GUESS THE QUOTE
"my father always told me never hit another person in anger
unless you were absolutely sure you could get away with it."
All three of this week's movies deal with violence, but in three very different ways.
Cutoff? Go here, click "most recent edition."
HOBBS AND SHAW
AKA
"BicepFest 2019"
R / 2 hrs 16 mins
Action-Comedy / Universal
WHAT'S THE DEAL
In One Line: The Rock and Jason Statham do a Fast & Furious spin-off whiiiiich is basically a superhero movie.
It's called Hobbs and Shaw, but let's be real, this easily could have been called Johnson and Statham. Cuz that's what it is. It's two action stars, bein themselves, doin action star stuff. It's all really quite predictable and expected. But based on the success of the previous few Fast movies, that seems to be just what fans of the series want: more. And by golly gee willikers will they get it. More Johnson and Statham bickering, more massive action set pieces, more international locations (including Samoa where Johnson can reference his roots), more nasty bad guys, including Idris Elba as a "genetically enhanced" evil dude (which further shifts the series into superhero movie territory).
What fans won't get more of is Johnson and Statham in the next Fast movie (Fast & Furious... 9!!!). Partly because of "scheduling conflicts" and actually for real because Vin Diesel and The Rock hate each other. But don't worry if you're a Fast fan, you'll get more new characters in John "don't call me The Rock, but like gimme his career" Cena. Until then, get all the more you want right here folks.
REVIEWS
Not quite enough more to make it, well, more, but seems like just enough to make it enjoyable (mostly because the movie stars get to be movie stars).
"There's something to be said for merely bouncing four movie stars as charismatic as this film's quartet off each other for just over two hours." - Brian Tallerico, RogerEbert.com
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 70%
(76 reviews @ publish)
WHO'S IT (NOT) FOR?
For: you (still) smell what The Rock is cookin'
(Not): you get enough bickering at home (then again, maybe that's a reason to see it...)
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LUCE
AKA
"Great Expectations"
R / 1 hr 49 mins
Drama-Suspense / NEON
WHAT'S THE DEAL
In One Line: A play that digs into the idea and ramifications of "black tokenism," privilege and more, that reviewers say has been turned into a compellingly suspenseful movie.
"It's like I only get to be a saint or a monster." This quote from Luce, the film's main character, and subject of the rest of the characters' focus, expectations and suspicion typifies much of what the movie looks to be getting at. The movie uses these simplistic, but oft applied to young black males, tropes as guideposts in dissecting the situation of Luce; a former child soldier adopted by rich"ish" white parents from a war torn country. Hell, you'll probably start by seeing Luce as the saint, but then when he's questioned by his teacher (Octavia Spencer) after writing an essay she finds disturbing, wonder, could he be "a monster." Which sure, you'll have to consider because this is a movie, and because the tone will be a little... unsettling. Like, things can't be this perfect, can they? But what is perfect? Is perfect getting everything "correct" or is perfection something different, something greyer?
Aaand then by the end of it all you'll probably have gone back and forth numerous times, making judgements and determinations before you even know the full story. Which is probably exactly how director Julius Onah, who says he struggled with similar issues faced by Luce after emigrating from Nigeria, wanted it.
REVIEWS
"'Luce' is a neatly constructed puzzle, an engrossing weave of suburban drama and sociopolitical whodunit." - Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 94%
(31 reviews @ publish)
WHO'S IT (NOT) FOR?
For: you're perfectly settled in your view of the world and those in it 😃
(Not): you think nuance is a region in France
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THE NIGHTINGALE
AKA
"songs of darkness"
R / 2 hrs 17 mins
Drama / IFC
WHAT'S THE DEAL
In One Line: A well reviewed, but not for everyone, strongly violent revenge tale set during the British takeover of Australia in the 19th century from Jennifer Kent, the director of (the very well liked) horror movie The Babadook.
A tear streaking down a blood soaked face. More than most, the image for The Nightingale seems a fitting visual description of the film. This is a movie about violence, but not the bland, barely noticeable in its repercussions kind (see Hobbs and Shaw above). But how it's unfairly inflicted and the effect it has on those it's committed upon.
While Game of Thrones had innumerable acts of violence it was still set in different world, where magic existed, so while it could be uncomfortable, at least it was some form of distant. This is not that. The violence will probably feel real, because it happened, and because it happens. This isn't based on a true story, but it is based on the actual time where Britain was brutally colonizing Australia. And during, a young Irish convict, Clare, has terrorizing acts inflicted upon her and those around her. But she lives. And so she tries to seek some form of justice on her terrorists. Along the way she partners with an aboriginal Australian tracker who has seen/felt plenty of awfulness. They start out distrusting each other, but find commonality in their experiences dealing with barbarism.
Pretty sure plenty of people will ask what's the point? Is it all of it necessary? Will it be worth it? Can't help you there.
That's up to you.
REVIEWS
"It's a devastating, uncomfortable watch. But there's a sense that The Nightingale needs to be exactly the film it is, bubbling with completely justified anger and pain." - Hannah Woodhead, Little White Lies
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 80%
(60 reviews @ publish)
WHO'S IT (NOT) FOR?
For: you can still enjoy a movie even if what's on screen isn't enjoyable / you could use an education in what can happen to humans, by humans, merely because of their gender or race
(Not): violence, especially of the visceral kind, leaves you feeling terrible long after the screen goes black
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ALREADY IN THEATERS + BOX OFFICE
(3-Day Weekend / Domestic Total - $ = millions)
1) The Lion King ($76.6 / $352)
Live action(?) remake
53% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
2) Once Upon A Time... ($41.1) NEW
Tarantino's take on Hollywood 1969
84% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
3) Spider-Man: Far... ($12.5 / $345)
New continent, same troubles
90% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
4) Toy Story 4 ($10.5 / $396)
Toys get new member / toys get existential
98% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
5) Crawl ($4.1 / $32)
Hurricane + alligators + trapped = bad time
83% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
6) Yesterday ($3.1 / $63)
The Beatles disappear, except to one guy
63% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
7) Aladdin ($3 / $346)
Live action remake with Will Smith as JG
56% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
8) Stuber ($1.8 / $21)
Uber ride gone crazy
42% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
9) Annabelle Comes Home ($1.6 / $70)
The creepy doll is still causing trouble
65% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
10) The Farewell ($1.5 / $3.7)
Grandmama is sick, but family won't tell her
99% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
SCARY STORIES
TO TELL IN THE DARK
The creepy book series loved by 3rd graders the world over, now in movie version they're not allowed to see!
DORA
AND THE LOST CITY OF GOLD
The popular Nick Jr. kids show beloved by 5 year olds the world over, now in live action movie form (they are indeed allowed to see).
THE ART
OF RACING IN THE RAIN
The popular book about seems like it'd be about racing, but really about a dog who wishes to be human and the humans he helps.
THE KITCHEN
Wives of mobsters take over when their husbands get tossed in the ol' slammeroony. Thing is, they kinda like being in charge.
BRIAN BANKS
Based on the true story of... Brian Banks who was a very good football player who spent six years in prison (and five more on strict probation) after being accused of rape in high school, but the California Innocence Project helped him get exonerated.
ANGEL HAS FALLEN
August 23, 2019
Second trailer. Gerard Butler has protected all the people, now he needs to protect himself, cuz he gettin fraaaamed. This is the third in the "Fallen" series btw, and this time Morgan Freeman is Prez (no Aaron Eckhart it seems).
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THE HUNT
September 27, 2019
Full trailer. Rich people hunting humans. All games and fun until they fight back. Cast includes Betty Gilpin from GLOW and Emma Roberts as well as Hilary Swank. Another Blumhouse pic (Get Out, The Purge, Happy Death Day etc.)
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GEMINI MAN
October 11, 2019
Second trailer. Will Smith battles... younger Will Smith (see above). Why exactly? We don't know yet. Directed by Ang Lee and co-written by David Benioff, co-creator of Games of Thrones.
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ZOMBIELAND:
DOUBLE TAP
October 18, 2019
The motley zombie killing makeshift family is back, and they add some... friends? Also, we don't wanna get anyone's hopes up (yes we do), but Bill Murray is in it per IMDb.
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QUEEN AND SLIM
November 27, 2019
Full trailer. Written by Lena Waithe (created the The Chi, acts on Master of None), a black couple is on a date when they're pulled over by a white cop. Things go south and the cop is shot by the man, Daniel Kaluuya (Get Out), and the couple go on the run turning into a sort of Bonnie and Clyde.
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THE LIGHTHOUSE
October 18, 2019
The next film from the director of The Witch starring Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe who are lighthouse keepers in the 1890's and.... well, just watch. Lots of good reviews already (at 98%) and they're emphatic.
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THE IRISHMAN
TBD
This is a Netflix film, but apparently it may get a sizable theatrical launch, tbd. But worth noting even if not since it's Scorsese directing De Niro, Pacino and Pesci in a gangster movie (Pacino plays Jimmy Hoffa).
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