The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 and Skyfall are still dominating the box and with the release of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey next week, no studio is insane enough to release anything this weekend. The only wide release is the critically derided rom-com Playing for Keeps. The big highlight of all the limited releases is the French movie Rust and Bone and your best bet for the week.
Wide Release
Playing for Keeps
Directed by Gabriele Muccino
Written by Robbie Fox
Starring: Gerard Butler, Jessica Biel, Uma Thurman, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Dennis Quaid
Distributor: FilmDistrict, Open Road Films
Theater Count: 2,837
What’s It About?
Gerard Butler stars as George, a former soccer star who is down on his luck, struggling both financially and with his relationships. To repair his relationship with his son, George becomes the coach of his son’s soccer team and preps for a life-changing interview with ESPN.
Early Reaction: Playing for Keeps currently has a 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, having no positive reviews from a grand total of 51. I think you can draw your own conclusions.
Metacritic: 32/100
Rotten Tomatoes: 0%
What to Watch For: Ehh… someone needs to see it. You need to see the bad films to make you appreciate the good ones more.
Limited/Independent Releases
Rust and Bone – From the director of A Prophet, Jacques Audiard is the critically acclaimed French movie Rust and Bone. Nominated at the Palme d’Or Rust and Bone is the story of a single father Ali (Matthias Schoenaerts) and whale trainer Stephanie (Marion Cotillard) who become close after Stephanie suffers a tragic accident. Despite the positive reviews, our own John Gilpatrick was more critical. (Metacritic 72/100, Rotten Tomatoes: 83%, Entertainment Fuse: 5.0/10) – Sony Pictures Classics
Hyde Park on Hudson – Hyde Park on Hudson is the latest movie set in the 1930s featuring King George VI. Set in June 1939, Hyde Park on Hudson tells the story of King and Queen of the United Kingdom visiting President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (Bill Murray) in his estate in the Upstate New York. As Britain is on the edge of war and seeking American support, FDR embarks on an affair with his distant cousin, Margaret Suckley (Laura Linney). (Metacritic 56/100, Rotten Tomatoes: 41%) – Walmark Films
Lay the Favorite – Based on Beth Raymer’s memoirs, Rebecca Hall (The Town) stars as Beth, Las Vegas cocktail waitress who longs for more from her life. Beth befriends Dink (Bruce Willis), a professional gambler and discovers she has talent for betting. (Metacritic: 38/100, Rotten Tomatoes: 21%) – The Weinstein Company
