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 Gift – A thriller about a couple who are faced with an unwelcome presence in their life – a man who the husband may or may not have wronged twenty years prior.
Directed & written by Joel Edgerton
Starring Jason Bateman, Rebecca Hall, Joel Edgerton, Busy Philipps
This trailer doesn’t give off a particular must-see vibe. It seems like a story that we’ve seen before in other thrillers, and this would likely fall in line. It’s got a decent cast going for it though, and that it was written/directed by Joel Edgerton. I’m always interested in actors taking on more of the filmmaking to see what they offer. Apparently this is a great showing for Edgerton, because reviews have been phenomenal. The response on Rotten Tomatoes and film bloggers alike has been glowing, which has turned The Gift into a definite see for me. Maybe that unflashy trailer was just to keep you in the dark for when you see the film unfold. - Fantastic Four – A new take on the famous foursome with a darker tone.
Directed by Josh Trank
Starring Miles Teller, Kate Mara, Babe of the Week Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Bell
Come on now, you give me Michael B.(abe) Jordan in a lead action role, but then you throw in Miles Teller just to equal it out? Checks and balances, I suppose. Oh well, I can wait for Creed. It seems like no one has ever really been excited about this new iteration of Fantastic Four, and it felt even more dismal when the flashy, cartoonish spirit of the last movies were completely lost in this dark version. Now those last FF movies weren’t all that, but with characters like rock dude and Mr. Fantastic it feels very comic-y. To make it this dark just seems like an odd juxtaposition. Nathan thought that it was a decent watch though, so maybe people (like Josh Trank) are just being too hard on it. Read his review here, and then let us know if you agree. - Ricki and the Flash – Ricki prioritized her music career over family until her daughter’s rock bottom forces her to come home.
Directed by Jonathan Demme
Starring Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline, Mamie Gummer
Oh Queen Meryl, you really do make me want to see anything. This is a bit of a stretch though. The concept on paper seemed appealing, especially since Diablo Cody was penning the script, but the trailer is awful. It’s styled straight out of the 90’s and just seems so corny. Maybe this is a case like The Gift where they are making a more ambiguous version (like where’s all that Cody dialogue we’re used to?). It’s hard for me to see Cody going from something as biting as Young Adult to something as schmaltzy as this looks. Still though, there’s Meryl who will undoubtedly give a great performance and the bonus of seeing how she does alongside her real daughter Mamie. - and Shaun the Sheep
- Dark Places – A woman who’s family was brutally murdered when she was a child is motivated to look back into the tragedy by a club of true crime obsessives.
Directed by Gilles Paquet-Brenner
Starring Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult, Christina Hendricks, Corey Stoll, Chloë Grace Moretz
This is another Gillian Flynn adaptation, but Gone Girl this is not. Of her three novels, this is the weakest but I still really enjoyed it for the most part. There’s an interesting format of switching between the main character Libby in the present day and the day leading up to her family’s murder. Casting debates aside (Libby is described as a scrawny, short redhead who could pass for 10 years younger – which is not Theron), this movie should have an easy enough time adapting the thriller. I’ll have to check it out to see for myself, but as long as you’re not expecting something amazing (or as brilliant as Gone Girl) I feel like it would make for a decent watch. - Cop Car – When a cop car is stolen by two boys, the town’s sherriff sets out to track them down.
Directed by Jon Watts
Starring Kevin Bacon, James Freedson-Jackson, Hays Wellford
This little indie looks like a lot of weird fun. Kevin Bacon looks seriously deranged as the sheriff who will use unusual means and unprofessional methods to retrieve the car. He’s the perfect actor to play a role like this because it’s so much fun to watch him perform. It seems like the reason to check this out, which I plan to do.
