Weekend Watch – 01/04/19

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

Escape Room

Loren: Is this just PG-13 Saw? Could be a fun horror-thriller but the fact that they’re dumping it in early january does not bode well.

RDT:

Rick: Okay, we have Sony, who barely understands the concept of a horror movie, let alone how to make a good one + Original Film, who has the most ironic company name in the business and has never made a good horror movie + first week of January…tally that up…yep. Tired, unoriginal, and toothless. Math checks out.

Jen: I really like the idea of this movie, I could see myself watching it when it streams, but I don’t have the highest of hopes for it.


American Hangman

Loren: Wait, is THIS PG-13 Saw? Mixed with a little Law & Order: SVU? Also, that was Vincent Kartheiser? Trying the Christian Bale method acting I see.

RDT: I feel like I’ve seen this a million times before. Pass.

Rick: This is a mashup of ideas from better movies and TV series. Hardest of passes.

Jen: I don’t think I felt the intensity they were hoping I would feel watching this trailer.


The Vanishing

Loren: Has Gerard Butler ever made a good movie? I can’t think of one. This a least looks to be trying. But also it will fail.

RDT: Loren, I checked IMDB. He’s a voice in the How to Train Your Dragon movies. And Reign of Fire isn’t……terrible……I guess. Yeah, I got nothing.

Rick: I don’t know. This looks like a decent Straw Dogs-style thriller. I won’t run out to theaters to see it, but it might be worth a go at home if I’m in the right mood.

Jen: Loren, have you not seen Timeline? Gerard Butler at his hottest.


Limited Release

Great Great Great

Loren: Nope Nope Nope. *Does a very timely Chandler Bing impression* “Could this BE anymore Indie Movie?”

RDT: I once went out on a date with a girl still living with her ex-husband. She felt bad for him, I guess. I dunno. It was weird. Anyway, this looks terrible.

Rick: It’s not often I get nothing from a trailer, but hey, great great great work…?

Jen: That is an eye roll in movie form.


The Silence of Others

Loren: Damn. That looks both riveting and heart wrenching.

RDT: God damn it. I guess I’m gonna start reading movies again.

Rick: Like Jen, I know little of Franco’s rule in Spain, but if Hell exists I hope he’s there.

Jen: The Franco regime is like a blindspot in my recent world history, I’m glad to see this is out there.


The Distant Barking of Dogs

Loren: I don’t know that this is for me. It’s a sad story for sure but I’m not sure I need to watch a documentary about it.

RDT: Oh wait, no I’m not.

Rick: Reminds me a bit of both Ivan’s Childhood (1962) and Come and See (1985). I like the idea of telling this kind of story away from the front lines. I may check this out.

Jen: This is a unique and gripping way to tell this story, I might seek this out on streaming and steel myself to be moved.


State Like Sleep

Loren: Interesting. I like a good noir thriller. If this gets some good buzz I’ll give it a shot.

RDT: Yeah, I’m into this, a bunch.

Rick: Mmmhmm. Yes, please.

Jen: I’ll do anything for you Michael Shannon.


Rust Creek

Loren: That trailer makes this trope-tastic movie look way better than it has any right to. I might even check it out down the road.

RDT: I’ll keep it on my radar, sure.

Rick: Being written and helmed by women gives me hope that this will overcome some of the tropes inherent in these types of movies. I’m in.

Jen: Rick has a good point, I was wondering why I didn’t immediately hate this movie. I’m not sure I’m going to see it, but not hate is a positive sign.


Mojin: The Worm Valley

Loren: I’m not really into these crazy Chinese fantasy movies. I kinda wish that I was though, they look insane.

RDT: If I were into this kind of stuff, I’m sure I’d be excited for this. But since I’m not, I’m not.

Rick: I appreciate that Chinese fantasy movies are getting more ambitious and have bigger budgets to match. I’ll keep this on my radar.

Jen: There’s a lot going on there. Seriously. A lot.


TV/Streaming

NETFLIX

A Series of Unfortunate Events Season 3

Loren: I feel like I should have watched this show. It’s weird in a lot of the right ways for me. Maybe now that it’s complete with this third and final season I’ll give it a shot.

RDT: I meant to give this a shot in season 1. Then season 2 happened and I felt too far behind. Now that I know season 3 is the last season, I just might plow through them all.

Rick: This is one of those shows that I’m the target market for but never bothered to watch. Now that it’s ending I feel like I’m even less likely to dive in.

Jen: Every season I start strong tearing through episodes and then peter out and have to force myself to watch the last ones before the new season begins. So I need to watch the last two episodes of Season 2 before I watch this. But if this is the last season, am I bound to just never finish? Hmmm?


Comedians of the World

Loren: I don’t know, maybe. You guys know I love standup but I will say that reading subtitles in standup can be really jarring. I have so much other stuff to watch I’m not sure I’ll make it for this.

RDT: Yeah, Loren hit the nail on the head for me. I just didn’t click with the subtitles (shocked, aren’t you?).

Rick:   :/

Jen: The fact that I didn’t get to see any jokes in this trailer is worrisome. Maybe?


Pinky Malinky

Loren: What. The. Fuck.

RDT: Honestly, I kinda like the message it’s putting out there. But, yeah, I’m never gonna watch this.

Rick: Full disclosure: I worked on this show. If you like weird you’ll get more than your fill.

Jen: My soon-to-be 12-year-old nephew will LOVE this show. The rest of our family, less so.


Tidying Up with Marie Kondo

Loren: This show hits WAY too close to home for me. I’m a packrat that is trying to lighten my load but I don’t think I’m going to get any actual tips from this show. I think it’s just going to add to my anxiety and depression about the situation. Cool.

RDT: This just seems like a Netflix Hoarders, but not quite as sad, I think….. Pass.

Rick: I’ll take shows I don’t have any interest in for $200, Alex.

Jen: I loved “Clean House” back when it was Nicey Nash and Matt Iseman and this is very much in that vein, I could see this playing in the background while I clean my house. Is that irony?


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

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.