Hollywood brings a few foreign films to light this weekend, while the American stars shine in classic fare. Director Jodie Foster molds George Clooney and Julia Roberts in a film that will have you at the edge of your seat in ‘Money Monster.’ If you’re a fan of the British romance novels, then Kate Beckinsale in ‘Love & Friendship’ will warm your heart.
Finally, Colin Farrell, Rachel Weis, Jing Wu, and Kevin Bacon star in various films that will remind you why they are stars, and why you and I pay to see them act. Romance, horror, comedy and more await your attendance at your neighborhood theaters this weekend.
Enjoy the movies this weekend – I always do!
High-Rise (2015)
(R) 119 min – Drama
Director: Ben Wheatley
Stars: Tom Hiddleston, Jeremy Irons, Sienna Miller, Luke Evans
Life for the habitants of a tower block gets crazy in an unusual storyline of human interaction. This film is very colorful and filmed with beautiful contrasts, well worth that next visit to the museum. [watch trailer]
Last Days in the Desert (2015)
(PG-13) 98 min – Adventure
Director: Rodrigo García
Stars: Susan Gray, Ciarán Hinds, Ewan McGregor, Tye Sheridan
Jesus is in the desert praying to his father, only to confront the devil and an out of body religious experience. This is the alter-ego story of the Messiah that you have never imagined. Ewan McGregor is powerful in this film. [watch trailer
Search Party (2014)
(R) 93 min – Comedy
Director: Scot Armstrong
Stars: Adam Pally, T.J. Miller, Thomas Middleditch, Shannon Woodward
If you’re easily entertained with crashes and college dialogue, then ‘Search Party’ will remind you of a funny ‘Hangover’ that involves a gang of friends on a mission to find their friend and patch up the marriage they so richly desire. [watch trailer
The Darkness (2016)
(PG-13) Horror
Director: Greg McLean
Stars: Jennifer Morrison, Kevin Bacon, Lucy Fry, Ming-Na Wen
A family takes a lovely vacation the Grand Canyon, only to return with spirits that tagged along with them. [watch trailer]
Love and Friendship (2016)
(PG) 92 min – Romance
Director: Whit Stillman
Stars: Kate Beckinsale, Chloë Sevigny, Xavier Samuel, Emma Greenwell
‘Love and Friendship’ has a great deal of Oscar buzz associated with it, as this British comedic/romantic film deals with in the in-laws and wealth in a way we’ve not seen before. Warning: you have to be a fan of Downton Abbey or the English faire to really enjoy this film. [watch trailer]
The Lobster (2015)
(R) 118 min – Drama
Director: Yorgos Lanthimos
Stars: Colin Farrell, Rachel Weisz, Jessica Barden, Olivia Colman
If the Cohen Brothers were told to make a ‘Hunger Games’ film with comedic undertone and romance, ‘The Lobster’ might be the end result. Collin Farrell and Rachel Weisz are wonderful in this larger than life satire. [watch trailer]
Dheepan (2015)
(R) 115 min – Crime
Director: Jacques Audiard
Stars: Jesuthasan Antonythasan, Kalieaswari Srinivasan, Claudine Vinasithamby, Vincent Rottiers
Dheepan is a colorful and artistic foreign film that details the story of a brave warrior who flees to France only to begin working as a laborer in the suburbs if Paris. [watch trailer]
Kill Zone 2 (2015)
(NR) 120 min – Action/Crime
Director: Pou-Soi Cheang
Stars: Tony Jaa, Jing Wu, Simon Yam, Jin Zhang
With the spirit of classic Hollywood cops and robbers, actor Wu Jing goes undercover in a violent prison to catch Mr. Hung, the top dog in the crime syndicate that plagues the city. [watch trailer]
Sunset Song (2015)
(R) 135 min – Drama
Director: Terence Davies
Stars: Mark Bonnar, Agyness Deyn, Peter Mullan, Ron Donachie
What would it have been like to have lived in Scotland at the turn of the 20th century? ‘Sunset Song’ pulls back the curtain, revealing the romance, hardship, and political struggles of Scottish common folk in the early 1900s. [watch trailer]
What We Become
(NR) 85 min – Horror
Director: Bo Mikkelsen
Stars: Mille Dinesen, Marie Hammer Boda, Troels Lyby, Mikael Birkkjær
A family becomes quarantined as a dangerous disease begins to spread through town. Think ‘Walking Dead’ with a twist. [watch trailer]
Money Monster (2016)
(R) 95 min – Crime
Director: Jodie Foster
Stars: Caitriona Balfe, Julia Roberts, Giancarlo Esposito, George Clooney
In much like the movies ‘john Q’ and others in the small mall genre, George Clooney and Julia Roberts help portray the real time story of a financial injustice live on TV. ‘Money Monster’ will speak to all those that believe the financial system are broken and hurt the average Joe. [watch trailer]
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