Tag Archives: Room

Netflix Leads 22nd Annual SAG Awards Nominees

Posted on by

0

The 22nd Annual SAG Awards nominees were revealed this morning at the Pacific Design Center’s Silver Screen Theater in West Hollywood. Anna Faris (CBS’s Mom; Scary Movie) and Anthony Mackie (Pain & Gain; Captain America: The Winter Soldier) were joined by SAG-AFTRA Executive Vice President Gabrielle Carteris to announce this year’s nominations, which will be awarded Live on TNT, TBS, truTV, sagawards.tntdrama.com, and truTV.com on Saturday, Jan. 30, 2016 at 8:00 p.m. (ET) / 5:00 p.m. (PT).

Actors make up a fairly large chunk of Academy voters, so it’s no surprise that the SAG Awards are a fairly good indicator as to how the Oscars may shape up. I didn’t think my eyebrows could be raised any higher when I saw the list of nominees this morning. Peculiar is one word to put it. Maybe even jarring. If this is how the awards season is going to be, I don’t know if I want any part of it.

First of all, Trumbo leads the film categories with three nods – ensemble, Bryan Cranston for Best Male Actor, and Helen Mirren for Best Supporting Female Actor. The other nominees are spread thin, with two nods each, including Beasts of No Nation, The Big Short, Carol, The Danish Girl, Room, Spotlight, and Steve Jobs. Second, there were a handful of names that have completely come out of left field, including Sarah Silverman (I Smile Back) and Helen Mirren (Woman in Gold) for Best Actress; and Christian Bale (The Big Short) for Best Supporting Actor. And third, I’m surprised Beasts of No Nation and bested the likes of The Martian and The Hateful Eight for Best Ensemble.

There were also a good handful of snubs that include Jennifer Lawrence for Joy, anyone from Quentin Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight, Matt Damon for The Martian, and Will Smith for Concussion. Of course they all can’t be chosen, and today’s nominees have certainly made the playing field rather interesting.

As for the television categories, they’ve all wound up pretty much how you would expect. The only kicker here is that Netflix leads the pack with eight nominations, which also has two in film categories as well. Game of Thrones, Homeland, and House of Cards are all tied at the top with three nods each. My biggest concern about the TV categories is that the industry continues to recognize Jim Parsons and The Big Bang Theory. It needs to stop.

Despite this year’s SAG Awards nominees not turning out exactly how some may have predicted, many fresh faces were recognized, which is always a good thing. Brie Larson, Rami Malek, Rooney Mara, Christina Ricci, Mark Rylance, Sarah Silverman, Jacob Tremblay, and Alicia Vikander have each earned their first individual Actor nomination with this upcoming SAG Awards.

Everything seems to be quite up in the air after the SAG Awards have shown that it could be anyone’s game. We will be keeping a close eye on the road to the Oscars with the Golden Globes nominations being announced tomorrow. Until then, your nominees are:

22nd ANNUAL SAG AWARDS NOMINEES – THEATRICAL MOTION PICTURES

Outstanding Performance By A Male Actor In A Leading Role

  • Bryan Cranston / Dalton Trumbo – Trumbo
  • Johnny Depp / James Whitey Bulger – Black Mass
  • Leonardo Dicaprio / Hugh Glass – The Revenant
  • Michael Fassbender / Steve Jobs – Steve Jobs
  • Eddie Redmayne / Einar Wegener/Lili Elbe – The Danish Girl

Outstanding Performance By A Female Actor In A Leading Role

  • Cate Blanchett / Carol Aird – Carol
  • Brie Larson / Ma – Room
  • Helen Mirren / Maria Altmann – Woman In Gold
  • Saoirse Ronan / Eilis – Brooklyn
  • Sarah Silverman / Laney Brooks – I Smile Back

Outstanding Performance By A Male Actor In A Supporting Role

  • Christian Bale / Michael Burry – The Big Short
  • Idris Elba / Commandant – Beasts Of No Nation
  • Mark Rylance / Abel Rudolph – Bridge Of Spies
  • Michael Shannon / Rick Carver – 99 Homes
  • Jacob Tremblay / Jack – Room

Outstanding Performance By A Female Actor In A Supporting Role

  • Rooney Mara / Therese Belivet – Carol
  • Rachel Mcadams / Sacha Pfeiffer – Spotlight
  • Helen Mirren / Hedda Hopper – Trumbo
  • Alicia Vikander / Gerda Wegener – The Danish Girl
  • Kate Winslet / Joanna Hoffman – Steve Jobs

Outstanding Performance By A Cast In A Motion Picture

  • Beasts Of No Nation
    • Abraham Attah / Agu
    • Kurt Egyiawan / 2nd I-C
    • Idris Elba / Commandant
  • The Big Short
    • Christian Bale / Michael Burry
    • Steve Carell / Mark Baum
    • Ryan Gosling / Jared Vennett
    • Melissa Leo / Georgia Hale
    • Hamish Linklater / Porter Collins
    • John Magaro / Charlie Geller
    • Brad Pitt / Ben Rickert
    • Rafe Spall / Danny Moses
    • Jeremy Strong / Vinny Peters
    • Marisa Tomei / Cynthia Baum
    • Finn Wittrock / Jamie Shipley
  • Spotlight
    • Billy Crudup / Eric Macleish
    • Brian D’arcy James / Matty Carroll
    • Michael Keaton / Walter Robby Robinson
    • Rachel Mcadams / Sacha Pfeiffer
    • Mark Ruffalo / Michael Rezendes
    • Liev Schreiber / Marty Baron
    • John Slattery / Ben Bradlee, Jr.
    • Stanley Tucci / Mitchell Garabedian
  • Straight Outta Compton
    • Neil Brown Jr. / Dj Yella
    • Paul Giamatti / Jerry Heller
    • Corey Hawkins / Dr. Dre
    • Aldis Hodge / Mc Ren
    • O’shea Jackson Jr. / Ice Cube
    • Jason Mitchell / Eazy-E
  • Trumbo
    • Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje / Virgil Brooks
    • Louis C.K. / Arlen Hird
    • Bryan Cranston / Dalton Trumbo
    • David James Elliott / John Wayne
    • Elle Fanning / Niki Trumbo
    • John Goodman / Frank King
    • Diane Lane / Cleo Trumbo
    • Helen Mirren / Hedda Hopper
    • Michael Stuhlbarg / Edward G. Robinson
    • Alan Tudyk / Ian Mclellan Hunter

22nd ANNUAL SAG AWARDS NOMINEES – TELEVISION PROGRAMS

Outstanding Performance By A Male Actor In A Television Movie Or Miniseries

  • Idris Elba / Dci John Luther – Luther
  • Ben Kingsley / Grand Vizier Ay – Tut
  • Ray Liotta / Lorca/Tom Mitchell – Texas Rising
  • Bill Murray / Himself – A Very Murray Christmas
  • Mark Rylance / Thomas Cromwell – Wolf Hall

Outstanding Performance By A Female Actor In A Television Movie Or Miniseries

  • Nicole Kidman / Grace – Grace Of Monaco
  • Queen Latifah / Bessie Smith – Bessie
  • Christina Ricci / Lizzie Borden – The Lizzie Borden Chronicles
  • Susan Sarandon / Gladys Mortenson – The Secret Life Of Marilyn Monroe
  • Kristen Wiig / Delores Dewinter – The Spoils Before Dying

Outstanding Performance By A Male Actor In A Drama Series

  • Peter Dinklage / Tyrion Lannister – Game Of Thrones
  • Jon Hamm / Don Draper – Mad Men
  • Rami Malek / Elliot – Mr. Robot
  • Bob Odenkirk / Jimmy Mcgill – Better Call Saul
  • Kevin Spacey / Francis Underwood – House Of Cards

Outstanding Performance By A Female Actor In A Drama Series

  • Claire Danes / Carrie Mathison – Homeland
  • Viola Davis / Annalise Keating – How To Get Away With Murder
  • Julianna Margulies / Alicia Florrick – The Good Wife
  • Maggie Smith / Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess Of Grantham – Downton Abbey
  • Robin Wright / Claire Underwood – House Of Cards

Outstanding Performance By A Male Actor In A Comedy Series

  • Ty Burrell / Phil Dunphy – Modern Family
  • Louis C.K. / Louie – Louie
  • William H. Macy / Frank – Shameless
  • Jim Parsons / Sheldon Cooper – The Big Bang Theory
  • Jeffrey Tambor / Maura Pfefferman – Transparent

Outstanding Performance By A Female Actor In A Comedy Series

  • Uzo Aduba / Suzanne Crazy Eyes Warren – Orange Is The New Black
  • Edie Falco / Jackie Peyton – Nurse Jackie
  • Ellie Kemper / Kimmy Schmidt – Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
  • Julia Louis-Dreyfus / President Selina Meyer – Veep
  • Amy Poehler / Leslie Knope – Parks And Recreation

Outstanding Performance By An Ensemble In A Drama Series

  • Downton Abbey
    • Hugh Bonneville / Robert, Earl Of Grantham
    • Laura Carmichael / Lady Edith Crawley
    • Jim Carter / Mr. Carson
    • Raquel Cassidy / Baxter
    • Brendan Coyle / Mr. Bates
    • Tom Cullen / Anthony Gillingham
    • Michelle Dockery / Lady Mary Crawley
    • Kevin Doyle / Mr. Molesley
    • Joanne Froggatt / Anna Bates
    • Lily James / Lady Rose
    • Robert James-Collier / Thomas Barrow
    • Allen Leech / Tom Branson
    • Phyllis Logan / Mrs. Hughes
    • Elizabeth Mcgovern / Cora, Countess Of Grantham
    • Sophie Mcshera / Daisy
    • Lesley Nicol / Mrs. Patmore
    • Julian Ovenden / Charles Blake
    • David Robb / Dr. Clarkson
    • Maggie Smith / Violet, Dowager Countess Of Grantham
    • Penelope Wilton / Isobel Crawley
  • Game Of Thrones
    • Alfie Allen / Theon Greyjoy
    • Ian Beattie / Ser Meryn Trant
    • John Bradley / Samwell Tarly
    • Gwendoline Christie / Brienne Of Tarth
    • Emilia Clarke / Daenerys Targaryen
    • Michael Condron / Bowen Marsh
    • Nikolaj Coster-Waldau / Jaime Lannister
    • Ben Crompton / Dolorous Edd
    • Liam Cunningham / Ser Davos Seaworth
    • Stephen Dillane / Stannis Baratheon
    • Peter Dinklage / Tyrion Lannister
    • Nathalie Emmanuel / Missandei
    • Tara Fitzgerald / Selyse Baratheon
    • Jerome Flynn / Bronn
    • Brian Fortune / Othell Yarwyck
    • Joel Fry / Hizdahr Zo Loraq
    • Aidan Gillen / Littlefinger Petyr Baelish
    • Iain Glen / Ser Jorah Mormont
    • Kit Harington / Jon Snow
    • Lena Headey / Cersei Lannister
    • Michiel Huisman / Daario Naharis
    • Hannah Murray / Gilly
    • Brenock O’connor / Olly
    • Daniel Portman / Podrick Payne
    • Iwan Rheon / Ramsay Snow
    • Owen Teale / Ser Alliser Thorne
    • Sophie Turner / Sansa Stark
    • Carice Van Houten / Melisandre
    • Maisie Williams / Arya Stark
    • Tom Wlaschiha / Jaqen H’ghar
  • Homeland
    • F. Murray Abraham / Dar Adal
    • Atheer Adel / Numan
    • Claire Danes / Carrie Mathison
    • Alexander Fehling / Jonas Hollander
    • Rupert Friend / Peter Quinn
    • Nina Hoss / Astrid
    • René David Ifrah / Bibi
    • Mark Ivanir / Ivan Krupin
    • Sebastian Koch / Otto Düring
    • Miranda Otto / Allison Carr
    • Mandy Patinkin / Saul Berenson
    • Sarah Sokolovic / Laura Sutton
  • House Of Cards
    • Mahershala Ali / Remy Danton
    • Derek Cecil / Seth Grayson
    • Nathan Darrow / Edward Meechum
    • Michael Kelly / Doug Stamper
    • Elizabeth Marvel / Heather Dunbar
    • Molly Parker / Jackie Sharp
    • Jimmi Simpson / Gavin Orsay
    • Kevin Spacey / Francis Underwood
    • Robin Wright / Claire Underwood
  • Mad Men
    • Sola Bamis / Shirley
    • Stephanie Drake / Meredith
    • Jay R. Ferguson / Stan Rizzo
    • Bruce Greenwood / Richard Burghoff
    • Jon Hamm / Don Draper
    • Christina Hendricks / Joan Harris
    • January Jones / Betty Francis
    • Vincent Kartheiser / Pete Campbell
    • Elisabeth Moss / Peggy Olson
    • Kevin Rahm / Ted Chaough
    • Kiernan Shipka / Sally Draper
    • John Slattery / Roger Sterling
    • Rich Sommer / Harry Crane
    • Aaron Staton / Ken Cosgrove
    • Mason Vale Cotton / Bobby Draper

Outstanding Performance By An Ensemble In A Comedy Series

  • The Big Bang Theory
    • Mayim Bialik / Amy Farrah Fowler
    • Kaley Cuoco / Penny
    • Johnny Galecki / Leonard Hofstadter
    • Simon Helberg / Howard Wolowitz
    • Kunal Nayyar / Rajesh Koothrappali
    • Jim Parsons / Sheldon Cooper
    • Melissa Rauch / Bernadette Rostenkowski-Wolowitz
  • Key & Peele
    • Keegan-Michael Key / Various Characters
    • Jordan Peele / Various Characters
  • Modern Family
    • Julie Bowen / Claire Dunphy
    • Ty Burrell / Phil Dunphy
    • Aubrey Anderson Emmons / Lily Tucker-Pritchett
    • Jesse Tyler Ferguson / Mitchell Pritchett
    • Nolan Gould / Luke Dunphy
    • Sarah Hyland / Haley Dunphy
    • Ed O’neill / Jay Pritchett
    • Rico Rodriguez / Manny Delgado
    • Eric Stonestreet / Cameron Tucker
    • Sofia Vergara / Gloria Delgado-Pritchett
    • Ariel Winter / Alex Dunphy
  • Orange Is The New Black
    • Uzo Aduba / Suzanne Crazy Eyes Warren
    • Mike Birbiglia / Danny Pearson
    • Marsha Stephanie Blake / Berdie Rogers
    • Danielle Brooks / Tasha Taystee Jefferson
    • Laverne Cox / Sophia Burset
    • Jackie Cruz / Marisol Flaca Gonzales
    • Catherine Curtin / Wanda Bell
    • Lea Delaria / Carrie Big Boo Black
    • Beth Fowler / Sister Jane Ingalls
    • Joel Marsh Garland / Scott O’neill
    • Kimiko Glenn / Brook Soso
    • Annie Golden / Norma Romano
    • Diane Guerrero / Maritza Ramos
    • Michael J. Harney / Sam Healy
    • Vicky Jeudy / Janae Watson
    • Selenis Leyva / Gloria Mendoza
    • Taryn Manning / Tiffany Pennsatucky Doggett
    • Adrienne C. Moore / Black Cindy
    • Kate Mulgrew / Galina Red Reznikov
    • Emma Myles / Leanne Taylor
    • Matt Peters / Joel Luschek
    • Lori Petty / Lolly Whitehill
    • Jessica Pimentel / Maria Ruiz
    • Dascha Polanco / Dayanara Diaz
    • Laura Prepon / Alex Vause
    • Elizabeth Rodriguez / Aleida Diaz
    • Ruby Rose / Stella Carlin
    • Nick Sandow / Joe Caputo
    • Abigail Savage / Gina
    • Taylor Schilling / Piper Chapman
    • Constance Shulman / Yoga Jones
    • Dale Soules / Frieda
    • Yael Stone / Lorna Morello
    • Samira Wiley / Poussey Washington
  • Transparent
    • Alexandra Billings / Davina Rejennae
    • Carrie Brownstein / Syd Feldman
    • Jay Duplass / Josh Pfefferman
    • Kathryn Hahn / Raquel Fein
    • Gaby Hoffmann / Ali Pfefferman
    • Cherry Jones / Leslie Mackinaw
    • Amy Landecker / Sarah Pfefferman
    • Judith Light / Shelly Pfefferman
    • Hari Nef / Gittel/Gerson
    • Emily Robinson / Rose Boymelgreen
    • Jeffrey Tambor / Maura Pfefferman
  • Veep
    • Diedrich Bader / Bill Ericsson
    • Sufe Bradshaw / Sue Wilson
    • Anna Chlumsky / Amy Brookheimer
    • Gary Cole / Kent Davidson
    • Kevin Dunn / Ben Cafferty
    • Tony Hale / Gary Walsh
    • Hugh Laurie / Tom James
    • Phil Reeves / Doyle
    • Sam Richardson / Richard
    • Reid Scott / Dan Egan
    • Timothy Simons / Jonah Ryan
    • Sarah Sutherland / Catherine
    • Matt Walsh / Mike Mclintock

22nd ANNUAL SAG AWARDS NOMINEES – HONORS FOR STUNT ENSEMBLES

Outstanding Action Performance By A Stunt Ensemble In A Motion Picture

  • Everest
  • Furious 7
  • Jurassic World
  • Mad Max: Fury Road
  • Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation

Outstanding Action Performance By A Stunt Ensemble In A Comedy Or Drama Series

  • The Blacklist
  • Game Of Thrones
  • Homeland
  • Marvel’s Daredevil
  • The Walking Dead

LIFE ACHIEVEMENT

52nd Annual Sag Life Achievement Award

  • Carol Burnett

Source: Screen Actors Guild

Box Office Battlefield: Crimson Peak, Goosebumps, and Bridge of Spies

Posted on by

0

Every week, movie studios select candidates to enter the glorious battlefield for your hard-earned dollars. The weekend warriors of October 16, 2015 includes Crimson Peak, Goosebumps, and Bridge of Spies, as well as a handful of limited releases such as Room, Meadowland, and Truth. Box Office Battlefield is here to help you decide which movie(s) will take priority over the others and determine who will be victorious. Should you see ’em, skip ’em, or rent ’em? Find out below!

Last weekend, The Martian continued its voyage into the cinematic history books at number one while Pan absolutely bombed. With more a handful of big new releases this weekend, does Matt Damon stand a chance for a three-peat? Viewer, beware, you’re in for a scare! This is the Box Office Battlefield:

Goosebumps 2015 Movie Title Logo

Goosebumps (Rob Letterman) Rated PG [103 min] – A teenager teams up with the daughter of young adult horror author R.L. Stine after the writer’s imaginary demons are set free on the town of Greendale, Maryland. Starring Jack Black, Dylan Minnette, Odeya Rush, and Ryan Lee [Watch the Trailer]

Rotten Tomatoes Score: Critics – 72% • Audience – 77%

My review:

There is something magical about Jumanji that Goosebumps doesn’t quite have. While both films explore what happens when imaginary creatures terrorize a small suburban town and the only way to stop the madness is by sucking them back into an object by completing a task, Goosebumps doesn’t have the same amount of heart. The dialogue is fairly smart and there are some imaginative set pieces, but unfortunately the characters are very thin with little to offer, especially Ryan Lee’s Champ.

Jack Black is wonderful as R.L. Stine, however. He chews up every scene with a twinkle in his eye. It’s his best role since starring as the titular character in 2011’s Bernie. Rising stars Dylan Minnette and Odeya Rush have decent chemistry together, but again, there isn’t enough depth behind each of their characters to really root for them.

With so much rich content to draw from the pages of Stine’s classic tales, many of the monsters get thrown to the wayside and are given little to do. Too much time is devoted to Slappy the Dummy, the Abominable Snowman, and the Werewolf of Fever Swamp. There were so many fun monsters to choose from that could have made Goosebumps more thrilling.

The biggest offense this movie offers is its lack in playing by the rules. The third act becomes such a hodgepodge of convenience in order to tie up loose ends that you’d think the screenwriters ran out of paper and had to finish the rest of the story by scribbling on napkins with crayons. RENT IT!

Crimson Peak 2015 Movie Title Logo

Crimson Peak (Guillermo del Toro) Rated R [119 min] – In the aftermath of a family tragedy, an aspiring author is torn between love for her childhood friend and the temptation of a mysterious outsider. Trying to escape the ghosts of her past, she is swept away to a house that breathes, bleeds…and remembers. Starring Mia Wasikowska, Jessica Chastain, Tom Hiddleston, and Charlie Hunnam [Watch the Trailer]

 Rotten Tomatoes Score: Critics – 69% • Audience – 66%

My review:

Crimson Peak is an ambitious ghost story that fails to make its primary subjects as incredibly detailed as the film’s production design. The atmosphere and tone of the film is right where it needs to be, but the characters that inhabit this movie are too underwritten to gain an understanding of their motivations. Despite this hiccup, the actors who portray these ghastly weak characters act the hell out of this film.

The envisioned world that Guillermo del Toro has brought to life is highly commendable. From the “bleeding” walls of red clay to the twisty corridors of the manor, the visual spectacle relies too heavily on its sets and effects to create a chilling effect that it hopes you forget about asking bigger questions around the theme or the character’s actions. I wouldn’t be as quick as to call Guillermo del Toro the Michael Bay of horror movies, but all sizzle and no steak is what you’ll find with Crimson Peak. RENT IT!

Bridge of Spies 2015 Movie Title Logo

Bridge of Spies (Steven Spielberg) Rated PG-13 [135 min] – An American lawyer is recruited by the CIA during the Cold War to help rescue a pilot detained in the Soviet Union. Starring Tom Hanks, Mark Rylance, Alan Alda, and Amy Ryan [Watch the Trailer]

 Rotten Tomatoes Score: Critics – 93% • Audience – 91%

My review:

Bridge of Spies delivers exactly what you’d come to expect from a Steven Spielberg biopic. Every aspect of this film is crafted to near perfection from the veteran filmmaker. As I’ve mentioned multiple times in the past, I’m not a period piece nor a biopic kinda guy. However, Tom Hanks is too enthralling not to be sucked in by his spectacular charisma and the cold war drama finds heart pounding tension with well-written dialogue polished by the Coen brothers.

Although Bridge of Spies is a little over two hours, I would have welcomed more scenes devoted to building the relationship between Tom Hanks’ and Mark Rylance’s characters to help make the ending feel a bit more earned. It’s not that their time isn’t valued, but with how complicated the situation is and how little time is spent with the two of them together, there isn’t enough proof to understand why Donovan is willing to do what’s right and defend Rylance’s Russian spy, Rudolf Abel. MATINEE IT!

Room 2015 Movie Title Logo

Room (Lenny Abrahamson) [Limited] Rated R [118 min] – After 5-year old Jack and his Ma escape from the enclosed surroundings that Jack has known his entire life, the boy makes a thrilling discovery: the outside world. Starring Brie Larson, Jacob Tremblay, Sean Bridgers, and Wendy Crewson [Watch the Trailer]

 Rotten Tomatoes Score: Critics – 95% • Audience – 92%

My review:

Room is an impressive story of love, family, and courage. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen before, from an unlikely perspective that makes the traumatizing experience even more compelling. The heartfelt performances from all actors involved, especially from Brie Larson and Jacob Trembaly, are truly captivating. The brilliant dynamic between mother and son along with the dramatic undertaking they must endure is remarkably honest and poignant, but at the same time triumphant and humanizing. SEE IT!

Meadowland 2015 Movie Title Logo

Meadowland (Reed Morano) Rated R [105 min] – In the hazy aftermath of an unimaginable loss, Sarah and Phil come unhinged, recklessly ignoring the repercussions. Phil starts to lose sight of his morals; Sarah takes off on a potentially disastrous journey, falling deeper into her own fever dream. Starring Olivia Wilde, Luke Wilson, John Leguizamo, Ty Simpkins, Giovanni Ribisi, Juno Temple, and Elisabeth Moss [Watch the Trailer]

 Rotten Tomatoes Score: Critics – 100% • Audience – 70%

My review:

Despite what the Tomatometer and only other 17 critics who gave Meadowland a pass are saying, this film is pretty much a waste of time. The screenplay is an absolute travesty littered with bizarre character motivations, ugly dialogue, and underutilized side characters that bring nothing to the story. The directors and actors did the best with what they were given, but even they couldn’t drag this story out of the mud. Meadowland tries very hard to bring depth to its themes through sadness porn, but it only fails miserably thanks in part to the little support given to justify the extremes it presents. SKIP IT!

Truth 2015 Movie Title Logo

Truth (James Vanderbilt) [Limited] Rated R [121 min] – Newsroom drama detailing the 2004 CBS 60 Minutes report investigating then-President George W. Bush’s military service, and the subsequent firestorm of criticism that cost anchor Dan Rather and producer Mary Mapes their careers. Starring Cate Blanchett, Robert Redford, Dennis Quaid, and Elisabeth Moss [Watch the Trailer]

Rotten Tomatoes Score: Critics – 64% • Audience – 48%

Their reviews:

“Truth is fascinating and often exciting. But the film lacks the qualities of great drama that make it feel like it’s unfolding right in front of the audience.” – Noel Murray (AV Club)

“While it gives Robert Redford the opportunity to chew on scenery in the role of Rather, much of the movie cedes control to Cate Blachett, who turns Mapes into a brazen hero undone by the courage of her convictions.” – Eric Kohn (indieWIRE)

My take:

From what it seems, Cate Blanchett has given yet another awards caliber performance, but even she can’t hold up the entire weight of the movie on her shoulders. The story of Truth is no doubt fascinating and the trailer sells the movie well, so it’s sad to see that Truth is not at the level it wants to be. RENT IT!

Crimson Peak seems like the sure-fire winner that has the most to lose this weekend. It has a fun, haunted house vibe with a strong cast and spooky visuals perfect for Halloween. But don’t discount Goosebumps. Crimson Peak is rated R whereas Goosebumps PG. There hasn’t be a strong kid-friendly live action movie in quite some time, and Goosebumps has a delicious recipe for kids to enjoy. I’m sure there will be positive word of mouth and nostalgia fueling its first weekend out.

And then there’s Bridge of Spies, who bolsters a grand Tom Hanks performance. Along with its subject matter, Bridge of Spies makes a case to be a choice Oscar contender, which could draw out the elder demographics. But with that in mind it also limits the interest of potential of younger audiences.

So as it stands, I believe the victor for this weekend will be:

Winner: Goosebumps

What will you be watching this weekend? What did you think of the current releases? Tell us in the comment section below.

Movie synopses courtesy of IMDb.com and Tomatometer Scores from Rotten Tomatoes