Artsies:
Creative Control (R) 1 HR 37 MIN – 2.5 Stars
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiDz1gxsz6k&w=560&h=315]
The setting is New York, 5 minutes in the future. The glorious technological advances and communication devices of the near future meant to increase connectivity and alleviate boredom are only increasing the anxiety level of the insecure New Yorkers who’ve inherited them. David (writer/director Benjamin Dickinson) is an overworked, tech-addled advertising executive developing a high-profile marketing campaign for a new generation of Augmented Reality glasses. Feeling stuck in his relationship with yoga teacher Juliette (Nora Zehetner, BRICK, IFC’s “Maron”), he envies the charmed life of his best friend, fashion photographer Wim (Dan Gill, THE WEDDING RINGER) and his entrancing girlfriend Sophie (Alexia Rasmussen, CALIFORNIA SOLO) – so he uses the glasses to develop a life-like avatar of her. Unwittingly, fantasy and reality begin to blur. As passions escalate and things get increasingly out of hand, the friends are forced to deal with the impending collision between their public, private and imaginary lives.
Director: Benjamin Dickinson
Starring: Benjamin Dickinson, Nora Zehetner, Dan Gill
Knight of Cups (R) 1 HR 58 MIN – 2.5 Stars
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SI2j1FHCjtM&w=560&h=315]
Knight of Cups follows writer Rick (Christian Bale, The Fighter, American Hustle) on an odyssey through the playgrounds of Los Angeles and Las Vegas as he undertakes a search for love and self. Even as he moves through a desire-laden landscape of mansions, resorts, beaches and clubs, Rick grapples over complicated relationships with his brother (Wes Bentley) and father (Brian Dennehy). His quest to break the spell of his disenchantment takes him on a series of adventures with six alluring women: rebellious Della (Imogen Poots); his physician ex-wife, Nancy (Cate Blanchett); a serene model Helen (Freida Pinto); a woman he wronged in the past Elizabeth (Natalie Portman); a spirited, playful stripper Karen (Teresa Palmer); and an innocent Isabel (Isabel Lucas), who helps him see a way forward. Rick moves in a daze through a strange and overwhelming dreamscape — but can he wake up to the beauty, humanity and rhythms of life around him? The deeper he searches, the more the journey becomes his destination. The 7th film from director Terrence Malick (The Thin Red Line, Tree of Life), Knight of Cups (the title refers to the Tarot card depicting a romantic adventurer guided by his emotions) offers both a vision of modern life and an intensely personal experience of memory, family, and love. Knight of Cups is produced by Nicolas Gonda, Sarah Green and Ken Kao. Prominent crew includes cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki (Gravity, Birdman), production designer Jack Fisk, costume designer Jacqueline West, and composer Hanan Townshend (To The Wonder). The film’s ensemble cast also includes Antonio Banderas, Cherry Jones and Armin Mueller-Stahl.
Director: Terrence Malick
Starring: Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett
Rams (R) 1 HR 30 MIN – 3.5 Stars
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWVmUVAdi5Y&w=560&h=315]
Winner of the Un Certain Regard prize at this year’s Cannes Film Festival and Best Narrative Feature at the Hampton’s Film Festival, this charming, stunningly shot drama focuses on two Icelandic sheep farmers whose decades-long feud comes to a head when disaster strikes their flocks. In a secluded valley, estranged brothers Gummi and Kiddi live side by side tending to their prized ancestral sheep stock, despite not having spoken in 40 years. When a lethal disease suddenly infects Kiddi’s sheep, all the animals in the area are culled to contain the outbreak, with many farmers abandoning their land. But the brothers don’t give up so easily-and each tries to stave off the disaster in his own fashion: Kiddi by using his rifle and Gummi by using his wits. As the authorities close in, they will need to come together to save the special breed passed down for generations-and themselves-from extinction.
Director: Grímur Hákonarson
Starring: Sigurður Sigurjónsson, Sigurður Sigurjónsson, Theódór Júlíusson
Eye in the Sky (R) 1 HR 42 MIN – 3.5 Stars
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOqeoj669xg&w=560&h=315]
EYE IN THE SKY stars Helen Mirren as Colonel Katherine Powell, a UK-based military officer in command of a top secret drone operation to capture terrorists in Kenya. Through remote surveillance and on-the-ground intel, Powell discovers the targets are planning a suicide bombing and the mission escalates from “capture” to “kill.” But as American pilot Steve Watts (Aaron Paul) is about to engage, a nine-year old girl enters the kill zone triggering an international dispute, reaching the highest levels of US and British government, over the moral, political, and personal implications of modern warfare.
Director: Gavin Hood
Starring: Helen Mirren, Aaron Paul, Alan Rickman
Fartsies:
My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 (PG-13) 1 HR 34 MIN – 1.5 Stars
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQ-1Ts3BChM&w=560&h=315]
Gold Circle Entertainment and HBO present a Playtone production of My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2, the long-awaited follow-up to the highest-grossing romantic comedy of all time. Written by Academy Award (R) nominee Nia Vardalos, who stars alongside the entire returning cast of favorites, the film reveals a Portokalos family secret that will bring the beloved characters back together for an even bigger and Greeker wedding. Kirk Jones (Nanny McPhee, Waking Ned Devine) directs the next chapter of the film that will be once again produced by Rita Wilson and Playtone partners Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman. Paul Brooks and Steven Shareshian return to executive produce alongside Vardalos and Scott Niemeyer. Universal Pictures will distribute the comedy domestically and in select international territories.
Director: Kirk Jones
Starring: Nia Vardalos, John Corbett
Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice (PG-13) 2 HR 31 MIN – 2.5/3 Stars
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yViIi3gie2c&w=560&h=315]
Batman (Ben Affleck) and Superman (Henry Cavill) share the screen in this Warner Bros./DC Entertainment co-production penned by David S. Goyer and Chris Terrio, and directed by Zack Snyder. Amy Adams and Diane Lane return as Lois Lane and Martha Kent, respectively.
Director: Zach Snyder
Starring: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill
Next week:
– City of Gold
– God’s Not Dead 2
– I Saw the Light
– Meet the Blacks
– Rescue Dogs
– Saturday’s Warrior
