Here to take a look at the films coming out in wide and limited release this coming weekend. I’ll give you my thoughts to help you decide what’s worth checking out.
- For those looking for Die Hard meets Taken with a bit of Repomen:
3 Days to Kill – Kevin Costner plays a Secret Service agent who gets entangled with a “one last hit” scheme in order to get medication he needs for a life threatening illness, all while taking care of his teenage daughter (who will undoubtedly get kidnapped at some point). Sounds like a mess and the trailer doesn’t give much confidence beyond what’s on paper. I love Amber Heard but I have no clue why she is in this role as Kevin Costner’s superior, looking like Lady Gaga. - If you’re in the mood for a fantasy epic starring not-quite Jon Snow:
Pompeii – I’m not the biggest fan of Kit Harrington and it might just be because Jon Snow isn’t one of my favorite parts of Game of Thrones. It could be nice to see something from him that’s out of that element, and this isn’t really it. Instead of the mythical world of Westeros, this obviously fictional story is set against the real life destruction of the city of Pompeii after the infamous volcano eruption. I’m not sure if this is going to be the action packed thrill ride it is advertising, but it certainly looks like a big sight to see with its over the top effects work. There’s just not enough appeal to really worry about seeking it out though.
- To satisfy the crushes you have on Elizabeth Olsen and Oscar Isaac in one sitting (or is that just me):
In Secret – This movie tells a very familiar tale that’s been done time and again since the novel it’s based on was published in 1867. It’s not quite as scandalous as it was back then. It’s the story of a sexually repressed young woman who gets wrapped up in n scandalous affair that leads to the offing of their less satisfying significant other. There’s no air of mystery in the trailer so I do hope there’s a bit more to it than what we’ve seen over and over, but it could fall short by just being too predictable. The thing is the cast is just too good for me to not check it out at some point–Elizabeth Olsen, Tom Felton (as the sickly, unsexy husband), Oscar Isaac (as the erotic new lover), and Jessica Lange (as the possessive mother).
See where it’s playing in select theaters here. - To catch up with all the movies nominated for Best Animated Feature you must see:
The Wind Rises – I don’t really consider myself one to ask about this film. Hayao Miyazaki films are definitely a huge blind spot for me considering I haven’t seen any of them yet. Still, if you’re a fan I’m sure this fits in nicely with the rest. The animation is vibrant and the American dubbing cast is stellar (is this how most watch Miyazaki films or with subtitles?). Hey, maybe I’ll finally dig into some of his films and see if I get what everyone else raves about.
See where it’s playing in select theaters here.
