A slew of new releases are coming out this weekend 2 weeks before the most anticipated film of the year (sorry Star Wars IX), as if they want to get out of the way before their lunch is eaten. Let’s see if we can find a film or two that we like, so keep reading.
Hellboy
Directed by: Neil Marshall
With: David Harbour, Milla Jovovich, Sasha Lane, Daniel Dae Kim, and Ian McShane,
What is it about? Hellboy prepares to stop a powerful and ancient medieval sorceress who seeks to destroy all of mankind.
Heads Up? Seen as a needless reboot of a revered franchise, the new Hellboy is not exactly highly anticipated, especially that Guillermo del Toro is not involved. Neil Marshall has only one beloved film under his belt (The Descent) and is mostly relegated now to directing TV, and many view David Harbour as a step down from the original Hellboy Ron Perlman. The reviews are disastrous, so I’m personally gonna avoid it, and I think you should too.
Little
Directed by: Tina Gordon
With: Regina Hall, Issa Rae, and Marsai Martin
What is it about? A woman is transformed into her younger self at a point in her life when the pressures of adulthood become too much to bear.
Heads Up? Body-swapping comedies are not exactly an original concept (Big, Freaky Friday, 13 Going on 30, 17 Again) and this one shares the same high concept. What’s working in this film’s favor is the trio of very talented actresses, so I am hopeful this will be good.
Captive State
Directed by: Rupert Wyatt
With: John Goodman, Ashton Sanders, Jonathan Majors, and Vera Farmiga
What is it about? Set in a Chicago neighborhood nearly a decade after an occupation by an extra-terrestrial force, Captive State explores the lives on both sides of the conflict – the collaborators and dissidents.
Heads Up? Rupert Wyatt the director of Rise of the Planet of the Apes has made another Sci-Fi film about the fight for taking back our planet. The film is an utter disaster from a box-office viewpoint, and the reviews are not great either. That said, I am still curious about it merely for the goodwill toward Mr. Wyatt because of his previous work.
(Editor: Please watch 2008’s The Escapist if you haven’t already)
Dragged Across Concrete
Directed by: S. Craig Zahler
With: Mel Gibson, Vince Vaughn, Tory Kittles, and Don Johnson
What is it about? Once two overzealous cops get suspended from the force, they must delve into the criminal underworld to get their proper compensation.
Heads Up? S. Craig Zahler previously directed Bone Tomahawk, and Brawl in Cell Block 99, which were very violent and very long genera films, and Dragged Across Concrete is not any different, with a run time of 159 min and a hard R rating. I think this is a film that should be seen at home because it will be censored. Also a warning should be made as it’s not for the squeamish or faint of heart.
The Aftermath
Directed by: James Kent
With: Keira Knightley, Alexander Skarsgård, and Jason Clarke
What is it about? Post World War II, a British colonel and his wife are assigned to live in Hamburg during the post-war reconstruction, but tensions arise with the German who previously owned the house.
Heads Up? A period romance drama with beautiful stars that, if we go by reviews, went awry. Unless you are a big fan of period drama, I’d say pass on this one too.
After
Directed by: Jenny Gage
With: Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Josephine Langford, and Selma Blair
What is it about? A young woman falls for a guy with a dark secret and the two embark on a rocky relationship.
Heads Up? Based on the novel by Anna Todd, this is basically a teen romance between a beautiful innocent girl who falls for the “rebellious” bad boy; a very old and tired premise. I’d say don’t bother unless you are looking for a date movie.
