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.
- Creed – The son of Apollo Creed follows in his father’s boxing shoes and is trained by the great Rocky Balboa.
Directed by Ryan Coogler (Fruitvale Station)
Starring Michael B. Jordan, Sylvester Stallone, Tessa Thompson, Phylicia Rashad
I watched all of the Rocky movies over the past year, most of which on a New Years Day marathon. There’s definitely varying degrees of quality, but one of my favorite story threads was Apollo Creed’s arc over the movies. I was so pissed in Rocky IV when he’s killed. In fact, I have a huge gripe with how the end of the movie doesn’t even tie Rocky’s victory back to Creed’s death since that seemed like the whole reason for the damn thing, but whatever. I think this is a franchise continuation that makes sense, especially because they have quality filmmakers behind it. I’m happy to see Coogler with the high profile gig, and I don’t think they could have cast anyone more impressive than Michael B. Jordan. His freaking name in this is Adonis by the way – a little on the nose, don’t ya think? I am excited to check this out, and it’s NOT just to look at Jordan for 133 minutes, but because I am genuinely interested by the story. - Victor Frankenstein – A new take on the classic tale of Dr. Frankenstein told from his assistant Igor’s perspective.
Directed by Paul McGuigan (Lucky Number Slevin)
Starring Daniel Radcliffe, James McAvoy, Jessica Brown Findlay
This definitely look like it’s going for a RDJ & Jude Law type bromance, a la Sherlock Holmes. The period setting and even some of the action styling in the trailer gives the same impression. I’m not sure it really translates in this story though. Max Landis wrote the script and he always tries to inject a little originality into his screenplays (to decent effect in American Ultra and even better in Chronicle), but he’s always doing a spin off another idea. I’m not sure it’s working too well here. - The Good Dinosaur – A dinosaur befriends a small boy in an alternate reality where dinosaurs haven’t gone extinct.
Directed by Peter Sohn (directorial debut!)
Starring Jeffrey Wright, Frances McDormand, Raymond Ochoa, Jack Bright
Hey guys! I watched my first Pixar movie since Toy Story 3! I watched Inside Out on my flight back from England and I thought it was really smart and pleasant besides all the horribly depressing parts. While that movie was almost too clever for children, The Good Dinosaur looks like it doesn’t have much at all. It’s more straightforward, and especially with the character design of the child reminding me of The Croods, it feels more like a just-for-kid’s movie than Pixar movies generally do. It does look really beautiful though, and the obvious pick if you’re going to the movies with family for the holiday.
- The Danish Girl – The true story of the first transgender person to undergo sex reassignment surgery in the 1920’s.
Directed by Tom Hooper (The King’s Speech, Les Mis)
Starring Eddie Redmayne, Alicia Vikander, Matthias Schoenaerts, Amber Heard, Ben Whishaw
Tom Hooper sure can put together a beautiful period piece, right? This looks lush and pretty and perfect, almost too perfect. This story must be marked with heartache and struggle, but the trailer makes it look like a beautiful transition done with a fair amount of ease, besides those potential alley hoodlums seen briefly. Many reviews call it shallow, and that’s exactly the vibe I get from the trailer. It’s probably decent and story interesting, but it more so seems like a blatant attempt to concoct the perfect Oscar-y movie.
