Admit One: 2/13
Valentine’s Day is tomorrow and apparently that means psychotic killers and evil, murderous banks. Don’t worry ladies, Hollywood threw you a token chick flick to even things out a bit.
The International
Starring: Clive Owen, Naomi Watts
Directed by: Tim Tykwer
Plot: Interpol Agent Salinger and DA Eleanor Whitman attempt to take down one of the world’s largest banks who they suspect of funding a number of illicit activities, including murder.
Rotten Tomatoes Freshness: 56%
Critic Consensus: “The International boasts some electric action sequences and picturesque locales, but is undone by its preposterous plot.”
Friday the 13th
Starring: Jared Padalecki, Odette Yustman, Aaron Yoo
Directed by: Marcus Nispel
Plot: Jason Voorhees is back and slashing up camp counselors at Camp Crystal Lake.
RT Freshness: 25%
Critic Consensus: “Though technically well-constructed, Friday the 13th is a series rehash that features little to distinguish it from its predecessors.”
Confessions of a Shopaholic
Starring: Isla Fisher, Hugh Dancy, Joan Cusack, John Goodman
Directed by: P.J. Hogan
Plot: Rebecca Bloomwood wants to work for her favorite fashion magazine but ends up working as an advice columnist at a financial magazine published by the same company. I assume hi-jinks ensue.
RT Freshness: 19%
Critic Consensus: “This middling romantic comedy underutilizes a talented cast and delivers muddled messages on materialism and conspicuous consumption.”
Inglourious Basterds
video://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fohT0sS0wpo
Zach: Tarantino has done his take on just about every other film genre and now he sets his sights on WWII. Brad Pitt leads a squad of men into France to basically fuck up any German person they see. The movie looks pretty awesome and should be violent and funny as hell if QT’s past movies are any indication.
Brian: This film has one purpose — show that there’s going to be a fuckload of Nazi ass-kicking. And it does a good job of setting up what could be a great film. Non-stop action and Quentin Tarantino? Sign me up please.
The Taking of Pelham 123
video://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8J7zy8zRZ4c
Zach: Tony Scott is directing this remake of the 1974 movie about a hostage situation on one of NYC’s subway trains. Denzel Washington plays the guy dealing with the hostage taker yet again and John Travolta is doing his best Tony Almeida impression. Tony Scott has a track record of making some damn good thrillers so I might check this out when it comes out this summer.
Brian: Tension! Denzel! Travolta! Tony Scott! … Okay, I’m hooked. While it looks a little too generic for me in the hostage-negotiator genre, I’m willing to give it a shot because Tony Scott is behind the camera. That, and Denzel is badass.