THE BUZZ: Sony has linked both Underworld and Resident Evil finales so closely, we’re surprised they aren’t releasing them as some sort of special double feature. So as we say farewell to both the death dealer Selene and her sister from another franchise, the rebellious Umbrella Corporation experiment, Alice, we hope to see more action heroines who can live up to their respective successes. Though we also expect either story to be spun off or rebooted within the next few years as well.
THE BUZZ: With the holidays behind us, this is a time when some of the most heralded movies of the past year start to look for some breathing room and find their respective audiences. Director J.A. Bayona’s escapist fantasy has enraptured audiences since its festival run commenced back in the fall, and with no real direct competition at the box office this month, it could become the top pick for a family night out.
THE BUZZ: At this point in his career it seems as though Ken Loach has little use for subtlety or gesture when it comes to his films; instead, his broad statements have bolstered his profile as one of the most politically minded directors in the world. I, Daniel Blake uses a relatable storytelling device, the neurotic relationship we tend to have with personal health care benefits, to take aim at Britain’s ruling Conservative party. To help melt your heart, there’s a three-legged dog named Shae at the center of the story, too.
A brutal home-jacking goes hopelessly wrong. Dave, one of the two robbers, manages to run off, leaving his brother Kenneth behind. Four years later, Kenneth is released from prison and much has changed. Dave has his life back on track and is trying to help Kenneth however possible, but is witnessing how the highly strung Kenneth tries to win back his ex-girlfriend Sylvie.
THE BUZZ: I’ve heard mixed reviews for the story itself but most everyone who has seen this coal-black family drama says it’s a promising feature debut from director Robin Pront. The script was more than enough to entice Bullhead producer Bart Van Langendonck into backing the project, which will be a selling point for U.S. audiences. – Arno
THE BUZZ: As Jackie Chan’s loyal U.S. fan base already knows, just because we don’t see him in English-language buddy movies these days doesn’t mean he’s not keeping incredibly busy; in fact, Railroad Tigers marks his third film with director Ding Sheng in the last six years. Meanwhile, another Chan movie, Skiptrace, enjoyed a $60 million dollar opening weekend in China last spring, on its way to a $135 million worldwide haul despite registering as a mere blip in the U.S. Railroad Tigers didn’t perform as well in China but it was certainly a hit, and we credit Chan with being way ahead of the game when it comes to career longevity.
In a city of humanoid animals, a hustling theater impresario’s attempt to save his theater with a singing competition becomes grander than he anticipates even as its finalists’ find that their lives will never be the same.
A spacecraft traveling to a distant colony planet and transporting thousands of people has a malfunction in its sleep chambers. As a result, two passengers are awakened 90 years early.
In Ancient Polynesia, when a terrible curse incurred by the Demigod Maui reaches an impetuous Chieftain’s daughter’s island, she answers the Ocean’s call to seek out the Demigod to set things right.
A holiday gathering threatens to go off the rails when Ned Fleming realizes that his daughter’s Silicon Valley billionaire boyfriend is about to pop the question.
When Callum Lynch explores the memories of his ancestor Aguilar and gains the skills of a Master Assassin, he discovers he is a descendant of the secret Assassins society.
Retreating from life after a tragedy, a man questions the universe by writing to Love, Time and Death. Receiving unexpected answers, he begins to see how these things interlock and how even loss can reveal moments of meaning and beauty.
Opening This Week – January 6
January 5, 2017Share this:
Underworld: Blood Wars (2016)
Director:
Anna Foerster
Stars:
Kate Beckinsale, Theo James, Tobias Menzies, Lara Pulver
THE BUZZ: Sony has linked both Underworld and Resident Evil finales so closely, we’re surprised they aren’t releasing them as some sort of special double feature. So as we say farewell to both the death dealer Selene and her sister from another franchise, the rebellious Umbrella Corporation experiment, Alice, we hope to see more action heroines who can live up to their respective successes. Though we also expect either story to be spun off or rebooted within the next few years as well.
A Monster Calls (2016) – [Wide expansion]
Director:
J.A. Bayona
Stars:
Lewis MacDougall, Sigourney Weaver, Felicity Jones, Toby Kebbell
THE BUZZ: With the holidays behind us, this is a time when some of the most heralded movies of the past year start to look for some breathing room and find their respective audiences. Director J.A. Bayona’s escapist fantasy has enraptured audiences since its festival run commenced back in the fall, and with no real direct competition at the box office this month, it could become the top pick for a family night out.
I, Daniel Blake (2016) – [Limited]
Director:
Ken Loach
Stars:
Dave Johns, Hayley Squires, Sharon Percy, Briana Shann
THE BUZZ: At this point in his career it seems as though Ken Loach has little use for subtlety or gesture when it comes to his films; instead, his broad statements have bolstered his profile as one of the most politically minded directors in the world. I, Daniel Blake uses a relatable storytelling device, the neurotic relationship we tend to have with personal health care benefits, to take aim at Britain’s ruling Conservative party. To help melt your heart, there’s a three-legged dog named Shae at the center of the story, too.
The Ardennes (2015) – [Limited]
Director:
Robin Pront
Stars:
Kevin Janssens, Jeroen Perceval, Veerle Baetens, Jan Bijvoet
THE BUZZ: I’ve heard mixed reviews for the story itself but most everyone who has seen this coal-black family drama says it’s a promising feature debut from director Robin Pront. The script was more than enough to entice Bullhead producer Bart Van Langendonck into backing the project, which will be a selling point for U.S. audiences. – Arno
Railroad Tigers (2016) – [Limited]
– Action | Comedy | War
Director:
Ding Sheng
Stars:
Jackie Chan, Jaycee Chan, Zitao Huang, Kai Wang
THE BUZZ: As Jackie Chan’s loyal U.S. fan base already knows, just because we don’t see him in English-language buddy movies these days doesn’t mean he’s not keeping incredibly busy; in fact, Railroad Tigers marks his third film with director Ding Sheng in the last six years. Meanwhile, another Chan movie, Skiptrace, enjoyed a $60 million dollar opening weekend in China last spring, on its way to a $135 million worldwide haul despite registering as a mere blip in the U.S. Railroad Tigers didn’t perform as well in China but it was certainly a hit, and we credit Chan with being way ahead of the game when it comes to career longevity.
In Theaters Now – Box Office Top Ten
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
Director:
Gareth Edwards
Stars:
Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Alan Tudyk, Donnie Yen
Box Office:
Weekend: $155.09M, Gross: $439.71M
Sing (2016)
Directors:
Christophe Lourdelet | Garth Jennings
Stars:
Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Seth MacFarlane,Scarlett Johansson
Box Office:
Weekend: $35.26M, Gross: $180.00M
Passengers (2016)
Director:
Morten Tyldum
Stars:
Jennifer Lawrence, Chris Pratt, Michael Sheen, Laurence Fishburne
Box Office:
Weekend: $15.06M, Gross: $66.00M
Moana (2016)
Directors:
Ron Clements | Don Hall | John Musker | Chris Williams
Stars:
Auli’i Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson, Rachel House, Temuera Morrison
Box Office:
Weekend: $56.63M, Gross: $213.36M
Why Him? (2016)
Director:
John Hamburg
Stars:
Zoey Deutch, James Franco, Tangie Ambrose, Cedric the Entertainer
Box Office:
Weekend: $11.00M, Gross: $37.56M
Fences (2016)
Director:
Denzel Washington
Stars:
Denzel Washington, Viola Davis, Stephen Henderson, Jovan Adepo
Box Office:
Weekend: $0.13M, Gross: $32.40M
La La Land (2016)
Director:
Damien Chazelle
Stars:
Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Rosemarie DeWitt, J.K. Simmons
Box Office:
Weekend: $4.10M, Gross: $37.05M
Assassin’s Creed (2016)
Director:
Justin Kurzel
Stars:
Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard, Jeremy Irons, Brendan Gleeson
Box Office:
Weekend: $10.28M, Gross: $41.92M
Manchester by the Sea (2016)
Director:
Kenneth Lonergan
Stars:
Casey Affleck, Michelle Williams, Kyle Chandler, Lucas Hedges
Box Office:
Weekend: $0.26M, Gross: $29.69M
Collateral Beauty (2016)
Director:
David Frankel
Stars:
Will Smith, Edward Norton, Kate Winslet, Michael Peña
Box Office:
Weekend: $7.10M, Gross: $25.79M
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