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.
- Get On Up – James Brown’s music is so infectious and great that just hearing it in the trailer kinda makes me want to see this. I just have big feeling that it’s going to be pretty standard and slight, much like 42 which also starred Chadwick Boseman. It also doesn’t help that director Tate Taylor last made The Help which I actually really disliked. This looks like it might be worth a one time watch, probably not in theaters, but I probably should just opt for a James Brown greatest hits record or something and get as much satisfaction.
- Guardians of the Galaxy – When this movie was announced, not only had I never heard of this Marvel storyline and gang of superheroes, I really did not get it at all. A tree and a talking raccoon? I felt like maybe they were just going too far, trying to scoop a buck by expanding the Marvel universe on screen. However, Chris Pratt’s casting was the only thing hooking me in. I love that dude. When I saw that first trailer I was sold by the time “Hooked on a Feeling” started. I immediately got the tone and what I was in for with Guardians and have been excited ever since.
- Child of God – James Franco needs to take a damn break. His name was on 10 films last year, 3 of which he directed. He has 12 films in post production that are set to come out over 2014 and 2015. That’s just way too much going on for one person and it’s hard not to feel a little burnt out on the guy. How many of these gritty adaptations are we supposed to watch in succession without getting bored? That being said, there is a creepy draw to Child of God and it is based on a Cormac McCarthy novel so you know this shit is going to be bleak. It’s about an outcasted man living on the fringe of society committing violent, terrible acts. Sounds fun, huh? This might just be a little too bleak, and worst of all boring and maybe a little tedious to really worry about seeing.
Playing in select theaters. - Calvary – Brendan Gleeson stars as a priest who gets a death threat during a confessional and has to try to find away to protect himself. He begins to question what methods he could take while still being faithful. It also stars Chris O’Dowd, Kelly Reilly, & Littlefinger and is directed by John Michael McDonough who made the highly praised dark comedy The Guard starring Gleeson and Don Cheadle. I still haven’t seen that even though I’ve heard only great things. Calvary has a more serious tone, but has been getting just as excellent reviews. I doubt I’ll make it out to theaters if it comes around by me, but I think I need to give both of those Irish films a shot.
Playing in select theaters.
