October 30, 2015 — (Gephardt Daily) — Of the three films hitting theaters this weekend, “Our Brand is Crisis,” starring Sandra Bullock, might be the forerunner at the box office. Bullock has proven she’s got clout where it counts.
Bradley Cooper’s cooking film, “Burnt,” may have some draw as the studio is touting his performance as “Oscar-worthy.”
But don’t count out the box office power of the pent-up college demographic, “Scout’s Guide to the Apocalypse” might have some temporary legs.
But with the strength of “The Martian” and “Goosebumps,” right now its anyone’s weekend when it comes to ticket sales.
Check out the reviews of the new releases:
“Scout’s Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse”
Starring: Tye Sheridan and Logan Miller
Directed by: Christopher Landon
Rated R
If you’re looking or ‘that’ film for Halloween and are tired of the same old story about some creepy house or discovered film footage… why not check out “Scout’s Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse.”
The film focuses on three scouts who discover the true meaning of friendship when they attempt to save their town from a zombie outbreak.
The film has it’s roots squarely in cult favorites like, “Zombieland,” “The Goonies,” “Scooby-Doo” and even “Stand By Me.” And although the film isn’t blazing any new trails, it doesn’t need to.
“Scout’s Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse” is a crass, gory, fun adult Halloween movie to be enjoyed for it is.
It gets a B and is rated R.
“Our Brand is Crisis”
Starring: Sandra Bullock and Billy Bob Thornton
Directed by: David Gordon Green
Rated R
Sandra Bullock stars a political campaign advisor who is sent to the war-torn lands of South America to help install a new leader. But once there, she comes face to face with an old rival working for the opposing candidate.
The film is unbalanced as it goes from funny political jokes and political dirty tricks to some serious soul searching and sexual innuendo.
Bullock seems uncomfortable as “Calamity” Jane Bodine, who went into a self-exiled retirement after a campaign went wrong. Jane is talked into coming back out of retirement to help a losing South American presidential candidate win an election and redeem herself.
There is something if a misfire with the role that is a little off-putting, as if Bullock were hold the character at an arm’s distance all the way through the film.
On the other hand, perfectly cast is Bill Bob Thornton as Pat Candy, her opposite opponent on the other side. Thornton’s character is devilishly comfortable with what he has to do to win an election.
And therein lies the conflict between the two. Like an old western you have the two gunfighters one very confident, the other not so sure. And when they draw only one will be left standing.
In the end, the film seemed desperate to be entertaining.
It gets a B- and is rated R.
“Burnt”
Starring: Bradley Cooper and Sienna Miller
Directed by: John Wells
Rated R
Adam Jones, played by Bradley Cooper, is a one-time top rated two-time Michelin star chef who destroyed his career with drugs and behavior. After he cleans up and returns to London, he is determined to redeem himself by taking over a restaurant and earning his third Michelin star.
I found “Burnt” to be a terrifically entertaining film about redemption. Anyone in any line of work who has earned their reputation probably has stumbled and fell. How we handle those falls makes us who we are.
The film is well directed, well paced and delivers the right balances of emotion, humor and empathic well-written characters.
Cooper does a terrific job as a man whose lost everything but has gained much more in the process. Sienna Miller and Daniel Brühl are perfect accompaniments to Cooper.
“Burnt” is a great film. It gets an A and is rated R.
