NEW THIS WEEK
Adapted
form the best selling mystery novel, The Girl on the Train focuses on Rachel
Watson (Emily Blunt), an alcoholic obsessed with the idealic couple she watches
through the window of her daily train rides. Of course, one day she witnesses
something horrible happen between the couple. As the only witness, she becomes
wrapped up in a complicated web of conflicting stories, potentially suggesting
she’s responsible for murder.
We Said: “Fortunately, the
film's operatic twist and bloody finale give us just enough of the trashy
thrills we should have had all along. It's worth noting that the cast seem to
be having more fun at this time, too; a welcome respite from all that dour
seriousness. Blunt is excellent throughout, adding what dimension she can to
Rachel mostly through the pain and weariness splashed across her splotchy face.
[…] Maybe what The Girl On the Train needed was a steadier hand guiding it;
someone more familiar with dark material. Obviously you think of the tight
control David Fincher had over Gone Girl and can't help but wonder
what he could have done to keep this train from derailing so badly.” Rating: 2.5 out of 5
Set
in the late 1960’s, this brilliant horror prequel sees the Zanders, a family of
faux-psychic performers, accidentally invite malevolent spirits into their home
through the incorporation of the titular spirit board into their act. Violent,
supernatural horrors plague the family as their youngest daughter befriends the
evil entities.
We Said: “Origin of Evil does have a few
flaws. It relies on a handful of genre tropes, and it’s probably a bit too long
(it runs close to two hours.) As a prequel to Ouija, though, this film
is clearly a massive step up. You don’t need to have seen the original to enjoy
Origin
of Evil, but if you have, you’ll probably appreciate how well this
movie handles its central concept compared to its predecessor. The original was
a toy commercial and a teen-slasher. This new prequel is an intense,
supernatural, and (perhaps most important) fun scary movie that pulls out all
the stops. Ouija: Origin of Evil is a true horror highlight.” Rating: 4.5 out of 5
The
Gaffneys' (Zach Galifinakis and Isla Fisher’s) lives are interrupted by the
arrival of new neighbors, whose stunning looks are matched only by the worldly sophistication
of their lives. Tim Jones (John Hamm) is an accomplished travel writer whose
hobbies include blowing glass, and his wife, Natalie (Gal Gadot) , is a social
media consultant, cooking blogger and heroine to Sri Lankan orphans. The
Gaffneys soon find themselves in the center of a storm of international
espionage that gives them a breathtaking glimpse of life outside their
cul-de-sac.
We Said: “Naturally. Each
predictable gag is dished out with the cadence of a TV sitcom waiting for its
laugh track, joined by cheap, sunny lighting and archaic score. [...] Keeping
Up with the Joneses comes from a long line of domestic comedies that
contrast far-out genre elements with middle-class suburban malaise. […] For
Hamm this is not the kind of lead role we hoped to see him in following Mad
Men. He can do better, and so can Gadot and Fisher whose best scenes
all involve them in some form of lingerie. Granted, I'm not complaining about
any of that but they are capable of and deserving of more than this.” Rating: 2 out of 5
Also Available: The Hollow Point, When Elephants Were Young, Death Race 2050, Come and Find Me, The Whole Truth, 12 Monkeys: Season Two, and Train to Busan
