Pretending this weekend is going to be ruled by anything but James Cameron and his bright blue animated walking talking cat-creatures is silly. The buzz has started to roar so loud on this one, it will be interesting to see if it can sustain itself throughout the film couple months of the new year as “Titanic” did all those years ago. The only other wide release, “Did You Hear About the Morgans” may have a tough time convincing people to not just go see “The Blind Side” again. In limited release this week, it’s all about Oscar, with awards faves “Crazy Heart” and “Nine” debuting on just a few screens.
In Wide Release: James Cameron makes his return to the the multiplex after a 12 year absence with “Avatar.” The film stars Sam Worthington as an ex-marine chosen to lead a mission on an alien planet, his mind placed inside an alien body. Cameron spent the last decade working on the technology used in the film, which is basically a fancier version of the motion capture Peter Jackson and Robert Zemeckis have been fascinated with for years. Opening on over 3300 screens, the 3D extravaganza has seen a dramatic reversal of public opinion after disappointing trailers chilled much of the buzz. But, as the film as been screened in the approach to the release, the word has been overwhelmingly positive. We reviewed the film last week, finding the storytelling a big simplistic, but overall a fun ride as well as a major technical achievement. Aside from Worthington, “Avatar” also stars Zoe Saldana and Cameron vet Sigourney Weaver. Critics are mostly over the moon, Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a 82% rating, while Metacritic chimes in with an 82 score.
Hugh Grant’s first film in 2 years, “Did You Hear About the Morgans” co-starring Sarah Jessica Parker is also out in wide today. Surely hoping to capitalize on the female audience that is not too keen on fighting for “Avatar” tickets, Marc Lawrence directs the pair as a bickering Manhattan couple who witness a murder and are sent to Wyoming by the government to hide out. So far, so typical. “Morgans” will need a stroke of serious luck to distinguish itself at the box-office this weekend, especially with “It’s Complicated” on deck for next week. Currently, RT gives the film a sorry 10% rating, while Metacritic tracks it with a 25 score.
In Limited Release: A last minute addition to the 2009 awards race, actor Scott Cooper makes his directorial debut this week with “Crazy Heart.” The great Jeff Bridges stars as down-on-his-luck country singer Bad Blake as he tries to reconnect with his muse and get his life back on track. Also starring Maggie Gyllenhaal, Robert Duvall, and Colin Farrell, the film is packed full of great music overseen by T. Bone Burnett. Earlier this week we ran our interviews with director Scott Cooper and newly Golden Globe nominated songwriter and actor Ryan Bingham. We reviewed the film a little while back, calling it a marvelous little movie worth loving. The critics agree, with a 96% rating from Rotten Tomatoes and a 83 score from Metacritic.
Rob Marshall’s “Nine” opens in limited this week, before expanding wide on Christmas Day. An adaptation of the Broadway musical, itself an interpretation of Fellini’s “8 1/2,” the film stars Daniel Day Lewis as a world famous film director balancing his very complication relationships with the women in his life. While Marshall’s film version of “Chicago” was great fun, the source material here just isn’t nearly as memorable. The film, which we reviewed last week, is sufficiently stylish, but largely unremarkable. Marshall has assembled quite the cast with Nicole Kidman, Marion Cotillard, Penelope Cruz, Judi Dench, Kate Hudson, and Fergie starring opposite Lewis. The film earned several Golden Globe nominations despite only having a 47% rating from RT and a 51 score from Metacritic.
Emily Blunt snags her first major starring role in director Jean Marc Vallee’s “The Young Victoria.” Blunt plays, of course, the young pre-Queen Victoria on her way to power. The strong supporting cast includes Paul Bettany, Jim Broadbent, Miranda Richardson, and Rupert Friend, with a script from “Gosford Park” scribe Julian Fellowes. We first saw it in Toronto and posted a new review yesterday, both times charmed by the winning performances and strong art direction. It is not a totally flawless film, but a pleasant little end of the year surprise. Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a 69% rating, with Metacritic coming up with a score of 61.
Other options in limited: It’s a big week for Belgian stop-motion animation fans, as Stephane Aubier and Vincent Patar’s “A Town Called Panic” hits a few screens. The first stop-motion animated film to be selected for Cannes, “Panic” follows the surreal and wacky adventures of three vintage plastic toys: Cowboy, Indian, and Horse. We reviewed the film yesterday and found it to be a sublimely funny film for all ages. RT gives it a 82% rating with a 69 score from Metacritic. Also out, director Francois Ozon’s (“Swimming Pool,” “8 Women”) latest, “Ricky.” A comedy about parenthood, it looks a little broad, but we’re still curious. The buzz isn’t outstanding though, with a 50% rating from RT and a 56 score from Metacritic.
