Releases 31/03

 

Getting in slightly early this week, here are the March 31st releases: 

Just Go With It: A comedy starring both Adam Sandler and Jennifer Anniston. This is reason enough to keep clear. This sounds ridiculous, predictable, juvenile and another dire addition to the rom-com genre.

Rotten Tomatoes: 18%

Never Let Me Go: The screen adaptation of the acclaimed Kazuo Ishiguro novel, Never Let Me Go stars the wonderful young talents of Carey Mulligan, Andrew Garfield and to a lesser extent, Keira Knightley. It tells the tragic tale of a love triangle between three young people, who share their childhood together at what first appears to be an idyllic English boarding school. But the shocking truth of their existence is withheld from them. They re-unite as adults to face the dark secrets tied to their communal past. The Mark Romanek film has appeared on several critics Top 10 lists and should be a rewarding experience.

Rotten Tomatoes: 69%

The Lincoln Lawyer: The new film starring Matthew McConaughey (whose best work is arguably his role as a lawyer in the John Grisham adaptation, A Time to Kill). He stars in The Lincoln Lawyer as Mickey Haller, a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney who primarily operates out of the back of his Lincoln sedan. Haller has spent most of his career defending garden-variety criminals, until he lands the case of his career; defending Louis Roulet (Ryan Phillippe), a Beverly Hills playboy accused of rape and attempted murder. Based on the Michael Connelly novel, The Lincoln Lawyer likely won't offer any twists on the courtroom drama, but, much like Connelly's novel, should be fast-paced and engaging. McConaughey has to prove himself again, but the support cast is solid.

Rotten Tomatoes: 82%

In A Better World: Directed by Sussanne Bier and winner of Best Foreign Language Film for Denmark at both the Golden Globes and Academy Awards. Anton is a doctor who commutes between his home town in Denmark and his work at an African refugee camp. In these two very different worlds, he and his family are faced with conflicts that lead them to difficult choices between revenge and forgiveness. Sure to be a complex, thought-provoking, raw, emotional and above all important human drama.

Rotten Tomatoes: 79%

Heartbeats: 21-year-old filmmaker Xavier Dolan's second film, Heartbeats, was a hit at the Cannes Film Festival and voted the audience favorite at last years Sydney Film Festival. It centers on two close friends, Francis (Xavier Dolan) and Marie (Monia Chokri), who find themselves fighting for the affections of the same young man. The more intimate the trio becomes, the more unattainable the object of their infatuation seems. Sexy, stylish and farcical are words used to describe Heartbeats.

Rotten Tomatoes: 74%

Weekly Recommendation: Strong week this week. With the exception of Just Go With It, I think all of the films are worth a look. Heartbeats is playing at limited cinemas, but I will endeavor to see the other three. The Lincoln Lawyer should be safe entertainment, but I don't think Never Let Me Go or In a Better World will be disappointing either. Happy viewing!