NYC Film Critic

After a fairly lethargic March, April kicks off with a weekend full of fresh releases.  Read capsule reviews of six of the new movies that can be found in theaters tomorrow (including the Jake Gyllenhaal thriller Source Code, pictured above) after the jump.

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Duncan Jones follows-up his strong feature debut Moon with another compelling story of a man betrayed by the institution that employs him.  Opening in theaters next Friday, April 1 (look for my review next week) Source Code plays as a Hitchcockian thriller with a Twilight Zone twist.  My interview with Jones and the film’s screenwriter Ben Ripley just went live over at Film Journal.

Now entering its 40^th year, the annual New Directors/New Films festival teams the Film Society of Lincoln Center with the Museum of Modern Art’s cinema division to curate a line-up of new movies from up-and-coming directors.  Some of ND/NF’s past discoveries include George Miller’s The Road Warrior, Christopher Nolan’s Following and Kelly Reichardt’s Old Joy.  This year’s festival kicked off yesterday with the premiere of the buzzed-about Sundance title Margin Call and continues until April 3 at both Lincoln Center and MoMA.  The line-up features 28 feature-length titles from around the world along with a handful of shorts.  You can read quick reviews of four of the movies being shown at ND/NF below.  Visit the official site to read more about the rest of the films being shown and to buy tickets.

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With Sucker Punch, geek auteur Zack Snyder delivers his first “original” vision and, perhaps not surprisingly, it feels a heck of a lot like a lot of other movies, comic books and video games.  Read my review of this odd misfire over at Film Journal International, where you can also re-visit my review of his previous film, Watchmen and this interview I had with the very personable director around the time of his breakthrough feature, 300.

As is often the case, the trailers for Paul don’t really do the movie justice.  I won’t try to claim that the movie–which stars Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and the voice of Seth Rogen as the titular alien–is some kind of classic, but it’s an entirely enjoyable sci-fi comedy that benefits from a good cast and a lot of heart.  I explain my warm feelings towards this movie further in my review, just posted at Film Journal.

Last week’s big animated release Rango is one of my favorite films so far this year.  This week’s Mars Needs Moms, on the other hand, is currently tops my list of the year’s worst.  (Though, to be fair, I never saw Season of the Witch or The Rite.)  Read my review over at Film Journal and spend your money on something else this weekend.  May I recommend Rango?

Jane Eyre
Directed by Cary Fukunaga
Written by Moria Buffini
Starring Mia Wasikowska, Michael Fassbender, Jamie Bell, Judi Dench
**1/2

One of my unfortunate cultural blind spots is 19^th century British literature penned by female authors.  To date, I’ve only read one Jane Austen novel (Pride & Prejudice, which I quite liked by the way), nothing by Mary Shelly (not even Frankenstein, although I did repeatedly devour the Illustrated Classics version back in elementary school) and nothing by any of the three Brontë sisters, Anne, Charlotte and Emily.  I’m also embarrassed to admit that I haven’t even seen any of the numerous film versions of the Brontë’s books up to and including the classic 1939 adaptation of Wuthering Heights starring Laurence Olivier and 1943’s Jane Eyre, starring the dynamic duo of Orson Welles and Joan Fontaine.  Of course, I am familiar with the broad outlines of both tales—the thwarted love affair between Heathcliff and Cathy and Jane Eyre’s poorly advised infatuation with the brooding Rochester, who keeps his wife locked away in the attic of his gloomy mansion—but couldn’t  offer a blow-by-blow account of specific plot details.

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Kevin Smith launched the latest phase of his career on Saturday night on Radio City Music Hall,  kicking off the Red State U.S.A. Tour, traveling roadshow built around his new film, Red State, which he’ll be self-distributing in the fall.  The film screened before 3800 Smith fans the writer/director took the stage afterwards for one of his famous Q&A’s.  Read my take on the event over at Film Journal International. 

Rango
Directed by Gore Verbinski
Screenplay by John Logan
Starring Johnny Depp, Isla Fisher, Ned Beatty, Bill Nighy
***1/2

Let’s get this out of the way upfront: I’m not sure that I’d call the new animated Western Rango a great kids movie, at least not for the under-5 set.  I saw the film with my three-and-a-half year old son and I found myself occasionally cringing at its copious gunplay and casual attitude towards death.  Rango also lacks the broad slapstick comedy that plays best with younger kids and the character designs noticeably avoid the unthreatening, plush-doll ready cuddliness that most contemporary cartoons employ.  Indeed, several of the characters featured here are downright fearsome, most notably Rattlesnake Jake, an enormous serpent with glowing eyes, ultra-sharp fangs and a six-shooter for a rattle.  When Jake slithered onscreen, I was certain my son would run screaming from the theater, but he took it in stride and, funnily enough, calls him one of his favorite characters.  In fact, I should note that he seemed to really enjoy the movie overall, only growing a little antsy and uncomfortable during a few scenes.  He’s also been talking about Rango non-stop since the screening, so it’s entirely possible that I was just being too oversensitive in the moment.  Nevertheless, I’d hesitate to recommend the film to other parents of very young children lest those kids come home traumatized and unable to sleep for weeks afterwards due to Rattlesnake Jake-induced nightmares.

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After a lengthy stint on the shelf, the ’80s-set comedy Take Me Home Tonight arrives in theaters.  Was it worth the wait?  I reveal all in my review over at Film Journal.  (Short answer: not really.)