Movies this Weekend! 1/23/09

Hey.. this is post #300 for the blog!  I’m surprised I’ve made it this far, and I’ve really been slacking in the way that I’ve been posting.  No excuse for that, and I pledge to continue to get back on the right track, but make no promises.  In any case, I actually have a movie review for when I finally get to writing that, but first, let’s take a look at the movies that are out this coming weekend.

First up, we’ve got:

Frost Nixon - Directed by Ron Howard, Rated R

Frost/Nixon is the story of the battle between Richard Nixon, the disgraced former president, and up and coming journalist David Frost.  For nearly three years after he was forced from office, Nixon remained silent about what actually happened in the Watergate scandal.  However, he shocked the nation when he agreed to an all-inclusive interview, and selected David Frost to be the one to conduct the interview.  Nixon expected to easily outwit the journalist, and there were doubts even from his own staff that David Frost would be able to hold his own.  What happened instead was an epic battle of wits as Frost worked hard to get the truth as to what really happened.

Next up.. a fantasy based on the book by Corneila Funke, Inkheart (aff)

Inkheart - Directed by Iain Softley, Rated PG

A young girl finds out that her father can pull characters out of books and bring them to life.  However, when an evil character takes her dad hostage, she must assume the role of hero and try to rescue her dad.  There are a few good characters who will help her out along the way.

Now, another movie coming to wide release:

Revolutionary Road - Directed by Sam Mendes, Rated R

Frank and April meet at a party, get married, and to the outside world, seem like they have the perfect family.  However, that facade hides the turmoil that really exists in their lives, as their marriage falls apart.  To add to it, Frank works a job that he hates, and April feels that they don’t belong where they are.  Their realtor doesn’t see this, and introduces the family to her unstable son, hoping to bring some normalcy to his life.  The audience gets to watch as Frank and April’s lives unwind.

Lastly, one that I’m looking forward to….

Underworld 3: Rise of the Lycans - Directed by Patrick Tatopoulos

The prequel to the previous films in the horror/action series, it tells the story of Lucien.  Lucien is a werewolf, tired of his people’s enslavement by the vampires, decides to fight against their masters, despite his love of Sonja, the daughter of the vampire Viktor.

Joe’s Weekend Outlook

I can see it being busy this weekend, but I doubt it will be as the holiday season has passed, and those gift cards are likely running on empty.  The major draw of the weekend will likely be Underworld, but personally, I think it took too long for the limited releases to go wide.  Both were apparently excellent films (I’m talking about Revolutionary Road and Frost/Nixon if you didn’t pick that up), but I think that their appeal has dropped off.  I don’t know if the awards they won will help them, but I doubt it will be enough for them to make the impact that they should have.  Frost/Nixon could have actually drawn on the inauguration of the new President of the United States, but it appears that they’ve squandered that opportunity.  I’m sticking with Underworld for the top pick this weekend.

Don’t wait. Guarantee your seat before you go and avoid a sold out show. Skip the box office lines and buy movie tickets at Fandango.com.

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Movies This Weekend! 1/9/09

2009 made a bit of a bang at the box office as you can tell from our Weekend Wrap Up, but it felt weird because there were no new movies released.  However, it looks like the studios are trying to pick up right where they left off, with 5 movies going wide this weekend.  Will these films help make the beginning of the 2009 new movie season a success?  Let’s take a look:

Bride Wars - Rated PG, Directed by Gary Winick.

Weddings can bring out the best and the worst in people.  Bride Wars has been likened to the TV show Bridezillas, and if you’ve seen that, you should know what to expect!  Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway portray two best friends turned foes when they schedule their weddings on the same day.  This comedy shows what weddings can really do to your friendship if you let it happen!

Gran Torino - Rated R, Directed by Clint Eastwood.

Clint Eastwood plays a grizzled Korean war veteran who forms a friendship with a young Hmong man and his immigrant family.  Eastwood’s character refuses to move along with the times, holding onto ideals that have long passed, and staying in the same neighborhood despite the ever-changing demographic.  When his prized muscle car is nearly stolen as part of a gang initiation, Walt Kalwalski (Eastwood), must grapple with the realities around him, and the racism that he’s developed over the years.

Not Easily Broken - Rated PG-13, Directed by Bill Duke.

A relationship drama about a couple whose marriage is falling apart.  Based on Not Easily Broken: A Novel (aff) by T.D. Jakes.  Jakes also serves as a producer on this film.

Reader - Rated R, Directed by Stephen Daldry.

The story of Hanna Schmitz and Michael Berg.  Hanna has an affair with a young boy (Berg), with the two spending their short time together making love and reading literature.  When Hanna disapperas, Berg continues on with his life, but runs into her again about 10 years later.  However, she is on trial for her work as a S.S. guard during the war.  Berg is torn over what to do as he may know a secret that could save her life, yet feels that justice should be served.

Unborn - Rated PG-13, Directed by David Goyer.

Casey Beldon always hated her mother for leaving her as a child.  However, after strange and terrifying events begin to occur, she starts to understand why her mother left.  Beldon turns to her spiritual advisor Sendak, to try to make her nightmares stop.  With his help, Beldon uncovers a family curse that dates back to the days of the Nazis, a creature that can inhabit anything, and becomes stronger with each possession.  Her only hope is to close a door that has been pried open by someone who has never been born.

Joe’s Weekend Outlook

Personally, I think it’s a little early for a horror movie, and I feel that Bride Wars is actually the most appropriate movie for this time of the year.  However, the rating of the Unborn makes it a perfect weekend movie for the tweenage crowd, and the bane of my life.  I think you’d be surprised how much the rating of a movie actually makes a difference.  All I can say is, if you really want to see that movie, don’t go to a show around 7pm… it’s bound to be filled with plenty of high schoolers who are going to be obnoxious.

I’m gonna say Bride Wars makes #1… but that’s just my opinion.  What’s yours?

Don’t wait. Guarantee your seat before you go and avoid a sold out show. Skip the box office lines and buy movie tickets at Fandango.com.

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Weekend Wrap Up: Marley and Me sit up Top

Welcome to the first post here at Intermission at Work for 2009.  It’s late, and I know that I haven’t been doing much posting recently, but I hope to be able to do much more this year, and maybe recruit some writers to help me out.  I’m sure that there are plenty of moviegoers looking to get their opinions out, but either don’t have a movie blog or don’t want to go out and make a blog just for an occassional post.  (Even though that’s what it feels like I’m doing sometimes!)  We’ll talk more about that later though. In any case, let’s take a look at last weekend’s box office! Read more

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