Some people might want to write off Ben Affleck as a one-trick pony after two similarly toned Boston crime flicks in a row. If that's true, it's a trick I want to see performed again and again. Affleck proves that Gone Baby Gone was no fluke with his follow-up, The Town, a gritty urban drama about one bank robber's last ditch chance to escape the cycle of violence that has become his life. An amazing supporting cast, in particular Jeremy Renner as Affleck's tenacious best friend, add yet another layer of authenticity. You can check out my review of The Town here.
Maybe this will be the film that catapults Emma Stone to the stardom she deserves? After scene stealing roles in marginal comedies(The House Bunny
, The Rocker
) and making a splash in last year's Zombieland
, she finally gets a chance to strike out on her own in a comedy reminiscent of some of the John Hughes greats. Whether or not her performance will rank her up there with Molly Ringwald and Ally Sheedy I'll leave for history to decide, but I certainly have my own opinion, which you can read here.
, The Rocker) and making a splash in last year's Zombieland, she finally gets a chance to strike out on her own in a comedy reminiscent of some of the John Hughes greats. Whether or not her performance will rank her up there with Molly Ringwald and Ally Sheedy I'll leave for history to decide, but I certainly have my own opinion, which you can read here. 
Before you choke on the idea of seeing another M. Night Shyamalan flick after The Last Airbender, recognize that he's only credited as a producer. Sure, it's his original idea, but the script is being handled by Brian Nelson. Not coincidentally, the studio has seen fit to remove Shymalan's name from most of the TV spots, perhaps recognizing that their best shot at success is to let Devil stand on it's own terms. Not screening it for the press doesn't instill me with much confidence, but the Twilight Zone/Hitchcock style premise has my curiosity piqued. Five people, trapped on an elevator. One of them is the devil. Nobody knows who. Simple and claustrophobic. I love it.
An animated family film about two wolves(voiced by Hayden Panettiere and Justin Long), taken from their homes in Canada and sent to a national park in Idaho. The two, both from contentious packs on opposite ends of the social system(she's an Alpha, him an Omega), must work together in order to find their way back home. I'm betting they fall in love along the way. Seriously? This is coming from Lionsgate? I don't think Dreamworks or Pixar have anything to fear.
It certainly looks awful. Like a low budget American Pie
, or worse yet, Sex Drive 
with even less known actors. Yet it's hard to ignore it when Will Ferrell and Adam McKay are on board as producers. Would they put their name on something that wasn't at least marginally inventive and funny? Yes they would, but their names are enough to probably pull me into the theater to see what the fuss is all about. Should've seen this last week but I passed it up for the first game of the NFL season. Can you really blame me?
, or worse yet, Sex Drive with even less known actors. Yet it's hard to ignore it when Will Ferrell and Adam McKay are on board as producers. Would they put their name on something that wasn't at least marginally inventive and funny? Yes they would, but their names are enough to probably pull me into the theater to see what the fuss is all about. Should've seen this last week but I passed it up for the first game of the NFL season. Can you really blame me?
Some(like me) consider even the idea of remaking The Coen Brother's violent debut, Blood Simple, a treasonous act. Not even I can get mad when the man behind this madness is Zhang Yimou, director of the gorgeous House of Flying Daggers, Hero, and Curse of the Golden Flower. His lush, vibrant style immediately clashes with the Coen's dark, foreboding approach. Sometimes it works, but far too often it resorts to cheap slapstick at the worst possible times. You can read my review here.
