Le Voyage dans la Lune. 🌖 🚀

Oct 10, 2018

GUESS THE QUOTE

"He is a little bit...
...magoo!"

Slight change to the Indie"ish" Spotlight section this week; now the Limited Release Spotlight since not all the movies we put there were independent movies, hence the "ish" (although lots were) and it seemed kind of confusing.

To clarify, every week we feature all of the major "nationwide" releases that everyone will (likely) be able to see in their local theaters. The limited releases are usually only in LA/NY theaters upon opening and often expand, but not always.

There are also always lots more limited releases than we can feature so we pick the most "notable" (criteria being really good reviews - most important- known actors / directors, or some other significant reason). This week there were three, which may happen more regularly as we get into "awards season."

Gettin cutoff? Go here, click "most recent edition."

BAD TIMES
AT THE EL ROYALE AKA
"We get it Hemsworth, you have muscles."

R / 2 hrs 20 mins

Mystery-Thriller-Noir / Fox

WHAT'S THE DEAL

Opening scene: Jeff Bridges tending to herd of sheep. Jon Hamm approaches in a three piece suit, flanked on both sides by an armed Chris Hemsworth and Dakota Johnson. Bridges invites them into his home and asks them if they'd like tea, but instead of brewing a pot he dons a cream colored wool sweater with brown accents and politely asks them to step off his damn rug. TWIST ALERT, he's actually The Dude and this is a sequel to The Big Lebowski. !!!!!!!

While that's prooobably not the twist (read: it's not), and we don't know what the twist is, we do know there will be one; El Royale was written/directed by Drew Goddard, who penned the curveball laden The Cabin in the Woods. Plus, all the reviews mention one. ;)

We also know the above mentioned famous people (along w/ others) will come together for a fateful meeting in a 1950's style hotel constructed on the Cali / Nevada border where everything will become f*cked. In a cool neo-noir style, but still f*cked.

So come for the hook at the end, stay for a group of fun to watch actors in their element starring in a "man, they really should give the rain and neon lights an Oscar" type atmosphere.

REVIEWS

Gettin solid recommendations, albeit with some critiques of being too long and over promise/under deliver on the twist. Overall sense that it's a fun "movie movie" with good acting that ties it all together.

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 77%
(47 reviews @ publish)

OUR TAKE

Looks like good times, but that's just like, our opinion, man. Trying not to focus too much on the twist that it disappoints.

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FIRST MAN

AKA
"Not the post 2016 Pres election revisionist comedy that follows the 'hilarious hijinks' of Bill Clinton you were hoping for"

PG-13 / 2 hrs 18 mins
Drama / Universal

WHAT'S THE DEAL

Why you'll pay attention: Ryan Gosling, Claire Foy (The Crown) and same (Oscar winning) director as La La Land.

Why you'll go: to see a different take on human space travel. Less rah rah than the 1983 The Right Stuff, and more down to earth ( 😄) than something like Interstellar or The Martian. You'll see the moon landing project in a more personal manner through the eyes of Gosling and Foy who play Neil Armstrong and his wife at the time, Janet Elizabeth Shearon.

This is gonna be an odd analogy, but think of this as the Jason Bourne of NASA movies - it uses as if you're there (sometimes frenetic) camera work, a main character that's all business but hiding complicated emotions underneath the stone face and an efficiency in storytelling that connotes the attitude of the events taking place.

REVIEWS

Kid can do no wrong apparently as another well received movie by Mr. Chazelle. Reviews focusing on the unique angle it takes with a more personal focus and less "hero worship."

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 89%
(125 reviews @ publish)

OUR TAKE

We loved Whiplash, were ok with La La Land, so curious to see how this one works. Enjoying the less "USA! USA!" and more "how f'n impressive are humans?" tone.

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GOOSEBUMPS 2:
HAUNTED HALLOWEEN

AKA
"the movie equivalent of what Billy and crew put on old man Clements' doorstep"

PG / 1 hr 40 mins
Comedy-Horror(light)-Family / Sony

WHAT'S THE DEAL

Direct to VOD release that somehow snuck into theaters.

Jack Black, who plays R.L. Stine (in this and first), is apparently barely in it (he wasn't even in the trailers) and the plot is almost the exact same as the first - kids find Stine's books, open them, monsters come out, goofy PG mayhem ensues.

It won't offend, but it probably won't keep you awake either.

REVIEWS

Variety - "Goosebumps 2" isn't a movie, exactly - it's a piñata of effects posing as a movie. By the end, there's nothing to do but sweep up the pieces."

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 33%
(6 reviews @ publish)

OUR TAKE

Sony clearly takes us for a bunch of dummies.

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LIMITED RELEASE SPOTLIGHT
BEAUTIFUL BOY

AKA
"what a son is to their parents, no matter what"

R / 1 hr 52 mins
Drama / Amazon

WHAT'S THE DEAL

What exactly describes an addict? Bet if you ask five different people, you'll get five different responses. What's more unequivocal is the damage addiction does to those addicted and the people around them.

The latter is what Beautiful Boy is about, from the POV of the addict, Timothée Chalamet (nominated last year for an Oscar) and Steve Carell, his father who can't understand why his son is "throwing away" such potential by using. It's based on two separate memoirs by real life son/father.

Expect Oscar discussion around both performances.

REVIEWS

Really focusing on the performances, while often critiquing other aspects of the movie. E.g. "While the sometimes confusing non-linear narrative keeps the whole package from coming together, the first-rate acting more than makes up for it in the film based on the true experiences of David and Nic Sheff." - USA Today

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 68%
(44 reviews @ publish)

OUR TAKE

Subject matter and acting/actors have us intrigued. Might give it a go, but in theaters....?

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ALREADY IN THEATERS + BOX OFFICE
(3-Day Weekend / Domestic Total - $ = Millions)

1) Venom ($80.3) NEW
Spider-Man nemesis movie, w/ no Spidey
31% RT -  Trailer - Showtimes

2) A Star is Born ($42.9) NEW
Bradley Cooper/Lady Gaga love story
91% RT -  Trailer - Showtimes

3) Smallfoot ($14.4 / $42)
Bigfoot(feet?) searches for us tiny footers
70% RT -  Trailer - Showtimes

4) Night School ($12.5 / $47)
Kevin Hart schooled by Tiffany Haddish
30% RT -  Trailer - Showtimes

5) The House With A Clock... ($7.3 / $55)
Jack Black teaches orphan nephew magic
66% RT -  Trailer - Showtimes

6) A Simple Favor ($3.4 / $ 49)
Neo-noir cheeky mystery
84% RT -  Trailer - Showtimes

7) The Nun ($2.7 / $113)
The Conjuring nun gets her own prequel
27% RT -  Trailer - Showtimes

8) Crazy Rich Asians ($2.2 / $169)
Cultural moment romantic comedy
92% RT -  Trailer - Showtimes

9) Hell Fest ($2.1 / $9)
Slasher set in Halloween theme park
48% RT -  Trailer - Showtimes

10) The Predator ($0.9 / $ 50)
They're back, and they're bigger
34% RT -  Trailer - Showtimes

HALLOWEEN

A direct sequel to the original, screw the other nine, yes, nine, sequels & spinoffs. Jamie Lee Curtis has been prepping 40 years for Mr. Myers, waiting for him to escape. (Not)Spoiler: he does. Reviews are solid.

The Trailer

LIMITED RELEASE SPOTLIGHT

Three notables, all with good reviews.

WILDLIFE
Carey Mulligan & Jake Gyllenhaal are married in 1960's Montana w/ 14 year old & deal with expectations of what a wife, husband and family is/are is supposed to be - 100% recommended on RT. We've seen it and you can add us to the recommend list.

MID90s
First movie directed by Jonah Hill in the vein of Kids where a misfit finds his people in punk skater kids - 91% recommended on RT.

CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME?
Melissa McCarthy plays a writer who starts forging letters from dead celebrities since her work won't sell. Dark comedy/drama - 100% recommended on RT.

THE MULE
December 14, 2018

Clint Eastwood directing and starring as a 90 year old mule for Mexican drug cartel, seemingly to make up for being negligent husband/father. Bradley Cooper & Michael Penã too.

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MORTAL ENGINES
December 14, 2018

Second trailer. Peter Jackson produced young adult book to movie where cities are moving vehicles that eat other cities. Yup.

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AQUAMAN
December 21, 2018

Five minute extended trailer. Would not recommend watching if you've already decided you're going as it is certain to be at least somewhat spoilery.

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PET SEMATARY
April 5, 2019

First off, yes, that's the right spelling. Remake of Stephen King novel where if you bury it, it ain't stayin' buried. Jason Clarke and John Lithgow reppin.

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