Friday film roundup: A Packed, (Mostly) R-Rated Release Schedule
Today’s film roundup from Past the Popcorn:
It’s that odd time between summer blockbusters and holiday blockbusters. And apparently, the industry thinks that, right now, everyone’s sick of being nice, happy, and family-friendly — particularly since the holidays are right around the corner. And we know what a bad mood that puts everyone in!
So the release schedule is packed right now with movies that make you feel good about being in a bad mood, hating people, or just sick of being nice to everyone.
Leading the R-rated pack this week is Eastern Promises, a Russian-Mafia film from David Cronenberg that Mike Smith calls “brutal, graphic, ugly, and desperate.” Right behind that is Exiled, a “grandly tragic” Hong Kong action flick in which “bullets fly, and then more bullets fly,” according to Greg Wright. Then there’s the “violent” Jodie Foster revenge thriller The Brave One, a “suspense-filled crime-drama that explores the dark emotions of fear, anger, and vengeance,” according to Mike Brunk. On the risque end of things is Silk, a tragic and arty historical romance from which “every bit of actual life is choked,” says Greg Wright. He also calls Ethan Hawke’s The Hottest State “meandering and repetitive” and “indulgent,” though there were aspects to it he liked. On the constructive side is In the Valley of Elah, a stateside Iraq War film that Jeff Walls says is “topical, moving and thought-provoking.”
Toning things down a bit to PG-13 is Mr. Woodcock, a Billy Bob Thornton comedy that Jenn Wright concedes is “a mildly humorous popcorn-munching flick” — even surprisingly inoffensive, given the title. And finally there is Chalk, a low-budget and satisfying look at the plight of teachers at the high school level. Michael Brunk calls it “one of those quirky films that are simply fun to watch.”
Whew! Another packed slate of the same sort to look forward to next week…
