Chase Whale
On The Overnighters And This Weekend's Wide And Special Releases.
Dumb and Dumber To.
Director: Bobby Farrelly, Peter Farrelly.
Writer: Sean Anders, Mike Cerrone, Bobby Farrelly, Peter Farrelly, John Morris, Bennett Yellin.
Cast: Jim Carrey, Jeff Daniels.
Playing At: Wide.
Dumb and Dumber To isn't as smart and as consistently funny as the original, but there are still plenty of laughs just the same. Let me explain.
The Theory of Everything.
Director: James Marsh.
Writer: Anthony McCarten (screenplay), Jane Hawking (book).
Cast: Eddie Redmayne, Felicity Jones, Tom Prior.
Playing At: Angelika Film Center (Dallas), Cinemark West Plano.
The Theory of Everything is a biopic based on Stephen Hawking and his wife, Jane Wilde Hawking. The film was adapted from her memoir, Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen. I love movies based on real people, especially when they’re good. And according to our Angela Jones, The Theory of Everything is pretty solid.
The Way He Looks.
Director: Daniel Ribeiro.
Writer: Daniel Ribeiro.
Cast: Ghilherme Lobo, Fabio Audi, Tess Amorim.
Playing At: Angelika Film Center Dallas.
Out of all at the films listed here, this one may appeal to you most. Why? Because Belle and Sebastian did the music, and we all adore them. Right?
Rosewater.
Director: Jon Stewart.
Writer: Jon Stewart (screenplay); Maziar Bahari, Aimee Molloy (book)
Cast: Gael García Bernal.
Playing At: Angelika Film Center (Dallas and Plano).
Rosewater is actor-turned-political-satirist-turned-filmmaker John Stewart’s directorial debut. I hate to be a bummer, but the result of his first outing as a director is a boring, uninspiring, humdrum movie. My full review can be read here.
Beyond the Lights.
Director: Gina Prince-Bythewood.
Writer: Gina Prince-Bythewood.
Cast: Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Minnie Driver, Aisha Hinds.
Playing At: Wide.
Beyond the Lights is about a famous pop singer who's stressed out because she’s famous. First-world problems? First-world problems. Anyway, after she meets a handsome young cop, she chills out a bit. Sounds like a film I couldn't care less about, but, hey, you're not me.
Saving Christmas.
Director: Darren Doane.
Writer: Darren Doane, Cheston Hervey.
Cast: Kirk Cameron.
Playing At: Wide.
First, Kirk Cameron grew with some pains. Then, he tried to save humanity. Now, he’s trying to save Christmas. If only he just showed us that smile again. Also, in case you don't know what Cameron's about these days, know this: In Saving Christmas, one of the main characters is named Christian. Dude gets right to the point.
Why Don't You Play in Hell?
Director: Shion Sono.
Writer: Shion Sono.
Cast: Jun Kunimura, Fumi Nikaidô, Shin'ichi Tsutsumi.
Playing At: Alamo Drafthouse.
I know this is going to sound ridiculous, but listen to this plot: A young film crew in Japan called The Fuck Bombers is obsessed with 35mm and Bruce Lee. And they get to make a unique film of their own when the warring factions of a ruthless yakuza strife offer them the chance to film an epic fight between two clans, all the way to the bloody, bitter end. Writer and director Shion Sono (The Suicide Club, Coldfish) really hams it up for the finale, too. It's one hell of a good time. And our Angela Jones agrees.
Dazed and Confused.
Director: Richard Linklater.
Writer: Richard Linklater.
Cast: Jason London, Wiley Wiggins, Matthew McConaughey.
Playing At: Inwood Theatre.
You know what I like about Dazed and Confused? I get older, and this classic film about high school malaise stays the same age.
The Overnighters.
Director: Jesse Moss.
Writer: Jesse Moss.
Cast: Jay Reinke, Keegan Edwards.
Playing At: Alamo Drafthouse.
Don't be surprised if The Overnighters makes the cut as a Best Documentary nominee at next year's Academy Awards. Since premiere at the Sundance Film Festival (where it received a Special Jury Prize award) earlier this year, it has received nothing but critical acclaim.
