GUESS THE QUOTE
"Oh, there you are Peter!"
Two movies had some changes: 21 Bridges (Chadwick Boseman cop killer thriller) was moved to November 22 and The Hunt (humans hunting humans movie) was moved off the calendar entirely due to the recent shootings.
Oh, not sure it'll get a big theatrical release (unlikely), but Netflix released a trailer for Eddie Murphy's newest, Dolemite is My Name. It's a biopic on Rudy Ray Moore who created one of the more enduring Blaxploitation characters.
Cutoff? Go here, click "most recent edition."
WHERE'D YOU GO
BERNADETTE
AKA
"Bernadette's least favorite phrase when all she wanted was a god damn minute of peace and quiet"
PG-13 / 1 hr 44 mins
Comedy-Drama / Annapurna
WHAT'S THE DEAL
In One Line: Richard Linklater and Cate Blanchett doing their darndest to turn a popular (but not traditionally written) book about a woman in identity crisis into a crowd pleasing movie.
Are you "likeable?" Probably depends on who you ask eh? That dude you cut off getting to your dentist appointment? Yeah, probably not. Your parents? Your significant other? I mean, hopefully. But likeability is kind of subjective and situational. Our heroine, Bernadette Fox (Cate Blanchett), is not "traditionally" likeable, but to some she is compelling. To herself, she's just a bit confused. Which, if you go back and read the title, it makes a bit more sense. Yes, Bernadette does go "missing," but it's less about her physical orientation and much more her mental.
This may all sound very heady and "indie-ish" (hell it was directed by Richard Linklater, who made Boyhood), but it is most certainly not. It is far more mainstream and straightforward, which aligns itself more to the popular book upon which it's based. The trick here is turning the book, which was setup in emails and texts read to the audience by her daughter on a quest to find her (still the case in the movie), into a much more linear narrative that can be marketed to people who want an escape rather than deal with their own existential crisis. Does it succeed in that endeavor? Maybe, maybe not. Because remember, likeability is subjective.
REVIEWS
""Bernadette" isn't exactly a comedy, more like a drama that wants to be whimsical. But it's too heavy to take flight. Maybe this is one of those stories that can't completely make sense as a movie.." Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 35%
(26 reviews @ publish)
WHO'S IT (NOT) FOR?
For: you read the book and you really wanna see how the heck they're gonna try and pull it off
(Not): you see directed by Linklater and get excited, but your favorite of his is the "Before" series
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GOOD BOYS
AKA
"what one may call a "misnomer""
R / 1 hr 35 mins
Comedy / Universal
WHAT'S THE DEAL
In One Line: Superbad set in sixth grade.
How much did you think you knew in sixth grade? How much did you actually know? That gap is fertile ground for some middle school shenanigans (oooh). Most of which involve some variation of the word "fuck." But just an omnipresent will be love and friendship. Because while 12 year olds saying "fuck" is inherently funny, it's only funny if you can stand the kid(s) saying it (especially if they say it something like 72 times in 90 minutes).
The other benefit of a film basically being Superbad Jr. is that young person innocence lends itself to jokes like a sex swing being ya know, a swing. Or a gimp mask just being another mask. Or anal beads being... nope, those are still anal beads. Naivety call also mean a film can plausibly be about learning how the hell to kiss. Because if you've ever been in middle school, you know what it's like imagining your first kiss (if you've never been in middle school gqevebehbervbeqrv <-becasue you can't read anyway). Kissing can be terrifying. So spying on some high schooler neighbors with your dad's drone seems like a great idea. Until they catch you, and take your drone. So then you steal their purse. But it has drugs (!!!) in it. And you get the point... But you also remember how much you loved your middle school friends (or still do). So yeah, this is "another R rated gross out comedy," but like, with heart. Middle schooler heart.
REVIEWS
"A joke-dense and highly original coming-of-age tale that's sweet and sour in all the best ways." Katie Walsh, Tribune News
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 86%
(51 reviews @ publish)
WHO'S IT (NOT) FOR?
For: you were too afraid to swear in middle school and want some catharsis
(Not): you say "kids these days" <-- doesn't matter in reference to what, but if you use that phrase, just stay away from this movie (us too please)
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THE ANGRY BIRDS
MOVIE 2
AKA
"The Squawquel"
PG / 1 hr 40 mins
Comedy-Family-Animated / Columbia (Sony)
WHAT'S THE DEAL
In One Line: A kids movie based on a game obsessed over by kids, that has some good comedic talent behind the scenes which lends itself to being better (read: funnier) than you likely thought it would be.
The downside: this is a movie (and a sequel no less) based on a property that really had no inherent story. It's like creating a movie from a comic-book and then discovering that the comic-book had a cover, but all the pages inside were blank.
The upside: there are a craptastic amount of talented people in Hollywood, and sometimes when you give them the littlest bit of direction, they can come up with something pretty damn entertaining.
Put another way, this is basically the movie version of a sketch comedy troupe asking the crowd for a word or phrase and someone yelling "ANGRY BIRDS!" The troupe may have internally cursed that smirking asshole in the back row, but damn if they're not gonna give it their all to make 'em ugly laugh so hard their date starts to question their romantic choices. Does that mean it'll be coherent? Nah, probably not. Does it mean it'll be chaotic, self referential, topical and even funny? Yeah, most likely.
NOTE: in theaters now!
REVIEWS
"Angry Birds 2"... tosses story, character and sense aside, and opts for a go-for-broke style of humor. The hoops our heroes jump through become increasingly surreal and hilarious." Bilge Ebiri, NY Times
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 73%
(56 reviews @ publish)
WHO'S IT (NOT) FOR?
For: you have kids and the only way to distract them from their phone, is to take them to a movie, about the games they play on their phone
(Not): you think humans were total angels before "the devil devices" came around and ruined everything (counterpoint: nazis)
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BLINDED BY THE LIGHT
AKA
"what happens to everyone around your parents whenever they try to use the flashlight app on their iPhone"
PG-13 / 1 hr 54 mins
Comedy-Drama / New Line (Warner Bros)
WHAT'S THE DEAL
In One Line: A (based on a true story) "feel good" movie about a British kid loving music from Bruce Springsteen so much it both creates and helps him deal with conflict in his life.
Just what do you remember about the music you liked as a teen? Sure, probably the lyrics. Yeah, the melodies too. But most likely, you remember the feeling. How could you not? You were basically a ball of feels and the best music helped explain them; that's essentially Blinded by the Light. A British kid in 1987 with Pakistani parents who become miffed at their son's sudden interest and reverence for The Boss, aka Bruce Springsteen. But the teen, Javed (Viveik Kalra in his first starring role) needs an outlet due to the intolerance and seemingly "no way out" path he feels he's on. Which all feels very forthright and earnest, which Blinded by the Light apparently is, but critics say that very much helps the movie vs hindering it. Because who doesn't want to feel like they felt when they were 16 and their favorite song came on.
REVIEWS
Say it's really quite delightful and even the cynical will have a hard time not enjoying themselves.
"You don't have to love Bruce Springsteen with the all-consuming passion of Sarfraz Manzoor, the U.K. journalist whose memoir was adapted for the screenplay of "Blinded By the Light," to find the film both deeply moving and utterly charming." - Ed Masley, Arizona Republic
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 92%
(106 reviews @ publish)
WHO'S IT (NOT) FOR?
For: you just wanna feel like there's some good left in the world
(Not): Eeyore acts positively jubilant compared to you
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47 METERS DOWN:
UNCAGED
AKA
"Cuz 154.2 Feet Down: Uncaged just doesn't have the same uh, ring to it?"
PG-13 / 1 hr 29 mins
Horror / Entertainment Studios
WHAT'S THE DEAL
In One Line: Sharks are scary, a sequel.
Look, no one wants to get eaten by a shark. So why do we get in the water? Because it's generally a good time and the chances of actually getting eaten by a shark are super low (like incredibly low). So why are we so damn scared of them when rationally we know attacks are so rare...
....? Ahem.
.....!!!!!! Bingo!
Movies. like. this. We can't exactly blame people. It's way more fun to watch a shark attack than to experience one (comfy theater seats and all), but just remember that when you're watching four young women get trapped with a school of uncharacteristically aggressive sharks while scuba diving in an underground cave that is in name only related to the original 47 Meters Down (starring Mandy Moore) that it's all fake. And very unlikely. And that sharks, should actually be way more afraid of us.
REVIEWS
"There's little in "47 Meters Down: Uncaged" that really sticks. The shocks, however, are consistently well-timed, and for the audience that seeks out a movie like this one that's probably enough." Owen Gleiberman, Variety
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 64%
(22 reviews @ publish)
WHO'S IT (NOT) FOR?
For: you watch Shark Week, even when it's not Shark Week
(Not): you're not even sure about the damn pool cuz WHO KNOWS where sharks be hidin
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ALREADY IN THEATERS + BOX OFFICE
(3-Day Weekend / Domestic Total - $ = millions)
1) Hobbs & Shaw ($25.3 / $108)
The Rock and Jason Statham F & F spinoff
66% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
2) Scary Stories To Tell... ($20.9) NEW
Creepy books turn into creepy movie
82% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
3) The Lion King ($20.2 / $473)
Live action(?) remake
53% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
4) Dora and The Lost City... ($17.4) NEW
Bilingual kiddie adventurer comes to life
81% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
5) Once Upon A Time... ($11.6 / $100)
Tarantino's take on Hollywood 1969
85% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
6) The Art of Racing In... ($8.1) NEW
Weepy dog movie
44% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
7) The Kitchen ($5.5) NEW
Mob movie where women are in charge
21% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
8) Spider-Man: Far... ($5.3 / $371)
New continent, same troubles
90% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
9) Toy Story 4 ($4.5 / $420)
Toys get new member / toys get existential
97% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
10) Bring the Soul ($2.4) NEW
K-Pop boy band doc
N/A RT - Trailer - Showtimes
ANGEL HAS FALLEN
Action movie where things go kablooie and pah pow! Third in the "Fallen" series.
READY OR NOT
A movie about a really messed up version of hide and seek. And during nuptials no less. Heaven forbid!
LIMITED RELEASE SPOTLIGHT
BRITTANY RUNS A MARATHON
Feel good story about woman taking control of her life, which includes... (see above). Apparently based on a true story and early reviews like it lots.
THE KILL TEAM
October 25, 2019
Young soldier (Nat Wolff) finds purpose in Afghanistan, but then finds a really messed up commanding officer (Alexander Skarsgård) and fellow gun toting Americans.
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LAST CHRISTMAS
November 8, 2019
Emilia Clarke (aka Khaleesi) and Henry Goulding (Crazy Rich Asians) get all sweet on your asses in an effort to usurp Love Actually as your favorite Xmas rom-com. Note: directed by Paul Feig (Bridesmaids, Ghostbusters) and written by... Emma Thompson??
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A HIDDEN LIFE
December 13, 2019
The next movie in Terrence Malick's quest to get make a movie out of every in his head before he dies... or something like that? This one takes a look at a Nazi dissenter.
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LITTLE WOMEN
December 25, 2019
The story you know (or do you?) as told by Greta Gerwig, her next movie after directing her first (and great), Lady Bird. Stars her two favs Saoirse Ronan and Timotée Chalamet, plus a bunch of others, including: Emma Watson, Meryl Streep, Florence Pugh, Laura Dern & plenty others.
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