Ok, we’re going to keep this unusually quick, cause we’d like to get the fuck out of dodge.
Opening this weekend in wide release is Baz Luhrmann’s “Australia.” As we assumed, it’s a polarizing film with critics and scribes are split almost evenly down the middle; it has a 51% rating at Rotten Tomatoes. We didn’t love it per se, but we did greatly admire the pomp and circumstance and the lush spectacle of it all. Be assured this is the first and last time you will see Baz Luhrmann make a film as expansive and expensive as this. See it on the big screen or don’t, but you’re better off seeing that than “Transporter 3” which has a 42% RT rating and looks like its made for mentally challenged teenagers who smoke rock cocaine and guzzle energy drinks. We basically don’t have time for nonsense like that.
Coming out in limited release is Gus Van Sant’s widely (and aptly) praised Harvey Milk biopic, “Milk” starring Sean Penn in a role that’s a lock for an Academy Award nomination. While perhaps not a spectacular film, it is a great one that is rock-solid in every aspect. Look for it to garner multiple-Oscar nominations. We liked some of the understated artistic touches that reminded us of Van Sant’s “My Private Idaho” days. “Milk” has an insanely good, 92% approval rating.
Like we said, Seth Gordon following up the awe-inspiring, “King of Kong” with a very studio-family friendly looking “Four Christmases” looked like a baaad idea and that seems to be the case. The film has a terrible 19%RT rating, but ham n’ eggers will probably see it in droves this weekend.
If none of these appeal to you, go see “Slumdog Millionaire” which is continues to spread in wider-release this week. It’s fabulous and it too has a super-solid 92% RT rating. Everything else coming out this week isn’t really worth talking about, but if you’re curious, RT has more. Gobble, Gobble, Gobble.