SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Sept. 20, 2016 (Gephardt Daily) — Two major films are available for rental, purchase and digital downloading.
“The Free State of Jones” opened in theaters June 24 to a disappointing $7.7 million. The film, after only a six-week run, brought in a domestic total of just $20.8 million. The Civil War drama scored just a 46 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.
“Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising” debuted in theaters May 10 to a box office haul of $21.7 million. The sequel to “Neighbors” pulled in a domestic tally of $55.3 million and a global take of $107.8 million in its 10-week run. The film scored a 62 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.
Free State of Jones
Starring: Matthew McConaughey
Rated R
Based on a true story, “Free State of Jones” follows a defiant Southern farmer, Newton Knight, and his extraordinary armed rebellion against the Confederacy.
Banding together with other small farmers and local slaves, Knight launched an uprising that led Jones County, Mississippi to secede from the Confederacy, creating a “Free State of Jones.”
Knight continued his struggle into reconstruction, distinguishing him as a compelling, if controversial, figure of defiance long beyond the war.
“Free State of Jones” is a movie that simply bit off too much. The film makes the crucial error of trying to tell the whole story of Newton Knight, causing the film to jump back and forth between timelines and ultimately creating an unnecessarily complicated film. Also, some of the battlefield scenes are a bit gruesome and on the edge of gratuitous.
On the other hand, Matthew McConaughey is passionate in the role and the film is well shot and acted. But the problem of telling three stories at the same time hinders the film’s watchability.
“Free State of Jones” gets a C and is rated R.
Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising
Starring: Seth Rogen, Zac Efron, Rose Byrne and Chloe Grace Moretz
Rated R
After a sorority moves in next door, which is even more debaucherous than the fraternity before it, Mac and Kelly have to ask for help from their former enemy, Teddy.
“Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising” is exactly what you’d expect it would be. A raunchy, frat house, party film with a lot of insults and stereotypical characters. And, although it has a few funny moments in it, it really is just another in a long line from a tired format.
The film rehashes some of the first film with the thought of “Oh wait… it’s different because they’re girls!,” thinking the audience will be fooled into thinking something stale is fresh because the wrapper has been changed. But no dice.
“Neighbors 2” is just more of the same delivered with more smiles and just a few laughs. It gets a C and is rated R.
