SALT LAKE CITY, Oct. 28, 2016 (Gephardt Daily) — Two films open this weekend as Tom Hanks returns as Professor Langdon in the film version of Dan Brown’s “Inferno,” the third movie in the “DaVinci Code” series.
The film, according to Box Office Mojo, will open in 3,576 theaters across the USA, and industry insiders are predicting a $25.0 million opening for the action/thriller. The film has already opened overseas and has earned over $100 million in foreign release.
Also opening domestically is “American Pastoral,” marking Ewan McGregor’s directing debut. The film has opened in just 51 theaters, but will gain wider release in the coming weeks.
The Reviews:
American Pastoral
Starring: Ewan McGregor, Jennifer Connelly and Dakota Fanning
Rated R
In 1968, a hardworking man, who’s been a staple in his quaint community for years, watches his seemingly perfect middle class life fall apart as his daughter’s new radical political affiliation threatens to destroy their family.
“American Pastoral” is based on Phillip Roth’s novel. The film, under the direction of its star Ewan McGregor, paints a portrait of the ideal American family living the ideal American dream. McGregor allows the pacing to take its time and builds this intriguing character study into an emotional chain reaction.
Although each and every character offers up a truly engaging performance, it is Jennifer Connelly, as Dawn, who gives us a remarkably deep portrayal of a woman who is coming undone. Her depth in this role is truly Oscar-worthy.
Both Ewan McGregor and Dakota Fanning immerse themselves into their roles. McGregor, as Seymour, who succeeded at everything, is perfect as a man who is discovering he’s not the golden boy he once was.
Dakota Fanning takes her character, Merry, from a wide-eyed girl to political activist who eventually spirals out of control. Fanning does an amazing job in conveying a daughter whose every bottled-up emotion is fighting to break free.
All and all “American Pastoral” is well worth your time to see.
It gets an A and is rated R.
Inferno
Starring: Tom Hanks
Rated PG-13
The new film, “Inferno,” finds Robert Langdon, the famous symbologist, on a trail of clues tied to the great Dante himself. When Langdon wakes up in an Italian hospital with amnesia, he teams up with Sienna Brooks (Felicity Jones), a doctor he hopes will help him recover his memories.
Together, they race across Europe and against the clock to stop a madman from unleashing a global virus that would wipe out half of the world’s population.
“Inferno” is a weak and tired formula film hoping that it can sneak by on the coattails of “The Di Vinci Code.”
It cannot.
“Inferno” is a pale shadow of the original, with stale and over-used plot devices, action sequences tossed in in an effort to artificially boost the film’s bad writing, and a lot of questionable science. The film is confusing, sloppy and just uninteresting, with a ridiculous ending that serves no purpose.
“Inferno” gets a D and is rated PG-13.
