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: Jan. 2-4, 2015
Wide (United States)
The Woman in Black 2: Angel of Death
[New Today] Mark Dujsik @ Mark Reviews Movies
- Excerpt: There’s building tension, and then there’s cheaply toying with us. This movie is a prime example of the latter.
MaryAnn Johanson @ FlickFilosopher.com
- Excerpt: Thinks it’s hitting notes of subconscious dread, but it’s just swinging a sledgehammer of tropes and hoping one of them sticks. (Spoiler: None do.)
[New Today] Ben Kendrick @ Screen Rant
- Excerpt: The Woman in Black 2: Angel of Death is yet another example that not all successful horror movies have what it takes to become successful horror franchises.
[New Today] David Upton @ So So Gay
- Excerpt: Angel of Death doesn’t just repeat the first film’s scares; it relies on them. Shots of the decrepit Victorian toys punctuate scenes, supposedly terrifying in and of themselves because of how the first film cleverly used them to accentuate the escalating claustrophobia and terror.
Expanding (United States)
Selma
For member reviews of this film, follow this link
Limited (United States)
The Search for General Tso
[New Today] Kenji Fujishima @ Slant Magazine
2015 Films In Theaters Now In Select Areas
[REC] 4: Apocalypse
- Excerpt: Tracing the virus’s history now feels akin to explaining the origins of half-siblings, and with about as much flagging interest as that entails.
Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter
- Excerpt: A little long and convoluted, but it has a good heart and an absurdist wit
Mr. Kaplan
Diego Salgado @ Guía del Ocio [Spanish]
2014 Films In Theaters Now In Select Areas
American Sniper
For member reviews of this film, follow this link
Annie
For member reviews of this film, follow this link
Big Eyes
[New Reviews Today] For member reviews of this film, follow this link
Birdman
[New Reviews Today] For member reviews of this film, follow this link
The Blue Room
For member reviews of this film, follow this link
Boyhood
For member reviews of this film, follow this link
Exodus: Gods and Kings
For member reviews of this film, follow this link
Foxcatcher
For member reviews of this film, follow this link
The Gambler
For member reviews of this film, follow this link
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
For member reviews of this film, follow this link
The Imitation Game
For member reviews of this film, follow this link
The Interview
For member reviews of this film, follow this link
Into the Woods
[New Reviews Today] For member reviews of this film, follow this link
Maleficent
For member reviews of this film, follow this link
A Most Violent Year
[New Reviews Today] For member reviews of this film, follow this link
Mr. Turner
For member reviews of this film, follow this link
Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb
For member reviews of this film, follow this link
Paddington
Amir Siregar @ Flick Magazine [Indonesian]
Still Alice
[New Reviews Today] For member reviews of this film, follow this link
The Theory of Everything
[New Reviews Today] For member reviews of this film, follow this link
Tip Top
Two Days, One Night
For member reviews of this film, follow this link
Unbroken
[New Reviews Today] For member reviews of this film, follow this link
Wild
For member reviews of this film, follow this link
Winter Sleep
[New Today] Mark Dujsik @ Mark Reviews Movies
- Excerpt: Winter Sleep is captivating as a study of the character’s mindset..
2015 Films (Coming Soon)
Don’t Get Killed in Alaska
El club de los incomprendidos
Diego Salgado @ Guía del Ocio [Spanish]
The Japanese Dog
Jimmy’s Hall
Carlos del Río @ El rincón de Carlos del Río [Spanish]
- Excerpt: Jimmy’s Hall empieza muy bien, pero se va desinflando a medida que avanza, sobre todo porque es un poco confusa, y porque todo el encanto que tiene la primera parte, se va diluyendo en la segunda mitad para centrarse más en conflictos políticos que no están bien desarrollados del todo.
