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.
- The Longest Ride – A couple deals struggles with the man’s dangerous cowboy profession, before meeting an older man who relates the story of his passionate love to them.
Directed by George Tillman Jr (Faster, Notorious)
Starring Scott Eastwood, Britt Robertson, Alan Alda, Jack Huston, Oona Chaplin
Another film brought to you by the mind of Nicholas Sparks. So you know there’s going to be a beautiful white couple, a few passionate make out sessions, melodramatic arguments about why they shouldn’t make out anymore, and of course some random, batshit twist that I’ll undoubtedly look up with glee. This just so happens to have a similar structure to just-released Woman in Gold, where they follow the modern day storyline and then show you the period timeline that connects to it. The older timeline looks charming, but you just know it’s going to have the Sparks-ian crappiness that will drown everything in sap. It also creeps me out how much Scott Eastwood looks like his father. Like I’m not sure he isn’t a clone who worked out a lot and time traveled to the future.
- Clouds of Sils Maria – An aging actress has difficulty dealing with her fading career when she takes on the “older woman” role in a re-production of the same play where she gained success in the younger role.
Written & directed by Olivier Assayas (Something in the Air, Summer Hours)
Starring Juliette Binoche, Kristen Stewart, Chloë Grace Moretz
I’ve been anticipating this movie ever since I first saw the trailer last freaking May. The plot seems familiar to movies like All About Eve or Black Swan (with the perspectives reversed), but this one looks like it could be a worthy edition to that group. I love the tension and tone in the trailer, and the performances have all been highly regarded (remember Kristen Stewart became the first American actress to win the César Award, which is highly impressive or no big deal really depending on how much you care for Stewart, I assume). I’m definitely on her side though, so I look forward to seeing just what she accomplishes here. - Lost River – A mother and her oldest son both enter different dark corners of their community in the midst of familial troubles.
Written & directed by Ryan Gosling (directorial debut!)
Starring Christina Hendricks, Saoirse Ronan, Iain De Caestecker, Matt Smith, Eva Mendes, Ben Mendelsohn
Well, this certainly looks weird. It’s got some interesting visuals going on, but I think this will be incredibly hit or miss when it comes to the story. It feels a bit Lynchian, especially with the secret worlds and oddness we see a bit of in the trailer. I’m also getting a Club Silencio vibe from the scenes we see with Eva Mendes. I’m just not quite sure what to expect from Gosling’s first film. He seems inspired by his recent collaborations with Nicolas Winding Refn too, so we’ll see how that translates. Available through VOD. - Ex Machina – A coder is selected out of his company to visit the CEO and interact with his A.I. creation, who displays characteristics of humanity.
Written & directed by Alex Garland (directorial debut!)
Starring Alicia Vikander, Domhnall Gleeson, Oscar Isaac
First off, I’m willing (and planning) to watch whatever comes from the same man who wrote 28 Days Later (not to mention Sunshine, the novel The Beach, and Dredd). We’ll see how his directing chops match up, but so far they look quite sleek in the trailer. The story doesn’t sound extremely unique on the surface since it’s reminiscent of several other sci-fi movies, but I’m sure Garland has something interesting and fresh up his sleeve. The reviews so far definitely enforce my opinion that this will be a must see.
