Welcome to the Weekend Watch: Holiday Edition. Where we try to point you towards the best ways to spend your viewing time (or, at least, steer you clear of the garbage) over this, hopefully long, holiday weekend.
Movies
Allied
Loren: I have this feeling that this is going to be bad but the trailers/tv spots look really good. I’m super torn, which means I’ll probably skip it in the theater and might catch it streaming.
RDT: I like Brad Pitt and Marion Cotillard, but I literally have no desire to see this. Not one bit.
Rick: I’m iffy on this one. I would bet cash money that there’s a movie from the 1940s that has the exact same plot and did it better. Unless reviews are good I’m okay skipping this one.
Jen: Didn’t Cillian Murphy make this movie a few months ago? With a weird-o sci-fi name? Was that a different Nazi spy-hunter movie? Arachnothoid? Artropod? I skipped that one and probably won’t see this one either.
Moana
Loren: Disney has done a pretty incredible job making their computer animation division (or just regular animation division now I guess) on par with Pixar. Well, at least with some of Pixar’s weaker efforts.
RDT: I don’t know that I’ll run out and see this. But I do enjoy me some Dwayne TR Johnson. And the rest of the cast/filmmakers are pretty talented. So I’m sure I’ll see it eventually.
Rick: This may give Kubo and the Two Strings a run for its money as the best animated movie of 2016 (seriously, Kubo is uniformly excellent). I’m in for this.
Jen: Lin-Manuel Miranda? The Rock? Tiki? Disney? I think I dreamed this movie up myself. SO IN!
Bad Santa 2
Loren: I’m one of those few people that doesn’t like the original. I’m pretty sure this is a pass from me.
RDT: I enjoyed the hell out of the first one. But, unless the reviews are amazing (my gut says they aren’t), this will probably wait for a post-holiday streaming at some point this spring.
Rick: Did…did we need this movie? I guess that’s an irrelevant question in this age of IP being king. Regardless, I’m not sure I need this movie.
Jen: I am amazed that they got the same kid. And he’s still… weird. I have no desire to see this but still I’m impressed that kid came back. Way to cash that paycheck.
Rules Don’t Apply
Loren: I love the era that this is set in, and it has an amazing cast, but that trailer is a little too schmaltzy for me. I’m going to wait and see with this one.
RDT: This has captured my curiosity. Again, not sure I’ll catch it in theaters, but I’ll see it eventually.
Rick: I think this looks kinda fun. Loren is right about the schmaltziness, but it seems like it suits the material. I’ll give it a go.
Jen: Heh, butter the muffin, heh. I’m not going to lie, I spent more time trying to find out if this was based on a true story than I should have. Beatty as Hughes is intriguing but I just don’t care about the rest of the story. As much as I love Lily Collins’ eyebrows, I think I’m out.
The Best Worst Thing That Ever Could Have Happened… (Limited)
Loren: Hey I’m a guy that likes Broadway musicals, and I’ve never heard of this show. I guess that makes sense seeing the reaction from the audience. This will end up somewhere near the middle of The Doc Doc™.
RDT: Ok, they are a lot more documentaries being made every year than I thought. Too many.
Rick: The fact that all of the old footage exists of this made the preservation nerd inside me squee. Plus, how often do you hear about a Sondheim musical tanking? I’m in.
Jen: I’ve seen Merrily We Roll Along. I did not like it. I’ve seen the documentary Six By Sondheim. I did not like it. You would think that would deter me from this and yet… I absolutely plan to see this. I am a complicated woman.
Seasons (Limited)
Loren: I’m kinda super in for this. It looks gorgeous and really interesting. I want to know the technical aspects of it as well. Some of those have to be CGI composites right? Anyway, this won’t go on the The Doc Doc™ because I don’t think it’s truly a documentary. There appears to be a narrative there.
RDT: Too many docs. Though this looks very pretty.
Rick: So…pretty…Also, I’m fascinated how nature photographers manage to get some of these shots. Feels like a good lazy afternoon on the couch movie.
Jen: I love beautiful nature docs for watching with my toddler. I feel much less guilty if the TV that is babysitting has something moderately educational on it.
Lion (Limited)
Loren: Wow. That’s not my typical style of movie but it’s certainly a powerful trailer. I’m absolutely intrigued and want to know more.
RDT: This is why I love that we do this column. It puts movies on my radar that I wouldn’t be otherwise aware of. This trailer completely grabbed me. So, yeah, it’s going on the list.
Rick: I can’t even fathom embarking on a journey like this. I can’t wait to see how this story turned out.
Jen: You had me at Dev Patel. Like Rick, I can’t wait to see how the story ends.
Evolution (Limited)
Loren: Ooooh neat. I don’t know what’s going on but, like, in a good way.
RDT: I feel like they should’ve called this “Starfish.” But maybe this title is more representative. Regardless, it looks cool and creepy (but not scary). I’m intrigued.
Rick: Uh huh. Yes, please.
Jen: Weird. My curiosity is peaked.
Till We Meet Again (Limited)
Loren: Ugh, poor rich people. I didn’t even make it through this one.
RDT: Pretentious white millennials travel the world to figure out who they are. Hard pass for me.
Rick: Am I the only one who wanted this to really be an unofficial remake of Wolf Creek? No? Just me, then. Anyway, it feels like someone saw Y Tu Mama Tambien and figured they’d take a far less sincere crack at it. No thanks.
Jen: Meh.
Baden Baden (Limited)
Loren: This looks… fine. I can’t help but wish it was Biden Biden though. Like the same story but starring Joe Biden instead.
RDT: Yeah, I got nothin’.
Rick: I can’t quite put my finger on why, but I’m compelled to watch this. I’m also compelled to watch Loren’s version. I would hope for lots of sweet Trans-Am burnouts.
Jen: This looks very foreign-film-y art-house-y. I’m sure a younger me would be all about it. Old, crotchety me on the other hand says “get off my lawn, subtitles!”
TV/Netflix/Blu-Ray
Gilmore Girls: A Year In The Life (Netflix)
Loren: Not for me but I know what The Lady™ will be watching this weekend.
RDT: Well, I just started season 1 this week. So…yeah…eventually…?
Rick: I have a feeling I’d probably like this show if I gave it a chance, but the idea of going back and watching seven seasons of any show, let alone this one, makes my brain hurt. So…many…episodes…
Jen: Cut and paste what Rick said.
3% – Season 1 (Netflix)
Loren: It’s like a Brazilian The Island.
RDT: I’m intrigued, and will add it to the queue. But, honestly, I’m not sure I’ll ever get to it.
Rick: It’s like Elysium mixed with elements of Das Experiment and, like Loren mentioned, The Island (and, by extension, Parts: The Clonus Horror). Into the queue it goes.
Jen: Black Mirror meets Lost? Yes, Netflix, keep ‘em coming.
Michael Che Matters (Netflix)
Loren: I’ve said it before, I love stand up comedy and I laughed a few times at the trailer so it’s pretty much a given that this’ll get added to the queue.
RDT: I have warmed up to Che on SNL. And I love a good comedy special. Chances are I’ll check this out over the holiday weekend.
Rick: *passive shrug* I tend not to watch much stand-up anymore. I doubt I’ll ever see this.
Jen: I get my comedy more in the “podcast” form and less in the “watching it” form, but I’d listen to Michael Che, sure, why not?
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