Do you believe in superstitions? Once again, my snap judgments about the movies releasing the week of Friday, the 13th of May, 2011.
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starring Paul Bettany, Cam Gigandet, Maggie Q, and Karl Urban. Directed by Scott Charles Stewart. Rated PG-13.
Looks like right crap.
Bettany badly needs to drop this recurring religious theme. Whether it be Charles Darwin in Creation or a butt-kicking angel in Legion, he seems to embrace the roles based on certain beliefs. Now he’s springing “the Batman voice” on us with this forsaken hero of some other graphic novel we’re all supposed to care about. As if having another comics-to-movie shoved down our throats isn’t enough, this one comes with intolerable CGI critters that pop out and snarl without a great sense of convincing physics or biology.
I think it’s time for Bettany – who really is a skilled actor (Proof: A Beautiful Mind) – to focus his talents to the world of stage performance. Either that, or hire a new agent.
LOST ME
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starring Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, and Melissa McCarthy. Directed by Paul Feig. Rated R.
This film’s been horrendously over-promoted for something that feels like a light snack (even if it is an R-rated comedy produced by Judd Apatow). McCarthy in particular deserves better. Say what you will about the dramedy series “Gilmore Girls” – McCarthy’s likable role of Sookie was much more of a plum than this blunt tomboy that inherits the fat jokes (and for that matter, than her part in the new Chuck Lorre sitcom “Mike & Molly” too). I’ve wanted her to succeed but not through this slight prejudice.
If you haven’t yet, read the early GTTM review for this film here.
LOST ME
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starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Devin Brochu, Natalie Portman, and Rainn Wilson. Directed by Spencer Susser. Rated R.
What can I say? I’m drawn to peculiar films with an askew moral compass. Gordon-Levitt is riding quite the wave in his career. This may be a hard film for some to watch, but movies with this kind of grit are a rarity.
GOT ME
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starring Shiloh Fernandez, Ashley Greene, Heath Freeman, and James LeGros. Directed by Anthony Burns. Rated PG-13.
I am so bored of coming-of-age high school films set 20-30 years ago. At least Adventureland had Bill Hader. His contribution as comic relief wasn’t much, but it at the least brought some freshness to the table.
LOST ME
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starring Will Ferrell, Rebecca Hall, Christopher Jordan Wallace, and Laura Dern. Directed by Dan Rush. Rated R.
When I learned that Ferrell was going to be in a comedy about a yard sale, I wasn’t expecting something so down to Earth. The overall concept rings false (Fired and abandoned by the wife on the same day, huh? Alright…) but not without some possible bursts of insight. This already seems like an underrated gem.
GOT ME
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Return next Monday to find out my GOT ME/LOST MEs for the week of May 20th.