I had planned for
this week's preview to be all about Inherent Vice, the latest
from writer-director Paul Thomas Anderson (Boogie Nights,
Punch Drunk Love, The Master), but alas, there is
apparently nowhere to see it in Chicago or its surrounding suburbs
this weekend. I am cranky about this fact because the movie is my
most anticipated of the year, I love the Thomas Pynchon novel on
which it's based, and Anderson is probably my favorite working
director. But I'll have to wait at least another week. When I see it,
you'll get a review. Until then, here are two new releases you can
see at theaters this weekend.
Exodus: Gods and Kings
Director: Ridley
Scott
Writers: Adam
Cooper, Bill Collage, Jeffrey Caine, Steven Zaillian
Starring: Christian
Bale, Joel Edgerton, John Turturro, Aaron Paul
It's been something
of a watershed year for Bible stories being adapted into Hollywood
tentpoles, first with Darren Aronofsky's Noah in the spring
and now Ridley
Scott (Alien,
Gladiator)
brings us Exodus:
Gods and Kings,
about the Old Testament story of Moses (Bale) getting his adopted
brother, Ramses (Edgerton) to “set [his] people free.” You know
the drill. Fate versus bonds, doing what you think is right in the
face of great opposition, freedom from tyranny, the works.
Exodus certainly looks neat, with a volcanic color palette in the trailers, and the cast is strong. It's getting some rough reviews, but a spectacle is a spectacle, right?
Top Five
Director: Chris
Rock
Writer: Chris Rock
Starring: Chris
Rock, Rosario Dawson, Gabrielle Union
Chris Rock makes
his directorial debut here, taking a cue from his friend and
sometimes collaborator Louis C.K. He writes a fictional version of
himself here, a fading comedy legend who's been phoning it in for
years and cashing the easy paychecks of gimmicky kids movies. Dawson
plays a journalist doing a feature on him as he tries to reestablish
himself as someone relevant and still vibrant. It looks like a love
story is afoot, as well.
Sure, it seems conventional, but Rock is a talented, hilarious guy with a fairly gentle worldview. If he can handle the visual side of filmmaking with any skill whatsoever – all the footage released so far looks perfectly competent – who knows, maybe we have another Judd Apatow on our hands. That raunchy-sweet combo has been Apatow's calling card for years, and based on Rock's standup and his Everybody Hates Chris TV show, he might be even better at that balancing act.
Sure, it seems conventional, but Rock is a talented, hilarious guy with a fairly gentle worldview. If he can handle the visual side of filmmaking with any skill whatsoever – all the footage released so far looks perfectly competent – who knows, maybe we have another Judd Apatow on our hands. That raunchy-sweet combo has been Apatow's calling card for years, and based on Rock's standup and his Everybody Hates Chris TV show, he might be even better at that balancing act.
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