This weekend movie preview is actually quite quiet. Or, it is just that everyone in Hollywood has such respect for Tom Cruise and his box office clout that they got out of the way of his new flick Oblivion. Since the sci-fi thriller is the only new film landing in theaters, we'll also look at some films that have already been released that we think you should check out.
Oblivion: Aliens invaded Earth and we responded by releasing our nuclear arsenal. Sure, we won the war, but our planet is no longer a livable place. So, the human race packed up and headed to an orbiting facility in the sky. Left below are Tom Cruise and Andrea Riseborough. They are charged with ensuring that the natural resources of the planet continue to be safely uploaded to space. The thing is... nothing is really as it seems. As we state in our Oblivion review, the film is a sci-fi treat and possesses a set design unlike any we've seen recently.
The film is solid and is wildly original science fiction in a cinematic world populated by sequels and remakes.
Already in theaters:
42: Harrison Ford stars as the man who hired Jackie Robinson (a stellar Chadwick Boseman) in the true story of the man who broke the color barrier in baseball. As reported in our 42 review, the cultural icon gets a solid biopic and above all else -- you don't have to enjoy baseball to enjoy this film.
The Place Beyond the Pines: Easily the best movie of the year so far, Ryan Gosling, Bradley Cooper and Eva Mendes are marvels in this film that is truly three films. Explained further in our The Place Beyond the Pines review, the filmmaker behind Blue Valentine has done it again by crafting three succinct stories that come together with one explosive premise.
Jurassic Park 3D: Yes, we know you've already seen the Steven Spielberg classic. But, you have never seen it like this. In astounding 3D -- and if you can in IMAX -- the film pops as never before. It's as if Spielberg knew the 3D format was coming the way he framed his shots, and the cinematography is as grand as ever. For more, check out our Jurassic Park 3D review.
Trance: Danny Boyle (127 Hours, Slumdog Millionaire) directs a thriller that really gets inside the mind. James McAvoy is an art auctioneer who may or may not be involved in the heist of a $25 million painting. See, during the robbery he hit his head and now he cannot remember a thing. That's a big problem for the crooks and the cops... as both wonder where the painting has been stashed. So he goes to see a hypnotherapist (Rosario Dawson) in hopes of unlocking his memories.
Our Trance review finds the film a thrilling ride that will stick with you for days after the final credits roll.
