This week in theaters we have the all-star R-rated comedy "Office Christmas Party" and the political drama "Miss Sloane" starring Jessica Chastain. In limited release we have Damien Chazelle's awards contender "La La Land" starring Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling, and the suspenseful psychological drama "Frank & Lola" starring Michael Shannon and Imogen Poots. Also, expanding nationwide this week is Tom Ford's "Nocturnal Animals" starring Amy Adams and Jake Gyllenhaal.
Synopses, details, critical reception, trailers, clips and more after the jump.
OFFICE CHRISTMAS PARTY
Official Synopsis
In OFFICE CHRISTMAS PARTY, when the CEO (Jennifer Aniston) tries to close her hard-partying brother's branch, he (T.J. Miller) and his Chief Technical Officer (Jason Bateman) must rally their co-workers and host an epic office Christmas party in an effort to impress a potential client and close a sale that will save their jobs. The latest comedy from directors Josh Gordon and Will Speck (BLADES OF GLORY) co-stars Kate McKinnon, Olivia Munn, Jillian Bell, Rob Corddry, Vanessa Bayer, Randall Park, Sam Richardson, Jamie Chung, and Courtney B. Vance in the funniest movie of the holiday season.
Film Details
- Starring: Jason Bateman, T.J. Miller, Jennifer Aniston, Courtney B. Vance, Kate McKinnon, Olivia Munn, Jamie Chung, Randall Park, Vanessa Bayer, Rob Corddry, Jillian Bell, Abbey Lee
- Director: Josh Gordon, Will Speck
- Genre: Comedy
- Running Time: 105 min.
- Rating: R for crude sexual content and language throughout, drug use and graphic nudity
Critical Reception
- Rottentomatoes: 43% (46 fresh, 60 rotten, score: 4.9/10)
- Metacritic: 43 out of 100 (5 positive, 19 mixed, 9 negative).
"Office Christmas Party" is directed by two guys who have proven they can handle themselves in the field of comedy, it's rated R, so there are no limits, and it stars some of the best comedians working today in Hollywood. And yet, it's not that funny. In the end, it's just an overstuffed flick with not enough room for its talented cast to show off their comedy chops, and the script defaults to false sentimentality and cliches. A missed opportunity that may hold some appeal if you're not very demanding about your entertainment.
MISS SLOANE
Official Synopsis
In the high-stakes world of political power-brokers, Elizabeth Sloane (Jessica Chastain) is the most sought after and formidable lobbyist in D.C. Known equally for her cunning and her track record of success, she has always done whatever is required to win. But when she takes on the most powerful opponent of her career, she finds that winning may come at too high a price.
Film Details
- Starring: John Madden
- Director: Jessica Chastain, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Alison Pill, John Lithgow, Michael Stuhlbarg, Mark Strong, Sam Waterston
- Genre: Drama, Thriller
- Running Time: 132 min.
- Rating: R for language and some sexuality
Critical Reception
- Rottentomatoes: 66% (63 fresh, 32 rotten, score: 6.4/10)
- Metacritic: 64 out of 100 (20 positive, 14 mixed, 0 negative).
"Miss Sloane" wants to be a hard-hitting political drama, but ends up being a generic thriller. The only genuinely good thing about it is Jessica Chastain's award-caliber performance that manages to single-handedly elevate the film. Not an easy recommendation, unfortunately.
LA LA LAND
Official Synopsis
Written and directed by Academy Award (R) nominee Damien Chazelle, LA LA LAND tells the story of Mia [Emma Stone], an aspiring actress, and Sebastian [Ryan Gosling], a dedicated jazz musician, who are struggling to make ends meet in a city known for crushing hopes and breaking hearts. Set in modern day Los Angeles, this original musical about everyday life explores the joy and pain of pursuing your dreams.
Film Details
- Starring: Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Rosemarie DeWitt, J.K. Simmons, Sonoya Mizuno, Callie Hernandez, Tom Everett Scott
- Director: Damien Chazelle
- Genre: Comedy, Drama, Musical
- Running Time: 128 min.
- Rating: PG-13 for some language
Critical Reception
- Rottentomatoes: 96% (112 fresh, 5 rotten, score: 8.7/10)
- Metacritic: 89 out of 100 (33 positive, 2 mixed, 0 negative).
"La La Land" is a rare gem, a breath of fresh air, and a sure bet for next year's awards season. Featuring thrilling musical sequences, excellent performances from both Gosling and Stone, and an infinite resource of emotion, it's the definitive must-see cinematic experience.
FRANK & LOLA
Official Synopsis
An obsessive Las Vegas chef (Michael Shannon) falls in love with a mysterious woman (Imogen Poots), but an act of infidelity turns their relationship into a paranoid nightmare. Written and directed by Matthew Ross, Frank & Lola made its world premiere at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival.
Film Details
- Starring: Michael Shannon, Imogen Poots, Justin Long, Michael Nyqvist, Rosanna Arquette
- Director: Matthew Ross
- Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery
- Running Time: 88 min.
- Rating: Not rated
Critical Reception
- Rottentomatoes: 70% (19 fresh, 8 rotten, score: 6.3/10)
- Metacritic: 56 out of 100 (7 positive, 7 mixed, 2 negative).
"Frank and Lola" is a mixed bag. On the one hand it's got two talented leads that bolster the narrative, and some provocative ideas are thrown around, but on the other hand the script struggles so much to fit everything neatly that it turns into a bit of a numbing experience. Still, there's considerable suspense and it's quite a promising feature film debut for writer/director Matthew Ross.
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