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Friday, January 27, 2017

In Theaters: RESIDENT EVIL THE FINAL CHAPTER, A DOG'S PURPOSE, GOLD, I AM MICHAEL

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This week in theaters we have the final installment of the "Resident Evil" franchise starring Milla Jovovich, the heavily criticized film "A Dog's Purpose", and the adventure film "Gold" starring Matthew McConaughey in one of his "meatiest" roles. Also, in limited release check out the true story drama "I Am Michael" starring James Franco.

Synopses, details, critical reception, trailers, clips and more after the jump.


RESIDENT EVIL: THE FINAL CHAPTER


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Official Synopsis

The human race's last hope against apocalyptic obliteration is super soldier Alice (Milla Jovovich), but she's been stripped of her psychic powers. She must form alliances and rally survivors in Raccoon City for the climactic battle against the Umbrella Corporation and its ravenous hordes of the undead. This sixth installment of the video game-inspired franchise is directed by Paul W.S. Anderson (AWP: Alien vs. Predator).

Film Details

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  • Starring: Paul W.S. Anderson

  • Director: Milla Jovovich, Iain Glen, Ali Larter, Ruby Rose, Shawn Roberts, Eoin Macken, Rola, William Levy

  • Genre: Action, Horror, Sci-Fi

  • Running Time: 106 min.

  • Rating: R for sequences of violence throughout


Critical Reception

  • Rottentomatoes: 44% (11 fresh, 14 rotten, score: 4.8/10)
  • Metacritic: 54 out of 100 (5 positive, 5 mixed, 1 negative).

"Resident Evil: The Final Chapter" brings just enough closure to satisfy franchise fans, but it will most likely not be anything of interest for everyone else. Perhaps not the absolute worst of the year, mostly due to the fact that unlike "Underworld" it's more aware of how absurd it is, but it won't make it on anybody's "best of the year" lists, either.





A DOG'S PURPOSE


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Official Synopsis

"A Dog's Purpose" shares the soulful and surprising story of one devoted dog who finds the meaning of his own existence through the lives of the humans he teaches to laugh and love.

Film Details

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  • Starring: Josh Gad, Dennis Quaid, Peggy Lipton, K.J. Apa

  • Director: Lasse Hallström

  • Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Drama

  • Running Time: 120 min.

  • Rating: PG for thematic elements and some peril


Critical Reception

  • Rottentomatoes: 32% (20 fresh, 42 rotten, score: 4.7/10)
  • Metacritic: 43 out of 100 (5 positive, 14 mixed, 9 negative).

While many may think the scandal surrounding the way dogs were treated on the set of "A Dog's Purpose" might be the film's biggest problem, it isn't. Everything about it is manipulative and heavy-handed. It's not just tugging, but violently trying to rip your heartstrings out. It ends up being an awkward experience that you should avoid.





GOLD


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Official Synopsis

TWC-Dimension presents GOLD, a Black Bear Pictures and HWY61 production directed by Academy Award winner Stephen Gaghan (Syriana, Traffic) and produced by Teddy Schwarzman (The Imitation Game, All is Lost) for Black Bear Pictures and Michael Nozik (Syriana, The Motorcycle Diaries) for HWY61. Directed by Academy Award winner Stephen Gaghan (TRAFFIC, SYRIANA), the film stars Academy Award winner Matthew McConaughey (INTERSTELLAR, DALLAS BUYERS CLUB, THE WOLF OF WALL STREET) and Golden Globe nominees Edgar Ramirez (HANDS OF STONE, THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN) and Bryce Dallas Howard (JURASSIC WORLD, PETE'S DRAGON), Corey Stoll (Ant-Man, "House of Cards"), Toby Kebbell (Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, Fantastic Four), Bruce Greenwood (Star Trek, Capote), Golden Globe winner Stacy Keach (American History X, Nebraska), and a powerful ensemble cast. The screenplay for GOLD was written by Patrick Massett and John Zinman ("Friday Night Lights"), who also serve as producers. Executive producers are Paul Haggis (Crash, Million Dollar Baby), Ben Stillman, and Richard Middleton (The Artist, I Love You Phillip Morris) as well as Bob Weinstein, Harvey Weinstein and David Glasser. Key members of the production team include Academy Award winning director of photography Robert Elswit (There Will Be Blood, Syriana), Academy Award nominated production designer Maria Djurkovic (Tinker Tailor), and Academy Award nominated costume designer Danny Glicker (Milk).

Film Details

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  • Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Edgar Ramírez, Bryce Dallas Howard, Corey Stoll, Toby Kebbell

  • Director: Stephen Gaghan

  • Genre: Adventure, Drama, Thriller

  • Running Time: 121 min.

  • Rating: R for language throughout and some sexuality/nudity


Critical Reception

  • Rottentomatoes: 36% (31 fresh, 54 rotten, score: 5.2/10)
  • Metacritic: 50 out of 100 (11 positive, 17 mixed, 6 negative).

Despite one of Matthew McConaughey's best efforts, "Gold" is too uneven and lacks the necessary drive to carry audiences through its otherwise relevant true-life tale.





I AM MICHAEL


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Official Synopsis

I AM MICHAEL is the incredible true-life story of Michael Glatze (Franco), a high profile queer youth activist who created a national controversy when he claimed to no longer be gay and became a straight Christian pastor. The film follows Michael from his life in San Francisco with his boyfriend Bennett (Quinto), where he pursues political activism, a journalist career at XY Magazine, social awareness, and sexual exploration, to his days of personal self-discovery. After a traumatic scare, Michael is plagued by doubt and paranoia, and begins a religious reawakening. Michael renounces his gay lifestyle, rejects his friends, and endeavors to find his "true self." He explores Buddhism and Mormonism, yet ultimately lands at a Christian Bible school in rural Wyoming where he meets his girlfriend, Rebekah (Roberts), and becomes the pastor of his own church. This powerful new film captures one man's haunting journey through modern concepts of love, denial and redemption.

Film Details

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  • Starring: James Franco, Zachary Quinto, Emma Roberts, Daryl Hannah

  • Director: Justin Kelly

  • Genre: Biography, Drama

  • Running Time: 98 min.

  • Rating: Not Rated


Critical Reception

  • Rottentomatoes: 67% (18 fresh, 9 rotten, score: 6.1/10)
  • Metacritic: 56 out of 100 (6 positive, 9 mixed, 2 negative).

"I Am Michael" tackles a very difficult subject, and while it doesn't always hit its targets, it ends up a much more balanced effort than you might expect. It also benefits greatly from James Franco's excellent performance.







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