This week in theaters it's time for Disney to once again make a lot of money with their guaranteed-to-be-a-hit animated feature "Moana". For grown-ups we have the wartime romance "Allied" starring Brad Pitt and Marion Cotillard, the R-rated comedy sequel "Bad Santa 2", and Warren Beatty's new film "Rules Don't Apply".
Synopses, details, critical reception, trailers, clips and more after the jump.
MOANA
Official Synopsis
Three thousand years ago, the greatest sailors in the world voyaged across the vast Pacific, discovering the many islands of Oceania. But then, for a millennium, their voyages stopped - and no one knows exactly why. From Walt Disney Animation Studios comes "Moana," a sweeping, CG-animated feature film about an adventurous teenager who sails out on a daring mission to save her people. During her journey, Moana (voice of Auli'i Cravalho) meets the mighty demigod Maui (voice of Dwayne Johnson), who guides her in her quest to become a master wayfinder. Together, they sail across the open ocean on an action-packed voyage, encountering enormous monsters and impossible odds, and along the way, Moana fulfills the ancient quest of her ancestors and discovers the one thing she's always sought: her own identity. Directed by the renowned filmmaking team of Ron Clements and John Musker ("The Little Mermaid," "Aladdin," "The Princess & the Frog"), produced by Osnat Shurer ("Lifted," "One Man Band"), and featuring music by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mark Mancina and Opetaia Foa'i, "Moana" sails into U.S. theaters on Nov. 23, 2016.
Film Details
- Starring: Auli'i Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson, Rachel House, Temuera Morrison, Jemaine Clement, Nicole Scherzinger, Alan Tudyk
- Director: Ron Clements, Don Hall, John Musker, Chris Williams
- Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy
- Running Time: 103 min.
- Rating: PG for peril, some scary images and brief thematic elements
Critical Reception
- Rottentomatoes: 98% (117 fresh, 3 rotten, score: 8.0/10)
- Metacritic: 81 out of 100 (39 positive, 2 mixed, 0 negative).
"Moana" is another big hit for Disney as a solo, non-Pixar project. The film has already scored some amazing reviews and should be unstoppable at the box-office. Guaranteed to work extremely well for the entire family.
ALLIED
Official Synopsis
The story of intelligence officer Max Vatan, who in 1942 North Africa encounters French Resistance fighter Marianne Beausejour on a deadly mission behind enemy lines. Reunited in London, their relationship is threatened by the extreme pressures of the war.
Film Details
- Starring: Brad Pitt, Marion Cotillard, August Diehl, Jared Harris, Simon McBurney, Matthew Goode, Lizzy Caplan
- Director: Robert Zemeckis
- Genre: Action, Drama, Romance
- Running Time: 124 min.
- Rating: R for violence, some sexuality/nudity, language and brief drug use
Critical Reception
- Rottentomatoes: 62% (73 fresh, 45 rotten, score: 6.4/10)
- Metacritic: 60 out of 100 (22 positive, 18 mixed, 3 negative).
Despite the heavy-caliber talent involved, "Allied" proves to be a mediocre achievement, a wartime romance that buckles under the weight of cliches and a tepid pace. Strictly for fans of Pitt and Cotillard.
BAD SANTA 2
Official Synopsis
BAD SANTA 2 returns Academy Award (R)-winner BILLY BOB THORNTON to the screen as America's favorite anti-hero, Willie Soke. Fueled by cheap whiskey, greed and hatred, Willie teams up once again with his angry little sidekick, Marcus (TONY COX), to knock off a Chicago charity on Christmas Eve. Along for the ride is 'the kid' - chubby and cheery Thurman Merman (BRETT KELLY), a 250-pound ray of sunshine who brings out Willie's sliver of humanity. Mommy issues arise when the pair are joined by Academy Award (R), Golden Globe and Emmy-winner KATHY BATES, as Willie's horror story of a mother, Sunny Soke. A super butch super bitch, Sunny raises the bar for the gang's ambitions, while somehow lowering the standards of criminal behavior. Willie is further burdened by lusting after the curvaceous and prim Diane, played by Emmy Award-nominee CHRISTINA HENDRICKS, the charity director with a heart of gold and libido of steel. You better watch out: BAD SANTA 2 is coming to town.
Film Details
- Starring: Billy Bob Thornton, Tony Cox, Kathy Bates, Christina Hendricks, Brett Kelly, Octavia Spencer, Mike Starr
- Director: Mark Waters
- Genre: Comedy, Crime, Drama
- Running Time: 92 min.
- Rating: R for crude sexual content and language throughout, and some graphic nudity
Critical Reception
- Rottentomatoes: 25% (20 fresh, 61 rotten, score: 4.3/10)
- Metacritic: 40 out of 100 (5 positive, 14 mixed, 9 negative).
"Bad Santa 2" is just plain bad. Don't even bother with this one. It misses the mark on both heart and humor, assaulting viewers with forced raunchy gags and a weak story. In the end, it feels like more of the same, but not as good.
RULES DON'T APPLY
Official Synopsis
An aspiring young actress (Lily Collins) and her ambitious young driver (Alden Ehrenreich) struggle hopefully with the absurd eccentricities of the wildly unpredictable billionaire Howard Hughes (Warren Beatty) for whom they work. It's Hollywood, 1958. Small town beauty queen, songwriter, and devout Baptist virgin Marla Mabrey (Collins), under contract to the infamous Howard Hughes (Beatty), arrives in Los Angeles. At the airport, she meets her driver Frank Forbes (Ehrenreich), who is engaged to be married to his 7th grade sweetheart and is a deeply religious Methodist. Their instant attraction not only puts their religious convictions to the test, but also defies Hughes' #1 rule: no employee is allowed to have any relationship whatsoever with a contract actress. Hughes' behavior intersects with Marla and Frank in very separate and unexpected ways, and as they are drawn deeper into his bizarre world, their values are challenged and their lives are changed.
Film Details
- Starring: Lily Collins, Alden Ehrenreich, Warren Beatty, Haley Bennett, Taissa Farmiga, Matthew Broderick, Candice Bergen, Paul Sorvino, Martin Sheen, Annette Bening
- Director: Warren Beatty
- Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
- Running Time: 126 min.
- Rating: PG-13 for sexual material including brief strong language, thematic elements, and drug references
Critical Reception
- Rottentomatoes: 57% (50 fresh, 37 rotten, score: 6.1/10)
- Metacritic: 60 out of 100 (19 positive, 16 mixed, 2 negative).
Warren Beatty's comeback as a director, writer and star is not as stellar as its impressive cast. The film shows signs of intelligence and there are interesting moments, but it just doesn't add up to more than average entertainment.
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