Your time is valuable and at the end of a long week, the discretionary time must be spent to maximum value. In order to help narrow choices down on the film and television front, every Friday we’ll give you the rundown of your options and an educated guess as to which ones make the most sense. There is a very complex formula involved. Usually that formula includes us watching the things and then telling you if they’re good. OK, we admit it’s not exactly the recipe for Coke, but we’re trying to help.
I predicted the box office returns for these films last Sunday, but I must admit that my track record hasn’t been too accurate thus far.
On the Screen
The Witch
Director: Robert Eggers
Stars: Anya Taylor-Joy, Ralph Ineson, Kate Dickie, Harvey Scrimshaw, Ellie Grainger
Current RT Meter: 87% Fresh
This film has become sort of a big deal in recent months due to a tremendous amount of hype. Horror films tend to do great business on Friday and Saturday nights and The Witch is certainly a film that will leave a mark on audiences. Whether it has the components to connect on a wide level is to be determined but it has a bit of a taboo nature to it, which could help lure the curious into theaters. It’s a good movie, but the hype could be a double-edged sword.
The Verdict: It’ll do well on Friday night and equalize over the remainder of the weekend.
Race
Director: Stephen Hopkins
Stars: Stephan James, Jason Sudeikis, Jeremy Irons, Carice van Houten, William Hurt
Current RT Meter: 63% Fresh
The Jesse Owens story gets the big screen treatment with an eclectic group of performers and a director known for delivering fast-paced and energetic fare. It’s a great story about adversity and will but the devil will be in the details. Is it a moving biopic or is it a pasteurized “movie of the week” stretched to cinematic proportions? Time will tell.
The Verdict: This one has a chance of being a solid middle-tier hit that’ll last a few weeks in the top five.
Risen
Director: Kevin Reynolds
Stars: Joseph Fiennes, Tom Felton, Peter Firth, Cliff Curtis
Current RT Meter: 53% Fresh
The latest faith-based project to hit the screens comes with a decent chance at a sizable box office showing, but the reviews haven’t been kind and the marketing seems to leave it with a bit of an identity crisis. It may be the kind of movie that can cross over, but the odds seem stacked against it. Especially considering that Deadpool isn’t likely to relinquish its position anytime soon.
The Verdict: They’ve got an uphill battle.
On the Tube
Girls
Stars: Lena Dunham, Allison Williams, Jemima Kirke, Zosia Mamet, Adam Driver
Lena Dunham’s beloved show enters its next-to-last season with added momentum thanks to Adam Driver’s turn as Kylo Ren. Fans of the show know what to expect, and it’s the kind of material than new viewers can jump on with relative ease. Girls is a known commodity and it still is a bit of an indie darling, but there’s no denying its appeal.
The Verdict: It’ll be more of the same, which just what the fans want.
Togetherness
Stars: Mark Duplass, Melanie Lynskey, Amanda Peet, Steve Zissis
The acclaimed comedy is back for eight more episodes in its second season, and it appears that the show holds the potential for enduring, especially considering that Girls is a season away from its end. The Duplass Brothers have found a nice venue for their style with HBO and if this season builds on the success of the first, it should make for a Sunday night to be reckoned with.
The Verdict: It’s niche but a nice addition to the HBO slate.
Happy hunting! We’ll catch up with you on the other side and see how it went.
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