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
Beauty and the Beast
Loren: I don’t think I’ll be seeing this in the theater but it looks pretty good. I did a whole breakdown for it when the trailer dropped a few months back. I’ll definitely check it out eventually.
RDT: I’m sure I’ll see it eventually, but I feel no compunction to rush out this weekend.
Rick: I didn’t see the animated version of this until three or four years ago. It’s enjoyable, but not enough that I have any need to see it done in live action. Also, why is Beast’s face/head CGI? It’s not the least bit convincing. It’s not like this story hasn’t been done in live action before. Hell, the makeup in Jean Cocteau’s 1946 version still holds up today. I have nothing against CGI, but I just wish that practical effects wouldn’t be discounted in favor of it.
Jen: I already have my tickets for this tomorrow night. I am a little worried that I’ll be freaked out by the weird CGI of Lumiere and Cogsworth, et al. but the original version holds such a dear place in my heart, and the live-action version of Cinderella was surprisingly delightful, that I’ve got some high hopes for this.
T2 Trainspotting
Loren: I won’t lie, I don’t remember the original all that well. I remember the baby on the ceiling and the crawling out of the toilet. You know, the simple stuff. This does look like a very “Trainspotting” take on the reemergence of heroin and designer drugs.
RDT: Is it bad that I haven’t seen the original?
Rick: I’m not sure we needed this sequel, but I’m in for it.
Jen: Why did they call this T2? Are they hoping to confuse people? I was never into the first film so can’t see myself with enough nostalgic desire to see the second.
Song to Song (Limited)
Loren: I honestly didn’t realize there were two women in that trailer at first. I kept thinking that Rooney Mara looked like Natalie Portman in certain shots. I feel like that says something about this movie.
RDT: I want to see an “Eddie and the Cruisers” reboot with Ryan Gosling as Eddie. Anyway, despite the pretty awesome cast, this looks kind of pedantic…
Rick: I second the motion for RDT’s Eddie and the Cruisers reboot. As for this movie…I’m interested. While he’s very hit or miss with me, I can’t help but be curious about a Terrence Malick movie. I’ll probably wind up watching this from my couch, but I’ll see it.
Jen: My feeling on Terrence Malick films has always been “beautiful but boring.” This does nothing to dispel that feeling. The cast looks amazing, but I can’t see myself staying awake through the over 2 hour running time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZNfwayNLL0
The Belko Experiment
Loren: I feel like this one might be a little too violent for violence’s sake for me. It’s the part of The Purge that I didn’t find intriguing set in an office building. I don’t know, it’d have to get some amazing reviews for me to check it out.
RDT: I am intrigued by this “Purge meets….Die Hard?” premise. Plus I like James Gunn’s involvement (he wrote it). Pretty good cast, too. Probably not gonna see it in theaters, but I’ll definitely catch it as soon as it’s streaming.
Rick: James Gunn’s approach to violence is to mix it with plenty of humor. Greg McLean’s (Wolf Creek) is pretty much just violent with a sprinkle of sadism. I don’t know that I’ll catch this in theaters, but I’ll give it whirl.
Jen: I echo what Loren said, and I checked the reviews, they are mixed at best. I’ll be skipping this one.
Frantz (Limited)
Loren: This looks like a well told and beautiful movie that I’ll probably never see.
RDT: I had a pretty sweet Dennis Franz bit, but then I noticed this movie is “Frantz” with a t. I have nothing else to contribute.
Rick: While I haven’t seen even close to all of François Ozon’s work, what I have managed to find I’ve enjoyed. This feels like a good rainy afternoon movie, and we tend not to get a lot of WWI tales anymore. I’m in.
Jen: See Loren’s note above.
They Call Me Jeeg Robot
Loren: I don’t know, I might be able to get into an Italian everyman superhero.
RDT: So….Unbreakable, but with a pretty brunette instead of Samuel L. Jackson?
Rick: This is what Hancock/Unbreakable should have been. Sold.
Jen: Well, RDT stole my line about Italian Unbreakable, and that was really all I had here. Um, sure? Why not?
Betting on Zero
Loren: Yeah, I’m with RDT, the 15-20 minutes on Last Week Tonight gave me everything I needed about this story.
RDT: Feels like John Oliver already covered this.
Rick: *see everyone else’s entries*
Jen: Using the term “The Film They Don’t Want You to See,” is the sort of desperate, sensationalist claim that drives me away from a documentary. It’s sort of a flashing neon sign reading “No nuance here, folks.”
After the Storm (Limited)
Loren: It’s like a Japanese… Woody Allen movie? Is that who that reminded me of? Why am I asking you? You’re not in my brain.
RDT: I don’t see myself watching this.
Rick: *shrugs with uncertainty*
Jen: This is schmaltzy. Japanese schmaltz. I think I’ll be skipping this one.
The Last Laugh (Limited)
Loren: I’m in for this. Not in the theater necessarily but it’s shooting to the top of the Doc Doc™.
RDT: I love a good comedy doc. This definitely intrigues me. Is there anything off limits in comedy? Should there be?
Rick: Yes, please.
Jen: Stellar line up of interviews and an interesting topic. I’m in.
Streaming/TV
Marvel’s Iron Fist (Netflix)
Loren: I’ve read all the criticism, but I’d like to give this a fair shake. And, if it’s bad it’s bad, but I’ll still be checking it out this weekend.
RDT: Look I’m gonna watch this because I’m me. But, regardless of early reviews, I haven’t been impressed with what I’ve seen. Hopefully, reviews and my initial impressions are wrong.
Rick: The critical reviews of the series only cover the first six episodes, so while it’s not promising, they’re all an incomplete assessment. Luke Cage was excellent for the first six episodes, but got ridiculous/nearly unwatchable in the back half. It could be that Iron Fist will pick up in later episodes. I’m willing to give it a shot.
Jen: I still haven’t watched Luke Cage or Daredevil, but once I catch up on those I’ll give this a shot. It doesn’t look like the best for the Netflix Marvel Universe, but I’m a completist.
Jim Norton: Mouthful of Shame (Netflix)
Loren: I’ve never really been a Jim Norton fan. I don’t know that I’ll check this one out.
RDT: As a fan of stand-up, Jim Norton has been on my radar. But I’ve never been curious enough, or honestly found him funny enough, to watch any of his specials. I don’t see that changing.
Rick: Meh.
Jen: I am clearly not the target audience on this one. I didn’t laugh once at this trailer. In fact, what’s the opposite of laughing? I did that.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ox3RG8W6iLA
Julie’s Green Room – Season 1 (Netflix)
Loren: Those are some pretty great guest stars and I like Julie Andrews and love Muppets but this is aimed at kids younger than my inner child. I think I’ll pass.
RDT: I don’t have kids (or smoke weed), so I doubt I’m going to watch this. But it looks damned delightful.
Rick: The fact that this show exists warms my cold dead heart. I’m not the target audience by any stretch, but I’m glad this is out there.
Jen: I have a kid! And she LOVES singing and dancing and Muppets! And I love Julie Andrews and Carol Burnett and Ellie Kemper and Josh Groban and Muppets! This looks perfect for her (and me!), we can’t wait to check it out together.
Lucha Underground – Seasons 1 & 2 (Netflix)
Loren: I went to every one of the tapings for these two seasons and it was great. Then I watched them when they originally aired on El Rey Network and was absolutely blown away. Even if you don’t like wrestling (which I assume is 90% of you) you should give this show a shot. The best way I can describe it is a Supernatural Telenovela about an Underground Wrestling Organization. And that only scratches the surface.
RDT: Based solely on what Loren’s said about this show, I’ll put it in my queue and give it a shot.
Rick: I haven’t watched any professional wrestling since I was in my teens, but the over-the-top theatricality of Lucha tickles my fancy. This might be my new go-to when I need something fun to throw on after a long day.
Jen: Wow. There is a lot happening here. This feels like a fun group-watch for sure.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjz5Lg-jfkQ
Animals – Season 2 (HBO)
Loren: I saw a couple of episodes of season 1 and it was very strange. Not sure I’m in to keep going.
RDT: I don’t remember Animals – season 1. I guess I like my animation more traditional. I just don’t get this stuff.
Rick: I had no idea this show was a thing until this week. Apparently all of the people ever have done voice work for it. It looks like my type of weird. I’ll give it a shot.
Jen: I… no. Just, no.
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