Because of embargoes (those happy little restrictions on when critics can post reviews, good or bad), a lot of our critics aren’t able to share links with you until release day. Here are some last-minute reviews for this weekend’s upcoming films. We’ve kept in all the reviews posted yesterday as well so you can have more help in deciding what to see (if you haven’t already).
Our critics have been hard at work reviewing the latest films. Here is a look at what’s coming out this weekend (in select cities, check your local listings) and what else may be in theaters right now.
Opening: October 17-19, 2014
Wide (United States)
The Best of Me
For member reviews of this film, follow this link
The Book of Life
[New Reviews Today] For member reviews of this film, follow this link
Fury
[New Reviews Today] For member reviews of this film, follow this link
Expanding (United States)
Men, Women & Children
[New Reviews Today] For member reviews of this film, follow this link
St. Vincent
[New Reviews Today] For member reviews of this film, follow this link
Limited (United States)
Algorithms
Chris Barsanti @ Film Journal International
- Excerpt: Sight-challenged Indian teenagers push to become championship chess players in this disappointingly slight, surface-dwelling documentary.
Birdman
For member reviews of this film, follow this link
Camp X-Ray
Laura Clifford @ Reeling Reviews
- Excerpt: Featuring a dynamic performance from Maadi and thoughtful one from Stewart, the claustrophobic drama only falters when it leans too heavily on obvious metaphors and screenwriting cliches in its final moments.
Kristen Lopez @ Cinema Sentries
- Excerpt: Sattler deserves a medal for giving us Kristen Stewart’s finest performance to date, and Peyman Moaadi has a star-making turn here.
Dear White People
Listen Up, Philip
- Excerpt: an aggravating, arrogant, and entertaining portrait of the toxicity of ill-suited relationships and the narcissistic danger of letting success consume your livelihood.
[New Today] Mark Dujsik @ Mark Reviews Movies
- Excerpt: [T]he film’s single-minded depiction of Philip’s poisonous personality is almost as fascinating as the character is unpleasant.
[New Today] Donald Levit @ ReelTalk Movie Reviews
The Tale of the Princess Kaguya
[New Today] Nicholas Bell @ IONCINEMA.com
Watchers of the Sky
[New Today] Sarah Gopaul @ Digital Journal
- Excerpt: The documentary, ‘Watchers of the Sky,’ examines the history of genocide and the continued efforts of a few individuals to end the cycle of violence.
Young Ones
- Excerpt: methodically churning into a stagnant trench of recycled Greek tragedy themes, a familial saga of vengeance, murder, and inheritance never coalescing into a comfortable stride.
2014 Films In Theaters Now In Select Areas
20,000 Days on Earth
For member reviews of this film, follow this link
The ABCs of Death
[New Today] Jeremy Kibler @ Diabolique Magazine
- Excerpt: If only 4 out of 26 segments was still a worthwhile ratio. “ABCs of Death 2” is certainly a whackadoo package, but it’s never funny or scary, just tiresome, gratuitous, infantile, amateurish, and downright mean-spirited.
Addicted
- Excerpt: let’s face it, films seeking mainstream affirmation, whatever the market it is aimed at, are not comfortable portraying women seeking sexual fulfillment without proving how sick, twisted, or downright whorish they are for attempting to explore sexual inclinations
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
For member reviews of this film, follow this link
And So It Goes
For member reviews of this film, follow this link
Annabelle
For member reviews of this film, follow this link
Automata
- Excerpt: Too many thoughts, not enough focus in this neatly realized futurist film
The Blue Room
For member reviews of this film, follow this link
Blue Ruin
For member reviews of this film, follow this link
The Boxtrolls
For member reviews of this film, follow this link
Citizen Autistic
Default
[New Today] Nicholas Bell @ IONCINEMA.com
Diplomacy
[New Today] Nicholas Bell @ IONCINEMA.com
The Dog
[New Today] Marty Mapes @ Movie Habit
- Excerpt: At its best when Wojtowicz is unleashed
The Double
For member reviews of this film, follow this link
Dracula Untold
[New Reviews Today] For member reviews of this film, follow this link
Edge of Tomorrow
For member reviews of this film, follow this link
The Equalizer
For member reviews of this film, follow this link
Extraterrestrial
[New Today] James Jay Edwards @ FilmFracture
- Excerpt: ‘Extraterrestrial’ Is A Fun Throwback To Classic Sci-Fi That Still Manages To Feel Modern
[New Today] Jeremy Kibler @ Diabolique Magazine
- Excerpt: There is a new Geico commercial, wherein teenagers find a “smart” hiding place behind a barn of hanging chainsaws, that is more self-aware of horror clichés than “Extraterrestrial,” which just bathes in them.
Foxcatcher
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat @ SpiritualityandPractice.com
- Excerpt: A richly developed psychological drama about the fire of ambition in the lives of a gold-medal winning wrestler and a multimillionaire wrestling enthusiast.
Frank
For member reviews of this film, follow this link
Get on Up
For member reviews of this film, follow this link
Godzilla
For member reviews of this film, follow this link
Gone Girl
For member reviews of this film, follow this link
The Good Lie
[New Reviews Today] For member reviews of this film, follow this link
The Green Prince
[New Today] Andrew Wyatt @ St. Louis Magazine
- Excerpt: The film’s overall effect is undeniably pulpy, and even tacky at times, but Mosab’s haunted agitation and Yitzhak’s matter-of-fact affability keep the film grounded in the overwhelming risks that double agents face on a daily basis.
The Guest
[New Reviews Today] For member reviews of this film, follow this link
Housebound
[New Today] Nicholas Bell @ IONCINEMA.com
Mark Harris @ About.com
[New Today] Jeremy Kibler @ The Artful Critic
- Excerpt: “Housebound” is still devoted to tingling one’s spine, but instead of coming off as a serious creeper, it’s just a deftly executed fun time.
I Am Ali
Tony Dayoub @ Cinema Viewfinder
- Excerpt: At best, I AM ALI is a primer for the few that a long line of documentaries about this extremely well documented sports and Civil Rights figure has thus far eluded. At worst, I AM ALI is a forgettable CliffsNotes-style profile that hits many of the landmark moments in Ali’s life while avoiding the dissenting points of view concerning his controversial stances on the Vietnam war and the Black Muslim movement.
Inherent Vice
Donald Levit @ ReelTalk Movie Reviews
The Judge
[New Reviews Today] For member reviews of this film, follow this link
Kill the Messenger
For member reviews of this film, follow this link
Nas: Time Is Illmatic
For member reviews of this film, follow this link
Neighbors
For member reviews of this film, follow this link
One Chance
For member reviews of this film, follow this link
The Pact II
- Excerpt: Somewhere wrapped up in its inconsistencies is a strange little movie that might have had some potential
Snowpiercer
For member reviews of this film, follow this link
Stretch
Tales of the Grim Sleeper
Donald Levit @ ReelTalk Movie Reviews
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
For member reviews of this film, follow this link
The Trip to Italy
For member reviews of this film, follow this link
United We Fall
What If
For member reviews of this film, follow this link
Whiplash
[New Reviews Today] For member reviews of this film, follow this link
2014 Films (Coming Soon)
Black Coal, Thin Ice
Carlos del Río @ El rincón de Carlos del Río [Spanish]
- Excerpt: Mucho Oso de Oro, pero no es buena.
Citizen Marc
- Excerpt: Fun doc about irreverent pot activist Marc Emery invites a wider debate.
Dioses y Perros
Diego Salgado @ Guía del Ocio [Spanish]
Grace of Monaco
Dragan Antulov @ FAK [Croatian]
- Excerpt: Savršenstvo vanjske forme ovdje manje nadoknaduje, a više istice ispraznost i promašenost sadržaja.
Grace of Monaco
Paulo Peralta @ CinEuphoria [Portuguese]
The Lives of Hamilton Fish
Phil Hall @ Film Threat
- Excerpt: In my book, the very best film of 2014.
Maps to the Stars
Mark Hobin @ Fast Film Reviews
- Excerpt: There’s something a little off kilter about this tale – and not in a good way. For a comedy-drama set amongst the politics of La la Land, the ambiance is surprisingly lethargic.
Marshland
Carlos del Río @ El rincón de Carlos del Río [Spanish]
- Excerpt: Estás tan metido en la película, que hasta que no termina, no te das cuenta de las trampas que tiene.
Northern Soul
Stonehearst Asylum
- Excerpt: Edwardian thriller offers formula instead of vision
Summer of Blood
[New Today] Mark Harris @ About.com
These Final Hours
José Arce @ LaButaca.net [Spanish]
- Excerpt: Fantástico thriller apocalíptico que sumerge al espectador en las horas postreras de una humanidad entregada al fin de los tiempos. Muy bien maquinada desde el guion y su puesta en escena, una propuesta tan sorprendente como aterradora en su racional consistencia.
What We Did On Our Holiday
Ross Miller @ Thoughts On Film
- Excerpt: A charming slice of British comedy that will contain many-a-moment recognisable to anyone who’s ever been on a holiday with their family.
