Opening This Week (04 – 10 OCT 2010)

The fall season is in full swing now, boasting award worthy wide release films almost every weekend, and some indie films that are vying for attention as well. This week has plenty of the latter, but hardly any major wide releases that will be mentioned come Oscar season. Here are the films opening this weekend:

Secretariat (8 Oct, 2010)

Rated: PG

Starring: Diane Lane, John Malkovich, Dylan Walsh, Scott Green

Directed by: Randall Wallace

Plot Summary from IMDB: Housewife and mother Penny Chenery agrees to take over her ailing father’s Virginia-based Meadow Stables, despite her lack of horse-racing knowledge. Against all odds, Chenery, with the help of veteran trainer Lucien Laurin,  manages to navigate the male-dominated business, ultimately fostering the first Triple Crown winner in twenty-five years.

Chris’ Take: This looks like another Disney film that will try to overtly pull at your heartstrings with multiple slow-motion horse racing shots and overly-dramatic music. Look for there to be lots of people anxiously rising to their feet and cheering while you hear Randall Wallace’s voice in your head going, “Come on…you know you want to cry. Don’t you hear that music? Sure, I probably altered this story to make it much more dramatic and heart-wrenching, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t cry. Come on…..come on…” Most of us will be able to see through the smarmy nonsense, but I am sure that there will be a large quantity of tissues on the floor of the theater and no Oscars come awards season. It does however boast John Malkovich, who is rarely attached to an entirely terrible film.

Life as We Know It (8 Oct, 2010) #1 MOVIE TO AVOID THIS WEEKEND

Rated: PG-13

Starring: Katherine Heigl, Josh Duhamel, Jean Smart, Josh Lucas

Directed by: Greg Berlanti

Plot Summary from IMDB:  Two single adults become caregivers to an orphaned girl when their mutual best friends die in an accident.

Chris’ Take: Katherine Heigl will make another dud romantic comedy, continuing her streak of comic missteps that started with 27 Dresses, then The Ugly Truth, which was then immediately followed by Killers. Look for the same worn-out romantic-comedy gags and poopy-diaper gross out featured in every parenting/chick flick of the last 4 years or so.

My Soul to Take (8 Oct, 2010) MONDAY MOVIE

Rated: R

Starring: Max Theriot, John Magaro, Emily Meade, Nick Lashaway

Directed by: Wes Craven

Plot Summary from IMDB: A serial killer returns to his hometown to stalk seven children who share the same birthday as the date he was allegedly put to rest.

Chris’ Take: I don’t quite know what to make of this one. Part of me hold out hope that Wes Craven can bring something original and scary to the table like he did with Nightmare on Elm Street, but based on the cheesy previews I cannot say that this will be recommended pick for this weekend. Pac is more optimistic about this one and I will be able to tell you more after next Monday since we will be seeing this for the Monday movie next week.

Nowhere Boy (8 Oct, 2010) #1 RECOMMENDATION FOR THIS WEEKEND

Rated: R

Starring: Aaron Johnson, Kristin Scott Thomas, Thomas Sangster

Directed by: Sam Taylor Wood

Plot Summary from IMDB: A chronicle of John Lennon‘s childhood.

Chris’ Take: This film is a story that I am personally interested in. I am unfamiliar with the history of The Beatles before they were a band and I think Aaron Johnson is a great pick to play a young John Lennon. I am a huge Beatles fan and while I will probably end up waiting for DVD for this one, I think it will be the best movie opening this weekend.

It’s Kind of a Funny Story (8 Oct, 2010 – Limited)

Rated: PG-13

Starring: Keir Gilchrist, Zach Galifianakis, Emma Roberts

Directed by: Ryan Fleck, Anna Boden

Plot Summary from IMDB:  A clinically depressed teenager gets a new start after he checks himself into an adult psychiatric ward.

Chris’ Take: While this obviously offbeat comedy will not appeal to everyone, I think this will be an interesting and different film and am interested in seeing it. This will probably not offer obvious gags, but instead will appeal to an audience look for more subtle, quick-witted humor.

Stone (8 Oct, 2010)

Rated: R

Starring: Robert DeNiro, Edward Norton, Milla Jovovich

Directed by: John Curran

Plot Summary from IMDB: A convicted arsonist looks to manipulate a parole officer into a plan to secure his parole by placing his beautiful wife in the lawman’s path.

Chris’ Take: Based on the previews, I think this will be a film that is enjoyable and intruiging while watching it, but will be mostly forgettable. While I really like DeNiro and Norton, I am not sure how far this thriller will go and I don’t think it will defy any conventions or deliver something that will set it apart from other films this season. Norton has a smart movie sense though and just like John Malkovich with Secretariat, I don’t think he will pick something that is just plain bad.

OTHER LIMITED RELEASES

There are several other limited releases coming out this week as well including a documentary about the global economic meltdown, Inside Job, which is narrated by Matt Damon and has received great reviews so far.

As Good as Dead is a psychological thriller starring Carey Elwes of The Princess Bride, Kiss the Girls, and Saw fame, and a return to the silver screen by Andie MacDowell. The plot revolves around a fundamental loyalist seeking revenge for the murder of a religious leader, who kidnaps the person he think is responsible. This has been receiving mixed reviews, but might be worth a Netflix rental when it comes out.

Red White and Blue is an unrated thriller/slasher film that is receiving great early reviews (a rarity for slasher films) about a nymphomaniac who forms a hesitant bond with the first man she meets who doesn’t immediately want to sleep with her. But her past catches up to her when she starts being stalked by one of the men she recently slept with. Released for the Halloween season, this will, however, not make it to a lot of theaters due to its excessively graphic nature, but according to reviews is a new slasher masterpiece. So, for all you horror fans out there, this might be a good film to track down.