I was watching the trailer for Cold Weather and thought I saw what looked like North Portland, but I wasn’t sure. Then I saw someone on the bridge at Multnomah Falls. Finally, I saw them driving down NE Glisan Street and confirmed it was filmed in Portland. I seem to miss when movies are filmed here, even though my bus route goes down Glisan. I guess I’m clueless.
Nationwide Releases
Sanctum The Roommate
Sanctum Directed: Alister Grierson Starring: Richard Roxburgh, Rhys Wakefield, Ioan Gruffudd, Alice Parkinson, Dan Wyllie Trailer
Synopsis: People go into a super deep cave and then get trapped there.
My Take: I think I’d rather watch another movie spent in a cave that is filled with actual tension — Descent.
RT Score: 31% RT Consensus: Sanctum is beautifully photographed, and it makes better use of 3-D technology than most, but that doesn’t make up for its ham-handed script and lifeless cast.
When I first saw the trailer for The Town, I thought I had already seen the entire movie, but I guess there is much more. Critics seem to like it and I guess Ben Affleck is much better when he’s directing than acting in other movies. I heard that Catfish created quite a buzz when it was shown at Sundance earlier this year. People loved it, but not everyone believed it was a documentary. I didn’t think it was one when I watched the trailer, so that’s news to me!
Nationwide Releases
The Town Easy A Alpha and Omega Devil
The Town Directed: Ben Affleck Starring: Ben Affleck, Rebecca Hall, Jon Hamm, Jeremy Renner, Blake Lively, Pete Postlethwaite, Chris Cooper Trailer
Synopsis: One of the guys in a bank robbing team decides to start dating the hostage, which angers the other guys in the crew since they think she can identify them even though they were wearing masks.
My Take: I thought the entire movie was shown in the trailer, but I guess that is just the set up and there’s much more. With the critic praise, I’m willing to give it a try.
RT Score: 95% RT Consensus: Tense, smartly written, and wonderfully cast, The Town proves that Ben Affleck has rediscovered his muse — and that he’s a director to be reckoned with.
At first glance, I thought Zoe Saldana in The Losers was Thandie Newton. Zoe seems to be playing the same kind of role Thandie has played in stylish action pictures, but without the British accent. As for the limited releases, isn’t Ryan Reynolds tired of playing superhero characters? He will be in both Deadpool and Green Lantern soon, but now he’s playing a grown man’s imaginary superhero friend.
Nationwide Releases
The Back-Up Plan The Losers Oceans
The Back-up Plan Directed: Alan Poul Starring: Jennifer Lopez, Alex O’Loughlin, Danneel Harris, Eric Christian Olsen, Noureen DeWulf, Anthony Anderson, Melissa McCarthy Trailer
Synopsis: A woman decides to get pregnant on her own when she can’t find the right guy. Of course, as soon as she gets pregnant, she meets the right guy, but he doesn’t know she’s pregnant.
My Take: Not sure how someone that looks like Alex O’Loughlin would still be single by the time she runs into him.
RT Score: 20% RT Consensus: Jennifer Lopez is as appealing as ever, but The Back-Up Plan smothers its star with unrelatable characters and a predictable plot.
The train wreck that is The Bachelor is over this week. The series finale of Nip/Tuck happens on Wednesday, but I’m not sure anyone is still watching the show any longer to care. I think it overstayed its welcome by a couple of seasons. On Thursday, Burn Notice has its season finale, but it’ll be back in the summer.
Pick of the Week
Southland Channel: TNT Time: 10/9c Starring: Ben McKenzie, Michael Cudlitz, Regina King, Tom Everett Scott, Michael McGrady, Kevin Alejandro, Shawn Hatosy, Arija Bareikis Premieres: Tuesday, March 2 Trailer
Synopsis: NBC ignored it while it was on the air. It still renewed it. Then after it shot the episodes ordered, NBC decided to cancel it before the second season aired. Thankfully, TNT saved it, which seems to be a much better network for it.
My Take: I shouldn’t want to watch another cop show, but I really liked the writing and the cast makes you care about characters.
Peter Jackson had picked a director to make a huge, big budget Halo, but that got put on hold indefinitely. They decided to make a full-length version of a short film that director Neill Bloomkamp had made before for much cheaper.It didn’t really have a promotional budget so they decided to show early viewings to some blogs and at Comic Con to get the buzz going. It appears to have worked since people that have seen it, say it is fantastic.
Nationwide Releases
District 9 Ponyo Band Slam Time Traveler’s Wife The Goods
District 9 Directed: Neill Bloomkamp Starring: Sharlto Copley, David James Trailer
Synopsis: Aliens have landed in South Africa where they end up as refugees fenced off from the rest of the World, but they aren’t allowed to leave the planet for unknown reasons.
My Take: The early buzz has been outstanding. It looks like a scary thriller.
RT Score: 93% RT Consensus: Technically brilliant and socially poignant, District 9 has action, imagination, and all the elements of a thoroughly entertaining science-fiction classic.
Last Chance Harvey and Defiance move from limited releases to wide releases this week, but were featured in previous posts. Out of the other new nationwide releases this week, My Bloody Valentine 3-D is actually getting decent reviews, which is pretty rare for horror films these days. Reviews from horror sites love it, so that is good news for horror fans. I also read there is a 3-D sex scene in it. Bonus! If you didn’t get enough of the dogs from Beverly Hills Chihuahua or Marley & Me, you can check out Hotel For Dogs, but beyond the super cute dogs, the script is non-existent and the dogs apparently act better than the people. There is also the biopic about Biggie Smalls in Notorious that is being reviewed as a tad too tame since it was produced by his best friend, Sean Combs, and his mom. Finally, if you didn’t shut your brain off enough for the dog movie, there is Kevin James in Paul Blart: Mall Cop about a lazy mall cop.
Nationwide Releases
My Bloody Valentine 3-D Hotel For Dogs Notorious Paul Blart: Mall Cop
My Bloody Valentine 3-D Directed: Patrick Lussier Starring: Jensen Ackles, Jaime King, Kerr Smith, Betsey Rue, Edi Gathegi Trailer
Synopsis: Do you need to know? People die in 3-D!
My Take: The 3-D makes it very cheesy, but it sounds a fun, horror flick.
RT Score: 70% RT Consensus: This gory, senses-assaulting slasher film is an unpretentious, effective mix of old-school horror stylings and modern 3D technology.
Synopsis: Based on Stephen Sondheim’s musical, a man seeks bloody revenge after being sent away to prison for a crime he didn’t commit so a rich guy could take his wife and daughter.
My Take: Even as a musical, it looks dark, funny and awesome, especially with Tim Burton and the cast involved.
RT Score: 87% RT Consensus: Full of pith and Grand Guignol grossness, this macabre musical is perfectly helmed and highly entertaining.
Sanctum
District 9
Ponyo
Time Traveler’s Wife
