Drug of choice? Blood 💉, booze 🍸 or blow 👃, we got 'em all.
GUESS THE QUOTE
"Listen, I don't want to sound like a sore loser,
but when it's over, if I'm dead, kill him."
This is a decent"ish" weekend, both in quality & variety (mostly the latter). Plus, there are still good flicks like Searching, Crazy Rich Asians, BlackKklansman and Mission: Impossible out. So go enjoy it if you're not a fan of "Oscar bait season," because it is nigh.
Gettin cutoff? Go here, click "most recent edition."
THE PREDATOR
AKA
"one ugly motherfucker"
R / 1 hr 48 mins
Action-Sci-Fi / FOX
WHAT'S THE DEAL
Apple announced a new iPhone today. Looks a lot like the old iPhones, but with new guts. You basically know what you're gonna get, but it's a little flashier, a little louder - they even have a bigger version if you're into that. It's also a bit more confusing at first with all the new doo-dads and watchamacallits. But it's still an iPhone.
Replace iPhone with Predator and you also have an apt description for this movie. Right down to the bigger version part - that's right, there's a new predator who's even larger than the OG predator. They are not friends. But they are ruthless. Lucky for us humans, we have what the studio likes to call a "ragtag crew," and what we like to call "kill fodder," to save us - this gun toting crew includes Olivia Munn, Sterling K. Brown and Keegan-Michael Key (no Peele).
Oh, and just like Siri, this movie will have quips for days.
Fun Fact: the director of the movie, Shane Black, acted in the '87 original. Not Fun Fact: Black cast his friend who is a convicted sex offender in a scene with Olivia Munn. She called it out when she learned & the scene was deleted, but the aftermath got complicated.
REVIEWS
The words "loud" "gory" & "messy" are used a lot, and a general bend towards negative. But have a feeling audiences might be more forgiving.
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 41%
(66 reviews @ publish)
OUR TAKE
This looks about as good as you're gonna get for a nostalgic, but new take, so if you're fiending for some 80/90's style action movies...
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A SIMPLE FAVOR
AKA
"lying"
R / 1 hr 56 mins
Mystery-Suspense / Lionsgate
WHAT'S THE DEAL
Take Girl on the Train and Gone Girl, mix 'em in a shaker with vodka, a sly smile and a cheeky sense of fun (it's an analogy, just go with it) and you'll get a drink called A Simple Favor.
We could tell you more about the plot, but really it's all kind of secret, and that's the fun. What we do know is Blake Lively (dualistic, beautiful, mysterious) and Anna Kendrick (quotidian, curious, mommy blogger) become friends, but then Lively goes missing - and Kendrick of course can't help but investigate (read: get wrapped up in secrets, lies, sex & muuuurder).
Note: directed by Paul Feig (Bridesmaids, new Ghostbusters).
REVIEWS
Most of them will likely mention how it's a perfect "treat" for the end of the summer - they'll also call it good.
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 86%
(22 reviews @ publish)
OUR TAKE
Totally into it.
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WHITE BOY RICK
AKA
"most literal nickname ever"
R / 1 hr 56 mins
Drama-Thriller / Sony
WHAT'S THE DEAL
Why the hell would the FBI ask a 14 year old to be its (youngest ever) informant in 1980's Detroit?
What father (Matthew McConaughey) would let his son be a drug informant for the FBI, even if it was to help him shirk his own charges?
And who could ever imagine a teenager getting caught up in the world of drugs, money & power as an informant and start dealing drugs himself for quick cash to support his family?
Some of these are easier to answer than others, but they're all queries at the center of White Boy Rick. And they're all questions you could pose to real people, because this shit actually happened.
REVIEWS
Looks to be decently done, but with a "not quite there" feeling. Hollywood Report - "Despite impressive performances by Matthew McConaughey and newcomer Richie Merritt, the film fails to engage or enlighten."
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 52%
(31 reviews @ publish)
OUR TAKE
We do enjoy watching Mr. All right all right, but this seems to be missing that little extra to get us there.
INDIE"ISH" SPOTLIGHT
MANDY
AKA
"ALL CAPS, ALL THE TIME"
Not Rated / 2 hrs 1 min
Action-Drama-Horror / RLJE
WHAT'S THE DEAL
We get it, you see a Nic Cage movie in 2018 and think "pass."
Nic Cage movie in 2018 where he's covered in blood? Hard pass.
But hold up a sec. This one seems like it uses Nic Cage's innate ability to jump into a fire most actors would stay far far (far) away from, to its advantage. And yes, it looks bonkers crazy, uber violent and just plain odd, but that's also what makes it interesting.
The story is quite simple: man & woman love each other, woman is abducted by cult and man "is catapulted into a phantasmagoric journey filled with bloody vengeance and laced with fire." See, simple.
REVIEWS
Loving it. And this isn't a few weirdo reviewers, this is nearly sixty. E.g. indieWire, "For years, [Nicholas Cage] has swung wildly in search of gonzo material; at long last, he's found a movie willing to match his crazed intentions."
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 98%
(57 reviews @ publish)
OUR TAKE
Let's get wild.
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ALREADY IN THEATERS + BOX OFFICE
(3-Day Weekend / Domestic Total - $ = Millions)
1) The Nun ($53.8) NEW
The Conjuring nun gets her own prequel
26% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
2) Peppermint ($13.4) NEW
Jenn Garner revenge flick/Taken director
13% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
3) Crazy Rich Asians ($13.1 / $136)
Cultural moment romantic comedy
93% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
4) The Meg ($6 / $132)
Tiny shark movie
46% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
5) Searching ($4.6 / $14)
John Cho thriller / everything on screens
91% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
6) Mission: Impossible - Fa... ($3.9 / $212)
Ethan Hunt hunts the baddies
97% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
7) Christopher Robin ($3.4 / $92)
Pooh comes to help his now stodgy friend
70% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
8) Operation Finale ($2.9 / $14)
Mossad grabs Nazi hiding in Argentina
61% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
9) BlackKklansman ($2.6 / $43)
The hate group gets unexpected member
95% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
10) Alpha ($2.5 / $32)
Boy meets wolf adventure story
82% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
THE HOUSE WITH
A CLOCK IN ITS WALLS
Kid/family adventure flick based on classic book with Jack Black as warlock who takes in his orphaned nephew and teaches him the ways of magic. Cate Blanchett helps as friendly neighbor witch.
LIFE ITSELF
From This is Us creator. A sentimental (manipulative?) movie about love. A thing it is certainly not getting from critics.
FAHRENHEIT 11/9
Think Fahrenheit 9/11, but with Trump as larger focus of Moore's ire instead of Bush. POV will of course affect desire to see, but reviewer POV is so far quite positive.
INDIE"ISH" SPOTLIGHT
THE SISTERS BROTHERS
Joaquin Phoenix & John C. Reilly as brothers who chase Jake Gyllenhaal in dark comedic western. Riz Ahmed (Rogue One) stars too.
WILDLIFE
October 19, 2018
Full trailer. First film directed by Paul Dano (preacher in There Will be Blood). Carey Mulligan & Jake Gyllenhaal married in 1960s as they deal with expectations of what a wife/woman, husband/man & family is supposed to be.
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INSTANT FAMILY
November 16, 2018
Rose Byrne and Mark Wahlberg adopt three kids in "family comedy."
ADD TO YOUR CALENDAR
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ANNA AND THE APOCALYPSE
November 30, 2018
Zombie, christmas musical - and it's pretty darn good?
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THE BEACH BUM
March 22, 2019
Next movie from Harmony Korine (Kids, Spring Breakers). Matthew McConaughey as the titular beach bum; his name is Moondog. This casting - meta or trolling?
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