THE MECHANIC
Starring: Jason Statham, Ben Foster, Donald
Sutherland & Christa Campbell
Directed by
Simon West for distribution by CBS Films
The Plot: A skilled
hitman (Statham) seeks revenge on the men who killed his mentor (Sutherland),
while reluctantly taking on the mentor's vengeance-seeking son (Foster) as an
apprentice.
The Final Word: The star of “The
Transporter” and “Crank” franchises, Jason Statham has yet to meet an action
film that he doesn’t like. More importantly to the studios, he’s never a met an
action franchise that moviegoers didn’t find appealing. While not all big
budget successes, Statham is a steady action movie force and stability is
something CBS Films could use right now. After releasing three box office bombs
in a row, the freshman studio is desperately seeking a spark and they hope this
is it. Coming to theatres close to a year after the company’s debut effort
“Extraordinary Measures,” all involved are banking on more positive result this
time around.
THE RITE
Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Colin O’Donoghue, Alice
Braga,
Ciaran Hinds & Rutger Hauer
Directed by
Mikael Hafstrom for distribution by New Line (WB)
The Plot: A skeptical
seminary student (O’Donoghue) reluctantly agrees to travel to the Vatican to
part in an exorcism school, where he meets a priest (Hopkins) with his own
mysterious agenda.
The Final Word: Lionsgate hit
upon some luck last year when“The Last Exorcism” became a cult success, but it
doesn’t seem as likely New Line will catch the same lightning in the bottle.
Despite Hollywood legend Anthony Hopkins top-lining the movie, this looks a lot
more like New Line burning off a dud in the dead of the winter, than giving it
a vote of confidence. Horror films are always hit or miss at the box office,
and this once could still surprise, but more than likely this time the devil
may just be in the details.
Previewed next week: "The Roommate" & "Sanctum"
Previewed next week: "The Roommate" & "Sanctum"
