It’s going to be nice to wash the stank of SAW 3D out of my eyes this weekend, as there are a whole host of movies coming out to mark the beginning of the November movie month. We got something for the kids, something for the jocks, and something for Tyler Perry fans…who want to be really depressed. Plus a whole host of limited releases. Let’s kick the tires and light the fires big daddy!
Opening This Weekend in…Wide Release
Synopsis: A businessman (Robert Downey Jr.) tries to make it back home for the birth of his child and has to deal with a complete idiot (Zach Galifianakis) as a ridealong partner through a whole host of…screw it, this is just PLANES, TRANES, AND AUTOMOBILES with different people.
Thoughts: I was on board with DUE DATE in theory until I watched the trailer; Galifianakis is up to his usual “crazy guy” routine which is pretty funny most of the time, but here it looks like it’ll border on annoying. I think RDJ will make a decent straight man in the movie, but I don’t know how well they are actually going to gel together. From what I’ve seen…maybe not so well. HOWEVER, Tod Phillips did make THE HANGOVER and I still love that movie to this day, so I’ll give it a shot. Hell, it can’t be any worse than THE OTHER GUYS…can it?!?
Synopsis: Honestly, it depends on which trailer you’ve seen. Either it looks like a incompetent otherworldy supervillain (Will Farrell) constantly clashes with a handsome otherworldly hero (Brad Pitt), OR it looks like said incompetent villain becomes a hero when another villain comes up the ranks (Jonah Hill). Again, depends on which trailer you’ve seen.
Thoughts: Fine, I admit it I am excited for MEGAMIND. The initial teaser was pretty bad (where the title character struts to “Back in Black” by AC/DC in a most generic way), but other trailers have made me laugh, especially Pitt’s “thank you random citizen!” line. I usually ignore kid flicks, but this duo coupled with Tina Fey (who plays the love interest) is a win for me so I’ll check it out…on a weekday when there aren’t tons of kids.
Synopsis: Tyler Perry adapts the 70′s play from the same name that explores life through the eyes of twenty different black female characters and how life impacts both their womanhood and their race.
Thoughts: I know it’s taboo, but screw it; this isn’t a movie geared towards me and even if I can understand certain ideas, I won’t truly be impacted by any the events that will transpire during this. This is a movie for women of color, not for a white 20 something year old, so I’m going to skip it. I just hope Tyler Perry does it justice; from what I hear this is a popular play that many women take personal, and if he messes it up, he’s going to get beat down repeatedly.
Opening This Weekend in…Limited Release
Synopsis: Based off the true story of Aaron Ralston (played here by James Franco) whose arm gets caught under a boulder during a hiking trip in Utah and has to go to insane lengths to stay alive.
Thoughts: I’m foaming at the mouth to see this; Danny Boyle hasn’t made a bad movie in recent memory and the subject material is so interesting that I want to see how they convert it into a narrative feature. Franco looks like he’s going to give an excellent award-worthy performance, and I can’t miss that guy I used to know as “douchey dude in a leather jacket on FREAKS AND GEEKS” tear the house down. Plus…how are they going to show the big moment when Ralston escapes? Will they show it all, or cut away? Dun dun duuuuuun.
Synopsis: Imported from Australia, RED HILL tells the story of a rookie police officer (Ryan Kwanten) who has to survive his first day of active duty in a small country town.
Thoughts: I’ve heard mixed reactions about RED HILL, but the trailer I saw for it originally still sticks in my head (). Just watch that and tell me you aren’t excited to check this out. Again, I’ve heard mixed reactions (apparently the movie is a lot slower than that teaser makes it out to be), but if this is anywhere near me, I’m plunking down the dough. And by dough I mean credit card.
Synopsis: A comedy/satire about terrorism involving idiot British jihadists and their clashing ideologies.
Thoughts: I have heard a ridiculous amount about Four Lions because of Devin Faraci. I follow his Twitter, and he is helping promote the film because of his connection to the Alamo Drafthouse in Austin (whose Drafthouse Films is handling distribution). I’ve also searched around the internet and have heard good things about how funny it is and such, so if it’s around here, I definitely want to check it out. I’m all for comedy pertaining to terrorism; I know it’s evil but if we can’t poke fun at it, what’s the point of living?
Synopsis: A documentary about Eliot Spitzer, the former New York Governor who was on track to becoming President of the United States when it was uncovered that he had a thing for prostitutes. Alex Gibney, the director, also shows that Spitzer’s fall correlated with the financial sector’s collapse.
Thoughts: Can’t a man just bang a bunch of women without being crucified? This is 2010 people, suck it up! Regardless, I’m intrigued about the story of Spitzer; it seems like he was a politician to watch until this scandal (which isn’t even a huuuuuge deal) ruined any chance of ascending higher in the D.C. ranks. I’m also interested to hear how his fall factors into the financial collapse. Intriguing subject, interesting point being made, I’m on board with this doc…and the buying of prostitutes for sexual favors.
That’s your lineup this week. What are you seeing, what are you avoiding, what kind of sandwich are you currently eating? These are the burning questions and I beg for the answers.
Really looking forward to 127 Hours which will be released November 12 in my area. I’m thinking of giving Due Date a shot this weekend.
Castor recently posted..
Four Lions is one I’ve been hoping to see for a while. I’m pissed that I missed the chance to see its director with Devin Faraci at the awesome Brattle Theater here in Bean-Town but I’d just settle for being able to see the picture.
Outside of that and 127 Hours, I don’t much care for this weekend’s releases. I had hopes for Mega Mind but the TV spots have knocked the taste out of my mouth on that one and the Comic Con trailer kind of ruins the entire movie. I also don’t think the world needs another Tyler Perry movie.
Andrew recently posted..Review- Nine- 2009- dir Rob Marshall