It looks to be another good week. Whether the movies turnout to be any good or not, we shall see, but we do get a good selection to choose from. This week there are nine movies opening. Four are nationwide offerings and five are in limited release. The week leans toward the dramatic after last week’s comic and comedy movies. Two of them have Virginia Madsen playing the supportive wife.
Nationwide Movie Releases for February 23rd
Movie: The Abandoned (R)
Starring: Nobody I have heard of
Genre: Horror
Synopsis: After being adopted and growing up in America a film producer visits where she would have grown up in Russia. On the family farm weird things start to happen and then her guide disappears, ghost start to appear and a strange man arrives at the farm.
First Thoughts: Sounds spooky and lame like most horror flicks.
Movie: The Astronaut Farmer (PG)
Starring: Billy Bob Thornton, Virginia Madsen and Bruce Dern
Genre: Family Drama
Synopsis: After being dismissed from NASA’s astronaut training program a man goes about building his own rocket to live his dream of going into space. He must battle the government, locals who don’t see what the heck he is doing and bankers wanting to foreclose. It is the story of a man who wants to show his kids that they too can achieve their dreams, even if it looks hard and others want to keep you down.
First Thoughts: Looks like it could be a sweet endearing movie or a bad silly one, hard to tell.
Movie: The Number 23 (R)
Starring: Jim Carrey and Virginia Madsen
Genre: Suspense Thriller
Synopsis: A man becomes obsessed with how his life relates to the number 23 after reading a book. The more of the book he reads the more he thinks it is about him. Unfortunately, the book points to a dark conclusion for his life and what he will become.
First Thoughts: Jim Carrey playing dramatic, dark or both hasn’t really gone over very well with the movie going public or critics usually. I have always thought he does pretty well in these roles, even if the movies themselves sucked. This just might be the right number.
Movie: Reno 911!: Miami (R)
Starring: The cast of Reno 911! the Comedy Central TV show.
Genre: Comedy
Synopsis: The Reno crew has headed for the national police convention in Miami. When a terrorist attack unfolds, it leaves them the only ones able to save the day.
First Thoughts: If you are a fan of the show, you will probably enjoy this movie. The whole idea looks like someone sat down in an attempt to make a dirtier and more twisted Police Academy
Movies in Limited Release this Week
Movie: Amazing Grace (PG)
Starring: Ioan Gruffodd and Albert Finney
Genre: Drama
Synopsis: Based on the life of William Wilberforce who lead the fight in Britain to pass a law to abolish the slave trade at the end of the 18th century. Those in the British Empire who rely on the trading of slaves strongly opposed him in Parliament. Wilberforce was encouraged to fight for what he thought was right until he saw it come to fruition by many friends. One of these friends was John Newton, his minister. He is the man who wrote “Amazing Grace” and was once a former captain of slave ships himself.
First Thoughts: This movie looks really good. It is a big sweeping historical drama about a man, William Wilberforce
According to Fandango the other new movies in limited release, but not in a theater near me, are:
- Glastonbury – A documentary of the 30th anniversary of the British music festival
- Gray Matters – A romantic comedy starring Heather Graham and Tom Cavanagh.
- Premium – A romance drama with Zoe Saldana as the pursued woman.
- Starter for 10 – A romantic comedy set in the 80s, which opens in LA and NY only this week.
Well, for me there are five choices at a theater near me this week. Which movie looks like it will be a blast and get me to grace the theater with my presence and what should be abandoned? Leave your thoughts in the comments and come back tomorrow and see which movie gets the nod for Friday.
