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.
- Spectre – Bond is back and facing some new baddies at a mysterious organization.
Directed by Sam Mendes (Skyfall)
Starring Daniel Craig, Christoph Waltz, Léa Seydoux, Babe of the Week Monica Bellucci, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris
I’ll be completely honest – my first Bond film ever was Skyfall. They had all escaped me and I don’t come from a big Bond family apparently. However, I absolutely loved Skyfall and it landed in my top 10 of the year. I thought it was a brilliant film and just being around all the pop culture of Bond really exposes you enough to just jump right in. With Mendes returning and the babe that is Daniel Craig on the big screen I am definitely looking forward to Spectre. I hope it reaches the same or at least similar heights to its predecessor. - The Peanuts Movie – The childhood favorite comic strip and cartoon comes to the big screen with new tales of Charlie Brown and Snoopy.
Directed by Steve Martino (Ice Age: Continental Drift)
Starring Noah Schnapp, Bill Melendez, Hadley Belle Miller
This looks cute enough. I’m not a huge Peanuts person. I don’t watch the holiday specials when they come on TV, though I’m sure I did as a kid. I’m wondering exactly how this will connect with children nowadays, but if it opens them up to some nostalgia that their parents would enjoy as well that’s pretty cool. Of course, if you’re not a parent or bringing some kids to the theater, this seems skippable.
- Spotlight – The true story of how the Boston Globe uncovered the Catholic Church’s child molestation scandal.
Directed by Tom McCarthy (The Visitor)
Starring Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Liev Schreiber
When I put this on my list of most anticipated movies of the year I didn’t expect it to be in talks as a frontrunner for Best Picture. I must say, I have good taste (let’s just skip over the fact that I I included Everest on that list when I clearly should have put another Jake Gyllenhaal film from the year, Demolition). I love any movies about an investigation (bonus points for journalism), and this one is on such a sickening subject – the cover up of molestation by the Catholic Church. I’ve watched plenty of horrifying docs on the subject, but I will definitely be seeing Spotlight for this different perspective on the matter. - Trumbo – About how Dalton Trumbo, a blacklisted screenwriter in the 1940’s, managed to continue his career to great success.
Directed by Jay Roach (The Campaign)
Starring Bryan Cranston, Diane Lane, Helen Mirren, Louis CK, Elle Fanning, John Goodman
This seems like a fairly interesting and fun story. Bryan Cranston and a few other cast members certainly sweeten the deal too. It still doesn’t seem like a must-see movie though. Maybe because it kind of reminds me a little bit of the style in Hitchcock, which was a pretty light, unmemorable watch. I could totally see myself catching this on television one day, but it will get lost in the shuffle going into this prime movie theater season for sure. - Brooklyn– A young Irish immigrant is swept up into a romance upon her arrival in New York City in the 1950’s.
Directed by John Crowley (Closed Circuit)
Starring Saoirse Ronan, Emory Cohen, Domhnall Gleeson
I’m not sure how exciting this looks, but it does look gorgeous. The period setting in New York and the costuming all look fabulous. I love Saoirse Ronan and have been waiting for her to make a big comeback and really break out in her career. Besides her small supporting role in The Grand Budapest Hotel, the last movie of hers that seemed worth seeing was Hanna which was great. If you haven’t seen it, just go ahead and watch to see her go toe to toe with Cate Blanchett (and also that insanely good Chemical Brothers score). Hopefully this is a perfect role for her, and she certainly seems fitting in the trailer. This is also an Oscar contender if you’re into that sort of thing. - Miss You Already – Two best friends must face hardship together when one is diagnosed with cancer.
Directed by Catherine Hardwicke (Twilight, Thirteen)
Starring Drew Barrymore, Toni Collette, Dominic Cooper, Paddy Considine
So this looks like a modern day Beaches type movie, ripe with waterworks and the power of female friendship. Sometimes you kinda want to watch a tearjerker though. This doesn’t look like a huge hit or a perfect movie by any stretch, but it’s biggest detraction might just be that it doesn’t stand out as something you’d feel the need to see. I do like movies about female friendship though so I can’t help but think I might end up watching this on a lazy afternoon.
