January is finally done, and we end the month of “Studios dump movie releases” as we started…quietly. So what new movies are coming out this week; January 30, 2015?
Well, in classic Looking Ahead fashion there are plenty of movies that are coming out that I flat out NEVER heard of. So, let’s go on this journey together as we BOTH find out what’s in store for us…..
What’s it about? A grieving widower is drawn into a custody battle over his granddaughter, whom he helped raise her entire life.
My thoughts? I feel a movie like this needs to be carefully written and directed. The plot of the flick can be mistook and misunderstood if the filmmakers aren’t careful. I can sense the effort put in from Kevin Costner and Octavia Spencer, and there is some nice banter in the trailer. Truthfully, I don’t think the film will offend, but it feels like it will mostly be forgotten once it’s release…hence the January release.
What’s it about? A look at the brief occupation of Timbuktu by militant Islamic rebels.
My thoughts? A lovely trailer. I love how the song is used in it, and we we see the performers intercut with the plot of and the characters. Very artistic. If the film is half as engaging as that trailer then we’re in for a special time.
What’s it about? An army veteran’s unlikely romance with an Iraqi immigrant is put to the test when she is faced with the prospect of deportation.
My thoughts? Drafthouse Films is known for being really daring in it’s distribution choices. I think of them as a huge stamp of approval once I see their logo in front of a movie. If Drafthouse Films are making the effort to putting a film out there, then they saw something really special in that movie. This looks like a really nice and quiet nontraditional romantic comedy. I love that someone took a risk on Martin Starr as a romantic lead, and he’s really got a unique presence on screen.
What’s it about? Five married guys conspire to secretly share a penthouse loft in the city–a place where they can carry out hidden affairs and indulge in their deepest fantasies. But the fantasy becomes a nightmare when they discover the dead body of an unknown woman in the loft, and they realize one of the group must be involved.
My thoughts? A great cast of actors who should be in far more exciting movies instead of left overs ’90s thrillers. I don’t know how many more times we have to see rich, white men be liars and cheaters in “adult” thrillers in my life time, but I’m honestly wondering who the audience for movies like this is still for?
What’s it about? A group of teens discover secret plans of a time machine, and construct one. However, things start to get out of control.
My thoughts?….Ok…ok….listen…I get it. Movie’s shot in this style is appealing for both a financial success, and for budgetary reasons. It’s seems slightly cheaper to shoot like this…doesn’t it? After seeing this trailer, I don’t buy shooting in this style was cheaper then shooting it as a traditional movie. You see all this high production value in sets, locations, extras and in visual effects….and you’re telling me shooting it like found footage saved a few bucks? Nope, of courses not. Could have shot the same movie with basically the same script and you could have shot if for the EXACT SAME BUDGET. And as for the financial success of movies like these, I think we’re finally in the waning period of “POV” movies. I mean, I could be wrong and this probably ends up making a decent amount of money when it opens this week. Hell, lets take bets that it does. So yeah, I say it’s gonna do well. Why? Because the combination of Chronicle meets Primer meets The Butterfly Effect is just too appealing. I get it, but guess what? I honestly think the movie would have made the same exact money with out the “POV” gimmick.
Ok, that’s it for January! February is next, and if I was to play REALLY Looking Ahead, I think that month might have some nice surprises for us. As for this week, what movies appeal to you the most? Let us know in the comments below!