This week at the movies, we’ve got motel hells ("Vacancy," starring Luke Wilson and Kate Beckinsale), legal battles ("Fracture," starring Anthony Hopkins and Ryan Gosling), lots of babes ("In the Land of Women," starring Adam Brody and Meg Ryan), and smokin’ barrels ("Hot Fuzz," starring Simon Pegg). What do the critics have to say?
In "Vacancy," Luke Wilson and Kate Beckinsale star as a couple whose vacation is sidetracked when their car breaks down and they check into a nowhere motel with a sinister history. "Vacancy"’s premise, which borrows from such voyeur classics as "Psycho" and "Peeping Tom," ain’t exactly original, and some critics have denounced the clichés from the get-go. But the movie’s defenders say it’s a surprisingly effective B-thriller, a sleazy movie that works because it relies more on tension than gore. At 65 percent on the Tomatometer, "Vacancy" may not become a genre classic but horror and thriller fans would do well to check into theaters this Friday.
"Luke Wilson Bot, power down."
Anthony Hopkins plays a charming rogue better than just about anyone, and Ryan Gosling has showed he can do earnest better than the rest as well. Put them together, and what have you got? "Fracture," a crime drama about a young district attorney (Gosling) convinced of the guilt of a just-acquitted attempted murderer (Hopkins). The critics say "Fracture" may be manipulative, but in the best way, with suspenseful plotting and excellent lead performances. At 67 percent on the Tomatometer, you may want to make a break for "Fracture."
Ryan Gosling plays cops and robbers with his finger gun.
"The O.C." may have been canceled, but the show will live on through its DVDs, countless compilation soundtracks…and the careers of the show’s alumni. Displacing his sensitive young adult persona onto the silver screen, Adam Brody stars in "In the Land of Women" as a man who returns to his hometown and gets touchy-feely with not one, not two, but three females. While pleasantly acted, the critics deride it as painfully obvious, dramatically stunted, and with underdeveloped characters better suited for TV movies. "Land of Women" registers a 38 percent on the Tomatometer, so consider taking a detour.
"I appreciate James Mercer on a much deeper level than you do."
With "Shaun of the Dead," director Edgar Wright and screenwriter/star Simon Pegg made a delirious zombie flick that worked as both a satire and as a straight-ahead horror film. Now they’re back with "Hot Fuzz," turning their attention to the world of cop-buddy-action movies. And the critics say it’s a perfect fit. Pegg stars as a city cop who’s so accomplished that he’s commissioned to a sleepy village, which is subsequently overrun with grisly accidents. The pundits say "Hot Fuzz" is works as a loving homage to such fare as "Lethal Weapon" and "Bad Boys," while skewing the conventions of the sub-genre with panache and glee. At 87 percent on the Tomatometer, "Fuzz" isn’t only smokin’ hot, it’s also Certified Fresh.
Nick Frost serves up two slices of fried DVD gold.
Also opening this week in limited release: Thai import "Syndromes and a Century," the latest from Apichatpong Weerasethakul, is at 93 percent on the Tomatometer; "The Valet," a frothy French farce starring Kristin Scott Thomas and Daniel Auteuil, is at 90 percent; "Severance," a slasher/ corporate satire, is at 85 percent; "Stephanie Daley," a drama about a family grappling with a variety of sordid topics, is at 86 percent; and "Smiley Face," a stoner comedy from Gregg Araki starring Anna Faris, is at 67 percent (check out RT’s Sundance review here).
"Who wants to come? I’m throwing a communist party!"
And finally, props to two of our most consistent Tomatometer guessers. –eternity- was correct in his belief that "Redline" would notch a robust zero percent on the Tomatometer, while dreday came the closest to guessing "Slow Burn"’s seven percent. Keep the heads ringin,’ you two.
Recent Anthony Hopkins Movies:
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60% — Slipstream (2007)
43% — Bobby (2006)
11% — All the King’s Men (2006)
79% — The World’s Fastest Indian (2005)
63% — Proof (2005)
