Weekend Watch – 11/11/16

Welcome to the Weekend Watch. Where we try to point you towards the best ways to spend your viewing time (or, at least, steer you clear of the garbage).

Movies

Arrival

Loren: Well that looks intense and amazing. Nice, big budget, hard sci-fi, which we’ve been getting more of lately and I’m totally ok with that. I’m in.

RDT: I am so in for this. Definitely seeing it this weekend.

Rick: *tries to conceal sci-fi boner*

Jen: Now this is my kind of alien invasion (or is it?) flick! Also, nerdy Jeremy Renner is kinda hot. In!


Elle

Loren: A modern day revenge movie that doesn’t appear to be super over the top violent. I could definitely get into that. It’s also interesting that RDT and I were just talking about Verhoeven on the podcast last week. (Which of course you already knew).

RDT: This is not the “Hollywood” Verhoeven I’m familiar with. I’m intrigued enough to add it to the list, once it hits streaming.

Rick: Paul Verhoeven is known mostly for his Hollywood films (Robocop, Basic Instinct, Starship Troopers, etc.), but he had a strong career in his native country beforehand. This resembles his earlier work, particularly The 4th Man, and I’m stupid excited about it.

Jen: This is an interesting and morally ambiguous-looking trailer. Huppert is amazing and has the capacity to play incredibly strong, and often depraved, women. This may be the perfect role for her. I get the feeling that my feminist sensibilities will be thoroughly offended within the first 10 minutes of this film. Yet, in art, I’m not sure that’s necessarily a bad thing. Did I just equate Verhoeven with art? Hmmm, it’s been a long week…


Almost Christmas

Loren: I don’t think I’m the demo for this movie.

RDT: I love good Christmas movies. This does not look like a good Christmas movie.

Rick: Call me Grinchy, but this is a solid no.

Jen: I heard Mo’nique was blackballed after winning her Oscar. I’m glad she overcame that. I have nothing further to add.


Shut In (Limited)

Loren: This actually looks like an interesting take on the Haunting genre. The winter setting, the catatonic son, Naomi Watts. Could be good. Not rush out to theaters good but maybe some cold night next winter on my couch good.

RDT: This looks creepy and scary. As with most horror movies, I will wait until Rick screens it to see it.

Rick: Reminds me a little bit of The Orphanage, but that’s not a bad thing. The cast is good and it looks like a step or two above what Hollywood has been pumping out these last few years.

Jen: Well, I’m creeped out. Kids are creepy.


No Pay, No Nudity

Loren: I hate to say it, because it’s probably a pretty good movie, but that is a horrible trailer. Like the director’s 16 year old nephew cut it on their phone.

RDT: It might be a good movie, but, like my cohorts said, that’s a shitty looking trailer.

Rick: Who…who approved those graphics? I need to have a word with them. Shoddy workmanship aside, I like all of these actors, but I’m not sure I’m going to run out and see this.

Jen: This looks like a tour-de-force for Gabriel Byrne. And Frances Conroy is always charming. But that font is… off-putting. Perhaps it’s a purposeful artistic choice to comment on how anyone can make a film nowadays and those specialists (like the characters in the film itself) are no longer needed? Or it was just a cheap trailer. One of those.


The Love Witch (Limited)

Loren: That looks weird and kinda awesome. I love the throwback style to 60s horror flicks. It doesn’t hurt that Samantha Robinson isn’t hard to look at. Definitely in.

RDT: Yeah, umm, I don’t know how to feel about that. Tingly….?

Rick: Yes. Oh my, yes. Gimmie.

Jen: Shut up and take my money! The costumes, the sets, the satire. The trailer alone makes me want to be Anna Biller!


Lazy Eye (Limited)

Loren: This looks like a very sweet and romantic drama. Which unfortunately means it’s probably not for me.

RDT: This looks like a very sweet and romantic drama. Which means it probably is for me, eventually.

Rick: Reminds me a bit of Moonlight, but I’m not sure it will reach that film’s lofty emotional summit. I may give this a go via streaming at some point.

Jen: I honestly can’t tell from this trailer if I’ll be thrilled or bored by this film. It really could go either way. I suppose that’s not helpful. It looks pretty though, so there’s something…


Don’t Call Me Son (Limited)

Loren: What an interesting subject matter. Again sadly I don’t think I’ll be seeing this but it looks pretty heart breaking.

RDT: Yeah, that just didn’t grab me.

Rick: This looks like a top notch family drama. Sign me up.

Jen: **Grabs box of tissues, takes deep breath** OK, bring it on.


Behind Bayonets and Barbed Wire (Limited)

Loren: This started as an interesting documentary about WWII and kinda quickly devolved into a weird conspiracy theory style youtube video with a bigger budget. I’m not sure where I land on this one.

RDT: I’ll be honest. I read Loren and Rick’s comments first. So, I didn’t watch this trailer.

Rick: I’m with Loren. All of the vets have stories worth telling, but the tone and meh-looking reenactments don’t sit right with me.

Jen: If they had skipped the reenactments all together this might have pulled me in. It’s a shame because the Bataan Death March is such a devastating part of WWII that isn’t as popular media fodder as the European campaign was. Even in the trailer, the reenactments seem to make light of the tragic events rather than making them more horrific.


USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage (In Theaters and On Demand)

Loren: Then there’s this. At least it isn’t completely unhinged Nicholas Cage but that could be more fun. I think I’m going to wait for reviews of this one but it’s probably a no.

RDT: This is a story I want to see told. I’m just not sure I want to see it told like this. That’s a pretty terrible trailer.

Rick: Ever since I heard Quint recount this story in Jaws I’ve been craving a quality movie on the subject. Not sure I’m getting my wish with this one…

Jen: So… Tom Sizemore’s still working, huh? Yeah, I got nothing on this one.


Dreamland (Limited)

Loren: Hipster piano players need love too right? This looks pretty good but not, like, amazing. Maybe it’ll be a sleeper.

RDT: It’s like a romantic comedy version of that drummer movie. I’m blanking on the title. What was it? It’s a great movie (that one, not this one). I refuse to look it up. Fuck, what is it. I’m sure, if you’re reading this, you’re literally yelling at the screen right now. “RDT, it’s blah blah blah blah! You idiot!” Damn it.

Rick: Eeeh. I like the cast and the style, but it feels way too familiar. Unless reviews are stellar I’m fine passing on this.

Jen: I think I’ll stay home and watch The Graduate instead.


Beauty Bites Beast (Limited)

Loren: A very important message once again packaged in an incredibly shitty trailer. Why do they keep doing that?

RDT: Whiplash! It was called Whiplash!

Rick: Yep. Terrible trailer, but the subject matter still makes me want to see it.

Jen: It’s true you guys, there isn’t anything more local than your body. I love this message. I love it enough that I don’t need to see it if that make sense.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbSxeF4eW8I

Come and Find Me (Limited)

Loren: It’s like 7 movies wrapped into one and it kinda looks like it works. Let’s hope that’s the case, but for right now it’s too early to tell.

RDT: My like for Aaron Paul is the only thing that will get me to see this.

Rick: Despite that incredibly long trailer and terrible title, I’m still into this. It reminds me of The Vanishing (more the remake than the original, but still), and early buzz pegs it as worth a watch.

Jen: Did you guys know the director is Joss Whedon’s little brother? That’s a decent pedigree and my curiosity is what tipped the scales for me on wanting to see this.


TV/Netflix/Blu-Ray

Roman Empire: Reign of Blood – Season 1 (Netflix)

Loren: Roman political stories never really do it for me. It’s Netflix so it’s probably pretty good, but I’ve got enough TV to watch. I’m out.

RDT: Meh.

Rick: Like Loren, Roman politics is not really my thing. Pass.

Jen: This might be great in a Game of Thrones way, or it might… not. I’ll likely know 15 mins in.


Tales by Light – Season 1 (Netflix)

Loren: If nothing else this looks stunningly gorgeous. Added to the queue.

RDT: I have a good tv. But I feel like I need a GREAT tv to watch this. I’ll add it, but I’m not sure I’ll make it through the whole thing.

Rick: Listen, this is probably good, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was just a demo reel to show off 4K TVs.

Jen: Points to Rick’s comment, points to nose.


True Memoirs of an International Assassin (Netflix)

Loren: I really wish Netflix didn’t make that Happy Madison deal.

RDT: I don’t even have to watch the trailer to tell you I’m not watching this.

Rick: Nope. Not even a little bit.

Jen: Why would you guys make me watch this trailer? I want those 2:00 back.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsuriLv1qVQ

Red Oaks – Season 2 (Amazon Original)

Loren: This is not a show that I was aware of but after that trailer I may go back and watch season 1.

RDT: I heard decent things about the first season. I don’t believe it’s on the list, maybe I should add it? You tell me, dear reader.

Rick: I was also not aware that this was a thing until I put together this week’s list. The show looks like fun and worth at least giving the pilot a spin.

Jen: Hey, I remember the 80s. I’m assuming that’s what they want me to say after watching the trailer.


So that’s your upcoming weekend in review. Let us know what you saw, liked and/or hated.

As always, you can find us on Facebook at facebook.com/hollywoodpicturenews, or @HWPicNews on Twitter. And send in your questions/comments to questions@hollywoodpicturenews.com.

From Hollywood,

–Loren, RDT, Rick, and Jen

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