HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA
Starring (voices): Adam Sandler, Selena Gomez, Andy
Samberg,
Kevin James, Fran Drescher, Cee-Lo Green, David
Spade,
Steve Buscemi, Molly Shannon & Jon Lovitz
Directed by Genndy Tartakovsky for distribution by
Sony
The Plot: A human
teenager mistakenly stumbles into a hotel catering to monsters and promptly
falls for the daughter of the proprietor.
The Final Word: With Halloween
just a few weeks away, releasing “Transylvania” now is a smart move. The summer
rush is over and the fall tentpoles have yet to start rolling into theaters.
Packed with an all-star ensemble of celebrity voices including Adam Sandler and
Selena Gomez, the 3D animated picture is on track to break the $25 million mark
at the box office; no matter what the critics may say.
LOOPER
Starring: Bruce Willis, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Emily
Blunt,
Paul Dano, Noah Segan, Piper Perabo & Jeff
Daniels
Directed by Rian Johnson for distribution by Tri
Star (Sony)
The Plot: In a world
where time travel exists, the mob sends enemies to the past to be handled by a
“looper,” but when they decide to close the loop, the “looper” finds his future
self his latest target.
The Final Word: All in all,
“Looper” has everything to gain and very little to lose. It looks like a smart
thriller which audiences appreciate and in turn will show up to support. It
also doesn’t hurt that Gordon-Levitt is one of the year’s most bankable stars.
WON’T BACK DOWN
Starring: Maggie Gyllenhaal, Viola Davis, Oscar
Isaac, Holly Hunter,
Rosie Perez, Lance Reddick & Emily Alyn Lind
Directed by Daniel Barnz for distribution by 20th
Century FOX
The Plot: Two mothers fed
up with the public school system wage a war against mediocrity in the name of
their kids.
The Final Word: Based on actual
events, the drama finds Oscar nominees Gyllenhaal and Davis teaming with Oscar
winner Hunter for what figures to be a hot button issue based film. The
question though is if audiences will show up as they don’t like films that
preach and despite the positive message, that could be the case here.
