Funny little line-up this week with “Robin Hood” opening against a couple of female-skewing romantic releases. A Ridley Scott/Russell Crowe action film should be a bonafide summer smash, but audiences seem more interested in Tony Stark’s grandstanding than Crowe’s brooding these days and the reviews are very mixed. The sports themed romance “Just Wright” should do modest business alongside “Letters to Juliet” this week. On the limited front, a favorite from Cannes last year, “Looking for Eric” opens in NYC and LA, along with the worthwhile documentary “Beetle Queen Conquers Tokyo.” Here’s the rundown:
In Wide Release: The lastest from team Scott/Crowe made its splashy, star-studded premiere on the Cannes red carpet earlier this week but despite all the glitz and glamor it remains to be seen if audiences are in the mood for a serious, epic and long (two and half hours plus) journey through Sherwood Forest. Critics are not impressed with mixed reviews coming in for the film that cost north of $200 million to make. As we noted in our review, it’s not the worst film ever, but bland and derivative. RT: 46%, Metacritic: 62.
Hip hop artist Common is starting to build a name for himself as an actor with various supporting roles, and gets his first shot as a leading man starring opposite Queen Latifah in the romantic comedy “Just Wright.” In the film, the rapper plays a NBA player engaged to Latifah’s childhood friend, but when an injury sidelines him–possibly forever–the friend bolts and Latifah’s there to pick up the pieces. We actually reviewed this one, finding a cliched story further harmed by incredibly clunky dialogue, despite an engaging and game performance from Latifah. Common’s future as a box-office star is uncertain, but Latifah proves to be all class and built to last. RT: 42%, Metacritic 35.
Amanda Seyfried is in a new movie every other week nowadays, the latest being the romantic-comedy “Letters to Juliet.” Seyfried plays a young American who travels to the Italian city of Verona to join a group of volunteers who answer letters sent to the city addressed to Juliet (of Shakespeare fame). She responds to a 50 year-old letter and inspires the author (Vanessa Redgrave) to travel to Italy in search of her long lost love, Lorenzo. Gael Garcia-Bernal plays Seyfried’s fiance if that’s enough to get you in the door, otherwise it looks like the film was a good excuse for director Gary Winick and co. to get a paid vacation to Italia. RT: 40%, Metacritic: 43.
In Limited Release: First-time filmmaker Jessica Oreck’s “Beetle Queen Conquers Tokyo” documents the Japanese cultural obsession with insects. The film follows many different people in vignette form, from insect collectors to players of bug fighting videogames, interspersed with informative historical bits on the country’s relationship with creepy crawlies. We reviewed the film and really do recommend checking it out if you’re at all interested in Japan, bugs, or just good ol’ anthropology. RT: 92%.
As we mentioned in our short review yesterday Ken Loach’s latest, “Looking for Eric” is our pick of the week and if it’s playing nearby definitely check it out. Steve Evets stars as a man going through an emotional crisis who, upon getting stoned, is greeted by real-life soccer star Eric Cantona. The French footballing genius coaches and offers his new friend advice in this feel good (in a good way) dramedy. RT:87%, Metacritic: 69.
Also out in limited release, the Hawaiian-set period drama “Princess Kaiulani” starring Q’Orianka Kilcher (“The New World”) and Barry Pepper. RT: 22%. The low-budget New York comic drama “Daddy Longlegs” looks interesting, especially since it has been a little polarizing with the critics. RT: 67%.
–Written by Hunter McClamrock
