Weekend Watch – 12/07/18


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

Wide Release

Ben Is Back

Loren: This one feels a little all over the place to me, but it most likely has some pretty good performances in it.

RDT: I’m intrigued. It’s been a while since I’ve seen a nice, adult drama. I doubt I’ll catch it in the theaters, but I’ll keep it on the radar.

Rick: There’s a lot going on here. It reminds me of Rachel Getting Married (2008) but with the added wrinkle of drug dealers. Honestly, that bit feels unnecessary. You could wring enough drama out of everything else going on in this movie. Call it a maybe.

Jen: Is this gender-swapped version of Beautiful Boy?


Mary Queen of Scots

Loren:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpVvOWquPT8

RDT: I like Loren’s link better.

Rick: Oh yeah. Definitely.

Jen: Gimme, gimme, gimme!


Vox Lux

Loren: This is examples A, B, and C of why Natalie Portman should never get near another genre film. Do these. You excel at them and they clearly feed your passion.

RDT: I thought she was pretty good in Annihilation. As for this, looks weird. Not sure it’s my cup o’ tea, but I’ll give it a shot.

Rick: Oh, good. I’m not the only one who liked Annihilation. Also, I’m in for this. (For the record I liked Annihilation I just didn’t really consider it a genre film even though it totally is. – Loren)

Jen: I’ve watched this trailer a dozen times in the past week, I can’t wait! Natalie Portman looks great, it looks like a perfect double feature with A Star is Born, similar stories but told very differently.


Limited Release

The Party’s Just Beginning

Loren: I like Karen Gillan. I’m interested to see how her writing/directing chops stack up. I’d say I’m cautiously optimistic about this one.

RDT: I like Karen Gillan, too. But this just seems like it’s trying a little too hard. That being said, because of her, I’ll still give it a shot…..eventually.

Rick: I saw a short Karen Gillan wrote and directed a couple of years ago called Conventional (it’s on the YouTubes if you’re curious – https://youtu.be/oIWRI1g_NFE). It’s simple, but really effective horror. I’m anxious to see what she does with a bigger story and canvas to play with.

Jen: I would give this one a shot, if only for the accents. Karen Gillan is talented, no doubt, but will it translate to this bleak-looking black comedy?


The Tag Along: Devil Fish

Loren: Now I can use this as an excuse not to go fishing. Thanks movie!

RDT: Loren, I think I’ll…..tag along…..with you and also not go fishing (or watch this movie).

Rick: I know this isn’t a comedy, but I was laughing for the entirety of that trailer. It’s like they took some of the weirdest 70s Hong Kong black magic movies and cranked them up to 11. I want to see this just to find out how bananas it is. Also, apparently there are two more Tag Along movies, and this one is a prequel. I may need to track the other two down and marathon them. RIP my brain.

Jen: RDT – NO! Bad! Go think about what you’ve done


Swimming With Men

Loren: I like Rob Brydon but I don’t know that I need to watch an entire movie about the British Men’s Synchronized Swimming Team. I’ll just stick to panel shows he’s on.

RDT: I get real Commitments vibes from this. Not sure if that’s a good thing or not.

Rick: I rolled my eyes at the punny mid-trailer pull quote “A Splash Hit!”. Here’s one for you: It’s a Belly Flop!

Jen:


Ruben Brandt, Collector

Loren: The new season of Bojack Horseman is CRAZY! Joking aside this looks so weird that it comes back around to awesome for me. I’ll search this one out.

RDT: This looks so weird that I’ll likely never see it.

Rick: The faces are a little off-putting, but I like the story. I’ll give it a whirl.

Jen: Well, you can’t say that nothing original is being produced. That is… something.


Mumbai Pune Mumbai 3

Loren: Nope.

RDT: I never saw the first two….

Rick: Negatory.

Jen: I already lived the pregnancy tropes and jokes. It wasn’t that colorful or song-filled.


Hospitality

Loren: Oof that looks pretty bad. It feels like it just hits every one of those “Hide the Cash, Come Back for it Later” thriller tropes. I actually like most of the people in the cast too, but this just looks so poorly made. Sorry movie, it’s gonna be a no from me.

RDT: I feel like I’ve seen this before….pass.

Rick: Ehhh. No thanks.

Jen: 


Henchmen

Loren: Might’ve been a fun concept if it looked even just the tiniest bit better. As it stands this looks to be at about the $5 bargain DVD bin at Walgreens level of movie.

RDT: A decent concept that deserves better attention,

Rick: It’s the Uncredibles! Pass.

Jen: Good idea, good cast, mediocre end product.


Divide and Conquer: The Story of Roger Ailes

Loren: Fuck Roger Ailes.

RDT: What Loren said.

Rick: I kind of think this guy might be the Devil, or at least in cahoots with him.

Jen: I might have to hold my nose and watch this. Know thy enemy.


TV/Streaming

NETFLIX

Russell Brand Re:Birth

Loren: I’m not normally all that into Brand’s work, but that bit got a laugh out of me. If I’m up for it I’ll give this a shot.

RDT: I laughed.

Rick: I’ve never been a fan of Brand. I’m okay skipping this.

Jen: I, too, laughed and was surprised by it. I’ll give this one a watch.


Dumplin’

Loren: That’s not for me necessarily, but could be cute. I’m sure the audience is there for it.

RDT: Shades of Drop Dead Gorgeous, but I liked it. If I ever catch up on other Netflix stuff, I’ll give it a watch.

Rick: This looks pretty good. If I need something light I’ll give it a go.

Jen: Luckily my husband is out of town for work, so a bowl of popcorn and I are watching this ASAP.


Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle

Loren: I’m sure Andy Serkis’ mo-cap is phenomenal but I don’t need another live action telling of the Jungle Book. It’s not a story I need to see in multiple facets.

RDT: Again, what Loren said.

Rick: I’ve been sour on Andy Serkis since he shit all over the VFX artists who have basically made his career viable. Even if I thought this had merit (I don’t), I wouldn’t bother to give it my time.

Jen: Yep, this looks like a fine version, but I’ve had my Jungle Book fill for the moment.


Nailed It! Holiday

Loren: I never got into Nailed It! but this could be a lot of fun. If I run out of TV during the Holiday (HA!) then maybe I’ll check into this.

RDT: I love good baking competition shows. I’m all set with this.

Rick: Baking shows are not my scene.

Jen:


Neo Yokio: Pink Christmas

Loren: ??? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ ???

RDT: I’ll start by saying the usual “not an anime fan.” But if I was, I still feel like I’d be confused.

Rick: I watch my fair share of anime, and was interested in this when the first season debuted. Then I read the reviews, few of which were positive. Given all the other anime I’m trying to catch up on, I think I’ll skip this.

Jen: I, um, I think I’m going to watch this. As we know, I’m not generally and Anime fan, but this is so out there that I can’t resist giving it a watch just to see if I can figure it out.


Pine Gap: Season 1

Loren: Is there a contentious truce between The US and Australia that I didn’t know about? This show looks cheap. Like Christopher Eccleston 9th Doctor cheap. I doubt I’ll bother.

RDT: Too much tv.

Rick: I think I’d watch this if it were a two hour movie. I’m less interested in it as a series.

Jen: A little presumptuous calling it “Season 1,” aren’t they? Although with Netflix, anything can have a season 2 or more. See next entry.


The Ranch: Part 6

Loren: I love you Elisha Cuthbert (And Sam Elliott) but there’s nothing that’s going to get me to watch this show.

RDT: I love you Dax Shepard (he’s in this now, right?) but there’s also nothing for me that’ll make me watch this show.

Rick: Daredevil, the fourth most popular show in Netflix, has been cancelled. Yet this low-hanging fruit is still on. Bleh.

Jen: I love you Sam Elliott’s mustache, but there’s nothing that’s going to get me to watch this show either.


HULU

Into The Dark: Pooka!

Loren: I really liked the concept of Into The Dark when it first dropped but I haven’t watched a single one and they all look kinda shitty.

RDT: I will pass, thanks.

Rick: I can’t top Jen’s response.

Jen: Let’s just take a moment to review that flyer at the beginning, ACTOR WANTED, Casting Call in Hollywood? Two question marks after ‘are you ready for the part that will change your life’? Could it be any more cheaply made (did they use Print Shop for this project?) or vague? Any idiot who responds to this deserves whatever demon doll/furry suit they get.


AMAZON

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel – Season 2

Loren: I kept meaning to watch Season 1 and then… *gestures at everything* the whole Amazon of it all. I’ll binge these back to back soon.

RDT: This is a show I desperately need to catch up on. Sooner than later.

Rick: This turned out to be one of my favorite shows last year. I’m so glad it’s back.

Jen: You bet your sweet bippy.


HBO

Icebox

Loren: Jesus. That looks intense and incredibly well acted by such a young kid. Color me intrigued to say the least.

RDT: Even though there’s a lot of reading, I liked that trailer. Once I get HBO back, I’ll give it a watch.

Rick: Timely and super intense. I think I still have HBO. *checks Hulu account* Yes. I do. I haven’t watched it since Sharp Objects came out, but I’m still shelling out for it.

Jen: Wow. This feels like a film filled with rage and sadness but I will watch.


STARZ

Counterpart: Season 2

Loren: I heard this show was very good but I don’t have Starz and didn’t watch season 1. You all know what that means at this point.

RDT: I heard season 1 was great. But….what Loren said.

Rick: I was interested when the first season dropped but, you know, not paying for Starz. Still not paying for Starz, but this still looks solid.

Jen: I DO have Starz now (thank you Outlander and Amazon) so maybe I’ll utilize that to check this out. JK Simmons is awesome. Two JK Simmons’s is doubly awesome.


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, Instagram at instagram.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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