IN THEATERS:
Resident Evil: Retribution (R)
Starring Milla Jovovich, Sienna Guillory, Michelle Rodriguez
Screenplay by Paul W.S. Anderson
Directed by Paul W.S. Anderson
After his disastrous steampunk version of The Three Musketeers flopped, the untalented Paul Anderson (as opposed to the extremely talented Paul Anderson) returned to his wife’s franchise. This one’s probably about four installments more than anyone needed, but if they’re inexpensive and profitable, keep churning these out, Canada.
Finding Nemo 3D (G)
Starring the voices of Albert Brooks, Ellen DeGeneres, Willem Dafoe
Story by Andrew Stanton
Screenplay by Andrew Stanton & Bob Peterson & David Reynolds
Directed by Andrew Stanton & Lee Unkrich
Perhaps the only Pixar movie to benefit from a 3-D re-release, Nemo looks even better than it did in 2003. And it now re-opens the “greatest Pixar movie” debate. Andrew Stanton’s fish tale has made a strong case. Read my review at College Movie Review.
Stolen (R)
Starring Nicolas Cage, Malin Akerman, Josh Lucas
Written by David Guggenheim
Directed by Simon West
AKA Nicolas Cage’s Taken Heist. As always, hope for fun-bad.
Arbitrage (R)
Starring Richard Gere, Susan Sarandon, Brit Marling
Written and directed by Nicholas Jarecki
Nicholas Jarecki (half-brother of Andrew and Eugene) makes his feature debut with this thriller about a hedge fund manager (Gere) who blows a big sale and has to scramble to fix it. At its best, this could be on par with Michael Clayton. At worst, it could be a talky, heavy-handed late-period Robert Redford drama.
PLAYING AT BOTH ANGELIKAS
Also opening:
Angelika Dallas: Elena (NR)
The Magnolia: Little White Lies (NR)
AT HOME:
Top Pick:
Up All Night (Season 1)
Not as creative as Community or consistently hilarious as Happy Endings, Up All Night continues to fly under the radar. But it’s certainly in the upper tier of broadcast comedy thanks to its low-key tone and tight-knit cast. Will Arnett in particular is doing his best work since Arrested Development, playing something approaching a normal guy. Christina Applegate is of course killing it, as few actresses are as comfortable playing on TV as she is. And now that there’s been a whole season, Maya Rudolph has toned down her Oprah schtick to become an equal part of this comedy triangle. I’m hoping season two lasts a full 22 episodes.
To rent (click the link to watch on Netflix):
• Beyond the Black Rainbow (42%)
• Elles (23%)
• For Greater Glory (16%)
• Girl in Progress (28%)
• Goats (20%)
• Lola Versus (35%)
• The Loved Ones (97%)
• Snow White and the Huntsman (48%)
• We Have a Pope (62%)
• What to Expect When You’re Expecting (23%)
• Where Do We Go Now? (48%)
To buy:
Comedy: Lewis Black: In God We Rust, John Leguizamo: Tales from a Ghetto Klown
TV: 30 Rock (Season 6), Aaahh!!! Real Monsters (Season 3), Appropriate Adult, The Big Bang Theory (Season 5), Blue Bloods (Season 2), Castle (Season 4), Private Practice (Season 5), Spartacus (Season 2), The Vampire Diaries (Season 3)
Blu-ray: Airplane!*, The Firm, Ghosts of the Abyss, Jeepers Creepers, Killer Klowns from Outer Space, Road Trip, The Score, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, Titanic*
*recommended
(Release dates and locations subject to change.)