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
Countdown
Loren: I bet they thought they were really clever when they wrote this. They were wrong.
Rick: What if the first five seconds of a trailer could tell me everything I need to know about this cheapjack “horror” movie?
AJ: You can’t see me – just know I am shaking my head.
Black and Blue
Loren: So someone asked for 16 Blocks with the addition of modern day racial tension? And then they thought they should put Tyrese in said movie? Bold choice.
Rick: Have you ever seen a corrupt cop/rookie who saw too much movie? If you haven’t, you should absolutely go watch Training Day way, way, way, way before you bother with this tropey junk.
AJ: I’d write this off were it not for Naomi Harris. Contrary to my counterparts here, I’m sold.
The Current War
Loren: I kinda find the melodrama of this hilarious but in the best way. I’ll give this a go at some point down the line for the cast if nothing else.
Rick: Yes, please. I’ve been looking forward to this. Gimme all the scientist in-fighting. It should be noted that this isn’t the critically lambasted version that debuted at the Toronto Film Festival a few years ago and got buried during the Weinstein scandal. It’s the director’s cut and, by all accounts, is actually worth seeing.
AJ: That’s quite a cast and I’ve never seen Michael Shannon give a bad performance. And what Rick said. Continue reading →
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
Zombieland 2: Double Tap
Loren: I was a little meh on the first one, and this doesn’t seem to be treading any new ground. I’ll pass in the theater and catch it down the line.
RDT: I like the first one a lot (I think…. It’s been a while since I’ve seen it). And this looks like more of the same, at least. I might even catch this this weekend!
Rick:
I’m not always on board for these, for lack of a better term, overdue sequels, but the first movie is a lot of fun. The fact that they got all the original people back gives me hope it’ll at least be nearly on par with the first.
Jen: Welcome to sequels to movies I never saw the original of week. Sure this looks fine.
AJ: I never wanted to see the first one, given my weak will and low tolerance for scary movies — then Rick and RDT promised me it wasn’t scary. And I just loved it. So much fun. And I love when you can tell the actors are having fun in the project. So I’m totally down for the sequel.
Maleficent Mistress of Evil
Loren: I very much did not like the first one. So unnecessary and then there was the rape allegory that came out of left field. I’m ok skipping this as well.
RDT: I *think* I saw the first one. So, I *think* I’ll probably see this eventually.
Rick: I never got around to the first one and, let’s face it, I never will. I just don’t care about Maleficent’s backstory. The first one brought in over $750 million, so I’m clearly in the minority here. You kids enjoy.
Jen: Welcome to sequels to movies I never saw the original of week. Sure this looks fine.
AJ: I liked the first one more than I thought I would even though it’s a rape-revenge movie disgusied as a Disney fairytale (yes, I just got real dark, folks). I don’t know if I’ll see the sequel in theaters, but one way or another I’ll get to it.
Jojo Rabbit
Loren: Yep!
RDT: Oh shit, I didn’t know this was out this weekend. I might have to see this instead of Zombieland 2!
Rick: I meant to see this during its LA premiere at BeyondFest, but tickets sold out before I could get in on it. *shrug* Minor setback. I’m definitely in.
Jen: Every clip/trailer/scene I see from this makes me laugh. I’m sold.
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
Gemini Man
Loren: I’m super curious about this and we are 100% through the uncanny valley at this point but I’m not hearing great things and can totally wait until streaming for this one.
Rick: The original script for this was uncommonly good. It deserves a quality adaptation, especially after how long it took to get produced. I had high hopes for this, but early word is that it’s kind of dismal. Makes me sad. At least we still have this awesome reel for Joe Carnahan’s unrealized version starring Clint Eastwood.
Jen: For some reason I thought this was for Netflix. Huh. I’m a Gemini Woman and even I don’t have strong feelings on seeing this movie.
AJ: Will Smith kinda needs a hit, doesn’t he? This doesn’t seem to be it, though. It looks pretty atrocious.
Addams Family
Loren: I want this to look better. I laughed at the Frogenstein’s Monster joke but that’s kinda it. With the talent involved here this should be amazing and it’s just kinda meh.
Rick: This looks sillier than I would have hoped, but the voice cast is great and I appreciate that the character design harkens back Charles Addams’ original art. Not in theaters, but definitely from my couch.
Jen: Cute. I may or may not ever see it, but I don’t feel dumber for having seen the trailer so that’s a plus.
AJ: Yeah, with Rick on this — I’ll catch this from my couch. I think it looks silly. But cute.
Parasite
Loren: Yes please. Without even watching the rest of the trailers I’m pretty sure this wins the week.
Rick:
Jen: This looks great and the trailer pulled me right in, I can’t wait to check this one out.
AJ: Um, dare I say, that looks outstanding? You can’t ignore the over-the-top amazing reviews this film is getting. Continue reading →
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
Joker
Loren: I’ve made my case for why I don’t think this should be a Joker movie a few times now, so I won’t rehash that here. Couple that with how director Todd Philips kinda flipped out after being questioned about this movie and I think I’m out until it’s free. I do think the take that at least incels have their Superman is pretty funny but that’s about it.
RDT: My curiosity is going to get the better of me, I know it (even if I am wrong about my fan theory). So, I’ll likely be seeing this this weekend.
Rick: I read an early, non-spoiler review of this after this debuted at the Venice Film Festival. Sadly, it seems there is not, as RDT hoped, some sort of hallucination element involved (which I’d have been totally on board with). For better or worse, it’s a stab at a Joker origin tale. I’m intensely curious, but also feel like this movie doesn’t need to exist. I’ll probably wait until the end of its theatrical run to catch it on the cheap.
Jen: I feel like this is just a modern Taxi Driver, and I really didn’t like Taxi Driver (sorry) so I’m fine with skipping this one. After going through a few of the films opening this week I was depressed by the lack of female representation, so I bring you the Female Count, a count of main female characters in each film (TV is a different animal) sort of my version of the Bechdel test (which 99% of this weeks movies would fail) Female count: I’m going to say the overbearing mom and the dreamgirl next door add up to 1 fully realized character
AJ: To be totally honest, my irrational fear of clowns is going to keep me from seeing this, but I am okay with that.
Limited Release
Wrinkles the Clown
Loren: Awesome. I’ll hope that it makes a Horror Fest in the near future.
RDT: Yeah, fuck that.
Rick: I giggled with glee through that entire trailer. My only complaint is that it’s not just called Wrinkles. Shortening the title feels more effective to me. This will get my on-demand monies.
Jen: I honestly couldn’t tell if this was a documentary or mockumentary. Well done trailer. Female count: unless that clown is a woman (that would be a kick ass twist) 0
AJ: JESUS CHRIST WHO IS DOING THIS TO ME. *runs into panic room, slams door*
Wallflower
Loren: I don’t understand the point of this movie. I can’t tell if the lead is supposed to be some sort of tragic figure or the anti hero (gross) or what. Will the ravers save his soul? Who cares?
RDT: I really have no interest in this movie.
Rick: 1) Don’t try to humanize this person, even in a fictionalized interpretation of the story. 2) This movie has been sitting around since 2017, and releasing it now, or ever, feels like poor taste. 3) I already saw We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011), and that was harrowing enough.
Jen: Is this crazy Incel/spree shooter/psychopath week? Is everyone trying to jump on the Joker bandwagon? Female count: well there’s the girl who orgasmed from drugs and the Asian one who does a lot of drugs so 2?
AJ: I guess we can’t avoid people – creative people – wanting to be topical, but I just can’t with this much reality. (P.S. I only say this because I had to look up the summary of this movie because that trailer explains nothing.) Continue reading →
