It's Friday night, and if you're a regular reader of that site hopefully that means just one thing: time to go to the movies. If you're a regular reader of the site you may also already know how the assembled Cinema Blend team feels about this weekend's new releases, but hey, we know you're busy. That's why we've assembled this roundup of our coverage, along with the very important poll, because we want to know what YOU want to see this weekend. Below you can find links to everything we've written about this week's big releases, then the most important part: vote in our poll to let us know what you'll be checking out this weekend. See you at the movies!
50/50
Even by the high standards of quality fall releases, 50/50 is obscenely well reviewed, and by far your best best for moviegoing in wide release this weekend. Even though our own Katey Rich doesn't think it has a shot at Oscar nominations, she and Eric Eisenberg both loved it, as you can read in his glowing review. Whether you're curious to see Seth Rogen acting serious, wondering if cancer can be funny or just love Joseph Gordon-Levitt in everything he does, 50/50 is surprising, touching, and far funnier than you'd expect a movie about cancer to be. It's a little raunchy, so you might want to think twice before going with your parents, but otherwise it's a great choice for everyone who can get into an R-rated movie.
Dream House
Jim Sheridan's Dream House has been in trouble for quite a while now. Last September it was reported that the film required reshoots, but that star Daniel Craig was too busy working on David Fincher's The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo to complete them. It's a shame because it would seem that it really could have used them. Producers ended up re-cutting the movie themselves and it would seem that the results are dreadful. Though it wasn't screened early for critics, that's not preventing them from absolutely decimating it and that includes our own Mack Rawden. In his review, Mack writes, "It feels wrong that so many skilled people could have created such a disaster." Dream House is your classic haunted house movie, so make sure not to bring your scaredy cat friends along-- even if they're not already scared off by the terrible reviews.
What’s Your Number
If you're a sucker for rom-coms like so may of us are, you're probably already planning to see What's Your Number, and even Katey's negative review won't stop you. But you might also be a fan of Anna Faris, the comedic actress from the Scary Movie franchise and the sleeper hit The House Bunny; whether you side with Sean or Mack on the debate about whether or not Faris should be a big star, she has a lot to offer in What's Your Number?, a generic rom-com that's made better by the presence of her and a lot of other talented actors. You may like Chris Evans better as Captain America-- and you should, really-- but he does pretty well as a wisecracking love interest too. It's rated R, which makes it a little dirtier than your standard rom-com, but for the most part it's your usual mediocre girl's night out kind of thing. If that's what you're looking for, you know who you are and there's no reason to stop you now.
Courageous
Courageous is a film that will likely only appeal to one section of the audience: devout Christians. Directed by Alex Kendrick, who also made the anti-masturbating firefighter movie Fireproof with Mike Seaver from Growing Pains, the new release is the kind of movie where they might try and baptize you as you walk into the theater. The movie has only been reviewed by a couple critics and they seem fairly divided. I’m going to make it simple though: if you actually heard of this movie prior to reading this paragraph, then Courageous might be the movie for you this weekend.
Indie Options: Take Shelter, Margaret, Tucker & Dale vs. Evil
They're not open in a lot of cities and you may not have a chance to see them just yet, but a handful of really good indies are opening this weekend as well. Eric wrote about Take Shelter and called it "an expertly crafted film from top to bottom," and at the Toronto Film Festival Katey interviewed star Michael Shannon and director Jeff Nichols for more insight into this haunting, apocalyptic drama. Also haunting is Margaret, the long-delayed film from Kenneth Lonergan that stars Anna Paquin, Matt Damon and Mark Ruffalo among other famous names; in her reviewKatey wrote that " it is the kind of failure that's too fascinating to ignore." And available in theaters as well as on-demand, there's the horror comedy Tucker & Dale vs. Evil, which Eric reviewed and called "immensely likable." All three of these movies are rated R and are inappropriate in their own ways, but Tucker & Dale especially works well for a night out-- or, given on-demand, a night in.
Which new movie do you plan to see this weekend?
50/50
What's Your Number?
Dream House
Courageous
Something Else (explain in comments)
I'm Staying Home!
