This is a Sci-Fi heavy week with not one but two films opening in the genre. But that is not all, so keep reading.
Seven Sisters
Directed by: Tommy Wirkola
With: Noomi Rapace, Willem Dafoe, Glenn Close, and , Marwan Kenzari
What is it about? In a world where families are limited to one child due to overpopulation, a set of identical septuplets must avoid being put to a long sleep by the government and dangerous infighting while investigating the disappearance of one of their own.
Heads Up: The early reviews are mixed to negative, citing a derivative plot yet a strong lead performance. I am not too excited about it, but I’d watch it if I have no better option.
Annabelle: Creation
Directed by: David F. Sandberg
With: Anthony LaPaglia, Samara Lee, Miranda Otto
What is it about? Several years after the tragic death of their little girl, a dollmaker and his wife welcome a nun and several girls from a shuttered orphanage into their home, soon becoming the target of the dollmaker’s possessed creation, Annabelle.
Heads Up: The first Annabelle was a terrible film, but just like Ouija before it, having an interesting director taking over a horror franchise might be just the solution. Admittingly, I was not so wowed by David F. Sandberg‘s first feature film Lights Out, but I still appreciated the vision behind it, and it seems he is on a hot streak with this one too. Watch it if you love horror films, but be prepared for freaky doll nightmares.
Attraction
Directed by: Fedor Bondarchuk
With: Irina Starshenbaum, Alexander Petrov, and Rinal Mukhametov
What is it about? After an alien ship crash lands onto a Russian city, many who saw it start to question their own existence while there are those who demand the aliens leave Earth.
Heads Up: This Russian Sci-Fi/Romance was a hit in Russia when it opened last January, and it’s playing in two versions: in Russian and in English. I thought the VFX shown in the trailer looked rather cheesy and showed nothing that we haven’t seen before. I say pass.
Paris Can Wait
Directed by: Eleanor Coppola
With: Diane Lane, Alec Baldwin, and Arnaud Viard
What is it about? The wife of a successful movie producer takes a car trip from the south of France to Paris with one of her husband’s associates.
Heads Up: Paris Can Wait was mostly panned by critics for its lack of interesting ideas and character. I’d say catch it on home viewing if you like the leads.
The Man with The Iron Heart
Directed by: Cédric Jimenez
With: Jason Clarke, Rosamund Pike, Jack O’Connell, Jack Reynor, and Mia Wasikowska
What is it about? 1942: The Third Reich is at its peak. The Czech resistance in London decides to plan the most ambitious military operation of WWII: Anthropoid. Two young recruits in their late twenties are sent to Prague to assassinate the most ruthless Nazi leader – Reich-protector Reinhard Heydrich, Head of the SS, the Gestapo, and the architect of the “Final Solution”.
Heads Up: Last year a movie called Anthropoid showed the same historic event, only that one’s focus was on the resistance, and this seems to give the target the starring role. The cast is stellar, so I’m intrigued.
Pilgrimage
Directed by: Brendan Muldowney
With: Tom Holland, Richard Armitage, Jon Bernthal
What is it about? In 13th century Ireland, a group of monks must escort a sacred relic across an Irish landscape fraught with peril.
Heads Up: Coming fresh from the success of Spider-Man: Homecoming, Tom Holland is playing a very different role in this historical drama. Reviews are decent, but not strong enough. I’d say wait for it to come out on VOD.
