Friday, August 15, 2008 at 1:58AM What's New in Theaters - August 15, 2008
Probably the most notable new release is Tropic Thunder, the new comedy co-written and directed by Ben Stiller, who also stars opposite Jack Black and Robert Downey Jr. They play three of Hollywood's biggest actors whose war movie comes apart at the seams when the fake war they're fighting becomes a real war they don't know they're fighting.
(Check out the official Tropic Thunder site)
Star Wars: The Clone Wars is a little complicated. There was an animated series called The Clone Wars five years ago, which made sense because we were between Episode II and Episode III in the second trilogy, and that's when the Clone Wars take place. In 2008, we have another animated series about the same thing, and this movie is kind of a preamble to that. Why doesn't George Lucas just do the last trilogy? You got me.
(Check out the official Star Wars: The Clone Wars site)
The third major release of the weekend is Mirrors. It's another Asian horror movie remake from a very talented member of the Splat Pack named Alexandre Aja. When the material catches up to his eye, look out. He's already made some good horror movies, but his ceiling is incredibly high. Mirrors stars Kiefer Sutherland as a security guard who believes the mirrors in the abandoned building he patrols are haunted. And evil. That's never a good combination.
(Check out the official Mirrors site)
The latest film from Woody Allen is the sultry romantic comedy Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Contrary to what you may think because of the high profile of its stars, Vicky is neither Penelope Cruz nor Scarlett Johansson. Scarlett is Cristina, all right, but Cruz plays a character named Maria Elena. Then who the hell is Vicky? That'd be British actress Rebecca Hall, one of the many women in this film who find themselves unable to deter or handle the desires of Javier Bardem.
(Check out the official Vicky Cristina Barcelona site)
Back in the 1970s, it was not uncommon to have a negative impression of California wines. After all, the French made the best wine, like the Swiss made fine timepieces, and Americans made the best Chinese food. But that impression changed after a Paris wine tasting in 1976. Armed with a really good cast that's anchored by Alan Rickman, Bottle Shock recounts the events leading up to one of the most significant days ever for people who tie sweaters around their necks and day trip into the Napa Valley wineries.
(Check out the official Bottle Shock site)
Luke Wilson hasn't played it safe over the past few years, branching out into independent territory both as an actor and even as a director. He seems comfortable in roles and films with lower expectations, whatever that means. Luke plays the title role in Henry Poole is Here, a man with not much going on in his world until his neighbors believe they see the impression of Jesus in the exterior wall of his house.
(Check out the official Henry Poole is Here site)
In the 1970s, it was believed that the French made the best wine. Now, they're gaining a reputation for making the best erotically-charged nouveau Hitchcock mysteries. I've already seen two this year, Roman de Gare and Tell No One (although there's not much sensuality in Tell No One). Now a French filmmaker who studied and later befriended Hitch as a writer for the influential French film journal Cahiers du Cinema has released A Girl Cut in Two. It's a great title, stars the electric and alluring Ludivine Sagnier, and comes to us from legendary French director Claude Chabrol.
(Check out the official Girl Cut in Two site)
That's a look at what's in theaters this weekend; choose wisely.
Reader Comments (1)
Hey guys, please check out this review from the Boston Phoenix for all you "A Girl Cut in Two" fans: http://thephoenix.com/Boston/Movies/67701-A-GIRL-CUT-IN-TWO/