Seasons are changing and this is is very clear in the films coming out this weekend. As always in early fall, we still have a mix of summer fare and the more serious fall films that are beginning to trickle out. The new releases are overwhelming in term of quantity, so try to keep up.
Bridget Jone’s Baby
Directed by: Sharon Maguire
With: Renee Zellweger, Colin Firth, Emma Thompson, and Patrick Dempsey
What is it about? Breaking up with Mark Darcy leaves Bridget Jones over 40 and single again. Feeling that she has everything under control, Jones decides to focus on her career as a top news producer. Suddenly, her love life comes back from the dead when she meets a dashing and handsome American named Jack. Things couldn’t be better, until Bridget discovers that she is pregnant. Now, the befuddled mom-to-be must figure out if the proud papa is Mark or Jack.
Heads Up: 15 years ago, Bridget Jone’s Diary translated from a very beloved book to an equally loved film. Granted it spun a dreadful sequel, but Rennee Zellweger and company were charming, funny, and entertaining. The news of a third film was not warmly embraced especially that the trailer was not all that funny; just a rehash of the first film with a baby in as the motivator. That said the reviews are overwhelmingly good, and so is the excellent cast. There has not been a very good Rom-Com out for a while, so I am cautiously curious and hopeful.
Snowden
Directed by: Oliver Stone
With: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Shailene Woodley, Tom Wilkinson, and Nicolas Cage
What is it about? The controversial true story of NSA employee Edward Snowden. Written and directed by Oliver Stone the film chronicles the rise of Snowden inside the intelligence community and how he risked everything to steal classified files and leaked thousands of classified documents to the world press.
Heads Up: Oliver Stone is back with yet another controversial film. This one is about the frightening information leak by Edward Snowden. Critics are mixed on this film, but it is a very important film to watch. We have other horror offerings out this weekend, but this one here shows the true horror and paranoia that came true about our times.
Blair Witch
Directed by: Adam Wingard
With: James Allen McCune, Callie Hernandez, Wes Robinson
What is it about? After discovering a video showing what he believes to be his sister’s experiences in the demonic woods of the Blair Witch, James and a group of friends head to the forest in search of his lost sibling.
Heads Up: In 1999 Blair Witch Project was a smash-hit and essentially established the found-footage genre. This third film in the series was kept as a secret until weeks ago. Adam Wingard directed a few good horror films, and the reviews are decent, so I think it will satisfy fans of the original.
The Beatles : Eight Days a Week -The Touring Years
Directed by: Ron Howard
With: Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, John Lennon, and George Harrison
What is it about? A compilation of found footage featuring music, interviews and stories of the Beatles 250 concerts from 1963 to 1966.
Heads Up: A documentary about the Beatles directed by Ron Howard. Reviews are overwhelmingly positive, so if you are interested in the subject, check it out.
When The Bough Breaks
Directed by: Jon Cassar
With: Morris Chestnut, Regina Hall, and Jaz Sinclair
What is it about? A surrogate mom for a couple becomes dangerously obsessed with the soon-to-be father.
Heads Up: This is yet another thriller aimed at a limited audience ala Obsessed and No Good Deed. The trailer makes this look like a poor man’s Fatal Attraction. The reviews are terrible. So I would say STRONGLY AVOID!
Pink
Directed by: Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury
With: Amitabh Bachchan, Taapsee Pannu, Kirti Kulhari, and Angad Bedi
What is it about? A courtroom thriller drama of three young girls, in their mid 20s, and an aged lawyer copes with an unusual case of drama, deceit and lies.
Heads Up: The trailer is quite intriguing. It shows how women are at disadvantage at the eyes of the law, the media, and the society especially if they are deemed of a questionable moral character. I am very curious to see this one.
