This week in theaters, we have the movie to end all movies, "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story", a definite box-office record-breaker. One of 2016's best films, "Manchester by the Sea" expands nationwide, and it's really a film you shouldn't miss, unless you're a "Star Wars" fan. Also in wide release we have the shameless tearjerker "Collateral Beauty" starring Will Smith. In limited release you can check out the supernatural thriller "Solace" starring Anthony Hopkins and Colin Farrell, a movie that's been around for a couple of years in Europe.
Synopses, details, critical reception, trailers, clips and more after the jump.
ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY
Official Synopsis
From Lucasfilm comes the first of the Star Wars standalone films, "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story," an all-new epic adventure. In a time of conflict, a group of unlikely heroes band together on a mission to steal the plans to the Death Star, the Empire's ultimate weapon of destruction. This key event in the Star Wars timeline brings together ordinary people who choose to do extraordinary things, and in doing so, become part of something greater than themselves.
Film Details
- Starring: Felicity Jones, Mads Mikkelsen, Ben Mendelsohn, Diego Luna, Donnie Yen, Forest Whitaker, Alan Tudyk, Wen Jiang, Riz Ahmed, Genevieve O'Reilly
- Director: Gareth Edwards
- Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
- Running Time: 134 min.
- Rating: PG-13 for extended sequences of sci-fi violence and action
Critical Reception
- Rottentomatoes: 85% (214 fresh, 39 rotten, score: 7.5/10)
- Metacritic: 66 out of 100 (34 positive, 13 mixed, 3 negative).
"Rogue One" is a bold step forward for the franchise, offering new story set in the "Star Wars" universe that, despite its flaws, offers enough thrills and lore to please fans and justify future spinoffs.
MANCHESTER BY THE SEA
Official Synopsis
After the death of his older brother Joe (Kyle Chandler), Lee Chandler (Casey Affleck) is shocked to learn that Joe has made him sole guardian of his nephew Patrick (Lucas Hedges). Taking leave of his job, Lee reluctantly returns to Manchester-by-the-Sea to care for Patrick, a spirited 16-year-old, and is forced to deal with a past that separated him from his wife Randi (Michelle Williams) and the community where he was born and raised. Bonded by the man who held their family together, Lee and Patrick struggle to adjust to a world without him.
Film Details
- Starring: Casey Affleck, Lucas Hedges, Michelle Williams, Kyle Chandler, Gretchen Mol
- Director: Kenneth Lonergan
- Genre: Drama
- Running Time: 137 min.
- Rating: R for language throughout and some sexual content
Critical Reception
- Rottentomatoes: 97% (155 fresh, 5 rotten, score: 8.9/10)
- Metacritic: 96 out of 100 (48 positive, 1 mixed, 0 negative).
"Manchester by the Sea" is a powerful drama featuring an amazing cast that delivers unforced performances, and a script that crafts rich, authentic characters. It's one to keep an eye on this coming awards season.
COLLATERAL BEAUTY
Official Synopsis
When a successful New York advertising executive suffers a great tragedy he retreats from life. While his concerned friends try desperately to reconnect with him, he seeks answers from the universe by writing letters to Love, Time and Death. But it's not until his notes bring unexpected personal responses that he begins to understand how these constants interlock in a life fully lived, and how even the deepest loss can reveal moments of meaning and beauty.
Film Details
- Starring: Will Smith, Helen Mirren, Keira Knightley, Jacob Latimore, Kate Winslet, Edward Norton, Michael Pena, Naomie Harris, Ann Dowd
- Director: David Frankel
- Genre: Drama
- Running Time: 97 min.
- Rating: PG-13 for thematic elements and brief strong language
Critical Reception
- Rottentomatoes: 13% (11 fresh, 75 rotten, score: 3.5/10)
- Metacritic: 23 out of 100 (2 positive, 10 mixed, 23 negative).
"Collateral Beauty" is one huge, steaming mess of a movie. Boasting a huge collection of talented actors, the film wastes their skill on a cheesy, ridiculous script that can't find the right tone and ends up being a completely misguided meditation on grief.
SOLACE
Official Synopsis
When FBI Special Agent Joe Merriwether (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) is unable to solve a series of homicides, he decides to enlist the help of his former colleague Dr. John Clancy (Anthony Hopkins), a retired physician with psychic powers. The reclusive Clancy, who shuttered his practice and retreated from the world following the death of his daughter and subsequent break-up of his marriage, wants nothing to do with the case. He soon changes his mind after seeing disturbingly violent visions of Joe's partner, FBI Special Agent Katherine Cowles's (Abbie Cornish) ultimate demise. When Clancy's exceptional intuitive powers put him on the trail of a suspect, Charles Ambrose (Colin Farrell), the doctor soon realizes his abilities are no match against the extraordinary powers of this vicious murderer on a mission.
Film Details
- Starring: Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Abbie Cornish, Matt Gerald, Xander Berkeley, Janine Turner
- Director: Afonso Poyart
- Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery
- Running Time: 101 min.
- Rating: R for violence and bloody images throughout, sexuality, nudity and language
Critical Reception
- Rottentomatoes: 24% (9 fresh, 29 rotten, score: 4.0/10)
- Metacritic: 37 out of 100 (1 positive, 5 mixed, 5 negative).
"Solace" is the same kind of supernatural thriller you've seen before, only with a somewhat better cast. Its by-the-numbers structure features cliches and ridiculous twists, but it may provide some suitable thrills for genre fans.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please keep the comments as civilised as possible, and refrain from spamming. All comments will be moderated. Thank you !