What's In Theaters: Not Your Mama's 👽👽👽👽
CAN YOU GUESS THE QUOTE?
(answer @ end of email)
"Life, can be beautiful."
We all know Black Panther made a ton of money this past weekend.
But did you know it's now the second largest movie ever over a four day period (second to Star Wars: The Force Awakens)?
Talk about a super, hero movie.
Btw, you saw it (we did), let us know what you think.
If you like this email, please add tellme@whatsintheaters.com to your contacts so we you make sure and see us in your inbox!
Getting cutoff? Go here and click "the most recent edition."
Annihilation
AKA
"The thing your roommate annoyingly says
every. damn. time. they come out of the bathroom."
R / 2 hrs / Sci-Fi Thriller
WHAT'S THE DEAL
It's hard to say exactly.
While the surface details are simple - Natalie Portman stars in the next movie from Alex Garland, who directed the most mispronounced movie of all time Ex Machina (X MAH-ki-nah), and it's based on the first book in a Sci-Fi series.
What actually happens in the movie is far less clear (to those of us who haven't read the book).
From what we can gather, there's some weird alien shit going on that humans should stay the fuck away from, but instead go right into.
So, ya know, normal movie stuff.
Oscar Isaac, who starred in (say it with us now) Ex Machina, plays Portman's disappeared husband which inspires her to investigate said "weird alien shit."
Also noteworthy that the majority of leads are female.
REVIEWS
So far positive and saying it's a weird trip.....but like, the good kind, not the curl up in a ball and wish you never listened to your friend who's "done this toooons of times (read: once, and probably ate shiitakes, fell asleep and had one weird dream about Barney the dinosaur - as if that was abnormal)."
Also giving props for acting and a thoughtfulness not usually seen in "studio movies."
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 89%
(29 Reviews @ publish)
ARE WE GONNA GO?
Most definitely.
We thought Ex Machina was pretty darn great, and while we have no idea what happens in this one, that's kind of the draw.
SHARE THIS FLICK W/ FRIENDS
Game Night
AKA
"You remember the movie Date Night,
w/ Steve Carell and Tina Fey?
Yeah, it's the same movie."
R / 1 hr 33 mins / Comedy
WHAT'S THE DEAL
We kind of gave away our throughline in our little AKA "joke," but seriously, if you know the movie Date Night, you know this movie.
Sure it may take place a decade later and star different actors, but it's the same basic premise - which is to say a normal, everyday couple gets thrown into crazy crime related hijinks unexpectedly and make way more jokes than is entirely appropriate based on the seriousness of the circumstances.
This version stars Rachel McAdams (swoon) and Jason Bateman as the highly competitive gaming couple.
In it, Bateman's brother says he's setting up a new type of game night where someone will get taken (settle down Liam Neesons, not your turn to play), but then things go wrong and no one is sure what's real and not real.
REVIEWS
A good example of a high RT score (so far), that doesn't necessarily indicate exactly how good.
Basically it seems like a good version of what it is, so if you like what it is, by all means.
Also seems like reviewers expected something worse, and thus were pleasantly surprised.
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 84%
(38 Reviews @ publish)
ARE WE GONNA GO?
Unlikely.
Even with Moviepass, don't think we'll muster up the effort to support Winston (hi New Girl fans) and McAdams. :/
Every Day
AKA
"How often someone in Hollywood says
'ya know, we could use more Nicholas Sparks type movies' "
PG / 1 hr 40 mins / YA Romance
WHAT'S THE DEAL
Based on the bestselling book about a teenage girl who meets her soulmate.
But wait!
Her soulmate changes bodies errday. Same age, but different gender and or race.
But soulmates do not give up, so they meet and try and try again until...?
I guess that's why we watch the movie eh?
Or someone does. /shrug
If it seems a bit formulaic (it does), it's at least worth noting that the story is pretty "of the times" topically in that it approaches love through a blind lense where gender or race don't matter - something the target audience (teens) is well attuned to.
REVIEWS
None yet.
But we've been here before, if you wanna go, YDY.
Rotten Tomatoes Score: TBD
(0 @ publish)
ARE WE GONNA GO?
Only if we learn there's a twist where the lead girl also changes halfway through, to Mister-T, age 15.
Talk about a challenge to the power of love.
LAST WEEKEND'S TOP MOVIES
(Weekend (4 Day) / Domestic Total - $ = Millions)
1) Black Panther ($242.2 !!!!!!!!) NEW
A super, hero, movie
97% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
2) Peter Rabbit ($23.4 / $54)
He steals carrots and... raps? Yes, he raps
59% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
3) Fifty Shades Freed ($19.4 / $79)
Ropes, whips and oddly, social convention
12% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
4) Jumanji: Welcome to... ($10 / $380)
"Reimagining," players go into video game
76% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
5) The 15:17 to Paris ($9 / $27)
Eastwood directs people from real events
25% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
6) The Greatest Showman ($6.5 / $156)
Hugh Jackman as circus showman (musical)
55% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
7) Early Man ($4.2) NEW
Stop-motion (Wallace & Gromit crew)
82% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
8) Maze Runner: Death Cure ($3.2 / $55)
Conclusion to post apocalyptic YA series
43% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
9) Winchester ($2.6 / $22)
Ghosts killed by guns, kill gun makers
11% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
10) The Post ($2.4 / $77)
Streep, Hanks, Spielberg - Wash Post v Gov
88% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
Red Sparrow
AKA
"What we yell (loudly) during a massage when they press too hard"
WHAT'S THE DEAL
If this movie were a drink, the recipe would be... 1/2 shot of the Bourne franchise, full shot female badassery, a sprinkling of 90's movies, two cubes of sex and a dash of cold war nostalgia.
In simpler terms, Jennifer Lawrence plays a former Russian ballerina recruited into a spy program where she gets real good at seducing and killing, which helps her get out from under the oppression she's had in her life (mostly from men).
But moral quandaries pester, as does a CIA agent played by Joel Edergton (Zero Dark Thirty, Loving) who is her new best friend and lover, or is he?
Dun dun done...
Death Wish
AKA
"What you'll have whilst watching this movie?"
WHAT'S THE DEAL
Looks like wis...erm, fantasy fulfilment for those who subscribe to the "what's the only thing that stops bad guy with a gun - a good guy with a gun" philosophy.
Bruce Willis takes on the role made famous by Charles Bronson and this "reimagining" (aka remake) seems to go even further on the vigilante knows best motif, where Willis looks to kill any "bad guy" he can find.
What brought on such anger? A dead wife and a traumatized daughter, so it's understandable, but still....
If violence in the name of "justice" ain't your thing, probably best to avoid.
FUN FACT(S)
The book the original film (1974) was based on was known for its anti-vigilante message and the writer critiqued the first version for not understanding the point of the story.
Shocking for Hollywood to miss the point (twice?), we know.
GRINGO - March 9, 2018
Second trailer. Dark comedy w/ Joel Edgerton and Charlize Theron as execs at a weed company who send David Oyelowo to Mexico - shit goes wrong.
Add to Your Calendar
Apple Google Outlook
INCREDIBLES 2 - June 15, 2018
First real look at the next adventure of the superhero family. This time it's not just about fighting evil, but fighting tiredness from raising a family.
Add to Your Calendar
Apple Google Outlook