Wednesday, September 26 2012, 10:09 AM MDT
Box Office: Recommended Films Aug. 31 - Sept. 6
Recommended films showing in Salt Lake City for the week of August 31 – September 6, 2012
Mainstream
1. The Dark Knight Rises (PG-13)
2. The Avengers (PG-13)
3. Prometheus (R)
4. Lawless (R)
5. The Amazing Spider-Man (PG-13)
Family
1. Brave (PG)
2. ParaNorman (PG)
3. The Odd Life of Timothy Green (PG)
4. Ice Age: Continental Drift (PG)
5. Madagascar 3 (PG)
Art House
1. Beats of the Southern Wild (PG-13)
2. Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry
3. Ruby Sparks (R)
4. Moonrise Kingdom (PG-13)
5. 2 Days in New York (R)
Celeste & Jesse Forever
2.5 out of 5 Stars
Director • Lee Toland Krieger
Starring • Rashida Jones, Andy Samberg and Elijah Wood
Rated • R
Recommended to • Jones and Samberg diehards and those in search of mediocrity.
Celeste (Rashida Jones) and Jesse (Andy Samberg) are best friends, but Celeste thinks Jesse is too lazy and unmotivated to be a good father so she’s divorcing him. Jesse thinks she’ll come to her senses. Celeste thinks he’ll eventually move on.
Going into this year’s Sundance Film Festival “Celeste & Jesse Forever” popped up on numerous lists as a must-see film. Following the premiere public opinion, at least among the critics, shifted dramatically from expectation to utter disappointment. So I decided I’d wait to see it when the film was given a proper theatrical release.
“Celeste & Jesse Forever” isn’t a bad movie, it just doesn’t stand up against other adult comedies like “The Five Year Engagement” or “Knocked Up.” It’s more in league with the mediocrity found in “The Change-Up” or “Wanderlust.” There are some funny parts, but when the film tries to be serious it lacks any sense of depth. I’d like to feel some sort of empathy for the characters, but I can’t. They can’t even seem to feel any sort of sympathy for each other. This could have been Jones’ red carpet moment. Instead it’s just another hip and savvy movie that will fade into obscurity.
Lawless
3.5 out of 5 Stars
Director • John Hillcoat
Starring • Tom Hardy, Shia LaBeouf and Guy Pearce
Rated • R
Recommended to • Fans of “The Proposition,” Nick Cave and those looking for a gritty take on prohibition in the rural parts of America.
The Bondurant brothers run a successful bootlegging business in Franklin County, Virgina. Too successful it would seem because now a crooked Special Deputy Charles Rakes (Guy Pearce) wants a piece of the action. The Bonduarants aren’t the kind to share profits and Rakes isn’t the sort to take “No” for an answer.
“Lawless” is journey into the Depression era where alcohol was worth its weight in gold. The majority of its characters are rough around the edges and unafraid of getting their hands dirty with a little blood. It’s violent, raw and unforgiving. It’s also compelling, well written and features some terrific performances from the likes of Tom Hardy, Guy Pearce and Gary Oldman.
The romantic subplot offers a bit of levity, but also takes away some of the film’s punch. If you’re in the mood for an atypical gangster film I’d recommend checking out “Lawless.”
(Copyright 2012 Sinclair Broadcasting Group.)
Mainstream
1. The Dark Knight Rises (PG-13)
2. The Avengers (PG-13)
3. Prometheus (R)
4. Lawless (R)
5. The Amazing Spider-Man (PG-13)
Family
1. Brave (PG)
2. ParaNorman (PG)
3. The Odd Life of Timothy Green (PG)
4. Ice Age: Continental Drift (PG)
5. Madagascar 3 (PG)
Art House
1. Beats of the Southern Wild (PG-13)
2. Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry
3. Ruby Sparks (R)
4. Moonrise Kingdom (PG-13)
5. 2 Days in New York (R)
Celeste & Jesse Forever
2.5 out of 5 Stars
Director • Lee Toland Krieger
Starring • Rashida Jones, Andy Samberg and Elijah Wood
Rated • R
Recommended to • Jones and Samberg diehards and those in search of mediocrity.
Celeste (Rashida Jones) and Jesse (Andy Samberg) are best friends, but Celeste thinks Jesse is too lazy and unmotivated to be a good father so she’s divorcing him. Jesse thinks she’ll come to her senses. Celeste thinks he’ll eventually move on.
Going into this year’s Sundance Film Festival “Celeste & Jesse Forever” popped up on numerous lists as a must-see film. Following the premiere public opinion, at least among the critics, shifted dramatically from expectation to utter disappointment. So I decided I’d wait to see it when the film was given a proper theatrical release.
“Celeste & Jesse Forever” isn’t a bad movie, it just doesn’t stand up against other adult comedies like “The Five Year Engagement” or “Knocked Up.” It’s more in league with the mediocrity found in “The Change-Up” or “Wanderlust.” There are some funny parts, but when the film tries to be serious it lacks any sense of depth. I’d like to feel some sort of empathy for the characters, but I can’t. They can’t even seem to feel any sort of sympathy for each other. This could have been Jones’ red carpet moment. Instead it’s just another hip and savvy movie that will fade into obscurity.
Lawless
3.5 out of 5 Stars
Director • John Hillcoat
Starring • Tom Hardy, Shia LaBeouf and Guy Pearce
Rated • R
Recommended to • Fans of “The Proposition,” Nick Cave and those looking for a gritty take on prohibition in the rural parts of America.
The Bondurant brothers run a successful bootlegging business in Franklin County, Virgina. Too successful it would seem because now a crooked Special Deputy Charles Rakes (Guy Pearce) wants a piece of the action. The Bonduarants aren’t the kind to share profits and Rakes isn’t the sort to take “No” for an answer.
“Lawless” is journey into the Depression era where alcohol was worth its weight in gold. The majority of its characters are rough around the edges and unafraid of getting their hands dirty with a little blood. It’s violent, raw and unforgiving. It’s also compelling, well written and features some terrific performances from the likes of Tom Hardy, Guy Pearce and Gary Oldman.
The romantic subplot offers a bit of levity, but also takes away some of the film’s punch. If you’re in the mood for an atypical gangster film I’d recommend checking out “Lawless.”
(Copyright 2012 Sinclair Broadcasting Group.)
