This week at the movies, we’ve got a band of brothers (Lone Survivor, starring Mark Wahlberg and Taylor Kitsch), an unconventional couple (Her, starring Joaquin Phoenix and Scarlett Johansson), and a mythical strongman (The Legend of Hercules, starring Kellan Lutz and Gaia Weiss). What do the critics have to say?
War movies often traffic in epic, grandiose heroics, but Lone Survivor tells a more intimate story — that of dedicated soldiers at work. Critics say that perspective is refreshing, and the result is a film that’s visceral, immediate, and suspenseful — even if it’s a little short on character development. Based on a true story, the film chronicles an ill-fated mission by a group of Navy SEALs to track down a high-value Taliban target through a mountainous region in Afghanistan — a mission that turns deadly after the soldiers decide against firing on a group of civilians. The pundits say this well-crafted war film may not say much about the broader context of modern warfare, but such objectivity makes for an intense, ultimately thought-provoking experience. (Click through this week’s 24 Frames for a gallery of stars in uniform, and watch our video interview with Wahlberg and the other stars of Lone Survivor.)
With Being John Malkovich and Adaptation, Spike Jonze established himself as one of Hollywood’s most original filmmakers. And critics say he’s outdone himself with Her, taking a bizarre premise and turning it into a film that’s unique, funny, and deeply moving. Joaquin Phoenix stars as Theodore Twombly, a lovelorn writer who falls in love with OS1, his computer’s highly intelligent operating system (voiced by Scarlett Johansson). What follows is one of the strangest love stories in recent cinema. The pundits say the Certified Fresh Her is a one-of-a-kind experience: sometimes hilarious, sometimes somber, often thoughtful, and, finally, deeply resonant.
It appears the folks behind The Legend of Hercules are concerned that the film is less than mighty, since it wasn’t screened for critics prior to its release. Kellan Lutz stars as the fabled hero, who must overcome exile, enslavement, and scary monsters before claiming the throne atop Mount Olympus. Time to guess the Tomatometer! (And check out this week’s total recall, in which we count down director Renny Harlin’s best-reviewed films.)
Finally, props to Garner Montgomery for coming the closest to guessing Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones‘ 42 percent Tomatometer.