IN THEATERS
The Debt (R)
Starring Helen Mirren, Sam Worthington, Tom Wilkinson
Screenplay by Matthew Vaughn & Jane Goldman and Peter Straughan
Directed by John Madden
In this remake of an acclaimed 2007 Israeli film, Mirren, Wilkinson and Ciaran Hinds play the older versions of three guilt-stricken Mossad agents, whose revenge mission against Nazis in hiding may not be as heroic the legends would have you believe. John Madden—whose traveled an incredibly rocky road in Hollywood after his Oscar nomination for Shakespeare in Love—could use a hit right now, but this sequel-in-spirit to Munich looks to be a critical darling at best.
Shark Night 3D (PG-13)
Starring Sara Paxton, Dustin Milligan, Alyssa Diaz
Written by Will Hayes, Jesse Studenberg
Directed by David R. Ellis
I enjoyed the hell out of last year’s Piranha 3D and I love big shark movies (Jaws, and to a lesser degree, Deep Blue Sea), so why am I not excited for this B-movie? Well, because the studio went for a PG-13 rating, which means no gore, little ridiculousness and thanks to director David Ellis (Snakes on a Plane and, uh, Homeward Bound II), few chills.
Apollo 18 (PG-13)
Directed by Gonzalo López-Gallego
I guess Dimension’s really sticking by that whole “found footage” premise, since you won’t find any actors listed on this movie’s IMDb page. More bad news: the release date for this thriller—about a previously unknown manned mission to the Moon that ended in horror—has been shifted no less than FIVE times. Yikes. This is basically Paranormal Activity… IN SPACE! so don’t expect anything more than that.
A Good Old Fashioned Orgy (R)
Starring Jason Sudeikis, Leslie Bibb, Lake Bell
Written and directed by Alex Gregory & Peter Huyck
I’m a big Jason Sudeikis fan, so I can only hope this is a low-budget, ridiculous, quirky ensemble comedy like Wet Hot American Summer. But everything, starting with the title, reeks of trying too hard. At least that title, like this year’s Hobo with a Shotgun and Cowboys & Aliens, delivers what it promises.
Also opening:
Inwood: 5 Days of War (R)
Cinemark West Plano: Saving Private Perez (PG-13), Seven Days in Utopia (G)
Angelika Dallas: Crime after Crime (NR), Sex and Zen (NR)
Both Angelikas: The Whistleblower (R)
AT HOME:
To rent:
- Forks over Knives (59%)
- In a Better World (78%)
- Madea’s Big Happy Family (39%)
- The Perfect Host (36%)
- Police, Adjective (80%)
- Prom (35%)
- Skateland (42%)
To buy:
TV: 90210 (Season 3), Cougar Town (Season 2), Desperate Housewives (Season 7), House (Season 7), Meet the Browns (Season 1), Nikita (Season 1), Parenthood (Season 2), Sons of Anarchy (Season 3), The Vampire Diaries (Season 2), An American Family
Blu-ray: Blood Simple*, Good Will Hunting*, Miller’s Crossing*, Raising Arizona*
Criterion: The Complete Jean Vigo, If…, Orpheus
*recommended