GUESS THE QUOTE
"I'm having a perfect moment."
After a couple stinker weekends, there are some really good choices this weekend - specifically Toy Story 4 and Wild Rose, which is only NY / LA this weekend, but hopefully it does well and expands.
Gettin cutoff? Go here, click "most recent edition."
TOY STORY 4
AKA
"The Tear Maker 3,000"
G / 1 hr 30 mins
Comedy-Family-Animated / Pixar-Disney
WHAT'S THE DEAL
If you thought the (toys') story was done after the last one, you wouldn't have been alone, including the films producers. Because according to them, they treat each film as its own self contained thing. Which begs the question, what made them make another one after such a successful end to the trilogy? You cynics already chimed in with "money, idiot" but it's hard to be all that down on a franchise that really hasn't faltered yet, or even close really. And this fourth adventure is apparently no different and to many, bests Toy Story 3 (see reviews below). So there, doofus.
But why are the toys back (in town)? To provide fun for and protect their children, right? Weeeell, that's what they thought, but when a new toy, Forky, enters the mix, he of course induces a new adventure, but also makes Woody & Buzz question what they're really living for, or rather whom they're living for. That question looms larger when they happen upon their friend Bo Beep (back after leaving in the second film) who has been on her own, kidless and quite happy for it. But while the crew is out escaping more evil toys, Bonnie (who if you don't remember, acquired the toys from Andy at the end of the last film) is missing them dearly.
So in short, it's an animated movie that deals with existential questions on purpose in life that'll make you laugh and cry.
Note: new characters include voices from Jordan Peele and Keegan-Michael Key, Keanu "god damn I'm everywhere right now" Reeves, and a bunch more, including a cool nod to some comedy legends.
REVIEWS
"It will send you out of the theater laughing, crying, and thinking all at once, an appropriate mix of responses for what I hope, out of love, will be our last minutes with a franchise that's given us so much." - Dana Stevens, Slate
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 98%
(158 reviews @ publish)
WHO'S IT (NOT) FOR?
For: pretty much everyone
(Not): yes, even you "I don't like animated movies" people
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CHILD'S PLAY
AKA
"the kind that involves guns, oh right, this is America and it's dealing with kids, of course it involves guns"
R / 1 hr 30 mins
Horror / MGM (Orion)
WHAT'S THE DEAL
It's a remake of the (unexpected) classic 1988 horror hit of the same name, as in "the Chucky movie;" except instead of a crazed murderer inhabiting the doll's body via voodoo in hopes of transferring his soul later to a young victim (yes, that's the original story), the doll is now "smart" and the AI goes crazy. How very 2019. The remake part that is. Cuz AI gone crazy? Hell, that goes all the way back to 2001 (the movie, duh).
But Kubrick didn't have Aubrey Plaza (who plays Andy's mom) to tie up and torment, which is what happens here when Chucky gets a hold of her and seems to signal a bit of a tone shift to more gore from the original's dread building (although later Chucky films become more blood/kill focused). That may be partly because the original creators are not involved, including up until now, THE voice of Chucky, Brad Dourif (fun fact: also the doctor on Deadwood). But at least his replacement ain't too shabby - Mark Hamill, who voiced The Joker on Batman The Animated Series, as well as some other stuff that did kinda ok. But otherwise it seems to follow the same story arc - mom and son move to new town, son is lonely, mom buys son a doll, doll and son become "friends till the end," doll tries to end everyone around son.
Btw, if you can't even imagine how the original was even a little scary, check out this clip.
Fun Fact: this movie actually creates a new franchise as Universal has rights to the sequels, which the original creators are still making (direct to VOD). They're not happy about this new one.
REVIEWS
None yet. Not a great sign, but it is horror, and we know how much viewers' and critics' opinions usually differ on them.
Rotten Tomatoes Score: TBD
(0 reviews @ publish)
WHO'S IT (NOT) FOR?
For: you think it's about time toys got their revenge for all we've put them threw
(Not): you covered the eyes of all your dolls while you slept / you're a die hard Chucky fan who's seen every single one and this'll just piss you off
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ANNA
AKA
"anna backwards"
R / 1 hr 42 mins
Action / Lionsgate(Summit)
WHAT'S THE DEAL
A comment posted in the comments of the YouTube trailer 'bout sums it up: "Atomic Wick 5: Lucy The Professional"
If you're unfamiliar, that's an amalgamation of the titles of a bunch of lone badass assassin movies where the action is central, often, usually quite good and you get to sit back and enjoy the bullets and broken skulls washing over you. Two of the titles in there were also directed by Anna's director, Luc Besson, the French director who has a penchant for featuring roundhouse wheeling female leads in his movies - he got started all the way back in 1990 with La Femme Nikkita.
Yet, if you watch(ed) the trailer, you wouldn't see his name anywhere. Odd. Especially since he's such a big name in action and in film in general (he also created and wrote the Taken franchise, made The Fifth Element). It's likely because he's also been accused (by at least eight women) recently of having a penchant for rape and sexual assault. Yeah. The accusations came out in February, however, likely well after the movie was finished shooting. Is it still gonna affect the movie's performance? Yeah, probably (which I'm sure isn't fun for the hundreds who worked to bring it to life besides Besson). Should it? We'll leave that up to you.
REVIEWS
None yet
Rotten Tomatoes Score: TBD
(0 reviews @ publish)
WHO'S IT (NOT) FOR?
For: if "Atomic Wick 5: Lucy The Professional" sounds like the best movie of all time
(Not): the only bullets you like to see are in Word
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LIMITED RELEASE SPOTLIGHT
WILD ROSE
AKA
"the kind that smells just as sweet"
R / 1 hr 41 mins
Drama-Comedy / NEON
WHAT'S THE DEAL
Even though it may feel a bit soon after A Star is Born for another movie about someone struggling to get their shot in the music industry, this one seems worth a solid look. First because it's a departure from Star in that it's a real heart warmer, but also because the actress who plays the titular Rose, Jessie Buckley, is supposed to be a force in it and thus having a bit of her own meta star ascension. If you wanna see a little bit of why, watch her perform one of the songs from the movie.
This is only the second movie Buckley has starred in too, the other was last year's really well liked Beast (as well HBO's Chernobyl). In Wild Rose, she plays a Scottish woman who has just spent a year in prison and once she gets out goes right back to trying to achieve her goal of getting to Nashville. Thing is, she has two kids, no money, and plenty of guilt and shame piled on for good (bad?) measure. That's a lot to carry. But since this is the kind of movie that grows your blood pumper, you can bet her spirit will allow her to push through.
Btw, last week, we said she the character was Irish, that's the actress. And if you'd like to see more of her, check out this interview on Colbert.
REVIEWS
"A stirring, dynamic, and joyously unexpected coming-of-age tale with a potentially star-making performance from lead Jessie Buckley." - Yolanda Machado, The Wrap
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 90%
(105 reviews @ publish)
WHO'S IT (NOT) FOR?
For: you really liked A Star is Born, but wanted it to be a happier ending
(Not): you can't stand country music, like not even a tiny bit
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ALREADY IN THEATERS + BOX OFFICE
(3-Day Weekend / Domestic Total - $ = millions)
1) Men in Black: Internat... ($30) NEW
Fourquel without Tommy or Will
24% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
2) The Secret Life of Pets 2 ($24.4 / $94)
Anthropomorphized happy fun times
57% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
3) Aladdin ($17.3 / $264)
Live action remake with Will Smith as JG
57% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
4) Rocketman ($9.4 / $67)
Elton John biopic backed by singer himself
89% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
5) Dark Phoenix ($9.4 / $52)
Last X-Men movie in its current iteration
23% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
6) Shaft ($8.9) NEW
A reboot of a reboot
34% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
7) Godzilla: King of... ($8.8 / $94)
Subtle story about the power of silence
40% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
8) John Wick: Chapter 3... ($6.4 / $149)
Keanu is back as the puppy loving assassin
89% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
9) Late Night ($5.3 / $6)
Mindy Kaling / Emma Thompson comedy
79% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
10) Avengers: Endgame ($3.7 / $831)
The end before the new beginning
94% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
ANNABELLE
COMES HOME
Next one in The Conjuring franchise. Main The Conjuring stars Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson are in it, but only in supporting roles. Centers on their daughter and her babysitter.
YESTERDAY
Cheeky looking diddy from Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire, Trainspotting) and writer of Love Actually and Notting Hill, where everyone forgets about The Beatles except one guy. Who luckily can remember how to play them, and make himself super famous and wealthy. But can it help with love...??
READY OR NOT
August 23, 2019
A horror movie version of hide and seek (that a family plays after a couple gets married). Yup. Ridiculous yes, but it does look kinda fun and has a dark comedy edge to it vs only pure horror.
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OFFICIAL SECRETS
July 12, 2019
Keira Knightley as a whistleblower who shared information about NSA spying in the lead up to the Iraq War back in 2003.
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DOCTOR SLEEP
August 9, 2019
Teaser. A sequel to The Shining and based on Stephen King's book of the same name. Ewan McGregor plays an all growed up Danny.
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