This week in theaters, it's time to switch from the MCU to the DCEU, as "Suicide Squad" explodes on the big screen. If comic book movies aren't your thing, there's really not much to choose from this week, since few studios would dare face off against a comic book movie. But wait, it seems someone did dare to release an epic film called "Nine Lives" which is about Kevin Spacey turning into a cat. In limited release, things are a lot more interesting, with the animated film "The Little Prince" and the indie drama "Little Men" receiving a lot of positive reviews from critics. More about each movie after the jump.
Synopses, details, critical reception, trailers, clips and more after the jump.
SUICIDE SQUAD
Official Synopsis
From director David Ayer ("Fury," "End of Watch") comes "Suicide Squad," starring Oscar nominee Will Smith ("Ali," "The Pursuit of Happyness"), Oscar winner Jared Leto ("Dallas Buyers Club"), Margot Robbie ("The Wolf of Wall Street," "Focus"), Joel Kinnaman (Netflix's "House of Cards") and Oscar nominee Viola Davis ("The Help," "Doubt"). It feels good to be bad... Assemble a team of the world's most dangerous, incarcerated Super Villains, provide them with the most powerful arsenal at the government's disposal, and send them off on a mission to defeat an enigmatic, insuperable entity. U.S. intelligence officer Amanda Waller has determined only a secretly convened group of disparate, despicable individuals with next to nothing to lose will do. However, once they realize they weren't picked to succeed but chosen for their patent culpability when they inevitably fail, will the Suicide Squad resolve to die trying, or decide it's every man for himself?
Film Details
- Starring: Will Smith, Margot Robbie, Jared Leto, Jai Courtney, Joel Kinnaman, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Jay Hernandez, Karen Fukuhara, Adam Beach, Ike Barinholtz, Raymond Olubowale, Jim Parrack, Alex Meraz, Scott Eastwood, Ben Affleck, Common
- Director: David Ayer
- Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy
- Running Time: 123 min.
- Rating: PG-13 for sequences of violence and action throughout, disturbing behavior, suggestive content and language
Critical Reception
- Rottentomatoes: 26% (57 fresh, 159 rotten, score: 4.7/10)
- Metacritic: 41 out of 100 (11 positive, 25 mixed, 15 negative).
When a film such as this comes with a baggage of crushing expectations and high hopes from its already established fanbase, there are only two ways to go. Either you hit a home run, or you crash and burn. The interesting thing about "Suicide Squad" is that it seems to be going both ways, depending on who you ask.
The critics see it as a total failure. Despite a great cast and some good attempts at injecting humor into DC's gritty universe, the film suffers from a lackluster and occasionally incoherent narrative, a lack of genuine interest in the characters it throws onscreen and jarring tonal shifts.
It seems that all those reports about Warner Bros ordering reshoots were actually a bad omen. Either director David Ayer failed to find the right tone for the film, or the studios ruined it by unnecessarily tinkering with the final product.
Either way, the fans seemed to really like it. In fact, they have put together a petition demanding that Rotten Tomatoes be shut down because of the negative reviews that the film has been receiving. The petition has gathered 19,898 supporters, so far. On IMDb, the film holds a score of 7.3 out of 10 from 36,040 users.
Trailers, Clips, Posters and More
- 8 Clips and 29 Hi-Res Images
- 28 New Posters
- "Blitz" Trailer
- New International Trailer and 10 Posters
- Official Trailer and 12 Posters
- New Images Featuring Joker, Enchantress and Harley Quinn
- First Trailer and Pictures
- Set Videos Reveal Batmobile Chasing The Joker
- First Official Cast Images
- First Picture of Jared Leto as The Joker
- First Images of the Cast and Jared Leto's Joker
NINE LIVES
Official Synopsis
Tom Brand (Kevin Spacey) is a daredevil billionaire at the top of his game. His eponymous company FireBrand is nearing completion on its greatest achievement to date - the tallest skyscraper in the northern hemisphere. But Tom's workaholic lifestyle has disconnected him from his family, particularly his beautiful wife Lara (Jennifer Garner) and his adoring daughter Rebecca (Malina Weissman). Rebecca's 11th birthday is here, and she wants the gift she wants every year, a cat. Tom hates cats, but he is without a gift and time is running out. His GPS directs him to a mystical pet store brimming with odd and exotic cats- where the store's eccentric owner- Felix Perkins (Christopher Walken), presents him with a majestic tomcat, named Mr. Fuzzypants. En route to his daughter's party, Tom has a terrible accident. When he regains consciousness he discovers that somehow, he has become trapped inside the body of the cat. Adopted by his own family, he begins to experience what life is truly like for the family pet, and as a cat, Tom begins to see his family and his life through a new and unexpected perspective. Meanwhile, his family adjusts to life with an odd and stubborn cat, and his son David (Robbie Amell), steps up in ways Tom never expected. If any hope exists of returning to his family as the husband and father they deserve, Tom will have to learn why he has been placed in this peculiar situation and the great lengths he must go to earn back his human existence.
Film Details
- Starring: Jennifer Garner, Malina Weissman, Cheryl Hines, Christopher Walken, Robbie Amell
- Director: Barry Sonnenfeld
- Genre: Comedy, Family, Fantasy
- Running Time: 87 min.
- Rating: PG for thematic elements, language and some rude humor
Critical Reception
- Rottentomatoes: 10% (1 fresh, 9 rotten, score: 1.9/10)
- Metacritic: 21 out of 100 (0 positive, 1 mixed, 4 negative).
While "Suicide Squad" had the guts to face the critics and was shot down for it, the comedy "Nine Lives" wasn't screened for any member of the dreaded press. But, as the first few reviews have just begun to pop up online, it's becoming clear just how bad it really is. For Sonnenfeld, Spacey and Garner this is clearly a paycheck project, and it shows. One critic even said it's worse than the "Alvin" films. Another reviewer suggested that the Golden Raspberry Awards should take notice immediately. On a positive note, the kids will probably love it, but I pitty the poor souls who have to take them to see it.
Trailers, Clips, Posters and More
THE LITTLE PRINCE
Official Synopsis
At the heart of this adaptation of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s masterpiece is The Little Girl (Mackenzie Foy), who’s being prepared by her mother (Rachel McAdams) for the very grown-up world in which they live – only to be interrupted by her eccentric, kind-hearted neighbor, The Aviator (Jeff Bridges). The Aviator introduces his new friend to an extraordinary world where anything is possible. A world that he himself was initiated into long ago by The Little Prince (Riley Osborne). It’s here that The Little Girl’s magical and emotional journey into the universe of The Little Prince begins. And it’s where The Little Girl rediscovers her childhood and learns that ultimately, it’s human connections that matter most, and that it is only with heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.
Film Details
- Starring: Jeff Bridges, Rachel McAdams, Paul Rudd, James Franco, Marion Cotillard, Benicio del Toro, Ricky Gervais, Paul Giamatti, Albert Brooks, Mackenzie Foy
- Director: Mark Osborne
- Genre: Animation, Adventure, Drama
- Running Time: 108 min.
- Rating: PG for mild thematic elements
Critical Reception
- Rottentomatoes: 93% (64 fresh, 5 rotten, score: 7.4/10)
- Metacritic: 69 out of 100 (18 positive, 4 mixed, 0 negative).
"The Little Prince" is an antidote to the sensory overload of the summer blockbusters. According to the critics, this beautifully animated film (a blend of stop-motion and computer animation) is completely faithful to the spirit of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's classic novel without being a straight adaptation, and a wonderful experience for the whole family.
Trailers, Clips, Posters and More
LITTLE MEN
Official Synopsis
When 13-year-old Jake's (Theo Taplitz) grandfather dies, his family moves from Manhattan back into his father's old Brooklyn home. There, Jake befriends the charismatic Tony (Michael Barbieri), whose single mother Leonor (Paulina Garcia), a dressmaker from Chile, runs the shop downstairs. Soon, Jake's parents Brian (Greg Kinnear) and Kathy (Jennifer Ehle) -- one, a struggling actor, the other, a psychotherapist -- ask Leonor to sign a new, steeper lease on her store. For Leonor, the proposed new rent is untenable, and a feud ignites between the adults. At first, Jake and Tony don't seem to notice; the two boys, so different on the surface, begin to develop a formative kinship as they discover the pleasures of being young in Brooklyn. Jake aspires to be an artist, while Tony wants to be an actor, and they have dreams of going to the same prestigious arts high school together. But the children can't avoid the problems of their parents forever, and soon enough, the adult conflict intrudes upon the borders of their friendship.
Film Details
- Starring: Michael Barbieri, Theo Taplitz, Greg Kinnear, Jennifer Ehle, Paulina García, Alfred Molina, Talia Balsam
- Director: Ira Sachs
- Genre: Drama, Family
- Running Time: 85 min.
- Rating: PG for thematic elements, smoking and some language
Critical Reception
- Rottentomatoes: 95% (41 fresh, 2 rotten, score: 8.0/10)
- Metacritic: 86 out of 100 (24 positive, 2 mixed, 0 negative).
Quite possibly the best film of the week, "Little Men" tells a powerful story, features great performances, and packs a huge emotional impact. Beneath its deceptively simple appearance lies a thoughtful, nuanced drama. A must-see.
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