IN THEATERS:
Captain Phillips (PG-13)
Starring Tom Hanks, Barkhad Abdi, Catherine Keener
Written for the screen by Billy Ray
Directed by Paul Greengrass
Tom Hanks is in the midst of a creative resurgence. One of his smartest decisions was having Paul Greengrass (The Bourne trilogy, United 93) lead the way with this true life horror story about the U.S. captain of a freighter taken over by Somalian pirates. Advance word is this is his best performance ever, and you know that’s saying something.
Machete Kills* (R)
Starring Danny Trejo, Demian Bichir, Mel Gibson
Story by Robert & Marcel Rodriguez
Screenplay by Kyle Ward
Directed by Robert Rodriguez
Just as gruesome and hilarious as its predecessor, but it’s often repetitive. Still, Mel Gibson and Demian Bichir save it with their completely nutso performances. See it for them. Read my full review at College Movie Review.
Romeo & Juliet (PG-13)
Starring Hailee Steinfeld, Douglas Booth, Damian Lewis
Written for the screen by Julian Fellowes
Directed by Carlo Carlei
Probably the least necessary film of 2013, but hopefully gives Hailee Steinfeld (True Grit) another chance to shine.
Check out movies opening in limited release after the jump…
A.C.O.D. (R)
Starring Adam Scott, Richard Jenkins, Catherine O’Hara
Written by Ben Karlin & Stu Zicherman
Directed by Stu Zicherman
A stacked cast — which also includes Jane Lynch, Amy Poehler and Mary Elizabeth Winstead — hopefully leads to a hilarious but melancholy film about Adult Children of Divorce.
PLAYING AT BOTH ANGELIKAS
We are What We Are (R)
Starring Bill Sage, Ambyr Childers, Julia Garner
Written by Nick Dimici & Jim Mickle
Directed by Jim Mickle
Surely the creepiest-looking film of the year, We are What We Are tells the tale of the disturbing Parker family, who find their off-the-grid lifestyle upended after a major storm.
PLAYING AT ANGELIKA DALLAS
Concussion (R)
Starring Robin Weigert, Maggie Siff, Jonathan Tchaikovsky
Written and directed by Stacie Passon
After suffering a debilitating injury, a soccer mom develops an alternate personality, one who’s much more sexually liberated than her past identity.
PLAYING AT ANGELIKA DALLAS
Escape from Tomorrow (NR)
Starring Roy Abramsohn, Elena Schuber, Katelynn Rodriguez
Written and directed by Randy Moore
Here’s one I’ve been excited about for a long time, but never thought I’d get a chance to see. Escape from Tomorrow is a horror flick that was filmed covertly at Disneyland. Thanks to some clever editing, it’s finally being released without incident.
PLAYING EXCLUSIVELY AT THE TEXAS THEATRE
Also opening:
Both Angelikas: Halloween — 35th Anniversary Remaster (R)
Cinemark West Plano: The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete (R)
AT HOME:
Top Pick
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
One of the most frequently watched films in the Mooney household is this ’80s gem featuring Steve Martin and Michael Caine as dueling con artists. You just can’t beat this duo, especially when the former slips into his Rupert character.
To rent:
• After Earth (11%)
• Europa Report (77%)
• The Hangover, Part III (19%)
• Hello Herman (13%)
• Laurence Anyways (80%)
• Much Ado About Nothing (84%)
• The Purge (38%)
To buy (click the link to watch on Netflix):
Music: Ain’t in it for My Health: A Film About Levon Helm
TV: American Horror Story: Asylum, Bones (Season 8), Robot Chicken (Season 6)
Blu-ray: Airplane II: The Sequel, Corruption, Fantastic Voyage, House on Straw Hill, Internal Affairs, Monty Python’s Meaning of Life, On the Riviera, Shout at the Devil, Stalag 17, Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea
Criterion: I Married a Witch
*recommended
(Release dates and locations subject to change.)