This week at the movies, we’ve got only one wide release: the post-apocalyptic sci-fi adventure Oblivion, starring Tom Cruise and Morgan Freeman. What do the critics have to say?
Can a movie get by on good looks alone? Critics say Oblivion is visually striking but narratively thin, a thoughtful sci-fi head trip that starts strong but gets bogged down by its murky storyline. While working as a repairman on an abandoned, post-Apocalyptic Planet Earth, Jack Harper (Tom Cruise) discovers that he’s not alone — and that everything he knows has been a lie. The pundits say Cruise’s strong performance helps to enliven the proceedings, but Oblivion is largely derivative of other, better sci-fi films. (Check out this week’s 24 Frames and Total Recall features for more on post-apocalyptic movies.)
Ain’t In It For My Health: A Film About Levon Helm, a documentary about the Band’s legendary drummer and vocalist, is at 100 percent.
In the House, starring Kristin Scott Thomas and Emmanuelle Seigner in a thriller about a high school student who insinuates himself into the life of his teacher, is at 88 percent.
Deceptive Practices: The Mysteries and Mentors of Ricky Jay, a doc about the noted character actor and world-class magician, is at 83 percent.
Herman’s House, a documentary about a collaboration between an artist and prison inmate in solitary confinement, is at 83 percent.
Rob Zombie‘s The Lords of Salem, a horror film about a radio DJ who is haunted by a coven of witches, is at 44 percent.
Finally, props to Emilio Rodriguez and Kadeem Stewart for coming the closest to guessing Scary Movie 5‘s five percent Tomatometer.
