Theatrical Releases Of The Week

THE MECHANIC
Director:  Simon West
Stars:  Jason Statham, Ben Foster, Donald Sutherland

Plot: In this remake of the 1972 Charles Bronson film, Statham plays an assassin who leaves no traces.  He decides to take Ben Foster's character on as an apprentice.

Should I See It?:  I've enjoyed West's films so far, for what they are (Con Air, Tomb Raider), and I would expect a collaboration with Statham to up the ante.  If you don't mind checking your brain at the door, this looks like a good time.

THE RITE
Director: Mikael Hafstrom
Stars: Anthony Hopkins, Colin O'Donoghue, Ciaran Hinds

Plot: O'Donoghue plays a priest enrolled in Exorcism school in the Vatican, who is tasked with helping veteran exorcist Hopkins get the demon out of a young girl.

Should I See It?: Hafstrom has a real hit-or-miss track record:  "1408" was almost really good, and certainly creepy, but "Derailed" was a big pile of crap, and I've heard bad things about "Shanghai".  This looks like a rental to me.  Check out The Last Exorcism instead.

FROM PRADA TO NADA
Director:  Angel Gracia
Stars:  Camilla Belle, Alexa Vega

Plot:  A modern day, Latino spin on Jane Austen's "Sense And Sensibility" has two once-rich, suddenly poor sisters move from their plush digs to a run-down part of East LA.  There they find love, adventure, blah blah blah. . .  and the will to survive.

Should I See It?: In the 200 years since Sense and Sensibility was first published, the "Riches to Rags" story has been done to death.  Will this be "good"?  Nope.  Entertaining?  Possibly.


IN LIMITED RELEASE:

BIUTIFUL
Director:  Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu
Stars:  Javier Bardem

Plot:  Bardem plays a man who makes money by communicating with ghosts.  Or something.  And it looks pretty.  This is the Academy Award Nominee for Best Foreign Film from Mexico.

Should I See It?:  Through no small feat, Inarritu is by far the most pretentious of the Cha Cha Cha team (Also including Guillermo del Toro and Alfonso Cuaron).  Take that as you will.  I admire the man's ambition, but I personally find his films a bit tedious.  Still, I'm sure it'll look good on the big screen.

KABOOM
Director:  Gregg Araki
Stars:  Thomas Dekker, James Duval

Plot:  Dekker is a disaffected youth having lots of sex, and also visions of the apocalypse.  It's Porky's meets The Last Wave!

Should I See It?:  I'm too old to watch this movie, but if you're under the age of 22 it looks like a lot of fun.  Araki's style seems to have remained preserved in amber since he directed The Doom Generation a lifetime ago.