed.

Max is a kid that seems to be lonely. His older sister would rather hang out with her friends than play with him. When her friends start playing a bit to rough with Max and destroys his igloo, he retaliates against her bedroom. When his mom comes home and is too busy with either, work or a new boyfriend, he acts out. After demanding dinner and biting his mom, he runs off where he finds a boat that leads him to a magical land.

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Oct 16 2009

Movies Opening October 16

Category: 2009 Movies,Movies,Openingvelveetahead @ 11:42 am

The most original movie coming out is an adaptation of a children’s book. The other two are a remake and then a Charles Bronson movie with a different name.

Nationwide Releases

Where the Wild Things Are
Law Abiding Citizen
Stepfather

wherethewildthingsare

Where the Wild Things Are
Directed: Spike Jonze
Starring: Catherine Keener, Max Records, Mark Ruffalo, Lauren Ambrose, James Gandolfini
Trailer

Synopsis: Based on the children’s book, a boy wants to escape his real life where he’s misunderstood so his mind escapes to a magical place where he is king.

My Take: I know I loved the children’s book, but I don’t really remember anything about it. I do love Spike Jonze and it visually stunning, so I want to see it.

RT Score: 68%
RT Consensus: Some may find its dark tone and slender narrative off-putting, but Spike Jonze’s heartfelt adaptation of the classic children’s book is as beautiful as it is uncompromising.

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Apr 25 2009

Movies Opening April 24

Category: 2009 Movies,Movies,Openingvelveetahead @ 4:59 pm

This week’s movies get right to the point with their one-word titles. The trend even carries over into the limited releases a bit. Soloist was supposed to come out last year, but it was pushed back to this spring, which isn’t the biggest sign of confidence from the movie studio for the film. Obsessed and Fighting seemed geared towards the teenagers that will fill up the mall movie theaters this weekend. Limited releases include a Mike Tyson documentary, major government scandal in Italy in the early ’90s, overpriced preschools in New York City, hidden mutant armies attacking humans and Bret Easton Ellis’ latest film about the beautiful and drugged out people in L.A.

Nationwide Releases

9x9_fresh Soloist
9x9_rotten Obsessed
9x9_rotten Fighting

soloist

The Soloist
Directed: Joe Wright
Starring: Jamie Foxx, Robert Downey Jr., Catherine Keener, Tom Hollander
Trailer

Synopsis: A former musical prodigy is found by an L.A. journalist living in the streets and tries to bring him back to the promise he once had.

My Take: I like that it has the added struggle of the musician dealing with some kind of mental illness instead of just being a rags-to-riches type story.

9x9_fresh RT Score: 61%
RT Consensus: Though it features strong performances by its lead players, a lack of narrative focus prevents The Soloist from hitting its mark.

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Oct 24 2008

Movies Opening Oct 24

Category: 2008,Movies,Openingvelveetahead @ 7:00 pm

Not a banner week for wide release movies. A lame cop drama, a scary musical and a stupid horror movie.  The limited releases look more interesting, but they are true weird indie films.

Nationwide Releases

Pride and Glory
High School Musical 3: Senior Year
Saw V

Pride & Glory
Directed: Gavin O’Connor
Starring: Edward Norton, Colin Farrell, Jon Voight, Noah Emmerich, Jennifer Ehle
Trailer

Synopsis: Two cop brothers–one good and one bad–are at odds with each other over some other cops’ deaths and family loyalty.

My Take: I like Edward Norton, but it just doesn’t look good.

RT Score: 34%
RT Consensus: Formulaic in its plotting and cliched in its dialogue, Pride and Glory does little to distinguish itself from other police procedurals.

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Aug 29 2008

Movies Opening August 29

Category: 2008,Movies,Openingvelveetahead @ 8:58 pm

Beyond Hamlet 2, the movies look very dismal this week. When we saw the trailer for Babylon A.D. for the first time before Hellboy 2, the girl in the movie asked Vin Diesel why he was risking his life for her and a guy in the theater answered, “Because I haven’t had a good movie in a while.” If that doesn’t sum it up, the director has admitted the movie isn’t good. eek! College and Disaster Movie were not screened for critics, which almost always means they are horrible. All the bad movies this week are really ripping off much better movies. That means I just said Transporter is better that some of these movies. Then there is Traitor, which bores me so much that I turn the tv whenever I come across the trailer.

Nationwide Releases

Hamlet 2
Directed: Andrew Fleming
Starring: Steve Coogan, Catherine Keener, David Arquette, Amy Poehler, Elisabeth Shue
Trailer

Synopsis: A failed actor is now a high-school musical teacher leading his students through a sequel to Hamlet that involves time travel and a sexy Jesus.

My Take: Sounds incredibly stupid, yet I laugh every time I see the trailer.

RT Score: 61%
RT Consensus: The script’s biting premise and Steve Coogan’s endearing, off-the-handle performance make Hamlet 2 an hysterical — if slightly painful — ride.

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