ARTHUR
Starring: Russell Brand, Helen Mirren, Greta Gerwig,
Luis Guzman, Nick Nolte & Jennifer Garner
Directed by Jason Winer for distribution by Warner
Brothers
The Plot: A trust fund
playboy (Brand) with zero ambition must fend for himself when he is cut off
from his inheritance after he refuses to marry the woman (Garner) his family
has chosen on his behalf.
The Final Word: In 1981, Dudley
Moore brought to life a character that would later earn him an Academy Award
nomination. A happy drunk with no
ambition whatsoever; the character’s name was Arthur. Now thirty years later,
comedian Russell Brand is about to slip into Arthur’s expensive shoes and
remind audiences why they fell for this lovable lothario in the first place.
Although this will be Brand’s second movie released in a two week span. Could
audiences be in for a “Brand” overload? I don’t envy Warner Brothers, as it is
hard enough to launch a movie by itself, much less one where your lead actor is
basically competing against himself for number one at the box office.
BORN TO BE WILD 3D
Starring: Morgan Freeman
Directed by David Lickley for distribution by Warner
Brothers
The Plot: A documentary
focusing on orphaned orangutans & elephants and the people who come to
their aid.
The Final Word: Narrated by
Morgan Freeman, this nature film was shot in IMAX 3D across Borneo and Kenya.
It profiles world-renowned primatologist Dr. Birute Galdikas and noted elephant
specialist Dame Daphne Sheldrick, as they go about their work in the field
preventing these amazing animals from extinction.
HANNA
Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Cate Blanchett, Eric Bana,
Jason Flemyng,
Tom Hollander & Olivia Williams
Directed by Joe Wright for distribution by Focus
Features
The Plot: A trained
sixteen year old assassin (Ronan) is dispatched by her father (Bana) on a
mission, only to be tracked by a ruthless intelligence agent (Blanchett) and
her throngs of operatives.
The Final Word: Between “Arthur”
and “Your Highness” I have every reason to believe this movie will be
overshadowed at the box office. Although this is Focus Features and they’ve
pulled off shockers before, but I just don’t see this falling to either of the
two comedies it’s up against. Nothing against the film or its talented cast,
but this honestly looks like a movie you may stumble upon on a cable channel in
a few years and get sucked into for an hour or two. Then again Ronan (who at
age 16 already has one Academy Award nomination) is already receiving rave
reviews and Blanchett has become the definition of Oscar-bait, so this movie
could still find a second life down the road.
SOUL SURFER
Starring: Dennis Quaid, Helen Hunt, AnnaSophia Robb,
Carrie Underwood,
Lorraine Nicholson, Kevin Sorbo & Jeremy Sumpter
Directed by Sean McNamara for distribution by
TriStar Pictures (Sony)
The Plot: The true story
of surfer Bethany Hamilton (Robb), a young prodigy on the water who has her
dreams shattered when a shark attack leaves her unable to perform. Although
through her determination, Bethany fights to return to the sport she loves and
overcome her handicap.
The Final Word: No doubt this
uplifting story’s biggest asset is its cast, which includes Dennis Quaid,
Carrie Underwood and Helen Hunt (who has seemingly fell off the map the last
few years), but this is an insanely crowded release date and similar to
“Hanna,” I see this getting overshadowed as well. It actually makes me wonder
why TriStar didn’t hold it for the summer, when audiences begin to get tired of
things blowing up and decide to go after this type of movie.
YOUR HIGHNESS
Starring: Danny McBride, James Franco, Natalie
Portman,
Zooey Deschanel, Justin Theroux, Toby Jones & Damian
Lewis
Directed by David Gordon Green for distribution by
Universal
The Plot: Two princes
(McBride, Franco) with vastly different personalities must team up to rescue
the older and more mature one’s girlfriend (Deschanel) after she’s kidnapped by
an evil wizard (Theroux)
The Final Word: Franco has to be
dreading doing press for this picture following the Oscars, but with Portman
getting ready to give birth, it seems apparent the promotional burden will fall
on him and McBride. Although remember that this won’t be the first time the
pair has teamed up for a movie and that could end up being what really helps
this comedy succeed. Fans of “Pineapple Express” probably already have the
film’s release date circled on their calendars since this is targeted at the
exact same audience.
Previewed next week: Rio & Scream 4
