This week in theaters we have two new wide releases that someone, somewhere, decided not to screen to critics. The first is the Blumhouse horror "Incarnate" about an exorcism with a twist, and the other one is the faith-based drama "Believe" that's ready to give you some holiday spirit. In limited release we have the brilliant biopic "Jackie" starring Natalie Portman, and the post-apocalyptic drama "Man Down" starring Shia LaBeouf.
Synopses, details, critical reception, trailers, clips and more after the jump.
INCARNATE
Official Synopsis
After a single mother (Carice van Houten) witnesses terrifying symptoms of demonic possession in her 11-year-old son (David Mazouz), a Vatican representative (Catalina Sandino Moreno) calls on wheelchair-bound scientist Dr. Seth Ember (Aaron Eckhart) to rid him of the evil spirit. Driven by a personal agenda rooted in his own tragic past, Ember enters the boy's unconscious mind where he confronts a demon as ferocious as it is ingenious.
Film Details
- Starring: Aaron Eckhart, David Mazouz, Carice van Houten, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Emjay Anthony
- Director: Brad Peyton
- Genre: Horror, Thriller
- Running Time: 91 min.
- Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of horror violence, terror, disturbing images, brief strong language, sensuality and thematic elements
Critical Reception
- Rottentomatoes: 30% (2 fresh, 7 rotten, score: 3.7/10)
- Metacritic: 34 out of 100 (0 positive, 4 mixed, 2 negative).
One of the lesser horror films produced by Jason Blum, "Incarnate" wasn't screened for critics, which was a clear indication of what we should expect from this film. From the few reviews that have started to appear online, the film isn't really that bad, but it's not good either. It sounds like it's a mess really, with a thick plot and thin characters, there's little here to merit attention, but Aaron Eckhart does provide a committed performance that the film doesn't seem to deserve.
BELIEVE
Official Synopsis
In a small town going through tough economic times, business owner Matthew Peyton (Ryan O'Quinn) struggles between his desire for financial success and the responsibility of funding the annual Christmas pageant. Desperate business decisions ruin his popularity and angry employees seek their revenge. But when Matthew meets Clarence (Isaac Ryan Brown), a joyful boy who believes in miracles, he must make a choice: do what's best for himself or give faith a chance by opening his heart to help his new friend and his community.
Film Details
- Starring: Ryan O'Quinn, Isaac Ryan Brown, Shawnee Smith, Danielle Nicolet
- Director: Billy Dickson
- Genre: Drama
- Running Time: 119 min.
- Rating: PG for some violence, thematic elements and brief mild language
Critical Reception
- Rottentomatoes: N/A
- Metacritic: N/A
"Believe" is yet another new wide release that wasn't screened for critics. This one is a faith-based drama, so it definitely has its target demographic all mapped out. If you absolutely want to see it, adjust your expectations, just in case.
JACKIE
Official Synopsis
JACKIE is a searing and intimate portrait of one of the most important and tragic moments in American history, seen through the eyes of the iconic First Lady, then Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy (Natalie Portman). JACKIE places us in her world during the days immediately following her husband's assassination. Known for her extraordinary dignity and poise, here we see a psychological portrait of the First Lady as she struggles to maintain her husband's legacy and the world of "Camelot" that they created and loved so well.
Film Details
- Starring: Natalie Portman, Caspar Phillipson, Peter Sarsgaard, Greta Gerwig, Richard E. Grant, Beth Grant, John Carroll Lynch, John Hurt
- Director: Pablo Larraín
- Genre: Biography, Drama
- Running Time: 99 min.
- Rating: R for brief strong violence and some language
Critical Reception
- Rottentomatoes: 88% (77 fresh, 11 rotten, score: 8.0/10)
- Metacritic: 79 out of 100 (23 positive, 7 mixed, 0 negative).
"Jackie" is a mesmerizing portrait of one of America's most beloved public figures fueled by a powerful performance from Natalie Portman.
Clips, Images, Posters and More
MAN DOWN
Official Synopsis
When U.S. Marine Gabriel Drummer (Shia LaBeouf) returns home from his tour in Afghanistan, he finds that the place he once called home is no better than the battlefields he fought on overseas. Accompanied by his best friend Devin Roberts (Jai Courtney), a hardnosed Marine whose natural instinct is to shoot first and ask questions later, he searches desperately for the whereabouts of his estranged son, Johnathan (Charlie Shotwell), and wife, Natalie (Kate Mara). In their search, the two intercept Charles (Clifton Collins Jr.), a man carrying vital information about the whereabouts of Gabriel's family. As we revisit the past, we are guided in unraveling the puzzle of Gabriel's experience and what will eventually lead us to finding his family. The psychological suspense thriller MAN DOWN also stars Gary Oldman.
Film Details
- Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Jai Courtney, Kate Mara, Clifton Collins Jr., Gary Oldman, Tory Kittles
- Director: Dito Montiel
- Genre: Drama, Thriller
- Running Time: 92 min.
- Rating: R for some disturbing violence, and language throughout
Critical Reception
- Rottentomatoes: 10% (3 fresh, 27 rotten, score: 3.6/10)
- Metacritic: 26 out of 100 (0 positive, 3 mixed, 8 negative).
Director Dito Montiel's films aren't particularly known for their exceptional qualities. His feature film debut, the autobiographical "A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints", landed him some recognition in 2006, but his following films have been lackluster, to say the least. "Man Down" is no different. The film squanders Shia LaBeouf's strong performance on a modest script that fails to properly balance the dramatic and post-apocalyptic thriller elements.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please keep the comments as civilised as possible, and refrain from spamming. All comments will be moderated. Thank you !